Top Ten Best Book Covers of 2014

Welcome to day one of the Top Ten of 2014 hosted by Two Chicks on Books,Reading YA Rocks, Magical Urban Fantasy Reads, and Tales of the Ravenous Reader. Today we are sharing our favorite reads of 2014. There is no particular order to the list. 

Click on covers for GoodReads

1. Trust Me, I'm Lying (Trust Me #1) by Mary Elizabeth Summer

2. Dissonance (Dissonance #1) by Erica O'Rourke

3. Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira

4. The Winner's Curse (The Winner's Trilogy #1) by Marie Rutkoski

5. Ruin and Rising (The Grisha #3) by Leigh Bardugo

6. What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick

7. The Infinite Sea (The Fifth Wave #2) by Rick Yancey

8. This Shattered World (Starbound #2) by Amie Kaufman , Meagan Spooner

9. Dorothy Must Die (Dorothy Must Die #1) by Danielle Paige

10. Maybe Someday (Maybe #1) by Colleen Hoover

What are your top ten best 2014 covers???

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Rocking Around The Holidays Finale: Danielle Annett and Nicole Simone

   Rocking Around the Holidays with RockStarLit.com Authors

Hi everyone – welcome to our very first Rocking Around the Holidays. From now until December 23rd, we’re giving you the inside scoop and behind the scenes info on Rock Star Authors. 

AND…

To celebrate the holiday season there’s a HUGE contest to go along with it – which includes 2 iPad Minis, signed books by all of the authors, gift cards galore and much, much more!

Behind the Scenes with Nicole Simone

Living in a two-bedroom apartment with my boyfriend and his best friend doesn’t give me much room to have a designated office. That’s why the coffee shops around my neighborhood have become my sanctuary. I order a small latte, sit at a table near the back, and get lost in my writing. 

A Look Inside Nicole’s Office:

Holiday Cheer with Nicole Simone 

Favorite holiday dessert: Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake 

Favorite holiday movie: Love Actually 

What’s your favorite winter activity? My parents live in the Northwest in a farmhouse that sits on five acres. Every year for the holidays, I make the trip up and spend my days drinking hot coca in front of a roaring fire. 

Thank you so much to everyone who joined in for Rocking The Holidays. Have a happy holiday season!!

Behind the Scenes with Danielle Annett

In order to write I need 3 things. Quite, my Macbook, and Scrivener! Those three things are my key to success. I'm easily distracted unfortunately and have to be in a quiet environment to really get ay work done and I absolutely cannot free write. I am a typer! I know so many authors who write everything out on paper first and then go back and type and I have no idea how they do it. Typing is the way I go and since I tend to hop around a lot while I write, Scrivener helps me stay organized by separating my chapters and scenes and keeping everything nice and orderly. It also prevents me from forgetting key character or location details since there are separate categories and places for all of that info to go. Have I mentioned how much I love Scrivener?!

Holiday Cheer with Danielle Annett

Favorite holiday dessert: OO this is tough, I love dessert in general. I suppose the cookies are something I always look forward to. IN particular frosted sugar cookies and ginger molasses cookies.

Thank you so much to everyone who joined in for Rocking The Holidays. Have a happy holiday season!!

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About Nicole Simone:

Nicole Simone works in digital media by day and at night, pen’s character driven romance novels that will make your mama blush. She lives in Seattle, WA with her fat bulldog named Humphrey.

Facebook | Webiste | Twitter | Goodreads

About Danielle Annett:

Danielle Annett is a reader, writer, photographer, and the blogger behind Coffee and Characters. Born in the SF Bay area, she now resides in Spokane, WA, the primary location for her Blood & Magic series.

Addicted to coffee at an early age, she spends her restless nights putting pen to paper as she tries to get all of the stories out of her head before the dogs wake up the rest of the house and vye for her attention.

You can learn more about Danielle on her website at Danielle-Annett.com or follow on on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDaniel... and on twitter @Danielle_Annett

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads

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Review: Archangel's Storm (Guild Hunter #5) by Nalini Singh

Title: Archangel's Storm
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Guild Hunter #5

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepo

With wings of midnight and an affinity for shadows, Jason courts darkness. But now, with the Archangel Neha’s consort lying murdered in the jewel-studded palace that was his prison and her rage threatening cataclysmic devastation, Jason steps into the light, knowing he must unearth the murderer before it is too late.
Earning Neha’s trust comes at a price—Jason must tie himself to her bloodline through the Princess Mahiya, a woman with secrets so dangerous, she trusts no one. Least of all an enemy spymaster.
With only their relentless hunt for a violent, intelligent killer to unite them, Jason and Mahiya embark on a quest that leads to a centuries-old nightmare… and to the dark storm of an unexpected passion that threatens to drench them both in blood.

“I’ll be home soon, princess.”

Jason story!!! :)

Before starting, let me tell you that Jason has always been a mystery to me. I couldn’t quite understand if he was a good or a bad guy. Even after finishing his own story, I still feel that there is much more to Jason than he lets on.

Raphael needs a spy inside Neha’s region to help solve the mystery surrounding the murder of Neha’s consort. Neha, of course, would be a fool to accept a spy in her region without a blood bond (a bond with someone of Neha’s line that would oblige Jason to keep the family secrets). Although Raphael is a bit hesitant about the blood bond, Jason finally accepts. But who is he going to bond with?

*drums*

Mahiya, Neha’s “niece” is just as mystery as Jason is. She’s a woman who will do anything to gain her freedom but who in the meantime remain a puppet to Neha’s plans. She follows her orders obediently and knows her place in the palace. When she first meets Jason, she thinks he’s no threat but as they begin spending more time together she begins to understand that Jason could be the man to steal her heart. For he, sees the woman behind the mask, the woman whose heart remains pure despite, living all these years with Neha.

Jason got to me. He was so different from the other males we have seen in the series. Well not that different actually. He had a rough start in life too but he’s the only one who truly knows and acknowledge where the problem lies. I was really sorry for what happened to him, especially in such a tender age.

This was a true Nalini book. I really, really loved this one. Jason and Mahiya were incredible characters. They were so alike but yet, each other had his/her own way in expressing their feelings. Since I loved this book so much, I expected their HEA to be incredible as well. They do get a HEA but to me it wasn’t an appropriate one. How can it be a HEA when one of them will be always missing?

In this book we don’t get to see much of the other characters/couples, which I think was expected since Jason is no longer in Raphael’s region and therefore can’t be in contact with all the others. I should point out though that there were many glimpses of Dmitri and Honor’s life.

In my opinion, this was the best book in the series. Maybe the romance and the action and the suspense even the drama weren’t so obvious, but that’s what kept me going. Archangel’s storm mesmerized me.

Totally recommended!

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Top Ten Best Books I’ve Read in 2014

Welcome to day one of the Top Ten of 2014 hosted by Two Chicks on Books,Reading YA Rocks, Magical Urban Fantasy Reads, and Tales of the Ravenous Reader. Today we are sharing our favorite reads of 2014. There is no particular order to the list. 

Click on cover for Goodreads

1. Wicked (A Wicked Saga #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

2. The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

3. The Darkest Touch (Lords of the Underworld #11) by Gena Showalter

4. Stone Cold Touch (The Dark Elements #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

5. After the End (After the End #1) by Amy Plum

6. Silver Shadows (Bloodlines #5) by Richelle Mead

7. Dark Skye (Immortals After Dark #14) by Kresley Cole

8. Playing With Fire (Phoenix Fire #3) by Cynthia Eden

9. Hunt the Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #11) by Alexandra Ivy

10. The 5th Wave (The Fifth Wave #1) by Rick Yancey

What are your top ten 2014 books???

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Rocking Around the Holidays: Day 19 S.L. Ellis

Rocking Around the Holidays with RockStarLit.com Authors

Hi everyone – welcome to our very first Rocking Around the Holidays. From now until December 23rd, we’re giving you the inside scoop and behind the scenes info on Rock Star Authors. 

AND…

To celebrate the holiday season there’s a HUGE contest to go along with it – which includes 2 iPad Minis, signed books by all of the authors, gift cards galore and much, much more!

Behind the Scenes with S.L. Ellis:

I have more than one writing spot in our home, but the one pictured is my favorite. This spot, in our sunlit great room has everything on my "necessary" list. First, I make sure there is a fresh pot of coffee at the ready. When it's the least bit chilly outside, I'll wrap up in the animal print throw that's always within arm's reach. The pillows are set in the corner of the couch in just the right position for me to lean back and stretch out. I'll reach over and pull my laptop into my lap and that's about all it takes for me to get in the mood to write. 

Holiday Cheer with S.L. Ellis 

How do you get ready to start the holidays? 

 We’ve always started the holiday season with baking and decorating cookies. It’s something that whole families can do together. 

Follow Along with Rocking the Holidays tomorrow, December 21st where author Lorelei James will be featured on the sites listed below, plus there will be ways to enter the contest daily!

http://www.rustysreading.com

http://www.iscreambooks.com

http://cruisingsusanreviews.com

http://www.PerusingPrincesses.com

http://www.snarkymomreads.com

www.threegirlsandabookobsession.com

http://www.lulofangirl.com

https://www.facebook.com/submitanddevour 

http://anaussiegirlswildbookaddiction.blogspot.com

http://bujoijoi22.com

http://krisandvikbooktherapycafe.com/

www.mommassecretbookobsession.blogspot.com

Giveaway: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About S.L. Ellis:

S. L. Ellis is from a small town in Michigan, where life consisted of family and work. After a decade of working in various departments of a large healthcare system, Ellis was ready for a fresh start.

A move to Florida and a few days on the beach improved her disposition a hundred-fold. Suddenly, writing became more than a thought. Classes were taken, workshops worked, and a few books written.

Website • Twitter • Facebook

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Review: Archangel's Blade (Guild Hunter #4) by Nalini Singh

Title: Archangel's Blade
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Guild Hunter #4

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepo

The severed head marked by a distinctive tattoo on its cheek should have been a Guild case, but dark instincts honed over hundreds of years of life compel the vampire Dmitri to take control. There is something twisted about this death, something that whispers of centuries long past...but Dmitri's need to discover the truth is nothing to the vicious strength of his response to the hunter assigned to decipher the tattoo.
Savaged in a brutal attack that almost killed her, Honor is nowhere near ready to come face to face with the seductive vampire who is an archangel's right hand, and who wears his cruelty as boldly as his lethal sensuality...the same vampire who has been her secret obsession since the day she was old enough to understand the inexplicable, violent emotions he aroused in her.
As desire turns into a dangerous compulsion that might destroy them both, it becomes clear the past will not stay buried. Something is hunting...and it will not stop until it brings a blood-soaked nightmare to life once more...

“I will love you even when I am dust on the wind.”

*Beware: Spoilers ahead*

Finally!!

After reading Archangel’s consort, I was so disappointed. So, after reading this one, I can say that I’m ready for more.

First thing first, some background story. As most of you may know, Dmitri is one of the seven of Raphael’s. Raphael’s league of seven consists of seven powerful and trusted angels and vampires (Aodhan, venom, Jason, Dmitri, Illium, Galem and Naasir). Dmitri is one of the oldest vampires and Raphael’s second hand. But what many of you don’t know is that Dmitri never wanted to be a vampire.

After brutally losing his wife and two children, Dmitri wants nothing but to join his family. When Raphael gives him the opportunity to join his then forming seven, Dmitri finds some hope. Needless to say, Dmitri accepts.

Now, years later, Dmitri hasn’t changed a bit. Dark, edgy and dangerous, he dominated the streets of New York. I have to admit that in the beginning of the series, Dmitri wasn’t my favorite one but after witnessing his past, I understand why he’s the man he is now.

As long as the romantic part of the book, I can say that I was disappointed. Honor was a great heroine with a hunted past of her own. How she managed to maintain her humanity id beyond me. But she did and that’s what matters in the end.

My problem was with neither Honor now Dmitri. I can’t say I loved them but I can say that I liked them. They just didn’t work out for me. Honor needed a patient, sweet man while Dmitri needed his wife. He couldn’t be with Honor because he couldn’t give her what she needed the most, help. He was stubborn, adamant, always did what he wanted and never discussed anything with Honor. I get it. He was in love with his long gone wife all these years and I can’t judge him. But since you know you cannot love someone else then why are you giving hope to them! Honor had been through much, she didn’t need Dmitri’s pity.

So yeah, all the while I kept thinking that maybe the author was going to bring his wife back to life and give Honor a better match.

What was really weird was seeing Raphael and Elena from Dmitri and Honor’s point of view. After three whole books about them, I didn’t think I could handle their “relationship” any more. But I did miss them a little (weird I know!). we also go to see Illium (who I love), venom (who I’m beginning go like) and Jason (who I’m not sure how I feel about).

In the end, I believe, everything worked out. Both Dmitri and honor got what they were looking for and had their HEA.

Once again, I can’t say that I loved this book but truth is, I enjoyed it! 

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WAITING ON WEDNESDAY #22 The Wicked Will Rise (Dorothy Must Die #2) by Danielle Paige

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine and is where we can talk about books we are looking forward to being released.

Title: The Wicked Will Rise

Author: Danielle Paige

Series: Dorothy Must Die #2

Expected publication: March 31st 2015

Goodreads

To make Oz a free land again, Amy Gumm was given a mission: remove the Tin Woodman’s heart, steal the Scarecrow’s brain, take the Lion’s courage, and then Dorothy must die....
But Dorothy still lives. Now the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked has vanished, and mysterious Princess Ozma might be Amy’s only ally. As Amy learns the truth about her mission, she realizes that she’s only just scratched the surface of Oz’s past—and that Kansas, the home she couldn't wait to leave behind, may also be in danger. In a place where the line between good and evil shifts with just a strong gust of wind, who can Amy trust—and who is really Wicked?

What are you waiting on Wednesday??? 

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