Red Palace (White Hart #2) by Sarah Dalton - Review by Kimmy

Hi folks,

I'm so excited to share the following review with you all:

Red Palace (White Hart #2)

by Sarah Dalton

Released: 19th September 2014

Rating:

**Disclaimer - I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

Summary:

I am here when you run from me,

You cannot touch me, but I make you cold.

I am there in the faint of heart,

But rarely with the daring, and bold.
One by one the members of court fall, cursed into a deep sleep. Silence spreads through the castle, and only Mae Waylander stands.

To break the curse, Mae must face a formidable opponent. She is the only one with a chance to restore order to the Red Palace, but she is unprepared for the trials that await her. She is brave at heart, but is her bravery enough?

In this thrilling follow up to White Hart, Mae faces her toughest challenge yet. With temptation, fear, and evil in her path, can she complete her task? And what will she lose in doing so?

Book two in the White Hart series.

Review:

Yay, its finally here.  I have been counting down the days until this book was available.  The lovely Sarah Dalton contacted me asking if I would be interesting in reading and reviewing an arc copy of Red Palace.  I almost bit her hand off at the opportunity lol.

For those of you who are new to the White Hart series, you can read my review of the first book by clicking here.  This is one series you want to get your hands on!

The first book left us hanging with a major cliffhanger.  It sucked having to wait, but it was so worth it.  Immediately drawn back into Mae's world, we continue on her journey as craft-born.  Mae has grown into a brave young woman, her life dramatically changed since we first met her and unfortunately for Mae, its just the tip of the iceberg.  Her newest challenge is to face fear itself, supported by two great characters, Mae takes us on another epic adventure!

Red Palace is an amazing fantasy story full of magic, feels and much much more.  Sarah Dalton has a gift in being able to pull her readers into the book and leave you addicted and wanting more.  Again the ending of the second book.....why do you do this to me woman!?!?! lol I need the 3rd book like now!!! 

So what are you waiting for, get this book added to your Goodreads shelf, spread the word to your fellow readers and go get it.  This is an amazing series!

Feeling lucky? Head over to Goodreads and enter the competition for your chance to win a signed paperback.  Good luck!

Congratulations to Sarah Dalton, may you have many future successes!

Useful Links

Goodreads Page

Sarah Dalton Website

Goodreads Competition
Amazon UK
Barnes & Noble

Rinny's Waiting On Wednesday #4

Hey peeps, 

Welcome to this weeks Waiting on Wednesday!

This week I am going to give you a look at what I am currently excited to read.

 Waiting On Release

Okay so this is top of my waiting on list now and will be till April next year!!! I know right. It is all ready getting to me, i want this book like 2 days ago when I finished The King lol. Expected publication: April 7th 2015. Book 13 in the black dagger brotherhood series.

Blurb :

Two brothers bound by more than blood fight to change a brutal destiny in the heart-wrenching new novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood by #1 New York Times best selling author J. R. Ward.

Trez “Latimer” doesn't really exist. And not just because the identity was created so that a Shadow could function in the underbelly of the human world. Sold by his parents to the Queen of the S’Hsibe as a child, Trez escaped the Territory and has been a pimp and an enforcer in Caldwell, NY for years- all the while on the run from a destiny of sexual servitude. He’s never had anyone he could totally rely on... except for his brother, iAm.

iAm’s sole goal has always been to keep his brother from self-destructing- and he knows he’s failed. It’s not until the Chosen Serena enters Trez’s life that the male begins to turn things around... but by then it’s too late. The pledge to mate the Queen’s daughter comes due and there is nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, and no negotiating.

Trapped between his heart and a fate he never volunteered for, Trez must decide whether to endanger himself and others- or forever leave behind the female he’s in love with. But then an unimaginable tragedy strikes and changes everything. Staring out over an emotional abyss, Trez must find a reason to go on or risk losing himself and his soul forever. And iAm, in the name of brotherly love, is faced with making the ultimate sacrifice...

Useful Links

Goodreads

Amazon UK

Pre order Amazon US
Author's Website

Waiting On Reading

So i have a pile of books to review and have been struggling to get through them due to health and family reasons. (Thank god i do not have Kimmy's Net Galley obssession problems lol) Slowly i am starting to see the light. This one has been on my list for awhile and i am still as excited to get to read it. Sorry Jean Marie Bauhaus.

Blurb :

Meg the pixie never had much interest in drab, boring humans; that is, until she spies skin of gleaming brass peeking out from beneath the sleeve of reclusive inventor Phineas Farnsworth. Her curiosity sufficiently piqued, Meg follows Phineas to his home, where an unfortunate encounter with his cat leaves her forever changed -- both inside and out.

Useful Links

Goodreads

Amazon UK

Amazon US

That's all from me today, I hope you enjoyed this weeks Waiting on Wednesday post.  Watch this space for reviews on the above.  Don't forget that you may be able to find these titles on other devices/shops such as ibooks, Barnes & Noble or your local bookstores.

Don't forget to comment below and tell us if you have read any of the above and recommend them, what your waiting on reading or your thoughts on this weeks post!

Cover reveal for Thunderlight, Book 2 of the Dragonian Series by Adrienne Woods and Giveaway!

OMG, OMG, OMG, It is finally here!!

The cover looks amazing.  I love it.  Just as Elena thought she had gotten a handle on her new life, things look like they are going to take another turn for the worse, or will they?  I cannot wait to read this.  If you haven't started reading this series, you need to get the first book 'Firebolt' and get caught up.  Click here to see Kimmy's review of Firebolt.

Thunderlight 

The Dragonian Series, Book 2

by Adrienne Woods

Title: Thunderlight
Series: The Dragonian Series, Book 2
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Publisher: Fire Quill Publishers
Release Date: 21 November 2014

Book Description:

Vibrant, scale swathed wings… Abilities that can be harnessed by a chosen few… Dragons… 

All this may seem like old news, but for sixteen year-old Elena Watkins the world of Paegeia is not finished revealing all its secrets. During a summer break intended for relaxation, she discovers that her harrowing adventure to retrieve the King of Lion sword wasn’t the destiny foretold by the cryptic Viden, a dragon with the ability to see a person’s true fate. The words inked onto the page of the mysterious Book of Shadows remains black and Elena must return to Dragonia Academy to discover their true meaning.

Upon her return to the magnificent castle she has to face a challenge of a different kind, keeping her boyfriend Lucian McKenzie, the Prince of Tith and love of her life, away from the dangerous new student, Paul Sutton. As a Wyvern, Paul has made it his mission to claim Elena as his rider but he is proving to be more perilous than at first glance.   

Everyone knew that Wyverns were bad news, and just as evil as the darkness that lurked inside Blake Leaf, the Rubicon forced to fight against his inner nature every day. But Elena can see a small light lurking in the darkness, a destiny still unfulfilled; to prove that Wyverns can be claimed.  

Will Lucian’s dark secret about Wyverns and Elena’s need to prove their true nature cause their love to be torn apart? And which of Elena’s friends will be sacrificed this time if she is wrong?

Excerpt:

Chapter One - Castle of Etan

Anger, betrayal, and hate turned my stomach acid, it consumed my mind and I watched as bottles, papers and books on the desk, flew off and crushed to the floor.  A maid rushed to my side. She didn’t say anything, but her eyes reflected fear. The dustpan in her hand trembled as she started to sweep up the jagged shards of glass. Rising from the floor she began to straighten the books that had fallen to the floor in a heap. Every few seconds I would notice her eyes dart nervously in my direction as if a mere breath would make me lash out as her with my outstretched hand. 

I touched her face gently until my hand reached her neck, tightening slowly as my anger began to rise once again. My grip tightened around her soft, shapely neck as I lifted her up from her position on the floor at my feet.  Listening carefully I could hear her heart fluttering like a bird trapped inside a cage. 

“How did I become this way?” I thought, giving voice to my reality softly.  She just stared at me with round, brown unblinking eyes. Her eyes were sunken deep into the surface of her face and her cheek bones were sharply defined.  Looking at her sullen face made me feel worse.  I lifted up my other hand and struck the woman hard across her cheek.  A cry left her mouth and I threw her from me as if she weighed nothing. She skidded across the floor landing in a heap against a wall of cold, unforgiving stone.  If I was a dragon I would blast fire, redeem this wretched place to a pile of insignificant ashes.  Two other maids, hearing the startled cry, rushed into the room. Their eyes were wide as they took in the room and the immobile heap near the far wall. “Sorry, me lord,” the older one said. “She’s new, we will train her better.”  They picked up the maid who had come too and begun sobbing. She clutched the side of her face, covering the huge red hand print where I struck her.  I nodded. The old maid knew her place well, although I still didn’t care for her name, she knew where she stood.

I plunged myself down onto the chair and closed my eyes. A silent roar growled inside of me lighting a fire of rage deep in my core.  The girl had made it.  The Rubicon saved her life, so a part of him was still fighting me. I could still see her eyes searching mine. They bore into my soul, seeking answers. How was this possible! The wall wouldn’t allow any human to go to the other side.

Albert’s laughter echoed inside the castle; a startling reminder that good would always win. He would pay dearly for this. I would find a way, but I promised she wouldn’t live much longer.  I got up, rubbed my face hard and let the emotion of my anger escaped my lips. The rage that emanated from deep within me overpowered the haunting laughter and echoed throughout the entire castle.  “Master,” Cain’s voice interrupted my thoughts.  “Speak my loyal servant,” I said out loud. “What is the news?”

“Everything is in place. We won’t fail you,” his voice said in my head.  I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and let it out hard. “We’ll see.”

About the Author:



Adrienne Woods was born and raised in South Africa where she still lives with her husband and two beautiful little girls. When she’s not dabbing into all sorts of genres, written under various different pen names, she’s busy being a mother, and a loving wife. Family always comes first and her hobby has to wait till she gets a chance to write.

You can reach her at:

Facebook pages:

The Dragonian Series 

Adrienne Woods  

Firebolt    

Authors Goodreads Profile

Google+ 

Twitter

Blogs:

The Dragonian Series  Adrienne Woods

Pinterest  



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Arc Review: Stolen Songbird by Danielle L. Jensen - by Kimmy

Hey all,

Another first in a series I am so excited to share:

Stolen Songbird (The Malediction Trilogy #1)

by Danielle L. Jensen

Release Date: 1st April 2014

Rating:

**Disclaimer - I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

Summary:

For five centuries, a witch’s curse has bound the trolls to their city beneath the ruins of Forsaken Mountain. Time enough for their dark and nefarious magic to fade from human memory and into myth. But a prophesy has been spoken of a union with the power to set the trolls free, and when Cécile de Troyes is kidnapped and taken beneath the mountain, she learns there is far more to the myth of the trolls than she could have imagined.

Cécile has only one thing on her mind after she is brought to Trollus: escape. Only the trolls are clever, fast, and inhumanly strong. She will have to bide her time, wait for the perfect opportunity.

But something unexpected happens while she’s waiting – she begins to fall for the enigmatic troll prince to whom she has been bonded and married. She begins to make friends. And she begins to see that she may be the only hope for the half-bloods – part troll, part human creatures who are slaves to the full-blooded trolls. There is a rebellion brewing. And her prince, Tristan, the future king, is its secret leader.

As Cécile becomes involved in the intricate political games of Trollus, she becomes more than a farmer’s daughter. She becomes a princess, the hope of a people, and a witch with magic powerful enough to change Trollus forever.

Review:

Browsing through Netgalley I came across this book.  Again another book cover that instantly caught my attention.  After reading the description, I knew I had to read it.  I submitted my request, and then was lucky enough to receive an eArc copy of this book from Angry Robot Ltd.

In the first two days of reading this book, I got to 97% completion.  I just couldn't put it down.  I would have finished the book that evening on the second read if it weren't for a combination of having to get up for work in about 5 hours and not wanting to finish the book because again its another series and I just wanted to keep reading more and more!

What is it with me reading the first books of a series lately that aren't even released yet.  I'm killing myself here lol.  Not only do I have to wait until the book is officially released, but then I need to wait for the next book in the series....arghhhh....gief now!

This book is such a beautiful story.  A world filled with fantasy, romance and politics.  An introduction to a hidden, magical place, full of a race that we thought only existed in fairytales.  So well described, you have no problems imagining it.  You get to experience Cécile's emotions as she is torn away from her dream life, forced by a magical bind in marriage to a prince of a cruel race.  Grow with Cécile as things begin to change, making new friends, experiencing feelings she didn't think would be possible and discovering powers that she never realised she had.

So what are you waiting for, get this book added to your Goodreads shelf, spread the word to your fellow readers and get ready to purchase this book on the 1st April 2014.  This is going to be another amazing series!

Congratulations to Danielle L.Jenson, may you have many future successes!

Useful Links

Goodreads Page

Danielle L. Jensen's Website

Arc Review: White Hart (White Hart #1) - Sarah Dalton by Kimmy

Hi folks,

I'm so excited to share the following review with you all:

White Hart (White Hart #1)

by Sarah Dalton

Release Date: 1st March 2014

Rating:

**Disclaimer - I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

Summary:

Mae never asked to be craft-born. She never wanted that burden.

The realm needs magic again, and the the King of Aegunlund has been waiting for the first craft-born girl to marry his son, Prince Casimir.

In Mae's town of Halts-Walden, the ambitious miller claims his daughter Ellen is craft-born. Mae knows this is a load of hogwash, but she's glad Ellen will have the unfortunate pleasure of becoming queen instead of her. All she has to do is sit back and wait until Casimir and Ellen are married, then she will finally be free of the threat of her fate. But on that day an event so shocking and terrible occurs that Mae finds herself entering the neighbouring cursed forest on a quest she never thought she'd have to follow. 

Join Mae as she rides her white stag through the Waerg Woods with a pampered prince at her heels. She's out for revenge and nothing, no one, will get in her way.

Review:

I had been doing a bit of searching through Goodreads, looking for books to add to my anticipated reads 2014 list.  Upon seeing this cover, it instantly caught my attention.  So simple, yet effective.  A proud mythical creature beckoning me into its world.  Inviting me on an adventure!

From the first page I was instantly hooked.  The storyline was so well written, the progression unrushed.  Mae is such a loveable character, a free spirit and yearning for adventure.  The authors writing style leaves nothing to the imagination.  Everything has just the right amount of detail, you almost feel like your there, your Mae and this is your journey.  

All 3 times I picked this up to read, I found it so hard to put down, on the 3rd time I was finished.  Finished the book with a cliffhanger...why do you do this to me!?! lol.  But this is exactly the kind of series I love, ending a book the way this one ended, just makes you want more!

It pains me knowing that this book is only getting released next month.  I need the next books in the series now, I must know what happens next!

So what are you waiting for, get this book added to your Goodreads shelf, spread the word to your fellow readers and get ready to purchase this book on the 1st March 2014.  This is going to be one amazing series!

Feeling lucky? Head over to Goodreads and enter the competition for your chance to win a signed paperback.  Good luck!

Congratulations to Sarah Dalton, may you have many future successes!

Useful Links

Goodreads Page

Sarah Dalton Website

Goodreads Competition
Amazon UK
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords

Rinny's 2014 Anticipated Book Releases

I have seen quite a few people making a list of their most anticipated 2014 releases, so I thought why not join in. I can not tell you how hard this list was to keep from spiralling out of control. So I have tried to keep it too fourteen you know 2014 lol. I won't go posting all the blurbs but will link the Goodreads pages (linked on pics). I will also include expected release date.

So let's get started :

1 - Soul Reflection by Lorraine Sears  expected 13.12.14.

I cannot wait this is the book I am most excited about. I read the first in the series a couple of weeks ago and posted  a review here on the blog. I cannot stop thinking of the first book, the characters and the possibilities.

2 -  The King (#12 in the black dagger brotherhood series) by J.R Ward. expected 1.4.14

I love this series and I know each book is a do not put down read for me.

3 – Nil by Lynne Matson  expected 4.3.14

I first came across this book in a youtube booktube video. It sounds so intriguing and different to what I normally read. 

4 – Dissonance (Dissonance #1) by Erica O'Rourke expected 22.7.14

The cover for this looks so gorgeous and the blurb just spoke to me. I have previously wondered what it would  be like if there was alternate worlds formed from our choices. Should be a interesting read.

5 – Free To Fall by Lauren Miller expected 13.5.14

I cannot wait to read this sounds so interesting and similar to a poem I wrote when I was in my teens. 

6 – The Hunted One (end of days #1) by Meg Collett expected 17.1.14

Sounds interesting has a good intriguing cover, angels and a start of a new series all equals reasons that I have to read this book.

7 – All That Glows by Ryan Graudin expected 11.2.2014

Gorgeous cover and sounds like a interesting book with fae.

8 – The Legend Of Me by Rebekah. L .Purdy expected 2014

Love the cover, sounds interesting perhaps a little like the film The Village.

9 – Forget Me by K.A.Harrington expected 14.8.14

Looks like an interesting read full of secrets and lies.

10 – To All The Boys I Loved before by Jenny Han expected 22.4.14

Not my usual read but that’s one of my readaloutions for this year. Sounds interesting.

11 – Hexed by Michelle Kays expected 10.06.14

Sounds interesting and another new author for my readaloution.

12 – Dear Killer by Katherine Ewell expected 1.4.14

Sounds intriguing and I love books like this . Nothing like a good thriller.

13 – Written In The Stars by Ali Harris expected 5.6.14

Not my usual read, sounds interesting and a nice summer read for me. Like the thought of seeing the two ways her life could pan out. Which will she choose?

14 – The Skinwalker's Apprentice by Claribel Ortega  expected 24.2.14

Sounds like my kind of book. Cant wait to read.

What books are you looking forward too? Comment below!