Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Soldier (Talon Saga #3) by Julie Kagawa - Available Today



THE PRICE OF FREEDOM IS EVERYTHING 

When forced to choose between safety with the dragon organization Talon and being hunted forever as an outcast, Ember Hill chose to stand with Riley and his band of rogue dragons rather than become an assassin for Talon. She's lost any contact with her twin brother, Dante, a Talon devotee, as well as Garret, the formerenemy soldier who challenged her beliefs about her human side.As Ember and Riley hide and regroup to fight another day, Garret journeys alone to the United Kingdom, birthplace of the ancient and secret Order of St. George, to spy on his former brothers and uncover deadly and shocking secrets that will shake the foundations of dragons and dragon-slayers alike and place them all in imminent danger as Talon's new order rises.

Bright Blaze of Magic (Black Blade #3) by Jennifer Estep


Bad Things Always Come In Threes…

As a thief, I'm good at three things: hiding in the shadows, getting in and out unseen, and uncovering secrets. I put these skills to work for the Sinclair Family, one of the magical mobs that run the tourist town of Cloudburst Falls. 

Everyone knows Victor Draconi wants to take over all the other Families--and kill every last Sinclair. What they don't know is that I'm on to him, and no way will I let the man who murdered my mom get away with hurting all the other people I care about. Especially when I've got places to break into, stuff to steal, and Devon Sinclair fighting right by my side… 


Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/1J3IwsC
Amazon print: http://amzn.to/1hMqgex
Barnes & Noble: http://tinyurl.com/jqngbfv
Books-A-Million: http://tinyurl.com/ntoznfd
IndieBound: http://tinyurl.com/pjlouyp
iBooks: http://tinyurl.com/hazj2ay
Google Play: http://tinyurl.com/oq467ex
Kobo: http://tinyurl.com/p4q9mm5
Audible: http://tinyurl.com/gvxw3l6
Amazon audiobook: http://amzn.to/1RMCka0

Britt's cover reveal for Sheri-Lynn Marean Dracones Revelations!

Okay Ya'll might remember my earlier review for Dracones Awakening. And, if not you can read it by clicking the title :).

And one thing I loved the most about that book in the beginning was the cover. The art is simply beautiful! You want a reminder? OF COURSE you do! Because it's triple chocolate truffle drizzled in caramel for the sight ballz!


I mean look at her eyes! Ugh I want her eyes. But, what's more is look at his half transition. Dragon Shifter Hotness! Drooooolz.

So in Dracones Awakening we lose a character, and it devistates one of our male leads. (I'm trying not to spoil, did ya notice? Didja, didja?) Until nearly the very end when he learns of some very important facts! Which is where Book 2 comes in.

Now I hope y'all appreciate what a nuisance I am. I have kept in contact with this author. (And she's totally sweet and never complains about my questions.) So when I started asking questions about Book 2, we got onto the topic of the cover art and how much I FanGirl it, which lead to this!

Sheri-Lynn Marean has bestowed a great honor on me, allowing me to be one of the first to reveal the cover for Dracones Revelations! So, without further ado, let me allow your eyebibbles to feast upon another smexy dragon shifter! And the blurb of awesomeness.
Tahh-daaa!



Dracones Revelations

"At the young age of only seven, the Ilyium swept through Samarias’s village in a brutal massacre. Sami, his brother, his best friend, and her father fled their world for Earth, making a new home in Washington State. At nine, Sami’s father arrived and yanked his boys away from the security of their new home. At ten, they returned—broken, and silent. 
Now at twenty-one, Sami continues to hide the secrets of the past, pretending everything is fine. But it’s all a lie. With his dragon powers awakening, Sami longs for freedom from the pain and guilt, along with a soul mate of his own. 
When Sami recently infiltrated an enemy compound and witnessed the Ilyium send a woman to a fiery death, it hit him hard, but he can no longer pretend anymore. Everything is not as it seems. After learning the woman is alive, and somehow connected to Sami, his world is turned upside down. Confused, angry, and with his emotions unraveling, Sami loses control. When he is called on to fly to Calgary to rescue someone else in trouble, strange things happen, and now he comes face to face with the demons of his past. Sami has some brutal decisions to make, possibly sacrificing what he desires most in order to do the right thing. 
 Dracones Revelations is the second book in the Dracones series for readers age 17+. If you are a fan of dark, steamy paranormal romance, get Sami’s story today and be swept into the world of Dragons, Phoenix shifters, Night and Daywalkers, Magic, sensual heat and the revelations of Sami’s past." 

Okay so I just stared for a total of 13 minutes. Yup, side tracked. Anywhoooo.
I don't know where to start. So let's start with the small list. The stoooopid negativity.

1. Not really negitive at all, but I pictured Sam differently. 
That's all.

Now what I love! The artist Mihaela Voicu does another amazing job. I absolutely adore her take on the transition. You can tell his dragon is coming out, although I personally think his blondness would be sexier with more forest green. But that is neither here nor there. Because.. Well look at those abs! Who gives a shit if it's Forest Green or Lime..those abs.

Now! I know that I KNOW who that sexy chick is. But dayum! She's so mysterious. It feels like id forget her each time just so I can see her for the first time again! And I bet shes going to be a handful for our Sami!

I cannot wait to read and share Dracones Revelations with you! If you would like to pre order this book I'm gonna reveal the link to that also..in a sec. First I'm going to provide the link to Dracones Awakening because if you haven't read it yet, you need to! For only 99 cents!


Now for the preorder:



Friday, April 22, 2016

Britt's review of DemiGods & Monsters by Raye Wagner. Sphinx series.


First can I say, whoever this cover model is, I'd like to know where I can order me some of him. I'll have sweet dreams tonight ;).

Now on to the reviewing stuff.

UGH! Another one!
And I say that with the utmost respect.
I LOVED this one too! And was heartbroken when the end came to soon. Another well written, 5 star deserving read.

Since most of Ms. Wagners reader will not have read this yet I will try to be as respectful of spoilers as I can, but I make no promises.


To follow the form of my review on Curse of the Sphinx, let's get down to character evaluation.

Athan: I was so upset for Athan in the end of Book One. He truely wanted hope, you could tell he wouldn't listen to his father's advice. But, Hope heard what she did and split. I knew we would open this story with him searching for her and he didn't let me down. He proves to be loyal and resourceful, and even when things are strained he always has Hopes best interests in mind. I was thoroughly impressed with how he handles competition for Hopes attention, which brings me to the newest character:

Xan: Now this guy seriously greases my gears. From his snarky attitude, to the marshmallow inside, armed with dimples and tatz, he is a Bullseye on the Brittaini's Book boyfriend lust..I mean list. YA or not.. Nummy. I am so #TeamXan. Not for hope.. For me. Lol.

Hope: Speak of the devil.. Or Sphinx as the case may be. I loved her character growth, she's actually doing something for herself for once. She may be following her mentors schedule for the most part but all her motivation is self centered and I say it looks good on her. She's faced with the boy issues but you can tell where her heart is, and I think it's great that she sticks to her guns even in the face of DemiGod Candy and confusion.

Now, Krista doesn't make an appearance but we go get some more snooty twats, and egotistical males to annoy our main characters. If I could throat punch Obelia, I totally would.

And, without treading on ice that's too thin I must say Hope certainly has some big players in her corner. I may even be able to forgive a little bit of Apollos crazy curse urges for how he handled his sons! Just saying.

5 out of FIVE all the way. I'm bouncing for book three!

Britt's Review of The Curse of the Sphinx by Raye Wagner


First I have to say, Greek Mythology in reality + Cursed Heroine = Gonna read it regardless. But, I did receive this book as part of a launch for book two. And, honestly... I want to nah-nah-na-Boo-Boo everyone who didn't take advantage of the offer :)!

It took me approximately a chapter to get hooked, and I was fed bread crumbs the whole way through until the end. Which, I must say hit me like a brick wall. Not only did my reader heart mourn the fact there wasn't more to read, it was a total cliff hanger. Now, normally I really dislike cliff hangers, but this one was well written and created a great need for book 2.

Let's talk about some of these lead characters.

Athan: without spoiling to much, this son of Hermes leaves me on the fence. I really don't like that he leaves Haley's theory of trying to make our heroine jealous UN confirmed. He is after all HERMES son. I want to see that he's genuine. But, other than that complaint he's a pretty amazing male lead. He thinks like a guy, but in the end almost always does the right thing. (If he has the facts ;). ) On a side note his aunt makes this frigging book lol.

Hope: It's really hard to critique her. This is the first story I've read with a Sphinx as a main character. So she's kind of setting the bar for future characters such as herself, and its set pretty high. She's definitely a teenager, she has her insecurities and she makes her mistakes. But she's strong, mentally, emotionally, and physically. She gets through some tough times with nothing but her on strength of will. So far I'm incredibly impressed that I'm still on the heroines side. Normally half was through the first book a heroine will annoy me enough that I lose interest.

Haley is an amazing best friend even if she's flakey lol She just kind of happeneds I'm still at a loss in where her loyalty popped in from :).

And let's talk about the evil bitches that every highschool has. Krista. I wish I could Bippity-bobbity-Blow her head off. Mission accomplished with this one Ms. Wagner, touché.

All in all I am satisfied. Which is actually saying a bit. The writing is well done. They story is creative. The Cliffhanger makes me gravitate towards NEED for the next book. Cannot wait to see what's to come :)! I'm going to give this a 4 out of FIVE. If the next book is as awesome I see no problem passing out stars like party favors. If you like greek mythology, this is definitely a series you want to miss. 

Friday, April 8, 2016

Britt's Review of Demon King (Book 2) by Kassandra Lynn


Demon King

Whooohooo! Book Two of the Demon Kingdom Fairy Tales Series. Yesssss!
Okay now that I have that out of the way I can get serious. As in I seriously love this series so far!
 Let's get you a blurb so I can continue to gush about what I liked.

"Adriana has returned to her kingdom and ascended the throne as the rightful Demon King. However, she finds her home on the brink of war. Heartbroken and drained from a forbidden love, Adriana must find a way to assume her responsibilities, stop a war, and somehow unravel the family secrets that threaten to destroy her world. It’s a tremendous feat, but one she may be destined for."

I'm going to start with what I didn't like because the list is short.
- I enjoy the flow of the story so I wouldn't want just filler, but the story just isn't long enough for me. I like a longer read. But that definitely doesn't detract from anything.

Now on to what I did like:

- Adri fell down... Like A LOT. She tripped over things, and was pushed down many times in the first books, but it just keeps happening! Now you maybe saying doesn't that get annoying?! And you would think so, but I found it endearing as a clutz myself. It becomes something to expect from her, and worth a chuckle..Oh Adri...

- She is the perfect definition of a Good Ruler. She does what she has to do, but she doesn't like any of it, and her morals are clear on innocents.

" Im glad they halted the attack. I don’t think I can stomach seeing another lifeless body or severed limb without throwing up. More than once, I wanted to call a stop to it, but Demon Kings don’t have the right to back out or display fear. We are the very definition of fear. If I can’t do that, I might as well give up my family’s throne and my life to the usurper. If I don’t succeed today, then the usurper will be the Demon King and I will forever be hunted down until I die. This is the way of demons and the price we pay for the throne."

-Aldric, the mage the tried to make Adri his summon beast is NO WHERE to be found. W00T, take that looooserr.

-. “Princess Salvene gets to see first hand Keldrin's love, and NOT for her!

-Finally getting a look into "Sadi". And Drake ;)

-And can we take a second to admire the cover. All her art is just beautifully done!

- Fairyland. Nuff said :).

Kassandra Lynn  knocks another one out of the park. I cannot wait for book three. Will Adri and Keldrin get that HEA I want them too?! Who is going to end up on which frigging throne! Also, I'm looking forward to finding Adri's dad! Where is he?!

The book is well written. I woill say I saw growth in the areas I wanted to see it. The characters development, and plot twists are intruiging and satisfying.

If you haven't checked out this series, and you want a GOOD read, that won't take long I'm recommending this to you. If you would like to read my review for the first book in the series, you can find it here:


5 stars Kassandra! 


Thursday, April 7, 2016

Kelley Heckart Interview

Displaying TheWolfQueen_cover_small.jpg

1. What inspired you to write about Greek Mythology with a twist to one of the most famous fairy tales?


I have loved Greek mythology since high school English class. Artemis was always my favorite Greek goddess because of her independence and refusal to wed any of Zeus’s brothers. I had this idea about writing a series based in her homeland—the wild forests and mountains of Arcadia, home to all kinds of supernatural creatures. Lycaon, the first werewolf, is the former king of Arcadia. Because of his beastly appearance, I thought I could also throw in a Beauty and the Beast theme.

2. When writing a character like Lycaon, how were you able to keep true to “Beauty and the Beast”, but add a unique twist?


Lycaon isn’t the typical hero because he’s not handsome in the normal sense and everyone hates him. Until the heroine tames him, he is kind of a jerk. He’s been living a terrible curse for 300 years and very bitter about it, so it didn’t make sense for him to be a nice guy. He’s more of an anti-hero. Even though it was tempting to make him more likable and less a beast, I wanted to stay true to his character and make him “beastly.” Then as I was working out the story, I thought it would be cool to add a twist to the beauty part of the fairy tale.

3. Why did you want to become an author?

I’ve always been a creative person and an avid reader since I was four, but I never thought I would tackle writing novels. I was a musician before becoming a writer. Writing stories happened after I got sick and used writing as a form of therapy. I think writing song lyrics and poetry helped me get started with story writing and after doing it for some time, I decided I really liked it.

4. If you could pick your top 10 book boyfriends/crush. Who would they be and what book are they from?

I tend to like non-alpha male heroes like Jamie from Outlander, Louis from Interview with the Vampire, and all of my heroes (lol). I also liked the hero from this book called The Goblin King, but I can’t remember his name. And I liked Magnus from The Snow Bride. He was a battle-scarred warrior.

5. Do you have a favorite Myth from Greek Mythology?


Yes and it’s not one of the myths from my Arcadia series. It’s the myth about Ceyx and Alcyone. They loved each other so much that neither death nor the gods could separate them. I wrote a short story based on this myth called Birds of Calm. It’s a free read that can be found on the homepage of my website.

6. We hear Authors talking about all the characters chattering away in their heads. Which character of yours is the loudest?

All of them when I’m working on a book. I hear random dialogue in my head at the most inconvenient times and have to keep a notebook and pen with me.

7. What are some of you favorite books to read?


I will read just about anything from horror to romance. I like unusual stories and tend to read off the best-selling list. One of these gems I discovered was a werewolf tale set in 16th century Prague--Werelord Thal.



8. What’s your next book going to be about?

I have to complete The Crow Maiden, the third book in the Arcadia series. It will be out in November 2016. I’m not sure if that’s going to be the last one in that series. I do have some unfinished stories waiting to be finished. I started a couple of paranormal romances, and I have a series with cursed druids. I finished the first draft of the first book. I will have to see where my muse leads me after The Crow Maiden.

9. When you are writing, what do you think is the most difficult process?

I think self-editing and doing revisions are the most difficult. It’s so hard to see errors in your own work. That’s why working with an editor is so important.

10. How do you keep your characters in line, or how do you keep your world straight without losing your story?

I have to know my characters really well and take a lot of notes. I try to make sure I stick to what a particular character will or will not do. Sometimes it means that readers might not like a character if they do something they don’t approve of, but I think it’s important not to make a change that will be out of character just to please readers.



Book Title: The Wolf Queen
Author: Kelley Heckart
Author website: http://www.kelleyheckart.com
Genre: Greek myths/fantasy/paranormal/werewolves/romance
Release date: 12/17/15
Page Count: 246
ISBN-13: 978-1519606242
ISBN-10: 1519606249
ASIN: B019HML564

Kindle Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B019HML564?ref_=pe_2427780_160035660

Trade Paperback Buy Link on amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Wolf-Queen-Book-Arcadia/dp/1519606249/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=



Blurb

The Wolf Queen
Book 2: The Arcadia Series

A new twist on Beauty and the Beast and the Greek myth of Lycaon the werewolf. A Bronze Age fantasy, adventure, and romance set in Arcadia, the wild forests of the goddess Artemis… Game of Thrones meets The Iliad…

A tormented wolf man… A mysterious girl with a terrible secret…

Alara, a princess from a foreign land, is forced to wed the sorcerer-king Aramon, a power-hungry warlord, who discovers her dark secret and wants to use her to create an invincible army. When she meets Lycaon, she must decide if she should trust the cursed, tormented half-man half-wolf who might be her enemy or her true mate.

Lycaon, once a great king until he was cursed by Zeus to be a werewolf, is drawn to the mysterious princess. He is torn between helping Alara escape and using her to gain power over those who despise him.

Secrets abound and old enemies are reunited to battle Aramon before his terrible plan is unleashed. Time is running out as the dark moon approaches. Soon, Arcadia will be overrun with an unstoppable, vicious army unless Aramon can be defeated. To prevent his victory, the cost is high. As Lycaon’s affection for Alara grows, it becomes more difficult for him to decide which to save: Arcadia or her.

****

Multi-published author Kelley Heckart lives in Arizona with her musician husband, dog, and a number of backyard “pets.” Her stories reflect her passion for ancient and medieval time periods, storytelling, and the supernatural. Inspired by the ancient Celts, her tales are filled with fierce warriors, bold women, otherworldly creatures, magic, and romance. When not writing, she works as a freelance editor and practices target archery. She can be found online at http://www.kelleyheckart.com/


Kelley Heckart
Otherworldly tales steeped in myth & magic.
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/CelticChick
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604
http://www.goodreads.com/kheckart

Rena Marks Interview


1. What inspired you to write about Vampires and Werewolves? Which race do you like more? 

Vampires and werewolves go hand in hand, like peanut butter and jelly. The race I prefer depends on the actual character involved. I like the bad-boy violence of the werewolves, but the mystique of the vampire. So I guess the answer is: it depends on my mood!

2. Why did you want to become an author?


I've always tended to live in fantasy-land, and I knew I could do this during a brief dry spell when I couldn't find anything to read. Like anything, the craft of writing is a learning curve, but the stories themselves just burst from inside me.

3. If you could pick your top 3 vampire books and top 3 werewolf books what would they be?

Bitten by Kelley Armstrong, North Wolf by M.A. Evereax, and my own Shared By Wolves. (Warning: it's erotic) As far as vampires, I still love the Sookie Stackhouse series for Eric. The books, not True Blood. The Carpathians, and the tortured Dark Hunters.

4. We hear Authors talking about all the characters chattering away in their heads. Which character of yours is the loudest?

Right now, it's Cesar from the Stargazer Series. He keeps interrupting incessantly and making me laugh!

5. Is there a part of you that you wrote with the main character?

Definitely. Anjelia battles a dark side that threatens to take control of her soul. I fight to keep mine at bay. A bit of that battle bleeds over into my heroine Afton from Kiss Me Before I Die. In fact, there's even a little in the psychic Sara from Born Again. And the three Demon heroines in my Wanton Sins series, Keara, Natalya, and Holly. Apparently it's an issue with me, LOL.

6. What’s your next book going to be about?

I'm working on my Stargazer Series right now. In 1692, a starship comes to planet Earth to see if humans are compatible with Stargazers. It lands near a small town called Salem, Massachusetts. The long journey across many light years caused the female inhabitants drastic memory loss. They had no memories of who and what they were, and were as helpless as newborn lambs. The goal was to breed with Earthlings to keep their own race from dying out. If they were successful, more Stargazers would be sent out years later to co-exist with humans. Instead, the females were slaughtered. As an apology, the American government has given parcels of land to the Stargazer species so they may form their own communities. Each stand-alone tale is that of a titled Stargazer, who had once dedicated his life to protect other species, given a reward by having the first shot at traveling to Earth to take his chances at falling in love. Currently, I'm about to release the fourth book in the series and have book 5 halfway through.

The Hunter

The Enforcer

The Defender

The Protector

The Guardian


7. When you are writing, what do you think is the most difficult process?


The end. I write out of sequence, so when I'm at the end, I have to string scenes together like puzzle pieces. It's an enormous, confusing project! I wish I could right sequentially, but it doesn't happen. I still end up moving scenes around.

8. How many books will be in the Forgotten Kisses Series?


Right now I'm almost done with the third book. Whether or not there's a fourth depends on supply and demand. The demand is for my Stargazer series right now, so I am focusing on that.

9. How do you keep your characters in line, or how do you keep your world straight without losing your story?

I don't. I let my characters be or do whatever they wish. That's the beauty of paranormal, there are no rules. If my character changes from the original story, that's growth! I'm not the same person I was in my twenties, and Anjelia shouldn't be the same person after she discovers her memory loss. One of my pet peeves is bending too many rules in the paranormal realm. I hate when an immortal dies, because it breaks the rules. And I really hate when a person is killed and resurrected without any good cause. It breaks the believability of the world.

10. If you could choose are you Team Julian or Team Leo?

That is a tough one. Originally, Leo was the villain in the story, and I killed him off. My critique partners were in an uproar over it, so I had to bring him back. Since then, he's gained a soft spot in my heart, especially since he was the one who lost the most. (Anjelia should have been his mate only.) On the other hand, Julian's whole motivation for wiping Anjelia's memories and tricking her into becoming his human servant was for love. He loves her so much, he's willing to share. He loves her so much, he's willing to accept Leo's child as his. (Book 2)

As the author, I'm going to have to reserve the right to be Team Triangle. :) Sorry for the spoiler!

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Rena Marks Forgotten Kisses Review


This is book 1 in the supernatural sharing series by Rena Marks. If you're a fan of novels with both vampires & werewolves fighting over the same woman then this may be a book you'll enjoy. All three of us read this book, however I didn't enjoy this book as much as the other two, the best way for me to describe it is that it just was not my cup of tea. It is very difficult to write a review when you do not enjoy a book, however I have and I have tried not to be biased.

Anjelia Romere falls in love with Julian Bax, master vampire of the city. Yet she is pursued relentlessly by prestigious Dr. Leo Freedman, also known as the werewolf king. Happy with Julian, her life is turned upside down when she realizes her vampire betrayed her by erasing her memory of being the wolf queen. 
Already tied for life to the master vampire as his human servant, yet still destined to be the wolf king's mate, Anjelia wonders whom to choose. 
While both offer hot passion and steamy nights, one option is insanity, the other, death.

I have given this book 3 stars because it is not a terrible book, it's just not my cup of tea and I don't want that to put anyone else off reading it.

This is a story of humans, vampires and werewolves. I did feel that there were some of the usual cliques you find in most vampire & werewolf novels however there were also some original and new ideas. It was an interesting story in that humans are aware of the supernatural world, but the majority of people are not fans of them, particularly the vampires. It follows the main character, Leah, and her relationship with the vamps and wolf's which takes some twists & turns

My one criticism about the book was the language used to describe the erotic scenes. They just made me cringe and felt some words could've been left out or things described a different way.

Overall this is not a terrible book, it's just not a story I enjoyed. If you are a fan of vampire & werewolf love stories with some erotica thrown in then I recommend this book for you.

Brittaini:

As Jem mentioned above, we all received this book. And I did enjoy it more than her.

I'm not usually a fan of love triangles, although this one puts a bit of a twist on the classic situations, with the mind wipe, and intruige.

I personally am excited to read book 2 and see where this goes. #TeamLeo. Also, without giving away to much I will gladly sing "Ding, Dong, The bitch is dead"! Whoohooo. Probably one of my favorite parts of the book.

I gave this Book a 4/5 stars. And as stated above my criticism is about the erotic scenes. The language used needs work, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed to see that growth happen in the next book ;).

Peace Love & Happy Reading
Brittaini Over & Out!



PERFEKT BALANCE


THE ÆRE SAGA: BOOK THREE

By: S.T. Bende

Genre: Upper YA Paranormal/Fantasy (Norse Mythology)

Release Date: TODAY!! April 5, 2016

Back Cover Copy

Become what you believe.


Elsa Fredriksen knows there’s a thin line between love and fear. As High Healer, she rights the wrongs committed by those who choose the darkness. But even Asgard’s secret weapon can’t undo every injury—especially when her fate is completely entwined with the god she’s trying to save.

Elsa’s in love with the Norse God of Justice. But Forse’s heart is ruled by fear—fear that the past will repeat itself; fear that opening his heart will compromise his ability to do his job; fear that he’ll hurt the one girl he desperately wants to protect. Again.

When Elsa faces off against the very monster she once swore to protect, her survival depends on a power she isn’t sure she can control. And when Forse’s worst nightmare unfolds in front of him, Elsa has to decide whether it’s more important to hold the realms in perfekt balance . . . or hold on to the guy she can’t imagine existing without.

Buy Links:

iBooks

Amazon

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Nook

Smashwords

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Perfekt Balance on Goodreads

Perfekt Balance Excerpt:

“Hold up.” Henrik held out one hand. “Where are you going? And why is Forse about to kill someone?”

We all turned to look at Forse. Sure enough, his eyes were slits, his breathing was sharp, and he had a pulsing forehead vein that rivaled Tyr’s neck one. He positively seethed anger.

“We are going to Svartalfheim,” Tyr answered coolly. The four gods in the room drew a collective gasp.

The mortal took in our reactions with practiced calm. “Which one’s Svartalfheim again?” she asked lightly.

“The worst one after Helheim,” Brynn muttered.

“It’s the realm of the dark elves,” I explained. “When the cosmos was born, the blackest souls were sent to a wasteland—a realm of isolation and soot. Svartalfheim.”

“And you’re all going there?” Mia squeaked.

“Forse, Brynn, Elsa, and I are going there.” Tyr spoke with his chin on Mia’s head. “You’re staying here with Henrik.”

“Elsa doesn’t need to go,” Forse argued.

“You of all people know how delicate this retrieval is. The perp has been a fugitive since…well, it’s been a long time. She’s being harbored by dark elves who demanded Fenrir in her place, and I have no intention of unleashing that beast again. The elves agreed to accept one of the Svartish treasures from the vault instead of the wolf, but they could very well turn on us once we get there. We need a Unifier to make sure this exchange goes peacefully. Right now, Elsa’s all we’ve got,” Tyr finished.

“Um, thanks?” I said.

“You know what I mean.” Tyr turned his gaze to me. “I don’t want to drag you into Svartalfheim any more than Forse does. I know you’re not up to speed on the peacekeeping function, and I don’t like putting you in danger. Not only are you my baby sister, but you’re a Key—you’re one of the gods we train to protect. I hate everything about this. Unfortunately, I don’t have another option.”

“I could go,” Mia offered. Her voice was shaky, but she held her head high.

“No.” Five voices sounded as one. A combination of relief and disappointment flickered across Mia’s features.

“If I’m not ready, you’re definitely not ready,” I reminded her. “I’ll get this one, and once I have a handle on this bizarre skill set I’ll pass the torch to you. I promise.”

“I’ll hold down the fort from here this time.” Mia stared me down. “But I don’t want to be on baking duty with Henrik forever.”

I swallowed. Figure this out, Elsa.

“Hey, there are worse things than baking with me.” Henrik raised an eyebrow. “I never did teach you to make my mom’s chocolate mousse cake, did I?”

Mia looked up with a small smile. “Does she use Mexican vanilla?”

“Tahitian,” Henrik countered. “And I’ve got a stash in my secret cabinet.”

“Now that that’s settled, does anyone want to tell me the name of the perp we’re retrieving from that Odin-forsaken realm?” Brynn chimed in.

I turned to my brother and waited for his answer. When he spoke, his voice was clipped.

“Runa.”

The name fell like a lead balloon at a birthday party. Brynn’s mouth dropped open, and Henrik sucked in a breath. I couldn’t see Forse’s face, but the sound of knuckles cracking behind me let me know he wasn’t happy. I could relate.

Oh dear gods. We’re going after Runa.

The room swirled in a violent vortex, and Forse gripped my arms to steady me. As he righted me in my chair, the world slowed to a standstill. Runa was more than just Forse’s psychotic ex-girlfriend. She was the monster who committed the crime—the one that changed everything.

When I finally found my voice, it came out dry and scratchy. “We’re going after Runa.”

“Yes.” Forse watched me carefully.

“And you’re charging her with high treason.”

“Yes,” Forse repeated.

“Good.”

Forse kept his hands on my arms as I breathed through my rage. “Elsa, if you don’t want to go with us we can—”

“We can what?” Tyr interrupted. “We can’t let the dark elves keep her—her crime was against Asgard, and she needs to answer to our realm for what she’s done. Not Svartalfheim. You of all gods know that.”

“I’m not letting her hurt Elsa!” Forse exploded. The words echoed off the marble countertops, piercing the normally calm kitchen.

“I’m not letting her hurt anyone!” Tyr yelled back. “And the only way I can ensure that is if I bring her to Odin!”

“Enough!” I interjected. With my emotions under control, I re-opened my abilities and sent waves of calm at Forse and Tyr. Their chests continued to rise and fall with angry breaths, but their auras reflected a slight decrease in rage. It was the best I could do. “Forse, I understand where you’re coming from. But Tyr’s right. Runa needs to be brought to justice. And since that’s you”—I tapped the justice god with my pointer finger—“and since I’ve got your back whether you like it or not, I’m going with you. Tyr’s spot on; we don’t want this exchange going bad. We can’t let her hurt anyone else. I need you to have that faith in me you promised you would.”

“I believe in you, Elsa. I’ve always known you have what it takes to master this job, even before you believed it yourself. You’re incredibly powerful, and you can do anything you set your mind to. But there are so many forces working against us these days. If anything happened to you, I’d never forgive myself.” Forse pressed his forehead to mine. His concern was sweet, and normally I’d have melted into a giggling mess at the contact, but right now I just couldn’t go there.

“Let’s make sure we’re all safe then. We’ll bring Runa in so she can be prosecuted to the fullest extent of Asgardian law.” I shot Forse a look brimming with confidence I didn’t actually possess. Since the energetic fireballs shooting between him and Tyr suggested they still operated at a six on the anger scale, it was clear I was a woefully ineffective Unifier.

And I had the job of my life ahead of me.




AUTHOR BIO:

Before finding domestic bliss in suburbia, S.T. Bende lived in Manhattan Beach (where she became overly fond of Peet’s Coffee) and Europe… where she became overly fond of McVities cookies. Her love of Scandinavian culture and a very patient Norwegian teacher inspired the books of The Elsker Saga and The Ære Saga. She hopes her characters make you smile, and she dreams of skiing on Jotunheim and Hoth.

Find S.T. on Twitter @stbende, her website (www.stbende.com), or Facebook (www.facebook.com/stbende). While you're at it, introduce yourself to @UllMyhr and @TyrFredriksen -- when they’re not saving the cosmos from dark elves, they love meeting new friends . . . especially the human kind.

Want to connect with fellow Norse god fans? S.T.'s readers have created a Facebook group! Head over to the RagnaRockstars page to chat with other readers, talk with S.T., and get access to exclusive content... including Ull POVs and sneak peeks at upcoming Ære Saga books!

AUTHOR LINKS

Connect with ST Bende at:

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Skål, y’all!

Saturday, April 2, 2016

Britt's The Alpha Male isn't the only one on the Block!


It's recently been brought to my attention by a good friend that the term "Alpha Male", is not only over used, but used incorrectly in A LOT of situations. After doing the requested Google research, I agree. So, lovely readers it's time for Brittaini to don her glasses, put up her hair and start today's lesson!

Alpha Male
Described as confident. They do their own thing and have complete confidence in what they do and how they do it. They will always have self doubts, but never allow them to to impair their thinking process and logic.
They are described as generally likable, and are armed with an arsenal of wit, charm, and personality. It's said woman are drawn to these men. They are men who enjoy being sociable, and thrive in large groups as a leader.

 Seems pretty by the book, eh? I bet your sitting there saying "Brittaini, we ALL know this already.", But! There's more just keep reading. There are apparently four other categories of male, some similar and some opposite.



The Beta Male
They're said to be shy. More introverted, and much less confident then the alpha. Experiencing more insecurities, and doubts in themselves. People tend to like these males, but they are not revered, and are more like Brother material, than Boyfriend. They are born followers that tend to stay out of the spot light.



The Omega Male
This is what I call the Villan Book Boyfriend. The bad guy that has that pull. They, like the Alpha male have extreme confidence. They are intelligent and charismatic. But unlike the Alpha, is a Lone Wolf. They prefer their own company, and do not rely on others. They don't have the trust an Alpha would give to those around him. Also a born leader, but has no sense of a higher authority.



The Sigma Male
I think this would be my favorite. Lol!
They're masterminds of manipulation, they are cunning and intuitive. They were described as the "Spider Laying a Trap". With a gift for, and I quote " swaying people to their will". They will not carry themselves the same as an Alpha, or an Omega. People will be both wary and respectful of this man. It's said they can be even more powerful than either of those males in society because of their abilities of persuasion, and their mystery. They are not a follower, nor a leader, but a Wildcard.

Now last and kinda least as far as book boyfriends go:
The Gamma Male.
This Male is invisible, metaphorically speaking of course. (But would that be an awesome perk ;) !) There is nothing about this male that will stand out or come off as spectacular. They blend. People like them, including the ladies, but he's not memerable. Hes not a born leader, or a follower. However he can take on either persona if the need arises.


Now after summarizing and contemplating, I've come to the realization that I myself have categorized male characters wrong a million times. And, it was a topic that needed to be addressed in the world of book reviews! When you review your next book keep in mind my list above and don't gush that you loved the Authors Alpha lead, if he was an Omega the whole time! ;)


So what is the man in your life?


Peace Love & Happy Reading 

If you're a dreamer, come in.
If you're a dreamer, a wisher, a liar, 
A Hope-er, A Pray-er, a magic bean buyer...
If your a pretender, come sit by my fire,
For we have some flax-golden tales to spin.
Come in!
Come in!
Come in!
Brittaini Over & Out!

Jem's - Perfekt Balance by S.T. Bende

                                       
Perfekt Balance is the third book in the Aere Saga series by S.t. Bende and is released on Tuesday 5th April. If you haven't read the first two books in the series then I recommend starting those first.

Become what you believe. 

Elsa Fredriksen knows there’s a thin line between love and fear. As High Healer, she rights the wrongs committed by those who choose the darkness. But even Asgard’s secret weapon can’t undo every injury—especially when her fate is completely entwined with the god she’s trying to save. 

Elsa’s in love with the Norse God of Justice. But Forse’s heart is ruled by fear—fear that the past will repeat itself; fear that opening his heart will compromise his ability to do his job; fear that he’ll hurt the one girl he desperately wants to protect. Again.

When Elsa faces off against the very monster she once swore to protect, her survival depends on a power she isn’t sure she can control. And when Forse’s worst nightmare unfolds in front of him, Elsa has to decide whether it’s more important to hold the realms in perfekt balance . . . or hold onto the guy she can’t imagine existing without.

Perfekt Balance follows Elsa as the main character, who is Tyr's sister and whom we first met in Perfekt Order.
As Elsa is the current Unifier for Asgard, a job she hardly knows anything about (she is standing in until Mia can take up the role), she is taken along on a mission with Tyr, Brynn and Forse to the dark elf realm of Svartalfheim. Forse is not happy about Elsa being bought along as, if you've read the rest of the series, we all know that there are some deep hidden feelings between the pair of them that I've been desperately hoping gets resolved.

I really loved this book and like all of S.t. Bende's books it's incredibly well written. I'm not quite sure how S.t. does it, but just when you think she can't top her last book, she does. The depths of characters and the world building she creates is just something else, she draws me so deeply into her worlds that I feel like I'm there and forget that really I'm just back in grey, rainy London on Midgard. I also love how there is a mixture of Swedish and Norwegian words used in her books, Hei Hei and jag elsker deg have become new favourite words of mine since reading S.t. books.
I love how we still get to see all the characters from the other books (especially happy as Tyr is my favourite) and the relationships she has between them all. I have to admit that there were certain parts with the interaction between Tyr, Elsa & Forse that had me laughing out loud. This book actually had me on the edge of my seat a bit more than the previous two, there were also some parts that touched my heart more than the other two books did.

I don't have a favourite book from S.t. Bende's library as I really do think all of her books are as awesome as the other, however this one may be a very close top read of hers for me. I loved it and I recommend you all buying it when it's released.