Excerpt & Giveaway: Mine To Spell by Janeal Falor

Title: Mine to Spell
Author: Janeal Falor
Series: Mine #2

Publication: May 5, 2014

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing

Source: Author

Genre: YA Fantasy

Audience: 14+

Amazon|B&N|Goodreads|Smashwords

Synopsis:Cynthia has always hidden from her father’s hexes behind her older sister. When her family gains independence unheard of for women, she’s relieved that her days of harsh punishments are over. But as her seventeenth birthday approaches—the typical age to be sold to a new master—death threats endanger her sisters. She now faces two options: run or meet society’s expectations.

For once, Cynthia isn’t going to let her older sister shield her from the problem. She’s going to prove to herself, her sisters, and society that her family isn’t a threat to their traditions. She willingly chooses to be purchased by a new master. A bold step that takes her somewhere she never thought she would go and to a man she might possibly fall in love with. With his help, she may just find a way to save her sisters while discovering how to stand up for herself. If she lives long enough.

Excerpt: 

Edward grips my upper arm and strides toward the hall.

Suddenly, Zade reaches out to Edward. “If you mistreat her—”

“You’ll what? There’s nothing you can do. She’s my property. Any interference will constitute you breaking the law. I’d hate to see you lose your Chancellorship over something so trivial.”

Anger flames at the insult. If anything, the last year has taught me that no one is trivial. But now isn’t the time to fight. I will Zade to leave it, but he doesn’t get my silent message. “The Chancellorship may be important, be she’s more important. Don’t forget it.”

Zade’s words and stance warm me, yet are also enough to make me want to cower even though I’m not the one he’s threatening. Edward only laughs, this time big, happy and loud, crowding the small space further. “Oh, I won’t forget how valuable she is. You can be assured on that count.”

He yanks me forward, digging into my arm so hard there will be a bruise later. I clench my teeth to keep from crying out.

“At least let me get her things,” Serena calls out.

“The only thing of yours allowed to enter my house is her. And she is no longer yours.”

The words are sharp against my ears. Part of me is aching to struggle against this, but most of me is still attempting to process it. This was just supposed to be a meeting to sign me over to him. Nothing more.

He continues jerking me forward, out of the house and into the carriage. I tumble onto the wooden bench as Serena calls out something I can’t make out. Edward slams the door shut, and I’m left in darkness. Alone.

Author Bio: 

Amazon best-selling author Janeal Falor lives in Utah with her husband and three children. In her non-writing time she teaches her kids to make silly faces, cooks whatever strikes her fancy, and attempts to cultivate a garden even when half the things she plants die. When it's time for a break she can be found taking a scenic drive with her family, fencing, or drinking hot chocolate.

Website|Facebook|Twitter|Pinterest|Amazon Author Page

Giveaway: This Giveaway is for three (3) ebook copies of Mine to Spell. This giveaway is open internationally and is sponsored by the author. Please use the rafflecopter form below to enter. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review & Giveaway: Hedge Witch by Simon Kewin

Title: Hedge Witch 
Author: Simon Kewin 

Publication: April 8, 2014
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult

Amazon|Goodreads 

Synopsis:
Fifteen year-old Cait Weerd has no idea she’s being sought by the undain: sorcerous creatures of necromancy that feed off the spirit of the living. She doesn’t know the undain need her blood to survive. She doesn’t even know she’s a witch, descended from a long line of witches. Cait Weerd doesn’t know a lot, really, but all that’s about to change.

At Manchester Central Library she’s caught up in sudden, horrific violence. In the chaos she’s handed an old book that’s been hidden there and told to run, hide the book or destroy it. It contains all the secrets of the undains’ existence. They and their human servants want to find that as much as they want Cait.

What’s more, she learns that the fate of two worlds is at stake here. Just what she needs. Along with definitely-not-a-boyfriend Danny, she has to decide what the hell to do. Run, fight or just hope it all goes away.

It’s only then she learns who she really is, along with the terrible truth of what the undain have been doing in our world all this time …

My Thoughts:

Review: Mine to Tarnish by Janeal Falor

Title: Mine to Tarnish
Author: Janeal Falor
Series: Mine #0.5

Publication: December 2, 2013

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing

Source: Purchased

Genre: YA Fantasy

Audience: 14+

Amazon|B&N|Goodreads

Synopsis: 
Katherine’s place is the same as any woman’s—on the shelf next to the dresses and bolts of cloth. When she’s sold to a warlock, life grows even bleaker. Her new owner is as old and rancid as he is cruel, driving her to do the unthinkable: run.

Nothing prepared her for being on her own. And she’s definitely unprepared for the warlocks hunting her down. But she must stay one step ahead because if caught, the best she can hope for is death.

My Thoughts: Katherine's plight is a normal one for her society. She has come of age and has had her magic tested. She has been sold to on eligible warlock. No consideration has been made as to if this will be a good match; women are to do as they are told. Katherine's mother knows just how cruel warlocks can be. She sets things in place for Katherine to escape. Once on her one Katherine must decide who she can trust and the the safest place for her to go. 

This is a quick read and excellent introduction to the Mine Series. I really felt for Katherine and think I would have made the same decision to run that she did. I wanted something different for Katherine in the end but it was her decision to make. 

Get this read free (May 5 -May 10, 2014) at amazon.

Audio Review: Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

Title: Life After Life: A Novel

Author: Kate Atkinson

Narrator: Fenella Woolgar

Publisher: Hachette Audio

Format: Unabridged Audio

Length: 14 hrs 34 mins

Publication: April 2, 2013

Source: Library

Genre: Historical Fiction

Amazon|B&N|Goodreads|Website

Synopsis: On a cold and snowy night in 1910, Ursula Todd is born, the third child of a wealthy English banker and his wife. Sadly, she dies before she can draw her first breath. On that same cold and snowy night, Ursula Todd is born, lets out a lusty wail, and embarks upon a life that will be, to say the least, unusual. For as she grows, she also dies, repeatedly, in any number of ways. Clearly history (and Kate Atkinson) have plans for her: In Ursula rests nothing less than the fate of civilization.

My Thoughts: Ursula is unique. She gets to relive her life many times. During each of her lives events happen that cause her an untimely death. When she encounters these events the second time around Ursula has uncanny feelings and is able to to make different choices. 

I really enjoyed this read. I connected with Ursula easily and I wanted her to have a happy ending. Given the times and situations that was not always possible. I was heart broken with each of her deaths including the final one. During her lives Ursula is an abuse housewife, friend and confidant to Eva Braun, and a single woman doing what she can for England's war effort. This story left me wondering if I could change anything about my past and do it differently what would I change and how would that one change effect the world? 

Audio Review: Flawless by Sara Shepard

Title: Flawless 

Author: Sara Shepard
Series: Pretty Little Liars #2

Narrator: Cassandra Morris

Publisher: Harper Audio

Format: Unabridged Audio

Length: 8 hrs 15 mins

Publication: June 8, 2010

Source: Library

Genre: Young Adult

Amazon|B&N|Goodreads

Synopsis: In the exclusive town of Rosewood, Pennsylvania, where the sweetest smiles hide the darkest secrets, four pretty little liars--Spencer, Aria, Emily, and Hanna--have been very bad girls. . . .
Spencer stole her sister's boyfriend. Aria is brokenhearted over her English teacher. Emily likes her new friend Maya . . . as much more than a friend. And Hanna's obsession with looking flawless is literally making her sick. But the most horrible secret of all is something so scandalous it could destroy their perfect little lives.
And someone named "A" is threatening to do just that.
At first they thought A was Alison, their friend who vanished three years ago . . . but then Alison turned up dead. So could A be Melissa, Spencer's ultracompetitive sister? Or Maya, who wants Emily all to herself? What about Toby, the mysterious guy who left town right after Alison went missing?
One thing's for certain: A's got the dirt to bury them all alive, and with every crumpled note, wicked IM, and vindictive text message A sends, the girls get a little closer to losing it all. 

My Thoughts: The girls have decided to stick together now that they know A is taunting all of them. That's the plan anyway. Things continue to get out of control as A wrecks havoc on their lives. The girls try to maintain normalcy as they prepare for foxy. It is killing me that I have no idea who A is. This is a long series and I know I will be experiencing each and every book since I just have to know A's identity. So I head deeper into this series. 

Audio Review: Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

Title: Pretty Little Liars 

Author: Sara Shepard
Series: Pretty Little Liars #1

Narrator: Cassandra Morris

Publisher: Harper Audio

Format: Unabridged Audio

Length:  7 hrs  5 mins

Publication: June 8, 2010

Source: Library

Genre: Young Adult

Amazon|B&N|Goodreads

Synopsis:
Gossip thrives amid the Mercedes-Benzes, mega mansions, and perfectly manicured hedges in the exclusive town of Rosewood, Pennsylvania. Behind their big Gucci sunglasses, beneath their perfectly pressed Polos, everyone has something to hide, especially high school juniors Spencer, Aria, Emily, and Hanna. Spencer covets her sister's gorgeous new boyfriend. Aria is having an affair with her English teacher. Emily is infatuated with the new girl at school. And Hanna is using some ugly tricks to stay beautiful. Deeper and darker still is a horrible secret the girls have shared since sixth grade—a secret they thought was safe forever.

Then the girls start receiving threatening messages signed by someone named "A." Could "A" be Alison, the ultra-popular girl who disappeared three years earlier? Alison was their best friend. She knew everything about them. But if Alison isn't "A," who is? And how could anyone else know so much about the bad girls they were and the bad girls they've become? Suddenly, their secrets—the big ones, the little ones, even the long-buried ones—no longer seem so secret. Suddenly, nothing is safe in Rosewood.

My Thoughts: I picked up this audio to see what all the hype is about. I haven't watched the TV show and I love a good mystery. A is definitely a mysterious character. A show us when 4 ex friends least expect it and turns their lives upside down. Every suspicion I had as to A's true  identity were quickly dashed. One thing I do know for sure is Ali, Aria, Spencer, Hanna, and Emily undoubtedly hurt A in the past and A is out to make them pay. All they hype is justified and I'm officially hooked I've got a lot of catching up to do be for the release of Toxic (Pretty Little Liars #15).

This is an unabridged single-voiced audio. Cassandra Morris is one of my favorite narrators. She does an excellent job at differentiating each character. She utilizes tone, inflection, and tempo to do this. Each character was brought to life throughout Cassandra's narration. Pace is well maintained during the productions and the plot flows without interruption. The original work lends well to audio format. 

Review, Excerpt & Giveaway: Cade by V.A. Dold

Title: Cade
Author: V.A. Dold
Series: Le Beau Brothers #1
Publication: March 16, 2013
Publisher: Vickie Dold
Genre: Romance

Amazon|B & N|Goodreads

Synopsis:
Anna James is single again, finally. In her opinion, men are self-centered and will never love her for who she is, a beautiful, plus sized woman. All except the fantasy man that she’s been meeting in her dreams for five years.

She just never expected her fantasy to be a real live alpha shifter...

Cade Le Beau isn't what he seems. He’s a billionaire wolf. A Shifter. He laments his missed chance six months ago to meet his fantasy woman in the flesh. Just as his second chance presents itself, his fantasy woman, his mate, is threatened by the local mob boss and her ex-husband. Now, he has forty eight hours to deal with this threat once and for all or chance losing her again.
Is it Anna who’s in danger, or the humans who unwittingly threaten her?

The heat is on the moment they lay eyes on each other. Neither, age, children, horrid ex-husbands, nor mob bosses will stop this love affair.

My Thoughts: Anna James is looking forward to starting her life over when her ex-husband follows her to town. Her ex is a loser and she has no desire to have any contact with him. Every thing changes for Anna when her dream man walks into the bard where she is having drinks. From that moment things heat up quickly. 

This is a great read fast paced read. I love that Anna is not the typical female character in a romance novel. She is plus sized and being a plus sized girl myself I found Anna to be refreshing. I was able to relate to her inner struggles with her weight. I loved each intimate scene with Anna and Cade. I defiantly had wonderful images in my head of their relationship. I am already in love with this series and can't wait to see what is in store for the other brothers.