Tammy's Tea Time : October 2014

Friday, October 31, 2014

Dead of Night Blog Tour

Title: Dead of Night

Author: Carlyle Labuschagne

Genre: Young Adult Dystopian Romance
Expected Release Date: October 2014
Publisher: Hallowed Ink Press

Blurb:
In a dark and desolated After Earth, love still does exist, but the cost of bearing such a flaw is death.

World War III has left Earth in utter turmoil. People’s beliefs are said to be the cause of the worldwide destruction. After The Clearing new laws are set about - to show certitude in anything besides the law is weak and chargeable as mutiny. To be illogical and have faith in religion is illegal, to be limitless is dangerous. And Illness is seen as a defect – all flaws that are inexcusable.
But to love is the greatest betrayal of all mankind. It is a fault the world has long forgotten and punishable by death, a fatal risk Aecker and Opel are fully prepared to take - because in love there is freedom. But how far can they push back before it claims their lives and of those they care about?

My Review: I am at a loss of words. Dead of night literally blew me away. This book was so awesome I don't know how to put it into words. I truly enjoyed every last second of reading this story. I devoured it in 3 hours and now I wish I had stopped and savored it a little while longer. Aecker and Opel the two main characters in the story have such a bond a deep connection that just makes you want to hide them away from the rest of the world to keep them safe. They are so well written that they leap off the page as you follow them through out the story. I can not tell you enough about how much I enjoyed Dead of Night. I will be singing it's praises for a long time. to come. This book is one of the best I have read in a very long time. I won't tell you about the story for fear of giving it away however, I will tell you that if you haven't read it yet you need to. Carlyle Kacudhagne is a very talented writer and I very much so look forward to reading what she next has in store for us next.

5/5

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22400091-dead-of-night-1-an-aftershock-novel

Author Bio:
Carlyle Labuschagne is a South African award winning author working her way into the hearts of international readers with her first two books in the Broken Trilogy. Her first young adult dystopian novel "The Broken Destiny" reached top 3 in its YA debut Category. The Sequel Evanescent won YATR literary award for best Sci-Fi book 2013.
Her become a published author prgramme for students launched Feb 2014.
She is not only an author, but works as a marketing manager by day. She holds a diploma in creative writing through the writing school at College SA.
Carlyle loves to swim, fights for the trees, and is a food lover who is driven by her passion for life. Carlyle also writes for IU e-magazine India, an inspirational non-profit magazine that aims at inspiring the world through words. The drive behind her author career is healing through words. Carlyle is also the founder of the first annual book drive – Help Build A Library in Africa Project. And hopes to launch her very own Indie book festival in Johannesburg March 2015.
“My goal as an author is to touch people’s lives, and help others love their differences and one another.”

Author Links:

Goodreads * Amazon * Twitter * Web * Blog

Fragile Release Day

Fragile by Veronica Short

Contemporary Romance

Released Oct 31st 2014

Synopsis

They say to keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Whoever said that didn't have a family. It should be keep your friends close and you family closer. After all its family who can hurt you the most. I needed change, I needed a new life. Getting a job at a large hospital in another state was the way to do it. A way to get away from my old life, from the people who destroyed me. Working at a large hospital was a way to keep busy and to not procrastinate on my broken life, my old life, and it was working, until I met Rick Harvey. It started out as a favour for the mother I despised, but turned out to be something so much more that happened so fast, it knocked me on my ass. All I wanted to do was work my way up in the law firm I work at, make sure that my father is proud of me and doing well himself and to meet a girl that wouldn’t break my heart. That was the plan until I met Dr Lucy Jackson, my mother’s favour. Call her to make sure that she was ok, settled in. When that didn’t work out in the way that I had hoped, quick and easy, I was asked to go and see her, to make sure that she had all of her arms and legs. Big mistake. One look and I was a gonna. One look and I could see that she was fragile. As it turned out our story would be fragile.

Buy Now

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
iBooks

About the Author

Veronica Short lives in sunny Queensland, Australia with her son and large deaf guard dog. She has always had an interest in writing and has been writing since she was a child. After experiencing some of the world and being a teenage mother statistic as well as completing a Bachelor of Social Science at university she decided to take her writing back up and has self published her first novella Happening Now, followed by Love Obsessed, Love Separated, Olive and her novel Fragile. Veronica is a full time mum by day, full time writer by night. Her son doesn’t believe in sleeping so she finds plenty of time to write at night when the world is quiet and dark.

Find out More

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorVeronicaShort

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Silver-Rose-Publishing/1374251046157925

Teaser

I walked over and pulled the curtain back and stopped stunned. I didn’t want to see him or speak to him, but here he was in my ER. Deciding to keep it professional, I stepped into the small space and pulled the curtain closed and reached for the chart sitting on the end of the bed.

“I’m Dr. Jackson. They say you’ve been having headaches and dizzy spells?” I looked up at him and saw that he was smiling. “So help you, Rick, if you’re wasting my time right now I will give them a reason to admit you and it won’t be pleasant.”

“You weren’t answering my calls or texts.”

“So, there’s nothing wrong with you then.”

“Lu, please hear me out.”

“I have actual patients who need to see me.” He stood up and came over to me, taking my hand but I pulled it away before he could get a good grip on it.

“I was out of line.”

Coming 31st Oct 2014

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

The Princess of Sparta Review

Title: The Princess of Sparta
Author: Aria Cunningham
Genre: Historical/Romance
Pages: 302

Blurb: Helen of Troy, arguably the most infamous woman in ancient history, was not the seductress of Homer s poems. Her humble story began as a Princess of Sparta; honorable, loyal, with promise to become a powerful queen. Her lauded beauty was more curse than blessing, inciting lust and jealousy in the greedy kings who would make her their prize. Given in marriage to Menelaus of Mycenae, an abusive husband who neither wants nor needs her, she clings to a prophecy made to her about a great destiny, and even greater love.

That destiny awaits her in Paris, a noble prince of Troy, whose reputation for fairness and fortitude precedes him as an Ambassador. Unjustly cursed at birth by a dark omen claiming he will cause the destruction of Troy, Paris is a haunted figure. This omen overshadows his good deeds, making him an object of ridicule amongst the Trojan nobility, and compelling his own mother to try to kill him as a babe. He is a man who has never known love.

Until the day the Fates intervene and Paris travels to Mycenae as an Ambassador of Troy. He meets Helen, and the two souls linked by common destiny and purpose are reunited. Their love becomes legend, provoking the greatest war of ancient history, shaking the foundations of the world, and paving the way for the rise of Greece and Rome.

My Review: I was unsure about reading this book at first as we always have our own ideas or notions about historical readings as we have read about them before and or know how the story goes or do we. Aria Cunningham may have just taken every preconceived notion I had about The Princess of Sparta and thrown it out the window! I loved her retelling of Helen of Troy Aria made me fall in love with this story all over again. It truly is one of my favorites in history. Helen is written beautifully and once she gets past all that has gone wrong for her and how unfairly she has been treated she begins to come into her true beauty. Then there is Paris and all I can say is he is one fine specimen of a man! I can see why he had women falling at his feet! These two together made such a wonderful romance come alive for me. I am hooked on this story and all the beauty it possess. Each scene is so picturesque leaving me to see the magic as it unfolds. I am in love with The Princess of Sparta and look forward to reading what Aria Cunningham has next.
5/5

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Dead of Night Release Day Blitz

Title: Dead of Night

Author: Carlyle Labuschagne

Genre: Young Adult Dystopian Romance

Publisher: Hallowed Ink Press

Blurb:

In a dark and desolated After Earth, love still does exist, but the cost of bearing such a flaw is death.

World War III has left Earth in utter turmoil. People’s beliefs are said to be the cause of the worldwide destruction. After The Clearing new laws are set about - to show certitude in anything besides the law is weak and chargeable as mutiny. To be illogical and have faith in religion is illegal, to be limitless is dangerous. And Illness is seen as a defect – all flaws that are inexcusable.

But to love is the greatest betrayal of all mankind. It is a fault the world has long forgotten and punishable by death, a fatal risk Aecker and Opel are fully prepared to take - because in love there is freedom. But how far can they push back before it claims their lives and of those they care about? FB Release Party: https://www.facebook.com/events/1495518857373150/

Carlyle Labuschagne is a South African award winning author working her way into the hearts of international readers with her first two books in the Broken Trilogy. Her first young adult dystopian novel "The Broken Destiny" reached top 3 in its YA debut Category. The Sequel Evanescent won YATR literary award for best Sci-Fi book 2013.

Her become a published author prgramme for students launched Feb 2014.

She is not only an author, but works as a marketing manager by day. She holds a diploma in creative writing through the writing school at College SA.

Carlyle loves to swim, fights for the trees, and is a food lover who is driven by her passion for life. Carlyle also writes for IU e-magazine India, an inspirational non-profit magazine that aims at inspiring the world through words. The drive behind her author career is healing through words. Carlyle is also the founder of the first annual book drive – Help Build A Library in Africa Project. And hopes to launch her very own Indie book festival in Johannesburg March 2015.

“My goal as an author is to touch people’s lives, and help others love their differences and one another.”

Author Links:

Goodreads * Amazon * Twitter * Web * Blog

Goodreads * Facebook * Web * Twitter

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Broken Promise Blog Tour

Broken Promise

Book 3 of The Broken Ones

By Jen Wylie

Published: Oct 7 2014

By Untold Press www.untoldpress.com

Genre: Fantasy

WC 107k Pages 284

Description:

A year of turmoil takes its toll on Arowyn Mason and her companions. After delivering the Elven prince to his homeland, they decide to ride out the winter in the city of Westport before starting their quest to heal the Fey. Like most things in Aro's life, nothing goes according to plan.

As Kei struggles with the prophecy bound within him, his sanity begins to unravel. A prophecy and a promise are broken, and forgotten threats resurface with dire consequences. The Dragos is watching and the Were king is displeased with the disregard of Were law. Aro scrambles as yet another threat emerges. The Elves, displeased with their prince, exploit his only weakness…her.

Aro is forced to find a new ally, a cold-hearted, ruthless pirate named Roan. He is more than he seems and Aro must learn who she can trust, or it will cost more than just her life. She has grown stronger, but is it enough to save herself, her family, and the Elf she loves?

My Review: Wow talk about being swept up in a whirlwind of fast paced action pact fantasy drama! Broken Promise starts out with a bang and doesn't ever miss a beat! I can honestly say that this is one story that I loved and hated at the same time. At times Broken Promise would infuriate me to the point I wanted to throw it across the room but then I had to absolutely know what was going to happen next! Every page held my attention making me want to know what was going on and with who. Aro she is such a strong character and I love that about her but at times she would provoke me into arguing with her. I love the boys Kei, Garin, and Bo and yes I caught myself being a mom and yelling at them as well. Through out the book things just never seem to go as planned for anyone and just when they think they have it figured out something else happens. Aro and the guys end up in a plethora of trouble. This is book is just jammed pact with some awesome! Just when I think I know what's going on I'm wrong. I absolutely am enamored with this series and can not wait to read more. Jen Wylie you have my attention please send more!

5/5

EBook available at :

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NMO1XRU

And all other Amazon stores. Also available for free to KOLL and KU subscribers.

Don't miss:

Book 1 Broken Aro: http://www.amazon.com/Broken-Aro-The-Ones-ebook/dp/B009B37VQS

Book 2 Broken Prince: http://www.amazon.com/Broken-Prince-The-Ones-Book-ebook/dp/B00D3ULYPO

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23212686-broken-promise

Excerpt:

Chapter 1

Missing You

The small fire crackled and popped. A light breeze sent embers swirling up into the air, each disappearing suddenly as their little sparks died.

Exhaustion made Arowyn’s eyelids heavy, but her mind whirled with too many thoughts for sleep to come.

They'd finally returned Prince to Rivenward, and just in time. The final leg of their journey began the previous night as the sun set. They’d reached the gates before noon and sent him off before heading back to the forest. Being awake for a full day didn’t help with her mood.

She closed her eyes and tugged her cloak tighter around herself. The fact Prince was gone didn’t want to settle in her mind. Part of her couldn’t believe it. The rest just wanted to cry. She missed him. His absence made everything feel…wrong. Another of her boys gone. At least he wasn’t dead…and he’d promised he’d see her again one day.

One day.

He couldn’t have been any more vague, and she ground her teeth in frustration.

Men.

"Aro, you need to get some sleep."

Her gaze flicked over to Bo, resting on his side by the fire. "I know. I will soon."

Firelight reflected in his brown eyes as he watched her worriedly for a moment before letting out a loud sigh. Large fingers rubbed at the scar on his cheek. "I miss him, too."

With a small smile, she nodded and ducked her head, not wanting him to see her struggle not to cry. She’d promised herself no more tears. So far, she’d somehow managed and hoped to keep it that way. Her life had been too full of tears.

Kei walked into the light, having returned from checking on the horses. She smiled when he sat down gracefully next to her.

"You look tired," he said quietly.

"I am. I was waiting for you."

He grinned but shook his head. The firelight danced across his golden skin and brought out the gold in his spikey, light brown hair. His golden eyes caught hers, searching them to see how she was doing. Her eyes matched his now, thanks to Fey magic. "Are you…"

"I’m doing fine," she insisted. "Don’t worry about me."

Shrugging a shoulder, he looked away, but his lips curved up in a wry smile. "I always do."

She rubbed her tired eyes. It wasn’t very late, but she needed sleep. They'd borrowed an extra horse from the Were and would leave early in the morning to return it. She needed to be awake and on her guard. The alpha, Rhee-En, had taken an interest in her, not romantically, but still an interest. Alphas wanted strong packs, and though she was human, she could mind-speak, take the fury from Fey, and now even heal herself with borrowed Fey power. More importantly, she hadn’t been afraid of them, or of the Dragos, Damon. The Were appreciated such strength. Or thought her insane enough to be of use to them.

Kei patted the ground beside him. "Come. Try to sleep."

She settled down next to him, rolling onto her side to face him as he did the same. As always, he took her hands in his to hold between them.

"Have good dreams tonight," he whispered.

A deep sigh escaped her. "I’ll try."

He frowned, his eyes searching hers. "Why so sad? He’s home safe now. He’ll be better soon."

"I know," she mumbled. Elves were bound to their land and its magic. Being gone so long from Rivenward almost killed Prince. Her thoughts turned back to their parting. "He kissed me."

Kei grinned. "We saw." His brows drew together at her solemn face. "That’s what you wanted, wasn’t it?"

Her cheeks flushed remembering the kiss. A passionate, frantic kiss that stole her breath away. "I don’t know what I wanted," she admitted. "I love him. I wanted him to love me, too. But…I know it can’t work, not with him being a prince, and an Elf, and immortal." Sighing again, her chest tightened. "It’s not fair to him, to love me but have to watch me die. I wouldn’t do it to you. I shouldn’t expect it of him either."

Kei watched her quietly for a while. "Love is love, Aro. Sometimes it’s all that matters."

"He never said he loved me."

Bio:

Jen Wylie resides in rural Ontario, Canada with her two boys, Australian shepherd and a disagreeable amount of wildlife. In a cosmic twist of fate she dislikes the snow and cold.

Before settling down to raise a family, she attained a BA from Queens University and worked in retail and sales.

Thanks to her mother she acquired a love of books at an early age and began writing in public school. She constantly has stories floating around in her head, and finds it amazing most people don’t. Jennifer writes various forms of fantasy, both novels and short stories.

My website: www.jenwylie.com

My blog: http://jlwylie.wordpress.com/

Twitter: @jen_wylie

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4499919.Jen_Wylie

Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jennifer-Wylie/151266004895266

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Jen-Wylie/e/B004HQ9XD8/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Mailing List: http://jenwylie.us8.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=fcc6b9981f5c3e984d8f49fb7&id=1bc5b63ca5

Teasers/Quotes:

"Find me in your heart, Aro, and you can find me anywhere." ~Kei

"Rotting Elf." She threw a dagger with extra force. "I love you." She threw another. "Why aren't you here?" And another. "Why–" Her voice cracked and her hand dropped mid-throw. "I need you," she whispered into the empty room. ~Aro

"Such expressions on your face. What are you thinking?"

His smile was soft, kind…and she didn't trust it for a moment. "Want to make another try at reading my thoughts?"

Sultry lips twisted into a wry grin. "I think not." ~Baelan and Aro

"But he left, and he'd promised he wouldn't." Unable to keep still, she crossed her arms and let her feet wander.

Garen watched her pace for a few moments and then sat, crossing his legs. "Sometimes, we can't always keep our promises."

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Wasted Whiskey Nights Book 1

Title: Wasted
Author: Suzannah Daniels
Genre: NA/Contemporary Romance
Pages: 219

Blurb: It all started with sex on the beach…the drink, not…you know.

As a bartender, Mason Cambridge often charmed beautiful women who ordered up cocktails on his shift. It was part of his job after all, and he needed the tips—badly.

When Lexi Swafford plopped her pretty little tail down on the bar stool, Mason offered her a drink. He had no idea that he would soon be working with her or that he’d be letting her room with him until her new apartment was ready.

In fact, once Lexi Swafford landed in Creekview, Tennessee, life as Mason Cambridge knew it would cease to exist…because after a night of drinking away the agony of his loneliness, one touch from her would change everything.

WASTED is a new adult contemporary romance recommended for adult readers due to mature content.

My Review: Wasted started out perfectly enter Mason Cambridge he has it all the type of guy that every woman wants and every guy hates or wants to be like. He was the guy I loved and hated at the same time. The I am good looking and I know it type or so I thought. He could charm the pants off any woman of his choosing but didn't. Wait What?! As a bartender Mason knew how to get the big tips by using what he had. Then he meets Lexi Swafford as she plopped her little bum on a bar stool. Lexi isn't looking for a hook up she needs a job and a place to stay. This is when we see the softer side of Mason he helps her get a job and offers her a place to stay as his room mate. How long can the friendship last before they both want more. As the fires ignite between them Mason and Lexi they put the brakes on and agree to slow things down. As they do you get to see and know the two and their true personalities start to shine yet there is a darkness lurking a little thing called the past. Neither one wants to let that out. Sometimes the skeletons in the closet aren't just skeletons and they have a way of making the present and future not so bright. Suddenly you begin to wonder if Mason and Lexi can survive their past and break through to a future together. When the truth is out and the dust settles where do they go from here?
5/5

Fate's Love Blog Tour

When you meet that one person in the world meant for you... you should hold onto them.

Olivia Bannon walked away. Twice. When 17-year-old Livy meets Ethan, she can’t deny their inexplicable connection. Lost in his dark, intense eyes and smile-to-die-for, Livy never thought she would feel like this. It almost makes her want to break her childhood vow, but Livy knows happily ever after is just an illusion, and despite her heart wanting Ethan, her head is telling her to stick with the plan. The one that doesn’t include falling in love. Period.

Eight years later, Livy finds herself back in her hometown. After the way she left things, the last time they were together, Livy is anxious about seeing Ethan again. It shouldn’t come as shock to discover he has finally moved on—but it hurts. A lot. Accepting that she will never get the chance to put things right isn’t easy, but it’s not until life comes crashing down around her that Livy realizes what she could’ve had. Left broken, alone, and depressed, only one person can pull her out—the guy she thought she'd pushed away one too many times.

Livy has finally realized that you can’t fight fate… Some things are just meant to be. Is this finally her time to get it right, or has Livy missed her last chance with Ethan?

MY Review: Ok so I started out reading this book with all the preconceived notions of thinking I could predict how this story was going to go down. You know the typical girl meets boy instant love attraction together forever blah,blah, blah! I thought I knew it all then out of no where the book smacks me in the face and I find out how wrong I was about Fate's Love! This story is so not the typical that at times I wanted to scream because it played on my last nerve buy in the most dynamic of ways. Livy (Olivia) Bannon the main character at times is the most infuriating person on the planet and yet there was something about her that kept me interested in finding out what made her tick. At a party she attends we meet Ethan the every girls dream guy! He had it all the looks right down to those irresistible eyes as well as the sweet mannered personality that made you want to melt every time he spoke. He and Livy were like fourth of July fireworks when they were simply in the room together yet Livy couldn't see it nor did she want to see it. She was to caught up in this life plan of hers to see that she had it all waiting for her to take and she walked away. I say she was afraid to love afraid to let her heart feel what true love was like. Sometimes the fairy tales get it right and true love does exist if only you allow your heart and your eyes see it. As Fate's love continues on I was hit with a Mack truck that I never saw coming and I was sitting on the edge of my seat hoping that it would all work out in the end. Hoping that this time Livy would see her happily ever after. I can honestly say that I truly was swept up in this book and loved all of it from the love story to the friendships that were meant to last a lifetime. I look forward to reading more from L.A. Cotton.
5/5

A. Cotton has a busy mind in need of constant stimulation. A youth worker from the Midlands, UK, if L. A isn’t immersed in a book, she’s figuring out what course to study next. With an imagination that refuses to stay quiet, early this year, L. A finally decided to put finger to keyboard and start typing. Her first novel, Fate’s Love is due for release September 30th.

When she’s not busy reading, writing, and plotting future books, L. A. is mum to two gorgeous children, and their hyper terrier, Rocky.