#Review : Diety (Covenant #3) by @JLArmentrout

YA Paranormal

By Jennifer L. Armentrout

Synopsis:

"History is on repeat, and things didn't go so well the last time. "

Alexandria isn't sure she's going to make it to her eighteenth birthday--to her Awakening. A long-forgotten, fanatical order is out to kill her, and if the Council ever discovers what she did in the Catskills, she's a goner... and so is Aiden. 

If that's not freaky enough, whenever Alex and Seth spend time "training"--which really is just Seth's code word for some up-close and personal one-on-one time--she ends up with another mark of the Apollyon, which brings her one step closer to Awakening ahead of schedule. Awesome. 

But as her birthday draws near, her entire world shatters with a startling revelation and she's caught between love and Fate. One will do anything to protect her. One has been lying to her since the beginning. Once the gods have revealed themselves, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocably changed... and destroyed. 

Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than Fate..

Diety is the Covenant Series' next installment - a frustrating yet fulfilling novel. Why frustrating? Because Alex and Aiden’s relationship develops (Yeah!) but her bond with Seth is strengthened, threatening that relationship. *smashing kindle against forehead*

Honestly, JLA’s Lux Series is better IMO, but I can’t give this newest Covenant book anything less than 5*. Here’s why:

Yummies: Characters. It’s impossible not to be swept up in the lives of this book. The inner conflict is just as impacting as the external - and there’s tons of it. Your emotions are carried along on their roller coaster ride. And not just the main ones either. JLA makes the reader care about the secondary characters just as much because of how real they are - how she brings them to life.

Setting in this series doesn’t really apply, but can I just say … the St. Delphi house - le sigh. Read it & you’ll understand why.  ;)

Pacing, plot, & tension are all there in mind blowing perfection. Period.

Yuckies: I’ll be honest here, but it’s a personal opinion only & doesn’t affect my star rating in any way.

JLA made me fall in love with one of the main characters in an earlier book of the series. She’s not afraid to kill off darlings or ruin who they are in our eyes. Yup. She done that to me. I’d love to say more, but I can’t throw any spoilers in here. Just read the series. You’ll understand.

Other than that? There weren’t any yuckies.

Recommend: Yup. That is all.

Stacking My Shelves

Hosted by Tynga's Reviews

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! Click on the image above for more info & the linky list of other participating authors!

                              ARCs received for Review:

Won:

Bought:

Yes, yes, I know. Purchasing your own book is a tad bit silly. Needed them for Christmas presents. ;)

What goodies were added to your shelf this week?

‘Tis The Season To Be Jolly

Taking a break this week from all the tours, blasts, reviews to visit my parents in PA for the holidays. This is the first time in over 15 years that my whole family will be getting together on Christmas Day. By the time this post goes live it’ll all be a memory – an excellent one I’m sure.

Doubtless we’ll have stuffed ourselves & feel like bloated cows while singing carols around the tree. 

Laughter & tears will abound, but that’s part of the jolliness of the season.

Happy Holidays everyone.

Hold every second dear – and hold your family even closer.

#BlueMoon Blog Tour #Giveaway #HollowayPack Author, @JABelfield

I am thrilled to have J.A. Belfield here today for part of her Blue Moon tour! Click on the image above for a list of stops.

Let me just say that this woman is one awesome author. Whether you enjoy reading paranormal romance involving wolves or not, you MUST look into her Holloway Pack Series!! Check out my 5 star reviews of Darkness & Light (HP #1) HERE and Blue Moon (HP #2) HERE.

2 big giveaways going on at the end of the post – enter to win a paperback of D&L and some beautiful handmade Holloway Pack jewelry!

Ok. Enough from me. Let's chat with Ms. Belfield.

So. Where did your love of werewolves come from?

Seriously, I have no idea. Just like Jem, I’ve had werewolf dreams for many years (hey, the ideas came from somewhere O_O), but my early dreams, when I was still a child, used to terrify the heck out of me. I guess somewhere along the way, either my dreams became less scary, or I became less afraid. Now they fascinate me. The whole possibility of fitting into a human society whilst you have that supernatural strength, those enhanced senses, and the ability to switch forms and become one with your animalistic side and nature itself?

Agony of changing aside, it sounds like an awesome combination to me.

Totally human, yet totally wolf, the characters are portrayed beautifully. How long did you study wolf / dog packs to understand and convey their nature with such an organic feel?

Thank you. But, honestly? I didn’t. Everything within my pages has come from my dreams. Corny answer, but if folk want to ask how I know what I do about werewolves, I’d say: my head told me. Simple as that. ;)

I mentioned in my review of D&L how much I enjoyed the British feel – flavor. What made you stick with your roots and not Americanize as most authors tend to do?

We actually almost didn’t. I remember when the manuscript was first with the publisher, and the contract had been signed, and the discussions then took place about the changes they’d requested. And during that discussion, the word ‘whilst’ was brought up. Although the entire book is full of the English way of speaking, and uses English spellings, whilst is the one word that stuck out the most to the publishers with them being American based. However, after chatting about it, my editor decided to let it stay as they felt it would be wrong to lose the flavor of the book when it reflects where it’s set. Whilst (ha!) altering the use of a singular word wouldn’t have been a massive blow to the story, I’m still happy they left it in. J

Witches & magic – what kind of research did you do for the craft? Where did you find the ingredients for the spells?

Ah, now that’d be telling, wouldn’t it? LOL

Okay, okay, I’ll spill. My sister has an interest in witchcraft and spells, and so she was naturally the first person I turned to for help. If I needed a spell that could be used in X way to have Y affect, I’d simply email her, tell her what I needed, and she’d go look it up for me and email me back with some results. The awesome part, though, was that she seemed to totally ‘get’ where I was going with each request and helped to expand the idea with suggestions of her own. I couldn’t have asked for a better research partner. Though most of the spells described in Blue Moon, I found myself whilst perusing a tome of hers, which just happens to showcase a hoard of traditional spells, their results, their histories—everything. It helped bring it all to life in my mind so much more vividly during writing it. :)

I love how Jess played a bigger role in this book. I love too the still unanswered questions. I know you won’t give much away, but whose story is next? I have my suspicions and I HOPE I’m right. 

Actually, I have a 2.5 coming out before Holloway Pack 3. :) Resonance is a novella, due for release April 2013, in which all the loose ends from Blue Moon will be tied. I spent quite a bit of time deciding on a title for it, because not only is/are the conflict/s created by echoes of Blue Moon, but there is also some enlightenment shed, and certain parts play an important role in paving the way to Caged: Holloway Pack 3. So Resonance seemed like the best fit.

Of course I have to ask – Ethan. Delish. Nom, I think you’d say. I hear there’s a novel coming out in August with him as the lead man. Can you tell us a bit? Tease just a smidge?

He does seem to have this affect on the ladies, doesn’t he? Funnily enough, I never actually wrote him to be so … appealing. I just wrote him how he sounded in my mind and Ethan’s what happened, LOL.

So, um … what can I tell you about Caged ………… without giving the game away ………… hmmmmmmm …………… Okay, the best I can give you is a tagline I’ve personally handed over to Ethan as his catchphrase for the book. Here you go:

‘How Strong Can One Wolf Be?’

And lastly because we love personal tidbits to make us think we’ve got the inside scoop on our favorite authors – what’s your go-to snack for those moments you’re staring at the computer screen praying your characters will start speaking to you?

My go-to snack? You mean I’m supposed to remember to eat? Why didn’t anybody tell me this?

Okay, my go-to snack is usually whatever’s nearest and doesn’t need cooking and won’t ruin the taste of my coffee too much. Something like pain au chocolat, or toasted ciabatta bread with lashing of butter. Nom. Damn, now I’m hungry …..

And one last fun tidbit (I just had to giggle at a guest post from her Make Believe blog tour) check out some pics of where Ms. Belfield's muse makes her slave away HERE. 

Handmade Holloway Pack Jewelry (Pics can be found HERE)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Darkness & Light (Holloway Pack #1) Giveaway 

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Thanks so much for stopping by & best of luck!!

Read Any Good Books This Week?

Hosted by Tynga's Reviews

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! Click on the image above for more info & the linky list of other participating authors!

I had a CRAZY busy week on Scribbler's Sojourn. Click on the day of the week to check out the post. Let's re-cap:

Monday - The biggest news of my writing career - I signed a 2-book contract for my fantasy series, Pool of Souls!

Tuesday - Fellow Christmas Magic author, Linda Caroll-Bradd visited.

Wednesday - Review of For the Love of Christmas.

Thursday - I tooted my own horn.  ;)

Friday - Midwinter's Eve Blog Hop - paperback of Darkness & Light by J.A. Belfield up for grabs!

Received for review:

Bought:

Oh yes. Been waitin' on this one. Unfortunately life is getting in the way of reading this! ARG! 

*ripping out hair!*

What'd you get this week? Read any of the above?

Midwinter's Eve Blog Hop: Darkness & Light by @JABelfield #PNR #Wolves #HollowayPack

I LOVE giving away goodies!!! 

Thanks this time around to I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Oasis for YA for hosting.


In celebration of J.A. Belfield's new release, Blue Moon (Holloway Pack #2) which ROCKS - you can read my 5 star review HERE - I'm giving away a paperback of Darkness & Light (Holloway Pack #1). You can read that 5 star review HERE.

Click on the image to add on Goodreads

Paranormal Romance

by J.A. Belfield

Synopsis:

Jem Stonehouse, a housewife with a neurotic husband bent on keeping her in line, dreams about werewolves in, what she believes, is a bid to escape boredom.

Sean Holloway is a werewolf, living a charade within the human race, whose mind drifts to a bond he shares with a woman he hasn't met--at least, not in this lifetime.

Apart, the two are safe but live unfulfilled lives.

Together, they'll become prey to rival packs just as they have been for hundreds of years.

When their worlds collide, and not for the first time, instinct takes over. Dreams become reality. Futures are uncertain. To keep history from repeating itself, Sean must teach Jem about his heritage, convince her of her role, and win her love.
Can Jem accept her destiny before it's too late, or is her inner wolf buried too deep to save her future with Sean?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to stop by this huge-@$$ linky list for tons of other chances to win some goodies!

Thanks for swinging by & best of luck!

Ever Toot Your Own Horn?

I'm taking a break today from all the blasts, interviews, tours, & giveaways for a little personal tidbit. It's time to:

No, I'm not sneezing. I'm gunna toot my own horn real quick-like.

Make Believe, I’m proud to say, is earning some great reviews. Of course, as a whole this antho rocks.

*Cease tooting cuz it's hurting my own ears*  

On an individual story level? Not always a 5 star. My story, Sacrificial Oath, has received a few 3 star reviews of its own. Reviewers have their reasons—and I’m alright with that.

You can’t WOW! every reader every time.

What might resonate within one reader will annoy another. While one ‘gets’ my character and her reasons for doing what she does, another wrinkles their nose.

No biggie. Grain of salt, right?

Alesuela told me her story. Told me who she was, what drives her. (Yes I’m one of those strange writers who hear their character’s voices in their head.) I put that onto paper & tweak as needed to fit the plot and my characters.

So why does negative feedback hurt? Because the stories we write pour forth from the deepest parts of us. We put all our longing - all our emotion and effort - into the written words. When someone rejects them, in a way we feel as though WE are being rejected.

But hey … if that rejection is from cyber space & cyber peeps who don’t even know us on a personal level? Dust off those shoulders says I.

Write another story. Hopefully they at least liked something about our voice or story telling that they’ll give us another go.

If not?

Their loss.  ;)

How do you deal with negative feedback? Shut down? Try harder the next time?

#Review : Connect the Dots by Jennifer Eaton

Contemporary Romance Short Story

By Jennifer M. Eaton

From SMP's For the Love of Christmas Anthology

Synopsis:

 Jill has no idea what she wants for Christmas, but when it looks like her best friend Jack is going to get exactly what he asks for, Jill makes a Christmas wish that will change both of their lives forever. 

What a sweet romance this short was! I really loved the banter between the two main characters, Jill and Jack. It was totally believable. Comfortable. I felt as though I was a fly on the wall listening in & holding back my smirks & giggles.

There’s nothing better than an author who can carry a story and propel it forward with good dialogue. Especially when they’ve got a unique, fun voice like Ms. Eaton does.

For such a short story, the pacing was perfect. The back story was weaved in with precision, not hindering the story’s flow in any way. 

As with any romance, you know who is going to get together. Oftentimes that journey is yawn-worthy, lacking emotional turmoil and tension. Connect the Dots is anything but boring.

Well written & a thoroughly enjoyable read, I’d recommend this to any sweet romance lover.

Jennifer Eaton lives on the East Coast USA with her husband, three boys, and a pepped up poodle.  She hosts an interactive websitewww.jennifermeaton.com aimed at making all writers the best they can be. 

Her Dystopian novelette “Last Winter Red” is available as part of the “Make Believe” Anthology from J.Taylor Publishing.  Her Christmas Romance “Connect the Dots” is available as part of Still Moments publishing’s “For the Love of Christmas” Anthology.  Both are available in ebook format from Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com and Smashwords.

Stalk Jenn:  

Website / Blog , Goodreads , Twitter , Facebook

Be sure to swing by Ms. Eaton's blog to read an awesome review of Beginning of Forever, my story in the Christmas Magic anthology!

#AuthorInterview : Linda Caroll-Bradd, Romance Writer

Today my fellow Christmas Magic author, the lovely Linda Caroll-Bradd, has agreed to let me pick her brain! Thanks so much for visiting, Linda.

Thanks for hosting me, Terri.

Let's get started. What inspired Wishes Come True? 

Because I didn’t grow up in a small town, I always wished I lived in one and think I’ve probably idealized that experience and. So I reversed that set-up—imagined a woman who’d grown up in a small town and wanted to get out, to explore.

What comes first for you – the story or the character?

Character. I need to imagine the person first (archetype, a couple personality quirks, sometimes the name) and then I put that character in a setting that usually is part of why the goal isn’t met.

If you could choose to stay a certain age forever, what age would it be?

Thirty-six—the age I was after my youngest daughter was born. My nuclear family was complete.

If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do?

Offer college tuition to my adult children.  A career life without a degree is tough and a college education is such a future-shaping experience.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose?

Elizabeth Bennett, heroine of my favorite book. She’s smart, witty, stands up for herself, and is willing to reassess her opinions.

What would you name the autobiography of your life?

Changes That Made Me Stronger

Can you keep secrets? Describe a time you didn't.

When I was about ten, I peeked at a Christmas present that was to be shared by my two sisters and me. Of course, our parents had forbidden us to look at the blanket-covered block behind the sofa. For a week before the big day, I knew what our present was. Although I didn’t admit it aloud, I had totally spoiled my parents’ secret and wrecked my own surprise.

Can you tell us what you’re working on now?

I’m working on a historical story with a working title of Mirror Images featuring a heroine (a twin) who left behind a career on the New York burlesque stage to become a teacher in a frontier Wyoming territory town. The hero is a lawyer by day and dime novelist by night who writes about his experiences coming to the frontier and his adventures in gold mining. Halfway through the story, the twin sister arrives and causes havoc with the “good” sister’s reputation. So far, I’m having great fun with the research.

On December 20^th, I’m holding a drawing for a copy of Christmas Magic for those who either subscribe to my blog at http://blog.lindacarroll-bradd.com or follow me at my author Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Linda-Carroll-Bradd-author/440814942635289

BLURB FOR WISHES COME TRUE:

Tora can’t wait to sell the family bakery run by generations of Hammond women and seek excitement outside of Dorado, Texas. Widower Ryan Dawson, the town’s star quarterback from a decade ago, returns to his hometown with plans to develop a sporting goods store. He also hopes a small town Christmas will cheer up his five-year-old daughter, Jenna, still recovering from the loss of her mother. Will the spark of interest Tora sees in Ryan’s eyes be the excitement she’s looking for?

PURCHASE LINKS:

StillMoments Publishing  /  Amazon  /  Smashwords 

As a child, Linda was often found lying on her bed reading about characters having exciting adventures in places far away. Upon reaching a landmark birthday, she decided to write one of those romances she loved so much. Easier said than done. Perseverance paid out and twelve years later, she received her first call from a publisher and a confession story was published. Now Linda writes heartwarming contemporary and historical stories with a touch of humor, and many have a tie to her previous home of Texas.

Linda currently lives in the southern California mountains with her husband of 34 years and their two spoiled dogs, Shiba Inu Keiko and terrier mix Phoenix. 

STALK LINKS:

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