Tag Archives: Author/Reader Event
The Mortal One: Book 1 by Shannon Bell
The Mortal One: a Paranormal Vampire Romance (The Mortal One Series Book 1)
by Shannon Bell
✩✩✩✩
Captivating beginning to a four book series.
This book was a smooth read, that kept my interest from beginning to end. The characters were interesting, even if some of them didn’t make the best choices. I mean, “What idiot goes sight seeing at night in a busy city, alone, on foot”. But then, I know a few females that would, and have done so. So I would have to say that Dylan is very real, just not the brightest decision maker. But she does have good taste in men, or vampires I should say. Nico is not only hot, he’s considerate, and goes against the norm because of his feelings for Dylan. To the point, that he gets permission from his sovereign to let her live. Yep, he was initially supposed to “take care of her”, truth-seeker that she is. But that isn’t the only unorthodox thing about their relationship. Then there is Olivier, the French vampire who has taken a shine to Dylan. Olivier and Nico both want Dylan, and will go to great lengths to claim her. I look forward to finding out more about Olivier in book two.
I enjoyed this book, and I’m happy to say all four books are out, so you can continue on to the next book immediately. Which you will want to do, since the author teases you with more to come, and more questions to be answered, even while satisfactory bringing an end to the first book. I recommend this book for anyone who likes vampires, paranormal romance, or fantasy.
SYNOPSIS
Hot vampires are surrounding Dylan and it’s not easy for her to be the mortal one. Dylan decides to go on a vacation of a lifetime in order to find herself. She begins in Romania, contemplating the existence of vampires and quickly realizes that she was wrong. Once she ends up in Florence, however, she is confronted with an immortal, Nico. She must be marked if she wants to live because she learned the truth of vampires. Nico catches her and her heart by surprise. The Mortal One is a whirlwind romance amidst vampire politics. Dylan must be marked for her safety, yet she is trying to be claimed by another vampire, thus making her time in Florence very complicated for her. She tests the bounds of her relationship with a vampire and tries to create a life for herself as the mortal one. The main setting of the book is Florence, where Dylan is in love with the history of the city…as well as a vampire.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shannon Bell holds a BA in Creative Writing at the University of Central Florida. She resides in Riverview, FL with her husband and daughter. As a lover of vampire fiction, her first book, “The Mortal One” was something that had to be created.
Shannon attends a variety of different writer’s conferences throughout the state annually, where she hones her writing and editing skills. Writing is her life, her passion and her hobby. To say the least, She loves to write. When not writing, she usually has a camera or book in her hand. That, or she’s out with the fam!
Find Shannon here -> Amazon Website Facebook Twitter Goodreads
INDIE BOOKFEST – WIN A READER’S TICKET
Shannon Bell and I will both be attending #IBF2016 next month. Please make sure to come by and say “Hi” if you attend. There are still tickets available for those who haven’t purchased theirs. Also, if I get enough comments, I’ll hold a drawing for a “Reader’s Ticket”. So don’t be shy in letting me know if you’re interested. You can check it out here.
Shannon Bell is a #IBF2016 Featured Author.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 7, 8 & 9 – 2016
INDIE BOOKFEST 2016
- 4th Annual Author/Reader Event
Orlando/Altamonte Springs, FL - October 7, 8 & 9 – 2016
- FREE BOOK SIGNING
- October 8th, 2016
- 3:00-6:00 PM
Review – Secrets of a Wolf by Kelly Abell
Secrets of a Wolf (Guardians of Spirit Rock Book 1)
by Kelly Abell
✩✩✩✩1/2
For all the suspense, mystery, and bad things happening in the town of Spirit Rock. I found the book to be light-hearted. Possibly because while all the horrid things are happening, the characters survive without any traumatic scars. Yes, there are moments of freight, but there are also moments of hilarity, and the characters are fairly positive attitude. They’re fun. Cameron is sexy, and Daphne really gets herself into some interesting predicaments.
The only downside, or things that bothered me with the story, were minor and didn’t keep me from thoroughly enjoying the book. Although I do wonder at the main culprits motives. They didn’t make sense to me, nor that the results expected, would be the ones obtained. Needless-to-say, we can put it down to the poacher being a bit crazy, and leave it at that. Plus I was never sure what happened to the second culprit. At least not for sure. Who knows, that might have been on purpose. A villain for another day.
Overall the book was very well written and keep me happily reading. The characters were great, and I look forward to reading about the other brothers and their women. It should be a very exciting series.
SYNOPSIS
A tragic event ruins Daphne Valentine’s career as a K-9 cop and department veterinarian in Seattle. Devastated, she escapes to Spirit Rock, South Dakota, to start over as the vet for an animal wildlife rescue park. When she arrives, nothing goes quite as planned—especially when she meets her new boss for the first time and she’s almost stark naked. Not the greatest first impression…or is it?
A confirmed bachelor, Cameron Gray is shocked at his instant attraction to his new employee. He soon learns she carries quite a bit of extra baggage, but even so, his desire to possess the sexy vet ignites him with a need he and his wolf can’t ignore. But all is not what it seems…. What exactly drove Daphne to leave her successful career and move to Seattle?
When dangerous poachers bring the two together in the line of duty, Daphne discovers Cameron’s secret, forcing her to question every decision she’s made since arriving in Spirit Rock. Will the tender new love they’ve found be enough to hold them together or drive them apart forever?
Join the Gray brothers in Spirit Rock, South Dakota. Gifted with the power to shift into their own unique spirit animal, they have been bestowed with the enormous responsibility of watching over their ancestral canyon. Their strength and conviction will be tested…as will the depth and breadth of their heart and soul.
Kelly Abell and I will both be attending #IBF2016 next month. Please make sure to come by and say “Hi” if you attend. There are still tickets available for those who haven’t purchased theirs. Also, if I get enough comments, I’ll hold a drawing for a “Reader’s Ticket”. So don’t be shy in letting me know if you’re interested. You can check it out here.
Kelly Abell is a #IBF2016 Featured Author.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 7, 8 & 9 – 2016
INDIE BOOKFEST 2016
- 4th Annual Author/Reader Event Orlando/Altamonte Springs, FL
- October 7, 8 & 9 – 2016
- FREE BOOK SIGNING
- October 8th, 2016
- 3:00-6:00 PM
Ink: A Mermaid Romance by Melanie Karsak
Ink: A Mermaid Romance
by Melanie Karsak
✩✩✩✩✩
Ink: A romantic mermaid adventure. She kicks butt when needed.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. It most definitely won’t be the last. I was surprised by the ability the author had to create a full, well balanced story in a novella. The world building was astounding, and the pace and tension great. I couldn’t put it down. If I had a complaint, I would say it was the lack of depth to the romance between the two main characters, Ink and Hal. Mainly I would have liked to see it more developed. A longer version of the book would have allowed this. (Hint, hint to author). But all in all, I loved it.
From page one, Ice shows us her strong character, and confident sense of self. She can make the hard decisions, yet doesn’t allow the hardships in her life to make her less than a loving, giving person. She just isn’t going to stand for injustice. She does what she has to, no matter that her heart isn’t in it. Duty comes first. But when things start to fall apart, or things start exploding, or the shooting starts. She doesn’t sit around weeping, she takes action.
I would love to see more of this series. I loved or hated (if they deserved it) the characters, and I can’t stop myself from laughing every time I think of a gator shifter named Hal. Great book!
SYNOPSIS
A mermaid princess destined to wed a handsome king…
It sounds like a fairy tale, but the reality is far murkier.
Ink, Princess of the Florida Atlantic mers, is slated to wed the ancient enemy of her tribe, the King of the Gulfs. After years of war that led to countless mer deaths, as well as the genocide of aquatic shapeshifters and the freshwater mers of Florida, Ink’s marriage will bring lasting peace.
Or so it seems.
Mere hours before she’s supposed to leave the ocean for her customary year as a drywalker, Ink meets Hal, an alligator shifter who warns her that a storm is brewing. There is malicious intent behind Ink’s marriage—and worse, meeting Hal has also caused a storm to rage in Ink’s heart. Nevertheless, loyal to her tribe, Ink will put aside her feelings and journey to Miami to marry the decadent King Manx.
Ink soon learns that her only hope of surviving the crashing force swelling around her is to tap into a power deep inside—a forbidden power that might destroy them all.
Available on Amazon – Free with a Kindle Unlimited Subscription
Melanie Karsak and I will both be attending #IBF2016 next month. Please make sure to come by and say “Hi” if you attend. There are still tickets available for those who haven’t purchased theirs. Also, if I get enough comments, I’ll hold a drawing for a “Reader’s Ticket”. So don’t be shy in letting me know if you’re interested. You can check it out here.
Melanie Karsak is a #IBF2016 Featured Author.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 7, 8 & 9 – 2016
INDIE BOOKFEST 2016
- 4th Annual Author/Reader Event Orlando/Altamonte Springs, FL
- October 7, 8 & 9 – 2016
- FREE BOOK SIGNING
- October 8th, 2016
- 3:00-6:00 PM
Review – Dark Hope by HD Smith
Dark Hope by HD Smith
by HD Smith
✩✩✩✩
Dark Hope is an engrossing book, with incredible world building. I couldn’t put it down, but found myself confused at times by the sheer amount of things happening. I kept reading because I needed to know how Claire got stuck working as the Devil’s assistant and what her real place and purpose there was.
The book is very fast paced, with enough tension, that you won’t want to put it down for a second. I look forward to reading the next book in the series to see what happens. While most things were tied up at the end. You are still left with the need to find out what happens in the next chapter of Claire’s life, or unlife.
As for Dental. There are always the exceptions, but for the most part. No one gets Dental!
I recommend this to other Urban Fantasy lovers, but not “romance only” readers. This is an adventure, one hell of an adventure, but definitely not a love story.
SYNOPSIS
After five years of working for the Devil, Claire Cooper believes she lives an otherwise normal life. Until she finds herself in jeopardy for a murder she did not commit. Desperate to save her life and soul, she enters Purgatory, but runs afoul of the Devil’s sister, Pagan Queen Mab. Mab has her own agenda and uses Claire to get even with the Devil. Claire learns each ruler is in a race to discover “the girl” in the prophecy to fix time. As Claire peels away clues to the real killer, she realizes she must outwit the Devil’s children or end up a prisoner in Purgatory forever.
Available on Amazon – Free with Kindle Unlimited Subscription
HD Smith and I will both be attending #IBF2016 next month. Please make sure to come by and say “Hi” if you attend. There are still tickets available for those who haven’t purchased theirs. Also, if I get enough comments, I’ll hold a drawing for a “Reader’s Ticket”. So don’t be shy in letting me know if you’re interested. You can check it out here.
HD Smith is a #IBF2016 Featured Author.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 7, 8 & 9 – 2016
INDIE BOOKFEST 2016
- 4th Annual Author/Reader Event Orlando/Altamonte Springs, FL
- October 7, 8 & 9 – 2016
- FREE BOOK SIGNING
- October 8th, 2016
- 3:00-6:00 PM
Review – The Last One by Tawdra Kandle
The Last One (The One Trilogy Bk 1)
by ✩✩✩✩ 1/2
A romance with both heart and humor.
It took me a few chapters to warm up to both of the main characters in this book. The characters not the writing. The writing kept me reading. Great pace, and just enough tension to keep you turning the pages. No it was Sam. He was being a bit of a dweeb. Oh sure, he rescued the girls when they had car trouble, causing them to be stranded by the side of a country road, in an area they were unfamiliar. Meaghan being passed out only vaguely remembered that he was nice. But Sam was so nice the next time they met. She returned to town. This time completely sober, and aware, to pick up her car that had broken down. When she goes to thank him for his help, he rips into her for being irresponsible. Not that he should care, it’s not like they are going to meet again. Meaghan returns to school in Savannah hurt and pissed off. She’s not sure why she lets how he reacted bother her so much, it not like they are going to see each other again, Right?
Wrong. Meaghan gets placed not only in Sam’s hometown as a Art teacher for the summer, but in his very house. Needless-to-say, sparks fly. They both fight their attraction for each other. Meaghan doesn’t do commitment, and Sam thinks he’s too old for her, plus he thinks she’s a city girl, and could never be happy out on a farm. Even a farm with no real farm animals. Apparently dogs and cats don’t count.
Their journey is laughter, tears, ups and downs, and a bit of soul searching. Will they be able to overcome the obstacles in their way. And if so, how, when, and where? It’s not always the end point that matters but the journey along the way.
In this journey, I came to understand both Sam and Meaghan more, and to fall for a few of the supporting characters as well. Don’t try to read this book without at least a couple of hankies at hand. But do read it. It’s worth the frustration at Sam and Meaghan’s behavior at the beginning. They are still young yet, and a worthwhile romance is rarely easy. All in all a very enjoyable read, that I can easily recommend to others.
SYNOPSIS
+++This is a New Adult Romance, intended for readers over 18. It contains scenes for mature readers.+++
Meghan Hawthorne is restless. The last year has been a roller coaster: her widowed mother just married a long-time family friend. Her younger brother unexpectedly became a father and a husband. Everyone’s life is changing. . .except for hers. As she begins her final summer of college, Meghan’s looking for excitement and maybe a little romance. Nothing serious; this girl just wants to have fun.
But the only man for Meghan turns out to be the last one she expects.
Sam Reynolds doesn’t need excitement, and he doesn’t want romance. Fun is out of the question. He’s been the steady, responsible one since his parents were killed, and serious is his way of life.
When Sam rescues Meghan alongside a dark Georgia backroad, she falls hard for his deep brown eyes and slow drawl. But making him see her as more than just a party girl won’t be easy. Sam’s tempted by the fiery young artist, even as he realizes that giving into his feelings will mean radical change. . .maybe more than he can handle.
Nobody ever said love was simple.
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Tawdra Kandle and I will both be attending #IBF2016 next month. Please make sure to come by and say “Hi” if you attend. There are still tickets available for those who haven’t purchased theirs. Also, if I get enough comments, I’ll hold a drawing for a “Reader’s Ticket”. So don’t be shy in letting me know if you’re interested. You can check it out here.
Tawdra Kandle is a #IBF2016 Featured Author.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 7, 8 & 9 – 2016
INDIE BOOKFEST 2016
- 4th Annual Author/Reader Event Orlando/Altamonte Springs, FL
- October 7, 8 & 9 – 2016
- FREE BOOK SIGNING
- October 8th, 2016
- 3:00-6:00 PM
Review – Gracie’s Touch by S.E. Smith
Gracie’s Touch (Zion Warriors Book 1)
By S. E. Smith
✩✩✩✩
While the author was clearly channeling Independance Day, she quickly steered past it, and only used it as a jumping off point. I am so glad I kept reading, because I would have been deprived an an outstanding adventure.
Gracie Jones shows great spirit and determination, while still retaining a few insecurities to make her real. And Kordon is a drool worthy mix of hard on the outside, yet gooey on the inside. At least for one miniscule human.
This was a well paced story, whose characters kept me reading well into the night. Other than the beginning, I found the story original and interesting. I look forward to reading more in this series.
I highly recommend this book and series. I know I will be purchasing the next one as soon as possible.
SYNOPSIS
New York Times and USA TODAY Bestselling author of Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy, and Paranormal Romance brings another action, adventure, and suspense-filled story to transport readers out of this world.
Gracie Jones was little more than a child when the Earth was invaded by an alien species. Escaping into the subway tunnels of New York City, she hid in fear of being captured. Discovered by four men who became her protectors, she fought alongside them and they became known as the Freedom Five. At seventeen, she made a decision that turned the tide on the war between Earth and the Alluthans but in exchange she gave up all that she knew.
Kordon Jefe is a Zion Warrior and commanding officer in charge of the Confederation of Planets military. When an unknown species begins attacking some of their outer settlements, he is assigned to discover who they are and stop them…at any cost.
Gracie unknowingly finds herself stranded millions of light years and hundreds of years in the future in a distant galaxy on an undeveloped moon. When an old enemy threatens once more, she does not hesitant to use her knowledge to try to stop them once again. Only this time, it is not just Earth she will be saving but the Confederation itself.
When their two worlds are thrown together, Kordon is unsure what to do with the strange, delicate creature that fights and behaves unlike anything he has ever encountered before. One thing he does know, he plans to keep her.
SE Smith and I will both be attending #IBF2016 next month. Please make sure to come by and say “Hi” if you attend. There are still tickets available for those who haven’t purchased theirs. Also, if I get enough comments I’ll hold a drawing for a “Reader’s Ticket”. So don’t be shy in letting me know if you’re interested. You can check it out here.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 7, 8 & 9 – 2016
INDIE BOOKFEST 2016
- 4th Annual Author/Reader Event
Orlando/Altamonte Springs, FL - October 7, 8 & 9 – 2016
- FREE BOOK SIGNING
- October 8th, 2016
- 3:00-6:00 PM
Coastal Magic Convention 2017 Registration Now Open!
Today’s the day… today’s the day!!!!
Today is the opening of Coastal Magic’s 5th Annual event’s General Registration! It’s hard to believe it’s been 5 years, yet Jennifer Morris started planning Olde City, New Blood (Coastal Magic’s original incarnation) in early summer, 2012. From what she says, that first year was… well… it was a lot of fun, and certainly a learning experience. From my experience attending last year. It’s come a long way, and developed into quite a community of authors and readers, and still a boat load, or maybe beach load of fun.
That being said … it’s time to get yourself registered to join us next year!! Coastal Magic is, by design, a small event. The registration (which is $90 and covers all our scheduled activities, and your lunch with an author on Saturday) is capped at 250 readers/bloggers. We came *really* close to selling out of registrations last year, so if you know you’re going to be coming to hang with us by the beach in February, we suggest getting yourself settled earlier rather than later! You just need to go to the REGISTRATION page of this site, and after you check out the details, you can click the EventBrite.com button there to buy your full weekend ticket.
Jennifer is doing the hotel reservation process a bit different this year. You’ll receive an email containing our group code and reservation page link after you complete your registration. She’s hoping this will slow down the “sellout” problem on our reserve block, as only those who’ve registered will have access to the room reserve info. You can still see the hotel info and fee details on our HOTEL/TRAVEL page as a reference. And FYI, she’ll also list multiple, very nice and reasonably priced hotels within easy walking distance of our Hilton… as she anticipates we’ll sell out again this year.
I’m sure there’ll be a lot of questions to answer and/or clarifications to make. You can comment on this post, or reach Jennifer on our Coastal Magic Convention Authors & Attendees Facebook Group. You can also reach her via the contact form and/or email on the CONTACT page of the Coastal Magic Convention site.
I’m super excited, today has finally arrived. Now all the fun can really begin. Once you’ve registered, you will definitely want to join the Coastal Magic Convention Authors & Attendees Facebook Group if you haven’t already. You’ll also want to check out our CMCon17 Featured Authors Reading Challenge group for the reading challenge which starts today as well. It’s a great way to check out the different author’s books, have some fun, and win some prizes at the same time.
Since Books, Coffee, and Crafts News is one of the “Featured Bloggers” this year, I get the privilege of hosting one or more of Coastal Magic 2017’s “Featured Authors” each month until the convention. Isn’t that awesome. Look for my Coastal Magic 2017 “Featured Authors” Get Crafty spotlights in the coming months.
Starting the countdown to #CMCon2017 — can’t wait to see you all next year by the beach!!
Books, Coffee, and Crafts News 