Release (& Review) Day: UNBOUND by Sara Humphreys

Hi all!

Today is the official release day of Unbound, a novella in the Amoveo Legends series by Sara Humphreys!   

Book Blurb: 
The forces that bind them can also tear them apart…

Zachary McKenna is a warrior shapeshifter from the Lion Clan, trying to catch a break in the sun and surf of Mexico.  Mai Tais and scantily clad beach bodies are just what he needs after his last battle.  But the fun doesn’t last long before a beautiful young woman is mugged on his doorstep and Zach is pulled right back into the fray.

Zach has no idea of the danger Annabelle has unwittingly brought to his doorstep, until he discovers that losing her will almost certainly destroy him…

Rating: ***** (5/5)

Review: 
     Okay, so I’m coming into this series with this book (which is book #7 in the Amoveo Legend series).  I’m hooked.  Seriously.  Just like that…hooked.  I need to get the first six books and get busy reading them; I found the Amoveo abilities incredibly intriguing & this book makes me want o go back and read the rest of them so that I can learn more about this amazing world that Sara created.

     The chemistry between Zachary and Annabelle leaps off the page, and the characters have depth.  I was in love with Zachary before I was even halfway through the book; Annabelle is strong and fierce…my favorite kind of heroine.  She’s vulnerable and makes mistakes, but she doesn’t back down from what she knows she wants.  

*I was provided an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

You can order your copy for just $0.99! 
Amazon
BN
iBooks
Google Books

 (Psst...when you order UNBOUND for just $0.99, you get FOUR chapters of Sara's upcoming novel Vampires Never Cry Wolf!)

Author Bio:

     Sara is a graduate of Marist College, with a B.A. Degree in English Literature & Theater.  Her initial career path after college was as a professional actress.  Some of her television credits include, A&E Biography, Guiding Light, Another World, As the World Turns, and Rescue Me.

     In 2013 Sara’s novel UNTAMED won two PRISM awards – Dark Paranormal and Best of the Best.  Sara has been a lover of both the paranormal and romance novels for years.  Her sci-fi/fantasy/romance obsession began years ago with the TV Series STAR TREK and an enormous crush on Captain Kirk.  That sci-fi obsession soon evolved into the love of all types of fantasy/paranormal; vampires, ghosts, werewolves, and of course shape shifters.  

     Sara is married to her college sweetheart, Will.  They live in New York with their 4 boys.  For a full list of Sara’s books and reading order, please visit her website.

She's also a bit of a social media butterfly & you can find her on any of the below sites (the links take you to her pages!)

Website

Facebook

Amazon Author Page

Twitter (@authorsara)

Tsu

Goodreads

Instagram (username: fabfitfortyplus)

Review of: Gut Instinct, by Barb Han

Hi all!  Today I’m reviewing Gut Instinct, the second book in the Campbells of Creek Bend series by Barb Han.

Book Blurb (taken from Barb Han's website, because she says it better than I can!):

     Reunited… by a murderer

FBI agent Luke Campbell has never been more determined to catch the serial killer who’s eluded him for two years. Because this time the monster is after Julie, the ex he walked out on when he returned from Iraq, emotionally scarred and burdened by a secret. Now Luke will do anything-even risk his life-to protect Julie and regain her trust.

     But it’s a tense race against time. Defying FBI rules, Luke keeps Julie by his side throughout a harrowing chase. Once they’re finally at a safe house, it’s clear to him that the passion they once shared hasn’t cooled. Can Luke redeem himself and keep evil away from the woman he refuses to let go of again?

Rating: ***** (5/5)

Review: Luke & Julie have a romantic history that’s full of both happiness and pain… so Luke is even more determined to catch the deranged serial killer that has Julie next on his list of victims.

     I absolutely adore Barb Han’s writing.  Her characters are realistic, relatable, loveable, and there are the villains that are super easy to be disgusted by.  This novel had me on the edge of my seat & I couldn’t put this book down; the stakes felt higher in this novel – I’m going to attribute that to the history between Julie and Luke.  They were “the one that got away” for each other…can they reconnect while trying to capture a serial killer?

Also – be on the lookout for the last novel in the Campbells of Creek Bend series, Hard Target, to hit stores on 01/20/15 in paperback & will release on e-book on 02/01/15.  It’s available for pre-order on Amazon (also on Kindle), B&N, (also Nook), and a few other retailers.  Mark your calendars!

You should follow Barb on Twitter & Facebook – she’s awesome & she interacts with her fans!    

2015 Challenges & Events!

     Yesterday I gave a little hint about some blog Events that I'm going to be participating in this year.  Well, here is where you'll read alllllllllll about them.

     I'm participating in a couple of Reading Challenges, a Blog Organization Challenge, & participating in ARC Tours.  Whaaaaat?!  So excited!  

2015 Reading Challenge

     I found this on Pinterest, but it was originally posted (to my knowledge) on Popsugar.  The purpose of this challenge is to get me to explore books outside of my usual bubble, and to read as much as I can.  I'm super excited about a few of these! 

      (PS - Here is the banned books list!) 

     Also, PopSugar has a printable for you!  I tried to include one here, but Blogger & I had a disagreement about how that should work.  Go to this page, and the article has a "Download our Printable" link.  That will open up a file for you & all you have to do is hit Print.  I already have mine hanging on my wall! (Pro tip: it's easier to read if printed in B&W)

Alexa <3’s Books Flights of Fantasy Challenge

     I found this challenge through another book blogger (on Twitter too!), and am really excited about it!  In case you didn't know, I'm a huge fan of fantasy (I'm going to consider paranormal & fantasy sub genres of each other for this challenge, just fyi).

     Here is the gist of how the challenge works & how to participate (literally copied from the page on her blog, which you should visit because it's awesome & beautiful):

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:

• Challenge yourself to read a certain number of fantasy books. Share your challenge number in a comment below, a post on your blog or even a tweet!
• On the last Sunday of each month, we'll be sharing our personal updates on the challenge. We'll be including a Linky, just in case you decide to do the same. (This is optional!)
• As mentioned, we will have giveaways! If you want to gain bonus entries for the giveaways, read any (or even all!) of our favorite fantasy books listed below:
• Joint Favorites: Throne of Glass, Harry Potter, Fire and Thorns, Snow Like Ashes, Queen of the Tearling
• Alexa's Favorites: Eon, Daughter of the Forest, The Elemental Trilogy, Song of the Lioness, The Hobbit
• Rachel's Favorites: The Grisha Trilogy, Harper Hall Trilogy, The Fever series, The Winner's Curse, Graveling

     I am challenging myself to 15 fantasy reads this year.  I don't think I'll be able to do a post on the last Sunday of each month like on their blog, BUT I definitely be posting and updating on my personal progress.

     I will be posting about it on Twitter, under the tag: #flightsoffantasy.  Feel free to follow me on there (@VWalkerViews)

Note: I'm going to be doubling up on challenges for both of the above events (i.e.: a book I read might meet more than one requirement for the Reading Challenge & could work as one of my 15 fantasy reads).

The Book Addict's Guide: Blog Organization Challenge

     I found this challenge, hosted by The Book Addict's Guide, the other night while scrolling through Twitter (I recently started following her on Twitter & she's awesome).  I had just finished putting together my own Blog Binder & was posting a picture of the binder to Twitter and then her post about her Blog Organization Challenge popped up.  Talk about fate.
    You can read about the Challenge here; I hope will help me really get this Blog organized!
    I'm going to post about the Challenge at least once a month (as my schedule allows - I can't say it will be the same week or weekend every month), and will write up a short note about how the Challenge is coming along.

Here is the V.Walker's Views & Reviews Blog Binder that I made the other night!  I'll be updating it & my first Blog Organization Challenge post will be about the binder!  Look for it soon!

And the last event (for now), but certainly not the least...

The Book Addict’s Guide ARC Tour(s)!

(ARC = advanced reader copy)

     This is a really great blog, and I found them through Twitter (and to think, I used to hate Twitter) and was able to sign up for the ARC Tour just in time.

     As one Brittany (one of the awesome bloggers) was kind enough to clarify for me, the ARC Tour is a way for authors to share their books with readers. The readers can then post a review on Amazon or Goodreads or their own blogs, but a review isn't necessary.  

     They just want to spread the love, which I think is awesome.  Keep checking their blog for new ARC Tours - you don't have to be a blogger to participate!!

     The first Tour that I’m participating in is for The Start of Me and You, by Emery Lord, which is going to be released on 03/31/15.  Since the book is physically mailed from one person to the next, I'm not sure when I'll be posting my review, but I'm really excited to read this book!  I really do love YA novels, even if people think I'm crazy.  To quote Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren from Orange is the New Black, "I'm not crazy, I'm unique!"

   I hope that you guys participate in the Reading Challenge(s) of your choice this year!  Make a promise to do more reading...it opens up worlds that you never even dreamed of.  And I want to hear all about your reading experiences, so feel free to comment on this post or on future posts! 

xo