Guest Post: Forbidden Life playlist ~ Kimberly Kinrade

Today I'm very happy to present a guest post from Kimberly Kinrade as part of the blog tour for Forbidden Fire brought to you by Innovative Online Booktours. The guest post is first, read on down to find out more about the book and ayuthor.

Forbidden Life Playlist

Forbidden Life is my favorite book of the Forbidden Trilogy. It's three times longer then the first two, and it has so many great twists and scenes and characters. Maybe because by the time I wrote this book I had already spent so much time with these characters, or because it wraps up the entire trilogy, I don't know, but I do love it.

It combines the kick ass take down the bad guy energy of Forbidden Fire, and the romance of Forbidden Mind and adds so much more!

There are some really beautiful scenes, and several unusual settings in this book, and there are also several points of view throughout, so each character goes through their own trial by fire.

Drake is on a spiral to his rock bottom, having lost hope in himself and life. He grows a lot in this book, and has to face some hard truths about his own choices. His journey is reflected in such songs as Lithium, What I've Done, Starlight, Somewhere I Belong, and It Will Rain.

Though, to some degree, these songs apply to all of them. Lucy, Luke, Sam, Drake, and a few others all have to look at what they've done in the past and find a way to move forward in their lives. They have to forgive themselves, accept themselves, and embrace the lessons life has taught them before their own guilt kills them.

Sam has a unique struggle in learning to let go of Drake and make her way in life alone. My Immortal and Anther Love Like His are her songs.

There's a really sweet romance blossoming in Forbidden Life between Lucy and IPI Agent Hunter Riley (I loved writing him!) So they have a few love songs, such as Gold Forever and Your Guardian Angel, though these could also work for Sam and Drake as well.

And of course, to end the series, we once again have Lonestar's Amazed.

Here's the Forbidden Life playlist, with HTML code to include the playlist on your site if you'd like.

FORBIDDEN LIFE

Clint Mansell - Requiem For A Dream Lux Aeterna FULL ORCHESTRA

Evanescence - My Immortal

Bruno Mars - It Will Rain

Evanescence - Lithium

Giovana - Another Love Like His

The Wanted - Gold Forever

Muse - Starlight

Lonestar - Amazed

Linkin Park - Somewhere I Belong

Linkin Park - What I've Done

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - Your Guardian Angel

About Kimberly Kinrade

I was born with ink in my veins and magic in my heart. As a child, where others saw shapes in clouds, I saw words. But I was also an entrepreneur at heart. So when my business arrangement with the Tooth Fairy ended, I went pro by writing my fantastical stories and selling them to all my neighbors.

Fast forward…um…many years and many college degrees later…and I am now a published author and reformed journalist.

Though I have written in many genres and fields, I am most passionate about the world of the paranormal and fantasy. Look for these exciting young adult paranormal novels from Evolved.

About the Book

The road to redemption begins in darkness. A sinister force waits for them in darkness, ready to devour their powers and take their lives. Sam's baby is the key to a lock that must never been opened. To keep her child safe, Sam will do anything. Drake might have found a way to get his powers back and save his family, but is it too late? Luke and Lucy uncover secrets in an organization they thought they could trust, and the lives of all Rent-A-Kid children are at stake. In this last Forbidden Trilogy installment, the secrets to Rent-A-Kid will finally be revealed.

Feature & Follow Friday (18)

What is Feature & follow?

Gain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers -- but you have to know -- the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee's View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it'll allow us to show off more new blogs!

This weeks blogs are The Y.A. Bookworm Blogger
and Carmen Jenner

This weeks question

Q: What writing device or trick most irritates you when reading a book? For example, if an author employs an omnipotent narrator that is sometimes considered bad form.

A: I'm usually pretty tolerant of writing devices used, with one qualifier, they must be used well!!!! There is nothing worse than reading something here an author has tried too hard to use any device, be it omnipotent narrator or instant mated for life partners. Used well, all writing devices help the story move along!  The instant mated for life writing trick is used wonderfully in some books I've read!

Okay so that's not really a definitive answer but basically it depends!

Eternally Books Update

There are going to be a few changes around Eternally Books in the next couple of weeks with a new design, new features and some really exciting news (I'd love to tell you now but there are a few details to finalise first!).

You can expect to see a lot more of Eternally Books and me (Jenny) coming really soon. If you want to be first to now about the seriously good stuff (you'll want to know I promise!) then make sure you follow the blog, subscribe or  follow me on Twitter and Facebook :-)

Cover Reveal ~ Phoebe Pope and the Year of Four by Nya Jade

Cover by PhatPuppy Art  http://phatpuppyart.com/

Phoebe Pope and the Year of Four by Nya Jade

Expected Pub: Nov 2012

The students of Green Lane Academy roam their halls unaware that below their manicured campus exists a prestigious school of an entirely different kind . . .

Sixteen-year-old Phoebe Pope has enrolled at the Campus Below: a spy academy for shape-shifters hidden deep beneath the grounds of a boarding school whose humans unknowingly protect it. There, thanks to a carefully planned schedule, she leads a double life: spy trainee Below and normal teenager Above.

As if two course loads, concealing a secret power she alone wields, and coping with her father’s recent death weren’t enough, Phoebe finds herself developing major feelings for actor and teen heartthrob Colten Chase, who attends the Campus Above and appears to be majoring in winning Phoebe’s heart. But when officials learn that Phoebe may be at the center of a startling prophecy, she becomes the target of shape-shifting assassins who will stop at nothing to suppress the truth.

Now Phoebe’s lessons about Shaper’s enemies and spycraft take on great importance as a menace stalks the campus, with Phoebe as its target. Meanwhile, what began as an unlikely relationship with Colten, quickly morphs into heartache when she suspects that something sinister lurks beneath this movie star’s glitter and fame. Suddenly, Phoebe’s caught in a mesh of lies, betrayals, and danger where she doesn’t know who to trust, and needs to rely on herself–and her secret power—to get to the truth and to stay alive. 

Find out more about Nya: Twitter | Facebook | Website

Giveaway

Singer-songwriter Nya Jade is celebrating the upcoming release of her debut YA novel, Phoebe Pope and the Year of Four, with a Tiffany & Co. gift card giveaway!! 

• (2) $100 Gift Cards. 
• US only

Tiffany & Co. gift cards are redeemable at all Tiffany & Co. locations, as well as at tiffany.com.

(yes in case you're wondering I'm hosting a giveaway I'm not eligible to enter - it's a blog tour!)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosting the cover reveal for the wonderful Bookish Brunette Book Tours! 

UK v US Cover ~ Unholy Ghosts

How important is the cover of a book to you?

I'm sure I notice them more because I often see a book I like and go off to buy it, only to find the version I get had a totally different cover. I'm in the UK just in case the blog post title didn't give it away! So I thought I'd start up a feature on comparing UK and US covers (might bring in ones from elsewhere too if it takes my fancy!) (Quick disclaimer, I know this is not original but I can't remember where I've seen it so can't credit!)

This week I am taking a look at Unholy Ghosts the first book in the Downside Ghosts series by Stacia Kane. I recently read my copy which has been on my bookshelf forever, when I went to Goodreads I struggled to find my UK edition, well it doesn't exactly look like the other one now does it!!

US cover on the left and UK cover on the right!

Which do you prefer? 







Me? 

Wow what can I say - are those even for the same book!!!!!

Not sure I've seen a book with such different covers for the UK and US. If it wasn't for the title the books would not appear to have anything in common. 

The UK cover is very simple and having read the book I can see what it's getting at, but without reading the book or the blurb I must say it kind of looks like smoke coming out of the mouth rather than anything to do with ghosts!

The US cover is fairly standard urban fantasy stuff, all be it an excellent example. I like the colours and the sense of mysterious about the cover. The model looks good and I like the tattoos even if they are not how I imagined them while reading Unholy Ghosts!

Which do I actually prefer? Well the US cover is a great urban fantasy and the UK one is unique, so I think it's a draw this week!!!!

Do you agree?

Waiting on Wednesday ~ A Perfect Blood

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine which spotlight eagerly anticipated upcoming releases. I've recently stared this series and like the look of the most recent release.

Title: A Perfect Blood
Author: Kim Harrison
Series: The Hallows #10
Publication date: 21 February 2012

New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison returns to the Hollows with the electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed Pale Demon!

A Perfect Blood


Ritually murdered corpses are appearing across Cincinnati, terrifying amalgams of human and other. Pulled in to help investigate by the I.S. and FIB, former witch turned day-walking demon Rachel Morgan soon realizes a horrifying truth: a human hate group is trying to create its own demons to destroy all Inderlanders, and to do so, it needs her blood.

She's faced vampires, witches, werewolves, demons, and more, but humanity itself might be her toughest challenge yet.

Guest Post: How a fantasy author finds magic in the everyday ~ Kimberly Kinrade

Today I'm very happy to present a guest post from Kimberly Kinrade as part of the blog tour for Forbidden Fire brought to you by Innovative Online Booktours. The guest post is first, read on down to find out more about the book and ayuthor.

Do you see the magic in the everyday moments? 

As a fantasy writer, I create magic all the time. My characters dive into darkness, challenging monsters, overcoming fears, and mastering their powers.

But what about in real life? How does a writer of magic find the magic in something so benign as doing dishes? Escapism and the willing suspension of disbelief are wonderful tools to let us immerse ourselves in story. Staying in the present is the tool we need to immerse ourselves in our own magical lives.

So often when I am working in my house, engaging with my children or spending time with my partner, I am not really present. I know you can’t relate to this at all! That experience of being in the past or future, or another world altogether… anywhere but right here, right now.

But that is where REAL magic exists.

Take a moment right now and look around. Where are you? What do you see? Feel? Smell? Taste? Hear? How does it feel to be completely present to this moment in time? If there are others with you, take time to make eye contact, fully seeing them and allowing them to see you. Be in no other time or place. That’s magic. It’s not the big moments of grand adventure. It’s all the steps it takes to get to those moments.

Magic is in doing the dishes.

Think about it. Dishes start out dirty. You fill the sink with water and add soap. And the dirt disappears. *Magic* I know we all would probably prefer a wand or fairies to help us out with this, but next time you do the dishes, try to stay fully present with each dish, each bubble, each warm drop of water that carcasses your skin as you clean away the dirt.

The Japanese understand this. They can make any daily chore a ritual of beauty. Their tea ceremonies, for example. Each breath taken is the reflection of a meditative spirit. Every item of clothing, every movement of the body is specific, practiced, and intentional.

Now I’m not suggesting that everyone start wearing fancy clothes to wash dishes, but I am suggesting that even in doing dishes, cleaning house, or cuddling with our loved ones, we can bring the sacred into that space. I don’t mean religion (though that can be a part of it, for those who are inclined), but I do mean the kind of focus that lights a fire in you and others.

In a day and age of multitasking and distractions, it is especially difficult to discipline our mind in this way. And it is a discipline. Just like magic! If you read great fantasies, or any book for that matter, you see that the hero has to become disciplined in their practice of magic, fighting, or whatever they need in order to fulfill their quest.

A great book begins with a character who has room to grow. Doesn’t this define us all? And that growth comes from self-mastery, self-understanding, and discipline. For us, the same is true. We are all on a hero’s quest. And maybe we don’t battle dragons or fall in love with sparkly vampires, but we do battle dust bunnies and fall in love with the wonderful diamonds in our life. 

To fully appreciate our journey, we have to see the magic in the dish water. Without that awareness we sleep walk through life and miss all the fun! So the next time you find your mind slipping away, practice some everyday magic and make that moment count!

About Kimberly Kinrade

I was born with ink in my veins and magic in my heart. As a child, where others saw shapes in clouds, I saw words. But I was also an entrepreneur at heart. So when my business arrangement with the Tooth Fairy ended, I went pro by writing my fantastical stories and selling them to all my neighbors.

Fast forward…um…many years and many college degrees later…and I am now a published author and reformed journalist.

Though I have written in many genres and fields, I am most passionate about the world of the paranormal and fantasy. Look for these exciting young adult paranormal novels from Evolved 

Forbidden Fire

She escaped, but she’ll never be free.

“Time held no meaning as my mind darted in and out of memories. Past and present collided to create a full-sensory collage out of my life: playing hide-n-seek with my best friends Luke—who always cheated by walking through walls when he was about to be caught—and Lucy; Mr. Caldrin critiquing my sketches and offering ideas to make them more realistic; targets changing faces, blending into the same person, their thoughts rippling through my mind like waves. Through it all, a demon stalked me from the shadows of my memories, never quite showing its face, but crouching, waiting.

And then I dreamed….”

Sam and Drake may have escaped, but they aren’t free—not with a powerful Seeker after them. As Sam struggles with the ethics of her new powers and embraces a blossoming physical relationship with Drake, Lucy and Luke face challenges of their own.

With forces coalescing inside and outside the Rent-A-Kid dorms, it’s only a matter of time before the fire they started forces each of them to make choices they can’t undo. But will it be enough to save them?

And even more!

Each Month we will have a new book or promotion while announcing the next.

The next tour for Kimberly is on Nov 26th as a review blitz followed by 6 weeks of ongoing tour.  

All three Forbidden books plus extra bonus content. Nov. 26^th, 2012

This is its own book, with its own ebook, paperback and eventually hardback. It will include all three forbiddenbooks in it, plus bonus content, interlude scenes between the books and more.

Here is the Review Blitz sign up https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dG9rNmhfR19NWDU3MEFqdVk3eHh1MUE6MQ

6 week tour sign up  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dDJfd0daYS1EUFFPeHFUdWlvenNFUEE6MQ

Blurb:

"A thrilling, dark and deeply romantic read." ~Refracted Light Young Adult Book Reviews

"The plot is very ALIAS and DARK ANGEL-like with X-MEN as its backdrop (awesome combo!)." ~Sour Skittles Book Blog

Paranormal teens with unimaginable powers. A secret organization with deadly intentions. When Sam, a girl who reads minds, meets Drake, a boy who controls minds, they discover their lives aren't what they thought.

Together, they must escape their fate and free their friends, before they lose everyone they love.

This special edition omnibus includes the entire Forbidden Trilogy--Forbidden Mind, Forbidden Fire and Forbidden Life, as well as extensive bonus content. Meet the author in an in-depth Q&A, get to know your favorite characters better, enjoy never-before-revealed interlude scenes and so much more.

Available through Evolved Publishing November 26th, 2012

Look for it in ebook, paperback and hardback

Review: "Fantasy Lover" by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Title: Fantasy Lover
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Series: Dark Hunter #0
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 31 January 2002
Source of my copy: I purchased it.

 About the book (from Goodreads)

 This book is part of the Dark-Hunter universe, but does not feature any Dark-Hunters, For that it's considered an introduction to the series hence the #0. 

Dear Reader, 

Being trapped in a bedroom with a woman is a grand thing. Being trapped in hundreds of bedrooms over two thousand years isn't. And being cursed into a book as a love-slave for eternity can ruin even a Spartan warrior's day. 

As a love slave, I know everything about women. How to touch them, how to savor them, and most of all, how to pleasure them. But when I was summoned to fulfill Grace Alexander's sexual fantasies, I found the first woman in history who saw me as a man with a tormented past. She alone bothered to take me out of the bedroom and into the world. She taught me to love again. 

But I was not born to know love. I was cursed to walk eternity alone. As a general, I had long ago accepted my sentence. Yet now I have found Grace - the one thing my wounded heart cannot survive without. Sure, love can heal all wounds, but can it break a two-thousand-year-old curse?

Julian of Macedon

My review

Grace Alexander is a sex therapist who has heard everything and nothing can shock her anymore.  Yet she has not had a relationship herself for years since she was hurt by her first love in college.  Grace is a likeable character who seemed to me to come across as very genuine and down to earth, happy enough on her own for now at least.   Her best friend, Selena, however has other ideas about Grace’s love life.

Selena has an unusual present for Grace’s birthday, an ancient book she claims holds sex slave Julian of Macedon who once he is called forth has to serve that woman for the next 30 days.  The man pictured inside the book looks like a Greek God.  Grace of course thinks this is ludicrous, yet jokingly calls Julian forth, never expecting him to appear naked in her house!

Julian of Macedon has spent forever in the book since he was last called but expects nothing different to every other time when Grace summons him.  He gets a shock when she does not drag him off to the bedroom right away.  Instead she wants to get to know him and feed him. 

Julian’s character at first is very stereotypical, just what you imagine a sex slave would be.  I liked how he developed and became an interesting and really quite deep character.  The flash backs to when he was a General really bring him to life.

There is a lot of Greek mythology woven into this book but it is all explained clearly and it is assumed the reader has no prior knowledge.  I like books where mythology is used and this did not let me down: the use of the various Gods works well, I was pleased to see they were not simply as they would have been two thousand years ago.

Grace would love to help Julian but there seems no hope.  (Note might be a slight spoiler here) Cupid tells them the only way to break the curse is for a woman of Alexander to summon him and not consummate the relationship until the last day.  Julian feels worse until Grace utters, “Julian, my name Grace Alexander”.

The cover of my edition (not the one shown, I couldn’t find it!) has an ancient heavy book with a picture of a stylised Greek God and a rose placed on it.  Very different to the cover I’ve used and I think gives a very different impression of what the book will be about.

I really enjoyed Fantasy Lover and will definitely be reading more of Sherrilyn’s work.  Although the Dark Hunters were not actually in this book I hope to go on and read the series, eventually there are so many, I enjoyed Sherrilyn’s style of writing and am sure I’ll like the Dark Hunters too.

 

Find out more about Sherrilyn Kenyon and her many books at:
Website, blog, facebook, goodreads, Amazon author page

Buy a copy of Fantasy Lover:
Amazon US, Amazon UK, Book Depository

Feature & Follow Friday (17)

What is Feature & follow?

Gain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers -- but you have to know -- the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee's View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it'll allow us to show off more new blogs!

This weeks blogs are Bookfever
and Reese's Reviews

This weeks question

Q: What book do you think would make a great Halloween movie? Please explain in graphic detail of goriness...

A: Okay, I think that is a hard question! I really can't think of one! But having read a few recommendations for Anna Dressed in Blood I can see why this would make a good one :)

Waiting on Wednesday ~ Etiquette and Espionage

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine which spotlight eagerly anticipated upcoming releases.

Title: Etiquette and Espionage
Author: Gail Carriger
Series: Finishing School #1
Publication date: 5 February 2013

It's one thing to learn to curtsy properly. It's quite another to learn to curtsy and throw a knife at the same time. Welcome to finishing school.

Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is the bane of her mother's existence. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper etiquette at tea--and god forbid anyone see her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminnick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. She enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.

But little do Sophronia or her mother know that this is a school where ingenious young girls learn to finish, all right--but it's a different kind of finishing. Mademoiselle Geraldine's certainly trains young ladies in the finer arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but also in the other kinds of finishing: the fine arts of death, diversion, deceit, espionage, and the modern weaponries. Sophronia and her friends are going to have a rousing first year at school.

First in a four book YA series set 25 years before the Parasol Protectorate but in the same universe.

Teaser Tuesday ~ Dead Witch Walking

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like 

"Grinning, I waved at the camera and settled myself behind Trent's desk. I imagined the stir I was causing as I began rummaging about. The datebook was first, laid invitingly open on the desktop. Francis's appointment had a line through his name and a question mark pencilled beside it"

Dead Witch Walking (The Hallows #1) by Kim Harrison

Review: Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn

Title: Kitty and the Midnight Hour
Author: Carrie Vaughn
Series: Kitty Norville #1

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Published: 1 November 2005Source of my copy: I purchased it.

 About the book (from Goodreads)

Kitty Norville is a midnight-shift DJ for a Denver radio station - and she also happens to be a werewolf. One night, sick of the usual lame song requests, she accidentally starts 'The Midnight Hour', a late-night advice show for the supernaturally disadvantaged. Almost immediately she's deluged by calls from desperate vampires, werewolves and witches from all across the country, wanting to share their woes and ask her advice.

Kitty's new show is a raging success, but it's Kitty herself who could use some help, not least because her monthly change is a deep and dark secret to all but a very special few.

And when she finds one very sexy werewolf-hunter on her tail, not to mention a few homicidal undead, she realises she may just may have bitten off more than she can chew...

My Review

Kitty Norville is in many ways your average young urban female and happens to be a werewolf. Kitty starts a late night chat show for the supernaturally challenged by accident through boredom of doing the late night shift which she took through necessity. Suddenly her show is a real hit, she gets a raise, a desk & a researcher. Great right?

Unfortunately for Kitty her success becomes her problem. Someone is not happy about her show bringing attention to the supernatural set, which in Kitty’s world is hidden from Humanity. Is it the local vampires or her werewolf pack? Of course the story has both of these creatures; we’ve come to expect both if one is there right! Initially Kitty is not too worried, that changes when someone tries to kill her live on air. She does not want to give up her show so she sets out to find out what is going on. I think that’s all I’ll say here or I’ll be getting into spoilers (unless I’m actually the last person to read this book!)

I found Kitty to be a believable character; she was far from perfect and annoyed me a little sometimes – so it’s just like knowing someone in real life. That is why I liked her. However, I did not like the way she accepted some of the pack dynamics in the earlier stages of the story. I know the submissive wolves do as told, however I felt a little uncomfortable a few times with just how submissive Kitty was and what she put up with. I enjoyed seeing her grow as time went on.

Overall I enjoyed Kitty and the Midnight Hour, it is a fairly easy read and will appeal to those who enjoy the urban fantasy genre.

Stacking the Shelves (11) & Showcase Sunday (10)

Stacking The Shelves is a brand new meme for us all to showcase our book haul for the week. The lovely Tynga at Tyngas Reviews.

Showcase Sunday is another fantastic new meme where we can showcase our books, this is hosted by Vicky at Books, Biscuits & Tea

I can't choose which of these memes to participate in so I'm going to take part in both!!

I've been getting a few free books from Amazon this week (they were all free on Amazon UK on 6th October 2012)

How To Date  Werewolf (Rylie Cruz #1) by Rose Pressy

A Dark Kiss of Rapture by Sylvia Day