Book Review: The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett

Goodreads Summary: Sixteen-year-old Dusty Everhart breaks into houses late at night, but not because she’s a criminal. No, she’s a Nightmare.
Literally.
Being the only Nightmare at Arkwell Academy, a boarding school for magickind, and living in the shadow of her mother’s infamy, is hard enough. But when Dusty sneaks into Eli Booker’s house, things get a whole lot more complicated. He’s hot, which means sitting on his chest and invading his dreams couldn’t get much more embarrassing. But it does. Eli is dreaming of a murder.
Then Eli’s dream comes true.
Now Dusty has to follow the clues—both within Eli’s dreams and out of them—to stop the killer before more people turn up dead. And before the killer learns what she’s up to and marks her as the next target.

Title: The Nightmare Affair
Series: The Arkwell Academy #1
Author: Mindee Arnett
Publisher: Tor Teen
Release Date: 5th March 2013
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Fantasy
Format: eGalley
Source: via publisher on NetGalley

The Nightmare Affair was a great read and a fantastic beginning to the series. I really enjoyed the writing style and characters created by Mindee Arnett and can’t wait for book 2 in the series, The Nightmare Dilemma, due for release next year (2014). This reminded me a little of the Mythos Academy series by Jennifer Estep and even Phoebe Pope and the Year of Four by Nya Jade. These both have academy settings and mysteries to be solved. I am really enjoying academy setting books at the moment, as you can see. :)

Destiny (Dusty) Everhart is a 16 year old and has a Nightmare Mother, Moira. Dusty lived with her Father up until her magical abilities turned up not long ago. Since they arrived, she had to attend a new school, Arkwell Academy. Arkwell is a school for magickind, where they learn to use their abilities. But life at school isn’t easy for Dusty with the history her Mother left behind.

A Nightmare is a darkkind, which means they have to get their power from living people. Dusty has to feed off dreams from humans and this one particular night, Dusty went dreamwalking and picked Eli Booker. Eli was the quarterback at high school where Dusty used to go and she wasn't really excited to see his dreams, but did anyway. This dream was very different for Dusty, very vivid and was of a dead girl from Arkwell. It was all very strange really and Eli somehow found Dusty in the dream and grabbed her arm. When the dreamer and the Nightmare touch in the dream, it automatically kicks the Nightmare out. The funny thing is, when Nightmares jump into dreams, they have to position themselves on the chests of their victims. So when Eli and Dusty were out of the dream, she fell off Eli and started shooting spells at him, but for some reason the spells bounced back off. What is going on?

Dusty is captured by the Werewolve Police and taken back to school where she finds the crime scene she just witnessed in the dream. Now she is really confused.

Dusty and Eli is a dream-seer pair, which is rare and exciting. Dusty and Eli have been tasked with finding the killer and preventing any further people from dying. In their dreams they could find clues to what is going on and try to prevent it from happening.

Since their bond has started, they find themselves becoming allies and with the help of Dusty’s roommate, Selena, they all embark on an adventure to find the culprit and discover the secret behind the Keepers.

Can Dusty and Eli interpret the dreams to find clues to the killer? Will they accept they have a connection that goes beyond the dream-seer dreams? Can Dusty forgive her Mother from running out on her when she was little?

I found this book very intriguing and a fun read. Having betrayal, action, mystery, romance, paranormal creatures and teen angst, I really enjoyed the world Ms Arnett created and the fun quirky characters.

4 GREAT FUN BOOKS

About the Author

Mindee Arnett lives on a horse farm in Ohio with her husband, two kids, a couple of dogs, and an inappropriate number of cats. She’s addicted to jumping horses and telling tales of magic, the macabre, and outer space. She has far more dreams than nightmares.

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Book Review: The Water Witch by Juliet Dark

Goodreads Summary: "You have only to call my name to bring me back," he whispered, his breath hot in my ear. "You have only to love me to make me human."

Seduced by a powerful incubus demon, Callie has succeeded in banishing him to the Borderlands but Liam still haunts her dreams, tempting her with the knowledge of how to bring him back.

But loving an incubus usually ends in death for a human. For her own sake, Callie must learn to control her desires and ensure Liam remains trapped for all eternity in his watery prison.

Only there is a more dangerous creature than Liam in the Borderlands. The Water Witch is looking for a way back.

Title: The Water Witch
Series: Fairwick Chronicles #2
Author: Juliet Dark (Carol Goodman)
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Release Date: 12th February 2013
Genre: Adult Paranormal Fantasy Romance
Format: eGalley
Source: publisher via NetGalley

I really loved The Demon Lover and really love the writing style of Juliet Dark. The Water Witch was no exception and was another addictive and fast paced read. I love Callie and love watching her grow with each book and the wonderful friendships she has made since moving into the town.

After banishing Liam into the Borderlands, Callie is still trying to piece back together her broken heart. Still not able to truly love him and turn him human, Liam is now stuck for eternity in the Borderlands. Callie must be careful not to desire him too much or he could escape again. Callie is still having hot and sweaty dreams about Liam and doesn’t know if they are real or just fantasies.

Callie is going to help her friends show a batch of undines the doorway to Faerie before they die. As Callie is the doorkeeper, she is the only one able to help guide them through. But Callie gets more than she has bargained for. One of the undines grabs a hold of Callie and pulls her into the water; the only way she is able to escape is to show the undines their way through the passage into Faerie. Travelling the passage is dangerous and finally making it through the other side, Callie is beside herself.

Callie is now in Faerie and watches as the undines turn into beautiful women, with legs and watch as they join their relatives. Callie has an argument with Lorelei, she is extremely angry and wants Callie to open the door for her to return to the human world, where she can breed. Callie doesn’t want to allow this angry, crazy undine back in and Lorelei is hell bent on taking revenge on her.

After returning back home and having a dangerous storm follow her through the doorway, Callie finds trouble and her house is torn apart. Looking for a new handyman, Bill turns up and Callie has an instant liking to him.

The witches in town have found Duncan, a renowned specialist and help to train new witches. Callie can’t but help be attracted to Duncan and with the hopes that he will be able to show her her full strength and witch abilities; Duncan has become her new friend.

With the threat of the doorway to Faerie being closed forever and Aelvesgold being taken away, the witch world will have no more magic. Callie is on a tight schedule to find a way to be able to keep the door open.

Who/what is the handyman Bill? Who/what is Duncan? Will Callie be able to get over Liam finally OR truly accept that she loves him? Who is the Water Witch? Can the door be kept open?

This was a great sequel to The Demon Lover and a fantastic continuation. I really love this series and the unique world that Ms Dark has created. There were a lot of surprises throughout this book and I was amazed and awed by the ending. I cannot wait to read book 3, The Angel Stone, due for release early September 2013.

4 GREAT FANTASY BOOKS

About the Author

Carol Goodman (Juliet Dark is a pseudonym) is the author of The Lake of Dead Languages. Her work has appeared in such journals as The Greensboro Review, Literal Latt, The Midwest Quarterly, and Other Voices. After graduation from Vassar College, where she majored in Latin, she taught Latin for several years in Austin, Texas. She then received an M.F.A. in fiction from the New School University. Goodman currently teaches writing and works as a writer-in-residence for Teachers & Writers. She lives on Long Island. (from the publisher's website)"

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Book Review: More Than You Know by Alexandria Rhodes - BLOG TOUR

I have a review of More Than You Know by Alexandria Rhodes for you today. This great new adult romance should be added to your TBR lists. Check it out below and the giveaway at the bottom.

Title: More Than You Know
Series: N/A
Author: Alexandria Rhodes
Publisher: CreateSpace
Release Date: 14th May 2013
Genre: New Adult Romance
Format: eBook
Source: from Author via CBL Book Tours

After surviving a devastating car accident that took her father's life, Bryn Woods feels like she has nothing left in her hometown of Savannah, GA. Along with losing her father, her boyfriend, Tyler, unexpectedly leaves town the same time of the accident. Feeling alone, broke and confused, Bryn leaves Savannah for college in New York City to escape her heartbreak.

Four years later, Bryn returns to Savannah to live in her childhood home. Slowly, she begins to let the people of her past back into her life. She lets the protective walls she's built to protect herself crash down around her. As she begins to find love again with Tyler, secrets start to unravel themselves about his past. Tyler has secrets of his own. Secrets connected to the death of Bryn's father. Secrets Tyler didn't even know he kept.

My Review

More Than You Know is a fantastic read and I loved the writing style of Alexandria Rhodes. As this is Ms Rhodes debut, I will be adding her now to my must read list. More Than You Know is tragic and so heart wrenching and I instantly felt sorry for Bryn and secretly hoped she would kicked Tyler in the giggle-berries.

Bryn, Charlotte and Tyler (Charlotte and Tyler are siblings) had been best friends forever and lived inside each other’s pockets. The natural progression was to become Tyler’s girlfriend and they were together for almost three years. One horrible day when Bryn was 18, she received a text from Tyler, “we need to talk”. As we all know, this message is never a good sign and it didn't end well for Bryn either.

Bryn was devastated that Tyler could treat her so coldly and end things so abruptly without any indication that he didn't love her any more. With contact being severed with Charlotte as well as Tyler, Bryn didn't have anybody to turn to.

Within a couple of weeks of Tyler leaving town and Bryn, there was a horrible car accident and Bryn’s Dad didn’t survive. Since Bryn’s Mother wasn't in the picture, she was left orphaned and shattered.

Deciding to start her life anew, she moves to New York and starts University there. Going along with her life, Bryn isn’t able to have another relationship as she is still hung up and destroyed by Tyler. Skip ahead four years now and Bryn is graduating from NYU and heading home. Not wanting to sell her family home that she lived in with her Dad all her life, Bryn is going home to start her life again.

One thing she didn’t realise was that Tyler and Charlotte had moved back also and all of their memories and love Bryn held onto, comes flooding back. Can Bryn forgive Charlotte and Tyler? Should Bryn forgive Tyler and Charlotte? What really happened four years ago and will Bryn get an explanation finally?

This book was great and I loved the twists and turns along the way. With everything needed to fulfil a great read, More Than You Know should be added to your TBR list. Tyler and Bryn have everlasting love and I was intrigued to find out what really happened and all of the events that leads up to Bryn’s return home. With a bit of language, this New Adult read has a fabulous ending and I can’t wait to pick up another book by Ms Rhodes.

4 GREAT BOOKS

---

About the Author

Alexandria Rhodes is a first time novelist from the good old state of Ohio. She is a recent college graduate with a degree in English and Creative Writing. Alexandria has always known she needed to write and has been doing so ever since she bought a typewriter at a garage sale when she was nine. With hundreds of pages of plot ideas, scripts and character descriptions, it is no surprise that she finally came around to writing a book. Alexandria enjoys reading, writing, reviewing, spending time with family, tweeting (a little too much) and traveling, especially to Savannah, GA and New York City. Her writing is heavily influenced by her surroundings and the people in her life. She hopes that her stories will touch the hearts of her readers.

~ Website ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~

Giveaway

Signed copy of More Than You Know (open US only)
eBook copy of More Than you Know (open Internationally)

More Than You Know Giveaway

SERIES BLAST: Kiss of Fire and Eyes of Ember by Rebecca Ethington

Joclyn Despain has been marred by a brand on her skin. She doesn't know why the mark appeared on her neck, but she doesn't want anyone to see it, including her best friend Ryland, who knows everything else about her. The scar is the reason she hides herself behind baggy clothes, and won't let the idea of kissing Ryland enter her mind, no matter how much she wants to.

The scar is the reason she is being hunted.

If only she knew that she was.

If only she had known that the cursed stone her estranged father sent for her 16th birthday would trigger a change in her. Now, she is being stalked by a tall blonde man, and is miraculously throwing her high school bully ten feet in the air.

Joclyn attempts to find some answers and the courage to follow her heart. When Ryland finds her scar; only he knows what it means, and who will kill her because of it.

“Loved the world, the concept, all of the characters (good and bad), and just everything about this story! On to the next one!” -Jena, Shortie Says

“I loved this book from the very first lines… I think it will be hard to move on to another story for a while. -Steele Reviews

“It’s amazing and left me at the edge of my seat through the night as I read.” - Zach’s YA Reviews

On May 15th - 16th Kiss of Fire will be free on Amazon!

AMAZON

Can also be found on Barnes & Noble

Book 2 in the Imdalind series!

Joclyn is in hiding, hunted by the man she still desperately loves. Ryland is gone, his mind erased, no memory of Joclyn remains. But, Joclyn’s heart desperately begs her to hold out hope. While, in reality the black eyed monster that possesses him, attempts to kill her over and over.

If it wasn’t for Ilyan, Joclyn would be dead by now.

Ilyan. The man who once stalked her, is now Joclyn’s protector, the only thing she has left. He protects Joclyn from the men who seek to end her life, and while she is haunted by dreams where Ryland begs her to break the bond between them.

Ilyan is there. Always there.

Ilyan trains and prepares her, teaching her everything she needs to know in the hope that one day she can avenge Ryland, if not protect herself from him.

And then there is her father.

The man who has never been there, is suddenly responsible for everything. And who he is has made Joclyn into something she never wanted to be.

The Silnỳ.

"If you like magic and paranormal books you NEED to read this series." - Book Briefs

"Eyes of Ember was so amazing! I can't even put into words how amazing. It's Brilliant." - Imagine a World

Get your copy of Eyes of Ember for only $.99! 

Amazon

Can also be found on Barnes & Noble

Rebecca Ethington is a story teller and author from Salt Lake City, Utah. She has been telling stories since she was small. First, with writing crude scripts, and then in stage with years of theatrical performances. Rebecca’s first stint into the world of literary writing, The Imdalind Series, was released in October 2012 and since its release each book has been found in several top 100 lists on Amazon. Rebecca is a mother to two, and wife to her best friend of 14 years. Her days are spent writing, running, and enjoying life with her crazy family.

Website † Facebook † Twitter † GoodReads

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COVER REVEAL: Fallen by Susan Kaye Quinn

Today I am helping to spread this awesome cover for Fallen by Susan Kaye Quinn, book 6 in the Debt Collector series. Check it out!

Fallen (Debt Collector #6) by Susan Kaye Quinn
Release Date: 15th May 2013 (TODAY!)
Genre: New Adult Future-Noir

Synopsis:
Lirium’s hopes for escape from Kolek’s mob are threatened when Valac seems to be coming unhinged.

The series so far:

Synopsis for book 1: Delirium

What's your life worth on the open market?

A debt collector can tell you precisely.

Lirium plays the part of the grim reaper well, with his dark trenchcoat, jackboots, and the black marks on his soul that every debt collector carries. He's just in it for his cut, the ten percent of the life energy he collects before he transfers it on to the high potentials, the people who will make the world a better place with their brains, their work, and their lives. That hit of life energy, a bottle of vodka, and a visit from one of Madam Anastazja's sex workers keep him alive, stable, and mostly sane... until he collects again. But when his recovery ritual is disrupted by a sex worker who isn't what she seems, he has to choose between doing an illegal hit for a girl whose story has more holes than his soul or facing the bottle alone--a dark pit he's not sure he'll be able to climb out of again.

The first three episodes of the Debt Collector serial are collectively the length of a short novel, or 152 pages. These are the first three of nine episodes in the first season of The Debt Collector serial. This dark and gritty future-noir is about a world where your life-worth is tabulated on the open market and going into debt risks a lot more than your credit rating. Episode 4, Broken, releases 4/17/13. For more about the Debt Collector serial, see DebtCollectorSeries.com

Series

About the Author

Susan Kaye Quinn grew up in California, where she wrote snippets of stories and passed them to her friends during class. Her teachers pretended not to notice and only confiscated her stories a couple times.

Susan left writing behind to pursue a bunch of engineering degrees, but she was drawn back to writing by an irresistible urge to share her stories with her niece, her kids, and all the wonderful friends she’s met along the way.

She doesn’t have to sneak her notes anymore, which is too bad.

Susan writes from the Chicago suburbs with her three boys, two cats, and one husband. Which, it turns out, is exactly as a much as she can handle.

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