Made For You Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway

Welcome to Unabridged Bookshelf's stop on the Made For You Blog Tour!  Today I have a tour-wide giveaway and a review for you! Also, make sure to check out everything going on during this tour by clicking the banner above. 

About the Book

Title: Made For You

Author: Melissa Marr

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publication Date: September 16, 2014

Genres: Southern Gothic, Young Adult

Amazon | Barnes and Noble  | Kobo | iTunes

Bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely books Melissa Marr’s first contemporary YA novel is a twisted southern gothic tale of obsession, romance, and murder. A killer is obsessed with Eva Tilling. Can she stop him, or will he claim her?
When Eva Tilling wakes up in the hospital, she’s confused—who in her sleepy little North Carolina town could have hit her with their car? And why? But before she can consider the question, she finds that she’s awoken with a strange new skill: the ability to foresee people’s deaths when they touch her. While she is recovering from the hit-and-run, Nate, an old flame, reappears, and the two must traverse their rocky past as they figure out how to use Eva’s power to keep her friends—and themselves—alive. But while Eva and Nate grow closer, the killer grows increasingly frantic in his attempt to get to Eva.
For the first time, New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr has applied her extraordinary talent to contemporary realism. Chilling twists, unrequited obsession, and high-stakes romance drive this Gothic, racy thriller—a story of small-town oppression and salvation. Melissa’s fans, and every YA reader, will find its wild ride enthralling.

About the Author

Hmm, I’m never good at the bio bit. I used to teach college & bartend, now I write novels. I love to
meet new people, to hear their stories, to walk through new streets and see new vistas. I enjoy art in all its guises–graffiti, surrealist paintings, classic sculptures, tattoos, interesting buildings, Renoir, photography . . . Art & nature, they feed my soul & thus my muse.
   

My Review of Made For You

Made For You defiantly ramps up your heart rate, and has you trying to guess what is going to happen next. I have to say that Made For You is one of the darkest, creepiest novels I have read in a while, that did not revolve around the supernatural (with the exception of Eva’s gift). What makes Made For You so disturbing is that it is the disturbed bad guy “Judge” is just a human serial killer completely off their rocker. The realism that this could happen and actually happens more than I would like to think about is what makes it so dark and twisted. 

While Eva’s viewpoints are the bright spot in the dark story, even though she is the focal point for this guy’s obsession. She is just a normal girl trying to recover, and live her life. While the viewpoints of Judge are what you would expect from a raving lunatic with obvious mental issues. It is unsettling in the fact like most real life serial killers; you can tell he still manages to appear normal. 

Melissa Marr did a fantastic job with both those viewpoints, because she manages to switch between the two without being jarring or confusing besides the normal confusion from going from normal to psycho. I think both characters were really well done, and I like that as the victim that Eva did not just give up. Eva chooses to fight back and trying to use her new death visions to protect the ones she loves. This characteristic really made me like a character that really started off more superficial. 

Made For You is perfect for mystery or even thriller fans. The darkness would lend itself to fans of both.  Mystery fans like myself will enjoy trying to find out who the bad guy is before the big reveal, and trust me it is not easy to do. Another excellent work by Melissa Marr, if you have read anything by her before you know Made For You is a must read. 

**Unabridged Bookshelf received this book, in exchange for an honest review**

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Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper Book Blitz: Guest Post

Welcome to the Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper Book Blitz!  Today I have Guest Post from author, J.L. Bryan!

About the Book

Title: Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper

Author: J.L. Bryan

Series: Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper #1

Publication Date: September 19, 2014

Genres: Adult, Horror, Paranormal

Amazon | Barnes and Noble 

Ellie Jordan’s job is to catch and remove unwanted ghosts. Part detective, part paranormal exterminator, Ellie operates out of Savannah, Georgia, one of the oldest and most haunted cities in North America.
When a family contacts her to deal with a disturbance presence in the old mansion they’ve recently purchased, Ellie first believes it to be a typical, by-the-book specter, a residual haunting by a restless spirit. Instead, she finds herself confronted an evil older and more powerful than she’d ever expected, rooted in the house’s long and sordid history of luxury, sin, and murder. The dangerous entity seems particularly interested in her clients’ ten-year-old daughter.
Soon her own life is in danger, and Ellie must find a way to exorcise the darkness of the house before it can kill her, her clients, or their frightened young child.

About the Author

J.L. Bryan studied English literature at the University of Georgia and at Oxford, with a focus on the
English Renaissance and the Romantic period. He also studied screenwriting at UCLA. He enjoys remixing elements of paranormal, supernatural, fantasy, horror and science fiction into new kinds of stories. He lives in Atlanta with his wife, his son, and some dogs and cats.
To hear about future books by J.L. Bryan, sign up for his new release newsletter: http://eepurl.com/mizJH    

Haunted Savannah

Ellie Jordan, the lead character in my new series, has a fairly interesting job—she works for a small private detective agency that specializes in capturing and removing unwanted ghosts.

I knew the setting of the series would be important, and it was fun to consider where a ghost-catching agency might be most profitably located.  An old city would be best, but there aren’t many of those in the United States.  In fact, by the standards of most of the world, we don’t have any truly old cities here, nothing as ancient as Paris, Rome, or Jerusalem.

The oldest cities are generally located along the East Coast.  I considered Boston and New York, but I’ve never even been to those cities—and besides, the Ghostbusters have pretty well staked out New York City as their territory.

The obvious choice for me was Savannah, Georgia, a city much closer to me, and one I’ve visited a few times (and look forward to visiting again in the future).  I knew I was lucky to have it close by; it’s not just old, but characterized by beautiful architecture dating back to the colonial era.  The downtown is made of up twenty-two squares, each with a small park surrounded by old mansions and other buildings in every conceivable architectural style.  It’s almost dreamlike to walk through the city surrounded by gardens, wrought iron, marble columns, fountains, and statues.  Beautiful, old, and not far away—a perfect setting for the new ghost series!

As I turned out during, I was luckier than I knew.  I’ve read again and again that seventy percent of the buildings in Savannah’s downtown are said to be haunted.  I have no idea where this figure came from, but it sounds like a lot.  The city isn’t just haunted because it’s old.

Do you remember how that house in Poltergeist was built on top of an old cemetery?  The entire city of Savannah is like that.  Countless graveyards have been paved over as the city expanded over the centuries.  Unmarked graves lie beneath the streets and the beautiful antique mansions.

The only thing more conducive to a haunting would be if the city were also built on top of old Native American burial grounds.  It turns out that’s the case, too.

No wonder they say the city is teeming with ghosts.  I think it’s going to be a fun place to spend the series.

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Cover Reveal: Stay

Stay by Alyssa Rose Ivy
The Empire Chronicles #3

Expected Publication: October 20, 2014
 Cover Design by Phatpuppy Art
Genres: Adult, Paranormal Romance,

Nothing could possibly get worse. Everything and everyone that could be in jeopardy already is, and Jared knows that he is The Society's only hope. If he doesn't find a way to escape he fails everyone including Vera, the bear shifter he can't seem to get out of his head.

 

Casey and Toby are in love. Head over heels in love, but is their love strong enough to survive a magic so powerful that Casey's mind is no longer in her control?

 

Vera will do anything to help her sister, and unfortunately that means she is well acquainted with Jared, the most frustrating man she has ever met. Now she has to find a way to fight her annoyance and growing attraction long enough to help save Levi and Allie.

 

Racing against the clock, all four must face their greatest fears to save The Society and all the people they love.

 About the Author

Alyssa Rose Ivy is a New Adult and Young Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance
and
a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.

    

My Thoughts: I have been dying to read this one, the cliffhanger at the end of Search had me needing Stay right now, but sadly I have to wait a little longer. I love the cover especially the wings, just perfect. I know this book is going to be action packed from the beginning, and the wait is going to be nearly unbearable!

I want to hear what you think!

Let me know in the comments

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Book Review: The Indigo Spell

About the Book

Title: The Indigo Spell

Author: Richelle Mead

Series: Bloodlines #3
Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: February 12, 2013

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, 

Amazon  | Barnes and Noble 

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets--and human lives." In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.

My Review of The Indigo Spell

After Golden Lily, I hoped Sydney would take on a more active role in fighting for what is right. I am so pleased that she did exactly that in Indigo Spell. Sydney really steps outside her comfort zone to fight for those she cares about, and to find out what the Alchemist are hiding from her. 

Not only is this a big book for Sydney, it is a turning point in the whole series. I think the events of this book and the discoveries made will forever change Sydney and maybe even the Alchemist and Morai world. I guess I just have to wait and see where Fiery Heart is going to go. 

My complaint from the very first book in the Bloodlines series has been Sydney’s very poor body image. I know that many people have such issues in real life, but it made it very hard for me as a reader to connect with Sydney. She had gotten much better in Golden Lily, but her improvement in The Indigo Spell had me finally cheering “Go Sydney” or more like “Go Adrian” for waking her up to her body issues. 

I have to say I love Sydney’s kick butt, take risks attitude in The Indigo Spell. While I think things are about to get hairy, I still cannot wait to see the whole gang again. Fiery Heart is defiantly going to be an action packed book. I am also curious to see how Sydney deals with complications that arrived at the end of The Indigo Spell. 

**Unabridged Bookshelf borrowed this book from the local public library**

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Dire Release Day Launch: Review, Excerpt, and Giveaway

 Happy Release Day For Dire and Alyssa Rose Ivy! Not only to a have a review for you, there is also an excerpt and a giveaway for you to enter! Check it all out, because you do not want to pass this one up. 

About the Book

Title: Dire

Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy

Series: The Dire Wolves Chronicle #1

Publication Date: September 15, 2014

Genres: New Adult, Paranormal, 

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Kobo

Gage was the first guy I ever wanted. He was my first crush and my first fantasy, but he wasn't my first in any other way because he never saw me as anything more than a friend— at least not until the night that changed everything.

It was all Gage's fault. He insisted we drive through the storm and take the back roads. By the time the storm hit full force we had no chance. One night of snowbound sex changed our relationship forever. The problem was at the same time I caught another guy’s attention. This other guy happened to be the alpha of a pack of shifter wolves. I thought the wolves were the worst of my problems, but I was wrong. When things went from bad to worse I had to make a lifelong sacrifice to save Gage, but what price is too much to save the one you love?

About the Author

Alyssa Rose Ivy is a New Adult and Young Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance

and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.

   

EXCERPT FROM DIRE

A single howl made me stop short. “The wolves!”

“Let’s hope they are farther away than they sound.” Gage tightened his hold on my hand and pulled me forward.

Three more howls filled the night. “They sound closer.”

We picked up the pace, and I chanced a glance behind me. That was a mistake. Several large grey wolves came into view. “Run!”

Gage didn’t need to be told twice. He broke into a run without letting go of my hand.

I ran as fast as possible over the frozen snow, but we didn’t get far before the wolves started circling around us. “Oh my god.” Could things get any worse?

“You have to make a run for it.” Gage’s voice quivered. “They’re going to kill us.”

“I’m not leaving you.” I tried to stay strong, and I kept my eyes locked on the wolves. There were five of them. All of them were massive, much larger than any wolf I’d seen before, but one of them was even bigger and had a large silver streak running down its back. That wolf seemed to be staring right at me.

“I’ll distract them. You run. I’ll catch up.”

I spotted an opening next to one of the smaller of the wolves and went for it. I didn’t make it far before one of the wolves stepped in front of me. I froze, paralyzed with fear, before my legs were knocked from under me. Suddenly, I was lying in the snow with a giant wolf hovering over me.

“We’re fucked.” Gage voiced exactly what I was thinking.

The silver streaked wolf stared down at me. It’s almost glowing eyes bored into mine. Was I really going to die as half-frozen food for a giant wild animal?

Then things got hazy and the air seemed to buzz. Moments later it wasn’t a wolf on top of me—it was a man. A completely naked man with a faint scar across his face.

“What the heck?” I tried to scurry back, but Hunter didn’t move. His very exposed parts nearly touched me. I didn’t want to notice his size, but I did. He was huge. He also didn’t look remotely concerned with the cold.

His lips brushed against my ear. “Were you going somewhere?”

My Review of Dire

A new book by Alyssa Rose Ivy, well of course I had to read it. Dire Wolves set in the world of the Empire and Crescent Chronicles but also set far apart from it. Although, I hope maybe someday in the future they meet up. As with everything written by Alyssa Rose Ivy, Dire is wonderful, magnificent, and even set in the shape shifter world, is so very different from previous series set in this world.

Dire starts of innocent enough, and quickly goes much darker. There are so many elements introduced in this first novel, and it opens the door to a very interesting and exciting series. I do have to say that Gage is my new favorite, and I cannot wait to see what happens in Dusk. Mary Anne is a powerful female although shy and unsure of herself, she does not realize. I think that quality is what drew me to her as a reader.

The Dire Wolf pack is so removed from normal society, and that affects their behavior. I would have to say most of the time their actions and behavior are more animal based, then human society based. Obviously, it is defiantly off putting at times, because it is not how a person should react or behave, but then again it is somewhat how I would picture a wolf pack to act in a way.


Alyssa Rose Ivy has this magic touch with the written word, and I know that The Dire Wolves Chronicles is going to be another fantastic and addicting series for me to enjoy. I am already dying and counting down the days until I can enjoy Dusk. Trust me this series may even outdo Empire Chronicles in my favorites list. I would say the Crescent Chronicles too, but it will always remain a top favorite, as it is what started my love for this world.

**Unabridged Bookshelf received this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review**

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Book Review: Untold

About the Book

Title: Untold

Author: Sarah Rees Brennan

Series: The Lynburn Legacy #2

Publication Date: September 24, 2013

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal

Amazon | Barnes and Noble 

It's time to choose sides....
On the surface, Sorry-in-the-Vale is a sleepy English town. But Kami Glass knows the truth. Sorry-in-the-Vale is full of magic. In the old days, the Lynburn family ruled with fear, terrifying the people into submission in order to kill for blood and power. Now the Lynburns are back, and Rob Lynburn is gathering sorcerers so that the town can return to the old ways.
But Rob and his followers aren’t the only sorcerers in town. A decision must be made: pay the blood sacrifice, or fight. For Kami, this means more than just choosing between good and evil. With her link to Jared Lynburn severed, she’s now free to love anyone she chooses. But who should that be?
A darkly humorous take on Gothic romance, Sarah Rees Brennan's Lynburn Legacy weaves together the tale of a heroine desperate to protect those she loves, two boys hoping to be saved, and the magical forces that will shape their destiny.

My Review of Untold

Kami Glass is one of my favorite young adult characters and Unspoken a definite favorite also. When I started Untold, I knew it was going to surpass Unspoken, and boy did it. There is more danger and evil lurking in Untold. While most citizens of Sorry-in-the-Vale chose to ignore or hide, Kami and her group of friends chose to plan and fight back. 

Kami is highly intelligent and a very though journalist. She is really like a modern day Nancy Drew, if Nancy Drew had to fight evil sorcerers to save her town. Kami’s sense of humor and her comedic timing made me laugh so many times. In fact, all of Kami’s friends can be quite hilarious. This is the best part even in the darkest of time; one of the group cracks a joke and releases some of the tension. 

I will have to say this one ends on quite a bit of a cliffhanger. With certain things up in the air and even more danger on the way, Unmade is probably going to be mind-blowing. I am sad to see the Lynburn Legacy series comes to an end. I could always use more Kami in my life. I just hope some of the unanswered questions finally get answers. 

Sarah Rees Brennan has created such a powerful but still funny series. If you have ever been a fan of mysteries with a paranormal twist, this series and Untold are the books for you. I love this series and I think Untold outdoes Unspoken. Just as I am sure, Unmade is going to outdo Untold.

**Unabridged Bookshelf borrowed this book from the local public library**

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Cover Reveal and Giveaway: Play of Light

Play of Light by Debra Doxer

Expected Publication: December 8, 2014
 Cover Design by Okay Creations
Genres: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance,

I lived in paradise, and I loved Spencer Pierce.
At fourteen, my life was perfect. The beach was my playground, and the boy who stole my heart lived just around the corner. But perfect never lasts. In one horrifying moment, I lost it all. My family was destroyed, and the boy I believed in turned his back on me. Paradise became a nightmare.
That was five years ago. Everything changed when we moved from our home by the sea. I’ve changed, and I don’t like who I’ve become. I miss the smiling, carefree beach girl who disappeared that terrible night. I want to find her again. I want to face the people we ran from so long ago. Most of all, I have to face Spencer. So I can prove that when he broke my heart, he didn’t break me.
But when I see him again, Spencer Pierce is no longer the boy from my memories. He’s now a man who could devastate me if I let him. He watches me when he thinks I’m not looking. There’s regret written on his face when he’s near. Each time I see him, my heart aches for what might have been, and I think his does too. How can I convince myself I’m over him when I suspect he never got over me?
~ This is a standalone story. ~

 About the Author

Debra Doxer was born in Boston, and other than a few lost years in the California sunshine, she has
always resided in the Boston area. She writes fiction, technical software documents, illegible scribbles on sticky notes, and texts that get mangled by AutoCorrect. She writes for a living, and she writes for fun. When her daughter asks when she'll run out of words, her response always is, "When I run out of time."

   

I want to hear what you think!

Let me know in the comments

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Coral & Bone Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway

Welcome to Unabridged Bookshelf's stop on the Coral & Bone Blog Tour!  Make sure to check out everything going on during this tour by clicking the banner above. I have a review and a tourwide giveaway for you to enter!

About the Book

Title: Coral & Bone

Author: Tiffany Duane

Publisher: Jester Ink Press

Publication Date:July 7, 2014

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, 

Amazon | Barnes and Noble 

Halen knows the sparks igniting under her fingertips are dangerous. She has spent her entire life trying to quell the tingly feelings that make her destroy things, but now that she is back in Rockaway Beach, where she watched her father drown, the flames have become impossible to tame.

Halen is trying to hold on, but when she is thrust into a mysterious new world, the underwater realm of Elosia, she unravels the secrets of her past and can’t help but ignite. As she explores Elosia, she realizes her life has been a lie. And when those who have deceived her come to her for help, Halen must choose—walk away or unleash the magick that could destroy them all.

About the Author

I write stories about magick, love and dark creatures lurking in the shadows. When I'm not lost in
Edit Land you can find me reading a book from my towering TBR pile or at the movie theater nibbling licorice. I don't have a lucky number, but my favorite time is 11:11. I completely believe that the fortunes found inside cookies will come true and that you must be careful when wishing on stars. I live on an island, so if you want to visit you'll need a boat, and if you want to survive the passage, be sure to bring candy for the mermaids.  

   

My Review of Coral & Bone

I seem to be reading more Fantasy novels lately, so I was drawn to Coral & Bone. After the first chapter, I would have to say I was intrigued and hooked. There are many elements in Coral & Bone that I have seen in other fantasy and paranormal novels, but Tiffany Duane really molds them into her own version.  She weaves them together to form a complex story, with detailed care to not become too convoluted. 

Halen discovers many things about herself, and about those who she has trusted her entire life. While internally fighting her destiny, she begins to discover that she may not be as weak as she feels. Watching Halen take on and accept her role in the fight against the evil that is destroying the realms is what really captured me. I knew that once she started to work towards her goal, I could not put the book down. 

Coral & Bone is a beautifully written novel, and it was such a character driven read. Halen had to make the decisions and fight against her own self to discover whom she really was and who she wanted to become. The other characters surrounding Halen, especially the ones trying to help by her side also make this novel into a must read. 

I know this cannot be the last book in this series, and I have heard that it is supposed to be a trilogy. I am excited, because I cannot wait to discover more of Halen’s world. I loved Coral & Bone and I personally cannot wait to see what Tiffany Duance comes up with next for this series. 

**Unabridged Bookshelf received this book, in exchange for an honest review**

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