I never saw this one coming!

Hello to everyone one! 

I got engaged and am currently planning a wedding! 
Because of this I'll be taking a break until after the wedding. 
I'll see y'all in October! 

Happy Reading!

Cana

Until I Die by Amy Plum

Description :

Kate and Vincent have overcome the odds and at last they are together in Paris, the city of lights and love.

As their romance deepens there’s one question they can’t ignore: How are they supposed to be together if Vincent can’t resist sacrificing himself to save others? Although Vincent promises that he’ll do whatever it takes to lead a normal life with Kate, will that mean letting innocent people die? When a new and surprising enemy reveals itself, Kate realizes that even more may be at stake—and that Vincent’s immortality is in jeopardy.

In Die for Me, Amy Plum created a captivating paranormal mythology with immortal revenants and a lush Paris setting. Until I Die is poised to thrill readers with more heart-pounding suspense, spellbinding romance, and a cliff-hanger ending that will leave them desperate for the third and final novel in the series. 


Review:

Until I Die by Amy Plum

5 out 5

Okay, so I loved the first book, so I jump right into the second book... Nothing new there for me :-). First off, I do like that teh 2nd book starts just a few weeks after the 1st book ends. No second guessing or trying to figure out what has happened, if things have changed or if something else might have happened...

Kate isn't my favorite character a lot of times in this book. I feel that Kate is being selfish. Her desire to keep Vincent from fulfilling his revenant calling feels wrong. And the fact that if he doesn't succeed, she would leave him irritates me. Thank goodness she finally realzies this, and changes the bargain with Vincent.

I think it is very good and very fun that Kate is learning defence and battle form with the revenants. I mean, fencing is cool, but battleaxe and quarterstaffs are so much cooler than regular weapons.

I love that Vincent wants Kate to be happy on her own. Not because of him and their relationship, but to be content on her own as a person. That doesn't happen often in YA books, and I can't help but cheer for Vincent being so wise. Then again, he should be wise, considering his age.

So, now enters some new characters... Violette & Arthur give me the heebee jeebees. I don't know what to expect from them. But what surprised me most was that Georgia was right about them! Who would have thought that the most irresponsible character had the two newest characters pegged from the start!

I loved the concept of the guerisseurs who can possibly help Kate and Vincent. And Gwenhael is so cute and helpful. Bran kinda creeps me out, but that was quickly fixed. I hated to hear what the Numa did to Gwenhael... Did she have time to gift her son? Will her son be the Victor-Seer?　

Finally, there is an answer from one of my questions fromt he first book! Pappy knows about the numa and revenants! Not as amazing as I thought, but it just proves what a smart and investigative man he is. And because he knows, he tries to do the right thing, but in the end he pushes too far... Which just leads to Kate and Vincent sneaking behind his back. Never a good thing.

Poor Jules! How Kate can't figure out that he loves her, is beyond me. I mean, it is so obvious!

The slipping of information from revenant to Numa is creepy. Who would do such a thing?I have my guessed (which in the end, I discovered I was right),it is just sad that there is a spy. 

Wow! Gaspard & Jean-Baptiste! Never would have seen that one coming if Vincent hadn't told Kate. 

So, I had a hard time with Kate's Numa-vision. It wasn't really brought up or mentioned until almost the end of this book. Which I think is poor writing as this feels like an important part of the next book. 

Oh, how the end was hopeful and heartbreaking. I just couldn't believe it! What will happen next? Argh! 

Oh, and on a side note, there were more hints about the prophecy that makes me think that Vincent isn't the champion... Hmm.

Overal, this is a very good book. I'm looking forward to reading the last book of this trilogy. I highly recommend it.

Happy Reading!

Cana

Words that Bind by Ash Krafton

Now, here at the Place of Reads, we have a love for all books and authors. But for me (Cana), I absolutely love Ash Krafton's work.  If you haven't read any of her books, then you really need to.  And here is a brand new book that you could/should/must read!  You will be able to see my review,  look at yesterday's post! 

Synopsis:

Social worker Tam Kerish can’t keep her cool professionalism when steamy client Mr. Burns kindles a desire for more than a client-therapist relationship—so she drops him. However, they discover she’s the talisman to which Burns, an immortal djinn, has been bound since the days of King Solomon…and that makes it difficult to stay away from him. Ethical guidelines are unequivocal when it comes to personal relationships with clients. However, the djinn has a thawing effect on the usually non-emotive Tam, who begins to feel true emotion whenever he is near. Tam has to make a difficult choice: to stay on the outside, forever looking in…or to turn her back on her entire world, just for the chance to finally experience what it means to fall in love.

The Lovely Author:


Ash Krafton is a speculative fiction author from northeastern Pennsylvania. Krafton’s first novel, Bleeding Hearts was published in 2012 as part of a three-book urban fantasy series The Books of the Demimonde (Pink Narcissus Press). An urban fantasy novella, Strangers at the Hell Gate, was published by Wild Rose Press in 2013. Her latest book, Words That Bind, won first place in the HeRA RWA “Show Me the Spark” 2013 competition; it is also available through Wild Rose Press as an October 2014 release. Krafton also writes New Adult speculative fiction novels under the pen name AJ Krafton. Upcoming titles include The Heartbeat Thief, Face of the Enemy, and the award-winning Takin’ It Back. She is part of a YA/NA collective known as the Infinite Ink Authors. In addition to novel-length fiction, Krafton enjoys writing poetry and short prose, some of which earned distinctions in various writing competitions. One of her poems was also nominated for the Pushcart Prize. She’s a proud member of Pennwriters, Romance Writers of America, and Pikes Peak Writers. Krafton is also a staff blogger for the Query Tracker Blog.

Excerpt:

“So. You’ve destroyed a stereotype for me. A genie who lives in a library. Different.” “When in Rome, no?” He stirred his cup before setting down the spoon with a light clink against the saucer. “Or, I suppose it is more accurate to say when in human form. When I am Burns, I prefer here.” “Human form.” It didn’t sound right. Who said things like that, and meant it? “Can you change into anything you want? Any shape at all?” He stretched out his legs and cocked his head, sliding his gaze up and away. “I suppose I could. I’m getting old and set in my ways. There’s this…” He swept his hands down the line of his body. Her eyes were unable to keep from following, not even when he lingered over his midsection. Even lounging, his shirt was tightly tucked into his beltline. No belly fat there. He tilted his head and gave her an upper-teeth smile, nibbling gently at his lower lip. “And apparently this form is pleasing to the eye, so I wear it often. But there are others. Tiger, a favorite. Savage and regal and the colors of flames in the night. Fearsome to behold, but very useful when dealing with physical conditions in which a human form may be outmatched. Plus, I can lash my tail.” His voice took a teasing, conspirator’s tone. “I love my tail. You’d love it too, if you saw it.” She trained her eyes firmly upon his. No way would she give him the pleasure of checking out his tail.

AUTHORGRAPH

So why don't you go and buy the book!

WILD ROSE PRESS | BOOKSTRAND

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Happy Reading!

Cana

Review: Words that Bind by Ash Krafton

Description :

Social worker Tam Kerish can’t keep her cool professionalism when steamy client Mr. Burns kindles a desire for more than a client-therapist relationship—so she drops him. However, they discover she’s the talisman to which Burns, an immortal djinn, has been bound since the days of King Solomon…and that makes it difficult.

Ethical guidelines are unequivocal when it comes to personal relationships with clients. However, the djinn has a thawing effect on the usually non-emotive Tam, who begins to feel true emotion whenever he is near. Tam has to make a difficult choice: to stay on the outside, forever looking in…or to turn her back on her entire world, just for the chance to finally experience what it means to fall in love. 


Review:

Words That  Bind  by Ash Krafton 

5 out of 5

For those of you who don't know, I love reading Ash Krafton's books!  To me they are the perfect anytime and anywhere reads.  So when I found out from Ms. Krafton that a new book was coming out, I was extremely excited... Like, jump up and down like a little girl excited. And then I got the book and devoured it like a 5 year old left alone with cake.... 
So what did I like?  Everything about this book was perfect, but let me explain why.
Tam, our social worker and lead character, is a great heroine.  I mean, she is strong, she is caring, and she is truthful by fault.  But, she wasn't the easiest character to like.  Now, once you did find out the wonderful reasons to like her, you just couldn't stop.  There were times her flip-floppy emotions as she learned to feel (read the book to understand this, people!), but I would imagine that it would be the same for me or anyone else in that same situation.  Now my one big question is, why in the world was she spellbound to not feel?  I mean, was that just a side effect?

Burns is my favorite man-candy, book boyfriend.... All fire, fury, and fun rolled into the amazing man/djinn/tiger/whirlwind... Hmmmm....  I think it was awesome that this is one of the few times I've read a book with a djinn in it.  I mean, I loved it, and would love to see more djinn in books.  Especially if Ms. Krafton writes them the way she wrote Burns.  

Sahir set off my villain radar the moment he entered the book.  How could Tam NOT see or sense trouble from him?  I mean it was so OBVIOUS!  So glad he got what was coming to him.

Now, I read a lot of paranormal romances, they are my genre of choice.  With that being said, I would like to say that this book has the most beautiful, intoxicating, and tasteful love scenes that I have ever read.  I mean, these scenes are what every girl and every grown woman hope and dream to get to one day experience.  Sigh!  And, what happens afterwards was just plot shocking!  I had to re-read it in hopes of seeing some form of salvation for the troubles coming for Tam & Burns.

Oh, the end almost killed me.  I mean, I held my breath thinking it was all over.  And then, lo and behold, Ms. Krafton saves the day by having Burns do the unexpected.  I loved it!

Overall, this is an amazing, awesome book, and you HAVE to read it.  I highly recommend this book.

Happy Reading!

Cana

Audio Review: I'm Dreaming of An Undead Christmas by Molly Harper

 

 

Description:

 

It's Christmas in Half-Moon Hollow and newly turned vampire Iris Scanlon-Calix wants to make Gigi's first visit home from college as normal and special as possible. It's taken months for Iris to work up the nerve to spend time around her baby sister after her vampire transition, so she enlists help from Jane Jameson and Company to keep her blood-thirst under control and assure Gigi's safety.

Gigi, on the other hand, has problems of her own, including the demise of her relationship with high school sweetheart, Ben, and a looming job interview with Ophelia Lambert, the scariest potential employer in the Hollow. And then there's the small matter of the handsome, frustrating vampire who keeps appearing in Gigi's peripheral vision, then disappearing before she can talk to him.

Can the Scanlon sisters negotiate romantic problems, vampire politics, and Christmas cookie disasters and enjoy a relatively normal holiday?

 

 

Review:

I'm Dreaming of An Undead Christmas by Molly Harper

4 out of 5



 

 

Ok, so I loved this short story.  8 chapters of fun, plus a bonus chapter of recipes!

 

I love Gigi, she is wonderfully snarky, just like most of the other women in Half-moon Hollow.  And I love how she is so quick on her feet.

 

Who is this mysterious man who seems to pretty much be stalking Gigi?  I mean, he sounds delicious… And I personally would love to know more about him.

 

Collin’s vision of the future sounds grim, but I wonder if it might change, especially now with this mysterious guy in Gigi’s life… Hmmm

 

Nothing like a family Christmas to make life more…. Interesting.  Yes, that is the word I’ll use to describe family and holidays.  And the antics of the “made it myself” family of vampires, werewolves, and humans is hilarious… I love the laughing at them. 

 

Ophelia and her sister are some of the creepiest characters that I’ve ever met, but I love how they made such a point to hang out with the Scanlons and friends…

 

Dick with his hamster ball…. LOL, that was wonderful and classic! 

 

Overall, this is a cute and quick read (listening) book.  I highly recommend reading this, especially if you want to hear what Jane says… “Pocket Vampire”…. LOL!

Happy Reading!


Cana

A Word from Ash Krafton.

So my wonderful followers, I'm technically am still on vacation... Yes, the wedding was great (and thank God, it's over).  Yes, I'm prepping all sorts of Thanksgiving and Christmas gifts and goodies... And Yes, I'm looking forward to coming back in full swing at the first of the year!   But this is SO important for Ash Krafton and her amazing Demimonde series.  So instead of tell you about it myself, I'm going to let Ms. Krafton do so.  

Dear Beautiful Book Buddy,

The Demimonde series is getting a baby sister 😊

TALES OF THE DEMIMONDE was released yesterday on Kindle…http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OS8JW9A It's a collection of short works based on BLEEDING HEARTS, BLOOD RUSH, AND WOLF'S BANE.

And I'm writing to you for your help. Best part, it's totally easy!

I recently started my first Thunderclap campaign. http://thndr.it/11b96iC Thunderclap is a program that allows people to join forces and send out a single unified message on a pre-determined date. It's a big voice that helps to get a message noticed.

In order for the message to go out, a campaign must enlist the aid of at least 100 supporters... or else it doesn't go through.

We are at about a third of the minimum support needed, so if you haven't joined, I ask you to consider helping.
THE MESSAGE:
On November 30, my new ebook will be going Kindle free. I'd love you to join this campaign to spread the word... you'll be offering a free urban fantasy book to your readers when you do.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Stop by http://thndr.it/11b96iC to donate a Tweet, a FB status, and even a Tumbler post (each one will count as a separate supporter to my 100 count goal!) It'll help make a big noise and I'd truly appreciate it!


(And if anyone would like a copy before the free date, just send me the email you want me to use and I'll gift you a copy.)


Thanks, sweeties… luv you all.


Cheers, Ash

A Vacation: Family Weddings Can Be Interesting

To all the readers of Place of Reads, we will be on a vacation for the month of October 1st through January 1st.  My sister is getting married, my mom is finally moving out of my house, and I am having a job change all in the month of October.  Then there are the holidays.  

We will be returning in in the first full week of January!  We look forward to talking about books through the year, come January!  Until that time, keep reading, keep finding new books, and have fun doing it.  

Happy Reading!

Cana