Wednesday, August 21, 2013

REVIEW ~ Cipher by Cindi Madsen

Summer Davis sees deaths before they happen. She attempts to live a normal life by focusing on the dance team and her quarterback boyfriend. But then the way-too-cheery Angel of Death shows up and tells her she’s a Cipher—a person chosen to help people who are going to die resolve problems with their loved ones. Ashlyn Moore, one of Summer’s classmates, is going to die, and she needs Summer’s help before that happens.

It’s nearly impossible to get through to Ashlyn, who surrounds herself with chess nerds and geeks and makes it clear she doesn’t want to be friends. Desperate to complete her Cipher task before it’s too late, Summer turns to Troy, the guy who’s always been there for her and one of the few people she can trust. With his help, she makes progress. In fact, the closer she gets to Ashlyn and her friends, the more she feels like she’s finally found where she belongs.




Just the beautiful cover alone makes you want to pick up this book, which Living Fictitiously had the honor of being a part in the revealing. And behind this beautiful cover lies an awesome, authentic, interesting story.

I knew from the moment I read this opening  -->> 'Nothing to worry about. I'm only going to remember this night for the rest of my life.' <<-- that my eyes would be dancing around the pages of Cipher by Cindi Madsen.

As the clock starts running down on Ashlyn’s life, Summer decides she's going to tweak her objective. She’s going to save her new friend before it’s too late—even if it means messing with fate.

Summer learns she inherited a trait, which is quite an interesting characteristic to have in dealing with death. Summer is a Cipher. She's like a mediator for the soon to be deceased and brings unity between the dying and their loved ones. Her responsibility can be beautiful and with great purpose, but yet a burden. While Summer struggles with her responsibility, the dying would want to have her on their side to ensure their death is guilt free and to help them achieve a peaceful passing. Maybe?

And then there's the whole becoming attached to your assignment thing. During her mission, not only does Summer gain an awesome friendship that is very heart felt, but she also gains herself back.

I really like Summer's personality. She is sarcastic and sincere and we have the same taste in music. She does all the sports I would love to do- dancing, surfing, skating. She falls into the 'I think I'm the shit' girl squad- but what counts is she finds herself. She is totally someone who I'd want to be great friends with in high school.

And there's this guy. Troy! A skater. A music connoisseur! I'd get all electrified every time he touched Summer. I love their encounters and how they act around each other; their development and curiosity towards each other. There is something mysterious about him that makes him not only hot, but intriguing. His mysteriousness wasn't what I thought it would've been, but totally suiting.

This is an author whose stories do not disappoint and if you haven't read any of her work, you are missing out on some major literary entertainment, heart pumping goodness.

Madsen can nail a break-up scene and the feelings to go with it. She can snag some death scenes too. I love how her stories are really original and different and interesting and emotional. That's some pretty cool adjectives to describe her work and I'm quite confident and honest you'll feel the same way.

Find Cipher by Cindi Madsen on Goodreads
Purchase Cipher by Cindi Madsen on Amazon

Kimberly

Book Blast: WRATH (Soul Savers #5) by Kristie Cook

Wrath (Soul Savers 5) by Kristie Cook
Release Tour / Book Blast
Genre: Paranormal Romance / New Adult

Release Date: 8/16/2013

New Adult Paranormal Romance by bestselling author Kristie Cook**Mature Content**Recommended for ages 16+ due to sexual situations and language.

Will a mother’s wrath make her cross the line?

didn't want to cry. For once in my life, tears evaded me. Perhaps because I refused to grieve this loss, because it wasn't a loss in my eyes, in my heart. It was a call for war, yes. But not a loss. I wouldn't allow it.

Besides, I was too mad to cry, even in my exhaustion, and anger would get me much further.
 
As I curled my body around Sasha’s, though, I realized the anger within me had changed. I no longer felt irrational and blinding fury that dulled all other emotions. But that was okay. I really didn't want to be Psycho Alexis. This, what I now felt in every cell of my body down to the core, was better. My anger had condensed and solidified into a cold, hard stone settling within me. Something I could control and hold onto for the long term to keep me going and focused on the goal.

Wrath.

That’s what I felt. And there was nothing worse than the wrath of a pissed-off mother.

Wrath, the fifth volume in the bestselling, award-winning Soul Savers Series, will have you on the edge-of-your-seat-ravenously-devouring-junk-food as you experience the mysteries, magic, betrayals, and passion that you've come to expect from Kristie Cook’s writing.

Where to buy Wrath (Soul Savers 5)
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo

Other Books by Kristie Cook 



About the Author

Kristie Cook is a lifelong, award-winning writer in various genres, from marketing communications to fantasy fiction. She continues to write the Soul Savers Series, a New Adult paranormal romance/contemporary fantasy, with the first four books, Promise, Purpose, Devotion and Power available now and the next book coming in June 2013. She’s also written a companion novella, Genesis: A Soul Savers Novella, currently available. Over 200,000 Soul Savers books have been sold, with Promise peaking at #54 on the Amazon Top 100 Paid list and at #1 in the Amazon Fantasy category. The Space Between kicks off her second New Adult paranormal series, The Book of Phoenix.
Besides writing, Kristie enjoys reading, cooking, traveling and riding on the back of a motorcycle. She has lived in ten states, but currently calls Southwest Florida home with her husband, three teenage sons, a beagle and a puggle. She can be found at:

Author's Website & Blog: http://www.KristieCook.com
The Book of Phoenix Website: http://www.TheBookofPhoenix.com
Soul Savers Series Website: http://www.SoulSaversSeries.com












Tuesday, August 20, 2013

EARLY REVIEW: Everything For Us by M. Leighton

The bad boys of M. Leighton's novels Down to You and Up to Me, are back. Marissa had everything a girl could ask for until a case of mistaken identity lands her right into the lap of the sexiest, most dangerous man she’s ever met.
 Title: Everything For Us (Bad Boys #3)
Author: M. Leighton
Publication Date: September 3, 2013

When it comes to passion this hot, it’s all or nothing. 

Olivia Townsend’s wealthy cousin Marissa had everything a girl could ask for—a great job, a privileged life, and all the friends she wanted. Or, at least, all the friends money could buy. But one case of mistaken identity has turned her privileged world upside down.

An abduction gone wrong lands her right in the lap of the sexiest, most dangerous man she’s ever met. To Marissa, he’s an enigma, but one to whom she’s irresistibly, inexplicably drawn.

With him comes a new world of freedom and passion, of dark shadows and dangerous secrets, a world where nothing is what it seems—except for the blind passion that Marissa can’t escape—or maybe even survive.



Review:

Everything For Us is by far my favorite Bad Boys novel of them all! I adore Cash and Olivia, but Marissa and Nash’s story exceed all my expectations. The story line of Down To You and Up To Me is carried on through Everything For Us, but this time we get Nash and Marissa’s POV.  The passion, risk, and danger are all higher than ever, and M. Leighton does an amazing job of bringing these two extremely complicated characters to life.

Nash has some serious issues to work through, and his tough exterior, rough edges, and refusal to let himself feel sucked me in to his pain and self-conflict. I felt as though I was right there beside him as he struggled through his feelings while fighting the fight of his life. I knew he was full of rage and dying for revenge, but getting to see all this through is eyes was just fascinating. To see just how deeply affected he was by everything that happened in the past was amazing. Another bonus, we get to see a very significant past event from his perspective; and let me tell you, it’s a game changer!

As for Marissa, I really did not like her in books 1 and 2. She’s a cold-hearted bitch! But she grew on me in Everything For Us, because the changes her character undergoes are pretty impressive. Getting things from her perspective was interesting to say the least. I literally felt the change in her even though this is the first time we get her perspective. I think the author did an amazing job making Marissa relatable and believable. There were plenty of times I wanted to curl up and cry with her. But she’s one tough cookie.

The one thing I absolutely can’t leave out of this review is the sex! I mean, Cash and Olivia were pretty intense, but Nash … OMG! *fans self* The passion in this book is intense and oh so hot! I kind of wanted Nash to rip open my bathroom door and … well… you’ll have to read the book to see where that goes. *blushes* Let’s say it’s all very… sexy. And not at all tame or boring. While Nash and Cash are twins, they certainly have their own styles… even in the bedroom, ahem, or bathroom. Nash is definitely a panty soaker and you’ll be dying to spend the entire day between the pages with him.


So, if you haven’t read Down To You and Up To Me yet, you better get on it! This whole series is a new favorite of mine, but Everything For Us is one you really don’t want to miss.

Haven't read Down To You or Up To Me? Click on the book covers below to read my review.