SEVENTH BORN by Monica Sanz Review + Blog Tour Stop!

Seventh Born
by Monica Sanz
Genre: YA Paranormal/Mystery & Suspense
Release Date: September 4th 2018
Entangled Teen

Summary:

Abomination. Curse. Murderer. All names hurled at eighteen-year-old Seraphina Dovetail. As the seventh-born daughter to a witch, she’s the cause of her mother losing her powers and, in turn, her life.

Abandoned as a child, Sera dreams of becoming an inspector and finding her family. To do that, she must be referred into the Advanced Studies Program at the Aetherium’s Witchling Academy. Her birth order, quick temper, and tendency to set things on fire, however, have left her an outcast with failing marks…and just what Professor Nikolai Barrington is looking for.

The tall, brooding, yet exceedingly handsome young professor makes her a proposition: become his assistant and he’ll give her the referral she needs. Sera is quickly thrust into a world where witches are being kidnapped, bodies are raised from the dead, and someone is burning seventhborns alive. As Sera and Barrington grow ever closer, she’ll discover that some secrets are best left buried…and fire isn’t the only thing that makes a witch burn.

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My Rating: A+
My thoughts on the book:
Witch books are usually hit or miss with me, but I absolutely loved Seventh Born. I stayed up half the night reading the book, and I was so glad when I checked online and found out it is part of a series because I am not ready to say goodbye to these characters or this world yet. Sure, there are tons of books out there about ostracized witches and outcasts and betrayal, etc., etc. This book stands out, though... it has feeling. On top of that, it has a murder mystery that is actually well done! Add that to well-developed characters and top of the line world-building, and you have Seventh Born. This novel completely captivated me.

The heroine, Seraphina Dovetail (her friends call her Sera), can't remember her past. On top of that, she has PTSD from the past that she can remember, which results in her having issues controlling her magic if she feels threatened or has a flashback, so she kind of sets a lot of things on fire. Her PTSD reactions are really spot-on, though. I know that everyone handles things differently and PTSD presents itself differently in everyone, like all illnesses, but it was easy to believe that Sera has PTSD. It's not diagnosed as such in the book (I think this was set in the Victorian era... or a similar equivalent for the world Sera and co. live in), but it's pretty obvious. Sera is a wonderful leading lady, and so empathetic, even though she has walls up and trusts no one. It's clear she is a good person from the beginning. In addition to Sera, we have a full cast of well-developed secondary characters, including her best friend Mary, the popular boy Timothy, and Professor Barrington. None of these characters are what you'd expect, though. There are no cookie cutter or filler characters in these novels. I felt like I got to know everyone Sera interacted with, at least as well as she knew them, and that is a rare find.

The world building in this novel was fantastic. I could clearly picture the world that Sera lived in, and I understood the rules of the world. That's always difficult to do in a fantasy style novel. There were no info dumps, though. Everything was paced out nicely. Sanz wrote beautifully, too. I absolutely loved a lot of the lines in the book. The plot was complex, and the "big reveal" actually surprised me, and that doesn't happen often. It was still believable, though. While we found out around the middle of the book who was doing the killings, we get a nice big betrayal at the end that I didn't see coming at all. The ending tied this book up nicely and leaves room for a sequel.

Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy/paranormal novels that are set in alternate realities/historic type worlds with strong leading ladies and wonderful writing. Give this book a try. You won't be sorry.

SEVENTH BORN by Monica Sanz Cover Reveal!!

WE TOLD SIX LIES by Victoria Scott Cover Reveal!!!

DESCENT by Tara Fuller

Rating: A
Release Date: 6/3/15
Synopsis:
Easton doesn’t believe in love. He believes in Death. Darkness. Sin. As a reaper for Hell, it’s all he’s known for over four hundred years. When he gets slapped with the job of training the boss’s daughter, an angel who knows nothing but joy, he knows he’s in for a world of trouble.

Though he’s made it clear he wants nothing to do with her outside of work, Gwen would do anything to get closer to the dark and wounded reaper—even taint her angelic image and join the ranks of her father’s team of reapers. But in all her planning, she forgot to factor in one thing—how far the demons Easton doomed to hell would go to get revenge.

When the dangers of the Hell threaten Gwen, Easton will do whatever it takes to save her. But as the darkness closes in on them both, will he be able to save himself?

My thoughts on the book:
Descent is by far the best book in this trilogy. I absolutely loved getting to know Easton and Gwen. They developed organically throughout the story. The plot was full of suspense, and the pacing was spot on. Fuller's descriptions and world building were fantastic, and her writing was top notch. I'd recommend this book to just about anyone. 

Gwen was a really cute character, and I enjoyed reading from her perspective. There was much more to her than one would expect. Easton was also incredibly complex, and I was glad we finally got to know him better. He was such a tortured guy, but still good, somehow. Scout wasn't my favorite secondary character, but he was okay. The rest of the characters weren't incredibly developed, but they didn't really need to be. They each had their own personality, we just didn't get to hear much about them. 

The plot was fast paced and full of adventure. I was on the edge of my seat most of this novel, and Fuller did an excellent job of painting the horrors of hell. Her descriptions made it to where I could clearly picture how horrifying that place was. Also, her world building was top notch. Everything made sense, and I was easily able to achieve willing suspension of disbelief. The ending tied things up nicely and was a fantastic conclusion to this trilogy.

Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys angel and demon stories. It's a little bit different, and you can read it as a stand alone or as part of the trilogy.

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OPPOSITION by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Rating: A-
Synopsis:
Katy knows the world changed the night the Luxen came.

She can't believe Daemon welcomed his race or stood by as his kind threatened to obliterate every last human and hybrid on Earth. But the lines between good and bad have blurred, and love has become an emotion that could destroy her—could destroy them all.

Daemon will do anything to save those he loves, even if it means betrayal.

They must team with an unlikely enemy if there is any chance of surviving the invasion. But when it quickly becomes impossible to tell friend from foe, and the world is crumbling around them, they may lose everything— even what they cherish most—to ensure the survival of their friends…and mankind.

War has come to Earth. And no matter the outcome, the future will never be the same for those left standing.

My thoughts on the book:
Opposition was an excellent conclusion to the Lux series. I absolutely loved every book in this series, and I am sad to see it end. However, this was a fantastic ending. The characters all grew organically throughout this story, and the pacing was spot on. The action scenes kept me on the edge of my seat, and the romance scenes were equally sweet and steamy. JLA did not disappoint with this installment. 

Kat was an inspiration in this novel. She was amazingly strong and selfless. I want to be like her when I grow up! She went through a lot, and my heart broke for her several times, but she persevered, and I respected her for that. She didn't let what monsters did to her turn her into a monster, too. That kind of inner strength is hard to come by and very inspiring. Kat is the perfect YA heroine because of that. Daemon also grew up a lot in this book. I was glad to see that he was becoming less controlling. Being with Kat was good for him, apparently. He made a lot of sacrifices for Katy, and he stood up for what he believed was right. Daemon was somehow able to balance his intense love for Kat and his desire to stop the world from ending. Most characters can't do that. Dee was a wild card in this book. I really liked seeing different sides of her character. I wish we'd gotten to know more about Archer and Luc, but unfortunately there just wasn't enough time to spend on them while the world was ending. 

I always enjoy JLA's writing, and this book wasn't an exception. My one problem with the writing was that the characters said the kind of dorky catchphrases sometimes. I felt that each character should have their own vocabulary when it came to things like that. However, her descriptions were amazing, and I could picture the horrific sights of the alien apocalypse. I also enjoyed reading things from Kat's and Daemon's POVs. It was easy to distinguish between the two most of the time, too. Armentrout always writes the best romance scenes, and these were no exception. Her action scenes were also top notch. I wish that we'd understood more of why the Luxen wanted to take over Earth instead of another planet, though. Since they had been spread out all over various universes, I don't understand why they wanted Earth so badly. That's the only part I really found lacking. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and series. If you haven't read the Lux series yet, you're missing out. I'm not a huge sci-fi fan, but I loved these books. If you like sci-fi at all, give the first book a try. I guarantee you'll love it. 

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CREATORS by Tiffany Truitt

Rating: B
Synopsis:
The dramatic conclusion to the Lost Souls trilogy, which answers readers’ questions and finally pits natural Tess against the true enemies of Templeton, the creators

Heartbroken but more determined than ever after a tense showdown in the woods, sixteen-year-old Tess once again returns to the safety of her community of Isolationists. Bolstered by new alliances and desperate to protect those she loves, this time she knows she can return stronger and more powerful than ever to take back what is hers. As she trains in combat and grows more confident, Tess receives beautiful letters penned by her forbidden love, the chosen one James, from his prison in Templeton. He is now serving as a bodyguard to the creators-the team of scientists who created artificial life in the first place. And what he has discovered about the true origin of the illness that halted natural life could change everything. Enemy will become ally and death will bring new hope in this stunning conclusion to Tiffany Truitt's epic Lost Souls trilogy.

My thoughts on the book:
The first thing that crossed my mind when I finished Creators was, "why? Why did you have to hurt my feelings, Tiffany Truitt?" I mean the ending was good, and this was a fantastic conclusion, but it was sad as heck. The character growth was excellent and organic; the plot was intense and full of emotion; the writing was beautiful; and the ending tied everything up nicely. Still, I just don't see why it had to be so sad. Sigh. 

The characters all evolved a lot n this novel, and I felt like Tess really came into her own. She impressed me time and time again in this book, and she really showed her strength toward the end. Tess did what she had to do to protect the people she loved, and I really admired her for that. She had a nice balance, and wasn't completely selfish, like some characters are. Tess understood sacrificing for the greater good, but she also wanted to protect those closest to her. The constant struggle between the two ideals was interesting to read. The other characters all pretty much broke my heart at one time or another. They were all realistic and flawed and wonderful, but they really crushed my soul. 

The plot was amazing, and I flew through this book. I had to find out what happened next. Truitt balanced everything wonderfully. The pacing was perfect. Nothing was rushed, and I never got bored. The action and romance scenes were realistic and natural. Nothing felt forced. Truitt's writing really captivated me, too. She words things so beautifully. I can't wait to see what she writes next. The ending crushed my very essence, and I hated it and loved it at the same time. I like when authors don't go easy on the reader, but it really didn't have to be that sad. Sheesh. Things were tied up nicely, though, and nothing fit neatly into a little box. I liked that.

Overall, this series was fantastic. I really loved all three books, and I can't wait to see what Truitt comes up with next. If you're looking for a dystopian series that stands out from the rest, give this one a try. You won't be sorry. 

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DIVINELY RUINED Blog tour stop!

Hey everybody! I'm super excited to tell you about this new book out from Entangled Publishing. It's called Divinely Ruined, and it is a wonderful read! Don't forget to enter the contest, which is open internationally, at the end of this post!

Divinely Ruined
By: Diane Alberts
E-book currently available in internet stores!
Synopsis:


She finally meets a decent man–after she’s oath-bound never to touch men again!

Rebecca’s life sucked before she became an angel. Crappy apartment, awful jobs, abusive boyfriends–it was no wonder she jumped at the chance to escape it all and become a real live angel.

The problem is Rebecca’s not very angelic, and she’ll have to do more to earn her wings than end her love affair with the word f–er, frick. Especially when she’s assigned to save single father Tony Weis, whose less-than-pure thoughts wreak hell on a telepathic angel’s nerves. It’s all Rebecca can do to keep her hands off him…but when she loses her memory injuring herself to save Tony’s daughter, now it’s Tony’s turn to be her angel and care for her. But will Tony’s devotion tempt her from her angelic path, even if it means being human again?


Buy links:
Barnes and Noble
Amazon
Books on Board

Read first chapter free:
Entangled Publishing


About the author:

Diane Alberts current contracted works with Entangled Publishing are:

CONDITION (February 2012, Ever After line) and DIVINELY RUINED (April 2012, Ever After line). Her current works with Decadent Publishing are: KILL ME TOMORROW (October 2011, NightStand series), RECLAIMED (December 2011), ABSOLUTION (March 2012, Honor Guard series), BROKEN (March 2012, NightStand series), and ESCAPE TO ME (TBA, NightStand series).

Diane Alberts has always been a dreamer with a vivid imagination, but it wasn’t until 2011 that she put her pen where her brain was, and became a published author.

Since receiving her first contract offer, she has yet to stop writing. Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal clear water.

She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, and a Senegal parrot. In the rare moments when she’s not writing, she can usually be found hunched over one knitting project or another.

She is a multi-published, bestselling author with Entangled Publishing and Decadent Publishing. She is repped by her fabulous agent, Lauren Hammond of ADA Management. She has, as of this date, two books with Entangled Publishing, and five books with Decadent Publishing. Her February release with Entangled Publishing, ON ONE CONDITION, hit #18 on the Barnes and Noble Bestseller List. She has a lot of projects currently being shopped around by her fabulous agent, and her goal is to write so many fantastic books that even a non-romance book fan will know her

Interview:

Diane: Thank you so much for having me here today, and letting me talk about Divinely Ruined, the first book in the Divine Temptations Trilogy from Entangled Publishing!

Question: Can you tell us a little bit about your inspiration for Divinely Ruined?

Answer: Sure! I wanted to write a paranormal book about angels that are less than, well, angelic. I read tons of angel books, but none of them quite fit the mold of what I thought angels would be like. My aspiring angels are temperamental, emotional, and real…like humans.

It isn’t until they earn their wings that they become what most people think of when they think angels—mild-mannered and calm. Rebecca, who has not yet earned her wings, is very, very far off that mark.

Q: Rebecca and Tony are unique characters… did you pattern them after people you know, or are they completely made up?

A: They were characters that formed in my head. Rebecca was the loudest—and most insistent. She knew how she wanted to be portrayed, and I listened. And once I knew what Rebecca was going to be like, her perfect match came to mind—the tortured, equally pessimistic Tony.

Once they were together, well, sparks fly, as do tempers.

Q: Can you tell us about your writing process? Do you outline or write freely?

A: I’m not a planner or outliner, usually. With the rare exception of the second book of the Divine Temptations Trilogy…I’ve never once outlined. I like to sit down to an empty page, and let the words flow out. It’s how I work best.

Q: What other projects are you working on at the moment?

A: I am currently working on two projects, which is weird for me. I’m working on the second book in the Divine Temptations trilogy, Divinely Ransomed. And I’m also working on a Contemporary Romance that hasn’t been titled yet.

Q: If you could have coffee with one of your characters, who would you pick and why?

A: Rebecca. I’d love to get to know her in real life. She’s been through so much, and seen so much, yet she still manages to come out on top. I would want her as one of my best friends.

Q: Who are some of your favorite authors?

A: Oh, there are so many. Christina Dodd, Johanna Lindsey, Teresa Medeiros, Julia Quinn, Rachel Harris, Lisa Burstein, J. Lynn, and Jennifer Probst…need I go on? I know I forgot a bunch of authors…but I love so many! I could be here all day!

Q: What song reminds you of Rebecca and Tony?

A: Oh, gosh. That’s a hard question. Is there a song out there that is about two people not being able to trust anyone else, or let their love show? I’d love some suggestions from commenters on this one. You stumped me! LOL

Q: Can you talk a little bit about Divinely Ruined (for the people out there who
haven’t read it yet)?

A: Sure! It’s about an aspiring angel who is far from angelic. Rebecca has a temper as bright as her red hair, and has tendency to curse. When she is given her first assignment—her last step to earning her wings—she couldn’t be happier. Until she meets him, and realizes she just might not make it through this encounter unscathed.

Tony is bitter and has lost his faith in all things but his daughter. When an angel shows up…he laughs, then proceeds to try to chase her away. What he doesn’t expect is that he ends up wanting her to stay. And when she is injured, he finds himself thrust into the role of taking care of her…and falls even more.

Q: Was it hard to find the balance between comedy and romance?

A: For me, not really. BUT, I do have a habit of throwing humor into a highly emotional moment, and my editor is really good at weeding those moments out. Sometimes, in real life as well, I tend to throw something funny in there to calm down the emotions.

He’s good at leveling it all out, and making it perfect. Editor’s rock.

Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring authors out there?
A: Keep writing! If you get rejected, write more. The more you write, the more you learn. Trust me, I know.


Amber: Thank you so much, Diane, for taking the time to answer these questions! It was great having you here.

Everyone, don't forget to click the buy links above and get your copy of Divinely Ruined today!


Enter to win a free e-copy of Divinely Ruined! Contest is open internationally. Winner has 48 hours to respond to email before another winner will be chosen.
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