No internet

Hey guys, I'm so sorry for the lack of updates lately. I have no internet access (I'm at the library right now) at my house. Hopefully they will get this fixed by Sunday and I can start updating again. I have some great reviews and recommendations for you guys as soon as I get things up and running.

I have been in the middle of an extremely stressful move (which I have dubbed the worst move in the history of humankind), and things have been crazy. However, I will be back and better than ever soon. I promise you that!

I hope all of you are well out there in internet land, and I hope I can update again soon.

Thanks for sticking with me through this! <3 br="">

Lee Roland, author of Vicious Moon, tells us about world building!

Vicious Moon

A Novel of the Earth Witches

Lee Roland

Vicious Moon is the story of Nyx Ianira, an earth witch and former soldier turned mercenary guard.  Nyx goes to Barrows section of Duivel, Missouri to find her missing sister, Marisol.  In the Barrows, she meets her match in Etienne, a man with a past even more complex than her own.  She also finds that it will require all her mercenary and magical skills to survive. 

Vicious Moon follows Viper Moon (2011) and Vengeance Moon (2012) in telling the tale of the earth witches and their companions as they fight evil.

The best thing about Urban Fantasy is world building.  I love the quirky characters and creating a magical place where ideas and relationships can be explored in settings that are limited only by the author’s imagination.  

Take a scene set in a bar.  In a regular contemporary novel, characters often fit standard archetypes.  You have the alcoholic regular, the smarmy Romeo looking for a one night stand, or the business man trying to relieve workday stress before he goes home. Throw in a couple of working ladies looking for cash, and you have potential for a great, interesting scene.  As a dedicated book lover, I’ve read many of them. 

But wait a minute.  Do those working ladies have eyes with slit pupils instead of round?  And the smarmy Romeo, did I see sharp, pointed canines when he smiled? Oh, did the alcoholic regular’s beer come out of a cauldron instead of a keg? Why does the bartender refer to potions instead of cocktails?  Those are the quirky twists I look for in a story.  

The Earth Witches series is set in the world of the Barrows section of Duivel, Missouri.  For the most part, the Barrows appears to be a place stuck in a classic example of urban blight. On the darker side, you have the XXX bars, ladies of the night pacing the sidewalks, and violent street gangs.  On the lighter side, there are a few honest shop owners and working people trying to get by.  Both of those types, light and dark, good and bad, are very human.

The Barrows’ centerpiece is a few square miles of deserted residential and commercial ruins. All manner of human,almost human, and definitely not human, characters can thrive in the wreckage.  And then there’s the Zombie Zone.  

The Zombie is a portal to other worlds that occasionally allows some really odd visitors to enter.  Most important of the visitors is Aiakós, a magnificent being who is evil to the core.  The Barrows is his prison and he’s willing to sacrifice anything to escape into the regular world—our real world.

The heroes and heroines of the series are witches, ordinary humans, and a couple of never have been humans. The Barrows is the home, workplace and playground of protagonist and antagonist alike.  It is a world this writer built to draw out strengths and painfully highlight weaknesses. All readers are invited to take a vacation in the Barrows, and see the sights.

Vicious Moon, The third book of this Urban Fantasy Series is being released in July. The tour will be 

June 25th – July 23nd

Giveaways: All 3 books of the Earth Witches Series (US Only)

Dynamic Urban Fantasy by Lee Roland

The Earth Witches, the keepers of the world’s magic, find chaos and desire in the hidden ruins of the Barrows.  Servants of the enigmatic Earth Mother, they battle men, monsters and personal conflicts to protect the world. With magic, modern weapons and strong companions, they persevere to save mankind from evil.

Viper Moon
(Earth Witches #1)

ISBN-13: 978-0451233769 (352 Pages)

Cassandra Archer is the huntress. She has faithfully served the earth Mother for years, rescuing kidnapped children from monsters—both human and supernatural—dwelling in the ruins of the Barrows District. But when two children are kidnapped under similar circumstances, all clues point to a cataclysmic event on the next dark moon. Aided by police Detective Flynn and Michael, mysterious and dangerous resident of the Barrows, Cass must race against the clock and prevent a sacrifice that could destroy the entire town…

Vengeance Moon(Earth Witches #2)

ISBN-13: 978-0451236432  (352 Pages)

Madeline Corso can’t rest until she hunts down the three men who killed her father and witch mother. Two of them are now dead by her hand.  Unfortunately, her second kill had witnesses.  Sent to prison, she is rescued Sisters of Justice—a mysterious order of female warriors with ties to her mother. Her fighting skills are honed by the Sisters, and they have tracked the last murderer to Duivel, Missouri.  He is hiding in the dark underworld of the Barrows. Once in the Barrows, she discovers that things aren’t what they seem.  The danger goes far beyond her need for revenge. Can she rely on Michael, a handsome and possibly deadly stranger, to help her navigate a world of men and beasts? Or will she lose her heart before the mission is complete?

Vicious Moon

(Earth Witches #3)

ISBN-13: 978-0451238269  (320 Pages)Expected publication: July 2nd 2013 by Signet

Ex-soldier and Earth Witch Nyx Ianira is working as a PI in San Francisco when she sees the last thing she ever wanted to see: the Sisters of Justice—the mysterious Earth Witch police force.  Three Sisters, a Triad, is usually a squad of executioners.  This time, thought, the Sisters mission is to capture and escort an unwilling Nyx back to Twitch Crossing, Georgia.  Nyx ran away from Twitch Crossing ten years ago to escape the stiff rules and duties of being a true Witch. She wanted a life of her own. Now she’s been dragged back to her swampy hometown because another life is in danger—her little sister is missing, and Nyx is the only one who can go to Duivel, Missouri and track her down.  But the key to finding her may lie with the dark and tempting Etienne—a sinister criminal with a fearsome reputation, a ruthless attitude, and a total immunity to magic…

The Earth Mother—

How our heroines perceive her.

Cassandra—Viper Moon

The Earth Mother is powerful, contradictory, often ill-tempered, moving through her world, possibly with a purpose, possibly not. At times she seems absolutely ar­chaic, as if dumbfounded by the changes time has brought.  Maiden, mother, and crone, signifying the progression of life from cradle to grave, that ancient pagan female entity had called me to her service years ago.

Madeline—Vengeance Moon

The Earth Mother—the ancient goddess of men and superior of all witches and the Sisters of Justice—ruled their lives and directed their actions. I don’t know why, but she made her presence known to only those few she’d chosen, her special servants, and let the rest of humanity rule over and destroy everything—including my life. The earth witches, the ones she dealt with most, were keepers of the world’s magic: earth magic.

Nyx—Vicious Moon

The Earth Mother’s power drenched the land in some places, and I’d marveled at the power of some of the ancient hollows where men first walked.

The Sisters of Justice

We are the Sisters of Justice. For millennia we have served the ancient Mother Goddess. Ashera, Inaras, and Ishtar are but a few of a thousand names they have called the ancient Earth Mother, the Mother of Men. Most of her servants see her as a nurturer, a giver of life. The Sisters of Justice see her darker image.

She hides that darker face and we, the Sisters of Justice, are abandoned—save when she needs us. We are the last she calls when all of her earth witches’ gentle methods fail. We worship her. We despise her. We are her dark angels, her servants. Our blades are sharp and we strike upon her command.

About Lee Roland

Lee Roland began her writing career in middle school when she wrote a short story for her brother. He turned the story in to his teacher as his own work.  To his amazement and terror, the teacher was so impressed that she read it aloud to the class—and asked him to write another one.

Lee notes that, other than motherhood, she’s never had an exciting job.  She might have dreamed of being  a lawyer, nurse or police officer, but finding the right person to share her life with changed her plans.  Her only credentials for writing are a terrific imagination, life experience and the love of words in a good story.  She reads voraciously, but particularly loves Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance.

Lee lives in Florida and is a full-time writer.  She is a member of RWA National and the Florida based First Coast Romance Writers.

Before being published, Lee won many RWA Chapter contests and garnered a Golden Heart nomination in 2008 with her post apocalyptic novel, LILITH’S CHILD.

Lee is the author of the Earth Witches series published by NAL, beginning with VIPER MOON in 2011.

Contact Links

Like LEE on FACEBOOK!

http://www.leeroland.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lee-Roland
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeeRolandM

#ViciousMoon

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Tour Schedule

JUNE

June 25 – Guest Post
Fall Into Books
http://falln2books.blogspot.com

June 25 - spotlight
Brynna Curry
http://brynnacurryguests.blogspot.comhttp://brynnacurryguests.blogspot.com/2013/05/vicious-moon-by-lee-roland.html

June 26 – Interview
Fang-tastic Books
http://www.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com

June 27 – Review
Books, Books, and More Books
http://dream-reader-dreamer2229.blogspot.com

June 27 – Spotlight
A Book Obsession
http://www.abookobsession.com

June 28 – Promo
Stitch Read Cook
www.stitchreadcook.com

June 29 – Guest Post
Jill Archer
www.jillarcher.com  

June 30 – Guest Post
Ramblings From This Chick
ramblingsfromthishcick.blogspot.com

JULY

July 1 – Guest Post
Book-a-rooju
www.bookarooju.wordpress.com

July 1 – Spotlight
talk supe
www.talkingsupe.com

July 2 (Release of Viscous Moon by Lee Roland)

July 2 – Promo
Word to Dreams
http://wordtodreams.blogspot.com

July 3 – Author Interview
Simply Infatuated
http://simplyinfatuated.com

July 4 – Review
a GREAT read
jessica-agreatread.blogspot.com 

July 4 - Promo
Pure Textuality
puretextuality.com

July 5 – Interview
Manga Maniac Cafe
www.mangamaniaccafe.com

July 8 – Review
Tea and Book
http://teaandbook-shauni.blogspot.com/

July 9 – Review
The Wormhole Book Blog
http://wormyhole.blogspot.com

July 10 – Review
Celestial Reviews
http://cecesreviews.blogspot.com

July 10 – Promo
Readers Confession
www.readersconfession.com

July 11 Interview
Urban fantasy Investigations
http://urbanfantasyinvestigations.blogspot.com

July 12 – Review
Urban Fantasy Reviews
www.ufreviews.com

July 15 – Interview
The Reading Cafe
http://www.thereadingcafe.com

July 16 – Interview
The Pen & Muse

http://thepenmuse.net

July 16-Review
Happy Tails and Tales Blog

http://magluvsya03.wordpress.com

July 17 – Guest Post
Istyria book blog
http://www.istyriabookblog.com

July 17 – Spotlight
All in One Place
http://www.kvlovesbooks.blogspot.co.uk

July 18 – Review
Evolved World

http://www.evolvedworld.com

July 18 – Spotlight
Twisting the Lens

http://twistingthelens.wordpress.com

July 19 – Interview
Paranormal Book Club!
http://paranormal-bookclub.com

July 19 – Review of all three books
Froggarita’s Bookcase
www.froggaritasbookcase.com

July 22 – Review
Book Lovin’ Mamas
http://www.booklovinmamas.blogspot.com

July 23 - Guest Post
Tynga’s Reviews
http://www.tyngasreviews.com

July 23 – Review
Babylone the Geek Reads
http://borneanbookworm.blogspot.com

July 23 – Review
Single Titles
www.SingleTitles.com

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SPLIT SECOND by Kasie West Cover Reveal!!!!!!!

OMG I am so excited to share this cover with you guys! I know I always say that, but this (along with Stung by Bethany Wiggins) was my absolute favorite book of the year. The cover and synopsis are AMAZING. Is it 2014 yet?

Split Second
By: Kasie West
Release Date: 02/11/14
Synopsis:
Life can change in a split second.

Addie hardly recognizes her life since her parents divorced. Her boyfriend used her. Her best friend betrayed her. She can’t believe this is the future she chose. On top of that, her ability is acting up. She’s always been able to Search the future when presented with a choice. Now she can manipulate and slow down time, too . . . but not without a price.

When Addie’s dad invites her to spend her winter break with him, she jumps at the chance to escape into the Norm world of Dallas, Texas. There she meets the handsome and achingly familiar Trevor. He’s a virtual stranger to her, so why does her heart do a funny flip every time she sees him? But after witnessing secrets that were supposed to stay hidden, Trevor quickly seems more suspicious of Addie than interested in her. And she has an inexplicable desire to change that.

Meanwhile, her best friend, Laila, has a secret of her own: she can restore Addie’s memories . . . once she learns how. But there are powerful people who don’t want to see this happen. Desperate, Laila tries to manipulate Connor, a brooding bad boy from school—but he seems to be the only boy in the Compound immune to her charms. And the only one who can help her.

As Addie and Laila frantically attempt to retrieve the lost memories, Addie must piece together a world she thought she knew before she loses the love she nearly forgot . . . and a future that could change everything.

THE ABOMINATION by Jonathan Holt

The Abomination
Jonathan Holt

Rating: A
Synopsis:
When the clock strikes midnight on the feast day of La Befana, Venice is aglow as a cascade of glittering fireworks bursts above the city. Masked figures crowd the vaporettos, the trattorias are humming with grappa-soaked gossip, and the possibility for random passion heats the frosty winter air.

Across the Grand Canal, beneath the stunning white dome of one of Venice's grandest landmarks, Santa Maria della Salute, a body with two slugs in the back of the head has been pulled from the icy waters. The victim is a woman. To the dismay of the police, she is dressed in the sacred robes of a Catholic priest--a desecration known as the Abomination.

Working her first murder case, newly promoted Captain Kat Tapo of the Carabinieri embarks on a labyrinthine trail that soon proves as elusive and confusing as the city's twisting backstreets. Her investigation leads from a crumbling asylum on a deserted island to the impenetrable complex of American military bases ringing the medieval city--and deeper, into an eerie virtual Venice that is both alien and familiar.

The influential and highly secretive simulated world of Carnivia.com holds the city's secrets, dark knowledge that reaches into the highest levels of government and the church, involving its most influential figures. The site's founder is a notorious hacker and the scion of one of Venice's oldest families--a man already convicted of cybercrimes whose life is threatened by an anonymous group determined to silence him and destroy his virtual city.

Just when every lead seems to send a frustrated Kat in a new direction, the various trails go cold, evidence goes missing, and the case is officially shut down. What follows is the unraveling of a dark conspiracy whose roots go back seventy years, revelations that will test Kat's loyalties and remind the dedicated cop of a simple truth: that unless old crimes are punished, corrupt forces will continue to repeat their mortal sins. . . .

My thoughts on the book:
The Abomination by Jonathan Holt is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that cannot be missed. The characters are well-developed, the setting is magnificent, the mystery is captivating, and Holt's writing is top notch. While I'm not a huge fan of non-paranormal mysteries, this book grabbed me and did not let me go. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this novel and would recommend it to anyone. 

Kat is a terrific leading character. She's independent and strong, but she also has heart. She's flawed, but still extremely likable. The secondary characters are also strong. Each one has his or her own personality and doesn't serve as a simple filler character. The evolution of Kat is organic, and I enjoyed watching her change throughout the novel. 

I absolutely adored the setting. Venice is such a unique place, and I can't think of a better area to set this novel in. Holt paints Venice in an accurate light (from what I've heard about it from friends who have traveled there), and his details allow the reader to picture the city, even if they've never visited, which I haven't. I felt as if I was in the city, though, which was a nice touch. Holt's writing is clear and concise. The plot itself is reminiscent of The Da Vinci Code, but somehow this novel still stands on its own. 

Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves good mysteries. This is a fantastic debut novel. 

Order The Abomination

FRAGILE SPIRITS By Mary Lindsey Cover Reveal!!!

As you guys know, I absolutely ADORED Shattered Souls. Therefore, I am sofreakingexcited that Mary Lindsey has created a sequel! The cover is gorgeous!!

Fragile Spirits

By: Mary Lindsey

Release Date: 01/23/14

Synopsis:

Paul has always known he was a Protector, fated to serve a Speaker who could hear the voices of spirits lingering after death and help those souls find peace.

Vivienne ignores the voices of the dead.

Paul has always followed the Protector’s rule book, preparing diligently for the day when he’d be matched with his Speaker and fulfill his destiny.

Vivienne never does what she’s told.

So when Paul is matched with Vivienne, they both find the pairing less than satisfactory. But a kidnapping, a malevolent spirit and power stronger than both of them may just prove that they are two halves of the same whole.

In a stunning story about the beauty of fate and the power of secrets, Mary Lindsey returns to the world of Shattered Souls with a breathtaking thrill-ride of a novel.

PERFECT LIES by Kiersten White Cover Reveal!!!!

I absolutely LOVED Mind Games, and I cannot WAIT for this sequel!!!

Perfect Lies
By: Kiersten White
Release Date: 02/18/14
Synopsis:
Annie and Fia are ready to fight back.

The sisters have been manipulated and controlled by the Keane Foundation for years, trapped in a never ending battle for survival. Now they have found allies who can help them truly escape. After faking her own death, Annie has joined a group that is plotting to destroy the Foundation. And Fia is working with James Keane to bring his father down from the inside.

But Annie's visions of the future can't show her who to trust in the present. And though James is Fia's first love, Fia knows he's hiding something. The sisters can rely only on each other - but that may not be enough to save them.

THE SOUND OF LETTING GO by Stasia Ward Kehoe Cover Reveal and Giveaway!!

This sounds like an amazing book, and I'm super excited to share the cover and synopsis with you guys!

The Sound of Letting Go
By: Stasia Ward Kehoe
Release Date: 02/01/14
Synopsis:

For sixteen years, Daisy has been good.  A good daughter, helping out with her autistic younger brother uncomplainingly.  A good friend, even when her best friend makes her feel like a third wheel. When her parents announce they’re sending her brother to an institution—without consulting her—Daisy’s furious, and decides the best way to be a good sister is to start being bad.  She quits jazz band and orchestra, slacks in school, and falls for bad-boy Dave. 
 
But one person won’t let Daisy forget who she used to be: Irish exchange student and brilliant musician Cal.  Does she want the bad boy or the prodigy?  Should she side with her parents or protect her brother?  How do you know when to hold on and when—and how—to let go?

Connect with the author:

Stasia on twitter: https://twitter.com/swkehoe

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Stasia-Ward-Kehoe/480528638649616

At Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/125253.Stasia_Ward_Kehoe

At her blog: http://swardkehoe.blogspot.com


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EVERTRUE by Brodi Ashton Cover Reveal!

This series has gorgeous covers, and this one is the most beautiful yet! I haven't been able to find a synopsis yet, unfortunately, but I do have a release date to share with you guys along with the cover! I can't wait for this one!

Evertrue
By: Brodi Ashton
Release Date: 01/21/14

UNDYING DESTINY by Jessica Lee

Undying Destiy
Jessica Lee

Rating: C-
Release Date: 06/17/13
Synopsis:
Kenric St. James is out for revenge. Over 300 years ago, an ancient female vampire turned him against his will and killed the woman he loved. He’s spent more than a century building an Enclave of warrior vampires who have sworn to defend humanity against his evil sire and her minions. But when Kenric finds a woman he finally burns to claim as his own again, Kenric knows loving her means giving his sire another target.

Emily Ross just wanted a fresh start. She’s a survivor, coming off the tail end of an abusive relationship, and craves time alone to learn who she is and to save the home that holds her heart. The last thing she needed was a controlling, alpha male calling all the shots.

Meeting Kenric might just have changed her mind, though. He is wrong for her in all the right ways. But in order to keep her heart from breaking, he first has to keep the hoards of evil vamps from stealing her very breath.

My thoughts on the book:
As other reviewers have stated, nothing about Undying Destiny was that unique, including the characters. I found myself bored more often than I should have been, considering all that was going on. Also, the multiple points of view didn't really work for me. Furthermore, the way the plot was handled left no sense of mystery to the story. And finally, while the writing was well-done, it wasn't exactly captivating. If you're looking for a pointless romance, then this book is for you. If you're looking for depth of plot, then I'd skip this one. 

For the characters' pasts, they didn't really act believably, in my opinion. They opened up about what happened way too much, and they also were magically cured through love or some other bs. I didn't buy that, and while this novel does address some very important issues, such as the rape of men by women (which is for the most part ignored and needs to be talked about), how the characters handled things almost downplayed the importance of such issues. However, at least the author is trying to open a dialogue (at least I assume that's what she's doing instead of just including stuff for plot's sake), and that is commendable. The characters themselves were okay, but didn't stand out much. I liked Emily just fine, but she's not a memorable character. The same can be said for Kenric. While Marguerite is abhorrent, she's still not an extraordinary villain. 

As I previously mentioned, the multiple points of view didn't work, and this is because no character had a unique voice. They all spoke relatively the same, and there were no distinguishing dialogue choices to make the multiple POVs add anything to the story. The only thing that they did do is kill any sense of mystery that could have been present in the plot. Lee is a decent writer, but nothing was extremely captivating or entrancing. I didn't connect to the emotions of the characters, nor did I have an easy time picturing the surroundings even though the descriptions were top notch. Some writing is just hard to connect to, and that was the case in this novel. I'm not sure if it was because of the characters making no sense to me or if it was because it just didn't "click" for me. 

Overall, I'd recommend this book to people who love romance, but don't really care about realistic character and relationship development or a solid plot. It's not a bad book, but it definitely is not my favorite either.

Pre-order Undying Destiny