Review: The Coven : Fire and Ice by @verdellwalker

Thanks for stopping by today guys!  I am super excited to share this review with you-  The Coven : Fire & Ice  (book 1) !  It was a wonderful story and if I didn't have more books to read for review, I'd be plopped down reading it a third time! lol

The Coven: Fire and Ice       

The Coven, Book 1

Verdell Walker

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

ISBN: Print – 1481981080

Ebook - 9781301450695

Number of pages: 454

Word Count: 114,679

Cover Artist: Gabriela Miyares

Print - https://www.createspace.com/4132062

Apple iBookstore  Sony  Kobo Amazon Kindle  Barnes and Noble 

Book Description:

After her clique's bullying causes a classmate's suicide, Kat Grey trades the vicious world of the California "in crowd" for the chance to become a better person in Massachusetts. But when she steps in to protect a classmate from being bullied, Kat sparks a war with Hannah, Milton Academy's resident Queen Bee.

Kat's courage and compassion attract the attention of Blaze Ward, Hannah's ex-boyfriend. As they fall in love, Kat discovers that Blaze is more than the boy next door. He's a warlock. He is also the leader of an in-crowd like no other - the Brotherhood, five young warlocks charged with defending witches and humanity from a demonic adversary named Seth.

Kat challenges Blaze to become a better man and leader while he helps her find redemption as she makes it her mission to stop bullying at Milton. But when Hannah teams up with Seth to destroy her, Kat becomes a hostage in the age-old war between the Brotherhood and their greatest enemy. Saving Kat will require more than Blaze's strength and skill; it will mean breaking one of his kind's most sacred laws. Blaze will have to make a choice: his honor or Kat's life.

 My Thoughts : 

Let's just start off by saying I've read this book twice already.  Enough said, right? This is one of those books , for me, that I want to sit everyone I know down and force them to read it because I know they are going to love it.  Plus, Kat isn't a witch.. It's a change to have the main female character be 'normal' (okay, there is the twilight series but I'm talking witches here). 

   In her effort to reform herself from the Queen Bee of her old clique, Kat finds herself across the country in a town where she has become the protector instead of the bully.  It's amazing watching her transformation and feeling her real remorse over how she was before.  She is definitely a changed girl.

  I absolutely fell in love with Blaze, not only is he the hot jock from school.. he also has these amazing abilities and the responsibility of being the son of the First.  A prince like figure of their kind.  When Kat first meets him, she thinks he's just another popular jock figure until she uncovers all that there is to him.  In her quest for redemption, she helps him also become a better person when she sees him act a bit like her old clique. 

The romance between the two is endearing.  The closeness of the Brotherhood (a group of teenage boys/warlocks tasked with fighting the Dark ones and defending everyone from Seth) is refreshing to see.  In school they are normal teenage boys, but at night they seem to mature & work together as a great team. 

I was thoroughly pleased with The Coven and personally can't wait to get my hands on more of the series!  I hope you'll give it a chance, I honestly don't think you'll be disappointed !        

About the Author:

Verdell Walker is the author of THE COVEN series. Born and raised in the South, writing has been her escape from reality for many years.

Verdell is an avid sports fan and absolutely devoted to the Green Bay Packers. A gifted cook and baker, few things make her happier than making a meal for her family and friends. Except maybe writing about her favorite boys.

 

 Stalk Her : 

 

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Excerpt & #Giveaway : Sweet Oblivion by @BailyArdisone

 Sweet Oblivion

 Bailey Ardisone

Published: December 30th, 2012

Word Count: Approx. 107,000 words

Genre: YA Romance/Fantasy

Book Description

 :

Have you ever wanted to forget? Nariella Woodlinn has. Many times. Especially when her already frustrating life gets turned upside down by a mysterious boy who randomly shows up in her small town and she can’t seem to understand anything about him, despite how much she tries.

​ Nari hates everything about her life except for her best friend Rydan, but now that they’ve been separated during their senior year of high school, she has to learn to make new friends without him. When strange unexplainable phenomenons start becoming an everyday part of her life, Nari struggles to come to grips with reality. And with love.
​
Naminé has responsibilities. Duties. It is her obligation to fulfill all that is asked of her by their King. But when a glimmer of hope is introduced to her by a prisoner she tends to and it means life or death for her and her people, she does all that she can to turn that hope into reality and finally end the vicious war that has been ensuing since she was born. Even if that means keeping it secret from her King. Even if it means carrying out the biggest betrayal against the King ever seen during her time.
​
She has hope. She will fulfill her duty. She will not let her people down.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | GoodReads

Excerpt:

But in that short, torturously way too short, second that I got to look at him, something odd stuck out in my mind. He was effortlessly balancing a sharpie on the tip of his left index finger, looking very bored. Too bored. Hmph. 

I refuse to succumb to the charms of a man just because they speak in an alluring accent and look completely devilish. And hot. That will be the last time I ever let myself fall prey to his cunning tricks.

… I hope.

As the novelty of surprise wore off the longer I sat listening to Mr. James go on and on about whatever, I couldn’t shake this eerie feeling that started creeping up my spine. For whatever reason, the new guy was beginning to freak me out. I had this strange alarming sensation in my gut, as if telling me he was dangerous. But all of it was nothing compared to what I felt out in the hallway after class ended.

I had slowly stood up to gather my things, hoping that everyone, and I mean everyone, would leave and I could get to my next class without speaking to anyone. Or at least one particular person.

But as soon as I walked out the door, he was there next to me, making me almost jump to the roof like a cat with my hair standing on end. He looked amused and wore a very adorable smirk. He had backed me up against the lockers, pinning me with only his aqua eyes and as he leaned down, both hands in his pockets, I stood there trapped by my own wonder at what was about to happen. But all he did was lean into the left side of my hair and took a long inhale of breath through his nose, like he was smelling me.

“Mmmm” was all he moaned, before he gracefully skipped backwards like a mountain lion and walked away, leaving me now completely and utterly freaked. What the heck was that? That had to be the creepiest thing I have ever experienced.

And hottest.

But I refuse to acknowledge that part. 

I began to dread going to anymore classes today, afraid he would be there. It all came to nothing though, because it turns out, I didn’t end up seeing him again the entire rest of the day. Thank the Lord! Something was finally going my way.

            The next day, I was too afraid to walk into Literature. I stood there at the door, hand over my heart, trying to calm my nerves down. I don’t know what it was, but something about that guy has me frightened. I asked Zaylie and Desmond about him, but none of them saw him. Zaylie doesn’t even remember seeing him in class yesterday. That right there had me reeling, expecting to see him anywhere I turned and being the only one who did. If I’m starting to see ghosts, someone please just kill me now.

About the Authors:

Bailey Ardisone is a collaboration by two sisters born and raised outside of Chicago, Illinois. They took the last names of their two grandmothers and combined them together to form their pen name. They both married the love of their lives and spend their days submerged in books, movies, music, or art and love traveling. Fantasy books and movies have been a huge part of their lives and are obsessed with Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Sweet Oblivion is the first book they have written together and is the first novel of a series.

Amazon Author Page | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Blog | Website

Giveaway Details: 

There is a tour wide giveaway. Prizes include the following:

·         Three (3) eBook copies of Sweet Oblivion

Giveaway is Worldwide.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Awakened Scavenger Hunt !! @KRIS10INGER

Welcome Scavenger Hunters!   Have fun and keep hunting! :)  If you get mixed up, be sure to visit the starting blog to get straightened up! *note- unfortunately any links on my blog are automatically green.  The green word ypu are looking for will be bold. Sorry for the inconvenience!

Awakened

 Few Are Angels, Book Two

 Inger Iversen

Published: February 22nd, 2013

Genre: New Adult

Synopsis:

What must he overcome to protect her?

With no clue of what to do next and the responsibility of looking after Alex and Mia as promised, Kale is up to his ears in problems and no solutions. How will Kale save Ella, keep Alex and Mia safe, control Jace as well as control the Bloodlust that creeps beneath the surface waiting to be released? Will Kale be Ella’s savior or will he convict her to a fate worse than the one Laurent has already promised her?

What truths will she learn?

Ella knows that the choices she makes affects not only her but everyone else around her, but what about the choices made to find her? Ella learns the truth about the death of her parents, learns that the ones she thought she could trust aren’t so trustworthy after all.

How will Ella handle these betrayals, and will she be able to sacrifice what is necessary to obtain eternal life?

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | GoodReads

About the Author:

Inger Iversen lives in Virginia Beach with her tree-hugging boyfriend Joshua and her overweight lap cat Max. When not reading or writing she spends her time watching reruns of True Blood or killing zombies in Call Of Duty.

Follow her :
Amazon Author Page | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Blog | Website

I am super thrilled to be a part of the Scavenger Hunt today! I love nothing more than being able to Share fun things with my readers!  If you're already on the hunt, then you know what to do.  If you are just starting b/c you are one of my followers - be sure to go to the starting blog for all the rules & a complete list of the stops!  Also, you enter your information there when you have completed the hunt!  Click here to go there.

Be sure to stop by the other hunt stops today !!:

• April 4th - Ladies @ My Home Away From Home
• April 4th - Vicky @ Deal Sharing Aunt
• April 4th - Athena @ Total Book Geek
• April 4th - Lisa & Sarah @ Girls with Books
• April 4th - Daniel @ Parenting 2.0 The Child’s Perspective
• April 4th - Kathryn @ Tsk Tsk What to Read

Excerpt –

 Written specifically for the Scavenger Hunt and cannot be found anywhere but participating blogs:

 

“You should be sleeping Ella.” Kale’s voice was low and sent warm _______ up my spine.

            “I couldn't sleep.” That wasn’t a lie. Though I was exhausted, a nightmare had me grasping for some form of reality. I needed the one person that grounded me and made me feel safe.

            Kale’s voice was soft and full of concern. “Why not? Is it Jace?” 

            “No, it’s not Jace.”

“Then what is it?”

“Doesn’t ______,” I fumbled with the phone suddenly nervous about my phone call. I didn’t want us to argue about my ________ to stay with Jace versus going back to Alex’s parent’s house. I needed Kale and what hurt the most was that the only thing separating this time was him. Well, not Kale, but la Luxure inside of him. We had accomplished and overcome so much, but still, here we were with another hurdle placed in front of us. Mother Nature couldn’t even make a mountain as big as the hurdle before us.

            Kale sighed. “What is it?” My silence must have made him realize that something was wrong, but I didn't want to worry him. I just ______ to hear his voice.

            “Nothing, it was nothing that you need to be concerned about I _______.”

            “Hmm… You are a horrible liar.” Kale chuckled.

            “Well, I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Yeah, you would.”

“I miss you,” I whispered. I was scared Kale would give me the whole, ‘You have to move on for your own safety,’ speech. I closed my eyes and waited for the words that always seemed to come. My heart pumped in my chest and I had to fight control my breathing.

            “I miss you too.” His words brought a smile to my face. I relaxed into my pillow and then turned to my side. The light from the moon illuminated the room enough for me to see the bag I’d packed placed under the desk and not for the first time, I doubted that I had made the right decision to leave Kale back in Moose Nose. “He’s dangerous,” Jace said over and over and unfortunately Kale agreed, but there was something that kept me _________ if Jace had an ulterior motive.

            “I was ________ about you and I wanted to hear your voice,” I snuggled under the warmth covers. I missed the few days that Kale and I had together before la Luxure made him go all crazy. I missed his arms ______ me as we slept, the warmth of his breath as he placed his mouth on my neck for the sweetest goodnight kiss I'd ever experienced, but most of all I missed the waking up in his arms.

“What were you thinking about me?” Kale asked in a breathy voice. It was amazing to be able to _____ an intimacy with Kale yet know that there was still so much more to explore with him, but I was still lonely. I still needed the reassurance that he would fight for us even when he thought that he would only bring me pain and sadness. “Is it my sexy voice, boyish good looks or maybe my breath taking kisses?” Kale added a noisy kiss for good measure and I couldn’t help but to laugh.

“Honestly, I can’t get your kisses out of my head, but that wasn’t all I was thinking about at the moment.”

“Naughty girl,” Kale growled and I chuckled.

“Learned from the best,” I said _______ a yawn. “Will you stay on the phone with me until I fall asleep again?” I squeezed my eyes tighter refusing to let the tears fall. I was stronger than before and I had a plan. I knew it would work and I also realized that I would have to ask Jace to help me get to the Council of Immortals in Alaska, but I still had faith in my plan. If Kale could sacrifice his life and the things he held close to his heart for me, then I would do my part in keeping us ________.

            “Ella, I’d give anything to be there beside you.” I could hear the sincerity in his voice and it fueled my desire to be with him.

            “I __________ that for now, this will have to work,” I said fighting another yawn.

            “For now?”

            “We will be together soon Kale, you may not believe it but it will happen. We have been through far too much to give up now.” My hopes were up, hell, they had blasted through the ceiling, but I wasn’t going to tell Kale why because he’d fight me on it and I couldn't have that.

            “Go to sleep Ella, I’ll stay on the phone with you.” Kale’s voice still held doubt but I had enough faith for the ____ of us.

            “No,” feeling a bit defiant I continued, “I want you to talk to me, Kale.” I heard him sigh on the other end of the phone. It didn't sound annoying or restless, but I had to wonder. When would this get old to him? Yes, he’d followed me throughout time and yes, he _____ my soul, but how long could he hold on to himself and beat la Luxure?  There was so much at stake and I couldn't let that get me down nor could I let him doubt our future. “Want to hear a secret?” I asked lowering my voice. There was a brief moment of silence before Kale spoke.

           

            “Yes, tell me.” ____________ laced his voice and I stifled a giggle. “And then to bed, baby.” I almost groaned when he called me baby. His terms of endearment always made me melt, just a little, even when I was angry or sad.

            “I dream about you,” I ________ with a smile. There were times at night where my dreams of Kale would wake me up. My heart would stutter or pound in my chest; I’d be short of breath thinking of the life he and I could start when all of this was over.

            “You dream of me?” Kale chuckled. “That isn’t some big secret seeing as how I often daydream about you. Ella, I have dreamed about the life that I know you deserve and the life that you will more than likely have with me, but most of all I dream about dating you, learning your wants and fears, _________ for an apartment with you and living in the shack in some Podunk town.” It was nice to know that Kale’s dreams of our future were attainable. “Then placing a ring on your finger, we’d walk down the aisle where the people we love gathered and watched as we make the ultimate commitment.”

            “Oh God Kale we can have that,” I said.

            “What _____ kids, I can never give you any.” I started to lie and say that I didn't want kids, but I was way too young to make a decision like that. “The Council of Immortals will always hunt me and that would include you even if you weren’t the Arc. You will have to run with me and I can’t convict you to a life like that, I just can’t and the more you ask it of me the harder it is for me to do the right thing and walk away.”  How dare he make this decision for the both of us?

           

            “I agree that you ______ do the right thing, Kale, but you don’t get to decide what is or isn’t good for me, it should be a decision we make together. Now, promise me you will think about it.”

            “I promise, now go to sleep, Ella. I’ll still be here in this cage when you wake.” I didn't speak. I closed my eyes and let sleep take me. He wouldn’t be in that cage ____ longer no matter what he thought.

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION

Everyone who successfully completes the excerpt with the key words in the correct order will be entered into a giveaway. The winners will then be randomly selected. The following prizes are up for grabs:

Grand Prize

One lucky winner will receive a print copy of Few Are Angels, Awakened, and an ARC of Immortal Heart by Inger Iversen! The release date for Immortal Heart is September 13th and the ARCs will not be available until June so there will be a short delay in receiving the prize.

First & Second Place Winners

Two runner ups will receive an eBook copy of both Few Are Angels and Awakened  by Inger Iversen!

Thanks again for stopping by ! :)

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