Book Trailer: Kingdom of Souls - Rena Barron

Last week was the UK release for Rena Barron's debut novel Kingdom of Souls. I've been hearing fantastic things about this one from other bloggers so I was already looking forward to reading it but then I stumbled across the US trailer on YouTube and that just made me even more excited about it!

First here's the blurb and cover info:

THERE’S MAGIC IN HER BLOOD.

Arrah is a young woman from a long line of the most powerful witch doctors in the land. But she fails at magic, fails to call upon the ancestors and can't even cast the simplest curse.

Shame and disappointment dog her.

When strange premonitions befall her family and children in the kingdom begin to disappear, Arrah undergoes the dangerous and scorned process of selling years of her life for magic. This borrowed power reveals a nightmarish betrayal and a danger beyond what she could have imagined. Now Arrah must find a way to master magic, or at least buy it, in order to save herself and everything she holds dear.

An explosive fantasy set in a West African world of magic and legend with a twist you will never see coming.

Perfect for fans of Sarah J Maas, Tomi Adeyemi and Black Panther.

Visit Rena Barron's website for more information



Doesn't it look fab! I'm definitely going to be reading this soon so keep an eye out for my review.

Just out of interest what do you think of the two different covers?

UK Cover / US Cover

I love how different the two versions are and to be honest part of me kind of wants to buy both of them. It's hard to pick a favourite really but I think the UK one possibly just beats the US for me. Which is your favourite?

Book Trailer: The Thousandth Floor - Katharine McGee

I know I'm not the only blogger who struggles to read all the books on their to read mountains, there are just so many amazing books out there and not enough hours in a day to actually read them all. Anyway, I want to continue highlighting a few that are on my radar but I haven't quite managed to get to yet.

I'm so curious about this futuristic dystopia set in New York 100 years from now. I can't quite get my head around skyscrapers that are 1000 stories tall (I would be too terrified to look out of the windows!) but it's an interesting idea and this series seems like it'll be a fun read.

Welcome to Manhattan, 2118.

A thousand-storey tower stretching into the sky. A glittering vision of the future, where anything is possible – if you want it enough.

A hundred years in the future, New York's elite of the super-tower lie, backstab and betray each other to find their place at the top of the world. Everyone wants something… and everyone has something to lose.

As the privileged inhabitants of the upper floors recklessly navigate the successes and pitfalls of the luxury life, forbidden desires are indulged and carefree lives teeter on the brink of catastrophe. Whilst lower-floor workers are tempted by a world – and unexpected romance – dangling just out of reach. And on the thousandth floor is Avery Fuller, the girl genetically designed to be perfect. The girl who seems to have it all – yet is tormented by the one thing she can never have.

So when a young woman falls from the top of the supertower, her death is the culmination of a scandal that has ensnared the top-floor elite and bottom-floor. But who plummeted from the roof? And what dark secrets led to her fall?

Friends will be betrayed and enemies forged as promises are broken. When you’re this high up, there’s nowhere to go but down…

Visit Katharine McGee's website for more information

Here's the book trailer for the first book in the series, The Thousandth Floor:



and this is more of a series overview:



I'm also curious to see what people think of the two different cover options. I used the UK cover above but the videos were produced by the US publisher and the covers are very different. Let's look at them next to each other:

 

UK Cover vs US Cover

Which do you prefer? I have to say I prefer the US cover this time around, I love the building and it immediately shouts New York glitz and glamour to me. The UK cover is more generic and could be any city in the world and it doesn't particularly grab my attention or make me want to read it. Which is your favourite? Have you read the series? Let me know how quickly I need to bump it up my to read mountain in the comments!

Blog Tour: Strange the Dreamer - Laini Taylor

If you've been following my blog for any length of time you'll know I've been a HUGE fan of Laini Taylor ever since Daughter of Smoke and Bone was published back in 2011. I just adore her beautiful writing so it was no surprise that Strange the Dreamer was one of my favourite books last year and I know I'm not the only one desperately waiting to get my hands on the sequel, Muse of Nightmares, when it publishes!

Anyway, today is all about celebrating the release of the gorgeous paperback version of Strange the Dreamer (yes, this is another book that I've ended up buying multiple copies of LOL!). Just look how pretty it is though, it's really not my fault:

and just in case you haven't read it yet (what on earth do you mean you haven't read it yet? - get to it people, you don't know what your'e missing!!) here's the blurb:

The magical Sunday Times bestseller by Laini Taylor, author of the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy

The dream chooses the dreamer.

Since he was five years old, Lazlo Strange has been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to go in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself - in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever.

What happened in Weep to cut it off from the world? What did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving?

The answers await in Weep, but so do many more mysteries - including the blue-skinned goddess who visits Lazlo's dreams . . .

So I already posted my review for Strange the Dreamer last year but I thought I'd include it again here.

My Review:
It's been a long wait for something new from Laini Taylor, I absolutely adored her writing in the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series but if anything she's honed her skills even more and Strange the Dreamer was even more beautifully written. She always manages to completely captivate me with the worlds she creates and when I fall into one of her books I never want to come back out again.

Strange the Dreamer is the story of Lazlo, a young man who was orphaned as a baby and raised by monks before he discovered the magic of the great library and trained to become a librarian. Lazlo is in part a little like every book worm you'll ever meet, he's obsessed with stories and spends so much time with his head stuck in a book that real life often happens around him without him even noticing. Lazlo's biggest obsession is the mystery of Weep and he has dedicated his life to reading everything he can about the city that disappeared so long ago. It's been years since anyone was able to find Weep and nobody can even remember the city's real name but Lazlo longs for it to be discovered again and he would give anything to visit the place he has spent so long dreaming about. Lazlo is a dreamer but he's also smart, funny and very caring. He always tries to help people but never expects thanks for his hard work and is so grateful for every opportunity he is offered that he never takes anything for granted.

This is also the story of Sarai, a young woman who has been trapped in her home for years with only her siblings for company. I don't want to get into too much detail about where Sarai is or how she ended up trapped there but her path crosses Lazlo's in the most unusual manner and I absolutely loved spending time with them both and watching the beginnings of their romance. Sarai and her siblings have been through something horrific but thanks to her unique talent she is the one best placed to understand both sides of the story and she longs for peace and freedom. She's such a compassionate girl, one who has seen the worst people have to offer but who also has great capacity for forgiveness and who tries really hard to look at the good in people.

Once again Laini Taylor has created a world that you just want to dive into, there are so many beautiful and amazing things to discover but there are also dark secrets lurking underneath that will leave you reeling. Her characters are people you want to be friends with and even her villains are so complex that you can understand their actions even if you don't particularly agree with them. There is so much pain and fear between the two different groups in the story that it's going to take a miracle to pull them together but I have complete faith that if anyone can pull it off Lazlo Strange and the Muse of Nightmares can. Working together I think they can achieve anything.

Strange the Dreamer is definitely one of my favourite books of the year and there is no doubt in my mind that it is going to be appearing on a lot of "best of 2017" lists. The Muse of Nightmares is right at the top of my 2018 wish list but I know I'll be rereading this book while I wait for it to be released.

I just have to add that I think the UK cover is so gorgeous and after a little arm doodling I think it would make a pretty gorgeous tattoo too!

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Now I've talked about how much I loved the book but I thought it might be fun to have a look at the different covers too.

UK Paperback / UK Hardback which is also being used for the US Paperback / US Hardback

They're all so pretty aren't they, it's hard not to want to collect the set. Which cover is your favourite? I have to admit I think the original UK hardback is probably my favourite, I'm not at all surprised that the US publisher chose to use it for their paperback. I love the gold foil on the US cover though (can anyone tell me if it's actually shiny gold? I've not seen that version in the flesh) but I think the new UK paperback is pretty too and I really like the pastel colouring.

If you haven't read Strange the Dreamer yet don't forget to order your copy ASAP, I'm already looking forward to rereading this just before Muse of Nightmares comes out so it's definitely a book I'd highly recommend. Make sure you check out the rest of the stops on the blog tour too!

Cover Reveal: Shadows on the Moon - Zoe Marriott

Last week I shared the cover for Zoe Marriott's upcoming novel Barefoot in the Wind (you can read that post HERE) and at the time I mentioned that Shadows on the Moon, another story set in the same world, was getting a makeover too. Now, Shadows on the Moon is one of my favourite novels so as soon as I found out that the new edition will contain extra content (including poetry and a short story that is like an extra epilogue to the original one!) I knew I'd be buying a copy for my shelves but now I've seen the gorgeous new cover I'm even more sold on the idea!

Just look at that beauty! Isn't it gorgeous? If you love fantasy and you love fairytale retellings then you NEED to read this book. It may be based on Cinderella but Suzame is a fierce young woman who sets out to get revenge on the people who wronged her and her family. She isn't the kind of girl who is going to sit around and wait for a prince to save her and she has it all planned out!

I have so much adoration for this book - it's one of the stories that I regularly put into stranger's hands when I'm browsing in bookstores! - and I'm really excited that it's being rebranded to hopefully be picked up by a whole new audience. In case you missed my original review of this book you can find it HERE.

Just in case you're curious about the old cover I thought I'd share that here too:

Old Cover VS New Cover

Which one do you prefer? I do think the original cover is beautiful but I think the new version is much more modern and I love the bright pops of colour from the flowers in Suzame's hair. I love the story so much that it'll be one of the rare books I have multiple copies of on my shelves though!

Book Trailer: Hero - Samantha Young

It's no secret that I'm a HUGE fan of Samantha Young's On Dublin Street series, I devoured each of those books the minute I got my hands on them, so it shouldn't be a surprise when I tell you how excited I am for her upcoming stand alone story Hero.

Hero is being published in the UK and the US on the 3rd of February (although we'll have to wait until the 5th of March for the UK paperback) and I absolutely can't wait to get my copy! In the meantime I thought I'd share the UK and US covers along with the book trailer so that you can all add it to your wish lists too :o)

 UK Cover vs US Cover - which do you prefer?

Here's the blurb:
The explosive, emotional and unforgettable new romance from the NYT bestselling author of the On Dublin Street series.

Alexa Holland's father was her hero-until her shocking discovery. Ever since, Alexa has worked to turn her life in a different direction and forge her own identity outside of his terrible secrets. But when she meets a man who's as damaged by her father's mistakes as she is, Alexa must help him.

Caine Carraway wants nothing to do with Alexa's efforts at redemption, but it's not so easy to push her away. Determined to make her hate him, he brings her to the edge of her patience and waits for her to walk away. But his actions only draw them together and, despite the odds, they begin an intense and all-consuming affair.

Only Caine knows he can never be the white knight that Alexa has always longed for, and when they're on the precipice of danger, he finds he'll do anything to protect either one of them from being hurt again . . .

and don't forget to check out the trailer:



So who else is as excited about this book as I am? I CAN'T WAIT until February!!

Book Trailer & Cover Comparison: The Sound - Sarah Alderson

I'm a huge fan of Sarah Alderson, I absolutely LOVE her Lila series (Hunting Lila & Losing Lila) but I also really enjoyed her stand alone novel The Sound when I read it last year. Obviously The Sound has been available in the UK for a while now but it is being published in the US next week (on the 13th of May) so I thought it would be fun to share the brand new book trailer with you and have a look at the UK and US covers.



For those of you who aren't familiar with the book here is the blurb:
He is out there, holding his breath as I hold mine. Ears pricked, eyes scouring the darkness. I can sense him there waiting, just a few feet away . . .

When aspiring music journalist Ren Kingston takes a job nannying fora wealthy family on the exclusive island of Nantucket, playground for Boston's elite, she's hoping for a low-key summer reading books and blogging about bands. Boys are firmly off the agenda.

What she doesn't count on is falling in with a bunch of party-loving private school kids who are hiding some dark secrets; falling (possibly) in love with the local bad boy; and falling out with a dangerous serial killer . . .

You can Sarah Alderson's website for more information and if you can read my review of The Sound here.

Now let's have a look at the covers:

UK Cover

US Cover

I'm actually finding it really difficult to pick a favourite out of these two covers. I love the colouring of the UK cover - it's just so pretty to look at! - but I think I prefer the beach picture and the girl's dress in the US cover. I also like the US tag line "The truth always comes to the surface . . ."

Which cover do you prefer? What do you think of the trailer? Have you already read The Sound? If so I'd love to know what you thought of it so leave me a link to your review in the comments and I'll come and check it out.

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover - Adding Music to the Story

I'm a huge fan of Colleen Hoover so I was incredibly excited to be asked to take part in the UK blog tour for her new book Maybe Someday. I've already had the chance to read the book (which I loved) so I'll be posting my review later today but first I wanted to talk a little about how music plays such a huge part in the story. In fact Colleen Hoover teamed up with musician Griffin Peterson and together they created eight songs that have particular meaning to the two main characters. In the story Ridge and Sydney work together to write the lyrics to music composed by Ridge and the songs recorded by Griffin Peterson are the results of their collaboration.

Check out this video of Colleen and Griffin talking about how they worked together to create the music to go alongside the story:



I already bought the album from iTunes and I can't tell you how much I enjoyed being able to listen to the songs while I was reading the story. Ridge and Sydney find a way of communicating the things they're too shy to say out loud through the lyrics that they write and the songs are a really important part of the story because of that.

As much as I'd recommend buying the album because it really is fantastic you can also listen to the songs online for free via the Maybe Someday website.

I found a couple of videos that Griffin Peterson posted on YouTube that I thought you might enjoy. Here he is singing I'm in Trouble (which happens to be one of my favourite songs on the album):



and this one is of Griffin singing Hold on to You:



In case you haven't watched enough videos yet here is the official book trailer (the background music is the title song Maybe Someday by Griffin Peterson)



I thought it would only be fair to include the official book blurb too just in case you haven't come across it yet:

UK Cover / US Cover

Do you have a preference?

Maybe Someday Blurb:
Colleen Hoover draws you in to this passionate tale of music, love and betrayal . . .

Sydney is living in an idyllic bubble - she's a dedicated student with a steady job on the side. She lives with her best friend, has a great boyfriend, and the music coming from her balcony opposite hers is fast becoming the soundtrack to her life.

But when Sydney finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her, the bubble bursts. The mysterious is cheating on her, the bubble bursts. The mysterious and attractive man behind the music, Ridge, gives Sydney hope that she can move on and they begin to write songs together. But moving on is harder than she expects, Sydney can only hope . . .

Maybe Someday . . .

Featuring music from Griffin Peterson.

For more information and to listen to the soundtrack don't forget to check out the Maybe Someday website. You can also visit Colleen Hoover's website or Griffin Peterson's website.

I'd love to know what you think of the idea of creating such an interactive book with songs specifically written to go along with the story. Have you listened to any of the songs yet? If so what did you think of them? Which of the covers do you prefer?

Cover Comparison: Clipped Wings Series - Helena Hunting

To celebrate the release of Cupcakes and Ink, the novella that kicks off Helena Hunting's new Clipped Wings series, I thought it would be fun to have a look at the UK and US covers for the series. I've already read the novella so will be posting my review very soon but I can't wait to carry on reading this series! The books are published by Gallery in the US and Orion in the UK and as you can see below they've taken a very different approach to the covers:

Cupcakes and Ink

(UK & US release 6th Feb 2014)

UK Cover / US Cover

Blurb:
When a tragic accident devastates Tenley Page's life, she flees her hometown in search of somewhere she can start afresh. In Chicago she finds work, college, friends, and she tentatively begins to piece her life back together.

Then she meets Hayden Stryker. A devilishly handsome tattoo artist with a dark past of his own.

From their fleeting interactions, Hayden's intrigue with Tenley grows into fascinated. But as they get closer, Tenley must balance her feelings from him with the guilt she carries from the life she left behind.

Tenley and Hayden's story continues in the hugely popular CLIPPED WINGS.

Clipped Wings

(UK & US release date 13th March 2014)

UK Cover / US Cover

Blurb:
Hayden Stryker is a devastatingly handsome tattoo artist. Covered in ink and steel, his artwork acts as armour while he attempts to move on from a world-shattering loss.

Twenty-one-year-old Tenley Page is new to town and battling demons of her own. The chemistry between the two is instant and unlike anything they've ever experienced before.

When Hayden agrees to apply his art to Tenley's skin, the pair embark on an emotional and intense relationship that neither could have anticipated. But as Tenley's past threatens to destroy their fragile romance, Hayden must find a balance between his desire to protect her and his need to claim her as his.

Inked Armour

(UK release date 8th May 2014 / US release date 13th May 2014)

UK Cover / US Cover

Blurb:
Tenley has gone.

And in the wake of her leaving, Hayden's carefully ordered world threatens to spiral out of control. Balanced on the brink of self-destruction, he realises he needs to face the truth about his past if he has any hope of a future.

Back in her hometown, Tenley lays her ghosts to rest. And despite her grief, her feelings for Hayden remain as intense and all-consuming as ever.

Desperate to repair the damage she has done to their relationship, she returns to Chicago and the man she loves. But there are still so many obstacles in their path. Will their love conquer all? Or will it tear them apart?

Author Bio:
Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She's putting her English degree to good use by writing popular fiction. She is the author of Clipped Wings, her debut novel, and Inked Armor.

Helena's Social Media:
Website
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads

So what do you think of the covers? Do you have a preference over the UK or US versions? It's a difficult choice for me, but I while I prefer the UK cover for Cupcakes and Ink I think I prefer the US covers for Clipped Wings and Inked Armour. I actually really like both the models they've used for the UK covers (they guy they've picked for Hayden is hot LOL) but I really like the arty feel to the US covers. I don't think the US cover for Cupcakes and Ink matches the others very well though but I guess that doesn't matter too much since it's only available as an ebook so won't be sitting on the shelves with the others!

Did you already have this series on your radar? If you've read Cupcakes and Ink already I'd love to know what you thought of it! Are the books on your wishlist? If so which of the covers would you like to see sat on your bookshelves?

Get a sneak peek at Down London Road by Samantha Young

UK cover

I absolutely loved Samantha Young's novel On Dublin Street when I read it (you can read my review here) so I've been dying to get my hands on the sequel Down London Road ever since. In fact I've had my copy pre-ordered from Amazon for months now and it feels like I've been waiting forever! I can't tell you how excited I was to see that Samantha Young has released an extract of the first chapter so I had to share it here with you. Before we get to the extract I just want to give you a bit more information about the book:

US Cover

Blurb:
Johanna Walker is used to taking charge. But she’s about to meet someone who will make her lose control....

It has always been up to Johanna to care for her family, particularly her younger brother, Cole. With an absent father and a useless mother, she’s been making decisions based on what’s best for Cole for as long as she can remember. She even determines what men to date by how much they can provide for her brother and her, not on whatever sparks may—or may not—fly.

But with Cameron MacCabe, the attraction is undeniable. The sexy new bartender at work gives her butterflies every time she looks at him. And for once, Jo is tempted to put her needs first. Cam is just as obsessed with getting to know Jo, but her walls are too solid to let him get close enough to even try.

Then Cam moves into the flat below Jo’s, and their blistering connection becomes impossible to ignore. Especially since Cam is determined to uncover all of Jo’s secrets …even if it means taking apart her defenses piece by piece.

On Dublin Street Series:
On Dublin Street
Until Fountain Bridge (Novella)
Down London Road (May 2013)

Visit Samantha Young's website or the On Dublin Street website for more information

Now for the bit you've all been waiting for - the first chapter!

UPDATE 29th March:
It looks like there is some kind of a problem with the chapter excerpt widget so if you want to read the first chapter of Down London Road you can find it on Samantha Young's blog here.

What do you think? Are you all as excited about Down London Road as I am? Which of the covers do you prefer - the UK one or the US? If I'm honest I have to say I prefer the US covers myself.

Cover Reveal: Entwined with You - Sylvia Day

I have been dying to get my hands on Entwined with You by Sylvia Day for MONTHS now - I nearly cried when Amazon emailed me to say that the release date had been pushed back from December 2012 to May this year! I absolutely loved Bared to You (read my first review here and my 2nd read review here) and Reflected in You (read my review here) so I'm looking forward to the final instalment of Gideon and Eva's story.

Anyway, Sylvia posted the US cover for Entwined with You on her Facebook page this afternoon so I thought I would share it with you here:

US cover of Entwined with You

What do you think? I love the fact that Gideon's name is on the luggage tags but I guess we're going to have to wait for the book to see how the tags fit in with the story. I really like the US cover and think it matches well with the covers for the first 2 books, I also like the fact that each book is a different colour but they are still obviously part of the same series.

US Covers of Bared to You and Reflected in You

Now lets have a look at the UK covers for the series. I'm not sure if this is the final UK cover for Entwined with You but it has been posted on Amazon UK & Goodreads so I'm going to include it here.

UK Cover of Entwined with You

Which do you prefer the UK or the US cover? It's hard to tell if the perfume bottle or the luggage tags have more meaning to the story until I've actually read the book but at the moment I think I'm leaning towards the US cover being my favourite of the two. The UK cover fits very well with the rest of the series though and so I'll be buying this one to match the paperbacks I already have on my shelves. I think I'm just getting a bit bored of the numerous grey and black covers that seem to be dominating the shelves ever since Fifty Shades of Grey came out.

UK Covers of Bared to You and Reflected in You

Before I go I'm just going to leave you with this synopsis of Entwined with You (it was taken from Goodreads so it may not be the final version):

The worldwide phenomenon continues as Eva and Gideon face the demons of their pasts, and accept the consequences of their obsessive desires…

From the moment I first met Gideon Cross, I recognized something in him that I needed. Something I couldn’t resist. I saw the dangerous and damaged soul inside–so much like my own. I was drawn to it. I needed him as surely as I needed my heart to beat.

No one knows how much he risked for me. How much I’d been threatened, or just how dark and desperate the shadow of our pasts would become.

Entwined by our secrets, we tried to defy the odds. We made our own rules and surrendered completely to the exquisite power of possession…

Have you read any of the Crossfire series? Are you dying to read Entwined with You just like I am? Do you prefer the UK or US covers for the series?

UK Cover Reveal: Paper Valentine - Brenna Yovanoff

I had an email from Simon & Schuster yesterday revealing the UK cover for Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff so I thought I'd share it with you here. Paper Valentine is being published in the UK on the 3rd of January so thankfully we don't have too much longer to wait because it feels like I've been waiting for ages already!

Before we have a look at the cover I want to remind you of the book blurb (or share it with you just in case you haven't already seen it!):

The city of Ludlow is gripped by the hottest July on record. The asphalt is melting, the birds are dying, petty crime is on the rise, and someone in Hannah Wagnor's peaceful suburban community is killing girls.

For Hannah, the summer is a complicated one. Her best friend Lillian died six months ago, and Hannah just wants her life to go back to normal. But how can things be normal when Lillian's ghost is haunting her bedroom, pushing her to investigate the mysterious string of murders? Hannah's just trying to understand why her friend self-destructed, and where she fits now that Lillian isn't there to save her a place among the social elite. And she must stop thinking about Finny Boone, the big, enigmatic delinquent whose main hobbies seem to include petty larceny and surprising acts of kindness.

With the entire city in a panic, Hannah soon finds herself drawn into a world of ghost girls and horrifying secrets. She realises that only by confronting the Valentine Killer will she be able move on with her life - and it's up to her to put together the pieces before he strikes again.

So now you've had a chance to remember what the book is about let's have a look at the UK cover:

I love the cover - I think it's deliciously creepy! The hand looks like it's about to crush the paper heart that it's holding and I like the slogan Dying For Justice. I definitely look at this cover and know I'm going to be picking up a chilling murder mystery and I love the added detail of the names in the background - who are Monica, Abby and Hailey? Straight away I have a mystery I want to get to the bottom of!

I can't share the UK cover without at least mentioning the US one though:

I really like the US cover, it's unusual and I like the pattern in the girl's dress which reminds me of those paper cut out snowflakes I used to make at school. I also like the moody feel of the clouds in the background and the bright red heart. This cover would stand out on the shelves in a book store but I don't think it tells me as much about the story as the UK cover does. I'm not sure if it's just me but I think that cover would make me expect more of a paranormal romance than a supernatural thriller. I guess until I've read the book I won't know for sure which cover suits it better but just from reading the blurb I think it will be the UK one.

So, as much as I like both covers I'd pick the UK one if both books were placed in front of me. I'd love to know which cover you like best though! Which one do you feel suits the story better?

River Road Blog Tour: International Giveaway & Guest Post by Suzanne Johnson

I really enjoyed Royal Street, the first book in Suzanne Johnson's Sentinels of New Orleans series but I have to say I loved the second book River Road even more so I was delighted to be invited to take part in the blog tour to celebrate it's UK release. I'll be posting my review of River Road later today but in the meantime I wanted to share the cover and blurb with you before I hand over to Suzanne for a fabulous guest post.

The hurricane may have passed, but in New Orleans the storm rages on.

With the borders between the city and the otherworld in ruins, new and dangerous species have swarmed into the waterways. There is talk of war between rival clans in the darkest depths of Louisiana's swamps and it falls to wizard sentinel Drusilla Jaco and her partner, Alex Warin, to keep the peace.

When wizards start dying and it becomes apparent that the waters of the mighty Mississippi itself have been poisoned, DJ will have to really focus if she is to find out who - or what - is responsible. And with an undead suitor, the amorous pirate Jean Lafitte, on her back that isn't going to be easy . . .

It's anything but smooth sailing in the bayou as the Sentinels of New Orleans series continues.

Sentinels of New Orleans Series:
Royal Street
River Road
Elysian Fields (2013)

Author Bio:
Suzanne Johnson writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance from Auburn, Alabama, after a career in educational publishing that has spanned five states and six universities. She grew up halfway between the Bear Bryant Museum and Elvis' birthplace and lived in New Orleans for fifteen years, so she has a highly refined sense of the absurd and an ingrained love of college football and fried gator on a stick.

Visit Suzanne Johnson's website for more information

Now please give a very warm welcome to Suzanne who is here to talk about the different preternatural creatures that you will meet in the Sentinels of New Orleans series.

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Name That Prete! The World of River Road

by Suzanne Johnson

One of the things I most enjoy about writing fantasy is the world-building. Even though my Sentinels of New Orleans series is set in the real city, and my characters go to real places, they don’t always keep the company of, well, humans. In fact, the human citizens of New Orleans don’t know such beings as my characters exist, or that a whole horde of preternaturals (pretes) came flooding into town after Hurricane Katrina knocked down the metaphysical levees as well as the physical ones.

The Sentinels world is a true “multiverse,” with alternative versions of New Orleans existing alongside the “real” one, and different species cross back and forth. As long as they can mainstream with humans undetected and out of trouble, they can stay.

So, here’s a quick glossary of my species…because you can never have too many!

WIZARDS. The largest preternatural group and, as a result, the most powerful. Because they’ve long been the dominant magical species, they have traditionally been in charge of monitoring the borders between the human world and the preternatural world called the Beyond. The “border guards” are called Sentinels. Wizards belong to different congresses according to their particular skills. The heroine of the series is DJ Jaco. She’s a Green Congress wizard, whose abilities lie in doing ritual magic. In other words, they’re the geeks of the magical world. Most of the other preternatural groups hate the wizards, thinking they’re arrogant and stubborn. They might be right!

THE HISTORICAL UNDEAD. These are people who were famous in their human lives and therefore are made immortal by the magic of human memory. If they’re really famous or well remembered, they can even have a corporeal life in the modern world—as long as no one realizes who they are. The members of the Historical Undead we’ve met so far in the series are the 18th-century pirate Jean Lafitte, the voodoo priestess Marie Laveau, and jazz great Louis Armstrong.

WERE-CREATURES. Since they can mainstream well with humans, many were-creatures already lived in the modern world before the borders came down during the hurricane. There are werewolves, of course, and quite a few of them work for the wizards as assassins, or Enforcers. A strain of werewolf peculiar to Louisiana is the Loup-Garou. They are said to have come to French Louisiana with the Acadians when they were driven from Canada by the English in the 1700s, and are rogue wolves. They don’t join packs. They have poor control over their wolves. They’re big and bad. And yeah, DJ, is kind of dating one.

SHAPESHIFTERS are similar to were-creatures except they are born, not made, can shift more quickly, have better control over their shifts, and don’t have any relation to the cycles of the moon. When shapeshifters mate with humans, their children might or might not be shifters—or it can show up a few generations down the line. Shifters you’ll meet in the series include a canine shifter, weregators, and merpeople, who in the Sentinels world are aquatic shapeshifters. They shift halfway into classic merman and mermaid form, or shift all the way into big fish.

ELVES. The elves are powerful, mysterious, and secretive. They have tended to stay within the confines of Elfheim, their kingdom in the Beyond. We learn in the first book that in addition to being a wizard, DJ has elven ancestors on both sides of her family and has inherited some elven skills that make both the wizards and the elves uneasy. We meet our first elf in River Road, and they’ll be much more prevalent as the series progresses.

VAMPIRES. While some vampires mainstream with human populations, most still live within their part of the Beyond, the Realm of Vampyre. In the Sentinels world, vampires can feed from each other to stay alive. Human (or other) blood is addictive and sweet, though, so they’re anxious to jockey for power as the borders come down. Vampires will be introduced in the third book, along with...

THE FAE. Another of the major preternatural species, the Fae so far have kept their allegiences secret and appear to be watching what happens while the wizards and elves and vampires try to position themselves. Whose side will they be on, and will it tilt the power toward or away from the wizards?

THE OTHERS. Because there are always more. There have been some weregator sightings, and a goblin or two. A bevvy of nymphs make an appearance in River Road, and there are whispers going round that satyrs are working at an escort service in the city’s French Quarter. DJ really, really doesn’t think the satyrs are going to be able to mainstream with humans—goat pupils and hooves are hard to hide.

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Giveaway Details:

Suzanne is offering one lucky winner their choice of either Royal Street or River Road. The giveaway is open internationally and one winner will be chosen at random from all entries received. To enter the giveaway all you need to do is leave a comment answering Suzanne's question below:

What is your favourite species?

You have until the 11th of December 2012 to leave a comment and enter the giveaway. Please make sure you include a way for me to contact you (your email address or twitter ID) in case you are the winner.

Suzanne is also giving away an amazing prize of either a Kindle, a Nook or a $100 gift card for Amazon, B&N or The Book Depository as part of her blog tour. You can enter this giveaway and find out about the other stops on the blog tour by visiting this post.

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Thanks for a fabulous guest post Suzanne and for a fantastic giveaway! One of the things I love most about the Sentinels of New Orleans series is the variety of pretes you come across. I love the idea of the Historical Undead (Jean Lafitte definitely caught my eye!) but I have to admit my biggest crush is on a certain canine shifter!!

I'm going to leave you with the UK and US covers for River Road. Which one do you like best?

UK Cover

US Cover

I like both covers again but I still feel that my favourite is the UK one, I just love the font used for the title. I prefer the tone of the UK cover too although I do like the alligator (or should that be weregator?) on the US one!

Don't forget to leave a comment answering Suzanne's question to be in with a chance of winning your choice of either book in the Sentinels of New Orleans series - Royal Street or River Road!

Cover Reveal: Blood Bound by Keshia Swaim - Vote for your favourite!

Keshia Swain's debut novel Blood Bound may not be being published until September 2013 but it's a story that I'm already excited about reading! Described as similar to the Morganville Vampires series but with Fae it has definitely caught my eye and I'm looking forward to reading it. Now Spencer Hill Press have created not one but two fabulous covers for Blood Bound and are asking you to vote for your favourite. Have a look at the book blurb below and then at the two covers and let me know which one you like best. The poll below will be used to decide which cover is used when the book is printed so make sure your vote counts and keep your fingers crossed that your favourite wins!

Blood Bound Blurb:

Starting college a year early is hard. Starting fae college and learning to protect the world from the Unseelie is harder.

Brielle Reed has always been an over-achiever, but this time she may have bitten off more than she can chew. Between her crash course in fae politics, struggles to control her new mind-reading ability, training sessions with the demanding Dr. Schwartz, and discoveries about the father who is still a mystery to her, Brielle finds herself longing for a chance at a normal life.

But she may not get that chance. Or chance at a life at all, for that matter.

Now lets have a look at the two covers you have to choose from:

So what do you think? I like both covers, I love the colouring and the font used for the title but I think the one with the hand stands out more than the one with the girl's face. I really like the effect of the electric blue around the hand and think it gives the book a magical feel. The girl on the cover is OK but I think she looks quite moody and I'd probably be less likely to pick that one up in a book store. I do like the pattern around the edge of the second cover though - I think if that was added to the first cover it would be perfect!

Which cover do you prefer? What do you think of the blurb? Are you adding this book to your wish list? Don't forget to vote for your favourite using the form below (If you have any problems with the form you can also vote at this website):

Which design do you prefer, the one with the hand or the one with the girl on the cover?

• Hand
• Girl

Freeblogpolls

More polls: Memira

For more information about Blood Bound visit the Spencer Hill Press website or Keshia Swain's blog.

Book Trailer & Cover Comparason: The Gathering Dark (Shadow and Bone) - Leigh Bardugo

Yesterday I posted my review of Leigh Bardugo's fabulous debut novel The Gathering Dark (published in the US with the title Shadow and Bone). I absolutely loved this book and can't recommend it highly enough but in case my review wasn't enough to convince you to give it a try I thought I'd share this awesome trailer with you!



I also thought it would be interesting to look at the very different covers for the book. I don't know about the rest of you but it confuses the heck out of me when a book is given a different name in the UK to the US. All I can say is thank heavens for Goodreads because before I had that to use as an easy way to check series details I made numerous mistakes buying the same book twice because it had a different title!

Anyway, Leigh's novel was released in the UK with the title The Gathering Dark and the stunning cover below. I love the eerie feel to it as Alina is running through the dark, snow covered wood and taking a quick look over her shoulder to make sure she's not about to be caught. It really captures the atmosphere of the story. The cover looks even more beautiful in the flesh than in this picture though, the writing and the swirls around the edge of the cover are done in gold foil which gives it a lovely effect.

UK Cover

In the US the book was released with the title Shadow and Bone which I personally don't think fits the story as well as the UK title does. I also keep getting it confused with Smoke and Bone from Laini Taylor's novel The Daughter of Smoke and Bone which is a shame. Looking at the cover below I have to say I really like the buildings at the bottom - they make me think of a Russian cathedral and considering there are a lot of Russian influences in the story that fits the book really well. I also like the font of the title and the ghostly looking trees at the side.

US Cover

Overall I think I prefer the UK cover though and I definitely like the UK title better. What do you think? If you've read the book already I'd love to know which cover you think suits the book better? If you haven't then let me know which cover would you be most likely to pick up in a book shop?

Series Spotlight: The Original Sinners - Tiffany Reisz

I wanted to do a bit of a spotlight on a new series that has really caught my attention this year. Tiffany Reisz's debut novel The Siren was one of the most unusual books I've read in ages and I absolutely loved it. I don't think this series is getting the attention it deserves here in the UK so I'm hoping to encourage a few people to pick it up and give it a try. I will warn my regular readers that this is an ADULT series and not one I'd recommend to under 18's, it is also far from your traditional romance novel. There is no happy ever after at the end of the first book - in fact there isn't really even a happy for now - but as it's the first book in a series I have high hopes that things will be resolved eventually! If you're looking for the kind of book that is going to push your boundaries, that special something to read after Fifty Shades of Grey then I would definitely recommend checking out The Original Sinners series.

Here is a bit more information about the series including links to my reviews (where available):

The Original Sinners Series:
Seven Day Loan (Novella)
Little Red Riding Crop (Free short story found on the author's website or Amazon Kindle)
Submit to Desire (Novella)
The Siren
The Angel
The Prince (November 2012)

Visit Tiffany Reisz's website for more information.

The Siren

The series starts with The Siren and although there are a couple of prequel novellas I think you're probably better off reading those after you've read this book so you have a bit more knowledge of the characters involved. Once you have read this make sure you check out the free short stories that Tiffany has posted on her website - they are great for getting extra insight into the characters and their backgrounds.

UK Cover / US Cover

In the world of kink authors, she’s the top.

Notorious Nora Sutherlin is famous for her delicious works of erotica, each one more popular with readers than the last. But her latest manuscript is different—more serious, more personal—and she’s sure it’ll be her breakout book…if it ever sees the light of day.

Zachary Easton holds Nora’s fate in his well-manicured hands. The demanding British editor agrees to handle the book on one condition: he wants complete control. Nora must rewrite the entire novel to his exacting standards—in six weeks—or it’s no deal.

Nora’s gruelling writing sessions with Zach are draining…and shockingly arousing. And a dangerous former lover has her wondering which is more torturous—staying away from him…or returning to his bed?

Nora thought she knew everything about being pushed to your limits. But in a world where passion is pain, nothing is ever that simple.

The Angel

The second book in the series is The Angel which was released in the UK on the 5th of October. I have been dying to get my hands on this book for ages so keep an eye out for a review as soon as I can get to it.

UK Cover / US Cover

No safe word can protect the heart

Infamous erotica author and accomplished dominatrix Nora Sutherlin is doing something utterly out of character: hiding. While her longtime lover, Søren—whose fetishes, if exposed, would be his ruin—is under scrutiny pending a major promotion, Nora's lying low and away from temptation in the lap of luxury.

Her host, the wealthy and uninhibited Griffin Fiske, is thrilled to have Nora stay at his country estate, especially once he meets her travelling companion. Young, inexperienced and angelically beautiful, Michael has become Nora's protégé, and this summer with Griffin is going to be his training, where the hazing never ends.

But while her flesh is willing, Nora's mind is wandering. To thoughts of Søren, her master, under investigation by a journalist with an ax to grind. And to another man from Nora's past, whose hold on her is less bruising, but whose secrets are no less painful. It's a summer that will prove the old adage: love hurts.

The Prince

Thankfully we don't have to wait too long for the third book in the series as The Prince is released on the 20th of November!

UK Cover / US Cover

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer...preferably in bed. That's always been Kingsley Edge's strategy with his associate, the notorious New York dominatrix Nora Sutherlin. But with Nora away in Kentucky, now it's Kingsley's chance to take her place at the feet of the only man he's ever wanted -- Søren, Nora's on-again, off-again lover -- until a new threat from an old enemy forces him to confront his past.

Wes Railey is still the object of Nora's tamest yet most maddening fantasies, and the one man she can't forget. He's young. He's wonderful. He's also thoroughbred royalty and she's in "his" world now. But Nora is no simpering Southern belle, and her dream of fitting into Wesley's world is perpetually at odds with her dear Søren's relentlessly seductive pull.

Two worlds of wealth and passion call to her and whichever one Nora chooses, it will be the hardest decision she will ever have to make... unless someone makes it for her....

If you've already started the series I would love to hear your thoughts on it (leave me a link to your review if you've posted one & I'll come and check it out). Who are your favourite characters? Do you have a preference on who you want Nora to end up with? If you haven't started reading it it yet what do you think of the synopsis? Is the book on your wish list already or will you be adding it? Or doesn't it appeal to you in the slightest? Lastly do you have any preference between the UK and the US covers? I think the US covers stand out well, particularly the cover for The Siren but I have to say I prefer the continuity of the UK covers - they all fit together better and look like they're part of a series.