New To My Shelf / Cover Love

My name is Kriston, and I am addicted to beautiful book covers.

Yes, I admit, I am a cover whore. And yes, I bought these two books based strictly on the fact that I love the covers.

"But Kriston, that's pretty shallow."

*ponders statement* Whatever.

I have always loved the Splintered cover, and then when I saw the Unhinged cover I knew I wanted these books on my shelf. I love the artwork, the colors, the facial expressions, all of it. Plus, I am a sucker for a good Alice In Wonderland retelling. I hope they're good.

Maybe I will showcase the books I am glad I did not judge by their cover.  I have a list of books that I love with covers that do not appeal to me at all. So see. I'm not all bad.

Cover Reveal...One

It is no secret that I am a cover junkie. So it is my pleasure to be a part of the cover reveal for One, by Mari Arden. Make sure to scroll down for your chance to win an Amazon gift card, a book or mouse pad.

Summary~

Jules Hendricks has had a string of bad "firsts."

 Embarrassing first kiss. Traumatic first date. An obsessive first boyfriend she can't understand.

It's taken her years but she's finally able to leave her small town life behind for a new start as a freshmen at UW- Madison. For Jules this chance to be independent and rebuild her life is an opportunity she won't ever let anyone take from her again. She's determined to make something of herself without a man by her side, in front, behind or anywhere near her.

Reid "Pax" Paxton is the star quarterback for the UW Badgers. His brush with death makes him understand how precious life is, and how important it is to take life by the horns, unafraid. Jules knows he's dangerous for her. Dark hair. Smoldering eyes. Killer smile. That dimple. That body. Those arms. Pax is everything she's trying to run away from, but she can't help coming back for more. Slowly he begins to show a life together can be more than just a dream. It can be their reality. The truth about reality is it's not always sunshine and butterflies.

Sometimes it's a wasteland.

Sometimes secrets can't stay buried.

Sometimes your past will find a way to hunt you down. 

AUTHOR BIO: 

I'm Mari Arden (Mari rhymes with safari). Teacher by day, author by night. When I'm not living my double life I like to hike and try foods from all over the world. Up until recently, I used to be scared of dogs. Even puppies. True story. Now I'm just afraid of anything with more than six legs. I write to soothe my soul and to, hopefully, entertain YOU. 

Adventurous? Come join my double life

An excerpt from One~

ONE

**Warning: the contents of this book are intended for readers 18+ and older due to explicit adult situations.           

            "Do I make you nervous?" His husky drawl drips like chocolate covering a ripe, round strawberry. Does he make me nervous? Does a simmering volcano make an ant nervous?

            I swallow. "Nervous? I'm not nervous," I babble, refusing to look at him. I'm in physical pain. What's that thing I do where I take in air, and then let it out? Oh yeah, breathing. I need to do that.

            Like right now.

            I make a strangled sound and inhale through my nostrils, taking in the smoky air like a ravenous puppy finding milk. Instantly I feel Pax's heat next to me. Soon I'll be immersed in it, wrapped in it.

            Wrapped around him.

            So does that make me nervous? Only a hundred kinds of nervous.

            "Time to begin!" Cade yells, as he jogs back to Pax and I, flashing his pearly whites. He pounds Pax on the back. "Don't drop the ball," he grins.

            "As if I ever do."

            Cade turns to me. I see the second he registers my cleavage is exposed to the world. His eyes appraise me slowly. He gives me an appreciative grin. "Well, hello there."

            "Hi," I reply. "Um, should we start now?" I don't mean to be rude, but I'm a second away from vomiting every cell inside me, and call me crazy, but I'd prefer not to start off my year known as the Vomiter.

            "Yes," Pax glares at Cade. "Let's start." He inserts himself between us, blocking Cade's view of me. His firm, half naked body is next to my face. Pax's musky cologne combined with a sweaty scent unique to him assails my nostrils until my senses are reeling out of control.

            Cade chuckles, looking amused. I want to glare at him. I don't find anything amusing about this. "Ready when you are."

            Pax turns to me, his emerald eyes dark pools in the sunlight. This close I see every glorious inch of him, from the tiny stubbles of black hair covering the lower part of his face to the rippling six pack decorating his stomach like a tattoo. I don't dare look any lower. My pulse skitters. I forget to breathe. Something hard and hot unfurls in my belly. Unable to tear my gaze from him I watch helpless as his mouth drifts closer, until he' so close his breath mingles with mine.

            "Ride me."

Excerpt copyright 2013 Mari Arden

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Cover Reveal and Giveaway...Addicted To You

I'm super excited to be a part of the cover reveal for Addicted To You, by Krista & Becca Ritchie.

Krista & Becca also run one of my favorite blogs, Nawanda Files. There you can read book reviews and up to date book to movie information. But without further ado, I introduce you to, Addicted To You.

Two addictions. One lie.

No one would suspect shy, Lily Calloway’s biggest secret. While everyone is dancing at college bars, Lily stays in the bathroom. To get laid. Her compulsion leads her to one-night stands, steamy hookups and events she shamefully regrets. The only person who knows her secret happens to have one of his own.

Loren Hale’s best friend is his bottle of bourbon. Lily comes at a close second. For three years, they’ve pretended to be in a real relationship, hiding their addictions from their families. They’ve mastered the art of concealing flasks and random guys that filter in and out of their apartment.

But when they go on a family boat trip, surrounded by open seas and limited male bodies in sight, Lily’s confronted with a big fear. Only one guy onboard can fill her addiction, and she’s sworn off going there with Loren Hale ever again.

Now the only person who can truly help her, can barely help himself. 

**This is a New Adult book recommended for readers 18 and up**

The giveaway is international as long as the Book Depository ships to you.


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Cover Reveal...Awakened, by ME!

Here she is in all her glory. If I knew where to find a cool GIF with exploding fireworks this is where it would be. I can't believe I finally get to share this with you. I've been sitting on this since August!

I give you Awakened, book one in The Legends Of Elyndia series.

This masterpiece was created by the talented Regina Wamba at Mae I Design. To see more of her covers click on her button in my side bar.

Summary~
Can fighting for the right side be the wrong thing to do?

Draven, the tyrant ruler of Elyndia for the last one thousand years, searches for the one who can fulfill his prophecy.

The Paladins, an elite band of warriors sworn to protect their way of life at all cost, search for the one with the ability to bring their world crumbling down.

An innocent girl, tormented by demons only she can see, lives on the brink of insanity and longs for a life of peace.

When seventeen-year-old Jade Rosenberg reads from an antique book, she has no idea she just read an incantation awaking her inherited power. But when opposing—and equally terrifying—groups invade her home, she learns she is descended from an enchanted realm and a member of a powerful race thought to have been hunted to extinction. 

Ripped from her world, Jade is forced to seek refuge from those who want her dead. She is given one of two options and the time has come for her to make a choice: assassinate their sworn enemy…

Or sacrifice her soul.



I cannot believe I actually get to share this with all of you. I have been working on Awakened for over two years. Words cannot express how it feels to almost be finished.

Awakened will be available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords and in paper back.
Release day is April 25th.

Add it to Goodreads. 

Cover Reveal...Hell's Hallow

It is my pleasure to bring to you the beautiful cover for Hell's Hallow, by Summer Stone. After reading the summary and seeing this fabulous cover I am very excited to read this. How about you?

Summary~

When Seraphina was younger, she healed her best friend's injured hand. Terrified by the inexplicable cure, the girl shunned her. From that day on, Seraphina found herself without friends, a freak and an oddity. And so she obeyed her mother’s rule to refrain from using her innate ability, heeded her mother's warning that its use could land her in the local mental health facility alongside her aunt and grandmother.

But when sixteen-year-old Seraphina finds a mysterious, wounded boy hiding in the hollow in the woods behind her house, she can't hold out against the overpowering urge to help him. She is drawn to him each night, and as they come to know one another, their irresistible attraction blooms.

She longs to uncover his secrets — where he comes from and why he's hiding and how he came to be so wounded — and to share her own, though she knows it's forbidden. And while her healing touch seems to be helping him, it's hurting her. When the symptoms of psychosis — experienced by the women in her bloodline who used their powers — begin to plague Seraphina, she is faced with the unbearable choice of saving her sanity or the boy she’s come to love.

Publication date:  March 2013
Genre: YA Paranormal

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17370950-hell-s-hollow

AUTHOR BIO

Summer Stone loves immersing herself in the worlds that live inside her mind. When she's in the real world, she likes kicking back on the beach, exploring new places, reading (of course) and eating rich, gooey chocolate. She loves spending time with her husband and kids, which she does as much as she can. Summer writes young adult and women's fiction, both supernatural and contemporary, realistic and looks forward to sharing her novels with you!

Author Links:

Website: http://summerstonebooks.blogspot.ca/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SummerStoneBks

Just Finished Reading...Defiance

Defiance by C.J. Redwine

From Goodreads
Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city's brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father's apprentice, Logan--the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same one who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but a fierce belief in her father's survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.
At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city's top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor's impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.
As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can't be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

My thoughts~ This book almost ended up on my shelf based on the cover alone. It is one of my all time faves. But for some reason I never got around to buying it. The copy I read for this review was from the library.

C.J. Redwine weaves a tale of intrigue, loyalty and love. Her talents as a writer are highlighted in her ability to craft beautiful passages. 

Rachel quickly became a favorite character of mine. She is independent in a world that doesn't allow it and is willing to risk it all for those she cares about. 

I have to admit, it did slow down for me at the middle and didn't pick back up until closer to the end. But character likability, original ideas and quality writing made it worth sticking with. I will definitely read book two.

Want to help reveal my new cover?

It's time to finally start sharing the details of my debut novel, Awakened. It is book one in The Legends Of Elyndia series

Summary~
Can fighting for the right side be the wrong thing to do?

Draven, the tyrant ruler of Elyndia for the last one thousand years, searches for the one who can fulfill his prophecy.

The Paladins, an elite band of warriors sworn to protect their way of life at all cost, search for the one with the ability to bring their world crumbling down.

An innocent girl, tormented by demons only she can see, lives on the brink of insanity and longs for a life of peace.

When seventeen-year-old Jade Rosenberg reads from an antique book, she has no idea she just read an incantation awaking her inherited power. But when opposing—and equally terrifying—groups invade her home, she learns she is descended from an enchanted realm and a member of a powerful race thought to have been hunted to extinction. 

Ripped from her world, Jade is forced to seek refuge from those who want her dead. She is given one of two options and the time has come for her to make a choice: assassinate their sworn enemy…

Or sacrifice her soul.

Publication date- April 25th 2013

Now here is the fun part. On March 14th I am revealing the cover and all it's awesomeness for the whole world to see. It was designed by the talented Regina Wamba at Mae I Design. If you want to see more of her work click on her button in the right side bar of this blog.

Xpresso Book Tours is organizing the reveal. If you are interested in being a part of it I would be forever grateful. We could be like bff's. Here is the link.

http://www.xpressobooktours.com/2013/02/cover-reveal-sign-up-awakened-by.html

The cover is really great, I hope my book lives up to it. *franticly chews fingernails* Seriously.

Cover Reveal and Giveaway...Flame

Okay, so it's no secret that I love book covers. I will be the first to admit that I have bought books based on the cover alone. That is why it is my pleasure to share this latest reveal with you. Make sure to see below for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card.

I present to you Flame, by Mari Arden

Isn't it gorgeous!! The cover was designed by the talented Regina Wamba at Mae I Design.

BOOK BLURB:
Some secrets change your life forever.
        Have you ever felt invisible? I do. Everyday. I can't get close to anyone, and people can't get close to me. Everytime I feel a friendship beginning, something inevitably happens, and I become invisible again. Unseen. Ignored. It's been a part of me for so long that it's hard to imagine anything different.
 Then the Saguinox arrive, and my life is forever altered. People are fascinated by these beautiful creatures who look and talk like us. They're alluring. Seductive. Intoxicating. And two of them are going to my school. Rhys is everything I shouldn't want, but his eyes are like something from a memory. I can't help but be intrigued. He's the only one who can really see me.
 Some secrets you're better off not knowing.
 I had been found on a cold winter night with nothing but a blanket, and ashes covering my skin. My mother saved me from death, and took me in with love. But she couldn't save herself. I didn't think heroes were real anymore until the day Kaiden saved me. I couldn't believe in miracles until the day he revealed I was the miracle they had all been hoping for. Deep inside I always knew my past mattered.
 I just didn't know my life would depend on it.

AUTHOR BIO: 

My name is Mari Arden (Mari- rhymes with safari). Teacher by day, author by night. I love my double life. You can also catch me at the gym attempting to sweat out all the sweets I eat when I write. Key word: TRY. I adore sushi and Chipotle burritos, and wouldn't it be paradise if they could be combined somehow?.... Well on second thought, maybe not. I'm one class away from my masters in education, and feel so fortunate to do two things I'm passionate about: teaching and writing. Adventurous? Come join my double life!

You can connect with Mari in all the usual places.

http://www.mariarden.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mari-Arden-author/493749174011347

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6897452.Mari_Arden

http://www.twitter.com/mariarden

In honor of her book release Mari is giving away a $50 gift card to Amazon. 

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Just Finished Reading...Cinder

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

My thoughts~ So last year when Cinder came out, it was plastered all over the bookish part of the internet. I was like, ehh...I don't know. Another Cinderella story. No thanks. For some reason the idea of this book always turned me off. When ever I read the word "cyborg" I kept right on going. Well now that everyone is raving about the soon to be released Scarlet, part two in the Lunar Chronicles, I figured I better jump on the band wagon and see what the fuss is all about. 

I absolutely adored Cinder. It is a dystopian, sci-fi, futuristic retelling of Cinderella. Even though it is a new version of the well known fairy tale  I still found Cinder to be unique and intriguing. What I liked best about this story was the high stakes tension that peppered the entire story. 

Cinder is a fabulous protagonist. I instantly liked her and cared about how she felt. She longs to escape her current life. Cinder has been mistreated by her family, but still has a warm heart and takes care of those who are important to her. She is smart, sassy and makes good decisions.

Then we have Kia, our prince. I just loved him. Not in a super swoon worthy way, but he is just a good person and a well developed character. Through his triumphs and trials, my heart went out to him.

The one thing I would have liked was more description of the city and the characters physical appearance. Cinder takes place in China. The setting was so rarely mentioned that, to me,  it could have been plopped down in any city. I was not sure if we were supposed to assume the characters were Chinese based on the origin of the story, or if the author did not think it was important. Personally, I like to be given a physical description so I know what to picture in my head. Plus, the big reveal was not much of a surprise.  I guessed it the first time it was mentioned. 

Overall, because of the tension and the unique twist of the fairy tale, Cinder is my first favorite of the year. I recommend the read and look forward to Scarlet. A fresh take on Little Red Riding Hood. 

Cover Reveal...The Dracian Legacy

I am very excited to be a part of Priya Kanaparti's cover reveal for her upcoming release, Dracian Legacy. It is YA Paranormal Fantasy Romance, all my favorite things, and book one in the trilogy. Check it out, it sounds like it will be a great read and I cannot wait to get my hands on it. It will be available Feb. 14th. You can enter to win a free e-book of Dracian Legacy, The Covenant Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout or The Significance Series by Shelly Crane, the stories that inspired The Dracian Legacy, below.

Blurb:

Ren and Axel are caught between two powerful magical races: one destined to end the bloodshed, the other out for vengeance.

Seventeen-year-old Ren Pernell is prophesied to end the war between the Dracians and the Telalians. So when a Dracian, Axel Knight, is sent to find and bring back the prophesied one before she turns eighteen and Telalians discover of her existence, unexpected sparks start to fly between the two. Once Ren finds the truth behind Axel’s arrival, she wants everything to do with him and nothing to do with his mission.

Things prove to be difficult as Ren’s life is constantly threatened by forces that are beyond her control, including the leader of the Telalians.
With the clock ticking and Ren’s life in jeopardy, it is no longer just a mission for Axel. It becomes a personal endeavor to save the only one he’s ever loved. In a heart racing ending, they must find a way to evade the preordained war that won’t also end Ren’s life.

Isn't it beautiful? Of course it is. The designer for the cover is: Regina Wamba at maeidesign.com.

Priya Kanaparti was born in India, grew up in Detroit, and is now living in Boise, ID. She attended Wayne State University for her undergrad degree in Bachelor of Science in Biology, and University of Phoenix for her Masters in Business Administration. Priya works as a project manager in software field during the day and lives in the world of her characters during the nights and weekends. She had found the love for reading and writing early this year, when she stayed home with her year old and needed something to occupy those 'downtime' hours.
She loves playing tennis on a good summer day and chess during the cold winters, but reading and writing has become a year round hobby.
She lives in Boise with her husband, son and a Yorkie. Dracian Legacy is her debut novel.

Priya can be found all over the web~

Twitter: https://twitter.com/pkanaparti
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorpriyakanaparti
Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6526707.Priya_Kanaparti
Goodreads Dracian Legacy: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16007175-dracian-legacy
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/103131167289314491102
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/pkanaparti/



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Cover Love....Release

Release by M.R. Merrick

Now just take a minute to look at it. Go ahead I'll wait.

I love the detail that went into this cover. We have a funnel cloud, cascading water, a whirlpool, lightning and ancient ruins. This cover packs a punch and I don't know about you, but I am very excited to see what it all means. Here is the synopsis...

After uniting the shifters and calling in reinforcements, Chase has to face his toughest challenge yet: learning to control his emotions. But as tensions rise and his powers grow, controlling his emotions becomes the least of his problems.

Terrorized by a multi-shifter who is hell-bent on turning him, Chase questions just how far he’s willing to go to stop his father.  Meanwhile, Tiki’s virtuous nature has placed him in the middle of Vincent’s past, leaving Chase to oppose a senate of vampires and defend a demon he hates.

Trying to balance his friends, his enemies, and his inner demons, Chase is left searching for answers about the Mark, his destiny, and where he can find the next soul piece. Stopping Riley is his top priority, but as more obstacles arise, he finds himself doubting all the decisions he’s made - especially regarding Rayna.

One thing is for certain: Chase has finally realized that he doesn’t know anything. The light doesn’t always quell the darkness, the monsters don’t always stay in the shadows, and the past doesn’t always stay in the past - sometimes, the demons inside are the hardest to fight.

Release is part three in the Protecter series and we can get our hands on it December 10th, 2012.

For more on M.R. Merrick and the Protecter series you can visit his website and Goodreads

Book one is Exiled and book two is Shift. 

Cover Love...Uncontrollable

As a fan of S.R. Johannes I'm uber excited to a part of the cover reveal of Uncontrollable. It is book two in "The Nature of Grace" series. The sequel to Untraceable. Isn't it pretty?

We can look forward to adding it to our shelves September 24th, 2012. Add to Goodreads

summary~

As Grace recovers from tragedy, her science class is chosen by Agent Sweeney at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to help with research on the new "Red Wolf Reintroduction Program".

While she’s excited about helping with the conservation of the endangered wolves, Grace knows this means being outdoors in the worst winter recorded, in a place she no longer feels comfortable. It also means working closely with Wyn (her ex) and his annoying girlfriend (Skyler), a girl whose idea of getting close to nature is growing silk plants.

After a couple wolves show up dead, Grace almost quits. When a fellow project team member goes missing, Grace continues the assignment under a renewed suspicion that someone might be sabotaging the conservation program. She quietly begins to hunt for clues. 

Little does she know, she is being hunted too.

And possibly by more than one person.

PRAISES FOR UNTRACEABLE

"Grace is a spunky, independent, nature girl who doesn't need a boy to save her. With wilderness survival, a juicy love triangle, and more twists and turns than a roller coaster, this fast-paced novel had me holding my breath until the very last page—and still begging for more!" -Kimberly Derting, author of the The Body Finder series (Harper Teen) and The Pledge series (S&S)

"This thrilling story is a dramatic entanglement of mystery, deception and teen romance. The action flows like a brisk mountain stream interspersed with rapids, holding suspense to last page." 

- Kirkus Reviews

"Johannes has done a marvelous job of creating a suspense-filled mystery with surprises that keep you guessing all the way to the end. Untraceable is a thoroughly engrossing and riveting page-turner."

-IndieReader