Review: The Power by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Power by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher- Spencer Hill Press
Released- Feb 23rd 2016
Purchase- Amazon / B & N

With any great change, there is always strife, and the Covenant University has become the frontline between pure-bloods who want the Breed Order reinstated and the half-bloods who want the right to control their own destinies.Fate has other plans.
The violence is escalating and war between the races seems inevitable, and it couldn’t come at a worse time. Hyperion may be out of commission, but Josie and Seth know they have only earned a reprieve. Seth must get Josie fully prepared, which means controlling her newfound abilities, and they need to find the other demigods before the Titans do.But the gods are sensing a greater threat.
Only one thing is more dangerous than a bunch of starved Titans, and that’s an out-of-control Apollyon. The aether in Josie is drawing Seth in deeper, and when lust mixes with love and gives way to power, he knows being close to her is not only dangerous to her, but to everyone around them, but letting her go requires a level of selflessness that just isn’t Seth’s style.
The paths taken in the past are becoming the roads of the future.
Just as chaos breaks out, familiar faces from the past return, complicating the already strained bond between Josie and Seth, and when the danger from the Titans erupts with devastating consequences, the dark allure of power calls to Seth again, but this time Josie might not be able to pull him back.
And when the struggle between power and love becomes the deadliest battleground, there may be no salvation.

My Thoughts:
There is something to say after waiting a year to read this book and go into it like no time has actually pasted. JLA has that gift that she gives to her readers. Where her stories are so filled with exceptional storytelling that your right back in that world pinned on the lives of these characters and never ever wanting it to end. The Power, is another sensational installment in the Titan series that is pitched perfect with punched action, witty characters, laugh out loud moments and dripping with delicious sizzling romance to swoon over.

There is so much going on this time around, but everything is pretty laid out for us to process so it was great to sink into this book and simply enjoy. The Titans are still on the loose and after the demigods, the pure-blood hatred over the half-bloods are at full force and then we have Seth training Josie at the University and helping her control her new found elemental demigod powers. I have to say, I'm loving the storylines here, it's filled with a lot of action and the mythology of it all is amazingly pieced together and thought out and yes, the romance is indeed, hot as hell. But it's all of these characters; Seth, Josie, Deacon, Luke and crew that keep reigning it in. There is also a lot of unexpected character depth that I didn't think was possible, or at least I didn't expect it when it came to Seth. So good!

I'm seeing a different side to Seth that makes me want to hug him. I still want to smack him mind you. A lot. But he's showing us a side to himself that I would never have thought twice when reading the Covenant books. He doesn't actually believe he deserves happiness or even to be loved. Dame. I knew he felt guilty for Alex's fate and sure he's never had the best childhood, but Seth has always radiated confidence and power without him using his actual powers. I never expected to see such vulnerability, desperation and this fear in him that quite frankly looks dame good on him. Seth is struggling. He's struggles with the need and want of aether pulling him in, he struggles with his relationship with Josie, what he wants and doesn't want for her and he struggles with his past and his doomed future. But the question is, has Seth really changed? Yes, in ways, but no, I don't think he's changed at all. He wants to be a better person but I think he want to be a better version of himself for Josie and only Josie. It's true, when he's with Josie he's a whole different man. Someone warm and protective and kind (most of the time) but with everyone else....yeah, he's still his old infuriating jackass Apollyon-self. But even though some serious shi...stuff went down in this installment, I still believe that Seth has the power in himself to change for the good no matter what he's done.

I liked Josie in the first book but I think I was still a little unsure about how I felt about her, but she really steps up in this book in the best way possible. I enjoyed her training sessions and even though she isn't exactly mastering elements at first, I loved her determination and spunk. She reminds me of Alex in a lot of ways and one of them is her unwillingness to really hurt another soul, even an evil soul. But eventually Josie gets her confidence and proves that she can more then handle her own. But what I loved the most about her is her undeniably and unshakable faith and belief in Seth. No matter what's he's said or did, Josie is his number one fan. She loves him and that love may be the only thing that can save Seth. I do think she's slightly naive about Seth in certain aspects. I remember what Seth is capable of and so do these other characters, so I would have to agree that Josie, while I admire her belief in the Apollyon, I think needs a reality check when it comes to her Sethie. But, she has hope and yeah, here's to her proving them and me wrong.
As for the other characters, I had a total blast with Luke and Deacon and a couple of other familiar faces that returned from a certain underworld that I went cray-cray fangirling for. Seriously didn't expect to see them and I freaken screamed for joy when I did. Loved every second with them! I was sad to see a great characters die by the hands of a Titan though, but at the same time I was relieved it wasn't someone else. That sounds bad, but if say, Apollo, Luke, Deacon or the obvious four died, I don't think I'd take that very well. Like, at all.

So, the worst thing about this book is waiting another excruciating year to get my greedy reading ready hands on the next installment, cause guys, after that ending?
Dame. Dame. Dammmme! Another epic win for JLA books. She keeps giving us timeless entertainment and kickass characters that are completely freaken amazing. Fans will be begging for more! Bravo!

Find the author:
Goodreads / Website                                  5 Snowflakes

Waiting On Wednesday - Never Never by Brianna Shrum

Welcome to Waiting On Wednesday here at

 Winterhaven Books!

This is a feature created by Jill at Breaking The Spine where we share some books we are anxiously awaiting.

This week's pick...

Never Never 

by Brianna Shrum

Expected publication: September 22nd 2015

by Spencer Hill Press

James Hook is a child who only wants to grow up. When he meets Peter Pan, a boy who loves to pretend and is intent on never becoming a man, James decides he could try being a child—at least briefly. James joins Peter Pan on a holiday to Neverland, a place of adventure created by children’s dreams, but Neverland is not for the faint of heart. Soon James finds himself longing for home, determined that he is destined to be a man. But Peter refuses to take him back, leaving James trapped in a world just beyond the one he loves. A world where children are to never grow up.

But grow up he does.
And thus begins the epic adventure of a Lost Boy and a Pirate.
This story isn’t about Peter Pan; it’s about the boy whose life he stole. It’s about a man in a world that hates men. It’s about the feared Captain James Hook and his passionate quest to kill the Pan, an impossible feat in a magical land where everyone loves Peter Pan. Except one.

Wow. This looks like an awesome retelling that turns Peter Pan on it's head!! What is Pan isn't all he's cracked up to be and Hook is merely trapped. I can't wait to get my hands on this. I am so grateful to Ashley @ The Quiet Concert for trading me her copy!! WOOO-HOOO! 

Review: The Return by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Return by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publisher- Spencer Hill Press

Released- Feb 16th 2015

Purchase- Amazon / B & N

The Fates are cackling their bony asses off…It’s been a year since Seth made the deal with the gods that pledged his life to them. And so far, the jobs they’ve given him have been violent and bloody–which is kind of all right with him. But now Apollo has something else in mind for Seth. He’s got to play protector while keeping his hands and fingers off, and for someone who really has a problem with restraint, this new assignment might be the most challenging yet.Josie has no idea what this crazy hot guy’s deal might be, but it’s a good bet that his arrival means the new life she started after leaving home is about to be thrown into an Olympian-sized blender turned up to puree. Either Josie is going insane or a nightmare straight out of ancient myth is gunning for her.But it might be the unlikely attraction simmering between her and the golden-eyed, secret-keeping Seth that may prove to be the most dangerous thing of all.Because history has once again been flipped to repeat.Book 1 in the new adult paranormal TITAN series, spin-off to the best selling COVENANT series.

*This is a New Adult title and is intended for more mature readers*

My Thoughts:

Seth is back baby! And he's bigger, better and hotter then evah!!

I can not tell you how much I've missed being in this world again. The Covenant series is one of my ultimate escapes and I adored being in this universe again and meeting new characters and seeing old favorite faces. I admit, apart of me was a little nervous getting into this book since in the past I've tended not to favor spinoff books that don't feature the main protagonists and then there's the simple fact that I wasn't always a huge Seth fan. But given that he did redeem himself quite thoroughly by the end of the Covenant books, I was excited to see where JLA would take his story next. I don't know why I bothered being nervous when it comes to this women's books. JLA has once again delivered another kickass story that was action punched, hilarious and deliciously New Adult!

There is something that goes beyond great writing when it comes to one of JLA books. She never ceases to amazing me with her sharp writing skills, perfectly pitched voices and stunning world building. I've always adored the way JLA can bring mythology to life and I loved learning more about the Titans and the demigods who are destined to stop them from their vengeful plans. Also, the way it's written you could easily dive in this book and understand what's going on without having to read the Covenant books, but my advise to new readers is to start with the first series to get the full story on Seth. You'll get that front row feels to all the crazy that went down and see why Seth is the way he is.

I may not have been a huge Seth fan before, but dame if I am now! Seth has always been a more slap-able and less huggable kinda guy for me and while he is still very much slap-worthy, I can't deny this is the Seth that was always meant to be and what I've always been waiting for. At first I didn't really see a change, he's still dangerous and destructive with that cocky smile firmly plastered on his face, but we see a lot of regret and sadness throughout the story, especially when remembering Alex and I love the way he took care of Josie. So protective, wonderful and caring.

The minute I met Josie I knew we were going to get along. She's already such an amazing character that has a lot of spunk and fire. Between the Seth-swoon, learning about her true destiny and realizing her mother wasn't crazy after all, Josie took the news surprisingly well. I loved the revelations concerning her character. Who her father is, what she really is and how it hits a little to close to home. I'm already imagining and hoping to see some interactions in later books.

But if I'm being honest, it's the Sethie & Joe moments that really owned this book for me. Right from the start these two already have some seriously wicked chemistry. I love their banter, sarcasm and wit and the sexy times was indeed sexy as hell. They're good together, need each other and I'm glad that Josie doesn't have to do this alone and Seth finally found his salvation. It was also wonderful to see some old characters again, Luke and Deacon are still made of awesome and if it's possible I think I love Apollo even more. Dude still has the worst timing evah!  JLA warned us that we wouldn't see Alex and Aiden in this book but they were mentioned and remembered and in a way, they felt like they were still here. Lets hope they make an appearance soon.

Bottom line, This book was freaken awesome!! I loved it so much!! The Return is a welcoming new addition to this amazing universe. It's fresh, fun and fantastic. I'm already begging for more, more, more!!

Find the author:

Goodreads / Website                                 5 Snowflakes

Review: Sentinel by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Sentinel by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher- Spencer Hill Press
Released- Nov 2nd 2013
Purchase- Amazon / B & N

It's a beautiful day for a war.As the mortal world slowly slips into chaos of the godly kind, Alexandria Andros must overcome a stunning defeat that has left her shaken and in doubt of their ability to end this war once and for all.And with all the obstacles between Alex and her happily-ever-after with the swoonworthy Aiden St. Delphi, they must now trust a deadly foe as they travel deep into the Underworld to release one of the most dangerous gods of all time.In the stunning, action-packed climax to the bestselling Covenant series, Alex must face a terrible choice: the destruction of everything and everyone she holds dear… or the end of herself.

My Thoughts:
It’s done. My precious beloved Covenant series is over and I’m so sad to see one of my all time favorites escapes end.  I know that books aren't real. I know that these characters aren't real, but when I’m reading, in those hours when I’m lost in the words and pictures in my head, they become so real that it breaks my heart that next year there won’t be another book to look forward to in this world. I know that it has to end sometime but this will be so freaken missed that it hurts my heart just thinking about it.

Jennifer L. Armentrout is a such a phenomenal writer. The way she delivered this ending was so powerful and perfect and I feel speechless and in awe. Everyone who knows me understands the love and admiration I have for this author, she simple amazes me and I’ll forever be a screaming fan-girl wanting and waiting for the next JLA fix.

Sentinel is the fifth and final book in the Covenant series but dame, what a freaken ending. This was so action packed and pulse pounding that I felt like I couldn't read fast enough.

All those questions that needed answers, all the worry and doubts that we had for some of these characters? Everything got done, owned and then some. I can’t even begin to express my shock for all the remarkable twist and turns that spun this novel. Since this is the last book, I don’t want to spoil anything for those who haven’t read this yet. Trust me, I wish I could scream it from the rooftops, but all I’m gonna say is that this was beyond anything I could have possibly hoped for. It left me feeling happy, impressed and content with how everything played out for all of our favorite characters.

Alex, Aiden, Seth, Luke, Deacon, Olivia, Marcus, Caleb and Apollo.  Please stand up and take a bow. Thank-you for giving me years of pure unforgettable entertainment.

Alex has come a long way from the first book. She’s a beautiful and fierce creature and is warm and caring and totally kickass. I've never been prouder.

Aiden will forever own a piece of my heart. He’s the rock that held this series together. His unwavering love and support for Alex took my breath away and made my heart ache with pure joy. The love between these two is precious, proving that love doesn't  have to end.

Seth has always provoked conflicting feeling for me during this entire series, but in the end, I believe we finally got to see the very best of him. Not many characters are redeemed in my eyes, but Seth proved himself in this book and made all the hope I had for him worth while.

As for the rest of the characters, I loved every single one of them. They brought so much entertainment and happiness into this world. They will all be equally missed.

Nothing I say can ever bring this book the justice it deserves and I'm a little chocked up having to let this go, but I know when I look back to all of the books in this series, I will always remember it being some of my favorite reading experiences ever. I laughed out loud, I cried, I swooned, I melted, I cringed, I hated, I screamed, I loved, I jumped up and down like a crazy person and then I read the book, all over again.

So with that said, I want to congrats and thank Jennifer for creating such an epic world that was imaginative, creative and brilliant and letting us explore and play and feel with all these remarkable amazing characters. They will forever be cherished and treasured. I couldn't love a series more. Bravo!!

Find the author:
Goodreads / Website                                  5 snowflakes

Review & Giveaway: Extracted by Sherry D. Ficklin & Tyler H. Jolley

Extracted 

by Sherry D. Ficklin & Tyler H. Jolley
Publisher- Spencer Hill Press
Released- Nov 12th 2013
Pre-Order- Amazon / B& N

Welcome to the war.The Tesla Institute is a premier academy that trains young time travelers called Rifters. Created by Nicola Tesla, the Institute seeks special individuals who can help preserve the time stream against those who try to alter it.The Hollows is a rogue band of Rifters who tear through time with little care for the consequences. Armed with their own group of lost teens--their only desire to find Tesla and put an end to his corruption of the time stream.Torn between them are Lex and Ember, two Rifters with no memories of their life before joining the time war.When Lex’s girlfriend dies during a mission, the only way he can save her is to retrieve the Dox, a piece of tech which allows Rifters to re-enter their own timeline without collapsing the time stream. But the Dox is hidden deep within the Telsa Institute, which means Lex must go into the enemy camp. It’s there he meets Ember, and the past that was stolen from them both comes flooding back.Now armed with the truth of who they are, Lex and Ember must work together to save the future before the battle for time destroys them both…again.

My Thoughts:

Once in awhile a book will come along and completely blow me away. I don't even know where to begin. I've read my share of sci-fi books before, but this is the stuff that makes my reading escape an entertaining and solid experience. Ficklin and Jolley are bright new voices in science fiction genre with their explosive novel,  Extracted!

First off, I have to applaud  the writing here. Ficklin and Jolley gotz skills. You would never know this was co-written by two different authors. Chapter after chapter the flow and pace of the story is smooth, controlled and engaging. The voices were pitch perfect and the tone of the book was filled with wild action and stunning intrigue. There is so much depth in this story and so different then any other time travel book out there. The concept is really very cool. I love the idea of time travel, but this one is mind-bending on a whole new level of awesome. I love the idea of the time stream not only being a window into history, but being some kind of tangible force making it almost physically alive. I also love the idea of combining two characters, Ember and Lex who are rivalry time travelers and connecting them to an important historical family, but with no memory of who they were or what they meant to each other. That conflict made the story even more exciting then it already was, keeping me invested and enthralled from the first page till it's gripping conclusion.

There is a lot happening here plot wise, so I'm not going to try to explain it since I think readers will want to discover all the mind boggling twist and turns this book has to offer. It's not hard to follow, mind you, but near the end of the book it starts to go from complicated to crazy-complicated and I had to really concentrate on every word to make sure that I wasn't missing anything. But once everything is said and done, it left me feeling satisfied and in awe. The ending is also really decent without any cliffhangers to drive us insane, but there is still enough questions that makes me want the second book that much sooner. 

I really love all of these characters. All of them are tremendously kick-ass in their own ways that make them easy to connect with and enjoy.

Lex is a natural leader. He's a confident in control character who is loyal and brave. I love that he doesn't even hesitate when it come to finding a way to get Stein back no matter the consequences. Stein is my kind of girl. She's a feisty little thing that's strong and smart. She doesn't need a man to protect her, she's fierce enough that she can hold her own but still excepts help when she needs it. Ember is a lot more powerful and strong then she believes, but she doubts herself and her abilities. Somewhere in her (erased) memories she knows she's failed someone and she can't shake the feeling that it'll happen again. It was really great to see her confidence grow throughout the story. Ethan is a lot like Lex, but he has a playful coolness and a punk arrogance about him that makes you want to hug instantly. Nobel is also another character that I really enjoyed. He's an awesome friend and a genius when it comes to the time tech gadgets that were pretty wicked stuff.

The romance in this book is very light but the moments we did get were warm and sweet. It may not have been the main focus of the book but it still wraps around the intentions and actions that lead these characters to go to the extreme, which was pretty romantic when you think about it.

All in all, I had a lot of fun with this book and mighty impressed. The concept is captivating, engaging and fascinating. The story-line is pulse pounding amazing, the writing is effortless and effective and these characters will climb into your heart and never let go. I can't wait to see where Ficklin & Jolley will take this next. This is one time travel experience that will have you begging for more. Brilliantly done!

Find the author: Sherry D. Ficklin- Goodreads / Website 
Find the author: Tyler H. Jolley- Goodreads / Website

                                                                    4.5 Snowflakes 

We are giving away our Arc copy of Extracted to one lucky winner. Just fill out the form below.

US/Canada Only. Good luck!

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Giveaway & Review: Whisper Falls by Elizabeth Langston

Whisper Falls by Elizabeth Langston

Publisher- Spencer Hill Press

Released- Nov 19th 2013

Pre-Order- Amazon / B & N

While training for a mountain bike race, high-school senior Mark Lewis spots a mysterious girl dressed in odd clothing, standing behind a waterfall in the woods near his North Carolina home. When she comments on the strange machine that he rides, he suspects something isn’t right. When Susanna claims to be an indentured servant from 1796, he wonders if she's crazy. Yet he feels compelled to find out more.Mark enters a ‘long-distance’ relationship with Susanna through the shimmering--and temperamental--barrier of Whisper Falls. Curious about her world, Mark combs through history to learn about the brutal life she's trapped in. But knowledge can be dangerous. Soon he must choose between the risk of changing history or dooming the girl he can't stop thinking about to a lifetime of misery.

My Thoughts:

Whisper Falls, is a brutal and heartbreaking story about one girl life in an unjust colonial time and the boy who cared enough to want to save her from a cruel fate.

Mark Lewis is training for an intense Cross Country mountain bike challenge, when he stumbles off his bike by Whisper Falls. There, he see's an odd girl wearing strange colonial times clothing in the cave behind the falls. But when she spoke to him about his "odd machine", Mark suspects something is off. The strange girl is named, Susanna Marsh and she claims that the year is 1796...two hundred years before Marks time.

Whisper Falls is a very impressive debut novel by Elizabeth Langston. It has about everything I like in my escape. Time travel, fantasy, romance and even though I don't usually read historical, I found this one to be exceptionally interesting. 

This is a very strong and compassionate tale that reflects on a cruel time period. Langston writing is very bold and brave, with emotional and touching skills, she brilliantly and painfully captures what life was like in colonial times. Every time we visited 1796, I felt like I was transported through the pages. I felt so nervous to see what would happen next to Susanna or the other people in her life.

To think of that time period in history hurts my heart. The life of an indentured servant or any servant for that matter, is hard, lonely, bitter and utterly cruel. To think, you must obey your master and be mindful of everything you do. To be barefooted (except for winter), to clean, cook, sleep on hay and endure savage punishments when ever the master see's fit. To be hungry, lost and always frightened and not being able to change your fate. 

I think that's why I took to this book so quickly. The way Susanna's story is expressed really does weigh heavily in your mind and heart and like Mark, you feel like you would do anything and everything to change this fate.

I also found the history aspects fascinating as Mark would find new information to uncover about Worthville, North Carolina and the consequences his actions has caused in Susanna's time period. There is a lot of gray areas -realistically speaking- about walking into each other's time periods and the unanswered question of why Whisper Falls acts as a sort of portal to the past. I think this could have been ironed out a little more, but once the story is said and done, it really doesn't seem to matter. Call it destiny or magic or an act of mercy, Mark and Susanna were meant to be brought together.

The moments between Susanna and Mark was very sweet, tender and warm. Susanna is from a different century, so a lot of the conversations between the two was very amusing, specially since Mark doesn't hold back today's lingo's and slang.

Susanna is a sweet and humble girl who has a beautiful heart. She's brave and caring and tougher then one would expect.

Mark is good people. He's like your everyday teenager with family issues and girl problems, but he's dedicated to his sport and always tries to be a good person. Something about Susanna touched him and without any real reason, his whole world changed and all he wanted to do was find a way to see her, be with her and free her. This is the kind of love story that I want to hug. It's not about lust or want, it's simply about caring about a person so deeply that you would do anything, even walk through centuries, to save her. And it was beautifully done.  

All in all, I quite enjoyed this book. It was hard to read at times since certain scenes were a bit disturbing to get through, but the writing is absorbing and outstanding, the story is inspiring, magical and moving and Susanna and Mark will steal your heart and make you believe in a fate like no other. A terrific debut! I can't wait to see what Langston will come with next!

Find the author:

Goodreads / Website                               4 Snowflakes

We are giving away our Arc of Whisper Falls to one lucky winner. Just fill out the form below. US/Canada only. Good luck!

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ARC Giveaway! Perfection by J.L. Spelbring

Today Winterhaven Books, thanks to Spencer Hill Press, is giving away a paperback ARC copy of Perfection by J.L. Spelbring, to one lucky follower.
To enter just fill out the Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway is US/Canada only. Good luck!

Perfection by J.L. Spelbring

Publisher-Spencer Hill Press
Released-July 16th 2013
Purchase- Amazon / B & N

The personification of Aryan purity, Ellyssa's spent her whole life under her creator's strict training and guidance; her purpose is to eradicate inferior beings. She was genetically engineered to be the perfect soldier: strong, intelligent, unemotional, and telepathic.
Only Ellyssa isn't perfect.
Ellyssa feels emotions--a fact she's spent her life concealing. Until she encounters the epitome of inferiority: a dark-haired boy raised among renegades hiding since the Nazis won the war a century ago. He speaks to her telepathically, pushing thoughts into her mind, despite the impossibility of such a substandard person having psychic abilities.
But he does.
His unspoken words and visions of a place she's never visited make Ellyssa question her creator. Confused and afraid her secret will be discovered, Ellyssa runs away, embarking on a journey where she discovers there is more to her than perfection

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Review & Giveaway: Breaking Glass by Lisa Amowitz

Breaking Glass by Lisa Amowitz
Publisher- Spencer Hill Press
Released- July 9th 2013
Purchase-Amazon / B & N

On the night seventeen-year-old Jeremy Glass winds up in the hospital with a broken leg and a blood alcohol level well above the legal limit, his secret crush, Susannah, disappears. When he begins receiving messages from her from beyond the grave, he's not sure whether they're real or if he's losing his grip on reality. Clue by clue, he gets closer to unraveling the mystery, and soon realizes he must discover the truth or become the next victim himself.

My Thoughts:
Jeremy Glass has had feelings for Susannah Durban since they were just kids but could never do anything about it since she was dating his best friend, Ryan. On the night Jeremy ended up at the hospital with a broken leg and high levels of alcohol streaming through his veins, is the same night Susannah goes missing. Weeks go by and no ones has heard from her, no one expect Jeremy. Is Susannah really contacting him from the other side? Or is Jeremy, like his mother, finally losing his mind. Through a chain of clues, Jeremy finally understands what he must do and uncover long ago secrets of the past  if he is to ever find out what really happened to Susannah, but the closer he gets to the truth, the more danger he's in, and risks becoming the next victim. 

Breaking Glass is a gripping and haunting story that are filled with so many surprises, twists and turns. The way Lisa Amowitz  spins this tale is incredibly clever, strong and very unpredictable. I never saw half of what happened coming. I enjoyed the way she did the Then and Now method. It gave us great insight into Jeremy's memories and gave us a wider look into his past and clues about his present situation. Amowitz really gave her readers this time to understand Jeremy on a deeper level and to  feel the magnitude of the tragedy that he has unfolded.

I never thought I'd say this, but I'm really starting to love whodunit mysteries. The rush I get at the end always makes my reading experience more fulfilling and Amowitz's book is quite the mystery. The entire story-line feels like it's teetering on a live wire and the slightest touch will set it off, so I'm not to sure what I could say about the plot without revealing something that your not suppose to know till you've read the book. So, with that said, all I'm gonna say about this is, pay attention, let these characters take you into their story and keep in mind that not everything is at it seems. I had a lot of fun trying to figure out what Susannah was trying to get at with her messages but at the same time it was rather creepy to see what she was going to do next. By the time I finished this book I was really shocked to discover how deep all the secrets ran and how many lives it touched and ruined. 

This has a very interesting cast of characters and as much as I liked them I questioned a lot of who I could really trust.

~Jeremy is a very lost, confused and emotionally raw character and your heart will pound for and with him throughout this entire novel. Given his mothers own alcoholic issues, Jeremy is on the same road to self-destruction. It was hard to focus on the blur of his reality, of what was real and what was hallucinations, but it made going through this journey with him more tangible somehow. Like he had to fight his own inner demons to solve what Susannah wanted him to discover the entire time. My heart truly goes out to him.

~Marisa was a nice addition to the story as well. I think it gave Jeremy that ray of hope. She represents a new beginning, a fresh start and sanity after all the insane.

~As for Susannah, we only know her through Jeremy's memories and the clues she leaves, but she is still very much a present force in this novel. She's a very intense and shattered character. I thought the way she stringed along all the pieces to the puzzle was quite cunning but cruel. Ryan is a character I though I figured all out form the beginning, but he proves that in this book, nothing is what it seems. 

All in all, I really enjoyed Breaking Glass. The writing is absorbing and fantastic, the characters will have your head spinning and your heart breaking and the story-line has an incredible blend of mystery, thriller with a touch of supernatural to give it that extra edge with a spark of romance that will make you smile. A really great read,  I'm looking forward to reading more from this amazing talent.

Find the author:
Goodreads / Website

                                                                   4 Snowflakes 

We are giving away our ARC copy of Breaking Glass!  Fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter.

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Cover Reveal: Milayna by Michelle Pickett

Today we are joining Spencer Hill Press in revealing the cover for Milayna by Michelle Pickett!  Take a look!

Milayna by Michelle Pickett

Release Date: March 11, 2014

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Everyone needs to be bad once in a while. But for seventeen-year-old Milayna, being good isn't a choice--it's a job requirement. And it's a job she can't quit. Born a demi-angel, Milayna steps in when danger and demons threaten the people around her, but being half-angel isn't all halos and happiness. Azazel, Hell's Angel, wants Milayna's power, and he'll do anything to get it. But he only has until her eighteenth birthday, after which she becomes untouchable.

With the help of other demi-angels, Milayna thwarts the trouble Azazel sends her way. Fighting with her is Chay, a demi-angel who's sinfully gorgeous, and Milayna falls hard. But is Chay her true love... or her nemesis in disguise?

Because when she learns of a traitor in her group, there's no one she can trust... not even the one she loves

Cover Reveal & Scavenger Hunt: The Kelpie by T.J. Wooldridge

Today WinterHaven Books is excited to participate in the cover real for The Kelpie by T.J. Wooldridge hosted by Spencer Hill Press.  We also have a scavenger hunt to share with you that you won't want to miss!

The Kelpie by T.J. Wooldrigde
Release Date: December 2013
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

I can't honestly say I was joking when I suggested to my best friend, Joe – Prince Joseph, eldest son of England's Crown Prince – that we could probably find something the police had missed in regards to the missing children.  After all, eleven and twelve year olds like us did that all the time on the telly and in the books we read…

When Heather and Joe decide to be Sleuthy MacSleuths on the property abutting the castle Heather's family lives in, neither expect to discover the real reason children were going missing:

A Kelpie.  A child-eating faerie horse had moved into the loch "next door."

The two barely escape with their lives, but they aren't safe. Caught in a storm of faerie power, Heather, Joe, and Heather's whole family are pulled into a maze of talking cats, ghostly secrets, and powerful magick.

With another child taken, time is running out to make things right.

 Now for the fun scavenger hunt!  Look below for instructions and how you can join in the fun!

To go along with sharing the simply gorgeous cover, author T.J. Wooldridge has enlisted several of her friends who have helped her in the journey of writing this novel to put together a special treat for you!

Each day of the week, search for individual components of the cover--with a bonus piece of art on Wednesday--at these blogs.  Collect the right words per the instructions, and unscramble the line of poetry to be entered to win one of three prizes!

Prize 1

A handmade fused glass kelpie necklace from Stained Glass Creations and Beyond

Prize 2

A handmade necklace from Art by Stefanie of Vic Caswell's rendering of the kelpie from the cover!

Prize 3

An 11x16 poster of the cover of the Kelpie signed by T. J. Wooldridge and artist Vic Caswell

5x7 cards of all the cover aspects featured in the Scavenger Hunt

So, how do you take part in the Scavenger Hunt?  Here are the details:

Monday 3/25

Visit the Faery Castle at Kate Kaynak's blog: http://thedisgruntledbear.blogspot.com/

Scavenger Hunt Goal: first sentence, 10th word

Tuesday 3/26

Hop over to Scotland at Stained Glass Creations and Beyond: http://stainedglasscreationsandbeyond.wordpress.com/
 Scavenger Hunt Goal: first sentence, 12th word

Check out an artist rendition of Heather MacArthur's family tartan with Aimee Weinstein at tokyowriter.com

Scavenger Hunt Goal: first sentence, first word

Wednesday 3/27

Bonus Art!

Meet Heather's dad, Michael MacArthur, at Valerie Hadden's blog: http://valeriehadden.wordpress.com/

Scavenger Hunt Goal: first sentence, 12th word

Thursday 3/28

Cast your eyes upon the kelpie, itself, with Suzane Reynolds-Alpert at http://suzannereynoldsalpert.blogspot.com/

Scavenger Hunt Goal: 2nd sentence, 2nd word

And feel the snark of Monkey, the fey cat with Justine Graykin at http://justinegraykin.wordpress.com/

Scavenger Hunt Goal: first sentence, 3rd word

Friday 3/29:

Meet Heather's best friend, Prince Joseph at, who's hanging out with author Darby Karchut at http://darbykarchut.blogspot.com/
 Scavenger Hunt Goal: first sentence, 17th word

And finally meet Heather, herself, who's hanging out with one of Trisha's editors, Laura Ownbey at http://redpenreviews.blogspot.com/

 Scavenger Hunt Goal: first sentence, first word

Collect all the words and put them together in a poetic sentence, and enter them into the rafflecopter giveaway for a chance to win one of the three prizes

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Review and Giveaway: Finn Finnegan by Darby Karchut

Finn Finnegan by Darby Karchut 

Publisher- Spencer Hill Press

Release-March 1st 2013

Pre-Order-Amazon / B & N

Finn (not bleedin' Finnegan) MacCullen is eager to begin his apprenticeship. He soon discovers the ups and downs of hunting monsters in a suburban neighborhood under the demanding tutelage of the Knight, Gideon Lir. Both master and apprentice are descendents of the Tuatha De Danaan, a magical race of warriors from Ireland. Scattered long ago to the four corners of the world, the De Danaan wage a two thousand year old clandestine battle with their ancient enemy, the Amandán, a breed of goblin-like creatures.Now with the beasts concentrating their attacks on Finn, he and his master must race to locate the lost Spear of the Tuatha De Danaan, the only weapon that can destroy the Amandán, all the while hiding his true identity from his new friends, Rafe and Savannah, twins whose South African roots may hold a key to Finn's survival. Armed with a bronze dagger, some ancient Celtic magic, and a hair-trigger temper, Finn is about to show his enemies the true meaning of "fighting Irish."

My Thoughts:
Thirteen year old Finnegan (Finn) MacCullen  is a decedent to the Tuatha De Danaan, an ancient warrior race of mythical beings from Ireland who battle their sworn enemy the Amandan, Goblin like creatures who can disguise themselves among humans. It is an old Celtic war to the death for the solid price of returning to their home land, Ireland.

Finn begins his apprenticeship with the Knight, Gideon Lir and as he trains his young student they begin to wonder why they are attracted to so many Goblin attacks and soon believe that the beasts are looking for the lost Spear of the Tuatha De Danaan. It's a race to see who can find this fierce spear first, for it's the only weapon that can truly destroy the Amandan. 

Finn never felt like he belonged before, but soon he will come to see what fate really has in store for the young lad after all.

Going into this book I never realized it was a middle-grade YA story, but it actually worked out better since I'm always looking for a new adventure for my son. I think he's going to enjoy Finn Finnegan and his Irish temper just as much as I did!

I had a lot of fun with this book. It has so many captivating qualities that made this standout for me. For one thing, I adored the writing!! I could tell that not only did Darby Karchut have fun writing this world, but she put in a lot of heart and energy into making it imaginative and creative. The rich, deep celtic tongue took a little bit to get use to, but once I got the voices straight in my mind, it added to the experience in ways that I never expected.

The world itself is set in today's time, but there were times I was so caught up with the lore around these characters that I would forget.

I've read many different kinds of paranormal and supernatural beings in my reads, but I don't recall reading to much about Goblins, which made this even more exciting and intriguing. Darby did a fantastic job with this lore, really making it her own as well as coming up with a shinny new take on the Fey.

Add song, magic and a wicked temper to arm you in battle and you've got one helluva great read here.

I really loved all the characters. When we first meet Finn, he's an eager kid who stumbles with pure excitement. He wants to prove something to himself and others around him. He's not just some halfer, he's a true warrior and he wants to succeed. But his temper, stubbornness and constant disobedience seems to always get him in more trouble then it's worth. Still, Finn has a good heart, he's loyal, brave and is the kind of characters that readers will go the distance with.  

Gideon is my favorite character. He's firm but fair, hard but gentle. This has such a lovely master/apprentice, teacher/student/ father/son friendship that I can't help admire. The way they look out for each other is extremely touching. I also love the easy wit, banter, sarcasm and the fondest between them.

I also liked what Rafe and Savannah brought into the story. It was interesting to see how the friendship plays out with Finn's secret.

There was some touches on racism in this one and how it affected Finn and his friends, but it was nicely dealt with. The only part that I didn't care for were the overly curious neighbors and the measures in which they took in the very end. The added conflict felt unnecessary and annoying to the story line, especially when the reader already establishes Gideon to be good people. 

All in all, I had a lot of fun with this book. The writing is outstanding and funny. The plot is exciting and unique, the mythology is fascinating, the ending is unpredictable and has a great great twist and finally these characters are so well written and easy to connect with from the very first page, on. 

I'm definitely looking forward to the sequel. I can't wait to see where Darby Karchut takes Finn and Gideon next! 

An Excellent adventure fit for all ages!

Find the author:
Goodreads / Website

                                                                   4 Snowflakes

We are giving away our ARC copy of Finn Finnegan to one lucky follower!  Fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter.  Good luck!

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