Cover Reveal: Release by M.R. Merrick

I am very excited to participate in my very first cover reveal! Being a fan of Medieval Times, castles and the like the cover screams "READ ME!" add in vampires, demons, and adventure?! Well sign me up!

Title: Release (Protector #3)
Author: M. R. Merrick
Publisher: Indie Published
Release Date: December 10th, 2012

Release (Protector #3):

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.

The Protector Series:

About the Author:

M.R. Merrick is a Canadian writer and author of  The Protector Series, a Young Adult mash-up between Urban and Epic Fantasy. Having never traveled, he adventures to far off lands through his imagination and in between cups of coffee. As a music lover and proud breakfast enthusiast, he’s usually found at the computer between a pair of headphones and in front of a large bowl of cereal.







Links:

M.R. Merrick | Goodreads | Exiled (Protector #1) | Shift (Protector #2)

Today In the World of Grey Wolves

Here is what is happening today in the world of Grey Wolves:

Community:

Beyond The Veil is finally available on both Barnes & Noble and Amazon!

This morning BTV hit sales rank 61 on B&N - I suspect that Amazon will be seeing an increase this morning as well!

After you've finished reading - please come to Quinn's forums and discuss. 

The discussion is being held under The Grey Wolves Series - Beyond The Veil - Discussion Area to insure that others on the forum do not receive spoilers before they have finished reading.

Wednesday's What I've Read - Ceaseless by Abbi Glines

Review of Ceaseless by Abbi Glines

Ceaseless (Existence Trilogy #3) by Abbi Glines (Goodreads Author)

Can he make her fall in love with him… again?

When Pagan Moore proved worthy of Death’s devotion, he was given the gift of getting to keep her.

But Dank was never promised that Pagan would keep him.

When a soul is created, so is its mate. In every lifetime those souls find each other. They complete the other’s destiny. It’s time for Pagan’s soul to choose if she truly wants an eternity at Death’s side or if she wants the mate created just for her.

Dank didn’t think he had to worry about her choice. He knew where her heart belonged. Until he realized that every kiss, every touch, every moment of their time together would be washed from her memories. He would have to win her heart all over again and prove to her soul that he was where she belonged. (Description from Goodreads.com)

My Thoughts

5 out of 5 paws

Spoiler Alert - if you have not read Existence or Predestined you will read information found in those books here.

Ceaseless is the third and final book in the Existence Trilogy; it is, IMHO, the best of the series!

What further tests and trials can be expected for Pagan and Dank? I mean she has already gotten through the trials of having the rules broken by Death (that choose to die or Dank goes to Hell event), been put in a mental ward, lost one of her best friends and claimed by a Voo Doo Prince as his eternal mate. You would think that this would be enough to prove that Pagan and Dank belong together. So, you would think that this is the story about beginning their happy ever after, right? Well, Fate is tapping you on the shoulder and saying "Where would the fun be in that?"

Now we have to find out if Pagan's love for Dank is greater than the ties that bind us to our soulmate. Since Dank isn't made for a mate and he doesn't have a soul, can he do it is the big question.

I was thrilled to see one of my favorite characters back, Gee! I absolutely love her, and love the part she plays in this twisted story.

There is a cool bonus link at the end of the book that takes you to some of Dank's music - which made me do the happy dance!!!

Also if you haven't read Leif (2.5 of the Existence trilogy), read it before you get to book 3. It is a few events from Leif's point of view.

This series has put Abbi on my list of favorite authors - a list that is growing these days with all of the talent that is out there. I would also like to point out that Abbi managed to make Death hot, for which I thank her! <3

Today In the World of Grey Wolves

Here is what is happening today in the world of Grey Wolves:

Community:

BTV ARC Review, Interview with QL & a Giveaway!!!   Book Dream Land

Also - BTV has been released, it is available on Barnes & Noble's site and hopefully soon it will be available on Amazon as well. The last update I received was that QL has uploaded the file a second time in hopes to resolve the issue Amazon is having.

Thank you to all of the GWS fans (@shelleycarman, @kaytiebugg & @camelott77) who contacted Amazon to ask them "WTH?!?" Much love and appreciation for doing that!

Also want to say Congratulations to QL for all the new things going on in her world this week!! 

Book 1 - Prince of Wolves - Chapter 20

Chapter 20

My Thoughts:

Warning – I’m very passionate about this chapter LOL

Ah Lucas, I’m assuming that he is mentally unstable – because he is one of the reasons I just want to pull my hair out and say “WTH?!” If someone is not your true mate, the darkness cannot be taken away just because you want it to be. So why, why, why does he feel he has the right to challenge Fane? I realize that at this point he hasn’t seen Jacque’s marks, but come on! He has obviously seen her, obviously been close enough to her to figure out that she is Canis Lupis – and there are no signs of her being his mate! What other reason could he have for challenging Fane than he is mentally unstable?

Alas I am getting ahead of myself, at this moment Fane is just calling him – but I know what this is leading up to and it pisses me off! :breathe:

Don’t you love it when Lucas tells Fane that he is not sanctioned to be there?! Lucas hasn’t gone through the proper channels to register his pack, but he is giving protocol lessons to the Prince of the Romanian Wolves?? Puhlease!

When Fane beautifully puts Lucas in his place, Lucas has the audacity to ask Fane if he can prove she is his mate…well duh and then the SOB challenges Fane for bonding rites.

Ok – so now I’m at the proper moment for my rant…WHY?! Let’s say, just for the sake of argument, that Lucas had of won – well first that would have been a really crappy story line on QL’s part, but put that aside, would he really want to attempt to bond (don’t even think of mating) with someone who was not his true mate after watching him kill her mate?! Jacque would have killed him. Even if he did go through with the ceremony, they wouldn’t have bonded – it isn’t how it works, he wouldn’t have erased the knowledge from her very being that he was not meant to touch her. She would kill him, and until the moment she did she would hate him. Did he think he would get past that?

Ok – I’m going to move past this now, but it will come up again in Blood Rites, so just giving you fair warning now.

I love how Fane thinks about how is Alpha will be livid but Jacquelyn will be even angrier – now just how angry is it once you moved beyond livid?  Would this be the Bill Cosby definition of a conniption? Well this is what I imagined – Jacque having a conniption – have that picture in your mind and think about it for just a moment.  Doesn’t that sound like a fun time?

Fane, to his credit, immediately starts planning on getting Jacque and her mother out of the country.

Lucas explains that he will have guards outside of Jacque’s house to make sure Fane doesn’t do anything stupid, like get her out of the country. He will have them there in an hour, so Fane has that time to speak with Jacque for the last time until the challenge. 

During this discussion, Jacque has figured out that something is going on and she is beginning to freak just a little. Fane has assured her that he will come explain things, and she gives him 5 minutes. That had to be a very long 5 minutes for her…knowing that something had his emotions going haywire, but not knowing exactly what. She also has no idea that someone can challenge him, to the death, for her – imagine if she did realize this danger was out there just how freaked out she would have been at this moment?!

Ok So Fane has ended the call, made it to Jacque’s and told her to gather everyone while he grabs Sorin. Sorin is already on his way to meet him and asks Fane if he has called his father. This is one in tuned body guard. He was aware there was an Alpha calling worthy event taking place. Immediately you like this guy (if you didn’t already).

The little gesture that Jacque makes of getting up and moving to be with Fane as he is about to explain what is happening was very heartwarming. It is as if instinctively she knows how to be an Alpha’s mate.

I love that Fane puts a plan in place to get Jacque and Lilly out of the country if he should lose. I also love that Jacque will not acknowledge that this is even a possibility. Her declaration is sweet and one you feel to your very core.

I also love that Jacque can maintain some sense of herself through all of this. As Fane shows her how he feels about her through his kiss, in front of everyone she is shocked by the public display. I love this about all of the girls, regardless of the situation, they are who they are.

Favorite Lines:

“There is no record of your pack. Therefore, I do not have to seek permission to be here. As for the female you are referring to, unless you can prove that she is indeed your mate, you have no claim on her.” (IN YOUR FACE)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You can’t third something you dork, you can just say ‘aye’ to show you are in agreement.” Sally informed her.

Things We Learned:

• Lucas Steele is the Alpha of the Coldspring Pack, and he has claimed Jacque
• Lucas challenges Fane for Bonding Ceremony rites
• Fane will call his Alpha to come – requiring 2 days
• Lucas will have his men guard Jacque during the 2 days waiting for Vasile to arrive
• Lucas will be visiting Jacque’s house to introduce himself and explain his position
• Fane’s wolf is beyond angry
• Sorin is intuitive
• Jacque trusts Fane
• The challenge is a fight to the death
• Fane is putting a contingency plan in place in case he loses
• Fane has to obey the rules of the challenge or forfeit and lose her
• Jacque solidifies that she is not a fan of PDA

Wednesday's What I've Read - Significance by Shelly Crane

Review of Significance by Shelly Crane

I'm wanting to expand some so that I have more to write about than just my beloved GWS. Wednesdays, being the middle of the week, seem like a good time to do so.

So I'm going to try and review some of the books I've been reading

Significance (Significance #1)
by Shelly Crane (Goodreads Author)

Maggie is a seventeen year old girl who's had a bad year. She was smart and on track but then her mom left, her dad is depressed, she's graduating, barely, and her boyfriend of almost three years dumped her for a college football scholarship. Lately she thinks life is all about hanging on by a thread and is gripping tight with everything she has.

Then she meets Caleb. She saves his life and instantly knows there's something about him that's intriguing but she is supposed to be on her way to a date with his cousin. But things change when they touch, sparks ignite. Literally.

They imprint with each other and she sees their future life together flash before her eyes. She learns that not only is she his soul mate, and can feel his heartbeat in her chest, but there is a whole other world of people with gifts and abilities that she never knew existed. She herself is experiencing supernatural changes unlike anything she's ever felt before and she needs the touch of his skin to survive.

Now, not only has her dad come out of his depression to be a father again, and a pain as well, but Caleb's enemies know he's imprinted and are after Maggie to stop them both from gaining their abilities and take her from him.

Can Caleb save her or will they be forced to live without each other after just finding one another? (description from Goodreads)

My thoughts:

5 out of 5 Paws

This is the first book by Shelly Crane I have read, but it will not be the last. I absolutely love the characters! There are people you fall in love with, and people you love to hate. Caleb isn't human, but he isn't something we've heard of before. Shelly has created an entire race of beings that are unique to our world, yet similar enough to some of our traditional fantasies that they seem like a distant memory of a fairy tell heard long ago.

Imagine walking around minding your own business, only to have your entire life turned upside down and inside out in a matter of seconds! Everything you know about the world around you is now different; as your reality melts away and a new one is created around you.

That is when the story starts and it just builds from there. When you read this, be sure to have book 2, Accordance ready to go, because you will want to move directly into it.

Today In the World of Grey Wolves

Here is what is happening today in the world of Grey Wolves:

Community:

Check out this book review on Blood Rites!

Sated Faery

Book 1 - Prince of Wolves - Chapter 19

Chapter 19

My Thoughts:

Jacque is very naïve and shy when it comes to physical intimacy, oddly enough, as we learn in later books, not as much as Sally is, but naïve and shy none the less.  Fane is inexperienced, but he isn’t uniformed, or prudish about it. I’m sure explaining the blood rites to Jacque was difficult for Fane, because he was already in a hard situation. In the span of a very short time he has had to explain to her that he isn’t just a foreign exchange student who is interested in dating her, but that he is a werewolf and she is his true mate. Not to mention that there is a pack interested in her and she needs to bond with him soon.

Think of how well Jacque handled all of this – yeah there were a few outbursts, but she is a 17 year-old girl who just had her world turned upside down and inside out.

However, I would like to point out that Jacque’s embarrassment of PDA and discussing sex goes a whole other direction by book 3 (we are still waiting on Sally LOL). I would also like to point out that we learn later that not only do mates bite each other now and then other reasons, including pleasure, but we learn that Jacque likes it. Which is what makes me smile when here Jacque says to Fane:

“You’re right, there is no way that mouth of yours is coming near my neck in front of anyone, not my mom and especially not your parents.”

Because throughout the books there are times they get very hot and heavy in front of several people, including his parents.

When a male bites his mate during the blood rites, he leaves a mark that indicates she is bonded. Unlike the marks that match her mate’s marks, this mark is meant to be seen. The bite also marks the female by giving her the scent of her mates. Leaving no question as to who she belongs to – it also marks the males with the females scent.

The connection between Fane and Jacque is getting stronger. Jacque knows that she wants no one else, but she is scared because this is all so new and unknown to her. It must have been unnerving to feel such intense sadness just at the thought of Fane leaving to go home for the night. To hear Fane tell her that he loves her after one date, shortly after he “demonstrated” where he would be biting her. Her heart must have been going nuts!

When Jacque sends Fane an image of him holding her, her neck tilted in submission to let him know she would submit to the blood rites ceremony – Jacque pins it on her subconscious, but I think it was her inner wolf.

Favorite Lines:

“I’m not even going to ask about the vampire comment. I’m just gonna let that one slide by without so much as a wave or glance…”

Things We Learned:

• Jacque gets the intimate details of the Blood Rites (private – they both bite each other on the neck)
• Fane is sad because of the changes he is bringing to Jacque’s life
• Touching is a very powerful thing for wolves, providing comfort and reassurance
• When a wolf’s mate needs something like comfort, it calls out to their mate
• Males bite females during BR to leave a visual symbol that the female is mated
• When the mates perform the BR they give each other their scent, so to other Canis Lupis she smells like him and he smells like her (the scents will intensify greatly after the pair have mated)
• Jacque is nervous about meeting Fane’s parents
• Jacque sucks at science
• Trent never reacted to Jacque – physically. At least not as well as Fane does
• Fane is jealous of the affection Jacque felt for Trent
• Wolves think in absolutes
• Fane respects Lilly, but will do what he has to in order to protect Jacque
• Fane loves Jacque

ARC Review - Beyond The Veil

Beyond the Veil (The Grey Wolves #5)

by Quinn Loftis (Goodreads Author)

Though the Serbian pack has been brought to heel thanks to the downfall of their Alpha, the war is far from over.

Desdemona, a witch of unfathomable power, has escaped the wolves’ wrath, but she will not go quietly into the night. She takes refuge in a place where even the smallest sliver of light does not dare to enter. Though she had to flee, she has not given up on the treasure she wishes to acquire. Her depravity knows no bounds; she's even willing to search for the one who can assist her in opening a Veil that has not been opened in millennia – with good reason: the danger is incalculable.

Meanwhile, there are major changes rippling through the Romanian Grey wolves. Decebel has become Alpha to the Serbian pack in an effort to begin to unite the Canis lupis species. Their numbers are dwindling in the wake of the shortage of true mates and lack of offspring. The wolves are beginning to lose faith and darkness seems to be crashing in on them from all sides. But the winds of change are blowing, changes that will alter the future of not only the Canis lupis, but of another ancient race as well.

Amidst all of this, Sally is continuing to come to terms with her relationship with the playful, charming, flirty, unbelievably handsome bartender – who happens to be a member of the Romanian pack.

If all that weren’t enough, the Fates have decided to pay a little visit to Jen. It’s time to collect. She cheated the Fates of a life, her life. Now they want what they are due. The problem? It’s more than Jen is willing to pay.

Yes, the war is indeed far from over. Bargains will be struck, declarations will be made, sacrifices will be given, love will be tested, and trust will be questioned as evil makes its stand against them all. (description from Goodreads)

My thoughts:

5 out of 5 Paws

This is my first ARC, and I cannot begin to tell you how thrilled and honored I was when QL asked me to be on her ARC list. I received the book the night I got back from London; I've been in a bit of a brain fog trying to get focused enough to really dig in and enjoy the book.  Well, yesterday the fog lifted and I was able to read the book and I did not want to put it down.

Let me begin this review by telling you that Quinn Loftis is a wicked, wicked woman! I say that with all the love and frustration a true fan gets when they find that the book they are so enjoying ends far too soon and without wrapping up all the loose ends neatly.

Quinn's writing gets better with each book, just when you think she couldn't be more creative, or you think you have it figured out, she throws something out of left field.

There are tons of answers provided, things I know I have been asking since I read PoV, but I'm not going to tell you what those are (yes I can be wicked too). However, there is so much going on in this book that you know midway through there is absolutely no way you are going to get a resolution by the end of the book.

So on September 30, grab your hot chocolate and prepare to meet up with your favorite pack mates for some excitement, adventure, romance, and maybe a chance for a mission? I know I am looking forward to the discussion that will be taking place around October 1 - 2!!