**Release Party & Giveaway ~ Hunting in Bruges ~ E.J. Stevens**

Happy Release Day, E.J. Stevens!

Hunting in Bruges, the debut novel in the 

Hunters' Guild urban fantasy series, releases today. 

To celebrate, we are having a book and swag giveaway!

Keep reading for a chance to win a signed copy of 

Hunting in Bruges, a t-shirt, and more!

Hunting in Bruges (Hunters' Guild #1) by E.J. Stevens

Release Date:  November 11, 2014

Genre:  Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

Pre-order on Amazon

Add to Goodreads

Synopsis
The only thing worse than being a Hunter in the fae-ridden city of Harborsmouth, is hunting vamps in Bruges.

Being shipped off to Belgium sucks. The medieval city of Bruges is quaint, but the local Hunters' Guild is understaffed, the canals are
choked with dead bodies, and there's no shortage of supernatural predators as likely suspects.

On second thought, maybe Bruges isn't so bad after all.

With a desire to prove herself, protect the innocent, and advance within the ranks of the Hunters' Guild, Jenna Lehane hits the cobbled streets of Bruges with blades at the ready. Someone, or something, is murdering tourists and dumping their bodies in the city's scenic canals. With the help of a mysterious stranger, Jenna begins to piece together clues that are dotted throughout the city like blood spatter.

Determined to stop the killings, Jenna delves into a bloody local history that only raises more questions--but some secrets are best left buried. Jenna must put her combat training to the test as she struggles to unearth the truth about an ancient enemy.

Hunting in Bruges is the first novel in the Hunters' Guild urban fantasy series set in the world of Ivy Granger.

E.J.'s Hunting in Bruges Playlist

Hey everyone!  I am so excited about the upcoming release of HUNTING IN BRUGES, the first novel in the Hunters' Guild urban fantasy series.  This book is filled with quirky characters,
bloodthirsty paranormal predators, and high octane fight scenes. So, just a warning, some of this music is pretty intense.

Hunting in Bruges Playlist

The Razor's Edge by Digital Daggers

Trophy by Bat for Lashes

Heartbeats by The Knife

Vanished by Crystal Castles

Heads Will Roll by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

When Anger Shows by The Editors

Walking with a Ghost by Tegan and Sara

How by The Neighborhood

Bones by Ms Mr

The Dreaming Moon by The Magnetic Fields

Arsenal by Kidneythieves

Leaving Tonight by The Birthday Massacre

What Else Is There? by Royksopp

Scorch the Ground by Seabound

Approaching Light Speed by Wolfsheim

Dead Stars by Covenant

The Bomb by Neuroticfish

Let Me Be Your Armor by Assemblage 23

Bullet by Covenant

Ghost by VNV Nation

Wreath of Barbs by Wumpscut

About the Hunters' Guild Series

The Hunters' Guild series is an urban fantasy series written by E.J. Stevens and set in the world of Ivy Granger. The series is told in the first-person point-of-view of Jenna Lehane, a Hunter with a troubled past, a proficiency with weapons, and an intolerance for monsters who target the innocent.

About the Author

E.J. Stevens is the author of the Spirit Guide young adult series, the bestselling Ivy Granger urban fantasy series, and the Hunters' Guild urban fantasy series.  When E.J. isn't at her writing desk she enjoys dancing along seaside cliffs, singing in graveyards, and sleeping in faerie circles.  E.J. currently resides in a magical forest on the coast of Maine where she finds daily inspiration for her writing.

Hunting in Bruges Release Party Giveaway

We are giving away a HUGE Hunting in Bruges prize pack. One winner will receive a Hunting in Bruges *signed* Trade Paperback, t-shirt, sticker, *signed* postcard, and poster! This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL. Giveaway winner will be randomly drawn by Rafflecopter. Giveaway runs from November 11-November 25.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**Teaser Tuesday ~ #44**

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

***

Blood Curse (The Branded Trilogy #2) 

by Kat Flannery

Adult Fantasy, Paranormal

Synopsis

"Upon mine death for the blood ye have shed, Every daughter born to ye shall die before it draws breath, to which ye will know pain and worse, I cast unto ye mine blood curse." ~ Vadoma

Four years after the Blood Curse, Pril of the Peddlers vows to protect her child against the evil men who hunt her. With her clan unaware of the branded girl among them, Pril has to keep the identity of her daughter a secret. When her child is kidnapped, she is forced to ask Merchant runner, Kade Walker, for his help.

Kade Walker needs to find the gypsy child. Blackmailed and pushed beyond his own moral code, he is determined to do whatever it takes. When he comes across the Peddler clan, he is sure the girl is there, however all hope is lost when the gypsies capture him. Time is running out - until Pril makes him an offer he cannot refuse.

Amidst greed, lust, revenge and love, Pril will need to trust Kade. But as the evil nears and doubt creeps in, will she discover that the enemy has been standing next to her all along?

***Teaser***

"That was not very ladylike."
"Ladylike? Ladylike you say?" She pulled her thin arm back and punched him in the jaw.

**A Month of Giving Thanks #3**

Berls @Fantasy is More Fun and Michelle @Because Reading are hosting A Month of Giving Thanks. I thought it was a great idea as Thanksgiving is actually my favorite holiday and I'm grateful for so many things. I may not manage a post every day but I wanted to kick off the month right.

***

I'm grateful for having friends who read - and who will travel to exotic locales, such as *ahem* Cincinnati, Ohio, to attend a indie book convention. This particular friend I'm referring to is Denise. She agreed to go to Queen City Indie Con with me so we could meet some fabulous authors...we met Samantha Young! And Aleatha Romig! And Tara Sivec! And LP Dover! And so many other fabulous and talented authors. I had to giggle every time an author asked her what she read, her reply was "whatever she tells me to read." 

**Reviews ~ Beast Parts 3 & 4 ~ Ella James**

Beast Parts Three & Four

Release Dates: September 7, 2014/September 22, 2014

Genre: Erotic Romance, Fairytale Retelling

Source: I purchased ecopies from Amazon

Rating: 4.5 Bookworms (Part 3)/ 4 Bookworms (Part 4)

Goodreads Part 3 ~ Goodreads Part 4

Serial Synopsis

FROM HOLLYWOOD ROYALTY...

At twenty-one years old, third-generation movie star Cal Hammond was on top of the world. He had more money than God and more women than any man could need. But when a night of debauchery ends in tragedy, he forfeits a life of luxury for a ten-year prison sentence at La Rosa, California’s most violent prison.

TO BRUTAL BEAST.

Eight years later, a ruthless, cunning man runs La Rosa from the inside. He is known simply as Beast. All the wardens fear him. All the gangs obey him. He speaks to no one but his inner council. What he says is law.

ONLY SHE CAN SAVE HIM.

Annabelle Mitchell’s stepfather is the warden at La Rosa. He deals as dirty as his trustees, and after years of smooth relations with Beast and the gangs he runs, Holt lands on the powerful prisoner’s hit list. That very afternoon, Annabelle pays a surprise visit to La Rosa, hoping to use her new counseling license at a place she thinks she could make a difference. When Beast sees her, he releases the warden and grabs the nameless girl who played a starring role in the worst night of his life. The price for the warden’s error is not death. It’s his precious Belle.

**If you missed my reviews of Beast Parts 1 & 2, you can read them here. My reviews for Parts 3 & 4 are as spoiler-free as possible.**

Annabelle continues to impress me with her mettle. She is not meek. And her bond with Beast...

"I think sometimes you can know someone even though you haven't been around them very much. Certain souls, when they encounter one another, throw out anchors, and their ropes get tangled and the anchors get hooked all together in a messy barb. And it holds. It doesn't make sense, but it just holds."

it isn't going to allow her to stand by and let whatever will happen to him happen. Maybe, along with her feelings for him, Annabelle fights for him because it's something she can control? There are so many things in her life currently that she can't control, from her mother's illness or its impact on her little sister. With Beast, she can try.

Beast - it hurt to see him so defenseless, vulnerable, and beaten. That his captors would prey upon his nightmares the way they did was disgusting. They played upon his guilt and remorse making him more sick with guilt than he already was. At this point, just as with the night of the accident that began his nightmare, he needs his angel.

The new players introduced add another layer to the complexity of this story. I'm intrigued to see how the game will play out.

This last installment really had my adrenaline pumping. It was exciting as well as steamy. And although the ending was a tad predictable, the journey to that ending wasn't...at all.

Part Four finds Beast and Annabelle on the run. Beast is creating a plan to get them out of this predicament - one which he feels will protect Annabelle. That's important because he believes he's failed at that so far. Annabelle, although worried about her little sister and her mom, wants to protect Beast as well.

And so we follow along as they do what they can to avoid the police, try to put Beast's plan into action, and feed their passion for one another...a lot!

It really was an action-packed ending and I quite enjoyed it. I do wish we could have had a little more development with Annabelle's family - it would have give the story more emotional depth. But besides that and the ending, this was a great conclusion to this spin on my favorite fairytale.

**Bought, Borrowed, & Bagged ~ #41**

Bought, Borrowed, & Bagged is a weekly meme, hosted by TalkSupe, where I share with you the books I have bought, borrowed, or bagged (gifted or won) plus a recap of the previous week's reviews, upcoming reviews, and any other bookishness I want to share. :)

Here's what was added to my ereader and/or my physical library this week:

BOUGHT

I think I need to rename this part of my post 
The Blame Game *grins*

I picked up Evolution: Angel because Jennifer @Donnie Darko Girl recommended it after reading my The Executioner review. :) I one-clicked The Morbid and Sultry Tales of Genevieve Clare after reading Braine's review (@Talk Supe). Lord Rakehell's Love and Lord Wastrel were added to my kindle (only 99 cents each) after reading Lexxie's reviews (@Unconventional Bookviews). And I went over to Goodreads to add Losing Logan to my tbr, and then to Amazon to add it there as well, after reading Berls @Fantasy is More Fun's review. It was meant to be that I own it because I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was a *FREEBIE* on Amazon. :)  

BORROWED


I borrowed Sweet from the library after finished True. I really liked True and am anxious to continue the series.

BAGGED

I won Come Undone from Madelynne Ellis at Shari Slade's One Kiss with a Rock Star Release Party. I received an eARC of Enthrall Him for a blog tour. 

Last Week's Reviews

Eight Days a Week by Amber L. Johnson
The Heart of Christmas by Brenda Novak
The Executioner at the Institute for Contaminated Children by Margaret E. Alexander
Consequences by Aleatha Romig
Home by JA Huss

Upcoming Reviews

Heat by Kailin Gow
Beast Parts 3 & 4 by Ella James
Fairy Tale in New York by Nicky Wells
What's Left of Us by Amanda Maxlyn
Beyond Shame by Kit Rocha

**My TBR List ~ And the Winner Is...**

My To-Be Read List is a new meme hosted by Michelle @Because Reading. Michelle has been doing this for awhile and recently decided to extend the fun for us all. I thought it was a fabulous idea because it gets y'all in the game and it helps me knock off some of the many, many books on my TBR list. You're more than welcome to join in the fun! I've included the basic rules below but you can click on the graphic above to hop over to Michelle's site where you can find all the details. 

Here's how it works:
On the first Saturday of each month, I will make a post with three books from my TBR List (these books can be already on your ereader or bookshelf OR books you might want to purchase) and add your link on the linky that will be provided on Michelle's post. Y'ALL will help me choose which book I will read next. The following Saturday, I will announce which book won. Then the last Saturday of the month, I'll post my review.

Fun, right?!?

***

The votes have been tabulated...and the winner is: Forbidden

For those of you who didn't vote for Forbidden, rest assured I will be reading Playing Patience and The Law of Attraction...as soon as I can fit them in. ;)  Don't forget to enter the giveaway below. 


Roseline Enescue didn't ask to become an Immortal, to have all the guests at her wedding slaughtered, or be forced into marriage with a man whose lust for blood would one day ignite the vampire legend. Willing to risk everything for a chance at a normal life, Roseline escapes to America. Terrified her husband Vladimir will find her, Roseline enrolls as a senior in Chicago's elite Rosewood Prep schoo. Mingling with humans is the last place he would look for her. But her transition into the human world isn't easy. Mortal men flock after her while cutthroat girls plot her demise. Yet Roseline remains relatively unfazed by the petty hysteria until she falters into the arms of Gabriel Marston, reluctant MVP quarterback, unwilling ladies man, and sensitive artist in hiding. Troubled by the bond that pulls her towards the mortal boy, Roseline tries to ignor him, but Gabriel is persistent. As their lives entwine, Roseline begins to realize that Gabriel is much more than he appears. His ability to toss a football the entire length of the field and grind concrete into dust pales in comparison to the glowing blue cross tattoo that mysteriously appears on his forearms. Despite the forbidden bond between them, Roseline can't help wondering what Gabriel is: He's not human. He's not immortal. So just what is he?

The ereader cover is actually a Nook cover but my Kindle Paperwhite fits in it just fine. So, it fits a Nook Glowlight, Kindle Paperwhite, and probably a Kindle. Just a few names on it: Abbi Glines, CD Reiss, CJ Roberts, Tara Sivec, Jasinda Wilder, Colleen Hoover, Mia Sheridan, those authors above, of course, and more. :) I have various swag I'm throwing in as well, some signed, some not.

This giveaway will run until the 29th, when my review of whichever book wins is posted. 

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**New Release Review ~ The Heart of Christmas ~ Brenda Novak**

The Heart of Christmas
Whiskey Creek #7
Release Date: October 28, 2014
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review
Rating: 4 Bookworms
Goodreads

Synopsis
Just call her Christmas Eve...

Eve Harmon has always enjoyed Christmas, but this year it reminds her of everything she doesn't have. Almost all of her friends are married now, and that's what Eve wants, too. Love. A husband and kids of her own. But the B and B she manages, and even Whiskey Creek, the small Gold Country town where she was born and raised, suddenly seem...confining.

Eve's worried that her future will simply be a reflection of her past. There's no one in the area she could even imagine as a husband - until a handsome stranger comes to town. Eve's definitely attracted to him, and he seems to have the same reaction to her. But this darkly mysterious past could ruin Eve's happily ever after - just when it finally seems within reach. And just when she's counting on the best Christmas of her life!

It's always such a pleasure to return to Whiskey Creek. I've become so fond of all the characters, they're like friends. I was  happy that Eve got her story and curious to see how it would  turn out.

Eve Harmon is just a lovely young woman She's one of those women you know you'd shy away from because of her looks but would be drawn to nonetheless because of her genuine affability. She's sweet, loyal, and would do anything to help someone in need. She just happens to be turning 35 and, not being married yet despite most of her friends being so, is making her take stock of her life.

Brent Taylor/Rex, happens upon Eve on her birthday, when she's feeling a bit sorry for herself. They spend the night together, which is all Brent could promise. But he's finding it hard to leave Eve, even thought it's really in her best interest that he do exactly that. Brent isn't what he seems and his past puts Eve, and everyone in Whiskey Creek, in possible danger.

I really liked the element of suspense that Brent/Rex brought to the story. I liked watching as Eve helped him heal from his past. I also enjoyed the mystery of "Little Mary" - the story Ted decided to work on, with Eve's help. I hope that element continues. Although I'm still a little unhappy with Cheyenne about certain decisions she made, it was nice to see her and Dylan so happy. Despite a certain thing that happened between Eve and Brent, which I thought was a bit trite, I enjoyed how their story evolved and where it ended up. And of course, I adored seeing the group rally around Eve when she needed them most.

The Heart of Christmas was a satisfying return to Whiskey Creek...kind of like cuddling up under a favorite blanket. It's warm, comfortable, familiar, and makes you feel good. This group of friends continue to endear themselves and I'll be eager to return again.

**Release Blitz & Giveaway ~ Home ~ JA Huss**

Home has arrived, y'all. The Social Media Series is now complete. I do hope that if you haven't began it yet, you'll give this serial a try. 

***

Home (Social Media #6)
By @JAHuss
Publication Date: November 5, 2014
Novella (150 pages)
Adult Contemporary Romance

Description:
I just want my Grace back. I want the girl I found sending me dirty tweets on Saint Thomas. I want the girl who reluctantly gave in to my charms and let me boss her around. I want the girl who sent me to my knees and made me imagine what her fairy tale would look like with me in it. I just want to move on. I want to plan the future and think about kids and preschools and college funds. I want everything she ever wanted, and I want us to make it happen together. But the media needs more from us. More dirt. More pain. More payment for past transgressions.You can’t change the past. And even though Grace is ready to put her demons to bed, mine are just starting to get restless. Because when you’ve silenced as many enemies as I have, you know that secret won’t stay buried forever.

Goodreads ~ Amazon

“Why am I not affected by this, Vaughn? Why doesn’t it bother me that three days ago I shot a man? I killed a man. I think that makes me sick. I’m a sick, sick person.”

“That doesn’t make you sick, Grace. That makes you strong.” He kisses me again and then stands up and walks out of the plunge pool. My body gets heavy and I immediately want nothing more than to get back in the water and hide underneath its soothing surface. Vaughn walks us over to the edge of the river, grabbing a towel from the little cabana as he goes. He tosses it down on the concrete edge and then places me on top of it. My leg hurts a little now and my clothes are sticking to me. “Lift up your arms.”

I do as I’m told and he peels off the man­sized white t­shirt. My nipples are erect and hard, my breasts firm and taut. I look up at my husband and he’s shirtless too. I watch his fingers as he unbuttons his jeans, kicks off his shoes, and then drops his pants. It takes both hands to get the heavy wet denim to cooperate and when he’s finally standing there naked, he puts his arms out and says, “This is me.”

And then he reaches down for my hand, like he wants to pull me to my feet. I hesitate because of the pain it will take to stand up. But then I decide to trust him and place my hand in his. He pulls me up and I manage to keep the weight off my bad leg and just balance on the good one. Vaughn holds me steady for a second, and then he takes my hand and places it on his thickly muscled bicep. “Hold tight,” he says.

I do.

And then his fingers unbutton my shorts and he tugs on them for several seconds, rocking the sopping wet fabric over my hips until they plop to the ground. He steps back a little and I let go of his arm. 

I put my arms out like he did and say, “This is me.”

I’m pulled back into an embrace and I notice everything about this moment. The sun is warm. The wind floats past my wet body, making it cool. There’s a bird singing a sweet song on a branch above our heads. 

His heart beats fast. Mine beats faster.

His lips touch my ear so softly I shudder.


“This,” he says, “is us.”

Purchase Links for Follow (Social Media #1)

Amazon ~ B&N ~ iBooks ~ Kobo

Purchase Links for Like (Social Media #2)

Amazon ~ B&N ~ iBooks ~ Kobo

Purchase Links for Block (Social Media #3)

Amazon ~ B&N ~ iBooks ~ Kobo

Purchase Links for Status (Social Media #4)
Amazon ~ B&N ~ iBooks ~ Kobo

Purchase Links for Profile (Social Media #5)
Amazon ~ B&N ~ iBooks ~ Kobo

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JA Huss is the USA Today best-selling author of the Rook and Ronin series, the epic science fiction I Am Just Junco series, and hundreds of kid-friendly science books in subjects such as biology, physics, anatomy and physiology, astronomy, and forensics. She has an undergraduate degree in equine science and a master's degree in forensic toxicology. She has never taken a creative writing class and she hopes she never will.

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