New Novella

Winter Angel
by Mia Hoddell

Genre: YA Romance
Release date: 25th June 2014
Length: Novella

Blurb:
She was on holiday. He was tricked into returning.
Neither of them wanted to be there, but neither could avoid it.

Amy wants to be back under the sun in Portugal. However, when her suggestion is overruled in favour of a skiing holiday, even she can't turn it down. What she couldn't have predicted is that the holiday could make her break the one, and only, rule she has: not to get into a serious relationship again.

When Amy first sees Luke, she knows something is wrong. He's struggling to cope with everything and her need to help people makes him the perfect distraction from the cold. He hasn't been to the Alps in five years and he swore to never ski again. But as his defences are broken by Amy's persistence, the winter paradise begins to reawaken his desires.

However, with constant flashbacks triggering his anxiety, he's torn, battling conflicting emotions as he becomes increasingly captivated by Amy. She has a rule though. She didn't go on holiday to fall for someone and the last thing she needs is to ignore her own advice. Whether or not she can move past her insecurities will depend on whether Luke can face his biggest fear.

Winter Angel is a standalone, young adult romance novella, but is the second book in the Seasons of Change series.

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You can also download Summer Demons: the first, bestselling, standalone novella in the Seasons of Change series for 99c / 77p.

Excerpt

White. Gazing out of the small, circular window, it was the only colour he could see surrounding him. The bursts of light—which had broken through the heavy, grey clouds—were reflected back as the ground grew closer with each passing second. Not too long ago he had been blissfully unaware of the location his sister was dragging him to for a holiday. A bubble of excitement had surrounded him throughout the early morning as he got up, and stayed with him through travelling to the airport and catching the flight. However, it had burst as soon as the icy tips of the mountains appeared and the plane began its descent. Until that moment, he had hoped his guesses had been wrong.

His sister had carefully planned the trip, making sure to hide all clues as to where they were heading, and as she glanced across at him, it seemed as if she had been successful. Luke’s knuckles were white on the arm rests. He had claimed both of them, gripping them so hard they looked like they would snap under the force, or at least be moulded to the shape of his hands when he removed them.

Ellie watched as he took in a shaky breath, but she heard no exhale.

“Luke?”

The silence that filled the space around them was icier than the Alps they had just flown over. Her brother’s gaze remained fixed on the window, watching as the ground, and his fate, drew ever closer. Deep, ragged breaths steamed up the window, which was almost touching his nose. Desperately, he tried to control the tremors shaking his body, and his pounding heart, from the fear that washed over him in waves.

“Luke, please, say something.” Worry had crept into Ellie’s tone. She had thought her idea would do him good, that forcing him to face everything would turn him back into his old self. Ellie missed the brother she had grown up with and wanted him back. However, seeing his eyes wide with fear, his jaw clenched in anger, and his arms tense with both, suddenly she wasn’t so sure about her plan.

“You promised, Ellie. You swore you wouldn’t pressure me, and I trusted you with that. You know how I feel about this.” His voice was sharp and curt as he spoke through clenched teeth, trying to keep a hold on his emotions.

The urge to flee surged within him. He wanted to go home, to get off the plane and board the next flight straight back to England, but he couldn’t. Not only was the plane still minutes from landing—trapping him in the confines of economy class, which felt even smaller as realisation forced him to understand Ellie’s plans—but he also refused to waste more money on the pointless trip Ellie had conned him into taking. If he was going to use the money he had earned from before everything changed, it would be on his own terms.

“You’ll enjoy it when you’re there,” Ellie stated, brushing off his comments like they meant nothing to her.

“That’s easy for you to say. You don’t have to live with, or through, what I have.” Luke was trying hard to control his voice. Had they been in private, he would have already been shouting. The cramped environment meant that Ellie was getting off lightly, but he swore that when they reached their chalet, he would not hold back. She had no right to interfere with his life.

“Never tell me I didn’t live through it, Luke. I was there when it happened, in the hospital, and when you got home. I was there through it all. It may not have been me, but it wasn’t like it had no effect on my life,” Ellie hissed. It was the only way she could convey her anger without disturbing other passengers.

“Why though, Ellie? Why is this such a big deal to you?” Luke’s eyes were full of sorrow as he turned to face his sister for the first time, begging to understand her reasoning for putting him through something she knew would hurt him.

About the Author

Mia Hoddell lives in the UK with her family and two cats. She spends most of her time writing or reading, loves anything paranormal and has an overactive imagination that keeps her up until the early hours of the morning.

With three poems published before the age of sixteen, Mia moved on to short stories but finding she had too much to tell with too little space, Mia progressed to novels. She started her first series (The Wanderer Trilogy) at the age of fourteen and since then hasn’t stopped writing. Elemental Killers is her second series and with an ever growing list of ideas, Mia is trying to keep up with the speed at which her imagination generates them.

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 ARCs, giveaways and new releases

The Iron Jawed Boy by: Nikolas Lee

Publication Date:

July 2013

Overview:

Year 2300

Protea: Capitol of the Eldanarian Isle

Two hundred years have passed since the lands of the Outerworld humans were destroyed, save but a handful of rebellious cities. In their ruin, the last gods of Earth, the Illyrians, rose victorious. And ever since, it's with a cruel iron fist they've ruled over their subjects--desperate to keep their thrones.

Fast approaching his teens, Ionikus Reaves knows the gods' malevolence all too well, orphaned by them after their call for a military draft on Eldanar, his home island. But when a power once dormant in Ion boils to the surface, he's whisked off to a hidden world of the island, where he comes face-to-face with the mighty Illyrians.

For Ion is a Guardian--a reincarnated god bound to serve and protect the pantheon he's so quickly learned to hate. Now torn between his obligations as a Guardian and his hatred of the gods he's to guard, Ion finds himself in the middle of a war within himself. A war that could uncover a dark secret of the gods'...and split the pantheon in two.

My thoughts:

I have to tell you that I had many thoughts going through my head before I read the book. I thought it was childish. My cousin read it and loved it but we have many different taste in books and so I just just thought this was another and never planned to read it. Then the author contacted me and and asked me to read it and; therefore I gave it the chance it deserves. 

I'm going to tell you that I am a huge Potter fan and have never found anything that compares til now. I'm not saying this is a replica or really similar it just has these touches that takes you back. The magic, mystery and mayhem that occurs in this book is quite something.

I couldn't imagine walking around in life with a piece of metal attached to my face, that alone is the most awful thing I could think could occur. But then the whole slavery thing is bad on another level and I hate for something like that to happen to anyone. 

The look at this boys life and how he gets himself out of this and that is great the futuristic feel to this keeps us thinking and amazed.

My rating:

4 stars

My Forever by: Kira Adams

Publication Date:

May 2014

Overview:

Grief and loss can make a person act out in all the worst kinds of ways. Madalynne Johnson has always been a bit of a handful, but with the loss of her brother, separation of her parents, and her boyfriends unexpected news of joining the army she has gone into a full on tailspin. 

Parker Grant experienced loss firsthand when his brother took his own life. Darkness closed in. Madalynne saved him; showed him the light. And even though he isn’t sure what the future holds--he wants Madalynne and this time he won’t give up without a fight.

My thoughts:

I really thought this would be another book that I just couldn't handle. At the beginning it goes smoothly but then there are fast forwards and things that I didn't like. Then thinking and hoping things would go better, it goes into a repeat of things. Her brother's death and the depression and anger. I know things like that are normal in grief. I have dealt first hand with someone who goes through that, and it is nice to see the truth of things coming out. That makes things a plau and I loved that part of it!

More things come into light and play as the book  goes on, things that could be helped but are thrown in seemingly as a surprise. I hate the way things happen off and on through out the book. But dealing with grief is never easy.

My rating:

3 stars

The Reflections of Queen Snow White by: David Meredith

Publication Date:

January 2014

Overview:

What happens when "happily ever after" has come and gone? 

On the eve of her only daughter, Princess Raven's wedding, an aging Snow White finds it impossible to share in the joyous spirit of the occasion. The ceremony itself promises to be the most glamorous social event of the decade. Snow White’s castle has been meticulously scrubbed, polished and opulently decorated for the celebration. It is already nearly bursting with jubilant guests and merry well-wishers. Prince Edel, Raven's fiancé, is a fine man from a neighboring kingdom and Snow White's own domain is prosperous and at peace. Things could not be better, in fact, except for one thing: 

The king is dead. 

The queen has been in a moribund state of hopeless depression for over a year with no end in sight. It is only when, in a fit of bitter despair, she seeks solitude in the vastness of her own sprawling castle and climbs a long disused and forgotten tower stair that she comes face to face with herself in the very same magic mirror used by her stepmother of old. 

It promises her respite in its shimmering depths, but can Snow White trust a device that was so precious to a woman who sought to cause her such irreparable harm? Can she confront the demons of her own difficult past to discover a better future for herself and her family? And finally, can she release her soul-crushing grief and suffocating loneliness to once again discover what "happily ever after" really means? 

Only time will tell as she wrestles with her past and is forced to confront The Reflections of Queen Snow White. 

My thoughts:

This is a Snow White after my own heart. The truth be told she is incredibly mood and has many issues that are faced among today's youth. I also was very curious to know what happened after the "Happily" part. Which let's face it is a real idea to what a glimpse of. Walking by Charming side can't be easy and wondering why things have happened to her as they have can be a real page turner. I think it is a great way to show readers another side of things. This is much more then a re-telling, it's an after thought. 

Great writing, strong characters.

My Rating:

4 stars

Rubicon by: J.M. Johnson

Publication Date:

March 2014

Overview:

Brigid James has returned from summer vacation hoping her classmates won’t ask about the bandanna she now wears on her wrist. When she meets Tunnel—the handsome new guy who literally makes her lose her senses—Brigid’s life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Tunnel claims he is able to see ghosts and he is positive that Brigid can do the same. As Brigid discovers the underground world of ghosts and demons, she discovers that one ghost in particular has it in for her.

My thoughts: 

First let me tell you there is teen drug use in here. If you prefer not to read about it then don't. 

Now on the the real topics. Which are hard topics to get around but the author has done a great job finding a way to place it in this book without making it a public service announcement, like those cheesy commercials on TV.  

The characters that are written about make everything seen more real and believable. I would have gotten really bored or just given up otherwise. The whole thing is incredibly done and speaks about real life issues.

My rating:

4 stars

Getting by (A Knight's Tale) by: Claudia Y. Burgoa

Publication Date:

February 2014

Overview: 

When Emma Anderson arrived at San Francisco International Airport, she regretted accepting the distinction of being the maid of honor to Gaby's--her childhood friend--wedding. It had been years since the last time she set foot in Menlo Park, where her parents had been killed. The rug where she had

been shoving her feelings since that day looked bumpier than a camel's hump. Who could blame her; if she hadn't been selfish they'd still be around. Ever since that fateful day, Emma has been perfecting the knack of Getting By.

Cade's wedding in Menlo Park--a city close to San Francisco-- might be the perfect place for Jake Knight to shake the memories of his ex, Emma Anderson for good. Single, available women galore for an entire week was the perfect medication, one he intended to take three times a day for an entire week to return to his player days. It was a plan the former spy thought flawless until he came face to face with the maid of honor. Jake's perfect retreat turns into a flight, fight or hide week of celebrations.

My thoughts:

This workaholic is in for a great awakening! Her past is ugly and to be honest I can relate, so she pushes herself into work, barely making time to eat or sleep...but enough that she doesn't have time to dwell. Poor Emma, right?Bu things don't stay that way and things look up. 

in a broken down elevator, which is scary enough, she meets Jake. He's the love'em and leave'em type, with no hope in sight, until he meets her. 

This affair that is set into motion is amazing, one I would take in an instant....things get a little to homey and comfortable, which neither was expecting or seeming to want...or do they?

Emma takes her chance a runs, but another chance meeting brings them closer then ever. 

Beautifully written, well thought out!

My rating:

5 stars

Going to Far by: Jennifer Echols

Publication Date:

March 2009

Overview:

All Meg has ever wanted is to get away. Away from high school. Away from her backwater town. Away from her parents who seem determined to keep her imprisoned in their dead-end lives. But one crazy evening involving a dare and forbidden railroad tracks, she goes way too far...and almost doesn't make it back. 

John made a choice to stay. To enforce the rules. To serve and protect. He has nothing but contempt for what he sees as childish rebellion, and he wants to teach Meg a lesson she won't soon forget. But Meg pushes him to the limit by questioning everything he learned at the police academy. And when he pushes back, demanding to know why she won't be tied down, they will drive each other to the edge -- and over....

My thoughts:

Meg has longed to get away....Believing that life's curses are after her she puts herself in dangerous situations. One night the police come, believing this old police officer is after her and is a perv sends her in s weird direction. 

Truth is he has faced many awful things in his past and he would hate to see the same thing happen to anyone else. But in "saving" Meg he sets another thing in motion, a little thing called, Cat and Mouse. THe chace is amazing and the fun is quirky. 

My rating:

3 stars

Of Triton by: Anna Banks

Publication Date:

May 2014

Overview:

Emma has just learned that her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess, and now struggles with an identity crisis: As a Half-Breed, she’s a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm. Syrena law states all Half-Breeds should be put to death.

As if that’s not bad enough, her mother’s reappearance in the Syrena world turns the two kingdoms—Poseidon and Triton—against one another. Which leaves Emma with a decision to make: Should she comply with Galen’s request to keep herself safe and just hope for the best? Or should she risk it all and reveal herself—and her Gift—to save a people she’s never known?

My thoughts:

Usually I hate the back and forth but this time I think it was the only way to get all sides of the story. Otherwise we would miss a ton of interaction between characters. The author did a great job to bring this together without disrupting the book.

Emma's mom takes her on the run, thinking it is the only way to save face and save her daughter from her past. But her daughter is in on the action and calls for help....making things spiral out of control, but then again bringing it to head. 

Paca is a fraud and it takes a village to shed some light to the fact and bring the justice down too. 

The death is not great and it makes me wonder what the future could hold, because it seems like a key piece is missing.

My rating:

5 stars

Up Next:

Of Neptune