Review- Mechanical Hearts (Skeleton Key) by Nicole Blanchard

Title:  Mechanical Hearts (Skeleton Key)

Author: Nicole Blanchard

Publication Date: June 15th 2016

Plot: Skeleton Key Book Series
One Skeleton Key. Endless Adventures.
https://skeletonkeybookseries.com

Caroline Abernathy has lost her mind. Perhaps it was the bump on the head she took when an afternoon sailing expedition cruised right in the middle of a violent storm or maybe the stress of grad school has finally proven to be too much. Whatever the cause, she finds herself alone in a strange underwater world and at the mercy of a ruthless pirate.

Everyone has a price, at least according to the Pirate Prince, Ezra Castle. In order to purchase the fare needed to bring her home, Caroline agrees to spend the remainder of the voyage on his ship, helping him locate the priceless artifact she cost him.

What starts as a simple journey turns deadly when their ship is attacked by a band of assassins. Stranded, wounded, and without transportation, Caroline and Ezra will have to rely on each other to make it back alive.

Life and love are on the line and time is running out. Tick Tock.

☆✮ My Review ✮☆

☆ I received an ARC via the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! ☆

I'm pretty positive that I've read all of Nicole's books and this is the first that I've read of this genre from her or from any author. It was pretty new stuff to me.

There was some concepts I did not 100% get, with the civilization 'down side' versus those 'top side' and their need of mechanical hearts for energy stability~~ but I think it's a matter of just not being used to steampunk and science fiction is all. Otherwise, I'm sure that I would have been more adapted for this story concept.

All in all though, aside from my tad confusion, I really enjoyed this novella. It was pretty far from what I am used to but I enjoyed it immensely. Kind of wanted more, if I am to be honest. I felt as if there could have been more expanded upon.

My Rating:

♥♥♥♥

☆✮ About the Author ✮☆

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Nicole Blanchard lives in Florida with her family and their menagerie of animals. She chooses each day to chase her own fairy tale even if they contain their fair share of dragons. She is married to her best friend and owns her own business.

She survives on a diet of too many books and substantial amounts of root beer and slim jims. When not reading, she’s lavishing attention on her family or inhaling every episode of The Walking Dead and The Big Bang Theory.

You may learn more about Nicole and her work at www.authornicoleblanchard.com. Join her mailing list for updates at http://eepurl.com/6zSvD

Author's Links:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter 

☆✮ Buy Link ✮☆

Blog Tour Review!-The Consummation (Unexpected Circumstances #3) by Shay Savage

Title:  The Consummation (Unexpected Circumstances #3)

Author: Shay Savage

Publication Date: June 28th 2016 by Shay Savage, LLC

Plot: With steady patience, Sir Branford teaches his young wife the pleasures that are to be found in their marital chambers. Though still unsure of herself, Alexandra begins to open herself to the possibilities of her new life. As Branford expresses his desire to have more than a simple political marriage, Alexandra begins to see a brand new side of her husband.

Alexandra soon discovers there is more to being Sir Branford’s wife than sharing his bed. When the lives of nobles rest in her hands, she finally begins to understand the importance of her position in the court and in her husband’s life.

☆✮ My Review ✮☆

☆ I received an ARC via the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! ☆

Yay!! The Consummation was everything I wanted and more!! 

Branford and Alexandra are like two lost souls caught in the middle and who find themselves in the most intriguing of circumstances. Now, as the "official" wedding night finally approaches, it is now time to take the most crucial step in their growing relationship and see where the chips all fall.

Will this couple's growing feelings stand against growing tensions and hidden agendas?

Wah, that ending. I was like on happy pills and then BAAAAAMM!! I was like, "what?". Not exactly a cliffhanger, well, at least for me that is-- but also an intriguing ending to keep you holding on for what's to come!! Can't wait for bk4!!

 

My Rating:

♥♥♥♥

☆✮ Excerpt ✮☆

“I desire you so much,” he mumbled into the skin at the base of my neck.  “I have never…never wanted a woman this badly.”

His words both thrilled and terrified me, for there was a part of me that was glad to have him say such things—to know he wanted me as a husband was supposed to want his wife—but there was still another that remembered how a man’s lust could overcome him.  He may do something he would not have done had he been in his right mind.

Still, my skin tingled beneath his touch, and I told myself he would not hurt me—Branford had promised he wouldn’t—as he began to unbutton his jacket.  He only got through the first couple of buttons before he was kissing me again while his hands trailed down my sides.  They came around to my stomach and then made their way back up to the ties of my bodice.  I offered no protest while he undressed me.  As he exposed my skin, Branford stopped for a moment and turned to me sharply.

“You are mine,” Branford said sternly as his hands captured my face.  His eyes bore into me, his look so intense I could not speak at first.  He looked angry, frightened, and elated all at once.  “Only mine—ever.”

“Yours,” I finally said quietly, and his lips crashed back to mine.  With an open mouth, he claimed first my lips, then my tongue, then my chin and my throat.  I kept my grip on his hair as he worked at the ties of my dress.  He was having trouble with the laces and growled at the knots as he pulled at them.  When they loosened, he dropped his head to my chest, and I could feel his warm breath as he kissed at the top of my breasts.

“So beautiful.”  His words touched my bare skin just before he tilted his head to look up at me with half-closed eyes.  “I want to see you…all of you.”

I could only nod dumbly as his hands pushed slowly, softly, and the sleeves of the dress fell away from my arms, leaving me bare from my head to my waist.  I could hear my husband’s rapid breaths as his dark eyes—somehow untouched by the afternoon light—gazed from my shoulders to my breasts, his mouth open just enough to drag his tongue over his bottom lip.  He released my arms and leaned back on his heels, unbuttoning the rest of his jacket and tossing it off to the side, near my riding cloak.  His gaze met mine again, and he kept it focused on me as he loosened the waist of his pants and pulled his shirt up over his head.

Even when I had my hands on his chest and his back to wash him, it had been by the dim light of the fire and candles—never in the sunshine.  Now I could see him quite clearly, and those wonderful lines decorated his chest and stomach with the outline of each and every muscle.  Indeed, his skin was so beautiful, so radiant, he seemed to shimmer in the sun’s beams.

☆✮ About the Author ✮☆

Always looking for a storyline and characters who fall outside the norm, Shay Savage’s tales have a habit of evoking some extreme emotions from fans. She prides herself on plots that are unpredictable and loves to hear it when a story doesn’t take the path assumed by her readers. With a strong interest in psychology, Shay loves to delve into the dark recesses of her character’s brains–and there is definitely some darkness to be found! Though the journey is often bumpy, if you can hang on long enough you won’t regret the ride. You may not always like the characters or the things they do, but you'll certainly understand them.

Shay Savage lives in Ohio with her husband and two children. She’s an avid soccer fan, loves vacationing near the ocean, enjoys science fiction in all forms, and absolutely adores all of the encouragement she has received from those who have enjoyed her work.

Author's Links:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

☆✮ Thunderclap & Giveaway! ✮☆

CLICK THE GRAPHIC TO BE ENTERED INTO THE $1,100 GIVEAWAY:

☆✮ Buy Links ✮☆

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Book #4 PRE-ORDER LINK ($0.99!)

Release Day Blitz & ARC Review- Pieces (Patchworks #1) by Toni Aleo

Introducing Toni Aleo's highly anticipated debut Paranormal Romance novel, PIECES. This radiant, powerful + magical love story takes you into a new world where anything is possible; where an underground society in NYC will make you question everything you thought you ever knew.

Dare to venture into... THE WORKS.

NOW AVAILABLE

Title: Pieces (Patchworks #1)

Author: Toni Aleo

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publication Date: June 27th 2016 by Toni Aleo Books LLC

Plot: In New York City, an underground society of supernatural beings exists, hidden among everyday humans. They don’t know of our activities or any of our secrets. 

The districts of the Works are made up of vampires, wolves, shifters, witches, and I’m in the fifth and arguably most important district, the Patchwork. My father is the leader of our group, and he oversees all of the other factions. 

As his only daughter, that makes me the princess of it all. Cool, right? Actually…no. 
Sure, I live in a mansion and money isn’t an object, but that doesn’t matter because I can’t leave. I have a guard who follows me around 24/7. My father and three older brothers treat me like I’m a fragile piece of glass, never allowed to take an independent step or make any decisions on my own. 
It’s beyond frustrating—especially since my father essentially runs my life. 
He says what I do, when I do it, how I do it, and all that jazz. He tests his formulas and new techniques on me. I’m a walking science experiment. 
I hate it. 
I hate my life here. 

But then he comes along: Killian. 
He’s just some vampire…or so I thought. 

But you’ll have to read my story to find out what I mean. To know my secrets. 
Until then, though, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Rebecca von Stein. 
And I’m a descendant of Dr. Frankenstein. 

Welcome to the Works. 

https://youtu.be/-xYRxoejZFY  

https://youtu.be/-xYRxoejZFY

☆✮ My Review ✮☆

☆ I received an ARC via Toni's representative in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ☆

There was a fair mixture of pros and cons within this read. While I liked the fresh, out of the box feel that author Toni Aleo is now experimenting with—some of the dialogues and concepts felt a bit convoluted, forced, and all over the place. Not to mention, the female heroine was kind of a whiner and a tad annoying.

Over all though, I liked the parallel of all the paranormal entities brought forth into this. From all things that go bump in the night~~ shifters, werewolves, vampires, and even those descended from Frankenstein himself~~ The Patchwork is the domineering ruling party of all of these beings with Rebecca von Stein’s at the epicenter as its leader.

As one can imagine though, not all of these supernatural creatures get along and some thirst for a new shift of rules, power, and even the secret to immortality~~~ the latter of which, Rebecca von Stein, princess of the Patchwork lacks. And now with her, her father and three brothers right in the middle of everything….deceit and treachery lurks amongst all..loyalties will be tested…call for change is sequential..and the power of love and deciding what you want for yourself is unparalleled.

I did find this first in its series, a bit rough around the patches but all in all, I am curious to see what unfolds next. It certainly kept me hanging and I did also develop a soft spot for Rebecca’s oldest brother, Oceanus.

Bring on, bk2!!

My Rating:

♥♥♥♥

☆✮ Reviews ✮☆

"Wow! Toni Aleo is the queen of hockey romance but now she writes paranormal flawlessly. Is there anything she can’t write? I think not. She weaved this new world of witches, wolves, vampires and Dr. Frankenstein’s descendants, that had me hooked from the very first page. It was a fresh new story that I devoured in one sitting. This story was filled with suspense, mystery and romance. It had me on edge wanting, no, needing to know what would happen next." - GoodReads Review \\ Jill M \\ Embrace The Romance

"Okay, so what the hell? I didn't see that coming. I mean, really, the queen of hockey writing about vampires, werewolves and Dr. Frankenstein's descendants? Let me be a little sceptical. And after I read it, let me apologize for it. This book was a fresh wave. I devoured it. It took me only one night to finish it because this story didn't let me go. I'm sitting here trying to put together the pieces - not funny - but I can't. I want to read more books like this one. Just keep it up, Toni!" - GoodReads Review \\ Becca

"I loved this book it was phenomenal.I could not put it down for anything. I help my breath for most of it and still didn't fully exhale when it was over! The end was left with a bit of a cliffhanger and it has me wanted so much more!" - GoodReads Review \\ Ash \\ Morning Books and Coffee

☆✮ About the Author ✮☆

Toni Aleo is the author of the Nasvhille Assassins series: Taking Shots, Trying to Score, Empty Net, Falling for the Backup, and Blue Lines.

When not rooting for her beloved Nashville Predators, she’s probably going to her husband’s and son’s hockey games and her daughter’s dance competitions, taking pictures, scrapbooking, or reading the latest romance novel.

She lives in the Nashville area with her husband, two children, and a bulldog. Read more about Toni here.

Author's Links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Tsu

☆✮ Buy Links ✮☆

BOOK COVER PHOTOGRAPHY + DESIGN || REGINA WAMBA

EDITING || LISA A. HOLLETT

MARKETING + DESIGN + SOCIAL MEDIA || KELLIE GUNDERMAN