[Archive] LITERAL ADDICTION's Review of Before the Storm

Building on a background of fantasy game design, a fascination with history, and a lifetime love of books, Award-Winning Author Claire Ashgrove brings to life action-filled passionate journeys of the heart. Her paranormal series, the CURSE OF THE TEMPLARS, marries the history of the Knights of Templar with the chilling aspirations of the most unholy—a must-read for speculative fiction fans. For romance fans, she also writes as the National Bestselling Author Tori St. Claire and historical romance as Sophia Garrett.

In her non-writing time, she owns and operates Finish The Story, a full-scale editing house co-fpunded with Byran Thomas Schmidt. She lives in Missouri and enjoys cooking, studying ancient civilizations, and spending downtime with her two sons and too-many horses, cats, and dogs.

Claire is also the creator of the INHERITED DAMNATION series, several amazing single titles, and she writes the BLACK OPALS series as Tori St. Claire. You can check out her entire bibliography HERE.

Keep up with Claire online at her Website, on Facebook, on Twitter, and on GoodReads.

Before the Storm
WINDWALKER Book #1

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Halle Rhoads has a terrifying gift--she can kill with the fury of the storm.

She should have known that kind of power wouldn't go unnoticed. Thrust into a world full of dark magic with a handsome stranger who claims he can teach her, she struggles to master her abilities and stumbles onto a dangerous truth. She's a windwalker, the chosen vessel of the ancient dragons who once ruled the world. Many will stop at nothing to possess the power in her blood, should they discover her secret. With necromancers hunting her and Halle's closest allies guarding secrets, mastering her magic becomes a matter of necessity.

But accepting her destiny is altogether different. For doing so means she must sacrifice everything.

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION’s Pack Alpha – Chelle:
*Copy gifted in exchange for an honest review

--Actual rating 4.5 Skulls

What a fabulous book!

Before the Storm was set in a carefully thought out world rife with potential and primed for growth and development. It contained characters that were instantly captivating, and who earned your respect (or disgust) instantly. The action and adventure throughout the book will have you on the edge of your seat, and there were surprises around every corner. Take all that and add in a love story that was both sweet and believable, and you have a definite winner.

I highly recommend Before the Storm to fans of New Adult and Adult Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance, and I am hoping against hope that this is just the first in a wonderful new series from Claire Ashgrove.

Before the Storm

[Archive] LITERAL ADDICTION's Review of Stonecast

Fantasy author Anton Strout was born in the Berkshire Hills mere miles from writing heavyweights Nathaniel Hawthorne and Herman Melville and currently lives in the haunted corn maze that is New Jersey (where nothing paranormal ever really happens, he assures you).

He is the author of the SIMON CANDEROUS and SPELLMASON CHRONICLESUrban Fantasy series for Ace Books, a division of Penguin Group (USA). Anton is also the author of many short tales published in anthologies by DAW Books.

The Once & Future Podcast is his latest project, where he endeavors as Curator of Content to bring authors and readers together through a weekly news show format.

He has been a featured author guest of honor, speaker and workshop leader at San Diego Comic-Con, Gencon, New York Comic-Con, the Brooklyn Book Festival and many other conventions.

In his scant spare time, his is a writer, a sometimes actor, sometimes musician, occasional RPGer, and the world’s most casual and controller smashing video gamer. He currently works in the exciting world of publishing and yes, it is as glamorous as it sounds.

You can keep up with Anton online at his Website, on Facebook, on Twitter, and on GoodReads.

Stonecast
SPELLMASON CHRONICLES Book #2

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The adventures of a girl and her gargoyle continue in the second installment of this “thrilling, funny and eerie” fantasy series. —Romantic Times on Alchemystic

Alexandra Belarus, the last practicing Spellmason, doesn’t know what has become of Stanis—her gargoyle protector. Hidden forces are watching her and threatening her, and, now, she’s worried for her stone-hearted friend—who may no longer be so friendly…

Our Review by LITERAL ADDICTION's Guest Reviewer - Cheryl:
Oh Stanis, how do I love thee? Stonecast is the second installment in the Anton Strout very cool series about a Spellmason and the grotesque or as we call them gargoyle that has watched over the Belarus family since her great-great grandfather. Although you might enjoy Stonecast by reading it alone you would miss out on a lot of history that was given in the first book, Alchemystic. I really was looking forward to this follow-up and it did not disappoint. We begin the story where things left off in the first book where Alexandra is still under threat from Stanis' father who wants materials that Alexandra's great-great grandfather, Alexander Belarus hid very well. But, now she is under threat from another front in this book, someone that has been highly trusted by her father, who unfortunately plays quite a small role in this book. Stonecast focuses mostly on Alexandra and her friends, Marshall and Rory with an addition, someone she meets that might just be able to help her learn more of her craft.

We get to see the story told in alternating points of view between Alexandra and Stanis. Sometimes I forgot he was telling the story in his chapters and I was a bit confused. Other than that I loved seeing things from his eyes and also when there was a cross-over in the telling of a scene from both Alexandra's and Stanis' point of view. It was quite interesting to see how oblivious she was to some things but, hey, he's a big stone guy, so it is quite understandable. The thing is that every once in a while his humanity still shines through in his thoughts and feelings. It was great seeing how he felt about some things and how he wanted to respond versus how he did respond.

We are treated to some great scenes with Marshall and Rory being their hilarious selves. I have to say that it was a bit disconcerting that Lexi placed so much trust and faith in someone she did not know and over the objections of the people and grotesques closest to her, especially someone who had been her friend since childhood and the grotesque that had watched over her family for centuries. She kept justifying it in her head but asking them to risk their lives based upon the word of someone they did not know or have any of the same interactions with that she did. If it had been just money or something not so important it would not have stood out as much to me. But, she risked their lives by doing it and it just did not sit well with me. She tried protecting them but she knew she needed them but instead of protecting them when she needed them she exposed them and I have to say it was different then giving them the choice so we hit upon something that made me not be on her side as much as I had been in the first book. Well, she's a bit arrogant there as well but she didn't seem to grow much from that. She approaches this new friendship more like a teenager than an adult. That was my one problem with how things went though it is not a flaw in the book moreso just something I do not like about Alexandra now that I recall she had the same issues in Alchemystic. There were some good stone man on grotesque battles and some great scenes with Lexi and her friends as they used their own skills to battle. I'm ready for book 3!

Stonecast

[Archive] LITERAL ADDICTION's Review of Tangled Innocence

Carrie Ann Ryan is a bestselling paranormal and contemporary romance author. After spending too much time behind a lab bench, she decided to dive into the romance world and find her werewolf mate – even if it’s just in her books. Happy endings are always near – even if you have to get over the challenges of falling in love first. 

Carrie Ann’s Redwood Pack series is a bestselling series that has made the shifter world even more real to her and has allowed the Dante’s Circle and Holiday, Montana series to be born. She’s also an avid reader and lover of romance and fiction novels. She loves meeting new authors and new worlds. Any recommendations you have are appreciated. Carrie Ann lives in New England with her husband and two kittens.

Feel free to stalk Carrie Ann at the following places online –
Facebook, Twitter, Website, Blog, Goodreads, Amazon Author Page and Pinterest.

Tangled Innocence

   DANTE’S CIRCLE Book 4

JUST RELEASED 4/12/14!

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Humans aren’t as alone as they choose to believe. Every human possesses a trait of supernatural that lays dormant within their genetic make-up. Centuries of diluting and breeding have allowed humans to think they are alone and untouched by magic. But what happens when something changes?

As one of the seven lightning struck women, Nadie Morgan has known for a while now that her fate would be forever changed…and revolve around a certain dragon. From the first time Dante Bell saw Nadie, he knew she was the one for him. There’s just one problem–there’s another in his life he’s waiting on as well.

When Jace Goodwin, a bear shifter and Mediator, finally comes back to the human realm after years away under circumstances out of his control, his first stop is to Dante’s Circle where he not only finds his dragon, but the woman they both have been waiting for.

Once secrets are told and the sparks fly, Nadie’s new life becomes something she never thought possible. However there’s another realm at play and Jace and Nadie’s dragon will have to fight harder than he’s ever fought before to keep the life he’s waited eons for.
Warning: Contains one not-so-innocent human, a bear known for his bear-hugs, a tattooed and pierced dragon with a fiery temper, and a connection so explosive, you’ll be fanning yourself from page one.

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Bewitching Bella - Charity:
*Copy gifted in exchange for an honest review

How do I start this review?!?!?! *rubs hands together, grinning*

Ok I'm going to be honest I BEGGED FOR THIS BOOK!!! I think all Carrie Ann's readers did. Ever since I read book 1 in this series I wanted Dante's Story, I yearned for it, I needed to know his secrets, I needed to see his happily ever after. Carrie Ann DELIVERED AND THEN SOME!!!!

The premise to this series had me enticed and enthralled but with each new book I get pulled into unexpected ecstasy through it's pages and I'm always left begging for the next one. Tangled Innocence was the perfect storm of passion, innocence, seduction, and fight within its characters!!!!

What I love most about this series that I have yet to find in any other series is guessing what each "lightning struck" woman will become after finding her true half. I don't even try to guess any more and when its revealed in each book my jaw always drops. I also love how each book leads into the next one so smoothly. Its so enticing to get hints and peaks at where the next story.

I cant say enough good things about this book and this series over all, I'm hooked in the most alluring way and I LOVE IT!!

Tangled Innocence