{Book Review} SHADOW ON THE SUN by R. Julian Cox

{Happy Release Day} DISSENSION: Chronicles of the Uprising by K.A. Salidas

{Blog Tour} Gena Showalter's BLACK AND BLUE --- Trick or Treat Hop!

BLACK AND BLUEOtherworld Assassins, #2

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter's pulse-pounding paranormal series continues with an electrifying story about the ultimate warrior and his prize: a beautiful woman he will do anything to possess.

HE IS EVERY WOMAN’S FANTASY. . .
Corbin Blue is a man of many talents. One of the most powerful otherworlders ever born, he is wealthy, a professional football star, and a legend in the bedroom. But only a select few know he is also a black ops agent...and there is no better killer. When he and his crew are attacked and separated, he’s forced to turn to his boss’s daughter for help―a woman with even more secrets than Blue.

. . .SHE BECOMES HIS ONLY OBSESSION
Evangeline Black has always been wary, guarded. No man has ever breeched her walls. Until Blue. He has never been denied something he wants, and now, he’s decided he wants her. As he sweeps her into his double life of seduction, intrigue, and danger, he helps her see beyond the darkness of her past. But as an enemy closes in, Blue will have to let Evie go to keep her safe—even though he'd rather die than live without her…

Pre-order:

Amazon * Kindle * Barnes * Nook * BAM * S&S * Indie Bound * iBookstore

 This was my very first Gena Showalter book and now I know why everyone talks about them and is giddy when she has a new one coming out! I definitely will be buying her other books immediately and diving in! This was heart-pounding action, sweet emotion, fun and snarky wit from both main characters, and intense sexy heat!

First, can we talk about how gorgeous this cover is? I love how that dress ends in liquid and it's so incredibly vivid! Love it!

Corbin Blue is an Arcadian, an alien basically, with incredible powers that no one knows the extent of. He's a star football player, a celebrity, a rake with a womanizing reputation. What no one knows is that he's a black ops agent...

Evangeline Black is a doctor in a New States hospital, owned by her father, Michael Black. Michael is a well known arms dealer making the move to legitimate businessman. And is Corbin's boss as well as Evie's, because she's a trained agent as well.

The book starts off with a bang, intense chemistry between Blue and Black just flying back and forth. It was incredibly enjoyable and then it just kept rolling. When Blue is injured and her father has gone missing, he goes to the only person he can trust at a time like this, the Black Plague herself, Evie.

The description of what happened to Earth was incredibly brief, but totally disheartening as I could see it happening in my life time. But happily the story focuses on the present for Blue and Evie. Together, their mission is to recover her father and the other two missing agents, John and Solo.

Lots of sexual tension (and relief), lots of action, tons of personality, and incredibly endearing hero and heroine made this book a five star read for me. Once I fell into the world of Black and Blue, I was lost for a few hours of pure enjoyment and entertainment! I cannot wait to get my hands on more Gena Showalter books! 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of the White Rabbit Chronicles, Otherworld Assassins, Angels of the Dark, Lords of the Underworld, and several of other series. She has written over thirty novels and novellas. Her books have appeared in Cosmopolitan and Seventeen magazine, and have been translated in multiple languages.

Connect with Gena:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads


I'm one of the mandatory entries, people! So here's the TREAT! :D

a Rafflecopter giveaway




Check out the other tour stops for the mandatory entries and bonus entries! 
BLACK AND BLUE Halloween Hop Tour Schedule- 10/18 - 10/31
HALLOWEEN HOP

OCTOBER 18
Books and Their Seven Deadly Sins (mandatory contest entry)
http://booksandtheirsevendeadlysins.blogspot.co.uk/

Curse of the Bibliophile (optional extra points)
http://curseofthebibliophile.blogspot.com/

Nette’s Bookshelf Reviews (optional extra points)
http://nettesbookshelf.blogspot.com

OCTOBER 19
Window Seat on A Rainy Day (mandatory contest entry)
http://www.thewindowseat13.com/

Manga Maniac Café (optional extra points)
http://www.mangamaniaccafe.com

Paranormal Book Club (optional extra points)
http://www.paranormal-bookclub.com

OCTOBER 20
Eclipse Reviews (mandatory contest entry)
http://totaleclipsereviews.blogspot.com

My Book Addiction (optional extra points)
http://mybookaddiction.com

Book Nerd (optional extra points)
http://booknerdash.blogspot.com

OCTOBER 21
Booked & Loaded (mandatory contest entry)
http://bookedandloaded.com

Toot's Book Reviews (optional extra points)
http://tootsbookreviews.blogspot.com

Darkest Addictions Reviews (optional extra points)
http://darkestaddictions.blogspot.com


OCTOBER 22
Book Monster Reviews (mandatory contest entry)
http://www.bookmonsterreviews.com/

Victoria's Gossip (optional extra points)
http://victoriasgossip.com/blog/

Who's Reviews (optional extra points)
http://whosreviews.wordpress.com/

Taking It One Book at a Time (optional extra points)
http://takingitonebookatatime.blogspot.com

OCTOBER 23
Vampires, Werewolves, & Fairies, Oh My (mandatory contest entry)
http://vampireswerewolvesfairiesohmy.blogspot.com/

The Reading Café (optional extra points)
http://www.thereadingcafe.com/

Darker Passions (optional extra points)
http://darkerpassions.net

Romancing Rakes For The Love of Romance (optional extra points)
http://romancingrakes4theluvofromance.blogspot.com/

Paranormal Romance Fans for Life (optional extra points)
www.paranormalromancefanforlife.blogspot.com



OCTOBER 24
Mad Hatter Reads (mandatory contest entry)
http://madhatterreads.com

Fundinmental (optional extra points)
http://www.fundinmental.com

Urban Girl Reader (optional extra points)
http://www.urbangirlreader.com

Little Read Riding Hood (optional extra points)
http://littlereadridinghood.com

OCTOBER 25
10/25 A_TiffyFit's Reading Corner (mandatory contest entry)
http://tiffyfit.blogspot.com

Tome Tender (optional extra points)
http://tometender.blogspot.com

My Secret Romance (optional extra points)
http://www.mysecretromancebookreviews.com/

Queen of All She Reads (optional extra points)
http://queenofallshereads.blogspot.com/

OCTOBER 26
Reading Between the Wines (mandatory contest entry)
http://www.readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.com/

Mythical Books (optional extra points)
http://mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/

Coffee Talk Writers (optional extra points)
http://coffeetalkwriters.wordpress.com/

Rumpled Sheets Blog (optional extra points)
http://rumpledsheetsblog.wordpress.com/



OCTOBER 27
Books, Books and More Books (mandatory contest entry)
http://booksbooksmorebooks.blogspot.com/

Close Encounters with the Night Kind (optional extra points) http://closeencounterswiththenightkind.blogspot.com

Diane’s Book Blog (optional extra points)
http://dianelynchbookreviews.blogspot.com/

Crazy Four Books (optional extra points)
http://crazyfourbooks.blogspot.com



OCTOBER 28
KT Book Reviews (mandatory contest entry)
http://ktbookreviews.blogspot.com/

New Adult Addiction (optional extra points)
http://www.newadultaddiction.com/

LilyElement (optional extra points)
www.lilyelement.blogspot.com

Coffee and Characters (optional extra points)
http://www.daniellecromero.blogspot.com



OCTOBER 29
Romance with Flavor (mandatory contest entry)
http://romancewithflavor.com

FUONLYKNEW (optional extra points)
http://fuonlyknew.com

Miscellaneous Thoughts of a Bookaholic (optional extra points)
http://miscellaneousthoughtsofabookaholic.blogspot.com/

Same Book, Different Review (optional extra points)
http://samebookdifferentreview.blogspot.com/

OCTOBER 30
Under the Covers (mandatory contest entry)
http://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/

Literal Addiction (optional extra points)
http://www.literaladdiction.com/book-blasts-and-more.php

I Smell Sheep (optional extra points)
http://www.ismellsheep.com/

Romance Junkies (optional extra points)
http://www.romancejunkies.com/rjblog/

Wicked Readings by Tawania (optional extra points)
http://wickedreadingsbytawania.blogspot.com

Where the Night Kind Roam (optional extra points)
http://paranormalromancenovel.com/

OCTOBER 31
Books-n-Kisses (mandatory contest entry)
http://www.book-n-kisses.com

Babbling about Books and More (optional extra points)
kbgbabbles.com

Inner goddess (optional extra points)
Http://www.innergoddessforum.com

Snarky Mom Reads... (optional extra points)
http://www.snarkymomreads.com

Book Bliss (optional extra points)
http://lbookbliss.wordpress.com

SPOTLIGHT/REVIEWS ONLY

10/20 Underworld Love Addiction (Spotlight / Review)
Http://underworldloveaddiction.blogspot.com

10/22 Book Lovin’ Mamas (Spotlight/Review)
http://booklovinmamas.com

10/23 Night Owl Reviews (Spotlight)
http://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Blog/Articles/Halloween-Hop-2013-by-Gena-Showalter

10/24 Sun Mountain Reviews (Spotlight/Review)
http://sunmountainreviews.wordpress.com

10/25 Eclectic Passions (Spotlight/Review)
http://eclecticpassionsbc.blogspot.com/

10/25 Musings From an Addicted Reader (Spotlight/Review)
http://musingsfromanaddictedreader.blogspot.com/

10/25 Sassy Book Lovers (Spotlight)
http://sassybooklovers.blogspot.com/

10/27 In Shadows (Spotlight)
http://brynnacurry.com

10/29 Paranormal Haven (Spotlight/Review)
http://www.paranormalhaven.com/

10/30 Ramblings From This Chick (Spotlight/Review)
http://ramblingsfromthischick.blogspot.com

10/31 Shayna Renee's Spicy Reads (Spotlight)
http://shaynareneesspicyreads.com

Blog Tour: SHUDDER by Samantha Durante with review and giveaway!

The Highlight Tour with Prism Book Tours

& Samantha's Summer Tour

The second installment in the electrifying Stitch Trilogy, Shudder follows Samantha Durante's shocking and innovative debut with a heart-pounding, paranormal-dusted dystopian adventure sure to keep the pages turning.

Shudder
348 pages
Published June 15, 2013

-- Book 2 in the Stitch Trilogy --

It's only been three days, and already everything is different.

Paragon is behind her, but somehow Alessa's life may actually have gotten worse. In a wrenching twist of fate, she traded the safety and companionship of her sister for that of her true love, losing a vital partner she'd counted on for the ordeal ahead. Her comfortable university life is but a distant memory, as she faces the prospect of surviving a bleak winter on the meager remains of a ravaged world. And if she'd thought she'd tasted fear upon seeing a ghost, she was wrong; now she's discovering new depths of terror while being hunted by a deadly virus and a terrifying pack of superhuman creatures thirsting for blood.

And then there are the visions.

The memory-altering "stitch" unlocked something in Alessa's mind, and now she can't shake the constant flood of alien feelings ransacking her emotions. Haunting memories of an old flame are driving a deep and painful rift into her once-secure relationship. And a series of staggering revelations about the treacherous Engineers - and the bone-chilling deceit shrouding her world's sorry history - will soon leave Alessa reeling...

Goodreads * Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Smashwords

Also available in the iTunes store, Kobo, and wherever e-books are sold!

A_TiffyFit's Review: 

Holy monkey truckers what an ENDING! This story is keeping my head bent to my kindle. Ms Durante has IT, ladies and gentlemen. That thing that some authors have that just keep you turning the pages to see what new little twist will come out, to find out if what you THINK you know is truth, to see if your characters hold true to their personalities.

Stitch set up the world, and that had a twist in it that shocked me. I thought FOR SURE it was going to be a time-travel story and couldn't understand how this is considered a dystopian novel. Shudder picks up where we left off with Stitch and it is QUITE the story. Isaac and Alessa are alone outside of Paragon looking for a new rebel base. When they get back, they have new missions: find Janie & Lizzie, find a power source, and get nearly 1000 rebels to this new base...over 140 miles away!

You really get more of Alessa's personality and Isaac's in this one. Alessa has developed a new ability and there are a new host of beings that she and Isaac encounter outside Paragon. I love how Isaac goes shopping when they are at the mall, too, and gets her something (you find out later). It's sweet how he is always thinking of her.

We finally meet the Ruling Class...or at least the architects of Paragon and the story will make you grind your teeth in anger. And the ending...*heart wrenches* oh man. Oh MAN! I need the third book. You need to get book 1 and 2 and await the third like I am.

As an avid lifelong reader of fiction of all sorts, there’s nothing I find more engrossing than an epic sci-fi/fantasy/romance series. I’ve whiled away countless weekends of my life immersed in richly-woven worlds that someone else was kind enough to put on paper... about the author

Samantha Durante lives in Westchester County, New York with her husband, Sudeep, and her cat, Gio. Formerly an engineer at Microsoft, Samantha left the world of software in 2010 to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams and a lifelong love of writing. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania's Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology, Samantha is currently working full time for her company Medley Media Associates as a freelance business writer and communications consultant. The Stitch Trilogy is her debut series.

Website * Goodreads * Facebook * Twitter

Stitch

314 pages

Published August 1st, 2012

Her heart races, her muscles coil, and every impulse in Alessa's body screams at her to run... but yet she's powerless to move.

Still struggling to find her footing after the sudden death of her parents, the last thing college freshman Alessa has the strength to deal with is the inexplicable visceral pull drawing her to a handsome ghostly presence... Goodreads

Tour-Wide Giveaway:

5 Winners. August 24 - September 16, 2013. See Rafflecopter for restrictions.

* Signed print copy of Stitch & Shudder for you and two friends (USA only)

* Signed (via Authorgraph) e-book copies of Stitch & Shudder for you and two friends (Int'l)

* Signed Stitch & Shudder bookmarks + e-book copies of Stitch & Shudder (Int'l)

* $10 Amazon Gift Card (Int'l)

* $5 Amazon Gift Card (Int'l)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Highlight Tour

Sharing Top Highlights from the Summer-Long Tour!

August dates:

24 - The Reading Diaries - Review
- The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl
- Rose & Beps Blog

25 - Chapter Break - Review
- Wonderings of One Person - Review
- Mortal Moments

26 - A Tiffyfit's Reading Corner - Review
- Kindred Dreamhart

27 - YA Book Addict - Review
- The Bookish Daydreamer
- Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf

28 - Library of a Book Witch
- Mommasez... - Review

29 - Mel's Shelves - Review
- Fundinmental

30 - Green Mountain Couple
- Literary Meanderings

31 - Donnie Darko Girl - Review
- My Devotional Thoughts

Sept. 1 - The Book Rogue
GRAND FINALE

Blog Tour: EMERGENCE by Rachel E Fisher with recipes and a giveaway!

Launching the Recipe Book Tour for...

On Tour with Prism Book Tours....

Emergence 

Eden's Root Trilogy #3

by Rachel E Fisher

Published April 30, 2013

"I promise you, Sean. We're going to stop them."

The pieces on the board are in motion and with both sides gathering strength, each move will be critical. When the Truthers make a play for checkmate, the Seeders are forced to respond. Fi and her companions will face greater challenges and higher stakes than ever before, because this time if they fail, it's for keeps.

Amazon * Kindle * Barnes & Noble

Seeds of War #2


The mission of Eden must be fulfilled and Eden’s best Seekers are needed. Forming a new group they dub the Seeders, Fi, Asher, and Sean are joined by a new addition as they set out to bring hope and support to the Topsiders in the form of radios and heirloom seeds. Their experiences Topside prepare them for the threat from marauding gangs they call Lobos, but it is a different, less obvious sort of threat that takes them by surprise. As radio broadcasts begin to reconnect Eden and the Topsiders, the Seeders stumble upon mysterious broadcasts from unknown stations. When two of their own new radio stations go silent within days of each other, Fi and her companions realize that something is terribly wrong. Eden finds itself pitted against a growing and unknown force as their very mission lights the flames of war.

Eden's Root #1


It is 2033, and the world hovers on the edge of explosion as unexplained crop deaths lead to severe global food shortages. In the United States, the Sickness is taking lives slowly, creeping its way into every family. Fi Kelly has already faced the Sickness in her own family, toughening her beyond her years. But a shocking confession from her dying father will push her toughness to its absolute limits. Saddled with an impossible secret and the mission of saving her little sister, Fi sets out to transform herself into the warrior that she must become to survive the coming collapse. Along the way, she will discover that evil can be accidental and that love can be intentional.

Rachel E Fisher



I am a wife and entrepreneur living and working in Florida. I am also a graduate of Mount Holyoke College, where I majored in Biology. It was always my assumption that I would end up making research my life. Though it did not work out that way in the end, my passion for Biology remains intact.

I have always loved biology-based science-fiction and the young adult genre. It is in this vein that I offer my work.

www.rachelefisher.com *  @edensroot * Facebook * Goodreads

In Rachel Fisher's dystopian world, natural grown food has turned to poison or died before it can produce fruit. This idea was partly inspired by her own life and the necessity of creating vegan and gluten-free meals.

Find your apron and roll up your sleeves... it's time to celebrate the Eden's Root Trilogy with...

The Emergence Recipe Book Tour

12 – Launch

13  - Howling Books and Design - Review

-          tHe crooKed WorD  - Review

14 – Livinga Goddess Life - Review

-          Mel’s Shelves  - Recipe

15 – Buried Under Books - Review

16 – Indiscriminate Writes - Review

17 – Mythical Books  - Recipe

18 – Tiffyfit’s Reading Corner  - Recipe

-          Mortal Moments - Quotes

19 – MySeryniti - Review

-          Rose & Beps Blog - Heart

20 – Fundinmental – Eden's Root

21 – Moosubi Reviews! - Review

22 – Christy’s Cozy Corner - Quotes

23 – AnastaciaKnits - Review

24 – Markedby Books – Eden's Root

25 – LeeannaMe – Eden's Root

-          Marked by Books – Seeds of War

-          Diary of a Book Addict  - Review

26 – LeeannaMe - Seeds of War

-          Marked by Books - Review

27 – LeeannaMe - Review

28 – TheBookish Daydreamer Eden's Root

29 – GreenMountain Couple - Review

30 – Grand Finale

Tour-Wide Giveaway:



August 12 - September 6



2 Winners each (international):

  - eBook of Eden's Root

  - eBook of Seeds of War

  - eBook of Emergence



2 Winners (international):

  - eBook of the trilogy - Eden's Root, Seeds of War & Emergence



1 Winner (US, Canada, UK):

  - signed print copy of Emergence



a Rafflecopter giveaway

RECIPES!

(selected by A_TiffyFit)

One of my favorite blogs to try recipes from is 28 Cooks. While these vegetarian (and largely gluten free, although not all) recipes are new to me and my family, they are not intimidating to try and look really delicious. I've tried several and thought to include two of my favorites (the sesame nut cookies and the garlic parmesan edamame) as well as one of her most recent, which is the summer chili! 

Garlic Parmesan Edamame

Serves 4

1 (16 oz) pkg frozen edamame in shell

1/2 c extra-virgin olive oil

4 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 c Italian-seasoned bread crumbs

1/2 c freshly grated Parmesan cheese

salt to taste

Steam edamame in microwave until slightly warm and not frozen. (You can do this one of 2 ways - I have a microwave steamer that I use, or even easier is throwing the edamame in a ziploc bag with about a tbsp of water, sealing it, leaving a small opening for steam, and heating it on high for 2 minutes) Drain and set aside.

In a small food processor, combine olive oil and garlic. Process until well-combined. Heat a wok over medium high heat. Add edamame and toss for a few seconds. Add garlic oil and saute for a minute or two, stirring constantly. Add breadcrumbs, Parmesan, and salt and toss until well coated. Serve immediately.

from 28cooks.blogspot.com

Summer Chili
Serves 6-8

3 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 cup diced onion
1 1/2 cup diced green pepper
2 jalapenos, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
6 cups diced zucchini
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp ground chipotle chili powder
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried thyme
1 (12oz) package Morningstar Crumbles
1/2 cup water
1 (15oz) can petite diced tomatoes
1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
1 (15 oz) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup roughly chopped cilantro

In a large stock pot, heat olive oil over medium high heat. Add onion, pepper, and jalapeno.
 Saute for 3 minutes, then add zucchini and garlic. Saute for another 5-8 minutes, until peppers and onions are soft. Add remaining ingredients, except for cilantro, and stir well. Bring to a boil and then lower heat to a simmer. Cook for another 15-20 minutes until zucchini is soft. You can let this simmer much longer if you need to. Stir in cilantro before serving. Enjoy!

from 28cooks.blogspot.com

Sesame Nut Cookies
Yield - 2 dozen cookies

3/4 c unbleached white flour
1/2 c whole wheat flour
1/4 c flax seed meal
1 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 c toasted sesame seeds
3/4 c raw cashews, diced (or any nut)
4 oz silken tofu
1/2 c olive oil
3/4 c light brown sugar
2 tsp almond extract

Preheat oven to 350. Combine all dry ingredients, from flour to cashews, in a large bowl. In a smaller bowl, mash tofu with remaining ingredients. With a spatula, add the wet ingredients into dry, and combine well. Roll dough into 1" balls, and flatten with hands. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. (Cookies do not spread much during baking, so feel free to place fairly close together) Place into preheated oven, and bake 10 minutes, until edges and bottom start to brown. Remove from oven, and cool on a wire cooling rack.