Blog Tour and Giveaway: Hellbound by Su Halfwerk

Welcome to my stop for the Hellbound tour.  It features my review of Hellbound, the book trailer, Su Halfwerk's bio, and a giveaway for the ebook and a $25 Amazon certificate.

Hellbound by Su Halfwerk

Genre:  Adult Horror

Su Halfwerk's website

Amazon | Goodreads

Description (taken from the Blog Tour):

One-way ticket to Hell.

Bart is a greedy morgue attendant with money on his mind. He gets more than what he bargains for when he chances upon a pain-letter, one he must pass on or bear the consequences of his inaction.

Stan is a chiseler, a fake medium, preying on his unsuspecting clients’ earnings through bogus channeling sessions. When he meets mysterious Joanna Stark, he believes her promises of powers beyond his comprehension, powers blessed by the Netherworld.

Jenna gives up her old life and career to settle down as Troy’s loving wife. He is a God-fearing man who will consent only to marriage. Except fate maps a different ending to their love story, a conclusion that takes them both down and never up again.

Bart, Stan, and Jenna are destined to go on a long and abominable journey that sinks them below their expectations and forces them to endure pain and anguish beyond their worst nightmares.

On the paths leading to the depths of Hell, their sins don’t matter!

This short novel is actually a collection of three people's journey to Hel.  We have Bart the greedy mortician, Stan the lying medium, and Troy the do-gooder-wife-beater.  And let me tell you, their stories on how they ended up in Hell aren't pretty.

The best comparison I can give this book is comparing it to the Final Destination movies.  I love those movies only because of the bizarre outcomes (and the special effects).  This book definitely has a lot of bizarre outcomes, and it is very descriptive.  There were definitely some parts where I was laughing (instead of cringing) because the description was a little too gruesome to imagine.

All in all, I enjoyed this book.  I'd recommend it to people who like horror or reading gruesome details. It definitely makes you think twice before deciding to be a 'bad' person.

Author Bio:  Su Halfwerk

Su Halfwerk writes in the horror and paranormal romance genres. From a tender age, the written word left a strong impression on her, later on terrifying, blood-chilling books became the object of her interest. Su’s style in horror combines shuddery terror with elements of surprise; some would even call it an enigmatic twist. In the world of paranormal romance, she transforms the desire to scare into a quest to seduce and tantalize.

Other books by Su Halfwerk:

• Seeker ~ Book 1 in the Unsettled Series (Paranormal Romance)
• His to Possess (Finalist in 2011 EPIC Awards in the Paranormal Romance category)
• Zuphreen (Horror/Urban Fantasy)
• Intricate Entanglement (Horror/Thriller)

The books are available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other online outlets. When not writing, Su is designing book trailers for herself and other authors.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Release Day and Giveaway: Perilous Light by Alyssa Rose Ivy

Perilous Light by Alyssa Rose Ivy

Genre:  YA Paranormal Romance

The Afterglow Trilogy, Book 2

Alyssa Rose Ivy's website

Expected publication:  March 30, 2012 (today)

Amazon | Goodreads

Description (taken from blog tour):

Would you sacrifice everything for a world you barely knew?

It has been over a year since Charlotte and Kevin first stepped through the gate into Energo, and neither has been able to settle back into a normal life.

Even though she tries to deny it, Charlotte is in love with Calvin and can’t push him from her mind. She distracts herself with the antics of James and her growing friendship with Liam—the one person who seems to understand her.

Kevin is starting to adjust to his new identity as a college student and basketball player, but he can’t seem to shake his feelings for Samantha, his fear for Charlotte’s safety or the sensation that basketball is no longer enough.

When they unexpectedly return to Energo, both Charlotte and Kevin must face their fears and step up to become the leaders they were always meant to be.

Author Bio

Alyssa Rose Ivy lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write.

Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And in case you're like me and haven't read the first one, I've included a description for Beckoning Light, the first book.  I'll have to pick these up sometime...

Beckoning Light by Alyssa Rose Ivy
Genre:  YA Paranormal Romance

The Afterglow Trilogy, Book 1

Alyssa Rose Ivy's website

Amazon | Goodreads

Description (taken from Goodreads):

As Charlotte steps through the gate, she has a strong feeling that nothing will ever be the same again.

Moving back to South Carolina after three years away, Charlotte knows she's going to have to face people from her past and adjust to a new high school, but she's completely unprepared for what else waits for her in Charleston.

Drawn through an old garden gate, Charlotte discovers a hidden world where she meets Calvin, a boy to whom she is inexplicably attracted. As Charlotte is pulled deeper into this hidden world, it's up to her older brother Kevin to rescue her. No matter how hard Kevin tries, the rescue depends upon Charlotte fighting her intense feelings for Calvin while mastering a set of abilities that she has only just discovered she possesses.

If you've read these books, I'd be interested to hear what you thought of them.  Otherwise, pick them up if they catch your interest! 

Last Breath by Rachel Caine

Genre:  YA Paranormal Romance

Morganville Vampires Series, Book 11

Rachel Caine's website

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Description (taken from Goodreads):

With her boss preoccupied researching the Founder Houses in Morganville, student Claire Danvers is left to her own devices when she learns that three vampires have vanished without a trace. She soon discovers that the last person seen with one of the missing vampires is someone new to town-a mysterious individual named Magnus. After an uneasy encounter with Morganville's latest resident, Claire is certain Magnus isn't merely human. But is he a vampire-or something else entirely?

I absolutely loved this one!  It was much better than the last book in my opinion.  There were so many unexpected things that occurred that kind of blew me away.  The only complaint I had is the fact that it's in third person when from Claire's point of view and first person when from someone else's point of view.  I'm very much attached to first person, so I had a hard time switching back and forth.

And the last few chapters?  Amazing!  And that last page?  It's a cliffhanger...  But a good one.  One that gives me good, warm, and fuzzy feelings.

Anyone who likes paranormal novels should check out the Morganville Vampires...

Challenges:  Young Adult Reading Challenge

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly post hosted by Breaking the Spine, and it spotlights upcoming books that we as readers are anxiously awaiting...

Undeadly by Michele Vail

Genre:  YA Paranormal Romance

The Reaper Diaries, Book 1

Michele Vail's website

Expected publication date:  November 20, 2012

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Description (taken from Goodreads):

The day I turned 16, my boyfriend-to-be died. I brought him back to life. Then things got a little weird...

Molly Bartolucci wants to blend in, date hottie Rick and keep her zombie-raising abilities on the down-low. Then the god Anubis chooses her to become a reaper—and she accidentally undoes the work of another reaper, Rath.

Within days, she’s shipped off to the Nekyia Academy, an elite school that trains the best necromancers in the world. And her personal reaping tutor? Rath. Who seems to hate her guts.

Rath will be watching closely to be sure she completes her first assignment-reaping Rick, the boy who should have died. The boy she still wants to be with.

To make matters worse, students at the academy start turning up catatonic, and accusations fly—against Molly. The only way out of this mess? To go through hell. Literally.

Doesn't this just sound awesome?  I'm excited!

Spring Fever: Top Ten Books I'd Play Hooky With

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly post hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's post is the Spring Fever: Top Ten Books I'd Play Hooky With.

You know how tempted I've been to call in sick at work, just so I can spend the whole day reading?  I think I'm going to split this list up into two sections: books on my to-read list that I've been dying to read and would play hooky for and all-time favorite books that I'd play hooky for any day.

In my to-read list (and I just might play hooky one of these days):

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent currently holds the 2nd place record for being in my to-read pile the longest (it's been sitting there for about a year now).

The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore

Torn by Amanda Hocking

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Out of all these books in this list, Torn is the one most likely to keep me home from work.  Maybe I'll have to purposefully get sick, so I won't feel bad for staying home and reading one day...

Past favorites that I'd love to play hooky with:

A Million Suns series by Beth Revis

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead

Women of the Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong

Sigh...  I want to go read them now...

Beauty in the Beast by Christine Danse

Genre:  Steampunk Romance

Christine Danse' website

Amazon | Goodreads

Description (taken from Goodreads):

Journeying by steam-powered sled to London's Frost Fair to perform, Tara and three friends are trapped in a blizzard in the woods. A gruff, handsome stranger offers them shelter-and wants one thing in return. Stories.

The travellers are glad to oblige. Their host, Rolph, is especially captivated by Tara's story of an orphaned girl raised by the Fae in the world of the spirits. Equally intrigued by Rolph, and aware of an electric pull between them, Tara encourages him to share a story of his own. When Rolph weaves a tale of a man who is doomed by his own folly to turn into a wolf at the full moon, Tara suspects there is more than a grain of truth in his words.

When the veil between the mortal and spiritual worlds is parted, and danger threatens, will Tara make the ultimate sacrifice to save Rolph?

This is another short story that I decided to read (the cover pulled me in).  While the description definitely caught my interests, I feel it was a little deceptive.  Or maybe I was expecting something different than what I got.  Some things I missed in the plot's background (or it took me a while to figure out) were what time era it was and what on earth was the Frost Fair.

The description talks about stories.  Yes, there is a lot of story-telling.  And while the stories are amusing, they're too straight-forward.  I felt things lacked depth to really keep the reader invested in the story.

If you like paranormal and short reads, then you may want to pick this one up.  If you're not fond of shorter stories, then I wouldn't recommend you pick this one up.

Thanks goes to Carina Press and Netgalley for providing me with a review copy.

In My Mailbox

The "In My Mailbox" post consists of which books we bought during the past week, hosted by The Story Siren.

I'm attempting to lower my book count each week.  I'm not allowed to buy books or look at Netgalley (even though I slightly failed) although emails with requests are still fair game.  But considering I read five books in the last week and only picked up two, I'd say that's progress on slimming down my to-read pile.

For Review (e-edition):

Hellbound by Su Halfwerk

Amazon | Goodreads

This horror novel is a collection of three short stories, and it caught my attention due to the interesting cover.  I have read this book, and it is definitely something I would recommend to people who are looking for a change of pace (and stark humor with no romance).  Thanks goes to Enchanted Book Promotions for setting up this tour.

Shadow of the Witte Wieven by Debbie Peterson

Goodreads

Ooh, an adult paranormal romance.  I haven't read one of those in a while.  And this book doesn't involve the typical vampires/werewolves that I'm used to.  Needless to say, I'm looking forward to this one.  Thanks goes to Enchanted Book Promotions for setting up this tour.