Blog Tour Stop: Blackbrooke II: The Guardian, Review and Giveaway!

Hiya Critters!

Welcome to the Book Me! stop on The Blackbrooke II: The Guardian Blog Tour!

I'm so super excited to be taking part in this tour! I adore Emma Silver and book two in the Blackbrooke series just blew all my expectations out of the water!

As part of my stop I'll be reviewing Blackbrooke II and you guys will get a chance to win e-copies of both Blackbrooke I & II 

So let's get to it! 

BLACKBROOKE II: THE GUARDIAN 

by Emma Silver

Publisher: Crooked Cat Publishing
Genre: Young Adult Horror

Out Now! 

Review Source: e-ARC obtained through author in exchange for an honest review, with thanks!
Contains Elements Of:
  

Liberty’s fight continues.

After she had discovered the truth behind ‘walk outs’ in her hometown of Blackbrooke and forced to sacrifice her best friend, Liberty Connor thought she was finally free.

But her nightmare was only just beginning.

Taken to the Institute, a research facility dedicated to Blackbrooke, Liberty finds herself under the watchful eye of sinister Blackbrooke guardian, Mr Jones. Things aren’t as they seem. Familiar faces provide little comfort, and she soon realises the Crits aren’t the only specimens under the microscope.

Determined to escape, Liberty is once again plunged into a world beyond her comprehension. The one thing she knows for certain is: trust no one.

Friends become strangers, but help is at hand from unexpected quarters. Forced to confront her real enemy, Liberty is left with one familiar choice.

Fight.

 This review may contain spoilerage

of both Book I and II!

You've been warned!

Often when an author has such a stellar debut I enter into the follow up with a fair amount of trepidation. What if it's not as mind-numbingly spectacular as the first? What if the author takes it in a direction I don't like? What if it's just plain . . . boring? *gasps*
Oddly enough, I wasn't too worried that would be the case with Blackbrooke II! I had complete confidence that Silver would go above and beyond my expectations for this book and I'm very happy to say she did not disappoint!
In fact, The Guardian blew all expectations out of this solar system!
     

Poor, poor Liberty Connor! You'd think after singlehandedly saving all of Blackbrooke's firstborns for the next hundred years she would be entitled to a little R&R but unfortunately, that's not the case. In the aftermath of her deal with the Queens, Lib now faces an even greater threat to her life and those of her loved ones with the introduction of the Institute. All Liberty wants is to get Cass and get out, start a life far away from the horrors of Blackbrooke and all it's secrets, but the Institute is convinced she's hiding something and she pays a terrible price once all The Guardian's mysteries finally come to light.

Let's just say we're not in Kansas anymore."
He whipped around, an amused glint in his eye."Have you been waiting your whole life to say that?"
I smiled and shook my head. "I'm crap at one-liners."
"Hmm, you're no Buffy, that's for sure."
"Who's Buffy?"
"Don't ever ask me that again." 

e-ARC - 84%     

Which brings me to Cassius!    OH CASSIUS!  I didn't think it was even possible to fall more in love with this boy, but I'm going to go out on record here and say: I'M AN IJIT! Yes, he does a few things that had me screaming at Lib to "slap him upside the head" and at times I wanted to shake him like a baby (For the record, I don't condone either of those things! Violence is not the answer, people! Unless of course you happen to be an axe-wielding Liberty Connor!) but there's just something inherently lovable about Cass and I have to say I adored seeing his more commanding side.
I'm sharing the love around today with the inclusion of Gabriel to my book boyfriend list. To be honest I didn't really form any attachments to Gabe  in book one . I'm not sure we were really given time to, but the longer Lib spent with him in The Guardian the more I found myself falling a little further into the love triangle and seeing a different side of him. I'm still not happy he went along with the events in book one, in fact, I think he's owed a good arse-kicking or two (one I'd be happy to dish out) but I have to say he's grown on me!
And as for Liberty Connor? This girl absolutely hits her stride in The Guardian! She's always been a fiesty, firecracker of kickassedness but this time it's really taken to the extreme! I'm going to go out on a limb here and say I don't think there's ever been, nor will ever be, a better kick-butt heroine in YA literature! Liberty Connor is absolutely my favourite Young Adult protagonist!     

Tears spilled out of my eyes as I realised Mum had done the same thing again. It was inadvertent this time but I still heard it loud and clear.
Fight. 
 Kindle - 63%   

Blackbrooke II delivers all the gruesomeness of the first, only this time it's amplified to a point that will make even the most lionhearted horror fan cry for his/her mummy like a little girl!  Fans of the original Blackbrooke scooby gang won't be disappointed either, as we get a chance to catch up with our old friends and even witness them having life altering adventures of their own. Denzil taking on the Crits, anyone?     

If you thought book one was a complete and utter mindfuck then book two is likely going to blow your brain to smithereens! Each chapter contains a delicate morsel of juicy intrigue for us to unravel, and much like book one -and in true Silver fashion- you can throw any and all assumptions out the window!

The anticipation of awaiting book three might damn near kill me!!!

I'm giving this one Five OH, BRADS!

OH BRAD, YOU'VE MADE ME THE HAPPIEST GIRL IN THE WOLRD!

Purchase your copy of Blackbrooke II: The Guardian today:
Amazon Paperback | Amazon e-copy | Crooked Cat Books | Smashwords

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Emma was born and raised in Manchester.

Blackbrooke is her debut young adult horror novel after spending many years honing her skills drafting short stories and devouring horror through the ages from R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps collection through to Stephen King.

Emma is also the author of a semi-biographical account of her dad’s years in a rock band in the 1970s, Driving Exile.

Outside of her day job in public relations, Emma has worked for a Manchester entertainment magazine, reviewing theatre shows gigs and movies.

She gets most of her ideas and is inspired by music and also the fighting spirit of young people who aren’t afraid to challenge the norm and stand up for what they believe in. This fleeting ‘moment’ in life is what she tries to capture in her writing.

You can stalk Emma Silver at the following places:

Website | Twitter | GoodReads | Facebook | Blackbrooke Facebook | Blackbrooke Twitter

Super special OH BRAD! thanks to Emma Silver for including Book Me! in The Blackbrooke II: The Guardian Blog Tour!

I love ya, sugar!

   

Already love the Blackbrooke series?
Grab our Kick Ass Chick Liberty badge and our Team Cass & Gabriel badges  and the Blackbrooke series banner to post on your blog!

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Cover Reveal: One Wicked Night by Emily Quinn!

Hiya Babycakes!

I'm super excited to be bringing you the Cover Reveal for book one in Emily Quinn's Wicked Series:

One Wicked Night

ONE WICKED NIGHT

by Emily Quinn

Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance 

Publication Date:  JULY 15, 2013!

Angel Jones is a career-driven woman at the top of her game with a big problem: a wickedly handsome boss. It is impossible to get him out of her mind, so her friends talk her into using someone else’s invitation to an exclusive dating service. It’s a dare she can’t resist.

Fernando Durante knows lusting after someone at work is not an option. He has managed to avoid direct contact with her for years, but thanks to a recent promotion, the witty goddess reports directly to him. When a friend emails him an invitation to an exclusive dating service, Fernando accepts against his better judgment.

Will Angel and Fernando let their hearts guide them?

Emily Quinn writes sexy contemporary romances with irresistible bad boys, feisty heroines, a bit of conflict, humor and a dash of spice.

She loves books and falls in love with every hero she reads. She lives in sunny Southern California with her husband, two kids, and her dog.

Emily loves hearing from her readers.

You can stalk Emily Quinn at the following places:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

Super special OH BRAD thanks to 

EIT Reading Challenge: Manicure Monday #11 Old Blood by Karina Halle!

Manicure Monday is a meme hosted by Nite Lite Book Reviews

The aim is to grab your current read and create a mani based on the cover or overall feel of the book!
To play along, grab your favourite bottle of polish, your current read and get a paintin'!
Be sure to visit Nite Lite Book Reviews and leave your links!

  

A haunting novella from the Experiment in Terror Series...

From her harrowing introduction in Darkhouse, the spectre known as “Creepy Clown Lady” has been a constant fixture in Perry Palomino’s life. But beyond the horrid makeup and piercing stare lies Pippa, a woman just like everyone else.

Well, not quite.

When Perry discovered Pippa’s message to her and Dex on the EVP recordings, she thought she heard the last of the old woman’s message. She was wrong. In the novella Old Blood, Pippa relays the tale of her troubled and tortured past, revealing how an aspiring actress and loving mother fell into madness and how an unfathomable betrayal led to her untimely death.

For Perry, the repercussions of her message are life-shattering.

Old Blood is #5.5 in the series and occurs between books #5 On Demon Wings and #6 Into the Hollow

Yes, yes. I'm well aware it's not Monday yet! But I couldn't let Old Blood pass us by without giving it the honor of a Book Me! Manicure Monday post. I have "mani-ed" every book in the series so far (excluding the other novellas) and it wouldn't be right to skip over this one.
After all, Creepy Clown Lady deserves that much!  

Now onto the mani:

So this week, rather than try to recreate the cover, I wanted to focus on our precious little Pippa!
I tapped into her theatrical past and chose a sparklicious red that I think Pippa would get as lusty over as she was for Luddie. 
For the accent nail I decided to depict her the way she appears in the beginning of Red Sky Morning:
Lavender Betty Grable hair, dark crazy eyes and that infamous kisser all painted and smudged up red!      

 Colours, thumb to middle and pinky:

 China Glaze Ruby Pumps
Creepy Clown Lady Accent Nail:
 Essie Topless & Barefoot,  
O.P.I Black Onyx, Essie Lilacism, O.P.I Big Apple Red.

 China Glaze Ruby Pumps is a spectacularly freaking gorgeous colour but for some reason the sparkles don't photograph well. Even with a close up shot I couldn't capture the delicious sparklosity (TOTALLY A WORD!) of it. It really is as though China Glaze found a way to squeeze those infamous ruby red slippers into a bottle and turn them into THE GREATEST POLISH KNOWN TO MAN!!!
  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks to lovely Halle's Harlots Reading Books Like a Boss and My Book Muse  for hosting the #EITReadingChallenge and including little ole' me in the lineup! I love you girls!
Be sure to check out the rest of reading challenge schedule!

Already love Perry, Dex and the Experiment in Terror series?

Grab our Kick Ass Chick Perry Palomino and Team Dex badges

 and Experiment in Terror series banner to post on your blog!

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So that's my Manicure Monday!
What's yours?

Get Linky with it below!

#EIT Reading Challenge: Review and Giveaway, Old Blood by Karina Halle!

Hiya Kiddos!

Welcome to the Book Me! stop on the #EIT Reading Challenge! For the next three days I'll be hosting this lovely little novella, Old Blood, in the Experiment In Terror series, by Karina Halle!

Hooray! 

  

OLD BLOOD - A Novella (Experiment in Terror #5.5)

by Karina Halle

Publisher: Metal Blonde Books
Genre: Adult Horror

Out Now! 

Review Source: Purchased!
Contains Elements Of:
  

A haunting novella from the Experiment in Terror Series...

From her harrowing introduction in Darkhouse, the spectre known as “Creepy Clown Lady” has been a constant fixture in Perry Palomino’s life. But beyond the horrid makeup and piercing stare lies Pippa, a woman just like everyone else.

Well, not quite.

When Perry discovered Pippa’s message to her and Dex on the EVP recordings, she thought she heard the last of the old woman’s message. She was wrong. In the novella Old Blood, Pippa relays the tale of her troubled and tortured past, revealing how an aspiring actress and loving mother fell into madness and how an unfathomable betrayal led to her untimely death.

For Perry, the repercussions of her message are life-shattering.

Old Blood is #5.5 in the series and occurs between books #5 On Demon Wings and #6 Into the Hollow

I know I'm going about all this the wrong way, as so far after reading and ADORING every book in the EIT series I've only managed to post my review for book one and I'm now reviewing book 5.5. There's a reason for that and it's not merely laziness, I honestly feel like I can't do this terrific series justice by writing down all my errant thoughts when so many others have expressed far more succinctly just how incredible the Experiment in Terror series is!
But . . . since I have the honor of hosting Old Blood through this reading challenge I'll attempt to deliver a review you can take something away from.

I have to admit I wasn't all that thrilled when I learned Old Blood was The Creepy Clown Lady's story. I think we all know where I stand on the issue of clowns and CCL terrified me for a good deal of this series, but getting to the bottom of CCL, or as she's otherwise known, Pippa Lindstrom that fear was almost immediately replaced with sadness.

Pippa's story is so, so sad I actually contemplated cutting to deal with all the feels! I'm kidding! Sort of!

Either way, I died with an aching heart for the things I suffered through and the things I loved. In the end, It's all the same. In the end. 

Kindle - 87%     

Old Blood picks up where the EVP recordings in Lying Season left off with a warning of sorts to Dex and Perry not to follow the same path Pippa found herself treading. Pippa's story begins in Sweden where as a young girl she suffered through much of the persecution Perry did when it comes to their shared ghost-seeing "talents" From there we follow Pippa through first loves, first almost loves and one heartbreakingly harsh life lesson after the other. Sadly, the most upsetting of those lessons learned come from those she loves the most.  
While Dex and Perry certainly take a backseat in this novella, we learn crucical information about their pasts, their relationship, the otherworld, old "friends" who may turn out to be more than they seem, and Dex and Perry's relationships with Pippa respectively. And though by the end I was completely chomping at the bit for more of our favourite lusty lovely ghost hunters, Old Blood is a short, poetic and wonderful read that's absolutely crucial to the rest of the EIT series!         

I'm giving this one Four OH, DEXS'!

A special OH DEX thank you to Karina

for allowing me to use her lovely fiance Scott in the new EIT rating system which she may have done with or without his permission.
We'll just keep it between us girls ;) 
Thanks also to Megan for the wonderful idea!
If you'd like to use our Sexy OH DEX rating system on your blog, visit the Freebie Me! page to grab the codes! 

Purchase your copy of Old Blood today!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks to lovely Halle's Harlots Reading Books Like a Boss and My Book Muse  for hosting the #EITReadingChallenge and including little ole' me in the lineup! I love you girls!
Check out the rest of reading challenge schedule here:
  

Already love Perry, Dex and the Experiment in Terror series?
Grab our Kick Ass Chick Perry Palomino and Team Dex badges  and Experiment in Terror series banner to post on your blog!

<a href="http://www.bookmereviews.com/p/sticker-me.html" title=" Experiment in Terror by Karina Halle " target="_blank"><img src=" https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ECI1k2nU0XE/UWPfj_hE9EI/AAAAAAAAMCc/Ix025AB89vY/s200/Kick+Ass+Chicks+Banner+Sticker+Perry+Palomino+Experiment+in+Terror+Karina+Halle.jpg " alt=" Experiment in Terror by Karina Halle " style="border: none" width="125" height="75"/></a>

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