#CoverLoveMonday: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

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OUR THOUGHTS: WE ARE IN LOVE WITH THIS COVER!! The black backdrop with the stars sprinkled all around the outstretched hand holding a circus makes it feel so magical and imaginative and mysterious. We want to know what's going on inside those tents, what secrets they may hold and what kind of magic lives within. The pop of red against the black and white is a nice touch. The larger tent in the background looks like a clock tower which makes us wonder if the characters are set on a time limit for something or if the circus magic will run out by a certain time. It adds to the already building curiosity and mystery built from the cover at a glance. As fans of duels and secrets and magic and circusiness, we have officially decided to add this lovely gem to our To Be Read lists for future devouring *hehe*

#WaitingOnWednesday: The Leveller (The Leveller #1) by Julia Durango

The Leveller (The Leveller #1)

Author: Julia Durango

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Synopsis: Nixy Bauer is used to her classmates being very, very unhappy to see her. After all, she’s a bounty hunter in a virtual reality gaming world. Kids in the MEEP, as they call it, play entirely with their minds, while their bodies languish in a sleeplike state on the couch. Irritated parents, looking to wrench their kids back to reality, hire Nixy to jump into the game and retrieve them. 

But when the game’s billionaire developer loses track of his own son in the MEEP, Nixy is in for the biggest challenge of her bounty-hunting career. Wyn Salvador isn’t some lazy kid looking to escape his homework: Wyn does not want to be found. And he’s left behind a suicide note. Nixy takes the job but quickly discovers that Wyn’s not hiding—he’s being held inside the game against his will. But who is holding him captive, and why?

Nixy and Wyn attempt to fight their way out of a mind game unlike any they’ve encountered, and the battle brings them closer than either could have imagined. But when the whole world is virtual, how can Nixy possibly know if her feelings are real?

OUR THOUGHTS: A girl who is a bounty hunter for a virtual world? YES! We aren't gamers--I mean we don't mind playing Playstation 4, Wii, Xbox or you know, in ancient times, Sega--but we do love us some kickbutt heroines ;) How cool would be to step into a virtual reality and hang out there for a while (without fraying your brain to pieces that is)? Add a hottie heir to a fortune and the possiblity that someone sinister is trying to do something very naughty with the vitural world and you've got the makings of a drama-filled book. Adding THE LEVELLER to our future TBR list and you should do the same!

Sneak Peek + Giveaway: Spelled by Betsy Schow

Spelled

Author: Betsy Schow

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Synopsis: Fairy Tale Survival Rule #32: If you find yourself at the mercy of a wicked witch, sing a romantic ballad and wait for your Prince Charming to save the day.

Yeah, no thanks. Dorthea is completely princed out. Sure being the crown princess of Emerald has its perks—like Glenda Original ball gowns and Hans Christian Louboutin heels. But a forced marriage to the brooding prince Kato is so not what Dorthea had in mind for her enchanted future.

Talk about unhappily ever after. 

Trying to fix her prince problem by wishing on a (cursed) star royally backfires, leaving the kingdom in chaos and her parents stuck in some place called "Kansas." Now it's up to Dorthea and her pixed off prince to find the mysterious Wizard of Oz and undo the curse...before it releases the wickedest witch of all and spells The End for the world of Story.

SNEAK PEEK

Most of the crowd had dispersed. The final few stragglers looked at me with the all­too-common look of fear mixed with trepidation. Pix ’em. They were just servants. It wasn’t like their opinion mattered.

Only one remained, watching me with open curiosity. He looked to be in his late teens or was magically enhanced to appear so. He could have been a hundred for all I knew. I’d never seen him before in my life. He was handsome enough, for a commoner, even in his worn leather pants and cracked work boots. A foreigner, his hair was unruly and dark auburn, which complemented his tanned but dirt-smudged complexion, though the tall, dark stranger vibe was ruined by his piercing pale blue eyes.

Well, I’d had enough of being a sideshow for the day. “If you’re the new gardener, the hedges are overgrown and in need of a trim.” I pointed in the direction of my father. “While you’re there, you can help the king with the wisps.”

The young man’s expression clouded over, but he didn’t move.

I stamped my foot and pointed more forcefully. “Off with you. Courtyard’s that way. Be sure to clean those awful boots before coming back in.”

“Someone told me I’d find a princess of great worth here. One with the strength to be the hero this realm needs.” He stared at me with those unsettling blue eyes. They were cold, like ice water—made me shiver from head to toe. Then his gaze seemed to search even deeper. Finally, he looked through me, like I was nothing.

In brisk steps, he strode across the marble to the courtyard. But before crossing the threshold, he turned back to glare at me with his lip curled ever so slightly. “It seems she was mistaken.”

Just like that, I had been sifted, weighed, and found wanting.

I felt my own lip curl in response. How rude! Who the Grimm was this peasant to judge me? I was wearing a Glenda original. Original! Not some fairy-godmother knockoff worn by those servant girls turned royal. I was a crown princess, for the love of fairy, and no one dismissed me.

Before I could put the boy in his place—down in the dirt, where he belonged—a clatter came from behind, making me nearly jump out of my shoes. I checked and was relieved that Sterling had simply dropped his sword. By the time I looked back, the gardener was gone.

After stowing his blade, Sterling held up his shield, not in defense of the entrance but so he could look at his reflection. “Clearly he’s blind and doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

I didn’t ask for Sterling’s opinion, but it made me feel better.

Until he opened his mouth again.

“Worth, pffft. I mean, look around at all the jewels. Your palace has everything you could ever want. Honestly, I don’t know what you’re fussing about. Why would anyone want to leave?”

Because a cage is still a cage, no matter how big or glittering the bars are.

And I would find a way free, no matter the cost.

Advance Praise for Spelled

“A cute adventure with romance set in a world full of fairy-tale mash-ups. Readers will love Dorthea’s evolution from spoiled princess to strong, confident heroine… For Oz fans, this work is a great clean-read alternative to Danielle Paige’s Dorothy Must Die.” -School Library Journal

“This wickedly funny, fast-paced adventure has it all: brains, courage, and heart. (Plus a kickin’ pair of heels.) .” --Jen Calonita, author of The Secrets of My Hollywood Life and Fairy Tale Reform School series

“Fairy tale survival rule #1, do NOT read this book late at night. You will wake up your entire family with loud laughter. Fairy tale survival rule #2, if you love the Wizard of Oz, clever fairy tale mash-ups, and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing what will happen until the very end, you MUST read Spelled.” --J Scott Savage, award winning author of Farworld, Case File 13, and the Mysteries of Cove series.

“A hilarious and snarky reimagining of the world of Oz, along with many other fairy tales injected throughout, "Spelled" is one fabulous read…Kick off those silver slippers and tuck in with this wonderful tale!” —Senator Sipes, Lil Book Bug (Palmdale, CA)

About the Author

Betsy Schow is the author of the memoir Finished Being Fat, and has been featured on The Today Show and in The Wall Street Journal. She lives in Utah, but travels the country with Color Me Rad 5k, and partners with nonprofits to teach kids creative thinking and how to reach their goals.

Find Betsy Schow: Website/Twitter

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Book Review: Sweet by Emmy Laybourne

Sweet

Author: Emmy Laybourne

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Synopsis: *People would kill to be thin.*

Solu’s luxurious celebrity-filled “Cruise to Lose” is billed as “the biggest cruise since the Titanic,” and if the new diet sweetener works as promised—dropping five percent of a person’s body weight in just days—it really could be the answer to the world’s obesity problem. But Laurel is starting to regret accepting her friend Viv’s invitation. She’s already completely embarrassed herself in front of celebrity host, Tom Forelli (otherwise known as the hottest guy ever!) and she’s too seasick to even try the sweetener. And that’s before Viv and all the other passengers start acting really strange.

*But will they die for it, too?*

Tom Forelli knows that he should be grateful for this job and the opportunity to shed his childhood “Baby Tom-Tom” image. His publicists have even set up a ‘romance’ with a sexy reality star. But as things on the ship start to get a bit wild, he finds himself drawn to a different girl. And when his celebrity hosting gig turns into an expose on the shocking side effects of Solu, it’s Laurel that he’s determined to save.

Brought to you by TeamNerd Reviewer Annabell Cadiz

Review: If there was a chance you could take a magic pill or drink a magic sweetener that would grant you the ability to drop pounds with ease, would you take it? That’s the premise behind Emmy Laybourne’s latest, SWEET. It’s interesting, crazy, terrifying yet hilarious.

Laybourne gave up sugar a few years back, instead opting for a gluten-free, sugar-free type of lifestyle which has worked wonders for her health and I’m pretty sure that’s part of where the inspiration came from for SWEET. She was also inspired by B-movies and I can see the influences of that throughout the story.

SWEET follows Lauarel and her best friend Viv who are travelling on the Solu cruise—thanks to Viv’s mega rich dad fronting the bill—where for seven days they will get to hang out with B-list celebrities. The cruise is mainly to promote the new weight-loss sweetener, Solu, which will follow the success of the weight-loss of those on the ship by broadcasting it around the world. It’s supposed to be the answer to obesity but those on the cruise soon realize, you should be careful what you wish for—or in this case, what you put in your mouth.

Laurel was a refreshing read. She isn’t a rail-thin girl. She has curves and doesn’t see anything wrong with them. She tagged along on the cruise to support her best friend, Viv, who struggles far more with her body image. Laurel is SUPER loyal to her friend which causes her to make some fundamentally inept self-preservation choices later in the story but I can’t blame her. I’d TOTES fight just as hard for my best friend (even if she was going all cray on me). She is sassy yet shy and creative (she plays the guitar). Like any teen, she’s just trying to figure out who she is without giving in to unrealistic standards produced by the stardom around her. I liked that she stood her ground on not just how she looked but when she thought people were being wronged.

Tom—the hot, male protagonist of the story—used to be on a comedy sitcom when he was younger. He tried to make it into the movie industry, wanting to be free of his image as “Baby Tom Tom” but nothing’s worked out for him so far. All his movies have failed and that’s why he got stuck taking on the Solu job. He is acting as host to the cruise and spends his days filming and interviewing clients. Tom gives an inside look to how the Hollywood industry works and what people are willing to do to not only get in the limelight but stay in it for as long as possible. Tom starts off as one of those people, willing to do anything to stay apart of the biz, but after he meets Laurel he discovers maybe fame isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. I liked him. He was funny, cute, sweet and an all-around good guy.

SWEET starts off just as its title suggest: a semi-luxurious cruise with former, lackluster celebrities who just want to party and have some fun in the sun. It’s a sweet life if you can avoid paying the ticket to get on the cruise. But that sweet life veers WAY left and everything starts to go dark, lethal and deadly REAL quick! Laurel and Tom find themselves stuck on a cruise from hell because Solu is making people go from losing weight to losing their minds. In true Layborune fashion, the story is gory, violent and horrifying. People are willing to go to murderous lengths to get their hands on Solu.

SWEET is one part humor, one part horror mashup with sassy characters, heartthrobs and the corny, best parts of B-movies—classic mean girl, wannabe celebrities and all out gore.

Definitely a fun read to start your summer with!

About the Author

Emmy Laybourne is a novelist, public speaker, screenwriter and former character actress. 

Emmy’s Monument 14 trilogy has earned critical praise ("Frighteningly real… riveting" - New York Times Book Review, Editor’s Choice) and has been nominated by readers to the YALSA Teens Top Ten in 2013 and won in 2014.!

Emmy’s new book SWEET tells the story of a luxury cruise to launch a new diet sweetener that goes comically, then tragically, then terrifyingly wrong. It got a perfect 10 from VOYA and hits the stands on June 2, 2015

Before her life as an author, Emmy performed original comedy on Comedy Central, MTV and VH1; and acted in the movies "Superstar," "The In-Laws" and "Nancy Drew," among others. Emmy loves visiting school and libraries.

Find Emmy: Website/Goodreads/Twitter/Facebook

#SonsofOldTrilogy Week: Book Review + Sneak Peek: Michael (Sons of Old Trilogy, #2) by Annabell Cadiz

Michael (Sons of Old Trilogy, #2)

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Synopsis: Zahara Faraday looks like a normal eighteen-year-old and lives in a quiet neighborhood with her overprotective parents. She works at a bookstore and hangs out with her best friend Becca King on a daily basis. But underneath the normal lies a secret life filled with dangerous supernaturals. Zahara belongs to a world made of Light Witches, rogue Imagoes (supernatural creatures with super strength, speed, and silver skin when the moon is out), fallen angels, and Nephilim (hybrid children born half-human, half-angel). Where her father Solomon Faraday is human, her mother Mia and her Aunt Catalina are Light Witches. They help protect the human world by hunting down rogue supernaturals who commit heinous acts against humans. What they never expected was the possibility of having to hunt down the one rogue coven they had befriended and come to trust in their battle against Lucifer. Rekesh Saint-Louis is the leader of the most powerful Imago coven in Florida and now he’s the most suspected. Supernatural bodies are starting to pile up with an ancient ritual long forbade being used to murder them and the symbol, one large cross with four smaller crosses around it—which represents Rekesh’s coven— being left behind. Rekesh and the Elders of his coven set out to find who is behind the murders and clearing his name before a war between the covens begins. To make matters more difficult, Rekesh also has to deal with the return of someone he has been keeping a secret.

Meanwhile, Zahara and Becca are spending more time brushing up on their training, knowing an attack from Lucifer can come at any moment. Between patrolling neighborhoods and hanging at the boarding school created by Charles Stephens—a fallen angel who created the school to protect the children of rogue supernaturals—they are thrown into one battle after another. Zahara begins to develop a closer bond with Jason as they train and chase down clues to clear Rekesh’s name. What she doesn’t know is the very powerful secret Jason is keeping; a secret that will change the course of the fight with Lucifer.

But Rekesh’s coven being set up isn’t the only danger. A new powerful and lethal drug has emerged from the shadows of the supernatural world called Inferi. The drug has two deadly side effects: it leaves the supernatural hungering for blood—both human and supernatural—and grants them the elemental power they had once possessed.

Lucifer is on the move and he will stop at nothing to get his hands on Zahara and complete the first act of his plan. 

A battle is about to begin. 

One that may cost the Faraday family everything they hold dear.

Brought to you by TeamNerd Reviewer Bridget Strahin

Full Disclosure: I read this book before anyone else so nanna nanna boo boo!

Review (Originally Published May 28, 2014): Michael starts off right where Lucifer left off. With Zahara and Co. doing everything they can to resume a somewhat normal life after the devastating realization that Lucifer is top side and hell bent on using Zahara in his master plan to take over God’s green earth. Zahara and Becca buy an apartment, are looking forward to college, and most importantly, upping up their slaying game. If Lucifer thinks he’s coming around again, he better think twice.

But--yes, there’s a but, Zahara and Co. aren’t the only ones looking to seek and destroy the big bad from down stairs. The Archangel Michael (yes, that Michael) is on a mission of his own. The only catch? He has to step into a certain Nephilim to do so. So now we have an Archangel secretly hitching a ride in a Nephilim, Lucifer who is posing as Zahara’s angel boy sudo love interest, and a slew of deep dark secrets that are sure to get the blood pumpin’ and keep you up at all hours of the night to figure them all out.

And that’s not all folks…

There is also a crazy on the loose murdering members of powerful Imago families and taking their souls, leaving just enough evidence behind to pin the crimes on our favorite Imago leader, Rekesh Saint-Louis. Is he innocent or guilty? That . . . is a very good question. One you’ll have to read the book to find out the answer to. *cue manic laughter*

Speaking of hawt Imago’s, Cadiz has definitely raised the bar in this installment of the Sons of Old Trilogy. Shirtless Imago’s, tattooed Nephilim, smart mouthed rogues, oh, my! OH. MY. Four words: Leanian. Without. A. Shirt. I just… I can’t even.

Now brace yourselves I’m about to get all gushy on you. When Cadiz first sent me the final draft of Michael I knew, knew from the very first chapter that this was going to be the best thing I have ever read from her. I can’t tell you guys how many times she would call or text me saying that she was beating her head on the metaphorical wall. Or how many ideas we came up with during our many many brain storming conversations that morphed into some of the scenes come to life in this book. Or how many times I called her after reading a scene to ask her why she insists on torturing me so sweetly and also to ask what the hell is going on in her head because Michael is a bit dark and twisty (you’ll get what I’m talking about when you read it for yourself). So you can all understand why I am beaming with pride for my bestie because not only did she step up to the plate in making Michael better than Lucifer, she knocked it out of the park.

Over all, I have never recommended a book so hard in the history of TeamNerd. Acton, suspense, loyalties being tested and broken, twists and turns, and an ending that will have everyone reeling, Michael is for sure to make everyone’s top book of the year. Oh, and speaking of endings, brace yourselves guys, it’s a doozy and hands down my favorite part of the whole book. Just when you think that Zahara has been through enough, bam! Cadiz throws in another asteroid sized curve ball and oh, the feels. Without giving too much away, I will just tell you that another angel has made himself known and he has major plans for Zahara. Soul shattering plans. 

SNEAK PEEK

Zahara jumped off the roof and landed on the dumpster with a bang, rolling onto the ground knees first. She swallowed back her cry of pain and wobbly stood. She stumbled for a few moments before she could get her legs to move into a run. The canister of arrows strapped across her shoulders clanked through the night around her, and the heels of the black boots echoed against the pavement. She knew she needed to find a place to take refuge and defend herself. The hair on the back of her neck rose, and her ears picked up the sound of feet catching up behind her.

Zahara pushed her feet harder and swerved left. She caught the crack of an open door from the corner of her eye and ran for it. She stormed into the room and shut the door behind her. Turning around, she tried to assess where she was. Darkness enveloped her, and Zahara unclipped her keychain from her belt loop, using the small flashlight to search around her. Three windows allowed some meek, silver light to filter into what looked to be an abandoned restaurant. Tables stood scattered about covered in layers of dust and grime. Some of the chairs were missing limbs, and water rings covered the ceiling. The wooden floor had rotted through and wide holes had formed in various places.

She started moving farther into the restaurant, jumping over the holes and slowly testing out the floor as she went along. One of the windows exploded in a cascade of glass, and Zahara leapt onto the bar, flipping over to the other side while simultaneously sliding an arrow out of the canister. She prepared the bow and pressed herself against the bar, trying to keep her breathing calm even though her heart pumped adrenaline through her blood. 

Glass crunched underneath the weight of footsteps as they searched the room. The light breeze from outside carried the scent of sweet metal, and Zahara knew it was an Imago. She also knew if she could smell him, he could certainly smell her. Rushing to her feet, she fired a blue-tipped arrow at the figure who had moved to the middle of the broken down restaurant and ducked back down before she could see if it hit him. She quickly moved to the other side of the bar as a growl echoed throughout the restaurant. The Imago jumped onto the bar, and Zahara flipped backward to avoid the Imago jumping on top of her. She then tumbled into the other end of the bar.

The Imago was on top of her in less time than it took for Zahara to lift her head. He yanked her up by her hair, and Zahara kneed him in the groin then kicked him in the chest. The Imago tossed her over the bar, and Zahara scrambled to her feet. She grabbed another arrow and realized her bow was probably on the other side of the bar. She cursed under her breath and started backward toward the door, keeping her eyes locked on the Imago as he jumped down from the bar.

In a flash, he was standing in front of her, but Zahara reacted just as quickly, moving to jab him in the side with the arrow. The Imago grabbed her wrist and threw her into the air. With a flick of his fingers, a wave of water slammed into Zahara and she was thrown through the window. Glass rained down all around her, and she cried out as she smacked into a wall. The Imago jumped through the window and landed on the ground by Zahara. He knelt down beside her. Zahara stared up at him and groaned; her vision was blurry and the back of her head was pounding loudly in her ears.

The Imago lifted his hand, but before he could make any move on Zahara, he suddenly sailed through the air and crashed through the wall of another building.

“Zahara,” a gentle voice said. Zahara’s mind recognized it, but she couldn’t form the image of the face that belonged with the voice. “Zar, speak to me! Are you okay?” A warm, smooth hand pressed against her forehead and the warmth seemed to spread throughout her whole body. Zahara’s mind and vision cleared as she looked up into Jason’s gray eyes, which were filled with worry.

“Uh, yeah, yeah, I’m fine,” Zahara finally responded, allowing Jason to help lift her to her feet. She looked where the Imago had been thrown and her eyes widened. The Imago hadn’t just gone through one wall but three and laid unconscious in the distance. She turned and looked at Jason, eyes still wide.

“You must be hitting the gym hard; those arms are beefed up to take down walls.”

 Jason grinned. “Impressed?” He flexed his arms and kissed his biceps.

Zahara couldn’t help but giggle. “Okay, okay, I concede, your arms would impress Zeus, now stop flexing.”

#SonsofOldTrilogy Week: Book Review + Sneak Peek: Lucifer (Sons of Old Trilogy #1) by Annabell Cadiz

Lucifer (Sons of Old Trilogy, #1)

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Synopsis: Have you ever wondered what could be hiding in the shadows?

Well, for eighteen-year-old Zahara Faraday, she doesn’t have to wonder. You see she comes from a lineage of Light Witches, those who have chosen to help protect and serve between the supernatural world and the human world. The only problem is Zahara, like her father Solomon, is as human as a human being can be whereas her mother, Mia, and her Aunt Catalina, were born as Light Witches. As a family they hunt down rogue supernaturals—creatures who harm humans or who have committed an act against their kingdom. 

Zahara’s hunting skills are usually kept dormant since her parents would prefer she live life as a normal human girl without knowledge of the supernatural world. She plans on doing just that—except when she finds a couple being attacked by fairies, she has no choice but to step in. Before she can return to pretending to be blissfully ignorant, Zahara encounters a problem she isn’t the least equip to handle: Bryan Hamilton, the good looking new co-worker she has to help train. In a heartbeat, her best friend, Becca King, has set her up on a double date with herself and her new crush, Rekesh Saint-Louis, who happens to be the most powerful leader of the biggest Imago Coven in South Florida –supernatural creatures with the ability to control water . . . and suck out human souls. 

Zahara has no time to focus on how she’s going to explain her double date with her best friend and the enemy they have a tentative truce with to her parents because soon one of the members of Mia and Catalina’s coven is found murdered with a strange tattoo of a snake with wings carved into his arm.

Zahara is then thrown into a whirlwind battle with an angel determined to have revenge against God, an Imago coven she doesn’t think they should trust, and slew of dream-eating fairies and powerful Nephilims, hybrid children of angels and humans, more than happy to rip her to shreds.

Normal just got a deadlier definition.

Brought to you by TeamNerd Reviewer Bridget Strahin

Note: Please keep in mind, the author is my best friend. With that being said, this review is completely biased in every sense of the word. Honest, but biased.

Review (Originally Published on February 1, 2013): Have you ever wondered what you would do if you met an actual angel from up above? Well, Zahara Faraday has met an angel and what did she do? She kicked his butt!

Zahara, an eighteen-year-old, normal, all-American Floridian, is just looking forward to college life and spending the summer alongside her bestie, Becca. Then it all goes to hell in a hand basket when Zahara (and a reluctant Becca) take it upon themselves to save a couple, who are being attacked by fairies in the middle of a park in the dead of night. Things were looking pretty bleak for them. until a very powerful Imago steps in, and in an uncharacteristic move, saves them and the couple from their nasty little opponents.

Zahara tries to put the whole fight and rescue behind her, until she meets the very alluring Bryan Hamilton. Complicated couldn't describe her situation any better. Within a couple of days, Zahara goes from a semi-normal life (well, as normal as life could be for the daughter of a Light Witch) to having to juggle an almost boyfriend, a smitten best friend, who is head over heels for the Imago that saved her life, an angel who comes to her seeking help, oh, and did I mention that Lucifer and his mean, but totally hot, lackies are back on earth and have all intentions on making Zahara's and everyone she loves life a living hell? (haha get what I did there?) Gosh, could this girl catch a break?!

Zahara is probably one of my favorite heroines of all time! She's strong, brave, compassionate, vulnerable and smart and has a stellar wardrobe. She's written superbly with a witty and sometimes snarky attitude. She adjusts quickly to every situation she's thrown into and never thinks twice about jumping into the line of fire to save someone.

“Becks, I can’t just let people die knowing I can stop that from happening.” Zahara fitted one of the arrows, made of aluminum carbon, into the crossbow and peeked her head back inside the car. “You coming or babysitting the car?”

LOVE HER!

Then you have her bubbly and equally amazing best friend, Becca King. Now this is a girl after my own heart. Where Zahara is always ready for battle, Becca is right behind her being the voice of reason. But despite all the caution where Zahara is concerned, she's a girl who believes in going after what you believe in and she believes in love . . .  with Rekesh. One of the very last people she should ever fall for but she doesn't care. She knows he would never hurt her and when the opportunity presents itself, she confronts Rekesh and tells him exactly what she wants. Getting herself and Zahara in all kinds of trouble in the process. Gotta love her!

“Follow the path of blood down the dark hallway into the back alley where there can possibly be a body and some killer. It’s too cliché horror movie for my taste. We are not those stupid girls.”

Oh and let's not forget about all the hotness going on. Boys, people. I'm talking about boys. There's a whole slew of muscle clad, smart mouthed, evil doing, swoon worthy boys in this book. Some will make you catch your breath (literally) with just one look, make you want to make yourself their prisoner, defy all logic just to be by their sides, and make you rethink the power of what a single blue Mohawk can do to you. Cadiz flawlessly creates a cast of hot male characters to appease everyone's appetite and have you begging for more.

If you think that this cast of amazing characters isn't enough for you, just wait until you get to the very end of this book. "WTH, I can't believe she did that, and shut the front door!" are only a few of my choice words. Just when you think Cadiz couldn't take you on anymore of a crazy roller coaster ride, she puts you on a double loopty-loop without a seat belt and sends you on your way, WITH JUST THREE SENTENCES.

And if you're like me, and completely in NEED of the sequel, don't worry, because I have it on good authority, that MICHEAL, the second book in the Sons of Old Trilogy, will be out later this year. Until then, the ILLC (I Love Lucifer Club) meets every Tuesday. 

Happy reading everyone!!

SNEAK PEEK

A growl escaped the Imago’s lips as he threw a punch down toward Solomon’s face with such speed Zahara was surprised her father somehow managed to move his head aside just in time. She pulled the dagger out of her back pocket and jumped back up, running toward her father. Solomon had also returned to his feet and had his arm wrapped around the Imago’s neck. Zahara threw the knife, aiming at the Imago’s heart and let out a scream as the Imago tossed Solomon over his shoulder at the same time.

            

Zahara cried out, but the knife missed Solomon by a mere inch. Solomon kept hold of the Imago’s arm and twisted as hard he could, his hand finding the dagger on the ground and driving it into the Imago’s side. The Imago shrieked, fumbling back for a moment, but Solomon refused to let him go, using the Imago’s arm to turn him around and, as he moved to kick his legs from under him, the Imago grabbed onto Solomon’s arm and threw him into the air.

            

Zahara didn’t wait to see where her father landed; she knew he was going to need more than human, brute strength to beat a supernatural. She ran to the truck, Becca following behind, throwing the driver’s side door open and almost being slammed by the door bouncing back since she was too impatient to wait for it to fully open before jumping into the truck.

            

“What are you doing?!” Becca asked as she climbed into the passenger seat.

            

“Key, key, key, where is that blasted key?” Zahara murmured to herself as she looked in the middle consul but only found another dagger. Becca opened the compartment in the dashboard and she barely held it out to Zahara before she was bringing the truck to life. Becca jumped into the passenger seat.

            

Zahara pushed her foot into the gas pedal and steered the truck toward the Imago, who had thrown Solomon against the side of the porch. As he sped toward Solomon, Zahara pressed harder on the gas pedal. The Imago noticed the truck just in time to vanish into the wind and suddenly appear in the back of the truck, arm shattering the glass of the back window. Becca screamed. Zahara pushed her foot against the brake pedal this time, and the Imago fell back. She jumped out of the truck, dagger from the consul in hand, and growled at the Imago, who was now staring down at her, growling in return.

            

The Imago jumped down from the truck and stood in front of her in the blink of an eye. Zahara reacted just as fast, swiping the dagger across his chest. The Imago hissed and grabbed Zahara’s wrist, snapping her bones the same way someone’s foot would snap a twig. Zahara’s scream was cut short when the Imago lifted her up, his hand a vice grip around her neck. Instantly, Zahara’s vision blackened, as she was on the brink of losing consciousness. The skin of her neck began to drip with blood as his nails dug hungrily into it. Zahara could swear she heard the bones begin to crack, but she couldn’t tell over the grinding of her own teeth.  

          

She tried to kick out her leg, but she could only find the strength to connect with his thigh. The Imago seemed unfazed by her weak efforts to remain alive. A strangled cry escaped through Zahara’s clenched teeth. The Imago’s features contorted from that bit of triumph to shocked agony. Zahara’s brow creased in confusion and then she was falling to the ground, her lungs choking from the instant intake of air.            

Zahara looked up at the Imago. He was standing frozen, arm still outstretched and fingers now grasping nothing more than air.

TeamNerd Reviews Presents: Sons of Old Trilogy Tour: May 11-31, 2015!

Blog Tour Schedule

May 11

Indy Book Fairy (Promo Post)

May 12

Mia in Narnia (Top Ten)

May 14

An Aussie Girl’s WILD Book Addiction! (Promo Post)

Writing On the Sunny Side of the Street (Guest Post)

May 15

Book Lover’s Life (Top Ten)

May 18

Reading Away the Days (Top Ten)

May 21

Every Free Chance Books (Review of LUCIFER & MICHAEL)

May 22

Relaxed Reads (Promo Post)

We Live and Breathe Books (Book Review of LUCIFER)
Dreams Come True Through Reading (Book Review: LUCIFER & MICHAEL)

May 24

Just Us Book Blog (Book Review: LUCIFER)

May 25

Read Write All the Time (Book Review: LUCIFER & MICHAEL + Guest Post)

May 27

Books and Sweet Epiphany (Book Review: LUCIFER & MICHAEL)

AlwaysJoArt (Guest Post)

May 28

Buried Under Books (Guest Post)

May 29

The Phantom Photographer (Promo Post)

Welcome to Book City (Book Review: LUCIFER)

May 30

The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club (Top Ten)

May 31

Paradise of Pages (Book Review: LUCIFER & MICHAEL + Guest Post)

Kariny’s Teen Boox Frenzy (Book Review: LUCIFER & MICHAEL)

About the Books

Lucifer (Sons of Old Trilogy #1)

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Purchase on Barnes & Noble and Amazon! *Only 99 Cents until MAY 31**

Synopsis: Have you ever wondered what could be hiding in the shadows?

Well, for eighteen-year-old Zahara Faraday, she doesn’t have to wonder. You see she comes from a lineage of Light Witches, those who have chosen to help protect and serve between the supernatural world and the human world. The only problem is Zahara, like her father Solomon, is as human as a human being can be whereas her mother, Mia, and her Aunt Catalina, were born as Light Witches. As a family they hunt down rogue supernaturals—creatures who harm humans or who have committed an act against their kingdom. 

Zahara’s hunting skills are usually kept dormant since her parents would prefer she live life as a normal human girl without knowledge of the supernatural world. She plans on doing just that—except when she finds a couple being attacked by fairies, she has no choice but to step in. Before she can return to pretending to be blissfully ignorant, Zahara encounters a problem she isn’t the least equip to handle: Bryan Hamilton, the good looking new co-worker she has to help train. In a heartbeat, her best friend, Becca King, has set her up on a double date with herself and her new crush, Rekesh Saint-Louis, who happens to be the most powerful leader of the biggest Imago Coven in South Florida –supernatural creatures with the ability to control water . . . and suck out human souls. 

Zahara has no time to focus on how she’s going to explain her double date with her best friend and the enemy they have a tentative truce with to her parents because soon one of the members of Mia and Catalina’s coven is found murdered with a strange tattoo of a snake with wings carved into his arm.

Zahara is then thrown into a whirlwind battle with an angel determined to have revenge against God, an Imago coven she doesn’t think they should trust, and slew of dream-eating fairies and powerful Nephilims, hybrid children of angels and humans, more than happy to rip her to shreds.

Normal just got a deadlier definition.

Michael (Sons of Old Trilogy #2)

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Purchase on Barnes & Noble and Amazon! *ONLY 99 Cents on MAY 11-31, 2015*

Synopsis: Zahara Faraday looks like a normal eighteen-year-old and lives in a quiet neighborhood with her overprotective parents. She works at a bookstore and hangs out with her best friend Becca King on a daily basis. But underneath the normal lies a secret life filled with dangerous supernaturals. Zahara belongs to a world made of Light Witches, rogue Imagoes (supernatural creatures with super strength, speed, and silver skin when the moon is out), fallen angels, and Nephilim (hybrid children born half-human, half-angel). Where her father Solomon Faraday is human, her mother Mia and her Aunt Catalina are Light Witches. They help protect the human world by hunting down rogue supernaturals who commit heinous acts against humans. What they never expected was the possibility of having to hunt down the one rogue coven they had befriended and come to trust in their battle against Lucifer. Rekesh Saint-Louis is the leader of the most powerful Imago coven in Florida and now he’s the most suspected. Supernatural bodies are starting to pile up with an ancient ritual long forbade being used to murder them and the symbol, one large cross with four smaller crosses around it—which represents Rekesh’s coven— being left behind. Rekesh and the Elders of his coven set out to find who is behind the murders and clearing his name before a war between the covens begins. To make matters more difficult, Rekesh also has to deal with the return of someone he has been keeping a secret.

Meanwhile, Zahara and Becca are spending more time brushing up on their training, knowing an attack from Lucifer can come at any moment. Between patrolling neighborhoods and hanging at the boarding school created by Charles Stephens—a fallen angel who created the school to protect the children of rogue supernaturals—they are thrown into one battle after another. Zahara begins to develop a closer bond with Jason as they train and chase down clues to clear Rekesh’s name. What she doesn’t know is the very powerful secret Jason is keeping; a secret that will change the course of the fight with Lucifer.

But Rekesh’s coven being set up isn’t the only danger. A new powerful and lethal drug has emerged from the shadows of the supernatural world called Inferi. The drug has two deadly side effects: it leaves the supernatural hungering for blood—both human and supernatural—and grants them the elemental power they had once possessed.

Lucifer is on the move and he will stop at nothing to get his hands on Zahara and complete the first act of his plan. 

A battle is about to begin. 

One that may cost the Faraday family everything they hold dear.

Nephilim (Sons of Old Trilogy #3)

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Coming August 2015!

Synopsis: After the loss of Dustin, Zahara throws herself into taking care of the Howling Café—the café he left to her in his will and fights to keep a rhythm of normalcy with the others. It’s the best they can do since Lucifer has gone underground and any attempts to find him have rendered no leads.

Endymion, Prince of the Angel Kingdom, isn’t exactly helping though. Thanks to his brash and arrogant attitude, Zahara finds she would rather stab him with her dagger than hang out with him for any period of time. But she has no choice. Endymion is the only who can help her learn to control the magic threatening to take over her body thanks to his connection to the soul lying dormant inside of her. Nevaeh was once the most powerful Nephilim in the Supernatural Kingdoms and engaged to the Prince himself. She also happened to be Lucifer’s daughter who was killed in the first Supernatural War. Her soul is key to Lucifer creating war again—not just with the Supernatural Kingdoms but with Heaven itself. Endymion is determined to keep that from happening, even if that means destroying the soul of the only woman he’s ever loved so Zahara can live.

Complicating things even more—as if they could get any more complicated—is the revelation of an ancient Grimoire once held by Margaret. The Grimorie contains powerful spells passed down through the generations of coven members within the Light Witch community. But Margaret hid it away before she helped take Lucifer down the first time. The Grimoire not only holds the two dark spells Lucifer needs to complete the final phase of his plan and but a secret Lucifer never knew about.

Zahara and company are in a race to find the Grimoire before Lucifer can but Margaret didn’t exactly make it easy. Seven keys have to be found in order to discover the location where the Grimoire had been hidden. Making matters worse is a new coven that has suddenly appeared in town. A coven made of a variety of supernaturals, all under Lucifer’s command.

The clock is ticking.

Battles will be waged.

Life changing secrets will be revealed.

The stage for the epic battle is set and not everyone will make it out alive.

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GIVEAWAY!

**E-copies of LUCIFER & MICHAEL**
**Signed Michael Bookmark**
**Handmade Bookmark**
**Sons of Old Trilogy Inspired Eyeshadow Kit**
**Lipgloss**
**Notebook**

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