Making Connections One Year Anivversary Celebration

 

Be part of the Making Connections one-year celebration!

We are looking for 26 blogs, each to host one letter of the alphabet (one per day).
On your day, you will give one reason Making Connections is so great, beginning with your letter.
Example:
A-Amazing Company.  Making Connections is a great group because of the great company you find there.

 

In addition to the blog hop, we will also have giveaways, prizes, games, and book awards for the authors and bloggers of the Making Connections group!

See the In-Linkz widget below for sign-ups.
Sign-ups widget will close at 11:59pm on Feb. 1st, 2013.

 

 

 

 

Sign-up by adding your name to the widget below. 

Kick-off on February 1st, A-Z begins Feb. 2nd, Wrap-up on Feb. 28th.

1.	Alana @ Dark Obsession Chronicles	13.	Steph	25.	Mallory Heart Reviews
2.	C. Kennedy	14.	Lil Berry @ Forget About TV, Grab a Book	26.	Lisa Voisin
3.	Olga Núñez Miret	15.	Eva Pohlrt	27.	Meredith Bond
4.	Making Connections	16.	Tmonique Stephens~ Paranormal Romance	28.	Maghon @ Happy Tails and Tales
5.	Sheri @ Shut Up & Read	17.	Salem Patterson	29.	Kristine Cayne
6.	Midu	18.	Jonel	30.	Antonello Fiore
7.	Tala	19.	Wynne Channing	31.	Milda Harris @ Writer Girl in LA
8.	Brooke @ The Cover Contessa	20.	J.A. Beard	32.	Dennis Deschamps
9.	Tana Rae Reads	21.	Stephanie M. Hasty (The Conscientious Reader)	33.	Natasha Hanova
10.	Mari	22.	Tome Tender	34.	Ellie Heller
11.	Think @ Thinks Books	23.	Kate Campbell
12.	Elizabeth	24.	Joy Elbel

(Cannot add links: Registration/trial expired)

Dark Walz by A.M. Hargrove

Dark Waltz, a Praestani Novel by A.M. Hargrove
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dark Waltz is the first book in a spinoff of A.M. Hargrove's The Guardians of Vesturon series. This book takes the characters from the YA series and brings them into a whole new light in this adult series, set a few years in the future. Don't worry…if you have not read The Guardians of Vesturon books, you do not absolutely need to in order to understand Dark Waltz. However, you will get a lot of background understanding by reading those books first.

That all being said, one of the reasons I loved this book so much was Jurek. I absolutely fell in love with him in Determinant, and here he is again, all hot and sexy. Now, at first Jurek is kind of…a jerk. But, can you really blame him? Look what he's fighting against and everything he has to deal with. He pretty much has the weight of the world on his shoulders. So I will forgive him if he acts a bit defensive, protective, and untrusting at first. He certainly redeems himself.

As for the rest of the characters, they were a lot of fun. I really loved Jurek's group of friends and can only hope the series continues with them. Liasare is a great lead. She's a bit naive about some things, but she's tough and does not back down to anyone. She's fighting for something she believes in and is willing to take risks to get there. Liasare's stubbornness and Jurek's demand for control do not go well together. Their relationship is hot and heavy and definitely explosive until they learn to trust each other.

Overall, a great sexy sci-fi story.


View all my reviews

Hybrid by Juliann Whicker

Hybrid by Juliann Whicker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book 2 in the House of Slide series is, in short, amazing. We come into the story shortly after Dariana has gotten her soul back and becomes "normal" (if there can be a normal in this story) again. She has to learn to live a completely different life than she had been, and I love the character development we get to witness as she deals with everything thrown her way. The continuation of the world we first entered into in Hotblood (book 1) is completely unique from anything you've read before…and the complexity! I am amazed how the author is able to strand everything together to make it into a coherent, engaging story. Delving into the world of the Hotbloods, Cools, Wilds, and Hybrids is an amazing journey. The author's incredible imagination feeds the story and grows it into this fascinating creation.

In Hybrid we are reintroduced to our favorite characters from Hotblood, Dariana and Lewis (oh Lewis, how I love him!), plus we get more of Satan and Grim! Yay and double Yay!

Haven't read Hotblood yet? Go get to it now!! Then come back for this one…

Interview with Juliann Whicker:
http://shutupandreadgroup.blogspot.co...

View all my reviews

The Rise by H.D. Gordon

The Rise by H.D. Gordon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The third installment of the Alexa Montgomery series is amazing in that the author took the word "twist" to a whole new level. No way could anyone have seen that coming. The story continues right where book 2 left off but plunges into a dark abyss that will be difficult to climb out of. The book is action packed with never a dull moment. There is a lot of love in this story, as well as loss, pain, hope, fear, emotion, emotion, emotion, and the author did it all quite well.

Through the whole story, even still at the end, Alexa is conflicted with what and who she is. She knows her fate and never questions it, though she does wonder, why her? What makes her so special that she should be able to do what is being asked of her? Though I love Alexa and her badass self, her whole crappy attitude did get on my nerves a bit in this book (is it really necessary to be so freaking rude to EVERYBODY? I'm sure she has some niceness in her somewhere…I hope it does come out eventually. It would be a nice change for her…maybe at least to be nice to Kayden).

And Jackson, oh my true love, Jackson. What could I possibly say about you? I cannot possibly leave you out of my review of this book; however, I'll just leave it at that. I love you. Enough said.

On top of all of that, the books are incredibly well written. The author really has a way with words, painting almost whimsical pictures with her poetic-like words. I would definitely recommend this series as a must-read to everyone!


View all my reviews

Dark Waltz by A.M. Hargrove

Today is my stop on the Dark Waltz blog tour!   

 

Just check out this cover...

 

WOW! And the book is just as hot...Trust me, you won't be dissapointed!

Title:  Dark Waltz

 

Series:  A Praestani Novel #1

Author:  A.M. Hargrove

Genre:  Paranormal Romance/Erotica

Heat Level:  Hot!!

Published:  November 2012







About Dark Walz:
Dark Waltz--A sizzling legend of loss, lust and love.

It’s the year 2030 and the human population has been annihilated by a virulent form of small pox. Liasare Davidson is desperately searching for her brother, who has been missing for three months. It’s been eighteen years since she was evacuated from Earth and she is horrified to see it’s become a cesspool of unimaginable things.

In her quest to find her brother, she meets Jurek, a powerful and enigmatic being that frightens her, yet she is unable to resist. When things begin to unfold between them, they both discover a paralyzing truth that puts Liasare at grave risk. She must make a choice to join Jurek and find her brother or fulfill a role she believes she is ill equipped to undertake.


My Review:
4 of 5 stars
Dark Waltz is the first book in a spinoff of A.M. Hargrove's The Guardians of Vesturon series. This book takes the characters from the YA series and brings them into a whole new light in this adult series, set a few years in the future. Don't worry…if you have not read The Guardians of Vesturon books, you do not absolutely need to in order to understand Dark Waltz. However, you will get a lot of background understanding by reading those books first.

That all being said, one of the reasons I loved this book so much was Jurek. I absolutely fell in love with him in Determinant, and here he is again, all hot and sexy. Now, at first Jurek is kind of…a jerk. But, can you really blame him? Look what he's fighting against and everything he has to deal with. He pretty much has the weight of the world on his shoulders. So I will forgive him if he acts a bit defensive, protective, and untrusting at first. He certainly redeems himself.

As for the rest of the characters, they were a lot of fun. I really loved Jurek's group of friends and can only hope the series continues with them. Liasare is a great lead. She's a bit naive about some things, but she's tough and does not back down to anyone. She's fighting for something she believes in and is willing to take risks to get there. Liasare's stubbornness and Jurek's demand for control do not go well together. Their relationship is hot and heavy and definitely explosive until they learn to trust each other.

Overall, a great sexy sci-fi story.

Get your own copy now!
Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK~ Barnes & Noble ~ Smashwords

Where you can find A.M.:

Blog: http://www.amhargrove.blogspot.com

Website: htttp://www.amhargrove.com

Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/anne.m.hargrove

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/amhargrove1

Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5338829.A_M_Hargrove

Goodreads Fan Club:http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/71364-a-m-hargrove-s-fan-club

 ____________________

 

For my blog post today I was trying to come up with something a little fun...so after consulting with A.M., I have for you -

The Top 10 Reasons to Fall in Love with a Praestani...

10. Travel anywhere at the drop of a hat.

 

 

9. If your Praestani is Jurek, then you have the sanctuary.

 

 

8. Those eyes…need I say more?

7. Don't know about you, but I could look at those tats till the sun stops shining.

6. The power, all encompassing and consuming.

5. The healing power.

 

 

4. Never getting sick again a day in your life.

3. Immortality.

 

 

2. That exotic scent.

 

 

1. And the number one reason to fall for a Praestani...the sheer sexual prowess and super charged sex!

Thanks for stopping by our blog today!  As a bonus, A.M. is hosting a giveaway to go along with this tour. Click on the Rafflecopter link below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Prizes:
$15 Amazon Gift Card
Signed copy of Dark Waltz by Anne Hargrove (US and Canada Only)
Set of The Guardians of Vesturon Series (ebook)
Copy of Dark Waltz (ebook)
Copy of Hale Maree by Misty Provencher (ebook)
Copy of Mercy, A Gargoyle Story by Misty Provencher (ebook)

 

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While you're here, check out all the stops on the Dark Walz tour hosting by Making Connections:  December 11 to December 20th

11 - http://diveunderthecover.blogspot.com/
12 - http://mybookboyfriend.blogspot.com/
13 - http://coffeebooksandlipgloss.blogspot.com/
14 - http://passionatebookdivas.com/
15 - http://darkobsessionchronicles.blogspot.com/
16 - http://makingconnectionsgroup.blogspot.com/
17 - http://www.mistypro.blogspot.com
18 - http://tana-someofmyfavoritebooks.blogspot.ca/
19 - http://abitofdash.blogspot.com/
20 - http://randomjendsmit.blogspot.com/

Shadow of the Oak by Eric Edstrom

Shadow of the Oak by Eric Edstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Shadow of the Oak is a novella, roughly 93 pages, but a whole story in itself. Many times when reading a short story you just do not get enough detail to really be able to make the story complete, and though I feel like I keep repeating myself when reviewing Eric Edstrom's books, I have to say again that the detail he puts into each and every character is fabulous. His characters are wonderfully written, and it's the characters that make really a story.

Sal is great fun, and so is his best friend Billy, and even though we never actually met Billy's mom, I really like her! I heard a rumor that there is a second Sal Van Sleen Adventure in the works, and I'm looking forward to it!


View all my reviews

Blood Warrior by H.D. Gordon

Blood Warrior by H.D. Gordon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Blood Warrior is the story of Alexa, a 17-year-old girl struggling to fit into her life. She has a seemingly crazy mother, a sister she would kill for, and a best friend who she knows will always be there for her.

Alexa’s life takes a crazy turn the night her home is attacked and she’s forced to run with her sister and friend Jackson, leaving her mother behind. Along the many twists and turns, Alexa comes to the realization that nothing is as it seems, even herself. Through this book we watch her inner struggle with herself as she comes to term with who she really is, as well as the outer struggles among the people who are supposed to be allies.

Blood Warrior is a captivating book. The characters are so well drawn, you cannot help but want to be happy for them, cry for them, and be upset when they are wronged. Alexa is a teenage girl who has always been a loner, never seeming to fit in, and she ends up with more attention then she ever wanted. Watching her character struggle throughout this book is heart wrenching. You cannot help but lover her and cheer her on. Nelly is such a sweet sister, and the strong bond between Alexa and Nelly is evident. Jackson…well, I love Jackson! He wears his heart on his sleeve and is so good to Alexa you cannot help but love him, too. As for Kayden…there is definitely a strong bond between Alexa and Kayden, but at this point she’s not sure she can trust him.

This book is the best .99 I have ever spent! I would have gladly paid more for it and felt it worth the money. I love the author’s writing easy writing style, the plot, and the characters. Blood Warrior was a page turner that left me wanting more. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series to see where it takes Alexa and her friends.


View all my reviews

The Flight of the Griffin by C.M. Gray

Title:  The Flight of the Griffin

Author:  C.M. Gray

Genre:  YA Fantasy/Adventure

Page Count:  253

Published:  June 25, 2012

Available From:   Amazon ~ B&N

Goodreads Rating:
4.32


Living in their old boat ‘The Griffin’ four young characters and their guide become the unlikely heroes at the end of time when a burglary sets them on the path to finish the ‘Last great Spell’ - a spell to stop the balance of the World tipping into Chaos...

They become the Magician, Thief, Priest and Fighter when a magical book guides them upon a quest that pits them against magic, demons and ‘The Hawk,’ an evil hunter of men.

Join a race against time to find three crystal skulls that must be brought together, while all the forces of Chaos try everything to stop them! 


Excerpt: It all starts with a little burglary, one uncommon evening...

The floorboard creaked under the sole of his felt boot - a calculated risk whenever entering a sleeping man's room uninvited. 

A breeze fluttered the loose linen curtain, and the sleeper stirred at the welcome respite from the hot sticky night. The prowler slowly exhaled the breath that was starting to burn in his lungs, every sense tingling, receptive to any change in the room or a sound from the street below. 

The sleeper, thankfully, continued to sleep. 

The street under the second-storey window was silent, the night given up to the occasional rounds of the city watch and those set on a darker business, the never-ending cat and mouse game that went mostly unappreciated by the law-abiding citizens of the sleeping city. 

The summer had been one of the hottest people could ever remember, taxing the energy of the city’s inhabitants to the limit. Several of the more elderly citizens down at the port could be heard explaining that, ‘in their day’, the summers were often this hot, and indeed often hotter. Of course, these were the same group who would entertain the regulars at the portside taverns with tales of goblin hordes, ferocious sea serpents or the time the winters were so cold that the seas had frozen solid.

‘A man could have walked from here to Minster Island without ever seeing a boat or even getting his feet wet,’ was a much-repeated reminiscence. Whatever history really concealed, it was a hot summer, and this, a particularly humid night.

Pardigan watched the now softly snoring form and, moving his foot from the traitorous board, crept towards the cabinet that he knew held his prize. It was an elegant cabinet - its construction given over to more than mere function. Gracefully curved legs supported drawers and shelves that were fronted by a scrollwork of intricate designs. He inserted the blade of his knife between the edges of the middle left-hand drawer and felt for the hidden catch. If the information Quint had given him was correct, the false front should spring open. A prickle of sweat tickled his brow and he wiped it absently away. Glancing over to the still-sleeping form, he applied a little more pressure on what he hoped was the catch.

Nothing.

The merchant stirred, smacked his chops, exhaled wetly and then returned to snoring. Pardigan tried again...


About the Author:

Born in Essex, England C.M.Gray has since been lucky enough to live and travel in many countries around the world. In fact he has lived more time outside of England than living there! Home now is just outside of Barcelona, Spain in a house in the middle of the forest with his Dutch born wife and two children.

C.M.Gray’s writing is mostly fantasy and many of the experiences he has had in Asia, Africa and the Middle East come to life in his writing. The Flight of the Griffin follows the adventures of a group of young orphans as they battle demons and bandits on a magical quest to stop the world tipping into Chaos, while his second book, Shadowland blends fantasy with history as an old story teller takes his audience back to Britain's dark ages in a pre Arthurian legend.

 
Contact:  

Goodreads page:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5752854.C_M_Gray

Twitter:  @cgray129

Email:  cgray129@gmail.com

Amazon US:  http://www.amazon.com/C.M.-Gray/e/B00765XUMC

Amazon UK:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/C.M.-Gray/e/B00765XUMC

Smashwords:  https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/Cmgray

Blog:  http://flightofthegriffin.blogspot.com/

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 Stop by and check out the other blog tour stops!

Dec. 1 - http://stephenherfst.blogspot.com/
  Giveaway

Dec. 2 -  http://thecovercontessa.blogspot.com/
 Giveaway

Dec. 3 -  http://tana-someofmyfavoritebooks.blogspot.ca/

Dec. 4 - http://makingconnectionsgroup.blogspot.com/

Dec. 5 - http://suzannevanrooyen.com/blog/
 Giveaway

Dec. 6 - http://the-avidreader.blogspot.com/ 

Dec. 7 - http://passionatebookdivas.com/
 
Dec. 8 -  http://xxdaydreamer21xx.blogspot.com
 
Dec. 9 - http://kimberlylewisnovels.blogspot.com/

Dec. 10 - http://fromthebootheelcottonpatch.blogspot.com/
 Givaway