Cover Reveal: The Wild Hunt by Ron C Nieto

The Wild Hunt by Ron C. Nieto
(Faerie Sworn #1)
Publication date: June 2014
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

Synopsis:Magic still lingers in the mist-covered corners of the world, wherever the Old Ways are remembered. However, as civilization and reason scoff at the Fair Folk, the paths to power have been forgotten by all but a few.

Lily Boyd was meant to become a faerie doctor, a warden of humans and a keeper of balance, until disbelief and pragmatism led her away from the hidden world and into a mundane life. But truth has a way to be Heard and she will be forced to face it if she wants to save her family.

Armed with nothing but her childhood memories and protected by a debt of gratitude she doesn’t understand, Lily must decide who to trust while she navigates a world that is darker and more twisted than she is prepared for.

And should she make the wrong choice, should she mistake friend and foe… the eternal balance between the Faerie Courts may shatter, and then there will be more than Lily’s life on the line.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21416356-the-wild-hunt

AUTHOR BIO

Ron C. Nieto is a fantasy and romance author who has been writing in her secluded fortress for the longest time. Recently, she had a talk with her cat and decided that she should share her creations, because it was selfish to hoard them all for herself.
If you would like to know more about her, please visit her website.

Author links: 

https://twitter.com/RonCNieto

https://www.facebook.com/roncnietoauthor

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5808445.Ron_C_Nieto

http://www.roncnieto.com/

AOTW #19 E Bell

Welcome to Author of the Week! Every week on my book group, an author member is chosen to be Author of the Week and will be featured here, tweeted on Twitter, shared on Google Plus and Pinterest and generally treated like royalty! Group members are asked to do features and talk about our AOTW to help each one to promote his/her work to the book community. 
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/114319-my-big-fat-indie-book-gang

This week: E Bell!

Where can I find this author?
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6982543.E_Bell 

It is 2049, and sixteen-year-old Lucia Carboni carries a weight on her shoulders not typical of a teenage girl. Her burden is not clothes, boys, or school; it’s saving the world. Born into the Ascended Ones, Lucia’s mission is to help the cult depopulate the world, take over, and enslave the survivors. If all goes well, by 2050, there will be a New World Order—a plan the Ascended Ones have been working toward for centuries.

After Lucia is sent undercover to public school, she attempts to fit in and develops friendships with the very people her cult seeks to destroy. But what no one knows is that Lucia is immune to her cult’s brainwashing techniques. Torn between her upbringing and hope for her future, Lucia makes a bold decision to escape to Ground Zero in New York City, where she hopes to find her mother, pose as an alter, and seek proof of the Ascended Ones’ plan. As she embarks on a journey to the truth, Lucia soon discovers that nothing is as it seems.

In this exciting futuristic tale, a teenager races against time to enlighten the world and stop an evil plan before it is too late.

Listina Bello has been on a perpetual search for happiness ever since she graduated from high school ten years ago. Legal assistant by day and partier by night, Listina thinks she is functioning perfectly fine. She drinks a bottle of Pinot every night, but still manages to keep her dead-end job, her Manhattan apartment, and her social life. Unfortunately, she could not be more wrong.

With a bottle of wine as her companion, Listina trolls Facebook one night, finally landing on a photo she thought she blocked. As she stares at the old yearbook picture of the smiling girls who relentlessly bullied her back in high school, she suddenly realizes she has been suppressing her emotions for years and hiding behind a myriad of distractions, hoping to numb, or even kill, her feelings altogether. With no other way out but up, Listina relies on old diary entries to dig deep inside herself, return mentally to her seemingly perfect hometown, and finally face her harsh label, relive the taunts, and experience the heartache all over again.

In this poignant novel, a young woman torn between her past and her future must finally shake the identity she was unfairly given in order to begin to find her own.

Book Review: Cherry Kisses by Erica Hayes(Shadowfae #4.5)

Sexy con-artist Lena Falco isn't a witch, not technically. She uses her cache of stolen magic tricks to seduce and bedazzle her marks. When she's hired by a demon to steal a cursed magical amulet from a monstrous tower in Hell, it must be her lucky day. The prize? A single wish—whatever she wants.

The catch? There's competition: Ethan Benford, swordsman and enchanter, arrogant, maddeningly sexy and the only incorruptible man in town.

Lena's been burnt before by Ethan's easy charm, and she vows he'll meet his match this time. But is ultimate power worth betraying the only man who truly believes in her?

My Review:
Lena is a con-artist Lena Falco who steals magic from others to use on her victims. Now a demon has made her an offer-go to Hell and retreive a box for him and he will grant her a wish. The other complication is that her failed mentor Ethan wants to find it too and they have to pair up if they are going to make it back alive.

I don't normally read book 4.5 before any others in the series but I was told that it could be read as a stand alone book and it was also free. Did I mention that I really loved the cover as well? Lena is a fun character-crooked, feisty, daring and always looking for the easy way out. Instead of learning magic from Ethan, Lena prefers to be lazy and steal small bits of magic but this demon wish could grant her all the power she has dreamed of. Ethan is the nice guy who wants to help Lena get a better life but she won't help herself.

I liked the plot. The idea that junkies can take a drug that lets them visit Hell for a short period where they can do whatever they want and if they are still alive when the time is up, they are brought back home. This is how our heroes get to Hell on their mission. From the second they get there, they are under attack from all kinds of interesting monsters and the pace of the plot is relentless. This book is certainly urban fantasy based, not paranormal romance based so expect violence and monster gore!

I liked the ending as well. It fits with the Lena that we have followed through the book and I found myself smiling a bit at it. It was nicely worked out and I certainly enjoyed the whole adventure. The author does a good job of character development and mixes the plot with some snarky humour and fun stuff.

This made me want to read the rest of the series but it has been described as erotic paranormal romance which does not appeal to me. The reviews I've looked at seem to back it up and I can't be bothered with endless sex scenes interrupting a good plot. What a pity, as I thought I'd uncovered an author that I was going to really like! Bummer.

This book is FREE on Smashwords! https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/348677

ApocalypZe: Those left behind by Ivan Turner

Matt Baker is a neuro-biologist working for a prominent laboratory. He awakens one Thursday morning to a call from one of his colleagues.

"Are you sick? Everyone's sick."

The changes to the world are noticeable almost as soon as he steps out the door, but the full impact of what is upon them only becomes clear as they begin their research on the unfortunate victims left behind.

By the end of this story, you will get to know Matt Baker and some of the people that will accompany him on his journey through the ApocalypZe. Is he a survivor or just another meal for the ravenous hordes waiting on his doorstep?

My Review:
Three scientists turn up to work and are stuck indoors with dying colleagues and zombies trying to get inside. Matt wonders if they could examine the brain of one of the recently dead to get some answers but with the threat all around them, is there time?

These short stories are being released free to tempt you to buy the main series and from what I saw here, it could be a good read. The author introduces us to Matt with as much character development as you can do in a short story and he builds up the tension nicely as the sick colleagues start to die in front of them and go zombie, while the survivors try to decide what to do next. The plot is good, it is well written and enjoyable.

I did however wonder why Matt would go to the trouble of wanting to examine a newly dead brain to see what is there and if it offers hope of a cure, only to decide minutes later that he should leave the relative safety of the building. He wants to take a colleague to hospital who is going to die any second and become a zombie. That seemed a bit dumb to me for a scientist, especially when he doesn't even like her! I would think that he would have a plan in mind before wanting to run out of the building! But that is just a wee niggle because that plot decision is for dramatic purposes and takes the story forward in a new direction.

If you like your zombies traditional and deadly, this may well appeal to you. Good short read.

This book is FREE on Smashwords! https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/310361

If a billion people had been spared the horror of the zombie infection, that would still leave five billion zombies on the planet. If only the odds had been that good. Lieutenant Dan Killmeyer is sitting on a powder keg. Every sick person on base is about to die. And every dead person will become an aggressive, flesh eating zombie. The order is evacuate. But evacuate who?

Lieutenant Dan Killmeyer and Corporal Dwayne Martinson are very different people. Young and smart, Dan has earned his rank by displaying calm leadership and a spotless record. But when the colonel summons him in the middle of the night and shares with him the knowledge of what the world is about to become, Dan must make some very difficult decisions in order to ensure the survival of those around him.

Martinson, on the other hand, is older, more seasoned, and very happy to remain a corporal. A brilliant sharpshooter, Martinson's talent gets called into play in a way that he would have never expected.

My Review:
Dan is summoned by his dying Colonel who informs him that the rampant flu on the base is a zombie plague that will kill everyone if not controlled. Dan and his men must evacuate the sick, including his own wife, in buses to a location where they can be disposed off to keep the base safe and dependable. But the evacuation is time consuming and the people are already starting to turn...

I enjoyed this zombie tale, the second one I have read by the author, setting the scene for the main series which is to come. Dan is given quite a bombshell to deal with, trying not to grieve for his wife's fate while trying to take control of a situation that could explode at any minute. This is fast paced with the soldiers running around trying to get the sick onto buses and get weapons, while Dan is keeping in radio contact with the soldiers who are taking the sick away. When things go pear shaped, events speed up and the tension goes through the roof.

This is the kind of zombie story that I like to read-good characters, tension, plot, zombie attacks. Very enjoyable short story.

This book is FREE on Smashwords! https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/328247

Meet Chucklesthescot! #1

Hi everyone! It has been pointed out to me that I've never really introduced myself to those visiting my blog. So I've decided to put together a nice wee feature with some of the questions I'm asked and a few fun facts about me, for your entertainment.

1) Why are you called chucklesthescot?
I had to make up a username for a book site so I picked Scot because I'm Scottish and chuckles because I'm actually quite a grumpy person. I figured I was being ironic!

2) Why do you have Count Von Count all over your profiles?
I loved the Count from the first time I saw Sesame Street as a kid and I just think he is really cool. Heh Heh!

3) Are you male or female?
Female

4) Why did you start blogging?
I started my first blog a few years ago because I thought it would be fun to chat about stuff I was doing-until I realised my life is pretty dull! Then last July I got interested in reviewing Indie writers on Goodreads and thought I could do a book blog to tell people what I'm reading, promote Indie authors and books, write reviews, and have some book chat.

5) Do you prefer physical books or ereaders?
Nothing beats holding a real book in your hand! The shiny new cover, that new book smell, the swish of the turning pages...love it! If I read an ebook I got free online or from an author to review and I love it, I try to buy a paperback copy for my collection. I get the real book and the author gets a sale!

6) Do you have an ereader?
Yes, I got my first Kobo in August 2013, then a Kindle Paperwhite from Santa for Christmas. I do like ereaders because I can read faster and don't have to take lots of books on holiday now but they have their faults. Every time Kobo desktop issues an update, I have to factory reset the blighter to get it working again! 

7) What genres do you read?
I LOVE gory horror with disturbing scenes and mega violence, action packed urban fantasy with kickass characters and funny sidekicks, dystopian, mountain disaster non fiction, tudor fiction, mythology, dark fantasy and paranormal. I don't read everything in these genres, I go purely on how the story sounds. Love zombies, apocalypses, vampires, shifters, demons etc

8) What books do you not enjoy?
I HATE girlie romance/chicklit, epic fantasy, paranormal romance with all sex no plot and violent bullies for heroes, westerns, science fiction, gothic vampires, crime, historical sagas, erotic, religious works and ordinary YA. 

9) Why would I want to read an Indie book? Aren't they just crap that publishers don't want?
NOOOO! A lot of writers choose to self publish to keep full control over their book ie choosing their own covers, not having their unhappy ending changed by an editor etc. Yes there is some crap out there in the indie world but the same is true of some mainstream stuff I've read. I've also read some pretty amazing self published books as well.

10)Where do I find Indie books?
You can try a lot of Indie books free or cheap online through your Kindle, Nook, Kobo etc. You can also get a lot of good freebies on Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/ Check out my blog for lots of Indie book reviews and promotions!

11)Can I send you my book to review?
Due to time constraints I'm not doing a lot of reviews for books sent to me by authors. Deadlines are a bit of an issue at the moment and I'm trying to clear my own book backlog! So I'm mostly doing a few for authors I know where I've read other books in the series. Requests can be sent to me through PM at Goodreads, but no promises.

12)Favourite TV?
Deadliest Catch, The West Wing, The Walking Dead, The Tudors, Alias, Miami Vice, Lost, Nikita, Blake's Seven, Stargate Atlantis, Doctor Who, Supernatural, Grimm, Torchwood, 24, Coronation Street, V(original series), Whitechapel, Stargate SG1, Father Ted, Only Fools and Horses, NCIS, Bottom, Ab Fab, Dallas, House of Cards(UK), Columbo, Prisoner Cell Block H, Buffy, Angel, The Shield, Takeshi's Castle, Gold Rush, Wicked Tuna, Yukon Gold, Bering Sea Gold, Jungle Gold, Ax Men, Big Rig Bounty Hunters, Tenko,...and lots more!

13)Series you want to watch? 
I haven't had time to see any of these yet! Homeland, Arrow, Revolution, The Blacklist, The Following, Teen Wolf, The Vampire Diaries, Game of Thrones, Sanctuary, Haven, Continuum, Almost Human, Da Vincis Demons, Penny Dreadful, NCIS LA, Cold Water Cowboys, Pretty Little Liars, Lost Girl, Dollhouse, Flash Forward, Blood Ties, Alphas, Agents of SHIELD, Bitten, Witchblade, Farscape, Warehouse 13, Vikings, Under the Dome, Tomorrow People, Sleeper Cell, Strike Back, Veep, Scandal, The Newsroom, Breaking Bad, House of Cards(US), Hannibal, Dexter, XIII, The Tunnel, The Bridge,

14)Favourite mainstream books and authors?
Erk! Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Jennifer Rardin,  Kelly Meding, Charlaine Harris, Kelley Armstrong, Christina Henry, Jeffery Deaver, James Patterson, Patricia Briggs, Jaye Wells, Rob Thurman, Rachel Caine, 

15)Indie Authors to watch out for?  
Kendra C Highley, Ken Mooney, Stephanie Jackson, Judith Post, Claire C Riley, David Estes, Eli Constant, Ivan Amberlake, Ada Adams, Suzy Turner, Melissa Eskue Ousley, Matt Drabble, JG Faherty, Dave Ferraro, Jason Rowe, Brian Palmer, ZA Recht, Nikki Jefford, Johnny B Truant, DelSheree Gladden, AZ Green, Isabella Modra, Amanda Lyons, Amber Michelle Cook, SP van der Lee, Aoife Marie Sheridan, Sharon Sant, James Todd Cochrane (more will be added!)

16)Favourite things?
Reading, music, films, TV, making news scrapbooks, football, darts, cricket, baseball, American football, rain, chocolate, dinosaurs, Yoda, supporting St.Mirren, lounging about in a onesie, Amazon packages.

If you have questions you want to ask for the next round, ask them in the comment box. All comments are moderated so rude crap and ads are deleted. 

*Waves at readers*

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