Phantasmic Reads

Friday, July 12, 2013

Bloglovin' Update

I guess I need to do a post so I can get Bloglovin' to change my web address so...

Phantasmic Reads is now located at www.phantasmicreads.com! Come visit there :)

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Release Day Blitz: Excerpt and Giveaways - Fall by Cindy Paterson

FALL
Book 3 in the Senses Series
Cindy Paterson

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Date of Publication: May 7th 2013
ISBN: 978-0-9917327-1-5
Number of pages: 244 approx.
Word Count: 98,000
Cover Artist: Mark Paterson

“He’s destroying me—us. I need him like my next breath, yet I’m suffocating.”

An unrequited love that has ripped her to pieces.

Delara has loved Waleron for over a century. Their intense chemistry is sensual, gripping, irresistible. But tragedy struck, and after sixty-one years of believing he was dead, Waleron returns a tortured man. He claims the man she loves is dead, yet the undeniable sexual tension still pulls them together.

“I am no longer the man you love, maitagarri. I am incapable of it.”

Waleron has given his oath to protect the Senses. He will sacrifice everything for them. But there is one Senses he has vowed to protect more than any other—Delara. He will do anything to make certain she is safe, even if it means he must deny her the love they once shared.

She is the hunted.

Delara’s life is in jeopardy and Waleron will do anything to protect her. But he never suspected that Xamien, the man he brings to help protect her is way more important to her than he ever knew.

Torn between two men and hunted by another, Delara must fight her hardest battle—herself.

Amazon | Smashwords

I am Xamien’s secret lover. Well, in my head I am and since I’m single this is completely allowed. Some of you may ask, who is Xamien, don’t worry you will meet him soon enough, but no falling in love with him. He is all mine.

Writing books is a fantastic way to have adventures that are impossible to have otherwise. I mean do you really want to fall in love with Waleron? He is so unstable and would never pick up after your dogs or clean the litter box. Not to mention the fact that he is always out killing disgusting grave robbing bug people.

Curling up with a good book and losing yourself to another time and place is the greatest reward. Being able to feel a character’s emotions, their fears, pain and love. Now that is incredible. I relish in the books that stay with me long after they have ended. This is what I strive for in my writing. To give the readers, and myself, an escape into another world, my world.

I have been writing since I was twelve. My parents, sorry mom and dad, would send me to my room for an hour every night to do homework, and instead I wrote stories. Oops, guess that is why I did so bad in math.

I have never stopped writing since then and never will. It’s like an addiction, but a good one. I adore stepping into the shoes of a character and deciding their fate. The characters are why I write. I want to fall in love with them (even the bad ones), so that I care about what happens to them in a story. If I can’t care about the characters then why bother with the story.

I live in Toronto with a menagerie of pets that keep me on my toes.

Where to find Cindy:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Blovel

Excerpt:

“Yeah I’ll talk to him,” Xamien said. He picked up his glass, swirled the clear liquid twice and then took a long drawl. Well, it wasn’t like there would be any sex happening here. The movement of the alcohol sent a wave of its scent through the air and she smelled the coolness of straight vodka. Simple and direct, just like him. He told her what he wanted and what he didn’t want. That was exactly how both of them wanted—simple. Sex on occasion and no strings.

Xamien cleared his throat while setting his glass down. “Oh we have lots of strings Kitten. Or would you rather call them chains?”

Her eyes darted to his face and she noticed the twinkle in his eyes. Amusement. He was toying with her and it riled her further. “So are the rumors true?” She offered a smile in return and raised both brows. “Are you really as piss poor in bed as they say you are?”

“Playing with fire, sweetness.”

“Friggin’ Christ, Delara!” Jedrik shouted slapping the heel of his hand on his forehead in utter disbelief.

Keir stood, knocking over his chair in the process. Damien’s shoes crunched across the glass on the floor and he left the room.

Xamien laughed; his deep baritone filling the room, the sound having both Keir and Jedrik stunned. Keir sat again and refilled his glass then sat back looking from one to the other.

“And you’re so asking for it.” “Playful and cute,” Xamien said. “And if you weren’t...” his grin widened and he winked, “...in love with another man I’d suggest you find out for yourself.”

“Don’t bring him into this.” She scrunched her hands into her jeans.

“He’s always in it, Kitten.” He reached for his glass and swallowed the last of the vodka. He strode towards her and she straightened, raised her chin and met his brooding expression head on, despite the emotions running havoc on her body. She was holding her own considering her secret lover was here and speaking telepathically about their interludes while the Talde watched with no idea that something was being said in-between words. But it was dangerous. One of them was going to find out if Xamien didn’t get his ass back to Spain. Alone.

He stopped inches away from her now heaving chest and she felt Jedrik’s hand on her forearm. Xamien eyes were somber with a hint of indecision, as if he was deciding whether to goad her further or not. Refusing to back away, she waited the several seconds before Xamien tilted his head to the side in a nod.

“I can see why he loves you.” Xamien’s expression was thoughtful. “I hope he realizes he does soon before some other man sweeps you into his heart.”

Dumbfounded by his words, Delara’s only reaction was to drop her jaw and stare. Xamien rarely mentioned her love for Waleron. It was one of those things they kept out of their conversations. But he knew about all of it, had lived her memories during mind weaving. Then, when they first hooked up after the Trinity scenario many years ago, well she’d been so hurt that she’d blurted her pain to him. He must have heard it in her thoughts, but she didn’t know he could read her mind yet. They’d never mentioned Waleron since.

The first giveaway is for winner's choice of either Jump (Book One in the Senses series) or Step (Book Two in the Senses series). The second giveaway is for a $100 Amazon gift card! Good luck <3

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, May 6, 2013

May Kindle Fire Giveaway!

This is a joint AUTHOR & BLOGGER SPONSORED GIVEAWAY!

Kindle Fire HD 7" Giveaway

The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HD (US Only)

Or $199 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

Or $199 in Paypal Cash (International)

Sponsoring Bloggers & Authors

Giveaway Details 1 winner will receive their choice of a Kindle Fire 7" HD (US Only), $199 Amazon Gift Card or $199 in Paypal Cash (International). Ends 5/31/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Trailer Blast and Giveaway: The Infernal Detective by Kirsten Weiss

Welcome to the Nerd TRAILER Blast for THE INFERNAL DETECTIVE by Kirsten Weiss hosted by Book Nerd Tours!

THE INFERNAL DETECTIVE, the fourth book in the Riga Hayworth series, published by misterio press, will be available on Amazon May 21, 2013.
To promote the novel, the author created an alternate reality game – a virtual “novella” in the world of The Infernal Detective. The Infernal Detective video book trailer is the gateway to the game, which leads players through character blogs and a Pinterest board.
Hidden in the text are links to stories within stories, and a scavenger hunt for a “junk oracle.” The first fifty players to solve the game and report in to the author will receive an advance electronic copy of The Infernal Detective for Kindle, Nook, or Kobo.

When Riga Hayworth finds a dead body in her bedroom a week before her wedding, it’s par for the course. When the corpse drives off with her fiancée… That’s a problem.

Riga knows dead. More intimately than she’d like. So when a murdered photographer gets up and walks away, she’s believes there’s necromancy afoot. And when she discovers that several of her wedding guests are under the influence of dark magic, she’s certain. But how can she catch a killer and stop a necromancer when even her nearest and dearest are lying to her?

The Infernal Detective is a fast-paced, paranormal mystery, where nothing is quite as it seems, and magic lies just beyond the veil.

This giveaway is completely separate from the scavenger hunt mentioned above. You need not complete it to enter for this awesome prize from the author!

1 Winner will receive
1 - Infernal Detective T-Shirt in the size they prefer
1 - Infernal Detective Charm

Shipping in US Only, No PO Boxes. Must be 13+ To Enter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kirsten Weiss is the author of the Riga Hayworth series of paranormal mysteries: The Metaphysical Detective, The Alchemical Detective, and The Shamanic Detective.

Kirsten worked overseas for nearly fourteen years, in the fringes of the former USSR and deep in the Afghan war zone. Her experiences abroad not only gave her glimpses into the darker side of human nature, but also sparked an interest in the effects of mysticism and mythology, and how both are woven into our daily lives.

Now based in San Mateo, CA, she writes paranormal mysteries, blending her

experiences and imagination to create a vivid world of magic and mayhem.

Kirsten has never met a dessert she didn’t like, and her guilty pleasures are watching Ghost Whisperer reruns and drinking good wine.

Where to find Kirsten:

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Feature and Follow Friday #10

TGIF! I can't believe it's May already! Where the heck did the first four months go?? And where is Spring? Stupid groundhog.

Feature & Follow Friday is a weekly event/hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. It's a great way to find new blogs and make new friends!

This weeks Question:

Q: Give us a sneak! What are you reading? Tell us about a fun or fail scene in your current read.
I'm currently reading A Sliver of Shadow by Allison Pang. Any scene with Phin is fun. Every single one of them!

[Blog Tour] Spotlight, Guest Post, and Giveaway - Real by Katy Evans

Book #1 of The Real, Raw & Ripped Series

266 pages

Published April 8th 2013

Mature New Adult/Adult Contemporary Romance - recommended for ages 18 and up.

A fallen boxer.

A woman with a broken dream.

A competition…

He even makes me forget my name. One night was all it took, and I forgot everything and anything except the sexy fighter in the ring who sets my mind ablaze and my body on fire with wanting…

Remington Tate is the strongest, most confusing man I’ve ever met in my life.

He’s the star of the dangerous underground fighting circuit, and I’m drawn to him as I’ve never been drawn to anything in my life. I forget who I am, what I want, with just one look from him. When he’s near, I need to remind myself that I am strong–but he is stronger. And now it’s my job to keep his body working like a perfect machine, his taut muscles primed and ready to break the bones of his next opponents . . .

But the one he’s most threatening to, now, is me.

I want him. I want him without fear. Without reservations.

If only I knew for sure what it is that he wants from me?

Amazon | B&N | Smashwords

Katy Evans grew up with book-boyfriends until she found a real sexy boyfriend to love, married him, and now they are hard at work on their own happily ever after. Katy loves her family and friends, and she also loves reading, walking, baking, and being consumed by her characters until she reaches "The End." Which, is hopefully, only the beginning...

To find more about her, look her up on her website, Twitter, or Facebook, she'd also love to hear from you!

Where to find Katy:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Goodreads

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Katy Evans:

Is a health nut! Loves healthy living and going out in the sun.
Will take dark chocolate any day over milk!
Has been married for seventeen years to a man who still gives her little butterflies.
Loves puppies with a passion.
Wanted to have a zoo when she grew up.
Always blames her mistakes on her “period”!
She boxes once a week, and she sprints occasionally too.
Reads only during the days when she’s not writing.
Loves when it rains softly, but not when there’s lightning.
Was compared to “Taz the Tasmanian Devil” in her high school yearbook because, apparently, her buddies thought her just a little bit restless?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out more reviews, guest post and giveaway on the REAL blog tour.

Click on the tour banner below.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Clean Sweep ARC Challenge

When I first saw Kimba's post about the Clean Sweep ARC Challenge, I didn't have any ARC's, so I didn't join. Well...that's not an excuse I can use anymore, since now I have lots! Funny how quick things can change, isn't it? :)

Here are the basics (shamelessly copied from Kimba's post):

Together with Kimberly @ The Windy Pages we will be helping you clean up those ARCs. The challenge begins on May 1 and ends on the 31st.

The goal: to read and review as many ARC's as we can. We will have fun challenges each Saturday hosted by some wonderful bloggers and a prize for two luck participants at the end of the challenge. So gather your ARCs and your brooms and lets have some fun!

Rules· Must be read during May 1st and May 31st, 2013

· Starts and ends at midnight in your local time zone

· Physical, audio and digital ARCs are eligible, in any length and genre! (for this challenge an ARC is any book given for review purposes, regardless of release date.)

· Linky will close on May 15th so sign up before you miss out!

· When you post your sign up post, please include the challenge button or links back to the hosting blogs.

· Challenges will be hosted each Saturday with a change to win additional prize

· Grand Prize- TWO winners will be chosen to pick a book of their choice from The Book Depository. (Up to $15 value per book)

· Please post your recap by June 3rd. This is the day that the Rafflecopter will close. Recap post should include a link to the review or Goodreads review with date it will be posted on your blog. (This is for readers who may be reading books way ahead of schedule and don't want to post a review yet!)

· Rafflecopter entries will be awarded for each book review linked, posting about challenge, recap post, participation in challenges, and following.

Challenge Schedule and Rafflecopter will post on April 30th at 4pm (EST) Rafflecopter will close on June 3 at 11:59 (EST)