Release Day Blitz: The Crow Box by Nikki Rae

Today marks the release of Nikki Rae’s latest novel The Crow Box. Nikki is the author of The Sunshine SeriesThe Donor, and Animal. The Crow Box is classed as New Adult with fantasy and paranormal elements and is the first novel in Rae’s The Shadow and Ink Sseries.

In honour of the release there is also a giveaway where you can enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card and an ebook of The Crow Box. Details are below.

Synopsis:
The small wooden box is dirty, the size of a human fist, and sealed with wax. When Corbin takes it upon herself to clean it and break the seal, a voice she has tried to ignore gathers strength.
Shadows play on the walls at night, and with a family history of mental illness, Corbin fears the worst. But the voice tells her it is real. That its name is Six and it will prove it in time.

Drawn to this mysterious entity, Corbin isn’t sure what to believe and the line between reality and her imagination blurs more every day.

Some doors should not be opened; can this one be closed?

 

imaginary friend

 

pandoras-box

 

the crow box dirt

 

Giveaway

 
Nikki is running a Rafflecopter giveaway to celebrate the release.

You can find all the details on how to enter here.
You can purchase The Crow Box via the following

Amazon

 

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Books I’m Looking Forward to in 2016

ReadingThere are so many great books due to come out in 2016, I know I will not get a chance to read all of them, I’m behind the ones I wanted to read for last year and the year before, but I will add them to my TBR pile all the same.

However, there are a few exceptions, a select few books that I will be snatching up as soon as possible and reading right away. The first is The Book of Dust by Philip Pullman. This has no release date yet and a late 2016 publication is tentative at best, but I have been waiting for years for this book to be finally finished and so far from what I’ve read 2016 seems like the year it is possibly going to happen. There isn’t even a cover yet I can admire either which is entirely unfair.

The next one on my list is Awaken by Heather McCollum. The third and final in The Guardians series I cannot wait to read this. I adored the first two (Siren’s Song and Broken) and I have no doubt Awaken will be of the same exhilarating and captivating quality.

Third is Wish List by Belinda Williams. Fourth and final in the City Love series, I am eager to hear Cate’s story and revisit the amazing group of women and William’s engaging writing.

Finally, The Shadow Hour, the second The Girl at Midnight book by Melissa Grey. I wanted this beside me ready to pick up when I finished The Girl at Midnight earlier last year so I will be ready to grab a copy and keep Echo’s story going and find out where Grey is taking her.

Many of these are due later in the year, but it won’t stop me waiting eagerly for them in the meantime. I have a myriad of books to keep me occupied while I wait though which is a good thing in itself.

 

Book Bingo 2016

BingoNew year, new Bingo! I have a new design and a few new categories as well as some from last year. I made this card when I made the previous one, and I really like all of these categories so I’m glad I can finally play it.

Unlike last year where I didn’t get any BINGOs until the very end, I may aim more directly and see if I can work on a particular line, or I may go wild and leave it to chance, see how we go. I will be posting updates and various progress reports like before, and if I review a book that falls under one of these categories I will add the Book Bingo icon at the bottom of the review.

Once again if you want to use my card, or last year’s, you’re more than welcome to, just link it back :).

Bingo card 2

Australian Women Writers Challenge 2016

AWW16It’s a new year and time for new challenges. This year I’ve signed up for the Australian Women Writers Challenge (AWW). This is something I have been meaning to do for a few years and finally going to commit to doing it. For those that are unaware, the AWW is a wonderful challenge that encourages people to read and review books by Australian women. This is a challenge that anyone can participate in, you don’t have to be a blogger, you can review on Goodreads, Facebook, or other social media!

I have chosen the Franklin level which  means I will be reading 10 books with an aim to review 6 of them. This seems manageable and I look forward to discovering some awesome Aussie women writers. There are various levels to aim for, or you can be brave and choose your own goal.

To find out more about the challenge and see if it’s something you would like to participate in, check out the website. The challenge runs from 1st January to 31st December so there is plenty of time to complete your goal, and you can sign up at any time during the year until the end of November.

 

 

Two for the Holidays by Ekta Garg

Published: 15th December 2015Goodreads badge
Publisher:
 Prairie Sky Publishing
Pages: 130
Format: ebook
Genre: short stories
★   ★   ★  – 3 Stars

A medium gets ready for one of the biggest days in her career speaking to the dead. An elf accepts an unusual assignment and faces his past. Two stories about people tied to holiday-themed professions. Two stories about the reality of life’s hardships in the last quarter of the year. Two stories for the holidays. 

The first story, “Take A Breath”: Marisa Bellini has travelled to a tiny town on Halloween to help people contact the dead. She’s built an empire on the idea that she can talk to ghosts…but can she really? Sometimes even Marisa isn’t sure.

The second story, “The Truth About Elves”: Curtis, an elf, sets the record straight. No, elves don’t have pointy ears, they aren’t three feet tall, and they don’t live at the North Pole all year long. When Curtis gets a special assignment from the big man himself, though, he learns that Christmas magic has the power to transform everything he’s known for the last decade.

Come spend the holidays with Marisa and Curtis, and join the Stories in Pairs journey!

 Note: I was provided with a copy of this book from the author for review.

This is the fifth Stories in Pairs set by Garg, and once again two unique stories are presented with a common theme connecting them. As the title suggests Two for the Holidays revolves around the holidays, Halloween and Christmas respectively, and through her characters Garg explores the personal trials and hardships faced during this time.

Each story was interesting and tugged at your curiosity for where it was heading. There are hints at what is hidden and with characters skirting around issues means you are often guessing and trying to work out what has actually happened, but this is intertwined with magic and mystery and other plot elements that keep each story flowing. At times there didn’t seem to be a clear direction, and the hints and things unspoken often made it perplexing, but as the pieces fell into place they offered a revelation that brought each story home.

The first story follows medium Marisa as she puts on a show for a small town during Halloween. While an interesting behind the scenes is depicted of the practice, there is also an ongoing uncertainty about what is real and what is fake. Marisa’s story was interesting because Garg alludes to some things and discredits others, leaving you not entirely sure what is real and what isn’t. What’s unexplained doesn’t leave a cliff hanger exactly, but leaves you intrigued all the same.

The second story I felt explored the themes much better, but it also had a lot to wrap your head around and focus on. Curtis’ story offers a creative approach to Santa and the Christmas season and after you get used to the style and the voice, the story is quite interesting, and certainly creative. Garg alternates between first and third person and there is a lot more not being said and yet continually hinted at. Through this you can piece together snippets of Curtis’ life and as more is revealed the story falls into place nicely.

Overall this pair of stories was not as captivating as Garg’s previous sets, but knowing the message she was trying to tell it is evident she achieved that. The gradual revelations and slow reveals work in building anticipation and curiosity, and the exploration of the anguish and emotional nature of the holidays is certainly clear. Each character struggles with hardships in their life and the unique and creative approaches Garg has taken allows a new look at how loss affects people during the holidays and how it can affect every aspect of their lives.

You can purchase Two for the Holidays via the following

Amazon

 

 

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