Curse of the Sphinx Review, Promo Video + #Giveaway

Curse of the Sphinx
Sphinx Series
Book #1
Raye Wagner

Genre: YA Romantic Fantasy, Mythology

Release Date: August 11, 2015

ISBN: 978-1515305712

ASIN: B013PD4U5O

Pages: 344

Goodreads Rating: 3.71

My Rating: 4.5

Book Description:

How long can a monster stay hidden in plain sight?

Seventeen-year-old Hope Nicholas has spent her entire life on the run. But no one is chasing her. In fact, no one even knows she exists. With her mom, she’s traveled from town to town and school to school, barely staying long enough to meet anyone, let alone make friends. And she’ll have to keep it that way. It’s safer.
When her mother is brutally ripped away from her, Hope’s life shatters. Is this the fulfillment of Apollo’s curse, murder from the shadow monsters of the Underworld, or have the demigods finally found her? Orphaned and alone, Hope flees again, but this time there’s no one to teach her who to trust—or how to love.

Set in a universe where mythology is alive and well in the modern world, Curse of the Sphinx irresistibly blends action, suspense and romance. 

My Take on the Book:

First and foremost let me say that I loved this book! I’m a huge fan of mythology, Greek, Norse and Egyptian being my favorites so this was a book right up my alley.

With that said, there were a couple of off putting moments and personality traits of some characters and the story did drag a bit at times but it in NO WAY took away from the story’s overall greatness.

I loved the Sphinx mythology and I’m gonna get my hands on the prequel to get a more in depth look into this universe.

The characters were solid and likeable and I found myself giddy with the cuteness that the romance in this story brought to the whole picture this author was painting us.

I think the off putting moments were mainly in the tone. I found myself a bit lost in terms of who knew what. At moments I felt like our main character was interacting with 2 different male leads as opposed to the one. I also found myself questioning if he was who I thought he was or if he lost his memory or something along those lines.

BUT, I still loved Athan and Hope. I thought they were adorable! 

4.5 Quills

I think I mainly want to read the next book to see where these characters go and how they develop because this was a pretty great beginning to what has the makings of a great series. There is so much we don’t know and I’m excited to learn it all.

Amazon

About The Author

Raye Wagner grew up in Seattle, the second of eight children, and learned to escape chaos through the pages of fiction. As a youth, she read the likes of David Eddings, Leon Uris, and Jane Austen. Inspired by a fictional character, Raye pursued a career in nursing, thinking to help the world one patient at a time.

One summer afternoon, when her then young children were playing in the pool, a plot dropped into her head, and she started writing.

She enjoys baking, puzzles, Tae Kwon Do, and the sound of waves lapping at the sand. She lives with her husband and three children in Middle Tennessee.

Origin of the Sphinx, a novella detailing the story leading up to the creation of the mythological creature, is her first publication. It is the beginning of the Sphinx series.
Curse of the Sphinx, the first book in the series, is completed, and set to be released in August 2015.

Author Links:

Website│Twitter│Facebook│Goodreads

Enter The Giveaway Here

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e-copy of Curse of the Sphinx OR an e-ARC of the sequel, Demigods and Monsters

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$50 Amazon Gift Card
 

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Thanks for stopping by,

 
Book Tour Organized by:

 “I received a free copy of the book from the author/publisher for my honest opinion. I was in no way compensated for this review and all opinions are expressly my own”

The Spellbound Series Books 1-5 Review

 

The Spellbound Series
Books 1-5
Lola James

Genre: Paranormal Fantasy Romance
Release Date: July 31, 2015
Publisher: Lola James

ASIN: B012109QEW
Pages: 434

Goodreads Rating: N/A Each Book is rated separately
My Rating: 3.5 - 4.0

Book Description:

The journey of a spellbound woman, her friends, and the men who vie for her affections as she falls headlong into a world of vampires, witches and Greek gods.

Who will she choose as her one true love and how many lives will be turned upside down in her quest to fulfill her eternal destiny?

Friends become enemies and enemies become deadly as each seek to find the one thing that will bring true fulfillment.

Available at Amazon

My Take on the Book(s):

I'm sure what I expected, and I don't know if it meant those expectations. I think I was hoping for a book similar to those in The Wicked Witches of the Midwest series or the Jolie Wilkins series heck even the Riley Cruz and the Shift Happens series. And it started off that way, I was reading book one and I was giggling I was rooting for Ben and Toni but then as I continued the book and finished book 1 and started book 2 I got a little lost. I found that the series wasn't at all what I was hoping for. And I'm still not sure if I know what I expected but I do know how I feel.

It wasn't a bad book or books per se. The writing wasn't the problem, it was very clear and concise but I can't say I was a big major fan. I like the characters, I think Dawn is pretty awesome and I even like Toni at times but that wasn't enough to make me fully enjoy the books. There was too much wishy-washy feelings way too much focus on the love triangle or quadrangle.

I felt, as the story continued I lost the straight line from a story arc. There was too much information being thrown out there without any clear indication of where it was going so I got lost. And what sucks is that I'm a huge fan of anything having to do with Greek mythology and Roman mythology, I find those kind of stories are so interesting. I've read so many types of paranormal or supernatural books, that it was fun to get the glimpse of the mythology in this one.  The way they were written was pretty original and fun but that fun doesn't last throughout the whole book. 

I have no doubt in my mind that there are a countless amount of people that would enjoy this series and all the books but it just wasn't my cup of tea. And that honestly has nothing to do with being Team A or Team B. Sure I like one guy more than the other but that wasn't what threw me off. Like I said there was just too much going on I would have liked a little bit more of a straight line.

My rating's a bit on the fence because I don't feel like it was written badly so I don't want to give it too low of a score but then since I didn't enjoy it I don't want to rate is higher than I feel it should be so I'm just going to throw out these two numbers and tell you if falls somewhere in between the two.

3.5 - 4.0 Quills

Like I said the writing isn't bad the story has its moments it even has some great steamy scenes but it didn't appeal to me. Take a look at the series for yourself you decide maybe you'll like it more than I did maybe it'll be a gem in your library.
 

Short Excerpts from Each Book
 

Bound to Remember, Book One

“Hello.” I held out my hand. “I'm Doctor Toni Hollander, but you can call me Toni.”

He stared at me as if he was looking right though me, ignoring my extended hand. A wave of embarrassment washed over me and I pulled my hand back. Maybe I imagined that stare thing with him a minute ago. My thoughts retreated to Kevin. He had only been the last in a long line of failed relationships and I was starting to wonder if my terrible taste in men had struck again.

"Where are my manners? I am Benjamin, but you may call me Ben" He pulled my hand into his, with a toothy grin.

Unbound, Book Two

Hades closed the space between us. “I will return soon, my sweet.” He took my hand, kissing my fingertips, before releasing it. Then the three gods and Dawn disappeared.

Ben and I stood alone in the hallway as I moved closer to him. The lust from our kiss still lingered thick between us.

“Ben . . . I—”

“Shhh.” His finger touched my lips, stopping my rambling. “We have only a short time, and I need to plead my case to you; so let me show, rather than tell you why it should be me you pick for eternity.”

Bound to You, Book Three

“I’ve missed you already. I don’t know how I survived without you for so long.” His warm lips kissed the top of my hand. If my cheeks could blush, they’d be the darkest shade of red.

I had to clear my throat and shake my head from the swoon-worthy trance Hades had me in. “I’d like to have my place back, but Ben compelled my landlord to get me out of my lease.”

His lips trailed to my finger, then fingertips, creating sensations throughout my body. “My Antonia, I want nothing more than to fulfill every desire in your heart. It’s such a beautiful heart. I know that you love me, and that you will make your decision when you are ready. I can wait. I’ve waited so long for you, and I’d continue to wait an eternity to be with you.”

Imaginary butterflies fluttered in my stomach and I felt my heart slipping into his hands. I knew his words were true; he would wait.

Bound by Fate, Short

“I have something for you.” It was the same line she sang every time. Her voice was the perfect pitch to allure any human and I felt my body being pulled toward her. I wouldn’t even greet her anymore when she came; I tried to block her out.

“Benjamin, I have something for you.” I didn’t want to go, but I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to possibly see Toni. She’d promised me that I could see her one day—to see if she was truly happy; so I gave in each time and went to Aphrodite. I always waited here for her to arrive, for she had me at her beck and call.

Abound Christmas, Short

Snow was falling and I heard her charming giggle. The sound enchanted me. I looked down and I was holding her mittened hand in mine.

>“I love you, Benjamin,” she said. I looked carefully, trying to make out her face, but caught only her profile bundled under a furry hood and scarf. I glanced around, noting that we were in a carriage riding through Central Park, passing snow-covered trees.

Witch Bound, Book Four

My melancholy thoughts broke as I heard my name being called—I wasn’t paying attention to details anymore. I hadn’t left the building in the last 24 hours and I was exhausted. The sounds of the hospital continually echoed in the fog of my thoughts. I played Doctor Stevens’ words in my head on repeat, but the memory of Hermes’ first touch in Hades’ temple still sent chills down my back. My daddy taught me better than to fiddle between boys. “Always pick the man, Dawn,” he would say. Thinking of my daddy reminded me that I needed to call him. I could only avoid his calls for so long.

Rebound, Book Five

“Does beauty run in your family as well?” A nervous chuckle escaped me. What a cheesy pickup line.

“You’re nervous, aren’t you?” she asked, batting her eyelashes and making sweat swell on my forehead.

“Yes.” I nodded. Why was I being so honest? I cleared my throat. “I’m Ben, by the way.” I extended my hand.

She looked at me then my hand before gently wrapping hers in mine.

“And I am Thalia.” The warmth of her hand made everyone on the train disappear.

About The Author

Lola is a fool for a love story, a sucker for a cupcake, and let’s not talk about what she’d do for a Klondike bar. She enjoys long walks on the beach and movies that involve chainsaws. By day she’s the HR Lady and by nightfall she puts on a cape to become a romance writer.

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Thanks for stopping by,

 Book Tour Organized By:

 “I received a free copy of the book from the author/publisher for my honest opinion. I was in no way compensated for this review and all opinions are expressly my own”