ARC Review: Destiny ( League of Illusion #3) by Vivi Anna

Title: Destiny ( League of Illusion #3)
Author: Vivi Anna
Source: NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Published: June 10th 2013 by Carina Press
Reviewer : Cerridwen

The conclusion to the League of Illusion trilogy

Five years ago, Sebastian Davenport tried to go back in time to reverse a fatal mistake, but found himself trapped in another reality. Unaware of the jeopardy facing his family and the League of Illusion, he gave up his magic for a quiet life as a blacksmith. Quiet, until a monstrous three-headed goddess of war called the morrigan comes to town…

Seeing Sebastian poised to charge the goddess, healer Drea Blairwood has no choice but to hit him over the head to stop him. Nursing the mysterious outsider back to health afterward is just an added benefit. She knows he's hiding something about his past, but has no idea what kind of adventure awaits them both.

Sebastian has no desire to risk the life of anyone else, let alone someone as enticing as Drea. But after militant elves kidnap Drea, Sebastian needs to find a way to reclaim his magic. The fate of the League—and the world—hangs in the balance

I have followed this series since the beginning when I first chose The Legacy based on it's cover ( yes, so shoot me).  I fell in love with the characters and the world that Vivi Anna created.

Following each brother and the women they fell in love with, they each have a special characteristic that will save the world from disaster.

In  the final book, Vivi  Anna has spared no expense in creativity in making the worlds collide and wrapping up the storyline. We find out exactly why Sebastian left finally and watching his magic return.

It wasn't my favorite in the steampunk series but it was a great way to round off the story.

ARC Review of The League of Illusion:Prophecy by Vivi Anna

Title: The League of Illusion: Prophecy ( #2 in Series)
Author: Vivi Anna
Source: NetGalley
Published: March 4, 2013 by Carina Press
Genre: Paranormal Steampunk Romance
Reviewer: Cerridwen

Book two in the League of Illusion

London, 1851

With his brother Sebastian missing, illusionist Rhys Davenport is running out of time and leads. He knows only that Sebastian disappeared into Stonehenge and that an incomplete map is the key to finding him. And that the missing piece is in the possession of the unnervingly attractive psychic Corina Stratton.

Corina has no intention of giving her part of the map to the haughty Rhys Davenport. In fact, she needs to steal his half so she can heal her mother's malevolent spirit. She heads to London, only to be chased by a revengeful sorcerer right into Rhys's arms. Although touched by Rhys's plight, she agrees to go on his crazy quest only to get an opportunity to take what she came for.

With an airship full of fanatic elves after them, Rhys and Corina are forced into close quarters as they search for a portal. But to open it in time to find Sebastian, they must reconcile their differences and their growing feelings, or he'll be lost to them forever...

ARC Review: The League of Ilusion: Legacy by Vivi Anna

Title: The League of Illusion: Legacy
Author : Vivi Anna
Genre: Paranormal Steam Punk Romance
Source: NetGalley
Expected Publish date:  December 31st 2012 by Carina Press
Reviewer: Cerridwen

Former thief Jovan Davenport is the black sheep in a family of powerful sorcerers. But when his dying father—head of the League of Illusion—reaches out for help, Jovan has no choice but to accept. He must find his missing brother Sebastian and stop the power-hungry Hawthorne family from taking control of the council. If only they’d appointed someone other than Skylar Vanguard to help him in his quest.

Skylar, a druid and accomplished tracker, has spent three years trying to forget her past, especially Jovan Davenport. Once in love, she left Jovan when she discovered his betrayal. She wants nothing to do with him or his family, but must obey the council’s will by accompanying Jovan and reporting back on his progress.

Forced to work alongside each other, neither of them expects their passion to return so quickly. But as the conspiracy deepens in a steam-powered world of dirigibles and mechanical golems, will their secrets stand in the way of their mission…and their love?

Bewitching Book tours: Guest author Vivi Anna and giveaway!

Thank you to Laurie for having me over to her awesome place.  I’m going to talk a bit about my new book GLIMMER and why I chose to self-publish it.

I have about 17 books out from various big publishers like Avon, Kensington, Harlequin and a couple at reputable epublishers like Samhain Publishing.  So I’m definitely not a new author. I’ve been around for about six years.  I’ve found some success especially from my Valorian Chronicles series published by Harlequin Nocturne, but not nearly enough to call my career set, or lucrative.  It’s hard out there for a mid-list author.

For the past three years, I’ve been writing new stuff and trying to get in at another publisher.  I get weepy when I think about how many times I’d almost gotten the deal.  How many times I’ve heard “I love this…but we just bought something similar.” Or “I love this…but not sure where it will fit.”  Just like numerous other authors out there, it’s been so close but yet so far, for whatever reason.

Now I don’t harbour bad feelings toward publishers.  They have a certain list to fill with certain types of books that they know will sell.  I get that. Absolutely.  They are in business to sell books and make money.  An editor  has to love your book and know they can sell it to take a chance on it.  It’s tough out there for editors too.  And for agents who agonize with the author when they don’t get that deal, when they can’t sell the book.  It sucks for everyone.

But now there’s this beautiful thing out there called indie e-publishing.  Now, I, and authors like me, don’t have to let that book go. We don’t have to hide it under the ‘bed’ and move on to something else, something new.  Now we can get it out there to the readers and let them decide whether it’s good or not or if it deserves a spot on the virtual bookshelf.  It’s never been a better time for authors or readers alike.

Now there are 1000s of new books to choose from almost every day. Books that may have never been given a chance before.  And on top of that, a reader can get these books at amazing prices.

For me it wasn’t a hard choice to self-publish Glimmer.  It just made sense.   The book made the rounds at the big publishers and couldn’t find a home.  But to me, I’ve always believed it deserved to be out there and to let the readers decided if they wanted to read it.  So with my agent’s blessing I dusted it off, prettied it up, got a cover designed, got it professionally edited and put it out there.

And I couldn’t be happier by the results

Glimmer

Av ailable February 15, 2011


"Vivi Anna's smart and always unique take on urban fantasy makes her a must read!"
— Lauren Dane, author of Inside Out


"GLIMMER rocks in so many ways! Nina and Severin are one hell of a sexy couple and stand out in a world that's rich with detail, danger and intrigue!"
— Juliana Stone, author of the Jaguar Warriors and upcoming League of Guardians


"From start to finish, GLIMMER's one wild ride. I can't wait for the next Nina Decker story!"
— Megan Hart, author of Selfish is the Heart


Although Nina Decker's father is one hundred percent human, her mother is not. She belongs to an ancient and rare race of people called the fae. But these fae are not those written about in fairytales, with pretty gossamer wings and fairy dust, no they are sinister, malevolent and unkind, dwelling in another realm called Nightfall. More prone to destroy than to create. Abandoned at the age of ten, to be raised by her father, Nina has never forgiven her mother for that or for ruining her father. A man of only sixty, he appears to be closer to eighty with a frail body and mind. He's been fae-struck and is slowly fading away to nothing. This is one of the reasons why Nina has never gotten too close to any one man. She doesn't want to seal his fate like her father's has been.


But she can't deny her fiery connection to Severin Saint Morgan, a sexy as hell werewolf and the alpha of the Vancouver wolf pack. He's an Australian immigrant working at the university as an associate professor, and the publicized face of the werewolf species. He makes her blood boil with desire and makes her tremble with fear. But its only when her mother reappears with startling revelations about an upcoming war between the fae and the werewolves that Nina realizes that she may be a pawn for both sides.

Giveaway time. Answer Vivi's question below along with an email if its not on your profile.

Do you have a favorite indie writer?  Read a book indie published that you thought rocked?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Glimmer by Vivi Anna

Title: Glimmer
Series: A Nina Decker Novel Book One
Author: Vivi Anna
Authors Website: www.vivianna.net/
Source: Requested Review
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format: PDF
Length Novella


Although Nina Decker’s father is one hundred percent human, her mother is not. She belongs to an ancient and rare race of people called the fae. But these fae are not those written about in fairytales, with pretty gossamer wings and fairy dust, no they are sinister, malevolent and unkind, dwelling in another realm called Nightfall. More prone to destroy than to create. Abandoned at the age of ten, to be raised by her father, Nina has never forgiven her mother for that or for ruining her father. A man of only sixty, he appears to be closer to eighty with a frail body and mind. He’s been fae-struck and is slowly fading away to nothing. This is one of the reasons why Nina has never gotten too close to any one man. She doesn’t want to seal his fate like her father’s has been.

But she can’t deny her fiery connection to Severin Saint Morgan, a sexy as hell werewolf and the alpha of the Vancouver wolf pack. He’s an Australian immigrant working at the university as an associate professor, and the publicized face of the werewolf species. He makes her blood boil with desire and makes her tremble with fear. But its only when her mother reappears with startling revelations about an upcoming war between the fae and the werewolves that Nina realizes that she may be a pawn for both sides.

RATING:

SEXUAL:

Dee's Thoughts:

She is part human and part fae. She has a father she loves, who has always been her rock. She has a mother who deserted her, and literally drained the life force from her father. She has an extremely dominant, sexy alpha werewolf intent on having her in his bed, but there maybe ulterior motives. Now she is going through the change transforming her into fae, something she never wanted, but can no longer prevent. Oh and did I mention the mother she has hated for most of her life pops up to “help”. Facing all of these different emotions, possible betrayals, and an impeding war, at this point in time it sucks to be Nina Decker.

This was filled with twists and turns, action, drama, sexual tension, and more. I truly enjoyed this read, but I must say I am disappointed that is was a mere novella. Anna has created an interesting world and her story line was strong. There was so much more I would have loved for Anna to go a little deeper into and the ending is killing me. J That being said I still greatly enjoyed this quick read.

Anna, why you gotta leave me hanging!!!!