Asleep by Krystal Wade (4.5 stars)

About Asleep

"To cure fear, you must use fear." 

Rose Briar claims no responsibility for the act that led to her imprisonment in an asylum. She wants to escape, until terrifying nightmares make her question her sanity and reach out to her doctor. He’s understanding and caring in ways her parents never have been, but as her walls tumble down and Rose admits fault, a fellow patient warns her to stop the medications. Phillip believes the doctor is evil and they’ll never make it out of the facility alive. Trusting him might be just the thing to save her. Or it might prove the asylum is exactly where she needs to be. 

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Review

Rose Briar's parents don't know what to do with their daughter. In desperation, they send her to a mental institute. Once she's there, she spirals into a nightmare of confusion and fear, and she's not sure who to trust... the doctor who swears he can help her or the male friend who warns her about the facility.

Wow. Just wow. This book grabbed me from the first page where Rose's parents are taking her to the institute to the last page where... oh, you know I can't tell you that part. Rose is my favorite kind of character: determined, strong, and flawed. She's made mistakes and has doubts, but she refuses to give in to others' suggestions without doing everything in her power to figure it out.

As intense as it is, there's still time for excellent character development and even a love interest, although not in a conventional way by any means. Plus, the story will leave you guessing on which characters to trust to have Rose's best interests at heart... from her parents, to her doctor, to her boyfriend. It's intense and captivating. Once you start, be committed to a stretch of time, because you aren't going to want to put it down.

I recently saw this book compared to Sleeping Beauty meets Nightmare on Elm Street. So true! If you love twisty fairy tales, or just love a unique book with kick-butt characters and intense story, then grab Asleep today!

Rating: 4.5 stars

About the Author

I’m happily married to the love of my life (don’t gag) and raising three beautiful children in the gorgeous state of Virginia. We live just outside Washington, D.C., and every day I wake up to find myself stuck in traffic trying to get there.

The horrid commute gives me plenty of time to zone out and think about my characters in full, brilliant details (I’m a safe driver; don’t worry). Stories give me a way to forget about the sometimes smelly strangers sitting next to me on the fifty mile trek into town (I pick up hitchhikers every day. True story. Check out www.slug-lines.com if you don’t believe me).

I’ve been a part of organized hitchhiking for nearly fifteen years, but that’s just one small aspect of my oh-so-large life. When I’m not working, commuting, or chasing after my three children (four if you count the man), you can usually find me outside talking to my chickens like they’re the cutest things in the world (they are), or training my amazing dogs how to herd said chickens (which they love), or curled up on the sofa with a good book (why can’t that be 100% of the time?).

I hope you love my stories (or just like them a little; that would be okay, too). And I hope that one day you find your passion, because there’s nothing in life better than doing what you love while surrounded by people you love.

Connect with Krystal: Website, Blaze Publishing, Facebook page, and Twitter.

Note: I served as proofreader on this book through Indie Books Gone Wild. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.

Charming by Krystal Wade (4.5 stars) -- Review & Giveaway

About Charming

They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and that’s great . . . as long as you don’t die.

Sixteen-year-old Haley Tremaine had it all: top-notch school, fantastic family, and a bright future, but all of that changed when an accident tore her family apart. Now, an alcoholic father, a bitter younger sister, and a cold headstone bearing her mother’s name are all she has left.

Chris Charming has it all: a powerful CEO for a father, a prestigious school, and a fortune at his fingertips, but none of that matters when he lands a reputation as a troublemaker. Struggling to follow in his father’s footsteps, he reaches out to the one person he believes truly sees him, the one person he wants: Haley.

Little do they know someone’s determined to bring the two together, even if it means murder.

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Review

At sixteen, a girl's biggest concern should be what color dress to wear to prom and what courses to take for her future. Not for Haley Tremaine. After a terrible accident, she struggles to cope with her mother's death and a father spiraling into his own demons. Plus, she has a younger sister to protect.

When the handsome Chris Charming, a boy who seems to have everything, starts to show interest, it's not the best timing. Even worse, there's someone who is determined to bring down Chris's family while teaching Haley's a lesson. Chris and Haley get caught in the middle. Will they be able to save those they love?

I'm all about strong female characters. Haley faces abuse and loss at a very young age. There are no easy answers, but she finds a way to protect her sister and keep her father as stable as possible. That is until a madman gets involved. Even when she is scared, she fights to do the right thing; she knows how to dig deep. 

In addition to packing intense emotional moments, this story has many creepy twists and turns. There were moments I was literally holding my breath as I waited for the story to play out. 

Charming is a modern, and wicked, spin on the classic Cinderella story. It engages your heart and mind, while also keeping you on the edge of your seat. I highly recommend it to readers looking for something unique, but with the added benefit of being familiar.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway
About the Author

Krystal Wade is happily married to the love of her life (don’t gag) and raising three beautiful children in the gorgeous state of Virginia. They live just outside Washington, D.C., and every day she wakes up to find herself stuck in traffic trying to get there.

The horrid commute gives Krystal plenty of time to zone out and think about her characters in full, brilliant details (she’s a safe driver; don’t worry). Stories give her a way to forget about the sometimes smelly strangers sitting next to her on the fifty mile trek into town (she picks up hitchhikers every day. True story. Check out www.slug-lines.com if you don’t believe us).

Krystal has been a part of organized hitchhiking for nearly fifteen years, but that’s just one small aspect of her oh-so-large life. When she’s not working, commuting, or chasing after her three children (four if you count the man), you can usually find Krystal outside talking to her chickens like they’re the cutest things in the world (they are), or training her amazing dogs how to herd said chickens (which they love), or curled up on the sofa with a good book (why can’t that be 100% of the time?).

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Check out more stops on the Charming tour blog page.

Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.

Shattered Secrets by Krystal Wade (4.5 stars)

About Shattered Secrets
(from GoodReads)

After being kidnapped, hogtied, and stuffed in the trunk of a car, seventeen-year-old Abigail Nichols' boy problems seem unimportant. 

She couldn't be more wrong.

The boy who saves her holds her heart.

But Derick Crawford also holds secrets.

Magical beings who guide human emotions are fighting an invisible war dating back to the dawn of time, and Abigail's one of them. The more she learns of her heritage, the less she wants to know. Armed with a very old, very massive book to teach them about their history, Abigail and Derick run away to a place where they think they can be safe and happy, only to have their troubles secretly hitch a ride.

Her history book is in a sharing mood, and it tells her to keep a secret of her own.

But has she put her trust in the wrong place?

And will the world survive if she has?

Through July 31, 2014, you can enter to win a copy in a GoodReads giveaway. 

Review

Abigail Nichols thinks her biggest problem is trying to figure out Derick's reaction to their kiss, and why he's been avoiding her. Then, she's abducted by strangers with crazy stories and everything changes.

Everything she thought she knew, even about her parents, proves to be wrong as she discovers who she is and what role she will play. She and Derick end up on the run with only a book to help them figure things out. Lives hang in the balance while they decide who, or what, to trust.

So, wow! There are so many elements done well in this story. Memorable characters you can root for. Check. Keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat action. Oh yeah! Interesting and creative paranormal abilities. Yep. An amazing world with intriguing complications for our own world. Nailed it.

Within the first few pages, I was entranced by the characters--as if I was in their world and they were manipulating even me. Plus, I love the conflict of finding out you have amazing abilities but not knowing who to turn to for guidance--even the most obvious choices, like friends and parents, are suspect. 

Oh, and I love that Derick is gifted but also confused about who to trust. Usually, the pattern is for the main character to be new to his/her abilities but falling for the experienced, knows-everything counterpart. I can only hope Derick and Abigail grow closer and end up trusting the same people--and the right people.

I highly recommend Shattered Secrets to readers who want a romantic couple to root for in the context of a captivating fantasy world plus characters with original (and intriguing) paranormal abilities. Book two can't get here soon enough! 

Rating: 4.5 stars

About the Author
(from Amazon Author Central)

Krystal Wade can be found in the sluglines outside Washington D.C. every morning, Monday through Friday. With coffee in hand, iPod plugged in, and strangers - who sometimes snore, smell, or have incredibly bad gas - sitting next to her, she zones out and thinks of fantastical worlds for you and me to read.

How else can she cope with a fifty mile commute?

Good thing she has her husband and three kids to go home to. They keep her sane.

Find out more about Krystal: website, Facebook, and Twitter.

Darkness Falls Trilogy by Krystal Wade Makeover -- Cover Reveals

Darkness Falls trilogy by Krystal Wade

Krystal Wade’s popular Darkness Falls trilogy is getting a makeover! That’s right, WILDE’S FIRE, WILDE’S ARMY, and WILDE’S MEADOW are getting brand new covers!

Take a look and let us know what you think!

WILDE’S FIRE (Darkness Falls, Book One)

"There is no pain in this death, only peace, knowing I am going to die with the one I love the most." -- Katriona Wilde

Katriona Wilde has never wondered what it would feel like to have everything she's ever known and loved ripped away, but she is about to find out. When she inadvertently leads her sister and best friend through a portal into a world she's dreamed of for six years, she finds herself faced with more than just the frightening creatures in front of her. She's forced to accept a new truth: her entire life has been a lie, and those closest to her have betrayed her. What's worse, she has no control over her new future, and it's full of magic and horrors from which nightmares are made.

Will she discover and learn to control who she really is in time to save the ones she loves, or will all be lost?

Wilde's Fire is the thrilling first instalment of debut author Krystal Wade's urban fantasy Darkness Falls trilogy, already exciting critics with its intensity and immersive, unique world and concept.

Amazon US | Barnes and Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Amazon UK

Praise for Wilde's Fire:

"An unforgettable experience in magic, adventure, and love. I was immediately captivated by the story and couldn't stop turning pages."  - Vicki Keire, Best-Selling YA Author

"Krystal Wade's world of war, prophecy, and darkness takes readers on a twisting journey where the fate of a people is at stake and, through courage and faith, love and peace are the ultimate reward. If you're a fan of YA fantasy, look no further than Krystal Wade's debut novel WILDE'S FIRE." - Sarah Balance, Romance Author

WILDE’S ARMY (Darkness Falls, Book Two)

"Hello, Katriona."

Those two words spark fear in Katriona Wilde and give way to an unlikely partnership with Perth, the man she's been traded to marry for a favor. Saving her true love and protector Arland, her family, and their soldiers keeps her motivated, but the at-odds duo soon realizes trust is something that comes and goes with each breath of Encardia's rotting, stagnant air.

The moment when concern for her missing sister spirals out of control, all thoughts of trust are pushed aside and she finds herself trapped by the daemon tricks Perth warned her of. When so many she's grown fond of die along the journey, will she still be Katriona Wilde, the girl with fire?

Amazon US | Barnes and Noble | Amazon UK

Praise for Wilde's Army:

"The action starts right at the beginning and never seems to cease!  While there are some beautiful, romantic, electric moments that will leave you breathless, there is also plenty of doubt, fear, lying, pretending, and running from daemons to keep you reading straight through to the end! 5/5" ~ Jackie Mcpherson @ Sated Faery

"Absolutely brilliant! Everything I hoped it would be and more! Thrills, romance, surprises...what more could you ask for? 5/5" ~ Farrah @ The Golde Rule of 666

WILDE’S MEADOW (Darkness Falls, Book Three)

Happy endings are hard to find, and even though Katriona is in the middle of a war with someone who’s already stolen more than she can replace, she aches for a positive future with her Draíochtans.

Armed with hope, confidence in her abilities, and a strange new gift from her mother, Kate ventures into the Darkness to defeat a fallen god.

Losses add up, and new obstacles rise to stand in the way.

Is the one determined to bring Encardia light strong enough to keep fighting, or will all the sacrifices to stop those who seek domination be for nothing?

Amazon US | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | Amazon UK

About Krystal Wade

Krystal Wade is happily married to the love of her life (don’t gag) and raising three beautiful children in the gorgeous state of Virginia. They live just outside Washington, D.C., and every day she wakes up to find herself stuck in traffic trying to get there.

The horrid commute gives Krystal plenty of time to zone out and think about her characters in full, brilliant details (she’s a safe driver; don’t worry). Stories give her a way to forget about the sometimes smelly strangers sitting next to her on the fifty mile trek into town (she picks up hitchhikers every day. True story. Check out www.slug-lines.com if you don’t believe this).

Krystal has been a part of organized hitchhiking for nearly fifteen years, but that’s just one small aspect of her oh-so-large life. When she’s not working, commuting, or chasing after her three children (four if you count the man), you can usually find Krystal outside talking to her chickens like they’re the cutest things in the world (they are), or training her amazing dogs how to herd said chickens (which they love), or curled up on the sofa with a good book (why can’t that be 100% of the time?).

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