The Summer Solstice by K.K. Allen Blog Tour and Giveaway!!!!!

The Summer Solstice by K.K Allen

Genre(s): Fantasy, Romance, & New Adult

Pages: 188

Published: June 10th, 2014

Blurb:

After Katrina "Kat" Summer’s mother dies a mysterious and tragic death, Kat is hurtled into life at Apollo Beach. Her estranged and cryptic grandmother Rose fills Kat with legends of her Ancient Greek Ancestors from which the Summer family descends. Kat’s world begins to unravel as secrets from her heritage are exposed – secrets that her mother purposefully concealed. 

Leading to her birthday, the day of the Summer Solstice, Kat becomes frightened when enigmatic visions and disturbing dreams haunt her. When her visions become reality, her fear turns to terror as powerful forces threaten the lives of those around her. 

Amidst the turmoil, Kat meets Alec Stone, her gorgeous neighbor, who becomes her sole solace in an evocative world of mythological enchantment and evil prophecies that lurk around every corner… 

Goodreads | Amazon  

EXCERPT from The Summer Solstice by K.K Allen

Today marks the sixteenth year of my life, a milestone that Rose believes to be cause for a celebration. It’s finally time for me to make my entrance to my party. I pause at the top of the grand staircase, taking one final look in the full-length mirror at the top of the stairs. Charlotte helped me get dressed, despite my resistance. With simple touches like mascara and blush, my long eyelashes are accentuated and my cheeks rosy. Light eyeliner defines my silver-blue eyes, which are becoming more silver with every day that passes.

It’s my hair that really strikes me, though. The length alone has grown so fast over the few short weeks I’ve been here and it’s now down past my shoulders, in curvy locks.

During my research, I made an effort to understand more about the day my grandmother holds so special. The summer solstice, June twenty-first, is the first day of summer. It’s also the longest day of the year as the sun reaches its highest point in the sky at noon. Since spending hours upon hours in the library, I’ve read all varieties of stories of the summer solstice and its celebrations. In general, it is a time when social code is temporarily shifted, when servants share in the merriment as equals. In some cases, their masters even serve them.

Rose’s wild stories and crazy imaginings are getting the better of me. My dream last night had been just like the first upon arriving at Summer Estates. The girl in the glass shattered the same vase. Everything about the dream was exactly the same—except the evil smile in the mirror belonged to my grandmother. This time it was she who raised her hand to make the vase burst in mid-air.

I’m disappointed that my questions are still unanswered after all the reading I’ve done. What does any of this have to do with Rose’s obsession with Ancient Greek culture and our family history? At some point today, I plan to confront her. She will tell me everything she knows, and she will explain all of the mysteries she’s been keeping from me.

I run my hands down my ribs, onto my waist, and finally to my upper thighs, all covered in a simple green chiffon, baby doll dress that reaches to a couple inches above my knees. With a deep breath, I turn and look down the semi-spiral staircase that flows down to the great room.

Author Bio:

My name is K.K. Allen and I am the Paranormal / Urban Fantasy Author of the Summer Solstice series. The Summer Solstice: Enchanted and The Equinox are now available at Amazon. I was born in Honolulu, Hawaii but raised in Seattle, Washington. I currently live in Central Florida. I've always had a passion for reading and writing and have done so every day since the young age of 12. Writing has even transitioned into my Media Industry career where I wear many hats, copywriting/scriptwriting included. There's just something about telling a story that drives me in everything that I do. Whether I'm creating a content outline for a website, or pulling together assets to write to, or even putting together a video production, it's all about the storytelling. I hope you all check out the Summer Solstice: Enchanted and I look forward to connecting with you! 

Author Links: 

Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Website

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This tour was organized by Good Tales Book Tours.

Valan Playboys by Scarlett Dawn

A Brief Summary:
Lana grew up thinking that she was weird but human. I mean when yo can control lighting you're not what most people consider normal. So when she meets people who are like her she gets pulled into the world of the valan, her world.

My Review:
I enjoyed the first 90% of this book. The last 10% however felt really rushed. It wasn't tied up nicely, just sort of thrown together and the relationship between and the two kings and Lana needed more development.

That being said I absolutely loved the world. With witches, valkyries, vampires, angels, demons, shifters, mermaids, and warlocks, the valan are incredible. I'd be up for reading more stories set in this universe. Especially if we could learn who Lana's parents were.

Night School: Genesis by C.J. Daughery

A Brief Summary:
When everything is spinning out your control you do whatever you can to regain control. Allie tries to regain control by rebelling, and when the ends in her third arrest her parents ship her of to Cimmeria Academy. A prestigious boarding school that isn't quite what it seems. The more Allie learns the more she questions.

My Review:
Extremely well paced, believable characters, the overarching villain being set up, and the beginning of a love triangle. All in all a great start to a series.

One character I liked in particular was Sylvain. One he's French, two he's a dynamic character and I love how he developed, and I can't wait to see what else is in store for him.

I'm also extremely curious about Allie's family and how she fits in at Cimmeria. Seeing as ever other student has a tie to the academy and she doesn't.

The Moon Tells Secrets by Savanna Wells

A Brief Summary:
For most of her son's life all Raine has done is run. But what she's running from is about to catch them and now it might be time to make a stand.

My Review:
I really liked this book. Primarily how it ties it's supernatural element, the skin-walkers, in with the history of the Navajo. It's nice to have a book that tries to get their history right. I also enjoyed how the relationship between Raine and Cade develops. Starting out as a desperately needed friendship then veering into something more.

Davey was another character I really liked. He's trying so hard to grow up, to be strong enough to face what threatens them, but he's still a kid. You see him changing and getting stronger, getting smarter. He's ready to face what he must, even if it means never being normal, or having a normal child.

I also really enjoyed the story. It's not your cookie-cutter shifter novel. It's a tale of growing up, of fear, and of moving on in your life after a devastating loss.

This book is set to be published on March 24, 2015. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

I received this book courtesy of NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin in exchange for my free and honest review.

Inside the O'Briens by Lisa Genova

A Brief Summary:
Joe O'Brien has been a Boston police officer, devoted husband and father for most of his adult life. Now he's been a major curve ball. A diagnosis of Huntington's Disease, a lethal nerodegenerative disorder. Along with him having this disorder his four children have a fifty-fifty shot of developing the disorder. Join Joe and his family as they face this terrifying disease.

My Review:
Before reading this book my understanding of Huntington's was limited to how it was portrayed on T.V., specifically on House M.D. Meaning I didn't understand but now I have a general understanding of what it is, and what it does. It's a brutal disease, attacking you both physically and mentally claiming your life in the end, it's also a dominant trait. Meaning if you have it your kids have a fifty-fifty chance of being handed a death sentence.

That's a lot to take in. I really like seeing how Kate Joe's youngest child handled the possibility of having HD. Mostly because that's how I'd react. I'd want to know, but I'd be terrified. She wavers back and forth on her decision. Unsure if she wants to start a life with this hanging over her.

Joe's transformation throughout the book is heartbreaking, and heartwarming at the same time. He displays remarkable courage in the face of his disease. His disease progresses at an alarming rate, a year after the diagnosis he seems to be going downhill quickly.

I absolutely loved t his book but the ending was so frustrating!!! It is a major, emotionally charged cliffhanger that will most likely never be resolved!

I received this book courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review.

The Figaro Murders by Laura Lebow

A Brief Summary: 
Lorenzo De Ponte made a modest living as the court poet in Vienna. When he made an impulsive agreement, one that would cause him no end of hassle. This agreement, to help find his barber's birth parents, would embroiled him in a murder that he must help solve. All while working on The Marriage of Figaro with Mozart.

My Review:
Murder, betrayal, intrigue, unrequited love The Murder of Figaro has it all. This book originally caught my eye because a couple of my friends performed a duet from The Marriage of Figaro for solo and ensemble when we were in high school. I fell in love with that duet then, and with rose tinted glasses picked up the book. I enjoyed the book just as much.

Choosing to focus on the librettist (libretto writer, libretto being the singers copy) rather than the more famous composer (wrote the musical score) Mozart was, in my opinion, a great choice. He's lesser known so it gives you more wiggle room when writing a fictional story. Also the author so kindly provided some details from his real life, and about his operas in the author's note.

The characters that the author created for seamlessly into De Ponte's life. While the characters with real life counterparts stayed true.

I enjoy how all of the plot lines got resolved, from the premiere of Figaro, to the murder, and even finding the barber's parents. It's all interwoven and plays out beautifully, while subtly hinting that there maybe a sequel on the horizon.

This book is set to release on March 31st 2015.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review.

The Beautiful Ones by Lori Brighton

A Brief Summary:  Every month the beautiful ones come. They choose some of us, to take away from here forever. We tell ourselves it our reward for our good behavior. But what could someone as beautiful as they want with us?

My Review:
I love that the heroine questions everything. She doesn't just go with the flow like the others taken with her. She fights and wants to know whats going on. Bonus points she's a bookworm!

Thanatos is a mysterious beautiful one. He's not exactly like the others, but we don't know much about him.

All in all this is a tantalizing glimpse into a new series. For only 67 pages a lot is packed in, and makes you crave the first book in the series. To tie up loose ends and to see what happens to our main characters.