Of Blood and Bone, Books and Book Inspired Tattoos

Year One, the first book in Nora Roberts, Chronicles of the One series was one of my very favorite books of 2017 and Of Blood and Bone, the second book in the series is definitely one of my favorite reads of 2018. Here’s a copy of my review if you’re interested in reading (if not, skip below):

The old world has ended and a new one has taken its place: full of magick – both light and dark, destruction and despair, courage, survival, strength and heart and simmering underneath it all: hope.
The hope that One would come to fight the dark and keep it at bay.
Fallon Swift, daughter of Max Fallon and Lana Bingham, adopted daughter of Simon Swift, is that hope that so many cling to – if she chooses to be.
Join Fallon Swift during her growing and learning years and watch as she transitions from child to warrior.
Of Blood and Bone, the second book in Nora Roberts, Chronicles of One trilogy, is every bit as enthralling, gut wrenching, heart warming and thrilling as the first book in the series.
The first two chapters alone had my heart in my throat and tears pouring down my face.
This book is an utterly captivating story and I can not wait to read the next book – the epic conclusion to this amazing trilogy.
Highly Recommended.

Fans of Amelia Hutchins The Guardian’s Diary series and P.C. Cast’s Tales of a New World series may enjoy reading this series.

(Advanced copy of this book was provided by Hachette Australia)

I don’t know whether it’s true for other readers or not, but sometimes, reading certain passages in a book can strike me so powerfully. I’ll find myself reading over a certain sentence or paragraph again and again. When I read this quote in the advanced copy Of Blood and Bone that I was fortunate enough to receive from Hachette Australia, I was utterly inspired. The truth of this quote hit me hard and I knew that I wanted it (the quote and the feeling that it inspired within me to stay with me always) so when I attended the 2018 Australian Tattoo Expo (in Melbourne) on 31 November, my new friend Dan Buela of Addicted to Ink (check out his insta @inkerdan) helped me out with this:

I’m absolutely loving my new tattoo and would love to see any book inspired tattoos that any of my followers have, or if you’re a quote collector like me (I have notebooks filled with them), I’d love to hear your favorite quotes from books. 

Speaking of books, after reading a couple of pretty great books, I’m currently in between reads as I wait for:

 Dylan Morrissey forgoes the Shifters’ traditional Yule celebration, to his family’s dismay. Instead, he joins Ben at the haunted house in New Orleans, planning to meet with potential, if dangerous, allies in the Shifters’ constant struggle for freedom.
But the sentient house has other ideas. Dylan wakes up—or rather doesn’t—unable to move or speak, and is taken on a journey to the past, present, and future.
Ben, Zander, and Tiger are his guides, but is what they are showing him truth?
Return to Shiftertown for a Shifters Unbound take on a classic Christmas tale!

Releasing on December 11, 2018. I’m really, really looking forward to reading this book as I love the Shifters Unbound series by Jennifer Ashley.

Some of the recent books that I’ve read over the past fortnight include: Claiming the Enemy (Porter Brothers Trilogy) by Jamie Begley, T.A (Biker Bitches book 6) by Jamie Begley and The Dragon Tamer (Alveria Dragon Akademy book 1) by Ava Richardson.

The Dragon Tamer: Alveria Dragon Akademy is the first book in a YA fantasy trilogy by Ava Richardson, author of The First Dragon Rider trilogy, The Sea Dragons trilogy, Upon Dragon’s Breath trilogy and Return of the Darkening Trilogy.

The Dragon Tamer is the first book that I have read by author Ava Richardson but it is definitely not going to be the last. The Dragon Sickness, book 2 in the Alveria Dragon Academy trilogy releases 26 December 2018 with the third book in the trilogy, The Dragon Throne, releasing soon after on 27 February 2019.

During the wait between the second and third books release, I have every intention of reading all of Ava Richardson’s past fantasy works.

Truth be told, I absolutely love it when I discover a new to me author who has plenty of books already out – because, not only does it allow me to become more familiar with the authors work and the worlds that they create, but it provides me with endless hours of reading pleasure.

The Dragon Tamer is an easily read book that captures the imagination. I read this book in the span of a day and at no point did I want to put it down or stop reading. I’m enthralled and captivated by this dragon world that Ava Richardson has created and can’t wait to read the next books in the trilogy.

This book would appeal to fans of Tamora Pierce’s Tortall Universe works, Mercedes Lackey’s Heralds of Valdemar and Dragon Jousters series, and perhaps fans of P.C. Cast’s YA fantasy works as well.

Highly Recommended.

Here’s the blurb for the book if you’re interested:

In Alveria, humans and dragons have existed side by side for centuries, but old tensions have escalated and the kingdom is now divided between human nobles and dragons, who fear for the survival of their species. For the humans who serve the dragons, the future looks bleak: human tamers outnumber the dragons, and no viable eggs have been laid in over two decades.

But when the world is changing too fast, traditions are the only thing that can keep you grounded.

For seventeen-year-old Kaelan Younger, growing up at the bottom of Alverian society has been hard, and it’s been made even harder by the fact that she’s loyal to the crown and has a habit of opening her mouth when she shouldn’t. But when her mother, dying of a mysterious disease, reveals the secret of her father’s identity, Kaelan is thrust into a world she was never prepared for, getting the opportunity to train at a prestigious school for those who share a dragon’s bloodline. The Alveria Akademy is a proving ground for humans and dragons alike, and it will give Kaelan the chance to change her life forever.

Faced with a new life, and the gradual realization that she’s meant for something more than anything she’d dared dream of, Kaelan must reconcile herself with not just her past, but also the course of her future. Yet, when her responsibilities as a tamer collide with her feelings for Lasaro, the Prince of Alveria and a powerful dragon shifter, it will take a strength she’s never known to prepare her for the coming danger, and for the fate of the dragons she has been sworn to serve.

When this book released, I had so many books on my tbr pile that I knew that I had to read first, that unlike most of the books that Jamie Begley releases, I decided to postpone it.

More often than not, I immediately buy and devour any book that Jamie Begley writes in a matter of hours but I’m glad that I waited until the release of T.A (Biker Bitches 6) before I read this book.

Why, you might ask. Well, the answer is that, once you read a book that takes you on such an emotionally charged ride: one, so beautiful, captivating and heart-wrenching; only reading another Jamie Begley book afterwards would suffice.

I absolutely adored every moment of reading this book and look foward to reading it many times in the future. If you haven’t read any of Jamie Begley’s books before, I don’t know what you’re waiting for.

This is an author who’s work I always eagerly buy and then read and re-read again and again.

Her writing, her words and the characters that she brings to beautiful, vivid life are utterly addictive.

Highly Recommended.

Here’s the blurb for the book if you’re interested:

The Porter brothers were raised to live and die by Three Rules.
One, a Porter always keeps what’s his.
Two, a Porter stands his ground.
Three …

Dustin never had to search for his true love. They used to play and get in trouble together, shared a playpen, and their mothers used to be best friends. But that was before their fathers made them enemies and changed the course of their lives. Now the Porters stayed on their side of the mountain while the Hayes stayed on theirs.

Believing it was easier to coexist as frenemies with Jessie Hayes rather than changing the Porter stubborn ways, Dustin was content with booty calls, raising his son, and growing weed as a side business … until he heard her screams. Now he was going to show a murderer just how much they had underestimated this Porter brother. And he was going to have to break his father’s last rule: Leave no enemy standing … to claim the enemy that held his heart.

While Kilyama will always be one of my very favorite Biker Bitches, I think that T.A. just took her place in my affections. While not as hot and raunchy as some of Jamie Begley’s books can be, this book is sweet, sassy and has plenty of steam.

From the very moment that I opened this book and started reading, T.A’s character had me utterly captivated. She’s sweet and sensitive and has a backbone of steel and Dalton Andrews is the perfect man for her, even if he’s unwilling to acknowledge it. 

This book is a definite must-read for fans of Jamie Begley’s work. 

Highly Recommended.

Here’s the blurb if you’re interested:

Cuffing season was supposed to be about finding a hook-up to keep her warm during the cold Kentucky winter nights. T.A. wasn’t looking for Mr. Right; she just wanted Mr. Available.
That was before she met Dalton Andrews. The widower was nursing a broken heart, and the only thing he wanted was a woman to take his grown kids’ minds off worrying about him.

It was supposed to be a trade-off—he would keep her warm and toasty during the nights, and she would put up a smokescreen in front of his kids during the days. It was a win-win situation.
That was until the famous actor decided he wanted out of the deal and Mr. Available was a no-show during the biggest snowstorm of the year.

Poor schmuck didn’t realize that all the drama he had experienced in Tinseltown was nothing compared to dealing with this bitch.

So that’s it for now, ladies and gents. For now, I’m going to sign off and find a book to read but I can’t leave without showing you this:

Every year since my son was a baby I’ve created a book tree for him. I collect 24 books, both new and old, throughout the year and wrap them and during the month of December, in the lead up to Christmas Day, my son gets a book to open. The benefits are twofold, it increases his love of reading and also makes him eager and happy to head off to bed and sleep.

This year, my mum (who I absolutely adore) decided to do a book tree for me! I know, I’m so very blessed and lucky to have her in my life.

Happy Reading until next time my friends!