COURTNEY & ANDREA REVIEW: BEYOND CONTROL by KARICE BOLTON

Courtney recently read Beyond Control for the blog, and as soon as she finished she emailed me, telling me I must read it. (There was a lot of !!!s and a few F-bombs, too) So I decided that I would read Beyond Control, too, and do a joint review to see how our thoughts compare.

Series: Beyond Love #1
Category/Genre: NA Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Bulldog Press
Publication Date: 9/2/13
Format: eARC
Pages: 336
Source: Received from author for review
Rating: 5 stars (Courtney)/4 stars (Andrea)

Gabby Sullivan learns in college that some things are impossible to control, and whenever life has spun out of control bad things seem to happen. She promises herself that she’ll stay a safe distance from the top three culprits:

Sex
Love
Relationships

But some things are beyond control…

Gabby handles her mom’s death and brother’s sudden abandonment just about as well as anyone could at the age of twelve. Left feeling alone, she finishes high school, developing a bit of a wild streak, and lives like there’s no tomorrow. That is until an illness stops her in her tracks. Learning to control life around her becomes her comfort. With a visible scar that reminds her and the world that she beat the odds, it’s impossible for her to put everything behind her, no matter how hard she tries.

Right out of college she begins working at her family’s company and buries herself in the safety of the corporate world. No extra time, no life, no relationships. It’s safe to say she might be a little demanding and overly ambitious, but she’s got everything under control, just how she likes it.

Jason’s been trying to piece his life together after a personal tragedy, only it’s not working. He’s thrown himself into his work, but he’s only becoming angrier. He’ll never forgive himself and doesn’t expect anyone else to either.

When the back of his vehicle is clipped by an obnoxious limo driver he can’t wait to let the driver have it until he hears Gabby’s voice coming from inside the sedan. There’s something soothing about it, something familiar.

The moment she sees him, she knows her life will never be the same. But she doesn’t know why. He’s everything she said she never wanted. He’s cocky, arrogant, and infuriating. With his dazzling amber eyes, dark hair and chiseled features she can hardly remember where she’s going, let alone where she’s been and maybe that’s a good thing. She begins to let him show her what life could be, if she really lived it.

Neither wants their past to define their future, but sometimes destiny has something else in store. It’s only as their love grows and secrets are revealed that they realize a devastating connection from their past might actually tear them apart.

 

Courtney's Take...

I had to take a little bit of time to calm down after I finished Beyond Control because I was deliriously excited by how much I loved it! So now, hopefully I can say things other than it was epic and OMG! I mean those things and said them over, and over, and over but seriously I thought this book was really, really amazing.

From the first chapter, I was telling my friend Shelley "OMG, the writing in this book is seriously fantastic.. You need to buy this book." and told Andrea "You have to read this!!!" I'm certain I was making both a little crazy with text & tweet, but I was sucked in and was not going to stop reading it until I finished it! And that is exactly what I did!!!!

So, what is this about you say? Okay Gabby is a 22 year old girl who really seems to about pleasing everyone else after she graduates college and got a job at her father's company selling organic cheese....yeah..! That sounds really fun, right?! The first chapter is a flashback to when she is 12 and she loses her mother, so you know right off the bat that she's experienced some loss. If it only stopped there, I would say she is a pretty tough chick to go through things...but of course it doesn't! The blurb tells you that her brother Aaron "abandoned" her around the same time, and I quote abandoned because she has no idea what happened. She hasn't seen or heard from him for 10 years, so when he is sprung on her at a charity event her world is turned upside down. Before this little twist, she meets a gorgeous man named Jason. Her nerves work her over, and she comes off pretty snarky so it was pretty cool to see that he called her out on her BS, and luckier for her he thought her attitude was cute.

Jason is 27 and has also had some hard life experiences in his early 20's as well. But he wasn't one of those guys who wallowed in misery. Sure, he was miserable, but he also found a way to follow his dreams and make something of himself. Jason also builds custom motorcycles, so can anyone say "Can I have one of those please? Of course, I meant the motorcycle....!" I was seriously stoked to enjoy a character like him.

Now, no spoilers from me...so let me see...this story is about two people becoming in friends, wondering if they will be able to get to know each other through awkward experiences, will they fall in love, will her family be okay with her following her dreams, will she be grown up enough to listen to what her brother has to say and forgive him? Will Jason be able to get over the things in his past and fall for Gabby? Oooh, there are just so many parts and people in this story that became genuine and real characters in my mind. Beyond Control is not overly angsty, but they do have a few pretty significant issues to work through. Forgiveness is a hard theme for any character to overcome and quite a few different people needed it hardcore. So, it was epic!

THE END. Holy shizz, the end. I am not a huge fan of cliffhangers and there is one here. BUT before you freak, the next book is a companion, so somehow or another Karice made it to where the freaking cliffhanger is about the couple in the next book...and that sort of blew my mind. *Kaboom* I for one will be stalking, I mean watching her twitter excitedly for when the next book is to be released...because I cannot wait to find out what is in store for Aaron!


Andrea's Take...

So Courtney emailed me as soon as she finished Beyond Control, and her enthusiasm had me curious. I'd a few of Karice Bolton's Paranormal YA books and enjoy her writing. Beyond Control is another good story from Bolton.

Like Courtney, I really liked the characters quite a lot. I admired Gabby's feisty personality. She was funny and bold, but also timid when it comes to taking chances. I enjoyed Jason even more. He was mysterious, nice, and sexy. Oh, and the fact he builds customs motorcycles was kind of hot.

The relationship between  Gabby and Jason was built on attraction initially, but more so, friendship, family, and a bond neither of them realize. I have to say, I figured out what was going on pretty quickly, but was very curious to see if I was right. I was, and this was a doozy, in a good way. It reminded me of the plot of a movie from several years ago that I loved. It pains me that I can't even mention the title of the movie, because it would completely give it away.

As Courtney mentioned, Beyond Control ends on a cliffhanger. But this isn't a cliffhanger, this is a CLIFFHANGER. My jaw literally dropped open when I turned the last page and saw "to be continued".  And no, this is not a conventional cliffhanger, because the story between Gabby and Jason isn't left unresolved, the series just moves in a different direction. I have to wonder how many e-readers Bolton's ending has sent careening across the room?

If you're looking for a story that seems fairly typical on the surface, but has several surprises in store,  Beyond Control is worth a shot.



Favorite Quote:


  "I know there's more to you than the rich girl façade you like to put on. The one who acts wounded from small things when it's the big things that are crushing you. But I'm willing to wait. To find out who's really behind that wall you've put up. I know it's worth waiting for."   ~ eARC, 42%


  "I want to help you get over your fears. I want you to lose control, give me the control."
 ~ eARC, 73%

Purchase Beyond Control

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble 

About the author:
Karice Bolton is a Young Adult/New Adult author living in the Pacific Northwest.

Karice married the love of her life who she met in high school, and she still can't get over how cute and funny he is. They have two English Bulldogs that are the sweetest bullies in the world, and they use their cuteness to get what they want. Karice loves the snow and gravitates towards the stuff as often as possible! She enjoys skiing and tries really hard to snowboard, but often makes a nice little area to sit while everyone zips by on their board. She enjoys writing, and she also loves to read just about anything with print.

Karice would love if you stopped by her blog or FB page to find out the latest news on giveaways and upcoming releases, or you can just send her an email. She loves hearing from her readers and responds as soon as she can.

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  GoodReads

{REVIEW} ALTERED SOULS (THE WITCH AVENUE SERIES #2) by KARICE BOLTON

Series: The Witch Avenue #2
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Publisher: Bulldog Press
Publication Date: 10/28/12
Format: ebook
Source: Received from author for review.

The realm of Altered Souls brings nothing but unrest, deceit, and pain forcing Triss to come face to face with heartbreak from her past.

Facing a betrayal like never before, Triss questions everything she thought she knew about her family, coven, and abilities.

With the help of Logan, she embarks on a journey enabling her to confront the dark side of magic and the person who controls it. Realizing Triss’s ancestors have been seduced for centuries by the dark side, Triss and Logan must ensure no more in their world fall victim to the realm of Altered Souls, even if that means ending the ones they love.

Full of revelations and shocking surprises, Altered Souls is an exciting sequel to Lonely Souls.

Middle books in a series are tricky. Authors must be able to keep the series storyline moving forward without giving away too much, enough to keep readers hanging for the finale. Sometimes, the book winds up being more of a "filler" than relevant to the overall arc of the series. In Altered Souls, author Karice Bolton did that job very well.

In Lonely Souls, Triss had to balance a reconnection with her childhood friend Logan with the mystery of what happened to her mother. It was a difficult balance to maneuver, but she did it well. In Altered Souls, she is still managing to handle her new, but intense connection to Logan, but also the struggle to get her mother back. And what I really love about this is yes, Logan and Triss do want to be together, and their relationship is very beautiful, but the story still revolves around the fight against evil. The romance is a lovely aspect to the story, but it never fully takes it over. Triss and Logan are following their hearts, and using their minds.

As I mentioned before, Altered Souls is full of shocking revelations. There are new enemies crawling out of the dark, one in particular is shocking. There is a new power player on the scene. And almost as surprising as the enemies are the potential allies. One group of allies was cool and pretty imaginative, the other truly shocked me. In the meantime, Triss and Logan are working to use power strong enough to defeat their enemies, without moving over to the dark side. The ending left them at a point that is a nice set-up for book three, Released Souls.

These days, it seems that I'm not one for a lot of paranormal young adult. But with Bolton's great take on witchcraft and love, The Witch Avenue Series is an exception.

Favorite Quotes:

  "You are so beautiful," he murmured, as he gently cupped my face, allowing his finger to trace its way back down my neck to my collarbone. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to be so close to you every night?"
  "I think I can imagine." I tried to stifle a nervous giggle.


  Oh, how I wanted to be a normal eighteen year old with nothing to worry about except a college exam and what to wear on a date. Instead, I was plagued with bringing home a mother who didn't want to be found and the prospect of a father willing to unleash dark sorcery on his own daughter. Welcome to adulthood, Triss.

The Witch Avenue Series

(click on cover for my review)

Purchase Lonely Souls at:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Purchase Altered Souls at:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the Author:
Karice Bolton is a paranormal romance/urban fantasy author living in the Pacific Northwest. All three books in The Watchers Trilogy are available now, Awakening, Legions, and Cataclysm. Lonely Souls, which is the first book in her new series Witch Avenue, was released in June 2012!

Karice married the love of her life who she met in high school, and she still can't get over how cute and funny he is. They have two English Bulldogs that are the cutest bullies in the world, and they use their cuteness to get what they want. Karice loves the snow and gravitates towards the stuff as often as possible! She enjoys skiing and tries really hard to snowboard, but often makes a nice little area to sit while everyone zips by on their board. She enjoys writing, and she also loves to read just about anything with print.

Connect with Karice at:

GoodReads | her website | Twitter | Facebook

{SPECIAL FEATURE & GIVEAWAY} LONELY SOULS (THE WITCH AVENUE #2) by KARICE BOLTON

I'm happy, today, to be featuring Altered Souls by Karice Bolton. Altered Souls is book two in the The Witch Avenue series, and the follow-up to Lonely Souls. Today's feature includes a book spotlight, excerpt, and a fantastic giveaway.

Series: The Witch Avenue #2
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Publisher: Bulldog Press
Publication Date: 10/28/12

The realm of Altered Souls brings nothing but unrest, deceit, and pain forcing Triss to come face to face with heartbreak from her past.

Facing a betrayal like never before, Triss questions everything she thought she knew about her family, coven, and abilities.

With the help of Logan, she embarks on a journey enabling her to confront the dark side of magic and the person who controls it. Realizing Triss’s ancestors have been seduced for centuries by the dark side, Triss and Logan must ensure no more in their world fall victim to the realm of Altered Souls, even if that means ending the ones they love.

 

Excerpt

 

I felt the warmth of the flames reach my bones while I let my mind wander to the possibilities that this opportunity could bring. Finding out what Trevor knew about my father and mother was quickly becoming an obsession. Glancing up at Logan, he stood directly in front of me, grinning with his arms crossed.

“Do you know how enticing you look in that shirt?” I blurted.

“Do I?” Logan’s lips spread into a huge smile.

“Yes you do, and we really need to get him out of the cottage tonight,” I muttered, unable to stop myself from looking at how deliciously low his jeans hung.

“And why’s that, Triss?” his lips turned up slightly in amusement.

Looping my finger into his jean pocket, I pulled him closer and looked up into his eyes. He raised his eyebrow with anticipation, and I couldn’t help the smile that was spreading across my lips.

“Just because,” I whispered, quickly releasing my finger from his pocket.

Standing up next to him, I quickly pecked him on the cheek before I headed to the kitchen, hoping I had left him wanting so much more.

I needed to get out of the cottage.

Opening up the oven, I peeked under the tinfoil at the rubbery mess, which seemed all too fitting considering my life at the moment. I took the foil off so the cheese would brown and shut the oven door with a thud. Here I was, once more, trying to internally debate the rights and wrongs of our actions and the consequences that they held.

“Hmm. Not quite there yet. Probably another fifteen minutes or so,” I sighed, looking out the kitchen window.

“It’ll have to be quick with what the weather seems to have in store for us,” Logan said, placing the jar on the end table.

“How’d you know what I was thinking?” I asked.

 

“I can just tell,” Logan said, letting his fingers glide into his front pocket. “Seriously though, it looks like it will be pretty nasty soon, but we can go outside for a few minutes. At least until the lasagna is done.”

Stepping outside onto our stone porch, I took a deep breath in and felt the freshness of the mountain air run through my system. Rain was definitely on the way, but I didn’t mind. There was nothing better than being in the cottage during a rainstorm. Well, that wasn’t quite true. Having Trevor tied up in the attic kind of complicated things, which was why I just wanted to get answers from him and get rid of him. Grabbing a basket and flower clippers, I looked back at Logan as he secured the door.

“Ready?” I asked.

“I’ll follow your lead,” he said grinning coyly. “Looks like you’ve got some collecting you’d like to do… And here I thought this might lead to something else.”

He shoved his hand deeper into his pocket and wore an absolutely adorable smile that stole my heart.

“Maybe I’ll follow your plan,” I said, shrugging and tossing my basket back down on the porch.

“Works for me.” He grinned, quickly moving toward me.

I backed my legs up against the porch banister to brace myself, the cold of the stone alerting my senses even more. My heart screamed with delight as he reached around me and wrapped his arms around my waist, creating a perfect circle. His stare was intense with the same feelings of desire I felt.

“I think I like your plan better,” I whispered.

He reached up and tucked a piece of hair behind my ear sending such a shudder through my body that I was certain he felt it.

I gripped his arm as he lowered it back to my waist. Closing the gap between us, I craved his touch.

“You are so beautiful,” he murmured, as he gently cupped my face, allowing his finger to trace its way back down my neck to my collarbone. “Do you have any idea how hard it is to be so close to you every night?”

“I think I can imagine.” I tried to stifle a nervous giggle.

Leaning down, his lips met mine as all of my muscles tingled from head to heel. I could feel the softness of his lips mold to mine as I slid my arm around his waist. Feeling the firmness of his entire body pressed against mine created an unstoppable force between us. Wrapping his shirt around my knuckles I brought him closer to me, but I felt him pull away slightly. Opening my eyes, I saw where I had pulled on his shirt. My tug of his clothing had revealed something dark on his skin that caught my eye, but he pulled his shirt collar back up quickly.

“You have a tattoo?” I asked, not wanting our session to be over.

“Kind of. Listen we should get back inside,” Logan’s words hit me like the thunder out in the distance. I wasn’t sure what I had done or why a tattoo would be a big deal, but it seemed to be.

“I didn’t think we were done?” I smiled, hopeful that whatever might have made him back away would quickly be forgotten, but it wasn’t.

“To your point earlier, let’s get this over with and boot him out,” Logan said, trying to change the subject. “So we can start where we left off.”

“I don’t understand what just happened, but you can bet I’m going to figure it out and who’s to say I don’t think a little ink is sexy?” I joked, only to have Logan looking a little more horrified than before.

Nice. I can't wait to read Altered Souls!

 

 

The Witch Avenue Series

 

(click on cover for my review)

 

 

 

Purchase Lonely Souls at:

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

 

Purchase Altered Souls at:

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble 

 About the Author:
Karice Bolton is a paranormal romance/urban fantasy author living in the Pacific Northwest. All three books in The Watchers Trilogy are available now, Awakening, Legions, and Cataclysm. Lonely Souls, which is the first book in her new series Witch Avenue, was released in June 2012!

Karice married the love of her life who she met in high school, and she still can't get over how cute and funny he is. They have two English Bulldogs that are the cutest bullies in the world, and they use their cuteness to get what they want. Karice loves the snow and gravitates towards the stuff as often as possible! She enjoys skiing and tries really hard to snowboard, but often makes a nice little area to sit while everyone zips by on their board. She enjoys writing, and she also loves to read just about anything with print.

Connect with Karice at:

GoodReads | her website   |  Twitter | Facebook

 

 

GIVEAWAY

 

Karice is offering a lovely prize to one lucky winner!

 

Prize Includes:

• Lonely Souls or Altered Souls paperback (winner's choice)
• $10 Amazon giftcard
• Tote bag
• Set of Witch Avenue bookmarks
• Set of Watchers Trilogy bookmarks

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

COVER REVEAL ~ TAKEN AND ALTERED SOULS by KARICE BOLTON

It's that time again...another cover reveal! I have not only one gorgeous cover to share with you, but two. Author Karice Bolton is unveiling the cover for Taken (A Watcher's Novella) and Altered Souls (The Witch Avenue Series, #2). Both covers were designed by PhatPuppy Art.

First up is Taken...

A Watchers Novella

Ana and Athen are enjoying the quiet life as a couple with only the minor dark demon infraction to rectify. Cyril and Arie are enjoying the newfound simplicity too. Things are perfect – too perfect. They soon realize that something far more sinister is taking place in their world, and they must do their best to stop the evil from spreading. Determined to figure out who is tampering with the mortals’ fate they are unable to recognize that it’s a trap, and one of their own is the target. This is where it all begins.

Expected Publication Date: December 2012

Next up is Altered Souls

The realm of Altered Souls brings nothing but unrest, deceit, and pain forcing Triss to come face to face with heartbreak from her past.

Facing a betrayal like never before, Triss questions everything she thought she knew about her family, coven, and abilities.

With the help of Logan, she embarks on a journey enabling her to confront the dark side of magic and the person who controls it. Realizing Triss’s ancestors have been seduced for centuries by the dark side, Triss and Logan must ensure no more in their world fall victim to the realm of Altered Souls, even if that means ending the ones they love. 

Expected Publication Date: October 2012

About the Author:
Karice Bolton is a paranormal romance/urban fantasy author living in the Pacific Northwest. All three books in The Watchers Trilogy are available now, Awakening, Legions, and Cataclysm. Lonely Souls, which is the first book in her new series Witch Avenue, was released in June 2012!

Karice married the love of her life who she met in high school, and she still can't get over how cute and funny he is. They have two English Bulldogs that are the cutest bullies in the world, and they use their cuteness to get what they want. Karice loves the snow and gravitates towards the stuff as often as possible! She enjoys skiing and tries really hard to snowboard, but often makes a nice little area to sit while everyone zips by on their board. She enjoys writing, and she also loves to read just about anything with print.

Connect with Karice at:

GoodReads  |   her website   Twitter  |  Facebook

Blog Tour ~ LONELY SOULS (Witch Avenue Series #1) by Karice Bolton

Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on the LONELY SOULS Blog Tour. LONELY SOULS is book one in the WITCH AVENUE SERIES by Karice Bolton. This tour is hosted by AToMR Blog Tours. You can find a complete tour schedule here.

It’s two weeks before Triss turns 18, and her world is about to change into the most magical one imaginable as she readies herself to enter The Witch Avenue Order... that is until her mother’s disappearance. Instead of celebrating her transformation, she finds herself spreading rose petals into her mother’s empty grave. When Logan, her best friend from junior high, moves back to town for college, he vows to help her find the answers she so desperately seeks surrounding her mother’s disappearance. As they begin uncovering clues, it becomes apparent that the life of white magic they both grew up loving is not what the majority practices, and their lives are in danger. With a haunting feeling that her mother may still be alive, she begins to hear a call to the wilderness. Triss realizes that in order to find the answers she needs, she must learn the ways of her ancestors and become the hunter, not the hunted before it’s too late, and she becomes part of the lonely souls. ~From GoodReads

LONELY SOULS is the first installment in author Karice Bolton's Witch Avenue series, and the first book of Bolton's I've had the chance to read. All I can say is, what an excellent book! Anymore, young adult paranormal books are very hit-and-miss with me. So I'll admit that I started this one a bit worried that I wouldn't connect with the story. I'm so happy I did join the tour, though, because I found the story to be quite enchanting.

When LONELY SOULS begins, Triss is on the brink of much change. She has just finished high school and is preparing to join the Witch Avenue Coven under her mother's guidance. When her mother suddenly disappears without a trace, the coven hurries the investigation and declares her dead, sparking Triss' suspicion. Determined to uncover the truth, Triss undergoes a dangerous journey with the help of her returned friend, Logan. Logan has some issues of his own, and he is interested in more than helping Triss; he wants to win her heart. Will they be able to resist the lure of dark magic?Will Triss find her mom, while falling in love?

So...witches. I'll also admit that I don't also love books revolving around witches. But Bolton, in my opinion, did a great job with this. Her imagined version of witchcraft didn't just involve someone whipping out a spell. These witches employed herbs, poultices, and other "natural" techniques. I found this to be more along the lines of what I enjoy. The fact that Triss' mom owned a shop that sold the products they made reminded me of the movie Practical Magic, which made me so happy. But that's not to say everything was light and breezy. There is dark magic involved. And while it didn't scare me, it did give me a bit of a chill when the witches turned to the dark side.

Another aspect to the story that I was on board with was the relationship between Logan and Triss. Triss is in a bad place when Logan returns. She's in mourning for her mother, though not convinced she's dead. Naturally she notices how much Logan has changed, how handsome he's become. But her focus is on finding the truth. She's hesitant to start a true relationship while in such turmoil. I found her choices to be so smart, and I appreciate Bolton writing her in this way. And oh, Logan was sooo sweet. Yes, he's handsome, but his heart is what won me over. He's loyal, and brave, and determined to do whatever he must to help Triss. And he's willing to wait for her. Great characters.

If I had any minor complaint, it would be I felt the pace of the story lagged in some areas. It wasn't bad, nothing that turned me off or made the story hard to read, though.

With it's enchanting characters, nicely-written story, and crazy intense ending, I found LONELY SOULS to be a very enjoyable story. I'm going to be anxiously waiting for the next book in the series!


Favorite Quote:

"I don't know how else to get this through your head. But you're the only one I've ever dreamed of being with. You've saved me on many levels, and I'm forever in your debt, and I'm willing to wait for however long it takes." (ebook, 40%)
Expected publication: June 29th 2012 by Bulldog Press

You can purchase LONELY SOULS at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Smashwords

Karice Bolton is a paranormal romance/urban fantasy author living in the Pacific Northwest. All three books in The Watchers Trilogy are available now, Awakening, Legions, and Cataclysm. Lonely Souls, which is the first book in her new series Witch Avenue, released June 2012.

Karice married the love of her life who she met in high school, and she still can't get over how cute and funny he is. They have two English Bulldogs that are the cutest bullies in the world, and they use their cuteness to get what they want. Karice loves the snow and gravitates towards the stuff as often as possible! She enjoys skiing and tries really hard to snowboard, but often makes a nice little area to sit while everyone zips by on their board. She enjoys writing, and she also loves to read just about anything with print.

You can connect with Karice at:

website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  GoodReads

GIVEAWAY

Karice Bolton has provided a lovely gift package for one lucky winner! The package includes a tote bag, handmade soaps, postcards, bookmarks, and a sticker.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour-Wide Giveaway

1st prize
*paperback copy of Lonely Souls
* $15Amazon Card

2nd prize
*paperback copy of Lonely Souls
* $10 Amazon Card

Grand Prize (Int)
* Arrowhead Necklace (pic attached)
* $50 Amazon card
* paperback of Lonely Souls

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal ~ LONELY SOULS, by Karice Bolton

I have another beautiful cover for you, lovies! Author Karice Bolton is unveiling the cover for the first book in The Witch Avenue series, LONELY SOULS.

It's two weeks before Triss turns 18, and her world is about to change into the most magical one imaginable as she readies herself to enter The Witch Avenue Order... that is until her mother's disappearance. Instead of celebrating her transformation, she finds herself spreading rose petals into her mother's empty grave.

When Logan, her best friend from junior high, moves back to town for college, he vows to help her find the answers she so desperately seeks surrounding her mother's disappearance. As they begin uncovering clues, it becomes apparent that the life of white magic they both grew up loving, is not what the majority practices, and their lives are in danger.

With a haunting feeling that her mother may still be alive, she begins to hear a call to the wilderness. Triss realizes that in order to find the answers she needs, she must learn the ways of her ancestors and become the hunter, not the hunted before it's too late, and she becomes part of the lonely souls.

 The LONELY SOULS cover was designed by Phatpuppy Art. I don't know about you, but I am excited for this one. In fact, I've already signed up for the blog tour! Can't wait.  Be sure to click the GoodReads link to add LONELY SOULS to your "to read" list.

The release is schedule for June 2012.

Karice Bolton's

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