Review: Rhodes by Christina Bauer with Giveaway!

RHODES

by Christina Bauer

Angelbound Offspring #4

Monster House Books

YA Fantasy, Paranormal

As dragon shifters, Rhodes and Zinnia should never have fallen in love. Why? Zin’s a princess while Rhodes is only the hired help. If the pair remain in the dragon realm, then age-old prejudices might tear them apart. But returning to Earth isn’t any better. In the human world, Rhodes and Zin are a musical sensation … and fame’s an even bigger relationship killer. Bottom line? Rhodes has huge decisions to make, both for himself and Zin.
Unfortunately, it isn’t clear what path—if any—will end with Rhodes and his love having a future together.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

MY TIDBITS 

Firstly, if you haven't read at least the last book in the series before this one, Zinnia, you'll have to do that before hitting this one. This book builds where Zinnia leaves off...plus, the others are fun reads in and of themselves.

In this book, Zinnia is in her tower and doesn't see Rhodes as often as she'd like. He is, after all, in training. But of course, the two aren't going to let things stay that way, and neither are their friends. Soon, Zinnia has a plan, which leads to more adventure than she saw coming.

This book is a bit shorter than the rest and makes for a very quick read, but that's not only due to the length. At the turn of every corner, the two main characters and their friends are facing new challenges and decisions. There's never a boring moment as the action speeds along from beginning to end. Add the romance in with the magic, fight scenes, secrets, and fun, and it's quite the mix.

This book is told from various perspectives, which allows insight in the right direction exactly when it's needed. It keeps everything on its toes, but then, the characters are good at that themselves. Each one holds spunk and determination, and the snark keeps the humor high.

Fans of magic, teen romance, dragons, music bands, secrets, fight scenes and simply entertaining reads are sure to enjoy this one.

Angelbound Offspring
1. Maxon
2. Portia
3. Zinnia
4. Rhodes (December 2019)
5. Kaps (Summer 2020)
6. Huntress (Summer 2021) 

Don’t Miss These Series From Christina Bauer
– Fairy Tales of the Magicorum, a series of modern fairy tales with sass, action, and romance
– Beholder, where a medieval farm girl discovers necromancy and true love
– Dimension Drift, a dystopian adventure with science, snark, and hot aliens
– Pixieland Diaries, about a sassy pixie Calla who falls for Dare, an icy elf prince
Get your FREE copy of Christina’s novella, BEVERLY HILLS VAMPIRE, when you sign up for her personal newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/bauersbooks***Not available in stores***

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

And here she is...

 

Christina Bauer thinks that fantasy books are like bacon: they just make life better. All of which is why she writes romance novels that feature demons, dragons, wizards, witches, elves, elementals, and a bunch of random stuff that she brainstorms while riding the Boston T. Oh, and she includes lots of humor and kick-ass chicks, too.
Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.
Be the first to know about new releases from Christina by signing up for her newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/CBupdates
Stalk Christina On Social Media – She Loves It!

Blog / Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / LinkedIn

GIVEAWAY!!!
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Review: Zinnia by Christina Bauer

ZINNIA

Angelbound Offspring, Book Three

by Christina Bauer

Monster House Books

Young Adult Fantasy

 300 pages

"Has EVERY damn thing I want in a series... great world building, slow-building romance, and great sidekicks!" - The Accidental Reader

As the last dragon shifter, I live alone, hiding in one of Earth’s sacred deserts. My human handlers tell me that I have no parents, no name, and no purpose other than to train for battle and one day become a vessel for the reincarnation of Chimera, the greatest dragon shifter of all. Sadly, Chimera’s rebirth will mean my own death. But my handlers say this sacrifice is a noble fate that will rebuild the dragon shifter world.

I shall die on my seventeenth birthday. That’s five days from now.

Then I hear music thumping across the desert. I take my mortal form, follow the sound, and find humans dancing in what they call a rave. There is a stage and a rock band. One thing quickly becomes clear: Unlike the audience, the musicians are dragon shifters, just like me. And one of them, the guitar player Rhodes, makes my knees turn watery. The lead singer, Kaps, has something strangely familiar about her.

It all adds up to one conclusion: My handlers lied to me. I’m not the last of my kind. Memories reappear. I had parents once. Portia and Tempest. I even had a name. Zinnia. Perhaps I have a reason to live as well. I step past the dancing humans to confront the players.

I will find out the full truth, no matter what. 

"Sweet mother of mercy ANGELBOUND is beyond fabulous!" - For Your Literary Pleasure Blog

Publisher's Note: Christina Bauer is a non-linear thinker who came up with ARMAGEDDON and then went back and wrote some earlier books. This is why you'll see ARMAGEDDON (Book 7) and the Offspring series available before THE BRUTAL TIME (Book 6). We've told her to stop this practice, but she keeps giving us lewd hand gestures in response. Apologies in advance for any inconvenience. 

Angelbound Origins
In which Myla Lewis kicks ass and takes names. Nuff said.
1. Angelbound
2. Lincoln - the events of Angelbound as told by Prince Lincoln. Includes a bonus prequel novella, Duty Bound 
3. Scala 
4. Acca 
5. Thrax 
6. The Dark Lands 
7. The Brutal Time (Fall 2019)
8. Armageddon (already here, long story!) 

Angelbound Offspring
The next generation takes on Heaven, Hell, and everything in between
1. Maxon 
2. Portia
3. Zinnia (Summer 2019)
4. Kaps (Summer 2020)
5. Huntress (Summer 2021) 

Angelbound Worlds
Inside stories about your fav characters
1. Xavier (Spring 2020)
2. Cissy (Spring 2021)

Also From Christina Bauer
- Fairy Tales of the Magicorum, a series of modern fairy tales with sass, action, and romance
- Beholder, where a medieval farm girl discovers necromancy and true love 
- Dimension Drift, a dystopian adventure with science, snark, and hot aliens

Don’t Miss Out
Get your FREE copy of Christina’s novella, BEVERLY HILLS VAMPIRE, when you sign up for her personal newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/bauersbooks ***Not available in stores***

 MY TIDBITS

What a fun read! Every page is entertaining as an exciting story unfolds...one with magic, dragons, a little romance and a villain to despise.

Zinnia has a wonderful life as a very, young princess, and even more so with her favorite friend. He plays the music and she adds the words. Together, they literally form magic. But one day, she's kidnapped, and the evil doers convince everyone she's really dead. They plan to use her as the center of a very sinister plan, and no one is wiser for it. Living in a cave, Zinnia has no memory of her past or who she really is. She only knows that she is suppose to be the vessel for a special magic, and she accepts this. That is, until she hears the music from a band and suddenly has the desire to escape.

The first chapters how Zinnia as a sweet, little girl, and it's hard not to like her. So, when she's kidnapped, the story grabs and I found myself cheering and hoping for her. Her decisions are understandable, and she never comes across as someone who simply gives in. She's a wonderful heroine to love and root for.

The story is also told from her best friend's point of view. He's kind, strong and yet, natural. His decisions make sense, and his frustrations with Zinnia's sister and friends are understandable. He's not over the top, but stands by Zinnia's side. This isn't love at first sight, but builds on friendship and ends with the promise of more to come.

It's easy to read, which makes it a perfect book to simply get lost in without seeking extreme depth or thought. It's simply an enjoyable ride into dragon-shifter fantasy with enough intrigue and action to keep the reader guessing the entire way through.

I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed the story even more than I thought I would. So, I'm leaving my honest thoughts.

Kaps by Christina Bauer with Giveaway!

KAPS

by Christina Bauer 

Angelbound Offspring, #4

Monster House Books

YA Fantasy

COMING...

JUNE 30th, 2020!!!

“I can NOT wait for the next installment of this series. These characters are some that you care about and want to know what goes on with in this magical world. Even the bad ones keep your attention. I’m going to go take a cold shower and see if I can calm down some.” – Flying Monkeys Reads

Meet Kaps: renegade, dragon shifter, and general pain in her parent’s backsides. Kaps turns away from the dragon world in order to become a rock star on Earth. Everything is going well—Kaps has fans, fun, and unconditional support from her best friend Rhodes—until one concert in the desert changes everything.
Kaps meets a rogue shifter named Zinnia; the encounter alters the rock star’s carefree life forever…
“From the first chapter I was hooked.” – Urban Fantasy Investigations

Plus, Don’t Miss These Series From Christina Bauer
– Fairy Tales of the Magicorum, a series of modern fairy tales with sass, action, and romance
– Beholder, where a medieval farm girl discovers necromancy and true love
– Dimension Drift, a dystopian adventure with science, snark, and hot aliens
– Angelbound, about a quasi (part human and part demon) girl who loves to kick butt in Purgatory’s Arena as outlined below…


Angelbound Origins
In which Myla Lewis kicks ass and takes names. Nuff said.
.5 Duty Bound – a prequel from Prince Lincoln

1. Angelbound

1.5 Lincoln – the events of Angelbound as told by Prince Lincoln

2. Scala
3. Acca
4. Thrax
5. The Dark Lands
6. The Brutal Time (Fall 2019)
7. Armageddon (already here, long story!)

Angelbound Offspring
The next generation takes on Heaven, Hell, and everything in between

1. Maxon
2. Portia
3. Zinnia (Summer 2019)
4. Kaps (Summer 2020)
5. Huntress (Summer 2021)

Angelbound Worlds
Inside stories about your fav characters

1. Xavier (Spring 2020)
2. Cissy (Spring 2021)

Goodreads / Amazon / Kobo / Google Play

And here she is...

 

Christina Bauer thinks that fantasy books are like bacon: they just make life better. All of which is why she writes romance novels that feature demons, dragons, wizards, witches, elves, elementals, and a bunch of random stuff that she brainstorms while riding the Boston T. Oh, and she includes lots of humor and kick-ass chicks, too.
Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.
Be the first to know about new releases from Christina by signing up for her newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/CBupdates 

Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / LinkedIn

GIVEAWAY!!!
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Excerpt: Portia by Christina Bauer with Giveaway

PORTIA

Angelbound Offspring Series, Book 2

by Christina Bauer

Ink Monster, LLC
YA Fantasy
133 pages

Unlike her famous older brother Maxon, Princess Portia isn’t known for killing demons or attracting admirers. The reason why is simple: a spell was cast on Portia, and the magic has marked her to one day transform into a dreaded Void demon. To fight this horrible fate, Portia’s spent her life hiding in libraries and learning magic. But when the Void demons threaten to destroy all the after-realms—and the handsome dragon Emperor Tempest offers his help—then Portia suspects that her future holds more than just a demonic metamorphosis. Fate is calling the bookworm princess onto the battlefield, and it’s a fight against both deadly enemies and her heart’s desires.

May be read as a stand-alone.

EXCERPT

Without thinking, I gesture to the man who’s standing right next to the boy, his arm held high in the air.

“How about your question, Sir?”

The guy rises. “Roy Cotter, Purgatory Enquirer.”

At these words, my heart sinks to my toes. This creep is one of those reporter-stalkers who follow me around looking for tabloid headlines. They always print the same stuff—how any second now, I’ll turn demonic, sprout six arms, and kill everyone in sight. How could I have missed him? He’s tall and bony and has a scorpion’s tail. Not easy to forget.

Roy pulls a small white notebook from his pocket. “What demon will you turn into, Princess?”

Gram leans into the microphone. “The Princess won’t be answering that question.”

Roy’s greasy face stretches into a grin. “Hiding something?”

Suddenly, I’m sick to death of concealing everything that I am. The guy wants an answer? He’ll get one.

I set my hand on Gram’s shoulder, guiding her away from the mic. “No, I’ve got it.” I scan the audience carefully before I answer. You could cut the air with a knife, the anticipation in here is so heavy.

“What demon will I turn into?” I ask. “The answer is, none. I’ve been studying magic so that never happens.” I gesture to my eye. “This is a spell. Spells can be broken.”

Roy rocks on his heels in delight. He’s got me on the defensive and he loves it. “Let me ask it another way, Princess. Most times, those marks are on your face signify a certain type of demon. You know, marking what you’ll turn into one day. Might be something harmless. Might not. None of us can read those marks on your face. Surely, with all your research, you’ve run across the answer to this question. Maybe you won’t turn into a demon, fine. But what are you Marked for?”

What a total set-up. If I tell the truth, I’ll be the laughingstock of the after-realms. If I lie, I look like an expert who doesn’t really know anything. No way am I answering.

“Come on,” says Roy. “What will you ‘not’ turn into one day?” He makes little quotation marks with his fingers when he says the word ‘not.’ A few muffled laughs sound from the crowd.

My torso tightens with frustration. I can’t believe this. I spend sleepless nights wondering how long I have left before I turn into a demon. I’ve worked all my life to break the spell that’s cursed me. I’m always the quiet one, the patient one, and the calm one. I never get angry. But my tragedy is somehow funny to my own so-called people? A new sensation boils through my bloodstream.

Rage. Suddenly, there’s only one thing I can do here.

Let loose on Roy.

“I’m Marked for the Void.”

All the oxygen seems to get sucked out of the room. Shocked faces stare at me from every direction.

And here she is. . .

CHRISTINA BAUER!!!

Christina graduated from Syracuse University's Newhouse School with BA's in English as well as Television, Radio, and Film Production. Her day job is in marketing for companies like Microsoft, Cisco, and Brainshark. Back in the go-go 90′s, she founded her own software start-up, Mindful Technologies. Christina believes that, upon close examination of Tolkien's text, it's entirely possible that the Balrog was wearing fuzzy bunny slippers.

Author links:

http://inkmonster.net/authors/cbauer

https://twitter.com/CB_Bauer

https://www.facebook.com/authorBauer

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/546812.Christina_Bauer

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