Nomad by J.L. Bryan

Title: Nomad
Author: J.L. Bryan
Publication Date: July 26, 2013
Source: Via the author in exchange for a review.

They took everything: her family, her home, her childhood.
By the age of nineteen, Raven has spent most of her life in the sprawling slums of America, fighting as a rebel against the dictatorship. When the rebellion steals an experimental time-travel device, she travels back five decades to the year 2013. Her plan: assassinate the future dictator when he is still young and vulnerable, long before he comes to power. She must move fast to reshape history, because agents from her own time are on her trail, ready to execute her on sight.

GoodReads // Amazon

Nomad was a fast paced, funny, action packed thrill ride. I absolutely loved this story!

Our main character is Raven (Riley). She's sent back in time to assassinate the future dictator before he comes to power. What she doesn't expect is to fall in love with him.

Raven is a fighter. She's been through some crap in her life but she never gives up hope. She's more soldier than girl but I love how she adapted to her "new life".  She seemed to fall into the "normal" ways of our present day time so flawlessly. After living in the battle field that she called home, it's interesting to see her adjust to a normal time period. She's amazed at how beautiful everything is. And how much food is available for such a small price. The things that we always seem to take advantage of. But we do get flashbacks of her child hood through out the story. I, for one, love that. I hate books that have the longest history to read through all at one time. Nomad was nothing like that. Mr. Bryan kept it fresh and the story just flowed. It was incredibly nice to get small bursts of history instead of a whole chapter at once. History looses my interest ridiculously fast.

Logan is our target. He has no idea that he'll turn into the monster he is in the future. Right now, he's just a normal college guy. Sometimes a little too cocky, but what guy who's rich and semi famous isn't? I really liked Logan. His character was funny and caring. His heart has not yet been corrupted and Raven couldn't help but see his potential. She knew she would have to get close to him to change the course of history but she could have never prepared herself for the roller coaster that was to come.

Nomad will keep you on the edge of your seat. You never know what's going to happen next. And that's the best feeling when you're reading a book. Not knowing! The writing was fantastic. The worlds were described perfectly. I seriously could not get enough! 

If a futuristic, dystopian, time traveling, butt kicking story peaks your interest, then you must read Nomad. I guarantee you will love it!


*18+ due to some sexual content & language.

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Nomad by J.L. Bryan: Excerpt + Giveaway!

Today I have an awesome excerpt from Nomad by J.L. Bryan to share with you guys! You may not have already known this about me, but I am a huge J.L. Bryan fan! I adore his writing and everything that I have read so far. Nomad was no exception. It is amazing, you guys! Be sure to check back on Wednesday for my review!

Nomad by J.L. Bryan
Publication date:  July 26th 2013
Genre: NA time travel dystopian novel

A new dystopian novel from the author of Jenny Pox - coming July 26.
They took everything: her family, her home, her childhood.
By the age of nineteen, Raven has spent most of her life in the sprawling slums of America, fighting as a rebel against the dictatorship. When the rebellion steals an experimental time-travel device, she travels back five decades to the year 2013. Her plan: assassinate the future dictator when he is still young and vulnerable, long before he comes to power. She must move fast to reshape history, because agents from her own time are on her trail, ready to execute her on sight.

 About the Author:

J.L. Bryan studied English literature at the University of Georgia and at Oxford, with a focus on English Renaissance and Romantic literature. He also studied screenwriting at UCLA. He lives in the metro Atlanta sprawl with his wife Christina, where he spends most of his day servings the toddler and animal community inside his house. He is the author of the Paranormals series and the Songs of Magic series.

His novel Jenny Pox is currently free on Kindle, Smashwords, Apple, Sony, Kobo, and Nook!    

Author Links:

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

An excerpt from the first chapter of Nomad by J.L. Bryan

Her hands were red with blood, but the cold rain washed it away.  Whose blood?  She couldn’t remember. 
She became aware of pain throughout her body.  Freezing water and tiny hailstones lashed her face as she stumbled through a storm.  Dying thunder echoed in her ears, and crackles of lightning faded in the night around her.
A pair of lights rushed toward her through the darkness, but her brain couldn’t interpret what her eyes saw.  A long screech ripped through her ears, followed by shrill bleats. 
Car horns, she realized as the lights loomed closer.  Through her thick, fuzzy brain, it dawned on her that she was staggering along a multi-lane road, seconds away from getting splattered across the oncoming grill of an eighteen-wheeled truck.
She discerned a dark space off to her left and moved into it, stepping from hard pavement into squishy wet earth.  The truck that had nearly killed her squealed past as the driver braked, dousing her with a wave of cold mud.  Horns blew at the stopped truck blocking up the left lane.
She rubbed her eyes and tried to grasp her surroundings—a grass median dividing an interstate highway, up to her ankles in frigid mud.
She couldn’t remember where she was, or how she’d come to be there.  After a moment’s reflection, she realized she wasn’t entirely sure who she was, either.
Raven, she remembered.  She clung to that word like a lifeline. My name is Raven.  It is now, anyway.  She’d once had a different name, but that original, scribbled-on-the-birth-certificate name no longer mattered.
She wore black boots and a long black jacket.  A backpack weighed down her shoulders, but she didn’t know what it contained.  She trudged on weak, trembling legs toward an overpass bridge ahead.  Once she was out of the downpour, she could gather her brains and figure things out.  She didn’t seem to be bleeding, so the blood on her hands must not have been her own.
“Hey!  Hey there, girl!  You all right?” shouted the truck driver who had almost flattened her.  More cars honked and swerved to avoid crashing into the back of his trailer, which was decorated with puffy pink sheep.
Raven squinted up at him.  The man was in his forties, severely overweight, with a handlebar mustache and scratchy, graying beard stubble.  His blue and white cap read: MoonPie: The Original Marshmallow Sandwich!
“I’m fine!” she shouted through the downpour. “Keep going!”
“You got a car?” he asked.
“No,” she told him. “I don’t think so.”
“Where you headed?”
“I don’t know.”
“The troopers gonna lock you up if they see you!  You drunk or what?”
“I don’t think so.” She raised a hand to her mouth to check her breath.  Not drunk.
The trucker eyed her up and down, a soaking wet girl stumbling along the interstate alone at night, and then he swung open the passenger door. 
“Best climb on up in here with me,” he said. “Gonna freeze your pants off out there.”
Raven looked at the gruff, obese man and the warm, sheltered transport he was offering, and then at the overpass bridge in the distance.  Her legs were rubbery.  She might not make it to the overpass before she collapsed.
“Lady, I got to get moving,” he said. “You want a ride to the exit or what?”
“Yeah,” Raven said.  She had no reason to trust him, but he seemed soft-bodied and slow.  If he tried to get rough, she would break his wrists.   Even in her current state, she knew she could take him if he pushed her to it.
Raven stumbled around to the passenger side and struggled to climb with her weakened limbs until he took her arms and pulled her up.
“Thanks,” she whispered, still shivering.  She was almost too weak to pull the door closed.
“Just glad you ain’t tore in half.” He settled back into the driver’s seat, and it groaned under his weight. “You musta been one, two, three, four inches from me.  Or less.  Just popped up outta nowhere when that lightning hit.” He drove cautiously through the storm. “Didn’t seem like no normal lightning, you ask me.  What was you doing out there?   That big flash hit the road, then you come stumbling out....Did the lightning get you?”
“I don’t know,” she said.  The interior of the cab smelled like cigarette smoke and old hamburgers.  A collage of small objects was glued to the dashboard—action figures, an old watch face, postcards, salt and pepper shakers.  Hail clattered on the cab’s roof.
“You don’t know?” he asked.
“Sorry.” Raven shrugged off her backpack and set it on the floor between her wet boots.  She wanted to see what was inside it, but not while he was watching.
“It’s Jebbie, by the way.” He offered his calloused hand, and she hesitated a moment before taking it. “Jebbie Walters.  From Yazoo City, Mississippi.  You got a name, darling?”
“Angela.  That’s my name,” Raven said.  She knew not to trust a stranger with data about herself.  He might be the enemy, and she felt informants and spies were everywhere, looking to report those who resisted.
“Huh.  Where you from, Angela?”
She tried to remember, but finally shrugged.
“You ain’t gotta tell me,” he said. “You going north?  Cause that’s where I’m going, way up north of here.  You might want to hop out quick if that ain’t your plan.”
“I’m not sure.”
“You ain’t sure about much of nothing, are you?”
“Not right now,” Raven said.
“I guess I ought to drop you up at the exit.”
“You can.” Raven shrugged. “I think I’m lost.”
He looked her over again. “Tell you what.  About three, four, five miles from here’s a good spot, the Big Porcupine Travel Plaza.  Got showers, motel rooms, an all-night-you-can-eat place.  We could stop there, get you a place to sleep.  Maybe in the morning you’ll start to remembering things.  I figure you just need to sleep it off.  You’re on drugs or something, ain’t you?”
“Maybe,” Raven said.
He laughed. “It’s okay by me.  I don’t do drugs, myself.  Just pills and booze.  Well, you think about what you want to do.” 
He turned up the radio, where a woman sang a slow, gentle song that Raven gradually recognized.  Someone—her mother?—had once played it on the piano.  It was an old song called “The Rose.”
“Uh, sorry.” Jebbie blushed pink and spun the radio knob. “I, uh, usually find a good honky-tonk or country gold station.  Don’t know how my radio ended up on that soft-rock junk, or whatever that was.  Yeah, here we go.” He found a song with a steel guitar and a man singing about his wife leaving him for his boss.
Raven looked at herself in the rain-streaked side mirror.  She was about twenty years old, maybe nineteen.  That felt right.  Her black hair was pulled into a short ponytail with a rubber band.  She wore all black: boots, fatigues, blouse, backpack, jacket.  The knee-length jacket was made of a stretchy artificial material with a texture like a crocodile’s back.  She felt a web of metallic fibers between the layers of leathery fabric. That’s armor, she realized, and she wondered why she might need armor.  Her only jewelry was on her left wrist, a thin silver bracelet with a large moonstone.
She tried to reach back in time with her mind.  She’d been stumbling along the highway.  The moment before that: what?  It was a solid blank slate, as though a giant magnet had wiped her brain clean.  Perhaps the trucker was right, and she’d been struck by lightning.
Raven, she reminded herself. I know my name.

Be sure to like/add Nomad to your GoodReads TBR! You won't regret it!!

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Cold Blood (Dirty Blood #2) by Heather Hildenbrand

Title: Cold Blood (Dirty Blood #2)
Author: Heather Hildenbrand
Publisher: Accendo Press
Publication Date: November 22, 2011
Source: Via the author in exchange for review.

Wood Point Academy is not at all what I expected. For one thing, it looks like a cross between military school and Buckingham Palace. Everyone stares, the floors shine so bright you can see your reflection in them from a mile away, and no one smiles. Unless they're kicking your butt in the process.
At least I've got plenty to take my mind off the fact that my psycho cousin, Miles De'Luca, keeps calling and declaring his love and promising to come for me just as soon as he's destroyed anyone standing in our way. Wes isn't going to like that idea. So between Miles, Wood Point's evil welcoming committee, and the drill sergeant hottie trainer from hell, I just keep asking myself, how did I end up here?

Goodreads // Barnes & Noble // Amazon

Cold Blood picked up right where Dirty Blood ended. It just seemed like I'd never quit reading, even being months apart. Cold Blood is once again full of action. It snags your interest from the start and doesn't let go until you've turned the last page.

Tara is sent to a boarding school for Hunters, against her wishes. Everyone there hates her. She is picked on, talked about and the subject of a few nasty pranks. We meet lots of new characters in Cold Blood. I loved them all! Cambria & Logan become Tara's new best friends. I love Cambria. She's sarcastic & hilarious. Logan is a smart surfer. (Imagine that?) But the three make a fantastic team of misfits and I loved reading about them. 

We also meet Alex. I'm really starting to like Alex and I don't want to. HA! I want to keep loving Wes. Alex is Tara's trainer at Wood Point Academy. Their relationship starts out kinda rocky but it doesn't take long for feelings to emerge  Alex is brave, kind & good at his job. He trusts Tara and believes in her. Wes is still being super over protective, even while miles away.

Miles pops back into the picture in Cold Blood. He informs Tara that he has a super secret project that he's been working on. But, obviously, I'm not going to tell you! You'll just have to read Cold Blood and find out for yourself!


I loved, loved Cold Blood. The writing is fantastic. The way Heather describes the school and the scenery, it feels like you're there! This is absolutely one of my most favorite book  series'! I can't wait to start Blood Bond now! This series just keeps getting better and better!

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Dirty Blood by Heather Hildenbrand

Title: Dirty Blood
Author: Heather Hildenbrand
Publisher: Accendo Press
Publication Date: April 28, 2011
Source: purchased from Kobo for FREE!

I killed a girl last night. I did it with my bare hands and an old piece of pipe I found lying next to the dumpster. But that’s not the part that got me. The part that scared me, the part I can’t seem to wrap my head around and still has me reeling, was that when she charged me, her body shifted – and then she was a wolf. All snapping teeth and extended claws. But by the time I stood over her lifeless body, she was a girl again. That’s about the time I went into shock… And that was the moment he showed up.
Now, all I can do is accept the truths that are staring me in the face. One, Werewolves do exist. And Two, I was born to kill them.

Goodreads // Barnes & Noble  (FREE for Nook!) // Amazon (FREE for Kindle!)

I will start out by saying that I have never been a big werewolf fan. Unless you count Alcide from True Blood. (*swooooon*) But Heather has done an amazing job of creating a world full of werewolves that I loved! It hooked me with just the first few pages and before I knew it, I was finished and wanting more!

Our two main characters are Tara and Wes. They meet under strange circumstances. Tara is attacked after leaving a bar one night alone. She responds with amazing instincts and easily kills her attacker. But this leaves her with tons of questions and only one person who can give her answers. Wes arrives after the attack has happened and can't believe that Tara handled the situation so easily.

I love Tara and Wes' relationship. Wes is constantly pushing her away because he knows it the only way to really keep her safe. Of course he eventually gives in. It's a little frustrating at times. I wanted to just yell at them occasionally. Like come on! Kiss already. Get it out!! But what relationship doesn't have a little tension going on?

Tara discovers many things about herself through out the story. Things about who she is and what she was born to do. Her mother kept this whole world a secret from her to protect her. But we all know that trouble never stays away for long. More or less, Tara & Wes set out on their destiny, which is to change the world. At least for the werewolf/hunter part. Dirty Blood is very well written. Heather's words flow together perfectly. I seriously could not put this book down! 


Dirty Blood had me hooked from the beginning. It's full of werewolves, hunters, action and some romance. Tara is a strong female character. She's witty, tough and stands her ground. Wes is strong, caring and incredibly yummy. What more could you want in a book?! I highly, highly recommend Dirty Blood! 

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Bloodspell (Bloodspell #1) by Amalie Howard

Title: Bloodspell (Bloodspell #1)
Author: Amalie Howard
Publisher: Langdon Street Press
Publication Date: June 1, 2011
Source: via Netgalley for review

Cruentus Protectum (Defend the Blood)
But what do you do if your blood is your enemy?
Victoria Warrick has always known she was different. An outcast at school, she is no stranger to adversity. But when she receives an old journal for her seventeenth birthday, nothing prepares her for the dark secrets it holds -- much less one that reveals she's a witch with unimaginable power.
What's more, when she meets the dazzling but enigmatic Christian Devereux, she has no idea how much her life is about to change. Enemies will hunt her. Friends will turn on her. The terrible curse that makes her blood run black will stop at nothing to control her. And Christian has a sinister secret of his own...
Without knowing whom to trust, can Victoria survive her blood's deadly desires? Or will she lose everything, including herself?

Goodreads // Barnes & Noble // Amazon

Bloodspell is filled with magic, monsters & twists that will keep you turning the pages.

I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed reading Bloodspell. It's a wonderfully written story about a girl named Victoria who discovers on her 17th birthday that she is a witch. She's always known she was different but until that moment, she never knew why.

After an accident at her old school, Victoria transfers to  Windsor Academy for a fresh start. She has her own apartment, gets a job & makes some new friends. She also meets Christian, a mystery of a guy who she is drawn to. After a while we learn that a relationship is forbidden between Victoria & Christian. Normally this kind of love story annoys me. The love each other but they can't be together. Oh who cares, lets do this anyways. No, we really cant make this work. Back & forth. Over & over. Annoying. But the way that Ms. Howard wrote their battle of feelings was perfect. I actually enjoyed it & felt their pain.

Bloodspell has so many twists & turns that it keeps you on the edge of your seat. The story becomes climatic and you think, "oh man, this is it!". But no, there's more.

The ending I never saw coming. My mind was going in a totally different direction than the one Ms. Howard took. It was refreshing to not be able to guess how a story ends. I love to kept in the dark!


Bloodspell is a magnificent read & I highly recommend it! If you love supernatural stuff then you will love Bloodspell!

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Rapunzel Untangled by Cindy C. Bennett

Title: Rapunzel Untangled
Author: Cindy C. Bennett
Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc.
Publication Date: February 12, 2013
Source: via NetGalley in exchange for review

Rapunzel is not your average teenager.
For one thing, she has a serious illness that keeps her inside the mysterious Gothel Mansion. And for another, her hair is 15 feet long. Not to mention that she’s also the key to ultimately saving the world from certain destruction. But then she meets a boy named Fane, who changes all she has ever known, and she decides to risk everything familiar to find out who she really is.
Filled with romance, adventure, and mystery, Rapunzel Untangled is one story you won’t want to put down. Discover the true meaning of love and friendship in this modern twist to the classic fairy tale.

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I am a sucker for fairy tales. And Ms. Bennett delivered with Rapunzel Untangled. This was my first "modern day" fairy tale. I requested Rapunzel Untangled because I am not very familiar with this story. Of course I know about Rapunzel, but it's a fairy tale that you don't often hear of. I loved it!

There isn't an over abundance of background information on Rapunzel. Ms. Bennett shares bits and pieces over the course of the book about where she came from. Rapunzel is kept inside her "apartment" at all times. She's led to believe she has a rare disease involving germs. It isn't safe for her on the outside. No one comes in or out, except for her mother. She only visits once or twice a day. The rest of the time Rapunzel is on her own to do as she pleases. She home schools but isn't allowed to watch television or use the internet for anything unrelated to her lessons. As expected, Rapunzel gets curious. She discovers Facebook while researching her school work and secretly creates a profile. This profile leads to her meeting Fane, who turns her world upside down.

I really liked Fane. He seemed to be the popular, cool guy who also has a heart. He welcomes her into his family and his home. He risks his life helping Rapunzel find out who she is and where she comes from.

It's a cute, heartwarming read. If you're like me and sometimes want a break from all the millions of paranormal romance novels out there, try Rapunzel Untangled. While I suppose it could still be classified as a paranormal romance, it stands out by far. I have a feeling you won't be disappointed.

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