Kiss of Fire & Eyes of Ember Book Blitz!

Title: Kiss of Fire & Eyes of Ember

Author: Rebecca Ethington Genre: YA Paranormal

Hosted by: Lady Amber's Tours

Blurb: 

Joclyn Despain has been marred by a brand on her skin. She doesn't know why the mark appeared on her neck, but she doesn't want anyone to see it, including her best friend Ryland, who knows everything else about her. The scar is the reason she hides herself behind baggy clothes, and won't let the idea of kissing Ryland enter her mind, no matter how much she wants to.

The scar is the reason she is being hunted.

If only she knew that she was.

If only she had known that the cursed stone her estranged father sent for her 16th birthday would trigger a change in her. Now, she is being stalked by a tall blonde man, and is miraculously throwing her high school bully ten feet in the air.

Joclyn attempts to find some answers and the courage to follow her heart. When Ryland finds her scar; only he knows what it means, and who will kill her because of it. 

Blurb:

Joclyn is in hiding, hunted by the man she still desperately loves. Ryland is gone, his mind erased, no memory of Joclyn remains. But, Joclyn’s heart desperately begs her to hold out hope. While, in reality the black eyed monster that possesses him, attempts to kill her over and over.

If it wasn’t for Ilyan, Joclyn would be dead by now. 

Ilyan. The man who once stalked her, is now Joclyn’s protector, the only thing she has left. He protects Joclyn from the men who seek to end her life, and while she is haunted by dreams where Ryland begs her to break the bond between them. 

Ilyan is there. Always there.

Ilyan trains and prepares her, teaching her everything she needs to know in the hope that one day she can avenge Ryland, if not protect herself from him.

And then there is her father.

The man who has never been there, is suddenly responsible for everything. And who he is has made Joclyn into something she never wanted to be.

The Silnỳ.

Rebecca Ethington is an internationally bestselling author with almost 700,000 books sold. Her breakout debut, The Imdalind Series, has been featured on bestseller lists since its debut in 2012, reaching thousands of adoring fans worldwide and cited as "Interesting and Intense" by USA Today's Happily Ever After Blog.

From writing horror to romance and creating every sort of magical creature in be-tween, Rebecca's imagination weaves vibrant worlds that transport readers into the pages of her books. Her writing has been described as fresh, original, and groundbreaking, with stories that bend genres and create fantastical worlds.

Born and raised under the lights of a stage, Rebecca has written stories by the ghost light, told them in whispers in dark corridors, and never stopped creating within the pages of a notebook.

Author Links: 

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1iXXBmN
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6563633.Rebecca_Ethington
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RebEthington
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccaethington.author/
Web: http://www.rebeccaethington.com/

Buy Links: 

Kiss of Fire: Amazon: http://amzn.to/1OhCZkt 
Eyes of Ember Amazon: http://amzn.to/1OhD2Na

THE SHARE GAME!!!  

Every time you share about the sale and include the hashtag #Imdalind or #ImdalindSeries (imdalind, in case you can't tell that's an i) you are entered to win one of 3 $15 Visa gift cards, or 1/15 ebook copies of Scorched Treachery. One winner will be chosen from each of the following: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram - so be sure to share everywhere.

**Cover Reveal** Dawn of Ash by Rebecca Ethington

Title: Dawn of Ash

Author: Rebecca Ethington

Genre: YA Paranormal Hosted by: Lady Amber's Tours

Blurb: Underneath the deep red barrier Edmund has Vilỳ hide in the darkened alleys, waiting to attack anyone who passes, while Edmund’s men roam the blood-soaked streets, scouring every crumbling building in a mad attempt to flush out Ilyan and his men.  Among the danger, Ilyan and Joclyn are trapped, unable to leave the city. trying to keep their people safe behind a powerful shield, unseen from Edmund and his scouts. Wyn spends her days haunted by her daughter and watching Thom waste away from the mysterious curse slowly taking him. Ryland has risen above his father’s control, ready to take his place as his brother’s second. However, Sain needs his help first for a simple assignment, or so he thinks. Their safety is about to be shattered. A mole behind those safe, Cathedral walls has begun whispering through the survivors that Joclyn is unstable, that her magic is an uncontainable force that will destroy them all in the end.  Determined not to let the rumors affect her, Joclyn battles ahead, only to have reality and sight intersect in an explosion that shatters the walls between future, past, and present, leaving her imprisoned in a seamless existence she must learn to control … before Edmund and Ovailia control her. Before Sain unfurls the plan he has been orchestrating for centuries.

Rebecca Ethington is an internationally bestselling author with almost 700,000 books sold. Her breakout debut, The Imdalind Series, has been featured on bestseller lists since its debut in 2012, reaching thousands of adoring fans worldwide and cited as "Interesting and Intense" by USA Today's Happily Ever After Blog. From writing horror to romance and creating every sort of magical creature in be-tween, Rebecca's imagination weaves vibrant worlds that transport readers into the pages of her books. Her writing has been described as fresh, original, and groundbreaking, with stories that bend genres and create fantastical worlds. Born and raised under the lights of a stage, Rebecca has written stories by the ghost light, told them in whispers in dark corridors, and never stopped creating within the pages of a notebook.

Author Links: 
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1iXXBmN 
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6563633.Rebecca_Ethington 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RebEthington 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccaethington.author/ 
Web: http://www.rebeccaethington.com/

The Country Bride by Lucy McConnell

Synopsis:

Paige Baker is bound and determined to start her own horse training business. While at an auction where she plans to purchase the horse of her dreams, she meets Pamela Jones, a matchmaker for the ultra wealthy, and is suddenly on a whole new path in life. Caught up in a whirlwind of wedding plans, Paige wonders what she can bring to the marriage and if her background as a camp counselor and a rodeo star has really prepared her for marriage to the handsome and aloof Mr. Walker.

Cody Walker has already married and mourned the love of his life—or so he thinks. Left with a daughter, Cody dedicated his life to caring for her but he’s having trouble doing it on his own. A friend hands Cody a BMB business card and before Cody can blink, he’s married to the vibrant Paige Baker. She’s everything he needs and so much more. Can he stay true to his first wife’s memory and care for Paige or will he allow this angel to slip through his fingers and lose the only mother his daughter, Addison, has ever known?

My Review: 4.5 Stars

Paige has loved horses her entire life and has dreamed of owning her very own horse training business. When she attends an auction to purchase the famous horse, Annie May, she just knows that dream is one step closer to coming true. Little does she know that fate has other plans for making ALL her dreams come true. Enter in Pamela Jones... ;)

Cody's wife passed away when little Addison was only 8 months old. He has done everything in his power to love, raise and protect his little girl. When Addison asks him for a new mommy, he has no clue where to even begin. His friend, Gabe, gives him the little magical card that will turn his life upside down and bring someone into his life that he never knew he wanted, let alone needed. Enter in Pamela Jones... ;)

From the first time they met, Paige and Cody had an instant connection. But of course they fought it. How could they feel so strongly for someone they just met? Someone they don't even know? If it's this intense after just meeting, what's it going to be like for a full year? Are they going to be able to fight it? Do they even want to fight it? What happens once the year is up? Will they move on? Will they have a real marriage? And what about Addison? Will she be able to handle losing not one but two moms?

I loved the journey of Cody, Paige and Addison! It was full of love, healing and new beginnings. The Country Bride is definitely one of my favorites in this series. Once I picked it up, I could not put it down until I finished it. And of course at the end I let out a long, dreamy sigh. <3

I have said it before and I will say it again... I love the BMB series! I have been sucked in from the very beginning and always look forward to the next book in the series! I was super excited to discover that there will be a series for the grooms! Yes... you heard me right! Grooms! And I cannot wait to read Noah's story! Eeeek!

And of course we just cannot forget about the casting... I really love these two! <3

More Than Scars by Sarah Brocious

Synopsis:

Disclaimer: This story is a modern day Fairytale. Prepare for events that go beyond the normal day events you are used to. Plan on a happily ever after escape.

They say that the best way to heal is to find someone who suffers more and invest in their healing. Nerissa Meadows decides to make a change in career and experiences the strangest of interviews. She had been through so much but nothing like her soon to be employer, Liam Byrne. His scars have stolen from him...from his two little girls. It's as if life has ceased to exist outside of his own front door in order to protect what he loves and keep out what he fears. He perceives his weakness but Nerissa sees in him a wounded hero. Her heart aches for his two girls. Their young lives have been touched by too much sadness! They need her and she finds that she most desperately needs them. Fairytales can take shape in the most unlikely of places!


My Review: 4.5 Stars

Nerissa Meadows hasn't had an easy life. She has been put through the wringer on more than one occasion. When cancer took away her dream of becoming a mother, she decided to change careers from a teacher to a nanny. Her interview with the mysterious Liam Byrne is anything but ordinary. She is instructed to not look at him, to keep her eyes lowered. Even though it was the strangest of interviews, Nerissa feels an instant connection to Liam. And when she meets little Brianne and Amelia, she is a goner. She knows that she is right where she needs to be.

Liam is broken and scarred. There are very few people that he actually trusts. He, too, has been put through the wringer and he has closed himself off from the world, both physically and emotionally. His life is his two little girls and he will do anything and everything to protect them from the ugliness of the world.

Nerissa definitely has her work cut out for her when it comes to Liam. She has to teach him to love, to trust, to face his fears, to live. She has to show him that there is so much more to a person than just their outside appearance... that it's what's on the inside that matters most. He has the hardest time seeing and understanding this but Nerissa refuses to give up on him. She will earn his trust and she will help him face his demons.

I loved watching Nerissa and Liam grow and become stronger, not only as a couple but as individuals as well. They both know a thing or two about heartache and suffering. Watching them lean on each other and encourage each other was one of my favorite parts of the book. I felt their heartache, their pain, their happiness, their love. It felt like I was right there with them on their journey to discover their own HEA.

And can I just how much I loved all the characters in this book?! Especially Ian! Holy crow! He was seriously awesome! And little Brianne and Amelia... so stinkin adorable! I fell in love with them instantly. :)

I am a complete sucker for any kind of Beauty and the Beast story. When I stumbled upon More Than Scars and read a few reviews, I knew it was one that I just had to read. I was sucked in from the very beginning and had an extremely hard time putting it down! I stayed up way too late and woke up way too early just to finish it!

So why only 4.5 stars? There is just two things that bugged me. I'm not going to get into too much detail because this story was really good and I think that everyone should definitely give this book a try. First there was just way too many exclamation points throughout the entire book. The majority of the time they just did not fit and were not needed. The second thing is the book just ended! And you all know how I feel about that... I hate it! I need closure dang it! Lol. I would have loved an epilogue just to tie everything together.

This is the first book by Sarah Brocious that I have read and I will definitely be reading more by her.. especially if she ever decides to give Ian his own book... ;) Hehe. I love finding new authors that I can share with others. It seriously makes me happy when I can add more to my list of authors to watch. :)

And we can't forget about my casting! What do you think?! Pretty good, eh? ;)

Another Shout Out For The 2015 Swoony Awards!!

Is it just me or has this year gone by extremely fast?! I seriously can't believe we're heading into the last week of October already! This is seriously CRAZY! So... since we have a little over 2 months left in the year I thought I would do another SHOUT OUT for the Swoony Awards!

What Are The Swoony Awards?

The Swoony Awards are a reader’s choice award recognizing excellence in clean secular fiction. It is hosted by The Happily Ever After Book Club. We wanted a way to show our appreciation to these awesome authors who write the kind of books that we love. It’s also a great way to find new books and a good go-to when looking for something fun to read.

What Are The Eligibility Requirements For The Swoonys?

-ONLY books PUBLISHED December 1, 2014 – November 30, 2015 are eligible.
-Intimacy: No sex or closed door/fade-to-black, no/low innuendo, nothing crude or crass
-Language: None/mild (No F words or other explicit language) nothing overly crude
-Violence: Mild/low
-Religious: No Christian/Inspirational themed novels.
-Page Count: Novellas or Novels only, 100 pages or higher, no short stories this year
-Age: Only Young Adult, New Adult and Adult, NO children’s or middle grade
-Mood: Since the Swoonys are sponsored by the Happily Every Book Group, we are looking for books with HEAs. Uplifting, lighthearted and feel good books preferred. Some drama is okay, but not downers or overly depressing stories.

Note To Authors:

If you’ve written a book that matches the above criteria fill free to nominate it for a Swoony. And of course make sure you vote for it! Don’t be afraid to promote the award or to let your fans know your book has been nominated and needs votes. We are doing some promoting, but sometimes a newsletter, Facebook, Twitter or blog post directly from the author is the best way to let your fan base know your book has been nominated.

Note Tor Readers:

If you’ve read a book this year that you think is awesome…VOTE! This is a great way to let authors know you appreciate all their hard work. You can vote for up to 100 books on the list. We’ve also learned that the order you rank the books you vote on does affect the overall score of the book. So take a minute and make sure you have your books in the order you want them. Invite your friends to vote! Voting ends December 31, 2015.

Where Do You Go To Vote?

You can head on over to our Goodreads Page for the Swoony Awards by clicking here.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

There are over 160 books that have been nominated for a Swoony Award so far! Which ones have I read and voted for?!

Jessie Belle by Jennifer Peel
Trouble in Loveland by Jennifer Peel
Professional Boundaries by Jennifer Peel
House Divided by Jennifer Peel
My One and Only by Shannon Guymon
Free Fallin' by Shannon Guymon
At Last by Shannon Guymon
Undeniably Chosen by Shelly Crane
Rough Around the Edges Meets Refined by Rachael Anderson
Stick in the Mud Meets Spontaneity by Rachael Anderson
The Academic Bride by Lucy McConnell
The Organized Bride by Lucy McConnell
The Professional Bride by Lucy McConnell
Hello Again by Heather Tullis
My Pride, His Prejudice by Jenni James
The Boardwalk Antiques Shop
Catching Caytie by Cindy Roland Anderson
Tess in Boots by Courtney Rice Gager
Echoes of Summer by Laura D. Bastian

Have you read any of the books that are eligible for a Swoony Award?! Have you voted for them yet?! Yes?! Sweet!! We love you!! No?! What?! What is wrong with you?! Get your rear in gear, head over to Goodreads and VOTE!! Don't have a Goodreads account?! Sign up for one!! It's easy peasy!! And it's a FANTABULOUS way to keep track of the books you have read, find new books to read and meet new, amazing friends!! That's how Heidi, Kathy and Katie met!! And I'll tell you what... you sign up for Goodreads and I'll be one of your first friends... I promise!! ;)

So come on party people!! Let's get voting and show all these AMAZING authors how much we love them and their books!! <3

Tess in Boots by Courtney Rice Gager

Synopsis:

Tess Dougherty plans every aspect of her life right down to the last detail. But she doesn’t plan on running her boyfriend off by bringing up the topic of marriage before he’s ready. And she doesn’t plan to lose her job on the day she’s set to receive a huge promotion. So when her perfect world unravels, Tess makes a new plan: disappear.

Tess packs her bags and leaves her city apartment for a remote vineyard in North Carolina. At first, she’s put off by the slow pace of small-town life in the South. She’s especially irritated by Thatcher, the vineyard’s smart-mouth, dimple-faced farmhand. But she soon begins to appreciate the area’s charm, and Thatcher’s charm, too. She even swaps her trademark heels for a pair of cowboy boots. As Tess spends more time getting to know Thatcher, she finds herself loosening her grip on her old life little by little. Unfortunately, things on the vineyard aren’t as simple as they seem. There’s a secret here, and when the truth comes to light, Tess is forced to reconsider every plan she’s ever made.


My Review: 3.5 Stars

Let me start out by saying I know there are a lot of people who are going to disagree with my rating on Tess in Boots and that is totally fine. I really, really wanted to love this book because so many of my friends have read it and absolutely loved it! But alas... there were just a few things that kept me from really loving this book.

Tess has to have every aspect of her life planned out. She is overly organized and everything has to be perfect. When her longtime, non-spontaneous boyfriend, Logan, calls in the middle of the day to say they are going to go out to dinner she just KNOWS he's going to propose to her! But when he presents her with a "congratulations on your promotion" cake, Tess ends up giving him an ultimatum... propose by the end of the summer or we're over. Logan shuts down and says "we'll discuss this later" and takes her home. The next day he leaves for his business trip without another word to Tess.

While Tess is trying to deal with the aftermath of her non-proposal/ultimatum, she gets thrown into another loop. The promotion she was supposed to get will not happen. In fact, she ends up losing her job! She decided it's time to disappear and the answer comes in the form of her twin brother, Jake, who's wife has just inherited a Vineyard from her Uncle Carl. They are in need of a Marketing Director to get the Vineyard back up, running and turning a profit.

Soon after arriving at Carl's place Tess meets Thatcher. She tries her best to stay away from him but there is just something about Thatcher that draws her in. She gets to know him and the more she does, the more she likes. In fact, she just might be falling in love with him! But there's just so many secrets and no one is giving away any information. No matter how hard she tries, everyone is keeping their lips sealed.

Tess has a hard time adjusting to the slower pace life but it eventually grows on her and she gets to the point where she just doesn't want to ever leave. She's finally getting to figure out who she is as an individual and what she really wants out of life. But just as she's getting to where she wants to be, life throws her yet another loop and confuses her all over again. Who does she really love? What direction is her career going in? Should she take the easy way out? Or should she reach for higher and better... even if that path is harder?

All in all this was a cute read. I did enjoy it but like I said earlier, there were just a few things that kept me from really loving this book. The secrets for one thing. They got old after awhile and I ended up rolling my eyes when I discovered what some of them were. Also, I had a hard time connecting with Tess. I am not sure what it was but I did have a hard time with her. I ended up skimming over some parts just to be done with it. Sad... I know. Maybe it was my mood? The last thing that bothered be was the book just ended! And for those of you who know me, know how much that really bugs me! I wanted just a little more... I need closure! Lol. *sigh* Oh well!

This was my first book by Courtney Rice Gager and I will definitely be adding her to my authors to watch list. :)

This casting was a bit on the difficult side for me. I was about halfway into it before any kind of description for Tess was mentioned! So this one might not be perfect but it's who I eventually saw while reading. :)

To Authors Everywhere...

... I personally want to apologize for all the unnecessary negative reviews out there!

While searching Goodreads this morning for my next book, I ran across a review that really irritated me. The more I read, the more irritated I became. And then I read some of the comments that were attached to the review. I was appalled at what I was reading! I could not believe how cruel some people could be! I understand that we all have our own opinions and I respect that... I really do. But there are just some reviews out there that should NOT be posted! I have been coming across more and more on a regular basis and it really breaks my heart!

Don't get me wrong... I get that not everyone is going to LOVE every book they read. But, in my opinion, us, as readers, need to have some class when writing reviews. There is a way to write an honest review without saying cruel and mean things. Personally attacking an author is seriously unacceptable to me. How would we like it if people started tearing our work apart for no other reason than because they wanted to?! I mean come on... authors are humans too! Yes... I know that they have to have a tough skin in this industry and they are not always going to have glowing 5 star reviews all the time. But they also don't need to be torn apart for how they write their books. This is, after all, THEIR creation! These characters speak to them... they each have their own individual writing style that makes them unique and puts their mark in the book world.

I will admit that I, too, have been guilty of doing this in the past. Granted not to the extent as some reviewers, but still, that is no excuse. My pledge to you as authors is that I will try and do better in my future reviews. I may not like the book but a lot of blood, sweat and tears went into creating that book for me and millions of other readers. The least I can do is write an honest but classy review. 

I hope I haven't offended anyone for putting my thoughts and opinions into this post. But all day I have felt like I needed to get this out there for others to read. Hopefully, as readers and reviewers, we can help to lift up and encourage our favorite writers, new writers and future writers. 

To all authors reading this post... YOU are amazing! YOU are a rockstar! YOU can do this! And THANK YOU for creating a magical place that we can disappear into and discover new worlds whenever we open a book! 

Echoes of Summer by Laura D. Bastian

Synopsis:

When her former boyfriend shows up eight years later, Madison isn’t sure if she’s more relieved or angry he doesn’t recognize her. Especially since she’s forced to work with him for a few months and he has no clue she kept such a huge secret from him.

When Stephen finally realizes Madison is the same girl he knew as Bea from his grandparents’ town, he’s excited to catch up and reminisce about those summers — but she seems cold and wants nothing to do with him.

The truth comes out and he learns he’s the father of a seven-year-old son, throwing him into completely unfamiliar territory as he tries to develop a relationship with his child and attempts to rekindle the romance he’d once shared with Bea.

Can they each overcome their sense of betrayal and learn to be united for the sake of their son, and perhaps find love again?


My Review: 4 Stars

The last thing Madison expected to see in her boss' office was her ex-boyfriend, Stephen, from 8 years ago. She is surprised to say the least. But when he does not recognize her she doesn't know whether to be angry or relieved. Angry because of the way things ended but relieved since she's keeping a HUGE secret from him. You see... he is the father of her adorable 7 year old son, Milo. When Stephen first saw Madison he thought there was something familiar about her but he just couldn't figure out what. He was definitely going to be looking forward to working with her and getting to know her better. 

Madison is not forth coming about who she really is or that Stephen is the father of Milo. In fact, she goes out of her way to hide all evidence of Milo at first. She plays it off as long as she can. But when he catches a glimpse at her license the jig is up. However, she still tries to keep Milo's existence from him as long as she can. But when a comment gets misunderstood she blurts it out in a moment of anger and then completely shuts Stephen down and runs away. 

And this is where the emotional roller coaster begins. Trust has been broken... years of past hurts have surfaced... and both Madison and Stephen have no clue where to go from here. Madison has a hard time of letting go of the past and does everything she can to shut him down. She seems to be very insecure and lets her pride get in the way. She thinks that since Stephen left her once, he'll do it again so she just won't give him the chance. Stephen on the other hand proves to be more than patient with Madison. In all honesty the man is a saint! He had every reason to be a complete jerk towards the end of the book but his love for Madison was too great and he was determined that they would get their HEA... together as a family.

While both parties are to blame for how things played out, I think there are 2 more that should have shouldered the majority of the blame... her parents. But that was never really addressed in the book. And I'm not going to lie... that irritated me beyond belief! Stephen missed out on SEVEN years of his son's life because 2 people filled their daughter's head full of lies and always hung up on Stephen whenever he called for Madison. I would have LOVED to see Madison and Stephen confront her parents and see them eat a little crow. But alas... it didn't happen. :( 

Even though there were parts of the book that had me angry and growling, Echoes of Summer was a cute, sweet read that kept me engaged through the whole thing. I read it in less than 24 hours for crying out loud! And that's saying something since I have been in that dreaded reading rut for a few weeks now! Lol. This was my first book by Laura D. Bastian and I look forward to reading more by her! 

And we can't forget the casting! I had a blast with this one! The more I read, the more I could see these two as Madison and Stephen.. what do ya think?! ;)