Noelle's Golden Christmas by Tamie Dearen

Just in time for the holiday season, author Tamie Dearen releases a romantic Christmas story. You can find the book HERE for 2.99

Why would anyone hate Christmas when it is the most wonderful time of the year? The worst moments of Noelle's life seem to happen on the most cursed time of year: Christmas. This sweet Christian romance focuses on overcoming the guilt and fears that are inherent to all. The characters are deep and well rounded. You will find yourself within at least one of her characters and be able to relate to their struggles, temptations and their joy. I found myself caught up in the story, thoroughly invested in the characters. I couldn't put it down. I ended up reading this one until the wee hours of the morning. The only problem I had with this book was that it ended! Pick up your copy just in time for Christmas, or gift it to a loved one.

Dream Child (Dream Series Book 3) J.J. DiBenedetto

I recently read Dream Child by J.J. DiBenedetto. It is book 3 in the Dream Series, but read well as a stand alone book.  You can find the book HERE

Dream Child stars Sara Alderson a pediatrician with a unique gift. She has dreams about people that she meets, except the dreams she has are more like nightmares and will always happen. In order to get the dreams to stop, she needs to fix whatever the problem is. Then the unspeakable happens. Her beloved daughter begins to dream too. A corrupt Senator and his little boy begin to have terrible dreams that Sara and her daughter must witness. Sara needs to stop the dreams before her daughter is ruined by these unforgettable dreams. She needs to stop the Senator's plans. In order for her to stop his diabolical plans she will need to break a few laws, break a nose or two, overthrow an evil mob boss and take her daughter to the zoo. All in a days work, right? This is a thrilling read with that on-the-edge-of-your-seat action adrenaline junkies look for on a daily basis. Check this out along with the other wonderful novels written by this author!

Guest Post By Author Katy Huth Jones: Cover Reveal!

Cover reveal for MERCY'S GIFT, Book Two in the fantasy series He Who Finds Mercy by Katy Huth Jones:

Peace is fragile. Gifts have limits.

While Prince Valerian adjusts to marriage as well as his new title, conspiracy brews in the south among disgruntled lords who wish to separate from the north. The situation is made even more volatile by a charismatic rebel leader whose guerilla tactics are swift and brutal.

The clandestine efforts of a witch hired by one of the lords render Valerian's gift of Sight ineffective, and Merry's Healing gift is sorely tested.

It has become dangerous for a northerner living in the south, and if the gifted young royals fail to stop the growing rebellion, evil will reign in Levathia.

The story begins in Book One, MERCY'S PRINCE:

A heart of peace in a time of war

As second son of the King of Levathia, seventeen-year-old Valerian desires the quiet life of a scholarly monk. But when he fails to save his older brother in battle, Valerian must instead become crown prince.

While a traitorous knight schemes against him, Valerian meets Mercy, a pacifist Healer with whom he can speak mind-to-mind like the great dragons. Their bond emboldens Valerian to seek out the legendary dragons and ask for their help against the monsters who killed his brother.

Can Valerian survive the traitor’s assassins long enough to find the dragons? And if he does, can he convince them to lay aside their hatred of humans and help him save the land from destruction?

Praise for MERCY'S PRINCE:

"Easily one of the best indie books I've ever read." Story Sanctuary

"A truly believable fantasy world saturated with suspense." Marcha's Two-Cents Worth

"The action is heart-stopping, the love is pure, and the emotions are real." Amazon reader

"A lovely, spiritual tale with all the adventure, mystery and romance a reader could want. Oh. And dragons!" Amazon reader

MERCY'S PRINCE will be FREE on Amazon September 17-19, and MERCY'S GIFT will be released September 25.

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Mercys-Prince-Katy-Huth-Jones-ebook/dp/B0115KNDS4

Link to Katy's website: http://www.katyhuthjones.blogspot.com

Guest Post by Author Tamie Dearen

I just wanted to take a minute and introduce our guest Author today. Tamie Dearen has been featured twice and praised for the novels she has written. Alora was one of the first novels that I reviewed and I enjoyed every second of it. As a matter of fact, I have been anticipating the sequel with bated breath! She has written many wonderful novels from action and adventure to romance. (Sometimes the two even overlap.) You are going to love this author. She is talented, hilarious and (drumroll please) the books are clean! Now sit back, enjoy the beautiful cover art and read on to learn about Alora, Kaevin and their adventures and romance.

Cover Reveal for Alora: The Portal

The compelling story of the young soulmates, Alora and Kaevin, continues...

The adventure begins with Alora: The Wander-Jewel.

Fifteen-year-old Alora has visions.

Only while in the shower. And only of one stranger: a handsome boy with long brown hair, intense green eyes, and the oddest clothes. A boy who vanishes whenever she opens her eyes.

And then one day, he doesn't…

Alora's safe world is soon turned upside-down as she's thrust into another realm where her soulmate waits, magic abounds, and unfathomable evil seeks to claim her.

---

The epic fantasy continues in Alora: The Portal.

Cover design by StunningBookCovers.com

If one of them dies, they both die.

Bound together as soulmates, something compels Alora and Kaevin to abandon the safety of their refuge for the dangers of Kaevin’s realm. The soulmates arrive in the midst of a raging battle as Stone Clan warriors defend their capital, an attack made more deadly by the pervasive evil of her father. Alora and Kaevin face mortal danger as they fight against man and magick to preserve Kaevin's home and heritage. For Alora's father will have her allegiance. Or her death.

---

Praise for Alora

"...I have to admit - I wish the book had not ended! ...The romance is sweet rather than steamy making this a clean read for young adults, but the action and adventure is thrilling enough to keep any age reader turning pages..." Today's Visions "I found Alora to be a breath of fresh air in the YA fantasy genre! ... A YA fantasy with characters you will adore and cheer for, Alora is a book I would recommend to any of my friends!" Books Are Sanity Alora: The Portal is available on Amazon for the special pre-order price of 99¢ through the August 31 release date! As a bonus, Alora: The Wander-Jewel will be FREE on August 30 through August 31! Find Tamie Dearen on her website, Amazon, Facebook, and Twitter.

---

Excerpt from Alora: The Wander-Jewel

Alora fought the urge to beat on the tile wall. He’d disappeared again. Who was this boy she kept seeing? Why did he only appear when she was in the shower? He seemed so real, and she could have sworn he looked as confused as she felt. As if he was trying to figure out who she was, as well. Was he a figment of her imagination? His eyes were so unusual. They were green. Not an ordinary green, but a deep, intense jade, the color of her aunt’s emerald ring. He was really cute, although he wore his wavy brown hair a little long for her taste. Yet she could only see his head—never his clothes or the background. Today he’d tied his hair back in a ponytail. Surely the fact he’d changed his hair was significant. Wouldn’t a figment of her imagination have his hair the same every time? She peeked around the shower curtain at the clock on the bathroom counter. It was five a.m. on a Saturday, and she had chores to do, feeding the horses and letting the chickens out. But it was winter, so she had plenty of time to spare before the rising sun tolled the beginning of her responsibilities. Living on a ranch in the backcountry of Montana meant cold winters, lots of work, and little time for leisure. It was the only life she’d ever known, and she usually enjoyed it, despite the heavy work involved. But right now, she wanted another stab at seeing that boy. The image was always so fuzzy. If only he wouldn’t disappear when she opened her eyes. She couldn’t summon his visage at will. He didn’t come every time she closed her eyes in the shower; it seemed to happen when she was relaxing and letting the water beat down on her head and shoulders. Maybe, if she were soaking in the tub, she might see his image again. She pushed the curtain back, put in the stopper, and turned the faucet on full blast. As an afterthought, she added bubble bath, filling the tub with fragrant suds. Soon the bath was full, with aromatic bubbles foaming on top. She eased into the soothing water, closing her eyes at the blissful caress of the heat on her tight muscles. And she waited. Anticipating. Would he come? She tried to stay alert, but the relaxing warmth seeped into her skin, lulling her to sleep. Awakening with a start in the cold water, disappointment formed a knot in her stomach—he’d never appeared. She released some water down the drain and added hot water, swirling it around until the temperature was comfortable again. She had five more minutes before she had to abandon her bath to start her workday. She lay back down, sinking below the water with her eyes closed, swishing the fresh water over her skin to remove the bubble bath film, her face floating above the surface to breathe. He appeared. She held her breath, clamping her eyes shut tight, trying to hold the image as long as possible. Though the apparition was still slightly blurry, she could see all of him, head to toe. She took advantage of her increased perception, thoroughly studying his image. She almost clapped her hands when her mental measurement estimated his height at over six feet. At five feet ten, she was taller than most boys her age. But she scolded herself for examining him as if he were a potential boyfriend. He wasn’t even real. His clothes were made of supple-looking brown leather. The attire was odd—held together with ties and toggles rather than buttons or zippers. The fit was close enough that his well-formed muscles were evident. She noted his long hair was tied back, as it had been earlier. She could only see the front of him as he stood frozen, stock-still, with his mouth agape, his jewel-green eyes wide and... moving. His eyes were moving, up and down, as if he were scanning her body as she had done. And it occurred to her if she could see all of him, he might be able to see all of her. She gasped, opening her eyes to dispense with the specter. But his image remained, now sharp and clear. And he seemed to be standing in her bathroom. She cowered under the water, attempting to hide under the few remaining bubbles. His eyes dropped down to her navel, and as they widened, he whispered, “Wendelle?” Lunging for her towel on the floor, she screamed at the top of her lungs. Hastily covering herself and preparing to leap from the tub, she looked up, only to discover the vision was gone—if indeed it had been a vision.

Read the first two chapters of Alora: The Wander-Jewel here.

Her Best Match by Tamie Dearen

Smart, charming, sophisticated and a bit country. You can find a copy of this book HERE for only .99

Okay, okay... I know I reviewed Alora: The Wander Jewel by this same author and I raved about that book too.... Well, the books just keep getting better. Wait I don't know about better.... I loved Alora too. Can I just love them both the same amount?

Well Ms. Dearen, you did it again! Her best match is a quirky romantic novel with a very identifiable heroine. I just love Anne Best. She is the picture of selfless motherly love. After losing her husband 15 years ago and her two beautiful daughters leaving the nest, Anne Best is left to find herself once again. She finds herself smack dab in the middle of New York City at an interview that will change her life. Small town Texan through and through, she brings a bit of the country to the hustle and bustle of New York City. A modern day Emma with all the giggles to go along with it. This book had me laughing, crying (I mean, there was actually something in my eye... sniff... sniff) and grimacing in frustration. Ms. Best drove me nuts with her incessant interrupting. JUST LET HIM TELL YOU HOW HE FEELS! You know when you yell at a book, its a keeper. That what kind of book this is. This is the kind of book you will want to keep on your shelf, dog ear your favorite parts and read it over and over again. Just a cherry on the top of the massive scoop of ice cream that is this wonderful book: It is clean! Meaning yes, you will drool over the leading man's incredible abs, swoon over his sinful kisses and want to lick frosting off of his biceps (don't tell my husband!! eek!) But you will not be embarrassed to read this book in public. You may need to fan yourself a bit with the beautifully written romantic scenes, but there is not one curse word or any bedroom scenes! So I recommend this book 100% (go buy it right now!!)

Love, Unmasked By Vivian Roycroft

A charming novella by Vivian Roycroft called Love, Unmasked can be found HERE.

This is a QUICK read. With only 80 pages of text, I wasn't sure if I would enjoy the novella due to the short length. I was pleasantly surprised! Now, if you are looking for a well written CLEAN romance, this is for you! There are no sex scenes, scandalous or otherwise. There is romance... Plenty of romance. This story follows a spinster woman named Fidelity in her search of one night of unabashed lust. She is about to embark on the arduous journey to the countryside to live out the remainder of her days as an unmarried, undesirable woman. She yearns for one night of passion and lust to dwell on throughout her dull future. Little does she know that the object of her desire is a boorish rogue that would have his way with her, soiling her reputation in the process. She finds herself in the arms of a wonderful mysterious stranger instead who wins her heart and shows her that there is love out there for everyone. I rather enjoyed this story, the characters and the fact that although a clean read, there was still plenty of heart skipping passion. Well done Vivian.

Mission to Mahjundar By Veronica Scott

WOWSER! I just became engulfed by a world completely different and exciting in the novel Mission to Mahjundar by Veronica Scott. The book can be found HERE.

This book has it all! Romance, action, gritty battle scenes, death, otherworldly aliens, I couldn't put it down! This story follows Mike, your typical off world soldier with a mission on a typical closed planet. At least thats what he thinks when he gets to Mahjundar. He is asked to escort an Imperial Princess to meet her husband after he saves her from a bomb blast, delaying strict orders to retrieve something of value from an accidental spaceship wreck. Against his better judgement he agrees to escort the blind Princess to meet her betrothed. During their trial-ridden journey Mike ends up falling in love with the beautiful Princess Shalira. He is in for one heck of a ride as he attempts to save the Princess from certain death. This story is beautiful in the telling. Veronica Scott is equal to any science fiction writer from Orson Scott Card to Anne McCaffrey. I encourage you to pick this book up and give it a go. One aside to the writer: the one explicit sex scene in the book is not needed and overdone. As a matter of fact the scene felt rather vulgar in comparison to the overall writing style and out of place. In the future I would suggest a milder approach to that particular scene... Less is more. This book does contain some explicit material and is not suitable for children. I normally would not review a book with such an explicit scene, but the writing style itself is magnificent. I commend the author and congratulate her on an imaginative, unique work. 

Blue Sun, Yellow Sky by Jamie Jo Hoang

Blue Sun, Yellow Sky is a novel written by Jamie Jo Hoang and can be found HERE

To start off with, this novel has beautiful cover art. It caught my eye and my attention almost immediately. I loved the colors she used and the simplicity of the cover. I would buy this book in a bookstore based of the cover alone. Aubrey is the main character and she is a nationally recognized artist. In her late 20's she is given a diagnosis from her doctor that she will soon be blind. She decides to go on a trek across the world to see it all before she loses what is most precious to her. I loved how the author talked in detail about different sites around the world. As an avid traveler, I loved picturing the different wonders of the world and imagining traveling there myself. The book overall was not my favorite. For me it crawled at a snails pace and lasted far too long. I hate to write that I anything but loved the book because I know how difficult writing your first novel is. You expose yourself to the world and write your heart on every page. As a reviewer though, I write the truth of how I feel about a book that I read and have to be honest. I do think that this author has amazing potential and I can see in the reviews that there are many who love her novel. If you like heartfelt books about finding yourself, I think that you might enjoy this novel. Give it a go and leave a review for this wonderful author!

Witch Song By Amber Argyle

Witch Song by Amber Argyle is intuitive, creative and delightfully different. You can find it HERE

This story was BEwitching. Pardon the pun... I couldn't help myself. This story follows Brusenna, a young witch raised by her mother. In this novel, witches have the unique ability of controlling the elements and manipulating them to help others. Brusenna's mother is kidnapped and used to turn the elements against other humans by the "head" witch. Brusenna sets out on a quest to save her mother and liberate her fellow witch sisters.

Overall, I liked this book a lot. The characters were flawed, interesting and human. This made them more realistic. I loved the use of music throughout the book. Being a huge music fan, and wishing since I was little that I could somehow "wingardium leviosa" my books to make them follow me, this book alighted my imagination with sparks that I haven't had a for a while!

A Warrior's Tale: Imago Chronicles Book 1

I just had the pleasure of reading an epic novel entitled A Warrior's Tale: Imago Chronicles Book 1 by Lorna T. Suzuki. Exciting, thrilling, exotic and splashed with adventure, this book will leave you speechless! Find it HERE

This novel follows a young warrior Nayla Treeborn throughout her incredibly long life. The main character is a woman of mixed heritage and has an internal struggle throughout the novel detailing her need to belong, but failing to fit in with either ancestry. She is half elf, half human and is derogatorily called a half-caste. The elves think she is too human with her profound emotions and (not so) rapid aging. The humans think she is elvish with her pointed ears, keen hearing and incredibly long life. She witnesses generations of humans pass on throughout her life while aging very little. She escaped the abuse of her father to become a secretive Kagai warrior within a hidden community and uses her power to aid in the salvation of the people she has grown to love. She finds comfort in the arms of an Elvish lover, but true love is kept at bay from her vulnerable heart.

The main character was so real, so believable and so easy to identify with that I wonder if the author wrote her heart onto the pages. The men and elves that she works with are complex, intriguing and overall well written. I found the love story between Nayla and Joval to add a certain excitement to the novel that both intrigued and frustrated me. I was laughing out loud during portions of the book, and honestly almost yelled at it a few times too. I wanted to scream at the heroine, "Stop being an idiot! You know you love him!" Now if that is not an amazing book, I don't know what is. I was so emotionally invested in this book, I stayed up far past my bedtime in an effort to figure out what would happen next... Only to be left hanging at the end of the book. Oh well, time for book two!

The Only Good Roman Returns

The much awaited sequel to The Only Good Roman by Christine Elaine Black was a hit in my book (or at least in my blog) and more importantly concluded the cliffhanger from the first novel. You can find this novel HERE.

I was not disappointed in this sequel as I so often am with the second or third book in a series. Quite the contrary. This romance was a breath of fresh air. This novel follows the conclusion of the love story between Lia and Darius in a plot that left me guessing to the very end. You know those novels that you start reading and by about the third sentence or so you know who the good guy is, the bad guy and the... GASP... twist ending that you saw from a mile away? Well, this is not one of those stories. I am happy to say that I did not figure out what was going to happen until about 3/4's through the book. To me that is a winner! I also particularly loved the way the author wrapped up the story. It left me feeling both settled and happy. I can honestly recommend this book with both thumbs up... and toes and whatever else I care to raise. Well done Elaine! Can't wait for a new series.

Playing House By Donna Brown

This book was lighthearted and fun. Reading the synopsis, I wasn't quite sure if I would enjoy this book, but I was delightfully surprised. Playing House by Donna Brown can be found HERE.

The one thing I have to say right off the bat about this book is that it is short! I read the book in one day. One thing that I loved about this novella is that the main character was male, and it fits into the romance genre. You cannot often find a romance novel written from a male perspective. The book was based around a tragic story of young love falling apart in the face of adversity and pain. David and Emma lost a child in a violent attack while Emma was pregnant. The child died and Emma was seriously injured. For years, David blamed himself for the loss of their only child and slowly distanced himself from his wife. The story starts with their impending divorce. The story follows them through an adventure together to find a painting that will solidify their quiet divorce and forever separate them. Fate intervenes and reconnects these lost lovers. Overall the book was mostly lighthearted and made for a delightful read. The characters were well developed and thought out. A lot of young people would be able to relate to these particular characters in their struggles and inner demons. The book felt a bit rushed towards the end, leaving me wanted a more well rounded ending, but overall I feel the book was well written. 

Alora: The Wander-Jewel By Tamie Dearen

I just had the privilege of reading a very well written novel that sparked my imagination. Alora: The Wander-Jewel is a novel written by Tamie Dearen. It can be found HERE for purchase.

After reading the synopsis of this book, I immediately sensed it would be a book that would keep me engrossed in its delightful pages, and I have to say that I was not disappointed. The beginning of the book is well written, enticing and exciting. The author had me from the get-go and never let me escape! The main character was easy to relate to, even though she is only 15 years old. This is one of those books  you will not put down until the very last word, then you will beg for more!

This story follows 15 year old Alora as she discovers her amazing ability to transport herself and those around her to a mysterious other realm that is full of magic and conflict. She falls in love with a dashing 17 year old warrior with a heart of gold and finds out that she is his "soulmate". Once they form a soulmate bond, they cannot be away from each other for more than a day without suffering dire consequences. Alora finds herself in the middle of an age old war between clans that used to intermarry and now separate themselves and carry severe bias. Her biological father is an evil sorcerer that controls an entire clan through a blood bond he forces all of his subjects to take. Alora is the only woman alive that carries the ability to transport among other things. She is called a bearer and is valuable not only to those around her, but invaluable to her father as well. This novel focuses on her conflict with her father that turns into a devastating war that has far reaching consequences.

Overall I found this novel to flow very well and kept me within its grip for a solid 48 hours until I had it read from electronic cover to cover. I would suggest purchasing this book and look forward to the next novel by Tamie Dearen.