{Spotlight} The Watchers Book 1: Knight of Light by Deirdra Eden

The Watchers Book 1: Knight of Light

In England, 1270 A.D., Auriella (pronounced yurr-ee-ella) flees her village after being accused of witchcraft. Pursued by nightmarish creatures, she struggles to accept the truth about her humanity. Filled with fairies, dwarves, pixies, dragons, and monsters, Knight of Light is an enthralling tale that will capture the imaginations of readers young and old.

In England, 1270 A.D., Auriella (pronounced yurr-ee-ella) flees her village after being accused of witchcraft. Pursued by nightmarish creatures, she struggles to accept the truth about her humanity. Filled with fairies, dwarves, pixies, dragons, and monsters, Knight of Light is an enthralling tale that will capture the imaginations of readers young and old.
The Watchers Series has been described as Braveheart meets Supernatural. The mythology for the series is based on many theological texts from dozens of sects with correlating themes. Ancient writings include The Dead Sea Scrolls, The Traditional Apocrypha, The Pearl of Great Price, and The Kabbalah.

“The Watchers” are supernatural beings in human form whose duty it is to protect and guard mankind from the armies of darkness. Unfortunately, as the Book of Enoch mentions, some of these Watchers go bad. Although the mythology is based on these texts, Deirdra Eden’s The Watchers Series is written in a traditional fairytale style with a young girl’s discovery of incredible, but dangerous powers within herself, a cast of humorous side-kicks, a quest for greater self-discovery and purpose, and villains of epic proportions.

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About the Author

"My goal in writing is to saturate my books with intrigue, mystery, romance, and plot twists that will keep my readers in suspense. I want to see fingerprints on the front and back covers where readers have gripped the novel with white knuckles! Aside from writing, I enjoy jousting in arenas, planning invasions, horseback riding through open meadows, swimming in the ocean, hiking up mountains, camping in cool shady woods, climbing trees barefoot, and going on adventures."
-Deirdra Eden

Find Deirdra Eden and The Watchers Series online on Amazon, Deirdra's website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Wattpad, and Pinterest.


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Review: The Secrets of Myth by Amarissa Ainsworth

 

The Secrets of Myth by Amarissa Ainsworth
Published July 26th 2014 by Smashwords Edition, 418 pages
Source: I received a copy in exchange for an honest review

Description: Leila Butterfield, an exceptionally intelligent teenager, finds her world turned upside down when she discovers she may not be human. After washing up on the beach at the age of six with no memories except for a disturbing reoccurring nightmare and an incapacitating fear of water, she is adopted into a family that knows nothing of her past. But someone does know and they aren’t telling. With the help of a mysterious stranger, they dive into her past, unlocking secrets about who she really is. But time is running out. Leila races against the clock to find out the truth. But whom can she trust? One day could alter the course of her entire future, but will she even survive that long?

My Review: Leila is a pretty tough girl. She knows that she was adopted and has a very extreme fear of water, even though her successful adoptive parents have recently purchased a house right on the beach. Her birth father drowned when she was six and that's all she remembers. 

As her eighteenth birthday draws near, she discovers some secrets about herself, her past, and her heritage that aren't at all what she was expecting to discover--there's a good chance she's not human.  

I enjoyed the adventure that Leila went through to unlock the secrets of her past. I absolutely adored her younger brother and the relationship she had with him. He was so good to roll with things and to give her the friendship, love, and support that she needed. I loved the way Aiden guided her through her discoveries and was there for her. He's quite the guy.

There were "powers" and gifts that were manifested throughout the story and for me, there were too many to keep track of and it was a little overwhelming. I would have liked to see Leila given just a few and to have watched her work with those and maybe discover more in the future books.

This is a fun, creative story for anyone who loves fantasy/mythology, adventure, and clean romance!

Content: no language; some violence--mild-moderate; mild romance. Clean!

Amazon  *  B&N  *  Smashwords

About the Author:

From the time Amarissa was young, she was intrigued by the worlds of fantasy, magic, and make-believe. As time when on, she became the ultimate fan of those genres. Besides raising two active boys and a very busy husband, Amarissa finds time to put her imagination into words in her debut novel "The Secrets of Myth" and is working on the two sequel books.
  

Review: The Chapel Wars by Lindsey Leavitt

 

The Chapel Wars by Lindsey Leavitt
Published: May 2014 by Bloomsbury USA Children's, 304 pages
Source: I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Description: Sixteen-year-old Holly wants to remember her Grandpa forever, but she’d rather forget what he left her in his will: his wedding chapel on the Las Vegas strip. Whatever happened to gold watches, savings bonds, or some normal inheritance?

And then there's Grandpa's letter. Not only is Holly running the business with her recently divorced parents, but she needs to make some serious money—fast. Grandpa also insists Holly reach out to Dax, the grandson of her family's mortal enemy and owner of the cheesy chapel next door. No matter how cute Dax is, Holly needs to stay focused: on her group of guy friends, her disjointed family, work, school and... Dax. No wait, not Dax.

Holly’s chapel represents everything she’s ever loved in her past. Dax might be everything she could ever love in the future. But as for right now, there's a wedding chapel to save.

My Review: I'm not a big Vegas girl, but I really enjoyed this one. There's more to Vegas than the strip and one big aspect of it is wedding chapels. When Holly's grandpa unexpectedly dies, he wills his chapel to her--that and the big debt associated with it. The Rose of Sharon Chapel is one of the more elegant ones, unlike the tacky chapel next door, owned by her grandpa's enemy. When Holly is asked to deliver a letter to the neighbor's grandson as part of the will, she soon learns that things won't ever be the same. Changes are in store for both the chapel and her personal life.

I loved how Holly used to brains to figure out ways to save the chapel. She got creative and did things that had the long-time secretary frowning in disapproval, but sometimes change is good and in a place like Vegas, change is inevitable. I loved Holly's group of friends--even though they're not the most conventional people, they are loyal and fun. I especially loved the Southern boy, Dax. He's someone who is definitely comfortable in his own skin, but I was a little disappointed in the way he chose to deal with his personal pain. 

The story was fun and unique and as always, I really enjoy this author's writing!

Content: some language (mostly mild); mild violence; teen drinking/partying; talk of hooking up, lots of kissing, but not too graphic. Clean.

 

Amazon  *  B&N

About the Author:

Lindsey Leavitt is a former elementary school teacher and present day writer/mom to three (mostly) adorable little girls. She is married to her high school lab partner and lives in Las Vegas. She is the author of the PRINCESS FOR HIRE series (www.princessforhire.com), SEAN GRISWOLD'S HEAD and GOING VINTAGE
Visit her on the web at www.lindseyleavitt.com.

 

Review: The Book of Sight by Deborah Dunlevy

 

The Book of Sight by Deborah Dunlevy
Published March 22nd 2013 by Madison House Publishing, 259 pages
Source: I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review--thank you!

Description: A book can be a wonderful gift.

When Alex received an unexpected package, she never dreamed the book it contained
would change her life forever. After all, the words inside were gibberish.

She had no idea the places that book would take her, the friends that book would help her
make or the wonders that book would reveal.

She had no clue the trouble that book would bring, either.

A book can be a dangerous gift.

My Review: Fourteen year old Alex is just beginning her summer vacation when a messenger appears on her doorstep with a book. She opens the book and finds nonsense words, that later turn into words that she can read and live. She discovers that four other kids have also received books and not only can they read them, but they actually live and see what they read about. Who knew that there are little creatures roaming around and that other things happen that no one else knows about?

As the story progresses, they figure out a way to see if anyone else in town knows about this and another teen ends up joining the unlikely group. These teens are all so different, yet they are now connected and bonded over these books. Another mystery surfaces when the books start disappearing. The story ends without things wrapped up. Hopefully, these loose ends will be tied up in the following book(s) in the series.

The story was sometimes confusing to me and moved slowly at times. I didn't feel that there was a lot of character growth and development, but I did enjoy watching these teens make mistakes, recognize that fact, and learn from them. I also liked seeing people from very different social groups and standings come together to form a great friendship. The story was creative and unique. As a book lover, who wouldn't want to receive a mysterious book that opens up a hidden world all around you?  

Content:  Clean!

Amazon  *  B&N  

About the Author:

Deborah Dunlevy was born in Indiana and grew up everywhere else. Even moving every year or two couldn't satisfy her desire for adventure, so she learned how to read and started taking trips into other people's lives. Eventually she grew up and went to college and got a respectable job as a teacher. Then she ditched that to go live on the other side of the world, where she had a few kids and learned what adventure was really about.

Deborah now lives in Indianapolis with her husband, Nate, her three kids, and an Argentine hound dog.  

Twitter  *  Website  *  Goodreads 

Grand Finale: The Better Man by Amy Vastine

To post this Grand Finale (we'll send you the HTML code) and add your Social Media to the Rafflecopter, 

email us at PrismBookTours(at)gmail.com with "The Better Man GF" in the subject line.

A Themed Tour through Prism Book Tours.

We're blitzing the GRAND FINALE for

The Better Man by Amy Vastine!

The Better Man, which is the beginning of the new Chicago Sisters Series, is set in the busy city of Chicago, but is full of family, friendship, and love. It's also from the clean romance Heartwarming line of books from Harlequin.

Did you miss any of the tour? You still have time to go back and check out all the stops and enter the amazing giveaway!

Launch - Intro and Excerpt

The Better Man is the first book in the Chicago Sisters Series, which introduces us to the three Everhart sisters, Lucy, Kendall, and Emma. All three sisters live in the Lincoln Park area, and even though the story has a big city backdrop, the focus is still on family and community. These sisters always have one another’s backs, even though they couldn’t be any different...

Colorimetry - Guest Post

In The Better Man, the heroine of the story is an interior designer. This profession was born out of my love of all things HGTV, of course. I think I can lose whole days to that channel. I love all the shows about surprise makeovers and house flippings, but my favorite is Property Brothers...

The Written Adventure - Guest Post

Kendall Montgomery is the middle sister and the heroine of The Better Man. Her sisters are always there for her, even if they drive her a little crazy sometimes.... Despite their different views on life, Lucy and Emma never fail to support their sister through the toughest times of her life...

Katie's Clean Book Collection - Review

Kendall is facing reality now. She's a very talented and gifted designer and artist and is now able to use those abilities to make a living. Based off of her life experiences and relationships, she's a little gun-shy, with good reason. I loved watching her evolve. Being a mother isn't easy and doing what's best for your kids isn't always easy, either, but, as Kendall learns, the hard things are often the most rewarding.

Book Freebies, Contests, Sweepstakes, and Giveaways - Guest Post

Today I thought I would introduce you to Max, the hero. In my mind, Max always looked like and had similar personality traits as the character Ryan Gosling played in the movie Crazy, Stupid, Love. Easy on the eyes, charisma and charm, and let’s not forget great fashion sense. Max is always well put together and did I mention he often has a five o’clock shadow? I love a guy with a little scruff!..

Christy's Cozy Corners - Review

This story is so sweet! I love the characters, and can't wait to read more books about Kendall's sisters. Amy has definitely become one of my new favorite authors!

The Wonderings of One Person - Guest Post

The hero in The Better Man is new to Chicago. Max has recently moved there from Los Angeles. To help a guy out, I thought I would suggest a few romantic spots in the Windy City that he or anyone here for a visit might want to consider...

SBM Book Obsession - Excerpt

“Trevor’s been gone just over a year,” she said wearily. The anniversary of his death had led to Simon’s regression. It seemed every time Kendall thought they were making some good progress, something would set him back. She was not going to give her son another reason to worry. “Simon does not need to see me running around with men on dates. He needs me home. He needs to know I’m not ever going to leave him.”
His father had left. His father had left them both.

“Avoiding a date here and there isn’t going to make him better.”

My Love for Reading Keeps Growing - Excerpt

“Nana!” Simon burst into the foyer, his drawing clenched in his hand. “You won’t believe it! You’ll never believe who we saw today!”

Kendall gave her mother an apologetic grimace, but Nana was too startled by Simon’s verbosity to notice. “Who? Who did you see?” she asked, crouching down to his level. He handed her the picture he’d drawn.

“My dad! We saw my dad right down the street!”

Kelly P's Blog - Guest Post

In the story, a young widow and mother is hired to remodel a restaurant managed by a man who happens to look exactly like her dead husband. It’s a messy romance but one that I hope wins your hearts...

J.R.Richardson Fics - Review

And the twist. Which I refuse to ruin for you. But let me just say, Amy. Well flipping done, my friend. Because you know I love stuff like this. And the way you wove this tale, and took me along for the ride, quite willingly, I might add . . . and revealed everything just the way it was supposed to be revealed, at the exact time it needed to be revealed . . . made me smile so big. I just love the way my heart was happy for (almost) everyone, in the end.

Pretty Girls Read Books - Excerpt

He mirrored her movement to keep her from escaping and put a hand on her arm when she tried once more to move around him. It was the first time he’d touched her since their disastrous introduction. Kendall couldn’t stop the déjà vu that it prompted. The last time she saw Trevor alive, she’d been storming away and he’d tried to stop her. The memory jolted through her like an electrical shock.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Max said firmly. “I will be here. Every day. Whether you want me here or not.”

Getting Your Read On - Review

The relationship between Max and Kendall grows slowly and as it does, we learn more back history about them both.  The unfolding process was well written.  Max and Kendall struggle separately and they struggle together.  Of course, my favorite bits are when they support each other.

Deal Sharing Aunt - Excerpt

The three of them got busy painting and embellishing the costume. Their collective laughter created a lightness Kendall hadn’t felt in a long time. Seeing Simon act like a normal six-year-old freed her from the year’s worth of guilt and worry she’d been carrying around. This wasn’t like having Trevor around. It was better.

My Devotional Thoughts - Review

There are a couple of things about the book that truly stand out as dynamic stylistic characteristics. For one thing, the author switched back and forth between the man’s and women’s perspective. Not all authors have the knack for doing that, but this author does. I also appreciate the fact that the author introduces a child who is grieving the death of his father in a unique way. I found that to be a realistic element that will connect with others who have been in that position.

Southern Chelle - Review

I love books like this that grip you and you don’t want to put them down! (This was a book that did that.) The Better Man seemed to have a different storyline than any other book that I have ever read. It was extremely refreshing to read totally new content.

Undercover Book Reviews - Review

First time ever reading from this author and was completely impressed. Her work is well written and easy to follow. This particular storyline is heart grabbing.

Bookworm Lisa - Review

I am enjoying this story.  Two separate people, each with a child with a need to be parented.
 
The hard obstacle to overcome is that Max look like Kendall's deceased  husband, It lends a unique situation to the story... 

Reader Girls - Excerpt

“Winner!” Max jumped her last checker and threw his hands up in the air, victorious. “I’m pretty sure you cheated,” Kendall mumbled.

“Don’t be a sore loser.”

“I’m not, but I was killing you. Your massive comeback is fishy, admit it.”

Max’s mouth dropped open. “That is a lie. There was nothing fishy about my comeback. You opened up that side for my guy to get through!”                                  

“Are you going to give Max kisses because he won?” Simon asked, completely putting an end to their playful argument.

My Life, Loves and Passion - Review & Excerpt

“It’s better that you rip the Max Band-Aid off now rather than later,” Lucy said while they cooked. “Simon will get over it. So will you. It’s always better to be the one who walked away instead of the one left behind.”

“Which one were you again?” Kendall asked, recognizing that Lucy’s guard was down.

“Ha-ha. I’ve been both. At the same time,” she added. “Now, stop making this about me.”

I Am A Reader - Guest Post

At the heart of the story is Kendall and Simon, a mother and son who are both still grieving the loss of their husband/father. Kendall struggles with how to help ease her son’s anxiety after his father’s death. Feeling helpless is something to which all parents can relate. Kendall is sensitive to her son’s needs and has to find a way to balance what he wants with what he needs. It’s not always so easy to distinguish between the two...

Lola's Reviews - Review

I really enjoyed this story, it had some really sad and some really happy moments. The characters where what made this book shine, they all had a past, personality and motives, even the side characters. This book has a fun and quirky cast of characters and I enjoyed seeing them interact with each other.

Wishful Endings - Review

The Better Man was quite an original story and one I haven't read before in this genre. The leading man looks almost exactly like the heroine's dead husband and this causes all sort of issues because they have to work together. Sparks definitely fly, both good and bad, but the author kept a great balance between heavier issues (such as Kendall's son who has become mostly mute as a way to deal with his father's death), humor, and then those sweet romantic moments.

The Better Man

by Amy Vastine

Adult Romance 

Harlequin Heartwarming

January 1st 2014

Kendall Montgomery's six-year-old son has barely spoken in the past year, locked in his world of silent grief. Then one day, he spots his dead father across a crowded street.

Max Jordan moved to Chicago to be closer to his own son and prove he can be a better father than his deadbeat dad. His striking resemblance to Kendall's husband and his track record with fatherhood make her determined to keep her distance…until Max helps her little boy come out of his shell. But can she trust him with their future? How can she be sure he won't take off just when they need him most?

Amazon - Harlequin

Amy Vastine has been plotting stories in her head for as long as she can remember. An eternal optimist, she studied social work, hoping to teach others how to find their silver lining. Now, she enjoys creating happily ever afters for all to read.

Amy lives outside Chicago with her high school sweetheart-turned-husband, three fun-loving children, and their sweet but mischievous puppy dog.

Website - Goodreads - Facebook - Twitter

Tour-Wide Giveaway

- Gift Card Grand Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card and a signed paperback (US) or ebook (INT) of The Better Man

- US Grand Prize: Signed paperback of The Better Man plus swag (shown above)

- 5 copies of The Better Man (paperback for US and ebooks for INT)

- Ends October 5th

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Review: Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles, Book 2) by Marissa Meyer

 

Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles Book 2) by Marissa Meyer
Published: February 5th 2013 by Feiwel and Friends, 452 pages

Description: Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison--even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive. Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

 

My Review: I've been trying to space this series out, since the 4th book doesn't come out for a few more months. I absolutely love it! This book picks up right where Cinder left off. Cinder is trying to escape from prison and stumbles upon some help--Captain Thorne. Thorne isn't really a captain, but he's certainly full of himself. He reminds me a lot of Han Solo--lovable, yet cocky; daring and brave, yet clueless. The story also picks up the storyline of Scarlet, a girl who is searching for her missing grandmother. Scarlet meets up with a handsome street fighter, Wolf, and together they embark on an adventure to find her grandmother. The reader goes back and forth between these two stories, while also getting an occasional glimpse of Kai and the situation in the palace. 

Cinder is so resourceful. She's obviously fictional, but portrayed in a way that is very relate-able. I often wondered how I would handle things if I were in her place. I loved Scarlet--she's a very tough girl, yet very forgiving and tenderhearted.

I loved seeing these beloved characters again and getting to know them better, all while getting to know new characters. I thought it was done in a way that wasn't overwhelming. The story progressed nicely and the characters developed in a great way--some were surprising and others were steady and consistent. I loved every minute of watching things unfold and can't wait for more! 

Content: a very few mild profanities; moderate violence, blood, death, etc; mild romance/kissing. I would consider it clean, but not for a young reader (think PG-13 movie-type violence).

Amazon  *  B&N

About the Author:

Marissa Meyer lives near Seattle with her husband and their three cats. She's a fan of most things geeky (Sailor Moon, Firefly, color-coordinating her bookshelf...) and will take any excuse to put on a costume. She may or may not be a cyborg.
Follow her blog or sign up for her newsletter at http://www.marissam 

Friday Favorites: The Destiny Series by Cindy Ray Hale

I'm in love with this series and for the next week, Book 1, Destiny, will be on sale for only .99!

Grab your copy on Amazon here.

About the Book:
Destiny Clark, a young Mormon girl living in Tennessee, is wildly infatuated with Isaac Robinson, the headmaster's son at her Baptist high school. When they're cast together in the school's production of Les Misérables, Destiny is horrified to find that she has to be publicly humiliated by acting out her true feelings of rejection onstage.

As their rehearsals begin, Destiny realizes the unimaginable: Isaac has developed deep feelings for her despite their religious differences and the fact that he has a girlfriend.

But will they be able to find their place amongst the backbiters of their ultra-conservative world?

Weaving around Destiny and Isaac's alternating viewpoints, Destiny is the first book in a series inspired by the characters of Les Misérables and explores heartbreak, self-discovery, intolerance, and love.

You can check out my review here.

Review: Twisted Fate by Traci Hunter Abramson, Gregg Luke, and Stephanie Black

Twisted Fate by Traci Hunter Abramson, Gregg Luke, and Stephanie Black
Published: June 2, 2014 by Covenant Communications, 314 pages

Description: Prepare for thrills and chills as three acclaimed authors unite in Twisted Fate, a spine-tingling collection of stories.

Hunted - Traci Hunter Abramson

The cabin in the woods holds horrifying secrets and young Reagan has simply seen too much. She knows her abusive stepfather will stop at nothing to silence her and quickly realizes escape into the nearby forest is her only hope of survival...But who will believe her unbelievable tales?

Death House - Gregg Luke

Even those who know its real name call it the death house. But the abandoned mansion, site of a grisly murder a century ago, beckons Adam. And when the force of his obsession drives him to embark on a late night investigation of the property, he is horrified by what he discovers. Something deadly lurks inside, and nobody in its path is safe.

Haunting Reminders - Stephanie Black

Returning to her small hometown in Massachusetts, Jamie has had years to get over her broken engagement. But when her former fiancé and his wife become the victims of a vicious stalker, all eyes turn to Jamie. When childish pranks escalate into a horrifying display of maliciousness, Jamie is desperate to clear her name--even as the attention of the perpetrator turns toward her.

 

My Review: I'm the type of person who loves to read a book in the appropriate season--no Christmas books in July for me. The best time to read a suspense is in the fall, in my opinion. This is the perfect one right now for readers like me. I'm also a fan of anthologies such as this--you get a great taste of each author with a specific genre.

Each story was unique, yet they all had terrific elements of suspense! I was very impressed. In the first book, Hunted, a young girl is rescued from a terrifying situation and is from then on trying to escape the men who won't stop until she's dead. I loved the couple who rescues her and the way everything played out. 

Death House was very interesting--I've read a lot of Gregg Luke's works, but never a YA story from him. I thought it was fabulous! It was creepy, entertaining, haunting, yet fun. The secret took me by surprise.

In the last story, Haunting Reminders, Jamie is being targeted as the one who is stalking and terrorizing her ex-fiance and his wife. It was a cozy story with very heartwarming characters, yet the crimes are almost unbelievable. I thought it was very well done.

Content: if I remember right, no language; mild violence, but a lot of creepy elements; very mild romance. Clean!

  

Amazon  *  B&N

About the Authors:

Traci Hunter Abramson was born in Arizona, where she lived until moving to Venezuela for a study-abroad program. After graduating from Brigham Young University, she worked for the Central Intelligence Agency for several years, eventually resigning in order to raise her family. She credits the CIA with giving her a wealth of ideas for suspense novels as well as the skills needed to survive her children's teenage years. She has gone on to write a number of bestselling suspense novels that have consistently been nominated as Whitney Award finalists. She considers shoes an optional accessory which became evident when she won her first two Whitney Awards in 2013 and 2014 for her novels Code Word and Deep Cover. She currently lives in Virginia with her family where she enjoys sports, travel, writing, and coaching high school swimming.

Gregg Luke is a practicing pharmacist. He received his medical training at the University of Utah. He has been writing since he could put pen to paper. He enjoys medical thrillers and is one of the first to work this genre into the LDS market. 

I'm a four-time Whitney Award winner for Best Mystery/Suspense, most recently for Rearview Mirror (2011). Visit my website at www.stephanieblack.net.