Of Elves and Embers

   by Elle Madison & Robin D. Mahle

Brush up your Greek Mythology…and jump into the tale of Ember a princess who gave her life for her people, and prince who lives with shadows and bitter regrets.

Ember had grown up as a human, in the world of hard knocks, but had finally found her art and love in the tattoo shop she owned. Her uniquely beautiful art decorated her own skin, even more so when she was brought to the realm of the elves. Held in the strange world of winter cold, surrounded by fantastical beasties, seemingly unwanted, except for the use of her isos, told she could never return to the human world , could she deal with the realization that she was one of them. They were wrong, they had to be. Her human mother had traumatized  Ember as a young child by loving shared the video of her birth. They’d highjacked the wrong girl!

Now facing, Hadeon, the Shadow King, who had been responsible for bringing her to Aelvaria his presence raised feelings of “hatred, panic and desperation.” Ember couldn’t understand her reactions, since she had no memory of him or this land. It appeared the Hadeon wasn’t any happier to see her either, but they needed her. She was told that she was the reincarnation of Princess Phaedra who had given her life, along with seven other princesses, to return the lost magic to the land, destroyed in the great war, and to save her people.

Though her isos, magic, she was told she had wasn’t in any hurry to reappear, within a short time Ember found that her ears morphed to a point, in her anger at one point her flame colored hair erupted into flames. She may not want to believe in reincarnation, but even her dreams started to prove her wrong. In bits and pieces, she dreamed of a life she had no memory of in her waking hours. She would train with the Hadeon and his cousins, Celani and her brother Kallius, since she had known them in her other life. The hopes were that her isos would come to life, when she could learn to control it. Dark creatures called wraiths, fed on the souls of the people. So far Hadeon and his soldiers were able to hold them at bay, but they were coming ever closer and they need Ember to gain her magic in order to join the fight to destroy them.

Besides the dangers that face Ember, her dreams begin to bring the realization that as the Princess Phaedra, she and Hadeon had been very close. What had changed his feelings to the hatred, he appeared to have for her now?  While at times she saw a longing in his eyes when he looked at her, it that disappeared quickly. Fantastical, creatures from Greek Mythology roam the pages with their own personalities on show. I laughed, stewed over Hadeon’s stubborn refusal to admit that he cared for Ember, enjoyed the banner, intrigued by the situations and trials they all faced not only with the wraiths but their search for the means to restore The Never Court whose land was now uninhabitable. I found my self wrapped up in the lives both past and present of the characters, my heartbreaking for what had transpired in the past. I loved the creatures, some I hadn’t seen outside of mythology.

This is fourth book in "Forgotten Kingdom" series and the authors have blended their story beautifully with the others before it. As the story spins out, characters feelings and memories slowly evolve, dangers step up, friendships once again bloom and though Hadeon and Ember’s trials and battles come to completion in this book I enjoyed to cameos of Ivy, Aria and Kage that tie them into the previous tales. The story is never dull, while I kept waiting for Hadeon to take his head out of his butt, Ember struggled valiantly to control her isos, make sense of her memories, deal with her feelings for Hadeon in the face of his determination to not allow his feelings for Ember to surface. And here is the slight discord I found with the tale. I understood his reluctance, in part, but felt he over played his anger and hurt feelings.

I loved the story and both authors brought a new perspective to the series while making it a seamless transition on to the next storyline. Although, each book is penned by a different author, each giving the story at the core their own twist, they flow beautifully into each other.  I highly recommend all the books that have come so far, and look forward the upcoming story….so I can start at the beginning and read them all again.

The Last Lost Girl                   by Casey L. Bond

 Casey L. Bond has a new title coming soon. “The Last Lost Girl” is Casey’s twist on an old story.  Her books always draw me into the imaginative worlds she has created. Where walking beside her characters lets me become part of the action, sharing their adventures, dangers, romance, twists and turns. I never know where she will take me but it is always a wondrous journey. More about this story to follow soon.

 

Glimmer of the Other by Heather G. Harris

                                  Review by Katy Grant

                         Saving the Realms

 

 After her parents’ murders Jinx, Jessica Sharp at 18, became a private investigator, creating a job in which she could work for others but also to continue the search for answers about who had murdered her parents and why.  Her mother always told her to “fly under the radar” since there was something unique about herself that could cause problems. Jinx was a human lie detector. Recognizing instantly the truth or lie behind what people were saying, and sometimes if she pushed them a bit, she could get them to truthfully answer questions they’d had no intentions of answering. This she keeps to herself, however, not even telling the caring Mrs. Harding, the neighbor who lived next door Jinx’s whole life. Mrs. H. was a real help, she had comforted Jinx after her parents’ death, continued to watch out for her, even keeping Gato, Jinx’s extremely large Great Dane, when he couldn’t tag along on a job.

 A simple search for a missing young woman will open realms to Jinx, she never dreamed existed, much less could she believe that she belonged in them.  Joined in her search for Hester, Lady Sorrel’s granddaughter, is Zachary Stone, who appears as stoic as his name…at first. It was the stop at Rosie’s Café that Stone realized Jinx was what he called a ’truth seeker’.  Stone suddenly grabbed her wrist looking at her saying she’d been ’hidden’.  Which translated that even though she was aware of her powers, she had been totally ignorant of the world of magical beings of which she was one. There are three realms, but all her life Jinx had lived in the Common Realm where magical beings could mingle with humans without the humans seeing them as they really are. Stone, it seemed, was a high-ranking inspector in what he called the Connection, a governing body for the Realm of the Other.   Without much fuss, Stone stepped out behind Rosie’s introduced her to the Other. When they walked back into the café, it was like walking into the mirror and coming out on the other side into a strange world that looked the same, only some of the people she saw definitely weren’t human. Within this realm magical beings and humans still mixed but as an Other Jinx could now see the magical creatures as they truly were. And finding Hester just became a lot more complicated since the new boyfriend she had disappeared with was a vampyr. 

Characters, both human and magical beings inhabit the realms in which Jinx would travel with Stone. Each had its rules that must be followed while danger flowed hot and heavy in all three realms, emotions were high, and it was easy to offend without knowing it. At the center of it all was the dagger created for a very special purpose that at all costs must not fall into the wrong hands.

 This tale has some well-known legendary beasties, as well as some I had never seen in my decades of reading sci-fantasy literature. Heather Harris did a grand job of giving even the familiar beasties unique abilities and characteristics. Her realms may be hidden but the suspense and danger is on just about every page. I never knew what to expect when I turned the next page or who Stone and Jinx might encounter. The story is a living thing that moves in and out of the imagination and made me feel as if I were being drawn into a world filled with stories yet to be shared, characters that I grew to care about, but might disappear from the next page.

Dry humor sneaks in, in spots, British colloquialisms and wording I found easily understandable in the context of the telling. A tale which gives us implied romance, danger, death, hard won friendships, shifters, deamons, empathy’s, vampyrs, trolls, ogres, mer-people, dragons and more. I got so caught up in the series after turning the last page, I immediately picked up the rest of the books to follow the story to its “conclusion”? Written in the King’s English the reader be treated to familiar words with different spellings, British colloquial sayings, and humor.

I first started listening on audio and found myself lost in listening to the beautifully narrated book. Alyse Gibbs’ precise, clipped King’s English is spot on and very easy to follow. [I worked for over 15 years with a British lady who never gave in to American slang.] Likewise, I never seemed to have a problem distinguishing which character was speaking since Alyse Gibbs’ intonations and slight changes in range of her voice quickly alerted me that a different character was speaking. She is an excellent narrator. I highly recommend this tale in both Audible and eBook, I made good use of both.

 

Blood Weaver Lady by Karina Espinosa

reviewed by Katy Grant

        Foe or Friend, Obsessed with or Loved by

Layanna, a blood mage princess, hides behind the guise of Leila a healer of Lomewood. Befriended by the only living person to know her true identity, Selene. Part merfolk, she had been sold into servitude by her father, to the Rose Petal, a house of pleasure. They would watch over each other until the promised time when Leila would find the means to free Selene from her bondage and Leila could safely return home to Valoria.

   Ten years ago, war broke out between Valoria and Keldara.  Layanna was sent away with her loyal guardian Sir Eric. Even as the war ended, Eric had warned Layanna there was danger to her life if they returned to Valoria. Promising to reveal all he knew of the peril, in her path, when she was older. In the meantime, he trained her in the use of her blood magic, as well as how to defend herself.  Sadly, he died before sharing his knowledge of the danger.  To find the answers she sought, Layanna stayed hidden plying her trade as a healer while quietly searching in places where information flowed.

  Word has been spread The Crimson Clan, another waring people, from the Grasslands had sent a message to Valoria that they held the Lost Princess and would return her to Valoria only if the King and Queen agreed to certain demands. Otherwise, she would be married to the clan chief’s son. After ten years what had changed? Why was the Crimson Clan avowing they had her as a bargaining chip? She needed to learn more.

  News came to Leila that some from the Crimson Clan had been reported within Lomewood. Leila feared for Selene with such men visiting the Rose Petal.  So, when Selene signaled Leila she was in trouble, Leila faced off several of the Crimson Clan men surprising Ronan, the leader of the Crimson Clan group, with her skills as his men lay defeated at her feet. Ronan made the mistake of trying to buy Leila’s “services” as a pleasurer. She caught him off guard when she remarked that the services, he needed from her were those of a healer. The mark on his neck proved someone had tried to poison him. He was surprised by her knowledge and the attempt on his life. Leila was even more surprised when he confronted her the next morning with the knowledge that he knew who she was, the Lost Princess.

Within the vast Central Plains, the small town of Lomewood was supposed to be neutral territory, free of the kingdoms and clans’ dealings. Nevertheless, when some from the Crimson Clan entered the city, they would come face to face with Layanna’s brother Prince Marcellus and their childhood friend Prince Caelan, of Eldwain. When her brother Marcellus and Caelan found the Crimson Clan in the city they brought in reinforcements. Leila would be caught in the middle of a battle between Ronan, his men, and Caelan with a stronger force of soldiers. Caelan sought Ronan’s death as well as the release of the Princess and would destroy any who stood in his way.  When Leila got caught in the crossfire she would be captured and tortured by one she thought a friend, while the one she assumed to be an enemy would fight to protect her. Why?

 The are no empty sentences as the story rolls out its magic, mystery, drama, hidden secrets, hatreds, warring differences, variety of atypical magical beings and unbound love, in a world uniquely built on a very imaginative platform. In this book we learn about the city of Lomewood and the Central Plains. While, I hope to see more of the other kingdoms in the next editions. Kariana Espinosa has done a smashing job of clouding the characters, so the reader isn’t certain who to believe and who to mistrust. Selene, Leila and a young boy named Henry are the only ones I am sure of at the moment. Emotions run high through the characters, easily heard in their exchanges and dialogue. In this first book, just when you think you may have an idea of who’s, who and where the story is going you turn the page to another confrontation and the characters show a completely different side to themselves. Leila is smart, wary, strong, and unsure of those she thought she knew. At the center of chaos trying to understand what is happening, and why now, Leila only knows she wants no harm to come to Ronan or Caelan. his is only the beginning, with a cliff hanger that will keep my trying to predict what happens next until next book surfaces on the shelves.

 Those Forbidden Shadows by Cameo Renae

 Review by Katy Grant

There is a reason I enjoyed reading Young Adult books so much, the author did the parents in before they could try to control the characters lives beyond the age of consent. Books for adult readers don’t have the same compulsion.

 

Kage was dying. He had brought them to Nether, where Elara could find the flower that would save his life. She would have to face Oren, a carnivorous tree which held the spirit of a child. Here too, she would face the Alena, the witch, who guarded the flower which held the elixir that could save Kage. Willing to pay any price to save him, Elara willingly agreed to the Witch’s demands. Their time in the Nether would be short but allow them time to explore the love they have for each other.

Valr, Kage’s Shadow Hawk had found them, while Rem followed closely on his wings. They must return to Celestria or there would be war. Vera and her parents were in Celestria demanding to see Kage to prove that he was not with Elara.

Knowing they must hide their feelings for each other or be charged with breaking the marriage contract, made by his father's ill-advised decision, Kage could hardly control his rage. Elara needed to stay away from him for fear of not being able to hide her love for Kage from others. Rem guarded her, while allowing others to believe he and Elara with lovers. Bringing her to train beside the elite guard, she would become one of them. Beloved for her strength, loyalty, determination, and her willingness to stand up for those who had no protection.  The guards quickly embraced the strong, caring young woman, protecting her with their lives. But it wasn’t enough, there were those who wanted her dead and would stop at nothing to see that it happened. Vera and her parents were watching, waiting for the moment they would see her dead or find the means to take over Terr.

 

Kage and Elara prove themselves to be resilient characters in the face of tremendous adversity, dealing with those plotting to separate them, kill them and even one who would capture Elara and enslave her. I loved that Cameo Renee gave us the back stories for secondary characters, so the reader has an even better view of the world Elara has been brought back too. The mystery of Elara’s birth is slowly being peeled away as she learns of the one who brought her to Earth but yet, not why.  I loved the fact that the villains aren’t hiding but still manage to work their evil. Even more I enjoyed that Kage refuses to pretend he has ever wanted to marry Vera and now he plainly demonstrations his loathing of the woman, no matter the consequences. By the time I reached the last page, there is still so much left to uncover in this story. If you have ever come to the end of a book and wish that it would go on, this is one to pick up and read. There is so much happening, so many mysteries still not uncovered. I felt like I was in Wonderland where characters of the strange and wonderous appear, villains are standing in plain sight while Elara finds it within herself to keep going.  Kage and Elara still hang in the balance, the Emperess’ death and even the death of Kage’s own mother has yet to be answered. With Elara’s magic still bound, she will face the adversity of a world she was born into but never had the chance in which to grow up in. She will confront magical beings fighting for their lives against hers while there are traps set targeting her death.  So, looking forward to the next book in the Star Kissed series.

 Runaway Fire by Tia Capway

 

Who breaks their wedding vows five minutes before they are even spoken? Evidently, Adam. Furious after finding him tupping one of her bride’s maids, Fiona simply ran. There was no going back. Fiona didn’t want to hear anything Adam had to say. She had found shelter in a truck at the fire station and then she had found him, Mason. He had taken one look at her tear-stained face, listened for just a minute to her ranting about Adam and decided to help her. Two things she needed right now, the locks changed on her house and an experienced lover to wipe away what she saw in the walk-in-cooler. He helped her with both of these problems. Then he walked away. He was a one and done kind of guy.

Only one glitch, neither could stop thinking about the other.

 

Mason was a firefighter. He was also a wolf shifter. They had strict laws about not allowing humans to become aware of the supernatural world around them, shifters, and witches. But something was wrong with the magic around them. Mason’s mom and sister, Sharon, were shamans who could sense something was changing around them and not for the better. Sharon had dreams of a witch who would come to the aid of the pack.

 

As a surgeon, Fiona was usually in control but after the fiasco of her wedding, her tryst with Mason and now Adam coming to the hospital throwing a fit, she’d had enough. Furious, she missed the gathering clouds overhead, when lightning struck Adam’s classic and set it ablaze, she burst out laughing. When Mason showed up with the fire department, it seems to just be fate. Fiona felt something was changing in her and the more she thought about it, she was certain she had caused the lightning strike to Adam’s car. Could she be something more?

 

This short tale can be read in one setting, but has hot spicy romance, humor, magic, mystery and an ongoing dark element that appears to have been carried over from other books in the series. For such a short tale the characters were easily relatable for me. I enjoyed their interactions. Evil is ever present, but the source is only slowly being unveiled. The story isn’t a stationary one; the storyline moves forward at a pace that held my interest, with situations and characters that filled the pages. It is a well-played out yarn, however there were a few times that the author lost me and I had to reread a sentence or two. Once, when Fiona was at the firehouse, Mason came up and startled her. The next thing I read, he was picking her up off the floor then, she is brushing herself off. No mention of her falling. I say this because there were a few times I felt like I came in on the middle of a conversation. In spite of and because of the few misses I ran into, I enjoyed the author’s writing style, storyline and characters. I started with the third book then decided I had to have the first two to see what I had missed. There will be a fourth that I am looking forward to reading.  I gave the book four stars because I realize other readers may find descriptive sexual content a trigger, while others find grammatical errors disconcerting.  

 

I was given an advanced readers copy in return for my honest opinion about the storyline and content.

Gargoyles of Stonehaven Trilogy

 
"The Stone Secret" by Debbie Cassidy is the second book in the trilogy, beginning with "The Stone Initiation" both now available! Swing over to Amazon.com to see all formats.

The secrets of Stonehaven won’t stay buried for long.

I’ve barely had time to wrap my head around the revelations doled out by my gargoyle sire when a knock at my dorm door brings a blast from the not-so-distant past back into my life. I thought I’d left Levi behind. I was wrong.

The secrets of Stonehaven won’t stay buried for long.

I’ve barely had time to wrap my head around the revelations doled out by my gargoyle sire when a knock at my dorm door brings a blast from the not-so-distant past back into my life. I thought I’d left Levi behind. I was wrong.

He’s here for me, and things are about to get complicated.
But convincing Levi that I’ve moved on without revealing that Serath is my fated mate isn’t the only challenge I’m facing.

With the elite trials mere weeks away, I need to make sure that I’m physically and mentally prepared, and that involves training directly with Serath—the object of my forbidden desire. Focusing won’t be easy, but I’ll need to find a way, because failure is not an option.
Failure, means death.

Cam's adventure continues in The Stone Secret. A heart-pounding MF paranormal romance that weaves a tale of fated mates and impossible desires, where dark secrets and forbidden passions collide, and a hidden destiny awaits.