Blog Tour Guest Post & Giveaway: Chantress Fury by Amy Butler Greendfield



I have enjoyed being a stop for each of Amy's tours for this series and thrilled to have her here as she
talks about sea monsters! Definitely check out her list and enter the giveaway while you're here...

Chantress Fury
YA Urban Fantasy
Paperback, 288 Pages
May 19th, 2015 by Margaret K. McElderry Books

Summary

The sea is coming. We are coming. And we will drown you all.

With a song, Lucy can control the wind and the water; she can bring castles and kingdoms to their feet. Since Lucy mastered her powers, King Henry has kept her close as he’s rebuilt England. She’s his best ally—and his workhorse. And now he’s called her to investigate attempted murder: His men claim they were almost killed on the Thames…by a mermaid. All Lucy can glean from the creature they’ve captured is a warning: The sea is coming. We are coming. And we will drown you all. 

And then the floods begin. Swaths of London are submerged as the people scramble to defend themselves against the water—and the monsters—that are flooding their streets. As mistrust of Lucy's magic grows, the king relies on Nat, Lucy's great love, to guide them through the storm. But Nat is cold and distant to Lucy. He swore his love only a year before, and now he calls her “stranger.”

Lucy is determined to defeat this powerful new magic alone if she must. But then she hears an eerie song within the water…can it mean that she’s not the last Chantress after all? 

Sweepingly romantic and crackling with magic, Chantress Fury triumphantly concludes the powerful Chantress trilogy.

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Chantress Trilogy

Waiting on Wednesday: The Wonder of You by Susan May Warren & The Curiosity Keeper by Sarah E. Ladd

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Oh, bother (to use one of Winnie the Pooh's phrases)! This didn't go up this morning! Second week in a row...

I have two Christian romances as my WOW picks this week. Both are from favorite authors. Check them out:

Blog Tour Excerpt & Giveaway: Robin's Reward by June McCrary Jacobs

 

Welcome to my tour stop for Robin's Reward by June McCrary Jacobs!
There's a great excerpt and a link to the tour giveaway below...

Robin's Reward (Bonita Creek Trilogy, #1)Robin's Reward
(Bonita Creek Trilogy #1)
by June McCrary Jacobs
Adult Inspirational Contemporary Romance
Paperback, 271 Pages
April 28th 2015

Summary

Bonita Creek’s librarian Robin Bennett is heartbroken after being abandoned by her husband, Thomas. The mysterious and handsome Jeff Clarke arrives unexpectedly and touches Robin’s life with his wit and warmth. Then, without warning, Jeff’s harsh words and abrasive actions scare her off, and Robin’s hope of finding true love withers again.

Just when it seems Robin and Jeff might have a future, Susan Stinson, whose cruel taunting has plagued Robin since they met as young teens, decides Jeff should be hers, not Robin’s. Susan’s anger and jealousy escalate dangerously. Her vindictiveness threatens the foundation of Jeff and Robin’s young relationship.

Robin’s journey through the peaks and valleys of her life meanders along the twists and turns of new challenges. Is a relationship which began with both parties harboring secrets destined to survive? Can they move past their troubles and the obstacles in their path to find love and happiness together? When their pasts rear their ugly heads, Jeff and Robin must use their faith to remain strong and true. But will it be enough for them to embrace a life of love, trials, and blessings . . . together?

Endorsement

"Robin's Reward, a sweet romance with great characters, is as refreshing as a walk among flowers."
— Author Rebecca H. Jamison, Sense & Sensibility: A Latter-Day Tale.

 

Release-Day Blitz: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir


I'm spreading the word about release day for AN EMBER IN THE ASHES by Sabaa Tahir! 
Check out the letter from the author, trailer, awesome posters, and giveaway below...

An Ember in the AshesAn Ember in the Ashes
by Sabaa Tahir
YA Fantasy
Hardcover, 464 Pages
April 28th 2015 by Razorbill

Summary

Set in a terrifyingly brutal Rome-like world, An Ember in the Ashes is an epic fantasy debut about an orphan fighting for her family and a soldier fighting for his freedom. It’s a story that’s literally burning to be told.

LAIA is a Scholar living under the iron-fisted rule of the Martial Empire. When her brother is arrested for treason, Laia goes undercover as a slave at the empire’s greatest military academy in exchange for assistance from rebel Scholars who claim that they will help to save her brother from execution.

ELIAS is the academy’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias is considering deserting the military, but before he can, he’s ordered to participate in a ruthless contest to choose the next Martial emperor.

When Laia and Elias’s paths cross at the academy, they find that their destinies are more intertwined than either could have imagined and that their choices will change the future of the empire itself.

   

Rewind to You by Laura Johnston is FREE for a Limited Time!


Rewind to You is FREE for a limited time! 
I really loved this book last year. Check out my review here.

GRAB YOUR FREE COPY HERE:
   

   “Johnston’s debut spotlights romance and familial relationships, including themes like grief and self-sacrifice. It’s an ideal story for readers looking for a deep-rooted YA love story with the emotional ups and downs and poignancy of a Nicholas Sparks contemporary. There’s also a touch of wit and a sigh-worthy hero – a definite on your TBR list.”
– RT Book Reviews



Wish You Were Here

One last summer before college on beautiful Tybee Island is supposed to help Sienna forget. But how can she? This is where her family spent every summer before everything changed, before the world as she knew it was ripped away.

But the past isn’t easily left behind. Especially when Sienna keeps having episodes that take her back to the night she wants to forget. Even when she meets the mysterious Austin Dobbs, the guy with the intense blue eyes, athlete’s body, and weakness for pralines who scooped her out of trouble when she blacked out on River Street.

When she’s with Austin, Sienna feels a whole new world opening up to her. Austin has secrets, and she has history. But caught between the past and the future, Sienna can still choose what happens now…

Contemporary YA romance
Published by Kensington Publishing Corp.


"I love a good YA summer romance and for me, this one totally hit the spot!...I loved the journey; I loved the story; I loved the romance; I loved the little surprises and twists; and I loved the ending! Content: no language; mild violence; lots of kissing. Clean!" - Katie's Clean Book Collection

"I loved this book!...It caught my attention from the beginning and didn't let up the entire time." - Mel's Shelves

"This is a really remarkable love for me, to be honest. Definitely worth my 5 stars." - Book Inspections/Silly Readers

"Rewind to You is a fantastic young adult book. It has it all and it does it all so very well. Romance, heartbreak, loss, growth. You really can’t ask for more with a book. Laura Johnston created a little master piece in this otherwise unassuming young adult contemporary. "- Book Briefs

"This is why I LOVE reading YA! Rewind to You is a sweet romance with such awesome lyrical writing that I couldn't help but be swept up in the feelings of the characters." - A Writer's Dream

"I've read a lot of contemporary books the past two years, and I can safely say that Rewind To You is easily one of the best that I have ever read." - Justin's Book Blog

"...This was so much more than a sweet love story, it was a wonderfully done tale of learning how to deal with pain, loss, and moving on while still keeping your heart open to new experiences, new people, an new challenges." - My Guilty Obsession

"The writing is excellent and the story only deepens as the summer draws to a close, leaving the characters with resolution and the reader with a satisfying ending." - Heidi Reads

"5 out of 5...but I think it deserves another star!!! It's AWESOME!...This story was such a sad, and beautiful story all at the same time." My Love for Reading Keeps Growing

"Laura Johnston has written a beautiful story with wonderful characters that have so much depth to them, I could have sworn they were real." - The Written Adventure

"Laura Johnston's debut novel Rewind to You is a perfect summer read ! A stunning soul touching story about finding love and forgiveness." - Lady A, Literature Junkie Extraordinaire 

"Rewind To You is a beautiful, heart touching romance. Laura Johnston deals with a subject we don't want to think about, the loss of a loved one, but she did it with heartfelt tenderness and a beautiful romance. I recommend Sienna and Austin's love story as a must read." - I Heart YA Books 

"I really enjoyed this book from Laura Johnston. The characters were solid and the story was fast paced and sweet." - Min Reads and Reviews

"This book was soooo good!" - Mylissa's Reviews and Books Thoughts

"I went through every emotion more than once. I can't find enough words to convey just how much I LOVED this book" - Crazy Four Books

Blog Tour Excerpt & Giveaway: Katia's Promise by Catherine Lanigan

On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

Welcome to my stop for Katia's Promise by Catherine Lanigan! 
Check out the excerpt and enter the giveaway below...

Katia's Promise
(Shores of Indian Lake #4)
by Catherine Lanigan
Adult Contemporary Romance
May 1st 2015 by Harlequin Heartwarming

Katia Stanislaus is a top insurance agent in Chicago, but her company is about to fold if she can't pull off a miracle. She convinces her boss to relocate to Indian Lake where she lived as a child and broke the heart of the one man whose account would be enough to save her job and her company. The only problem is that Austin McCreary has been a near recluse since the day Katia left him. Austin won't take her calls and appears set on revenge for the pain Katia has caused him. Just seeing Austin, catapaults Katia back to the time when she was 16 and so very much in love. But it was just a teenage crush, wasn't it?
  

Tour Grand Finale: A Love Like Ours by Becky Wade

On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

We're blitzing the GRAND FINALE for:
A Love Like Ours
By Becky Wade

Did you miss any of the excerpts or reviews for this tour? There's still time to check them out and to order your copy of A Love Like Ours by May 17th to have part of your proceeds go to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund (more details on the Launch).



Review: What Makes Us Sisters by Bonnie L. Oscarson

What Makes Us SistersWhat Makes Us Sisters
by Bonnie L. Oscarson
LDS, Christian, Nonfiction
Hardcover, 41 Pages
April 6th 2015 by Deseret Book

Summary

This small, illustrated gift book for women celebrates the profound and unique bond between sisters in the gospel. Bonnie L. Oscarson, Young Women general president, encourages all women to look beyond differences in age, culture, and circumstance and to nurture and serve one another. “Sisters take care of each other, watch out for each other, comfort each other, and are there for each other through thick and thin,” she observes. “We need to realize that we all desire to serve in the kingdom, using our unique talents and gifts in our own ways.” Focusing on the boundless blessings that Latter-day Saint women enjoy, Sister Oscarson urges women throughout the Church to live and inspire others in ways that realize their greatest potential.

   

Weekly Update #112


Welcome to my Weekly Update where I post my blog's schedule for the week. I'm linking up to The Sunday Post, hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer, as well as linking to Tynga's Reviews and Talk Supe for showcasing the books I added to my shelves or eReader this week.

In case you follow my blog, my little doggy is doing better. His heart isn't better and won't be, but his breathing is better and he's not in pain anymore - at least as far as we can tell. Thank goodness. It was pretty much killing me. I do get to be up at not at random times so he can go out. Those pesky water pills! They've cleared his lungs though, so it's worth it.

The husband took all four kids (brave, wonderful man) camping overnight on Friday with friends. I was going to go, but needed to stay home with the dog, which was fine. We'll go again another time when it will work to take him or have someone watch him. They all had a great time and came home tired but very happy to see me. :) We've had just gorgeous weather the past couple of days, including cooler temps and some rain and I've been in heaven. Yup. You love rain when you live in Arizona.

This week is a little lighter again, and boy, do I need it! I have several books I'd like to get read and reviewed and I'm hoping to squeeze them in. We'll see. Here's what to expect:

Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Crave, Eat, Heal by Annie Oliverio

Crave-Eat-Heal-blog-tour-banner2

Welcome to my tour stop for Crave, Eat, Heal by Annie Oliverio! This was definitely an adventure,
but a fun and enjoyable one. Check out my review, a recipe, and enter the giveaway below...

Crave, Eat, Heal: Plant-based, Whole-food Recipes to Satisfy Every AppetiteCrave, Eat, Heal
Plant-based, Whole-food Recipes to Satisfy Every Appetite
by Annie Oliverio
Cookbook, Vegan
Hardcover, 240 Pages
April 14th 2015 by Front Table Books

Summary

Whether you need something salty, sweet, spicy, comforting, crunchy, or chocolate – indulge all your cravings and give your body the nutrition it needs. With these tantalizing whole food, vegan recipes, like Creamy Thai Carrot Coconut Soup, “Parmesan” Pita Chips, and Chocolate-coated Key Lime Coconut Cream Pie, Crave Eat Heal gives you healthy options while nourishing your body and satisfying your most demanding cravings.

All recipes are free of animal products, refined sugar, are low in oil (many contain no oil), and are gluten-free or have gluten-free options.

    LDS Books & Things
(Hardcovers available for Pre-order - to be out on May 4th.)

Endorsements

“You know how sometimes you'd like to just grab a book off the shelf to find the exact right food to satisfy a craving? And you want it to be vegan? Now you can!

Crave Eat Heal: Plant-based, Whole Food Recipes To Satisfy Every Appetite, cleverly laid out by craving type, is packed with recipes that will please long-time vegans and just may push the veg-curious over into the world of plant-based eating. Filled with whole foods recipes that are good for you - but more importantly plain good - there is something for everyone. “
— JL Fields, vegan cook, coach, and consultant and author of Vegan Pressure Cooking: Beans, Grains, and One-Pot Meals in Minutes and co-author of Vegan for Her: The Woman's Guide to Being Healthy and Fit on a Plant-Based Diet.

“Annie Olivero proves that a healthy, plant-based diet can satisfy your every craving, healthfully, deliciously, and completely without guilt. If you think that eating healthy means giving up treats that are sweet, salty, creamy, or otherwise comforting, you've really got a treat in store for you in Crave Eat Heal.”
— Nava Atlas, author of Plant Power and Wild About Greens

“Annie gives you delectable healthy choices to satiate all your cravings. Imagine good-for-you treats like: French Toast Panini, Malted Chocolate-Hazelnut Shake, Butternut Squash Queso, Vegan Red Hots, and Iced Maple Latte Shakes. You will hardly believe that healthy can taste this good!”

— Kathy Hester, bestselling author of The Vegan Slow Cooker and OATrageous Oatmeals

Crave Eat Heal is an innovative cookbook designed to help you satisfy your food cravings while enjoying delicious plant-based recipes. Organized according to craving, from creamy, comfort, and chocolate, to salty, sweet, and spicy, these recipes and accompanying photographs are a feast for all the senses.”

— Robin Robertson, bestselling author of Vegan Without BordersVegan PlanetOne-Dish Vegan, and many more

“No matter what food you are craving, Annie Oliverio has you covered! From salty and sweet to spicy and crunchy and everything in between, Crave Eat Heal is full of delicious recipes that are designed to satisfy your cravings in a much healthier way.”

— Julie Hasson, author of Vegan CasserolesVegan PizzaVegan Diner and more

“In Annie Oliverio's new book, CRAVE, EAT HEAL, her extraordinarily beautiful cover photo says it all. This is an impeccably written volume that's more than a fabulous cookbook, it is a delicious, healthy lifestyle all wrapped up in delectable photography and tasty tips, along with Annie's excellent recipes to satiate everyones culinary cravings. Featuring scrumptious recipes written for anyone who is looking to embrace a plant-based diet, every craving is satisfied, from crunchy to green, salty to sweet, and chocolate to comfort. CRAVE, EAT HEAL is the cookbook "must-have" for 2015!”

— Laura Theodore, Award-winning television personality and vegan chef, radio host, and author of Jazzy Vegetarian Classics: Vegan Twists on American Family Favorites and Jazzy Vegetarian: Lively Vegan Cuisine Made Easy and Delicious.