Tuesday 25 June 2013

The Palms (For The Season Novella #1) by S. Celi

 
The Palms (For The Season Novella #1) by S. Celi




Summary:


Three days on Palm Beach will change everything.

We all have one--the one who got away. For 31-year-old Trent Matthews, that woman is Lauren Crawford. For 28-year-old Lauren Crawford, that man is Trent Matthews.

Ten years after they last saw each other on Palm Beach, an unexpected night at The Breakers sends Lauren and Trent roaring back into each others lives. She's still sassy, sexy, and sophisticated. He's still rich, handsome, and an expert with women. The years have passed, but old feelings haven't died.

Not even close.

Now, these two have a second chance at love.

The problem is--Trent left Lauren without any explanation in 2002. She's still mad and confused. Back then, Trent had his reasons--about a dozen--for his abrupt exit from her life. But even a decade later, he doesn't want to admit all of them--or make them public. And that hesitation may cost him Lauren. Forever.

Will Trent admit the mistakes of his youth? Will Lauren grant Trent her forgiveness? Or will they lose love again underneath THE PALMS?

*This story is novella length, at 23,000 words.
Genre: Adult Romance (But it’s pretty clean)


Author Bio:
New Orleans born Sara Celi has lived all over the United States. She calls the Greater Cincinnati area and the Queen City home.

She's currently a TV reporter and anchor in Oklahoma City, and has spent more than a decade working in journalism. She graduated cum laude from Western Kentucky University in 2004.

Saturday 22 June 2013

Review by Lexi - The Journey to Forever by Lisa Bilbrey


The novella The Journey to Forever is the third book in the series The Journey Collection by Lisa Bilbrey, and is a short, fun read for a hot summer day.  It is the story about how Travis McCoy and his girlfriend, Penelope Stone, finally "tie the knot.”

The story relates how Travis and Penelope complete their journey in life. It all begins with Travis proposing to Penelope and then it shows us how they make their way down the aisle, along with their son Max.

Even though the story is angst-free, it is holding grabs a hold of you and doesn’t let go until you have reached the end. It’s touching to see how Travis bonds even more with his son Max and with Penelope, as well. Penelope and Travis's love for each other is shown clearly in the whole description of the book.

The Journey to Forever is very well written and will leave you wishing for more. I truly recommend this novella along with the first two, so that you can be a part of Travis and Penelope's journey.



Rating: 4 out of 5 honey pots.

Important Links

The Journey Collection:
Book 1: The Journey Home


Book 3: The Journey to Forever (Expected publication date: June 18, 2013)

Look for Book 4:  The Journey to a New LIfe - Available September 2013

Miss Bilbrey plans to release all 4 books in a collectors edition in December 2013

Thursday 20 June 2013

Review by Jem - Keeper of The Dragon Sword written by Linze Brandon



Keeper of The Dragon Sword written by Linze Brandon

Review by Jem


Genre:  Fantasy Romance (adult)

Release Date: April 1st, 2013


Summary:

It was definitely not her week. Her uncle had been murdered, her life had been threatened, an old school friend had re-appeared, she had two body guards and a new home. Elizabeth L'Emery was not having a good time as the new owner and chief executive of the largest fabric manufacturer on Xa'an.

Randall Storm had missed his best friend from school, but he had so many secrets that staying away from her had seemed to be the only solution to keep her safe from the uncontrollable lust for blood of his dragon half. But when he was assigned to her protection detail, he didn’t want to be anywhere else.

As they search for ways to control his magic that didn't enslave him - and didn't kill her - more threats came to try and pull them apart. When the opportunity arises to put a weapon of incredible power into her hands, Elizabeth has to decide if the violence of the blood ritual would be worth the sacrifice of becoming the Keeper of the Dragon Sword.


Jem's Review.


Keeper of the Dragon Sword is a story about love over coming all obstacles and bonding two people together as one.


When Elizabeth’s Father and Uncle are both murdered she learns that her current partner Mertin is behind the murders and she is his next target.  
She is put under the protection of two powerful magicians, one being her childhood friend Randall.  


Randall is a blood dragon warrior, the most dangerous of all the Dragon Warrior`s.  He has a thirst for blood, which he cannot control, once he starts killing it is very hard to stop him.  He needs a master to help him control his lust for blood and believes Elizabeth is that person. He has loved Elizabeth since they were at school and will protect her with his life.  


She is taken away from her everyday life to live with Randall until the threat is over.  She is given a cottage in a magician’s village where her extended family live.  Although she has no magical power herself she does have the gift of perception and can sense the emotion’s of people around her, which comes in helpful for her safety.


The more time Elizabeth and Randall spend in each other’s company, the stronger their feelings of love grow.  There is something special about the connection between the two of them as they learn that she is the key to keeping his dragon under control.  He needs a Master and after realising how much they love each other, she agrees to go through a dangerous and life threatening rituals to safe him and everyone they care about.


I really fell in love with Randall and Elizabeth’s story. They fight so hard to stay together even thought it seems at times that all is lost.  As you read you are taken on an emotional roller coaster, just as you start to believe that nothing more can come between them, something does.  They battle heartache and death but their love always shine’s through.


This book made me laugh and cry, possibly one straight after the other.  I would recommend this book to any hopeless romantic.  
  

Rating: 4 Honey Pots of of 5



Author Bio:

Linzé Brandon is the pen name of a South African engineer and project manager who taught herself to read before she went to school. She started writing in a time period of her life when she was self-employed as an export consultant, and had much better time management skills. Focusing on writing what she loves to read, fantasy and paranormal romance, she does dabble in SF, erotica and erotic romance when writing short stories. It is her dream to write novels full time, but until then she divides her time between work, writing, marketing her books, cross-stitch, archery and painting mixed media abstracts.


Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17727570-keeper-of-the-dragon-sword


Wednesday 19 June 2013

Mrs A's review for Healing Faith By Jennyfer Browne



Review for Healing Faith By Jennyfer Browne

Katherine Hill is running from her abusive boyfriend Sean Miller.

On the way to her sister, Stacy, in Illinois, the bus breaks down and she ends up in West Grove, Iowa where there seems to be nothing more than endless fields of corn.

Sean finds the bus in the little town as it waits to be repaired, knowing she must be in the area somewhere he starts looking for her. She hides in the buggy of a Amish man named Jonah Berger.

He takes Katherine home with him and puts her under his protection.
Jonah and his wife Fannie take her in and begin to love her like a daughter.
It´s not easy to be an Englisher and go to live with an Amish family and follow their ways, but she doesn't plan to stay for long.

Everything changes when she meets Fannie´s nephew Nathan Fisher.
Nathan has had a very troubled year and everything he knows turns upside down when he meets Katherine.

We get to follow Katherine as she struggles to fit into the Amish ways, then Nathan´s issues with falling for an “outsider”.  The elders in their society have a say in everything.
Will Nathan and Kathrine overcome all their obstacles? Will Sean leave her alone?

This book is beautifully written, and Nathan is the sweetest character and so easy to fall for, I did.

Can't wait for the sequel since the author left us hanging wanting more.

Review for Strange Worlds: Surreal Stories and Tainted Tales by Heather

 



Strange Worlds:  Surreal Stories and Tainted Tales  by Victoria Pearson


“I wrote these stories to trap them on the page; a cage of

prose to keep the ideas contained. If you read them, do so
with the knowledge that ideas are contagious, and spread
swiftly from mind to mind.” -- Victoria Pearson’s opening words.

In this collection of short stories, we find ourselves on a journey with a mystical flare.  Whether you believe that there are “others” amongst us or not, each of her tales have a lesson that most people should learn.  The author has done an amazing job with few words to open the reader’s mind without leaving you feel lectured to.  Two of the stories that spoke to me the most were “Chasing Rainbows” and “Be careful what you wish for”.
In “Rainbows”, a mother is asked to answer a riddle in the form of a very simple question:  “Who are you?”  In answering it, the mother learns more about herself and what is important to her, what her true treasure is.
In “Wish For”, a woman has found herself barely surviving day-to-day life when she learns her best friend has moved on.  While cleaning what she believed to be a teapot at work, she has instead found herself a genie who offers her only one wish.  Without thinking she says one name, the name of the friend/lover she lost.  The grant is wished.  Needless to say, it has unexpected consequences that leave the woman trying to find another teapot to “unwish” her wish.
An amazing collection of wonderfully written, thoughtful tales that can lead to a bit of self-discovery with a fantastical twist.

“We are each our own strange world,
living in a universe made up of the strange worlds
of other people.” -- Victoria Pearson’s parting words.

This is actually her second collection of stories, the first was:  
Strange Love—Short Stories and Twisted Tales.

Love can bring us together, but it can also tear us apart.
Dive into ten very different tales all sharing the theme of love; the
good, the bad and the hideously ugly. Maternal love leads to
obsession, infidelity leads to heartbreak and a prince ends up very
disappointed with his lot.
You may have seen one or two of these characters before, but never
in this light. Twisted perspectives on old tales and new stories whose
characters will stay with you forever…
To love is man’s greatest gift, and his greatest curse.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Honey Pots












Friday 14 June 2013

Spotlight Author Interview with Jennyfer Browne - By Bee.

I had the pleasure of interviewing the lovely Jennyfer Brown for The Hive's spotlight author this month.

I'm currently reading her new book 'Healing Faith', and it's a page turner, but first, here is the interview.

Interview with Jennyfer Browne
Where are you from?

Originally, I’m from Maryland. I spent most of my teens jumping from state to state (different parts of Maryland, Alabama, Northern California) until finally settling down in Southern California.

Tell us your latest news?

My debut novel Healing Faith has been released on Amazon and I am busy making edits for the second book of the series! I am also working on a romantic comedy that I hope to pitch later this summer.

When and why did you begin writing?

I started writing when I was young: poetry and epic fantasy stories with strong females. I recently started writing again when one of my friends begged me to write her something a little lemony. It was all downhill from there!


What inspired you to write your first book?

The desire to have more sweet romances to counterbalance erotica that has rushed onto the publishing scene. Not that I don’t enjoy a good naughty story, but I missed the idea of fighting for love and that sense of awe one has when first discovering love.

How do you conceive your plot ideas?

Some just come to me from a feeling a song might have on me, or perhaps a photograph. My first novel came from a conversation between friends over a photo shoot for a magazine. Within a day I had the first four chapters roughed in.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Love triumphs. No matter what life may throw at you, if you love someone, \and they love you- nothing can come between you.

What books have influenced your life most?

Classic Greek and Shakespeare were what I grew up on- tales of tragedy, heroism and love. I spent most of my youth acting, so classic plays and literature were always something I read or performed in. Of course I was also an avid fantasy reader, so tales of Elves and men, or witches and dragons often morphed into stories of valiant women fighting evil in my head.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

Probably the late Robert Jordan, author of the epic series The Wheel of Time novels. The man was gifted with intricate world and character building, and as a historian, he understood the needs to research and back up one’s storyline. I would also say I enjoyed is wordiness in his novels.

What book are you reading now?

I just finished Emma Chase’s Tangled, of which I loved the styling of her protagonist’s voice (NO SPOILERS!).
I currently reading another self-pubbed author’s work, Colored Whistles by Jeremy McCollum- a very touching story about a 1930’s veterinarian in rural Georgia who finds himself falling for a young African American girl.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

The research. This story is centred around a very private group of people, the Amish- whose views and laws vary depending on the region. There are so much contradictory information out there, it made creating an authentic community a lot more difficult. I also gained 15 pounds making all the food I wrote about. My next book needs to be about a girl at the gym. Research is everything.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

I learned so much more about the Amish than I ever thought possible. I used to visit Lancaster as a child, but I didn’t think much about what their life meant. If anything, I’ve learned that simplicity in life can help you see things a little more clearly.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Write- write what inspires you. Don’t lose faith. Find a place to show it and take the criticism as a learning tool to hone your skills. And always, always research before you commit.

What do you think people search for in a book?

I think people in general enjoy the escape. You can find yourself in love all over, or fighting evil, or crying over loss. Emotions are what make us humans, and if a book drives us emotionally, then it’s worth the read. Happy endings are always a nice way to end, but I find reflecting on what I have experienced from a good book is sometimes even better.

What genre of books do you like to read?

I grew up with fantasy and classic literature. As I’ve grown older, I enjoy a good romantic comedy sprinkled in with something saucy. I especially love Paranormal and mythical romance, as it seems to link my childhood love with my older tastes.

What advice would you give to someone who "runs out of creativity" when writing?


Find another way to make your muse sing- whether it is music or art, or perhaps even just a series of short scenes to write. I’ve fallen into blocks many times- a particular part in the story doesn’t want to sing to me- so I skip it and write what is. Many times when I do that, the tumblers click into place for that earlier “scene” and I can write it. If all else fails, take a step back. Enjoy a good read, take a break from writing to see where your mind drifts. You’ll find your way back, especially if you don’t panic over the silence in your head. But don’t be surprised if you hear a different voice now and again. I have several partially written stories in my computer- some days I have three open at once! Let it come when it will, never force it.

Now, let's have some details about the amazing book!


Healing Faith

Volume One of the IN YOUR WORLD Series

By Jennyfer Browne


Summary

Fleeing an abusive relationship, Kate Hill finds herself stranded in rural Iowa, hiding in a community of Amish. Nathan Fisher is an Amish man questioning his faith after the loss of his family. He discovers his guiding angel when an English woman becomes his inspiration to his heartsick soul.
Together they will discover that love can withstand cultural differences, and heal broken faith.
Fleeing an abusive relationship, Kate Hill finds herself stranded and hiding in a quiet and guarded community of Amish in rural Iowa. When she meets a troubled Amish man, she learns that with a leap of faith, one can discover love and kindness.

Nathan Fisher is an innocent Amish man questioning his faith after the loss of his family. He discovers his guiding angel when an English woman becomes his inspiration to his heartsick soul. Is she temptation to lead him astray, or is she his salvation. Together they will discover that love can break down boundaries in cultural differences, and heal broken faith.

Electronic Book version links


For Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D4GW7DA


For Amazon.co.uk

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00D4GW7DA


For Amazon.de

http://www.amazon.de/dp/B00D4GW7DA


For Amazon.fr

http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B00D4GW7DA


For Amazon.es

http://www.amazon.es/dp/B00D4GW7DA


For Amazon.it

http://www.amazon.it/dp/B00D4GW7DA


For Amazon.jp

http://www.amazon.jp/dp/B00D4GW7DA


For Amazon.ca

http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00D4GW7DA


For Amazon.br

http://www.amazon.com.br/dp/B00D4GW7DA


Smashwords for Epub and PDF as well as mobi

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/320249


Jennyfer Browne can be found:


On Twitter @JennyferBrowne

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennyferbrowneauthor

Blog: http://jennyferbrowne.wordpress.com


Be sure to get yourselves a copy of this wonderful book. 

The Hive's review for Healing Faith will be coming soon.