Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Chosen by Kirsten Day Release Day!

YANR_BlogTour_Chosen_RDB
Today is the release day of the third and final installment of the Daughters of the Sea trilogy, Chosen!
Title: Chosen (Daughters of the Sea 3) 
Author: Kristen Day
Publisher: Self Published
Blurb: The essence of who we are lies not in what we have, but in what we are willing to give up. Because in the end, Time and Tide wait for no one. After sacrificing all that she had, the evil princess of the Underworld is still successful in her bid to tear Finn from Stasia’s life. In the midst of her search to reclaim him, Stasia is summoned to the island nation of Cyprus to take part in an age-old ritual; unveiling the missing pieces of her ancestry and re-igniting an ancient war. As she struggles to both save Finn’s soul and free Carmen’s mind, Stasia’s bravery and determination will be pushed to its breaking point. A dark storm is forming on the horizon, and the forces who are vying to destroy her may be much closer than she thinks. Destiny weaves a sticky web of evil, betrayal, and revenge that can only be undone by the purity of love and the soul’s unyielding will to survive. In the last installment of the Daughters of the Sea trilogy, the past will collide with the present as Stasia’s future hangs in the balance. The prophecy that paved the way for her new life may indeed be the very thing that strips her of the ones she loves the most.
CHOSEN6
Prologue
A crisp, biting wind swirled through the open window; lifting the thin sheet draped over his aching body. The night surrounding his isolated room was dark and still when the roar of the ocean’s waves was interrupted by an entrancing melody. The full moon shone into his tired eyes as they cracked open at the faint singing; its silver glow pulling at his conscious. He wrapped the tattered sheet around his body and slowly made his way to the window. The night sky above glittered with the dancing of stars, while the radiance of the moon highlighted the rolling waves below.
The bubbling surf raced up the beach until its energy was spent; tugging on the sand and rocks below as it retreated once again. The cool breeze swept through his white beard as he squinted his eyes at the beach below. With each fallen wave, the glow became brighter. Hundreds of magnificent blue lights sparkled within the water, creating a magical blanket of effervescence along the water’s edge. He had only seen this phenomenon once before. Many, many years ago. It was a type of plankton that glistened a beaming blue when it became stirred up; however, he knew that it was typically found farther out in the ocean. Its unexpected arrival on land had his suddenly guarded eyes scanning the beach. That’s when he saw her.
The sheer white fabric of her flowing dress drifted in the breeze as she glided in a wide circle, dancing and spinning with a power he could feel down in the core of his tired soul. She was spellbinding and beautiful. And deadly. The captivating symphony of her voice cascaded down the stone walls of his prison and whirled around the crescent shaped beach below. Her wild, curly dark hair was accentuated by streaks of silver as it blew around her pale face. Eyes closed, her skin shimmered silver in the light of the moon above while she continued her trancelike dance. Loose silver ribbons lifted from her wrists, ankles, and hair where they were loosely secured. They created an illusion of fire; its sparkling flames shooting up into the air and around its writhing center. He shook his head and closed his eyes to snap himself out of her allure.
As the singing faded slightly, he looked on as she stopped twirling and raised her thin arms into the air with closed fists. She tilted her head back; her dark hair falling down her back, her body now fully embraced by the moonlight. She herself emanated an eerie glow. She wasn’t just dancing amongst the night; she was a part of the night. The moonlight that caressed her angelic face also shone from within. She stood perfectly still for what seemed like hours, while the ever moving world around her continued on its pace. Finally, she slowly dropped her arms and flashed open her palms. What appeared to be small crystals scattered around her onto the sand. They shimmered and flickered as they brightened further.
She raised her arms again very slowly, making the circle of crystals hover in the air around her. As they began to spin, they took on the appearance of a solid ring of light. Her arms continued to lift, taking the ring of light higher and higher. A bright flash caught him by surprise and he stumbled backwards; shielding his face. After regaining his balance, he approached the window once more; only to see the ring of light had disappeared as well as the glowing plankton. All that remained was her.
She stood rigid and silent as the surf swept over her feet and rushed back toward the waves. She began to sway gently from side to side and he realized how innocent she looked. Her small stature was a reminder of who she used to be, but he knew better. He knew what she was capable of. In a flash, she twisted her head; locking him in her chilling glare. The startling silver of her eyes chilled him to the bone and had him slowly backing away from the window. Amongst the dark shadows of his room, he stared at the long ray of light cast across the floor by the moon. He knew what her witching hour display meant. He knew it with certainty. A creeping cold slithered up his spine and squeezed his heart. They were running out of time.
About Kristen Day
v1i368adqrdqni76l1n5 Kristen Day is a southern belle at heart with a crazy streak that desperately tries to escape at every opportunity. She loves all things nostalgic, rustic, and quirky. She’s been told she sees the world through rose-colored glasses, but she prefers to think of them as kaleidoscope glasses - swirling and morphing reality into something she can digest (who hasn't pretended those pasty lima beans were really kiwi strawberry jelly beans?). She is the author of the DAUGHTERS OF THE SEA trilogy, which includes FORSAKEN, AWAKEN (Oct 2012), and CHOSEN (Winter 2012). She loves all books, but really enjoys writing young adult, paranormal romances. She’s loved to write for as long as she can remember. Her first published work was her poem RED in second grade (you guessed it - it was a poem about the color red - life altering, right?) that won her 5 gold stars and a spot in her elementary school's poetry book. That's when her addiction to the written word officially began. She was the only kid in fifth grade that actually enjoyed diagramming sentences. Go ahead and laugh - its okay. When she’s not writing she’s making jewelry, painting, feeding her addiction to sweet tea, watching the Discovery Channel, or going on random adventures in the mountains of North Carolina with her amazing husband. She was born in Boone, NC and graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in Marketing in 2001. Author’s Links Goodreads Blog Twitter Facebook

Buy it here! I can attest the first two were FABULOUS so I'm so stoked for the final book!

Sunday, January 27, 2013

IMM: 1/27/13

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by the wonderful Kristi at The Story Siren! We share books we received this week, whether we bought them, got them in the mail or checked them out from the library.

For Review:
Wake Up Generation by Paige Omartian

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Review and Blog Tour: The Lesson


The Lesson by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Release Date: January 1, 2013
Publisher: Revell
Genre: Amish Romance
Series: Stoney Ridge Series #3
Pages: 304
Format: eBook
Buy It: Amazon


Sometimes love shows up when you least expect it.

Nineteen-year-old Mary Kate Lapp yearns for adventure, but all she seems to find is trouble. Her dreams of travel have taken a backseat to her assignment to teach school this year. And nothing ever seems to happen in her sleepy Amish community.

But when a sudden and unexplained death conveniently coincides with the arrival of a mysterious young man, M.K. is frustrated that no one takes it seriously. She's determined to take matters into her own hands and get to the bottom of it. Will she find more than she bargained for?

Centered on one of bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher's most loved characters, this is the Stoney Ridge story you have been waiting for. With a surprise at every turn, a gentle romance, and a shocking answer to an old family mystery, The Lesson is the dramatic conclusion to the Stoney Ridge Seasons series.
Suzanne has done it again.

Such a great novel! I have not read The Healer, #1 in this series, but I started #2 and couldn't finish it due to disinterest, so I was concerned going into this one how I would feel.

I instantly fell in love with M.K.'s character! She has spunk, but she is still an Amish girl at heart, I also appreciated that the romance did show interest right away, but did turn into an insta-love that so many novels have today! Fisher gives the characters a chance to test the waters and fall in love slowly, despite what the others around them might think.

As for the mysteriousness of Chris's past, I was blown away by the twists and turns of the story line! I could barely put this one down until I knew exactly how it ended. I definitely recommend this one!



I received this book free for review for a Revell Blog Tour. I was not required to post a positive review, simply an honest one.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

IMM/Mailbox Monday: 1/6/13

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by the wonderful Kristi at The Story Siren, and Mailbox Monday is hosted by a group of bloggers! We share books we received this week, whether we bought them, got them in the mail or checked them out from the library.


For Review:
Every Perfect Gift by Dorothy Love
The Air We Breathe by Christa Parrish

Gifted:
Across the Universe (and swag) by Beth Revis (Thanks Pica!)
As You Wish by Jackson Pearce (Thanks mysterious swapper!)
Stepping Heavenward by Mrs. E. Prentiss

Bought:
Waking Storms by Sarah Porter
Unglued Devotional by Lysa TerKeurst
Looking Up by Beth Moore and Lisa Guest
 
Blog Design by Use Your Imagination Designs images from the Wonder Emporium kit by MK-Designs