Wishing you a wonderful Easter!

I am enjoying the day with my family and hope that each of you are as well. Have a wonderful day with family and friends.

God Bless!

"Vengeance Bound" by Justina Ireland ~ author guest post

The Goddess Test meets Dexter in an edgy, compelling debut about one teen’s quest for revenge… no matter how far it takes her.

Cory Graff is not alone in her head. Bound to a deal of desperation made when she was a child, Cory’s mind houses the Furies—the hawk and the serpent—lingering always, waiting for her to satisfy their bloodlust. After escaping the asylum where she was trapped for years, Cory knows how to keep the Furies quiet. By day, she lives a normal life, but by night, she tracks down targets the Furies send her way. And she brings down Justice upon them.

Cory’s perfected her system of survival, but when she meets a mysterious boy named Niko at her new school, she can’t figure out how she feels about him. For the first time, the Furies are quiet in her head around a guy. But does this mean that Cory’s finally found someone who she can trust, or are there greater factors at work? As Cory’s mind becomes a battlefield, with the Furies fighting for control, Cory will have to put everything on the line to hold on to what she’s worked so hard to build.

Guest Post!

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Facts About Vengeance Bound

by Justina Ireland

·         Vengeance Bound was originally entitled Blood Guilt, due to the main character’s fear of blood.

·         Most of the places in Vengeance Bound, especially West County, are fictional.  But the locations are partially based on where I live in Pennsylvania.

·         In early drafts my main character Amelie (Cory is her alias) was a serial killer.  But she was so scary she gave me nightmares, so I changed the storyline.

·         Although the Furies live in Amelie’s head They can’t read her thoughts.  They can sense very strong emotions, which is part of the reason she tries to fight her feelings for Niko.

·         Alekto, the third Fury, left her sisters long ago.  This is why the remaining Furies use Amelie as a host.

·         Saint Dymphna, who lends her name to the mental health facility Amelie escapes from, is the patron saint of mental disorders.  Her real life story is also the inspiration for the Grimm’s Fairytale “Donkeyskin.”

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About Justina Ireland:  Justina Ireland enjoys dark chocolate, dark humor, and is not too proud to admit that she’s still afraid of the dark. She lives with her husband, kid, and dog in Pennsylvania. Vengeance Bound is her first novel.

Twitter / Facebook / Website

Tour Giveaway:  There is a really cool giveaway with this tour! Here is what you could win. 

(2) Hardback copies of VENGEANCE BOUND plus a Swag Pack - US/Canada Only

(5) Vengeance Bound Swag Packs - US/Canada Only

Swag pack includes:

Stickers

Deluxe Bookmarks

Rubber Bracelets

Nail polish

Lip gloss

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Click to see the full tour schedule

Hoppy Easter Blog Hop (int)

It's Easter!  I love spring, and Easter is spring to me.  My tulips start to come up and my lawn is turning green.  It's a renewal and I love it!

Thanks to I am a Reader, Not a Writer and Read Now Sleep Later for bringing us this hop.

I want the winner to pick a book that they want to read. So for this hop, my prize will be $10.00 gift code to Amazon or a book up to $10.00 at the Book Depository. (US$)

See my giveaway policy in the sidebar. There are all of the rules and regulations to entering.  

Use the rafflecopter form to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

"Fire and Ash" by Anne Patrick ~ Book Blast!

Fire and Ash by Anne Patrick

Fire and Ash is the story of female fire investigator Sadie McGregor.  When she was a child, Sadie lost her family in a horrific fire that still haunts her.  She's now been called in to investigate a fatality fire in her hometown of Emerald Point, Missouri. What Sadie and the handsome new police chief discover will not only affect those close to them, but will rock the entire community.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Amazon Kindle

Reviews and Awards

"This is a beautiful, yet hard-hitting story, fluently written, presenting characters you fall in love with." 
~ Reviewed by Fennel at LASR

"A Top Pick! Another Fantastic Novel!!!! Anne Patrick's novel, "Fire and Ash" is a well-written novel that flows wonderfully. A fantastic read!" 
~ Night Owl Reviews

"A wonderful read, this book had me laughing and crying. True to life characters and vivid descriptions, along with comedy and heart stopping moments, make this a page turner you'll want to read again." 
~ Happily Ever After Reviews

"As a forensics show enthusiast, I found that Anne Patrick, in her book, Fire and Ash, goes into great, minute detail of the fire investigation, that puts you on the scent of a perpetrator.  Her unique ability to incorporate multiple plots to throw you off course makes the pages fly by to connect the dots."  
~ Onedesertrose's Christian Book Reviews Blog

"As a retired fire investigator I have to say kudos to Ms Patrick on her research. I normally don’t read romantic suspense, but this book sounded intriguing so I couldn't resist. I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED" 
~Review from 'Fireboy' at Christianbook.com

Received Four Stars from Romantic Times Book Reviews!

LASR BEST BOOK of 2010 Nominee!

'Best Inspirational' 2010 at The Romance Reviews!

#1 Bestselling Suspense eBook, and #1 Bestselling Romance eBook at Christianbook.com!

Amazon Top 100 Bestseller in Christian Fiction!

Author Anne Patrick

Anne Patrick is the author of more than a dozen novels of Romance, Mayhem & Faith, including the award winning and bestselling WOUNDED HEROES SERIES, FIRE AND ASH, and TIES THAT BIND. When she isn't working on her next novel she enjoys spending time with family and friends, and traveling to foreign countries to experience new cultures and adventures. Born and raised in Oklahoma, she now makes her home in Kansas. 

Website * Blog * Twitter

She loves to hear from her readers!

Book Blast Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 4/10/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review ~ "Easy Bake Coven" by Liz Schulte

Easy Bake Coven by Liz Schulte
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Source: Received to Review
Genre: Paranormal/ Fantasy/ Romance (Adult)

Book Description:  The Abyss is watching her ... waiting for her. For Selene Warren being a witch is no big deal. She dabbles in harmless magic with her friends and never thinks much about it. When her grandmother is attacked, Selene uncovers an ancient grudge that threatens the lives of everyone she loves. With no other choice, she puts her trust in a stranger who knows more about who she is than she does and shows her a world of elves, half-elves, fae -- and one peculiar sekhmet named Femi. This unusual new world could swallow Selene whole, take away everything that makes her who she is, but the with a forgotten past beating down her door, she will have to dive in to save her future.

My thoughts: Selene lives an average and happy life. She has a job she loves, friends she loves to spend time with, and a very handsome boyfriend.

In one day her average life becomes far from average. She is proposed to, her grandma has an accident, a handsome man stalks her, and she is in danger.

She knows about the Abyss, the realm where the fantasy and paranormal creatures dwell. She didn't know her connection to the Abyss and why it is now seeking her. She must learn to fight to defend herself and the ones she loves.

I had fun reading this book. It is very interesting and the chemistry between Selene and Cheney is wonderful. I loved the take on the mystical creatures. It was fun to have Selene meet several and the reaction they have to her and her to them.

There is swearing (including the "f" word) and adult sexual situations in this book.

Read an Excerpt from " Endless" by Tawdra Kandle

Endless

After the tumult of her high school senior year, all is right in Tasmyn Vaughan’s world. She’s attending college with her boyfriend, and she’s learning to control her powers. Everything is finally perfect, until it isn’t.

When her new part-time job leads to more than she bargained for, Tasmyn is thrown into a deadly fight against forces of evil that she didn’t even know existed. Mastering her extraordinary gifts—along with the strength of an endless love—may be the only weapon that can guarantee her a happily ever after.

Check out the entire King Series:
Book 1: Fearless
Book 2: Breathless
Book 3: Restless
Book 4: Endless

Read an Excerpt:  

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“I understand you have reservations,” John was saying. “We did, too.  Our daughter Melissa is a manipulator.”

            “Oh.” My mother was clearly nonplussed. She glanced down the table at me, but it was Cathryn who laid her hand on my mom’s arm and answered her.  

            “Nora, what Theresa means is that Melissa can manipulate minds.  Some prefer the term ‘influencer’ or even the less formal ‘bender’.”  She smiled broadly down the table at me. “Tasmyn, your friend Rafe was a bender, wasn’t he?”

            All conversation halted.  The only sound was the gentle clink of the servers replacing dishes on the sideboard.

            The temper that I had been barely keeping in check all morning surged in my throat. I felt a tingling down my arms and into my face as I instinctively reached into a pool of energy I’d been ignoring for months. The goblet of water flew across the table, missed Cathryn’s head by centimeters and crashed into the wall behind her. Water and glass splattered the poor startled server and fell into a tinkling circle on the glossy wood floor.

            “Tasmyn!” My mother’s horrified gasp left no doubt where the blame lay. I closed my eyes; the power had ebbed as quickly as it flowed.

            Michael closed his hand over mine and directed his thoughts to me. It’s okay. You’re okay. No one is hurt. Take it easy. . .breathe in, breathe out. Find the calm.

            Aloud he said, “Tasmyn and I are going to step outside for just a minute.  I think she could use some air.”

            He pulled me to my feet and out of the room, my face scarlet and my heart pounding.

            “Excuse me.”  The server who had poured my coffee followed us into the hallway. “Sir, if you go this way, the hall leads to the back veranda. It’s quiet.”

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About Author Tawdra Kandle

Tawdra Kandle is the author of THE KING SERIES, a young adult urban fantasy quartet. Born in South Jersey, Tawdra published her first short story at the age of 13 in Child’s Life magazine. During the early years of her marriage and motherhood, she wrote articles and columns on parenting and homeschooling, as well as some homeschooling curriculum. THE KING SERIES is her first published full-length fiction. Tawdra currently lives in central Florida with her husband, and children, both skin and fur types. And yes, she has purple hair.

Follow Tawdra Kandle:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon

The Witch Avenue Series Blog Tour - Review of "Altered Souls"

Altered Souls by Karice Bolton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Source:  Received to Review
Genre:  Paranormal YA

Book Description:  The realm of Altered Souls brings nothing but unrest, deceit, and pain forcing Triss to come face to face with heartbreak from her past. 

Facing a betrayal like never before, Triss questions everything she thought she knew about her family, coven, and abilities. 

With the help of Logan, she embarks on a journey enabling her to confront the dark side of magic and the person who controls it. Realizing Triss’s ancestors have been seduced for centuries by the dark side, Triss and Logan must ensure no more in their world fall victim to the realm of Altered Souls, even if that means ending the ones they love.

My thoughts:  I enjoyed the second installment of the Witch Avenue Series. It has action and romance.

Triss and Logan are getting closer in this book. They face the obstacle of preparing to face Triss' father and his dark wizards. This book shows an emotional journey as well as a physical one. She has to figure out how to stay true to herself and to not sacrifice her soul.

I would recommend this book to readers 16+ because of some sexual innuendo.

About Karice Bolton:  Karice married the love of her life who she met in high school, and she still can't get over how cute and funny he is. They have two English Bulldogs that are the sweetest bullies in the world, and they use their cuteness to get what they want. Karice loves the snow and gravitates towards the stuff as often as possible! She enjoys skiing and tries really hard to snowboard, but often makes a nice little area to sit while everyone zips by on their board. She enjoys writing, and she also loves to read just about anything with print.

Karice Bolton | Twitter | Facebook

Check out the first and third books of the series:

Book One : Lonely Souls

It's two weeks before Triss turns 18, and her world is about to change into the most magical one imaginable as she readies herself to enter The Witch Avenue Order... that is until her mother's disappearance. Instead of celebrating her transformation, she finds herself spreading rose petals into her mother's empty grave.

When Logan, her best friend from junior high, moves back to town for college, he vows to help her find the answers she so desperately seeks surrounding her mother's disappearance. As they begin uncovering clues, it becomes apparent that the life of white magic they both grew up loving is not what the majority practices, and their lives are in danger.

With a haunting feeling that her mother may still be alive, she begins to hear a call to the wilderness. Triss realizes that in order to find the answers she needs, she must learn the ways of her ancestors and become the hunter, not the hunted before it's too late, and she becomes part of the lonely souls.

Book Three:  Released Souls

Triss and Logan’s love is becoming stronger by the day as they harness the powers between them, but will that make them blind to the evil they’re facing?

After uncovering startling information about her family, Triss is determined to right the wrongs of her ancestors. Triss and Logan uncover who has infiltrated the covens across the globe, and they realize the plans of the dark side are far more sinister than they’d ever imagined.

As the power of this hidden world is exposed, Triss learns her role in the covens. With Logan, Dace and Bakula’s assistance, Triss is now able to fully realize the abilities her ancestors have given her.

It won’t be long until the dark forces regain their strength, especially as their leader, Eben, continues his quest for a power that can never be revoked. Triss must stop him before it is too late.

Tour Giveaways!

Grand Prize:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Second Prize: a Rafflecopter giveaway
Lonely Souls is free on Amazon Kindle ~ go get your copy now!

Follow the tour at this LINK

Book Review ~ "The book of Jer3miah" by Luisa M Perkins and Jared Adair

The Book of Jer3miah by Luisa M. Perkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Source: Received to Review
Genre: LDS Fiction ~ YA

Book Description:  A college freshman, Jeremiah Whitney, accepts the undertaking to protect a mysterious Mesoamerican box. When Jeremiah's parents are mysteriously murdered, Jeremiah learns that he is the target of a frightening conspiracy. Every facet of his life is called into question, and now he must uncover the truth about the box, the conspiracy, and his very identity.

My thoughts:  Jeremiah is a young man attending college. He has two great parents who love him, a roommate who is his friend, and he is anticipating the time he can go on an LDS mission. Life is on track for Jeremiah.

His eighteenth birthday changes everything. He finds that he is the target of a conspiracy. The exact nature of the threat or where it is coming from is a mystery. He only knows that those he loves the most have been taken from him. Locked in grief he learns of his destiny, the keeper of an ancient relic that is entrusted in his care. His premonitions will help guide him in decisions and who to trust.

I enjoyed reading about Jeremiah and his experiences. He has very unique friends who kept the story funny at times and interesting. There is plenty of action and a little bit of romance. It should appeal to both young men and women on up.

Purchase Links:

Deseret  Book

Blog Tour ~ "Uniquely Unwelcome" by Brandy Nacole (Guest Post/Giveaway)

Uniquely Unwelcome by Brandy Nacole
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Source: Received to Review
Genre: Paranormal YA

Book Description:   Being unique isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

After searching all over the world for someone as unique as she is, Racquel finds herself back in her home town where she’s treated like a monster ready to kill. Racquel is one of the most unique beings ever created. Four of the most powerful beings in the Shadow World are intertwined within her, making up her unique DNA. But no matter how unique her bloodline is, she’s considered an outcast by the entire Shadow World.

Once arriving home, Racquel finds that greater evils exist and that the person she cares for most in this world, her half-sister Addie, has been kidnapped along with other Shadow World beings. Racquel finds herself facing horrible odds with those who would rather see her dead than alive.

As her journey continues, Racquel learns more about herself, what she is capable of, and that not every being looks at her as an abomination. Coy, a human captive that Racquel saves from the Vampires, starts showing kindness toward her. Racquel tries putting distance between her and the human boy but as they spend more time together it becomes harder and harder for Racquel to fight the affection she wants and needs.

But will Coy’s friendship and her new found discoveries be enough to help Racquel unravel the strangest mystery that has ever plagued the Shadow World?

My thoughts:  Racquel is different from anyone else in the world. There isn't anyone else like her. She has the blood of four different shadow world lines running through her veins. She is part Vampire, Lycan, Shifter, and Witch. No one trusts her, everyone taunts and shuns her.

Her solitude comes to an abrupt end when she is accused of kidnapping members of the Shadow World. The kicker for her is that one of the kidnapped victims is her half sister. This propels her to take action and to find the missing people. She has others that help her on her journey ending her time alone and giving her reluctant friendship and companionship.

This book is a compelling read. I enjoyed the characters and their rocky relationships. The book is told in the first person from Racquel's point of view. She has been badly hurt by others in the past and it shows in the voice. It is untrusting, but at the same time wanting and yearning for trust.

This book has an interesting concept and I would't mind reading the second. This book has mild swearing and a few intense kissing moments.

About Brandy Nacole:  

Brandy Nacole resides in Arkansas where her imagination runs wild. Her obsession is reading but her

passion is writing. She put her dream of becoming a writer on the back burner and went to college

to become a psychologist. Three years after endless classes in a field she only felt half satisfied with,

Brandy picked up her pen once again and wrote the outline to Uniquely Unwelcome. She finished out

her degree in psychology but traded her dream of writing for the degree and put psychology on the back

burner. Whenever she’s not reading or writing, Brandy is spending time with her family and friends,

throwing around crazy ideas, and laughing through the crazy moments.

www.facebook.com/authorbrandynacole

www.brandynacole.blogspot.com

www.goodreads.com/BrandyNacole

Read a Guest Post:  

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5 reasons I write Fantasy

       So, what are five reasons I like to write Fantasy?  How about I narrow this down to five words instead: Seriously, what’s not to love?  I have been a fan of fantasy/paranormal books, movies, shows, and local myths since I was a little girl.  My first memory of the fantasy genre was with Interview with A Vampire.  I was four years old and my aunt, who’s just as big a fan as me if not more, was watching the movie on Halloween.  I don’t remember every detail of course, but I remember watching it with her and being totally enthralled.  From there it was R.L. Stine books, Anne Rice, and so on. 

          I started writing when I was around 7 and while my writing wasn’t too farfetched with fantasy it was about a young boy and his pet alligator Sam.  They had all sort of adventures together.  Then as I aged, my writing became more involved with pure fantasy. 

          With Fantasy writing you can create the most unique of worlds and fill them with unique characters.  There doesn’t seem to be any line of ‘not possible’ when creating a Fantasy book.  Worlds can be made inside of worlds, powers can be limitless, battles and villains can be twisted, and romances can be epic. 

          With my Shadow World series, I wanted to reach these fantastic limitless possibilities.  My main character, Racquel, is a hybrid that is made up of four different Shadow lines.  She’s part lycan, witch, vampire, and shifter.  Sounds complex doesn’t it.  Well she is a complex character.  She’s also an outcast.  Her powers seem to be limitless and the Shadows not only consider her an abomination but they also fear her.  I also incorporated the Greek Gods with their creations.  Each line of Shadows has a Greek God that created them.  If it wasn’t for my love of Fantasy and the limitless ideas that come from creating such books, then I wouldn’t have had the chance to share the story of a unique girl like Racquel. 

          Fantasy gives readers an escape outside the everyday life, much like most stories.  The thing with Fantasy books, it’s something we just don’t experience on some level on a daily basis.  Now if vampires and shape-shifters start skulking the world, then Fantasy writers are going to have to step it up and reach out for a new level of fiction.  Until that day happens, readers and writers get to live out a world that isn’t our everyday hum bum routines and escape into a world filled with magic, love, rivals, and heart racing wonder.      

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Blog Tour Giveaway

Here is a list of what's up for grabs!

 

A $15 Amazon Gift Card

A $10 Amazon Gift Card

 

2 Copies of Silenced by Raebeth McGee-Buda

http://brandynacole.blogspot.com/p/giveaway_27.html

 

And 60 Day Challenge-Kindle Fire HD

Free Kindle Fire HD with a custom case made by Sunny-J's Design

http://brandynacole.blogspot.com/p/kindle-fird-hd-giveaway.html

 

Where can you purchase a copy?

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

iBookstore

Review ~ "Hocus Pocus Hotel" by Michael Dahl

Hocus Pocus Hotel by Michael Dahl
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Source: Received to Review
Genre: Middle Grade Mystery

Book Description:  Ever since it was built by the great magician Abracadabra, the hotel Tyler Yu lives in has had its share of mysterious events. Ghosts wandering the halls, a magician who vanishes into thin air – Ty can’t figure these things out on his own. But Charlie Hitchcock, with his photographic memory, might just be the partner the school bully needs. Together, they’ll solve magical mysteries beyond your wildest imagination.

My thoughts:  Fantastic book for middle grade readers. This book is full of magic and mystery.

Ty lives in a hotel for magicians. He is the school bully and enlists the smart kid, Charlie, to help him solve mysteries at the hotel. They are an unlikely duo who work surprisingly well together.

I found this book to be engaging and I can see my 9 year old son eating it up.

Blog Tour ~ "Beyond the Valley" by Rita Gerlach (Review/giveaway)

Beyond the Valley by Rita Gerlach
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Source: Received to Review
Genre: Historical Chrisitan Fiction

Book Description:  When Sarah Carr's husband Jamie drowns, her young life is shattered and takes a turn that she never expected. Pregnant and now widowed, she reaches out to Jamie's family for help but they are unwilling. Instead they devise a plan to have her kidnapped and taken to the Colonies to live a life of servitude. Sarah's new life in the Colonies finds her surrounded by a family's whirlwind of secrets, while she hopes the young doctor she loves with will bring her freedom.

My thoughts:  Sarah Carr's story is a sad one, but one full of courage and hope.

The book begins in England. Sarah's husband drowns while pillaging a crashed ship. His needless death left her desitute without means to take care of herself and her unborn child. She turns to her husband's family and is cast into the hands of scoundrels and bound to the life of an indentured servant.

Throughout her trials, Sarah managed to keep her faith and hope. She holds to her dream of freedom and marriage to Alex, the youg Dr she met whike in ghe service of her first master.

This book is beautifully written and full of many powerful messages. The first is faith in the midst of trials. Sarah always knew that God was mindful of her and she was not forgotten. The message of love flowed through the pages. Another message was that of the slave. Rita Gerlach described the degradation of being sold on an auctioning block. The lack of free will, you belong to a master and do not have a say in your circumstances.

This book is the third in a trilogy, but can be read as a stand alone book.  It's a clean read.

ABOUT RITA GERLACH

Rita Gerlach writes inspirational historical fiction with a romantic bent, with unique settings in both America and England. She lives with her husband and two sons in a historical town nestled along the Catoctin Mountains amid Civil War battlefields and Revolutionary War outposts in central Maryland.

Her latest book is Beyond the Valley.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK

Giveaway~  I have a hard copy for one winner who has a US mailing address.  See my giveaway policy in the sidebar.  It is in effect for this giveaway.  Use the rafflecopter form to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal - The Dragon Carnivale by Heidi Garrett with a Guest post & giveaway

Why Do I Write Fantasy? or You Never Know Who Might Show Up at Your Front Door

By Heidi Garrett

As long as I can remember, I’ve been obsessed with the truths that my physical senses cannot explain: the mystical things occurring on this planet. Writing fantastical stories is my testament to these other layers of reality.

There are many ways of looking at our world. Imagine sitting at home, perhaps in your living room. There’s a knock on the door. When you open it, a funny little woman is standing there. She is about half your height, and a plaid crimson kerchief—knotted under her hooked chin—covers her head. Her dress is sack-like over her square body. She’s wearing an apron that could use a good ironing and she’s carrying a battered brown suitcase that’s almost as big as she is.

“As long as you’re staring, a glass of water would be nice,” she says.

Despite her gruff manner, you sense something mysterious about this stranger, and to be honest, you’re dying to know more about her. When she crosses the threshold of your home, a strong wind slams the door behind her. You both jump. There hasn’t been a breeze all day. In fact, it’s sweltering and heat waves have been rising from the melting pavement for weeks.

When you offer it, she almost grabs the glass from your hand, and you can’t stop your staring—even though you know it’s rude—as she drinks in noisy gulps.

“What? You’ve never seen a spring faerie before?” she asks.

Before you can answer, she wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. “Guess not, there aren’t many of us left. And I haven’t been to the Mortal World, since…”

She stops. Her deeply etched face softens. Something like sorrow pools in her dark brown eyes. She waves her hand. “That’s not what I’m here to talk about.”

Your heart tugs. You want to pull her from that sad place. “What’s in your suitcase?”

She points to the table. “I’ll show you.”

The suitcase is filled with eyeglasses. There are so many. Some have square black frames, others have round wire frames; there are a few speckled frames with octagonal lenses. You spy a pair of purple ones.

She shoves a pair of thick black glasses into your hand. “Put these on. Tell me what you see.”

With the eyeglasses settled on the bridge of your nose, you can’t see anything but yourself. You blink. You can see your hands and feet, your legs and toes. But the spring faerie—if that’s really what she is—is just a blur. You pull them off. She trades them for a pair of wire rims. With these glasses you can see her and your home.

“What’s your name?” you ask.

“Flora.”

“Like flowers blooming.”

She nods and looks away with that whiff of sadness.

Again, there is something about her that pulls at your heart. You think of the miracle of spring after a long hard winter, and that she shouldn’t be sad—if she really is a spring faerie.

“But...you don’t have any wings,” you say.

She smoothes the wrinkles in her apron. “Not all faeries do.”

“But—”

She almost jerks the wire-rim spectacles from your nose. You reach for that purple pair. She doesn’t stop you. Now, you can see down the street; your eyes travel the highway. Your view elevates, as if you are a bird. Soon you see the entire city you live in. With each pair of glasses, you see the bigger world.

When Flora tucks the temple arms of a pair of red frames behind your ears, perspective zooms around you. It’s like the lens pulls you into outer space, and you can see the entire world and all the billions of people who live on Earth.

Your heart flutters in your chest; it’s a lot to take in.

“Now—” Flora hands you a pair of fuchsia glasses with tiny rhinestones embedded in the frames. “Try on these.”

When you put them on, you’re able to see beyond the physical entirety of the world into the things that you’ve always known exist, but since you can’t see, touch, smell, or hear them, sometimes you’ve doubted. But you’ll never doubt again, because now—with these special glasses—you can actually see the bonds of love that death can never sever, the strings of fate that wrap the brown paper package of all our lives with twine, the tide of time that alters us, even as we never change...

But most importantly, you’ve seen that you belong here, on this planet. And you know—without a shadow of a doubt—that everything fits. Including you.

“I don’t ever want to take these glasses off,” you say.

Flora is already cramming the rest of them back into her bag. “Then don’t.”

__________

The Queen of the Realm of Faerie is a fairy tale fantasy series that bridges the Mortal and Enchanted worlds. The main character, Melia, is an eighteen-year-old half-faerie, half-mortal. She lives in Illialei, a country in the Enchanted World, with her two sisters and their mother. Melia’s father has been exiled to the Mortal World, and her best friend is a pixie.

When the story opens in the first book, Melia is troubled by her dark moon visions, gossip she overhears about her parents at the local market, and the trauma of living among full-blooded faeries with wings—she doesn’t have any.

As the series unfolds, the historic and mystical forces that shape Melia’s life are revealed. Each step of her journey—to find the place where she belongs—alters her perceptions about herself, deepens her relationships with others, and enlarges her world view.

In The Dragon Carnivale, book 3 of The Queen of the Realm of Faerie, energies in the Enchanted World are shifting and new alliances are forming; the Battle of Dark and Light has begun. Melia is desperate to make things right with Ryder, the young priest from Idonne, but first she must warn the half-bloods in the Mortal World that Umbra is coming for them, and face the powerful Dragonwitch and her spectacular Dragon Carnivale.

The first two books in the series: Nandana’s Mark and The Flower of Isbelline are currently available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, and Smashwords. Nandana’s Mark is free.

The Dragon Carnivale is scheduled for a June 18, 2013, release.

Sign-up for Heidi Garrett’s new release email List and receive a lavender and gold Half-Faerie bracelet while supplies last…because you’re half faerie, too, right? http://heidigwrites.blogspot.com/p/heidi-garrets-new-releases.html

Author Bio

Heidi Garrett is the author of The Queen of the Realm of Faerie series. Her personal message to all her readers is:

 

Once upon a time, you lived in an enchanted world, too…

There is magic in all our lives; sometimes we need to look through different eyes to see it.

The Queen of the Realm of Faerie includes many strong female characters within an intricate fantasy land. It is also a fairy tale fantasy.

The first book, Nandana’s Mark, is one of those free ebooks; the second book, The Flower of Isbelline, is now available; and the third book, The Dragon Carnivale, will be released in June 2013.

The series was inspired by the 15th century French fairy tale, Melusine.

Heidi's hope is that when you read her books, you will rediscover the enchantment in your own life.

She currently resides in eastern Washington with her husband and their two cats. So far, she loves the snow. Being from the South, she finds it magical.

Learn more about Heidi and enjoy her stream-of-consciousness reading journal, Eating Magic, at: www.heidigwrites.blogspot.com.

If you want to say hello, give her a shout out on Twitter at @heidigwrites or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/heidigwrites.

Book Links

Amazon * Barnes & Noble *  iBooks *  Kobo * Smashwords

Heidi is offering a giveaway of a $25.00 American Express Card.  Use the rafflecopter form to enter.

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