The Chronicles of Eledon by Joni Parker

Book Description:
2016 Book Excellence Award Finalist!
After a thousand years, Lady Alexin (Alex) Dumwalt breaks the spell around Seaward Isle, a ring of storms so powerful no one could leave the island. She joins the exodus of Elves, Dwarves, and mortals to Eledon, the World of the Elves on the other side of the entry point. But Alex faces a difficult decision. Her Water Elf grandmother expects her to stay in Eledon, but Alex was born and raised as a mortal. Her mixed blood, Elf and mortal, means that she must choose between staying in Eledon or following the other mortals who will soon leave for the mortal world through a special entry point created for them. What will she do?

My Thoughts:
I got completely caught up in this book.  Alex is the first in years to be able to break the storms that have kept everyone on the Seaward Isle for thousands of years. With that a mass escape is plotted and Alex is the focal point.  She is half elf and half human, and used to the mortal side not the elf. There are a lot of characters to keep straight but it is a good first book in the series. The isle isn't on any maps and there is a time discrepancy that intrigued me completely.
There is a lot in the book and the dilemma Alex faces is going on as an elf and living in Eledon with her grandmother and more of the elven kind or going to the mortal world.  Alex was born on the Seaward Isle so she has never known either world. Good book and great start to a promising series.  I cannot wait to read the next one.
It was a solid 4/5 for me.


Book Description:
The second installment of The Chronicles of Eledon finds Lady Alexin in Avalon, seat of King Arthur’s throne. The mortal world is far from what she’d imagined, and the mortals are less than hospitable. Trouble abounds when Alex is accused of being the “Blue Witch” and sentenced to die for treason. In addition, the mysterious death of one of Arthur’s courtiers by seemingly magical means complicates her situation. Back in Eledon, trouble is brewing. Civil unrest and the threat of war demands Alex’s presence to assume her responsibilities as Keeper of the Keys for the Council of Elders. Only too glad to escape the noose, Alex executes a series of quests to prove her abilities to handle the keys and their strange magic. But can she save the Elves from Civil War? And commute her own death sentence by finding the Holy Grail?



My Thoughts:
After reading Spell Breaker, I jumped right into this one and wasn't disappointed.  Alex is the keepr of keys.  She is now in the mortal world and searching for the Holy Grail.  There are a LOT of issues along the way, not the least of which is her being accused of being the Blue Witch. I think since this is the second in the series, it is better to have read the first but you could likely read it as a stand alone.
Alex really does have a lot on her plate and the mortal world isn't anything like she expected. There are issues back in Eledon as well that Alex is the center of. Plenty of action, questions you need answered NOW will keep you reading and not wanting to put the book down at all.  I cannot wait for what the author has in store for Alex next.
It was a 4/5 for me.
Book Description:
Lady Alexin, Eledon's Keeper of the Keys must continue to prove her powers when her grandmother, Lady Lestin and her friend, Lady Opaline of the Gossamer Elves are kidnapped by rebels and held for ransom. Alex attempts a daring rescue, only to discover that there is far more to this plot that she immediately suspected and the betrayal extends to the highest levels of the High Council of Elders.Threatened by rebel factions, suspected by Council members and under attack by deadly spiders, the young warrior has only her wits, her fighting skills and the powers of the Keys to help her. But will they be enough to save them all?

My Thoughts:
I was geared up and ready for this one as soon as I put the previous book down. (I would suggest reading the first two before diving into this one) It starts out with action and really doesn't let up. Alex's elven grandmother and a friend are kidnapped by rebels. Of course, Alex is determined to find and save them but she gets into more than she expected. It isn't just the rebel group that she has to contend with but Council as well.  Still Alex is up to the challenges they put in front of her.
I'm really enjoying watching Lady Alexin (Alex) grow and change as a character.  There is a dramatic difference in her from the first book to now and I loved seeing it happen. The keys are 'key' to a lot of her success and changes so they really are a part of her identity. The cover of this book almost got me with the creepy spiders but it really is pretty.  
Another 4/5, I cannot wait to read the last book in the series and have some questions answered.

Book Description:
In the final installment of the critically acclaimed series, The Chronicles of Eledon, Lady Alexin battles a band of mortal wizards known as the Octagon, discovers the mysteries of some legendary diamond eggs and finally comes into her true powers gifted to her by her conquests and the gifts of her Titan ancestors. Tasked with the seemingly impossible as the Keeper of Eledon's Keys, she must find a way to restore the entry points to Seaward Isle or see its inhabitants face certain destruction as the whole of Eledon's energy grid threatens to fall apart.

My Thoughts:
I'm going to start with that I enjoyed this series start to finish and literally read them back to back, which is how I would suggest reading for the best grasp of the overall story.  The author doesn't skrimp on the stories, they are all 'long' books but so worth the read.  As the last in the series, there is a lot going on and the author does a great job of balancing it to keep you interested and not overwhelmed. 
Alex's ability to always take on what no one thinks she can handle and come out on top is maybe my favorite quality. She is young and a lot of times underestimated but she also has some super powerful enemies. Mortal and Elven she also has Titan, Alex is a force all her own.
It was a 5/5 for me.  I think this was my favorite of all the stories in the series. 

Thank you to the author for the review copies of these books (via PUYB).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

If I'm Found by Terri Blackstock

Book Description

Is Dylan hunting Casey to prosecute her or protect her?

Casey Cox is still on the run, fleeing prosecution for a murder she didn’t commit. Dylan Roberts—her most relentless pursuer—is still on her trail, but his secret emails insist that he knows the truth and wants to help her. He’s let her escape before when he had her in his grasp, but trust doesn’t come easily.

As Casey works to collect evidence about the real murderers, she stumbles on another unbearable injustice: an abused child and a suicidal man who’s also been falsely accused. Casey risks her own safety to right this wrong and protect the little girl from her tormenters. But doing so is risky and just may result in her capture—and if she’s captured, she has no doubt she’ll be murdered before she ever steps foot in a jail.

In this riveting sequel to the USA Today bestseller If I Run, evil lurks, drawing Casey out of the shadows . . . but there is light shining in the darkness. Is Dylan a provision from the God who loves her, or another heartache yet to happen?

My Thoughts:
I was so very excited to get this book.  Second in the series and I would say you need to read If I Run before trying this one just so you know what all is going on.  Casey is still on the run, Dylan is still trying to find her but also help her.  Casey is a sweet soul and puts herself in danger to help others and I absolutely love that.
There are some hard issues faced in the book and the author does a great job with them.  I wasn't sure after reading the blurb but I never should have doubted her! This isn't a book you will start and want to put down.  It pulls you in and you HAVE to know what is going to happen next.  I cannot wait for the third book.
It was a 5/5 for me.

Thank you to BookLook for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100%  mine.

Storm Front by Susan May Warren

Description

A tornado has destroyed a small Minnesota community and among the missing are not only a group of students but PEAK Rescue team leader Chet King. Ty Remington will stop at nothing to rescue his mentor, not even when the girl he loved--and lost--walks back into his life. But Brette needs his help more than he knows, despite her stubborn determination to push him away. And when he gets a second chance, loving her just might cost him more than he can imagine.

A blogger for Vortex Storm Chasers, Brette Arnold didn't expect her adventures to land her in the same place as Ty, the guy who she walked--no, ran--from over a year ago. She had her reasons--good ones. The kind that tell her that falling for him again would only lead to heartache. But Ty isn't the kind of man to give up--not on the missing students, or on her.

Life and love hang in the balance in Susan May Warren's breathless story of holding on to hope during a deadly summer of storms.

My Thoughts:
Love these books by Susan May Warren!  This one mainly focuses on PEAK member Ty and the girl that left him high and dry, Brette.  Their relationship was complicated.  Both wanted it but Brette didn't want him dragged into all of her issues.  I did like that Brette wanted to make her own way but she took it to the extreme.  Ty took it to the other extreme of meddling.
The story kept up with the other couples and their attmept to bring Ian's niece home so she can be safe.  Another couple had to decide what was more important fame/fortune or family, or perhaps even work a way to have it all!  There was action and I loved that Ty didn't give up even when there were obviously people who didn't belive in him.
It was a 5/5 for me.  I love catching up with the characters and seeing their stories unfold.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book (via netgalley).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review adnd the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

To Claim Her Heart by Jodie Wolfe

About the Book

Title: To Claim Her Heart  
Author: Jodie Wolfe  
Release Date: May 14, 2018  
Genre: Historical Romance

In 1893, on the eve of the great race for land, Benjamin David prays for God to guide him to his ‘Promised Land’. Finding property and preaching to the lost are his only ways of honoring his deceased fiancee, but he didn’t count on Elmer (Elsie) Smith claiming the same plot and refusing to leave. Not only is she a burr in his side, but she is full of the homesteading know-how he sadly lacks. Obtaining a claim in the Cherokee Strip Land Run is Elsie Smith’s only hope for survival, but not just any plot will do. She has a specific one in mind. The plot’s not only a way to honor her pa and his life, but also to provide a livelihood for herself. Elsie’s willing to do whatever it takes to get that piece of property, and she determined to keep it, but she wasn’t planning on a kind, handsome preacher standing in her way. Her bitterness is what protects her, and she has not intentions of allowing that preacher to lay claim to her land … or her heart.

My Thoughts:

I truly enjoyed this book.  Elsie is a spitfire and I just loved her.  I didn't necessarily

agree with everything she did but she was a great character.  Benjamin, I absolutely

loved!  He was such a sweetheart and tried his best to do what God wanted him

to do.  The loving your neighbor part may have been gradual but it was there :) 

The nighbors overall were great.  I loved the one part with Benjamin and John, it

made me giggle just a bit.  The other neighbors were wonderful examples of how

we should treat each other.  I completely enjoyed watching Elsie grow and change

as a character.  Benjamin changed too but Elsie's change was the biggest.

It was a 5/5.  I really enjoyed it and loved the characters!

Thank you to the author for the review copy (via Celebrate Lit).  I received this book in exchange

for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

About the Author

Jodie Wolfe got bitten by the writing bug as a young girl after reading and watching Little House on the Prairie. She creates novels where hope and quirky meet. The power of story to influence lives and change hearts is what motivates her to weave tales that tell of the Savior’s faithfulness and forgiveness. When not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, walking, and being a Grammie. Learn more at www.jodiewolfe.com.

Guest Post from Jodie Wolfe

The Heart of a Book

I think there’s always a little bit of the author in each book they write, but sometimes something deeper and very close to the author is wrapped up in the pages of a story. That’s the case for To Claim Her Heart. This is the tale that my mother-in-law always wanted me to write. She was so proud of her family heritage and almost twenty years ago, she was anxious to share it with me. We visited Oklahoma where several of her relatives had staked claims in the last great race for land in our country – the Cherokee Strip Land Run of 1893. This September will mark the 125th anniversary of the land race. While it saddens me that my dear mother-in-law never lived long enough to see this story in print, I’m thankful that she shared her rich heritage with me. In To Claim Her Heart I was able to mention a recipe passed down through her family for prune cake. I also made sure the heroine had a Rose of Sharon quilt that was given to her. My mother-in-law gave me this quilt dating back as early as 1834 when it was stitched by my husband’s great, great, great, great grandmother. It’s been passed down to the oldest daughter for generations. But, I think one of my favorite memories is the one that concerns outlaws and how my husband’s great, great, great grandmother dealt with them. To find out more about this actual encounter, you’ll have to read To Claim Her Heart. I hope your heart will be as touched by these stories as mine was when my mother-in-law shared them. Enjoy!

Blog Stops

Carpe Diem, June 19

Texas Book-aholic, June 19

Blossoms and Blessings, June 20

Remembrancy, June 20

Novels corner, June 21

Luv’N Lambert Life, June 21

Ashley’s Bookshelf, June 22

Connie’s History Classroom, June 22

Among the Reads, June 23

Margaret Kazmierczak, June 23 (Interview)

History, Mystery & Faith, June 24

Reading is my Super Power, June 24 (Interview)

Vicky Sluiter, June 25

Two Points of Interest, June 26

proud to be an autism mom, June 26

Splashes of Joy, June 27

Bibliophile Reviews, June 27

A Baker’s Perspective, June 28

Pause for Tales, June 29

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 29

Christian Author, J.E.Grace, June 30

Red Headed Book Lady, June 30

Janices book reviews, July 1

Jeanette’s Thoughts, July 1

Bigreadersite, July 2

Godly Book Reviews, July 2

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jodie is giving away a grand prize of a Kindle Fire!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/cf88/to-claim-her-heart-celebration-tour

Seraphina's Revolution Cover Reveal

Title: Seraphina’s Revolution

Author: Sheena Hutchinson

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Cover Designer: Cover Me, Darling

Hosted by: Lady Amber's PR

Blurb: Seraphina Cross had always wished for the life she’d always dreamed of. One must be careful what they wish for. Unfortunately, she’s gotten all she’s ever dreamed of and more.

Seraphina has gone head to head with Lucifer and his minions. Now, she’s feeling the casualties of siding against him. All her intense power is useless against grief and remorse. Struggling to keep her emotions in check, Nate once again comes to her rescue to keep her head above water. Keeping her darkness at bay, he resumes his position as the one pillar of strength in Seraphina’s life.

But, what happens when he too disappears?

Seraphina’s life is once again thrown into a whirlwind of chaos. As the darkness within her returns, new friends appear and an old friend returns home. Seraphina must figure out who can be trusted. On top of everything, those pesky dreams return. But, what she sees cannot be unseen. Will Seraphina be strong enough to resist temptation? Can she keep her Demons under control long enough to save the world or will it define her?

The time has come. Seraphina’s Revolution is here. Alliances will be forged. Sacrifices must be made. In the fight between good and evil—there are no more rules. This is war.

Will her dreams turn out to be her salvation or her damnation?

Sheena is a born and raised New Yorker, even her writing can’t hide her hard sarcasm. She claims destiny lead her to writing again. She constantly strives to be a positive role model and write stories that empower and inspire.  

Sheena always roots for the underdog, believes in love at first sight, and that everyone should have their happily ever after. While God is currently writing her love story she continues to put all her time into her writing as she is constantly getting new inspiration.

For more on Sheena and her books visit her website www.SheenaHutchinson.com.

Author Links: Web: www.SheenaHutchinson.com Facebook: www.Facebook.com/TheSeraphinaSeries Twitter: www.Twitter.com/Sheena_Hutch Goodreads: www.Goodreads.com/SheenaHutch Instagram: www.Instagram.com/Author_Shea Amazon: http://amzn.to/2kEQiXa

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/1QLcn

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sheena-hutchinson

Buy Links: Seraphina’s Awakening: http://amzn.to/2ys7LXV

Seraphina’s Initiation: http://amzn.to/2m17pTg

Seraphina’s Vengeance: http://amzn.to/2vs7qVg

Awakening Dreamers' Realm One by Karen Arnpriester

About the Book:

Title: AWAKENING: DREAMER’S REALM ONE
Author: Karen Arnpriester
Publisher: Createspace
Pages: 344
Genre: Christian Fantasy

BOOK BLURB:

The horror of her sister's abduction and Lucinda's guilt manifest into years of acute insomnia. She appears to be miraculously healed when she participates in a test program that provides restful sleep but awakens a new dream realm ... an alternative existence where Lucinda can create and manipulate any fantasy inspired by her imagination. 

Lucinda's new realm is shattered by a dark evil that lurks there. Evil that is not confined to nightmares, but a sinister foe that also hunts for victims in the real world. 

Lucinda's discarded spiritual beliefs resurface and prompt her to begin a perilous journey against this very real threat; a heartless creature that destroys innocent lives. The dream realm, spiritual domain and Lucinda's physical reality integrate and twist together as Lucinda rediscovers her faith and confronts the monster that threatens her very life and those she loves.

My Thoughts:
I wasn't sure what I was expecting with this book, but it wasn't this.  Lucinda's dreams are a fantasy world for her to escape real life and I was entertained from the start.  I wasn't expecting the story to go as dark as it did, but the author did a good job with it. At the first I thought it was just going to be a steady read but it really picked up at the midway/end and made it to where I didn't want to put the book down.
The author did such a good job with her imagery that you could read and just 'see' a picture being painted before you.  There is a mix of fantasy, suspense, thriller, romance and more wrapped up in this story. I really did enjoy the book and was pleasantly surprised several times throughout!
It was a 4/5 for me.  I saw there is a sequel already that I look forward to reading.

Thank you to the author for the review copy of this book (via PUYB).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Order Your Copy Here:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Book Excerpt:

Lucinda woke to a serenade of singing birds. She was lying on her back in soft grass, facing a sky filled
with clouds and each was a shape she recognized. There was an elephant, a pirate ship and a smiling
face just above her. She giggled with delight as the childhood memories of searching the clouds for
shapes with her little sister flooded in. The sky was brilliant blue directly in front of her, but when she
turned her head to the sides, she could see deeper into the sky. The blue blended to a vibrant purple,
filled with stars and swirling galaxies. She didn’t understand how she could see the layers of the
atmosphere, but she didn’t care. Lucinda sat up and looked around her. This place she found herself in
was beautiful and shimmered with light. It was as if an opalescent sheen had been applied to all
surfaces.

When she stood up, she realized that she was next to the center hub of stone walkways, fanning out like
legs of an octopus. She stepped onto one of the walkways and viewed her surroundings. The landscape
was magical in every direction. She suddenly heard a scraping sound behind her and turned to see a
large ostrich with a peacock tail waddling towards her, positioning its face right in hers. The bird’s face
was tan with huge turquoise eyes framed in lush black eyelashes. The tan feathers blended into shades
of lavender and sky blue, which then blended into deep jewel tones of the peacock. Lucinda began to
feel uncomfortable with the intensity of the bird’s penetrating stare into her eyes.

“You are in my way, madam, please get out of the flow of traffic if you are going to dally about.” the
bird disdainfully said with a British accent. He could have moved around her, but it was clear that he
expected her to give him the right-of-way.

Lucinda gasped in shock when she realized that the bird could talk. She stepped to the right side of the
pathway and allowed the “peatrich,” her name for the mash-up of creatures, to continue past her,
watching the luxurious mixture of jewel tones in the plumage that dragged behind the bird. Once the
intimidating peatrich was a safe distance away, she allowed herself to relax and actually laughed. She
had always loved the face of an ostrich, especially the soulful eyes, and the beauty of the male
peacock’s tail was one of nature’s breathtaking displays. Had her imagination blended these two
creatures into one for her delight? she thought to herself. The peatrich turned and faced Lucinda,
extending his tail plumage into a massive fan. He then humpfed at her, appearing to show distain for
her presumption that she had created him, as if he could read her mind. He turned away and strutted
down the path, with his fully extended tail swaying behind him.

Lucinda considered which path to take, and decided not to follow the peatrich, as he appeared to be
rather grumpy and she didn’t want to aggravate him. She chose the path to her immediate left, which
led to a village off in the distance. It felt like she traveled for hours to reach the gathering of buildings
that were clearly from the Renaissance period. The quaint homes were made of stone with thatched
roofs, and cobblestone paths ribboned throughout the buildings. The trees were covered in clusters of
delicate lavender and yellow flowers, as well as dusty green moss that dangled from the branches.
Lucinda was startled to see dragons flying above the village, effortlessly gliding above the treetops,
seemingly unaware of her presence … at first.

As she stepped into the village square, she saw a large shadow covering her, and when she looked up, a
magnificent ebony dragon hovered above her. The dragon had positioned his head so that one bright
yellow eye could watch her every move. Lucinda felt her heart clench up and her breathing became
rapid and panicked. She could not outrun his flames if he decided to incinerate her.

The village appeared to be uninhabited and the understanding that no one could save her created bile
that churned in her stomach. The dragon appeared to give her a knowing leer and she saw his belly
begin to glow until it was bright red with leathery veins of ebony running through the hot flesh. It
reminded her of pictures she had seen of glowing lava beneath a black cracking charcoal surface.
Lucinda dropped down into a crouch and wrapped herself into a ball, waiting for the searing heat to
melt her to the bone.

“Ebony, desist or I shall thwart you,” a deep male voice suddenly bellowed out.

Lucinda looked up in the direction of the voice and saw a knight dressed in gold armor coming toward
her. He shook his massive jeweled sword threateningly at the dragon that hesitated in his attack,
apparently weighing his choices and the possible outcomes. The dragon slowly rose; the red fire in his
belly cooling into glowing embers.

“Henceforth, she is mine. Any harm comes to this wench and thou shalt die,” the knight threatened with
authority.

A rush of gratitude and relief swept over Lucinda.  She would not die by flames that would devour her
flesh.

The knight reached down his hand and pulled Lucinda to her feet. He placed his sword in his scabbard
and then removed his helmet. The knight was tall with long blonde hair blowing in the same breeze that
also caressed her skin. Her eyes scanned his beautiful face and she knew him, she had history with this
man, and she felt her face flush and become a deep shade of crimson when he grinned at her with
impossibly white, perfect teeth. He was her secret heartthrob for as long as she could remember … the
supermodel Fabio. She felt a wave of embarrassment and lust sweep over her.

The knight took her hand and pressed his full, warm lips against her skin. She felt the tingles of
excitement begin to build within her. After his enticing kiss, he lifted her hand up to his shoulder, which
pulled her up against him. She could see the intricate carvings on his gold armor, scrolls and vines
twisting and weaving over the surface. Her eyes focused on his chest and there was an etched heart
formed with vines and flowers. In the center of the heart was her name, Lucinda, clearly engraved in
beautiful script lettering. He was hers and she was his. She slid her tongue over her lips to moisten
them, and then she lifted her face to accept the kiss that she knew was awaiting her. She closed her eyes
and anticipated the warm softness of his desire.

WAHHH, WAHHH, WAHHH blasted into her conscious mind through her ears as Fabio burst into a
showering of gold particles. Lucinda ran from the village, onto the path that had led her to her secret
love, trying to locate the source of the obnoxious sound that interrupted her interlude with Sir Fabio.
She found herself at the hub of paths. How could that be? It had taken her hours to get to the village,
and only moments to return to the hub. Again she heard WAHHH, WAHHH, WAHHH as her eyes
fluttered open.

~

Lucinda was lying on her back staring at the ceiling fan that spun in her bedroom. It took her a few
moments to realize that she had actually been dreaming. Lucinda wrapped her arms around herself and
squealed with delight.  It had worked, the doctor was right. Not only had she slept, she had dreamed, a
wonderfully delicious dream that was too quickly interrupted by her alarm.

About the Author

Karen Slimick Arnpriester (October 1953) was born in Alton, Illinois and moved to California when
she was eight. Karen has owned her own graphic art business for twenty years. Anessia's Quest is her
first book. Her second book is titled Raider's Vendetta. Her new release, Slimy, is a non-fiction account
of her years as a bullied and isolated child.

Please visit Karen's website karenskoncepts.com. You will find pages for both books with synopsis,
reviews and first twelve chapters as free download. Karen's blog page "My Thoughts" is also available
at her site.

http://www.facebook.com/karen.slimickarnpriester
https://twitter.com/KarenArnpriester