Betraying Ever After by Kelly Martin (5 stars)

About Betraying Ever After

The first time Vaughan Wexley, Earl of Brighton, eyes the blonde beauty from atop the balcony, he is taken. Once he confronts her, he finds himself in love. The mysterious woman seems out of place in the regular sea of husband nabbing debutantes. She posses a gentle spirit, wide-eyed innocence, and-- his favorite quality-- cascading golden waves around her elegant shoulders. In need of a wife of noble blood, Vaughan believes his search has ended.

Emma Hartwell's only mission at the ball is to deliver a message to the host from her employer. In and out. That's the plan until she sees beautiful sights she's only dreamed of and hears wonderful music that touches her soul. Dressed up as a noble woman by the young housemaid Elizabeth and knowing she'll never get this opportunity again, Emma lingers longer than she intended. Her amazement with the grandeur allows the devilishly handsome Lord Brighton to steal her attention and sweep her off her feet. He is a charming man who is obviously taken with her. Emma's heart doesn't stand a chance. If only she could tell him the truth.

An earl in need of an honorable wife.

A servant in love with a man she can't have.

An evil plan that was set in motion years ago coming to fruition.

Can love conquer betrayal? Or will Emma's fairytale end at midnight?

A Cinderella re-telling.

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Review

Emma Hartwell is being held responsible for a debt that is not hers, by a madman who lives for a long-planned revenge. After a simple mission for him, she runs into Vaughan. They are drawn to each other immediately, but neither understands the pawns they play in a wicked game.

Who doesn't love a fairy tale? Emma is a great character. She's caught in a situation beyond her control, but she's trying to make the best out of it. She's not off sulking in a corner and having a pity party. 

Vaughan is a man used to getting what he wants. Emma is the first time there's an obstacle in his way. At first, he's really taken aback, but ultimately he doesn't hesitate to follow his heart.

I was rooting for them from the moment they first spoke to one another. And now I can't wait to read The Beast of Ravenston. There are a few characters from this book that will be featured, and I'm eager to find out what happens.

This is a wonderful read anytime of year, but especially in the summer. It's charming and emotional, and you won't be able to put it down.

Rating: 5 stars

About the Author
(from Goodreads)

Kelly Martin is the bestselling author of contemporary, historical, and YA romance. She has been married for over ten years and has three rowdy, angelic daughters. When Kelly isn't writing, she loves watching horror gamers on YouTube, even though she is a huge wimp, and drinking white chocolate mochas.

You can find her at...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KellyMartinA...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/martieKay
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/KMbooks/
Tumblr: http://martiekay.tumblr.com/

Markaza by Jo Michaels (5 stars)

About Markaza
(Mystic, Book 6)

Markaza Turner isn't your average seventeen-year-old. She can see the future, the past, and has an eerie propensity for getting people to do things.

But what she sees is the obliteration of mankind. Worse, her visions tell her it's gonna happen on her eighteenth birthday, December 21, 2012.

All six of the ladies forming the elite group, known as WSTW, are finally together under one roof. Bronya, Lily, Shelia, Melody, Coralie, and Markaza must now figure out how to use their strange powers before an evil being rises from the ground in Central Park and destroys the world.

But Markaza's own past is dark and riddled with secrets she'll need to unearth and come to terms with before she can go to war.

In this exciting finale of the Mystic series, the women come face-to-face with a truth that will change their lives forever.

Our fate is in their hands.

Purchase Links

Amazon

Review

Markaza is a young woman with a heavy burden: her visions are predicting the end of the world. She's assembled a team of five women with special powers (Women Save the World -- WSTW). Still, there are no guarantees. Can they defeat evil? And, if they do, what losses will they suffer?

In addition to fighting extreme evil, Markaza has to face and overcome the demons of her past. So do the other women. It's an emotional and heart-breaking journey. Rarely does an author handle action as well as emotion, but Jo Michaels is an expert at it.

For most of the novel, either my hands were clenched in reaction to the intensity of action or my heart was tightening in reaction to the emotions. Then, in addition, there characters are so witty and engaging. I laughed out loud several times.

At the heart of this book, there is an amazing group of women who work together to overcome their past and work toward a future. They all carry scars, but they don't let them define who they will be. It's empowering, exciting, and entertaining. 

And don't worry. You can read this as a stand-alone. But, odds are, you'll want to go back and read about the other ladies because you'll fall in love with them.

Add this to your must-read list. 

Rating: 5 stars

About the Author
(from Jo's Amazon Author Page)

Jo Michaels is a writer who's really had a taste of life. She's lived in Louisiana, Tennessee, and Georgia; but visited states from coast to coast. Michaels, a high-school dropout, put herself through college while her husband was deployed to Iraq and still managed to come out on the other side with all five of her children still breathing. On top of that wondrous feat, she managed to graduate Summa Cum Laude. After her fourteen year marriage ended cataclysmically, she took to the keys to fulfill her dream of becoming a writer. Using the degree she obtained in school, Jo set out with tools in her belt not many writers possess: a strong design eye, the skills necessary to format her books, and the ability to use her artistic talents to create stunning covers.

Now, Michaels writes full-time in her garage while imbibing copious amounts of coffee to keep her motor running from son up to son down (and daughter, too). Her inspiration for her books comes from relationships, life, friends, passion, and her own incredible imagination. A fight for achieving her dream (along with her super duper boyfriend) is what drags her out of bed every morning to do what she does best: spin tales laced with high-octane emotion for readers worldwide.

You can find out more about Jo on Twitter, her website, her blog, andFacebook. Also, find out more about her indie author services at Indie Books Gone Wild.

Note: I was privileged to edit this book. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.

Matriarch by Shauna Kelley (5 stars)

About Matriarch
Vetala Chronicles, Book 2

(from Goodreads)

Lenora Scheid finally seemed to have built a life for herself. After more than a century of traveling the earth to visit scenes of the dead and dying, life was finally beginning… 

At long last, she discovered that she was Vetala, a member of a secret race of not-exactly-vampires but not-quite humans. She saved Michael, her naliyah and soul mate, from her father, a man bent on the destruction of humanity. She reunited with her mother, a woman she hadn't seen in more than a century. 

But Lenora’s idyllic peace lasts only a moment as she realizes that her time with Michael has left him fighting for his life. To save him, she must square off against her father and the Matriarch, an ancient organizations that rules over her kind. The quest to save Michael seems to uncover more secrets than answers. 

With her mother and some new friends by her side, Lenora learns more about what it means to be Vetala, and what it is going to take to save her family, and humanity, from the man who raised her. 

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Review

Poor Lenora. After everything she went through in book one (see link to my review below), her life only gets more complicated. She must determine who to trust, and nothing is simple. Even her love for Michael, her naliyah and soul mate.

In a race to save Michael's life, she must travel the world and ultimately face her father. Just as important, she must figure out who's telling the truth... or at least, which truth will save them.

LOVE this book. Too many times, a second book is filler in a series, or worse, a letdown. This is neither. Instead, it's a fast-paced, series-building, didn't-see-it-coming adventure. But it's not just action. There's a lot of emotion and mind-play. Lenora is torn in so many directions, especially with Michael. During one highly emotional scene between the two loves, I cried from the raw intensity of it. 

Most of all, I love Lenora as a character. She's determined, yet has a huge heart. Sometimes the heroine is strong until it comes to a relationship, and then she's a big pile of goo. Not Lenora. She loves intensely, but she's not going to do it one-sided. And I adore that about her.

Plus, this series is a truly unique paranormal story with a memorable character you'll love to root for. I highly recommend!

Rating: 5 stars

Check out my 5-star review of Book 1, Naliyah, here.

About the Author
(from Amazon Author Central)

Shauna Kelley lives near Baltimore, Maryland with her husband and beloved mutts. Dedicated aunt, adventurous baker, and action movie fanatic, she spends her days writing, teaching, and crocheting.

Kelley's first novel, Max and Menna, was a ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Award finalist for Young Adult Fiction in 2010. Naliyah is her third novel.

Kelley delights in the opportunity to interact with readers. Find her online at her blog or on Facebook.

Note: I was a beta reader for this novel (lucky me!). A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.

Never Forgotten by Kelly Risser (4.5 stars)

About Never Forgotten

One minute Meara Quinn is making plans for the summer before her senior year. The next she finds out that her mother's cancer has returned and they're moving away from the only home she's ever known. Every day becomes a struggle as Meara tries to cope with her mother's illness while being forced to move to another country to live with grandparents who are strangers. 

Add weird visions of a father who was absent her entire life and top it all off with one whopping secret that everyone seems bent on keeping from her, and Meara has the perfect ingredients for a major melt down. The only things keeping her from coming unglued are some new friends and Evan—the son of her mother's childhood friend—who seems to know Meara almost better than she knows herself. 

Together with Evan and her friends, Meara embarks on a new journey to unlock the secrets that will not only tell Meara who she is, but what she is.

Add to Goodreads

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Review

Life can change with only a moment's notice. Meara Quinn never knew her father, but she has a great mother and best friend. Then, Meara's mother finds out she has cancer and everything changes. They will be moving to Canada to live with grandparents she doesn't know so her mom can face the battle of her life. Then, Meara starts having unsettling visions of her father.

It doesn't take long for her to make some new friends and meet Evan, with whom she shares an immediate connection. But the visions of her father get more intense, causing her to question many things about her life. Then, a new friend brings even more intrigue.

Will she be able to solve the mystery, and how will it affect her life?

Wow! It's rare to find a story that stirs emotions and stimulates the imagination. Since this is book one, there are a lot more questions than answers, but I found myself captivated and very curious to find out more about Meara and her father. In addition, there's a sweet romance brewing between Evan and Meara, although I couldn't help but have some suspicions about him.

Beyond the book's creativity and emotion, I also appreciated the teen scene. Kelly Risser does an amazing job of teen-speak and building relationships without sacrificing the adult characters. My heart went out to Maera's mother, not just her struggle with cancer and facing death, but her strength to protect her daughter no matter what.

Book two is up next in my to-be-read queue, and I can't wait. Oh, and I just found out book three will debut in May. So excited!

Rating: 4.5 stars

About the Author

Becoming a published author is a lifetime dream come true. As a child, I subjected friends and family to my "KellyMark" greeting cards ("When you care enough to make the very best."), poetry, homemade magazines, and short stories. In high school, my short story, "If Only to Escape" was published in the local paper, and I won a writing contest for my children's story, "Televisella." In college, my creative writing tapered off, but I still managed to write the occasional review for The Marquette University Tribune. Once I graduated, I mixed creative writing with business writing, and I've held positions in Advertising, Marketing, and Instructional Design/eLearning Development.

Today, I am busy writing the next book in Meara's story. When I'm not writing, I'm reading, hanging out with my husband and two kids, or playing with our Whoodle puppy.

Drop me a line. I'd love to hear from you!

Find out more: Facebook, Twitter, and website.

The Indie Author Guide: A Self-Publisher's Toolbox by Heather Hildenbrand (4 stars)

About The Indie Author Guide: A Self-Publisher's Toolbox
(from Goodreads)

"The Indie Guide is a must read for new writers, or writers that are still just bumping their heads in frustration with the business! Hildenbrand knows what you need and gives it to you, both barrels!" –Misty Provencher, Author of the Cornerstone Series 

“Breaking into the writing industry can be a scary process, but Heather's Indie Guide provides you with a plethora of knowledge to make the leap a little less intimidating. With step by step instructions and suggestions on where to go no matter where you are on your journey, the Indie Guide can be your road map to creating an amazing opportunity for yourself.” –Megan Curd, Author of Steel Lily 

Whether you’re an aspiring author or have been published for a year, this guide is full of information, links, and support sites that can help increase sales and streamline your business as a self-published author. This guide is not like other self-help books on publishing. It includes very specific how-to instructions along with a timeline so you also know when to implement each item. If you’re looking for vague instructions or easy banter, this guide is NOT for you. If you need a little sarcastic humor and someone in your ear telling you to get off your butt and make your dream happen, this IS the guide for you! 
What’s inside: 
–An extensive list of links to editors, cover artists, formatters, and bloggers is included. 
–Marketing, blog tours, release day blitzes 
–Formatting, cover art and artists for hire, editors, what to ask when hiring out 
–Garnering reviews, how and where to meet bloggers 
–Where to find review groups, beta readers, critique partners 
–Branding, blogging, and social media 
–Time management, daily goals, sales strategies, what works, what doesn’t. 
All of this and more is included in this hold-your-hand-style guide.

Add it on Goodreads

Buy it on Amazon

Review

As an indie-published author myself, I admire Heather Hildenbrand's success and achievements. When I saw she had an author guide, I jumped at the chance to buy it. 

For new authors, this is a must-have. This is the type of guide that can save you years of trial and error--trust me, I fiddled around until I learned it and wish I would've had this kind of resource. The section about formatting is essential for new authors as well as information on how to plan out your marketing scheme.

For more experienced authors, there are still some good tidbits here. It's always great to have trustworthy and useful websites at hand. Not only are these listed in the book, but there is a convenient guide at the end. Plus, there's information on iBooks, an outlet I haven't tried yet, and advice about giveaways, pricing, and newsletters.

All in all, this is an excellent resource guide to have around: essential for newbies and helpful for those with more experience. My fingers are crossed for a book two with the next level of tools.

Rating: 4 stars

About Heather Hildenbrand

Heather Hildenbrand is the YA and NA author of more than eight novels including the bestselling Dirty Blood series. She is a co-founder of Accendo Press, a collaborative publishing effort dedicated to publishing stories that ignite the imagination, a fiction author, and the owner of Phoenix, an author consultant and coaching company that provides support and information for new and experienced self-published authors as they navigate the waters of self-publishing and marketing. 

For more information on Phoenix, visit www.phoenixauthorink.com 

Time for Books 2015 Review Team

I'm so excited to participate in Jo Michael's Time for Books 2015 Review Team. 

I do many reviews a year--a mixture of traditionally published and indie books. For this team, I will plan to read 21-40 INDIE books to share (HUNGRY level). Hopefully, I'll read even more.

If you'd like to join, check out these instructions from Jo Michaels blog:

Go to this page and follow the instructions to sign up. Every time you post a book review on your blog, enter it here and tweet about it with one of the hashtags on that page (#2015ReviewTeam or #Time4Books).

Also, if you want to find some great reads for the challenge, follow Jo's 12 Days of Review Requests event (running through 12/20/14) for some ideas. Her Day 7 post can be found here.