Promises by Amber Garr (4 stars)

About Promises
Book One of the Syrenka Series
(from Goodreads)

Sometimes following your heart can end up destroying the ones you love.

When seventeen-year-old Eviana Dumahl is faced with the responsibility of an arranged marriage and clan leadership, she is forced to choose between the life required of a mermaid and one of a teenage girl simply infatuated with the wrong guy. Kain, her devoted fiance, would make a wonderful husband except that she's been in love with Brendan, a shape-shifting selkie, ever since they were kids. Choosing to abandon her family, her clan, and her life with Kain will have dire consequences far beyond anything she could have imagined.

A war is brewing amongst the clans and Eviana unwittingly becomes a pawn in the intricate schemes of a twisted mastermind. With Brendan's life on the line, she has no choice but to involve those she once considered friends. Amidst encountering senseless tragedies and immense loss, Eviana discovers that she is more valuable as a clan leader than anyone ever suspected. Her survival is not only dependent upon the loyalty of her friends, but also on her acceptance of a life she so adamantly tried to escape.

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Review

Eviana knows what she wants, and she's not afraid to do what's necessary to get it. She's in love, but it's not the guy--or the species for that matter--her parents have chosen. Eviana makes decisions based on love, but she doesn't have all the information. Will she really have to choose between her love and her family?

This was my first foray into the mermaid universe, and I wasn't sure what to expect. But, I loved the mermaid folklore and idea of selkies (I'd never heard of them before this book). Thankfully, this is a series, because I'm totally invested.

First, Eviana is a great character, flawed but full of heart. She struggles with her decision to leave her family, and her arranged marriage, knowing it will hurt those she leaves behind. But she truly believes she should follow her heart. It's a struggle she has throughout the book, and one without an easy answer. At times, she seems a bit whiny, but she has a lot to process. Who among us never whined as a teenager? But it never felt overdone or annoying. 

I have to admit... I am Team Kain. Since the book starts with Eviana already madly in love with her selkie, Brendan, I took it as fact; however, I didn't feel the connection between them. Granted, problems for them quickly arise, so it might not be a fair assessment. 

What I found most fascinating were all the creatures and clan politics. Some first books suffer from laying the groundwork, but this one was a fast read full of tantalizing information. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

If you are looking for a fast-paced, exciting, and intriguing read, look no further. 

Rating: 4 stars

About the Author

Amber Garr spends her days as a scientist and nights writing about other worlds. Her childhood imaginary friend was a witch, Halloween is sacred, and she is certain she has a supernatural sense of smell. Amber is a multiple Royal Palm Literary Award winner, author of the bestselling The Syrenka Series, The Leila Marx Novels, The Water Crisis Chronicles, and the upcoming Death Warden Series. When not obsessing over the unknown, she can be found dancing, reading, or enjoying a good movie. 

For even more fun facts, visit her Website About page. 

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Somewhere South of Normal Anthology Release Day Blitz & Giveaway

Happy release day to the Somewhere South of Normal anthology!
Scroll down to enter the giveaway.

Blurb

Shed the humdrum mainland routine, and escape into our adult fantasy. You can raise a glass with locals masquerading as humans, or slip into extravagant costume for our parade. Until we find you appetizing. We do love our visitors.

Somewhere South of Normal is a anthology of fantasy stories and poetry from False Key—island of dreams and nightmares, shifters and mermaids. Come and disappear. We’ll neither judge you nor promise your safety. Check your ego at the bridge. False Key is the premier tourist destination for shape-shifting mammals, predatory marine life, and the humans they snack on. Enjoy stories from authors such as Amber Garr, Sutton Shields, and many more. 

Buy now!

 Amazon 

Book Website

Watch the trailer. Visit False Key. Read an excerpt. 
Find out more about the authors. And come take a swim in our dangerous waters.
www.falsekey.com

Authors

Amber Garr, A.P. Kelly, Mark V. McDonnell, Corina Pelloni, Serena Schreiber, 
Sutton Shields, Kathleen Spalding, Sterling Stone, Kathryn A. Thomas

Genre
Fantasy, horror, supernatural romance and poetry.

Age Group
New Adult and Adult (sex and language)

Giveaway

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Waterfall by Amber Garr Cover Reveal

Please welcome Amber Garr to the blog today. 

*****

Happy World Water Day! And happy cover reveal day for The Water Crisis Chronicles Book 0.5. As a part of today's celebration for raising awareness about water and energy consumption, I thought I'd celebrate with a cover and website reveal!

First, here's the cover and blurb for WATERFALL...

 

Waterfall (Book 0.5)

The water is gone. The wars have begun.

Clean water is a luxury most can no longer afford. Climate change, industrial sabotage, and greed have turned country against country as each one tries to provide for its citizens. Terrorist groups target desalinization plants and frustrated governments hunt those who work against them. Rationing, sequestering, and patrolling have become routine at a time when there are too many people and not enough resources.

While the world around them disintegrates into chaos, Zach and Vivienne hope that their life in a government-run complex will retain some semblance of normalcy. But when attacks on their water supplies bring war to their sheltered community, they must accept their new fate. Stay and fight or flee and endure—it’s a difficult decision with lasting consequences.

Will they choose what’s safe? Or will they choose to survive?

Coming April 22, 2014

And now you can learn more about Zach and Vee's world, the government, the timeline, and what you can do help bring clean drinking water to the millions who don't have it (more about that coming later).

www.thewatercrisischronicles.com

You can also read about how the series began with WATERPROOF sporting its new cover makeover as well!

Waterproof (Book 1)

Dying of thirst is the new reality.

Five years after the last drop of clean water disappeared, global societies collapsed and nuclear war shattered all hope of recovery. In a place now only a skeleton of its former self, survivors fight to avoid capture by the government. Forced to work in factories that produce the only drinking water available, those who go in, never come out.

Zach and Vivienne have lived as deserters since they were teenagers. Fighting amongst their own and scrounging for the necessities of life, they’ve learned to rely on each other in every way. Yet when tragedy strikes and the true objectives of the government facility are revealed, their world is ripped apart.

A fate once thought to hold their demise may be the sole answer to their survival. Who can they trust? Who can they believe?

In this life, it pays to be waterproof.

Watch the Trailer

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Cover by Creative Book Designs and Amber Garr

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