Woman Of The Mists (Edge Of The New World) by Lynn Sholes

What it's about

Long before the arrival of Columbus to the new world, a magnificent and brave people flourished in a verdant tropical land. Their culture, steeped in spiritual life and tradition, provided them sacred wisdom and strength that survived generations.

In this land of abundance, a young a woman, Teeka, surrendered her heart to the shaman’s son, Auro. But when a raiding rival tribe invaded their peaceful village and she was stolen away by their leader, her life changed forever.

Steffi's Review 

I can with all honesty say that I have never read a book like this, or anything slightly comparable. Woman Of The Mists is the introduction into a world that is hard to grasp for modern westernized readers. It is a historical romance that goes back to a time before the ‘discovery’ of the New World. This book is an experience!

Teeka and Auro are in love and promised to each other. When Kaho, a powerful king from a rivaling tribe, comes to the village, he chooses Teeka as his bride and no one can stop him. Auro binds Teeka to him through an amulet that shall make her never forget her love for him. But instead of spreading love, its consequences are toxic for Teeka, Auro and their friends and family. At the same time, Teeka starts adapting to a new culture and tribe and Kaho kindles a flame inside her that keeps growing steadily.

Woman Of The Mists is a story full of culture, history, beliefs, magic and mystery. It introduces a world that existed hundreds of year ago and is so alien to us today, it could well be completely fictional. For that reason, there are numerous introductory scenes in which culture and history are reiterated. The story loses itself in the details of everyday life in the tribe and I wish the author had pushed the plot forward, using more action and storyline instead of descriptive scenes. Since this is the first book in the series and the world this story takes place in is so complex and culturally rich, I attribute it to the set-up of the Edge Of The New World series. 

Action and romance take off in the second half of the book which made this an excellent and intriguing read for me. I desperately wished Teeka and Kaho had spent more time together. I needed more romance, but, again, this is the set-up of a series and I am intrigued enough to be excited for Touches The Stars (Edge Of The New World, #2). When Lynn Sholes does start telling the story of a young woman who sacrificed love for her tribe and stops describing the scenery, my eyes are glued to the pages and nothing will keep me from reading another line. Because, when Lynn Sholes really starts telling this story, it becomes an adventure I want to be part of. 

Woman Of The Mists had ups and downs for me, but the highs outweighed the lows. I am very excited to get back to this pre-Columbus Native American world in Touches The Stars. I love that this author took the risk to tell a story that wouldn’t appeal to everyone, that is a mix of different romance sub-genres; a book that challenges the reader and requires them to let themselves get lost in this world that is part of our history but so exotic and distant at the same time. I am looking forward to more from Lynn Sholes.

*A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Want to know more about Lynn Sholes? 

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Steffi ~ 3.5 stars!

The Dark Light Of Day by T.M. Frazier

What it's about 

Warning: This is not your typical love story. This is the story of Abby & Jake, and although it contains love, the way they get there contains disturbing situations, graphic violence, sex, strong language, drug use, and all types of abuse.

Abby has been through hell and has survived one of the most brutal childhoods imaginable…barely.

To the outside world she is just a loner with an attitude.

When her grandmother dies in a tragic explosion, Abby is left with questions-and nothing else.

Homeless, sleeping in a junkyard, and on the run from a system that has failed her over and over again, she meets Jake, a tattooed blue-eyed biker with secrets that will rival her own.

Two broken souls that can’t be healed, they can’t be saved.

To be together they must reveal their most guarded secrets while finding out if they can accept the darkness those secrets hold-and the darkness within themselves.

They can thrive in the dark, but only if they can learn that love isn’t always found in the light.

Crista's Review 
3.5 stars!

The Dark Light of Day was aptly named. This is a dark love story that is sprinkled with just enough light to make it palatable, but it’s one that still left me emotionally drained and suffering from a book hangover for several days.

Abby has survived a horrific childhood (but only barely). She was horribly abused, neglected, and never shown love by her parents.  When she finally goes to live with her grandmother, she experiences the only examples of love and acceptance she’s ever known.  Unfortunately, her grandmother dies unexpectedly in a mysterious house explosion and Abby is again left alone. Unwilling to enter into the foster-care system, 17 year old Abby becomes a homeless teen on the run.

I loved this heroine. She demonstrated a will to survive that made me respect and admire her, but also left me with feelings of sadness. I understood this heroine and her actions and appreciated who she was despite all that she had to endure, however, the injustices that happen to Abby over and over actually became too much after awhile. The repeated trauma Abby experiences throughout this book unfortunately ended up impacting my overall rating.

Jake is a little harder to understand.  He is a paid assassin who grew up with parents who loved him.  Jake’s brother died in an accident and his father never quite recovered, resorting to alcohol to cope with his pain. Things are strained between Jake and his father, but it wasn’t enough to explain how a man with such a nurturing beginning ended up killing for a living.

This book is a major rollercoaster ride that took me places that I was not prepared to go. I was constantly guessing what surprises would be in store for me with each page turn, and honestly was shocked with where the author chose to take this book. I will say that this book has an extremely satisfying happily ever after ending that helped to sweeten the bitterness that permeated most of the book.

My favorite parts of this book were the chapters that focused on Jake and Abby’s relationship. I loved that Abby was the perfect antidote for the darkness in Jake and the Jake provided Abby with a “home”.

Overall, this is a recommended emotional read.

Want to know more about T.M. Frazier? 

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Blog Tour and Giveaway: Falling (Fading Series) by E.K. Blair

We're very excited to welcome E.K. Blair to the blog today. Her Fading series is a big hit with our Crista and Falling, the conclusion to the series, was another 5 star read for her. So, check out the blurb, Crista's fabulous review, the excerpt of Falling and enter to win autographed copies as well as ecopies of Falling and a $50 GC for the first winner. Good Luck!

What it's about

Sometimes it takes someone else to show us what we are truly capable of becoming.

Suffering from years of violent abuse, Ryan Campbell has learned how to keep people from getting too close. But when you shut yourself off, people get hurt along the way. Never caring much about others, Ryan creates a world in which he doesn’t have to feel.

When Ryan meets Candace Parker, all of his walls slowly begin to crumble. Not sure of the truth of who she is, he feels his mind is playing tricks on him. Unable to force out the thoughts that consume him, Ryan is haunted by visions that torment him every time he looks at her. He finds himself swallowed by guilt and blame, but he’s unwilling to turn his back on the one person that could possibly save him.

You’ve heard Candace’s story in Fading, now hear Ryan’s.

Excerpt

She sniffs and I know she’s crying. Having her like this, in my arms, is an intimacy that’s completely foreign but comfortable. I’m sure she can hear my heart pounding, but I need her to hear it. I need her to feel it as it thuds in my chest because I need her to hear me falling for her, ‘cause that’s what’s happening here—I’m falling. I never wanted to before, but with her, all I want to do is fall. Fall into her. Fall so deep inside of her heart so that I never have to be without her. That’s what this girl does to me. That’s how powerful she is even when she thinks she’s at her weakest. She’s broken. I see it clearly, but whatever it is that’s haunting her, I wanna make it fade. I wanna make it fade and make her fall too—with me.

                When she begins to pull away from me, I selfishly want to tighten my hold on her and keep her like this for a little longer. I worry this was just a random need for comfort from her, that I won’t get this again, that she doesn’t feel what I know I’m starting to. Fuck, this hurts.

Crista's Review 

5 Stars (and I wish I could give more!)

Sometimes a book reaches inside, grabs ahold of your heart, and will not let go.  For me, this perfectly describes my experience with Fading, Freeing, and now Falling.  Now that we are truly coming to the end of 2013, I will say without hesitation that this series of books gets my vote for favorite of the year.  Nothing has touched, inspired, or impacted me more than these books and the characters that I came to care about so very much.

To be honest, I am getting tired books that give the hero’s point of view.  It started with Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire, and now it’s as if most New Adult fiction is jumping aboard this train.  In my experience, I’m usually disappointed after reading the companion novel because I feel that I’ve wasted my time reading the same story (and it’s usually a poor man’s version of the original).  Readers, I am here to tell you   that Falling is an exception to this rule.

While I was reading Falling, it was as if I was having a completely new experience, and to be honest…. I was.  This is Ryan’s story: his life, his pain, and his process of walking the difficult road towards healing, recovery, and acceptance.  Ultimately, this book describes and shows Ryan’s own personal awakening of hope, love and new beginnings. I cannot describe the beautiful experience of getting to read as Ryan’s character morphs from an emotionally scarred and stunted individual into a man in love, and the wonder and excitement that stems from that experience.  It is amazing.

Ryan’s childhood experience growing up with an alcoholic father is tangible as E.K. Blair again dares to shed light on a horrific reality that so many experience.  I love that this author unapologetically blows the door open and sheds light on such touchy and real experiences.  Her skill at being real, yet respectful, in how she handles such delicate subject matters astounds me.

I wish I could say more.  Please, if you’d like to do something nice for yourself, take some time to read these books.  I will say that although reading Falling was a completely unique experience, I would not say that it is a stand-alone book.  You really need to read Fading prior to Falling.  Jace’s book, Freeing, is not necessary to read in order to appreciate Falling, but I do recommend that book as well.

I guess this is why I love to read.  Every once in awhile a book catches you by surprise as you realize something special is happening: you’re being transported into another place, meeting characters who make you feel, and are engaging you emotionally.  Ryan triggered all of these buttons, and I am not the same.  His character is worth every penny and every minute you spend with him.

I can’t recommend a book any higher than I recommend this one.

Meet E.K.Blair

USA Today bestselling author and International Amazon bestselling author, E.K. Blair takes her readers on an emotional roller coaster with her FADING series. A former first grade teacher with an imagination that runs wild. Daydreaming and zoning out is how she was often found in high school. Blair tends to drift towards everything dark and moody. Give her a character and she will take pleasure in breaking them down, digging into their core to find what lies underneath.

Aside from writing, E.K. Blair finds pleasure in music, drinking her Starbucks in peace, and spending time with her friends. She's a thinker, an artist, a wife, a mom, and everything in between.

Want to know more about EK Blair? 

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