Revealed Book Cover of Violet by Design

Synopsis:
I was going to get out of the modeling business for good. 

But now I'm having trouble sticking with my decision. After all, if it wasn't for modeling, I might still be the invisible wallflower. Hot guys like Paulo wouldn't be interested in me. And I'd never have seen Brazil or Spain-and now France! On the other hand... 

I also wouldn't have to choose between my best friend from home and my agent's shrill demands. Or anguish over my body the way only runway models do. Not to mention all this trouble I'm getting into for speaking out in the press about eating disorders. 

Maybe the life of an international model isn't for me. But if I quit for good, I might always wonder...What if?

Information of Book:
Price: $3.99
Links to buy/view book: Amazon

About the Author:

Melissa Walker is the author of seven books including the Violet on the Runway trilogy, Lovestruck Summer, Small Town Sinners, Unbreak My Heart and Ashes to Ashes. She grew up in Chapel Hill, NC (Go Heels!) and now lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband and daughter. She likes iced coffee that tastes like coffee ice cream and has saved every single mix tape from high school (for research purposes, of course). 

Contact Information:
Website: melissacwalker.com
Facebook: facebook.com/melissawalkerauthor
Twitter: @melissacwalker
Goodreads: goodreads.com/melissacwalker

Giveaway: Reckoning (Dark Prohpecy #1), and Relentless (Dark Prophecy #2) by Molly M. Hall

Synopsis:

"They say the truth can set you free. I found out it can kill you."

Seventeen-year-old Kat Matheson has never revealed the dark secret that sets her apart from everyone else: She can see and hear the dead. Until now, she has been able to ignore the strange apparitions and whispering voices. But it may not be that simple anymore. Haunted by eerie visions and increasingly frightening nightmares, Kat begins to fear she may be the target of a dark and ominous force from beyond the grave. Complicating matters is the arrival of her new neighbor, a young man she instinctively distrusts but is inexplicably drawn to. Gorgeous and mysterious, he seems to hold a disturbing knowledge of her long-held secrets.

As she desperately tries to maintain control, events take an unexpected and violent turn. Discovering that nothing is what it seems and that her psychic abilities may involve far more than just communing with the dead, Kat may be forced to confront her worst fears and the powerful curse that controls her destiny. (Taken from Goodreads)

Information:

Author(s): Molly M. Hall
Rating on Goodreads: 3.89
Rating by EBR: ----

 Release Date (Estimation): October 2, 2012

Link on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16077558-reckoning

Link to Review on EBR: ----

Synopsis:

"Out of the darkness and into the fire. The truth changes everything." 

The discovery of who and what she is changed Kat Matheson's life forever, revealing a world she never knew existed. A world filled with ominous spirits, mystical beings and dark magic. And a powerful ruler who will stop at nothing to achieve his ultimate goal: her death. Now, in her fight to stay alive, and to protect those she loves, Kat begins the battle to take back what's hers. Teaming with the enigmatic Lovell, Kat searches for the clues that hold the secret to her destiny. Clues that take her to places she never imagined, exposing her life-and her heart-to dangers she never saw coming... (Taken from Goodreads)

Information:

Author(s): Molly M. Hall
Rating on Goodreads: 4.15
Rating by EBR: ----
Release Date (Estimation): April 29, 2013

Link on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18009629-relentless
Link to Review on EBR: ----

Information (about giveaway):

Start date: September 20, 2014

End date: October 4, 2014

Format of Prize: Hardcover

Information need to participate: 

• mailing address in proper format (if won)
• Read "Terms and Conditions" before entering
• United States only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*We are not responsible for the damages, lost prize, etc. We are NOT the ones who mail the prize to you, therefore, Ethereal Book Reviews is solely not responsible for anything.

Giveaway: Greater Than the Still by Sarah Dayan

Synopsis:

Juliette Laredo never meant to leave an impression on anyone, but in a city of constantly intertwining lives, her impact is greater than she knows. On the brink of deciding to return to a stable career as a mental health counselor or follow her passion as a pastry chef, Juliette’s worries surface when she is faced with a life changing opportunity.

More than a dozen unique New Yorkers narrate their own perceptions and feelings of Juliette, as her story is told through their eyes. Greater Than the Still portrays the love, fears, and heartbreaks of New Yorkers as strangers and familiar faces peel back layers of Juliette’s life. It is through their crossed paths that change the course of Juliette’s future.

Greater Than the Still is a novel that blends the powers of daily interactions with a universal human curiosity to understand other peoples’ lives. In a city of anonymity, curious onlookers paint pieces of a picture that forms Juliette as a whole. But no one knows her story better than she does.

Information (about book):

Author(s): Sarah Dayan

Rating (On Goodreads): 4.00

Rating by EBR: ----
Release Date (Estimation): July 1, 2014

Link on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22202878-greater-than-the-still

Link to Review on EBR:----

Information (about giveaway):

Start date: September 19, 2014

End date: October 10, 2014

Format of Prize: A Physical Copy of Greater Than the Still

Information need to participate: 

• mailing address in proper format (if won)
• Read "Terms and Conditions" before entering
• International

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*We are not responsible for the damages, lost prize, etc. We are NOT the ones who mail the prize to you, therefore, Ethereal Book Reviews is solely not responsible for anything.

Book Promotion: Greater Than the Still by Sarah Dayan

Synopsis:
Juliette Laredo never meant to leave an impression on anyone, but in a city of constantly intertwining lives, her impact is greater than she knows. On the brink of deciding to return to a stable career as a mental health counselor or follow her passion as a pastry chef, Juliette’s worries surface when she is faced with a life changing opportunity.

More than a dozen unique New Yorkers narrate their own perceptions and feelings of Juliette, as her story is told through their eyes. Greater Than the Still portrays the love, fears, and heartbreaks of New Yorkers as strangers and familiar faces peel back layers of Juliette’s life. It is through their crossed paths that change the course of Juliette’s future.

Greater Than the Still is a novel that blends the powers of daily interactions with a universal human curiosity to understand other peoples’ lives. In a city of anonymity, curious onlookers paint pieces of a picture that forms Juliette as a whole. But no one knows her story better than she does.

Information About the Book:
Author: Sarah Dayan
Link to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8240800.Sarah_Dayan
Publisher: ----
Release Date: July 1, 2014
Links to Buy (with price):
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Greater-Than-Still-Sarah-Dayan/dp/1499350953/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405616098&sr=8-1&keywords=greater+than+the+still

Barnes & Noble for NOOK:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/greater-than-the-still-sarah-dayan/1119856844?ean=2940149786091

iTunes: $3.99 (unable to get the link) 
Average Rating (from Goodreads): 4.00
Rating from EBR: ----

Author Interview: Sarah Dayan

About the Author:
Sarah Dayan is a self published author with a focus on literary fiction. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, where from an early age, found herself writing stories about the people and places in her diverse hometown. Sarah is an extensive traveler, having been to dozens of cities across the country and over 25 countries around the world.​  Sarah has blended her passions for writing and traveling at Toonari Post as a lead travel journalist. Various press trips have brought her to places such as Hawaii, New Orleans, Gettysburg, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. Aside from traveling the country, Sarah has also covered events and restaurant openings in her hometown of New York City.

Greater Than the Still is Sarah's debut novel, inspired by the interconnections of people in New York City. A collection of short stories, with one overlapping story stretching the course of the novel, Greater Than the Still meshes the unique voices of people throughout the course of one day on the streets of New York.

Aside from traveling the world and writing about it, Sarah enjoys playing the piano and guitar, photography, and giving in to her natural sweet tooth.

Interview:
What made you want to become a writer?
There wasn’t one moment that made want to become a writer, it is just something I have always done and what I feel the most comfortable doing. Writing has been a large part of my life, it was never an option to not write. I began writing full length novels when I was a teenager. During high school and college, I was involved in writing for my schools’ newspapers and magazines. It was after graduate school that I became to pursue writing more as a career than just a hobby. I spent some time doing travel journalism, which was an amazing opportunity. I was able to travel around the country to unique cities and write about my experiences. I am now more focused on writing novels and love the creative process of shaping my ideas into a full length book.

Where do you get your inspirations from?
 Music has been a huge inspiration for me. I almost always listen to music when I am writing. For Greater Than the Still, I listened to Sara Bareilles the most, her music was my main soundtrack that played while I wrote. I also find inspiration in all the bits and pieces of New York City. I try to take what I see throughout the city and use it for my personal drive to write. I think it’s so easy to find inspiration and passion in New York City, because of its pulse and its beauty.

Other than writing books, what else do you do in your free time?
I love to travel. I hardly ever pass up an opportunity to travel and discover a new place. I also enjoy photography. There’s something about capturing moments as they happen. Music has been a large part of my life since I was young, I play piano and am teaching myself guitar.

If you could work with another author, who would it be?
 I’d love to work with J.K. Rowling, just to tap into her imagination and learn from her creative writing process.

What are major themes of your work?
I’m fascinated with the idea that people may be quick to draw assumptions about others, without actually knowing them at all. In Greater Than the Still, I wanted to explore the idea that people are constantly trying to understand others, and often times misunderstand others. I drew from many of my experiences in New York City, where millions of people cross paths daily, but many keep to themselves and don’t always take the time to understand the people around them. I also explored the idea of following one’s true passions and goals. There’s nothing more fulfilling than truly doing what makes you happy, even if there are many struggles and hurdles to get over first.

What do you think people look for in a book?
I think people look for dynamic characters, who have their own unique characteristics and flaws. I tried to incorporate a variety of characters into Greater Than the Still, to show a wide range of personalities and emotions that readers can relate to. 

Are there any recent works you admire?
It’s not a recent work necessarily, but I just recently reread The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, and fell in love with it all over again.

Questions About the Book (Greater Than the Still):
Which character in the book do you think you can relate to the most? 
I put pieces of my own personality and experiences in Juliette. She is torn between staying with a stable career or following what she is most passionate about. I used my own personal experiences and incorporated those struggles into Juliette’s character.

How did you come up with the character's names?
 Many of the characters’ names represent friends and family members that hold a special place in my life. I never used their real names, but many times I used middle names, last names, or nicknames. It’s just my little dedication to them.

What gave you the inspiration to write this book? 
The idea behind Greater Than the Still came around while I was reading another book, The Scenic Route by Binnie Kirshenbaum. It only took this one quote that helped shaped the whole idea for my novel:
“When you keep to yourself, when you don’t reveal who you are, often people will invent a story for you and you can let that story become the whole of it because you can’t be bothered setting the record straight, of you can’t tell the truth because it’s too late for that, to offer up facts not in evidence is to risk something, the opening of a door to an uninvited guest.”

I couldn’t help but immediately think about taking the subway in New York City. I can’t count how many times I’ve been on the train going from Brooklyn to the city where I’ve looked around at people and wondered about their lives. For as much as I’ve wondered about other people’s lives, I began to think if they wonder about mine.

The book started to take shape almost immediately. I wrote an outline for it within minutes and it was all coming together quickly. I had just finished graduate school at the time, where I studied counseling. One thing that always stuck in my head from graduate school was the idea of never knowing what other people are going through, and how sometimes their emotions can be misplaced and directed at people who just got in the way. I played with that idea while I was writing the book and thought of how many people’s lives cross during the course of one day in New York City, and how people may strongly believe they understand others, without truly knowing them.


*The questions and answers of this author interview are only for Ethereal Book Reviews to use.  If you would like to get interviewed, please visit our "Contact Us" page and send us an e-mail.

Featured Book: Greater Than the Still by Sarah Dayan

Synopsis:

Juliette Laredo never meant to leave an impression on anyone, but in a city of constantly intertwining lives, her impact is greater than she knows. On the brink of deciding to return to a stable career as a mental health counselor or follow her passion as a pastry chef, Juliette’s worries surface when she is faced with a life changing opportunity.

More than a dozen unique New Yorkers narrate their own perceptions and feelings of Juliette, as her story is told through their eyes. Greater Than the Still portrays the love, fears, and heartbreaks of New Yorkers as strangers and familiar faces peel back layers of Juliette’s life. It is through their crossed paths that change the course of Juliette’s future.

Greater Than the Still is a novel that blends the powers of daily interactions with a universal human curiosity to understand other peoples’ lives. In a city of anonymity, curious onlookers paint pieces of a picture that forms Juliette as a whole. But no one knows her story better than she does.

Information:

Title: Greater Than the Still

Author(s): Sarah Dayan

Link on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8240800.Sarah_Dayan

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Greater-Than-Still-Sarah-Dayan/dp/1499350953/ref=sr_1_1? ie=UTF8&qid=1405616098&sr=8-1&keywords=greater+than+the+still

Barnes & Nobles for NOOK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/greater-than-the-still-sarah-dayan/1119856844? ean=2940149786091

Average Stars (from Goodreads): 4.00

Comments:

I am going to read this book in exchange for an honest review.  I am, honestly, very excited to receive this book!

Featured Author: Sarah Dayan

About the Author:
Sarah Dayan is a self published author with a focus on literary fiction. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, where from an early age, found herself writing stories about  the people and places in her diverse hometown. Sarah is an extensive traveler, having been to dozens of cities across the country and over 25 countries around the world.​

Sarah has blended her passions for writing and traveling at Toonari Post as a lead travel journalist. Various press trips have brought her to places such as Hawaii, New Orleans, Gettysburg, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. Aside from traveling the country, Sarah has also covered events and restaurant openings in her hometown of New York City.

Greater Than the Still is Sarah's debut novel, inspired by the interconnections of people in New York City. A collection of short stories, with one overlapping story stretching the course of the novel, Greater Than the Still meshes the unique voices of people throughout the course of one day on the streets of New York.

Aside from traveling the world and writing about it, Sarah enjoys playing the piano and guitar, photography, and giving in to her natural sweet tooth.

Other Information:
Books Written:

• Greater Than the Still

Link to Goodreads Account: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8240800.Sarah_Dayan
Most Popular Book (by the ratings on Goodreads): Greater Than the Still
Blog: http://www.authorsarahdayan.com/ 
Link to Author Interview: Coming Soon

Featured Books: Reckoning (Dark Prohpecy #1), and Relentless (Dark Prophecy #2) by Molly M. Hall

Synopsis:

"They say the truth can set you free. I found out it can kill you."

Seventeen-year-old Kat Matheson has never revealed the dark secret that sets her apart from everyone else: She can see and hear the dead. Until now, she has been able to ignore the strange apparitions and whispering voices. But it may not be that simple anymore. Haunted by eerie visions and increasingly frightening nightmares, Kat begins to fear she may be the target of a dark and ominous force from beyond the grave. Complicating matters is the arrival of her new neighbor, a young man she instinctively distrusts but is inexplicably drawn to. Gorgeous and mysterious, he seems to hold a disturbing knowledge of her long-held secrets.

As she desperately tries to maintain control, events take an unexpected and violent turn. Discovering that nothing is what it seems and that her psychic abilities may involve far more than just communing with the dead, Kat may be forced to confront her worst fears and the powerful curse that controls her destiny. (Taken from Goodreads)

Information:

Title: Reckoning

Author(s): Molly M. Hall

Link on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16077558-reckoning

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Reckoning-Dark-Prophecy-Novel-1/dp/1479342114/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1408905236&sr=1-1&keywords=Molly+M+Hall

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/234403

Average Stars (from Goodreads): 3.89

Excerpt:

Synopsis:

"Out of the darkness and into the fire. The truth changes everything." 

The discovery of who and what she is changed Kat Matheson's life forever, revealing a world she never knew existed. A world filled with ominous spirits, mystical beings and dark magic. And a powerful ruler who will stop at nothing to achieve his ultimate goal: her death. Now, in her fight to stay alive, and to protect those she loves, Kat begins the battle to take back what's hers. Teaming with the enigmatic Lovell, Kat searches for the clues that hold the secret to her destiny. Clues that take her to places she never imagined, exposing her life-and her heart-to dangers she never saw coming... (Taken from Goodreads)

Information:

Title: Relentless

Author(s): Molly M. Hall

Link on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18009629-relentless

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Relentless-Prophecy-Novel-Molly-Hall/dp/1484848543/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1408905236&sr=1-6&keywords=Molly+M+Hall

Smashwords: ----

Average Stars (from Goodreads): 4.15

Excerpt:

Blog Hop: Back to School

About the Author:
 Linda Ulleseit was born and raised in Saratoga, California, and has taught elementary school in San Jose since 1996. She enjoys cooking, cross-stitching, reading, and spending time with her family. Her favorite subject is writing, and her students get a lot of practice scribbling stories and essays. Someday Linda hopes to see books written by former students alongside hers in bookstores.

Her first novel, ON A WING AND A DARE, was published in 2012. It is a Young Adult fantasy set in medieval Wales, complete with flying horses, a love triangle, and treachery. It’s sequel, IN THE WINDS OF DANGER, was released March, 2013. The focus of that book is the misty past of a groom and the murky future of a rider. The last book in the trilogy is UNDER A WILD AND DARKENING SKY, May 2014. It follows a brother and sister, new to High Meadow, who become involved in a plot to steal flying horses.

As a child, Linda always loved to write. She took her first creative writing course in seventh grade, accumulating a closet full of stories that she never showed anyone until 2007. At that time, she gave the first draft of a flying horse book to a teacher colleague to read. ON A WING AND A DARE began as a NaNoWriMo novel in 2009. It was revised with the help of reviewers on thenextbigwriter.com over the next two years. For NaNo 2011, Linda drafted the sequel, IN THE WINDS OF DANGER. NaNoWriMo 2012 brought the first draft of UNDER A WILD AND DARKENING SKY, and NaNoWriMo 2013 saw the completion of UNDER THE ALMOND TREES. This last is a historical fiction that follows three women who struggle for women’s rights in early California.

Linda has also written a novella titled WINGS OVER TREMEIRCHSON, released as an ebook in Fall 2013. It follows the story of Hoel and Neste, parents of a main character in ON A WING AND A DARE. 

Click below to see the dates and blogs that are involved in this blog hop:

September 1: Linda Ulleseit http://ulleseit.wordpress.com
September 2: Charles Ray http://charlieray45.wordpress.com
September 3: Apryl Baker http://mycrazzycorner.blogspot.com
September 4: Victoriya Aliferchyk http://viktoryarch.wordpress.com
September 5: Connie Peck http://mrspiddles.weebly.com/blog 
September 6: Angela Fristoe http://angelafristoe.blogspot.com
September 7: Karin Rita Gastreich http://eolynchronicles.blogspot.com
September 8: Courtney Vail http://gottahaveya.blogspot.com
September 9: Keeley http://keeleyreads.blogspot.com
September 10: Evelyn Ralph http://evelynralph..wordpress.com
September 11: Cheryl http://gwyneiirabookblog.weebly.com 
September 12: Vanessa Aere http://bookbutterflyreviews.blogspot.ca
September 13: Tiana Lemons http://etherealbookreviews.blogspot.com
September 14: Linda Ulleseit http://ulleseit.wordpress.com
September 15: DelSheree Gladden http://theediblebookshelf.blogspot.com
September 16: Judy Goodwin http://judygoodwin.wordpress.com/
September 17: Emily Thompson http://clockworktwist.com/blog/ 
September 18: Charles Ray http://charlesaray.blogspot.com
September 19: Mary Collins http://www.authormaryhcollins.com
September 20: Lauralee http://www.historywomanperspective.com/ 
September 20: Kira Tregoning http://fantasticalreads.wordpress.com/ 
September 21: Linda Ulleseit http://chickswritingrockingya.blogspot.com
\September 22: Susan Stec http://thegratefulundead.weebly.com
September 23: Cathy Dougherty http://catherinedougherty.com/
September 24: Clarissa http://quirkyladybookworm.wordpress.com/
September 26: Linda Ulleseit http://chickswritingrockingya.blogspot.com
September 27: JL Campbell http://readerssuite.blogspot.com/
September 28: Linda Ulleseit http://chickswritingrockingya.blogspot.com
September 29: Jonel http://purejonel.blogspot.ca
September 30: Linda Ulleseit http://ulleseit.wordpress.com

Book Promotion: Twelve Steps by Veronica Bartles

Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Andi is tired of being a second-class sibling to perfect sister Laina. The only

thing Andi’s sure she has going for her is her awesome hair. And even that is eclipsed by Laina's perfect everything else.

When Andi’s crush asks her to fix him up with Laina, Andi decides enough is enough, and devises a twelve-step program to wrangle the spotlight away from Laina and get the guy.

Step 1: Admit she’s powerless to change her perfect sister, and accept that her life really, really sucks.

Step 4: Make a list of her good qualities. She MUST have more than just great hair, right?

Step 7: Demand attention for more than just the way she screws things up.

When a stolen kiss from her crush ends in disaster, Andi realizes that her twelve-step program isn’t working. Her prince isn’t as charming as she'd hoped, and the spotlight she’s been trying to steal isn’t the one she wants.

As Laina’s flawless façade begins to crumble, the sisters work together to find a spotlight big enough for both to shine. 

Information About the Book:
Author: Veronica Bartles

Link to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19539299-twelve-steps

Publisher: Swoon Romance
Release Date: March 25, 2014
Links to Buy ($2.99):
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Twelve-Steps-Veronica-Bartles-ebook/dp/B00KH8VEZU/ref=sr_1_42?ie=UTF8&qid=1405439650&sr=8-42&keywords=12+steps
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/twelve-steps-veronica-bartles/1118964787?ean=2940149540266
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/twelve-steps-1
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/twelve-steps/id827252817?mt=11&uo=4
Books a Million: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Twelve-Steps/Veronica-Bartles/Q144545602?id=6008814428335
Average Rating (from Goodreads): 3.95

Rating from EBR: ----

Featured Author: Veronica Bartles

About the Author:
Veronica Bartles grew up in Wyoming and currently lives in New Mexico with her husband

and four children. As the second of eight children and the mother of four, Veronica Bartles is

no stranger to the ups and downs of sibling relationships. She uses this insight to write stories

about siblings who mostly love each other, even while they’re driving one another crazy. When

Veronica’s not writing or lost in the pages of her newest favorite book, she enjoys creating

delicious desserts, exploring new places, and knitting with recycled materials.

TWELVE STEPS is Veronica’s first novel.

Other Information:
Books Written:

• Twelve Steps
  

Link to Goodreads Account: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5394244-veronica-bartles
Most Popular Book (by the ratings on Goodreads): Twelve Steps
Blog: http://vbartles.com/mybooks.htm

Link to Author Interview: ----

EBR Guest Review: Awakening Foster Kelly by Cara Olsen (Yvonne)

EBR Guest Reviewer: Yvonne

Synopsis:
If only a pile of wayward curls and the inability to stay on her feet were seventeen year-old Foster Kelly’s most pressing concerns. Unfortunately, stubborn hair and clumsiness is just the tip of it. It was only a mistake, but when at the age of five Foster is told “You don’t belong here” the result is one broken heart. These four carelessly spoken words have shaped and shadowed Foster, and now—a senior at Shorecliffs High School—she seeks the wallflower’s existence, denying herself the most casual of friendships, much too afraid that someone will see what Foster believes is certain: she does not belong anywhere – or with anyone. This reality would continue to suit her just fine, however . . .

Love has a long-standing history of undoing broken hearts.

Like a comet, an unexpected arrival knocks Foster out of the crowded, starry sky, sending her directly into the limelight. Exposed and afraid, she will attempt to regain anonymity; but it isn’t so easy now that someone is watching. He pursues this shy enigma, confronting Foster’s deepest fears head-on, and in the process falls wholly and completely in love with her. But there is something he is not saying; a secret capable of certain ruin. There are two probable outcomes: either he will break her heart once and for all, or he will heal it.

In the end, though, it is Foster who must decide if she is worth mending. (Taken from Goodreads)

Stars Given:★★★★☆ (3.5 Stars)


Overall View:

***this book was given to me by the author through Ethereal Book Reviews (Guest Reviewer Program)***

"To me the stories were magic. When I was in their world it felt right. I felt right. Leaving was often very difficult, and I would cry. The moment school, meal or bath finished, there was only one place I wanted to be: the place that wanted me too."

Before I start this review, I want you to keep in mind that I'm not a big fan of the romance genre, and this might have influenced my opinion of Awakening Foster Kelly in a negative way. Because I have to admit that this novel is definitely beautifully written. Awakening Foster Kelly is not an easy read and for some the prose might be a bit dense, but in general I truly enjoyed the extensive descriptions Cara Rosalie Olsen used to describe the life of Foster Kelly. The quote at the beginning of this review could have been written to describe my own feelings when I was a teenager. Foster in general has a lot of similarities to my teenage self, and I guess that explains why I could understand her character so well. A few things felt a bit 'off' and not so credible, but Olsen manages to explain those anomalies at the end of her story. In fact, Olsen dropped a big twist bomb at the end of her book and I was pleasantly surprised with how things turned out to be (although part of it was a bit too cheesy for my taste). All in all a pleasant read and recommended to those who enjoy the romance genre and appreciate beautiful prose.

Seventeen year old Foster Kelly doesn't have an easy life. Not only has she unruly hair and a tendency to be very clumsy, she also has no self esteem and believes she doesn't belong anywhere. She has two friends, the twins Jake and Emily, who help her survive the worse part of the bullies... Although even Jake and Emily don't know a lot about the 'real' Foster; she prefers the life of a wallflower and above all a life full of half-truths. Things take a turn for worse when she bumps into a new guy named Dominic. He treats her horribly that day (I wanted to slap him in the face SO bad at this point), and afterwards just disappears... But their ways cross again when Foster manages to hit his car.

The attitude of Dominic has changed completely since the last time they met. He tries to apologize for his behavior even though he doesn't want to explain yet why he acted the way he did that day. Foster accepts the apology being the sensitive and kind-hearted girl she is, and Dominic now constantly tries to protect her from harm. Emily is not convinced though with this unexplainable change, but tolerates Dominic for Foster's sake. (I still didn't like Dominic at this point.) Slowly, a friendship is starting to grow between Foster and Dominic. Foster actually is starting to be more confident about herself and her incredible singing thanks to Dominic, although she still cannot believe a guy like him is interested in being around her... But Dominic doesn't leave her side, and soon his intentions become clear. He has a secret though; something about his past that he thinks will change everything. And things change indeed when the truth finally comes out...

Review of Eve Series by A.L. Waddington

Synopsis:
Jocelyn Timmons does not believe she is anything special — just an ordinary high school senior, living an ordinary life full of school-work, volleyball and friends. She’s about to find out how wrong she is.

Jackson Chandler moved in to the house across the street. His dark wavy hair, green eyes and charismatic personality draws everyone to him. Everyone, but Jocelyn.

Whenever Jackson gets near Jocelyn she feels ill and dizzy. When he touches her, she blacks out and has visions of another life, in another time. As the odd hallucinations evolve and become clearer, she feels a strong pull towards the people she sees there. Frightened, she watches her once stable life begin to crumble around her and she begins to question her own sanity.

Could it be possible that these episodes are actually her own memories of a life she is living somehow, somewhere, some-when? Maybe this is time-travel or some other paranormal mysticism? Our minds often wander, but can our souls? (Taken from Goodreads)

 Synopsis:
The barrier between Jocelyn Timmons consciousness continues to dissolve as she better understands the two lives she lives and enormity of her newly discovered inherited gift of EVE (Essence Voyager Era) which allows her to fall asleep on one plane of existence and awaken on another as her soul travels nightly.

Present-day Jocelyn uncovers the vast wonderment of the Victorian era but soon learns that life then was not as grand for women as she has read in the classics. Still, she finds comfort in the support of family and friends; a bolstering contrast to her overly hectic, career-oriented family in the twenty-first century. Her love for Jackson Chandler strengthens across time and becomes the light she so desperately needs as the world she has always known no longer makes sense. Yet, the closer she is drawn to Jackson by their mutual ability, the more strain develops amongst those she loves in 2009.

On the other side of Jocelyn’s consciousness in 1878, she remains ignorant of EVE. Her life is crumbling around her, yet she finds herself anxiously awaiting the images that invade her dreams. Jocelyn longs to be the woman she portrays in that world yet her jealousy is unbearable. Miscommunication, betrayal and hidden agendas make trust near impossible. The clearer the visions become the more she questions motives of her closest confidants and foregoes revealing the images that plague her perception. As her life seems to unravel, Jocelyn’s two worlds collide, and she is enlightened as the pieces start to fall into place. But is she strong enough to survive the truth? Is Jackson really her destiny? And can their love transcend time? Find out in Essence’s highly anticipated sequel, Enlightened, Book 2, EVE series. (Taken from Goodreads)

Stars Given:
★☆☆☆☆




Overall View:
 Well... Let's start off with how pretty the cover is.  I think the cover was probably the only aspect of the book that I enjoyed.  I could list a million (exaggeration... well sort of) things I don't really like about this book.  First off, I would like to point out that perhaps the author's writing style may not be "my cup of tea."  I felt that the writing was childish in a way.  It was difficult for me to pay attention to the plot.  The author introduces too many characters in the span of 10 pages.  It makes the reader confused with all the different names and relationships to remember.  There are a lot of aspects that could be improved.  In addition to the messy relationships, the characters are two dimensional and pretty unrealistic in my opinion. What really bothered me, was the minor grammar and spelling mistakes.  I felt that since the book has already been published and read so many times, the author or the editor should have picked up on the mistakes by now (I'm not too sure if it's because I got the eBook version that there are missed mistakes).  The last thing I would like to bring up is the flow of the story.  I found that many scenes were abruptly cut and jumped to the next scene.  Overall, I didn't really like the book.  I think I got up to page 27 before giving up. 
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*Supporting characters not listed

Featured Author: A.L. Waddington

PICTURE UNAVAILABLE

About the Author:
A.L. Waddington completed her undergraduate studies at University of Texas Dallas and Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis. She graduated from IUPUI with a BS in Psychology. A.L. and her husband, Ty have a son, two daughters, three puppies, and an oversized cat. They reside in Indiana.

Essence, Book 1, Published January 16,2014: Jocelyn Timmons does not believe she is anything special — just an ordinary high school senior, living an ordinary life full of school-work, volleyball and friends. She’s about to find out how wrong she is.

Jackson Chandler moved in to the house across the street. His dark wavy hair, green eyes and charismatic personality draws everyone to him. Everyone, but Jocelyn.

Whenever Jackson gets near Jocelyn she feels ill and dizzy. When he touches her, she blacks out and has visions of another life, in another time. As the odd hallucinations evolve and become clearer, she feels a strong pull towards the people she sees there. Frightened, she watches her once stable life begin to crumble around her and she begins to question her own sanity.

Could it be possible that these episodes are actually her own memories of a life she is living somehow, somewhere, some-when? Maybe this is time-travel or some other paranormal mysticism? Our minds often wander, but can our souls?

Enlightened, Book 2, Release: April 21,2014
The barrier between Jocelyn Timmons consciousness continues to dissolve as she better understands the two lives she lives and enormity of her newly discovered inherited gift of EVE (Essence Voyager Era) which allows her to fall asleep on one plane of existence and awaken on another as her soul travels nightly.

Present-day Jocelyn uncovers the vast wonderment of the Victorian era but soon learns that life during then was not as grand for women as she has read in the classics. Still, she finds comfort in the support of family and friends; a bolstering contrast to her overly hectic, career-oriented family in the twenty-first century. Her love for Jackson Chandler strengthens across time and becomes the light she so desperately needs as the world she has always known no longer makes sense. Yet, the closer she is drawn to Jackson by their mutual ability, the more strain develops amongst those she loves in 2009.

On the other side of Jocelyn’s consciousness in 1878, she remains ignorant of EVE. Her life is crumbling around her, yet she finds herself anxiously awaiting the images that invade her dreams. Jocelyn longs to be the woman she portrays in that world yet her jealousy is unbearable. Miscommunication, betrayal and hidden agendas make trust near impossible. The clearer the visions become the more she questions motives of her closest confidants and forgoes revealing the images that plague her perception. As her life seems to unravel, Jocelyn’s two worlds collide, and she is enlightened as the pieces start to fall into place. But is she strong enough to survive the truth? Is Jackson really her destiny? And can their love transcend time? Find out in Essence’s highly anticipated sequel, Enlightened, Book 2, EVE series. (Taken from Goodreads)

Other Information:
Books Written:

• Essence
• Enlightened

Link to Goodreads Account: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5139182.A_L_Waddington?from_search=true
Most Popular Book (by the ratings on Goodreads): Essence
Blog: ----
Link to Author Interview: ----

EBR Guest Review: Heart Tales by Celine Garcia (Yvonne)

EBR Guest Reviewer: Yvonne

Synopsis:

Three charming tales of that never ending roller coaster called life, each one sure to pack a sweet punch of candy for the heart. One story involves a girl and a mystery box with handwritten song lyrics. The second follows a guy on the road with memories of the girl that got away, and finally a teen girl who can actually speak to the source of her angst…her heart.

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/QMcpG6QUz98

Audio Frequency
Geraldine works the counter at Audio Frequency, a small music store that was once the hub of the local music scene. The best part of her day is a little brown box that is delivered to the store with song lyrics written inside, a playful guessing game between a mystery guy who seems to totally get her. Geraldine finds she is ready to make big changes at Audio Frequency and thankfully her best friend Sam just scored her a ticket to the biggest music benefit in town. Geraldine may get everything she wants when she discovers that her mystery guy may be at the event.
A sweet little story about friendship, expectations, and the leaps that must be made to take the love you want.

Legal U Turn
Gwen and Dean share an awkward drive home for their first college break because of convenience. But with hate comes a confiding friendship that may mean more to Dean. After his true feelings slip during a trip home, his friendship with Gwen ends abruptly and they don’t speak or see each other again.

Two years later Dean finds himself driving the same route he and Gwen used to take home years ago and it’s accompanied with the best memories of Gwen. A journey filled with a fun combo of memorable road trips and not so great first impressions causes Dean to wonder, is there a possibility of rekindling one of his greatest friendships?

Heart Set on You
A funny thing happened to Ellie when she woke after her heart transplant. Her donor didn’t exactly die. Instead he stayed behind to both of their confusion and can only be seen by Ellie. Ellie is unable to make friends at school and her only confidant is her heart donor, who she coincidentally nicknames Heart. After thinking she would always be socially challenged, she comes across someone who could change everything. Can this new someone help free Ellie and Heart from their bond? Or will new feelings arise that neither of them expected?

A unique story that reveals how friends can compliment and challenge each other told with fun sarcastic humor and heart. (Taken from Goodreads)

Stars Given: ★★★☆☆ (3 Stars)

Overall View:

***this book was given to me by the author through Ethereal Book Reviews (Guest Reviewer Program)***

My Rambles
While reading this review please keep in mind that I'm not a big fan of the romance genre, and this might have influenced my opinion of Heart Tales in a negative way. If you enjoy the genre in general, make sure to give this collection of short stories a try! Heart Tales includes in total three stories: Audio Frequency, Legal U Turn and Heart Set On You. All three stories have that romance feel written all over them, and will be a delight to read for those who enjoy the genre. The first two titles mentioned have both incorporated the theme of friends falling in love, while Heart Set On You is about loss, forgiveness and finding peace of mind. All in all they make for cute little stories, although I have to admit in general the characters felt a bit flat and some of the actions quite cliche. But then again: this kind of romance stories just aren’t for me...

Audio Frequency
Geraldine works at a small music store and frequently receives boxes filled with music material sent by the local radio. The music is not the most interesting part of the boxes though, as someone at the radio is communicating with her through a lyrics guessing game. Dying to find out who the mystery man is, she asks her friend Sam to investigate. But Sam doesn't have to look far to find him...It's quite a cliche story about a friendship turning into something else, but I liked the fact that Geraldine wants to move forward and become a co-owner of the music store. It shows that deep inside she is woman with a mission, even though finding the mystery man is still the most important part of the story. The lyrics that Celine Garcia used were a neat detail and added dept to the music theme of Audio Frequency. In fact, the lyrics were the reason I prefer this story over the other two!

Legal U Turn
Gwen and Dean started of the wrong foot, mostly tolerating their mutual company because they had no other option. But being forced to ride together a friendship is slowly starting to grow... A friendship that for Dean turned into something more, but just as the truth came out something terrible happens. Dean's father dies and Dean was too late to say goodbye. Angry with Gwen, he disappears for two years. Then he goes back to the places they went to those two years ago and remembers all the good things about her.

 

This story is not my overall favorite, but it came in close second. Dean is an interesting character I could see being developed into a novel character...As is the storyline itself. Legal U Turn is not only about friendship turning into love, but also about loss and second chances. It would be interesting to read more about the life of Gwen and what she felt during those two years... And what would happen to the two of them after they meet again.

Heart Set On You

After Ellie had her heart transplant, something strange happened to her: she started to see the dead boy who gave her her new heart. She is the only one who can see and talk to him, and soon people around her think she is 'weird'. The boy who is called Heart never goes far away and tries to protect her from harm... When Seth starts to take interest in Ellie, things take an interesting turn: suddenly Seth is being able to see Heart as well. Heart now has the mission to bring Ellie and Seth together, so he can find closure and move on to the next life... Seeing it as his obligation to find her happiness before he leaves forever.

This last story doesn't fit in with the other two stories and I cannot say it was in a good way. I normally don't mind paranormal stories or a ghost as a main character, but I just didn't feel it with this one. Otherwise said, the story wasn't really believable. I found both the name and the white T-shirt with the fading red heart Heart is wearing rather tacky, and the other characters just felt a bit flat. The general storyline has a lot of potential, and it might have worked better as a novel... Although I would makes some serious changes to the Heart character. All in all my least favorite story by far!