The Second Blind Son (The Chronicles of Saylok) by Amy Harmon

 

An insidious curse is weakening the Norse kingdom of Saylok, where no daughters have been born in years. Washing up on these plagued shores is Ghisla, an orphaned stowaway nursed back to health by a blind cave dweller. Named for a mysterious god, the boy, Hod, is surrounded by prophecy. To Ghisla, he’s a cherished new friend. To Hod, the girl is even more so. For when Ghisla sings, Hod can see.

Unable to offer safe shelter, Hod urges Ghisla onward to become a daughter of the temple, where all the kingdom’s girl children have been gathered. But because of a magical rune, the two cannot be separated, no matter the time or the distance.

Now, subject to a ruthless king, Ghisla enters a desperate world of warring clan chieftains and catastrophic power struggles. Who among them can be trusted is unknowable. So are the sacrifices Ghisla and Hod must make to defeat the cursed forces that could destroy a kingdom and the fated bond between two souls.

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I finished this book a few hours ago and I'm still trying to pull myself out of the world of Saylok.  It's a hard thing because author Amy Harmon does such a good job of building amazing worlds and creating characters that fill all my senses.  It's really hard to stop thinking about them.

This is the second book of the series and I would definitely recommend reading them in order.  The two stories do run parallel in terms of time but each remains focused on different characters.  This story is based in Norse Mythology.  Very cool, right?  I really loved both Ghisla and Hod.  They are both unique in their abilities and I loved how they complimented each other.  They have an intense and passionate relationship built over a long period of time with most of it apart physically.  

The world of Saylok is violent and often unruly.  There is deceit and treachery everywhere.  Runes, keepers, clans and a vile King- honestly, just try not to be sucked into this world and these people.  I wouldn't mind more stories in this series!  Just putting that out there. . .

If you are a Kindle Unlimited member, you can read and listen to this book, free.

Content:  Violence, sexual situations and intimacies with some description, peril.

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

John Eyre: A Tale of Darkness and Shadow by Mimi Matthews

 

Yorkshire, 1843. When disgraced former schoolmaster John Eyre arrives at Thornfield Hall to take up a position as tutor to two peculiar young boys, he enters a world unlike any he’s ever known. Darkness abounds, punctuated by odd bumps in the night, strange creatures on the moor, and a sinister silver mist that never seems to dissipate. And at the center of it all, John’s new employer—a widow as alluring as she is mysterious.

Sixteen months earlier, heiress Bertha Mason embarked on the journey of a lifetime. Marriage wasn’t on her itinerary, but on meeting the enigmatic Edward Rochester, she’s powerless to resist his preternatural charm. In letters and journal entries, she records the story of their rapidly-disintegrating life together, and of her gradual realization that Mr. Rochester isn’t quite the man he appears to be. In fact, he may not be a man at all.

From a cliff-top fortress on the Black Sea coast to an isolated estate in rural England, John and Bertha contend with secrets, danger, and the eternal struggle between light and darkness. Can they help each other vanquish the demons of the past? Or are some evils simply too powerful to conquer?

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Any Jane Eyre fans out there?  How about Dracula?  That's kind of the mashup of stories and tones of this book.  Yeah, it has an ever growing creepy factor that keeps you reading because even though that feeling of foreboding is there, you just can't help yourself.  I couldn't help myself.  I had to keep turning the pages.

We mostly get Bertha's story though journal entries and letters to her friend.  John's story is in real time with some interactions with Bertha.  It was an interesting way to bring the pieces of the story together and I really liked it.  I felt like it gave me an intimate view into the minds and lives of both John and Bertha, their struggles and their strength.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that this is my favorite book by author Mimi Matthews, but it was a good one.  It was certainly a change of the norm in terms of genre for me and I really enjoyed that.  If you are a fan of Jane Eyre, you will enjoy the nod to the classic.  This book releases today so go pick it up!

Content:  mild peril, mild violence, mention of gruesome deaths, kissing

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews writes both historical nonfiction and award-winning proper Regency and Victorian romances. Her novels have received starred reviews in Library Journal and Publishers Weekly, and her articles have been featured on the Victorian Web, the Journal of Victorian Culture, and in syndication at BUST Magazine. In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes a Sheltie, and two Siamese cats.

 

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GOODREADS

Five Days With My Super Hot Ex by Kimberly Krey

 

Five Days
Dozens of cameras
Millions of viewers
One Second Chance
When Nikki and her old high school flame go on a reality TV show, they’re locked in a home while the cameras roll. The goal? Help these high school sweethearts fall back in love. Is the old spark still alive or did it fizzle out long ago?

I'm excited to share with you another novella from the new Love, Laughter and Happily Ever After collection!  This one is by another favorite of mine, Kimberly Krey.

Can you imagine reuniting with your ex boyfriend on a reality TV show to see if the sparks and love are still there?  What a great premise for a story, right?  It really helped with the quick development of a relationship knowing the couple already had an established foundation and with Kai and Nikki, sparks are flying from the very beginning.  It was fun getting to know them through memories and flashbacks and to see what went wrong.  I really enjoyed their journey back to each other, the kissing and, of course, the happily ever after.  It sure would be fun to see more stories in this reality TV world of ex's.

Content:  kissing

This book is part of this anthology!  Which you can pre-order for just $.99!!  😍😍  Release day is July 20th!

This sweet romcom collection contains 20 original humorous novellas from best-selling authors that are heartwarming, feel-good, and laugh out loud funny.

Between the pages, you'll find tropes such as enemies to lovers, second chance romance, high school sweethearts, opposites attract, friends to lovers, fake dating, and more.

Pre-order purchases of this anthology will benefit Pets for the Elderly with 100% donated to this amazing cause, connecting shelter animals with seniors.

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Breaking All The Rules by Cindy Roland Anderson

 

Escape with 20 Sweet Romantic Comedies with all the feels!

✔ Flirty & swoony heartthrobs

✔ Funny & sassy heroines

✔ Off-the-charts chemistry & charm

✔ Sweet kisses & happily ever afters

This sweet romcom collection contains 20 original humorous novellas from best-selling authors that are heartwarming, feel-good, and laugh out loud funny.

Between the pages, you'll find tropes such as enemies to lovers, second chance romance, high school sweethearts, opposites attract, friends to lovers, fake dating, and more.

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Today I'm reviewing Breaking All The Rules by Cindy Roland Anderson which is part of this book collection.  You can pre-0rder for just $.99!  20 stories for a dollar?!?!  Yup, it's true.  And if that weren't enough,  pre-order purchases of this anthology will benefit Pets for the Elderly with 100% donated to this amazing cause, connecting shelter animals with seniors.  Isn't that awesome?  There are SO many fun authors writing in this collection, I can't wait to read through them all.

As for this book, Breaking All The Rules, I ADORED it.  Like, all heart eyes 😍 and smiles 😊 here.  Camdyn and Beckett are fun characters with enough of a history that their immediate attraction is believable.  They are perfect for each other!  There is chemistry and sizzle.  The kissing was yummy and I ended it wanting more, more, more.  This is one I will probably go back and read again for a quick fix.

Content:  kissing

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Fly Home to Me (Flying in Love #2) by Chalon Linton

 

A traffic jam is the last thing Piper Holland has patience for. The dry cleaner’s will soon close, and she really hopes to wear her luxury silk blouse when she pitches her theme to the editors of the magazine she works for. But when she finally sees what’s caused the backup, she feels a pinch of guilt: a man in a military uniform is gallantly pushing a stalled vehicle off the road. Suddenly her rush to the dry cleaner’s seems incredibly unimportant. Fate offers Piper a chance to redeem herself, however, when the handsome good Samaritan crosses her path again.

Gabriel Orsini, a fighter pilot stationed at Luke Air Force Base, seems to be the perfect man, and an assignment at the magazine offers Piper the perfect chance to get to know him better. Her “Day in the Life: Hometown Heroes” article was tailor-made for the bighearted pilot. Before long, their interviews for the article enter date territory, and Piper realizes she’s falling for Gabriel. But her tragic past has taught her one thing: everyone leaves. And the transient lifestyle of a military man leaves her no doubt that Gabriel will eventually abandon her too. With her heart on the line, Piper must decide: is the risk of loss worth the possibility of forever?

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Seriously.  I cannot get over the sweetness of Gabriel Orsini.  He is the perfect everything- respectful, kind, attentive, attractive, strong, loyal, patient.  I could probably list a lot more of those adjectives but you would get bored.  haha.  Does Gabriel seem too good to be true?  He almost is.  I mean, there were no imperfections in this book so if you are dreaming up a perfect man, look no further than Gabriel.

There did seem to be an imbalance in this relationship with Gabriel's perfection and Piper's struggling.  Because I didn't get Gabriel's point of view, I'm not exactly sure what attracted him to Piper in such a devoted manner but he was in 100%.  The heart wants what the heart wants.  Piper's journey was one of healing and forgiving.  Her peace came as she shifted her attitude and thinking and reached out in love.  It was satisfying as a reader to watch her finally get over her blame of others and find real peace.

I really enjoyed this book.  It was gentle and sweet.

Content:  Christian fiction, kissing

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.