Paranormal Cravings Presents: Ancients of Light Bks. 1-3

Chosen (Ancients of Light, #1)
Title:  Chosen
Author:  HeatherFleener
Format:  E-book
Length:  314 pages
Publisher:  CreateSpace
Rating:  4.5 Stars

In the beginning...there were Vampire.

 Man’s fall from grace sparked the birth of the Dark creatures from the underworld. To counter the explicit threat to mankind, divinely-created immortals were brought forth. The Witch encompassed seven Castes of power; their magic was most effective against the nefarious agenda pursued by the evil ones.

She is Chosen...
Kaitriana’s gift of magic is unrivaled. A descendant of the most powerful Ancient in existence, her birth was foretold ages before her time. Destined to lead the Witch faction, she is betrayed by her own kind, destroying her birthright and all hope of delivering the Realm from the sinister shadow of the Ancient Dark.

He is the Key...
Lorcan is a mighty warlord in the Vampire species. His animosity towards the magical immortals is personal - his mother was their Queen. Having long since severed all ties with his former kin, his existence remains plagued by the repercussions of her treachery and a secret that threatens to be his downfall.

They are the Prophecy...
An arcane prophecy from the time of the Ancients proclaims that only two in all of creation can bring peace to the Realm. When Kaitriana miraculously appears seeking his protection, Lorcan must forsake his duty and disregard the dictates of his breed to shelter the female. Together they must combat the Ancient Dark and surmount the forces within their own factions that would oppose the Prophecy. Their fates have always been entwined and only when joined can they triumph over a blood feud that has shadowed the Light for millennia.

About the Ancients of Light series

Chosen is the first in the thirteen books of the Ancients of Light series and is only the beginning of a young Witch’s journey toward developing both the strength of character and magic that will be required to fulfill her prophesied role as leader of the Light faction.

Revelations of nuances in the Prophecy - facets that were never fully comprehended by the Ancients - will continue in successive stories. The culmination of its true meaning in the destiny of the supernatural world of the Realm will only be revealed when Kaitriana is adequately prepared to lead the Warriors now being called together to champion the Light’s purpose.

Familiar characters return for each storyline as the focus turns to a new key couple in every book - a pair that significantly factors into the purpose of Light – however, the story of the Chosen does not end with Book #1. Kaitriana and Lorcan, their growth together as partners in leadership and in love as a couple, will thread through the series as Kaitriana assumes the role that was destined as hers since the beginning.


Ancients were created in the beginning of the age of man. The Vampire were birthed by the underworld after mankind’s fall from grace to destroy what remained of God’s people. This threat to Creation was countered with divinely-breathed immortals. The Witch were most effective against the nefarious agenda pursued by the evil ones. An arcane Prophecy proclaims that the divine purpose of the Ancients of Light will be fulfilled, beginning with the rise of the Chosen. Now the Queens will join her…




Forsaken (Ancients of Light, #2)Title:  Forsaken
Author:  HeatherFleener
Format:  E-book
Length:  356 pages
Publisher:  CreateSpace
Rating:   5 Stars

Fire is her Destiny...
Ella long ago determined she would not live a life where magic defined her. Feeling no kinship with her Caste, she walked away from the Realm and its conflicts. She found acceptance and fulfillment in her life amongst the mortals and is on the brink of achieving her dreams.

Darkness is His Curse...
Nicholas is the most revered warrior in the Darks’ army. His personal animosity towards the Light drives his existence and draws him to the one Witch he is set on controlling. Nicholas knows the reasons that Ella never found acceptance within the Fire Caste of Witch and he will use that knowledge to pursue his Dark agenda.

When Light and Dark Collide...
Despite her origins, Nicholas discovers more in Ella than just a powerful Fire Witch, leading him beyond the Dark evil that has plagued him for eight centuries. Ella disregards the inherent calling of her breed for the only true belonging she has ever experienced, the love she finds with her Dark Vampire. The beginning of the very Prophecy that will save the Light tears the pair apart and the fallout threatens their existence. When two of the most powerful immortals on opposite sides of Realm collide in divinely-inspired fate, neither will escape unscathed. Only when the Forsaken finds grace will Ella and Nicholas be able to fulfill the destiny that has always been meant for them.


 The Light’s Duty to Protect
A war over the fate of mankind sparked the creation of the Ancients - Light and Dark - one divinely-created guardians, the other hell-spawned killers. The conflict raged within the Realm for millennia, neither faction triumphant in its purpose. In recent history the Darks have adopted a more surreptitious path - the boom of technology allowing the Dark One to insinuate himself into the midst of those he would most like to destroy. Tragic consequences result when the Ancients of Light pursue the Darkness into the Outer Realm. The Prophecy continues…




 Title:  Forsaken
Author:  HeatherFleener
Format:  E-book
Length:  336 pages
Publisher:  Scurvy Palace Publishing
Rating:  5 Stars

Darkness Claimed Her Soul
The adversity of Kylie’s youth forged an indomitable spirit. A vibrant and strong woman determined to plot the course of her life with room for nothing beyond the next measure of success, Kylie believed in only herself, and most certainly neither destiny nor love. All those tenants were derailed with a single encounter, but the same man that tempted her to live again drew her into the middle of an aged war, the consequence being her own destruction, plummeting her into a hellish existence.

A Warrior Haunted by His Failure
Sayer’s mission was only to foil the latest plan of the Darks in the Outer Realm and return a few Vampire to Hell. Finding a perfect mortal that tempted him beyond all reason was unforeseen complication. Just when Sayer realizes that his eternity is meant for one alone, Kylie is destroyed by the Darks, and the loss drives him to the pits of despair, revealing events of the past that would best be long forgotten.

Tragedy will Reveal Those of Divine Purpose
Sayer’s appearance in her life was the catalyst to fulfilling a destiny that has existed since Kylie’s creation. Their fate thwarted by Darkness, both shattered by tragedy, Kylie and Sayer must return to the love that once was while finding absolution and seeking forgiveness, or perish apart. Only once all that was broken is returned to unblemished will God’s own Warriors rise. The beginning of the beginning…



 My Thoughts
The Ancients of Light series was one that I fell in love with from book 1.  Chosen, made for quite the introduction to Kaitriana, Lorcan, the world of Realm, and the wonderful cast of supporting characters that help to flesh out the story that heralds the beginning of an absolutely fabulous series.

Readers are allowed to grow up with Kat in this first read, as she is but a wee thing when first we me her and she meets Lorcan.  This is when both he and she stake their claims on each other, and in the hearts of readers.

The surprise come when readers find out how childhood claims come to pass in very adult ways after Kat has been allowed to mature some 500 years, and is once again reunited with her warrior vamp.

This is where things really start to get interesting...and a little frustrating for me and every other forward thinking female reading this book.  Lorcan becomes sexier, but decidedly more possessive as the pages turn.
This of course leads to Kat having to show him, and every nay sayer in the story who's boss in a very kick ass fashion.

This was the only 4 star rating of the three books.  It would have been a five, but for its length...about 100 pages too long...and Lorcan, who only became truly great near the end.

Forsaken, is my favorite of the three.  Cole/Nicholas is everything that a girl could want in her warrior vamp.  Sexy, strong, sophisticated, a lover of good food, good wine, and not afraid to shop for killer presents for his "princess".

The only drawback to Mr. Wonderful?

He is an agent of the Dark, and as such is hell bent on taking down all Warriors of the Light.

Ella, like Kat is a kick ass heroine of the light.  She has a quick wit, awesome Fire powers, and a big heart.
When she and Cole meet at a bar in Chicago, neither have any idea just how hot the two of them are going to get.

Things between these two are so lighthearted and sweet that it is very easy to forget that there is a war going on in Realm.
Until...
Well, let's just say that "what's done in the dark..." and from the looks of what Ella finds out...our dark Boy Wonder has a lot to answer for.
This book is built on secrets, lies, amd discoveries made this time by Ella, about herself, her heritage. and the depth and breath of her love for the vamp that she doesn't quite know.  Yes, Kat and Lorcan are in this one too. Lol!
This is where the series really starts to find its pace. Everything about this book is sheer perfection!

Broken, this is where we finally get a close up and personal look at Kylie and Sayer.  This is also where we see a turn about.  Kylie being the dark and tortured soul and Sayer doing all he can to help her.
Kylie's story was one that really tugged at my heart and reading her was so engrossing that I had to make this one personal.
There is a lot going on in this third book that has to do  with many other plot lines in the story as well and I really don't want to spoil anything so I will just end this review by saying
READ THIS SERIES NOW!
Chosen  4.5 Stars
Forsaken 5 Stars
Broken 5 Stars



About the Author
Heather Fleener lives in Indiana with her husband, D.A. and their twins, Thomas and Alexandra. Professionally she has spent her career working in the area of Intellectual Property law.
Reading has been a passion of hers since she was young and she has adored romance novels her entire life. The romantic styles of Judith McNaught and Julie Garwood are her inspiration, though she has read and loved the stories of countless other authors. Her fascination with the paranormal began to form at the young age of six, watching late-night ghost and vampire movies with her Grandpa. Unfortunately, as a result, she also remains afraid of the dark to this day.
Combining her love of epic romances and the supernatural was a natural progression for her overactive imagination. When the idea for the Ancients of Light series began, it was an abstract story line rambling around in her head to help kill a few miles on the treadmill. As the stories and plotlines continued to grow, it finally became necessary to put the words to paper and build the characters that had been living in the Realm and having conversations in her head for months.
The series is a testament to many miles on the treadmill and lots of characters that insist on having their stories told.

HFVBT Presents: Anvil Of God

Anvil of God (The Carolingian Chronicles, #1)Title:  Anvil of God
Author:  J. Boyce Gleason 
Format:  Paperback
Publisher: iUniverse
Publication Date: July 26, 2013
 Buy Links:  Amazon 
Rating:  4 Stars
ISBN-10: 1475990197


It is 741. After subduing the pagan religions in the east, halting the march of Islam in the west, and conquering the continent for the Merovingian kings, mayor of the palace Charles the Hammer has one final ambition-the throne. Only one thing stands in his way-he is dying.

Charles cobbles together a plan to divide the kingdom among his three sons, betroth his daughter to a Lombard prince to secure his southern border, and keep the Church unified behind them through his friend Bishop Boniface. Despite his best efforts, the only thing to reign after Charles's death is chaos. His daughter has no intention of marrying anyone, let alone a Lombard prince. His two eldest sons question the rights of their younger pagan stepbrother, and the Church demands a steep price for their support. Son battles son, Christianity battles paganism, and Charles's daughter flees his court for an enemy's love.

Based on a true story, Anvil of God is a whirlwind of love, honor, sacrifice, and betrayal that follows a bereaved family's relentless quest for power and destiny.



My Thoughts
J. Boyce Gleason's Anvil of God, is a wonderfully penned and fantastically blended mix of historical truths and creative license.
Like most, I am aware of the great and terrible exploits of Charlemagne. Until this read however, I was not at all familiar with the those higher up in his family tree.

In fact, what readers are presented with in this read is family drama at its best.
We have a dying ruler, Charles the Hammer, who is trying to do what he deems best for his family and his realm by dividing his lands among his sons and marrying off his daughter.

Well, the sons are of differing faiths with two Christian and one Pagan.  So of course, Pagan brother Gripho has to fight tooth and nail for his birthright.  He however is not without allies.  One rather vocal birdie in his ear being his mother, Sunnichild.

As if this is not bad enough, Charles' daughter Trudi, has other plans that obviously do not involve marrying the Lombard prince to who she was so unceremoniously bartered in exchange for the security of his southern lands.  Trudi does what any other sword wielding, smarter than the jackasses around her, kick ass woman of her time would, and promptly runs off to...wait for it...sleep with the enemy!

Least we not forget that all of this Game of Thrones type drama is being played out on a world stage.
While the family is squabbling and defenses are down, those that would destroy  the family and plunder their lands, do their worst.

This is a wonderful and surprising read.  The author does a great job of managing and balancing a huge cast of characters and multiple points of view.   This is a book that has it all; larger than life historical detail, compelling characters, emotional and physical conflict, and in  this case, multiple love stories! I couldn't put it down and I can't wait to see how these family dramas will play out in the rest of the series.





 About the Author

After a 25-year career in crisis management and public affairs, J. Boyce Gleason began writing historical fiction and is publishing his first novel ANVIL OF GOD, Book One of the Carolingian Chronicles.  With an AB in history from Dartmouth College, Gleason brings a strong understanding of the past to his historical fiction.  He is married, has threerant sons and lives in Virginia.

For more information please visit www.jboycegleason.com.


The Giveaway!


This great giveaway is for

1 Paperback copy of
Anvil of God

To Win:
Leave a blog post letting us know why you would 
like to read this book!

Rules:
This giveaway is open to US entrants
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All entrants must be at least 13

Don't Be Burned by "Ashes to Ashes"

Ashes to Ashes Title:  Ashes to Ashes
Author:  Melissa C. Walker
Format: Print
Length:  356 pages
Publisher:  Harper TEEN
Rating:  2 Stars

If I Stay meets the movie Ghost in this first book in a teen duology about a teenage-girl-turned-ghost who must cling to the echoes of her former life to save the people she left behind.

Ashes to Ashes is author Melissa Walker's sweeping, romantic, and emotionally rich story about the things that torment and tempt us, even from the Great Beyond. This book is perfect for fans of Die for Me and Imaginary Girls, and its breathtaking ending will leave readers anxiously awaiting the series conclusion, Dust to Dust.

When Callie's life is cut short by a tragic accident, she expects to find nothingness, or maybe some version of heaven.

Instead, her spirit travels to the Prism, an ethereal plane populated by the ghosts she thought were fictional. Here she meets a striking and mysterious ghost named Thatcher, who is meant to guide her as she learns to haunt and bring peace to the loved ones she left behind.

However, Callie uncovers a dark secret about the spirit world: The angry souls who always populate ghost stories are real, dangerous, and willing to do whatever it takes to stay on Earth, threatening the existence of everyone she ever cared about.

As she fights to save them, Callie will learn that while it may no longer beat, her heart can still love-and break.  -Goodreads


My Thoughts
Melissa Walker's sojourn into the realm of Paranormal YA, a.k.a. Ashes to Ashes, is touted as Ghost meets If I Stay.  What we really have here is a great premise falling victim to shoddy execution.
Though the protagonist's death occurs at lightening speed, some two chapters into the read, and is proceeded by both the means of death and tell-tell reckless behavior; the time that she spends in the limbo land known as Prism, pining for the life and love that she lost seems to go on forever.

Oh wait, there is a break in the pining to form an attachment of the insta-love kind to her hunky and seemingly unattainable guide, Thatcher.  
My question?
How can you go all doe eyed over Thatcher, when you are still trying to help your grieving boyfriend deal with the fact that you have officially left him for the afterlife?

There is some relief from the confusion and angst in the form of rogue ghosts Reena, Delia, Norris, and Leo.  They are hard to relate to as true baddies however, coming off more as fun loving pranksters of the spirit kind.

The last 25% of the book is where all the action is.  There is where all the secrets are revealed, baddies are thwarted, and Dorthy gets to click her heals and go home.

This is book that would have fared far better as a novella.  There is simply not enough story here to justify the book's length.  This is also a book whose premise has been better executed by books such as Hereafter, by Tara Fuller.





A Book Blogger's Thank You!


With Thanksgiving fast approaching,
I thought that I would take a little 
break from my usual reviews to say
Thank You...
to all of the people who help make 
WTF ARE YOU READING?
possible.
I never thought that my simple wish
to share my love of reading,
would help to brighten the lives of so many readers and
give wind to the wings of so many wonderful authors.

It has truly been one of the greatest honors of my life to 
have shared this journey with all of you!

Just a warning...
This list is a bit more than ten!

Jessica@CrossroadReviews
Read ON
(You Know I Love You)

Little Brown & Co.
Random House
Net Galley
Edelwiess
Kensington
MacTeen
Epic Reads
Fierce Reads
Amazon
The Orange County Public Library
Simon & Schuster
Gallery Books
Harper Collins/ Harper TEEN
Harlequin/Harlequin TEEN
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Sourcebooks
Viking
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and...
My Awesome
READERS!

and...
AUTHORS AUTHORS AUTHORS!

Thank you all!


Meet The New Stars of Romance at FLAUNT + A Sweet GIVEAWAY!



FlauntFlirt

Flirts and Flaunts are palate-teasing novellas designed to satisfy readers’ cravings for romance without the time commitment required to invest in a full-length novel. The lines focus on historical and contemporary romances from classic styles to categories to off-beat stories with a unique twist, but with one thing in common: a happy ending and the promise of love. We’ve discovered several fresh new voices through the Entangled Novella lines, and transformed their success in short fiction into a strong presence in the Entangled Select and Entangled Teen lines. So take a chance and flirt with romance or flaunt your desire.



Conned
by: Chloe Cole

 

Book Information:
Human sexuality professor Cricket Malloy typically likes bad boys, but when buttoned-up science teacher Tucker Lamb needs help with an experiment on aphrodisiacs, she goes the extra mile to help him out. After all, what could go wrong? He’s totally harmless…
Tucker Lamb was born into a life of a grifter. He used to pride himself on his fast fingers and quicksilver tongue, but ever since being placed in the witness protection program, he’s been on the up and up. Still, something about Cricket Malloy makes him ache to see if his tongue is as fast as it used to be.

Buy Links:
Barnes & Noble Buy Link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/conned-chloe-cole/1108897924?ean=9781622664085


Author Information:








Cowboy’s Way
by: Cathryn Fox



Book Information:
Sports medicine doctor and weekend cowboy, Chase Cooper, is ready to settle down, and he’s beginning to wonder if his best friend from high school, Mari Blair, could be the one that got away.  Coop and his buddies have come up with a plan, but he never imagined it would be Mari’s sister, Julia—the girl who was always off-limits—, who would take him up on his invitation.
When lawyer, Julia Blair, finds herself on a dude ranch half way across the country, only to discover the invitation was meant for her vivacious twin sister, she knows she has two choices—go home alone or walk a day in her sister’s shoes. When she sets eyes on sexy cowboy Chase Cooper, the choice becomes easy. She's determined to stay and have some carefree fun while at the ranch.
Coop can’t believe the mix up, but when he discovers Julia wants to play, then play they will. When things get steamy and playtime becomes so much more, he’s determined to prove she’s the girl for him. And he’s not above using a few tricks of the trade to get his point across…

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Falling for the CEO
by: Audra North


Book Information:
Finance genius Meredith Klaus prefers numbers to people, especially around the holidays. At least the large sum of money that’s mysteriously vanished from the company accounts will distract her from the ghosts of Christmases past. Until her sexy boss asks her to be his last-minute date to a fundraiser gala, that is, and the promise of a special evening calls to something long-buried in her.
Andrew Stanton, Manhattan’s best-known philanthropist, has worked hard building his reputation in the industry. He offers to work closely with Meredith to fix his company’s financial crisis, but the more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to look at her as just a colleague.
A beautiful dress. A handsome man on her arm. A challenge she can’t refuse. Can they find the missing money and fulfill their holiday wishes, or will Meredith be unable to overcome the demons of her past and lose her chance at happiness?

Buy Links:
Barnes & Noble Buy Link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-falling-for-the-ceo-audra-north/1117313830?ean=9781622664092



Author Information (optional):









If You Dare
by: Jessica Lemmon



Book Information:
SHE'LL MAKE HIM A BET…
Lily McIntire is tired of losing every office wager to her overly cocky—and yeah, devilishly handsome—coworker, Marcus Black. After a few too many tequila shots, and a taunt from Marcus that she's a wuss, Lily lays down a bet he can't refuse: One night in the abandoned and spooky Willow Mansion alone for his recent office win, a trip to Hawaii.
HE CAN'T REFUSE…
There's only one thing Marcus wants more than his upcoming vacation to Hawaii, it's to take his sexy coworker on a real date. Every time he's tried to get close to her, she's shut him down cold. Too bad the sexual tension just keeps climbing the charts. Now, he'll have to scare her out of the mansion if he has any chance of going out on a real date with her any time soon.
UNTIL ALL BETS ARE OFF…
But in between trying to scare Lily out of her pants and get his hands into them, Marcus realizes there’s more to Willow Mansion than either of them counted on. Suddenly, it’s not just he and Lily that are going "bump in the night".  If they manage to survive the night and escape the mansion unscathed, can they survive each other in the light of day? Or will what happens at Willow Mansion stay at Willow Mansion?

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Playing Doctor
by: Jan Meredith


Book Information:
Synopsis
When a fellow RN jokingly predicts that Beth Roberts will meet a tall, ripped and totally lick-o-licious stranger who will fulfill her deepest desires, it’s supposed to be from across a crowded room, not giving CPR to a wedding guest. Given her tragic love life, Beth has no desire to become involved again, but who could have predicted the ponytailed doctor with the mischievous smile would break through her defenses?

Dr. Gabriel North blamed himself for his wife’s death. Now, after two years of battling guilt and meaningless hookups, he’s ready to move on. When he sees the sexy brunette at his friend’s wedding, his attraction is swift and strong, and he wastes no time in pressing his advantage. One night with the woman who makes him feel alive again isn’t enough, but gaining her trust as a man was going to take more than medical school had prepared him for.

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Author Information:








Take a Chance series bundle
by: Diane Alberts

 

Book Information:
TRY ME
What happens in Vegas...can lead to romance.It took one wild night for Sergeant Jeremy Addison to realize that Vegas? Was a bad idea.Bloody. Bruised. Dehydrated. Abandoned in the desert, and left to stagger down the road. The only way this leave could get worse was if his savior was his ex-best friend's sister...and the girl he'd loved since childhood.
The last person Erica expected to find on the roadside was her high school crush. She hadn't seen Jeremy in seven years—ever since the night he said he loved her, and she ran away. Losing him then had been a mistake, but wanting him now could be catastrophic if he discovered the secret that chased every other man from her life. But with a tall, tattooed Marine determined to prove he's always been faithful, can Erica resist his advances...or will she surrender ground and give love a try?
LOVE ME
Thomas Jones has come to Vegas to win yet another account for his marketing company. But when he sits across from beautiful and sensual Brianna Falk to deliver his pitch, his desire to leave Vegas as quickly as possible is replaced by the need to get closer to her. Yet she resists his charm.Brianna knows a date with Thomas could jeopardize her job, but he’s so maddening and insistent, she has a hard time denying him just one date. But that’s all it can be: one date. Because she has to protect her job and her secrets, even if it means giving up a chance at a life she never thought she’d have again.
PLAY ME
Even the best-laid plans can go awry. Single-mom Kiersten Worth knows a bottle of champagne and night of hot, no-strings-attached sex is the perfect solution to her jilted bride blues…and Garrett Kelly, long-time friend and her teenaged son’s sexy basketball coach, is just the stud for the job. Garrett wants more from the elusive temptress than a casual affair, but he never expects it to come in the form of an unexpected pregnancy. When he proposes an unorthodox solution—move in and raise their baby together—Kiersten has to decide whether to let down her guard and open her heart to the man who secretly loved her for years, or risk losing his tender embrace for good.
TAKE ME
Married in the morning…Professional heartbreaker Mike Worth thrived on the chase—and dancer Morgan Collins represented the ultimate prize. But there was no way he was going to throw away his single-man status…not even for an elusive redhead with sparkling eyes and mile-long legs. So how did he let one drunken Vegas night end with I do instead of hell no?
Morgan’s life revolved around her career and she had no intention of letting a man interfere—even if Mike made her question all her rules about love. At his urging, she reluctantly agreed to give their spur-of–moment marriage a chance. But once their trial-honeymoon ended, would she choose to follow the dance and leave her unforgettable husband behind?

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Author Information:





 







Giveaway:
Grand Prize: Kindle Fire
Second Place: $50 Victoria Secret Gift Card
Third Place: $25 Amazon/B&N Gift Card