The Seahorse Legacy Blog Tour

Welcome to Seasons of Humility's stop along The Seahorse Legacy blog tour! It's my absolute pleasure to feature the third book in the "Eyes of E'veria" series today (you can read my reviews of Books 1 and 2 HERE and HERE, respectively). Let's start with my thoughts on the book, shall we?

Here's a description of the book:

a Pirate
bound by a centuries-old oath

a Knight
determined to prove her calling

a Legacy
demanding surrender

As Keeper of the Seahorse Legacy, Cazien de Pollis is a King among pirates, divinely appointed to dispense justice on the seas. Bound by the sacred oath of a long-dead ancestor, he must fulfill a contract to wed the green-eyed Oracle’s Daughter named therein — or risk losing everything he and his people hold dear. But at nineteen, with the identity of his betrothed only recently revealed, Cazien resents the contract — and the urgency within him to see it satisfied.

Erielle de Gladiel returned from the quest for the Remedy, changed. Not only are her formerly-blue eyes now a brilliant shade of green, but she must don gloves to hide inky evidence that her prophetically-bestowed title, the Oracle’s Daughter, demands more from her than the task already completed. Erielle’s dearest-held dream is realized when she is knighted by her King, but unbeknownst to her, that very honor jeopardizes the prophesied purpose to which she and Cazien have been called.

Just as Cazien summons the courage to collect his bride, dark rumors and darker deeds crawl up the coasts, calling its guardians, the Seahorse Pirates, into action — and Cazien away from Erielle. But even though the Oracle’s Daughter knows nothing of the contract to which she has been consigned, Cazien’s enemies have somehow learned of his interest in Erielle. And if they reach her before his ancestor’s weighty oath is executed, the Seahorse Legacy will be forfeited . . . and darkness will be given reign.

Subtly paying homage to several classic tales including Peter Pan, Robin Hood, The Little Mermaid, Much Ado About Nothing, and even The Three Little Bears, THE SEAHORSE LEGACY begins an epic re-imagining of the classic Grimm fairy tale, The Twelve Dancing Princesses, which will conclude in Eyes of E’veria, Book 4: THE SUNKEN REALM.

My Rating

Summer

My Review

Dark. Daring. Delightful! The Seahorse Legacy was everything I could have hoped for as a third installment in the "Eyes of E'veria" series and as the start of a new set within the series as a whole. Yes, I'm seriously desperate for the fourth installment (The Sunken Realm, releasing in 2015) - as there's a lot that still needs to be resolved. Yet, despite the setup (i.e.: background information) and the time the hero and heroine spend apart, I still found The Seahorse Legacy to be full of adventure and romance. While it doesn't necessarily stand alone, it's still satisfying enough on its own to warrant reading it now, even considering the wait for Book 4!

Erielle and Cazien are seriously an explosive pair. They each have their own dreams and duties - and a streak of independence as sharp as a dagger. Their story together is only just beginning, but the stories of their individual journeys of humility, obedience, and faith are quite powerful here. The scenes that brought me to tears were the ones where I could feel Erielle's embarrassment and devastation, so heartbreakingly authentic even as the pain is being used to bring her to the place where she needs to be.

Although there is quite a bit of time apart for these two, their chemistry sings when they're together. (Sometimes in a loud, rock-'n-roll sort of way, and sometimes in a boy-band love-song sort of way. *wink*) The anticipatory suspense between their "together" scenes made the Kindle pages fly for me. I wanted to see when they would meet up again, what would come of each new interaction, and when Cazien would finally come clean with Erielle!

We've got pirates (which means there are some rather violent scenes, just as a heads up); we've got danger and deception, a mystery, and a hero and heroine with a heart for others; and we've got a wild and intense ending that serves as a semi-pseudo HEA that's both touching and agonizing (keeping in mind the wait for The Sunken Realm). In other words, we've got another wonderful fantasy romance from Serena Chase!

*With thanks to the author for providing me with an e-ARC of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

Discover The Seahorse Legacy...

Amazon | Goodreads

And now for a fun interview with the author!

Amber: The “Eyes of E’veria” series continues! Wonderful to have you here to chat with us about it, Serena. :) Tell us, what can readers expect in this new season of the series? 

Serena: Thanks for having me, Amber! The Seahorse Legacy begins a brand new fairy tale retelling within the world created in the first two books. The biggest shift for readers of The Ryn (book 1) and The Remedy (book 2) will be, of course, new lead characters, since Rynnaia E’veri and Julien de Gladiel reached their “Happily Ever After” at the end of The Remedy. (I’m not considering that a spoiler, because given that this series is romantic fantasy, and the retelling of a fairy tale, an HEA is kind of a given—it’s the adventure getting there that is the story!)

The first 2-book set in the series was told through Rynnaia’s point of view, but this latest installment features dual protagonist point of views, both of whom we met as minor characters in the first two books: reader-favorite Cazien de Pollis, a pirate, and Erielle de Gladiel, Julien’s sixteen year old sister. Both Cazien and Erielle can be quite charming when they want to be, but no one would accuse them of being “sweet.” Their particular brands of “charm” define and differentiate their dialogue, internal monologues, goals, and even the way they flirt and fight from that of their predecessors, Rynnaia and Julien. This is a faster-paced, much more violent story with a subtle, overall edginess that was not present in the first two books; an edginess one would tend to expect from a pirate hero like Cazien and a heroine such as Erielle, who defies convention.

Amber: I love your descriptions of the differences between the first hero/heroine and this new pair. So true! And yes, this story definitely came across as more violent/edgy - but a heart-pounding, emotion-tugging way.

Now, how does The Seahorse Legacy signal a new season for Erielle? 

Serena: Having her point of view front and center is fun. She’s pretty outspoken and all about the girl power. Her confident voice is very different from Rynnaia’s, and yet her youth is still apparent. At the end of The Remedy, Erielle had achieved her dearest-held dream, but in The Seahorse Legacy she discovers that getting what you want comes with its own set of challenges and disappointments. She has recently discovered a troubling connection to her ancestor, Lady Anya, (aka The Oracle Scribe) that goes beyond blood and into the realms of the supernatural, so she has a lot to figure out. She is privileged and stubborn, young and driven. Unfortunately, she also has a few entitlement issues and believes herself to be totally self-reliant. Erielle has not yet come to a place of brokenness from which she can grow, but it seems to be stalking her with great—and perhaps quite literal—intent.

Amber: Ah, yes. Erielle goes through quite a lot in this book...

But let's talk pirates! Do you have a favorite—fictional, historical, or otherwise? 

Serena: Other than Cazien? *laughs* I love my Cazien best! But if I had to pick a favorite fictional pirate not of my own creation, it would be a tie between The Dread Pirate Roberts (from The Princess Bride) and Captain Jack Sparrow (from Pirates of the Caribbean). I also adore Captain Shakespeare, as portrayed by Robert DeNiro in Stardust and Captain Killian “Hook” Jones is pretty much the only reason I’m still watching ABC’s Once Upon a Time. Pretty much any time a pirate becomes a hero, I’m in love.

On the girl-power end of the spectrum, the true story of 16th century Irish pirate and chieftain Gráinne Ní Mháille (aka Grace O’Malley), as well as the fictionalized version of her life, as told in the short-lived Broadway musical The Pirate Queen, are both very entertaining and inspiring.

Amber: Great list! And yes, Cazien counts. ;) 

Speaking of favorites, it must be asked... What is your favorite fairy tale, and what makes it stand out to you? 

Serena: If you asked my mom, she would likely list three stories—my most-requested read-to-me stories in childhood. The first is Snow White & Rose Red (not to be confused with Snow White), which served as the base tale for the first two books in the Eyes of E’veria series. Next would be The Twelve Dancing Princesses, which is the tale I am reimaging beginning with The Seahorse Legacy (although the most recognizable details from that fairy tale will appear in its sequel, The Sunken Realm, coming in 2015). But as my mom would tell you, and I would have to agree, as a little girl, Cinderella was the standout—and I have a fairly large collection of Cinderella books to prove it! Some are novel-length retellings, some are storybooks or Goldenbooks, a few are graced with beautiful illustrations, one is an antique family heirloom, one is a gender-bender (The Irish Cinder Lad), and several are comic and beyond cheesy (ever heard of Dinorella? Cinderella Penguin? Rufferella? I got ’em.)

Amber: LOL! Love it. What’s next on the publishing horizon for you? Will Cazien and Erielle make a return? 

Serena: Indeed they shall return! Caz & Erielle have much left to do and it will take a second book in this set to accomplish it! The Sunken Realm (Eyes of E’veria, book 4) is currently under construction and will release in 2015. After that, I am taking a break from fairy tales and all-things-E’veria to finish the first draft of a paranormal novel that has a chick-lit/rom com vibe, and to put the finishing touches on a contemporary YA inspy romance that is almost ready to send out the door. I love E’veria and fantasy and expect to come back to it someday, but I am looking forward to letting my snarky, sarcastic side off the chain in that paranormal!

Amber: As I've said on Twitter, I am desperate for The Sunken Realm! And I'm so excited about your paranormal novel...can't wait to hear more about that! Thank you for sharing with us today, Serena. :)

Giveaways!

Thanks to Serena's generosity, we have two giveaways today!

This first giveaway is specifically for Seasons of Humility readers, so enter away, dear friends!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
And this second giveaway is a tour-wide drawing for paperbacks of the series!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Gift of a Sunflower

Have you met blogger Shantelle H.? She recently started blogging at A Writer's Heart, and already she's got some fabulous posts up! It's always a treat to welcome a new friend to the blogosphere.

Shantelle very kindly included me among the recipients of the Sunflower Blogger Award. The award image is so pretty and cheery, and the "rules" so fun that I couldn't resist putting together my "acceptance post." ;)

Apparently the "in" number is 11, as the rules are to share 11 facts about yourself, answer 11 questions, then ask some bloggers 11 new questions as you pass along the award. So let's start with the facts! Since a lot of you know the basics about me, I'll kind of use this as a way to catch you up on some news...

11 "Facts" About Me, Myself, and I

1. I've been blogging for over 4 years here, and over 3 years at The Borrowed Book (on Mondays). I ♥ blogging!


2. One of my goals for 2014 was to get a part-time job within the first few months of the year. And in April, I started working part-time at a local grocery store right near my house. (Yay!) While it's been quite a different experience for me (vs. only freelancing from home), I've made some new friends, learned some new skills, and definitely had some lessons in humility. :) All in all, I'm really grateful I've had this opportunity!


3. After this week, though, I'll no longer be working at the grocery store. But you'll have to wait a bit longer to find out why! 


4. Yes, I'm a tease. Figured I might as well make this its own point.


5. I have an author newsletter (you can sign up HERE). I should be sending out the second edition very soon, hopefully!


6. I've been sadly absent lately on my series blog. :( If anyone has any post requests, please do let me know! Behind-the-scenes info, character spotlights, snippets from my WIP, sales/marketing news... I'd love to know what interests you!


7. I was toying with the idea of having a new blog for my freelance publicity business. Due to that news of which I must remain silent a little longer, plans have changed. So I'm now considering creating a blog/site for my publisher, instead. 


8. I'm considering this because I think I'll be going a different direction with my writing after I finish "The Heart's Spring" series (well, "finish" for now, as who knows if I might want to revisit it later on down the road!). It might be nice to have sort of a "home base" for Seasons of a Story Publishing beyond my series blog. Would that be helpful/appealing to you?


9. Yes, I realize I'm mostly rambling about my current life and asking you questions. I guess the fact that I realize this is sort of a fact about me, right?


10. I just finished reading The Seahorse Legacy by Serena Chase, and it was so good!! I'll be reviewing the book and interviewing the author here this Friday, as one of the blog tour stops. Not to be missed!


11. Today is my 23rd birthday. :) I'm not really throwing a blog party this year, but I thought this would be a fun celebratory sort of post for today! 

 Me on my first day of work. :)

Here's another "off the list" sort of fact: I own a book called A Handful of Flowers that lists different flowers and their meanings, and includes a lot of beautiful pictures and literary quotes. I decided to look up what the sunflower means, but the only reference I could find was to the dwarf sunflower, which apparently means "adoration." Sweet, no? And I do adore all my blogging friends!

Just for fun, if I were to pick a meaningful bouquet today, it might include the lesser celandine (even if it is considered a weed...), the bellflower, the centaury, and the sweet pea. So the message I'd like to convey is one of "future joy," "gratitude," "felicity," and "departure." And I think the yellow, purples, and pinks could look pretty together! ;)

Now, here are my responses to Shantelle's questions:

11 Responses

Shantelle: What is your favorite book (or one of them)?

Me: Oh, good - I'm grateful for the "one of them" option, as it's too hard to pick a favorite (beyond the Bible, of course)! For the sake of naming one, I'll say Entwined by Heather Dixon, which really enchanted me the first time I read it - and it's one I'd love to read again soon. You can see my virtual shelf of favorites on Shelfari.

Shantelle: What is your favorite book genre?

Me: Once upon a time I would say inspirational historical romance...and it still is one of my favorites, for sure! But I've also come to love some romantic fantasy books, as well as some contemporary romance. Young Adult reads have opened up a new realm for me, I think, along with the way self-publishing and the like have allowed Christian fiction to branch out. :)

Shantelle: Do you prefer winter or summer?

Me: While I love Christmas, I'm definitely going to have to go with summer. Summer means sunshine, day trips, family time. It feels more hopeful, a time when everything is at its peak, you know?

Shantelle: Who is your favorite historical figure and why?

Me: Hmmm... That's a tough one! When I was in high school I wrote fictional pieces on Amelia Earhart and Pocahontas, and they both fascinate me. Since reading Falk's Claim by Jon Humboldt Gates and writing about Falk in Bleeding Heart and Fairy Slippers, I'm intrigued by Noah Falk and his lumber town.

But I think I'll have to go with Mark Twain. For one, I really enjoyed The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Secondly, I loved learning about his connection with Virginia City, Nevada - and I got to see his desk at one of the museums there, which was very cool. And thirdly, the movie Mark Twain and Me was one I enjoyed watching with my grandparents and uncle. I love the way he had fun with his writing - how witty and humorous he was! And yet he wasn't afraid to write about controversial and important matters of humanity. His life, from what I know of it, was quite an adventurous one.

I'm sure I'll probably think of other historical figures after I've posted this, but really, some of my favorites of any category are ones that hold special memories for me in one way or another. Plus, I'm in love with history, period, and the ordinary yet extraordinary people who lived before this time.

Shantelle: A few movies you enjoy...?

Me: Anne of Green Gables, The Journey of Natty Gann, Tuck Everlasting, You've Got Mail, Brother Bear, The Croods

Shantelle: Do you like cake or pie better?

Me: Definitely cake! Although my mom does make a delicious chocolate cream pie. :)

Shantelle: How would you rather read, on Kindle or with paperback?

Me: Well, I absolutely love paperbacks - the look of them, the feel of them, the way you can flip through pages and stack them all together in pretty rows. I'm really rather fond of them, and I enjoy holding a book in my hands as I read.

However, I will say that the longer I've had it, the more I've fallen in love with my Kindle. I love that I can have so many reading options on one slim little device. While I'm not overly fond of the PDF format on there (the words are so small!), in general, I love how easy it is to read and click through the book. I love the highlight option (no highlighter required!); the ability to organize my books; the lightning speed of adding new books through purchasing on Amazon or downloading review files; and (echoing Kara of Flowers of Quiet Happiness) the way you can keep the reading experience a little more private, since no one can see the cover.

So...paperbacks will always have a special place in my heart, but I do rather enjoy reading on my Kindle!

Shantelle: Who are two of your favorite authors?

Me: Since I mentioned earlier about finishing her latest, I'll say Serena Chase, as well as Lena Goldfinch (my cover designer and fabulous author friend).

Shantelle: If you could live in any time period (past, present, or future), what would you choose?

Me: Well, part of me wants to say the 19th century in the American West, because that's the era of history that fascinates me the most. It's raw. It's wild and beautiful and deadly. It's full of so much to be explored.

But if this were a real choice with real consequences, I'd say I'd choose to live right here and now. Because really, this is where my life is, and it's a very blessed one. :)

Shantelle: Which do you like best, bright colors or pastels?

Me: Pastels. I'm fond of shades like lavender and periwinkle and mint green.

Shantelle: Are you more of a casual type, or do you like to dress up?

Me: Casual, for sure. Don't get me wrong - I love an opportunity to dress up! But one, those are few and far between. And two, I don't really wear makeup beyond coverup, and I don't really know how to make my hair look fancy, LOL. So...I cherish the times (like school dances) when I could dress up. I do like to wear nice shirts with pretty designs, too. But I'm a jeans gal. ;)

 A picture of Muffin Man...because he's adorable.

11 Tagged Bloggers and Their 11 Questions

Here are the 11 bloggers I'm tagging, if they'd like to participate! No pressure. :)

• Renee of Black 'n Gold Girl's Book Spot
• Rachelle of Inspiring Daring
• Kara of Flowers of Quiet Happiness
• Rissi of Dreaming Under the Same Moon
• Melanie of Christian Bookshelf Reviews
• Grace of Fictionally
• Tammy of Bluerose's Heart
• Brooke of i blog 4 books
• Faye of Labor Not in Vain
• Kate of Too Read or Not Too Read
• Miranda of To Be A Person

And here are my 11 questions for them:

1. What's one book you already know will go on your list of favorites for 2014? 
2. What's one book you're looking forward to reading this summer?
3. What's your favorite type of blog post to read?
4. What's your favorite type of blog post to write/put together?
5. Hardcover or paperback?
6. For paperbacks, soft cover (matte) or glossy?
7. Which do you enjoy most: Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, or Goodreads?
8. Which national park or country would you most like to visit?
9. What's your favorite genre of music?
10. Name one movie or TV show that surprised you recently.
11. What's your favorite flower?

Phew! This has been a long post, hasn't it? Sorry I got kind of carried away with everything...but it was fun! Thanks again to Shantelle for prompting me to write this post. :) I do so adore blogging, and I'm grateful for you, dear readers and blogging friends! Hope June is off to a lovely start for all of you. ♥

Cats Are Part of His Kingdom, Too Tour Winners!

Well, it's finally time! May has come to a close, as has the giveaway for the Cats Are Part of His Kingdom, Too blog tour. (You can click HERE and scroll down to get an overview of the tour, if you missed it!)

Readers submitted their reviews of Cindy Vincent's cat-themed devotional to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Goodreads as entries for the special giveaway, and it was awesome to see all the positive remarks. Cindy's sweet and simple words of encouragement, including quotes from Scripture and stories about her cats and their dependence on her, has struck a chord with cat-lovers. :)

Out of those who submitted their review links via the Rafflecopter form, we have three winners, thanks to Cindy's generosity!

Winner of the Swarovski cross necklace is...

Allison R.!

Winners of the Buckley & Bogey Cat Detective Capers sets (two books for each winner) are...

Jean F. and Faith/Faye O.!

Congratulations to all the winners! I will be sending you all emails shortly. :) 

Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed the book, and all who helped spread the word about the tour and giveaway. You made the tour a success by taking the time to share your thoughts and spread the kindness! ♥

If this is your first time hearing about Cats Are Part of His Kingdom, Too, you can learn more and pick up your own copy on Amazon or Barnes & Noble!

Five Enchanted Roses Contest and Cover Reveal!

Anne Elisabeth Stengl and her Rooglewood Press are at it again! I'm sure many of you are familiar with last year's Five Glass Slippers writing contest that culminated in this month's upcoming release of Five Glass Slippers, a Cinderella-themed novella collection.

Shameless Plug: That contest inspired Fairy Slippers, my companion short story to Bleeding Heart. :) (Now available as part of a combo ebook on Amazon; you can learn more HERE.) 

Shameless plug aside... Today is all about a brand new writing contest, very similar in style but featuring a different fairy tale. Read on to learn more and to check out the gorgeous cover that will be used for the finished product!

* * * 

Rooglewood Press is delighted to introduce their second fairy tale novella contest—

 

Five Enchanted Roses 

a collection of “Beauty and the Beast” stories 

The challenge is to write a retelling of the beloved fairy tale in any genre or setting you like. Make certain your story is recognizably “Beauty and the Beast,” but have fun with it as well. Make it yours!

Rooglewood Press will be selecting five winners to be published in the Five Enchanted Roses collection, which will be packaged up with the gorgeous cover you see displayed here. Perhaps your name will be one of the five displayed on this cover?

All the contest rules and information (how to enter, story details, deadline etc.) may be found on the Rooglewood Press website. Just click HERE and you will go right to the page.

Rooglewood Press’s first collection, Five Glass Slippers, is available for pre-order now and will be released on June 14. Do grab yourself a copy and see what these talented writers have done with the timeless “Cinderella” tale!

* * * 

Two additional points to note:

1. I just finished reading Five Glass Slippers - such a fun, whimsical, wonderful collection! I'll be posting my review later this month, so be on the lookout for that.
2. The cover for Five Enchanted Roses was designed by Julia Popova, “ForestGirl.” You can find out more about this gifted artist on her website: www.forestgirl.ru 

Will you be entering the contest? What are your thoughts on the cover and the fairy-tale choice?

Still: Author Interview with Eniola Prentice

It's always exciting to tour a debut novel 'round the blogosphere! Still is a story of med students, penned by someone who recently went through medical school, herself. Here's a more informational look at the book...

A broken soul, 

an alcoholic, 

a certifiable genius, 

a Christian man,

and a secret that will destroy the bonds of their friendship. 

When self-proclaimed atheist Fadesola gets into medical school, she believes that it’s a fresh start of sorts for her. Until she discovers that her classmate is charming and handsome Tayo Smith, a man she encountered in a violent moment years ago. This revelation shatters Fadesola’s already fragile emotional state, but hope comes where she least expects it. A seemingly innocent friendship with Tayo’s friend, Ladi, slowly develops into a smoldering relationship, with both afraid to acknowledge their mutual feelings. Things get even more complicated when Nikky, Fadesola’s classmate and friend, ignores her desperate warnings and decides that Tayo is the man she is meant to be with. However, within the complexities of this friendship these flawed individuals will experience God’s redemptive grace in a setting each believed his love would never find them. Still, the first book of a four-part series, is a coming-of-age story about navigating through medical school in the first year, complete with hilarious hookups and breakups, legendary parties and incessant studying, and experiencing the triumph of success and disappointment of failure. 

Eniola Prentice, in her extraordinary debut novel, has written a gripping and thought-provoking story that examines Christianity, mental illness, suicide, and alcoholism.

An original and intriguing premise, no? Let me introduce you to the author...

* * * 

Amber: Congratulations on your debut, Eniola! How would you describe your journey as an indie author so far?

Eniola: Thank you so much! I would describe it as definitely interesting and challenging. I have had a steep learning curve. I have had to change my plans and adjust, as things changed. My best advice for anyone is that you have to press the mute button at some point. There is so much advice out there on writing, publishing, marketing - some good and others definitely bad. It’s important you trust God and drown out other voices and just take the leap of faith. It has also been a rewarding experience because indie publishing can be very nurturing and collaborative. I have formed connections with people that I never thought was possible.

Amber: I understand what you're saying about the overwhelming amount of "advice" out there. And so true about the wonderful relationships the journey fosters!

So, what have you learned/gained in the medical field that helped you grow as a writer? Anything we can learn from, as well? :)

Eniola: LOL. That is definitely an interesting question. I would say perseverance. My journey through medical school was not typical and it took a dogged faith in God to get me through. Most times I don’t believe it’s my faith that got me through but by His grace. You experience a lot of rejection while writing and publishing a novel; it’s inevitable. The determination I learnt from medical school enabled me to continue writing, continue pushing, continue marketing, to continue doing what I had to do when most times I did not feel like or did not even believe in my novel anymore. However, the perseverance God has given me helped me get up again whenever I felt discouraged.

Amber: Great takeaway! Now is Still part of a series, or is it a stand-alone?

Eniola: It’s part of a series just because I wanted to present an accurate portrayal of each year of medical school. Although it’s part of a series, I want to plan the series so any reader could read any novel of the series and enjoy it without having to read the preceding series.

Amber: Nice! Which of your characters are you most eager for readers to meet? Which character’s story resonates the most with you as the author?

Eniola: I am most eager for readers to meet Nikky. She’s very feisty and she’s the character whose personality mirrors mine. She has the personality I show my close friends. She’s also very childlike and I love her innocence.

Fadesola’s story resonates with me the most. She was the most difficult for me to write because I put exaggerated portions of the more challenging aspects of my life in her. Even during the editing process I did not like to read her parts in the novel because it was difficult. She resonates with me the most because she does not understand her strength even in her brokenness. Like a lot of us, she has yet to grasp the width of God’s love for her. The love she has been searching for is right in front of her.

Amber: Nikky does sound like a fun character! And characters like Fadesola, though not as "fun," certainly have a lot to offer both the reader and authors in their journeys, don't they?

My blog being what it is, I have to ask - what is your favorite season? How might it tie into the current “season” of your writing career?

Eniola: LOL. I really do love these questions. My favorite season is spring. It’s not too hot and not too cold. It ties in perfectly to the season of my writing career because it’s a time of new beginnings for me. I am publishing my debut novel and starting medical residency in a new city all at the same time. It’s almost a time for me to reset and open the next chapter of my life. I would like to walk into it boldly and with grace and I am enjoying every minute of the “newness” of the journey.

Amber: Glad you liked the questions, Eniola. :) Thanks for responding to them! I can totally relate to you with that "spring" season of life right now. God bless you in this new beginning!

* * *

 

Connect with the Author

Blog | Facebook | Google+ | Twitter

Purchase the Book

Kindle | Paperback | Smashwords

Giveaway!

Eniola is offering a generous giveaway in honor of her debut's release! One person will win a signed paperback copy of Still, a $40 Amazon gift card, and a mystery gift. The winner will be announced on the last day of the tour, June 17th, on Eniola's blog and then notified by email. The giveaway is only open to residents in the United States.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
P.S. Don't forget to follow the rest of the tour HERE!

Missing Lily Blog Tour with Review

Here's a description of the book:

“You don’t know who I am,” I whispered. He didn’t move—either away from me, or closer—and after an interminable moment, I stepped back and hurried out of the house. 

He didn’t follow me as I fled into the night. 

 Lylin was not used to being alone—much less alone, hurt, and lost. So when she is separated from her guard and forced to abandon her horse, she counts herself lucky to stumble upon a manor house. Still frightened by those who chased her into the night, she keeps her identity a secret, calling herself Lily as she accepts the help of kind servants, and the compassion of Lord Fallon. When they fall into an easy friendship, she wonders if her secrecy was too hasty. However, as she gets to know the manor and its residents, Lylin discovers that she’s not the only one hiding secrets, and it may be a very good thing that her host doesn’t know her true identity as a member of the royal family.

My Rating

Fall/Spring

My Review

Missing Lily is a simply sweet YA romance story that includes a hero with a tiny bit of brooding but mostly a lot of heart. It's an easy read that's not steeped in research but has enough of a historical setting to appeal to the imagination (complete with a palace and monarchy).

The story starts out with a chase, hidden identity, and adorable romance. When it expands beyond the home of Lord Fallon to include Lylin's family and destined life, new complications arise that throw the hero and heroine into emotional chaos. What begins as something sort of along the lines of Belle stumbling upon Beast's castle in Beauty and the Beast (with a hero that's much quicker to reveal himself a gentleman, mind you) turns into a tale of jealousy, shattered hopes, misunderstandings, and bottled-up fears.

It's rather a frustrating read, in that sense, as so much could be resolved (or prevented) by open communication - but I suppose that's part of the fun of a romance, to a point! And the climax is rather dark for what was more of a lighter falling-in-love and being-thwarted-in-love story until then. While the romance is the driving force, there is an emphasis on familial relationships, as well - both functional and dysfunctional - which plays into that climax.

The wide emotional range didn't overly affect me, personally, but it still made for an interesting read, and there are some really cute moments (and...*potential minor spoiler alert, though you probably know it's coming!*...an eventual happily ever after). Larsen's first book, Just Ella, seems to be quite popular among fans of clean romance, and I imagine fans will find a lot to love with this overall sweet sequel.

*With thanks to I Am A Reader Blog Tours and the author for providing me with an e-copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

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About the Author (Annette K. Larsen)

I was born in Utah, part of a crazy, fun family of nine. I grew up in Flagstaff, AZ and St. Louis, MO before striking out on my own college adventure in Virginia. I decided to try my hand at writing novels after I was married and living in Idaho. I write clean romance because it’s my favorite genre, but often difficult to find.

I have Charlotte Brontë to thank for the courage to write novels. After being bombarded with assigned reading about women who justified abandoning either their families or their principles in the name of love, I had the great fortune of reading Jane Eyre. And that was it: finally, a heroine who understood that being moral and making the right choice was hard, and sometimes it hurt, but it was still worth it. After rereading it several years later, I realized that if I wanted more books to exist with the kinds of heroines I admired, then I might as well write a few myself. My books are about women who face hard choices, who face pain and rejection and often have to face the reality of sacrificing what they want for what is right. The consequences are often difficult or unpleasant, but in the end, doing what’s right will always be worth it. I believe there is no substitute for good writing or good chocolate. Fortunately, one often leads to the other.

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Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash  ~ Ends 6/15/14 

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced at I Am a Reader as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter, or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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Revell Blog Tour: While Love Stirs

Here's a description of the book from Revell:

"Take one lovely young woman. 
Add two ambitious young men. 
Stir . . . and stand back. 

As a graduate of Fannie Farmer's School of Cookery, Charlotte Gregory is thrilled to have the opportunity to travel, lecture, and give cooking demonstrations on the very latest kitchen revolution--the gas stove. And she certainly doesn't mind that the gas company has hired the kindhearted Lewis Mathis to entertain at her lectures.

Lewis encourages Charlotte's work, especially her crusade to introduce fresh, appetizing, nutritious food to those convalescing in hospitals. But young hospital superintendent Dr. Joel Brooks is not convinced any changes should be made--especially by this outspoken young woman.

When Charlotte and Joel are coerced into planning a fund-raising gala for the hospital, will this combustible pair explode?

Follow the second Gregory sister as she looks for true love and makes her way in a rapidly changing world in this breezy, lighthearted love triangle that will keep you guessing."

My Rating

Spring

My Review

I love Lorna Seilstad's take on historical fiction. It's fun. It's fresh. And it's fanciful within the realm of plausibility, as her stories play up unique historical settings and situations.

While Love Stirs explores everything from cooking, doctoring, rehabilitating, touring for a company, and even the theater (through the eyes of Charlotte's younger sister) - all at the turn of the century. The research behind it is intriguing; the way the research is incorporated is engaging. I enjoyed meeting the characters (for the first time, as I haven't read the first book in the series at this point) and witnessing the great battle between Charlotte and one of the young men who admires her. There's definitely a lot stirring in this story, from emotions to ambitions to romance to even a bit of mystery in a secondary character's storyline.

I confess to peeking ahead too much...so I didn't stay fully "in the moment" throughout the whole reading experience. But taking the time to go back and read through each scene was still enjoyable, as Seilstad does a great job with characterization. I just would have liked a little more from the climax.

And my second confession: I believe the back cover copy is sort of misleading. It certainly serves its purpose, as it caught my interest! But I personally didn't feel like the love triangle was much of a love triangle at all, nor was there a whole lot to be kept guessing about, at least in the main romance. (That could be partially a result of peeking ahead, though.) Based on all that the back cover promised, I would have loved a few more surprises - a little deviation from the expected. Yet some might delight to discover that the love triangle isn't overly prevalent.

So, based on my love of Lorna's first two books (in the "Lake Manawa Summers" series), as well as my hopes based on the back cover, I would have loved a bit "more" from this book. However, it's still really fun in the tradition of Lorna's last series - and readers looking for clean and clever historical romance need look no further. Tessa's secondary storyline gave a good taste for her character's personality and interests, so Book 3 in "The Gregory Sisters" series should be another fun installment!

*With thanks to Revell for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

Available May 2014 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.