• File Size: 589 KB
• Print Length: 340 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00CVK128Q
• Rating: 4/5
  

The Blurb:

The review:

This is a great fantasy book. It plays with fables about elves in  a way that I've yet to read before. I liked the characters a lot. There were moments when I was a bit lost, a few spots where I felt like it was a bit long, but those are my only complaints.

I felt like Emma did a great job investing in her characters and the world she built around them. I love the old stories mixed into the story that she's telling.

She did a great job at character development and arcs. I'm a big character person and I felt like you could connect with these ones!

In the end I wanted more, I wanted to know what happened next. It was a good read.

I recommend it for fantasy lovers and those that enjoy a book that will take you out of the world you're living and drop you into a new one with new rules!

About the Author:

Emma is a happy wife and homeschool mother of five living in the Pacific West Coast of the USA. Besides running a busy home, and looking after their five pets, which includes two cats, two bunnies and a Long-haired dachshund, she also writes stories for her children. She loves the Lord and His Word deeply, and when she doesn't have her nose in a book, she is telling her kids to get theirs in one.

Before you even ask- NO... I am not pregnant, nor do I ever want to be again. I have my match set...

So I bet you're wondering what my latest adventure is, right?

Besides busting my butt to get the rest of the BVS done, I've recently decided to launch a new "business" adventure. The quotations are there because when you get a hair and you decide to do something like this, you never know if it will succeed or fail!

Heads, you do great and you don't know why you didn't decide to do it before... Tails, well, we aren't talk about that.

I've already had one of these moments (No, we aren't talking about it!). The point is if tails comes, you pick yourself up, dust the boot print off your bum, and keep going.

I spent three years trying to get an agent/publisher to notice Bella Notte! Three years! In the end I went my own route. I never was told it was a terrible book, just that the market was too flooded, but that didn't stop me. Now look at me, working on the fourth book in the series along with a handful of other projects! NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS!

You never know what road they'll lead you down or the amazing people that it will bring into your life along the way (you know who you are, at least I hope you do!)...


Anyways, back to my announcement. I love to make stuff. I always have and probably always will. I've been a knitter since my mom taught me when I was a teen. She could never teach me in a way I could get how to crotchet. Go figure... I've made crafty things all my life. 

As an author, I had come across different places that would make custom designed stuff for you as an author... i.e. frame charms with your cover on the inside. How freaking cool is that?

Well, that got me thinking... I'm a writer, I know a lot of writers, I like to go crafty stuff... could I do it? 

Heck freaking yeah I can!

If we're friends on Facebook, then you've probably seen my "Swag Adventures" photo album. I had several very nice author lady friends volunteer the use of their covers for my "experiment" as I was calling.

I really wanted to know if I could actually do it. Could I make something that looked professional and like something someone would want to buy?

I did my research on some of the others out there doing something similar. I bought some to quality test. I mean, who doesn't want to know what they're up against, right?

I decided go for it!

I already had a domain I owned that was just sitting there from my last "adventure" and I decided, "why not revamp it?" So I did!

Skypirate Productions is now a custom design jewelry and swag company! Woot!

I also realized that swag isn't just for authors. I made a bracelet for my mother-in-law with pictures of my family dangling from small picture frames. I made a large 1 in cane charm for my father-in-law with a family photo on it. I've made dog tags for my dogs. I've done a custom piece for someone that I cannot say more before she's yet to give me her address so I can mail it to her!

My point being, if you need something fun and memorial with a specific photo, or even a graphic designed concept on it, I can do it! It's not just about the authors... It's about making dreams into realities!

I hope you'll stop by my newly revamped website www.skypirateproductions.com and check out what's there. I'm flipping my coin up in the air, let's hope it lands on heads this time!

Welcome to my stop on the Vampire's Saving Embrace Blog Tour. Make sure you check out the review and enter the giveaway!

About the Author:

Darlene Kuncytes was born and raised in Northeast Ohio. She has enjoyed writing ever since she can remember, and has always had a love for romance.

"A Vampire's Saving Embrace" is her first novella, of what will hopefully be many more. She has always loved the supernatural with a touch of suspense - not to mention the allure of finding one's soul mate.

She loves hearing from her fans- so be sure to drop her a line.

https://www.amazon.com/Darlene-Kuncytes/e/B00BIO0Ejy        
https://www/facebook.com/darlene.kuncytes
@VampireEmbrace                 
Also on Goodreads and Pinerest!!!
https://www.facebook.com/AVampiresSavingEmbrace

The Blurb:

The Review:

I'm not afraid to admit that although the story sounded really interesting. I didn't like the cover, and let's admit it, we do judge books by their covers. I'm not a big lusty cover kinda girl. So it took me a minute to get passed the cover, but once I did, I loved the story.

Darlene does an amazing job at weaving the supernatural world together with the real world. This is one of those books that make you wonder, "what if that happened to me?" We all need more books like that, the ones that make us take a moment from our lives and use our imaginations. Remember, that thing in your skull is good for something other than mathematical equations. Sometimes you can use it to create fantastical things. Thank you, Darlene for something that helps that underworked part of our brains. :)

The story was well written, the character development and arcs was great. I must say that my eyes kind of glaze over when I read romance novels through the sex scenes- it's just not my thing, but there are SO many amazing stories out there that have the lusty scenes that my mind just turns a blind eye. Yes, this book has sex scenes, they add the sexiness that many associate with vampires, but for me, the story was sexy. Darlene has a gift for writing that brings her reader into the world and makes them feel like they are right there with her characters.

This is the first story I've read from her, but I hope she has a lot more out there! I'd love to read them- even if it means I have some brain glazing over moments. I love the story!

I recommend this for paranormal romance lovers. It's a good read!

Excerpt

Chapter 1

Abigail Montgomery blew a stray strand of hair away from her face as she glared across the crowded bar - her eyes narrowed in frustration.

“I swear to God, Abs - you’re going to scare Mr. Hottie away with those looks you keep shooting his way. You look like you could peel the paint right off of the walls for crying out loud!” Kat, her co-worker yelled at her over the noise – gracing her with her best no nonsense scowl.

Abby gave Kat a disgusted grunt as her eyes stayed on the disturbingly handsome man sitting alone at the table on the other side of the bar.

He had been in Echo’s every night for the past three that Abby had worked. Sitting at the same damn table - nursing a bourbon, and watching her. He never approached or spoke to her - he just watched her work - his oh, so sensuous, full lips set in a grim line - and it was beginning to un-nerve her. This man was beyond model perfect, and it made Abby feel utterly intimidated and completely lacking. Just what in the hell was this man’s problem?

She took a deep, steadying breath and tore her eyes from him - trying to concentrate on something - anything other than his disturbing presence. She stooped down to grab a tray of clean glasses from beneath the bar, and unceremoniously dropped them with a resounding crash when she turned to find Mr. Gorgeous standing at the bar directly in front of her - his eyes locked on her face.

“Easy there, pet,” he whispered - the smooth, silky timber of his voice causing her to shiver slightly. Damn, but the man was delicious, she thought sourly.

He stood about six foot two and was unbelievably muscular – but not the steroid addled muscles of a body builder, she thought with a twinge – no… his muscles were real. Un-Godly real and painfully apparent beneath the very expensive shirt he wore. The man just reeked class and money. Cripes!

His hair was jet black and cut short to where it just touched the collar of said shirt in sexy, messy spikes. And his eyes - oh Lord, his eyes were sea blue and framed by unbelievably long, thick lashes. It should be illegal for a man to have such beautiful eyelashes she thought with a grunt. Yet, he was completely and irrevocably all man.

Abby felt a sudden surge of heat run through her as his eyes traveled over her face as he thoroughly appraised her - and she bit her bottom lip to stop her wayward thoughts. “Can I get you something?” she croaked out - immediately wincing at the tremor in her voice. Crap.

He smiled, his perfect white teeth glistening slightly - his eyes capturing and holding hers. “That depends, my pet - on just what it is that you are offering.” The wicked smile that came to his face caused Abby’s cheeks to burn, and an unwelcome heat to spread through her stomach as her entire body began to tingle.

Her hackles rose at the unwanted onslaught of it all and she glared. Abby did not like the effect this man was having on her in the least!

“Do you want another drink?” she ground out - her emerald eyes snapping fire as her cheeks blazed red – damn, was it getting warm in here? She silently wondered - hating how awkward and unsure she felt under his close scrutiny. He was holding her gaze as if he were looking into her very soul - and it was making her beyond uncomfortable in a completely embarrassing way. The guy had her entire body trembling.

“Actually…”

“Oh, Christ Abby,” Kat said, squatting down and starting to pick up the broken pieces of glass from the floor. “Are you all right?” Abby looked down at the fiery red-head and grimaced.

“Damn, Charlie is going to have my hide,” she whispered before glancing back up. She was startled to discover that Mr. Gorgeous was gone; and quickly searched the pulsating crowd on the dance floor - then the table where he had been seated for the past three days – but he was nowhere to be seen.

Abby felt a sudden rush of something that she wasn’t sure was relief or disappointment. She shook the thought off and bent down to help Kat with the mess she’d made; and groaned softly when she noticed that her hands were shaking. Damn, just what in the hell was wrong with her?

Abby was what most would call classically beautiful. She was 27, curvy in all the right places - five foot four inches tall with golden hair that hung to her shoulder blades in luminous waves; and deep emerald green eyes that took everyone who met her back instantly with their beauty. She was sweet and funny and seemed to put the people she met at ease immediately. Even though, she closed herself off from any outside activities. She always turned down the many dates she was asked on - preferring to keep her distance.

Kat on the other hand was full bodied and boisterous. Her flaming red hair matched her flaming personality and wild ways.

The two were complete opposites; but yet had quickly become best friends. Kat was Abby’s yin to her yang - the regulars at the bar calling them fire and ice.

“I saw you talking to that gorgeous piece - please tell me he was hitting on you.” Kat said, laughing happily - her eyes gleaming mischievously as she waggled her eyebrows at her friend.

Abby shook her head - not exactly sure what he had been doing. “No, he just wanted another drink,” she replied half-heartedly, and realized with a start that there was disappointment in her voice. She cursed herself again for her reaction to the man.  Good Lord!

“Damn it, Abs.” Kat reprimanded, her eyes narrowing. “You really need to quit playing the nun and flirt a little. That gorgeous drink of water has been here watching you, and only you for the past three nights,” she bit out in a huff. “This self- imposed celibacy of yours is wearing thin. You are just too damn beautiful to let all that go to waste.” Kat placed her hands on her hips and glared at her.

Abby shook her head and shrugged. She was doing just fine on her own. In fact, she liked her solitude. She always had. Even as a little girl, Abby was more comfortable strolling alone in the woods near whatever house they had been living in at the time - listening to the sounds of the forest, than spending time with others.  Although, if she were to be honest, she never really had the time to make any real friends. She and her mother had moved around often, and making and losing friends had just become too much for her. It was so much easier to just be on her own. No attachments meant - no hurt. “I’m fine.” She grumbled irritably – gracing her friend with her best scowl. “I am completely content with my life. Thank you very much!”

“Oh, come on Abigail!” Kat bit out, glaring right back at her. “You are one of the best people I know, and you deserve to be happy. Yet, you just continue to hide yourself away and wallow in your loneliness.”

“I am not lonely!” Abby snapped, her eyes blazing. “And I am not wallowing in anything!”

“Really? Well, that is definitely not how I see it. Honey, you need to kick up your heels a bit - and that man was about the finest specimen of the male gender that I have probably ever seen,” she continued – her voice softening a bit. “And, Abs, he was so totally into you. You have to move on for God’s sake. He’s not Eric. Not all men are sadistic assholes.”

Abby grimaced at the mention of her ex-boyfriend. She had worked extremely hard the past year to erase that abusive bastard from her life and her mind. Even though they had only been together for a little over four months, the damage he had done to her mentally and physically remained, and she caught herself touching the tiny scar under her chin with her finger. No! She silently reprimanded herself. She was not going there.

She had purged him from her life and had accepted the fact that she was better off alone. Dating had never been her thing anyway, and she had accepted that. She was a complete jerk-off magnet – and she had discovered the hard way that it was best just to stay away from men in general. Love was all an illusion anyway - Abby thought with a grunt. Men said all the right things until they got what they wanted from you – then all bets were off. Eric had painfully proven that. Before she could say anything else, Abby felt a hand on her arm and her body tensed -a creepy chill running up her spine.

She turned her attention to the man standing at the bar and inwardly cringed as he blatantly looked her up and down with a hunger that did nothing to reduce Abby’s unease. He was a thin, scruffy guy with dirty brown hair and eyes that looked… almost black - and intense in a way that caused her to immediately stiffen. “Hello, my lovely,” he purred, his voice guttural and raspy.

Abby pulled her arm from his grasp just as a blinding headache hit her full on – almost knocking her to her knees. Holy hell, she thought, bringing her fingers to her temples as she winced in pain. Just where in the hell had this come from? She looked at Kat, her face set in a grimace. “Kat, could you help this gentleman,” she choked out. “I think I might need to go home. I seem to be getting a migraine.”

“Oh, sure,” Kat said, quickly glancing at the man standing there. Her smile faded as she watched him look at her - then back to Abby. He was looking her friend up and down as if she were on the damn menu, and it caused Kat to grow extremely uncomfortable. “Go on, get out of here,” she whispered, ushering Abby toward the back room. “I’ll take care of this jerk. You just go on home and get some rest.” She pushed her through the door and turned back to the bar - realizing with a deep feeling of dread that he was gone.

Abby grabbed her purse and walked out of the back door and into the alley beside the bar. She took a deep calming breath and closed her eyes, inhaling the fresh air deeply. As soon as she got outside, her headache began to subside and she thought about going back in and finishing her shift, but the creepy guy at the bar convinced her that she should just go home, take a couple of aspirin and go to bed. Tonight had been one hell of a doozy! First, tall dark and gorgeous – then Freddy freaking Krueger!

Welcome to my stop on the I Stood With Wellington Blog Tour! Check out my review!

About the Author:

Born in Edmonds, Washington, author James Mace is currently a resident of Meridian, Idaho. He enlisted in the United States Air Force out of high school; three years later transferring over to the U.S. Army. After a career as a Soldier that included deploying to Iraq, in 2011 he left his full-time position with the Army National Guard to devote himself to writing.

His well-received series, "Soldier of Rome - The Artorian Chronicles," is a perennial best-seller in ancient history on Amazon. In his latest endeavors, he also branched into writing about the Napoleonic Wars. After he finishes the last of The Artorian Chronicles in 2013, he looks to expand into a series about the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879.

ONLINE LINKS:
Website   http://legionarybooks.net/
Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/legionarybooks
Twitter  https://twitter.com/LegionaryBooks
Goodreads  https://www.goodreads.com/LegionaryBooks
Author Amazon Page  http://www.amazon.com/James-Mace/e/B002BMES4O/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

The Blurb:

“Up Guards and at them!”

In February, 1815, after nine months in exile, Napoleon Bonaparte, the deposed Emperor of the French, escaped from the Isle of Elba. Seizing the initiative while the European powers bicker amongst themselves at the Congress of Vienna, Napoleon advances towards Belgium with an enormous army, where the combined forces of Prussia and England are cantoned. The French Emperor knows that if he can achieve a decisive capture in Brussels, it will shatter the already fragile European alliance.

Leading the allies is Sir Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington; the venerable British field marshal who defeated Napoleon’s best generals in Spain, yet who the emperor had never personally met in battle. Napoleon knows that if he can draw away Wellington’s chief Prussian ally, Gebhard von Blucher, and destroy his army first, he can unleash his entire might against the British. A victory over the unbeaten Wellington will cripple the alliance even further, as it will then deprive them of both English soldiers and financing.

In Belgium, Captain James Henry Webster has finally returned to a line regiment after being terribly wounded at the Siege of Badajoz three years prior. He is given command of a line company within the 1st Regiment of Foot Guards, the elite of the British Infantry.

A series of indecisive clashes will lead to a collision between the two greatest military minds of the age and the bloodiest single day of the entire century, as Wellington and Napoleon lead their armies to either immortality or oblivion. For Captain Webster, he fights for both his nation and to protect his young daughter in Brussels. Along with the rest of the Guards Division, he finds himself at the apex of the battle, where the fate of the entire world will be decided; at a place called Waterloo.

BUY NOW LINK:

Amazon  http://www.amazon.com/I-Stood-With-Wellington-ebook/dp/B00AFDH2O4/ref=sr_1_7_title_1_kin?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1371135841&sr=1-7

B & N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-stood-with-wellington-james-mace/1113868410?ean=2940015792973&itm=1&usri=i+stood+with+wellington

The Review:

This is a book for all you history lovers out there. I'm not saying that in a bad way either. I happen to enjoy a good historical fiction book every now and then. This is a great book that is well researched and developed.

James does an excellent job at bringing the frontlines to the deck of the ships to the island to life. The reader is right there laying next to Napoleon as he is tucked under the jacket on the deck as he tries to escape his little island. Or as the Irishmen are constantly stuck dealing with those that are idiotic racists. Or when Webester saves Wellington's life. He manages to bring each of these elements and SO much more to life.

It is a great book with characters that you'll fall in love with. I loved to see the relationships between them develop and shift as the book went on. Each one was unique and special, and James managed to keep this true throughout the entire book.

I've read some historical pieces and seen a few shows on Napoleon and his little island and his death, so it was great to see it all expanded and turned more realistic with the use of fiction. Fiction based on fact. It is a good read.

I recommend this book for those that enjoy a good historical fiction piece. It is well developed and definitely is able to put you into the world it's written about.

• File Size: 275 KB
• Print Length: 148 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Elizabeth A Reeves (July 9, 2013)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00DV6AB4K
• Source: I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
  
• Rating: 5/5
  

The Blurb:

The Review:

OMG! What happens next?! This is the curse of reading series! Now it's even worse because I want to know what happens next in both series! Oh, please tell me the next books are almost done!

I love Elizabeth's writing style. I love her characters, I love the settings, I love the imagination! She did an amazing job with this and it has SO MANY WHAT HAPPENEDs! Please tell me what happened!!! It is the perfect second book in the series. It does everything you want it to- the story is entertaining (why aren't they?), there is the hope of romance, craziness, and enough cliff hangers to leave you in a state of OMG! I love that there is some closure to the story, but there is a lot that is left for you wonder and hope the next book is just around the next corner.

Goldie is a freaking amazing character! There is something about her that is just perfect, she's also written in a real way. Some of the things she says, I've said. She has universal problems- even if she doesn't like them! I love it! Great character development and arc!

The story is well written and done in a way that keeps bringing you back! Tell me, please, that you are writing the next one, Elizabeth!

This is a great recommendation! READ IT!

About the Author:

Legend has it that Elizabeth A Reeves was born with a book in her hands and immediately requested a pony. Though this story is questionable, it is true that books and horses have been consistent themes in her life. Born in Massachusetts, she was quickly transplanted to Arizona by a professor father and creativity-driven mother, who is the one responsible for saying "If you can't find a book that you want to read, write a book you want to read."

In her spare time, she likes to knit, weave, hatch chickens, and chase after her husband and four sons.

Please Join Elizabeth at her blogs:
http://jumpingintodanger.blogspot.com/
http://lastselkie.blogspot.com/

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elizabeth-A-Reeves/177376417308?ref=tn_tnmn

• File Size: 255 KB
• Print Length: 135 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00CP7M572
• Source: I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
  
• Rating: 5/5
  

The Blurb:

The Review:

I liked the old covers better, they fit with their sister series better. But that's just me... Back to focusing- review. I loved this book as the start of the series. Goldie is just as an amazing as Cindy. Her life is complex and real (well, we don't all have dragon eggs, do we?). There is something amazing about the way that Elizabeth writes that is both highly entertaining and hooks the reader right in.

I read her Cindy Eller series first, I fell in love. A lot of the time when you read a spin-off, you get a sense that it's just trying to live up to what it came from- but that is not the case here. Yes, Goldie has some cameos in Cindy's book, she is her own person. It is great to discover the different sides of that amazing family!

I love the Baehr brothers, and all the animals! Can I have a Fred? I swear I would adopt him! It would be awesome to see him chase my min pin or border collie around... If I can't have Fred, can I have Petunia? I <3 pachyderms!! That is great thing about these books, each creature that Elizabeth brings in, has its own personality! You don't get tired of her throwing something new at you.

I cannot wait to start the second book- I happily await the next sleepless night as I devour the book!

I really hope that she writes many more books in each series she already has going and does spin offs for each of the sisters!

This is another high recommendation! The short, Baehrly Beginning, is currently FREE on Amazon if you want a taste of the books!

If you want to just jump right into the series, then you'll want this:

About the Author:

Legend has it that Elizabeth A Reeves was born with a book in her hands and immediately requested a pony. Though this story is questionable, it is true that books and horses have been consistent themes in her life. Born in Massachusetts, she was quickly transplanted to Arizona by a professor father and creativity-driven mother, who is the one responsible for saying "If you can't find a book that you want to read, write a book you want to read."

In her spare time, she likes to knit, weave, hatch chickens, and chase after her husband and four sons.

Please Join Elizabeth at her blogs:
http://jumpingintodanger.blogspot.com/
http://lastselkie.blogspot.com/

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elizabeth-A-Reeves/177376417308?ref=tn_tnmn

• File Size: 168 KB
• Print Length: 21 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00CHC0GHQ
• Source: Grabbed it off Amazon.
  
• Rating: 5/5
  

The Blurb:

The Review:

Not every author takes the time to set the stage for their book series. Elizabeth has done just that. We get a little peek into her world before she became part of the world of the Baehr brothers. This is a great quick read that lets you get a feel for the author's writing, and get to know just one of the amazing characters she has to offer.

The only problem? It does it's job of leaving you wanting more! I am a HUGE fan of Elizabeth Reeves' work and I hope that she writes a spin off for each of the sisters in the Cindy Eller series because they are each amazing! Goldie Locke is just an example of that!

Read it and then grab book one and while you're at it, grab the first book in the Cindy Eller Series too- How (Not) to Kiss a Toad. She is an amazing writer!

Highly Recommend!

About the Author:

Legend has it that Elizabeth A Reeves was born with a book in her hands and immediately requested a pony. Though this story is questionable, it is true that books and horses have been consistent themes in her life. Born in Massachusetts, she was quickly transplanted to Arizona by a professor father and creativity-driven mother, who is the one responsible for saying "If you can't find a book that you want to read, write a book you want to read."

In her spare time, she likes to knit, weave, hatch chickens, and chase after her husband and four sons.

Please Join Elizabeth at her blogs:
http://jumpingintodanger.blogspot.com/
http://lastselkie.blogspot.com/

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elizabeth-A-Reeves/177376417308?ref=tn_tnmn

The title is something that makes the brain go, "Wait, What? Of course I want to kiss a prince!" Only once you get into the story, you totally understand! No, DON'T KISS HIM! I loved this book, much like I loved the first one. Elizabeth knows her characters inside and out, and seems to have a love for baking too- because if she doesn't, she SHOULD! When I read these stories, OMG I want a personal pastry chef on standby to make some of these delicious sounding treats! (In a perfect world, right?)

Anyways, we're again thrown into the world of Cindy Eller (Ha, ha, did I mention that I LOVE the character names in these books, no? Well, I do!), and the wacky, amazing, cast of people that are in her life. I love that we see a little more of her family in this one. I want to know about each of them and their cruel names!

One of the things that really struck me was how Timothy wasn't as in this one. I wanted to know what was going on with him? And that phone call from Spain, oh, hell, no. Cindy is SUPER forgiving! I understand the whole romance issue that was addressed in book one, but dude just keeps having issues with her and her way of life- kick his butt to the curb and see if another Mr. Right Now walks in. Yeah, they are a great couple, but being a good match can only last as long as both sides are willing to work on it- Timothy just freaks out. Maybe being a Toad did something to his brain! He was way more likeable as a toad, I think after reading this book.

Once again Elizabeth develops a well crafted world, with amazing characters and details character arcs. I love to see each of them change and grown in a way that feels natural.

These books make me want to open a bakery (a secret desire I've had for a long time) and live in a world of hard work and delicious results- too bad, I prefer my hard work to show through my own writing.

I totally recommend this to those that liked the first one, like kooky witches, HP Mallory's books, and things like that. It's a great series!

About the Author:

Legend has it that Elizabeth A Reeves was born with a book in her hands and immediately requested a pony. Though this story is questionable, it is true that books and horses have been consistent themes in her life. Born in Massachusetts, she was quickly transplanted to Arizona by a professor father and creativity-driven mother, who is the one responsible for saying "If you can't find a book that you want to read, write a book you want to read."

In her spare time, she likes to knit, weave, hatch chickens, and chase after her husband and four sons.

Please Join Elizabeth at her blogs:
http://jumpingintodanger.blogspot.com/
http://lastselkie.blogspot.com/

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elizabeth-A-Reeves/177376417308?ref=tn_tnmn

Hey everyone! Welcome to my stop on the How (Not) to Kiss a Toad blog tour! Check out my review (YES I WILL TOTALLY READ AND REVIEW ALL OF YOUR BOOKS ELIZABETH!!) and enter the AWESOME giveaway!

About the AWESOME Author:

Legend has it that Elizabeth A Reeves was born with a book in her hands and immediately requested a pony. Though this story is questionable, it is true that books and horses have been consistent themes in her life. Born in Massachusetts, she was quickly transplanted to Arizona by a professor father and creativity-driven mother, who is the one responsible for saying "If you can't find a book that you want to read, write a book you want to read."

In her spare time, she likes to knit, weave, hatch chickens, and chase after her husband and four sons. 
www.cindyeller.blogspot.com
issylthesthlia.wix.com/cindy-eller-cupcakes
@SelkieHorse
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elizabeth-A-Reeves/177376417308

The Blurb:

Cindy Eller is a witch with a gift for creating decadent desserts highlighting the exotic and spicy flavors of her native Southwest. However, life isn't always sweet for this magical baker. All her life she's been cursed-- every man she's ever kissed has turned into a toad. Love isn't likely to come her way, she knows. 

If that weren't a big enough problem, her 'curse' has come to the attention of the Council of Magic and she may never be able to use her powers. 

Enter the perfect man-- handsome, sweet, and loves food just as much as Cindy does. It would seem to be a match made in Heaven, or is it? 

Cindy isn't the only one keeping secrets. 

With toads, cupcakes, romance, magic and ice cream, life never has time to get dull!

The Review:

Holy Canoli, Batman! I think I'm in love. I must confess before I even start this review, I have a secret desire to be a baker! There I said it. I love the fact that Cindy is a baker and her magic is channeled through it. Nothing could be better than that! And there's ice cream! Ice cream and cakes! OMG! I've hit a mental wonderland that leaves me headed to the cupboard and freezer.

I devoured this book! Some days it takes me a while to find the meat of the book I'm reading... but not here. I instantly fell in love. I'll admit I was a little confused when I first started the book. I felt a little like I was dropped in the middle of a conversation. Why is she cursed?! Please tell me! But at a certain point I shrugged it off and didn't care. I was busy being pulled into this marvelous world that Elizabeth's created. And, man, it is freaking fantastic! (If you need reviews for any of your other books, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I VOLUNTEER!! I can even BETA for you)!

Okay, wait a minute, I need to focus on what I'm doing. The book is set in a realistic setting- like anyone could live there- but has magical and fantastical elements thrown in (Yeti & Centaur!). The characters are well developed, the story and plot can keep the reader going in one sitting- much like munching down on your favorite pint of ice cream, only realizing before it's too late that you ate the entire thing and it's gone.

There were a few spelling and word confusions in there, but those only pulled me out of the story for a second because I was like, "Hey, I do that when I'm writing!"

The book is well worth the read. I highly recommend it. It's in a similar vein as HP Mallory's books, but different... like all books should be. :) Get it, love it, and eat some ice cream and cake afterwards! You'll want it, believe me!

Excerpt  How (Not) To Kiss a Toad


Closing the door of the house behind me, I tossed my purse on the couch and threw myself after it. I lay limply for a moment, wondering if I would ever have the energy to move again, then decided to get my  — oh, so stylish and oh, so painful  — shoes off before I cast off to drama land. If I was going to have a crisis, at least my feet wouldn’t hurt.

My roommate, Jessi, peeked her head around the door of the open freezer, a spoon dangling from her mouth. She looked me up and down, removed the spoon and quipped, “Prince Charming or Toad?”

I rolled my eyes at her. “Toad, of course.” I flopped back down, eyeing her spoon. “What do we have?”

She gave me another long look and disappeared back into the freezer. “I think you need Double Fudge Brownie Cookie Dough.”

I grinned. My roomie so got me. “Hand it over.”

She pitched it underhand and the pint came flying towards me, followed by a spoon. I dug into the rich decadence of the ice cream with a hopeful sigh. In my opinion, there were very few things in life that ice cream couldn’t fix.

As the first velvety icy mouthful slid down my throat, I let out a moan of pleasure, letting all the stress flow off of my shoulders.

SweetDreams Ice Cream had only been available in our grocery store for a few weeks and we were already hooked. It was so good I could even let a bad date roll off my shoulders.

“So...” Jessi flopped down beside me. I squinted at her pint. She was eating Chocolate Cherry Cocoa Bliss. I considered snatching it out of her hands and finishing it for her, but there was nothing wrong with me that ice cream was really going to fix.

“So, nothing,” I said, crossly. “We went to dinner, talked, held hands...”

“Kissed.” Jessi giggled.

I glared at her, then sighed. “Yeah... and ...”

“Toadsville!” Jessi giggled again.

“I’m so glad you think my personal life is so hilarious.” I said dryly.

She waved her hands. “No, no, I’m sorry. It’s just... Nathan was so a toad. You know it.”

He sure was. A giant, ugly, warty, slimy Colorado River Toad. He was nearly a pound of toxic waste done naturally.

Nasty.

In my limited experience the outside of the toad matched the inside of the man. Apparently I had just kissed a man whose insides were so gruesome that he was even more hideous than the average toad. Much as I hated bringing another toad home, I’d dodged a silver bullet on that one. If there was a perk to my personal hell, it was that I never dated a bad guy for long.

Not that I dated any guy for long.

I tried to remember why I had gone out with him in the first place, trying to ignore the huge ‘desperate’ sign that was blinking on and off like a huge neon sign in my brain. I sighed again. There had to be one good guy out there somewhere, right? One single someone who was not instant toad material.

“This is it,” I growled, licking my spoon clean. The ice cream was really good, insanely good even. “I’m done with men. I’m going to stick to ice cream.”

Jessi snorted. She’d heard it all before.

“I mean it this time,” I insisted. “I’m just going to focus on my work at the bakery and stop looking for a Prince Charming who obviously doesn’t exist.”

Tansy padded into the living room from her room, complete with pink halter top, baggy flowery pajama pants, and pink bunny slippers. Her light blond hair was gathered up in a rather messy looking ponytail. Her bangs were bound up in pin curls. Her eyes were slightly puffy. She looked like we had roused her up from a deep sleep. Even then she looked like the epitome of the angel next door. She held out her hand. “Ice me, baby.”

Jessi bounced up from the couch with far too much energy for that time of night. I shook my head as she disappeared back into the freezer. Just watching her exhausted me.

“Let’s see,” she said thoughtfully. “I think White Chocolate Strawberry Fantasy should do the trick.”

Jessi was quickly becoming our ice cream therapist. Not that you could ever go wrong with Tansy and pink. Even her car, an old ‘Bug’, was painted a brilliant rosy shade.

Tansy held out her hand and was soon deep in her pint. “This is so good,” she said, around a spoonful. She paused, spoon in the air, as she regarded me.

I cringed, knowing what was coming.

“Toad?”

“Ha ha.” I searched in vain for another spoonful of fudgy bliss in my empty pint and sighed. “You guys enjoy my misery way too much.”

“Well, at least you’ll know Prince Charming when he comes around,” Tansy pointed out. “We just have to muddle through like everyone else.”

“We think I’ll know the right guy when he comes around. We don’t know for a fact. It may just be that I’ll be kissing toads until I’m ninety.”

It didn’t seem fair. I wasn’t flat out gorgeous like Jessi or even girl-next-door cute like Tansy, but I wasn’t exactly Hagsville either. Why I was stuck kissing toads instead of having a normal relationship, I didn’t know.

“I swear,” I muttered, “I am cursed.”

“We know,” my roommates chorused. They’d heard it all before. Many times.

My purse made a valiant effort to scoot off of the couch and I grabbed it just as it was about to slide out of reach.

“Oh, no you don’t!” I shuddered.

The worst part of living in the dating world of Toadsville was making sure the repulsive things didn’t get themselves killed before they reverted back to their human forms. Nathan was a particularly icky specimen of toad-kind.

I never knew how much human consciousness my ‘victims’ kept, but there was no way I was letting this nasty creature near my bedroom, even if I did have to keep an eye on him.

Luckily, or sadly, depending on how you looked at it, I was prepared for situations like this.

I carefully dumped my purse out over what we called the Toad Tank. The Toad Tank was half aquarium/terrarium and half doll house. My roommates and I had put it together amid shouts of laughter. There may or may not have been ice cream involved.

I am not responsible for my behavior when under the influence of ice cream.

There was a toady swimming pool on one side of the tank, and a comfy flat stone for sleeping.

Artistic Tansy had supplied a small re-purposed compact mirror and written ‘Beauty is in the Eye...’ around it.

Jessi had supplied the tank with miniature statuary, mostly featuring images of women kissing frogs. Lots of the women sported red hair, which I supposed meant they were supposed to be me.

I gave my purse another good shake over the tank. Out plopped an immense blob of mucus and slime. The size of an overweight pug, he sat blinking maliciously up at us, his chest puffing up as if he considered himself the pinnacle of male toad beauty.

My roommates, used as they were to me bringing home date refuse, gasped in horror.

“Yeah,” I said flatly.

“Gross.” Tansy whispered.



After demolishing another entire pint of ice cream under the baleful watch of my latest warty ward, I decided a long, hot shower was in order. I couldn’t believe I had actually let that thing near me. Was I really that desperate?

“No more men,” I chanted, starting the hot water blasting. “No more dates. No more kissing. I’m done! No. More. Toads.”

I kept chanting my new mantra as I poured half a bottle of sugar-cookie scented shampoo into my hair and started sudsily scrubbing out my miserable night. Once I started in on my equally delicious conditioner I finally began to relax.

Images of fabulous desserts danced through my brain. Banana peanut butter crème brulee, I day-dreamed, or maybe a nice summery orange-scented bread pudding. Suddenly, I couldn’t wait for my four A.M. alarm and a full day of work.

I was one of those lucky few who truly loved my job. I knew that wasn’t always the case and couldn’t help but feel a little smug about it. Sugar High Bakery had been a job of desperation in my college days, begun with the advent of a ‘Help Wanted’ sign over a tray of late-night studying cookies. I’d figured ‘hey, I like food’ and applied. Very quickly after starting work there it had taken over my entire life. I had even dropped out of my pre-law program to take classes at a pastry school to the horror of my entire over-achieving scholastic family.

I had found my true calling in being elbows-deep in flour and butter. My bosses, an adorable older-but-not-elderly couple, had given me free rein with creativity after only a year and one highly successful brownie that was still our number one seller. As long as I kept up with their traditional offerings, to please the long-term customers, I could create what I desired.

I seemed to have pastry-scented dreams these days. Wherever I went, dessert inspirations filled my head. Someday I was going to own my very own bakery and fill the displays with all of my own creations. Visions of handmade truffles spiked with chipotle and my special cinnamon honey caramel chews danced in my head. I could almost taste the scent of baking bread on the air.

With a sigh, I pulled my hair up into a wet ponytail and dragged on my work uniform, a t-shirt and what I called my ‘artistic’ jeans, with the random rips, doodles, and patchwork flowers that I had painstakingly, and clumsily, stitched on myself.

I knew better than to try to sleep when this mood struck me. I would end up lying in bed daydreaming about pastry, sugar, and butter until I got up and did something about it.

Ten minutes later I was unlocking the door of the bakery. Moments after that I was sifting flour while my block of butter softened on the counter and beckoned to my imagination. Puff-pastry nuggets nestled in a sticky sauce, ready for the oven. Mandarin-orange cheesecake and cupcakes formed under my hands. Rows of fresh bread slowly began to fill the cases. My own favorite jalapeno cheddar bagels came out of their water bath and into another oven. Flour and spices and magic filled the air.

Weeks into my early employment as a pastry chef, I had discovered that my rather capricious magic had been drawn to the pastry-creating process. Somehow my basic pastry skills and small gift in magic had combined to make me something more, a bit of a pastry genius.

Sometimes I thought that this exercising of my meager magic talent was the only reason my mother didn’t drag me kicking and screaming back to law school or into some ‘better’ profession, more suited to a child of her womb. Only here, with flour on my hands, did my magic really shine, sometimes quite literally.

My mother was proud of her long legacy of magic. In our quiet community she was considered to be the strongest practitioner in the entire Southwest. Her magic was of the Earth type. She could grow any plant in her extensive gardens. She could even start a small earthquake when truly annoyed (She didn’t ‘get angry.’ That would have suggested she didn’t have mastery of herself, which no one who knew her would ever even insinuate).

She had always blamed the capriciousness of my magic ability on the elusive father-figure I had never met. A long series of men had come into my mother’s life, and left, starting with my own father, whom she stayed resolutely silent about.

I had five half-sisters. Only the twins had the same father. Currently Mom was married to the head of the Western Magic Counsel, which meant she had been calling me with tons of ‘job opportunities’ she felt would be better for me than the bakery. The only thing that helped me keep my patience with her was that she always finished our conversations by asking me to send her a box of my goodies.

It tickled my vanity that even she couldn’t resist my baking.

My magic never worked the same way in two pastries. In some it could intensify flavors, others, well... my lemon meringue pie had a tendency to make people remember the very best day of their lives while they were eating it.

So, as I worked there was always a presence of magic in the air. It shimmered through everything in the bakery, enhancing, changing, and making sure every texture was right. My pie crusts were always perfect and my soufflés never fell. My oven always had exactly the right temperature, and I almost never burned anything.

Not that everything always went smoothly. Even magic couldn’t fix the mess I made when I mistook powdered milk for the flour. In my defense, I had a cold at the time, so the resulting goop was really the fault of a non-functioning nose, not my incompetence.

Before I knew it, Jessi arrived at the bakery to open it for the day. She surveyed the display cases and the bread rack behind the counter and shook her head. “Did you pull another all-nighter?”

I nodded. I was still on a magic high from all the creating, but I knew that I was heading for a crash, if I didn’t get a quick nap. “Make the coffee, will you?” I yawned, heading to the far back of the bakery, where a nice comfy chair was set up just for me.

I was out cold and snoring the second my bum hit the chair. I happily dreamed about making cannoli with lavender honey cream.

When I awoke, the bakery was well into its early morning rush. I helped Jessi dole out the goodies until she shooed me back to the kitchen.

I made cannoli.

They were a big hit. In no time at all, it seemed, we were sold out and I was measuring out homemade fresh ricotta again.

Jessi stuck her head into the kitchen not long after I sent a new tray up to let me know that our customers were hooked.

“We might have to make cannoli a permanent addition to the menu,” Jessi said. “Someone wants to give compliments to the chef. Can you come out?”

I was elbows deep in dough for my cinnamon butter rolls, but I dusted a little flour off of my arms and went out to meet my fan. It was kind of exciting to have my presence requested, as if I were a super star of pastry.

I came out of the kitchen, patting flour dust out of my favorite apron. It featured a grinning skeleton with a bow on her head and right now she had a flour beard to rival Santa’s. I tucked a stray coppery curl back under the bandana I wore over my hair.

Someone was standing near the register. It had to be my fan. He turned towards me. I reached out a hand to shake his. Our eyes met.

And I slipped.

I thought I had a good thirty seconds of hang time while all of the customers stared with horror before I landed hard on my rear end and slid into the wall with a resounding THUD!

My head hit the glass door of the large display fridge where we kept the cheesecakes. I could feel a goose egg rising even as I struggled to my feet.

My cheek bone was already throbbing and, by the tenderness of my face, I knew I was going to end up with black eye.

“Omigosh,” Jessi shrieked so fast that it became one word. “Are you OK?”

I knew my face was scarlet. It took all my willpower not to scuttle back to the kitchen to hide. I was absolutely mortified and what made it worse was that I had a sudden urge to cry. I gulped back the approaching tears and tried to catch hold of my fleeing composure.

“Um,” I managed to say.

“Omigosh,” Jessi said again. “Cindy, this is Timothy Borden, the one who wanted to meet you.”

I put out my hand to shake his before looking up at him, hoping that I didn’t come across too much as a victim of a hit and run with a wall. I glanced up and froze.

He was yummy. I mean yummy as in, I could eat in his face for the rest of my life and not get tired of it… Not in a creepy zombie way, of course.

I was immediately reduced from bumbling idiot to speechless bumbling idiot. He was about six feet tall, nearly a foot taller than me, with dirty-blond hair and the clearest hazel eyes I had ever seen. His eyelashes were beyond ridiculously long, past movie-star and right on to camel-length. The lashes were surprisingly dark around those amazing eyes of his.

He was gorgeous.

And I was staring at him with my mouth open.

“This is our pastry chef,” Jessi nudged me in the ribs so hard I almost fell over... again.

“Um...” I said, brilliantly. “Cindy Eller. Pleasedtomeetcha.”

His eyebrows rose and I cursed myself for not remembering to add in my middle name. ‘Cindy Rachel Eller’ sounds saner than ‘ Cindy Eller’.

He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry? I thought I heard you say...”

If possible, I blushed harder. If my face got any hotter I was going to spontaneously combust. “Cindy Eller.” I carefully enunciated every single syllable of my detested name. “I have an evil mother.”

He cracked a grin that made him even more gorgeous, if that was even possible. I was pretty sure I was starting to drool. So much for avoiding that whole zombie thing. “Not an evil step-mother?”

I shook my head, sure I was creating a flour halo around my head. “Nope. I wish I could say she was my stepmother, but she’s really all mine.”

He laughed and I managed to smile back at him, hopefully not looking too frightening.

Wow, he had serious dimples. He must have frequent dimple mileage.

Darn it. I was staring again.

Toads, I reminded myself. Big, bad, slimy, toxic toads.

It didn’t help.

“This cannoli is spectacular,” Timothy Borden was saying, apparently— and hopefully!— oblivious to my inability to rub two brain cells together in his presence.

“Um,” I dazzled him with my stunning charm and wit. “Thanks.”

“What made you think to use crushed pistachios in the cream filling?”

I shook my head, trying to clear it. “I love pistachios with honey,” I managed, only slightly too fast. “I was thinking they would play off each other with that little hint of lavender.”

He smiled. “I think you aced it. In fact, I’ll take the rest of these. I can’t wait to show them off at work.”

Jessi nodded and started packaging the order.

“Would you like anything else?” I asked, hoping I sounded professional and not... like I was desperately asking him to order a serving of me.

He frowned slightly in thought, creating an adorable crooked furrow between his eyebrows.

“Bad girl,” I told myself. “Toads. Think toads.”

“I’ll take the ‘Road to Bliss’,” he decided, pointing at my brownie creation featuring three kinds of chocolate and Macadamia nuts covered in a shell of ganache.

“One piece?” I asked. “A dozen?”

He shook his head in thought. “No. I’ll just take the whole tray.”

I gaped at him yet again as Jessi compiled his order and rang it up. I stood stupidly as he paid with a credit card.

“You’ll be seeing me again,” he said over his shoulder, as he carried his packages out the door.

“Um,” I cleverly retorted.