True Love's Kiss

I love helping authors to reveal the new covers of their books.  It is so exciting for the author and the reader. Finally, to put images to the words within the pages.  Anyways, today I'm helping Heidi Garrett revel the cover of True Love's Kiss.

True Love’s First Kiss is a compilation of the first three books in this ongoing series

In the Enchanted World, true love’s first kiss is magic.


The Queen of the Realm of Faerie is a fairy tale fantasy series that bridges the Mortal and Enchanted worlds. The main character, Melia, is an eighteen-year-old half-faerie, half-mortal. She lives in Illialei, a country in the Enchanted World, with her two sisters and their mother. Melia’s father has been exiled to the Mortal World, and her best friend is a pixie.

When the story opens in the first book, Melia is troubled by her dark moon visions, gossip she overhears about her parents at the local market, and the trauma of living among full-blooded faeries with wings—she doesn’t have any.

As the series unfolds, the historic and mystical forces that shape Melia’s life are revealed. Each step of her journey—to find the place where she belongs—alters her perceptions about herself, deepens her relationships with others, and enlarges her world view.


Nandana’s Mark, Book 1: When two half-faeries—Melia and her younger sister—are cursed under dreadful circumstances, true love’s first kiss is the remedy.

The Flower of Isbelline, Book 2: Nothing but true love’s first kiss can save Melia’s younger sister from blind ambition and ruin.

The Dragon Carnivale, Book 3: Melia must choose the freedom she cherishes or true love’s first kiss—and a relationship that promises to secure her place in the Whole.

About author Heidi Garrett

The product of a verbally gifted family, Heidi Garrett is possibly the least loquacious of them all. While her Uncle John created off-the-cuff characters like King Machi-Machi and her Uncle James turned otherwise ordinary moments into O. Henry stories, she would often sit dazzled and silent, thrilled that these were ‘her people,’ as Grandma would say.

Despite the verbal inadequacy that shadowed Heidi whenever she was in her family’s presence, she never stopped writing in secret. Whether it was angsty teen poetry, the personal journals she has since burned (imagine bonfires), passionate letters to the editor, purgative song lyrics, or simply imagined vignettes, Heidi has played with words all of her life.

Bottom line: she loves stories and the people who tell them.

Find Heidi on:
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Binding the Shadows (Arcadia Bell #3)

By Jenn Bennett

Summary from Goodreads:
Renegade mage and bartender Arcadia Bell has had a rough year, but now the door to her already unstable world is unhinging. When a citywide crime wave erupts, Cady's demon-friendly tiki bar is robbed by Earthbounds wielding surreal demonic abilities that just flat-out shouldn't exist. With the help of her devilishly delicious boyfriend, Lon Butler, Cady sets out to find the people who wronged her—but her targets aren't the only ones experiencing unnatural metamorphoses. Can Cady track down the monsters responsible before the monster inside her destroys everything—and everyone—she loves? If she survives this adventure, one thing is certain: it's last call for life as she knows it.

Review:
I received a free copy of the book from the Author in exchange for an honest review.

This book releases on May 28,2013, and you'll definitely want to add it to you "to be read" list of books!

This series keeps getting better and better.  In the first book readers are introduced to Bennett's world and her paranormal society.  In the second one, Cady's and Lon's relationship is built along with Cady's relationship with Jupe.  (See my review of book 2 here) In this third one, Cady is finding out what her moonchild abilities can do and what the consequences are to using the power. 
When you open the book it's like saying hello again to some old friends.  Man, I missed these characters. Bennett has mastered the personalities of her characters and really knows how to convey them to her readers.  Her characters range from lovable, to hostile, to bitchy, to witty  to strong. The best part is that Cady doesn't shy away from danger, but runs toward it in order to protect the ones she loves.

I loved meeting more of Lon's family.  Readers are introduced to his in-laws and his ex-wife.  Yes, that's right; in-laws, ex-wife, and new girlfriend, what could go wrong?!  Luckily Lon has a secret that helps smooth the dynamics of the different personalities.  Want to know what it is?  It's a good one! You have to read the book and wait until the very end before you find out though.

Cady's moonchild powers are increasing.  Every time she uses them weird things happen.  It is a bit freaky, but I love the originality of the "side effects" that the power creates. I'm looking forward to the next book to see how broad the moon child powers become and if they transform Cady even more. It's like magic on steroids. I also wonder if Bennett will bring back a certain character from the first book that had a prescence in this book.  That would make an awesome story for book 4.

A warning to those who choose to read this book. Bennett definitely leaves you hanging at the end. Cliffhanger is not a strong enough word to describe what she does. Try pushed-off-a-cliff-and-now-I'm-free-falling-er. You will want to scream, "You can't end a book like that!" I know I said that (and then tweeted that to her!) She assured me that all of the loose ends will be wrapped up in the next book. Now us readers get to wait the long months before the fourth book comes out in May 2014. 

About the author:
Jenn Bennett is an award-winning visual artist-turned-author. Born in Germany, she’s lived and traveled extensively throughout Europe, the US, and the Far East. She believes rebellion is an under-appreciated art form, has conjured more demons than you’ve had hot lunches, and likes her fairy tales like she likes her coffee: dark. She currently lives near Atlanta with her film-geek husband and two very bad pugs.

Seeds of Rebellion (Beyonders #2)

By Brandon Mull

From Goodreads:
After the cliffhanger ending of A World Without Heroes, Jason is back in the world he’s always known—yet for all his efforts to get home, he finds himself itching to return to Lyrian. Jason knows that the shocking truth he learned from Maldor is precious information that all of his friends in Lyrian, including Rachel, need if they have any hope of surviving and defeating the evil emperor.

Meanwhile, Rachel and the others have discovered new enemies—as well as new abilities that could turn the tide of the entire quest. And as soon as Jason succeeds in crossing over to Lyrian, he’s in more danger than ever. Once the group reunites, they strive to convince their most-needed ally to join the war and form a rebellion strong enough to triumph over Maldor. At the center of it all, Jason and Rachel realize what roles they’re meant to play—and the answers are as surprising as they are gripping.

Review:
The first book of the Beyonders introduces you to the world of Lyrian. This second book takes place a few months after the first book ended. Readers are thrust back into the vivid world Mull has created where Jason meets up with some old friends before making many new allies.

In the first book readers know about Jason’s quest right off, but the second book takes much longer to establish what plan/quest the characters will undertake. The result is another tour through Lyrian. Readers get to revisit some places that were in the first book but are also taken to many new places. Readers also learn of the various peoples living in Lyrian and their special abilities. I love how thoroughly Mull thinks through his world.

The book ends with the oracle answering questions each character has, and a prophecy that sets the stage for the third book. It will play an important part in guiding the characters' actions in the third book. Luckily, the third book is out.  You'll definitely want to pick it up as soon as you can to finish the trilogy. Will Jason and his team overcome Maldor?

This book is filled with adventure and a bit of danger. If you like the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan, then the Beyonders series by Brandon Mull is a must read!