Review: The Grace in Darkness (Darkness Trinity, #2) By Melissa Andrea

Synopsis

Every part of me yearns for Ryland and there hasn’t been a day that’s gone by that I don’t question if I made the right decision. Adjusting is something I should be used to by now but how can I do that when life has other plans?

When darkness consumes you, only true light can free you

Remembering how I existed before Araya came into my life and turned everything upside down has been the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I can’t stand to be round anyone and the feeling is mutual. But I’m ready to take back what’s mine. I’m ready to be whole again. But every decision has a choice and every choice has a consequence.

To find the grace in darkness, you must Dare to be BRAVE Dare to be STRONG Dare to be ALIVE

Book 1- The edge of darkness- My Review

Book 2- The grace of Darkness (Below)

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My Review

5 INSPIRING, PASSIONATE, HEART-WARMING STARS!!

Okay first of all have you read The edge of darkness(book 1)?

No? NO? You kidding me right? Get on it right now! And don't read this review if you haven't read the first book :P

So as you all know I loved book 1 it was different, surprising, moving and kept me hooked until the last page and even after! So I was really intrigued to see how the story would continue, it was left at the part where Araya has gone away from Ryland to learn to do things for herself. Ryland doesn't know where she is at and has to go work for J.D. until he can figure out where she is and they can be together again.

"Don't you get it Araya? You are my life now. I meant it when I said that you saved me. " 

"We saved each other, Ryland. We saved each other. "

I hated the separation I was just dying for them to find each other again.In book 1 their love is sweet, cute and down right adorable but in this book we see passion, lust, love and much more.

The way they meet well..I really wasn't expecting that, their chemistry and love for each other was explosive.Even after the separation their love never wavered, it changed them both in different ways.

The Ryland you see in book 1 is a sweet and I don't know happy and nice and lovely and in this book he turns into a broody, (still hot)rude guy who just doesn't give a shit about anything or anyone. He is bitter, hurt and angry at Araya for leaving, at J.D (The pig), at Careless and even at Sebastian. He does some funny silly thing when he bashes that dumb guys face in hah! Its like all his happiness and light has been sucked out of him since Araya left and he doesn't know what to do with himself and he hates it.

"It was a few months after you started. He was in the hall, looking for you. I found him. Mind you, I didn't know who he was at the time, but I brought him to you. You were dancing and he looked...he looked like a guy still in love with you."

The distance made Araya realises a lot of things, she can't live without Ryland, it's like there is a part of her missing and nobody can fill that place.She grows and learns to becomes independent and accepts that she can't do everything and pushing people away to become independent doesn't get us very far.She grew as a person became more confident and started facing problems head on.

Now lets get to one character that pissed me off to no end..J.D..now there are a million different types of names I could all this waste of space piece of shit but he just isn't worth it! The amount of times I wanted to read into my phone and snap his neck, bring him back to life and then re-snap is a couple thousand times yeahh.. I hate him.

Why? What the hell is his problem? Why are you so damn annoying?Why can't you fall in to a deep hole and die? Urgh he was just damn cruel!

Oh and Sebastian did anyone else feel really sorry for him? Was it just my heart that hurt for him?He was always the one that got the shit end of the stick when everyone was having a happy time. He was pushed aside, bashed and ignored numerously and I just wanted to give him a big hug! I really want him to have his own book I want him to have a happily ever after, I was a little annoyed that he wasn't mentioned at the end!

"I want to come back in pieces." I frowned. 

"In pieces?" 

"Yep. A piece of me would come back as the wind so I can be the one to lift and caress your wings when you fly. Another piece would come back as the sun so I can be the light that guides you and the warmth that warms your dainty feathers. I'd come back as the piece of the sky so you always had a place to fly free. And a piece of me would come back as a tree so you always had a place to call home, Hummingbird." -Ryland

Aww I loved Ryland and Araya scenes they are just so damn cute together.I liked how this book carried on with the dual POV so we got an insight into both their lives when they were apart and their thoughts and feelings.We even got a bit of Sebastian's POV which left me hopeful about him getting his own book ;)

I am happy with the happily ever after! It doesn't mean that everything ended perfectly naahh nothing is ever going to be perfect there will always be both light and darkness you can't have one without the other.

This book shows how to see the positive, the light in every dark situation and never let the bad situations get you down.

*ARC provided for an honest review*

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Excerpt

His fingers wrapped around the back of my neck, pulling me hard against his

body. I knew what he was attempting to do, but his plan was backfiring.

My body sighed at the contact, and every curve molded against him;

desperate to feel all of him.

“If I feel you beneath me, I won’t

be able to stop Araya. I want you too damn much! I want you, all of you.

I want to be buried so deep inside of you, you won’t know where I end

and you begin.” His breath showered my lips with warmth.

“I won’t want you to stop Ryland. I need you, all of you, now and forever.”

“And the rest?”

His

eyes move over my face, flushing my skin with the intensity of his

gaze. The rhythm of my heart increased, because I know what he wants me

to say.

“Say it.” He growls against my lips.

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 Buy Now

Amazon / Amazon CA / Amazon UK / Barnes & Noble

Buy The Edge of Darkness Now

Amazon / Amazon CA / Amazon UK / Barnes & Noble

Review: Making Faces by Amy Harmon

Synopsis

Ambrose Young was beautiful. He was tall and muscular, with hair that touched his shoulders and eyes that burned right through you. The kind of beautiful that graced the covers of romance novels, and Fern Taylor would know. She'd been reading them since she was thirteen. But maybe because he was so beautiful he was never someone Fern thought she could have...until he wasn't beautiful anymore.
Making Faces is the story of a small town where five young men go off to war, and only one comes back. It is the story of loss. Collective loss, individual loss, loss of beauty, loss of life, loss of identity. It is the tale of one girl's love for a broken boy, and a wounded warrior's love for an unremarkable girl. This is a story of friendship that overcomes heartache, heroism that defies the common definitions, and a modern tale of Beauty and the Beast, where we discover that there is a little beauty and a little beast in all of us

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My Review

5 BEAUTIFUL, HEART-BREAKING, EMOTIONAL STARS!

"I think people are like that.When you really look at them, you stop seeing the perfect nose or straight teeth.You stop seeing the acne scar or the dimple in the chin.Those things start to blur, and suddenly you see them, the colors, the life inside the shell, and beauty takes on a whole new meaning."

Oh where do I start? This book made my heart-ache so bad and it really makes you view people ourselves differently.Are we so shallow that we love/idolise people based on how they look no matter how ugly they are deep down? Or that we hate and bully because we can't see the beauty deep down? or that we don't even give some people a chance to show their beauty because they don't have a perfect face and body?

This is a inspiring, brilliant book which rendered me speechless.It explores the aspect that a beautiful face doesn't necessarily mean a beautiful person.Are we truly blind can we not see the true beauty within? Do some people feel that an ugly person doesn't feel the same as a beautiful one?

To me everyone is beautiful in some way or another.Never judge someone by the face they wear.The beautiful good looking man can be an abusive evil person, and someone with a disfigured face may have a heart of gold, don't let looks fool you.

"If God makes all faces, did he laugh when he made mine?

Does he make the legs that cannot walk and eyes that cannot see?

Does he curl the hair upon my head til it rebels in wild defiance?

Does he close the ears of a deaf man to make him more reliant?

Is the way I look coincidence or just a twist of fate?

If he made me this way, is it okay, to blame him for the things I hate?

For the flaws that seem to worsen every time I see a mirror.

For the ugliness I see in me, for the loathing and the fear.

Does he sculpt us for his own pleasure, for a reason I can't see?

If God makes all our faces, did he laugh when he made me?

This poem right here really got to me! Its written by one of the main characters called Fern.Fern is not pretty or beautiful like her friend Rita who all the guys seem to chase after, she doesn't have straight hair or teeth, not an amazing body, nope none of that but she has a beautiful heart and soul.Fern has always had a crush on Ambrose but then again who wouldn't he was beautiful but Fern saw more than what met the eye.She fell for his intelligence, his heart, his mind and much more.But Fern never expected Ambrose to ever like her back, why would he?

Ambrose had it all, beauty, popularity, girls and he was the best at what he loved, wrestling. He had is all going in life until he decided to join the army and drag four of his good friends with him. What happens when his life in the army explodes and everything changes.

What happens when Ambrose isn't beautiful anymore?

What happens when he has no friends left?

"Ambrose knew what it felt like to be whole, to be perfect, to be Hercules. How cruel to suddenly fall from such heights. Life had given Ambrose another face and Fern wondered if he would ever be able to accept it."

Bailey is Ferns cousin and best friend they have always stuck by each other and I loved their relationship.Bailey has Duchenne muscular dystrophy. He may be bound by his wheelchair but this guy is a true hero. Bailey makes you think a lot about all the things we take for granted, about all the things we complain about. Are we really so blind that we don't see that there are people in worse conditions than you and me?

Imagine knowing that you will die before you get old? 

Imagine living day to day life knowing death is around the corner.

Imagine knowing that you cant have a relationship, or a family because you really wont be around for long.

"How do you stand it, Bailey? Looking death in the face for so long?"

Bailey shrugged and glanced at him curiously.

"You act like death is the worst thing."

Bailey has always wanted to be a wrestler, his dad is the coach and even though he cant wrestle he always comes to every practice.Bailey thinks of Ambrose as his hero, what he would do to be in Ambrose's shoes for just one day. To do all the things he can do, even if it is just for one day.After Ambrose's life changes Bailey teaches him a lot, about living in the moment, about never taking things for granted. I felt so sorry for Bailey I really wanted to have the power to give him what he wanted for a day ahh I wanted to curl up into a ball and scream why is life so unfair!?

"I have no pride left, Ambrose!" Bailey said. "No pride. But it was my pride or my life. I had to choose. So do you. You can have your pride and sit here and make cupcakes and get old and fat and nobody will give a damn after awhile. Or you can trade that pride in for a little humility and take your life back."

When Ambrose returns Fern wants to help him, everything has changed yet she still finds him beautiful. Ambrose is filled with guilt, shame, self hatred and he just can't get over is. He can't face everyone, the people who idolised him, the people who wanted him to succeed and those who always thought he would do them proud.

"You are still beautiful," Fern said softly, her face turned to his..

"I think that statement is more a reflection of your beauty than mine," Ambrose said eventually..

Fern is just so damn cute as a kid awww bless her heart she is so damn beautiful with such a pure heart.She has been kicked down by people around her yet she walks through life with a smile.fern and Ambrose form a special relationship she understands him..she used to feel the same thing.She used to feel ugly too.

Three lives all connected, these three main characters take you on an inspirational journey..So grab some tissues and start reading!

"..Maybe then I could get some action.Problem is, how am I going to get a handful of tit if I can't lift my arms?"

Ambrose choked, laughing at Bailey's irreverence, but Bailey continued, unfazed.

Omg I loved this book, it was sweet, funny, so damn emotional and bloody beautiful! At the start I was like hmmm third person POV oh no! I prefer first person POv so the start I felt was a little slow and the flipping from past to present had me a little confused but as soon as I got into it ahh I could not stop!

This is the first book I have read by Amy Harmon and it wont be the last.This was very well written and I am so glad I got an arc.

"Do you think about how I look when you kiss me?"

"Yes." His voice was raspy."I think about your long red hair and your sweet mouth, and the way your little body feels when its pressed up against me, and I just want to put my hands on you.Everywhere.And I forget that I am ugly and alone and confused as hell."

**ARC provided by the author for an honest review**

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Buy Links

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00F0XL3B2

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F0XL3B2

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/366894

Book Promo/Guest Post: The Escape By Amber Fast

Synopsis

When tragedy strikes the life of twenty one year old Annabelle Martin the only thing she knows to do is run. She takes her best friend Harper Reed and moves to a small town in Tennessee. The two began starting a new life in the country not expecting to fall in love. When Anna met Paisley he was everything she had ever wanted in a man, Harper fell for his best friend Ryder and life was perfect for them, until something terrible happens. Will Anna ever get to experience her happily ever after or will the tragedy of her past haunt her forever?

New Kindle Cover

Guest Post- What Inspired you to write?

In all honesty I have always wanted to write a book, but after having four kids and a husband it's a bit hard to find time to write like I would like too. Me and my sister had talked about writing a book together which was actually The Escape, but she wasn't feeling to inspired so I in turn wrote it my self with her beta reading the whole time. I found it easy to write this book, and I think it's because not only am I a huge fan of living in the country, but I too married my own best friend/ redneck country boy so Paisley was inspired a lot from my husband. Also I have a set of twins (but there boy/ girl. This book just poured out of me as I wrote. Now the one I am working on now "The Million dollar affair is going to take a bit longer because it's not a novella. It's set to be released in January

Author Bio

My name is Amber Fast I call West Virginia home. I have four amazing kiddos. Payten, Hannah, Landen & Izabella. I married my best friend on 11/11/11. I have a passion for writing and singing. My first book called "The Escape" was published on August 13th 2013. I am currently working on my second book titled "The Million Dollar Affair" I read all different genres but I write Erotica Romance :)

Blog Tour/ReviewGuest Post/Giveaway: Fighting Destiny (The Fae Chronicles #1) By Amelia Hutchins

Synopsis

Have you ever heard of the old Celtic legends of the Fae - beautiful, magical, and deadly creatures that have a love of messing with humans just for kicks and giggles?

Welcome to my world.

What started out as a strange assignment, lead to one of the most gruesome murder mysteries of our times. My friends and I are set and determined to find out who is killing off Fae and Witches alike.

Couple of problems in the way – I hate the Fae and the Prince of the Dark Fae is bound and determined that I work for him. He’s a rude, overbearing egotistical ass with a compulsive need to possess, dominate and control me. Oh – did I mention that he is absolutely sex-on-a-stick gorgeous and he makes me feel things that I never ever wanted to feel for a Fae...every time he touches me or looks at me with those dangerous golden eyes he seems to pull me further in under his spell, despite my better judgment.

My friends and I can’t trust anyone and nothing is as it seems on the surface – not even me

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Excerpt 

The music started, even as the butterflies played with my insides, his eyes locked with mine as the song started up slowly. David Cook's The Time Of My Life came on, the music filling the room around us.  I stumbled when he moved, and started to apologize until I caught the smile on his lips.  "I can't dance, Ryder.  You never said anything about dancing when I signed the contract."

"Take off your shoes," he countered, already releasing me and bending over to take his own footwear off.  I watched him as others did the same and eventually I ignored the brilliant blush that crept up to my cheeks and did the same, stepping out of the borrowed strappy heels.  

Ryder smiled, and I stared at him, he was shockingly beautiful and ethereal.  Like a lion, you wanted to touch him, but knew by doing so he'd consume you, body and soul.  I swallowed and held my hand up for him to take it.

"Put your feet on mine, Synthia," he said quietly, aware that everyone was watching us.  

I exhaled and obeyed him, knowing his men were watching us, as well as my coven.  When the song restarted, he carried us both, his hand once again on the small of my back.  Rubbing it softly as his fingers settled against it.  My heart raced from his touch, the deep desire in his eyes made it flip-flop as he swept me around the room until everyone else faded away, leaving us alone inside the room.  

I smiled as I looked down to see our feet together. Nervous at being so close to him and doing something I had only ever done with my father. It had been the last thing we’d ever done together.  But with Ryder, it was intimate, sending heat flooding through me.  I looked back up, with the smile still in place, to catch him staring openly in wonder at me.  "What?" I asked growing self-conscious.  

"You’re very beautiful, Synthia," he whispered tenderly.  

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My Review

4.5 Hot, Ryder-Loving, Fast-Paced, Fantastic Stars!!

Have you ever heard of the old Celtic legends of the Fae - beautiful, magical, and deadly creatures that have a love of messing with humans just for kicks and giggles?

Synthia (Syn) is a witch and she hates the Fae due to witnessing her parent be being killed by them..does that make them all evil?

Can she judge them based on what a couple of them did to her parents?

"It was why they were considered the most deadly of the Otherworld.They could make you like it as they fucked you to death.."

The book starts out where Syn meets the Prince of the Dark Fae who wants Syn to work for him, he wants her to pose as a decoy for the dark prince of the fae Ryder's fiancée because he thinks her life is under threat..

After signing a contract and handing herself over to the Dark Fae things begin to get more complicated..Witches and Faes are being slaughtered and their body parts have been removed..

What are they doing with the body parts they are collecting?

Can Syn and Ryder find the killer and stop the murders?

"..I was reckless and a loose cannon.Okay that was a little harsh.I wasn't a loose cannon-I just didn't take shit from anyone"

Okay so when I got this book I had forgotten what it was about when I check it out on goodreads I was like..whatt? What the hell fairies and shit? Will I even enjoy this?

The answer was hell yeah !

At the starting I was thinking hmmm what am I getting myself into?

And then you meet Ryder..

"His eyes smiled mischievously as if he was commanding me to do so.Heat flowed through me, his hands offered more support as my legs trembled once more with the need to come...His soul was fucking me from the inside and it was intensely seductive and powerful"

Ryder..Ryder ahh what can I say..he bloody has me hooked, hot alpha male and so damn mysterious.

There is something off about him he is hiding things but what are they? Oh how I would love to jump into his head and find out!

Is he evil or is he the good guy?

Give me the next book right now and I will tell you!

Urgh how I hate waiting..

I loved Syn and Ryder's love/hate relationship it was fun and hot!

I really liked Syn's character yes yes she is a badass! She is a perfect fit for Ryder, she challenges him at each turn..

Cant wait to find out what will happen between them in book 2!

Why did no-one tell me it ends on a cliffhanger?!!?

ahhhhhhhhhhhh the ending was like fuckkkkkk wtf is going on!! :O :O

"Never challenge me.I promise that you will lose.Every.Fucking.Time"

**ARC provided by author for an honest review**

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zakirr..

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Buy Links

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Fighting-Destiny-Fae-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00D5M4PTM/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374806229&sr=1-1

Barnes N Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fighting-destiny-amelia-hutchins-amelia-hutchins/1115481136?ean=2940016649634

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Author Bio:

Amelia lives in the great Pacific Northeast with her family. When not writing she can be found on her page Erotica Book Club. She's an avid reader of everything paranormal romance.

Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7092218.Amelia_Hutchins

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorameliahutchins

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Guest Post: What inspired you to write this book?

I actually had the idea of this book in my head for almost seven years. I had started a few books for this one, and ended up trashing them because it wasn't perfect. After Ryder finally growled enough inside my head, I gave up and wrote his story. Nothing actually inspired it, so much as Ryder growling that it was time for me to get serious and give and Syn their story. 

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Giveaway

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