From Ash and Stone

FROM ASH AND STONE

by Julie Daines

Lady Margaret Grey of Hartfell wants for nothing. The daughter of a knight, she has a loving family, wealth, and even a secret romance with the blacksmith's son. But all that is torn from her one fateful night when her home is attacked and her family killed. She is left with nothing but bitterness, an unwavering mistrust of men, and a strange and mysterious curse that allows her to feel the thoughts of anyone who touches her.

Now, after six years away, Margaret is returning home for one reason: revenge. She hopes that by avenging her family's deaths, she will somehow be freed from her curse. But it won't be easy. the identities of the raiders are still unknown, she has little left to her name, and traveling alone in the Northumbrian hills during the border wars is dangerous. Matters are further complicated by handsome Angus Robson, a Scotsman whose charm threatens to distract her from her plans. But the raiders are closer than she knows, and Margaret soon realizes that what she believed to be a curse may be the key to finding those she seeks. One touch will reveal the truth.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WOW! A very intriguing story!
This is a MUST-READ for sure!

I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Havencross w/ Giveaway

A review copy was provided

HAVENCROSS

by Julie Daines

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have you ever had your world turned upside-down by someone else? But then find that everything you want is handed to you?

But is it really what you want???

I adored how Elaine had to face her past, and in that past is a young man and hours spent dreaming of the legend of King Arthur.

Today there is the man from the past, a man from the present, a mysterious woman called Guinevere, and smugglers :)

WHAT A FANTASTIC STORY!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When a shocking scandal involving her father spreads through London society, Elaine Cardinham and her parents are forced to retreat to their country home in Cornwall for refuge.

But Havencross is no sanctuary for Elaine. She is haunted by the mysterious disappearance of her brother—and the heartbreak she left in her wake all those years ago. It has been five long years since Gareth Kemp last saw Elaine—when she rejected his marriage proposal.

Her reappearance convinces him of one thing: he has never stopped loving her. To put his feelings for her aside, he focuses his attention on the dangerous smuggling plaguing the Cornish coast.

As Elaine attempts to run from her past, she ventures ever closer to a dangerous truth—and Gareth may be the only one who can save her from a deadly finish.

BLOG TOUR GIVEAWAY
(Covenant Communications will notify winner by email)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can find this title on

Amazon - Goodreads

Schedule: 

*August 7th: http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/, http://fireandicereads.com/, http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/, http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/, https://joyinthemoments.wordpress.com/

*August 8th: http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/, http://ilovetoreadandreviewbooks.blogspot.com/, http://empowermoms.net/, http://www.wishfulendings.com/, http://heidi-reads.blogspot.com/

*August 9th: http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/, http://rachellewrites.blogspot.com/, http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/, http://rockinbookreviews.com/, http://thoroughlyhere.blogspot.com/

*August 10th: http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/, https://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/, http://minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/, http://www.iamareader.com/, http://bonnieharris.blogspot.com/

*August 11th: http://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/, http://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com/, http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/, https://atransparentmom.com/, http://reviewsfromtheheart.blogspot.com/

Eleanor and the Iron King w/ Giveaway

A review copy was provided

ELEANOR AND THE IRON KING

by Julie Daines

Eleanor de Lacy has been bartered: her hand in marriage in exchange for a truce with her father's sworn enemy. Now the headstrong beauty must leave her ancestral home and the man she secretly loves to become the wife of the infamous Welsh King Brach Goch. Tales of this cruel leader paint a chilling picture of a ruthless warrior—all Eleanor knows for certain is that he is the villain responsible for the vicious attacks on her people and the death of her beloved brother. Though she must marry against her will, she vows Brach Goch will never possess her heart.

Her arrival at the inhospitable castle Bryn Du confirms her worst fears—a ghost walks the halls of the castle, and Eleanor receives an ominous warning from the uneasy spirit: Brach is not to be trusted. Though resigned to a life of misery, Eleanor soon realizes all is not as it seems, for Brach is not the monster she dreaded but is a handsome and charming man whose gentle ways soon undermine his bride's resolve to lock her heart. Clinging desperately to her pride, Eleanor finds herself trapped in a web of murder and deceit. And as the lines between good and evil become blurred, Eleanor must decide for herself who is to be trusted—and loved.

My Review

This book is FANTASTIC!

I always imagined myself being very submissive if ever I was put in a situation like this--but I LOVE that Eleanor is bold and makes up her mind that if she has to go through with this arranged marriage then she was going to do it HER WAY! -- Makes for a much better story :)

I adored how the author put in tiny glimpses into the beginning chapters making you wonder if Brach really is a nice guy with a gruff exterior--or could those "attentions be nothing more than a diversion?"

And the mysteries of unexplained happenings in the castle and surrounding Eleanor are so intriguing! 

Gives you a feeling of a fairy tale/medieval romance with kings and queens-to-be and warring kingdoms, but with fantasy inspired haunting events like ghosts and witches and casting of spells encircling it.

Grab a copy of this book to see what is really happening inside Bryn Du, who is involved, and who is the true enemy!

Such GREAT WRITING!

LOVED. LOVED. LOVED. IT!

You will be absolutely enthralled with this one!

Due to my vacation I am posting late and the giveaway is already over--

However, Julie is offering 10 copies of her book on GoodReads-- Click HERE to enter

(offer ends 8/31)

BLOG TOUR GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

Julie Daines was born in Concord, Massachusetts, and was raised in Utah. She spent eighteen months living in London, where she studied and fell in love with English literature, sticky toffee pudding, and the mysterious guy who ran the kebab store around the corner.

She loves reading, writing, and watching movies—anything that transports her to another world. She picks Captain Wentworth over Mr. Darcy, firmly believes in second breakfast, and never leaves home without her verveine.

Things Julie Has Never Done:

*Had a facial, pedicure, or manicure--or been to a spa.

*Eaten sushi--I just really can’t stand seafood!

*Tired of seeing the full moon through wispy clouds as it rises over the mountains near my home.

*Been to Hawaii. *Update* Hawaii family vacation 6/13

*Changed a flat tire on my car. My awesome husband always does it for me! I am, however, pro at changing my road-bike tires.

*Broken a bone. Or had my tonsils out.

*Been stuck in an elevator.

*Been stung by a bee. A wasp, yes. It was hiding in my pants and when I put them on--yeow!

*Hit an animal while driving.

*Cheated on a test.

*Eaten brains. They tried to serve me some in South America. But I started having a nervous breakdown and told them, in my not-so-fluent-spanish, that I didn’t want to eat any “mind.”

*Jumped off the high-dive.

*Won the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes.

BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE
*August 3rd:

http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/, 

http://heidi-reads.blogspot.com/, 

http://www.bonnieharris.blogspot.com/

*August 4th: 

http://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/, 

http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/, 

http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/

*August 5th: 

http://minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/, 

http://www.ldswomensbookreview.com/wordpress/, 

http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/

*August 6th: 

http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/, 

http://www.wishfulendings.com/, 

http://www.rockinbookreviews.com/

*August 7th: 

http://www.iamareader.com/, 

http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/,

https://joyinthemoments.wordpress.com/

Love Unexpected: A Storybook Romance w/ Book AND $25 Amazon Giveaway

A review copy was provided

Book Details

Authors: Melanie Jacobson, Jennifer K. Clark, and Julie Daines

Release Date: January 2015

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Genre: Romance

3 of my FAVORITE AUTHORS all in 1 FABULOUS BOOK!

They say a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but as mistaken identities abound, three heroines will put this age-old adage to the test! Showcasing a trio of LDS fiction’s finest authors, Love Unexpected: A Storybook Romance is a heartwarming collection of short stories that begs the question: can true love really conquer all?

Storybook Romance by Melanie Jacobson —New York City book editor Ellie Hanover has discovered a groundbreaking manuscript that may be just what she needs to save her job. But when her anonymous correspondence with the author begins to develop into more than a professional relationship, Ellie is left wondering if her real find is actually Mr. Right. LOVE this story line! So FABULOUS! A supposedly one-time letter turns into an online correspondence and takes the story into a wonderland of romance. FANTASTIC TWIST at the end! WOW!

He Loves Me Not by Jennifer K. Clark —When Kenedee spies her boss leaving flowers on her desk, she’s swept into a whirlwind of infatuation. If only he didn’t have a girlfriend . . . Undeterred, the young woman enlists in the scheme her employer’s brother has put in motion for the company’s sake in hopes that she can win over the man of her dreams. But even foolproof plans can go awry. So what happens when a friend tries to help a friend? Mistaken identity and misplaced feelings abound...GREAT story! A whirlwind of emotions... work troubles and finally love in all the right directions.

Fools of Us All by Julie Daines —The course of true love is never smooth, as Jane discovers when a case of mistaken identity results in a date with the man she’s admired from afar for years. But she knows all too well that masquerading as her twin sister can only go on for so long before the truth comes out. I LOVED the subtle humor in this story! I also loved the raw emotions of taking care of a loved one and wanting to have hope, but fearing to do so. A WONDERFUL story that left me wanting more!

DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS ONE!
LOVED. LOVED. LOVED. IT!

PURCHASE | ADD TO GOODREADS

BLOG TOUR GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Authors

Melanie Bennett Jacobson is an avid reader, amateur cook, and champion shopper. She consumes astonishing amounts of chocolate, chick flicks, and romance novels. After meeting her husband online, she is now living happily married in Southern California with her growing family and a series of doomed houseplants. Melanie is a former English teacher and a popular speaker who loves to laugh and make others laugh. In her down time (ha!), she writes romantic comedies for Covenant and maintains her humorous slice-of-life blog.

Jennifer K. Clark~ I live on a small farm in Wellington Utah with my husband and my three kids. We raise several unusual breeds of animals a few of which include a Zebu, Emus, and miniature donkeys amongst others. I am also an artist and love working on big projects. A little old fashioned, I like to use my spare time to write using my quill and ink, make wax seals, and bind my own books by hand. I love to read and spend most of my time writing. Every day is an adventure.

Julie Daines was born in Boston, Massachusetts, raised in Utah, and educated around the world. As a high school student, she spent her summers hiking the deserts of southern Utah, drawing inspiration from the various plants and animals to write children’s stories and legends. She studied Zoology and Secondary Education at Brigham Young University, paying her way through college by performing live reptile demonstrations at the university’s life science museum. She spent eighteen months living in London where she studied and fell in love with English Literature, Sticky Toffee Pudding, and the fellow who ran the kebab store around the corner. After editing for other authors, she decided to take up writing again--this time in the young adult genre. She feels qualified to write for teens because, as a young adult, she mastered the art of drama. Oh, and she has some skulking around the house.

Blog Tour Schedule
*Jan. 12th

http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/, 

http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/, 

http://www.katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/

*Jan. 13th

http://ilovetoreadandreviewbooks.blogspot.com/, 

http://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/, 

http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/

*Jan. 14th

http://minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/, 

http://www.wishfulendings.com/, 

http://www.blogginboutbooks.com/

*Jan. 15th

http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/, 

http://www.bonnieharris.blogspot.com, 

http://fireandicereads.com/

* Jan. 16th

http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/, 

http://www.rockinbookreviews.com/

Unraveled

Book Details
Author: Julie Daines
Release Date: February 2014
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Genre: Fairy Tale

Who knew a pair of shoes could cause so much trouble?

A beautiful tale of love and learning to appreciate what you have. So wonderfully told!

Knights in shining armor~
Damsels in distress~
Witches and fairies~
Love and deception~
Hope and healing~

Bronwen's legs are not right...

They haven't been since the sickness came.

Then one night a Gwyllion came to visit...

In the morning Bronwyn found a strange pair of shoes.

The shoes beckoned her to put them on.

As she did her legs became whole and she could walk.

And so begins the story of how she found herself "presenting" before the prince and the love story that follows.

BUT...

When Bronwyn takes off the shoes her legs return to their former, deformed state.

Can she keep up the lies and deceit?

SO. SO. SO. GOOD!
A fairy tale worth reading!

| Deseret Book | Amazon | 

About the Author

Julie Daines was born in Boston, Massachusetts, raised in Utah, and educated around the world. As a high school student, she spent her summers hiking the deserts of southern Utah, drawing inspiration from the various plants and animals to write children’s stories and legends.

She studied Zoology and Secondary Education at Brigham Young University, paying her way through college by performing live reptile demonstrations at the university’s life science museum.

She spent eighteen months living in London where she studied and fell in love with English Literature, Sticky Toffee Pudding, and the fellow who ran the kebab store around the corner.

After editing for other authors, she decided to take up writing again--this time in the young adult genre. She feels qualified to write for teens because, as a young adult, she mastered the art of drama. Oh, and she has some skulking around the house.

Julie is a member of SCBWI, the League of Utah Writers, and Utah Children’s Writers. She frequently attends conferences where she has won a few awards for her writing, and is part of a superb writer’s group.

FUN THINGS JULIE HAS DONE~

1. Thrown a frisbee off the top of the Eiffel tower. It was a group effort.

2. Removed my own stitches. The nurse was doing a terrible (aka painful) job, so I demanded the scissors and finished it myself.

3. Killed a rat with my bare hands. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

4. Pulled a snake tooth out of my finger--on my honeymoon. True story. The snake (a Rainbow Boa Constrictor) bit me a few weeks before my wedding. I couldn’t figure out why it was taking so long to heal--until part of the tooth started sticking out. Did I mention it was on my honeymoon?

5. Talked my way out of three speeding tickets. Seriously, it pays to go to the judge and argue your case.

6. Taught myself to play the Irish whistle.

7. Snuck out of the hotel (age 18--three girls--alone) in Moscow to meet some strange (but hot) guys at a local disco. Did we ever find them? No. Did we ever find the disco? No. Did we get lost on the subway system and find ourselves wandering deserted streets late at night in Communist Russia? Yes. Were we stupid to try? Absolutely.

8. Stole a flashing barricade from a road construction site. It’s important to note that they put those barricades up for a reason--to warn sneaky teenagers of the deep and dangerous hole. Picture roadrunner slapping down a black circle-hole. Picture Wile E. Coyote walking along then suddenly disappearing into the aforementioned hole. As a follow up, I’d like to say that, riddled by guilt, we put it back about an hour later.

9. Held a scorpion in my bare hands. A live scorpion.

10. Got car sick on the way home from Disneyland. I was trying to finish my math homework in the very back of a station wagon. To this day, any mathematical work still makes me a little queasy.

11. Been chased by a moose.

(A review copy was provided, however, all reviews are of my own opinion :)

A Blind Eye

Book Details:

Author: Julie Daines

Release Date: January 2013

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Genre:  Romantic Suspense

This book was SO GOOD!

It has everything I love in a book...suspense, mystery, and humor, all rolled-up in a little bit of romance.

The storyline is awesome!

Christian is running away from home. He just can't take it any longer. But then Scarlett comes into his life and changes all his plans.

Scarlett claims she has seen a murder...well...she actually dreamed about the murder...but the murder came true and now those responsible want to get her.

The author throws in an amazing twist to the story...Scarlett is blind.

What can Christian, a mere 17-year-old, do to help her?

This book is definitely a must-read!

About the Author:

Julie Daines was born in Boston, Massachusetts, raised in Utah, and educated around the world. As a high school student, she spent her summers hiking the deserts of southern Utah, drawing inspiration from the various plants and animals to write children’s stories and legends. 

She studied Zoology and Secondary Education at Brigham Young University, paying her way through college by performing live reptile demonstrations at the university’s life science museum.

She spent eighteen months living in London where she studied and fell in love with English Literature, Sticky Toffee Pudding, and the fellow who ran the kebab store around the corner. 

After editing for other authors, she decided to take up writing again--this time in the young adult genre. She feels qualified to write for teens because, as a young adult, she mastered the art of drama. Oh, and she has some skulking around the house.

Julie is a member of SCBWI, the League of Utah Writers, and Utah Children’s Writers. She frequently attends conferences where she has won a few awards for her writing, and is part of a superb writer’s group.

Things She's done:

    

1. Thrown a frisbee off the top of the Eiffel tower.  It was a group effort.  

1. Removed my own stitches.  The nurse was doing a terrible (aka painful) job, so I demanded the scissors and finished it myself.

1. Killed a rat with my bare hands.  Desperate times call for desperate measures.

1. Pulled a snake tooth out of my finger--on my honeymoon.  True story.  The snake (a Rainbow Boa Constrictor) bit me a few weeks before my wedding.  I couldn’t figure out why it was taking so long to heal--until part of the tooth started sticking out.  Did I mention it was on my honeymoon?  

1. Talked my way out of three speeding tickets.  Seriously, it pays to go to the judge and argue your case.

1. Taught myself to play the Irish whistle.

1. Snuck out of the hotel (age 18--three girls--alone) in Moscow to meet some strange (but hot) guys at a local disco.  Did we ever find them?  No.  Did we ever find the disco?  No.  Did we get lost on the subway system and find ourselves wandering deserted streets late at night in Communist Russia?  Yes.  Were we stupid to try?  Absolutely.

1. Stole a flashing barricade from a road construction site.  It’s important to note that they put those barricades up for a reason--to warn sneaky teenagers of the deep and dangerous hole.  Picture roadrunner slapping down a black circle-hole.  Picture Wile E. Coyote walking along then suddenly disappearing into the aforementioned hole.  As a follow up, I’d like to say that, riddled by guilt, we put it back about an hour later.

1. Held a scorpion in my bare hands.  A live scorpion.  

1. Got car sick on the way home from Disneyland.  I was trying to finish my math homework in the very back of a station wagon.  To this day, any mathematical work still makes me a little queasy.

1. Been chased by a moose.

  

Things She's Never Done:

1. Had a facial, pedicure, or manicure--or been to a spa. 

1. Eaten sushi--I just really can’t stand seafood!

1. Tired of seeing the full moon through wispy clouds as it rises over the mountains near my home.

1. Been to Hawaii.

1. Changed a flat tire on my car.  My awesome husband always does it for me!  I am, however, pro at changing my road-bike tires.

1. Broken a bone.  Or had my tonsils out.

1. Been stuck in an elevator.

1. Been stung by a bee.  A wasp, yes.  It was hiding in my pants and when I put them on--yeow!

1. Hit an animal while driving.

1. Cheated on a test.

1. Eaten brains.  They tried to serve me some in South America.  But I started having a nervous breakdown and told them, in my not-so-fluent-spanish, that I didn’t want to eat any “mind.”

1. Jumped off the high-dive.  

1. Won the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes.