Let's try another Random Read, shall we?

So, using Random.org to choose a page in my Amazon Kindle folder, and then using it again to choose a book on said page, I came up with Edge of Shadows by Cege Smith.  I'm going to try to read this book within the next month or so (last time I didn't do so well with this...) as a Random Read, just to break things up a bit.

Here's the synopsis from Goodreads, to give you an idea what it's about.  It's a book I picked up on a free promotion.

Fresh off a marriage that spiraled into a dangerous tailspin, Ellie Coulter doesn’t believe in fate or luck. She’s been surrounded by darkness since her parents’ untimely death, and harbors a secret that never lets her forget that she’s different.

Ellie builds a safe bubble around her life that includes nothing but her coffee shop, her few friends, and her dog. Then a handsome young doctor, David Mitchell, starts to break through her protective shell and Ellie realizes there may be a risk worth taking.

Then one of Ellie’s friends abruptly leaves town; entrusting her home to Ellie’s care. The house has its own mysterious past that draws Ellie into a new darkness. Her ex-husband resurfaces with premonitions of Ellie’s death. And suddenly Ellie’s life is being turned upside down yet again, and even David can’t help her make it right.

Ellie is running out of time. Something old and evil has awakened and it wants Ellie all to itself. She must solve a century-old mystery and keep a grip on her sanity in order to survive.

Now, the thing I'm a bit concerned about is that this is the first in a series.  So, if it's good, that will mean I need to buy some more books.  I'm also a bit concerned because this appears to have more than a little romance in it, and that's been becoming more and more of an issue for me lately.  Still... we'll see.  I must've thought I would like it or I wouldn't have grabbed it, even if it was free, so... Well, we'll all see, won't we?

Coming up sometime soon!

Rhemalda Presents Cover Reveal: "A Change of Plans" by Donna K. Weaver

For release on June 1, 2013 by Rhemalda Publishing, A Change of Plans by Donna K. Weaver. Link on the title is to the book's Goodreads page; please do add it to your shelves over there if you're interested!

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Donna's Facebook and Twitter (@TheDonnaKWeaver)

Book Details:

Author: Donna K. Weaver (author website: http://donnakweaver.com)

Genre: Adventure Romance

Publication Date: Jun 1, 2013

Publisher: Rhemalda Publishing (publisher website: http://www.rhemalda.com)

Book Description:

When Lyn sets off on her supposedly uncomplicated and unromantic cruise, she never dreams it will include pirates. 

All the 25-year-old, Colorado high school teacher wants to do is forget that her dead fiancé was a cheating scumbag. Lyn plans a vacation diversion; fate provides Braedon, an intriguing surgeon. She finds herself drawn to him: his gentle humor, his love of music, and even his willingness to let her take him down during morning karate practices. Against the backdrop of the ship’s make-believe world and temporary friendships, her emotions come alive. 

However, fear is an emotion, too. Unaware of the sensitive waters he's navigating, Braedon moves to take their relationship beyond friendship--on the very anniversary Lyn is on the cruise to forget. Lyn's painful memories are too powerful, and she runs from Braedon and what he has to offer.

Their confusing relationship is bad enough, but when the pair finds themselves on one of the cruise's snorkeling excursions in American Samoa things get worse. Paradise turns to piracy when their party is kidnapped and Lyn's fear of a fairytale turns grim. Now she must fight alongside the man she rejected, first for their freedom and then against storms, sharks, and shipwreck.

Author Bio:

Donna K. Weaver is a Navy brat who joined the Army and has lived in Asia and Europe. Because she sailed the Pacific three times as a child, she loves cruising and wishes she could accrue enough vacation time to do more of it with her husband.

At fifty, Donna decided to study karate and earned her black belt in Shorei Kempo.

After recording city council minutes for twenty years, Donna decided to write something a little longer and with a lot more emotion--and kissing.

Donna and her husband reside in Utah, they have six children and eight grandchildren who live all over the world.

Finally, check it out, I have a trailer for you to watch!

J. Taylor Publishing Presents: Cover reveal: "Silent Echoes" by Aimee Laine

Silent Echoes
Games of Zeus #2
by Aimee Laine
Release Date: March 11, 2013
Target Reader: Adult
Keywords: Paranormal Romance, Romance, Thriller/Suspense

Back of the Book

For years, Ian Sands has enjoyed his life as a bachelor, taking advantage of singlehood and exploring his own definition of passion—whoever she may be. Blonde. Brunette. Tall. Short. Hot. Not. Five months ago, all that changed.

Ian’s been celibate, frustrated and desperately seeking answers to why one woman, who doesn’t play by girls’ rules, haunts his every waking moment.

As a renovations specialist, Taylor Marsh lives, works and breathes construction—a profession her southern belle of a mother would rather Taylor not touch. The same goes for Ian; Mama Marsh would never approve of him.

Like Ian, though, each time he and Taylor draw near, something compels her to get closer.

Something else tells her to run away.

Fast.

As much as their histories suggest they shouldn’t be together, neither Taylor nor Ian can deny the pull, and the two succumb, indulging in a relationship that brings pleasure to body, mind and soul.

Doing so, though, also ushers in a series of events both should have foreseen as well as one final outcome neither expected.


URL: http://www.jtaylorpublishing.com/books/26

Other Books in this series include:
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Book review: "Wicked Embers" by Candace Bowen Early

Wicked Embers review
Author: Candace Bowen Early
4 out of 5 stars

Book Info: Genre: Paranormal Romantic Suspense Reading Level: Adult Book Available: Rhemalda Publishing is releasing this book in both eBook and paperback format on 9/1/2012.

Disclosure: I received a free electronic ARC from Rhemalda Publishing (the author’s publisher) in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: It’s been one year since Bronwyn Chase left the modern world behind, and an ancient evil is stirring in Cornwall ….

Bree Peltier is a skeptic. She doesn’t believe in mystics or witches. Between keeping up with her university studies and falling in love with her archaeology professor, her life is complicated enough. When a vengeful spirit possesses her childhood friend and goes on a killing spree, she is forced to re-examine her beliefs. The spirit is out to destroy the descendants of Bronwyn, and Bree is the only one who can stop it. If she believes.

Bree is a mystic. If she doesn’t embrace her birthright, she could lose everyone she has ever loved. If she does embrace it, she could lose her soul mate

My Thoughts: As those who know me already know, I am generally not a fan of romance. However, I read the previous book featuring this character, Spur of the Moment, and really enjoyed it. (Sites that accept formatting should show a link on the title above so you can go see that review.) Be warned: this review will contain some spoilers; I will try to keep them vague, but they are necessary to tell you what I thought about the story.

Like the first book, this one was very good – engaging, entertaining, and not your everyday romance. I think it is technically considered a time-travel romance, since the first one was, but to me it seemed more along the lines of romantic suspense, so that is how I have classified it. It was a very fast read – I went through it in a bit over five hours. It didn’t completely blow my socks off like the first one, but I really did enjoy it. The scene in the nether with Bronwyn and Euric was especially touching – it literally brought tears to my eyes.

There were a few things that bothered me, including the fact that Bree did not warn her friends when they showed up. While I understood that she didn’t want them to think she was insane, to me it seemed really irresponsible for her to not at least come up with a story so that they knew how much danger they were in. I was also bothered by the situation with Finn toward the end – he should have been much more incapacitated by what happened to him, and not able to get around and help as he was doing. The literal deux ex machina at the ending might bother some, but to me it was a relief; otherwise there wouldn’t have been the HEA that romance readers crave.

That said, romance readers should really enjoy this book, and those who enjoyed Ms. Bowen Early’s earlier book will definitely want to read this. Most fans of paranormal suspense should enjoy this as well. While I didn’t love it as much as the first book (thus the rating), I did enjoy it quite a lot. Check it out.