"Time passes. Even when it seems impossible. Even when each tick of the second hand aches like the pulse of blood behind a bruise. It passes unevenly, in strange lurches and dragging lulls, but pass it does. Even for me."— Stephenie Meyer
The Day Of The Wave by Becky Wicks Genre: Adult (Contemporary Romance) Date Published: May 1, 2015 Publisher: Self
Isla and Ben were just sixteen when the Boxing Day tsunami tore through their beach resort in Thailand. Just days after forming a life-changing bond, both were missing and presumed dead. Unbeknown to each other and haunted by one of the biggest natural disasters in world history, Isla and Ben are living very different lives, until over a decade later when a chance encounter throws them back together.
Based on real life events, The Day of the Wave is a story of healing, learning to let go, and figuring out when to hold on with everything you have left.
The Day of the Wave by Becky Wicks is a story about surviving and learning to live again. Isla and Ben have survived something most people don't even come close to experiencing. Neither of them have coped with being the ones who survived. Heck, neither of them even knew the other had lived. It was emotional reading bits of their back stories and experiences through out the book. We get to see how they met, what happened on that day, and what's gone on since. They both emotionally punish and/or blame themselves. Once they meet again, they begin to heal, but do they feel like they deserve to move on? This is one of those stories that just makes you think, because even though these particular people are fictitious, the tsunami happened. It ruined, ended,and changed lives forever. It's an emotional story..
The ARC of The Day Of The Wave by Becky Wicks was kindly provided to me by Xpresso Book Tours for review. The opinions are my own.
Check out my reviews of the Starstruck series!
Becky Wicks lives in Bali and scribbles books, and she’s mostly powered by coffee. Her first book in the Starstruck Series, Before He Was Famous recently reached #1 in Amazon’s Coming of Age and New Adult & College categories, and her three travel books, published by HarperCollins are online to make feet nice and itchy. Mostly though, she loves to write love stories. She blogs most days at beckywicks.com and always welcomes distractions on Twitter @bex_wicks. Especially if you have photos of cats.
Cascade (River of Time #2) by Lisa Tawn Bergren Genre: Young Adult (Historical Fiction/Fantasy/Romance) Date Published: June 1, 2011 Publisher: David C. Cook
Mom touched my underdress—a gown made six hundred years before—and her eyes widened as she rubbed the raw silk between thumb and forefinger. She turned and touched Lia’s gown. “Where did you get these clothes?”
Gabi knows she’s left her heart in the fourteenth century and she persuades Lia to help her to return, even though they know doing so will risk their very lives. When they arrive, weeks have passed and all of Siena longs to celebrate the heroines who turned the tide in the battle against Florence—while the Florentines will go to great lengths to see them dead.
But Marcello patiently awaits, and Gabi must decide if she’s willing to leave her family behind for good in order to give her heart to him forever.
Cascade is the second book in The River of Time series by Lisa T. Bergren. This book pulled me right into the story just as much as the first one. I love how much Gabi and Lia have grown as characters, and I love there sibling bond. They are each other's voice of reason. It makes me want a sibling. This time around they bring their mom along for the ride. So, you can imagine her reaction. My one issue so far has to do with the time travel, and this may very well get resolved in the next book. We'll have to see. But they go into their past and do something that makes me wonder not only how their past selves will handle things, but how will it effect their futures? This could change things quite a bit I would think. I can't give details, because that'll mean a spoiler. But it makes me wonder. Hmmm.
I was hedging. I had no idea about what would happen if I told him something about the future.
Like that Siena would face a plague within a few years. And that Florence would eventually rule them.
What would happen if I let such things slip? All sorts of time/space continuum stuff might come crashing down. Or maybe it wouldn’t.
I should’ve watched more Star Trek as a kid.
Check out my reviews of the other books in this series!
Lisa Tawn Bergren is the best-selling, award-winning author of over 40 books, with more than 2.5 million copies sold. She recently finished a teen series called River of Time (WATERFALL, CASCADE, TORRENT, BOURNE & TRIBUTARY and soon will be done with the last installment, DELUGE). She's also written the Grand Tour Series (GLAMOROUS ILLUSIONS, GRAVE CONSEQUENCES, GLITTERING PROMISES), and is now at work on the REMNANTS Series. REMNANTS: SEASON OF WONDER, releases in April 2014.
Lisa’s time is split between managing home base, writing, consulting and helping Tim with his business. Her husband Tim is a sculptor of ducks-out-of-fenceposts (RMRustic.com), graphic designer and musician. They have three kids–Olivia (19), Emma (16) and Jack (11).
All five of the Bergrens make their home in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The Calm After the Storm by Mya O'Malley Genre: Adult Fiction (Contemporary Romance) Date Published: February 23, 2015 Publisher: TouchPoint Press
The storm of the century raged through the northeast, causing destruction and despair, millions were left without power and hope. Weeks later, countless people were still devastated by the destruction of Hurricane Sandy, Emma Riley among them.
Determined she didn’t need the help of a man, Emma was convinced that she could brave the aftermath of the storm on her own. That is, until Jake came into her life.
After having suffered heartbreak and embarrassment, Jake Mack, a utility foreman, volunteered to travel north from small town, Georgia to assist with the aftermath of the storm. Jake was decidedly done with women. But he didn’t count on meeting Emma or falling in love so quickly. Can he trust this woman or will his past get in the way and ruin the relationship with the one woman he truly loves?
The Calm After the Storm by Mya O'Malley was a love story with so many obstacles in their way. Emma and Jane were brought together by Hurricane Sandy. It was pretty much love at first sight, but their lives were in different places. Both, figuratively and realistically. Her life was in New York. His life was in Georgia. She had a job she loved and didn't want to give it up, while he didn't want to tear his daughter away from her home in Georgia. Watching them overcome all their dilemmas seemed very realistic. It wasn't an easy journey for either of them. They'll have to make some major sacrifices for their love to work. Will they?
The Calm After the Storm by Mya O'Malley was kindly provided to me by Enchantress of Books Blog Tours for review. The opinions are my own.
Jake and his crew had now been in the suburbs of New York for a few days. His first thought upon entering this area was his surprise at the devastation. Sure, he had heard about the destruction on the news and had seen footage of the aftermath of Sandy, but it still hadn’t prepared him for the actual sight of Sandy’s rage. Telephone poles were down, trees were snapped in two, and houses were completed destroyed by the storm. Seeing all the destruction only strengthened Jake’s resolve that it had been the right thing to come. He felt proud to be able to help out and be a part of the solution to the horrible aftermath of this disaster.
As the day was wrapping up. Jake and Chris met up with some of their crew in the next town to finish one more area before calling it quits. The chill in the air was something that Jake had prepared for, but was not accustomed to. Clutching the new flannel he had purchased right before his trip, he put it on over his thermal shirt. Thankful for his thermos filled with hot coffee, Jake grabbed it but quickly tossed it aside.
“Come on, Chris! I asked you to stop drinking my coffee. Now there’s none left,” he said as he shook his head, irritated at his friend.
Chris looked up at his boss sheepishly. “Sorry, man. I didn’t sleep well last night. I needed some caffeine.”
“Well, that makes two of us.”
They rode until they approached the utility pole that needed attention. Jake and Chris were among the first to arrive and got busy setting up for the job. Within minutes, the rest of the assigned crew trickled in. The workers were now familiar with the details and routine of this job, so for the most part they worked in silence, focused on getting this last job done so that they could grab some dinner and hit the sheets. It was cold and dark, the night chill settling in upon them. Jake supervised and helped his crew perform their individual duties as quickly as possible. As they were just about wrapping things up, Jake headed over to Steve, one of the older guys directing traffic. He looked frail and tired.
“Hey, Steve. I got this. Why don’t you call it a night, huh? We’ll meet you at the hotel for some dinner.”
“Nah, Jake, we’re almost done here. I’m good,” Steve said as he looked up at Jake with glaring dark circles under his eyes.
“Steve, go. I’m serious. Get in a hot shower and we’ll meet up for dinner. Boss’ orders. Now go and take Andy with you,” Jake gestured toward another man on the crew who looked like he was ready for bed.
Shrugging his shoulders, Steve made his way to one of the smaller utility trucks, calling for his co-worker to join him. Jake took over the responsibility of directing traffic, slowing people down and stopping cars when necessary. Yawning, he waved a small SUV along, noticing that the approaching driver was slowing down, much more than necessary. Jake squinted his eyes to get a better look. The car came to a stop when Jake stepped up to it and its window rolled down. Looking back at Jake was a woman who appeared pretty, even in the diminished light. Wait, scratch that—she was stunning, with long, wavy hair and piercing eyes. His heart faltered just a bit.
“Hi. I wanted to thank you guys for all of the hard work that you’ve been doing. We really appreciate you guys coming up here. I think I speak for everyone,” she said as she smiled widely. Her smile hitched his breath ever so slightly. Jake smiled back. This was certainly a change. Since he had been in this area, some people waved, some people smiled, others remained with their eyes straight ahead, but nobody had yet offered any thanks verbally. So different from the Southern hospitality way of life where he grew up, Jake mused.
Here it was different, the pace of life was much faster. People always seemed to be in a rush, and they minded their own business for the most part. Sure, being so close to the big city must be nice and the landscape was quite beautiful at times, but he didn’t think this lifestyle was something he could ever get used to. It seemed too stressful, too impersonal. He would be glad to be back home when his job was finished.
The woman leaned over and offered Jake a box of donuts, disposable coffee cups, and a box of hot coffee. Jake was impressed.
“Thank you, that was very thoughtful!” Jake gushed, thrilled at the idea of hot coffee. He thought he felt warmth spread across his cheeks despite the chill in the air.
The woman stared back and smiled at Jake for a minute and then set her eyes on the road ahead. She waved as she pulled away.
“Wait!” Jake called out. “Wait, what was your name?” But the words were lost. The mysterious woman with the coffee and donuts was long gone.
“Guys!” he called out as his crew worked on cleaning up for the night.
“Guys! Our guardian angel just appeared, and she brought coffee!”
The coffee and donuts were gladly received, but the idea that someone would go out of their way to show a random act of kindness truly touched Jake. He felt the warm liquid slide down his throat and knew that he would always remember the woman’s thoughtfulness. Who was he kidding? That woman’s beautiful face was what he would most remember. He just wished that he had gotten her name.
Mya O’Malley was born and raised in the suburbs of New York City, where she currently lives with her husband, daughter and three step-daughters. The family also consists of two boxers;
Destiny and Dolce and a ragdoll cat named Colby. Mya earned an undergraduate degree in special education and a graduate degree in reading and literacy. She works as a special education teacher and enjoys making a difference in the lives of her students.
Mya currently has several releases: At First Sight, a contemporary romance about dating in the modern world, published by Astraea Press, and Where There is Love, a contemporary romance in which a woman struggles with past obstacles, ultimately faced with whether or not she will open her heart to love. Where There is Love is published with Solstice Publishing. Mya is excited to say that Astraea Press recently released her contemporary holiday paranormal romance titled If You Believe. Mya’s first Young Adult book is now available. Miranda’s Choice is a young adult fantasy novel published by Solstice Publishing. Coming soon is The Calm After the Storm, published by TouchPoint Press. This novel is a contemporary romance taking place in the setting of Hurricane Sandy. The story revolves around the idea of a utility worker from Georgia falling in love with a woman in New York.
Mya’s passion is writing; she has been creating stories and poetry since she was a child. Mya spends her free time reading just about anything she can get her hands on. She is a romantic at heart and loves to create stories with unforgettable characters. Mya likes to travel; she has visited several Caribbean Islands, Mexico and Costa Rica. Mya is currently working on her sixth novel.
A Reaper Made by Liz Long Genre: Young Adult (Paranormal) Date Published: October 30, 2014 Publisher: Self
Grace had finally gotten used to her new afterlife as a “Made” – a Reaper who used to be human. When Made Reapers and souls begin disappearing, however, Grace and her mentor Tully suspect demons. Grace’s worst fears are confirmed when her living family is threatened.
She’ll have to break every rule in the Reaper book to save them, including using a little magic to become temporarily human. With the help of Tully and her witchy friend Tessa, Grace goes undercover to save the fates of kidnapped souls – only to discover that demons aren’t working alone. Betrayal and distrust runs deep and Grace discovers that sometimes even Reapers are prone to humanity.
A Reaper Made by Liz Long has a lot to offer the reader. There were reapers, of course, and angels, demons, and witches. Plus you had a lot of supernatural action with a touch of romance. Grace was a wonderful character whose life was cut short. As a reaper, her existence seems bittersweet to me. She gets to help people everyday, and that is something she loves, but she'll never get to live her life for herself. I grew very attached to her. I'm not sure if this is will turn into a series, but there are some definite possibilities for more. Although the story didn't leave any unfinished business per say, Grace definitely has more stories to tell.
A Reaper Made by Liz Long was kindly provided to me by the author for review. The opinions are my own.
Check out my reviews of other books by this author!
Liz Long has been writing stories since she could spell the word "unicorn" (second grade). She fears a zombie apocalypse, though admits it would give her good reason to stay inside and write more. She is a proud graduate of Longwood University with a degree in English. Gifted is her debut title, the first in the Donovan Circus series. She lives in Roanoke, VA with her husband Jason and their Jack Russell terror, Fisher.
The Broken Path by Cami Checketts Genre: Adult Fiction (Contemporary Romance/Christian Fiction) Date Published: March 21, 2013 Publisher: Self
Injured in a debilitating accident at age six, Ethan Searle believes women eye him with a mixture of pity and disdain. He’s tried love before. He won’t again. He meets his match in a precocious two-year old who loves him despite his disability, even while her mother seems bothered by everything about Ethan.
Autumn Reader escaped her abusive marriage with her beautiful daughter and a stack of fear. She can’t make the mistake of trusting a man again. Autumn’s daughter becomes enraptured by Ethan. Despite Autumn’s best intentions, she finds herself following her daughter’s example. When her ex-husband reappears, threatening everyone she loves if she won’t submit to his demands, Autumn has to learn to trust or lose her chance at real love.
The Broken Path by Cami Checketts is a story of two people putting each other back together. Ethan and Autumn have a lot of baggage, and it makes them both misjudge each others emotions an actions. Their misunderstandings happened quite often. At times, it felt unnatural, and that took away from story for me. I really liked Ethan. He had that smolder to him. I think Autumn was more together than she thought she was. Together they were pretty cute. This was a clean and inspirational romance, that was entertaining from the first page. I'd like to checkout more of this author's work.
Cami Checketts is married and the proud mother of four future WWF champions. Sometimes between being a human horse, cleaning up magic potions, and driving boys to lacrosse practice, she gets the chance to write fiction.
Cami graduated from Utah State University with a degree in Exercise Science. She is a pro bono fitness trainer and shares health and fitness articles.
To learn more about Cami Checketts and her books, visit her website.You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook, and Twitter.
Touch Me by Skye Malone Genre: New Adult (Paranormal Fiction) Date Published: February 17, 2015 Publisher: Wildflower Isle
Caitlin Faire was only expecting a simple night out to celebrate her best friend's twenty-first birthday. But enter one gorgeous and mysterious guy, and inexplicable visions that can't possibly be real, and you have an evening that becomes anything but simple.
Suddenly, she's seeing visions everywhere. Being overwhelmed by strange impulses she can't control. She thinks she's going insane.
Until she almost kills the first man she touches.
**Touch Me 1 is a novella. It is the first installment of an ongoing new adult paranormal romance serial filled with twists, turns, and dark surprises. Each episode ranges between 14,000 to 20,000 words long (approximately 40-80 pages).**
**Due to strong language and some sexual situations in this and later installments of the series, it is appropriate for readers 17+.**
Touch Me by Skye Malone was an interesting introduction to what I think will be an intriguing serial novel. I liked Cait as the main character. She's your average college girl. Or is she? She starts seeing and feeling different things. It's overwhelming and scary for her. Amar is mysterious. He seems to be wherever she is now too, but he's not so forthcoming with information.. yet. Touch Me was a very quick read that gave me a taste of what's to come, and left me wanting more with the cliffhanger.
Touch Me by Skye Malone was kindly provided to me by Kate Tilton (author assistant). for review. The opinions are my own.
Skye Malone is a fantasy and paranormal romance author, which means she spends most of her time not-quite-convinced that the things she imagines couldn't actually exist.
Born and raised in central Illinois, she hopes someday to travel the world — though in the meantime she’ll take any story that whisks her off to a place where the fantastic lives inside the everyday. She loves strong and passionate characters, complex villains, and satisfying endings that stay with you long after the book is done. An inveterate writer, she can’t go a day without getting her hands on a keyboard, and can usually be found typing away while she listens to all the adventures unfolding in her head.
She also writes under the name Megan Joel Peterson, and is the author of the YA urban fantasy trilogy, The Children and the Blood.
If you'd like to hear about Skye's latest releases, sign up for her new release mailing list ! You'll be the first to learn of new books, new events, and all the exciting book-related news.
Becky Wicks lives in Bali and scribbles books, and she’s mostly powered by coffee. Her first book in the Starstruck Series, Before He Was Famous recently reached #1 in Amazon’s Coming of Age and New Adult & College categories, and her three travel books, published by HarperCollins are online to make feet nice and itchy. Mostly though, she loves to write love stories. She blogs most days at beckywicks.com and always welcomes distractions on Twitter @bex_wicks. Especially if you have photos of cats.
