A spell-binding romance of art, mystery and war

I highly, whole-heartedly recommend this gorgeous historical and paranormal romance that entices the mind and the senses, and the heart too! THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF STONES, by M. J. Rose, can be read as a stand-alone, though it ties in with the first book in the series.

THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF STONES is a stunning historical gothic romantic suspense published by Atria, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, releasing on July 19^th. Written to be a total and complete standalone novel, THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF STONES is the second title in M.J. Rose’s The Daughters of La Lune Series. Sexy, compelling, and seductive, be sure to grab your copy today!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | IndieBound

As World War I rages and the Romanov dynasty reaches its sudden, brutal end, a young jewelry maker discovers love, passion, and her own healing powers in this rich and romantic ghost story, the perfect follow-up to M.J. Rose’s “brilliantly crafted” (Providence Journal) novel The Witch of Painted Sorrows.
Nestled within Paris’s historic Palais Royal is a jewelry store unlike any other. La Fantasie Russie is owned by Pavel Orloff, protégé to the famous Faberge, and is known by the city’s fashion elite as the place to find the rarest of gemstones and the most unique designs. But war has transformed Paris from a city of style and romance to a place of fear and mourning. In the summer of 1918, places where lovers used to walk, widows now wander alone.
So it is from La Fantasie Russie’s workshop that young, ambitious Opaline Duplessi now spends her time making trench watches for soldiers at the front, as well as mourning jewelry for the mothers, wives, and lovers of those who have fallen. People say that Opaline’s creations are magical. But magic is a word Opaline would rather not use. The concept is too closely associated with her mother Sandrine, who practices the dark arts passed down from their ancestor La Lune, one of sixteenth century Paris’s most famous courtesans.
But Opaline does have a rare gift even she can’t deny, a form of lithomancy that allows her to translate the energy emanating from stones. Certain gemstones, combined with a personal item, such as a lock of hair, enable her to receive messages from beyond the grave. In her mind, she is no mystic, but merely a messenger, giving voice to soldiers who died before they were able to properly express themselves to loved ones. Until one day, one of these fallen soldiers communicates a message—directly to her.
So begins a dangerous journey that will take Opaline into the darkest corners of wartime Paris and across the English Channel, where the exiled Romanov dowager empress is waiting to discover the fate of her family. Full of romance, seduction, and a love so powerful it reaches beyond the grave, The Secret Language of Stones is yet another “spellbindingly haunting” (Suspense magazine), “entrancing read that will long be savored” (Library Journal, starred review).

 

MY OPINION

I'm so happy when I find such an intriguing story.

Beautifully written and evocative, it fills the reader with the strange desire to experience thet fateful magic that animates the heroine's life. I love to travel through space and time in books. This one has transported to a France ridden with the grief of war, the mystifying echo of esoteric powers and the seduction of the arts.

Last year, I read The Witch of Painted Sorrows, and I was fascinated. Art, esoteric mysteries, Paris, a romance as passionate and transcending as La Lune, the ancient spirit of a witch who possess Sandrine and teachers her about darkness and light. Naturally, I was trembling with excitement over reading about Sandrine's daughter, Opaline, and her own venture into the mystic unknown of her own powers.

There are so many wondrous things I love about this story. Paris is both atmospheric and forlorn, steeped in the throes of the Great War and its many ugly creatures. Art and beauty abound in the description of places, streets, jewels, rooms and churches. All that envelopes a plot of historical gravitas where Russian expatriates mourn the fall of the Tsar, German spies are feared in the city of Paris, women take up jobs vacant by their men at war or buried.

The author has a melancholic, rich voice that breathes life into this tale of haunted romance, loneliness, guilt a legacy of magic and a period of time in turmoil that feels ever present.

I've learned about many enlightening subjects like how soldiers coped with disfigurement when they came back from battle, or the intricacies of Opaline's work with gems and metals at the jewelry shop. I confess I quickly became fascinated by the inner workings of her magic, and I wanted as much ghostly interaction with Jean Luc as possible.

My heart actually fluttered at the incredible adventure Opaline lives at the end. Suspense, Russian politics, betrayal and magic, and a sorrowful yet deeply romantic and hopeful conclusion that left me a little breathless.

What a beauty!

Favourite Quote: 

Every soul requires secret places for contemplation as well as open spaces for celebration.

M.J. Rose’sTHE SECRET LANGUAGE OF STONES – Review & Excerpt Tour Schedule:

July 11th

What the Cat Read – Excerpt

Deluged with Books Cafe – Review & Excerpt

Fiction Adventures – Excerpt

July 12^th

Mes Livres – Review

Adventures in Writing – Excerpt

The Book Hammock – Review & Excerpt

July 13^th

Hart's Romance Pulse – Excerpt

Penny For My Thoughts – Review

Socially Awkward Book Nerd – Excerpt

Novel Addiction – Excerpt

July 14^th

Brooke Blogs – Excerpt

Vagabonda Reads – Review & Excerpt

I Read Indie – Excerpt

July 15^th

Zach's YA Reviews – Review

A Brit and a Yank – Excerpt

The Book Sirens – Excerpt

Sassy Moms Say Read Romance – Review

July 16^th

Roxy's Reviews – Excerpt

Gaga Over Books – Review & Excerpt

Kick Back & Review – Excerpt

July 17^th

Only One More Page – Excerpt

Fly Away on the Wings of a Book – Review & Excerpt

July 18^th

Okie Dreams Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt

KT Book Reviews – Excerpt

Vampire Book Club – Excerpt

July 19^th

Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews – Review

Romance Book Nerd – Excerpt

Rachel's Rambles – Review & Excerpt

July 20^th

My Fictional Escape – Excerpt

Literaria – Review

Mama Reads Hazel Sleeps – Excerpt

July 21^st

WTF Are You Reading? – Review & Excerpt

Julalicious Book Paradise – Excerpt

Love Affair With Fiction – Review & Excerpt

July 22^nd

G & T's Indie Café – Excerpt

Rebel Heart Bookshelf – Review & Excerpt

With Love for Books – Review

BCS reviews – Review & Excerpt

   

Read an excerpt :o)

Regret isn’t like grief; it never lessens, just stays the same. A little hard ball in the pit of your stomach.”

What do you have to regret?

 “A boy went off to war, and all he wanted was my promise to wait for him.”

You didn’t give it?

“No.”

Why?

“I should have, even if I didn’t love him. Realized he needed me and it wouldn’t hurt me to just tell him. But I didn’t love him. Not the way you wrote about love in your column. A grand love, you wrote. Did you have a love that grand?” I asked him.

No. I never did. Did you?

“No, and I wouldn’t want to. It would be too painful if it failed.”

But to experience it once—even if it is painful—don’t you think it would be worth it? Wouldn’t you want to know what that kind of intensity is like? Wouldn’t you want to feel that deeply?

“I don’t think most people can. Not the way I imagine it.”

Tell me what you imagine.

Leaning over, I shut off the light. If we were going to have a complete conversation, it wouldn’t be as peculiar in the darkness. I’d be less conscious of the empty room.

“I wouldn’t think it happens easily or often. Never for some people. I imagine a love like that is like a fire . . . starting with a spark and growing into a blaze . . . becoming an engulfing passion too hot for most people to withstand.”

But don’t you think a passion that strong would last? Even as glowing embers. Always illuminating the blackness. Always giving some warmth in the cold.

“It seems so tragic to me, but you make it sound wonderful.”

And it would be . . . to always possess the memory of what was possible. Of what could be. Tell me, what do you think it takes to make that first spark?

“What does it take to make a grain of sand become a pearl? They say the sand is an irritant. Maybe love starts that way too. You’re alone in yourself and then meet someone who upsets your balance, who you can’t quite explain away or put in a comfortable place. Someone who shakes your very soul. Who has ideas that jar you and make you think. Who does more than understand you, who understands what you need.”

Who shakes your soul. That’s lovely.

The warmth around my shoulders slipped down my back. Encircled my waist. I’d been kissed before, often enough by Timur, by Grigori, but Jean Luc’s kiss wasn’t like theirs. It began dancing on my lips, pressing on my mouth, and at the same time on my breasts and then at the same time between my legs. Creating sensations all over my body in the same instant. I became the spark about to combust. I smelled his scent of pungent limes, verbena, and myrrh. So intoxicating, at once forbidden and teasing. Like the ghost who now lay on top of me, beckoning me to slide into his dark embrace and get lost within sensation.

Don’t Miss the First Book in The Daughters of La Lune Series, THE WITCH OF PAINTED SORROWS!

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** iBooks ** IndieBound

ABOUT THE MASTERMIND

New York Times Bestseller, M.J. Rose grew up in New York City mostly in the labyrinthine galleries of the Metropolitan Museum, the dark tunnels and lush gardens of Central Park and reading her mother’s favorite books before she was allowed. She believes mystery and magic are all around us but we are too often too busy to notice… books that exaggerate mystery and magic draw attention to it and remind us to look for it and revel in it.

Rose’s work has appeared in many magazines including Oprah Magazine and she has been featured in the New York Times, Newsweek, WSJ, Time, USA Today and on the Today Show, and NPR radio. Rose graduated from Syracuse University, spent the ’80s in advertising, has a commercial in the Museum of Modern Art in NYC and since 2005 has run the first marketing company for authors – Authorbuzz.com

The television series PAST LIFE, was based on Rose’s novels in the Reincarnationist series. She is one of the founding board members of International Thriller Writers and currently serves, with Lee Child, as the organization’s co-president.

Rose lives in CT with her husband the musician and composer, Doug Scofield, and their very spoiled and often photographed dog, Winka.

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Daughter of La Lune Pendant
 Giveaway!

We're celebrating the release of THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF STONES by giving away a beautiful Daughter of La Lune pendant. Designed by Cadsawan Jewelry, the silver pendant contains a labradorite, a magical stone excellent for awakening one's own awareness of inner spirit, intuition, and psychic abilities.

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Good luck, book buddies :o)

New cover on the premises: Forever Found

For the second time today, I bring you a fantastic cover! I remember I fell in love with the cover, and the story, of the first part: GIRL LOST. So I had to be right here for the launch of this beauty.

Ready...?

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FOREVER FOUND by Nazarea Andrews. 

Don't you agree that this is incredibly original?

This is a novella that will be released on December 30th and it is the stunning conclusion to the story begun in Girl Lost.

 

BOOK BLURB:

Losing Gwen was one of the hardest things I've ever had to survive. I've never loved anyone the way I love her.
But finding her was never about that. And now that I have found her--now that she knows the truth about me and the Island, I have to trust her to believe. Because her leaving me didn't just destroy me--its killing Neverland.
I need her to love me. But we all need her to believe again.
Peter Pan has grown up and found the girl who left--but the stakes are higher than ever in this romantic conclusion to the story begun in Girl Lost.

 ADD FOREVER FOUND TO GOODREADS.

 

And ckeck out this great EXCERPT:

Gwen is leaning against the window. Every time I leave her, I forget. She’s not all gangly limbs and huge eyes and dirty hair hanging in her face, flinching at her own shadow. Not anymore. That Gwen still haunts my island, but this—this Gwen is breathtaking.

She thinks she’s broken. Fractured pieces of a broken mind, held together by medication and stubborn denial. But she doesn’t see herself, not the way I do.

Lane had that right. She’s breathtaking—even now, when I know she’s sad and broken. She stands straight, a pair of thin sleep pants curving around her ass before falling loose and free to the floor. Her shoulders are back, graceful and strong, under the thick sweater she’s wearing, her hair pulled into a messy knot at the top of her head.

She can see me, my reflection in the dark glass. And I see the tension in her tighten, drawing her up and sharp, until she’s almost vibrating with it. “Why are you here?” she asks, her voice low and hoarse.

She sounds like that when she’s been crying. I know—I’ve heard her so many times, heard her tears. Wiped them away. Whispered happy thoughts until I teased a smile from her.

“Peter,” she snaps, and I jerk, out of the memories and into the moment.

“You ran away.”

She gives an unladylike snort. “You decided you were a delusion of my past, and then you expected me to sit there and listen to your insane ramblings. Thanks, but no. I can’t do that. I’ve had enough crazy for one life.” She bites her lip, and then blurts, “You stole my file, didn’t you? That’s how you know about the Boy.”

“Do you remember the firefly meadow?”

She goes still, and I smile, gently. “You do.”

“That wasn’t real,” she whispers, and I feel the shudder.

“We’d hide there, from the lost boys. And you’d fall asleep telling me your happy thoughts, and wake up to a galaxy of fireflies, and we’d chase them until you made yourself sick, laughing. And then I’d hold you and we’d stare at the stars, and you always said they were different. It smelled like jasmine and honey-“

“And wild woods and freedom,” she whispers, her blue eyes impossibly wide in her pretty face. I take a tentative step toward her, and touch her fingers.

Why are your stars different?

“It wasn’t a delusion, Gwendy. You know it wasn’t. Trust yourself.”

She shudders. “Can’t. My mind lies. It wasn’t—“

“Gwendy,” I say, desperately. Her eyes are filling with tears and I can feel the disbelief, the way it will tear apart the world I’ve known, and the girl I’ve loved, and I can’t. I move without thinking, catch her head and bring her lips to mine.

 

If you want more, you're in luck if you're in the US,

GIVEAWAY TIME

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  AUTHOR LINKS:

Site - http://www.nazareaandrews.com/
Blog - http://www.nazarea-andrews.blogspot.com/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/NazareaAndrews
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nazarea-Andrews/43623123516 Street Team - https://www.facebook.com/groups/427502530700422/

Good luck, US book buddies ;o)

The Collector's Society: wonderfully creative Alice + giveaway

What an original novel! Book buddies, you have to read this one :o)

THE COLLECTOR'S SOCIETY
Heather Lyons

Mysterious and smart, the plot unfolds in tantalizing snippets that grip your imagination until before you realize it, it's blown your mind with the sheer adventure of Wonderland, time-travelling and action-packed romance.

I wanted to read this book because it gave me an impression of fairy-tale fantasy mixed with adventure. And it certainly delivers!

Our dear Alice from Lewis Carroll's Wonderland world jumps out of the page, quite literally, as a smart, kick-ass heroine who's guarding more secrets from her mysterious past than a CIA agent.

I really liked this character because she has brains, she has a guarded but curious attitude, and she can fight with enviable expertise.

What about the world she lives in? Wonderland might be the crazy place she escaped and still haunts her memories, but she's going to be hurdled into a whirlwind of a destination. There is plenty of mind-blogging challenges to keep her sharp wit occupied with villainous plots, thieves and murderers, a secret society and a twisted test to her sanity.

What blew my mind about this story is that Alice is not the only book character we encounter. Lots of them interact with her in their pursuit to stop an enigmatic force that is stalking famous books and destroying their potential to exist as real worlds.

This story has the feel of a spy adventure with a clash of past and modern times, where a great part of the enjoyment resides in identifying a beloved book character and following their steps in finding out the culprit behind the stolen books. One of the things that gripped me is the author's imagination where she's explaining how the characters from different timelines coexist in the modern world or how they feel about their nature and being the spawn of a writer's mind. They are truly alive, especially Finn and Victor who share a painful past that we come to learn about as the plot thickens in the midst of espionage techinques, witty conversations and a heated romance that Alice tries to fend off but cannot resist anymore. Add to all that an amazing, crazy, thrilling and innovative foray into one of the most compelling literary lands of all times: Wonderland.

That was one of my favourite parts of the book: when Alice finally confronts the world she left behind with all its gloriously wild and bloody characters. In particular, the impressive, loyal and totally hot White King. Oh, my heart, those scenes with him were precious and heart-wrenching!

Alas, I end this book completely amazed, in love and awed by the sheer intensity and colour of its wild creativity and heart-felt romance. Beautiful, indeed.

Favourite quotes:

I fear I'm doing the impossible. I fear I'm falling in love.

Love, it seems, can be drawn from a bottomless well, and for many different kinds of thirst.


Thanks for the great opportunity to be a part of this amazing tour!

 Release Day Launch for Heather Lyons' THE COLLECTORS' SOCIETY!! An Adult Romantic Fairy Tale, full of adventure and fantasy. This is Alice as you have never seen her before...

 

Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** Kobo ** iTunes

 From the author of the Fate series and The Deep End of the Sea comes a fantastical romantic adventure that has Alice tumbling down the strangest rabbit hole yet. After years in Wonderland, Alice has returned to England as an adult, desperate to reclaim sanity and control over her life. An enigmatic gentleman with an intriguing job offer too tempting to resist changes her plans for a calm existence, though. Soon, she’s whisked to New York and initiated into the Collectors’ Society, a secret organization whose members confirm that famous stories are anything but straightforward and that what she knows about the world is only a fraction of the truth. It’s there she discovers villains are afoot—ones who want to shelve the lives of countless beings. Assigned to work with the mysterious and alluring Finn, Alice and the rest of the Collectors’ Society race against a doomsday clock in order to prevent further destruction . . . but will they make it before all their endings are erased?   

  Excerpt: 

 “Do you find my ability to converse lacking, Doctor?” He chuckles softly, no doubt remembering how I wasn’t chatty with anyone, himself included, for the first month of my stay. To be fair, it is difficult to carry on an invigorating discussion when one is shaking so hard from withdrawals they fear they might shatter into thousands of painful pieces before a single word can be uttered. Plus, there was the whole bit of how once I did open up, I raved liked a lunatic about things no normal person could imagine being true. “Certainly not,” he says to me. “But as I must stay at the Pleasance and you must go forth into the world, it will do you good to practice on somebody new.” “Then send in one of the orderlies. Or one of the nurses. I’ll happily chat with a staff member.” One of his bushy, out-of-control eyebrows lifts high into his forehead. “There are people out there who are quite content being solitary,” I point out. “Who do not need to converse with anybody but themselves and their dogs.” He sets his pen down. “What about cats?” Rigor mortis sets in ever so briefly at this question. “You father said you were quite fond of cats growing up. There was one in particular that you favored. Dinah, was it not?” “I’m—” I have to clear my throat. “Lately, I wonder if perhaps I’m more of a dog person after all.”

  About Heather Lyons: Heather Lyons has always had a thing for words—She’s been writing stories since she was a kid. In addition to writing, she’s also been an archaeologist and a teacher. Heather is a rabid music fan, as evidenced by her (mostly) music-centric blog, and she’s married to an even larger music snob. They’re happily raising three kids who are mini music fiends who love to read and be read to.      

Website ** Author Goodreads ** Twitter ** Facebook **
THE COLLECTORS’ SOCIETY Goodreads

GIVEAWAY TIME

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Good luck, book buddies!

Release day for Filthy Beautiful Lies + giveaway

We can't live without them, right, book buddies?

It's hot books. 

They just tantalize us with something that daily routine

makes us forget it even exists.

The animal sensuality we all carry inside us.

Let's have a look at today's hot book!

Meet Colton Drake...

I have no idea why she auctioned off her virginity for a cool mill. Regardless, I’m now the proud new owner of a perfectly intact hymen. A lot of good that will do me. I have certain tastes, certain sexual proclivities. My cock is a bit more discriminatory than most. And training a virgin takes finesse and patience – both of which I lack.

Sophie Evans has been backed into a corner. With her sister’s life hanging in the balance, the only choice is to claw her way out, even if that means selling her virginity to the highest bidder at an exclusive erotic club. When Colton Drake takes her home, she quickly learns nothing is as it seems with this beautifully troubled man. Being with him poses challenges she never expected, and pushes her to want things she never anticipated. 

A sinfully seductive erotic romance where everything has a price and the cost of love is the highest of all from New York Times & USA Today bestselling author, Kendall Ryan.

AMAZON - AMAZON UK - iTunes - KOBO - SMASHWORDS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR...

 Kendall Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance novels, including Hard to Love, Unravel Me, Resisting Her and When I Break.

She's a sassy, yet polite Midwestern girl with a deep love of books, and a slight addiction to lipgloss. She lives in Minneapolis with her adorable husband and two baby sons, and enjoys hiking, being active, and reading.

Visit her at: www.kendallryanbooks.com for the latest book news, and fun extras

Links:

NEWSLETTER -  TWITTER -  FACEBOOK

PINTEREST -  GOODREADS - AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

GIVEAWAY TIME

5 signed copies of Filthy Beautiful Lies
open internationally

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Enter and (hopefully) win!

Serial addict: Deep Surrendering part 5 + giveaway

Hey, book buddies! Just a couple of days ago I promised I'd gush all about DEEP SURRENDERING, part 5, by Chelsea M. Cameron. I'm pretty much into this serial now as it's reached part 5, but don't worry, it's still very good and I won't spoil the fun for you with a detailed review. Just a tiny teaser. And don't forget the giveaway. It's still standing!

With thousands of miles separating them, will Fin and Marisol be able to keep their relationship alive? 

Or will the distance finally come between them?

*This is a novella of 20K words and the fifth in a series of novellas. They will release on the third Thursday of every month. The total number of episodes isn't final, but it will be from 12-14, which is two novel's worth of content. Due to adult content, this is not appropriate for anyone under the age of 17* 

MY OPINION OF DEEP SURRENDERING 5

Marisol is here. Fin is not. He's in Paris. The distance is taking its toll but is also achingly romantic. I loved, oh so much, the scene where they have a long-distance date. I won't go into detail so as not to spoil the surprise but it was so cute and I envied them so much for that precious experience they shared. Romantic and original.

Favourite quote:

Al the best things happen under the cover of darkness.

This separation also serves to enhance this couple's feelings with a bittersweet quality. Of course, they indulge in some intimate moments that are worth your rapt attention.

Not everything is perfect. Some trust issues pop up between them. And let's not forget the secrets. Oh yeah, they keep coming and they're sadder than ever. I don't think Marisol has any chance of breaking Fin's spell over her now.

Their phone calls and video chats felt very real. I liked their interaction a lot. Family and friends also have their role in making it all feel real and connected.

And then comes that cliffhanger at the end of this episode that's shocked me with worry and doubts. Chelsea, dear girl, I'm holding on, I promise, but right now I'm on edge!

*

BUY LINKS FOR DEEP SURRENDERING - EPISODE 5: 

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1pqlTF0

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1rGx3FG

Kobo:  http://bit.ly/1k7y1vt

BUY LINKS FOR DEEP SURRENDERING - EPISODE 4:

Amazon:  http://amzn.to/1lVnylt

Barnes & Noble:  http://bit.ly/ULjR7l

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1pkeTdj

BUY LINKS FOR DEEP SURRENDERING - EPISODE 3:

Amazon:  http://amzn.to/1nKPdHR

Barnes & Noble:  http://bit.ly/1qDM3ra

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1goRKoL

BUY LINKS FOR DEEP SURRENDERING - EPISODE 2: 

Amazon:  http://amzn.to/1eS7N8l

Barnes & Noble:  http://bit.ly/1h4y7Ma

Kobo:  http://bit.ly/1iqcpqT

BUY LINKS FOR DEEP SURRENDERING - EPISODE 1: 

Amazon:  http://amzn.to/1fI3LP2
Barnes & Noble:  http://bit.ly/1hCqMWa
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1gALqDA 

Author Information

Chelsea M. Cameron is a YA/NA New York Times/USA Today Best Selling author from Maine. Lover of things random and ridiculous, Jane Austen/Charlotte and Emily Bronte Fangirl, red velvet cake enthusiast, obsessive tea drinker, vegetarian, former cheerleader and world's worst video gamer. When not writing, she enjoys watching infomercials, singing in the car and tweeting (this one time, she was tweeted by Neil Gaiman). She has a degree in journalism from the University of Maine, Orono that she promptly abandoned to write about the people in her own head. More often than not, these people turn out to be just as weird as she is.

Her New Adult Contemporary Romance titles include My Favorite Mistake, which has been bought by Harlequin along with a sequel, Deeper We Fall and Faster We Burn (April 20, 2013)

Her Young Adult books include Nocturnal, Nightmare and Neither, the first three books in The Noctalis Chronicles. The fourth and final book, Neverend will be out in 2013. Whisper, the first in The Whisper Trilogy is also available, with the second book in the series, Silence and the final book, LIsten coming out in 2014.

Website - Twitter - Facebook - Goodreads

GIVEAWAY TIME:

Win a $50 Amazon Gift Card. 

International.

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Thank you to

How to fall in love with THE TOKEN in six steps + giveaway

How to fall in love with THE TOKEN in 6 steps

1 Meet a girl who's slowly descending into depravity

2 Feel your heart rip open for her sadness

3 Fall under the spell of dark men

4 Relish the carnal poetry of the writing

5 Don't let the darkness shy you away from its terrible beauty

6 When you get to episode 3, you will need, NEED,

to have the rest ready to pluck.

This is what I've read so far...

THE TOKEN 

VOLUMES 1-3

On the first page Faren is hopeless. On the second page, I started to see into her soul. So much sadness there, and strength that ploughs relentlessly towards her goal through all kinds of tragedy. She has secrets and pains that force her to take decisions against her will. It was harrowing to see how she sells her dignity and freedom bit by bit, but also beautifully human because of the author's heartfelt, sensitive writing. Through Marata Ero's poetic and deeply sad words, I was soaked in the story of a doomed girl who has no escape and no future. When Faren and Jared meet face to face, after a first encounter surrounded in harsh mystery, it is full of heart-beating emotion.

I understand Faren's actions. They might be flawed, reckless, but she's trapped in a tight box. The fact that one of her shackles ends up liberating her from consequences is a paradox that opens up a new self-awareness within her.

As strangers, Faren and Jared make wrong assumptions about each other, but that only fuels this melting-hot attraction that overwhelms them. It's only words, but what power words hold! I love it when I forget I'm reading and I can wholly feel myself inside the characters.

The first novella ends with a horrifying jolt. And the next one starts off with an explosive turn of events. A danger from the past comes after Faren and she has to fight back. Meanwhile, her relationship with Jared is going deeper and fiercer. (Sorry, I can't call him Mick, for some reason that name diminishes him in my eyes).

There are so many shadows over Faren. The weight of her suffering crushed me all throughout the story. It's like a palpable coat over everything. You have to be warned that this story has a dark tone with very graphic scenes of barely consensual intimacy and a constant feeling of hopelessness. It all builds up to the sacrifice and secrets balanced against the subtle, emotional, magnetic sensuality of a twisted romance.

There is some light, some sweetness and beauty, but on the dark side, the depravation Faren slowly agrees to is quite disturbing, though masterfully portrayed.

A couple of men stand out as adversaries to Faren's freedom. One of them in particular, Thorn, is quite literally a thorn in anybody's side and soul. Although he's sharply revolting, he's also a challenge to delve into. Does he have a redeeming secret?

Let's find out in episode 3.

That's where things go really bad, as black as sin, and spiral down to brutal violence, despair and impossible crossroads. There was so much anguish that it was hard to swallow. I felt so sorry for Faren. It's so unfair what she goes through, and even if part of what happens to her is due to her decisions, the horrible price she has to pay feels too much. The cliffhanger here is pure dynamite. 

Need. More. Now.

All the enticing covers of the serial

The Token Synopsis:

From New York Times& USA Today bestselling author Marata Eros~

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Three volumes ***Limited time only*** A savings of$6! 

4.5 average star rating across three volumes!

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The Token Series revolves around heroine Faren Mitchell and self-made billionaire hero Jared "Mick" McKenna. The two literally collide when Mick accidentally runs into Faren while riding his Harley. A mix of chemistry, tragedy, murder and unrequited love transpire in a series of six, dark installments....

TT1. Twenty-two year old Faren Mitchell hears the two words that change her abbreviated life forever. They're so final Faren decides she has nothing to lose by seizing every remaining moment of what life has to offer. Until Faren collides with a motorcycle ridden by billionaire Jared McKenna. 

Even the dark secret of her past and catharsis as a physical therapist can't save Faren from the sexual spiral that waits for her in the arms of a man who commits to no one. When circumstances force her to get a second job as an exotic dancer, Faren never imagines how close that choice will bring her to the brink of a new reality she is unequipped to handle.

TT2. Faren Mitchell keeps the secret of her second job from the one man who could see her through some of the darkest moments of her life. She doesn't want Jared "Mick" McKenna for the billions he's amassed, but for the one thing she's never given any man: her innocence. 

Mick's guilt over the injury he inflicted fuels the beginnings of something more; a sexual consumption of each other that neither were anticipating. When Faren's actions don't match her words, Mick suspicions are raised. His feelings turn to ones of protection after Faren is mugged and he can't reconcile his desire for her with the reality they now find themselves in. 

As Faren's bucket list grows, so does the danger that surrounds the choices she's made. Can she take what she needs from Mick and also secure her mother's life? Or will the truth she has weaved between the lies doom them both?

TT3. Faren collapses, narrowly escaping discovery upon hearing traumatic news delivered by Thorn. When Thorn becomes her uneasy accomplice in the deception of Mick, Faren decides she needs to come clean with the truth. Shelving her pride might be the last thing she wants to do, but as facts and actions continue to contradict one another, her hands become tied in the lies she creates to survive. 

Faren only needs one last lap dance to erase the final debt that hangs over her mother's head like a cloud of doom. But when Ronnie Bunce circles closer to Faren and threatens the last sanctuary she possesses, circumstances unravel to reveal lies that run deeper than she knew. 

Can Faren and Mick consummate their passion before her deceit is discovered? Or will the last dance be the ultimate loss?

App. page count 340 

*Volumes 1-6 available now!

*TT6 releases May 16, 2014

Amazon

The Token 4. Faren doesn't think her heart can break any further until Mick discovers her sullied secret in the worst way possible. 

Faren picks up the shattered remnants of her emotions and moves forward with a desperate plan to win Mick back that doesn't involve one penny of his billions. When Faren sees what remains of her life coming together with a synchronicity she can only dream of, the unexpected happens with Jay--and she must play a razor's edge of deception once again. 

Can she tie this final loose end and receive the money from that aborted last dance before the countdown of debt has expired? Will a dirty cop and the long arm of Ronnie Bunce conspire to ruin the fragile bond she's created with Mick? Or will the concessions Faren's made along the way shatter the dark joy she has been given .... Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Token 5. Jay puts pressure on Faren for more than she's willing to give. With the discovery of a deeper secret than she can keep to herself, Faren commits to lying no more. Though the goal of her mother's debt has been absolved and she is safe from transport, Faren struggles with concerns over her long term care. 

When Mick finds out the absolute truth, the dynamic of their relationship changes to include something she never expected to have: hope. 

How long can Faren keep those at bay that wish to destroy the fragile happiness between Mick and Faren? Will blackmail be successful in ruining the one thing Faren's decided she wants even more than her own life? Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Token 6. From the NEW YORK TIMES & USA TODAY bestselling author, Marata Eros 

Faren is blown away about the dual revelation of her health. A different threat against her mother remains, while Mick and Faren execute caution with the excavation of the past. Neither want Thorn to suffer for something he's not responsible for.  

The lesson taught to Ronnie Bunce didn't stick and he has connections that even Mick's monetary status can't silence. When its discovered the players on the chessboard have been closing in for a checkmate against Faren and Mick, Farenuses whatever's at hand to save the one she cares about the most. 

Will the gauntlet Faren rushes through put everything she cares about to the test? Does this final danger erase the seeds of the truth she's finally come to terms with—or will the larger threat irrevocably damage her most precious treasure? Amazon 

TOP TEN THINGS ABOUT THE TOKEN

#1: Pacing. If a reader is easily bored, TT pack a punch! Engaging plot with lots of action.

#2: Mystery. TT offers a lot of loose ends for the reader to tie up before the author closes the circle of the story.

#3: Hot sex. Smoldering sexual tension coupled with in-the-moment erotic lovemaking is sure to thrill.

#4: Alpha-alpha-alpha. Readers that dig tough men with tender hearts should dig TT.

#5: Crime fiction. The author likes to fool with throwing in cops and killers.

#6: Dark romance in a new adult setting. Coming-of-age heroine meets self-made billionaire. 

It can never work, but somehow it does...

#7: HEA. Marata Eros always has an HEA, the journey is raw, but oh so sweet when it does.

#8: TT has a less-than-perfect heroine with a small disability. She's brave and doesn't let the tragedy of her past rule her present.

#9: Multi-genre writing. Marata Eros is renown for blending genres. Fans of horror, romance, erotica and mystery will like the combination in TT serial.

#10: Speed of release. The very best thing about TT serial is a new release publishing every month since the first volume became available on Christmas Day 2013. Volume #6 releases May 16, with the follow-up spin-offs: TT7: Thorn, TT8: Kiki & TT9: Chet Sinclair to publish within half a year of TT6. No delayed gratification; read it right away~

Wow, those are great insights. And I'm so thrilled about the spin-offs!! Thank you, dear Marata. I love you! 

The author MARATA EROS. lsn't she beautiful? 

Marata Eros (a pseudonym for Tamara Rose Blodgett), is the NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY bestselling author of dark, romantic new adult novels, including A Terrible Love and its companion novel A Brutal Tenderness. Marata lives in South Dakota with her husband

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I'm madly in love with this serial. I can't wait to read the rest!