A review of Frozen (The Artica Lights) by Kat Holmes

Sexy...heartbreaking at times...but wonderfully woven together at the end!

*****Five Stars

Description:

Brent Larkin came to Antarctica to study penguins. He didn’t come looking for either adventure or romance. But when a freak storm blows in and he loses his way, that’s exactly what he gets. Attacked by some bobbing lights, he suddenly finds himself in a wintry forest surrounded by men with swords pointed at him. The next thing he knows he’s in a dungeon and chained to the wall.

Awni is the queen of Artica, a land of eternal winter. The daughter of a god, Awni’s cursed to never know the touch of another. Her icy skin is death for anyone who dares to touch her flesh. But, when a mysterious stranger shows up in her lands, she finds herself drawn to him. Eager to learn about his world, she invites him to spend time with her only to be shocked when he touches her and doesn’t freeze to death.

But Artica is a land ruled by tradition. Though she longs to keep Brent with her, the laws of the land force her to send him home. But without him, both she and the land begin to suffer. Now, Awni is facing the same peril as one of her ancestors. And if she perishes like her ancestor did, all of Artica will pay the price. Can Brent, returned to his own world, somehow find his way back and save her before all is lost?

Review:

I love being immersed in an imaginary world, and I love a good story, and Kat Holmes delivers on both of these with Frozen (The Artica Lights). I'll be honest. I don't tend to read a lot of romance books. This isn't to say that Frozen is a straight-up romance piece, because it's not, but this element might have deterred me from reading the book back in the day. Fortunately, I am more open minded when it comes to reading nowadays, and I'm glad I gave this book a chance. Love stories seem to be a dime a dozen, but Frozen puts a unique spin on the traditional tale. I also have to admit that the sex scenes were hot! Kat knows how to stimulate all of your senses, making the reader feel like they're experiencing everything the characters are. Frozen is an emotional and beautifully written love tale. I have also read works by Kat's mother, L.J. Holmes, who is another fantastic writer. As a result, it's safe to say that talented writing runs in the family.

http://www.amazon.com/Frozen-The-Artica-Lights-Holmes-ebook/dp/B004XWQ78K/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1394542402&sr=8-20&keywords=kat+holmes

Earthbound Blog Tour - A Review of "Earthbound" by Elaine Calloway

I am honored to host Elaine Calloway today during her Earthbound blog tour. I will be reviewing the book, which I decided to purchase despite her generous offer of providing a free copy through Smashwords. It's just one way I like to help out fellow authors. Anyway, let's get to it. In addition to the review, you will find helpful links and other pertinent information so you can learn more about Elaine. I hope you enjoy today's blog stop!

Description:

Some say history repeats itself, but for Terran, an Earth Elemental, history has returned and slapped him in the face. Along the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon, the Acobi Fallen Angels have decided to go underground–literally. Resurrecting an ancient legend, the evil Acobi are trapping underage girls and shanghaiing innocent humans into slavery. Terran must stop the Acobi and keep the public away from the Shanghai tunnels, all while keeping his supernatural powers hidden.

Kelly Habersham, overachieving real estate developer, has finally convinced her father and brothers to give her the Portland condo project, which would require extensive construction near the tunnels. Determined to impress her father and make a name for herself in the family business, she is not about to let a Save-the-Earth guy get in her way.

Terran and Kelly must work together and come to a truce--or they may become casualties in another war between good and evil. 

Review:

This is book three in The Elemental Clans series, and I am happy to say that Earthbound is very reader friendly to those who haven't picked up the prior books - such as myself. Honestly, if I didn't know better, I would have guessed this was the first book in the series. It stands on its own extremely well, but it still leaves you curious about what came before (and what will come next) in the series. I absolutely loved the characters in this book. Not only were they believable and realistic, but I also found myself forming an attachment to them, regardless of whether I was pulling for them or not. Elaine possesses a smooth and engaging writing style, and the story flows at a nice, steady pace from beginning to end. For example, even though it's roughly 400 pages in length, it was a relatively quick read for me. Despite some very minor issues (using the same words a little too much and a few grammar mistakes), I can't think of any reasons not to recommend this book. Overall, Earthbound was a fun and entertaining read. Plus, I love the Pacific Northwest, and Elaine does a fantastic job of accurately portraying the area.

About Elaine and her other works:

Earthbound is a paranormal fantasy romance set in Portland, Oregon, and is part of an elemental series. Other books in the Elemental Clan Series by Elaine Calloway include:
• Water’s Blood - book one
• Raging Fire - book two
• Windstorm - book four
Elementals and Fallen Angels square off in a battle of good versus evil. Who will win this challenge?

Elaine Calloway is originally from New Orleans and can still do a Cajun accent upon request. She writes paranormal romance for adults and paranormal fantasy books set in New Orleans, New York, and other iconic cities. The first three books in her Elemental Series are available on Kindle and in paperback.

Useful links:

Amazon book link

http://www.amazon.com/Earthbound-Elemental-Clans-Elaine-Calloway-ebook/dp/B00I33ORPU/ref=sr_1_6?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1394028682&sr=1-6&keywords=earthbound 

Rafflecopter giveaway link

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b562e813/

Follow Elaine

Twitter – http://twitter.com/writerscanvas

Facebook –https://www.facebook.com/authorelainecalloway

Pinterest Page –http://pinterest.com/elainecalloway/

Goodreads –http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/13256243-elaine-calloway

Win free ebooks and more!

To celebrate my upcoming releases by MuseItUp Publishing on March 21 and April 4, I am giving away copies of my most recently published books and more. Three winners will be announced next Monday (March 10), and the prizes are detailed below.

When an earthquake hits, Mackenzie and two of his co-workers are forced to take shelter in a refuge chamber three miles below ground, uncertain of the damage around and above them. Weighing their options, the three must decide whether to stay put or take their chances climbing to the surface, though making it to ground level is just half of the battle.

Max and Lorenzo are strangers who have crossed paths under the most dire of circumstances – the need to survive. With the earth nothing more than a wasteland and solar radiation a constant threat, the two of them set out for a place called Hope Cavern, an underground city where people have taken refuge. Making the journey north, however, they realize there is a price to pay for companionship. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway