GRAND FINALE: Warming Hearts at Walmart

On tour with Prism Book Tours.

We're thrilled to be spreading the word about Harlequin Heartwarming books now being available in local US Walmarts. Find out if they're at a Walmart by you here. Heartwarming titles are also 35% off at Walmart through the end of January!

Post a Selfie and Win 1 of 15 Walmart Gift Cards!

Join in the fun by taking a selfie with a Heartwarming book (maybe one of the December releases above) and posting publicly on social media to enter to win a Walmart gift card. The giveaway ends January 20th, so post your selfie by then!

Ten Heartwarming authors shared their own selfies and messages at each stop of the tour! If you missed any, go back and check them out now...

I Am A Reader - Amy Vastine

I am so excited that Heartwarming books are now available at Walmart, so some lucky girl can go visit her aunt and possibly stumble across one of MY books and fall in love!

Mel's Shelves - Anna J. Stewart

I was thrilled to find a home in the Heartwarming line. Writing these sweet romances that emphasizes the emotional adventure of falling in love feels almost like a calling and now, that dream I thought I'd achieved has now grown. The Heartwarming line is now available in select Walmarts!

deal sharing aunt - Cari Lynn Webb

I’m thrilled that I’ll get to add more Heartwarming books to my bookshelves now that Heartwarming paperbacks will be available at Wal-Mart. A Heartwarming story will be within reach no matter if I pick up my Kindle or a paperback… there’s nothing better than that.

Reading Is My SuperPower - Carol Ross

I still have my first love. Yes, I’m talking about a book. But not just any book. This is the one that began my life-long, unshakeable and abiding love affair with the written word.

Katie's Clean Book Collection - Catherine Lanigan

Our stories have depth, heart, emotion and the characters are so real, as a reader you feel you would “know” these people on sight. . . . I believe in “happily ever after” and through Heartwarming and Walmart, we’re able to bring more of these moving stories to the people who have been searching for something touching and magical.

Babs Book Bistro - Leigh Riker

It's not always easy to find a romance that's clean and wholesome with a rich, compelling plot and multi-faceted characters to root for all the way to a happy ending. . . . You can trust this brand of our books in the line each month to provide a great reading experience. Pick up a copy (or more) today. And enjoy!

Love, Laughter, Friendship - Melinda Curtis

I admit, most of the books I buy nowadays are ebook, but I almost always buy books I enjoy in their print form. Those keepers mean a lot to me.

Heidi Reads... - Pamela Tracy

I love, love, love finding a new book on the shelf, taking it in my hand, feeling the smooth cover and turning the book over to read the blurb. Buying the book is taking a pan of warm brownies out of the oven. Reading the books is eating the gooey chocolate and never wanting to stop.



Now, Harlequin Heartwarmings will be in stores as well. Wow, it feels a little bit like Christmas.

Christian Chick's Thoughts - Rula Sinara

But if I have the option of spending time in a real brick-n-mortar bookstore and buying a tangible book that I can anticipate experiencing with all my senses, I go straight to print books. And if I see someone running their hand across a book they've been looking for forever then closing their eyes and breathing it in like they've found a treasure, I'd understand.

Bookworm Lisa - Tara Taylor Quinn

Walmart has signed on to put one of my favorite lines, Harlequin Heartwarming, on the shelves of over 400 stores! That’s four more Harlequin books a month. Books filled with emotion and strength. Books that embody the love and hope that the people in our world so desperately seek.

Tour Giveaway

15 - $10 Walmart Gift Cards

- Rules: To enter, take a selfie at a local Walmart with a Heartwarming book and post publicly on social media (can be your hands, your face, etc. with a Heartwarming book). Can enter once each day with a different picture each time. Those who post the same picture multiple times will be disqualified. Those who only post privately (so that it can't be viewed publicly) will also be disqualified.

- US Only

- Ends January 20th

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Cover Reveal: The Society

The Society
by Jodie Andrefski
Release Date: May 3rd 2016
Entangled Teen


Summary from Goodreads:

Welcome to Trinity Academy’s best-kept secret.

The Society.

You’ve been handpicked by the elite of the elite to become a member. But first you’ll have to prove your worth by making it through Hell Week.

Do you have what it takes?

It’s time to find out.

Samantha Evans knows she’d never get an invite to rush the Society—not after her dad went to jail for insider trading. But after years of relentless bullying at the hands of the Society’s queen bee, Jessica, she’s ready to take down Jessica and the Society one peg at a time from the inside out.

All it’ll take is a bit of computer hacking, a few fake invitations, some eager rushees…and Sam will get her revenge.

Let the games begin.

Buy Links:

Amazon│Barnes & Noble│iTunes│Kobo│Amazon UK│Amazon CA│The Book Depository│Books a Million







About the Author

Jodie Andrefski has been passionate about reading ever since she was a little girl, when she used to climb trees to escape with a favorite book. She now lives and writes in a small town in Pennsylvania with her teenage daughter. Though still an avid reader, she now prefers a comfy chair over the crook of a tree. An unapologetic coffee fiend, she's even happier if her java comes with pie. Jodie often draws on her background in education and mental health counseling to bring real world experience to her writing. She is a firm believer in the magic of a first kiss, and insists that you should never, ever give up on your dreams.


Author Links:

Of Neptune (The Syrena Legacy Book 3): A Review

Goodreads (Description):

Emma, who is half human and half Syrena, and her Syrena love, Galen, need time together. Alone. Away from the kingdoms of Poseidon and Triton. Emma’s grandfather, the Poseidon king, suggests the two visit a small town called Neptune.

Neptune is home to both Syrena and Half-Breeds alike. But Emma and Galen didn’t sign up to be peacemakers between the ocean-living Syrena and the land-dwelling, freshwater counterparts. They didn’t bargain for meeting a charming Half-Breed named Reed, who can barely disguise his feelings for Emma. And they especially didn’t expect to find themselves in the middle of a power struggle that threatens not only their love, but their ocean kingdoms.

In this stunning conclusion to her bestselling Syrena Legacy, Anna Banks thrills fans with more action and romance than ever.

My Review:

The final chapter with Galen and Emma. I do have to say, that this book did have more action than the first two, but there was also an introduction of a character I didn't particularly appreciate.

The book begins with Emma's grandfather, the Poseidon king telling her of a city called Neptune. It is filled with Half-Breeds like Emma. Only, they're not only Half-Breeds. Many of them have the Gift of Poseidon also like Emma.

Galen doesn't appreciate being hauled to a city of Half-Breeds. He doesn't really know how to take it because he knows Emma loves it, but this is also against Syrena law. He and Emma have a fight about it, then Galen leaves to cool off, only to get himself kidnapped.

So of course, Emma has no idea why Galen has suddenly disappeared and the "awesome" Half-Breed whom I didn't like at all simply because he caused unnecessary problems, started hitting really hard on Emma. Here's the thing. I don't like love triangles. Never have. So to introduce one in the last book when Emma and Galen already have established their relationship bothered me. The guy's name was Reed.

Alone, Reed was a great guy. Good looking and very flirtatious, but also caring and courageous. A nice, solid character. He just shouldn't have been a plot twist.

I did appreciate that Emma wasn't a wishy-washy idiot who suddenly threw her feelings for Galen away. I liked that she stayed strong and really discovered for herself that Galen was the one she wanted. That's the only reason why this book didn't Extremely bother me. Don't introduce a possible love interest in the last book. Just...no.

Anyway, there is a lot of mystery going about the town of Neptune. A lot of secrets hidden by bitter hearts. I loved the adventure and intrigue in this story. It was a pleasant surprise since most of this series focuses on Galen and Emma's romance.

The end was a tiny  bit  of a let down (really, it wasn't bad, just a personal preference). It was like, surprise! Everything is fixed now...I mean, I can see why Banks did it, because explaining all the stuff in between might have been tedious...I just would have liked more of an explanation on how the ocean Syrena handled the Neptune Syrena.

Ah well. I did thoroughly enjoy this series, however. If you like mermaid stories, this is a good one to look into.

I give this a 3.5 out of 5!

Grand Finale!! The Ghost Chronicles

On tour with Prism Book Tours.

Book Tour Grand Finale for

The Ghost Chronicles

By Marlo Berliner

We've delved into what it would be like to be a ghost in the afterlife, met Michael and Sarah, and learned more about the book's setting. If you missed any of the stops, feel free to go check them out now...

Launch - Interview

What is your motivation behind The Ghost Chronicles? What do you hope readers take with them after they’ve read it?

The best stories lie at the intersection of truth and imagination. The Ghost Chronicles began this way, as well. I had my ‘eureka’ moment one day while sitting on the beach in the Outerbanks of North Carolina (for those of you who don’t know where that is, I urge you to find out and go visit). At the time, I was reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Chapter Eight, The Deathday Party, deals with ghosts and what it might be like to ‘live’ in the afterlife, so that provided the spark that ignited the fire to write The Ghost Chronicles. As a flood of ideas filled my head, I scribbled down a rough outline and the book quickly took shape.

Teatime and Books - The Characters

My hero, Michael Andrews, is very much drawn from my own two boys, Michael and Andrew. Both of them are tall, handsome and athletic. In my story, Michael Andrews is an eighteen year old basketball star with a promising future, set to play for University of Pittsburgh after graduation. He has an impressive build and more importantly, a strong character.

Since Sarah is supposed to be Irish, I decided she would have long, wavy red hair and emerald green eyes. I wanted her to be a character as full of life as Michael. Her spirit is said to be playful and mischievous, so that’s the kind of character I was aiming for.

Life as Leels - Review

I am not one who typically reads books more than once, but this one will remain on my Kindle to read again in the future. That doesn’t happen often, but when I find a book like this, it’s a treasure to hang on to!

deal sharing aunt - The Setting

The Angel of the Sea is one of the most recognized Victorian structures in the United States. Legend has it that in the late 1960’s, a girl fell to her death at the Angel of the Sea and did at one time, haunt the inn. The story of the girl has been included in several non-fiction books about ghosts in Cape May. My heroine in THE GHOST CHRONICLES, Sarah McConnell, was inspired by this legend.

Buried Under Books - Excerpt

As he opened his eyes, his vision blurred. After a few seconds, the inside of his car came into focus and his mind flashed through the last scenes in his memory. I was driving…there was a bend in the road…and sunlight reflecting off the grill of a truck…

Becky on Books - Excerpt

No matter how he tried to joke about it though, he couldn’t shake the feeling someone, or something, was watching him from the darkness. He stopped and stood stock-still, listening.

Wishful Endings - Ghost Stories

To me, the best ghost stories are those that portray spirits in a realistic, believable way. In order to get past the suspension of disbelief, we need to be able to see ourselves in their shoes and buy into the possibility that there may be something beyond this earthly existence.

100 Pages A Day - Review

"I was pulled right into this story about Michael’s trials and learning about how to be a ghost. It was really interesting to see his struggles with leaving his family and girlfriend behind, especially in the absence of his father. . . . I will definitely be reading the second book!"

Mel's Shelves - Romance in The Ghost Chronicles

To me, the best stories are those that forge an emotional connection with the reader. And what forges a better connection than a romance? In writing THE GHOST CHRONICLES, I realized about a quarter of the way through that it was missing something. This was Michael’s story of being stuck in the afterlife, but it needed more. The story really came together when I had the epiphany of adding Michael’s romance with another ghost, Sarah.

Rockin' Book Reviews - Review

This was a well written, steadily moving, paranormal tale. . . . The characters are well defined and very realistic. The scenes are easily visualized. The Title and Book Cover are more than “fitting”.

The Ghost Chronicles

by Marlo Berliner

YA/Adult Crossover Paranormal

Paperbook & ebook, 298 Pages

November 2015 by Teddy Blue Books

Can Michael get to heaven before the devil gets him first, and if it means leaving Sarah is he sure he still wants to go?



Michael Andrews had everything – a loving family, a great girlfriend and a promising basketball career. That was before the accident that took his life. Now, he’s a ghost, wandering among the living, struggling to understand why he’s stuck. All he wants is to move on.



That is until he meets Sarah, an attractive young girl who died just as tragically as he did. The only trouble is falling in love and binding oneself to another soul is forbidden, for it may keep one or both of the souls bound to earth for longer than they should be.



To make matters worse, there’s also a danger in going too far with Sarah, because the “joining” of two souls in the afterlife is also strictly forbidden and they don’t know what will happen if they do go that far. Each time they touch they can feel the boundaries of their energies slipping perilously into one another.



Things get even more complicated as Michael learns he’s being pursued. Demons are after him because he’s a marked soul, a soul the devil wants very badly for some unknown reason.



So, maybe falling in love in the afterlife isn’t such a good idea.

Amazon

About Marlo Berliner

Formerly an accounting manager for a Fortune 500 company, Marlo is currently an intern with a literary agency based in New York City, as well as, an editor at Chimera Editing. Marlo writes young adult, women’s fiction, and short stories. She is currently working on her third novel.

When she's not writing or editing, Marlo loves reading, relaxing at the beach, watching movies, and rooting for the Penn State Nittany Lions. After having spent some wonderful time in Pittsburgh and Houston, she’s now back in her home state of New Jersey where she resides with her husband and two sons. This is her first novel.

Website - Goodreads - Facebook - Twitter - Instagram

Tour Giveaway

$15 Amazon eGift Card & ebook of The Ghost Chronicles

Open internationally

Ends January 16th

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Of Triton (The Syrena Legacy Book 2): My Review

Goodreads (description):

Emma has just learned that her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess, and now struggles with an identity crisis: As a Half-Breed, she’s a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm below. Syrena law states that all Half-Breeds should be put to death.

As if that’s not bad enough, her mother’s reappearance among the Syrena turns the two kingdoms—Poseidon and Triton—against one another. Which leaves Emma with a decision to make: Should she comply with Galen’s request to keep herself safe and just hope for the best? Or should she risk it all and reveal herself—and her Gift—to save a people she’s never known?

Once again, Anna Banks infuses Emma and Galen's points of view with humor, intrigue, and waves of romance.

My Review:

First things first, if you haven't read the first book, there will be spoilers.

Now, Emma is extremely ticked off during most of this book and frankly, if I was her, I would be too. Why? Because her mother is the run-away Poseidon princess who is in love with Galen's older brother Grom.

Gross, right? This super weirded me out and still weirds me out, but I ignore it so I can enjoy the story. It's not every day that a mom and her daughter are in love with brothers.... weird.

So, of course when Emma's mom, Nalia, returns to the Syrena, they have a holy freak out and Jagen, an incredibly annoying evil guy decides to make everyone question her identity. So, the book is about the tribunal deciding whether or not Nalia is who she says she is.

And poor Emma. Man. Her life sucked in this book. She had to juggle school, Galen, Rayna's crap, and extreme boredom as she was forced to stay on land for her safety. Emma is a Half-Breed and therefore illegal in Syrena eyes, and with Nalia on trial, it would sign Emma's death sentence if she went into the water.

Galen was even more swoon worthy and likeable. I love how he not only fights for the Syrena, but for Emma too. He is willing to do whatever it takes to have Emma as well as staying true to those he cares about. (Of course, there are some times when he doubts...but I let you read the book).

There was one plot twist in this book I did NOT see coming and made me VERY angry. And yet, it all ended up perfectly and I congratulated Banks on her genius. It was really a fantastic plot twist.

I can't really say much more without giving anything away. Just know that this was a great book and if you like mermaids, you should read it.

I give this a 4 out of 5!

Eleanor and the Iron King: A Review

Goodreads (description):

Eleanor de Lacy is forced into an arranged marriage with her father’s greatest enemy, Brac Goch, the Welsh king. All Eleanor knows of Brac is that he is a ruthless, war hungry man.

Eleanor arrives at the Welsh castle of Bryn Du already expecting the worst. When the ghost of Brac Goch’s first wife appears and warns her that the Welsh king is not to be trusted, all of Eleanor’s fears are confirmed.

As the countdown to her wedding day approaches, Eleanor must figure out who is lying, who is telling the truth, who is loyal, and who is the traitor--and most of all, if she can love an enemy king.
My review:

Saw this book at Seagull Book, read the back, and immediately decided I would love this book.

Of course, the book didn't end up to be what I thought it would be, but it was MUCH better. :)

Eleanor is English royalty and has been pledged to the Welsh king, Brac Goch. She is beyond terrified to meet this apparently evil, scary king. Yet, she doesn't want to stay with her abusive father. There is one person alive she still loves and that is her friend Gilbert.

It was really sad to see her say goodbye to Gilbert and start her new life living at the Welsh castle Bryn Du. At this point, Brac and Eleanor are only engaged, so Eleanor finds excuses to stay as far away from him as possible, hoping that he will end their engagement.

During her exploration of the Welsh country, a ghost appears to her, all creepy like and warns her to stay away from Brac. So of course this scares her half to death, but what I find funny is that every time the ghost leaves her a message, she does directly to Brac, wakes him up and accuses him of something. While reading the story is was very intense; looking back on it, it's kind of funny and also shows that Eleanor isn't going to blindly trust something that's dead.

Eleanor was a smart girl. There are a few mysteries in this book that I won't reveal, but she finds them out pretty soon after I did. I like that Eleanor was intelligent. Her skill with healing herbs was amazing too, of course, she gets accused for being a witch. Still, when Brac sees that she is genuine, he returns them to her.

Brac Goch is not who I was thinking he would be. He was a far better man than what I was expecting. The sacrifices he makes, the love he hold for his country is amazing. I love how he made sure to discover the truth when there was any doubt and remedy and apologize if he did something wrong (like returning Eleanor's herbs). I expected him to be emotionless. Instead, he laughs often and tries to find the good in everything.

After all the lies and mysteries have been solved, Eleanor realizes just how good of a man Brac is. And oh, the love story is oh so sweet. It's been a long time since I couldn't fall asleep because I had to finish a book. It was beautiful.

I give this a 5 out of 5!

Of Poseidon (The Syrena Legacy Book 1): A Review

Goodreads (description):

Galen is the prince of the Syrena, sent to land to find a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. Emma is on vacation at the beach. When she runs into Galen—literally, ouch!—both teens sense a connection. But it will take several encounters, including a deadly one with a shark, for Galen to be convinced of Emma's gifts. Now, if he can only convince Emma that she holds the key to his kingdom...

Told from both Emma and Galen's points of view, here is a fish-out-of-water story that sparkles with intrigue, humor, and waves of romance.



My Review:

This series has been sitting on my shelf for over a year now. A few of my cousins read it the minute they discovered this series and talked nonstop about it for a long time. Of course when I was around I forbade them from saying a word :)

And now I'm really sad I have waited this long to read the series. This first book was fabulous!

Emma is a pasty white, violet eyed girl whose life gets overturned when Galen the merman (make sure you call him Syrena though, or he'll get offended, hehe). Emma starts out as a sweet girl, but when Galen showing her what she is, she has a major freak out. Not like, screaming and yelling, but beneath it all, she's brewing up a storm. It doesn't help that Galen's sister Rayna is a psycho crazy chick sometimes and pushes all of Emma's buttons.

Overall, Emma is a good girl though. She fights for what's right and doesn't let anyone mess with her. She seeks for the truth even when it will hurt. I love that about her. She never gives up.

Galen is quite swoon worthy and adorable. Trying to see him adjust to the human world is humorous at times. Still, I love how he is devoted to his people and the law, while not being a blind follower. He knows when some things just need to be fought for, and he does.

Toraf, Galen and Rayna's mate, is my favorite character though. He is a great comic relief as well as spunky and just plain funny. The book would not be as fun without him.

Learning about the Syrena was fun too. There was never too much description. It always felt perfect and incorporated well into the story. Something of which I admire.

If you want a good book about mermaids and mermen, I highly recommend this one. It's good, clean, and funny.

I give this a 4.5 out of 5!