Calla Lily by Vivian Winslow Published: June 2014 Age: Adult - 18A Series: Gilded Flower #2
Copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! Calla Lily is the sequel to Gilded Lily and it's about the fallout between Lily and Gustavo as well a her finding her true love.
The first thing I was thinking about when I read this story was why it was called 'Calla Lily'? I mean for me calla's are pure and white. Now if you've read Gilded Lily I think you'd understand why I had a slight chuckle when this went through my head because if any of Lily's actions show, she's not pure. Committed and a romantic but not pure. If anyone has any idea on this question please comment below. I'd love to hear your ideas. The story jumps around a lot. It's hard to focus all your attention onto one relationship when there are four different guys in the story. I mean there's the scheming Gustavo, the cheating Jack, the friends-with-benefits Todd, and the mysterious but alluring Alejandro (even his name sounds the best out of all four!) With each one having their own story line I can understand how hard it is to incorporate details into each encounter. Yes the story is departing from the former two on to the relationship with the later two but I would still prefer to have some more insight into the relationships. Jack's relationship is left unexplained. I want to know more about them. How did Lily fall in love with Jack so easily if he's presumably a big player and everyone knew it (except her of course)? How did the relationship with Gustavo end? It's open and for me leaves a lot of holes in the story. Also Lily seems to be a stubborn women; one who holds a grudge. And yet she's very forgiving of her sister - almost instantaneous. And her mother has a complete 180. Wasn't she the one who told Lily that affairs were to be expected in a marriage between high social class families and that as long as no one knew it was okay? Now she tells Lily that she has never once cheated on her father and that they're in a very loving relationship. It's a very short story and there's not a lot of pages and description, or enough time for that matter, for me to wrap my head around this sudden about face. What I did like about this story is that Lily is finally finding someone that's right for her. The romance starts to pick up, between Todd and Alejandro. It's evident in the writing that Todd's a casual fling. For a casual fling though he sure gets a lot of pages. And with Alejandro. That first encounter seals it all. Readers should instantly know that the main male protagonist has entered the story and that the story will end (hopefully) with them together. Like I said before, Calla Lily, as well as it's predecessor has extreme potential in becoming an amazing book.
Gilded Lily by Vivian Winslow Published: May 2014 Age Group: Adult - 18A Series: Gilded Flower #1
Copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! When I first read the blurb for Gilded Lily I was intrigued. Stories about women in their twenties who go through a relationship crisis are common and I really enjoy reading those stories especially if it leads to the woman finding her true love in the end. What can I say, I'm a romantic at heart. So I started the story and it instantly grabbed me. I sympathized with Lily. I mean what a horrible sister, and they're twin! And let's not get started about this horrible fiancee. I get the whole social class marrying situation but it still doesn't sit right with me. Doesn't help that Lily's mother all but tries to explain to her daughter that affairs are expected and that she should just quietly forget what happened and carry on with the wedding. Well Lily is not forgiving and that was very evident when she calls off the wedding and decides to take a honeymoon for one to clear her head. Now here's where the story lost me. I guess I was waiting for her to meet the one, not a bunch of sexual escapades. I just didn't understand their relevance to the story. A clear reasoning for this may be because the story was so short. We weren't given enough time to fully explore and understand each of the characters. I had no emotional attachment to them which made it hard to understand why they were acting the way they were. The ending seemed ironic though. What irony she turns into the thing she runs from. It was a good beginning. I think the story has great potential. Just personally I need more character development before becoming completely involved in the story.
Cover Designer: Double J Book Graphics- Facebook Blog Tour Hosted by: Rampage Book Promotions- FacebookWebsite
When you live in a town like Kadenburg, you’re
just looking for trouble if you ask “Could it get any worse?”
No one has seen hide nor hair of Breslin Connor in
over a month, and Presley begins to feel safe. With her future looking a little
brighter, she finally allows herself to relax and enjoy being back in the place
she’s belonged all along, with the man she was meant to be with. However, as
the old adage says, ‘All good things must come to an end.’
Presley starts having dreams about Lorcan’s deceased brother and he claims she
is a ‘chosen one’ of Urseth. He reveals the past to her and the truth about why
her father really died on that fateful night so many years ago. She soon
discovers that everyone’s destiny has been carefully interwoven with the fate
of Kadenburg, and she’s right in the middle of it.
No one is safe. New and shocking faces alike emerge from the darkness, causing
the ursithropes to question who they can trust in the town they’ve always
called home. Boundaries will be tested, lines will be crossed, and the humans
will become suspicious. Will Presley and her family be able to stop Breslin’s
loyal pack from claiming Kadenburg? Or will the sadistic werewolf finally get
what he wants…including her?
T.E. Ridener entered the world in the magnificent year of 1985. She's an avid reader, crazy writer, and photoshop addict. She started writing stories at a young age, and will probably do so until she takes her last breath. Forever the daydreamer, not a day passes in which Miss Ridener isn't working on something book related. Her books may be a work of fiction, but there is a lot of truth in each one.
Creating relatable characters and believable storylines mixed in with make-believe is what she is best known for. She always includes a strong female lead, a compassionate male, and tons of every day events that readers will be able to connect with. Miss Ridener is a lover of music, movies, TV shows, and her family.
During the months of November and December, she participates in the charity she helped create called Random Acts of Christmas, an online program geared towards making Christmas happen for families in need. In 2013, they gave over $69,000 in gifts to kids who otherwise would not have had presents to open on Christmas morning. Coming from a childhood of poverty, T.E. understands that life isn't always easy and she has experienced living from paycheck to paycheck. This has fueled her drive to always lend a helping hand in every form possible. She is very active in the group "Books for Troops", a program designed to send ebooks and paperbacks to soldiers currently serving overseas.
T.E. Ridener is the youngest of 3 children, a surviving twin, and an extremely proud aunt. She claims to be married to her books and the characters she creates are her kids. Thus far, she has produced three ongoing series entitled Blood Betrayal (vampires), The Kadenburg Shifters Series (bear-shifters), and The Descendants (elementals). There are loads more and new ones popping up each day. She LOVES her fans and readers, and not a single one of them appear as a number to her. She knows that without them, she wouldn't be where she is today. Every day is a new possibility, a new adventure, and a new dream. Life doesn't get any better than that.
Guarding Abigail joins a list of books I've recently reviewed for T.E. Ridener. Unlike the last book I reviewed this one's a paranormal story involving guardian angels and demons. I've not a big fan of angel paranormal but I went into this book with a very open mind. It was okay. I'm not a big fan of Abigail's personality. I can't say I've been through her situation but she just kept irritating me. The other characters were fine. Cillian was a breath of fresh air compared to the hothead alphas from my other books. He was a gentleman and handled everything with poise and grace. Also everything he did showed his love for Abigail.
Some of the story was strange to read at first. The prologue, perhaps it was because it an exchange between heavenly beings, read funny. After that the story flowed in T.E. Ridener manner and I quite enjoyed it. This one isn't my favourite of all the books I've reviewed for this author but that doesn't mean it's bad. Perhaps it just wasn't suited for my tastes.
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Gabriel Series comes a dark, sensual tale of romance in a city shrouded in mystery…
Raven Wood spends her days at Florence’s Uffizi Gallery restoring fine works of Renaissance art. But an innocent walk home after an evening with friends changes her life forever. When she intervenes in the senseless beating of a homeless man, his attackers turn on her, dragging her into an alley. Raven is only semi-conscious when their assault is interrupted by a cacophony of growls followed by her attacker’s screams. Mercifully, she blacks out, but not before catching a glimpse of a shadowy figure who whispers to her…
Cassita vulneratus.
When Raven awakes, she is inexplicably changed. She returns to the Uffizi, but no one recognizes her and more disturbingly, she discovers that she’s been absent an entire week. With no recollection of the events leading up to her disappearance, Raven also learns that her absence coincides with one of the largest robberies in Uffizi history – the theft of a set of priceless Botticelli illustrations. When the baffled police force identifies her as its prime suspect, Raven is desperate to clear her name. She seeks out one of Florence’s wealthiest and elusive men in an attempt to uncover the truth about her disappearance. Their encounter leads Raven to a dark underworld whose inhabitants kill to keep their secrets…
Release Date:
Early 2015
About the Author
I'm interested in the way literature can help us explore aspects of the human condition - particularly suffering, sex, love, faith, and redemption. My favourite stories are those in which a character takes a journey, either a physical journey to a new and exciting place, or a personal journey in which he or she learns something about himself/herself.
I'm also interested in how aesthetic elements such as art, architecture, and music can be used to tell a story or to illuminate the traits of a particular character. In my writing, I combine all of these elements with the themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the transformative power of goodness.
I try to use my platform as an author to raise awareness about the following charities: Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation, WorldVision, Alex's Lemonade Stand, and Covenant House. For more information, see my Twitter account.
T.E. Ridener has a new book that came out and if you've been following my reviews lately I've been doing several blog tours for her other books. I've really liked all the books I've read by her and can't wait to give this one a try! All the links are in the post below. Let me know if you're going to be putting 'Guarding Abigail' on your TBR list in the comments!
Tell me if you’ve heard this before. A Guardian, a fallen angel, a sensitive, and a human walk into a bar…..
Abigail Gentry knew her life was going to change when her mother lost her battle with cancer, but she couldn’t have possibly anticipated what that change would entail.
He’s been a Guardian and protector of the human realm for thousands of years, and Cillian’s giving it all up for her.
She will discover her purpose on earth; he will discover the simplest of human emotions. Abigail always thought she was just an ordinary woman, but oh, how she’s in for a big surprise. Everything she’s ever believed will be shattered and the truth will set her on a course of good, evil, near-death experiences, demon possessions, and real love.
T.E. Ridener entered the world in the magnificent year of 1985. She's an avid reader, crazy writer, and photoshop addict. She started writing stories at a young age, and will probably do so until she takes her last breath. Forever the daydreamer, not a day passes in which Miss Ridener isn't working on something book related. Her books may be a work of fiction, but there is a lot of truth in each one.
Creating relatable characters and believable storylines mixed in with make-believe is what she is best known for. She always includes a strong female lead, a compassionate male, and tons of every day events that readers will be able to connect with. Miss Ridener is a lover of music, movies, TV shows, and her family.
During the months of November and December, she participates in the charity she helped create called Random Acts of Christmas, an online program geared towards making Christmas happen for families in need. In 2013, they gave over $69,000 in gifts to kids who otherwise would not have had presents to open on Christmas morning. Coming from a childhood of poverty, T.E. understands that life isn't always easy and she has experienced living from paycheck to paycheck. This has fueled her drive to always lend a helping hand in every form possible. She is very active in the group "Books for Troops", a program designed to send ebooks and paperbacks to soldiers currently serving overseas.
T.E. Ridener is the youngest of 3 children, a surviving twin, and an extremely proud aunt. She claims to be married to her books and the characters she creates are her kids. Thus far, she has produced three ongoing series entitled Blood Betrayal (vampires), The Kadenburg Shifters Series (bear-shifters), and The Descendants (elementals). There are loads more and new ones popping up each day. She LOVES her fans and readers, and not a single one of them appear as a number to her. She knows that without them, she wouldn't be where she is today. Every day is a new possibility, a new adventure, and a new dream. Life doesn't get any better than that.
Chartreuse by T.E. Ridener Published: April 2014 Age Group: New Adult
Copy provided by T.E. Ridener in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! This is the third book I've read by T.E. Ridener and it's probably my absolute favourite. I also have to commend the author for writing such an amazing book. I was apprehensive at first when I realized that the story was an m/m romance (male/male) as oppose to the generic heterosexual relationships. I've never read any same sex stories and I wasn't really sure what to expect with the story line or the character relationships Chartreuse showed me that regardless of sex, a story can still be beautiful if it's solely focused on the love of two people. Chartreuse follows the story of a shy, barely legal boy called Kasen who hides himself and his sexuality. Then there's the older, new resident of Chartreuse, Rowan who is much more comfortable with his sexuality and accepting it. They meet while both dog walking. Let's be honest they're basically two different people that are practically perfect for each other. You have the domineering, more masculine Rowan , and the innocent, wide-eyed Kasen who takes the place of the more feminine role. The two characters do somewhat reflect a stock character feel but their romance is genuine in the story and not forced which is very hard to find in some books. "No place appreciates the summer like Boston, because Boston knows in its bones what the alternative is"- Living in Canada I can completely understand. But this quote not only pertains to the weather but for me the idea of accepting life and running with it because the alternative of living a closed, sheltered, and worried life is far worse. Possible foreshadow of the story? I think so. For those apprehensive about the "sex scenes" in new adult and adult romance novels I can tell you that this story isn't as explicit as other stories. All actions are implied and described very loosely. Which I appreciate. It makes the focus of the story on the budding romance rather than the sexual attraction between the two characters that way you truly feel their connection grow and bud into a true romance. Where the story started to get predictable was when the townspeople started hating on Kasen and Rowen. Let's be honest there had to be some drama. I think the only flaw in the story for me is the change of pace for the last few chapters. No longer was the time gap several days but rather several weeks. Scenes were rushed and seemed hurried as opposed to the drawn out romance game that encompassed the first part of the book. The ending also seemed much too optimistic. A HEA in a way. Maybe I'm being a cynic but I can't fully accept it as turning into reality, it just seemed too fantastical. "The thing that's so screwed up about humanity is that people are taught to fear what's different. They think they have to question it instead of just accepting it." - This is as true a statement as any other and I completely agree with it. It is very common to fear the unknown, I'm guilty myself as I'm sure many are as well, but sometimes taking the plunge and just accepting something is a lot of better than not.
Kasen Reed was a lonely guy with hardly any friends. Sheltered by his domineering, cynical mother, he never gained much of a social status and he’s never known true affection. At the age of 19, he finally moves out to start his own life and he has no idea where he’s going from here.
Rowan Kelly moved to the tiny town of Chartreuse, Alabama in hopes of starting anew. After a messy breakup that lingers over his head, and his heart, he believes he’s finally found the perfect place to open his clinic and do what he loves best; helping animals. Despite how picture perfect the quaint little town seems, the 26 year old feels like something is missing…..
Two lonesome hearts will have a chance encounter in a town that doesn’t seem to be ready for the acceptance of love equality, but will it stop them from being together?
100 % of proceeds made during the blog tour (May 10 - May 23) will be donated to The Trevor Project and the Ronald McDonald House Charities
T.E. Ridener entered the world in the magnificent year of 1985. She's an avid reader, crazy writer, and photoshop addict. She started writing stories at a young age, and will probably do so until she takes her last breath. Forever the daydreamer, not a day passes in which Miss Ridener isn't working on something book related. Her books may be a work of fiction, but there is a lot of truth in each one.
Creating relatable characters and believable storylines mixed in with make-believe is what she is best known for. She always includes a strong female lead, a compassionate male, and tons of every day events that readers will be able to connect with. Miss Ridener is a lover of music, movies, TV shows, and her family.
During the months of November and December, she participates in the charity she helped create called Random Acts of Christmas, an online program geared towards making Christmas happen for families in need. In 2013, they gave over $69,000 in gifts to kids who otherwise would not have had presents to open on Christmas morning. Coming from a childhood of poverty, T.E. understands that life isn't always easy and she has experienced living from paycheck to paycheck. This has fueled her drive to always lend a helping hand in every form possible. She is very active in the group "Books for Troops", a program designed to send ebooks and paperbacks to soldiers currently serving overseas.
T.E. Ridener is the youngest of 3 children, a surviving twin, and an extremely proud aunt. She claims to be married to her books and the characters she creates are her kids. Thus far, she has produced three ongoing series entitled Blood Betrayal (vampires), The Kadenburg Shifters Series (bear-shifters), and The Descendants (elementals). There are loads more and new ones popping up each day. She LOVES her fans and readers, and not a single one of them appear as a number to her. She knows that without them, she wouldn't be where she is today. Every day is a new possibility, a new adventure, and a new dream. Life doesn't get any better than that.
