Sydney Winward's Blog, page 3
November 10, 2021
Book Cover Reveal for A Taste of Shadows!
BlurbThe faintest sound of her voice can kill.
Lyyli Ives has lived her entire life in silence. Those who have heard her voice never live to tell the tale. When she accidentally nearly kills her sister, she is sent away to the only person who can help her—the Archmage at Darkest Star Arcane.
Lord Killian Graves’ life is falling apart. His mother is cursed into a deadly enchantment. His title and school are threatened to be stripped from him. But when a mysterious woman who doesn’t speak pleads for his help, he finds he cannot resist the allure of her beauty nor the mystery of her predicament.
However, a great evil is after the power she wields, threatening not only her life but the lives of everyone they love. Killian must save her from her fate. Or die trying.
Pre-Order A Taste of Shadows!
September 21, 2021
Cover Reveal for Eliza Tilton!
Isn’t this cover awesome! I’m definitely adding this book to my TBR list. Here’s more info about the book:
BlurbWhen marriage or death are your only options, you break all the rules.
Rosalie is sold to the magistrate of Farrow’s Gate to compete in a marriage competition. If she wins, her home is saved. If she loses, she’ll be forced to work off her family’s debt in an undisclosed location.
But the magistrate won’t just marry any human. He wants a mate whose magic rivals his own, and Rosalie can’t ever reveal just how powerful she is. In the world of Saol magic is regulated, and if the Magi Council discovered what she is, it won’t just be her life at risk.
Her only chance of escape is with the magistrate’s bodyguard, Baine: a dark, too handsome fae, and one who has no interest in helping a human girl.
Until one night in the moonlit woods when everything changes, and suddenly Rosalie is torn between what she wants and what is right.
Losing the competition means death, winning means the death of others, and Rosalie is out of time. If she doesn’t choose soon, someone will do it for her.
Pre-Order THe Moonlit Woods!September 13, 2021
Book Review of Forever Winter by Amber Daulton
My ReviewWhat if everything went wrong on your special day? What would you do?
Literally everything goes wrong on Susanna’s wedding day from the weather to the dress and more, and although it was entertaining to see how she would get through the next obstacle, what I loved most was Camden’s loving, unshakable support. He is everything you would want in a partner, and seeing how they lean on each other during each new trial was very sweet.
Although short, the plot was satisfying for a novella and I really liked the characters. This is a great read for any weather, sunshine or snow, and worth a read for those who love sweet regency stories.
My rating: 4.5 stars
BlurbA perfect Christmas wedding, a snowstorm, and a shocking secret. What could go wrong?
Susanna Lorican must marry the man she loves before the truth is discovered, or face the gossip of the ton. With an unexpected snowstorm injuring the minister, her future hangs in the balance.
Viscount Camden Beckinworth vows to keep his bride safe, even if he must betray her confidence. When their love is put to the test, how will he uphold her honor without jeopardizing his own?
September 2, 2021
New Release From Jeny Heckman
From the Author: Why I Chose Sunflowers in the Design of My BookSunflowers in the design of Dee’s Cornucopia
Greek Mythology is such a giving source of inspiration for many aspects of our modern life. The never-ending soap opera-like saga of Greek gods and Greek Goddesses was the inspiration of my fantasy paranormal Heaven & Earth Series. Dee’s Cornucopia is a novella telling the story of Dee Taylor, the beloved grandmother who started the Quest in our modern lives when she communed with Demeter the Greek Goddess of Harvest and Agriculture.
Dee is a grower! She can grow anything! She has a nursery in Hawaii called Dee’s Cornucopia and also happens to be a descendant of Demeter!
The sunflowers are the story of unconditional love! Dee lost everybody she loved the most. She lost her father at a very young age. She lost her beloved husband soon after they married. She lost her beloved mother and later her only child! She loved them unconditionally! Out of all this tragedy comes a story of love for Dee’s grandson Finn Taylor, the protagonist of the Sea Archer, book 1 of the Heaven & Earth Series.
The Cornucopia is one of the only constants in Dee’s life. It is her passion! She loves to grow flowers, plants, and fruits. She loves to grow sunflowers!
The Story of the Sunflower in Greek Mythology
Apollo was the son of Zeus, the god of all the gods, the sky, everything else below, including mankind. Apollo was the son of Zeus and the God of the Sun. He lived in a palace in the East. He would ride his chariot of Gold and Ivory every day in the skies from East to West. As the evening would set, Apollo would end his journey at the far sea on the western end and would return home on his Golden boat.
Everybody admired and loved Apollo. He was believed to love everybody in return. He spread love and life to every being. He was known for his youthful and manly beauty. He had Golden hair and was the most handsome person that anyone had come across.
He caught the eye of a water nymph called Clytie. She fell madly in love with Apollo. She used to follow his movements across the sky with unblinking eyes. Unfortunately, Apollo never returned her love, and he would ignore Clytie.
Apollo’s love interest in return was Daphne, the beautiful daughter of a water God. Unfortunately for Apollo, Daphne did not return his love. I told you Greek Mythology was a never-ending soap opera of tragedies!
When Apollo tried to forcefully convince Daphne to love him, she asked her father’s help. Her father turned her into a plant. When Apollo learned about this, he was heartbroken. His sorrow knew no bounds.
The water nymph Clytie continued to watch Apollo’s passage through the sky. She would starve herself sitting on a rock for nine days without any food and water and just watch Apollo as he passed in the sky. Eventually, she was turned into a flower, which came to be known as the Sunflower.
It is believed that since then, the Sunflower keeps looking at the sun and following it’s movement from the moment the sun rises till it sets.
The History of Sunflowers
The sunflowers’ effect is quite unique. The bright and vibrant flowers seem to always perk up our moods. They cheer us up every time we look at them. It may be something about their shape, size, and color. Their overall appearance never fails to evoke positivity.
While sunflowers’ origin is cited in Greek mythology, they are not necessarily native to ancient Greece. Sunflowers were considered indigenous to the Americas. In 1,000 BC, the indigenous population of the Americans cultivated these sunflowers as a source of valuable food. For centuries, they had been using the sunflowers as a source of food and for medicine, dye agent, and oil.
When European discovered America, the sunflowers became a popular commodity. They took the sunflowers back with them and they started to spread the flowers across continents. And so, the world’s introduction and adoration to sunflowers’ beauty and sustenance began.
Sunflower Meanings and Symbolism
People love sunflowers for many good reasons. They resemble the sun and have many meanings.
I presented the story of Clytie and Apollo. Like Clytie, the way sunflowers stretch to follow the sun is often associated with steadfast loyalty, everlasting faith, and adoration.
Sunflowers also represent happiness and radiance. Who doesn’t improve their mood when they look at a sunflower?
The sunflower bright yellow, orange, and red colors symbolize the sun. But there are also many other species of sunflowers of different colors. Some are red or dark red, some are lighter yellow, strawberry blonde (my favorite hair color), gold, pink, and even chocolate brown. That’s why, a sunflower bouquet can be created for many joyous celebrations including weddings, engagement parties, baby showers, etc.
In some countries like China, the sunflowers have a specific meaning like long life, good fortune, and vitality. This can be attributed to the flower’s ability to endure life. They can stay hardy for weeks even when they are already cut for vases and used in bouquets.
Another example is found from centuries ago in the Inca civilization. The Incas believed that sunflowers were the representation of the Sun God. According to many literature excerpts, the Incas worshiped these flowers in their temples their priestesses decorated their clothes and crowns with sunflowers.
Grab a packet of my favorite sunflower seeds that I am giving away at my book launch party here.
BlurbDee Walker can kick your ass. At least she thinks so and isn’t afraid to say it.
A no-nonsense spark plug, Dee keeps everyone around her hopping. When she meets fellow field hand, Arthur Taylor, her colorful world becomes even brighter when she makes him an offer he can’t turn down.
However, this story of a bright explosion of color in a monochromatic world isn’t what you might imagine, as Dee’s life doesn’t exactly turn out like she thinks it will.
This novella is the life story of Dee Taylor, the feisty and eccentric grandmother of Finn in the Heaven & Earth series. Her bright colorful muumuus and big floppy hat are her trademarks, and this story will tell you how it all began. She also has this little ability to see future developments. Oh, and commune with the greatest Greek family in history, but she just doesn’t know it… yet.
EXCERPTFurious, Demeter waved a hand to soften the noise of the door before it reached anyone’s ears and settled the house with her other hand. She gazed up at the bright light in the sky.
“You must deal with this blight, niece,” Themis’ voice echoed in her mind. “The last drop of blood is nigh upon us. This will be our last chance.”
Demeter’s face fell at the all-knowing Oracle. “She has been a loyal and faithful servant, perhaps…”
“Demeter, we have all risked and many more sacrifices are yet to come. Catherine is not Persephone. We must allow the mortals to gain their strength for no one is yet in place beside Deidre and even she will not be ready until her hair turns white and her skin wrinkles. Many years in their time. Time for us to prepared, for my father seeks revenge.”
Demeter understood what was not said. If they didn’t win this time, no hope remained.
Author Bio
Jeny Heckman is an award- winning fantasy paranormal romance author best known for her Heaven & Earth series, an award- winning fantasy- paranormal series. Her debut novel, The Sea Archer, published in October 2018, won “Best in Category,” at the Chanticleer International Book Awards. Her second book of the Heaven &Earth Series, The Warrior’s Progeny won First Place Best in Category at the 2020 OZMA Book Award and is a finalist in the 2021 RONE Awards Paranormal Long Category.
The Warrior’s Progeny also won “Best in Category” from the Chanticleer International Book Awards for the Fantasy Romance genre, as well as earned the Crown Heart of Excellence from InD’Tale Magazine.
Her standalone Women’s Fiction novel, entitled Releasing the Catch, was a finalist in the Feathered Quill awards, likewise received in 2020.
Jeny loves working with her charities, which include Hospice of the Northwest, the Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Foundation, the Seattle Children’s Hospital, and the American Cancer Society. Jeny lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband of over twenty- eight years.
Amazon
Purchase the book:
Amazon Kindle: https://amzn.to/2TCPJzH
Paperback: https://amzn.to/3jIRyWs
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Kobo: https://bit.ly/3xlNwqA
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August 9, 2021
Book Review of Hometown by Wendy Rich Stetson
My ReviewTwo different men. Two different lifestyles. An impossible choice.
Who’s now a fan of Wendy Rich Stetson? This gal! I just love the way the author writes. The details immersed me in the story. The characters were layered so well and dusted with fine powder. Several intense scenes had me holding my breath, and the rest had me swooning. The romance was built up very well, and I found myself looking forward to each new chapter.
Did I just add this author to my 1-click list? I sure did! I loved this book and I’m looking forward to more.
My rating: 5 stars
BlurbWhen Tessa’s big-city plans take the A Train to disaster, she lands in her sleepy hometown, smack in the middle of the
most unlikely love triangle ever to hit Pennsylvania’s Amish Country.
Hot-shot Dr. Richard Bruce is bound to Green Ridge by loyalty that runs deep. Deeper still is Jonas Rishel’s tie to the land and his family’s Amish community. Behind the wheel of a 1979 camper van, Tessa idles at a fork in the road. Will she cruise the superhighway to the future? Or take a slow trot to the past and a mysterious society she never dreamed she’d glimpse from the inside?
July 21, 2021
Guest Author Marilyn Barr and Book Review: Dance to a Wylder Beat
He wasn’t comfortable in his skin before she crawled under it. Now he burns…My ReviewTo sum this book up in one word…HILARIOUS. I’ve read and loved other works by Marilyn Barr, but I don’t think I have laughed this much while reading a book in a long time. Nartan and Olive spark each other’s tempers in the most amusing ways.
I absolutely loved Olive as a character. She has that “don’t mess with me or I’ll mess back” sort of attitude. Or to better explain her by using a quote from the book: “No one pulls a bait and switch on Olive Muegge without feeling the crack of my switch in return.”
The details within the pages were incredible, and I appreciated the way the author laid out the setting for us and immersed us in a culture that is not often written about. With American Indian roots in my own family history, I really enjoyed seeing the culture brought to life in a fun paranormal way.
I definitely loved this book, and I’m looking forward to reading other books in this series as well.
My rating: 5 stars
Favorite QuoteA man who is kind but needs to place an ad for a wife is either ugly as sin or an odd stick.
BlurbNartan Sagebrush’s name may mean “to dance” in Arapaho, but he dances in secret. Forced to abandon his Shamanic apprenticeship, he is overwhelmed with homesteader life, and even his spirit guides are at their wit’s end. Nartan takes fate into his own hands. Instead of divine intervention, a wife will help with his responsibilities and in assimilating into the Wylder community.
Olive Muegge answers Nartan’s “wife wanted” advertisement. Wildly independent she has secretly dreamed of a family to call her own. The secret she carries inside makes her an outcast and her wild ways don’t fit the quiet wife Nartan thinks he desires.
Despite their differences, they are drawn to each other but a mistake may drive them apart. Will Nartan embrace his Shamanic past to save them both or will he choose to rid himself of Olive forever?
ExcerptWhen I turn back, the men are wrestling in a cloud of dust. Dead Eyes’ friends hoot like owls while a small crowd gathers around the scene. Being half-drunk, Dead Eyes is two steps slower than Nartan, who
is landing punches on both sides. When Dead Eyes slams his gun on the ground in surrender, the dust settles, and I can study my future husband.
Nartan’s muscular body straddles the smaller man while his broad chest billows. His hat has blown off in the scuffle, revealing two thick black braids adorned with feathers. Tendrils of raven-black hair wave around his head. “Quiet wife for a quiet life” my bloomin’ butt. This man is a sweet lick of passion wrapped in a delicious exterior. I think I’m gonna like being Mrs. Sagebrush just fine. I can handle an odd stick as long as he has the countenance of Nartan because I’m not as normal as I appear myself.
About the Author
Marilyn Barr currently resides in the wilds of Kentucky with her husband, son, and rescue cats. She has a diverse background containing experiences as a child prodigy turned medical school reject, published microbiologist, special education/inclusion science teacher, homeschool mother of a savant, certified spiritual/energy healer, and advocate for the autistic community. This puts her in the position to bring tales containing heroes who are regular people with different ability levels and body types, in a light where they are powerful, lovable, and appreciated.
When engaging with the real world, she is collecting characters, empty coffee cups, and unused homeschool curricula. She is a sucker (haha) for cheesy horror movies, Italian food, punk music, black cats, bad puns, and all things witchy.
Dance to a Wylder Beat Buy LinksAmazon – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0951NLCZW/
ITunes – https://books.apple.com/us/book/dance-to-a-wylder-beat/id1567780912
B & N –https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dance-to-a-wylder-beat-marilyn-barr/1139505169?ean=2940162572831
Goodreads- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57847130-dance-to-a-wylder-beat
BookBub- https://www.bookbub.com/books/dance-to-a-wylder-beat-the-wylder-west-by-marilyn-barr
July 14, 2021
Book Review of Stolen Thorn Bride by Kenley Davidson
My ReviewStolen Thorn Bride was absolute perfection!
Ah! I just want to read it again and again until the amazingness finally sinks in. The characters were perfection. The setting was perfection. The romance…perfection. I absolutely loved Kasia and Dechlan. I enjoyed her fierceness and stubbornness. She never backed down, especially when it came to those she cared about. And Dechlan! I loved watching a wounded character heal and learn to love again.
Once again, Kenley Davidson blew me away with her world building and the characters she created. The book was a great mix of action, humor, and romance. I can tell right now that it’s going to be one of those books I think about for a long time after I’m done reading it. I definitely recommend this book!
My rating: 5+ stars
Favorite QuoteShe could not solve all the world’s problems, only commit herself to the one small corner of the world that needed her the most.
BlurbCan a stubborn farm girl steal the heart of an elf king who has sworn never to love again?
After a century of war, the elves of Abreia are losing hope. Their greatest defender—Dechlan, king of the Northwatch—lies near death, and only a soul bond with a human bride can save him. The problem? No humans have set foot on elven lands for over a hundred years.
Kasia is no stranger to the fight for survival—she’s spent her life in the far northern reaches of Garimore, struggling to provide for her three siblings. When she’s captured by a trio of beautiful but terrifying elven warriors, her only thought is to return home, until they inform her she must marry their king… or be put to death.
Both Kasia and Dechlan are reluctant to accept their unwanted bond, until the elves’ ancient enemy rises up to threaten both their worlds. Kasia might just be the key to ending the war, but only if she is willing to sacrifice the life she’s always known. And only if Dechlan is willing to risk losing the bride he never expected, but is no longer certain he can live without.
July 2, 2021
New Fantasy Romance Series and Cover Reveal!
I’m excited to reveal the cover for my new fantasy romance series. A Breath of Sunlight is now available for pre-order at your favorite retailer!
BlurbDon’t show compassion for men. Never save a man’s life. And no matter what, never fall in love with someone you must ultimately kill. But some rules are meant to be broken, even if it means risking your life by betraying your valkyrie sisters.
The plan was simple—attack the Pits, kill the male slaves, save the women. But when Skaja runs into a fae man she can’t kill, she instead breaks all the rules to save him.
Prince Calle was sold into slavery by his jealous brother, and he would do anything to taste freedom again, even put his trust in a dangerous valkyrie. To protect his people and gain the throne, he and Skaja must trust each other. But neither of them expected trust to turn into something more, and the cost of love has a much steeper price than either of them anticipated.
Excerpt“This is beautiful,” she murmured. “What does it mean?”
He watched, transfixed as she touched him. It had been so long since he’d touched another, other than embracing Cian a couple of months ago, however fleeting. He craved the contact that made him feel alive again.
“It’s tradition for Sun Fae to cover their scars with tattoos,” he explained. “Only, we do not get to choose the tattoo, nor the accompanying color. Gold is the highest honor. Next is silver. Then bronze. All the way to black, which is disgraceful. This…” He traced a part of the star but made sure not to brush against her as he did it. “…is a word repeated over and over to form the star. It says ‘sacrifice’ in our tongue.”
Pre-order A Breath of SunlightJune 19, 2021
Book Review of Darling, There Are Wolves in the Woods
My ReviewThe fae stole her sister away ten years ago and it tore her family apart. The only hope she has to save what’s left of her family is to find the sister she isn’t sure deserves saving.
If Holly Black is the Faerie Queen, then L.V. Russell is the Faerie Princess. The author blew my mind with vivid descriptions, pulling me into the dark and ominous world of Faerie. With danger lurking at every turn in the book, I was sucked into the story, wondering how the characters were going to get out of the next impossible scrape.
I adored the unique world building and incredible details that sucked me into the story, shook me up, maybe even drowned me a little bit, and then spit me back out only to endure it again. Darling, There Are Wolves in the Woods is an incredible story of love, heartache, family, and loss, and fans of dark fantasy romance will enjoy reading it!
My rating: 5 stars
Favorite Quote“Do you cook often?” I asked, feeling the awkwardness of the silence that lingered over us.
“If I want to eat.”
“And you need to?” He gave me a funny look. “I mean, you don’t live off sunlight or the nectar of flowers? Perhaps the laughter of children?”
“Why would you think I lived off the laughter of children?”
“Their screams then?”
Laphaniel laughed, and just like that, some of the tension between us lifted away.
BlurbThe woods are dark and wicked, and perhaps some things would be better off staying lost…Teya Jenkins is ten years old when her sister is taken. Niven is never found, because no one knows where to look. No one but Teya that is, who heard the whispers of the trees and saw the beautiful creatures that dwelled in the shadows. It is only after another tragedy, years later, that Teya finally dares to enter the forest that haunts her dreams, determined to bring home her sister and mend the fractured remains of her family. But someone lingers in the shadows, tempting her away with veiled promises of the thing she’s always longed for….to belong somewhere. Tangled up in the lives of the creatures that stole her sister, Teya risks everything to bring Niven home. In a world of extraordinary monsters, Teya finds herself fighting for not only her life, and for her sister, but also for her heart.
June 5, 2021
Book Review of Bjerner and the Beast by Miranda Grant
My ReviewWow! I really enjoyed this book.
What better match could you have for a woman who can turn people to stone with a single look than someone who is blind? Greek mythology mixed with Beauty and the Beast made for an interesting tale of love and heartbreak. Not only did this story contain some really funny dialogue, but I found myself near to tears on multiple occasions when the story took a sad turn.
Miranda Grant has a talent for weaving an incredible story and hitting the reader right in the feels. Bjerner and the Beast is the perfect mixture to make a heartbreakingly amazing love story.
My rating 5 stars
BlurbHe’s Sworn to Protect the Emperor at All Costs
When he was a child, Bjerner sacrificed his eyes to the Goddess of Death. Raised as a warrior, he’s now a trusted member of the Varangian guard. As he struggles to keep the emperor alive, Bjerner is forced to take a mission that will either see him killed or see him hailed as a hero.
She’s Tired of Heroes
All they ever want to do is try to kill her. Ever since she was born, Ophidia has been hunted like an animal and all because of what she is: a beast that has the power to turn people into stone.
Forced to hide in a cave her entire life with only the dead heroes for company, Ophidia desperately wants her next visitor to be a little less stabby.
And less inclined to look at her face.
And would it really kill them to just talk to her first?
But as the centuries pass, she’s starting to lose hope that such a man exists…
