REVIEW: HEART OF ETERNITY

Heart of Eternity

When you are invited to dance with the muse of love, when you are driven to the edge by the pain of the past, when you hold the remedy for what ails you in your arms you will find yourself in the heart of eternity. Set in the Blue Mountain's town of Blackheath in New South Wales, Australia, the novel Heart of Eternity introduces two very different characters, Jay and Naida, who encounter each other at a challenging time in each of their lives. Their individual expressions of the feelings they provoke in each other give rise to a turmoil that could ultimately claim their lives. When two people understand so deeply the pain each other has faced will it force them into the abyss of darkness or will their combined need for healing allow love to enter both their hearts?

Review

Naida is a very physically sick woman with a great deal of faith and a spiritual healer like her famous uncle. She has run from her father and the medical treatment she needs in hopes of healing herself with her own soul-deep powers of healing. Her uncle sees a great capacity to be as good as he is, but Naida has a vision that stops her in her tracks, a dark demon-like entity with green eyes in need of her guidance.

Enter Jay. Jay's life has been full of pain and sorrow. Unfortunately, he's let his inner demons rule his life and ruin every chance of happiness. When he meets Naida, he finds someone who refuses to give up on him and insists on guiding him back to the the light. Learning to control and master his demons and dark side is no small feet. Can he do it in time to save Naida?

This book has some very interesting spiritual concepts. The language is very descriptive without being excessively flowery. There's sweet romance and doggedly determined love. This would make a very safe work read or poolside companion. However, the pace is on the slow side. It takes a diligent reader who understands the ending is worth the wait. Don't expect a lot of action and fast paced sequences with our resident bad boy Jay. He's naughty, to be sure, bu the redeems himself very nicely in the end. I'm giving Heart of Eternity three and a half stars. The pacing is the only reason I'm NOT giving it four.

Excerpt

Soft lines of emotion crossed his forehead as he turned and looked into her eyes one last time, confused as to why she seemed so familiar and all the more frustrated at his own dark side for not breaking out in front of her. Jay forced himself not to look back, to pretend as if Naidah had never existed, and to be cold and alone again just the way he liked it. He disappeared eventually, basking in the heat of his own hell.

But Naidah stood there as if she’d been waiting her whole life for him. Her soulful eyes locked on his every move, craning her neck as far as she could to lock his towering frame in her eyes forever, feeling her breath stop as distance grew between them, wanting to reach over but not being able to move an inch, the distant recesses of space pulling Jay infinitely away from her till he vanished from her sight. A sharp and tangible pain ridged between her heart and ripped away her soul. She caressed the folds of his jacket. The feeling flooded her with his scent. It was engulfing. Crouching down where Jay was standing a minute ago, Naida cupped the sand up in her palm and held it there as if trying to confirm the veracity of his existence, to tell the difference between her vision and reality.

All that happened afterwards was a mere blur for Naida; Eva’s shout, the lifeguard’s queries, the crowd eyeing her drenched body with curiosity, murmuring conjectures. Everything gyrated around her in full swing but she stood there, unmoving… unnerved.

The sand in her palm slowly slipped away in the wind and took her with it and the only part that ever remained there was the one that did not belong to her anymore…it belonged to him…

About the Author

N. Jay, found the inspiration of her romance novel Heart of Eternity in her own life history and folklore---- By drawing on the power of her personal experiences, she has created characters whose desires are circumscribed by the landscapes and pasts they can no longer escape. Coming from a culturally diverse background, N. Jay received an M.A. in Literature in 2009 and teaches in the areas of comparative literature, composition, and language pedagogy. Currently, she resides in Dubai, UAE, with her husband and two year old daughter. N. Jay finds the internal world of human beings to be a constant source of fascination and loves the more emotionally laden side of life.

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THE JEWEL BLOG HOP IS HERE!

The Jewel Blog Hop is here! Thanks to our host The News in Books! This hops theme is all about the sparkle! The titles have to be related to jewels or have a jewel connection in the title. There is a giveaway on Romance and More, and its really easy. Just leave your name and email address in the comments section below. On the 23rd, the winner will be selected by ransom drawing! (Okay. So I write everyone's name on a plastic bottle cap and give them to my cat to play with. The first one he picks to play with wins.) The prize will be two ebooks and four short stories! Check out my Celestial Jewels Series of vampire romance and enter to win a copy of Midnight's Jewel, The Lost Alchemist, The Princess's Consort, Water's Lover, Nothing But Frogs, and Spectral Heart! Don't forget to visit my website for a full list of all my paranormal and fantasy romance works!

The Jewel of Darkness

Brandon Thorpe and Sabrina Rivers-Thorpe have enjoyed six months of wedded bliss, but Sabrina’s been keeping a secret. Her transformation into a vampire created a magical disturbance in the Underworld. Now, Death is coming for what’s his.

But is Death the only thing stalking Sabrina? Brandon and Hadrian, Sabrina’s father, bring in Delilah, a demon, to act as detective and magical keeper. But Sabrina’s bloodlines are unique, and magic responds to her in unpredictable ways. Has Brandon’s efforts to keep her safe just made her a bigger, more valuable target? Is she even a vampire at all?

To what depths will Sabrina have to go to satisfy Death’s demands? Can she do it using her own powers? Can Brandon find a way to keep the Underworld from claiming Sabrina for its own? Can they even survive, if he doesn’t? What if Death isn’t the only one looking to do her harm? In the darkness, can a single jewel save them all?

BookStrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/the-jewel-of-darkness 

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-jewel-of-darkness-celestial-jewels-2-j-annas-walker/1117390644?ean=9781627404969

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Darkness-Celestial-Jewels-Publishing-Classic-ebook/dp/B00G2LWEUA

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-jewel-of-darkness

Sony: https://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/j-annas-walker/the-jewel-of-darkness-celestial-jewels-2-siren-publishing-classic/_/R-400000000000001149222

STORY EXCERPT

Sabrina turned her face up to the hot spray. It felt good to push the water through her long, black hair. When finished, she gave the knobs a firm twist and reached out for the towel. The soft pile of fluffy fabric drank up the droplets as she stepped out of the shower. She used it as a wrap, tucking the edge in at the front to hold it up over her breasts. A second towel found its way around her head, twisted about her hair.

She padded over to the sink. Steam fogged the mirror over the marble vanity, allowing her to see an outline but no details. She started to wipe the surface clear but thought better of it. Instead she grabbed her toothbrush and the paste.

A quick dip through the trickle of water left on in the sink wet the brush enough to use. The mint-flavored gel foamed quickly. Sabrina made sure to carefully work the bristles around her fangs.

She pulled the towel from her hair and dropped it on the floor. Tilting her head to the side, she placed her lips under the faucet to pull water into her mouth. She rinsed out the paste twice and turned off the tap.

Before she could stand up, a hand reached through the mirror, grabbing a fistful of her hair. Sabrina screamed and braced herself against the sink. The hand tried to drag her through the rippling, silvered surface of the mirror.

A low voice growled, “You will be mine.”

“No! Brandon, help me!” Sabrina screamed.

Two strong hands squeezed her shoulders and shook her hard. That was not right. He needed to pull her to safety, not shake her up and down.

“Sabrina! Sabrina, wake up! Come on honey, wake up,” he said.

Brandon’s voice broke through her terror. She opened her eyes to see the serious look he wore. Tears slid down the sides of her face. She glanced around the room to make sure of her surroundings.

“It was just a dream. You’re safe at home and with me,” he cooed gently.

He rolled to one side and took her with him, cuddling her like a frightened child. Kissing her forehead, he took an edge of the sheet and wiped away her tears. Strong arms encircled her like a cage, pressing the side of her head to his chest.

Sabrina listened for a heartbeat, but only silence filled the space. She sniffed back a sob and closed her eyes. Inhaling deeply, she took in his honey-amber scent and relaxed. The fear subsided as she found comfort in her husband’s embrace.

A knock on the door interrupted the peace Brandon brought her. From the weight of the rap, she knew it was her father. He joined them for breakfast most evenings. Tonight, he came early.

“Is everything okay? Those had better be screams of pleasure I heard,” Hadrian said through the closed door. There was a hint of jest to his tone, but Sabrina felt certain there was also a thinly veiled threat.

Before he chose to become a vampire, Hadrian ruled the known world as a Roman emperor. For him, old habits did not die hard. They never died at all.

“Yes, sir,” Brandon called back. He nuzzled Sabrina’s cheek and kissed her again. “Do you want to tell me about it?”

“It was so real. My scalp is still prickling from where the hand had my hair,” she replied.

“What were you doing this time?”

“Brushing my teeth. I leaned in to rinse, and someone grabbed me. I didn’t see anything but a wrist. The mirror steamed up. I screamed for you, and then, I woke up,” she answered, fighting back more tears.

She pulled herself free and sat up. In the dresser’s mirror, she saw pink streaks on her face. Her hair tumbled around her, covering her naked breasts.

Sabrina asked, “Will it ever end?” She spoke more to her mirror self but said the thought aloud.

Brandon sat up with her, placing one arm around her. The other hand rested on her nearest shoulder. He rested his forehead against the side of her head.

“You’ve been through a lot. It’s only been six months. Give it some time,” he whispered.

“Time,” she said. “I have plenty of that now, don’t I?”

She pushed him back on the bed and straddled him. His bare flesh felt good between her thighs. Lifting her arms to stretch, she brushed her hair back from her body, revealing her breasts. The feel of the thick, blue-black curls brushing her nipples caused them to tighten.

Brandon grinned, flashing his fangs. “Oh, if your father wasn’t waiting, what wouldn’t I like to do to you right now?” He traced his fingers along the tops of her thighs to her waist. Palming her hips, he pressed her against his hardening dick.

Sabrina giggled.

Hadrian’s gruff, impatient voice called back through the closed door, “Well, he is waiting, and he doesn’t want to know the answer to that question.”

Sabrina covered her mouth with both hands to suppress another giggle. If it had been possible, she might have blushed. She only met her father six months ago. Although married, she still became embarrassed at the thought of his hearing her and Brandon.

Brandon pulled her hands free. “Don’t hide those beautiful fangs. We’re at home and can do anything we want to with each other. There’s nothing shameful in a man wanting his wife.”

“You’re right, but I suppose we should get dressed. Let’s go eat,” she agreed.

She bounded out of bed, scooping up her robe off the floor as she did. She glanced back to find Brandon leaned against the headboard. Staring for a moment, she took in the sight and thought how lucky she was to have him.

His dark brown eyes looked at her appraisingly. A wide smile spread across his face. The tip of his tongue toyed with his fang points. Thickly corded arms folded behind his head made him seem casual and laid-back. Broad shoulders and a sculpted chest tapered down to washboard abs and a narrow waist. A sheet of white silk hid everything else.

Her nipples hardened into peaks just seeing him, knowing he belonged to her. She bit at her bottom lip and dropped the robe. She wanted to climb back onto the bed and stay there with him for the rest of the night.

About the Author

I started my love affair with vampires as a kid by reading Bram Stoker’s Dracula. It was the only vampire book our little local library branch had back then. Then, I discovered mail order books and fell in love with the tortured characters in Interview with a Vampire.  In the mid 80’s, the most amazing thing happened! My family bought a VCR, and I was finally able to see movies! All the vampire flicks I could beg for flickered across the screen, making the love affair into a passionate, lifelong relationship. Today, I write fantasy and paranormal romance and never pass up a chance to pair up vampires with the less-than-usual characters. Witches and elves currently top my list. I love weaving vampires into legends and myths where none exist. It’s my private world of the erotic, weird, and wonderful, and I invite every reader to go along for the ride.

My Website: http://jannaswalker.weebly.com

My Blog: http://jannaswalker.blogspot.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jannas.walker.1

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jannaswalker

 

TRR IS HAVING A #BIRTHDAY #PARTY! #FREE #PRIZES & #CONTESTS

The Romance Reviews is having a party! Check out TRR daily for your chance to win prizes and enter contests! This month long celebration includes over 450 participants giving away goodies! My day will be the 5th with a little Q&A for a chance to win a free ebook! Try out the book cover matching or the hangman game. Get a preview of new releases. Read excerpts from your favorite authors or find a new favorite to add to your list!

 http://www.theromancereviews.com/event.php

MOLLY ANN WISHLADE PRESENTS TRYING TO HARD

Molly Ann Wishlade – Trying Too Hard

Release date: 29^th January 2014

Publisher: Carina UK

Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance

Blurb

What’s the French word for lust…?

Hired as an intern at a coveted talent agency, blonde bubbly Catrin Owens knew she could be brilliant at the job. The code of conduct is crystal clear – business is business, pleasure is pleasure…and the two should never, ever meet! No problem for Catrin - she’s hardworking, and determined to excel. Until, that is, she meets the 6 ft-something wall of lean muscle that is her boss’ top client…

Scarred, and brimming with forbidden sex appeal, the French rugby star Henri Chevallier crashes through the walls of Catrin’s neatly-ordered life – and throws her polished professionalism aside like a scrap of sheer French lingerie!

The sex is fierce, exhilarating…life-changing – and almost all the more exciting as she knows she’s risking the career she dreamed of. Catrin knows she should step away. The problem? Henri is a temptation she can’t seem to resist…

Excerpt

 “There you are!”

The voice was like silk against Catrin’s skin and a flicker of lust darted like a hot tongue between her legs. The poky, clinical office kitchen suddenly seemed too warm, its aroma of burnt toast overpowering. The air conditioning hummed in vain as Catrin’s body was flooded with heat.

The new arrival took hold of her shoulders in large, powerful hands and pushed her towards the counter so that her stomach pressed against the hard melamine edge. Her heart picked up its pace. The fine hairs on the back of her neck pricked up.

“Catrin,” he whispered into her right ear, causing a blonde tendril of hair that had freed itself from her chignon to flutter.

“Yes?” she whispered, her nipples tightening in anticipation.

“I missed you this morning.” He nibbled her earlobe. She shivered as he ran his fingers slowly down her sides.

“Henri.” She leaned into his warmth, felt the strength of his stomach muscles against her back, his heat searing through her thin blouse. “I had to get back to my apartment. You know...feed the cat.”

“What cat?” he said, trickling slow kisses down her neck then sliding his hands under her arms to cup her breasts.

She sighed as his exquisite touch fired her passion and her breathing quickened. She slid around in his arms then pressed a trembling hand upon his broad chest.

“Please, Henri…”

“What is it, chérie?” He tipped her chin upwards with a fingertip and his cologne washed over her. She savoured the fresh green woody tones. At their edge she could make out something else, something even more delicious: his musky masculine scent. It made her want to open his shirt and press her face against his belly to breathe him in.

“I can’t keep going like this,” she smiled, trying to regain her composure but desire pulsed through her core like a lusty demon possession.

“Like what, Catrin?”

He reached out and stroked the back of his free hand over her black satin skirt and she groaned, moving towards him even though a voice at the back of her mind reprimanded her. He laughed softly at her body’s betrayal and turned his hand around, pressing it against the apex of her thighs and cupping the ready flesh beneath.

She slumped against the counter, her eyes half-closed. Her legs turned to jelly as he lifted her skirt to her thighs.

Here I go again!

Her common sense drifted away like cobwebs on the wind and her body revealed her true emotions with every breath she took.

“Oh, t’es la plus belle femme du monde!” he gasped.

“Sorry?”

“Pardon, chérie!” he laughed. “I said that you are the most beautiful woman in the world.”

“Oh,” she smiled, “Thank you.” She loved it when Henri spoke his own language but wished that she could understand him better. A GCSE in French hadn’t equipped her for communicating with a French lover.

She relaxed and closed her eyes again as he ran his hands over her thighs.

“And this is what I love about you!”

Her eyes shot open.

Love?

He pushed her skirt right up to her hips then fingered the tops of her hold-ups and she realised what he meant. This Frenchman loved a woman’s body with all the trimmings, which was lucky as she liked pretty underwear. It was just more fun to have someone to appreciate it.

Mere moments ago she’d been spooning two sugars into her coffee cup, desperately in need of a caffeine fix after yet another long night of French loving with the handsome rugby player.

She was exhausted. Exhilarated. Still horny.

It was hard to believe that it was only two nights ago, on a rather cold, drizzly July evening that she’d accompanied her boss – the renowned celebrity agent Liam H. Clarkson – to an annual dinner. It had been the sixth anniversary of the establishment of Clarkson and Gwillam Celebrity Agency. It now had five branches across Europe, with the possibility of further growth, so spirits were at an all-time high.

And it had been there, deep in the cavernous candlelit corridors and ante-chambers of Cardiff Castle, polished, manicured and poured into her best lbd, that Catrin had met Henri.

And since then, her feet hadn’t touched the ground!

Molly’s links:

Blog: http://misswishlade.wordpress.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MissWishlade

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mollyann.wishlade

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/19556829-molly-wishlade 

Total-E-Bound Blogspot on 12^th of every month: http://totalebound.blogspot.co.uk/

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/misswishlade/

Trying Too Hard buy links:

AMAZON.COM - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trying-Too-Hard-Molly-Wishlade-ebook/dp/B00HQJXS0W/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1390943284&sr=1-1&keywords=trying+too+hard

AMAZON UK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trying-Too-Hard-Molly-Wishlade-ebook/dp/B00HQJXS0W/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1390943360&sr=1-1&keywords=trying+too+hard

AMAZON.CA - http://www.amazon.ca/Trying-Too-Hard-Molly-Wishlade-ebook/dp/B00HQJXS0W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390943404&sr=8-1&keywords=TRYING+TOO+HARD+MOLLY+WISHLADE

ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS - https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-tryingtoohard-1404328-340.html