Always Remembered
by Kelly Risser
Release Date: 05/19/15
Clean Teen Publishing

Summary from Goodreads:

One clue… what does it mean? Ken, the leader of the Blue Men of the Minch, has kidnapped Evan. Before they left, Evan was able to leave a package for Meara—her grandfather’s necklace wrapped in a cloth napkin with one word written in blood. Azuria. Unfortunately, Meara doesn’t understand it and neither does her dad or Kieran.

When Dad and Aunt Brigid attempt to rescue Evan, Meara and Kieran begin to train the clan on how to fight and defend their home. A war is brewing, and Meara is determined their people must prepare for the battle. The training sessions are long and arduous, but the Selkies work hard to learn.

Meanwhile, Evan wakes and finds himself in Belle Tresor, the home of sirens. He’s bound to his blue form, unable to transform to human, and Ken has plans to use Evan’s powers to destroy the Selkies. Thankfully, he’s not alone. He befriends a siren named Deanna and several Blue Men. Can he trust them to help him escape or do they have ulterior motives? As both sides prepare for an ultimate confrontation, the stakes are high and friendships are tested. Some will rise to be victorious. Some will be destroyed. But love and loyalty will be always remembered in this exciting conclusion to the Never Forgotten series.

Always Remember Book Excerpt:

I stood alone on the shore. The ocean was calm, the sky clear. Where was Kieran and when did it stop raining? As I watched, the water iced over. Crystals danced outward forming a lacy, solid surface. The latticework spread as far as I could see. In the distance, a shadowy figure glided toward me.

The figure drew near, and I realized it was a woman. She wore a beaded strapless gown that sparkled as she floated on the ice. The fabric looked heavy, but the way it swirled at her ankles told me it was not. Her feet were bare, though she seemed unbothered by the ice. Like the ground beneath her feet, her skin was a pale aqua. Her long wavy hair appeared white in the bright sunlight, though by the time she stood before me, I could tell that it was really a very light blue. Her eyes, the brilliant turquoise of the Caribbean Sea, mesmerized me.

“My child.” She reached out to embrace me. Her touch burned, and the kiss she placed on each cheek bit like frostbite. “The time has come for the truth to be revealed.”

“Truth?” What was she talking about? What truth? It was difficult to think in her presence. Where was Kieran? Where was I for that matter? I started with the most pressing question, “Who are you?”

“If you look within, you’ll find the answer.” Her finger touched my collarbone. Through the icy spark that followed, I knew.

Books in this series:

About the Author:

Becoming a published author is a lifetime dream come true. As a child, I subjected friends and family to my “KellyMark” greeting cards (“When you care enough to make the very best.”), poetry, homemade magazines, and short stories. In high school, my short story, “If Only to Escape” was published in the local paper, and I won a writing contest for my children’s story, “Televisella.” In college, my creative writing tapered off, but I still managed to write the occasional review for The Marquette University Tribune. Once I graduated, I mixed creative writing with business writing, and I’ve held positions in Advertising, Marketing, and Instructional Design/eLearning Development. Today, I am busy writing the next book in Meara’s story. When I’m not writing, I’m reading, hanging out with my husband and two kids, or playing with our Whoodle puppy.

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

Rafflecopter Giveaway:

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This is our tour stop on the Always Remembered book tour. To find out more about Always Remembered and to check out reviews and other postings, please check out the blog tour schedule!

Blog Tour Organized by:

Title: The Artisans
Publication date: May 12, 2015
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.
Author: Julie Reece

 Book Summary:

They say death can be beautiful. But after the death of her mother, seventeen-year-old Raven Weathersby gives up her dream of becoming a fashion designer, barely surviving life in the South Carolina lowlands.

To make ends meet, Raven works after school as a seamstress creating stunning works of fashion that often rival the great names of the day.

Instead of making things easier on the high school senior, her stepdad’s drinking leads to a run in with the highly reclusive heir to the Maddox family fortune, Gideon Maddox.

But Raven’s stepdad’s drying out and in no condition to attend the meeting with Maddox. So Raven volunteers to take his place and offers to repay the debt in order to keep the only father she’s ever known out of jail, or worse.

Gideon Maddox agrees, outlining an outrageous demand: Raven must live in his home for a year while she designs for Maddox Industries’ clothing line, signing over her creative rights.

Her handsome young captor is arrogant and infuriating to the nth degree, and Raven can’t imagine working for him, let alone sharing the same space for more than five minutes.

But nothing is ever as it seems. Is Gideon Maddox the monster the world believes him to be? And can he stand to let the young seamstress see him as he really is?

Purchase Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | kobo | TBD

Book Quote:

His T-shirt rises above his navel while his jeans sink lower revealing smooth hip bones that disappear below the denim waistline. Taut muscles ripple under his golden skin. I glance away, but not before he notices me noticing him.

Damn.

He winks. “Glad to see all the neurons are still clicking. That’s a very good sign.”

I blush, then groan. I still hate him. There are little trolls in my head with sharp objects poking at my cerebral cortex. “Are you always this chipper in the mornings?”

–The Artisan, Julie Reece

Fingers, gentle, but unyielding, encircle my arm. Withoutquite knowing how, I’m whirling around until I’m chest to chest with one Gideon Maddox. The contact sends a parade of tingles throughout my body. I stand there like I’m the victim of a freeze ray gun, staring into his gorgeous, mismatched eyes.

He drops his hand and takes a step back. His expression is open, unguarded for once. “Damn.” The word comes out froggy, and he clears his throat. “I wanted to … damn.”

–The Artisan, Julie Reece

My Thoughts:

I think this book sounds INCREDIBLE. I cannot wait to read it! Also be sure to check out below the rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Chapter By Chapter! To find more excited information on The Artisans be sure to check out The Artisans Blog Tour!

ABOUT JULIE REECE:

Born in Ohio, I lived next to my grandfather’s horse farm until the fourth grade. Summers were about riding, fishing and make-believe, while winter brought sledding and ice-skating on frozen ponds. Most of life was magical, but not all.

I struggled with multiple learning disabilities, did not excel in school. I spent much of my time looking out windows and daydreaming. In the fourth grade (with the help of one very nice teacher) I fought dyslexia for my right to read, like a prince fights a dragon in order to free the princess locked in a tower, and I won.

Afterwards, I read like a fiend. I invented stories where I could be the princess… or a gifted heroine from another world who kicked bad guy butt to win the heart of a charismatic hero. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that? Later, I moved to Florida where I continued to fantasize about superpowers and monsters, fabricating stories (my mother called it lying) and sharing them with my friends.

Then I thought I’d write one down…

Hooked, I’ve been writing ever since. I write historical, contemporary, urban fantasy, adventure, and young adult romances. I love strong heroines, sweeping tales of mystery and epic adventure… which must include a really hot guy. My writing is proof you can work hard to overcome any obstacle. Don’t give up. I say, if you write, write on!

Author Links:  

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

THE GIVEAWAY:

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