Monday, July 15, 2013

GHBT Blog Tour & Review - Embracing the Flames by Candace Knoebel



Born in Flames
Born in Flames Book #1
by Candace Knoebel


Blurb:
Red mirrored scales race up my arms as the haze of pain blurs my vision. My bones crack, breaking to realign. I scream. It is then that the realization of my unavoidable fate sinks in; I am of a dying race. I am dragon.

Aurora Megalos, orphaned and teetering on the edge of adulthood, thought finding her past would curb the sting of being an outcast. Having no memories of the time before she awoke on her foster mother’s doorstep, she yearns for the emptiness inside her to be filled. With her fellow orphaned best friend, Fenn, by her side, she has nothing to lose and everything to gain. But something powerful stirred within her that she couldn’t explain. Something wanted out.

In the dark of night, a crazed Seer, dubbed Mr.Creepy, erases everything she’s ever known with an impending prophecy. She now faces two paths. Return to her true home to protect a dying race against a growing evil, or stay hidden in the safety of our realm with a shot at a true love. With a vengeful Arch Enemy stopping at nothing to see her dead, she’s running out of time; a decision must be made. What would you choose?

My Thoughts - 4 out of 5 unicorns - I really liked it!
**Gifted to me as part of a blog tour by Girls Heart Books

Wow, Candace created a whole new world for me to love and be sucked right into :)  This is the first book in the series, and for me, there were a couple parts that I didn’t find interesting, but it was required for character building.  The 2nd half of the book, I couldn’t put down and read it straight through until 4:30 in the morning.  At first Aurora’s character annoyed me because I thought she was a pity party girl, but her character grew in all sorts of directions, and I love her now :)  Fenn, on the other hand, I loved from the get go :) but he was the strong reasonable rock :)  This story has magic, amnesia, friendship, mystery, dragons, love, secrets, a prophecy, an evil jerk, reunions, and was an awesome journey.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves magic, dragons, and wonderful new fantasy worlds to vacation in while reading :)


Links:



Embracing the Flames
Born in Flames Book #2
by Candace Knoebel

Blurb:
The Stone of Immortality has always been kept under the watch of the Draconta. That is, until the betrayal of a Fate. Now everything is about to change.

Aurora Megalos accepted her destiny without blinking-even if it meant succumbing to her dragon side. Deemed the Progeny, she left the ordinary life she knew and has done everything in her power to learn the ways of her new realm and what it means to be part dragon. But when her mentor, Astral, suddenly disappears, she is forced to take the reins.

With war on the brink, she sets out on an epic journey to not only find her mentor, but to stop her Arch Enemy, Zordon, from obtaining the Stone of Immortality. But what she discovers about him along the way is far worse than she could’ve ever imagined. She will be tested and pushed to the limit. Lives will be lost, love will be questioned, and a battle will begin.


About the Author:

Candace Knoebel had dreamed of being a dancer ever since she could remember. With a love of all things art, she saw herself moving to New York and pursuing her passion as an artist. But all that changed on October 10th, 2002 when she met the love of her life. Her dreams diverged and after marrying her high school sweetheart and having two beautiful children, she realized she missed her creative side.


Growing up alongside the Harry Potter series, Candace found herself missing the epicosity of a story that pulls you in and won’t let you go. In 2009, she began dreaming up characters that would mold her first novel. Through lunch breaks and late nights, after putting her kids to bed, she built a world where she could escape the ever-pressing days of an eight to five Purgatory. She found her calling in life and knew this was more than dancing could’ve ever meant to her.

Once complete in 2010, she began the grueling process of finding a publisher. With relentless determination, she was finally able to realize her dream in December of 2011 when 48fourteen offered her a publishing contract. With a HUGE yes and a happy dance, she  continues her Trilogy.

Author Links:

My Thoughts - 4 out of 5 unicorns - I really liked it!
**Gifted to me as part of a blog tour by Girls Heart Books

Okay I’m torn with this book.  It started at a 3 because I could easily put the book down, and it was like it was the first book in a series because now that Aurora was in a new world, we all have to learn about this new world with her.  It seems as she went down the rabbit hole so to speak into this new world that she left all her confidence in the other realm.  This annoyed me because I wanted her to be strong heroine, but it is okay because Fenn and Zane took up her slack, and I love them all the more for it.  As the action got better, I really liked it, and it moved to a 4.  At the end, I loved all the battles and action making it 5 worthy.  So you can see my dilemma with trying to put a number on it.  I decided 4 because it was the average of the enjoyment.  I so wanted this book to be better than the last one, but I understand why it was like the 1st book in the series even though it is the 2nd.  There is a cliffhanger, but stop your whining, it is the logical place to stop.  This book did have so much going on with people dying, traitors, dark magic, dragons, harpies, sirens, light magic, Fates, battles, owl people, and so much more.  Aurora did redeem herself with acts of courage and getting more confidence.  Some things I could totally see where it was going, and others, I had no clue and was surprised.  I’m betting that book 3 will be epic and I can’t wait to read it to see what happens next.

I think if you like battles, magic, dragons, and that everything does not turn up roses, you will enjoy reading this story and if you read the first book and enjoyed it, you should read what happens.  You will be surprised….
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