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Hey, lovelies!! It gives me great pleasure today to host Emily-Jane Hills Orford and her new book, “Beauty in the Beast,” here on FAB!! For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.
Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $10 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card!! Also, come back daily to interact with Emily-Jane and to increase your chances of winning!!
Thanks for stopping by!! Wishing you all lots of good luck in this fabulous giveaway!!
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Beauty in the
Beast
by Emily-Jane Hills Orford
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GENRE: Fantasy / Science Fiction
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BLURB:
Priya, a name that suggests beautiful. Amell, a name that suggests all powerful. One is a beautiful young lady; the other a beast. Their paths have crossed before, only Priya doesn’t remember Amell from her past. Or does she? And what does it all mean? The Amell she meets is part beast. So are the others at Castle Mutasim. Is she one of them, too? How can this be? What manner of creature would experiment on other living creatures, to mutate them into something bizarre and, sometimes, downright dangerous? Priya has to know. She wants to know. And she wants to make things right.
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EXCERPT THREE:
“Priya. Enter.” The voice was increasingly emphatic.
She stood. The doors groaned to a stop, inches behind her back. Roars from her brother and his mate soared through the space. She lifted her head to join in the chorus and emitted an ear-piercing shriek which summoned more birds of prey until she was clothed in an aura of hovering black masses of feathered friends.
“Priya. Enter.” The voice roared, louder than the combined noise of the advancing army of mutants. “You are safe, here, Priya. You were created here. This is where you belong. With us!” As more mutants invaded the inner space, the missiles projected inward at an alarming pace. The ground before Priya was quickly covered with a carpet of multicolored victims.
This was a suicide mission. Horror shivered throughout her body. What had she gotten herself into? Total annihilation of the mutant species? Of life as she was coming to know it? She couldn’t back out now. All these creatures who had sacrificed their lives would have died in vain if she backed out.
With renewed vigor, she straightened her spine, pushing back her shoulders, glaring ahead with determination. “No!” her shriek morphed into a singular word, which was drawn out in a lengthy shrill of a high-pitched extension of the vowel. “No!” she re-iterated the consonant, allowing the vowel to transcend again into a lengthy trajectory. She paused. Breathed deeply. Reached down into the side pocket for the only weapon she had: the syringe. She clutched it in one hand, thumb poised, ready to add the pressure which would release its contents. And took one step forward, followed by another. “I enter on my own terms. And I will leave of my own accord.” She was snarling, now. “Come out and show yourself. Whoever you are.”
She made her way to the center of the entry space. The doors behind her clanged to a close once she had released her position barricading the process. “Come out!” she yelled, allowing her head to search up and down and all around, seeking someone, something to indicate what or who was in control.
Another set of doors opened at the far end of the room. Priya remained rooted where she stood. “Enter, Priya. And you shall have your answers.”
Mesmerized, she took another step forward.
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MY BOOK REVIEW:
This book is an enchanting and wonderfully magical read full of clever, intriguing, deceptive, and dreamlike fantasy!!
This book took me on an exciting, magical and mystifying adventure!!
This book starts out with the main character, Priya, saying her goodbyes to her best friend, Sammy, over one last tea date. Priya has accepted her dream job of cataloguing and preserving books and artifacts at Castle Mutasim, located high up in the Boundary Range Mountains. She is excited, but nervous to go, as she packs up all her belongings, leaving all her friends and her familiar surroundings behind. Not exactly alone, with her travel buddy in stow, Bear, her rescue dog that she saved from the trash dumpster, they hit the road on their way to their new lives. While they eventually do reach the castle in a curious and perplexing manner, things quickly go from strange to stranger. Unexpectedly, upon Priya’s arrival to the castle she is reunited with Amell, her long lost brother that she hadn’t seen or thought of in many years. Amell owns the castle and admits to creating a job ruse to lure her up there to reconnect in hopes of working together on his mission of creating a safe haven for the different ones. Amell’s life’s work has been devoted to protecting those labeled different and providing them with shelter and safety while also dismantling lab facilities that hunt down the different, abduct them, and experiment on them.
This book follows the story of Priya as she comes to terms with finding out that she is different and learns to embrace her different while also discovering her true calling of working with Amell to protect and care for the different at Castle Mutasim, a place where everyone is always accepted.
I love the strong, powerful, positive, accepting messages that the author has weaved into the story! They are truly inspiring and encouraging! Different is beautiful and should be celebrated not shamed or feared! I appreciate the author for conveying this narrative of a safe environment where all people are truly welcomed, valued and respected and for shining awareness on the importance of inclusivity and diversity!
I love the author’s writing style as she was superior on detail and the way she immerses you into her storytelling. Her writing draws you in and keeps you fully engaged as the imagination buildings up and the story unfolds.
This book is on the quick read side at only 207 eBook text pages and comprises of thirty-four short chapters plus an epilogue. In fact, some of the chapters are a mere one to three pages, which has you flying right through the story.
At this time, this book is not considered to be part of a book series, and therefore can easily be read as a standalone.
While I may have a few snags over some of the complex worldbuilding fantasy elements that seemed confusing at times, and some of the scenes that felt slow paced and dragged out, I still enjoyed reading this book. I love the inspiring and encouraging themes with deep-rooted messages in acceptance and diversity, the uniquely clever story line and plot points, the profoundly kindhearted characters, and the overall enchantingly, magical, fantasy realm.
All in all, I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it! I think all fantasy readers will like this book too! So, add it to your TBR List and get to reading - you won't be disappointed!
**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest, and unbiased review in accordance with FTC regulations**
Did you find this review helpful???
If so, please, please, please mark it as helpful on Amazon here:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/review/R3BJIGKIPA1UR3
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AUTHOR BIO:
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Emily-Jane Hills Orford is a country writer, living just outside the tiny community of North Gower, Ontario, near the nation’s capital. With degrees in art history, music and Canadian studies, the retired music teacher enjoys the quiet nature of her country home and the inspiration of working at her antique Jane Austen-style spinet desk, feeling quite complete as she writes and stares out the large picture window at the birds and the forest. She writes in several genres, including creative nonfiction, memoir, fantasy, and historical fiction.
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CONNECT WITH EMILY-JANE:
Website:
Email:
http://emilyjanebooks.ca/contact.php
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/realpeoplestories
Twitter:
BookBub Author Page:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/emily-jane-hills-orford
Goodreads Author Page:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1732544.Emily_Jane_Hills_Orford
Goodreads Book Page:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60537696-beauty-in-the-beast
Amazon Author Page:
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BOOK BUY LINKS:
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Amazon
US Kindle eBook:
Amazon
US Paperback:
Amazon
CA Kindle eBook:
https://www.amazon.ca/Beauty-Beast-Emily-Jane-Hills-Orford-ebook/dp/B09TH1T6J6
Amazon
CA Paperback:
https://www.amazon.ca/Beauty-Beast-Emily-Jane-Hills-Orford/dp/1952020204
Barnes
and Noble NOOK eBook:
Barnes
and Noble Paperback:
Book
Depository Paperback:
https://www.bookdepository.com/Beauty-Beast-Emily-Jane-Hills-Orford/9781952020209
Books-A-Million
Paperback:
https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Beauty-Beast/Emily-Jane-Hills-Orford/9781952020209
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GIVEAWAY INFO:
Emily-Jane will be awarding a $10 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner’s Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.
**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog. This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those fabulous community outreach projects and awesome giveaways on here**
This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions. Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.
Emily-Jane ~ Good morning!! Welcome back to FAB!! It is so great to have you here again!! :) Congrats on your new book & good luck on the book tour!! I enjoyed reading & reviewing your book, thanks for providing the copy!! :)
ReplyDeleteI just love your review. Thank you so much. It's great to be back with FAB!
DeleteI love the artwork on the cover.
ReplyDeleteThe cover art is spectacular, isn't it. One of my favorites!
DeleteGreat excerpt and giveaway. :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed the excerpt and I hope you have an opportunity to read the book.
DeleteI would love to read your book and I just love your cover.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy reading my book. Thanks for checking into my review tour.
DeleteThis sounds like a fantastic book.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have the opportunity to read my book. Enjoy!
DeleteThank you so much for hosting me again and for the lovely review - I'm blushing. It's always rewarding for the author to realize that their message is coming across.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your review of Beauty in the Beast, the cover art is gorgeous and the blurb and excerpt have intrigued me, I am looking forward to reading this story
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy reading my book. I certainly enjoyed writing it.
Deletenice cover
ReplyDeleteI love the cover, too. Bright, bold, expressive and attractive.
DeleteWhat books do you recommend starting out with for your backlist?
ReplyDeleteActually, Beauty in the Beast is a stand alone. You may also enjoy Queen Mary's Daughter and King Henry's Choice. My Piccadilly Street series is also a big hit for all ages. I hope this helps and I hope you enjoy reading my books.
DeleteThanks for the great blurb, excerpt, and review. The book sounds intriguing. Love the cover!
ReplyDeleteI love the cover, too. Hope you enjoy the book.
DeleteThis book sounds like a very good read.
ReplyDeleteWell, it was certainly fun to write. Hope you enjoy it.
DeleteWhich of your characters do you relate to the most and why?
ReplyDeleteI think I relate to most of my characters (the good characters) in one way or another, but perhaps Priya the most, as I admire her tenacity and her deep, inner beauty.
DeleteAs a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
ReplyDeleteDog - I love dogs and instantly feel a quiet connection with most of the dogs I meet.
DeleteBeauty in the Beast by Emily-Jane Hills Orford has a lovely pastel colored front cover that grabs the eye!
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
ReplyDeleteFor the first draft? Perhaps 6 months, give or take. Then it's months of editing and re-writes.
DeleteHow do you select the names of your characters?
ReplyDeleteSometimes it's names of people I knew. Priya was a lovely, beautiful young lady whom I taught years ago. I loved the name and I loved the spirit of the young lady. It suited for my main character.
DeleteGreat review
ReplyDeleteThanks. I hope you get to read the book.
DeleteWhat part of the book was the most fun to write?
ReplyDeleteThe part where Priya finds her grand piano in the Castle. The piano has always been a special part of my life, this piano in particular.
DeleteWhat would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
ReplyDeleteA day without writing is like a day without sunshine for me. I have write first thing in the morning to make sure nothing else gets in the way.
DeleteIf you could meet your characters, what would you say to them?
ReplyDeleteIsn't life grand?
DeleteWhat was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
ReplyDeleteHave you read any of the old classics? What did you think of them?
ReplyDeleteLots. I like to intersperse my reading repertoire with classics and more recent works. What do I think of them? Amazing - especially when you consider they wrote everything longhand. I love the attention to detail in descriptive narratives, especially with Dickens and Austen and so many others.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think makes a good story?
ReplyDeleteA strong plot with a really catchy hook. I always remember the first line of one of Kathy Reichs' books. She writes simply: "I am dead." A real catchy hook.
DeleteWhat author do you look up to the most?
ReplyDeleteThat's a difficult question. I look up to a lot of authors.
DeleteWhat’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?
ReplyDeleteDianna Raab's "Regina's Closet"
DeleteWhat is a significant way your book has changed since the first draft?
ReplyDeleteMore engaging dialogue.
DeleteHope you have a great Friday and weekend!
ReplyDeleteDo you have a favorite book you've written?
ReplyDeleteThey're all my favorite books until I move on to writing the next one. Perhaps my first book, my grandmother's story, "Personal Notes".
DeleteWhat comes first for you — the plot or the characters — and why?
ReplyDeleteI'd have to say a bit of both.
DeleteHappy Monday, hope you have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteCan you share with us something about the book that isn’t in the blurb?
ReplyDeleteWhich book are you referring to?
DeleteWhat inspired the idea for your book?
ReplyDeleteWhat characters in your book are most similar to you or to people you know?
ReplyDelete