Welcome to this stop in the Isabelle Saint-Michael Blog Tour,
sponsored by
Bewitching Book Tours!!
There are mini-reviews and excerpts
of both books,
of both books,
as well as a giveaway!!
(Otherworld Realms, #1)
Isabelle Saint-Michael
Trade Paperback, 378 pages
Otherworld Romance, Sept. 26, 2014
Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
Cover Artist: C.L. Smith
Book Synopsis: Lillian Chambers was just an ordinary high school teacher, until she fell through a Fairy Circle. When she came to on the other side, she was surprised to find herself in the company of an Elven prince she thought only existed in her dreams. Now she’s slaying monsters and rescuing Prince Tallyn, instead of playing the part of the damsel in distress.
Tallyn had been the protector of his kingdom for over one hundred years. He knows that the world is filled with danger around every corner, but these days he’s finding himself babysitting the annoyingly fearless Lady Lillian.
When their worlds collide sparks fly, humorous situations ensue and the only thing for sure is that neither will ever be the same. Practical Uses for Princes with Pointed Ears takes readers on an adventure into a modern fairytale where we explore what it really means to fall for Prince Not-so-Charming.
First of all, the title of this novel is totally hilarious! It's obvious that the prince in question is an elf. I wonder what those 'practical uses' could be.....
The excerpt below is a very intriguing one. The female narrator seems to be dreaming, yet everything is very vivid and detailed. All these details lead to some interesting speculations. Is this nameless narrator in some alternate dimension, in which she can see, hear, and feel everything going on in the real world, but cannot be perceived herself? Or is it the men who are in this alternate world, to which she has access, although she's not sure how?
The author, Isabelle Saint-Michael, has certainly set up the scene beautifully. The tension intensifies when the narrator senses the approach of danger, yet is unable to warn the men. This author has quickly captured my interest in these few short paragraphs, and I definitely want to know more!
I really need to get this book!!
My dreams were
more vivid than usual. It was like I was standing there with my favorite
imaginary hunk. He and several others were packing up horses. There was a great
deal of laughter and teasing among the men. They poked at each other until
finally he had to step in and tell them to calm down. Even as he reprimanded
them his smile shone brightly. I had never seen him smile with such a youthful
presence.
Moments later
another man appeared, just as handsome as my dream guy. “Tallyn!” he called,
and my heart skipped a beat as I watched the man of my dreams turn to wave.
“Tallyn,” I
could feel myself whispering. He turned and looked in my direction, as if he
had heard me. His face fell a little when he couldn’t see me standing there.
“What’s wrong?”
the taller man asked him.
I watched as
Tallyn shrugged. “I was just thinking about how I was going to have to see your
face every morning for the next few days and it quashed all the fun out of our
camping trip.”
The taller man
laughed, only to turn when someone called, "Maerryn!" which I guessed
was his name.
I could feel the
cool breeze on my skin, causing the hair on my arms to stand up. I watched with
interest as the men finished packing up and began to ride away. I followed them
through the forest I had seen a hundred times in my dreams. After a few hours
they crossed the river in a shallow area then headed up a steep cliff, guiding
their horses one at a time along the narrow ledge.
By midday the
group reached the top of the cliff and stopped for lunch. The food smelled
amazing cooked over the open fire. I felt my stomach rumble. When it did,
Tallyn placed a hand on his stomach and looked around with confusion.
He was beautiful
to look at, even with uncertainty creasing his brow. His green eyes deepened in
color and his breath stilled. It was like he was looking right at me but
couldn’t see me. With a shake of his head, he rejoined the conversation around
him.
They packed up
and left, heading across a path at the top of the cliff that led into another
forest. The group seemed more hesitant when they entered the new area. They
rode close together for hours, and when darkness finally threatened, they found
flat ground and made camp. The horses were tied up, dinner was caught and
prepared, and then the wine came out.
Boys will be
boys, I thought to myself as they laughed, sang and passed around the bottles.
Behind me I heard
the crack of twigs underfoot. Suddenly, I sensed someone else was there. I
turned, looking in the direction of the sound, and I saw shadows moving through
the woods towards the encampment. Panic filled me and I tried to scream, but I
was just a watcher without a voice.
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(Otherworld Realms, #2)
Isabelle Saint-Michael
Trade Paperback, 208 pages
Otherworld Romance, Nov. 14, 2014
Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
Cover Artist: C.L. Smith
Cover Artist: C.L. Smith
Book Synopsis:
When life handed
half-werewolf Grace MacGregor a pink slip four weeks before Christmas,
she was determined to get back to work as soon as possible. She just
didn’t expect it to be the very next day – or at the North Pole. She now
has four weeks to make other people’s holiday wishes come true, but
will she be able to grant her own while she is at it?
Justin Kringle
is the nephew of Santa Claus and his job is to keep operations of the
Pole on point. When Grace is dropped bed and all into his work shop, he
can’t decide if it’s love or hate at first sight. First impression:
she’s a total mess. Can he keep her on track and remember to not mix
business and pleasure?
What a delightful excerpt the following one is! This time, the female narrator has a name -- Grace McGregor. She is currently unemployed, and receives an email from the Otherworld Alignment Council, requesting that she send them her resume as well as a completed application, as her help is needed at the North Pole.
Next thing Grace knows, she wakes up to find her bedroom swarming with Gnomes busily working on toys.....
I absolutely love this! Saint-Michael has made me eager to discover how the heck Grace has seemingly, and quite suddenly, been transported to the North Pole, and what will transpire there. Furthermore, the whole concept is whimsical, as well as comical.
This one sure sounds like a fun-filled, very magical, holiday read! And I can't wait to find out just WHO the guy with the red braid is.....
I've just GOT to get this book, which I will promptly devour!
I settled into
bed with my favorite boyfriend, my laptop. Before long I had updated my resume,
applied for a half dozen jobs, checked flights home, and Facebooked with all of
my friends to see if anyone had any leads. I was about to shut down when the
pop from my email caught my attention.
I closed the other tabs and stared at my
inbox. It was from the OAC. The Otherworld Alignment Council was a group of
magical beings, things that go bump in the night, and people that made sure
that there were universal laws and regulations used across all the realms. They made sure there was a common language,
rules about magic, and laws that kept peace between the different races. Why they were emailing me I didn’t know.
To: Grace MacGregor
From: OAC
Subject:
The North Pole Needs You
Dear Ms. MacGregor,
It has been brought to the attention of
the OAC that you are no longer employed during this busy time of the year. Every Holiday season we rely on the help we
get from the Otherworld community to make the season bright. Your talents could be used now through the
end of the year helping deliver joyful winter holidays across all the realms.
Please see the attached application.
Applicants will be considered for a paid position. Please send a resume, two letters of
recommendation and magical aptitude test scores to the email listed below. If chosen we will need you to report
immediately for work.
Thank you and Happy Holidays,
Otherworld Alignment Council
I looked at the email again and
shrugged. “Why not?” I asked myself. I attached my resume, two recommendation
letters and a quick note explaining my father was a Scottish Werewolf Clansman
and that I was half human. I figured my
lack of magical abilities would keep me out of the fray. My father told me to always answer the OAC
right when they contacted you because they made the IRS look patient.
With a giggle to myself I closed the
windows on my laptop and shut it down.
Snuggling deep into my pillows I closed my eyes, giggling about what use
I could possibly be to the Great Holiday Front up North. Strangely enough I fell asleep with thoughts
of sugar plums dancing in my head
I awoke the next morning to the sounds of
clinking, clicking and power tools. I
opened my eyes involuntarily when a particularly loud noise sounded right over
my head. It was then I noticed my bedroom
was swarming with Gnomes and they seemed too busy to care I was sleeping.
“Excuse me!” I yelled. “Why are you in my bedroom?”
A few of them stopped, exchanged looks
with shrugs, and returned to work. I
wasn’t answered until a man with a heavy red braid down his back appeared.
“You are in their workshop, and it’s about
time you got up.” I climbed out of bed
angrily, prepared to demand that they leave.
“Nice pajamas,” he said with a grin as he looked me over. “If you follow me we will get you assigned
duties, uniforms and the rest of your paperwork filled out.”
I looked around what should have been my
room. I was on a toy factory floor. Only it looked like FAO Schwarz met Ikea. Bright colors with industrial-grade shelves
mixed with the old world charm of hand-carved wooden trim. All around me Gnomes were hustling to
complete toys. I looked in the direction
the redheaded man had gone and chased after him, abandoning my bed to the
factory.
Isabelle Saint-Michael is a cupcake enthusiast,shoe addict, and globetrotter. She is known for her sense of adventure and geeky hobbies. She is frequently seen haunting coffee shops and pubs into the wee hours of the morning. No matter where she goes, shenanigans and mirth are never far behind.
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Thanks for sharing the amazing giveaway ! Holiday Spirit For Fire sounds quite interesting. I really like that cover lol it's unique :D
ReplyDeleteBenish | Feminist Reflections
Hi, Benish!
DeleteYou're very welcome!! Yes, I LOVE the cover of that book, too, and have never seen anything like it before. And the plot sure sounds like fun! I'm so glad you like it!
Thanks for commenting!! : )
Thanks for the giveaway! Crossing my fingers that I win this one.
ReplyDeleteHi, Josy!
DeleteYes, both of these novels sure sound like a LOT of fun, but I'm especially interested in "Holiday Spirit for Hire".
You're very welcome for the giveaway! Good Luck, and thanks for participating! HAPPY NEW YEAR, too!!! : )