Contact

Showing posts with label Marissa Campbell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Marissa Campbell. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Review/Giveaway: Avelynn: The Edge of Faith by Marissa Campbell

02_The Edge of Faith

 It's the year 871. 

Charges of treason, murder, and witchcraft follow Avelynn into exile as she flees England with Alrik.

 Arriving in Wales, they find refuge among Alrik's friends in the Welsh nobility. Cast out by his half-brothers, Alrik seeks to regain his honor and earn favor with the gods. When war threatens, Alrik embraces gold and the opportunity for his crew to become mercenaries, aiding the Southern Welsh kings in their fight against Rhodri the Great.

 Desperate to return home, Avelynn seeks to find a way to prove her innocence, but she is pitted against Alrik as their desires for the future clash. With battle looming, Avelynn's faith in their relationship is further tested through a bitter struggle with Marared, a jealous lover from Alrik's past. Marared's threats turn deadly, and Avelynn runs afoul of magic and sorcery, causing her to question her beliefs and role as priestess.

 When Avelynn and Alrik are betrayed, Avelynn is captured and Alrik is charged with regicide. The two become separated, a chasm of greed, deceit, and ambition driving them apart. In an act of harrowing faith, Avelynn will stop at nothing to find her way back to Alrik and break them both free from Wales's bloodthirsty grasp.

 AVELYNN: THE EDGE OF FAITH is a stand-alone novel and #2 in the Avelynn series.

Publication Date: September 26, 2016 
eBook; 302 Pages 
ASIN: B01KUC6N9Y
Genre: Historical Romance/Medieval Series: Avelynn (Book Two)
  Add to GR Button 
****

This is one of those books that I have been anticipating all year. I really enjoyed book one in the series Avelynn (click here for review) and while The Edge of Faith works as a standalone I highly recommend going back and reading the first one just because it was that good. 

 The Edge of Faith continued right where Avelynn left off, it felt like I was together again with old friends and playing catch up, that's how much the author made me care about Alrik and Avelynn and their plight. Christianity is relatively new to the island and while not everyone has grasped it, there are still those around that practice the supernatural arts. This was central to the story and gave it that authentic feel to the time period. 

 Marissa Campbell is a talented author, she knows how to draw the reader in, she creates empathy and an emotional bond, which drew me right in, I had a hard time putting this book down.  The suspense, uncertainty and mystery kept me guessing at the outcome.  Her descriptive writing made it easy to visualize so much. There is romance here, suffice to say the author knows how to make the pages sizzle.

While the conclusion was fitting it also left an opening for book three (fingers crossed).  Thank you to Amy at HFVBT for the invite to be part of this tour (for which I received the ebook, for an honest review).

Amazon (Kindle) | Barnes & Noble (Nook) | Kobo


Marissa Campbell is a published freelance author, and co-author of the award-winning, spiritual self-help book Life: Living in Fulfillment Every Day. Her debut historical fiction AVELYNN, was published through St. Martin’s Press, September 2015. Look for the second book in the AVELYNN series, releasing Fall 2016.

She is a proud member of the Historical Novel Society, Romance Writers of America, Writer’s Community of Durham Region, and local critique group B7.

When she is not writing, she is busy looking after her wonderful children, spending time with her fantastic husband, hanging out with her awesome friends, teaching yoga, dancing, laughing, and having fun!

For more information visit http://marissacampbell.com.

You can also follow Marissa Campbell on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Google+, Tumblr, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Giveaway

To win a $25 Amazon Gift Card or Avelynn: The Edge of Faith eBook, please enter via the Gleam form below. 1 gift card and 5 eBooks are up for grabs!

  Rules – Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on October 21st.
--You must be 18 or older to enter.
 – Giveaway is open Internationally.
 – Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
 – Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

  Avelynn: The Edge of Faith

04_the-edge-of-faith_blog-tour-banner_final
click on banner for more stops on this tour

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Review: Avelynn by Marissa Campbell

One extraordinary Saxon noblewoman and one fearless Viking warrior find passion and danger in this dazzling and sensuous debut.

Marissa Campbell’s debut novel is a winning combination of romance, history, and adventure sure to appeal to fans of Diana Gabaldon.

It is 869. For eighteen years, Avelynn, the beautiful and secretly pagan daughter of the Eadlorman of Somerset has lived in an environment of love and acceptance. She hasn’t yet found a man to make her heart race, but her father has not pressured her to get married. Until now. With whispers of war threatening their land, her father forces Avelynn into a betrothal with Demas, a man who only covets her wealth and status. The dreaded marriage looming, she turns to her faith, searching for answers in an ancient ritual along the coast, only to find Alrik the Blood-Axe and sixty Viking berserkers have landed.

Alrik is unlike any man she has ever known, strong and intriguing. Likewise, he instantly falls for her beauty and courage. The two stumble into a passionate love affair, but it’s more than just a greedy suitor who will try to keep them apart.

As the Saxons and Vikings go to war, Avelynn and Alrik find themselves caught in the throes of fate. Can they be true to their people as well as to each other?

 
Publication Date: September 8, 2015
St. Martin’s Press
Formats: eBook, Paperback, Hardcover
Pages: 320
ISBN13: 978-1250063939
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance
Add to GR Button
arc - netgalley
****


I am a sucker for debut novels, especially HF and when they take place in a time period I am unfamiliar with, all the better.  Puts a little bit of pressure on the author right there, with Avelynn I was not disappointed at all.

I like Avelynn, a strong and determined woman, smart and brave as well.  The late 800's was a brutal time in England, not just because of the Vikings, but also for the fact that women were at the mercy of man, with no choice as to the direction their life went.  The author created a story of suspense and mystery as Avelynn took/tried to take control of her life.  Not knowing what was taking place this book had me nervous with each page turn as to what would happen next.  It just seemed she hit so many obstacles on this journey and history does not always have that 'happy ever after' ending.

The supernatural part of this story was interested and it added that extra element which fit right into the story.  Though the romance part didn't quite resonate too well with me, maybe because of the time gap, I am not totally sure.  The ending left it open  for a sequel and I hope there will be one because I will like to see what is next for Avelynn.

The author definitely knows this time period and the amount of research is evident, though I would have loved to see author notes at the end end just to see what was real and fiction. 




 

PRAISE

“Marissa Campbell brings a long-forgotten era splendidly to life in this adventurous and passionate debut.” – Susanna Kearsley, New York Times bestselling author

“Avelynn is a captivating tale of star-crossed lovers. He is a Viking and she is a Saxon. Their struggle to be together will lead you on an exciting journey through a background filled with rich and detailed description.” – Connie Mason, New York Times bestselling author of Viking Warrior

“Marissa Campbell’s Avelynn is a fast-paced, rollicking historical novel whose irresistible heroine starts out as the willful daughter of a Saxon earl and evolves into a warrior and leader, as fierce as she is passionate.” – Barbara Rogan, author of A Dangerous Fiction and Suspicion

“A hot-blooded tale of Viking invasion, Saxon valor, and a love that conquers kingdoms. Get ready to be bewitched by the bold, brave Avelynn.” – Barbara Kyle, author of The Queen’s Exiles

AMAZON US | AMAZON CAN | AMAZON UK | BARNES & NOBLE | CHAPTERS

Marissa Campbell is a published freelance author, and co-author of the award-winning, spiritual self-help book Life: Living in Fulfillment Every Day.

Look for her debut historical fiction Avelynn coming September 8th, 2015, from St. Martin’s Press. Currently, hard at work on the second book in the Avelynn series, she is a proud member of the Historical Novel Society, Romance Writers of America, Writer’s Community of Durham Region, and local critique group B7.

When she is not writing, she is busy looking after her wonderful children, spending time with her fantastic husband, hanging out with her awesome friends, teaching yoga, dancing, laughing, and having fun!

For more information visit http://marissacampbell.com. You can also follow Marissa Campbell on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.



http://hfvirtualbooktours.com/avelynnblogtour/
click on banner for more stop on this tour