Give It Up For The #Weekend with Cynthia Terelst ~ An Ember In The Ashes #Series (and New #Release!)

I’m very happy to have Cynthia back, and hearing what she had to say about a kick butts series. And there is the bonus of Cynthia’s new release, too!

Cynthia Terelst is a project officer by day and a writer by night. She is a contemporary romance writer who likes to share a little bit of history, some Australian scenery and a whole lotta love. Cynthia does not shy away from difficult topics, as she feels that they should not be ignored.

She lives in Queensland, Australia, where the sun shines at least 283 days a year.

I series I loved!

By Cynthia Terelst

Today I would like to recommend a book I most thoroughly enjoyed, An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir. It is a young adult fantasy novel with excellent world building, well developed characters and an exciting plot. There is a little romance thrown in. I was totally immersed in the story from beginning to end.
We follow the story of Laia and Elias who live totally different lives. Laia is a a scholar, who becomes a slave in an effort to save her brother from the tyranny of the Empire. Elias is the finest student at the Empire’s military academy, who wants to escape the Empire and the life that is expected of him. He has a soldier’s skill but not a soldier’s heart. Their lives and fates are entwined from the very beginning.
As their stories develop you become totally entranced with Laia and Elias and every part of you roots for them. I felt every conflicting feeling: their torment, their hope, the unfairness of what they had to endure. Every action and thought is well thought out by the author. It is a fine example of the craft of writing.
There is an ensemble of supporting characters, all with stories of their own, all who deserve space on the page. Some you wish for their demise, the quicker the better. But what would a story be without a carefully crafted heartless, villain. Others you wish happiness for, or at the very least, peace.
I was so enthralled with this book I rushed out to get the next in the series. And it did not let me down. I was so frustrated at one point that I had to put the book in time out. That is when you know you are onto a winner. I look forward to reading the remainder of the series.

Amazon Link

Cynthia’s new released is from her very well loved series. Full disclosure: I don’t think it’s going to be an easy ride. Have tissues handy.

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie: A New Adult International Second Chance Romance (Love Down Under) by By Cynthia Terelst released Tuesday in the Young adult, contemporary romance.

Will one of the treasures they find be each other’s heart?
It’s been five years since Tara walked out of Shepherd’s life without a word. Since then he’s spiralled through drugs, alcohol and empty relationships, with Tara on his mind the whole time. Now he wants to win her back, and what better way to do it than by creating a fake scavenger hunt? He knows she won’t be able to resist.

Tara’s lost enough loved ones and she didn’t want to see Shepherd added to that count. So, when she saw him high at graduation, she did the only thing she could – she walked away. When she’s teamed up with him for a million dollar scavenger hunt, the feelings reignite. For a second chance at love to work, she needs to be brave enough to open up to him, to tell him everything she withheld the first time around.

Shepherd didn’t realise how much winning would mean to Tara. He now needs to come up with $3 million for her foundation before the hunt is over. If he can’t he will need to tell her its all fake, and he doesn’t know if he can risk that.

Will secrets destroy them a second time around?

Tara

Shepherd and I sat on the couch side by side and watched The Martian while we ate dinner. The warmth from where our arms touched seeped through me. I should have moved away, but I didn’t want to. The spices from the tacos radiated off him. What would they taste like when mixed with the sweetness of him? My eyes were drawn to his lips, the curve of them. I could practically feel their softness.

Shepherd turned his face to mine. My eyes lingered for a moment as I imagined his soft breath brushing my face as he bent his head toward me. My breathing shallowed to the point that it was nearly non-existent, as if I were a starfish. I turned my face away and resumed watching the movie, making sure my hands kept to themselves and my thoughts remained on the man saving his own life on the screen. Matt Damon may have been the most attractive astronaut I’d ever seen, but he was nothing compared to Shepherd.

The movie ended and I sat there while the credits rolled. Our closeness suddenly made me feel like we were in a flux capacitor. Time—five years of it—had been starved, and now it was swallowing me whole. Everything about Shepherd felt like home. Everything. And if I allowed it to, this feeling wouldn’t just swallow me, it would become me.

I jerked away from him, my heart racing, my skin cold, while I broke into a sweat. I couldn’t allow this to happen. Shepherd was no longer my solace. He never truly was because he never knew my grief. My grief over my brother. The feelings of loss at my parent’s death.

No, Shepherd was not my solace. Not then. Not now.