Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Blog Tour with Giveaway: Embers by Karen Ann Hopkins

Series: The Wings of War #1
357 p.
Published: 10/21/14
Source: From Kismet for review
There are descendants of angels walking among us. Ember is one of them. And she may be the only hope mankind has as the rapture approaches and evils rises. 
Embers is an epic paranormal adventure about a seventeen year old girl who discovers that she's immune to fire and any other injury when she’s in a horrific car crash that kills her parents. Following a violent episode with her aunt's boyfriend, Ember flees Ohio to live with an old relative in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Ember's exuberance at escaping a bad home life soon turns to trepidation when she finds out that she's a Watcher, a descendant of angels. While Ember learns about her heritage, and the powers that go along with it, she strikes up friendships with two teenagers who live in a frightening walled compound in the forest. Inexplicitly drawn to one of the young men in particular, an impossible romance develops. But it is cut short when Ember discovers that her new friends are fighting on the opposite side of a war, one that’s been raging between two factions of Watchers for thousands of years. When the compound’s inhabitants threaten the townspeople, Ember takes action, sealing her fate in the ancient battle of good versus evil, and the grayness in between. Ember is up to the challenge, until she realizes that she isn’t only fighting for the lives of the locals and the souls of her new friends. She also might be one of the few champions who will make a stand for all of mankind as the rapture approaches and the end of days begin.
My thoughts:
Of course I can't start this review without mentioning the cover. Another great cover by Jenny (Supernatural Snark and Seedlings). Of course I jumped at reviewing this book because of the beautiful cover. It also fits the story very well.

I did enjoy all the characters but would have liked a few of the secondary characters fleshed out a bit  more. I would have loved to know a bit more about Aunt Ila especially and her brother who we only see at the beginning of the book. I would also like to see more secondary characters in general with Ember's quest and I have a feeling there will be more forthcoming.

My biggest problem with this book is with her romance with Sawyer. In the human world he is obsessive, abusive, and a danger to Ember and her loved ones. So while she straddled the line between the supernatural and the mundane I had a problem with her gravitating toward him. However, when she was just involved in the supernatural world I had no problem with him at all. It had to do with context. In this world he was a demon and that was his nature. It made sense.

I give this book 3 stars. I did enjoy the writing and once the supernatural world took over I seemed to enjoy it even more. I'm looking forward to the continuation of this series and finding out what happens next.
About Embers:

About Karen Ann Hopkins:

A native of New York State, Karen Ann Hopkins now lives with her family on a farm in northern Kentucky, where her neighbors in all directions are members of a strict Amish community. Her unique perspective became the inspiration for the story of star-crossed lovers Rose and Noah. When she’s not homeschooling her kids, giving riding lessons or tending to a menagerie of horses, goats, peacocks, chickens, ducks, rabbits, dogs and cats, she is dreaming up her next romantic novel.

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway!
There will be two winners for this giveaway. One lucky person will get a $100 gift card and the other will receive a signed Temptation Series book set, including Temptation, Belonging & Forever and 10 other winners will get eCopies of EMBERS. Giveaway is sponsored by the Kismet Tours.

Please enter via the Rafflecopter form. Giveaway is open internationally for the gift card and ebooks. US/Canada for the book set!

Tour Schedule:
Monday, October 20th Unabridged Bookshelf & Book Briefs
Tuesday, October 21st A Thousand Words A Million Books & Books and Things
Wednesday, October 22nd Sweet Southern Home & Tween 2 Teen Book Reviews
Thursday, October 23rd the unofficial addiction book fan club
Friday, October 24th A Dream Within A Dream & Becoming Books

Monday, October 27th The Avid Reader & Lost in Ever After
Tuesday, October 28th Lose Time Reading & So Bookalicious
Wednesday, October 29th Such a Novel Idea & Reading Addict
Thursday, October 30th Curling Up With A Good Book & Coming at YA
Friday, October 31st Actin' Up with Books & To Each Their Own Reviews

Monday, November 3rd GenGen's Book Blog & A Bookish Escape
Tuesday, November 4th Sassy Book Lovers & Bittersweet Enchantment
Wednesday, November 5th Nay's Pink Bookshelf & The Nocturnal Library
Thursday, November 6th The Book Faery Reviews & Bumbles and Fairy-Tales
Friday, November 7th Books in the Spotlight & Her Book Thoughts!

For more info go to the Tour Page

29 comments:

  1. Sawyer sounds like kind of a controlling douche. Okay when you're trying to survive...not so great on the day-to-day. (LOVE this cover, though. Of course. Jenny rulez.)

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  2. You and Mary are going to make me blush *group hug* Thanks for the shout out Melissa and for being a part of this tour!!!

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  3. The cover totally catches me! Thanks so much for the giveaway!

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  4. Oh i didn't know karen Ann Hopkins was coming out with a new series! This sounds kind of interesting and that COVER IS GORGEAUS! I'm interested in her take on this genre since her last series was contemporary. Thanks for the giveaway

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    1. I love this cover too! I think you would have fun with this one!

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  5. That happens so much with the love interests these days I almost have to just let it go to enjoy the book.

    I've found if you can make it to the second book, things usually get better now that we know him. (unless there's a triangle of course lol)

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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    1. It really was all about context. IRL, no no... in a supernatural reality... I totally get it. :)

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  6. I agree, this cover is gorgeous. Seriously, Jenny could do no wrong in her designs.
    I haven't really had an urge to read this though. Maybe I'm just tired of YA paranormal? I'm not sure. Maybe I'll pick it up one day though.

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    1. I think you would enjoy this one. I'd pick it for the cover. :)

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    1. He was, but not much different than a lot of alpha males in books. LOL

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  8. I have been admiring the cover, and I had no idea Jenny did that one, how did I miss that? I am just not sure though that I am up for any more paranormal YA romance right now. I am feelign burned out on it.

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    1. I can see why you are burnt out on it. I think that is why I read a bit of everything.

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  9. Oh how interesting that in one setting he worked and the other he didn't.

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  10. Oh my! I love that cover too! LOL! I was caught by it right away. Wow. And sounds like a neat story. Maybe the romance will work out more in the next book?

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  11. Too bad about the romance, but yes Jenny's cover is fantastic..it just screams read me!!

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  12. The cover is so beautiful! So exited to read this book!

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  13. It sounds good, I like it that Ember is not childish but adult in her actions.

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  14. That's an interesting observation about Sawyer. I'm curious now. And yes ... that cover! <3

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  15. Love the cover too. Great review - very helpful.

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  16. Christina R. in the rafflecopter

    Cool way of changing up the romance, with him being different in each world!

    Lovely review :)

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  17. The story sounds very intriguing. I can't wait to read it.

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  18. I really really like the sound of this one!

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  19. He sounds like your typical alpha male love interest in a paranormal. I hope he doesn't irritate me too much. lol

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  20. I've been eyeing the book for awhile and I'm really excited about it because of the angels! Thanks for the giveaway! :)

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Thanks for commenting! I ❤ comments!