Return Review Tour- Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

Hi everyone! Today I have a stop on the Review Tour for Return by Charity Santiago. There is my review, an excerpt, info on the author and book and a giveaway for you all.

RETURN

By Charity Santiago

BLURB: 

For the last three years, eighteen-year-old Ashlyn Li has been running from her destiny. A free-spirited ninja, Ashlyn would rather loot an abandoned city or challenge a fiend to battle than assume leadership of Toryn, her father's kingdom. However, when a series of attacks reunites Ashlyn with the friends who helped her save the sun three years ago, she discovers that her kingdom is at war and her father has presumed her dead.

Suddenly Ashlyn is faced with not only fulfilling her birthright, but also making sense of her feelings towards two very different men- Drake Lockhart, the enigmatic vampire who captured her heart three years ago, and Vargo, the charismatic assassin who was once Ashlyn's sworn enemy.

Will Ashlyn ascend the pagoda and become Lady of Toryn?

My Review

Ashlyn Li has been gone for three years. She wanted time on her own with n responsibilities. When she decides to return home she is attacked several times. Some friends show up to help her when a battle of ninjas attack. They are surprised to see her as it has been rumored that she had died. She is shocked to hear this and to find out she has been replaced in the leadership of her fathers kingdom  Now she has to help her kingdom as it at war. Her heart is also torned between two men. Things are about to get real rough.

Ashlyn is so tough. She doesn't care to jump into a battle and she can most of the time hold her own. Even if she has run from her responsibilities before, she is now ready to do what is right. I love her. She is funny and gives you several laughs. I know most people hate love triangle but this one kind of works as she has good reason to fall for both.Drake Lockhart is a vampire who she has crushed on for years even if he didn't know about it. I really liked him as he wasn't fake or seemed to hide who he is. Vargo is someone who was an enemy but now isn't. I didn't care a lot for him. He know just the right things to say to a girl. I can see why Ashlyn would be attracted to both as they have things a woman can love but I am team Drake.

This book starts right off with some battles and you get to see Ashlyn isn't afraid to go into them. It has plenty of action and it keeps you on your toes. At first I was a little confused but as the story progresses I got more and more into it. It is quite different as you get ninjas, vampires and so much more. There is the love element for those that love it and like I said above I have my team I am on lol. It has some laughs as well as Ashlyn struggles to do all she is supposed to do and at a young age. I really liked this story and will look for more in the series. I want to see just what all else Ashlyn does and what happens.

4 out of 5 Stars

Excerpt

"I feel so heavy all the time," Ashlyn said. "It's like I can't breathe sometimes. Like I can't even move."

"Weight of the world," Skye replied. "It's a burden all leaders have to deal with."

"I'm not a natural-born leader."

"Leaders aren't born, Ash. They're made." He shook his head when she spoke again, stopping her mid-sentence with the gesture. "I wasn't a leader. I was just following Jax around, trying to help out where I could. And after he was…gone…I knew I had to step up because there was no one else.”

He stopped halfway across the bridge to the lab, and leaned against the railing, his expression grave. Ashlyn turned to face him and mimicked his relaxed pose, trying to look nonchalant. 

Skye turned his face towards the rising sun, the first rays lighting his handsome features with a strange, tormented beauty. The illumination lasted for only a moment before clouds obscured the sunrise, and they were plunged into grayness again.

"The burden of saving the sun was bad enough," Skye said slowly, "but then to be pretending to be something I wasn't, constantly worried that people would find out I had no idea what I was doing…I almost snapped a couple of times. Stuck inside my mind and trapped by my own lies and insecurities. Tortured by my own failure."

Ashlyn stayed silent as it began to rain. Skye pushed away from the railing and started walking, and she followed quietly.

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Bio:

In February 2011, Charity Santiago's 7-month old son was admitted to the hospital with severe respiratory issues. While Charity stayed at his bedside, she kept them both entertained by downloading several books on her new Kindle and reading them out loud. It was during this time that Charity learned about Kindle's self-publishing program, and realized that she had an opportunity to share her writings with the world.

Charity is a native of southeastern Arizona, and a writer since childhood. She wrote her first manuscript, Guinea Pig Code!, at age nine. When she’s not writing books, Charity spends her time wrangling children, watching Sylvester Stallone movies and pursuing a degree in Education.

Links:

Blog: http://charitysantiago.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cinephilemama

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/charitysantiago

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4733058.Charity_Santiago

Book can be purchased at:

http://www.amazon.com/Return-Lady-Toryn-trilogy-ebook/dp/B0052BDNWE/

Giveaway

Charity will be awarding one $10 Amazon gift card for a random commenter. Grand prize: winner's choice of any mini gift basket from GourmetGiftBaskets.com (a $24.99 value). Be sure to comment below for your chance to win and follow the tour to better your chances.

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/02/review-tour-return-by-charity-santiago.html