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Jewelry Candles - A Review

1/26/2015

31 Comments

 
I love jewelry, candles and surprises. All three combined? I'm sold! In this post, I'll share my experiences with three companies: Diamond Candles, JewelScent, and Prize Candles. Note that this review is strictly my opinion. None of the companies paid me or provided product. Everything that I show and describe was purchased by me. One last comment, this post may get a little long. If you don't care about candles, feel free to skip to the end and enter the Rafflecopter!

1. Order
Let's start with ordering. All three websites were easy to navigate and use. They each accepted credit card and PayPal payments. If you plan to order, make sure that you search the internet first for coupon codes. One of my favorite sites is RetailMeNot. I found coupons for each of these companies. One was 15% off and free shipping. The other two offered a percentage discount. The products have a retail price around $24, so I suggest you find a coupon!

Verdict: This was a tie. All three companies have pleasant sites, a wide range of scents and products, and easy checkout service.

2. Packaging
All of my candles arrived in excellent condition. I happen to live in Wisconsin, and it's winter, so there was obviously no worry about it melting on my porch. If you order in the summer in one of the hotter regions, you may want to watch for your package. The soy wax melts easy and could create a mess if left to heat on your porch.

The Prize candle comes in a pretty little hot pink and white striped box. It would be perfect for gift giving, as it looks very festive. I ordered two of them, since they were offering select fragrances at 60% off that day. The box had a grid insert to keep them from moving, and the candles were perfect.

The Diamond Candle was shipping in a cardboard box, but wrapped well inside. It's not in its own box for gift giving, but it was packaged soundly.

The JewelScent candle came in a sturdy white cardboard box within the outer brown cardboard shipping box. These little white cardboard boxes are nice and can be reused. I gave my nephew a gift in one at Christmas, and even my sister commented, "Wow, that's a nice box."

Verdict: Prize candle has the nicest packaging for gift giving, but JewelScent comes in a close second.
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3. Product
Okay, I'm guessing that now I'm getting to the part that you're really interested in. When candle enthusiasts talk about candles, they typically refer to the "throw", which is how well the candle scent fills the room when it's burning. I've had interesting experiences with these products and throw. All three brands smelled fantastic before burning. However, the Jewelscent candle did the best job filling the room with fragrance. Diamond Candle was a close second. Prize candle was a disappointment in this area. When it was burning, I barely smelled it. This happened with both of my Prize candles, so I don't believe it was a fluke. My only assumption is that they must use less fragrance oil than the other two brands.

Now, my personal preference is undyed wax. All three of these companies use soy wax. The Prize candle and JewelScent candle seemed to liquify the fastest, leaving the least amount of wax residue as they burned. If you like colored wax, however, you will not find it with these two companies. Diamond Candle offers a wide variety of fragrances and colors, if that's your thing.

Verdict: JewelScent wins for scent and wax quality. Diamond Candles is second, and Prize Candle last.

4. Prize
All three of these companies offer rings as the jewelry prizes. However, JewelScent is the only one that lets you select your ring size when you order your candle. With the other two, you are guaranteed to get at least a $10 ring in a randomly selected size. If you win, then you have the option of ordering your size. With JewelScent, the ring you receive will have a value somewhere between $15-$99 for the Signature candle. If you find a coin instead, then you have won a ring worth $100 or more. (I have not found a coin. This is from their website.)

The JewelScent and Diamond Candles package the ring in a plastic baggie, then wrap it in foil. The Prize candle comes in a plastic package. While this may seem better, I didn't like it. Once you remove the ring, you're left with a gaping hole in the candle. It seems like a waste of space. I show the packaging below, along with the green ring I won in my second Prize candle (size 6, $10 value.)

Here is what I won (pictured below) - With Prize Candle, I got a blue ring, probably a size 9. However, I did win a $25 ring when I entered the code. They asked for my ring size and address. The ring came in the mail about a week later. It is the clear stone ring pictured with the candle. With Diamond Candle, I won a pretty goldtone ring. I would guess it's a size 10. When I entered the code on their website, I discovered it was a $10 value. Still, it's a pretty ring, and I like the fact that it is goldtone, since the other companies appear to only offer silvertone. My JewelScent candle had a pink and clear stone ring. The appraised value was $24.

Verdict: Personally, I like to pick my ring size up front. Otherwise, you risk that you will get a ring that doesn't fit any of your fingers. Therefore, I consider JewelScent the winner on this one. If you're buying for a gift, and you don't know the recipient's ring size, then any of these companies would work well.

JewelScent was the first brand I ever tried of jewelry candles, and so far, they are still my favorite. My only complaint is that they don't have as many fragrance choices, and they change their stock often. If you find a favorite scent, be forewarned. They had a fragrance called Cuban Nights. I loved it, but they have discontinued it, much to my dismay. If you order one of the new scents, Strawberry Fields (the one that I sampled) is very nice. I also tried the Pink Champagne, which I personally liked even a little more.

So, that's my two cents (or scents!) on candles with jewelry in them. I do have a candle from
Jewelry in Candles on its way to me. I had never heard of this company until someone pointed it out to me. A very similar company is called Amour Scents. I haven't ordered from them yet, as I just learned about them yesterday. I also think I've exceeded my candle budget for this quarter! My initial impression of both of these companies is that they offer many fragrances, and I like how you can select your ring size OR choose earrings or a necklace. After all, a girl only has so many fingers!

I hope this provided you with a little more information on jewelry candles. Remember to keep your wicks trimmed and burn the candle for an hour for every inch in diameter. This will ensure an even burn. (This is true of all candles, not just jewelry ones.)

If you like, enter the Rafflecopter below to win one of the rings and a swag pack shown in the picture. Good Luck

Picture
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Cover Reveal: Avenging By Holly Kelly

1/20/2015

1 Comment

 

COVER REVEAL: AVENGING by Holly Kelly

By Olympus! We are excited to share the official cover reveal for the highly anticipated third book in the Rising Series by Holly Kelly. The Rising Series is an exciting paranormal romance filled with Greek Mythology, Mermaids, Dagonians, and more! Let us know what you think of the cover for Avenging by Holly Kelly. Avenging will be available on April 21, 2015. 



New Adult- Paranormal Romance
Clean Teen Publishing
Available: April 21, 2015
Book #3 in the Rising Series

Two thousand years ago, King Triton witnessed the slaughter and total annihilation of his merchildren. He vowed then and there to never again father a child. Powerful and eternally youthful, Triton was no stranger to seduction. But his resolve was unwavering—until he met Nicole. Unable to resist the human woman, he found himself swept up in her arms. When he finally came to his senses, he abandoned her to return to his refuge in the sea.

Twenty years later, he comes face to face with his daughter. Triton is both thrilled and frightened to learn he's a father. Meeting the child he never knew fills a void in his life. But at the same time, he once again finds his heart at risk. Even more terrifying, he's forced to admit he's still in love with Nicole. Gathering his courage, he leaves the sea to seek her out. But the pain he caused is not easily forgotten. And mending broken hearts should be the least of his worries. The elements are in commotion, threatening the utter destruction of mankind. And much to the sea god's surprise, the human woman he loves may be the key to saving them all.

RISING (Book #1)


Available Now FREE!

In a war between the humans and the inhabitants of the sea—humans will lose. Xanthus Dimitriou—the most lethal Dagonian to rise from the ocean—is on a mission to save mankind from annihilation. But first there’s one small thing he needs to do… kill a beautiful young woman in a wheelchair.

Killing her doesn’t start out as part of his plan. He entrenches himself deep in the human world. Aligning himself with his enemies, he prepares to send them to Triton to face their punishment. Then Sara Taylor rolls onto the scene. Xanthus knows at once she’s a criminal. And her crime? Being born. She’s a human/Dagonian half-breed, an abomination. Killing her should be an easy job. All he has to do is break into her apartment, slit her throat, and feed her body to the sharks. Simple, right? Wrong. If only she weren’t so beautiful, so innocent, so sweet...

Saving the world may have to wait. It appears Xanthus has a woman to save. But protecting her may cost him his own life.




DESCENDING (Book #2) 

Available Now! 

When Xanthus cashes in a long-standing favor, Kyros is faced with doing two things he thought he'd never do—protect a mermaid and live on land. Dagonians loathe mermaids and Sara, Xanthus's wife, is no exception. Also, a Dagonian standing on human legs? As if being around the vile creatures responsible for polluting his home and killing his sister wasn't horrible enough, Kyros has to deal with Sara's troublesome human friend, Gretchen.

Kyros can't help but resent Gretchen. Not only is she human and unforgettably gorgeous, but she leaves him swimming in confusion and feeling things he shouldn't be feeling—least of all for a land-walker! When Gretchen is nearly killed by an assassin's bullet, Kyros's mission changes. He's forced to become her protector. Forced is a gross exaggeration, though. The more time Kyros spends with Gretchen, the more he finds himself falling for this spunky, witty human. When it becomes apparent that something dark and evil will stop at nothing to see Gretchen dead, Kyros expends his resources to find out who that being is. Unfortunately, the answer causes more problems than it solves. When a rogue mermaid wants you dead, you’re safe from no one… not even the ones you love.  


About Holly Kelly



Holly Kelly is a mom who writes books in her spare time: translation--She hides in the bathroom with her laptop and locks the door while the kids destroy the house and smear peanut butter on the walls.


Holly was born in Utah but lived in Salina, Kansas until she was 13 and in Garland, Texas until she was 18. She's now back in Utah--"happy valley". Holly is married to her wonderful husband, James, and the two of them are currently raising 6 rambunctious children. Her interests are reading, writing (or course), martial arts, visual arts, and spending time with family.

Holly Kelly's first published book is: Rising. Rising was published by Clean Teen Publishing on September 6, 2013.

Want to READ MORE from Clean Teen Publishing? 

Check out our huge selection of amazing reads! There's sure to be something for every reader!


 BE THE FIRST TO KNOW about our GIVEAWAYS, NEW RELEASES, COVER REVEALS and MORE! Join our VIP Mailing List! 


   


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COVER REVEAL: THE POISON SKY by K.C. Finn

1/16/2015

0 Comments

 
We are excited to share this cover reveal with you for an upcoming novella in the Synsk series! Check it out and let us know what you think? If you haven't read the Synsk series yet, book #1— The Mind's Eye— is currently free! 



Release Day: February 24, 2015


He delivered my sentence with the gusto of a father revealing a special birthday treat to his child. I received the news as swiftly as a guillotine dropping towards a damned man’s neck.


In 1959, a heavily pregnant Kit Haugen seeks refuge in a bedroom at her grandmother’s old hotel, The Sand Drifts Inn. There, she finds a battered, old diary, containing a story long forgotten. It is the tale of her grandfather, Reggie Arkwright, a psychic soldier whose talents were put to use in the First World War. Though Kit has always thought of her grandfather as a hero, she is about to discover the horrifying truth of life and war in 1915.


Set during the battles of Ypres on the Belgian front lines, this novella contributes an extra slice of family history to K.C. Finn’s best-selling Synsk saga. The unspoken truth of the Great War waits for those who, like Kit, are brave enough to discover it.

CHECK OUT THIS BEST-SELLING SERIES:
All books in this series can be read as stand alone books. They do not need to be read in order. 

FREE BOOK: The Mind's Eye by K.C. Finn

A girl with a telepathic gift finds a boy clinging to his last hope during the war-torn climate of Europe, 1940.


At fifteen, Kit Cavendish is one the oldest evacuees to escape London at the start of the Second World War due to a long term illness that sees her stuck in a wheelchair most of the time. But Kit has an extraordinary psychic power: she can put herself into the minds of others, see through their eyes, feel their emotions, even talk to them – though she dares not speak out for fear of her secret ability being exposed.



As Kit settles into her new life in the North Wales village of Bryn Eira Bach, solitude and curiosity encourage her to gain better control of her gift. Until one day her search for information on the developing war leads her to the mind of Henri, a seventeen-year-old Norwegian boy witnessing the German occupation of his beloved city, Oslo. As Henri discovers more about the English girl occupying his mind, the psychic and emotional bonds between them strengthen and Kit guides him through an oppressive and dangerous time. 



There are secrets to be uncovered, both at home and abroad, and it’s up to Kit and Henri to come together and fight their own battles in the depths of the world’s greatest war.


Leighton's Summer by K.C. Finn

A teenage boy with something to prove gets caught up in a web of crime and deceit in England, 1945.

In the weeks leading up to his sixteenth birthday, gifted psychic Leighton Cavendish finds himself suddenly packed off to Blackpool, a glittering teenage paradise filled with plenty of opportunities for amusement—and trouble—to ensue. With only a preoccupied grandmother to keep an eye on him, Leighton’s desperation for adventure leads him out into a world of holidaymakers, candy and carnival rides—the ideal place to spend six weeks away from home.

But Leighton’s psychic visions are encroaching on his fun, trying to warn him of the danger that lurks beyond the shimmering lights of the Golden Mile. Who are the mysterious thieves Leighton sees in his head and what do they want with the children they seek? A girl called Faye holds the answer, but she has enough problems of her own. 

Amid the climate of a tourist town recovering from the impact of the Second World War, two lost teenagers will discover a shocking truth about human greed and together they will try to fight against it. For Leighton and Faye this will be a summer to remember—a summer filled with challenges that must be overcome.

A summer that turns a boy into a man. 

A Place Halfway by K.C. Finn


A struggling psychic girl steps out into the big, wide world amidst the murky depths of racial segregation in England, 1961.


As a teenage psychic, Josephine Fontaine knows what it’s like to be different. At Peregrine Place, a school full of youngsters with gifts just like hers, sixteen-year-old Josie is growing tired of her life and looking for excitement beyond the grand manor house’s walls. When an opportunity arises to work in a local music bar, she jumps at the chance, learning to balance her new job with the pressures of studying the ways of the Synsk.


There she meets the charming Tommy Asher, a fellow psychic with a talent for music, and Jake Bolton, a handsome, surly stranger with coffee-coloured skin. Throw in the return of her old crush Dai Bickerstaff, and Josie finds herself embroiled in a drama much bigger than she could have imagined, especially when certain parties take issue to her developing a friendship with a boy who isn’t white-skinned. When a mysterious record mogul offers Josie help to improve her psychic gifts, her world turns totally upside down, and she begins to question everything she thought she knew about the world, her family, and even herself.


Coming of age was never so intense as it will be for Josie in the winter of 1961.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born in South Wales to Raymond and Jennifer Finn, Kimberley Charlotte Elisabeth Finn (known to readers as K.C., otherwise it'd be too much of a mouthful) was one of those corny little kids who always wanted to be a writer. She was also incredibly stubborn, and so has finally achieved that dream in 2013 with the release of her first three novellas in the four-part Caecilius Rex saga, the time travel adventure The Secret Star and her new urban fantasy epic The Book Of Shade.



As a sufferer with the medical condition M.E./C.F.S., Kim works part time as a private tutor and a teacher of creative writing, devoting the remainder of her time to writing novels and studying for an MA in Education and Linguistics.



K.C. Finn signed with Clean Teen Publishing in late 2013. Her books The Mind's Eye and Leighton's Summer were released in early 2014.


 http://www.kcfinn.com


Want to READ MORE from Clean Teen Publishing? 

Check out our huge selection of amazing reads! There's sure to be something for every reader!

 BE THE FIRST TO KNOW about our GIVEAWAYS, NEW RELEASES, COVER REVEALS and MORE! Join our VIP Mailing List! 

WWW.CLEANTEENPUBLISHING.COM


   
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Cover Reveal: Secrets Revealed (The MysticSeekers Series Book 3)

1/10/2015

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I'm thrilled to share the cover with you for N.L. Greene's latest book, Secrets Revealed. I had the pleasure of working with her on the Fractured Glass novel. This book looks fabulous - magic and romance. What's not to love?

About Secrets Revealed
In the final book of The MysticSeeker Series, Katherine Rebecca will have some hard decisions to make that will forever alter her life.  Lance finally showed his true colors when he attacked and nearly raped her, but amid all the turmoil and confusion new secrets were exposed.  Shocking revelations that had her spinning and questioning everything and everyone in her life.

Sam is a magic user like Blaine and although she saved Becky, Becky's smart enough to know that her 'friend's' sudden appearance in her life isn't a coincidence. What does Sam really want with Becky? And was she pretending to be her friend to get it?  Ethan, Becky's best friend and knight in shining armor has been there for her, proving to be a loyal and trustworthy friend. She hasn't been blind to his true feelings for her though.

Having fallen for Blaine so quickly, she pushed Ethan away keeping him solidly in the friend zone. But when Ethan shows up distraught and worried after Lance's attack, she wonders if she'd made a mistake. Until Blaine Winters knocked on her door again.

Can Becky handle Blaine's disappearing and reappearing acts while dealing with Ethan's feelings, Sam's deception, and the things that are still going bump in the night?

Picture

About N.L. Greene
Author N.L. Greene is a writer of YA and NA Contemporary and Paranormal Romances. She currently lives in Florida with her husband and two beautiful daughters. When she isn't writing or reading, she enjoys traveling around the world with her family, shopping and doing other girly things with her girls, or playing video games with her husband. She is a lover of dogs, chocolate, and anything pink!
Author Links - 
FB ~ Twitter ~ Amazon ~ Pinterest ~ Instagram ~ Blog


Other books by this Author - Illusions Begin (MysticSeeker Series book 1) Magic Unfolds (MysticSeekers Series book 2), Twisted, & Fractured Glass (A novel anthology)

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Cover Reveal: Dreamthief by Tamara Grantham

1/9/2015

0 Comments

 
We are pleased to reveal the official cover for Dreamthief by Tamara Grantham. This book is amazing on the inside and now the outside is just as awesome! We can't wait to hear what you think of the cover. Make sure to leave a comment and let us know your thoughts. 



RELEASE DATE: September 1, 2015
GENRE: Fantasy Romance
SERIES: Fairy World MD
PUBLISHER: Crimson Tree Publishing


LEARN MORE ABOUT:


Visiting Faythander, a fairy world, is a nasty business. Forget the fairies and unicorns, most people come back with lost memories and mental problems. Olive Kennedy knows. She's the therapist who treats patients suffering from Faythander's side effects. She may have an emotionless mother and an apathetic boyfriend, but she takes pride in her job. She's never failed to cure a client—until now.

Traveling back to Faythander wasn't on Olive's to-do list. But she has no choice. The fate of both Earth and Fairy depends on her ability to stop an evil being called the Dreamthief. Saving the world, she can handle. Falling in love—not so much. Now, she'll have to decide between her heart and the future of an entire planet. As if battling the forces of evil wasn't complicated enough…

Dreamthief is the first book in the Fairy World MD series. 

Add Dreamthief to your Goodreads TBR List. 


ABOUT TAMARA GRANTHAM:

Tamara Grantham was born and raised in Southeast Texas. She comes from a family of writers. She took her first writing class from her uncle Larry Franklin, who worked as an author and literary agent at the time. At the age of fifteen, she received her first acceptance letter. Her uncle wrote, “Thank you for letting me read your short story, The Quest for the Spear. I enjoyed it very much, and see that you have a talent that can be developed.” In his Writing Fiction class, he challenged each of his students (which consisted of her two sisters and cousins) to write a novel. The challenge seemed daunting at the time, so daunting that she didn’t do it.

Despite her uncle’s praise, writing was not a part of her life until the age of 28, after she was married with three small children. She read a book called Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George. While she loved the novel, the thought occurred to her that she, too, had characters and stories in her head that were just as creative.

The standing challenge from her uncle, made fourteen years earlier, finally became a reality. She wrote her first novel in one month. After that, she wrote five more books and several short stories and novellas. In 2013, she signed her first contract with former writing mentor, and New York Times-bestselling author, William Bernhardt, to contribute to his Shine series. The novellas are about young girls with unusual abilities. In November 2014, almost four years to the day that she finished her first book, she signed with Crimson Tree Publishing (the adult imprint of Clean Teen Publishing) for her novel Dreamthief.

While she’s not writing, and sometimes while she is, she raises four (soon to be five!) beautiful children, ages one to ten. She lives in Galveston, Texas with her husband and kids, one cat and one dog. Her husband David is her biggest support. For the past ten years he has been in training to become a surgeon. She frequently picks his brain for the sake of her stories, a habit she hopes he’ll forgive.



FOLLOW TAMARA:




www.tamaragrantham.com

CHECK OUT MORE FROM CRIMSON TREE PUBLISHING:

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  • Home
  • Bio
  • Books
    • Never Forgotten Series >
      • Never Forgotten
      • Current Impressions
      • Always Remembered
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    • Ferocious Five Books >
      • Fractured Glass Anthology
      • 7: The Seven Deadly Sins
      • War & Pieces Frayed Fairy Tales
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      • Fated Destinations
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  • My Blog and Reviews
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