From the TBR Pile

Joint Review: The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott

2012-01-29T05:30:00.000-06:00

by: Kate Alcott
published by: Doubleday
publish date: February 21, 2012

Tess, an aspiring seamstress, thinks she's had an incredibly lucky break when she is hired by famous designer Lady Lucile Duff Gordon to be a personal maid on the Titanic's doomed voyage. Once on board, Tess catches the eye of two men, one a roughly-hewn but kind sailor and the other an enigmatic Chicago millionaire. But on the fourth night, disaster strikes.

Amidst the chaos and desperate urging of two very different suitors, Tess is one of the last people allowed on a lifeboat. Tess’s sailor also manages to survive unharmed, witness to Lady Duff Gordon’s questionable actions during the tragedy. Others—including the gallant Midwestern tycoon—are not so lucky.

On dry land, rumors about the survivors begin to circulate, and Lady Duff Gordon quickly becomes the subject of media scorn and later, the hearings on the Titanic. Set against a historical tragedy but told from a completely fresh angle, The Dressmaker is an atmospheric delight filled with all the period's glitz and glamour, all the raw feelings of a national tragedy and all the contradictory emotions of young love.

2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. If you've been wondering why all the Titanic documentaries are suddenly all over the History Channel. That's why. There seems to be a few books coming out with a Titanic theme and The Dressmaker is one of them. Kari and I were both really interested in reading this book. We both got ARCs so yay! Joint Review!

That was about the end of the happiness. Disappointment is the word I would use to sum up this book. I understand the book is supposed to be about what happened after the Titanic sank, but the sinking was minimal in its telling. I understand that it would be hard to write about and capture the emotion and the tragedy, but I felt that it deserved a bit more focus than was given in the book.

The rest of the story, particularly the interaction between Tess and Lady Duff Gordon just seemed uninteresting to me. I thought Lady Duff aka "Madame" was ridiculous. Could a person really be so horrible? Of course they could, but be so horrible and still navigate uppity society?

One positive I will give this book is that it does appear to be well researched. Props to Kate Alcott for that.

While it didn't make my most anticipated list, I had been looking forward to trying this book out. The reviews looked pretty good. In the end, I was disappointed. I usually give a book at least 50 pages to draw me in before I give up on it. I gave this one 48. For some reason, I just couldn't get interested in it.

I've never really been a huge fan of taking historical events and weaving fictitious characters into them. For this reason alone, I've never seen the movie Titanic. But, I am always willing to broaden my horizons when it comes to reading. So, I gave it a shot.

I didn't find the characters compelling or really care enough about them to want to read more about them. I also found the book dull and not something I was compelled to finish. Fans of the history of Titanic may like this book and should probably give it a try. It just wasn't for me.

Blog Tour : Immortalis series by Katie Salidas

2012-01-28T05:00:00.000-06:00

Author: Katie Salidas

Publisher: Rising Sun Books

Date of Publication: March 2010

Bleeding to death after brutal mugging on the campus of UNLV, Twenty-five year old Alyssa, is rescued by the cold and aloof, vampire, Lysander. Taking pity on her, he shares the gift-and curse-of immortality. She awakens as a vampire and is soon devastated by harsh realities of her new way of life: An unyielding thirst for blood as well as the loss of her friends, her independence, and her humanity.

As if having her humanity stripped away was not enough to make life interesting, Alyssa finds out her "turning", did not go unnoticed by the rest of undead society. Old enemies; an ancient sect of vampire hunters, known as the Acta Sanctorum, as well as a powerful Vampire mistress, each set plans in motion to destroy both Alyssa and Lysander.

Only by accepting her new-found immortality, seizing the night, will Alyssa hope to survive. She and Lysander must fight together against two sets of enemies bent on destroying them both.

I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book. I was pleasantly surprised. Immortalis: Carpe Noctem is a fresh take on the vampire genre. I think this is the first story that I have read in a while where the vampires actually kill their prey to feed. Changed without her permission, Alyssa must leave her old life and adapt to becoming a creature of the night. Not only does she have to adjust to a whole new way of living, she must wary of people who are trying to kill her for what she has become. I really felt for Alyssa as she learns to become a vampire. The only thing that bothered me about the story was the relationship between Alyssa and Lysander. I didn't really feel their connection. Despite that, I look forward to following their relationship in future books.

I had planned on reading all 3 books in this series before the tour date, but sadly real life had other plans for me. I do plan to read plan to read books 2 and 3 in the near future and I hope you will as well.

Here they are:

Publisher: Rising Sun Books

Date of Publication: December 2010

The exciting sequel to Immortalis Carpe Noctem.

Rule number one: humans and vampires don't co-exist. One is the hunter and one is the prey. Simple, right? Not for newly-turned vampire Alyssa. A surprise confrontation with Santino Vitale, the Acta Sanctorum's most fearsome hunter, sends her fleeing back to the world she once knew, and Fallon, the human friend she's missed more than anything. Now she has some explaining to do. However, that will have to wait. With the Acta Sanctorum hot on their heels, staying alive is more important than educating a human on the finer points of bloodlust.

Publisher: Rising Sun Books

Date of Publication: June 2011

After a few months as a vampire, Alyssa thought she'd learned all she needed to know about the supernatural world. But her confidence is shattered by the delivery of a mysterious package - a Pandora's Box. Seemingly innocuous, the box is in reality an ancient prison, generated by a magic more powerful than anyone in her clan has ever known. But what manner of evil could need such force to contain it? When the box is opened, the sinister creature within is released, and only supernatural blood will satiate its thirst. The clan soon learns how it feels when the hunter becomes the hunted. Powerless against the ancient evil, the clan flees Las Vegas for Boston, with only a slim hope for salvation. Could Lysander's old journals hold the key? And what if they don't? And how welcome will they be in a city run by a whole different kind of supernatural being? Werewolves...

About the author: (From Goodreads)

Katie Salidas is a Super Woman! Endowed with special powers and abilities, beyond those of mortal women, She can get the munchkin off to gymnastics, cheerleading, Girl Scouts, and swim lessons. She can put hot food on the table for dinner while assisting with homework, baths, and bedtime… And, She still finds the time to keep the hubby happy (nudge nudge wink wink). She can do all of this and still have time to write.

And if you can believe all of those lies, there is some beautiful swamp land in Florida for sale…

Katie Salidas resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mother, wife, and author, she does try to do it all, often causing sleep deprivation and many nights passed out at the computer. Writing books is her passion, and she hopes that her passion will bring you hours of entertainment.

Find out more about Katie by visiting http://www.katiesalidas.com/

Down the Darkest Road by Tami Hoag

2012-01-27T05:00:00.000-06:00

Author: Tami Hoag

Publisher: Dutton Adult

Date of Publication: December 2011

Four years after the unsolved disappearance of her sixteen-year-old daughter, Lauren Lawton is the only one still chasing the ghosts of her perfect Santa Barbara life. The world has given her daughter up for dead. Her husband ended his own life in the aftermath. Even Lauren's younger daughter is desperate to find what's left of the childhood she hasn't been allowed to have.

Lauren knows exactly who took her oldest child, but there is not a shred of evidence against the man. Even as he stalks her family, Lauren is powerless to stop him. The Santa Barbarapolice are handcuffed by the very laws they are sworn to uphold. Looking for a fresh start in a town with no memories, Lauren and her younger daughter Leah move to idyllic Oak Knoll.But when Lauren's suspect turns up in the same city, it feels to all the world that history is about to repeat itself. Leah Lawton will soon turn sixteen, and Oak Knoll has a cunning predator on the hunt.

Sheriff's detective Tony Mendez and his team begin to close in on the suspected killer, desperate to keep the young women of their picturesque town safe. But as the investigators sift through the murky circumstances of an increasingly disturbing case, a stunning question changes everything they thought they knew.

Down the Darkest Road is the third book in the Oak Knoll series. I have enjoyed the series so far and this one was no exception. While you basically know who the "killer" is from the start, the journey to catching him is very exciting. Ms. Hoag throws in a few twists that had me surprised. The reader also gets glimpses of past characters, which is always nice to see. The book is set in the early 90s when technology isn't up to today's level. It was refreshing to see them solve the mystery without the use of high tech equipment and super fast computers.

While I enjoyed this one, I really felt the loss of the romantic element in the book. There is really no love interest for Tony, just the smallest hint of one. I would have liked to see him find someone in this book. Maybe in the next one? I listened to the audio version and it was very good. While it is the 3rd in a series, I do feel that it could be a stand alone novel. There is enough background presented that the reader doesn't feel lost.

Blog Tour: Review and Interview Blank Slate Kate by Heather Wardell

2012-01-26T05:30:00.000-06:00

Today, we welcome author Heather Wardell, who is promoting her latest novel, Blank Slate Kate.

Author: Heather Wardell

Publisher: Self

Date of Publication: November 2011

Waking up with a strange man is scary. Realizing you lost fifteen years of your life overnight? That's terrifying. With her memories from seventeen to thirty-two gone, Kate has no idea who she is and where she belongs. As she begins to fall for the man who found her, she wonders if she forgot those years for a reason. Should she keep trying to retrieve her original self, or start a new life?

Heather Wardell is quickly becoming a favorite indie author of mine.
Every book I have read by her has managed to suck me right in so that I am compelled to keep reading until I finish it. Blank Slate Kate was no exception. What would you do if you woke up and the last 15 years of your life was just gone? That is what happens to Kate. I was drawn right into the story as I struggled to figure out what had happened to Kate right along with her. The story is so well written that the reader finds out the solution to the mysteries right along with Kate. I say mysteries, because there is more than one thing that Kate needs to discover about herself. The story is heart wrenching at times, yet is also a story of the power of love and forgiveness. To say much more, would give too much away. I definitely recommend this one. It is definitely going into the keeper pile!

Heather was kind enough to answer a few questions for us. Thanks Heather!

Kari: What inspired you to become a writer?

Heather: In May 2005, my husband went away for a one-monthbusiness trip. On a whim, I decided to do my own version of NaNoWriMo (NationalNovel Writing Month, officially held in November) to give myself something todo. I LOVED writing what eventually became my free-to-download book "Life,Love, and a Polar Bear Tattoo", and from then on I've just kept writing!

Kari: Where do you come up with the ideas for your books?

Heather: They usually start with a concept or issue I feellike exploring. "Go Small or Go Home", for example, involves thequestion of whether art should be a hobby or a career, and I worked out some ofmy own feelings about that while writing the book. (I do NOT use my books totry to persuade people to feel the same way I do, but I do think that havingsome sort of strong issue or question at the heart of a book leads to betterand more enjoyable fiction.)

Kari: What is your favorite part of Blank Slate Kate?

Heather: I love the beginning because poor Kate is so confused and I like thatthe reader gets to work through that with her. I think my absolute favoritepart, though, is a scene about halfway through at a restaurant where Kate and aman end up walking out with their hands full of garlic bread. It makes me laughand cry at once.

Kari: What is your favorite book (of the ones you havewritten) so far?

Heather: That's such a hard question: I love them all! "Life, Love, and aPolar Tattoo" was my first book and I had such a blast writing it, so Ithink I have to pick it even though I think my writing is better in my laterbooks. Of my later books, I think "Blank Slate Kate" is my favoritebecause it incorporates something of a mystery and I'd never done that before.

Kari: What exciting projects are waiting in the wings?

Heather: I usually have two books on the go at one time,along with another awaiting its turn. To avoid getting myself confused, eachbook gets a codename because I usually don't find their titles until they'renearly ready to be released. (I explain this because the codenames are...weird. :)

Flying Squirrel is currently in second draft, and it'sabout a doormat of a woman who develops inner and outer strength via themarathon. Gemstone, finished in first draft and awaiting its turn to be edited,features an Internet columnist who's assigned a project to be "good toherself" for thirty days and quickly realizes she has no idea how to dothat. In Hippo, currently in first draft, a woman arrives on what's to be herwedding cruise only to realize she's dated both her fiance's brothers and stillhas feelings for them both. It's my intent to release all three of thesebooks in 2012. Here's hoping!

Kari: Who is your favorite literary character and why?

Heather: I have to say Harry Potter. He's real, with hopes and dreams andweaknesses. I think that's a big part of why the books were such a success, andI try to make my own characters as rich and real as J.K. Rowling did with hers.

Kari: Just for fun, if you could be any animal, what wouldit be and why?

Heather: A polar bear, no doubt. I've always lovedthem, and in honor of my first book each of my others has the words "polarbear" somewhere in the text! I think they're my favorite animal becausethey're not crazy fast but they get where they need to go, and they're solitarybeasts but can work with others when they need to. (Plus they're adorable andhave great white hair. :)

Thanksso much for your great questions! I'm happy to answer any reader questions orcomments, and I'll pop back in throughout the next few days to check in.

About the author:

Growing up, I was an avid (rabid?) reader. I am a natural speed reader, regularly clocked at about 1200 wpm (I read Harry Potter 5 in just under three hours), and always have several books on the go, nearly all in e-book form on my Kindle.
I have always made up stories in my head, but never considered becoming a writer. Instead, I intended to be a high school music teacher. I was sidetracked by my enjoyment of my psychology courses in university, and ended up with a psychology degree with a concentration in computer science.

This took me to a major Canadian bank as a software developer. I stayed there for just over four years, and then went back to school to become an elementary school teacher. After four years teaching elementary school computer science, I took up the National Novel Writing Month challenge and attempted to write a novel in a month.

I succeeded, and the first draft of "Life, Love, and a Polar Bear Tattoo" was the result. I realized I love writing. I left teaching, and I haven't looked back since!

In my non-writing time, I read, run, swim, crochet (I am on Ravelry and would be happy to add you as a friend!), take care of my 55 gallon aquarium and my cat Trinity, and play drums and clarinet. Generally not all at once.

Visit Heather's Website

Throwback Thursday- The Trouble with JJ by Tami Hoag

2012-01-26T05:00:00.000-06:00

Author: Tami Hoag
First published in 1988 by Bantam Books

Just what Genna Hastings needed, a conceited creep of a new neighbor with rippling muscles, mile-wide shoulders, and a wicked Jack Nicholson smile that could melt stone! It wasn't often that women resisted star quarterback J.J. Hennessy, but he was ready to trade all the cover girls he'd dated for the adorable lady next door. With his summer sky eyes and kisses that stole her sanity and her willpower, J.J. was impossibly charismatic, magnificently male -- and a bachelor father who was in danger of losing custody of his little girl... unless he could persuade Genna to help change his fast-lane image in time! She was tempted by his offer, and by him -- but she couldn't be head over heels in love with a wildman football player... could she? J.J. insisted that opposites attracted, just like magnets, but Genna wanted security, a man who'd always be there. Could he make her believe he was her man for all seasons?

From what I can tell, this was Tami Hoag's first book. Like a lot of romantic suspense and mystery writers, she got her start writing contemporary romance. She has come a long way from this first book! While I did enjoy The Trouble with J.J., I didn't love it. The one thing that I didn't really care for was Genna. She was too wimpy for me. JJ was such a great character and so obviously head over heels for Genna, but she just can't see it. Instead of confronting JJ about his feelings, she becomes withdrawn and sulky. That drove me nuts. I was also frustrated with the end. It was dragged out WAAAAAAY too long with no epilogue. What a let down.

The one redeeming quality of this book was JJ. He is just too cute. I loved the scenes between him and his daughter. I also loved the peripheral characters. They are really what kept me engaged. The aunt was hysterical! I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a wonderful job. It's a quick read and worth it for any fan of Ms. Hoag!

Drowing Instinct by Ilsa Bick

2012-01-25T05:00:00.000-06:00

by: Ilsa Bick

published by: Lerner Publishing Group

publish date: January 28, 2012

There are stories where the girl gets her prince, and they live happily ever after. (This is not one of those stories.)

Jenna Lord's first sixteen years were not exactly a fairytale. Her father is a controlling psycho and her mother is a drunk. She used to count on her older brother—until he shipped off to Afghanistan. And then, of course, there was the time she almost died in a fire.

There are stories where the monster gets the girl, and we all shed tears for his innocent victim. (This is not one of those stories either.)

Mitch Anderson is many things: A dedicated teacher and coach. A caring husband. A man with a certain...magnetism.

And there are stories where it's hard to be sure who's a prince and who's a monster, who is a victim and who should live happily ever after. (These are the most interesting stories of all.)

Drowning Instinct is a novel of pain, deception, desperation, and love against the odds—and the rules.

Drowning Instinct is a very provocative story. I can see that it might be a controversial book in some places. Ultimately it is a cautionary tale about why young girls shouldn't have affairs with their married teachers. In that regard, I would say it should be read, however it deals with a lot of grown up subject matter so I think it needs to be limited to the older YA group.

I was surprised by this book because it seemed to be such a departure for Ilsa Bick. It was YA, but it wasn't like her science fiction type writing. She did a good job. It was a believable story.

Jenna's story was sad and heartbreaking. It's one you won't soon forget. For sure this will be one of the more unique YA reads of the year.

The Two Deaths of Daniel Hayes by Marcus Sakey

2012-01-24T05:00:00.000-06:00

by: Marcus Sakey
published by: Dutton Adult
publish date: June 9, 2011

A man wakes up naked and cold, half-drowned on an abandoned beach. The only sign of life for miles is an empty BMW. Inside the expensive car he finds clothes that fit perfectly, shoes for his tattered feet, a Rolex, and a bank envelope stuffed with cash and an auto registration in the name of Daniel Hayes, resident of Malibu, California. None of it is familiar.

What is he doing here? How did he get into the ocean? Is he Daniel Hayes, and if so, why doesn't he remember? While he searches for answers, the world searches for him-beginning with the police that kick in the door of his dingy motel, with guns drawn. Lost, alone, and on the run, the man who might be Daniel Hayes flees into the night.

All he remembers is a woman's face, so he sets off for the only place he might find her. The fantasy of her becomes his home, his world, his hope. And maybe, just maybe, the way back to himself.

But that raises the most chilling question of all: What will he find when he gets there?

I had never heard of Marcus Sakey before the show Hidden City started coming on. My husband and I both really enjoy it so I figured if the show was good, I needed to check out one of his books. The library had this one on audiobook available so I grabbed it.

I was extremely impressed with the quality of writing in The Two Deaths of Daniel Hayes. Marcus Sakey has a great way of describing everyday things in a unique way. His way of describing things is something that really stood out and set him apart from other thriller writers for me.

The story itself was pretty cool. I liked the idea of a man waking up in the ocean with no clue of who he is and how he got there. His journey to figuring out who he is was difficult and scary. There were a few little plot turns that seemed a little far fetched to me, but it was ok, it could suspend my disbelief enough for the sake of the story.

All in all I was pleased with this book and I look forward to reading more from Marcus Sakey in the future and hope Hidden City stays on TV for a few more seasons.

2 For 1: Jo Nesbo ....again!!

2012-01-23T05:00:00.000-06:00

So you might have noticed by now that I'm a total fan of Jo Nesbo. My new year got started off right with not one but two new audiobooks by Jo Nesbo. First was The Leopard

Two young women are found murdered in Oslo, both drowned in their own blood. Media coverage quickly reaches fever pitch: Could this be the work of a serial killer?

The crime scenes offer no coherent clues, the police investigation is stalled, and the one man who might be able to help doesn’t want to be found. Traumatized by his last case, Inspector Harry Hole has lost himself in the squalor of Hong Kong’s opium dens. Yet when he is compelled, at last, to return to Norway—his father is dying—Harry’s buried instincts begin to take over. After a female MP is discovered brutally murdered, nothing can keep him from the investigation.

There is little to go on: a piece of rope, a scrap of wool, a bit of gravel, an unexpected connection between the victims. And Harry will soon come to understand that he is dealing with a psychopath for whom “insanity is a vital retreat,” someone who will put him to the test—in both his professional and personal lives—as never before.

I was a tad bit disappointed in The Snowman, but The Leopard made up for it. It starts off with Harry a complete mess in Hong Kong after dealing with The Snowman. He returns to Norway to deal with yet another person killing a bunch of people in Norway and his dying father.

The Leopard impressed me because I thought I had this one in the bag. I thought for sure I knew who the killer was, but I was wrong. The ending and the killer became this huge reveal and it was like putting the last few pieces together of a big puzzle. This book was very well written in terms of giving a little away here and there, but not too much.

This book is a follow up of The Snowman, I would say that one has to be read first in order for this one to make sense. The Snowman does make an appearance in this book. Rakel does as well...I'm starting to think she's the WORST thing that ever happened to Harry.

Once again Robin Sachs does an awesome job with the audiobook. I highly recommend these audiobooks. They are fantastic!

Roger Brown is a corporate headhunter, and he’s a master of his profession. But one career simply can’t support his luxurious lifestyle and his wife’s fledgling art gallery. At an art opening one night he meets Clas Greve, who is not only the perfect candidate for a major CEO job, but also, perhaps, the answer to his financial woes: Greve just so happens to mention that he owns a priceless Peter Paul Rubens painting that’s been lost since World War II—and Roger Brown just so happens to dabble in art theft. But when he breaks into Greve’s apartment, he finds more than just the painting. And Clas Greve may turn out to be the worst thing that’s ever happened to Roger Brown.

Headhunters is a completely different book. It's a stand alone novel. I often find that when I'm really into a series by a particular author I don't like their stand alone books, but that was not the case here. I didn't love it like I love the Harry Hole books, but it was a interesting departure from the norm.

Mr. Nesbo must be a really fascinating person. He has got to have one of the most twisted minds. There is one scene in this book that completely and utterly grossed me out. I was driving down the road talking to the audiobook saying "OMG That is so gross" and "That's just disgusting" and "Seriously, this is getting even worse?" For those of you that have read this book or will read it I'm referring to the outhouse scene.

It's not so much about corporate headhunting, it's suspense thriller with all the twist and turns and violence we expect from Jo Nesbo.

The Shattering by Karen Healey

2012-01-22T05:00:00.000-06:00

by: Karen Healey
published by: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
publish date: September 2011

Seventeen-year-old Keri likes to plan for every possibility. She knows what to do if you break an arm, or get caught in an earthquake or fire. But she wasn't prepared for her brother's suicide, and his death has left her shattered with grief. When her childhood friend Janna tells her it was murder, not suicide, Keri wants to believe her. After all, Janna's brother died under similar circumstances years ago, and Janna insists a visiting tourist, Sione, who also lost a brother to apparent suicide that year, has helped her find some answers.

As the three dig deeper, disturbing facts begin to pile up: one boy killed every year; all older brothers; all had spent New Year's Eve in the idyllic town of Summerton. But when their search for the serial killer takes an unexpected turn, suspicion is cast on those they trust the most.

As secrets shatter around them, can they save the next victim? Or will they become victims themselves?

This book took a huge turn that I wasn't expecting. I expected it to be a straight up murder mystery and it wasn't. It ended up having a paranormal twist about halfway through. The other thing that threw me was the location. It takes place in the Southern Hemisphere on New Year's. The fact that it was Summer was messing with this Northern Hemisphere girl.

Despite that, I thought it was a good book. I enjoyed the story. I liked the progression of the mystery and how the 3 teens solved it. I thought the characters were interesting and well developed. I was pleased with the diversity of the main characters, the complexities of their interactions added an extra element to the story.

Bottomline, good YA murder mystery with some paranormal spice thrown in. Due to language and sex though, I would probably keep this one to the older YAs.

Guest Blog: Clarissa Yip

2012-01-21T05:00:00.000-06:00

Once again, we welcome author Clarissa Yip who is on tour promoting her latest novellas: Tempting a Prince, Silent Night's Seduction, and Once Chance. Welcome Clarissa!

Clarissa Writes:

One of my writing quirks…

BICHOK- Butt in Chair. Hands on Keyboard.

I’m sure you’ve heard that phrase often enough if you’re awriter. Well, if you’re a reader, then you just learned something new!

BICHOK isn’t a phrase that I take easily. It’s really hardfor me to focus on things, especially when I have a million things to do. Youshould seriously see my to-do list. It’s quite scary. Without it, I would beconfused, disoriented, and even more scattered without my day planner.

I have a calendar on every device you could possibly thinkof, and it all has to sync. Color-coded. But before I can actually startwriting and doing my BICHOK thing, I have to have paper…and color pens. If theyhave sparkles and glitter, even better! I love making lists. I love plotting onpaper the old fashioned way. I know I could type it all up and save it in niftyfolders on my computer, but I find that I enjoy writing out ideas with colorfulpens then stuffing the colorful sheets of papers in their correct folders, so Idon’t lose anything.

Each of my heroes and heroines are assigned a color thenthey go into the correct color folder also. So any notes that are made, has tohave the right color. Or I would have to write it over in the right colorlater.

Even my folders and calendars on my computers arecolor-labeled. Everything gets assigned a color label. If they were coloredwrong, I would be confused.

So when I’m actually writing a story, it gets assigned aspecific color that coordinates with the color of the pub that I’m aiming forit to go to. Just so I don’t get confused.

My character/GMC white boards are all color-coded. Have Itold you I love color markers? With glitter?

I guess I shouldn’t talk about my color-codedspreadsheets then, huh? So before I can do anything BICHOK, my colors have tobe in the right place. My notes have to have been color labeled and written inthe correct color before I can actually start writing. Think I’m weird? I’msure there are crazier people out there than me!

So, what about you? What are your writing quirks?

Author Interview: Clarissa Yip

2012-01-20T05:30:00.000-06:00

Today we have an interview with author, Clarissa Yip, who is promoting her 3 latest books:

Tempting a Prince, Once Chance & Silent Night's Seduction.

(You can read my thoughts on each here)

Welcome Clarissa!

Kari: What inspired you to become a writer?

Clarissa: Well, I've been writing since I was a kid, but I neverknew I really wanted to become a writer until I decided to make a change in mylife. Five years ago, I quit my job as a manager at a spa, packed up all my stuff,got on a plane, and moved to Hawaii from New York. Jobless, with nothing to dobut hangout at the beach, walk the harbor, go shopping and sightseeing, all Idid was catch up on the reading I never had time for when I was working. And Istarted going through my old stories, and actually decided to make something ofit. Since then, I've been chasing my dreams that I never knew I had. So I can'tsay I was born a writer. It just kind of came to me, and I love it!

Kari: Where do you come up with the idea for your books?

Clarissa:They're usually from everything. I could be watching a show on cooking oreven HSN, the shopping channel, and ideas would come to me. I used to lovesitting on the beach and staring at the blue waves and just brainstorming. Nowthat I've moved back to the mainland, my muse has been having a fit.

Kari: What is your favorite book so far?

Clarissa: There are too many to choose from! I'm a big JR Ward fan, but I lovehistoricals and suspense stories. I also love rereading older books by JulieGarwood, and even Terry Goodkind, so my tastes vary depending on my mood.

Kari: What exciting projects are waiting in the wings?

Clarissa: I'm actually working on a series for Entangledright now. The first book, my editor has, and I hope she likes it. *fingerscrossed* I do have a new release coming soon on February 2nd, called TrueConnections, which will be released along with Entangled's Valentine'sAnthology. It's about Lia, who has returned to her hometown to open amatchmaking company, and with grandmothers who dapple in everything, they tryto hook her up with her nemesis by having Lia find Max a date to theValentine's party. You never know when love is going to bite you.

Kari: Who is your favorite literary character and why?

Clarissa: I love watching Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Lizzie just comes offas the girl that I want to be. Courageous, brave, and always speaking her mind.And the way she finds love...*sigh*. Oh, Mr. Darcy.

Kari: Just for fun, if you could be any animal, what would it be and why?

Clarissa: I would LOVE to be a panda bear. Well, one, they'remy favorite. Two, bamboo is probably good for you. And it's pretty.Three...wait, panda's aren't skinny, are they?

Thank you so much for having me here!

Clarissa

About the author:

Contemporary romance author, Clarissa Yip, leads a life of adventure and mischief. Constantly on the run, she’s always hanging out with her muse, plotting the next best story, and looking for anything that will fuel her imagination. Besides being an avid reader and writer, Clarissa enjoys scrapbooking, video games, immersing herself in addictive TV shows, and engaging in anything that will challenge her mind. A lover of food and languages, she also loves to try new things. Her dreams involve finding the ultimate way of sharing her world with yours. From the Hawaiian island of Oahu to the beautiful season-changing New York, you never know where she’ll be.

Please join her as she ventures to the unknown as she wields her stories, escape to exciting adventures across the country, and shares the view of the world through the eyes of a writer. Her website: http://clarissayip.com/

Three Novellas by Clarissa Yip

2012-01-20T05:00:00.000-06:00

Once Chance
Author: Clarissa Yip
Publisher: Decadent Publishing Company, LLC
Date of Publication: November 2011

Shy tomboy, Jenna Faulkner has been in love her whole life—with her best friend. Except he’s marrying the wrong woman, and he doesn’t know it yet. But she’s determined to save him…

Instead of the normal bachelor party, Jenna decides to throw a different type of gathering…with just her. Alone. Will Cade finally come to his senses and see Jenna for more than a friend or has she ruined their friendship, once and for all?

One Chance is a great story about 2 people who secretly love each other, but have been so afraid to do anything because they don't want to lose their close friendship. Jenna decides that she has one shot to make sure that Cade doesn't make a huge mistake by marrying the wrong woman. I was totally rooting for Jenna the entire story. This is a great erotic novella. The chemistry between Cade and Jenna sizzles of the pages! I definitely recommend it.

Tempting a Prince

Author: Clarissa Yip

Publisher: Decadent Publishing Company, LLC

Date of Publication: December 2011

Sarah Westfall is on a mission. Living the mundane life of a near spinster school teacher and sick of her parents throwing eligible men at her, she is determined to get over her crush on her best friend’s brother. She wants a prince and wouldn’t settle for less. What better way than a 1Night Stand?

Evan Hunt needs to figure out his enemy’s game plan. Chasing his nemesis to Las Vegas and signing up for Madame Eve’s service and masquerade, he never expected the woman he’s desired for years to appear before him…as his princess.

When their attraction fires the night, the inevitable happens. Her prince isn’t as charming as she’s hoped, but he does save her from trouble. Would he be willing to fulfill her fantasies also?

I really enjoyed this take on the prince and princess tale. Sarah wants to have one fantasy night to try to get over her crush. When she finds out that she has been set up with said crush, will she have a chance at her own Happily Ever After? I loved Sarah and Evan together. I loved when Evan finally realizes that Sarah isn't a little kid anymore. Miss Yip has a talent for producing well written and very erotic scenes. You won't want to miss this one!

Silent Night's Seduction

Author: Clarissa Yip

Publisher: Decadent Publishing Company, LLC

Date of Publication: November 2011

Stubborn and proud cowgirl, Lily McCormick, is finally coming to terms with her quiet life on her parent’s ranch, until her older brother, as payback, signs her up for 1NightStand. Kidnapped and forced onto a plane to a foreign location, she faces the dreaded cold and an unwanted tryst, until her ex-husband appears before her…as her date.

New York City District Attorney, Rafe Martinez, would do anything to get his ex-wife back, even if it meant taking drastic measures to pretend he was there for another woman. When jealousy and rage surfaces and Lily’s tough demeanor wanes, desire and lust sparks their once powerful connection as truths unfold. Will Rafe convince her to return to him or push her further away from giving their love a second chance?

This is such a sweet story of second chances. Who hasn't looked back and wished they could make things right. I loved the scheme that Rafe cooks up with Lily's brother to try to get his ex-wife back. I think I liked this one so much because the characters have a history together that once held a lot of love. It made their reunion so believable. Once again, Ms. Yip has written a great erotic love story!

Throwback Thursday- The Maze by Catherine Coulter

2012-01-19T05:00:00.000-06:00

Author: Catherine Coulter

First published in 1997 by Putnam

Remember Dillon Savich from The Cove? He's back and he's now the head of the FBI's Criminal Apprehension Unit (CAU), where Dillon has developed predictive analogue programs to aid in the capture of serial killers.

Enter Lacey Sherlock, a very well-qualified new agent who seems bright and eager and on the up-and-up. But is she really?

When there's a vicious murder in Boston, she's off like a shot, lying to Dillon.

When Dillon finds out what's going on, he realizes they'll all be in deep trouble, maybe even victims themselves, if he and Sherlock don't find out who murdered her sister seven years before.

I reviewed The Cove last month and I since enjoyed that one, so I decided to continue with the series. The Maze focuses on Dillon Savich who made an appearance in The Cove. Once again, Ms. Coulter has given us a great mystery. While I did have part of the mystery figured out early one, I did no figure out the twist at the end. The chemistry between Dillon and "Sherlock" was great! Although I would think that their HEA was a bit rushed. I also have to wonder at the Bureau chief being OK with them having a relationship when Dillon is Sherlock's boss. But, hey creative license, right? There is also an appearance of characters from The Cove. It is always nice to catch up with previous characters. Anyway, this is a great sequel to the first. I look forward to the next one on the series.

Joint Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

2012-01-18T05:00:00.000-06:00

by: Brodi Ashton
published by: Balzer + Bray
publish date: January 24, 2012

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Anyone that has been reading this blog for awhile has probably come to understand that I am not a fan of the trend of YA trilogies/series. Everneath is the start of yet another one. However, I have to applaud Brodi Aston because she didn't end this book with a huge gaping hole. This book could be a stand alone novel.

Everneath was quite good. I was drawn in by the story. The mythology aspect was very interesting. It made me want to go learn all about the characters mentioned in the book, beyond that smattering I could muster up from middle school.

I would definitely recommend this book. I think it's appropriate for most YA. I don't recall any objectionable material, plus there's a lesson about Greek Mythology thrown in.

I also wanted to give props to the cover designer. How awesome is that?

I had such high hopes for this book. It even made my most anticipated for 2012. Sadly, I have to admit that I didn't finish this book. I knew I was in trouble when I kept putting it down for other reading material. Unlike Autumn, I just wasn't drawn into the book. I didn't like how depressed it made me feel. Talk about angst. I didn't really feel for the characters. We all want to run away from our feelings, but I couldn't muster any sympathy for Nikki. Knowing it is a trilogy also played a part in my not wanting to finish this one. I don't think I could make it through 3 books of angst.

It is a cool cover though....

Blog Tour: Chasing Mona Lisa

2012-01-17T05:00:00.000-06:00

Authors: Tricia Goyer & Mike Yorkey
Publisher: Revell
Publication Date: January 2012

It is August 1944 and Paris is on the cusp of liberation. As the soldiers of the Third Reich flee the Allied advance, they ravage the country, stealing countless pieces of art. Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring will stop at nothing to claim the most valuable one of all, the Mona Lisa, as a post-war bargaining chip to get him to South America. Can Swiss OSS agents Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler rescue DaVinci's masterpiece before it falls into German hands?

With nonstop action, Chasing Mona Lisa is sure to get readers' adrenaline pumping as they join the chase to save the most famous painting in the world. From war-ravaged Paris to a posh country chateau, the race is on--and the runners are playing for keeps.

Chasing Mona Lisa takes you back to the time of World War II and the Nazi occupation of France. Valuable art collections are being acquired by the Nazis and taken back to Germany. Several different groups are after the famous Mona Lisa. Can it be saved? I enjoyed reading this book. It was fast paced and filled with a lot of action. I have never really been one for spy/espionage tales, but this one kept my interest. The authors have down a great job of emerging the reader into the time period.

I did not realize that this was a sequel, and while I wished I had experienced Gabi and Eric's first adventure, I didn't really get a sense that I was missing something. This is well written and well thought out plot with many twists and turns. I never really quite knew who to trust. Give it a shot!

About the authors:

Tricia Goyer is the author of thirty books including Songbird Under a German Moon, The Swiss Courier, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. She won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from ACFW, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer's Conference in 2003. Tricia's book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion in 2005. In addition to her novels, Tricia writes non-fiction books and magazine articles for publications like MomSense and Thriving Family. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences, and has been a workshop presenter at the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International Conventions. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife.

Mike Yorkey is an author, editor and speaker who has written or co-written over 75 books. He loves what he does. He gets to play with words all day. Research interesting topics. Tell fascinating stories. Bring characters to life. Create.

He's been writing for a living for more than 25 years after getting his start at a small weekly newspaper at the California ski resort of Mammoth Lakes. Then in 1986, he received a huge break: Focus on the Family, a Christian ministry founded by Dr. James Dobson, hired him to be the editor of Focus on the Family magazine. He enjoyed 11 fantastic and satisfying years at Focus on the Family before moving into a freelance career as an author, editor, and speaker.

Although he's written a dozen books under his name, he's collaborated with some amazing people by writing their books for them: folks like Tim and Beverly LaHaye; evangelist Luis Palau; pop singers Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr.; tennis stars Michael Chang, Roscoe Tanner, and Betsy McCormack; baseball pitcher Dave Dravecky; San Diego physician Nick Yphantides (My Big Fat Greek Diet); and Jordan Rubin of The Maker's Diet fame.

Romance at Random Reader Rally Giveaway Blog Hop

2012-01-16T23:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the Reader Rally Blog Hop hosted by Romance at Random. You are at stop #8. For the full list of participating blogs, just click on the photo above. They are offering a Grand Prize at the end of the hop. Leave a comment on their site to be eligible.

Now for our Giveaway: We have 2 packs to offer today. Just fill out the form below to enter. 2 winners will be chosen at the end of the hop. The hop runs until January 31, 2012. This hop is US ONLY this time. Sorry folks, but those hardcovers get heavy.

Pack #1: ARC PB of Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff and 1 PB copy of Ellis Island by Kate Kerrigan

Pack #2: 1 HC copy of Zero Day by David Balducci & 1 HC copy of The Crown by Nancy Bilyeau

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Guest Post: Karen P. Toz

2012-01-16T08:03:00.000-06:00

Today we have Karen P. Toz author of Nate Rocks The World.

Ten-year-old Nathan Rockledge cannot catch a break. After all, life as a fourth-grader can be hazardous what with science projects to deal with and recess football games to avoid. Everyone, including his best friend Tommy, seems to have bad luck when hanging around Nathan. Throw in an older sister who is a royal pain, a dad who is stuck in the past, and a mom who keeps trying to poison him with her awful cooking, and poor Nathan’s life as a fourth grader appears to be completely doomed.

Armed only with his sketchpad, his imagination, and his wits, Nathan Rockledge navigates the perils of the fourth grade in style, to emerge heroic, as Nate Rocks, proving that even a ten-year-old can accomplish great things.

Follow the quirky and imaginative adventures of ten-year-old Nathan Rockledge as his cartoons come to life.

On Writing: Did You Always Want To Be A Writer?

“Did you always want to be a writer?” This is a question Iget asked repeatedly. So many of the authors I have met over the last few yearsknew from a young age they wanted to write. It was their passion right from theonset. It should be right? Writing is a passionate endeavor. So I always feel alittle awkward when my response is, “No – I didn’t realize I wanted to writeuntil just a short while ago.” Sixteenmonths ago to be exact.

For so long, I was under the impression that you are eithera writing person or a numbers person. I was a number person. I loved math ... stilldo. On the flip side of my theory, I also hated English class. (See? I’mtalking in theorems – that proves it.) To seal my fate, I went off to studybusiness, law, and accounting. There would be no comparative literature classesin my coursework.

So what happened? It’s simple really, at forty-somethingyears old; I decided that an idea for a book I had been carrying around in myhead should be put on paper. I can’t explain why... I can’t explain how... Ijust opened my laptop one spring morning and started writing. I can tell you itwas an instant love affair. I wrote everyday – sometimes setting my alarm clockfor the crack of dawn, just to get in some quiet writing time before things inmy house started to get hectic. I finished my book within just a few months andquickly started on my second book, NateRocks the World.

That first book (an adult contemporary story) still sits onmy hard drive – maybe I’ll do something with it someday. For now, I am havingfun with my Nate Rocks series. I am nowworking on the second in the Nate Rocks series, Nate Rocks the Boat – to be released this spring.I don’t always get to write everyday anymore, but I am still just as hooked asI was when I started.

Now when people ask me what I do, I sat I’m an accountant and a writer. There is no reason Icannot do both. I tell my children all the time to dream big, and now I followmy own advice.

About Karen PokrasToz

Karen Pokras Toz is a writer, wife and mom. Karen grew up inOrange, Connecticut and currently lives outside of Philadelphia with herhusband and three children. In June 2011, Karen published her first middlegrade children’s novel for 7-12 year olds called Nate Rocks the World. She is currently working on the second bookin the Nate Rocks series, Nate Rocks theBoat, to be published in 2012. Karen is a member of the Society ofChildren’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI), Association of IndependentAuthors (AIA), and the Independent Author Network (IAN).

To Learn More Aboutthe Nate Rocks Series:
Website: www.karentoz.com
Blog: http://kptoz.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/karenptoz
Twitter: www.twitter.com/karentoz
Amazon: http://amzn.to/txbX0Z
Barnes& Noble: http://bit.ly/uviYpn
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5009570.Karen_Pokras_Toz
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQgnRIqW6G4

Joint Review: Pure by Julianna Baggott

2012-01-16T05:00:00.000-06:00

by: Julianna Baggott
published by: Grand Central Publishing
publish date: Feb 8, 2012

Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.

There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. Different. He thinks about loss-maybe just because his family is broken; his father is emotionally distant; his brother killed himself; and his mother never made it inside their shelter. Or maybe it's his claustrophobia: his feeling that this Dome has become a swaddling of intensely rigid order. So when a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her.

When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again.

I'm assuming this book is going to be something of a hybrid. It's not really adult, but it's not really YA either. It's got the YA characters and the YA marketing thing going (Trilogy don't you know it!), but it's got a grownup publisher. I've read a lot of YA dystopian and it's all dark and usually dismal, but there tends to be a line (don't ask me what it is, I'd only know it if I saw it) that keeps it on a YA level, but this book just trashed that line and took dark and disturbing to a whole new place. The fused people are nightmarish. The idea that the movie rights for this book have already been optioned (by the Twilight people no less) freaks me out, because then I might actually have a visual to go with the descriptions.

This will be a love it or hate it book. I think I lean more towards the hate it side, but I have to say I respect it. It's been a long time since I've been so perturbed by a book. I wanted to be able to talk to other people about it and see what they thought. The publishers are touting it as the next Hunger Games. I doubt it, because of how off-putting some of the depictions are, but if it is, I can't wait to hear everyone else's thoughts about this book.

I have mulled over how I felt about this book for a few days. I have decided that I liked the story line and the characters. The mystery of the detonations is intriguing and I want to know more about what happened to cause them. The characters are compelling and well written.

What I didn't like was the effects of the detonations on the people outside the dome. As Autumn said, the book goes to some dark and very disturbing places. I'm not sure if I could watch this movie if it comes out. Just thinking about seeing the "mothers" alone grosses me out. I'm giving this 3 stars on Goodreads because I have a love/hate relationship with it. I don't think this is a YA novel, at least not young YA. I think that readers will have to judge for themselves. I, for one, sit on the fence. I will probably continue with the series since I want to know what happens next.

New York to Dallas by J. D. Robb

2012-01-15T05:00:00.000-06:00

Author: J. D. Robb

Publisher: Putnam adult

Audiobook:Brilliance Audio

Date of Publication: September 2011

The number-one New York Times-bestselling author J. D. Robb presents an intense and terrifying new case for New York homicide cop Eve Dallas, one that will take her all the way to the city that gave her her name-and plunge her into the nightmares of her childhood.

When a monster named Isaac McQueen-taken down by Eve back in her uniform days-escapes from Rikers, he has two things in mind. One is to pick up where he left off, abducting young victims and leaving them scarred in both mind and body. The other is to get revenge on the woman who stopped him all those years ago.

The first thing that struck me about this 33rd volume is that Ms. Robb chose not to use the customary "in Death" in this title. Once you read the book, you will understand the meaning of "New York to Dallas". I have read the entire series and while there have been intense moments in a lot of the books, I would have to say that this one is one of the most intense and gut wrenching books in the series. Reading the In Death books is like visiting old friends. Eve has grown so much from the first book and I am amazed at how Ms. Robb keeps finding new ways for her to change.

I won't give away too much of the plot in this one. Suffice it to say that there are a few twists that surprised me. There are some great laugh out loud moments and Roarke is his sweet usual self. I was engrossed from the start. I listened to the audio book and I found myself sitting in my car in my driveway just to listen to a little bit more. The one thing that was missing from this one is the usual cast of characters. (Well, except Roarke of course!) We only get glimpses of them. While I felt it hurt past books, I was OK with that in this one. Being away from them makes Eve realize how much they are home to her and how much she values them. It was necessary to the story.

Susan Ericksen narrates this volume as usual. I will be disappointed if they ever change the narrator. She will always be the voice of Eve Dallas to me.

Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones

2012-01-14T05:00:00.000-06:00

by: Tayari Jones
published by: Algonquin Books
publish date: May 31, 2011

With the opening line of Silver Sparrow, “My father, James Witherspoon, is a bigamist,” author Tayari Jones unveils a breathtaking story about a man’s deception, a family’s complicity, and two teenage girls caught in the middle.

Set in a middle-class neighborhood in Atlanta in the 1980s, the novel revolves around James Witherspoon’s two families—the public one and the secret one. When the daughters from each family meet and form a friendship, only one of them knows they are sisters. It is a relationship destined to explode when secrets are revealed and illusions shattered. As Jones explores the backstories of her rich yet flawed characters—the father, the two mothers, the grandmother, and the uncle—she also reveals the joy, as well as the destruction, they brought to one another’s lives.

I was surprised by this book. I liked it a lot more than I was expecting to, that's not to say I opened the book expecting to hate it or anything. It was a book that I had picked up at ALA and finally got around to reading as a shelf cleaning exercise. It was a sink your claws in catty good time!

The first half of the book is told from the viewpoint of Dana. Dana is James' "secret" daughter. I liked this half of the book more than the second half, but I couldn't put my finger on any particular reason why. I guess I liked Dana more, but that was probably because Dana and Gwen prejudiced me against Chaurisse in the beginning.

The second half is told by Chaurisse, the public daughter. This half was interesting, it was more confrontational. It was hard to believe that one man could have two families in one city without the other knowing about it, but I think Chaurisse's mother knew deep down. I think she had suspicions, there were clues sprinkled about.

I would definitely recommend this book especially if it's something that you don't normally read, it was well written and the characters were very memorable. The audiobook was really good too!

Guest Post: David Knight

2012-01-13T05:00:00.000-06:00

Today, we have author, David Knight, who is promoting his book: : I am I: The In-Dweller of Your Heart/ 52 Inner Dictations

David'sbook is being launched on 2/2/12 on Amazon. There is an exciting contest that is in effect from now until theLaunch. Thereare great prizes that are involved:

$100gift certificate for Amazon toward a Kindle

Two$50.00 Amazon Gift Certificates

Authorscan substitute their choice of a video book review or Facebook Welcome page forthe Kindle Gift Certificate if they win.

To enter, visit David's blog: http://www.ascensionforyou.co.uk/blog

Welcome David!

Publisher: Self

Date of Publication: February 2012

I am I: TheIn-Dweller of your Heart is a stepping stone for all who embark upon their ownquest for 'Spiritual' education and guidance. So, even if you are comfortablewith your own faith and religion, you may have decided to explore newinterpretations and such issues on a personal or global scale.

The author DavidKnight has received and transcribed these passages of text in a process knownas 'Inner Dictation'. He describes this as writing from within the connectionof his heart where peace, bliss, love and light reign supreme.

God's wisdom andteachings are laid out before you so you can simply choose and read whenever orwhatever your heart needs or desires. They are guidelines, principles andsimple directions for you to now dip your toes or dive headfirst into thewaters of you're own Divine essence.

These books willform the very threads of life's new tapestry, each being spun into 52 lessonsfrom, to and through our own hearts and soul's. They are like a father, mother,brother, sister, husband, wife, partner or personal friend who knows you betterthan you can ever know 'yourself'.

Part 1 is acompanion for life which does not judge, condemn or scold, but hopes toencourage, guide, console, teach and remind you of who and what you are, whyyou live and for what purpose too!

David writes:

YOU AREBRIGHTER THAN A 1000 SUN’S

Let light reflect from your very being and not whatcan be deemed as a mirror of darkness and decay.

You can and will succeed,....justbelieve in your self and enjoy the path that your life’s road has takenyou for I will by your side, knowing, nurturing, guiding, loving andwatching forever over you.

So, let your smile beam your joy onto others heartsand let your hands do good, worthwhile actions that help and benefit otherstoo.

Do not seek greater rewards than that which youactually deserve, but feel the goodness and not ego that shines back towardsyou.

Know that this is a true 'gold' that you can wearwith greater value than any stone or ring that man possesses.

Realise then that you are rich in Spirit and somuch more… a Soul and Light which is brighter than a thousand Suns.

About the Author:

DAVIDKNIGHT was born into his current physical embodiment in 1964. He is married toCaroline and they live with their adopted cats Toby, Treacle, Spiky and Missyin the UK. In growing up he describes himself as a Mr. Average or like a 'JoeBloggs'. Whilst earning a living in various types of work, (this ranged from HMForces, Financial Services, a Care Assistant and also self-employment) hissearch for fulfillment changed from the exterior and without to the interior andwithin.

Spiritual educationgained a greater momentum and at the age of 21 a more urgent sense ofdedication as well as a new realization had set in. New evidence of and fromGod, were soon revealed through his life experiences. With the aid of Spiritguides and beings from the ethereal planes, the foundations were laid for allwho wished to develop and experience their Hearts flame of love and light andto embark upon a unique opportunity for all soul's in this lifetime.

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/-Dweller-Heart-Inner-Dictations-Knight/dp/1466499354/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322343692&sr=8-1

Website/Blog:http://www.ascensionforyou.co.uk/blog

Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/pages/AscensionForYou-Spiritual-Guidance-andEducation/147338671945241

Hidden Threat by Sherri Hayes

2012-01-12T05:30:00.000-06:00

Author: Sherri Hayes

Publisher: The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House
Date of Publication: December 2010

Cali Stanton has one goal in life, being a doctor. She does not intend to run the family business. But when her father gets injured and tells her that she’s the only one he trusts, Cali finds herself behind his desk at Stanton Enterprises.

Matthew Andersen and his brother Jason have spent the last two years managing security at Stanton Enterprises. But when someone threatens the company and its CEO, challenging Matthew’s abilities, what seems like an easy task, becomes a big problem.

Cali and Matthew must fight their growing attraction for each other to avoid a potentially damaging office romance. As the threats continue, they must work together to keep the company running and discover who is behind the threats.

But when things escalate to violence and Cali becomes the latest target, things get personal. Can Matthew find the Hidden Threat before it’s too late?

I love when I pick up a book by a "new to me" author and the book far exceeds my expectations. Hidden Threat is just such a book. The mystery is really well planned out. I was kept guessing as to who the culprit was until Cali and Matthew figure it out. That makes a great mystery!

More than the mystery, I loved the love story in this book. Both Cali and Matthew are so attracted to each other from the start, but instead of acting on that attraction, they do everything they can to try to avoid it. This actually forces them to become friends first. With a few "almost" kisses, the sexual tension between them is so scorching that when they do finally do something about it, they burn up the pages. Matthew is such a logical person and I loved his "ah-ha" moment when he realizes what he really feels for Cali. It was very endearing. I was so rooting for their HEA.

I definitely recommend this one. I see a great future for Ms. Hayes and I can't wait to pick up another book written by her.

Throwback Thursday - Blithe Images by Nora Roberts

2012-01-12T04:00:00.000-06:00

Author: Nora Roberts
First Published in 1982 by Silhouette

Hillary Baxter had been only twenty-one when she left rural Kansas to pursue a New York modeling career. When Bret Bardoff, owner and publisher of fashionable Mode Magazine, offered her a prestigious six-month contract, the sky was the limit.

There was only one problem. Hillary fell in love with Brett. But he appeared to be interested only in her glamorous image. Could he learn to love the woman whose face had haunted him from the first instant that he had seen her photograph?

I'm not really sure I can say that I loved this one by Nora. I'm a big fan and normally love her books, but this early work by her wasn't for me. I didn't get the connection between Hillary and Brett. I thought he was a chauvinist and kind of a jerk. I felt he definitely lead Hillary on in the beginning and gave her very mixed signals. Hillary just seemed weak to me. She was supposed to be a confident, successful woman, yet she let Brett walk all over her. Instead of confronting him about his maybe ex-girlfriend who constantly seemed to be around, she chose to wallow in self pity and be depressed. That just seemed contradictory to me. I couldn't understand how a few steamy kisses turned into love for her. The HEA wasn't believable to me.

One thing that it did have going for it was that despite the references to typewriters and smoking, this one didn't feel totally dated to me. I think that it would still be relevant to today. Blithe Images is also one of the cleanest romances by Ms. Roberts that I have read. There was really no sex in it, other than some kisses and a few gropes. I listened to the audio version and the narrator did a good job. It is a quick listen, only 4.5 hours so pick it up and decide for yourself.

Guest Post and Giveaway: Tom Jackson

2012-01-11T05:00:00.000-06:00

I would first like to thank my hosts Autumnand Kari for giving me the opportunity to participate on their blog today andtalk about my debut novel, ‘The Devil’s Legacy’. I’m very happyto join you all here at ‘From the TBR Pile’.

First,what inspired me to write?

Well I think I have always wanted to create. . . to share my thoughts, even as a child I took pleasure in writing - myfirst attempt at a short story was around the age of ten. I believe that mydesire to write stems from reading. Every Monday I would visit the locallending library and stock up with five or six books to keep me going for theweek. My preference is undoubtedly for the cocktail of adventure/mystery/crime.For example, I enjoy Agatha Christie, Alistair McLean, Robert Ludlum, FrederickForsyth and Ken Follett. Although I do have a decided passion for historicalnovelists such as Jane Austen (Pride and Prejudice is my all-time favouritenovel), C.S. Forester, John Buchan, and naturally, Dickens.

I vividly remember a high school essaycontest I won back in the autumn of 1963 the plot of which surrounded theassassinations of the American President, John F Kennedy, and the RussianPremier, Khrushchev. Within two months JFK was dead, and I was in a state ofsome shock. Spooky! It took me some time to get over the experience.

Anyway, for far too long, serious writingwas not an option - work got in the way. What changed was early retirement. Iwas with a British Bank, initially in my home city of Manchester, and then herein Greece. With retirement came the resurrection of the deep-rooted desire andambition to write.

Secondly,what about ‘The Devil’s Legacy’ itself?

Many years ago I attended a conference herein Athens on the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles. The keynote speaker atthe event was the late Jules Dassin (the film director and husband ofMelina Mercouri). I must admit that my initial attendance at the conference wassomewhat tongue-in-cheek. Like the vast majority of British nationals I hadlittle knowledge of the exact sequence of events leading up to the ParthenonMarbles being owned by Britain, and housed in the British Museum. For me theywere merely another collection of antiquities we had acquired a couple ofcenturies ago. We owned them! Why should we just hand them back? What was thebig deal?

However, the conference stimulated mycuriosity, and I became interested in the actual events surrounding the removalof the Marbles by Lord Elgin’s agents. This led me to undertake research herein Athens and in the UK - including a visit to the archives of the BritishMuseum.

This research in turn led me to theundoubted conclusion that the Marbles had been removed illegally, without anyproper authority. In fact, the man actually responsible for the removal, PhilipHunt, admitted quite openly at the time that he was able to remove the Marblesonly through a combination of ‘cajolery, threats and bribery’! The bottomline is that I felt, as an Englishman, I must do something to rectify theerrors of our ancestors.

Thus,my research gave me the germ of an idea for a work of fiction with the removalof the Parthenon Marbles as the underlying theme - and ‘The Devil's Legacy’was born.

There have been many publications of apurely academic nature regarding the removal of the Marbles, however, I am notaware of anything fictionalising the event - and thus felt that my novel maywell offer a uniquely interesting and thought-provoking perspective. As well asa good and fun read!

Onefinal point. I had already chosen the name of Natalie Sinclair for the mainprotagonist before embarking on my research in London into certain historicalelements in my novel. In ‘The Devil's Legacy’ part of herbackstory is that her great-grandfather had been a minor minister inChurchill’s government, and a Trustee of the British Museum. During my researchI discovered that there actually was a ‘Sinclair’ who had been a minor ministerin Churchill’s government, and also a Trustee of the British Museum. Again, abit spooky!

Aboutthe Author

TomJackson hails from cold and wet Manchester, England and was with a British bankfor over 30 years. He moved to Greece in 1977, met his wife (who is Greek andan artist) and decided to remain in the land of sun and sea. He has a daughter,Natalie, who is a lawyer, and the inspiration behindthe protagonist in his debut novel, ‘The Devil’s Legacy’.

He is already thinking about a sequel to ‘TheDevil’s Legacy’, and also has an idea for a trilogy set in nineteenthcentury Greece.

Tom maintains his close links to the Greekshipping community, posts occasional articles on financial and shipping relatedmatters, is enjoying his new Kindle, has started to cultivate roses, and is anavid Manchester United supporter.

Where you can find Tom:

Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5390400.Tom_Jackson

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Devils-Legacy-ebook/dp/B006QA3GLI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1325060164&sr=1-1

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/people/@/100002140539429

The Devil’s Legacy Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/people/@/152698424831830

Also I havealso just started a Book Blog

Blog: http://bookblogs.ning.com/profile/TomJackson

Giveaway: Tom will be giving away 1 copy of his book. This will be an ebook so it is open internationally. This giveaway will be done a little differently. In order to enter you must correctly answer the question below (in the form), the answer can be found in the sample chapters of Tom's book which can be found on Smashwords (you don't need an account to read samples). I will pick randomly from the correct answers on January 17th.

Guest Post and Giveaway: Susan Bennett

2012-01-10T05:00:00.000-06:00

New Year's Resolutions

Susan Bennett

            Q.        How many psychologists does it take to change a light bulb?
            A.        Just one – but the light bulb has got to WANT to change.
With that in mind, I have made only one New Year's resolution, and that is to be brutally honest with myself.

This means acknowledging that my deep and abiding love of chocolate will never change; because – hell's bells – I don't want it to. This new honesty compels me to admit that my love of ice-cream verges on the erotic, as does my deep salivating desire for summer berry puddings, beer-battered fish and chips (served with ice-cold beer) deep-fried arancini with fresh lemon, baked stuffed potatoes, snow-white chevre cheese, Italian fennel sausage, sauteed rosemary potatoes, lemon curd and chocolate coconut pudding.

In my heart of hearts I know my love of fresh fruit is owed only to its relationship to cheese and wine, and – damn it's so liberating to be saying it loud and saying it proud! – the best way to serve healthy guacamole is with a massive side of Mexican banquet dripping in cheese, sour cream, and overflowing with tequila and lime laden margaritas.

And so, God help me, as the butter from a thousand baked potatoes marches steadily toward my beating aorta, I will admit to myself two important truths: in all likelihood, I will always be just a little bit fat, and if I'm to be honest with myself, I don't give a flying fuck.

Now, because you can't spell svelte with crème fraiche and pancetta, I'll ask myself the same question and this time I'll answer it honestly.

            Q.        How many psychologists does it take to change a light bulb?
            A.        None. The light bulb will change itself when it's good and ready.

Or not. The human beast is a complicated beast. I resolve not to resolve the wonderfully complicated unresolvable life-loving human beast that is me.

2012, lock and load, bitch.

About the Author:

Susan Bennett's first job entailed selling very large knives (think the bowie knife – "that’s not a knife, this is a knife" – from Crocodile Dundee) to complete strangers, along with camping goods and other assorted goodies such as replica pistols. Twenty years on, it finally occurred to her to wonder what some of those people wanted those replica pistols for, and she strongly suspects that many of the people she sold handcuffs to weren’t actually buying them as a joke gift, as they said. As such thoughts never entered her young head, she was able to look her customers happily in the eye and smile broadly as she helped them with their purchases, never suspecting that in an hour’s time they would be handcuffed to a bed somewhere.

Giveaway:

The author is giving away 2 copies of her book Grace. If you would like to win a copy, please leave a comment on this post with a valid email address. We will randomly pick two winners from the commenters on January 17th. This giveaway is for ebooks so it is open internationally.

Four women are about to start a mob war – and nails WILL be broken.

Some epiphanies look like diamonds. Isabella Albrici's diamond shaped epiphany begins when her womanising husband, Domenic, frames her and her best friend Teresa for his diamond smuggling operation to save himself from jail. Prime targets for the prison’s resident psychopath, they’ll be lucky to survive jail, even luckier to survive if they get out – thanks to Domenic, ‘the family’ thinks Isabella is an FBI informant. The big house ain't no fun house, but for Isabella and Teresa, it’s the safest house there is – until the evidence keeping them there suddenly goes missing.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

2012-01-09T05:00:00.000-06:00

by: Marissa Meyer
published by: Feiwal + Friends
publish date: Jan 9, 2012

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

I was a little bit skeptical about this book. I can't say Cyborgs are really my thing. However, I do really like retellings of classic fairy tales and dystopian is my current favorite genre. Cinder far surpassed all expectations I had. It was full of twists and turns and surprising revelations.

Cinder is YA, dystopian, so I'm sure this goes without saying, but it's the start of a series/trilogy. This is one that I'll be happy to keep track of and follow along. Marissa Meyer has done an excellent job with her debut.

I was looking forward to this book. I had read some hype about it and it looked like a great unique take on the Cinderella story. Cinderalla has always been my favorite fairy tale! Unfortunately, I didn't love it as much as Autumn. I felt like I was waiting for something to happen but it never really did. For me, the book didn't really get going until the last 1/3 of the book and then it ended on a cliffhanger. So frustrating!

I would have liked to see more background on the world in which the story takes place. I would also love more information on the Lunars. Despite all this, I thought Cinder was a great character and I do look forward to seeing what is in store for her in the next book. I just hope it doesn't take 3 or 4 books for her to get her prince charming!

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

2012-01-08T11:15:00.000-06:00

by: Gillian Flynn
published by: Shaye Arehart Books
publish date: May 5th, 2009

Libby Day was seven when her mother and two sisters were murdered in “The Satan Sacrifice of Kinnakee, Kansas.” As her family lay dying, little Libby fled their tiny farmhouse into the freezing January snow. She lost some fingers and toes, but she survived–and famously testified that her fifteen-year-old brother, Ben, was the killer. Twenty-five years later, Ben sits in prison, and troubled Libby lives off the dregs of a trust created by well-wishers who’ve long forgotten her.

The Kill Club is a macabre secret society obsessed with notorious crimes. When they locate Libby and pump her for details–proof they hope may free Ben–Libby hatches a plan to profit off her tragic history. For a fee, she’ll reconnect with the players from that night and report her findings to the club . . . and maybe she’ll admit her testimony wasn’t so solid after all.

I read Sharp Objects several months ago and found it to be dark and twisted in the way that I generally like my books to be. After reading Dark Places, I think Gillian Flynn has earned a spot in the My Favorite Authors Club. According to Goodreads her next book Gone Girl should be coming out some time this year.

Flynn creates a very unlikeable character in Libby Day. She's obviously suffering from her past, but she's made no attempts to heal herself. She's sullen and bitter and only interested in how she's going to cash in from what's happened to her and her family. However, she's a memorable character and eventually I found myself wanting things to turn out right for her.

The best part of this book is the pacing. I was kept on my toes throughout the whole book. Even though little clues are sprinkled throughout, and I suspect most people might get an idea of what actually happened, I promise you will not guess the entirety of the events of that night. That's the kind of awesome writing I love!

Blog Tour: What are You Afraid of? by Kiki Howell

2012-01-07T05:30:00.000-06:00

Publisher: Dancing with Bear Publishing
Date of Publication: October 2011

“Why does the night have to be so dark?” the big dog named Drake gave a low bark. Not everyone likes Halloween. In fact, the big dog named Drake is afraid of the costumes, the decorations, and the dark. He really only likes the candy his boy drops. Lucky for Drake, the old dog named Zoe is there to help him forget his fears with a fun game. Drake and Zoe can’t wait for you to play along.

Along with YA and adult fiction, I do read a fair amount of children's books. Why? Because I have 2 children, of course. Books are a wonderful way of conveying information and solutions to problems to small children. What Are you Afraid Of? is a great books for kids who have fears. All children have fears at one time or another. I read through it first and while I really enjoyed it, I decided to put it to the "kid" test. My kids really enjoyed it. The photos of the dogs were amusing and added great visual aids. They loved the idea of the game that Zoe teaches Drake. I definitely recommend this book to any parents with children.

About the author:

Ever since she was young, Kiki Howell has loved to listen to a well-woven tale with real characters, inspired plots, and delightful resolutions. Kiki could spend hours lost in a book, and soon she knew that creating lives, loves, and losses with just words had to be the greatest thing that she could do. To that end, she pursued her study of literature and writing, earning a bachelor’s degree in English. She then followed in a Master’s program in Creative Writing.

“After a long break having my boys, I finally just had to write again. And, as soon as I gave the stories the space, they entered it. It’s both awesome and humbling to find the words in my mind become characters on a page and create their lives.”

She has now had over twenty stories published between seven different small presses. She could not be more thrilled or grateful to see her creations polished and out in the real world. Please look around. Although, a bit of caution, most of her stories tend to hang out on the graphically sexy side of town.

In May, 2011, Kiki was chosen as an Ohioana Book Festival author for her novel, Torn Asunder.

Kiki resides in the Midwest with her incredibly handsome and talented, singer/songwriter husband and two children. When she is not writing, she is spending time with her family, reading, baking or knitting.

Her biggest dream is to have a novel she writes be made into a movie that her husband creates the soundtrack for, and then cruise to Alaska with her family on the money they make.

The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht

2012-01-07T05:00:00.000-06:00

by: Tea Obreht
published by: Random House
publish date: March 8, 2011

In a Balkan country mending from war, Natalia, a young doctor, is compelled to unravel the mysterious circumstances surrounding her beloved grandfather’s recent death. Searching for clues, she turns to his worn copy of The Jungle Book and the stories he told her of his encounters over the years with “the deathless man.” But most extraordinary of all is the story her grandfather never told her—the legend of the tiger’s wife.

This book has recieved a lot of high praise. It has been named a Finalist for the 2011 National Book Award, Winner of the 2011 Orange Prize for Fiction, and one of the New York Book Review's Top 10 of 2011. All this praise is what drew me to this book. Otherwise, I might have skipped this one.

First off, I listened to the audiobook, and if you like audiobooks, this one is fantastic. I particularly like audiobooks when there are a lot of foriegn names of places and people, I don't get bogged down with trying to pronounce them when someone else does it for me. Robin Sachs narrates the parts that are told by the grandfather. He's one of my favorites.

As for the book itself, I really liked the grandfather's stories. I loved the story of the deathless man. Some of them had me laughing out loud. The story of the tiger's wife was interesting as well. However, I wasn't sure (and I'm still not) how they tied together. I kept waiting for some kind of big reveal that never came. I thought perhaps when the life story of the apothecary was being detailed that something monumental was going to come out of that and then it didn't.

So, I liked the stories within the story, but I didn't completely understand the story as a whole. I didn't understand what exactly Natalia was looking for. Plus, I felt kind of bewildered about where all this was taking place, and when, and what war, and what were the sides and why were they fighting? I thought I was being the ignorant American here, but after reading a lot of reviews I wasn't the only one having the problem with not understanding all this.

Maybe I can find a study guide out there and help me more sense of it, because I found a lot of it to be amazingly awesome. I would love to know what you think of it if you've read it.

Girls in White Dresses by Jennifer Close

2012-01-06T05:00:00.000-06:00

by: Jennifer Close
published by: Knopf
publish date: August 9, 2011

Wickedly hilarious and utterly recognizable, Girls in White Dresses tells the story of three women grappling with heartbreak and career change, family pressure and new love—all while suffering through an endless round of weddings and bridal showers.

I ended up only giving this book 2 stars on Goodreads. I didn't completely hate it, but I didn't care for it either.

The book centered around 3 twenty something women trying to get their lives started. I didn't particularly care for any of the characters because I couldn't relate to any of them. I don't know anyone like them. As an outsider I couldn't feel sympathy for them because their problems were their own doing.

The book's one redeeming quality was that it was really funny. There were parts that I was just cracking up dying laughing. I could say read it for that alone. The comments of the character Lauren were enough to get me through the book.

Young Adult Fairies and Fantasy Giveaway Hop

2012-01-06T00:00:00.000-06:00

This blog hop is hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer and vvb32reads. You can find the full list of participating blogs HERE.

If you're keeping track we are stop number 59

I only have one book to give away for this hop, but it is a really awesome book. I haven't seen anything like it before.

One enchanting romance. Two lovers keeping secrets. And a uniquely crafted book that binds their stories forever.

When Evelyn Morgan walked into the village bookstore, she didn’t know she would meet the love of her life. When Brendan Thorne handed her a medieval romance, he didn’t know it would change the course of his future. It was almost as if they were the cursed lovers in the old book itself . . .

The Thorn and the Blossom is a remarkable literary artifact: You can open the book in either direction to decide whether you’ll first read Brendan’s, or Evelyn’s account of the mysterious love affair. Choose a side, read it like a regular novel—and when you get to the end, you’ll find yourself at a whole new beginning.

This is a beautiful book. It has little touches of magic and glimpses of fairies throughout. The illustrations and the actual manufacturing of the book makes it incredibly unique.

I'll open this one up internationally. I'm going to make this easy too. Just leave a comment below WITH A VALID EMAIL ADDRESS. I'll randomly pick a winner from the comments.

Blog Tour: Reclaimed by Diane Alberts

2012-01-05T05:30:00.000-06:00

Author: Diane Alberts
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Date of Publication: December 2011

After moving to England, Sabrina tumbles into an unknown world when she meets the man who has appeared to her in her dreams. After recovering from shock, she wonders how it is possible that Isaac could be in her dreams-before she met him. The shocking answers catapult her into a world where ruthless creatures roam freely among unsuspecting humans, and battle lines are clearly drawn.

While embarking on a dangerous and passionate affair, a bitter enemy appears from Isaac’s past that will stop at nothing to remove her from Isaac’s arms. Permanently. In order to establish a foreseeable and solid future, Sabrina must first deal with a tumultuous past. Navigating a shadowy world she never knew existed; Sabrina fights for her newfound love…and her life.

I really enjoyed Reclaimed. The world that Ms. Alberts has created is really interesting. I loved the idea of the Enforcers and other creatures and how they are created. It was a refreshing take on the paranormal genre. Isaac and Sabrina are wonderful together. The author does a great job of building the sexual tension between them throughout most of the book. Let's just say there were a lot of storms in that area of England! Their feelings for each other are very believable and I was rooting for their HEA. The ending was just wonderful and I finished the book with a smile. I definitely recommend this book! I look forward to reading more from Ms. Alberts.

About the author:

Diane Alberts lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with herhusband, four kids, and a bird. She lives in the mountains-but wishes it werethe beach. She has been writing since she was in elementary school, but onlyrecently fulfilled her dreams of being published in 2011. Enjoys dyeing yarnand knitting in her "spare" time.

Now you can buy Reclaimed for only $0.99 on Amazon.

Website / Facebook / Twitter

Throwback Thursday - Guest Post: Murder on Ice by Alina Adams

2012-01-05T05:00:00.000-06:00

Today, we welcome author Alina Adams for this week's edition of Throwback Thursday. Her book, Murder on Ice was recently reissued as an Enhanced Multimedia Edition. Welcome Alina!

Author: Alina Adams

Publisher: Berkley

First published in November 2003 by Berkley

The first in the Bex Levy figure skating series.

Since starting her research job at Network 24/7, Bex Levy has had to learn everything there was to know about figure skating. That way when TV commentators Francis and Diana Howarth are commenting on a live show they have all the needed material at their fingertips. At the World Figure Skating Championship's in San Francisco, everyone expects cute Erin Simpson to take the gold.

When the final results are tabulated, the Russian girl Xenia Trubin wins the top prize. The fans, the TV commentators and Erin's mother all say that Erin was cheated out of the gold. The four Russian judges voted for Xenia and the four western judges voted for Erin. The tie breaker vote was cast by Italian Judge Silvana Potenza who later was found murdered in the refrigerator room of the ice skating rink. The director of 24/7 tells Bex that if she wants a job next year she has to figure out who the killer is, which leaves her skating on thin ice.

My thoughts:
Murder on Ice is a very entertaining mystery. The author definitely kept me guessing as to who the killer was, which is something I have always liked in a book. Bex is a great character. She is smart and has lots of courage to try and figure out who the killer is. The other characters in the book definitely enhance the story. I loved the scenes with Frances and Diana as they were very amusing! I did have problems connecting to the videos of the skating through my Kindle, but that could have just been my connection at the time. When I switched to reading on the computer, I had no issues. I like the videos because it added a nice visual to the story. If you missed this first in the series, pick it up. Old or new version, I know you will be entertained by a great mystery.

Alina Writes:

Picture It: Enhanced E-Books

By Alina Adams

As we learned from both “The Princess Bride” and “The Wizardof Oz,” nothing is really dead until it’s really most sincerely dead.

The same applies to publishing. In theory, once a book is out of print, it’sdead. Well, mostly dead, as Miracle Maxwould say. (Really, if you haven’t read“The Princess Bride,” do yourself a favor and hop to it, ASAP. It has all the great lines from the movie,plus about a thousand more zingers. But,I digress….) You might be able to find acopy of an out of print book in a used book shop, or borrow it from afriend. Maybe the library will stockone, for old times sake.

But, it used to be that out of print meant as good as dead.

Not anymore. Thanksto the explosion of e-publishing, not only can currently released bookostensibly live on forever (shelf space just isn’t as important anymore), buteven books once given up for… well… dead (how’s my leitmotif going? Sick of it yet?), can find new life.

From 2002 to 2007, I published five Figure SkatingMysteries, “Murder on Ice,” “On Thin Ice,” “Axel of Evil,” “Death Drop,” and“Skate Crime,” with Berkley Prime Crime.

In 2011, I reacquired my rights, and will be reissuing themas e-books, one by one, starting in December 2012.

But, because I’ve never been very good at doing things thetraditional way (ask any teacher who ever had the misfortune of catching mebehind a desk in their classroom… or my poor, beleaguered parents who spent 12years playing peacemaker between me and the Department of Education), andbecause I’m married to a man whose idea of a good time is finding new uses forcomputer code, I won’t be releasing them merely as e-books.

I’ll be releasing all five as enhanced e-books.

What, you may ask, are enhanced e-books?

Well, they’re books. That are electronic. Andenhanced. With audio, video, links, etc…

They are, depending on who you ask, either the next greatstep on the literary frontier, or a fad. You know, like the talkies.

I, obviously, am leaning towards the whole greatstep/literary frontier thing.

In addition to all the text of my paperback original, theenhanced multimedia editions will feature professional skating videos, courtesyof The Ice Theatre of New York (http://www.icetheatre.org/)– American’s premiere ice dance company – as an integral part of the story.

You’ll be reading along (engrossed, I hope, by the mysteryof who killed the skating judge? The coach? The ex-champion?) when you’ll comeupon a picture.

Nothing unusual about that. Books have featured illustrations since around the middle of the 17^thCentury.

And then you’ll click on the picture. And it will come to life. (Take that, 17^th Century.)

There has been a lot of talk lately about how e-books, andespecially enhanced e-books, will be the death of reading and the final,irrevocable step into the abyss of video-gaming up our culture. (Is that a thing? I just made it up.)

I don’t see it that way. I see enhanced e-books as simply another step in the evolution ofstory-telling, something that has been a part of human history from thebeginning. And hopefully always will be.

About the author:

Alina Adams is the author of four romance novels (“When aMan Loves a Woman” is available as an enhanced multimedia edition), fiveskating mysteries, two non-fiction books, and three New York Times best-sellingtie-ins to the soap operas, “As the World Turns” and “Guiding Light.” She is currently in the process of digitizingand enhancing her entire backlist, as well as partnering with other authors todo the same for their out of print books and media properties. Read all about it at her website, http://www.AlinaAdams.com, or follow heron Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002949310031

Blog Tour: The Yoga Club

2012-01-04T05:00:00.000-06:00

by: Cooper Lawrence
published by: Gallery Books
publish date: January 10, 2012

In the bestselling tradition of Paula Froelich and Candace Bushnell comes a dishy novel about the secrets of the rich and privileged, featuring four yoga friends who stumble upon a murder at a tony Greenwich, Connecticut party—and have to solve the crime or be implicated themselves.

When Coco Guthrie and three other Greenwich locals appear at THE Halloween party of the season, they’re chagrined to discover that they’ve all come in the same costume—Sarah PalinPalins return to the party, swearing each other to secrecy, but when each of them receives a mysterious warning the next day, it becomes clear that they were spotted—and are in serious trouble.Now the unlikely foursome must work together to uncover the truth behind the murder—and where can four people from different social circles mingle unnoticed? At an early morning yoga class, of course! Each member of the 8:30 Yoga Club is hiding secrets of her own, but they soon discover that good friends can protect you from even the nastiest of scandals.

I'm going to admit from the beginning I didn't finish this book. I ran out of time before I had to post this, but I do intend to finish it. The Yoga Club is an amusing book. Cooper Lawrence can write humor well. Olivia and her echolalia was cracking me up.

I kind of assumed this book would be a cozy mystery...like the tea house mysteries or the needlework mysteries. Not so much. This book is filled with all kinds of taboo sex and over the top characters. These are the ultra rich in their playground, so topics of conversation and dialogue are definitely not what you'd find in the cozy genre.

This book would be a good beach read, a good cozy up by the fire on a cold weekend read. It's a light-hearted fun kind of book. Not a serious, heavy story. If you're looking for the yoga though, it's few and far between, they just all happen to be in the same class.

Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka

2012-01-03T05:00:00.000-06:00

by: Julie Otsuka
published by: Knopf
publish date: August 23, 2011

From the author of the contemporary classic When the Emperor Was Divine, a tour de force about a group of women brought from Japan to San Francisco in the early 1900s as mail-order brides.

In six unforgettable, incantatory sections, the novel traces their new lives as “picture brides”: the arduous voyage by boat, where the girls trade photos of their husbands and imagine uncertain futures in an unknown land . . . their arrival in San Francisco and the tremulous first nights with their new husbands . . . backbreaking toil as migrant workers in the fields and in the homes of white women . . . the struggle to learn a new language and culture . . . giving birth and raising children who come to reject their heritage . . . and, finally, the arrival of war, and the agonizing prospect of their internment.

I had kept skipping over this book because it didn't particularly appeal to me. Then it was a nominee for the National Book Award, so I figured it must be really good. Since then it's also appeared on quite a few best of 2011 lists, including the New York Times, Library Journal, and Barnes and Noble.

I will say I thought it was interesting and illuminating and I'm glad I experienced it, but I didn't particularly enjoy it. It's written in an unusual style. It's told in the first person plural, so most of the sentences start with "we did" or "some of us did" or "one of us" etc. This led to a very repetitive cadence to the book which got a little boring at times. It's a really short book, so it's not like one has to suffer with it for long.

The subject matter was worth the read. I was familiar with the idea of the internment camps, but not the lead up. I never knew too much about mail order brides either, so learning about them and their integration into American society was fascinating.

3 Holiday Novellas

2012-01-02T00:00:00.000-06:00

I have 3 more Holiday novellas today. Enjoy!

Dashing Through the Snow
Author: T.M Souders
Publisher: Self
Date of Publication: October 2011

Wynn Murphy has been in love with Zane Anders since the day she laid eyes on him. But just when she begins to hope their casual relationship might turn into something more, a misunderstanding pushes her away.

At first sight, charming and handsome, ad executive, Zane Anders has been secretly infatuated with bake shop cutie, Wynn Murphy. This Christmas, he's determined to tell her.

Join Wynn and Zane in this delightful holiday novelette as Zane goes dashing through the snow in an effort to capture Wynn's heart.

This short story was just what I needed to make me smile. Wynn and Zane are both so shy and so perfect for each other. Even though it took five years, I liked how they got to know each other through snippets of conversation over the bakery counter. The ending was just perfect. I definitely recommend this sweet Christmas story! It will really warm your heart.

A Charmed Life

Author: Grace Jameson

Publisher: Silver Publishing
Date of Publication: December 2011

When Sam gives Bethany a charm bracelet instead of an engagement ring, she realizes he's given her a memorable past--but no future promise. With a renewed commitment after Bethany leaves, Sam is ready to reclaim his charmed life.

Bethany and Sam are deeply in love and have lived happily together for the past eight years. Bethany is eager to get married and start a family and is convinced this is the Christmas when Sam will propose to her.

When Bethany opens the jewellery box and finds a beautiful charm bracelet commemorating their life together instead of an engagement ring, she realizes Sam has given her a memorable past--but no promise of a future. The painful conversation that follows reveals they want different things and, devastated, Bethany leaves.

Stunned by her sudden departure, Sam suddenly appreciates the precious gift he has lost. With a renewed commitment to their relationship, Sam goes in search of Bethany, ready to reclaim his charmed life.

I really liked this story. I could understand Bethany's frustration with Sam. I think it is hard for any couple who are in two different places in their lives. I liked how she was strong enough to stick to her guns. Sam's ah-ha moment is priceless! This is a well written erotica tale with a very sweet HEA.

A Gift of Trust

Author: Jeannette Grey

Publisher: Silver Publishing

Date of publication: December 2011

Back in school, Matt was Lib's best friend--and also her secret crush. When she runs into him again while home for the holidays, sparks fly. But this time, Matt won't win her heart unless he first earns her trust.

When Matt was forced to move away, suddenly and without warning, the day after taking her to the Christmas Ball, he broke Lib's heart and shattered her ability to trust in love.

Three years later, he's the last person she expected to run into on a bus heading home for the holidays.

As the two of them reconnect, Lib finds herself just as drawn to him as ever, but her wariness compels her to keep her distance. Devastated by his failure to keep in touch over the years, she's determined to protect her heart--almost as determined as he is to make up for lost time. Matt seems intent on winning her love. But this time, he'll first have to earn her trust.

A Gift of Trust is a short story, but it felt like a full length book to me. The author did a great job of conveying the couple's history to the reader. Their attraction and getting back together was very believable. This one also has some well written erotica scenes. The inclusion of an epilogue is something that I like to see even in a novella. It is nice to see how they HEA turns out.

Kari's most anticipated of 2012

2012-01-01T05:30:00.000-06:00

Most of mine are sequels.Are you looking forward to any of these as well?

Happy New Year!!!!!!!

Autumn's Most Anticipated for 2012

2012-01-01T05:00:00.000-06:00

Kari's Top 10 of 2011

2011-12-31T05:30:00.000-06:00

Here are mine in no particular order. Honestly, I had more than 10 but these are the ones that stood out for me.
(OK I cheated like Autumn and added an extra to make 11.) Enjoy!

The Last Blind Date By Linda Yellin
Forbidden by Ted Dekker
Darkness Dawns by Dianne Duvall
Cloaked by Alex Finn
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
The Heart of a Killer by Jaci Burton
Die for Me by Amy Plum
Hereafter by Tara Hudson
The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown
Lover Unleashed by J.R. Ward
Treachery in Death by J.D. Robb

Autumn's Top Ten for 2011

2011-12-31T05:00:00.000-06:00

I cheated a little and this ended up being 11 instead of 10.

So in no particular order they are:

Divergent by Veronica Roth
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
The Devil All the Time by Donald Ray Pollock
Original Sin by Beth McMullen
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt
The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman
The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach
To Be Sung Underwater by Tom McNeal
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
The Stranger You Seek by Amanda Kyle Williams

The Burn by Annie Oldham

2011-12-30T11:51:00.000-06:00

by: Annie Oldham
published by: CreateSpace
publish date: September 27, 2011

The Burn is full of nuclear fallout, roving gangs, anarchy, unreliable plumbing. That's what Terra's father tells her. She has lived her whole life in comfort in a colony at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. She hates it. And she would pay any price to leave. But when Terra finally escapes the colony, she finds out her father is right.

She finds a group of survivors that quickly become friends, and every day with them is a race for survival. When she witnesses and commits unspeakable acts, she has to decide where her loyalty lies: with the colony she despises or The Burn, where every day is filled with nightmares.

The Burn was a surprisingly good YA dystopian book. The premise behind this book is that before the world destroyed itself the best and brightest secretly got together and built huge colonies under the ocean. When the surface world was obliterated, the colonies thrived without anyone knowing.

Terra desperately wants to leave the colony and find out what it's like to live on the surface world. With the help of a sympathetic teacher she manages to escape. However, she finds that she's traded one tough life for an even tougher one.

I'm a fan of YA dystopian so I enjoyed this one but I think it could hold wide appeal. There were some incidents of violence in it that kind of surprised me and I wouldn't have expected in a book like this. The Burn would make a great addition to all those new ereaders everyone got for Christmas!

Guest Blog: Rachel Thompson

2011-12-30T04:00:00.000-06:00

Today, we welcome author Rachel Thompson who is promoting her book, Mancode Exposed. Welcome Rachel!

Publisher: Self
Date of publication: November 2011

Men, women, sex, love, stereotypes. Important world topics like garages, lingerie, and um, chocolate? It's a melting pot (okay, now you're just getting hungry)...

But more than that, it's about all the levels in which we communicate...viewed through Thompson's looking glass of humor and deconstructed with her special brand of snark.

Thompson explores controversial questions like: Can we outrun our DNA? Will we women always be slaves to our talkative nature (après sex)? Will men never be free of the chains of emotional withholding? Can we transfer man's paper towel changing abilities from garage to kitchen?

Rachel writes:

I write aboutthe differences between men and women.

Mancode vs.Chickspeak.

My latest book, TheMancode: Exposed, focuses specifically on the goofy stuff guys doand how we chicks react, scratch our heads, and wonder where we placed the guyswe originally hooked up with way back when – ya know, the ones who didn’t burp,fart, and then expect sex all within the span of a minute.

Like that.

One topic thathas always amused me is the temperature differences between the sexes. I don’tknow about you, but in my family the shemales are always cold, the hewolves always hot.

(The above isnot a euphemism for sex. If you know me at all, you’ll know when I’m talking about sex. Cause I title my essays thingslike “The Penis. Deconstructed.”)

It can be fortydegrees out and my husband will have the car window down with his head out thewindow, kind of like well, a dog for lack of a better word; while my daughterand I shiver away, teeth chattering. Not that he notices. He’s too busy barkingat other cars.

It’s not justthe guys though. My mom will play with the temperature gauges like a scientistconducting an experiment from the second she enters ANY car, twisting andturning the knobs like a professional. My dad and her friends are allapparently used to her OCD foible, but not having lived in the same town formany years, I’d forgotten to warn my guy when he first met her of how oh,clinically insane she is (love you, mommy) when it came to her need to controlMother Earth and all its inhabitants.

See, women arecrazy squirrelnuts, too.

Husband and Iplay window musical chairs – I’ll be wrapped up shivering in a blanket with myice-cold fingers warming around a steaming mug of coffee and he’ll burst intothe room with “Why’s it so hot in here?” and proceed to open every window inthe room. Not to be rude or inconsiderate – I used to think that of course; butafter nineteen years of marriage, it’s now my theory that testosterone makesmen ovens and estrogen makes women icicles.

It’s why we warmour arctic feet on you.

Darwin, baby.Only the strong survive.

If you enjoy my writing,please check out my books on Amazon (no Kindle required – free apps forsmartphones, computers and tablets): AWalk In The Snark, TheMancode: Exposed, and my blog, RachelintheOC.com.You can find me on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, or email me at RachelintheOC@gmail.com.

Thanks forhosting me, TBR!

Just a quick reminder,any commenter is eligible for my free Kindle giveaway at the end of my toursimply by leaving a comment.

Throwback Thursday: The Killings at Badger's Drift by Caroline Graham

2011-12-29T05:30:00.000-06:00

Author: Caroline Graham
First Published in 1987 by Century (imprint of Random House)

Badger's Drift is an ideal English village, complete with vicar, bumbling local doctor, and kindly spinster with a nice line in homemade cookies. But when the spinster dies suddenly, her best friend kicks up an unseemly fuss, loud enough to attract the attention of Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby. And when Barnaby and his eager-beaver deputy start poking around, they uncover a swamp of ugly scandals and long-suppressed resentments seething below the picture-postcard prettiness.

I have been a fan of Agatha Christie since I was in Junior High School. I had heard that Caroline Graham's Inspector Barnaby books were very reminiscent of Ms. Christie's novels. So, when the first one became available in audio at my library, I snatched it up. The critics are correct.

The Killings at Badger's Drift is a great mystery. The twist at the end really shocked me. I never saw it coming! Inspector Barnaby is a wonderful detective. I love how he goes about solving a case and uncovering hidden secrets. The addition of his wife and daughter into the story made him more real to me. I definitely will be picking up the next in the series. Maybe after I read a few, I will try out the television series, Midsomer Murders. Hopefully, they are as good as the books.

Blog tour: Fate's Second Chance by AJ Jarrett

2011-12-29T05:00:00.000-06:00

Publisher: Silver Publishing
Date of Publication: November 2011

Marie Carter has lived a pretty average life, and she thought dying was the worst thing to happen, until informed by her guarding angel Ross that she was supposed to be born a man. Sent back as Marc, he has one month to heal his sister's suffering and get his soulmate Shawn to fall in love with him. If he fails, it's back to heaven he goes, the love of his life will eventually die of a broken heart, and Ross will be kicked out of heaven.

Marc has been in love with Shawn ever since he could remember, but is a month enough time to get someone to fall in love? And when faced with the knowledge of angels and body mix ups, can a skeptical Shawn believe what is so obviously in front of his face? Can Marc get his happily ever after? Or was what was written in the stars not meant to be?

Fate's Second Chance is an interesting debut novel. I liked the premise of it. The powers that be make a mistake before Marc is born and he ends up in a girl's body instead of a boy's. Because of this mix-up, she is given the chance to go back as her (or should I say, his) true self after an unexpected death. I liked Ross's character the most I think. He added some nice comedy to the story.

While I did enjoy the book, I didn't love it as much as I was hoping I would. Marie comes back as Marc, yet most of the time that I was reading the story, I kept thinking that Marc was a woman. His mannerisms and reactions just seemed too female to me. So, I had a hard time buying Marie/Marc's change. I do see a promising future for Ms. Jarrett. It's a cute story and one worth checking out.

About the author:

Hi to everyone! My name is AJ and I started writing about a year ago. So far I’ve been published through Silver Publishing and I just signed a contract for a book with Siren Publishing. So this past year has been busy for me.
I’m the proud mother of four very active children. When they’re not driving me completely insane they have me laughing my butt off. Kids can do that to adults. I got lucky enough to marry one of the good guys. My husband is very helpful and takes on more of my stress than should be allowed. He supports me and understands all those nights that I don’t come to bed because I’m a slave to my muse.

Fate’s Second Chance is my first release and its part of a series. My intentions are to make this a three part series surrounding the characters from the first book. I already have the second book completed and Silver has accepted it for publication. I’m a fan of books that are part of a series so I wanted to do that with my writings.

I had a fun time bringing these character to life and I hope others enjoy them as much as I do!

BUY LINKS:

Silver Publishing - https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/new-release-c-1/fate-s-second-chance-ebook-p-653

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Fates-Second-Chance-Twists-ebook/dp/B0063CNE9S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321756359&sr=8-1

Mid-Winters Eve Blog Hop Winners!!

2011-12-28T11:32:00.003-06:00

Thank you to everyone who entered the Mid Winters Eve Blog Hop. The following winners were chosen using Random.org. Winners, check your e-mail!

Pack #1 Adult Mysteries: Shelleyrae

Pack #2 Debut Authors: Leigh Ann

Pack #3 Adult Fiction: Bookworm Lisa

Pack #4 Young Adult: Marie

Congrats to the winners!!!! - Kari & Autumn

Long Gone by Alafair Burke

2011-12-28T06:00:00.000-06:00

Author: Alafair Burke
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: June 2011

How well do you know your boss?

After a layoff and months of struggling, Alice Humphrey finally lands her dream job managing a new art gallery in Manhattan’s trendy Meatpacking District. According to Drew Campbell, the well-suited corporate representative who hires her, the gallery is a passion project for its anonymous, wealthy, and eccentric owner.

Everything is perfect until the morning Alice arrives at work to find the gallery gone—the space stripped bare as if it had never been there—and Drew Campbell’s dead body on the floor. Overnight, Alice’s dream job has vanished, and she finds herself at the center of a police investigation, with the evidence mounting against her. To prove her innocence and uncover the truth, Alice must undertake a dangerous search for answers that entangles her in a dark, high-tech criminal conspiracy and forces her to unearth long-hidden secrets involving her own family . . . secrets that could cost Alice her life.

Long Gone was a lot better than I expected. I will admit that I was pleasantly surprised as to how much I liked this book. I almost gave up on it. The book starts with several story lines that seem to not fit in with each other. I decided that I was intrigued enough by one of the story lines to keep going with the book. I soon found myself engrossed!

Long Gone is well written with a well planned plot. I liked the way the story lines come together in the end. Every time I thought I had it all figured out, another clue was thrown at me to throw me off. I never knew who or what to trust. Honestly, I don't want to give away any of the plot because I think it would ruin a good mystery. Just read the synopsis and go with that for a teaser.

This is the first book I have read by the author and I know I will be seeking out his other works. This is a great book and I definitely recommend it to lovers of mysteries. You won't be disappointed.

A Long Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan

2011-12-28T05:00:00.000-06:00

by: Anna Sheehan
published by: Candlewick
publish date: August 9, 2011

It should have been a short suspended-animation sleep. But this time Rose wakes up to find her past is long gone— and her future full of peril.

Rosalinda Fitzroy has been asleep for sixty-two years when she is woken by a kiss. Locked away in the chemically induced slumber of a stasis tube in a forgotten subbasement, sixteen-year-old Rose slept straight through the Dark Times that killed millions and utterly changed the world she knew. Now, her parents and her first love are long gone, and Rose— hailed upon her awakening as the long-lost heir to an interplanetary empire— is thrust alone into a future in which she is viewed as either a freak or a threat. Desperate to put the past behind her and adapt to her new world, Rose finds herself drawn to the boy who kissed her awake, hoping that he can help her to start fresh. But when a deadly danger jeopardizes her fragile new existence, Rose must face the ghosts of her past with open eyes— or be left without any future at all.

These futuristic fairy tale retellings have become a favorite genre of mine. I love all the ways you can take a classic story from the past and throw it into an unknown future. Sleeping Beauty is perfect for that.

Be prepared to be completely annoyed with Rose for like the first two-thirds of the book. Once the reason for her obnoxiously passive personality is revealed, I promise you'll have no choice but to forgive her. I felt so heartbroken for her and for everything that she had endured throughout her upbringing. Her parents are some of the most evil parents I have encountered in a YA book.

A Long Long Sleep was a dramatic debut from Anna Sheehan. I look forward to see what she comes up with next. I'm happy to see it doesn't look like it's the next in A Long Long Sleep Series. High Five for Sheehan for writing what looks to be a stand alone book!!

Blog Tour- Review and Giveaway: Come Back to Me by Melissa Foster

2011-12-27T04:00:00.000-06:00

Giveaway Details:
Ms. Foster has generously offered 4 books (e-books) to giveaway. I have 2 e-copies of Come Back to Me, 1 e-copy of Chasing Amanda and 1 e- copy of Megan's Way. 4 lucky winners will be chosen at random using Random.org. Since these are electronic books, this will be open internationally. Just leave a comment with a valid e-mail address and preference of title (if you have one). This will be open until 12/31. Good Luck!

Author: Melissa Foster
Publisher: Greenforge Books
Date of Publication: November 2011

Tess Johnson has it all: her handsome photographer husband Beau, a thriving business, and a newly discovered pregnancy. When Beau accepts an overseas photography assignment, Tess decides to wait to reveal her secret—only she’s never given the chance. Beau’s helicopter crashes in the desert.
Tess struggles with the news of Beau’s death and tries to put her life back together. Alone and dealing with a pregnancy that only reminds her of what she has lost, Tess is adrift in a world of failed plans and fallen expectations. When a new client appears offering more than just a new project, Tess must confront the circumstances of her life head on.
Meanwhile, two Iraqi women who are fleeing honor killings find Beau barely alive in the middle of the desert, his body ravaged by the crash. Suha, a doctor, and Samira, a widow and mother of three young children, nurse him back to health in a makeshift tent. Beau bonds with the women and children, and together, with the help of an underground organization, they continue their dangerous escape.
What happens next is a test of loyalties, strength, and love.

Come Back to Me is the latest book by Melissa Foster. Come Back to me is a beautifully written and heart wrenching tale. It is really two stories in one. First, Tess is waiting for her husband to return from assignment and finds out she is pregnant. While trying to cope with how this will change their 5 year plan, she find out he has been killed. The struggle with how she comes to terms with not only her pregnancy, but putting her life back together was very realistic. I could really feel her internal struggles. The second story is of Beau and his struggle to get back to the woman he loves. The situation he finds himself in was written very well. Ms. Foster was able to realistically convey the horrors of war to the reader as well as the cruelty that some women encounter in the area.
Come Back to Me is a lot more intense than the last book I read by Ms. Foster. I have to admit that I enjoyed the book until the end. It wasn't the ending I would have liked to see and I'm not sure I walked away satisfied. Despite that, it is a compelling read and one I know fans will enjoy. I look forward to seeing what Ms. Foster has in store for us next!

About the Author:

Melissa Foster is the bestselling, award-winning author of three novels, Megan’s Way, Chasing Amanda, and Come Back to Me. She is the founder of the Women’s Nest, a social and support community for women, and WoMen's Literary Cafe. She is currently collaborating in the film production of Megan’s Way. Melissa hosts an annual Aspiring Authors contest for children, she's written a column featured in Women Business Owners Magazine, and has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Melissa is currently working on her next novel, and lives in Maryland with her family.

Melissa's interests include her family, reading, writing, painting, friends, helping women see the positive side of life, and visiting Cape Cod.

My Books

My Website

Follow me, Facebook, Twitter,FB Fanpage

Chat w/me on The Women's Nest

The WoMen's Literary Cafe,Where readers and authors unite! (for men & women)

The Night Eternal by Guillermo DelToro & Chuck Hogan

2011-12-26T05:00:00.000-06:00

Authors: Guillermo del Toro & Chuck Hogan
Narrator: Daniel Oreskes
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers (Audio by Harper Audio)
Date of Publication: October 2011

It's been two years since the vampiric virus was unleashed in The Strain and the entire world now lies on the brink of annihilation. There has been a mass extermination of humans orchestrated by the Master—an ancient vampire possessed of unparalleled powers. The future of humankind lies in the hands of a ragtag band of freedom fighters—Dr. Eph Goodweather, Dr. Nora Martinez, Vasiliy Fet, and Mr. Quinlan, the half-breed offspring of the Master who is bent on revenge. Its their job to overturn this devastating new world order. But good and evil are malleable terms now, and the Master is most skilled at preying on the weaknesses of humans.

Now, at this critical hour, there is evidence of a traitor in their midst. . . And only one man holds the answer to the Master's demise, but is he one who can be trusted with the fate of the world? And who among them will pay the ultimate sacrifice—so that others may be saved?

The Night Eternal is the final installment in the vampire trilogy by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan. I have been anxiously awaiting the last book and I was not disappointed. The series as a whole is definitely worth a read. I listened to all of the books, narrated by Daniel Oreskes. I think the audio books made them more exciting for me.

It is now two years later and the vampires rule the earth. A lot has changed and hope seems to be gone. Everyone is malnourished, stressed and over tired. Can they save the world? You learn a lot more about the vampires and the Master in this installment. I liked the mythology behind them. The biblical tie-ins were interesting and a unique take on the origin.

I have read varying reviews that range from a great ending to a so-so ending. Personally, I loved how it ended. I thought everything was as it should be. The thing that I liked the most is that nobody was safe and anyone could go at any moment. (Not a spoiler, because I won't tell you who...) It wasn't wrapped up in a nice neat package. The ending was messy and filled with uncertainty. While I normally like my HEA's, I walked away feeling satisfied.

I definitely recommend this one and the series as a whole.. Full of action and suspense and nasty vampires, I hope you loved it as much as I did. I do hope if they make a movie, that they do 3 separate ones. I would hate to see anything left out.

3 Holiday Novellas

2011-12-26T04:00:00.000-06:00

Today, I have 3 M/M Christmas novellas from Silver Publishing! Enjoy!

Tears for Christmas
Author: Freddy McKay
Date of Publication: December 2011

After his partner dies, Dan is left to care for their six-year-old son. Gabriel is a new volunteer at a shelter and meets a 'client' running scared. Can Gabe teach Danny to love again? Or will Dan keep running?

Tears for Christmas is a very sweet story about loss and second chances. Dan has been trying to cope with the loss of the love of his life as well as trying to raise his son. Once he meets Gabriel, he sees the possibility of a second chance at love. He only has to allow himself to reach for it.

I loved Dan and Gabe together. Gabe was so patient with Dan and I was really rooting for them. This story takes place over the span of a year. I think that this would have made a great full length novel, because I wanted to see more of the relationship between Dan and Gabriel. I felt with the length, there was somethig missing. But I was still satisfied with the HEA. I definitely recommend this one.

Mr. Popsalos
Author: Lisa Worrall
Date of Publication: December 2011

Luke Fisher has been a single parent for six years. During those six years, he has become painfully aware that the moment you reveal that you have a kid, you immediately become less dateable. Rather than set himself up for the inevitable fall, he just doesn’t date. But it doesn’t matter, because he has everything he needs; a beautiful son, a good job, and a supportive family. He doesn’t need anything or anyone else…does he?

He doesn't think so until two weeks before Christmas, when he meets Jamie in a bar while out with some colleagues. The man is undoubtedly the hottest thing Luke has ever seen and one glance into Jamie's beautiful eyes tells him the feeling is mutual. But will the attraction fade once Jamie finds out about Reggie? After an amazing night together, Luke decides to pre-empt the heartache and throws away Jamie's number, thinking he will never see him again…

As with most novellas, I wanted more after I read this one. Mr. Popsalos was a really cute story. Jamie and Luke are cute together. I loved the ending. Luke definitely gets a life lesson..don't always assume everyone will react the same when they find out you have a child. I would have liked to see more of the relationship, beyond just the hope of a HEA. But, for a quick story that leaves you with a smile, this is totally worth checking out.

White Rain
Author: J. R. Loveless
Date of Publication: December 2011

Brand has spent the last four Christmases without the one man he loves more than anything. After Kia left for college, everything changed. Can Brand forget Kia, or will Santa Claus bring him what he wants most for Christmas?

Brand has been in love with his best friend, Kia, for years. But when Kia left for college, everything between them changed. Kia stopped returning his phone calls and letters and Brand knew his friend had moved on without him. But how could he forget Kia? When he arrives home Christmas Eve to find Kia on his doorstep, his world shifts once more. Kia begs for forgiveness, a forgiveness that Brand isn't sure he has in him. Can he accept Kia's apology, or will the white rain bury his heart in ice forever?

Have you ever wanted to have a second chance with that lost love? In White Rain, Brand gets to do just that. This is a sweet story and while it is short, I felt like I got to know both characters well enough to believe their relationship. I liked the idea of the letters that Brand gets to read to see what Kia has been up to over the past four years. Give this one a shot, you won't be sorry.

The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson & Richard Dilallo

2011-12-25T05:00:00.000-06:00

Authors: James Patterson & Richard Dilallo
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company (Audio By Hachette Audio)
Date of publication:October 17th 2011

The tree is decorated, the cookies are baked, and the packages are wrapped, but the biggest celebration this Christmas is Gaby Summerhill's wedding. Since her husband died five years ago, Gaby's children have drifted apart, each one preoccupied by the turbulence in their own lives. They haven't celebrated Christmas together since their father's death, but when Gaby announces that she's getting married-and that the groom will remain a secret until the wedding day—she may finally be able to bring them home for the holidays.
But the wedding isn't Gaby's only surprise—she has one more gift for her children, and it could change all their lives forever. With deeply affecting characters and the emotional twists of a James Patterson thriller, THE CHRISTMAS WEDDING is a fresh look at family and the magic of the season.

So far, the only James Patterson books that I have read have been mysteries. The Christmas Wedding was a nice change of pace. Mr. Patterson and Richard DiLallo have made a great writing team and created a very sweet story involving family and love. Gaby announces to her kids that she is getting remarried, but the catch is that they have to come home for Christmas to find out who the groom will be. Even the groom won't find out until that day. The entire situation was handled so well and so sweetly that I just couldn't help but smile after the reveal. It also helped that out of the three suitors, she chose that one I liked the most.

I think the thing that really appealed to me the most is that her children's lives were not at all perfect. They all had issues that they were wresting with and found that turning to famly was the way to help them get through the battle. I kept finding myself rooting for them all. While not everything was solved in the end, I was left with the feeling up hope for all four families.

This is a great holiday read. The audio was great, with 4 different narrators. I thought that was a nice touch.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Farsighted by Emlyn Chand

2011-12-24T05:00:00.001-06:00

Giveaway Details:
Ms. Chand has generously offered 1 copy of Farsighted to giveaway to one lucky winner. This will be a .PDF file so it can be open internationally. I will run this until December 28. Just leave a comment with a valid e-mail address. Good Luck!

Author: Emlyn Chand
Publisher: Blue Crown Press
Publication Date: November 2011

Alex Kosmitoras’s life has never been easy. The only other student who will talk to him is the school bully, his parents are dead-broke and insanely overprotective, and to complicate matters even more, he's blind. Just when he thinks he'll never have a shot at a normal life, a new girl from India moves into town. Simmi is smart, nice, and actually wants to be friends with Alex. Plus she smells like an Almond Joy bar. Yes, sophomore year might not be so bad after all.

Unfortunately, Alex is in store for another new arrival—an unexpected and often embarrassing ability to “see” the future. Try as he may, Alex is unable to ignore his visions, especially when they begin to suggest that Simmi is in danger. With the help of the mysterious psychic next door and new friends who come bearing gifts of their own, Alex must embark on a journey to change his future.

Farsighted is the debut novel by Emlyn Chand. After reading the synopsis, I was very interested in reading it. I had high hopes for Farsighted, but I will admit that I didn't like it as much as I was hoping I would.
What I liked: I really liked the idea for this story. I haven't read many books from the point of view of a blind person. I thought that the author did a great job of getting you into Alex's life and getting a sense of how he "sees" the world. I also liked the different types of "gifteds" that were in the book. Each was unique and interesting. I especially liked Simmi's gift of being able to influence people's emotions. The twist at the end was unexpected and a nice touch to the ending.

What I didn't like: I felt like the story was a little disjointed. It didn't flow well for me. I found parts of the book were a bit slow and didn't add much to advance the story. I also thought that some of the scenarios in the story came out of nowhere and the reactions of the characters weren't ones that seemed logical to me.

The ending of Farsighted leaves room for a sequel, so I'll probably pick up the sequel when it comes out. I look forward to seeing what happens to Alex, Simmi, Shapri and Dax.

About the author:

Emlyn Chand has always loved to hear and tell stories, having emerged from the womb with a fountain pen grasped firmly in her left hand (true story). When she's not writing, she runs a large book club in Ann Arbor and is the president of author PR firm, Novel Publicity. Emlyn loves to connect with readers and is available throughout the social media interweb. Visit www.emlynchand.com for more info. Don’t forget to say “hi” to her sun conure Ducky!

Check out the trailer for Farsighted here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZjskE5zjzM&feature=youtu.be

BUY LINKS:

Amazon- http://www.amazon.com/Farsighted-Emlyn-Chand/dp/0983930805/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1

B&N- www.barnesandnoble.com/w/farsighted-emlyn-chand/1106607652

Smashwords- http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/91611

Small Town Christmas (anthology)

2011-12-24T05:00:00.000-06:00

Authors: Jill Shalvis, Hope Ramsey, and Katie Lane
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Date of Publication: November 2011

Three heartwarming holiday stories
to prove that love is the greatest gift of all

Kissing Santa Claus
NASCAR driver Logan Perrish returns to Lucky Harbor, Washington, with love in his heart and a ring in his pocket. But can Sandy Jansen forget the past and give him a second chance? Or will Logan be spending another Christmas alone?

I'll Be Home for Christmas
After ignoring the advice of Miz Miriam Randall, local matchmaker, Annie Roberts expects another hum drum holiday in Last Chance, South Carolina. But when a stray cat arrives in the arms of Army sergeant Matt Jasper, a calico named Holly just may be the best matchmaker of all.

O Little Town of Bramble
All Ethan Miller wants for Christmas is to celebrate in Bramble, Texas, with family and friends. But when his childhood neighbor, Samantha Henderson, comes home for the holiday, Ethan realizes that the girl-next-door could be the girl of his dreams.

Small Town Christmas is a short, sweet anthology with stories to get you in the mood for Christmas. Of the 3 stories, I liked Kissing Santa Claus the best. It was the only one where I felt the couple really felt anything for each other. There was enough back story between the two to feel their HEA. The other 2 stories were so-so.

I'll Be Home for Christmas, was just a little unbelievable. Stranger shows up in the town and is invited to stay with the ex-girlfriend of his best friend who was killed in action. Instant love and a HEA? Nah didn't buy it. I felt it ended too soon and it needed more development between the characters. I didn't like their HEA.

The last one, O Little Town of Bramble, was just too fast. I never felt the connection between the 2 characters. There was discussion of a long time crush on both parts, but I never felt the connection between the 2 characters. I also thought Ethan's parents were a bit cruel to their son toward the end.

Anyway, it's a quick read, something to fill the time while you are waiting for Santa to arrive.

Untraceable by S.R. Johannes

2011-12-23T05:00:00.001-06:00

by: S.R. Johannes
published by: Coleman and Stott
publish date: November 29, 2011

16 year old Grace has lived in the Smokies all her life, patrolling with her forest ranger father who taught her about wildlife, tracking, and wilderness survival.

When her dad goes missing on a routine patrol, Grace refuses to believe he’s dead and fights the town authorities, tribal officials, and nature to find him.

One day, while out tracking clues, Grace is rescued from danger by Mo, a hot guy with an intoxicating accent and a secret. As her feelings between him and her ex-boyfriend get muddled, Grace travels deep into the wilderness to escape and find her father.

Along the way, Grace learns terrible secrets that sever relationships and lives. Soon she’s enmeshed in a web of conspiracy, deception, and murder. And it’s going to take a lot more than a compass and a motorcycle (named Lucifer) for this kick-butting heroine to save everything she loves.

This is one of the kinds of books I really like. Grace is a strong female lead character, but she's still likeable. She's strong through the wilderness skills her father taught her. She's also strong in spirit and determination. This book had good little tidbits of knowledge throughout that anyone, not just the young readers, should pick up.

The story was absorbing. There were so many little subplots going on that the reader is hooked from the beginning. It's a first rate thriller which is a little unique in YA, considering it's not paranormal or anything like that. It's completely set in the real world. I found that to be refreshing.

I would definitely recommend this one. However, if you're anti-love triangle...avoid it!!

Fracture by Megan Miranda

2011-12-23T05:00:00.000-06:00

by: Megan Miranda
published by: Walker and Co.
publish date: January 17, 2012

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine-despite the scans that showed significant brain damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it?

This book ended up taking a bizarre little path I wasn't expecting. That's not to say it was a bad thing, because I found this book really impossible to put down. Fracture is a dark story, but it pulls you under and holds you to the end.

Delaney was an interesting character. I liked her. I was appropriately frustrated with the relationship between Delaney and Decker. I felt like there wasn't enough explanation about what was going on with her brain injury. There was, but maybe I'm spoiled by books like Left Neglected by Lisa Genova that give detailed information.

Overall, I thought this was a good YA book. Maybe not for the youngest YA readers, there's a few mentions of sex and language. Nothing horribly bad, but not something you might want to hand like a 12 year old. Couple that with the dark feel of the book, I think it's for the older YAs.

Throwback Thursday - The Cove by Catherine Coulter

2011-12-22T05:00:00.000-06:00

Author: Catherine Coulter
First published in 1996 by Jove

Sally St. John Brainerd is on the run from the authorities, who want to question her about her possible involvement in her father's murder. FBI Special Agent James Quinlan goes undercover in the picturesque town of The Cove-home of the World's Greatest Ice Cream-where Sally seeks sanctuary. But The Cove and its elderly residents harbor sinister secrets of their own. After Quinlan and Sally discover two dead bodies, Sally vanishes, and Quinlan turns to his partner Dillo n Savich to rescue her from a place where no one should be held. Quinlan discovers she is indeed the key to a murder-but whose murder?

The Cove by Catherine Coulter is a wild ride. I really enjoyed it! This book has so much going on in it that it is hard to talk about it without giving away major plot points. Not only is there more than one murder, there is more than one killer. Any book that keeps you on your toes is a great book. I never knew who to trust. This is a well thought out and well written mystery with a touch of romance. Any fan of Ms. Coulter should seek this one out.

The Stranger You Seek by Amanda Kyle Williams

2011-12-21T10:14:00.000-06:00

by: Amanda Kyle Williams
published by: Random House
publish date: August 30, 2011

In the sweltering heat of an Atlanta summer, a killer is pushing the city to its breaking point, preying on the unsuspecting, writing taunting letters to the media, promising more death. Desperate to stop the Wishbone Killer before another victim meets a shattering end, A.P.D. lieutenant Aaron Rauser turns to the one person he knows can penetrate a deranged mind: ex–FBI profiler Keye Street.
Keye was a rising young star at the Bureau until addiction derailed her career and her life. Now sober and fighting to stay so, Keye picks up jobs where she can get them: catching adulterers, serving subpoenas, chasing down bailjumpers, and dodging the occasional bullet. With multiple victims, little to go on, and an entire police force looking for direction, the last thing Keye wants is to be pulled into the firestorm of Atlanta’s worst nightmare.

The Stranger You Seek made it to my Top Ten of 2011. Why did it? Because Amanda Kyle Williams can write an awesome whodunit! And I loved Keye Street. I think fans of Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole will find a friend in Keye Street. She's not as morose as Harry, but she's dealing with the same demons.

I've read quite a few negative reviews of this book, but most of them seemed petty. I thought this was a solid debut book. Keye is a great character to start building a series around. This book introduced enough about her to get me interested in the next book to see what questions it might answer.

The Stranger You Seek was a book full of twist and turns. The Who is a surprise you won't be expecting. It's everything a reader wants in a thrilling mystery.

Mid-Winter's Eve Blog Hop

2011-12-21T00:00:00.000-06:00

You are at stop #28. The full list of participating blogs can be found HERE. Be sure to check out Oasis for YA when you get a chance too!

This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL. You will need to fill out the FORM below. We have decided that for this giveaway we are rewarding our followers. We are asking that you be a follower of this blog to enter the giveaway, either through GFC or Networked Blogs.

Today we have 4 different packs to choose from. 4 lucky winners will be chosen using Random.org. Good Luck!

Pack #1 - Adult Mysteries:

1 HC copy of Triple Crossing by Sebastian Rotella , 1 ARC of The Stranger You Seek by Amanda Kyle Williams, and 1 ARC of Shut Your Eyes Tight by John Verdon

Pack #2:- Debut authors:
1 review copy of Wallflower by Holly-Jane Rahlens, 1 signed copy of Cloyne Court by Dodie Katague and 1 PB coy of Delayed Flight by John J. Smith

Pack #3 - Adult Fiction:

1 PB copy of Wench by Colen Perkins-Valdez and 1 ARC of The Secret Lives of Dresses by Erin McKean.

Pack #4 - Young Adult
1 ARC of Pure by Julianna Baggott, 1 ARC of Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday, and 1 PB copy of Queens of all the Earth by Hannah Sternberg.

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway of Delayed Flight by John J. Smith

2011-12-20T04:00:00.000-06:00

Giveaway Details:
Mr. Smith has generously offered 1 copy of Delayed Flighted for us to giveaway. This is open internationally. (US winner gets a PB copy or international get e-book). Just leave a comment with a valid e-mail address below. This will run until 12/26. Good Luck!!

Author:John J. Smith
Publisher: Dark Red Press
Date of Publication: January 2011

Veronica, a widow from an abusive marriage, is looking forward to having a wonderful visit with her daughter, Jeri. It had been a year since Jeri moved away to college and Veronica cannot think of anywhere else she would rather be than spend a peaceful Christmas with Jeri.

Jared thought his day had already gone badly when his hiring proposal for consultants was put on hold. Now he finds himself stranded in a blizzard and discovers his rental car has a flat.To add insult upon injury, the keys are locked in the trunk!

When Veronica sees Jared walk into the airport terminal and takes a seat across from her, she can feel her emotions run amok bouncing somewhere between loathing and love. He was the man, whom she had loved and yet he had walked out on her. Jared on the other hand wants to do everything in his power to heal her wounds. In the deepest region of his heart, he wants to start over.

On icy roads, and deep in thought, Jeri is suddenly involved in a serious accident, and as Veronica rushes through the halls of the hospital, in search to find answers, she stumbles upon Jared. It is then Veronica realizes at that their present has brought them together shrouded in the events of their past while the doctors feverishly work to save her daughter’s life.

Delayed Flight is a very sweet story. I have to admit that when I started the book, I wasn't sure I was going to like it. The beginning was a bit slow for me, but after the second chapter, I found that I couldn't put it down. I devoured this book. I loved the characters, especially Jared. He is just such a nice guy that you can't help but root for him. Imagine carrying a torch for one woman for so long. I was hoping he would get his HEA!

While Delayed Flight is a love story, it is so much more. This book is about the past and forgiveness. It's about finding the strength to allow yourself to move beyond past hurts and mistakes and move toward a brighter future. There are a few twists in the story that I thought made it so much more enjoyable. While the end was a little predictable, I still ate it up. If you don't walk away from this book with a smile, I will be surprised.

Mr. Smith is a talented writer and I look forward to his next book!

About the author:

John writes under two names John J. Smith and pen name Jonathan Black. Why does he do this? He has been told when a reader sees his work they have an expectation, hence the two names. He has won several awards under each name.

He has been called a prolific Fiction writer. He enjoys writing romance and mainstream as John and paranormal and paranormal romance as Jonathan.

Several of his novels have been converted or rewritten into screenplays; for which he has also have won several awards.

John J. Smith resides in Plano, a suburb of Dallas, Texas. John's website

Code Blood by Kurt Kamm

2011-12-19T05:00:00.000-06:00

Author: Kurt Kamm
Publisher: MCM Publishing
Date of publication: November 2011

Colt Lewis, a rookie fire paramedic, is obsessed with finding the severed foot of his first victim after she dies in his arms. His search takes him into the connected lives of a graduate research student, with the rarest blood in the world and the vampire fetishist who is stalking her. Within the corridors of high-stakes medical research laboratories, the shadow world of body parts dealers, and the underground Goth clubs of Los Angeles, Lewis uncovers a tangled maze of needles, drugs and maniacal ritual, all of which lead to death. But whose death? An unusual and fast-paced LA Noir thriller.

When I read the synopsis for this book, I was very intrigued. After reading the book, I can say that I wasn't disappointed. Code Blood is a pretty dark, yet well written book. It was a definite change from what I have read lately. It is hard to describe without giving away the plot, so I'll let the synopsis speak for itself.

The story waffles between 3 main characters and at first I wasn't sure how they all fit together. The author did an excellent job of keeping up the suspense, yet allowed the story to unfold in a way that made sense. There were a few moments where I was cringing as I read them, talk about gross! I loved the ending and was very happy with it. Let's just say that everyone got what they rightly deserved!

I definitely recommend this book. If you are in the mood for something different and edgy, this is the book for you. Mr. Kamm has a bright future as an author and I look forward to reading more of his books.

Guest Post: Melinda Leigh

2011-12-19T04:00:00.000-06:00

Today, we have a guest post from author, Melinda Leigh, who is promoting her book, She Can Run.

Welcome Melinda!

Publisher: Montlake Romance
Publishing date: November 28, 2011

Elizabethwas a young widow with two small children when she met Congressman RichardBaker. Handsome and wealthy, with a sparkling public image, Richard seemed likethe perfect man to provide the security that Beth and her kids were craving.But when she uncovers a dangerous secret about her new husband, Beth realizeshe will go to any lengths—even murder—to keep it. After barely escaping withher life, she and her children flee. They eventually make their way to asecluded estate in the Pennsylvania countryside, where Beth dares to hope shehas found a safe place at last…

Forced into retirement by an unexpected injury,Philadelphia homicide detective Jack O’Malley is mourning the loss of hiscareer when his uncle abruptly dies, leaving Jack to dispose of his crumblingcountry house. Unbeknownst to him, his uncle engaged a caretaker just beforehis death, a mysterious woman with two children and a beautiful face thathaunts his dreams. Determined to know her, Jack begins an investigation into Beth’spast. When he uncovers the shocking truth, and a local woman is viciouslymurdered, Jack puts his own life on the line to keep Beth and her childrensafe.

She Can Run is a sexy, satisfying debut from award-winning authorMelinda Leigh, packed with enough suspense and romance to get even the tamestheart racing!

Melinda writes:

What inspired me to write my book?

I want to thank my hosts at From the TBRPile for having me on their blog today to celebrate the recent release of my debutnovel, SHE CAN RUN. It’s so exciting toshare this experience with readers.

How much impact can words have? How can mere words on a page transport areader into a whole new world?

Questions like these fascinated me. I’ve always been a rabid reader, devouringhorror stories, mysteries, thrillers and romances by the scores.

When my children were small, I didn’t have enough time tothink about producing a story. I could barely stay awake long enough to readsomeone else’s book.

I’m not much of a TV person. Watching is too passive forme. TV doesn’t hold my attention. So I read. A lot. Reading kept me sanethrough 6 months of colic, though years of diapers and laundry, entire weekswhen the most intelligent thing I did all day was identify a mystery stain onthe carpet.

But those years passed in a blur. My kids went to school. As much as I lovethem, having a few hours to myself every day was bliss, especially on the heelsof seven years of not being able to so much as shower without a small person intow. About 3 months into my youngestchild’s first grade year, though I started getting antsy. Again, it takes a lot to hold my attention.

So I turned all that energy and time into writing a book.For a long time, it was my secret and strange hobby. For inspiration, I turned to the news. A headline about how common it is for abusivehusbands and boyfriends to defy protection orders gave me my heroine. The fact that Beth could easily in real lifesuffer this same fate provided her motivation. The dangerous nature of her situation is clear from the beginning. Herfear is real from the first sentence on page one.

I started this book as a mom with young children. The factthat it was easy to identify with Beth’s instinctive need to protect herchildren helped me infuse it with emotions as real as the tragic events thatinspired her character.

Want to know more about me or my debut book, SHECAN RUN? Check out my website, MelindaLeighAuthor.com. Readers can also connect with me on Facebook & Twitter.

Thanksfor reading!

About the Author:

More than a decade ago, Melinda Leigh left a career in banking to raise her children and never looked back. She started writing when her youngest child entered first grade as a way to preserve her sanity. Her paranormal romance and romantic suspense fiction has won writing awards across the country, including The Gateway to the Best Contest, The Marlene Award, Where the Magic Begins, Put Your Heart in a Book, and The Golden Gateway 1st Round Grand Prize.

Melinda is also an avid martial artist. She holds a 2nd degree belt in Kenpo Karate, studies Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and teaches women’s self-defense. She lives in a messy house in the suburbs with her husband, two teenagers, a couple of dogs and one neurotic cat with an inexplicable fear of ceiling fans. With such a pleasant life, she has no explanation for the sometimes dark and disturbing nature of her imagination.

Click Banner for tour website

Hater by David Moody

2011-12-18T07:46:00.000-06:00

by: David Moody
published by: St. Martin's Griffin
publish date: April 13, 2010

REMAIN CALM DO NOT PANIC TAKE SHELTER WAIT FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS THE SITUATION IS UNDER CONTROL Society is rocked by a sudden increase in the number of violent assaults on individuals. Christened 'Haters' by the media, the attackers strike without warning, killing all who cross their path. The assaults are brutal, remorseless and extreme: within seconds, normally rational, self-controlled people become frenzied, vicious killers. There are no apparent links as a hundred random attacks become a thousand, then hundreds of thousands. Everyone, irrespective of gender, age, race or any other difference, has the potential to become a victim - or a Hater. People are afraid to go to work, afraid to leave their homes and, increasingly, afraid that at any moment their friends, even their closest family, could turn on them with ultra violent intent. Waking up each morning, no matter how well defended, everyone must now consider the fact that by the end of the day, they might be dead. Or perhaps worse, become a killer themselves. As the status quo shifts, ATTACK FIRST, ASK QUESTIONS LATER becomes the order of the day... only, the answers might be much different than what you expect....

My first experience with David Moody was Autumn, the zombie book that never uses the Z word. That book made me realize that zombie books aren't bad, they aren't all for the "Dungeons & Dragons" set. Don't be distracted by that, Hater isn't a zombie book. The people in Hater are infected with rage and violence.

My initial reaction to this book was that I hated Danny. The reader sees everything through Danny's eyes and he is the most miserable human being I've ever encountered. He hates his job, he hates his life, he hates where he lives, and at times he hates his family. After awhile though, it works! The whole mood of misery and unhappiness gets worse and worse until it explodes.

Hater is the first book in a Trilogy. The second book is Dog Blood and the third is Them or Us. I will eventually get to the other two. I listened to this one on audiobook and it was pretty good, so I'll probably seek out the other ones on audiobook as well.