Monthly Archives:: March 2014

Review and Interview: The All You Can Dream Buffet: A Novel by Barbara O’Neal

March 22, 2014 Uncategorized 15

Morning everyone. Happy Saturday! I hope you all will be enjoying your weekend. It’s been a crazy month of March and I for one glad that it is almost over. I got a special guest on my blog today. I had a chance to interview Barbara O’Neal and am for one excited about her new release and the interview. Read on to see my review of her new book. While you are doing it, I am probably on my way to a memorial service this weekend. So sorry for the slow comments, it really has been quiet a month.

1.Where
did the idea of blogger and foodie queen Lavender Wills come from?
She
is one of those characters who just walked on the stage of my
imagination when I needed her. I had the lavender farm in mind, but
not really much else, and there she was striding along with her dogs
around the perimeter of the fields.
2.
How would you describe Lavender to people that have not yet met her?
She
is a woman who has never let anything get in the way of living life
exactly as she wants to live it, not when she was a young woman in
the 60s and became a “stewardess” and had adventures around the
world, or when she uprooted the hazelnut trees at her family’s farm
to plant lavender, or even when she was in her 70s and decided to
learn to blog. She is a powerful woman because she sees life clearly
and doesn’t let things get in her way.
3.
Why did you chose to integrate food into your novels?
It
was never really a choice—my novels have always revolved around
kitchens, food, gardens, cooking, the hearth/heart of a home. I love
to cook and garden and feed everyone around me, so it’s a pretty
natural extension of my life.
4.
I noticed you liked to blog about food and drink on your blog :)
would you like to tell us about your worse food experiment?
I
have had so many terrible failures! It took me years to understand
that failing was part of the process, that you have to flop to figure
out what works and what doesn’t and experimenting is the soul of a
great cook. Sometimes experiments…don’t work.

Worst
failure(s): trying to make Yorkshire pudding at 7000 feet. The
chemistry is a pain

Also, the first 12 attempts to make a
really delicious, rich, meaty-tasting vegan shepherd’s pie for this
book. I wanted something good enough that meat eaters would not
complain—or even notice.

5.
How about your best food experiment?
Oh,
by far the duck tamales with cherry mojo that I made for The Lost
Recipe for Happiness. My husband is my slave for life over those
tamales!
6.
What do you like most about writing the books in your chosen genre?
I
love the moments of change in women’s lives, from little girls who
suddenly find they can’t do what they want to because they’ve
suddenly become “young women,” through the challenges of identity
(work, men, study, marriage, friends….what?) in the late teens and
twenties, into the problems and challenges of marriage, divorce,
families of middle aged women, and into the idea of reconciliation
and new adventures that show up for older women. It’s endlessly
fascinating and challenging, and really, I love to think about being
with a woman reader who needs a break, holding her hand, opening a
door to an escape. That’s very satisfying.
7.
What do you ultimately hope your readers will take away from your
book/s?
That
they are not alone, whatever problems they face, and whatever they
face, they can get through it. Also, a good meal is going to make you
feel well-tended and better able to tackle almost anything.
8.
Which one of your books would you say you had the most fun writing?
I
had a blast with The All You Can Dream Buffet. I took a road trip
with my cousin, and we visited an organic farm and a lavender farm
and stayed in the supposedly haunted and really funky McMinville’s
Hotel Oregon and ate a ton of great food in great restaurants. It was
a great weekend, truly. One of my favorite interviews ever was with
Chrissie Manion Zaerpoor, who spend two hours with us and showed us
around Kookolan Farm and World Meadery. I just wanted to be her—and
although she’s many decades younger than Lavender, I’m pretty
sure she’ll be capable, powerful and striding around her farm when
she’s 85.
9.
If you could visit any country in the world based on their food
culture. Where would you go?
Italy
always wins. There is such a passion for wine and taking time, fresh
food, and sitting forever over a meal. Pure heaven!
10.
What do you have next in store for us readers? :)
I’m
in the early stages of a book about two women at different stages of
their lives who are drawn together over a mysterious little girl. I
don’t want to give too much away, but there are peaches and pickles
and some legends I love…..

The All You Can Dream Buffet by Barbara O’Neal

Published March 4th 2014
by Bantam

Paperback, 380 pages

Series: Stand-Alone


Genre: Chick-Lit
Heat Rating: Kissing to somewhat Steamy.

Source:  I got a copy of this book from the publicist in exchange of an honest review.
Amazon | The Book Depository |  Goodreads

Summary from Goodreads


Popular blogger and
foodie queen Lavender Wills reigns over Lavender Honey Farms, a serene
slice of organic heaven nestled in Oregon wine country. Lavender is
determined to keep her legacy from falling into the profit-driven hands
of uncaring relatives, and she wants an heir to sustain her life’s work
after she’s gone. So she invites her three closest online friends—fellow
food bloggers, women of varied ages and backgrounds—out to her farm.
She hopes to choose one of them to inherit it—but who?

There’s
Ginny, the freckle-faced Kansas cake baker whose online writing is
about to lead her out of a broken marriage and into a world of sensual
delights. And Ruby, young, pregnant, devoted to the organic movement,
who’s looking for roots—and the perfect recipe to heal a shattered
heart. Finally, Val, smart and sophisticated, a wine enthusiast who
needs a fresh start for her teenage daughter after tragedy has rocked
their lives. Coming together will change the Foodie Four in ways they
could never have imagined, uniting them in love and a common purpose. As
they realize that life doesn’t always offer a perfect recipe for
happiness, they also discover that the moments worth savoring are
flavored with some tears, a few surprises, and generous helping of joy.

Four blogger friends meet popular blogger and foodie queen Lavender Wills when she invites them to her Lavender Honey Farms. Lavender Wills has owned the Lavender Honey Farms for years, it is her legacy that she worked very hard on raising and making it into what it is today. But Lavender knows that she will not be around forever and her farm is in trouble if something happens to her and it falls into the wrong hands. So she invites her three closest friends in order to choose which one of them would inherit her farm.
What I liked about the book
- The writing. Barbara O’Neal really knows how to bring the story and the characters to life. From the very first page that I opened the book I found myself completely engrossed. I also found myself very involved with the story and the characters that made it. It was a very character driven book, and I was glad that I walked away connecting with the characters. It made the book that much more rewarding for me.
- That being said, I really enjoyed the characters in the book. From Lavender to Ruby, to Ginny, to Val. Each one was different in what they bought to the story and the problems that they had to deal with. In a way I think each of their stories felt like something some of us understood in one point or another, rather it is from experience personally or through another friends eyes. I liked the age range that O’Neal has used and that different problems that each one of them had to combat. It shows that it doesn’t matter what age you are, life will choose what it will present you with.
- I liked that it was a light read. After reading some heavy stuff, this was a refreshing take. Yes, it had some parts in the book that made me really feel for these women, but the story itself was quiet wonderful and flowed very well. I liked watching Ruby grow as a character through the book. She is the youngest of the group and is pregnant with her ex-boyfriends baby. Ruby has went through a lot as a child, a cancer survivor who was never suppose to be able to have kids. Now her boyfriend of many years dumps her. Yes, she is quiet emotional and dramatic about her breakup at first, but continues to grow and forget about him through the book. Plus now there is a Noah in the picture, and oh my is he swoon worthy.
- Ginny! I loved Ginny. I loved that she was a middle aged woman who has never been out of her small town in Kansas. I loved that she finally took charge to break out of her shell and haul in her car and trailer cross country to make it to the Lavender farms. Ginny’s story is quiet heart-breaking as well. With a failing marriage and a husband that makes her kind of miserable, I was surprised she stuck around for as long as she had. Proud for her by the end of the book I was!
- The little recipes and blog posts in between some chapter was a creative touch and I really enjoyed it!
Not so much…
- Ruby’s reaction to her boyfriend breaking up with her was a little silly and over the top at times. But I guess I understand. She has been with the jerk for a really long time and then he gets up and leaves her for another woman.
- Ginny’s choice to see the fire was kind of an odd moment for me, but at the same time it showed that she can still makes mistakes.
There wasn’t much that made me scratch my head. I was sure there was a thing or two more but I guess they were so minor that I really don’t remember. None of this was really anything that I disliked, just more of something I guess I did not understand.
Overall, I found this to be a very enjoyable read. It had friendship, a bit of a ghostly visiting, and of course sprinkled with a touch of romance. A joyful and warm read!

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Bewitching Book Tours: Captured by the Pirate Laird by Amy Jarecki

March 21, 2014 Uncategorized 13

Captured
by the Pirate Laird
Highland
Force
Book
One
Amy
Jarecki
Genre:
Scottish Historical Romance
Date
of Publication: 2/17/14
Number
of pages: 342
Word
Count: 96,600
Cover
Artist: Kim Killion

Book
Description:
Wed
by proxy to a baron old enough to be her grandfather, Lady Anne
trudges up the gangway of a galleon that will deliver her into the
arms of a tyrant. Crestfallen, she believes her disastrous life
cannot get worse—until she awakes to the blasts of cannon fire.
Facing
certain death, Anne trembles in her stateroom while swords clash and
the chilling screams of battle rage on the deck above. When a rugged
Highlander kicks in her door, she prays for a swift end.

But
Laird Calum MacLeod has a reason for plundering the ship—and it’s
not a stunning English lass. With no other choice, he takes Anne to
his crumbling keep on the isle of Raasay and sends a letter of ransom
to her husband. In time, Anne grows to understand MacLeod’s plight
and finds it increasingly difficult to resist Calum’s unsettling
charm—until the baron sends a reply agreeing to terms.

Ripped
from passion that will be forever seared into their souls, will Anne
and Calum risk everything for love?
Excerpt:

She
turned and caught him staring. He bowed and his heart melted when she
smiled—a smile with dimples that could light up the horizon. He
half expected Anne to turn up her pert little nose and head the other
way.
Before
he could persuade himself otherwise, Calum pattered down the steps
and stood beside her. She watched the sunset and her warmth pulled
him close like a magnet.
“’Tis
beautiful,” she said when the sky shone with orange and pink,
highlighted against the strips of clouds that sailed toward the ship.
He
inhaled. Her scent ever so feminine, Calum inclined his head to
capture more of it. “Aye, milady.”
She
placed her hand on the rail. Again his reflexes took over and he
rested his palm atop it. Calum expected her to snatch it away, but
she did not. Her fingers were cold and he held his much warmer hand
there as a comfort. They stood in silence as the sun glowed
orange-red on the horizon. He wanted to stand there forever—touching
her. Barely breathing, he watched the sun disappear and held his hand
still, unwilling to move it.
The
sun was replaced by darkness. Lady Anne slipped her hand out from
under his and the dark of the evening took up residence inside him.
She was not his to lust after. “May I walk you to your stateroom?”
“Yes.”
Her voice sounded husky. Had she felt the connection too? Of course
not.
Calum
offered his arm and that same small, cold hand grasped it. “We’ll
arrive at Raasay in the morning.”
“Our
destination?”
“Aye.”
“Bran
told me.”
Secrets
were impossible to keep on a ship. “I will send a letter of ransom
to yer husband upon our arrival.” He didn’t like how that
sounded—ye are my prisoner until Lord Wharton pays for your
release. But that’s how it had to be. If he sailed up the mouth of
the River Aln, he would incite yet another war between Scotland and
England—and this time his countrymen might side with the enemy.
When
they stepped into the corridor, warm air relaxed the tension in his
shoulders.
Anne
stopped outside her cabin door, breasts straining against her bodice
with every breath. “I’ve never met him.”
Calum
forced himself to concentrate on her face. “Who?”
“Lord
Wharton.”
“What?
How?”
“We
were wed by proxy. My uncle made the arrangements.”
Ah
Jesus. Calum understood the way of highborn marriages, arranged for
the trade of lands and riches. “Ye ken he’s old enough to be your
father?”
“He’s
three times my age plus one year to be exact. His children are older
than I.”
A
hundred questions flooded his mind. “Why?” he clipped with
shocked disbelief.
Anne
nodded as if fully understanding his monosyllabic inquiry. “I’m
told the Baron fancied me from across Westminster Abbey during the
Queen’s coronation.”
“No.”
She doesn’t even know the bastard. That’s why she wears no ring.
“Yes.
My uncle said he kissed my hand, yet so many lords greeted me on that
trip to London, I’m at a loss to place him.”
The
despair in her lovely eyes twisted around his heart. “Mayhap ye
will remember if we playact it.” With a halfcocked grin, Calum
reached for her hand. His mouth went dry when her silken skin met the
rough pads of his fingertips. Though a grown woman, her fingers were
fine and delicate.
When
she didn’t pull away, he moistened his lips and bowed. Hovering
above her hand, the soft scent of honeysuckle mixed with her—the
unmistakable scent of woman now more captivating than it had been on
the deck—ignited his insides as if she stood naked before him.
Closing his eyes, he touched his lips to the back of her hand and
kissed. Anne’s sharp inhale made his skin shiver with gooseflesh.
She did not try to pull away but remained so still, her pulse beat a
fierce rhythm beneath.
Calum
held his lips there longer than necessary. He wanted this moment to
linger. He wanted a memory he could cherish long after she was gone.
His eyes locked with hers as he straightened. Her lips parted
slightly, almost as if asking him to kiss her mouth, but he knew she
wouldn’t want that.
He
stood for a moment not saying a word. She did too.
“Any
recollection?” His voice rasped.
“No.”
Her voice low, she then blinked as if snapping back to the present.
“You mustn’t ever do that again.”
“Apologies,
milady.” Grinning, he opened her door and bowed, though he did not
regret her lack of recall.
Anne
stepped into her stateroom. Calum could not pull his gaze away until
the door closed and blocked the bewilderment reflected in her
sapphire eyes. Calum waited a moment and stared at the hardwood
door—the same one he had kicked in five nights ago. What the hell
was he doing?
He
ground his teeth and headed back to the quarterdeck. He needed to get
the lady out of his life. She was not his to care for. Worst of all,
she had wed the enemy.
About
the Author:
Amy
has won multiple writing awards and lives in Utah with her husband,
Bob. She writes contemporary romance and Scottish historical romance.
For fun, she hikes, bikes and plays a mean game of golf. Born in
California, Amy holds an MBA from Heriot-Watt University in
Edinburgh, Scotland.



 





Twitter:
@amyjarecki






Tour Wide giveaway  
10 eBook copies Captured by the Pirate Laird by Amy Jarecki
2 signed print copies open to US Shipping
4 SWAG packets each including a $5 Amazon gift card open to US Shipping


a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Review: Night of the Hunter (Companions Codex #1) by R.A. Salvatore

March 19, 2014 Uncategorized 11

Night of the Hunter (Companions Codex #1) by R.A. Salvatore

Published
March 4th 2014
by Wizards of the Coast

Hardcover, 352 pages

Series: Companions Codex


Genre: Fantasy/Dungeons and Dragons
Heat Rating: Kissing

Source:  I got a copy of this book from the publicist in exchange of an honest review.
Amazon | The Book Depository |  Goodreads

Summary from Goodreads


R.A. Salvatore’s New York Times best-selling
saga continues as dark elf Drizzt Do’Urden returns to Gauntlgrym with
old friends by his side once again, as they seek to rescue Bruenor’s
loyal shield dwarf-turned-vampire. But not only do Drizzt and his allies
face a perilous journey through the Underdark and the dangers of the
undead that lie within, but they must cross through a colony of drow,
who would like nothing better than to see Drizzt Do’Urden dead.

At first when I realized R.A Salvatore
was resurrecting the old cast of characters for a reboot, I was
disappointed. This was getting repetitive. I’ve read this book
before, but less than a chapter in I found it didn’t matter, while I
really enjoy heavy dark fantasy novels where characters are killed
off in droves and no-one is safe from their unstable and oft
tyrannical author, Salvatore’s fantasy series is lighter fare, and
I find myself enjoying every book just as much as the first.
Drizzt is reunited with his fallen
companions. Regis, while far more formidable in his new reincarnation
still stumbles into trouble that can get them all killed. Bruenor
blusters and adds a ferocious counterpoint to Drizzt’s wisdom and
introspection. And Entrari goes his own way as always, yet the
comforting predictability never takes away from the fact that this is
still my all time favorite fantasy series, set in my favorite fantasy
realm, and it continues to get better. The series gets better
because the author truly loves his creations, Salvatore breathes life
into his characters as though they were his own family, and I suspect
in a way they are.
My only complaint is that the books are
often too short, I get caught up in the story and have to wait a year
for the next 400 pages. But I truly love this story and recommend it
to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy read. But do yourself a favor,
as daunting as it may seem start at the beginning with the Dark Elf
Trilogy, and read it chronologically. Then when the 2nd
book of this trilogy is almost on the shelves, you’ll be just
finishing this excellent newest piece of the epic saga, and won’t
have to wait as long as I do for the next piece.

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Leaping Leprechauns & Frolicking Fairies: The All Things Irish Blog Hop

March 17, 2014 Uncategorized 8

Yay for my very first blog hop! When I saw this one I knew I couldn’t help myself :) It’s hosted by two wonderful ladies Candace from Candace’s Book Blog  and Ginny from Gin’s Book Notes.
I hope you can join me in celebrating st.paddy’s day with all things green, magic and faeries!
I am offering for my stop for you a choice of an ebook from amazon for under $8 (max) as long as it’s somehow related to Faeries or all things Irish. Green covered books are okay too!
Please enter the rafflecopter below to enter. Open to anyone 13+ or older. International giveaway. Prize must be clean and family friendly.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Deborah Swift Book Blast

March 16, 2014 Uncategorized 10

HF Virtual Book Tours is delighted to introduce you to historical novelist Deborah Swift! Deborah’s acclaimed novels are set in turbulent seventeenth century England and have been described as “brilliant” and “a must for all readers looking for something out of the ordinary but grippingly alive”. Her previous life as a scenographer and costume designer shine through as the settings are beautifully evoked, immersing the reader in the sights and smells of the time.
Deborah’s multi-layered and engrossing historical adventures will make perfect picks for reading groups. Reading Group Guides can be conveniently found in the back of each book and on her website.
Find more information on Deborah’s novels below and enter to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card (£15 UK)!

The Lady’s Slipper

Publication Date: June 3, 2011
Pan MacMillan
Formats: Ebook, Paperback

England, 1660.

The King is back, but memories of the English Civil War still rankle. In rural Westmorland, artist Alice Ibbetson has become captivated by the rare Lady’s Slipper orchid. She is determined to capture it’s unique beauty for posterity, even if it means stealing the flower from the land of the recently converted Quaker, Richard Wheeler. Fired by his newfound faith, the former soldier Wheeler feels bound to track down the missing orchid. Meanwhile, others are eager to lay hands on the flower, and have their own powerful motives.
Margaret Poulter, a local medicine woman, is seduced by the orchid’s mysterious herbal powers, while Geoffrey Fisk, Alice’s patron and former comrade-in-arms of Wheeler, sees the valuable plant as a way to repair his ailing fortunes and cure his own agonizing illness. Fearing that Wheeler and his friends are planning revolution, Fisk sends his son Stephen to spy on the Quakers, only for the young man to find his loyalties divided as he befriends the group he has been sent to investigate.
Then, when Alice Ibbetson is implicated in a brutal murder, she is imprisoned along with the suspected anti-royalist Wheeler. As Fisk’s sanity grows ever more precarious, and Wheeler and Alice plot their escape, a storm begins to brew, from which no party will escape unscathed. Vivid, gripping and intensely atmospheric, The Lady’s Slipper is a novel about beauty, faith and loyalty.

Praise for The Lady’s Slipper

“The novel grips from the opening lines and carries the interest throughout. The several plot-lines are seamlessly blended and come together in a wholly satisfying conclusion. Her characters are so real that they linger in the mind long after the book is back on the shelf. Highly recommended.” - Historical Novels Review Magazine
“Recommended for fans of Philippa Gregory and Rose Tremain, as well as students of the English Civil War.” - Library Journal
“The intertwined stories of the orchid’s fate, the mounting problems between the Quakers and the King’s men, and Alice’s murder trial and its aftermath make for a riveting narrative.” - For the Love of Books Blog

The Gilded Lily

Publication Date: September 13, 2012
Pan MacMillan
Formats: Ebook, Paperback

Westmorland, 1660.

Sadie Appleby has lived all her life in her small village. One night she is rudely awoken by her older and bolder sister, Ella, who has robbed her employer and is on the run. The girls flee their rural home of Westmorland to head for London, hoping to lose themselves in the teeming city. But the dead man’s relatives are in hot pursuit, and soon a game of cat and mouse begins.
Ella becomes obsessed with the glitter and glamour of city life and sets her sights on the flamboyant man-about-town, Jay Whitgift. But nothing is what it seems – even Jay Whitgift.
Can Sadie survive a fugitive’s life in the big city? But even more pressing, can she survive life with her older sister Ella?
Set in London’s atmospheric coffee houses, the rich mansions of Whitehall, and the pawnshops, slums and rookeries hidden from rich men’s view, The Gilded Lily is about beauty and desire, about the stories we tell ourselves, and about how sisterhood can be both a burden and a saving grace.

Praise for The Gilded Lily

“There is no greater compliment than ‘Give me more!’ A delight.” - Susanna Gregory
“The Gilded Lily is impeccably written historical fiction. The detail is superb and life in London is so vividly depicted that the city seems to take on its own persona and become a lurking character in the story.” - Let Them Read Books
“A heart-rending story of two sisters on the run, searching for a better life. Beautifully written and meticulously researched, the novel drew me straight into the teeming streets of Restoration London. An addictive, page-turning read.” - Mary Sharratt
“Superb dialogue, steeped in contemporary language, adds credibility and atmosphere to this compelling tale which examines the ties that bind together siblings, the consequences of greed and ambition, the fickleness of fate and women’s constant battle to survive in a man’s world. The Gilded Lily is also a fast-paced adventure peopled with ruthless villains and feisty heroines whose exploits grab the imagination and add suspense and excitement to a historical gem.” - Lancashire Evening Post

The Gilded Lily Book Trailer

A Divided Inheritance

UK Publication Date: October 24, 2013
Pan MacMillan
Formats: Ebook, Paperback

London, 1609.

Elspet Leviston’s greatest ambition is to continue the success of her father Nathaniel’s lace business. But her simple dreams are thrown into turmoil with the arrival of her mysterious cousin Zachary Deane – who has his own designs on Leviston’s Lace. Zachary is a dedicated swordsman with a secret past that seems to invite trouble. So Nathaniel sends him on a Grand Tour, away from the distractions of Jacobean London. Elspet believes herself to be free of her hot-headed relation but when Nathaniel dies her fortunes change dramatically. She is forced to leave her beloved home and go in search of Zachary – determined to claim the inheritance that is rightfully hers.
In the searing heat of Seville, Elspet and Zachary become locked in a battle of wills. But these are dangerous times and they are soon embroiled in the roar and sweep of something far more threatening, sending them both on an unexpected journey of discovery and finally unlocking the true meaning of family.

Praise for A Divided Inheritance

“a true gem. It has a pacy storyline, the characters are complex, intriguing and often unexpected – and it is packed with fascinating historical fact” - Gabrielle Kimm, author of His Last Duchess
“Elegantly written, A Divided Inheritance brings the uncertainty of the seventeenth century gloriously to life in an engaging tale of determination, tenacity and family loyalty.” - Flashlight Commentary Blog
“a multifaceted tale about the consequences of religious intolerance, the expiation of guilt, the importance of family, and the appearance of unexpected love. And swordplay! The action sequences are as sharp and dazzling as Zachary’s hand-forged blade.” - Sarah Johnson, Reading the Past

Buy the Books

Amazon UK
Amazon US
Barnes & Noble
Book Depository
Books-a-Million
Hive.co.uk
Waterstones


About the Author

Deborah Swift used to work in the theatre and at the BBC as a set and costume designer, before studying for an MA in Creative Writing in 2007. She lives in a beautiful area of Lancashire near the Lake District National Park. She is the author of The Lady’s Slipper and is a member of the Historical Writers Association, the Historical Novel Society, and the Romantic Novelists Association.

Website
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
The Riddle of Writing Blog
Royalty Free Fiction Blog
English History Authors Blog

Book Blast Schedule

Sunday, March 16
Lily Pond Reads
Kincavel Korner
Bibliophilia, Please
Passages to the Past
The True Book Addict

Monday, March 17
Mari Reads
Turning the Pages
A Chick Who Reads
Historical Fiction Connection
History from a Woman’s Perspective

Tuesday, March 18
Just One More Chapter
Susan Heim on Writing
Caroline Wilson Writes
Historical Fiction Obsession
Historical Readings & Reviews

Wednesday, March 19
Book Nerd
Broken Teepee
Literary Chanteuse
Historical Tapestry

Thursday, March 20
Book Drunkard
Mina’s Bookshelf
Curling Up By the Fire
To Read or Not to Read
Svetlana’s Reads and Views

Friday, March 21
Closed the Cover
CelticLady’s Reviews
The Little Reader Library
Books by the Willow Tree

Giveaway

To enter to win a $20 (£15 UK) Amazon Gift Card please complete the Rafflecopter giveaway form.
Giveaway will run from March 16-21. You must be 18 or older to enter.
Winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter on March 22 and notifiied via email.
Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

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YA Bound Book Tours: Sanctuary by Pauline Creeden

March 13, 2014 Uncategorized 11

 


Sanctuary by Pauline
Creeden
Release
Date: 09/10/13

200 pages
 Amazon | B&N | The Book Depository

Summary
from Goodreads:
In
a heart-racing thriller described as Falling Skies meets The Walking
Dead, Jennie struggles to find a safe place for what’s left of her
family. But it seems as though there is no place sacred, no place
secure. First the aliens attacked the sun, making it dimmer, weaker,
and half what it used to be.


Then
they attacked the water supply, killing one-third of Earth’s
population with a bitter contaminate. And when they unleash a new
terror on humankind, the victims will wish for death, but will not
find it…When the world shatters to pieces around her, will Jennie
find the strength she needs to keep going?

“What?”
Jennie followed the line of Liza’s gaze. They passed out of the
treed area, and it came into view. Silver, round, and glossy, just as
the news said it would be. It shifted in and out like a mirage. She
blinked hard at it, while Liza pulled the car over to the shoulder.
“I
can’t believe it.” The tremor in Liza’s voice betrayed her
nerves.
Jennie
nodded but didn’t say a thing. The moment reminded her of her first
glimpse of the Statue of Liberty, as they drove by it, headed for
upstate New York. From the highway, the statue had looked like a toy
on the horizon. Her heart had leapt in her chest then, just as it did
now. It’s one thing to be told about something, and even see
pictures of it on TV, but it was quite another to take it in with
your own eyes.
She
tore her gaze away from the strange, floating metal disk and saw that
Liza’s was the last in a long line of cars that had pulled over on
the shoulder. Some people had even stepped out of their cars to take
pictures with their camera phones. Liza hopped out, and Jennie gave a
grumbled response to the closing door. Even though fear gripped her
insides, she unbuckled and jumped out after her friend.
Liza
clicked away with her camera phone, standing in awe with the others.
The look of the disk rotating in the sky, blocking out the half-lit
sun, was enough to make Jennie want to scream and hide under her bed
covers. She could understand, now, why so many were running for the
hills. Shivers ran up her spine and gooseflesh popped up her arms.
“Liza,
what are you doing here?” a man asked. The sun glinted off the
golden highlights in his brown hair. He looked vaguely familiar.
“Mr.
Harris.” A blush rose to Liza’s cheeks.
Jennie
blinked and studied the man. Yep. Hot Mr. Harris, the Bio
teacher and every senior girl’s crush. Her friend, Terra, had taken
the class with him last year. Jennie shoved her hands into her
pockets and averted her gaze from the thrumming metal disk less than
a half mile away.
“You
girls shouldn’t be here, you know. It’s not safe, and I’m sure
your parents wouldn’t approve,” Mr. Harris admonished but gave
them a half smile.
Was
that a dimple? Had she ever seen him smile before? Ridiculous. Of
course not. Her eyes returned to the disk, and its vibration
continued in her chest. Panic rose up in her throat again.
“Do
you think you could take a picture of us? Then we’ll leave.
Promise.” Liza handed Mr. Harris her phone and yanked Jennie toward
the metal fence line.
She
dragged her feet and shook her head. The last thing Jennie wanted to
do was get closer.
Mr.
Harris eyed her, his brows furrowed. “Did I teach you last year?
No, wait—Terra’s friend, right?”
Jennie
half nodded.
Liza
adjusted Jennie’s shoulders and wrapped her arm around them,
turning her so that her back was to the ship. Jennie stiffened. The
thrumming of the machine sent vibrations through her core. She could
hardly stand still. Prickling fear ran across her back, as if she
were being watched…or as if she was vulnerable to an attack. She
longed for the safety of the car.
Mr.
Harris frowned, his worried, sympathetic eyes fixed on Jennie’s.
“The
picture, Mr. Harris?” Liza reminded him.
“Oh,
yeah.” He lifted the camera phone and snapped it.
The
minute the flash ended, Jennie darted for the car, fumbling with the
handle, and dizzy from hyperventilating.
“Are
you okay?” Mr. Harris called after her.
“She’s
fine, and thanks for the pict—”
With
a door slam, Jennie cut off the last word and the dreadful hum of the
alien ship’s constant rotation. She slumped into the seat. The pit
of her stomach still quivered, and she felt faint. She closed her
eyes, not wanting to see or hear any more.
A
moment later, the car door opened, and Liza spoke. “Wasn’t that
the coolest thing you’ve ever seen?”
Jennie
broke into a cold sweat. “Whatever. Let’s just go home, okay?”
“Chicken.”
Liza made a few bock-bocks and flapped her elbows like wings.
Jennie
smacked Liza’s elbow when it threatened to pop her in the chin.
“Okay, whatever. Let’s just go.”
With
a shrug, Liza pulled the Volkswagen Beetle back onto the highway. She
made her way to the next exit, where she turned around. “Well, at
least I’ve got a picture of the two of us for a keepsake.”
Jennie
groaned.
“And
we got to see ‘Hot Mr. Harris.’” She giggled.
Jennie
rolled her eyes. What did her friends see in him? He was so much
older than they were—at least in his mid-twenties.
As
they passed the ship again, on Liza’s side, Jennie turned her head
away and looked out her window at the abandoned houses in those
neighborhoods. If she didn’t see the ship, it was easier to deny it
hovered there. As far as she was concerned, she’d never seen it.

About
the Author
In
simple language, Pauline Creeden creates worlds that are both
familiar and strange, often pulling the veil between dimensions. She
becomes the main character in each of her stories, and because she
has ADD, she will get bored if she pretends to be one person for too
long.

Pauline is a horse trainer from Virginia, but writing is
her therapy.

Armored Hearts, her joint effort with author
Melissa Turner Lee, has been a #1 Bestseller in Christian Fantasy and
been awarded the Crowned Heart for Excellence by InDtale Magazine.
Her debut novel, Sanctuary is scheduled for release September 30,
2013, and has already been nominated for two awards in YA Science
Fiction.

One of Pauline’s short stories has won the CCW Short
Story contest. Other short stories have been published in Fear &
Trembling Magazine, Obsidian River and Avenir Eclectia. An urban
fantasy short will appear in The Book of Sylvari: An Anthology of
Elves from Port Yonder Press, and a vampire short will appear in
Monsters! from Diminished Media Group. 

 
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selected. Winning entries will be verified for authenticity.


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Xpresso Book Tours: Beyond Our Stars by Marie Langager

March 12, 2014 Uncategorized 12

Shattered Veil (The Diatous Wars #1)  by Tracy E. Banghart
Publication date: December 19th 2013
by Bloomsbury Spark

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction


* I got a copy of this book from the tour organizer in exchange of an honest review.


Fleeing a destroyed Earth, seventeen-year-old orphan Hope grew up
living in the confines of a spaceship heading to CR-3, a new home
planet. She’s been kicking the steel walls for too long and ever since
she broke her boyfriend’s heart, touchdown could mean open air and a
fresh start. But no one expected the Locals.


Hope’s dreams of freedom turn into nightmares when the Locals trap
the humans and mark groups for observation. At any moment she can be
called into a holographic observation room for testing. Some days she’s
drowning in a strange dark ocean, some days she’s locked up without
food, and all with the one boy she can’t seem to forget.


As the Locals study Hope, she studies them. She wants to believe the
tall grey creatures could be peaceful, but as the simulations become
more dangerous, Hope is about to become the human race’s last chance for
survival.


It has been a while since I have read a science fiction novel with aliens in it, so I was kind of excited for Beyond Our Stars.
The book starts with a bang, as the first chapter gives us a quick glimpse into their current situations before giving us a few chapter’s of the back story.
Natural disaster has made Earth unlivable, so when the human race finally got news of a planet that was similar to Earth and therefor inhabitable, they packed into their ships and took off towards their destination. The journey there wasn’t easy, but the arrival proved to be a more difficult one. Especially after learning that the planet was already occupied by another life form.
A day after touching the planet, 10 people out of each group end up being marked. The crop fields disappear and all they see is metal everywhere, something they called The Stacks. Now the ‘Local’s are using the Stacks to virtually simulate environments and situations, bringing in the marked people to test them through them. It starts out fine, until things start to get a little out of control and people start to lose faith.
Interesting story. I did enjoy the plot, it was a breeze to get through, thought fast in some parts and slow in others , it was very entertaining.
The main character of the book is Hope, a 17 year old girl who has a lot of hope that the Local’s aren’t really dangerous and that eventually they will talk to them and the simulations will stop. Unfortunately for Hope, she ends up being the only one holding on to that belief even when the simulations get dangerous. Which unnerved me a little, I would have thought enough was enough myself. Plus, she ends being the wise one and the only hope for humanity, yet I couldn’t completely connect with her. Her character felt a little up and down at times and I was disappointed again that the adult’s in this book looked kind of lost and confused while a teenaged girl wasn’t.
There was romance, between Hope and Chance. It wasn’t instant but it was there from the start because the book kind of started with the fact that they were together, but Hope had other ideas for her life on the planet and none of them included marriage. So when Chance broke it off with them, it was a heart breaking moments. I did enjoy the fact that besides being very angry with her, through the simulations we get a glimpse that he still very much cares for her. Faith keeps throwing them together, providing us readers with some very sweet moments!
I flew threw the book, only to realize there might not be a sequel, which disappointed me a bit. I would have liked to see more world building. Thought packing everything into one story worked, I think it could have done even better with more. Either way, I am excited about this author who is new to me and looking forward to her future writing!

AUTHOR BIO 

Marie Langager lives in beautiful
Portland, Oregon with her husband and son. She has a B.A. in English.
She’s certain that many new adventures await us beyond our stars.

 





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Review: Take a Chance by Abbi Glines

March 8, 2014 Review 18 ★★★★★

Take a Chance (Rosemary Beach, #7) by Abbi Glines
Series: Chance #1
Published by Atria Books on February 25th 2014
Genres: NA Contemporary Romance
Pages: 288
Format: Paperback
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
Rating: 5 Stars
Heat Rating:three-half-flames
This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Abbi Glines comes the story of Grant, the sexy playboy who first captured readers hearts in Fallen Too Far.
When Harlow Manning's rocker father goes on tour, he sends her to Rosemary Beach, Florida, to live with her half-sister, Nan. The problem: Nan despises her. Harlow has to keep her head down if she wants to get through the next nine months, which seems easy enough. Until gorgeous Grant Carter walks out of Nan's room in nothing but his boxer briefs.
Grant made a huge mistake getting involved with a girl with venom in her veins. He'd known about Nan's reputation, but still he couldn't resist her. Nothing makes him regret the fling more than meeting Harlow, who sends his pulse racing. Yet Harlow wants nothing to do with a guy who could fall for her wicked half-sister—even if there are no strings between Grant and Nan. Grant is desperate to redeem himself in Harlow's eyes, but did he ruin his chances before he even met her?

 

Ahh where to begin. I have stayed up most of the night finishing this book, unable to put it down and with less than four hours of sleep I am ready to write my review.

This is Harlow’s and Grant’s story. If you have not read any of Abbi Gline’s previous books in this ‘series’ you could possibly read this one as a stand-alone because it’s a new chapter for a couple of supporting characters from her other books. Though be warned, it is filled with a bunch of characters from the books that might have you curious, wandering or slightly confused. It’s much more rewarding to read it all.

Harlow has had a difficult life, but that did not stop her from growing into a sweet well mannered girl. Until she meets Grant, her step-sister’s “boyfriend” at the time. Grant is …Grant. He is a smooth talker who lives a pretty loose life that consists of lots of women and alcohol. He has one thing he has set his eyes on and that’s the innocent Harlow Slacker Demon’s Kiro’s favorite daughter. Harlow is well aware of what kind of reputation, Grant possesses, but that doesn’t stop him from being irresistible. After sharing a special night with him, she watched Grant disappear without a word into the night - only to never hear from him again. Now, watching him walk out of her sister’s bedroom, might have been the hardest thing she has done.

Phew… What a story. A story about mistakes, and redeeming oneself. Grant is messed up. He has scared of getting close to people because after watching an incident that destroyed another friend’s life, he is afraid to feel that kind of pain. I wanted to smack Grant upside the head most of the book, that poor tortured man. I almost didn’t understand how he could give up falling in love just because he was afraid of losing someone permanently. Wouldn’t it have been better to live and love instead of waiting all your life for something that might not happen? His action in the beginning of the book pissed me off. I did not think he was stupid enough to go back to the train wreck called Nan, but I guess there was a reason behind his actions.

Sweet Harlow. Harbors a big secret on her shoulders, one she isn’t sure how to tell Grant because she is afraid he would look at her differently and sadly she was probably right. She is a strong girl and I really like her character. Despite everything that life has swung her way she still walks out of there with her head held high. The attraction between her and Grant is apparent from page one, and the chemistry that sizzles between them makes this book equally steamy. I like that Grant was relentless in not giving up on him and Harlow in the middle of the book and just when his actions made me swoon and saw him redeemable in his eyes, his reaction to her secret left me once again mad at him.

I guess the ending would be called a cliffhanger by a lot. I thought it just wrapped up the first book on a note of starting the second one was a bit of a different chapter in these people’s lives. It did leave me a bit angry at the reactions, but I couldn’t see the author cramming everything into one book. I think that would make it feel rushed.

Outside of the really bad reaction from Grant at the end of the book. I really did enjoy it. I really loved the plot, and the characters. It was so easy to fall in love with the both of them. Abbi Glines really knows how to make me feel connected to the characters with everything they were feeling and more. It took me on an emotional life and it felt great.

The only one that I still really do hate is Nan. If Glines wanted people to hate her, she has succeeded with me. That woman is a complete train wreck that needs a lot of professional help. At the same time, I feel kind of sorry for her. Her actions stem from something deep inside of her and her past that left her the way she is today. She couldn’t take watching Grant and Harlow together and her bitterness towards both of them made her quiet an evil person in this book.

I am looking forward to the next book in the series. Like a lot of hopefuls. I still hope that Grant will come out after the second book standing on a higher ground with me, because right now I am on Harlow’s side and not really sure about him anymore.

Overall: a very emotional read, with characters I found myself attached to. With chemistry that sends sparks flying out of the book, filled with a lot of sizzling scenes.

 

Hey Guys! Check out the rest of the tour stops and don’t forget to enter the giveaway at the official tour page here

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Review: Words of Radiance (The Stormlight Archive #2) by Brandon Sanderson

March 6, 2014 Uncategorized 30

Words of Radiance (The Stormlight Archive #2) by Brandon Sanderson

Published
March 4th 2014
by Tor Books

Hardcover, 1087 pages

Series: The Stormlight Archive


Genre: High Fantasy
Heat Rating: Kissing

Source:  I got a copy of this book from the publicist in exchange of an honest review.
Amazon | The Book Depository |  Goodreads

Summary from Goodreads


The eagerly awaited sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Way of Kings

Having
met the challenge of a posthumous collaboration with the great Robert
Jordan to complete his classic, bestselling fantasy series The Wheel of
Time® with three #1 New York Times bestsellers in a row,
Brandon Sanderson is at last free to return to the decade-spanning task
of creating his own multi-volume epic, one that he hopes will make a
comparable mark on the field. That epic is The Stormlight Archive and it
began in 2010 with Tor’s longest, most elaborately embellished novel
ever, The Way of Kings.
In that first volume, we were introduced to the remarkable world of Roshar, a world both alien and magical, where gigantic
hurricane-like
storms scour the surface every few days and life has adapted
accordingly. Roshar is shared by humans and the enigmatic, humanoid
Parshendi, with whom they are at war. Among those caught up in the
conflict are Brightlord Dalinar Kholin, who leads the human armies; his
sister Jasnah, a renowned scholar; her student Shallan, a brilliant but
troubled young woman; and Kaladin, a military slave who, by the book’s
end, had become the first magically endowed Knight Radiant in centuries.

In Words of Radiance
their intertwined stories will continue and, as Sanderson fans have
come to expect, develop in unexpected, wonderfully surprising
directions. The war with the Parshendi will move into a new, dangerous
phase, as Dalinar leads the human armies deep into the heart of the
Shattered Plains in a bold attempt to finally end it. Shallan will come
along, hoping to find the legendary, perhaps mythical, city of Urithuru,
which Jasnah believes holds a secret vital to mankind’s survival on
Roshar. The Parshendi take a dangerous step to strengthen themselves for
the human challenge, risking the return of the fearsome Voidbringers of
old. To deal with it all, Kaladin must learn to how to fulfill his new
role as leader of the restored Knights Radiant, while mastering the
powers of a Windrunner.

With this second book, the Stormlight
Archive grows even more richly immersive and compelling. Sanderson’s
fans, old and new, are likely to lift it at least as high on the
bestseller lists as its predecessor.

Brandon Sanderson has done something uncommon with this series. And that is used his imagination to create a fully fleshed fantasy world from scratch.  Nothing is left out, from the intertwining of the social classes to the unique variety of the flora and fauna.  He has masterfully woven a new world unlike anything I have ever read about.  I would not recommend this book to anyone planning to skip the first as you are cheating yourself out of what is to this point half the story. Also filled with gorgeous drawings scattered throughout the book that are very significant to the book and it’s plot.  Sanderson does not pause to catch you up and dives right into the first chapter as if you had just put the first book down.  The characters are deep and despite their unusual physical features, truly human to the core, with all the emotional scarring laid bare.
This is the perfect book for those of you who like your heros dark and your political intrigue bloody.
Kaladin the spearmen turned slave turned worse than a slave rises out of the muck to become something far greater than he could ever have hoped, indeed far more than he wants to be.  Battling his own demons as much as the very real ones around him to get there.
Shallan wrestles with her own turmoil as she constantly spins a web of lies to protect herself all the while running from the one deep truth that she refuses to remember.
Dalinar is a warrior, struggling to become something that his class has all but forgotten, a truly good man. 
While all the while a shadowy assassin is haunted by the things he’s done and continues to do.
Through these characters stories we gain a broader view of a world torn by war, forsaken by gods and steeped in  political injustice.  Yet despite all this the hope for a better world is never lost.  A truly masterful piece of writing, I only put it down to sleep.
Now I could sit here and farther rehash the plot, but it’s not something I could talk about lightly without giving too much away. I could almost just talk about it all day or give you the pleasure of finding out the unbelievably amazing world built by Sanderson yourself. I am eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series and farther growth and expansion of characters to see where Brandon Sanderson will take them from here on.

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Xpresso Book Tours: Shattered Veil (The Diatous Wars #1) by Tracy E. Banghart

March 5, 2014 Uncategorized 20

Shattered Veil (The Diatous Wars #1)  by Tracy E. Banghart
Publication date: February 28th 2014
Genres: New Adult, Science Fiction

* I got a copy of this book from the tour organizer in exchange of an honest review.


For Aris, a talented wingjet pilot, war
means sacrificing everything: her home, her name, her face—and the one
promise she swore she’d never break.

In the small village of Lux,
everyone flies wingjets, but nobody flies them like Aris Haan. When
she’s not dancing through the skies, she’s spending every minute with
Calix, whom she’s loved since childhood. They plan to Promise, but
instead he is sent to defend their dominion against a bloody
invasion. Determined not to lose him, Aris follows, joining an
underground network of women inside the male-only military. Using secret
technology that allows her to pass as a man, she becomes “Aristos”, a
Flyer in a search-and-rescue unit.

As Aris grows stronger on the
battlefield and more comfortable in her guise as Aristos, her personal
mission becomes less and less clear. When she and her enigmatic
commander, Major Vidar, uncover an astonishing conspiracy that could
destroy everything, she must make a choice that will determine not only
the fate of her heart, but the future of her dominion.

Aris cleared her throat, swallowing against the perpetual lump made by the voice modulator. “We’re both stupid, you know,” she said wryly. “Doing this, coming here for them.”
Dysis raised a brow and looked ready to argue, but Aris continued, “But it’s okay. Because in the meantime, while we’re looking…” she paused, thinking of Dianthe. “We’re going to save a lot of people.”
Dysis broke into a sudden, only mildly bitter laugh. “You’re a real romantic, aren’t you?”
Aris smiled and shrugged. “Just ask my friends back home. Practically the moment Calix was Selected, they were telling me to move on, ring around. Thought I was silly for not letting go.” Except for Phaedra, who had Rakk and understood. Aris wondered what she’d think now. “But I am a romantic,” she said, “I don’t care what anyone says. I want to believe things will work out. I’ll be with Calix. You’ll find your brother—”
“We’ll win this war.” Dysis’s voice was quiet, her face serious. No hint of bitterness or sarcasm. In that moment, the look they shared forged them as sector mates – friends – as surely as any two soldiers in any dominion, in any time. In any war.
“Yeah,” Aris echoed softly. “We’ll win the war.”
Dysis gave herself a little shake and laughed. “We better finish up. Lights out any minute now.” They replaced their veils and with a nearly imperceptible shimmer of air, their curves smoothed and faces hardened. As if on cue, the room plunged into darkness, a faint glow along the floor of the washroom the only hint of light.
In the dark, they felt their way to their cots. Aris sighed as she sank onto the hard bed. She was exhausted. Every moment of the day she’d worried she’d slip up, say the wrong thing or move the wrong way. She’d been sure everyone would see through her disguise to her real face and her real motives.
And tomorrow, with the physical trials and combat training, it would be even worse.
“Goodnight, Dysis,” she whispered into the darkness.
“Goodnight, Aristos.”
That night Aris dreamed, as she so often did, of flying. Only this time Calix had been captured. She flew over the endless deserts of Safara seeking him until, in a great flash of light, she was shot down. The earth rushed toward her, a terrifying golden blur.
She woke, soaked in sweat and shivering with fear.

AUTHOR BIO 
Tracy E. Banghart is a cheesy movie–loving, fantasy
football–playing (go Ravens!), globe-trotting Army wife who
began “practicing” her craft at the age of five, when she wrote her
first story. She loves visiting the international friends she met while
pursuing her MA in Publishing and spends a portion of every summer at
her family’s cabin in Canada, where she finds inspiration and lots of
time to relax on the dock. She lives with her husband, son, two lazy
dogs and one ornery cat. When not writing or spending time with
her family, she is on a mission to bake the perfect cupcake.

Tour wide giveaway
4 prizes: 
-$50 Amazon gift card (INTL) 
-3x
“swag packs” which will include: a notebook, magnet, button, 2 signed
bookmarks, and Shattered Veil-themed temporary tattoos - picture
attached. (US/CAN)

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