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Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Firefly Beach by Meira Pentermann

Reading Addiction Blog Tours

Synopsis:
When Beth LaMonte rents a cottage on the coast of Maine, she wishes only to withdraw and paint. A mysterious ball of light disturbs her peace and leads her to a secret beach where she finds the diary of a girl who disappeared in 1975. Now Beth is on a mission, not only to bury her own past, but to put to rest the spirit of Firefly Beach.




Review:
Firefly Beach is an excellent summer read.  The heroine of the book, Beth LaMonte, moves to a small Coastal town after suffering a loss and going through some personal struggles.  Beth hopes to rebuild her life and fulfill her personal dream of becoming an artist.  Along the way, with the assistance of a supernatural being (the firefly), Beth discovers an old diary.  The diary belonged to a young woman that disappeared decades ago.  As Beth delves further into the journal, she becomes caught up in the story and becomes focused on finding out what happened to the young woman.
Throughout the book, Beth grows as a person and we get to see a lot of development of her character.  There is also a cast of interesting and unusual secondary characters, as well as the author of the diary, Katherine.  Each character is facing their own issues, and we glimpse into their lives and see their personal struggles and how they are dealing with them.
The plot is well developed and the mystery well played.  The book moved along at a good pace for me, and I read it in a couple sittings.  The author does an excellent job at painting pictures with words, and I could visualize the town and the beach the story takes place in.  I give this book 4 out of 5 stars, and hope you will take the time to read it yourself.  It makes great beach reading.



Author Bio

Photobucket

On slow, snowy days in her Colorado home, Meira Pentermann enjoys cozying up on the couch with a novel. Naturally, snow is not a requirement; neither is the couch. In fact, she sees no reason not to indulge in reading three-hundred-and-sixty-five days a year. Apocalyptic science fiction, mysteries, and young adult titles top her Kindle list, but legal thrillers and chik-lit make an appearance now and then.
When not absorbed in writing or reading, Meira enjoys life’s little moments with her family – the love and devotion of her black lab, the quiet wisdom of her artistic twenty-one-year-old, the trials and triumphs of her petite sixth grader, and the unlimited encouragement offered by her Dutch husband.
Meira strives to write stories that deliver the unexpected. She prefers down-to-earth characters that look and behave like regular folks. The prom queen and Adonis take a backseat to reclusive, soul-searching heroines and quirky, introverted gentlemen. 

Links to Buy 

To follow the rest of the tour go here.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*


Review and GIVEAWAY of Loving Summer by Kailin Gow




 Loving SummerLoving Summer by Kailin Gow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC copy of Loving Summer by Kailin Gow as part of her tour with SupaGurl Books. I have a ton of Kailin Gow’s books on my Goodreads list, but this was the first of her books that I have read. I was not disappointed, and I cannot wait to see what else Ms. Gow has to offer.

Loving Summer is a coming of age story about best friends, Summer Jones and Rachel Donovan. The girls have been best friends since they were little girls. Summer and Rachel, and Rachel’s two brothers Nat and Drew spent every summer with Summer’s aunt Sookie at her beach house in Malibu. Sookie owns a theater in Malibu and the kids grew up acting out stories. They were all very close, and Summer has been nursing a crush on Nat since he was her first kiss.

Three years ago Rachel’s family moved to San Francisco and though they haven’t seen each other since then they have kept in touch. In the midst of Rachel’s parents going through an ugly divorce, Rachel and her brothers are invited to get away for the summer and spend time with Sookie and Summer at the beach house. Summer has grown and changed, and has become pretty (where as before she was a little on the nerdy side). She is hoping to make a relationship with Nat now that they’re all older. Life never goes according to plan, and before she knows it Summer has three guys vying for her attention, including teen celebrity heartthrob, Astor.

While Summer is working out her feelings and her changing expectations, the Donovan’s are all facing their own personal struggles as well including their parent’s divorce and the behavior’s each Donovan has developed in response. In the midst of the summer tragedy strikes and Summer and the Donovan’s each deal with it in their own way.
I really like how well developed each character in the book is and how we glimpse each of their personal feelings about the things they are experiencing. The plot is well developed and the story covers some heavy issues, such as suicide. The issues are covered in a way that is well thought out, and as I mentioned, we get to see how each character is affected by the issue.

I really enjoyed the story, and I hope to read more of Ms. Gow’s books soon.


View all my reviews

Special Promotion Announcement from Kailin:
*Included in Loving Summer's Kindle Version, is a full-length Loving Summer Healthy Summer Recipes Cookbook written by Kailin Gow, which will also a book that will release and be sold separately, and valued at $9.99.

Also, for anyone who purchases a copy of Loving Summer from Amazon.com, they get a chance to win one of Kailin's own Gently Used Coach Bag that is SIGNED by her, as well, valued at $500.

About Kailin Gow:

Kailin Gow is the author of over 100 books, with the majority of them for young adults. Her most popular series are: The Frost Series, PULSE Series, Desire Series, Wicked Woods, Steampunk Scarlett Novels, and more. A full-time author, she is also a producer, having worked in radio, television, and film. She grew up in Southern California, lived in Texas and England, and had traveled extensively around the world.

Links:
Website: www.KailinGowBooks.com
Blog: http://KailinGow.Wordpress.com
Twitter: http://Twitter.com/KailinGow
Facebook: http://Facebook.com/KailinGowBooks
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/KailinGow

Purchase on Amazon here

To visit the rest of the tour stops : http://supagurlbooks.blogspot.com/2012/05/loving-summer-by-kailin-gow-blog-tour.html

Giveaway
I am giving away my ARC of Loving Summer that has been signed by Kailin Gow.  It has been read once by me, but is in good condition.  To enter please use the Rafflecopter entry form below:

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Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Demon Vampire by Virgil Moore


Synopsis from Goodreads:  Demon Vampire asks the question, if given the choice to have power, grace, and immortality at the cost of your soul, what would you do? What if the choice was easier than you think? Small incremental segments of you childhood for a boost in strength? The ability to protect your loved ones for the corners of your mind that you don't often use? Regeneration for the traits that make you who you are? If faced with a grave decision of morality, what would you choose?

Demon Vampire covers 6,000+ years of history over four different time lines and a plethora of developed characters. It is an epic vampire novel at 242,000+ words.



My review:
Demon Vampire is an epic vampire story spanning centuries and filled with mystery and emotion.  The book is over 500 pages, but the story is so well written that you are drawn in and finished reading before you know it.  The characters are well crafted and the world in which these characters live rich and detailed.  It’s evident in the beautiful prose that Virgil Moore was formerly a poet.  His writing style is eloquent and beautiful.

Demon Vampire cannot be compared with other vampire stories out.  His approach is unique and captivating.  You really get a sense of the feelings and emotions in these vampires as opposed to just their bloodlust.  The book is also written in a more mature style and the feelings are sometimes dark and not the candy coated sparkly feelings of a certain young adult vampire series. 

I really enjoyed this rich, powerful vampire story and will be looking forward to reading more by Virgil Moore.

Virgil:
Virgil Allen Moore has been writing for seventeen years. He began as a poet and eventually turned to long fiction. In his words "My pen wields visceral morality as I write. I use my poetic knowledge to woo and satiate the minds of the world." His books are written for their vivid imagery and well defined storytelling. He blends old world refinement with a modern feel in a way that gives strength to the core of his novels. With his books, you are left not just with a sense of accomplishment, but a moral choice. The reader has choice over how they feel through the story. The ordeals of the characters are transmuted to the reader, lending a direct sensation of emotion that only the best novels can evoke. When you read his words, you will be rewarded. As he says, "If you enjoy vampires, you will be enthralled by mine."

Publisher Erudite Small Press
511 Redground Dr
Ruther Glen, VA 22546
http://eruditesmallpress.com/

Genre
Epic Paranormal Dark Mystery
Release Date October 30th, 2011

Purchase links for Demon Vampire
USA Kindle http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0062F60O2
USA Print http://www.amazon.com/dp/1937438066 
UK Kindle http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0062F60O2/276-7960540-8806063

Links for Demon Vampire: Special Science Report 1192
USA Kindle http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00615IRCG
UK Kindle http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00615IRCG/276-7960540-8806063

Websites
http://demonvampire.com/  
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12717966-demon-vampire

Link to Tour on Main Site - http://www.virtualbooktourcafe.com/3/post/2012/04/demon-vampire-by-virgil-moore.html

Sunday, May 27, 2012

A reader or a writer, which would you rather be? by Guest Author Diedre Havrelock




When I first started writing, I went to a weekend writing retreat that was held on the prairies up in the Cypress Hills of Alberta. This workshop was led by a Canadian cowboy writer by the name of Guy Vanderhaeghe. He wrote a book called The Englishman’s Boy (which was later turned into a film). One of the first questions he asked us all was, “Tell me now, how many books have you read this year?” (To which I internally responded, One! Don’t judge me!) The thing is, even though I wanted to be a writer, I hadn’t yet even become a reader. Guy told us, his little herd of wanna-be writers, what we desperately needed to hear, that we simply could not become writers without being readers first. (So I bought his book.) Anyway, this was the year I became a reader. I think I read fifty books that year. (Which is pretty good, considering I had only read a handful of short gothic romances up until this point.) After reading Guy’s book, The Englishman’s Boy, I exclaimed: “Holy-moly, this guy is a great writer!” (I mean he is super great…Margaret Atwood kind of great, except he writes cowboy type historical fiction). I was over the moon. How did this rather shy guy write this amazing book? I mean, just listen to his voice and syntax…“The other horses trickled down the slope after them, filling the coulee as water fills the bed of a river. One by one they dropped from sight, tails switching, heads bobbing, ghostly gleaming horses running back into the earth like shining, strengthening water.”

I was convinced. I couldn’t be a writer without being a reader. So I read and read and read. I read all kinds of books—every type of genre. And then the inevitable happened. After all, when you’re a reader eventually you start to think, “I really could write something like this.” And when I hit the genre of memoir I knew this was it…this was the type of book I wanted to write. I wanted to write a memoir using the voice of a kid and the voice of a teenager.

So in regards to who I would rather be—writer or reader, my answer is both. Reading is great…escaping into someone’s life, learning about abstract ideas all while being entertained, seeing yourself in someone’s fictional character, learning how to handle tragedy or how to find courage through someone else’s words. All this comes from reading. But writing is great too…pushing yourself to finish a manuscript, editing until you wanna puke, reworking structure, learning to control voice, dreaming up characters, or crafting a real person into a character. This is writing. And it’s great.

For more information about Diedre Havrelock please visit her website http://deidrehavrelock.com/

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Somewhere Over The Rainbow, I Lost My Damn Mind by Derek Thompson


Amazon Synopsis:  I figure that if I have to endure the worst parts of bipolar disorder, like psychosis, I get to laugh as much as possible along the way. Somewhere Over the Rainbow, I've Lost My Damn Mind: A Manic's Mood Chart is the story of one Millennial's bipolar life, with moments ranging from the ridiculous to the terrifying to the hilarious. Blending pop culture references and cyberspeak with psychiatric terms, it combines the funny, conversational tone of Sh*t My Dad Says with a nonlinear narrative structure similar to that of Manic. 

The book began as a blog: if you had a delusional relationship with Britney Spears, wouldn't you brag about it to the entire world? To create the book, I organized the blog entries like a mood chart, a therapeutic tool which assigns colors to states of mind. The entries are divided into three sections, Depressed, Normal and Elevated, and cover the past three years: my psych ward getaways, my vision of fighting alongside Jesus at Armageddon, my attempts to find a woman who accepts that I sometimes lose my mind. Therapy "sessions" with a fictional psychiatrist provide my present-day reflections on each entry. (I had to create my ideal shrink because I tend to fight with the real ones.)

Somewhere Over the Rainbow will be the first humorous memoir about bipolar by a member of the Millennial Generation--today's young adults. My book's humor, cultural references and Internet origins will appeal to Millennials, now entering their twenties and thirties, as well as younger Gen Xers. More than an account of coming to terms with a mental health condition, it's a story of being young and feeling lost, dealing with heartbreak and still finding plenty to laugh about, no matter what happens.

My Review:  Since the author did such a good job of describing his book in the synopsis, I'm not going to summarize the book - but give my opinion.  I am not personally bipolar, but important people in my life have suffered from it, and this book helped greatly to understand some things from a bipolar point of view.  The author,  Derek, tells us about his personal experiences with being bipolar, dividing the book into sections called a mood chart.  We have a section of mania, a section of normal and a section of depression.  His chapters are short, coming from a blog that he keeps as therapy.  He labels each chapter with snarky keywords that relate to what he's discussing.  Some of them are words you would never expect to see together, but oddly enough, they go together in the chapter.  At the end of the chapter there is a brief discussion relating to coping with being bipolar. 

Derek puts it all out there, the good, the bad, the embarassing.  He has a healthy sense of humor and is able to laugh at himself throughout the book.  The book is not only inciteful and educational, but it's fun and enjoyable to read.  I recommend it to anyone living with being bipolar or anyone that is a part of a bipolar person's life.  It will really give you a better understanding of their experience.

Visions of You by C.Y. Bourgeois

Visions of YouVisions of You by C.Y. Bourgeois
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have to say that I really enjoyed Visions of You by C.Y. Bourgeois. I received the book as part of the author’s tour at Pump Up Your Books. The book is suitable for young adult readers, but due to a few swear words the book had to be classified as an adult suspense/thriller.

Let me start by saying this book was creepy! The story takes place in the 1970’s, and for some reason, when books take place in that era; I find it scarier (for example Lovely Bones). It just seems like during that time frame the world was a safer place, so when you read about bad things happening during that time – to me it’s scarier than if it took place in the current day.

The main character, Shelby Leight, is a carefree, fun teenager with a loving, close-knit family that has just been rocked by the loss of her brother in the Vietnam War. The family, who lives in a tiny town in Alaska, is just getting over their loss when tragedy strikes again. Young girls are being abducted in Shelby’s town and those surrounding her home. Shelby thinks she has seen the abductor.

Amidst all of the crises a new student, Paul, moves to town. Paul has an interesting background that I don’t want to give away. Let’s just say that I’ve never heard of this condition, but it’s an interesting spin on the topic. Shelby’s best friend is abducted and Paul and Shelby begging talking while waiting for their chance to speak with the FBI agents who come to their school. The two start dating shortly after.

As more girls begin to disappear, Shelby begins having visions of her friend that was abducted. Her friend Larita is trying to tell Shelby where to find the other girls. In the meantime, Shelby and her group of friends plus Paul begin working on a plan to try to catch the person murdering teens. Will Larita get through to Shelby to save an innocent teens life? Will Shelby and crew be able to catch the killer before he catches one of them? What is Paul’s interesting condition? You’re going to have to read to find out, and I promise you, it’s worth it.

C.Y. Bourgeois writes with an edge of your seat intensity in some parts, while in others giving details about Alaska, the 1970’s and vampire clubs. The characters are very well developed and very likable – especially Shelby with her carefree, enthusiastic attitude. As I said before, the story was creepy. Not like in blood and monsters creepy – but the all-to-real horror of innocence lost as teenage girls are abducted and killed by a serial killer. I really hope you’ll all give this one a chance. It’s a good one.



View all my reviews

Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop



I'm giving away a book of your choice $12 or less from Amazon, Barnes and Nobles or the Book Depository. Giveaway runs from May 25 to June 1st. Must be 13 years or older to enter. Giveaway is open anywhere that the Book Depository ships. Please check their website if you are unsure they ship to your country. Please enter using the Rafflecopter below. Don't forget to stop by all the other blogs taking place in the hop.

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Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Christine Argo Book Blitz


Check out http://www.theconsciouslivingguide.com/ where you can purchase the book 50 Ways to Live Life Consciously by Christine Argo.  Each purchase includes a 1 month membership to the Conscious Living Guide and each purchase qualifies for entry for a free 1/2 hour reading.

About 50 Ways to Live Life Consciously:
Does life seem complicated? Are you always trying to get to the next ‘something’? Are your relationships confusing and overwhelming? Christine Agro, Clairvoyant and Metaphysical Expert, shares her unique insight that will help you create a graceful, ease and flowing life. Christine’s information is so simple yet so powerful that you may actually feel yourself shifting as you read. With insight into the how, why and what-for of life, Christine helps you get off the mental and emotional wheels and helps you get your ego in check creating a natural balance with the one aspect of yourself that really does
have all the answers, your Spirit. 50 Ways to Live Life Consciously is a treasure box that answers the question “why are we here” and offers 8 tools and 42 concepts to help you make the shift into conscious living.



Teaser: In 50 Ways To Live Life Consciously, Metaphysical Expert Christine Agro offers the simplest, yet most life-changing answer to the question “Why Are We Here?” 


Excerpt 1

When we live unconsciously our life drives us. We find ourselves in places and experiencing things without knowing how or why we got to where we are. Instead of consciously choosing the how, the why and in what we experience life, it is our life that pulls us along. With conscious living we recognize that our life experiences hold the keys to what our life lessons are all about. With that we can make conscious choices about how our own life unfolds and each choice leads us further down our path of Spiritual evolution.
Our Spiritual evolution is why we are here in the first place: to learn, heal and grow as Spiritual beings. We have been taught that we are merely our physical bodies, that we are merely human beings and that our lives are all about what we do. But there is so much more to who we are and who we can be and so much more to living our lives.




Excerpt 2

When we live consciously we begin to see that all things are interconnected and there is both magic and power in this awareness. 

When we live consciously we are truly living. The blinders come off and a whole new way of seeing the world and living in the world spring to life

When we live consciously we wake-up to all the many ways in which our lives are put together and our destiny becomes ours to consciously create. Some people spend their entire life living unconsciously, unaware of why their life unfolds the way it does and allowing their unconsciousness to drag them along. Life is only ‘by chance’ if we are unconscious to it. There is so much richness and reward that comes when we live with awareness. 

As you take this step toward conscious living, from this day on, each step you take must be made as a conscious choice. 

We are no longer able to sit and wait for something greater than ourselves – God, The Universe, The One - to tell us what to do. Our learning, our healing, our growth will only happen when we say ‘yes’ to the steps along the way.

About Christine Argo:


Christine Agro is an internationally recognized Clairvoyant, Inspirational Teacher, Metaphysical Expert and author of 50 Ways To Live Life Consciously. (Haldi Press March 2012)

Using her unique approach that combines her clairvoyance and her degree in Naturopathy, Christine offers a truly holistic overview of health, wellness, well-being and our Spiritual journey. Praised by grateful women, parents, and celebrity clients across the globe for her intuitive and extraordinary gifts as a healer, she has been hailed as “magical”, “transformational” and “inspiring.”

Christine has been featured in The New York Times, and dubbed 'a gift to moms' by Real Savvy Moms an award winning website for the former PBS syndicated TV show. She has been interviewed on radio shows around the world, quoted in health and consumer magazines and e-zines nationwide. She has written for Gaiam Life, and contributed to Messages From Spirit by Colette Baron-Reid (Hay House 2008).  
Christine is the author of 50 Ways to Live Life Consciously, creator of the Conscious Living Wisdom Cards and the founder and leader of the membership site The Conscious Living Guide
(www.theconsciouslivingguide.com). Through The Conscious Living Guide Christine provides a place for like-minded people to connect and offers on-going support to those wishing to live life consciously.

Members can participate in weekly meditations, mini-audio courses and a monthly on-line Q&A session.  

Blitz Sponsers

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Redheads Are Soulless review

Redheads are SoullessRedheads are Soulless by Heather M. White
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Redheads are Soulless is a new kind of paranormal romance by Heather M. White. The main character, Sofia leads a difficult life but tries to make the best of things. She has dreams of finishing school so she can flee the small town she lives in where everyone judges her. She longs to make a new life for herself.

When Sofia is a child, she witnesses her father become possessed and die. Following his death, her mother turns to alcohol and pain pills to cope. Kids at school are ruthless in their mean treatment of Sofia. They make fun of her for being poor and for having an alcoholic mother.

Sofia has no friends until a new student, Jason, takes an interest in her. Just as Sofia and Jason are beginning to develop a relationship, Jason’s twin brother, Robbie, arrives on the scene threatening to kill Sofia. When the three of them move in together things get interesting.

Heather M. White’s writing is easy to read and fast paced. The characters in Redhead’s are Soulless are pretty well developed. The plot line contains several twists and surprises and moves along at the right pace. My only complaint with the story is that while we know that Jason, Sophia and Robbie aren’t human, and their unique races are labeled, the book never really explains what these races are and what they do. We see some of Sophia’s powers, but never really get the 411 on what exactly Sophia is. The epilogue hints at a sequel, so hopefully the paranormal nature of Sophia and the twins will be expanded upon.

Overall, the book was an interesting and fun story. It’s well worth the read and I’ll be awaiting the sequel.

View all my reviews

Guest Post by Heather M. White (author of Redheads are Soulless)

Redheads are... unique... and I'm not just saying that because I'm a redhead! Seriously though. Only 1% of the poulation has redhair. That means I'm in the "top" 1%! ;) lol

There is a LOT of history behind redhair... Back in the midevil period, people with redhair and green eyes were believed to be witches, vampires and werewolves. They were all burned at the stake to rid the world of the "evil". (Thank goodness I have brown eyes!)

Also, redheads are known to have tempers. And I can attest to that (so can my parents and my husband)... LOL. It doesn't take much to get me mad. At least I can blame it on my hair.
Some people believe that redheads don't have souls, and that is what inspired me to write Redheads are Soulless. :) I hope you all enjoy it!!
About Heather M. White
  
I am a returning resident to Arkansas. I just migrated south from Saint Louis, MO with my husband. We have a married a year. :)

I love to write. I have been writing since I was a kid - literally. I decided in the 2nd grade I would write a book. I wrote lots of short stories and poems... And did I mention I wrote over 200 songs? (Yeah, I'm a musician too - guitar, bass, drums and vocals). So I wrote my very first novel at the ripe age of 14... My Mom still has it :-/. OK, so maybe it wasn't my best work, but I had a LOT of fun writing it!

When I'm not writing, I am normally reading. I am also a caffeine addict... Dr. Pepper and NOS (the energy drink) are my drugs of choice :)[Soft Break]

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Review: Maycly by Janet Beasley


I was supposed to have this review up yesterday, and for it's lateness I apologize.  I somehow obtained some nasty malware yesterday and my computer is in the shop - so I had to borrow a computer to post this today.

I received Maycly by Janey Beasley to review as part of her Orangeberry Book Tour.  (You can click that link to find all the rest of the stops on Ms. Beasley's tour).  Maycly consists of the first three Hidden Earth eBooks.  It's volume one of six in this new, fantasy adventure series. 

GOODREADS Synopsis:

"Maycly is a world everyone longs to experience, but for Iona, left alone to fend for herself, Maycly has become a fading dream. After years of endless searching for her missing family, she had all but given up hope. But the Grand Wizard, SUL, had a plan.

This faith based fantasy adventure is suitable for the entire family. Maycly is filled with adventure, trials, love, and epic battles, along with fantastic flora, creative creatures, and characters that come to life through illustrations. There is no profanity, vulgarity, or explicit sex.

Will Iona discover her true destiny? Will she ever find her missing family? Is Maycly bound to an existence of Evil for eternity? What will happen to Earth? Only the tales of HIDDN EARTH hold the answers.

Your fantastic journey begins with Volume 1, Maycly"


My review:
I really enjoyed reading Maycly. I found Janet Beasley's writing easy to read, engrossing, and intellectually stimulating. The fact that there is no profanity or explicit sex makes it a good read for all ages. I also really enjoyed the full color illustrations which bring the story alive. The book would be a great selection for book club - due to the stimulating topics that would be great for discussion – but also because the book contains recipes, which could be fun for book club members to make for the meeting. The author is going to be releasing a companion cookbook.



Maycly is fast paced, features fantastical creatures and epic battles. If you are a fan of the Lord of The Rings, you will love this book. I cannot wait to read the rest of the books in the series and see where Iona’s path leads her.

Friday, May 18, 2012

On My Wishlist (5/18/2012)

It's been a little while since I updated my wishlist - so without further ado, here are the books I'm lusting over lately.

"Baron Ford, he says and pauses to pick apart my expression, attempting to read how familiar I am with that name. I nod stiffly to give no indication I know exactly, who that is. I'm shocked to hear that name in this setting, at this stage of my life, the one far away from Cambridge, Massachusetts over five years later." Advertising Exec, Clarity Parker thought she'd never see Baron Ford again. Five years ago, they shared the date of her life and then he literally vanished into thin air. Now he's back and has asked that she, exclusively, be assigned to his multi-million dollar account. On the day the fog rolls in, not only can she no longer avoid him but she can no longer avoid herself. See, Clarity has an ability that she's run away from her entire life. She's learning an ability like hers doesn't come for free, and something or someone is trying to make her pay for it with her life. Her world is soon turned upside down after she escapes to a place called Enu. It's here Clarity learns who and what she truly is. She also learns that Baron Ford is Baron Ze Feldis; he's a vampire, and what bonds them runs deeper than anything she can ever imagine. One thing's for sure, from this point on, their lives will never be the same.

It’s vampire politics as usual around the town of Bon Temps, but never before have they hit so close to Sookie’s heart… Growing up with telepathic abilities, Sookie Stackhouse realized early on there were things she’d rather not know. And now that she’s an adult, she also realizes that some things she knows about, she’d rather not see—like Eric Northman feeding off another woman. A younger one. There’s a thing or two she’d like to say about that, but she has to keep quiet—Felipe de Castro, the Vampire King of Louisiana (and Arkansas and Nevada), is in town. It’s the worst possible time for a human body to show up in Eric’s front yard—especially the body of the woman whose blood he just drank. Now, it’s up to Sookie and Bill, the official Area Five investigator, to solve the murder. Sookie thinks that, at least this time, the dead girl’s fate has nothing to do with her. But she is wrong. She has an enemy, one far more devious than she would ever suspect, who’s set out to make Sookie’s world come crashing down.

Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered. Since then, Mac's life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac's hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy's killer: A white werewolf. Lupine syndrome--also known as the werewolf virus--is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control. Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy's murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy's boy-friend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk. Kathleen Peacock's thrilling novel is the first in the Hemlock trilogy, a spell-binding urban fantasy series filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love.

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead. So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay. When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home. But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life. Anna Dressed in Blood is a 2011 Kirkus Best Teen Books of the Year title. One of NPR's Top 5 Young Adult Novels of 2011.

Curses and cons. Magic and the mob. In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth—he’s the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything—or anyone—into something else. That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her. Now that she's human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila's been cursed to love him, a little gift from his emotion worker mom. And if Lila's love is as phony as Cassel's made-up memories, then he can't believe anything she says or does. When Cassel's oldest brother is murdered, the Feds recruit Cassel to help make sense of the only clue—crime-scene images of a woman in red gloves. But the mob is after Cassel too—they know how valuable he could be to them. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can't trust anyone—least of all, himself? Love is a curse and the con is the only answer in a game too dangerous to lose.

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Thursday, May 17, 2012

Pretty in Black by Rae Hachton REVIEW & GIVEAWAY



(The author states on Goodreads that this book was partly influenced by "My Time's Up by the Raveonettes)
Pretty In Black (Pretty in Black, #1)Pretty In Black by Rae Hachton

Pretty in Black, Vol. 1">Pretty in Black by Rae Hachton is a paranormal love story about the relationship between Ellie Piper and Marcus Marble. The first section of the story is told from Ellie’s point of view. Ellie has recently lost her sister. She was murdered and it remains unsolved. Her sister’s death has seriously affected the previously perky, straight-A cheerleader, causing her to distance herself from her best friend, her boyfriend, and everyone else at school. She’s dressing in black and hanging out in cemeteries, wishing to die. The Ellie meets Marcus Marble in the cemetery. Marcus is cool, dark, brooding, musically talented and determined to snap Ellie out of her suicidal thoughts.

Ellie isn’t a normal girl. She is told by a mysterious man that she is the chosen one. We don’t find out in book one exactly what she is chosen for, that part of the story takes second place to the other issues in Ellie’s life – her mother’s lack of concern, her abusive stepdad, her cheating ex, her best friend that wasn’t there for her when she needed her most, and the mysteriousness that is Marcus. I did read the synopsis for the next book, and it seems we get a more details on what Ellie is chosen for.

Marcus is the paranormal aspect to the book. He is an evermore – a paranormal creature that I haven’t ever read about in other stories – so unique and new. Refreshing. I really enjoyed the descriptions in the book about the graveyards Ellie hangs out in as well as Marcus’s castle in the sky. I don’t want to tell you too much as anymore, and I’d be giving too much away. Pretty in Black is fast paced and enjoyable though there are a few parts that are confusing (hoping they are cleared up in the second book). The picture that Ms. Hachton paints with her words is very vivid and detailed, dark and gothic. Readers of paranormal young adult looking for a fresh and new story, without the requisite love triangle will enjoy this book.

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The author is giving away a special edition of this book and the next in the series, as well as some major swag as part of this tour. Enter in the raffle copter below.
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Cemeteries GUEST POST by Rae Hachton

I have a strange fascination with cemeteries. I was hanging out in one late March 2011, sitting in a swing, when the concept for Pretty in Black first came to me. I visit cemeteries quite often. I go there to relax because I find them peaceful. Sometimes I take photographs or do stone rubbings.
One of the main things I love about Savannah, Georgia would definitely be the Cemetery/Ghost tours and getting to ride in an old hearse. This city is home to me.
And anywhere I travel, I will most likely visit the cemeteries there, before I leave.
I like to see if I can spot any cemetery ravens/crows. And I prefer older cemeteries, like The Secret Garden from Pretty in Black.
Some Facts about my fascination with Cemeteries:
  • I read poetry to the sleeping sometimes.
  • I bought some perfume and hair care products from AntiSally at GothRosary: The names of the products? Graveyard and Funeral Flowers, and it smells really good.
  • I know the difference between a Cemetery and a Graveyard: A Graveyard is usually owned by/connected to a church; A cemetery was created for a burial ground specifically for the dead
  • I know the difference between a Coffin, a Casket, and a Sarcophagus: Coffins and Caskets have a completely different shape: A Casket is just rectangular. A coffin has six sides, tapers down at the toes. and is traditionally made of wood. A Sarcophagus is made of stone and has inscriptions, sculpture and is displayed as a monument.
  • I study the different burial customs of other regions. For example, in Tibet, there is no funeral with a casket. They have this intricate ceremony called Sky Burial where the human corpse is incised in certain areas, sprinkled with spice and placed on a mountain top where vultures sweep down and eat the pieces.
  • I have a collection of cemetery grave rubbings and photographs that I have made
  • Hospitals give me anxiety; if I ever became extremely sick, I would rather be placed in a cemetery to try and get better than in a sterile hospital that echoes lost hope. There'd be no way I could get better there. Because of this, I avoid hospitals and going to the doctor, unless I totally have to, and that's only if I'm cut open and bleeding. Otherwise, I stick with holistic healing, mediation and herbal medicine to stay healthy.
More or less, I find cemeteries to be beautiful: the way they look, feel, and smell. Anyone reading this may find that creepy, odd, strange, etc, or maybe not. But it's true. Some people like to avoid the thought of Death, but it's a natural part of life that I embrace on a daily basis. And because of this, I love every moment of life fully and intensely.
 
About the Author:

Rae  Hachton [pronounced H-ton] is the nom de plume of author Desirae
        Hennington. She is the Indie Author of the Gothic Romance series
        Pretty in Black. She is twenty-three years old and lives
        with her Muse and her Ghost. When she is not composing new
        novels, she is working on her cinematography studies, and
        devouring YA books. Her favorite band is The Raveonettes, and
        she is a major fan of Edgar Allan Poe and Ravens and Crows.
        Although she is writing Gothic Fiction at the moment, her
        favorite genre of all time is Contemporary YA. Favorite
        contemporary book: tie between Forever by Judy Blume and
        the Summer I turned Pretty series by Jenny Han.
        Favorite author: David Levithan. If Rae Hachton wasn't writing,
        she'd give it one last shot at being kewl, and probably start a
        band.


  About Pretty in Black:
Some Things are Pretty. Some Things are Black. Love is both.

[Ellie Piper]
She wanted to die. He arose from the grave. He was sent to kill her. She was trained to kill those of his kind. But fate had other plans. He searched for 119 years to find her. & There's no way in hell he's letting her go. Dead or Alive. They're fated.

[Marcus Marble]
How far would you go to be with the one you love? Would you die for her? Would you kill for her? What if the only reason you're still alive is because of her? What if the reason you came back from the dead, was to be with her? But what if your job was to kill her, but you fell in love instead? And now you're being hunted by your own kind?

Destroy? Or be Destroyed?


Wednesday, May 16, 2012

The Secret Circle: The Divide created by L.J. Smith written by Aubrey Clark

The Divide (The Secret Circle, #4)The Divide by L.J. Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Growing up, my favorite writers were L.J. Smith, Christopher Pike and R.L. Stine. Three years ago I reread all of my Christopher Pike books. Last year I reread all of my L.J. Smith books and I’ve been anxiously awaiting Strange Fate the conclusion to her Night World series. I had read on the author’s site that Alloy/Harper Teen had taken the rights to her Vampire Diaries series away from her – based on a contract she signed 20 years ago when she was young and didn’t know any better. The publisher is now using a ghost-writer to write the Vampire Diaries books, and L.J. has no input or control over the way her creation now unfolds. Because of this, I had decided not to read any of the Vampire Diary books written by the ghost-writer.

A few days ago, I borrowed The Divide from the e-library to read on my kindle. I was excited that there was a new book in the Secret Circle series and couldn’t wait to start reading it. I couldn’t wait to see what new challenges the circle would face – what problems Faye would create – how Diana was taking the whole Adam and Cassie thing. I was barely 22% into the eBook before noticing a lot of problems and inconsistencies – and then discovered that these new Secret Circle books are all a ghost writer too. She just doesn’t have the same … well anything… that L.J. Smith does, and the books remind me more of the TV show than the original books. For starters, Cassie’s character is off – and it’s more than just having Black John’s blood inside of her. I can’t quite put my finger on exactly what it is – but she is different somehow.

The Diana in the first three books was described as a perfect girl, a perfect friend, never mean to anyone, forgiving, loving, the first to give you the shirt off her back. In the first book, she is the first one to welcome Cassie (at the time an outsider) to their town and defend her from Faye. Diana never has a mean thing to say about anyone – even her slightly evil cousin, Faye. In The Divide, Diana is a condescending mean girl that is blatantly rude to the new girl in town. Diana is insecure and at times petty or cold. It seems like she sometimes takes a page out of Faye’s book. At one point in the book Cassie even thinks to herself that Diana is always cold, rude and unwelcoming to newcomers. I’m sorry, but this is not the warm, welcoming, kind-hearted Diana that we all know and love.

Another difference is that in this new book the circle is led by a triumvirate (Diana, Cassie, and Faye) and not Cassie, as I believe it is made out in the original books. Adam is also different. He isn’t the perfect guy that we all know and fell in love with in the original series. He puts the circle before Cassie time and again – and the couple seems more into making out than actually being soul mates. I see more passion between Cassie and Nick than I do with Cassie and Adam and I wouldn’t be surprised if the ghost writer tears Adam and Cassie apart and puts her back with Nick again in one of the next books.

Faye is also different in this book. More hateful in some ways, less in others. Her attitude in this book seems to be more malicious in this book than previous books. She still has the seem kind of attitude as before, but it just seems more evil now than slightly dark. Additionally, Faye resorts to something (which I won’t giveaway) that seems very un-Faye-like to me.
Finally, I am a little confused about Cassie’s relationship and feelings about her mother in this book. Yes, in the past Cassie was confused and unsure about some things. Cassie says some very hateful things about her mother in The Divide. Her feelings for her mother are a lot different than what I remember in the original series.

Personal feelings about the original series and L.J. Smith aside, I thought this ghost writer was just “ok.” I think she probably tried her best, but she just doesn’t have the same voice and insight into the characters that L.J. does and doesn’t love them the way L.J. does. Her writing style is ok. She tries to be like L.J. Smith but doesn’t quite make it. It seems as if she is pulling the book more into the direction of the television series than the actual books. The story was a fast read and very predictable. 
I am disappointed in the new book – but it wasn’t terrible. It just wasn’t great either. I’m giving it three stars, and I’m probably being generous. I will most likely finish the rest of the series (when I get around to it) because once I start something, I almost always finish it. I just wish L.J. had written it.


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The Five Best Bits of Writing Advice I Can Give by GUEST AUTHOR Kimberly Lewis



The Five Best Bits of Writing Advice I Can Give
  1. Write as much as you can, whenever you can. You don’t have to have your whole novel outlined to begin the writing process. When a good idea or a certain scene pops in your mind write it down. If nothing else comes to you at that time it’s okay to set it aside and start on something new. I have many, many ideas for different novels and I’ve written them all down. Some of them I revise and use in my current works and others are still sitting in my ideas folder. That’s okay because I know somewhere down the road they’ll get used eventually.

  2. Don’t let bad reviews get you down. Let’s face it… you are not going to please everyone. There’s always going to be that one person (or more) that dislikes something about your novel. Getting that first bad review does sting, but just remember that for every one person who dislikes it there are at least five others who loved it. Keep those people in mind and keep writing.

  3. “Write the kind of story you would like to read. People will give you all sorts of advice about writing, but if you are not writing something you like, no one else with like it either.” –Meg Cabot. I think that one was is pretty self-explanatory[Symbol]

  4. Learn from your mistakes and become a better writer because of them. We are human and we are going to make mistakes. No one is perfect. Take your mistakes, whatever they may be, and use them as a learning tool for the future.

  5. Don’t give up! The world of writing and publishing is hard and you can easily find yourself feeling defeated and depressed. Just keep in mind that you began writing because it was fun and you liked creating stories for other’s enjoyment. There are many, many famous authors out there who received rejection letter after rejection letter until someone finally gave them the chance to shine. Keep writing and just remember that it will be all worth it when your day comes.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  In November of 2011, author Kimberly Lewis stepped into the writing world with her first original contemporary romance novel, When the Heart Falls. Born and raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, this country girl at heart caught the creative bug at an early age, doing everything from drawing to writing short stories. After the birth of her son, Kimberly found the inspiration to pick up a pen, or in this case a laptop, and began writing her first novel. Since then she has continued to write and credits her husband Rob and her wonderfully crazy family, who with their love and joking demeanor provide her with the ideas that inspire her novels. In her spare time she enjoys reading, horseback riding, and spending time with her amazing family.
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: November 10, 2011 Website :http://kimberlylewisnovels.blogspot.com/ Purchase at Amazon

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Giveaway: Kimberly will be offering a $15 Amazon Gift Card – one to a randomly drawn commenter during her tour, one to the host with the most comments, and 2 ebooks will be given away during her tour.   Be sure to comment for your chance to win - and comment on the other tour stops for more chances to win!


When Misty Prescott moved back home to her parent’s ranch after catching her husband cheating on her, she couldn’t have possibly known that she’d fall for not one, but two cowboys at the same time. Nor could she have known that getting involved with both men would bring unwelcome excitement, turning her already messed up world completely upside down. As Misty’s relationship with Vance Kinney begins, she can’t help but develop an intense attraction to her best friend’s older brother, Dylan McCoy. But just as Misty makes her choice, she indirectly becomes the target of one horrific event after another. Now, Misty must fight the very obstacles that threaten to tear her apart from the man she loves, and survive the danger lurking around every corner that threatens their very lives.
 
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