Just down the road from their families, Deo and his friends play soccer in the dusty fields of Zimbabwe, cheered on by Deo's older brother, Innocent. It is a day like any other . . . until the soldiers arrive and Deo and Innocent are forced to run for their lives, fleeing the wreckage of their village for the distant promise of safe haven. Along the way, they face the prejudice and poverty that await refugees everywhere, and must rely on the kindness of people they meet to make it through. But when tragedy strikes, Deo's love of soccer is all he has left. Can he use that gift to find hope once more?
Relevant, timely, and accessibly written, Now Is the Time For Running is a staggering story of survival that follows Deo and his mentally handicapped older brother on a transformative journey that will stick with readers long after the last page.
I wasn't sure about this book at first. It doesn't fall into the normal genre's I read. But I've found that sometimes reading outside my box is a good thing, and this was one of those times. Now is the Time for Running tells the story of Deo and Innocent. Two brothers in Southern Africa who are stuck in the middle of turbulent and tragic times for the countries located there.
While Deo is younger than Innocent, he is the one responsible for the two, since his older brother has learning disabilities. It was tragic to watch Deo struggle to save his brother from the world. Both from the violent people in it and the violent events that took Deo and Innocents family.
Williams does and amazing job with both his characters and the world they are in. I've never been to Africa, but it was easy for me to visualize the different settings from the authors words. I also really found myself wanting everything to work out for Deo and Innocent. The struggles they go through to survive and to stay together are crazy. The sad part is that things like this are happening to children all over Africa right now. So throughout the story I turned each page hoping that they would find somewhere to be safe, but knowing that if they were real and not in a book the likelihood of safety would be next to nothing.
I don't want to give away too much about this book. You really need to read it for yourself. It was moving and heartbreaking. At the same time the ending really left some hope that maybe there is some better chance out there in the world. Definitely pick this one up and make sure you give yourself time to really read it. It's one of those books that makes you look at things a little differently.
I stopped believing in monsters long ago. But I knew I wasn’t imagining things when I found one in my kitchen baking muffins. I’d seen him before: lurking in my closet, scaring the crap out of my five-year-old self. Turns out that was a misunderstanding, and now Maurice needs a place to stay. How could I say no?
After all, I’ve always been a magnet for the emotionally needy, and not just in my work as a wedding planner. Being able to sense the feelings of others can be a major pain. Don’t get me wrong, I like helping people—and non-people. But this ability has turned me into a gourmet feast for an incubus, a demon that feeds off emotional energy. Now, brides are dropping dead all over town, and my home has become a safe house for the supernatural. I must learn to focus my powers and defeat the demon before he snacks on another innocent woman and comes looking for the main course…
I admit I picked this book to review because of the title. I was curious... I mean who hasn't been stalked by the closet monster at least once in their life. Plus, this book just sounded like fun.
Oh I was so right. This book is just fun. Not an on the edge of your chair book, nor a huge smexy time book, but there are hints at both. The heroine isn't snarky like I usually enjoy, but quirky enough that you just enjoyed her presence. Plus you can't forget the monster in the closet! I mean I would totally want one to move in with me. What? You think I'm crazy? Just think... someone who takes up literally very little space (hello? closet!), cooks gourmet meals AND cleans! Seriously, where can I get a friendly closet monster? :)
Actually the menagerie of monsters that come and visit are enough entertainment, but there is a problem. One that comes in an incubus. No, not our usual incubus who ends up being the smexy hero, but a genuine demon bent on destroying our heroine and her friends. Oh, but not to worry... there ends up being a smexy hero thrown in the mix as well. One you will enjoy meeting.
I give this fun monster book 4 stars. If you are looking for some light reading with a fun twist, I do recommend picking up this book.
I received this eARC from the publisher and NetGalley and no compensation for my review was given.
1. Grizelmore the Goblin has some really weird cravings and eating habits. Tell us about some of your weird eating habits. Bonus point if you can show me a picure!
Well, I do make a sauce from mayo and soysauce to put on asparagus. I've actually converted people to eat that veggie with that sauce. Sorry no pics... no asparagus and no mayo right now.
2. In chapter 22 Aiode and her friends try to go and get their instruments replaced at the factory. There are a ton of different instruments there being made for the fairies, but man are they a fortune. Do any of you play any instruments? Have you ever played an instrument? If not, what would you play if you could?
I used to play flute, piccolo, organ and a tiny bit of guitar. I'd love to learn piano, guitar and the celtic harp.
3. Jason and the band are finally discovered by the elf (with the crazy long name) and Buttercake the freaking adorable unicorn who turns into something not so adorable. If you were a detective who would you choose for your magical accomplice?
A hell hound. What can I say? I love big mutts with bad reps. :) Although... the unicorn was pretty cool after it turned into a dragon.
4. The book ends on a happy but painful note. What do you think of the ending? Were you happy with the turn of events?
No I was not happy. Too many questions left to ponder. Guess I'll have to read the next book!
5. Tell us your favorite quote(s)/part(s) from the book!
I enjoyed visiting the faerie and the unicorns. I also loved the ending action. What can I say? I love dragons and I was glad she could be regrown. :) This was a fun book.
I also want to give a shout out to AimeeKay (my associate reviewer) that reviewed this book not too long ago HERE.
A detective with a secret… When homicide detective Alexandra Jarvis sees a photo of Seth Benjamin on a police bulletin, she knows that Heaven’s plan to halt Armageddon has gone terribly wrong. As the only mortal aware of Seth’s true nature, only she can save him.
An exiled angel turned assassin… Aramael was a hunter of Fallen Angels until a traitor forced him into earthly exile. Now, with no powers and only a faint memory of Alex, his mortal soulmate, he will stop at nothing to redeem himself—even if it means destroying Seth in the name of the Creator.
A world with little chance of redemption… As Alex’s need to protect Seth sets her on a fiery course with the determined Aramael, the coming conflict between them may push the world over the edge—and into the very chaos they’re trying to prevent.
Although I did have a few problems in the first book, this book still had some of those same problems for me. Not much was clarified. However, I have to say, I didn't bug me like it did in the last book. In fact, it didn't bother me at all. It might be because we deal more with the "real" world than the heavenly one.
This one was more about suspense and thrills. Plus, the world was established for the most part in this series. I was fully involved with Alex in this book and there also ends up being a few questions about how she fits in and how their decisions affect the coming books in the series. I have to admit that now, I'm fully involved and want to know what else is going to happen. What are the consequences?
I have to warn those that don't care for love triangles that this one has a whopper of a triangle. One that is built on solid legs that doesn't seem to collapse any time soon. Decisions are made but doors remain open. I actually would love to see those that normally hate triangles read this one. There are no weak decisions, no weak connections to each option within this triangle. And despite this, I have to say I'm not convinced that there was enough romance for either choice. I do suspect that that may be coming in the series. I also understand completely why it didn't happen here. If it did, it would have actually been a distraction instead of helping the story along.
I give this book 4 stars. I am really liking the way this world is shaping up. I recommend it to those who like thrillers and UF.
I received this book from the publisher, Pocket and no compensation for my review was given.
There is no such place as Krassnia. Lucy Stone should know—she was born there. In that tiny, troubled region of the former Soviet Union, revolution is brewing. Its organizers need a safe place to meet, and where better than the virtual spaces of an online game? Lucy, who works for a start-up games company in Edinburgh, has a project that almost seems made for the job: a game inspired by The Krassniad, an epic folk tale concocted by Lucy’s mother, Amanda, who studied there in the 1980s. Lucy knows Amanda is a spook. She knows her great-grandmother Eugenie also visited the country in the ’30s, and met the man who originally collected Krassnian folklore and who perished in Stalin’s terror. As Lucy digs up details about her birthplace to slot into the game, she finds the open secrets of her family’s past, the darker secrets of Krassnia’s past—and hints about the crucial role she is destined to play in The Restoration Game...
Combining international intrigue with cutting-edge philosophical speculation, romance with adventure, and online gaming with real-life consequence, The Restoration Game delivers as science fiction and as a sharp take on our present world from the viewpoint of a complex, engaging heroine who has to fight her way through a maze of political and family manipulation to take control of her own life.
So I really didn't enjoy this one. You've got intrigue, suspense, some science fiction/fantasy thrown in, but I really think it could have been better than what it turned out to be.
There was just too much.
Too many flashbacks. The main character was constantly going back to explain to how she got to the present situation, which isn't necessarily bad, but the whole story from the main characters point of view started out as a flashback to explain how she ended up where she was at the airport. I understand some of the flashbacks are needed to further the story, but they just started to feel annoying after a while especially since she is already in the middle of a flashback. Couldn't the author just have gone straight through with some of them? Told them "as they happened"?
Too much information, I mean really I like a good back story on my characters as the next person, but some of it was just a little overboard. Especially when the author is revealing information about Lucy's "fathers". I just felt like I was wading through molasses trying to read it. I didn't want to gloss over it, I was afraid I might miss an important detail, but at the same time it just got to the point where I really wished I could have.
And the things that really could have been intriguing. The "real" world. The scenes that dealt with them were cut agonizingly short. Hardly any details, nothing. Told in second person they had no real details of the "real" world. I really would have enjoyed more background on that then on some of the other characters.
I liked the idea behind the story. Maybe if it had been written differently I would have enjoyed it more.
Jason Bourne meets The Sopranos in this breathtaking adventure
Sara Jane Rispoli is a normal sixteen-year-old coping with school and a budding romance--until her parents and brother are kidnapped and she discovers her family is deeply embedded in the Chicago Outfit (aka the mob).
Now on the run from a masked assassin, rogue cops and her turncoat uncle, Sara Jane is chased and attacked at every turn, fighting back with cold fury as she searches for her family. It's a quest that takes her through concealed doors and forgotten speakeasies--a city hiding in plain sight. Though armed with a .45 and 96K in cash, an old tattered notebook might be her best defense--hidden in its pages the secret to "ultimate power." It's why she's being pursued, why her family was taken, and could be the key to saving all of their lives.
Action packed, with fresh, cinematic writing, Cold Fury is a riveting and imaginative adventure readers will devour.
This book starts out a bit on the slow side. Not too slow, but just enough to get a feel of our main character, Sara. She is obsessed with her nose, but otherwise is quite thoughtful about what she does and how her behavior affects others. Not too many teens are that introspective. This serves her well in the coming adventure.
Once her family disappears and she gets a glimpse of what she only suspected was going on in her family the action really takes off and things get quite intense. She discovers that her "gift" that she has only ever glimpsed has a real power in the organization her family has been involved in for generations. One she is just now discovering.
The beginning backstory is also important to the adventure. The lessons learned in the boxing ring she thought only applied for life now applies to saving her life several times. It also lends credibility to her survival even if her ability to withstand physical punishment borders on the paranormal. She learns to listen to herself and trust herself and her intuition. It's a good thing since people who are after her seem to be one step ahead. However, Sara is no shrinking violet nor dumb. She uses her smarts and those around her to figure out what is going on and how to try to save the day.
In the end... however, not everything is solved. We must wait impatiently for the next installment to find out what happens. I am happy to say that it really isn't a cliffie, as the book feels almost complete. Almost because we are left wondering about some major aspects and wanting to know more. This is not a bad thing and one of the few ways I feel that a book can still feel full and yet leave you wanting.
I give this book 4 1/2 stars. It is a great thriller and suspense novel perfect for the YA and adult crowd.
I received this book from the publisher and LibraryThing's Early Reviewer's program. No compensation for my review was given.
Btw, this book is published today and is perfect for the challenge currently going on since it is a YA authored by a male:
For millennia we've caught only glimpses of the lives and loves of the gods and goddesses on Olympus. Now Aime e Carter pulls back the curtain on how they became the powerful, petty, loving and dangerous immortals that Kate Winters knows.
Calliope/Hera represented constancy and yet had a husband who never matched her faithfulness....
Ava/Aphrodite was the goddess of love and yet commitment was a totally different deal....
Persephone was urged to marry one man, yet longed for another....
James/Hermes loved to make trouble for others-but never knew true loss before....
Henry/Hades's solitary existence had grown too wearisome to continue. But meeting Kate Winters gave him a new hope....
Five original novellas of love, loss and longing and the will to survive throughout the ages.
If you were like me and read The Goddess Test andGoddess Interrupted, you enjoyed the retelling of the mythology, but wanted more. Wanted to know what was kept the same as we know Greek mythology and what was changed. Well, this book is your answer. You get several stories that fill in the gaps about the relationships within the gods. I really enjoyed this installment and it answered many of the questions I had mulling in my brainpan.
Oh I do have to warn you... there will be people who you might have liked in the books, but still wanted to drop kick because of their arrogance (yes, Walter/Zeus... I'm looking right at you!). Others you will have an "ah ha" moment as to why their behavior was so over the top or why they felt guilty about things you only guessed at. And in fact you may find yourself liking a character even more than you thought you would a first.
My only complaint was Henry's story. I did understand his role and further understood what the centuries did to his psyche (no, not the goddess... his actual psyche). However, I still found him a bit too on the whiny side, but I was a bit softened to his pain.
I give this book 4 stars. Even if you haven't read the other Goddess stories, I think you will enjoy the venture into this retelling of the famous Greek mythos.
I received this eARC from the publisher and NetGalley and no compensation for my review was given.
1. In the beginning of chapter 14, poor Jason is having a tough time at work. Its busy, people are rude, there are hot girls talking to him, big lady's are about to starve, all in all bad work day. So tell us about a time when you had to deal with a pushy customer or rude behavior, did you freak, keep it together, throw a slawburger?
I wish I could throw a slawburger. If you had to work with the public, chances are you have a pushy customer. Sadly true. My most memorable one was when I worked in a music store. The guy knew our store manager who was also working with me that night. It was closing time and he decided to take his sweet time (no I didn't get overtime, darn it) and he treated me like I was his personal slave and gave me a smile every time he gave a "command". He was loving the fact that he had me running around the whole store getting things he wanted and putting back stuff he didn't. I was pleasant to his face, but totally flipped him off under the counter when I waited for him to saunter over to finally pay for his purchase. It was solid wood and high up so he couldn't tell what I was doing. What an @rse!
2. In chapter 16 Jason is getting ready to shoot his rocking music video and perform for a crowd. Have you ever made a rock video, been in a play or anything that shows you doing something with musical talent? Extra points if you want to show us.
I have been in concert band, orchestra, played organ (no jokes now... lol), marching band, pep band, flute choir and I even took dance when I was little. I also had a semester of guitar. Yep, I have played in front of crowds and small audiences. I own no pics when I did any of these things. :D
3. Speaking of videos, the boys have a little chat about Steven Spielberg in chapter 17, what is your favorite Spielberg movie? Can't think of one...well then tell us about one of your favorite Sci-fi movies.
Easy... E.T. Hands (er... fingers) down!
4. At the end of Chapter 17 the guys say bye to Dred who is getting ready to move, did you ever have to start over in a new school or new place when you were in highschool? Was it good, bad...horrible?
Not in HS, but in kindergarden 1/2 through the year. That was horrible. I didn't know anyone and a boy I liked took my asparagus! Um... I know that needs explaining, but I'll just let that one go for now.. LOL
5. If you had a pet Unicorn what would you name it?
Mr. Pointy
And just for fun: Would you rather be pecked to death by a vulture or eat a Goblins toenails???
I'd have to say vulture. You mention eating toenails and I'm totally squicking (it's a word, I just made it up!) out. :P
In James Patterson's blockbuster series, fourteen-year-old Maximum Ride, better known as Max, knows what it's like to soar above the world. She and all the members of the "flock"--Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman and Angel--are just like ordinary kids--only they have wings and can fly. It may seem like a dream come true to some, but their lives can morph into a living nightmare at any time...like when Angel, the youngest member of the flock, is kidnapped and taken back to the "School" where she and the others were experimented on by a crew of wack jobs. Her friends brave a journey to blazing hot Death Valley, CA, to save Angel, but soon enough, they find themselves in yet another nightmare--this one involving fighting off the half-human, half-wolf "Erasers" in New York City. Whether in the treetops of Central Park or in the bowels of the Manhattan subway system, Max and her adopted family take the ride of their lives. Along the way Max discovers from her old friend and father-figure Jeb--now her betrayed and greatest enemy--that her purpose is save the world--but can she?
This is a fun easy read that those young MG readers could appreciate as well as adults who just like a good adventure. In some ways the set up in this story reminded me of Dark Angel in where there are kids who "belong" to a lab and then fight their way to freedom and staying that way. After that, the resemblance ends. You then have a unique telling of mutants learning to navigate the world which they know won't accept them.
The adventure these kids have is quite intense and you can't wait to find out all of the answers to the questions that form as they fight to save one of their own. Fight to save Angel, the littlest from a fate worse than death. Along the way they learn more about the world than they ever thought possible and find some unlikely help along the way. However, even while on the hot trail of learning more about their past and what they were told was true or not, they find that they can't trust anything or anyone outside of the flock.
Although I liked all the main characters, my biggest complaint about this book is that it is hard to really connect on a deep level to the kids. It makes sense because their whole life is crises management and so little time is left for really knowing who they truly are. However, since this is only one book in a series, I feel that the connection will come and probably sooner than later. You can see things falling in place within this book for that to happen.
I give this book 3 1/2 stars. I think it is a fast and fun book for the beginning to this series. I recommend it to those that enjoy UF and YA.
I received this book from the publisher and no compensation for my review was given.
Today I'm celebrating the wonderful giveaway by Lish McBride. I loved this book and loved the male protagonist, Sam. He's snarky, smart and just plain lovable. Even finding himself in a precarious and unbelievable situation, he doesn't skip a beat and finds out that he is a capable person. It's just a fun ride with Sam and I can't wait to continue his adventures with him.
Hm... so who could play Sam. Someone who just seems likable and yet able to handle the most intense situation. I though of Steven R. McQueen:
Oh can I first say I need that bike and sidecar for my baby! :D Second, Steven is over 21 ;) but could still play the 19 yr old for Sam (yes! legal!). Oh I think he would work well in the YA section of the man harem.
So, who do you have this week? Don't forget to enter to win Hold Me Closer Necromancer! Go HERE to enter.
The Stoker-award winning editor of the acclaimed, eclectic anthology The New Dead returns with 21st Century Dead, and an all-new lineup of authors from all corners of the fiction world, shining a dark light on our fascination with tales of death and resurrection... with ZOMBIES! The stellar stories in this volume includes a tale set in the world of Daniel H. Wilson’s Robopocalypse, the first published fiction by Sons of Anarchycreator Kurt Sutter, and a tale of love, family, and resurrection from the legendary Orson Scott Card. This new volume also includes stories also from other award-winning and New York Times bestselling authors, such as: Simon R. Green, Chelsea Cain, Jonathan Maberry, Duane Swiercyznski, Caitlin Kittredge, Brian Keene, Amber Benson, John Skipp, S. G. Browne, Thomas E. Sniegoski, Hollywood screenwriter Stephen Susco, National Book Award nominee Dan Chaon, and more!
This is a collection of horror stories staring our favorite horror creature, zombies! The collection runs the gamut of stories. Some quite grotesque, and some with nary a brain in site. However, some will make you think, and even shed a tear. In fact, one had me hugging my puppy after reading it. Oh that one I could shake a fist at... I hate to cry!
In many of the stories, there are much more frightening things than the zombies. Even if the zombies weren't horrifying and quite docile, or even those that could not be stopped, the true horror resided in the humans left. Even within a couple of those stories a few heart-strings could be tugged.
I give this zombie anthology 4 stars. It is one of the best anthologies I have read. Of course there were a couple of stories that didn't appeal to me, but I still admired the way it was written. All of the stories were creative and explored all the different aspects of zombieism. Even comparing the few zombies we may know that love potatoes to those that eat flesh. I recommend this book to anyone who loves the zombie genre.
I received this book from Library Thing's Early Reviewers Program and the publisher and no compensation for my review was given.
The question of the day, my Interweb buddies, is, “What do you do when you’re not writing?”
After I stopped laughing, several answers immediately come to mind, most of them somewhat flippant. (It should be mentioned here, perhaps, that this is what always happens when anyone asks me a question about anything. I have a difficult time with straight answers.)
A few of my initial responses, in no particular order:
When am I not writing?
I wish I were writing.
Sleep. Eat. Go outside. Maybe go see if my friends still remember that I exist.
As I thought about these non-responses, I realized that, hey, they’re actually REAL responses.
Writers, well, write. All the time. We’re like junkies constantly looking for the next fix. Even when we don’t have a pen and a notepad and act all obvious about it, we’re writing. When someone talks to me, I’m listening, yes, but on some level I’m dissecting your story. What words do you use? How do you use them? Can I steal some of your dialogue? What are you doing while you’re talking? Is it a movement I can take? When you’re telling me that story about how your great Uncle Murray farms chinchillas, somewhere deep inside I’m thinking, “Should I make one of my characters a chinchilla farmer? What if the chinchillas suddenly became rabid and attacked? Would that make a good subplot? Can chinchillas get rabies?”
Another thing: writers are magpies and we steal. Not in a kleptomaniac way. I’m pretty sure your good silver is safe. No, what we take is tiny bits of you. Which is why writers make terrible friends. Sure, we’re listening to your story, but we’re also mining it for our own needs. We want to take that funny thing you just said. It’s shiny and we need it. Trust me, my friends are used to me saying, “Do you mind if I use that?” I really can’t imagine why any of them still talks to me.
And that’s not all. When I’m not actively stealing your words, movements, and stories about people you know, I’m probably thinking about my own plots, characters and worlds. Maybe I’m not able to be at my computer actually writing at this moment, but you can’t stop me from thinking about it. Sometimes I even dream about plots. And I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to ask my boyfriend to repeat something he’s just said to me because I was thinking about something book related. So not only are writers terrible friends, but you also probably shouldn’t date us. We cheat on you with figments of our own imagination.
Sometimes, you have to go outside. If you don’t you eventually get rickets and run out of food and supplies. Then you’re that creepy person on your block and eventually people start rumors and before you know it the only visitors at your door have pitchforks and torches…
I forgot what I was talking about.
Oh. Right. Outside. When we finally do go outside, you can probably guess what we’re doing—we’re scanning people, places and things for stuff we can put into a story. We’re obsessed. There are times when writing almost seems like a socially acceptable mental illness. We can’t stop. Ever. But people seem okay with it. They put up with our crazy because it has a (hopefully) positive result. We tell them stories. We can’t stop that, either.
Most days, I struggle to balance my writing life with my real life. What I want to do is write all day and spend the evening with my family. Somewhere inside me is this perfect vision of a home office, a kid who respects a closed door and tiptoes around quietly, and a window next to my desk where I can stare out at the picturesque view and think. In this fantasy the house also cleans itself and someone else is running all the errands. Maybe I own a unicorn and the mailman brings me candy. I mean, as long as I’m dreaming, why not?
A few of you might even imagine this is reality. Well, at least up to the part where I brought up the unicorn. It’s not. I’m a new writer. I have to have another job because my kid likes to eat, and I’m pretty attached to having a roof over my head. My mailman doesn’t bring me candy, either. I have to get that on my own. So, in reality, when I’m not writing, I’m working at my day job. I’m volunteering at 826 Seattle. I’m ferrying my kiddo around. I’m walking the dog, doing the grocery shopping, and cleaning the kitchen. I’m looking at my calendar and crying because there is no blank space for me to not do things. Because when I have free time, I’m trying to catch up on my reading, my emails, my blog posts. I’m calling back my friend who texted me a week ago because she hasn’t seen me in awhile and I’m being a hermit again. Only I’m not. I’m just way too busy. And the more I think about all of this, the more I’m realizing that while my initial answers were originally my way of cracking a joke, they are also, honestly, heart-breakingly true.
When I’m not writing…
When do I stop writing? I never stop writing.
I’m pretending I’m not thinking about writing.
I’m working, cleaning, eating, sleeping, all so I can write.
I’m wishing I were writing…
BIO:
Lish McBride was raised by wolves in the Pacific Northwest. It rains a lot there, but she likes it anyway. She spent three years away while she got her MFA in fiction from the University of New Orleans, and she liked that too, although hurricane Katrina did leave much of her stuff underwater. Her main goal in going to college was to become a writer so she could wear pajamas pretty much all the time. Currently, Lish lives happily in Seattle where the weather never actually tries to kill you, with her family, two cats, and one very put-upon Chihuahua. She is slowly building her garden gnome army.
She is also the author of Hold Me Closer, Necromancer and Necromancing the Stone.
You may contact her at LishMcBride@gmail.com, should you, for some reason, wish to do such a thing. You can also find her on facebook and Twitter.
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Ah, real life. The true torturer of all artists. Now you see why I love her writing? Everyone so needs to read this book! Even though I love nothing but a straight answer and no snark... *cough* Yea... right. ;)
Lish has provided me with a book for a giveaway. I'm footing the bill for shipping (woe is me) so I'm keeping it US only. Trust me international peeps, I still wuvs ya, and I swear you won't be sorry if you pick up this book. Now if I can only get my hands on Necromancing the Stone which will be out in Sept... Oh yea.. the giveaway...
Hold Me Closer Necromancer
Sam leads a pretty normal life. He may not have the most exciting job in the world, but he’s doing all right—until a fast food prank brings him to the attention of Douglas, a creepy guy with an intense violent streak.
Turns out Douglas is a necromancer who raises the dead for cash and sees potential in Sam. Then Sam discovers he’s a necromancer too, but with strangely latent powers. And his worst nightmare wants to join forces . . . or else.
With only a week to figure things out, Sam needs all the help he can get. Luckily he lives in Seattle, which has nearly as many paranormal types as it does coffee places. But even with newfound friends, will Sam be able to save his skin?
A rogue knight and an enchanting renegade join forces to right old wrongs in award-winning author Kris Kennedy’s sizzling new medieval romance
A warrior with questionable intentions . . .
Jamie Lost is the king’s most renowned commander, a fearless lieutenant ordered to kidnap an exiled priest before rebel forces close in. The mission is simple—until he meets a mysterious thief who will steal his quarry and then his heart.
A lady of remarkable courage . . .
Beautiful Eva is also seeking Father Peter, but she intends to protect him from a secret that could cost him his life. She senses that she, too, should fear Jamie—not just for his wickedly sharp sword and dangerously muscular body, but for the powerful longing he ignites within her.
A secret that could overthrow the king.
When a band of mercenaries abducts the priest, Jamie and Eva must form a volatile alliance. As civil war unfolds around them, they embark on an epic journey that betrays the truth about their hidden identities, their unexpected loyalties, and the simmering attraction that could seal their fates forever.
Oh and this one in ebook form is on sale for $2.99 until the 30th. I like the cover. ;)
Oh and an excerpt is HERE to whet your whistle! ;D
Now for the fun GIVEAWAY!
I get to giveaway the next book in this series! This one goes on sale on the 31st!
Deception by Kris Kennedy
A beautiful silk merchant and a dashing con man join forces in the second scorching medieval romance from Kris Kennedy.
Breaking and entering to reclaim her corrupt late father's ledger comes surprisingly easily to Sophia Darnly. But is it mere coincidence that her misdeed unexpectedly reunites her with Kier, the outlaw lover who abandoned her years ago? Time has not erased Sophia from Kier's heart, nor tamed her fiery spirit. She boldly insinuates herself into Kier's plan for revenge, believing the ledger will ensure her survival. But Kier knows that with or without the ledger, she's as good as dead.
Kier is a dangerous, intoxicating potion for Sophia, but he's on a mission of revenge, and can't allow even the woman he once loved to stop him. The danger mounts as they take on the leader of a powerful consortium who needs the fabled Darnly ledger—and all its damning details about the wealthiest merchants of England—to execute his nefarious plan. He also needs Sophia—the last witness to his scheme—dead.
The coals of their rekindled passion burn hot as Sophia and Kier set their trap. But when the duo discovers they too are the targets of a deadly deception, the fate of their love, and of England itself, lies in the balance.
Yes, I know... unfortunately he is a bit more covered, but still smexy nonetheless... ;D
This one is a MPB physical copy so it's also a US only giveaway.
First of all, thank you to Melissa and Books n’ Things for having me. I’m having a blast on my Fire Kissed blog tour and I knew I had to stop here. As a thank you to readers, I’m giving away a copy of Fire Kissed (book #1 in my Shadow Kissed series). All you have to do is tell me who your favorite bad guy is. Could be books, movies, tv—it’s all good. And tell me why if you can.
I love heroes and heroines, but to be completely honest, the bad guys are the most interesting characters for me to both read and write. Actually, I build my baddies the same way that I build my good guys, but when push comes to shove, they choose the dark course. Okay, some of my heroes and heroines do that too, but hopefully they redeem themselves by the end of the book.
Ferrol Grey is the villain in Fire Kissed, says so right on the back blurb. But the tenets he lives by make sense for him and his world. He’s reasonable and organized, and could be likeable, if he wasn’t so dang bad. But then, he’s striving to be a leader, and sometimes leaders have to make terrible choices. At what point does a terrible choice make a bad man?
And then there’s a kind of nature/nurture question. Ferrol Grey is a mage, which means he’s got magic in his blood. It’s hereditary and so he was born for the life he lives. His kind of magic (every mage family is different) allows him to take a little (or a lot of) magic from other mages. Sometimes he uses his power for the safety of his people. It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it. And sometimes he uses his power to keep his own… there again, it’s kind of understandable when there is so much danger coming from every direction. Someone needs to maintain order. But this power, which hails from iron, by its very nature takes from others. Was he doomed from birth?
Here’s an exclusive excerpt featuring Ferrol ( aka “Ferro”). The setup: He’s throwing a reception in honor of heroine Kaye Brand, who he intends to romance, but only if she’s not hiding anything. To discern truth from lie, he needs a bit of another mage’s power…
Ferro descended the great hall’s sweeping staircase while surveying the space below. Decorations were in place—candles and sconces everywhere, as yet unlit. Shadow roiled on the floor and gathered in the corners, whispering. At the turn, he caught sight of Alistair Verity, ankle deep in magic. Alistair was frowning into his jowls like a bulldog, his head thrust forward as if he were already refusing. The collar of his tuxedo shirt must have been strangling him.
Ferro checked the clasps of his cuff links; he’d dressed for the formal reception quickly. But no, he was ready, just nervous, a welcome jittery feeling in his belly. A little excitement for once. Kaye.
“You summoned me?” Alistair growled.
Alistair Verity didn’t have the luxury of refusing. Ferro had a need; Alistair would meet it. And so it would be until Alistair’s son took head of House, at which time Ferro would come to terms with him too. How else did they think they got the Florida panhandle? And how did they think to keep it? The arrangement was very reasonable.
Ferro came to the landing and approached, his hand out to seal the bargain.
Alistair got red in the face. “You’ll leave me defenseless.”
“That’s not true.” Ferro pulled back his hand, soured. “I am your defense.”
“Too much and you’ll kill me.”
“I’m careful.”
Alistair spoke through gritted teeth. “You’re a vampire.”
Ferro went as cold as his House iron. He’d been called many things behind his back, all foul, but this—he breathed through his sudden anger—this he was going to like. If only he had that one vampire characteristic that eluded him. He’d regained his youth, yes, but immortality still escaped him. Vampire. There were worse names; he could own this one.
Besides, these days everyone loved vampires. Especially old ones wrapped in young bodies.
“That’s why we’re such good friends, Alistair,” Ferro said, the rest of his ire evaporating.
“You’re all about the truth, while the rest of us stick to the Shadows.”
It was a House Verity trait.
“This is against my will.” Alistair Verity did not, could not, deceive.
“You’ll of course be excused from the party tonight.” Ferro made a beckoning gesture to hurry things along. “Your hand? Or would you like a fresh spot?”
He had to know if Kaye’s intentions, however ambitious, were true.
Alistair’s hand came up, an old circular scar at the center of his palm. Ferro moved quickly; she’d be here soon. He touched the Shadow setting in his iron ring on the spot and closed his eyes to conceal the eye-flickering rapture of Verity Shadow entering his being. Did it make him bisexual to enjoy Alistair so?
Bisexual was popular too.
Ferro opened his eyes, his gaze inadvertently on the man’s jowls. No.
Alistair fell, gasping, to one knee, his hand smearing the floor with a streak of blood as he tried to catch himself from falling all the way. His resting position was not unlike the deep bow of a knight before his liege. Their relationship was not much different.
“Sir Verity?”
Alistair drew a shuddering breath. He seemed beyond humor just now.
“Do you want help leaving?”
“I want to kill you,” he said.
A bright echo, like harmonics climbing a major scale, sounded within Alistair’s words, and Ferro knew—knew—that what he said was true.
That was the power of Verity Shadow.
For excerpts and more information, please come find me at:
Fae Fire It is Kaye Brand's power to wield. But outcast from her kind, she's been selling herself to the highest bidder - money for her survival in exchange for a magic glimpse into the flames of the future. Angel Ice One of the angelic Order, Jack Bastian has no use for a female like Kaye, as provocative and unexpected as her blazing beauty. Yet he has no choice but to hire her to uncover the secrets of his sworn enemy and her former fiance, Ferrol Grey. Magekind War is inevitable between the defenders of the Order and the mage Houses who threaten to engulf the world in Shadow. For Jack, mage-born Kaye is off limits, no matter how hot the impossible attraction between them. But in the coming darkness, beset by danger and desire, everything is about to change...
Thanks SO much for making this a stop on the blog tour! I agree... a evil character is essential in my favorite books. They usually become the catalyst for the hero or heroine in the story. Oh and Ferrol Grey is VERY bad! I can't wait to see what everyone lists as their faves.
Oh and anyone who reads my reviews knows that I love this series! That includes this book and I even made a certain angel an official member of the man harem! ;)
Okay, I know... the giveaway! Oh Erin rocks hard and made this one INTERNATIONAL! Just fill out the rafflecopter form below to enter!
1. Unfairly grounded by his parents, Jason decides to lie to them so he can go to the audition in Minneapolis. Unfortunately, not only does the audition end poorly but his parents discover his lie and things go downhill from there. Tell us the most outrageous lie you've ever been caught in. Bonus points if you can provide pictorial proof. Reenactments eagerly accepted.
Seriously, I don't lie well. I'm really bad at it. I guess I'm boring with this one. I will say that (although there were other factors involved) I did get to ditch a few classes with teacher permission because I told the truth in HS.
Oh, I do know someone that doesn't mind lying on occasion however:
2. In Faerie, Aoide is summoned to see the Faerie Queen. Have you ever met someone important like the Faerie Queen? Someone famous? Tell us the story behind how it happened. Once again, pictures are a plus!
Hm... I currently have 3 cousins in a new Johnny Depp film. 2 may end up on the cutting room floor (despite the bragging... LOL) and the third will have some sort of roll in the film. Not sure what it is yet. I'm so happy for him. This is what he wants to do (mostly direct). I don't have a pic of him that is readily available (darn scanner)... hopefully I'll have one with him in his role soon. :D Of couse this satisfies both requirements. All 3 are important to me and famous in my life (even if 2 end up on the cutting room floor). ;D
3. Caught lying to his father about his non-existent job at the car wash, Jason has now found gainful employment at Buddy McSlawburger's - where he's forced to wear "the funny hat" as part of his uniform. What's the worst job you've ever had? Did it involve a particularly noxious uniform? Tell us about it - in riveting, full-color detail!
I never had to wear a uniform for work! *dances* La la la la! ;D (I'm not talking about my band uniform days...) My worst paying job? I'd have to say the fireworks stand. It was grimy, you ended the day covered in gun powder, sit in a tent in the hot sun and don't even get to go to the fireworks displays around town since you had to be open. *sigh* Poor put upon me... LOL Honestly, it really wasn't bad summer work for a teen. The worst part was smokers and people who was stupid enough to light a firework near the fireworks I was selling. Yes, that happened.
4. In an effort to regain their stolen instruments, Aoide and Rhodia travel to the sugar swamp to hire a hunter. Wouldn't you love to live somewhere where the water is sweet and the grass is made of sugar cane? Show us a picture of you enjoying your favorite sweet treat. Or, rewrite history and tell us how your version of the sugar swamp would differ from the one in the book.
Weird confession time: I'm not a huge sweet eater. My biggest change would be either less bugs and mud or more dog bats (to clear those bugs). I mean... with all the sweetness I possess... *cough* I would be bug food! ;D
As far as my ideal sweet place... I always wanted to go to (more so the old version than the new):
I always wanted to know if that was tea and what that cup tasted like! Well, that and the shnozberries. What the heck is that??
A detective with a secret lineage. An undercover Hunter with a bullet-proof soul. And a world made to pay for the sins of an angel…
Homicide detective Alexandra Jarvis answers to no one. Especially not to the new partner assigned to her in the middle of a gruesome serial killer case-a partner who is obstructive, irritatingly magnetic, and arrogant as hell.
Aramael is a Power—a hunter of the Fallen Angels. A millennium ago, he sentenced his own brother to eternal exile for crimes against humanity. Now his brother is back and wreaking murderous havoc in the mortal realm. To find him, Aramael must play second to a human police officer who wants nothing to do with him and whose very bloodline threatens both his mission and his soul.
Now, faced with a fallen angel hell-bent on triggering the apocalypse, Alex and Aramael have no choice but to join forces, because only together can they stop the end of days.
This is a good thriller detective story with lots of paranormal happenings. It all stars when Alex is investigating a serial killer they just can't seem to find a lead. Alternatively, Aramael is the only angel in heaven willing to take on both the demon wreaking havoc on mortals and protect a Nephilim whom the angels consider anathema. I admit I was pretty captivated with the story and what twists I was going to encounter.
I did have a few problems, however, with this book. One was with The One. Although I loved that it was a she, I was not too happy that she was seen more as human and alternated with being omniscient. It was if the character couldn't decide what to be nor how to handle the situation at hand... and YET know what was going on while being in the dark. It was quite frustrating to me and confusing at the same time.
I would have also liked more build in the relationship with Alex and Aramael. They were avoiding the obvious most of the time so when they finally admitted to themselves that they felt for each other, there wasn't much time building on that, so it felt a bit hollow.
Despite these problems, I still found this book enjoyable and am curious as to how things will sort itself. It doesn't end with a cliffie, but with a huge opening. I liked The One at bit better toward the end as well, so I'm hoping all that happened in this book will make me understand her character better as the series goes on. I give this book 3 stars. I recommend it for those that love detective thriller stories with a side of PNR.
Mary Saint, the rule-breaking, troubled former lead singer of the almost-famous band Sliced Ham, has pretty much given up on music after the trauma of her band member and lover Garbagio's death seven years earlier. Instead, with the help of her best friend, Thaddeus, she is trying to piece her life together while making mochaccinos in San Francisco. Meanwhile, back in her hometown of Swallow, New York, her mother, Jean Saint, struggles with her own ghosts.
When Mary is invited to give a concert at her old high school, Jean is thrilled, though she's worried about what Father Benedict and her neighbors will think of songs such as "Sewer Flower" and "You're a Pig." But she soon realizes that there are going to be bigger problems when the whole town--including a discouraged teacher and a baker who's anything but sweet--gets in on the act.
Filled with characters that are wild and original, yet still familiar and warm--plus plenty of great insider winks at the music industry--Wayward Saints is a touching and hilarious look at confronting your past and going home again.
*sigh* What a beautiful story. I wasn't sure at first. Almost like a song that you've never heard before. It comes on the radio and the beginning is slow and sort of halting, but by the end you just want to hear it over and over again...
The beginning of Wayward Saints almost put me off. The flips between the past and the present and then back again made it hard to connect at first. Then it got set in one time frame and went forward from there and wow, just wow.
The story is full of broken families, broken hearts, broken lives, and how no matter how broken something is love seems always able to pull it back together. Maybe not always in the same way as it was before but in the end it is just as good if not better than before. If only because one can appreciate the joy even more after having to taste the sorrow.
I was irritated by Mary at first. She seemed so arrogant and out of it. But slowly as the book progressed so did she. I felt the same with her mother. Numerous times I just wanted to slap them both for their self absorption. But then characters like Thaddeus and Vincent were introduced. Both had souls just as broken as Mary and her mothers, and they both seemed to be the "other Mary's" that were needed to bring each woman back into a world they had both in separate ways walked away from.
I loved the way the story portrayed real life people struggling through real life emotions. There were many parts that almost brought me to tears. However there were also many clever parts and even some that had me laughing out loud.
While I wouldn't have said this at the beginning of the novel by the end I gladly recommend this for a great read this summer. Whether at the beach, in the car, or simply sitting at home. I also definitely recommend that when you read it, plan to sit down and read it all the way through. Make sure you set aside the time, because you won't want to put it down.
I have a deal for you! One book I recently gave away for the Love Struck Giveaway Hop:
A Wedding Wager by Jane Feather
Jane Feather again delights with her new book in this entrancing Georgian trilogy featuring three noble brothers who are offered a preposterous opportunity to restore their family's mortgaged lands. An eccentric uncle promises a lavish inheritance, but only if each marries— thus redeeming—a fallen woman. And if even one brother fails to fulfill the old man's decree, none will gain the windfall.
Lady Serena Grantley was born to the nobility, but fortune's whim placed her in control of her gamester stepfather, who uses her beauty to lure young men to his gambling tables. Serena even dismissed her first love, the Honorable Sebastian Sullivan, at her stepfather's command. But when he attempts to force her into a liaison with a dissolute earl, Serena resolves to do his bidding no more. Sebastian is the only man who ever captured her heart, and it is to him she turns.
Torn between family loyalty and the woman he loves, Sebastian faces a devilish dilemma. His uncle is ailing, and time is running short. Desperate to find a solution, Sebastian conceives a dangerous plan—a wager that could bring him and Serena happiness at last...or separate them forever.
Oh and I've been offered to giveaway the next book in this series (which goes on sale 7/24):
An Unsuitable Bride by Jane Feather
The third novel in New York Times bestseller Jane Feather’s sexy and scintillating Blackwater Brides trilogy about the bonds of family and the lure of romance.
The headstrong and beautiful Alexandra Douglas is summoned to London from the seminary for young ladies upon the death of her father, Sir Arthur Douglas. There, the family lawyer explains to her that she and her invalid sister, Sylvia, have been left penniless, disinherited, delegitimized. Her father had divorced her mother on the grounds of insanity, making the children of the marriage illegitimate, but still allowing him to remarry. On Sir Arthur’s death, his considerable wealth and estates passed to a distant relative, while his widowed second wife and stepson received handsome inheritances.
Alex is determined to get the inheritance that she and her sister are due. When she sees an advertisement for a librarian at her former family home, she applies in the guise of an impoverished middle-aged spinster with experience as a school librarian.But when The Honorable Peregrine Sullivan arrives for a weekend of hunting with Alex’s stepbrother and immediately notices that the librarian is not who she appears to be, she finds it impossible to keep her distance.With her elaborate scheme unraveling and her future in jeopardy, Alex must rely on her wits—and her new love—to make sure justice is served.
This will be the MPB physical copy to win. So, therefore, it's US only.
This beautifully illustrated guide shows teens how to create eye-catching jewelry out of found or recycled objects—at very little cost. Some fun projects include making pendants out of pebbles; sewing a stylish cuff using scraps of fabric; and fashioning a funky charm bracelet out of extra screws, washers, and other toolbox trinkets. The easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions are suitable for both beginner- and intermediate-level crafsters. This book also provides bonus tips on the tools you need to get started, where to find materials, and how to make money from your jewelry.
This book is geared toward teens who want to be a bit creative toward their jewelry but either will not or cannot spend much money. I think that the author should have just geared it toward everyone since many people of all ages like to make something new from something we don't use anymore. I'm one of them.
I enjoyed the creativity of the various projects throughout the book. I think when I have time I will try a few of these techniques. There is also a few wire wrapping techniques I've been wanting to try that are also included in this book. So I can see someone using this as an introduction to one technique and expanding to another. For those that crochet, you might also find one of the techniques interesting since there is an introduction to wire crochet.
I give this book 3 stars I found this book useful for spring boarding ideas by using old jewelry. That in itself is worth the price of the book. I just think the author should expand her audience to all ages.
I received this eARC from NetGalley and the Publisher and no compensation for my review was given.
An example of what I was talking about can be seen at the publisher's website HERE and also below:
After the tragic death of her beloved, Hester Aspinall vowed never to be ruled by her passions again. Still, she is drawn to her landlord, handsome adventurer Thomas Ramsay—but she doesn't fool herself that a man of his station would look twice at a poor tailor's sister.
With the sea for a mistress, Thomas has no intention of entering into matrimony. And yet, he can't get the plain-spoken and desirable Hester out of his mind, even though she's never tried to secure his attentions as other women do.
Everything changes the night Hester's brother is arrested during a raid on a gay brothel, the infamous White Swan. With no one else to turn to, and terrified Robert will hang for his crime, Hester accepts Thomas's offer to bear the cost of the defense. A true gentleman, Thomas expects nothing in return—but Hester can no longer deny her own desires... She may offer her body eagerly, but can she protect her heart?
This is a book where I will change a bit on how I do my reviews. I will do some spoiling, so be warned. I have good reason to do so, but I will warn you when the big spoils come.
In this book we have the beautiful but plain heroine of Hester who suffered a great loss before being thrust into London with her brother to start a tailor's shop. Her brother, Robert, who is becoming a great success goes suddenly missing. Thomas, a rich gentleman who suffers a secret crush on Hester, decides to help her locate her brother who turns up at Newgate prison. Robert, is charged with sodomy and his outlook looks bleak. Thomas decides to help Hester and within the turmoil new love is found. Not just for Hester and Thomas.
Now here comes a spoiler and before I do, let me explain why. Since this was set in 1810, the charge of sodomy is considered a hangable offense. The language on how people see this charge is expressed numerable times throughout the book. It makes sense as to why it was there, it makes it accurate. However, there is so much of it, those of us who really don't like this kind of talk, it makes it hard to read. So for those of us that might want to read this book but are afraid of putting it down because of the hate, I thought I'd let you know of the outcome. I pushed through it and was glad of it. So... Spoiler (highlight to see): Even though he does not become redeemed in the eyes of society or his peers, he does find acceptance from his sister and Thomas. This prompts him to look at how he views himself. He does become much more self-accepting as well and in doing so finds love himself.End Spoiler. For me, knowing this it would have made it a bit easier to get through all the hard stuff but not by much. I hate hate.
I give this book 3 stars. To me this was 2 stories that intertwined but didn't quite mesh. However, I do think this is an important book for today. It shows how far we have come so we will understand where we don't want to venture back. It also shows how hard it is for someone to accept themselves. If you can imagine that someone is going through the same thing on a smaller scale (not legally but from "friends" and family) you can see why it is hard to take that leap and feel fine in who they are. This, to me, is the bulk of the book rather than the romance and I think it would have been a stronger book if it took that leap and made it the focus rather than split it with Hester and Thomas's romance.
I was given this book from Kismet Book Touring and no compensation for my review was given.
Don't forget to check out my interview with Hester and enter for some goodies! Just go HERE to enter (last day)!
