Thursday, November 29, 2012

Bewitching Book Tour: The Valkyrie's Guardian by Moriah Densley






The Valkyrie’s Guardian by Moriah Densley




Book Description: 

“Augmented strength, lightning weapon, chronic PMS – you’re a valkyrie, Cass.”
You might call them superheroes. “Extra-sentients” are one in 4.5 million with the extraordinary ability to unlock the full potential of the mind.
Cassiopeia Noyon is descended from the most powerful known extra-sentient, but she’s a dud – no impressive talents except a healing ability which lands her in trouble. She’s all wrong for Jack MacGunn, her dazzling immortal berserker bodyguard.
Cassiopeia Noyon has a medical degree at age twenty-one, which makes her a total loser … for an extra-sentient with merely superhuman strength and healing powers but not much else. Cassie may not even be immortal, which is a downer since the man she’s adored since age six, is.
Jack MacGunn is King of the Bad Pick-Up Line. A true blue kilt-wearing, pipe-playing Scot descended from a long line of berserker warriors; if he’s awake, he’s either hungry or itching for a fight. Lately Jack feels lost. His career as a Navy SEAL detachment agent is on a slow train to nowhere. He suspects it has something to do with his out-of-control superhuman rages.
The one task Jack has never failed at is guarding Cassie from their enemies, but now he fears he can’t protect her from himself. Even if they could go a single day without fighting, Jack knows he’ll never be good enough for her. The boss’ granddaughter is off-limits anyway.
A chance encounter with a villain long assumed dead sends Jack and Cassie on a race to save the children secreted away at Network One, the academy for genius extra-sentients. Jack discovers a new side of Cassie when in the heat of combat she invokes unheard-of powers. Has Jack finally met his match?

Read Chapter 1 free: http://moriahdensley.com/chapter-1-the-valkries-guardian/

Author Bio:


2012 RWA Golden Heart finalist Moriah Densley sees nothing odd at all about keeping both a violin case and a range bag stuffed with pistols in the back seat of her car. They hold up the stack of books in the middle, of course. She enjoys writing about Victorians, assassins, and geeks. Her muses are summoned by the smell of chocolate, usually at odd hours of the night. By day her alter ego is your friendly neighborhood music teacher. Moriah lives in Las Vegas with her husband







Excerpt

Without much effort she summoned static in the air. It gathered in her hands as she wrestled to equalize the tension between ground and sky. The shift in atmospheric energy sucked down a dull pressure she could feel in her skull and chest. The charge crackling in her fingers burned ice hot.
Cassie walked calmly to the men locked in struggle and set a hand on each of their shoulders, transferring a mild dose of purple electricity into their bodies. They jerked back and screamed. She exploited their surprise and shoved them both apart, hurling them several feet.
She heaved slow breaths to calm her anger, resisting the temptation to fry their idiotic brains. They rolled slowly and strained to sit up, mist steaming out of their collars.
“Jack. Ben. That’s enough. Look around, you morons. Is this what you want your family to see?” They glanced around and saw the somber faces watching from inside the great house, all the small ones who had just been taught a bad lesson.
“Bloody hell. What is she?” Ben muttered, wiping his split lip.
“The voice of reason.” She stood between them. “You two have to work together while we’re here. This is your clan, and you are the leaders. Now start acting like it.”
She waited while they sucked in deep breaths, trying to calm themselves from the rage.
“Do you think your family should see you shake hands, or did you mean to start a war today?”
Ben breathed an oath in Gaelic under his breath, and Jack made something pop in Ben’s hand as he squeezed. She closed her eyes in forbearance.
*       *       *
At that moment, three pagers went off. Jack, Chief, and Pops all retrieved their phones and checked the display with identical motions.
Jack said, “CO called in the whole team. It’s probably nothing, but we have to go.”
“Run like the wind,” Cassie replied flatly, as though she had no curiosity at all about his urgent summons to headquarters. “Nice meeting you, Chief, and ah, Papa Smurf. I’ll find my own way to the barracks.”
Damned if she didn’t show them her back and strut away like a tabby cat. Of course he stared, mesmerized by the dual motion of her hips and swaying hair. A draft of her honey-anise scent lingered. Catnip. “Eighteen-hundred hours, baby,” he called, a last ditch effort to claim her with the officers observing.
She spun 180 degrees and walked backward. “Sorry, I have to polish my pistol.” Chief and Pops sucked in a breath at her suggestive tone—with that purring sound in her voice, anything sounded like innuendo.
Jack couldn’t help it. He winked. “Sure thing, darlin.’ After you polish mine.”
*      *      *
Cassie could always count on Jack for two things: he would come from near or far at the sound of food cooking in the morning, and he went ga-ga over women in workout clothes. Forget lingerie–Jack wanted yoga pants and a racerback top. This morning Cassie brought out the heavy artillery with both his vices: smoothies and spandex.
Revenge, torture–either would do.
Ice clunked around in the blender as she added peach slices, raw almonds, yogurt, and lemon rind. Perfect timing—Jack jogged down the stairs and nearly tripped over Cat, dropped his duffel, and made a beeline straight for the kitchen. He rocked back on his heels, apparently expecting Anne the housekeeper, not Cassie. She made a point of opening the fridge as he entered, as though she hadn’t seen him.
When she turned around, his eyes widened and he visibly swallowed hard.
Unapologetically his eyes roamed from her long swinging pony tail down over her shoulders exposed above a skin-tight cropped tank. His eyes lingered on her navel, watching it contract as she breathed, before scanning up and down her legs once, twice, and again. He wore the expression of a tiger watching a platter of meat through the bars of his cage.
“All the subtlety of an anvil, Jack.”
“I might say the same to you, sweetheart.”
*      *      *
“Bait?” Cassie coughed, then half-shrieked, “Bait? You think it’s funny? Jack—you promised!”
Jack tried to tuck her behind his shoulder and interrupt, but Cassie leaned around him and jabbed an accusing finger at Memphis.
“No more bait, no more turkey shoots! You tell him no, Memphis, or answer to me. Find another way, whatever. He comes home in a body bag, and I come after you.”
She glared, the silence stretched, and she wanted Jack’s buddy to know she meant it, every word. Bad enough that they went willingly into danger, no reason they should play high-stakes games with their lives. No operation was worth that.
Memphis raised his eyebrows and Jack seemed stunned.
Cassie exhaled in a gust and muttered, “I think I just grew a few gray hairs.”
Memphis surprised her with his softened, sympathetic expression. “It takes a strong woman to love a soldier. You’ll get used to it, honey.” He nodded his head, “We always come home. Don’t worry.”
Jack sputtered then argued, “Oh, we’re not—It’s not–”
“You’re gone, bro. I give it two months, max, and we’ll all be in our dress whites.”
Cassie looked between them, confused, then hacked into Memphis’ thoughts to discern he meant their formal Navy uniforms, for the occasion of her and Jack’s supposed wedding. Wow.
Memphis winked at their twin shell-shocked expressions.


And Now for a GIVEAWAY!!!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Happy Reading!


Cana

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Waiting On Wednesday: Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes


Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is: 






Description:

In a land where magic has been forgotten but peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest is simmering. Three kingdoms grapple for power—brutally transforming their subjects’ lives in the process. Amidst betrayals, bargains, and battles, four young people find their fates forever intertwined:

Cleo: A princess raised in luxury must embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of a magic long thought extinct.

Jonas: Enraged at injustice, a rebel lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country impoverished—and finds himself the leader of a people’s revolution centuries in the making.

Lucia: A girl adopted at birth into a royal family discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.

Magnus: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, a firstborn son begins to realize that the heart can be more lethal than the sword...

The only outcome that’s certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?


Coming out on December 11, 2012

Why?
  1. I think this story sounds great.  4 young people who are learning who they are, what their world is like, and what they can do to change the future.
  2. I expect magic in a magic-less land will be a big change that will occur. 
  3. Interesting cover.  I think could almost be a good video game cover, even.  I also think it is great that you can't tell which character it is.  Is it one of the girls or one of the guys?  You just don't know, and I like how neutral that cover is. 

So what are you waiting for?


Happy Reading!

Cana

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Audio Review:The Selection by Kiera Cass



Description:

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.


Review:
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Selection has quickly become one of my favorite books.  It combines two of my favorite things reality TV and an awesome story.   Secretly there are many of us that love to watch the dating shows that come on TV.  This book brings reality TV to life like I have never seen.  This truly is a reader’s reality show.

America, the main character, is a hard working young woman who just wants to marry the love of her life.  She gets mixed up in the Selection because she is doing what everyone else wants her to do.  I really like America.  She is a sweet young woman that is wiling do anything for the people she loves.  The roller coaster of emotions she goes through is something many readers can relate to.   I really adore that she is a red head, and her temper comes out in full force at times.  She definitely does not let class or propriety stop her from being herself.

The men of the book are Aspen and Maxon.  Aspen is America’s first love.  He cares about his family and is very nice to look at.  Aspen cares very deeply about America, but he worries a lot about how he can support her if they ever got married.   He tries to do what he thinks is best; and I think that is honorable.  He is that good guy who never catches a break.  You just want something good to happen to him.  Now Maxon is the prince and a huge sweetheart.  He puts up with America’s temper and does everything he can to make life better for her.  Maxon is uncertain about himself because he has never dated before.  To make matters worse for him, the whole country is watching it on TV.  I quickly fell in love with Maxon.  He has a very caring heart and does everything he can to help his country and the 35 young women in his home. 

Now, of course, there are 34 young women fighting for Prince Maxon’s attention.  This brings a lot of drama to the palace.  The young women bring their own excitement to the book with their different upbringings and personalities.  The fights, wardrobe disasters, and name calling are as good as any TV show I have seen.  They really keep things interesting in the Palace while America is trying to figure out her feelings.

This book gives you everything a dating show would give you.  There are love triangles, fighting, crying, and drama from too many women being in the same place.  I loved finding out the back story of how the country was created, and how it is linked to the United States.  It was also fun to see the class system is a lot like the hierarchy of high school.  America’s struggle between Aspen and Prince Maxon is the best though.  Move over Edward and Jacob.  Here comes Team Aspen and Team Maxon.

I definitely recommend reading this book.  It is a great book for young adults as well as older adults.
Go Team Maxon!

Kimberly

For additional reviews on this book, Click Here to see Cana's review of this book.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Harbinger by Peta Crake


Description:

As an Olympic messenger, suburban Aussie girl Ophelia Lind is used to being at the beck and call of the gods. But when gorgeous demigod Aden moves into her neighbourhood and starts taking advantage of her services, Ophelia believes life could not get any worse. She's about to be proven very wrong.

Ophelia tries to enjoy a normal, everyday life while running messages for the Greek gods – but without warning an odious creature - evil incarnate - begins to stalk her. As a messenger dealing with the all-powerful and sometimes frightening gods, Ophelia is accustomed to adventures and scrapes. But this is different. Even Aden, who is madly and deeply in love with Ophelia, finds it difficult to protect her. Suddenly Ophelia is in a battle for survival and begins to question everything – her upbringing, her identity, and her true feelings for the alluring and entirely frustrating Aden.


My Review:

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Ophelia is the messenger of the gods.  But not just the Olympians like you think.  No, we are talking about every form of mythos:  Greek, Celtic, Norse, etc.  Also, it shows what a great amount of traveling she does.  With that in mind, it is amazing that they haven’t killed her through exhaustion. 

I loved how she had rules against dating the gods, or pretty much having any form of relationship with them.  Except for Zeus and Hera.  Actually, those would seem to be the last gods that I’d want to have a relationship with.  Let’s be honest, and think about it.  Why in the world would you want to be friends with horny-cheat-on-his-wife King of the Olympians and his jealous-turn-you-into-some-animal wife.  Uhm, no thank you!  But it does make her really cool that she knows how to work the gods as well as have relationships with some of them.

Aden was such a yummy character.  As god of the lustful hunt, I died laughing at his multiple attempts to seduce Ophelia… Plus I did laugh a lot about his changes, because they seemed so out of character for him.  One of the only things that didn’t’ really change was the fact that he still stayed an arrogant ass, but everyone needs those moments. 

Pravus… Let me just say “eeeewwwwww!”  He was such a creepy, sadistic character, I’ll admit that I had a hard time entering my pitch-black bedroom… and when I did, I turned on the lights quickly.  So glad with what happened to him!

I loved the mix of the mythology that blended so well with the created mythology of Ms. Crake.  There was generally a good & believable flow to the myths, gods/goddesses, and the combination of both. 

Now, I did have an issue with the actual flow of the novel.  It could be just how it was formatted for the e-reader, but I swear that when there was a dividing point in the chapter I didn’t realize it until I was thoroughly confused and had to go back and re-read it to figure out what happened. 

I do want to remind readers that this book is set primarily in Australia, and since the author is from there as well, the spelling might not be the common “American” spelling of words.  Also, the wording and the slag are not going to be necessarily familiar to us Americans.  But don’t let that hold you back from reading this book!

Overall, this is a really good book, and I definitely recommend this book!



Happy Reading!

Cana

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Blood Eternal by Marie Treanor



Description:
Despite the growing passion that unites them, all is not well between Elizabeth and Saloman. She refuses to follow him as he builds his influence among the human population and consolidates his rule over the vampire world. A shocking revolt is just the latest crisis that's call him away. 

But under Saloman's regime, vampires have become less concerned with secrecy. And after he joins forces with vampire hunters, Elizabeth begins to understand the inevitable collision of the two worlds. She could be a conduit between humanity and the undead-is she can manage to play both sides and stay alive...

My Review:


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I loved this book, just as much as I loved the other books!  Ohmygoodness!  I mean, since the first book, I’ve been dying to see what would happen with the prophecy in regards to Elizabeth and Salomon.  I have personally thought of every single possible way it could turn out with a happy ending or a sad ending, or even a “What the Heck!” ending, but let me tell you, I had in no way thought of the ending Ms. Treanor had.  I loved how Ms. Treanor turned a very dire sounding prophecy into something that made a wonderfully happy ending.

So what else made this book so wonderful?

Elizabeth:
  •             Poor girl, she is still having to make more decisions… And it is still primarily between the Hunters and Salomon.  But now, you add the danger of Luk, and you wonder if she will even make it.  I mean, will she make the right decision?
  •       It does seem for her there is almost as much doubt about her relationship with Salomon as in the first 2 books, but she honestly seems happier.  But she quickly makes a decision, and realizes that she is with the person she is suppose to be with.
  •         I loved the discovery that she is more important than even the prophecy makes her out to be.  She holds a greater power than she could ever imagine. 


Salomon:
  • You see a more emotional, almost human side to him.  His love for Luk, his love for Elizabeth, and the love he has for the few others in his life seem to make him a more well-rounded character. 

  • I loved getting to see his protectiveness, his love towards Elizabeth, and his desire to show Elizabeth her worth.  He, in his own way, is trying to show his love and earn and keep Elizabeth and her love, even if it isn’t the nicest way of showing her.
  • I think it is great how Salomon is trying to change the world, how he is trying to save people, to make vampire and humans come together to work in unity to a better world.  I still think his ideas are almost too ideal, and it is going to be harder than even he thinks.  But, overall, it does sound like a wonderful idea.


Luk:
  • Poor Luk.  He is insane, and then he had to be woken by that stupid ass Dante to this crazy modern world after several centuries, and that seems to only make it worse.  Unfortunately, with his behavior, you can’t figure out whether to pity him or despise him.  Of course, then there are actually times when you truly hate him because of some of the horrible things he does.  
  •  I like how, in some ways, Luk is actually the catalyst for the whole series, and how everything stems from him and his prophecies.  And I think that it is a fresh idea. 


Other things I loved:

  • I love how we got to learn more about the Ancients in this book.  The gifts they had, what they could do, how they had left their genetics, dormant, in some modern humans, and how it is possible that those genes could come into dominance due to stress or certain circumstances. 
  • I loved! Loved! Loved! Loved Elizabeth’s speech to the hunters before the big battle.  It was a great and inspiring speech that might lead to good human and vampire relations. 


Overall, this is an amazing book, a great read, and I’m dying to read more by Ms. Treanor!  Highly Recommend!


Happy Reading!

Cana

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Place of Reads Promo: The Journey by John Heldt



THE JOURNEY BY JOHN A. HELDT


Description:

Seattle, 2010. When her entrepreneur husband dies in an accident, Michelle Preston Richardson, 48, finds herself childless and directionless. She yearns for the simpler days of her youth, before she followed her high school sweetheart down a road that led to limitless riches but little fulfillment, and jumps at a chance to reconnect with her past at a class reunion. But when Michelle returns to Unionville, Oregon, and joins three classmates on a spur-of-the-moment tour of an abandoned mansion, she gets more than she asked for. She enters a mysterious room and is thrown back to 1979.


Distraught and destitute, Michelle finds a job as a secretary at Unionville High, where she guides her spirited younger self, Shelly Preston, and childhood friends through their tumultuous senior year. Along the way, she meets widowed teacher Robert Land and finds the love and happiness she had always sought. But that happiness is threatened when history intervenes and Michelle must act quickly to save those she loves from deadly fates. Filled with humor and heartbreak, THE JOURNEY gives new meaning to friendship, courage, and commitment as it follows an unfulfilled soul through her second shot at life.

AUTHOR BIO 

John A. Heldt is a reference librarian who lives and works in Montana. The former award-winning sportswriter and newspaper editor has loved reading and writing since writing book reports on baseball heroes in grade school. A graduate of both the University of Oregon and University of Iowa, he is an avid fisherman, sports fan, home brewer, and reader of thrillers and historical fiction. THE MINE is his first novel.


EXCERPT:


When the frightened-looking young man dropped his hat, Nick stepped on the accelerator. Shelly heard tires squeal as her head slammed against the top of her seat and both cars lurched forward. Within seconds Nick shifted into second gear and steered the 'Cuda back to the center of the road, correcting a fishtail that had pushed Shelly's pulse to triple digits.
Shelly ignored both Nick and Waylon Cooney and focused instead on the dark road ahead, which dipped and rose like a mellow stretch of a roller coaster track. She squeezed the handle and said a silent prayer, asking God to keep her in one piece, instead of eighty-five, as the 'Cuda approached a rise in the road and visibility of oncoming traffic fell to a hundred yards.
The Trans Am started to pull away.
"Hold on," Nick said as he shifted gears.
With one hand on the dash and another on the door, Shelly silently screamed. This was insane, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest insane. She glanced at the instrument panel just long enough to see the speedometer needle pass 135 and the tachometer needle hit its max.
For two hundred yards the muscle cars moved in unison, as if attached like a motorcycle and a sidecar. Neither driver managed to gain a significant advantage over the other.
When the cars passed blindly over yet another rise, Shelly looked into the distance and saw oncoming lights. She put her hands on her face and then on the dash. She pushed herself back as she tried to will a quick end to an adventure that had rapidly become a nightmare.
"I think I've got him," Nick said as he pulled the stick one last time. "Sit tight."
"This is crazy!" Shelly screamed.
Apparently focused on the task at hand, Nick did not respond. He instead tightened his grip on the wheel and floored the accelerator. Seconds later he pulled ahead of the Trans Am, veered into the right lane, and shot through the intersection ahead of his rival and ahead of an oncoming pickup whose driver had already hit its horn.
Nick tapped the brake and eventually slowed to a reasonable speed. He drove another fifty yards to a wide spot in the road, did a U-turn, and pulled onto a narrow, sloping shoulder on the east side of Route 10. He turned off the ignition, laughed, and faced the girl at his side.
"So much for the shit kicker," he said triumphantly. He extended his arm behind Shelly's head. "What do you think? Did we kick some ass?"
Hearing no reply, Nick leaned toward his passenger.
"Shelly? Are you all right?"
Shelly let go of the dash, dropped her head, and turned away. Shaken and most definitely stirred, she took a moment to collect herself before looking at Nick with an ashen face.
"I think I peed my pants."
Happy Reading!

Cana

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving



Happy Thanksgiving 
to you and your families!

From everyone here at 
Place of Reads Book Blog

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Halflings by Heather Burch


Description:

Split. After being inexplicably targeted by an evil intent on harming her at any cost, seventeen-year-old Nikki finds herself under the watchful guardianship of three mysterious young men who call themselves halflings. Sworn to defend her, misfits Mace, Raven, and Vine battle to keep Nikki safe while hiding their deepest secret---and the wings that come with. A growing attraction between Nikki and two of her protectors presents a whole other danger. While she risks a broken heart, Mace and Raven could lose everything, including their souls. As the mysteries behind the boys' powers, as well as her role in a scientist's dark plan, unfold, Nikki is faced with choices that will affect the future of an entire race of heavenly beings, as well as the precarious equilibrium of the earthly world.

My Review:
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

This book sounds amazing, I know... I thought it was going to be a great book that would lead me on adventures untold, and even better it would have angels in it.  Unfortunately, I didn't find this book to be that great.  I actually didn't even finish it.  I made it to the 1/2 way point, and I stopped, because I just couldn't get into it. 

So here are my reasons why I didn't finish the book:

  1. The flow of the novel was stilted, and difficult to follow.  
  2. We know that Nikki is important, but really, why and what makes her so important isn't clear. Plus it is so irritating that you don't know that you just kind of stew waiting for them to reveal the big secret.
  3. This forbidden love turning you evil subject is kind of pissing me off!  What the heck?  must someone "lose their soul" to love someone?  
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this book, and because of that, I cannot recommend it.  If you did enjoy this book, please let me know why.


Happy Reading!

Cana

Monday, November 19, 2012

Hideous by Violet Heart



Description:

Triselle has survived a winter of devastating snows. Spring has come, and with it, unending rain. The land is dying, along with any hope for happiness. Drawn to her lord’s castle, Triselle leaves her father’s farm and finds herself in a magical world under a curse.

Lord Vanir suffers as a man transformed into a hideous beast. The appearance of lovely Triselle threatens to send him deeper into his living hell. Her adventurous spirit and accepting heart surprise him, however. Somehow, she sees through his ugly countenance to the noble, generous man hidden within.

Can they find love despite adversity? Or will the curse condemn them both?

My Review:

Hideous by Violet Heart
Rating: 3 out of 5

Triselle has survived a winter of devastating snows. Spring has come, and with it, unending rain. The land is dying, along with any hope for happiness. Drawn to her lord’s castle, Triselle leaves her father’s farm and finds herself in a magical world under a curse.

Lord Vanir suffers as a man transformed into a hideous beast. The appearance of lovely Triselle threatens to send him deeper into his living hell. Her adventurous spirit and accepting heart surprise him, however. Somehow, she sees through his ugly countenance to the noble, generous man hidden within.

Can they find love despite adversity? Or will the curse condemn them both?
This is the adult Beauty and the Beast story.  It is a short read and goes along with most of the Disney version.  Triselle is our beauty, and like the cartoon, she feels out of place in her life.  She likes to read and dreams of adventure.  She goes for a walk one day and finds Lord Vanir’s castle.  He is the missing lord of their land.  No one has seen or heard from him in six months.  She enters through a gate and it closes after her.  She finds herself locked inside the castle.  She is curious and looks around.  Lord Vanir is a troubled man who was turned into a beast.  When he sees Triselle he is conflicted.  He doesn’t know whether she will break the spell or run in fear of him.  They end up having a night of endless sex.  This is definitely not meant for the kiddos.  Of course, they have to find a way to break the spell, and she has to save her father.

It is a fun twist on the classic.  This is definitely one that I would recommend reading when you have a few hours to kill.  The story is straight forward, and there are no great surprises.  Other than the sex scenes it is pretty tame.  Readers should definitely be over 18.

Happy Reading!


Kim

Sunday, November 18, 2012

YALL FEST 2012: Thank God For The South And Southern Writers And Books!!!!!!


So I've been waiting for this for OVER A YEAR!  Counting down the days, watching the author list grow, trying to decide which authors I wanted to sign my books.... Yes, I must say that I could not wait!

So I packed up my car with snacks and happiness (aka Cheerwine and Almond Joys), and drove the 4 hours from the Upstate of SC down to Charleston on November 10.  

On The Way Down:

For those of don't know, there is a huge football disagreement.  Whether you are a Clemson Tiger (Orange and Purple) or a USC Gamecock (Garnet and Black).  Now there were 2 games going on and so all the Tiger and Gamecock fans were out.  At one of my stops, I went into a Chick-Fil-A and literally it was a restaurant divided.  One side was orange and purple, while another side was garnet and black.   It was amazingly scary.  And fun to tell :P


What Happened There:

I got there a bit early.  It did seem that this year, YALL Fest was a bit more disorganized.  Volunteers didn't seem to know what they were doing, booths weren't ready, and the lines were not labeled well so that people knew what was what.

But besides that, there were some AWESOME sessions.  I just wished that a lot of the ones that I wanted to do were not at the same time.  


Who Did I LOVE:

I discovered that not only do I love reading books by Deborah Harkness and Kiera Cass, but I think I love them as people too.  They are absolutely wonderful and I think that it just inspires me more to read their books!

What Books Was I Inspired To Read:

I decided I was going to read a few new books by some amazing sounding authors.

By Authors I heard Speak:

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz 
The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman 
White Cat by Holly Black
Every Day by David Levithan
Rampant by Diana Peterfreund

By Authors I met/saw at the booths:

Destiny's Fire by Trisha Wolfe
The Moon Omnibus Series by Jeanette Battista
The Messenger by Leah Rose
Inbetween by Tara Fuller
Perigee Moon by Tara Fuller
Look What I Brought Back:

I brought back a lot of swag: Bookmarks, flyers, and 5 books that were signed by my current 2 favorite American authors, Deborah Harkness and Kiera Cass.  

(And a special THANK YOU! to Kiera Cass!  I stood in line for 45 minutes to see her and get her to sign my books, and 5 people in line before me the moderator stated she was no longer personalizing the books.  I was so disappointed, but I didn't take off my sticky notes (I know, bad Cana!   But I was carrying books for others, so I needed to keep them straight!).  When I got up there, she still personalized them.  That was so sweet and awesome, and I wanted to let her know how much I appreciated it!)


So Overall, What Have I Got To Say About The Whole Thing?

I will so be there next year, better prepared, fangirling all the authors that I want to read and a happy, happy smile on my face as I fulfill my addiction to reading!

Happy Reading!

Cana

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Descent of Blood by Elizabeth Marx


Description:

When times are darkest, some vampires desire more than blood …
England, 1465. Mortal men clash in the War of the Roses for the English crown, while vampire warriors’ move undetected among their ranks, savoring the flow of blood that battlefields provide.

Vampire prince, Severian Pearce, fears the revelation of the immortal clans to humankind should King Henry fall from power. While in pursuit of Henry’s enemies, Severian comes to the aid of Meridian Neville, a human woman he craves—and not for the scent of her blood … Meridian is torn between honoring her father’s dying wish and her unexplainable yearning for Lord Severian. But as Severian and Meridian work together to protect a relic hunted by mortals and immortals alike, the red veil descends over them. This all-consuming attraction can drive immortals to the brink of madness. Will the existence of this powerful bond between a human and a vampire be enough to unite the immortal clans or is the red veil a scourge set on destroying any chance they might have of happiness?

When all hope is lost, one vampire will fight unto death for his forbidden love.

My Review:
Holy Sweet Mother of the Great Cow Daisy…. This book was great!  It had romance, it had intrigue, it had a mystical mystery about the red veil and Cain, it had adventure, and a bit of murder.  Add in the old English, and the War of the Roses in the background, and you have the makings of an amazing book!

Meridian is one of those strong, innocent, and absolutely amazing women that you hope that you would be like in those situations that she finds herself in. I liked her first thing after she was handling the crossbow that was pointed at Serverain.  Nothing like a strong willed woman who is willing to defend herself.

Serverian is that sexy knight in shining armour that would strip you naked, have his way with you and then marry you… In that order :P.  And then he would protect you and your honor by killing, maiming, and many other manly things that would just make you want to keep him around… Yep, definitely loved him as a character.

Arrian… I don’t know what to say about him, but he is definitely something else.  As a forerunner to the story, he already knows the secret of the red veil.

Philabe was a great minor character who seems to be everywhere, even when he wasn’t.  Think of this book as kind of like his diary of the events.  I kind of like that. 

I do love the type of vampires that were in this book.  There were enough to where I kind of lost track. But learning who was what, and what skills the vampires have was pretty cool. 

I will admit that there was some slow going at the beginning of the book.  It took me getting through to the 2nd chapter before I was learned that I loved this book.

The only thing I had a hard time with that disappointed me in this book was what I call the Twilight Cliché.  I knew as soon as they got together what was going to happen.  But since that was the only disappointment I had, I think we are ahead of the game.

Overall, this is a great book!  Highly recommend and I am looking forward to the next book.


Happy Reading!

Cana

Friday, November 16, 2012

IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD! Bloggers & Authors Invited to join in on the fun!

Hello to all my favorite bloggers, authors, and followers!

Since the Mayan Calendar predicts that the end of the world is December 21, 2012, I thought, “Why not celebrate?”  I mean, how many times can the end of the world come around, right ;)?

So I’d like to invite you to participate in “It’s The End Of The World” blog event & giveaway.  You can participate in many different ways, one of which is with a book review of a book you are glad you read before “the end of the world”.  I’m pretty much game for anything. 

So what you need to know:
Date of the event: December 6-22, with giveaway announcement on December 23.
Deadline to join event is November 26.
Deadline to turn in any posts is December 1.
If you are going to participate in the giveaway, please let me know what you will provide, how many of the item, and if it is US only or can be an international giveaway item. 

I have 10 openings for reviews, so if you are interested, please just email me. 

I look forward to working with you, and hope that you have a great holiday season! 

Here are the buttons for your blog about the event.


If you want the html format: 


Happy Reading!

Cana

Blood Sin by Marie Treanor



Description:
Months after her dangerous encounter with the vampire overlord Saloman, Scottish academic Elizabeth Silk is still trying to cope with both the demands of her vampire-hunting bloodline-and the desire she feels for Saloman, the immortal she brought back from the grave. But when Saloman's ancient sword becomes the object of a ruthless race between humans and vampires, Elizabeth must decide between unwanted loyalty, or unholy love.

My Review:
Yummy, yummy, yummy, yummy!  That is what this lovely confection of a book is.  So let’s get down to the meat of this book to understand why I loved it so much. 

I love how Elizabeth grows as a character.  I mean, she is an educator, a vampire slayer, and the Awakener of an Ancient.  And no matter how strong and how smart she is, she still wants the man/vampire who is suppose to be her greatest enemy.  Personally, I think she should give up all of her qualms and love him without any guilt!  Come on!  He is delicious!

I love how we get to know Salomon more.  Figuring out how he ticks, why he wants his sword, why he does what he does.  Better yet, we see how much he loves Elizabeth.  He would do almost anything for her. 

A few new characters were introduced:  Grayson Dante, Josh Alexander, and Travis the American Vampire.  Grayson Dante is villain and ass hole extraordinaire.  Josh Alexander is a movie star, a skeptic, and a descendant.  And Travis keeps changing sides and allies as he chooses.

Traveling from Scotland, New York, and Budapest, this worldwide whirlwind trip will keep you on edge as you cheer on Elizabeth & Salomon, figure out Dante’s plan and keeping track of who has Salomon’s sword. 

I’m really enjoying this series, and I can’t wait to read more by Ms. Treanor.  Highly recommend this book. 


Happy Reading!

Cana