So, we are starting the last half of the year... But what does that mean for us here at Place of Reads? It means, we only have so much longer to read books before the year becomes 2014. So, here is what our favorite parts of 2013 so far have been!
Between e-books (both Sony and Kindle), audio books (Thanks to Audible.com), and actual physical books, we are almost halfway to our goal of 210 books between Kim and Cana.
We will be starting a new thing here at Place of Reads. "Friday Fun with ..." This Friday event is about giving children/teens between the ages of 5 and 16 a chance to read and review the books that they are reading! So far we have had Mary Evelyn & Michael review. Next one coming soon!
1 Kindle HD -30 authors joined together to offer a spectacular grand prize A Kindle Fire HD 8.9” screen , Wifi ,16GB $269 value Open to US shipping, if outside US you can receive an equal value Amazon Gift Card
1 huge package of book swag from Bewitching Book Tours filled with fun goodies from Bewitching Book Tours, owner Roxanne Rhoads and numerous Bewitching authors including a Starbucks giftcard from Gina Conkle
4 packages of book swag from Bewitching Book Tours- filled with fun goodies from Bewitching authors
1 mixed swag pack of various book swag from Milly Taiden
1 set of Bleeding Hearts (Demimonde #1) and Blood Rush (Demimonde #2) by Ash Krafton- US Shipping
2 sets of Her Dear & Loving Husband and Her Loving Husband's Curse by Meredith Allard open to US Shipping
1 Kidnapped by Maria Hammarbald us shipping
1 ROGUE ORACLE and DARK ORACLE by Alayna Williams- us shipping
1 EMBERS and SPARKS by Laura Bickle- US shipping
1 Fall of Sky City by SM Blooding US Shipping only
1 signed set of DARK LIGHT OF DAY and FIERY EDGE OF STEEL by Jill Archer
1 Life After the Undead and Death to the Undead by Pembroke Sinclair- US shipping
1 DiSemblance by Shanae Branham
1 Shield: Allie's War, Book Two by JC Andrijeski (or Revik: Allie's War, Early Years) by JC Andrijeski
1 signed copy of VICIOUS CIRCLE by Linda Robertson (or any other title written by her if winner already has VC)
1 DiSemblance by Shanae Branham open to International Shipping
1 The Necromancer’s Seduction by Mimi Sebastian open to International Shipping
2 print copies of The Chosen by Annette Gisby, US/Canada and UK entrants
1 Print or ebook Copy of Night Hawk by JE Taylor to US residents or ebook (mobi or epub) for international folks. If US resident would prefer ebook - that can be done as well.
1 Print or ebook Copy of Hunting Season by JE Taylor to US residents or ebook (mobi or epub) for international folks. If US resident would prefer ebook - that can be done as well
1 Winner’s choice of print or digital (.mobi or .epub) of Royal Street or River Road by Suzanne Johnson, in either U.S. or U.K. editions; open to international.
1 Winner’s Choice of print, audio, or digital (.mobi only) of Redemption, Absolution, Omega, or Storm Force by Susannah Sandlin open to international.
1 All three books in the Phaeton Black, Paranormal Investigator series The Seduction of Phaeton Black, The Moonstone and Miss Jones, The Miss Education of Dr. Exeter by Jillian Stone. Print or eBook any format, reader's choice Ebook open international
Friday Fun is where readers from ages 5 to 16 let us know what they are reading and why they loved (or hated) what they read.
Today we have Michael reviewing :
The Icy Beginnings of Cold Cuts by Incredible Jerry Silvestrini
What did you like about it? 1) That Cold Cuts breathed icy breath. 2) That Cold Cuts used her icy breath to save the cows by putting the villains in an icy jail. What did you not like about it? 1) Didn't like how the leopard seal tried to eat all the penguins. Why did you want to read this? 1) Because I love cows and because I didn't have it and wanted it. Would you recommend it to read it?
1) Yes, because even my sister is begging to read it. Happy Reading! Michael
Harper Grogen has no idea that she is the most
powerful creature in Pasmaqon. She recognizes that she is different from other
eleven year olds; maybe a little quirky, but magical was not in her
self-description.
Her inquisitive notion drove her to an old
tattered book which held a mysterious stone. Struggling to open the clasp,
releasing the stone as, it radiates a glow across her room.
She kept the rock in her pocket for secrecy.
Her possession of the stone sent her to a world,
which had been hidden under the ocean's fire tornado of “'Reversing Falls.”
She found herself fighting for her life in a land
that is its own worst compelling character, not knowing who to trust, only the
estranged friends that she meets along the way. Oliver, which holds his cover
as a trustworthy gnome, and Minsty, a large gentle giant that protects her from
the dark creatures, who roam and strip the lands with their ghostly evil
presence.
She discovers that her adventure holds the key of
eternity. She learns her existence is a true mystery that sings along the pages
of her ancestor’s mysterious book.
Tide’s Ghost of the Reversing Worlds,
The
Reversing Worlds Trilogy Two
Part I
J.T. Brown
Genre: Fantasy / Paranormal for middle grade –
young adult
The words whisper along the pages of the old
tattered book showing its deceitful powers, only to harm what is in its path to
Harper’s treasures. Harper has learned the secrets of Pasmaqon and has grown
into her powerful magical being which is her strongest power of all. She is
prepared to fight the villains of Pasmaqon, yet she is not prepared to fight
her past villains that chose to find the only leak to the powerful lands
beyond.
Harper is about to sacrifice her life in a battle
of the unknown as, she protects who she thought she would never consider as
equals. She realizes the battle is non-other without their help. Wizard of
Tide’s power has grown stronger, uncovering the secrets of Pasmaqon. To use his
new found freedom to destroy the worlds around them. Harper discovers an old
friend that carries the secrets of the book and the world. She unfolds the
meaning that she longed to find, only to discover the darkness pulls her into a
whirlwind of her own worst fears.
War of the Reversing Worlds,
The
Reversing Worlds Trilogy Two, Part II
J.T. Brown
Genre: Fantasy / Paranormal for middle grade –
young adult
Cover Artist: J.T. Brown’s Cover Magic
Book
Description:
Harper needs to find her warrior within, and face
not only Tide’s Ghost, the darkness, but Wizard Argon. Who has stripped the
land of Pasmaqon of its beauty and its power, only to strengthen his own land
of Thurrobia.
Nothing has been left behind – only ghost spirits
that had surrendered themselves to the powerful force of Wizard Argon. Pasmaqon
is left powerless with only the spirits of the past.
The mysteries bleed its phenomenon off from the
pages of Mystical Book, as the terror and the ghost dance with the mysterious
tune. That sends Harper into a whirl wind spin tossing her to learn the truth
behind the cover of the storm.
Is war the only answer?
But…..How can you fight something that is already
dead, how can you weaken the weak, and how can you save a land that has already
in silence.
Harper can now trust no one or anything, for she
may never know who is watching from behind. Harper’s powers mean nothing to the
unseen.
Excerpt from The Legend of Harper and the Reversing Worlds
Whispers
from the Pages
Harper
heard whispers coming from her parent’s room and they seemed to be calling her
name. Her curiosity urged her to open the trunk one more time. She lifted the
trunk’s top, as she glanced over her shoulder to be sure no one was watching
her rummage through her mother’s things. Usually she wouldn’t be so secretive
about such a move, but there was something in her mother’s hope chest that
pulled her in. Her mother didn’t allow her to go near the hope chest. Her
mother always told her there were too many old valuable family treasures buried
in its depths. Harper, the eager girl she was, couldn’t help but to take a peak
time and time again. There were so many fascinating things in the secret chest,
especially a book, a mysterious and mystical book that stood out to her. She
pulled the old tattered book out, tucked it under her shirt, and quickly shut
the cover. She hastily moved through the house before anyone had a chance to
follow her to her room. She opened her bedroom door and locked it behind her.
She pulled herself up onto the bed, and placed the book in front of her. She
admired the calligraphy style print on the old leather binding; it held an
ancient wizardry look around the worn edges. The clasp held a lock, but
strangely enough, the lock wasn’t like other locks. The clasp wrapped around a
small stone wedged into the leather and steel. The red colored stone held strong
into the leather and metal clasp. Harper tugged at the stone in hopes to ease
the pressure. She continued trying to force the lock open. She tossed the book
aside on her bed in frustration.
She
sat on her bed in disgust and looked down on the mysterious hardcover. The
title stood out to her, but she couldn't pronounce the words. “ Shamans-Hatha
Ka- AFI Fayeed Jayeed.” She spoke out loud not knowing what the meaning was, or
how to pronounce the long-winded title. She shook her head in defeat as she hid
the book under her bed. She could hear footsteps as they moved down the hall,
and quickly unlocked her door and opened her math book, as though she were
studying. Her mother walked in, and was impressed by her ambition to study on a
Friday night.
“Sweetie,
do you have a test?” Her mother asked.
“Yah,
next Friday,” she told her, but she disliked the thought of lying to her
mother.
“Well,
your dad needs help in the boat tomorrow. Do you think you would like to go out
in the boat with him?” Her mother looked at her with a hopeful look.
“Yeah,
I will go,” Harper smiled at her.
“Well
you better get some rest sweetie.” Her mother kissed her on the forehead and
closed the door behind her.
She
pulled out the book from beneath her bed once again. She opened the drawer of
her nightstand and pulled out a letter opener. She tried to pry open the clasp
on the book in a desperate act, to find out what could possibly be inside. She
used all her strength and put pressure on the clasp. She wedged the stone back and
forth. Suddenly the stone flew across the room. She smiled in delight of
finally gaining ownership of the stone. She picked it up and examined it from
side-to-side and front to back. The stone began to shine. Streams of light
radiated through her room as when dropped the stone and then she watched it
fade back to its normal color. “What just happened?” She asked herself out
loud.
She
looked down at the book she realized that the stone hadn't released the clasp.
She put the book back in her nightstand drawer and figured she would try open
the clasp later. She curled up in her bed knowing the next day would bring her
lots of hard work. She closed her eyes and wondered what could possibly be
inside the old book.
“Why
would her mother have such a treasure?” She asked herself as she drifted off to
sleep. She saw a glow through her closed eyelids. Beams of light danced around
her room in radiant colors from the crack in her nightstand drawer. She quickly
put her feet on the floor and hesitated to pull the drawer open.
About the Author
:
J.T.
Brown is a paranormal fantasy/science fiction author, who lives in Downeast,
Maine. J.T. has always been drawn to the ocean, maybe because she spent most of
her days on her father’s lobster boat as a child, or maybe it’s the phenomenon
that shakes her cage daily. The Reversing Falls, which sits on the coast of
Maine has always sang its mysteries across the twisting currents of the ocean,
but for J.T. that song has always been a tale, waiting to bleed its story
across the pages of “The Reversing World’s Trilogy.”
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:
A BEAST IN TORMENT
Uilleam MacRieve believed he’d laid to rest the
ghosts of his boyhood. But when a brutal torture revives those ancient agonies
and destroys his Lykae instinct, the proud Scot craves the oblivion of death.
Until he finds her—a young human so full of spirit and courage that she pulls
him back from the brink.
A BEAUTY IN CHAINS
Seized for the auction block, Chloe Todd is
forced to enter a terrifying new world of monsters and lore as a bound slave.
When offered up to creatures of the dark, she fears she won’t last the night.
Until she’s claimed by him—a tormented immortal with heartbreaking eyes, whose
touch sets her blood on fire.
A FULL MOON ON THE RISE
With enemies circling, MacRieve spirits Chloe
away to the isolated Highland keep of his youth. But once he takes her to his
bed, his sensual mate becomes something more than human, evoking his savage
past and testing his sanity. On the cusp of the full moon, can he conquer his
worst nightmare to save Chloe . . . from himself?
Coming
out on July 2, 2013
Why?
Because I read the first several books of the series (I’m trying
to catch up…)
When I read the description, it sounded a bit “Beauty and the
Beast”, and that is my favorite fairytale…
This sounds just plain delicious, honestly.I want to know what she turns into, and so
much more.
I love this cover. It looks better than a penny bodice ripper, but it still has that sexy/sultry look that screams romance novel.
An impending war between Heaven and Hell looming around the corner.
A Grand Witch who has no idea what she is.
The Prince of Darkness’s obsession in claiming her.
Two sinfully gorgeous men pulling her in two different directions.
As the owner of the coffee shop Deja Brew in Savannah, Georgia, Anna thought her life was ordinary. That is until her sister is kidnapped by a demon, prompting two handsome men to march into her life unexpectedly. Valen, the sinfully gorgeous, overprotective werewolf who is Anna’s sworn guardian and Roman, the most handsome and powerful Warlock in the entire Netherworld.
Suddenly, her world is stripped of everything she knows and replaced with frightening news about who she really is - a powerful Grand Witch. Now, it’s up to her to draw out her dormant magic, rescue her sister and stop an impending heavenly war threatening to eradicate the human race all while staying alive.
It happens practically every night. My pleasant dreams take on a life of their own, morphing into terrifying nightmares. They are the tsunamis of the dream ocean, spinning me in their churning tides before thrusting me awake, whereupon I find myself drenched in a pool of sweat, and gasping for air. Abandoning my worry isn’t an option since a demonic element is the driving force behind them. It sounds crazy, but even as a child, a special darkness visited me in my dreams. Is it a warning? Or a threat? Your guess is as good as mine.
They always began the exact same way - I'm being hurled into a pitch-black hole of nothingness. I open my sleepy eyes, allowing them time to adjust. Isolation surrounds me, reminding me how unprepared I am for this place. A dim, orange light cuts through the dark abyss like a blade. I squint, realizing it’s much further than it appears. I attempt to move my feet, but they stubbornly refuse. I try a second time, and manage to overcome the terror that is binding them. One step becomes two and I find myself walking at a cautious pace, listening for the faintest sound. I haven’t the slightest idea where I am, which makes me suspicious of everything. My nose wrinkles as I walk through a large pocket of air that reeks with an overpowering odor of burnt hair. I swing and wave my hands, hoping to break up the stench, but to no avail. What could be the source of such a rank smell? I’m not sure I want to know the answer. I quickly push the thought away. Curiosity can be dangerous when it comes between reality and panic.
A glint of light from the ashen wall catches my eye. I step closer to it, noticing how the curved cobbles gently mold my feet to their shapes. Small, rectangular stones that suggest their age goes well beyond the medieval era are arrayed in front of me. A dense tackiness catches the small granules of little dust motes that are reflected by the light here. Some kind of liquid begins to seep from one of the cracks in the stones, and I lower my head to inspect it. The crimson liquid slides sluggishly, like a snail, towards the ground. Leaning closer, I realize I’m staring at blood, and I gasp, jumping backwards. My heart thuds loudly in my chest as my adrenaline speeds through my veins like a racecar. My eyes skip around, noticing thousands of little red capillaries materializing all over the wall. An overwhelming paranoia that the tunnel will cave in torments my mind. I turn and dash towards the light, fueled by my distress. My lungs scream for air as I push myself further and faster than ever.
The orange light surrounds a large opening. Skidding to a stop, I barely avoid falling over the ledge at the cave’s entrance. I stare out at a fiery, scarlet landscape that appears infinite, and sends me a menacing warning. I lean forward when a wall of intense heat slugs me in the face, forcing me backwards a few inches. The air is dense, and it’s hard to catch my breath. Sweat beads on my brow, evaporating before I can wipe it away. I scan the ravaged scenery, watching pillars of fire erupt from the ground before disappearing into the onyx sky, rimmed in red. A chain of mountains with jagged cliffs, emerge straight up from the bloodshot dirt. Floating objects I don’t wish to know about, travel in an orbit, weaving in and out through the rough terrain. I’m in a completely different world. My terror lingers, refusing to go away. A raging river of lava slices through the valley, determined to leave its own mark in the middle of this inferno. I stroll down a steep trail that leads directly to the unusual river. I stop long before reaching its banks, and gradually inch my way closer. My eyes drift over to the whirling mass of disturbing beauty. Deep shades of red and orange mesh with each other, creating a horrid kaleidoscope of angry colors. Flashes of distorted images of my family and friends bob in and out of the blazing lava. I watch in horror as the greedy river of fire consumes them without remorse. Despite my attempts to reach in, my hand snaps back after feeling the agonizing heat. I step backwards, staring in numb bewilderment. I know I’m dreaming, but it doesn’t lessen my anxiety. My back slams into something solid and unyielding. Long, crooked fingers wrap around the tops of my tiny shoulders like spiders. Suffering and emptiness engulf me. My heart pounds like a hammer as my limbs melt into rubber. The hands squeeze me hard, sending excruciating pain throughout my entire back. The snapping of my shoulders, cracking like glass, shatters the unbearable stillness.
About the Author:
I was born in Philadelphia, PA and grew up in the suburban outskirts of this amazing city. I love anything paranormal and/or supernatural - seriously I live in Philadelphia! For those of you who don’t know, this city is an awesomely haunted place! This healthy paranormal addiction has provided me the motivation to write my first book, “I’ll Be Damned.”
I graduated from Drexel University with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and I'm currently working on the Anna Wolfe Series.
Iris Scanlon, Half-Moon Hollow’s only daytime vampire
concierge, knows more about the undead than she’d like. Running all their
daylight errands—from letting in the plumber to picking up some chilled O
neg—gives her a look at the not-so-glamorous side of vampire life. Her rules
are strict; relationships with vamps are strictly business, not friendship—and
certainly not anything else. But then she finds her newest client, Cal,
poisoned on his kitchen floor, and only Iris can help.
Cal - who would be devastatingly sexy, if Iris
allowed herself to think that way - offers Iris a hefty fee for hiding him at
her place until he figures out who wants him permanently dead. Even though he’s
imperious, unfriendly and doesn't seem to understand the difference between
"employee" and "servant," Iris agrees, and finds herself
breaking more and more of her own rules to help him - particularly those
concerning nudity.
Turns out what her quiet little life needed was
some intrigue & romance—in the form of her very own stray vampire.
Review:
The Care & Feeding
of Stray Vampires
by Molly Harper
5 out of 5
I
LOVED this book! I mean, it was the
perfect blend of snark, sarcasm, romance and mystery. This story had me laughing – HARD. I love how Ms. Harper creates some believable,
yet hilarious situations for the characters to get into and to get out of. I think that she easily makes characters that
you can relate to in one way or another.
Iris
is awesome! I love her cussing
substitutes, I love her sugar addiction, and I love her love of plants. Her determination to provide for her sister
and make her way in the world, definitely make her a character you can cheer
on. Plus, at the end of the book, she
proves what a badass she actually is!
Cal,
an ancient vampire, is a very formal, very stiff, but very sexy vampire. I love how he wants to take care of Iris and
Gigi. I also enjoy watching him go from
Mr. Formal to a relaxed Cal who can laugh and have fun. I also love how he slowly becomes part of the
family. It wasn’t planned or agreed
upon, but it just happens.
Gigi
was hilarious! Her teenage view of
everything from sex to food was both funny and refreshing. Plus – her full name had me groaning “What
parent does that to a kid?!?!?!?!”
Again,
we got to know Ophelia better… and she scares me to death. The cold, calculating, vicious vampire all
wrapped up into the body of a teenage girl sounds way too dangerous. Plus, her forms of punishment make me glad
I’m not a vampire under her jurisdiction.
Oh,
the villain of the story actually surprised me to no end. I mean, I thought it was one person, and it
was someone completely different! I love
that!
Overall,
I found this book to be absolutely wonderful!
I highly recommend it, and I’m looking forward to reading more by Ms.
Harper.
