I'm not expecting this to be a good month for books. My dad was in the hospital for 8 days this month and I spent more time running back and forth to Mon Valley Hospital so he wouldn't be alone, then reading. I have discovered a new love for stupid games though. Thank you, Angry Birds!
1. Susan Meissner - Lady In Waiting 3/30/2011
2. Bronwyn Scott - A Thoroughly Compromised Lady 3/28/2011
3. Laura Kreitzner - Soul Stalker 3/21/2011
4. E.D. Walker - The Beauty's Beast 3/19/2011
5. Jemima Valentino - His Elle (novella) 3/17/2011
6. Amber Scott - Irish Moon 3/16/2011
7. Patricia Cornwell - Predator 3/10/2011
8. Lyndsay Buroker - The Emperor's Edge 3/3/2011
9. Becca Dale - Untameable (novella) 3/2/2011
I should finish Heather Wardell's Life Love and a Polar Bear Tattoo sometime today so that should take up to 8 books and 2 novellas for the month.
Here's how this shapes up challenge wise
Ebook challenge
6 ebooks for a total of 17. My goal is 20..so woo hoo for me
Historical Fiction
3 books. My goal is 20, so I have a little bit to go there.
Mystery and Suspense
1 book for a total of 2. The goal is 12, I'm one book behind right now.
Historical Romance
2 books. My goal is 12 again, one book behind.
I didn't read anything for the Vampire Challenge, the Young Adult Challenge or the Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge. If I finish the Heather Wardell book, I'll have 1 book towards the Show Me The Free Challenge.
I'm 28 books total for the year...with my goal being 180. I'm behind. That total includes the novellas, which I'm not sure should count.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Crazy Book Tours Book Review: Lady In Waiting
Author: Susan MeissnerTitle: Lady In Waiting
Publisher: Waterbrook Press
Publish Date: Sept 7, 2010
Buy: Amazon
Review Copy Provided By: Crazy Book Tours
Book Blurb: Content in her comfortable marriage of twenty-two years, Jane Lindsay had never expected to watch her husband, rad, pack his belongings and walk out the door of their Manhattan home. But when it happens, she feels powerless to stop him and the course of events that follow Brad’s departure.
Jane finds an old ring in a box of relics from a British jumble sale and discovers a Latin inscription in the band along with just one recognizable word: Jane. Feeling an instant connection to the mysterious ring bearing her namesake, Jane begins a journey to learn more about the ring—and perhaps about herself.
~ In the sixteenth-century, Lucy Day becomes the dressmaker to Lady Jane Grey, an innocent young woman whose fate seems to be controlled by a dangerous political and religious climate, one threatening to deny her true love and pursuit of her own interests.
As the stories of both Janes dovetail through the journey of one ring, it becomes clear that each woman has far more infl uence over her life than she once imagined. It all comes down to the choices each makes despite the realities they face.
Review: To say I loved this story would be an understatement. Lady In Waiting tops my list of books I will forever adore. It was so beautifully written, entwining the lives of a modern day Jane trying to come to terms with her life and Lady Jane Grey, the nine days Queen of England.
The modern day Jane feels so real. She could be the lady at the antique store in your town. Her issues with her parents and her husband make her a little bit annoying at times, but considering the upheaval she's going through, she has every right to be that way.
The historical portion is told through the eyes of Lucy Day, a dressmaker to Lady Jane Grey. Lucy and Jane's friendship blossoms and continues to grow until the execution of the the Queen.
Susan Meissner really made all the characters believable, and though this is a work of fiction...and the relationship aspect of the story, between Lady Jane and Lord Edward Seymour is based on "What if" rather than fact, the story feels real.
I really found this book hard to put down. I really wanted to know what was going to happen next in both parts of the story, and though I didn't care as much for Jane and her husband Brad, I wanted them to work things out.
If you are a fan of historical fiction, especially the works of Jean Plaidy or Phillipa Gregory, this is definitely a book to try.
Review: 5 flowers
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
A New Discovery
I should never be left to troll Goodreads for long. I inevitably find more books I want to read, and at this point, I could be reading until the day I die, and I will still have books left over!Yes, that's how many books I have in my house!
Too many, as some of my family members have said.
But all that aside, I found an add for The Price Of Innocence while I was updating my Goodreads page. I love historical fiction, so this was definitely a good fit for me. It is now on my wishlist at Amazon. Oh and it is also a part of a trilogy! ARGH!
Here's the book blurb: The year is 1878, and the setting is Paris, France. It's a place of privilege and comfort for the rich, but one of heartache and struggle for the poor. Upon the death of her father, a young girl is thrown from the comforts of middle-class life into the terror of homelessness on the streets of Paris. Without family or friends, she struggles to survive. Her journey takes her from charity houses to the grueling life of a laundress. When her plight becomes unbearable, she is enticed by the mistress of the most famous brothel in France to live in luxury and service her aristocratic clientele. She succumbs to a life of prostitution, and her virginity is sold to a handsome English Lord. His jaded character is tested when he meets his purchase and receives more than he bargained for in the price of her virginity.
The first book in the series of three, The Price of Innocence sets the stage for a life-long romance between a man and woman separated by class and circumstances.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Book Review: A Thoroughly Compromised Lady
Author: Bronwyn Scott
Title: A Thoroughly Compromised Lady
Publisher: Harlequin Historical
Publish Date: Jan 18, 2011
Buy: Amazon
Book Blurb:
When it comes to fencing, be it with words or weapons, Dulci Wycroft considers herself more than the equal of any man. Only once has she ever met her match….Jack, Viscount Wainsbridge, is all charm and quick wit in the ballroom, but his impenetrable green eyes hint at darkness underneath. His dangerous work leaves no space for love—yet Dulci's voluptuous figure is impossibly tempting.
He's sure it won't take him long to discover if her sharp tongue can have other, more pleasurable, uses!
Review: Bronwyn Scott is one author that really gives Regency romance a good name! Dulci is not a simpering miss. She's an Incomparable, that does what she wants while remaining respectable, until Jack becomes her lover.
Then she gets involved with intrigue and then some.
The parts of the story that take place in British Guiana were the best. It was really great to see Dulci bloom once she was out of London Society.
The only part of the story that didn't sit well was the ending. I wanted more closure to the situation with Ortiz. Most of the story revolved around him, and he sort of faded into oblivion. This didn't spoil the story for me though, it just irked me a little.
Bronwyn weaved a wonderful story that mixed society and the wilds of South America. She didn't overdo it on the lovemaking scenes either. There was really more story than sex, which I find works well with historical romance.
She is one author I always look for in my monthly shipments.
Rating: 4 flowers
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Guest Post: Marsha Canham author of Swept Away
Today Marsha Canham is taking over A Chick Who Reads to tell us about her latest book, Swept Away!
SWEPT AWAY begins with a half-naked body of a man washed up on a lonely beach. When Annaleah Fairchilde finds him, she thinks he must be dead, for he is badly beaten and unconscious. A nudge to check for life and he opens his eyes briefly, focusing on her long enough to whisper: "They have to be told the truth before it is too late."
Anna has been banished to her dotty old aunt's house as punishment for refusing to marry the man her parents have chosen for her. Instead of the boredom she is expecting to endure, she is thrown into a mystery involving a man who is wanted for treason, being hunted by English soldiers, and stalked by a French assassin. Adding to the challenge, Emory Althorpe also wakens with temporary amnesia and has no idea who he is or why all of England believes he was the one responsible for helping Napoleon Bonaparte escape the island of Elba.
A brief excerpt:
By the end of the second day, her travels up and down the stairs had become so tiresome, Annaleah offered to relieve Harold Broom while he caught up on some of his household chores. It was midway through the third day, while he was away refilling all the large water kettles in the kitchen and fetching his noon meal, that she looked over at the bed and found Emory Althorpe looking calmly back at her.
She was sitting on the window seat, her legs curled beneath her, idly tracing a pattern in the grime on the glass pane. The shutters were opened wide and where the sunlight poured around her shoulders in a thick haze, it turned the flown wisps of her dark hair into a fiery coppery halo. Her gown was white muslin and the combined effect of the bright sunlight and the streamer of sparkling dust motes caused her to body and skin to glow with an almost unearthly, blurred luminance.
Annaleah was blithely unaware of this. She was only conscious, suddenly, of eyes as deep and dark as the blackest of sins staring at her.
For a very, very long moment, that was all they did: stare at one another.
Anna could actually feel the blood draining out of her face, and the strength melting out of her shoulders, her arms, her legs. She turned instantly cold, was completely paralysed to the point where she forgot she had to breathe.
“Am I dead, then?” he asked in a rough whisper. “Is this the end of it?”
Anna’s lungs emptied on a gust and she tore her gaze away from the bed long enough to glance at the door. Broom had been gone over an hour and should have been back by now but he was not, and she was entirely alone with a dangerous criminal, three long flights of stairs away from a smattering of old servants who were too deaf to hear her scream and too old to wobble to her rescue anyway.
“No.” Her voice sounded equally cracked and ragged and she had to swallow to make her throat work properly. “No, you are not dead, sir.”
The long black lashes closed and opened slowly again. He blinked a second time, then a third as if he still did not believe the soft, glowing vision before him was real. In the next instant, when he tried to turn his head to identify the rest of his surroundings, any lingering doubts were removed as his lips parted around a grunt of pain so pure and involuntary it brought Anna jumping to her feet.
“You should not try to move, sir. Not until you are fully apprised of your injuries.”
“Injuries?” His left hand moved with the ease of a hundred pound weight, inching up off the bed to grope clumsily at the lump on back of his neck. The swelling had gone down considerably over the past two days, but it was obvious by the look on his face that the pain was excruciating.
“Wh-what happened?”
“You were found half-drowned on the beach. My great-aunt, Dame Florence Widdicombe, had you carried up here to the house, where you have lain for the past two...nearly three days without moving. We were beginning to wonder if you were ever going to waken. Your brother has stopped by at least twice each day and is quite beside himself with worry.”
“My brother?”
“The vicar. Reverend Althorpe. S-Stanley,” she stammered finally, not knowing exactly how much familiarity was permitted under the circumstances.
He frowned again. “How long did you say--?”
“We found you early Monday morning, and today is Wednesday, not quite noon. Of course, we have no idea how long you lay on the beach, or floated in the water, or...” she started to ramble desperately as the bottomless black eyes searched her face again “...or if you fell off a ship in the Channel, or if you took a tumble off the docks, or the cliffs...”
Her voice trailed off as, thankfully, he looked away. This time he seemed to brace himself for the pain, meeting it with a clenched jaw. He scanned the bare walls, the high peaked roof, the lamp that hung from a long chain off a wooden beam. His inspection halted briefly at the open door then went on to locate the rail-backed chair, the washstand and painted china pitcher, the cluster of towels hanging on a wall peg. There was more, including a bottle of tincture and one of laudanum that drew forth another frown, but his gaze skimmed them quickly before flickering back to Annaleah.
“When you said I was brought here, may I ask...where, exactly, is ‘here’?”
“Widdicombe House.” It was Anna’s turn to frown. “My aunt tells me she knows you very well; you used to visit here a great deal when you were younger. She has been almost as anxious as the vicar to speak with you. In fact--” She took a nervous step toward the door. “She wanted to be told the minute you came to your senses.”
“Wait...please!”
The genuine note of panic in his voice stopped her.
“Please, Miss...Widdicombe?”
“Fairchilde,” she corrected him in a whisper. “Annaleah Fairchilde.”
“Please, Miss Fairchilde--”
“My father is the Earl of Witham, my mother is a Compton, by way of the Somerset Comptons, and niece to Lady Widdicombe.” It was an awkward and pretentious introduction at best, but for some reason she felt compelled to establish her position and stature quite clearly. At the very least, she had no intentions of being mistaken for a poor relation relegated to the position of companion to an old woman. At best, she would not be ordered about by a treasonous rogue, regardless if his head was broken or not.
“Miss Fairchilde,” he said, licking dry lips, “if you would be so kind as to bear with my ignorance a moment longer? Since you appear to be well enough informed, I would be grateful if you could tell me who the blazes I am.”
Author Info:
My website is www.marshacanhamebooks.com
I am on Facebook as well: http://www.facebook.com/marsha.canham
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/marshacanham
And my blog, Caesars Through the Fence http://marshacanham.wordpress.com/
Swept Away can be found at:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Swept-Away-ebook/dp/B003XVZAB2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AZC9TZ4UC9CFC&s=digital-text&qid=1300799029&sr=1-1
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/20084
Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Swept-Away/Marsha-Canham/e/2940011089893/?itm=9&USRI=marsha+canham
Anna has been banished to her dotty old aunt's house as punishment for refusing to marry the man her parents have chosen for her. Instead of the boredom she is expecting to endure, she is thrown into a mystery involving a man who is wanted for treason, being hunted by English soldiers, and stalked by a French assassin. Adding to the challenge, Emory Althorpe also wakens with temporary amnesia and has no idea who he is or why all of England believes he was the one responsible for helping Napoleon Bonaparte escape the island of Elba.
A brief excerpt:By the end of the second day, her travels up and down the stairs had become so tiresome, Annaleah offered to relieve Harold Broom while he caught up on some of his household chores. It was midway through the third day, while he was away refilling all the large water kettles in the kitchen and fetching his noon meal, that she looked over at the bed and found Emory Althorpe looking calmly back at her.
She was sitting on the window seat, her legs curled beneath her, idly tracing a pattern in the grime on the glass pane. The shutters were opened wide and where the sunlight poured around her shoulders in a thick haze, it turned the flown wisps of her dark hair into a fiery coppery halo. Her gown was white muslin and the combined effect of the bright sunlight and the streamer of sparkling dust motes caused her to body and skin to glow with an almost unearthly, blurred luminance.
Annaleah was blithely unaware of this. She was only conscious, suddenly, of eyes as deep and dark as the blackest of sins staring at her.
For a very, very long moment, that was all they did: stare at one another.
Anna could actually feel the blood draining out of her face, and the strength melting out of her shoulders, her arms, her legs. She turned instantly cold, was completely paralysed to the point where she forgot she had to breathe.
“Am I dead, then?” he asked in a rough whisper. “Is this the end of it?”
Anna’s lungs emptied on a gust and she tore her gaze away from the bed long enough to glance at the door. Broom had been gone over an hour and should have been back by now but he was not, and she was entirely alone with a dangerous criminal, three long flights of stairs away from a smattering of old servants who were too deaf to hear her scream and too old to wobble to her rescue anyway.
“No.” Her voice sounded equally cracked and ragged and she had to swallow to make her throat work properly. “No, you are not dead, sir.”
The long black lashes closed and opened slowly again. He blinked a second time, then a third as if he still did not believe the soft, glowing vision before him was real. In the next instant, when he tried to turn his head to identify the rest of his surroundings, any lingering doubts were removed as his lips parted around a grunt of pain so pure and involuntary it brought Anna jumping to her feet.
“You should not try to move, sir. Not until you are fully apprised of your injuries.”
“Injuries?” His left hand moved with the ease of a hundred pound weight, inching up off the bed to grope clumsily at the lump on back of his neck. The swelling had gone down considerably over the past two days, but it was obvious by the look on his face that the pain was excruciating.
“Wh-what happened?”
“You were found half-drowned on the beach. My great-aunt, Dame Florence Widdicombe, had you carried up here to the house, where you have lain for the past two...nearly three days without moving. We were beginning to wonder if you were ever going to waken. Your brother has stopped by at least twice each day and is quite beside himself with worry.”
“My brother?”
“The vicar. Reverend Althorpe. S-Stanley,” she stammered finally, not knowing exactly how much familiarity was permitted under the circumstances.
He frowned again. “How long did you say--?”
“We found you early Monday morning, and today is Wednesday, not quite noon. Of course, we have no idea how long you lay on the beach, or floated in the water, or...” she started to ramble desperately as the bottomless black eyes searched her face again “...or if you fell off a ship in the Channel, or if you took a tumble off the docks, or the cliffs...”
Her voice trailed off as, thankfully, he looked away. This time he seemed to brace himself for the pain, meeting it with a clenched jaw. He scanned the bare walls, the high peaked roof, the lamp that hung from a long chain off a wooden beam. His inspection halted briefly at the open door then went on to locate the rail-backed chair, the washstand and painted china pitcher, the cluster of towels hanging on a wall peg. There was more, including a bottle of tincture and one of laudanum that drew forth another frown, but his gaze skimmed them quickly before flickering back to Annaleah.
“When you said I was brought here, may I ask...where, exactly, is ‘here’?”
“Widdicombe House.” It was Anna’s turn to frown. “My aunt tells me she knows you very well; you used to visit here a great deal when you were younger. She has been almost as anxious as the vicar to speak with you. In fact--” She took a nervous step toward the door. “She wanted to be told the minute you came to your senses.”
“Wait...please!”
The genuine note of panic in his voice stopped her.
“Please, Miss...Widdicombe?”
“Fairchilde,” she corrected him in a whisper. “Annaleah Fairchilde.”
“Please, Miss Fairchilde--”
“My father is the Earl of Witham, my mother is a Compton, by way of the Somerset Comptons, and niece to Lady Widdicombe.” It was an awkward and pretentious introduction at best, but for some reason she felt compelled to establish her position and stature quite clearly. At the very least, she had no intentions of being mistaken for a poor relation relegated to the position of companion to an old woman. At best, she would not be ordered about by a treasonous rogue, regardless if his head was broken or not.
“Miss Fairchilde,” he said, licking dry lips, “if you would be so kind as to bear with my ignorance a moment longer? Since you appear to be well enough informed, I would be grateful if you could tell me who the blazes I am.”
Author Info:
My website is www.marshacanhamebooks.com
I am on Facebook as well: http://www.facebook.com/marsha.canham
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/marshacanham
And my blog, Caesars Through the Fence http://marshacanham.wordpress.com/
Swept Away can be found at:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Swept-Away-ebook/dp/B003XVZAB2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AZC9TZ4UC9CFC&s=digital-text&qid=1300799029&sr=1-1
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/20084
Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Swept-Away/Marsha-Canham/e/2940011089893/?itm=9&USRI=marsha+canham
What Am I Reading Right Now?
My reading is really slow right now. My father is back in the hospital with lung issues and I just don't have any time to really relax and enjoy. However I am reading three books right now..one paperback, one on my Nook and one on my phone.
I am that kind of crazy.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Who's Afraid Of The Big Bad Ebook?
I've often wondered about the people that say they'd never read an ebook. I wondered about myself for awhile, because I really fought the technology.
I did that with mp3 players for along time too.
I tried ebooks last spring. I read one on my computer. It turned me off of them for quite awhile. There's nothing comfortable about reading a book on a desktop. I tried another one on my netbook. Nope, didn't work for me there either.
Then I discovered Net Galley.
I bought a Nook, and I haven't looked back since.
That hasn't stopped me from buying print books. I love both. But I really love the opportunity to read indie authors, and in most cases, you can't find many indie's in print.
Oh and I love reading on my Smartphone too!
There really isn't anything to be afraid of. Ebooks are awesome!
I did that with mp3 players for along time too.
I tried ebooks last spring. I read one on my computer. It turned me off of them for quite awhile. There's nothing comfortable about reading a book on a desktop. I tried another one on my netbook. Nope, didn't work for me there either.
Then I discovered Net Galley.
I bought a Nook, and I haven't looked back since.
That hasn't stopped me from buying print books. I love both. But I really love the opportunity to read indie authors, and in most cases, you can't find many indie's in print.
Oh and I love reading on my Smartphone too!
There really isn't anything to be afraid of. Ebooks are awesome!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
It's Unbelievable!
I never thought I'd say this, but my Nook TBR pile is fast becoming as big as my regular TBR pile, and there just aren't enough hours in the day to read.
Drat!
It doesn't help matters that I have two books from a friend that I need to read, and several book tour books that I have to get too.
I need to get reading!
I think I've overextended myself a bit.
On a plus...when I finish the next book..things will slow down so I can hopefully catch up! Yay! I'd like to get some "Just for fun" books read too.
Drat!
It doesn't help matters that I have two books from a friend that I need to read, and several book tour books that I have to get too.
I need to get reading!
I think I've overextended myself a bit.
On a plus...when I finish the next book..things will slow down so I can hopefully catch up! Yay! I'd like to get some "Just for fun" books read too.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Book Review: Soul Stalker (Book Lovin' Bitches Ebook Tour)
Author: Laura Kreitzer
Title: Soul Stalker (Timeless #2)
Publisher: Obsidian Mountain Publishing
Publish Date: Sept 30, 2010
Buy: Amazon
Review Copy Provided By: Book Lovin' Bitches Ebook Tours & The Author
Book Blurb: Being the Illuminator is not all happiness and light, especially when everyone thinks you are dead. When Gabriella decides to finally let her angels know that she is alive, Joseph and an unexpected friend help her. The Darkness Illuminator is not as in control of her power as she believes, which makes for a very comedic and endearing relationship that blooms between the three. A fender-bender debacle, a run-in with the cops, and a hiccup at the airport seem to all be worth it until Gabriella finds out her plan has backfired.
The three angels are missing, more mysteries pile up, and a new evil is brewing--so terrifying, in fact, that even the Soul Stalker herself is cowering in fear. Our heroine begins a jarring, romance-filled, heart-breaking journey that will lead her back to Italy, and ultimately to the answers she is desperately searching for. What will she do when they aren't the answers she expected? What happens when she unveils a truth, so deeply hidden, that it causes an angelic war?
Review: Soul Stalker is the second book by Laura Kreitzer that I've read this year, and I can now safely say she's one of my favorite, author's you probably haven't heard of but should have.
This book is the second in the Timeless series. Book one is Shadow Of The Sun and I highly recommend that you read this one first. These stories aren't really stand alone books, though you can certainly read Soul Stalker and still enjoy it. Reading the first book, though will make it easier to understand the action in the first few chapters.
It is really hard to say what it is about Laura's books that make you want to read more and more. There are so many reasons, really. Gabrielle is such a kick ass heroine. She's the epitome of what a strong female should be in any book. I also adored Joseph. His banter with Gabrielle really brought lightness to a story that could be heavy.
I loved the humor in this book as well. There were times when I was really laughing out loud, especially at the beginning when they encounter Joseph's ex-girlfriend/stalker, Sara. That was pure brilliance!
But it is the story that Laura weaves that really pulls you in. Once you read her books, you become addicted and want more.
Rating: 5 stars
Author Sites:
Laura Kreitzer.com
Must Have Book!
I saw this book at Books-A-Million yesterday and unfortunately I didn't have enough money for it.I fell in love with the story of Vincent Van Gogh's life after watching a Doctor Who episode based on his life.
When I saw this book, I let out my usual Squee of excitement. Now I'm trying to find that Amazon gift card I got from Coinstar so that I can get it.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Book Review: The Beauty's Beast
Author: E.D. WalkerTitle: The Beauty's Beast
Publisher: Noble Romance Publishing
Publish Date: Nov 2, 2010
Review Copy Provided By: The author/publisher and Book Lovin' Bitches Ebook Tours
Buy: Amazon
Book Blurb:
Lady Kathryn's father has sent her to court to find a husband, but being penniless and disinterested doesn't bode well for her success. Bored by the petty intrigues of court, she finds her loneliness is eased when the king charges her with the care of his newest acquisition: an uncanny black wolf. What the king doesn't realize is his remarkable pet was once Gabriel, his favorite knight, cursed into wolf form by an unfaithful wife.The beast's too-knowing eyes and the way he seems to understand her every utterance convinces Kathryn the wolf is more than what he seems. Resolving to restore him, she doesn't count on the greatest obstacle being Gabriel himself. The longer he stays in wolf form as a captive of the court, the harder it becomes for him to remember his humanity. And to fight his wolfish urges to maim and kill.
As Gabriel and Kathryn grow to care for one another despite his horrific curse, rumors of an uncanny wolf reach the ears of Gabriel's former wife and her unscrupulous new husband, Reynard. Together, they plan to dispose of the king's pet, knowing if Gabriel ever regains his human form he could strip them of everything they have schemed so hard to gain.
Only Kathryn's affection and determination stand between Gabriel the wolf and Gabriel the man. But when Reynard returns to court, will Kathryn's love be enough to keep Gabriel from exacting a brutish revenge that will condemn the wolf to death?
Review: This is a wonderful retelling of Beauty And The Beast, using a werewolf spin. The thing I found most enjoyable was that it was told in a light romantic way. This isn't a steamy erotic novel, which I think is wonderful. I've always found it better when fairy tails aren't tampered with too much.
E.D. Walker really made the characters in the story likable. The wolf, Gabriel, is really the best. I liked that his point of view was told through his thoughts, rather than going a cheesy route and having the beast talk. Lady Kathryn is a delightful character. Her fondness for the Gabriel in his wolf form really endeared her to me. I loved how she told him stories and spoke to him as if he were in his human form.
I really liked the spin Walker took on this classic fairy tale. It is really a sweet, cute story, and since it is part of the Sweetheart line at Noble Publishing, it is suitable for more readers. The Sweetheart line is comparable to Harlequin's Romance line. This is something that teens could read.
Rating: 4 flowers
Author Site:
You can find out more about E.D. Walker @ http://heirtotheunderworld.com/
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Guest Poster: L. A. Burton
Today we welcome L.A. Burton to A Chick Who Reads. She's going to share 5 things about herself with us.
1. What is on my iPod? I have everything on my iPod from Big Band to one of my favorite Creed. But, when I’m writing I only listen to Creed. I don’t know what it is but as soon as hit the play button my Muse hits overdrive.
2. How would I describe myself? If you saw me, is a store or out somewhere most would see a mom out with her daughter and reads Romantic. Don’t get me wrong there’s nothing wrong with romantic novels it’s just not my thing. I love horror and dark fantasy and that is why I write it. But of my friends say I’m very deceiving, I have an evil wicked personality. I don’t try to be something I’m not.
3. My favorite movie? I use to tell people that Gone with the Wind was my favorite but real favorite movie is 
Resident Evil. I love zombie movies.
4. What I’m doing next? Right now, I’m working on book 2 of the Logan Wolf Chronicles ‘Blood on the Moon. After the Logan book is finished, I will be working on the first book of my YA series Blood and Roses. After that, I finish that I will be going back to Logan series book 3 Harvesting Magick.
5. I love to hear from my fans. My favorite thing is to hear what my fans like about my book. Who their favorite character is and why. I would love to hear more from my fans.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing a bit about yourself!
You can buy Storm Of Magick at Amazon and Smashwords
You can find out more about L.A. Burton at her website: http://www.laburton.org/
Or follow her on Twitter and Facebook.
1. What is on my iPod? I have everything on my iPod from Big Band to one of my favorite Creed. But, when I’m writing I only listen to Creed. I don’t know what it is but as soon as hit the play button my Muse hits overdrive. 2. How would I describe myself? If you saw me, is a store or out somewhere most would see a mom out with her daughter and reads Romantic. Don’t get me wrong there’s nothing wrong with romantic novels it’s just not my thing. I love horror and dark fantasy and that is why I write it. But of my friends say I’m very deceiving, I have an evil wicked personality. I don’t try to be something I’m not.Resident Evil. I love zombie movies.4. What I’m doing next? Right now, I’m working on book 2 of the Logan Wolf Chronicles ‘Blood on the Moon. After the Logan book is finished, I will be working on the first book of my YA series Blood and Roses. After that, I finish that I will be going back to Logan series book 3 Harvesting Magick.
5. I love to hear from my fans. My favorite thing is to hear what my fans like about my book. Who their favorite character is and why. I would love to hear more from my fans.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing a bit about yourself!
You can buy Storm Of Magick at Amazon and Smashwords
You can find out more about L.A. Burton at her website: http://www.laburton.org/
Or follow her on Twitter and Facebook.
Going To My Happy Place
Tomorrow I'm going to one of my favorite, Happy Places, Books-A-Million. I haven't been there since autumn.
How sad is that?
OK, maybe it isn't so sad when you realize the book store is about 50 miles from my home.
It is one of only two Books-A-Million in my area, the other is near Morgantown, WV. We have Barnes and Noble all over the Pittsburgh Area, but I will still travel to Wheeling for this store.
Why?
Coupons and good coffee.
Books-A-Million always has awesome coupons and Joe Muggs is some pretty damn good coffee.
So tomorrow afternoon, I'll be in my happy place, browsing the clearance books and generally enjoying life!
Woo hoo!
How sad is that?
OK, maybe it isn't so sad when you realize the book store is about 50 miles from my home.
It is one of only two Books-A-Million in my area, the other is near Morgantown, WV. We have Barnes and Noble all over the Pittsburgh Area, but I will still travel to Wheeling for this store.
Why?
Coupons and good coffee.
Books-A-Million always has awesome coupons and Joe Muggs is some pretty damn good coffee.
So tomorrow afternoon, I'll be in my happy place, browsing the clearance books and generally enjoying life!
Woo hoo!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Book Review: His Elle Book Lovin' Bitches Ebook Tours
Author: Jemima ValentinoTitle: His Elle
Publish Date: Jan 1, 2011
Buy: Amazon
Review Copy Proved By: The Author & Book Lovin' Bitches Ebook ToursBook Blurb: A creature of beauty and intelligence is a rare breed, especially one who so wantonly offers the submission of her soul to another.
Through a chance meeting at an urgent care clinic, Elle and her Master soon fall unintentionally and desperately in love, embarking on a deeply intense BDSM relationship. Knowing they must soon part, Elle is pushed further than ever before. Through one final limitless display of submission, expertly guided by her Master, can Elle truly release her fears and give him all of her heart?
Review: Jemima's His Elle, is a short erotic novella. It is definitely not for the faint at heart. Elle and her Master are involved in a BDSM relationship that some readers may not be totally comfortable with. That said, in 76 pages, Jemima wove a story that reminded me of one of my favorite classic erotic novels The Story Of O.
Elle's Master is a doctor, who she first encounters at an Urgent Care Clinic, when she has injured her foot. We later learn that that injuring is a result of a sexual assault. The doctor/Master seems to fight his attraction for her for a short period of time, but he gives in and the two have been involved for 2 years when the book flashes forward.
The bulk of the story takes place on their last night together, though Elle is unaware that it is. Jemima weaves the story of Elle's total submission to her Master superbly. Elle is not a tame little innocent in the role of submissive. She really has to control herself, and often she misbehaves and has to be punished.
As the story unfolds we learn more about Elle, her rape and her intense feelings for her Master. We learn very little about him, except that he is married and has a son. That marriage is what will ultimately pull him away from her.
This isn't a story with a happily ever after in the traditional sense. Elle has unlocked her collar by the time the final page has turned, but she does trust in her Master's words that he'll come for her.
Readers that like the format of romance, might find this a bit hard to take. The hero and heroine, don't go riding off in the sunset, but Jemima does give them hope that they might one day. It might even be hard to fathom a relationship like this starting as a result of an assualt, but Master seems to be the person to heal Elle.
This story was very intense. It isn't totally in my comfort zone, but I am glad I took the time to read it, and I'll definitely read Jemima's work in the future.
Rating: 5 flowers
Author Info:
Find Jemima at her blog: Jemima ValentinoBuy "His Elle" at Amazon.com: His Elle
Buy it at B&N.com: His Elle, Nookbook
Buy it at Smashwords.com: His Elle by Jemima Valentino
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Book Review: Irish Moon # 22 Bestseller for the Day
Author: Amber Scott
Title: Irish Moon
Publish Date: Jan 5, 2011
Review Copy Provided By: The author
Buy: Amazon
Book Blurb:
Druid Magick... Breanne grapples with the old ways, her mentor murdered before she masters her talents. The stranger washed ashore must be the key to proving murder. Knight Errant... Ashlon made a vow to bury the Bloodstone, it's horrific past, it's secrets, in the farthest reaches of Ireland.
Fate's Twisted Course... Passion binds them but betrayal will test every belief under an Irish Moon.
Review: I fell in love with Amber Scott's writing when I read Play Fling. I was eager to read Irish Moon, and it didn't disappoint me. Amber writes historical romance just as well as she does contemporary romance.
Irish Moon had a wonderful mixture of romance and magic and mystery. The characters all had good chemistry, whether they were friends, family or lovers. I particularly loved Rose. She was lusty and gossipy and fun. Just the sort of friend that every girl needs or wants.
The story revolves around the death or Breanne's Druid teacher, Hermone. When she discovers his body, she also discovers an injured knight, Ashlon. She nurses Ashlon in secret. It doesn't take long for sparks to fly. These two have a link, one that she's trying to hide, because her soon to be stepfather is getting ready to see her wed, much to her chagrin. Together they set out to find a missing chest, and in the process they succomb to their desires.
Amber gives her readers some spicy sex scenes, but she doesn't go overboard, which is good. It gives the story balance and the lovemaking doesn't overtake the plot.
The highlight of the story is the cat, Finn, who Breanne is trying to release from a curse. He's sarcastic and funny...and really one of the best written characters in the book. He is also more than what he seems, a lot more than what he seems. In fact, the last few chapters were really a surprise to me, so I give kudos to Amber for the unexpected plot twist. I really didn't see it coming.
Amber really has a good grasp of the old Irish culture. Reading Irish Moon felt like a trip back in time. If you haven't read any of Amber's books, start with this one! It is a great read!
Rating: 5 flowers
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