New Adult Author with smart, strong, real women for heroines, and men who love their inner beauty.
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Cover Reveals and Release Day
Today I have cover reveals and a Release from some great ladies! So make sure you scroll down to see all and wish them luck!
Cover Reveal - Because of Lucy by Lisa Swallow
Coming August 2013…
Synopsis:
"In
life, there are some people you have to lose in order to find yourself."
Ness’s parents are shocked when she turns down her place at
Leeds University and takes on a full-time job in a call center. Determined to
begin her adult life the way she wants, Ness moves to Leeds to live with her
best friend Abby.
One night she meets Evan, who is everything she hates about
guys. He may be hot but he’s also drunken, arrogant, and on top of that, he
apparently has sex with girls and forgets about it. But Evan isn't what he
seems and Ness soon discovers they have more in common than she thought.
Evan is struggling to escape from his past too, and when
Lucy appears she threatens his new relationship with Ness. Unsure if she can
deal with the effect Lucy has on Evan, Ness makes a decision about her future
which pulls them apart.
When their new lives don't go as planned, Ness and Evan are
both faced with difficult choices. All because of Lucy.
*Recommended
17+ due to strong language and sexual content*
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR:
Lisa was born in the UK and she
moved around Europe with her military family before completing a BA (Hons) in
English at the University of Leeds. Her home is now in Perth, Australia with
her husband and three children. Lisa has written since she was a child - moving
from writing poems and short stories aged nine to writing novels in the last
few years. With the encouragement of her family and local writers group, Lisa
found the confidence to share her latest paranormal romance series with the
world.
In between running her home based
craft supplies business, looking after her family, and writing, Lisa sometimes
finds spare time to do other things. This often involves swapping her book
worlds for gaming worlds. She even leaves the house occasionally, enjoying
walks with her dog and time with her family. She loves all things from the
Whedonverse and preferred vampires before they sparkled.
Lisa enjoys reading both classics
and modern fiction. Her favorite genres are gothic, paranormal and urban
fantasy, but she also enjoys contemporary new adult. She is currently working
on more books in the Soul Ties series, and has other projects lined up waiting.
Cover Reveal - Finding Home by Lauren McKellar
Another cover reveal! Today they are coming out of my ears! This one is for my fellow Aussie Owned and Read sister, Lauren.
Synopsis: Moody, atmospheric, and just a little bit punk, Finding Home takes contemporary YA to a new level of grit... When Amy’s mum dies, the last thing she expects is to be kicked off her dad’s music tour all the way to her Aunt Lou in a depressing hole of a seaside town. But it’s okay — Amy learned how to cope with the best, and soon finds a hard-drinking, party-loving crowd to help ease the pain. The only solace is her music class, but even there she can’t seem to keep it together, sabotaging her grade and her one chance at a meaningful relationship. It takes a hard truth from her only friend before Amy realises that she has to come to terms with her past, before she destroys her future.
Synopsis: Moody, atmospheric, and just a little bit punk, Finding Home takes contemporary YA to a new level of grit... When Amy’s mum dies, the last thing she expects is to be kicked off her dad’s music tour all the way to her Aunt Lou in a depressing hole of a seaside town. But it’s okay — Amy learned how to cope with the best, and soon finds a hard-drinking, party-loving crowd to help ease the pain. The only solace is her music class, but even there she can’t seem to keep it together, sabotaging her grade and her one chance at a meaningful relationship. It takes a hard truth from her only friend before Amy realises that she has to come to terms with her past, before she destroys her future.
Excerpt:
‘Look, I have to go. Can we talk about this later?’ Dad was asking Mum. Joe had shut the door behind him, and it was a good thing he did too, because when Dad had finished speaking, Mum picked up an empty bottle of Grey Goose vodka and threw it at his head. She missed, missed by a mile, but that didn’t stop the bottle hitting the wall behind him and shattering into thousands of tiny pieces.
‘Jesus!’ Dad exclaimed. He turned around, surveying the damage.
‘Oh, look what I did! Can’t have clean-cut Stevie D trashing the green room. People might talk!’ Mum’s voice dripped with sarcasm. It sounded hoarse, no doubt a result of the hours she’d spent alternating between crying and screaming up until now.
‘Even if this was our bloody lounge room, I would still be furious! You can’t just throw s**t like that.’
‘I’ll throw whatever I want to throw!’ Mum yelled. ‘You’re so uptight.’ She walked up to Dad and put her hands on his shoulders, shaking them. ‘Give up this stupid dream already.’
‘And do what? I can’t afford your habits any other way. If I don’t sing, you have to get a job.’ Dad shook his head.
I inched around behind them and started to pick up the pieces of glass. They were all different sizes, and some had gotten stuck in the carpet. They required a bit of twisting to retrieve, but the others I could pick up with ease and place in my hand.
‘What do you want me to do? I don’t have any skills. And there’s clearly only one thing you think I’m good at these days,’ Mum said, leering. She pulled at her top, exposing her décolletage.
I focused on the glass again. I counted each piece in my hand. Thirty-six, thirty-seven, thirty-eight. On the fortieth piece, a shard broke through my skin, spilling bright red blood. Funny. I hadn’t thought my skin would be so thin.
‘Amy, you’re hurt!’ Mum pushed past Dad and came to kneel next to me. ‘What are you doing?’ She knocked my hand with her own, and the pieces of glass flew up into the air and landed back on the floor.
All my efforts — ruined.
‘Let me see,’ Dad said.
‘Get the hell away from her!’ Mum yelled, raising her voice again.
‘Do we have to do this in front of Amy?’ Dad asked. I felt them turn to look at me. Did they think I hadn’t heard? That the fights they’d been having all day in the adjacent hotel room hadn’t resonated with a hatred that travelled through walls?
‘Please don’t,’ was all I could say. But it was enough. Dad left the room, and Mum tended to my hand, spilling some vodka to cleanse it before wrapping it in a spare t-shirt.
‘I’m sorry, baby,’ Mum whispered to me. ‘I promise, things are going to get better.’
Only they didn’t. They got much, much worse.
Find Lauren McKellar:
Website: http://laurenkmckellar.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenkmckellar
Facebook: https://facebook.com/laurenkatemckellar
Cover Reveal - Heirs of War by Mara Valderran
I love doing cover reveals, and today I'm doing one for a friend of mine. I've watch Mara as she has pulled this book together and I am so excited to see it all coming together. So, here is her cover!
Heirs of War
New Adult Fantasy
Goodreads
Seventeen-year-old Zelene doesn't believe in magic or prophecies. When she's told she is part of the prophecy foretelling five powerful girls bringing peace to the war-torn worlds, she scoffs. The idea of other dimensions layered on top of the world she lives in is almost as ludicrous as the idea that she might be able to save them. After she is attacked by magic-wielding assassins, she finds she can't argue with reality.
As their enemies strike, the girls are taken back to their world and discover the ties binding them together. Rhaya has always had an uncanny knack for reading people, but can’t seem to unravel the mystery tying her to Isauria, the new friend she bonded with instantly. For years, Isauria has been dreaming of Terrena, a girl living her life on the run in a magical world ripped apart by the tragedies of war, completely unaware that she is psychically linked to the world she was born in.
Zelene views them all with a distrustful eye, familial bonds or no, and can think of a place or two she’d like to shove the crown she supposedly inherited. When she learns that her long-lost twin Ariana has been captured by the rebels, Zelene’s attitude changes. She doesn’t know how she is supposed to go against an army of magic-wielding rebels when her own ability to manipulate the elements is still locked within her. But can she trust the elders to rescue Ariana when it seems their medieval politics are what brought about the war in the first place? With all that is at stake, the answer becomes clear to Zelene.
Screw the worlds. She’s getting her sister back.
New Adult Fantasy
Goodreads
Seventeen-year-old Zelene doesn't believe in magic or prophecies. When she's told she is part of the prophecy foretelling five powerful girls bringing peace to the war-torn worlds, she scoffs. The idea of other dimensions layered on top of the world she lives in is almost as ludicrous as the idea that she might be able to save them. After she is attacked by magic-wielding assassins, she finds she can't argue with reality.
As their enemies strike, the girls are taken back to their world and discover the ties binding them together. Rhaya has always had an uncanny knack for reading people, but can’t seem to unravel the mystery tying her to Isauria, the new friend she bonded with instantly. For years, Isauria has been dreaming of Terrena, a girl living her life on the run in a magical world ripped apart by the tragedies of war, completely unaware that she is psychically linked to the world she was born in.
Zelene views them all with a distrustful eye, familial bonds or no, and can think of a place or two she’d like to shove the crown she supposedly inherited. When she learns that her long-lost twin Ariana has been captured by the rebels, Zelene’s attitude changes. She doesn’t know how she is supposed to go against an army of magic-wielding rebels when her own ability to manipulate the elements is still locked within her. But can she trust the elders to rescue Ariana when it seems their medieval politics are what brought about the war in the first place? With all that is at stake, the answer becomes clear to Zelene.
Screw the worlds. She’s getting her sister back.
Mara Valderran has been coming up with stories pretty almost since she could talk, often commandeering her brother's G.I. Joes to play out her fictional tales alongside her Barbies. Once she hit adolescence and realized playing with dolls wasn't cool anymore, she started putting her ideas to paper. And she hasn’t stopped since.
Mara is more than just a madwoman with a writing box. She lives in the south with her husband and demanding cat. She hopes to one day meet Daniel Jackson from SG1, or at least the actor who played him. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading, playing video games, or spending time at her favorite local coffee shop.
Release Day - Colour Wielders by Dawna Raver
Dawna - I'm happy to announce that Colour Wielders is back on the market with a pretty new face and updated content. It thrills me to be able to share it with you today. Thanks Jade Hart at Black Firefly for all her work, Michelle Johnson for my amazing cover, and Danielle Blanchard for all your hard work and help. If you have time, please stop by Facebook tonight and party with us at 4:00 central https://www.facebook.com/events/314183782060128 hosted by the wonderful Leslie Whitaker.
Behind the Faerying Mysts, hidden from Mortal eyes, is a land where gods and creatures of myth and legend dwell. And in the Mortal Realm, their Princess is hidden away.
Quinn Sinclair lives an ordinary life with her less-than-loving mother in Conifer, Colorado, clueless of her true nature. On the night of her birthday, a staggering betrayal sends her life spinning out-of-control. As she struggles to pick up the pieces, a vision of a man with haunting tourmaline-blue eyes begs her for help, and she is transported into a Magykal battle-forever changing her life.
Arik Morgaine—Demigod bad boy and outcast of the Magykal Realm—tried to avoid contact with Princess Quinn for eighteen years, not wanting to make good on an old threat. But the fates have other plans. Arik can no longer deny his growing desire for Quinn, or the need to protect her from those wanting to control her burgeoning powers.
Can the two of them come together and save the Magykal Realm from being destroyed by the Darkest of Magyks?
New Adult. Recommended for 18 and above. Mature themes, sexual situations, and profanity.
click to add to
Excerpt:
Gentle fingertips grazed the edge of her jaw, trailing down her neck to her collarbone. His citrine gaze stared deeply into her eyes, and her body heated at his tender touch. “You’re okay, yeah?” Thaene asked, his voice hoarse from their lovemaking. Am I okay? She hardly knew. Though she had nothing to compare it to, this feeling was more than giving her virginity to him. Quinn felt like something bigger inside had stirred to life, wanting to escape. “You know I love you. I’m sorry if it hurt.” He kissed her again, his lips caressing hers, as if he could take the ache away. “Say something, Quinn. Please.” “I love you, Thaene.” She pressed herself into him, passionately returning his affection. As their kiss continued, Quinn wondered if he wanted more. She also wondered if she had more to give. “I want us together, always. Do you want that, Quinn?” Thaene’s eyes danced with a mixture of emotions—love, passion, possessiveness, and something else she couldn’t name. “We can have forever. You want that, don’t you?” Thaene asked. “Yes,” Quinn answered breathlessly, before realizing what she’d agreed to. She smiled, finding his need for her exciting. “Forever is a long time. But I could do it with you.” Thaene smiled back. Happiness lit his face. He looked like he’d just won a major prize—he looked triumphant. “Being with you on your twenty-second birthday was very special to me. You’ve given me such a precious gift.” “I love you. I can’t imagine my first time with anyone else.” Besides, my gift of Sight showed you to me, over and over. How could I not give myself to you? Her gift had shown her something else as well. Since she didn’t understand it, Quinn ignored it. She’d followed her heart where Thaene was concerned. Not even her mother’s dislike—or in spite of it— changed her mind. Following your heart always led you down the right path. Thaene lightly brushed her hair from her face, then he rested his forehead on hers. “There’s something else I’d like you to give me. Will you do that? Give me what I desire the most?” The longing in his voice made Quinn squirm underneath him. Right now, she’d give him anything. “It’s the most precious gift of all. One I’ll cherish forever.” Oh my God. He wants to marry me. “Yes,” Quinn said, drawing in a breath. “I’ll give you anything.” “Good.” Thaene nuzzled her neck. “I want you to show me your Magyk.” “What?” Quinn blinked at him, wondering if she’d heard him right. “If you want us to have forever, you must show me your Magyk.”About the Author:
Contact Dawna at:
https://www.facebook.com/DawnaRaver
https://twitter.com/DawnaRaver
https://dawnaraver.com
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17261634-colour-wielders
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Friday, August 23, 2013
Cover Reveal - Immagica by K.A Last
Today is the cover reveal of my good friend and fellow Aussie Owned ad Read author, K.A Last. I love Last, and I love the fact she designs her own covers! So without further ado, here is the cover for Immagica:
Immagica… Where anything is possible, but not always controllable. Enter at your own risk.
The night before her fifteenth birthday, Rosaline Clayton receives an amulet from her deranged father. He tells her she must find the book, and begs her to save him. Rosaline is used to her father not making any sense, and she dismisses their conversation as another of his crazy rants. Rosaline and her younger brother, Elliot, find the old, leather-bound book tucked away in their Nana’s attic, and it sucks them into its pages. They land in a magical world where anything is possible, but when Rosaline and Elliot are separated, the only thing Rosaline wants is to find her brother and go home. The creatures of Immagica have other ideas. Rosaline befriends a black unicorn, two fairies, and a girl named Brynn, who are under threat from a menacing dragon. Rosaline discovers she is bound to Immagica in ways she doesn’t understand, and the fate of this magical world rests entirely on her shoulders.
Giveaway code: a Rafflecopter giveaway
Excerpt: The book flew open and a gust of wind whipped my curls around my face. The pages riffled back and forth before coming to a halt, open at the first page. This was getting a little weird. I was about to slam the book shut when words began to appear of their own volition, right before our eyes. “Um, Elliot. Can you see that? Or am I as crazy as Dad?” “I can see it,” he whispered. Immagica, the place where anything is possible, but not always controllable. Enter at your own risk. “What a load of crap,” I said, picking the book up. The new line of text flickered gold and pulsed, on then off, then on again, like a flashing, neon sign. I gingerly picked up the corner of the page and peeked under it to the next, but it was blank. “How do we enter?” Elliot asked, leaning into me and staring at the book. “Why do you keep asking me all these questions? You’re here, you know as much as I do.” “You’re older, and always acting so much smarter than me,” Elliot said. I poked my tongue out. “That’s real mature.” He rolled his eyes. “Oh, so you’re Mr Maturity now you’re a teenager.” “Sometimes I’m more mature than you!” While we argued, we were oblivious to what was happening. The book riffled its pages again, and another gust of wind hit our faces. Before we knew what was happening, the golden glow exploded from the book and sucked us in. That’s the best way I can describe it. One minute we were in my room, surrounded by my grandmother’s elegant interior decorating, and the next we were enveloped with gold light. At first I felt Elliot beside me, but then he was gone. The light was warm, like a soft, fuzzy blanket. Then the ground hit me in the face. It was hard and rough. The force of my landing knocked the wind out of me, and I tumbled over myself before coming to a halt on my back. Above me was an azure sky dotted with fluffy, marshmallow clouds. I turned my head and spotted the book lying closed on the ground a few metres away. I tried to move to retrieve it, but it took a few moments before I could roll onto my side and get to my knees. When I finally managed to stand, I took in my surroundings with wide eyes. The sky may have been blue, but the ground was dirty charcoal. Lumps of gravel mixed with sand and dead grass. It stretched on, and on, nothing but barren wasteland no matter which way I turned. The only break in the landscape was where the horizon met the sky. A lump of fear rose in my throat. Where was Elliot? I didn’t know where I was, and I was completely alone.
About the Author: K. A. Last was born in Subiaco, Western Australia, and moved to Sydney with her parents and older brother when she was eight. Artistic and creative by nature, she studied Graphic Design and graduated with an Advanced Diploma. After marrying her high school sweetheart, she concentrated on her career before settling into family life. Blessed with a vivid imagination, she began writing to let off creative steam, and fell in love with it. She now resides in a peaceful, leafy suburb north of Sydney with her husband, their two children, and a rabbit named Twitch.
YA Fantasy/Adventure
Expected Date of Publication: November 2013
Cover Illustration: Lawrence Mann
Cover Designer: KILA Designs
Immagica… Where anything is possible, but not always controllable. Enter at your own risk.
The night before her fifteenth birthday, Rosaline Clayton receives an amulet from her deranged father. He tells her she must find the book, and begs her to save him. Rosaline is used to her father not making any sense, and she dismisses their conversation as another of his crazy rants. Rosaline and her younger brother, Elliot, find the old, leather-bound book tucked away in their Nana’s attic, and it sucks them into its pages. They land in a magical world where anything is possible, but when Rosaline and Elliot are separated, the only thing Rosaline wants is to find her brother and go home. The creatures of Immagica have other ideas. Rosaline befriends a black unicorn, two fairies, and a girl named Brynn, who are under threat from a menacing dragon. Rosaline discovers she is bound to Immagica in ways she doesn’t understand, and the fate of this magical world rests entirely on her shoulders.
Giveaway code: a Rafflecopter giveaway
Excerpt: The book flew open and a gust of wind whipped my curls around my face. The pages riffled back and forth before coming to a halt, open at the first page. This was getting a little weird. I was about to slam the book shut when words began to appear of their own volition, right before our eyes. “Um, Elliot. Can you see that? Or am I as crazy as Dad?” “I can see it,” he whispered. Immagica, the place where anything is possible, but not always controllable. Enter at your own risk. “What a load of crap,” I said, picking the book up. The new line of text flickered gold and pulsed, on then off, then on again, like a flashing, neon sign. I gingerly picked up the corner of the page and peeked under it to the next, but it was blank. “How do we enter?” Elliot asked, leaning into me and staring at the book. “Why do you keep asking me all these questions? You’re here, you know as much as I do.” “You’re older, and always acting so much smarter than me,” Elliot said. I poked my tongue out. “That’s real mature.” He rolled his eyes. “Oh, so you’re Mr Maturity now you’re a teenager.” “Sometimes I’m more mature than you!” While we argued, we were oblivious to what was happening. The book riffled its pages again, and another gust of wind hit our faces. Before we knew what was happening, the golden glow exploded from the book and sucked us in. That’s the best way I can describe it. One minute we were in my room, surrounded by my grandmother’s elegant interior decorating, and the next we were enveloped with gold light. At first I felt Elliot beside me, but then he was gone. The light was warm, like a soft, fuzzy blanket. Then the ground hit me in the face. It was hard and rough. The force of my landing knocked the wind out of me, and I tumbled over myself before coming to a halt on my back. Above me was an azure sky dotted with fluffy, marshmallow clouds. I turned my head and spotted the book lying closed on the ground a few metres away. I tried to move to retrieve it, but it took a few moments before I could roll onto my side and get to my knees. When I finally managed to stand, I took in my surroundings with wide eyes. The sky may have been blue, but the ground was dirty charcoal. Lumps of gravel mixed with sand and dead grass. It stretched on, and on, nothing but barren wasteland no matter which way I turned. The only break in the landscape was where the horizon met the sky. A lump of fear rose in my throat. Where was Elliot? I didn’t know where I was, and I was completely alone.
About the Author: K. A. Last was born in Subiaco, Western Australia, and moved to Sydney with her parents and older brother when she was eight. Artistic and creative by nature, she studied Graphic Design and graduated with an Advanced Diploma. After marrying her high school sweetheart, she concentrated on her career before settling into family life. Blessed with a vivid imagination, she began writing to let off creative steam, and fell in love with it. She now resides in a peaceful, leafy suburb north of Sydney with her husband, their two children, and a rabbit named Twitch.
Author web links:
Thursday, August 22, 2013
#Pitcharama success!
If you remember back in June Aussie Owned and Read had a pitching comp, Pitcharama. For this comp. each of the AoaR ladies picked their favorite three entries for editors of small presses to make requests on. Well today I'm excited to share the success of on of my picks, The Making of Nebraska Brown by Louise Caiola.
She has been signed with Immortal Ink Pub, and they are looking at an early 2014 release. Check out her post here. Also, she has a COVER! Check it out! It's so perfect.
So Congrats to the lovely Louise, and I hope it does well for you!
She has been signed with Immortal Ink Pub, and they are looking at an early 2014 release. Check out her post here. Also, she has a COVER! Check it out! It's so perfect.
So Congrats to the lovely Louise, and I hope it does well for you!
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Review - Theocracide by James Wymore
Another review! Yay! I said I'd be doing a lot of reading leading up to my edits. This book is by a fellow Curiosity Quills author who I promised months ago I'd read it and give an honest review. I finally got to it!
Theocracide follows Jason Hunt, a rising star athlete with a girlfriend who he adores and a promising life. Except the world isn't right and he's the key to fixing it.
I liked Jason. He felt very real and honest. He's been trained by Jay his 'father' whom he believes is a paranoid conspiracy nut but he learns Jay is so much more than that. As a result of this training, he is hardened and adapts easily, and often surprises himself how easily, to what he finds himself facing.
There were a few inconsistencies where I was like, what? But once the world was established it seemed to smooth over.
I'd really be interested to see if Wymore does a sequel to this. Although it concludes nicely, it does have an open ending.
Not being a sci-fi girl, I did actually enjoy this. There was a steady flow of action and plot development, and a hint of romance... my particular weakness!
4/5 stars
I liked Jason. He felt very real and honest. He's been trained by Jay his 'father' whom he believes is a paranoid conspiracy nut but he learns Jay is so much more than that. As a result of this training, he is hardened and adapts easily, and often surprises himself how easily, to what he finds himself facing.
There were a few inconsistencies where I was like, what? But once the world was established it seemed to smooth over.
I'd really be interested to see if Wymore does a sequel to this. Although it concludes nicely, it does have an open ending.
Not being a sci-fi girl, I did actually enjoy this. There was a steady flow of action and plot development, and a hint of romance... my particular weakness!
4/5 stars
Monday, August 5, 2013
Review: Mrs. Poe by Lynn Cullen
Yup, I read this book on the flight over from LAX to Syd, finishing it today when everyone passed out from exhaustion!
Mrs. Poe. What can I say about this book? It's heart wrenching, sad, mournful, painful and devastating, which is just right for a book based around Edgar Allen Poe. Cullen has definitely done her research and has woven together a heart wrenching tale of betrayal, loneliness, secrets and passion.
The story follows Mrs. Frances Osgood, a poet and children's writer contemporary to Poe. Fanny is heart broken as her husband has disappeared again with one of his rich lady clients while she struggles to pull together the money to keep herself and their two daughters alive.
She meets Poe at a social gathering of great minds ad his wife forms an attachment to her, soon followed by Poe himself.
This is all based on things that are believed to have happened, and the author uses these two characters' own poetry to weave this tragic tale into her story.
This book will linger with me for days. It's so sad, and so painful I can't not think about it. It's so well written, that I wouldn't discourage anyone who has a desire to open their minds to the time or the people involved to read. Bu, I will warn you, it will break your heart!
Well done, Ms Cullen!
(Due for release Oct 1. I received this from NetGalley for an honest review)
4/5 Stars
Mrs. Poe. What can I say about this book? It's heart wrenching, sad, mournful, painful and devastating, which is just right for a book based around Edgar Allen Poe. Cullen has definitely done her research and has woven together a heart wrenching tale of betrayal, loneliness, secrets and passion.
The story follows Mrs. Frances Osgood, a poet and children's writer contemporary to Poe. Fanny is heart broken as her husband has disappeared again with one of his rich lady clients while she struggles to pull together the money to keep herself and their two daughters alive.
She meets Poe at a social gathering of great minds ad his wife forms an attachment to her, soon followed by Poe himself.
This is all based on things that are believed to have happened, and the author uses these two characters' own poetry to weave this tragic tale into her story.
This book will linger with me for days. It's so sad, and so painful I can't not think about it. It's so well written, that I wouldn't discourage anyone who has a desire to open their minds to the time or the people involved to read. Bu, I will warn you, it will break your heart!
Well done, Ms Cullen!
(Due for release Oct 1. I received this from NetGalley for an honest review)
4/5 Stars
Friday, August 2, 2013
Review - Master of all Desires by Judith Merkle Riley
So I'm finally getting back on top of my NetGalleys with my pending trip to Australia, I'm hoping to get a lot of reading done while I take time off writing, as I'm expecting two books to be ready for edits after (or soon after) I get back.
So today I'm going to tell you about Master of all Desires.
This book is set during the reign of Henry II of France. You start by meeting his slighted queen, who is understandably upset about him blowing her off for his elderly mistress. The history of this story revolves mostly around these royals and their children. I have to admit, I really wanted to see his manipulative mistress get hers all the way through.
The "main" plot revolves around Sibille. I loved Sibille all the way through. She lived a life of unfortunate events, but had a good nature. So every time people tried to scheme against her, or use her, I just felt bad for her. Especially when she managed to acquire the mystical "Master of all Desires". Despite resisting the horrible mummified head in a box, she seemed to have one bad thing after another thrown at her. Luckily she had her insanely rich Aunt looking out for her!
All in all, the book is an interesting read. It taught me about the time period, especially the horrid royal families, and the famous Nostradamus.
The beginning felt jumbled, as there are many perspective swaps through this book, but once I had it figured out, I didn't struggle so much. There were slow parts, and parts that made my blood boil.
If you up for a historical read with a hint of darkness and supernatural, this is your read.
Thank you to Sourcebook for sharing this galley with me.
4/5 stars
So today I'm going to tell you about Master of all Desires.
This book is set during the reign of Henry II of France. You start by meeting his slighted queen, who is understandably upset about him blowing her off for his elderly mistress. The history of this story revolves mostly around these royals and their children. I have to admit, I really wanted to see his manipulative mistress get hers all the way through.
The "main" plot revolves around Sibille. I loved Sibille all the way through. She lived a life of unfortunate events, but had a good nature. So every time people tried to scheme against her, or use her, I just felt bad for her. Especially when she managed to acquire the mystical "Master of all Desires". Despite resisting the horrible mummified head in a box, she seemed to have one bad thing after another thrown at her. Luckily she had her insanely rich Aunt looking out for her!
All in all, the book is an interesting read. It taught me about the time period, especially the horrid royal families, and the famous Nostradamus.
The beginning felt jumbled, as there are many perspective swaps through this book, but once I had it figured out, I didn't struggle so much. There were slow parts, and parts that made my blood boil.
If you up for a historical read with a hint of darkness and supernatural, this is your read.
Thank you to Sourcebook for sharing this galley with me.
4/5 stars
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Blog Tour: Awakenings by J.E. Shannon
Add to Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17786348-awakenings
Blurb:
Evie Shepard awakens to a nightmare. She's been buried alive and has no idea how or why. As she struggles to remember what happened, she begins to notice changes -- heightened senses, as well as increased speed, agility, and strength. And her heart no longer beats. She soon makes a disturbing discovery: she wasn't buried alive; she was murdered. Somehow, she has come back...and she wants revenge.
Giveaway:
To celebrate her new release, JE Shannon is giving away a Kindle with an ecopy of Awakenings (US only). One runner-up will win an ecopy of Awakenings (open internationally). You can enter here: http://bit.ly/13v1u59
About the Author:
J. E. Shannon currently lives in Florida, but is a Missouri native. She spends most of her time reading, writing, and taking care of her small child and two crazy dogs. Visit her at www.jeshannonbooks.com.
Excerpt:
I have no idea where I am, or how I got here. I want to move, but don’t know where to go. My thoughts are spiraling out of control, and they are so fractured I can’t seem to stop them. Dizzy, I slump back to the ground and rest my head on my knees. I cover my ears with my hands, trying to drown out my inner voice. I force myself to focus on one thing: How do I get out of here? The dizziness seems to have passed, so I get back on my feet and try to figure out where I might be.
The trees are large, growing so close together that their canopies touch, so I must be in a wooded area. Leaves are scattered at my feet, rustling as the wind blows. It’s night, but the full moon gives just enough light that I can make out my surroundings. The longer I’m out in the darkness, the clearer everything becomes. Soft forest sounds reach me — the rustling of small animals scurrying around, the constant chirping of crickets, and the flutter of wings, possibly a bat. I never realized before how loud a forest could be. The woods seem to thin out in the distance off to my left, so I head in that direction. I walk for a short while in the silvery moonlight that falls between the leaves, to a small paved road that curves away to the south. Looking back to where I was buried, I am shocked to find it so far away already. I don’t understand. How could I possibly have gotten from there to here so quickly? I wonder briefly if I am having blackouts. But that explanation doesn’t feel right.
What’s stranger is that I can see so clearly. Every detail is so crisp and clear that it might as well be daytime. This is more than just my eyes adjusting to the night. The more I look around, the sharper everything becomes.
I close my eyes and try to regain my senses. Shaking, I rest my hand against the rough bark of a nearby tree. A distant bang makes me jump. I shove myself away from the tree and to my amazement the trunk of the tree now bears my handprint embedded a good three inches in. I stare at it, mouth open in disbelief. Oh God. What’s happening to me? This can’t be real. I shake my head in denial. I just want this nightmare to end.
Pressing my face into my hands, I try to make sense of what is going on. When I take a deep, calming breath, nothing happens. I’m not breathing. Not at all. The hollow feeling in my chest reminds me that something is still absent. I raise my hand to my chest and find more nothing. Still no beat, no pulsing of blood through my veins. Black spots appear in front of me as coldness seeps into my chest. The forest begins to spin, and I know I’m on the verge of passing out. A memory comes back to me so sharply that it drives me to my knees. A cold cell. A flash of pain. Lying on the freezing concrete, unable to move, in a pool of warm blood. Before I can make any sense of it, it’s gone again. But one thing is perfectly clear: I wasn’t buried alive. I was buried dead. And somehow I have come back.
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