Review: Delirium - Lauren Oliver

Series: Delirium 1
Genre: YA, dystopia
Pages: 441
Published: 2011

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

My thoughts:

I had heard the hype, I was curious, and I am happy to say that for me it totally lived up to what I had heard. This book was great.

Sure it made me wonder a few times. Since you can't love any more  you live in a grey bubble. Then how can marriages work, should it not make people not care if they remember to make food for the other one. And if the other person looks like a swampmonster then how can they even have sex? Since sex is not fun any more either and it's not like people want babies since they do not really care at all. Would it not be better if they just went to a doctor instead of being intimate. Because that would make more sense in a world where love and passion is illegal. You do not love your spouse that the government chooses for you, you do not love your children or particularly want them. The government tells you how many you should have. Anyway that was mostly what I wondered about.

This was then the horrible world Lena lived in. It was all so normal and grey. She waited for the cure and wanted it. Love was a disease, again here I wondered, not all have the "Love symptoms", people can sure function and still be in love. Anyway, yes I when really like a book I always question it. The world was perfect in its silent horror. Mothers did not care to hug they children if they fell. Because that was bad. How anyone could grow up in that world beats me. But that is what made it so good, it all seemed to make sense. Yes love can do horrible things, and can lead to violence and now the world was better. But not really as Lena slowly finds out when she falls in love. The world and lives are gray, lifeless and boring, but love is not something you should live without. It makes you feel alive. Of course the people in this book do not see it like that.

Great world and a sad love story about two people falling in love in a world where that could get you killed.

The ending then, I am just going to leave you with a omg! 

Conclusion: 

This book was amazing. I read it fast and I could not get enough. Freaky dystopia worlds are the best to read about. And now I really want book 2 and I will sure be buying it when it comes out.Of course I recommend it.

Big thanks to Janicu for sending me it :D

Rating:

I am telling you, read it.

Cover.

meh

Review: Love Letters - Lori Brighton

Genre: Historical romance
Pages: Ebook, 99
Published: May 2011

The Art of Seduction

Clara Cameron will do anything to escape her impending marriage to the odious Lord Desmond, even if it means posing nude for artist Brendon Evans, the man she once loved. It's been years since they've seen each other, but Clara's love for Brendon hasn't diminished. Will Brendon recognize Clara and admit his feelings for the woman before Lord Desmond comes calling, claiming Clara for his own?

Meant For Me

For years Cynthia Shaw has replied to Gabriel Baston's letters, pretending to be his fiancé, Cynthia's wretched cousin Helen. When Gabriel appears at a masked ball and mistakes Cynthia for Helen, she can't help herself and gives her innocence to the man she has loved for years. Will Lord Kennwick realize Cynthia was meant for him before it's too late?

My thoughts:

I am not the best at reviewing novellas, you can't say too much and you must say something. They are sure tricky to review.

The Art of Seduction is the first story and it's about that first love you had  that never came to be. Clara was always in love with Brendon but he was older and never noticed her. And now she is on the run and she wants to see him again.

I liked Clara, she was innocent, but she still wanted something. Brendon was a bit broken and needed to be healed. And since this is a short story everything happens fast and it works. They meet and at the end they have their HEA. Since this is a  romance after all. There is also danger and passion.

Meant For Me was my favourite out of these two. It's about Cynthia who is mistreated by her aunt. They do not really care for her and she is the grey wallflower. But in fact she is full of life and she doesn't want her cousin to marry Lord Kennwick. She knows him, he knows her..but not really since he thinks he has been writing her cousin. Of course at one point I did think he should have thought of it sooner but hey we need some drama in this short story. It was a cute Cinderella story and just like story number 1 it had passion too.

Conclusion:

Two short and passionate tales about love found.

Cover:

It does look cool.

Source. Author

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And cos I am lazy. The winners of Wickedly Charming and Awaken the Highland warrior have been notified, and the name of the winners are in the original post

Review: Some Girls Bite - Chloe Neill

Series: Chicagoland Vampires 1
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 341
Published: 2010

Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn’t exactly glamorous, but it was Merit’s. She was doing fine until a rogue vampire attacked her. But he only got a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker—and this one decided the best way to save her life was to make her the walking undead.

Turns out her savior was the master vampire of Cadogan House. Now she’s traded sweating over her thesis for learning to fit in at a Hyde Park mansion full of vamps loyal to Ethan "Lord o’ the Manor" Sullivan. Of course, as a tall, green-eyed, four-hundred- year-old vampire, he has centuries’ worth of charm, but unfortunately he expects her gratitude—and servitude. But an inconvenient sunlight allergy and Ethan’s attitude are the least of her concerns. Someone’s still out to get her. Her initiation into Chicago’s nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war—and there will be blood.

My thoughts:
Yes I have finally tried this series. I have heard a lot of about it and how Team Ethan is the best and how something that happened in the last book was shocking (oh and I actually know what since I am a very bad girl and asked someone.)

 

Back to the beginning. Merit does not want to be a vampire but she was saved from a certain death and this was the only way to survive. Therefore she has certain attitude problems towards her new Master Ethan, oh yes I love how she stands up to him and refuses to serve him hand and foot. I liked her at once, the same goes for her housemate Mallory, her new sparring buddy Catcher who is so cool and Morgan (Team Morgan! Please do not become a creep or evil cos I like him).  Ethan then, sorry all, but he was an ass. Yes I know some like jerks but he was not for me. I saw the attraction, I am not blind, but I did not fall for him. But he was not a I wanna kick your ass jerk, he was more rolling my eyes jerk. And if he turns around then I am going to fall as hard as the rest of you.

The world was good. Vampires  came out 8 months or so, but the rest of the paranormals have not. Everything is pretty civilized on the surface, even if I am sure we will see the dirt at the bottom when the series continues. A simple world with much to offer. And a good story about Merit trying to find her new vampire self and the hunt for a serial killer, the same that attacked her.

Conclusion:

I liked it at once. I did not have to read far before I knew that I did not want to put this book down. I recommend it and I want to read book 2. Ok I need to read book 2. I want more.

Rating:

Page-turner

Cover:

ok I guess

Review: Alien Tango - Gini Koch

Series: Katherine "Kitty" Katt 2
Genre: Oh man, sci-fi romance perhaps
Pages: 428
Published: 2010

It's been five months since marketing manager Katherine "Kitty" Katt started working with the aliens from Alpha Centauri, and she and Jeff Martini are getting closer. But when an experimental spacecraft is mysteriously returned to the Kennedy Space Center, Kitty and the rest of her team are called in to investigate. Now the team must survive murderous attacks, remove a space entity from a group of astronauts, and avoid an unhinged woman with a serious crush on Kitty's high school boyfriend. And that's all before evil masterminds decide Kitty's extermination is vital.

My thoughts:

This series continues to be utterly amusing. There is lots of stuff happening and there is lots of humour promised.

How to write a review of this strange book, that is the question. First let me start that Kitty is an amazing heroine, she can kick ass, she is funny and when it comes to men she can be somewhat clueless. It is also impossible not to like her. She is now the commander of the Airborne and fights uglies together with her man Jeff. Aww Jeff, he is devoted to her, totally crazy about her and knew he wanted her from day one. I do like when he becomes all jealous too. He is my kind of alien. Together this couple is great.

The rest of the crew, nothing bad to say about them. I love how she banters with them, I like Christopher's glares and they are just one fun bunch.

Action, yes all the time. There is a conspiracy, and evil people want to take down the aliens. Not to mention that she gets a crazy stalker after her. What can I say a lot of crazy in this book and it made me like it even more. Hot sizzling romance too. I did not forget about that.

Why is it funny? Well there is always humour even in the darkest of times. Just look at the cover and you get the feel of the book. Cos yes there will be alligators and space shuttles in it.

Conclusion:

I read the book really fast and still it took me longer than normal. It is a mystery. But anyway the book is just that  good. I kept on reading, I smiled and went woot woot. This is a fun series that I would recommend to PNR, UF and sci-fi lovers. I sure enjoyed it and will read more.

Rating:

Hard to put down

Cover: 

Perfect for the book

Review. Dragon Bound - Thea Harrison

Series: Elder Races 1
Genre: Paranormal romance
Pages: 312
Published: May 3rd 2011 Berkley

Half-human and half-wyr, Pia Giovanni spent her life keeping a low profile among the wyrkind and avoiding the continuing conflict between them and their dark Fae enemies. But after being blackmailed into stealing a coin from the hoard of a dragon, Pia finds herself targeted by one of the most powerful - and passionate - of the Elder races.

As the most feared and respected of the Wyrkind, Dragos Cuelebre cannot believe someone had the audacity to steal from him, much less succeed. And when he catches the thief, Dragos spares her life, claiming her as his own to further explore the desire they've ignited in each other. Pia knows she must repay Dragos for her trespass, but refuses to become his slave - although she cannot deny wanting him, body and soul. 

My thoughts:

This is the start to a new paranormal series with mythical beings who walk the world side by side with humans.

The main character is Pia who is hired (well blackmailed) to steal something. She knows it's stupid but she does it anyway . So she is sure brave. I liked her because all she wanted was to keep her secrets. She is also halfwyr and I did figure out what she really was before it was told. Trust me, you will be amused in the end. Then we got Dragos, a powerful man and a more powerful wyr. He is a dragon, rich and yes of course he is a hunk too and a total alpha. I do not say no to that. And sparks fly between these two.

About the world then. It was an interesting world where humans thought they were alone but then the wyr and others came forward and now they live side by side. The wyr are beings who can transform into animals, well it's more like they are the animals and transformed into humans. There are different kinds and Dragos, well he has been around since the universe was created. Gotta love an older guy.

This book is a romance after all and things to heat up between these two. He sees her and wants her. So lots of passion promised.

And of course adventure. I can't say any more, but I did like that part.

This book has gotten a lot of great reviews, and sure it was good. But I do confess that I did not fall as deeply as the rest of the blogging world did. Though I still enjoyed it, don't get me wrong. It was a nice paranormal romance.

Conclusion:

If you like paranormal romance then I am sure you will like this book because it has just the right ingredients, wild hot passion and an alpha male to drool over.

Rating:
Ok

Cover. 

Nice

Source: Publisher

 .......................

My Flash Fiction entry this week

Review: First Rider's Call - Kristen Britain

Series: Green Rider 2
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 736
Published: April 2011 Gollancz (re-published)

Karigan G'Ladheon was a Green Rider, one of the King of Sacoridia's magical messangers. With evil forces at large in the kingdom and the messenger service depleted and weakened, can Karigan reach through the veils of time to get help from the First Rider, a woman who has been dead for a thousand years?

My thoughts:

This is then book 2 and a little time has gone by since the events in book 1. Karigan felt the need to come back to the capital and become a real Green Rider and that is what she is now. And of course even if the danger was averted in book 1 there is still the danger of the wall that now is broken in the north. And of a presence that is dangerous and mad and he wants destruction. Yes a crazy bad guy, one has to love those.

Karigan has come to terms (sort of) that she now is a rider, and she is good at it. She has grown a bit since the last book but I do like the fact that she is not perfect, she still has got her fears. She is also learning how to become a better fighter. Other characters are Rider Alton who is up in the north trying to fix the wall so no evil things can get through. He may not be around a lot but I do like him. King Zachary is trying his best to hold his people together and he does not need to do much for me to really like him..a lot. Through a journal we meet Alessandros who came over with ships 1000 years ago to conquer the lands. And he was not a nice conqueror. But I sure liked learning more about the history of this land, and there are also clues what it all has to do with Karigan since her name is whispered in the win. A mystery, I can't say more.

This book is sure long but there are a lot of things happening and a lot of things explained. In book 1 we learnt about a war but here we get to learn more. And it's fascinating. The history is rich and I want more, especially about the place the evil people came from (not that all were evil but let's just call them that.)

Then we have the crazy bad guy who unleashes wild magic and things get weird. I also talked about a hint of romance in book 1 and here there is more, not romance, but looks, smiles and thoughts. Enough for me to wish with all my heart that Karigan can be with the one she loves, but alas no, for it's the king. And this is not a fairytale.

Conclusion:

Wild Magic and adventure. I liked book 1 and I enjoyed book 2 even more. Because this is why I enjoy fantasy, rich history and a world built on that history. It's a nice fantasy story that does not get too violent, sad or bleak. And it made me want to read more.

Rating:

I enjoyed it.

Cover:

yes the horse is back

Source. Publisher

Interview and contest: Kristine Grayson - Wickedly Charming

Today I have Kristine Grayson over for an interview. And the end of it there is a giveaway of 2 copies of her new book Wickedly Charming.

Welcome to Mur-y-Castell!

Tell us something about yourself, so we can get to know you better…
KG: I love to read and I love to write.  I have too many cats.  I travel a lot, but I’m really quite shy.  So writing is the perfect job for me.

Your latest release is called Wickedly Charming; can you tell me what it is about?
KG: In it, Prince Charming, newly divorced from Cinderella, falls in love with Snow White’s “evil” stepmother at a Los Angeles book fair.

How did you think of the idea to write about fairy tale characters?
KG:  I’ve been writing inverted fairy tales for years.  I figure nothing is ever quite as it seems—not even fairy tales. So I have a lot of fun with this.

Will we see more fairytale stories from you soon?
KG: Next, Sourcebooks will reissue Utterly Charming, my first fairy tale novel, in which Sleeping Beauty’s Prince Charming falls in love with Sleeping Beauty’s lawyer.  Yep.  My brain isn’t quite normal. 

Who is your favorite fairytale character and why?
KG:  I love the princes charming.  I really do.  They are the Perfect Man for every woman. Or maybe I just watched too many Disney movies as a kid.

You also write under other names. How is it to write in different genres and to use different names?
KG: I didn’t even know what genre was until my friend Kevin J. Anderson (who now writes the bestselling Dune books) told me when we met in college.  Since I don’t really “see” genre, I don’t notice when I’m crossing into a new one.  But as a reader, I have learned that I like some books by certain writers and not others. For example, I love Barbara Michaels, but don’t like Elizabeth Peters—and both are pen names for the marvelous Barbara Mertz.  So I took a leaf out of her book and decided to put my very different books under different names.  My Grayson books are sweet romances. My Kristine Kathryn Rusch novels are all over the map and can sometimes be dark.  My Kris Nelscott books are noir mysteries set in the 1960s.  And I’ve just started a new pen name, Kris DeLake, which will be steamy sf romances.  I’m having fun.

Could you tell me about a little about all the other books you have written?
KG:  If I told you about all the other books I’ve written, we’d be here for weeks! I’ve written about 90 novels.  Many are mysteries, like my Kris Nelscott books. But I’ve also written some mystery/sf crossover novels.  I have a detective series set on the Moon, called the Retrieval Artist. That’s under Rusch. And so are the novels about my kick-butt heroine, Boss.  She appears in Diving into the Wreck and City of Ruins, with more to come.  And then there are the DeLake books, upcoming from Sourcebooks. And I do romantic suspense as Kristine Dexter.  And there’s more. But that’s the shorthand version.

Any advice for aspiring writers?
KG: Write a lot.  Have fun.  And learn the business.  More careers die because a writer doesn’t know business than for any other reason.  A bad book won’t kill you, but failing to understand contracts and copyrights will.  (I write a blog about this every Thursday at www.kristinekathrynrusch.com)

Thanks for stopping by!
KG: Thanks for asking me!

GIVEAWAY

2 winners: Wickedly Charming

1.US and Canada

2. Ends May 29th

3. Just enter or if you wanna make it fun:

comment on the book/interview, or tell me your fav fairytale or anything :)

Winners: Mocha Latte and Melanie

WICKEDLY CHARMING BY KRISTINE GRAYSON – IN STORES MAY 2011

He’s Given Up on Happily-Ever-After…
Cinderella’s Prince Charming is divorced and at a dead end. The new owner of a bookstore, Charming has given up on women, royalty, and anything that smacks of a future. That is until he meets up with Mellie…

But She Might Be the Key to Happily-Right-Now…
Mellie is sick and tired of stepmothers being misunderstood. Vampires have redeemed their reputation, why shouldn’t stepmothers do the same? Then she runs into the handsomest, most charming man she’s ever met and discovers she’s going about her mission all wrong…

It’s only natural that sparks fly and magic ensues when these two fairy tale refugees put their heads—and vulnerable hearts—together…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Before turning to romance writing, Kristine Grayson edited the Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction and ran Pulphouse Publishing (which won her a World Fantasy Award). She has won the Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award and, under her real name, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, the prestigious Hugo award. She lives with her own Prince Charming, writer Dean Wesley Smith, in Portland, Oregon. Her next book from Sourcebooks Casablanca, Utterly Charming will be in stores in October 2011. For more information, please visit www.kristinegrayson.com/ and www.sourcebookscasablanca.com

Review: Blood of Requiem - Daniel Arenson

Series: Requiem Fire book 1
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: E-book 250
Published: May 3rd 2011

Long ago stood the kingdom of Requiem, a land of men who could grow wings and scales, breathe fire, and take flight as dragons. Requiem ruled the sky. But Dies Irae, a tyrant leading an army of griffins, hunted Requiem's people, burned their forests, and shattered their temples. Requiem fell. This ancient land now lies in ruin, its halls crumbled, its cries silenced, its skeletons littering the burned earth. In the wilderness, a scattering of survivors lives in hiding. The griffins still hunt them, and every day promises death. Will Requiem's last children perish in exile... or once more become dragons and fly to war?

My thoughts:

I do not read e-books that often since I only have my borrowed reader from the library. But when I got an email from Arenson I knew I had to read this book. Because I got a taste of his writing in the anthology Kiss Me, Kill Me and it was good.

This is the first book in a planned trilogy and I like the world building. The Reqiem were humans who could transform into dragons, but then they were killed and hunted to extinction. It was bloody and it was horrible. The man who did it was a prince who was meant to rule the land but he could not shift so he grew angry. This book then takes place 10 years later and there are survivors, but the future is bleak.

First I must say that this book has a bad guy that I just wanted to strangle. She was so evil! I have not read about such an evil character in quite some time. Her name is Gloriae and she is the daughter of Dies Irae (who in his turn is an evil bastard too), but I was mostly angry with Gloriae. Because she was actually good and was kidnapped by him. She was the daughter of the Requiem King Benedictus and his wife (bit does not know it). Sure if a person is raised evil she can turn evil but I wished she had seen the error of her way. Her father rapes a women, kills a peasant and she laughs? She should think for herself and see it's wrong. There you have it, the evil duo. Remarkable done since it was those two that had me wanting to read more and more, wishing they would die.

I spent enough time talking about the bad guys, but they just brought forward a lot of emotions. The good guys are Benedictus, poor man and Kyrie who is a young reqiuem and…, oh I will save some secrets. I liked Kyrie, he really wanted to fight back even though they had no force at all. But he was angry and who could blame him.

One more thing. People are blind and stupid. The dragons never did any harm, but Dies came with his lies and people believed and now the dragons are thought of as monsters. That is what one wicked cruel man can do with words. And those that spoke down were hunted down. I still hope they will see right from wrong.

The book isn't that dark, but at the same time it is very bleak, because how can I have hope when there is no way they can survive or fight back? I really need to know what happens next.

Conclusion:

This book had me turning page after page to see what happens. It's exciting and good with fleshed out characters that will make you scream. I want to read more of this series and I would recommend this fantasy author to others.

Rating:

Page-turner

Cover

Fits since it's fantasy

Source: Author

winners:

Love Drunk Cowboy

Mona and Mary (email sent to publisher )

The Legend of Michael

Dana and Melissa (books on their way)

Interview and Contest: Anita Clenney - Awaken the Highland warrior

Please help me welcome Anita Clenney to my blog today. And at the bottom of the interview is a contest where you can win her newest book Awaken The Highland Warrior.

Welcome to Mur-y-Castell!

Tell us something about yourself, so that we can get to know you better…

AC: I live in Virginia with my husband and two kids, as well as a white boxer who thinks she owns us. I’ve always loved to read, which lead to wanting to write, but the notion didn’t occur to me until rather late in life. I’m admittedly obsessive about things I love. I have two speeds. Off and full blast. I’m working on happy mediums but it’s not working out well so far.

Your newest book is called Awaken the Highland Warrior; can you tell us what it is about?

AC: This story was so much fun to write. It’s loaded with big brawny warriors, castles, demons, and swords. The foundation for the story is Michael the Archangel has a secret clan of warriors. Faelan is the mightiest warrior of his time, but he gets trapped in a time vault while trying to save the world from a vile demon. Bree is a historian who feels more like Indiana Jones. When she finds a treasure map in the old house she’s inherited, she’s expecting anything but the Scottish warrior who comes leaping out of his tomb at her.

The attraction between Faelan and Bree is instantaneous, and for a good reason, but so is the frustration, because they’re from vastly different cultures. Faelan can’t fathom a female being so bold and rash. The woman attracts danger like a bloody magnet. And she won’t let him protect her; he, a renowned warrior since before she was born. If he could drive that bloody thing she called a car, he’d toss her over his shoulder and get her away from her house before the demon who locked him up comes looking for him.

Bree feels something for Faelan that goes way beyond attraction, frighteningly so, but on the other hand she’s ready to stick him back in the time vault if he doesn’t stop with this over protective nonsense. It’s not the 19th century, for God’s sake, and he’s treating her like a child. Women are tough and independent. But after she finds out what has this big, bad warrior so worried, she’s glad to have all that muscle close by. And she’d give her pinkie toe to get her hands on that talisman hanging around his neck.

Where did the idea for this book come from?

AC: It started with a dream. A very scary dream, but the story isn’t really dark, just lots of suspense to go with the sizzling romance, adventure, and humor.

If this book became a movie, who would you see in the lead roles?

AC: I think Bridget Regan of Legend of the Seeker resembles Bree in looks, but the personality is probably more Rachel Weisz of The Mummy. Faelan could probably be played by Gerard Butler, especially in his Attila role.

 What’s coming next in this series?
AC: Embrace the Highland Warrior comes out in November. There is a lot of history and betrayal between the hero and heroine. It’s very poignant. And we’ll see all of the characters from the first book as secondary characters. Including Ronan. Everyone seems to be in love with Ronan. But his story won’t come for a while. Unleash the Highland Warrior comes out Fall 2012. It will have a unique twist. Again, all the characters will return in secondary roles. Here are blurbs for books two and three.

EMBRACE THE HIGHLAND WARRIOR. When the powerful demon that left Shay for dead discovers her empty grave, he comes seeking retribution, believing she possesses an ancient book he has sought for centuries. Knowing she can’t fight the demon alone, Shay returns to her clan and the Scottish Warrior who betrayed her…the only man she’s ever loved, where she discovers that betrayal isn’t always what it seems. Sometimes it’s far worse.

UNLEASH THE HIGHLAND WARRIOR. A talisman belonging to Tavis Connor’s brother is the only weapon powerful enough to kill the demon hell-bent on stealing the clan’s Book of Battles so he can destroy the world. But the talisman has been locked in a time vault with Tavis’s brother and won’t open for 150 years. In desperation, the Scottish warrior breaks the clan’s sacred rules and uses another time vault to travel forward so he can protect the book and rescue his brother, or if he’s dead, finish his quest. But when Tavis finally wakes in modern-day New York, he discovers he’s the one in need of help. Anna MacKinley has been searching for her clan’s Book of Battles which has been missing for 150 years, but instead she finds a warrior with no memories who claims he’s come to save the world.   

Answer me this, what is so sexy about a man in a kilt? ;)
AC: I wish I knew, but it’s just about the sexiest thing there is. I’m trying to get my husband in one. He already has the tattoos.

And last, do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
AC: Don’t give up. Learn all you can from other writers, but don’t judge your journey by theirs. Writing isn’t one size fits all. Then write a book that would knock your socks off as a reader. Think big and write deep.

Thank you!

Giveaway:

Two winners /Awaken the Highland warrior

1. US and Canada

2.Edited: It will end on May 29th instead

3. Just enter or

Ask Anita a question, comment on the interview or tell me this: Why do you like highlanders or why are men in kilts so hot?

Winners: barbara and Mckenzie

AWAKEN THE HIGHLAND WARRIOR BY ANITA CLENNEY - Out NOW

A Man From Another Time…
Faelan is from an ancient clan of Scottish Highland warriors, charged with shielding humanity from demonic forces. Betrayed and locked in a time vault, he has been sleeping for nearly two centuries when spunky historian Bree Kirkland inadvertently wakes him. She’s more fearsome than the demon trying to kill him, and if he’s not careful, she’ll uncover the secrets his clan has bled and died to protect…

Could Be the Treasure She’s Been Seeking All her Life…
When Bree inherits an old treasure map, she discovers a warrior buried in her backyard. But the warrior isn’t dead. Bree shocks Faelan with her modern dress and her boldness, and he infuriates Bree every time he tries to protect her.

With demons suddenly on the move, Bree discovers that Faelan’s duty as protector is in his blood, and that her part in this fight was destined before she was born. But nothing is ever what it seems…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anita Clenney writes paranormal romance and romantic suspense. Before giving herself over to the writing bug, she worked in a pickle factory, at a preschool, booked shows for Aztec Fire Dancers, and was a secretary, executive assistant, and a realtor. She lives with her husband and two children in suburban Virginia where she is working on her next book, Embrace the Highland Warrior, which will be in stores in November 2011. For more information, please visit www.anitaclenney.com and www.sourcebookscasablanca.com

Review: Green Rider - Kristen Britain

Series: Green Rider 1
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 592
Published: April 2011 Gollancz (re-print)

On her journey home from school after a fight, Karigan G'ladheon ponders her future as she trudges through the immense forest called Green Cloak. But her thoughts are interrupted by the clattering of hooves as a galloping horse bursts from the woods, the rider slumped over his mount's neck, impaled by two black-shafted arrows. As the young man lies dying on the road, he tells Karigan that he is a Green Rider, one of the legendary messengers of the king, and that he bears a "life and death" message for King Zachary. He begs Karigan to carry his message, warning her not to read it, and with his dying breath he whispers, "Beware the shadow man..."  Karigan's promise changes her life forever. Pursued by unknown assassins and following a path only her horse seems to know. Caught up in a world of deadly danger and complex magic, compelled by forces she cannot understand, Karigan is hounded by dark beings bent on seeing that the message, and its reluctant carrier, never reach their destination.

My thoughts:
This is the beginning of a fantasy series with Riders who uses long lost magic and a kingdom on the brink of war. A good start is what I would say.

Karigan was a brave young woman who left her school cos she fought an aristocrat and she was only a merchant daughter. Not fair at all. When she then met the Rider she could have said no (of course the magic urged her on), but she wanted to do what was right and she also wanted an adventure. And that she sure got because on her journey she met funny old ladies, monsters, bandits, and saw the how angry the people in the north are. I liked her because even though it got tough she never gave up. Then we have the evil guys. The king’s brother wants the throne and the Grey Man uses magic to make people do his will. He is an evil killer and he has also made a crack in a wall that separates the badlands from the rest of the world. I liked the Grey Man, as much as one can like an evil guy. He was just a good bad guy. All evil and nothing at all to like about him.

The kingdom has lost its magic. There are still some magic left and the Green Riders uses some of it. I always do like when magic is lost and found again. And these Riders risk everything and still they are only seen as messengers, but they have a calling that they follow.

I have to say that there is a hint about romance. I truly mean a hint, one flutter in her heart, but I have hope for more in coming books.

Conclusion:
A good start with likable heroine who says what she wants to say. There is adventure, wild rides, magic and a race to save a kingdom. I will read more to see what happens next and I do like a fantasy series with a fantasy heroine  that feels down to earth. Not too tough, not soft,  but still willing to do what is right.

I recommend this series to fantasy readers.

Rating:
Enjoyable

Cover:

Pretty but still meh

Source: Publisher

GuestPosting and e-book deals

I am guestposting over at the Secret HEA society about My Perfect HEA (though I mostly ramble on about pirates and gladiators ;)

And now a couple of e-book deals from Sourcebooks for you all :)

First up, The Heir by Grace Burrowes. Only 99 cents to celebrate that it is on the NY ebok bestseller list. You can buy it at all the usual places. Here is the link to Sourcebook's own store

Save a cowboy, read a book. You can get Lucky in Love or Hell Yeah by Carolyn Brown for 1.99 cents and the same goes for One fine cowboy or cowboy trouble by Joanne Kennedy

And of course if you become a Casa VIP member then you get a free ebook, Romeo Romeo by Robin Kaye  ;) So check that out.

Review: Any Man of Mine - Rachel Gibson

Series: Chinooks  hockey team 6
Genre: Contemporary romance
Pages: 384
Published: May 1st 2011 Avon

What happens in Vegas . . . doesn't always stay there.
Autumn Haven's Las Vegas "to-do" list said to catch a show and play the slots—not wake up married to a sexy jerk like Sam LeClaire. The first moment she saw him eyeing her like a luscious piece of the dessert buffet, her usually responsible self told her to run. And she did—right into the wildest fantasy weekend of her life. But Monday morning jolted her back to reality, and before she could say "pass the coffee," Sam was gone.

Now a successful wedding planner, Autumn hasn't clapped eyes on the heartbreaking hockey superstar for over two years . . . until she organizes his teammate's "Special Day," where Sam makes a big play to pick up where he left off! But she has vowed any man of hers plays for keeps. Is Sam the man for her or does she banish him to the sin bin forever?

My thoughts:
Yes this is book but with some books you can read out of order. I jumped in head first and I had no trouble at all. Since this is about hockey players finding love and they all got a book of their own. Even if other players were mentioned here I never felt lost. So you can read this one without having read the other books.

Many have said it and yes I agree, Sam is pretty much as an ass for much of this book. He is a hockey player who likes his women tall, with big boobs and not much between the ears. Once he tried something else and that was Autumn. Married her and left her pregnant. No wonder she does not like him. He says she blows hot and cold, well that is because you are an ass mister. She is a struggling mom with a job that takes a lot of time. I liked her at once. Sam, well Sam took some time to get used to. He stood his son up a lot too, and the things he said sometimes. You do not say to your son that some things he does are something a sissy would do. Now it sounds like I hated Sam, but I didn’t. He was just a jerk that did not think about other people any more.

That sounds hopeless doesn’t it? It was, but Sam started to change a little at a time. He understood that he should be there for his son, and that it was a woman like Autumn he should have in his life. Not a silly braindead model. He is a man who changes, and it’s not like he is fully changed at the end. Things like that take time, but he is almost there. And I liked that because change takes time, and here it certainly did. He did really want Autumn, and I forgave him.

Conclusion:
A different sort of contemporary romance. I did not fall for the hero at once; he had to work to prove he was a good man. It was a love story about how to fall in love with the same person twice.

Rating:
Ok

Cover: 

I am having a weird day, but when I see his neck I think zombie!

From netgalley

...............

My Flash Fiction for this week

 

Interview and contest: Carolyn Brown - Love Drunk Cowboy

Today I am interviewing Carolyn Brown about her newest book Love Drunk Cowboy. And stay tuned cos there is a contest at the bottom and 2 copies are up for grabs. Carolyn will also be stopping by if you have questions :=)

Welcome to Mur-y-Castell!

Tell us something about yourself, for those who do not know you yet…
CB: Good morning, everyone! It’s a pleasure to be here again. Love Drunk Cowboy is my 50th published book so I’m telling everyone who’ll stand still and listen all about it. I started writing when my third child was born and wouldn’t sleep at night. She wasn’t fussy and was quite content to sit in her infant seat and watch the pretty fish in the big aquarium. So I sharpened a few pencils and bought a spiral back notebook and started writing the book of my heart. Before she started sleeping Husband bought a used manual typewriter at a garage sale for me and I knew it was an omen. My book was going to be the next overnight best seller. I had visions of movie contracts and was picking out the actors who would be vying for my character’s parts. And the book did not sell! My child started sleeping at night. I got a day job when she started to school and the old typewriter got shoved into closet. Many years later when they were all three grown and married, I decided to write again, this time with a computer. I wrote romance and sold two books to Kensington’s Precious Gems line the same day in 1997. The line died in 1999 but by then I was writing for Avalon. Thirty six books later in 2008, Deb Werksman from Sourcebooks called me one day and wanted to buy my cowboy romance and it turned into three books. I’d wanted to write the Honky Tonk series for a long time and she gave me that opportunity and now I’m on to Spikes and Spurs series. Love Drunk Cowboy is the first book in that series and hit the book shelves on May 1 and will be followed by at least six more cowboy books in that series.

Your newest book is called Love Drunk Cowboy; can you tell us what it is about?
CB: Austin Lanier’s granny died down in Terral, Oklahoma and left Austin her watermelon farm and watermelon wine business. Austin took her two week vacation and planned to clean out the house, sell the farm and scoot right on back to Tulsa where she had a very lucrative position in an oil business. She came from a long line of career minded women and was already high up on the corporate ladder. But she didn’t reckon on Rye O’Donnell, the rancher across the road from her farm, being so dang sexy or being so interested in her either. It was driving her wild but her boots had high heels on them and his were cowboy boots and their lifestyles were just as different. She was head strong and sassy, willing and able to make her own decisions but it was just so sweet the way that Rye kept manipulating everything so they are thrown together. Maybe it’s a dormant gene from her Granny Lanier that skipped a generation but something about watermelon farming grabbed her and before she knows it, she was faced with some very tough decisions. And Rye, with all his steamy kisses and red hot sex wasn’t helping one bit!

What is the best thing about writing about cowboys?
CB: Cowboys are so much fun! They are down to earth, treat women right and oh, my, the way they strut in those tight jeans and cowboy boots makes a woman’s under britches start to inch down to her ankles. Not to mention when they open their mouth, there’s a deep drawl that if a woman lets it, makes her swoon. Really, women can swoon in this century. They just don’t let the cowboy know he affects her that way.

If this book became a movie, who would you see in the lead roles?
CB: Oh, a movie! Those visions of actors are dancing in my head again. Timothy Olyphant or Blake Shelton (Rye even plays the guitar so Blake could get in a few of his songs during the movie). Megan Fox would make a wonderful Austin.

What’s coming next in the Spikes and Spurs series?
CB: Red’s Hot Cowboy will be out in August and along with all the major bookstores, it will also be sold in Wal-Mart stores. It will be followed by Darn Good Cowboy Christmas in September and One Hot Cowboy Wedding in the spring of 2012. Then there’s a Christmas book for 2012 and two other books in the series with publication dates to be announced later.

 I see that you have written a lot of other books. Could you tell us a little bit about those?
CB: I’ve also written both contemporary and historical single titles, and contemporary and historical series for the library market. Somehow all my books tend to wind up set in small towns with a western flavor. The last of the Angels and Outlaws historical series, A Trick of Light will be out in August, followed by a single title contemporary in October, The Ladies Room and then Three Magic Words trilogy in 2012.

And last, what is the best thing about being an author?
CB: The single best part is that I’m a hermit by nature and I can work in my pajamas! Seriously, I would have to say it’s when readers email me and tell me that my books helped them through a difficult time in their lives; that they laughed when they read about my quirky characters, or that they can’t wait for the next book in a series. After all, without readers we, who are fortunate enough to have the privilege of writing full time, would have to find a job (oh horrors at that thought!) that wouldn’t be a tenth as much fun!

I’ll be around all day so talk to me…why do you like to read about cowboys and sassy women? Ask questions! Rye and Austin would be glad to answer most anything you want to know.

Thank you!

Giveaway!

2 copies of Love Drunk Cowboy

1. US and Canada

2. Ends May 23rd

3. Ask Carolyn a question, or answer her question (I underlined it ;) But if you still missed it, then; why do you like to read about Cowboys and sassy women?


Or just comment :)

Have fun!

WINNERS


4 Mona

11 Mary

LOVE DRUNK COWBOY BY CAROLYN BROWN – IN STORES MAY 2011

She’s a Self-Made City Girl…
High-powered career woman Austin Lanier suddenly finds herself saddled with an inherited watermelon farm deep in the countryside. She’s determined to sell the farm, until her new, drop-dead sexy neighbor Rye O’Donnell shows up…

He’s as Intoxicating as Can Be…
Rancher Rye O’Donnell thinks he’s going to get a good deal on his dream property—until he meets the fiery new owner. Rye is knocked sideways when he realizes that not only is Granny Lanier’s city-slicker granddaughter a savvy businesswoman, she’s also sexy as hell…

Suddenly Rye is a whole lost less interested in real estate and a whole lot more focused on getting Austin to set aside her stiletto heels…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Carolyn Brown is an award-winning author who has published 36 bestselling romances for the library market. She now writes bestselling single title cowboy and country music mass market romances. Born in Texas and raised in southern Oklahoma, Carolyn and her husband now make their home in the town of Davis, Oklahoma. Carolyn’s next book, Red’s Hot Cowboy will be in stores in August 2011, followed by Darn Good Cowboy Christmas in October 2011. For more information, please visit www.carolynlbrown.com and www.sourcebookscasablanca.com

x2: Silver Borne, River Marked - Patricia Briggs

Series: Mercedes Thompson5
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 352
Published: 2010

Being a mechanic is hard work. Mercy Thompson, for instance, just spent the last couple of months trying to evade the murderous queen of the local vampire seethe, and now the leader of the werewolf pack - who's maybe-more-than-just-a-friend - has asked for her help. A book of fae secrets has come to light and they're all about to find out how implacable - and dangerous - the fae can be. OK, so maybe her troubles have nothing to do with the job. But she sure could use a holiday .

My thoughts:

This book was just as awesome as it should be. I love this series, UF at its best. I will make it short, cos how many times can I say how kick-ass Mercy is ;) Ok, in this one there is trouble in the pack, not all like a coyote mated to an alpha werewolf. And then someone targets Mercy, the Fae are up to their usual shifty business.

How to make it short then...Mercy kicks ass. She is such a wonderful heroine, tough but at the same time vulnerable after everything she has gone through. What made me care so much for this book was Samuel, my heart was breaking a bit because I really care for his character, and I do confess to wanting him and Mercy together. Yes Adam is nice, perfect really, but I just love Sam.

This book had me reading like crazy. I could not put it down! At times I had to because it was just too much. I wanted to finish it, but I just could not handle it. It was just too good if that makes any sense at all. And at the end something happens, and oh no spoilers from me, but yes for the best, and I guess I could smile about it.

Conclusion:

My final word is that you read this series because it is just simply the best.

Rating:

Awesome

Cover:

ok

River Marked

Series: Mercedes Thompson 6

Pages: 352

Published: Feb  2011

Car mechanic Mercy Thompson has always known there was something different about her, and not just the way she can make a VW engine sit up and beg. Mercy is a shapeshifter, a talent she inherited from her long-gone father. And she's never known any others of her kind. Until now. As Mercy comes to terms with this new information, an evil is stirring in the depths of the Columbia River. Something deadly is coming, facts are thin on the ground and Mercy feels ill at ease. However, her father's people may know more. To have any hope of surviving, Mercy and her mate, the Alpha werewolf Adam, will need all the resources the shifters can offer. Or death will be the least of their worries.

My thoughts:

The sixth book, ok you know the drill, kick-ass heroine and hunky werewolves, and lots of other things.

This one was not as good as Silver Borne, but it was better in another way. I learned more about her Indian heritage and folklore, and we met old Coyote, a weird being that is not of this world.  You just have to read it to figure it out. He is a spirit warrior, and he create the first walker, and Mercy thinks she is all alone in the world. So I sure liked all that.

But on the other side there was less suspense and danger..ok not really, there is one BIG danger and that sure gets scary. Still the book had another vibe to it, and it all took place around a campsite. Oh and it was their honeymoon, yay. So that was fun cos now they finally is one.

The monster, good one, can't say more.

Conclusion:

Even if I did not love as much as the previous book I still loved it, and I love this series so if you have not started it then it's about time.

Rating:

What are you waiting for?!

Cover.

I do not like it and it has a urban background and the whole book takes place at a campsite.

Review: The Ballad of Gregoire Darcy - Marsha Altman

Genre: Pride and Prejudice variation
Pages: 336
Published: May 1st Ulysses Press

This riveting sequel to Pride and Prejudice perfectly captures Jane Austen’s style and wit. Manner of Devotion brings old favorites and new characters to life with well-researched historical details. When Fitzwilliam Darcy discovers he has a long-lost illegitimate brother, he feels compelled to help his new sibling find a place in the world. Meanwhile, Elizabeth finds herself pulled into a web of commitments and conflicts when her sister Mary Bennet finally falls in love. As plotlines and characters intertwine, Austen fans will feel that familiar anticipation of a conclusion that is at once exciting, surprising, and utterly satisfying.

My thoughts:

This is not your usual kind of variation. No this is the family saga kind of variation. This book is the fourth in the Darcy and Bingley Pride and prejudice sequel. Kids have been born, people have gotten married, there has been trouble and fun times, and lots of secrets.

I have not read the previous books but then I am a fast learner. In the beginning of the book was a family chart so I just checked who had married who and read the introduction by Altman. And then I was up to speed and could get started.

In this one there is general focus on the Bingleys, Darcys, The Maddox family (that is Caroline Bingley's husband who is only a doctor ;). But there is also other things going on. Mr Darcy found out that he has an illegitimate brother called Gregoire who now is a monk in Spain. But things get out of control and he comes to England. As a devote monk he has difficulties living a normal life. I do fear he was a bit too saintly for me, but it was an interesting.

The other history sure took me by surprise. It seems that in a previous book Mary had an affair with a seminary student and got pregnant! Yes pregnant, I sure missed a juicy story there. And now she is in an unwed mother and she will get courted, but can she trust love? Oh I am still shocked by the whole unwed mother part..Mary! Yes, that is the juicy stuff going on in this series.

Conclusion:

It was an interesting variation to read. Altman sure knows these character and creates wonderful and sad scenarios. here are ups and downs just as in every normal life.

Cover:

Meh

.................

The Winner of Mr Darcy and the secret of becoming a gentleman is....Missie!

Interview and contest: Lisa Renee Jones - The Legend of Michael

Today I have Lisa Renee Jones over for an interview, and at the bottom there is a giveaway of her newest book The Legend of Michael.

Welcome to Mur-y-Castell!

Tell me something about yourself, so we can get to know you better…
LRJ:  I owned a staffing agency for 11 years with offices in Texas and Nashville. I now write full time and live in Colorado where I came with my fiance who is going to medical school here.

Your newest book is called The Legend Of Michael; can you tell us what it is about?
LRJ: This is the first book in a series about geneticaly altered Super Soldiers who are fighting to save the world from others like themselves who wish to use their skills to rule the world.  

 How did you think of this idea about these soldiers?

LRJ: I’ve always been fascinated with Area 51 and the Vegas area and have traveled to Vegas MANY times. And what better hero than a solider who fights for those he loves, and even those he doesn’t even know – simply because it’s the right thing to do.

Any hints about what the next Zodius book will be about?
LRJ: The Storm That is Sterling is the title and I just got the first draft of the cover today. It’s out in November 2011. A street drug that is a syntheic formula of the serum that created the super soliders has been releases and it is killng people. There is a race to destroy the drug, and my heroine has some very special gifts that come in handy. The hero, Sterling, is one of my all time favorite characters. For readers who are familair with my Knights of White: he’s got a little Des in him. He hides behind laughter a lot of pain, and he is crazy. A little Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon; so daring it seems he has a death wish.  

I see that you have written a lot of other books. Could you tell us a little bit about those?
LRJ:  I’ve written for Nocturne, Blaze, and lots of anthologies (mainly category romances), and of course, I’m writing single-title romances for Sourcebooks! This is my release schedule for the rest of 2011 and 2012: 

2011
-    June: A Taste of Pleasure (Harlequin Spice Brief )
-    June: Hot Secrets, Book 1 in The Walker Brothers Trilogy (Self-Published full-length romance)
-    July: Bound and Pleasured (Harlequin Spice Brief)
-    August: Exposed and Pleasured (Harlequin Spice Brief)
(The three Briefs are truly the hottest I have ever written!!)
-    August: Dangerous Secrets, Book 2 in The Walker Brothers Trilogy (Self-Published full-length romance)
-    October: The Yardell Chronicles, Book 1: Not Dead Enough (written as L.R. Jones)
-    November: Zodius Book 2 The Storm That Is Sterling (Sourcebooks)

2012 (so far):
-    A Harlequin Spice Brief – Date an Title TBA 
-    March: The Yardell Chronicles, Book 2 (title TBD)
-    May: Zodius Book 3, The Danger That Is Damion
-    June: Book 3 in The Walker Brothers Trilogy (Self-Published, full-length romance, Title TBD)
-    September: Harlequin Blaze America’s Next Top Dancer Trilogy Book 1
-    October: Harlequin Blaze America’s Next Top Dancer Trilogy Book 2
-    November: Harlequin Blaze America’s Next Top Dancer Trilogy Book 3

Are you working on something new and exciting right now?

LRJ: My agent has a project I just wrote that I am SO excited about. I don’t want to jinx myself and talk about it but she’s excited about it too so I am hopeful with so much excitement its going somewhere awesome!

Any advice for aspiring writers?
LRJ: Just don’t give up. NEVER give up. Keep reading, keeep writing, keep learning. And keep submitting. Plus remember: a rejection is a sign you had to courage to go all the way. We all get them. It’s actually a sign of success. You aren’t just thinking about doing—you are doing! 

Thank you!

GIVEAWAY

2 copies of The Legend of Michael

1. Open to US and Canada

2. Ends May 20th 

3. Just enter

or ask a question, comment on something, or perhaps just tell me if you believe there are aliens out there? ;)

Winners: Dana and Melissa, and both have been emailed

THE LEGEND OF MICHAEL BY LISA RENEE JONES – IN STORES MAY 2011

He’s a Lethal Weapon…
One of an army of human soldiers injected with alien DNA, Michael is a legend within this new race, split between good and evil. Untamable, he has walked on the dark side and returned to the light. Feared and misunderstood, he leaves everything behind, including the one woman destined to be his mate.

He is her Enemy… And her Destiny…

Cassandra holds the key to Michael’s power, and his pain. With loyalties divided and against insurmountable odds, Cassandra’s heart propels her to Michael’s side—but can her love do anything but destroy him…

No ordinary woman can control a creature such as Michael, and only one th ing is clear—the world will never be the same…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Award winning author Lisa Renee Jones has published more than fifteen novels in several different languages, spanning multiple genres of romance: contemporary, romantic suspense, dark paranormal and erotic fiction. Her awards include first place in the Romantic Times Aspiring Writers Contest. She currently lives in Colorado Springs, CO, where she is working on her next Zodius novel, The Storm That is Sterling, to be released in November 2011. For more information, please visit www.lisareneejones.com/ and www.sourcebookscasablanca.com.

Review: Fallenwood - Leslie Soule

Genre: Fantasy/paranormal

Pages: 199, ebook

Published: March 3rd 2011

Review by Lis

Fallenwood—a land where magic is the life force, dragons are sages, and wizards good and evil battle for supremacy. When 16-year-old Ash is thrust into the middle of Fallenwood’s power struggles, she is also forced to face her own inner battles. Life on Earth was hard enough on Ash, who is locked in grief for her stepfather. Now, the fate of Fallenwood rests on her shoulders. She must destroy the Great Crystal—the catalyst for all the land’s magic. As the kingdoms prepare for war, Ash must look inside to find the power to save the world, and herself.

-----------------

Do you ever have that feeling like you don’t belong? You go through the routines, but nothing really makes sense. You question why it is you do what you do, but you don’t know why you do it. You just go on and on and one until one day you’ve had enough. That one day you just know something has to change and something has to be done because enough is enough! It’s a bit like that for Ashley Kensington. For her it gets harder and harder to get out of bed each day and face the world. She goes through her routines, goes to her dead end job day after day. Then one day the ashes of her stepfather are spread, it all becomes enough and Ashley runs into the woods to end it only to end up in Fallenwood a magical world where Ashley has a role to play and is part of a legacy.

This is certainly an interesting book. It’s not often that you meet a character who is as depressed as Ashley and who has such a big role to play, but I loved that she doesn’t give up. She struggles, yes, and she fights her depression, but with the guidance of the wizard Will she doesn’t give up.

The story of Fallenwood is fast paced. It’s not hard to keep up but a lot of things happen. At times it left me going: “huh?!” and then: “ohhhh right got it!”

There are also a lot of characters in this book. It’s almost like a high fantasy book in that regard. You have to keep track of your characters and their part in the story. From wizards to locked-up princes to shifting cats to other humans Fallenwood has it all. I would think that it’s not easy writing a story with such a big plot and such a cast of characters and at points you could see that the narrative wasn’t quite up to par. Luckily it’s nothing major and you can overlook it. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but I think that a little practice will make perfect.

There is also a lot of world building in this story, which you would have to if you switch from good ole earth to a magical mystical one and I found that it was done just right. The author gives you enough to get a clear view of Fallenwood but doesn’t do so that it’s intrusive.

Fallenwood was not an easy book to review. While I liked it, I’ve been in a book slump and am very critical of the books I read and get easily bored (something I hope to overcome very soon). As a result this was not a book that suited my mood, especially with Ashley fighting depression. At the same time I could really appreciate the time and effort that went into this book and I can see why people would really like this book. So invite you to pick it up and find out for yourself! If you like a good fantasy book with a wide cast of characters and flawed character that are not your typical run of the mill cast of characters and an epic happenings then Fallenwood is definitely for you!

Review: The Legend of Michael - Lisa Renee Jones + guestposting

Note:

This is the Lost Blogpost of Thursday and I am tired of waiting for blogger to get it back. So here it is. I have the comments that  were posted saved so I will post those I have. If I missed one, sorry

Series: Zodius 1
Genre: Sci-fi paranormal suspense romance
Pages: 416
Published: May 1st 2011 Sourcebooks Casablanca

One of an army of human soldiers injected with alien DNA, Michael is a legend within this new race, split between good and evil. Untamable, he has walked on the dark side and returned to the light. Feared and misunderstood, he leaves everything behind, including the one woman destined to be his mate.

Fate leads Michael back to Cassandra Powell, for she holds the key to defending his comrades. With their loyalties divided between duty and the people they love, only together can Cassandra and Michael overcome insurmountable odds to save humanity from the wrath of a madman. But no ordinary woman can control a creature such as Michael, and only one thing is clear—the world will never be the same

My thoughts:

Not an easy book to find a genre for. The world is the same, present day, but there is one thing that is different and that is that aliens did crash and the US government hid the fact. Then later they injected soldiers who become something more. Strength, the ability to travel with the wind and other things is what they gained. But the soldiers split into two groups, the bad and the good. So there is sci-fi paranormal, romance and suspense.

There was a lot of suspense in this one, and the whole book felt like a starter to something more. Things gets explained, why they are fighting, what lifebounds are (the men and their women connect in a special way), and how the Renegades (the good guys) build something new. We also meet Michael, the dark one. I am never sure what to think about him, but I am sure drawn to him. Cassandra is the daughter to the man who was there to start this whole mess of these extraordinary soldiers, and I do grow to like her.

I have heard some complaints about that the romance was short and so, but I did not mind. Things moved forward and then when these two were together it was passionate.

The men are out of this world. It was a fastpaced moving book.

Conclusion:

A book for those who like suspense in their books. There is danger, plots, conspiracies and interesting men. When the book ended I did feel that this series might have something to offer. A battle is coming.

Rating:

I do like suspense and romance mixed with sci-fi like aspects

Cover:

ok

.-----------------------

And of course with my luck I was guestposting on two places on Thursday. But they have been re-posted

I am talking about books and Finland over at About Happy Books

And I had written a steampunk pirate short story for VVB Reads for her pirate month

Review: Love Drunk Cowboy - Carolyn Brown

Series: Spikes and spurs 1
Genre: Contemporary romance
Pages: 384
Published: May 1st 2011 Sourcebooks Casablanca

All Austin Lanier wants is to sell her inherited watermelon farm, slip on her stilettos and run back to corporate America. Until the drop dead sexy cowboy next door, Rye O'Donnell, decides he'll only take the farm if he can get the fiery woman who owns it as part of the deal...

My thoughts:

This book was just sweeter than watermelonpie (now I have never tasted that, but it fits the language in the book. And I also totally made it up, lol.)

Austin is a city girl who inherits her granny's watermelon farm, and she falls in love with the life. She used to come there every summer as a kid. She is nice and I have nothing bad to say about her. Then we have Rye, her sexy bull riding neighbour. There is chemistry there at once and he wants her so much. My heart went all awww there because he truly falls in love with her at first sight, and I love a man like that.


The book was so sweet and nice, and they took is slow which I loved too. They formed a friendship, they went out on dates, sure it was all during a short period of time but it still felt slow. Above all this book is a sweet love story about a couple that is nothing alike. A city slicker meets a cowboy. But then the city slicker is pretty country after all. A fancy career and nothing else is not perhaps the best thing to have. You also need love and a family of your own. At least this is what Austin will find out; oh and that actually doing some farming is good for the soul.

I liked their courtship dance; I liked the country language thrown in here and there. Maybe because it felt “exotic” to me. I liked the sweetness of the story and that there was no big drama, just these two falling in love, and making decisions. Will she stay?

Conclusion:
I want a cowboy of my own! This book was easy to read and it left me with a smile on my face. Since this is a series I do wonder who she will write about next. There are some good candidates, and I will definitely read that book.  Until then I recommened this book to you all. 

Sweet and nice with a hunky cowboy on top.

Rating.
Yes sweet :D

Cover:

ok

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Short message.

I hope my Legend of M post comes back, if not then I have the comments that were posted saved, I also have the Vlad comments saved. So no need to comment again on that one.

And I hope blogger doesn't steal this post.

And here is my Flash Fiction post for the week

Review: Vlad - the last confession - C.C.Humphreys

Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 384
Published: May 1st Sourcebooks (re-print)

Dracula. A name of horror, depravity and the darkest sensuality. Yet the real Dracula was just as alluring, just as terrifying, his tale not one of a monster but of a man... and a contradiction.

His tale is told by those who knew him best. The only woman he ever loved...and whom he had to sacrifice. His closest comrade...and traitor. And his priest, betraying the secrets of the confessional to reveal the mind of the man history would forever remember as The Impaler. This is the story of the man behind the legend...as it has never been told before.

My thoughts:

This is the story of Vlad Dracul, prince of Wallachia, known as Vlad Tepes (the impaler), or Dracula (Dracul-a) son of the dragon/devil. And it has nothing to do with vampires.

I must say that he was a fascinating man, and a crazy bastard. The author has taken liberties since while Vlad lived and afterwards rumours were spread by his enemies. So Humphreys tried to look at the facts that were known and build his story. The book does not try to make Vlad a hero, but not a madman either. It is his last confession told by those who knew him.

When he was young he was sent to the Turks as a hostage, and there he suffered. So no wonder he started to do crazy things later in life. Back home again he did everything to clean up Wallachia so that people to travel and live in peace. And he also went on crusades to push back the Turks. It's not a pretty story. He and his people could not hold the land alone, so he built his might on fear. And yes he sure liked to impale people. It was to fear or be feared.

It did take me some time to get into the book. I do not know what it was. I just did not connect, but it was when he started to do more crazy things that my interest grew. He was just such a fascinating man, a warrior of Christ, impaler, lawgiver. It was the last half of the book that won me over.

Conclusion:

Poor Vlad, Bram Stokers sure did a number on his reputation. Vlad was not the first man to use different methods and there have been far worse people around. It was a fascinating tale about who the real Dracula was. Rich in historical drama and bloody madness.

Rating:

If you wanna see madness, here it is

Cover:

Nope not for me


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Come and visit me :D I am guest-reviewing a book over at Alternative Read

The Second Duchess by Elizabeth Loupas