ARC Review: Into Suez - Stevie Davies

Into Suez by Stevie Davies

Genre: Fiction
Pages: 448
Publication date: March 8th 2010

The year is 1949: Great Britain, victorious but bankrupt after WWII, attempts to reassert itself as an Imperial power by its military presence in the Suez Canal zone. Egypt's struggle against its British occupiers has some implicit truths to tell about the recent invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. When Israel declares its statehood and drives out the Arab population, Joe, an RAF sergeant, his wife Ailsa and daughter Nia leave Wales for Egypt.

Joe is the everyday working man, in whom racism and misogyny become a sickness. Alisa, an independent, free thinking woman, yearns to explore her new homeland of Egypt. It's here that she meets the exotic Mona, who opens Ailsa's eyes to what lies beyond the horizon. In a world of terrorism and political struggle, her friendship with Mona and an act of murder pitch the happily married couple into tragedy.

Nia, looking back in late middle age, follows in her parents' wake to sail the Suez Canal. On this journey Nia will face difficult life lessons about love and betrayal.

I read that the author was longlisted for the Booker prize and I understand why. She is a great writer, and such a great story teller.

This book is about Ailsa  who leaves England with her young daughter Nia to go to Egypt to be with her husband. The troubles start at once at the ship where she meets Mona, an officers wife. They are not supposed to friends because of their husbands ranks. But there is deep friendship and love between them, and even though Ailsa tries to stay away in Egypt in the end she cannot. Egypt that is in turmoil, the Egyptians wants the invaders out, and terrorism and murder is part of the day.

In the middle of this story there is another story, Nia later in life who wants to knwo what really happened in Egypt and she goes back to find out more about her mother and father.

First of all it is so hard to understand why everyone frowned upon Ailsa being friends with Mona, Joe was really horrified. It all had to do with rank, and I find it rather silly but that was life back then. Mona and her husband would have loved to be friends with them. But Joe was a regular soldier and he knew his place. He also didn't liek intellectuals, he had grown up a poor miner in Wales and had little education. He didn't take too kindly to Ailsa reading either.

But I did understand Joe, and he was a great guy, at first. Then came jealousy and doubt and the trouble that was Egypt. I liked Ailsa too, she was strong and she so wanted to knwo more about Egypt all while Joe looked down upon everything there. Racism was clear as day in this book, but it isn't as easy as it looks. Yes the white looked down upon the Egyptians and called them names, but the Egyptians in turn looked down upon the black population and so on.

Politics did have an importance here, it was the last days of the British Empire in Egypt, the Suez Crisis, and it also dealt with Israel-Palestine since Mona was a Palestine refugee. Though here I wished they would have looked more at both sides, it was a bit one sided in one way. When they spoke of the refugee camps they never mentioned the unwillingness of the neighboring countries to take them in. But I shall not go in to politics no, that is one hot topic I do not want to touch, and Davies does make a good job and looking at things from every angle at least once.

This was a good  book that had me turning the page and wondering how it all would play out. Since I knew from the start that Joe would die in Egypt and I had a pretty good idea how since the situation was like it was. But then there was the fact that Ailsa was a certain way after she came back to Wales and I wondered why that was so. Nia remembered her mother one way, a way that I could not understand reading the book from Ailsas POV. But it became clear later on.

Then there is the friendship between Ailsa and Mona, am I supposed to see more, or is it my imagination? They like each other so much, they never do anything, but it does feel like there is something more between them. Something that can never be.

I liked this book, I liked to see how it was in Egypt, the politics, the life, the friendship between Mona and Ailsa, normal life was an army wife, the love between husband and wife, and Nia's sharp eye. A well-written book about a heavy topic sometimes. And the eternal question, what happened?

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: Historical and fiction like

Reason for Reading: Seems the publisher sent it to me

Final thoughts: I liked it.

Review: The Way of Shadows - Brent Weeks

The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks

The Night Angel trilogy, book 1

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 645

Published: 2008

For Durzo Blint, assassination is an art-and he is the city's most accomplished artist.

For Azoth, survival is precarious. Something you never take for granted. As a guild rat, he's grown up in the slums, and learned to judge people quickly - and to take risks. Risks like apprenticing himself to Durzo Blint.

But to be accepted, Azoth must turn his back on his old life and embrace a new identity and name. As Kylar Stern, he must learn to navigate the assassins' world of dangerous politics and strange magics - and cultivate a flair for death.

There is a reason for why fantasy is my one true love, I may cheat on fantasy but I always come back and I love it the most. This book I got from googling "fantasy authors who write like Raymond E Feist and Robert Jordan". This series I was told I would like if I liked Feist and Jordan. The truth, I did like it, and I can see Feist in it. So thank you google.

This is not a pretty book, right there in the beginning the harsh reality of street kids is shown and it is horrible beyond imagining. Kids hurting kids. Azoth is a thief grown up in the slum and who knows he has no real future. One night he encounters the mysterious Durzo Blint, the greatest assassin, or wetboys as these masters are called. He sees a way out and after some events he seeks Durzo out and he is given an ultimatum. He begins his training and Azoth dies and he severs all ties with his past. Even with Doll Girl who he only wants to see saved. As Kylar Stern, a noble, he has a new path.

As I said, the beginning is harsh and raw. It sets the tone, because he does kill people in later life. And he is not some nice assassin who only kills the wicked. He kills those he is told to kill, and if someone innocent crosses his path that person dies too. Still I have to like Kylar, he is a hero, the way he wants to save poor Doll Girl, and the rest of the gang. And he is likeable, more so than his master Durzo. But then he has been a killer for a much longer time.

This is the kind of fantasy that I enjoy, magic, darkness, war, a lot going on. Yes perfect for me. Epic fantasy that left me wanting more. The kingdom is in turmoil and to the north there is a shadow, a godking who wants more. Which means war, and political intrigue and assassinations.

Weeks has created a nice world where cultures has mixed and in the city where this takes place 9 rule the underworld, and I like his creation. The wetboys are also interesting because they all have talents, magic.

The first part of thsi book was amazing and I was swept away, the second part wasn't as good. Do not get me wrong, it was still good, just not that I can't stop, go away all who wants to disturb me amazing. I think it might have been because I got a bit upset with a certain person who accused Kylar of something he didn't do. And because the second part mostly took place around one fatal night. While the rest of the book moved along. Still, yes the whole book was great anyway. Don't think otherwise.

Read one review where he was called  a sadistic genius, but let's not go all George RR Martin on him now, I didn't see him like that.Yes he kills people, but not everyone like the king of character massacres. But he does dare to kill off some people in this book, that is true.

Great fantasy, how I love amazing fantasy, and wonderful characters. I want to read more by him! I wish I could convert everyone to fantasy readers, there is truly no better genre to read. Fantasy rocks my socks off, yes go read this series.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: Fantasy :D

Reason for Reading: My own copy.

Final thoughts: I just came back from the bookstore, I had them order me book 2. That pretty much sums it up.

Beth Kery interview + giveaway of Release *updated* *CLOSED*

I would like to welcome Beth Kery, the author of Release! Thank you so much for stopping by.

I am also giving away a copy of Release

1.If your email is not included in your profile then leave it here, or you can email me it.

2. If you already have the book or do not want to be included please say so.

3. Open worldwide.
4. Ends March 10th

Ok my first author interview ;)

Uh oh, the pressure is on. I hope I do a good first for you.

Tell me something about yourself, so we get a better understanding about the woman behind the author:

Well, I live and work in downtown Chicago and consider myself a city girl. When I’m not writing, I like to venture out to museums and historical neighborhoods. I also enjoy traveling. I love to soak in experiences and am always looking for story ideas. I come from a family of scientists, and so I’m acting a bit of the rebel by writing romance novels. J I have a brilliant husband who likes to tell me I’m a walking paradox. I think he means it as a compliment…I hope anyway…


What kinds of books do you read, any fave authors?

In the romance arena, I enjoy Julie James, Sandra Brown and Sarah McCarty, among many, many others. I don’t get to read as often as I did when I wasn’t writing. I dream about vacations where I can sit lake or Oceanside and just read.


I have read that many authors like to listen to music while they write. Do you do this, and if so then what kinds of music?

I don’t listen to music while I write. However, music has often inspired me for books…usually while I’m in the car driving and stuck in traffic. I’m a huge Soundgarden and Audio Slave fan, but I like a variety of music. My parents love music, and I’m the youngest of five, so I was exposed to a lot of different genres and bands growing up. 

Your newest book is called Release; can you tell me what it is about?

Release is a really intense love story between a man and a woman who fall in love at the wrong time and place. When the husband of the woman offers to share her in bed one night with the hero, the two are too tempted after months of longing to say ‘no’. What follows is a scorching night of passion, but regret comes at the end because of the circumstances. When the husband of the heroine is murdered five days after the ménage a troi, both the hero and heroine are terrified that the other killed him. They are torn apart, even as they both try to protect the other from the police and prosecution. The book begins three years later, when the h/h are thrown together during the blizzard of the century, and their passion erupts again, stronger than ever. But an old, lethal threat—and the truth—is surfacing as well…


What else have you written?

I started writing erotic romance at Ellora’s Cave in 2007. Since then, I’ve also published with Samhain. My first Berkley book, Wicked Burn, came out in December of 2008, followed by Daring Time, Sweet Restraint, Paradise Rules (all in 2009) and Release in 2010. I have a novel called Velvet Cataclysm coming out in May from Samhain Publishing and a book titled Explosive due out in December from Berkley Heat.

 
Did you always want to write?

I do remember when I was really young, my mother, who is an educator, had a peer who had me write a little story and do my own crayon drawing illustrations. It was part of a graduate student education project for her. Afterwards, this lovely woman bound it by hand. I was stunned that she’d made it into a little book! That really amazed me, as I was an avid reader. Maybe that incident stuck with me, even though I really didn’t start writing until 2006 or so.


I can see that you have written in many genres, from suspense, historical to paranormal. Is there any genre or subgenre that your heart belongs in?

Well…I’m a bit of a tramp with my heart when it comes to genres. J I love doing contemporaries, and it’s probably been my most regular genre. However, paranormals are also a favorite—both to read and write. I have a paranormal vampire novel coming out from Samhain in May called Velvet Cataclysm, the first in the Princes of the Underground series, which I’m very excited about. I also love anything to do with gothic mansions, ghosts, ESP, etc. I find it extremely romantic. I’ve also enjoyed writing the few historicals I’ve done—especially Fire Angel, because I got to do a woman with psychic powers in late Victorian London, which is a favorite topic and time period of mine.


Any advice for wannabe writers?

I give this advice pretty often, but I believe in it completely: if you want to be a published author, you’ve got to write. Don’t wait for the muse to strike you; give her an offering of your words and she’ll bless you. I get the impression from a lot of writers who want to publish that they second guess themselves a lot, which is normal. You have to push past the doubts, though, and the best way to do that is to just sit down at the keyboard and write a prescribed number of words daily, without fail. No amount of books you read on writing, no amount of talking to other writers, no amount of studying others’ work is going to get you what you need, which is product. I recommend shooting for a certain word count every day and writing down your daily progress in a notebook. If you need someone to keep you on the up and up, report your progress to a writer-friend, and have her or him do the same to you in return.

I had someone say to me once when it comes to writing and finishing a project…you gotta eat your vegetables.

Writing is a discipline. It’s art too, but trust me. The muse likes to see some results…and sweat.

Sigh.


I recently read about an author who gets up really early and start writing, before going to her day job. When and where do you like to write?

It depends. I have a varied schedule throughout the week. When I’m on a deadline, I have to get in word count, though, no matter how hectic my schedule is.


Who is your favorite hero or heroine from your books? What makes them so special?

Difficult to say…I’d probably say Niall and Vic from Wicked Burn. I acquired an agent with WB, and I first got published with it in the New York market. I think Niall’s and Vic’s story is incredibly romantic and passionate, but I also think the same of most of my heroes’ and heroines’ stories. J Because Wicked Burn exposed me to a wider reader market and because of its ‘first’ status, I’ll always have a special place in my heart for it.


Which book of those you have written is your favorite, and what makes it so?

Oh, you are evil to put an author on the spot. (Just kidding).

You know, I think I change my answer for this question depending on how I feel, but today, I’ll say Daring Time. (I just watched the movie Déjà vu again, and it reminded me of why I loved writing DT so much). Daring Time is a time travel that takes place in the historic Prairie Avenue district of Chicago—a place of elegance, grandeur and industry unparalleled in history. I researched the area on foot; I toured the mansions. I find the topic to be over-the-top romantic.

Daring Time is the story of a modern day Chicago cop who unexpectedly inherits one of the grand Prairie Avenue mansions. He begins to see a beautiful, alluring woman in the house. While his friend tries to convince him she’s a ghost, Ryan absolutely refuses to believe this woman is dead. He does discover from the historical archives that Hope Stillwater had lived in the house and was murdered in a heinous fashion in 1906. Like many of my heroes, Ryan is stubborn. Once he falls in love, he refuses—against all logic—to allow Hope to come to harm. He crosses the boundary of time through the means of raw desire, growing love, and a touch of magic in order to save her.

Daring Time best represents me out of all my books, I think. Maybe “why” relates to your earlier genre question and my disinclination to say I write only in one genre. Daring Time is a contemporary, it’s a crime drama, it’s a shamelessly scorching erotic, it’s a historical, and it’s a paranormal. It’s all those things. Plus…it’s the book I had the most fun writing.


I love covers; they are the best thing about the book. I wonder, do you have any say in them at all?

The best thing about the book? Really? That’s so interesting. Are you an artist, or do you just enjoy the visual?

I have very little input or ‘say’ on my Berkley covers. I find I have more input at publishers like Samhain. One thing I didn’t realize before I became an author is that most covers are designed from photo images in a library…stock photos. They aren’t created ‘just’ for my book.

The publisher’s art department knows what sells, and they try to match up character description (although often in rough format) to images that already exist. They add color, fonts and various points of interest.

I think I’ve been blessed with some truly beautiful covers, so I’m not complaining. But no, at this point in my career, I have relatively little input on my covers.


Are you working on something new and exciting right now?

I am, thank you for asking. I was invited by Berkley to participate in a Heat anthology with talented authors Megan Hart, Emma Holly and Lauren Dane which will come out in 2011. I just received a contract with Silhouette Special Edition to write a very emotional series of romances about three very different families that are bound together by one night of tragedy, their ensuing conflicts, and eventual healing through love. At the moment, I’m writing a Berkley Heat book slated to come out in 2011, tentatively called Taking Advantage.

Thank you for this. I hope my first ever interview went well, no idea what kinds of questions to ask or if they are too few or too many. But it is good to break out of the always having others over for guestblogs thing.


It was a terrific first interview, Linda, and I thank you for taking the time and effort. I wish you the best!

Please have a look at my review if you want to know a bit more about the book.

Or Visit Beth Kery at her webpage 

I just got a peak at her next cover so here it is :D
 The book will be out December 2010

ARC Review: The Highlander's Sword - Amanda Forester

The Highlander's Sword by Amanda Forester

Genre: Historical romance
Pages: 352
Published: March 2nd 2010

Scottish Highlands romance is a perennial favorite, especially when it's as intriguing and sexy as The Highlander's Sword. Set against the backdrop of the rugged Scottish Highlands and the tumultuous 14th century, Lady Aila Graham is destined for the convent until her brother's death leaves her an heiress and her father hastily arranges a marriage for her with a Highland warrior she's never met. Misunderstandings between the battle-hardened knight and his lady are exploited by their enemies and threaten the entire clan. Only by throwing caution to the winds and forging a powerful bond together can they rout a traitor and save their people, and their love, from destruction.

What can I say, I have a soft spot of Highland romances, or perhaps just Scotland in general.

Aila Gordon is the heiress to the lands, but she has been destined to join a convent ever since a little girl. No one has never looked twice at her. This all changes since her father does not want her to join a convent, he needs soldiers because his neighbour is causing mischief, and the way to do this is to marry her away. He will get soldiers, the husband her rich dowry.

Aila was a sweet woman, she did what she was told, and never thought much of herself. She doesn't say much either when she is married away. If that is her duty then it is, of course it helps that she remembers him from before, and that he is good looking.

Padyn MacLaren has one big chip on his shoulders. In the beginning we see him leaving France after having his heart crushed. He does not trust women, and especially not pretty woman. Honestly he is an ass, and I got upset with him now and again cos of his serious trust issues. I am just waiting for him to redeem himself and see the woman before him is just perfect for him, and no lying hag. But then again what kind of book would that be.

Their marriage is of to one rocky start and the misunderstandings keep on coming. This is not love at first sight, or perhaps it is but they are way to blind to see that. They have to work for it, well he have too, Aila I just like.

There are some great side characters too, I am thinking of Sir Chaumont, the French knight that comes back with Padyn in particular. He also has a little sidestory. Then there is her mother, who has not left her room in 15 years. And the mysterious traitor that shows up here and there, but we never learn his name, and I sure did not figure who it was. There is a mystery here too, to find the traitor, to stop the neighbour, and try to stay alive. Not many is happy about the marriage.

I can give you bit of a warning and that is that every time they speak it is with a Scottish accent, it took a while to get all the words for me. But I tried to look at it the way that I was watching a movie and then those accents are just so hot.

So romance, mystery, danger, a stubborn Highlander, a bonny lass, and there is our story. A sweet book that made me wish I could visit Scotland.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner. Hum, is that shirt a bit too modern? Anyway not saying no to plaid a castle and sword.

Reason for Reading: Copy from the publisher

Final thoughts: A nice romance