Tuesday, August 30, 2011

The Colorado Kid by: Stephen King Review

Title: Colorado Kid
Author: Stephen King
Pages:  184
Format: ebook
Publisher:  Simon & Schuster

Description:

Stephen King is the undisputed master of horror; but The Colorado Kid is a dramatic departure for the iconic author of innumerable blood-curdling classics like The Shining, Carrie, Cujo, and Pet Sematary. A pulp-style mystery about two salty newspapermen and their investigation into the unresolved death of a man found on an island off the coast of Maine, The Colorado Kid will have readers speculating until the very last page -- and long afterward.


Stephanie McCann is a journalism major doing an internship at a newspaper on Moose-Lookit Island. Two veteran editors show her the ropes -- and let her in on a bizarre mystery that has gone unsolved for more than 20 years. When an unidentified man was found dead on a beach, the local police wrote it off as an accident. But the newsmen continued to dig deeper, vowing to unlock the dead man's secrets


King has a unique way of completely redefining genres, and his homage to the pulp mystery -- a kind of deconstruction of the traditional blueprint -- is no different. What many readers may expect (an unsolved mystery, an investigation, and a neat and tidy explanation) doesn't quite happen. But because of King's unparalleled storytelling prowess, it doesn't even matter; in fact, his unusual conclusion is perfect. He writes in the afterword: "What I found out writing The Colorado Kid was that maybe it's the beauty of the mystery that allows us to live sane as we pilot our fragile bodies through this demolition-derby world. Wanting might be better than knowing."


The Colorado Kid is a must-read for mystery aficionados as well as all those who call themselves Stephen King fans. It's an unusual and thought-provoking addition to the author's already mammoth body of work. 

My Review: 

I got introduced to The Colorado Kid while watching the new tv show Haven, so I decided to look for the book that this show was based on.  The book starts out with Stephanie working with the local Newspaper men.  After interning them and learning the ropes she wonders if there is a crime that was never solved.  They sit her down and proceed to tell her about The Colorado Kid, a man who wound up dead in Maine with no identification, and no idea how he came to be on the beach.  The biggest question through out this book is how a man goes from Boulder Colorado to this small town in Maine from 10:30 til 5:30.  That's a quandary in itself.  This book unlike normal mysteries doesn't have an answer to it.  Just leaves you wondering about the Colorado Kid.  What a great story, loved it.


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Huber Hill and the Dead Man's Chest by: B.K. Bostick Review

Title: Huber Hill and The Dead Man's Chest
Author: B.K. Bostick
Publisher: Bonneville Books
Pages: 256
Format: NetGalley Ebook
Website: Dead Man's Treasure Site

Description:
When his grandfather dies, Huber Hill is devastated---until he opens Grandpa Nick's mysterious box. An old gold coin and directions to a hidden Spanish treasure send him and his friends off on an mind-blowing adventure, but he's not the only one on the hunt. Filled with dangerous animals and cryptic puzzles, this book will have you on the edge of your seat until the last page.


My Review: 
This book was sent to my via NetGalley as part of a book tour.  The main characters are Huber Hill and his twin sister Hannah Hill, their friend Scott McCormick.  Hannah and Huber spend their Saturdays with their Grandpa Nick hearing stories about buried treasure.  Shortly into the book Hannah and Huber are devastated by the loss of their grandfather who has died.  He left a book to the kids which sparks them wanting to find the treasure little do they know that someone else is after the treasure and willing to get it at any cost.  This book reminded me of the Goonies and Pirates of the Caribbean.  Full of mystery, adventure, trying to figure out a treasure map, field guides written by their grandfather.  The three travel deep into the mountains in search of the treasure having to think smart and fight of bad guys. I really enjoyed this book and think other readers will especially teenagers.  What a great ride! 




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Monday, August 29, 2011

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Linger by: Maggie Stiefvater Review

Title: Linger
Series: Wolves of Mercy Falls
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Pages: 360
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Description:


In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.


At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love - the light and the dark, the warm and the cold - in a way you will never forget.

My Review:

This book was definitely a good book.  I liked how Grace made a lot of tough statements about her parents and their lack of attention.  Also watching the relationship between Sam and Grace and meeting Cole and seeing him connect sort of with Isabel.  Also trying to find out what was wrong with Grace.  Loved the ending can't wait to read Forever.




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Friday, August 26, 2011

B.K. Bostick Guest Post and Information


Bio: 
B.K. Bostick, author of Dead Man's Treasure, resides among the magnificent Rocky Mountains. In addition to writing, he has spent his career in education. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Utah and his Masters in Psychology from Utah State University. He has worked as a teacher, after school program coordinator, junior high school counselor, and most recently as a teacher mentor for a University. He loves spending time with his lovely wife and two dogs. In his spare time, he enjoys eating cheetos and watching old episodes of the Twilight Zone.

The Story:
A lot of people ask what inspired me to write Huber Hill and the Dead Man's Treasure. My answer is my grandpa. He would always tell me stories about Spanish treasure hidden up in the mountains. I always imagined going on these wild adventures to find treasure. As I grew older, I realized that the real treasures were the stories my grandpa told me. I'll always remember those days sitting at his side listening as he showed old maps, books, and artifacts. If there's one theme to the story, it's that relationships with friends and family are invaluable- of much more worth than any kind of money.

The Fundraiser:
Alyssa, my neighbor, was diagnosed with a Meningioma brain tumor on December 5th, 2010. The only way to get it out was through surgery. It took four surgeries to get out as much of the tumor as they could and now she's almost finished with her radiation treatments. Alyssa is an inspiration to me. Her positive outlook and attitude while facing something so terrible is truly remarkable. Because of the inspiration she's given me, I am trying to give back. I will be donating 100% of profits from all pre orders of Huber Hill and the Dead Man's Treasure along with sales during the first two weeks of launch (Oct. 1-16) to Alyssa and her family. Visit www.treasureforalyssa.com

The Giveaway:
I'll also be giving away a replicated gold coin/bookmark to each reader who goes to my author page on facebook and clicks the "like" button. Go to: http://www.facebook.com/bkbostickauthorpage

For Fun:

Follow these links to view official book trailer, website, and social media pages.

http://bit.ly/no1y71 (Book Trailer)

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Thursday, August 25, 2011

City of Fallen Angels by: Cassandra Clare Review

Title: City of Fallen Angels
Series: The Mortal Instruments (Book 4)
Author: Cassandra Clare
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Description:
" 'He does make me happy,' Clary said. 'But he can't control everything in the world, Mom. Other things happen—' she fumbled for words; how could she explain that it wasn't Jace making her unhappy, but what was happening to him, without revealing what that was?" "In a world where everything went away from him eventually, she was one of the few remaining constants." Except for teasers, the fourth installment of Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments romance fantasy has been strictly embargoed, leaving us clutching for word clues. A teen series that keeps readers on tenterhooks.

My Review: 

I think I agree with most people that say this series should have been left alone.  I liked the somewhat happy ending that was there prior to this book.  In this book we find Jace going through all sorts of issues.  Jocelyn and Luke are planning their wedding.  All sorts of people are trying to get Simon on their side.  And as with all books the big nasty is out to destroy all shadowhunters.  There was also reference to the Shadowhunter Will from Clockwork Angel, which I felt was really stretching it a bit.  It was a ok read but not one that really needed to be done.



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Monday, August 22, 2011

Melissa Foster Has New Article! Check it Out!


An article Melissa Foster wrote to read more go here

Mommy guilt. Those words have become all too familiar for many of us working moms. I have a gaggle of children - six, to be exact - and although four of them have now graduated from high school and moved on from the needy stages, for many years, I juggled a career and six very busy children’s schedules.


Chameleons have nothing on working mothers. Moms easily morph from their mothering roles of chef, party planner, chauffeur, playmate, therapist, maid and teacher - all served up with smiles and tempered answers - to professional woman who can negotiate more effectively than Donald Trump, navigate the wrath of unhappy clients without shedding a tear, and then, just as easily, slip silently into the role of understanding, supportive mate. Oh, wait, that’s not real life, that’s how mothers are portrayed in books and movies. Real life brings headaches and fatigue, sweatpants and fingernails full of Playdoh.

There’s no doubt that moms are strong. We’re made of gusto and able to swallow our feelings in a single gulp. The question is, how strong do we have to be, and what can we do to make our lives feel a little more balanced?

I have found that maneuvering through motherhood while trying to achieve some sort of adult mental stimulation, has taken planning and strategizing. Life will always throw you more than you think you can handle; the trick is to figure out just what must be handled, and what can be set aside.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Guest Post: Ian Fydell



Guest Post: Ian Fydell
How many of you have ever looked up at the stars and wondered what's out there? I bet many of you have. When I was seven years old my parents took me to see a movie some of you may know. It was a "little" film called Star Wars. I can remember pulling up to my house and when I got out of the car, I lagged behind and stared up at the stars wondering...was there a Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker out there battling for control of the universe? Or were there other forms of life somewhere in space...and that's where it all started for me. Later on in Junior High School, my English teacher would encourage me to continue writing as I did well in creative writing assignments. This was before we had computers at home and I remember handwriting many short stories and sharing them with my teacher and family members. Before I knew it, along came my teen years. Friends, cars and girls took up most of my free time. In my junior year of High School I had met the girl I'd eventually marry. Flash forward a few years and I was working a full-time job, then came children, a house with a mortgage and big responsibilities. Writing was always in the back of my mind, but I never could find the time to write. Unfortunately, one day at my job I was severely injured by a piece of machinery. This injury forced me into a new role...Mr. Mom. It was a tough adjustment going from bread winner to bread baker. It was a stressful time in my life and I was told I should look into a hobby. Playing sports and working out weren't an option because of my injury. One day it hit me! I thought, why not go back to that time when I was a seven year old kid who loved to look up at the stars and dream.

Breathing Space: Book One Of The Exodus Trilogy takes place in the year 2095, and the Earth is in severe ecological decline. Pollutants, wars, deep mantle mining, and everyday disregard for our planet have finally taken their toll, and now earthquakes, droughts, volcanic eruptions, and plagues are regular occurrences.  Within a few decades, a century at most, Earth will no longer be habitable. Terraforming and conservation efforts have been ineffective; it's just too late to stop the decline.

The novel's action focuses on veteran Air Force Captain John Lewis, commander of Triton Station, an American space habitat dedicated to sending out probes to nearby stars in an attempt to find habitable new worlds. John is a troubled man faced with a daunting task, plagued by memories of his life back on Earth. Especially haunting are the recollections of his participation in the Third World War, and of those he lost during those dark days.

It takes 17 years, but the quest to find a new Earth pays off: a probe locates a habitable planet eight light years away. The Exodus-class probe transmits a video-feed back to Triton, allowing them to see what it discovers. The new world is teeming with life, including (to their wonder and dismay) a primitive species of aliens who appear to be the builders of a series of amazing pyramidal structures. The U.S. government immediately clamps a tight security lid on the discovery. After weeks of debate, the President and his advisors decide to put together a small advance team to explore the new world and to forge an alliance with its natives. 

Given his decades of leadership experience and previous knowledge of the Exodus situation, Captain Lewis is tapped as the team leader. After a brief but intense period of training, the team heads for the new planet, Exodus, in a cutting-edge faster-than-light vessel that appears to have been reverse-engineered from alien technology.  After a six-month flight, they arrive to find much more than they'd bargained for. 
             
A malfunction strands them in a sea of tall grass hundreds of miles away from their intended landing site. As they make their way across the plains, they encounter a variety of animals, including intelligent felinoid predators. Eventually the team makes contact with the primitive Toborg, furry hunter-gatherers who appear to have constructed the great pyramids observed by the Exodus probe.
Soon after, they find that they are privileged to make first contact with not just one alien species, but two. The protectors and mentors of the Toborg, the highly advanced Zeta Reticulans, arrive several weeks into their stay. The Zetans are spindly humanoids with large heads, gray skin, and huge almond-shaped eyes who closely resemble the gray aliens of UFO lore. The Zetan spokesman reveals details of humanity's origin and history that were previously unknown to the humans, including the fact that Earth is one of only a number of planets with human populations. Seventy thousand years before, the Zetans saved humanity from a fate similar to the Toborg's. They remain in danger, however: two malevolent alien species, the Skreeeyep and the c'Cassra-fik-pta, plan to invade Earth and enslave Terran humanity. The Zetans are aware of the U.S. government's plan to start colonizing Exodus, and approve of the plan if for no other reason than to save some of the human population from the invaders. 

As a parting gift, the alien gives Captain Lewis a pyramidal ark containing various blueprints for more advanced faster-than-light drives and other tools they can use against the invaders. It is during the six-month ride back home that John Lewis discovers that the Zetans themselves aren't all that they pretend to be...

 Author Bio:

I spent almost a year writing Breathing Space and about three more months of working with my publisher on editing and cover design. After it was all said and done, I was nominated as a finalist in the 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards in the Science Fiction/Fantasy category. The Long Island Authors Group recently accepted my application after reviewing my book. I also signed over 200 copies of my book at Book Expo America NYC and made several guest appearances on Scifi talk shows such as, The Kevin Smith Show, Cover to Cover and That Scifi Show. I will also be a guest on the VRO show on 8/24 @ 9pm and from 10/13/11 - 10/16/11 I will sign copies of my book at Comic Con NYC. My dream is to see the pages of my trilogy leap onto the silver screen and entertain moviegoers just as I was entertained when I was a seven year old boy. 

I am not a fan of "predictable endings." Why should the guy ALWAYS get the girl...why does the good guy ALWAYS have to win? When reading my trilogy I warn my readers to expect the unexpected. If you'd like to order a signed copy of my novel you can go to my website, www.ianfydellexodustrilogy.com or you can purchase a copy from www.amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com. Feel free to check out the website for news, interviews and more about me. I am also on Twitter: @IanFydell and Facebook: Fans of Breathing Space: Book One Of The Exodus Trilogy. Feel free to contact me, I'd love to chat with you.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

10 Things You Need to know about Liquid Smoke



10 Things You Need to Know About Liquid Smoke
By Jeff Shelby,
Author of Liquid Smoke

 Liquid Smoke comes out in August . Here are ten things you should know about it:
1. It's a book. With pages and words and stuff. No pictures, though.
2. It's the third in a series featuring San Diego P.I. Noah Braddock. You can find the first two books here and here.
3. I wrote it. All by myself.
4. It's a mystery.
5. People die.
6. It will not make your steaks smell/taste better.
7. Studies show that reading a book makes you 91% sexier.
8. There's a good chance that this book might make some people angry.
9. Gambling. Death penalty. Immigrant smuggling.
10. The book is filled with money.*
If you don't order it, you will only have yourself to blame.
*Not every book will be filled with money. In fact, none of them will be filled with money.

© 2011 Jeff Shelby, author of Liquid Smoke
Author Bio
Jeff Shelby, author of Liquid Smoke, is the author of Killer Swell and Wicked Break.
For more information please visit http://jeffshelby.com, and follow the author on Twitter




Q and A with Jeff Shelby


Questions That I Am Asked Frequently*
By Jeff Shelby,
Author of Liquid Smoke

I am asked many questions frequently. Or, at least in my head, I am asked questions frequently. Or maybe that is just the voices. Sometimes it's hard to tell. The voices can be loud and kinda pushy. Anyway, here are some questions that I may or may not be asked frequently:
Q: Is your book, like, a REAL book?
A: Yes. It's totally real. It has words and everything. It's very real. As is the pink elephant standing next to you. Watch out. It's about to pee on you.
Q: Is your book any good?
A: No. It's GREAT. It's so GREAT you'll probably want to quit your job and travel the world, telling people about it. If you wanna go to Mongolia, I'll probably go with you. I've never been there and I hear they have great BBQ. And I hear they love great books. Like mine.
Q: Are you rich?
A: No. I'm Jeff. Pay attention.
Q: I have an idea for your books. Can I send it to you?
A: No. I'm already full of ideas. Those voices again . . .
Q: What is LIQUID SMOKE?
A: It's smoke that is made of liquid. Duh.
Q: Why do you have such awesome hair?
A: (Blushes) You think?
Q: Are you going to write more Noah books?
A: Yes. Unless I don't. But I will. Maybe.
Q: I heard you wrote a book called STAY AT HOME DEAD but you're using a different name. Jeffrey Allen. What's that all about?
A: Where did you hear that? Did you tap my phone? Because it's true. Look for it in January. And stay off my phone.
Q: What's the hardest part about being a writer?
A: Counting all of the money we make. (BURSTS INTO LAUGHTER) Kidding. Um, probably writing the very first word of the story.
Q: Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?
A: No. I always wanted to be a baseball player. But the Padres got a restraining order and it's all awkward now.
Q: If you could give me one piece of advice about writing, what would it be?
A: Write. And don't let pink elephants pee on you. Ever.
*It's quite possible that I've never been asked any of these questions frequently and that's why I answered them so poorly.
© 2011 Jeff Shelby, author of Liquid Smoke
Author Bio
Jeff Shelby, author of Liquid Smoke, is the author of Killer Swell and Wicked Break.
For more information please visit http://jeffshelby.com, and follow the author on Twitter

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Errors with the ebook Megan's Way


Try contacting the author before jumping on the bad review bandwagon.  And check out her article on it.

Long story short - in order to correct two errors I hired someone referred by Smashwords to format my document correctly and when she converted from PDF to Word it caused all sorts of crazy issues. I hope you will take the time to read this and pass it along. This is happening to many authors...

Here's the post:

If you received a copy of MEGAN'S WAY with formatting errors, please read before reviewing: Fame...debunked http://bit.ly/pqYQYl


Monday, August 15, 2011

Love Letters by: Geraldine Solon

Title: Love Letters
Format: PDF/eBook
Author: Geraldine Solon
Genre: Romance
Source: Global eBook Nomination
Pages: 355
Publisher: Solstice Publishing

Description:

Bridal shop manager Chloe Rogers will soon marry Richard Foster—so she thinks—until suddenly, she bumps into her childhood sweetheart, Josh Goldman, whom she hasn’t seen in thirteen years. The sparks between Chloe and Josh fly, but Richard provides safety, financial security. Should she follow her heart or her head? The answer comes in a surprise twist. While cleaning her attic, she stumbles upon love letters written to her estranged mother forty years ago from a man she loved. When Chloe secretly brings them together again and sees how much time they’ve lost, she is challenged not to make the same mistake her mother made. Will Chloe opt for security or will she risk her heart and marry her true love?

My Review:
I loved this book, we meet Chloe Rogers who is a bridal shop manager who's engaged to Richard who seems a bit materialistic, always on the phone putting Chloe on the back burner.  As she is planning her wedding her first love Josh comes back into town.  All Chloe can think is why is he back?  Has he finally returned to a long ago promise to marry her, that he told her when they were 11?  This book I found was great cause as Chloe is making these big decisions she also helps her mother reunited with a flame from her past.  Definitely a great romantic story.


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Friday, August 12, 2011

Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend by: Cheryl Carpinello


At twelve years old, Guinevere is a typical girl except that she is a princess and, unknown to her at this time, slated to marry King Arthur. Like any preteen, she enjoys having a good time, but also is unable to refrain from getting into trouble and rebelling against her father's authority. And, even though Guinevere lives in the Middle Ages, she still has to deal with going to school. This includes being chastised by for not doing her homework. However, being a princess does create problems for her because at thirteen she is expected to leave childhood behind and assume the position of the Lady of the Castle. While she is sure that she is not ready to grow up, several adventures help guide her to accept her future and even to look forward to it.
Because of her preoccupation with growing up, Guinevere mistakenly shoots a wild boar with an arrow when she and seven-year-old Cedwyn are out hunting rabbits. The two scramble for their lives, and their reward is the discovery of a rabbit in one of their traps. This innocent rabbit creates problems when it gets loose in the kitchen. The rabbit's escape leads Guinevere on a race to redeem herself and puts her directly into the path of a charging knight on his steed, with disaster narrowly averted by Merlyn.One night, Guinevere's father holds a giant feast in honor of King Arthur. Guinevere and Cedwyn marvel at the different knights, enjoy the feast and hear the storytelling by the bard. Guinevere is introduced to King Arthur for the first time experiences the first stirrings of love. After the feast Guinevere is treated to a surprise encounter with Merlyn, Nimue, and a special unicorn. Merlyn doesn't miss his chanceto relate the tale of the unicorn to Guinevere's future as a queen.Later at a meeting with her father and Merlyn, Guinevere discovers that she has been promised in marriage to King Arthur. Her response to that is an emphatic "No!"; as she storms out of the room and literally trips over Cedwyn. Guinevere informs Cedwyn that she is running away, and he comes with her. On their runaway, Cedwyn learns that Guinevere is to marry King Arthur, and his excitement further enrages Guinevere. King Arthur is his idol, and one who can help him become a knight. Not understanding Guinevere's reluctance and anger, Cedwyn helps her to see that she is just like the princesses in the stories who become queens so that they may take care of their people and friends, like him. Guinevere returns home to make amends with her father. Grudgingly, with many misgivings, she accepts her future.

On Guinevere's thirteenth Birth Day, people from all over the kingdom travel to enjoy the festivities. The excitement of the day buries her doubts of her marriage. She is met with good wishes wherever she and Cedwyn go. They traipse through the tents and join in a rousing game of kickball before the evening feast begins. Merlyn's firework show ends with a magnificent display just for Guinevere highlighting her future.

One year after Guinevere's thirteenth Birth Day finds her and Cedwyn in the forest again, but this time Guinevere is teaching Cedwyn to shoot a bow and arrow. A final shot by Cedwyn is filled with disaster as his arrow finds a stray boar, and the two are in the same predicament as they were a year ago. However, by this time, Guinevere has accepted her future and even fallen in love with Arthur.This historical novel of approximately 29,000 words Is written at the mid-fourth grade reading level. The dual purpose of this novel is to acquaint young readers with Guinevere and to entice reluctant readers.


My Review:
While the story was a good one, I had trouble with the illustrations, they felt more like stick figures then illustrations.  The story is great it follows Guinevere and Cedwyn, and their future.  I would have liked to know what happened to her friend in the end as we know Guinevere's fate.  The both are small kids, doing things that get them into trouble.  They also learn that they shouldn't just throw themselves into danger as they have important things to do in life.

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Guest Post: Heather Frost


Title: Paranormal Fascination
           
Seers is my first published work, and it is also my first exploration into the very popular genre of paranormal. I've always loved a good story that contained magical qualities, which is why I've always been partial to the fantasy genre as both a writer and a reader. But there is something very unique about the paranormal field that makes for an exceptional read. For me, I think it's the balance between reality and the supernatural. These two elements combine in such a way that the reader is left to enjoy a story that keeps the playground of the ordinary, with an edge of the unearthly. A good paranormal read is one that creates a believable setting with phenomenal circumstances thrown into the mix. In short, the paranormal genre serves to create a world much like our own, but infinitely more captivating.
           
Before Seers was fully conceived I knew I wanted to write a paranormal story. It was a new genre to me, but I was confident that I could produce something befitting the category. On a practical level, I knew that paranormal books are easier to sell than the brand of fantasy I usually dabbled in. But what really guided my decision to plunge into the paranormal was my fascination with stories that ring true despite the fantastical qualities that adorn them.
           
A great example of this idea is the wonderful Harry Potter Series, by gifted author J.K. Rowling. I still remember how disappointed I was when my letter to Hogwarts failed to arrive on my eleventh birthday. It was such a real world to me that I started packing my bags a week before my birthday, despite the magical qualities that abound in Harry's world. To me, Hogwarts was as real as London. Magic was made real, because the setting was so believable to me. As a result, I saw evidence of Harry's world everywhere.
           
The paranormal genre does the same thing. The reader is presented with a very real setting, where the characters come to face the supernatural; which may include vampires, werewolves, physics, angels, demons, ghosts, or even Seers. This allows the reader to fantasize about their own, often mundane, life, and believe that there is more out there—whether it be good or evil. And when a story becomes more comparable to the life of the reader, the book can become a more powerful force to the reader. The supernatural isn't tangible, but reality is. Because of this, readers are able to more completely become absorbed in the story they love, because the basic elements are real.
           
I firmly believe that there is something you can gain from every book you read. But I also believe that the best books are the ones grounded in truth. They are the ones you can't put down. They are the ones you keep on dreaming about, long after the last page was turned. They are the ones that become a part of you, because they take on a life of their own. The paranormal genre seems like the perfect recipe for an irresistible read.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Nightshade by: Andrea Cremer Review

Description via Goodreads:
Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything- including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

My Review: 

Oh where to begin ah yes, Calla has everything in order of how her life will be.  She knows she will be matched and mated to Ren, they will hunt together and combine their packs together.  She will graduate high school.  But what she didn't count on was Shay, the boy from the woods that she saved.  Then she hears from her keeper Logan that she has to keep Shay safe for what price only Calla will know.  Shay breaks every rule set forth.  He falls in love with Calla, teaches her what is really going on with the Keepers and Searchers.  Calla starts to break every rule she knows.  In the end she sacrifices her own life for her pack, and for Shay.
This was a great book, you meet both packs see how they interact you also learn alot about Calla and her fierce loyalty.  When new things happen to her she has a quick response to how to fix things.  I can't wait to see what happens next to her.  Definitely a fab. series to follow.  The book also has a great spin on werewolves.  Not your typical shed the clothing situation.  Which is interesting as most werewolves would dump too much money on clothing costs alone.  I wish she had confided more in her brother but I'm sure that would play against Calla.  Keep up the great story telling!
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Sunday, August 7, 2011

It's Monday what are you reading? #


It's Monday What are you Reading? Is a weekly bookish meme where we get together to share what books we've read in the past week, what books we're currently reading and what new books we're planning on reading in the coming week along with any reviews or interesting posts. It's hosted by Sheila @One Person's Journey through a World of Books

Just Finished:
Two for the Dough by: Janet Evanovich *review to follow

Currently Reading:
Three to Get Deadly by: Janet Evanovich
Blue Bistro by: Elin Hilderbrand
Until There Was You by: Kristan Higgins
Sticks and Stones: A Kat DeLuca Mystery by: K. J. Larsen

Up Next: 
Undercurrent by: Tricia Rayburn
The Iron Knight by: Julie Kagawa
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Melissa Foster's New Book Come Back To Me

from her website:


Tess Johnson has it all, Beau, her handsome photographer husband, a thriving business, and a newly discovered pregnancy. When Beau accepts an overseas photography assignment, Tess decides to wait to reveal her secret—only she’s never given the chance. Beau’s helicopter crashes in the desert.
As Tess struggles to put her life back together and deal with the pregnancy she can no longer hide, a new client appears, offering more than just a new project.
Meanwhile, two Iraqi women who are fleeing Honor Killings find Beau alive in the middle of the desert, his body ravaged. Suha, a doctor, and Samira, a widow and mother of three young children, nurse him back to health in a makeshift tent. Beau bonds with the women and children, and together, with the help of an underground organization, they continue their dangerous escape.
What happens next is a test of loyalties, strength, and love.

What a great sounding book, on her site you can read an excerpt about it.  Share your thoughts here.  Link to her site
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