Book Flame

Review: Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

noreply@blogger.com (Book Flame) — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Pub. Date: May 8, 2012 ( First published November 29, 2011)
Publisher:Entangled Teen
Pages: 400
Series: Lux #1

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring.... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don't kill him first, that is.

First Line: I stared at the pile of boxes in my new bedroom, wishing the Internet had been hooked up.

Review:

I really had to wait a long time before I could write this review to prevent total fan girl style review. Plain and simple I neglected all my responsibilities the day I picked up this book. Obsidian was just that good. Anytime someone talked to me I'm pretty sure I gave them the evil eye for disturbing me and ignored them and went back to Daemon who I couldn't get enough of. Also just for the record I've never read an alien book since they never appealed to me at all and I'm so glad the first one I decided to pick up was downright amazing.

Katy has just moved into some small middle of nowhere town with her mom because her dad passed away a while back and they are looking for a fresh start. Everything is normal until she meets her neighbors. Dee who instantly becomes friends with Katy is great but her brother Daemon is downright horrible towards her, yet he is always the first one there whenever something bad happens to her and soon she discovers that neither one of them are human but in actuality they are aliens.

Anyways I was sucked in from the beginning I loved the banter between Katy and Daemon. These two characters had some major out of this world chemistry. There were moments Katy wanted to kill him and other moments where she was fighting all that sexual tension. They both know how to push each others buttons and that only leaves for some fiery conversations between the two. Also I loved that Katy was a book blogger that made her relatable instantly for me. Then there is Daemon who has this hot and cold vibe. He is so rude but you can't help but love him especially as we get glimpses of who he really is behind all that obnoxiousness.

Books such as Obsidian are the reasons I love to read and I highly recommend it.

Stacking The Shelves #3

noreply@blogger.com (Book Flame) — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga of Tynga’s Reviews. A new meme I'm taking part in to show the books I received each week.

Review

Bought

My Favorite Reads Hop

noreply@blogger.com (Book Flame) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 07:00:00 +0000

For this hop I decided to give away one of my favorite YA reads of this year so far and since I'm undecided I'll be giving the winner a choice between the two.

This is open to anywhere The Book Depository Ships.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blood Jewel by Georgia Cates Excerpt Reveal

noreply@blogger.com (Book Flame) — Thu, 31 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Excerpt

Many exciting changes had occurred over the past couple of days. Although Chansey accepted my marriage proposal, she still didn’t know a lot about the world of vampires and there was much she needed to learn. “Do you think you would feel comfortable joining the others for dinner tonight? If you are going to live in a house of vampires you will need to become accustomed to the sight of blood drinking.”

She swallowed hard. “Where do they get the blood?”

“There is a community of humans called Black Swans that know about us and support our cause. Some of the Black Swans choose to become Blood Swans, which means they freely give of their blood supply for our sustenance.”

She looked thoughtful and asked, “Do you bite the Blood Swans?”

“I’m sure there are Blood Swans that would like to be bitten, but we do not drink directly from them. There are humans that allow themselves to be bitten, but we discourage it because it is too easy to lose control. There are groups of humans called Seekers that desire the company of vampires and wish to be turned. Seekers willingly allow vampires to bite them as a way of being introduced into the community. Then, there are also Blood Dolls. They enjoy and are addicted to the act of being bitten because of the umm...ecstasy they receive from it. They refer to the pleasure of the bite as The Kiss.”

“Have you ever bitten a Blood Doll?”

My answer was not going to please her. “We have all had a Blood Doll at some point in our existence, but it was a very long time ago.”

The angry versus jealous expression on her face told me she didn’t appreciate my honest answer. “How many have you had?”

I looked to the ground for help, but found none. “Only one.”

“What was her name?”she asked, jealously.

“Her name was Luciana and our relationship meant nothing. It can’t really even be considered a relationship. I drank from her. There was nothing romantic between us because it isn’t like that for vampires. The only thing we feel romantic about is the blood we crave. And our Agápes,” I explained.

Her hands went to her hips. Uh oh. Not a great sign for me. “Did your relationship with her last a long time?”

I was probably about to shoot myself in the foot or cause her to shoot me. “Depends on what you consider a long time.”

She was becoming aggravated with my vague answers and slightly raised her voice as she interrogated further. “Please, answer the question that you are avoiding. How long was Luciana your Blood Doll?”

“A little more than two years,” I admitted. Although two years was nothing for a vampire, it was rather significant in the life of a human and I knew by the look on her face that my answer didn’t sit well with her.

She became silenced by my unintentional hurtful admission. Now, she looked at the ground in search of the right words. The silence surrounding us emphasized the beat of her rapid heart before she finally continued, “What ended your relationship with Luciana?”

“She thought she loved me. I failed to convince her that it was the result of The Kiss she loved, so I ended all contact with her.”

Chansey took a deep breath. “What happened to her?” she asked.

“She found another vampire to feed on her and he eventually turned her.”

This hole I was digging was getting deeper with each question I answered. Chansey took the stance I had unfortunately become quite familiar with when she shifted her weight over to one leg. “Incredible! There’s a second vampire out there somewhere that’s convinced she’s in love with you? You are quite the lady’s man, aren’t you?”

“Luciana is a vampire, but she is not in love with me. She’s a vampire in love with the blood she drinks,” I clarified.

“Vampires have romantic relationships with other vampires, so how do you know she isn’t still in love with you?”

“She just isn’t,” I argued.

I reached for her arm and she stepped out of my reach. “But, how do you know, Curry?” she insisted.

“I’ve seen her since she was turned and she isn’t interested. Nor am I. I was never interested in her for any reason other than using her for blood when she was human.”

I cheated and used my vampire speed to catch her before she could pull away from me again. I wrapped my arms around her and kissed the top of her head as I pleaded, “You are the only one I have ever loved in my human life or in my years as a vampire. The only one. Ever.”

She finally returned my embrace and said, “I’m sorry. I know I must look like a jealous fool.”

I certainly couldn't fault her for feelings she couldn’t control. “I understand because I have experienced some jealousy issues when it comes to your admirers.”

“I don’t have admirers,” she argued.

“It certainly looks like it to me, but why don’t we just call all of it water under the bridge?” I suggested.

“I think I can agree to that and my answer is ‘yes’ to your earlier question. I would love to join you and your family for dinner tonight. Make mine AB negative,” she laughed.

“My, Miss Leclaire. You have a choosy palate. AB negative is the sweetest and most difficult to come by.”

“It’s good to know I’m sweet and in high demand,” she said as she walked her fingers up my chest.

“Your blood type is AB negative?”

“All day and all night long,” she laughed.

I wouldn’t have guessed that from when I tasted her, but I only had a few drops. Maybe it was the Agápe bond throwing it off or maybe I just didn’t have enough to be able to tell. “Chansey, don’t tell anyone that. Always keep that to yourself.”

About the book

Blood Jewel The Vampire Agápe Series #2

"With the mystery of Chansey Leclaire and Curry Brennan’s connection solved, they are free to explore their newfound love for one another. Or so they thought...

When Marsala uses a witch and black magic to discover Curry’s whereabouts, he and Chansey are left with no choice. The newly engaged couple is forced to relocate away from their families at the new compound in Savannah, which causes some major changes in the plans for their upcoming wedding.

Relocating to Savannah might have saved Curry and Chansey from being discovered by Marsala, but it doesn’t stop her attempts to reach Curry or her efforts to harm Chansey through the use of black magic. As Marsala closes in, Curry faces the decision he never wanted to make. Will he keep Chansey human or condemn her to eternity as the thing he hates most?

As Curry waits for his hand to be forced, a newly turned vampire arrives at the Savannah compound in need of help. Not only is she a fledgeling in transition, she brings reports of escaping from a vampire cult still in possession of her sister, a human. Any attempt to save the captive human from a cult of vampires puts everyone in jeopardy. Can they risk entering a large cult to save one human being? And is so, how could they possibly do it successfully?

Love will grow. New mysteries will arise. A battle will ensue. A Blood Jewel will be found."

About the author

I am a wife, mother of two daughters and a labor and delivery nurse. I have recently added Paranormal Romance Writer to my list of things to keep be busy, but I am ecstatic to release my debut novel, Blood of Anteros, the first book inThe Vampire Agápe Series.

Like others that enjoy a great story of paranormal romance, I am easily bored by the tale of an obtainable, ordinary romance and was inspired to create The Vampire Agápe Series. When I am not tied up with my family or delivering babies, I am working feverishly on the second book in The Vampire Agápe Series.

Interview with Lauren Hammond

noreply@blogger.com (Book Flame) — Wed, 30 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Today I would like to welcome Lauren Hammond author of Insanity to Book Flame

1.What inspired you to write Insanity?

When I get an idea for a novel, it’s more of a ‘what if’ that pops into my head. I ask myself what if this happened? How would someone react? Would they lose it? That’s mostly how Insanity was created.

2.How do you come up with the names for the characters in your books?

I like different names. So I always try to think of unique ones that aren’t too off the wall. Most of the time, when I’m writing the character though, the name kind of just comes to me out of the blue. It’s weird, I know, lol. For Adelaide though, I have a niece named Addison. We call her Addy. Adelaide was in a way born from that.

3.Who do you think is the most complex character in Insanity?

Dr. Elijah Watson. You don’t get to see all of his layers, but there is definitely more to him than what is written in Insanity and you’ll get to delve further into his quirks and flaws in White Walls the sequel to Insanity.

4.Which fictional character would you most like to meet?

Luna Lovegood. I’d like to hear more of her take on gnargles.

5.What is one book everyone should read?

Wow. This is a tough one because they are so many books that I feel teens should read. I’m gonna go with Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. I loved this book. As a teen I felt it educated me on the way the world is. What happened in the book happens in real life and it’s important that teens know and understand that. And it’s important that no matter how rough life can be, you can always overcome the obstacles that are in your way. You can build strength from weakness and I think that’s a beautiful and amazing thing.

About the book

Sometimes love...can drive you crazy.

Adelaide Carmichael and Damien Allen couldn't be more opposite.

Adelaide's mother abandoned her when she was ten years old, leaving her to be raised by her abusive and alcoholic father.

Damien on the other hand came from a wealthy family, was a local celebrity, and seemed to have a bright future ahead of him.

Despite their differences, Adelaide and Damien were young, wild, and fiercely in love.

And they had a plan.

They were going to run away.

Be together forever.

And their plan was set in motion, until tragedy struck and for some reason, Adelaide wound up in The Oakhill Institution for the insane.

Adelaide has no idea what she did to wind up at Oakhill, but she knows one thing for sure...

She wants out.

And after Damien follows her there to aid her in escaping, Adelaide slowly begins putting together the pieces of her memory that are missing.

And it doesn't take Adelaide long to figure out that sometimes...

That one true love never dies.

Excerpt~

Shoving my feet off the side of the bed, new surroundings burn my eyes. Tan plaster walls instead of thick white padded ones. One oblong barred window. Two dressers. Two closets. Two beds.

They've moved me to a different room.

A gentle squeaking noise bounces off the walls and my eyes avert to my right. Oh crap. They put me in a room with a nut job.

They say I'm a nut job.

But not like this.

Not even close.

She rocks back and forth on her cot, knees to her chest, twisting a piece of her wiry, red hair between her fingertips. Her freckled arms are trembling. She sings with vibrato.

I am slowly going crazy. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six.

Switch.

Crazy going slowly am I. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six.

Switch.

I think about screaming again. I think about plugging my ears. Somebody turn her off.

She lifts her head slowly, a maddening look in her big, brown eyes, an eerie smile crawling across her pale, freckled lips. “Shh,” she whispers. “They're coming for us.”

“Who's they?”

She shakes her head and lets out a cackle laced with the deepest kind of crazy. I think they put her in here with me purposely. They're trying to break me. They think if they put me around truly insane people that I'll accept my place here.

Well...They are wrong.

Purchase Insanity: Amazon eBook Barnes & Noble eBook

About the author:

It all began with a dinosaur, a T-Rex to be exact. He was the main character in my very first short story. Me and T, well, we went places. He is the reason I won my first essay contest at age ten. And he is probably one of the number one reasons, I pursued a career in writing.

Throughout highschool, I was what you would call a rebel. Someone who had convinced herself that she had life figured out at age sixteen. Still, writing was my only safe-haven during that time. I wrote notebooks full of poetry, even writing fellow classmates papers for them.

Unbeknowest to me, creative writing, seemed to be my one, true calling, my passion in life.

At age twenty, I began writing my first novel. After that, everything seemed to fall into place.

I won Best Poets and Poems of 2007, and The Editor's Choice award for my poem, Summer Days.

Also, during that time I wrote or co-wrote fifteen different screenplays, some which earned me finalist spot in various screenplay competitions.

In 2010, I've come full force, with my novel Love Sucks, that was released by Punkin House Press, in August of 2010. On top of Love Sucks, I have six novels that are slated to be released through the next five years. Also, doing some various marketing work for authors and publishers.

I pride myself in telling fellow writers to always follow their dreams. Who knows where I would be if I would have given up.

Connect with Lauren Hammond

Website Goodreads Twitter Facebook

Review: The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges

noreply@blogger.com (Book Flame) — Tue, 29 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges

Pub. Date: January 10, 2012
Publisher:Random House Children's Books
Pages: 400
Series: Katerina Trilogy

http://www.robinbridges.com

St. Petersburg, Russia, 1888. As she attends a whirl of glittering balls, royal debutante Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, tries to hide a dark secret: she can raise the dead. No one knows. Not her family. Not the girls at her finishing school. Not the tsar or anyone in her aristocratic circle. Katerina considers her talent a curse, not a gift. But when she uses her special skill to protect a member of the Imperial Family, she finds herself caught in a web of intrigue.

An evil presence is growing within Europe's royal bloodlines—and those aligned with the darkness threaten to topple the tsar. Suddenly Katerina's strength as a necromancer attracts attention from unwelcome sources . . . including two young men—George Alexandrovich, the tsar's standoffish middle son, who needs Katerina's help to safeguard Russia, even if he's repelled by her secret, and the dashing Prince Danilo, heir to the throne of Montenegro, to whom Katerina feels inexplicably drawn.

The time has come for Katerina to embrace her power, but which side will she choose—and to whom will she give her heart?

First Line: Our family tree has roots and branches reaching all across Europe, from France to Russia, from Denmark to Greece, and in several transient and minute kingdoms and principalities in between.

Review:

The Gathering Storm is based during the late nineteenth century, and young Duchess Katerina just happens to be a Necromancer meaning she can raise the dead. Thinking that was all I was going to get as far as the paranormal department goes I was surprised to discover this book had vampires, witches, faeries, zombies, and many more supernatural creatures. Toss that in with a whole bunch of characters and names being thrown around at times the book got confusing because there was too much going on.

With the interesting concept I had really high hopes for the book and I did enjoy reading it but not to the extent I hoped I would. Katerina was a character I liked at times especially when she showed how passionate she was about not being part of the norm and becoming a doctor and whenever she decided to have a backbone and stand up for herself but there was also too many times in crucial moments when she let people push her around and it frustrated me so much.

As far as romance there is no real love triangle although the synopsis might make you believe that but there is none, what Katerina and Prince Danilo have is far from love...like etc it's all about the Grand Duke George Alexandrovich who in the beginning dislikes her for the dark aura that surrounds her but somehow somewhere falls madly in love with her and same goes with Katerina she can't stand him but eventually she is in love with him also...how and when that happens I have no clue but it does. Oddly I actually did like the Grand Duke.

Overall I loved the Historical Russia setting with the paranormal twist but there was too much going on and some very unnecessary pointless parts that can be taken out of the book which would actually make it a more enjoyable read.

Splash Into Summer Hop

noreply@blogger.com (Book Flame) — Fri, 25 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

This giveaway will be International yay! I'm going to keep it simple in terms of prize the winner will get to pick any new June release under $14 at The Book Depository.

Fill out the rafflecopter below then check out the other blogs that are part of the hop

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Masters of the Veil Book Blast + $100 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Book Flame) — Thu, 24 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Life can't get much better for Sam Lock. Popular, good-looking, and with a future as a professional football player. every guy at Stanton High School wishes he were Sam. That is, until his championship football game, when Sam accidentally links with an ancient source of energy known as the Veil and reveals his potential to become a powerful sorcerer. Sam is whisked off to Atlas Crown, a community of sorcerers who utilize the Veil as a part of everyday life. Once there, he trains beside a mute boy who speaks through music, an eternal sage who's the eyes and ears of the Veil, and a beautiful girl who's pretty sure Sam's an idiot. As it becomes clear Sam's meant for power magic-the most feared and misunderstood form of sorcery-people beyond Atlas Crown learn of his dangerous potential. An exiled group of power sorcerers are eager to recruit Sam, believing that he is destined to help them achieve their long-held goal. If they succeed, they could bring about the downfall of not only Atlas Crown. but all humankind.

Book Trailer

PRAISE:

"Masters of the Veil is a fun, fresh fantasy that delivers an intriguing story and fantastic world-building, and is a great first volume in what is sure to be an excellent trilogy."

-Aeicha @ Word Spelunking

"I loved this book. I could list all the reasons, but there is one piece of praise I think sums up the book best. My son grabbed it as soon as I was finished reading it and hasn't put it down since. Dan Cohen has a winner with this series."
~Author Michelle Pickett

"A funny, imaginative, and delightful read!"
~Author Kate Kaynak

LINKS:

BOOK TRAILER

BLOG

GOODREADS

FACEBOOK

AMAZON LINK

BN LINK

TWITTER

Author Daniel A. Cohen
Daniel A. Cohen was just your average business student. Microeconomics, finance, marketing… you name it, he had to do a PowerPoint presentation on it. One dark and stormy night, he was bitten by the radioactive realization that memorizing business jargon could possibly be the most boring activity known to man.

After gaining eagle-eye vision, abs that could grate cheese, and a talent for imagining things (including his cheese-grating abs), he wrote his first novel and began his epic battle against the formidable business jargon. He continues to fight the good fight by playing saxophone and writing YA fantasy, forever hoping his Veil trilogy will help inspire others to join his cause.
Giveaway Details
Author Daniel Cohen is offering one lucky person a $100 Amazon.com Gift Card.
Last day to enter is May 31st

Open to anyone who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent's permission. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Waiting on Wednesday: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

noreply@blogger.com (Book Flame) — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:50:00 +0000

Welcome to Waiting on Wednesday

Hosted by Jill by

Breaking the Spine

A weekly event that puts a spotlight on a book we are eagerly waiting to be released

This week i'm waiting on
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication date: August 7, 2012

"After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Her opponents are men—thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the kings council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she’ll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she’s bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it’s the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined."

Also check out the book trailer :)

Interview with young author Elisabeth Wheatley

noreply@blogger.com (Book Flame) — Tue, 22 May 2012 19:42:00 +0000

I would like to welcome Elisabeth Wheatley to Book Flame

How did the idea for the Argetallam Saga come about?

Oh, my. Where to begin? I had had this imaginary world and some of the details about my main character, Janir, figured out for awhile. Then I sort of fell in love with the idea of Janir being impervious to magic in a world that is full of it. I also liked the idea of having her be at odds with her people and the complicated relationship between her and her family. The story kind of grew from there.

What character intrigued you the most as the author? And why?

This may sound strange to my readers, but I would have to say that the Lord Argetallam definitely intrigues me the most. When I created him, I meant for him to be a purely evil character. But as I started developing him I started finding out about his redeemable qualities and I love exploring the “complexities of the human condition.” Does that sound weird?

Since your first book would you say your writing has evolved or stayed the same?

I would say my writing has definitely changed since my first book. I’ve become more mature as a writer (maybe as a person, too) and I think it shows in my writing. I expect that I will be “growing up” some more between now and my third book, too. After all, there’s always room for improvement!

Being a young published author is a huge accomplishment, how do you balance writing and schoolwork?

I have learned to get my schoolwork done first and very quickly. I also don’t usually watch movies all the way through, the only TV show I follow is Grimm, I don’t spend a lot of time online when I’m working on a book (now being the exception because I just finished one), and I don’t chat on the phone with my friends (I text). It’s amazing how much time is saved right there.

What would you say to young people who have a dream of becoming published authors as well?

Today’s peasant is tomorrow’s prince. I have to tell myself this all the time. Anyone who ever got anywhere had to start somewhere. Keep away from toxic people, have people around you who are encouraging, but honest. My family is very encouraging, especially my mother, but my dearly beloved brother has also been brutally honest and that forced me to improve what I had written. (Don’t ask what needed improvement, I will never tell you!) The next thing is: Just write.

Which fictional character would you most like to meet?

Of any fictional character, I’m going to go with Reepicheep from Prince Caspian. I think he’s adorable! Don’t tell him I said that, of course ; ) Of my own characters, I would like to meet Karile. I think we’d get along alright and he’d be the one least flustered by meeting his maker (LOL).

eBooks or print?

For the longest time, I shunned the idea of eBooks. I was a bit of a snob about it, actually. Then I got the Kindle app for my iPhone and now my latest hobby is downloading samples of books. I still prefer to read print, but the ease of downloading eBooks is addicting!

Do you have any hidden talents?

Well, I’ve been told I have a gift with languages and singing. I know American Sign Language and I’m learning Spanish (slowly) while dabbling in Latin and a little bit of Italian. I’m not fluent in any of them (yet!), but I enjoy learning, studying, and singing in them. (Yes, you can sing in Sign Language, just not with your voice.)

Can you tell us a little about your latest book The Secrets of the Vanmars?

Of course! The Secrets of the Vanmars continues the story of Janir Caersynn Argetallam, a sixteen-year-old girl who possesses the powers of her father’s people which are meant for magical warfare. She was supposedly killed when she was eight and now lives as the foster-daughter of powerful lord in her late mother’s country, Brevia. But her half-brother, Lucan, survives the wounds he receives at the end of The Key of Amatahns and eventually tells their father, the Lord Argetallam, that Janir lives. The Lord Argetallam then sends people to bring her back. To complicate things further, the Vanmars (Lucan’s maternal relatives), are preparing to attack Brevia and it seems that they are planning something far bigger than a simple invasion.

On a side note: For those of you who noticed that Saoven and Janir were attracted each other in The Key of Amatahns...well, you’ll just have to read it!

About The Secrets of the Vanmars ( Argetallam Saga #2)

After her adventures with the Key of Amatahns, sixteen-year-old Janir Caersynn Argetallam returns home to find Brevia on the brink of war with a neighboring country, Stlaven. Her foster-father and even Saoven—a brave young elf warrior—think it will be safe at the castle where Janir grew up. However, while trying to unravel a looming mystery, Karile—self-taught wizard and Janir’s self-appointed best friend—becomes certain that there is danger in the mountains surrounding Janir’s childhood home and that it has something to do with Stlaven’s most powerful family, the Vanmars…

About the author

Elisabeth Wheatley started writing very short (and rather silly) stories when she was around six. She became a voracious reader and after being practically forced by her cousins to watch Disney's version of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," she developed a chronic passion for fantasy.

Elisabeth eventually went to work on what would become "The Key of Amatahns" when she was eleven. "The Key of Amatahns" is the first in the seven-book series, "Argetallam Saga."

When she isn't spellbound by reading fantasy books and writing her own, Elisabeth trains and shows her Jack Russell Terrier, Schnay, makes goat cheese, and studies mythology.

Why your Cover art sucks and its Killing your Sales by Shannon Mayer

noreply@blogger.com (Book Flame) — Mon, 21 May 2012 07:30:00 +0000

Today I would like to welcome Shannon Mayer to Book Flame

Why your Cover art sucks and its Killing your Sales
By Shannon Mayer

Harsh, I know, but the truth often stings us in our most sensitive bits.

You know, right in our babies, our books, our belief that we have the BEST cover art EVER.

And, it's all a lie.

Now, you have to realize this has ZERO to do with your cover artist. That's right, zero. This problem has to do with YOU (and by you I mean me too) not being able to give your/my cover artist something to work with.

For instance, my book, “Sundered”, originally had a very cool cover. This one, right here. OI loved it, and felt that the artist captured a part of the story in the artwork.

It took TALENT to produce this cover, something I do not have. What I also didn't have was an understanding of what I would NEED to have on the cover in order for it to sell to my MARKET.

This book cover is great, but it really doesn't sell to my market, which is ZOMBIES and monsters, horror and gore. Much as there IS a romance in the book, that is just a bonus, and not the full scope of the story.

It took some hard, but honest advice from Carolyn McCray, bestselling Kindle author and her Optimization Workshop to set me straight.

What I learned blew my mind. NO, really it did. As proud as I was of “Sundered's” cover, it wasn't helping me sell my book. It was scaring away potential readers because the book cover said one thing (erotic romance apparently ;) while the blurb said Zombies, Monsters and high action. A contradiction that scared readers off.

So I took Carolyn's advice and had a second cover done. Again, a talented artist, but THIS time, I knew what I was looking for. Zombie, monsters, freaky looking. I knew my market better, understood what my readers were looking for and I gave it to them.

Now, what did the cover change do for me? It increased sales by 800%. Yes, you read that right. Because now, what I show my potential readers and what the blurb says MATCHES.

All because I finally had someone tell me the truth, as difficult as it was to hear. My cover art sucked because I didn't recognize my market, and wasn't able to then give the ideas to my artist. Those two simple things, were KILLING my sales.

What this means is that if your sales are struggling, it likely has very little to do with your writing. People, readers (myself included) do judge books by their covers. A sad fact of life, but a true one. How do you fix this? Simple. Don’t be so attached to your work, that you aren’t willing to make a change. Not every cover artist has the time to read your book to learn what it’s about. You as an author, need to be able to identify your market, what fits the mold of your market and what will make you stand out.
Once I learned to do this, when I went to my next cover, I was able to clearly identify what would work in the urban fantasy market I was aiming for, and what wouldn’t. Here is what we came up with.

Because I have learned the lesson about covers, I now move forward recognizing the three most important things about them. 1. Does it fit the genre? (YES)
2. Does it intrigue and excite the eyes, while making you wonder about the story? (YES)
3. Does it stand out of the crowd, while still fitting in the genre? (YES)
4. Am I so attached that I won’t be willing to change it at a later date? (NO)

If you can answer those questions, then you have a cover that is ready to stand up with the best.

Diamond Jubilee Celebration Hop

noreply@blogger.com (Book Flame) — Mon, 21 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Romance at Random will be randomly giving away some of their jewels of romance, to celebrate the UK’s Diamond Jubilee including:

· 1 winner, 1 copy – Born To Darkness by Suzanne Brockmann

· 1 winner, 1 copy – The Proposal by Mary Balogh

· 1 winner, 1 copy – Darker After Midnight by Lara Adrian

· 3 winners, 1 copy of WITCHFUL THINKING by HP Mallory

· 10 winners, 1 copy of a PREVIEW from Net Galley of ABOUT LAST NIGHT by Ruthie Knox

· 10 winners, 1 copy of PREVIEW from Net Galley of DEEP AUTUMN HEAT by Elisabeth Barrett

To enter for the prizes please fill out the form below and then visit the others sites listed below for more chances to win!

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Review: The Lost Code by Kevin Emerson

noreply@blogger.com (Book Flame) — Sun, 20 May 2012 07:30:00 +0000

The Lost Code by Kevin Emerson

Pub. Date: May 22, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Pages: 448
Series: The Atlanteans #1

http://www.kevinemerson.net/

WHAT IS OLDEST WILL BE NEW, WHAT IS LOST SHALL BE FOUND.

The ozone is ravaged, ocean levels have risen, and the sun is a daily enemy. But global climate change is not something new in the Earth’s history.

No one will know this better than less-than-ordinary Owen Parker, who is about to discover that he is the descendant of a highly advanced ancient race—a race that took their technology too far and almost destroyed the Earth in the process.

Now it is Owen’s turn to make right in his world what went wrong thousands of years ago. If Owen can unlock the lost code in his very genes, he may rediscover the forgotten knowledge of his ancestry…and that less-than-ordinary can evolve into extraordinary

Review: I was really excited about this book when I heard of it, I don't think I've ever read a book that involved the Atlanteans but it didn't quite turn out to be as I expected. The first half of the book was very slow for me. It set up the world in which they live in, about the camp Owen was at, bullying amongst the boys and his crush on Lily.

I had a hard time connecting with the characters. I found Owen to be a bore and just flat. Then there was his crush on Lily which took up a lot of his time and I lost interest especially since Lily wasn't someone who was anything spectacular either for me to be curious about. Then when they finally did connect the romance between the two was not believable.

I did love the originality, Atlantis plus Dystopian that was very creative but it wasn't until about the last hundred pages that things really picked up and I started enjoying what I was reading. In the last few chapters I did see a little transformation in Owens character where he went from being someone with no real confidence to someone who was not afraid to step up to the plate and take control of things.

I like the direction in which I see Emerson taking the plot I have a feeling in the second book we will see more action and hopefully more character development. Also aside from the little violence this could almost have been a middle grade read.

Love In Bloom Giveaway Hop

noreply@blogger.com (Book Flame) — Fri, 18 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Portrait of a Book

This giveaway is US only the winner will get to choose between When You Were Mine which I will purchase brand new or And by the way which is my own personal copy and I have also reviewed it on my blog you can read the review HERE

To enter fill out the rafflecopter form below

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Interview & Giveaway with Diane Alberts

noreply@blogger.com (Book Flame) — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Please give a warm welcome to author Diane Alberts

Hello! Thanks so much for inviting me over to talk about my newest release from Entangled Publishing, Divinely Ruined. It’s the first book in the Divine Temptations Trilogy.

1. What Inspired you to write Divinely Ruined?

I’ve read a lot of angel romance books, and I wanted to make one—but with a twist! My angel was not blonde, soft-spoken, and perfect. No, mine was red-headed, had a temper to match her hair, and had an unfortunate habit of cursing. Oh, and she also finds herself tempted by the man she is supposed to save…

2. If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest novel?

Nope! I love the way Divinely Ruined turned out. My editor has amazing patience and vision, and he just “gets” my voice. He takes my story and makes it absolutely, positively shine. Truth be told…Divinely Ruined just might be my favorite.

But don’t tell anyone. The other books will get jealous. ;)

3. Which of your characters from Divinely Ruined would you invite to dinner?
Miranda! She is such a cutie pie, and I’d love for her to come play with my three year old little girl. Something tells me that the two of them would be great buddies, and cause lots of trouble. Especially since Miranda was inspired by my daughter. Two of a kind, you might say.

4. Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them or let them influence your writing?

I used to agonize over reviews. Cry over the bad ones, and let them get to my head until I doubted my ability to write a readable story. One thing about me that most people don’t know: I’m one of those people who wants everyone in the world to like her. And, yes, that stretches to my books.

I’ve had to come to the realization that in the writing world…that will never happen. No one can write a book that everyone likes. It’s just not possible. So, I tend to not read the bad reviews unless I stumble upon them accidentally, but I do love, love, love the good ones. Who wouldn’t, right?

5. Which fictional character would you most like to meet?

Hm. Good one. I’d love to meet the King Henry from the show The Tudors…aka Jonathan Rhys-Meyers. Man…that version of King Henry, in the beginning of the show? Smoking hot. I’d love to get my hands on—uh, I mean, get to meet him. ~clears throat and averts eyes~ Yeah. Meet him.

6. What is one book everyone should read?

Okay, I’ll stick to romance. My favorite ever series, in the whole entire world, is the Montgomery brothers from Jude Deveraux. Velvet Promise, Highland Velvet, Velvet Song, and Velvet Angel. That series, and those men…people don’t write like that anymore. And they are my favorite.

7. If you could live any place in the world where would it be?

Clean sands, warm water, and clear skies. Anywhere that fills those three requirements—I’m in. Especially if I can write on the beach with a drink that has a tiny umbrella.

8. What is your all time favorite quote?
“Remember, Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.” -Stephen King

Thanks so much for hosting me today! Thanks for stopping by, to those of you reading this!

Thank you Diane! It was great having you on my blog.

:::Connect with the author::

Facebook / Goodreads / Twitter / Website

About Divinely Ruined

She finally meets a decent man–after she’s oath-bound never to touch men again!

Rebecca’s life sucked before she became an angel. Crappy apartment, awful jobs, abusive boyfriends–it was no wonder she jumped at the chance to escape it all and become a real live angel. The problem is Rebecca’s not very angelic, and she’ll have to do more to earn her wings than end her love affair with the word f–er, frick.

Especially when she’s assigned to save single father Tony Weis, whose less-than-pure thoughts wreak hell on a telepathic angel’s nerves. It’s all Rebecca can do to keep her hands off him…but when she loses her memory injuring herself to save Tony’s daughter, now it’s Tony’s turn to be her angel and care for her. But will Tony’s devotion tempt her from her angelic path, even if it means being human again?

Buy links: Barnes and Noble Amazon Books on Board Read first chapter free: Entangled Publishing

:::GIVEAWAY TIME:::

Diane Alberts and Entangled Publishing is going to give one lucky winner an eBook copy of Divinely Ruined. Which means this giveaway will be International.

To enter please fill out the rafflecopter form below.

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Waiting on Wednesday: Splintered by A.G. Howard

noreply@blogger.com (Book Flame) — Wed, 16 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Waiting on Wednesday

Hosted by Jill by

Breaking the Spine

A weekly event that puts a spotlight on a book we are eagerly waiting to be released

This cover is one of the most beautiful covers I have seen in a while. If only I could get my hands on a poster of this.

This week i'm waiting on
Splintered by A.G. Howard

Publisher: Amulet Books
Publication date: January 2013

"For sixteen years, Alyssa Gardner has lived with the stigma of being descended from Alice Liddell -- the real life inspiration for Lewis Carroll's famed novel, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. But cruel jokes about dormice and tea parties can’t compare to the fact that Alyssa hears the whispers of bugs and flowers ... the same quirk which sent her mother to a mental institution years before.

When her mother takes a turn for the worse and the whispers grow too strong for Alyssa to bear, she seeks the origins of their family curse. A set of heirlooms and a moth tied to an unusual website lead Alyssa and her gorgeous best friend / secret crush, Jeb, down the rabbit hole into the real Wonderland, a place more twisted and eerie than Lewis Carroll ever let on.

There, creepy counterparts of the original fairytale crew reveal the purpose for Alyssa’s journey, and unless she fixes the things her great-great-great grandmother Alice put wrong, Wonderland will have her head."

What are you waiting for???

Interview with Melissa Walker author of Unbreak My Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Book Flame) — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:30:00 +0000

Today I would like to welcome to Book Flame Melissa Walker author of Unbreak My Heart

1. What inspired you to write Unbreak My Heart?

The idea of a friend breakup is what I started with. I haven't read enough books that include that, but it happens to lots of people, myself included, so I wanted to write about that experience.

2. How do you come up with the names for the characters in your books?

I walk through Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn a lot and write down names I like. Really. Is that weird?

3. Who do you think is the most complex character in Unbreak My Heart?

I guess I think Clem is, but maybe that's because I was in her head for so long. I know all of her ins and outs, but I only know what she knows about the others. I had tunnel vision for her.

4. What's one thing you hope readers will take with them after their finished reading your latest novel?
Whatever they need to. I think everyone get something different from the books they read--you read it with your lens, apply it to your life. And I hope whatever they take is somehow helpful or insightful or whatever. But it's not mine anymore.

5. There are a lot of songs out there that have a story to tell. Which song(s) do you think would make a great book?

Same Old Lang Syne by Dan Fogelberg. It's like a NOVEL! Listen. I cry. Seriously. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzCk3_6g1o4

6. If you could live in any book which one would it be?

I mean, I would really like to go to Hogwarts...

7. What is the one quote that inspires you above all others?

"A rising tide lifts all boats." It helps me avoid jealousy, which is an easy trap to fall into, I think.

About Unbreak My Heart

"Sophomore year broke Clementine Williams’ heart. She fell for her best friend’s boyfriend and long story short: he’s excused, but Clem is vilified and she heads into summer with zero social life. Enter her parents’ plan to spend the summer on their sailboat. Normally the idea of being stuck on a tiny boat with her parents and little sister would make Clem break out in hives, but floating away sounds pretty good right now. Then she meets James at one of their first stops along the river. He and his dad are sailing for the summer and he’s just the distraction Clem needs. Can he break down Clem’s walls and heal her broken heart? Told in alternating chapters that chronicle the year that broke Clem’s heart and the summer that healed it, Unbreak My Heart is a wonderful dual love story that fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Susane Colasanti will flock to."

About the author

Melissa Walker is a writer who has worked as ELLEgirl Features Editor and Seventeen Prom Editor. All in the name of journalism, she has spent 24 hours with male models and attended an elite finishing school for girls in New Zealand, among other hardships.

She co-founded I Heart Daily with fellow ex-ELLEgirl Anne Ichikawa in 2009. It’s a daily newsletter about likable stuff.

Melissa lives in Brooklyn and has a BA in English from Vassar College. She would tell you her SAT scores too, but, you know, the math part was hard.   She loves meeting teenagers, and is game to speak at your library or school about writing, books, fashion, magazines or pop culture (but, you know, in a smart way).

:::Contact:::

Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Website

Stacking The Shelves #2

noreply@blogger.com (Book Flame) — Sat, 12 May 2012 17:02:00 +0000

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga of Tynga’s Reviews. A new meme I'm taking part in to show the books I received each week.

Review

Free on Kindle ( Also they are still free if you want to grab it...links below)

Awakening: Amazon Link

Phantom Universe : Amazon Link

Gifted

I already read Obsidian and loved every minute of it...

Book Trailer: Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock

noreply@blogger.com (Book Flame) — Fri, 11 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Check out the official book trailer for Hemlock.

"Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered.

Since then, Mac’s life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac’s hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy’s killer: A white werewolf.

Lupine syndrome—also known as the werewolf virus—is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy’s murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy’s boyfriend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

Kathleen Peacock’s thrilling novel is the first in the Hemlock trilogy, a spellbinding urban fantasy series filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love."

Waiting on Wednesday: The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna

noreply@blogger.com (Book Flame) — Wed, 09 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Waiting on Wednesday

Hosted by Jill by

Breaking the Spine

A weekly event that puts a spotlight on a book we are eagerly waiting to be released

This week i'm waiting on
The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna

Publisher: Balzer+Bray
Publication date: 08/28/12

"Eva’s life is not her own. She is a creation, an abomination—an echo. Made by the Weavers as a copy of someone else, she is expected to replace a girl named Amarra, her “other”, if she ever died. Eva studies what Amarra does, what she eats, what it’s like to kiss her boyfriend, Ray. So when Amarra is killed in a car crash, Eva should be ready.

But fifteen years of studying never prepared her for this.

Now she must abandon everything she’s ever known—the guardians who raised her, the boy she’s forbidden to love—to move to India and convince the world that Amarra is still alive. "

What are you waiting for???

Early Review: The Glimpse by Claire Merle

noreply@blogger.com (Book Flame) — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

The Glimpse by Claire Merle

Pub. Date: June 7, 2012
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Pages: 432

http://www.clairemerle.com

Once you've seen into the future, can you change your destiny?

"In a near future, society is segregated according to whether people are genetically disposed to mental illness. 17-year-old Ana has been living the privileged life of a Pure due to an error in her DNA test. When the authorities find out, she faces banishment from her safe Community, a fate only thwarted by the fact that she has already been promised to Pure-boy Jasper Taurell.
Jasper is from a rich and influential family and despite Ana’s condition, wants to be with her. The authorities grant Ana a tentative reprieve. If she is joined to Jasper before her 18th birthday, she may stay in the Community until her illness manifests. But if Jasper changes his mind, she will be cast out among the Crazies. As Ana’s joining ceremony and her birthday loom closer, she dares to hope she will be saved from the horror of the City and live a ‘normal’ life. But then Jasper disappears.
Led to believe Jasper has been taken by a strange sect the authorities will not interfere with, Ana sneaks out of her well-guarded Community to find him herself. Her search takes her through the underbelly of society and into the pits of the human soul. And as she delves deeper into the mystery of Jasper's abduction she uncovers some devastating truths that destroy everything she has grown up to believe, but she also learns to love as she has never loved before."

Review: Wow this book was intense. The world which was created was disturbingly scary, imagine a world where little kids as young as four commit suicide, believing in religion or a higher power is considered a form of psychosis and then of course there is the Big 3 - schizophrenia, depression and anxiety. I finished reading The Glimpse about a week ago and I usually write the reviews a day or so after but with this one I had to wait and get my feelings in order. Did I love it..did I like it, in the end I decided I really did like it. But I do have a feeling that this is going to be one of those controversial books.

Ana is a Pure ( people who don't have the genes to ever develop a mental health illness ) or at least she thought she was until she learned her father who is a Pure geneticist altered her test results. Now she must be joined with Jasper before she turns 18 to remain in the pure society or be kicked out and have to live with the Crazies ( people who tested positive to have or to eventually develop a mental illness. ) Long story short Jasper disappears and Ana sets off to find him but in the process discovers truths that she never would have accepted true, learns about the lies being fed by the government and she meets Cole.

I struggled with the first half of the book, not that I didn't find it interesting with all the world building that was going on but it just dragged. The second half is when things picked up and it had the total opposite affect on me then the first, I wasn't able to put it down.

I really liked Cole he is actually seven years older then Ana which came a surprise since I rarely see such huge age gaps in the YA genre but nonetheless he was a character I really enjoyed. Seriously if it wasn't for Ana being seventeen I wouldn't even put this under YA there was so many events that took place that is definitely for a more mature reader.

The book ended with nothing really being solved, a lot of secrets are revealed but only for more questions to arise by the end of it. The Glimpse leaves you hanging and wanting for more. I'm really curious to see what happens in the next book.

Buy on

Amazon

Blog Tour: Endure by Carrie Jones ( Guest Post )

noreply@blogger.com (Book Flame) — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Today we have a guest post from New York Times and internationally bestselling author Carrie Jones.

FBI Agent Willis & Loki

FBI AGENT WILLIS: So your name is...?
LOKI: LOKI
AGENT WILLIS: Loki...What?
LOKI: Just Loki
AGENT WILLIS: Like the Norse god?
LOKI: Bingo!
AGENT WILLIS:
LOKI: You're staring at me.
AGENT WILLIS: I would like a surname.
LOKI: The Great?
AGENT WILLIS: Fine, Loki the Great. Look, Mr. The Great, can you tell me a little about yourself and how you became involved with Nick Colt and Zara White and this Astley character?
LOKI: You have pretty shoes.
AGENT WILLIS: Thanks.
LOKI:
AGENT WILLIS:
LOKI: You haven't said please. People in your profession have no manners.
AGENT WILLIS: Well, that's a generalization.
LOKI: Watch me shrug.
AGENT WILLIS: Okay, will you please tell me about yourself and your involvement with today's events.
LOKI: Basically, I am a misunderstood trickster, a man who changes shape, a man who loves his wife, a man others like to punish.
AGENT WILLIS: I thought you said earlier you were a god. Do you retract that statement?
LOKI: No. And as to my involvement with Zara and Astley and Nick? Let me just say that Zara's kindness is life saving and that Nick boy? He makes a shifter proud.
AGENT WILLIS: So, you deny any wrong doing in the catastrophic events that have befallen Bedford, NH.
LOKI: Absolutely. I was a god in chains. I was not a god in action.
AGENT WILLIS: So gods are at fault here?
LOKI: Aren't they always? Oh! Don't swear, Agent Willis. It will all be okay. Do you want me to type your report for you? Hey! Don't go... Humans. Give up soooo easily. Pshaw.
AGENT WILLIS: Look, buddy. I don't know what game you're trying to pull, but I have a building demolished, a Main Street on fire, dozens of dead and injured, people missing, people claiming to be pixies and werewolves and now gods? So don't you pshaw me. Got it? Now, I'm going to go get a coffee. You want anything?
LOKI: Yes, a Dr. Pepper please with a side of chocolate syrup and a splash of car fuel.
AGENT WILLIS: Freaks....

About Endure ( Need #4)

It’s all-out war (and no-holds-barred romance) in the climactic conclusion to Carrie Jones’s bestselling series.

Zara is at the center of an impending apocalypse. True, she’s successfully rescued Nick from Valhalla, but it simply isn’t enough. Evil pixies are ravaging Bedford, and they need much more than one great warrior; they need an army. Zara isn’t sure what her role is anymore. She’s not just fighting for her friends; she’s also a pixie queen. And to align her team of pixies with the humans she loves will be one of her greatest battles yet. Especially since she can’t even reconcile her growing feelings for her pixie king . . .

Unexpected turns, surprising revelations, and one utterly satisfying romantic finale make Endure a thrilling end to this series of bestsellers.

About the author

Carrie Jones likes Skinny Cow fudgsicles and potatoes. She does not know how to spell fudgsicles. This has not prevented her from writing books. She lives with her cute family in Maine, but she grew up in Bedford, NH where she once had a séance with cool uber-comedian Sarah Silverman.

The Meyers brothers are from Bedford, too, so you’d think it would make Carrie funnier, coming from Bedford N.H. Obviously, something didn’t work.

Carrie has a large, skinny white dog and a fat cat. Both like fudgicles. Only the cat likes potatoes. This may be a reason for the kitty’s weight problem (Shh… don’t tell). Carrie has always liked cowboy hats but has never owned one. This is a very wrong thing. She graduated from Vermont College’s MFA program for writing. She has edited newspapers and poetry journals and has recently won awards from the Maine Press Association and also been awarded the Martin Dibner Fellowship as well as a Maine Literary Award.

Here’s the lowdown about Carrie…

1. Carrie can not drink coffee. It makes her insane. Do not give her caffeine.
2. Carrie is very responsive to loving strokes on the hair, kind of like a puppy. However, do not do this without asking first unless you are a ridiculously handsome man or an editor who is about to offer her a trillion dollars for the first draft of her novel.
3. Carrie is secretly really, really shy even though she’s pathetically outgoing in person. She has a very hard time calling people. So, if you want to talk to her, make the first move. And, if you’re her in-Maine female best friend, Jennifer, do NOT get mad at her because she is so bad at returning emails.
4. Carrie sometimes wears mismatched socks, if you do not think this is cool, do not tell her. You will hurt her feelings.
5. Carrie really, really wants you to like her books. Please like her books. PLEEEAASSSEEEE. She’ll be your best friend forever. That is, if you want a friend who is shy about calling and emailing and who wears mismatched socks and can’t drink caffeine and likes being pet on the head. Hhmmm….
6. Carrie is not above begging.
7. Carrie, like Belle in TIPS ON HAVING A GAY (ex) BOYFRIEND drinks Postum. It’s for the same reason, too.
8. Carrie loves Great Pyrenees dogs. They are huge and white, and furry and it looks like they have white eyeliner and mascara on, which is way too cute. Do you have one? Send a picture!
9. Carrie lives in Maine. She has a hard time with this in the winter. It is bleak in Maine in the winter. Imagine everything shades of gray and brown and no green anywhere except for in people’s noses. This is Maine in Winter. Maine in summer is the best place in the world, so it’s a trade-off. Feel free to invite Carrie to your house in the winter, but not if it’s in Greenland, Canada, or anywhere north of Florida.
10. Forget that. She’d still probably come.

:::Contact:::

Facebook / Twitter / Website / Goodreads

Stacking The Shelves #1

noreply@blogger.com (Book Flame) — Sat, 05 May 2012 16:02:00 +0000

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga of Tynga’s Reviews. A new meme I'm taking part in to show the books I received each week.

Review

Bought:

Cover Reveal

noreply@blogger.com (Book Flame) — Thu, 03 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

The Torn Wing by Kiki Hamilton this is the second book in the The Faerie Ring series. I read the first book in the series and absolutely loved it you can check out my review for it HERE.

A quick blurb:

Tiki’s greatest fear suddenly becomes all too real: the fey have returned to London seeking revenge. As war escalates in the Otherworld, Queen Victoria’s youngest son, Prince Leopold, is attacked. In order to protect her family and the ones she loves, she needs to know the meaning of an fáinne sí, the birthmark that winds around her wrist. But will Tiki be brave enough to face the truth?

A bloody escape, a deadly threat, a shocking revelation… Available October 2nd, 2012

THE FAERIE RING - Available Now!

A stolen ring, a broken truce, a kingdom in peril...

THE TORN WING - Coming October 2nd, 2012

A bloody escape, a deadly threat, a shocking revelation...

http://www.kikihamilton.com

http://www.thefaeriering.com

Here is the full cover

Review: Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter

noreply@blogger.com (Book Flame) — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter

Pub. Date: March 29, 2011
Publisher: St. Martins Press
Pages: 416
Series: Shadow Falls #1

http://www.cchunterbooks.com/

One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever. Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren’t just “troubled.” Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapshifters, witches and fairies train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world.

Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either. Or does she? They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason. As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas. Derek’s a half-fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past. Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart.

Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear—Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs…

First Line: : "This isn't funny!" her father yelled.

Review: This is a tough one for me there were some aspects I really liked about Born at Midnight such as the camp filled with teens who are either some sort of supernatural being or have some type of supernatural gift. Such as Kylie who can see ghosts. I also found it interesting how the government was actually involved and they knew about the camp and even held authority over it.

What made me bring the rating down is there was way too much boy drama in it for me. There is the ex-boyfriend Trey who broke up with Kylie because she wouldn't have sex with him but now all of a sudden wants her back. Then there is Derek the Fae who has a thing for Kylie and Lucas the werewolf who has got it bad for her as well. Not to mention Kylie has already had kissing sessions with each of the boys. Also it's the typical "oh I don't know who I like more" syndrome with her. Another thing that bugged me a little was Kylie in general, she is so much in denial about the fact that she is gifted that she rather believe she has a mental disorder or a tumor. Then there was the fact that throughout the entire book we are trying to still figure out what she is, eventually it just got old and I was more annoyed then anything.

Minus the boy drama...and Kylie's denial this was a fairly quick read. What made the book enjoyable as far as the characters go were Kylie's friends Della and Miranda they had a way of keeping things lively. Also I liked Perry he is some powerful shape-shifter but whenever he was involved something hilarious went down.

Overall I have no intentions on picking up the next book in the series. Maybe if I cared about the main character more and who she will end up with in the end but since I don't I wont be reading Awake at Dawn anytime soon.

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