TuraLura's Picks

Waiting on Wednesday: The Sixth Extinction

noreply@blogger.com (Tura Lura) — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 04:00:00 +0000

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

My choice for the week:

The Sixth Extinction (Sigma Force, #10)
by
James Rollins

In a masterful epic that combines timeless mystery and ripped-from-the-headlines scientific intrigue, New York Times bestselling author James Rollins takes humankind to its endpoint, to a fate inscribed in rock and ice in an event known as

THE 6TH EXTINCTION

Life always finds a way. . . .

A military research station buried in the remote Sierra Nevada Mountains of Northern California broadcasts a frantic distress call that ends with a chilling order:
"This is sierra, victor, whiskey. There's been a breach. Failsafe initiated. No matter the outcome: Kill us . . . kill us all."

The site is part of TECOMM, the U.S. Army Test Command. When help arrives to investigate, they discover that everyone in the lab is dead--not just the scientists, but every living thing for fifty square miles is annihilated: every animal, plant, and insect, even bacteria. The land is completely sterile-- and the blight is spreading.

Only one team on earth has the scientific knowledge and military precision to handle this mission: Commander Gray Pierce and Sigma. The dead scientists were working on a secret project, researching radically different forms of life on Earth, life that could change our understanding of biology and humanity itself. But something set off an explosion in the lab, and now Sigma must contend with the apocalyptic aftermath.

To prevent the inevitable, they must decipher a futuristic threat that rises out of the distant past--a time when Antarctica was green and life on Earth was balanced on a knife's edge. Following a fascinating trail of clues buried in an ancient map rescued from the lost Library of Alexandria, Sigma will make a shocking discovery involving a prehistoric continent and a new form of life and death buried under miles of ice. Gray Pierce and his dedicated team must race through eons of time and across distant continents to decipher millennia-old secrets out of the frozen past and untangle mysteries buried deep in the darkest jungles of today, as they face their greatest challenge yet: stopping the Sixth Extinction--the end of humankind. But is it already too late?

The Sixth Extinction combines pulsating adventure, intriguing history, and cutting-edge advances in science and technology in a thrilling white-knuckle ride that delivers as only James Rollins can.

Book blurb from Goodreads.

Release Date: 12 August 2014

Waiting on Wednesday: Dark Wolf

noreply@blogger.com (Tura Lura) — Wed, 03 Jul 2013 06:36:00 +0000

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

My choice for the week:

Dark Wolf (Carpathian, #25)
by
Christine Feehan

#1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan now delivers her most eagerly awaited novel of all — ten years in the making.

In Dark Lycan, Christine Feehan journeyed into the heart of the Carpathians, and into the souls of two lifemates stirred by the flush of passion and the threat of annihilation. In Dark Wolf, the breathtaking story continues as the bonds of family are imperiled, and the fate of two lovers lies hidden in the seductive shadows between life and death.

Skyler Daratrazanoff always recognized the miracle that was Dimitri Tirunul, a man beyond any dream that had ever engaged her nights. But she was human. Vulnerable. He was Carpathian. Nearly immortal. She was nineteen. He was an ancient. Yet she held half his soul, the light to his darkness. Without her, he would not survive. Caught between the two warring species, Dimitri has spent centuries hunting the undead to keep his people free, and humans safe. He had survived honorably when others had chosen to give up their souls. But now, marked for extermination by the Lycans, Dimitri found himself alone, and fearing for his life. But salvation was coming…

No Lycan would ever suspect someone like Skyler to dare mount a secret rescue operation. A teenage girl. A human of untested abilities. But she had something no one else had. She was predestined for Dimitri—as he was for her. And there was nothing stronger for Skyler than her desire to see her life-dream come true. Whatever the risk

Release Date: 7 January 2014

I have been waiting for this book since I met Skyler way back in book 8 (Dark Legend). We've known since book 17 (Dark Celebration) that Skyler and Dimitri are destined lifemates. I've been waiting almost seven years already. January is too far away.

Review: Bound Temptations

noreply@blogger.com (Tura Lura) — Sat, 29 Jun 2013 04:00:00 +0000

Bound Temptations
by
Shiloh Walker

Genre: Erotic Romance
Source: Won from a contest on the author's blog.
Rating: Overall: /10; Tempt Me: 9/10; Beg Me: 6/10
Buy the Book: Barnes & Noble ~ Books-A-Million ~ IndieBound ~ Book Depository
Content Warnings: cussing, explicit sex, BDSM, minor amount of violence (mostly in flashback form)

Print edition of two previously released ebooks, TEMPT ME and BEG ME

TEMPT ME
She’s a temptation he can’t resist…

Roxanne ‘Rocki’ Monroe’s life is full of secrets and hidden heartaches. Cole Stanton would love to heal her pain and chase away the ghosts of her past, but she’s just a complication he doesn’t have room for in his life.

Or so he thinks.

It doesn’t take Cole long to realize he’s more than willing to let temptation get the best of him, more than happy to deal with complications if that’s what it takes to get her.

What he has and what he needs are two different things…and what he needs is Rocki.

BEG ME

Beg me…there had been a time when those words made her burn with desire. But now, there was only fear.

Once, Tania Sinclair’s life was almost perfect…But a couple of tragedies later, she’s barely holding it together. A car accident took away her husband, and an attack from somebody she should have been able to trust has shaken not only her confidence, but it’s also stripped away her fantasies and even made it painful to look back on her memories of her husband without fear.

Two years after her attack, Tania is determined to take her life back and the first step is taking back herself…her fantasies, her dreams, her memories. There’s only one person she can trust to do it, too. One person she wants enough…Drake Bennett, her husband’s best friend.

Warning: This book involves light bondage play, rape fantasy & role-playing. The acts between the hero & heroine are consensual, but they may not be ideal for all readers…

Book blurb from Goodreads

I read tons of teasers and snippets for these two novellas while Ms. Walker was writing/working on them, so I was eager to read both stories. I liked the first story, Tempt Me, much more than I liked the second story. I still liked Beg Me, but, well, I'm thinking I may steer clear of BDSM books for a bit.

What I Liked:

Tempt Me

Rocki - She is an awesome character who really came alive during the story.
Lacey, Rocki's best friend - She's just as snarky and outspoken as I am. She needs her own story. ^_^
Lush & Lace, Rocki's lingerie store - I wish this existed, especially considering the setting.
the setting - Asheville, NC! I was born there and have lived just outside of the city for all but three years of my life. I didn't realize until halfway or so that this was the setting, but it made me happy when I did.

Beg Me

Drake - great character, realistic I think. (Reading this story made me realize where I'd gotten the name Drake for the main character of my current WIP - the snippets I read on Ms. Walker's blog!)
Tania - she was portrayed realisticly. She went through so much. I cried reading some of the story she told Drake about the night her fantasies were stolen.
their connection - it felt like it had been building for a while, though Tania didn't realize it.

What I Didn't Like:

Tempt Me

Cole - At times, I loved him. But, really, why was he with Mara for so long? How did he not see her true nature?
Mara - "the bitch of High Street" and Cole's former fiancee. We're not supposed to like her, but I don't understand why she acted the way she did. Of course, it was perfectly realistic. I know people who act like that in real life. I don't like them either.
the rushed romance between Rocki and Cole - probably due, at least in part, to the novella format. Still, though, it was way too fast. Way, WAY too fast.
a couple of details about the setting - where is High Street? And Molly Flannagan's (the pub that Rocki and Cole visited once)? (Hannah Flannagan's, I've heard of; I know where it is. Never heard of the other.) Nitpicky, yes, but this is my hometown. And I know Ms. Walker has visited before.

Beg Me

Gail, Tania's mother-in-law - BITCH. That's all I can say about her.
anal sex - it seriously creeps me out. I mean, I've read it before and it didn't bother me so much. This scene, though, just weirded me out. Why? I've no idea.

Knowing What I Know Now, Would I Read This Book?

Yes, I would. But I'd probably skim a certain scene in Beg Me.

Should You Read This Book?

Maybe. If you like erotic romance, then yes. If not, skip it.

Waiting on Wednesday: The House of Hades

noreply@blogger.com (Tura Lura) — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 04:26:00 +0000

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

My choice for the week:

The House of Hades
(Heroes of Olympus, #4)
by
Rick Riordan

At the conclusion of The Mark of Athena, Annabeth and Percy tumble into a pit leading straight to the Underworld. The other five demigods have to put aside their grief and follow Percy’s instructions to find the mortal side of the Doors of Death. If they can fight their way through the Gaea’s forces, and Percy and Annabeth can survive the House of Hades, then the Seven will be able to seal the Doors both sides and prevent the giants from raising Gaea. But, Leo wonders, if the Doors are sealed, how will Percy and Annabeth be able to escape?

They have no choice. If the demigods don’t succeed, Gaea’s armies will never die. They have no time. In about a month, the Romans will march on Camp Half-Blood. The stakes are higher than ever in this adventure that dives into the depths of Tartarus

Release Date: 8 October 2013

Okay, confession time: I haven't actually read book 3 in this series (Mark of Athena), but I know I'll like it. I loved the first two books in this series, and all of the Percy Jackson series, which is set just previous to this series. My husband keeps telling me I need to read it already. I'll read it before book 4 releases. (I hope.) ^_^

Stacking the Shelves II

noreply@blogger.com (Tura Lura) — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 20:50:00 +0000

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme for sharing the books you have recently added to your shelves. It is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Sorry for the longish gap in blogging. I have four reviews pretty much finished, I just need to add book covers and blurbs.

Links are to the book on Goodreads.

For Review

Give Me Forever (Paranormal City, #1) - Celeste Carrara (ebook) From the author.
The Cat's Meow (Witch's Brew, #1) - Stacey Kennedy (ebook) From the author.
Dreamlander - K.M. Weiland (ebook) From StoryCartel.
The Divided Hearts - Karla Darcy (ebook) From StoryCartel.

Purchased:

Bad Mouth - Angela McCallister (ebook) At $2.99, I just couldn't resist. (Darn you, Entangled for having such cheap ebooks! And darn me for subscribing to their blog. o.O hehe)
Half Breed - Cori Moore (ebook) After reading the first chapter from the free sample, I knew I had to finish this one. It was only $0.99!
Bloodline (Sigma Force, #8) - James Rollins (ebook) This was a nook daily find when I bought it, so it was a lot cheaper than normal.
Firebrand Box Set (Firebrand, #1-3) - Elisabeth Naughton (ebook) At $0.99 for a three book series, I couldn't pass it up.
Tall, Dark, and Deadly 3 book box set (Tall, Dark & Deadly, #1-3) - Lisa Renee Jones (ebook) Another $0.99 three-in-one.
Graveminder - Melissa Marr (ebook)
Carnival of Souls (Untamed City, #1) - Melissa Marr (ebook) Another book I got as a nook daily find. (Ohmygosh, when is book 2 going to be out??)

Free:

The Accidental Demon Slayer (Demon Slayer, #1) - Angie Fox (ebook)
Revived (Complete) - G. Johanson (ebook) For some reason, this isn't on goodreads yet.
Soul Mates Kiss (Witching Call, #1) - Sandra Ross (ebook)
Kindred (The Kindred, #1) - Erica Stevens (ebook)
The Revenge of Praying Mantis (Hattori Hachi, #1) - Jane Prowse (ebook) Available for free from the book's website: http://www.hattorihachi.com/. You're welcome.

I've gotten several other books free, but I don't remember all of them. The ones listed are either ones I have read or gotten recently.

Waiting on Wednesday: Dark Lycan

noreply@blogger.com (Tura Lura) — Wed, 01 May 2013 04:01:00 +0000

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

My choice for the week:

Dark Lycan (Carpathian, #24)
by
Christine Feehan

Held captive for centuries and finally freed, Tatijana vowed to now live only by her rules. She is Carpathian. Dragonseeker. She’ll never again acquiesce to authority — inhuman or human. Then Tatijana is drawn to the forest-scent of a stranger — and the freedom and wild nature it represents. And now everything she is fighting for — and running from — will change.

Book blurb from Goodreads.

This series was my introduction to paranormal romance. I started with book 16, Dark Demon, though I didn't know it was part of a series when I bought it. It wasn't until I got online and did some research did I find out I had read book 16 of a series. Before reading this book, I didn't even know the paranormal romance genre existed. (Outside of my own writing that is. So I'm not the only one who writes this stuff. Nice to know.) I have since read almost all of this series; book 23 is the only one I haven't yet read.

This series is my "guilty pleasure".

Release Date: 3 September 2013

Review: Black Widow Trainer

noreply@blogger.com (Tura Lura) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 06:30:00 +0000

Sorry this review is so very, very late. Better late than never, though, right? ^_^

Black Widow Trainer
by
Craig Odanovich

Genre: Erotic Adventure (from the book cover)
Source: The author sent me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 6.5/10
Buy the Book: Barnes & Noble ~ Books-A-Million ~ IndieBound ~ Book Depository
Content Warnings: cussing, explicit sex, extramarital sex, some violence

Bored with tedium of her passionless marriage, Misty's life explodes after a weekend of mind-blowing sex with the man of her dreams. Exploring the physical limits of her newfound desire, she combines the lure of her honed, disciplined body with cunning business acumen and redefines herself as the Black Widow Trainer, a high-price personal trainer/escort. Negotiating an open relationship with her husband is the easiest part of her career move. Adjusting to the whims and demands of her well-heeled and imaginative clients, however, requires Misty to expand the limits of her sensual being.

The genre-busting novel features a cast of original, gritty characters, including an Alaskan sea captain, a pint-size satyr, and a genderbending woman, Misty's fantastic sexcapades in exotic locations around the world are hot enough to fire up anyone's sex life.

Book blurb from GoodReads.

Even though it's been a pretty good while since I read this book, I remember it pretty well. I had to skim parts of it to jog my memory of some facets. (Like the main character's name! Minor characters I can remember the names of, but not the main character. Why? I've no idea.)

I had mixed feelings about this book when I read it. I still do; I had to reread the ending to jog my memory before I could finish the review. o.O The concept is interesting; it intrigued me which was why I marked it as to-read on GoodReads. Which is what led to me getting the book.

What I Liked:

Misty's growth. I didn't care much for her at first, but she experienced a lot of growth during the story. However, see below... (next section)

Rob, Misty's husband. Other than being a pushover in the beginning, I enjoyed getting to know him in the scenes in which he played a part.

The settings. She visited some exotic locales for her job. There were enough details about the various cities for me to get a feel for the culture, but not so many details that it bogged down the story.

The secondary/minor characters. They were three dimensional and felt real. I can't tell you which ones were my favorites or that would spoil a lot.

The ending. It made me smile.

What I Didn't Like:

Misty. Though I ended up liking her (to some extent) for most of the book, she annoyed the heck out of me at first. Largely because of her treatment of her husband. Other things, too. Mostly her selfishness.

That a married woman would seek out such a lifestyle. If you don't care for someone enough to stay faithful, don't marry them.

"Passionless marriage". It takes two people to make a marriage work. It takes two people to allow one to fail too.

That a husband wouldn't put up a fight over his beloved wife living this lifestyle. (Note: I have a first printing. The author has informed me that scene has been changed in later editions. Just not enough for my liking. The new version is better, but not enough better.)

Knowing What I Know Now, Would I Read This Book?

I'm not sure. I knew up front what I was getting into, but some parts still surprised me. The book was good, but it could have been better. Part of me wants to read the sequel. Part of me wanted to throw the book against a wall. I haven't done that since I was in elementary or middle school, if I ever have.

Should You Read This Book?

If you love both erotica and adventure novels, go for it. Otherwise, skip it.

Waiting on Wednesday: Icons

noreply@blogger.com (Tura Lura) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 04:01:00 +0000

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My choice for the week:

Icons
by
Margaret Stohl

Your heart beats only with their permission.

Everything changed on The Day. The day the windows shattered. The day the power stopped. The day Dol's family dropped dead. The day Earth lost a war it didn't know it was fighting.

Since then, Dol has lived a simple life in the countryside -- safe from the shadow of the Icon and its terrifying power. Hiding from the one truth she can't avoid.

She's different. She survived. Why?

When Dol and her best friend, Ro, are captured and taken to the Embassy, off the coast of the sprawling metropolis once known as the City of Angels, they find only more questions. While Ro and fellow hostage Tima rage against their captors, Dol finds herself drawn to Lucas, the Ambassador's privileged son. But the four teens are more alike than they might think, and the timing of their meeting isn't a coincidence. It's a conspiracy.

Within the Icon's reach, Dol, Ro, Tima, and Lucas discover that their uncontrollable emotions -- which they've always thought to be their greatest weaknesses -- may actually be their greatest strengths.

Bestselling author Margaret Stohl delivers the first book in a heart-pounding series set in a haunting new world where four teens must piece together the mysteries of their pasts -- in order to save the future.

Book blurb from Goodreads.

Ms. Stohl is the co-author of the Caster Chronicles. I already know I like her writing from having read the first two books of that series. (I'm so behind!) This book sounds really interesting, and I've been on a bit of a science fiction kick lately, so this is perfect for me. ^_^

Release Date: 7 May 2013

Series Review: Maximum Ride

noreply@blogger.com (Tura Lura) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 23:23:00 +0000

I just finished reading the final book of this series a few days ago. I need to get this review out of my system before I can focus enough to write any others. o.O

Maximum Ride series
(Books 1 through 8)
James Patterson

Release Date: various
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction
Rating: Varies by book from 5/10 to 9/10; Overall: 7/10
Source: Library
Buy the Books: Barnes & Noble ~ Books-A-Million ~ IndieBound ~ Book Depository
Content Warning: Violence, blood and gore

This series has also been adapted as a manga.

The Maximum Ride novels for young adults feature 6 teenagers who are 98% human and 2% avian.

NOTE: James Patterson's author note in the beginning of each books says:

"To the reader:
The idea for Maximum Ride comes from earlier books of mine called When the Wind Blows and The Lake House, which also feature a character named Max who escapes from a quite despicable School. Most of the similarities end there. Max and the other kids in Maximum Ride are NOT the same Max and kids featured in those two books. Nor do Frannie and Kit play any part in Maximum Ride. I hope you enjoy the ride anyway."

Series info from GoodReads.

What I Liked:

Max, Fang and the rest of the flock. Love them all.

The science. It's actually feasible. Mostly. With gene therapy and other such technologies coming into being now, I can actually see most of this stuff being possible in the near future. Scary as that is.

Dr. Martinez, the veterinarian who helped fix Max's wing in book one. She makes many appearances, and is more than just a random veterinarian, but I don't want to spoil it for people who haven't read this series. It's awesome, though. The character is awesome.

Ella, Dr. Martinez's daughter. See above. ^_^

Maya. Love her, though not at first. I can't tell you who she is because that would be a pretty major spoiler. ^_^

Character development over the series. Max and Fang, especially, change a good bit. Those two are my favorite characters.

What I Didn't Like:

Jeb. Seriously, what the heck is his mental malfunction? I don't get his motivation for pretty much anything he does.

Angel. The only member of the flock who has a tendency to piss me off. Why? Spoilers! So, not telling. Sometimes I love her, but other times, not so much. Or, you know, at all.

The Doomsday Group/ 99 percenters. Why? Just... just, why?

The preachy tone of a couple of the books. Book 4 (The Final Warning) and book 8 (Nevermore) have some really preachy parts. Those bits drive me nuts.

Dylan. He's too perfect. He doesn't appear until book six or seven, though.

Knowing What I Know Now, Would I Read This Book Series?

Yes, I would. Despite the few annoyances, and some preachiness, I would still read this series.

Should You Read This Book Series?

Do you like young adult books or science fiction books? If so, then yes you should. You may not be annoyed by the things that annoyed me. You may be more annoyed. You may be annoyed by other things. I don't know. I do still recommend the series, despite my reservations.

Stacking the Shelves

noreply@blogger.com (Tura Lura) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:41:00 +0000

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme for sharing the books you have recently added to your shelves. It is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

The following is by no means a complete list from the more than a year since I last blogged seriously, but I will list as much as I can remember. No pictures for now as I expect this list to be quite long. Links are to the book on Goodreads.

Purchased:

Original Sin (Personal Demons, #2) - Lisa Desrochers (ebook) Used bn.com gift card(s) I received for Christmas and my birthday.
Forbidden (The World of Nightwalkers, #1) - Jacquelyn Frank (ebook) bn.com gift cards
Wicked Business (Lizzy & Diesel, #2) - Janet Evanovich (ebook) bn.com gift cards
Cinder (Lunar Chronicles, #1) - Marissa Meyer (ebook) B&N had the top 1000 nook books on sale the first weekend in April. I got this and the next two then.
Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles, #2) - Marissa Meyer
Shatter Me (Shatter Me, #1) - Tahereh Mafi

Gifted:

A Man of His Word (Hearts of Middlefield, #1) - Kathleen Fuller(paperback) Christmas gift from my mother-in-law. She gave me a total of three books, but I don't remember the titles of the other two. I loaned them to a friend from work and have yet to read them myself.
Touch of Death (Touch of Death, #1) - Kelly Hashway (ebook, Kindle edition) Won in a giveaway from YA author Ednah Walters

Free:

The Queen's Army (Lunar Chronicles, #1.5) - Marissa Meyer (online) Read for free on Tor.com. Ebook available for $0.99.
The Fierce Reads Anthology (The Fierce Reads Anthology, #1; includes Lunar Chronicles, #0.5) - various (ebook) bn.com
The Fierce Reads Anthology: Volume 2 (The Fierce Reads Anthology, #2) - various (ebook) bn.com
Wicked Sense (Singularity, #1) - Fabio Bueno (ebook, Kindle) amazon.com
Slayer's Kiss (The Shadow Slayers, #1) - Cassi Carver (ebook) bn.com

I've gotten several other books free, but I don't remember all of them. The ones listed are either ones I have read or gotten recently.

For those of you who are long-time followers of this blog, I am doing this as a replacement for In My Mailbox, which is hosted by the Story Siren. After the plagiarism debacle of early last year, I no longer follow her blog. I'm not sure I can trust her now. Maybe I shouldn't have trusted her in the first place. Anyway, enough about that...

There are other options for similar memes I could have chosen but I like this one best. ^_^

I'm Back! (For Real This Time)

noreply@blogger.com (Tura Lura) — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 19:24:00 +0000

Seriously. I am. I promise.

I've already updated the "Recently Read" and "Currently Reading" boxes on the right side. I'm still working on a redesign for the blog, but I'm less worried about it than I am about actually blogging. Which is as it should be.

A big thanks to all those who've stuck around through my insanely long lapses. Love you guys! ^_^

It's good to be back.

3, 2, 1... REBOOT!

noreply@blogger.com (Tura Lura) — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 04:09:00 +0000

Yikes!

It's been more than a year since I posted anything here. O.O

Time to get cracking! ^_^

Over the next few days, I'll be updating the lovely little boxes on my right side panel to reflect my actual current read and recent reads, instead of the ones from more than a year ago. I've got a couple of reviews cooking too. I hope to publish the first one soon, this weekend at the very latest.

If I don't stick to this, please visit me on Facebook and/or Twitter to yell at me. Seriously.

See you soon!

Love,
TL

Sorry For My Absence

noreply@blogger.com (Tura Lura) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 04:15:00 +0000

I have been trying to write reviews of a couple of non-fiction books this past week. I can't write a decent-length review of either, so I will be doing a single post with short reviews of both books. Then I can move on to all of the other reviews I have to write.

My next review will be of The Black Widow Trainer by Craig Odanovich. He sent me a copy of the book for review, so I need to get the review done. Hopefully it will go up later today. I'll be using my new (experimental) format for this review.

THEN I can do reviews of all the other titles I've read:

Lament - Maggie Stiefvater

Beautiful Darkness - Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Kiss at Your Own Risk - Stephanie Rowe

A Victorian Rose - Catherine Palmer

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter - Seth Grahame-Smith

Amazonia - James Rollins

The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie - Jennifer Ashley

Inside Out - Maria V. Snyder

I really need to update my Recently Finished and Currently Reading sections at right, as Amazonia is listed under Currently Reading. I've read two whole books since finishing that one! And started on a third.

Once I get those sections updated, I'm going to add a poll for preferred review format: either the overview and opinion I've done all along or the new format where I break down what I liked/didn't like/etc.

Fickle Memory

noreply@blogger.com (Tura Lura) — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 02:55:00 +0000

Make Me Remember
Emma Petersen

Release Date: Summer (?) 2010
Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance
Rating: 9/10
Source: I received a copy of this novella from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Buy the Book: Borders ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Ellora's Cave
Content Warning: Cussing, Explicit Sex

Hannah Bryant has always been different. Since she was a child, she's had vivid dreams of death and loss. Years later, Hannah is a successful doctor who's gotten past the terrors that used to plague her. In a flash, everything she has worked so hard for is in danger when the dreams return with a vengeance.

But the dreams haunting Hannah's sleep now are nothing like the ones from her childhood. No longer does she dream of death and destruction-now her dreams are of a man who elicits a reaction from Hannah's body that's strangely familiar and startlingly brand new at the same time.

Book blurb from Goodreads.

I wasn't sure what I was getting into when I volunteered to review a book for Miss Petersen. It's been a while since I read an erotic romance.

I needn't have worried; Make Me Remember is a sweet and fulfilling romance. The sex scenes - both in Hannah's dreams and in her life - are real scorchers. I needed a fan and a cold drink after each.

And I read the book in the middle of January, when it was freezing cold outside!

What I Liked:

Hannah. She's complex. She's not perfect. She's real.

Gabe, the leading man. Wow. Just wow.

The mixture of the real world and the dream world. Her dreams are vivid, realistic. One even made me cry.

The 'magic' (or whatever it is!) that allows Hannah to speak a language she's never learned.

What I Didn't Like:

The length! A full-length novel would have allowed us to get to know the characters better.

Hannah and Gabe's relationship developed too fast. However, I believe this is due to the length restriction of a novella. So this point just goes back to the first one: a longer version would be better. ^_^

Knowing What I Know Now, Would I Read This Book?

YES! At roughly 70 pages, it's a quick read. Well worth the hour or so it took me to read the first time.

I'll probably re-read it several times. Yeah, it's that good.

Should You Read This Book?

If you like romances, especially with an element of the paranormal, yes.

Maybe not if you don't like to read sex scenes, as there are several. They're short but hot.

Life, Virtually

noreply@blogger.com (Tura Lura) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 23:01:00 +0000

The Virtual Life of Fizzy Oceans
David A. Ross

Release Date: January 2011
Genre: Dystopian Fiction
Rating: 4/10
Source: I received a review copy from the publisher. This did not influence my review in any way.
Buy the Book: Smashwords ~ OpenBooks
Content Warning: Some cussing, Explicit Sex (One fairly short scene.)

Meet Fizzy Oceans—archivist, researcher, environmentalist and adventurer. On her travels she witnesses The Exodus, the Battle of Gettysburg and Hurricane Katrina, as well as many other historical and real time events. She meets notable individuals including Gandhi, Mark Twain, Jacques Cousteau, The Dalai Lama, Saddam Hussein and even a new species called the Quinngen.

Such unique experiences and encounters spanning the world and time as we know them would not be possible for a single individual—especially not for a woman named Amy Birkenstock who works as a medical clerk in Seattle, Washington—but Fizzy Oceans, Amy’s digital alter ego, is not in Physical Life. She lives, works and travels in the virtual world where the dead are very much alive, places like ancient Babylon and Pompeii have been reconstructed, and with the click of a button—WHOOSH!—one is transported throughout the Ages to events and destinations that make up our human history.

Even as Amy’s physical life existence is challenged by encroaching environmental disaster, economic instability, and societal breakdown, Fizzy’s virtual world offers instant realization of vision and inspiration. The Virtual Life of Fizzy Oceans imagines the bridging of two worlds—the literal and the metaphorical—and questions what it is we have created, what has been lost, and what might be possible for us as individuals and for the Human Race.

Book blurb provided by publisher.

As you can tell from my rating, I didn't love this book. It was alright, but not great.

From reading the blurb, I had high hopes. The Virtual Life of Fizzy Oceans did not live up to those hopes. Not even close.

What I Liked:

Amy Birkenstock (A.K.A. Fizzy Oceans) made a great character. Well-developed and realistic.

The world of 'Virtual Life' (VL) captured my imagination. There are virtual reality programs out there, several in fact, but none (in my experience) that quite measure up to the fictional one presented in this book.

The supporting characters - all several dozen of them - were well-rounded and entertaining.

Character interactions. So many characters, so many interactions. Nearly all of them felt real.

The so-called Real Life (RL) world in the book. This world shares much with our own - is pretty much an exact copy even - but is not quite ours. Just a few minor differences separate the two. Until very near the end of the book, when RL goes down a steep slope of ecological degradation that sounds possible in our own world. A bit of a scary thought, actually.

What I Didn't Like:

Disjointed writing in places. Some parts of the book were great, other parts had me setting down the e-reader in disgust. I came close to giving up multiple times. (Just ask my husband or pretty much anyone at Hillside Games in Asheville, NC. The Saturday I tried to read while there, I think everyone heard my opinion on the editing - or lack thereof. Heh.)
This is something that could have been fixed in editing. SHOULD have been fixed in editing.

The random paragraph in French. Yes, it was dialogue from a French character. It still should have been at least partially translated. If not for one of the characters, then for the reader. Amy/Fizzy should have had to do some rough translation in her head. The reader should have been privy to that. If not for Google Translator, I would have been lost.

Inconsistent RL identification of one of the minor characters. I'm assuming the first identification of this particular Virtual Lifer was supposed to be a wrong guess by the other characters. But, for this one scene in the middle of the book - the same one with the random paragraph in French as it happens - the VLers identity is given as one RL person. For this scene, the VL avatar speaks and acts as one would expect it's RL counterpart to do so. Hell, the VL avatar is identified as the RL person at least once when speaking. To find out several pages later that this avatar was controlled by someone completely different was jarring, to say the least. (I was rather tempted to call this a plot hole.)

Knowing What I Know Now, Would I Read This Book?

No. I spent the first half-to-three-quarters of it frustrated. I would not do that to myself intentionally.

Should You Read This Book?

If you have read the author's other books and liked them, you'll probably like this one.

I liked the last half or so of it. Not enough to reread it, though. I also seriously doubt I will pick up another of Mr. Ross's books.

Waiting on Wednesday: Witch Song

noreply@blogger.com (Tura Lura) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 08:00:00 +0000

I shall have another review up tomorrow. I haven't quite finished the one I was planning to post at noon today.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My choice for the week:

Witch Song
by
Amber Argyle

Miss Argyle's debut novel sounds utterly fascinating...

The world is changing.

For thousands of years, witch song has controlled everything from the winds to the shifting of the seasons. But not anymore. All the Witches are gone, taken captive by the dark Witch, Espen.

As the last echoes of witch song fade, Espen grows stronger as winter and summer come within the space of a day. Now she’s coming for the one she missed—a shy, untrained girl of fifteen named Brusenna.

Somehow, Brusenna has to succeed where every other Witch has failed. Find Espen. Fight her. Defeat her.

Or there won’t be anything left to save.

Book blurb from Goodreads.

The cover is just gorgeous, isn't it? ^_^

Release Date: 1 September 2011

I Want to Live There...

noreply@blogger.com (Tura Lura) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 23:00:00 +0000

in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory! ^_^

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Roald Dahl

Release Date: 1964
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Rating: 10/10
Source: Owned
Buy the Book: Borders ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Books-A-Million ~ IndieBound
Content Warning: None!

For the first time in a decade, Willy Wonka, the reclusive and eccentric chocolate maker, is opening his doors to the public--well, five members of the public to be exact. The lucky five who find a Golden Ticket in their Wonka chocolate bars will receive a private tour of the factory, given by Mr. Wonka himself.

For young Charlie Bucket, this a dream come true. And, when he finds a dollar bill in the street, he can't help but buy two Wonka's Whipple-Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delights--even though his impoverished family could certainly use the extra dollar for food. But as Charlie unwraps the second chocolate bar, he sees the glimmer of gold just under the wrapper!

The very next day, Charlie, along with his unworthy fellow winners Mike Teavee, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde, and Augustus Gloop, steps through the factory gates to discover whether or not the rumors surrounding the Chocolate Factory and its mysterious owner are true. What they find is that the gossip can't compare to the extraordinary truth, and for Charlie, life will never be the same again.

Book blurb from Goodreads.

I am not sure why I waited so long to read this book. I loved it! The book is every bit as magical as the 1971 musical (titled Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory), possibly even more so. (I have not seen the 2005 film adaptation, so I can not make comparisons with it.)

The book is a bit darker than the musical, and the Oompa-Loompas less silly.

I love both, but the book has far eclipsed the movie as my favorite of the two. But isn't that how it normally goes? ^_^

A quick and easy read that I can not recommend highly enough.

Win an ARC of Original Sin!

noreply@blogger.com (Tura Lura) — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 17:01:00 +0000

Over at Lisa Desrochers' blog...

Here's how:

It's a "spread the word" contest, so pretty much every way you can think of to spread the word around the internet will earn you a point. Each point = one entry. Each entry is a chance to win!

You can link to the contest on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog. Add Original Sin to your to-read list/shelf on Goodreads.

There are tons of ways to earn points. For the full list, see the post linked to above.

Yes, this post is earning me an extra entry. More than one, actual with the pre-order links I'm about to give. ^_-

Original Sin (Personal Demons, #2)
by
Lisa Desrochers

When secrets and old histories come to light, Frannie realizes that nobody is who she thought they were. Hell won't give up and Heaven won't give in. Some are willing to hurt anyone close to Frannie in order to get what they want. It will take everything she has and then some to stay out of Hell's grasp.

And not everyone will get out of it alive.

Pre-order: Borders | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million | IndieBound

If I had a job, I would have this book pre-ordered already!

Heaven? Or Hell? Both Can Be Tempting...

noreply@blogger.com (Tura Lura) — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 05:01:00 +0000

Personal Demons
Lisa Desrochers

Release Date: 14 September 2010
Genre: Young Adult Urban Fantasy
Rating: 10/10
Source: I won this book in a giveaway on the author's blog. This did not affect my review in any way.
Buy the Book: Borders ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Books-A-Million
Content Warning: Some cussing, Possible theological issues (will cover in review)

Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a bit of a wicked streak. She's spent years keeping everyone at a distance—even her closest friends—and it seems her senior year will be more of the same...until Luc Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie can't seem to stay away from him. What she doesn't know is that Luc works in Acquisitions—for Hell—and she possesses a unique skill set that has the king of Hell tingling with anticipation. All Luc has to do is get her to sin, and he’s as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn’t stand a chance.

Unfortunately for Luc, Heaven has other plans, and the angel, Gabe, is going to do whatever it takes to make sure that Luc doesn’t get what he came for. And it isn't long before they find themselves fighting for more than just her soul.

But if Luc fails, there will be Hell to pay…for all of them.

Book blurb from the author's blog.

I loved this book! I think I've been in love with the idea since the first time I heard about it, sometime early in 2010.

Then Miss Lisa posted some excerpts on her blog, and I was hooked.

I had to read the entire story. I had to know what happened. Who - and by extension where - would Frannie choose? Luc - and Hell? Or Gabe - and Heaven?

Both boys are hot, both tempting in their own way. Demons are supposed to be hot, right? I mean, they are demons! *giggle* (I like puns, can you tell?) Angels, though, aren't expected to be hot. Except in romance books. Or, ya know, urban fantasy apparently.

Despite going back and forth between the two guys, Frannie does make her choice by the end of the book. Or so we think. Who does she choose? You'll just have to read the book to find out!

Now for the possible theological issues I mentioned above...

While I loved the book, and had no problems with it personally, I do realize that some people will have problems with it. Those problems would be theological in nature. Miss Desrochers' portrayal of demons and angels is rather different from the biblical one.

Why did I not take issue with this? Simple: no where does the author claim this series to be Christian fiction. Was it inspired by biblical persons? Obviously, as the main demon character's full name is Lucifer Cain.

But she does not claim to be using the Bible as a basis for her demons and angels, her heaven and hell. She brings a unique interpretation of demons, angels, heaven, and hell to young adult fiction.

It's not for everybody - no book is - but I, for one, loved it! I'm anxiously awaiting book two in the series, Original Sin, due out 5 July 2011.

In fact, I shall be posting about an opportunity to win an ARC of Original Sin around noon today. Stay tuned!

Weapons and Armor and Research

noreply@blogger.com (Tura Lura) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 08:30:00 +0000

I couldn't find a blurb for this book, despite searching for a while. I would just type up the inside dust jacket copy, but I returned the book to the library almost a month ago.

Phaidon Guide to Antique Weapons and Armour
Robert Wilkinson-Latham

Release Date: August 2010
Genre: History
Rating: DNF
Source: Library
Buy the Book: Out of Print
Content Warning: None!

No Blurb found. :(

I checked this book out of my local library to read for research for a historical romance I have in the works. Okay, technically, my husband checked it out. But I always planned to read it.

My first disappointment came in the introduction, when I found the book only covered the period beginning after the fall of the Roman Empire. I wanted it to read about the weapons and armor used during the Roman Empire. Dang.

But I have several other ideas for historical stories, so I continued reading.

The twenty pages I read that first day turned out to be the most I read of it in one sitting.

Drier than the dessert, it nearly put me to sleep. The topic is interesting, the illustrations were outstanding. The presentation, however, left much to be desired...

How do you make such an interesting topic boring? By not listing developments in weapons and armor side-by-side. By saying, but not showing how, one influenced the other.

Also by sounding like the most boring history professor imaginable. Even worse than the ghost teacher from the Harry Potter series. Seriously.

In conclusion: No matter how fascinating subject, a boring presentation makes it not worth finishing.

Waiting on Wednesday: Love Story

noreply@blogger.com (Tura Lura) — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 05:01:00 +0000

I'm still working on all those reviews I owe you guys. I hope to have another one up tomorrow. Or maybe even later today.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My choice for the week:

Love Story
by
Jennifer Echols

From Goodreads:

Erin Blackwell is headed to college in New York City to study creative writing and earn a living as a romance novelist. Her grandmother has other plans: she approves of the college, but she wants Erin to major in business and then come back home to Kentucky to run the family’s famous racehorse farm. There is no way Erin will agree. Studying in New York and writing her way into a career is her escape from the farm and the family tragedy that happened there. So Erin’s grandmother decides Erin really will live life as a starving artist. She takes Erin’s future job running the farm, her inheritance, even her college tuition, and gives them all to Hunter Allen.

Hunter has lived on the farm for years. He’s Erin’s age, he’s the stable boy, and he’s the romantic dream of every girl in her high school. But he was involved in the family tragedy. Erin has always given him a wide berth. And he’s a slick opportunist. She’s furious that he fooled her grandmother into giving him Erin’s birthright and sending him to Erin’s college.

At least she’s free of him in her creative writing class. So she pens a story that has haunted her lately, in which the horse farm heiress at the very first Kentucky Derby starts a forbidden affair with the lowly stable boy. Unfortunately for her, the day she’s sharing this story with her New York classmates, Hunter walks in. He’s switching to her class. And after reading about himself in Erin’s story, he writes his own sexy assignments that lure Erin into dangerous fantasies about what could have been between them, and what might be.

Okay, so we've got an enemies-to-lovers YA romance about a girl who dreams of being a romance novelist. Cool. Very cool.

Release Date: 19 July 2011

Review: Doubting Thomas by Stephanie Taylor

noreply@blogger.com (Tura Lura) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 23:42:00 +0000

I am so far behind... I received this book as an early review copy last August. Heh.

I will not get this far behind again.

Doubting Thomas
Stephanie Taylor

Release Date: August 7, 2010
Genre: Erotic Romance
Rating: DNF
Source: I received a free review copy from the author. This did not affect my review in any way.
Buy the Book: Borders ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Books-A-Million
Content Warning: Explicit Sex, Cussing

For five years, Thomas has lived without a past. A motorcycle accident left him with permanent amnesia and a lot of anger. But the scars aren’t all on the outside. He knows one day he’ll need to figure out who he used to be, but for now, he’s content in his misery and denial. If his family doesn’t care to find him, the feeling is mutual.

Until the love of a tender-hearted, sassy redhead changes his mind.

Alyssa Morgan vowed to locate her missing husband. She follows every clue, every lead, every hunch, hoping to find him and the reason for his disappearance. But fate has something else in store. Alyssa is determined to get to know the aloof man who has her husband’s voice and the disfigured face of a stranger.

Torn between his past and their future, can they put their doubts aside to let love in?

Book blurb from author website.

Wow, my first DNF review. Fun. (Not really.)

When I first received this book last August, I started reading eagerly. It started off well, easy to read. The writing and editing ~~were~~ are great. I expected to finish it within a day or two.

However, the further I read the more the plot bothered me.

In a historical setting - even one as recent as the 1980s - it could potentially work. But the setting is modern day: every character has a cell phone.

Which also means that fingerprints and DNA (among other things!) can be tracked reliably. So Alyssa's husband disappearing completely five years ago just doesn't work. Now, if he had outside (read: government or mafia) assistance in changing his looks and altering paperwork, etc, maybe.

But Thomas is just a loner with no memory.

Also, the book's blurb mentions him having the voice of her husband. I don't recall that ever having been mentioned in the first third of the book (which is all I managed to read).

Alyssa's husband's best friend was helping her try to find him in the first part of the book. If Thomas had the same voice as Alyssa's lost husband, wouldn't his best friend have noticed?

Yeah. He didn't.

I really wanted to like this book. I wanted to finish it too, since I did get a review copy from the author. But I couldn't. A plot hole that big is just too much.

I said at the top of this post that I was behind, but I'm not really. I just gave this book another chance last night. I had hoped that my time away from it would somehow make it better.

It didn't work. I gave up on it. I seriously doubt I will ever read any of this author's other books.

Her writing is good. Her logic is not.

Just a note for those on Goodreads: This book has 4 five-star ratings - two of which are from the author and publisher - and two one star reviews. One of the one star reviews is mine, the other is the only one (so far) with text. The other two five-star reviews are both from people who are friends with the author.

Makes me wonder how many of those four (other than the author, of course!) actually read it.

Reviews I Owe My Readers

noreply@blogger.com (Tura Lura) — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 06:15:00 +0000

Edited 17 April 2013.
I shall cross these off as I finish them.

Okay, since the characters in my head won't shut up*, I'm not able to write a review for y'all at the moment. But I don't want y'all to think I've forgotten you.

So, for now, I'm making a list of the reviews I owe you guys. I'll get them done as soon as possible.

Personal Demons - Lisa Desrochers - Posted 5 March

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl - Posted 8 March!

The Virtual Life of Fizzy Oceans - David A. Ross - Posted 10 March 2011

Make Me Remember - Emma Petersen - Posted 11 March 2011

An Unquiet Mind - Kay Redfield Jamison

Taking Charge of Your Fertility - Toni Weschler

Lament - Maggie Stiefvater

Beautiful Darkness - Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Phaidon Guide to Antique Weapons and Armor - Robert Wilkinson-Latham - Posted 4 March

Kiss at Your Own Risk - Stephanie Rowe

A Victorian Rose - Catherine Palmer

The Black Widow Trainer: An Erotic Adventure Novel - Craig Odanovich**

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter - Seth Grahame-Smith

I am not making any promises that these reviews will be done in the above order. Nor am I giving a definite timeline. I've been having too much trouble with my own writing for that.

* Yay! I'm writing again!

** You may have noticed this title does not yet have a rating. I'm saving that for the review. Once the review goes up, I'll edit the Recently Read section on the right to reflect it.

Laura Kreitzer Talks About Human Trafficking

noreply@blogger.com (Tura Lura) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 05:00:00 +0000

Hello Literary-Folk!

My name is Laura Kreitzer, and I’m the author of the Timeless Series and the Summer Chronicles. This week I would like to alert everyone on a colossal crisis that’s gone unnoticed in the world: human trafficking. That’s why I’ve asked hundreds of blogs to be involved with spreading the word on this issue that’s become close to my heart.

As an author, and someone whose life is put in the spotlight, I keep most people at a distance. Only a handful of my friends know the whole me and the events from my past. But this week I’d like to share with you a part of myself that the outside world doesn’t see (and a part of me I don’t like to share). I was emotionally abused for five years by someone I thought loved me, my mind beaten into submission. Though the turmoil I went through doesn’t penetrate as deep as someone forced into slavery on the worldwide market for human trafficking, I can sadly relate in some ways: imprisoned, my life dictated down to what I wore, ate, where I went, whom I spoke to, where I worked, when I slept, bending to his every whim. He did not sway, even when I cried through some of the more traumatic things he had me do. I was a slave in my own home. In my desperation for freedom, I held out a gun and asked him to just end my suffering. I was desperate.

I can’t even imagine how many women (and men) in the world are in a similar situation. What’s even worse, I had it mild compared to the children that are sold for labor or sex. Surprisingly, the good ol’ U.S.A. is reported to be the host to two million slaves. Did you know this? Because I certainly did not; not until I was preparing to write my newest novel: Phantom Universe. The main character, Summer Waverly, was stolen as a child and sold as a slave to the captain of a modern-day pirate ship. From a loved child who only knew “time-out” as punishment, to being whipped into silence was something I knew nothing about. So I researched deeply into human trafficking and the psychological effects of torture of various types that one would endure in these circumstances. I felt shaken at my findings and knew I had to tell Summer’s story. (Read a sneak peek here.)

A storm began to brew in my mind; transforming, morphing, twisting, and expanding into this massive, black cloud. I had to bring this tragic atrocity to the forefront. My own emotional experiences, mixed with the research I did on human trafficking, made me feel an intense connection with Summer, and to all women who’ve been through this kind of brutality. The cloud ruptured and rained all over my computer one day. It took one month to write Phantom Universe, the first in the Summer Chronicles. I was so consumed by the story that I wrote nearly nonstop, only breaking for necessary tasks like eating, showering, and occasionally—very occasionally—sleeping.

Though the book I’ve written would be classified as Science Fiction, or as I’d like to call it, Dystopian, the emotions and psychological aspects are not Science Fiction—they're real. Reviewers have said many amazing things about Summer, this character who is so real in my mind and who I cried along with as the words poured from my soul onto my screen.

“I admired Summer's strength and ability to adapt,” says CiCi’s Theories. “I felt tied to her emotions,” Jennifer Murgia, author or Angel Star admits. And Tahlia Newland, author of Lethal Inheritance, remarks, “Summer is strong and smart in mind [. . .]”

Through her overwhelmingly horrendous past, Summer goes on more than just a physical journey in Phantom Universe, she goes on a psychological one as well; growing beyond her mute state to persevere and survive in a new world beyond the whip she’s so frightened of.

Now that the release date is here, I’m excited and terrified to share this story with everyone. I’m emotionally tied in every way to the words I’ve written, because they’re more than words. More than just a story on a page. Beyond the fictional aspects, there’s a real issue that needs to be addressed: human trafficking must be stopped. We shouldn’t sit idly by while this continues to plague us. Our world’s children—our nation’s children—are being affected. It’s time we take action!

Earlier this month Phantom Universe hit Barnes and Noble’s top 100 Best Selling list. I’ve decided to donate 10% of my sales from Phantom Universe, until the end of February, to the DNA Foundation.

“DNA hopes to help abolish modern day slavery, deter perpetrators, and free the many innocent and exploited victims. We are committed to forcing sex slavery out of the shadows and into the spotlight.

Freedom is a basic human right and slavery is one of the greatest threats to that freedom. No one has the right to enslave another person.”

—From DNA Foundation’s Website

I ask that you spread the word to everyone you know. Look around on the DNA Foundation website and find a way to get involved in ending human trafficking. Take action today. Everyone has a voice—you have a voice. Will you have the courage to use it?

My First Ever Guest Post!

noreply@blogger.com (Tura Lura) — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 17:00:00 +0000

I'm not guest-blogging somewhere; I have a guest post for my blog! ^_^

Tomorrow, Thursday the 17th of February, Laura Kreitzer will be talking about an important cause featured in her unpoming book, Phantom Universe.

While I have not yet read any of Miss Kreitzer's books, I do follow her on Twitter. I've read all the writing advice (and everything else) on her website.

I look up to her as a writer.

I value her as a friend, even though we may never meet. :(

And I am super excited to have a guest post from her! ^_^