Books to Bury Yourself In

Moonlight and Oranges by Elise Stephens

noreply@blogger.com (Johanna) — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 05:00:00 +0000

by Elise Stephens

Genre: Contemporary Fiction | Romance | Young Adult

Review on behalf of AToMR Blog Tours

A timeless tale of young romance.

Lorona Connelly is ready for a change from her carefully planned, bookish life. When sparks fly at a costume party, she embraces a chance for romance with the handsome Kestrin Feather. However, she quickly realizes that even love and destiny may not be enough to overcome the reality of an overprotective mother-in-law and Kestrin’s long, tarnished history of relationships. When Lorona’s curiosity leads her to Kestrin’s journal, doubt plagues them both with insecurities and threatens the relationship. Can true love overcome the odds, or was their whirlwind romance just a frivolous crush?

Author Elise Stephens shares a journey of young love, fate, and wounded trust in the story of Lorona and Kestrin, a couple who must learn to overcome their fears to share a life together.

Lorona and Kestrin almost seem fated to meet the night of a Halloween party. And, before either can let their practical thoughts surface, they elope in a hasty marriage full of unique (citrus!!) desires and hopeful dreams of the future. Yet, not all is as it seems because Kestrin soon begins to secretly test Lorona regarding their "destined" relationship while his mother, Amanda, forcefully attempts to separate the two. Lorona, herself, struggles with trust issues due to Kestrin's wild past and easily believes her friend's comments over her husbands. Thus, can their marriage withstand the rocky ground they created for themselves and can their intense affections for each other win out in the end before it tears them apart? This modern re-telling of the Cupid and Psyche myth will draw you in with its emotional turmoil and family intrigue.

This was Kestrin Feather, the one with an appetite for variety and no interest in commitment. She’d heard about him, mostly from Yuki, who had alternated between praise for his charisma and tales of broken-hearted girls who Yuki knew personally.

Both protagonists really had their own uncommon strengths and irritating faults, which made them very believable at heart. And, while the plot line could easily steer into cheesy/over-sentimental portions every now and then, the overall direction truly had the reader guessing the outcome for the couple and the puzzling dream. Expect lots of entertaining side-characters who certainly become the voice for reason for Kestrin and Lorona in their dark times while adding some much need comic relief as well.

Amanda slid the leather-bound journal under a thick stack of Glamour and Vogue magazines on her coffee table. She approached her wall of photographs and stared at one with a mother and four-year-old son sitting in front of a three-foot tall Christmas tree. A golden retriever puppy had its head on the boy’s lap. "Mother knows best. Better than that bad dream, doesn't she?" Amanda kissed the glass directly over the little boy's hat. "Trust me."

Personally, I was really torn while reading this book. The character's callow actions really had me putting aside the book in frustration, but when I began reading again - I would easily get caught up in their impassioned struggle to make a relationship work no matter the odds and that was truly charming to me. Moreover, the namesake of the book title "Moonlight and Oranges" was constantly brought up in various ways and really became something the reader could easily associate with both characters throughout. So, if you are a fan of myths, romances and desire something fresh/new - check this out!!

Review: Goodreads | Barnes & Noble | Shelfari | LibraryThing | Amazon

Likes: The Mexican La Llorona folktale/ghost story was interesting!

Dislikes: I am all for unique names, but I really kept stumbling over Kestrin's name and it become more of an annoying factor than endearing one in the end. Also, there was an overabundance of detailed descriptions and character thoughts/feelings throughout the book--too much for my taste since I would have enjoyed less. As a reader, I would have liked to use my own interpretation of the emotional inner-life of the story more often. Thus, the tale came off as over-written to me in many parts and there needed to be a better balance overall.

Chapter One/Paragraph One: "1) Find a guy. 2) Strike up a witty conversation."

Favorite { Scene, Character or Setting }: Scene

"...searching in vain for a familiar face to save her from drowning, [Lorona] then gritted her teeth and headed for the candy corn. If she was too nervous to start a conversation with strangers, at least she knew how to eat candy. The kitchen windows vibrated every few seconds with music as if a nearby explosion was jarring the house foundation.

She passed Harry Potter and Marilyn Monroe in the midst of an earnest conversation about the upcoming elections. A woman wearing a flesh-colored suit and a huge stuffed python was dancing the Macarena to music in her head.

Lorona felt as if she were shrinking under the bright costumes and loud noises. If she could find someone who took an interest in her, she knew she’d warm up. She could even be witty if it she was talking to someone lively. Lorona didn’t have a track record of making the first move. The real definition for her condition was painfully-shy-unless-heartily-encouraged. Lorona chewed a few kernels of candy corn straight out of her palm.

“What’s your costume, a geek?” a male voice behind her asked.

Lorona turned to face a slender man in his mid twenties with pale curly hair, blue hell-if-I-care eyes, and a huge set of white wings. He was staring at her hair.

“I’m a psychologist.” She replied."

Online Preview: Read an Excerpt

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Iced Book Launch Party

noreply@blogger.com (Johanna) — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 02:33:00 +0000

Karen Marie Moning's ICED book-signing at the Le Pavillon in New Orleans.

Review coming soon ...

Kresley Cole Booksigning

noreply@blogger.com (Johanna) — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 02:00:00 +0000

One of my favorite authors was in town (again!) for her latest YA book release.

Mrs. Cole is such an animated author that it is hard not to enjoy her Q&A sessions.

Review coming soon ...

Back in Business after Isaac

noreply@blogger.com (Johanna) — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 20:15:00 +0000

I'm back!
(with the winner of my 100 Follower Giveaway)

Having watched the weather channel non-stop while being evacuated, returning home after six-days without power in my Nola neighborhood, trying to recreate a "normal" life again while dealing with work re-scheduling and local clean-ups has been exhausting (to say the least), but I am back and apologize for the delay in blogging...

Thus, without further delay...the winner of my 100 Follower giveaway is Vonnie.

Congratulations!!

P.S. The winner will have 48 hours to respond or I will have to pick a new winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

On Hiatus Due To Isaac

noreply@blogger.com (Johanna) — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 15:57:00 +0000


The solid blue line is the median hurricane track for Isaac through New Orleans. I've evacuated to Texas to avoid the wide-spread power outages. Safe wishes to all who stayed to wait out the wind, rain, etc. Good luck!! P.S. My GIVEAWAY is still up till this Saturday

Nell by Jeanette Baker

noreply@blogger.com (Johanna) — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 16:23:00 +0000

Nell

by Jeanette Baker

Genre: Contempory Fiction | Romance | Historical

Jillian Fitgerald, whose grand house had 60 rooms, grew up together with Frankie Maguire, the kennel keeper's son, in Northern Ireland. That she was rich and he was poor did not daunt their dreams of someday marrying. But Jillian was headed for a privileged life and the university. Frankie, drawn into the nationalist cause, faced a charge of murder and the dark walls of a jail cell.

With their lives torn apart, there seemed no chance for Jillian and Frankie. But the heart owns knowledge to which the mind is not privy. Generations before, an Irish princess, Eleanor "Nell" Fitzgerald, her family killed, her life in jeopardy, her beloved torn from her arms, was preparing to reach out to another woman who shared her heritage...a woman in another century. Now, from the court of Henry VIII to the violent streets of modern Belfast, Nell and Jillian will become two souls joined in one courageous battle to prove that neither prison bars nor the hands of time can stop the power of love...

Jilly had always been an innocent
and ambitious child that quickly developed a life-long crush on her ancestral family's
kennel keeper's son. She also had a privileged but lonely childhood. As a
result, she constantly craved knowledge for her endless curiosity which she unexpectedly
found in Frankie's calm guidance. From an early age, she learned to unbiasedly
appreciate the differences around her, something very rare in Northern Ireland's
1970s Protestant/Catholic mayhem. As she aged, her trust and love in
Frankie grew significantly until a fatal family accident tore them apart for
almost twenty-years. Jilly kept hope during their years of separation because
of a sacred promise made between them to wait
for each other. But, adolescent promises cannot always be kept in times of war/turmoil
and Jilly, before long, finds her life headed in a very different direction than first expected. 

Throughout it all, a deeper secret
has physically haunted Jilly since childhood--the spirit of Nell, a family relative
from over 400-years in the past. Thought of as an imaginary-friend while young,
Jilly could never understand why Nell was visible only to herself and no-one
else. Nevertheless, both related ladies soon found themselves on a mission to solve
each others personal struggles since both shared the ingrained ability of
stepping through time to be the voice of wisdom in each others time of need.

 

The truth behind the children's symbiotic attraction to each other lay somewhere within the core of them, a remote gene that had transferred itself from generation to generation, occasionally hidden but always there, through thousands of years of Maguire and Fitzgerald ancestors, to germinate in the minds and hearts of two children who were the best of those who had gone before.

Frankie knew his limitations early on, especially in regards to Jilly and her high-classed families expectations. As much as he had like to dream about his future as a veterinarian graduate and a life with the girl he shared a strong connection with, the harsh reality forced on fellow Catholics like him quickly altered his perception. Foolishly thinking that the law would not condemn a young boy for an accidental murder, Frankie found himself on prison row and sliding deeper in the Irish Republic Army's activities--away from Jilly and the marriage promise they made. Consequently, Frankie slyly adopted a new identity, took on a more powerful role within his Catholic community, and basically dropped off the face of the earth before being discovered by Jilly many years later. When destiny crossed his path with Jilly years later, both were living extremely opposite lifestyles. Thus, Frankie became torn about overcoming the political prejudices set against them in hopes of finally being together with Jilly--or will the deep-seated beliefs that Protestant/Catholic relationships could never last overshadow his youthful dream?

On the flip side, Nell's relationship struggles back in the 1500s intensifies when the Celtic warrior Donal attempted to keep her from harms-way after her family fell apart in Tudor England. Living in a time when women held little control over their futures, Nell and Donal shared a bond that intensified as they become betrothed. Furthermore, the heart wants what the heart wants no matter what the King of England may say in the matter.

It was only natural that a child like Jilly, craving acceptance and answers and finding none, should be drawn to a boy who had both. That she was rich and he poor meant nothing. The Catholic/Protestant thing meant even less. While Jilly was impetuous, needle-sharp, and completely without prejudice, Frankie was deliberate, compassionate, and tirelessly patient...

I began this story expecting more of a time-travel adventure, but come out of it enjoying a sweet budding romance that started at a young age and continued into adulthood. The overall tale was gripping and emotionally heart-breaking but also fascinating with presenting how fickle fate can be. No matter how much Frankie and Jilly may have chosen to pull away from each other at a young age, they were always drawn back together...eventually. Moreover, the Irish chaos created around them only intensified their eventually union while any attempts of avoidance as adults in creating anything more was as good as meaningless in the reader's eyes--who could easily witness the internal struggle both went through throughout the story. Additionally, the supernatural aspect of Nell and Jilly being each others spirit guide was out-of-the-ordinary but ultimately feel flat for me. Neither really contributed very much to the others story and could have easily been cut out all-together without much of a difference throughout the general tale. All in all, if you are an historical fiction fan that takes pleasure in endless romances full of tension and turmoil, you will like Baker's book. Enjoy!

Review: Goodreads | Barnes & Noble | Shelfari | LibraryThing | Amazon

Likes: How both Jilly and Frankie stayed true to each other in their own ways. I will not go into details her because of spoilers, but it was still charming overall.

Dislikes: The two stories (i.e. Jilly/Frankie and Nell/Donal) did not really complement each other as I had hoped. I would have enjoyed more similarities between the two tales and, sadly, about half way through the book they were no longer created as parallel point-of-views but instead as two separate entities. To me, it felt almost as if Jilly's story eclipsed everything else in the book and that Nell's tale was not really needed to complete the story--almost like her life narrative was only there for filler and would have been much better as a prequel.

Chapter One/Paragraph One: In Jillian's mind, Francis Maguire would forever be associated with the pungent, woolly smell of wet dog. It never occurred to her that it was the slightest bit unusual for the closed-in world of the Kildare kennel to evoke images of a boy's callused palm and defined calf muscles, of his thin, sun-browned hand and rich, healing voice, of black hair and winter-gray eyes, of warmth and giving and all that she'd known of acceptance and compassion and sharing. Considering the privileged circumstance of Jilly's birth and the underprivileged one of Frankie's, the way she felt was beyond unusual. It was extraordinary.

Favorite { Scene, Character or Setting }: Scene

Leaving her lemonade untouched, Jilly turned to stare out over the storm, showing him only her profile. "Do you think our lives will be any different, Frankie?"

Struck by the maturity of her question, he started at her, noticing for the first time the way the morning light outlines the delicate edge of her cheek and chin, the shape of her nose, and the pure clean line of her throat. He remembered the she was only thirteen, and a wave of color swept across his face.

Turning away, he considered her question. "Maybe not so different, but at least we'll have hope for somethin' better. That's more than we have now."

Slowly, she turned to look at him with that new maturity he had never noticed before. "What could be better than this?" She waved her arm to encompass their surroundings.

"For me, this is the exception," he said, keeping his gaze averted. "You wouldn't know about that."

"It's not always life this for me, either, Frankie. Would you care to change places and see?"

"Don't be ridiculous."

"Answer the question. Would you want to go home to my family, to Terrence, my mother, and my father?"

"Perhaps not Terrence," he said, attempting a note of levity.

"I didn't think so."

She stood and walked toward the stream to dip her feet. Frankie couldn't take his eyes off the slender curves of her bare legs under the rolled-up overalls or the way her body dipped in at the waist and flared slightly at her hips. Christ, what was the matter with him? This was Jilly. She was a schoolgirl, and he was nearly seventeen. There were plenty of girls in the village for what he had in mind, even more in Belfast. His spirits lifted.

Tomorrow, Monday, was the day he would leave. By Wednesday, his examinations would be over, and he would have seven days to himself, seven days of freedom, of pubs and films, of Guinness and music, seven days of museums and theater, of shops and craic and women. Sheer heaven to one who measured the success of his entertainment by the size of the crowds in Kilvara on market day. Tomorrow, he would have forgotten all about his sudden fascination with a tomboy with too many freckles, a girl who though fishing for trout was the best life had to offer, a girl he had no business noticing in the first place.

Online Preview: Read an Excerpt

In Northern Ireland, Getting Past the Troubles: Article

Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost

noreply@blogger.com (Johanna) — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 16:04:00 +0000

Once Burned

(Night Prince, Book #1)
by Jeaniene Frost

Genre: Dark Fantasy | Paranormal Romance

She’s a mortal with dark powers…

After a tragic accident scarred her body and destroyed her dreams, Leila never imagined that the worst was still to come: terrifying powers that let her channel electricity and learn a person’s darkest secrets through a single touch. Leila is doomed to a life of solitude…until creatures of the night kidnap her, forcing her to reach out with a telepathic distress call to the world’s most infamous vampire…

He’s the Prince of Night…

Vlad Tepesh inspired the greatest vampire legend of all—but whatever you do, don’t call him Dracula. Vlad’s ability to control fire makes him one of the most feared vampires in existence, but his enemies have found a new weapon against him – a beautiful mortal with powers to match his own. When Vlad and Leila meet, however, passion ignites between them, threatening to consume them both. It will take everything that they are to stop an enemy intent on bringing them down in flames.

Since young, Leila (aka Frankie) has shied away from the normal public. Anywhere that she can fit in with her special "condition" is where she yearns to stay, so when the traveling circus needed more performance acts--she readily jumped at the opportunity as their trampoline/gymnastic performer. In hopes of a better lifestyle in which she does not feel like the odd-one-out, Leila unfortunately continues to be treated by her fellow Carnies with caution and avoidance. And, after years of struggling with loneliness, she still burns inside while witnessing simple displays of affection (ex. holding hands, small caresses, etc.)--something that she both begrudgingly lacks and longingly craves. Yet, when Leila's shocking abilities become known by the wrong crowd, she finds herself dragged into a darker reality than she ever expected--full of vengeful vampires, gruesome deaths, and a well-known historical figure. As much as she may desire to escape this sinisterly attractive vampire's grasp, Leila quickly discovers a strong physical connection with him that she has never shared with anyone. But, can she live up to this Legends expectations of love and war?

If I touch someone--or an object with a strong emotional essence on it--I catch glimpes of things. If the glimpes are in black and white, they're from the past. If they're in color but hazy, they're from the future. And if I concentrate, I can trace someone's essence from an object to find that person in the present, which looks clear and normal to me. That's how I found you.

Vlad is as famous as he is feared and most significantly can control fire--a trait developed from his long-lost vampire sire. He can also be strongly egotistical, frightfully dominant, outrageously sophisticated and to some extent amusingly charming, especially toward his newest captive who he finds both fascinating and intriguing. But when he comes to Leila's rescue after a cruel kidnapping, he inadvertently draws her into his mysterious world of danger and death. When sparks literally fly between the two, Vlad makes a decision to take things further with no plans of emotional attachment. Yet, Leila's feisty spirit and persistent curiosity continues to peak his interest, especially in regards to her growing power which can be very fatal towards vampires. And, when his past comes back to haunt him with vengeance, Vlad tries his hardest to keep Leila clear of the action...unsuccessfully.

That's when the fire swarmed me, forming out of nowhere. It climbed up my legs in coiling, merciless bands, making me scream from the sudden blast of agony. I tried to run faster, but that only made the fire climb higher. I flung myself onto the floor next, rolling, every nerve ending howling with anguish, but the fire still didn't extinguish. It kept growing, covering me with ruthless, hungry waves, until a roaring blackness rushed up and consumed me. The last thing I saw as I floated above my lifeless body was the dark-haired vampire still walking away, his hands now lit up by flames that somehow didn't scorch his skin.

If you are a big Jeaniene Frost fan, like myself, you will highly enjoy the beginning of her new (blend-over from the Night Huntress) Night Prince series. Vlad is as hot as ever and the underground opulent world created around him really adds to his sizzling appeal. Leila is a complex character with a lot going on in her life that really pushes her towards her current predicament. Together they instantly complement each other; Vlad helping to boost her confidence while Leila slyly begins to soften his sharp edges. Their relationship was heated and pleasurable overall, but almost predictable with the male lead not wishing to "love" again because of a tragic history...a subject repeated throughout many books in this genre. Throughout the tale, the reader is treated to past favorite characters (yes, that includes Bones) as well as some new rather interesting ones. Plus, the story by and large flowed smoothly, but the ending was not quite as emotionally thrilling as I had hoped...yet...that will not discourage me from checking out Book # 2 in the series, Twice Tempted, coming out March 19th, 2013.

Review: Goodreads | Barnes & Noble | Shelfari | LibraryThing | Amazon

Likes: The sexual tension in this story was very nice. Not too overwhelming or forced, with just enough spark to keep both characters on their toes and the reader excited about where their relationship was headed.

Dislikes: For me, Leila's "unusual abilities" were all over the place with no real similar connection between them (ex. telepathy, divination, retro-cognition/clairsentience, electrocution, etc.). It would have been nice for her to have maybe one main talent and slowly grow into the others, because she really came out with so much at once that it was overwhelming to keep track in regards to who could do what when during the action sequences.

Chapter One/Paragraph One: I parked my bike in front of the restaurant, wiping the perspiration from my upper lip. It was unseasonably warm this January, but sweating during a Florida winter was better than freezing in a Northern one. I twisted my hair into a knot, my neck cooler once the long black swath was off it. With a final swipe at my forehead, I entered the restaurant, ignoring the tables in favor of the patrons seated at the bar.

Favorite { Scene, Character or Setting }: Scene

Gotcha, I thought, torn between relief and dismay at finding him in what I knew was the present.

I 'd only seen him before through the grayish tones of past memories, by spying on him in the present was different. No one else was in my head by me. Free from other people's perspective, I took my time studying the fire start.

     At first, he looked like a normal, well-built man in his thirties, but then hints of his uniqueness showed. His espresso-colored hair was past his shoulder--longer than most men dared, but on him it somehow looked supremely masculine. Black pants and an indigo shirt draped over muscles that appeared far harder than a gym membership usually accounted for, and though no flames clung to his hands, they were crisscrossed with scars that looked like former battle wounds. His high cheekbones were accented by stubble somewhere between five o'clock shadow and a beard, yet instead of coming across as unkempt, it was rugged and enticing. I hadn't seen a man pull off that look so well since Aragorn in Lord of the Rings, and his eyes...

     Opened, a rich copper shade encircled by rings of evergreen. I would have thought they were beautiful, but at the moment, they looked as though they were staring right into mine.

It unnerved me, but I reminded myself it was only coincidence. No one ever knew it when I used my abilities to establish a link. I could be the world's biggest voyeur if I wanted, but my most fervent wish was to know less about people, not more--

"Who are you?"

I jumped. If I hadn't seen his finely shaped lips move, I would've thought I'd imagined the words. Coincidence, I reminded myself again. Any second someone would come into my line of vision and I'd see who he was really talking to--

"I'll ask a second time," his deep, slightly accented voice said. "Who are you, and how the hell are you inside my head?"

That scared me into dropping the link at once.

Online Preview: Read an Excerpt

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Friday Blog Hops

noreply@blogger.com (Johanna) — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 14:09:00 +0000

TGIF is hosted by Ginger at GReads!

Question: Pimp Your Review: Feature a favorite book review you've written in the past that you feel deserves more love!

Answer: I particularly enjoyed working on one of the most recent books I read:

The Time-Traveling Fashionista

{ REVIEW }

It was such a colorful book that I included some of the vibrant illustrations throughout my review. Plus, it was just a fun and refreshing read overall!

Feature & Follow is hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee

Question: What blogger inspires you? It can be any kind, it doesn’t have to be a book blog.

Answer: I have recently fell in love with the Glamorous Monk.
The website is full of the beauty of France with glamorous photographs and random stories of life abroad. Personally, it makes me miss the time I lived abroad, but the blogger really inspires me by her descriptions of the simple pleasures of life.

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy For Books

Question: What is the one genre you will NEVER read?

Answer: I find my taste changes as I age. I use to say I would never read biographies, but some of those are quite interesting now. I could also say I never wanted to read about business & finance, but since my job revolves around that - I find myself reading about that as well.

BUT, I do not enjoy books about politics or true crime, so that would be a current genre I have absolutely no taste in checking out.

Happy Reading/Weekend Everyone!!

100 Follower Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Johanna) — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 17:28:00 +0000

I am so excited and pleased to say that its finally time for the 100 follower giveaway!

Thank you everyone for visiting and commenting, so I wish you the best of luck in winning Jeaniene Frost's currently published (June 26th, 2012) paperback release:
Once Burned

An exciting perk of this giveaway is that the book is SIGNED by the author and will come with some fun related book goodies from her book-signing at the Author's After Dark event in New Orleans. Good Luck!!

She's a mortal with dark powers...

After a tragic accident scarred her body and destroyed her dreams, Leila never imagined that the worst was still to come: terrifying powers that let her channel electricity and learn a person's darkest secrets through a single touch. Leila is doomed to a life of solitude...until creatures of the night kidnap her, forcing her to reach out with a telepathic distress call to the world's most infamous vampire...

He's the Prince of Night...

Vlad Tepesh inspired the greatest vampire legend of all—but whatever you do, don't call him Dracula. Vlad's ability to control fire makes him one of the most feared vampires in existence, but his enemies have found a new weapon against him—a beautiful mortal with powers to match his own. When Vlad and Leila meet, however, passion ignites between them, threatening to consume them both. It will take everything that they are to stop an enemy intent on bringing them down in flames.

Rules:

1: Open Internationally -- all are welcome.

2: Please follow me via GFC or Linky Followers.
3: I am not responsible for the book if it gets lost in the mail.
4: I am giving fair-warning that my 5-month old kitten did decide to chomp into the bottom right corner - no major damage, just a pair of visible kitten-sized puncture wounds. But come on...it is a vampire book - so think of it as a little added ambiance.

5: I own the book. This giveaway is not in exchange for a review of the book.

6: This is an adult topic book and because of that, I think the suitable reading age should be 18 years or older. No one under 18-years-old please.

7: Winner will have 48 hours to respond or I will have to pick a new winner.

8: The winner will be chosen at random from rafflecopter and announced September 1st, 2012. So, please use the rafflecopter to enter below...

Good luck and thanks again for your support!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Authors After Dark Book Signing

noreply@blogger.com (Johanna) — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 21:51:00 +0000

Just got back and met some great authors...

The Royal Sonesta Hotel New Orleans

Dakota Cassidy

Jeaniene Frost

Great turnout!!

Random Reads { #7 }

noreply@blogger.com (Johanna) — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 20:45:00 +0000

&lt;center>&lt;a href="http://bookstoburyyourselfin.blogspot.com/">&lt;img border="0" src="http://i1016.photobucket.com/albums/af282/Panola7404/rreads2.jpg" />&lt;/a>&lt;/center>

Copy & Paste

As book bloggers, we are always reviewing a current book or posting about an upcoming series, but I am interested to see what books we hold on to for our personal/permanent library. So, be spontaneous and randomly choose a book from your bookshelf...answer the questions below and share your random selection with fellow bloggers.

Brilliance of the Moon

(Tales of the Otori series, Book #3)

by Lian Hearn

1. When did you get this book?

c. 2005 at Yohan bookstore in Osaka, Japan.

2. Can you do a one sentence summary? Takeo is a legendary assassin who has little knowledge of warfare and love, but he quickly learns to master both when his enemies arrive unexpectedly.

3. Do you like the cover? It's great. Goes perfectly with the Asian theme.

4. What is the first full sentence on page 100? "Her grandmother stood staring upwards."

5. Share something about the author. Lian Hearn was born in England and has seen then emigrated to Australia and closer to Japan.

Authors After Dark Book-signing

noreply@blogger.com (Johanna) — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Cant make the con but wanna meet the authors?

AAD has a book-signing that is open to the public!

TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING AUTHORS:

AUGUST 11th, 2-4pm

at the ROYAL SONESTA HOTEL,

300 BOURBON ST. NEW ORLEANS!

AND FOR YOU YA LOVERS:

1pm: YA reading and early signing with Lia Hable, Danny Marks, Kelly Keaton, Darynda Jones and more! This is ALSO a open to the public event.

SPREAD THE WORD!

There might be some special goodies about!

This Is Not A Test by Courtney Summers

noreply@blogger.com (Johanna) — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 13:00:00 +0000

This Is Not A Test
by Courtney Summers

Genre: Dark Fantasy | Young Adult | Post-Apocalyptic

It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up.

As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live. But as the days crawl by, everyone’s motivations to survive begin to change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life–and death–inside. When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

Listen Closely.

Do not draw attention to yourself.

Once you have found a secure location, stay where you are and help will come soon. 

This is not a test.

Sloane Price is stuck in the various stages of grief after her older sister, Lily, abruptly abandons her with their abusive father. She is in such a numb state-of-mind that she even writes her own suicide letter and fantasies about her sister reading it one day when she is gone. Yet, things do not go as planned when one fateful morning Sloane's life takes an ever darker turn and she finds herself on the run with six other scared teenagers. Sloane, Rhys Moreno (18 years old, CHS senior), Cary Chen (18 years old, CHS senior), Grace and Trace Casper (17 years old, twins, CHS Juniors) and Harrison (14 years old, newly transferred CHS freshman) take refuge in their local Cortege High School auditorium, which becomes their emergency shelter during a deadly zombie take-over of their small town.

Tires squealing against the pavement.

People running directionless.

Screaming.

This must be a dream. I must not be awake. Or I’m awake and someone ruined our tidy, quiet street while we were sleeping. Broken glass. Doors flung wide open. Cars parked, running, with no one inside of them. An alarm shrieks nearby. Smoke billows out the window of a house down the street. Mr. North’s house. A police car is parked haphazardly on his lawn, its lights flashing. A fire. That must be what’s happened except I can’t understand why this would turn everyone to panic.

Everyone is panicking.

Suffering from shock and denial that the world is crumbling around them, Sloane and her new companions must learn to savor the moments they have since seconds really do count in this new post-apocalyptic society. But, when death is all one sees, hears, and experiences - it becomes difficult to not become callus and desensitized to the new way of life thrust upon them. Thus, the troubles outside the school walls soon become nothing compared to the internal struggles within when harsh murder accusations, deadly weapons, and fatal decisions about life and death come into play. And, when the emergency barricades finally come down, who will be the last one standing?

Lily, I woke up and the last piece of my heart disappeared. I opened my eyes and I felt it go. Things got worse after you left. Now I’m leaving too.

I really had such high hopes for this book since I am a dedicated horror fan and ♥♥♥ zombies, but, sadly, I really could not get past Sloane "readying [herself] to die" and her coldhearted temperament. From the very beginning she "decided to die" and carried such a strong torch about her run-away sister that she did not really develop past being hollow and grief-stricken. She constantly carried such a depressing sense of reality around with her that it became very tricky, for the reader, to think about anything else. For example, Sloane would see a car wrapped around a telephone pole and her first thought would be: "that must have been a good way to go."--which, for me, was just too dismal and lacking any sense of salvation. I understand the overall focus of this tale was death, but I would have enjoyed more moments of confidence that did not arise from feeling indestructible because of a selfish death wish.

Other than that, the reader is treated to only a limited number of days during the teens struggle for survival and it is almost as if you are dropped right into the middle of the story and have to catch up with what is going on. Maybe the confusion created for the reader at the beginning is deliberate to throw off their comfort-zone and plunge them into the chaotic setting (i.e. the destruction of civilization). But overall, it would have been nice to have a bit more information (perhaps a prequel?) leading up to the current predicament or, at least, another point of view that would have added a little more substance throughout the tale. For personally I believe any additional perspectives within This Is Not A Test would have greatly broken up the dark, heavy tone of Sloane's mind-set. Yet, if you enjoy a melancholy story and have a passion for the fright factor -- you will appreciate Ms. Summers zombie apocalypse.

Review: Goodreads | Barnes & Noble | Shelfari | LibraryThing | Amazon

Likes: A quickly paced, well written, high adrenaline-pumped zombie read that kept me up reading late into the night. Also, I enjoyed Trace's silly anagram joke about "TINA T."

Dislikes: The overall story contained little to no soul, the plot (i.e. struggle to survival) grew sorta blah after awhile, and I could not warm up to the protagonist because Sloane was such a dark and depressing character with no hope or redemption. Even the playful moments (ex. playing I NEVER with alcohol) was gloomy and upsetting. All in all, this was not your every-cloud-has-a-silver-lining type of read I think I was desiring.

Chapter One/Paragraph One: Lily, I woke up and the last piece of my heart disappeared. I opened my eyes and I felt it go.

Favorite { Scene, Character or Setting }: Scene

"Grace grabs her purse. It's a designer purse. I watch her unzip it and riffle through it until she find what she's looking for. As soon as she does, the purse slip from her grasp and hits the floor. Clutched tightly in her fingers is a piece of paper. She unfold it and then pressed it against her face, breathes it in.

"Look at this," she says. She kisses the note once before she gives it to me. As soon as my fingers curl around it, she says, "Be careful--"

Daughter dear, I didn't manage to throw something together for your lunch--I'm a flake! Here's some money instead. But something healthy! Remember, Miss President, the student body looks to you to set a good example!

Love you, xo Mom

The first thing I think is, Mrs. Casper still makes Grace's lunch? And then I cross that thought out until it's not even there anymore because it's the kind of thing Mrs. Casper would do and besides-it's a note from Grace's Mom. This is what has value. This is the new money.

"Lucky," I say.

"I know. I knew it was here...but I couldn't--I mean I just couldn't. Until now," she says. "I just woke up and I really wanted it today. I miss her."

Online Preview: Read an Excerpt

The Time-Traveling Fashionista by Bianca Turetsky

noreply@blogger.com (Johanna) — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 15:23:00 +0000

The Time-Traveling Fashionista
on board the Titanic
(The Time-Traveling Fashionista, Book #1)
by Bianca Turetsky

Genre: Contemporary Fiction | Time-Travel | Fantasy | Historic | Young Adult

What if a beautiful vintage dress could take you back in time?

Louise Lambert has always dreamed of movie starlets and exquisite gowns and longs for the day when she can fill the closet of her normal suburban home with stylish treasures. But when she receives a mysterious invitation to a vintage fashion sale in the mail, her once painfully average life is magically transformed into a time-travel adventure.

Suddenly on-board a luxurious cruise ship a hundred years ago, Louise relishes the glamorous life of this opulent era and slips into a life of secrets, drama, and decadence....

"Vintage is a way of wearing history, a means by which we can turn the past into the present, even the future. Through us old fashion lives again."

-Hilary Alexander, fashion director The Daily Telegraph

Louise, a twelve-year-old from Connecticut, is just your ordinary 7th grader--well as ordinary as any young lady who has a strong passion for vintage clothing, can name the top celebrities during Hollywood's Golden Age, and instantly recognizes her favorite fashion designers from lavish eras long-past. When an mysterious invitation arrives at her home that personally invites her to a Traveling Fashionista Vintage Sale, Louise eagerly jumps at the opportunity to find the perfect dress for her upcoming school dance. Hoping for something totally unique and very special, Louise is thrilled to try on her luxurious vintage discover to only find herself transported back in time to the year 1912 instead.

The dress made her gasp. It was the perfect powdery pink gown, a long, draped skirt that flowed out from an empire waist, intricately detailed with shimmery gold thread and tiny silver beads. It was delicate and feminine, and Louise knew that no one at Fairview Junior High would have anything like it. She quickly plucked it out of the closet and announced that she had found The One.

Now, unknowingly, on board the ill-fated Titanic voyage to New York City as seventeen-year-old Miss. Alice Baxter, Louise can actually experience her life-long fantasy of being a famous Old Hollywood actress while meeting such famous figures as Mr. Guggenheim and Mrs. Astor. Her first-class treatment opens up a world of fashion opportunities that Louise could only dream of. Yet, as more people begin to catch on to Miss. Baxter/Louise's unusual behaviors (ex. breaking customs to become friends with her maid, using modern terminology throughout her conversations, and an oddly eager appetite at dinner) and Louise, herself, discovers just which doomed ship she is currently on--a heart-thumping race to try to change history, figure out how to get back to her own time, and keep safe from the authorities who believe she is simultaneously deranged and a witch begins.

Louise stood at the railing and looked out at the expansive sea. For the first time in her life, the sight of water did not fill her with a feeling of freedom and excitement. She felt quite the opposite: trapped. She was stuck on a sinking ship in a life and body that were not hers.

This was an adorable read that kept me enchanted throughout. Louise was so mature and had such fascinating interests that it was difficult to believe she was only twelve. She was very level-headed about her adventure into the past and the family connection at the end of the book, in regards to her Titanic trip, was very clever. The overall moral of the tale was to appreciate what you have, for sometimes the grass isn't always greener on the other side. All in all, an entertaining and fanciful story that offered some colorful insights into an unfortunate time in history for a younger audience. Regardless of your passion for days gone by, The Time-Traveling Fashionista is a trip to the past you will want to enjoy!

Review: Goodreads | Barnes & Noble | Shelfari | LibraryThing | Amazon

Likes: There are some wonderfully fun and very vibrant visual aids, twenty-five in all, scattered throughout the book, which I think is a rather fascinating way to read about the colorful fashions/styles and have the detailed imagery right there as well. Beautiful illustrations!!

Dislikes: The story was written for the younger-side of the Young-Adult genre, so it is rather simple and short. Plus, it is more of a fluff read than anything else. But, as frivolous as it is, this time-traveling tale would make a great end-of-summer beach read!

Chapter One/Paragraph One: "The invitation arrived on an ordinary Thursday. When Louise Lambert came home from swim practice that April afternoon, as she did every Thursday afternoon, it was lying on top of a pile of mail on the antique, oak hall table. She grabbed the lavender envelope on her way upstairs."

Favorite { Scene, Character or Setting }: Scene
Anna helped her into the beautiful violet chiffon tea gown Louise had seen earlier in the steamer trunk. It was accentuated with a spray of hand-sewn green and raspberry pink silk flower that were so delicate the looked like they could only have been stitched by a doll's hands.

"Oh my God, it's a Lucile," Louise whispered loudly while reading the pale green tag with black script lettering. "And it's in perfect condition."

"It better be," Anna replied, smoothing the wrinkles out of the fabric with her hands. "You paid a pretty pound for it last week."

"Oh right, it's new," Louise clarified quickly, realizing that in 1912 this would not be vintage.

"She'll be thrilled to see you wearing it. You look absolutely radiant in her designs."

"When I see her?" Louise asked, confused. "You mean Lucile is on this ship, too?"

"Yes, don't you remember? Lady Duff-Gordon and Sir Cosmo are both on board. They are traveling to New York to open her first American Lucile shop," Anna answered patiently, as though she was speaking to a slow five-year-old.

To her surprise, the dress fit Louise perfectly. It was like it was custom-made especially for her. "This is so cool," she breathed, excited.

"Would you like me to warm the dress up for you?" Anna asked as she extended her arm, confused.

Online Preview: Book Trailer and Excerpt

Book #2: September 18, 2012

Friday Blog Hops

noreply@blogger.com (Johanna) — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 15:10:00 +0000

Question: Book Olympics: In the spirit of the Olympics, which books would you give the gold, silver, and bronze medals to? It can be from any genre, new or old.

Answer: Gold would definitely go to Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind. I believe it takes nerves-of-steel to make the protagonist so stubborn and selfish within such a breathtakingly flawed and disturbingly romantic tale. Plus, the fact that it continues to be read, cherished, and debated today is a marvel! {Plus, I loved Alexandra Ripley's continuation with Scarlett!}

Silver would have to go to one of the very first romances I read, The Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux. This book really carved out my desires for certain types of genres because it first exposed me to a miss-moss tale full of contemporary drama, fairy-tale romance, time-travel adventures, and historical details. It made me both laugh and cry (sometimes on the same page!) and the ending totally caught me by surprise.

Bronze would go to Carrie Ryan's The Forest of Hands and Teeth. I honestly cannot remember a book that has so thoroughly drew me into the dark feelings of the characters. Sadly the books following in the series did not have the same emotional fright-factor as book #1, but Ryan's post-apocalyptic zombie story will have a place in my heart and is something I always compare similar stories to. {It is stories like this that make me sleep with the closet door shut at night!}

TGIF is hosted by Ginger at GReads!

Question: Do your reading habits change based on your mood? Do you read a certain genre if you are feeling depressed or happy?

Answer: Yes, my reading habits are definitely based on my moods. Sometimes I will crave a light and fluffy read if I have had a particularly bad week at work or maybe I will desire something dark and steamy on a rainy night-in. Otherwise, if I force myself to read something out of my current mood-status, I find I start slipping into a reading slump - so - if I let my mood pick the book, it won't let me down!

Feature & Follow is hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee

Question: When a book goes “viral” (Hunger Games, Fifty Shades, Twilight), do you rush out to read it like everyone else, even if it’s not in your typical genre?

Answer: No, I have been stubbornly independent for as long as I can remember and blatantly refuse to follow the normal crowd. {ex. voted Most Unique in high school} So, when books "explode" into popularity, I will usually shy away and go the other direction. Sometimes I will read books before they become famous in the literary world, but I won't go out of my way to read them because everyone is raving about them.

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy For Books

Happy Reading/Weekend Everyone!!

Silver by Rhiannon Held

noreply@blogger.com (Johanna) — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 17:08:00 +0000

Silver
by Rhiannon Held

Genre: Paranormal Romance | Dark Fantasy | Mystery

Andrew Dare is a werewolf. He’s the enforcer for the Roanoke pack, and responsible for capturing or killing any Were intruders in Roanoke’s territory. But the lone Were he’s tracking doesn’t smell or act like anyone he’s ever encountered. And when he catches her, it doesn’t get any better. She’s beautiful, she’s crazy, and someone has tortured her by injecting silver into her veins. She says her name is Silver, and that she’s lost her wild self and can’t shift any more.

The packs in North America have a live-and-let-live attitude, and try not to overlap with each other. But Silver represents a terrible threat to every Were on the continent.

Andrew and Silver will join forces to track down this menace while discovering their own power and their passion for each other.

Andrew is a werewolf who has never really been content with his current Virginia pack due to his rocky history in Madrid, Spain where he acquired the nickname "the Butcher of Barcelona." He is charismatic, very quick, has a strong sense of honor, and enough strength to become Alpha of his very own pack, but he considers that to be too much work. Thus, he follows orders as his pack's enforcer. While on a mission to uncover the lone wolf on his Alpha's territory, Andrew discovers a tortured and mentally-broken werewolf in human-form. Having no clues as to where this madwoman comes from or which pack she belongs, Andrew takes on the responsibility of discovering her tortuous past himself since her erratic disillusions and cryptic babel, if true, could be detrimental for werewolves everywhere and needs to be stopped!

Silver had been running for a long time. It began with the monster. The monster poured fire into her blood and smiled as she screamed and her wild self fled. He’d thought her so far gone in burning, he’d not watched her closely, and she’d escaped. She sensed him distantly behind her now. Following her trail. She couldn’t let him catch her, or it would begin all over again.

Silver is scrawny, white-haired, some what brain damaged due to silver exposure, and very reluctant to be around anyone but the ghost of Death who follows her closely and acts almost as a pessimistic spirit-guide. Mostly, she is forlorn, distraught, and confused about her past and speaks in her own daffy language (ex. angry snakes that live on her arm, a glowing lady that lives in the sky, losing her name and wild-self, and a monster that is hunting her) that few understand. When her silver-tainted scent trail is discovered by Andrew (who she refers to as the Warrior), she confidently follows him back to the Roanoke pack only because Ghost approves and tells her to trust him. She understands she "can't run forever", but is continually haunted by tainted memories. And, when her blood-poisoning problem lessens, Silver becomes more lucid and able to fight her gruesome past.

This was an interesting book. Firstly, I really appreciated the development both of the main characters went through from beginning to end. Andrew grew from a unaccomplished loner to a more authoritative figure while Silver went from being incomprehensible to knowing she had been a strong woman and can be again. Together they made a "formidable team." Secondly, The crackling tension between Andrew and Silver was really satisfying since their interactions showed that there is indeed a thin line between infuriating and irresistible. Their relationship slowly matured into a romantic one without coming off as forced or implausible. Thirdly, the psychotic murder mystery aspect to the story was well written with Silver's Mother's pack resolving much of the confusion and secrets, but it definitely added a gruesome and uncomfortable tone to the overall tale where bloody vengeance was the name of the game.

Review: Goodreads | Barnes & Noble | Shelfari | LibraryThing | Amazon

Likes: I really enjoyed the various packs introduced throughout this story. The different cities (and there are lots of them!!) where the packs resided really kept the story interesting by displaying a different Alpha/power-figure, scenery, pack formality, and even changing family environments--so there was always something new and refreshing to read about since these numerous settings opened up a broader picture for the reader.. Plus, the Roanoke ancestral history was fascinating, especially considering how very traditional they were in passing on names from the original settlers into the modern day.

Dislikes: I would have enjoyed a better conclusion to Andrew's lost teenage daughter in Spain since he misses her "like a physical pain sometimes." The reader was left hanging, having to accept things as they were. But, I really hoped he would have challenged his claim over her upon reaching Alpha status. I guess we will never know...

Chapter One/Paragraph One: "The lone werewolf smelled like silver and pain. Or maybe it wasn't pain, maybe it was fear. In human form, Andrew Dare's nose had missed that undertone altogether, and even in wolf it was elusive. Her trail wove beneath one of the power-line towers straddling this strip of grassy, underdeveloped land, and the metal bar clipped the top of Andrew's ears as he padded under. He twitched his ears, checking again for any nearby humans, but he remained alone for the moment."

Favorite { Scene, Character or Setting }: Character

Death = "blacker than night on a raven's wing", endless patience, smug, gave Silver her name, disturbingly uses voices of dead loved ones to speak, uses a wolf-form the whole time, walks around like he owns the place, provokes with words, knows what other people are thinking, displays amused anticipation most of the time, only visible to those close to dying, very sardonic, thought of as a manifestation of Silver's unconsciousness but also a realistic hallucination. Creepy, but totally fascinating!!

Online Preview: Read an excerpt

The Wolf Who Loved Me by Lydia Dare

noreply@blogger.com (Johanna) — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 19:34:00 +0000

The Wolf Who Loved Me
by Lydia Dare
Pseudonym for Tammy Falkner and Jodie Pearson

Genre: Paranormal Romance | Historic

Lady Madeline Hayburn Has Money Problems...

Specifically, she has so much of it that she's dogged by fortune hunters, including her bewilderingly attractive, penniless neighbor, with his wild nature and uncouth manners...

Weston Hadley Has An Identity Crisis...

Specifically, he's just turned into a wolf while Madeline was watching. Now it's up to the regal lady to tame the wild beast...if she can...

Madeline detests the house parties her father, the Duke of Hythe, and brothers thrown in her honor, since they all desperately hope she will make a suitable matrimonial match one day. But, to Maddie, no one is as charming and entertaining to talk to like the poor Mr. Hadley who lives on the next estate over. Unfortunately, he is not a man her powerful family would approve of, so Maddie can only enjoy their brief conversation and nothing more. Yet, upon watching Mr. Hadley, from her windowsill one night, easily drag a limp body into the local stables -- Maddie's curiosity is peaked, leading her to investigate the shady situation herself. But, after a fateful discovery, Maddie quickly finds herself on a scandalous escapade to Scotland to tie the knot with the man she least expected...in ratty clothing, wild hair, and lacking slippers no less!

Oh, he was born of nobility like everyone else in attendance. And he filled out a coat better than most, even if the coat tended to be a bit on the shabby side. But there was something dark and mysterious about him. And then there was the scar he sported across his cheek.

Weston has been a love-sick puppy (literally!) for Madeline since he first saw her. Since "growing up," he has become more of a rascal than an eligible marriage candidate, but that does not stop him when Maddie stumbles upon his sacred family secret and he must now force her hand in matrimony. But, this last-minute trip to Gretna Green does not go as exactly hoped as Wes faces the harsh truth that he may not be capable of supporting a wife, especially a Duke's daughter accustomed to a certain elaborate lifestyle.

I thoroughly enjoy this series since it has everything I love in the genre department--paranormal twist, historic events, and budding romance. Unfortunately, this story feel somewhat flat for me due to containing lots of substance with very little uniqueness to the overall tale. For me, it was rather predictable, uneventful, and somewhat dull. I so wanted to lose myself in Wes and Maddie's adventures, but neither could captivate me enough to make this story very praiseworthy.

Personally, Maddie came off as either too high-maintenance with her surroundings or two submissive about what was actually happening to her (i.e. kidnapping)--both annoyingly so! Wes was also lacking that confident strong male presence a book like this needs and was portrayed very young, naive, and somewhat foolhardy. There were certain parts where Wes and Maddie's relationship were sweet and animated, but not enough to make me feel their story was unique in any way! But, give this book a read if you are a fan of the series--you may enjoy it more than I did. I am still curious to see how the other Hadley brother's end up.

Review: Goodreads | Barnes & Noble | Shelfari | LibraryThing | Amazon

Likes: The Hadley twins were adorable together and quite delightful when they came to each other's aid in such a playful way that only an annoying sibling can!

Dislikes: This story felt like every other running off to Gretna-Green tale I have ever read. Nothing stood out as new or exciting to me and was actually kind of blah overall. I even found the side characters, Archer Hadley and Sophie Cole, struggle to be more entertaining than the main protagonists -- NOT GOOD!!

Chapter One/Paragraph One: "Lady Madeline Hayburn was more than ready for the Season to be over. Ball after ball. Soirees and garden parties aftermore soirees and even more garden parties. There was no point to it all. Oh, she knew her father was hopeful Maddie would somehow stumble upon her destined husband at one of these inane events. But if it hadn't happened during her three Seasons on the marriage mart, Maddie wasn't terribly optimistic it would happen tonight."

Favorite { Scene, Character or Setting }: ??? N/A ???

Sadly, I went through this book over and over desperately trying to locate something that made me laugh, stood out as an interesting part, or at least touched me emotionally somehow ...but... nope, couldn't do it! And, it was not that I didn't enjoy the book as a whole, but I just could not find any characters, settings, or even scenes within this story that were memorable favorites -- sorry!

Online Preview: Read an Excerpt

Random Reads { #6 }

noreply@blogger.com (Johanna) — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 17:26:00 +0000

Copy & Paste

The Secret Ingredient

by Jane Heller

1. How did you get this book?

I visually remember picking this book up at one of those small beach-side bookstores in Phuket, Thailand while on Christmas vacation there in 2005. I even have a little 200 Thai Baht price sticker still on the cover!

2. Can you do a one sentence summary? Elizabeth is unhappy with her current marriage and slyly slips her husband a secret ingredient to rekindle the romance...but sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for.

3. Do you like the cover? It's cute and simple. Love the stripped green! How do you turn a prince into a toad? Marry him! Ha.

4. What is the first full sentence on page 100? "I was thrilled for Clover, naturally."

5. Share something about the author. In 2002, The Secret Ingredient was published and, like its predecessors, was snapped up for a feature film: Jane Heller was hired by Atmosphere Productions to write the screenplay adaptation.

According to Jane by Marilyn Brant

noreply@blogger.com (Johanna) — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 20:19:00 +0000

According to Jane
by Marilyn Brant

Genre: Contemporary Fiction | Romance

In Marilyn Brant's smart, wildly inventive debut, one woman in search of herself receives advice from the ultimate expert in matters of the heart...

It begins one day in sophomore English class, just as Ellie Barnett's teacher is assigning Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. From nowhere comes a quiet "tsk" of displeasure. The target: Sam Blaine, the cute bad boy who's teasing Ellie mercilessly, just as he has since kindergarten. Entirely unbidden, as Jane might say, the author's ghost has taken up residence in Ellie's mind, and seems determined to stay there.

Jane's wise and witty advice guides Ellie through the trauma of adolescence and beyond, serving as the voice she trusts, usually more than her own. Years and boyfriends come and go, but Jane's counsel is constant, and on the subject of Sam, quite insistent. Stay away, Jane demands. He is your Mr. Wickham.

Still, everyone has something to learn about love -- perhaps even Jane herself. And lately, the voice in Ellie's head is being drowned out by another, urging her to look beyond all she thought she knew and seek out her very own, very unexpected, happy ending...

"Every girl wants the f**king Cinderella story..."

When Ellie Barnett first began reading Pride & Prejudice for her high school curriculum while muddling through her love-hate relationship with the aloof student, Sam Blaine, the author to many classic romances came alive in her head ... literally. As much as Ellie disliked the inconvenience of having the ghost of Jane Austen as a second conscience critiquing and persuasively advising her every choice; the two quickly became a solid force along Ellie's journey through her life's various relationships. However, when her longing to find "The One" began to slowly disintegrate as she "emerged from [her] cocoon of adolescence [and] transitioned into young adulthood", Ellie realized early on that life would not always go as intended. She must be willing to let go of what she had planned, so she could accept the life that was waiting for her.

But, sometimes that is easier said than done!

Thus, after one too many dysfunctional relationships (where she would always try to find something of Sam in each guy she dated) and watching close friends/cousins get married/have kids/settle down, Ellie tried to keep up an optimistic outlook for her future love-life and her desire to one day marry, even though Jane claimed she "would have been considered old in [her] day." To add insult to injury, the "erroneous belief that [she] had more control over [her] destiny that [she] actually [had]" was an ugly truth Ellie learned as she aged. And, with age should come maturity and a more level-headed way of thinking ... or so Ellie thought when she attempted to handle the latest curve the Universe threw her way ... crossing paths again with Sam.

This was an endearing coming-of-age tale for Ellie as she experienced the joys and hardships of life (ex. dating, break-ups, family relationships, etc.) from her high-school years to around her mid-30s -- except she had the romantic wisdom of Jane Austen in her head the whole time. Odd, but quite unique and clever! I wholeheartedly enjoyed the overall tale and became emotionally involved with Ellie's life throughout. The flow of the story with quick flashbacks really kept the tale alive and freshly entertaining. Lots of wonderful character development (something I crave in a story) that revolved round the moral of the book: Timing -- for sometimes people are too young/naive to become too series too soon. Meaning: things will eventually begin to happen when one is truly ready for it --- which was challenging, at first, for the protagonist to grasp. So, for anyone who has stopped believing in happy-ever-after, check out this book ... it was a surprisingly pleasing story about passion and hope!

Review: Goodreads | Barnes & Noble | Shelfari | LibraryThing | Amazon

Likes: An emotionally gripping story which oddly enough runs parallel to many single women lifestyles today as they struggle to plan out (the right?!?) future (ex. relationship struggles while hunting for "The One"). Plus, there were lots of fun 80's music montages that blended will with the characters/chapters.

Dislikes: It was strange how Ellie's pessimistic beliefs hit home ... especially for me, for I feel many women could easily relate to the same dark struggles she went through. Thus, Ellie's unenthusiastic statements kind of made me bitter along with her and when I was finished reading each night ---- so props to the story for personally affecting me that way!!

Chapter One/Paragraph One: "Almost seven years after Jane spoke to me, the August late-afternoon sun beat down on my head as I bolted from the Glen Forest Public Library. We'd been short-staffed again, with two people out on vacation and one last-minute sick call. And, while I loved my summer job--well, most of the time-- my day hadn't been the greatest, and I yearned for a calm, relaxing evening."

Favorite { Scene, Character or Setting }: Character

Sam Blaine = SOB/Sam "the Obnoxious" Blaine, "S-A-M was shorthand for D-A-N-G-E-R", sinfully cute, annoying-as-hell, Mr. Cool, exuded experience, loved games, smart, intense, arrogant, smug, snotty teen, tall, dark-haired, cool blue eyes, "since kindergarten poked [Ellie] in the back with his pencil top and angered [her] with pesky comments", spent all 12 grades of school with Ellie and since they were kids together - they shared an intimate/personal history, studied to be a doctor, addicted to Top 40, "morphed into a rare combination of good-looking, athletic, brainy & popular", Jane considered him an insufferable, despicable man with intolerable rudeness. All in all, I loved Sam - he always kept Ellie on her toes!!!

Online Preview: Read an Excerpt

All For You by Lynn Kurland

noreply@blogger.com (Johanna) — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 21:57:00 +0000

All For You
(de Piaget Family Series, Book #17)

by Lynn Kurland

Genre: Contemporary Romance | Time-Travel

FALLING THROUGH TIME IS DANGEROUS… Peaches Alexander is thrilled to receive an unexpected invitation to a weekend party given by the handsome, eligible Duke of Kenneworth. The only problem: Stephen de Piaget, a stuffy medieval studies scholar who seems determined to get in the way. Peaches has absolutely no desire to get involved with Stephen, until a quirk of Fate sends her hurtling through time…

UNLESS THERE’S SOMEONE TO CATCH YOU. Stephen de Piaget has been leading a double life: respectable professor by day, knight-in-training during holidays and summer terms. When Peaches goes missing, Stephen knows he’s the only one that can rescue her from medieval peril. Little do they know that the greatest danger they’ll face won’t be the business end of a sword, but their own unruly hearts….

Audentes Fortuna Juvat

Fortune Favors the Bold

-Aunt Edna

Peaches Alexander is slowly coming to terms with the uncomfortable truth that she is utterly distraught with her current lifestyle. Not only is she pretty-much broke and unsatisfied with her current job, but she also cannot stop foolishly dreaming about some magical fairy-tale escape, similar to what happened to her sisters. So, when a private invitation from the Duke of Kenneworth arrives for a weekend house party, Peaches eagerly jumps at the opportunity to live out (at least temporally) her princess-inspired fantasy and, with a bit of luck, find her handsome prince at the fancy-dress ball.

Unbeknownst to Peaches, the academically brilliant and annoyingly titled Stephen de Piaget happens to also be invited to the same weekend house party. And as bothersome as he can be, he does have some very tempting offers (ex. a Medieval castle, talented sword/Claymore skills, and a secretive pining crush for only Miss Alexander) that could easily appeal to a women craving something magical in her life. Now Peaches must battle with her nagging feelings that Stephen is out to either: 1) ruin her life (but can it really get any worse?) or 2) be her knight in shining armor (ok, really knight in tweed!). And, as Stephen begins to prove himself by saving her from various embarrassing, exhausting, and somewhat disastrous situations, Peaches realizations that "even Cinderella had gotten off to a rocky start" helps her decide to finally let her heart lead where it will ... which could really be toward the future and even the past.

All in all, an enjoyable book from a time-travel author I always look forward to reading. Peaches story really took on a more contemporary romance feel this time compared to previous character narratives within the same series. Moreover, her and Stephens courtship was in its own way peculiar, but believable as well as somewhat silly and sweet. Unfortunately, the story's pace was rather slow at times and the heated sexual scenes were limited for the reader, but that was easily made up for by Peaches foolishly funny mannerism and her stubborn determination to experience her fairy-tale fantasy - no matter the odds against her. A fun bonus, if you are a fan of the series, is that you will treated to some great past character updates as well as receive some fascinating foreshadowing and future character introductions. So, if you are a young at heart reader who takes pleasure in fairy-tale adventures, check out All For You -- good fun!!

Review: Goodreads | Barnes & Noble | Shelfari | LibraryThing | Amazon

Likes: Two Words -- Stubborn Determination and boy, does Stephen display that. He was always coming to Peaches rescue despite her rude, straightforward, and sometimes rather distant treatment toward him. So, who wouldn't enjoy a male lead like that?

Dislikes: More time-travel please!!! For some reason, I felt this book was severely lacking in that department and I really kept wishing for more historical adventures with all the crazy fun drama that occurs during the characters rocky adjustment to the past. But, sadly, the time-travel trips within All For You were almost too easy, too planned, and overall too blah in comparison to some of Kurland's other works.

Chapter One/Paragraph One: "If life were a set of scales, Peaches Alexander could safely say that Fate had just dumped a load of bricks on the opposite balance."

Favorite { Scene, Character or Setting }: Scene

She could only hope that the blasted thing {suitcase} was waterproof. If it wasn't, her clothes were going to need some series attention once she was in what she could only assume based on the invitation would be an embarrassingly opulent room.

She took another look around, just to see if the sleet that had begun a renewed assault on her was going to be moving past anytime soon, then jumped a little at the sight of lights coming up the road behind her.

Great. It was one thing to sneak in the kitchen door and make a dash for her room where she could lock the door, shower, then pull herself together before she made her grand entrance down the main staircase. It was another thing entirely to be seen in her bedraggled state by a party guest with a potentially very big mouth. She looked around herself quickly to see if there might be somewhere to hid, but unfortunately all that surrounded her were foggy acres and manicured grounds.

Dotted by topiaries, as it happened. Well, there was obviously only one thing to do, and she did it without hesitation. She leaped off the road and well into the verge, plopped her suitcase down flat on the soggy ground, then hopped up on it and struck a pose. It was foggy enough, surely, that she would just look like a toga-draped goddess atop a pedestal, shrouded by mystery and a few bird dropping.

She remained motionless as the car came closer. It wouldn't have been an exaggeration to say she prayed with great fervor that the owner of that automobile would be so overwhelmed by the sight of Kenneworth House riding up majestically in the distance that she would simple drive on and not be looking over onto the right of the road.

Alas, things were just not going her way.

Her mother would have told her it was karma dealing out just deserts for having traded her hummus and sprouts sandwiches to unsuspecting fifth graders for Twinkies and Ding Dongs. Peaches probably would have told any number of her clients the same thing.

But having karma gunning for her was another thing entirely.

The car slowed to stop. Peaches left her hands outstretched in a goddess pose in hopes the driver would simply think he or she was seeing things and move right along.

The driver's side window began a slow, agonizing descent into its allotted space in the door. Peaches fully expected to see David, the Duke of Kenneworth, frowning thoughtfully at a statue none of his ancestors had put there.

Instead, the driver was revealed to be none other the Stephen de Piaget, vexter of innocent life organizers and chief tormentor of poor, helpless Yanks who were currently freezing their statuary off just north of the Yorkshire moors.

He frowned thoughtfully for a moment or two, then rolled his window back up.

Typical.

Peaches could hardly wait to see his tailgates, but it occurred to her that if she did, that would mean that he was driving up the way to the manor, which meant he was going to be in the same space with her for the weekend.

Well, at least she wouldn't have to see him in the immediate future--

Or, maybe she would.

He had put on his flashers and gotten out of the car. She wanted to warn him that he was going to ruin his lovely dress shoes by tromping around in the slush, but she could only stand there, her arms outstretched and her mouth gaping open, as he walked across the greensward toward her.

And then he looked her straight in the eye.

Online Preview: Excerpt COMING SOON

Friday Blog Hops

noreply@blogger.com (Johanna) — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 21:08:00 +0000

Feature & Follow is hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee

Q: Christmas in July! Someone gives you a gift card for two books (whatever that costs). What two books will you buy?

Recently, I would love to purchase Patrice Kindl's Keeping the Castle and Jeaniene Frost's Once Burned (which I hope to have her sign at the upcoming Author's After Dark book-signing in NOLA). So, there are my two selections that I've been very interested in reading lately, but haven't gotten around to buying yet. Has anyone had the pleasure if reading these books lately? If yes...I'd be very interested in knowing your opinions?!?

TGIF is hosted by Ginger at GReads!

Q: Throwback TGIF: Pick a previous question you posted on your blog in the past & revisit your answer. Has it changed since then?

c. 2010 Question -- Who is your favorite new-to-you author so far this year?

Samantha Young has surprised me a lot this year with her various Young-Adult/Paranormal stories and I cannot wait to check out what more she has to offer. So far, I've read The Tale of Lunarmorte and Warriors of Ankh series, but am always eager for more. Her tales are quick to read and quite refreshing - so I've enjoyed them a lot!!

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy For Books

Q: What's the ONE super-hyped book you'll NEVER read?

I actually shy away from the over-hyped book/s since I am not a fan of stories that flood the market and become instant sensations. For example, I never read and never plan on reading the whole Dan Brown's De Vinici Code book/series. For some reason, I enjoy being the only person who has never read that series and hope to keep it that way! :)

18 & Over Book Blogger Follow is hosted by Reading Between the Wines

Q: Do you have a 'feel good' read or author that you go to whenever you're sick or feeling down?

Whenever I am in a reading slump or sick in bed, I know I can always revisit Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series, espcially any of the books in regards to the Wode brothers. They always make me smile/laugh and I KNOW they will be an overall good read...kind of like visiting old friends -- in a "I'm really not crazy/book-obsessed" kind of way ;)

Happy Reading/Weekend Everyone!!

Fall For You by Cecilia Gray

noreply@blogger.com (Johanna) — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 12:27:00 +0000

Fall For You:
A Modern Retailing of Pride and Prejudice
(Jane Austen Academy, Book #1)

by Cecilia Gray

Review on behalf of AToMR Book Blog Tours

Genre:Young Adult | Contemporary Romance

To say Lizzie and Dante are polar opposites is the understatement of the century. He’s a snooty Exeter transfer with more money than Google. She’s a driven study-a-holic barely keeping up with tuition. It’s obvious that Dante thinks he’s way too good for Lizzie. And Lizzie knows Dante is a snob with a gift for pushing her buttons.

But things are changing fast this year at the Academy. And when Lizzie’s quest to stop those changes blows up in her face, taking her oldest friendship with it, she has nowhere else to turn but to Dante, with his killer blue eyes, his crazy-sexy smile, and his secrets… Secrets Lizzie can’t seem to leave alone, no matter how hard she tries…

Lizzie Egmont is determined to become the first Junior in Jane Austen Academy history to become the school's newspaper Managing Editor--even if it means reneging on a roommate promise with her best friend, Ellie Dvorak, as well as "[ruffling] some feathers" among the new school administration along the way. Yet, as promising as this year is for Lizzie's journalism career, the current enrollment of a male student body into a once all female academy and the new unpleasant/high-fashioned headmaster, Katherine Berg (a.k.a. Bergie) really makes Lizzie's blood boil. And, as much as she would like to admit that the impressive male population at Jane Auction Academy does not damper her spirits in achieving her Ivy League acceptance spot into Georgetown, a "mussy brown [haired]" boy, name Dante Braxton, does begin to cast a shadow on Lizzie's long-term goals.

Now, Lizzie is on a mission to expose the new proprietor in the first switch of ownership since 1873 and challenge their corrupt decision to change the school's name and tradition -- in Lizzie's term "the new administration's evil plans to destroy her beloved Academy." But, at what costs will her determination to closely follow the school's motto ("We Will Be Heard") by printing her findings as a feature in the Gazette effect her (and those close to her) future at Jane Austen Academy?

This series is a great hodgepodge of Jane Austen's beloved characters, for the reader is treated to a retelling of Austen's well-known characters as modern teenagers attending the same high school. Overall, it is quite enjoyable to witness how well their original tales become entangled in the current setting and to see all their blended interactions/struggles. I was most excited about the characters from my favorite Austen book Persuasion--the sweet-tempted Anne Escober, whose family just recently lost the Jane Austen Academy to new owners and Rick Wright, who has just transferred from the Naval academy and shares a secretive past with Anne. Then you have the chic, knows-everything-about-everybody Emma and nice, puppy-eyed Edward (from Emma). The blonde, Cali-girl Ellie Dvorak (from Sense & Sensibility) plays a prominent role as Lizzie's best bud. Lastly, if you are a fan of the Pride and Prejudice novel, you will recognize fellow characters like Josh Wickham and Georgiana throughout Fall For You--and some of their secrets might catch you by surprise!

All in all, be prepared for lots of teenage angst, sweet budding romance, and some self-centered (i.e. prideful) characteristics. But, if you enjoy modern classical stories, are an Austen enthusiast, and have a passion for the young-adult genre--you will find the Jane Austen Academy series to be a refreshing read!

Review: Goodreads | Barnes & Noble | Shelfari | Library Thing | Amazon

Likes: Personally, I am a fan of classical remakes and found this book to have a very interesting and unique concept. I am even tempted to check out Anne and Rick's story in the series!

Dislikes: Lizzie could occasionally come off as fair or polite (ex. toward her newspaper staff) but mostly all her good traits were overshadowed by her dogmatic/unwavering actions and her dramatic egotistical mannerisms...almost annoyingly so! Sadly, she was not a very likable character for me and I did no find myself warming up to her tough outer shell throughout much of the book either. Basically, she was just too over the top for my taste!

Chapter One/Paragraph One: "Lizzie dragged her red suitcase behind her as she weaved through the crowded hallway searching for Ellie in the chaos that was the first day back in California at Jane Austen Academy. Or Jasta --rhymes with pasta-- as she and her friends affectionately called it, although affection had not been the sentiment of the day."

Favorite { Scene, Character or Setting }: Scene

"Want to play a game to make the ride go faster?" Edward asked.

Yes!" Lizzie sat straight in her seat. "How about Truth or Dare?"

"Um, I was thinking more like Twenty Questions...or I Spy...."

"I'll go first," Lizzie said. "Dare."

"Um..." Edward's eyes darted around nervously. "I dare you to stick your head out the window?"

"No! I don't want to, which means we're back to truth, and I get to ask you a question."

"I don't think that's how--"

"Why is Rick avoiding Anne?"

Edward glanced around nervously. "Are you sure this is how the game works?"

"Don't be a sore loser, Edward," Lizzie pushed on. "I asked a question, now you have to answer it. Those are the rules. Why is Rick avoiding Anne? And don't pretend you don't know what I'm taking about."

"I wouldn't say he's avoiding her."

"Don't make me break out a thesaurus, Edward."

Online Preview: Series Trailer

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Random Reads { #5 }

noreply@blogger.com (Johanna) — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 23:54:00 +0000

Copy & Paste

Demon Angel

by Meljean Brook

1. Have you read this book before?

HA! Honestly, this book was a surprise to me on my shelf. I think I read this years and years ago (perhaps it was given to me by a friend or it something I picked up quickly at a bookstore?!?), but since I am not a fan of the "angel" theme....I know I haven't noticed this book recently!

2. Can you do a one sentence summary? Mortal enemies (Half-Demon vs. Demon Fighter) learn to fight together again an evil that could destroy them both.

3. Do you like the cover? Really -- it is what one would expect from any Angel/Demon (i.e. white wings/black corset) paranormal read...bare chest and all!

4. What is the first full sentence on page 100? "The rain had not let up."

5. Share something about the author. Meljean Book was an accountant before becoming an author.

Conquered by a Highlander by Paula Quinn

noreply@blogger.com (Johanna) — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 19:46:00 +0000

Conquered by a Highlander
(Children on the Mist, Book #4)

by Paula Quinn

Review on behalf of NetGalley
(via Grand Central Publishing)

Genre: Historical Romance

BOUND BY DUTY
Colin MacGregor was born to fight-for his beliefs, his king, and his family's honor. After years away from his beloved Scotland, he yearns to return to its lush, green hills-and he can, after he completes one final mission for the king. Sent to infiltrate a traitor's home, Colin is determined to expose the treasonous plot and triumph on the battlefield . . . until he meets a sensual lass who tempts him towards other pursuits . . . .

BETRAYED BY PASSION
Lady Gillian Dearly is no stranger to temptation. Cast out of her family for bearing an illegitimate child, she's now the ward of a barbarian conspiring against the king. Her only desire: freedom for her son and for herself at any cost, even if it means making a deal with the devil. Yet when a mysterious Highlander appears in their midst, his braw strength and smoldering gaze give her hope for a future beyond the castle walls-and promise a desire unlike any she's ever known. But passion comes at a price . . .

During the reign of the Catholic King James Stewart in 1688, Colin MacGregor, a general in James's Royal army, is sent on a secret, and hopefully his last, mission to gather as much information as possible in regards to the enemy Dutch Prince, William of Orange. Under the alias Campbell of Breadalband, Colin plans on infiltrating the Earl of Devon's Garrison at Dartmouth Castle in hopes of preventing, at all costs, the threat of a royal take-over. Yet, when confronted by the strong-willed Lady of the castle, Gillian Dearly, Colin never thought he could be so easily impressed by her no-surrender mannerism and her sweet-tempered son. Having always thought that his kin/clan, training for battle, and the "desire to conquer with a blade in his hand" were the most important parts of life, Gillian truly catches him by surprise and those feelings seriously bother him. Colin just isn't the type of man who rescues damsels (and their children) in distress since his sole mission is to prevent William of Orange from arriving on the English shores.

Cousin to Geoffrey Dearly, the cruel Earl of Devon, Gillian Dearly is all but condemned to Hell by her father due to a past mistake (i.e. child out of wedlock). Under the protection of Captain George Gates, Gillian is attempting to properly raise and educate her three-year-old son, Edmund, while in the confining way-of-life forced upon her. Even though a new mysterious mercenary arrives at Dartmouth Castle, who adds excitement to her and Edmund's days, Gillian continues to secretly exchange correspondences with the Dutch Prince in Holland, in hopes that he can aid her in escaping her current nightmarish lifestyle for a brighter future with her son. The sooner William of Orange arrives the better, since Gillian and her son are in desperate need of a rescue.

In my opinion, this is how historic romance novels should be!! A rugged warrior plus a jaded lady equaling a truly refreshing tale full of suspense, great historical details, and a sweet budding romance. The overall story flowed so smoothly that I quickly found myself absorbed in the struggles of the characters late into the night. I really enjoyed the trust barriers that the protagonists had to overcome as well as their internal struggle with keeping secrets. From a readers perspective, their weaknesses really made them believable and even more likeable. The family aspect in this book was really interesting as well. It really made evident the broad range of some of the best and worst family traits: abandonment vs. compassion or arrogance vs. encouragement. All in all, a great read!

Review: Goodreads | Barnes & Noble | Shelfari | Library Thing | Amazon

Likes: The leisurely pace in how Colin and Gillian built their romantic relationship was very believable and quite enjoyable to read about. Their interactions were full of those simple, subtle and sweet gestures that really build into a smoldering bond.

Dislikes: Many parts of the story had spiteful undertones in regards to the cruelty toward women.

Chapter One/Paragraph One: "Hand over the bag and I won't run you through."

Favorite { Scene, Character or Setting }: Setting

Camlochlin, Scotland: Vast green vale deep in the mountains, enshrouded in mist on the Isles of Skye.

"The vale rolled out before [them] in a lush array of heather and wild daffodils. Cottages of various sizes dotted the countryside with men and women working around them, beating blankets or hanging laundry out to dry. Some of the men pounded leather while others pulled their boats in from the glistening bay to the west. Sheep and cattle grazed the misty hills with lazy abandon, and [children] everywhere"
"More than just a safe haven nestled within the mountains, the fortified castle rose up out of the side of Sgurr na Stri with dark, jagged towers piercing the mist rolling down from the Cullins."

Online Preview: Read Chapter One

Random Reads { #4 }

noreply@blogger.com (Johanna) — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 16:59:00 +0000

Copy & Paste

The Rules of Gentility

by Janet Mullany

1. Have you read this book before?

Yes, about 5+ years ago when I was in my big Pride and Prejudice reading phase. Plus, considering that his book was compared to a mish-mash between P&P and Bridget Jones Diary...I was quick to pick it up!

2. Can you do a one sentence summary?

A headstrong heiress considers herself to be knowledgeable about Regency men, until she meets one who both confuses her and happens to be no one she'd want in her life...or is he?

3. Do you like the cover?

Very much! The cover is of the o/c "In Love" painting by Marcus Stone. Very fitting for a historical romance of that time period.

4. What is the first full sentence on page 100?

"Oh, pray do the honors."

5. Share something about the author.

Janet Mullany has worked as an archaeologist, classical music radio announcer, arts administrator ( THIS IS WHAT I DO! ), and for a small press.