Tara! Let's be happy

Heather Lyons' THE COLLECTORS' SOCIETY ENCYCLOPEDIA

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 15:09:00 +0000

We are so excited to share Heather Lyons' THE COLLECTORS' SOCIETY ENCYCLOPEDIA with you today! THE COLLECTORS’ SOCIETY ENCYCLOPEDIA is a compendium to the Collectors' Society Series and includes a wide range of character stories, facts and little known tidbits. It’s a must for the true collector in all of us. The books in The Collectors’ Society Series are Adult Romantic Fairy Tales, full of adventure and fantasy.

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About THE COLLECTORS’ SOCIETY ENCYCLOPEDIA:

CLASSIFIED MATERIAL

If you are reading this dossier, you have been granted Level Three clearance within the Collectors’ Society. Included in these pages are snippets from multiple key agent files as well as those on persons of interest. Please keep in mind that this compendium is considered highly sensitive and is illegal to share with anyone outside of your clearance. It is not to be removed from the Institute.

Happy reading!

—The Librarian

For those previously introduced to the mysterious Collectors’ Society and its mission, eager to discover more, The Collectors’ Society Encyclopedia is the perfect full-color companion piece to the series. Within are detailed entries elaborating upon various agents and employees as well as key villains suspected of targeting and destroying Timelines. Backstories, relationships, secrets, and clues are revealed alongside a thorough bibliography of important Timelines and their designations. Profiles are also included of the Institute in New York City as well as Wonderland. Society fans and lovers of classic literature will undoubtedly delight in unraveling the secrets that lay within these pages.

**And don’t miss the first three books in Heather Lyon’s The Collector’s Society Series…**

THE COLLECTORS’ SOCIETY

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THE HIDDEN LIBRARY

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THE FORGOTTEN MOUNTAIN

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About Heather Lyons:

Heather Lyons writes epic, heartfelt love stories and has always had a thing for words. In addition to writing, she’s also been an archaeologist and a teacher. She and her husband and children live in sunny Southern California and are currently working their way through every cupcakery she can find.
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Updates

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 16:26:00 +0000

Hi there! I'm baaaack! Why you ask? Well, I'm still trying to figure that out. I've been MIA for months, I know. I've slacked off big time on some of my reviews but I hope to make it up to them by binge reading everything I can get my hands on. The reason for my obvious departure from the blogosphere is this little fellow right here:

Yes, that's a baby. I gave birth to my third child last June 10. I'm not gonna bore you with the details but if you must know, it was through a scheduled c-section. And he was a mighty 7.5 lbs. I spent my maternity leave just hanging out with him and catching up on a lot of reading. I'm very happy with my reading progress. I've been posting my reviews on my Goodreads page instead. But now that I'm back to work, I also wanted to go back to blogging. I want to make some changes but they are all ideas for now. I would still want to review books because they would always be my second love. The first one being tequila. I kid, I kid. I just don't want it to be like last time where I found myself swamped with reviews it was no longer fun. I promise to pace myself this time and just try to commit to a few favorites. I cannot wait to get started and reconnect with all my favorite blogger friends. Yay me!

Author Interview: Anthony J. Melchiorri

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 16:00:00 +0000

It is my pleasure to introduce you to the writer of one of my recent Sci-Fi find, Anthony J. Melchiorri. Please check out his Goodreads page & Website for more information on his books.

Have you always wanted to write for the Sci-Fi genre?

Actually, the first book I wrote was historic fiction. It was a good exercise in research and it was more of a personal project than anything. But I fell into sci-fi quite naturally after that.

What is it in Sci-Fi that attracted you to it?

Since I spend most of my time doing scientific research or reading science journals, I’m surrounded by cutting edge technologies. Seeing the work of other scientists and researchers inspired me to ask “what if” questions. Writing science fiction allows me the opportunity to combine my two passions: biotechnology and writing.

What’s the greatest challenge in writing Sci-Fi?

I think the major challenge is making your world believable. Even though you’re given a world of freedom to extrapolate and invent technologies, you have to remain consistent throughout your books. You also want to ensure that your world doesn’t appear too much like magic. There’s a tendency to treat sci-fi like a world where no rules apply, but you don’t want to go so far that everything you “invent” fills your book with too many plot-holes, inconsistencies, and things that just plain-old don’t make sense. As an extreme example, if people are building a spaceship on Earth, that spaceship can’t be the size of the Earth. You’ve got to think about how limited Earth’s resources are. Did they have to go mine a whole bunch of asteroids and other planets or something? Why is it as big as Earth? Sci-fi readers are intelligent and inquisitive and they will challenge the concepts you present in your book—so you better back everything up with at least a bit of real science and logic.

Aside from your work, where else do you get inspiration for the characters and settings of your stories?

Traveling and meeting new people provides a veritable buffet of inspiration. It seems like every time I go somewhere new, I think up at least one scene that took place in a restaurant or in a creepy alley or a bar with loads of “character.” And talking with new people is always an eye-opening experience. You can tap into someone else’s lifetime of experience to see how they’ve made their way in this world and how they interact with it.

Which Sci-Fi author do you admire most?

Ray Bradbury kicked serious butt as a sci-fi author. Not only did he whip out some fantastic, entertaining stories, but there’s something about his work that is haunting and poetic in nature. The Martian Chronicles is a perfect example. So many interesting, amusing stories wrapped up in Bradbury’s unique writing style all packaged into one overarching collection that leaves you with all kinds of lingering questions about humanity and our relationship to home, the environment, war, and each other.

What is your favorite Sci-Fi book?

This is difficult to answer, but David Brin’s Earth is definitely up there. Earth follows several seemingly unrelated plots and character’s whose lives interweave in a disaster of epic proportions. Many of the technologies Brin included in the novel are reaching (if they have not already) realization. It’s amazing to see a work of speculative fiction that follows well-rounded characters in an adventure-filled plot with something smart to say about people and the rest of the world outside Brin’s fictional universe.

Sci-Fi movie?

It’s hard to come up with an all-time favorite, but ever since I saw District 9, that consistently hits my top ten list. The movie involved advanced weapons, aliens, spacecraft, and biotechnology (like the DNA-locked weapons). But it also provided a cool social commentary. Science fiction provides such a great avenue for exploring societal challenges in a unique way and District 9 did that without sacrificing entertainment value.

Sci-Fi character?

Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley in Alien. Ripley is both cunning and brave but also portrays the very real fear any human would have when being hunted by a monstrous extraterrestrial hunter. Throughout the Alien series, Ripley’s character just keeps developing. Plenty of sci-fi roles can turn into a one-dimensional, cardboard character. You get the brave soldier type or the smart doctor. But Ripley was always so much more.

If you were to pitch sci-fi to anyone who hasn’t read it yet, what would you say?

It’s easy to be intimidated by science fiction, especially when the predominant notion is that you can expect to see hardcore space marines taking on waves of gruesome aliens. But science fiction is more than just space exploration and extraterrestrial life. While there are fantastic sci-fi novels in that niche, sci-fi can encompass everything from romance (Outlander by Diana Gabaldon or The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger) to murder mysteries (The Robots of Dawn by Isaac Asimov) to literary fiction (The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury). There’s no need to understand rocket science or the physics of time travel. The only thing required by reading science fiction is an interest in the human condition and the willingness to go on a potentially wild ride.

Lastly, tell us a little bit of how Human Forged came about? What was your inspiration in writing the story?

During a visit to Estonia, I explored the abandoned Patarei Prison outside of Tallinn. The city itself was beautiful, full of historic landmarks and fantastic shops and restaurants. But the prison was creepy. Rusted-out fences and crumbling walls hid rooms still plastered with decaying magazine pages and pictures from the prison’s inhabitants. It was an extremely eerie environment and I needed to write a story there. The Human Forged started out as a short story that took place there but rapidly evolved into a novel.

Random Question: Out of all the advance technologies mentioned on your book, which one would you want to be able to use now? Personally, I love the holomeeting.

This is a good question because most of the technologies in my book would frighten me. Human cloning is quite a can of worms and having an implantable Chip that serves as your identification, credit card, and a GPS locator all-in-one poses some difficulty security risks. But self-driving cars is what I’d love to see. I’d be able to read, write, or sleep during my hour-long commute rather than have to deal with snail-pace traffic and blaring horns!

REVIEW: The Human Forged by Anthony Melchiorri

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 18:41:00 +0000

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In an escape from the tethers of modern technology, Nick Corrigan, a former Army Specialist, ventures into an underground rave in an abandoned Estonian prison. There, he is abducted and cut off from the rest of the world, including his fiancée. He unwittingly becomes embroiled in a biotechnological nightmare and embarks on a dangerous adventure to return home. The only person that might be able to help him is a man Nick never knew existed—his clone.

Back in Washington, CIA analyst Sara Monahan makes a startling discovery while tracking the use of biological weapons in an ongoing war in Africa. She races to uncover a global conspiracy that may shake the very essence of what it means to be human.

My Rating:

My Thoughts:

This book is unbelievable! It just cemented my long standing love affair with Sci-Fi. If action movies were turned into books, then this would be one of them. From the start, it had my attention. The details of the world he's created is intriguing and can very well come true in the next couple of years. The technology is something we've always thought of having, dreamed of even. This book gives us a preview of what it would be like if we were given a chance to experience that technology. Both the good and the bad are highlighted here. Nick Corrigan's journey through this crazy world where clones, hologram meetings and microchips is definitely an overnight read. And it's not just the advancement that's worth noting. The struggle to survive and the fear of getting caught are just some of the palpable emotions that's present in the story. This book will take you on two men's journey to freedom. One is from the government, the other from himself.

All in all, this book delivered in the thrill department, aced the sci-fi details and made me a fan of Anthony Melchiorri forever.

About the author:

I grew up in Normal, Illinois. After a regular (it’s hard, but I refuse to make a pun of it) childhood in Normal, I left for the University of Iowa to get a degree in Biomedical Engineering. But, I couldn’t give up reading and writing and there really wasn’t enough of that in engineering (unless you’re into thick, no-thrills books on thermodynamics and polymer physics). I picked up a second degree in English while working on the Biomedical Engineering degree and have since counted myself fortunate for making that decision. Iowa City, North America’s only official UNESCO City of Literature, is a thriving hotbed of writers and readers, with some of the best visiting the city for their renowned workshop or famous authors dropping by to read a story they’ve written and chat. I had the opportunity to meet plenty of great writers and storytellers that inspired me to keep writing, even when I graduated and entered a doctoral program at the University of Maryland for Bioengineering.

Today, when I’m not writing and reading, I’m primarily working on tissue engineered blood vessels, gearing my work for children with congenital heart defects. I get to work with awesome 3D printing technologies and am always astounded by the rapidly advancing technologies coursing through the veins of universities and research settings. Much of my writing has been inspired by those advancements and my conversations with other researchers, scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and many others interested in our evolving world.

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Author Interview: Siobhan Davis

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 16:00:00 +0000

This is my first author interview! Clap if you're happy for me. I'm amazed that we now have a way to contact authors directly. I'm even more amazed that they allow people like me to pick their brains. Ms. Siobhan Davis has willingly agreed to be my first victim. Mwahahaha. I'm a huge True Calling fan, and I almost didn't ask her for the interview because I want her to focus on getting book two ready for me. I mean for us, her readers. Hehe. Please join me in welcoming her and I urge you, no, I'm demanding you to grab a copy of True Calling. Now! You can read this later :)

1. Did you always know that you wanted to write a Sci-Fi book?

No! When I first started writing fiction, in my early thirties, I wrote lots of chicklit/romance, and I secretly harbored an ambition to write crime/thrillers. Mostly because those were the genre’s I was reading back then. Around this time, I started working for an Irish-owned IT company and my interest in technology piqued. Then I got sucked into the YA genre, and I’ve read lots of dystopian science fiction and for me, and my writing, it was organic from that point. I’ve always loved sci-fi movies and TV series, and I am a massive Star Wars fan, so it feels most natural for me to write science fiction now. Though it has to be said, I am not into reading or writing hardcore sci-fi, and I veer more towards soft science fiction.

2. Would you always write about this genre? If not, what other genres are you looking to get into?

Primarily I am focused on writing in the YA genre at the moment, though most of my WIP’s are science-fiction related. However, I also have an idea for a historical fiction novel and a contemporary YA romance. Moreover, I still harbor notions, at some point, of writing crime.

3. What exactly about Science Fiction do you like?

I love imagining what the futuristic world will be like, and trying to second guess how technological and medical advancements will shape the culture and society of the future. I consequently enjoy delving into the emotional aspect of change, and how future advancements will impact human relationships and emotional connections. That’s equally as fascinating to me as the more scientific elements.

The universe is vast, and so much is still unknown and unexplored and as a writer, that opens up limitless creative opportunities.

I am particularly enamored with stories that are set in space. I think it all stems back to my early childhood obsession with the Star War series, and I am also quite partial to Star Trek and Dr. Who.

To think that commercial space-travel will be realized during my life-time is truly incredible.

4. What's your favorite Sci-Fi book?

Can I pick two, if that is not a cop-out?

A Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is up there at the top of my list of classics. Written in 1931 it describes a frightening vision of the future, and I think Mr. Huxley was ahead of his time in his thinking, and analysis. It has been many years since I’ve read it, and I have just decided that I am going to re-read it as part of Sci-Fi November. I am really looking forward to getting reacquainted with this book.

My second favorite is The Hunger Games series. Those books just blew me away.

5. Sci-Fi movie?

No contest here – it is Star Wars all the way. I’ve passed my obsession along to my children, and only recently re-watched all six movies with my youngest son. I never, ever tire of watching them. George Lucas is a genius. I was ecstatic to discover that there’s a new movie in the pipeline, and it was thrilling to realize that they filmed some of it in Ireland recently.

6. Sci-Fi character?

I know this is predictable, given my penchant for Star Wars, but it has to be Princess Leia. She is the original, intelligent, kick-ass female sci-fi protagonist, and she definitely lit the path for others to follow.

7. Would you want your kids to love Sci-Fi?

Yes, and they do, which I love ☺ It is something we can share, and enjoy, together. It’s particularly important to me considering I fail miserably when it comes to sharing in their passion for all things football related!

8. So lastly, what's your message to all sci-fi lovers out there?

I love receiving recommendations for good sci-fi books and movies, so reach out to me with your suggestions. Also, if you’ve read my YA sci-fi novel True Calling, let me know your thoughts. You can contact me in the following ways:

Email: siobhan@siobhandavis.com

Twitter: @siobhandavis

Facebook: TrueCallingBooks

Blog: siobhandavisauthor.wordpress.com

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Introduction post: SCI-FI November

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 16:00:00 +0000

It is now November 1st where I'm at. And you know what that means? It's the start of a whole month where we celebrate my all time favorite genre. When I first read about it, I knew that I had to be a part of it. Can you just imagine being able to talk about robots, space, mind control etc. for one whole month? Let me save you the trouble of having to imagine it. Because Rinn @ Rinn Reads and the girls @ Oh, the Books! made it possible for us to celebrate the awesomeness that is SCI-FI! It is with utter excitement and happiness that I welcome all of you to SCI-FI November!!!

***Cue round of applause*** or ***just clap, if you're alone like me***

I started prepping for this event back in August. But if you know me, this would be the only prepared post coming in. I have a lot of sci-fi madness in store and I can't wait to share it with all of you. My immense love for the genre started when I read a Michael Crichton novel. If you're curious, that would be The Lost World. I love how I get to have fact and fiction all in one serving. I can remember all those times I managed to answer random questions because of all the Sci-Fi books and movies I've devoured over the years.

Together with all the Sci-Fi lovers out there, welcome to Sci-Fi month!

Introducing: Southern Born Books Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 21:00:00 +0000

I love Christmas! I mean, who doesn't? But you know what I love more? Christmas love stories. Seriously. I get all excited going to the bookstore and grabbing myself some romantic novels for the Christmas season. And because I love you guys, here are some Christmas stories to keep you warm inside.

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Cookbook author Marley Chambers can’t think of a more festive way to spend Christmas than at a friend’s holiday wedding in her hometown of Magnolia Bay. If only her soon-to-be ex-husband, all-star pitcher, Beckett “Beck” Chambers wasn’t bringing his new girlfriend—and if only he wasn’t still the sexiest man to ever walk out onto the mound…

Beck never wanted the chaotic life of a sport star—especially not at the cost of his marriage to the only woman he’s ever truly loved. But his career is a runaway train—and he’s afraid it’s too late to hit the brakes.

But when a mix-up leaves Beck and Marley stranded together for Christmas Eve on the barrier island where Beck proposed years before, old memories burn bright—and sparks fly hotter than a bonfire on the beach.

About the author:Erika Marks is a women's fiction writer and the author of LITTLE GALE GUMBO, THE MERMAID COLLECTOR, THE GUEST HOUSE and IT COMES IN WAVES (July, 2014). On the long and winding road to becoming published, she worked many different jobs, including carpenter, cake decorator, art director, and illustrator. But if pressed, she might say it was her brief tenure with a match-making service in Los Angeles after college that set her on the path to writing love stories (not that there isn't romance in frosting or power tools!) A native New Englander, she now makes her home in Charlotte, NC, with her husband, a native New Orleanian who has taught her to make a wicked gumbo, and their two little mermaids. For more on Erika’s books, visit her website.

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Nobody does Christmas like Miranda Hamilton, and now that she finally has her chance to chair Magnolia Bay's tree lighting and the cotillion, which benefits her late mother’s breast cancer foundation, this Christmas is shaping up to be the best ever. That is until her childhood nemesis Logan Mauldin buys his way on her committee and starts making plans of his own.

Logan Mauldin loves to get under Miranda's very sexy skin, and it's only fair. She's been getting under his since long before their first kiss at 13. Logan’s the last man interested in co-chairing a Christmas committee or participating in a sexy bachelor auction, but since that night he interrupted Miranda on a date and cornered her under the mistletoe, he can't stop thinking about her. Or vying for her attention and bugging the hell out of her.

Christmas cheer isn’t the only thing that heats up between the Miranda and Logan, but, thanks to a lie that is as much her fault as it is his, he loses the woman he’s loved since forever. Logan will need a Christmas miracle for Miranda to forgive him. A grand gesture to melt her heart and win her back just in time for Christmas.

About the author:

Kim Boykin is a women's fiction author with a sassy Southern streak. She is the author of The Wisdom of Hair, Steal Me, Cowboy, and Palmetto Moon (Summer 2014.) While her heart is always in South Carolina, she lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband, 3 dogs, and 126 rose bushes.

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After a mission goes terribly wrong, ending in the death of a teammate, Navy Seal, Drew Lanham, is forced to take a leave from active-duty. Retreating to his godmother’s beach house in coastal Magnolia Bay, Drew plans to spend the three weeks R&R licking his wounds and catching some rays while the nightmares from his failed op fade. The last thing he wants to do is mingle with the locals. What he doesn’t count on is an early morning encounter with a goddess rising from the sea. His interest is piqued and his body put on alert when he finds out that same woman may or may not be after his godmother’s money.

Marine biologist, Jenna Huntley, has been searching her whole life for a place to call home and Magnolia Bay is that place. Unfortunately, she’s underutilizing her education giving tours at the town’s turtle rescue center. With the help of an octogenarian patroness, she maps out a proposal to develop a turtle hatchery on-site. Everything is going as planned until the older woman’s godson arrives. Suddenly, nothing is as it seems and Jenna’s future is hanging in the balance, with a sexy warrior pulling all the strings. Her natural tendency is to help the damaged hero, but she’s sworn off letting military men in her life ever again.

Will Drew and Jenna be able to put their pasts behind them and learn to trust their hearts long enough to enjoy their Holiday at Magnolia Bay?

About the author:

Tracy Solheim is the international bestselling author of the Out of Bound Series for Penguin. Her books feature members of the fictitious Baltimore Blaze football team and the women who love them. In a previous life, Tracy wrote best sellers for Congress and was a freelance journalist for regional and national magazines. She’s a military brat who now makes her home in Johns Creek, Georgia, with her husband, their two children, a pesky Labrador retriever puppy and a horse named after her first novel. Her fifth book for Berkley, Back To Before, will be released in January. She also has a digital holiday novella for Tule Publishing's Southern Born Books coming October 20. See what she’s up to at www.tracysolheim.com. Or on facebook at Tracy Solheim Books and Twitter at TracyKSolheim.

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At 35-years-old, Cole Stanton is burned out. His high-paced, uber-successful career has left him yearning to start over. He finds Indigo Island, buys a restaurant and settles into an uncomplicated life. But Christmas is a mess. He has over-committed the small restaurant’s resources again, and is over his head. He finds himself longing for everything he has left behind, until a chance encounter with gorgeous Lily offers a spark of salvation to his business and, perhaps his life.

Beautiful pastry chef Lily Edmonds is thirty years old and heartbroken. It’s just before Christmas and she’s just been dumped by via telephone by her fiancee. Her best friend Avery Putnam invites her to Indigo Island, hoping to add joy back into Lily’s life. A chance encounter with the sexy owner of a local restaurant makes Lily feel an attraction she thought she’d never feel again, and offers her a business challenge to keep her mind focused on something other than her broken heart.

Cole Stanton and Lily Edmonds are both starting over. Will the joy of the holiday season bring them together or will the troubles with Christmas push them apart?

About the author:

Kaira Rouda is an award-winning and bestselling author of both fiction and nonfiction. Her books include: Real You Incorporated: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs; Here, Home, Hope; All the Difference; In the Mirror; and the short story, A Mother's Day. She lives in Southern California with her husband and four children and is at work on her next novel. Connect with her on Twitter, @KairaRouda, and on Facebook at Kaira Rouda Books. And of course, on Pinterest! For more about Kaira and her books, please visit her website KairaRouda.com.

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Review: The Collectors' Society by Heather Lyons

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Sat, 25 Oct 2014 16:00:00 +0000

The Collectors' Society by Heather Lyons
Genre: Fantasy
Age Category: Adult
Release Date: October 23, 2014

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From the author of the Fate series and The Deep End of the Sea comes a fantastical romantic adventure that has Alice tumbling down the strangest rabbit hole yet.

After years in Wonderland, Alice has returned to England as an adult, desperate to reclaim sanity and control over her life. An enigmatic gentleman with an intriguing job offer too tempting to resist changes her plans for a calm existence, though. Soon, she’s whisked to New York and initiated into the Collectors’ Society, a secret organization whose members confirm that famous stories are anything but straightforward and that what she knows about the world is only a fraction of the truth.

It’s there she discovers villains are afoot—ones who want to shelve the lives of countless beings. Assigned to work with the mysterious and alluring Finn, Alice and the rest of the Collectors’ Society race against a doomsday clock in order to prevent further destruction . . . but will they make it before all their endings are erased?

Where do I even start? This is my first 5 star here on the blog. If you've noticed I changed some things a bit. I figured a 5 star book deserves all the details. In a nutshell, this book is about a 25-year old Alice. This is Post-Wonderland Alice. We are given a play by play of what happened in between the time she came out of the rabbit hole. This idea just tickles me silly knowing that this is a well loved character and I've always loved a good back story. However, this book is more than just that. We are treated to an exclusive tour of Wonderland alongside a number of lovable new characters. But it's not the setting that actually made me love this book. It's Alice. She brought it all together for me. She's an amazing heroine. She's flawed, strong and intelligent.

Knowledge is always one of the fiercest of advantages, and can be the difference between failure and achievement of purposes.

She is my Alice :)

Her characteristic that I can absolutely relate to is how well she controls her emotions. There were scenarios that demanded an outburst or extreme expression of feelings but she held it all together. I liked how Heather Lyons no longer bothered to describe Alice anymore. It gave me free rein to imagine what she looks like as an adult. The writing is superb. The dialogue, perfect. The characters, lovable. I don't want to spill too much but it goes into this huge meta moment that you have to be able to grasp pretty quickly. Or like what I did, I didn't think about it too much. I just took the story as it is, and didn't even bother asking why. I was distracted enough by the arrival of two swoon worthy male. I finally found a long term book boyfriend. Someone to marry. Not just someone fun. Thank you Ms. Heather Lyons! Yes, the character may be borrowed from existing literature, but she made it into something much more beautiful. They all went into a makeover and came out looking fabulous.

People like this are often accused of living within their fantasies. They're said to have their noses stuck in books. But the reality is that some of these actually do escape into books

I highly recommend this to all women who enjoys their fairy tales, men searching for someone to emulate and ALL bookworms who just loves an adventure. Follow Ms. Heather Lyons into the rabbit hole and let her show you her Wonderland.

Sometimes,"he told me,"you can have something, hold it in your hands or feel it in your bones, and still never understand the working mechanisms behind it.

About the Author

Heather Lyons has always had a thing for words—she’s been writing stories since she was a kid. In addition to writing, she’s also been an archaeologist and a teacher. Heather is a rabid music fan, as evidenced by her (mostly) music-centric blog, and she’s married to an even larger music snob. They’re happily raising three kids who are mini music fiends who love to read and be read to.

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Keep Me Safe by Maya Banks

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Sat, 25 Oct 2014 09:00:00 +0000

Keep Me Safe by Maya Banks

Genre: Erotic Suspense

Age Category: Adult

Release Date: October 7, 2014

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A sizzling story of a woman who risks her life and her heart to find a wealthy man’s missing sister—the first novel in a sexy new romantic suspense series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Maya Banks

When Caleb Devereaux's younger sister is kidnapped, this scion of a powerful and wealthy family turns to an unlikely source for help: a beautiful and sensitive woman with a gift for finding answers others cannot.

While Ramie can connect to victims and locate them by feeling their pain, her ability comes with a price. Every time she uses it, it costs her a piece of herself. Helping the infuriatingly attractive and impatient Caleb successfully find his sister nearly destroys her. Even though his sexual intensity draws her like a magnet, she needs to get as far away from him as she can.

Deeply remorseful for the pain he’s caused, Caleb is determined to make things right. But just when he thinks Ramie's vanished forever, she reappears. She’s in trouble and she needs his help. Now, Caleb will risk everything to protect her—including his heart. . . .

My Rating:

My Thoughts:

I'm a huge Maya Banks fan. When I found out that there's an upcoming tour for her latest work, I immediately signed up. This story just had me at the edge of my seat every single time. The tension, fear and mystery of it all almost kept me up at night. I say almost, because I tend to pass out once I see any semblance of a bed. Sorry, I'm getting sidetracked. But with all seriousness, Ms. Banks really delivered the chills for this one. I love crime novels and it's an early Christmas with a Maya Banks story that has an almost crime/mystery feel to it.

Another plus for me are the supernatural elements thrown in. It didn't sound unrealistic and I felt that Ramie's gifts can be real. This book is action packed and will leave you wondering as to what the hell is going on (in a good way). The feelings of fear were expertly translated through Ramie. I was so stressed reading this, because I can't help but ask, "what if it was me?"

And of course, we won't be missing any of the steamy scenes Ms. Maya Banks is known for. But mostly, book focuses on a woman's journey to recovery. This book talks about not letting your past dictate your future. And that there are many kinds of bravery. Sometimes, asking for help is one of them. Especially if it's your life on the line.

Giveaway:

You can win 5 print copies of her newest book, Keep Me Safe.
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Meet the Author:

Maya Banks is a #1 USA Today and New York Times bestselling author whose chart toppers have included erotic romance, romantic suspense, contemporary romance, Scottish historical romances. She is the author of the Breathless Trilogy, the KGI novels, the Sweet series, and the Colters Legacy novels.

She lives in the South with her husband and three children and other assorted babies, such as her two Bengal kitties and a Calico who’s been with her as long as her youngest child. She’s an avid reader of romance and loves to dish books with her fans and anyone else who’ll listen! She very much enjoys interacting with her readers on Facebook and Twitter as well as in her Yahoo! Group.

Website - Facebook - Twitter - Goodreads

Follow the Tour

REVIEW: A Week In New York by Louise Bay

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 14:00:00 +0000

Genre: Romance
Age Category: Adult
Release Day: October 21, 2014

Amazon
Goodreads

Anna Kirby is sick of dating. She's tired of heartbreak. Despite being smart, sexy, and funny, she's a magnet for men who don't deserve her. A week's vacation in New York is the ultimate distraction from her most recent break-up, as well as a great place to meet a stranger and have some summer fun. But to protect her still-bruised heart, fun comes with rules. There will be no sharing stories, no swapping numbers, and no real names. Just one night of uncomplicated fun.

Super-successful serial seducer Ethan Scott has some rules of his own. He doesn't date, he doesn't stay the night, and he doesn't make any promises. It should be a match made in heaven. But rules are made to be broken.

My Rating:

My Thoughts:

This is a straight up no non-sense romance fiction. I loved it! This is definitely a quick read. I enjoy reading stories that gives you all the facts up front. This is a story about two individuals dealing with their own issues that managed to meet half way. I read this in one seating. Or for the most part I was lying down, but not really relevant. Anna is a girl who had her heart broken, has trust issues and couldn't be bothered with romance once again. Enter Ethan, hot, all male Ethan. To be honest he may be a little bit one dimensional but he managed to be quite charming in some scenes. Any girl who has her heart broken can relate to Anna's decision. This can happen to the best of us. And I don't blame her for wanting to have fun and engage on some "friendly" exchange with a stranger. I would definitely do the same thing. Definitely. I love how Louise Bay portrayed Anna as a 21st century girl. She's not some woman looking to be hitched to the next guy that comes along. This is a woman who know what she wants and goes after it. Frankly, we need to have more girls like Anna. I'm tired of reading about girls being coerced into doing whatever it is they were coerced to do.

The story is realistic, there's no billionaire guy going after a girl. This can actually be your best friends story. I'm curious to know what else Ms. Bay has in store for the rest of the novella but I'll definitely stay tuned in to find out. I recommend this for anyone looking for a light & fun read. Anna is a girl you'd love to hang out with. (And I'm not talking about myself)

About the Author

I write sexy, romantic, contemporary novels - the kind I like to read! Ruined by romantic mini-series of the seventies and eighties, I love all things romantic. There's not enough of it in real life so I'll settle for books and films.I love the rain, the West Wing, London, days when you don't have to wear make-up, being alone, being with friends, elephants and champagne.

Blog - Facebook - Twitter - Goodreads - Amazon - Pinterest

Random Questions Tag

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 16:00:00 +0000

I've been tagged by Jules @ The Book of Jules. Thanks for the tag, you're awesome!

1. Have you ever thrown a book?
Nope. I haven't had the pleasure. I'm kidding!

2. Do you like lengthy books or short books?
Usually lengthy. I like that I have more time to spend with characters that I love.

3. If you don't like a book, do you stop reading it or finish it?

I don't finish it at all. I don't even look at it. Remember it. Nothing. I figured there's a lot of other books out there, and why waste time on one that doesn't make my bells ring. (That came out wrong,sorry)

4. Do you stop reading when you're tired or when a chapter finishes?
When I can no longer hold onto my phone. Mid sentence. Mid word even. I'm so classy.

5. How do you organize your shelf?
Um. My husband keeps it neat for me. So I don't really know. Sorry, I suck at answering this things.

6. Paperback or Hardcover?
Paperback. I don't know, but it smells better I think.

7. What book can you not wait to read?
My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories by a lot of authors.

8. A book you wish could be turned into a graphic novel?
Um, Fifty Shades of Grey? I'm kidding! It would have to be, The Blooming Goddess Trilogy by Tellulah Darling. It's action packed, funny and sexy.

9. A book that disappointed you?
The Great Gatsby. It's a good book but maybe the hype ruined it for me. Or maybe I just didn't understand half of what I was reading the entire time :)

10. What book made you cry recently?
The Collectors Society by Heather Lyons.

11. Do you prefer buying books online or going to the bookstore?
Bookstores. I love them! so much.

12. Do you prefer to listen to music while reading or to read in silence?
In silence. Makes me focus more to the story.

13. What is the weirdest thing you've ever experienced while reading a book?
People looking at me in a wtf way coz my face is all scrunched up while reading a part in a story that affects me. Reading is not good on a public transportation.

14. What was your first fandom?
Harry Potter!

15. What fictional character do you relate to the most?
Alice Liddell in the Collectors Society. She's emotionally strong, sarcastic & quite funny.

16. What fictional character do you wish you were more like?
Hermione. I would like to be smarter. Or just smart :)

17. If you could spend a whole day with five characters, who would you pick?
Adrian Ivashkov from The Vampire Academy, Theo & Festos from The Blooming Goddess Trilogy, Alice Liddell and Finn Van Brunt from The Collector's Society. We're going to be a sarcastic bunch of people. I was thinking if I should just name boys, but that would reveal too much of my personality :)

18. What is a book that exceeded all of your expectations?
The Collectors Society. It's my first Heather Lyons and I can't wait to read the rest of her work.

The TBR Tag

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 18:15:00 +0000

created by Dana @ Dana Square & Rachel @ A Perfection Called Books.

I've been tagged by Joy @ The Bookshelf Intruder. Shout out to you! Thanks for remembering me.

How do you keep track of your TBR pile?

Goodreads. And an Excel sheet for the ones I'm about to review. It sounds organized, but it's really not.

Is your TBR mostly print or ebook?

Ebook. I tend to hoard them since I'm not faced with the reality of having to actually carry them all with me. It's sad but ebooks just tend to pile up and up and up on my hard drive.

How do you determine which book from your TBR to read next?

I close my eyes, stick out my index finger and jab the screen with it. Then scream "Tag! You're it" That's my ideal scenario. But it doesn't happen that way, it's usually which book is scheduled for a tour the earliest then I make my way from there.

A Book That’s Been On Your TBR List The Longest

I've tried reading it one time. I found out I needed to focus and really immerse my self in this one because the writing is different from what I'm use to. No reading and doing something else at the same time for this (for me).

A Book You Recently Added To Your TBR

I read an awesome review of this book over at the Diva Booknerd. I'm not one to turn down a good vampire story.

A Book In Your TBR Strictly Because Of Its Beautiful Cover

Look at that. Wow.

A Book On Your TBR That You Never Plan on Reading

I've read a lot of not so good review for this. I'll probably just watch it on TV.

An Unpublished Book On Your TBR That You’re Excited For

I love this series. Sometimes you just need that series that lets you enjoy it without having too much emotions invested in it. The story so far can only be described as cute and enjoyable. Holly Smale is funny and definitely so is Harriet Manners.

A Book On Your TBR That Basically Everyone’s Read But You

I'm sorry, okay?

A Book On Your TBR That Everyone Recommends To You
The book gods was being very nice to me when I won the copy of Dangerous Boys. However, everyone but me already read Dangerous Girls. Some even say it's better than Dangerous Boys but I don't have anything to compare it to. Soon, you will be mine!

A Book On Your TBR That You’re Dying To Read

I went on a Tellulah Darling crazy phase when I was reading The Blooming Goddess Trilogy. I know she's an expert on swoony boys and I would love to add another swoon worthy character on my already existing long list.

How many books are on your Goodreads TBR shelf?
106 books. I'm hopeless. Hopelessly happy! :)

Review: The Tethered Trilogy by Jennifer Snyder

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 16:00:00 +0000

The Tethered Trilogy by Jennifer Snyder

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Age Category: New Adult

Release Date: June 30, 2014

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
iTunes

"Magick, Mystery, and a Sexier Than Sin Romance..."

CATALYST:
Sometimes who we really are lies buried just beneath the surface…
After learning she’s inherited a house in the beachside town of Soul Harbor, Georgia, Addison Harmon and her best friend decided to take a much needed vacation before the pressures of life after high school suffocate them too heavily.
But what Addison finds isn’t a chance to recoup from a bad break up and hang out with her best friend while she decides what she wants to do with her future. What she finds is Kace Sullivan—a sexy guy she can’t seem to get enough of—someone who with one touch reveals a seductive world full of magick and secrets Addison isn’t sure she’s ready to be a part of.

CONJURE:
Sometimes to understand the present you have to conjure up the past...
The last thing Addison Harmon needed was to become tethered to the broody, often seemingly cold, Theo Van Rooyen, but that's exactly what happened.
Forced to partner up with Theo to figure out a way to break the tether, Addison soon realizes she may have bitten off more than she can chew.

CONFINED:

Sometimes the things in life that seem to confine us most are often the ones that save us…

To Addison Harmon becoming initiated appeared to hold the answers to her every problem—all except what she would do after, when the tether was finally broken. But when the after Addison imagined isn’t the one unfolding before her, she finds herself tangled even further in a web of secrets, lies, and betrayal.

It’s not until Addison is captured by the last person she ever suspected would betray her that she’s forced to rely on herself for survival.

Questions will be answered. Trust will be misplaced. And hearts will be broken.

My Rating:

Why?

This was such an easy read. And I mean that in the best way possible. There are just some books that pulls you in and you can't help up but be swept away. This was one of them. When I started reading it, curiosity was first of the many emotions that hit me.I haven't read much Paranormal Romance, but this one definitely made me a fan overnight.

The story revolves around Addison. She just graduated and is in need of some alone time. Here comes an inheritance she wasn't expecting let alone was aware of. Of course, it screamed, "perfect get way!!!" And who was she to ignore the fact that she is now the owner of a house beside the beach. I certainly wouldn't. Albeit the big hypothetical warning sign, she finds herself spending the rest of the summer there and whew! What a summer it is. Here are some photos I found that resemble the location of Addison's house:

If you like mysteries & magic then this book is definitely for you. Addison stands for brave women faced with the reality that their life is not what it seems. And if you're looking for new book boyfriends then Ms. Snyder is more than happy to provide us with three of them. I think what I enjoyed most is how this book portrayed magick. It almost seems possible that this can happen in real life. (I'm an optimist) Although I'm not sure if I'll enjoy the books as a standalone since I was given the chance to read the whole trilogy in one go. It literally ended in the middle of a scene, with the next book taking up where it left off.

I was able to finish it in 2 days because I can't wait to find out what will happen next. If you're a fan of a good twist that will leave you questioning your judgement, then grab this book NOW!

About the Author

Jennifer Snyder lives in North Carolina were she spends most of her time writing New Adult and Young Adult Fiction, reading, and struggling to stay on top of housework. She is a tea lover with an obsession for Post-it notes and smooth writing pens. Jennifer lives with her husband and two children, who endure listening to songs that spur inspiration on repeat and tolerate her love for all paranormal, teenage-targeted TV shows.

SHATTERED SOUL was my debut novel and no, you haven’t seen the end of me yet...

Website-Twitter-Goodreads-Facebook

Are you a fan of Paranormal Romance? What's your favorite?

how do you keep track off all your social media accounts

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 16:00:00 +0000

This is not a rhetorical question. I really need to know. I understand the need to get into all these social networking sites in order to broaden our reach. Especially to those who prefer other medium aside from blogs. But I'm actually struggling with keeping up with all of them. To be honest, my tumblr sucks. It really does. Don't get me wrong, I didn't go on a repost spree. I did pick those posts out, however it doesn't really reflect my blog at all.

So I was wondering, is the content on your tumblr the same with what you have on your blog? If not, then how do you determine what you post there?

I risk sounding like a total loon, but I'm really curious to know how we, as a blogger benefit from all the social media accounts we've set up. The ones I usually use would be blogger, twitter, goodreads and bloglovin. They all have their own purposes and I love it! I was just thinking if you guys have a method or process on how you go through each of your social media account?

And lastly, which ones your favorite? Aside from your blog of course. Here are some of the choices:

Twitter
Facebook
Tumblr
Goodreads
Instagram
Pinterest
Bloglovin
Youtube

photo credit: mkhmarketing via photopin cc

BLOG TOUR: THE ARRANGEMENT by Krista Lakes, Carly Phillips, and Lauren Hawkeye

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 17:28:00 +0000

From the New York Times bestselling author of Saltwater Kisses...

Miss Black met the man of her dreams two days ago, the charming and devastatingly sexy Sean Ferro. However, he didn't know that she was actually an escort working for Miss White. the Madam of New York.

When Miss Black shows up for an escort service he requested, he storms out, unable to bear the thought of his new girlfriend being a whore. He soon comes to his senses and confesses his love for Miss Black.

However, events conspire that will try to force the two apart. When a figure from Sean's past threatens to expose Miss Black's secret to Sean, will it drive them apart? When Miss Black learns the secret of Sean's sexual appetites, will it cause her to leave him in disgust? And will Miss Black's Madam allow her to quit this job so that she can be together with Sean?

Most important, will the calculating mind of Miss Black be responsible for the heartache of a broken engagement?

EXCERPT:

I stand up and push the contract off the table. It makes a quiet fluttering noise as it floats to the ground. Miss White's perfectly outlined lips form an "o" shape as her jaw goes slack. She has no right, no right at all. I've worked my ass off for her and she's going to give me a crap job because I say no to one customer?

I don't even wait for the contract to settle on the carpet before I walk out the door. I throw it open and nearly hit Gabe, but I just keep walking. Fury is making my vision blurry, but I know how to get out of the building. I am seriously tempted to quit, just to spite her. If I left, she would lose a good portion of her income. I know that I am one of her top earners if not her highest.

"Stop her!" screeches Miss White, but I'm already halfway to the exit. She sounds frantic, not at all what a Madame should sound like, I think with a smile.

I make it all the way to the exit door before someone grabs my arm. I turn in surprise to see Gabe, his meaty hand wrapped around me. I try to shake him off but his grip is secure.

"Let me go," I growl, still struggling. His mouth turns into a thin line and he shakes his head.

"Miss White wants to see you," he states. His voice is gruff, but I can almost imagine that it has the trace of an apology. "I tried to warn you."

I look up at him, seeing the brutish enforcer instead of a protector. I try and pull my arm away again, but we both know it's useless.

"Gabe?" I mouth his name more than say it, but his jaw is set. I nod and stop fighting. He has to do his job. I don't blame him for what happens next. He has as much say in it as I do.

His hands tangle in my hair and he pulls, dragging me back to Miss White's office...

Add Part 1 and Part 2 to your Goodreads list!

Buy part one from Kindle Worlds here and part two here!

Find out more about Lauren Hawkeye’s THE CHASE and Carly Phillips’ THE SEDUCTION!

About Krista Lakes

New York Times and USA Today Bestseller Krista Lakes is a newly turned 30 year old who recently rediscovered her passion for writing. She is living happily ever after with her Prince Charming and her bouncing baby boy in Denver.

Thank you for supporting an indie author. Anything you can do, whether it be writing a review, or even simply telling a fellow reader that you enjoyed this, helps keep my baby in diapers. Thanks!

Krista would love to hear from you! Please contact her at Krista.Lakes@gmail.com

or friend her on Facebook!

Website | Facebook | Goodreads

Review: Fountain of the earth by H.L. LeRoy

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Sun, 05 Oct 2014 23:02:00 +0000

Fountain of the Earth by H.L. LeRoy
Genre: Dystopian
Age Category: Young Adult
Release Date: November 22, 2013

Goodreads

Amazon

After witnessing the horrific murder of her mother, fifteen-year-old Terra Vonn has a singular focus—exacting revenge on the killers. But before she can complete her plan, savagery intervenes, and she is cast alone into a brutal post-apocalyptic world. As she trails the murderers south—through a land filled with cannibalistic criminals, slave traders, and lunatics—the hunter becomes the hunted. Terra quickly learns that she is not as tough or as brave as she thought she was. Worse, she may be the only one who stands between what little remains of civilization and destruction.

My Rating:

Why?

I fell in love with the world H.L. LeRoy created. I got a bit lost at first because he gave me an overview and like the usual lazy me, I failed to read it. I wasn't familiar with the setting and kept asking when exactly was the story taking place. It was right there on the email, it really sucks to be me sometimes. But being able to receive stories like this from authors like him, makes it really worthwhile. It felt really awesome when I received a book review request from him. I have to tell you, it kind of scared me a bit. This is the first time I received a request directly from the author. I have all these misgivings, "what if I didn't like it?" But of course, they were misplaced and I was so thrilled to be given this opportunity.

I won't go into the specifics of the story. But it was set in the time after "catastrophic solar flare destroys civilization". This is different from the usual dystopian genre we've gotten used to. I was surprised to read that instead of us moving forward, the change inflicted on Earth made us go backwards. Meaning no technology. Yup, that's right. We're given a preview as to what it'll be like if technology got wiped out. The way he described this new Earth is really something really worth noting. Here are some photos that I found that matches the images in my head:

Oh, and don't get me started on Terra Vonn. If you're looking for a strong female that literally kicks ass, then Terra is for you. She's courageous, loyal, and just downright amazing. She's the poster girl for kickassery. The other characters in the story also went through some major overhaul that I really enjoyed. Beth is also someone to watch out for. This book is just brimming with cool characters waiting for you to love and care for.

It really is such an adventure. I recommend this to girls looking for a new protagonist to rah-rah over. For dystopian lovers out there who's looking for something new to grace their favorite lists. The Fountain of the Earth will make you feel grateful for the life we're living right now. But please let H.L. LeRoy tell you Terra Vonn's courageous story, it really is a treat.

Meet the author:

You can find and contact H.L. LeRoy here:

Goodreads

Twitter

Blog

Things I instantly hate in books

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 18:22:00 +0000

This post was inspired by a book that I really hated. It was painful, excruciating, and I can't think of any other synonym right now. I'm sure we all have a list of things that automatically turns us off and here's mine.

From strong to weak. Why do they always have to be strong at first then when they meet the guy, they end up stupid. Tripping on their feet, stuttering, heart beating faster than ever. Reading a person's transition like that from something great to something entirely not great is just not for me. And there were thought bubbles that said "why do I get this way when I'm around him?" I hate the double standards. I'd rather read about a character being a downright bitch than a girl who is smart & strong who all of a sudden felt the need to act all idiotic for a guy she barely knows. Which brings us to..

Insta-love. Of course, we all hate this. No background, no build up. Just boom! In love. I get attraction, I just read a trilogy that didn't even mention love in it. It was all about chemistry and lust which is GREAT. It's definitely something I can relate to. If the boy/girl just happen to fall in love that quickly, well I'm sorry *closes book*

Clichéd bad boys. Why do they always have to fall in love with a bad boy. And not a very original bad boy at that. Always with the tattoos, the smirk, etc. Please give me a bad boy that's smart, who reads books, and can quote Shakespeare (not really) There are a whole lot of ways to be considered a bad boy. Think Loki.

Multiple narrators. I don't know if it's just me, but when I read and it's in first person, I tend to get attached to the person's voice. And I sort of get lost a little bit when they switch point of view. I just can't unplug from a character and plug in to another one. I'm so simple-minded it's such a hassle.

Flashbacks. I know it's necessary in some stories. But when it's there just to add pages, it's really obvious. There's no connection to the story whatsoever. And the book can stand on its own, whether the flashbacks there or not.

And other in bullets:

-Unclear settings (is it after the destruction of earth? or before? in the process of?)

This is all I could think of for now.

-Slooooooooow pacing (After 500 words and it's still the description of the settings, then umm, bye bye)

-No background (What happened before this? Why is it happening now? Who the fuck is this character)

Tell me, what causes your insta-hate in a book? Do you agree with some of the things I listed here? I would love to know.

Review & Giveaway: Unbearable by Cynthia St. Aubin

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 08:00:00 +0000

I am happy to be a part of this blog tour. This is the 4th book from The Case Files of Matilda Schmidt, Paranormal Psychologist.

Goodreads
Amazon

Paranormal Psychologist, Matilda Schmidt is sick of secrets. But when her troubled mother falls into dangerous hands, she must enlist the help of the two men who may be hiding the most: the hot-bodied demigod who's suddenly tight-lipped about his current client, and the delicious hit man who's been concealing much more than a gun in his pocket.

Faced with the destruction of her tidy life at the paws of three rowdy werebears, and protected only by an immortal egg on the edge, Matilda will have to come riding to her own rescue, or risk a life that's anything but happily ever after.

My Rating:

Why?

This is a fun book. You must love a certain level of bizarre to thoroughly enjoy this and I'm glad I do. This is the first book I read under the The Case Files of Matilda Schmidt. There were times that I felt sort of lost since I haven't read the first three, but it didn't make me want to stop reading. If anything, I want to get the first three so I can finally catch up. I like that it's a fast read. Crixus and Liam are two swoon worthy characters. Flawed and hot. My kinda guy. Matilda on the other hand is smart, funny and can hold her own in an argument. Over all it's a crazy mix of characters that will surely make for an afternoon well spent. In my case, it's an office day well spent.

Meet the author:

Cynthia St. Aubin wrote her first play at age eight and made her brothers perform it for the admission price of gum wrappers. A steal, considering she provided the wrappers in advance. Though her early work debuted to mixed reviews, she never quite gave up on the writing thing, even while earning a mostly useless master's degree in art history and taking her turn as a cube monkey in the corporate warren.
Because the voices in her head kept talking to her, and they discourage drinking at work, she started writing instead. When she's not standing in front of the fridge eating cheese, she's hard at work figuring out which mythological, art historical, or paranormal friends to play with next. She lives in Colorado with the love of her life and three surly cats.

Find out more about Cynthia St. Aubin on her website.

Like me: https:// www.facebook.com/ cynthia.saintaubin
Follow me: https://twitter.com/CynthiaStAubin
Visit me: http://www.cynthiastaubin.com/
Email me: cynthiastaubin@gmail.com

Giveaway! You can win a $25 Amazon Gift Card and 3 ebooks of Unbearable.

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Mommy Monday: My Top Fictional Mothers

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 16:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Mommy Monday! If this is you're first time checking this feature out, this is where I post anything mommy-ish. So for today, I decided to list down my top fictional mothers. Read on!

1. Helen Parr aka Mrs. Incredible (The Incredibles) - How can you not love a superhero mom. We've always said that our mothers are our heroes. What happens if they literally are? Answer? Elastigirl. Nuff said.

2. Lorelai Gilmore (Gilmore Girls) - Witty, sexy, cool, crazy, sarcastic are just a few words I could think of at the top of my head to describe Lorelai. The relationship she has with her daughter is what I hope my relationship with my daughter would be.

3. Molly Weasley - Wand waving mama! She doesn't play favorites and equally spreads love to all her kids. She's fiercely protective, a great cook and of course an awesome witch.

4. Kirsten Cohen (The O.C.) - Anyone who ends up loving a stranger like her own son gets a star on my handy dandy notebook. She struggled with her own issues but managed to remain a great wife and mother.

5. Catelyn Stark (Game of Thrones) - Here we have the epitome of a strong woman. I can only imagine the pain of not being with your kids. But she held it all together until the end.

6. Cersei Lannister (Game of Thrones) - Why is she here?! She's a major b*tch! Yes, yes she is. But being a mother might be the one redeeming quality she has. You cannot doubt that she loves all of them.

Who are your favorite fictional momma?

REVIEW: True Calling by Siobahn Davis

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 00:18:00 +0000

True Calling by Siobhan DAvis
Genre: Sci-Fi
Age Category: Young Adult
Release Date: August 1, 2014

Goodreads
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Kobo

I wonder which situation is hardest.
Mine, because I remember everything, or hers because she can't.

Planet Novo, nestled in space twelve hundred miles above the surface of the Earth, is the new home of 17 year old Cadet Ariana Skyee. Confused by the government-sanctioned memory erase and distressed at her impending forced marriage and motherhood, Ariana’s plans for the future are thrown into complete disarray.

As the traumatic events within her family life enfold, Ariana grows increasingly alarmed at the authorities apparent pre-occupation with her and feels progressively more isolated and alone.

Her growing feelings for fellow Cadet Cal Remus intensify as the recently announced pageant,‘The Calling’, gets underway. Struggling to comprehend the continuous, inexplicable dreams of the mysterious Zane, discovering the past helps shape her future, with devastating personal consequences.

My Rating:

Why?

The story revolves around Ariana Skyee. A 17 year old new resident of the planet Novo. They have been relocated due to disruption on Earth. They are inserted with a metal disk called Vito to monitor their health, location and just about anything there is to know about their life. Now there are a lot of comparisons being made from other dystopian books. I get that, because after the first three chapters I was thinking, "It's Hunger Games without the hunger and ugly buildings."

I love Siobhan Davis' description of her world. She does it in a way that doesn't seem forced. She has Ariana doing something in the present and then transition to her thinking about the events that led to them being transferred to Novo. I found these pictures that looks close to how I imagined Novo would look like.

I liked how things unfold in the story. It left me wanting to call Siobhan Davis (if we were close) and demand to know what'll happen next. This is the first book in a long time that sucked me into their world. My mind was in overdrive trying to imagine the things that's being described in the book. I can't tell you enough how much I love sci-fi. And this book is the right mix of technology and human emotions.

The characters all have their own charm. Ariana Skyee's personality is what got me hooked on the book. Her voice, her emotions is what made True calling a winner for me. She's vain to an extent, pretty, and tough. Yeah, she's sort of almost perfect since she's both athletic and creative but it wasn't really a problem for me. Her loyalty to Cal is to be commended. The situation she faced with the two men could be tough to deal with. But I think she handled it well.

I'm still trying to decide which Team I'm on, but I'm leaning towards Cal. We'll see on the second book how their story plays out. I highly recommend it to sci-fi lovers and to those who enjoy a tight-knit dystopian story. Let Siobhan Davis take you on a trip to Novo. I promise you won't regret it.

Book Buying Ban (3B's)

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 23:32:00 +0000

We've all been through this. No, scratch that. We are all going through this. RIGHT NOW. My book blogging, book reading & book buying friends. We have to admit that we can't help buying new books regardless if our wallet or shelves can handle it. This is my lousy attempt at controlling the urge to add any more books to my to-be-read list. Now, I will still click that "Want To Read" button on Goodreads. But for the time being, there will be no buying/getting that's going to happen. Not unless I finish everything on my TBR list. You can only imagine the effort it takes for me to close out the site where I usually buy my books. Those covers are all calling out to me.

Why am I doing this? Because every time I open Goodreads and my hard drive, I get stressed out seeing all those to-read books. I feel like I spend more time looking for books to buy rather than doing the actual reading. I get so caught up clicking that Request button on Netgalley. *sigh* Okay, rant over. Let's move on to the plan. Here's my list:

Click it!

Do you see the amount of books from Netgalley? Yeah, I know. I'd like to fulfill my end of the bargain which is to provide a review for all of them. I wanted to share this here because one thing I'll need is support. So the rules are:

Rule #1 No buying of books/ebooks allowed

Rule #2 No requesting of digital galleys

Rule #3 No reading any other books aside from what is on the list

Rule #4 No looking at bookstores/booksale/book fair (meaning, no Manila International Book Fair for me)

Rule #5 Don't go crazy

LET'S DO THIS!

REVIEW: Daughter of Isis by Kelsey Ketch

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 21:46:00 +0000

Daughter of Isis (Descendants of Isis #1)
by Kelsey Ketch
Genre: Fantasy
Age category: Young Adult
Release Date: October 26, 2013

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“Her mouth parted slightly, waiting for Seth to breathe life into her own body, just like in the story. She wanted him to awaken her senses.”

Their worlds collide in California’s high desert. The last thing Natara “Natti” Stone wants to do is to start anew at Setemple High School. She wished she had never left London. Yet the brutal murder of her maternal grandmother has made her life very complicated. The only clue related to her murder is an ancient, encrypted necklace Natti discovered after her grandmother’s death. And if trying to adjust to American life is not enough, Natti is being stalked by a mysterious, charming high school senior, Seth O’Keefe, who is annoyingly persistent in his attempts at seduction.

Seth O’Keefe is secretly a member of the Sons of Set, an order that worships the Egyptian god of chaos. Seth’s blessing from Set, his “charm,” never failed, except with one person: Natti Stone. Her ability to elude him infatuates and infuriates him, and he becomes obsessed with the chase. But the closer he gets to her, the more his emotions take a dangerous turn, and he risks breaking one of the most valued covenants of his order. The punishment for which is a fate worse than death.

The adventure this unlikely couple becomes engulfed in could cost them their lives and their souls.

My Rating:

Why:

The story takes you on a journey where Egyptian gods and magic exists. I'm due for a Fantasy YA and this one is really worth the read. Natara "Natti" Stone is a teenage British girl who after an unfortunate incident had to move to California with her dad. Seth O'Keefe on the other hand is a devoted son set to follow his father's footstep as a member of the Sons of Set. It starts off a bit slow, but good slow. What do I mean? It means I didn't mind slowing down a bit while she establishes Natti's character and background. I was okay with how she described Natti. It established she was beautiful but it didn't go over the top. Now, Seth O'Keefe is a different story. When he was introduced in the story, I can't believe he was one of the leads. Yes, he's hot. He's probably ripped in all the right places. But man, do I want to slap his face! He is a major jerk. And all the girls falling over their asses to get in line for Seth's affection was cringe-worthy.

The setting was a typical high school. We have the cheerleaders (aka Seth's conquest) the jocks (Seth's posse) and the people in between. It provides a good background for the little tension between these two. Oh hell, what am I saying. There were A LOT of tension filled moments between Natti & Seth. One of the good things I like about this book, is how it catered to my love-hate relationship weakness. I always want to know how two people who hate each other end up falling in love.

I also love how these two characters have to go against their nature to consider each other as love interests. I don't want to give too much spoilers but this is a perfect read to those who love strong-willed stubborn women vs. mega-hot with powers "are-you-for-real" bad boys. I also recommend it to people who HATE insta-love. There is no such thing here. Everything is laid out with the hopes of luring you with the plot or the characters charm. Kelsey Ketch doesn't need romance to sustain this novel. By the last 5 chapters, I was speed reading as if my life depended on it.

About the Author:

During her high school years, Kelsey Ketch could always be found tucked away in a little corner of the hall or classroom, writing her fantasy worlds and creating illustrations and maps. Today is no different, except now she’s writing in the break room at her office building or at the tables of the Barnes and Noble Café in Cary, North Carolina. She is also an avid reader, a part-time book blogger at Ketch’s Book Nook, and lives with her two orange tabbies and awesome and humorous flat-mate.

For more information, please visit her site at kelseyketch.com.

You can find and contact Kelsey here:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

COVER REVEAL & GIVEAWAY: The Case Files of Dr. Matilda Schmidt, Paranormal Psychologist’s FOUR NOVELLAS

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 08:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the Cover Reveal of Cynthia St. Aubin's The Case Files of Dr. Matilda Schmidt, Paranormal Psychologist.

Before

After (Tada!)

Unlovable is FREE to download from September 12-16

-Goodreads-

-Amazon-

It isn’t every day a sexy demigod throws a pissed-off Cupid onto psychologist Matilda Schmidt’s couch and informs her the fate of the world depends on her ability to get him off his diapered ass and back to helping people fall in love. Just when Matilda convinces herself she’s not hallucinating, in walks a Vegas hit man with a big gun and a bigger threat: pay back the million dollars she owes a notorious casino mogul, or wind up as fish food in Lake Mead. Rocketing across country with a gun to her head, Matilda has a dysfunctional love-god in her laptop bag, a million dollar debt she has no knowledge of, and must convince the seductive hit man he’s snatched the wrong woman before he convinces her he might be the right man—for a night. Can Matilda stay alive long enough to keep love from becoming history?

Excerpt:

Liam leapt, crushing me beneath him as we fell onto the bed. Cupid ducked, using my body as a shield.
   “Hey,” I shouted. “I’m not part of this.”
   “Come here, you mouthy little shit,” Liam growled next to my ear, grabbing for Cupid’s wings.
   “Fuck you!” a voice squeaked behind my back.
   “Boys! Stop this!” I was a battlefield of sensations— Liam writhing on top of me to get at the creature digging his bony knees into my spine. Unable to decide if arousal was an acceptable response to the situation, my mind yielded control to my body, hungry for the information traveling up my nerve endings in electric pulses.

Here are the other covers:

Here's our beautiful author :)

Find out more about Cynthia St. Aubin on her website.

Like me: https:// www.facebook.com/ cynthia.saintaubin
Follow me: https://twitter.com/CynthiaStAubin
Visit me: http://www.cynthiastaubin.com/
Email me: cynthiastaubin@gmail.com

And now for the giveaway! You can win a $25 Amazon Gift Card & A Signed Limited Edition Paperback of Dysfunctional.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Liebster Award

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 23:49:00 +0000

I have been nominated by Sofia @ Take A Walk On The Write Side, thank you!

The rules to the Liebster Awards are these:
Thank the blogger who nominated you and link to their blog!
List 11 random facts about yourself.
Answer their 11 questions.
Nominate 11 bloggers who have less than 200 followers.
Ask them 11 questions.
Let them know you have nominated them

11 random facts about me:

1. I have a total of 8 tattoos.
2. I'm adopted.
3. I have 3 sisters and 4 brothers from my biological parents.
4. I have a weird ear piercing.
5. I still can't get over The O.C.
6. I've watched the Parent Trap more than 20x.
7. I hate cold places. (I hate the office)
8. I was in labor for 22 hours when I had my first child.
9. I've kept a journal til college.
10. I always wanted to own a snake.
11. I love the beach but I hate swimming in the ocean.

Sofia's questions are:

1) What book would you like to see turned into a movie/tv series and why?

The Bride Quartet series by Nora Roberts. The main characters are funny and the men, swoon-worthy!

2) What is your favorite fairytale?

Beauty and the Beast

3) What book made you fall in love with reading?

Gah! I can't remember. Maybe something by Danielle Steel

4) Who is you all-time favorite author?

Michael Crichton.

5) Do you sometimes judge a book by its cover.

All the time.

6) What was/is your favorite school subject?

Statistics :)

7) What made you decide to start a blog?

I wanted a place where I can share my love for positivity & books.

8) Do you like taking personality quizzes?

Yes.

9) What's the last book you read and loved?

Unbearable by Cynthia St. Aubin

10) What do you like to do when you're not reading?

Spend time with my daughter.

11) If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Greece.

I'll nominate someone later :)

Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon!

noreply@blogger.com (Ana) — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 01:14:00 +0000

I'm joining!!! I just read about this today and I really wanted to lessen my TBR, so here goes nothing.

Here's the list of what I plan to read from September 8-20.

I have a review coming up for this and I would like to be able to finish it in time. Updates will be posted here as well.

Yes! I haven't read this yet. Please don't kill me. I'm going to finish it within the read-a-thon I promise!

I also have a review due for this. I know, I suck at organization.

Just the cover alone makes me want to finish this ASAP. I've read a lot of good reviews and I'm excited for it.

There you go. That's it for now. I don't want to overwhelm myself, I still have a day job. But looking forward to accomplishing all these.I'm also looking forward in reading the other participant's update. Fingers crossed we might get a dent on our TBR list. Good luck to everyone!

Tara! Let's be happy

Heather Lyons' THE COLLECTORS' SOCIETY ENCYCLOPEDIA

Amazon ** iBooks ** Kobo

About THE COLLECTORS’ SOCIETY ENCYCLOPEDIA:

And don’t miss the first three books in Heather Lyon’s The Collector’s Society Series…

THE COLLECTORS’ SOCIETY

Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** iBooks** Kobo

THE HIDDEN LIBRARY

Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** iBooks ** Kobo

THE FORGOTTEN MOUNTAIN

Amazon ** Barnes & Noble **Kobo

About Heather Lyons:

Updates

Author Interview: Anthony J. Melchiorri

REVIEW: The Human Forged by Anthony Melchiorri

My Rating:

My Thoughts:

Author Interview: Siobhan Davis

Introduction post: SCI-FI November

Introducing: Southern Born Books Christmas

Review: The Collectors' Society by Heather Lyons

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Keep Me Safe by Maya Banks

My Rating:

My Thoughts:

Giveaway:

Meet the Author:

REVIEW: A Week In New York by Louise Bay

My Rating:

My Thoughts:

About the Author

Random Questions Tag

The TBR Tag

Review: The Tethered Trilogy by Jennifer Snyder

My Rating:

Why?

About the Author

how do you keep track off all your social media accounts

BLOG TOUR: THE ARRANGEMENT by Krista Lakes, Carly Phillips, and Lauren Hawkeye

Review: Fountain of the earth by H.L. LeRoy

My Rating:

Why?

Meet the author:

Things I instantly hate in books

Tell me, what causes your insta-hate in a book? Do you agree with some of the things I listed here? I would love to know.

Review & Giveaway: Unbearable by Cynthia St. Aubin

My Rating:

Why?

Meet the author:

Mommy Monday: My Top Fictional Mothers

REVIEW: True Calling by Siobahn Davis

My Rating:

Why?

Book Buying Ban (3B's)

REVIEW: Daughter of Isis by Kelsey Ketch

My Rating:

Why:

About the Author:

COVER REVEAL & GIVEAWAY: The Case Files of Dr. Matilda Schmidt, Paranormal Psychologist’s FOUR NOVELLAS

Liebster Award

Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon!

Amazon iBooks Kobo

**And don’t miss the first three books in Heather Lyon’s The Collector’s Society Series…**

Amazon Barnes & Noble iBooks Kobo**

Amazon Barnes & Noble iBooks Kobo**

Amazon Barnes & Noble Kobo