Melanie's Book Addiction

Review : Sleepwalker by Karen Robards

2012-01-22T18:55:00.000-04:00

Author : Karen Robards
Published December 27th 2011 by Gallery

It’s not that Micayla Lange is afraid of the clinking she hears coming from the first floor of the empty McMansion she’s housesitting for her uncle Nicco. She’s a cop, after all. It’s just that finding out her boyfriend was cheating on her was enough drama for one night. Now she’s alone on New Year’s Eve, wearing flannel pajamas and wielding a Glock 22 as she zeroes in on the unmistakable source of the sound: Uncle Nicco’s private office. Jason Davis steals things for a living, so unexpected developments are a natural part of the job. Getting caught red-handed by a hot, pigtail-sporting police officer in what is supposed to be a gangster’s deserted house is just one more twist in the game. Kind of like finding incriminating photos in Nicco Marino’s safe, only to discover the cop—and the security cameras—have gotten a real good look at his face. Unfortunately for Mick, she also got a good look at the damned pictures. Her “uncle” might love her like family, but if he knows she’s seen evidence that implicates him in the murder of a city councilman, she doesn’t like her chances. Which is why she’s having a hard time reconciling her professional instincts with what she is rapidly concluding is an inescapable fact: She’s about to help a criminal get away with a suitcase full of stolen money. And she’s going with him. Mick and Jason’s race for their lives hurtles them through the dangerous Michigan wilderness on speedboat and snowmobile. As their adventure heats up and their enemies close in, Mick is torn between her duty to the force and the combustible passion engulfing her and her unlikely partner in crime. She’ll have to turn Jason in sooner or later…if they survive. But will they ever get a second chance at love?

*Book courtesy of Simon & Schuster Canada

Mick finds herself house sitting for her uncle on New Year's Eve. In the middle of the night, her sleepwalking wakes her up. She immediately hears strange sounds. Being the good cop she is, she hurries to investigate. She soon regrets it! Turns out there's a few thieves in the house. When Mick discovers evidence she wasn't meant to see against her uncle, she realises she must let the bad guys take her hostage.

Mick is fighting a few personal demons. She keeps having a nightmare about her mother's murder which makes her sleepwalk at night. She still doesn't know what really happened that day or who the killer was. She's grown-up into a really tough girl who can take care of herself and knows how to use a gun. I loved the tension between her and Jason the thief. She's really an honest and good cop. She knows she shouldn't have a relationship with a criminal but when you're stuck with a guy as good-looking and charismatic as Jason, how can you resist? Will she do anything about the piece of evidence she found against her uncle? One thing's certain, her uncle is not who she thinks he is.

What a great thriller : non-stop action, great characters, sexual tension and a forbidden romance! It's a roller coaster ride of twists and turns and sizzling romance. I've read this in one sitting. The plot is so fast-paced it leaves you breathless. This is the first book by Karen Robards I read and I'm definitely intrigued to read more of her work.

4 out of 5 stars!

For more information, visit the author's website.
Visit the Simon & Schuster Canada book page here.
Like the author's Facebook page.
Foller her on Twitter.

ARC Review : Fever by Lauren DeStefano

2012-01-21T18:46:00.001-04:00

Title : Fever (The Chemical Garden #2)
Author : Lauren DeStefano
Expected Publication : February 21st 2012 by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind.
Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness. The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.
In the sequel to Lauren DeStefano’s harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price - now that she has more to lose than ever.

*ARC courtesy of Simon & Schuster Canada

Fever, the second book in the Chemical Garden series picks up where Wither left off. Rhine and Gabriel have run away from the mansion but their troubles are far from being over. Through their journey to freedom and to reunite Rhine with twin brother we are introduced to fun new characters. Some friends, some not. Rhine's father in law is still on the hunt and will do anything to capture them.

In this second installment, Lauren DeStafano's writing gets increasingly morbid. She creates a nightmare you just never want to wake up from. Even though how brutal the subject is you become quickly addicted and you find yourself racing to the last few pages where you'll be left craving for more. We're not left with a major cliffhanger but it will make you want to read the next book immediately.

The characters and descriptions are so vivid and real that I had to keep reminding myself that it's not reality. One of my favorite new characters is Maddie. She can't talk but proves to be a great help to Rhine and Gabriel. The carnival scene is amazingly horrifying and kept me on the edge of my seat.

In Fever some questions are answered and we get to learn more about the hauntingly dystopian world but we're left with new ones. I honestly can't wait to read the final installment. Lauren DeStafano has proven she's an amazing author and I'm sure the next book will be nothing but incredible. I never thought I'd be so engrossed in this series!

A must-read!

4 out of 5 stars!

Review : A Lady of the Realm (House of DeDe) by Sharon E Mamolo

2012-01-21T08:52:00.000-04:00

Title : A Lady of the Realm
Author : Sharon E Mamolo
Published: December 10th 2011

Bethany Boudreaux is tired of being a damn peasant. Her mother, a born again human who rejects her witch bloodline, has kept Beth secluded and ignorant for most of her life. Beth wants to eat, preferably twice a day. She’d like a grand home, with a fully stocked bar. She’s tired of eking out an existence while the rich freaks get all the breaks. She’ll do anything to claim what is, by law, hers. She needs help, lots of it, because paperwork can be a bitch.When Beth learns Lord Aleksander is coming to visit her club, she grabs a stiff drink and waits. The dark elf of Losalfar is the perfect solution to her current legal problems. He’s obscenely rich, a top member of the hierarchy, about to inherit region two, including New Orleans, but most importantly to her … he’s a man. Men are so easy, regardless of race. With his help, she can attain the privileges and powers only those with a title are born with. All she needs to do to gain his assistance is agree to three measly conditions.

Amazon

*eBook courtesy of the author

When Bethany Boudreaux learns she is the last full-blooded witch all she wants is claim what is rightfully hers. To help her become a lady she requests the help of an elf, Lord Alek. He's not your typical elf. He's tall, well-muscled and will make you swoon and drool over him. Plus his friend the half-breed fairy lawyer isn't so bad either. Lord Alek will do everything in his power to help Bethany but she must agree to three conditions...

With A Lady of the Realm Sharon Mamolo creates a unique world of elves, fairies, talking dogs, witches and shape-shifters. The plot is very rich and the characters are fun and diverse. Sometimes the storyline's moving extremely fast and sometimes it's a bit slow. It's an unpredictable and entertaining read with some hot guys and very sexy scenes. I don't want to spoil the story for you so you'll have to trust me and give this book a try. Sharon E Mamolo has written paranormal like no one has done before. It's not all vampires and werewolves like we usually read. It has something for everyone.

4 out of 5 stars!

PS : For today only you can download the book for free on Amazon. Click here.

Review : A Kiss Under the Mistletoe by Jackie M. Smith

2012-01-13T11:53:00.000-04:00

Title : A Kiss Under the Mistletoe

Author : Jackie M. Smith

Published December 21st 2011 by Secret Cravings Publishing

Emma and Laurent meet at a crime scene. Laurent's a police officer while Emma's a journalist. Sparks fly between them when they meet but with her past relationship Emma doesn't want to rush things. They both go together on an investigation but will they be strong enough to resist one another or will it be love at first sight?

Don't let the title fool you! A Kiss Under the Mistletoe may suggest a Christmas book but really it isn't (except for the mistletoe part). You can read this book on the beach or in a warm and cozy blanket in winter.

With only 27 pages, a lot happens in this book. It's a bit unrealistic how fast the relationship develops between the two characters. I would've liked for it to be longer. Honestly I didn't want it to end so quickly. In a short amount of page the author's able to put together a well-written story with well-developed characters. Like every romantic story the end is always predictable but A Kiss Under the Mistletoe has a few twists and turns along the way that I didn't expect.

A short but enjoyable read!

4 out of 5 stars!

Review : Bastion - Prequel To War by A. L. Collins

2012-01-07T21:51:00.001-04:00

Title : Bastion - Prequel To War

Author : A.L. Collins

Published November 16th 2011 by AuthorHouse

The same dream again. Things were twisted now, thunder clapping as the same man from before stood at the top of the same cliff. Rigil watched from some unknown position at this mystery being who was fighting for his life against some kind of invisible force. He raised his arm and shouted some kind of word that couldn't be understood as shadows began creeping in all around him. But this time his face could be seen. As an arrow struck him and he fell to his death, his face looked exactly like- Rigil's.

*Book courtesy of the author and publishing manager in exchange for an honest review.

Amazon

With conspiracies brewing Rigil loses his family and friends in a fire that ravaged his hometown. Determined to fight these conspiracies and to save the other towns and villages, Rigil sets out on a enchanting journey with Syrius the "White Wolf" and Meriah the gypsy.The unlikely trio encounter dangerous enemies around every corner. A mysterious sword serves as Rigil's weapon. Will they succeed or will the world fall in the hands of evil?

Once I started reading about the wonderful and enchanting world the author has created I couldn't stop. Many times while reading I had to remind myself that A.L. Collins started writing this series at eighteen. I'm amazed! The plot is so rich and the many details give you the feeling of being right in the midst of all the action alongside Rigil and his friends. He has a created a unique world filled with vivid characters you can't help but love. It's hard for me to pick a favorite one but I really like Meriah. I couldn't help but laugh at how prude she is. She's very shy and won't admit she has a crush on one of her fellow companions.

The vocabulary specific to this new world is a bit overwhelming and many times I wished to have a glossary to consult whenever I needed to. A simple stop on the author's blog answered my question. He provides a short glossary that I found very useful while reading.

Bastion - Prequel To War proves to be a great fantasy novel. With guaranteed laughter, a bit of romance and a ton of action to keep you on the edge of your seat, you won't regret taking a trip to the universe of Bastion. I really enjoyed getting myself lost in this novel and I look forward to reading what this talented author has in store for us next.

4 out of 5 stars!

For more information on the book and the author click here.

Review : Can't Help Falling in Love (The Sullivans #3) by Bella Andre

2012-01-03T21:26:00.000-04:00

Title : Can't Help Falling in Love (The Sullivans #3)
Author : Bella Andre
Published December 2011

He ran into a burning building to save a mother and daughter...and ended up falling in love.
Gabe Sullivan risks his life every day as a firefighter in San Francisco. But after learning a brutal lesson about professional boundaries, he knows better than to risk his heart to one of his fire victims ever again.
After Gabe saves Megan Harris and her seven-year-old daughter from a deadly apartment fire, Megan knows she owes the heroic firefighter everything. Everything except her heart. Because after losing her navy pilot husband five years ago, she has vowed to never suffer through loving - and losing - a man with a dangerous job again. Only, when Megan and Gabe meet again and uncontrollable flames of desire ignite between them, how can he possibly ignore her courage, determination, and beauty? And how can she deny not only his strong bond with her daughter.but the way his sweetly sensual kisses are challenging her to risk everything she's been guarding for so long? This winter, if one - or both - of them aren't careful, they just might end up falling in love.

*ebook courtesy of the author

After losing her navy pilot husband, Megan decided to never fall in love with a guy working dangerous jobs. Then comes Gabe the firefighter. He vowed never to have a relationship with one of his victims. Through smoke and flames Megan catches his attention when he rescues her and her daughter. Will they both be able to keep the promises they made to themselves or will fire ignite between them?

Gabe is a strong and independent guy. Megan's daughter Summer and Gabe become friends immediately. It's kind of cute the way she looks up to him. Summer seems to know what's going on with Gabe and her mother. She even tries to hook them up together by asking her mother to go on a ski trip knowing Gabe would also be there. She's quite the matchmaker. She's mature not like your typical seven year old. As for Megan I really feel for her. I understand why she doesn't want to get involved with a risk-taking man after having to raise her daughter alone when her husband died in a plane accident. I love how Gabe is very patient with her and wants to take things slow.

Can't Help Falling in Love is a great romantic story. When things heat up between the two we get some pretty steamy scenes. One minute you might laugh and the next cry. Although it's the third book in a series it can be read as a stand-alone. Even if it's one of those books you can easily predict the ending it's still an emotional and very realistic read. This is the second book by Bella Andre that I've read and so far I haven't been disappointed.

4 out of 5 stars!

January RAK

2012-01-02T17:21:00.000-04:00

Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) was created by Book Soulmates and it's all about giving and receiving books. Not familiar with this? Check out the rules.

COMPLETE RULES RE-CAP:

Please read carefully & follow all rules! Thank you!

Please sign-up each month that you can participate (and by participate, we mean give as well as receive).

Show off your participation by grabbing our RAK button (code is in the right sidebar).

Create a wish list (on Amazon, Goodreads, or your blog, etc) and post it in the Google Doc located in each R.A.K post for the month.

If you choose to do a R.A.K for someone, check out their wish list and contact that blogger directly for their information.

Once you receive a RAK, send us an our new email to [rakbybooksoulmates @ gmail . com] so that we can update the Google Doc. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU SEND EMAILS TO THIS ADDRESS!

E-book participation is limited to files being gifted directly to a person from the e-book store. Amazon's Kindle Store is set up to allow this, as well as the Kobo store and we believe Barnes & Noble with Nook as well.

At the end of the month, SHOW US YOUR R.A.K by making a "RAK Wrap-Up" post. This post should include who you SENT gifts to as well who you RECEIVED gifts from :)

OPEN TO EVERYONE including all our International brethren!

Remember, there's always the Book Depository and they offer FREE shipping!

Easy peezy!!

Sign up for January [HERE]

See who else is participating [HERE]

*********

To view my wishlist click here.

Winners!

2012-01-01T18:12:00.000-04:00

It's now time to announce the winners of the pre-anniversary of 12.21.12 giveaway :

One signed copy of Monad 12.21.12 : The Awakening of Stella Steinar by T. Anderson + a bookmark :

Maddwriter

One signed copy of Monad 12.21.12 : The Awakening of Stella Steinar for review + a bookmark :

GMR

One bookmark:

Just A Lil Lost

Jex

Amanda

Congrats to all & thanks to the author and everyone who entered.

Happy New Year!!

2012-01-01T09:10:00.000-04:00

*Throws confetti*

Happy New Year everyone! I hope 2012 brings you joy, good health and lots of books!

2011 was a good year for me but I've got a feeling the new year will be more challenging and it'll bring a lot of changes in my life but I'm ready for them. I've decided to not have any resolutions. I never follow them anyways or I just stick to them for a week or two. One of my resolutions last year was to blog every day & review every book I read. Ha! That went well.

As for my 2012 reading goal, I'm thinking of trying to read at least 100 books. I've read 153 in 2011 but this year I'll be a lot more busy.

What are some of your resolutions? How many books are you planning on reading?

Review : Cedardale Court by Nathan Lee Christensen

2011-12-26T22:35:00.000-04:00

Title : Cedardale Court

Author : Nathan Lee Christensen

Published : October 7th 2011

Cedardale Court is a neo-gothic murder mystery with enough fools and old flames to keep you happily mixed up for most of a long weekend. When Canner Connelly and his daughter, Chloe, move in with their Uncle Henry, and a simple drainage problem turns a normal Sunday morning into a slightly darker affair, it's not easy to tell where everyone might end up, or if they'll even make it at all.

*e-book courtesy of the author.

Canner and his ten-year-old daughter move in with his Uncle Henry in a small neighborhood. Their bags are not even unpacked yet but it doesn't stop the drama from unfolding right in front of their eyes. It all starts with a drainage problem and a severed hand. For a small community the people sure have a lot of secrets! A murderer (or murderers) is (are) on the loose. Whether they want it or not, Canner and his daughter are involved in the investigation and it's up to Canner to keep him and his daughter safe. No one can be trusted, not even a friendly neighbor...

I had no idea what to expect of this book. I had never heard of a neo-gothic murder mystery before but I had to give this book a try. Oh boy, am I glad I did! The plot is fast-paced and full of mystery. From chapter to chapter, you never know what to expect.

You think you know the characters really well but then you're left truly shocked. The storyline is so engrossing. I think it has to do with the fact that the characters are depicted so realistically. Canner is raising his daughter alone after his wife died ten years ago. He's the overprotective dad and will do anything to keep his daughter safe. He's still mourning his wife's death and seems to see her ghost. Chloe the daughter is very mature for her age. She's the one keeping everything together. Uncle Henry has a few skeletons in his closet and a mysterious scarecrow on his porch...Cedardale Court has a fun and diverse group of characters.

The author has done a fantastic job writing this book. I can't wait to see what he has next in store for us. I really recommend you read this book. It might exceed your expectations like it did for me.

4 out of 5 stars!

*For only $2.99 this book can be yours. You can purchase a copy on Amazon here.

Review : Rapid Dawn by TK Steiner

2011-12-23T10:21:00.001-04:00

Title : Rapid Dawn
Author : TK Steiner
Published October 29th 2011

Blurb:

A young heiress has her idyllic life turned upside down when her father’s kingdom is overthrown by a sudden revolution. Only after a narrow escape does she realize that she and her telepathic abilities will play a critical part in an audacious plan to save her people. To succeed she’ll have to enlist the help of two young men from the past. John is a mason’s son living in the eighteenth century, while Clay is a young man from the twenty first century.
Together, the unlikely trio races to reverse the sands of time and save a peaceful civilization from extinction. Along the way, they face a sinister foe whose mysterious abilities and dark vision for the future threaten all of humanity.

* E-book courtesy of the author.

Tess, Clay and John are three different people from three different time period. They must work together to find and decipher a book that will help save a kingdom from a group of evil who call themselves Erudites. These people can control minds and are a serious danger for the civilization.

Rapid Dawn exceeded my expectations. I absolutely loved this book. The author did an amazing job writing it in three point of views. I love how each character is unique : a princess, a mason's son from the 18th century and a teen from the 21st century. Tess has telepathic abilities while John and Clay travel through time during their sleep. During the day they each try to decipher the clues on their own and in their dreams at night they put it all together. The future of the world depends on those three.

While the trio was racing through time, I was racing through my book to find out what would happen next. The plot is unlike anything I've ever read and fast-paced. The author has created a fantastic world. It is hinted that there might be a sequel to Rapid Dawn and I sure hope so. Fantasy lovers, be sure to add this book on your wishlist!

5 out of 5 stars!!

Review : Bloodstone by Barbra Annino

2011-12-22T09:12:00.000-04:00

Title : Bloodstone

Author : Barbra Annino

Published October 7th 2011 by Dane House

Blurb:

Book Two of the Stacy Justice Series has more magic, more mystery and more twists and turns than your average amusement park. A long-lost sister. A missing mother.And murder.Stacy Justice finds herself caught in a web of deceit, betrayal and family secrets that run deeper than the Mississippi in this follow up to Annino's debut novel, OPAL FIRE.Not only must the reluctant witch determine if the teenager on her doorstep is her sister--she's forced to confront her mother's disappearance--again. Add to that a dead guy in the kitchen and Stacy's at her witch's end. She's pretty sure the Blessed Book of her family's ancestry holds the key. Except she can't find it. And if the killer does--it may be over Stacy's dead body.Is Ivy really her sister? Where is Stacy's mother? And what does the dead guy have to do with it all? Find out in Bloodstone.

Author's Note: It is highly recommended that you read the first book in the series, OPAL FIRE before reading BLOODSTONE.

Bloodstone, the second book in the Stacy Justice series starts where Opal Fire left off. A mysterious teenager is on Stacy's doorstep claiming to be her sister.With dealing with her mother's disappearance and keeping a watchful eye on her "sister", Stacy never expected to find a corpse in the kitchen. A family ancestry book holds the key to help Stacy but there's only one problem : the book is missing! She must find that book before it gets in the wrong hands!

Bloodstone is a fun and bewitching adventure. Stacy's not all that happy with being a witch unlike Ivy, her supposedly sister. Stacy just wants a normal and quiet life but it seems she attracts danger wherever she goes. She has to keep Ivy a secret from her grandmother Birdie whom I absolutely love. Some of the funniest moments are with her and the Geraghty clan. Love those ladies!

Bloodstone is a roller coaster ride of adventure, mystery and secrets. Before you know it, you've read the whole book and you're eagerly anticipating the next one. Barbra Annino has proven again she's the queen of cliffhangers! I'm dying to read the next book in the series, Tiger's Eye which will be out in 2012.

4.5 out of 5 stars!

Pre-Anniversary of 12.21.12 Giveaway!

2011-12-21T06:00:00.003-04:00

Hey there everyone!

Do you know what today is? Not only is there only 4 days left before Christmas (Yikes!) but in exactly a year from now the world will "apparently" end. Scary thought, huh? So in honour of the pre-anniversary of the end of the Mayan calendar, T. Anderson has decided to throw a giveaway for her awesome book Monad 12.21.12 : The Awakening of Stella Steinar.

Stella Steinar isn't concerned with the rumored menacing date of December 21, 2012 looming just around the corner. The adopted but privileged daughter of two renowned scientists is embarking on a new chapter in her life. Ignoring her steadily increasing headaches and visions, Stella is anxious to leave everything in Minnesota behind and anonymously begin again. Headed for Berkeley, fate has other plans for her. What's about to happen in California will change everything she knows about herself and the world--forever.
MONAD, the largest scientific research firm in the world, seems to be hiding a top-secret project. And who is in charge? Stella's adoptive father and Berkeley alumni , Dr. Erling Steinar. On her quest for the truth, Stella finds herself deeply entwined in the project--but is it too late? Will she have time to change the future and escape her inevitable destiny? From meeting the family she's always wished for, to exploring her spiritual beliefs surrounding life and death--follow Stella's story as it takes mysterious loops through time and reality.

Sounds familiar? It should. I had the opportunity to read and review her book a few weeks ago and I also had the chance to ask her a few questions during our interview. In case you haven't read my review and interview with the author, click here and here.

So now here's what you've been all waiting for :

By leaving a comment on this post, you can win one of the following :

* One (1) signed paperback copy of Monad 12.21.12 : The Awakening of Stella Steinar + a matching bookmark

* One (1) signed paperback copy of the book to review on your blog or anywhere else + a matching bookmark. (PLEASE STATE IN THE COMMENT IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN REVIEWING THE BOOK. IF YOU DON'T INDICATE IT WE WON'T COUNT YOU IN.)

* 1of 3 matching bookmarks.

There will be FIVE winners!

The giveaway is open to US and Canada and will end just in time for the New Year on January 1st. The winners will randomly be chosen by random.org. Don't forget to include your email in the comment.

Good luck to all! :)

Review : Klondike Winter by Jackie M. Smith

2011-12-20T19:03:00.000-04:00

Title : Klondike Winter

Author : Jackie M. Smith

Published November 14th 2011 by Secret Cravings Publishing

Blurb:

Her family left in financial ruin, Sarah Callaghan travels to the Yukon with her brother in search of gold. The biggest adventure of her life begins when she meets Nicholas Ashbury. Handsome and adventurous, he makes her tremble with a desire she has never experienced before. But she doesn’t want to risk losing her heart or her fiancé for a man she barely knows.Nick seeks adventure instead of a life in London’s high society. In order to receive his rightful title and inheritance, he must marry before his twenty-fifth birthday. When he meets his best friend’s sister, her beauty and innocence capture his heart. He accepts to help her restore her family’s fortune but he cannot make her his. Can the cold and harsh wilderness bring them the happiness they both seek?

Amazon

*E-book courtesy of the author.

Sarah and Andrew's father passed away in the north while digging for gold. In order to pay off the financial debt he left them with, Sarah and Andrew prepare themselves for the cold and wintry Yukon. Sarah will have to leave her fiance behind but a new guy, Nicholas, quickly has only eyes for her. When an incident leaves Sarah and Nicholas alone to make fortune things get hot and heavy between the two. Nicholas doesn't know about Sarah's fiance waiting for her in Boston and Sarah doesn't know about the secret Nicholas' been keeping about her father's death. Between the search for gold and trying to resist one another, will Sarah and Nicholas be able to survive the cold wilderness?

From the beginning I loved Sarah. She's not your typical heroine in historical fiction. She's strong and independent. The great white north doesn't scare her (I wouldn't be scared either if I had a handsome and adventurous guy like Nicholas by my side to protect me). They try really hard to ignore their feelings for one another but when the two get together things get pretty steamy!

Klondike Winter is filled with romance and adventure from the beginning to the end. When I thought things were going to work out between the two something unexpected came up. Right until the end the book has a few twists and turns that kept me guessing. It has to be one of the best historical romance I've read this year. No one writes romance like Jackie M. Smith does! Klondike Winter is a must-read. I can guarantee this sizzling historical romance won't disappoint.

5 out of 5 stars!!

For more information, visit the author's website.

Follow her on Twitter.

"Like" her page on Facebook.

Follow her on Goodreads.

REVIEW : Flirting in Spanish by Susan McKinney de Ortega

2011-12-19T18:10:00.001-04:00

Title : Flirting in Spanish : What Mexico taught me about love, living and forgiveness

Author : Susan McKinney de Ortega

Published : July 1st 2011 by Antaeus Books, Inc.

Amazon - Barnes & Noble

Blurb :

"Running from paralyzing memories of an attempted rape and the decade of silence and shame that followed, Ortega lands in Mexico at 33, trying not to fall for a much younger local. In 1992 the author, the daughter of champion NBA coach Jack McKinney, was teaching English to Mexican teenagers when she met 19-year-old Carlos, who ardently pursues her despite the age and huge cultural differences. She resists at first, due to their divergent backgrounds--Ortega's childhood was one of summer vacation rentals and white gloves at Mass, while Carlos was a high school dropout who didn't have running water until age 10. But when she realizes that she is surprised a man could be kind to her like her father, "I didn't feel like a nervous wreck of a person anymore." It's not an instant happy ending as Ortega contends with the extreme poverty Carlos and his family live in, the machismo culture, and her own lingering doubts, with one foot in Mexico and the other wavering. When she finally achieves hard-won contentment, it's a joyous moment.." --Publishers Weekly

*E-book courtesy of the author.

In her thirties, Susan McKinney de Ortega moves to Mexico where she teaches English to high school students. One student catches her attention : Carlos. Never did she expect to fall in love with her nineteen year old student. She resists at first but then realizes they both have feelings for each other and more important, Carlos helps her get through dark times. She moves in with Carlos and his family but suffers from cultural shock. The daughter of a champion NBA coach now has to deal with poverty. In the house there's no water, no telephone and everyone shares the same room. But love can conquer all and through this, Susan learns more about herself.

The author has wonderfully penned her memoir. The reader gets to "travel" to Mexico and discover their culture and how difficult it can be for someone to adjust to theirs. The author has written about real lives, perfect or not. Serious issues are dealt with in this book : poverty and attempted rape. The author doesn't sugarcoat anything. The writing is so good that you actually feel like you're part of the family in Mexico that sticks together through good times and bad. It's as if we witness her journey right there with her. Flirting in Spanish is a touching read that will make you laugh, smile and even shed a tear.

A recommended read for both fiction and non fiction lovers.

4 out 5 stars!

**Stay tuned for an interview with the author!

November Random Acts of Kindness (#RAK) Wrap-up Post

2011-11-30T21:14:00.001-04:00

For my second month participating in Random Acts of Kindness :

I received :

Ghost Files: The Collected Cases From Ghost Hunting and Seeking Spirits by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson.

Thanks to Michele at Just a lil' lost

*****

I sent :

Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon to Michele at Just a lil' lost.

The Darkest Surrender by Gena Showalter to Tynga at Tynga's Reviews.

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I'll certainly be participating again next month. For the link to my wishlist if you ever want to send me a RAK, click here. Send me an e-mail at melvautour(at)hotmail(dot)com.

Hope everyone has a great RAK month.

Quick Book GIVEAWAY!

2011-11-28T18:28:00.002-04:00

CK Webb and DJ Weaver are offering an e-book of their latest release Collecting Innocents. I'll send the Smashwords coupon code to someone who leaves a comment on this post. In two hours, I'll randomly pick a winner. Hurry! Don't miss your chance to read this great book!

To read my review, click here.

~~UPDATE : The first person to leave a comment wins!~~

Michele at Just a lil' lost wins!! Congrats!!

In My Mailbox (Nov 27th 2011)

2011-11-27T11:46:00.000-04:00

It's that time of the week again!

Here's what I got :

An ARC of Fever by Lauren Destefano from Simon & Schuster Canada. Now I gotta hurry up and read Wither. :)

From the library :

The Christmas Hope by Donna VanLiere. GREAT book to read for this holiday season. Warning : Make sure you have a box of tissues near by!

Bought :

Ghost Hunters season 1 & 2. They were only 19.99 so I couldn't leave them there! I LOVE the show! They also had the first season of Ghost Hunters International and I regret not buying it. I'm going to look for it tomorrow if they still have it. :)

So that's it for me!

What did you guys receive this week?

In My Mailbox! (Nov 20, 2011)

2011-11-20T09:20:00.000-04:00

Hope you all had a great week! Mine was pretty busy but there's only 2 weeks of class left before finals! *Happy dance* I'm counting the days until December 19th when Christmas break will officially begin for me. That will mean more free time to read! :D

Here's what I got in my mailbox this week :

Gift :

Ghost Files by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson is an RAK (Random Acts of Kindness) from Michele at Just a lil' lost. Thanks Michele! :D

Won :

Song of the Nile by Stephanie Dray from a giveaway over at vvb32 Reads.

Bought :

The Vampire Diaries : The Fury and Dark Reunion by L. J. Smith

The Return : Nightfall by L.J. Smith

The Captive Part II and The Power by L.J Smith

As you can see I bought the series out of order but they were only 3.50$ each so I couldn't just leave them there.

So what was in your mailbox this week? Share your link I will stop by. :)

Review : Collecting Innocents by CK Webb and DJ Weaver

2011-11-12T20:09:00.001-04:00

Title : Collecting Innocents

Author : CK Webb and DJ Weaver

Published October 24th 2011 by Suspense Publishing

Blurb :

Highway travel can be lonely and treacherous. Broken down vehicles litter the Emergency Lane like corpses on a battlefield. What if you were alone with no one to call when you found yourself stranded? Your only companion; your small child sleeping in the back seat. What would you do?
On I-10 in Louisiana the answer is simple…you use the Emergency Call Box. But while you sigh a breath of relief in the knowledge that help is on it’s way, a much more sinister listener has heard your 911 call.

Calls for help are coming in from Emergency Call Boxes along I-10 in Louisiana. But when the State Trooper or wrecker service arrive to assist, there is no sign of the vehicle. Days later, the driver is found savagely murdered with no trace of their tiny passenger in sight.

When a police officer, formerly of the Aberdeen Police Dept., sees a twisted pattern of murder and child abduction arising from 911 calls, he contacts Sloanne Kelly, now known for her work with child abduction cases. Together, Sloanne, Shawn Tyler and Mac Mackenzie, with the help of reporter Birney Sullivan, go on the hunt for a killer and the innocent children he is collecting.

Amazon - Barnes & Noble

*E-book courtesy of the authors.

The mother-daughter writing duo has done it again. Collecting Innocents, the second book in the 911 Abduction series is even better than the first one. They had big shoes to fill and they've managed to come up with an even more thrilling and can't-put-it-down story.

In the first book Cruelty to Innocents, kids are kidnapped from an emergency scene while their caregivers are busy helping others. In consequence of these abductions the Saving Angels Agency was created by Sloanne and her fiance Shawn. Collecting Innocents picks up where the book left off. The Saving Angels Agency is going pretty strong and so is Sloanne and Shawn's love.

In Collecting Innocents, families are kidnapped at emergency call boxes on I-10. Is it related to the kidnappings in the first book? It's up to the Saving Angels Agency to find out who the serial killer and kidnapper is.

Collecting Innocents just blew me away! The many twists and turns will keep you on the edge of your seat. Even though it's the second book in a series it can be read as a stand-alone. The writing is more than excellent. I felt like I was right there with the characters and I felt for them. My Kobo wasn't turning the pages fast enough for me. Once you start reading, I can guarantee you won't be able to stop until you're done and once you're done, you'll be begging for more.

For just $2.99 you can witness yourself the talent of these two ladies!

6 out of 5 stars!!

To learn more, visit CK and DJ's website.

In My Mailbox!

2011-11-06T07:00:00.002-04:00

Hi everyone!

It's that time again to share what we got in our mailbox this week.

Here's what I got in mine :

Bought :

Hocus Pocus arrived just in time for Halloween. I love that movie!

Eternel Lover by Hannah Howell, Lynsay Sands, Jackie Kessler and Richelle Mead

Memoir of a Milk Carton Kid : The Tanya Nicole Kach Story by Lawrence Fisher and Tanya Nicole Kach. Bought this for my mom's birthday.

Gifted :

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff. Got this RAK from Melissa at Book Nerd Reviews.

Library:

Plague by Michael Grant. I had been waiting since August to read this book so you can imagine how excited I was when it arrived at the library!

What was in your mailbox? Leave your link in the comments and I will check out your post.

**In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren.

Interview with Author T. Anderson

2011-11-05T08:13:00.000-03:00

Hello everyone!

I've got a nice surprise for you today. I recently reviewed Monad 12.21.12 : The Awakening of Stella Steinar and today T. Anderson stops by to answer some of my questions. So please join me in welcoming her. :)

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your book?

I’m a new author. The Awakening of Stella Steinar is my first published book. Although, when I was younger, I dreamed of being a writer, I dismissed those dreams as being unrealistic and out of reach. Instead, I became an optician. I love this job, but it’s a very technical profession and I’m a creative soul. So I channel my creative energy into writing and art. I am a maniacal multi-tasker and function best when very busy. I also love yoga, and spending time with my ultra-supportive husband and our doggy-child, Chico.

My book evolved from a need to satisfy my own curiosity. I challenged myself to create a story that was unique, exploring a metaphysical slant for the YA reader. It’s a blend of genres including mystery, romance, psychological and paranormal thriller. It’s categorized as Metaphysical Fiction. Surprisingly, the book is attracting both male and female fans, from all different age groups, which is amazing!

Have you learned anything from writing and researching for your book?

Absolutely! I had a basic background in Norse mythology and world religions like Buddhism, but ended up studying extensively while researching. I learned everything from ancient Chinese medicine to theories of December 21, 2012, to history of the Scandinavian island of Haven. I know it sounds erratic and unorganized, but when you read the story, it will all make sense. I promise!

What song best matches your book?
I like all kinds of music and I always listen to it when I write. While writing MONAD I drew so much inspiration from my music. I created a playlist for the book, in fact! These are just a few of the songs:
When Water Comes to Life—Cloud Cult

Symmetry—Little Boots

Dark Come Soon—Tegan and Sara

Empty Room—Arcade Fire

Lotus Flower—Radiohead

The Passenger—Stars

This Time—The Verve

Even This Shall Pass Away—Robert Plant

Waiting for the End—Linkin Park

If you liked my book, listen to these songs and tell me what you think!

Why should readers pick up your book?
My story is modern, unique, fresh and different. No one has been able to compare it (yet)* to anything out there. It’s a change of pace from current trends, but will not disappoint lovers of paranormal, suspense, and romance. Plus, there are a few surprise twists that compel you to keep flipping the pages, so it’s easy to finish quickly. And it’s the first in a series, so the story continues!

*If anyone has comparables, please contact me! I’m hunting!

If there was one book that you could hold up and say: "This is why I write" – what would it be?

Oh, that’s a tough question. I can only pick one? There are so many! I think I’d need to go back to my childhood to say, “This is why I write.” So I must give credit to the first real novel I read, The Thornbirds. Some may laugh about that, but where credit is due, credit must be given. I was gifted the book in a shopping bag full of paperbacks from a yard sale or book swap when I was eleven or twelve years old. I absolutely loved that book! I was devastated when my dog chewed it up, but have since replaced it with another copy.

Favorite books and authors?

I love Anne Rice, particularly The Tale of the Body Thief. Lately I’m on a Dean Koontz kick, my favourite being Lightening. I adore his surprise endings. I’m also a YA fan, just getting to The Hunger Games series. Unfortunately, now that I’m writing, I don’t have enough time to read as much as I’d like. You can check out some of my other favourite books on Goodreads if you’re curious.

What would be one question you’d want people to ask you but they never do and what would be your answer to that question?

Who is Tycho Brahe? On the first page of my book, “A Note from the Author,” I mention this name. I’ve been waiting for someone to send me a note without having to point it out, and so far, no one has. While doing some research for my book, I fell upon this 16th century Danish astronomer and alchemist. He was a very colourful and interesting character and I discovered so many uncanny and unbelievable coincidental details between his life and certain parts of my story that I felt I owed him great thanks. I don’t want to give any spoilers here, but once you’ve read the story, take a few minutes and check this guy out. Not many people have heard of him, but will only recognize his assistant, Johannes Kepler.

If you could co-write a book with anyone living or dead, who would it be and why?

Great question. Maybe Isaac Asimov. He was so beyond his time. His ideas were original and though-provoking. I love when a fictional story ignites a spark of inner and social analysis. It’s one of my aspirations and as a master of this, he would have been an excellent teacher.

Where can readers find you for more information?

I can be found:

My blog http://www.authortanderson.blogspot.com/

My website http://www.authortanderson.com/

Goodreads www.goodreads.com/author/show/5199313.T_Anderson

Facebook www.facebook.com/pages/MONAD-122112-The-Awakening-of-Stella-Steinar/128463370557407

Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/tabookgirl

e-mail: info@monad2012.com

Thanks! Hope the questions were not too hard. I tried to come up with “fun” ones. :)

Haha! Your questions were great! They were a little hard…but very fun as well. Thank you so much, Melanie. I appreciate your time and kind assistance.

*********

It's the author's turn to ask the questions!

Do you believe in the possibility of past lives, reincarnation, life after death? Do you believe we are fated to meet certain people, like a soul mate?

Please share your thoughts in the comments.

Review : Monad 12.21.12 : The Awakening of Stella Steinar by T. Anderson

2011-11-01T20:43:00.000-03:00

Title : Monad 12.21.12 : The Awakening of Stella Steinar

Author : T. Anderson

Published : August 24th 2011 by Sunbury Press, Inc.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Blurb :

Stella Steinar isn't concerned with the rumored menacing date of December 21, 2012 looming just around the corner. The adopted but privileged daughter of two renowned scientists is embarking on a new chapter in her life. Ignoring her steadily increasing headaches and visions, Stella is anxious to leave everything in Minnesota behind and anonymously begin again. Headed for Berkeley, fate has other plans for her. What's about to happen in California will change everything she knows about herself and the world--forever.
MONAD, the largest scientific research firm in the world, seems to be hiding a top-secret project. And who is in charge? Stella's adoptive father and Berkeley alumni , Dr. Erling Steinar. On her quest for the truth, Stella finds herself deeply entwined in the project--but is it too late? Will she have time to change the future and escape her inevitable destiny?
From meeting the family she's always wished for, to exploring her spiritual beliefs surrounding life and death--follow Stella's story as it takes mysterious loops through time and reality.

**Book courtesy of the author.

With headaches and visions making her life miserable, Stella can't wait to go to school in California and start a new chapter in her life. Her adoptive parents are scientists in charge of Monad, the largest scientific research firm in the world. In California, Stella discovers, not only her biological family, but that she's a major part of Monad's research. There's more to her visions than she first thought. You see, Stella is the living proof of reincarnation and must keep herself safe. But whom can she really trust? She will have to dig through the past in order to figure out her future.

This book offers a spiritual and adventurous journey. I love how the author briefly explores the consequences of reincarnation for mankind. The author takes reincarnation to a whole new level. The storyline is very clever and original. It kept me guessing until the end. Some moments truly shocked me and I just couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out what would happen next. The writing is amazing. The first few lines grab your attention and the ending leaves you begging for more.

I love how the book starts with two different narrators and then both characters meet each other and discover their past and how they're related. I also love how they instantly connect like they know each other and take care of one another. There's also a bit of romance between Dane, who's job consists of protecting both girls, and one of the girls. At the beginning of the book, I told the author I was predicting a love triangle but I'll let you find out for yourself. It's really hard to talk about the book without giving away any spoilers so trust me on this one, Monad 12.21.12 : The Awakening of Stella Steinar is an excellent read! The story is so captivating you'll never want it to end!

5 stars!!!

And if this review didn't convince you enough to pick up the book, watch the trailer:

November RAK

2011-11-01T10:54:00.002-03:00

Since I loved it so much in October, I've decided to join Random Acts of Kindness again.

For those of unfamiliar with RAK here are the rules :

•Please sign-up each month that you can participate (and by participate, we mean give as well as receive).

•Show off your participation by grabbing our RAK button (code is in the right sidebar).

•Create a wish list (on Amazon, Goodreads, or your blog etc) and post it in the Google Doc located in each R.A.K post for the month.

•If you choose to do a R.A.K for someone, check out their wish list and contact that blogger directly for their information.

•Once you receive a RAK, send us an our new email to [rakbybooksoulmates @ gmail . com] so that we can update the Google Doc. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU SEND EMAILS TO THIS ADDRESS!

•E-book participation is limited to files being gifted directly to a person from the e-book store. Amazon's Kindle Store is set up to allow this, as well as the Kobo store and we believe Barnes & Noble with Nook as well.

•At the end of the month, SHOW US YOUR R.A.K by making a "RAK Wrap-Up" post. This post should include who you SENT gifts to as well who you RECEIVED gifts from :)

OPEN TO EVERYONE including all our International brethren!

Remember, there's always the Book Depository and they offer FREE shipping!
Easy peezy!!

********

Sounds fun right?

Here are the top 5 books on my wishlist right now :

1. Onstage, Offstage by Michael Bublé

2. Ghost Files : The Collected Cases From Ghost Hunting and Seeking Spirits by Jason Hawes

3. Elixir by Hilary Duff

4. Insatiable by Meg Cabot

5. Forever Vampire by Michele Hauf

To view more books on my wishlist click here. :)

Random Acts of Kindness : October Wrap-Up

2011-10-31T13:57:00.000-03:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!!!

I can't believe October is almost over! Before we know it Christmas will be here!

So this month was my first one participating in RAK (Random Acts of Kindness) and I really enjoyed it! I'll be participating for sure next month! :)

I sent Jaskirat, The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa.

And I received The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff from Melissa. Thank you so much, Melissa!!!! I can't wait to start reading it!

So what did you receive this month from RAK? Leave your links in the comments and I will check out your wrap-up post!

In My Mailbox

2011-10-29T16:35:00.000-03:00

Hey everyone!

I couldn't wait for the end of the week to get here to share with you all the goodies in my mailbox! So here it goes! To learn more about the books, click on the titles.

Won:

A signed copy of Damned by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguié from Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers. Thanks Gina, Nancy and Debbie!! :)

Bought :

Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel

Immortal by Gillian Shields

Radiance by Alyson Noël

All Through the Night by Davis Bunn

Sea Change by Aimee Friedman

This is Your Song, Lola Rose by Donna Hay

and last but not least...

Michael Bublé's new Christmas album!!!! I've been listening to this non-stop since I bought it. I highly recommend it!

So what was in your mailbox this week? Please share! :)

In My Mailbox

2011-10-22T20:44:00.000-03:00

It's that time of the week again to share what goodies we got this week!

Bought from The Book Depository :

The Dead Girls' Dance (The Morganville Vampires #2) by Rachel Caine. I've read the first book months ago and really enjoyed it but never actually bought the rest of the series.

Midnight Alley (The Morganville Vampires #3) by Rachel Caine

So have any of you read this series?

Q&A With Bestselling Author, Ellen Hopkins

2011-10-19T07:00:00.003-03:00

Happy Wednesday everyone!

I have a lovely treat for you guys today! Thanks to Anneliese from Simon & Schuster Canada, I was able to ask the wonderful Ellen Hopkins a few questions. Her new and first adult novel, Triangles, is now in stores. If you haven't read my review of the book yet, you can check it out here.

Ellen, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your new book, Triangles?

I am a former freelance journalist and children’s nonfiction author, turned bestselling novelist. My newest book, TRIANGLES, is about three women who hit midlife plateaus and reassess their paths into the future. It’s about friendship, parenting teens, betrayal, infidelity and the search for love.

After writing eight young adult novels, why decide to write one for adults and did you find it more challenging?

I hope to always grow as a writer, and this story was one that needed to be shared with an adult audience.? I didn’t find it so much more challenging as freeing, because I was not constrained by the age of the audience, as is the case with teen novels.

What is the easiest and hardest part in writing a novel in verse?

I think it’s easier to find viewpoint when writing in verse, as it’s very specific to character thought. The hardest part is placing each word so specifically, and yet keeping the story flowing forward.

Why do you think readers should pick up Triangles?

Questioning our life journey is something almost all of us share, and so this is everyone’s story, really, even though the characters may act out in ways we never would. This is a book about relationships, and is in turn funny, sexy, thought-provoking and heartbreaking, and these also are things we as humans share. It is a human story.

What is one question you always wanted to answer but no one has asked you yet? And what would that answer be?

What is at the very top of my Bucket List? A conversation with Stephen King.

*********

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions, Ellen!

To learn more, watch Ellen Hopkins talk about her new book, Triangles.

About the book :

In this first adult novel by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the unforgettable Crank trilogy, three female friends face midlife crises in a no holds-barred exploration of sex, marriage, and the fragility of life.

Ellen Hopkins has made her mark as the wildly popular author of several novels for young adults—every one of them a New York Times bestseller, and every one a hard-hitting exploration of tough-to-tackle topics. Now, in Triangles, Hopkins brings her storytelling mastery and fearlessness to take on the challenges of adult dramas.
In this emotionally powerful novel, three women face the age-old midlife question: If I’m halfway to death, is this all I’ve got to show for it? Holly, filled with regret for being a stay-at-home mom, sheds sixty pounds and loses herself in the world of extramarital sex. Andrea, a single mom and avowed celibate, watches her friend Holly’s meltdown with a mixture of concern and contempt. Holly is throwing away what Andrea has spent her whole life searching for—a committed relationship with a decent guy. So what if Andrea picks up Holly’s castaway husband? Then there’s Marissa. She has more than her fair share of challenges—a gay teenage son, a terminally ill daughter, and a husband who buries himself in his work rather than face the facts. As one woman’s marriage unravels, another one’s rekindles. As one woman’s family comes apart at the seams, another’s is reconfigured into something bigger and better. In this story of connections and disconnections, one woman’s up is another one’s down, and all three of them will learn the meaning of friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness before it is through.

Where you can purchase the book : Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Teaser Tuesday : Dreamcatcher by Stephen King

2011-10-18T07:00:00.001-03:00

Teaser Tuesday is weekly meme hosted by Mizb at Should Be Reading.

The rules are simple:
-Grab your current read

-Open to a random page

-Share 2 “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!(make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

-Share the title & author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

**********

Since Halloween is approaching incredibly fast, I thought now would be the perfect time to pick up a Stephen King book from my ever expanding TBR pile.

There was a loud, dank fart from beneath the man on the toilet, and the room immediately filled with an eye watering aroma of excrement and airplane glue. (page 218)

All right, what was up with this lady? Never mind where she'd come from, what she was doing here, or why she smelled like diluted antifreeze when she burped. (page 120)

Farts that smell like airplane glue and burps like antifreeze? Gotta love Stephen King's ~~crazy~~ brilliant mind!

Please do leave your links in the comments and I will check out your posts when I get back from class. :)

Bookworm joke!

2011-10-17T06:00:00.001-03:00

Happy Monday readers!!

For today's post, I thought I would share with you what I stumbled upon last night on the Internet.

"For Heaven's sake, Chris, why can't you talk to me once in a while?" Julie whined. "What?" Chris replied. "Look around!" Julie yelled, as she pointed around the room. "Look at all these books! You always have your head buried in a book! You don't even seem to know I'm alive!" "I'm sorry, honey," Chris said. "Sometimes I wish I were a book. Maybe then you'd at least look at me!" Julie exclaimed. "Hmmmm," Chris mumbled, "that's not such a bad idea. Then I could take you to the library every few days and change you for something more interesting."

***************

Hope this made you smile! Have a great week, my friends!!

October RAK

2011-10-16T10:27:00.000-03:00

I've been seeing these Random Acts of Kindness on the blogosphere and I thought why not take part in this. It's such a great idea and I want to spread the joy of reading to others. :)

RAK was created by the ladies at the Book Soulmates. So here's how it goes, everyone posts their wishlist and then someone picks one of those books and sends it to the person. Sounds fun, right?

Here are the official rules :

• Sign up each month you'd like to participate in.

• Show off your participation! Grab one of the buttons available :)

• Create a wish list and post it in the Google Doc located in each R.A.K post for the month.

{Post on your blog, Amazon, where ever as long as there's a link to it.}

• If you choose to do a R.A.K for someone, check out their wish list and contact that blogger for their address.

• At the end of the month, SHOW US YOUR R.A.K!

• Make a post saying 'Thank You' to whoever granted one of your wishes and share it with us :)

OPEN TO EVERYONE!

Let's keep our International bloggers in mind and in our hearts.

Remember, there's always the Book Depository and they offer FREE shipping!

Easy peasy!

************

If you want to join in on the fun, click here.

Before I go, if you ever wanted to spread the joy, here's my wishlist.

Random Sunday Post Featuring Uncle Jesse!

2011-10-16T07:00:00.001-03:00

Happy Sunday everyone!

I thought I would do something different for today's post. Instead of blogging about books and authors, I thought why not share a video I recently watched on Youtube and loved. Well, let's face it, I didn't have any reviews done to post and I felt like I've been neglecting my blogger friends lately so I decided to come up with a random post. Sounds good to you? I hope so!

This week I decided to re-watch one of my all-time favorite TV shows : Full House! I have a ton of box sets to watch instead of wasting my time re-watching a TV show but I learned in the past few weeks that I need an operation so until then, I refuse to watch my DVDs of ER and Grey's Anatomy. I'm sure I don't need to explain to you guys why! I figured it will only get me paranoid and I'm nervous as it is! lol

I always loved ~~Uncle Jesse~~ John Stamos and I thought he did an amazing job on Glee, although he should've been on every episodes if you'd ask me. Anyhow, I searched videos of John Stamos on Youtube (I wasn't stalking, I was just bored!) and found this one. Not only is John Stamos in it but ~~Danny Tanner~~ Bob Saget as well!

*Sigh* Don't you just wish you were Bob Saget in this video?

Hope this video made you smile!

Until next time, Happy Reading!

In My Mailbox

2011-10-15T19:23:00.000-03:00

Hey there everyone!

Hope your week was a wonderful one and that you've gotten lots of great books. This week was a slow one for books but it sure was one hell of a week at university. It seems like my fourth year brings nothing but bad luck every week. Oh well that's life I guess and I won't bore you with all the details. :)

In a few weeks, I have a school project where we have to read a children's book to our fellow classmates. This should be a lot of fun since I've done that every day this summer as part of my job at the library. But it's going to be weird reading a kid's book to adults. They apparently have to act like kids. I can't wait to see how it goes! Anyhow, I've already chosen my book to read and it arrived this week in the mail.

The one I bought is the French version and it is just the cutest book. It was quite expensive since it's a pop-up book but it is really pretty. I wish I had my camera with me to show you some pictures. I've already planned to bring my huge stuffed caterpillar during the presentation. I hope the ~~kids~~ classmates will enjoy it. Oh, and I would definitely recommend this book to kids...and adults. :)

It seems that lately I only buy things for my classes. This week, I also got the movie Changeling for my literature class. Never seen the movie but from what I heard it's really good. I can't remember the last time I actually sat down to watch a movie...

*********

So that's what was in my mailbox this week. What was in yours? Please share! :)

Before I get back to my mountain of homework and projects, here's what you can expect in the next few weeks :

On Wednesday, I'll have a Q&A with bestselling author Ellen Hopkins. She talks about her new book, Triangles and you will find out what's at the top of her bucket list!
During the next few weeks, I'll have a ton of reviews and blog tours. I can guarantee your TBR pile will grow!
I also have a few interviews and giveaways coming up so stay tuned!

So that's it for me! Until next time, Happy Reading!!

Blog Tour + Review : The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory

2011-10-11T06:00:00.000-03:00

Title : The Lady of the Rivers
Author : Philippa Gregory
Expected publication: October 18th 2011 by Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group

*Thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada for the ARC!

Jacquetta, daughter of the Count of Luxembourg and kinswoman to half the royalty of Europe, was married to the great Englishman John, Duke of Bedford, uncle to Henry VI. Widowed at the age of nineteen she took the extraordinary risk of marrying a gentleman of her house-hold for love, and then carved out a life for herself as Queen Margaret of Anjou's close friend and a Lancaster supporter - until the day that her daughter Elizabeth Woodville fell in love and married the rival king Edward IV. Of all the little-known but important women of the period, her dramatic story is the most neglected. With her links to Melusina, and to the founder of the house of Luxembourg, together with her reputation for making magic, she is the most haunting of heroines.

The Lady of the Rivers follows Jacquetta as a young woman and later on as the wife of the Earl of Rivers and the mother of sixteen children, including Elizabeth from one of the author's previous book. The book offers a glimpse into the magical world with witch craft, tarot cards, the Wheel of Fortune, charms, herbs, second sight and the mythical Lady Melusina.

Jacquetta is a powerful and interesting lady. It's refreshing to read about such a strong woman in
times when women weren't valued as much as men. The others depended a lot on Jacquetta and she even participated in making some important decisions.

The Lady of the Rivers is a wonderfully written book. Although I have to admit, I would've liked to skip a few parts in the book simply because of the lack of action. The author offers a lot of details but sometimes it was just too much information for me. I lost track a few times but I still enjoyed reading it. You don't need to know about these historical events to truly enjoy the reading experience.

The Lady of the Rivers is Philippa Gregory's third book in the Cousins' War series and let's all hope it won't be her last! I look forward to reading the first two books, The White Queen and The Red Queen. The Lady of the Rivers is a perfect read for those historical fiction lovers out there.

4 out of 5 stars!

If The Lady of the Rivers sounds like a book you might enjoy, click here to read an excerpt.

Watch Philippa Gregory as she talks about Jacquetta from The Lady of the Rivers.

For more information, visit the author's website and Simon & Schuster's book page.

There's an amazing contest going on right now for Canadian residents. The grand prize is two tickets to Philippa’s Toronto event, a gift certificate to The Windsor Arms hotel for high tea for two and two sets of Philippa’s Cousins’ War series of books. There are two runner up prizes which consist of a fantastic loose leaf tea starter kit from David’s Tea and signed copies of Philippa’s Cousins’ War series of books. You can enter the giveaway here.

To the Cliffside : A Morganna Cork Novel by B. Jane Lawson

2011-10-09T13:38:00.000-03:00

Title : To the Cliffside : A Morganna Cork Novel

Author : B. Jane Lawson

Published September 11th 2011 by B. Jane Lawson

Blurb :

Morganna Cork has lived twenty-four uneventful years in Los Angeles under the thumb of her overbearing mother. The only thing barring her from a totally average existence is that she's got a secret, magical ability to heal herself and others. An encounter with her mother results in exile to the small coastal town of Puesta del Sol. There, she will be a guest and employee at the Cliffside Inn, owned by her estranged cousin Maeve. Morganna resigns herself to a winter of work and boredom in this one-horse town.

Everything changes when she accidentally pulls into the driveway of the devastatingly sexy Callupo Stone. Instantly she is attracted to the infuriating man who makes no bones about his lack of interest, even if he seems to be right behind her at every turn. The sparks fly as she does her best to thwart his every attempt to corral her.

She soon discovers that she’s not the only one with gifts. There is an entire community of people known as Magicks, each unique and powerful in their own right.

As Morganna undertakes a journey of self-discovery and determination, she befriends Anya, the spunky, sassy, sometimes employee of the Cliffside and bearer of town gossip. Together, they begin to unearth the mysteries surrounding the strange reappearance of a vindictive villain, on a quest for power, in which Morganna finds herself directly in the middle. Simultaneously, they witness the succession struggles of a secret society, in which Callupo and many of their close friends are members, whose existence and purpose eludes them.

Morganna undergoes a radical transformation of self as she becomes an unsuspecting participant in a Magickal war that has been thirty years in the making

* E-book courtesy of the author.

Morganna is not your typical woman. She has the ability to heal injuries. She thought she was the only one with "special powers" but when she arrives in Puesta del Sol, she discovers there's a secret group of people in the community known as Magicks. At the Cliffside Inn her cousin Maeve owns, Morganna learns more about her ancestors and the mysterious necklace her cousin gave her. A war will soon begin when someone from the past returns to town searching for something Morganna has.

Morganna is the type of character you just love. As the story unfolds, we witness her personal growth. Like every good paranormal book, there's always a bit of romance going on. The first person Morganna meets in Puesta del Sol is Callupo. From their first "accidental" meeting, it's very obvious he doesn't like her. Later on, they realize they're attracted to each other and Morganna learns he has a special "larger than life" power of his own that I didn't expect.

To the Cliffside takes you on a thrilling and magical journey. It's an exciting tale filled with magic, mystery and love. You are easily hooked from the first few pages and if you're like me, you'll never want it to end. There's still a lot we don't know yet and the book leaves you begging for more. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

To the Cliffside is a must-read!

4 out of 5 shiny stars!!

Hill 170 is Giving Away a Kindle!

2011-10-08T13:07:00.000-03:00

HILL 170 is giving away a Kindle and the Winner gets to choose!

Choose either the latest Kindle 3G, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 3G Works Globally, Graphite, 6" Display with

New E Ink Pearl Technology - includes Special Offers & Sponsored Screensavers, or the Kindle,

Wi-Fi, 6" E Ink Pearl Display. Either prize is a $139 value

To enter :

1. Buy the book at Amazon -

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004YDQORC

2. (choose one)

A. Forward a copy of your Amazon purchase

receipt to hill170kindle@gmail.com

B. Send a screen capture of your Amazon

purchase receipt to hill170kindle@gmail.com

3. One entry per purchase.

4. Entries must be in by October 15th 2011.

5. Drawing will be held October 25th 2011. The winner will be announced on Hill170.com October

26th 2011.

The fine print: The actual prize is a $139 gift credit at Amazon. The winner may use this amount

for any item(s) sold on Amazon. Void where prohibited.

**You can read my review of Hill 170 by Michael Barclay here.

Review : Dreams and Nightmares by Ann Werner

2011-10-02T12:11:00.000-03:00

Title : Dreams and Nightmares

Author : Ann Werner

Published : July 19th 2011 by CreateSpace

*Book courtesy of the author

The dream : A struggling writer turned bestselling author is living her dream. Recently dumped by her long time boyfriend, Decker Jones is now living the life she always wanted and has just purchased her dream home. Meanwhile, a criminal plans to escape prison life. Getting himself stabbed in jail in order to go to hospital, Albert with the help of his girlfriend and his cousin plans to run away to Mexico causing havoc wherever they go. The nightmare : Decker is taken hostage and must help Albert escape to Mexico.

Dreams and Nightmares is a fantastic read! Ann Werner has crafted a wonderfully written novel. I love that in the first few pages, the author fooled us in thinking Decker's boyfriend was going to propose to her but it turns out he was nervous and wanted a huge crowd at the restaurant so she wouldn't make a scene when he dumped her. I'm not usually grossed out while reading a book but Ann Werner did a great job doing just that in a particular scene where she describes how much Albert loves to chew on his toenails. I guess when you're in jail, there's not much you can do! She even goes on by describing that the criminal keeps his toenail clippings in marinated pickle juice for flavor! What I'm trying to say is the writing's excellent!

I finished most of the book in one sitting. I couldn't put it down! I love how both stories just came together and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out how it would all end. Dreams and Nightmares is a highly recommended read!

5 out of 5 stars!!

About the author :

A woman always in search of experience, Ann Werner has sampled a wide range of occupations: waitress, radio advertising sales, copywriter, voiceover work, cemetery plot sales (she thought it was a dead end job), event coordinator, packaging design and wine consultant, to name just a few. She also worked as a professional actor, best known for her portrayal of Eliana, maid to the evil Dimera family on the NBC daytime drama Days of Our Lives. An avid reader, she always had a passion for writing and released her first novel THE PEOPLE NEXT DOOR in 2000. Since then she has been busy on her other projects, which include two non-fiction books she compiled with daughter and business partner, Kimberley A. Johnson: THE VIRGIN DIARIES and AIN'T NO SUNSHINE: MEN REVEAL THE PAIN OF HEARTBREAK. The duo has also launched the BODY AND SELF IMAGE blog, which is featured on the ARK Stories web site. She is busy at work on her next novel and on the newest hush, hush project with Kimberley.

Review : Hill 170 by Michael Barclay

2011-10-02T11:59:00.000-03:00

Title : Hill 170

Author : Michael Barclay

Published : April 27th 2011 by MKB Publishing

**Book courtesy of the author

China, North Korea, South Korea and the United States - the major forces in the world’s most dangerous stand off.

Sergeant Dodge Bryce and the small team of USAF intelligence ops on Hill 170 keep the region safe. But who will keep them safe when a shocking incident costs the group fully one third of their number - overnight?

Now gravely short handed, the Hill faces its ultimate worst case scenario - a PRC spy in their midst. And Bryce - his remarkable string of intel discoveries having cost the PRC too much - is now the #1 target of China’s master assassin.
It’s a race against the clock as East and West square off in a chillingly authentic story of defections, betrayals and clandestine intelligence operations that you will never forget.

A military and espionage thriller, Hill 170 is an exciting and fast-paced novel.

The United States Air Force intelligence personnel are in South Korea keeping a watchful eye on China and North Korea. When the team loses an important amount of soldiers they soon discover they have a spy among them. With their lives at stake, the team including their leader, Dodge Bryce, must hurry to keep everyone safe.

Based on the author's personal experiences, Hill 170 is rich with authentic details. The characters deal with very serious situations and I think the author managed to really capture their feelings and emotions. His knowledge of the United States Air Force intelligence personnel and South Korea is evident throughout the book. You really feel like you're in the midst of the action.

Being a genre I'm not really familiar with, I sometimes got lost in all the military jargon. A few times I didn't really know what was going on but overall I was able to get right back on track and enjoyed the book until the very end.

If you're a fan of military thrillers, you definitely don't want to miss this one. If it's a new genre for you, give it a try. Like me, you might end up really enjoying it!

4 out of 5 stars

Unruly Magic Giveaway Blitz

2011-09-22T05:00:00.001-03:00

Blurb:

Unruly Magic by Camilla Chafer- the second book in the Amazon UK contemporary fantasy Top 10 bestsellling Stella Mayweather series.

A witch on the run.

A quiet little town where everything is far from normal.

A fractured witch council threatening to tear the supernatural world apart.

Life hasn't been easy for novice witch Stella but small town life seems to be agreeing with her. When a frightened young woman appears in Stella's house and begs for her protection, Stella is pulled into a dangerous game where she'll need both her magic and her wits to unravel the secrets that surround her.

Just what is her new home town's big mystery? Is Stella's new charge really on the run from the Council or is she a dangerous murderer ready to manipulate her way to freedom? And with old friends and new seemingly ready to help, who can Stella trust when she's not even all that sure that they don't have their own agenda.

With bewitching friends and two super-sexy mysterious men by her side, Stella must uncover dangerous truths, fast, before she ends up paying the ultimate price.

**********

Where to buy?
Amazon
Amazon UK
Smashwords
B&N

*******

Author Bio :

Hi, I'm Camilla and I'm the author of Illicit Magic and Unruly Magic, the first two books in the Stella Mayweather Paranormal Series. The series starts with a lonely young English woman, Stella, who has been caught up in a terrifying witch hunt and is whisked thousands of miles away to what she thinks is safety to learn her craft. The series is a blend of magic and mystery with a splash of romance and a dash of humour - and while the girls really do go all out to save themselves, there's always a hunky guy or two on hand to help them out.

I live in London, UK but I try to travel as often as I can - lately I've been to Paris, all over Denmark, Luxembourg, and several US states. In my day job I'm a journalist and editor so I write for magazines, newspapers and websites throughout the world (my favourite assignment was spending a week riding rollercoasters - if you listen carefully you can probably still hear me screaming).

Where to find the author?

Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
Website

Sounds like a book you might want to read? If so, the author's offering 2 lucky readers an e-copy of the book. I'm trying Rafflecopter for the first time. You only need to follow the instructions. Should be very easy!

For more chances to win, check out The Bookish Snob Promotions blog tour schedule here.

On My Wishlist...

2011-09-18T10:23:00.000-03:00

Seriously...I'm Kidding by Ellen Degeneres

I LOOOOOOVED her two previous books The Funny Thing is... and My Point... And I Do Have One. I seriously can't wait for it to be released. Can we just fast forward to November 3rd??? Please???

*****

Anyone else waiting for the 10th Pretty Little Liars book? Ruthless by Sara Shepard will be out December 6th (my mom's birthday). I should just tell her to ask for the book on her birthday so I can read it. Sounds like a good idea, right? I'm kidding...I won't do that! In the meantime, I'll just watch the tv show. :)

Do you have any books you're dying to read? Please share! :)

ARC REVIEW : The Lost Angel by Javier Sierra

2011-09-18T10:01:00.000-03:00

Title : The Lost Angel

Author : Javier Sierra

Expected publication: October 4th 2011 by Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group

Book courtesy of Simon & Schuster Canada

The book follows a woman with a very mysterious and unique gift. Julia is the only one who can activate stones called "adamantes". These stones are used to communicate with angels. When her husband is kidnapped by Middle East terrorists convinced they are the living descendants of angels and plan on returning to heaven, Julia must put her gift to use in order to see her husband again. It's not as easy as she thinks since a lot of people want the stones for their own use...

It's evident while reading this book that the author put a lot of hard work in researching history and facts. The book is filled with interesting historical facts and the Bible is mentioned a few times but I'd say The Lost Angel is more of an adventure novel than a religious one. The book even has a glossary at the beginning that I found very helpful throughout the book.

The Lost Angel is a fast-paced novel. Once you start reading, you can't put it down. I've read it in a day. It's that good! There's non-stop action from the first page to the last. It's an exciting novel that I think will please fans of Dan Brown's work.

4 out of 5 stars!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

2011-09-05T15:28:00.000-03:00

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading is a weekly event hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books so we can share what we read this past week and what we hope to read this week.

Last Week:

I was quite busy reading last week since it was the last week before school.

I've read :
Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie She's Dead by Christiana Miller
Read my review here.

Run For Your Life by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge

Twisted (Pretty Little Liars #9) by Sara Shepard

Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris

Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris

All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris

This week:

Who know? I'm currently reading Ring by Koji Suziki. It's the book that inspired the movie The Ring.

Hope you all have a great week!

Happy Reading!

I'm Baaack! + In My Mailbox

2011-09-03T17:57:00.000-03:00

Hey everyone!

I've been really quiet in the blogging world recently but don't worry I was still reading your posts.

I've been reading like crazy when I had some free time from work. I had a job at the library so it was pretty hard not reading as much as I wanted too. I've read some great books in the past few weeks and I just need to stop being lazy and write the reviews.

I'm starting my 4th year of university on Tuesday and I will do my very best to keep blogging as much as I can.

Anyhow, here's a list of the books I got this week::

For review:

Dreams and Nightmares by Ann Werner

Bought:

Twisted (Pretty Little Liars #9) by Sara Shepard

My co-workers are huge fans of the tv show and tried to get me to watch it too. Being the book worm that I am, I HAD to read the books. I'm hooked on these books and I bought the first season of the tv show. I've heard it's very different from the books but I still want to watch it.

From the library:

I'm ashamed to say that I only got a library card this summer while working. In my crazy mind, I thought they wouldn't have the books I wanted to read. Boy, was I wrong!

Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris

Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris

All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris

I can't wait to see what you all got in your mailbox this week! Leave the link to your post in the comments and I will check it out.

Until next time, Happy Reading!

REVIEW : Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie She's Dead by Christiana Miller

2011-08-29T16:23:00.000-03:00

Title : Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie She's Dead

Author : Christiana Miller

Published May 1st 2011 by CreateSpace

Blurb from Goodreads :

A little magic can go a long way -- to really screwing up a girl's life!

Mara is having the worst month of her life. At least, that’s what her cards tell her and they’ve never been wrong. She's evicted from her apartment, loses her job and is banned from Beverly Hills. So when the tarot cards predict her imminent demise, she uses a little magic to make her world right.

Suddenly, an aunt she’s never met dies, leaving Mara as her sole heir. But when Mara moves into her inherited home, she discovers Aunt Tillie never moved out. She’s still one pissed-off old lady, even post-mortem, and she blames Mara’s magical meddling for her death.

When Mara accidentally releases a demon and awakens the spirit of the most powerful witch in history, Tillie’s ready to kill her -- literally. It’s the only way she can think of to save the girl from herself. The witch and the demon, however, have other plans for Mara’s body.

* Ebook courtesy of the author.

My Review:

With a title like Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie She's Dead, the book ought to be an fun read. Turns out, this book was much more than just fun. It is a funny, entertaining, magical and scary tale about witches and a haunted cottage.

Mara's a witch with bad luck. She's unemployed and she's about to lose her apartment thanks to an anti-Wiccan landlord. With the help of magic and her best friend Gus, Mara tries to get her life on tracks. That's when she learns her Aunt Tillie died and left her all of her belongings including a cottage. Mara soon learns that her aunt still lurks around and she's not a happy camper! Using her magical skills, Mara calms down her dead aunt. Once the spirit of a very powerful witch is awaken and the family's haunted past is uncovered, Mara might wish she would've listened to her Aunt Tillie.

With all her struggles, Mara needs the help of her gay best friend Gus to cheer her up. When the author first introduced Gus I knew I was going to like him. He is really funny. At times I found him a bit strange but he's still a lovable character. He's very loyal to Mara and will do anything to help her. He's the guy every girl wants to be best friends with.

Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie She's Dead is the type of book you can read in one sitting. It's one of those hard-to-out-down books. With every page, the story gets better and better.

Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie She's Dead is a must-read for paranormal lovers. Christiana Miller is an author to keep an eye on!

4 out of 5 stars!

ARC REVIEW : Triangles by Ellen Hopkins

2011-08-28T17:31:00.000-03:00

Title : Triangles

Author : Ellen Hopkins

Expected publication : October 18th 2011 by Atria

Blurb :

In this first adult novel by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the unforgettable Crank trilogy, three female friends face midlife crises in a no holds-barred exploration of sex, marriage, and the fragility of life.

Ellen Hopkins has made her mark as the wildly popular author of several novels for young adults—every one of them a New York Times bestseller, and every one a hard-hitting exploration of tough-to-tackle topics. Now, in Triangles, Hopkins brings her storytelling mastery and fearlessness to take on the challenges of adult dramas.

In this emotionally powerful novel, three women face the age-old midlife question: If I’m halfway to death, is this all I’ve got to show for it? Holly, filled with regret for being a stay-at-home mom, sheds sixty pounds and loses herself in the world of extramarital sex. Andrea, a single mom and avowed celibate, watches her friend Holly’s meltdown with a mixture of concern and contempt. Holly is throwing away what Andrea has spent her whole life searching for—a committed relationship with a decent guy. So what if Andrea picks up Holly’s castaway husband? Then there’s Marissa. She has more than her fair share of challenges—a gay teenage son, a terminally ill daughter, and a husband who buries himself in his work rather than face the facts. As one woman’s marriage unravels, another one’s rekindles. As one woman’s family comes apart at the seams, another’s is reconfigured into something bigger and better. In this story of connections and disconnections, one woman’s up is another one’s down, and all three of them will learn the meaning of friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness before it is through.

* ARC provided by Simon and Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review.

My Review

Triangles tackles the struggle middle age women face in their daily lives. Three friends, Holly, Andrea and Marissa deal with serious issues, whether it's their relationship with their husband, weight loss, parenthood or a child suffering from SMA.

Readers will without a doubt relate to some of these characters and enjoy reading about their far from perfect lives.

This engrossing story is told in a very unusual way for first time readers of Ellen Hopkins' work. Triangles is written in poetic verse, the author's signature mark. Her designated readers are usually young adults but Triangles is recommended for adults.

This is my first time reading one of Ellen Hopkins' novel and it sure won't be my last!

4 out of 5 stars!

Release Day Blitz : Knight Moves by John G. Hartness

2011-08-20T00:00:00.001-03:00

Blurb :

In the third installment of The Black Knight Chronicles, vampire private investigators Jimmy Black and Greg Knightwood find another vampire (or more) playing in their sandbox, and the boys are NOT happy about it.

While tracking down the killer of a young college student, they encounter boobytraps, defenestration, coeds, a hirsute bounty hunter with a moon fetish and a bad attitude, and worst of all - game night at a comic shop!

This comic urban fantasy series has drawn comparisons to The Dresden Files, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Kevin Smith movies. Knight Moves is the followup to the kindle best-selling Hard Day’s Knight and Back in Black.

Book Links :

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Knight-Moves-Content-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B005G4QCX4/ref=sr_1_4?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1312741444&sr=1-4

BN - http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Knight-Moves-with-Bonus-Content/John-G-Hartness/e/2940013633957

John G. Hartness is a poet, actor and novelist from Charlotte, NC. He is the author of the urban fantasy series The Black Knight Chronicles and the stand-alone novel The Chosen. His work has been compared to Kevin Smith, Joss Whedon, Jim Butcher and other grown men who spend too much time in comic book stores. He likes bluegrass, fried pickles and cheap beer.

Website - http://www.johnhartness.com

Twitter - @johnhartness

Facebook - www.facebook.com/johnghartness

Check out some of the other stops on the tour : The Bookish Snob Promotions

REVIEW : When Passion Rules by Johanna Lindsey

2011-08-13T18:56:00.000-03:00

Title : When Passion Rules

Author : Johanna Lindsey

Published June 14th 2011 by Gallery

* Book courtesy of Simon and Shuster Canada

Alana's life is turned upside down when her uncle Poppie reveals he was hired to kill her when she was only an infant. It took only a smile to make him refuse to end her life. She then learns she is a princess and must go back to her birth country to prove she is the king's heir in order to avoid a war. That doesn't prove to be easy since many girls over the years have tried to prove they were the king's lost princess. The captain of the palace guards, Christoph, tries to determine whether or not she is really the long-lost princess while trying to protect her and falling in love with her.

Alana is a tough lady capable of protecting herself with all of the training she received growing up but she still needs Christoph's protection. I would've liked to see Alana in action using her weapons and be a kick-ass heroine. At times, I found her immature. I really liked Christoph though. As for Poppy, I wish we would've seen more of him in the book.

When Passion Rules is an interesting novel. Being the first book I've read by Johanna Lindsey, I am quite impressed. The plot has twists and turns which kept me turning the pages for more. I will certainly check out some of her previous work.

When Passion Rules is overall a great read. It may not be as steamy as the cover and the title suggest but fans of historical romances will enjoy reading this book.

3 out of 5 stars

My Interview on Simon & Schuster's Website!

2011-08-05T18:10:00.000-03:00

Hey everyone!

I'm so excited to say that I've been featured on Simon & Schuster Canada's website! You can read my interview here.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Winners!!

2011-07-29T17:50:00.000-03:00

It is finally time to choose the two winners of a signed paperback copy of D.W Hardin's newest release A Time to Lie.

With the help of Random.org, the two winners are...

Stephanie & theladya

Congrats ladies!!