Words With Friends (Black Cat Bookshop Mystery - Book 3) by Ali Brandon
Publication Date: 11/05/2013
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Prime Crime
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 304
ISBN-10: 0425252361
ISBN-13: 978-0425252369
(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound
Ali Brandon (aka Diane A.S. Stuckart) on the WEB: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads
Books in the series:
Double Booked for Death (2011), A Novel Way to Die (2012), Words With Friends (2013)
Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.
Excerpt from Words With Friends, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature.
Synopsis:
Brooklyn bookstore owner Darla Pettistone and her oversized black cat, Hamlet, have solved a few complicated capers. But after a recent brush with danger, Darla needs to get Hamlet out of a feline funk…
Lately, Hamlet hasn’t been chasing customers or being his obnoxious self—something Darla surprisingly misses. Concerned, she hires a cat whisperer to probe Hamlet’s feline psyche and then decides to get out of her own funk by taking up karate to learn how to defend herself in case the need arises again.
But when Darla finds her sensei dead at the dojo, it seems that even a master can be felled by foul play. Darla decides to investigate the matter herself, and the promise of a mystery snaps Hamlet out of his bad mood. After all, Darla may be the sleuth, but Hamlet’s got a black belt in detection…
Thoughts:
Ali Brandon brings readers the third book in her Black Cat Bookshop mystery series, Words with Friends. Brandon's trademark wit and her love for animals is ever clear in this latest addition to the series. Hamlet the feline companion of shop owner, Darla is blaming himself for a situation that put Darla in danger. He's in a funk and readers will be delighted with Darla's attempts to get him out of his depression. From cat whisperers to karate tournaments this is one rollicking mystery.
This is such a delightful series. I like all of the elements that Ali Brandon brings to the table with this series, from the bookstore setting to the relationship between cat and owner. In this latest book, Words with Friends, we see a different side of Hamlet, the cat. He is usually bugging the customers and into just about everything but in this one, he's just not himself, which adds a whole new element to the story.
Hamlet is depressed. I never really thought about depression being something that animals experienced until I went a way for a week and left my dog at home. I sent someone to take care of her, feed her, and even play with her, but she refused to eat, moped around and was just a mess while I was away. I thought Brandon did a great job showing Hamlet's condition and why it was so concerning to her. The idea of bringing in a cat whisperer was a great plot point and I thought she really made it believable. It was interesting that all Hamlet really needed was another chance to prove himself to get him right back in tip top shape.
I also liked the idea that Brandon allows her heroine Darla to realize the need for making some changes after her close call. Darla decides that she needs some form of self-protection and karate seems like a good choice for her. I liked that she took Robert with her and that they were making a good thing of it. I even liked the dojo and especially the sensai and I was kind of sad that he became the victim. I thought all of this just added a bit of realism to the story and showed a lot of character development in Darla.
There were plenty of suspects and the mystery was well crafted and easy to follow. I had the motive figured out early on, but not the killer. Brandon kept me guessing throughout and I she did a good job of balancing, Darla's personal and professional lives vs. her amateur sleuthing. Darla is a good heroine for a lot of reasons but most of all I think her love of books and animals really endears her to readers. There were red herrings aplenty and lots of interesting clues. Hamlet was once again the real star of the book and Darla was a close second.
I can't wait to see where Brandon goes next with this intriguing series. I love the scenes in the book shop and the great secondary characters like James and his 'non' dates and Robert and of course Hamlet. This was definitely the best in the series so far.
Words with Friends is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
About the Author:
Ali Brandon is the national bestselling author of the Black Cat Bookshop Mystery series. Under her own name, Diane A.S. Stuckart, she is also the author of the Leonardo da Vinci Mysteries, as well as several acclaimed historical romances and numerous works of short fiction under the names Alexa Smart and Anna Gerard. Born in the West Texas town of Lubbock, she earned her degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma. She now lives in South Florida with her husband, Gerry, and a menagerie that includes their two orange tabby boys, Butch and Sundance.
Giveaway Details:
The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Words With Friends by Ali Brandon.
~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US Addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, December 13th.
1. Please leave a comment describing a story involving your cat or other pet.
2. Please fill out the FORM.
City of Lost Dreams (City of Dark Magic - Book 2) by Magnus Flute
Publication Date: 11/26/2013
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Penguin Books
Genre: Romance/Mystery
Pages: 368
ISBN-10: 0143123270
ISBN-13: 978-0143123279
(Received for an honest review from Penguin Books)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound
Magnus Flyte on the WEB: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads
Books in the series:
City of Dark Magic (2012), City of Lost Dreams (2013)
Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.
Excerpt from City of Lost Dreams, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature.
Synopsis:
In this action-packed sequel to City of Dark Magic, we find musicologist Sarah Weston in Vienna in search of a cure for her friend Pollina, who is now gravely ill and who may not have much time left. Meanwhile, Nicolas Pertusato, in London in search of an ancient alchemical cure for the girl, discovers an old enemy is one step ahead of him. In Prague, Prince Max tries to unravel the strange reappearance of a long dead saint while being pursued by a seductive red-headed historian with dark motives of her own.
In the city of Beethoven, Mozart, and Freud, Sarah becomes the target in a deadly web of intrigue that involves a scientist on the run, stolen art, seductive pastries, a few surprises from long-dead alchemists, a distractingly attractive horseman who’s more than a little bloodthirsty, and a trail of secrets and lies. But nothing will be more dangerous than the brilliant and vindictive villain who seeks to bend time itself. Sarah must travel deep into an ancient mystery to save the people she loves.
Thoughts:
City of Lost Dreams is the second novel by author Magnus Flyte. This novel has received a huge amount of buzz coming off the huge success of the first book, City of Dark Magic. These two writers throw caution to the wind and make the reader suspend their beliefs in the what is possible in this novel, as well as, the first. It is a very intelligent, well crafted novel that does not sit well in any genre, but embraces several. Flyte's ability to bend the rules is not left to just time travel as the reader is treated to everything from drug induced expeditions to finding a cure for a blind teenage composer. This novel everything from music to history and everything in between. A can't miss, read!
I hardly know where to start. What an amazing sequel to City of Dark Magic. I thought the first book, was both amazing and challenging for any reader, but City of Lost Dreams certainly lives up to it's hype. Magnus Flyte is the collaboration of two writers and honestly I can't imagine how all of this came together into such a cohesive novel with two brains creating it. They must think very much alike to make it work.
City of Dark Magic was over the top in just about every way you can imagine from the drugged time traveling to the sexual exploits of the heroine, Sarah. I felt like City of Lost Dreams continued in the same vane, but was a little more tempered in reality. What in City of Dark Magic was totally and completely impossible yet believable, in City of Dreams becomes tangible, substantive and yes, achievable.
There are so many wonderful things to talk about in regard to this novel. I absolutely loved the way that Flyte blended mystery, history, music, science, alchemy and fantasy all into one tight package. The European setting is so well described that readers will instantly be transported to Prague and Vienna. The world of the arts is so well portrayed that readers will not be able to help wanting to know more about the painters and composers, as well as, other historical figures Flyte describes. The alchemical discussions alone will have science geeks in awe of Flyte's ability to make the reader understand exactly what alchemy was and what the alchemists were trying to do. This is a very intelligently written book that will appeal to a sophisticated reader and a reader looking for imaginative and entertaining read.
Sarah Weston is looking for a cure for her friend, Pollina, who is a blind teenage composer on the verge of brilliance. But her life is dwindling and time is of the essence. Sarah remains her very inquisitive and thoughtful self in City of Lost Dreams. She is still using mind altering drugs to travel through time and she's one step ahead of a dangerous villain. She isn't slowing down in any aspect of her life and her sexual exploits are still random and just as creative as the rest of the novel. Readers will find her precocious and determined. Her dissertations on Meser and Klimt are come across as believable and credible. She is just a wonderfully unique character and Flyte does an amazing job of remaining true to her in this second book. She changes and grows throughout but she is still Sarah.
I loved the fact that Flyte keeps the core characters the same in the second book, including Max and Nico, but also added new and amazing characters that will take the series in different directions. I enjoyed the use of all of the characters to bring about what the author envisioned in the book and how they interacted and played on each other's sensibilities and talents. The interplay between them is amazing. I can't say enough good things about Flyte's character development, attention to detail and pure imagination. It took a lot to bring everything together in this book and Flyte pulls it off with style.
Bottom line: You've got to read this book to understand. Oh and you might need a translator for a part or two or three but that certainly doesn't take away from the experience. If you are looking for something completely different than what you are used to reading you've gotta try this one, you'll be sorry if you don't!
City of Lost Dreams is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
About the Author:
Magnus Flyte is a pseudonym for the writing duo of Meg Howrey and Christina Lynch. Howrey is the author of the novles The Cranes Dance and Blind Sight. She lives in Los Angeles. Lynch, who lives near Sequoia National Park, is a television writer and journalist.
Giveaway Details:
Debbie's Book Bag is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of City of Lost Dreams by Magnus Flyte.
~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US Addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, December 13th.
1. Please leave a comment describing your favorite kind of music and why you like it.
2. Please fill out the FORM.
Taming a Wild Scot (Claimed by the Highlander - Book 1) by Rowan Keats
Publication Date: 11/05/2013
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Signet Eclipse
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 368
ISBN-10: 0451416074
ISBN-13: 978-0451416070
(Received for an honest review from Signet Eclipse)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound
Rowan Keats on the WEB: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads
Excerpt from Taming a Wild Scot, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature.
Synopsis:
In the Highlands of Scotland, plays for power are fought without rules, treachery and intrigue hold court, and, in one woman’s heart, danger stirs as relentlessly as passion...
Taming a Wild Scot
Wrongfully accused of murder and left to die in a hellish Highland dungeon, Ana Bisset has lost all hope of freedom. But the beautiful healer’s luck takes an unexpected turn when a hooded stranger appears as her rescuer. After a harrowing escape, Ana settles alone in a quiet village where no one knows her past or her reputation. The last thing she ever expects is to meet her mysterious savior again...
Niall MacCurran is no hero, but a warrior on a dangerous mission to expose a threat to the realm. After his decision to free Ana, he now realizes that it is he who needs her help—willing or no—to advance his quest. But his growing feelings for the delicate yet resilient beauty soon jeopardize their safety—and not even Ana’s healing gifts may be enough to protect their love, or their lives.
Thoughts:
Debut author Rowan Keats brings readers a new voice in the Historical Romance genre. Taming a Wild Scot is the first book in the Claimed by a Highlander series and the readers first look at the author's writing style. With a lush highland setting and a whisper of the paranormal this a novel that transcends a few boundaries and will keep the readers interest with ease. This isn't your typical highland romance, as the hero isn't the Laird and the heroine isn't the daughter of an opposing clan, which makes for a refreshing take on a highland romance. A great first effort!
The first book in the series and a debut too. That's a big challenge for a new writer. There is a lot to consider. Not only does the author have to set up the book, introduce the world and the characters, but he/she has to build interest and background that will make readers want to continue to the next book in the series. Sometimes the actual story of the first book is left by the wayside and doesn't get the attention it deserves. Keats does a good job with some aspects of the process and struggles with others in Taming a Wild Scot.
The actual storyline has a lot of potential. I liked the fact that Keats made the hero the bastard brother of the Laird and not the Laird himself. There are just too many highland books that use the laird of a clan as the hero, when there are so many other directions an author could go. I also enjoyed the fact that the heroine isn't your typical heroine either. She isn't the wife or daughter of an opposing clan, but a healer who has been accused of murder. That was refreshing start to the book. I am always very interested in how the highlands are portrayed being of Scottish decent myself. And I thought this was an original idea that was creative and authentic to the period.
There were definitely some good points here. I liked the mystery aspect of the book and how Niall, the hero was basically on a quest to find a piece of evidence that would clear the name of his clan. As the hero of the story Niall had good points and bad ones. He frees the heroine from the dungeon. She is bad need of food and assistance, but then he leaves her alone to fend for herself. I wasn't too sure I was on board with that idea. A hero should have done a bit more to protect and care for someone is such obvious need. He is very loyal to his clan though, and it seems apparent that his mission to free his brother was his first concern and that is somewhat redeeming.
Unfortunately, he continues with his un-hero like behavior when he later meets Ana again and blackmails her into helping him with his quest once again. I know this was a plot device to build tension and urgency in the story and it essentially works very well, but there was still that inkling of whether or not to 'like' the hero or not. It gave me a bit of pause. In most romances, readers really want to like or love the hero and heroine and it was bit hard to do with this one. He seems a good sort, loyal and driven, but not exactly hero materiel.
Ana on the other hand was a very good heroine. She had all the qualities I was looking for in a heroine and she was unique. Ana isn't a highland princess but she was damsel in distress. When readers meet her she is left for dead in a dungeon because of the death of an Earl. She is a healer, which I thought was a great touch. There are many stories of women like Ana in Scottish lore and history for that matter. She had a gift, a somewhat supernatural ability to heal. She uses her talents to help others, which gives her air of being noble and trustworthy. The one flaw in her character seems to be self doubt.
Ana was constantly fretting over her situation. She was worried about using her gift because she might be labeled a witch. She wasn't sure she was ever good enough for the hero, when in fact I was wondering whether he was good enough for her. I would have liked for her to be a bit more stalwart and strong like many highland women of the time had to be. Given she did not have a clan at her back and she isn't like everyone else, I was able to overlook a lot. She may have had issues with self-esteem but she was still very likable.
The chemistry between Naill and Ana is undeniable even from their first meeting. It is obvious that these two are attracted to each other and eventually they get to act on their feelings. The heat was well written and staged. Keats did a very good job of building up to the physical aspect of their relationship, if not necessarily the emotional side. The reader may have a hard time figuring out if these two can survive together. Niall is on a mission and it transcends every part of his life, even his relationship with Ana. A woman wants to be the center of a man's attention at least once in a while.
So there were good things and not so good things about this first effort by Rowan Keats. All in all I liked the book and I will read the next book in the series. I have to give Keats credit. This was an original theme in a very saturated market. There is a lot of potential for a series here and I think Keats will perfect her skills with writing a good hero as the series continues. Niall isn't a bad hero, he just doesn't live up to his potential, how realistic is that? LOL The ending of the book answers some questions but leaves others for the next book in the series. There was definitely enough here to make me want to see what happens next. That brother of his is up to something!
Taming a Wild Scot is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
About the Author:
Rowan Keats graduated from the University of Ottawa with an Honours degree in Business. She worked as a banker, stock broker, and marketing director before returning to her true calling: writing. Born to a French-Canadian father and a Scottish-Danish mother, she has centuries of rich history to draw from when penning her romantic tales of days gone by. She currently lives in Central Canada with her family
Giveaway Details:
The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Taming a Wild Scot by Rowan Keats.
~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US Addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, December 13th.
1. Please leave a comment describing a place in Scotland you might want to visit.
2. Please fill out the FORM.
The Quotient of Murder (Sophie Knowles Mystery - Book 4) by Ada Madison
Publication Date: 11/05/2013
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Prime Crime
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 304
ISBN-10: 0425262707
ISBN-13: 978-0425262702
(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound
Ada Madison (aka. Camille Minichino) on the WEB: Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads
Books in the series:
The Square Root of Murder (2011), The Probability of Murder (2012), A Function of Murder (2012), The Quotient of Murder (2013)
Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.
Excerpt from The Quotient of Murder, courtesy of the author's website.
Synopsis:
Dr. Sophie Knowles loves using puzzles to make math fun for students. But when winter seizes Henley College, she must thaw out a cold case to track down a killer—her most difficult puzzle yet . . .
Winter Intersession is in full swing, and campus is buzzing over the concert celebrating the bell tower’s reopening. The building has been shuttered for twenty-five years, and Sophie’s shocked to learn why—a student leapt from it to her death. But she’s even more troubled by the secrecy surrounding the case. After Sophie performs some quick calculations, she’s left with a nagging question: Was it really suicide?
When one of Sophie’s favorite students, a performer in the concert, is brutally beaten and left in a coma, Sophie’s mind kicks into overdrive. The horrific incidents seem too coincidental to be unrelated, but can Sophie put together the pieces from a twenty-five-year-old murder before any other students get hurt?
Thoughts:
Who better to be a great amateur sleuth than a math professor? The Quotient of Murder is the fourth book in the Sophie Knowles Mystery series by Ada Madison. Madison's main character Sophie Knowles is a Math professor at a small New England college and she dabbles a bit in puzzles, brain teasers and murder. Her powers of deduction will challenge readers who enjoy deductive reasoning, probabilities and even a bit of science. But you don't have to be a Math geek to be entertained by this great mystery. A great addition to a very intelligent series!
I'll be the first to admit that I am not good at math. I struggled with it during my whole school career, basically because I thought it was boring. Had Sophie Knowles been my professor things might have been different. One of the things that I like so much about this character is that Knowles makes Math fun. She gives her students puzzles and brain teasers that show how the mechanics of Math works but still keeps it interesting. I liked that whole idea along with the puzzles Ada Madison puts in the back of each of her books in this series. Great food for thought!
The mystery is this one was quite original. Apparently, Henley college's bell tower has been boarded up for over 20 years. Now that the tower is to be reopened there is a lot of speculation as to why it was closed in the first place. When one of Sophie's students who is supposed to be one of the new bell ringers is beaten and left for dead, Sophie starts to listen a little closer to the gossip about a long ago suicide. I thought Madison crafted a very thoughtful and well plotted mystery here. Sophie is trying to correlate the data on the suicide from the past and figures out that is can't have been a suicide, it was murder and it is related to this latest incident as well.
Madison does a fantastic job of keeping readers off balance with this one. There is a lot of information and evidence, but it takes someone with a mind like Sophie's to figure it all out. I love the way her mind works in this series. You can see those gears turning as she uses Math to put two and two together. This series will appeal to readers who love Math, as well as, those of us who are more challenged...LOL.
One of the things I like about this series is the relationships that Madison has created for Sophie, not just with her students but with others as well. I like Sophie's relationship with her boyfriend, Bruce. Bruce is a medivac pilot and that adds not only a romantic element to the stories at times, but also creates tension with is vocation. I also like how she interacts with Vigil. Sometimes amateur sleuths have issues with the police and sometimes they get on rather well. I like the way these interact with each other and essentially help each other solve the crime.
This is a great series that you have to try if you haven't read anything by this author. It's intelligent and challenging and most of all, it's a series that is a lot of fun trying to figure out. I didn't get this one til the very end. I had no clue and that's rare. I generally have an inkling of who is at fault in most cases, but not this one. It was a total surprise.
The Quotient of Murder is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
About the Author:
Ada Madison is the pen name of Camille Minichino. Camille is a retired physicist and math teacher and the author of eight other mysteries as well as short stories and articles. She’s also Margaret Grace, the author of the Miniature Mysteries.
Giveaway Details:
The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of The Quotient of Murder by Ada Madison.
~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US Addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, December 11th.
1. Please leave a comment describing your favorite kind of puzzles.
2. Please fill out the FORM.
Eternal Sin (Mark of the Vampire - Book 6) by Laura Wright
Publication Date: 11/05/2013
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Signet Eclipse
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 336
ISBN-10: 0451240162
ISBN-13: 978-0451240163
(Received for an honest review from Signet Eclipse)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound
Laura Wright on the WEB: Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads
Books in the series:
Eternal Hunger (2010), Eternal Kiss (2011), Eternal Captive (2012), Eternal Beast (2012), Eternal Demon (2013), Eternal Sin (2013)
Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.
Excerpt from Eternal Sin, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature.
Synopsis:
Love and Vengeance...
The violent attack left Synjon destroyed and his lover dead—at the will of the evil vampire Cruen. Syn’s passionate savior was Petra. When she became pregnant with his child, it should have been a blessing—until Syn vanished after discovering the truth: Petra was the daughter of the man he despised above all others. The daughter of Cruen.
When Petra’s health begins to decline, she contacts Syn to help save their baby. Though reluctant to see Petra, he cannot turn his back on his own innocent child. But night after night, as his feelings for Petra are rekindled, Syn becomes increasingly torn.
Although everyone assumes that Cruen is dead, Syn is not convinced—and is still hell-bent on finding and destroying him once and for all. But will his thirst for vengeance keep him from seeing what is really worth living for before it is too late?
Thoughts:
Laura Wright brings readers the sixth book in her Mark of the Vampire series, Eternal Sin. Petra and Synjon finally get their story, which begins in the novella, Eternal Beauty. Wright gives readers a tortured hero in every sense of the word, with Synjon Wise, who lost his mate, tried to take his own life, and now has had his emotions drained from him. Wright's patented sexy writing style is evident on every page, with tension both sexual and emotional between the two main characters. Fans of the series will see the beginnings of a new story arc and the return of many previous characters from the series. It's a story you won't want to miss!
The Mark of the Vampire series has long been a favorite of mine. Readers first met Synjon in Eternal Captive, the third installment in the series, and that sexy British accent has had them reeling ever since. Syn is a changed man in this novel though. In Eternal Sin readers meet him after he has lost his one true love, Juliet to the hands of the Cruen the vampire and mad scientist who is experimenting in some pretty nasty stuff. Cruen has not only killed Juliet but drained Syn of his emotions. Syn has become a first class jerk. He doesn't care about anyone lest ways Cruen's daughter, Petra who saved his life. They spent one romantic night together resulting in a child. Now seven months pregnant, Petra needs him to survive, but frankly he doesn't give a darn.
Though Syn starts out with no emotions, there is a ton of emotional tension in this novel. Will he get his emotions back? Can he love the daughter of the man who killed his mate? Will he take revenge on the father of the woman carrying his child? It's a mess and Syn is right there in the middle of it. I loved the way Wright is able to show him as a real tough customer here. He has always been bold and rugged but he is totally ruthless in some aspects in this book. I loved the total shift in character and how he slowly but surely gets back to his old self. It's almost a kick on the theme that you can't hide your true self no matter what happens to you. A great plot line!
Petra's adopted family of shape shifters play a pivotal role in Eternal Sin which will lead readers to see that Wright is changing things up for coming books. By adding in the shifters the story is taking a different turn which could provide a lot of variety and interesting story lines. The animal shifters are interesting and I think readers will really take to them. Though the vampires have always been the focus of the series and I think they still will be, there is more going on here, which I think is a great direction for the series to go.
Syn eventually gets himself together and realizes he is growing a whole new set of emotions regarding Petra and his unborn child. Though he needed a little help to get him going, he finally turns back into the man readers have loved from the start. It was a very hard road for these two, but when the passion ignites, it's gets very hot, very quickly. Wright knows how to write a good love scene, with just enough to whet the readers appetite and letting them let their imaginations fill in the rest.
This was a great addition to this series and I think is proves that there are still a lot of stories to be written in this world. Wright sets up a new arc and keeps readers wanting more!
Eternal Sin is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
About the Author:
Laura Wright is passionate about romantic fiction. She is the author of the Mark of the Vampire novels including, Eternal Beast, Eternal Captive, Eternal Kiss, and Eternal Hunger. Though she has spent most of her life immersed in acting, singing, and competitive ballroom dancing, when she found the world of writing and books and endless cups of coffee, she knew she was home. Laura lives in Los Angeles with her husband, two young children, and three lovable dogs.
Giveaway Details:
The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Eternal Sin by Laura Wright.
~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US Addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, December 11th.
1. Please leave a comment describing a favorite vampire series you like to read.
2. Please fill out the FORM.
Masks (Masks of Aygrima - Book 1) by E.C. Blake
Publication Date: 11/05/2013
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: DAW Books
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 304
ISBN-10: 0756407591
ISBN-13: 978-0756407599
(Received for an honest review from DAW Books)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound
E.C. Blake on the WEB: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads
Excerpt from Masks, courtesy of the author's website.
Synopsis:
Masks, the first novel in a mesmerizing new fantasy series, draws readers into a world in which cataclysmic events have left the Autarchy of Aygrima—the one land blessed with magical resources—cut off from its former trading partners across the waters, not knowing if any of those distant peoples still live. Yet under the rule of the Autarch, Aygrima survives. And thanks to the creation of the Masks and the vigilance of the Autarch’s Watchers, no one can threaten the security of the empire.
In Aygrima, magic is a Gift possessed from birth by a very small percentage of the population, with the Autarch himself the most powerful magic worker of all. Only the long-vanquished Lady of Pain and Fire had been able to challenge his rule.
At the age of fifteen, citizens are recognized as adults and must don the spell-infused Masks—which denote both status and profession—whenever they are in public. To maintain the secure rule of the kingdom, the Masks are magically crafted to reveal any treasonous thoughts or actions. And once such betrayals are exposed, the Watchers are there to enforce the law.
Mara Holdfast, daughter of the Autarch’s Master Maskmaker, is fast approaching her fifteenth birthday and her all-important Masking ceremony. Her father himself has been working behind closed doors to create Mara’s Mask. Once the ceremony is done, she will take her place as an adult, and Gifted with the same magical abilities as her father, she will also claim her rightful place as his apprentice.
But on the day of her Masking something goes horribly wrong, and instead of celebrating, Mara is torn away from her parents, imprisoned, and consigned to a wagon bound for the mines. Is it because she didn’t turn the unMasked boy she discovered over to the Night Watchers? Or is it because she’s lied about her Gift, claiming she can only see one color of magic, when in truth she can see them all, just as she could when she was a young child?
Whatever the reason, her Mask has labeled her a traitor and now she has lost everything, doomed to slavery in the mines until she dies. And not even her Gift can show Mara the future that awaits her—a future that may see her freed to aid a rebel cause, forced to become a puppet of the Autarch, or transformed into a force as dangerous to her world as the legendary Lady of Pain and Fire.
Thoughts:
Masks is the first book in the Masks of Aygrima series by E.C. Blake. This is one of those novels that defies being classified, but it's not the genre that's in question, it's the age group. The heroine Mara Holdfast is fifteen years old during the time of story which would lend it toward being a young adult fantasy novel, but that's not necessarily the case. It has some adult themes and situations that make it very appealing to adult fantasy readers as well. Young and old alike will find the world building and magical concepts intriguing and original. Blake's smooth writing style and use of internal dialogue is riveting in this book and readers will have a hard time putting it down.
The title of this book is Masks, and the concept of masking is very important to the characters of E.C. Blake's magical land of Aygrima. The Autarch is leader of Aygrima and following a rebellion that nearly destroyed the Aygrima society, he has come up with a away to keep it from every happening again. On each person's fifteenth birthday in Aygrima they receive a mask. This mask denotes their profession and magical abilities as well as their unwavering devotion to the Autarch and they must wear it any time they are in public so that Watchers can make sure of their loyalty. The problem is, not everyone passes the test. If the mask rejects a person, that person is a traitor and is cast out.
I thought this was a very original idea for a novel. The masks are ornate and beautiful but they can be deadly. Blake does an amazing job of bringing the world of Aygrima to life and the masking concept. This is a world of magic and Blake brings that to the forefront of the action. The people of Aygrima can usually see one or two colors of magic at most, but our heroine, Mara can see them all, which makes her extremely unique. Her father is the master maskmaker and she wants to follow in his footsteps but her masking fails. I loved the fact that Blake assumes the reader will pick up on things going on behind the scenes. He kind of drops some bread crumbs but he lets readers decide for themselves what is really happening here.
The use of magic in this novel is really interesting. Almost all the people of Aygrima have magic, but it isn't quite as easy to use it as one might think. They can't just cast a spell or wave a wand. Magic requires ingredients and resources and time to use. It almost makes magic like a commodity. Some people have a little ability, some people have a lot. The Autarch is very powerful and has a great use of magic, while those who have been cast out have very little. I thought the way magic is used in this book was extremely unique and original.
Mara is a typical teenager in my opinion. She has her own ideas about how life works and how things are, and trying to convince her otherwise, probably wouldn't work. But when her masking fails, she begins to see her world in a completely different light. What happens to those that are unmasked? Is it fair? It is right? Mara goes through a lot of changes within the book and comes out on the other side with a different view of life and what is important about it. Her internal dialogue throughout the book becomes a little tedious at times, but to be fair, she has been given a lot to digest here.
There is some violence and sexual situations, but they are mostly alluded to and not described in great detail, which is one of the things that make this book good for young readers. But the flow of the book and Blake's descriptions and wording is more along the lines of an adult novel. It's an interesting mix of the two. One of the things I found a bit lacking was the use of secondary characters. We get to know Mara very well, since the book is comprised of her experience and thoughts, but anyone else is kind of one dimensional. We don't find out anything beyond the surface about who they are and how they feel. I wanted to find a great connection with Mara, but was unable to. She's a great character and the story was fascinating, but she didn't grab me like some heroines do. That's not to say this wasn't a good book. It mostly definitely was, very creative and imaginative. I liked it a lot and I rooted for her to the very end. A great first novel by an interesting new face in the fantasy genre!
Masks is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
About the Author:
E.C. Blake was born in New Mexico, “Land of Enchantment,” and the state’s nickname seems to have rubbed off: he started writing fantastical stories in elementary school and wrote his first fantasy novel in high school. He’s been a newspaper reporter and editorial cartoonist, a magazine editor, a writing instructor and a professional actor, and has written (under another name) more than 30 works of nonfiction, ranging from biographies to science books to history books, but his first love has always been fantasy. He now lives in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, with his wife and a daughter whose favorite stories all involve “sword-fighting princesses.” Come to think of it, so do his.
Giveaway Details:
The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Masks by E.C. Blake.
~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US Addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, December 11th.
1. Please leave a comment describing anything you find interesting about wearing a mask.
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Christmas on Main Street by JoAnn Ross, Susan Donovan, LuAnn McLane and Alexis Morgan
Publication Date: 11/05/2013
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Signet
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 416
ISBN-10: 0451419537
ISBN-13: 9780451419538
(Received for an honest review from Signet)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound
JoAnn Ross on the WEB: Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads
Susan Donovan on the WEB: Website, Blog, Twitter, Goodreads
LuAnn McLane on the WEB: Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Pinterest
Alexis Morgan on the WEB: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads
Excerpt from Christmas on Main Street, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature.
Synopsis:
‘Tis the season to fall in love in these four small towns.
In “Christmas in Shelter Bay,” New York Times bestselling author JoAnn Ross returns to Shelter Bay, where Kelli has long tried to keep her feelings for her friend Cole a secret. But when the local matchmakers conspire to send them to a secluded lakeside cabin, the two friends soon discover that a little love will keep them warm.
TV producer Nathaniel Ravelle knows the Bayberry Island mermaid legend is a joke— how could a statue grant a wish for true love? But when a Christmas Nor’easter lands him in close quarters with local Annie Parker, they see magic at work in matters of the heart in New York Times bestselling author Susan Donovan’s “A Seaside Christmas.”
In LuAnn McLane’s “Mistletoe on Main Street,” Clint isn’t sure how to rekindle his romance with high school sweetheart Ava—until his father bows out of playing Santa at the annual Cricket Creek holiday parade and Clint gets the chance to make this Christmas one to remember.
And in Alexis Morgan’s “The Christmas Gift”, business is booming at Bridey Roke’s pastry shop. Everyone in town stops in to sample her holiday treats. But in her spare moments, she’s perfecting a special recipe to charm the handsome new neighbor—who has his own surprise gift for her come Christmas Eve!
Thoughts:
Christmas on Main Street is a collection of four Christmas novellas that will touch the hearts of readers this Christmas. Each of the four authors gives the reader a novella set in the world of a series they have already created which makes them even more entertaining. Christmas time is such a joyous time of year and each of these stories has the spirit of Christmas at it's heart.
JoAnn Ross's story, "Christmas in Shelter Bay," centers around the oldest of the Douchett boys, Cole and Kelly. The local matchmakers decide to help turn friendship into love when the two are stranded in a secluded cabin. Ross's Shelter Bay series is one of my favorites and I really enjoyed this story about Cole. I think readers will love the characters and how they interact in this one. Christmas isn't far away and love is in the air.
Susan Donovan's story, "A Seaside Christmas," is set in her Bayberry Island world where a local statue of a mermaid is said to grant true love. When Nathaniel slips on the ice and has to be nursed back to health by Annie, he begins to believe that maybe the stories are true. I thought Donovan did a great job with her small town setting for this one. Bayberry Island really comes to life and readers will find this Christmas season full of surprises.
LuAnn McLane's story, "Mistletoe on Main Street," is a classic second chance romance with two former high school sweethearts that find the sparks are still there after all this time. I loved this one. The story is just very romantic and tender. I like a good Christmas romance and this one really hit the spot. It was evenly paced and had a great feel good atmosphere to it.
Alex Morgan's story, "The Christmas Gift," was one of those stories that just felt inspiring. Both the hero and the heroine were so deserving of finding love and Morgan adds a bit of a surprise at the end that was very satisfying. I thought it was a great way to close the collection and keep the readers feeling like Christmas even after the book was over.
Overall this was a well put together Christmas collection. I liked the fact that each story corresponded to the world that these authors are used to writing about, it added a feeling of quality vs. quantity to it. Though the stories were short, they were very good. This collection really put me in the mood for Christmas music, cocoa and putting up the tree. It's a good one, you don't want to miss!
Christmas on Main Street is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
About the Authors:
JoAnn Ross: JoAnn Ross is the New York Times bestselling author of the Shelter Bay series. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and three rescued dogs.
Susan Donovan: USA Today bestselling author Susan Donovan lives on the East Coast. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages. Her upcoming novel, Sea of Love, is the first in the new Bayberry Island series.
LuAnn McLane: LuAnn McLane is the author of the Cricket Creek series. When she takes breaks from writing, she enjoys watching “chick flicks” with her daughter and tries to keep up with her three active sons at her home in Florida.
Alexis Morgan: Alexis Morgan is the author of the Warriors of the Mist series and the Snowberry Creek series, including the novel A Time for Home and the novella A Soldier's Heart. She and her husband make their home in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She has been nominated for numerous industry awards, including the RITA from the Romance Writers of America, the top award in the romance genre.
Giveaway Details:
The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Christmas on Main Street by JoAnn Ross, Susan Donovan, LuAnn McLane, and Alexis Morgan.
~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US Addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, December 10th.
1. Please leave a comment describing a favorite Christmas memory.
2. Please fill out the FORM.
