Christine Amsden's Blog: Christine Amsden Author Blog, page 38

Treasure Hunt

Everybody likes a treasure hunt, especially when there are cool prizes involved. Twilight Times Books is running a treasure hunt contest during the month of September with prizes like a Kindle Fire, a B&N Nook Color, a Google Nexus Tablet, and baskets of books (print and electronic).

PLUS there’s a foghorn contest. If you tweet or post about the contest somewhere, you get points you can redeem for books.

For the treasure hunt, you just have to go to various Twilight Times authors’ web sites and find the jewel hidden on their front page. I’ll get you started with the Alexandrite on my front page.

Good luck!

Book Review: The Darkest Hour

Ethan believes his wife is dead. She died in a plane crash one year ago, and he buried her. Except now, a year later, someone sends him evidence that she’s not as dead as he though and is, in fact, being held captive in some South American hell hole.

Ethan and his brothers, mercenaries by trade, launch a rescue mission to get her home. But things aren’t easy for Rachel, who has been mistreated and drugged (heroine or cocaine). She can’t remember much of her life, and she suffers from severe withdrawal.

Here’s what I loved about this story: Rachel. She was a strong woman made weak by circumstance, struggling to come back to life. She isn’t okay after her ordeal, and in fact, still isn’t really okay at the end of this book. (Kudos!)

Ultimately, though, I rated it three stars because I found myself glad I had read the next three books in the series before I read this one. It wasn’t intentional — my library just didn’t have this title until this week and I was very much looking forward to it. But I read books 2, 3, and 4 (in that order) first, and thought they were all a bit stronger on the suspense.

This book had some believability issues, particularly towards the end. When certain people learn of Rachel’s continued existence, they try to kill her for what she knows (or knew, since her memory is wonky). The assassination attempts were PITIFUL! I simply do not believe that these men couldn’t manage to kill her, given the circumstances presented in this book. There was also a nit-picky story-telling issue that nonetheless jumped out at me and, IMO, should have jumped out at a content editor — late in the book Rachel suddenly knows self defense, because her brothers in law taught her. She should have remembered this sooner, so that the tool was in place when she needed it, rather than having it drop out of the heavens in the middle of a desperate situation.

As for the romance, at first I was really into it. Ethan had filed for divorce just before she flew off to South America on her “mission of mercy.” He regretted it shortly thereafter, but then she died — or so he thought. She doesn’t remember any of this at first. I’m not sure why, but somewhere around 2/3 of the way through this book, I began to get really impatient with her still not knowing. Then, when she does remember, and we finally get the whole story, I felt a bit let down. I often feel this way in reunion stories, which is why I tend to avoid them.

Also, I didn’t care for the sex scenes. I was bored with the first and skipped the second entirely. It wasn’t the scenes themselves — which reminded me strongly of all of Banks’s other sex scenes — but the lead-in. Given what Rachel had been through, and all the healing she was undergoing, and Ethan’s feelings of insecurity over what she didn’t remember, I didn’t think either one of them was READY to have sex yet. In fact, I don’t think this book needed sex at all. It felt forced, inserted more because the author was writing for a specific audience that expected it rather than because it developed organically out of the characters and situation.

I will say, though, that finally reading this book made Rusty’s situation make a LOT more sense. I really didn’t get her until now.

Overall, I do recommend this book, but mostly because I recommend the series.

 

Rating: 3/5

Title: The Darkest Hour

Author: Maya Banks

ISBN: 0425227944

Published September 7, 2010

Magical Complications

A breath of magic is becoming a popular prop in modern fiction. Even books that might not otherwise be classified as fantasy will bring in ghosts, psychics, or just a hint of something other. As a lifelong lover of speculative fiction, I am enthusiastic about this trend, but I want to see it use well. Far too often, magic is used to make things easier for the protagonists. It gets in there and fixes things, and in the worst cases, acts as a deus ex machina.

In a compelling story, magic should never simplify things. On the contrary, it should complicate things.

The danger isn’t just the deus ex machina. I’ve groaned aloud when handy ghosts lead the protagonist straight to the buried bodies and help him solve his murder, but that’s not common. More often, the magic just doesn’t matter at all. It’s background. It’s scenery. It’s a prop. You could argue that you’re free to build your stage however you like, and you’d be right, but what if…?

Speculative fiction likes to ask “What if?” It likes to take an unreal situation and really consider it. What if this woman really could predict the future? Would that be cool, or would it actually make her life harder? Would people ridicule her? Would she be able to change what she sees? (Touch of Fate) What if…?

Complications make stories interesting. They challenge the author, yes, but they also challenge the protagonist and the reader. They keep us on the edge of our seats and make us come back for more.

Magic is a complication. If it’s there, it matters, and you should think about how.

I’m teaching a world building workshop Savvy Authors starting September 10th — check it out for more world building tips, hands on practice, and instructor feedback.

Born to Darkness

I don’t usually see scifi and romance blended well, but this did it. We’ve got a near-future society that has decayed somewhat (although I’m not entirely sure why). There’s a bunch of superheroes called “greater thans” whose faux science involving brain integration (using more than 10% at once) does manage to be slightly more believable than the X-Men DNA explanation. Or maybe it’s just the resulting powers that are slightly more believable. Not that it’s saying much. You really do have to suspend disbelief for these kinds of stories, but hey, why not? It’s fun.

There were three different romances going on at once, so we ended up going back and forth between seven points of view. (One was from a girl who was kidnapped.) That’s more than I’m used to since I stopped reading epic fantasy, so it took me a while to adjust, but once I did, I easily fell into the story. It was fun and fast-paced. The characters were interesting, each with their own issues and history.

One of Mack’s powers is sex appeal, so when she gets involved with Shane, she has a lot of trouble believing she didn’t just put a mental whammy on him. She was bristly, and difficult to like, but I got her. I just didn’t get why she was part of an elite team. Seemed too high-strung and unpredictable, disobeying direct orders and going off half-cocked.

Stephen and Elliot had the sweetest of the three romances. Very intimate and endearing. I don’t seek out homosexual romance, but it worked very well for me here.

There was just one problem with the book. The final romance remained unresolved. This had me scrambling to figure out if there’s a sequel planned. I guess so, since everywhere I look, this book is called (Fighting Destiny #1), but the fact that this remains unresolved really keeps me from going higher than 4 stars. I could even come back and adjust it after reading a sequel, but for now…you know, I read a lot of fantasy, so I’m used to story lines remaining open, but it threw me for a loop in what is essentially a romantic suspense, even if it is also scifi. I won’t spoil the ending, but I do feel the need to warn potential readers that this story isn’t finished here, and if you’re like me, you may want to wait until #2 comes out to read this one. (So you can read back to back and get the closure I am so sorely lacking right now.)

I recommend this if you like romantic suspense.

Rating: 4/5

Title: Born to Darkness

Author:  Suzanne Brockman

ISBN: 0345521277

Published  March 20th 2012

 

Suzanne Brockmann

Back to School

I hate it when my blog goes quiet for any length of time, even just a week, but I am the sole poster here, and it’s bound to happen sometimes. This week has been back to school week for my kids, so I’ll go ahead and use that as an excuse. It’s usually convincing.

That real reason is that I’m trying to put as many other projects on hold as I can right now while I finish my draft of  Dreamer, the last book in the Cassie Scot series.  Now that the kids are back to school, I will have 3 solid hours each afternoon to work on it, so I’m hoping to be “finished” in a few weeks.

“Finished” is in quotes because i’t s slippery word in the writing world. I’ll have a draft finished, then I send it to a few trusted readers who tell me what’s wrong with it. Then I fix those things, plus anything else I figure out during the month or two I let it sit. (It helps to get some distance.) Then I do a thorough copy edit and word smithing pass. Then it goes to my publisher, who sends it to copy editors, who find more problems to fix.

Finishing that first draft is a big deal, though. It becomes the solid foundation of everything that comes after, and once it’s done, I will breathe a lot easier.

And hopefully, post a lot more often!

Cassie Scot Update

Two days ago, I turned in my edits for the SECOND book in the Cassie Scot series, Secrets and Lies. It’s running well ahead of schedule, and looks very good to be released in July 2013.

The Restorer (Graveyard Queen #1)

Since the age of 9, Amealia has been able to see ghosts. Her father warned her never to let them know she could see them, and never to get involved with someone who was haunted.

She’s about to break those rules.

A body is found in one of the graveyards she’s restoring. A bit fresh, given that the cemetery hasn’t been used in over a hundred years, and the body is a few hours old. An attractive police investigator asks her for help, and she gets way more involved than she should — both with the case and with him. He is haunted, after all, by the ghosts of his dead wife and daughter. And she shouldn’t get involved with anyone who is haunted.

But more bodies keep turning up. Some older, some newer. Who is killing all these people, and why are the bodies suddenly turning up now?

The book ends with the unveiling of the serial killer, and most of the elements click nicely into place. This book is clearly the first in a series, though, with several threads still dangling.

On every technical level I can think of, this book was very well written: plot, character, world building…I rated it three stars, though, and the only thing I can say is that I did not feel a strong connection with the main character.

Maybe it’s because I felt like most of the story happened to her, rather that her acting on the story. That may seem strange, because she did going around asking questions like an investigator. But there are two problems with this: First, she’s not an investigator, she’s a graveyard restorer, and I never understood her reasons for taking on the secondary role. Second, she didn’t actually figure anything out on her own. There was always someone (or something) pointing her in the right direction. Sometimes she just did things because she felt compelled to do them…like visit a graveyard where the detective’s wife and child are buried. I was also never sure why she was suddenly breaking her father’s rules. She didn’t even question his rules (which I would have done), but she broke them during the course of this story.

I do recommend this, if you like paranormal stuff. Looks like there will even be some romance going into the series, which is nice.

Rating 3/5

Title: The Restorer

Author: Amanda Stevens

ISBN: 9780778329817)

Published: April 19, 2011

Follow Friday

 

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

A: I don’t read different genres when I’m feeling down, but I do tend to reread books when I feel that way. Those are the times when I most want the comfort of a familiar friend, rather than risking the acquaintance of a new one.

 

Electronic ARCs now available for:

Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective (Book 1)

Cassie Scot is the ungifted daughter of powerful sorcerers, born between worlds but belonging to neither. At 21, all she wants is to find a place for herself, but earning a living as a private investigator in the shadow of her family’s reputation isn’t easy. When she is pulled into a paranormal investigation, and tempted by a powerful and handsome sorcerer, she will have to decide where she truly belongs.

First line: My parents think the longer the name, the more powerful the sorcerer, so they named me Cassandra Morgan Ursula Margaret Scot. You can call me Cassie.

Read First Chapters

Release Date: February 2013

Publisher: Twilight Times Books

Cover art pending.

A Lady and Her Magic

This story caught my attention twice: First, by its description, which promised a blend of fantasy and regency romance (two of my favorites) and second, by the very first line:

“If the Duke of Robinsworth had known it would be so difficult to raise a daughter alone, he never would have killed his wife.”

Intriguing! So much so, that I paused and quoted the line to my husband, who also acknowledged the sheer hookiness of the first line. But as I read further, contemplating how to use that line in the workshop I sometimes teach on “Beginnings,” I couldn’t help but notice some issues with the story-telling. Then I noticed a few more. And then…well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

This book immediately suffered from withheld information. Even though the duke readily admitted, in point of view, and on multiple occasions, that he killed his wife, he didn’t tell us why. This made it very difficult to like him because by default, I don’t sympathize with murderers.

Then there was Sophia, the fairy on a mission from….well, whoever is in charge of the fairy. Her mission was to…well, it had something to do with the duke’s daughter. Which brings me to my second big problems: World building. I also teach a workshop on that, and after reading this novel, I definitely have a few ideas to tweak that one.

You see, when you’re introducing a magical world (which is anything that differs from the world we know and understand), you have to actually tell us (the readers) about it in a timely fashion. You can’t, for example, give us five rules of behavior which include “Never, ever fall in love with a human” without telling us who makes the rules and what happens if you don’t follow it. Mostly the last one. Because deep down inside, where we all naturally challenge authority, our hedonistic impulses need to understand why they can’t just have what they want.

There was more, though. Frankly, the magic was silly. The fairies reminded me of children’s stories, which created problem number three: TONE. You see, Mary Poppins wasn’t sexy (even if she did have a beau). I found it incredibly difficult, no, impossible, to get into a story about a fairy who turns into a tiny little creature with wings and slips into little girl’s bedchambers in the middle of the night to help them (still not clear on that)….and then switch to her in the duke’s bedchamber straddling his thighs. It was just weird and very uncomfortable.

Back to world building…These fae were not adult fae as I’m used to reading them in fantasy. Which only made it harder to understand the way the world worked or the rules. Adult fairies aren’t mindless little do-gooders. (And maybe that’s not what these were, but if not, I didn’t get that.) I expect my adult stories about the fae to involve a complex world of other-worldly creatures who interact with humans for their own reasons.

All of that was building to a painful crescendo…I was rather dreading the sex scene and trying to decide whether or not to skip it…when I found my ultimate put-down moment at the 3/4 point.

***SPOILER AHEAD***

It was a lie. I was still traipsing through this book on the power of a promise given to me in the first sentence and reinforced at least a dozen times. But it simply wasn’t true. The duke didn’t kill his wife.

I honestly can’t believe this book was published, and I don’t say that lightly. I’ve read books I didn’t care for, but hey, we’ve all got different tastes. I just didn’t realize anyone’s taste permitted repeated, direct and explicit lies by an impartial third person narrator. This wasn’t a case of being misled…I quoted that first sentence to you verbatim, and there were many more like it.

***SPOILER Behind***

I do not recommend this book.

Rating: 1/5

Title: A Lady and Her Magic

Author: Tammy Falkner

ISBN: 9781402268120

Publication Date: September 1, 2012

Step right up and get your ARCs!

ARCs (Advanced Review Copies) are now available for Cassie Scot: Paranormal Detective.

Cassie Scot is the ungifted daughter of powerful sorcerers, born between worlds but belonging to neither. At 21, all she wants is to find a place for herself, but earning a living as a private investigator in the shadow of her family’s reputation isn’t easy. When she is pulled into a paranormal investigation, and tempted by a powerful and handsome sorcerer, she will have to decide where she truly belongs.

If you’re a book reviewer, or if you just absolutely have to be the first person to read the first book in my brand new urban fantasy series, then you can get a copy by clicking here. For the moment, it is only available as a .pdf, but we’re working hard on getting other formats ready in preparation for the big release next February.

But wait, there’s more! Early chapters are now available to read right here on my web site. They’re free to read, so go ahead, enjoy, and get yourself completely hooked so you’ll buy the book in six months. (Oops, did I say that out loud? )

Book bloggers: Feel free to contact me with requests for review copies. You can reach me at christine.amsden@yahoo.com. Please provide a link to your blog, and your preferred format. If I can’t get you that format right now, I’ll put you at the top of the list as soon as that format becomes available.