Reena Jacobs's Blog, page 11
July 4, 2012
INDIEpendence Day Blog Tour: LK Rigel + Giveaway 2
It’s the last day of the INDIEpendence Blog Fest!
Anyone interested in finding out the winner of the last giveaway? I am! What was up for grabs?
Two winners will receive his/her choice of one of the Apocalypto books by L.K. Rigel: Space Junque, Spiderwork, Firebird, or Apocalypto (which includes all three stories).
And the winners are!
Barbara (Basia’s BookShelf)
and
Julie S.
Congratulations! Emails will be sent shortly.
Along with another giveaway, we also have another special treat for you. L.K. Rigel is back for an interview! Woot. 
So… here we go.
Reena Jacobs: It seems like forever since I had you on last. I’m so glad you’ve joined us in the INDIEpendence Day celebration!
L.K. Rigel: Thanks so much for having me!
RJ: Okay. I stalk you. Don’t look behind you, but I do. Your Apocalyptos series was my first introduction to your work. I absolutely fell in love with the story line. Of course, you’ve been busy busy since then with quite a few different types of works. Share with us what’s been going on with your writing!
LKR: I’m so glad you like the Apocalyptos. You were one of the first people to blog about them, and your reviews were incredibly important to my self-confidence. There are several more books to come in the series.
This past year, I’ve brought out The Loves of Leopold Singer, an epic family saga set in the 1800s, and a decidedly not epic contemporary romance novelette, I Ruined His Life, which was a lot of fun to write.
Lately I’ve been absorbed with a new series (Tethers) about fairies and witches. Give Me – A Tale of Wyrd and Fae is the first book.
RJ: You got me… I’m a fan of “Once Upon a Time” and can’t wait for season two. The saying is, if you like “Once Upon a Time” give the Tether series a try. Of course, your novel Give Me came well before the series. How did you come up with the idea?
LKR: It’s a little embarrassing, but I was trying to write an erotic romance and failed. I started by asking what would happen if the spirits of two lovers were trapped in a magic object, and the only way they could be together was to possess other people’s bodies? And what if two people found themselves madly attracted to each other, but they couldn’t be sure if their feelings were real or magically induced?
The more I explored the idea, the less smutty it became—though I still find it erotic. Characters and factions started showing up, and an entire world unfolded. Readers have liked the result and asked for more, and I’m happy to keep writing about Dumnos, a land of mist and rain.
RJ: You’ve teased us with excerpts on your blog for the sequel to Give Me (Bride of Fae). Do you have a quick synopsis for us?
LKR: You really do stalk me! That’s awesome.
Bride of Fae is the story of Cade Bausiney’s mother Beverly who was possessed by Elyse in Give Me. She gets involved with Prince Dandelion, the rightful king of the Dumnos fae, but there’s no future for a human with an immortal fairy. Besides, fairies don’t fall in love—and anyway, Dandelion has troubles of his own trying to reclaim the throne from Idris.
Bride of Fae takes place before and after the time line of Give Me. It focuses more on the fae than on the wyrd, and we’ll get to find out more about Lily’s mother and father.
RJ: I’ll be snooping around for a release date. Random question: Have you managed to get Peter Coyote’s wife pregnant in one of your novels yet?
LKR: Har! Once in real life was enough.
RJ: Be our little birdie… what do you have planned for us in the future?
LKR: After Bride of Fae there will be at least two more books in the Tethers series. The next one is War of the Wyrd and then The Goblin King. The Apocalyptos have at least four more books in planning. Copperhead is next, then The Third Dagger (working title), which is the battle between Mallory and Lady Bron for control of Garrick, and an untitled book after that about the showdown between the followers of Asherah and the followers of Samael.
I also have a romantic suspense story knocking around in my head and a campy vampire series planned – I need 72 hours in a day!
RJ: I had no idea there was more to Apocalyptos. You’ve got me all excited. Get a move on it… this fan is waiting! Anything you’d like to say to readers?
LKR: Thank you! Thank you so much for taking a chance on a self-published author. Thank you for your kind words of encouragement. Fan mail does more good than you can know. After all, that’s what it’s all about – a writer isn’t a storyteller until a reader makes it so.
About L.K. Rigel
L. K. Rigel lives in California with her television-watching cat, Coleridge. (His favorite show is Castle, but he is enthralled by Game of Thrones.) Rigel wrote songs for the 90′s band The Elements, scored the independent science fantasy karate movie Lucid Dreams, and was a reporter for the Sacramento Rock ‘N Roll News. Her work has appeared in Literary Mama and Tattoo Highway.
Rigel writes the postapocapunk “Apocalypto” series where human reproduction is threatened and fertile women rent their wombs to the highest bidding kings.
Her short story “Slurp” about an author with muse problems is included in DEADLY TREATS, Anne Frasier’s Halloween anthology published by Nodin Press.
Her latest book, GIVE ME, is an adult fairy tale about possession, self-sacrifice, redemption…and fairies. The sequel, BRIDE OF FAE, is coming soon.
Find works by L.K. Rigel at Barnes & Nobles || Smashwords || The Book Depository || Amazon
Giveaway Time!
One winners will receive his/her choice of a book by L.K. Rigel.
How to enter? Leave a comment telling us what the biggest surprise you’ve had when reading an indie book? Don’t forget to leave a way for me to contact you if you win.
Giveaway ends: July 7, 2012
Stay tuned! The review of What a Boy Needs by Nyrae Dawn will be posted soon, along with new winners and a giveaway.
Novel Review: What a Boy Needs by Nyrae Dawn + Giveaway
As soon as I finished What a Boy Wants by Nyrae Dawn(see review here), I couldn’t stop myself from purchasing What a Boy Needs. I just loved the first in the series so much. I’m a hopeful one. Could Nyrae Dawn do for Jay what she’d done for Sebastian? Let’s cross our fingers she did. Before the review, the blurb:
Jaden Sinclair knows he’ll never amount to anything…so why would he deserve a girl like Priscilla Mendoza?
Since last summer, things have been screwed up between Jaden and Pris. He knows it’s his fault, but that doesn’t stop him from wanting to go a few rounds with her new boyfriend. He also knows he’s the loser his dad calls him, but it doesn’t stop him from wanting her.
After getting a huge bomb dropped on him, Jaden lashes out and lands himself in jail. Everything in his chaotic life is turned upside down and to make it worse, his mom kicks him out in order to side with his dad. Yeah, he’s totally a prize for a girl like Pris.
Sebastian, Aspen, and Pris are all going places in their lives…and he knows he can’t keep tagging along for the ride.
The group has one last chance for The Epic Adventure they’ve been looking for: a road trip to New York, where Jaden’s friends will be going to college. Unfortunately, the more time Jaden hangs around Pris, the harder it is to keep the carefully constructed walls between them so she doesn’t find out what a train wreck he really is.
When the trip ends, Jaden has to decide if he’s ready to say goodbye to his friends, and the girl he loves. He knows what he needs, but will he be man enough to go for it?
Available at Barnes & Nobles
I’ll just come out and say it. What a Boy Needs was another great read. Not sure if I liked it more or less, or the same as What a Boy Wants. I do know I liked the beginning a lot… a lot more than What a Boy Wants, which is saying a lot, because I liked the beginning of What a Boy Wants A WHOLE LOT! The middle maybe about the same and the ending a little less. Still all around good and 5 stars.
So now that I’ve ruined the surprised, what exactly did I like about What a Boy Needs.
The Boy Jay: “Fake it till you make it” seemed to be his motto. The words he verbalized were so different from what he truly felt inside. My heart broke for him. I know what it’s like to put on a smile when downer emotions are twirling inside. It’s tough. And Jay did it every single day. I don’t know how he managed some days. I could see myself barring the door to my room and shutting the world indefinitely.
I loved Jay’s struggle with his home life. Well… not gleeful he had struggles, but what his struggles did for the book. I was lucky to land parents who believed in me and encouraged me. It’s easy for me to get wrapped in my own little world and be oblivious to the struggles of others. Nyrae Dawn made Jay’s home life real. Despite my background, I could understand the trials he faced… I truly felt for his situation. *I* wanted to encourage Jay and tell him he was important, loved, desired… that he had a future.
Because Jay had real problems… emotional problems, not just “get the girl” like in What a Boy Wants, the story meant more to me. I looked forward to Jay growing… finding and accepting his true self, trusting in others.
Definitely a worthy sequel to What a Boy Wants.
Winners of Last Giveaway
So I promised another giveaway, but first let’s knock out the winners from the last giveaway. What was up for grabs?
Three Winners: Will receive an eCopy of What a Boy Wants by NyRae Dawn.
And the Winners are!
Mary Preston
Desiree
and
Carrie A
Emails will be sent shortly.
Giveaway Time!
One Winners: Will receive an eCopy of What a Boy Wants by NyRae Dawn.
How to enter? What a Boy Wants was more New Adult than Young Adult. Nyrae Dawn mentioned on her blog that she’s coming out with another New Adult book. So this time around, leave a comment telling us your favorite New Adult book or a New Adult book you’re dying to read.
Giveaway Ends:July 7, 2012
If you haven’t entered the second giveaway on the INDIEpendence Blog Fest tour, what are you waiting for? Go do it!
July 2, 2012
The Wild Princess Blog Tour + Giveaway
Normally I’m not a historical romance reader, but this cover totally draws me in. Yes… I judge books by their cover. Today we have an excerpt from The Wild Princess by Mary Hart Perry.
To the court and subjects of Queen Victoria, young Princess Louise—later the Duchess of Argyll—was the “Wild One.” Proud and impetuous, she fought the constraints placed on her and her brothers and sisters, dreamed of becoming an artist, and broke with a three-hundred-year-old tradition by marrying outside of the privileged circle of European royals. Some said she wed for love. Others whispered of a scandal covered up by the Crown. It will take a handsome American, recruited by the queen’s elite Secret Service, to discover the truth. But even as Stephen Byrne— code name the Raven—vows to risk his life to protect the royal family from violent Irish radicals, he tempts Louise with a forbidden love that could prove just as dangerous.
In the vein of Philippa Gregory, Mary Hart Perry tells the riveting story of an extraordinary woman—a princess who refused to give up on her dreams, including her right to true love.
Available at Barnes & Nobles || The Book Depository
Excerpt
Osborne House, Isle of Wight
Wednesday, January 23, 1901
My dearest Edward,
I write to you with a grieving heart. My emotions are so a-jumble at this moment I can barely stop my hand from trembling long enough to put pen to paper. As all of London wakes to the sad news, you too must by now be aware that Victoria, Queen by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India—my mother—has passed from this life. Last night I stood at her bedside along with my surviving sisters and brothers, the many grandchildren, and those most favored among her court. We bid our final good-byes, and she drifted away. Among us was the devoted Colonel the Lord Edward Pelham-Clinton, who delivers this letter and accompanying documents, by hand, into your possession.
The doctors say it was a cerebral hemorrhage, not uncommon for a woman in her 80’s, but I believe she was just tired and ready to rest after reigning these tumultuous sixty-four years, many of them without her beloved Prince Consort, Albert, my father, who died before you were born.
She was not a physically affectionate mother, demanded far more than she ever gave, often drove me to anger and tears, and very nearly destroyed my life…more than once. Yet I did, in my own way, love her.
The enclosed manuscript is my means for setting straight in my own mind the alarming events of several critical years in my life. But more than that, it will bring to you, although belatedly—and for that I apologize—the truth. Your mother, my dearest friend, wished to tell you of these matters long ago. Indeed, it was she who compiled most of the information herein, using her rare skills as an observer of human nature and, later in life, as a gifted investigative journalist. I have filled in the few facts she was unable to uncover on her own. For selfish reasons I begged her to keep our secrets a while longer…and a while longer. Then she too departed from this world for a better one, leaving no one to press me to reveal these most shameful deeds. Indeed, Edward dear, I would not even now strip bare the deceptions played out in my lifetime, had they not so intimately involved you.
Do these words shock you? If so, then you had best burn these pages and live the rest of your life in ignorance. But as I remember, you were a curious lad, and so I expect you will read on. However, before you go further, I must ask of you a solemn favor. What I am about to reveal is for your knowledge alone, that you might better understand both the gifts and the sins passed along to you. To share this account with others would cause scandal so damaging that our government would surely topple. Therefore, I implore you to choose—either destroy the enclosed manuscript this instant without reading it, or do the same after reading in private.
Regardless of your decision, I pray you will ever think of me as your devoted godmother and friend, and not hate me for the things I have done to protect you or, on my own behalf, simply to survive.
Be assured of my love,
Princess Louise, duchess of Argyll
About the Author
Mary Hart Perry lives in Maryland with her husband and two feline writing partners: Miranda and Tempest. She teaches at The Writer’s Center in Washington, DC and is an inspiring speaker for international and regional organizations interested in the joys of history and fiction writing. She is an advocate for teen and adult literacy. You can reach her at Mary@MaryHartPerry.com. She invites you to “like” her Facebook page and follow her on Twitter @Mary_Hart_Perry.
Giveaway Time
To enter to win, simply leave a comment with your email address.
Follow the Tour!
6/4Reviewing Shelf /Review
6/6Romance Book Junkies /Bio, Synopsis, Excerpt
6/8 Wonderland Reviews /Review and Give Away
6/11 Bibliophilia, Please /Review and Give Away
6/15 My Secret Romance /Interview
6/15 Window on the World /Review
6/18Adventures of Frugal Mom /Review
6/18 Reading Between the Wines /Excerpt
6/19 Red Headed Bookworm /Review and Give Away
6/25 ¡Miraculous! /Review and Give Away
6/27BookSpark /Review and Give Away
6/27 Minding Spot /Review and Give Away
7/3 Ramblings of an Amateur Writer /Excerpt and Giveaway
7/3 Ramblings From This Chick /Excerpt
7/5 A Date with A Book /Interview and Give Away
7/9 Reviews By Molly /Review
7/11 A Chick Who Reads /Review
7/13 Bunnys Review /Review and Give Away
7/16 Jeanz Book Read N Review /Interview
7/18 Reader Girls /Excerpt
7/20 Melissa’s Eclectic Bookshelf /Excerpt
7/23 Always a Booklover /Review
7/25 Turning The Pages /Review
7/27Lissette E. Manning /Review
7/30 The Lucky Ladybug /Excerpt
THE RELEASE DAY ALL REVIEWS BLITZ!!!
Simply Ali
My Cozie Corner
Understanding Shae’s Story
Sapphyria’s Book Reviews
A Date with A Book
Acting Balanced
Book Lovin’ Mamas
The Lucky Ladybug
July 1, 2012
INDIEpendence Day Blog Tour + Giveaway
Yeah! You made it! So apparently, I’m here to share with you some indie books. Well, I’m ready if you are!
I wish I could tell you how I found this lovely lady, but for the life of me, my mind draws a blank. What I’m thinking is she found me. I do know after I read her books, I wanted more. And today, I’m going to share her with you!
L. K. Rigel lives in California with her television-watching cat, Coleridge. (His favorite show is Castle, but he is enthralled by Game of Thrones.) Rigel wrote songs for the 90′s band The Elements, scored the independent science fantasy karate movie Lucid Dreams, and was a reporter for the Sacramento Rock ‘N Roll News. Her work has appeared in Literary Mama and Tattoo Highway.
Rigel writes the postapocapunk “Apocalypto” series where human reproduction is threatened and fertile women rent their wombs to the highest bidding kings.
Her short story “Slurp” about an author with muse problems is included in DEADLY TREATS, Anne Frasier’s Halloween anthology published by Nodin Press.
Her latest book, GIVE ME, is an adult fairy tale about possession, self-sacrifice, redemption…and fairies. The sequel, BRIDE OF FAE, is coming soon.
It’s me again… Reena. As if you didn’t know. So I have a giveaway, or two, or three… maybe more planned this week. But this is also one of those times everyone wins (and has nothing to do with me). You see, the first book I’m introducing to you to is actually a free read on Amazon last I checked. But you better hurry. Who knows how long it’ll remain free. This is where my adventure with Rigel books begin.
The DOGs want to destroy the world. The gods want to make a new one. The trick is to survive both.
The world is on the brink of ecological cataclysm set off by the Oil Spill of 2010 and the Great Sea Level Rise of 2070. Hydroponics agronomist Char Meadowlark has become a recluse since her fiance was killed by a terrorist bomb and her twin sister Sky went underground to protect a top secret alternative energy project. Warned about an impending eco-terrorist attack, Char tries to get off planet, but the Defenders of Gaia strike while she’s at the airport. Shuttle pilot Jake Ardri might offer her only hope.
When the DOGs’ onslaught goes global and the material world threatens to implode, the ancient gods reemerge to take control over humanity. Through the ensuing chaos, Char must juggle two men, a world on fire, and a goddess with an agenda for a new world order.
Will there be any room for love in flagrante apocalypto?
Available at Barnes & Nobles || Smashwords || Amazon
I’d never read a space opera before. Was a bit skeptical about the whole sci-fi thing even. But Space Junque was more than a space opera. It had a little paranormal, romance, and dystopian apocalyptic goodies splashed in the mix. My verdict of Space Junque? a fun, interesting, and surprising read (See my review here). So if you haven’t read Space Junque, get a move on it and pick it up!!!!
After Space Junque, I delved into the next in the series.
Her fate was to hold the world together. His destiny was to tear it apart.
As a child, Durga was chosen by the goddess to save humanity from sterility and extinction. Soon she’ll be eighteen and have to serve as a chalice – to provide natural-born heirs to kings and more souls for the universe. Khai, the scion of Luxor, has different ideas about the new world order. When he falls hard for Durga, he isn’t afraid to show it. Khai offers Durga the love she thought she could never have – but accepting him will destroy everything she’s been commanded by the goddess to build.
Meanwhile, Jake Ardri now heads an emerging city-state and desperately wants Char Meadowlark to be his queen. But as king of his city, Jake is commanded by the goddess to provide natural-born heirs. Can Char share Jake with a beautiful chalice, trained to take Jake to the heights of sexual ecstasy?
Available at Amazon
Spiderwork too me out of my comfort zone. I have to admit, I went into culture shock with this one. It was one of those books which really got me thinking, and got me more than a little angry with society. My verdict? The entire book was unpredictable (see review here). I still love that cover!
Then we have Bleeder… well, it was Bleeder at the time I read it. Today it’s sporting the name FireBird.
The King of Garrick wants to kill her.
The King of Allel wants to love her.
And shapeshifters stole her baby’s soul!
Mallory is a chalice, a rare fertile female after nuclear war and environmental cataclysm wipe out most of the earth’s population. She lives under the protection of Red City, which contracts with the kings of the Concord Cities to provide natural-born heirs.
It’s a pampered life – until Mal is caught up in King Garrick’s scheme for world domination and her forbidden feelings for Edmund, king of Allel, grow too strong to deny.
When Mal discovers the significance of her firebird totem, she’s forced into a dangerous level of world politics she didn’t know existed – but her love for Edmund could destroy the game itself.
One thing I have to say about L.K. Rigel, her writing grows with each release I’ve devoured.
Available at Barnes & Nobles || Smashwords || Amazon
As I sit here thinking about Firebird, I can’t help but feel a bit melancholy. I could totally see a future earth similar to the one in Firebird. It wasn’t pretty, but so realistic it makes my heart ache. My verdict? A book which delves deep into human rights and politics (see review here).
Over all, Apocalptyo is a wonderful series! Definitely recommend. You can pick up copies piecemeal at the links above or just dive in and gather the entire series in one swoop.
One special note I feel the need to add. Not all these books are romances. I say this because there are some readers who only want happily ever afters (HEA). If you’re that person, I highly recommend picking up the complete collection (Apocalypto Omnibus). Why? You might not get your HEA in the first or second book because this series is really meant to read as a whole. You’re HEA will come by the time you hit the last book.
Available at Barnes & Nobles || Smashwords || Amazon
Find more works by L.K. Rigel at Barnes & Nobles || Smashwords || The Book Depository || Amazon
Giveaway Time!
Two winners will receive his/her choice of one of the Apocalypto books listed above: Space Junque, Spiderwork, Firebird, or Apocalypto (which includes all three stories).
How to enter? Leave a comment telling us your favorite Indie Book or Author. New to indie books? Tell us a book you’ve heard great things about and are dying to read. Don’t forget to leave a way for me to contact you if you win.
So I mentioned multiple giveaways this week? Check out my review of What a Boy Wants by Nyrae Dawn. You’ll find a giveaway for copies of her book also. If you want to stay on top of the giveaways this week, be sure to check the button “Notify me of new posts” when you leave a comment. If I’m not mistaken, there are 5 separate giveaways happening this week.
Stop by on Wednesday for an interview with L.K Rigel and see who won today’s giveaway… plus I have feelings there will be another giveaway that day too.
Follow the rest of the tour!
Novel Review: What a Boy Wants by Nyrae Dawn + Giveaway
I saw this book cropping up all over the place. 
I debated off and on picking it up. The cover is sexy and all, but where are the sparkly vampires? haha Just kidding. But really, it didn’t have any paranormal activity. So my attitude was very “I don’t know about this.” Then I found out it was free for a limited time. Oh yeah! I snagged that puppy. All I had to lose was time. The blurb:
Courtesy of watching his mom’s relationships, Sebastian Hawkins knows what girls need to do to get a guy. He has what he considers a PHD in hooking up. When he needs extra cash for a car, Sebastian starts up an online venture as The Hook-up Doctor, to anonymously help girls land the guy of their dreams. Of course, his services don’t offer a happily-ever-after guarantee. He’s seen firsthand getting together never means staying together.
And then he falls in love…
With the last girl he would expect…
Totally not in his game plan.
Suddenly, Sebastian finds himself muddled in the game he’s always prided himself on. He can’t even pick up girls at parties anymore! Why would anyone want to be in love when it turns you into a stuttering, screwed-up, mess with really lame stalker tendencies? Stalking? Totally not his gig.
But the Hook-up Doctor won’t let himself go down easily. He’s always known how to give a girl what she wants and now it’s time to figure out what a boy wants… and he definitely plans on getting it.
Available at Barnes & Nobles
First of all, I love Nyrae Dawn’s voice. Her style was a bit different that I’m used to… she actually wrote as if she was talking to the reader. Often I’m put off by the random “you” in a story. Who is you? Are you talking to me? haha In this case, it worked. I say it’s because of the consistency throughout the story. It was always Sebastian talking to me… telling me what was going through his head, as if I was along for the ride.
Speaking of Sebastian… let’s talk about him. My boy was jaded. In his world, love didn’t exist, only heartbreak. He did his best to keep the “no-strings attached” attitude. He was so out of touch with romance and love that when it did hit, he was so flustered he didn’t know what to do with himself. Oh, my man thought he did… but he was wrong… so very wrong. In fact, I have one note that says “why you so stupid, man?”
The parent in me loved this book. First, I loved how responsible the kids were in this book. Like the PPP — pre-party plan. What a wonderful idea! I totally had a talk with my teenage daughter after reading about that. And since I have a girl, let’s talk about hanging with boys. Awesome idea, if you have friends like Sebastian and Jay. When I hit the partying age, I never felt safer than when I had my guy buddies around. I know a lot of parents are like “no way is my baby girl hanging with boys,” but I’m more on the lines “who’s the boy who’ll stand up for you when you’re in a tight bind?”
So I had in my head this was going to be a fabulous review, because the book was that great. Unfortunately, I looked through my notations and most say things like “this is going to be a fave,” “I’m going to start reading more contemporary books because of this,” and “I want to buy Nyrae Dawn’s other books so bad, but I’m afraid I might not like the ending… better wait.”
Needless to say, this book was good. So good, there came a point I just wanted it to end. What?!?! I know. Crazy right? I just couldn’t wait to get to the end so I could rave about how much I loved What a Boy Wants. This was definitely a favorite read. Best book I’d read all year.
I devoured this book in a few hours then immediate purchased the next in the series. Stop by on Wednesday for the review of What a Boy Needs. I haven’t written it yet, but I hope my notes are better than the ones I took for What a Boy Wants. I guess I just got too involved to take time to make notes. Anyways… get it. It really was that good.
Giveaway Time
Three Winners: Will receive an eCopy of What a Boy Wants by NyRae Dawn. Delivered via Smashwords Gift.
How to enter? Leave a comment telling us your favorite Indie Book or Author. New to indie books? Tell us a book you’ve heard great things about and are dying to read. Don’t forget to leave a way for me to contact you if you win.
If you want to stay on top of the giveaways this week, be sure to check the button “Notify me of new posts” when you leave a comment. If I’m not mistaken, there are 5 separate giveaways happening this week. Also check out the INDIEpendence Day Blog Tour post for a chance to win a book by L.K. Rigel!
Angelique Giveaway End! Did you win?
I tell you one thing, it is HOT in North Carolina, and let’s not forget humid. I stepped outside today, and my glasses fogged. It was like opening the dishwasher in the middle of the cycle. I’m telling you people…I’m lucky to be here today. I almost melted the the Wicked Witch of the West when she got splashed with water.
One thing for sure, it’s got me worried about hell, cause it’s hard to imagine anything worse that this weather!
Ramble ramble. You’re here for a reason right? To find out who’s won the Angelique Giveaway.
Are you back, Angelique?”
He waits in his library, alone, drawing back curtains on memories of love so many years lost. Reports of dead men, bloodless, all eerily similar, tell Vincent the tale. Stalking in shadows, she seeks him.
Will she have him still?
Told first in Helen A Rosburg’s poem “Angelique,” the story of Angelique and Vincent’s undying love now comes to resplendent life in this novelette illustrated by Cherif Fortin and Lynn Sanders and offered in animated-book format. With its beautiful prose and breathtaking images, this instant classic vampire story will haunt and delight readers for eternity.
Available at iTunes
And the Winner is
Mary Preston
An email has been sent to the winner.
Also, stop by tomorrow. I’m participating in the INDIEpendence blog tour which means more giveaways!
June 30, 2012
Chasing Shadows – Making Amends (10)
Welcome to installment #10 of the Chasing Shadows – Making Amends series. For more information or to read the previous scene, head to this page.
Chapter 4
Scene 3
A day into Mujur’s journey, the cat returned, trailing him like a cub. The critter had become a constant companion—an annoyance more than anything—darting beneath Mujur’s feet, nearly tripping him. More than once, the idea of devouring the tiny morsel had crossed Mujur’s mind, just to get the nuisance out of his fur.
Mujur slowed and took a step toward the bite-sized snack, rolled his shoulders in preparation for the shift.
As if knowing how precarious the situation had grown, the flat-headed cat skirted away and climbed the nearest tree.
Mujur watched the red fur of the little beast blend into the foliage with a wry smile. At least now he could concentrate on the penanggalan trail, not exactly a trail per se, but rather a beckoning.
He sensed the unnaturalness of the creature, was drawn as if the penanggalan wanted him to find it, called to him like an irresistible lure. And he would find it. His honor depended on it. Only this time, he’d be alert for any trickery.
Mujur set off again while scratching his shoulder. He’d already depleted the salve Bryan had supplied him. Only a few minutes after each application the itching had returned, forcing him to reapply the ointment constantly. And none of the other treatments he tried had alleviated the symptoms—not the bamboo poultices, the coconut pulp, or even the betel leaves which seemed like a cure for everything. He’d even tried combining some of the healing plants, but the rash only worsened.
As aggravating as the constant itching was, he couldn’t let it interfere with his duty. Once he destroyed the penanggalan, he’d return to Berani for healing. Like all wehr-tigresses, she was trained to cure simple ailments, but Berani’s abilities exceeded the basic skills of most, her powers enhanced by the Great Spirit. Yet, the idea of facing Berani or her mate for help, gave him a sense of unworthiness… making him more beholden than he already was.
Already she’d risked her life for him. He was supposed to protect Berani, but he’d done nothing more than put her in danger. Now once again he needed her help. Eventually, she’d send him away, believing he brought more trouble than good, and he wouldn’t blame her. Bad luck seemed to follow him.
He laughed without amusement. Mujur—lucky—his mother apparently didn’t realize luck went both ways with him on the losing end.
Good luck. Bad luck. Surely Berani would do something as simple as heal him. She’d come after him when he’d been captured, which likely meant she cared greatly for those within her clans… even unworthy wehr-tigers like himself. If nothing else, keeping him healthy meant he would be more effective at protecting her. As it was, the rash had become an incessant plague which wore on his mental state.
He’d go to Berani. If he returned victorious, the clan would see he was more than just a stray who hungered for dwindling resources.
Mujur winced as his nails dug too deep and cut into the skin.
Enough. He attempted to shift into a tiger, but his shoulder burned as hair sprouted through the bleeding rash. He almost didn’t complete the transformation, reversing the progress slightly before following through and landing on padded feet. At least this way, his paws were forced to concentrate on walking rather than his hands scratching his flesh raw. Still, he couldn’t help twitching the skin of his shoulder from time to time or twisting to rub his head against it.
Mujur picked up speed, and the flat-headed cat landed beside him. He ignored it. Too involved with staying the path and unsuccessfully keeping his mind off his shoulder, he didn’t have the energy to worry about eating the little pest. But if the bold little cat wanted to keep itself fresh for later, Mujur certainly wasn’t going to scare the thing away. If nothing else, it made an interesting companion with its steady purrs and occasional meows.
June 29, 2012
Novel Review: The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry
As you’ll see below, the blurb has promise. It offers a little bit of all the genres I love.
And I have to say, the cover is interesting. I definitely wanted to delve into the meat of things. So… before the review, the blurb!
This dark and thrilling adventure, with an unforgettable heroine, will captivate fans of steampunk, fantasy, and romance. On her 18th birthday, Lena Mattacascar decides to search for her father, who disappeared into the northern wilderness of Scree when Lena was young. Scree is inhabited by Peculiars, people whose unusual characteristics make them unacceptable to modern society. Lena wonders if her father is the source of her own extraordinary characteristics and if she, too, is Peculiar. On the train she meets a young librarian, Jimson Quiggley, who is traveling to a town on the edge of Scree to work in the home and library of the inventor Mr. Beasley. The train is stopped by men being chased by the handsome young marshal Thomas Saltre. When Saltre learns who Lena’s father is, he convinces her to spy on Mr. Beasley and the strange folk who disappear into his home, Zephyr House. A daring escape in an aerocopter leads Lena into the wilds of Scree to confront her deepest fears.
This book was provided by the publisher from NetGalley
Available at The Book Depository || Barnes & Nobles
This book surprised me a bit. I’d expect a lot more, but by the end of the book, not much had been resolved.
I wasn’t at all fond of the heroine. She thought she was quite clever, but sadly she wasn’t very bright. She was a horrible judge of character, made extremely poor decisions, and pretty much made life difficult for those around her with her actions. I honestly can’t think of one thing the main character did which enhanced the book.
For the most part, she acted more like a secondary character than the star of the show. As such, it made it difficult to want to follow her journey.
The ending had a cliffhanger feel to it. As I mentioned, little had been resolved. However, there’s no indication this is book one of a series.
Normally, I don’t stick with a book this long (34 days, Goodreads says). However, the book was like following breadcrumbs. I kept expecting more… hoping an event would redeem the entire book. Alas, this book remain just shy of interesting–enough appeal to get me to read a few paragraphs at a time but not enough to keep me engaged for very long.
I started this book expecting to truly enjoy it. I’m just so shocked I found so little to like about it. Overall, this book left me unsatisfied.
June 28, 2012
Pack of Lies Blog Tour
My introductory into the paranormal romance genre began with Sherilyn Kenyon. I had no idea there was a genre out there which mixed two genres (romance & paranormal) I’d spent so much time reading while I was younger. And to think… a whole world full of characters to explore. Well today we have Staci Weber and Sara Dailey with us to share how they’re applying a similar concept with a YA theme.
The last thing Allison Wright ever expected when she moved to Red Ridge, New Mexico was to come muzzle to muzzle with the wolf of her dreams.
Seventeen-year-old Allison Wright is convinced she’s losing her mind. Uncontrollable mood swings, hot flashes, and the urge to punch anyone who gets in her way are suddenly becoming everyday occurrences. Before her erratic behavior gets out of hand, Allison’s mother finally comes clean about her dark secret. Mom is a werewolf, and soon Allison and her brother Aiden will suffer the same fate. When Allison reaches her breaking point, the family leaves their life in Texas to move to Red Ridge, New Mexico where they rejoin the pack that Allison’s mother left behind almost 20 years ago.
Unfortunately, not everyone in Red Ridge is thrilled about Allison’s arrival, especially when she attracts the attention of the very handsome, very taken, soon-to-be alpha, Cade Walker. Little does Allison know, her mere presence is causing a rift in a once unified pack. Not only has Cade been forbidden from being with Allison by his father, the pack’s alpha, Cade’s girlfriend, Kendall Stuart, will stop at nothing to get Allison out of the picture. Well on her way to becoming the next alpha’s mate, Kendall expects to rule the pack by Cade’s side even if it means teaming up with a rogue werewolf with an agenda of his own. Determined to get rid of Allison permanently, when Kendall and the rogue join forces, all hell breaks loose and no one in the pack is safe, especially not Cade and his true mate.
Available at Smashwords || Barnes & Nobles || Amazon
We would like to thank you for having us on the blog today.
We thought that we would share how the idea of our Red Ridge Pack series came to be. Over the years, we both were devouring young adult series books like crazy, but by the third or fourth book in the series, they all seemed to fall a little flat. We decided that we just got tired of reading about the same characters over and over. After writing our first novel, Sinful, we couldn’t even imagine writing another whole book about Michael and Elizabeth. We just wanted them have their happy ever after and move on to the next book idea. Why write about the same characters making the same mistakes over and over again? It became frustrating for us as readers, so we knew that we didn’t want to write a series like that.
We decided at that point that if we were going to write a series, we wanted each book to tell someone else’s story. We didn’t want our readers getting tired of our characters, and we didn’t want to get tired of them either. So, when the idea to write a werewolf series popped in our heads, we knew immediately that it would have to be centered around a Pack, and not just one couple in the Pack. We started out with a cookie-cutter family, mom, dad, two teenagers, but little did Allison and Aiden know, mom had one hell of a secret. And Pack of Lies was born. From there we knew we could build an entire series. What better way to be able to write about several different characters than have them be part of a Pack. Being that werewolf Packs are a tight-knit group and full of drama, we knew that the storylines could be endless. Our goal was to create a series much like many of the adult romance series that we have read, like Sherrilyn Kenyon and Christine Warren. While each of their books was about someone new, each novel in the series were connected in some way.
When we started Pack of Lies we didn’t have any idea who the next book in the series would be about, but the further we got into the story, it became clear. Aiden stood out to us from the start. We thought he was funny (we hope our readers do too), and since we decided that his werewolf abilities would progress much more slowly that his sister, Allison’s, we knew that book two had to be about him. We are currently hard at work on Aiden’s story and can’t wait for its release.
About the Authors
Both Sara Dailey and Staci Weber are avid readers, English teachers, friends, wives, and soccer moms. They have been teaching together for the past eight years, and writing together for four. Pack of Lies is the second young adult novel for this duo.
Follow the Tour!
6/18 The Book Hoard /Guest Blog 6/19 The Release Day ALL REVIEW Blitz Reader Girls
For The Love of Film And Novels
Wonderland Reviews
June 27, 2012
Dreaming Montana Blog Tour
I have to say, interviewing Kim Nathan made me a bit home sick. Washington… will you waiting for me? A couple more years until my high school reunion. Let’s hope I can make it there. Until then, I’ll have to live vicariously books which take me back. Speaking of which… Welcome to the next stop of the Dreaming Montana tour!
In a single day, Cara Gallagher experiences an erotic dream about a man she doesn’t know and has a premonition of her identical twin—at the exact moment her sister dies in a car accident. To escape her grief and a loveless marriage, Cara accepts a temporary job reassignment in Seattle, where she continues to have sensuous dreams of the unknown man. There she encounters an angel who claims to be sent by her dead sister to help her find the man in her dreams. Meanwhile, photographer Jay Amiens sees angel wings on his film and has recurring intimate dreams about a woman he doesn’t know—but would love to meet in person. Set in 1993, Dreaming Montana invokes the spirit of Seattle at the height of the grunge era, with the city as the backdrop for Cara and Jay to potentially cross paths.
Reena Jacobs: Welcome, welcome, Ms. Nathan. Tell us about your debut novel.
Kim Nathan: Sterling Redmond is the story that made me want to be a writer. Those characters have been running around in my head since I was twelve. The historical novel takes place in Maryland, just north of Baltimore where I grew up.The main setting, the Redmond’s country home of Northampton, is based on an actual place, Hampton National Historic Site. I spent many years wandering the property and touring the mansion, essentially walking through the setting of my novel. I know the place and the geography around it. That story is in my bones.
RJ: In my youth, I was never a fan of history. Not until college, when I took a women’s history class, did I really begin to appreciate the past. I can understand your fascination. Funny how time changes people. 1993, Seattle, grunge. You’re talking about my teen years! Pearl Jam, Nirvana. Oh… that brings me back. What about that era inspired you while writing Dreaming Montana?
KN: I think I may be slightly older than you (wink). I actually wrote the first draft of Dreaming Montana in 1993, after I visited Seattle and fell in love with it. I moved there six months later, and I still love that music and living in the city. It was fun to listen to all those songs again while I was working on the final draft of the book this year. The music still moves me.
RJ: Now you’ve got me on Pandora cruising music. How does your faith affect your writing?
KN: This definition of faith by Brene Brown resonates with me: “Faith is a place of mystery, where we find the courage to believe in what we cannot see and the strength to let go of our fear of uncertainty.” That’s what writing is for me – trusting that when I confront the blank page, the creative force and I will connect and something meaningful will happen.
RJ: That’s a beautiful quote. Give us a brief description of a story you have hidden in your skeleton closet? And will it ever see the light of day?
KN: I have boxes of old stories, most of which will see the shredder before they see the light of day. There is an old novella with a reincarnation theme that I might revive at some point. It has good bones fundamentally and I could build on it. But all the skeletons make their way into your writing, one way or the other, if you know what I mean.
RJ: I do. Like a scrap box of ideas to draw from. Random question: While you’re reading, what are your cats doing?
KN: Mostly sleeping nearby. Sometimes sneaking drinks out of my water glass. They tend to be demanding at inopportune moments.
RJ: Share with us your favorite video of Nia dancing.
KN: Honestly, I have yet to find one that conveys what an actual class is like, but here’s one with Debbie Rosas, the co-creator of Nia.
RJ: That looks so fun and freeing. Uh hum… and sexy. Do you have any advice for other writers?
KN: Believe in yourself and do the work. Make sure you get out of the house once and awhile. Mingle with people and listen to their stories. That’s where the good stuff is.
RJ: Anything special you’d like to say to readers?
KN: Thank you for going on the journey with me. I couldn’t do it without you.
RJ: What are you working on now?
KN: Enjoying summer in Seattle and catching up on gardening and house stuff. But I’m already being haunted by scenes and characters so the next stage is to start jotting down notes in a spiral notebook. At this point, I could do either a sequel to Sterling Redmond or follow up Dreaming Montana with another contemporary piece set in the Pacific Northwest. I could go either way.
About the Author
Kim Nathan is an American author of historical and contemporary romance fiction. Her first novel was Sterling Redmond, a historical romance. Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, she relocated to Seattle, Washington in 1994, where she lives with her husband and cats.
Follow the Tour!
6/18 Cuzinlogic /Spot light and Give Away
6/19 Romancing the darkside /Spot Light and Give Away
6/20 Eternally Books /interview
6/21Redheads Review It Better / Spot Light and Give Away
6/22 T B R /Spot light and Give Away
6/28 Ramblings of an Amateur Writer /Interview
7/3 Close Encounters with the Night Kind /Review, Give Away
7/5 Understanding Shae’s Story /Spot light and Give Away
7/5 The Book Hoard /Spot Light
7/6 Books, Books, and More Books /Review and Give Away
7/9 Words I Write Crazy /Review
7/9 A Case of Reading Insomnia /Review and Give Away
7/10 The Story of A Girl… /Review and Give Away
7/11 This Author’s Life /interview
7/13 Bunnys Review /Interview
7/18 My Cozie Corner /Review and Give
