L.S. Murphy's Blog, page 21

Waiting On Wednesday:The Collector

Welcome to my FIRST Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Breaking the Spine.

I cannot wait until March for The Collector by Victoria Scott. Seriously, how awesome does this sound?

From Goodreads:

He makes good girls…bad. 

Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence has made him one of hell’s best—a soul collector. His job is simple, weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.

Sealing souls is nothing personal. Dante’s an equal opportunity collector and doesn’t want it any other way. But he’ll have to adjust, because Boss Man has given him a new assignment:

Collect Charlie Cooper’s soul within 10 days.

Dante doesn’t know why Boss Man wants Charlie, nor does he care. This assignment means only one thing to him, and that’s a permanent ticket out of hell. But after Dante meets the quirky, Nerd Alert chick he’s come to collect—he realizes this assignment will test his abilities as a collector, and uncover emotions deeply buried.

Tagged: 2012, Books, Fiction, Fun, Just for Fun, Musings, Novels, Opinion, Opinions, ramblings, Random, Random Thoughts, Reading, Teens, Waiting on Wednesday, Writers, Writing, YA, YA books, Young Adult, Young Adult Books

Book Review: The Carny by Brooke Moss

Synopsis: At a town fair on the coast of Oregon, handsome Native American carny, Vincent Youngblood, bestows an unforgettable kiss on shy, awkward teenager, Charlotte Davenport. Then he disappears without another word, leaving her baffled and enamored.

Ten years later, Charlotte is still living in the small fishing town of Astoria, while being trained to–reluctantly–take over for her philandering hotelier father when he retires. After all, who else will do it? Her two perfect sisters are busy being married to their flawless husbands and having cookie cutter children, while Charlotte remains single, childless, and every bit as mousy as she was a decade ago.

As Charlotte struggles to climb out from underneath her judgmental parents thumb, the carnival rolls back into town, and Charlotte finds herself face to face with Vin again. He’s back to run his father’s carnival, walking away from a promising career in medicine he started in Chicago. Will her biased and judgmental family accept her relationship with a man who is not only a Native American, but works as a carny for a living? And what unsavory secrets bind the well-educated and seemingly superlative Vin to that ramshackle carnival?

After all, you can’t judge a carny by its cover.

The First Line: “The first time I saw him, I was a senior in high school.” Oh, a long standing crush. I’m interested.

The Good: Charlotte goes through an amazing change throughout this entire novel. The character development is well written and I found myself cheering her on. And Vin… Yum. J

I love the setting. It enhances the story and I felt like I was there while I read. Love it when that happens.

The Bad: Charlotte sometimes seems too naïve for someone her age.

Recommendation: This is a great beach read for lovers of romance.

Tagged: 2012, book Review, Books, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Fun, Musings, Novels, Opinion, Opinions, ramblings, Random, Random Thoughts, Romance, Romance Novels, Writers, Writing

5 Questions with Tammara Webber

About Tammara Webber: I write romantic Mature Young Adult / New Adult fiction.

EASY is my new contemporary stand-alone novel. BETWEEN THE LINES is my contemporary series.  Easy, Between the Lines (BTL #1), Where You Are (BTL #2), and Good For You (BTL #3) and are available from  Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iBookstore, and the Book Depository (Easy only).

Reading was one of my first and earliest loves, and writing soon followed. My first book was about a lost bear, but my lack of ability as an illustrator convinced me to abandon that effort and concentrate on passing 3rd grade. I wrote sad romantic poetry in high school and penned my first half-novel when I was 19, for which I did lots of research on Vikings (the marauders, not the football team), and which was accidentally destroyed when I stuffed it into the shredder at work.

Addictions: coffee and Cherry Garcia frozen yogurt. Also baby carrots, but not with coffee or frozen yogurt, because that would be disgusting. I love shopping for earrings, because they always fit – even if I occasionally “forget” to work out. I’m a hopeful romantic who adores novels with happy endings, because there are enough sad endings in real life.

 Blog     Facebook     Goodreads

Now on to the FIVE QUESTIONS

1. What was the spark of inspiration for Easy?

Spark #1: In my former (recent) life, I was an academic advisor. I can’t tell you how often I heard the, “I followed my boyfriend to college” story. It seldom ended well. Sometimes it did… but usually not. Spark #2: Acquaintance rape is a very big unreported problem, especially on college campuses. There’s only one reason for this crime to go unreported, and that’s because the victim blames herself, and/or feels her friends or the authorities would. I want that to stop, and personal awareness is the first step.

2. How many emails have you gotten from fans who wish Lucas was real?

MANY.

 

3. What advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Keep writing. Take your writing seriously. Get a critique partner or two when you’re ready to produce a manuscript you hope to publish. Whether you intend to query agents or self-publish, put out your best work every time.

 

4. If you could go back in time, where would you go?

I don’t think I’d want to go back in time. If I could pop back into my own life and change something I did, or give myself a good shake, I might be tempted to do that, though my mistakes are part of who I am and what brought me to this point in my life. That said, there’s one thing I’d definitely change: I had a horrible fight with my brother that resulted in us not speaking to each other for almost a year. I can’t even remember what it was really about. I would definitely go back and change that, even if I went back and realized he was wrong. He died five years ago, and whatever that argument was about, it wasn’t worth losing those months.

 

5. Finally, Beatles or Rolling Stones?

I’m more of a John Mayer sort of girl, though (oddly enough) in my last several blog posts, I had one titled Start Me Up and another titled Paperback Writer. I suppose I like and admire them both equally for the classic rock they produced… even if my “classic rock” is more likely to include AC/DC or the Toadies.

Tagged: 2012, Authors, Books, Fiction, Fun, Interviews, Just for Fun, New Adult, Novels, Opinion, Opinions, ramblings, Random, Random Thoughts, Reading, Romance, Teens, Writers, Writing, YA, YA Authors, YA books, YA Contemporary, ya romance, Young Adult, Young Adult Books

5 Questions with Anne Marie

Bio: I attended the University of Colorado for a BA in English Literature, where I fell in love with folklore and myths from around the world. I adore languages, great white sharks, and the impossible. My work usually includes one of those three things. I currently live in Aurora, Colorado with Brody my beagle. I post a themed story once a week at Cimmerian Tales (http://cimmeriantales.wordpress.com). You can follow me on Twitter @annemariewrites

Now on to the FIVE QUESTIONS

1. What was the spark of inspiration for “La Dame à La Licorne”?

In 2004, my friend and I went to Paris, France. While there we visited the Musée de Cluny where I saw the famous “The Lady and the Unicorn” tapestries. Being close enough to touch them put that “What if” question in my mind immediately. However, it wasn’t until 2010 that I actually wrote the first draft of this story.

2. Which character most resembles you in your story?

Definitely not Katherine. She’s much braver than I’ll ever be. Dr. Aiguille resembles me in that he does things for scientific purpose. I ask people a lot of questions because I’m always running social experiments in my head. Did you know that most anesthesiologists are left-handed?

3. What advice do you have for aspiring authors?

The best answer I was give was: read a lot and write a lot. I definitely agree with both, but I also think you should write what you’re passionate about. If you love writing it, then your reader’s going to love reading it too. At least, that’s my goal.

4. What are you working on now?

I’m working on several projects that are in various stages of completion. One of my novels has cannibal dwarves, one stars shape-shifters, and another is contemporary. They’re all young adult, and they include things I’m passionate about.

5. Finally, Beatles or Rolling Stones?

Beatles! To be fair, I only know about the Stones from Jimmy Fallon’s impersonation of Mick Jagger, and Maroon Five’s hit song “Moves Like Jagger”.

About “La Dame à La Licorne”

Always obey your father. That’s what Katherine’s done her entire life. She studies dead languages and practices knife-throwing. Now Pappa’s listening to a virtual stranger, and she’s convinced the stranger cares more about killing monsters than her own safety. Pappa won’t even tell her what they’re going after. He says it’s because if she knows too much, then she’s tainted by that knowledge and it will spoil the hunt.

Can she trust Pappa’s judgment or leave her future in the hands of the stranger? With only her wits to protect her, she joins them in the most terrifying night of the year.

Tagged: 2012, Authors, Books, Fiction, Interviews, Just for Fun, Musings, Opinion, Opinions, ramblings, Random, Random Thoughts, Reading, Writers, Writing

Book Review: Pure by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Synopsis: There is need. And then there is Fate…

Being destined to become some kind of supernatural electrical outlet isn’t exactly awesome–especially when Alexandria’s “other half” is everywhere she goes. Seth’s in her training room, outside her classes, and keeps showing up in her bedroom–so not cool. Their connection does have some benefits, like staving off her nightmares of the tragic showdown with her mother, but it has no effect on what Alex feels for the forbidden, pure-blooded Aiden. Or what he will do–and sacrifice–for her.

When daimons infiltrate the Covenants and attack students, the gods send furies–lesser gods determined to eradicate any threat to the Covenants and to the gods, and that includes the Apollyon… and Alex. And if that and hordes of aether-sucking monsters didn’t blow bad enough, a mysterious threat seems willing to do anything to neutralize Seth, even if that means forcing Alex into servitude… or killing her.

When the gods are involved, some decisions can never, ever be undone.

The First Line: “I stared at the ceiling of the gymnasium, little black splotches dancing in front of me.” Okay, why’s Alex on the floor? I’m hooked again.

The Good: Again, Alex is the reason I read this. Well, that and a friend told me to keep reading because she heard it steers away from the plot of Vampire Academy. I love strong female characters and think there should be more of them in the world. HOWEVER…

The Bad: This is still too much like Vampire Academy. I hope the third book, Deity, gets away from VA. (I do like Seth though.)

Recommendation: Like I said after Half-Blood, if you haven’t read the entire Vampire Academy series, then you will probably enjoy Half-Blood. If you have, then be forewarned that this is a lot like VA.

Tagged: 2012, book Review, Books, Fiction, Fun, Musings, Novels, Opinion, Opinions, Paranormal Romance, ramblings, Random, Random Thoughts, Reading, Romance, Teens, Writers, Writing, YA, YA books, YA Paranormal Romance, Young Adult, Young Adult Books

5 Questions with Diane Alberts

Diane Alberts current contracted works with Entangled Publishing are:  ON ONE CONDITION (February 2012, Ever After line), DIVINELY RUINED (Divine Temptations Trilogy #1, April 2012, Ever After line), and TRY ME (Take a Chance #1, May 2012, Ever After line). Her current works with Decadent Publishing are: KILL ME TOMORROW (October 2011, 1NightStand series),  RECLAIMED (December 2011), ABSOLUTION (March 2012, Honor Guard series), BROKEN (March 2012, 1NightStand series), and ESCAPE TO ME (TBA, 1NightStand series).

Diane Alberts has always been a dreamer with a vivid imagination, but it wasn’t until 2011 that she put her pen where her brain was, and became a published author.  Since receiving her first contract offer, she has yet to stop writing. Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, and a Senegal parrot. In the rare moments when she’s not writing, she can usually be found hunched over one knitting project or another.

She is a multi-published, bestselling author with Entangled Publishing and Decadent Publishing. She is repped by her fabulous agent, Lauren Hammond of ADA Management. She has, as of this date, two books with Entangled Publishing, and five books with Decadent Publishing. Her February release with Entangled Publishing, ON ONE CONDITION, hit #18 on the Barnes and Noble Bestseller List. She has a lot of projects currently being shopped around by her fabulous agent, and her goal is to write so many fantastic books that even a non-romance book fan will know her name.

Website     Twitter     Facebook     Goodreads

Now on to the FIVE QUESTIONS

Thanks for having me here today to answer some questions about myself and my latest release, Try Me, from Entangled Publishing!

1. What was the spark of inspiration for Try Me?

The first thing that came to me was Jeremy, walking down the deserted road in the desert. He was feeling really bad about his life, his choices, his…well, his everything. As soon as I envisioned him, the story flew off my fingers. Jeremy wanted his story told—and Erica was very loud, too.

2. What is the hardest aspect of writing romance in your opinion?

I think the hardest part is making the characters unique, and yet realistic. You want your readers to be drawn into your characters lives. To really root for them, and actually care about whether or not they get their happily ever after. And you only have a short time to do that when it’s a novella like Try Me. If you don’t grab them in the first few pages, you won’t grab them at all.

3. What advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Keep on writing, no matter how frustrated you get. Also, take a few self-editing classes. Angela James’ Before You Hit Send helped me tremendously. Classes like that are invaluable. And do not, I repeat, DO NOT send your first copy of your first finished manuscript to agents and publishers as soon as you finish. You need to edit, edit, edit.

Also, get a critique partner.

4.  If you could travel to any era, where would you go?

King Henry’s court, at the time of Anne Boleyn. I’d love to see him falling in love with the future queen, only to ultimately despise her and end her life. Kind of morbid, I guess, but still. I’d like to be in that court.

5. Finally, Beatles or Rolling Stones?

Hmm…I don’t really have a preference either way! I guess I’ll say Rolling Stones!

About Try Me

What happens in Vegas…can lead to romance.

It took one wild night for Sergeant Jeremy Addison to realize that Vegas? Was a bad idea.

Bloody. Bruised. Dehydrated. Abandoned in the desert, and left to stagger down the road. The only way this leave could get worse was if his savior was his ex-best friend’s sister…and the girl he’d loved since childhood.

The last person Erica expected to find on the roadside was her high school crush. She hadn’t seen Jeremy in seven years—ever since the night he said he loved her, and she ran away. Losing him then had been a mistake, but wanting him now could be catastrophic if he discovered the secret that chased every other man from her life. But with a tall, tattooed Marine determined to prove he’s always been faithful, can Erica resist his advances…or will she surrender ground and give love a try?

Read the FIRST CHAPTER HERE

Pick up Try Me here: Amazon     Barnes & Noble     Books on Board

Tagged: 2012, Authors, Books, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Fun, Interviews, Just for Fun, Musings, Novels, Opinion, Opinions, ramblings, Random, Random Thoughts, Reading, Romance, Writers, Writing

Book Review: Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Synopsis: The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi-pure-bloods-have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals-well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures. Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden. Unfortunately, she’s crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn’t her biggest problem–staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

The First Line: “My eyes snapped open as the freakish sixth sense kicked my fight or flight response into overdrive.” I’m hooked.

The Good: I loveArmentrout’s writing. Alex is a kick ass girl and fun to read, however …

The Bad: she’s too much like Rose Hathaway. I am a HUGE fan of the Vampire Academy books, and there is just too much in Half-Blood that follows the same plot of Vampire Academy. It was hard not to compare the books as I read. Even the character similarities were hard to ignore. The minute I was introduced to Caleb, I knew he would meet the same fate as Mason. The first time I met Aiden, all I could think of was Dimitri. It made Half-Blood hard to read.

Recommendation: This is hard for me. If you haven’t read the entire Vampire Academy series, then you will probably enjoy Half-Blood. If you have, then be forewarned that this is a lot like VA. I didn’t know that going in. If I did, it might not have bothered me as much as it did.

Tagged: 2012, book Review, Books, Fiction, Fun, Musings, Novels, Opinion, Opinions, ramblings, Random, Random Thoughts, Reading, Romance, Teens, Writers, Writing, YA, YA books, YA Paranormal Romance, Young Adult, Young Adult Books

5 Questions with J.C. Martin

J.C. Martin is a butt-kicking bookworm: when she isn’t reading or writing, she teaches martial arts and self-defence to adults and children. She balances her time between putting her 2nd degree black belt in Wing Chun to good use, with writing dark mysteries and gripping thrillers with a psychological slant. Oracle is her first novel.

Born and raised in Malaysia, J.C. now lives in south London with her husband and three dogs.

Now on to the FIVE QUESTIONS

1. Congrats on the publication of Oracle. What was the spark of inspiration for Kurt Lancer?

Thanks, LS! My inspiration for Kurt Lancer is the people of London! The city is such a melting pot of cultures, I wanted a protagonist who reflected the multi-ethnicity of London, which is why Kurt is mixed-race: part White British and part Nigerian.

2. Kurt knows Wing Chun kung fu. Could you explain what this is and how you chose it for your main character?

Wing Chun is an ancient Chinese martial art originating from the Shaolin Temple hundreds of years ago. It is also what Bruce Lee first learned as a child, and the basis of the martial art he eventually created, Jeet Kune Do. I wanted Kurt to be able to defend himself in the many perilous situations I put him in, yet don’t want him to achieve this through his pure size and brute strength. Just to add a touch of paradoxical complexity to his character, I got him to learn Wing Chun, a ‘soft’ martial art, purported to be invented by a woman! Why Kurt practises Wing Chun is also a matter of writing what I know: I’m a Wing Chun instructor who has been practising the art for over 8 years.

3. What’s next on the horizon?

I sure hope people will take to Kurt and company, as they’ll be making a return in a second book …

4. What advice do you have for aspiring authors?

If you have a story to tell, then write it. There will always be naysayers, but the most important person you must convince must be yourself.

5. Finally, Beatles or Rolling Stones?

Urk, they’re both before my time! I’m more a Frank Sinatra girl, but if I really have to choose, I’d say Beatles, only because I’m more familiar with their songs (even though I may not be a fan of some of them!).

http://jc-martin.com/fighterwriter/

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13161249-oracle

https://twitter.com/#!/JCMartin_author

Purchase Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble

Tagged: 2012, Authors, Books, crime thrillers, Fiction, Fun, Interviews, Just for Fun, Musings, Novels, Opinion, Opinions, ramblings, Random, Random Thoughts, Reading, Suspense, Thrillers, Writers, Writing

Winners of the FANTABULOUS Reaper bookmark GIVEAWAY

First, thanks to everyone who participated in the Fantabulous Reaper Bookmark & Postcard Giveaway (Plus a MYSTERY PRIZE). I loved reading about what you guys would do if you found out you were going to be a grim reaper.

So on to the WINNERS:

The winner of the signed bookmark and postcard is ………..

WHAZOW

And the GRAND PRIZE WINNER  of the bookmark, postcard, and MYSTERY PRIZE IS……

DENICE MAE

CONGRATS YOU GUYS!

Now, what is the mystery prize?

A COPY OF THIS:

And I’ll sign it. My story “Firestorm” appears in this fabulous collection of weird and wonderful stories.

About UnCONventional:

It’s about to get weird… okay, weirder in here.

Alien ascensions in hotel ballrooms.

Mermaids on cruise ships.

Werewolves in dog shows.

Steampunk fairy time travelers.

A teenage superhero hitching a ride with a supervillain.

Comic books that absorb their readers.

Magical filk… and much more.

With stories by: LJ Berger, Vikki Ciaffone, Daniel Cohen, Gordon Dupuis, Anthony G. Francis, Jr., Justine Graykin, Randy O. Green, Melina Gunnett, Kate Kaynak, Danielle M. LeFevre, Kimberley Long-Ewing, Lauren Marrero, Will Morton, LS Murphy, Ira Nayman, KT Pinto, Jennifer Allis Provost, Patricia Puckett, Keshia Swaim, Sherry Thompson, Pamela van Hylckama Vlieg, and Trisha Wooldridge.

Thanks again for everyone who stopped by!

Tagged: 2012, Authors, Books, Fiction, Fun, Giveaways, Just for Fun, Memories, Musings, Novels, Paranormal Romance, Random, Random Thoughts, Reading, Romance, Teens, Winner, Writers, Writing, YA, YA books, YA Paranormal Romance, Young Adult, Young Adult Books

Book Review: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Synopsis: I wasn’t free of my past, not yet.

Sydney’s blood is special. That’s because she’s an alchemist – one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the world of humans and vampire. They protect vampire secrets – and human lives. But the last encounter Sydney had with vampires got her in deep trouble with the other alchemists. And now with her allegiances in question, her future is on the line.

When Sydney torn from her bed in the middle of the night, at first she thinks she’s still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway. But what unfolds is far worse. Jill Dragomir – the sister of Moroi Queen Lissa Dragomir – is in mortal danger, and the Moroi must send her into hiding. To avoid a civil war, Sydney is called upon to act as Jill’s guardian and protector, posing as her roommate in the unlikeliest of places: a human boarding school in Palm Springs, California. The last thing Sydney wants is to be accused of sympathizing with vampires. And now she has to live with one.

The Moroi court believe Jill and Sydney will be safe at Amberwood Prep, but threats, distractions, and forbidden romance lurk both outside – and within – the school grounds. Now that they’re hiding, the drama is only just beginning.

The First Line: “I couldn’t breathe. There was a hand covering my mouth and another shaking my shoulder, startling me out of a heavy sleep.” Hmmm. Since I know that this is told from Sydney Sage’s POV, I’m curious as to what’s going on anyway.

The Good: As a huge fan of the Vampire Academy series, I couldn’t wait to read this, but I put it off. Why? Because I don’t want to wait for the next book. I’m impatient like that. But I did it anyway. At least I don’t have to wait for The Golden Lily.

Picking up Bloodlines was like saying hello to a friend I hadn’t seen in a while.

When we last left Sydney Sage, she was in trouble with the Alchemists because she helped Rose Hathaway. Now she’s back home in Salt Lake City and ready to redeem herself. I love that Mead turned the POV to Sydney for this series. Since she’s human, it’s a new perspective on the world of the Moroi and Dhampirs. Sydney is a strong character who appeared somewhat weak in the VA series. Mainly because she’s human. In Bloodlines, Sydney grows and battles the prejudices she was raised with.

I also enjoyed getting a new look at Adrian. Rose always had a bit of contempt for him even while they were dating. Sydney’s view isn’t altogether different at first, but as he grows, her opinion changes.

The Bad: The plot was predictable. It wasn’t hard to see where this story was going, but I still enjoyed it a lot.

Recommendation: Great characters, good story, and fun read overall.

Tagged: 2012, book Review, Books, Fiction, Fun, Just for Fun, Novels, Opinion, Opinions, Paranormal Romance, ramblings, Random, Random Thoughts, Reading, Romance, Teens, Vampires, Writers, Writing, YA books, YA Paranormal Romance, Young Adult, Young Adult Books