Lucy Swing's Blog, page 12
December 14, 2011
"Carrier of the Mark" by Leigh Fallon
I had been eyeing this book for quite some time. I know I say it all the time, but it is so true! The cover just grabbed my attention, the swirling blues made something inside of me flutter. Too pretty!
I began reading "Carrier of the Mark" one chapter at a time. I had really enjoyed the first one and wanted to attempt to delay the inevitable. I read chapter one and put it down. I read chapter two and reluctanly put it down. I read chapter three and didn't stop until chapter eleven. Then it was all downhill from there.. I took the kids to the park, and even with the strong gusts of wind that kept wipping my pages around I finished it off.
I was devastated.
I had tried so hard! But it was too much.. I had to know what happened next, and next, and next.
Anyway, here is the wonderful cover I was speaking off and the blurb to get you started:
"Their love was meant to be.
When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall
into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling
at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is
instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRÍs.
But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate
that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them
together could be their ultimate destruction."
Ok, chapter 1-3 had some similarities with Twilight. Some being, Megan being told not to waste her time with the darkly handsome Adam and/or his family; Megan waiting outside the school to confront Adam; What she comes to find out about him and his true self. But then again, many books that I read at some point have something similar to another.
The story follows Megan, a teenager that lives with her father, Caleb, and has gotten used to him switching jobs every time the anniversary of his wife's death comes around. She would never get the chance to create roots in one place as she knew it would not last long, but when they move to Kinsale, Ireland. She immediately connects with a girl, Caitlin, and soon after with her whole gang.
If you finally found the one that makes everything make sense, could you give it up?
That is what Megan is presented with. Her relationship with the handsome Adam begins rather abruptly but I have grown used to it by now in YA.
I have recently read quite some bit on mythology YA's ("The Willows: Haven", "Knight Trilogy") and really enjoyed the theme of "Carrier of the Mark." It was very interesting to read about the elements. I also loved that we got to experience a different setting. I have been, for a long time, wanting to go to Ireland, and in some ways I feel like I know it a little bit better now.
I was stunned beyond comprehension when I found out this was her DEBUT novel. Her writing was impecable, easy to follow and easy to get along with. Some books the writing doesn't appeal as much, but if I hadn't read otherwise, I would have thought she had been doing this for a lifetime.
I cannot express how much I am waiting for the second book in the Trilogy, but Leigh told me today it won't be until late 2012, early 2013... Can she really make us wait that long? I guess so!
So, if you haven;t read it yet, go to your local bookstore (or purchase online) and get it. I am sure you will enjoy it as much as I did.
XOXO
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
I started out life in South Africa. A year later my parents moved home to Dublin, Ireland. When I was older and realized my parents had moved me from exotic Durban, to sedate Rathfarnham, Dublin 16, I was rightly ticked off. I fantasized about the amazing life I could have had in South Africa, and that fantastic accent that could have been all mine.
Instead, I got myself a fine Irish brogue growing up in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains where I went to a convent school and had to contend with uniforms, gabardines, and nuns.
During college I met a dashing sailor who swept me off my feet, all the way to Cork in the south of Ireland. I worked in corporate treasury and traveled Europe doing all sorts of fun finance stuff.
When I had my children I decided to take a career break, and soon discovered a love of writing. That career break became a career change when I wrote my debut novel, Carrier of the Mark .
I posted Carrier of the Mark on a HarperCollins website called inkpop. Within weeks it was voted into the top five books of thousands on the site, and was reviewed by a HarperTeen editor. Two months later that same editor offered me my first publishing contract.
My husband swept me off my feet again, this time in a westerly direction, we landed in Massachusetts, USA, where we now live with our four children and one double pawed cat.
I began reading "Carrier of the Mark" one chapter at a time. I had really enjoyed the first one and wanted to attempt to delay the inevitable. I read chapter one and put it down. I read chapter two and reluctanly put it down. I read chapter three and didn't stop until chapter eleven. Then it was all downhill from there.. I took the kids to the park, and even with the strong gusts of wind that kept wipping my pages around I finished it off.
I was devastated.
I had tried so hard! But it was too much.. I had to know what happened next, and next, and next.
Anyway, here is the wonderful cover I was speaking off and the blurb to get you started:
"Their love was meant to be.
When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall
into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling
at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is
instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRÍs.
But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate
that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them
together could be their ultimate destruction."
Ok, chapter 1-3 had some similarities with Twilight. Some being, Megan being told not to waste her time with the darkly handsome Adam and/or his family; Megan waiting outside the school to confront Adam; What she comes to find out about him and his true self. But then again, many books that I read at some point have something similar to another.
The story follows Megan, a teenager that lives with her father, Caleb, and has gotten used to him switching jobs every time the anniversary of his wife's death comes around. She would never get the chance to create roots in one place as she knew it would not last long, but when they move to Kinsale, Ireland. She immediately connects with a girl, Caitlin, and soon after with her whole gang.
If you finally found the one that makes everything make sense, could you give it up?
That is what Megan is presented with. Her relationship with the handsome Adam begins rather abruptly but I have grown used to it by now in YA.
I have recently read quite some bit on mythology YA's ("The Willows: Haven", "Knight Trilogy") and really enjoyed the theme of "Carrier of the Mark." It was very interesting to read about the elements. I also loved that we got to experience a different setting. I have been, for a long time, wanting to go to Ireland, and in some ways I feel like I know it a little bit better now.
I was stunned beyond comprehension when I found out this was her DEBUT novel. Her writing was impecable, easy to follow and easy to get along with. Some books the writing doesn't appeal as much, but if I hadn't read otherwise, I would have thought she had been doing this for a lifetime.
I cannot express how much I am waiting for the second book in the Trilogy, but Leigh told me today it won't be until late 2012, early 2013... Can she really make us wait that long? I guess so!
So, if you haven;t read it yet, go to your local bookstore (or purchase online) and get it. I am sure you will enjoy it as much as I did.
XOXO
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
I started out life in South Africa. A year later my parents moved home to Dublin, Ireland. When I was older and realized my parents had moved me from exotic Durban, to sedate Rathfarnham, Dublin 16, I was rightly ticked off. I fantasized about the amazing life I could have had in South Africa, and that fantastic accent that could have been all mine.
Instead, I got myself a fine Irish brogue growing up in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains where I went to a convent school and had to contend with uniforms, gabardines, and nuns.
During college I met a dashing sailor who swept me off my feet, all the way to Cork in the south of Ireland. I worked in corporate treasury and traveled Europe doing all sorts of fun finance stuff.
When I had my children I decided to take a career break, and soon discovered a love of writing. That career break became a career change when I wrote my debut novel, Carrier of the Mark .
I posted Carrier of the Mark on a HarperCollins website called inkpop. Within weeks it was voted into the top five books of thousands on the site, and was reviewed by a HarperTeen editor. Two months later that same editor offered me my first publishing contract.
My husband swept me off my feet again, this time in a westerly direction, we landed in Massachusetts, USA, where we now live with our four children and one double pawed cat.
December 12, 2011
Janet Evanovich Giveaway
Hi Guys,
Okay so Random House has sent me FOUR Audio books of JANET EVANOVICH'S "Explosive Eighteen" (priced on Amazon at $21.12) It's six hours of explosive fun!
To enter this giveaway simply fill out the form below.
Giveaway ends December 16th at midnight EST.
Good luck!
***********************************************************************************
UPDATED!!!!
I noticed a lot of people that visited but were not 'able' to enter the giveaway so I removed Rafflecopter and added the form below. Please Enter before midnight on the 16th!
XOXO
ps, So sorry for all the confusion!
Loading...
Okay so Random House has sent me FOUR Audio books of JANET EVANOVICH'S "Explosive Eighteen" (priced on Amazon at $21.12) It's six hours of explosive fun!
To enter this giveaway simply fill out the form below.
Giveaway ends December 16th at midnight EST.
Good luck!
***********************************************************************************
UPDATED!!!!
I noticed a lot of people that visited but were not 'able' to enter the giveaway so I removed Rafflecopter and added the form below. Please Enter before midnight on the 16th!
XOXO
ps, So sorry for all the confusion!
Loading...
Janet Evanovich Giveaway
Hi Guys,
Okay so Random House has sent me FOUR Audio books of JANET EVANOVICH'S "Explosive Eighteen" (priced on Amazon at $21.12) It's six hours of explosive fun!
To enter this giveaway simply fill out the form below.
Giveaway ends December 16th at midnight EST.
Good luck!
***********************************************************************************
UPDATED!!!!
I noticed a lot of people that visited but were not 'able' to enter the giveaway so I removed Rafflecopter and added the form below. Please Enter before midnight on the 16th!
XOXO
ps, So sorry for all the confusion!
Loading...
Okay so Random House has sent me FOUR Audio books of JANET EVANOVICH'S "Explosive Eighteen" (priced on Amazon at $21.12) It's six hours of explosive fun!
To enter this giveaway simply fill out the form below.
Giveaway ends December 16th at midnight EST.
Good luck!
***********************************************************************************
UPDATED!!!!
I noticed a lot of people that visited but were not 'able' to enter the giveaway so I removed Rafflecopter and added the form below. Please Enter before midnight on the 16th!
XOXO
ps, So sorry for all the confusion!
Loading...
December 11, 2011
Book Review - "Immortalis Carpe Noctem" by Katie Salidas
**Please note that this story contains some explicit material and it is better intended for audiences 18+**
"Becoming a Vampire is easy.
Living with the condition, that is the hard part."
"Walking back home through the badly-lit campus of UNLV, twenty-five year old Alyssa is brutally attacked by two savage men. By the time a handsome stranger intervenes, Alyssa has almost bled to death, and doesn't even struggle as her new protector sinks his sharp teeth into her neck.
Alyssa wakes to a harsh new reality, and to a raging thirst she's never felt before. Lysander, the sexy yet aloof man who turned her, must now teach her the way of the immortals - and with such a desirable teacher Alyssa starts to realize that her fate is not as dark as she first feared.
But, just as sparks begin to fly between the pair, Lysander is alerted that his enemies are on the move and determined to destroy them both.
Led by the cunning and ruthless, Santino Vitale, the fanatical Acta Santorum have vowed to hunt down and destroy every last immortal in God's name, and they have the vampires of Las Vegas in their sights.
Meanwhile, after seeing that Lysander has taken a new mate, the beautiful and pitiless Kallisto, is out for revenge. Alyssa soon finds out that hell hath no fury like a vampire scorned.
Together the pair must face two separate enemies determined to destroy them. It's time to, Carpe Noctem, or submit to final death."
I have read multiple Vampire books over the years and as a huge "Twilight" fan (no, I do not approve of the retarded shimmery vampire shit Meyers wrote about) I completely adore anything Vampiresque. There are a million reasons and ways for them to be created, as well as a million ways for them to live.
I had read, quite some time ago, an excerpt that Katie Salidas had posted on her blog and had loved it. Not only her writing is exquisite, but the mystery that surrounded the story itself.
I have to admit that, "Immortalis Carpe Noctem" is THE best Vampire story I have read thus far. I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the way she explained how Vampires came to be. She stuck to the myths and made it work so perfectly.
This story is packed with action, passion, romance and a lot of stubborness. Katie will have any reader on the edge of their seat. I actually found myself holding my breath multiple times as I read on waiting to see what would happen next
.
It is an extremely entertaining story that will keep you begging for more. You will not be able to put it down, let me assure you!
Here is a Sample Chapter:
" D arkness
surrounded me. A voice spoke softly in my head. Do not die, young one. Be
strong. Do not die.
I became painfully aware of liquid pouring down
on me, each drop like an icy hammer hitting my sore skin. Movement echoed in my
ears, telling me that I wasn't alone. Slowly, I opened my eyes. Harsh light
blinded me. My mind was fuzzy. I struggled to recall any small detail that might
clue me in to what had happened and where I was.
I reached up to wipe the splattering water from
my face. I chanced opening my eyes again. As I looked up, I spotted the source
of the water, a showerhead on the opposite wall. Confused by this odd location,
I struggled to penetrate the blackness of my memory and figure out how I had
ended up in a bathtub.
Where the hell am I?
I tried to focus on the bright, unfamiliar
surroundings.
My vision, it seemed, had become remarkably
sharp while I was unconscious. I couldn't remember ever noting so many details
in such simple surroundings as these before.
Cream-colored tiles covered the walls, each
rippled with tiny imperfections. Each held an individual pattern, making them
unique and special. Yellowing, porous grout, framing the tiles, appeared to be
littered with dots from small air bubbles that had come to the surface, creating
different patterns and shapes.
Even the plain white curtain that separated me
from the rest of the room seemed unusually detailed and perfectly woven. I saw
each tiny strand that had been tightly bound together to form this heavy,
durable cloth.
Small specks of mold building up in the corners
of the porcelain basin weren't able to escape my new sight either.
The amazing level of detail I
experienced didn't hold my attention for long. Freezing water still poured down
on me. I needed to reach the handle and end the cold assault, but it seemed so
far out of my reach. I eased myself up to a sitting position, my muscles aching
with each small movement. Looking down, I saw my beaten body. The water had
washed away some of the grime, but what was left of my shredded clothes was
stained and clinging to my skin.
"Uggh!" I moaned.
"Oh, good, you're alive," said a male voice
from behind the white curtain.
The voice seemed strange and yet somehow
familiar. I searched my fuzzy memories to place the voice with a face. A wave of
fear came over me as I remembered the attack.
Had I been kidnapped? Was I a hostage of
some kind? I struggled to recall the events of the evening.
"You've been out for a few hours. I was worried
I might have lost you," continued the voice.
"What?" I called, still not sure who I was
talking to.
"It doesn't always work. Some people can't be
turned," the voice said matter-of-factly.
"Turned?" What the hell is that supposed to
mean?
I again tried to run through my memories of
what had happened. I remembered blood, and the feeling of my body burning from
the inside.
"I'll explain it when you're done in there.
I've left some clothes on the toilet. I hope they fit." The voice trailed out of
the bathroom.
I tried to stand. My muscles ached. Gripping
the edge of the tub, I moaned as I pushed myself up. My legs didn't want to
cooperate; they shook as they tried to support my weight. It was as if I was
learning to stand for the first time.
I felt weak and a little dizzy. I leaned
against the wall, using it as a crutch to help me to balance while I removed
what remained of my shredded and blood-stained clothes. I shuddered, seeing more
of the wounds that covered my body.
I remembered the two men. Flashes of memory
showed me images of the struggle: the man on my stomach laughing, the knife
waving in front of my face, teeth biting me, a stranger drinking my blood.
Each bruise I saw invoked a
terrible memory. I turned the shower handle to hot and let the water run down my
back. The warmth soothed my sore skin. I rested my head against the wall and
tried to rationalize what had happened. I blamed myself for walking alone. I
knew better. I should have asked someone to walk with me or drive me. I cursed
myself for relying on a stupid keychain of pepper spray as my protection.
Some of the events that flashed in my memory
were so bizarre I could hardly believe they had happened. I saw myself lying on
the ground, drinking blood from a strange man's arm.
What was his name? Was I really drinking blood?
Why was I even alive? Did that man save me?
The thought of blood caused an ache in the pit
of my stomach.
I pinched myself a few times.
Maybe this was all just a really bad dream and
I just needed to wake up.
None of it made sense
Maybe someone had slipped something into my
coffee at the café. I hadn't really been drinking blood, had I?
My mind wouldn't stop focusing on the blood I
had drunk. A sweet, sticky taste crept up from the back of my throat. I gulped
at the water pouring down from the showerhead, trying to smother the flavor. My
stomach retched as I swallowed, causing me to sputter and spit the water to the
ground. I tried to ignore the nagging ache in the pit of my stomach. I needed
answers first. I needed to know why I was here and where here was. I
needed to know what the hell had happened to me.
I finished rinsing, turned off the water, and
slid open the shower curtain. The light seemed brighter in the rest of this
room. I squinted, letting my eyes adjust a little. The rest of the bathroom was
small and narrow. Nothing more than a simple toilet, shower, mirror, and vanity
sink. The only real color in the room came from the red towels hanging on the
towel bar and the bath mat on the floor.
I grabbed one towel and wrapped it around
myself and then noticed the clothes left on the toilet seat. They appeared to be
new and for a brief moment, I wondered where he had gotten them.
"I guess this will have to do," I mumbled as I
pulled on a simple green spaghetti-strap tank top. I slid my legs into a pair of
blue jeans and pulled them up. Fastening the button, I felt a small pinch in my
back. I reached around, touched a hard scab, and winced, remembering the pain of
the knife that had been stabbed into my back.
How was I even alive? I certainly
shouldn't have been after the ordeal I'd been through.
I checked myself out in the mirror. Most of my
wounds were already healing. Bruises that weren't covered by clothing had
started turning yellow. The cuts on my back and face had scabbed over too. I
noticed something on my neck. Brushing away the wet strands of my red hair, I
saw a half-ring of small bruises and two very deep-looking holes.
Lysander, I thought, suddenly
remembering the stranger's name.
My memory flashed again. I remembered the pinch
as his teeth sunk into my neck. I shuddered again as a chill danced down my
spine.
What…who was this Lysander? He couldn't be
a…No. That's silly; they aren't real.
I gave the rest of my body a quick once-over in
the mirror and suddenly I stopped in shock.
"My eyes," I gasped. "Oh, my God!"
I couldn't believe it.
How is this possible? Those are not my
eyes.
All the color had disappeared. Large gray eyes
stared back at me from the mirror. They were pale and cloudy with hints of blue,
no longer the emerald green they used to be. These were the same eyes I looked
into when I got my first glimpse of Lysander.
Wondering what else had changed, I surveyed the
rest of my face: ears, hair, lips, all seemed the same. Thinking of the bite on
my neck, I opened my mouth. Gone was the five-thousand dollar, perfectly
straight, smile —that had taken me four years to pay off. My eyeteeth appeared
to have grown larger, crowding the surrounding ones. The new, slightly larger,
canine-like teeth poked down below the others, reminding me of fangs— the kind
vampires from Hollywood movies were famous for. I playfully licked at them,
noting how much sharper they felt as they scraped across the surface of my
tongue.
"This can't be possible."
It was time to find
this Lysander guy and get some answers."
The Immortalis Series goes as follows:
Book 1- Immortalis Carpe Noctem
Book 2 - Hunters and Prey
Book 3 - Pandoras Box
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I am Super Mom!
Endowed
with special powers and abilities, beyond those of mortal women, I can get the
munchkin off to gymnastics, cheerleading, Girl Scouts, and swim lessons. I can
put hot food on the table for dinner while assisting with homework, baths, and
bedtime… And, I still find time to keep the hubby happy (nudge nudge wink wink).
I can do all of this and still have time to write my novels.
Sorry… I
can't even write that with a straight face.
Lies all
lies.
Here's the reality. I'm a sleep-deprived, overworked, mom who
just doesn't know the meaning of the word balance. I try so hard to do it all,
(be super mom, wife, & author) and at the end of the day I fall face forward
into the couch.
Yes, you read that right, I tend to sleep on the couch.
It's a point of frustration for my hubby and a thing of comedy for my daughter.
Imagine waking up to your little child yelling, "Mom slept on the couch
again!!!"
Because being supermom (or trying to) means a lot of time devoted
to family, writing is often done when said family is peacefully snoozing away. I
can't tell you how many times I've fallen asleep with my laptop, on the couch.
It just happens. Then, bright and early at 7am either my hubby (on his way to
work) or my daughter (getting ready for school) wakes me up.
Writing is
my passion. It's a part of me. More than just a hobby, it's a compulsion. I have
to do it. If I don't do at least one writing related thing each day I get
cranky.
Hopefully, my passion can be your entertainment!
Visit Katie's own Publishing Rising Sign Books
"Becoming a Vampire is easy.
Living with the condition, that is the hard part."
"Walking back home through the badly-lit campus of UNLV, twenty-five year old Alyssa is brutally attacked by two savage men. By the time a handsome stranger intervenes, Alyssa has almost bled to death, and doesn't even struggle as her new protector sinks his sharp teeth into her neck.
Alyssa wakes to a harsh new reality, and to a raging thirst she's never felt before. Lysander, the sexy yet aloof man who turned her, must now teach her the way of the immortals - and with such a desirable teacher Alyssa starts to realize that her fate is not as dark as she first feared.
But, just as sparks begin to fly between the pair, Lysander is alerted that his enemies are on the move and determined to destroy them both.
Led by the cunning and ruthless, Santino Vitale, the fanatical Acta Santorum have vowed to hunt down and destroy every last immortal in God's name, and they have the vampires of Las Vegas in their sights.
Meanwhile, after seeing that Lysander has taken a new mate, the beautiful and pitiless Kallisto, is out for revenge. Alyssa soon finds out that hell hath no fury like a vampire scorned.
Together the pair must face two separate enemies determined to destroy them. It's time to, Carpe Noctem, or submit to final death."
I have read multiple Vampire books over the years and as a huge "Twilight" fan (no, I do not approve of the retarded shimmery vampire shit Meyers wrote about) I completely adore anything Vampiresque. There are a million reasons and ways for them to be created, as well as a million ways for them to live.
I had read, quite some time ago, an excerpt that Katie Salidas had posted on her blog and had loved it. Not only her writing is exquisite, but the mystery that surrounded the story itself.
I have to admit that, "Immortalis Carpe Noctem" is THE best Vampire story I have read thus far. I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the way she explained how Vampires came to be. She stuck to the myths and made it work so perfectly.
This story is packed with action, passion, romance and a lot of stubborness. Katie will have any reader on the edge of their seat. I actually found myself holding my breath multiple times as I read on waiting to see what would happen next
.
It is an extremely entertaining story that will keep you begging for more. You will not be able to put it down, let me assure you!
Here is a Sample Chapter:
" D arkness
surrounded me. A voice spoke softly in my head. Do not die, young one. Be
strong. Do not die.
I became painfully aware of liquid pouring down
on me, each drop like an icy hammer hitting my sore skin. Movement echoed in my
ears, telling me that I wasn't alone. Slowly, I opened my eyes. Harsh light
blinded me. My mind was fuzzy. I struggled to recall any small detail that might
clue me in to what had happened and where I was.
I reached up to wipe the splattering water from
my face. I chanced opening my eyes again. As I looked up, I spotted the source
of the water, a showerhead on the opposite wall. Confused by this odd location,
I struggled to penetrate the blackness of my memory and figure out how I had
ended up in a bathtub.
Where the hell am I?
I tried to focus on the bright, unfamiliar
surroundings.
My vision, it seemed, had become remarkably
sharp while I was unconscious. I couldn't remember ever noting so many details
in such simple surroundings as these before.
Cream-colored tiles covered the walls, each
rippled with tiny imperfections. Each held an individual pattern, making them
unique and special. Yellowing, porous grout, framing the tiles, appeared to be
littered with dots from small air bubbles that had come to the surface, creating
different patterns and shapes.
Even the plain white curtain that separated me
from the rest of the room seemed unusually detailed and perfectly woven. I saw
each tiny strand that had been tightly bound together to form this heavy,
durable cloth.
Small specks of mold building up in the corners
of the porcelain basin weren't able to escape my new sight either.
The amazing level of detail I
experienced didn't hold my attention for long. Freezing water still poured down
on me. I needed to reach the handle and end the cold assault, but it seemed so
far out of my reach. I eased myself up to a sitting position, my muscles aching
with each small movement. Looking down, I saw my beaten body. The water had
washed away some of the grime, but what was left of my shredded clothes was
stained and clinging to my skin.
"Uggh!" I moaned.
"Oh, good, you're alive," said a male voice
from behind the white curtain.
The voice seemed strange and yet somehow
familiar. I searched my fuzzy memories to place the voice with a face. A wave of
fear came over me as I remembered the attack.
Had I been kidnapped? Was I a hostage of
some kind? I struggled to recall the events of the evening.
"You've been out for a few hours. I was worried
I might have lost you," continued the voice.
"What?" I called, still not sure who I was
talking to.
"It doesn't always work. Some people can't be
turned," the voice said matter-of-factly.
"Turned?" What the hell is that supposed to
mean?
I again tried to run through my memories of
what had happened. I remembered blood, and the feeling of my body burning from
the inside.
"I'll explain it when you're done in there.
I've left some clothes on the toilet. I hope they fit." The voice trailed out of
the bathroom.
I tried to stand. My muscles ached. Gripping
the edge of the tub, I moaned as I pushed myself up. My legs didn't want to
cooperate; they shook as they tried to support my weight. It was as if I was
learning to stand for the first time.
I felt weak and a little dizzy. I leaned
against the wall, using it as a crutch to help me to balance while I removed
what remained of my shredded and blood-stained clothes. I shuddered, seeing more
of the wounds that covered my body.
I remembered the two men. Flashes of memory
showed me images of the struggle: the man on my stomach laughing, the knife
waving in front of my face, teeth biting me, a stranger drinking my blood.
Each bruise I saw invoked a
terrible memory. I turned the shower handle to hot and let the water run down my
back. The warmth soothed my sore skin. I rested my head against the wall and
tried to rationalize what had happened. I blamed myself for walking alone. I
knew better. I should have asked someone to walk with me or drive me. I cursed
myself for relying on a stupid keychain of pepper spray as my protection.
Some of the events that flashed in my memory
were so bizarre I could hardly believe they had happened. I saw myself lying on
the ground, drinking blood from a strange man's arm.
What was his name? Was I really drinking blood?
Why was I even alive? Did that man save me?
The thought of blood caused an ache in the pit
of my stomach.
I pinched myself a few times.
Maybe this was all just a really bad dream and
I just needed to wake up.
None of it made sense
Maybe someone had slipped something into my
coffee at the café. I hadn't really been drinking blood, had I?
My mind wouldn't stop focusing on the blood I
had drunk. A sweet, sticky taste crept up from the back of my throat. I gulped
at the water pouring down from the showerhead, trying to smother the flavor. My
stomach retched as I swallowed, causing me to sputter and spit the water to the
ground. I tried to ignore the nagging ache in the pit of my stomach. I needed
answers first. I needed to know why I was here and where here was. I
needed to know what the hell had happened to me.
I finished rinsing, turned off the water, and
slid open the shower curtain. The light seemed brighter in the rest of this
room. I squinted, letting my eyes adjust a little. The rest of the bathroom was
small and narrow. Nothing more than a simple toilet, shower, mirror, and vanity
sink. The only real color in the room came from the red towels hanging on the
towel bar and the bath mat on the floor.
I grabbed one towel and wrapped it around
myself and then noticed the clothes left on the toilet seat. They appeared to be
new and for a brief moment, I wondered where he had gotten them.
"I guess this will have to do," I mumbled as I
pulled on a simple green spaghetti-strap tank top. I slid my legs into a pair of
blue jeans and pulled them up. Fastening the button, I felt a small pinch in my
back. I reached around, touched a hard scab, and winced, remembering the pain of
the knife that had been stabbed into my back.
How was I even alive? I certainly
shouldn't have been after the ordeal I'd been through.
I checked myself out in the mirror. Most of my
wounds were already healing. Bruises that weren't covered by clothing had
started turning yellow. The cuts on my back and face had scabbed over too. I
noticed something on my neck. Brushing away the wet strands of my red hair, I
saw a half-ring of small bruises and two very deep-looking holes.
Lysander, I thought, suddenly
remembering the stranger's name.
My memory flashed again. I remembered the pinch
as his teeth sunk into my neck. I shuddered again as a chill danced down my
spine.
What…who was this Lysander? He couldn't be
a…No. That's silly; they aren't real.
I gave the rest of my body a quick once-over in
the mirror and suddenly I stopped in shock.
"My eyes," I gasped. "Oh, my God!"
I couldn't believe it.
How is this possible? Those are not my
eyes.
All the color had disappeared. Large gray eyes
stared back at me from the mirror. They were pale and cloudy with hints of blue,
no longer the emerald green they used to be. These were the same eyes I looked
into when I got my first glimpse of Lysander.
Wondering what else had changed, I surveyed the
rest of my face: ears, hair, lips, all seemed the same. Thinking of the bite on
my neck, I opened my mouth. Gone was the five-thousand dollar, perfectly
straight, smile —that had taken me four years to pay off. My eyeteeth appeared
to have grown larger, crowding the surrounding ones. The new, slightly larger,
canine-like teeth poked down below the others, reminding me of fangs— the kind
vampires from Hollywood movies were famous for. I playfully licked at them,
noting how much sharper they felt as they scraped across the surface of my
tongue.
"This can't be possible."
It was time to find
this Lysander guy and get some answers."
The Immortalis Series goes as follows:
Book 1- Immortalis Carpe Noctem
Book 2 - Hunters and Prey
Book 3 - Pandoras Box
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I am Super Mom!
Endowed
with special powers and abilities, beyond those of mortal women, I can get the
munchkin off to gymnastics, cheerleading, Girl Scouts, and swim lessons. I can
put hot food on the table for dinner while assisting with homework, baths, and
bedtime… And, I still find time to keep the hubby happy (nudge nudge wink wink).
I can do all of this and still have time to write my novels.
Sorry… I
can't even write that with a straight face.
Lies all
lies.
Here's the reality. I'm a sleep-deprived, overworked, mom who
just doesn't know the meaning of the word balance. I try so hard to do it all,
(be super mom, wife, & author) and at the end of the day I fall face forward
into the couch.
Yes, you read that right, I tend to sleep on the couch.
It's a point of frustration for my hubby and a thing of comedy for my daughter.
Imagine waking up to your little child yelling, "Mom slept on the couch
again!!!"
Because being supermom (or trying to) means a lot of time devoted
to family, writing is often done when said family is peacefully snoozing away. I
can't tell you how many times I've fallen asleep with my laptop, on the couch.
It just happens. Then, bright and early at 7am either my hubby (on his way to
work) or my daughter (getting ready for school) wakes me up.
Writing is
my passion. It's a part of me. More than just a hobby, it's a compulsion. I have
to do it. If I don't do at least one writing related thing each day I get
cranky.
Hopefully, my passion can be your entertainment!
Visit Katie's own Publishing Rising Sign Books
December 8, 2011
Book Review and Giveaway- "Bound" by Kira Saito
"Sixteen
year old Arelia LaRue lives in New Orleans where the music is loud, voodoo
queens inhabit every street corner, and the ghosts are alive and well. Despite
her surroundings, all she wants is to help her Grand-mere Bea pay the rent and
save up for college.
When
her best friend Sabrina convinces her to take a well-paying summer job at the
infamous Darkwood plantation, owned by the wealthy LaPlante family, Arelia
agrees.
However,
at Darkwood strange things start to happen, and gorgeous Lucus LaPlante insists
that he needs her help. Soon, the powers that Arelia has been denying all her
life, come out to play and she discovers mysteries about herself that she could
have never imagined."
When I saw the cover of Bound I was completely intrigued by it. It consists of everything I love in a cover. It is dark, eerie and you can see certain sadness exude from the woman. Then, I proceeded to read the blurb and I was in. I wanted to know what it was all about.
Mind you, I have absolutely no idea of anything voodoo and was a little scared of being put off by any of it. After all, voodoo to me was making weird looking dolls and stabbing them with needles. But what I came to learn was far more magical than I had expected.
It took me a little bit to get into it, and mostly I think it was because of Arelia's obnoxious best friend, Sabrina. But that is not necessarily a bad thing, some of my favorite books it took me a few tries until I really got into them. Eg: "The Unquiet" by John Connolly and "Marked" (book #1 from House of Night) and was so hooked once i got into it I read the first six books in a span of a week. True Story.
Sabrina, you will come to see is a rich princess and what I get most from her is that she honestly feels she is entitled to things and people. She just struck a nerve with me.
Anyway, the story follows Arelia, a sixteen year old that lives with her grand-mere Bea and struggles to get by, money wise. During summer, Sabrina tells her about tan invitation she has gotten for a job at the Darkwood Plantation. Although Sabrina is rich, she finds this could be the perfect place to meet a rich LePlante man and eventually marry. Sort of like a stepford wife. For Arelia the pay is great, more than she could have ever hoped for and so, against her Grand-mere Bea's pleads, she sets off to her new job.
Here she meets some obnoxcious guests and a handsome boy named Lucus. He is mysterious and a total gentleman. Not the type of boy she has grown accustomed to.
Spirits have always talked to Arelia but she never paid them any attention, but now, here at the Darkwood Plantation she is faced with the truth about her past and her destiny. But will she stick around to see it fullfill or will she ran away, like her parents did?
Ah! See that is the question.. And you will need to read Bound to find out. I have laughed, I have cried and most than anything, have wanted to punch Sabrina square in the face multiple times. Kira has done an amazing job with this story, not only is it greatly entertaining but also, very educational! I have learnt a lot about voodoo and voodoo queens and I cannot wait to read more. It is all so interesting!
Now come on Kira, get going with book #2 of the Arelia LaRue Stories! I am dying to know what happens next!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kira is a Canadian who currently resides in Brazil, with her Husband. She is also a magic junkie and loves writing YA paranormal romances. Some of her heroes include: Jack the Pumpkin King, Willy Wonka, Larry David, Princess Jasmine, the vampire Lestat, Andy and her Maltese Costanza. Hopes one day her books will be made into movies.
** That is my dream too Kira! For yours and mines to be made into movies!**
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December 7, 2011
Guest Post by Keren (aka Twin)
So, my Twin Lucy
asked me if I wanted to do a guest spot on her gorgeous blog. I, of course,
agreed. I could talk for England, so why not to Lucy's followers?!
We aren't real twins
of course. We met on Twitter a few months ago and bonded over our mutual love
of book cover art. I adopted her as my twin there and then.
**LUCY: If anyone has read the House of Night series by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast, you may remember Erin Bates and Shaunee Cole calling each other Twins constantly. I had found it slightly annoying the first time I read it. Now Keren and I call each other that non-stop. #oopsie. Anyway, back to Keren..**
I have to admit, I am
a self confessed magpie when it comes to book cover art. I collect shiny, pretty
books. And that is the topic I decided to talk about today.
My question to you
all is this: Do you fawn over a gorgeous book cover? Are you turned off by a
mediocre cover, or will you pick it up and read the blurb regardless? Okay, so
technically that's two questions, but no-one said I had a limit and y'all can't
answer me back as I am typing so...! :)
My own answer to that
question....
Well as I previously
said, I am a magpie. It's the shiny, pretty covers that catch my eye. I know
the old saying is to never judge a book by it's cover, but seriously, whoever
said that is a lot deeper than me. I am as deep as a puddle when it comes to
covers.
The honest truth is,
I love the whole YA genre. From romance to paranormal, from fantasy to
dystopian. I love it all. BUT, when I go into my local Waterstones, I head
straight to the section and look for all the pretty ones, then take a look at
the blurb. If something doesn't catch my eye instantly, I pass it over.
Shallow? Yes. Stupid? Probably.
But it's the cover
that hooks me and the blurb that reels me in. So if it doesn't have a good
blurb, I will pass it up, no matter how stunning the cover.
Same thing when I am
on Amazon looking for books for my Kindle. But in actual fact, I have been
known to pick up books on Amazon where the cover isn't all that great. There's
been books recommended to me that are not eye-catching but have a good blurb.
It doesn't seem to matter so much on the Kindle because they aren't physically
sat on my bookshelf in my living room.
So am I just shallow
and pathetic? Quite probably. Does it really matter what other people think of
me? Probably not. I am the way I am and it makes me happy.
I know that there are
books out there with a mediocre cover that actually hide a wonderful story.
Maybe as I get older I'll get less judgemental. Or maybe I'll get worse. Who
knows?!
So I will leave it to
you if you comment, all I ask is that you don't make rude comments about me.
Remember, I am as entitled to my opinion as you and everyone else.
Constructive
criticism is fine, but please, don't make snap judgements about me as a person!
Thank you for reading
this post regardless. And thank you Lucy, my Twin, for having your
ever-judgemental opinionated Twin on your gorgeous blog xoxo
Lucy: No, Thank you Twin for coming over and talking about this. As it kind of is what brought us together :)
ABOUT KEREN:
I used to be a huge Stephen King fan when I was younger. So much so I would
never read anything else. Then I had my Calum and Barry bought me the 7 Harry
Potter books. That got me into reading something different and it just went from
there. The first thing I really read after Harry Potter was Twilight. I have to
say I am not a big fan (though I used to be) Now I like to read a mix of things
and my favourite authors include Charlaine Harris, Laurell K Hamilton, Carrie
Jones, Becca Fitzpatrick, Lauren Kate, and Rachel Caine. I have an addiction to
indie authors at the moment and my favourites include: Caroline Hanson, Kira
Saito, Alycia Linwood, Lucy Swing, Penelope Fletcher, Katie M John, Christy
Trujillo, Christopher Buecheler, Devyn Dawson, Amanda Hocking, Suzy Turner,
Heather Killough-Walden, Susan Bischoff and Jessie Harrell. Don't see your name
on that list? Send me a book to review and we'll see if we can set that right!
Find me on Twitter @Gothic_Angel28
Visit her blog here: Gothic Angel Book Reviews
Interview at Bang out the Prose!
Hi Guys,
I am honored to share with you an interview I did with fellow Death By Chocolate author Suz Korb. If you would like to check it out, please click HERE. You will also get to see a new, never before seen, excerpt from Feathermore.
Thanks for your endless support!
I am honored to share with you an interview I did with fellow Death By Chocolate author Suz Korb. If you would like to check it out, please click HERE. You will also get to see a new, never before seen, excerpt from Feathermore.
Thanks for your endless support!
