Follow Friday #25 / Book Blogger Hop #25

In honor of Banned Books Week, what is your favorite “banned or frequently challenged book”?

Mine would be Ulysses by James Joyce. Sure it's a bit prententious, but it is also a wonderful read if you concentrate on the style and how it is put together. It is a very clever piece of writing - even if Joyce does know it!
 
What book that hasn't been turned into a movie (yet) would you most like to see make it to the big screen, and who would you like cast as your favorite character?

Any of the Saint Germain books by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro (yes, I'm mentioning them yet again) and they'd be wonderful lavish period dramas with the magic of the paranormal element thrown in. A perfect mix! At to casting, I find that a tough one as the lead man (Saint Germain) has to be handsome, charismatic, mysterious and possess an inner strength. I would go with Ralph Fiennes. Sure. he's not exactly the right height and build for the character, but I think he could get around that with his amazing presence on the screen.

Reading, Writing and Weddings

I thought I'd write a little brief, general update today to tell you all a few things....

Reading

Two months ago I had a daunting TBR pile of over 30 books. I've always been an avid reader but, aside from Xmas when I always get an influx of new books, I've tended to just buy one or two, read them, and then buy another one or two. All that changed when I got my first e-reader and discovered NetGalley earlier this year. I was more than a little disturbed at the size of the pile waiting for me, but with determination I set about tackling it, wanting to get it down to something more manageable before my wedding.

Luckily I have achieved my goal and I am currently reading the last of those 30 books. I have my eye on a couple of NetGalley, but I will wait until I finish this book (probably mid next week as it's a long one) before I request any so that I can enjoy at least 5 minutes knowing I am up to date with all my reading.

It makes me feel better to know I don't have a huge pile waiting for me anymore as I doubt I'll have much reading time while I am busy with the wedding.

Writing

It is nearly a week now since Day-Walker was released and I have already sold a handful of copies, so I am very happy about that. The book is now available on Amazon and at Silver Publishing and will also be listed on other sites such as OmniLit over the next couple of weeks. I have a few guest appearances on other blogs next week to promote it, but further promotion will have to wait till after the wedding.

I am making good progress with Time Keepers too. The original series of four short stories was just under 15,000 words in length and so far I have reworked and extended the manuscript to 30,000 words. My goal is to get to about 40,000 words and then I will edit and see about submitting it. If all goes well, I hope to send to the publisher early next year to see if they'll accept it.

Wedding

Well, we are counting in days rather than weeks now as it draws ever closer. I still have a few payments to make for the flowers, celebrant and suits, but everything else is in hand. Next week I have my wedding rehearsal and then all that remains is picking up flowers, dress and suits and going to the venue to set up our place names etc on the day before. In case you are wondering, I am also having a small little Hen's 'do' - afternoon tea with some family and friends at one of the city hotels.

My family start arriving from the UK in little over a week, so this is just an advance notice that I will have a bit of an hiatus from blogging for several weeks from then until after the honeymoon. I will try to get online to check emails still, but I doubt I'll have any time to post much or respond to your posts. I will do another short post just before I 'leave' anyway, but I hope you'll all stick with me until I get back mid-November! I promise to have more news and reviews for you then - plus maybe a couple of wedding snap shots....

Tully by Paullina Simons - Book Review

Title: Tully

Author: Paullina Simons

Publisher: Harper

Publication Date: October 2008 (1994)

Pages: 611

Format: Paperback

Genre: Literary Fiction

Source: Christmas Gift

The time is the late 1970s. The place is the windswept heartland of America. The woman is Tully-- defiant young rebel with an agonizing secret, devoted friend faced with a shattering betrayal, impassioned lover haunted by a man whose touch is more powerful than all her pain.But in the years to come, beyond the torments and marvels of adolescence, into a world where men will vie for her and lie to her, Tully will dare to win everything, and risk losing it all, in one raw, reckless gamble of the heart.From Paullina Simons comes an astonishing novel about passion and loss, love and revelation; about friendship that endures through lifetimes, and even beyond death; and about one unforgettable woman named Tully, struggling to make sense of it all. (Goodreads Synopsis)


I don't think I've ever disliked a character as much as I disliked Tully.

I came to this book with fairly high expectations: I had enjoyed Bronze Horseman and Tatiana and Alexander - and Tully is often on those lists of books you must read. I was expecting something amazing, but in the end I found the whole thing rather lacklustre and it took a great deal of perseverance to make it to the last page.

Let me talk about the writing first. It's fine and readable, but lacks the spark found in The Bronze Horseman. I found it irritating that there was no clear typographical definition for thoughts - they were just left muddled in with the rest of the text. I also felt the text was repetitive in places, making you feel that you'd read certain scenes before. The book could have been half the length and still told the same story.

My main problem with the book though was the heroine: Tully is just not likeable. Fine, she had an awful childhood. That's sad, but that's no excuse for the way she treats her friends and more importantly the men in her life. She is constantly stringing guys along and then whining about how unhappy she is. I spent the whole novel wanting to slap her and yell at her to come to her senses. I didn't care about her, didn't care about her struggles, because she brought it on herself and just caused misery to others.

Having enjoyed other works by Paullina Simons, I found this piece a huge disappointment and wouldn't recommend it to anyone coming to her work for the first time. It hasn't completely put me off reading more of her books in the future, but I shall certainly be quite selective in which ones I pick. I wish I could think of something more positive to say about this book, but I'm finding it hard. If you want to try some Paullina Simons, I would definitely recommend The Bronze Horseman and suggest you give this one a miss.

Barbara Conelli - Guest Blog

Today I am very happy to welcome author Barbara Conelli - over to you Barbara!

What To Do When Your Muse Goes On A Vacation

As an author, you know that creeping, uncomfortable feeling. Every now and then, it comes uninvited and becomes your unwelcome yet very persistent guest. It haunts you. It confuses you. And then it hits you: Your muse has decided to take a few days off without your permission, leaving you stuck in the middle of your future masterpiece.

You don't get new writing ideas, or you do but you seem unable to turn your ideas into sentences, paragraphs, chapters. You feel that your writing is going nowhere, you are going nowhere, and you start questioning your own talent and skills.

Before you throw the computer out of the window and renounce writing forever, try these simple steps. Believe me, they work. Guaranteed! (Actually, you may find out that you don't really need your spoiled, capricious muse after all.)

Winner - Day-Walker E-Book Giveaway

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway. A random selection has been made and the winner is:

Erin F

Congratulations. I will be emailing the winner shortly!

She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell - Book Review

Title: She Walks in Beauty

Author: Siri Mitchell

Publisher: Bethany House

Publication Date: April 2010

Pages: 313

Format: E-Book - EPUB

Genre: Historical / YA

Source: Free E-Book from Kobo

For a young society woman seeking a favorable marriage in the late 1890s, so much depends on her social season debut. Clara Carter has been given one goal: secure the affections of the city's most eligible bachelor. Debuting means plenty of work--there are corsets to be fitted, dances to master, manners to perfect. Her training soon pays off, however, as celebrity's spotlight turns Clara into a society-page darling. Yet Clara wonders if this is the life she really wants, especially when she learns her best friend has also set her sights on Franklin De Vries. When a man appears who seems to love her simply for who she is, and gossip backlash turns ugly, Clara realizes it's not just her heart at stake--the future of her family depends on how she plays the game. (Goodreads Synopsis)


This is the last of the books I grabbed for free on Kobo a few months back and I found it an enjoyable enough read.

I would almost consider this to be a YA historical tale as Clara is a 'teenager' in 1890's New York, about to make her debut. She would rather go off to college, but her family insist she must marry well instead.

The premise was simple and the story fairly predictable - I knew well in advance what was going to happen, who would end up with who etc. But that did not stop me from enjoying the book.

Clara is an engaging character and I also liked the portrayal of Franklin, his brother and Clara's friend. The writing is not breath-taking, but it is perfectly fine and the story moved at a good pace, keeping my interest.

This is not a book that will change your world, but I can think of worse ways to spend a couple of hours, and if you are looking for something light and readable, this book may be the one for you.

Follow Friday #24 / Book Blogger Hop #24

Do you have a favorite series that you read over and over again?

I love the Saint Germain books by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro. This historical vampire series is so well written - with an amazing 'leading man' and wonderful period detail - that I can just read the books again and again and always find something new in them. These books are written like literary/historical fiction but with a vampire/paranormal theme. Amazing writing.

Day-Walker - Out Tomorrow!

Day-Walker is out tomorrow!

I've already had a handful of pre-order sales, which is fantastic. I hope the book will do well and that people will enjoy reading it. If you've missed my previous posts, you can find out more about the book below.

The e-book is currently available from the Silver Publishing website, but it will also be up on Amazon, OmniLit and other online book stores in the coming days and weeks. I will add links to those websites as they become available, so keep an eye on my Day-Walker page for updates.

There is still time to enter my competition to win a PDF copy of Day-Walker! Just fill in the form HERE before midnight 24th September 2011.

Day-Walker

by Nicki J Markus

 Darci Madison seems to have found her ideal man. But mysterious stranger, Will, has a dark secret. A secret that could put her life in danger as the sun sets.

A vampire paranormal romance, coming from Silver Publishing on 24th September 2011.

E-book: 140 pages (27,750 words)
$4.99

Buy Link


When Darci spots a mysterious stranger at her latest concert, she is instantly smitten. Will is the perfect gentleman and seems to be everything she has been waiting for. But Will has a terrifying secret and soon Darci finds herself in grave peril. Will her love for him give her the strength she’ll need to prevail against overwhelming odds?

Will is drawn to Darci Madison from the moment she steps out onto the stage. He knows he shouldn’t approach her, knows his secret could put her in danger if he gets too close. But he also realizes that he cannot live without her. When his enemies learn of Darci’s existence and emerge from the shadows, Will must fight to save the woman he loves ... even though it may require the ultimate sacrifice.

For deep in the night, creatures are stirring in the darkness; creatures that long to infiltrate the light.

Blood Song (Lharmell #1) by Rhiannon Hart

Title: Blood Song (Lharmell #1)

Author: Rhiannon Hart

Publisher: Random House

Publication Date: 1st September 2011

Pages: 290

Format: Paperback

Genre: Paranormal / Fantasy / YA

Source: Bought Copy

I wanted to turn but I was held captive by the song on the wind. I’m coming, I told the voices. Please, wait for me.

When her sister becomes betrothed to a prince in a northern nation, Zeraphina’s only consolations are that her loyal animal companions are by her side – and that her burning hunger to travel north is finally being sated.

Already her black hair and pale eyes mark her out as different, but now Zeraphina must be even more careful to keep her secret safe. Craving blood is not considered normal behaviour for anyone, let alone a princess. So when the king’s advisor, Rodden, seems to know more about her condition than she does, Zeraphina is determined to find out more.

Zeraphina must be willing to sacrifice everything if she’s to uncover the truth – but what if the truth is beyond her worst nightmares? (Goodreads Synopsis)


I began to see this book mentioned on blogs some months back and tried several times to win a copy in giveaways but was unsuccessful. The cover drew me in and the blurb sounded interesting, plus I'd seen some great reviews coming out. Then I saw it in KMart for $14 and quickly grabbed a copy.

I certainly wasn't disappointed with my purchase as I found this book to be a great read and finished it in one sitting. It is a fairly simplistic tale, but then it is aimed at a YA audience and not adults looking for epic fantasy.

I liked the character of Zeraphina and I thought the world building, while not extensive, was detailed enough to give the reader a sense of realism. The story itself featured an interesting take on the idea of vampires and moved at a good pace. By the time I was half-way through, I couldn't bear to put it down until I found out how it would end.

Rodden's character really grew on me; although, I felt that he came across as older than the age given to him. I might have liked to see him 'cast' a little older to give him more depth and make his resistance to the Lharmellins more admirable. I also loved Leap and Griffin and wish they were my pets!

This is a fairly 'light' read and will not appeal to those looking for more depth in their literature, but for YA fans this is a really pleasing paranormal tale with a fun storyline, great characters and plenty of action that will help while away a couple of hours.

Thoedora: Actress, Empress, Whore by Stella Duffy - Book Review

Title: Theodora: Actress, Empress, Whore

Author: Stella Duffy

Publisher: Penguin

Publication Date: 27th September 2011

Pages: 352

Format: E-book - PDF

Genre: Historical Fiction

Source: ARC from NetGalley

 

 

 

 

'Justinian took a wife: and the manner she was born and bred, and wedded to this man, tore up the Roman Empire by the very roots' Procopius.

Charming, charismatic, heroic - Theodora of Constantinople rose from nothing to become the most powerful woman in the history of Byzantine Rome. In Stella Duffy's breathtaking new novel, she comes to life again - a fascinating, controversial and seductive woman. Some called her a saint. Others were not so kind... When her father is killed, the young Theodora is forced into near slavery to survive. But just as she learns to control her body as a dancer, and for the men who can afford her, so she is determined to shape a very different fate for herself. From the vibrant streets and erotic stage shows of sixth century Constantinople to the holy desert retreats of Alexandria, Theodora is an extraordinary imaginative achievement from one of our finest writers. (Goodreads Synopsis)

This book really grew on me the more I read. At first I felt a little disconnected from Theodora and was worried that it would make it harder for me to enjoy the novel, but a few chapters later, I found myself drawn in.

This is a rags to riches tale, based in historical fact, and the novel certainly comes across as well researched with good attention to period detail. I didn't notice any obvious anachronisms and found myself entranced by the setting.

Theodora really grows as a character throughout this piece. I found her a little annoying in the early chapters, but as her story progressed, I found myself warming to her more and more, getting caught up in her journey from actress to empress. She is not perfect and not everything about her is likeable, but I think that makes her more real, more human.

The background information in the piece - the divide over Christianity, the life of actresses - comes across well. The reader is given a good sense of what is happening without it feeling too much like a history lesson. The facts are woven seamlessly into the story, giving great support and depth to the plot.

I found that Stella Duffy's prose flowed nicely and I enjoyed some of the more descriptive passages. This book should please any lovers of historical fiction, particularly those with an interest in this time period.

I received this book as a free e-book ARC from NetGalley.

Immortal (Clare Point #3) by V. K. Forrest

Title: Immortal (Clare Point #3)

Author: V. K. Forrest

Publisher: Kensington Publishing Co

Publication Date: December 2009 

Pages: 239

Format: E-book - EPUB

Genre: Paranormal

Source: Free E-Book from Kobo

Magnetic, fearless Fin Kahill has dedicated his life to ridding the world of its most vicious serial killers. Fin is used to roaming the earth freely—not getting stuck in sleepy Clare Point. But when the clan needs him close by, Fin agrees to take a summer job on the town's tiny police force. He expects little excitement—until he meets Elena, an ethereal Italian beauty.
As Fin struggles against his feelings for Elena, the peace in Clare Point is shattered by the inexplicable murder of a tourist. The young man's throat has been cut, his body eerily posed. When the killer strikes again, Fin wonders if a member of his own clan is responsible. The only one he can turn to is Elena, but he knows that falling in love with a human can be a deadly mistake. Yet just as Fin edges closer to solving the murders, he discovers Elena may not be exactly who, or what, she appears....
(Goodreads Synopsis)



This is another of those books that I grabbed as a free read (from Kobo) not realising it was part of a series.

There are some series you have to read in order and others you can pick and choose. For me, this book fell somewhere in the middle. I was able to read it and keep up with the story and characters, but a lot of the mythology and history remained unexplained and I assume that was because it had already been covered in the earlier books that I had missed.

Although I would have liked some more of that background information, I was still able to enjoy this tale which was part paranormal romance and part murder mystery. I thought the main characters came across well and the romance between Fin and Elena was steamy without being over the top or repetitive. The pacing was also good and kept me reading until I finished the book in just one evening.

From what I could grasp of the mythology, these vampires came across as something different and fascinating and at some point in the future, I would like to try to get hold of the earlier two books in the series to find out more about them.

Kiss Me Deadly (Bewitch the Dark #2) by Michele Hauf - Book Review

Title: Kiss Me Deadly (Bewitch the Dark #2)

Author: Michele Hauf

Publisher: Harlequin Nocturne

Publication Date: June 2009 (2007)

Pages: 208

Format: E-book - EPUB

Genre: Paranormal

Source: Free E-Book from Kobo

Death cocktail is what the vampires call a witch's blood. It's poisonous--a drop will destroy a vampire within minutes. Nikolaus Drake is the rare vampire who has survived his first taste. Now he's on the hunt for the witch who almost brought him to his demise--Ravin Crosse./ppA witch who spends her nights hunting vampire tribes, Ravin has three obligations to fulfill to set her soul free. One of those obligations--crafting a love spell--twists her world upside down when Nikolaus draws the spell from her veins. Natural enemies rarely make the best bedfellows--but is it possible their intentions are really, truly the same? Can Nikolaus's tribal loyalty survive if he surrenders to desires far darker than his own? (Goodreads Synopsis)


I got this book when it was available for free from Kobo. As a free read, I found it fairly enjoyable, though I would only call it a mediocre paranormal romance. I hear so much hype about this author and yet the two books of hers I have read, I have found to be okay, but nothing special.

That said, I read this book in one sitting and it was a fun little piece. I liked the idea of the witches and vampires being enemies and a love spell bringing them together, but at times I felt the point was stretched too much in an effort to increase the length of the book.

Ravin and Nikolaus came across well enough, but I would have liked to have seen some of the secondary characters more fleshed out as they were very flat. The pacing was a little slow in places, but since this is only a couple of hundred pages anyway that did not cause too many problems.

I wouldn't rush out to buy this book, but if you come across it for free (or very cheap) it is okay for killing a couple of hours.

Dragon's Pupils - The Sword Guest by Martin Chu Shui - Book Review

Title: Dragon's Pupils - The Sword Guest

Author: Martin Chu Shui

Publisher: Self-Published

Publication Date: September 2010

Pages: 208

Format: E-book - EPUB

Genre: Fantasy/YA

Source: Review Copy from Author

Half-Chinese, half-Australian, Liz is not interested in her father’s ancient Tao wisdom, or his cryptic tales. She is more concerned with environmental issues—particularly the plan to mine one of Australia’s great landmarks, Wave Rock. Her father’s latest gift, a Chinese calligraphy pen, seems set to take its place in her bottom drawer forever.
Then Wave Rock is blasted open by something more than a mining operation, and Liz finds that she must battle monsters from ancient times as well as creatures from other worlds, all intent on destroying Earth. She must call on all her powers, from both her Eastern heritage and her Western upbringing, to save her world. Her pen becomes her way into a new and magical world, and Liz discovers she has powers—and allies—that she never could have guessed.
An exciting, fast-paced tale that combines the wisdom of ancient tradition with the pace of a Kung Fu movie and brings them to life in contemporary Australia, this exciting tale takes the best of two cultures and blends them to open up a new world of adventure and mystery. (Goodreads Synopsis)


I was contacted by Martin Chu Shui back in June, requesting a review of this book and I have only now had time to get to it.

Let me say first off that I do not like rating books low, especially when it is a new writer trying to start out as I know how that feels. But, I was offered a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review and so I need to be honest.

This book had a number of problems for me. The main one was believability (or the lack thereof). Sure this is fantasy, but the world still has to have a sense of truth so the reader can suspend disbelief and become engaged with the story and that just didn't happen here. The problem was actually not the 'fantasy' elements, but some of the everyday aspects. This book centres on a group of fourteen year-olds. Fine. But we are supposed to believe that these fourteen year olds are environmental protestors whose parents seemed unfazed about them going off to political rallies without adult supervision. Their language at times felt far too 'adult' and dialogue was stilted throughout the piece.

The environmental 'agenda' in this piece also left me cold. It's fine to have a message within a story, but in this piece it seemed that the story was secondary to the message in places. It also felt like the author had drawn out the piece in an attempt to make it a novel rather than a novella and there were repetitive fight scenes that added nothing to the story.

If I hadn't been reading this at request, I may well have abandoned it without finishing - something I don't do very often. But a sense of commitment kept me reading until the end.

That said, the book was not without positives. The plot was very original and I really liked the idea of blending Chinese folktales with a Western style of writing. I found the Chinese elements very interesting as it is not a culture I know very much about. With some work this could make a nice middle-grade/YA read - but it is not at that stage yet.

I do not mean these comments to be scathing and I hope the author will be able to take something from them that he can use in the future. I wish him all the best in his endeavours.

Freedom Incorporated by Peter Tylee

Title: Freedom Incorporated

Author: Peter Tylee

Publisher: Self-Published

Publication Date: November 2009

Pages: 460

Format: E-book - EPUB

Genre: Fantasy/Sci-fi

Source: Free E-Book from  Kobo




Corporations control the world, portal technology allows instantaneous travel, and the ultimate in branded living has arrived: microchip implants for all. But the new era, while peaceful on the surface, comes with a staggering price – individual freedom – and not everyone is willing to pay. (Goodreads Synopsis)


This book could have used some more editing, but on the whole was an enjoyable read. The first few chapters, I found myself wondering if I would be able to get into the piece, but eventually the story line evened out and I was able to enjoy it.

Tylee's vision of the year 2066 is pretty dark and dystopian and I thought his world-building worked well as it all felt very believable. There was a definite 'big brother is watching you' sentiment with the idea of Echelon and UniForce monitoring every move a person made.

I liked the characters of Dan and Jen and the growing relationship between them was well portrayed for the most part. The secondary characters such as the Raven and Estaban were also fairly well-developed with their motives explained.

By the half-way mark, I was engrossed in the story and keen to see what would happen next and if they would be able to escape. By this stage, I was also caught up enough to be able to ignore some of the editing issues.

This book shows real promise and I think a little bit of tightening with the help of a professional editor would just add that final shine that was sadly missing. I would be happy to read more from this author in the future.

Call of the Herald (The Dawning of Power #1) by Brian Rathbone - Book Review

Title: Call of the Herald (Dawning of Power #1)

Author: Brian Rathbone

Publisher: Self-Published?

Publication Date: March 2009

Pages: 260

Format: E-book - EPUB

Genre: Fantasy

Source: Free E-Book from  Kobo




Echoes of the ancients' power are distant memories, tattered and faded by the passage of eons, but that is about to change. A new dawn has arrived. Latent abilities, harbored in mankind's deepest fibers, wait to be unleashed. Ancient evils awaken, and old fears ignite the fires of war. In times such as these, ordinary people have the power to save the world . . . or destroy it. (Goodreads Synopsis)


I grabbed a copy of this book when it was free on Kobo and it was certainly worth a read.

This is a fairly light fantasy piece that uses the well-worn idea of a 'saviour' rescuing their people, but gives it a fun new twist.

Catrin whined a bit at times, but overall I liked her character and felt she did develop somewhat during the story. Benjin was also an enjoyable secondary figure, though I would have liked to have seen some of the other secondary characters fleshed out more. There were also some scenes with characters that seemed to have no bearing on the story; although, this is the first book in a trilogy, so perhaps those storylines will come to the fore in the second book.

The pacing for the most part was fine, but I wished there had been more time with the tribes before the Zjhon attacked as that felt a little rushed. Speaking of the Zjhon, I would have liked more development there too as we never really get a proper 'villain' or truly understand what Catrin is fighting for/against save that it has religious connections. But again, perhaps this will become clearer in the remaining two books.

This is not a book I'd rush to reread again and again, but for a one-time read it was enjoyable and I would consider reading on in the series and continuing the story.

Follow Friday #23 / Book Blogger Hop #23

What imaginary book world would you like to make a reality?

Well, I would love to visit Middle Earth, especially Rohan and Rivendell. I don't really want to be attacked by Orcs though, so I would go there after Sauron has been defeated, but before the last of the Elves leave.

As a book blogger, how do you introduce yourself in your profile?

I don't really put a lot of information in my blogger profile as it is not something I ever look at much on other blogs. I prefer to keep the info on my 'about me' page so that everyone already viewing the blog can find out about my work and interests. I also have links to my sketches and photos and a video from a performance I did a few years back.

Day-Walker - Giveaway!!

Well, it is now only 9 days until the release of my lastest e-book, Day-Walker. I just received my author copies from the publisher and in celebration I am offering a PDF copy to one lucky reader! Here's a bit about the book:

Day-Walker

by Nicki J Markus

 Darci Madison seems to have found her ideal man. But mysterious stranger, Will, has a dark secret. A secret that could put her life in danger as the sun sets.

A vampire paranormal romance, coming from Silver Publishing on 24th September 2011.

E-book: 140 pages (27,750 words)
$4.99

Pre-Order/Buy Link


When Darci spots a mysterious stranger at her latest concert, she is instantly smitten. Will is the perfect gentleman and seems to be everything she has been waiting for. But Will has a terrifying secret and soon Darci finds herself in grave peril. Will her love for him give her the strength she’ll need to prevail against overwhelming odds?

Will is drawn to Darci Madison from the moment she steps out onto the stage. He knows he shouldn’t approach her, knows his secret could put her in danger if he gets too close. But he also realizes that he cannot live without her. When his enemies learn of Darci’s existence and emerge from the shadows, Will must fight to save the woman he loves ... even though it may require the ultimate sacrifice.

For deep in the night, creatures are stirring in the darkness; creatures that long to infiltrate the light.

The Giveaway

Entries are open until midnight on 24th September 2011 and the following conditions apply:

• Entrants must be 18 years old or over
• Open Internationally
• Be a GFC follower of my blog
• Fill in this quick form to enter

Entries Now Closed

Danann Frost Falls From Grace by Joanne Valiukas - Book Review

Title: Danann Frost Falls from Grace

Author: Joanne Valiukas

Publisher: Self-Published

Publication Date: September 2010 (2009)

Pages: 392

Format: E-book - PDF

Genre: Paranormal

Source: Won in a Giveaway




Danann Frost is thousands of years old, yet young for her kind. She is a creature of the Light, an Angel, one of the Seraphim; a race of beings that live beyond our world. She has been cast out of paradise and Fallen from Grace, all for the love of a Dark One - a vampire. The only problem is, Seth did not want her and told her to go and not come back. Danann has made a life for herself amongst the vampires of this world and they protect her fragile nature. She and the vampire Asher live on the fringes of the human world; love and loyalty cannot separate them but trouble and vengeance are on their way. After two hundred years of enduring the crippling punishments of her Fall, Seth walks back into her life but he is bitter and angry and out for revenge. Thank God he is after someone else...or is he? Can Danann escape the dark intentions of her once-beloved for whom she Fell from Grace, or has she put all those that she holds dear in danger? Journey with Danann as she takes the path to taking back her Light and ascending to be Angel once more. Will the Archangel Uriel surrender her Light or will Danann be doomed to walk in darkness forever? (Goodreads Synopsis)


I really wish I could have given this book three stars, but I couldn't quite bring myself to do it. There were things I like about this piece, but there were also a few negatives, so let me start with those and get them out of the way.

The book opens in third person narrative, but the point of view shifts back and forth between Seth and Danann in the middle of scenes, which I found distracting. Then, suddenly we are moved into first person narrative as Danann tells her own story. This improved the pov issues considerably and I was able to relax into the story a bit more until the bizarre switch back to third person for the last few pages.

An excessive use of italics for emphasis also began to irritate me, especially when some of the words emphasised just didn't make sense. I found myself stopping my reading to sound them out just to be sure I wasn't imagining it.

I did find myself skim reading chunks of the middle section of the book too as it became very repetitive, with what was essentially the same argument/scene playing out between Seth and Danann many times. As an editor, I would have made a few hefty cuts to improve the pace. The dialogue in this middle section also became rather stilted and unbelievable.

So those were my gripes, but, as I said, there were also things I enjoyed about the book. I loved the story idea. The limitations placed on a fallen angel were well conceived and original and I wish they had been explored more deeply. The idea of an angel loving a vampire and her subsequent fall interested me and it was that initial interest that kept me reading. Danann and Seth are both great characters and the spark is there, it was just that, for me, some of problems with the book eclipsed that at times. I also liked some of the secondary characters such as Mia and Asher. Both came across well and played important roles in the story.

As I said, I wish I could have stretched to three stars for this book as it did have promise, but sadly I could not overlook some of the problems that spoilt my enjoyment of the piece.

Blood Rock (Skindancer #2) by Anthony Francis - Book Review

Title: Blood Rock (Skindancer #2)

Author: Anthony Francis

Publisher: Bell Bridge Books

Publication Date: 29th July 2011

Pages: 298

Format: E-book - PDF

Genre: Paranormal

Source: ARC from NetGalley


 

Dakota Frost is back, and the ink is about to hit the fan-again.

Graffiti comes to life in the dark heart of Atlanta’s oldest cemetery, slaying one of the city’s best loved vampires before the eyes of his friend Dakota Frost. Deadly magick is at work on the city’s walls, challenging even the amazing power of Dakota’s tattoos to contain it. The hungry, graffiti magick loves to kill, and the Edgeworld is no longer safe from its own kind.

Dakota begins a harrowing journey to save those she loves and to discover the truth behind the spreading graffiti-even if that truth offends the vampires, alienates the werekin and creates police suspicion of her every action.

Saving Atlanta may cost her everything, including custody of her “adopted” weretiger daughter, Cinnamon. But failure is not an option. If the graffiti isn’t stopped, Cinnamon could be the next victim. (Goodreads Synopsis)



Having really enjoyed the first book in this series, I was keen to read more about Dakota Frost.

On the whole, I was pleased with this second instalment. I still enjoyed Dakota's character and I still think the ideas behind the world she lives in are original and fresh. On the negative side, I also still found Cinnamon annoying - but I think that's just my reaction to her grammar more than anything else.

For me this book didn't quite have the spark of the first one though. In Frost Moon, I was riveted and couldn't wait to turn each page and read on. With Blood Rock, there were sections where I found my attention drifting and I wasn't as involved in the story as I had been previously.

That said, this was not a bad story, it just didn't hold my interest quite so much as the first book. Still, I was keen to see how it would end and I liked the general story arc and the conclusion. I thought there was a nice balance between continuing characters and new additions and the world-building remained strong.

If you enjoyed the first book, then I think you'll appreciate this one. For those new to the series, I would recommend starting with Frost Moon before moving on to this one.

A Touch of Crimson (Renegade Angels #1) by Sylvia Day - Book Review

Title: A Touch of Crimson (Renegade Angels #1)
Author: Sylvia Day

Publisher: Signet (Penguin)

Publication Date: 4th October 2011

Pages: 368

Format: E-book - PDF

Genre: Paranormal

Source: ARC from NetGalley





Adrian Mitchell is a powerful angel leading an elite Special Ops unit of Seraphim. His task is to punish the Fallen-angels who have become vampires-and command a restless pack of indentured lycans. But Adrian has suffered his own punishment for becoming involved with mortals- losing the woman he loves again and again. Now, after nearly two hundred years, he has found her-Shadoe-her soul once more inhabiting a new body, with no memory of him. And this time, he won't let her go. (Goodreads Synopsis)


I had been wanting to read this book ever since I first saw that beautiful cover and when I realised it was on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance to grab a copy for review.

I wasn't disappointed as I found my initial enthusiasm was well justified. This book has some wonderful characters and a plot full of great new concepts and ideas.

I found the relationship between Adrian and Lindsay really believable and highly charged, and that was maintained throughout the story, which was good. The secondary characters, such as Elijah, also come across as well-formed and interesting.

There was plenty of action in a plot that offered an interesting twist on both angel and vampire myths. There is really something for fans of all paranormal here since the story features angels, vampires and lycans and I loved the way these different beings were linked together.

This was a hard book to put down and the ending left me eager for more. It was a great opening for the series with plenty of action and lots of ideas introduced that will no doubt continue into the next book. I will certainly be keen to continue reading and this may well be a series I decide to invest money in and get the print copies so that I can reread in the future.

Winner - Back to the Books Giveaway Hop

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway. A random selection has been made and the winner is:

Emma

 

Congratulations. I will be emailing the winner shortly!

Ushers, Inc. by Rusty Fischer - Book Review

Title: Ushers, Inc.

Author: Rusty Fischer

Publisher: Decadent Publishing

Publication Date: 22nd June 2011

Pages: 85

Format: E-book - EPUB

Genre: Paranormal

Source: Won in a Giveaway




When the streets are full of bloodsuckers, werewolves, zombies and ghouls, where will you turn? The cops don't know how to stop them, the Army's pretty much given up and even the Marines are stumped when their bullets and grenades fail to stop the onslaught.

Have no fear, Ushers, Inc. is here! Four high school movie ushers, who collectively have seen over 42,000 hours of B- and C-horror movies know just what to do. (abbreviated Goodreads Synopsis)


This was a fun novella that really put a smile on my face.

The premise of the book is delightfully bizarre and it works really well. I had trouble in a couple of places deciding what was past and what was present, since the narration jumped a little between the two early on and it wasn't always 100% clear. But once that settled down, I really got into the story.

Having already read Zombies Don't Cry, I was pleased to see a continuation of some of the rules of that world and there was the same zany humour and sense of fun. The characters were quirky and well presented and you did come to care for them even though it is only a fairly short story.

I worried as the pages ticked down that the ending would be a little rushed, but in actual fact it worked really well as it was fast-paced, action-packed and tied up all the loose ends nicely.

This book is a rollicking ride of monster mayhem and is well worth checking out.

Wayfinder (Worldwalker #2) by C. E. Murphy - Book Review

Title: Wayfinder (Worldwalker #2)

Author: C. E. Murphy

Publisher: Random House (Del Rey)

Publication Date: 6th September 2011

Pages: 298

Format: E-book - EPUB

Genre: Fantasy

Source: ARC from NetGalley




THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE—IF IT DOESN’T KILL YOU FIRST

Lara Jansen is a truthseeker, gifted—or cursed—with the magical ability to tell honesty from lies. Once she was a tailor in Boston, but now she has crossed from Earth to the Barrow-lands, a Faerie world embroiled in a bloody civil war between Seelie and Unseelie. Armed with an enchanted and malevolent staff which seeks to bend her to its dark will, and thrust into a deadly realm where it’s hard to distinguish friend from foe, Lara is sure of one thing: her love for Dafydd ap Caerwyn, the Faerie prince who sought her help in solving a royal murder and dousing the flames of war before they consumed the Barrow-lands.

But now Dafydd is missing, perhaps dead, and the Barrow-lands are closer than ever to a final conflagration. Lara has no other choice: she must harness the potent but perilous magic of the staff and her own truthseeking talents, blazing a path to a long-forgotten truth—a truth with the power to save the Barrow-lands or destroy them. (Goodreads Synopsis)



When I requested this book from NetGalley, it was not obvious from the blurb that it was the second in a series. That worried me a little when I found out, but in the end it was not too much of a problem. There were references to earlier events, but while I was missing the finer details, I did have an overview of what had happened from the nice recap at the start of the book.

I loved Lara's character as well as the idea of her 'gifts'. The concept of Truthseeking was very original and well portrayed with some excellent descriptive passages and the book had a great fantasy feel throughout, which I really enjoyed.

The action moved at a good pace, keeping my attention from start to finish, but also allowing time for characterisation and continuing development and there were some nice twists and turns in the plot that I didn't always see coming.

I would definitely go back and read the first book in the series and would read more works by this author.

I would recommend this to fans of paranormal/fantasy, but would suggest reading the books in order as I think it will allow greater appreciation of the plot and characters.

I received this book as a free e-book ARC from NetGalley.