The Pirate's Bounty

Review: The Hobbit

2011-12-15T11:20:00.006-06:00

J.R.R. Tolkien's own description for the original edition: If you care for journeys there and back, out of the comfortable Western world, over the edge of the Wild, and home again, and can take an interest in a humble hero (blessed with a little wisdom and a little courage and considerable good luck), here is a record of such a journey and such a traveler. The period is the ancient time between the age of Faerie and the dominion of men, when the famous forest of Mirkwood was still standing, and the mountains were full of danger. In following the path of this humble adventurer, you will learn by the way (as he did) -- if you do not already know all about these things -- much about trolls, goblins, dwarves, and elves, and get some glimpses into the history and politics of a neglected but important period.

For Mr. Bilbo Baggins visited various notable persons; conversed with the dragon , Smaug the Magnificent; and was present, rather unwillingly, at the Battle of the Five Armies. This is all the more remarkable, since he was a hobbit. Hobbits have hitherto been passed over in history and legend, perhaps because they as a rule preferred comfort to excitement. But this account, based on his personal memoirs, of the one exciting year in the otherwise quiet life of Mr. Baggins will give you a fair idea of the estimable people now (it is said) becoming rather rare. They do not like noise.

Alright folks if I need to tell you who this is by, then please feel free to email me so I can rant at you for 20mins about why you should already know.

Anyway, I liked The Hobbit more that the Lord of the Rings series, (Yes, I know shame on me), because the style of writing is much smother and I believe that it is an overall better story. Bilbo is also a far more interesting character than Frodo, because you have a much closer connection to Bilbo, as you spend all of your time with Bilbo. So tell me, is Bilbo a thief, a peacemaker or a recovery specialist?

Audio Book: Fall from Earth by Matthew Johnson read by @EmApocalyptic

2011-12-12T17:40:00.000-06:00

Shi Jin is a rebel, the latest in a long line of those who have challenged the Borderless Empire and failed. Dropped with a crew of convicts on an uninhabited planet, Shi Jin - and mankind- encounter alien life forms for the first time. She discovers that she is part of a much bigger game...one that will force her to decide between her desire to defeat the Empire and the future of humanity.

I read, er, listened to this book over the past day. This was my first ever audio book and it was life changing. The book itself was incredible. Matthew Johnson creates a world full of wonder and and excitement. And the world is very vivid.

Now review time. Shi Jin, and a group of convicts, are sent to a world to terraform and colonize it. However, as Shi Jin soon discovers that not is all that it seems to be. After the appearance of some mysterious creatures Shi Jin and the other convicts enter into a dangerous game of cat and mouse, but who is the cat and mouse? Wait, is that a dog? Now they are playing Dog-Cat-Mouse. Now things have gotten complicated. Who will prevail?

I listened to this book as read by Emma Newman and let me just say that she did an amazing job. Emma has change my opinion on audio books. She has an amazing voice for reading these kinds of books.

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini

2011-12-06T19:50:00.000-06:00

Not so very long ago, Eragon—Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider—was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders.

Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still, the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chances.

The Rider and his dragon have come further than anyone dared to hope. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alagaësia? And if so, at what cost?

The saga has ended. Inheritance did not have the samey feeling the first three had. I applaud Paolini for doing an excellent job connecting a plot line he used in a one of the previous book. The book has a happy ending, however, it left me with that empty, unsatisfied feeling. I believe that we have that heard the last of Eragon and Saphira.

This book would make a great holiday gift for all. And if you, or someone you know, has not read this series yet then I say to you. GO NOW! AND READ!!!!

BSFAD: Soul Serch by Amber Scott

2011-11-30T17:54:00.004-06:00

Three years ago, one horrific night changed his life forever. And now the wolf soul that was invoked to save him is taking over his body, day by day.

Can he master his animal instincts in time to discover who is stealing children's souls before the
delicate balance we all depend upon is shattered?

Or will he reject the one woman who can help heal his body and his soul?

Ok Everyone, I have not reviewed this book yet but I am promoting it because this cover is awesome. Also, the blurb wants me to read it even more.

Now for the Awesome News. As this months Best Seller for A Day Amber's book is available all week for 99 cents. Yes, I said 99 cents.

Now It gets even better. These books are bonus buys and will also be on sell for 99 cents.

Anyone who buys one or more of these books can enter the draw to win a kindle AND have their
purchase price for the bonus buys rebated. To do this, simply go to the Bestseller for
a Day website : http://www.bestsellerforaday.com/Bestseller_for_a_Day/Home.html and fill out the
form found on the right hand side. And Ta-Da you are entered to win!!!

Corsair (Outer Pendulum, Part 1) - Slava Heretz

2011-11-26T21:12:00.000-06:00

The Outer Pendulum, 1st installment in a serialized novel

With rampant piracy and corruption bringing the human colony in the Hydra solar system to the brink of collapse, decorated ex-Alliance Navy officer, Eli Saffinger, is hired to protect a freighter that could single-handedly revitalize the young, fragile civilization.

Knowing the inevitable consequence of escorting such valuable cargo, Saffinger prepares to confront the most ruthless and dangerous privateer in the southern Messier region - a mission that many have undertaken but none have survived.

Corsair (Outer Pendulum, Part 1) is a quick read. The story itself is not bad, I just feel that it was rushed and had minimal detail. This story it worthy to read on a short bus/car/train trip and will certainly help pass some time, However I would not go out of my way to find this book. I do respect the courage to start the story off with dialogue, but in good conscience I can not rate this higher than 2 out of 5.

Phone test

2011-11-15T12:18:00.001-06:00

Test test

wedding pictures part 1

2011-10-18T14:51:00.001-05:00

BFAD: Nearly Departed in Deadwood by Ann Charles

2011-09-28T12:00:00.000-05:00

Irony is having a big ol' fiesta and Violet Parker is the piñata. Little girls are vanishing from Deadwood, South Dakota, and Violet's daughter could be next. Short on time and long on worry, she's desperate to find the monster behind the abductions.
But with her jerkoff co-worker trying to get her fired, a secret admirer sending creepy love poems, and a sexy-as-hell stranger hiding skeletons in his closet, Violet just might end up as one of Deadwood's dearly departed.

Q: What made you decide to set your novels in Deadwood?

A: I had spent my summers in Deadwood during my teen years, after my mom moved there from Ohio. My family and I explored back roads, ghost towns, old abandoned mines, and stream-lined gulches every chance we could. The history of the place entranced us, and there was always a road we hadn’t traveled that needed to be checked out.
A few years ago, while pregnant with our second (and last!) child, my husband and I were in Deadwood visiting my mom and stepdad. On the way into town, a story idea hit me about a single mom with two kids—twins—who was trying to make ends meet while trying out a new career in a new town. That’s when Violet was born.
From the start, I had a gut feeling that this story was meant to be. Nearly Departed in Deadwood just poured out of me. The years of exploring the town and surrounding hills paid off, I was able to slip in and out of the setting by just closing my eyes. I could feel the summer sun, smell the pine trees, hear the sounds of Main Street. It was a match made in fictional heaven.

Q: Your cover art is really distinctive. Can you tell us more about it?

A: The cover artist is C.S. Kunkle, who happens to be my older brother. He also drew the graphics that are inside of the printed version of the book—I think 7 in all. He’s been drawing since we were kids, and he’s also one of the main sources for my wild imagination. His art is a little twisted and wild, and his love of monsters has kept me afraid of the dark since we were kids growing up on the farm in Ohio. He’d often tell me stories of vampires or werewolves living out behind the barn—the same barn that I had to go out to on dark winter nights and feed the cows. I grew up watching scary movies with him, and I’m pretty sure he’s warped a part of my brain.
We had wanted to work on a joint project for years, and when I couldn’t hook a New York publisher with this book, I turned to him and asked if he would be willing to work with me on this project and represent the books in the art form. He didn’t even hesitate.
If you check out my Deadwood website (www.anncharles.com/deadwood), as well as my main Ann Charles website (www.anncharles.com), you will see his art all over the webpages. I’m extremely fortunate that my parents put my crib in his room when he was four, because we’ve stuck together through thick and thin ever since. Having such a talented artist so willing to work with me has been an incredible boost to my career.

Q: What is your ideal romantic hero like?

A: He loves to cook and he’s great at it. He also is willing to clean the toilet and shower/tub, do the laundry, and go grocery shopping. Oh, and he likes his women short, curvy, and full of spunk. Handsome with sexy forearms is a definite plus! He’s nice to kids and pets, he’s intelligent but doesn’t show off, and he is willing to give a woman the space she needs to grow and thrive.

Q: What one thing is vital to your survival (or sanity!) when writing?

A: Caffeine. Lots of it. Injected intravenously.

Q: What is your favorite way to relax?

A: Sitting on my couch with a good action/adventure movie with a touch of romance on the television, a plate of Chicken Tikka Masala in front of me (with plenty of warm Naan, too), and a Coke Slurpee within reach. Ahhh, paradise!

Q: What advice would you give a brand-new writer?

A: If writing to get published and sell books is what you really want to do, realize that winning contests, finding a publisher (or agent), and becoming a bestseller doesn’t happen
overnight. It takes years, sometimes even a decade or more, like it has for me. I have been
working to be published for about fourteen years now. Many authors take less time than I have, some take more. Patience is necessary, as is continually learning, persevering, and practicing. And most important—this is an entrepreneurial business. Entrepreneurs are known for living, breathing, and sleeping their businesses. Writing is the same. If your family doesn’t periodically consider staging an intervention to break you from your writing-related addiction, you aren’t working hard enough at it to succeed.

Q: What is your favorite bad-for-you treat?

A: A Coke Slurpee. Someday, I’m going to purchase a Slurpee machine of my own and drink it straight from the tap.

Q: If you had an entire day to yourself with no responsibilities of any kind and unlimited resources, what would it look like?

A: Easy—I’d be sitting on a Mexican beach under a big umbrella with a huge blended Margarita on the little table next to me along with a huge plate of chips and guacamole in my lap. In one hand, I’d have my Kindle loaded with a sexy read, and in the other I’d have my husband’s IPod that I’d be listening to while he took a dip in the crystal clear pool of the resort behind us. Later, our kids would join us for a yummy, fun-filled dinner, and then the nanny would give my husband and me a few more hours of “adult swim” time beforereturning the kids for the night.

Q: What is something that readers would be surprised to know about you?

A: I have an irrational fear of cows, which formed when I was a little kid and have not been able to shake. When I was fifteen, I got lost in the Black Hills of South Dakota one summer day because I’d come across a bull standing in the road while I was out on a walk. I was too chicken to try to skirt around it. For five hours, I wandered the forest, lost, trying not to panic as dusk neared. Finally, I came across a cute little cottage filled with a kind, older couple who took me in, fed me some cookies, and then drove me home.

Q: What is one of your most embarrassing moments?

A: Recently, I stepped off a Ferris Wheel at an amusement park, twisted my ankle, and proceeded to fall down the three steps to the ground in a very ungraceful like manner. Think “train crash” here. My shins took a beating, but my wrists were saved because I fell on top of my 4-year-old daughter. What a great mother, right? Cushion my fall with my kid in front of a crowd of about twenty-five people. Ha! Luckily, my daughter took the brunt of my weight pretty well and ended up with only a bruised knee, where as I had to go to the first aid station and get wrapped with ace bandages and patched up with Band-Aids. Just call me, “Grace.”

Prais for Nearly Departed in Deadwood

"Nearly Departed In Deadwood was a contemporary mystery romance with a touch of paranormal that kept me enthralled with goosebump-creepiness and belly aching laughter." ***** FIVE STARS! -Escape Between the Pages Book Reviews

"It's no wonder Ann won an award for this story. Her storytelling capabilities are tremendous." ***** FIVE STARS!

-ParaYourNormal Book Reviews

"Ann Charles weaves a fun romp of humor, romance, mystery, and the occult. The pages are brimming with eccentric small town characters."

-Angela Spencer, Reviewer for Rise Reviews

"I loved the sexual tension that Charles portrayed and built along with a phenomenal plot."

-Immortality and Beyond Book Reviews

"With colorful characters and witty dialogue, this is a book sure to please all fans of mystery, romance and the paranormal."

-The Pen & Muse Book Review

What is Best Seller for A Day?

2011-09-24T17:02:00.002-05:00

TheBestseller for a Day event is a creation of the Indie BookCollection, an organization

dedicatedto elevating the status of Indie writers everywhere by ensuringquality standards for their books.Bestseller for a Day serves a number of purposes.

First,we at the IBC realize that robust sales are a vital component of anyIndie writer’s platform. Inorder to get the attention of the entrenched publishingestablishment, Indies have to prove they can sellas many books, or more, than any big-name blockbuster author. Whilethis may sound like a lofty goal,many of our Bestseller for a Day featured novels have reachedmultiple Top 100 lists in the Amazon store. The effects often lingerlong after the day of the actual event.

Secondly,it is no surprise that today’s publishing environment is changingat lightning speed. Justas authors have more choices available to them, readers do too, andthe roles they play in a book’s successhas never been stronger. Our Bestseller for a Day event harnesses thegrowing power of the readerby creating direct relationships between author and audience. Authorsinteract directly with readersthrough their own media platforms, creating relationships andbuilding an audience that will, in manycases, last long beyond the event.

Readersare empowered, as well. Through Bestseller for a Day, readers get thechance to tell Amazon,New York, and the world that a particular Indie book is just as goodas the latest big-name release.Their efforts have immediate, quantifiable results. No longer doreaders have to wait weeks to see how a favoredtitle ranks on a couple of key printed lists.

Justas readers have an increasingly powerful role in the new way booksare bought and read,the rise of the book blogger cannot be denied. We at the IBC love ourbook bloggers and see Bestsellerfor a Day as another great way to connect with them. By matching bookbloggers with authors who write for their preferred genre andaudience, we bring them the chance to offer free books to theirestablished readers. This is also a powerful draw to new followers.Additionally, because we offer“drafting titles” titles for .99 cents, book blogs that may beoutside the featured title’s genre still haveplenty to gain by participating.

Butthe most important part of Bestseller for a Day is something thatcan’t be measured. There’san air of excitement that builds as the “big day” approachesthat’s contagious. The IBC uses a widevariety of media sources to publicize the event, includingnewsletters, paid advertisements, book bloggers, and theIBC’s adept command of social media. There’s a building buzz asthe day approaches. Duringthe actual Bestseller for a Day event, the IBC, the author, andreaders alike are active on Twitter andFacebook as they report the featured title’s progress in real time.

Thesuccess of the Bestseller for a Day program is evident with ourcurrent offering, Ann Charles’ NearlyDead in Deadwood. This award-winning romance jumped over 10,000ranking in the Kindle storedue to Bestseller for a Day efforts, and we’re still days away fromthe event itself! Similarly, last month’sfeatured title, In Leah’s Wake, enjoyed a similar bump in rankings.The author, Terri Guilano Long,even received a all from Amazon itself the day of the event, wishingher luck. Please join the fun on September 28th!

7 Folds of Winter by Carolyn McCray

2011-09-14T16:26:00.000-05:00

The world of Strathos is in dire peril. The Winter God has gone mad, dragging the world into an eternal blizzard. Can a band of strangers fulfill a broken prophecy or will the prophecy break them and all they hold dear?

7 Folds of Winter is a unique mix of characters thrown in together by the Fates to travel across this amazing white icy world to save it and each other, but will it be enough?

Caroyln creates a world unlike any other. A world where Winter is lasting longer and longer and now The Hero strikes out to find out a way to bring the world back into order. Along the way, The Hero meets several unlikely heroes, friends. Together and separately they embark on a perilous journey filled with dangerous creatures, frightful emotions, and the bitter cold.

Each Character is perfect in their creation. Together they face the world. Alone they face self-doubt and some face adolescent changes. I love all the character for being their own unique person.

7 Folds of Winter is a roller coaster ride in a snow storm. Exciting! Chilling! Exhilarating!

Wedding Countdown

2011-09-07T14:52:00.000-05:00

So as many of you may have heard I am getting married soon. October 1st to be exact.

On October 1st I am going to marry my best friend, my love, my everything. I am so excited and nervous that I am marrying the most amazing woman I have ever met and I can not wait to spend the rest of my life with her. There are just not enough words on the planet to express how much I love her.

After the wedding I will be sure to post some wedding pictures.

Now I leave this for you, my followers.

Wizards First Rule By Terry Goodkind

2011-08-30T12:00:00.000-05:00

In the aftermath of the brutal murder of his father, a mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, appears in Richard Cypher's forest sanctuary seeking help . . . and more. His world, his very beliefs, are shattered when ancient debts come due with thundering violence.

In a dark age it takes courage to live, and more than mere courage to challenge those who hold dominion, Richard and Kahlan must take up that challenge or become the next victims. Beyond awaits a bewitching land where even the best of their hearts could betray them. Yet, Richard fears nothing so much as what secrets his sword might reveal about his own soul. Falling in love would destroy them--for reasons Richard can't imagine and Kahlan dare not say.
In their darkest hour, hunted relentlessly, tormented by treachery and loss, Kahlan calls upon Richard to reach beyond his sword--to invoke within himself something more noble. Neither knows that the rules of battle have just changed . . . or that their time has run out.
This is the beginning. One book. One Rule. Witness the birth of a legend.

Mass Market Paperback, 836 pages

Published March 27th 2003 by Tor Books (first published September 15th 1994)

ISBN 0765346524 (ISBN13: 9780765346520)

I OWN THIS

Before, I begin my rant let me say this. This book is Awesome.

Wizard's First Rule

People are stupid, they will believe something because they want it to be true; or they're afraid it might be true.

The First rule because it is the most important one and it is my favorite one. I really love this book. The world is amazing. First we start in Westland with Richard, where this is no magic. Then Richards world starts to fall apart when he meets the beautiful and mysterious Kahlan. Together they must embark on a quest of foretold danger, where they are hunted my a dangerous man who plan on taking over the wold. Follow Richard and Kahlan as they travel across the Midlands seeking the answers that would help them save the world and each other.

Follow them as they face death, torture, magic, dragons, countless dangerous magical creatures, red apples and least of all snakes. Do you have the courage to dive into their world or become a victim of The Wizards First Rule?

Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater

2011-08-28T14:18:00.000-05:00

In this mesmerizing sequel to Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception, music prodigy James Morgan and his best friend, Deirdre, join a private conservatory for musicians. James' musical talent attracts Nuala, a soul-snatching faerie muse who fosters and feeds on the creative energies of exceptional humans until they die. Composing beautiful music together unexpectedly leads to mutual admiration and love. Haunted by fiery visions of death, James realizes that Deirdre and Nuala are being hunted by the Fey and plunges into a soul-scorching battle with the Queen of the Fey to save their lives.

Paperback, 352 pages

Published October 1st 2009 by Flux

ISBN: 0738714844 (ISBN13: 9780738714844)

How I Read it: Library Check-out

Ok, remember how I was so exited about the first book and talked about it. Well, this book is so much better. Who doesn't love a soul sucking faerie that can't seem to hold herself together at the mere mention of James. And is jealous of Dee. Of course this book isn't about Dee. Well it kind of is but no one cares about that because we are Team James over here. Because James is neurotic and attempts to be funny, while dealing with the emotional strain of seeing Dee and the emotional attachment he is developing to his muse Nuala.

Anyway, can't you tell that I love this book. Because it not I can spell it out for you. I-L-O-V-E-T-H-I-S-B-O-O-K. Enough said. Go read it now. Or I will hunt you down with a stick.

Oh wait. As for the cover. I love it and I hate it. I love it for its simplicity and that it captures the heart of the book and I hate it because of its simplicity.

The White Cat by Holly Black

2011-08-28T11:08:00.001-05:00

Cassel comes from a family of curse workers -- people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn't got the magic touch, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail -- he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.
Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a facade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his facade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the con-men.

Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books; 1 edition (May 4, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416963960
How I Read it: Library Check-out

Holly Black has done the incredible, something I hope to achieve one day. She has created a world where nothing is what it seems. A dangerous world full of enough wonder that you have to open the book again for more. And the more you come back the more you want it. It is an addictive world, where with each chapter the plot thickens and you become more entranced.

In this world the characters are creative and amazing. Each character is slowly losing there mind and doing what they do best. Being con-men and in some cases being curse workers.But who is plotting against who? And what is the deal with the white cat? Well I can't tell you. You will just have to read this book made of awesome to find out.

As for the cover. Well you can see that it is made of awesome. See, look at the picture up there at the beginning of this review.

A Need so Beautiful by Suzanne Young

2011-07-12T15:41:00.001-05:00

Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become--her mark on this earth, her very existence--is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.

Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny--no matter how dark the consequences. (Via Goodreads)

Suzanne Young has done it. She has created a wonderful read and a wondrous world the depicts the teenage struggle through Charlotte who must choose a path a good and help others or a path of selfishness and stay with the ones she loves.

This story is beautiful written and pulls you in with each word.I should know because I read it twice. All the characters in this story are unique and gives the story life. A life you want to read again and again, at least until the 2nd book come out.

Now For the Interview.

Why did you choose the color Gold? Why not another color?

To be honest, my first idea had Charlotte with golden scales—something that she would think was horrible, but when all exposed was truly beautiful. The gold symbolizes the light that she’s meant to become.

Which Character was your favorite to write?

I loved reading about Harlin and Alex, but I think I enjoyed writing Onika the most. It’s fun to explore those darker elements in my writing.

Is there going to be a continuation to A Need so Beautiful?

There is a second book—A WANT SO WICKED—coming out next summer.

How has social networking affected the writer stereotype?

Well, with twitter and Facebook we can look like social creatures even when we’re still at home in our pajamas, typing away. I think it makes writers less mysterious because it pushes us as personalities and not just writers. That being said, it also helps us to not feel so isolated in such a solitary job.

What is your opinion about sex in YA?

I’m writing a story about characters—some of them have sex. Some of them don’t. Of course, not all teens are having sex, but some are. For me to portray my characters accurately, sex would be a part of their lives. It mostly happens off page, but I don’t shy away from the subject.

Now the important questions.

What is more important: Chocolate or Coffee?

Coffee times 1000

Who is your hero?

My grandmother

Favorite Author?

Carrie Ryan

Favorite Movie?

The Royal Tenenbaums

If you could have any superpower what would it be and how would you use it?

The ability to stop time. That way I could get everything done and have more time to relax in the real world.

The Dream Crystal by Mark O'Bannon

2011-06-19T20:26:00.001-05:00

All of the world's dreams are about to die. The Shadow People have come. Always near, they linger in the darkness, ready to devour dreams, hopes, aspirations and desires.

Aisling, having lost her dream of becoming a fashion designer, learns that she is a fairy changeling. Disquieted by the fact that her fairy parents are kidnappers, she has decided to rescue the human child the was exchanged for, but her "sister" is no longer among the fairies, having been taken by the Shadow People. Ith, the Lord of Shadows is trying to control the dreams of mankind, which are under the protection of the fairies, so they're at war.

Aisling, who doesn't believe in dreams any longer, is falling in love with a handsome, mysterious stranger - one of the Shadow People.

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 1131 KB
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: MEOw Publishing (May 13, 2011)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B0050I6BPU

You can find The Dream Crystal Here.

Aisling is born in the fairy world, switched at birth with a human child. Aisling, lives in the human world unaware of the fairy world until her school tells her that her fashion designs are 'too elaborate'. Aisling starts hearing voices, is banished from the martial arts temple, and sees mysterious 'balls of light'.

Aisling soon enters the Fairy world with her best friend Genevieve and together they discover a world of wonder and magic. As they explore the world together they discover that the Fairies are at war with The Shadows. The Shadows wants to destroy the dreams, and the Queen wants to preserve the dreams of the world.

All Aisling wants to do is save her 'sister' from the shadow realm. But what will she discover if she continues down this path?

I absolutely loved this book. It is refreshing to read a book that makes me want to read more. The characters are each different and unique that give the world the since of wonder that makes you want to read more. The characters uniqueness gives you the feeling that you connect to them.

Mark creates a world of wonder and magic with each page. The world is full of lies, truth, and that grey area in the middle. Mark creates a world where his wonderful characters have to determine what is the truth and what is a lie.

Come Join Aisling and Genevieve in the wondrous tale, while I wait for the next part of the story.

About Mark O'Bannon.

Review: Hex: A Witch and Angel Tale by Ramona Wary

2011-05-02T08:00:00.001-05:00

Like most girls at Rosemound High School, seventeen-year-old Lily Crane is acutely aware of Ryder Kingscott. Hands down the cutest guy in school, Ryder is cool, mysterious, and utterly untouchable…especially for Lily. For when she touches someone, Lily instantly learns all about their lives. And while such a skill might seem nifty, in truth it is wrecking Lily’s life.

So she is shocked when Ryder asks her out — and even more shocked to discover he has a rival. Lucian Bell is the gorgeous new kid who can’t take his eyes off of Lily. Being pursued by two hotties should make a girl happy, but Lily is skeptical. The boys act as if they’ve met before, hating each other with a passion that could only be rooted in a dark, dangerous past. A past full of terrible secrets. The kind of secrets that could get a girl killed. (Goodreads)

Cover:
The Cover is Cute, but you know that old saying "Don't judge a book by its cover." Yeah, this is one of these times.

Plot:
The Cover might be pretty and pink, but the story is so much darker. And I loved just about every minute. You learn of Lily's secrete really early in the book which makes things interesting. Now she has two boys fighting over her. Which should really turn her on, but when Lucian and Ryder first talk, they talk like they have met before and that there is something that they are involved in that could change things.

I can't tell you to much without going into spoiler territory. Which is bad. So I am just going to tell you the ending was really WTF for me, but the rest of the book was worth the read.

Characters:
I liked Lily. She is very unique since she avoids human contact. Her best friend, J, is crazy. Her outfit changes weekly depending on how she feels. I kinda hated both Lucian and Ryder. I couldn't tell who was who, or who was hiding what. But they grew on you. The are strong confident characters.

Excerpt:
You can read a sample chapter here.

About the Author:
Here is Ramona's Bio. (It is too long for me to post)

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2011-04-25T00:11:00.000-05:00

Review: City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

2011-04-23T09:00:00.001-05:00

YOU ARE BEING WARNED. THIS POST CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS. IF YOU WANT TO READ SOME (A GOOD NUMBER) SPOILERS THEN CONTINUE.

City of Fallen Angels takes place two months after the events of City of Glass. In it, a mysterious someone’s killing the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle and displaying their bodies around New York City in a manner designed to provoke hostility between Downworlders and Shadowhunters, leaving tensions running high in the city and disrupting Clary’s plan to lead as normal a life as she can — training to be a Shadowhunter, and pursuing her relationship with Jace. As Jace and Clary delve into the issue of the murdered Shadowhunters, they discover a mystery that has deeply personal consequences for them — consequences that may strengthen their relationship, or rip it apart forever.

Meanwhile, internecine warfare among vampires is tearing the Downworld community apart, and only Simon — the Daylighter who everyone wants on their side — can decide the outcome; too bad he wants nothing to do with Downworld politics. Love, blood, betrayal and revenge: the stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.

A sequel to City of Glass. Fast paced, Action packed. Hot make out scenes between Jace and Clary. Clary doing some training, then being seduced by Jace. Simon has his own problems, between being attacked and juggling Izzy and Maia. Then being approached by an ancient vampire, his first feeding on a human. More making out between Jace and Clary. Jace having nightmares and avoiding Clary. Clary's mom gets married. So you see a lot is going on. Lost yet? I haven't even told you about Magnus and Alec. Or the shadowhunters turning up dead. Oh Wait nevermind.

I really loved this book. Simon is awesome. He is starting to learn to accept his vampireness. And his is realizing his fate and start facing the future. GO READ THIS BOOK NOW!!!!

Review: StarCrossed (Thief Errant #1) by Elizabeth C. Bunce

2011-04-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

Digger thrives as a spy and sneak-thief among the feuding religious factions of Gerse, dodging the Greenmen who have banned all magic. But when a routine job goes horribly wrong and her partner and lover Tegen is killed, she has to get out of the city, fast, and hides herself in a merry group of nobles to do so.

Accepted as a lady's maid to shy young Merista Nemair, Digger finds new peace and friendship at the Nemair stronghold--as well as plenty of jewels for the taking.

But after the devious Lord Daul catches her in the act of thievery, he blackmails her into becoming his personal spy in the castle, and Digger soon realizes that her noble hosts aren't as apolitical as she thought... that indeed, she may be at the heart of a magical rebellion. (via Goodreads)

Hardcover, 359 pages

Published October 1st 2010 by Arthur A. Levine Books

Plot:

I absolutely loved this book. Quick paced, fun and suspenseful. Bunce had me at "Chapter One." I went into this book thinking, "Oh this is just going to be another girly book that the Main Character (MC) would fall in love with some knight in shining armor that would save her. I am so glad I was wrong. The book moves and there is a surprise near the end.

Characters:

Digger is possibly one of the strongest heroines that has captured my heart in a while. Like possibly when I read a good number of Tamora Pierce's books. (Yes it was a while ago. I was in middle/high school.) But really some heroines don't get much stronger. I know what you are thinking. Could you pick a different heroine to compare Digger too? NO! I Could not. Go Read This book and read some of Pierce's books. No they are not the same but in someways they are!!!!

Excerpt:

You can read Chapter One Here!

About the Author:

I write historical fantasy for young adults and discerning not-so-young adults. "Historical fantasy" means my work is inspired by real places and cultures of the past, but with fantastical, otherworldly, or magical elements.

I've been writing as long as I can remember--even before I knew it was a job! I’ve always been interested in literature, folklore, history, and culture, so I studied English and anthropology in college. But I’ve only ever worked as a writer (although not all my writing jobs were as interesting as being a novelist).

I’m a native Midwesterner, currently living in the tall grass prairie near Kansas City with my husband and our dogs. When I’m not writing, you can find me with a book, a dog, or my needlework in hand, sometimes all of the above, which makes for some furry embroidery. via Bunce's Site

DNF Review: Boneshaker by Cherie Priest

2011-04-22T08:00:00.002-05:00

In the early days of the Civil War, rumors of gold in the frozen Klondike brought hordes of newcomers to the Pacific Northwest. Anxious to compete, Russian prospectors commissioned inventor Leviticus Blue to create a great machine that could mine through Alaska’s ice. Thus was Dr. Blue’s Incredible Bone-Shaking Drill Engine born.

But on its first test run the Boneshaker went terribly awry, destroying several blocks of downtown Seattle and unearthing a subterranean vein of blight gas that turned anyone who breathed it into the living dead.

Now it is sixteen years later, and a wall has been built to enclose the devastated and toxic city. Just beyond it lives Blue’s widow, Briar Wilkes. Life is hard with a ruined reputation and a teenaged boy to support, but she and Ezekiel are managing. Until Ezekiel undertakes a secret crusade to rewrite history.

His quest will take him under the wall and into a city teeming with ravenous undead, air pirates, criminal overlords, and heavily armed refugees. And only Briar can bring him out alive.

Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Tor Books; First Edition edition (September 29, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0765318415
ISBN-13: 978-0765318411

I Did Not Finish

Plot:

I thought What could go wrong with Airships, toxic gas and zombies. Well I got about 150 pages in and was bored. I didn't see any real conflict. No Action. Nothing breath taking.

Characters:

Still, at 150pgs in I couldn't connect to them. Brair is an overprotective mother but a workaholic. (Reminds me of my mother. I don't want to read about my mom.) Ezekiel wants to 'rewrite' history. Well so do a lot of teenage boys. (I would tell you more on that part but that involves spoilers.) So same-old same-old.

So overall I was bored. But go check it out of your local library and give it a whirl. Someone that isn't me might enjoy it.

Review Hungry for You by A.M. Harte

2011-04-21T08:38:00.000-05:00

“There is no greater drug than relationships; there is no sweeter death than love.”

Love is horrible. It’s ruthless, messy, mind-altering, and raw. It takes no prisoners. It chews you up and spits you out and leaves you for dead. Love is, you could say, very much like a zombie.

In this haunting short story collection, anything is possible—a dying musician turns to tea for inspiration; a police sergeant struggles with a very unusual victim; a young wife is trapped in a house hiding unimaginable evil….

Alright. I read this book for a Blog Tour. I however did not like the book. As I read the short stories I found it hard to connect to anything. I do encourage everyone to read the book themselves to develop your own opinions. I am sure some of you will enjoy it.(This is about the best I can do without sounding like an ass).

Now The Blog Tour is having a contest/giveaway. So here are the Rules.

1. Anyone who comments on A. M. Harte's website on the day gets a free ebook of Hungry For You.

2. Anyone who comments on my review enters into a giveaway for a signed paperback, 3 limited edition postcards, and a surprise free ebook (a copy of my publishers' latest release -- see http://1889.ca/books/vg1/ for more details).
Three runner-up will get a postcard + the surprise ebook.
Winners will be announced May 5.

3. There is also a Kindle up for grabs across the whole blog tour, so it's going to be a little manic at best!

Easter Blog Hop Winners

2011-04-19T22:30:00.001-05:00

And The Winners are:

LadyVampire2u

latishajean

and

Shannon Johnson

Winners are emailed and have 48hrs to respond. If I do not get a response in 48hrs I am picking new winners.

Easter Blog Hop

2011-04-15T00:01:00.002-05:00

Hey Everyone. You know what time it is, right? Right. It is the Easter Blog Hop Hosted by Lush Book Reviews and JoJo's Book Corner going on from April 15th to April 17th.

So here is what I am giving away.

Winner 1 & 2 will recieve a CD that contains some stories from Missy Jane, author of They Call me Death. As well as a 2 bookmarks and a magent. Nifty right?

Winner 3 will recieve 3 sets of bookmarks from Riley Carney's, The Fire Stone, The Water Stone, and The Wind Stone. As well as their choice of a book from Amazon.com under the amount of $15.

Here is the kicker. All you have to do it comment with your email addy to enter. It's Simple. Like Pie.

***Disclaimer: My Camera is broken or there would be pictures of these awesome stuff.***

***Disclaimer 2: Thank You to Authors Missy Jane and Riley Carney for provide the prizes!***

Review: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

2011-04-10T21:17:00.001-05:00

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.

Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers; First Edition edition (October 6, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0385737947

Disclaimer: I still recommend reading it. Maybe you will see something I didn't.

Plot:

So the book starts off really slow for about the first 60 pages. (In my opinion.) Plus you are thrown a few slang words that you have no idea what they mean. Then the story picks up and moves really quickly. You are thrown in to the world where everything the characters knew starts to change and their time is about to be up. As the story progresses characters begin to have different opinions of each other. Then I lost track of what was happening. After that I found out what was going on again, but the last few chapters I got bored.

Characters:

If was hard to connect with the characters because you are thrown right into a problem they have to solve. I didn't really know the characters because everything happened within about 2 weeks time in the book. They only reason I felt anything for the characters was because they are thrown into an unknown world without their memories.

Excerpt:

He began his new life standing up, surrounded by cold darkness and
stale, dusty air.

Metal ground against metal; a lurching shudder shook the floor beneath him. He fell down at the sudden movement and shuffled backward on his hands and feet, drops of sweat beading on his forehead despite the cool air. His back struck a hard metal wall; he slid along it until he hit the corner of the room. Sinking to the floor, he pulled his legs up tight against his body, hoping his eyes would soon adjust to the darkness.

With another jolt, the room jerked upward like an old lift in
a mine shaft.

Harsh sounds of chains and pulleys, like the workings of an
ancient steel factory, echoed through the room, bouncing off the walls with a hollow, tinny whine. The lightless elevator swayed back and forth as it ascended, turning the boy’s stomach sour with nausea; a smell like burnt oil invaded his senses, making him feel worse. He wanted to cry, but no tears came; he could only sit there, alone, waiting.

My name is Thomas, he thought.

About the Author:

James Dashner is also the author of the 13th Reality series. James was born and raised in Georgia, but now lives in the Rocky Mountains with his family. After several years working in finance, he is now a full-time writer. From his site here.

Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception by Maggie Stiefvater

2011-04-05T12:15:00.001-05:00

Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan is a painfully shy but prodigiously gifted musician. She's about to find out she's also a cloverhand—one who can see faeries. Deirdre finds herself infatuated with a mysterious boy who enters her ordinary suburban life, seemingly out of thin air. Trouble is, the enigmatic and gorgeous Luke turns out to be a gallowglass—a soulless faerie assassin. An equally hunky—and equally dangerous—dark faerie soldier named Aodhan is also stalking Deirdre. Sworn enemies, Luke and Aodhan each have a deadly assignment from the Faerie Queen. Namely, kill Deirdre before her music captures the attention of the Fae and threatens the Queen's sovereignty. Caught in the crossfire with Deirdre is James, her wisecracking but loyal best friend. Deirdre had been wishing her life weren't so dull, but getting trapped in the middle of a centuries-old faerie war isn't exactly what she had in mind . . .

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 325 pages
Publisher: Flux; 1 edition (October 8, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0738713708

Look, I really liked this book. The Characters are strong and unique. Each character is lifelike and believable, including the Fae. However, the book starts off a little slow. The ending is mind blowing. I love the Fae concept in this book. I would like to read Ballad. I suggest reading this book.

Ok. Very short review because I don't feel good.

Tantalize by Cynthia Lietich Smith

2011-03-27T09:39:00.000-05:00

Note: All Reviews are completely my opinion and were not influenced by anyone elses thoughts except my own.

CLASSIFIED ADS: RESTAURANTS SANGUINI'S: A VERY RARE RESTAURANT IS HIRING A CHEF DE CUISINE. DINNERS ONLY.
APPLY IN PERSON BETWEEN 2:00 AND 4:00 PM.

Quincie Morris has never felt more alone. Her parents are dead, and her hybrid-werewolf first love is threatening to embark on a rite of passage that will separate them forever. Then, as she and her uncle are about to unveil their hot vampire-themed restaurant, a brutal murder leaves them scrambling for a chef. Can Quincie transform their new hire into a culinary Dark Lord before opening night? Can he wow the crowd in his fake fangs, cheap cape, and red contact lenses — or is there more to this earnest face than meets the eye? As human and preternatural forces clash, a deadly love triangle forms, and the line between predator and prey begins to blur. Who’s playing whom? And how long can Quincie play along before she loses everything?

Paperback, 336 pages

Published February 13th 2007 by Candlewick Press

ISBN

0763627917 (ISBN13: 9780763627911)

primary language English

original title Tantalize

url http://www.candlewick.com/cat.asp?

browse=Title&mode=book&isbn=0763627917&pix=n

series Tantalize #1

setting Austin, Texas (United States)

Cover:

Firstly, this cover is pretty awesome. It is simple and elegant at the same time. But do not judge a book by its cover. BEWARE!

Plot:

Alright, the prologue gets you hooked immediately. You are throw into a scene by the train tracks with Quincie and her best friend and the boy she loves. Then as you go into the first chapter, Quincie is waiting for her best friend when a murder takes place in the kitchen of her deceased parents restaurant. Now the restaurant is going to die, that is until her Uncle hires a new chef and it is Quincie's job to whip the young chef into shape and mold him into a Master Chef and the theatrical "Head Vampire" to go along with the theme of the restaurant. When Quincie finds out her best friend is about to leave her she starts to spend more time with the new chef. But there are strange things going on in town. People are turning up dead and their bodies drained of blood. Who is behind these occurrences? Why is her love trying to leave? And will her chef become something more?

Characters:

Quincie is a young girl trying to go to school, run her deceased parents restaurant, hire a new chef and deal with her feelings about her best friend. Quincie appears weak at first but as the story progresses she shows that she is strong and has the will to do what she wants to do.

About the Author:

New York Times best-selling and award-winning author Cynthia Leitich Smith writes fiction for everyone, but she has a particular affection for young readers, from kids to twenty-somethings. You can read more about Cynthia here.

Definition of Tantalize:

: to tease or torment by or as if by presenting something desirable to the view but continually keeping it out of reach

Review: In the Arms of Stone Angels by Jordan Dane

2011-03-21T18:00:00.055-05:00

Two years ago I did a terrible thing. I accused my best friend of being a killer after seeing him kneeling over a girl’s body. That moment and that outcast boy still haunt me. Now my mom is forcing me back to Oklahoma and I can’t get White Bird out of my mind. But when I find out he’s not in juvie—that he’s in a mental hospital, locked in his tormented brain at the worst moment of his life—I can’t turn my back on him again.

No one wants me to see him. My mom doesn’t trust me. The town sheriff still thinks I was involved in the murder. And the other kids who knew the dead girl are after me. I’m as trapped as White Bird. And when I touch him, I get sucked into his living hell, a vision quest of horrifying demons and illusions of that night. Everything about him scares me now, but I have to do something. This time I can’t be a coward. This time I have to be his friend.

Even if I get lost, as well...

Title:		In The Arms of Stone Angels

Publisher:		Harlequin

Imprint:		HarlequinTEEN

Pub Date:		03/28/2011

ISBN:		9780373210299

Writing/Plot:

I was looking forward to this book when I received it on NetGalley. However, after I started the story was a little slow. The story pulls you in after the back flashes. At some parts I couldn't stop reading and other parts I had to put in down and walk away for a while.

Characters:

Brenna Nash is an emotional wreak, that is an outcast and is different. She must try to find out the truth. As you follow Brenna you start to connect and feel sorry for her and want her to heal and become a stronger person. Each of the minor characters has a personality that pulls the story along.

Excerpt:

When I saw White Bird crying in the shadows of that dry creek bed, the sight of him sent chills over my skin. I should have paid attention to what my body was telling me back then—to stay away and leave him alone—but I didn't.
He was rocking in the shadows and muttering words I didn't understand. When I got closer, I saw he wasn't alone, but I couldn't see the girl's face. And tears were running down his cheeks. They glistened in the gray of morning, at the razor's edge of dawn. I wish I had stayed where I was that day—hiding in the dark—but my curiosity grabbed me by the throat and wouldn't let go. Like an omen, the buzz of flies should have warned me. And thinking back on it, I wished that I had paid more attention to the sound. Even now, a single housefly can trigger that dark memory. And on nights when the dead can't comfort me to sleep, I still hear the unending noise of those flies and I think of him. Our paths had crossed that day as if it was always meant to be...

About the Author:

I make up stuff for a living. Who knew I could get paid for that? Voices come to me, from deep inside my head and I consider that to be a good thing...for now. (No, I'm not on meds. That would really screw me up.) I'm an observer, a listener and a scribe. And I'm cynical by nature—and by choice—and frequently indulge my inner smart-ass. I'm perfectly content in the solitude of my head, poking and prodding the three pounds of gray matter taking up that space. Guess if my brain ever takes a real vay-kay, I can lease out my skull to a much more deserving occupant.

Review: The Water Stone by Riley Carney

2011-03-17T17:09:00.000-05:00

The Water Stone: Book Two of The Reign of the Elements BookLight Press Ages 9 and up

The Water Stone is second book in a high fantasy adventure series brought to life by memorable, vibrant characters.

After successfully recovering the Fire Stone, fifteen-year-old Matt wants nothing more than to enjoy himself with his friends in the magical forest of Amaldan, home of the elves, but Matt knows that the evil elf Malik will never stop seeking the Stones of the Elements. And when a plague from ancient years resurfaces, threatening the lives of an entire city, the only way to ensure their survival is to find the second Stone of the Elements, the Water Stone, which possesses mysterious magical healing powers.

Matt, Samsire, and their friends, set off on another quest, following the clues of a long-dead dwarf adventurer, as they desperately race against time and Malik's forces to find the Water Stone before it's too late.

Characters:

Riley Carney has done it again. Matt and his friends manke an unforgettable come back in the second book of The Reign of Elements series. As they travel together you can see the relationships growing and each character becoming their own unique person with their own personalities. Come join the fun and the growing of the characters in The Water Stone.

Writing/Plot:

The writing of a person Riley's age shows that reading and writing are still taught in school and that younger people still have a love for it. Anyway, due to the first book being left on a Cliff Hanger, the second book is much needed. And with some of Matt's friends in need of The Water Stone, the story moves on. Along with that, Riley's unique perspective and ability to write pulls you in deep, just like you are there with matt on his quest.

About the Author:

I write for tweens and teens from a unique perspective - I'm a teenager! My stories are exciting, filled with action, humor, and characters who teens can relate to.

I was fifteen when I wrote The Fire Stone. I also wrote the next two books in The Reign of the Elements series, The Water Stone and The Wind Stone when I was fifteen, but I wrote the last two books in the five-book series, The Immortality Scroll and The Final Alliance when I was sixteen.
I just completed an exciting YA, urban fantasy trilogy for teens.
I love to write, but I am also very involved with eliminating illiteracy and poverty for children around the world. I believe that teaching children to read breaks the cycle of poverty and exploitation of children.
Three years ago I created a non-profit organization called Breaking the Chain with the goal of eliminating illiteracy for children. So far, we have raised enough money to build three schools in Africa, one in Kenya and two in Sierra Leone. We also created a children’s literacy center in a woman’s shelter in Colorado, and bought books for reaading programs in the U.S. Currently, we are focusing on our great new program called Bookin"It, which buys books for classrooms in underfunded and/or low-literacy schools in the United States. It's a great program and there is enormous demand! So far, we've put 20,000 new books into high-need elementary and middle-schools.
My brother, Nick, who is a senior in college, is also part of Breaking the Chain and we are working together to eliminate illiteracy and poverty for children.
Also, I have been speaking to thousands of kids at schools around the country about my books and how important reading and writing have been in my life, about Breaking the Chain, about taking ownership over their own education, and about risking failure to achieve their dreams. From Rileys Blog

Review of Witch& Wizard by James Patterson

2011-03-15T18:04:00.001-05:00

This is the astonishing testimonial of Wisty and Whit Allgood, a sister and brother who were torn from their family in the middle of the night, slammed into prison, and accused of being a witch and a wizard. Thousands of young people have been kidnapped; some have been accused; many others remain missing. Their fate is unknown, and the worst is feared—for the ruling regime will stop at nothing to suppress life and liberty, music and books, art and magic...and the pursuit of being a normal teenager. (From James Patterson's Site)
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1 edition (December 14, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316036242
ISBN-13: 978-0316036245

Characters:

Alright, we have Wisty and Whit. Brother and sister. Whit is the protective older brother who doesn't want to let his little sister get hurt, unless he does it of course. Wisty is the little sister who has a mind of her own, but won't let her brother get hurt if she can help it. All of the characters have a unique personality that add to the collective.

Writing/Plot:

James Patterson is a masterful writer and is very creative. (Even if wikipedia says otherwise) He makes the story go forward by letting the characters tell the story. By doing so the book draws you in along with the supernatural elements.

Excerts:

Wisty

"BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL with her!" one of the humongous men cautioned. They looked like Special Forces operatives with giant white numbers on their uniforms. "You know she can—"

The other nodded, glancing around my room nervously. "You!" he snapped harshly. "Come with us! We're from the New Order. Move one step out of line, and we will punish you severely!"

I stared at him, my head spinning. The New Order? These weren't ordinary policemen or EMS personnel. "Um—I—I—," I stammered. "I need to put on some clothes. Can I...can I have a little privacy?" "Shut up!" the first commando guy barked. "Grab her! And protect yourself. She's dangerous—all of them are." "No! Stop! Don't you dare!" I screamed. "Dad! Mom! Whit!"

Then it hit me like a runaway tractor trailer on ice. This was what had happened to Celia, wasn't it?

Oh God! Cold sweat beaded on the back of my neck. I need to get out of here, I thought desperately. Somehow, some way.

I need to disappear.

About the Author:

In the past three years, James Patterson has sold more books than any other author (according to Bookscan), and in total, James's books have sold an estimated 220 million copies worldwide. Since 2006, one out of every seventeen hardcover fiction books sold was a Patterson title. He is the first author to have #1 new titles simultaneously on The New York Times adult and children's bestsellers lists and is the only author to have five new hardcover novels debut at #1 on the list in one year—a record-breaking feat he's accomplished every year since 2005. To date, James Patterson has had nineteen consecutive #1 New York Times bestselling novels, and holds the New York Times record for most Hardcover Fiction bestselling titles by a single author (63 total), which is also a Guinness World Record. (From James Patterson's Site)

Are you an Author because you write or because you get published?

2011-03-14T21:02:00.000-05:00

Alright I have pondered this question. Are you an Author because you write or because you get published? (in reference to book authors) I know what Wikipedia says, but I want to know what you think. So here are my thoughts.

I think that you are an Author when you are attempting to write a book (i.e., short stories, novellas, etc.) or are already published.

I think you are a writer if you are trying to do the above statement and/or if you are just writing for recreation, a blog post or etc.

Now What are your thoughts.

And I leave you with this:

Review: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

2011-03-09T17:20:00.000-06:00

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH; 1 edition (March 2, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1423121309
ISBN-13: 978-1423121305
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches

Okay, This book was friggin' amazing. As in I rented it from the library, and now I will have to buy it and re-read it.I say you, yes you reading this blog, go and buy the book and read it NOW! Why are you still reading this? Have you left yet? You can read my Blog later. I promise it will still be here.

Characters:

Each of the characters has their own story, their own unique personality. And I love it. If I was a wizard/were-person/shapeshifter Hex hall is the place where I would want to be. Sophie has a hard time adjusting and fitting in in the new school setting (ah freshman year of high school). And that's the part that I love. I can connect to her.

Writing/Plot:

Alright, the plot is amazing. Not only does Sophie have to try to fit into the high school setting, she has to attempt to adapt to being around other people with supernatural abilities. Which makes for an amazing and interesting storyline. The writing just draws you in.

Excerpt:

"And then the haze of desire clouding my brain gave way to a numbing wave of shock as I watched a tattoo-a black eye with a golden iris-appear under my finger tips."

Hex Hall page 286

About the Author:

Rachel Hawkins was born in Virginia and raised in Alabama. This means she uses words like "y'all" and "fixin'" a lot, and considers anything under 60 degrees to be borderline Arctic. Before deciding to write books about kissing and fire (and sometimes kissing while on fire), Rachel taught high school English for 3 years, and is still capable of teaching you The Canterbury Tales if you're into that kind of thing.
She is married to a geologist, which means that they have incredibly strange dinner conversations ("So today at work, I wrote a chapter where killer fog, like, ATE PEOPLE." "Huh. Well, I was chased by an angry reindeer while trying to map parts of Norway." "Um...okay.")
Rachel also has a little boy whose main hobbies are playing video games, running around in circles, and plotting his Future Intergalactic Take-Over.
When not writing books, Rachel enjoys reading, travelling, and knitting (very terribly.) Taken from Rachel's Blog

Tempest by Jamie Debree and Interview with giveaway

2011-02-27T19:01:00.001-06:00

Professor Charlotte "Charlie" Reynolds assumes that the weather is the only thing she has to worry about when she prepares to lead the last backpacking group of the season up Tempest Mountain. Joined at the last minute by sinfully sexy Jake Nelson and his beautiful young companion, Charlie is caught up in a dangerous whirlwind of nature, illicit activities and a man she can't seem to resist. Agent Jake Nelson knows his latest mission to secure evidence will be dangerous and potentially put the entire group of hikers at risk. But when the feisty Dr. Reynolds catches his eye, he's torn between the need to protect, and the desire to possess.

Product Details:

Paperback: 156 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace (August 14, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1453753257
ISBN-13: 978-1453753255

How did I recieve this book?

It was an e-book from the author so I can review it.

My Thoughts:

When Charlie first meets Jake she is instantly attracted, but she manages to keep her cool and lead the backpacking trip up the mountain. Then things start to go wrong when a storm blows in over the mountain. I think that this book is a good read, especially since I don't read these kind of books very often.

Writing/Plot:

Jamie shows talent with every word that she writes as she pulls you into the story. She shows what is going on throughout the book instead of telling you. Excellent skill and excellent writing. Great writing along with a great Plot makes a great book.

Characters:

Each of the major characters has a unique personality. The characters make you care about them and want to keep reading more and more. I mean really how can you not care about a professor that is smart and sexy, but proves the she is perfectly normal. Or the sexy and mysterious Jake, who has some brains and brawn.

About the Author:

A full-time webmistress for local government by day, Jamie DeBree writes steamy, action-packed romantic suspense late into the night. Her goal is to create the perfect blend of sensual attraction, emotional tension and fast-paced adventure, similar to the television crime dramas she’s hopelessly addicted to. Her favorite way to write a novel is to serialize the draft on one of her blogs. There’s always a free serial story in progress at her main blog, The Variety Pages.

In October 2010, she opened Brazen Snake Books, her personal publishing company. She also writes as Trinity Marlow (erotica) andAlex Westhaven (thrillers), and is currently working on serial drafts in each of those genres.

Born in Billings Montana, she resides there with her husband and two over-sized lap dogs. She reads in a wide variety of genres including romance, erotica, action/adventure, thriller, horror and literary.

Jamie is a member of the Association of Independent Authors, the Independent Author Network, and Romance Writers of America.

Standard questions: 

Why the romance genre? 
When I first started finishing novels, I'd try to write other genres,

but romance would always creepin no matter what I did.

I finally just decided to work with my natural inclinations

and embrace the romantic elements in my work. 

What was the inspiration behind the drug lord plot? 

Honestly? I needed a reason for my FBI agent to be undercover on a

hiking trip. When you're in the mountains, there are really only a few

things that make sense given the terrain and the type of people

who would be drawn to that sort of environment,

so an evil drug lord made sense.


Who is your favorite character, the sexy professor Charlie or the mysterious Jake?

Charlie's easily my favorite in this story. Mostly because she gets

beat up, beat down and tossed around so badly, but she's tough

enough to take it all and still get her man too.  

What was the hardest part of the writing process for you? 

Revisions are always hardest for me, because once the draft is done,

the story's finished in my head. Drafting is fun. Revisions are where the real work begins. 

Not so standard questions:

What is the hardest part about being self-published?

Dealing with the stigma in the writing community. Though the more

books I sell, the less I care about what other writers think.


Do you wish some times that you had an agent? 

Nope. I don't have any desire to publish through a house,

so no reason to split my profits with an agent.

Eventually I may want one for foreign rights deals, etc,

but I have no need of one at this point. 

How has social networking affected the writer stereotype? 

I think there's a higher expectation for writers to be accessible

and sociable than there used to be.

I'm not sure that's a bad thing though. 

Are some of the adult scenes from personal experience? 

Nope. Pure fiction. :-) 

Who is your hero? 

Benjamin Franklin. Not for writerly reasons, but because

 I admire his ideas, his creativity, and his logic. 

Favorite author?

Can't say I have just one, though some of my faves

are Lisa Hendrix, Samantha Hunter, James Rollins,

and Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child.  

Favorite movie? 
You've Got Mail

Favorite tv show?

Criminal Minds

Favorite superhero? 

Batman, I suppose. 

If you could have any superpower what would it be

and how would you use it?

Invisibility. I'd be that proverbial "fly-on-the-wall". ;-)

Alright, Jamie said she would be happy to give away a copy of Tempest. So leave a comment with your email addy if you want to be entered to win.

TEACHER appreciation!

2011-02-20T10:52:00.000-06:00

Teachers are an essential part of the world. Without teachers the world would not be the world it is today. Without teachers we would not have writers, technology or books. Teachers are underpaid and underapprectiated. So I am proposing Teacher Appreciation, because teachers are absolutely awesome.

Here is how it is going to work, Leave a comment on my blog with one(1) teachers name and on Friday(2/25/11) I will pick 3 winners at random. These teachers will receive a $20 gift card to Amazon.com. So be sure to have the teachers address handy if you are selected as the winner.

“Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education. The human mind is our fundamental resource.”
John F. Kennedy

“Education is the best provision for the journey to old age.”
Aristotle

“I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well”
Alexander the Great

“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.”
Henry Adams

“What the teacher is, is more important than what he teaches.”
Soren Kierkegaard

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia , Margaret Stohl

2011-01-31T19:38:00.000-06:00

Ethan Wate, a high school sophomore, plans to escape his small Southern town as soon as he can. Life has been difficult since his mother died; his father, a writer, has withdrawn into his study. Then Lena Duchannes arrives, and this strange new girl is the very one who has been occupying his dreams. She and her kin are Casters, beings who have supernatural powers. Getting to know her exposes Ethan to time travel, mortal danger, and love. The teens can hardly bear to be apart, but Lena's 16th birthday, when she will be Claimed for dark or light, is only 6 months away. To save her, they fight supernatural powers and the prejudice of closed-minded people. Yet, good and evil are not clearly delineated, nor are they necessarily at odds. In the Gothic tradition of Anne Rice, the authors evoke a dark, supernatural world in a seemingly simple town obsessed with Civil War reenactments and deeply loyal to its Confederate past. The intensity of Ethan and Lena's need to be together is palpable, the detailed descriptions create a vivid, authentic world, and the allure of this story is the power of love.

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 563 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; 1 edition (December 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316042676
ISBN-13: 978-0316042673

The life of Ethan Wate changes when he meets the girl of his dreams, literally. As Ethan's relationship with Lena grows, he is thrown into a world of magic and chaos when Dark Casters come out of the wood work and start harrassing Ethan and Lena. And with Lena's birthday coming up in 6 months, who is in more Danger? Lena or Ethan? And Who can save who? Find out in Beautiful creatures.

About the Author:

Kami Garcia is a teacher and reading specialist with an MA in education, and leads book groups for children and teenagers. Margaret Stohl has an MA in English and studied creative writing under poet George MacBeth at the University of East Anglia, Norwich. They both live in Los Angeles, California, with their families. Beautiful Creatures is their debut novel.

Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix

2011-01-17T18:03:00.001-06:00

An irresistible set-up for a new series: An unidentified airplane appears out of nowhere. When the aircraft is boarded, its only occupants are babies; once they are removed, the pilot less plane vanishes. Jonah and Chip, now teenagers, discover that they were among the "airborne orphans," who seem to be somehow linked with missing children from history. Rather than forgetting the past, the two boys decide to venture into it, risking their survival to right the wrongs of time. Crisp time-travel adventure.

ISBN 1416954171 (ISBN13: 9781416954170)
primary language English
original title Found
series The Missing #1
characters Jonah Skidmore, Katherine Skidmore, Chip Winston
setting Liston, Ohio (United States)
literary awards Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award Nominee (2011),Massachusetts Children's Book Award (2010), Sunshine State Young Readers Award Winners (2009), Sunshine State Young Readers Grade 6-8 Nominee (2009), Iowa Children's Choice Award Nominee (2011)

When a strange letter arrives in Johan's mailbox, he puts it off a dumb school prank. That is until his best friend Chip receives the same letter. With Chip freaking out, Chip, Johan, and Johan's sister Katherine begin to investigate the strange letters by talking to an FBI agent.

At the FBI agency things get even stranger when Katherine sees a man appear before her and then disappear moments later. The mystery man lays out a file the leads down a dangerous and crazy path. A path that leads to being kidnapped by time traveling thieves and locked in a cave that is trapped outside time.

This is a fantastic read for all ages. A Mystery that all should read and be captivated by.

About The Author:

Margaret Peterson Haddix grew up on a farm near Washington Court House, Ohio. She graduated from Miami University (of Ohio) with degrees in English/journalism, English/creative writing and history. Before her first book was published, she worked as a newspaper copy editor in Fort Wayne, Indiana; a newspaper reporter in Indianapolis; and a community college instructor and freelance writer in Danville, Illinois.

She has since written more than 25 books for kids and teens, including Running Out of Time; Don’t You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey; Leaving Fishers; Just Ella; Turnabout; Takeoffs and Landings; The Girl with 500 Middle Names; Because of Anya; Escape from Memory; Say What?; The House on the Gulf; Double Identity; Dexter the Tough; Uprising; Palace of Mirrors; Claim to Fame; theShadow Children series; and the Missing series. She also wrote Into the Gauntlet, the tenth book in the 39 Clues series. Her books have been honored with New York Times bestseller status, the International Reading Association’s Children’s Book Award; American Library Association Best Book and Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers notations; and more than a dozen state reader’s choice awards.

Haddix and her husband, Doug, now live in Columbus, Ohio, with their two children.

Review: The Traitor Game by BR Collins

2010-11-11T20:41:00.000-06:00

Michael and his friend Francis share a secret passion for Evgard, the fantasy world they have created together. But then Michael finds a note in his locker, revealing that their secret is out. He immediately suspects Francis, and tries to get revenge by telling the school bully—known affectionately as Shitley—that Francis is gay, which guarantees Francis is in for a pounding. But did Francis really betray his friend? Or is Michael really the traitor?

This gripping account of a troubled friendship unfolds both as a contemporary story and as a compelling glimpse into the world of Evgard. The Traitor Game tackles difficult issues without hesitation and will surely draw in gamer and fantasy fans as well as contemporary fiction readers.

Hardcover, 250 pages

Published August 5th 2008 by Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (first published 2008)

ISBN 1599902613 (ISBN13: 9781599902616)

original titleThe Traitor Game

literary awards Branford Boase Award (2009)

When Michael's world starts to fall apart at the first note, he starts downs a dangerous road. Michael's road takes him into a dangerous game where reality and fantasy collide. The game is of EPIC Proportions when friends become enemies and enemies become friends and back again. Michael must determine where his loyalty lies both in Reality and in Evgard. But can he do it? Can he set everything right?

The book deserves high praise for the amazing writing style and the plot the drives the story and drags you along with it. I give this book a 4/5 treasure chest. Be sure to look for it at your local library or bookstore.

Review of Pandora's Succession by RUSSELL BROOKS

2010-11-01T23:37:00.008-05:00

CIA operative, Ridley Fox, never stopped hunting his fiancée’s killers—a weapons consortium called The Arms of Ares. When an informant leads him to an old bunker outside of Groznyy, Chechnya, Fox is captured, beaten, and left for dead. When the informant rescues him, Fox learns that his capture was no coincidence: someone had set him up—possibly another government agent. Fox barely escapes after learning that Ares has acquired a hyperdeadly microbe—called Pandora—that is believed to have wiped out ancient civilizations. The trail leads Fox to Tokyo where he discovers that people within the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Japanese Intelligence want Pandora for themselves. The only person Fox can trust is a woman from his past who he nearly got killed.

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 475 KB
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B00486U6O2
Amazon.com

REVIEW:
Pandora's Succession is a fast action packed book. As soon as you sit down to read it you are pulled into the world of Ridley Fox. I loved the book it was Suspenseful, Action-Packed, and Riveting. This is one of the best books I have read in the past month or so. If Brooks were to make this into a movie it would be a number 1 hit for weeks in the box office. I suggest to everyone to go and buy this book.

About the Author. Russell Brooks is a former Canadian Track Team member in the 100 and 200 meters. He has written several essays on his blog The Big Picture, one of which was published in the online Op-Ed section of the National Post in early 2009. He has also written the short story, To The Last Bite, and produced his own poetry/novel-themed show, The Russell Show, on YouTube. He currently lives in Montreal, Quebec.

Contest Rules

Simply leave a comment on a blog with your email address. Everyone that leaves a comment with their email address (in the body of your message) will win an autographed book cover. After the blog tour, 10 commenters from all of the blogs will be drawn to win free autographed ebook copies of Pandora's Succession.

Review of Other Sides: 12 WebFiction Tales

2010-10-15T09:00:00.000-05:00

The advent of digital publishing has seen the rise of a new breed of writers: independent, experimental and unfettered by convention. This brand new anthology features a small sampling of these very writers, in a speculative fiction collection that will capture the imagination and dazzle the senses. The storytelling genius in this collection is most evidenced by its memorable characters: a young woman haunted by her ex-boyfriend's sweater, time travelers with a suspicious interest in babies, a gender-changing alien desperate to heal a loved one... In these stories, fourteen independent authors display the imagination, insight and wonderful originality that characterizes the unique world of online fiction.

Title: Other Sides
Genre: Speculative fiction
Length: 30,000 words / 12 short stories
Publisher: Ergofiction magazine
Release Date: October 14 2010

List of Stories
Walking Home With Strangers by Zoe E. Whitten
The Psionics: One for the Road by
G. L. Drummond

Dalston Junction by
MeiLin Miranda

The Little Problem by MCM
Poaching by Lyn Thorne-Alder & Chris Childs

Mifflin County Coke Blues by Isa K.

Junk Drawer by M. Jones

In the Court of the Peacock King by

Erica Bercegeay & Charissa Cotrill

The Spaces in Between by T. L. Whiteman

New Stories by M. C. A. Hogarth

Sixth of November by
Nancy Brauer

Belonging by A.M. Harte

Each of the WebFiction Tales is a short story and they are brilliantly written. The Best way to describe them is "Short enough to be intresting and and just long enough to tell the story." Each story is unique the pulls you in and leaves you with wanting more.

I look at these stories and realiaze that I as a writer have a lot to learn, especially about writing short stories. Maybe I should hang out with people like the Amazing A.M. Harte. I am sure I could learn something. Anyway, I reall suggest you read these. Writing this review is had because I want go into more detail but then I would go into spoiler territorry and we can't be having that now can we?

Test Test

2010-10-14T08:35:00.000-05:00

Test, Test. Is this thing on? Check 1,2, Check

Knock Knock
Who's there?
Tank!
Tank who?
Your welcome!

Knock Knock
Who's there?
Tyrone!
Tyrone who?

Knock Knock
Who's there?
Atch!
Atch who?
I'm sorry I didn't know you had a cold!

Knock Knock
Who's there?
Anna!
Anna who?
Anna one, anna two...!
Tyrone shoelaces!

Why do morons like lightning?
They think someone is taking their picture.

Why did it take the moron an hour to eat breakfast?
Because the orange juice carton instructions said Concentrate ! !

What do you do if a moron throws a grenade at you?
Pull the pin and throw it back at him.

How did the moron fall on the floor?
He tripped over the cordless phone.

How did the moron try to kill a bird?
He threw it off a mountain cliff !

Why did the moron climb the glass wall ?
To see what was on the other side!

How do you confuse a moron?
Put him in a round room and tell him to sit in one corner!

Hear about the moron that got an AM radio?
It took him a month to realize he could play it at night.

Why did the moron going to the airport turn around and go home?
Because he saw the sign that said "Airport Left".

Two morons were walking through the woods and they came to some tracks.
The first moron said "These look like deer tracks,"
and the other moron said, "No, they look like moose tracks."
They argued and argued, and they were still arguing when the train hit them.

Why can't a moron dial 911?
He can't find the 11 on the phone!

How do you keep a moron in suspense?
I'll tell you tomorrow!

Show You Care By Becoming Aware

2010-10-08T03:38:00.013-05:00

It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but really this shouldn’t be the only time of the year when anyone thinks about breast cancer awareness. It would be great if breast cancer took a break and only appeared during one month of the year. Then it would be easy to get people to listen, educate themselves and do whatever is necessary to prevent it from spreading. Unfortunately that’s not the case. Breast can affects millions of women and men each year and it doesn’t take vacations.

However becoming aware of what you need to do prevent breast cancer can save your life.

I don’t think I can stress enough the importance of doing monthly breast self-examination or getting a yearly mammogram. This is especially important if you have a family history of cancer.

I do, both my grandmother and my mother have had breast cancer. So needless to say, this is a very important issue with me. It’s also a heartbreaking one, because when my mother originally felt a lump in her left breast, she ignored it. She’d had benign cysts before and assumed that was the case again. Mom had also stopped getting yearly mammograms, which could have also detected any abnormalities.

I pleaded with her to go to the doctor, but mom is stubborn and refused to do anything until she felt a lump in her right breast too.

By then it was clear that something was wrong, and we were definitely not dealing with anything that could be ignored. Mom had cancer, and what followed was a double mastectomy, the removal of her lymph nodes and months of cancer treatment that will take months for her to recover from. I could tell you horror stories about what she has been through, but I am hoping to help anyone who reads this article from ever having to face that.

Please, if you feel any sort of abnormality in your breasts, contact a doctor immediately. This includes you too men, since you can get breast cancer too. The American Cancer Society reports that about “1,970 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in men” this year with approximately 390 of them dying from it. Even though breast cancer is “100 times less common among men” it is still important for them to be aware of it, so they can alert themselves to any signs or symptoms.

If my mother had gone to a doctor when she first felt that lump, she may have prevented herself from some of what she’s had to endure, because the earlier a cancer is found the easier it is to treat.

Thankfully, mom’s cancer is not terminal, it was Stage Two, but just the same watching her go through this has taught me a powerful lesson. Since medical professionals don’t know exactly what causes breast cancer, it is imperative that everyone educate themselves about it. This is why Breast Cancer Awareness Month is so important. This isn’t just about pink ribbons, it’s about education and facing reality when it comes knocking at our door.

As I said before, this isn’t just a woman’s health issue. Any man who has watched any of the women in his life receive a diagnosis of breast cancer knows this all too well.

Breast cancer affects us all as a society. Statistics from the National Cancer Institute estimate “that 207,090 women will be diagnosed with and 39,840 women will die of cancer of the breast in 2010.”

We can’t pretend this away.

Just ask my mom.

Rachel Blackbirdsong writes about her experiences as a caregiver for a cancer patient on her blog, "What Cancer Brings."

Emails

2010-10-01T19:30:00.001-05:00

So I putting a list together of Book Bloggers, Authors (Published and Non-Published), Agents, and anything else I am missing. I would Like to be able to contact you at a moments notice for Guest Post, Interviews, Tips, Contest/Giveaways and if you wish to receive the highlights at the end of each month please select the option.

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Affections Across Time Chapter 1 (Rough Draft)

2010-09-25T01:57:00.001-05:00

L’Arc waited patiently, a thin layer of white snow covered the entire twelve foot length of his matching ivory white scales. He inhaled deeply, taking in the scents around him. The smell of wolves caught his attention. They were stalking the forest close to him, looking for their next meal. L’Arc’s large leg muscles tightened preparing to strike when he saw the girl. He stopped, his heart skipped. What was this feeling? She looked majestic to him in spite of the simple deerskin tunic she wore. Although, it was not just brown like the normal townsfolk of Autun wore. Her’s had red and black symbols covering it. He had seen hunting parties using girls for bait like this before, and the girl often would not survive. L’Arc smelled blood in the air. The girl had a pulsing wound on her arm, the hunt had just begun, confirming his theory. Once the small hunting party had passed, L’Arc turned to return to his lair.

The lair was concealed under snow and an overhang. L’Arc slid through the snow and into the frozen cave. Water dripped from the icicles, splashing on the smooth gray cave floor. With a sigh, L’Arc breathed on the icicles jutting from the roof. The water stopped dripping, turning to ice intantly. He let another short breath out, freezing the puddles on the cave floor.

L’Arc curled up on the frozen water and sleep took him.

The smell of oak filled the air as smoke drifted towards the darkness of the night. L’Arc breathed shallowly, only the sound of his pounding heart filled his ears. He looked at the sky. The stars blotted out by the dark threatening clouds.

Lights flared through the sky penetrating the darkness. The illuminated orbs fell to earth and a piercing scream slammed into L’Arc’s ears. Autun exploded into flames.

There were more screams and L’Arc tensed at the smell of burning flesh and blood. The image of the girl flashed into his head. She was down there in harms way. L’Arc lunged forward toward town, every muscle straining.

At the edge of the town, L’Arc stopped. People fled their homes as armed soldiers entered them, slaying all in their path.

The girl walked out of her home, carrying a wooden staff. Her eyes, drifted towards the soldiers, void of emotion. She rushed forward, slamming the staff into the first soldier. The soldier tumbled over as she lunged at the next one.

Five or six soldiers surrounded the girl, trapping her. They held the tip of their blades against her flesh. Before L’Arc reached them, they thrust, filling the girl with the cold black steel.

L’Arc roared and charged toward the soldiers. Fury flooded his mind. L’Arc destroyed everything in his path, lashing out with his massive claws. The soldiers crumbled, screaming, under the shear strength of the blows.. He thought of nothing except for what they had done to the girl.

L’Arc reached down, closing his jaws around the metal men, their weapons pushing through the top of his mouth. The swords and spears of the remaining soldiers slid into his chest, but he felt no pain. He fought against the foreign feeling but his heart cried for the girl. With another roar, L’Arc whipped his tail around, smashing it into the soldiers.

The soldiers lay scattered all around. L’Arc rushed to the girl and curled his large body around her, making a small wall.

L’Arc looked into the girls eyes and together as one the light faded from their eyes. The sky cried.

L’Arc woke startled. He glanced around, realizing he was still in his cave. Why was she in my head? With a quick stretch, L’Arc left his lair in search of food.

The wind blew from the north carrying the scent of deer. They were heading his way. L’Arc buried himself under a thin blanket of snow, as the panicked deer thundered toward him. L’Arc smiled on the inside, Lunch will be good, he though as he waited. The moment his prey raced in front of him, he lunged out of the snow, pinning several down with his claws. He tore at their flesh.

That’s when he heard the screams. Hunters. They had spooked the deer, and now they had seen him. The men in the party had turned and fled in terror, but the girl had not. She kept staring at L’Arc. He froze, captivated by her gaze. He was a little surprised to see the girl again. She had survived being bait after all.

His heart beat rapidly, and he blinked. But the moment he opened his eyes she was gone, as if she’d never been there at all.

Since his meal was interrupted he lost his appetite, so L’Arc stalked the screaming men. With as much noise they made, it was easy to follow them. The town of Autun erupted into chaos, the survivors appeared to be consumed with panic. He was certain the hunters had exposed him to the townspeople, putting his very life in danger.

This was the way of things. People see him and they try to kill him. L’Arc shook his head, quickly turning back towards his cave.

The townspeople cheered when one of the hunters said they were going to hunt and kill the monster. L’Arc was about to continue forward when heard the girl speak. He froze in his tracks, his heart skipping

“Why do we have to kill it?” she asked.

There was a loud smack, followed by a voice, “Learn your place, Maria. You do not speak unless spoken to.” Anger flared in L’Arc, but he did nothing. He had lived for centuries, with the other dragons, and had seen this before. The other men surrounding her snickered. “Men gather your weapons. Tonight we hunt a demon.” Another cheer went up.

L’Arc stalked off quietly, his only thoughts on the girl named Maria. What a beautiful name. A pulse came from inside his body. What was this feeling?

Being hunted didn’t matter to L'Arc, these hunters would never find him. He stalked away, his webbed feet making it easy to glide across the new powder. In a few short hours the hunters would be searching the dark wood. L’Arc would be waiting until the hunters left before he chanced being seen again by Maria.

L’Arc ended his short walk near the other entrance to Autun. He buried himself under the snow to wait. Sleep took him quickly and he dreamed once again of Maria.

The hours passed, L’Arc came out of his dozing state. The hunters were long gone. He shuddered his light blue scales. Sniffing the air he located Maria near the entrance next to the wood. It was only a matter of minutes to reach the entrance on the other side of town.

He glided the outskirts to the wood, slightly revealing his light blue body to the girl. This was risky, but something deep down compelled him do it She took notice and walked over to him, unafraid. With her deep blue eyes burning fiercely with life, she stared back into his soft green ones.

She put her hand against his scales and his heart started beating faster. Her hand gave him chills, he longed to be human, to feel more.. His mind was swirling, her scent, her entire presence was intoxicating. With her this close his senses were going completely haywire.

L’Arc glanced up at her when she tensed. She stared just past him, and that was when he heard the sound of angry men. The hunters had returned from their hunt. They had seen him and were coming fast, leaving L’Arc no chance to escape. One had loosened an arrow. It sailed by grazing his shoulder. He heard a shocked gasp behind him. When he turned, his gaze landed on the arrow, protruding from the girls chest.

Anger filled L’Arc as he rushed forward spraying the hunters with a blast of his ice breath, and stopping the hunters in their tracks as they died from shock. Pain tore at his heart as he rushed to Maria’s side, and curled around her. But, it was too late, his dragon magic could not save her. In that moment he knew what the bond he had with Maria was, It was The Sodalis.

Speak Loudly: Fight Against Banned Books

2010-09-19T14:11:00.001-05:00

Melinda Sordino busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops. Now her old friends won’t talk to her, and people she doesn’t even know hate her from a distance. The safest place to be is alone, inside her own head. But even that’s not safe. Because there’s something she’s trying not to think about, something about the night of the party that, if she let it in, would blow her carefully constructed disguise to smithereens. And then she would have to speak the truth. This extraordinary first novel has captured the imaginations of teenagers and adults across the country.

Dr. Wesley Scroggins, associate professor of management at Missouri State University. is trying to Ban a piece of art from school. He claims that the two rape scenes in Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson is soft pornography. Here is is full article.

Laurie is trying to fight this guy and keep Speak in schools. Speak is an inspirational piece of literature that can help many young adults that may have gone through a similar situation or knows some one that has. Here is Laurie's response to Mr. Scroggins.

I do not currently own a copy of Speak but I will be purchasing it on Thursday, but I have a challenge for anyone that want to fight people like Scroggins.

If you own a copy of Speak or are buying one, I want you to write #SpeakLoudly and #WeBelieveyou on the inside cover of the book and donate it to a school library, perferably middle school. Feel free to write an inspirational message too. I also want you to take pictures of you donating the book and post them on your blog. When you donate it make sure you give the Librarian you name and contact info just in case Scroggins manages to win. I will be donating mine.

Updates and News!

2010-09-08T00:21:00.004-05:00

I have great news. I am now Back in Action!

So Lets get on with it.

1. I have a new review posted.

2. Angela @ The Bookshelf muse has won a couple books. So shoot me an email

3. Oh yeah, and I am Engaged. The date is Oct. 1st 2011

Review of Passing Strange by Daniel Waters

2010-07-25T11:10:00.005-05:00

Karen DeSonne is used to pretending to be something she’s not. All her life, she’s passed as a normal all-American teenager; with her friends, with her family, and at school. Passing cost her the love of her life. And now that Karen’s dead, she’s still passing – this time, as alive.

Meanwhile, Karen’s dead friends have been fingered in a high-profile murder, causing a new round of anti-zombie regulations that have forced nearly all of Oakvale’s undead into hiding. Karen soon learns that the “murder” was a hoax, staged by Pete Martinsburg and his bioist zealots. Obtaining enough evidence to expose the fraud and prove her friends’ innocence means doing the unthinkable: betraying her love by becoming Pete’s girlfriend. Karen’s only hope is that the enemy never realizes who she really is – because the consequences would be even worse than death.

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH; 1 edition (June 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1423121996
ISBN-13: 978-1423121992

Available on Amazon.

Writing:
With writing as well put together this, the book is worth the read. The sentence structrue pulls you in along with the plot. Page after page and you keep wanting more. However it is kind of hard to keep track of all of what is going on. There are some plot details that were lost on me.

Characters:
The main character is fleshed out to the point that you know him from the inside out. Or do you? With so much character development you never expect to find her in the place that you find her.

Twitter Weight Loss Challange

2010-06-01T12:15:00.002-05:00

Hey everyone. As some of you may know I want to be a cop. But in order to go to the academy I need to lose weight. So I have decided to make a challange to help me lose weight. If you want to join me, then leave a comment saying so or just leave encouragement.

So here are the rules. (if you participate please follow the rules)

1. I will give you my starting wieght.
2. On sunday I will give a blog post of my weeks meals and my ending weight for that week.
3. If you encourage me (or someone else) on twitter uses the tag #TWLC
4. Encourage each other nicely.

So my starting weight is 248.8lbs

Good Luck and have fun.

Return-a-ka-blooza

2010-05-24T00:09:00.003-05:00

After a long hiatus I have returned with some great news. But Why should the new just be great when it could be Awesome. So I am Doing a Return-a-ka-blooza.

First We have a give away. Here Are the Rules.

1. Leave a comment here and you are entered to win Chosen by P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast.

And Next. This week is going to be a Ka-blooza of reviews. This week is now Night-a-ka-blooza week. (An entire week of reviews of the House of Night Series.

In My Mailbox (2)

2010-02-22T20:23:00.002-06:00

This Post First Started with The Story Siren so thanks to her I don't have to think of something to write.

WON
Twins Emma and Payton Mills start seventh grade at a new school with high hopes. Brainy Emma wants to join the science, math, and geography clubs. Somewhat of an academic slacker, Payton dreams of joining the fashion-loving in-crowd. Both girls are off to a good start until a burrito catastrophe strikes Payton at lunch, leaving her too embarrassed to face the rest of her day. Emma comes to her twin's rescue by (you probably guessed it) switching places with her. What was supposed to last only a few class periods quickly snowballs out of control. Shy Emma finds herself shopping with the popular girls, talking to a cute football player, and leading cheers at the pep rally. Meanwhile, Payton tries filling in for Emma's honors classes and school news show. The girls know they have to switch back, but now that they've become so enmeshed in one another's lives, how can they? And even more importantly, do they want to?

Bought
Divorced mother of one, Charlie Madigan, lives in a world where the beings of heaven and hell exist among us, and they aren't the things of Sunday school lessons and Hallmark figurines. In the years since the Revelation, they've become our co-workers, neighbors, and fellow citizens.

Charlie works for ITF (Integration Task Force). It's her job to see that the continued integration of our new "friends" goes smoothly and everyone obeys the law, but when a new off-world drug is released in Underground Atlanta, her daughter is targeted, and her ex-husband makes a fateful bargain to win her back, there's nothing in heaven or earth (or hell for that matter) that Charlie won't do to set things right.

Review
Jon Chandler is a seventeen-year-old youngster presented with a difficult quest-to find a magical flask, destroy it, and then somehow find his way back home. As Jon reluctantly accepts his responsibility, he is accompanied by the haughty yet beautiful Dorthea, who constantly challenges him. At least his best friend, Samuel, a gentle giant-all eight feet in stature and 480 pounds of him-doesn't get under his skin like Dorthea does. But there's a fine line between love and hate, and Jon and Dorthea hover on it constantly! Samuel is left behind as the quest leads Jon and Dorthea into a parallel world, where few living people have ever gone before. How can they locate a flask that has been missing for sixteen years? Along the way, they encounter demons and wizards who will test their strength and ability, and they find they must solve several riddles before they can return home. What they learn about themselves and about life is far more priceless than the magical flask. Glen Quarry has written an enchanting story that fantasy fans will gobble up in one sitting. Filled with twisting plot lines and likeable characters, Quarry is sure to become a favorite of the genre. Glen Quarry is currently working on the sequel to his novel. He lives in Iowa.

What if someone offered you $100,000 with the only stipulation being that a murderer would be killed if you accept the money? Would you take it? The people who choose to take it are about to find out the ramifications of their decisions to be part of this Lethal Experiment!
Donovan Creed, former CIA assassin, is a smart-aleck tough guy who can't resist a noble cause. Despite a ton of baggage and a penchant for call girls, he always finds a way to beat the bad guys. In this sequel to Lethal People, Creed is forced to choose between his thriving contract-killer business, his part in the Lethal Experiment, and his desire to live a normal life with the beautiful Kathleen Gray and her newly-adopted daughter, Addie. Before that can happen, he has to take care of some lethal business involving a former lover.

Review of Devil's Kiss by Sarwat Chadda

2010-02-18T09:16:00.003-06:00

As the youngest and only female member of the Knights Templar, Bilquis SanGreal grew up knowing she wasn't normal. Instead of hanging out at the mall or going on dates, she spends her time training as a soldier in her order's ancient battle against the Unholy.

Billi's cloistered life is blasted apart when her childhood friend, Kay, returns from Jerusalem, gorgeous and with a dangerous chip on his shoulder. He's ready to reclaim his place in Billi's life, but she's met someone new: amber-eyed Michael, who seems to understand her like no one else, effortlessly claiming a stake in her heart.

But the Templars are called to duty before Billi can enjoy the pleasant new twist to her life. One of the order's ancient enemies has resurfaced, searching for a treasure that the Templars have protected for hundreds of years -- a cursed mirror powerful enough to kill all of London's firstborn. To save her city from catastrophe, Billi will have to put her heart aside and make sacrifices greater than any of the Templars could have imagined. [Goodreads.com]

Published: September 1st 2009 by Hyperion Books (first published May 7th 2009)
Details: Hardcover, 327 pages
Available on Amazon.

Pros:
-Conflict draws you in.
-Great Characterzation

Cons:
-The book felt week
-Described as Christianity meets Harry Potter

Writing:
Sarwat Chadda is a brilliant writer. Every word is chosen carefully and with great precision. Each word is strong and forceful that brings the world into focus. With such a masterfully skill of words and world building I can see even greater books coming from Sarwat Chadda. However if you take a step back you can see that the way the book in put together is weak in of it self. I would say more that would walk into spoiler territory which I will avoid.

Characters:
Each character is strong. You cal feel the tension between the characters, see the hard cold looks that some of them share. You feel almost sorry for Bilqis for all of the [censored word] that she has to go threw. She must choose between the world and the ones that she loves.

Dialogue:
The Dialogue to me feels forced and strained. To me it feels like that each of the conversations we more onesided in the sense that Bilqis is struggling to fiqure out who she is that she controls the conversations and the entire book and overwhelms it.

Book Expert:
"Deus vult," Billi whispered. It was the orders battle cry, but now it seemed more like a curse.

About the Author:
Sarwat Chadda was brought up on the adventures of the great medieval heroes like Saladin and Richard the Lionheart. His passion for storytelling grew from his love for the history, culture and Europe and the Middle East. Sarwart used to be an engineer, working in projects like the Channel Tunnel and Hong Kong airport, but now writes full time. He has traveled widley, from China to India, from Nicaragua to Yemen- but there is no place like home, and home is London.

To me the book is only decent. It could of been better, could of been worse. I would still recomend it.

Darkest Age Trilogy by A.J. Lake

2010-02-05T11:33:00.003-06:00

Paperback, 240 pages
Published by Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
You Can buy them at Amazon:
The Coming of Dragons, The Book of the Sword, The Circle of Stone

The Coming of Dragons: Edmund, a king’s son in disguise, and Elspeth, a sea captain’s tomboy daughter, are the only two survivors of a terrible shipwreck. They just want to go home, but fate has other plans as they are drawn into the fight against an evil warlord terrorizing their homeland. Accompanied by a mysterious minstrel and haunted by magical powers they did not seek, Edmund and Elspeth journey across a savage land of wild boars, fierce rogue knights, and black magic. Fantasy fans will devour this dramatic tale of mystery, wonder, and the power of friendship.

Rated a 4.5/5

The Book Of the Sword: Stranded in the frozen wastes of the Snowlands, Edmund and Elspeth are powerless to prevent the dark forces from rising. Elspeth’s magical sword has brought them closer to their destiny than they realize, and it's up to them to succeed - at any cost. The thrilling second installment of this rip-roaring adventure of swords, dragons, and good-versus-evil will keep readers begging for more!

Rated a 4/5

The Circle of Stone: The ancient god Loki has been set free from the chains which bound him for centuries, and free to wreak terrible revenge. As Edmund and Elspeth desperately search for him, the fire and destruction they expect is nowhere to be seen. They discover instead strange emblems carved along the route south. Traveling ever closer toward the war between the Visigoths and the English, Edmond and Elspeth feel they are being drawn into a trap. But with the help of their friends, and faith in themselves they will face Loki one last time, at an ancient circle of stones that may be their last hope to defeat the terrible trickster.

Rated a 5/5

Pros:
- Quick Paced
- Action Packed
- Connect ability with the characters

Cons:
- One Character leaves at the beginning on the first book, even though he is kinda important and is not seen again until the last chapter of the final book.

Writing:
A.J. Lake captures you quickly, drawing you in. She keeps you turning the page again and again until you realize that you went threw three books relatively quickly or until you realize that you are up way past your bed time. Either way, those pages turn drawing you deeper into the lives of the characters.

Characters:
The characters keep you entertained, and the book moving forward as you discover a little more about them. Why did they do that or why they went there, all speaks about their character. They are fleshed out enough that you could have a conversation with them, and they would respond with their out mannerisms.

Dialogue:
Well you know those times in the Original Star Wars when music when blare in place of dialogue and it fit so perfectly. The same thing kinda applies here. The two main characters can talk to each other with just a look, or the absence of one. They are tuned in to each other, even when they do not want the other to know what they were thinking.

Book Expert:
"A great, winged shape hovered above them, larger than the ship itself. It gleamed an unnatural blue in every flash lightning. An eye the size of a warriors shield lookd down with cold purpose on Edmund. And the mouth a fiery cave with stalagmite teeth, grinned wider as the ship broke in two."

About the Author:
A J Lake is a former teacher with a lifelong interest in the period of British History known as the Dark Ages. She is inspired by mountains, storms, and places of ice and snow. She secretly hopes that dragons are real.

Total Rating 4.5/5

Lethal People by John Locke & Interview

2010-02-04T08:29:00.007-06:00

While pursuing a budding romance with the beautiful
Kathleen Gray, Creed stumbles upon a plucky—but horribly
burned—little girl named Addie Dawes. Creed's suspicion
about the fire that killed Addie's family puts him on a collision
course with crime boss Joe DeMeo, in what soon becomes an
issue of kill or be killed.

DeMeo, a relentless killer who will stop at nothing to protect
his empire—targets Creed and his loved ones for death. But
Creed has plans of his own. Employing a bizarre cast of
characters including a giant, a rival crime lord, an angry
midget bent on world conquest—and a team of circus clowns—
Creed goes on the attack, with hilarious results.

Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: iUniverse (July 7, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1440151717
ISBN-13: 978-1440151712

You can but it at:
Amazon.com
John Lockes site

4/5

Pros:
-Interesting
-Funny
-Perfect Ending

Cons:
-Dragged on a little

Writing:
The book is well written, so as to keep you entertained throughout most of the book. And it does. Each moment you can see what is going on and you feel like you are there watching.

Characters: The book follows, assassin and special agent Donovan Creed. This in itself is a confusing, but the way Creed moves through out the book you know his motives and how and why he can be an assassin and a special agent. The supporting characters each have a unique personality that you are able to tell them apart and connect with them.

Dialogue:
The dialogue is worded is a manner that would fit an assassin. Thats all I have to say. You would have to read the book to understand.

Book Excerpt:
She was smarter than me, and I hate when that happens. There was but one thing to do: seize the initiative. I played the trump card God provided: I stared directly into her cleavage.

About the Author:
In John Locke's career journey from rock and roll singer—to door-to-door salesman—to the creation of more than a dozen multimillion dollar companies, he has encountered a wellspring of bizarre people from which to craft his unique characters. He is the author of three fiction books, Lethal People, Lethal Experiment and Saving Rachel, and two nonfiction books, Dynasty in the Making and Qualities of Character. He lives in Kentucky, where he is currently at work on a novel titled Now & Then.

Interview with John Locke

How long have you been writing?
About two years.

What do you like best about being a writer?
Having total strangers quote my characters.

How did you come up with the title?
All my titles are tied to the main theme. Lethal People is about a group of killers. Lethal Experiment is about a deadly experiment. Saving Rachel is about, well, you get the picture! My next two books likewise have obvious titles: Now & Then is a two part story. The first part takes place present day, and the second part goes back in time 300 years to provide an historical backdrop. And Wish List is about a guy who finds that the wishes he wrote on a list have started coming true. If a title doesn’t write itself, there’s a problem somewhere!

What is your favorite part of the writing process?
Great question! For me, it’s writing a sentence that makes me laugh out loud, closely followed by writing a sentence or paragraph that makes me think, “Now THAT is well-written.” I always have a few of those moments, but crave more. In that regard I’m like a golfer who hits a few great shots and longs for the day he can play a perfect round instead of a few great holes.

Favorite character in the book?
Of the books I’ve published, I’d have to say my hero, Donovan Creed, tops the list. Even I don’t know what Creed is apt to do in a given situation!

Favorite scene in the book?
In Lethal People, I’m particularly happy about Creed’s interactions with the hookers Jenine and Lauren.

Who would your ideal cast be if a movie was made?
Some of my characters are so bizarre that I’d have to rely on freaks of nature. As for Creed, I think it should be a guy with size, who can convincingly play a tongue-in-cheek tough guy. At the same time, he needs the comedic range to portray a tender cluelessness with regard to “normal” women. Can’t be a pretty boy. I’m thinking someone like a John Travolta or Vince Vaughn.

What's next for you?
I’m currently at work on Now & Then, to be followed by Wish List. Both of these books will feature Donovan Creed.

Favorite one of your own Books?
Saving Rachel moves at the speed of light, with the type of plot twists that keep readers turning the pages. Most people tell me they finished it in a day. I’ve had enough positive response to know that this is the direction my future writing will take, beginning with Wish List.

Who is your favorite of your own characters? (Out of all of your books)
My favorite character has not been published yet. He was in my first book, Killing Hailey (my “practice” novel that wasn’t good enough to print). I’m going to dig Hector back out someday and have some fun with him.

Which was the hardest to write?
Killing Hailey took a year, but I didn’t know what I was doing. Lethal Experiment required three edits. By contrast, Saving Rachel required no editing.

What would you be if not a writer?
I’m only a part-time writer. By day I’m a private investor, specializing in commercial real estate.

Now just some quick things:

Biggest Supporter?
My Twitter friends.

Most inspirational influence?
Probably my brother. I try to write scenes that make him laugh.

Favorite T.V. Show?
Currently, it would be The Office and Modern Family. In years past, it would have been Picket Fences, and more recently, The Sopranos, Deadwood, and Prison Break.

Favorite Movie?
Tie: Scent of a Woman, The Princess Bride, and Arthur.

What upcoming movie are you looking forward to?
I just saw Avatar a couple of days ago, and had been looking forward to seeing that one.

Marvel or DC?
Wow, that’s a toughie. I’m going to have to show my age. When I was into comics the most, my favorites were the Westerns, specifically Kid Colt, Rawhide Kid, etc. For that reason I’ve got to say Marvel.

Favorite Author?
Tie: Ayn Rand shaped my political world view, and Larry McMurtry has given me the most entertainment bang for the buck.

Favorite book?
Tie: Atlas Shrugged and Lonesome Dove

Which Author would you most want to meet?
None of them. I’d feel too weird meeting someone on the basis of them being an author. On the other hand, if I happened to bump into a fellow author and he or she wanted to talk about football, kids, politics, marketing, or whatever, well then any old author will do!

Star Wars or Star Trek?
Great question, because I see Star Wars as strong on plot, strong on tech, while Star Trek is strong on characters. Since my books are character driven, I’d give the nod to Star Trek…barely!

Favorite Quote?
Peter O’Toole, in My Favorite Year. After entering a women’s bathroom and startling a lady, she said, quite indignantly, “Sir! This is for ladies only!” And he said, “Yes, mum, and so is this. But every now and again I have to run a little water through it.”

You can learn more here.

Reviews By Title

2010-02-04T08:08:00.005-06:00

Last Updated: Feb. 5th 2010

A:

B:

C:
Camileon by Shykia Bell

D:
Darkest Age Trilogy by A.J. Lake
Devil's Kiss (coming soon)
Dream State by Robert E. Crull
Dreamhunter by Elizabeth Knox

E:

F:

G:

H:

I:
Immortal (coming Soon)

J:

K:

L:
Lethal People by John Locke

M:

N:

O:

P:

Q:

R:

S:
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Seven Sorcerers (coming soon)

T:
The Fire Stone by Riley Carney
The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
The Vampyre Prophecy by N. L. Gervasio

U:

V:

W:

XYZ:

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