Waiting on Wednesday #2

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine where you can spotlight an upcoming release that you're eagerly anticipating.

Here's what I am waiting.

Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin #1) by R.L. LaFevers

Pub Date: April 3rd 2012

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others. 

Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

***

When I first saw this book I fell in love with the cover. It's so pretty, it gets my hopes up for the book. Reading the blurb didn't dissapoint either. It's kind YA historical fiction, I feel like this is all I need to say!

So what are you waiting this Wednesday?

Teaser Tuesday #1

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"As long as it's on a full stomach, I'll even sleep in this road-dirt."

"I heard that," said the Duke. "Bathe first, then brandy!"

~p.307, "A Crown Imperilled" by Raymond E. Feist

Tell Me Something Tuesday #1

This is a weekly meme hosted by Cambria @ CambriaHebert.com. Each week there is a different question to be answered.

This week's tell me something:

If you could travel into any book to the setting and meet the characters which book would it be and why?

My answer:

This is actually a very easy question for me, cause I have imagined myself inside a specific world for as long as I can remember. Wanna know which world I am talking about...

The Riftwat Cycle World by Raymond E. Feist

I actually have this posted on my wall

I'm actually reading the latest book in the series right now and I can picture myself walking around Midkemia with all the other characters. I can't even begin to count how many times I fell in love with the characters of the books, even when they come and go, as the books are set over 200 years. I adore the descriptions of the people and the cities. I even have my favorite city picked out and all, which got destroyed over a war...can't begin to describe how sad it made me feel.

Anyways, you can see I am very attached to the world of Midkemia. If I could actually leap into the book and go there I would!

IMM [Feb.20 - Feb.26]

Yes, I finally made a pic for my IMM! 

This is a a weekly blog meme hosted by The Story Siren, where you post all the books you received this week.

And this is what I got.

Dangerously Placed was a hard book to find but I am really glad to finally own it. I love the idea of it.

Until The End is the 3rd series of Christopher Pike I own, I haven't read any of them yet, but they all look great. This book is huge!!!

Wings is the first book in the Wings series by Aprilynne Pike, yet another Pike. The series seems very interesting and I love the covers!

Balefire is the Omnibus of the Balefire series containing all four books by Cate Tiernan, I was considering getting the Sweep series by her but then I read the blurb for this one and I loved it.

The High Lord is the third book of Trudi Canavan's Black Magician Trilogy. I own the two previous books but haven't read them yet. I didn't want to start them without having the third one.

Shadow's Edge is the second book in the Night Angel series. I have no idea when I will start this one...still haven't read the first one.

And finally, The Deovuring, again! I got this one by accident, and by the time this arrived I already had the hardback version, so I will be giving this away at the Spring Cleaning Giveaway Hop, hopefully along with some other books.

This is all I got this week.

What was in your mailbox?

Waiting on Wednesday #1

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine where you can spotlight an upcoming release that you're eagerly anticipating.

I decided to start posting a few more memes and this is one of them.

So here's what I am waiting.

Katana by Cole Gibsen

Pub Date: March 8th 2012

Rileigh Martin would love to believe that adrenaline had given her the uncanny courage and strength to fend off three muggers. But it doesn't explain her dreams of 15th-century Japan, the incredible fighting skills she suddenly possesses, or the strange voice giving her battle tips and danger warnings. 

While worrying that she's going crazy (always a reputation ruiner), Rileigh gets a visit from Kim, a handsome martial arts instructor, who tells Rileigh she's harboring the spirit of a five-hundred-year-old samurai warrior. 

Relentlessly attacked by ninjas, Rileigh has no choice but to master the katana--a deadly Japanese sword that's also the key to her past. As the spirit grows stronger and her feelings for Kim intensify, Rileigh is torn between continuing as the girl she's always been and embracing the warrior inside her.

***

I love everything Japanese so of course I am desperately waiting for Katana to be released. I was really glad to receive  a netgalley of the book, which I will be starting soon!

So what are you waiting this Wednesday?

Arrived This Week [Feb.13 - Feb.19]

So many great arrivals this week I can't wait to start reading them.

A box with all these books arrived on Valentine's Day. I couldn't wish for a better gift, although I did pay for them... These are all books I had on my to read list for a while and I am glad that finally I can start reading them.

I am a huge fan of Raymond E. Feist and The Riftwar Cycle books are some of my favorites books ever. I've been waiting for A Crown Imperilled for a year to come out and finally it did! And I got the first edition, which later I learned has a printing error in it and you can send your copy back to Harper Voyager and get a new corrected one, but this error is what makes it special so I am not parting with it. After I am finished with my NetGalleys I am going to dive into this one.

I ordered Theft of Swords after I read and loved the prequel The Viscount and The Witch (review). I am sure the series are as good as the prequel. Also the guy in the cover is so hot! Really I can't stop staring...


Finally I got my Rome Guide, I know it's not a real book, but I had to share! I am going to Rome in April so I thought a guide was the best way to plan my vacation sightseeing.




This is what I got this week. What was in your MailBox?

The Worlds Among Us Tour (Interview & Giveaway)

Hello everyone. Yes, this is another tour stop for me and yet another author interview (these things never get old). So help me welcome Beth Ann Masarik, author of The World Among Us.

You can find my review here.

Let's begin with your book, can you tell me a few things about The World Among Us? 

The World Among Us is a YA/Urban Fantasy set in a modern-day AU setting. It is a tale of forbidden love, and world domination. 

What triggered the idea of the series, where did it all begin? 

It was a dark and stormy night…LOL. No, no, all joking aside the journey of The World Among Us began back in 2003, when I took a college level creative writing class. Most people wrote poetry, but, I personally think I stink at it. Anyway, I needed something to write for my class, bounced some ideas off of some friends I was going to school with, and BAM! The original idea of The World Among Us was born. The funny thing is, I hadn’t planned on it becoming a trilogy at first. It just sort of happened. 

How did you create your main characters, are they based on anyone? 

Selene is a combination of me, and the Greek Moon goddess, Selene. That’s where I got the name from. Damien is pretty much molded from my image of the “perfect” guy. Granted, no guy is perfect, but Damien is close. I wanted a main male MC that while he looked hot, definitely has some major flaws. 

Where do you usually draw inspiration from? 

It comes from anywhere, honestly. However, I find that I am most inspired when I am either with my best friend, or at church (pretty ironic, huh?) 

What do you think is the best and what's the worst thing about being a writer? 

The best thing is all the great ideas that my Muse gives me. I have enough ideas to keep me busy for the next couple of years. 

Do you have any tips or suggestions for new writers? 

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again…Just WRITE! Make sure to keep a pen or pencil on you because you’ll never know when inspiration is going to hit. I LOVE my little notepad app on my Iphone. I find that it comes in handy when I’m in the car or on the go and I can’t stop & write it down. Plus, I can email it to myself later on. 

What should we expect from you in the future? Are there any more projects under construction? 

I have several projects that I am working on, one of them being the sequel to Prince of Darkness. I also have an idea that is going to be an Alternate Universe/historical fiction/urban fantasy based story. It is going to have to do with a deceased family member that is quite famous. Perhaps I will tell you more about it during some point on the tour. It turns out, that I am related to Tomas Masaryk, the first president of the Czech Republic. He is my great, great, great uncle!

***

Thank you for having me on the blog today, Veronica! Now, I am offering up an autographed copy of The World Among Us in paperback, as well as a t-shirt with my fanclub logo on the back of it (the image can be found on my blog which is www.bahbammymusings.wordpress.com). To enter, please fill out the rafflecopter. Good luck!

The Vanishing Game by Kate Kae Myers

A new exciting thriller that will leave you thinking about it for a long time after you are finished reading it.

The Vanishing Game leads us on a crazy scavenger hunt after clues that Jack has left his sister Jocelyn. Jocelyn thinks her brother has been dead for three weeks but then she receives a letter from him containing a clue, just like he used to do when they were on foster care at Seale House. The first thing she does is reunite with an old friend, Noah, together they used to solve the clues Jack left them and now they are about to do it again for one last time. But they are not the only ones after Jack. Haunted by the demons of her past and all too real enemies of her present, Jocelyn has to stay alive first, before she finds her brother.

I really love this book. I can't describe how much I love it. Everything about it was perfect. Scavanger hunting is one of the things I am dying for, all these clues Jack left were so smart and mysterious, I was trying so hard to solve everything, but some of them required specific knowledge that only Jocelyn and Noah had. I also love the fact that Noah and Jack are programmers, since I am one too. Next thing this book has in a great amount is the memories of Jocelyn when she and her brother were still living at Seale House with Noah and all those other kids, I think they were some of the best parts of the book. And of course I adored the ending...didn't see that coming! Really brilliant!

This book never had a dull moment. If I wasn't trying to figure out a clue, I was reading about Jocelyn's unique past or I was in the middle of a action scene. Such a brilliant read! Can't wait to see more from the author.

★★★★★

book 10             book 6

The World Among Us by Beth Ann Masarik

The World Among Us is the story of Damien and Selene, two starcrossed lovers that find themshelves in the middle of Hades' evil plan to take over the world, it doesn't really help that Damien is actually his son and Selene the granddaughter of his arch enemy, Gaia. After Hades manipulates Damien into killing Selene he moves on to his next target, the leader of the Creatures of the Night, Jason. Little does he know Selene has been reincarnated and protected by everyone against him.

This book has a little bit of everything, evil plots, tough love, ancient gods and modern urban life. The idea behind it all had gread premise, but there were some things that I couldn't look past. There were some holes in the storyline, some things that confused me and/or remained unaswered. Also the characters were kind of a flat line for me, they were a little underdeveloped and I didn't really care much about any of them.

Still if you are a big big big fan of mythology and gods and all things concerning them, this just might be a book for you.

★★★☆☆

book 9             book 5             book 5

Random Acts of Kindness Giveaway Hop

Friday, February 17th is Random Acts of Kindness Day.

What better way to celebrate than by taking part in a giveaway hop. Read for Your Future and I Am A Reader, Not A Writer have teamed up to bring you the Random Acts of Kindness Giveaway Hop.

One of you will get the chance to choose two of the following books.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Find all the other participating blogs here.

Interview & Giveaway: Romancing Olive by Holly Bush

Holly Bush is an avid reader of historical books, both fiction non-fiction. She’s a fan of David McCullough, Mary Balogh, Diana Gabaldon, Jane Austen, Lee Child and Maggie Osborne. Holly is from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania where she resides with her husband and a menagerie of dogs and cats.

1. Let's begin with your book, can you tell me a few things about Romancing Olive? 

Sure! Romancing Olive is the story of Olive Wilkins, a spinster librarian from Philadelphia. She receives news of her brother’s and his wife’s death and travels to Ohio to rescue her orphaned niece and nephew. Set in 1891, she arrives to find the circumstances of her brother’s life deplorable and her long held beliefs of family and tradition, shaken. Her niece and nephew, Mary and John, have been living with a neighboring farmer, widower Jacob Butler, the father of three young children of his own and a man still in pain from the recent loss of his wife. 

2. What triggered the idea of it, where did it all begin? 

I’m not sure how to explain this without sounding odd but I see my characters in my head. They lodge themselves there. I saw Olive seated on the train west to Ohio, purse strings looped over her arm, bonnet tied and traveling coat buttoned-up, staring out the window at the passing landscape. She was very consciously not engaging other passengers and dreaming her dreams about raising her niece and nephew in her family home in Philadelphia. I didn’t have a clear picture yet of why Olive had to rescue these children, only that she did. 

Click Image for Goodreads page

3. What do you love the most about your book? 

I love that so many readers have shared that they felt as though they knew Olive and Jacob by the time they’d finished the book and that they had laughed and cried as they read. 

4. What do you think is the best and what's the worst thing about being a writer? 

The best thing about writing is watching the characters grow or change as the story evolves. My characters are very real to me. I don’t outline when I write so when I’m writing the character doesn’t follow any preconceived notions of what should happen. The story just comes out. The worst thing about writing is that it is a very lonely business. 

5. Do you have any tips or suggestions for new writers? 

Write. Just keep writing and reading. Even when the stuff you’re writing is lousy; lousy is better than a blank page. That’s what editing is for. And join a writer’s group. I’ve always belonged to one and there is quite a bit of benefit from hearing others read their work and then hearing what the group’s comments are. I think I learned the most from reading my work aloud and getting immediate feedback as well as developing an ear for what doesn’t work. 

6. What should we expect from you in the future? Are there any more projects under construction?
I have 5 historical romances completed and will be publishing them over the next year. I’ve also got a women’s fiction novel done and a second one is in the works. There’s an excerpt of Romancing Olive on my website and also a short excerpt for my next book, Train Station Bride. 

Find Holly

www.hollybushbooks.com

Buy Romancing Olive

Amazon | Nook | All Romance EBooks

Giveaway

Feb.15 - Feb.21

Holly is offering an ebook of Romancing Olive to one lucky winner.

Just leave a comment with your email below, so I can contact the winner.

Arrived This Week [Feb.6 - Feb.12]

This week I got a few print books I was dying to get. So, let's start.

(Click on each book cover to go to its Goodreads page.)

I already have and read The Prophecy of Gems, it's a very special book to me, but I read it when I was 14 and in greek, so I thought I should also get it in English and in HARDBACK!

I heard so many great things about the Seven Realms Trilogy by Cinda Williams Chima, that even though I haven't even read the Heir Trilogy I knew I needed to get The Demon King.

I got Soulstice, yay! But I still don't have the Devouring, which is the first book in the series, but it will arrive next week, hopefully, along with some other great books I've ordered.

Finally, Remember Me. These are all three of the books bound up in two volumes. I have another book by Christopher Pike which I haven't read but I love creepy stories and I can't get enough of them.

So, what did you get this week?

Ashlyn's Radio by Wilson Doherty

I am a real sucker for good old creepy ghost stories. And this book is one of them.

Moving Canada to a small village in the US, Ashlyn was ready for the akward days at home with her stranger of a grandmother and her insignificant senior year at school but nothing prepared her for a talking indistrucable radio in the basement of her house that could predict the future and a ghost train with a conductor bend to trap whatever soul crossed his path.

I really liked this story. It was sweet and creepy at the same time. Loved the whole village and the legend of the ghost train. I also really enjoyed Ashlyn although some times her libido was overwhelming and totally adored Caden, he is so sweet and so protective.

The creepy parts were really creepy but not scary. I could love this book even more if there was more horror in it, but as I said before is a really sweet, creepy book that left me with a smile in my face.

★★★★☆

book 8             book 4              book 2              book 4

Ghosts of Rosewood Asylum: Interview & Giveaway

Welcome everyone to my stop for The Ghosts of Rosewood Asylum Blog Tour. Today I present to you Stephen Prosapio the author of this really awesome novel. Without any further ado, here is our interview.

You can find my review here.

1. Let's begin with your book, can you tell me a few things about Ghosts of Rosewood Asylum?
Here’s a quick pitch for you: Zach Kalusky, host of Sci-D TV's Xavier Paranormal Investigators, is given the opportunity to explore the most haunted site in Chicago for a Halloween Special: Rosewood Asylum, a place long made off-limits by the local government, plagued by decades of mysterious fires and unexplained events, but there's a catch. The network forces Xavier Paranormal Investigators to partner with the more dramatic-but less ethical-Demon Hunters. Now, Zach must fight for both his show's integrity and his team's loyalty while trying to protect his own secret: that he, himself, is possessed.

2. What triggered the idea of it, where did it all begin? 

I like how you phrased that. What “triggered” the idea because this story had to “brew” quite a while. After my first novel DREAM WAR didn’t sell to the Big Six publishers, my agent suggested I go with another idea I had at the time (a vampire novel). Unfortunately, I got blocked with that idea and came back to the TV Paranormal Investigator angle. Pitching it a second time to my agent went much better. She gave me advice that my main character had to have “something.” One day in a bolt of inspiration, that “something” came to me. That was the trigger that everything else flowed from.

3. How do you create your main characters, are they based on anyone? 

Typically they either start out as someone I know or a combination of people I know…that said, they really do take on their own identities in my mind. I have random conversations with them and about them. I sometimes even forget who they were “based” on…the way normal people might forget who their best friend reminded them of when they first met them.

4. What is the most haunted place you've ever been to or want to visit in the future? 

Or want to visit? From the TV shows, probably Allegany State Prison.

5. Do you believe in ghosts? And if so, did you ever have a ghostly experience? 

Yes. And yes. Read my book to get an idea of them!

6. What do you think is the best and what's the worst thing about being a writer?

The best: knowing that my thoughts, stories, imaginative creations are running around in other people’s minds as they read my work.
The worst? The business side. The more I learn, the more I realize that good writing often has very little to do with what is peddled to readers.

7. Do you have any tips or suggestions for new writers?

Quit. I don’t need the competition! Ha! Seriously, two years ago, because we’d been unsuccessful at selling my first two novels to the big houses, my agent suggested that I took at Indie publishing. I’d say that moving forward, many new upcoming authors are going to need to build an audience first through Indie Publishing. And with the money being paid as royalties on Amazon and other sites, some will just stay that path and make far more than they ever would with a publisher. Regardless, it’s great to have options, and as writers, we’ve more options these days than we’ve ever had at any point in history.

8. What should we expect from you in the future? Do you have any new projects under construction?

I am writing a sequel to GHOSTS OF ROSEWOOD ASYLUM. I’m also going to start a new paranormal mystery series about a young San Diego woman who solves crimes with the help of her surfer friends…who happen to be ghosts.

Find Stephen 

Stephen's Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | The XPI Website

Buy Ghosts of Rosewood Asylum

Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Smashwords

Giveaway

One of you will get the chance to win an ecopy of Ghosts of Rosewood Asylum. All you have to do is fill the rafflecopter below.

Good Luck.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Your Pick February Giveaway

This a new idea for my next giveaways that I had. Every month during the "Your Pick" Giveaway, you guys will tell which book or books you want to be featured in the "Your Pick" giveaway of the next month. I will collect all your entries and get the top 3 out of them for my next giveaway.

<center><a href="http://mostlyreviews.blogspot.com/2012/02/your-pick-february-giveaway.html"><img src="http://i1057.photobucket.com/albums/t385/Veronica_Morfi/yourpick.png?t=1328610062" width="150"/></a></center>

Since this is the first of the giveaways I will pick the books based on what I see people reading and well, what I would like to get...
This is what one of you will get to choose from

You can find all the info about this giveaway in the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway