Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Just a Thought

I saw this headline today 


Can Iron Man, the Lone Ranger and Superman Save the Box Office?


and I have to respond. NO.. why because it is the tired and true.. telling the same old story to the same old people. Sure we love these characters but they are movies geared towards men... I have to wonder what in the heck is wrong with Hollywood.. I know it too is run by men but seriously guys get a clue.

What is the number one genre of book sales in today's market... UM Romance books.. Now stop rolling your eyes because basically if it is written by a woman it's called Romance.. but there is such a HUGE variety out there. That I know men would love..

Christien Feehan's Ghostwalkers
Sherrilyn Kenyon's League Series
JR Ward's Black Daggar Brotherhood

to name a few

Other authors that write brilliant Urban Fantasy
Jessa Slade
Rebecca Zanetti
Sara Humphreys
Caris Roane
Elisabeth Naughton
Dianne Duvall
Nalini Singh

then there is the suspense 

Elizabeth Lowell
Julie Garwood 

Of course there is always Nora Roberts... but she was stuck on the LMN channel..sheesh.. if her name was Noel Roberts her books would be blockbuster movies

Honestly the list goes on and on.. these amazing women write these intense, creative, rich and UNIQUE books. Must a writer have his sex organs on the outside to be better writer? I wasn't aware that the penis actually did any of the writing.. 

Too bad we can not storm Hollywood. I say we boycott these sad familiar tunes and demand that someone get a brain..

Friday, April 12, 2013

NetGalley A Great Way to Find Books

 Ever wonder how all those bloggers get books to review BEFORE they come into print? Are you thinking that they all must be "in the know". Oh sure a lot of them hook up with book clubs, promo companies and even interact with the author BUT a huge lot of them use a source called NetGalley. 

For those who don't know exactly what netgalley is, it's exactly what it sounds like. Back in the day they would send the "galleys" of new books out to be read, reviewed, promoted, whatever.. I am sure some publishers still do.. I know some publishers still do. But Netgalley got an idea and boy did it work. Take all those opportunities, gather as many publishers that they can and get those galleys set up on the net.. hence the name NetGalley. You can go there sign up, fill out a profile and start requesting books to review. There are a wide assortment of publishers and genres to choose from so just about everyone will be attracted. If you do this make sure you write an excellent profile and show where you are going to review their books. If you don't have a blog.. well go ahead and use Amazon, B&N and Goodreads as your place of reviewing.. shoot even if you do have a blog use them. The more places you post the better your chances. 

"NetGalley is a service to promote and publicize forthcoming titles to readers of influence. If you are a reviewer, blogger, journalist, librarian, bookseller, educator, or in the media, you can use NetGalley for FREE to request and read titles before they are published."

I use NetGalley on a regular basis and the amount of books available continues to astound me. And not just from new or unheard of authors. Some of the big names use Netgalley!! Of course not all of them, I am still trying to break into the upper echelon where I get books from the likes of Sherrilyn Kenyon and Christine Feehan, pre release.. but there are some names on the list that surprise me. Consider Terry Brooks.. a long standing fantasy writer with a HUGE following.. His Shannarra series is actually generational, as the first book came out in 1977. 

It's a great tool.. if you have an interest in reading and reviewing books, I suggest you give this a try.

Shauni

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Feed Your Reader

Inspired Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer has launched a new site aimed at bringing you the best Kindle Ebook Deals and Steals.



Each day on feedyourreader.com you'll find a new list of available ebook deals (most for under $3).



And of course there will be lots of  Featured Freebies too!



To celebrate the launch of the new site she is giving away a Kindle Fire, Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash.


Win a 7" Kindle Fire (US only)




Or $100 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)




Or $100 in Paypal Cash (International)





Giveaway Details 
1 winner will receive their choice of a Kindle Fire 7" (US Only), $100 Amazon Gift Card or $100 in Paypal Cash (International).
Ends 5/5/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Prize value $100-$159 US.

a Rafflecopter giveaway You can put up a post anytime between now and April 30th. Remember to enter your link into the form to be entered to win the $50.

Monday, March 4, 2013

Validation


I am one of the single most insecure people that there is. I am constantly looking for validation, looking to impress people with my wit, intelligence, charm, whatever. I long for people to tell me I have worth. 

I know you should never place your worth in the hands of others.. It just isn't good. But I do it. Constantly looking for approval. It's a scary thing because I have lead an interesting life, have more than average intelligence, am personable.. sure I need to loose weight but that's not what I need validation for. Oh yeah, it would be totally cool if I lost all the weight and came home looking smokin hawt.. But that is something I could actually do for myself. Shoot, do the work.. loose the weight. Guess that is why it doesn't bother me so much (it does but not about my self worth) 

What destroys me is when people don't recognize my brain.. my individuality.. When I was young and labeled in school, life was good. For a little while, only trouble was, I wasn't a rocket scientist.. I am a cut and paste kind of girl. No one got that.. so I spent years and I mean years trying to impress people. It didn't work because I was still living for others. If I would have just said screw it and became myself, I probably would have all the validation I needed. See the lesson there? Be true to yourself and you tend to impress others, live to impress others and you are constantly failing. 

Anyway, as I know most of you are aware, I write two book review blogs, Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy and Tea and Book.  But because they are about romance books, I tend to separate them from my regular life. I mean, admit I like romance books? Yeah.. right.  But lately I have been writing reviews and loving the heck out of it.. I do it for me.. not anyone else, like I said I rarely even tell my family and/or friends that I read romance books let alone review them. ANYWAY things have taken an amazing turn. 

Author Alyssa Day, liked my review so much she is putting it in the front of her next book The Cursed. You know where you see quotes from people in the business about other books written by the author? Yep, I am going there!!

Author Christina Dodd, reprinted my quote on her Facebook Page and Twitter

Author Ashlyne Laynne mentioned my in her book Progeny 

And several authors have mentioned me on their websites.. 

BUT TODAY

the most amazing thing happened. I went to Amazon to post a review and I saw the editorial quotes.. you know what I am talking about? The blurbs used to get readers excited? Well on the book If you Give a Rake a Ruby.. AMAZON posted a quote from BR.. yep that's me!! I was practically jumping up and down.

Then I realized. I was being validated.. Not because I was looking for it but because I was doing something I was good at and something I loved. I was sharing me!! Go Figure..

Shauni


Saturday, September 22, 2012

Phantom Shadows Trailer


This is so exciting.. I have been waiting for this book for what seems like absolutely forever!!

Dianne Duvall is one of the authors that I had in mind when I first created Tea and Book. A new author with a wonderful story to tell. I am excited to let you all know that not only is Ms Duvall sharing this wonderful trailer for us but she will be visiting us on October 19th!! YAY..

“Knowing your enemies is a key concern in the newest installment of Duvall's excellent Immortal Guardians series. Vampires, and the virus that drives them insane, have been the primary threats that our heroes have been fighting against, but there is a new player in town. With this excellent entry, rising star Duvall is fast proving to be a major player in paranormal romance!” RT Book Reviews
Dianne Duvall lures readers into a world of romance and suspense,
where love can mean the difference between life and death . . .


Dr. Melanie Lipton is no stranger to the supernatural. She knows immortals better than they know themselves, right down to their stubborn little genes. So although a handsome rogue immortal seems suspicious to her colleagues, Sebastien Newcombe intrigues Melanie. His history is checkered, his scars are impressive, and his ideas are daring. But it's not his ideas that have Melanie fighting off surges of desire . . .

Bastien is used to being the bad guy. In fact, he can't remember the last time he had an ally he could trust. But Melanie is different � and under her calm, professional exterior he senses a passion beyond anything in his centuries of experience. Giving in to temptation is out of the question � he can't put her in danger. But she isn't asking him . . .
And now this awesome Trailer!!


Wednesday, May 30, 2012

A Zombie Apocalypse is Nigh

Seriously! I have been working with IO Tours this month and it seems that the Zombies have overrun us! Let me tell you this, I may not be a huge horror fan thus not a ready Zombie convert BUT.. these Zombie writers have interesting minds. Not just in their stories but while interacting with them. They are just fantastic. 

Why am I suddenly posting this? Well today I found a fun search on Yahoo all about Zombies.. seems it they are one of the 10 searches today.. *Grins* really check em out!  

Here are some of the Zombie books and authors I have worked with recently! Reviews, synopsis and excerpts can be found on Tea and Book

I have worked with Scot Baker who writes Rotter World.. 

You can find Scot on 
As well as on his website  

along with a little tease on Tea and Book
 Here's a brief Synopsis

Eight months have passed since vampires released the Revenant Virus on mankind, nearly wiping out both species. For Mike Robson, the situation could be far worse. He has joined up with a small band of humans and the last coven of vampires who are riding out the zombie apocalypse in an old fort along the coast of southern Maine. But the uneasy alliance between humans and vampires is strained with the arrival of the creator of the Revenant Virus. He claims to have a vaccine that will make them immune and allow mankind to take civilization back from the living dead. However, the vaccine is located in a secure underground facility five hundred miles away.
To retrieve it, Robson leads a raiding party of humans and vampires down the East Coast, which has been devastated by the outbreak and overrun by zombies and rape gangs. Yet none of the horrors he deals with on the road can prepare him for what he will find in the underground facility.  Robson will encounter the greatest threat his group has faced to date, not only from zombies but from betrayal within his own ranks.  

DL Snell and Thom Brannon Who write Pavlov's Dogs..  The guys can be found on

DL Snells Website
His Facebook 
 
And an excellent review by Lisa on Tea and Book
 
 
 A Brief Synopsis on Pavlov's Dogs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Zombies Versus Werewolves: Who Will Win?
Permuted Press - April, 2012 – A new action sci-fi horror novel answers the burning question all fans want to know.
With the rise in popularity of zombie fiction, readers have been dying to know which monster can beat the walking dead. Novelists Thom Brannan and D.L. Snell answer one of those questions in their newest book, PAVLOV’S DOGS (Permuted Press).
PAVLOV’S features genetically enhanced werewolves designed to operate as spec ops soldiers. They can transform at will and are fearsome killing machines. When the dead rise, the mastermind behind the Dogs wishes to unleash his creations against the undead hordes and send them on rescue missions to bring survivors back to his island. But many members of the doctor’s team raise critical questions: The Dogs are still prototypes, untested. What happens if they’re not ready for battle and their systems fail? More importantly, what happens when a Dog gets bitten by an infected human? Can the werewolves win out against the hordes?
As a kid I remember catching black widows and scorpions together in a coffee can,” says co-author D.L. Snell. “We wanted to see which bug would win. It was a fascination of ours. So that’s kind of what Thom and I have done with PAVLOV’S DOGS. We just threw a werewolf and a zombie into a coffee can and placed our bets.”
While tackling two well-established monsters, Brannan and Snell have observed some traditions while subverting others. The zombies are standard shamblers at the start, with power in sheer numbers, but the werewolves are unique to the genre from the beginning: they can transform at will; they are genetically engineered; most of them are human friendly; and they are equipped with an advanced Brain-Computer Interface that allows for not only a pack mind, but also for conditioning and a fine degree of control—thus creating worthy opponents of the walking dead.
I’m excited for it,” co-author Thom Brannan says, “because while there are some traditions we stuck close to, there are others we blew away, and when the two collide, it’s a load of fun. And gore. And fire.”
But who will win? Zombies, or werewolves? PAVLOV’S DOGS will be available to answer that question April 2012 in every popular format, including Kindle, Nook, Audible.com audio, and trade paperback. 

And the Brother's Williams book Dead Meat!  

Chris and Patrick Williams can be found:
On their Website
On Facebook
On Goodreads 


and a review of this fantastic book on Tea and Book
 
 
And now for the synopsis..
 
Synopsis:
The city of River’s Edge has been quarantined due to a rodent borne rabies outbreak. But it quickly becomes clear to the citizens that the infection it is something much, much worse than rabies...
The townsfolk are attacked and fed upon by packs of the living dead. Labeling the infected residents “bees” for their tendency to travel in swarms, Gavin and Benny attempt to survive the chaos in River’s Edge while making their way north in search of sanctuary. No one knows what waits outside the quarantined zone, but Gavin and Benny know that to survive, they must escape.

And finally there is the incredibly hysterical Zombie Apocalypse Preparation otherwise referred to as ZAP..  
 David Houchin and Scot Thomas can be found

 Their Website
Facebook
Twitter
And Goodreads


Looking for a sneak peak? Check out Tea and Book

Here's their synopsis 

"We guarantee this is the only tool you need to survive the zombie.
OK, that’s not really true. But when the SHTF you’re going to want a survival guide that’s not just geared toward day-to-day survival. You’ll need one that addresses the essential skills for true nourishment of the human spirit. Living through the end of the world isn’t worth a damn unless you can enjoy yourself in any way you want. (Except, of course, for anything having to do with abuse. We could never condone such things. At least the publisher’s lawyers say we can’t"

Zombie Apocalypse Preparation: How to Survive in an Undead World and Have Fun Doing It! is the first zombie apocalypse survival manual with entertainment in mind.  What fun is living in a world of the undead if you can't have a bit of fun?  The apocalypse is not just about survival it's about enjoying your new found life.
Inside the covers of this book you will not only find the way to pick the right weapon, building, and survival methods but you'll find entertaining ways to dispose of the undead, entertain yourself and your group, and dispatch your former friends and family members with a smile on your face and a song in your heart.

Saturday, December 31, 2011

2011 A Year in Books at Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy

Wonder what We found to be the best books of 2011? After much hair pulling and head banging (our own not each other's) we have made our decisions Come to Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy and find out!

Photobucket

Here is hoping you have a happy New Year full of laughter, love and NEW BOOKS!!

Friday, December 30, 2011

A Conversation on Twitter Reminded me...

I have a Twitter and blog friend Amanda from Parnanormal Romance Novels We chat both on my twitter account as me @Shauni_46 and on my account for Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy @Bodice_Rippers and have had some very indepth discussions in 144 characters or less. Yeah I know hard to believe. So she brought up how cute it was to see a man in the romance section at the bookstore.. and it reminded me



Years ago, my ex used to buy me books.. now let me explain the man was the absolute WORST gift giver in the world. Oh he sorta kinda tried but he never got it.. like he would be out buying, gas, beer, groceries..whatever and think hey.. maybe I could get Shauni a treat so invariably he would come home with either Rocky Road Ice Cream or a Three Muskateers Bar.. kudos for the thought. Now, it's not that I dislike either of those things but they are not my favorites.. they are HIS.. One year he got me this HUGE stereo system for Christmas, he paid well over a thousand dollars for it in say 1988 so it was a pretty penny. The problem? I would have been happy with a transistor radio as I am not huge music fan, um he is.. Yeah his solution is to buy what he would like cuz well he liked it so obviously I would too. Now enough background.


He used to buy me books.. and as I have stated many times I love Romance Books.. but I am very very picky. I have preferences.. I like PNR but hate traditional Vampire. I like sensual but erotic or graphic sex bores me. I like when a woman has choices but bed hoping turns me off.. Of course he didn't know any of this.. he would bring me home a romance book.. you know pick one off the shelf and then not understand why I didn't read it. It took me years to explain (and I am still not sure that he gets it) that there are different authors, subgenres all that stuff.. ph yeah did I mention I prefer reading books by authors who actually knew how to form a sentence? I finally used music, his one true love to explain. I said how would you feel if Eric Clapton came out with a new CD and I bought you Motley Crue? I mean they are both music CD's what's the difference? I think he almost saw the light.


With that particular background whenever I see a man in the Romance Section I try really hard to offer help. I smile, kinda browse around, make myself available, make eye contact.. then eventually just ask do you need some help? I must admit it is just plain funny. The scenarios usually go something like this.


Me: Can I help you?


Poor Guy: Well my wife likes romance and I wanted to get one for her...


Me: Well, what does she like?


Poor Guy: I just told you Romance?


Me: Yes, I know but Paranormal, Urban, Mystery, Historical *grins* and of course Historical has all those time periods, Time Traveling, Scotland??


By this time his eyes have glazed over and true panic has set in...


Poor Guy: But, but, but..... there is all that?


Me: Does she have a favorite author? 


Poor Guy: Um, well, sure...


Me: OK, who?


Poor Guy: Um... (he is sweating now and starting to look a little green)


Me: Well try this one (Hands him a Nora Roberts Book) Always a safe bet.. but may I suggest that you get a piece of paper and start writing down her favorite authors, keep it with you.. Books are like.. Music (yes I learned) there are all different types of genres even within the main genre.. 


Poor Guy: Gee thanks lady... I don't know what I would have done without you but my wife is sure gonna be happy...


There is no guarantee about that but I have to think wow.. he made and effort.. and I hear all you ladies out there who read about the ice cream, three muskateers and wrong books.. he did try.. he wasn't all bad.. *grinsi



Thursday, December 29, 2011

Spirit Bound, A Review

I just posted this review at Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy If you enjoyed this review please stop by and see what else we have going on

Being an avid fan of Christine Feehan makes one understand the uniqueness of her talent. Ms Feehan has an amazing ability to write about her characters instead of shoveling them into her style of writing. It is a gift that continues to astound me. Sometimes she will write a book that I find boring, insipid or even just uninteresting, then I will really look at the characters and I realize it’s not the book... I know why write about such characters? Well because they are pivotal to the main arc and others might enjoy their stories and most importantly Ms Feehan needs to write them. When I read such a book I usually place it aside only to be re read if I am reading the entire series in order.  Spirit Bound is not such a book.. Ms Feehan has eclipsed herself in this book.


I love words, absolutely love words.. there are so many wonderful words, some that slip silently off your tongue, others that virtually dance on air. Words that hurt and words that heal.. Words that bring a character to life and other words that kills the plot. The ability to mix together the proper words is what a writer focuses on. How does she bring her characters to life? How does she show us their world, share with us their life’s journey? When done right.. oh the joy we receive. In Spirit Bound.. Ms Feehan does it oh so right!! Ms Feehan, continues her Sisters of the Heart Series.. about a group of unique women who have survived individual tragedy and come out stronger.. They find each other in therapy and form a tight circle, creating their own family.. literally Sisters of the Heart. We were introduced to these women in Water Bound and had a taste of their individual talents in Spirit Bound we see a little bit more of each of them and they definitely make fascinating secondary characters and I will look forward to learning each of their stories. While I enjoyed Water Bound it had a bland feel to it.. it was too regimented and contained of course Rikki, the heroine of the book was autistic and as I stated in my opening paragraph Ms Feehan writes her books around her characters. Rikki needed bland and regimented but in Spirit Bound we focus on Judith. Who is anything but bland!! She is vibrant and alive and filled with color. Ms feehan brings her to life completely!

In Spirit Bound we meet Stefan Prakenskii  the third Prakenskii brother to have a story. He is deep undercover ready to continue his life in the shadows.. knowing that is all his life can ever be, gray and dismal, bleak but he has a purpose. He is driven to remove as much of the truly evil element from the world as possible. To take them down as he hides his true self deep within, knowing eventually the man he is will destroy the man he could be. All he clings to is the love he has for the brothers he barely remembers. When his assignment parallels a threat to Lev, one of his brothers he leaps to defend Lev and complete the assignment by any means possible.

While in prison, pretending to be an upper echelon thug, trying to get close to Crime Lord, Boss, Resident Evil extraordinaire, Jean-Claude La Roux; Stefan has the opportunity to study Judith. As his target is completely and totally obsessed with her. Years ago Jean-Claude met and fell in love with a young artist whose innocence and beauty shines through the very pictures on the wall. Calling out to not only Jean-Claude but Stefan as well. As his assignment leads him to Sea Haven and Judith and Lev, Stefan creates an entire new persona to infiltrate the town.

Judith, a beautiful woman with a tormented past. Years of self recrimination forces her to attempt to control her gift. She compartmentalizes parts of herself forcing herself to remain calm and focused and never letting herself feel anything in the extreme and certainly never the negative emotions (For all you Nalini Singh readers out there it reminded me of how the Psy removed all emotions and created the alter netmind.. ) While this allows her to heal from the debilitating grief caused from her past, it also destroys parts of her very being. Even her art has changed... less of her joie de vivre shines through. And always an aura of sadness wraps itself around her. To the extent that instead of rejoicing in the life she has created she spends many hours hiding in the dark, creating a room of revenge. Ms Feehan delighted me while introducing both Judith and the room with the following passage

DARK purples swirling with black lines moved across the high cobalt ceiling, weeping crystalline tears. With so much sorrow filling the room, floor to ceiling, simple stone and wood could barely contain the intensity of emotion. Sorrow lived and breathed. Rage moved in the walls, breathing in and out, so that the slashes of red and orange undulated, bulging outward and then pressing back, great gulps of air to control the force of anger, the need for retribution, for vengeance. Rage lived and breathed alongside sorrow there in the spacious confines of the large, dark studio. A breeze drifted in from the open French doors leading to the patio and backyard where great grasses obscured all view of the studio from outside, teasing at the flames flickering at the tip of each of the dark candles illuminating the paintings. The dancing light caught glints of jagged glass embedded in the dark, angry paintings. Bold, red Japanese characters wept out a single name—Paul Henderson.” *Spirit Bound Chapter 2

When Judith and Stefan meet it is instant attraction and Ms Feehan creates a relationship that sizzles with sensuous delight. It is a fast paced and unlikely relationship and yet completely believable. You, understand their almost compulsion like need for each other. Stefan, for the first time in his life finds it impossible to remain in character and parts of his real self keep revealing themselves to Judith. Judith begins to trust, really trust for the first time in years.. and as Stefan gradually reveals more and more of himself she falls deeper in love.

The necessary evil in this book is two tiered and most excellently combined. Stefan has to learn how to rely on Levi and how to trust Judith. He doesn’t quite get the concept of total honesty and Levi, the younger brother, is the one to show him the way. I liked the way the brothers interact and renew their relationship. In a way forging new ties.. with the childhood as a foundation. We do get to spend a teeny bit of time with Jonas and we see Aleksandr as the interesting and intriguing man that he is. Both Levi and Stefan recognize him for the predator he was originally written as. Which I enjoyed immensely as in the last few Drake novels, Ilya comes to power and Aleksandr comes off as the red headed step child. It’s nice to remember that he too is a dangerous man. What I didn’t like, is once again we didn’t get to see Ilya as he is off on a prolonged honeymoon with Joley. I want that reunion!!


True to form, Ms Feehan leaves enticing threads just dangling.. teasing us with what is going to happen farther along in the story arc. I can't wait for you all to read this book so we can discuss what is happening...

I will promise you this.. as far as I am concerned this was one of Ms Feehan’s BEST books! Her characters are passionate, loyal, driven and totally perfect just as they are. I rarely give a five star review as that needs to be with held for the best of the best but believe me, this one earns all five stars.

Shauni

Monday, December 19, 2011

Demon Possesion (Shadow Quest Book 1) , A Review

As I may have stated a time or two I have this wonderful site called Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy that I work on with two amazing ladies... I may be a tad biased but I think it is a pretty awesome site.. go ahead, check it out... We have so much stuff going on over there and I read so very fast, sometimes there isn't room for my reviews.. So I decided to post an occasional review here! One of the initial reasons I started this blog so that I would be able to write reviews... *Grins* yeah I know any reason to give my opinions...

This Review of Demon Possesion is actually posted at Bodice Rippers feel free to check it out.. But I decided to post it here as well..


Special thanks to my friend Kimmie over at GoodReads for having this book on her TBR List. Since I started snagging books from her, I have found some really great ones!

Demon Possession is book 1 in Kiersten Fay's Shadow Quest Series and I must say.. Finally!!! A new premise!! Set mostly aboard the space ship Maradas in deep space. It’s a story of greed, revenge, salvation and redemption, oh yeah and finding love especially when you aren’t looking for it, don’t want it and would really rather live without it.. On Ms Fay’s website she describes The Shadow Quest Series as “her steamy romance series called Shadow Quest, based loosely on mythology and lore, with a little sci-fi thrown in”. I don’t usually use quotes from an author’s website but this tickled me and it was incredibly accurate.

Analia has no clue who she is, all she knows is she looks different than any species she has ever heard of and has some wicked freaky powers that others have been known to kill for. Alone, with nothing but vague memories and the occasional delusion she has been kept chained, starved, tortured and abused for centuries all she wants is freedom. When the chance for escape comes she takes it.. fearing every step of the way. Sneaking aboard the closest ship, she stows away thinking to escape at their next stop. After weeks of starvation and months of near starvation she has used her last bit of energy to make it aboard the Maradas before crawling into the nearest cubby and collapsing.

Sebastion is a demon from a destroyed planet. What little that is left of is people are either enslaved or scattered but he is blessed to have both his brother and his sister with him as well as a hodge podge of others who have drifted to his service over the years. Captain of the merchant ship Maradas, he has accepted a unique cargo that must be delivered with no stops between accepting and deliverance. No one on, No one off.. A stubborn, sexy, loyal demon all he wants is the right to survive.

Once Sebastian finds Analia, several weeks into the trip... sparks fly! He is wildly attractive to his little stow away and has no clue what to do with her. She is used to being abused whenever it strikes the fancy of her former “Master” she is terrified by Sebastian's very strength.. and yet she is drawn to him and the wonderful world he introduces her to. Ms Fay, does a wonderful job describing just how someone who has never seen anything, would react. To her joyful pleasure at seeing and waving to a child to her decadent response to chocolate, Ms Fay’s writing was a sensuous delight.

Analia is what I would call a pure character.. in spirit and action.. She has depths of rage and anger but no malice.. All she wants is to be free and it really is wonderful watching this amazing character evolve into a position of strength, drawing Sebastian’s cast of characters into her circle of friendship. It isn’t long before she is the very heart of the ship.

Sebastian and Analia must deliver the package and escape from the man who would enslave her. Who bargained with a betrayer and took her from her family. Along the way, they learn what depth one will go to, to save love. They also, find trails that lead to Analia’s mysterious past and find that their enemies are the same.

A powerful book of acceptance.. Sebastian must accept that Analia will not betray him and Analia must accept Sebastian with her very self.. her inner core of power. I really enjoyed this book, it pulls at the imagination and makes you wonder, what if...

Shauni

Monday, October 31, 2011

The Phantom Tollbooth Turns 50


The Phantom Tollbooth is a book that helped shaped my childhood. I read it around the age of 10 and promptly announced it the BEST BOOK EVER.. (although it was quickly usurped by LotR but that is an entirely different story). Over the years I have spoken about this book to many, encouraged others to read it and given it to just about every 10 year old child I have come in contact with. My own kids all read it between the ages of 8 and 10, depending. Only Blond Girl fell in love with it the way I did but oh the fall was glorious.

 Because I loved the book so much when I found this article and just wanted to share...

The Phantom Tollbooth turns 50 this year, and we've joined Norton Juster and Jules Feiffer, Milo and Tock, and a host of authors, critics, teachers and kids, to celebrate the classic 1961 children's book, by making the definitive documentary film about this beloved work of the American imagination.

We follow Norton and Jules as they return to the house in Brooklyn Heights where Norton began writing a little story "to get his mind off of what he had to do." Working as an architect, Norton was awarded a grant for a book on Urban Perception, which he promptly didn't write. Instead, he created Milo. When he showed his notes to his neighbor, a young political cartoonist bent on overthrowing the government, Jules began sketching – and The Phantom Tollbooth was born. 
Through the lens of Milo and his adventures, we get to know Norton Juster – an incorrigible punster with a "delight in glorious lunatic linguistic acrobatics" (Maurice Sendak, in his appreciation to the 35th Anniversary of The Phantom Tollbooth). Bored as a kid, wondering why he had to learn so many useless facts, Norton is Milo, we learn. And we get taken into Norton’s personal Phantom Tollbooth: where his imagination gets him in trouble for demoralizing the Navy battalion with his drawings of elves; where his friendship with Jane Jacobs and her critique of American cities shows up in Digitopolis and Dictionopolis; where “beyond expectations” takes on a personal meaning for Norton’s daughter and granddaughter as they confront their learning disabilities. 
And there’s Jules Feiffer: “that rare artist who can draw an idea," as Maurice Sendak writes in his appreciation. Or as Jules puts it “this was the first children’s book I’d ever done and I thought it was going to be the last. This was the Cold War Fifties, I was interested in overthrowing the government". We’ll look at Jules’ emergence as a voice of his generation through his comic strip at The Village Voice. How much of that era – the politics, the ideas, New York in 1961 – worked its way into his Phantom Tollbooth illustrations? Jules may argue that he illustrated the book more as a favor to a friend – but we just might find his wit, his deft criticism, his radical politics, embedded in those iconic sketches. 
And then there’s the cast of authors, historians, teachers, fans, kids, and many more who all have their favorite parts: The Whether Man – “for after all it’s much more important to know whether there will be weather than what the weather will be;" The Island of Conclusions - which you can only get to by jumping; The Terrible Trivium "demon of petty tasks and worthless jobs;" and faithful Tock who just can’t stand to waste time, but does love a nice ride in an automobile.
Join us on "The Road to Dictionopolis: The Phantom Tollbooth Turns 50." Our documentary is a key part of the celebrations, and will, we hope, help bring a fourth generation of readers to Norton and Jules' masterpiece.
We've been filming since January 2011 and expect to have the film ready for release in 2012. 

I hope you can find the time to read and enjoy this book. It doesn't matter when it was written, it feels like it happened yesterday. I think all of us have a bit of Milo in us. Let's just hope we learn our lessons as well as he did

* this article was found at The Phantom Tollbooth







Thursday, October 20, 2011

Just Astounded

As I have previously stated my friends and I have started a book review, discussion and debate site. The three of us each bring a different perspective and talent to the table. Sandy, is an awesome researcher and can usually find information in moments..

One of the things Sandy does for the site is find interesting articles about  Romantic Vampires and what's Under the Kilt and the consequences and effects of Romantic Sex Novels Which are all very very excellent articles full of fun facts and have some very interesting responses from our followers.

BUT, yesterday Sandy posted and article entitled Do Women Read More Than Men and totally blew my mind! Not the title subject because I firmly believe that women read more than men for an entire sundry of reasons.. But one line, one line has left me dumbfounded... I would say speechless but I am writing this blog so I must have something to say about it..

Among avid readers surveyed by the AP, the typical woman read nine books in a year, compared with only five for men. Women read more than men in all categories except for history and biography.

Yes, that's right an avid reader is considered someone who reads only NINE books a year. On a good week I can do that in three days.. ok, I have to have nothing to do but read and the books have to be kinda short.. but still!! I had just had a conversation with Sandy about all the 52 books in 52 weeks programs and we called them amateurs.. and giggled.. We never knew how few people could actually accomplish such a fact.

I have spent my life as an avid reader, I do not remember a time in my life when I didn't have a book in my hands.. Many of my friends would like to forget my Tolkien years but that is an entirely different story. Books have been my treasured friends my entire life. From Dr Suess, to the Phantomn Tollbooth, to Little House on the Prairie, to Poe and Shakespeare and yes Tolkien. From Mitchner to Dumas to Feehan and Kenyon.. These books have enriched my life.
 Even as a single mother with four small kids and a full time job I found time to read!

With all that being said, I have to seriously thank Ms Rowling and Ms Meyers for writing such amazing stories that interested kids and teens.. and brought them back to reading. Because of such gifted authors, I see more children and teens reading than in several generations before! They have discovered that books are even better than movies.. and seriously, I love a good movie.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

New Books


I love summer, even when I am working I love summer. There is just so much about it that says put on your suit, grab your beach stuff and head off, time to play. Of course to me that means go play in the ocean, a difficult thing when one lives in the Midwest. When I can not head for the ocean I grab a book and the very best part about summer is all those lovely new books that come out!!

In case anyone wondered I am a book fanatic.. in a way reading is my drug of choice, there is absolutely nothing better than a good book. I am one of those that will reread a good book, something that has been known to drive my mother crazy... but that is just a side benefit. I re read books because when I read I am standing right there next to the characters and they become my friends. I am interested in them and occasionally want to go back and visit them. That of course makes me a huge lover of sequels, then I get new stories and get to touch on the lives of "friends" I have already made.

Since I am such a huge reader I thought I would share a few of the authors I love. Most of them either have a book coming out or just did.

Sherrilyn Kenyon... not for the logical minded.. what a GREAT author, she has several series out right now. I first fell in love with her as Kinley Macgregor when she was writing a historical fiction series but stumbled onto her Dark-Hunter series. Oh my goodness, the woman is brilliant. This is a series that brings, Greek Mythology (actually she uses several different pantheons but in the beginning it is mostly greek) a unique and interesting twist on the vampire genre and takes us on a most intriguing ride. She also has a few other series out which I would recommend. In short if she wrote it, I suggest you read it.

Christine Feehan... another prolific writer who currently has 4 series running. The only downfall to so many series is that you have to wait an entire year before the next book in a series comes out. She too has a twist on vampires, her Carpathian Series, is sensual, intriguing and downright captivating. Another author I suggest you read, just because she is good. But she too is not one for the overly logical.. Which means I wouldn't recommend my mom read it.

Other authors that are fun... Julie Garwood and Elizabeth Lowell. Julie is one of those writers who just cracks me up. In her earlier historical work, I was constantly thinking the hero had to be banging his head against the wall at the total insanity of the characters around him. I would just giggle... Elizabeth Lowell has some pretty great books out there, I would warn you though she is a tease, she creates these fabulous characters then leaves one or two without a story and moves on to a new series. Being the person I am it keeps me hoping for a book for those lost folks. Both of these authors write in what I call the romantic suspense genre... kinda like a Bogart film, the story is great and the romance intertwines with the plot.. not the plot is the romance.

Nalini Singh and Alyssa Day are two of my newer favorites. Both have a great series running and I am enjoying them immensely. Nalini has a series set in the future about, psychics, shape changers and humans... an interesting intertwining of the three. and Alyssa is another one who brings ancient myths to current times as she writes about warriors of Atlantis...

Jacquelyn Frank, Alexis Morgan, Christina Dodd, Gaelon Foley, Stephanie Laurens, Karen Marie Moning, Jayne Anne Krentz and all her aka's, Lisa Kleypas and the ever prolific Nora Roberts.

The only problem with reading for me is I read too darn fast.. yes I know many of you say the same but I inhale new books, once I start reading I can not put a book down until it is finished. Whether it is a Math book, a dictionary (ok, pushing it) or a novel. I LOVE reading. I suppose the benefit about reading fast is I usually finish a book the day I get it so I can put it down sooner than if I read slowly. And yes the day I get it.. I am not exaggerating.

Whatever happens I know this summer will be filled with exciting stories and crazy characters and when life gets too insane I will have a good book to hide in.

Monday, June 8, 2009

A Book, A Series to Check Out



I am an avid reader as a matter of fact reading has long been my drug of choice, my means of escape and most often the only way I will ever get to see some places. I read so much that until I started hogging the computer all the time with my blogs, my kids resented books.. now they would gladly see me escape to a good book..

Anyway last year I discovered this amazing author. Alyssa Day. She has written a series about Atlantis Rising, the people who live there and how they would interact with us today. Of course she has managed to combine vampires, shape shifters and romance into the mix. It is a creative concept a romance with a delightful twist. Atlantis Unleashed is the fourth book in the series so while I honestly recommend this book if you haven't read the first three.. I suggest you start at the beginning with Atlantis Rising..

Happy Reading All

Saturday, February 7, 2009

A Book, A Series To Consider




I am an avid reader, I often think I am actually an addictive reader. I must read, cereal boxes, newspapers, history books, laughs ok even science books, everything has interest to me. And once I start a book it is rare indeed that I can not finish it. It doesn't matter if I find the book good or bad, I must finish it.

Fortunately for me, Sherrilyn Kenyon hasn't written a book I don't like. Actually I adore her work. She is one of those amazing writers that has several series running at once but her most prolific and most amazing is her Hunter Series.

It is an amazing battle of good vs. evil, using greek mythology and vampire legends to make an astounding read. Her research is excellent and her stories don't just draw you in they make you want believe. More importantly they make you think. Not just a case of basic romance that can be scoffed at and pushed aside her work is read by all walks of life and both genders. She does have what I can only call a cult like following (I border on this myself) but her work is just that good one almost wants it to be true. Her work is fast paced, witty and compelling. As with all series stories there are of course some that seem tired and not as enthralling but it seems the books I just don't like others are raving about so it is ever a sense of taste.

Her latest in the series is Dream Chaser. The characters are pretty much divided into three groups of hunters, Dark Hunters (oh wow.. fans myself), Were Hunter (compelling and amazingly sexy) and Dream Hunters. Before this book I always considered the Dream Hunter part a bit of fluff, good reads but not relevant to the story arc, boy was I wrong. Ms Kenyon dragged the Dream Hunters right smack dab into the battle.

I decided against a traditional review because as good as this book is, I feel it is good because it carries on the story so well. As an individual read, I feel it may lack something BUT... I would strongly suggest that anyone take the time begin at the beginning and enjoy.

Happy Reading all

Saturday, January 3, 2009

In Oprah's Defense


I am not what one would call a huge Oprah fan, in all honesty because of some things that happened early in my marriage I made a point of not watching Oprah. Now that is not to say she doesn't have a great show and do an awful lot of good things.

In all honesty because I am not a fan, I think this means a bit more. I guess another author she has chosen for her book club has been discovered as a fraud. Somehow or another she is getting a lot of flack for having the wool pulled over her eyes. I am a bit confused, did she discover this author? take him to an agent or publisher and DEMAND that they print his book? NO!! she went to a book store (ok, probably someone sent her the book but whatever) and going upon the suggestions of a bookseller, publisher, or whatever read it. To me, if a book is published and declared based on fact, then it is the publishers job to ensure that this is so. Not the reading public and in this case that is what Oprah is.

She has done an awful lot to promote reading and so what if some of the books were well frauds.. (frauds I can deal with plagiarism, while still not Oprah's fault is a different story). So blaming her for the actions of others is just ignorant. Well blaming anyone for the actions of others is just plain ignorant and honestly is the story compelling? Does it catch your attention? Then who cares if it is based on real life or fiction? The story is still darned good.

Oh well, just a thought.. keep reading all it is a wondrous way to spend some free time.