The planet, Eldon, turns out to be an intergalactic crossroads for wormholes. There he embarks on an epic journey where he encounters various beasts and meets a band of misfit travelers who lead him to a human civilization far to the east—and a way home. However, Roger soon learns is that he is headed for an epic battle for supremacy on Eldon between the natives, their former leaders, and an evil faction from another planet led by a dictator called Magnus.
Purchase a copy of Worlds Apart at Powell’s Books http://www.powells.com/biblio/91-9780983147756-0 or Bordershttp://www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?sku=0983147752 or most other online book sellers.
 Reply |
Forward |
I was first introduced to the Sweet Magnolias when Woods released the first in the series, Stealing Home. I instantly fell in love with the three women who had been best friends since childhood. They were strong women dealing with the twists and turns that life threw them with laughter, love, and a healthy dose of margaritas and Dana Sue’s spicy guacamole. Through children, failed marriages and new love, the women stick together and provide each other with a support that is second to none. I was upset when all three women had had their stories told because I wanted more, so much more, but I was sorely disappointed when Woods brought in a fourth Magnolia, because I simply didn’t “feel” her as I did the other ladies. Now though, Woods has brought the Next Generation of Sweet Magnolias to readers, giving us three young women who have already been through so much in their young lives. What’s better is that these young women are indeed Sweet Magnolias, after all, Annie’s momma is Dana Sue of the famous spicy guacamole.
Now that I’ve had a chance to read all three of the latest Magnolia books I decided to lump them together as well. Not only because I’ve done a lot of reading and very little blogging, but because these women are such a tight knit group they need to stay together–even in pseudo-reviews.
Home In Carolina by Sherryl Woods
(BCC)
There’s no place like home, especially if it’s Serenity, South Carolina. For Annie Sullivan, though, the homecoming is bittersweet. She’d always envisioned a life there with her childhood best friend, Tyler Townsend. But Ty’s betrayal has cost her the family and the future they’d once planned.
For Ty, losing Annie was heartbreaking. Still, he can’t imagine life without the three-year-old son whose mother left him for Ty to raise. Ty wants it all—Annie, his child and the future he’d dreamed about—and he’s back home in Serenity to fight for it. But getting Annie to forgive and forget may be the hardest challenge he’s ever faced. With the stakes so high, this is one game he can’t afford to lose.
We first meet Annie and Ty in the original set of Sweet Magnolia novels. Annie is Dana Sue’s daughter and Ty is Maddie’s son. Both kids played large roles in their mom’s books and had readers clamoring for their stories. Ty had been Annie’s rock. Older than her by a couple of years, young Annie had a serious crush. Ty had stuck by Annie through her nearly fatal struggle with anorexia, and the two made a go of a relationship. But when Ty’s baseball career takes off, he doesn’t exactly handle it the way a man in love should. Instead, Ty goes for fling after fling, following in the footsteps of many of his team mates. When Ty gets a young woman pregnant–and that woman is not Annie–the tabloids have a field day and Annie realizes that she absolutely cannot stay with him anymore. Heartsick and depressed, Annie heads home to Serenity, where she goes to work at the Corner Spa as a physical therapist specializing in sports injuries. But the sad truth is, something is missing and broken in Annie, and her relationship with Maddie, Ty’s mom, is just one of those things.
When Ty gets hurt he retreats to Serenity. He misses Annie and something inside him hopes that this injury and his recovery will help the two work things out. But Ty’s been a single daddy for a long time, and Annie can’t help but feel heartsick and angry whenever she looks at his son. Will the two be able to work things out and take the second chance that life is giving them?
Well, you can bet with the Sweet Magnolias on the case, they have more than a fighting chance. But, Annie doesn’t just have the Sweet Magnolias on her side, her old friend Sarah is back in town and when she walks in the Corner Spa, over-weight and needing Annie’s help to shape up before her husband walks out on her and her daughter, taking their son, Sarah and Annie rekindle their old friendship finally getting Raylene their third partner in crime (battered and nearly broken) back in Serenity
, and the Next Generation of the Sweet Magnolias begins.
Sweet Tea At Sunrise (Sarah’s Story)
(BCC)
Emotionally wounded single mom Sarah Price has come home to Serenity, South Carolina, for a fresh start. With support from her two best friends—the newest generation of the Sweet Magnolias—she can face any crisis.
But sometimes a woman needs more than even treasured friends can provide. Sexy Travis McDonald may be exactly what Sarah’s battered self-confidence requires. The newcomer is intent on getting Sarah to work at his fledgling radio station…and maybe into his bed, as well.
Sarah has learned not to trust sweet words. She’ll measure the man by his actions. Is Travis the one to heal her heart? Or will he break it again?
Sarah Price has come back to Serenity with the hopes of fixing herself to save her marriage. Being married to Walter Price has wrecked havoc on her self esteem. Walter whose parents own a very big business and have big expectations of the type of woman they expect their son should have. When Walter starts to treat Sarah the same way his parents do, it ends with her sending her off to fix herself–lose weight, learn to keep a clean house, take better care of the kids–so that she can come back and be the type of wife a Price deserves. But Sarah knows the real reason Walter is sending her off is to make divorcing her that much easier when she fails–again–to meet his expectations. What Walter didn’t plan on though, was Sarah’s two best friends from childhood coming to her rescue and helping her find her way back to being Sarah.
Finally able to file for divorce, Helen (one of the original Sweet Magnolia’s and divorce attorney extraordinare) makes sure that Sarah retains custody of both of her children. You see, Walter only really wanted their son, and has never had much use for their daughter. Taking a part time job at Wharton’s, Serenity’s very own hot spot of gossip, waiting tables, Sarah finally feels as if she’s getting it all together. And then Travis walks into her life.
Travis McDonald is in Serenity to start over. A one time professional baseball player, his career is over. Looking for a life very different from his old one, Travis is ready to set some roots down. While contemplating his next move every morning in Wharton’s Travis soon finds himself very drawn to the very sexy Sarah Price. But Sarah won’t be an easy person to win over. She’s gunshy when it comes to men, with good reason, so when Travis opens up a radio station in Serenity and wants Sarah to be the morning show’s host, she’s more than a little reluctant. For one thing, Walter’s told her time and again what a failure she is when it comes to organizing and managing anything, for another, Sarah finds Travis far too appealing for her own good.
Will Sarah be able to overcome the insecurities she’s developed after years with a verbally abusive man? Will Travis be able to prove to her that he’s worth taking a risk on?
(BCC)
Her devastating marriage behind her, Raylene Hammond is truly thankful for her best friends, the Sweet Magnolias. They’ve taken her in, shielding her from the world. Then she meets sheriff’s deputy Carter Rollins, and suddenly Raylene’s haven no longer feels quite so safe.
Carter understands why Raylene is trapped inside. He’s even taken to bringing the outside world to her. But with two kid sisters to raise, just how much time can he devote to this woman who’s stolen his heart?
Raylene knows Carter is a man worth loving, but she may never be strong enough to accept what he’s offering. How long can she ask him to wait? Maybe they’ll never have more than this one sweet summer.
Of all the Sweet Magnolia’s books, I have to say that Raylene’s story touched me the most. Sarah and Annie had lost touched with Raylene who had moved to Charleston, married a doctor and avoided everyone she knew. Finally though, Raylene’s husband goes too far, sending her to the hospital broken and bruised, Raylene loses the baby she was carrying and this gives her the courage to get away. With the Sweet Magnolia’s help, Raylene divorces her husband and sees him locked in jail.
But Raylene is in a prison of her own. Shortly after making her way home to Serenity and moving in with Sarah, Raylene has developed a disorder of some sort. She can’t leave the house without a panic attack and her friends are worried. And though Sarah has employed a babysitter for when she’s at work to look after her children, Raylene sometimes finds it necessary to be alone with the kids. Then one day, Raylene’s worst fear happens, Tommy (Sarah’s son) disappears under her watch. He had just been outside but now he’s gone. Raylene does her best to find him, but can not make it any farther than the front porch, and even that far is almost too far.
When new deputy Carter Rollins finds Tommy and brings him home, he sees a rich princess, too worried about herself and her fashion to go farther than the front stoop of the home to look for a lost boy. But, as with most things, appearances are not all they seems and Carter soon finds himself smitten with this beautiful woman locked inside. But Carter as problems of his own, after his parent’s passed away Carter found himself the guardian of his two sisters, one of which has major problems. Perhaps Raylene can help him while he helps her.
Woods writes stories of friendship, love and homecoming that any reader of Romance and Women’s Fiction is sure to enjoy. Her Sweet Magnolias have found a permanent place in my heart and I’ll treasure the moments I’ve spent in Serenity for a long time to come. If you belong to a book club, grab your fellow reader sisters and read this great series. There’s even discussion questions in the back. I promise, you won’t be disappointed.
Take Care
I just heart Vicki Lewis Thompson. I first fell in love with her “Nerds” books and gobbled them up as quickly as I possibly could. When she came out with her Hex series I was double excited. I do loves me some Paranormal Romance. Unfortunately, they were okay books, well worth my read for a lazy day, but not books that were “Must Buy” for me. With that thought in mind, when I saw Blonde With A Wand on the store shelf I couldn’t help myself from grabbing it up. It was after all a VLT book! I really enjoyed the book, where the matchmaking witch and wizard from the Hex books played minor roles. I was most excited to see that there would be a second book, Chick With A Charm and now that I’ve had a chance to read both, I thought I’d do a double post.
Blonde With A Wand by Vicki Lewis Thompson
From the Author’s Website:
Sexy witch Anica Revere has one absolutely unwavering rule: never, under any circumstances, get involved with a man before telling him she’s a witch. Still, what’s one silly rule? Especially when the guy in question is as cute as Jasper Danes. But when Anica and Jasper have a spat, she breaks an even bigger rule of witchcraft and turns him into a cat. Bad news for him. Worse for her.
With Anica stripped of her powers for the witchy infraction, it’s up to Jasper to undo the hex—but he never expected the hardest part of the bargain would be resisting Anica. The stakes are high, and the chemistry is off the charts. But what’ll happen if Anica and Jasper both fall under the strongest spell of all—love?
Anica is what most would call a control freak. The oldest of two sisters, owner of her own coffee shop, Wicked Brew, and witch extraordinare, Anica likes to keep things under control, trying very hard to never act impulsively. That is, until she meets Jasper Danes. Jasper has been coming into Anica’s coffee shop and there have definitely been sparks. After Jasper comes in devastated over a break-up with his latest girlfriend, he and Anica begin to connect and make a date for dinner. But, while at dinner Jasper is mortified to see his ex-girlfriend walk through the door. While Jasper hopes that her arrival is strictly a coincidence, when Anica goes to the restroom and she follows he really starts to sweat.
Anica talks with the ex only to find out that perhaps Jasper hadn’t told her the truth. You see, Jasper wasn’t dumped, quite the opposite–he broke up with the woman. What’s worse, Anica finds out that he had given the ex the same story about being dumped by his previous girlfriend. Anica doesn’t like to be played and when Jasper doesn’t exactly come clean she leaves the date. Only Jasper isn’t going to let her get away that easily and follows. A move he and Anica both end up regretting, becasue in her anger, Anica does the one thing she never thought she would–she transforms Jasper into a cat.
The thing is, magic of this sort is strictly forbidden, and Anica soon realizes that she’s lost all ability to do magic. In her hour of need, not wanting to get her parents or the Wizard Council involved, Anica turns to her care-free, not entirely reliable sister, Lily for help. But when even Lily seems to have problems transforming Jasper back, the sisters turn to Dorcas and Ambrose Lowell, the quirky matchmaking witch and wizard, also a part of the Wizard Council, but it can’t be helped, Anica has to find a way to turn Jasper back into a man, before the guilt and lack of magic do her in.
I have to say, I enjoyed BWAW much more than I did any of the other Hex books. I found that Jasper as a cat, using his paws to painfully type out notes to Anica was endearing, and the “cure” for the spell made it all feel real and believable. I also enjoyed the fact that the spell wasn’t reversed immediately but Jasper did get to revert back to his human form for short spurts.
From the Author’s website:
Lily Revere is free-spirited and fun loving—two dangerous qualities in a witch. Especially while planning her sister Anica’s engagement party, and she needs a date! She’s determined to bring hot Griffin Taylor, but he’s a divorce lawyer who claims his job has warned him off romance. He may pretend he’s just not into her, but she knows better—he only needs a nudge in the right direction.
Slipping a love elixir into Griffin’s drink may not be the noble thing to do—but it sure works! Lily’s dreamboat drops all defenses and the two discover they’re perfectly matched—in every way. There’s just one problem: Are Griffin’s feelings the result of some truly good witchcraft—or is he really in love?
In CWAC Thompson gives readers a dose of Anica’s sister Lily. I truly enjoyed Lily in BWAW, I liked that she was a quirky bartender in a wizard owned bar, and I liked that when she did magic she got hopped up like she’d just downed five Red Bulls. In short, Lily was fun and the type of sister I think most of us love to hate.
Since Anica is now getting married, Lily finds herself in the awkward position of being dateless for the wedding. What’s worse, is her parents, who she loves dearly, will be in town and Lily was really hoping to be able to impress them with how much she’s grown up by having a lovely and stable man for them to meet. Griffin Taylor, divorce lawyer, would be the perfect man.
Griffin and his work buddies have been coming into The Bubbling Cauldron, for happy hour for several weeks now. There is some definite chemistry between him and Lily, but Lily was not the type of girl Griffin always envisioned ending up with. Since his parents had married with little more in common than great sex, and then divorced, Griffin knew exactly what he wanted from a woman–goal oriented and down to earth–Lily is the exact opposite, so while Griffin may be attracted, he’s not stupid enough to get involved with her.
When Lily decides Griffin needs a push, like yesterday, in her direction, she mixes an adoration elixir using her newly acquired dog and the adoration she has for Lily as the focus point, she drops the potion in his drink and waits for the sparks to fly. And fly they do, with some steamy scenes that are sure to have beach goers heading to the water for a dip in the water to cool down.
But as the feelings Lily has for Griffin begin to deepen, along with his dependence on her, she’ll never be sure if it’s the spell or if Griffin’s feelings are as real as hers. What’s worse, Griffin and his friends seem to have figured out that he’s under a spell. What will happen when/if they break it, is the ultimate question both Lily and Griffin have. The feelings of love seem so real but are they strong enough to hold?
Chick was such a good book! I fell in love with Lily and Griffin. And while Lily ocassionally irritated me with her selfish behavior, I can honestly say I could understand. Filled with scenes sure to leave a reader panting, and an ending that had me crying-twice-once from heartache and once for joy, Chick is one book you don’t want to miss.
If you’re heading to the beach, lake, or even just a lazy day in the backyard by the pool, you’ll for sure want to have these two books with you, they’re a must buy for any fan of Thompson or any Romance Reader.
Take Care
(BCC)
Truth burns.
Unemployment, despair, anger–visible and invisible unrest feed the undercurrent of Detroit’s unease. A city increasingly invaded by phantoms now faces a malevolent force that further stokes fear and chaos throughout the city.
Anya Kalinczyk spends her days as an arson investigator with the Detroit Fire Department, and her nights pursuing malicious spirits with a team of eccentric ghost hunters. Anya–who is the rarest type of psychic medium, a Lantern–suspects a supernatural arsonist is setting blazes to summon a fiery ancient entity that will leave the city in cinders. By Devil’s Night, the spell will be complete, unless Anya–with the help of her salamander familiar and the paranormal investigating team –can stop it.
Anya’s accustomed to danger and believes herself inured to loneliness and loss. But this time she’s risking everything: her city, her soul, and a man who sees and accepts her for everything she is. Keeping all three safe will be the biggest challenge she’s ever faced.
* This review is done from a book Novel Reads received from the publisher.
Anya Kalinczyk, as the BCC says is a Fire Investigator by day and spends her nights for DAGR, the Detroit Area Ghost Researchers. Lately, Anya’s been trying to figure out who has been starting several fires around town and leaving no clues behind. When DAGR calls her in on a particularly bad haunting. The group generally only calls Anya when they have to choosing to reserve her for the cases that are simply to hard for them to handle themselves. You see, Anya is a Lantern. A very rare type of medium that can devour ghosts. It’s hard on Anya to do this not just physically but emotionally, as well so she is a last resort. When Anya finally traps the spirit and gets ready to devour her, the ghost whispers, “Sirrush is coming.”
Anya knows little of Sirrush, just that he was once revered as a god of fire but after this experience with the ghost, who turns out to be that of a young girl, the name Sirrush and the fact that he is coming seems to be just about all the spirits can talk about. What’s worse, is it seems the fires could in fact be related to Sirrush and his return. What’s more, it would seem that perhaps Anya isn’t the only Lantern out there–she just be the only Lantern out there with the desire to stop Sirrush from rising.
Embers takes the reader on a fast paced, page turning adventure, as Anya, Sparky, and DAGR race to save Detroit–and Anya herself–from demons and ancient gods. Bickle has written a fantastically believable world that a reader can get lost in. Embers, is hands down, bar none, the best Urban Fantasy written by a debut author, hell, written by anyone, that I have read in a very long time. I look forward to reading more about Anya and Sparky and the mishmash of others that complete DAGR in Bickle’s next release Sparks.
Take Care
After a school years worth of fundraising, and three full weeks of scheduling, the Rewards Party for students who sold several items is today. Over 300 kids will attend and I’m sure I’ve missed some one. After today, my life should be mine again, until next year of course!
Take Care
If you’re a fairly new reader to the blog let me take a quick moment to explain the Novel Chat posts (one day I’ll get that pesky FAQ page set up and not have to bother everyone with this stuff). I’m busy. Most days I’m lucky to remember to eat let alone find time to blog and so Novel Chats was born. I take two to three books I’ve read in my blogging silence and sum up my thoughts on them in as short a fashion as I can. Sometimes, the books have been out for quite a spell, and in that case, I really try to keep my rambling to a minimum. I grade the books I Chat because it’s just easier than going into long details. Since I’ve been so busy lately, I have more than a few books sitting on my “Need To Blog” shelf, so there may be more of these posts in the coming days.
Real Vampires Don’t Diet by Gerry Bartlett
From the Author’s Website:
Valdez is at her side as usual, along with her friends who won’t let Glory go down without a fight. Surely all this action is bound to help our curvy vamp lose a pound or two. You think?
I’ve liked Glory since I first started the series with book two, Real Vampires Live Large. There’s something about an overweight vampire, with a great vintage clothing store, a self depreciating sense of humor, great friends, and a shifter for a body guard. However, for some unknown reason, I’ve never added Real Vampires to my must buy list, and I never seem to know when a new one has been released. For that very reason, it wasn’t until recently when I ordered the latest two books in the series. It took me quite a while to really get into Live Large, and I still don’t know what I think.
What I do know is that I’m fairly sick of the back and forth relationship Glory has with Blade and her role as mentor to the newly made vampire Israel Caine is starting to annoy me, since Glory can’t seem to pick which man she wants. I’m a firm believer in shit or get off the potty and Glory’s interaction with the men in her life left me extremely cold with this last one. So much so that I haven’t even cracked the spine on Real Vampire’s Hate Their Thighs. I’ve no doubt I’ll read it–eventually–but I think I need a breather for a while.
I have to give this one a C. I just didn’t feel it as much as I did the others, but Bartlett’s excellent and funny writing make it worth a read.
Sucker For Love by Kimberly Raye
(BCC)
Divalicious darling of the undead Lil Marchette is this close to finding her own happily-ever-after with hunky live-in bounty hunter Ty Bonner. Unfortunately, reality is biting back in a big way. Lil’s got mounting bills to pay and clients to keep happily hooked up courtesy of Dead End Dating, the ultimate meet-and-greet for New York’s fanged, furry, and fabulous. But leave it to a drop-dead gorgeous eight-hundred-year-old warlock with a big-girl fetish to take the biggest chomp out of Lil’s happiness by kidnapping Esther Crutch, one of Lil’s plus-size clients, now stamped as Grade-A Ritual Meat.
Leaving Ty warming the bed, Lil races to rescue Esther’s curvy behind before she’s turned into a Mayan sacrifice. The trail leads to Texas–hell by any other name–and as if dust, demons, and hopelessly outdated fashion weren’t bad enough, fate gives Lil an unexpected partner: her mom, who is on a mission to meddle (as usual) and grab a little mother-daughter time. Will Lil remain calm in the face of smotherly love and save Esther–or will her client bite the dust?
Sigh. I’m about to make you think I disliked all the books I’ve read in my long silences, but really, that’s not true. What is true is that I didn’t really feel this one either. Perhaps I’m growing tired of the sameness that is this particular brand of female vampire. You know, the I’m really nice, hate blood, can kick ass if I need too, but really hate too, and I’m really just a sucker for true love. It was a nice break for a while, and perhaps when the state of current affairs was cleaner, there was a place in my heart for such books. Now though, I find myself wanting more from the heroines of the books I read. I want grit. I don’t want fashion and boys to be the top priority.
In truth, I enjoyed this latest adventure of Lil much more than the others and I liked it enough to read the next one, whenever it may be released. I’ve never been a large fan of this series to begin with so my expectations were low, giving me the freedom to give this one a B-.
I’m out of blogging time for today, hopefully I’ll be back tomorrow.
Take Care
I’ve been silent for a little over a week, and at the end of the post I’ll give a quick rundown of why. For now, let me announce the winners of the two contest currently up and running – CONGRATS to Ryan Collins winner of WILD RIDE by Jenny Crusie and Bob Mayer. CONGRATS to Mimi Goh winner of ANGELOLOGY by Danielle Trussoni. Please e-mail me at novelreads at gmail dot com with your snail mail address so we can get the books right out to you.
Angelology by Danielle Trussoni
JCC
There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bore children to them.
Genesis 6:5
Sister Evangeline was just a girl when her father entrusted her to the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in upstate New York. Now, at twenty-three, her discovery of a 1943 letter from the famous philanthropist Abigail Rockefeller to the late mother superior of Saint Rose Convent plunges Evangeline into a secret history that stretches back a thousand years: an ancient conflict between the Society of Angelologists and the monstrously beautiful descendants of angels and humans, the Nephilim.
For the secrets these letters guard are desperately coveted by the once-powerful Nephilim, who aim to perpetuate war, subvert the good in humanity, and dominate mankind. Generations of angelologists have devoted their lives to stopping them, and their shared mission, which Evangeline has long been destined to join, reaches from her bucolic abbey on the Hudson to the apex of insular wealth in New York, to the Montparnasse cemetery in Paris and the mountains of Bulgaria.
Rich in history, full of mesmerizing characters, and wondrously conceived, Angelology blends biblical lore, the myth of Orpheus and the Miltonic visions of Paradise Lost into a riveting tale of ordinary people engaged in a battle that will determine the fate of the world.
*This review is done from a copy of the book supplied to Novel Reads from the publisher.
Sister Evangeline loves her life at Saint Rose Convent. She takes great comfort in the daily routine of prayer and her work in the convent library. Since Evangeline lost her mother and her father brought her to New York to live, she’s thought of the sisters as her family. But one day, a letter arrives from a V.A. Verlaine requesting information from the convent about some letters that Abigail Rockefeller may have exchanged with the Mother Superior of the convent of that time. Something stops Evangeline from dismissing the letter in the usual way the sisters are to handle them, and when Verlaine shows up at the convent, Evangeline becomes disturbed by the affect he has on her and the mystery as to why these letters are so important and why the sisters want very badly to keep them hidden.
As Evangeline and Verlaine begin digging, it becomes clear that the man who hired Verlaine may not be simply interested in art history as he claimed. Soon, Evangeline and Verlaine are thrust into a world both know very little about and are fighting not only for their lives but the fate of the world. For it’s the Nephilim that want the letters, they have gone from powerful giants of old to a dying race, infected by a horrible disease that could ruin them for all time.
Evangeline soon finds out that Sister Celestine, a nun that came to convent the same time the letters stopped, knows more about Evangeline, her grandmother, and Angelology than she ever could have guessed. Now an old, frail woman on her deathbed, Celestine is the only hope Evangeline and Verlaine have at unraveling the mystery of what past Angelolgist uncovered and the Nephilim would do anything to retrieve.
Written in two view points, Third Person to take us on the present journey and First Person to take us on Celestine’s journey, Angelology takes the reader on a journey like no other. It took me a while to finish the book, but I closed the pages and literally looked at The Hubs and said, “Wow!”
There is something about a book filled with angels and giants, biblical references and myth that captures me like no other book can. It didn’t hurt either that Trussoni has a voice so distinct and her “pen” writes beautiful lines such as, “The mind and spirit become ripe in their own fashion and at their own pace. Beautiful music plays, but not everyone with ears can hear it.”
Angelology is a book filled with danger, intrigue and mystery. A book so riveting it will stay with you for a long, long time. If you’ve not had the pleasure of reading it, I strongly suggest you find time.
Take Care
*Where I’ve been: I’ve mentioned before that Bear was having problems with Bullies at school. Well, it’s getting worse. Not only is he having problems, but many 4th Graders are. I have been working on putting together a Student Advisory Program at our school that will empower the kids and help (hopefully) to put a stop to the horrible bullying that is getting out of hand at our school.
I’ve also been busy wrapping up the Spring Fundraiser for the PTO and writing a “How to Write a Story” book for my daughter’s 2nd Grade class.
My part in all of this is winding down now, though, so I should be back more!
Before I begin with my post let me say CONGRATS to Chirstina Collins. Miss Beautiful drew your name and you’ve won your choice of TWO Kristan Higgins books. Please e-mail me at novelreads at gmail dot com with your choice of books and the address to send them!
Wild Ride by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer
(JCC)
Mary Alice Brannigan doesn’t believe in the supernatural. Nor does she expect to find that Dreamland, the decaying amusement park she’s been hired to restore, is a prison for the five Untouchables, the most powerful demons in the history of the world. Plus, there’s a guy she’s falling hard for, and there’s something about him that’s not quite right.
But rocky romances and demented demons aren’t the only problems in Dreamland: Mab’s also coping with a crooked politician, a supernatural raven, a secret government agency, an inexperienced sorceress, an unsettling inheritance, and some mind-boggling revelations from her past. As her personal demons wreck her newfound relationship and real demons wreck the park, Mab faces down immortal evil and discovers what everybody who’s ever been to an amusement park knows: The end of the ride is always the wildest.
This isn’t going to be a typical review (in fact, it’s not going to really be a review at all), and if you’ve read this blog you’ll know it’s because that’s not how I roll (if I ever get my FAQ’s up and running I’ll explain that). So let me start by saying I’m a HUGE Crusie fan. BET ME brought me back to reading after a long hiatus and I’ll always, always love her for that. Yep, she’s just one of the authors that I totally crush on. So, when Crusie joined forces with Mayer it was a no brainer that their books would be first on a TBB list. I loved their first release Don’t Look Down and I fell even harder for Agnes and the Hitman. I think I’ve read AATH almost as many times as I’ve read Bet Me and I’ve loaned it out just as many. Hell, my father-in-law is now hooked on not only Mayer but Crusie because of me. At first, he was a bit embarrassed to check out Crusie books from the library, and figured he could he would just say it’s for me, but at 75 years of age, he decided he could read anything he damn well pleased and the librarians could judge all they wanted. So, again, you get it right? Fan Girl alert coming right up.
I knew going into the book that this was not going to be the typical Crusie/Mayer, just like going into DLD I knew it would not be a typical Crusie, and that was just fine with me. Seriously, my favorite tag team doing Paranormal? SQUEE! And I was right, this wasn’t the type of book we normally see from the two partners–it was better.
Dreamland Amusement Park is actually a holding place for the five Untouchables- demons that cannot be killed only contained. The Untouchables are kept in chalices, locked away in certain rides or attractions throughout the park. The Untouchables are kept in these chalices by the Guardia. Five people chosen and given special gifts to capture and hold the Untouchables as they escape.
Mab has been brought back to her home town by her uncle to restore the park and get it ready for the big Halloween event. Mab hated living near Dreamland as a child. Never allowed to go, she was part of the Batty Brannigan family, her mother always picketing the park and trying to get it shut down. Mab loses herself in her work. Never fitting in as a child has left her with no desire to connect with people. Two weeks left on the job and she’s out of there.
Ethan has returned to his home at Dreamland after a bullet lodges itself near his heart and cannot be removed without killing him. It’s only a matter of time, of course, before the bullet does move and penetrate his heart, but until then he has come home to drink away his sorrows and wait for death.
But when the demons start to escape and the old Guardia begin to die, new Guardia must be chosen and it’s suddenly up to Ethan and Mab to bring them together and defeat the Untouchables before they break free of their chalices and destroy the human race. But, it’s not just the demons Ethan and Mab have to deal with, a secret government agency has been staking out the park and Ethan and Mab will either find a way to bring them to their side or get rid of them.
When the Guardia are betrayed all hell breaks loose, not only are the demons going to get out, but Mab and Ethan find themselves fighting personal demons that will either bring them all together or tear them all apart.
WILD RIDE delivers exactly what the title promises, a fast paced page turner. And while this book is not the typical book readers of Crusie and Mayer have come to expect, it still has all the traits that this reader has come to love–family, wit, action, and an ending that left me smiling and hungry for more from two of my favorite authors. You can read the prequel to Wild Ride – Wild Night by clicking here.
And so, since I was a bad, bad reader and bought WILD RIDE before the actual release date of today, and I still want to do my part in the whole first week or two of sales I am going to give away a copy of the book. That’s right, one lucky reader will have the chance to win a copy of WILD RIDE. Winners choice of Hardcover or eBook. Already own it? That’s okay, you can give it as a gift and share the love.
To enter, simply leave a comment on this post. You can earn extra entries by spreading the word. FaceBook, Yahoo! Groups, your own blog, MySpace, Twitter, you name it, just let me know where you’ve posted and for each place you do, you name will be thrown in the hat. You can also friend me Novel Reads on FaceBook and let me know it’s because you wanted an extra entry and I’ll make sure that is counted as well.
Now, go forth and enter, you have until Saturday, March 20 to enter.
Take Care
Don’t forget to also enter for a chance to win a Hardcover Copy of Angelology by Danielle Trussoni while you’re here. Click on the Current Contest link at the top for the details.
Whew! Spring Break starts tomorrow for the kiddos and between Parent/Teacher Conferences, finishing up the Spring Fundraiser, and all the other things I’ve had on my plate, I’m flat wore out! Both kiddos did great this semester. Bear started State Assessment testing and the Reading part is complete. He scored Exceeds Expectations, but this was not enough for him! NO! The boy wanted Exemplary. We’ve explained that getting the Exceeds is awesome, not only for a dyslexic kid reading on a computer screen and then answering questions but for anyone! Plus, he was only 4 points from Exemplary, but still not good enough for him. Miss Beautiful was all “A’s” and a top reading level. I’m so proud of those two. Now, if we could just get the bullies to leave Bear alone, I think we’d be completely happy with their school experience this year! In fact, the bullying is starting to get out of hand. His markers have been stolen, along will all of his pencils and a kid took his ruler and bent it until it was no longer usable. Sigh. We’ll be stocking him up with new school supplies for this last 9 weeks. Anyone have tips to help us help him deal with bullies? Anyway, you didn’t come here to read all about my kiddos, did ya?
The winner of the Kristan Higgins books will be drawn by Miss Beautiful tomorrow morning and I will post as soon as we get that done. Thanks to all of you for entering! But today, I have a new contest to run. Thanks to Viking/Penguin, one lucky winner will receive a free copy of Angelology by Danielle Trussoni. This book is excellent, and a review will be posted tomorrow. In the meantime, check out my Author Promotion page and read and excerpt.
Ways to Enter:
Leave me a comment here telling me you want to win.
Read the Excerpt and tell why you’d like to continue reading.
Spread the word. Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, your personal blog, GoodReads, or Shelfari. Get the word out and for everyone that stops by to enter and says you sent them, you’ll get extra entries.
Every one of the above will get you an entry to the contest. The more you do, the more chances you have to win. The winner will receive the book direct from the publisher. Many thanks to Viking/Penguin and Danielle Trussoni for this great contest!
Take Care and Good Luck!
Cooking Up Murder by Miranda Bliss
(BCC)
Annie and Eve are life-long friends who have absolutely nothing in common-except a lack of skill in the kitchen. So when they sign up for a cooking class at the local gourmet shop, they figure the only things at risk are a few innocent fruits and vegetables. But when murder spices up the stew, they find out just how dangerous good food can be…
Cooking and love. Too bad Annie Capshaw stinks at both. Once she almost burnt the house down–boiling a pot of water. And a year ago, her husband ran off with the dry cleaner. Since then, Annie’s put love on the back burner and leftover Chinese takeout on the front. Until her bubbly best friend Eve signs them both up for cooking lessons.
On the first night, Annie and Eve see their fellow student Beyla arguing with a man–a man who later turns up dead in the parking lot. Now, with the police bungling the investigation and Beyla acting more suspicious every day, the friends feel bound to uncover whatever secrets she’s hiding before someone else’s goose, perhaps one of their own, gets cooked.
Sorry there is no clickable link on the author’s name. I couldn’t find where Bliss has a website, and that almost stopped me from typing up this post. I wonder, why, in this day and age does an author not have a website? It kinda makes me nervous that I’ve started a new to me series, and maybe, just maybe the author isn’t writing anymore? Anyone have any idea? Anyway…
Annie Capshaw has been divorced for a year now, but it’s the little things that keep popping up, such as the fact she has no potholders, that keep reminding her of the hurt and betrayal all over again. An organized and logical bank teller, Annie just can’t quite figure out how her ex-husband Peter could have been so cruel in leaving her. When her best friend Eve comes over one night and smells something metallic in the air only to discover that Annie has once again burned boiling water, Eve announces that she has enrolled them in a ten day cooking class. Eve figures it’s time for Annie to get back out there and try new things and this class seems just the way to do it.
Although Annie has no desire to take the class, she nevertheless shops for the supplies and heads to class with Eve. But when they get there and are almost ran over by a rather large and angry man and the owner of the store the class is being held at is nervous Annie’s nerves aren’t so much about cooking as they are so much about the weird behavior of those involved. When Eve forgets her watch, a gift from a current boyfriend who she has a lunch date with the next day, the women head back to the school to retrieve it. In the parking lot, they overhear Beyla, an exotic beauty from class arguing and threatening the same large man that had rushed out the door nearly knocking them over before class. When they come back form retrieving the watch and find the man dying in the parking lot.
At first, the death seems to be nothing more than a heart attack. Unfortunately, the police woman that shows up is now the significant other of Tyler, the only man that ever broke Eve’s heart, the ladies fudge the truth of the encounter and the few words spoken with the now dead man. When Tyler shows up at cooking class the next day, and informs the class that the man did not simply die of a heart attack but was murdered, then proceeds to tell Eve and Annie they are now lying to him just so Eve can make Tyler look like a fool, the ladies set out to prove, once and for all that they are not liars and they are every bit, if no so much more, smarter than the man that broke Eve’s heart.
But being an amateur detective isn’t nearly as easy as they first thought, and soon the women find themselves in way over their heads. Exploding stoves, poisoned tomato sauce, and threatening letters soon have the women rushing against the clock to find the killer and save their own hides.
With an extremely good looking cooking instructor making Annie feel something she hasn’t felt in a long time and an ever growing list of questions, Annie and Eve have their work cut out for them, in this wonderful first book of the Cooking Class Mystery series.
In my search for more cozy mysteries to read, I came across this series during a B&N search. I loved the cover, it’s something about these cartoon covers that I just can’t resist, and decided I must give it a go. I am ever so glad I did, and the next book, Murder on the Menu is already in my shopping cart waiting for the next order to go in. Bliss has a way of writing quirky and lovable characters, fast paced dialogue and a mystery with twists and turns that has the reader guessing from start to finish. Cooking is a great addition to any cozy mystery fans library and may even cause a few new readers to the cozy mystery to be hooked as well.
Take Care
Don’t forget to enter this weeks contest, ending March 10. Just click the Current contest link at the top of the page.
Novel Reads 