WAKE blog tour

WAKE

by Abria Mattina

Kindle / Barnes & Noble

Pages: 727

Published September 22nd 2011

ISBN: 9780986957

Eighteen isn’t too young to run your life into the ground, but it’s not too old to fix it, either. The desire for change drives Willa Kirk from St. John’s, Newfoundland back to her hometown of Smiths Falls, Ontario, away from her mistakes and the place where her sister died. She’s looking for a place to settle and rebuild, but Jem Harper just wants to get out of town, back to the life he knew before cancer. By letting the tragedies in their lives define them, they are both dying a little more every day. Welcome to the wake.

Guest Post: Abria Mattina

Author of WAKE

Reasons to Enjoy NaNoWriMo (and not look down on it)


Last month, I tried my hand at writing a thirty-day novel as part of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). It sounded completely crazy and therefore totally fun. And in the age of the internet, it took me about five minutes to encounter party-poopers who like to look down their noses at NaNoWriMo.


Some blogs of (yet unpublished) authors disparaged the thirty-day writing ‘competition’ in which participants are challenged to produce a fifty-thousand-word novel. Their reasons for disapproving of NaNoWriMo are varied—that a good novel can’t beproduced in thirty days; that people just do it for attention; that ‘real’ publishing
professionals dread it because their slush pile increases tenfold in December, etc.


In answer to that, I’d say it’s not all about the glory of publication. For some people it’s just a fun exercise. They want to prove to themselves that they have the self-discipline and creativity to finish such a daunting and prolonged project—and their ambition ends there.


Some people like the sense of community that NaNoWriMo offers is the main appeal. They like being part of a group with a common goal, encountering the same challenges, frustrations, and successes as their peers. It can be fulfilling to participate in something that’s so much larger than you and your little writing project.


Other people just work better when they have a deadline. Certain personality types can only respond to pressure when there is a sense of urgency, and the stat counter on NaNoWriMo’s website will cause that sense of urgency.


I don’t doubt that the slush piles of publishing industry professionals increase in December, but let’s remember that the people who send out their freshly drafted manuscripts are few among many. Most Wrimos know that their thirty-day novel is nothing more than a first draft, and that the time to start querying agents and publishers is not December 1st. Don’t let a few overeager people sour your entire view of National Novel Writing Month.

* * * * *

Abria Mattina's links

Website / Twitter / Facebook

Follow the rest of the WAKE tour!

12/1 review @ Maria's Handmade Love

12/2 review @ Books Glorious Books

12/4 review @ Nightly Reading

12/5 review @ Aobibliosphere

12/6 guest post @ Kickin Back with Kiwi

12/7 guest post @ Aobibliosphere

12/9 review @ The Phantom Paragrapher

12/10 guest post @ Maria's Handmade Love

12/10 review @ All things books

12/10 review @ The Book Diva's Reads

12/11 review @ Just Another Book Addict

12/12 guest post @ Books Glorious Books

12/12 guest post @ Just Another Book Addict

12/13 review @ Keeping Up With The Rheinlanders

12/14 review @ Owl Tell You About It

12/15 guest post @ Owl Tell You About It

12/16 review @ Celtic Lady's Reviews

12/17 guest post @ The Book Diva's Reads

12/18 guest post @ The Phantom Paragrapher

12/19 guest post @ Nightly Reading

12/20 guest post @ Keeping Up With The Rheinlanders

12/21 guest post @ Kickin Back With Kiwi

12/22 review @ Just One More Paragraph

12/22 guest post @ All things books

12/23 guest post @ Just One More Paragraph

12/30 guest post @ Celtic Lady's Reviews

Loveswept – Holiday Hop and Giveaway

Happy Holidays to everyone – Romance At Random is celebrating their Loveswept line with a random e-book Giveaway to 25 winners plus an opportunity to win one Grand Prize from www.romanceatrandom.com. Enter below to be included in the FREE random e-book drawing (25 winners will pick up their FREE book from Net Galley) and then stop on by www.romanceatrandom.com and comment to enter the drawing to be the ”one’ Grand Prize winner, a selection of great books! Good Luck & Happy Holidays to all! INCREASE your chances to win by visiting all of the participating ‘Loveswept – Holiday Hop’ sites! Winners will be contacted after 1/10/12.
Hop Begins NOW!

2012 Immortal Reading Challenge

Vampires, angels, demons, werewolves and fae. If you can’t pick a favourite, then that’s okay!

At UTC, we love them all! So let’s celebrate our love for all things immortal with 2012’s Immortal Reading Challenge.

Here’s the rundown:
1. The Immortals Reading Challenge runs from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. You can join at anytime from now and throughout the year. This is a 2012 challenge, so books read before January 1 will not count to your progress.  
2. You pick your goal! Read as many books as you’d like for each species. This means that you can do just one category or all five or a combination of. The choice depends on you and your reading pace.
*We have chosen to have a three book per species standard. However, if this is a breeze for you, then feel free to tackle on the additional bonus entries of two more books of the same level.
3. Re-reads are acceptable.
4. Books chosen can be of any genre.
5. To participate, copy and paste this post on your blog along with the challenge button. We ask that you provide a link back to the sign-up page in case others wish to participate.
6. Readers without blogs can still participate! Keep track of your progress with Goodreads, Shelfari or LibraryThing.

To sign up:

1.  Make a sign up post announcement, listing the level you've chosen and a list of books you plan to read.  If you don't have a blog, post on GoodReads or another site as a thread where we can access your list of books.  Be sure to take the image code above.

2.  Come back here and using the list below, add your entry with a link directly to that post so we can see what you'll be reading.

You're done!  Every month during 2012 we will make a challenge update post where you can come and updates us on how you're doing with your challenge.

Category 1: Vampires
Some ideas for Vampire books
Read any THREE books with vampires as the main characters.
Bonus Entries: Additional TWO books with vampires

Category 2: Angels and Demons
Some ideas for Angels and Demons books
Read any THREE books with angels and/or demons as the main characters.
Bonus Entries: Additional TWO books with angels and/or demons

Category 3: Fae
Some ideas for Fae books
Read any THREE books with Fae as the main characters
Bonus Entries: Additional TWO books on Fae.

Category 4: Shifters/Werewolves
Some ideas for Shifter books
Read any THREE books with shifters or werewolves as the main characters.
Bonus Entries: Additional TWO books on shifters or werewolves.

Happy Reading Maidens!


Woo... Can't wait to start this one.
Category 1

1.  

Category 2

1.  

Category 3

1.  

Category 4

1.  

2012 Romance Reading Challenge

This reading challenge is for any genre of Romance with the exception of YA and Erotica. Have fun with this one peeps!

Rules:

Anyone can join
You don't need a blog to participate. For non-bloggers, please leave a comment with a link (if you review somewhere else) to the review or leave a list of the books you read on the monthly link up post.
Audio, ebooks, and bound books are ok.
No re-reads
Create a sign up post and post the link in the linky.
Challenge goes from January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Challenge Crossovers are ok.

Levels:
Level 1 - Read 4 Romance novels
Level 2 - Read 10 Romance novels
Level 3 - Read 14 Romance novels
Level 4 - Read 15+ Romance novels

Gurl please. I can have this done in a month. Level 4 FTW!

1. 
   

2012 Krazy Kleypas Reading Challenge

Here’s the rundown:

1. The Krazy Kleypas Reading Challenge runs from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. You can join at anytime during the year. This is a 2012 challenge, so books read before then will not count to your progress.

2. Pick whichever category you like! You can get your feet wet and just do 1-3 books or develop a full blown obsession and try and read them all! You can change your mind at any time, if 1-3 books is not enough feel free to go on to the next category.

3. Re-reads are acceptable.

4. Readers without blogs can still participate! Keep track of your progress with Goodreads, Shelfari or LibraryThing.

To sign up:

1. Make a sign up post announcement, listing the category you've chosen and a list of books you plan to read. If you don't have a blog, post on GoodReads or other site as a thread where we can access your list of books. Be sure to take the image code above.

2. Come back here and using the list below, add your entry with a link directly to that post so we can see what you'll be reading.

You're done! Every month during 2012 we will make a challenge update post where you can come and updates us on how you're doing with your challenge.

Category One 
1-3 Books
Popping your Kleypas Cherry
*gasps* You haven't read Lisa Kleypas yet?! Start here and pop your cherry ! We promise she will handle your virginity with care...

Category Two 
4-8 Books
Komfy with Kleypas
Time to start searching the back list...she has you hooked!

Category Three 
8-12 Books
Kaptured by Kleypas
She's caught you in her web...you're beginning to not want to escape, surely one more book won't hurt...

Category Four 
12-16 Books
Kleypas Addiction
You can't seem to help yourself...you need more, all other romances just don't compare to a good LK fix!

Category Five 
16-20 Books
Kleypas Krazy
The Kleypas Addiction has full control! You find yourself thinking about the books all the time waiting impatiently for your next fix, started calling all the heroines by your own name... You are beyond saving and loving every word of it!

Category Six 
Read Every Lisa Kleypas ever published.
Lisa's Number One Fan
*moments silence* We bow before your greatness...Clearly, you are Lisa Kleypas' biggest fan!

Happy Reading, Maidens!

Thank you UTC and I will havew to go with option #1 since I do not retain the knowledge of having read one of her books. And here's my list.

2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge

Challenge guidelines: 

1. This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012.
2. As we would like to see quality reviews linked up to our monthly wrap-ups, only bloggers can enter. Sorry about that!
3. Any genre, length or format of book counts, as long as it is a book that's been sitting on your shelf for some time now. Only books released in 2011 and earlier! NO ARCs and 2012 fresh-off-the-press releases allowed!
   
4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.
5. When you sign up in the linky, put the direct link to your post about joining the 2012 TBR PILE Reading Challenge (You need to include the info + host list + challenge button. You can also grab the button code and add it to your sidebar!)
   
6. You can move up levels, but no moving down.
7. Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2012, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.
8. At the end of each month one of the hosts will post a wrap-up. Every wrap-up will have it's unique theme, a mini-challenge, a giveaway and place for you to link up your reviews from this month. For each review you link up, you will get one entry in a drawing of one book of choice from Book Depository. It's open to INTERNATIONALS. For participating in the mini-challenge you will get +1 entry.
   
9. If you miss a wrap-up post + giveaway, you can link up your reviews next month. Do not, however, try to link up one review twice - we will be checking ;)
10. December is a wrap-up for the whole year. All the book reviews you linked up January-November + the ones you'll link up in December will be entered into a HUGE giveaway - 12 books, 12 winners, INTERNATIONAL. 
11. You don't have to follow all the hosts to join the challenge, but you do have to follow all of us to be entered in giveaways!

Levels:

1-10 - A Firm Handshake
11-20 - A Friendly Hug
21-30 - A Sweet Kiss
31-40 - Love At First Sight
41-50 - Married With Children

Hosts:
Evie from Bookish - http://www.evie-bookish.blogspot.com @SeoEvie
Nicole from All I Ever Read - http://www.nicoleabouttown.com/ @Nicoleabouttown
Bonnie from Hands and Home - http://www.handsandhome.ca/ @HandsHomeBlog
Donna from Book Passion For Life - http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.com/ @BookPforLife
Caitlin from WatchYA Reading - http://whatchyareading.net @caitlingss
Rie from Mission To Read - http://missiontoread.com/ @missiontoread
Vicky from Books, Biscuits & Tea -http://booksbiscuitsandtea.blogspot.com/ @alouetteuette
Christa from Hooked On Books - http://christashookedonbooks.blogspot.com @ChristasBooks
Jenna from Fans Of Fiction - http://fansoffiction.blogspot.com/ @fansoffiction
Angel from Mermaids Vision - http://mermaidvision.wordpress.com @mermaidvisions

For more info click on the button above.


I am shooting for A Friendly Hug:
Here is my list o'books.

1. 
   

He would do anything for love...

Absolutely anything.

Synopsis: (from the book site)
Ken and Melissa are at the dawn of a magnificent life together. A passionate romance has led them to the doorstep of marriage. While searching for the perfect wedding present for Melissa, Ken stumbles into a mysterious shop. There, he is given an extraordinary opportunity – to look in on Melissa when she was a girl. Ken has always wished he could have known Melissa from the day she was born and this seems like an incredible blessing. Until he discovers a terrible secret in Melissa's past, one so awful she has found it impossible to mention to him.

Now Ken has another extraordinary opportunity. He can go back in time and change the horrible event that has left an indelible mark on Melissa. He can free her of this burden – but doing so could change things so completely that they might never meet.

Ken has repeatedly told Melissa that he would do anything for her. But would he truly do anything?
                                                                      


For more about the book and to read an excerpt, click HERE

Humina, humina, humina.... ok, ok this review isn't going to write itself.

This story is a heart twister in the form of a book. It's heartwarming, and loving, and all those things that make you want to fall asleep with it next to you on the pillow. 

Take this part for example (from page 26):
Later that night, as she lay in my arms sleeping, I wondered how it was possible that this had happened to me. I never dreamed of a woman like Melissa. I never believed it was possible that a person could make me feel the way she did. As I kissed her hair and settled my head against hers, though, I knew one thing for sure. I could never live without her. Now that she was here, now that she showed me what life could be like with a partner who thrilled me and challenged me and inspired me, I could never be satisfied with anything else.
I pulled her just a little tighter to me and felt immensely thankful that we would always be together.

See what I mean?? *sigh* Ah, true love.

Anyway, I find a love story from the male POV to be very refreshing.  I have not found very often a gooey love story completely written in a single POV, much less that of the man of the relationship, and written by a man.  I will confess, I don't normally go for this kinda thing, never having read a Sparks novel myself. But this book is worth it.  For me this is a breath of fresh air, an easy read, mysterious and thought provoking as well.

Also interesting is the story's premise.  How many of us actually get to prove, even if only to ourselves, that we would actually do anything for the one we love? Even if it costs us that very love.

Truly a pleasant read.. I give it

4.5 Cool Pineapples

Till we meet again
Kiwi

GIVEAWAY!!!!!!

Click on this button. Right now, people.  An awesome giveaway awaits.


Just do it!
Kiwi

A good glass of wine goes great with any meal...

Or any book by Christina Dodd for that matter.  And those Di Luca boys in her Bella Terra series sure give good.. erm, wine.

The first book, The Secrets of Bella Terra, begins as misfortune falls upon the Bella Terra Resort in the form of an attack upon the family matriarch, Nonna Sarah, requiring the family to come together to keep not only Nonna, but the resort safe and secure.  But when you mix a family reunion and an old Italian feud with mischief, mayhem and a large dose of jealousy, the results can be disastrous.
                                                               

Rafe Di Luca. 

No one need say more, really, for this man has everything this reader could want in a romance hero.  First, he's an actual hero, a former serviceman, onetime POW, turned security consultant.  Second, loyalty.  He travels from a place no one but Christina Dodd and Google (I checked) has ever heard of, leaving his team behind, to come protect his home and dearest Nonna.  Next...he is hot. H. O. T. *sigh* Because, let's be honest here.  I think everyone of us has fantasized, at least once in our lives, that our significant other was a hot italian guy whose name ended in -ello.  He also knows how to have a good time. For example, look at what happens in Chapter 18. I admit, I am sometimes envyious of the type of guy who could have this particular brand of fun.  Sure, it hurts a bit for a while, but it's an awesome way to relieve some of that pent up frustration.  Even better when your "partners" are willing participants :) Last, he sure knows his way  around a woman, and yeah, that's what I'm talkin' bout.

Not to be forgotten, is our hostess with the mostest and thus honorary member of the family, Brooke Petersson.  Brooke is a hard as nails child of two Air Force veterans. As manager(?) of the resort, she is forced to put away her past feelings for our hot hero and aid in the search for who turns out to be a killer.  But who could completely harden their heart against a man like Rafe, especially with a past like theirs.

You will find that this blogger is a sizable Christina Dodd fan, read all her books, etc. etc.  This new series keeps that trend alive.  I have always loved her ability write captivating characters, believable plot lines and beautiful sceneries.  This book is no different.

I'm giving it 5 pineapples...(gif to follow)

All the best,
Kiwi

Top 5 Sundays #60 – Favorite Gun-Totting Heroines!

As seen here on Larissa's blog.

This Sunday's theme: Favorite Gun-Totting Heroines!

1. Lieutenant Eve Dallas

 This girl knows how to get her man.... 

2. Stephanie Plum  

 

Well...she totes a gun sometimes...

3. Elena Deveraux

Protecting mankind from rogue vamps never looked so easy.

4. Samantha Jellicoe

 

Relieving people of their possessions never looked this fun.

5. Rhiannon Murphy

She can even talk to them even after they're dead.

Hands on your head, as it were.

Kiwi

18 & Over Book Blogger Follow

     Question of the Week: What book shelf would you ask Santa for? Answer: This one!  I don't have the room for that library with 10 foot ceilings and ladders that run around it on rails.  This would be a perfect fit for the space I have now (which is none).

 Amirite?? Til next weekend, and thanks in advance for the follows.Kiwi 

2012 E-Book Reading Challenge Hosted by Bumps in the Road

From January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012


Here are the rules:

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.  Create a post about the challenge and link your challenge post up in the linky below. (can be reached by clicking the button up there)

--Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post.

2. There are four levels:

--The Mini E-Book Challenge – Read 5 E-Books.

--The "Fun Size" E-Book Challenge – Read 10 E-Books.

--The Jumbo Size E-Book Challenge – Read 20 E-Books.

--The Mega Size E-Book Reading Challenge - Read 25+ E-Books.

3. No Audio or Print books.

4. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

5. The Challenge starts on January 1, 2012 and goes until December 31, 2012.

I am going for 

--The Mega Size E-Book Reading Challenge - Read 25+ E-Books.

Being that I finally have an eReader, I can't wait to take part!

Here is my list.

1.  
   

New Author Challenge 2012 Hosted by Literary Escapism

The idea behind this is to find new authors that you’ve never tried before, not necessarily ones that are debuting.  They can be in your genre of choice or be brave and try something new.  You never know what you’re going to like until you try it.  If you’re looking for some suggestions, you can check out the Author page here at Literary Escapism or the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Challenge pages.  With over 1000 reviews posted, I’m sure there will be something there for everyone.
Here are the guidelines:

1. The challenge will run from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012.
2. Since this is an author challenge, there is no restriction on choosing your novels. They can definitely be from other challenges. However, the authors must be new to you and, preferably from novels.  Anthologies are a great way to try someone new, but only a third of your new authors can be from anthologies.
3. I want this to be an easy challenge, so you can pick to do either 15, 25 or 50 new authors.  It all depends on how fast you read and how adventurous you want to be.  For me, I want to say I’m going to do another 50 new authors, but with two kids, I didn’t made my goal in 2011, so I’m going to be smarter and say 25.  If you reach your goal halfway through the year, don’t stop.  Any new author you try can be added to Mr. Linky.  We all want to know about your new experience.
4. After reading your new author, write your review and then come back here and add your link to Mr. Linky.  Make sure you include your name and the author, but adding the title is completely up to you.
5. Bloggers or Non-Bloggers alike are welcome. You don’t have to have a site to participate. You can link up via Facebook, GoodReads or even Amazon if you’d like.

Once you reach your goal, you don’t have to stop.  Any new author you try, go ahead and head back here and add it to the list.  Introduce us all to whoever you find.  Afterall, there’s no reason to stop trying new authors, right?

I am going to shoot for 25 since i have almost that many either on my shelves or on my TBR list.  Here is my list.

1.  

2012 Men in Uniform Reading Challenge hosted by The Book Vixen

Details:

• Runs January 1, 2012 – December 31, 2012 (books read prior to 1/1/12 do not count towards the challenge). You can join at anytime. Sign up on The Book Vixen’s blog.
• The goal is to read as many novels that feature men in inform as you’d like. It can be a policeman, firefighter, paramedic, doctor, veterinarian,  Army, Navy, Marine Corp., etc. – As long as the leading man wears some sort of uniform, it counts. See the different levels below and pick the one that works best for you. Nothing is set in stone; you can change levels at any time during the challenge.
• Books can be any format (bound, eBook, audio).
• Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
• Grab the reading challenge button and post this reading challenge on your blog to track your progress. Please include a link back to this sign-up post so others can join the reading challenge too. You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you could track your progress on Goodreads or LibraryThing.

Levels:
     Sergeant – Read 1–5 men in uniform novels  
     Lieutenant – Read 6–10 men in uniform novels  
     Captain – Read 11–15 men in uniform novels    
     Chief – Read 16+ men in uniform novels

My List (Just call me Chief)

1.  

2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge hosted by The Book Vixen

I have decided to join in a bunch of reading challenges for 2012. Here be the first of many.....

Details:

• Runs January 1, 2012 – December 31, 2012 (books read prior to 1/1/12 do not count towards the challenge). You can join at anytime. Sign up on The Book Vixen’s blog.
• The goal is to outdo yourself by reading more books in 2012 than you did in 2011. See the different levels below and pick the one that works best for you. Nothing is set in stone; you can change levels at any time during the challenge.
• Books can be any format (bound, eBook, audio).
• Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
• Grab the reading challenge button and post this reading challenge on your blog to track your progress. Please include a link back to this sign-up post so others can join the reading challenge too. You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you could track your progress on Goodreads or LibraryThing.

Levels:
     Getting my heart rate up – Read 1–5 more books
     Out of breath – Read 6–10 more books
     Breaking a sweat – Read 11–15 more books
     I’m on fire! – Read 16+ more books

Well, I am going to cheat and point you to my Goodreads button for the list of book for this challenge, since reading atleast 16 more books in 2012 than I am reading in 2011 (Cause I wanna be ON FIRE!!) is going to put me close to reading like 275 books, and I'm just too lazy to list them all, TYVM.

Feel free to join me, The Book Vixen and everyone else by clicking on the above icon.

18 & Over Book Blogger Follow

  Question of the Week: If you could dress-up a favorite book character for Halloween, who would it be & what would they wear?

 

For my first fashion victims I choose Joe Morelli and Stephanie Plum.  And this is what I would have them wear... Now I'm sure Stephanie would probably hate this look, but I know she'd rock it.

 

   

Next up would be John from the BDB, Roarke from the In Death series, and Julian from the Dark-Hunter series.  And for these gorgeous specimens, I think less might definitely be more...yum.

      

 

  And last, but definitely not least, I leave you these two costumes...    I give you my personal permission to fill these designer wonders with whomever your heart desires. Maybe Jericho or V'lane from the Fever series, hmmm?        Trick or TreatKiwi

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger Blog Award from Gini Koch

Thanks to the awesome Gini Koch and Team Hook... I have the honor of nominating 5 other bloggers for the above

"Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger Blog Award"

  Without further ado... I nominate (in no particular order) Tigris Eden's Garden of Books

 Hanging with Bells Dren's B-Spot
The Book Vixen
Limecello
Because these guys are awesome...and they also give good Tweet...lol. Check it out HERE!! 

Tweetcha Later,Kiwi

“Serendipity."

"Look for something, find something else, and realize that what you've found is more suited to your needs than what you thought you were looking for.”  Lawrence Block


She used to be a good girl.......
Faith Harrington, like any other rich girl, was born with the proverbial silver spoon between her lips.  Unlike any other rich girl, her world was torn apart when her father was caught running a Ponzi scheme and she lost it all.  This included her husband, whom she found out only wanted her for her name, and was sleeping with his paralegal.   

He makes them good girls go bad......

Ex-military man and successful weapons software developer Ethan Barron still carries the label "Bad Boy".  No one has plans to forget or forgive him for his part in the scandal that was his reason for leaving town 10 years prior, especially his younger brothers.

Surprise!!  It's A ...... Sister??? 

Both Faith and Ethan have come home to Serendipity, NY, souls wounded, hoping for a chance to start over.  Neither are exactly welcomed home with a parade.  Just when the two of them rekindle their past flame, Ethan is gifted with a foul-mouthed, pot smoking, teenaged half-sister, a product of his traveling salesman father's affair with his secretary.  Now Ethan must team up with his brothers who still hate him, and a gun shy Faith, to save Tess from the same fate that Ethan himself suffered way back when.

Love conquers all.
And in this book, it really does.


Carly Phillips and her books sometimes make my world go round, they really do.  Today was a 2 tequila kinda day, and winding down with Serendipity was exactly what I needed. A bit of Matthew McConaughey never hurts either.

Great start to a new series, and I can't wait to read Destiny when is comes out.

I give it 5 out of 5 *something-or-others* <sigh>  What should I give out people?? Kiwis would be lame.  Fruit salads? Seeds?  How about apples?? Hmmmmm.....maybe pineapples...

G'nite all
Kiwi

Prego.....It's In There.

Or maybe it isn't.

.............................................................

Having trouble coming up with a quirky title for this review.

Just finished reading New York to Dallas by J.D. Robb.  And it was good.  Too good.

Guess I'm having trouble coming up with some quirky things to say as well.  Ok, well......

I found this to be the best In Death book so far by miles.  Miles and miles.  And it's really hard to pinpoint the reason(s).  This one has all the drama, love, death, sex, pain, tears (some were mine), frustration and sweet victory that they all have had, but it is so different.

But why??

Wait.... I think I just came upon it..... It's not what's in there, it's what isn't.  Since this books mostly takes place in Dallas, TX, there's no "New York."  No Peabody, McNab, Feeney.  No Summerset, Mavis, Nadine, Mira.  Hell, there isn't even any Baxter, Trueheart, Louise, Charles, etc. etc. None of Eve's bad driving, vending machine traumas, and candy bar thefts.  None of Roarke's "shenanigans," foreign travel or world domination.  And seriously this list goes on and on.  In short, there is no relief, comic or otherwise.  No shopping trips, no concerts, parties.  You  know, that stuff that usually makes Eve's skin crawl, but ends up doing her a world of good.  And we all love her for it.  But there isn't any time to breathe, for the characters or the readers.  I literally finished this book in hours.  Like 3.5 hours.  Okay, okay, maybe like 4 hours.

But, I don't know that I missed the "New York" in this book.  I don't know that it needs it.  (And there's the light bulb for the blog title.)

I admit I have this freakish habit of making the characters real people in my mind's eye.  And Eve and Roarke are 2 of my most favorite people in there.  So when I had to leave this book just when Eve and Roarke discover the true identity of the partner, it seriously left me in a bad mood.  I had to play mom for a bit and drive the youngest to preschool, then go grocery shopping of all things, and for 2.5 hours all I wanted to do was get home and finish the damn book.  I mean, how dare real life intervene just when the gettin' is good??? :)
Needless to say, I bow down to the greatness that is Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb.  I don't have any idea how she can just keep popping them out, book after book, and have them all still be awesome.

So I give this book 5 out of 5 *whatchamacallits*.  (Still working on that rating system.)

Kiwi

PS I know a few people who aren't as into these books as I am.  I think I will suggest they have a go at this one, might change their minds a bit.

And the Winner Is....

                 Lucky #7
                Camille

A great big thanks to all who answered my pleas for comments....you all are the bestest!!! 
Stay tuned for more reviews and possibly more giveaways.  Hey, you never know.

 Maybe now is time for bed.  Or not.
Kiwi 

Gabriel's Inferno Review and GIVEAWAY!!!!

Today it is my stop on the blog tour of:

Gabriel's Inferno

Author: Sylvain Reynard

Professor Gabriel Emerson, a specialist in Dante and the art of seduction, believes he has already earned his exile to the lower circles of hell. Since redemption is impossible, there is no reason to refrain from indulging in a life of pleasurable sin, using his notorious good looks and sophisticated charm as a means to gratify his every whim. But when he meets Julia Mitchell, a brilliant, lovely, and innocent grad student with the achingly familiar eyes of an angel, all of his cynical convictions are challenged. Her mysterious allure and the havoc she wreaks on his self-satisfied existence cause him to lash out at her, while her quiet beauty and innate goodness consistently undermine his control, tempting him beyond measure. Despite surviving a traumatic childhood, nothing has shaken Julia's faith that redemption is possible for everyone-everyone but her. Her unworthiness torments her, since the only man she will ever love has managed to forget her very existence, failing to even recognize her when they reconnect. Too naive to see that Gabriel's hostility is a mask for his increasing obsession with her, Julia forces him to come to grips with his past while she continues to unwittingly torment his senses. His fascination grows into a dangerous preoccupation, for Julia is forbidden fruit . . .

                                               

And now for the review part....

My very first thought when sitting down to write this was "I am not worthy, I am not worthy".....(cue flashback of Wayne's World...yeah I am that old)

There is not much I feel I can say about this book that the above feature doesn't. Except that I freakin' LOVED this book.
L. O. V. E. D.    I. T.
There is so much I want to say about this book, but I find myself without the right words.  And also, there is so much in the story that you just have to read it to get.  So, I suggest you read it, and quickly! I will say this tho....

This book is like that movie.  You know, the one really great movie you would've paid a million dollars to see again and again.  And when its run in the theaters ended, you awaited its DVD release with baited breath.  Then when it arrived, you impatiently waited for bedtime so you could watch it over and over when everyone was asleep. Finally, when you had watched it enough, (NEVER!!), you lovingly tucked it away in a drawer.  It is now the one you pull out when you have a craving for chocolates and wine (we all know when that is), or when you just need a good cry, or even on those days when your husband has been a real a$$ and you want to witness real true love in all its imperfect forms.  Yeah, this book is THAT good.

Gabriel is now one of my all time favorite males in the fictional world.  He is certainly much more complicated than most of the males I usually have hanging around on my bookshelves, or in this case, on my eReader. He can be a real pompous bastard, but atleast sometimes he realizes it, like in that scene where he is sitting watching Julia walking with Paul.  And he does have my two favorite lines in this story..

"Then I'm glad I'm your first."   and

"The Angelfucker. That's right -- hands off the angel, asshole."

Also, if he ever wants to get rid of the *ahem* decorations that used to be hanging on his bedroom walls, I think they'd go great with the decorating scheme in my own bedroom. *angel face*

Julia (I think I like Julianne better) however, sometimes made me want to reach inside the pages and scream "SNAP OUT OF IT!!" But I did get where SR went with the character, so I didn't let her rub me the wrong way too much.  And I admit, I do like her often unique prayers to those oddly specialized deities of hers, even if she did ask one of them to dole out a real itchy rash...lol.

I am almost ashamed to admit that I had never heard of this book, or its author, prior to being offered a stop on this blog tour.  Really, how could something this good not be on a list somewhere, with a million people reading it.  If I belonged to a book club, we would so be reading it.  Hey~ maybe I should start one!  Yeah, not so much.

Also I just read on Twitter that there is a sequel planned!   Awesome news, my friends.  Where do I sign up?


I want to take the time to thank KLB Virtual Events and author Sylvain Reynard for allowing me the opportunity of taking part in this tour and for introducing me to this book. Cin cin! And now I have to find my ereader so I can go read it again.

Ciao, bella.
Kiwi

P. S. Oh, and before I leave I want to post a few thoughts......


Photos    Wine    "Closer"    Rabbit     Vanilla    Orchard     Broken     Dragon


And I will add that these take on a completely new meaning in this book.

                                               

Paperback, 514 Pages

Published April 19, 2011 by Omnific Publishing

ISBN: 9781936305629

BUY A COPY HERE:

Omnific Publishing : Amazon : B&N

FIND AUTHOR HERE:

Sylvain Reynard of Goodreads : Twitter : Facebook : Fan Page(Facebook) : Website

GIVEAWAY!

I have 1 ebook copy of Gabriel's Inferno to giveaway!  All you have to do is follow KLB's blog located here and you'll be entered into the giveaway. Please leave your email in a comment on this blog as well as format of the book you would like.  Giveaway ends on 10/01/11 at midnight EST and winner will be chosen using random.org.  Good luck!

Check out KLB's schedule located below for you chance at more chances to win!

9/19   Skyla11377 :  Review & Giveaway *

9/20  Hanging With Bells : Book Feature

Reading With Baking Goddess : Review

9/21  Books N Kisses : Review

9/22 Asian Cocoa : Review & Giveaway*

Donna Simmons : Review

9/23  Tigris Eden Garden of Book : Book Feature

My Need To Read : Review & Giveaway

9/24  United by Books :Review

Author Twitter Chat : Hashtag:  #GabrielsInferno

9/25 Wicked Readings By Tawaina : Review & Giveaway*

9/26  Ramblings From This Chick : Feature

Missy the Unread Reader : Review

9/27  Off Beat Vagabond : Review

9/28  Musings Of A Book Worm :  Review

Larissa's Bookish Life : Book Feature

9/29  A Buckeye Girl Reads : Review

9/30  Kicking Back With Kiwi : Review

10/1 Lush Book Reviews : Book Feature

10/2  Alisha Robinson : Review

10/3  Ramblings From A Chaotic Mind : Review & Giveaway *

10/4  KLB : Book Discussion & Giveaway *

News from Shiloh Walker!!!

  _____________________________________

Reissued at a new, lower price...available at ARe  Nook & Kindle

Book 1

Tori McAdams was a sensible woman. She didn't believe in hocus-pocus, she didn’t believe in ghosts, and she definitely didn’t believe in vampires…not until the night she was attacked by one. Alone, starving and afraid, she doesn’t know what’s happening but at least she had somebody to turn to…

Declan Reilly was normally the last person she’d go to for help, but now he was the first on her list. He can help; she knows he can. She never could have planned on what happens next, though…the sexy detective is so much more than he appears.
Warning: This book contains violence, sex, more violence, a maniacal murderer, sex, more violence, and a menage or two thrown in for good measure. There are also sighs, happy endings, a romance, a hero, a heroine, and a little bit of falling in love.
**Please note this work has been previously published. While it's been edited, no new material has been added.
Read an excerpt

_____________________________________

It's all fun and games...

Until a demon tosses you out on your azz 101 years into the future. And, oh, what a future it is.

In a world now run by things that used to only go bump in the night, Rhiannon, the fearless heroine in J.A. Saare's The Renfield Syndrome, is faced with a seemingly impossible challenge and what must be a million and one things that keep getting in the way, demons and death among them. But not even death can stop this feisty bartender from saving the world, one werewolf, or vampire or fallen angel at a time.

                                                                          
I first stumbled upon this series as a result of being asked to take part in this blog tour.  *GASP*  I know, I know, but this blogger is famously out of touch with so many things.  Though, I must say, this curious happenstance led me to be a very grateful woman.  In true ignorance-is-bliss style, I did not have to wait *forever* to read the conclusion to the serious cliffhanger that ended the first book.  I had already downloaded it onto my e-reader.  So, push a couple buttons and *bam* there you go.  No dramatic heart wrenching, no nights spent sleepless wondering what was happening to Rhia and the scrumptious Disco.  So for that, I count myself as lucky.

That being said, I am very much in love with this UF series, and its characters.  Well most of them.  Cause I would seriously kick the behinds of those wolves from the future, especially their leader, if I passed them on the street.  Well, I would try anyway.  Oh, who am I kidding, I'd probably run the other way, screaming at the top of my itty bitty human lungs.  Still, shame on Carter for thinking he can take Rhiannon away from true love.  And as for that wannabe princess Jackson, well I'm glad Rhia got to take care of that problem before the end of the book.

As for Rhiannon's vampire friends and fellow necromancer, I'm still willing to take any of them off her hands.  Really, how many guys does one girl need? Granted, she certainly has dibs on Disco, but Goose sounds charming in his own style.  And what, may I ask, is wrong with Paine?  I mean the man waited a solid century for her. 100 years people!! One can only dream of a love so long lasting and in the end so heartbreaking.  That scene with him and Rhia brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. Then what happens later on in the book because of it, well, that is pretty damn depressing as well.

There are also a bunch of new characters we meet in this book, each created with the hand of a true literary artist.  A slightly evil artist who lets you to spend half a book getting to know and like these characters and then laughs when she takes them away from you in a crazy time traveling plot twist designed to send your head into a tailspin.  I'm sure everyone reading this went "Wait...what?!?!?" more than once, I know I did.  Truly sad, because I really liked Bells, even if her mother is the spawn of Satan.

Aside from the characters, is the fact that the books are set in my favorite city, The Big Apple.  Ms. Saare has such an ability to bring the scenes to life in your mind and get this, she's never even been there!  True genius.

Lastly, there is the story line, straight out of the weirdest soap opera one could imagine.  Or maybe an episode of the X-Files.  And that's all I'm going to say my friends.  Because to go any further into it would require some serious spoiler action, which I'm already bordering on, and I think this book deserves to be read and enjoyed without flipping to the end first. 

When all is said and done, I find The Renfield Syndrome a fitting follow up to the first book Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between.  And as with the first book, J.A. Saare has captured this reader, and left her wanting more.  Sadly, this time I will have to wait the requisite *forever* to read the next book, The Ripple Effect.
                                                                                

For more information and to read the first chapter click HERE

(The following is from the site)

Vampires, and werewolves, and demons, oh my. 
 
Rhiannon thought facing off against a deranged child vampire was the most dangerous task she would ever have to undertake, but she’s about to discover making a deal with a demon is far, far worse. Sent forward into another reality, one in which vampires are now dominating nearly extinct humans, she realizes the sooner she returns to her vampire lover, Disco, the better.

Unfortunately, time changes a lot of things; including those most trusted around her. When she’s faced with a loss and betrayal unlike any she has ever known, her focus shifts from severing the debt between the demon that wants to kill her, to exacting a revenge that will bring forth consequences she never could have fathomed. By reaching out to the darkness lingering within her, she’ll find the strength to push forward despite the circumstances that would see her dead and buried.

After all, when it’s all said and done, all that she has left to lose is her soul.
                                                                                 

Till we meet again,
Kiwi

Oh, and in case you're counting, I am one vote solidly "Team Paine".  Then again, I was also "Team Jacob". So, I guess, that's just how I roll.