tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86590660070121812002024-03-13T06:34:49.365+02:00The GODS of WritingAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11167805977390429771noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659066007012181200.post-32609943246098683292013-03-29T16:20:00.001+02:002013-03-29T16:21:53.672+02:00Shameless by Rebecca J. Clark<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtopsnFeisZdvhzcKo95n6osQxov_FZLSNKRl2QCe03qsd_So_TdQ9MnjZ0CkTMPh2mMGRTut-rlGP3Vn2-uS6xjXGLF7OjIu9chtSwCPMrF-c6Gl8UYRkKj9gRv5-ctHl1hNwsztvHey5/s1600/shameless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtopsnFeisZdvhzcKo95n6osQxov_FZLSNKRl2QCe03qsd_So_TdQ9MnjZ0CkTMPh2mMGRTut-rlGP3Vn2-uS6xjXGLF7OjIu9chtSwCPMrF-c6Gl8UYRkKj9gRv5-ctHl1hNwsztvHey5/s320/shameless.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
3 columns: Worthy Read</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Buy it at <a href="http://amzn.com/B00AHI5DFW">Amazon</a><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 6pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Publisher: Rebecca J. Clark, December 2012<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Blurb</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Haunted by a tragic accident 20 years
ago, John Everest knows he doesn't deserve a family of his own, so he spends
his days building the most successful fitness franchise in Seattle...and his
nights alone. But that all changes when Samantha Rossi storms back into his
life.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Happily single, Samantha feels there are only
two types of men in this world: those who are good for nothing and those who
are good for one thing. Now she needs that one thing desperately, because she
wants a baby. John, a man from her past, is the perfect donor. He doesn't want
children. He doesn't want a wife. He just wants her body. She can deal with
that.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">John agrees to Samantha's no-strings-attached
proposal, never expecting to fall for the fiery beauty he'd wronged so many
years ago. It'll take more than a shameless proposal to overcome their tragic
past, but with a little luck and forgiveness, anything is possible.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Review</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Airmid, Lady of Speed Reading, was pleased to read a story with
such a sexy premise. She applauded Samantha Rossi's strength and conviction to
become a single mother and yet puzzled over Sam's flamboyance and loudly promiscuous
advances as she attempted to seduce John Everest once she had decided to invite
him to be the sperm donor for her hoped-for child. Samantha's reasoning for her
outward appearance and behavior was rooted in her teenage years when she let
herself go due to the traumatic events of that one fateful night. So, in order
to keep in shape and remind herself not to let that happen again, she wore
tight-fitting clothes to alert herself should she put on a few extra pounds.
The lady can understand those who use trellises and arbors to train their
vines, shrubs and trees, but the realities of nature make this a lovely, yet
false impression of the individual. As the story progressed Samantha abandoned
those outward features and became someone entirely different. Airmid would have
been able to better accept this transformation had Sam admitted from the outset
that this was not who she truly was. Airmid admired the way John Everest was
portrayed as a caring and thoughtful, and yet he was also demanding of Sam and
determined to get the most out of their temporary relationship. Both Sam and
John were enigmatic characters, as unpredictable as a bloom of mold on a good
patch of tansy and rue. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Airmid was delighted with the secondary characters in the story
who carried many scenes where the main characters became less than sympathetic
as they failed to find a way to work out their differences and a rift grew
between the lovers. The flow of the story was somewhat disjointed, like an
ordered bed of herbs left to go wild for a few seasons. Some secondary
characters, such as dear Brian, who reminded Airmid much of her beloved and
brave brother, Miach, were introduced, and Airmid became quite attached to
them, but then they disappeared for a long, lonely time leaving the lady to
grieve over their whereabouts and worry what had become of them. Thankfully, they
eventually reappeared, though the lady still grieves for Brian's outcome. After
finishing the story and with its wonderfully satisfying ending, Airmid decided
that there were really two stories in one. The first story had to do with
Samatha's brave, bold goal of having a child and the second story had to do
with John's growth beyond the terrible events of his youth that made it
possible for him to finally find peace and happiness.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The lady Airmid will make one further suggestion to the author and
that is not to summarize or skim over scenes that the reader and the lady were looking
forward to experiencing in person. One scene that Airmid was disappointed not
to find in the book was the scene where Sam announced her pregnancy to John,
ending their temporary relationship. The anticipation of this scene was strong
in the lady's mind and she was sorely disappointed to find that she was not
able to harvest the fruit of the lovely tensions that the author had built
toward that scene. Airmid realizes that the story took place over a long period
of time and that some summarizing would be needed, but she suggests that if
authors are going to build up the anticipation for an announcement they should
deliver on that promise and allow the reader to see the scene in full bloom.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Overall, lady Airmid enjoyed reading the story of bringing
together these two worthy people to become parents and share the love and joy
of children in their lives. The lovely message put forth by this story is that
we must all first forgive and learn to love ourselves before we can learn to
love another. The author did a wonderful job of touching Airmid's emotions and
she freely shed tears at one or two points in the story. If you are looking for
a heart-wrenching and enjoyable story to lose yourself in, you would do well to
choose <i>Shameless</i> by Rebecca J. Clark.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17991293966767162240noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659066007012181200.post-8929009412359550792013-03-27T18:29:00.000+02:002013-04-09T21:11:47.383+03:00I Do - Over, Confessions of a Recalcitrant Bridesmaid - Michele Riccio<div style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">Genre:
Contemporary Romance</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Published:
January 1, 2013 </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Length: 327 pages</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">ISBN:
1481922602</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/I-Do-Over-Confessions-Recalcitrant-Bridesmaid/dp/1481922602/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1364401102&sr=1-1&keywords=I+Do+Over" target="_blank">Amazon</a> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>3
Columns – Worthy Read</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Blurb</b></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zuoKgO3oD7I/UVMdaTTTeTI/AAAAAAAAACg/JRHx97pegXU/s1600/3521316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zuoKgO3oD7I/UVMdaTTTeTI/AAAAAAAAACg/JRHx97pegXU/s320/3521316.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Grace Douglas has a secret crush on Jon, the boy next door.
The problem is: at thirty-six she's well past the age of secret crushes, her
father insists Jon is her brother (by dint of his marriage to Jon's mother),
and Jon is nothing more than brotherly when he spends the night in her hotel
room.<br /><br />
Then a meddling fortuneteller convinces Grace's half-sister, Kitty she needs to
re-stage her recent wedding – and get it right this time – or suffer the
consequences. Dodging the bullets of a mysterious, if incompetent, stalker and
fending off Geraldo, co-worker without a work ethic are a piece of wedding cake
for Grace – compared to being Kitty's maid of honor.</span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />
Grace has to find a way out. Or be seen by the man she loves – wearing a bridesmaid gown.</span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Review </b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">My lady Danu, forced by the inclement spring weather to retreat
from the beach and its parade of eye-candy discovered the free books on
Amazon. <i>I Do Over, Confessions of a Recalcitrant Bridesmaid</i> by Michele
Riccio was one such book. I, her humble
scribe, provide the following at her behest.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>I Do Over </i>is a
fast, and in places, a frenetic read; a pace driven in large part by Grace’s
snarky perspective. First person point
of view, while intimate, often seems, to my lady, more like navel-gazing than a
means to a deeper immersion in a story world when applied to contemporary
romance sans subgenre such as paranormal or suspense. In this case, it became somewhat more
problematic because one is left wondering if Grace prefers the merry-go-round
she’s on. To wit...</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Grace suffers from the ills of close – as in living next
door for example – proximity to her immediate and extended family in ways
worthy of a sitcom. But sitcoms are
somewhat akin to cotton candy and whipped cream; fluffy and light and almost
never filling.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Dysfunctional is a descriptor that sums up her familial
interactions without doing them justice.
They are emotionally manipulative, self-serving and exhibit a mastery of
selective hearing that is truly awe inspiring. And Grace experiences it all,
accompanied by a silent, jaded and, at bottom, painful commentary while
engaging in a kind of self-immolation on the altar of family obligation as she dances
to the tune her step-mother whistles. In
fact, it’s like the song in one’s head one can never get rid of. The snark becomes the means of continuing the
pattern of unhelpful surrender –a pattern she carries into her work
relationships as well. One hears in the
subtext her own awareness that that self-immolation is the price she pays for
admission to the family or job even as she struggles to find the exit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The snark Grace uses to keep her cool and avoid offending
her family or to keep her job is, at times, laugh out loud funny. One cheers for her at the same time one is
mentally screaming at her to do a Nancy Reagan and just say NO! Trouble is, by the end of the book, one is
left feeling much less sympathetic towards Grace than when one started. In fact, one is left wondering if the
author’s naming of the heroine ‘Grace’ was deliberate or serendipitous. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">In romance the character arc of the hero/heroine is the
plot. Without getting into spoilers the end point of Grace’s arc is less than
fully satisfying. A much more defined
arc would have added the cake to the buttercream.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">In spite of all that, <i>I
Do Over </i>is a fast, fun read, good for the beach or the long wait at the
doctor’s office. The author’s eye for
the nitty-gritty of family is both lucid and, surprisingly, affectionately
amused. It’s that detail that, in the
end, makes this book work, and reaffirms The Goddess Danu’s determination to
avoid long exposure to the company of her own extended family unless there are
copious amounts of free booze and chocolate available.</span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659066007012181200.post-65622137822740803612013-02-27T13:28:00.004+02:002013-02-27T23:07:09.225+02:00Anything But Vanilla by Liz Fielding<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51XiGlakGDL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51XiGlakGDL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span class="bylinepipe">4 1/2 Columns: an excellent read</span></b><br />
<span class="bylinepipe">Harlequin Kiss</span></div>
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<b>April/May 2013</b> </div>
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Available for pre-order from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Anything-But-Vanilla-Liz-Fielding/dp/0263899446">Amazon.com</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Anything-But-Vanilla-Harlequin-Kiss/dp/037320714X">Amazon UK</a></div>
<a href="http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Anything-But-Vanilla-Liz-Fielding/9780373207145">The Book Depository</a><br />
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<u>Blurb</u><br />
<i>Sorrel Amery is determined to make her summer event
the talk of the town, and she knows just the way into people's hearts-champagne
sorbet! It's the perfect strategy... Until the ice cream parlour's owner runs
off, leaving Sorrel's plans melting faster than a sundae in the summer
sun.
</i><br />
<i><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;">All Sorrel wants is to get back into her comfort
zone, but when the gorgeous Alexander West arrives to help pick up the pieces
her life gets shaken up more than ever before! Especially as this
globe-trotting adventurer is determined that nothing in Sorrel's life should
ever be boring old vanilla again..</span>.</span></i><br />
<i>
</i><br />
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<u><b>REVIEW</b></u></div>
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When Alexander West flies halfway across the world to rescue
a close friend’s ice-cream parlour, he makes three alarming discoveries – the
business has been issued with an insolvency notice, said friend has disappeared
and… gorgeous, sexy businesswoman Sorrel Amery is in the shop’s stockroom,
raiding the freezer.
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But Sorrel is no thief. As the CEO of <i>Scoop</i>, it’s her
job to deliver ice-cream experiences to special events — like the celebrity
studded tennis party currently top of her agenda. If she doesn’t get the ices
she’s ordered, her reputation will be in ruins. </div>
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<br /></div>
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So when Alex announces that he wants the stock back in the
freezer and her off the premises, she takes a determined step forward,
intending to search the kitchen for the rest of her order.</div>
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Only, Alex won’t let her past. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">She tries
pleading. But he’s adamant that
nothing can leave the premises until he’s completed an inventory of the assets.
In a last ditch attempt to change his mind, she offers a wide-screen,
Technicolor, smile and murmurs 'Alexander.. this is important.'</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Her action prompts him to ask in a low, dangerously soft
voice “How important?”</div>
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The next moment he’s kissing her —and she’s making no
attempt to stop him. Just the opposite in fact. Totally mesmerised, she arches
towards him, lifting her arms and sliding them round his neck, “her body
wanting more, wanting him.” </div>
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Abruptly he breaks the connection. Thanks to her inexplicable
meltdown she’s managed to confirm his belief that she’s the type of girl who
thinks she can get whatever she wants in business by flirting.</div>
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He couldn’t be more wrong. Sorrel has chosen career over
romance and is totally focused on building her business. She does <i>not </i>do
lust at first sight.</div>
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Her reaction to his kiss marked one of those rare occasions
when she’d lost all sense and given into her mother’s wayward genes. A
totally<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>uncharacteristic lapse, given
that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sorrell is determined not to be like
her mother (a serial single mother with a propensity for rough-hewn travelling
men.) Sorrell wants a man with drive and ambition. Somebody who’ll always be
there for her – somebody like her secure, safe and totally dependable mentor,
Graeme. </div>
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Alex might be overwhelmingly sexy with his “thick brown hair
that brushed his shoulders and flopped untidily around his face…and the kind of
skin deep tan you didn’t get from two weeks on a beach.” But how can she
possibly allow herself to have a crazy fling with a man who clearly follows a
beach bum lifestyle and will be gone in days? </div>
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<br /></div>
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Yet despite everything, she experiences such a strong sense
of physical attraction that she’s sorely tempted to forget safe and dependable
and seize the day in a “live-now-pay-later physical response.” </div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Seize the day</i> is the book’s theme. Sorrel is locked
into a vanilla lifestyle — seeking security and safety in everything she does.
But until she learns to be less in control of her life and emotions, ditch her
five-year plan and trust her instincts, she’ll never be truly happy . </div>
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<br /></div>
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And emotionally distant, detached, uninvolved Alex, who’s
never had a home and is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>focused
exclusively on exploring distant jungles, illustrates a different side of the
theme. </div>
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Unlike Sorrel, Alex has no trouble seizing the moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His life is full of fresh and exciting
opportunities. But instead of experiencing these moments on his own, he needs
to learn to open himself up to the warmth and fun of sharing them with another
person. </div>
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Each leads the other towards emotional change, culminating
in Sorrel giving into the attraction and seizing the moment in a night of
passion with Alex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She knows full well
that he’ll leave her in a few days, but is done with playing safe with her
heart and her head.</div>
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Alex proves<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the more
resistant one. Although he revels in Sorrel’s warm considerate emotionally
connecting nature, and has come to a point where he can share confidences with
openness and trust, he still backs away from emotional involvement<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and returns to his work in the rainforest
determined to remain heart whole.</div>
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<br /></div>
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At this point it seems as though Alex will never change his
belief about the type of life he wants or the person he is, but in wonderfully
emotional final chapter, he experiences a shattering epiphany that totally
changes the direction of his emotions and brings about the necessary happy
ending.</div>
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This book was an absolute pleasure to review. The pacing is
smooth (back story is kept to a minimum until well past the second half of the
story ) the pages are packed with sizzling sexual tension, deeply experienced
emotion and crisp, concise dialogue.</div>
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<b>4 1/2<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>columns </b>(I’d
have liked just a hint at the start of the story that the hero’s present life felt a little empty — a
suggestion of restlessness.)</div>
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<br /></div>
Athenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11480980875064652337noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659066007012181200.post-1585773612063198872013-02-22T17:38:00.002+02:002013-02-23T11:25:05.469+02:00<h2 style="text-align: center;">
</h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Koishi</span></span></span></span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">By: <a href="http://www.annienicholas.com/" target="_blank">Annie Nicholas </a> </span></span></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"></span></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;">Genre: Paranormal Romance (Erotic) Novella (appx 126 pgs.)<br />Series: GateKeepers #1<br />Published: February 4th 2013<br />Publisher: <a href="http://lyricalpress.com/koishi/" target="_blank">Lyrical Press </a><br />ISBN 1616504390 (13: 9781616504397)<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Koishi-GateKeeprs-ebook/dp/B00B91HNS6/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/koishi-annie-nicholas/1114234706" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a> <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/koishi/id589785971?mt=11" target="_blank">iTunes</a><br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><b><i>4 Columns – Recommended Read</i></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;">Blurb</span></span></h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vcvQ9nH8Ybc/USeQlWOz9lI/AAAAAAAAACQ/3sX2tH8qGrw/s1600/9781616504397-199x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vcvQ9nH8Ybc/USeQlWOz9lI/AAAAAAAAACQ/3sX2tH8qGrw/s320/9781616504397-199x300.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Never make a deal with a dragon.<br /><br />Sandra’s sister is dying. Doctors say nothing can be done, but she refuses to give up hope. She has depleted all their resources searching for a cure, when a little bird whispers in Sandra’s ear about secret worlds, gates, and the keepers who protect them. A dragon gatekeeper, who hoards magical treasure within his volcano home in Japan, possibly owns an item capable of curing her sister.<br /><br />Gates choose their keepers, and Koishi thinks his did an excellent job in picking him. Not many dare to cross, and none who try survive. However, one tiny human female with either the courage of an army or the intelligence of a gnat has arrived on the island asking for him. Curious, he waits for the locals to steer her to his human servant—actually him, in man form.<br /><br />Let the games begin…</span></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;">Review</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">My Lady Danu has bid me thank thee for the honor done her when thou didst submit thy novel, Koishi, for her review. In this new endeavor of hers, she is learning much about this plane, but feels she will never fully understand parts of it. However, she finds this new technology of e-books fascinating, providing an immediacy she wishes to share with her offspring. They, though, seem determined to remain hidebound – no pun intended.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />She wishes me to convey to thee, firstly, that she has long been a reader of thy works and in this story she reaped a rare and very unexpected reward – she sees in the writing thy growth and development into authorial maturity. Please accept her metaphorical accolades. She regrets that the laws governing the separation between thy plane and hers make it impossible to provide a more tangible demonstration of her pleasure in thy growth.<br /><br />My Lady Danu acknowledges her openness to a charge of hubris in her assessment of thy growth but she refuses to allow that to concern her. My Lady has read much of thy work – beginning in 2009 with the publication of The Omegas, the first in the Vanguard series. Between then and now she noted a growing depth and deftness of not just thy prose and use of language, but also in the complexity of thy characters and smooth glide of thy plotting. The unevenness of skill present in thy early work is not encountered in this novella. <br /><br />The Goddess Danu was surprised by the risks taken in this story, though they may be seen as small risks. To pen a main character – Koishi – who in the first page openly acknowledges he eats small dogs whilst still alive and loves them, is somewhat unusual. Yet, in the development of Kioshi’s character arc he is clearly likeable and assured. He is a mix of the whimsical and sardonic, the Other and the humanly sympathetic. In My Lady Danu’s opinion the wit and humor, as much self-deprecating as it is teasing, is what carries Kioshi beyond and above – untying him from the potential accusation of an evil, heartless dragon shifter who abuses small animals by sending them to other dragons as a gift and eating them as a preferred snack – and still alive when munched.<br /><br />The heroine interested My Lady Danu as well. It would be easy to see her as weak and timid, on top of being a poor sailor whose first appearance on the stage is heaving her guts up, and a somewhat naïve American traveling to Japan – the first time she left not just her country but also her small town. Intrepid and determined, she is as much a charming heroine as she is a chick emerging from her shell (and isn’t it well that Koishi believes eating winged animals, even if flightless, is unethical. Does he see them as kin?) By the end of the story, Sandra is a fierce and intrepid warrior; both in fighting for her happily ever after with Koishi and in helping him defend his gate.<br /><br />This story is light, humorous and a very quick read. It is entertainment. In passing it seemed, according to the Goddess Danu, Koishi's demand for Sandra's trust, even as he views her as a toy, became more repetitive and made up than a true hurdle to be overcome. My Lady would have enjoyed seeing more development of the moving past their prejudices and preconceptions. A picayune point and one that speaks to individual authorial decisions. My Lady picked up on it because she is considered to be hobnobbing with the hoi poloi by her offspring at times given her involvement with those upon this plain. <br /><br />My Lady also noted the denouement focusing more on Koishi evolving from only a warrior, self-sufficient as the gatekeeper, to daring to become someone defined by something other than his ability with a sword is nicely mirrored against his growing understanding of his mother, who it seemed he originally perceived as a spawn of the dark gods.<br /><br />In considering this review and how to convey her view, the Goddess Danu did some research into thy backlist and pondered how it’s evolved since the publication of thy first book, The Omegas. My Lady Danu hopes to soon hear of the publication of thy first full length novel, and meaning no prejudice, thy emergence into genres beyond the erotic.<br /><br />She bids me also relay to you her favorite line in the story was uttered by Koishi's mother after she confounds his understanding of her - "I have wars to start and battles to fight." My Lady wonders if Koishi's mother would be interested in assisting her in bringing her own offspring into line. It is my Lady Danu's belief that nothing says I'm serious like bladed weapons and fire-whips. She would also be interested to see just how Koishi's mother starts wars. It is the Goddess Danu's belief that one can never have too much knowledge.</span></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659066007012181200.post-89953616980290002612013-02-19T21:43:00.000+02:002013-02-20T19:40:50.575+02:00<h2 style="color: #073763; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Shamrock and the Rose </span></i></h2>
<h2 style="color: #073763; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>by: <a href="http://www.reganwalkerauthor.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Regan Walker</a></i> </span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Genre: Regency Short Story (appx. 14k words)</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>ISBN: 978-1-938876-41-7</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Publication date: 2/2/2013</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Shamrock-Rose-ebook/dp/B00BA2DUVS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361303493&sr=8-1&keywords=the+shamrock+and+the+rose" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon</a> <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-shamrock-and-the-rose-regan-walker/1114473457?ean=2940044292550" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>4 columns - recommended read </b></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<h3 style="color: #073763; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Blurb</span> </span></h3>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9n1qu3Lao3w/USPTnFxo3rI/AAAAAAAAABY/dGEDJkkwH_Q/s1600/Shamrock_COVER_smaller.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9n1qu3Lao3w/USPTnFxo3rI/AAAAAAAAABY/dGEDJkkwH_Q/s320/Shamrock_COVER_smaller.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Set
in London in 1818, it's the story of Rose Collingwood, daughter of a
baron, who wanted to play Portia in The Merchant of Venice. To accept
the part at the Theatre-Royal at Haymarket, the very proper young lady
assumes the disguise of Miss Lily Underwood, the actress. Who knew all
of London would soon be at her feet sending her love notes? One such
Valentine goes awry only to be found by the dashing Irish barrister,
Morgan O'Connell. Though he would have seduced the actress, Morgan must
court the lady. Given three choices much like Portia's suitors, can she
resist the handsome Irish rogue? </span></div>
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<h3 style="color: #073763; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Review</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Danu,
Mother of the Gods of Writing and Defender of the Truths of the Craft
of Writing, bids me, her lowly servant, to say unto thee, her humble
and gifted petitioner. that she regrets of the length of time she has
forced thee to wait upon her judgment. My Lady, the Goddess Danu, is
much puzzled by this world she finds herself in after her long retreat
from the affairs and business of writing upon this plane. Whilst
exploring the legions of man-candy on her favorite beach she found
herself accused of stalking and objectification – an accusation she is
still utterly unable to fathom. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">To
her further befuddlement, when she attempted to explain just who she is
to those who had presumed to man-handle her, she found herself forced
to reside in what she was told was the Goddess suite at the local looney
bin. She feels, given the lack of both amenities and servants, this is
a misnomer and she is taking all available steps to correct their
error. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Escape
was somewhat problematic but I am happy to report, My Lady Danu
persevered, as indeed thy own characters must to reach their desired
goals. Thus, having survived the harrowing ordeal, the Goddess Danu
had the leisure to read thy opus both carefully and repeatedly. My Lady
Danu admits freely she has not concerned herself with the affairs of
writing on this plain in many centuries, being busy with the deplorable
compositions of her offspring. Still, in that time, she has availed
herself of some of the masters of the Regency Romance Genre (Georgette
Heyer and Barbara Cartland), so she is not totally without experience.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">She
found much to like in Morgan O’Connell and was not ill-pleased with
Rose Collinwood. Given the constraints of a short story she understands
thy need to condense many things and to force elements of the plot to
serve several goals, not the least of which are the character arc and
the external plot around which the romance is woven. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Morgan
sets out to seduce the actress who has penetrated his ennui and,
through what reminds My Lady much of the machinations of Cupid when he
escapes the influence of Psyche, is led instead to the woman who
shelters behind her stage name as she pursues a path not open to a
gently bred female in Regency England – or anywhere else for that
matter, much to My Lady’s dismay. </span></div>
<div style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">In
a series of scenes and well-handled exposition Morgan’s view of Rose
changes and she herself is brought to point of seeing marriage not as a
trap or sentence to a witless life, but rather a different sort of stage
where her wits will aid Morgan and indeed all of his kin (and the Lady
Danu’s as she reminds me) in the cause of the Catholic Emancipation of
Ireland.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It
is here, to Danu’s delight, Ms. Walker shines as bright as any light
found among the Tuatha Dé Danann. Taking a piece of history and
spinning it like Rapunzel into gold, she built her story around truth.
The end of this story is never in question and as she began to read the
Goddess Danu found that troubling. But a closer reading of the story,
from Rose’s changing attitude toward marriage and Morgan’s growing
willingness to not let Rose’s 'Englishness' deter him from following his
heart, made clear it really is about the road taken and not the
destination when it comes to the Romance Genre. There will be a happily
ever after. The delight and enjoyment is not in that but rather in
seeing characters grow and persevere to attain that end state.</span></div>
<div style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">And
so, despite her questioning the purpose of the last scene - a view into
the intimacies of the couple’s wedding night – she enjoyed this story
and is happy to award the 4 columns - a recommended read.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659066007012181200.post-6493121523490708442013-02-18T19:54:00.000+02:002013-02-18T19:56:07.173+02:00Burn in Hell, A Jake Carrington Mystery by Marian Lanouette<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ODlGedDNvDAp5xc2lo3j8pwsmSP4EDcSvVFDqano0cCuEicSYdi00PxIFMbrSn4JyGDj9Z9rdhBuzXw5I9BCpovTjaXcrBued-cKQqkqQCwxSgSha0pUl_mAl8VlRW-eAIgJdrJPHoZ8/s1600/Burn_in_Hell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ODlGedDNvDAp5xc2lo3j8pwsmSP4EDcSvVFDqano0cCuEicSYdi00PxIFMbrSn4JyGDj9Z9rdhBuzXw5I9BCpovTjaXcrBued-cKQqkqQCwxSgSha0pUl_mAl8VlRW-eAIgJdrJPHoZ8/s320/Burn_in_Hell.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<br />
<!--[endif]--></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>4 columns: a recommended read</b></div>
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Buy it at <a href="https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=646&category_id=69&manufacturer_id=178&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1">MuseItUp
Publishing</a> or <a href="http://amzn.com/B00B39SYUK">Amazon</a> </div>
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MuseItUp Publishing, January, 2013</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Blurb</b></div>
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A botched missing person’s case.</div>
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A nervous mob boss.</div>
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Lt. Jake Carrington’s gut tells him Phil Lucci is being
cagey—with good reason. Jake can see this case has been mishandled from the
beginning. Sloppy police work? Or does Lucci's hand reach as far as the WPD?
It’s Jake’s job to find the answers.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Then Jake meets Kyra Russell, a woman with an unusual
job—she runs the local crematory. Despite the heated attraction between them,
Jake becomes more and more suspicious of Kyra. Her gambling problem has already
cost her a marriage and custody of her son. More than that, she also happens to
be friends with Phil Lucci. Kyra assures Jake that it's just coincidence, but
Jake's experience and his instincts warn him not to believe in chance. Can Kyra
be burning bodies for the mob? If she is, what will Jake do about it?</div>
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<b>Review</b></div>
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Having once conjugated complex Latin phrases with dedication
and interest, Airmid, Lady of Speed Reading, recognizes in <i>Burn in Hell</i>, a wonderfully enigmatic and pleasingly difficult
puzzle to be opened with anticipation and devoured with delight. The story is
at once interesting and engaging, alike in many ways to the healing lore Airmid
sought to learn from her father. We first meet lovely, red-haired Kyra Russell,
funeral director by day, gambler by night. The addiction of gambling holds Kyra
like the milky-white latex that sticks fingers together as one gathers
dandelion root. Kyra could pull away easily if she were determined, but she
chooses to remain, and even binds herself further by accepting an offer from
mob boss, Phil Lucci, to cremate the bodies of his hits. Kyra's rationale for
choosing this fate rests on her belief that her gambling debts will be erased
and she will receive large amounts of cash with which to win back custody of
her son, Trevor, from her vindictive ex-husband, Tom. On this same fate-filled
day, Kyra first meets Jake Carrington, luscious local man-of-law and defender
of vulnerable females, who is emotionally raw from recent abandonment by his fiancée,
Mia. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Like the vines of the Partridge Berry which intertwine as
they spread over the ground, Kyra and Jake cling to one another in their duress
and grief, each entering the relationship with uncommitted intentions that fail
as they find in one another the light and hope that comes from the promise of
healing emotional wounds. However, like an herbal remedy prepared by the
untruthful or unwise, Jake and Kyra's relationship is destined to prove deadly
as their enemies conspire against them. The climax of the story builds to an
intense ending that is logical, unpredictable and yet disturbing as a cruel
justice is served to the stubborn Kyra, and Jake is helpless to protect her
from her chosen fate. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Airmid, having lost her favorite brother, Miach, to her
father's anger understands the aching emptiness that Jake feels for his long-ago
murdered sister. Having spent a year and a day mourning over Miach's burial
place to no avail, Airmid sincerely wishes for Jake's sake that he could have
found a way to reach Kyra before it was too late. As the story progresses we
are also introduced to the mysterious Mia. Airmid wonders what Jake saw in the
maddeningly controlling and acerbic woman, who, after a mystifying argument
with Jake two months prior, held herself back from contact, as if Jake resided
in a patch of stinging nettles and she had no wish to traverse them and endure
the pain even though there was a simple remedy at hand for undertaking such a
path with success. Not having read the previous book in the series, Airmid remains
at a loss to understand Mia, or feel sympathy for the future relationship
between Mia and Jake. Some solid evidence such as a flashback or a short
summary with highlights and positive notes about their relationship would have
helped Airmid believe in Jake's need for and possible reacceptance of Mia.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Within the same root and stem, Airmid grew impatient with waiting
until halfway through the story when an actual scene between Kyra and her beloved
son, Trevor was presented. Airmid had some difficulty building sympathy for a
woman whose motivation for taking a dangerous path was to reunite with her son,
but who forgot to call him on the phone and when she did, made but brief
conversations with him, while she seemed to put grand effort into pleasing her
lover and mob boss, and fighting with her ex-husband. To be placed thusly at
the opposite ends of right and wrong would sober many a mother into actions to
reclaim a lost child, but Kyra continued to hesitate when opportunity spread itself
open at her feet like a bloom of Lady's Mantle. It would be useful in future to
take care to build up a solid foundation for a relationship that a character
claims as a motivation for her actions and choices. Many herbs for tea can be
grown in tame conditions just outside the kitchen door, but it is the wild
varieties, found only after a difficult traipse through the bogs, mosses and
rocky hillsides that make for the most satisfying taste and the most emotionally
true brew. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Airmid confesses that she sped read past the overly-plentiful
internal thoughts and questions presented by the main characters. She wonders
why the author found it necessary to use questions, dialogue, and direct
internal thoughts, often one after the other, and all aimed to present the same
information. Do mortal readers require such repetition? "Mortal readers
must not readily comprehend what they read." <i>I may never come to understand the minds of mortals.</i> Airmid
suggests that the author reconsider the value of using all three of these at
once. The glory and the beauty of the author's prose and dialogue is present in
such a high degree in this story that a modest amount of pruning would brighten
the entire garden of the scene and allow the marvelous words to flourish and,
like the tiny blossoms of yarrow, shine forth in glorious storytelling wonder.</div>
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Airmid was absolutely delighted with the antagonists in the
story from minor but critical characters Joe Dillon and Tom Russell to major
and treacherous adversaries, mob boss Phil Lucci and his partner Angelo. Each
of these characters was frightening in a realistic way that set Airmid's heart
going apace as if she'd sipped too much of the nectar of the Fairy's Glove.
Ex-husband Tom is thoroughly disreputable, lacking any sympathy and needing
none. Airmid only wished she might have been permitted to rejoice further over
the extent of Tom's injuries, but she would have settled for knowing that he
spent a long time in hospital, preferably with incompetent and clumsy healers. </div>
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The author presented a well-researched and enjoyable world
of work from the details of funeral and cremation practices to the particulars
of police procedure. Airmid questions whether this story can rightly be cast as
a mystery story since the reader was in a position of superior knowledge to the
investigating detective. However, that query does not make the story less
enjoyable. The author has an excellent ability to build and maintain tension
and to present a conflict that appears to have no possible resolution until the
very last moments of the story. Above all, Airmid closed the story with a
lasting empathy for Jake Carrington, a good and worthy man who is one of the
few who hold the ground of justice and mercy against a world of greed,
corruption and hate. Airmid plans to read the prior book in the series, <i>If I Fail</i>, and holds great hope of
reading more about the world of Jake Carrington.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17991293966767162240noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659066007012181200.post-73569083420017344012013-02-15T19:44:00.002+02:002013-02-15T21:12:50.308+02:00Ballroom To Bride And Groom by Kate Hardy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.katehardy.com/img/books/ballroom-to-bride-uk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.katehardy.com/img/books/ballroom-to-bride-uk.jpg" width="201" /></a></div>
<div class="book-info">
<b>4 columns: a recommended read </b><br />
Mills & Boon Cherish </div>
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Mar 2013</div>
<div class="book-info">
ISBN 9780263900941<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ballroom-Cindys-Doctor-Charming-Cherish/dp/0263900940/ref=la_B001HPYDI2_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1360955178&sr=1-2">Amazon UK </a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="book-info">
Harlequin Romance</div>
<div class="book-info">
Feb 2013</div>
<div class="book-info">
ISBN: 9780373178629<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ballroom-Bride-Groom-Harlequin-Romance/dp/037317862X/ref=la_B001HPYDI2_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360953513&sr=1-1">Amazon US </a><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ballroom-to-bride-and-groom-kate-hardy/1112482892?ean=9780373178629">Barnes and Noble</a></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;"><b> </b></span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;">Blurb: </span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;">TV
presenter Polly Anna Adams has spent a lifetime living up to her name. Suddenly
single, Polly hides behind her cheery facade and enters a celebrity dance
competition. Her partner? None other than gorgeous but wary professional dancer
Liam Flynn.<br />
<br />
Liam has learned the hard way to keep his heart on lockdown, but Polly's joie
de vivre puts a spring back in his polished step. As the competition heats up,
so does their unstoppable attraction. If only they could convince <i>themselves</i>
their hot tango passion is just for the cameras….</span></h3>
<br />
<b>Review:</b><br />
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<span style="color: windowtext;">Smile-and-the-world-smiles-with-you
Polly Anna Adams loves her job as a children’s TV presenter. Until her fiancé,
the show’s producer, cancels their wedding and brings his new girlfriend onto
the production team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Polly can’t bear
the thought of working with her replacement, so walks out of her job—even
though a recession means she’s unlikely to find another one soon.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="color: windowtext;">A door opens when her agent
clinches her a spot on Ballroom Glitz (think <i>Dancing with the stars/Strictly
come dancing</i>) partnering gorgeous ex-ballroom champion Liam Flyn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Polly fears her natural clumsiness will be
her downfall, but convinced the show is a stepping stone to another presenting
role, she’s is determined to think positive, try her hardest — and smile her
way through.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="color: windowtext;">Liam is equally desperate
for her to succeed. A year ago he lost his marriage, his career, his home and
his dreams when he was badly injured in a car accident. Experts predicted he’d
never dance again, but he’s fought to prove them wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His new dream – to land a job as a
choreographer on Broadway – is almost within reach, but first he needs to prove
himself by taking his celebrity partner all the way to the final of Ballroom
Glitz.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cue external conflict when
Polly’s lack of co-ordination and clear inability to pick out a rhythm seem
certain to jeopardise his plans.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="color: windowtext;">Both Liam and Polly share
the same internal conflict – fear of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>betrayal and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>abandonment,
coupled with a marked reluctance to trust</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="color: windowtext;">Due to his
ex-wife/professional dance partner leaving him for another man shortly after
the accident, Liam has decided he’s better off on his own and needs to hold
himself apart emotionally. When he finds himself strongly attracted to
seemingly capricious Polly, he hides his normally kind, supportive nature
behind a façade of cool professionalism. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="color: windowtext;">But Polly has a strong
backbone under all the sweetness and light, and won’t allow him to treat her so
brusquely. A clash ensues resulting Liam apologising to her and seeing her in a
different light.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="color: windowtext;">Liam quickly realises that
Polly’s super-bright smile hides low self esteem and is a brave attempt to fake
it until she makes it –in all areas of her life. She sees herself as far too
girl-next-door and clumsy to be a glittering ballroom princess and this affects
her ability to grasp the steps and techniques Liam needs her to learn. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext;">He fixes that by taking
their practice session to a private candle-lit ballroom in Vienna, where he
presents her with a beautiful frothy dress, then whirls her round and round the
dance floor in a floaty Viennese waltz, kissing her as they spin. The steps
come effortlessly and for the first time ever, Polly feels like the fairy
ballerina she always wanted to be as a child.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext;">They kiss all the way back
to the hotel, and Polly wanting him more than she’d ever wanted anyone in her
life, can’t resist his invitation to share his bed. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But by the next morning Polly has managed to convince herself that
once Liam goes to new York, there’s no way she’ll fit into his life. To protect
herself from the inevitable heartbreak, she makes the decision to push him away
now before things get too complicated. Liam’s disappointment at her reaction
leads him to retreat into cool detachment and re-affirm his vow to hold himself
apart..</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="color: windowtext;">The second half of the book
sees them attempting to focus on their career plans—plans that will end with
them living thousands of miles apart. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="color: windowtext;">Although both Liam and
Polly have apparently identical emotional issues, they deal with them in
opposite ways-- and it’s these differences that enable them to gradually change
each other. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="color: windowtext;">Liam believes he’s the only
person he can rely on and he can’t trust anyone else. Although this belief gradually
changes during the course of the story, he retains a strong sense of
self-belief which enables him to teach Polly to have faith in herself and
transform from clumsy tomboy to ‘gorgeous kittenish flirt.’</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="color: windowtext;">Due to a traumatic incident
in her teenage years, Polly has learned to look on the bright side, hide her
true feelings and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ignore the difficult
stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Embedded in this flaw is a great
strength – her warm, optimistic nature. And it’s this<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>which causes Liam to eventually see that keeping himself separate
and pushing people away won’t bring him happiness.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="color: windowtext;">I found the pacing of this
story extremely smooth – due to Kate’s short punchy sentences and very linear
character thoughts. (Each and every action was beautifully motivated leaving
the reader in no doubt at any time as to why the characters were behaving as
they were.) </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="color: windowtext;">My only quibble is some of
the scenes seemed a touch repetitive (practice sessions, dancing on the show,
facing the judges, basic dance tuition) but considering the setting of the
story it would have been very difficult to avoid this. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="color: windowtext;">Overall, this is a
beautiful romantic story filled with tender emotion, sparkling (and sometimes
very novel) dance scenes and an ending that will make you cry. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="color: windowtext;"> Athena</span></div>
<div class="book-info" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Athenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11480980875064652337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659066007012181200.post-7566883045661979982013-02-04T00:07:00.002+02:002013-03-01T10:51:29.595+02:00Time Dancer by Inez Kelley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdPxdDjxAap6NPk4FNWGUbid4lw4Vh9bZ16sql0sw0b6zCdgtJW_PhWp-Dmxq4dpCnUyucdyiPDiF7n06PEW0f97elKlCds1-tIXjqQASym8NE7fR4qxHDuVFHUvh5H4PtvQw5Uy4B75r/s1600/Time+Dancer+jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdPxdDjxAap6NPk4FNWGUbid4lw4Vh9bZ16sql0sw0b6zCdgtJW_PhWp-Dmxq4dpCnUyucdyiPDiF7n06PEW0f97elKlCds1-tIXjqQASym8NE7fR4qxHDuVFHUvh5H4PtvQw5Uy4B75r/s1600/Time+Dancer+jpg.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<b>Four Columns: a recommended read</b><br />
Buy it <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Time-Dancer-Eldwyn-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00A9V2X7S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359928764&sr=8-1&keywords=time+dancer">at Amazon</a> or <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/time-dancer-inez-kelley/1113984600">Barnes and Noble</a><br />
84,000 words<br />
<span id="yui_3_7_3_1_1359928926790_818">ISBN-13:</span> 9781426895050<br />
Carina Press <br />
<div id="outer_postBodyPS" style="display: block; height: auto; overflow: hidden; z-index: 1;">
<div id="postBodyPS">
<i>Book three of the Eldwyn Chronicles</i><br />
<br />
<b>Blurb:</b><br />
Everyone
has a duty in the royal castle—everyone except Jana Haruk. Despite her
promising magical bloodline, her gift is weak. As a Reminiscent Seer,
she knows only what happened in the past, not what will happen in the
future. When the crown prince's life is threatened, Jana vows to do
everything she can to help him—including asking the queen, a powerful
sorceress, to lend her some magic.<br />
<br />
The queen summons Darach, a
spell in human form. The arrogant and mysterious man soon discovers
there's more to Jana than meets the eye: she's a time dancer, someone
with the ability to move backward through time in her dreams. With
Darach as her anchor, Jana can explore the past and try to figure out
who is behind the attacks on the prince.<br />
<br />
Despite her attraction to
him, Jana knows little about the handsome warrior. The past is tying
them closer to each other with every trip, but Darach is bound to return
to his homeland when his mission is complete…and their time together is
running out.</div>
</div>
<b>Review:</b><br />
<br />
Eons ago, when Thoth had no interest in tans, he created a box and filled it full of tempting, precious things. Then he created a monster and set it to guard the box. To Thoth’s surprise no one tried to steal the box. The treasure was worthy; but he was the only one with knowledge of the contents. <i>Time Dancer</i> is such a box. It is beautifully adorned with a top-notch cover and enticing blurb. Despite being the third in a series, it is not ignorance of the other books that made it hard for Thoth to deem it a treasure beyond compare, but ignorance of a shared vision. People believe invisible words to be subtext—or the meaning beneath the narrative, but in the first third of<i> Time Dancer</i> the invisible words are literally invisible, as on page 31 when the heroine reacts without reason, moving a shared conversation to where none can hear.<br />
<br />
Thoth believes the author and editor knew the reason behind Jana’s reaction, but where there is long-standing, shared knowledge, sometimes there are blind spots. As a first-time reader of the Eldwyn Chronicles, Thoth saw a sturdy, well-built keep, but heard nothing. While moving the action is a good way to include information about the Claiming Tree, a suggestion would be to flesh out the buildup leading to Jana’s actions.<br />
<br />
Adverb confusion had Thoth searching for clarification in more than one instance although it was much heavier in the first third of the story. A thought, and one that Thoth spent much time pondering, was that perhaps the story hadn’t found its voice yet, shifting between the stylized language of fantasy and a chatty informality that came across closer to new adult. The story line solidified and grew more substantive with the arrow attack on the crown prince, which lead Thoth to consider the possibility that the awkwardness was in the repeated world-building. The decision on how much set-up to add in the beginning is always an issue in any continuing series, and created the impression that fresh eyes would add needed balance to the next book.<br />
<br />
Despite an awkward start, <i>Time Dancer</i> contains an enjoyable premise and Thoth found himself admiring the almost Christmas Carol-like sequences in which Jana danced through time. Expecting something more in line with Jayne Anne Krentz’s Gift series, it was a pleasant surprise to discover a unique spin on the anchor concept.<br />
<br />
The villain was excellent and drawn with enough angst and conflict to be an Anne Stuart hero. Thoth wanted more of him and his unique, two-sided issue. The ends were tied off neatly, but Thoth doubts this is the last of the Eldwyn Chronicles and hopes the next book includes a hero angsty and conflicted enough to challenge the current grandmaster.<br />
<br />
--ThothAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11167805977390429771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659066007012181200.post-2239044213291102792013-01-31T23:16:00.001+02:002013-02-03T21:51:49.897+02:00Birth of the GODS<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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In the beginning there was Danu, exhausted from her labors to bring the gods of craft
into being, and Thoth, griping about his tan. Danu and Thoth knew each other
casually, for all sun-lovers are friends under their godhood—when Danu said, “I'd
like to do something for Myself.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Being a male god, Thoth nodded his head and made a sound
that was later interpreted by the Oracle to mean, "Sure, Danu. Whatever
you say." Millennia passed and Danu would say, “My children are grown and don't need ME anymore. I enjoy
being oiled by my legions of man candy, but I want <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">more.</i> I'd like to start a review blog from a craft of writing point
of view.” Thoth knew his male attributes were getting in the way of understanding
Danu and brought in Athena, a female god. The goddess of Wisdom
<i>knew</i> the mind of Danu.</div>
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<br /></div>
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“She wants a review blog done through a craft of writing
point of view,” said Athena. “Create one! Or I’ll send owls.” Afraid of her high-capacity owls, the <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Lord of Khemennu labored in the cold, still night to bring forth <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The GODS of Writing</span>, a review blog done
from a craft of writing point of view.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">When morning
came, Danu, mother to the GODS, looked on his creation and smiled. Her smile
scared Thoth almost as much as Athena’s owls and he added<i> more</i> content,
beseeching the gods to release others to her project. His
pleas were answered in the form of Airmid and the guest pantheon. The GODS are coming.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Are you ready?</b></i></span></div>
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<![endif]-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11167805977390429771noreply@blogger.com0