Sunday, August 22, 2010

Parcels Ahoy! from Teen Books with a Bite!

I had heard a lot about Leanna Renee Hieber's The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker and was eager to read it.

A while a ago I was lucky enough to win it from Mari Mancusi's blog Teen Books with a Bite.


It starts with the drawing together of six teenagers in Victorian London. They take part in a mysterious, mythical ceremony which they do not fully understand and gain magical powers that will enable them to battle threats from the spirit world. They are also given vague hints about a 7th who will join them later at an unspecified time.

Then we are transported 20 years later to a time when the six are mature adults, showing stress from their constant devotion to battles with the spirit world, and Miss Percy Parker arrives at the Athens Academy.

Our heroine Percy Parker is timid and shy without being irritatingly mousy. She also sees, and communicates with, ghosts. She is a refreshing change from the usual kiss-ass heroines.

Professor Rychman is a little more of a cliche but who could resist Alexi Rychman’s Gothic good looks? And the strained friendship between him and Rebbecca is well depicted.

In the first two thirds of the story the characters of the other five members of The Guard are strongly expressed and differentiated enough that even in the crescendo of action towards the conclusion they did not lose their individuality.

Time is taken to develop characters and relationships. The passion of romance was subtly portrayed in tune with the Victorian setting but with such constant restraint even a gentle kiss can be deliciously sensual. Then the last third draws the story to a dramatic, face-paced close with eminent danger, emotional turmoil and galloping horses which left me at times breathless, at others distraught. I must admit I feared for lives as I impatiently turned the pages.

The conclusion was accomplished and convincing in a satisfyingly Victorian Gothic manner.


I look forward to reading the second book in the series:

For more information and a lot of fun go to Leanna Renee Hieber's website.


Vintage & Steampunk

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Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Tell Me a Secret - Free Serialized Podcast!!

A couple of weeks ago I posted the trailer for TELL ME A SECRET by Holly Cupala Starting Today (Wednesday 18th August) Tell Me a Secret is being serialized as a free podcast at tellmeasecretnovel.com

The entire novel is read by award-winning actress Jenna Lamia (The Adoration of Jenna Fox, The Chosen One), and 2-3 chapters are being released per week to roughly follow the timeline of the novel.

The chapters will be available for a limited time, plus there will be a special edition full version available.

To sign up for the podcast click on over to the gorgeous Tell Me a Secret website.

(Just click on 'audiobook' for the podcast.)

Monday, August 16, 2010

Ex Libris' 500 Followers Birthday Giveaway!

Ex Libris is celebrating 500 followers as well as her birthday and half year blogoversary!

The winner will chose from a great range of books.

Hop over to Ex Libris to enter the giveaway.

This giveaway is international and ends September 13th

Music to My Ears!

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Wednesday, August 11, 2010

In Which a Girl Reads' Very Humongous Blogoversary Contest

in which a girl reads is celebrating her first blogoversary with a contest.

Three winners will get to choose from a pile of fantastic books.

A sample of some of the books in the pile

Follow me over to In Which a Girl Reads and enter the contest.

This contest is international and ends September 19th.

Monday, August 09, 2010

Thursday, August 05, 2010

Parcels Ahoy! from Literary Escapism

Reader be warned!!

Although I will keep this blog post PG the book itself is most definitely for over 18s only.

It is not suitable for minors, members of the anti-smut brigade or people suffering from high blood pressure or a heart condition!

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A little while ago I won an e-book from Literary Escapism. LE is an interesting website that reviews a wide range of fantasy and paranormal fiction.

I had never read paranormal erotica so when LE interviewed Teal Ceagh my curiousity was ignited and I was lucky enough to win one of her e-books: Beth’s Acceptance.

Beth's Acceptance by Teal Ceagh

As I said this was my first encounter with erotic fiction and within the first pages there were such steamy scenes I was glad to be in a room on my own. And it got steamier and steamier....

The storyline doesn’t have a lot of room to develop in such a short novella and soon our main protagonist, a human woman named Beth, becomes aware that there are paranormal creatures in this world ,including vampires, elfs and some other scary beasts who attack her.

She also discovers she is part of an ancient prophecy and as part of this prophecy she develops a connection with two mysterious and gorgeous men who until now have been elusive, if arousing, figures in her life. Normally they would be enemies and the relationship taboo but they are drawn together by the prophecy and strengthen their connection in several rather inventive, erotic scenes.

Due to the shortness of the novella I found the storyline a little thin with minimal character and plot development and an unresolved ending which left me stranded. However the erotic scenes were definitely Teal Ceagh’s forte. Hot and inventive she doesn’t weigh down the scene with too much flowery prose or idle chit-chat but creates explicit interactions that leave little to the imagination.

Wednesday, August 04, 2010

Summer Saradise 7 ARC giveaway - Goes International

Yes Sara at Babbling Flow as extended the deadline of her Summer Saradise Giveaway and is making it international! - Thank you, Sara.

There are 7 fantastic ARCs up for grabs

Rush over to Babbling Flow to enter the giveaway

This giveaway is international and ends August 11th

TELL ME A SECRET by Holly Cupala

You can buy this book here

or

Win swag at the launch party!