Just a little corner for me to share my thoughts on writing, books, and other authors. From time to time I'll add book reviews, update my progress with my first novel, and host guest interviews with current authors. Thanks so much for taking the time to visit!
The day has finally arrived! As you may remember from my October MANs post, I have anxiously been awaiting the release of Treason the second book in the Grimoire Trilogy by S.M. Boyce and today is the day :)
In celebration, Boyce is throwing a release day kickoff party via Twitter from 10am-4pm (or whenever things die down after that). There will be great discussions, games, and even some prizes. To join in on the fun just head over the TweetChat and use the hashtag #TreasonKickoff.
In addition to today's festivities, there is a huge blog tour going on with tons of stops featuring reviews, character and author interviews, guests posts and of course more chances to win in giveaways. How awesome is that? Just head on over there to check the tour schedule and be sure to enter the grand prize giveaway as well. The tour will be stopping by Kayleigh's Spot on Nov. 4th for my review and a chance to win either the first book Lichgates if you don't already have it, or the newly released Treason. You don't want to miss it! See you at the party!
Six months ago, Lucy Donovan thought that being killed by a
drunk driver was the worst thing that could happen to her.
She was wrong.
Now, the person she loves most has been ripped away from her,
soul held hostage, and Lucy has vowed to stop at nothing to get it back.
Part of a new team with enhanced powers, Lucy and her friends
begin a quest to avenge the souls that have been stolen. Enemies of the
Patronus have united, however, and a spy from within the Patronus realm is
feeding the enemy their every move.
When a mission goes horribly wrong, Lucy’s soul becomes
compromised. It will take a strength she didn't know was within her to escape
the darkness, return to the light and avenge the soul she loves.
I just wanted to let everyone know about a wonderful charity event, Kidd's Kids that helps send about 50 families on an all expenses paid trip to Walt Disney World each year. The children selected to go on the trip are either terminally ill or have other special needs. One of the great things about this trip, is it includes the family, not just a parent, but the siblings of the selected children as well. It gives both them and the ill child memories that they can go back to time and time again when things get rough.
Every year radio personality, Kidd Kraddick hosts Kidd's Kids Day, which is today. His radio show, Kidd Kraddick in the Morning, only solicits donations one day a year to fund this once in a lifetime vacation for these kids. During the broadcast on Kidd's Kids Day, the show features the stories of the families that were able to go on the trip in years past and how that trip has impacted their lives as well as surprising some of the families selected to go in the current year.
Here's a video recap of last year's trip:
Every year as I listen to the Kidd's Kids broadcast on my way to work I have to pull over for a few minutes as the tears start to flow. The stories of these families are truly inspirational. To hear of the joy this trip brings to these kids is such a wonderful feeling. If you'd like to help by donating to Kidd's Kids, here's a video on all the different ways you can:
Ninety years ago, Gabriella di Luca promised to protect the family of her dying lover. She failed to keep that promise. She was too far away to stop the devil that murdered the eldest Van Helsing son. Years later, Gabby learns the devil has resurfaced. She arrives in Hampton, TX, determined to stop the devil before it can lay a bloody hand on the remaining three brothers.
However, madness is spreading through Hampton. She suspects the devil is using this madness to test a drug which has a side effect of demonic possession. Gabby rushes to end the source of the madness only to fall victim to it. For a woman cursed with eternal life, dying is no threat. However, Gabby must stop the devil's plot or risk losing her most precious possession: her mind.
About the Author
Noree Cosper loves writing about magic in the modern world. While growing up in Texas she constantly searched for mystical elements in the mundane. She buried her nose in both fiction and books about Wicca, Religion, and Mythology. Everyday became an adventure as she joined a group of role-players, acting out her fantasies of vampires, demons, and monsters living in the world.
She embraced her nerdom wholeheartedly.
Noree grew, but never left her love for fantasy and horror. Her dreams pushed her and her hand itched to write the visions she saw. So, with her fingers on the keys, she did what her heart had been telling her to do since childhood. She wrote.
I was thinking earlier about how many great books are about to be released in the coming months. There are several on my list to buy as soon as they are released, and this led me to a decision to feature one or two upcoming books on the blog on the first of each month. If there are several books I've been eagerly awaiting due to release on any particular month I might do do a second post around the 15th of that month. Feel free to leave some comments at the end of each feature (or even your own blog posts about the subject) suggesting some of the books you all are drooling to get your hands on :)
Now on to the first in the series, October's MAN:
Treason by S.M. Boyce
Release: Oct 27th, 2012
I have been anxiously waiting for this book to come out since I read the first in the series, Lichgates back in April. You can check out my review for that book here. After signing on with Immortal Ink Publisihng, Boyce recently re-released the first book using new cover art, which is even more awesome than the original (and I didn't think that was possible lol). You can check out that cover on the left sidebar.
Ourea has always been a deadly place. The lichgates tying the hidden world to Earth keep its creatures at bay—for now.
Kara Magari ignited a war when she stumbled into Ourea and found the Grimoire: a powerful artifact filled with secrets. To protect the one person she has left, she strikes a deal that goes against everything she believes in. But things don’t go as planned.
Braeden Drakonin can no longer run from who—and what—he is. He has to face the facts. He’s a prince. He’s a murderer. He’s a wanted man. And after a betrayal that leaves him heartbroken, he’s out for blood.
To survive, both Kara and Braeden must become the evil each has grown to hate.
Boyce recently posted small sample of Treason on her blog as part of the Look Challenge, and let me tell you, all that did was make me want to read it more. I seriously can't wait until the end of the month and have already set aside a day or two to devour this book. I promise I'll come back and leave a review on the blog!
Disclaimer: I did receive a free ARC copy of the book to review. However this did not influence my review in any way.
Here's the official trailer for the book:
Now for the review:
Wonderfully Written.
There's Something for Everyone!
In her debut novel, The Burning of Isobel Key, Jen McConnel transports readers to the beautiful land of Scotland where she shows us the lives of two different women with so much in common, yet separated by centuries. Louisa begins to feel like a complete failure when she quits her dead-end job right before the holidays. She has no idea what she wants to do with the rest of her life, and as her mother keeps reminding her, at 27 she isn’t getting any younger. To make matters worse, her best friend Tammy seems to have her life completely together, to include an amazing job that even sends her to Scotland on business. When Lou tags along she begins a spiritual and emotional journey that will change her life forever. Isobel Key was a healer who was accused of witchcraft in the 1600s and was burned at the stake for her crimes. Can Lou solve the mystery of what really happened all those years ago and allow Isobel’s soul to finally rest in peace?
This book has a little bit of everything all rolled into one. There is mystery, romance, a touch of paranormal/occult, as well as a bit of history thrown in for good measure. I loved that it was set in Scotland because it was an angle on witch trials that I hadn’t viewed before. I love doing research on the Salem trials (as wells as other American witch hunts) and never thought to check out any of the trials in Europe, so it was a nice change for me. The folklore and stories peppered throughout the novel were a great touch as well.
I found I also related to Louisa very well. A lot of her insecurities are the same ones I’ve faced for decades. The spiritual questions she faced are those I’ve often asked myself. But above all I can definitely relate to being close to 30 and still having no idea where you are headed or what you really want for yourself. And who hasn’t had a close friend that seemed to have it all figured out, the one we held a touch of envy because they seemed so perfect? The characters are very well written and have multiple layers to them.
Overall I loved the book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick read, no matter the genre preference.
