Published Date: December 27th, 2011
Finished Date: November 28th, 2011
Publisher:
Format: eARC via Netgalley
My Rating: 3.75/5
Blurb from Goodreads: "The choices I had made led to the moment when fate took over. I would learn a lesson I wasn’t prepared for.
And Death would be my willing teacher."
Five years ago Abbey Chandler cheated Death. She survived a horrific car accident, but her lucky break came at the expense of her mother’s life and changed everything. After she crossed paths with Death—by taking the hand of an ethereal boy made of clouds and sky—she would never be normal again.
Now she’s the target of Death’s Ravens and an innocent boy’s life is on the line. When Nate Holden—Abbey’s secret crush—starts to climb Alaska’s Denali, the Angel of Death is with him because of her.
Abbey finds out the hard way that Death never forgets.
My Review
A darkly beautiful, unexpected psychological thriller On A Dark Wing turned out to be. It did shock me, but in a good way.
Abbey and her mom got into a car crash when she was ten, and after the eighteen-wheeler crashed into them and silence descended, a glowing apparition-like boy made up of the sky and animal clouds adrift walked up to her. She felt warmth envelope her as he came closer, and when he stretched out his hand, Abbey almost took it, but then she heard her mother's broken voice call her name. Abbey pulled back, but Death was there to collect one soul, and thus when her mom died and she lived, Abbey took all the blame unto herself.
Now that Abbey's in high school and falling for her school's superstar, Nate Holden, her situation isn't much better. She prefers to keep a low profile, and she's a sort of outcast, what with her dad being a mortician and her living room and basement housing the newly-departed. Her only friend came in the form of the wheelchair-bound boy who was once a sportstar now turned outcast, Tanner Lange.
Abbey's been OBSESSED with Nate Holden for the past forever, and with his big climb up Denali coming up, she can't wait to stalk his progress up the mountain that could rival Everest herself. Tanner is a sort of a computer genius which he termed cyber-banditto, and he managed to snag this radio which could tune into the same frequency as Nate's team's. But Abbey forgot that the time has come for her and her dad to go to this cabin in Healy again to celebrate her mom's birthday and remember her. Well, Abbey throws a tantrum, but she went along in the end.
Strange things are happening aound Abbey and Nate, more so at the cabin in Healy. Ravens are appearing outside their houses, and whenever Abbey's out of her house or the cabin, she feels eyes on her. Usually when time comes for her father and Abbey to go to that cabin, she'll try to spend some alone time at this ridge near the cabin where she and her mother used to go, trying to remember the times before when her mother's smile would warm the peaceful, snow-filled setting. But this time, something's different. This time, when she looks up, dozens of ravens fills the trees surrounding her, and when she looks back, Nate Holden stands there. Why was Nate there? Isn't Nate climbing up Denali right now? Even though she's confused and a little unsure, she befriends him and lets Nate kiss her. But then she finds out that Nate did go climb Denali. But if Nate's in Denali, who's the one that she's spent hours talking to?
And when up on Denali, Nate and his friend gets caught in an avalanche, he's got a real chance at making it back alive, but Death has a funny way of working. And since Abbey's been on his shortlist since years ago and Nate has a special place in Abbey's heart, he has crossed paths with Nate already half-dead in the crevasse where he'd fallen, and Death may not want to let him off his hook that easily...
This review is so long already! Haha, ok, I'll try to keep it as short as I can.
I loved listening to Abbey's voice as she narrates her story. It switches occasionally to Nate's, Tanner's and Nate's mom's POV sometimes, but the majority is still in Abbey's. I loved the way that she was a little sarcastic, but not overly so, a little childish sometimes, but mature in others. Her train of thought and emotions were easily relatable and understandable, being a teenager myself. It was very realistic - her natural defiance/rebellious spirit towards her dad, her obsession over a boy (though I don't have one, but it's still relatable), her sarcasm and witty jokes. Her sarcasm really kicked a punch - it was SO funny! Haha, it made reading OaDW so very enjoyable. Example:
Earlier in the year, [Mrs. Akkerman a.k.a Teacher a.k.a. Akk the Yak] assigned a project to keep a daily journal of everything we learned in her class. I know, sounds lame, right? Well, it was crazy lame. I bought a notebook just for her class and started that journal, but on day one, I got drool on the first page from where I’d fallen asleep. After it dried, I wrote one line.
Fell asleep today. Will try again tomorrow.
By the time I turned in the assignment, every page had the same entry and enough dried spit to keep a CSI team busy for weeks. When she saw my journal, my teacher called my dad in for “a talk.”
......but Mrs. Akkerman ended up giving me a B+ anyway— for doing nothing. I knew other kids had gotten worse grades, despite filling their journals with enough excrement to fertilize the Matanuska valley.
She's not afraid of using a little cuss words here and there, but none too major, and never sounding uncouth or coarse. However there was one part that got a little too sardonic and emo, and her obsession with Nate got a little overboard (dreaming about him talking to and kissing you's fine, but don't do it so incessantly!). But it was just a tiny portion that I thought is negligible in the whole scheme of things.
Furthermore, I loved Dane's writing style, phrasings and diction. It was beautiful and mature in a way I find sorely lacking in many YA and some Adult Fiction novels.
The. Plot. Was. Amazing. And that's probably an understatement, but it was very well-thought of, very detailed, and it flowed like a movie. I can practically see the story playing out in my head! As she switched from Abbey's POV, to Nate's to Tanner's to Abbey's again, it never got confusing and it never dulled the suspense even though we knew things from both ends. It's really weird how she does it; It's like I know who's the "killer/criminal", but I still got so afraid and I still had to second-guess eveything! I thought that I've seen all types of YA, and normally I can pretty much guess the storyline and ending of a book, at least roughly, but I couldn't for On A Dark Wing. At all. It's extraordinary, I tell you. Really amazing.
The only negative point about OaDW is its slow pace at the start and middle portion, and since I'm not a fan of mystery and thrillers, I wasn't enjoying it all that much or overly-excited about it initally. It was only the humor and sarcastic wit of Abbey pushing me on. But I didn't need the push when it neared the three quarters mark. From there, it's heart-pounding action and cool revelation after the other. I LOVED the ending. One of the best I've ever seen. There was closure between the father and daughter, between old friends and new ones, and a beautiful new relationship forms. It was beautiful. Bravo Dane, bravo.
I was expecting a typical YA talking about Angels (suggested by the cover) and human heroine falling in love, lol I really did, but it turned out to be a mix between YA psychological thriller and mystery with tiny hints of paranormal romance (just a teeeensy tiny bit). Dane even addressed a very controversial topic about Death. What happens After? What happens WHEN you're about to make the transition? Other than the slow start On A Dark Wing will keep you glued to its pages and it will induce lots of emotions in you - an example would be fear (yes, I did feel fear. I read it at night and I literally got scared), and another is sadness, then contentment). It is a great book, and one that I will recommend to my friends.
*Egalley courtesy of Netgalley and Harlequin in exchange for an honest review.*
Random Musings:
I went to read Dane's acknowledgement page, and lol, it was kinda funny.
"To my agent, Meredith Bernstein, I have nothing but gratitude for your common sense and good humor. You are my guard ian angel in designer shoes.
Special thanks as always, to my crazy family and..."
And a VERY COOL quote from Dane:
"I want to say: laughing is a vacation where you don’t come back ten pounds heavier."
The Earth Angel's Cyber Monday Giveaway Blitz is here! And the prizes are awesome, so read on to the last full stop of this post, cause first, let's do some introductions first!
The man behind those great books:
E. Van Lowe!
About E.
E Van Lowe was born in the Bronx a long time ago, back in the days when children were supposed to be seen and not heard. Fortunately for E, his parents allowed him to speak freely. Unfortunately for his parents and older brother, E had a lot to say. He was speaking quite freely until one day, while his mother was trying to watch her “stories” (which is code for soap operas), she suggested that instead of speaking freely, he write all his important thoughts down. E wrote down many important thoughts, such as: crayons melt when you leave them on the radiator, or toy soldiers melt when you drop them in the muffin batter before mom puts it in the oven. His brother thought he was weird, but E was only ten years old at the time. What did he expect, Shakespeare? E liked writing things down so much, he decided that when he grew up, he was going to become a professional writer.
As a teenager, E tried very hard to be popular. One of the things he tried was hanging out with the “bad” kids. He encouraged them to write their thoughts down, as well. They explained that if they wrote down their thoughts it could be used as evidence in a court of law, and encouraged E to move on. But E kept writing down his important thoughts.
E wrote many short stories and poems all through high school and college. He entered them in writing contests, but the contest people didn’t think they were important enough. E was not discouraged. He kept writing.
When E graduated from Lehman College in the Bronx, he moved to Los Angeles. There he enrolled in the Masters In Professional Writing Program at the University of Southern California. It worked! While a student at USC, E sold his first short story to a romance magazine. His brother thought that was the weirdest thing ever. E didn’t care. He had become a professional writer. E told his brother quite eloquently, “nah, nah, nah!” and continued writing.
E has gone on to write for many award winning TV shows including: The Cosby Show, and Even Stevens. He also co-wrote the Academy Award nominated short film, Cadillac Dreams. Never Slow Dance With A Zombiewas his first teen novel. Boyfriend From Hell is the first in the Falling Angels Saga. The second novel in the saga, Earth Angel, will be coming out soon. It seems E still has lots of important, and weird, thoughts to share with readers.
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And his books:
Boyfriend from Hell
The Blurb
Fifteen year-old Megan Barnett and her single mom, Suze, have a special relationship—they are friends, close friends, who do almost everything together.
“But come on, guys, she’s my mother… Can I really tell her that while we’re snuggled up on the sofa watching Spider Man Three, I’m secretly undressing James Franco with my eyes? Of course not…”
The special bond takes a turn for the worse when Suze decides to start dating again. She hasn’t had a man in her life since Megan’s father left ten years ago.
Enter two mysterious young men, Megan’s new classmate, sinfully attractive bad boy, Guy Matson, and the dangerously handsome art dealer, Armando. Before long Megan and Suze both wind up in steamy relationships.
But neither of the handsome pair is quite what he seems. In fact, one of them is Satan, with his sights set on a new bride. Megan has precious little time to figure out how to stop him. If she doesn’t, either Megan or Suze are quite literally going to HELL.
and Earth Angel
Book 2 in the Fallen Angels series
The Blurb
Heaven Can Wait!
Just because Megan Barnett recently defeated Satan, has a fantastic new best friend, and has won the love of deliciously handsome, Guy Matson, doesn’t mean her troubles are over. Far from it. For Megan doesn’t realize it, but in her possession is a powerful weapon, a weapon sought after by both angels and demons and everything in between. They will do ANYTHING to get it.
In E. Van Lowe’s humorous, romantic and thrilling sequel to Boyfriend From Hell, Megan winds up in a gripping life or death battle to save herself, the boy she loves, and all of mankind from unthinkable evil.
Megan Barnett has recently defeated Satan, found a fantastic new best friend, and has won the heart of deliciously handsome, Guy Matson. But that doesn’t mean her troubles are over. Far from it. For Megan doesn’t realize that she is in possession of a powerful paranormal weapon, a weapon sought after by both angels, demons and everything in between.
In E. Van Lowe’s romantic yet thrilling sequel to Boyfriend From Hell, Megan finds herself in a gripping life or death battle to save the boy she loves, and all of mankind from unthinkable evil.
They redid the covers, and now, don't you think they both look AWESOME?
Lol, ok, now for the real fun.
GIVEAWAY DETAILS
E Van Lowe’s Earth Angel Cyber Monday Giveaway
Open to US Shipping Only
The Prize pack contains:
Signed copies of both Boyfriend from Hell and Earth Angel
Bath and Body Works Winter Candy Apple Gift Set
Special Delivery! This adorable striped mini mailbox holds travel-sizes of Shower Gel, Body Lotion and Fragrance Mist (3 oz. each) in Bath and Body Works holiday Winter Candy Apple scent!
BBW exclusive Winter Candy Apple is a mouth watering blend of crisp apple, candied orange and rich cinnamon spice
Includes a gift tag on the mailbox's red flag
Tin mailbox is a fun, reusable container
Over $20 Value
Fuzzy Black Winter Hat
Purple and Black Striped Fuzzy Gloves
Purple and Black Striped Slipper Socks
Bewitching Witch Hat Mini Notebook
Bewitching Book Tours Broom Pen
Jennifer Scales Novel by Mary Janice Davidson
Sounds awesome? Then all you need to do is fill in the Google Docs form below, and you're all good to go!
Want to up your chances of winning? Then head on down to all the other blogs hosting the Cyber Monday Giveaway Blitz for Earth Angel!
Ari’s life has irrevocably changed. Her time is split between dodging the political and terrifying machinations of the Sultan Jinn and The White King, reining in Charlie who has been granted a wish that could destroy him, and trying to navigate the choppy waters of her now very complicated relationship with guardian Jinn, Jai.
All of that fades to nothing, however, when heartbreak once again seeks out Ari and she realizes she can no longer avoid her connection to the Jinn world. Instead she must stand and face it head on.
Especially now a formidable sorcerer has discovered her existence.
To save not only herself, but the rest of the Jinn world, Ari will have to team up with The Guild of hunters to track the sorcerer down… before he finds her, takes her, and bleeds the power of the Seal from her to hold all at his command.
Scorched Skies, book two in the Fire Spirits series
Coming February 21st 2012
AHHH! It's so beautiful! I love the blue, I love the mountains, I love the cape, and of course I love the model too. Ah, gorgeous covers are a sin, seriously...
The winner of THE DEEPEST CUT by J.A. Templeton's paperback giveaway is..
#10-- Kara DiDomizio!!!
And the 2 winners for the ebook copies are..
#4-- Midnight (Chingz) and
#17-- Tasnim!!!
Congratulations winners! Emails have been sent out. All winners please respond within 48 hours before a new winner is chosen. Winners were chosen by random by random.org. Thank you to everyone who commented and entered the giveaway! And last but never the least, thank you J.A. for having the interview and giveaway on this blog!:D
You might want to check out the 5 giveaways that are still ongoing and they are all linked at the side of my blog--->
Ah yes, Thanksgiving. Nothing says the holidays like sitting around a fully decked out dining room table with mouthwatering temptations waiting to be gobbled up. Everyone waits anxiously for the big reveal… the turkey!
Lovingly prepared since early that morning, the turkey is brought out in a covered, silver serving platter. Aunt Edith smacks little Tommy's hand as he attempts to steal a candied yam dripping with marshmallow. The collective breath is held as the silver cover is removed… revealing… a zombie turkey!
What—what? That's right folks, this year, we are celebrating this American holiday paranormal style. And what says paranormal holiday better than a walking, talking zombie turkey?
This zombie turkey brings you important tidings of great prizes that shall be for all people… who participate and win of course.
November 25-27 you could win up to $200 in prizes!
Three days. Four YA paranormal books. Five chances to win!
And who are these crazy paranormal authors? Check them out. It's like the Nightmare Before Christmas, Thanksgiving style!
Emlyn Chand, author of Farsighted
"Psychic or not, you'll never see the end for this one coming! Emlyn Chand is pioneering 'the next big thing' for YA." ~ Emily Reese, author of Second Death
Alex Kosmitoras may be blind, but he can still “see” things others can’t. When his unwanted visions of the future begin to suggest that the girl he likes could be in danger, he has no choice but to take on destiny and demand it reconsider.
Monster Mash: Emlyn says… I. AM. WEREWOLF! And why's that you ask? First off, my name (Chand) literally means moon in Sanskrit. Next, werewolves are super cool--we can blend in with common folk, and then out of nowhere, kapow! I'm a werewolf, and I sure am hungry. Lastly, Team Jacob 100%. Now excuse me while I cock back my head and howl at my namesake.
Patti Larsen, author of Family Magic
"Patti Larsen is truly gifted because I read Family Magic cover to cover and I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for the next installment!" ~ from Goodreads review
Sixteen-year-old Sydlynn Hayle is the daughter of a powerful witch and a demon lord, but she just wants to be ordinary. When her coven comes under attack, Syd must face the fact only her power can save her family's magic.
Monster Mash: Patti says… I am a witch. Naturally. I weave spells with my words, cast incantations from my keyboard, mix up the very best potions in my cauldron of documents. You want to stay on my good side. Trust me. Unless you enjoy waking up as something... unnatural.
Kimberly Kinrade, author of Forbidden Mind
"Forbidden Mind is a thrilling, dark and deeply romantic read that had me sitting on the edge of my seat and eagerly awaiting the next installment." ~Refracted Light Young Adult Book Reviews
Paranormal teens with unimaginable powers. An evil organization with deep secrets. When Sam, a girl who reads minds, meets a boy who controls minds, she discovers her future isn't what she thought. Together they must escape and free the others… or risk losing everything—and everyone—they love.
Monster Mash: Kimberly says… I may look like a demon, but I'm actually a succubus. Enchanting and seductive, I weave stories that will fuel your passions and make you fall in love. But be warned… once you fall under the spell of my words, your world will never be the same.
John Corwin, author of The Next Thing I Knew
Corwin does a phenomenal job of including humor throughout this novel. This book was like . . . Ghost (the movie) meets The Host (by Stephanie Meyer) meets MIB (Men In Black the movie). ~Maryann, Chapter by Chapter
The afterlife is the last thing on Lucy’s mind until she and every other human on the planet drop dead and find themselves in the hereafter. Lucy drags her social life back from the grave and enlists her friends to figure out the rules of the afterlife and, more importantly, to discover who or what killed everyone and why anyone would do such a mean thing.
Monster Mash: John says… I am a ninja. After all, vampires are simply ninjas with fangs. They can hide in plain sight, right in your living room. Jump out and scare the wits out of you. Drop a smoke bomb and poof! All you’re left with is stinky smoke in your house and soiled underclothes.
The Prizes
Four $25 Book Entries: For each of the four books in the contest, you can enter to win $25 (up to $100 in giveaways!) Simply buy a copy of the book (each is priced at just 99 cents for this special promotion) and email the proof of purchase for that book OR submit the first sentence of the fifth chapter for that book to ParanormalTurkey@gmail.com. Winners will be chosen randomly. Each person can submit one entry per book. Here are the links for each book:
And... if you buy all FOUR books, you are entered to win the Grand Prize!
The Grand Prize
One randomly selected reader who enters to win all four book prizes (Family Magic, Farsighted, Forbidden Mind and The Next Thing I Knew) will win the grand prize of $100.
So go on now and pick up a copy of these fantastic paranormal reads before the zombie turkey eats you!
What? Still around? Then enjoy these fun book trailers and Paranormal Turkey Tour trailer. (Then go buy the books.) Also, leave a comment and help your favorite blog host win a $50 prize! (*Hint hint, guys!:D*)
Notes:
All winners will be chosen randomly using random.org.
Amazon links are provided, but books purchased through any online vendor will qualify with proof of purchase.
Guys, please leave a comment! The blogger with the most comments wins a prize too. Please help me out!:D
Holy shit. Seriously? Google is "retiring the service for all non-Blogger sites onMarch 1, 2012". Apparently, GFC and some other products aren't having their desired impacts, so they're doing this spring cleaning and are encouraging affected sites to promote Google+. Read more about it HERE.
Let me just say: This is stupid. I'm not even one of those so-called "affected sites", and I'm feeling so angry already! I've read this from The Fairytale Nerd, and I'm not sure if she's one of those affected, but she has 500++ followers and if she's one of them, then she's just going to lose them all!
As JoAnne from The Fairytale Nerd said, "blog promotion is not easy", and well, I'm just feeling so ANGRY and wronged for her.
Gosh, this is so stupid. Shall end here, lest I start swearing. *seething...*
I was reading a post on Veronica's blog, Mostly Reviews, when I saw on her side bar a book which had the EXACT SAME model on its cover as Parker Blue's FANG ME called THE LAST SLAYER by Nadia Lee.
Here are the books, side-by-side:
And another one that I've found quite some time back, but didn't see a reason to post it. But now, well, the reason has emerged. So, the next pair is Jennifer L. Armentrout's HALF-BLOOD and BROWN EYES by B. Alston and Quinteria Ramey.
Side-by-side:
Lol, I thought that this copying thing was astoudingly hilarious. What do you think?
Published Date: April 6th, 2011
Finished Date: November 24th, 2011
Publisher: Ravenous Romance
Format: eBook for Blog Tour Series: The Vampire, The Witch and The Werewolf #1
My Rating: 2.5/5
Blurb from Goodreads: Haunted by paranormal abilities that she can't control, and plagued by nightmares about a demon that seeks her soul, Lily Anima travels to New Orleans in search of salvation.
In the French Quarter, Lily dives into the paranormal world and enlists the help of an unlikely couple: a vampire, Lawrence Justice, and a werewolf, Trevor Pack.
As the trio encounters ghosts, voodoo and unspeakable evil, will Trevor and Lawrence be able to help Lily turn her powers into a gift rather than a curse? And when Lily discovers that she needs to lose her virginity in order to embrace her powers and get the demon off her back, will the twosome be able to survive as a threesome?
My Review
Let's get one thing straight - I didn't like this book. It's not that I relish in writing a bad review, but I have to keep to my code of honesty, so here goes.
Liliana "Lily" Anima has been moved from foster home to group home to foster home, and back again. She hope to find her parents one day, and dreams of the happy reunion over and over again. Even though her numerous foster parents discard her because of weird happenings that seem to revolve around Lily and the diners are all happy to see her go because of too many broken glasses, Lily has always harbored a tiny little flame of hope.
Trevor was getting his furry ass kicked by a group of newly-Turned vamps when one Lawrence Justice happened by and, philanthropist that he is, saved Trev's life. Lawrence is a 180 year old vampire who has seen much and experienced tons of heartache, but when Trev enters his life, they both feel a bond between them, a pull and lust develops.
As Lily nears her thirtieth birthday, her strange powers are making themselves more patent that she can no longer attribute all the strange occurences to coincidence. She needs to find out who she is, and how to control her powers, and who better to help her than 2 hunky Others who co-own a bookstore? But what if the truth that she finds out isn't all happiness and daisies? What if, on this journey to find her true self, she finds out that her mother is held captive by one of the most feared demon? Will she risk her two mates (yeah, the twosome became a threesome, as the title suggests) to save a mother that abandoned her at birth?
I'll name the two things that kept me reading this book: 1) This book's sequel is for a blog tour. 2) I liked Bacio's humor, some quotes that stuck, and the occasional bursts of French from Lawrence the 180 year-old vamp.
Humor example: "Something looked different about Law. It was difficult to discern, and Trev tilted his head, evaluating the vampire. He appeared harder, edgier, darker. Coming back from the verge of death could probably do that to a person, especially one who was already mostly dead."
Quote that stood out: "All she knew was that her body hurt, her throat felt raw and she desperately wanted to be back above-ground, feeling the sun’s warm rays upon her cold skin and basking in the attention of her two paranormal boys."
I liked the way Bacio phrased things; It seemed a little poetic, a little romantic, but in a modern way. And about the random bursts of French from our dear Lawrence the oldie vampire, I don't know why authors like to have them have this attribute that is to have a French background. The first few times where they go,"Mon amour" or "Ma cherie", I'll swoon and oooh-ahhh a little, but more than that it'll pass off as a cliche and it becomes, well, an unintended comedy.
Now, let's move on to the things that I didn't like about ANOT.
At the beginning, there was too much and too fast. Lily visited Trev and Law in their bookshop, and oh, they are so handsome and she feel a deep gut-level pull toward them that made warmth pool in her abdomen. Yeah, cause you get high everytime you see a handsome guy, is that it?
There were SO MANY flashbacks in between the CONVERSATION between Lily, Trev and Law when they FIRST met each other. Ok, I'll explain why I capitalized those three words. "First met each other", means that nothing much has happened yet, and I am still not convinced that this book is going to be a good one. "Conversation", means that they are talking, and still no action, which equates to boring. "So many flashbacks", not only was there no action and was boring, Bacio made the book's pace even slower by adding Lily, Trev AND Law do flashbacks by the dozens.
Apart from the exponential development of their relationship and slow pace, Bacio took it upon herself to repeat things that she has already mentioned.
On to the middle and ending portion of the book. Through this, I have learnt that all voodoo witches and fortune tellers and psychics have only 2 welcome greetings: "I have been expecting you..." and "Bout time you three showed up!" First time, oh cool, she's so good at what she does! Next few times, yeah yeah, I know. If you've watched Disney's adaptation of Hercules, you would be familiar with this scene:
If you haven't watched it, then nevermind. Oh wait, scratch that. If you haven't watched it, go watch it. So, I KNOW IT ALREADY! Move on!
Anyway, back to the story. So, give me something new, something cool and mysterious but it has to be original to stand out. The plot and pace was very steady throughout, which is slow, and which means no climax. No suspense. This was one of the most deterring aspect of this book that made me seriously consider not finishing it. And when it reached the part that seemed most like the supposed climax, Lily just scraped through fast and easy, no fight, no major obstacles, no nothing!
Usually one thing that strikes me the most are the alpha heroes or protagonist that exudes this definite aura that screams "male". I'll go hubba-hubba and all, but Trev and Law wasn't that typical males that I like. Law was a vamp who strived to help others and who preached about history and reminisced about his past love after he had sex with Lily and Trev. Wow really? So don't fault me for not believing Lily when she says,"Not only had she finally lost her virginity to two men who were sexier than hell and attentive lovers...". And Lily was all understanding and compassion that he lost his previous lover. Ok, that's totally normal. And I like my book boys bad; They're way cooler and mysterious that way.
And Trev. He was the one who had more potential, and he turned out to be the Sub in bed! Sub's a BDSM term, by the way. He was the Dom one with Lily, but Sub with Law. So no, he didn't make the cut for me.
There were a few minor loopholes here and there. Like after she up and left for New Orleans to find Trev and Law, she still had her "fuzzy pink slippers" to wear. So it's either the slippers magically teleported from her house to Trev&Law's or she brought it along with her in her luggage, which is stupid. Another one is that Lily trekked through New Orleans in a nightgown that hung in tatters, barefoot and dirty. I get that New Orleans is a city where anything is possible, but think about it. A pretty girl in little clothing in the cold, dark streets, what do you think will happen to her? NOTHING! No hypothermia, no rapist/kidnappers, no one who gawked and said,"Lady, you look like hell", and no one who was kind enough to help. She didn't cause an uproar, or spark any episode.
Lily's a nice, kind girl who became sarcastic in the face of danger. Weird, don't you think? She's normally so understanding and gentle, then when she was kidnapped, trapped, and bound in a cave, she started going all sarcastic in her own head. Hm..
Ultimately, this book didn't do it for me. The pace was slow, the characters were mediocre (tho I did kinda like Lily. She's pretty, cool, and powerful) and this one turned out to be an m/m Erotica too, so that was the big no-no for me. I prefer the usual m/f, or m/f/m, but strictly no m/m.
I've read the eARC of TANGLED TIDES a few days ago and I loved it so much! So, today, on this beautiful book's release day, I've decided to do a character interview with its lead female cast, Yara Jones, and an excerpt of TT's first chapter!
But firstly, let me introduce to you TT's wonderful creator:
Karen Amanda Hooper!
About Karen
Karen was born and bred in Baltimore, frolicked and froze in Colorado for a couple of years and is currently sunning and splashing around Florida with her two beloved dogs. She's addicted to coffee, chocolate and complicated happily-ever-afters.
Karen has been making up stories for as long as she can remember. In high school she discovered her passion for putting her thoughts onto paper, but it wasn’t until her late twenties that she wrote her first novel. Due to her strong Disney upbringing, she still believes in fairytales and will forever sprinkle magic throughout all of her novels.
And the birthday book:
Tangled Tides!
The Blurb
Yara Jones doesn’t believe in sea monsters—until she becomes one.
When a hurricane hits her island home and she wakes up with fins, Yara finds herself tangled up in an underwater world of mysterious merfolk and secretive selkies. Both sides believe Yara can save them by fulfilling a broken promise and opening the sealed gateway to their realm, but they are battling over how it should be done. The selkies want to take her life. The merfolk want something far more precious.
Treygan, the stormy-eyed merman who turned Yara mer, will stop at nothing and sacrifice everything to protect his people—until he falls for Yara. The tides turn as Yara fights to save herself, hundreds of sea creatures, and the merman who has her heart. She could lose her soul in the process—or she might open the gateway to a love that’s deeper than the oceans.
Young Adult fans of Mermaids, Selkies, Sirens and Gorgons will love this tale of the sacrifice one makes for genuine love. Love that could be lost at any moment to the ever-changing tides.
I was sitting at the nearby coffee shop waiting for Ms Jones when a few minutes after the pre-arranged time...
*runs into the coffee shop frazzled and fumbling to put her wet hair into a ponytail* Hi, Cyp! Sorry I'm late. I was dealing with a water sprite crisis.
Haha, nah, it's fine. Anyway, hi Yara, thanks for coming!
Thanks so much for having me. It's nice to be back in the human realm.
Ok, have a sit.
I've heard SO MUCH about you, Yara! From your book, from websites, from Karen's blog... Could you describe yourself and your story in 1 sentence? So that readers can understand you better.
Oh gosh, how do I make all of my craziness fit into one sentence? Umm, I used to be a boring old human girl that lived a quiet life on a small island, but my destiny was to become a mermaid and try to save a whole race of sea creatures.
Your big debut's today, right? What's it like knowing other people would read about your story and about your secret moments with your sweetheart, Treygan?
It's a bit terrifying actually, but also exciting. Some people don't like merfolk or selkies no matter what, some people won't like that the story is told by me, Treygan and Rownan *coughs and raises brow while looking at CYP and smiling* (*cringe* guilty!><) but we are who we are and this was how it all went down. Treygan and Rownan insisted they tell their own version of what occurred--especially Rownan. He's always whining about how he's so misunderstood. Our tale isn't for everyone, but if we make ocean lovers out of a few people then we'll consider ourselves a success.
Yep, you've officially Turned me. That makes one. So technically, it's a success already. Haha. What was your life like before Treygan turned you into a mermaid?
Quiet, and not much stress. But now that I've seen what exists beyond the human realm, my old life was very boring.
Yeah, I know what you mean. At least you get to try out the "high life", if you get what I mean. But if you knew Treygan was going to turn you then, and get sucked into so much mess and trouble, would you have willingly gone with him to that "safe place" he talked about?
Honestly, I don't know. That's why I can't be angry at him for making me go with him. Everything happened for a reason and if one thing had gone differently then the results could have been tragic.
So, did you regret what Treygan did?
No way. He did what he had to do. He really is a hero (and my personal hero) in so many ways.
Haha, yeah, he's cool. What do you like most about being a mermaid?
So many things! Obviously, I love all the new powers and abilities I have, but also, I love being below the surface. I'm surrounded by so much beauty underwater: plants, sea life, etc. When I'm stressed I swim with giant sea turtles or play with dolphins and manatees. They make me forget all my problems.
That's so unfair! I wish dolphins can swim in the air or something so I can "swim" and play with them here on land as well.:( Lol, but what was the hardest obstacle you've faced in your big adventure?
Leaving Treygan and Uncle Lloyd. That broke my heart.
Damn, that part was a real heartbreaker. I was so afraid for you and Trey! So now, what do you think of Treygan?
Well, Treygan means the world to me. I can't imagine my life without him in it.
And Rownan?
Rownan really is misunderstood. I tried telling him that he should've showed his emotions a little more in Tangled Tides, but he was worried readers would think he was a pansy. But wait until you read book 2 of The Sea Monster Memoirs. Readers are going to learn a lot more about Rownan and Treygan.
HAH, he? A pansy? Psh, that's like the last thing I would think of. What he did, he did it for V *ahem* ienna *ahem*. No offense. What did you and Rownan do together when you were together together last time?
*Treygan enters the coffee shop and Yara waves him over* Umm, let's talk about something else.
Ok....What do you and Treygan do when you're together, then?
*Treygan says hello to me and apologizes for interrupting, but tells Yara that Nixie is demanding they come back to Rathe right away.*
Okay, give me two minutes, Trey.
*Treygan nods and goes off to order a coffee*
This is what we do. We spend time running around and putting out fires most of the time. Don't be fooled by the end of Tangled Tides. We had to deal with a whole lot of drama, and we're still feeling the ripple effects. It's kind of exhausting. We really need a vacation.
I wouldn't want to think that your trouble's over, actually. If not, then I won't have any more mermaid books to read! Haha, no offense.^^" Any parting words for the readers?
Yes, thanks so much for all the love and support. It means the worlds to us.
Fire random questions:
M&Ns or Belgium Chocs? I've never had Belgium chocolates, so I guess M&M's.
Favourite "seafood"? Since I was turned mer, I feel kind of guilty about eating seafood, but I do love me some seaweed salad.
Favourite TV show? It's been so long since I've watched TV, but I used to love Grey's Anatomy. I totally related to the episode where Meredith almost drowned to death.
Thanks for taking time for this interview, Yara!
Thanks so much for meeting with me! If you ever wanna come hang out with us on Eden's Hammock, just let me know. We love having guests visit the island. *hugs*
I needed to choose between the angel and the mermaid.
“Alright, ladies, which one of you are willing to sacrifice yourself?” I asked.
The angel’s lips looked serious. The mermaid wore a mischievous smile.
Uncle Lloyd loved his hand-carved wall panels of mythical creatures, but the six-foot rectangular slabs of teak were the only things big and strong enough to protect the living room window. We used all the plywood we had as window coverings during the last hurricane. My uncle said he would replace it, but he must have forgotten. Poseidon was my first choice. He looked all tough, holding his trident high above his head, but the sea angel and mermaid were closest to the front door.
The wind howled outside. I said another prayer that my uncle would be safe. He was stuck on the mainland, but at least he had the shelter of a hospital, and hopefully they had given him his dialysis treatment.
I peered out the window to make sure the lighthouse was still shining strong. If any boaters were caught in this sudden storm they would see the steady beacon of light and take Karen Amanda Hooper
shelter here until it passed. They were my favorite kind of visitors. Sea dwellers always had such interesting and exciting stories to tell.
Mother Nature nudged me to choose between the wall panels by throwing a palm frond against the window.
The fronds slapping against the glass made me jump. The downpour of rain sounded like pebbles pelting the roof and porch. Only one thing left to do.
I chose the mermaid.
She would have to take one for the team while the angel watched over me and the house.
After some serious struggling I lifted the heavy panel of wood off the wall. It thudded against the floor, missing my toes by a hair. I gripped the edge and began pushing it along the tile floor.
“Good grief, you’re heavy,” I grunted.
I needed to get the mermaid outside to block the window, but when I opened the front door the wind knocked me sideways.
Thick, low-hanging clouds moved quickly, breaking apart then swirling together, forming constantly changing ink splotches in the sky. Rownan was out there somewhere, hopefully safe in the Keys. Part of me wished we could have been stormed in together, listening to the wind and rain while cuddling on the couch by candlelight.
No time to daydream, though. I had a home to protect. I slid the wooden panel a few more inches then stopped when it hit the doorsill.
“Come on,” I groaned, leaning into it with all my weight.
My flip-flops squeaked across the damp tile. My feet walked in place as I pushed, but the mermaid wouldn’t budge. Between my groans and the wailing wind I thought I imagined a voice outside—until I heard it again.
“Would you like help with that?”
I jerked my head up to see a guy standing on the porch wearing nothing but a pair of shorts, the wind whipping his long, dark hair around his face.
“Who are you? Where did—get in here!” I urged as a rumble of thunder shook the house.
He squeezed between the door and the mermaid panel, glancing at it as he smoothed back his wet hair.
I didn’t see any boats arrive. Did I read the reservation log wrong? Did my uncle rent out one of the cottages this weekend?
“Are you a guest?” I asked.
His cobalt eyes met mine for the first time. He looked familiar, but I couldn’t place him. Maybe his family vacationed here before. He looked about twenty, not much older than me.
“A guest?” he questioned.
“You’re vacationing on the island, right?”
“No. I’m not.” He nodded at the slab of wood beside us.
“Any reason you’re pushing that outside during a hurricane?”
“I need to get it on the porch to protect that.” I pointed at the living room window. “More importantly, who are you and why are you here?”
He stepped close to me and I backed up against the wall, thinking he was about to touch me. Instead, he grabbed the top of the panel and rocked it up on one corner. His wet forearms, biceps and back muscles bulged and flexed as he maneuvered the panel over the doorsill and pushed it onto the porch.
I’m not sure why I stood there watching like a helpless mute. Maybe it was the shock of seeing someone else on the island, in my uncle’s house, no less. The guy’s shorts were soaked and hanging dangerously low on his hips. Rownan would so not approve of my gawking. By the time I snapped out of it, Mr. Mysterious had slid the panel in front of the window, blanketing the living room in darkness. He walked through the open doorway, backlit by storm clouds.
“My name is Treygan. Do you need help with anything else?”
How did this guy end up at Eden’s Hammock during a hurricane? Should I be scared of him? If he wanted to hurt me or rob my uncle, he wouldn’t help me with manual labor first, right?
“No, that’s it,” I replied. “Everything is boarded up.” We just stood there looking at each other until I noticed the puddle forming at his feet. “Be right back.”
I left him dripping in the entryway while I ran into the bathroom and grabbed a towel.
“Didn’t you hear the hurricane warning?” I called over my shoulder. I raced back with the towel, but when I reached him I slipped on the wet tiles. He caught me by the arm and I blushed. I tried to cover my embarrassment by handing him the towel, but he just held it, not drying off or wrapping it around himself like I expected. He stood there silently.
“Um, you’ll be safe here if you need a place to stay during the storm.” I glanced around, pulling my damp hair into a ponytail and trying not to stare at his half-naked body. “If you need to, you could borrow some clothes from my—”
“Yara,” he quietly interrupted.
I stiffened. I could’ve sworn his blue eyes darkened and teal lightning flashed around his pupils. “How do you know my name?”
“I need you to trust me.” His voice was like a soothing rumble of thunder. “Let me take you someplace safe.”
Again, teal lightning bolts streaked across his irises.
I couldn’t stop staring at them. My head felt hazy and disconnected from my neck, but I nodded.
He took my hands in his and I didn’t resist. I should have, but I couldn’t. His words stretched through the space between us like warm taffy. “If you want me to take you someplace safe, you have to say that’s your wish.”
I had no control of the words that came out of my mouth.
My lips felt fuzzy as I spoke. “I wish for you to take me someplace safe.”
An invisible ribbon that felt like velvet wrapped around us, pulling us close and tying us together. The house and everything in it fell away. We began floating through a mesmerizing silver fog.
Were we dancing? We glided and twirled in different directions. The steady beat of his heart pounded against mine.
A scent of honey mixed with salty ocean air kissed my nose, evoking muddled memories from my childhood. Rain drops tickled my skin as the sound of howling winds and crashing waves grew louder yet more melodic. I held Treygan tighter, never wanting whatever this was to end.
Water caressed my legs, like I was sinking into a warm, inviting bath. I felt calm, peaceful, and safe. Treygan’s tranquil voice echoed inside my cloud of euphoria.
Karen and some other awesome readers are having this underwater web war on Twitter TODAY. Which I think is a little into the day cause Singapore time's earlier than US. You can go to Karen's blog to find out more. (Link's down there)
For your convenience, here's the quick rundown:
Karen’s story contains battling merfolk, selkies, sirens and gorgons. She says she loves all of them, but she wants everyone else to choose a side.
So basically, you just have to choose a side and, well, side with them. So, I'm gonna go with:
The Merfolks!
Not surprising. Lol. But they are the most magical and beautiful creatures that I've ever known. And well, a person with a big, fat seal tail who drinks blood isn't exactly charming right? Hey, actually selkies are just like vamps! Just without the outer beauty advantage that vamps have. So if you love vamps and hate selkies, you're a superficial freak. Just like me! Hah, ok, I'm messing with you.
Anyway, I love the merfolks. They're nice and kind and enchanting.. Just like me! LOL, ok I should cut with the crap.
Giveaway Detail
Karen is giving away a signed copy of her book and some other sea creature themed prizes. To enter, join the underwater web war on Twitter. Tweet which sea creatures you’re rooting for and why. Include the hashtag #TangledTides and you could win.
Karen will be on Twitter all day celebrating and answering questions, so stop by and say hello. @Karen_Hooper
“Tangled Tides is a delightful, smartly plotted tale of adventure, family secrets, and sizzling romance. I couldn’t put it down!” ~Rae Carson, THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS
“Tangled Tidesincludes a delicious romance that even the most dispassionate soul can’t refuse. I absolutely adored Yara and her strength in all things, including love. And Treygan? I seriously want in on that merman action. Blue has never been so sexy. Hooper has created a believable underwater world that will leave readers wishing for a tail instead of legs.” ~Elana Johnson, POSSESSION
“I adored this tales of sea monsters and forbidden love. Full of deception, romance, and intrigue, Tangled Tides is a story best savored but impossible to put down.” ~P.J. Hoover, SOLSTICE
If you're interested to find out more about Yara or Karen, you can find them at:
I am a little late with this (I think. I am very bad at getting news..Sigh, it's a skill, I tell ya!), but I have just found the cover for Allegiance by Cayla Kluver, and it is absolutely stunning. Seriously gorgeous.
Book Two in the Legacy series
The Blurb
Only I saw Narian for who he truly was: a young man with courage and an independent mind, and made to pay for what was outside his control. He couldn't help his past any more than he could help the way those intense, deep-blue eyes pierced me and held me captive.
An eighteen-year-old queen in love with the enemy as their countries pass the point of no return...
Bound to a man she cannot love, Queen Alera of Hytanica must forget Narian, the young man who holds her heart. For Narian is destined to conquer Hytanica at the behest of his master, the powerful magic-user known as the Overlord. Alera doesn't truly believe Narian will fight against Hytanica-until Cokyrian troops attack with Narian commanding the charge.
Faced with the greatest betrayal a heart can know, Alera must set aside personal feelings and lead her kingdom through its darkest time. And when all hope, will and courage seem lost, she must find strength and remember that even the blackest night must have a dawn....
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And if you haven't seen the first one, which is also very beautiful (and how could you not have seen it already? Lol, you're even worse than meXP Kidding):
But the model's lips looks a little unnatural, tho.... I'M SORRY! I know I'm mean, but oh well...
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A discovery that I've made -
Doesn't ALLEGIANCE's cover resemble THE IRON FEY series' covers?
Squiggly lines? Just a little bigger in ALLEGIANCE's, but it's STILL THE SAME! Haha, hmm, budget? Nah, I'm not against the covers - both are serious beauties - it's just a shocking realisation. I love Harlequin books, by the way. They have never disappointed me before - or if they have, then I don't remember, or it's negligible - and maybe I'll pick up LEGACY soon and request AL's ARC on Netgalley after that.
P.S. I have made another discovery: I am very verbose today.:P
P.P.S. I'm going to slow down on posting reviews for the rest of Nov and Dec. It's school hols season, so I've taken up language courses and well, I'm not a linguist so I need tons of practice.
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
I've just finished reading LORD OF THE ABYSS by Nalini Singh yesterday and I really liked it. So, here's a snippet of my favourite part of the book. Oh, be forewarned - this teaser is gonna be LOOOONG.:)
My Teaser
A strong hand clamped down on her wrist, his palm hot and rough, the brush of the razored points extending from his gauntlet an unnamed threat. “Where is Bard?” It was a silken question.
“Outside the door,” she said, realizing he was pulling her down.
She resisted.
He compelled.
Until her lips were on a level with his.
Her heart pounded hard enough to bruise against her ribs, but she couldn’t take her eyes off those sugar-sweet lips. “My lord?” Her voice came out a croak.
His mouth curved, as if he could read her thoughts, and she held her breath, waiting to see what he would do. Right then, she had the sudden, shocking realization that she might permit him any liberty, no matter how darkly wicked, if he would only allow her to sup at those lips, to taste his mouth.
“You smell, Liliana.” He released her wrist. “You must bathe.”
Ouch! Haha, hope you enjoyed my teaser. Thanks for stopping by! And remember to leave your teaser or teaser links in the comments section.:)
Today, I'm gonna be introducing to y'all someone very special, and she is the author of TWO MOONS OF SERA:
Pavarti K. Tyler!
About Her
Pavarti K Tyler is an artist, wife, mother and number-cruncher who has been committed to causing trouble since her first moment on this Earth. Her eclectic career has flirted with Broadway, Teaching, Law Firms and the IRS. Author of many short stories, Pavarti spans genres from Horror and Erotica all the way to Fantasy. Currently Pavarti is hard at work establishing her Indie Publishing Company Fighting Monkey Press.
Pavarti K Tyler's novel Two Moons of Sera is a Fantasy/Romance and will be released in a serial format beginning this fall. Her next novel Shadow on the Wall is scheduled for release in early 2012. Shadow on the Wall is Book One of The SandStorm Chronicles, the saga of Recai Osman — businessman, philosopher, Muslim and . . . superhero.
And the book that she wrote:
Two Moons of Sera
The Blurb
In a world where water and earth teem with life, Serafay is an anomaly. The result of genetic experiments on her mother's water-borne line Serafay will have to face the very people responsible to discover who she really is. But is she the only one?
And the VERY cool trailer. Omg, I think this is one of the most awesome trailer I've ever seen. The music was what we Chinese call, 一流. Lol, I don't know what's the English equivalent of it, just know that it's good.
My Review: 2MOS was a pleasantly quick, light, and sweet read. It got off to a slow start, describing the little cave in which Sera and her Sualwet mother lived in, their daily routines and stuff like that. And since Sera's world is confined to a cave, it wasn't very exciting. But her mother has her reasons to restrict Sera from wandering out into the world - Erdlanders are barbaric beings who experiment on the hairless, underwater creatures called Sualwet. A.k.a. Sera's mother.
Sera was a mistake. A half-Sualwet-half-Erdlander who was never meant to be, and it made her an outsider on both the Sualwet's and Erdlander's front. But amidst all this discriminations, Sera remained a happy and carefree half-fish.
Her desire to explore the world beyond the cave has been suppressed long ago, up until the day an Erdlander (or so she thinks) steals some papers from her. Now, that desire has been rekindled; And the more she spends time with that thief with his towering stature and intensely blue eyes, the more she longs to see the world. She remained faithfully by her mother's side, but when the Erdlanders' and Sualwets' war encroaches onto the beach where her cave is situated, Sera would have to leave her home and escape with her thief. Can she survive in a world where she's never stepped foot in before? And who, or what, is Tor?
Well, I can't get any more spoiler-y than that, because the book is only a portion of the whole story, which would be released in a serial format. I was excited to start reading 2MOS, and it didn't fail me. There was action, and a teeeensy weensy bit of a hint of romance (or at least I'm hoping that it is), and a little bit of magic thrown into the mix. I've never really been a fan of Sci-fi/Fantasy, but I think I'll make an exception for 2MOS.
Tyler's words and phrasings are very unique and, to me, very cool. An example would be:
"But don't let that fool you; they don't possess the wisdom of the sea, only the cruelty of the sun."
Doesn't that just scream poetry/philosophy? It's just so freaking cool.
Just a little kink that bugged me. Sera's attraction to her thief, Torkek, or Tor for short, was a little too quick off the mark. I mean, he stole something that her mother gave her which was quite precious, but along with the "Oh no, give it back" feeling, she was also a little intrigued and attracted to him. Intrigued, yeah I guess I understand that that's what isolation will do to you, but attracted? Hm, that's debatable, I guess. But other than that, the friendship between the two was very pure and innocent.
I'd recommend this one to the lower age range of the YA genre.
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During the entire month of November, Pavarti's going to be having a reader's giveaway for EVERYONE who reads any posts about 2MOS during November. It has been posted on HER BLOG since November 1st to correspond with the launch.
As a thank you to all of her amazing readers and supporters, Pavarti's hosting a month long rafflecopter giveaway on her blog! Enter for your chance to win:
