Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Cover Reveal: Endure {Book #4} by M.R. Merrick

Available June 5th 




YA Urban Fantasy
Final book in The Protector Series

Wrapped in darkness and woven with defeat, every action Chase has taken since being exiled from the Circle has been met with a devastating response. Now he’s been burdened with a quest that seems impossible, and he needs to evolve into something more—something greater than he ever thought he could be.

Armed with magic, friendship, and an unbreakable will, Chase must build an army and find a weapon capable of defeating the ultimate evil. But he knows that nothing great comes without sacrifice. Blessed by the very gods who have abandoned him and carrying the fate of all the worlds on his shoulders, Chase Williams is about find out just how much one man can endure.


My Opinion

First I just want to say that I could not be more excited for this cover reveal and release!! As you all know The Protector Series is my favorite, and every one of the books have made it on my list of favorite covers, so when I was asked if I wanted to participate in the cover reveal for this, the final book in my favorite series, of course the answer was HELL YES!!!

And let me just say that this cover is now my all time favorite cover, EVER! Talk about serious cover love! This cover just oozes magic! It is dark and light all at the same time and I love how all the elements seem to blend together, this cover alludes to so much and I for one can't wait to get my hands on a paperback copy and to tear open it's cover and see what awaits me inside! This cover already promises an epic out of this world adventure! Come on, just look at it, tell me you're not drooling! (sorry for all the exclamation points, I am a little excited) EEP!!!


 Book 1 - Exiled is FREE!




About the author:

M.R. Merrick is a Canadian writer, and author of Exiled, the first installment in The Protector Series. Having never traveled, he adventures to far off lands through his imagination and in between cups of coffee. As a music lover and proud breakfast enthusiast, he's usually found at the computer, between a pair of headphones and in front of a large bowl of cereal.

Monday, April 29, 2013

Daughters of the Sea by Kristen Day Blog Tour: {Guest Post + Giveaway}


Well today I am very happy to welcome you all to my 2nd stop on the Daughters of the Sea Blog Tour!! Earlier this week I had the great pleasure of reviewing Forsaken book #1 in the series, you can see that post  by clicking on the title of the book. And today I am really excited to welcome the great author of this wonderful series, that I have to say has quickly won my heart; Kristen Day!! 

So I will turn my blog over to her and let her tell you the story behind her soundtrack for Forsaken, enjoy it, I know I did!


                Like most authors, music has a profound effect on my writing process and creative juices but not in the traditional sense.  I don’t listen to music while neither writing, nor do I base any characters on the bands or musicians that I fangirl over.  For me music is much more sacred; its purpose stronger than any other influence vying for my attention.  Music is my portal.

                My entire life music has been my safe place.  A place I could fade into and lose myself.  As someone who has seen the perilous evil this world has to offer, I needed that place to make sense of my pain, my anger, my hatred, and my sorrow.  It was there that I could allow those feelings to emerge and be contained.  It was there that I learned how truly devastating the effects of darkness can be.  But it was also there that I turned that pain into strength. 

                Throughout the years I’ve had several musicians that gave me that secret world to disappear into, but Evanescence and Sarah McLachlan are the main two.  Now I use those same songs as a tool - to take me back to how I felt.  With my mind and heart immersed in that world of emotions, I can channel them into my characters and allow them to come to life through their words.  So, I want you to open up your heart and allow yourself to fall away into the soundtrack I’ve chosen for Forsaken.  Each song brings to mind a certain scene in the book and conjures the feelings swirling within Stasia - good and bad.  See if you can match the song to the scene, or better yet, just listen and enjoy your musical journey through the world of Forsaken!


                                                

Forsaken (Daughters of the Sea, #1)  Awaken (Daughters of the Sea, #2)  Chosen (Daughters of the Sea #3)

Find Forsaken:  Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Find Awaken: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Find Chosen: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

About the Author


I am a southern belle at heart with a crazy streak that desperately tries to escape at every opportunity. I love all things nostalgic, rustic, and quirky. I've been told I see the world through rose-colored glasses, but I prefer to think of them as kaleidoscope glasses - swirling and morphing reality into something I can digest (who hasn't pretended those pasty lima beans were really kiwi strawberry jelly beans?).

I am the author of the DAUGHTERS OF THE SEA trilogy, which includes FORSAKEN, AWAKEN, and CHOSEN (Winter 2012). I love all books, but really enjoy writing young adult, paranormal romances. I've loved to write for as long as I can remember. My first published work was my poem RED in second grade (you guessed it - it was a poem about the color red - life altering, I know) that won me 5 gold stars and a spot in my elementary school's poetry book. That's when my addiction to the written word officially began. I was the only kid in fifth grade that actually enjoyed diagramming sentences. Go ahead and laugh – it’s okay.

When I'm not writing I'm making jewelry, painting, drinking sweet tea, watching the discovery channel, or going on random adventures in the mountains of North Carolina with my amazing husband. I graduated from Appalachian State University and dream of becoming a full time novelist.

Stalk Her: Website |  Twitter |  Goodreads

It's a Giveaway!!

Author is giving away:
A Finn necklace
Assorted swag made by Cassie’s Crafty Creations
An ebook set of the entire trilogy
Signed paperback set of the entire trilogy


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bout of Books 7.0


Bout of Books

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 13th and runs through Sunday, May 19th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 7.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team


I am so excited to be doing this post! This last January was my first Bout of Books and I am just absolutely thrilled to be participating again! I didn't reach all my goals last time, but I did meet a ton of new bloggers and read some great books, and I know that this Bout of Books will be no different! Since I didn't reach all of my goals last time, I have decided to leave most of my goals the same.

My Goals: 

-Read at least 8 books
-Review all 8 books
-Participate in as many Twitter chat's as time will allow (These are so much fun, these are a serious must)
-Participate in 2 challenges

The books I Plan to Read:

Darkness of Light by Stacie Marie Brown
Miss Me Not by Tiffany King
Thereafter by Terri Bruce
ReVamped by Ada Adams
ReAwakened by Ada Adams
The Book of Lost Souls by Michelle Muto
Forest of the Forsaken by Joanne Brothwell
Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Can't wait to get started! Bout of Books here I come!!! 


Sunday, April 28, 2013

Daughters of the Sea Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway


Welcome to my 1st stop on Daughters of the Sea Tour!! I am really excited about this because I have two great stops for this tour!! This one is my review of book 1, but on Tuesday I will have a great guest post by the author Kristen Day, which is awesome; you will definitely want to check it out and don't forget to enter the giveaway at the bottom put on by the awesome author!!

Synopsis Book 1
Once you’ve been touched by darkness, it never leaves you…

Abandoned by her parents as an infant; seventeen year old Hannah spent her childhood wading through countless foster families until being adopted by the Whitmans three years ago.

Unfortunately, Atlanta’s high society wasn’t quite ready for Hannah…or the strange events that plague her.
Chilling visions of murder, unexplained hallucinations, and a dark, mysterious guy who haunts her nightmares all culminate to set in motion a journey of self-discovery that will challenge everything she’s ever believed; not to mention her sanity.

Sent to live at The House of Lorelei on Bald Head Island, NC for ‘kids like her’, Hannah quickly realizes things are not what they seem. Her fellow ‘disturbed’ teens are actually the descendents of mythical Sea Gods and Goddesses. And so is she.

But when Finn, the ghost from her dreams, appears in the flesh; her nightmares become reality and her dark visions begin coming true. Inexplicably drawn to him, she can’t deny the dangerous hold he has on her heart. The deadly secrets he harbors will ultimately test her courage and push the boundaries of her love.

She must decide if she is ready to embrace the ancient legend she is prophesized to be a part of. The fate of all the descendents will forever depend upon it.
Helpful Links:  Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Synopsis Book 2
The sacrifices we make have the power to shift the very fabric of who we are, and ultimately who we are meant to be…

After learning of her true destiny as the intended Leader of the Tydes, Anastasia Whitman must now embark on a perilous quest to the Underworld before the age of eighteen in order to plant the seed of immortality and complete her essence to become a true Sea Goddess. But before she can make her legendary journey, an unexpected new student transfers to Lorelei; initiating a sequence of events that will unravel Stasia’s new life, and test the boundaries of her relationship with the mysterious, dark, and sexy Finn Morrison. The line between the Underworld and the Living begins to blur as gruesome ghosts, morbid reveries, and pure evil haunt her waking hours as well as her sanity. Once the details of Finn’s own startling destiny are revealed, the dangerous secrets he’s been hiding will threaten the very love Stasia believed to be indestructible. As time begins to run out, she will be forced to choose between the one she loves and the destiny she cannot escape.
Helpful Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Synopsis Book 3
The essence of who we are lies not in what we have, but in what we are willing to give up. Because in the end, Time and Tide wait for no one.

After sacrificing all that she had, the evil princess of the Underworld is still successful in her bid to tear Finn from Stasia’s life. In the midst of her search to reclaim him, Stasia is summoned to the island nation of Cyprus to take part in an age-old ritual; unveiling the missing pieces of her ancestry and re-igniting an ancient war. As she struggles to both save Finn’s soul and free Carmen’s mind, Stasia’s bravery and determination will be pushed to its breaking point. A dark storm is forming on the horizon, and the forces who are vying to destroy her may be much closer than she thinks. Destiny weaves a sticky web of evil, betrayal, and revenge that can only be undone by the purity of love and the soul’s unyielding will to survive. In the last installment of the Daughters of the Sea trilogy, the past will collide with the present as Stasia’s future hangs in the balance. The prophecy that paved the way for her new life may indeed be the very thing that strips her of the ones she loves the most.
 Helpful Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

*Received a free copy in exchange for an honest review

My Review of Forsaken Book #1

Hannah is not your typical Atlanta high society girl, she has nightmares, black outs and is the Whitman's charity case. When Hannah passes out during a high society event, her doctor's decide it is better to send her away to a special boarding school where she can be with teens who are like her. As Hannah adjusts to life at her new school, she discovers that there is more to her than meets the eye as well as those around her, and as she tries to unravel the truth of who she is, she inadvertently puts her life in danger. 

From the minute that I picked up Fosaken I was in love with Hannah. She was strong willed and refused to conform to the high society that surrounded her, she just wanted people to not think she was a freak. But unfortunately it wasn't in the cards for her, well at least not while she was in Atlanta. But once Hannah, or Anastasia as she is called now that she is at The House of Lorelei, is no longer a freak and finally feels like she is at home. 

Once at The House of Lorelei, Forsaken moved fairly quickly as the truth of who Anastasia was began to unravel. I absolutely loved the pacing, as there was never a dull moment. And I absolutely loved the characters and the world that Kristen Day created. I wanted to live in that world. I have read many books that focus on creatures of fantasy, but I haven't read many books that focus on fantasy creatures of the sea, who were not mermaids and this book made me fall in love with them!

Nothing in Kristen Day's world was unnecessary as each character and everything in the world tied directly into the story with nothing being revealed until absolutely necessary. Which left me frustrated at times, as I am impatient and didn't want to wait for the author to reveal the stories secrets. I felt strong ties to all the characters and I thought that they all felt real, and I could envision each and every one of them in a school setting as they hung out in their little cliques. Anastasia's group of friends kept me laughing throughout the book and Finn kept me drooling, questioning and curious as he was so dark and mysterious all the time, and always seemed to know more about Anastasia than she did. 

I loved everything about Forsaken and I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a fresh look on the world of fantasy, with characters that are real, that come with dark pasts and that make you feel. Forsaken will take you on a crazy adventure through gods and goddesses and will introduce you to a side of the sea that you have never seen!



"When all of your defenses are stripped away, the only thing left is surrender. Only then can you see the true size of the burden a person carries. Only then can you see the toll it has taken on their soul." (Kindle, loc. 2241). 

There are so many beautiful moments in this book as Kristen Day has a wonderful way with words. This is just one moment of many deep and tender moments that can be found throughout this book. 


About the Author

I am a southern belle at heart with a crazy streak that desperately tries to escape at every opportunity. I love all things nostalgic, rustic, and quirky. I've been told I see the world through rose-colored glasses, but I prefer to think of them as kaleidoscope glasses - swirling and morphing reality into something I can digest (who hasn't pretended those pasty lima beans were really kiwi strawberry jelly beans?).
 I am the author of the DAUGHTERS OF THE SEA trilogy, which includes FORSAKEN, AWAKEN, and CHOSEN (Winter 2012). I love all books, but really enjoy writing young adult, paranormal romances. I've loved to write for as long as I can remember. My first published work was my poem RED in second grade (you guessed it - it was a poem about the color red - life altering, I know) that won me 5 gold stars and a spot in my elementary school's poetry book. That's when my addiction to the written word officially began. I was the only kid in fifth grade that actually enjoyed diagramming sentences. Go ahead and laugh – it’s okay.
 
When I'm not writing I'm making jewelry, painting, drinking sweet tea, watching the discovery channel, or going on random adventures in the mountains of North Carolina with my amazing husband. I graduated from Appalachian State University and dream of becoming a full time novelist.

Stalk Her: Website / Twitter / Goodreads

It's a Giveaway
Author is giving away:
A Finn necklace
Assorted swag made by Cassie’s Crafty Creations
An ebook set of the entire trilogy
Signed paperback set of the entire trilogy

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Thursday, April 25, 2013

Feature and Follow #16

8474595901 873f4993f4 Feature & Follow #139

What is Feature and Follow you ask? Why it is this fabulous meme that connects bloggers to other bloggers all while increasing our following. Hosted by two very talented bloggers: Parajunkee and Alison Can Read make sure you join in on the fun and put your name in the Linky!

Q: Is there a song that reminds you of a book? Or vice versa? What is the song and the book?


A: Normally I don't relate music to books or books to music, but lately I have one particular book on my mind. Well actually I have the entire series on my mind. You see my favorite series is coming to a close this summer, (if you know anything about me, you now know what series I am talking about) and the end of this series is going to bring about some serious emotions for me. You see not only am I attached to this series, but I am emotionally attached to the characters. Seeing the end of The Protector Series by M.R. Merrick will be like saying goodbye to my family dog, yes I love this series that much. And as we all know it is hard to say goodbye to those that we have grown attached to. 


Recently I discovered an amazing song by Staind that instantly reminded me of this series. The song is titled Something to Remind You and when I hear it I think that this could be the song that Chase Williams (the main character in the series) plays to wrap up the series. And that something to remind me of Chase and the series when they are gone will be the very last book in the series Endure, which comes out June 5th and when I finally get all my paperback copies, I will have them to remind me as well! 





So, what about you? Do you have any books that remind you of music or vice versa?





(Update) Review + Giveaway: Born in Flames by Candace Knoebel {Blog Tour}


Red mirrored scales race up my arms as the haze of pain blurs my vision. My bones crack, breaking to realign. I scream. It is then that the realization of my unavoidable fate sinks in; I am of a dying race. I am dragon.

Aurora Megalos, orphaned and teetering on the edge of adulthood, thought finding her past would curb the sting of being an outcast. Having no memories of the time before she awoke on her foster mother’s doorstep, she yearns for the emptiness inside her to be filled. With her fellow orphaned best friend, Fenn, by her side, she has nothing to lose and everything to gain. But something powerful stirred within her that she couldn’t explain. Something wanted out.

In the dark of night, a crazed Seer, dubbed Mr.Creepy, erases everything she’s ever known with an impending prophecy. She now faces two paths. Return to her true home to protect a dying race against a growing evil, or stay hidden in the safety of our realm with a shot at a true love. With a vengeful Arch Enemy stopping at nothing to see her dead, she’s running out of time; a decision must be made. What would you choose?

*Received a free copy in exchange for an honest review

Helpful Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Website | Barnes & Noble

My Review

Aurora never knew who her parents were and neither does her best friend, Fenn, who is also an orphan. Determined to gain some insight into their pasts and get some answers as to who they really are they decide to head out and find answers, but before they can even leave Aurora is told a startling tale. She is the only savior of a race she didn't even know existed and now has to decide between staying in a world she has always known and adventuring to a new world, where she will have to risk her life to save those that she has never met. 

First, I loved the idea of the main character not knowing who they really were, I love finding out about the character as they do. I think it adds a certain mystery and suspense to the story and with Born in Flames it was no different. And instantly I took a liking to Fenn and Aurora. Their connection and often times brother and sister relationship made me laugh throughout the story as they often bickered like family, with Fenn taking on the responsible role while Aurora was the teenager who still needed a parent to hold her hand through things. And at times this drove me crazy, and I found myself wanting to grab Aurora and tell her to just grow up already. 

As I read through Born in Flames I was happy to see that Aurora did grow up. When faced with the fact that there was more to her than meets the eye and that the fate of another race rested on her shoulders, Aurora didn't run and hide. But rather she straightened back her shoulders, held her chin high and became determined to meet the challenges that were sure to come. 

Of course she had her bumps along the way, but I would have loved to have seen more. It seemed like every time there was a struggle an answer would suddenly appear. And though I loved how Candace Knoebel slowly unraveled the truth of who Aurora really was I felt that caused the rest of the story to be rushed. 

Overall, I really enjoyed Born in Flames and think that Candace Knoebel did a great job of bringing the magic in this book to life. I think that it is a good start to what I hope will be a great trilogy! I can't wait to find out what comes next for Aurora as she faces her destiny and enemies head on. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for that next great fantasy to escape into.





"I need you to keep going. Giving up would have been a mistake. Everything makes sense now, and it will for you soon." (kindle, loc. 2694).

Of course, I had many favorite moments, and like always I can't share those with you here as they reveal way too much of the story. But this little snippet above shows just a small glimpse into the kind of character that Fenn is and is just one small reason why he is my favorite.



About the Author


About the Author-Candace Knoebel had dreamed of being a dancer ever since she could remember. With a love of all things art, she saw herself moving to New York and pursuing her passion as an artist. But all that changed on October 10th, 2002 when she met the love of her life. Her dreams diverged and after marrying her high school sweetheart and having two beautiful children, she realized she missed her creative side. Growing up alongside the Harry Potter series, Candace found herself missing the epicosity of a story that pulls you in and won’t let you go. In 2009, she began dreaming up characters that would mold her first novel. Through lunch breaks and late nights, after putting her kids to bed, she built a world where she could escape the ever-pressing days of an eight to five Purgatory. She found her calling in life and knew this was more than dancing could’ve ever meant to her. Once complete in 2010, she began the grueling process of finding a publisher. With relentless determination, she was finally able to realize her dream in December of 2011 when 48fourteen offered her a publishing contract. With a HUGE yes and a happy dance, she  continues her Trilogy.

Stalk Her: Goodreads | Twitter | Website | Facebook

Giveaway



Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Review: Dragon Badge by Scott Moon


Dragon Badge
*Cover and Synopsis from Goodreads

Synopsis
Street cops face a crime trend no one saw coming. Who could have predicted what a person would do to possess another soul?
Michael Prim is a cop’s cop, taking down drug dealers, killers, and all kinds of predators, until he realizes a sorcerer has a vendetta against him and is using hellhounds, demons, and soul slaves to exact revenge.

MICHAEL PRIM
Michael Prim is a hard charging beat cop soon to be thrust into a world of dark magic. He has always been a bit of a freak: different, strange, and always needing to prove himself. His last memories of his father were of bedtime stories—the mercenary war, dragon slaying, and demon fighting variety. He knows how to come down hard on wife beaters, pedophiles, and cop killing drug lords, but nothing has prepared him for the sorcerer who is coming for his soul.

KEITH MARIN
Keith Marin takes a new prostitute under his wing and tries to protect her, because she continually winds up in the gutter raped, tortured, and clutching a strange jar with a preternatural magnetism. He begins a dangerous dance with the sorcerer who has found his way to Blue Point, and discovers people from all walks of life who are slaves to the soul jars and little more than zombies. When two homeless layabouts who frequent his beat turn up driving a BMW, wearing tailored silk suits, and carrying serious firepower, Marin takes his investigation to the next level.

NICOLE SIMMONS
Nicole Simmons has come out of hiding and reinvented herself—as a rookie cop. She begins to doubt her choice as soon as she is assigned to a training officer who is the archenemy of her kind. She should kill him and disappear again, but she had hoped this time would be different.

DRAGON BADGE
Michael Prim does what any good cop would do after discovering a soul reaving sorcerer is hunting on his beat, he goes to war, even as hellhounds and Rashfellen warriors come after him. He gets a little help from his friends—a tough as nails veteran and a zombie like prostitute who holds a soul trapped in a magical jar—but when the apocalypse comes, there is only his most hated enemy, the gang member who murdered his partner, to stand against Travass Isegurad and his demons.
Helpful Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Website

My Review

Dragon Badge takes us on a journey through everyday street cops day to day lives, as they slowly discover that things are not as they always believed. People obsessed with seeming-less empty jars, strange red men, mysterious beatings and maniacal creatures are running a muck throughout the city and and they are all looking for one man, Michael Prim, one of the street cops that you get to follow throughout Dragon Badge. 

In the beginning of Dragon Badge Scott Moon gives you a really good look at the inner workings of being a street cop in Blue Point, as you are given the opportunity to follow a number of different cops through their day to day run ins. I like to relate it to watching an episode of Cops and in my opinion  that is sort of how Scott Moon tells the story, instead of getting one point of view or one cops opinion on what is happening in the city, we get multiple points of views with multiple opinions. But despite all the differences, it really all boils down to the same thing. Weird crap is happening all over the city and no one knows what the hell it is, or what the hell it means. 

I both liked and disliked the level of mystery that surrounded the weird happenings in Blue Point. On one hand, it kept me reading and interested; on another, it frustrated me and made me feel lost at times. I just wanted answers, so I kept reading. My main problem comes from the fact that even though I finished the book, I still found myself a little confused as to who or what exactly was going on in Blue Point. 

Names of creatures are thrown around but never really explained and that left me on the line between frustrated and fascinated. I was frustrated because I expected to have a certain level of clarity upon finishing Dragon Badge, but all I got was more confusion. But despite that confusion I can say I am curious to learn more about this world that Scott Moon has begun to uncover in Dragon Badge.

I enjoyed the fact that Scott Moon gave me the opportunity to get to know many different characters throughout the book and I really enjoyed the realistic approach to the life of a street cop that he took with Dragon Badge and the small peek he gave us into his magical world. I just wished it was a bigger peek. 

Overall I liked the story, but I couldn't help but feel lost at times. I thirsted for more of that magical world, as well as a bigger explanation of that world. But I can say that I am looking forward to peeling back another layer of this story and I hope to see a second installment in which I get more of my questions answered as well as more of that magical world that Scott Moon touched on.



"If there were ever a demon in human flesh it was this man. If there were ever a demon killer encased in muscle and righteous fury, it was Michael." (kindle, loc. 3409).

I chose this moment because I think it wraps up what Michael is all about, a cop not to be messed with, by anybody, or anything!





Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I liked More than I thought I would


Top Ten Tuesday is an incredibly awesome meme created by The Broke and the Bookish where bloggers and readers share their top ten's about all things bookish! Don't be shy......join the fun!


Today, I have decided to write my Top Ten post on the books that I got a bigger kick out of than I thought I would. 

In no particular order.....


I never wanted to read a book about aliens, and then all the hype made me want to not read it (I don't really like books with hype), but once I picked Obisidian up, I couldn't read it fast enough and now I can't get enough of this series!


Again, due to the hype of this story I was not sure I would like the story, but I am glad to say that I did!


The Hunger Games is not something I ever had the intention of reading, I was still not big into reading books in Young Adult, but thanks to the promise to a sister, I read it, I didn't love it, but I did like it. And better than I thought I would.


When I was in high school I loved all things dark and creepy, but as an adult that really wasn't my thing....until this book! 



I never had any interest in reading Twilight, but thanks to the curiosity and the crush of one of my sons, I picked it up, and was immediately hooked. So, I totally blame him! (just kidding....a little) 


I know this may come as a surprise, but I actually never wanted to read the Harry Potter series, but thanks to a very persistent friend I gave it a shot and am so very thankful that I did.


My son first brought home this series, and desperate for something to read I picked this book up and fell head over heels in love. I then consumed every book in the original series! 


I never wanted to read Clive Cussler, I always thought, these are books my dad reads. No way I am going to like something like that, Sha boy was I wrong. I have now eaten my words because these books are awesome!! 


This was the book that started it all for me. I never wanted to read it and I never really read before this book! So I owe all my reading adventures to this book and I guess my dad, who introduced me to this amazing reading world!

Well there you have it! My top nine! 

So, are there any books that you liked more than you thought you would? Or any books you liked less than you thought you would?


Monday, April 22, 2013

Reflections and Magnolia Memories Blog Tour & Guest Post



Welcome to my stop on the Reflections and Magnolia Memories Blog Tour as we celebrate poetry of the South by Patricia Neely Dorsey and today I am glad to have the author here to tell us a little more about her poetry!


I think that I would best describe my poetry as "folk poetry"


Storytelling is a treasured form of folk art in the south. To me, folk art is simply art by ordinary "folk" for ordinary "folk". Folk artists attempt to freeze their memories into their art and help to preserve the culture and customs of everyday life. With my books, I hope to offer a time capsule, of sorts, for future generations, offering a glimpse into the everyday lives of everyday people in our region.


I must admit an affinity for the familiar, the common, the everyday, the ordinary and the simple things of life.  In my poems, I offer "snapshots' from my life in written form of people, places, events and lessons learned.


Some poems in Reflections include: Southern Life, Southern Man, Mississippi Morning, The Magnolia Tree, Country Living, Country Breakfast, Shelling Peas, Slopping Hogs, Hog killing Time, Making Cracklings...


My books focus on elements that are always central in the southern way of life...family, friends, community and sense of place. As with anything Southern, there's a lot of food thrown in there, too!


Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia-A Life in Poems has been called, among other things, a poetic love letter to the south and a poetic autobiography. I totally agree. In Magnolia Memories and Musings , the love affair continues. I believe that we can bridge many gaps of misunderstanding across regional, racial, cultural, generational and economic lines by simply telling/sharing our stories. Miguel Algarin said, "When I see what you see, the distance between us disappears."


"Southerners love a good tale. They are born reciters, great memory retainers, diary keepers, letter exchangers . . . great talkers."
~~Eudora Welty

About the Author



Find the Author: Website | Facebook

Where to find Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia: Goodreads | Amazon Paperback | Barnes & Noble Paperback

Where to find My Magnolia Memories: Goodreads | Amazon Paperback | Barnes & Noble Paperback

Check out the other tour stops here: Reflections and Magnolia Memories Blog Tour

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Character Time #10


So what is Character Time? Character Time is a bi-weekly feature created by Danielle at Consuming Worlds to spotlight favorite characters. The next Character Time will be on May 5th.

The idea of Character Time is to spotlight a character from either a book you are currently reading or a book that you have read in the past. You can either love this character, hate them, loathe them, like them or any of the other feelings one may have. You then write a post spotlighting this character. Why you love, hate, loathe, or whatever them and why? This can include links, pictures or whatever you need to explain why you feel the way you feel. 

Note: These characters can be any characters, i.e., main characters, hero/heroine, villain, creature and so on.

Who can participate: Anyone! 

If you need any help here are the Character Time's I have done in the past (before I created the feature): Character Time Posts

Nick Gautier from Sherrilyn Kenyon


April has been a very good month for book releases, scratch that, April has been awesome as far as releases go! There have been many new characters to meet, as well as plenty of old characters I know and love, and one of those characters is Nick Gautier from the Chronicles of Nick. I just recently had the pleasure of reading Inferno book 4 in the series! And I am happy to say that I am as much in love with Nick now as I was when I first borrowed Infinity from the library, about 4 or 5 months ago!

Nick is not your typical main character. He is a poor, scholarship kid at the local rich school, where he endures an immense amount of bullying and he is always getting in trouble for things he didn't do. Raised by a single mom determined to make him a better man than his father, Nick takes a lot of slack, even from his mom. Okay, maybe I should say especially from his mom. She is quick to judge him and I am sad to say that she doesn't really see the good in Nick.

And Nick is good! There is a little something that you need to know about Nick, he is destined to bring about the end of the world, unless he can stop it, by some small miracle. When you first meet Nick, he is a seemingly powerless human, but he is quickly thrown into a world full of werewolves, dark hunters, and other creatures that go bump in the night, where Nick proves time and time again that he is a hero! 

Despite his destiny, Nick fights to stay innocent. He fights to stay good. Even when Nick is down and no one seems to be on his side, he is looking out for others. He is absolutely hilarious, he always makes me laugh, he has a kind heart; especially to his momma, and he has the best manners I have ever seen! He always tries to look on the bright side and is the most humble character I have ever read. I actually think that he would make a great role model for teens, despite the whole end of the world thing!

If you haven't met Nick yet, then you really need to. You will never find another character like him, sweet, kind, loyal, gentle, well spoken, smart, strong, powerful and a true gentleman; Nick really has it all.

Where can you find Nick? Goodreads | Amazon | Website


Want to participate? Then just add your name and URL in the Linky below and grab the badge!


Character Time