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Saturday, November 3, 2012

Book Review of The Bone Knife



Book Review of The Bone Knife
Sponsored by Enchanted Book Tours



Welcome to Books, Books, and More Books.  I am pleased to share my review of this book with you.  Thank you for visiting and please come again.

Title: The Bone Knife
Author: Intisar Khanani
Genre: YA Fantasy, Short Story

 



Blurb : 

 
Rae knows how to look out for family. Born with a deformed foot, she feigns indifference to the pity and insults that come her way. Wary of all things beautiful, Rae instantly distrusts their latest visitor: an appallingly attractive faerie. Further, his presence imperils the secret her sister guards. But when the local townspeople show up demanding his blood, Rae must find a way to protect both her sister’s secret and their guest. Even if that means risking herself.







About the Author:


Intisar Khanani grew up a nomad and world traveler. Born in Wisconsin, she has lived in five different states as well as in Jeddah on the coast of the Red Sea. She first remembers seeing snow on a wintry street in Zurich, Switzerland, and vaguely recollects having breakfast with the orangutans at the Singapore Zoo when she was five. She currently resides in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her husband and two young daughters. Until recently, Intisar wrote grants and developed projects to address community health with the Cincinnati Health Department, which was as close as she could get to saving the world. Now she focuses her time on her two passions: raising her family and writing fantasy. Her approach to writing reflects her lifelong love for stories from different cultures. Her next project is a companion trilogy to her debut novel Thorn, with Rae as her new heroine.

Contacts:

Intisar’s website & author newsletter: http://www.thornthenovel.com



Twitter: @IntisarKhanani

Excerpt:

                It doesn’t occur to me until much later, as I make my rounds assuring all the doors and windows are barred against the night, that the faerie might notice the strangeness of our absence, the careful withdrawal of the women from his presence.
                I pull the shutters closed in the dining room and draw the curtains to hide them, grateful that the men have finally retired for the night. But as I turn back to the room I realize I am not alone. The faerie stands in the doorway, watching me. I start with surprise, and at his slight smile, I make an awkward curtsy.
                “Can I help you, master—” I stumble to a stop, realizing belatedly that I never learned his name.
                “Genno Stonemane,” he supplies, his voice lilting, deep and sweet. I find myself pressing my back against the wall. Whatever is the miserable fellow doing down here? And why does he have to be so lovely? At least Niya is safe in our bedchamber.
                “Master Stonemane,” I amend. “May I help you?”
                “I have noticed something curious. I thought you might explain it to me.” He steps into the room. In the candlelight I can see that he has had a chance to wash the dust from his face and hair; the result is an exquisite and frightening beauty. His hair shines darkly, falling smoothly over his shoulders, setting off the luminescence of his skin, the midnight shadows of his eyes. I drop my gaze to the low table, grateful for its presence between us.
                “I am not very good with explanations,” I say. “Perhaps my father can help you?”
                “Not unless he does the sewing in the house,” Stonemane says.
                “The sewing?”
                “Those are lovely curtains behind you,” he remarks genially, walking towards me. I retreat to the other side of the window, my turned foot making every movement doubly awkward. He smiles as he reaches me, the space between us made up now of only two narrow panels of embroidered cotton. “Did you sew them yourself?”
                “No,” I answer gladly.
                “Ah, then it was your younger sister who served us dinner.”
                “No, I’m afraid not.”
                “Of course. Then it was the third sister, the one who has stayed hidden.” I take a quick step back—how could he know? His teeth glint in the candlelight. “She has a fine way with stitches. Just here,” he reaches out a long-fingered hand to tap a flower, “she has caught the scent of a spring day when the daffodils first turn their heads to the sun, and here,” his fingers follow a tracery of blue, “flows the warmth of a late summer breeze.”
                We are caught.
Book Review:

            What a charming introduction to our characters.   My only complaint was that the story was too short, so I was glad to hear that it was an introduction to a longer trilogy of books staring the main character.  I look forward to learning more about Rae and seeing how she grows and progresses. 

            I give this little short story 4 out of 5 clouds because it was too short to be as  it.detailed as I would like, but I’m sure the trilogy will be fabulous and I can’t wait to read

This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Book Review of The Valkyrie’s Guardian



Book Review of The Valkyrie’s Guardian
Sponsored by Bewitching Book Tours




Welcome to Books, Books, and More Books.  I am pleased to share my review of this book with you.  Thank you for visiting and please come again.

The Valkyrie’s Guardian
Moriah Densley

Genre:  Paranormal Romance
Publisher:  Crimson Romance / F+W Media
ISBN:  1440551375
ISBN13:  9781440551376
Number of pages:  300
Word Count:  91K

Blurb : 

“Augmented strength, lightning weapon, chronic PMS – you’re a valkyrie, Cass.”

You might call them superheroes. “Extra-sentients” are one in 4.5 million with the extraordinary ability to unlock the full potential of the mind.

Cassiopeia Noyon is descended from the most powerful known extra-sentient, but she’s a dud – no impressive talents except a healing ability which lands her in trouble. She’s all wrong for Jack MacGunn, her dazzling immortal berserker bodyguard.

Cassiopeia Noyon has a medical degree at age twenty-one, which makes her a total loser … for an extra-sentient with merely superhuman strength and healing powers but not much else. Cassie may not even be immortal, which is a downer since the man she’s adored since age six, is Jack MacGunn is King of the Bad Pick-Up Line. A true blue kilt-wearing, pipe-playing Scot descended from a long line of berserker warriors; if he’s awake, he’s either hungry or itching for a fight. Lately Jack feels lost. His career as a Navy SEAL detachment agent is on a slow train to nowhere. He suspects it has something to do with his out-of-control superhuman rages.

The one task Jack has never failed at is guarding Cassie from their enemies, but now he fears he can’t protect her from himself. Even if they could go a single day without fighting, Jack knows he’ll never be good enough for her. The boss’ granddaughter is off-limits anyway.

A chance encounter with a villain long assumed dead sends Jack and Cassie on a race to save the children secreted away at Network One, the academy for genius extra-sentients. Jack discovers a new side of Cassie when in the heat of combat she invokes unheard-of powers. Has Jack finally met his match?


About the Author:

2012 RWA Golden Heart finalist Moriah Densley sees nothing odd at all about keeping both a violin case and a range bag stuffed with pistols in the back seat of her car. They hold up the stack of books in the middle, of course. She enjoys writing about Victorians, assassins, and geeks. Her muses are summoned by the smell of chocolate, usually at odd hours of the night. By day her alter ego is your friendly neighborhood music teacher. Moriah lives in Las Vegas with her husband.

Contacts:

Read Chapter 1 free: http://moriahdensley.com/chapter-1-the-valkries-guardian/
Website + blog:  http://moriahdensley.com


Excerpt:

Without much effort she summoned static in the air. It gathered in her hands as she wrestled to equalize the tension between ground and sky. The shift in atmospheric energy sucked down a dull pressure she could feel in her skull and chest. The charge crackling in her fingers burned ice hot.
Cassie walked calmly to the men locked in struggle and set a hand on each of their shoulders, transferring a mild dose of purple electricity into their bodies. They jerked back and screamed. She exploited their surprise and shoved them both apart, hurling them several feet.
She heaved slow breaths to calm her anger, resisting the temptation to fry their idiotic brains. They rolled slowly and strained to sit up, mist steaming out of their collars.
“Jack. Ben. That’s enough. Look around, you morons. Is this what you want your family to see?” They glanced around and saw the somber faces watching from inside the great house, all the small ones who had just been taught a bad lesson.
“Bloody hell. What is she?” Ben muttered, wiping his split lip.
“The voice of reason.” She stood between them. “You two have to work together while we’re here. This is your clan, and you are the leaders. Now start acting like it.”
She waited while they sucked in deep breaths, trying to calm themselves from the rage.
“Do you think your family should see you shake hands, or did you mean to start a war today?”
Ben breathed an oath in Gaelic under his breath, and Jack made something pop in Ben’s hand as he squeezed. She closed her eyes in forbearance.
*              *              *
At that moment, three pagers went off. Jack, Chief, and Pops all retrieved their phones and checked the display with identical motions.
Jack said, “CO called in the whole team. It’s probably nothing, but we have to go.”
“Run like the wind,” Cassie replied flatly, as though she had no curiosity at all about his urgent summons to headquarters. “Nice meeting you, Chief, and ah, Papa Smurf. I’ll find my own way to the barracks.”
Damned if she didn’t show them her back and strut away like a tabby cat. Of course he stared, mesmerized by the dual motion of her hips and swaying hair. A draft of her honey-anise scent lingered. Catnip. “Eighteen-hundred hours, baby,” he called, a last ditch effort to claim her with the officers observing.
She spun 180 degrees and walked backward. “Sorry, I have to polish my pistol.” Chief and Pops sucked in a breath at her suggestive tone—with that purring sound in her voice, anything sounded like innuendo.
Jack couldn’t help it. He winked. “Sure thing, darlin.’ After you polish mine.”
*              *              *
Cassie could always count on Jack for two things: he would come from near or far at the sound of food cooking in the morning, and he went ga-ga over women in workout clothes. Forget lingerie–Jack wanted yoga pants and a racerback top. This morning Cassie brought out the heavy artillery with both his vices: smoothies and spandex.
Revenge, torture–either would do.
Ice clunked around in the blender as she added peach slices, raw almonds, yogurt, and lemon rind. Perfect timing—Jack jogged down the stairs and nearly tripped over Cat, dropped his duffel, and made a beeline straight for the kitchen. He rocked back on his heels, apparently expecting Anne the housekeeper, not Cassie. She made a point of opening the fridge as he entered, as though she hadn’t seen him.
When she turned around, his eyes widened and he visibly swallowed hard.
Unapologetically his eyes roamed from her long swinging pony tail down over her shoulders exposed above a skin-tight cropped tank. His eyes lingered on her navel, watching it contract as she breathed, before scanning up and down her legs once, twice, and again. He wore the expression of a tiger watching a platter of meat through the bars of his cage.
“All the subtlety of an anvil, Jack.”
“I might say the same to you, sweetheart.”
*              *              *
“Bait?” Cassie coughed, then half-shrieked, “Bait? You think it’s funny? Jack—you promised!”
Jack tried to tuck her behind his shoulder and interrupt, but Cassie leaned around him and jabbed an accusing finger at Memphis.
“No more bait, no more turkey shoots! You tell him no, Memphis, or answer to me. Find another way, whatever. He comes home in a body bag, and I come after you.”
She glared, the silence stretched, and she wanted Jack’s buddy to know she meant it, every word. Bad enough that they went willingly into danger, no reason they should play high-stakes games with their lives. No operation was worth that.
Memphis raised his eyebrows and Jack seemed stunned.
Cassie exhaled in a gust and muttered, “I think I just grew a few gray hairs.”
Memphis surprised her with his softened, sympathetic expression. “It takes a strong woman to love a soldier. You’ll get used to it, honey.” He nodded his head, “We always come home. Don’t worry.”
Jack sputtered then argued, “Oh, we’re not—It’s not–”
“You’re gone, bro. I give it two months, max, and we’ll all be in our dress whites.”
Cassie looked between them, confused, then hacked into Memphis’ thoughts to discern he meant their formal Navy uniforms, for the occasion of her and Jack’s supposed wedding. Wow.
Memphis winked at their twin shell-shocked expressions.
Book Review:

            I love a good love story and the supernatural twist makes this even more fun.  There were some sad parts, like why Cassie left medical training and the parts with the kids but otherwise it was great.  The mind pictures were vivid and detailed.  I loved the locations and the mind pictures the words created.
            Excellent read when you want that special “aawww” book.  I give this 4 out of 5 clouds.

This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

Book Review of One Moment in Time



Book Review of One Moment in Time
Sponsored by Visual Author Book Tours




Welcome to Books, Books, and More Books.  I am pleased to share my review of this book with you.  Thank you for visiting and please come again.

Publisher: Bear Moose Press, February 23, 2012
Category: Literary Fiction, Political, Suspense/Thriller
Tour Dates: November, 2012
Available in: Print, 270 pages
 
Blurb : 

On a stormy November evening, Jack Barrett had plans to treat his best friend Travis to a night of fine dining and jazz. As they neared their destination, a truck ran a red light, plowing through Jack's car, and changing his life forever. Jack found a new outlook on life, and took on adventures that made him one of the world's most admired people. With each step, Jack grew as a person and a leader; piecing together a family from different corners of the world, while risking himself and his family to save others. Jack's impact on the world was like no other, but in the end, when the lights and the cameras were gone, Jack was about to die, or was he? Prepare yourself for a surprising ending that questions the very nature between life and death, reality and dream.

About the Author:

Glenn Snyder grew up in Marin County, a few miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco. After graduating from UCLA, Glenn worked as a finance professional. In 2001, Glenn earned his MBA from the University of San Francisco.  Shortly after his MBA, Glenn pursued two of his dreams, teaching and writing, while still working full time. For five years, Glenn taught Finance at San Francisco State University, while he also wrote the first draft of One Moment in Time. In May of 2011, Glenn published his first novel, One Moment in Time. Glenn is currently a Finance Director and is working on his second novel.

Other

Visit www.OneMomentInTimeNovel.com to find out more.
One Moment In Time on Facebook Glenn Snyder on Twitter
Review dates and sites:

Tour Host:                                             Date of review:                          (GP)Guest Post, (I)Interview, or
                                                                                                            (G)Giveaway?

Teddy So Many Precious Books                      None                                        G & Feature Nov 1

Mindy Books & More Books               Nov1                                       G & I Nov 2
Psych Babbler Over Cups of Coffee   Nov 5                                     G
Lori She Treads Softly                                   Nov 6                                                    None
Rebecca Book Lover's Library                        Nov 7                                      G & GP Nov 8(GP Done)
Vicki I'd Rather Be Reading At the Beach Nov 9                                                   None
JoyStory                                              Nov 12                                                None
Valerie Sweeps4Bloggers                           Nov 13                                                  G
Wendy Minding Spot                           Nov 14                                                G
JA Beard's Unnecessary Musings        None                                        I Nov 14
Kathy Ordinary Girlz Book Reviews   Nov 15                                                None
Jamie Minnesota Girl in LA                           Nov 16                                                  G  & I Nov 19
Dr. Bill's Book Bazaar                                       Nov 20                                                  None
Paula Book Lover Stop                                   Nov 21                                                  None
Stephanie Eclectic Books & Movies          Nov 22                                                  I Nov 23
Neyra  Darkest Addictions                            Nov 26                                                  G
Amber Peaceful Wishing                              Nov 26                                                  None
Heather Earth's BookNook                  None                                        GP Nov 27
Mary's Cup of Tea                               Nov 28                                                G
Shayna Bibliophilia                             Nov 29                                                I Nov 30
Misty The Top Shelf                                     Nov 30                                                  G

Book Review:

I’m not sure if I liked this book or not.  It was different.  It was kind of like a reverse of the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life,” where you see what the person’s life was like, but wasn’t.  For those of you who didn’t understand that, read the book.  I don’t want to give it away.

            I don’t think I’ve ever read a book like this, although I’ve watched a few TV shows that have used similar literary techniques.  In the case of the book “One Moment in Time,” the plot was elaborately played out for the ending.  Again, left me confused about my feelings toward the book.

            The book was well written.  Had beautiful prose with an elegant plot line and easily pulled you in to the story line, it just left me unsettled and confused.

            Overall I would give the book a 3 out of 5 clouds.

This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.