Check out the Authors Page
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Monday, August 19, 2013
Wounded by Jasinda Wilder Review
Description:
War has taken everything from me. My family. My home. My innocence. In a country blasted by war and wracked by economic hardship, a young orphan girl like me has very few options when it comes to survival. Thus, I do what I must to live, to eat, and I try very hard to not consider the cost to my soul. My heart is empty, and my existence brutal.
The one impossibility in my life is love.
And then I meet HIM.
War is hell. It takes a chunk out of a man's very soul to do the kinds of things war demands of you. You live with fear, you live with guilt, and you live with nightmares. If you haven't been through it, there's no understanding it. War leaves no room for love, no room for tenderness or softness. You gotta be hard, closed off, and ready to fight every moment of every day. Lose focus for a split second, and you're dead.
Now the only thing that can save me is HER.
The one impossibility in my life is love.
And then I meet HIM.
War is hell. It takes a chunk out of a man's very soul to do the kinds of things war demands of you. You live with fear, you live with guilt, and you live with nightmares. If you haven't been through it, there's no understanding it. War leaves no room for love, no room for tenderness or softness. You gotta be hard, closed off, and ready to fight every moment of every day. Lose focus for a split second, and you're dead.
Now the only thing that can save me is HER.
My Thoughts:
If you want a fiction book with strings of reality this one is for you...
4.5/5 Stars
Once I started reading I couldn't stop. This was a great book that portrayed real situations.
The book starts with a young girl (Rania) losing her home and family members during the war. As she grows, she struggles with a food shortage and is starving. She heads to the local soldiers and asks for food and of course they ask for something in return. She never would have guessed her body would be the key to overcoming starvation. The men have different personalities and some even hurt her.
When she finds a wounded American soldier (Hunter) ... feelings arise and a friendship is formed. She takes care of him while he protects her. He is not happy about her profession and continuously tries to change her mind. When things become dangerous Hunter takes manners into his own hands. Will they escape and live happily ever after??
Wow! I was shocked by the situations in this book, but I also know that things like this happen everyday.
The Author did a great job writing an emotional, yet SEXY read. I loved Hunter & Rania and pushed for them to be together throughout the entire book.
Family and cultures play a huge role in this book. The Author describes the characters carefully and she did wonderful!
The ending was so unique. You all need to read this book!!
Author Claire C. Riley Feature
Welcome Author Claire C. Riley to the Blog...
She is the Author of Limerence, Odium, & Fusion.
Fusion: A collection of short stories from Breakwater Harbor Books’ authors
Featured authors from around the world, FUSION is the first collection of short works published by Breakwater Harbor Books. Contributing heart-pumping tales of Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror and Crime are seven stories that will thrill you, rivet you and some will even make you sleep with the light on. Authors from across a wide variety of genres, Dee Harrison, Ivan Amberlake, Claire C. Riley, Scott J. Toney, Mindy Haig, Cara Goldthorpe and C.M.T. Stibbe.
The Sliver of Abilon – A Mirrorsmith Tale – 'and you thought it was safe to look in the mirror?'
Diary of the Gone - Without a girlfriend, bullied by the Principal’s son, and haunted by the dead, Callum Blackwell thinks his life can’t get any worse. But he’s wrong.
Life Ever After. Nina's Story: Part one. – When the dead begin to rise, it's time to put your differences aside and run!
NovaFall – When the Meteor falls, the essences will come, forging flesh and planetary souls as one.
Cybilla. – To claim his Muse, one man must find the gate between the mortal and the immortal worlds.
Capturing Perfection – An artist's tale of love, loss and beauty in Renaissance Milan
Until The Ninth Hour – Until a man loses his daughter to a serial killer, until he loses his best friend, until he is down on his luck, Darryl Williams must put all thoughts of retaliation out of his mind.
An excerpt from Dee Harrison’s The Sliver of Abilon
– A Mirrorsmith Tale
Junah Venmark, Master Mirrorsmith, exited the wayportal directly into the seaweed stench of Abilon. The foul odour tickled the back of his throat and he gagged on a rise of bile. Mirrorsmith Guild protocol demanded that he preview his destination before he arrived but it could not prepare him for an assault on his other senses. He vomited onto the trackway, just thankful that there was no-one to witness his most pitiful entrance ever. He loathed the smell of mouldy greens – it stirred up too many reminders of his wretched childhood in the back alleys of Varna, largest city on his homeworld of Vargo – but this was kabbige soup intensified tenfold.
When his heaving subsided, Junah sank down onto his rump, trying to ignore the early evening dew which was soaking into his leggings. He pulled a kerchief from his belt-purse, to wipe the spittle from his lips, and cursed this ill-favoured world. Sissik, his wail, chittered and scurried around him like a silver-furred cyclone, mewing her distress. Junah winced when she skipped onto his tender stomach, the better to peer into his face with her large, prosimian eyes. He ran a finger down her spine and she slowly relaxed beneath his touch.
Junah ill? She sent.
No, I’m fine, Little One he reassured her. He grimaced. The smell caught me out, that’s all.
Sissik wrinkled her own nose. Nasty, nasty stink, she concurred.
Junah delved into his purse a further time and extracted a couple of lozenges from a packet. A few chews later and he could smell nothing.
“Next time I’ll take ‘em before I get here,” he promised out loud. “Not that there’ll be a next time!”
Junah clambered to his feet and peeled the sodden fabric from his buttocks. Sissik took her accustomed place on his shoulders, hiding beneath his long, dark hair and curled around his neck like a fur collar. Wails were native to all the worlds of the Regium, even the undeveloped ones like Abilon. Some wails, the silver-furred ones like Sissik, were prized for their ability to generate the acoustic frequencies that Mirrorsmiths depended upon. Others, the plumper, browner ones, made good eating. Whenever Sissik irritated him, which was often, Junah threatened to dye her coat russet. Now, however, she was quiescent, understanding that it was time for work.
The wayportal, part of the network of gates that connected all the worlds of the Regium, had opened between a pair of standing stones that dominated the headland to the north of Abilon. Junah looked down at the coastal town, which nestled within the arms of a sheltering bay. A slash of fire on the horizon marked where the sun was setting and silhouetted the ugly, squat fortress guarding the harbour mouth. Somewhere among the sleazy alleyways of this provincial rats’ nest below was the inn where his contact waited. It was supposed to be a routine mission according to Teren Lemmick, Guild Master but also his oldest friend. All Junah had to do was locate the sliver of Desecrated Mirror, secure it
then return it to the Mirrorsmiths’ Guild on Vargo, where it could be destroyed in relative safety. He had carried out scores of such ‘grabbits’ but this time unease pricked his spine. Mirrorsmiths tended towards the superstitious and worlds like Ysreal, with its triple moons, were considered inauspicious but this went deeper than that. Junah’s senses were trained to detect distorted vibrations and this place was riddled with them – probably due to the presence of the sliver. Sissik’s tail tightened around his neck so he dampened down his disquiet. Wails were sensitive to heightened emotion. He checked his accoutrements once more then headed for Abilon, thinking it best to get this trip over with as quickly as possible.
Despite the lateness of the hour, the streets of Abilon were crowded. Every third house seemed to be selling ale and shabby, ill-visaged townsfolk bumped and barged their way through the densely-packed lanes. Junah knew roughly where the inn lay but he had previewed it during daylight and it took him a while to reach the waterfront. He spent a few minutes reconnoitering then pulled his hood up and entered the tavern.
Not surprisingly most of the patrons were fishermen and the uneven floorboards must have made them feel right at home. Junah jostled his way through the raucous hubbub, towards the booth where he had arranged to meet his accomplice, but an overripe, blousy serving girl intercepted him.
Life Ever After
Nina’s Story: Part One.
When the dead begin to rise, it’s time to put your differences aside and run!
After another blazing argument with Ben, Nina blows off work and heads to do what any woman does in that frame of mind–shop. However, strange things are beginning to happen all around her: a fight breaks out at the store and a someone is seriously injured, yet no one seems to give a damn; and as she drives back home, the streets are oddly deserted. Just when she thinks things can’t get any stranger, her neighbours begin to pack up and leave town.
It’s only when Ben’s pickup screeches up and he goes on the hunt for his grandfather’s old Smith and Wesson that she truly realises she’s having more than just a strange day. With her backyard rapidly filling with her now un-dead neighbours, it’s time that she and Ben make a break for it and find sanctuary somewhere else.
Author's Page:
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Thursday Nights by Lisa N. Paul Review
Thursday Nights
4/5 stars
I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, but it was great!
The story was different and the characters were likeable.
Max has been a friend of Janies for years and is finally ready to make a move on the feelings he has for her. Janie thinks Max is sexy and falls fast for him. It isn't simple though, their love has lots of substance and tough times to overcome.
I felt the Author did a great job with showing romance, while adding in the sexy parts.
Friendship was a huge part of this book & I loved it. The friendships were real and genuine.
If you want fun read with difficult parts- This one is for you!
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Angela of Chaotic Book Corner Interview
Meet Angela of Chaotic Book Corner ....
Her site rocks & she does
Her site rocks & she does
so much for the Author community <3
How would you describe yourself in three words?
funny, shy, and loving
What is currently your favorite book & why?
Hmmmm thats a hard one, I would have to say Come Back To Me by Candice Terry, I have read it 5 times! lol
What kind of people do you dislike?
Liars, I cant stand for someone to lie to me or pretend to be my friend
Biggest turnoff in a man & why?
Big ego, I cant stand for a man to think he is God's gift to women when really he is just an ass
What would be one thing you would buy if you won the lottery?
There would def be more then one but the first thing would be a house :)
What kind of music do you like?
Def country, I am a total country girl at heart!
What is your idea of fun? If given a chance to skip work for a day, how would you spend the entire day?
Anything with my kids would be fun. It would def be spent outdoors though if the weather was right. If not then we would stay inside, hang out in pjs on the couch and watch movies all day.
What is the craziest thing you've ever done?
Not sure, probably running off and marrying my husband out of the blue. Everyone thought I was nuts lol cause it was a spur of the moment thing.
If you were stranded on a lonely beach, what are the five things that you would want to have with you?
My kids, food, water, a working cellphone and my husband
Which is the one television character that you simply adore?
Ian Somerhalder! Not just cause he is hot though, cause of everything he does for animals and the enviroment.
What is your favorite kind of ice cream?
Choc Chip Cookie Dough
If you could be married to a celebrity... Who would it be?
Now that is a hard one cause there are a few lol but if I had to choose one it would be Johnny Depp ;)
What sound do you love?
Rain, its so relaxing at night to lay in bed and hear it hitting my roof.
Why do you like be a blogger?
So many reasons, ever since I have became one I have read so many awesome books and met so many awesome people!! Its fun doing the reviews, giveaways, and other things to help authors get their names out there!
Please Visit her pages...
http://chaoticbookcorner.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ChaoticBookCorner
http://chaoticbookcorner.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ChaoticBookCorner
T.K. Rapp Author Feature
Being There by T.K. Rapp
Synopsis:
When Cass Howard was young, she never dreamed she would have the perfect job, living in New York, with an amazing man by her side.
That’s a good thing…because none of that ever happened.
Drew Alexander was the one person who knew Cass better than almost anyone, and the friendship that developed in high school carried them to college. Despite the distance, their bond grew stronger, revealing to each of them what they meant to each other. A series of fleeting moments and a string of failed relationships helped them realize that what they really wanted, what they needed, was each other.
But that was five years ago, and sometimes things just don’t work out.
Now twenty-five, Cass finds herself living in Houston, working at a small publishing house as an editor. By most accounts, she appears happy, however she has managed to avoid a true relationship, opting to channel all of her energy on work, despite protests from her best friend.
The only thing that can drag her away is the annual girls’ weekend, which comes at the best possible time, because Cass has just learned life-altering news. With the most recent blow to her life looming overhead, will the getaway with her closest friends change her outlook on life? Or will her inability to put the past behind her stifle any chance she has of moving on? Will she ever be able to open up and let those who love her be there for her?
That’s a good thing…because none of that ever happened.
Drew Alexander was the one person who knew Cass better than almost anyone, and the friendship that developed in high school carried them to college. Despite the distance, their bond grew stronger, revealing to each of them what they meant to each other. A series of fleeting moments and a string of failed relationships helped them realize that what they really wanted, what they needed, was each other.
But that was five years ago, and sometimes things just don’t work out.
Now twenty-five, Cass finds herself living in Houston, working at a small publishing house as an editor. By most accounts, she appears happy, however she has managed to avoid a true relationship, opting to channel all of her energy on work, despite protests from her best friend.
The only thing that can drag her away is the annual girls’ weekend, which comes at the best possible time, because Cass has just learned life-altering news. With the most recent blow to her life looming overhead, will the getaway with her closest friends change her outlook on life? Or will her inability to put the past behind her stifle any chance she has of moving on? Will she ever be able to open up and let those who love her be there for her?
Book Links:
Meet the Author...
Call it a bucket list item, call it a dream...but whatever it was, T.K. Rapp always wanted to write a book. Born and raised in a small Texas town, a place she never planned to leave, she went away for college where she met her husband and all everything changed. A Naval move had them living on both coasts for five years until they were finally able to settle back in TexAss for a final two. With roots finally established, she worked as a photographer with her mom full-time for seven years. But, as much as she loved photography, her need to write still haunted her, that is until she turned 35.
2013, she decided to attack that list of things she's always wanted to do, starting with writing. She put fingers to keyboard and wrote her first novel, Being There, a book that was self-published at the beginning of July.
When she's not at her desk, she enjoys being with her family, photographing, reading (LOTS!!) visiting with friends or just watching movies. She is currently working on two more books.
Learn more at the Author's pages...
Friday, August 16, 2013
Truth Blog Tour
Truth (Book 2 of the Consequences Series)
by Aleatha Romig
Claire Nichols endured the
CONSEQUENCES of Anthony Rawlings’ vendetta. When she first arrived to his home,
her goal was survival. Through strength and compartmentalization Claire
captivated her captor. Her resilience in the face of his rule threatened Anthony’s
well developed plan. Domination became desire and power turned to love. Their
passion and adoration in a world of opulence appeared perfect. Yet, reality was
a roller coaster of emotion. Claire’s world teetered on the edge of sanity as
Antony monitored her every move. When given the opportunity to flee, Claire
drove away. A fateful decision which set a well laid plan into motion. However,
unbeknownst to either of them, there were others who saw past the perfect
facade of Anthony Rawlings. There were others who saw the TRUTH. Conspiracy and
unfulfilled promises result in an early prison release for Claire. Not just a
release – a pardon. According to the law, her crime never happened! Will it be
that easy? Faced with freedom from her past... can Claire seize it? Can she
build a new life, mend her broken spirit, become the woman she once was, and
seek her own revenge? Or is it all a game? And does the game master have
different plans? How does Sophia Burke fit into the puzzle that is Tony and
Claire? Will her presence affect the future of this well esteemed man? Can he
dominate twice? Is that his goal? TRUTH continues the tumultuous saga of
CONSEQUENCES, introduces new players, and uncovers more intrigue. Aleatha Romig
skillfully weaves past transgressions through current deception to create a
fervent world of obsessed desire. In this reality can an all-consuming
relationship survive? When buried sins are discovered they threaten not only
Tony and Claire’s future -- but their very lives! Will the TRUTH be revealed in
time?
Buy Links
Teaser:
The lounge was beautifully contemporary, mostly white
with colored lights, creating an awe-inspiring ambience. She noticed a few
other couples at nearby tables. Claire checked her watch, as the other couples
were escorted from the lounge. At two minutes before seven, she found herself
sitting alone, in the great expanse of the lounge. Maintaining her mask of calm
she watched as the archway filled with the man from her past.
Memories of their last meeting in the Iowa City jail
flooded her consciousness. Tony’s presence filled the otherwise empty room. The
earth no longer rotated on its own axis, but on him. She had compartmentalized
away his utter dominance. As much as she tried to appear aloof, the mixture of
emotions raging through her, threatened to propel her from the soft luxurious
seat. Unconsciously, she gripped the arms of the chair, hoping for stability.
Claire feared, if not for the anchor, she might possibly become airborne.
Her breathing labored as his gorgeous form advanced
closer. With each step, he narrowed the vast fifteen month divide. He hadn’t
changed. His perfect appearance was just as she’d remembered, from his dark
thick hair masterly styled in place, to his brown eyes sparkling with
electricity. His cheeks were raised, revealing a closed lip grin. And of course,
his suit was silk, tailored specifically for him, with cuff links shining from
the edge of his jacket sleeves. If anyone else had been in the room, they would
have disappeared into his all-encompassing aura. But alas, no one else was
present, except the piano player. And momentarily, even the music dissipated.
From the archway to Claire’s table could be traveled in
a few seconds; however, it seemed as though Tony’s casual stride fought an
unseen tide. The seconds lasted minutes, hours, or perhaps days. During the
elapsed expanse of time and space, Claire remembered every moment of their time
together. Three years of memories compressed into a fraction of time. Finally,
accomplishing his journey – because Claire knew Anthony Rawlings rarely failed
at any endeavor–he stood before her table. She fought diligently to remain calm
and serene, as he politely nodded in her direction.
His voice filled the cavernous room, engulfing the
otherwise empty molecules and stirring the cauldron of emotions within her chest.
“Good evening, Claire.”
She’d fought this fight before. Admittedly, she’d
rarely won, but nonetheless, the battle was familiar. Claire pressed on, “Good
evening, Tony. Won’t you please have a seat?”
“Thank you.” He pulled the chair from the table and lowered
his tall lean body into cushioned seat. She watched as his dark eyes remained
fixed on hers. Perhaps the rest of the world was gone. It was the most
plausible answer. Heaven knows she couldn’t see or think of anyone else. That
must be the answer, they were the only two people left, as the Earth spun into
a timeless abyss.
Claire once read time doesn’t pass at normal speeds
within a black hole. If one were to travel into a black hole for only moments
and return again, centuries would have passed. That explained the sensation she
felt, once again peering into his dark gaze. She wouldn’t look away; she’d
trained herself better than that. Then again, she reasoned, it wasn’t an
option. She couldn’t divert her gaze if she wanted. The hold upon her stare was
stronger than any ropes or chains made by man. Claire knew from experience,
submitting to the hold was her best chance at survival. Fighting was a futile
waste of energy.
As she felt herself slipping into her old station, she
remembered her cause. Claire remembered her friends and their support. She
recalled the advice of a good friend. She needed to ask herself, am I in fear of upsetting him? Does he make
me smile? She thought about her cellphones in her purse and her car in the
parking lot.
No! She could fight and survive. She had! Within the
milliseconds that transpired, she clawed her way out of the abyss, time had not
elapsed. She continued their dialogue. “It was nice of you to accommodate my
change in plans.” Taking a sip of her water, she fought the dryness threatening
her mouth and gestured toward a bottle of wine. “I took the liberty of ordering
us a bottle of wine.”
Tony smiled a devilish grin. Claire’s insides
tightened. His eyes lightened as he lifted the bottle and assessed the label.
“Excellent choice.”
Before their conversation could continue, the waiter
appeared at their side. “Monsieur and Mademoiselle, your table is not yet
ready. May I open your wine?”
Claire spoke before Tony could answer, “Oui, grazie.”
She noticed Tony’s smile broaden. In the past she learned amusement wasn’t
always a good thing. A small voice in the back of her head warned her to
proceed with caution.
After the waiter poured the wine, he left them alone,
literally. Claire couldn’t help notice the absence of others. She tried
diligently to keep her increased unease hidden.
“My, Claire, you continue to amaze me. I see you’re
trying to show me the new independent Claire Nichols.” She didn’t speak. He
continued, “You don’t need to work so hard. I’ve been observing you from a far
and am already impressed.”
“Tony, my goal is not to impress. My goal is to show
that I don’t need your observation. I’m doing quite well on my own.”
“I believe you have surpassed my expectations, once
again.”
“And for the record, I was independent before our
encounter.”
“Yes,” pause, “I can see how you would think that.” He
sipped his wine, “Now tell me, what the point was with the change in venue?”
“No point. I’ve eaten here and thought you’d enjoy the
cuisine.”
“I see,” he continued to sip the wine. “That’s good. I
was afraid you were trying to manipulate our visibility...”
Before he could continue the maître d’ approached their
table. “Excusez-moi, your table, it is ready.”
“Gaize,” Tony replied as he stood. While Claire
gathered her handbag, Tony politely helped her with her chair.
As she stood, she continued to fight the old pull. It
was as if she were slipping into Mrs. Anthony Rawlings, perhaps not slipping,
pulled–by an irresistible force. She needed to remain diligent to be the
independent woman she longed to be.
Walking across the empty lounge, Tony placed his hand
in the small of her exposed back. She didn’t fight the contact. Actually, she
fought the sudden desire to melt toward it. Memories came rushing so fast, she
barely had time to blink–the feel of his caress–his ability to elicit emotions
and desires–the warmth and security of his embrace. Although her resolve
diligently fought, her heartbeat quickened and fantasies interlaced her
recollections. Not only, did she remember his large strong hands; she also
remembered his tender mouth, firm steady chest, and tight abdomen. The slight
touch evoked memories of ecstasies they’d shared. Highs, which before him
didn’t exist, and elations she feared were forever extinct.
When his tall body inclined, allowing his lips to hover
near her ear, her body tingled. Then, without warning he whispered, and her
fantasy evaporated. Reality struck with a slap that only real life can elicit.
“I’m glad visibility was not your goal for this evening. I would hate to
disappoint you.”
Meet the Author...
Aleatha Romig is a bestselling
author, who has been voted #1 "New Author to Read" on Goodreads July
2012 - Present! She was also #9 most followed author on Goodreads - July /
August 3013.
Aleatha has lived most of her life in
Indiana growing-up in Mishawaka, graduating from Indiana University, and
currently living south of Indianapolis. Together with her high-school
sweetheart and husband of twenty six years, they've raised three children. She
works days as a dental hygienist but enjoys spending her nights writing. When
not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns, she likes to spend time with her
family and friends. Her pastimes include exercising, reading and creating
heros/ anti-heros who haunt your dreams!
Aleatha enjoys traveling, especially
when there is a beach involved. In 2011 she had the opportunity to visit
Sydney, Australia to visit her daughter studying at the University of
Wollongong. Her dream is to travel to places in her novels and around the
world.
CONSEQUENCES, her first novel, was
released August 2011 by Xlibris Publishing. October 2012 Ms. Romig rereleased
CONSEQUENCES as an Indie author. TRUTH, the sequel, was released October 30,
2012 and CONVICTED, the final installment of the Consequences Series, is
scheduled for release in October of 2013
Author Links:
Twitter: @AleathaRomig
Website: http://www.consequencesbyromig.com
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