Rae Lori's Blog, page 33

Now that things have relatively settled down in my sector of the world, I'm back trying to update my site and blogger. I'm working on a new design for the blog but it's taking a bit to get things organized as I don't want it as cluttered as it is on this one. I'm sectioning off the reader portion from the author and listing books that will be available and coming soon. It takes a bit of wrangling with the coding but I'm working through it slowly but surely.



If you've tried to sign up on my newsletter last month, you may have noticed a bit of wonkiness going on. I was trying out a new newsletter program but unfortunately it didn't go as smooth as I hoped (eek) so I'm back on Google Docs which works much easier. I'll just be sending out the newsletter via the new software soon, so we shall see how that goes!

In honor of Read An E-Book Week, I've gone and stumbled upon another book reading challenge. You know me, book challenges for me are like shoes to some women. Just can't get enough and you need one for every occasion. ;-)



As an ebook fan, I just couldn't help myself this time around, so I hopped over and joined the:





I'm going to play this one safe and go with -- DVD - 25 ebooks for my personal challenge. The challenge runs from January 1st - December 31st 2012 and I already have a few finished so far. On the count is:









Great reads! One of which was already reviewed here in the last post and the next two are up on the roster as a special dual review to welcome a new and exciting publisher in in the blogosphere.



Next up on the e-reader:





For those who want to sign up (and just in time for Read An E-Book Week), mosey on over here: http://www.workadayreads.com/2011/11/2012-ebook-challenge-sign-up.html

Here at A Writer's Dream, I usually post single book reviews but with these two releases coming out in succession behind each other (not to mention they have similar themes that made my reading experience enjoyable), I'd like to offer a double review for my readers: Always You by Shilpa Mudiganti & Truly, Madly, Deeply, You by Cecilia Robert.



First up:



 Always You by Shilpa Mudiganti



Genre: Contemporary Romance

Print Pages: 180

Release Date: March 6th, 2012 in Paperback and eBook



Lyla has to move on. She's been stuck in a rut since her heart was broken five years ago. Trying to decide about life with her fiancé, Nick, she resolves to finish one last project before moving to Spain and starting a new life. That is until she is face to face with the one man who broke her heart all those years ago, Alexander Knight.



Five years ago, when Alex and Lyla meet at his friend, Andrew's grave, they fall deeply in love. But, Alex is hiding a secret that will destroy his relationship with Lyla and does. What Lyla doesn't realize is that Alex has changed since their break-up, because of her love, only she still has hate in her heart towards him.



But now, fate has brought them together in such a way that they have no option but to remain dangerously close - dangerous enough for Lyla to fall in love with him again. How can she? Not after what she knows about Alex and what he did to Andrew.



It's true that love can change people for the better. But is it enough? What will happen when two broken people with a past come together? Can they forgive and heal?   



First off, the cover caught my eye right away. Very sensuous, sexy and it definitely helps that the hero looks like the very yummylicious actor Neal McDonough.



Always You was a fun, sweet romance about secrets, betrayal, truth and moving on. Our heroine Lyla suffered when she lost her late love Andrew in a car accident involving Andrew's friend Alex. Lyla has harbored anger at Alex ever since she found he was in the car and was the lone survivor. Things are complicated when Alex and Lyla are thrown together in work, years after their breakup. Lyla has been angry with Alex ever since, but he, knowing the truth behind the accident, also knows the embers are still alive between them.



This reminded me of a classic Harlequin Presents novel only with a more likeable hero than the overzealous, sometimes brute-like HP heroes. Lyla was like a classic HP heroine going back and forth between her feelings while trying to keep in mind the sorrow she has held toward Alex. Exotic locations and glamorous jobs added to the romantic feel of the story, and there was also a sense of dramatic mystery throughout the book. One that hints to the reader of the tragic accident known between the hero and heroine but not to the reader.



Alex knows the truth of the accident and although he doesn't reveal it until later, there is a lot of internal conflict where he suffers survivor's guilt. The accident is not done deliberately by his doing (for anyone wondering ahead of time) but the reasons behind it are believable and tie the story (as well some of secondary characters) together.



I must admit, it's Alex's character who really brought me into the book. Thank you Ms. Mudiganti for this wonderful hero! While Lyla ran a bit hot and cold with her changing feelings (which made it hard to identify completely with her), Alex was a sexy, confident, complex character. He has a reputation for being a Lothario but inside he holds a candle for one woman: Lyla. While it was hard to identify with Lyla's ever changing attitude and quick changing thought process, I found Alex attractive in his smooth reasoning and calm confidence. I imagine much of his Casanova-ing took place off screen where we only hear Lyla mention it to reason herself into not falling for him again. This works because I wouldn't want to see Alex hanging all over another woman other than the heroine but I would have also liked to have been shown some things that were talked about later. Comparing the characters, it was a nice juxtaposition to have such two different personalities. I like to think that there were many a times Alex had to be the calm one to Lyla's passionate personality when they were dating before the novel opened.



Nevertheless, I enjoyed the whimsical romance of Always You. There were a few times when I as pulled out of the story due to some errors (grammar and such) and when I had to re-read some passages where it seemed like characters would be in one place one minute and then transport to another place with no transition, but I'm pretty sure that's only in the case for the ARC and the final books will be clean reads.



Always You gets a recommended read from me, especially for those HP fans looking for a similar story structure without the cookie cutter HQN style.



~ * ~



Truly, Madly, Deeply, You by Cecilia Robert

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: March 2012 in eBook





Four days before Valentine's Day, Liese Hansfeld is determined to shut the door to her house, as well as her heart, for her annual four days of mourning her one true love. Little does she know her best friend Freytag Meier is just as determined to keep her from her ritual. He's ready to pick the lock to her apartment door and camp in her living room if that's what it takes. 



What Freytag isn't prepared for is the surge of deep-rooted emotions he feels for Liese, but two things stand in his way: the grief and guilt she still clutches close to her heart, and a man who threatens to snatch Liese from under Frey's watchful eye. Frey is determined to distract her into forgetting her pain. But is that enough to ease her grief, or help her see he can be more than her best friend?    



This was another sweet romance from Inkspell that I really enjoyed, with the extra goodness of being an interracial romance (squee) and a friends to lovers story (woo hoo).



Like Always You, this book dealt with secrets and moving on. My heart went out to Liese who is the one carrying the guilt in the novel. Her best friend Frey has been there from the beginning before her marriage and eventual loss and is there to pick up the pieces afterward. Also like the previous novel, there is a sense of mystery throughout the novel as 'the secret' is known by the hero and heroine but later revealed to the reader. Liese is a complex character. Suffering from depression, she tries to move on despite the nightmares, the deep melancholia affecting her not only emotionally but also physically and mentally.



Frey is a completely sweet and strong hero. Some romance readers may find his beta tendencies a bit jarring if they are used to reading alpha heroes, but I love how he would be so caring of Liese and also very protective of her when someone is hurting her. The romance is low key, sensual and yet very hot when the reader's tension is relieved with a kiss. My hats off to Ms. Roberts for steaming up my reader with the most sensually hot kiss I've read recently! The later scenes between Frey and Liese prove that with the perfect description, a kiss and some tension can go a long way in place of hardcore sexually explicit scenes.



At novella length, Truly Madly Deeply You offers a quick and very satisfying read for those looking for an easy going contemporary romance to relax with.



~ * ~

I'm extremely glad I was able to read these two books back to back. With such gorgeous soft pastel covers that look amazing side by side, a theme of secrets, truth and renewal, both Always You and Truly, Madly, Deeply, You go hand in hand for a wonderfully romantic dual read. I must say I'm rather impressed with Inkspell's launch reads. The stories were sensual and sexy without being over the top and in your face with its sexual nature. Many readers I've spoken to have been missing the tension in romance books today where most have replaced characterization with sexual metaphors (and moving body parts) and unresolved tension with hardcore sex every page. I will be sure to mention these titles next time I speak to them because if they are like me looking for some great stories to relax with, lovely romantic tension to get your heart beating, sensual descriptions and characters you want to fall for, they will be in for a lovely treat. :-)



I'm looking forward to reading more of Inkspell's book selections!

 

It's that time of the year again when we celebrate the awesomeness of the digital word.



Wow, I can't believe how much time has passed since ebooks came into fruition. It seems like not too long ago (rather than a few years ago!) when we were touting ebooks and the digital revolution. Nowadays digital publishing and reading are sitting right alongside paperbacks and sometimes even surpassing them!



I hear lots of readers looking for good reads to fill their ebook readers. Part of the reason this is a book blog as well as my own author blog is to get the word out about great reads, many of which are only available in the digital form (like most of my works). It's an honor to join with other authors this March in celebrating another awesome Read an Ebook celebration this week starting March 4 to 10.



This week, all my available books will be from 25% to 50% off their original price, so if you've been waiting for a sale, now's the time to dive right on in and don't forget to let your reader friends know!



For more information about Read An E-Book week including the history of the event, the authors and publishers offering up their books and more, check out the official website at: http://www.ebookweek.com



Don't forget to grab one of the free gorgeous banners for your site to show some support!



Happy (e)Reading!

Geek Love by Mechele Armstrong ~ 4/5 Stars!

Now available from


As a returner gamer girl currently dating a gamer guy, I had to grab this book and I was definitely not disappointed! The story takes place around a sci-fi convention (which made it all the more interesting for me) and is littered with geeky references from Star Wars to superheroes, Firefly, gaming and much more. For those who aren't heavily into geek or sci-fi culture, the author makes a sidenote of each reference so no one will be left behind.



I loved seeing how the characters interacted and the jokes they made between each other. The story would have made a great YA book (I hope the author decides to write a version for the YA crowd) but the constant references to the hero's arousal when around the heroine and the explicit sex scenes jolt this up to adult territory. I liked that the scenes weren't over the top in your face but got the point across.



There is a small twist that happens later that adds a bit of suspense to the narrative. If described, it may come across a bit contrived but the author pulls it off by laying the groundwork early to connect to the later payoff.



All in all, I liked Joel and Sam and look forward to see how Joel's best friend Baxter fairs in his own love story.

The blog TBR has me as their Featured Author today! If you are new to my works and want to see what's available in my backlist and newly available books, drop on by to see the cover work and links to learn more about the reads.



I'm currently busy writing and catching up on my long list of reads so I won't be online as much as I usually am. Don't panic! I'm still alive. ;-)



P.S. Thanks so much to Empi Baryeh for the awesome Versatile Blogger Award! I have so much fun sharing news about my words along with my thoughts about the industry while discovering new authors and books here. It's always great to see the new faces who follow me for the news and for all the shout outs by folks who enjoy the content here.



Hopefully the next time I log into here I will have some great reviews and book recs for you guys. I'm juggling a few at a time and can definitely say that one book I had been looking forward to has met my expectations!



Stay tuned! ;-)

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Hello 2012!



I took a much needed vacation away from work and now am getting reacquainted with writing, artwork and more. Hello old friends!



My pens are inked, my notebook pages are stacked and my library has strangely grown in the past few days with all the book sales running rampant on the web. I'm trying to be good and not buy new books. Instead I want to read the ones I have in the mean time. What better way to cut through the stack than with book challenges! Woo hoo!



I updated the ones I joined last year, which you can see on the sidebar there. This year I hope to read many more books and reach my reading goals (hello again, my friend Goodreads)!



So here we go! To kick us off, let's begin with:





TBR Challenge 2012Category romance - January 18 Review DateTBA



2012 Muti-Cultural Book Challenge Book #1





2012 SFR Reading Challenge - Book #1  To be Released January 10th, 2012

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The Twilight Zone



I can't remember the day I saw my first Twilight Zone episode. I do know that ever since then, I haven't been able to pass by a marathon or an episode without giving it a peek. Anyone who has chatted with me about my favorite genre shows knows I'm a huge T-Zone fan.



Ever year I tune into the annual Twilight Zone New Year's marathon (and this year there was a special treat of having a classic Outer Limits marathon on Christmas Day woo hoo!) with my sparkling cider and kick up my feet to watch some of my fave episodes. This year we also have the TDtSSS Blog Tour so what better way to chat genre fiction than to write about my favorite series and episodes?



Creator Rod Serling changed the face of television and inspired me greatly with his anthology that touched on the entire spectrum of humanity. While exploring everything from innocent lost and gain to nostalgia, fear and never-ending love, greed and absence, he enterained us, frightened us and enlightened us--sometimes all at once.



This year I want to celebrate Twilight Zone and speculative fiction by naming my top five Twilight Zone episodes.



1) The Shelter -Impending invasion brings out the worst in neighbors



2) The Monsters are Due on Maple Street - Aliens invade and paranoia grows between neighbors



3) The Living Doll - Talky Tina reigns terror on Kojak



4) To Serve Man - It's a cookbook!



5) The Bewitchin' Pool - Children of an abusive couple going through a divorce escapes through the pool and to an awesome land of happy kids and ginormous cake.



I'd also like to invite visitors to enter a special end of the tour contest where you can win a ebook of Cimmerian City, my most recent release, and an ebook of A Kiss of Ashen Twilight, the first in my Ashen Twilight Series. Alls you have to do is post a comment about your fave Twilight Zone memories and episodes or if you haven't seen the series, post a comment about how you know about it!



Bonus for those who have a hankering to follow me here at AWD or on Twitter. ;-)



Let the TZone love begin and don't forget to check out the Sci-Fi Channel's (sorry, I just can't bring myself to post it the new way cause it's too weird!) New Years Day Marathon!

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Day 4 brings us our last special treat of the day! Marie Harbon, author of the recent YA spec fic novel, drops by to share a bit of how she would handle The Day the Sun Stopped Shining. 


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Author Marie Harbon
You wake up one morning and there is no daylight – it is pitch dark outside, not even electricity… Something happened to turn out all the light and there are strange noises outside…

Nothing had changed since yesterday; I was still isolated from my comrades, the door was still firmly closed and it was still pitch black. It surprised me that despite the lack of electricity, the door hadn't released so I surmised that there must be a back up source of power somewhere feeding the controller of my new prison cell.             It was disorientating being shut off from society, enclosed in a sensory deprivation environment… maybe it was being done deliberately. When the power had inexplicably died several hours ago, my comrades had been on the other side. Then an alarm had sounded and the door had swung shut, the electronic locks clicking in an indication of my impending doom.

But what I had heard on the other side of the door truly chilled me to the bone… people screaming, real torturous shrieks like some grisly apocalyptic scene. Then silence, and that was the worst part of all. I now felt isolated because I was either separated from my comrades in life and death, or through distance.

That silence had now given away to some strange shuffling and scraping sounds coming from the other side of the door. There had to be at least one person out there, anyone… I couldn't bear the isolation. Without hesitation, I began banging on the door to draw their attention but then the shuffling and scraping stopped. I called out but there was just silence.

This wasn't working. I had to make sense of what was going on, so I pictured what I could remember of the room's interior… entrances and exits. The point of entry we used was above and to the left, I think; my sense of direction was completely lost in the pitch black. This heist certainly wasn't going to plan.

If the world really was ending, what 3 things would you do?Make sure I was surrounded by my family and friends, so that if we go down, we go down together.
Reflect on the good times and the greatest things I'd achieved throughout my life.
Along with my friends and family, I'd take a boat and lay claim to an island somewhere, away from the hysterical and looting population. (It's ending, but not completely finished!).
[image error]   Marie Harbon is an author and screenplay writer who lives in Nottingham, UK. Her first and current novel is the first in a five part paranormal/science fiction epic called 'Seven Point Eight: The First Chronicle', which is available on the Kindle for $0.99 and in paperback for $18.00.

Download a copy from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Seven-Point-Eight-ebook/dp/B005IBYKC0/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_kin?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325201684&sr=1-1

Follow me on Twitter @marieharbon

Visit my website at www.marieharbon.com

Like my Facebook page 'The Seven Point Eight Chronicles – Science Fiction/Paranormal Series' https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Seven-Point-Eight-Chronicles-Science-FictionParanormal-Series/187502084680196?sk=info

You can also add me on Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5069707.Marie_A_Harbon

Many thanks, Rae for welcoming me to your site.



Thanks for dropping by Marie! ~ AWD

Day 4 of the tour also brings us another special treat in the form of author Ju Ephraime. Ju's mystery entitled The Man in the Black Top Hat is available now! Here's a snapshot of our second author of the day as well as a look into her new book!



Ju Ephraime

http://juephraime1.blogspot.com/

Brief Bio: Ju Ephraime has been reading and writing from her teenage years. However, over the years, the heavy load of academic reading and writing, in pursuit of her educational goals, forced her to step away from reading and writing, just for the fun of it. A year ago she revisited her first love, writing for fun and enjoyment, and has not stopped since. She has written several children's books, including four romance novels, and her first paranormal. Professionally, she is the  administrator of a career school in Connecticut and the President of a non-profit organization, Professional Wardrobe, Inc., which dresses individuals for job interviews. Ms. Antoine is very active in her community and is always willing to assist and help someone in need.





The Man in the Black Top Hat

Brief Synopsis: In this her first paranormal romance novel, Ju Ephraime has given us a book filled with suspense, mystery, ghostly happenings, and sex. For most authors of paranormal romance, this would have been an ambitious undertaking, but Ephraime delivers this story in her usual quick pace and attention to detail. The Man In The Black Top Hat, is not your ordinary paranormal romance novel.



Set in Connecticut, The Man In The Black Top Hat will have you on the edge of your seat, as you try to follow the interactions between Syria Warrington and the Ghost that invaded her home. Told in the voice of the heroine, Syria Warrington, the story takes you from Syria's first meeting with the Ghost on her front step, to her bringing it into her home, and the nightly going ons between them, as, night after night she found herself caught up in sexual escapades, the like of which she had never experienced before. The story has the reader wondering, was Syria's meeting with the Ghost an accident or had she been targeted by the Ghost in a former life?



Get a copy here at: The Man In The Black Top Hat