Saturday, February 23, 2013
Moving!
I've decided to move my blog over to Wordpress as I feel that I get on with the layout and things better over there and much prefer the way it works so all of my reviews and giveaways will now be at ramblingsofanelfpire.wordpress.com. Thanks!
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Dead Famous - Ben Elton
Title: Dead Famous
Author: Ben Elton
This book is based on House Arrest, a fictional Big Brother-type reality television programme, where ten people are forced to live together, with the prospect of the last person to survive the evictions winning half a million dollars. The need to survive becomes a lot more real when one of the contestants is brutally murdered. To be honest, I was a little worried that I wouldn't like this book just because I have never enjoyed or been interested in reality television shows like this, but I found that this book highlighted all of the problems that I have with this genre of entertainment so I actually ended up enjoying it quite a lot, and it has actually got me out of my reading slump!
The plot on the whole was very intriguing because it was a very mysterious 'whodunnit' that was only obvious right at the end, so the suspense was built up throughout the whole book. Even when it came to who actually got murdered, this was revealed quite far into the book. This gave the reader time to connect with some of the characters and almost establish their favourite contestant before killing one of them off. Also, the order of the chapters that are specific days in the house, are jumbled, meaning that the police in the story sometimes know less than you know as a reader. This almost makes the reader feel as though they are investigating the murder too.
I really liked some of the characters in this book but I also disliked some of them too. I think that this is mostly because of the way that the contestants are manipulated by Peeping Tom, the television company, and the influence that this has on the reader.
The writing style was very simple yet witty and easily drew me in. I managed to finish this book in one sitting because of the way it was laid out and the length of the chapters.
Overall I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars as it was really well-written and I liked the plot, but there was something missing for me the whole way through; maybe it was because I didn't like some of the characters, but there was always a very uneasy feeling throughout this novel.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Circle of Lies Blog Tour and Giveaway!
In honor of the Circle of Lies blog tour starting tomorrow authors Sara Dailey and Staci Weber are giving away a e-book copy of Pack of Lies, the first book in the Red Ridge Pack series and a $25 Amazon Gift Card!
Book Description:
The last thing Allison Wright ever expected when she moved to Red Ridge, New Mexico was to come muzzle to muzzle with the wolf of her dreams.
Seventeen-year-old Allison Wright is convinced she’s losing her mind. Uncontrollable mood swings, hot flashes, and the urge to punch anyone who gets in her way are suddenly becoming everyday occurrences. Before her erratic behavior gets out of hand, Allison’s mother finally comes clean about her dark secret. Mom is a werewolf, and soon Allison and her brother Aiden will suffer the same fate. When Allison reaches her breaking point, the family leaves their life in Texas to move to Red Ridge, New Mexico where they rejoin the pack that Allison’s mother left behind almost 20 years ago.
Unfortunately, not everyone in Red Ridge is thrilled about Allison’s arrival, especially when she attracts the attention of the very handsome, very taken, soon-to-be alpha, Cade Walker. Little does Allison know, her mere presence is causing a rift in a once unified pack. Not only has Cade been forbidden from being with Allison by his father, the pack’s alpha, Cade’s girlfriend, Kendall Stuart, will stop at nothing to get Allison out of the picture. Well on her way to becoming the next alpha’s mate, Kendall expects to rule the pack by Cade’s side even if it means teaming up with a rogue werewolf with an agenda of his own. Determined to get rid of Allison permanently, when Kendall and the rogue join forces, all hell breaks loose and no one in the pack is safe, especially not Cade and his true mate.
The Circle of Lies blog tour kicks off February 1st! Check out the schedule of the tour here.
Title: Circle of Lies (Red Ridge Pack #2)
Authors: Sara Dailey and Staci Weber
Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group
Description:
Aiden Wright is trying to figure out who he really is, but the truth could cost him his true mate—or his life.
Life has always been easy for Aiden Wright. He’s smart, athletic, funny, and the ladies adore him. But when tragedy strikes, Aiden discovers the truth about who he really is, and his whole world comes crashing down around him. Aiden thought that being a teenage werewolf was going to be awesome, but it might just cost him the one girl who could make him whole.
Since her mother’s disappearance, Teagan Rhodes’s life has been littered with her father’s empty beer cans and his hollow promises to change. Convinced that others would only let her down, she keeps everyone at arm’s length—but resisting Aiden’s charm is proving to be more difficult than she thought. Throw in a psychotic werewolf hunter out to terminate the species, and one wrong move, one wrong decision could destroy everything.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
A Tale Dark & Grimm - Adam Gidwitz
Author: Adam Gidwitz
I received this book from Reeka over at Bound by Words in her latest giveaway. Usually this wouldn't be the kind of book that I choose, but as it was one of Reeka's favourite books of 2012, along with a few books that I also loved, I trusted her judgement and didn't regret it at all! This book is about Hansel and Gretel and their adventures through other Grimm's classic fairytales.
The plot of this book was interesting as although I am not usually a fairytale kind of reader, I enjoyed the more gruesome aspects of this book. The gory details contrasted well with the child-like way of story telling with the "Once upon a time" chapter beginnings.
The characters were interesting too because although there were lots of side characters that we, as the reader, didn't get to fully get to know, the two main protagonists seemed very familiar by the end of the book.
I really liked the style of writing and that is the main thing that made me love this book. The style of the story was very simple which made it feel more like a children's fairytale book, despite the graphic nature of some of the events. I really liked the interjected paragraphs where the author would almost commentate on what was happening in the book. This made it easier to connect with the book as well as the author and made it feel as though I was being verbally read to, rather than just reading the story on the page.
Overall I would give this book 5 out of 5 stars because it was not only much better than I thought it would be but it is also the best fairytale-based book I have ever read. Also, being an illustration student and a bit of an art-nut, I couldn't help but be attracted by the gorgeous cover of this book and the small illustrations at the beginning of each chapter add to the magic of the story.
Eric - Terry Pratchett
Author: Terry Pratchett
Apart from Terry Pratchett's children's books, Pratchett has never really been an author that I have had any interest in reading. I have tried to read some of his Discworld novels previously but never really got past the first few pages but after receiving this book as part of a brilliant collection for sale at The Book People online (not being sponsored at all, their collections are just amazing!), I thought I should try reading Terry Pratchett because I now actually own one of his books. Eric is a really short book, at only around 150 pages and I thought that this would be the perfect one to start with. Eric is about a fourteen year old demonology enthusiast who summons a demon to grant him three wishes, but instead he gets Rincewind, the most incompetent wizard in Discworld.
I found that although the idea of the plot and the synopsis on the back of the book looked interesting, the execution lacked a deep plot and it seemed to end quite suddenly. I appreciate that this is a short book, and that there was not really much time for development but I found that it just seemed to describe a chain of events with no real conclusion. Although I did like the plot, I think that if the book was longer there would have been more time to develop the story as I felt that the book seemed unfinished somehow.
I really liked the characters in this book. Rincewind reminded me very much of Radagast from Tolkien's The Hobbit in that he is incompetent as far as a wizard goes, and a bit eccentric. I think that I would like to read more about Rincewind in Terry Pratchett's other books but I don't think that the character was really explored to his fullest in this book.
Overall I think that the writing style was something that I could happily read in another one of this author's books, though it did take a bit of getting used to. I loved the world building and think that the writing style lent itself well to this fantasy style of book.
On the whole, I would give this book 3 out of 5 stars, and although I didn't particularly enjoy Eric, I would be interested in reading other Terry Pratchett books as I really liked the way that it was written and the world that Pratchett created.
The Knife of Never Letting Go - Patrick Ness
Author: Patrick Ness
I fell in love with Patrick Ness' writing style last year when I read A Monster Calls but for some reason was always put off picking this one up; maybe it's because of the hype, or that it's classed as a children's book in a lot of book shops, or that it's the first of a series (I usually don't read a lot of series'). Whatever the reason, I had avoided this until now, when someone I know started recommending it to me after reading it. This book is the first in the Chaos Walking trilogy and is about a thirteen year old boy called Todd Hewitt who lives in a world of men where everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts, including animals. One day he goes off into the swamp and this is where he is forced to embark on a journey that will teach him the truth and also save his life.
First of all, I found that the plot, after hearing about it, was very intriguing and I think that overall it was well executed in this book. Although at points it was a bit slow, I think that it was paced perfectly because these slow sections were contrasted wonderfully with the fast-paced action scenes. I felt that although this is usually classed as a children's book, I would say that some of the themes and violent scenes were definitely not suitable for anyone under the age of maybe 14 as they were described in quite a graphic way.
I really loved the characters in this book. Todd, the protagonist, is very down-to-earth which makes him relateable and because it is written from his point of view, the reader can empathise with him quite easily. Manchee, Todd's dog, was one of my favourite characters even though his dialogue featured very little in the book and I think that overall all of the characters were very well developed.
The writing style in this book was unique to everything else I have read. As Todd cannot spell properly, some of the words in the book are spelt as he would spell them, which makes it a bit more believable to the reader. It took some getting used to but I really think that it added another depth to the story.
Overall I would give this 5 out of 5 stars and I will definitely be reading the second and third of this series and would recommend it to anyone who wants an action-packed yet emotional read.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
An Abundance of Katherines - John Green
Author: John Green
This book is the last of John Green's books that are not co-written with anyone else that I have read. After loving all of his other books, I was slightly dubious about reading this one as it seems to be everyone's least favourite for some reason, but I found this in my local Waterstones book store signed and couldn't believe it so decided to give it a try. An Abundance of Katherines is about a teenage boy called Colin who only goes out with girls called Katherine and finds himself heartbroken by K-19. This is about his journey to create a mathematical theorem that can predict the future of any relationship.
I found the plot of this John Green book one of the best of the books I have read in recent months. At first the idea of a heartbroken teenager being the protagonist of the book, put me off slightly as I thought that it might get a bit whingy and Colin might become annoying but I found that I really got sucked into the plot and the way that, as with all John Green books, the style of writing really helped the plot to develop and the characters really helped this simple story to develop into something that was just brilliant.
The characters really made this book. Colin was a really interesting character because he had a deep personality. I really liked that he is obsessed with anagrams as it adds a lot more humour to the story than would otherwise be there. Also I really like all the side characters, especially Hassan, who's quick humour and religious references kept my attention firmly in the plot and counteracted the more methodical character of Colin Singleton.
The writing style was the same as in any John Green book, intelligent, witty and laced with the author's own personality. By no means was An Abundance of Katherines any less good than the other John Green books I have read. In fact I'd have to say that this is one of my favourites.
I would give An Abundance of Katherines by John Green 5 out of 5 stars as it is incredibly well-written and executed.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Morrigan by Lauren De Luca Giveaway!
Morrigan Giveaway
Author Laura DeLuca is giving away an amazing swag pack for her upcoming blog tour in February!
Author: Laura DeLuca
Pages: 320
Book Description: Shuffled from place to place in the foster system, Morrigan doesn't know the meaning of home. Plus, she is different. She has power over fire, the ability to move objects with her mind, and glimpse into the future. Just when she believes her life can’t get any stranger, she discovers her true identity. Filtiarn, a knight with a dark past and a surprising secret, has been tasked with guiding the heir of TÃr na NÓg through countless perils to be returned to her family. Once Morrigan has been reunited with her mother and grandmother, their triad can save the forgotten land of magic from being devoured by an ancient evil. Here is what you can win:
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Circle of Lies by Sara Dailey & Staci Weber
Today is the promotional blitz for Circle of Lies by Sara Dailey and Staci Weber!
Title: Circle of Lies (Red Ridge Pack #2)
Authors: Sara Dailey and Staci Weber
Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group
Description:
Aiden Wright is trying to figure out who he really is, but the truth could cost him his true mate—or his life.
Life has always been easy for Aiden Wright. He’s smart, athletic, funny, and the ladies adore him. But when tragedy strikes, Aiden discovers the truth about who he really is, and his whole world comes crashing down around him. Aiden thought that being a teenage werewolf was going to be awesome, but it might just cost him the one girl who could make him whole.
Since her mother’s disappearance, Teagan Rhodes’s life has been littered with her father’s empty beer cans and his hollow promises to change. Convinced that others would only let her down, she keeps everyone at arm’s length—but resisting Aiden’s charm is proving to be more difficult than she thought. Throw in a psychotic werewolf hunter out to terminate the species, and one wrong move, one wrong decision could destroy everything.
About Sara Dailey and Staci Weber
Both Sara Dailey and Staci Weber are avid readers, English teachers, friends, wives and soccer moms. They have been teaching together for the past ten years and writing together for six.
Born and raised in Houston, TX, Staci Weber is a graduate of the University of North Texas. Staci is a junior high school teacher with an addiction to reading romance novels. She considers herself incredibly lucky to have a close family, some good friends, a fabulous husband and two beautiful little girls.
Sara Dailey co-authored the Red Ridge Pack Novels with her good friend and co-worker Staci Weber. She has a degree in literature from U of H Clear Lake and is a graduate of The Institute of Children’s Literature. Sara is a native Texan and lives with her wonderful husband and son in League City, TX.
Author Links: Website Facebook Purchase on Amazon Purchase on Barnes And Noble
If you want to find out more about this book make sure you check out the blog tour starting in February. Click here to see dates and blog tour information.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Manipulating the List - K. B. Lever
Title: Manipulating the List
Author: K. B. Lever
The
author of this novel sent it to me for an honest review and since
that is what I aim to do with these reviews, I felt that I could
honour her wish. Although I received this book from the author for free, I feel that I would be honest about whether I liked it or not, and in this case, I really enjoyed this read.
This
book was written by K. B. Lever and is about a young woman named
Katherine who, throughout her life, keeps coming into contact with
the Collector. Suddenly, after her name appears on the Collector's
list, she becomes a killer at the age of twenty-two, in order to
manipulate the list. She soon realise that she must assist in the
deaths of others to bypass her own fate.
The
plot of this story is what drew me to it in the first place and it
definitely didn't disappoint! Although some aspects of the story were
a little bit unrealistic (like managing to get from the US to
Australia, purely through hiding and distracting security), I think
that the concept of the Collector and the idea of manipulating the
list is really interesting and definitely holds the reader's
attention. I found that I didn't want to put this book down and when
it ended I immediately wanted there to be a sequel (which there will
be!). Some of this story was a little disturbing, particularly the
murder scenes, but I think that this was entirely necessary to add a
sense of urgency to the protagonists situation.
The
characters were entirely believable and likeable. I really liked
Katherine because although at points she was emotional, I think that
her strength carried this story forward and most of the things that
she did were the most logical steps. I also really liked the
Collector as he had a believable and yet tragic background and this
made me sympathize with his situation a lot more. The other
characters, such as Liam, the love interest, were well-rounded and
each one added to the story.
The
writing style was suspenseful and interesting, not too simple, yet
easy to read. I read this book in just over a day as it is quite
short, and I think that the writing style really pushed the story
forward.
Overall,
I really enjoyed this book, it was interesting and exciting and made
you want to keep turning the pages. I would give this 5 out of 5
stars and will definitely keep an eye out for the sequels.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Retribution by Amy Thompson Cover Reveal
Author: Amy Thompson
Book Description: One curse, one exception, one chance at redemption. Regan Edison has just moved from California, to enter her first year at Georgia State. Jacked up Chevy trucks and hunting were a way of life in Georgia. On the evening of her first day of school, Regan was walking back to her dorm when she was viciously attacked by three men. Regan was convinced she was going to die that night. Colter Hayes is a member of the Collectors and the first wrongfully punished soul. Colter and the rest of his team, Finn, Kaiden and Devon, work for the Requiem Council whose job it is to pass judgment onto souls and reincarnate them so that the souls may fix past indiscretions. Agro, an ex-councilman, and his soulless Exiles have other plans. Agro steals souls and hands down his own type of judgment, retribution. He punished those members of the Collectors and has now set his sights on Regan. The Requiem Council dispatches the Collectors to Georgia to work as protectors for Regan. The Collectors must fight to keep Regan safe from Agro and work to earn back their chance at redemption, but when Colter meets Regan his world changes. Everything he thought he knew about his curse is turned upside down and Regan seems to be the cause. Can the Collectors find out why Regan is being targeted in time to save her from a fate they know all too well? And is Colter’s curse as final as he thought or will Regan prove to be his exception?
And now for the cover reveal!
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Shades of Summer - Joy Elbel
Author: Joy Elbel
Pages: 465
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Blurb: Love…the only thing more powerful than death. Seventeen year old Ruby Matthews spent the last year of her life crippled by guilt and grief over the death of longtime friend and boyfriend Seeley “Lee” Lucas. Feeling that a change of scenery might snap her back to reality, Ruby’s father moves the family out of their home in the Philadelphia suburb of Trinity and into small town life in Charlotte’s Grove, Pennsylvania. Life is better here for Ruby—she quickly makes friends with handsome Zach Mason and his twin sister Rachel. Every moment spent with Zach makes life and love seem possible again. But passion comes with a high price. Things are not what they seem at Rosewood, the Matthews’ historic plantation-style home. Paranormal activity at the mansion intensifies as she draws closer to Zach. Is it Lee—coming back to claim her heart and maybe even her soul? Or is something more sinister hiding in the shadows? Ruby must delve into her own past and the history of Rosewood before it is too late.
About Joy Elbel
|
Joy Elbel lives in Central Pennsylvania which is also the setting for her first novel. "Shades of Summer" is the first installment of the four part The Haunting Ruby Series. A serious fascination with ghosts and a love of reading led her to want to create her own works of fiction. She admits to spending way too much time on Facebook and not enough time with Matt, her boyfriend and muse. She will be releasing the second book in the series, "Phantoms of Fall", in early December 2012. She is currently working on a second series of young adult novels.
http://joyelbel.blogspot.com/
|
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Shades of Grey - Jasper Fforde
Title: Shades of Grey
Author: Jasper Fforde
Author: Jasper Fforde
This book is set in the future in a world where the visibility of colours is what sets your social status, and the protagonist, Eddie, sets out on an adventure that leads him to question the way society is run and the mysteries that surround East Carmine.
I found the plot really interesting and absorbing from the start as the world was fully developed and was entirely believable. I found that even when there wasn't something action filled happening, the mystery kept me gripped.
The characters are what kept me hooked on this book. The side characters really supported the main plot and were completely developed which is rare for side characters. My favourite was Jane, her feistinous and attitude made her a more human character than the rest of the inhabitants of Fforde's new world.
The writing style was easily understandable and interesting to read as there were some parts very unique to this version of the future. I really liked the way the names reflected the character's colours and despite this being quite a lengthy book, it flowed well from beginning to end.
Overall, I would give this 5 out of 5 stars as the writing , plot and characters dragged you into the world and I can't wait to read the sequels.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Opening the Ball - Nathaniel Simpson
Title: Opening the Ball
Author: Nathaniel Simpson
This book is about a young boy called
Jonathan who is recruited into a mysterious paramilitary academy for
gifted boys. When he and two of his friends are chosen to take part
in an elite program, they must survive one of the bloodiest days of
battle of the Civil War.
The plot was an interesting one,
keeping me gripped from the start. It combines many of the aspects of
literature that I like; clever plot twists, exciting action and the
right level of emotion that draws you in and makes you really care
for the characters. I like the introduction of time travel and the
way it was used in the story, along with the way the characters and
setting were authentic and believable.
The characters were very relatable and
by the end of the book I really was concerned about each of them.
Jonathan was a solid and well-rounded protagonist and I think that
the author gave just enough back-story to him so that the reader
could understand his personality and the way he was. Also I like the
side characters as there were interesting personalities and it was
surprising who I, as a reader, sympathised with.
The writing style was easily
understandable and well-written. I found that the story was well
researched and authentic when discussing the Civil War in America;
with the weapons and clothing being very convincing to the reader, as
well as the characters.
Overall I would give this 4 out of 5
stars because although I really loved the plot and the whole story, I
found the ending to be a bit abrupt (this is probably due to it being
the first in a series), however, I would still definitely recommend
this.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Undertow - Kiri R. Newton
Author: Kiri R. Newton
Publication information: Bookpal Australia (2012)
This book focuses on Zoe, a young Australian girl who after a tragic plane crash meets a dashing merman named Josiah. From that moment on Zoe's life changes completely, and flash eleven years forward, and we see that everything is getting very dangerous for Zoe when Josiah suddenly appears back into her life.
Undertow is quite short at only 291 pages long so I managed to read this in just a few hours. I think that for this type of young adult book, the plot was exciting and held my interest but at points became predictable as the story contains many of the typical YA themes; mermaids, love triangle, family conflicts, romance. Despite the predictable nature of the plot, I think that had I been a few years younger I would have thoroughly enjoyed this book so I would recommend it for anyone who usually enjoys young adult literature or readers who are between 14 and 18, as personally I think that readers of this age would definitely get more from the story.
Our main protagonist is Zoe. She seems to be the typical sort of YA girl; girly and hopelessly romantic but in the end tough and willing to fight. I never really connected with Zoe as a main character but I really liked the character of Josiah. I found him to be much more believable and relatable than any of the other characters, even though he is a merman. I found some of the side characters interesting and the use of history to describe the various families to the reader was an effective tool. The characters were at times slightly annoying, mostly because they did not react to strange things in the ways that I think the average person would. I can't really say much about this though as I don't want to ruin the story for anyone wishing to read this but I think that, had the reactions to things been more believable or dramatic, I would have been able to connect to the characters a lot more.
The writing was good but as I said before, this would definitely be better suited to someone a bit younger. The language used in this book is a lot more straight-forward than I am used to and not too descriptive which means that Undertow is a great little quick read with an interesting plot.
Overall, I would give Undertow by Kiri R. Newton 3.5 out of 5 stars and I would recommend this book to younger young adult literature readers and anyone who enjoys a good mermaid tale!
Undertow by Kiri R. Newton Teaser!
Author Kiri R. Newton has stopped by today with a teaser from her new book Undertow.
The room reminded Zoe of an oversized English conservatory, filled with deep sea plants that swayed gently in the gentle currents that seeped into the room. There were sponges, a variety of corals and sea weeds. Among these crawled sea slugs, starfish, crabs, lobsters and other sea creatures. Nestled among the garden there were statues, cannons and figureheads, but the centrepiece belonged to a massive black grand piano. The black lacquered wood shone even in the muted lights, upon a plinth at the centre of the garden.
“It’s beautiful,” Zoe breathed. Nox smiled as he began to lead her upwards to the piano before settling behind it. Zoe perched beside him on the stool.
“I love it, too. I come in here a lot, just to play and be alone. I think music is like therapy for me. It helps me make sense of the crazy world I‘m in, or at least drowns it out for a while.”
“Play something for me,” Zoe pleaded.
Nox fumbled a couple of notes then began to play. Zoe shut her eyes as he began to sing, his voice dragging her into a dizzying depth, the sounds of the piano carrying magically underwater. Zoe could feel him move beside her as he threw himself heart and soul into the song. Zoe could feel herself being dragged into that place along with him. Nox’s voice sounded a lot like Josiah’s, but his voice had a deeper, more resonant sound. The effect on Zoe was the same; she found herself being swept away by his music.
When Nox finished he placed his arm around her waist. This time Zoe couldn’t repress the shiver which came partially from his cold touch but also from every nerve ending tingling after listening to him sing. Nox must have noticed her reaction, because he looked down at her, bit his lip and shifted away, his face falling dramatically. Zoe watched as he rested his hands on the top of the piano, twisting the silver ring on his thumb with a pained look on his face.
“I’m sorry. It’s not ‒” Zoe tried to explain.
“No. No, it’s not you. It’s me. This. Us. It’s wrong,” Nox’s voice whispered in her mind. “You shouldn’t be forced into it like this. I want to be with you, but not like this.”
Author: Kiri R. Newton
Publisher: Bookpal Austrailia
Blurb: For far too long these sailor-drowning, ship-sinking sea sirens have been portrayed as happy, peaceful creatures who want nothing more than to fall in love with a prince and live happily ever after. Undertow is an unconventional twist on one of the oldest mythological creatures known to man.
Buy Links:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Smashwords
Bookpal
Media Links: Website
About Kiri R. Newton
Its weird right but as an author I could tell you about my characters inside out and yet when people ask me to talk about myself I go all quiet. Anyways, here I go.
I am a child of ‘91 born in Jandowae, a tiny little town out past Dalby. When I was five my parents decided to pack everything up and move to Tonga in the South Pacific after Dad visited there and mum fell in love with the place after reading a book about it. So I grew up in a third world country, fluent in a second language by the time I was eight and lived amongst the locals who I was friends with.
When I was thirteen my father passed away and due to the fact that the government refused to pay my mum a pension over there like they did my father, we were forced to move back to Australia.
As for my writing career, I started writing progressively longer short stories in Grade 5 where one teacher noted on my report card that ‘I had unique ideas and an unusual talent’. By Grade 7 I had completed my first novel a post-apocalyptic fiction where cats are the highest life form and live basically as we do and follows the lives of a litter of cats, the characters based on a litter of cats belonging to my neighbour. I continued writing different things from horsey stories to Phantom of the Opera fan-fiction right through my teenage years, nothing serious, mostly just a lot of scribbling.
In Grade 12 I realized that if I was going to be serious about being a writer I needed to finish stories, not just have a lot of random scribbles to my name. So forgoing all my assignments I finished my second book called Dynamite which is an Australiana tale about a racehorse. Two years later I went on holidays to Fiji, came home and three months later Undertow was completed. In the middle there I wrote a Tolkien-esque fantasy epic called The Dark Assassin with my now ex-boyfriend. The year after that I completed Hazardous, which will be my next published title.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Scarlet Woods by Brooke Passmore Release!
Today is the release day of Scarlet Woods by Brooke Passmore!
Title: Scarlet WoodsAuthor: Brooke Passmore
Publisher: Self Published
Blurb: Past, future, and love all exist in the door through time. Modern and independent seventeen year old Morgan Westbrook thought she had seen all there was to her home town of Scarlet, Georgia, but one day while walking in the woods behind her house she discovers a mysterious door masked behind the trees. After admiring the door’s timeless beauty she walks through its entrance to venture into more woods, but what she doesn’t know is that the door is a gateway through time that takes her back to the year 1863 during the days of the Civil War in Scarlet. Without knowing that she had traveled back in time, she stumbles upon Danny Carson, an attractive young man who is appalled to see that Morgan is wearing skimpy modern clothes instead of a nineteenth century dress. Although they find each other completely different than anyone they’ve ever known, they cannot help but feel drawn to one another. After spending time in another century, she discovers that she's time traveled back to the year 1863 and that the door took her there. For months she and Danny journey back and forth through the door to experience the joys of traveling to both of their centuries. When dilemmas of unwanted marriage, slavery, and war are thrown at them, they must face the perils that time travel has delivered them in both the future and the past.
Teaser:
March 14, 1863, Danny Carson was riding his black horse underneath the budding trees of the woods. He heard the crackle of rushing water hit against the pebbles and sharp rocks in the creek as the orange sun descended from the face of Scarlet, Georgia. Winter had disappeared and Danny was thrilled. He hated winter; it was always a cold and lifeless season. Dull brown trails and naked branches weren’t a welcoming atmosphere, but now since spring had finally arrived, color had returned to the trees. Spring brought out so much greenery and life in the woods with its ivy spiraling up trunks, weeds and wild flowers blooming at tree roots, and the sun tanning the leaves while birds zipped through the branches. People in Scarlet didn’t dare enter the woods late in the evening. They feared the idea of foul killers or fictional monsters haunting the trees at night. But when it came to the woods Danny was fearless. He’d visit at any time of day to get away from things just for a little while. He found the depths of the trees, the forever running creek, and the prowling Spanish moss to be an escape from his regular routine. Plus, he being practically the only visitor at any time of day gave him the full run of the place. The woods were his. As soon as the sun winked at the ground and was about to depart from the sky, the storm had begun. The dark night clouds began to mix with purring thunder. Noticing how gloomy the day had become, Danny tensed up in his saddle. “Oh no…” He grumbled. His horse Nashville was a handful when it came to storms and was terrified of loud thunder. Then the lightning started ripping through the sky. Danny tightened his grip on the reins as the first set of thunder stung his ears. Nashville came to a halt on the dirt trail and let out a few worried neighs at the feel of raindrops plopping against his coat. Danny rolled his eyes. “Whiny baby,” He stroked Nashville’s neck to help calm him down. As more lightning nicked the gray sky, rain showered onto the forest floor. In a matter of seconds Danny and Nashville were drenched. Rapid rain pounded onto the creek and the thunder produced a drummed even beat that taunted the black horse. Skittish and now ill tempered from the storm, Nashville scooted his burly legs back in reverse and shuffled his hooves on the dirt path. Danny had a firm hold on the reins trying to control him. “Calm down Nash! It’s only a bit of loud noise. Toughen up!” The thunder became more prominent in the endless dark sky. Nashville gave out a loud neigh and began to buck in the air, unbalancing Danny’s weight on the saddle. “Steady! Stop it Nashville!” He said to his horse as he began to feel his feet start to slip out of the stirrups. One large wave of lightning slashed through the clouds with a bright bolt. Thunder roared out like a hungry lion about to attack its prey, nearly shattering Danny’s eardrums. Nashville couldn’t take it any longer. His front legs kicked off the ground, arching his back into the air. Danny lost his balance and accidentally let go of his reins while being thrown off his saddle. “No Nash!” He yelled as he fell into the wet mud below. The second he was out of the saddle Nashville took off running into the rain. Danny tasted chunky bits of mud as he sat up in a small pool of brown slush. He snarled seeing his horse run off into the distance. “Nashville! Come back you dumb horse!” Nashville didn’t show any signs of slowing down. Danny stood up cursing under his breath as he chased his horse down the trail he had taken. “Stop Nashville!” Danny yelled through the feverish raindrops. He darted through bushes and stepped on thorns with his wet boots. Every other step of his chase he spat out dirt that had crept in between his teeth. “Stupid horse, stupid horse!” He kept muttering to himself. With one last echoing neigh, Nashville took a sharp turn behind a hill and was out of sight. Danny ran a bit faster, hoping that he wouldn’t lose his horse’s tracks. After he took the same turn behind the hill, he came upon three possible paths that Nashville could have taken. He looked for hoof tracks in the mud but this area of the forest was rockier than the rest of the woods and left no footprints to be seen. There was no telling which way Nashville went. Placing the tips of his fingers to his mouth, Danny let out a high pitched whistle that screamed through the trees. Usually when he would whistle Nashville would instantly come to his side, but this time he didn’t show. Danny whistled three more times, but all that was around him were the trees and the rain. With his head hung low, he began to walk back the way he came, realizing that his horse wasn’t coming back to him. He was covered in mud and was expecting a plum colored bruise on his rear from being bucked off his saddle. Now that he lost Nashville in the woods, he had to walk back home soaked in the rain. Danny hoped that Nashville would be smart and find his way back home whenever the storm settled. He didn’t want his horse to go too far from home, but little did he know how far away his horse would run off to. Running as fast as his hooves could take him, neighs burst from Nashville’s lips at each strike of thunder. He dodged past the wooded trees with remarkable speed as the rain penetrated his sight. Feeling frightened, he wanted coverage from the rain and desired to escape the storm. He slowed down to a steady trot, but his legs were still fidgety. He needed to find shelter. Coming upon a hill he didn’t recognize, Nashville staggered up the hill in hopes of evading the thunder that seemed to loom over him. He came to find more green oaks and weeping willows with saggy limbs that suspended just inches off the ground at the top of the hill. His hooves left tracks in the mud as he jogged around to view his new surroundings. His hooves stomped on wild flowers that sprouted all over the ground. The rain seemed tamer up on higher ground. Even with the gloomy sky hanging overhead, this part of the woods felt like a more positive environment. The gallant trees that encircled him gave Nashville a strange comfort and made him feel safe for some reason. Nashville quickly stopped in his tracks to admire a massive object standing before him. It was a door, but not just an ordinary door. It was a rich chocolate brown that had two doors in one just like an entrance of a grand church. It didn’t belong to any building structure, wall, or fence and stood alone. One of its doors was partially open. Nashville inched up to it and nudged the opened door back further to create a bigger opening. What he saw inside the entrance was the exact same forest, or was it? The ground he stood on was wet and miserable with rain attacking the earth. On Nashville’s side of the door the sky was a lifeless color with drained out clouds, but looking through the door was the setting sun shining its warm rays on the dry ground. The grass wasn’t wet and the trees didn’t drip rain off their leaves. Everything through the door was light and calm. It was as if the other side of the forest was a completely different place and was free from the vicious storm. How was that possible? This other side of the door was definitely odd with its drastic weather differences, but since Nashville was a horse he didn’t think too much of it. He entered the peaceful atmosphere through the door’s opening. A warm wind blew a light breeze against his wet coat after his first step through to the other side. There was no harsh rain and no loud thunder ringing in his ears. He was positive that this was the better side of the woods. Nashville turned his soaked body back to face the door he came out of. It was ajar and he could see the unbearable rain continue to pour onto the grass on the side he just exited from. One final thunder erupted but it was contained inside the door sounding distant and far away, even though he stood only a few feet away from the entrance of the storm. Nashville shook his head from side to side, slapping his long mane against his neck trying to get every raindrop off of him. He neighed out a happy tune and trotted through the dryer parts of Scarlet Woods.
About Brooke Passmore
I live in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and am a 22 year old young woman who probably will never fully grow up. As a kid I played with Polly Pockets, swam in my swimming pool practically every day during the summer, and went on vacations to Disney World with my family (favorite days of my life). I loved telling stories as a kid by playing with my Polly’s and dressing up like princesses with my friends. Eventually everything that went on in my busy imagination I wrote down on paper in the late hours of the night.
When I was in sixth grade I moved into a new house with woods directly behind my backyard. I’d walk about the woods and loved trampling through the creek or getting lost in the trees. These trips through the woods gave me my inspiration for my book trilogy Scarlet Woods. My main character in my book is Morgan who lives in a house where the woods are right behind her backyard. My love for trees and anything woodsy definitely shows in my book and I hope I painted a pretty picture in readers’ heads about what Scarlet Woods looks like.
My favorite candies are Skittles and M&M’s. I put ketchup on practically anything with meat (even with chicken quesadillas). I’m a great fan of Florence and the Machine, The Beatles, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Birdie, and recently The Civil Wars. My favorite books are The Hunger Games, Shiver, and Wither. My favorite movies are Titanic and Gone with the Wind. The Vampire Diaries is the wonderful TV show I’m obsessed with (I’m a Delena lover!!). I hate ads on youtube that I repeatedly have to skip every single time I want to listen to the newest song from Glee. I love to smile, laugh, and purposefully sing loud and off key whenever my brother is around just to pester him. I have a cat named Phoebe who we named after Phoebe from Friends, a yorkie named Coco who we named because he likes to eat Cocoa Puffs, and a shih tzu maltese we named Indy after Indiana Jones. My favorite princess is Cinderella but I think my personality is a tie between Ariel and Belle so they’re all my ultimate faves. If I could choose a century to time travel to I’d probably choose the Victorian age, the roaring 20’s, the 1950’s, or the 1940’s. I think the Victorian age and the 1940’s were probably the most romantic eras in history and the 20’s and 50’s would probably the most fun!
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Casual Vacancy to be TV Drama Series!
Although I haven't yet read The Casual Vacancy by Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, I am excited to share that the BBC have decided to make a TV dramatization that will hopefully be aired in 2014.
I'm sure many people would agree that this would make an exciting change to the usual film adaptations that come from books, as sometimes, television dramatizations can bring a fresh look and feel to a book. Most of the television adaptations of books that I have seen have been really well made and true to the books, including Terry Pratchett's The Hogfather and Going Postal and also many of Charles Dickens' novels.
Although there hasn't been much information released about Rowling's new venture, I am sure that it is something that all her fans will be thoroughly looking forward to.
Although there hasn't been much information released about Rowling's new venture, I am sure that it is something that all her fans will be thoroughly looking forward to.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Author Spotlight: Willow Cross
Here is an author spotlight on an amazing indie author, Willow Cross!
About Willow Cross:
Willow Cross resides in Arkansas with her husband, two children still young enough to live at home, an enormous cat named Bitsy, and a neurotic dog named Tank. Her home has been known to host the occasional ghost and several of her friends profess to be witches. Although she dearly loves Vampires and Werewolves, they are never invited for dinner.
Her Books:
The Dark Gifts: Birthright
For one-thousand years, Druid prophecies foretold of a young witch destined to alter the fate of both human and immortal alike. This witch-turned-vampire would be capable of harnessing the supernatural abilities of both and, in a bloody rise to power, would rule with unwavering control.
Unwillingly thrust into a world she never dreamed existed, Liz Markum is catapulted into an ancient war between rival vampire factions. She must choose between those she loves and the ever-present darkness attempting to devour her very soul.
Only one question remains: Will Liz claim her birthright or surrender to the dark gift?
One choice.
One chance.
Two destinies.
You can find it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and most online retail ebook stores. Print edition is available from Amazon and Createspace.
The Dark Gifts: Inheritance
It all started with a gift... When Sarah and her older brother received a house from an Aunt they never knew existed, they counted it a blessing. For the first time in her young life, Sarah had a real home. Within months, the once beloved dark gift revealed a hidden curse.
As the full moon rose into the heavens, the only person she’d ever been able to count on had become a monster. Desperate to save her brother, Sarah embarks on a nightmarish journey into their lineage in hopes of discovering answers and a cure. If only she’d known beforehand...her brother wasn’t the worst monster out there. And he certainly wasn’t the most dangerous. To make matters worse, they’d been searching for her since the day she was born.
You can find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Also available in print!
Afterlife: A Dark Gifts Companion
Companion to Birthright.Two hundred years before the battle of the fortress, a young man named William Townsend had to die.William had big plans. He would become a valiant soldier, fall in love, have a family, and die. In fact, he was certain it would happen in that exact order.
But fate is a fickle taskmaster and things almost never go as planned. And sometimes, just sometimes, your true destiny will greet you in the afterlife.
Free on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other online ebook stores.
The Bloodstone Oracle: A Dark Gifts Companion
Two centuries before the great Immortal Battle, a radical clan of witches united with one of the most powerful Druidic families. Under attack from the evil Kiana and her minions, they conspired to prevent the extinction of their ancient magical bloodlines.
Little did they know the magic forged during that All Hallows Eve would not only secure the continuation of their lineage, but would in fact create a new being, a new magic, that could someday save the entire world.The Bloodstone Oracle is the second short story companion to
The Dark Gifts series.Available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other online ebook stores.
Rise of the Demons: Oceans of Red Volume 1
By 2015 the streets of Los Angeles have been transformed from a thriving metropolis to a hostile world ravaged by demons bent on assimilating the human race. Standing between this total apocalypse of humanity and their chance for survival is 19 year old Remy Martin. A warrior in her own right, trained to think on her feet and kill if the situation requires, she is flanked by her older brother and younger sister. Together, they devise a plan to take back the streets. Against the wishes of their father, who commands the resistance forces, they venture into unknown realms of the supernatural in a race against time with the fate of the entire world in their young hands.
You can find it FREE on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and most online retail ebook stores as a FREE download.
Demon Evolution: Oceans of Red Volume 2
Remy's saga continues as the siblings uncover a sinister plot to not only posses the human race, but to replace them entirely. Will she accept her destiny and learn to control the new-found power within her?
Haunted
Have you ever heard something go bump in the night and wonder if someone was there? Only to go looking for the cause of the noise and find nothing at all. Or how about unexplainably feeling like you’re being watched when you’re completely alone? Things disappearing for no reason or strange ghostly footsteps in the hall? This book is a collage of short stories about a few of the otherworldly experiences I’ve had. Although they are not movie worthy, you may find them interesting. All the stories are %100 true. Nothing has been added for dramatic effect. You can find it on Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and Smashwords for only .99 cents
A Christmas Miracle
A short inspirational story about a single mother and a very special Christmas.
You can find it on Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and Smashwords
You can find it on Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and Smashwords
A Higher Calling
A daughter’s mistake.
A mother’s wrath.
An impossible choice.
Sophie’s plans were simple: Leave the supernatural behind and raise a child of her own creation. For twenty years life couldn’t have been better, until the day her daughter showed up on her doorstep bloodied and bruised. They say, “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” But the wrath of a mother, whose only desire was to protect her child, is unfathomable. Those pure of heart can rest easy. However, if you carry the slightest tinge of darkness, beware the Higher Calling.
You can find it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and most online ebook stores.
You can find it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and most online ebook stores.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Hanging From the Family Tree: Tobias’ Story (#2) by Alison Davis Cover Reveal
I am so excited to announce the cover of Alison Davis' new novel, Hanging From the Family Tree: Tobias' Story (#2)! This is the companion novel to the wonderful Whispers on the Wind that was released earlier this year.
Full Synopsis:
Hanging from the Family Tree: Tobias’
Story, is a Young Adult fiction novel, based in a fictional English coastal
town.
Hidden letters from 1812, the British
Regency, tell the story of Alexander Ventus, member of a very rich and
influential local family. Besotted with a local women, Elizabeth, who is deemed
beneath him, he is forced into a marriage with another woman. Distraught she
throws herself from a cliff. Followed years later by Alexander, burdened by his
guilt.
Alexander Ventus is Tobias’ great,
great, grandfather, and there is an alarming likeness to their lives. Tobias’ Story tells of his struggle to find
his place in his family and to discover what it truly means to be a Ventus.
I really love the cover of this new book; it's modern and intriguing, pairing a close-up photograph with the handwritten script writing, making this a professional and appealling cover for the Young Adult literature scene.
Alison Davis is a great young author who has been writing since an early age and this new novel is definitely something worth checking out.
About the Author:
Alison
has been writing from an early age, stories, poems, novels, prose. After a 3 year
sabbatical from writing she returned to her passion to write Whispers on the
Wind: Ari's story.
Her
first novel, Whispers on the Wind: Ari's Story, was published in August 2012 on
Lulu.com. Hanging from the Family Tree: Tobias' Story, a companion/sequel to
Whispers on the Wind, is to be published in November 2012
Alison Davis is a great young author who has been writing since an early age and this new novel is definitely something worth checking out.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)