January 2013 - A Life Through Books

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Blog Tour: Murder on Mars by M.M. Shelley
9:00 AM0 Comments

Young Adult Paranormal Suspense
 (A New Orleans Mystery)

A paranormal force has lured Ava to New Orleans, where shadows lurk behind every corner and an unknown power has yet to be unleashed. There is a darkness in New Orleans, one that has brought sixteen year old Ava Lopez to the city in search of her best friend, Dyson. A dark crime has been committed, and there are supernatural forces involved. Three sisters who whisper "fate" are awaiting the arrival of the Guardian. Shadow People fiercely haunt the city, unchallenged, but Ava senses that Dyson may be involved with their crimes. She must discover the secret that the Shadows are so determined to keep hidden. Ava will have to risk everything, because where the Fates are concerned there are no second chances.






My Review:
Dyson... reminds me of one of my favorite shows on TV... The Lost Girl... 

This was a entertaining read. I think it flowed nicely and definitely kept my attention. It was really great that it included both Paranormal and a Murder Mystery. Usually the Paranormal is the mystery, but I loved how this one was a little different. 

With a wonderful backdrop like New Orleans, Ava has a gripping adventure ahead of her and it drew me in. 

I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.


M.M. Shelley

M.M. Shelley is a storyteller, word smith and dreamer. She has traveled the world extensively in search of the magic which is often overlooked in every day life. M.M. Shelley is a native of southern California, and a student of mythology from which she gets much inspiration. 

Buy Link


Reading Time:
Blog Tour: City of Earthly Desire by Francis Berger
7:23 AM1 Comments

Historical Fiction / General Fiction
Date Published: 9/26/12


A gripping story of ambition, lust, seduction, and betrayal . . . 
After the communists destroy his dream of becoming a recognized painter, Reinhardt Drixler escapes Hungary and moves to America to further his artistic ambitions and provide a better future for his young family.
Twenty-five years later, his son Béla falls in love with Suzy Kiss, an alluring striptease dancer whose interest inBéla can be summarized in two words: green card.
When Suzy is mysteriously deported, a devastated Béla must make a decision – should he stay in New York and continue with the noble artistic ambitions his father instilled in him, or should he follow his heart to Hungary and explore the enticing and risqué opportunities blossoming in Budapest after the collapse of communism? 



My Review:
This is not just a quick read. It is a pretty good sized book with at lot of depth in it and it flows beautifully. 

The history is woven throughout flawlessly and the characters were perfectly imperfect. 

I really enjoyed this and am looking forward to more!



Francis Berger
Francis Berger was born in New York City in 1971. Recently, he completed a six year stretch as a high school teacher in the Bronx and Queens in New York City. He has published some short stories, most notably in The Toronto Star. The City of Earthly Desire is his first novel. He currently lives near Toronto, Canada with his wife and young son.



Reading Time:

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

PROMO: The Exception to the Rule by Beth Rinyu
7:06 AM1 Comments


The Exception To The Rule

The Exception to the Rule</ strong>
ISBN 0615739229 (ISBN13: 9780615739229)
Contemporary Romance
Date to be Published: 12/19/2012

Synopsis: 

When Katrina “Kat” Vallia, an idealistic if somewhat naive 20-something American pediatrician travels halfway across the globe to volunteer in a poor African village, she looks at it as a means of closure. Following a bitter breakup with her unfaithful boyfriend, she decides to throw herself into her work without any distractions from a man. That’s until she encounters Dr. Julian Kiron, a handsome, career driven pediatric oncologist. Even though she tries to fight it, Kat finds herself falling deeply for him; until she painfully realizes that they both want totally different things from life. Not willing to compromise for the other, they sadly say goodbye, cutting all ties. Five years later, Kat’s happy world is turned upside down when she is given devastating news. She must now confront her past and the secret she’s harbored for years. But will saving the one she loves most also rekindle the love she let slip away?


EXCERPT:


We talked for some time and I could tell he was getting tired, his skin looked paler than usual and the light color of his eyes just enhanced the dark circles that were beginning to form underneath.
“Are you tired?” I asked.
“A little,” he finally admitted.
“But I thought you didn’t get tired,” I teased as I got up to grab the blanket from the other couch, turning off the overhead light. I looked out the window to see a light snow falling. I sat back down on the couch covering us both with the blanket as we watched TV with just the glow of the fireplace and Christmas tree lights. He had his arms wrapped tightly around me as I rested my head on his chest. 
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“For what?” he asked.
“For being here.”
 I smiled when he pulled me closer and gently kissed my head. It didn’t take long before I heard his breathing begin to change and as I looked up I saw he was sound asleep. I put my head back down on his chest, kissing it softly. Just knowing he was here beside me, listening to his heartbeat and feeling him breathe, put my mind at such ease that it wasn’t long before I was fast asleep too.


Beth Rinyu

Author Bio
Ever since I can remember, I have always enjoyed Creative Writing. There was always something about being able to travel to a different place or become a different person with just the stroke of a pen - or in today's world a touch of the keyboard. I have been writing poetry for years and finally got the inspiration to write my very first novel about a year and a half ago. Once I started the idea's kept flowing, my fingers kept typing - and here it is! It's a beautiful love story that focuses on so many different relationships: the love of a man and a woman, a parent and a child, friendships and those that are not bound to us by blood but by love. So, I'm hoping all of you get as much enjoyment reading this as I did writing it! Oh and here's a little bit about bit me - my life is not as interesting as the story or the characters in it, but then again whose life is? I was born and have lived in New Jersey my whole life. I'm a mom of twin teenage boys, a teenage step-son, a crazy Border Collie and a cat with an identity crisis! I guess you can say writing is my form of Calgon! I am married to a wonderful guy - but we'll keep that between us, I don't want him getting a big head! Thanks for taking the time to learn about my book and me! If you decide to read it (and I hope you do! ) please be sure to go on and review it for me - yes, even if you don't like it!


Reading Time:

Monday, January 28, 2013

PROMO: Safeword Quinacridone by Candace Blevins
11:38 AM0 Comments




Erotic/BDSM
Date to be Published: 12/29/12


What happens when an introverted artist who only likes sex when it’s a one-night stand meets a computer-geek-extraordinaire with his own sexy secrets? Objectification, romance, pain, adoration, lots of kinky toys, and oodles and oodles of wonderfully imaginative sex.

Join Cara and Travis on their journey to mesh their distinctive sexual tastes into a loving relationship with blow-your- mind kink.

 Ob·jec·ti·fi·ca·tion:
  1. Treating a person as an object for use, with no regard for a person’s personality or sentience.
  2. Regarding someone as a commodity; considering them merely an instrument towards one’s sexual pleasure.
 Examples of OBJECTIFICATION:
  1. A woman is on her back at the edge of a tall bed with hands and feet bound together and restrained above her head. A curtain drapes from a canopy above and puddles on the backs of her thighs. The man about to penetrate her sees only female genitals available for use.
  2. A woman is dressed in a full latex blow-up doll costume with durable latex ‘pockets’ stuffed into her orifices. She is bound into a position giving easy access to all three holes at a party. Her face is completely covered excepting nose and mouth. The men do not know who is in the costume.

Safeword: Quinacridone is a stand-alone book. You do not need to have read the previous books in this series.
Warning: This title contains graphic language, consensual BDSM, extreme objectification, bondage, watersports (one scene), chemical play, fisting, temporary body modification with saline injections (one scene), and the use of toys including clamps, canes, plugs, paddles, whips, floggers, and zip-ties.


Candace Blevins is a southern girl who loves to travel the world.

She lives with her husband of 15 years and their two daughters. When not working or driving kids all over the place she can be found reading, writing, meditating, or swimming.

Candace writes romance books about characters who happen to have some extreme kinks. Relationships can be difficult enough without throwing power exchange into the mix, and her books show characters who care enough about each other to fight to make the relationship work.

Each book in the Safeword series highlights a couple with a different BDSM issue to resolve. All books are standalone books and can be read in any order, with the exception of the two Davenport books, since Safewords: Davenport and Chiffon is a sequel to Safeword: Davenport.

You can visit Candace on the web at candaceblevins.com and kinkyeverafter.com

* Real Romance * Real BDSM *

Contact Links:


Purchase Links


Follow Along With the Tour:


VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR January 28 - February 8

January 28 - Reading Addiction Blog Tours - Meet and Greet
January 29 - Up All Night Reviews - Review
January 30 - Sinfully Sexy Books - Review
January 31 - What's On The Bookshelf - Review
February 1 - Boyfriend Bookmark Blog - ReviewFebruary 2 - Sweet and Sassi - Review
February 3 - Booklovin Mamas - Interview/PROMO
February 4 - Book Reviews and More - PROMO
February 5 -RABT Reviews - Review
February 6 - Stressed Rach - Review
February 7 - Steamy Side - Review

Reading Time:

Monday, January 21, 2013

Blog Tour: Unholy Testament- The Beginnings by Carole Gill
12:00 AM1 Comments


 Gothic Romance/ Paranormal
published by Tudor Rose Press
Date Published: November 4, 2012

The day Eco first laid eyes on Rose Baines was the day she discovered (The House on
Blackstone Moor) her family’s savage butchery at the hands of her mad, incestuous father.

“I saw you leave the house that day, Rose, that terrible day you discovered your family
butchered. I saw you…”

Eco realizing he has fallen in love with her pens a confession documenting all of his sins
committed in the course of his immortal existence. The one request is that Rose reads his
confession.

Rose, having become his captive, is forced to read this unholy testament of his.

From Ancient Egyptian vampire cults to Roman vampire brothels to The Dark Ages, The
Crusades, The Black Death of 1348 to his meeting with child murderer and Satanist, Gilles de
Rais, concluding with his wicked affair with the Blood Countess herself, Erzebat Bathory.

Eco is, if nothing else, frankly and brutally honest. The pages are filled with debauchery and
vice and murder--yet, there is also love or what Eco swears is love.

The story is continued in Unholy Testament – Full Circle, to be released in early 2013.


Link to Buy 


My Rating:
Be prepared to become addicted to this story from the very beginning. Carole Gill has created characters who are engaging and creepy. The story itself has so many aspects you would not expect. Yes, its a Gothic Story, but there is Romance, History, and so much more woven throughout. 

The twists and surprises are plenty and I can not wait to read the next installment.

This book is tied to The House on Blackstone Moor, so be sure to pick that one up first. 


Photobucket
I wrote my first story at age 8. It was sci-fi but as both my parents were sci-fi fanatics it wasn’t a surprise.

I continued to write however life got in the way as it often does, and it wasn’t until 2000 that I turned back to writing. I joined a local writer’s workshop and was greatly encouraged to keep up with my writing and to send things out.


Shortly afterwards, I was selected by Northwest Playwrights of England for further

development but found I preferred fiction writing.

Widely published in horror and sci-fi anthologies, The House on Blackstone Moor is my first novel. It is a tale of vampirism, madness, obsession and devil worship.


Set in 19th Century Yorkshire, its locales include Victorian madhouses as well as barren, wind-swept Yorkshire moors. The story is a marriage of horror and gothic romance. I think it can best be described as being gothic paranormal romantic horror.


I suppose you could say I want to put the Goth back into Gothic.


Living in the area the novel is set in, was very beneficial. Also, as a great admirer of the Brontes and frequent visitor to the Bronte Parsonage in Haworth, I found myself nearly obsessed with recreating the gothic romantic narrative.


Having been employed in a hospital which had been historically a workhouse and asylum in Victorian times, I was able to add great realism to the depiction of the asylums as described in my novel.


The next in the series, Unholy Testament – Full Circle is the continuation of Eco’s confession. It will be released in 2013.


Book 4 in the series follows that.

Reading Time:

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Blog Tour: Jesse's Soul by Amy Gregory
7:01 PM0 Comments

Contemporary Romance
 ( Book 2 in Racing to Love Series)
Date Published: 1/03/2013

Jesse Frost lived the life most men would have killed for. Fast bikes, fame, money and looks—from the outside looking in he had all, but the combination nearly broke him. He hadn’t thought much about any of those things throughout his career, he was just an easy-going guy from a speck of a town in Texas that had always worked hard for everything he had gotten in life. He’d been the shy guy in school, so when the prom queen found him years later, he thought he had finally made it, winning her affection was the crown jewel. Her mirage however, left him empty and certain there was no one that wanted him just for the man inside.

Emery Kincaid has a last name that is revered in their world. A woman in a man’s world and succeeding, Irish through and through, she has the temper and sass to boot and a reputation that precedes her. She has remained strong because she’s had no other choice. The pain she masks runs deep and hiding it is the only way she can survive.

Thrown together because of circumstance and forced to be in each other’s space day in and day out, sparks start to fly—from chemistry and the brakes she tries desperately to throw on. Without a doubt in his mind, Jesse thinks he’s found her, but the girl that stole his heart has a stubborn streak a country mile wide.

In reality, what Jesse doesn’t know could break his heart. Hiding her true feelings for him is the
only way for Emery to protect him and in turn—herself because her secret, her pain is just too big. She barely made it out the first time, if she let Jesse in, only to have him walk away…well, that’s a risk her heart can’t take.


My Review:
Amy Gregory has out done herself. Carter's Treasure, Book #1 in this series, was very good. This book was a step up from that which is saying something.

I'm from Texas, so the fact that Jesse is a good ol boy is a huge plus to me. Emery is one sassy girl. I think the dynamic between them is off the charts from the beginning and their story is beautiful.

Be ready to laugh and cry and be even more invested in the men in this series.




Amy Gregory leads an incredibly active lifestyle in Kansas City with her husband and their three fantastic kids who keep them running in three very different directions.  When she’s not rushing her oldest daughter to tumbling, her youngest daughter to music lessons, or sitting track-side watching her son practice motocross, she’s taking the few minutes in between to scribble the next pages in her Racing to Love series. 
When asked, “When do you have time to write?” Amy Gregory giggles.  “In bits and pieces,” she says.  
Amy is known for her snarky, off the cuff sense of humor, which you’ll find shining through in the characters she’s created.  Her debut novel, Racing to Love, Carter’s Treasure, is set for release June 7, 2012.
I’ve spent my whole life trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up, and now I’ve finally found it. – Amy Gregory 

Publisher Author Page

Blog
Twitter - @AmyGregory548


Buy Links

Reading Time:

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Blog Tour: Romantic Tales: Bedtime Stories - Episode 3
6:49 AM0 Comments




Romance, Erotica, Fantasy and PNR

Romantic Tales: Bedtime Stories has a little of everything. From your everyday Contemporary Romance (The Getaway) To your Hot and Heavy Rockers turned Werewolves (Crave) and your Sci-Fi/Paranormal with Erotic overtones…. (The Genesis Project) Each Episode will entice its readers, draw them in. A quick Bedtime story before they dream, keeping them pleasantly satisfied while peaking their interests for next month’s installment. All for 99 cents. During the interim there will be previews of next month’s Episode…





The Getaway by Riley Ross

Juliet gives an answer to Mike’s surprising proposal and they are on a mad scramble to pull off a wedding in six days. Will it go off without a hitch or will someone try to destroy their happiness. Come along for the conclusion of The Getaway for Season 1

The Genesis Project by Tigris Eden

A choice is made, and a secret is revealed. All are not what they seem to be in this last installment of The Genesis Project. Xander knows who and what Gen is, but there is still one piece to the puzzle missing. This ending is promised to leave you all up in arms! Be sure to find out what happens to the conclusion of The Genesis Project for Season 1

Crave by Ty Langston

Desperate for a way out, the missing Darien Anderson resurfaces. The reasons why she was captured were not for the reasons everyone thought.

The answers will not only shock all, but also have a tremendous rippled effect for all involved. Especially, Cass and Harper at the conclusion of Crave.

My Rating:

My Review:
For any fans of anthologies this is a little different but the same premise. Three authors have gotten together to bring you monthly episodes of their books. Each episode consists of a segment in their story. There is definitely a variety between the genre's in the stories so for people like me who read a little of everything it is perfect. There is everything from Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, to Erotica.

This is episode 3, so make sure to pick up the first two "episodes" before reading this one. I personally read all 3 episodes in 1 sitting. 

Find Romantic Tales: Bedtime Stories:




   
Tigris Eden
Author of Shadow Unit Series, 1st Book Enslaved In Shadows... I love all things books! Music
and much more! I write PNR, Contemp, SCI-FI, Erotic, and HORROR..... Yes I love the gore!
Currently working on Burned In Shadows... Due out sometime in January 2013.
There isn't much to say about me truly... I am not that interesting... But I promise to make you
laugh at least once!


Ty Langston

As a child, multi-published author Ty Langston loved to read about dragons and knights so
much that one day, her grandmother told her to "just write about them."
So she did.
From that day forward, she never left home without her pen, a notebook, and some kind of
music playing in the background. Her love of reading expanded from fantasy into science fiction,
and eventually into paranormal romance and erotica.
She enjoys different works from George Martin, Anne McCaffrey, Stephen King, and Jackie
Collins. But some of Ty's favorite writers are from the world of TV and film: namely, Tudors
creator Michael Hirst, and the late John Hughes.
Ty has a certificate in Broadcast Journalism along with a degree in Business Administration.
She is single and enjoys spending time with friends and family.


Riley Ross

To date I haven't published anything yet but I love to write wrestling fan fiction, romance and
light erotica. I will be married for fifteen years this month to my best friend and Prince Charming
all rolled into one. I am mommy to two Syberian Huskies.



BUY LINK 

Reading Time:

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Life Happens
12:11 PM0 Comments
Hi Everyone-

I have a bit of bad news. I have been forced to push back my date for the release of All The Right Moves which will also change the date for Burning Embers.

Unfortunately we had some health issues with my father in law. He was in the hospital for over 30 days and in a coma for 15 of them. It has been a difficult time for our family and while he is out of the hospital now, he is living with our family. This leaves me less time to write as I also have a 3 and 4 year old to take care of.

I am back to actively writing and hope to have the first draft done by the end of the month. That will leave me self-editing and time to work with my Beta Readers before sending to the editor by mid Feb.

The NEW date for All The Right Moves is March 26, 2013.

My New Adult Paranormal, Burning Embers, should be out in Summer of 2013.

There will be a sequel to All The Right Moves which will be able to be read as a stand alone. I am hoping to have this one out Fall 2013.



Reading Time: