BEA'S BOOK NOOK "I can't imagine a man really enjoying a book and reading it only once." C. S. Lewis “If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.” ― Oscar Wilde
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
NetGalley Month at Red House Books
One of the first connections I made when I started blogging and reviewing was NetGalley, an amazing on-line site that connects reviewers (including bloggers), teachers (raises hand again), and librarians with free digital ARC's of upcoming books from a large, and ever expanding, list of publishing houses.
Red House Books blog has declared July to be NetGalley month. The idea is to read as many NetGalley books in July as you can. That works for me as I'm behind on my NetGalley ARC's and had already arranged the blog calendar so that many of the reviews in July, August and September would be from my shamefully large TBR pile. I will read as many titles as I can this month, though the reviews may not appear for a month or two. I'm behind on many reviews, not just my NetGalley ones, and am using the summer to catch up.
NetGalley is working with RHB to set this up; there will be prizes, Tweet chats, etc. For more details, see the post here. on the Red House Books blog.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Review of The Secret Guide to Dating Monsters by Sierra Dean
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Release Date: July 19, 2011
Series: #0.5 in the Secret McQueen series
More Info: Amazon Samhain Publishing
Book Blurb:
Are blind dates supposed to be this bloody?
A Secret McQueen story
They say it's impossible to find a man in New York City. Secret McQueen needs to find two in one night. Of course, it’ll mean pulling off the impossible—find and kill a displaced rogue vampire without disrupting the first promising date she’s had in ages. As a werewolf hybrid used to walking a fine line of survival in the vampire world, though, Secret eats impossible for breakfast.
Somewhere between hello and the first round of drinks, Secret makes her move. Her target, Hollywood’s biggest star, shouldn’t be hard to spot. Just look for swarms of fans. Except every time her vampire liaison, Holden, helps keep her mission on track, her date runs further off the rails.
Either Holden has a hidden agenda, or he knows more than he’s letting on about her quarry. One way or another, Secret is determined to get her man, and meet Mr. Right. Or die trying.
Product Warnings:
This book contains a sword-wielding assassin whose barbs are sharper than her blade, a vampire with serious brooding issues but a skilled tongue, and an A-lister with a bad habit of eating his fans. This novella takes place approximately one year prior to the events of Something Secret This Way Comes.
My Thoughts:
In this prequel, we get to see what a day is like for Secret: what she goes through as an employee for the Vampire Council and just getting through a day. We also get a little more background on both Secret and Holden. The story has action, humor, a very hot kissing scene, and an awesome sword. If you have already read the novella, "Something Secret This Way Comes", the infamous subway scene is detailed in here.
Her friend, detective Mercedes, bullies her into going on a blind date with another detective. Naturally, complications immediately set in. Her liaison with the council, Holden, shows up with a job that needs to be completed immediately. He seems disgruntled about her date and throughout the story, delights in sabotaging it, all in the name of of work of course. Secret is actually quite interested in her date, once they meet, and watching her juggle her date and her work, was entertaining, if frustrating for poor Secret.
I enjoyed this story quite a lot, more so even than than the first book. I am looking forward to the next book, "A Bloody Good Secret", coming out in September.
I received an eARC for review from the author.
Release Date: July 19, 2011
Series: #0.5 in the Secret McQueen series
More Info: Amazon Samhain Publishing
Book Blurb:
Are blind dates supposed to be this bloody?
A Secret McQueen story
They say it's impossible to find a man in New York City. Secret McQueen needs to find two in one night. Of course, it’ll mean pulling off the impossible—find and kill a displaced rogue vampire without disrupting the first promising date she’s had in ages. As a werewolf hybrid used to walking a fine line of survival in the vampire world, though, Secret eats impossible for breakfast.
Somewhere between hello and the first round of drinks, Secret makes her move. Her target, Hollywood’s biggest star, shouldn’t be hard to spot. Just look for swarms of fans. Except every time her vampire liaison, Holden, helps keep her mission on track, her date runs further off the rails.
Either Holden has a hidden agenda, or he knows more than he’s letting on about her quarry. One way or another, Secret is determined to get her man, and meet Mr. Right. Or die trying.
Product Warnings:
This book contains a sword-wielding assassin whose barbs are sharper than her blade, a vampire with serious brooding issues but a skilled tongue, and an A-lister with a bad habit of eating his fans. This novella takes place approximately one year prior to the events of Something Secret This Way Comes.
My Thoughts:
In this prequel, we get to see what a day is like for Secret: what she goes through as an employee for the Vampire Council and just getting through a day. We also get a little more background on both Secret and Holden. The story has action, humor, a very hot kissing scene, and an awesome sword. If you have already read the novella, "Something Secret This Way Comes", the infamous subway scene is detailed in here.
Her friend, detective Mercedes, bullies her into going on a blind date with another detective. Naturally, complications immediately set in. Her liaison with the council, Holden, shows up with a job that needs to be completed immediately. He seems disgruntled about her date and throughout the story, delights in sabotaging it, all in the name of of work of course. Secret is actually quite interested in her date, once they meet, and watching her juggle her date and her work, was entertaining, if frustrating for poor Secret.
I enjoyed this story quite a lot, more so even than than the first book. I am looking forward to the next book, "A Bloody Good Secret", coming out in September.
I received an eARC for review from the author.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Silver Girl Winner!
Friday, July 1, 2011
Giveaway & Review of Creed's Honor by Linda Lael Miller
Publisher: Harlequin
Release Date: May 31, 2011
Series: #2 in The Creed Cowboys
More Info: Amazon The Book Depository
Book Blurb:
Conner Creed knows exactly who he is: a hardworking rancher carrying on his uncle's legacy in Lonesome Bend, Colorado. Maybe a small-town cowboy's life isn't his dream, but he owes the man who took him in as a kid. Until the identical twin brother he's been estranged from for years reenters his life.
Conner struggles with identity issues as he gets to know his wilder brother. And then he meets Tricia McCall, a beautiful woman who knows a thing or two about living someone else's dreams. Together, they just might find their own dreams right here in Lonesome Bend….
My Thoughts:
I've seen and heard about Linda Lael Miller's books for years and I think I may have read a book or two of hers when I was in college (probably borrowed from my stepmother). I know several people who like her books, though one feels that her westerns aren't her books. Based on this story, I'm inclined to agree.
The book is marketed as a romance but the romance, what there was of it, felt like it was actually secondary to the story. Most of the story is taken up with Conner's relationship with his twin brother and Tricia's relationships with her matchmaking grandmother, Natty, and her best friends ten year old daughter and Tricia's god-daughter, Sasha.
Conner and his twin have been estranged for about 10 years though we are not given much detail about why. There are hints and accusations but it was frustratingly vague. I didn't read the first book in this trilogy, "A Creed in Stone Creek", so possibly there was more information in there; this trilogy, The Creed Cowboys, is a spin off of an earlier trilogy, The Montana Creeds.
Conner is bitter about the event that drove them apart, and bitter and angry about Brody, his twin, being gone for so long and leaving all the work of running the ranch in Conner's hands. He doesn't trust Brody, doesn't understand why he's back, and spends most of his time arguing with him. He wants Brody gone again, despite the extra work that means for him, while simultaneously there's a part of him that's glad not to be alone any more. He feels lonely and is bitter about being stuck on the ranch while Brody is out playing on the rodeo circuit.
Meanwhile Tricia shares a house with her grandmother Natty, her late father's mother, while she runs his businesses until she can sell them and move back to Seattle. She left Seattle approximately eighteen months earlier to deal with his estate and live with Natty. Her parents divorced when she was little and she spent every summer while growing up in Lonesome Bend with her father. She's not quite a local but not quite an outsider. She doesn't have any friends locally and few connections; we are told repeatedly how shy she is but it doesn't really come across. She chats, she volunteers to help with the local fundraising event, etc. She comes off at times as a bit of a loner, which is different from being shy.
Tricia and Conner bump into each other while Natty is away visiting her sister in Denver. They were acquainted as children but apparently haven't seen each other around since Tricia's been back. He smirks, she's awkward, we're told that they are attracted to each other but I never felt it. They bump into each off and throughout the story, he bullies her into eating lunch with him a few times, smirks at her often, she ruminates about how honorable he is, he wonders why she's still single and gets angry because she, *gasp*, wants to go back to Seattle and follow her dreams.
Natty thinks that Conner and Tricia are perfect for each other and plots to bring them together but there's actually not a lot of time in the story devoted to them as a couple. Mostly they are off doing their own thing and when the pace finally picks up, then Miller shifts gears and it happens so quickly it's like being hit by a truck. The ending was rushed and only mildly believable.
Miller also spends a fair amount of time setting up the next story, laying the groundwork for Brody and his HEA. That's not unusual in a series and I don't mind as long the focus is on the main romantic couple but in this case, it detracted from the main story.
I wanted to like "Creed's Honor"; I like romances, and Miller has a good reputation, but this book just didn't do it for me.
I received this paperback from the publisher for review.
******************************************************************************
Release Date: May 31, 2011
Series: #2 in The Creed Cowboys
More Info: Amazon The Book Depository
Book Blurb:
Conner Creed knows exactly who he is: a hardworking rancher carrying on his uncle's legacy in Lonesome Bend, Colorado. Maybe a small-town cowboy's life isn't his dream, but he owes the man who took him in as a kid. Until the identical twin brother he's been estranged from for years reenters his life.
Conner struggles with identity issues as he gets to know his wilder brother. And then he meets Tricia McCall, a beautiful woman who knows a thing or two about living someone else's dreams. Together, they just might find their own dreams right here in Lonesome Bend….
My Thoughts:
I've seen and heard about Linda Lael Miller's books for years and I think I may have read a book or two of hers when I was in college (probably borrowed from my stepmother). I know several people who like her books, though one feels that her westerns aren't her books. Based on this story, I'm inclined to agree.
The book is marketed as a romance but the romance, what there was of it, felt like it was actually secondary to the story. Most of the story is taken up with Conner's relationship with his twin brother and Tricia's relationships with her matchmaking grandmother, Natty, and her best friends ten year old daughter and Tricia's god-daughter, Sasha.
Conner and his twin have been estranged for about 10 years though we are not given much detail about why. There are hints and accusations but it was frustratingly vague. I didn't read the first book in this trilogy, "A Creed in Stone Creek", so possibly there was more information in there; this trilogy, The Creed Cowboys, is a spin off of an earlier trilogy, The Montana Creeds.
Conner is bitter about the event that drove them apart, and bitter and angry about Brody, his twin, being gone for so long and leaving all the work of running the ranch in Conner's hands. He doesn't trust Brody, doesn't understand why he's back, and spends most of his time arguing with him. He wants Brody gone again, despite the extra work that means for him, while simultaneously there's a part of him that's glad not to be alone any more. He feels lonely and is bitter about being stuck on the ranch while Brody is out playing on the rodeo circuit.
Meanwhile Tricia shares a house with her grandmother Natty, her late father's mother, while she runs his businesses until she can sell them and move back to Seattle. She left Seattle approximately eighteen months earlier to deal with his estate and live with Natty. Her parents divorced when she was little and she spent every summer while growing up in Lonesome Bend with her father. She's not quite a local but not quite an outsider. She doesn't have any friends locally and few connections; we are told repeatedly how shy she is but it doesn't really come across. She chats, she volunteers to help with the local fundraising event, etc. She comes off at times as a bit of a loner, which is different from being shy.
Tricia and Conner bump into each other while Natty is away visiting her sister in Denver. They were acquainted as children but apparently haven't seen each other around since Tricia's been back. He smirks, she's awkward, we're told that they are attracted to each other but I never felt it. They bump into each off and throughout the story, he bullies her into eating lunch with him a few times, smirks at her often, she ruminates about how honorable he is, he wonders why she's still single and gets angry because she, *gasp*, wants to go back to Seattle and follow her dreams.
Natty thinks that Conner and Tricia are perfect for each other and plots to bring them together but there's actually not a lot of time in the story devoted to them as a couple. Mostly they are off doing their own thing and when the pace finally picks up, then Miller shifts gears and it happens so quickly it's like being hit by a truck. The ending was rushed and only mildly believable.
Miller also spends a fair amount of time setting up the next story, laying the groundwork for Brody and his HEA. That's not unusual in a series and I don't mind as long the focus is on the main romantic couple but in this case, it detracted from the main story.
I wanted to like "Creed's Honor"; I like romances, and Miller has a good reputation, but this book just didn't do it for me.
I received this paperback from the publisher for review.
******************************************************************************
Thanks to Tricia (yes, really, that's her name :D) at Meryl L. Moss Media Relations I have one paperback copy of "Creed's Honor" to give away to one commenter. Just leave a comment about the review or book to enter; make sure I have a way to contact you - twitter name, Blogger profile, email, etc.
The giveaway will run through 11:59PM EST of Friday, July 8th, 2011. I will use random.org to choose a winner. I'm sorry but this is only open within the US and Canada.
Thanks and good luck!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Review of Silver Rush by J.A. Campbell
Publisher: Echelon Press
Release Date: May 16, 2011
Series: #3 of Into the West *strongly suggest that you read in order
More Info: Amazon Smashwords
Book Blurb:
Tina is finally starting to adjust to Arizona. Being a cowgirl in training is hard work and it keeps her busy. She still wishes she were home in Jersey, and going to Prom with her friends, but at least she has something fun to do. Then her parents decide to take her to a youth group. Things go bad right away. The other teens make fun of her and exclude her from the activities, and even though she manages to find a new friend, the day leaves her sad and missing home, and her cowboy.
On the upside, her cowgirl training is paying off. When the Taggarts have an emergency with some of their pregnant mares, they turn to Tina for help. She also starts learning to drive. In the city it was too dangerous for her to learn, but in Golton, being able to drive is a necessity and Tina is excited to learn. Then Tina discovers some information that might be vital to her cowboy’s survival. She’s been forbidden to see him again, but if she doesn’t, the whole future could change.
My Thoughts:
In this installment of "Into The West" we see more of Tina and her everyday life. There's more teen angst than in the previous installments but also more character development. Tina is a teen age girl who's been uprooted, as is common, by a parents job, in case her father, to new town, worse, a new state. They live out in the middle of nowhere, she doesn't have a car and there's no public transportation (having grown up in a small, rural/suburban New England town that also lacked public transpo, I really felt her pain) which makes it difficult to meet people her own age. To top it off, her friend Jessica from back East is slowly pulling away. When Tina does meet some local kids her own age, it doesn't go well. Being the new kid sucks. Still, she starts to make connections.
I liked that we got to see more of Tina acting in normal, everyday situations. She even misses her boyfriend, though the circumstances of that are certainly not normal. :D Tina acts rashly towards the end, leaving us with a bit of a cliff hanger. At one point, I thought to myself, "Not smart, Tina, not smart."
It's a less action packed story but as I said earlier, we get more character development and in this one Tina really seems like your average American teen. There were more typos and copy edit problems in this one. I know the turnaround time on these stories is very, very tight, but it was frustrating that such a short story had so many. Some examples: Missing word - "Tina rubbed her face and tried soothe.", "His ungainly legs too cute."; typos or grammatical issues - "A couple went off to nurse when their mom's nickered to them.", "She'd already out the plastic bags in her saddlebags at the barn." I know that not every reader is bothered by this but it does bother me, especially when there are so many in such a short story. (And I can't wait to publish this post and see how many I missed in my editing. :P)
Overall, a solid installment.
The reviewer owns this ebook.
Release Date: May 16, 2011
Series: #3 of Into the West *strongly suggest that you read in order
More Info: Amazon Smashwords
Book Blurb:
Tina is finally starting to adjust to Arizona. Being a cowgirl in training is hard work and it keeps her busy. She still wishes she were home in Jersey, and going to Prom with her friends, but at least she has something fun to do. Then her parents decide to take her to a youth group. Things go bad right away. The other teens make fun of her and exclude her from the activities, and even though she manages to find a new friend, the day leaves her sad and missing home, and her cowboy.
On the upside, her cowgirl training is paying off. When the Taggarts have an emergency with some of their pregnant mares, they turn to Tina for help. She also starts learning to drive. In the city it was too dangerous for her to learn, but in Golton, being able to drive is a necessity and Tina is excited to learn. Then Tina discovers some information that might be vital to her cowboy’s survival. She’s been forbidden to see him again, but if she doesn’t, the whole future could change.
My Thoughts:
In this installment of "Into The West" we see more of Tina and her everyday life. There's more teen angst than in the previous installments but also more character development. Tina is a teen age girl who's been uprooted, as is common, by a parents job, in case her father, to new town, worse, a new state. They live out in the middle of nowhere, she doesn't have a car and there's no public transportation (having grown up in a small, rural/suburban New England town that also lacked public transpo, I really felt her pain) which makes it difficult to meet people her own age. To top it off, her friend Jessica from back East is slowly pulling away. When Tina does meet some local kids her own age, it doesn't go well. Being the new kid sucks. Still, she starts to make connections.
I liked that we got to see more of Tina acting in normal, everyday situations. She even misses her boyfriend, though the circumstances of that are certainly not normal. :D Tina acts rashly towards the end, leaving us with a bit of a cliff hanger. At one point, I thought to myself, "Not smart, Tina, not smart."
It's a less action packed story but as I said earlier, we get more character development and in this one Tina really seems like your average American teen. There were more typos and copy edit problems in this one. I know the turnaround time on these stories is very, very tight, but it was frustrating that such a short story had so many. Some examples: Missing word - "Tina rubbed her face and tried soothe.", "His ungainly legs too cute."; typos or grammatical issues - "A couple went off to nurse when their mom's nickered to them.", "She'd already out the plastic bags in her saddlebags at the barn." I know that not every reader is bothered by this but it does bother me, especially when there are so many in such a short story. (And I can't wait to publish this post and see how many I missed in my editing. :P)
Overall, a solid installment.
The reviewer owns this ebook.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Interview with Author Elin Hilderbrand
Today we have an interview with best-selling author Elin Hilderbrand. Her newest novel, "Silver Girl", was released on June 21st. She's currently engaged in a blog tour to promoter her novel and I'm happy to have her here today.
Elin specializes in what is often called "womens fiction" or sometimes "chick lit", though the two are not the same. Many of her novels, including "Silver Girl" are great for taking to the beach or on vacation. You can find her at her web page, her facebook page, or on Twitter, @elinhilderbrand.
She lives on Nantucket with her husband and their three young children. She grew up in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, and traveled extensively before settling on Nantucket, which has been the setting for many of her previous novels. Hilderbrand is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and the graduate fiction workshop at the University of Iowa.
1. What about Nantucket makes it the perfect backdrop for all of your novels? Nantucket is one of the last remaining authentic places in America. There are no chain stores, no neon signs, no strip malls; everything about it is independent and unique. My two favorite aspects of the island are its historically preserved downtown, complete with cobblestone streets, and the fifty miles of pristine beaches. A place that is so beloved and so cared for and so special inspires stories..
3. What are some of your favorite novels to bring to the beach? I'm always reading; I consider it as much a part of my job as writing. This summer, I'm looking forward to reading "Maine" by J. Courtney Sullivan, and "State of Wonder" by Ann Patchett.
4. Your novels often feature female characters heading to Nantucket in order to heal. Does Nantucket have some sort of healing effect on you? I think Nantucket has healing power based on the fact that it's an island thirty miles out to sea, and it's so removed, both geographically and emotionally from the rest of America. I think the isolation and the purity of the surroundings allows people to concentrate on what really matters.
5. Many of your readers find your characters to be so relatable. Where do you find inspiration for your characters? My characters come to me from the place I guess we'll call imagination. I'm a pretty keen student of human nature; I listen to people and I watch them. So there are bits and pieces of real people in my characters, but never once have I translated a real person to the page.
12. Are any of your novels based on actual events in your life? It's a mystery what details from my real life will make it into a novel. A lot of times, I'll hear an incredible story and I'll say, "Oh, I'm definitely going to use that." But then, it doesn't work or fit. So I basically just think of myself as a satellite dish, picking up everything around me, then filtering it, carefully, into my fiction.
14. Many of your readers feel so connected to your characters that they are not ready to part with them at the end of a novel. Do you have any plans to revisit any of your books and write a sequel? No sequels yet. I really work hard to make sure that I leave my characters safely on the ground at the end of a book, so that there's no reason to go back and revisit them. Maybe someday, though. Shall see.
16. Many young writers struggle with turning ideas into full-blown books. Do you have any advice for emerging writers trying to turn out their first book? Advice for young writers of any age: Finish your book. This is a matter of discipline. So many people have three chapters of something in a drawer. What distinguishes published writers from everyone else isn't genius. It's work ethic. Once your book is finished, get an agent. And then let him worry about selling your book; you worry about writing your next novel.
Elin specializes in what is often called "womens fiction" or sometimes "chick lit", though the two are not the same. Many of her novels, including "Silver Girl" are great for taking to the beach or on vacation. You can find her at her web page, her facebook page, or on Twitter, @elinhilderbrand.
She lives on Nantucket with her husband and their three young children. She grew up in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, and traveled extensively before settling on Nantucket, which has been the setting for many of her previous novels. Hilderbrand is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and the graduate fiction workshop at the University of Iowa.
1. What about Nantucket makes it the perfect backdrop for all of your novels? Nantucket is one of the last remaining authentic places in America. There are no chain stores, no neon signs, no strip malls; everything about it is independent and unique. My two favorite aspects of the island are its historically preserved downtown, complete with cobblestone streets, and the fifty miles of pristine beaches. A place that is so beloved and so cared for and so special inspires stories..
2. Your books are well known for being summer beach reads. Why are you drawn to writing this type of novel?
I started writing "beach novels" by accident. I attended the University of Iowa Writers workshop from 1996-1998. While I was there, I missed Nantucket desperately. I started writing a novel about Nantucket as a kind of therapy, and that novel turned into "The Beach Club." Ten novels later, I can say that writing about this island has definitely worked for me.3. What are some of your favorite novels to bring to the beach? I'm always reading; I consider it as much a part of my job as writing. This summer, I'm looking forward to reading "Maine" by J. Courtney Sullivan, and "State of Wonder" by Ann Patchett.
5. Many of your readers find your characters to be so relatable. Where do you find inspiration for your characters? My characters come to me from the place I guess we'll call imagination. I'm a pretty keen student of human nature; I listen to people and I watch them. So there are bits and pieces of real people in my characters, but never once have I translated a real person to the page.
6. What about Silver Girl sets this novel apart from novels you’ve written in the past?
What sets Silver Girl apart from my other novels is that I got the idea from the real life situation of Ruth Madoff. I read an article about her in the New York Times that started my creative wheels turning. She has been vilified in the press, yet there's no proof that she had any idea what her husband was doing. I actually think her situation brings to light a lot of interesting questions about marriage and secrets between husband and wife. I was fascinated by these questions and wanted to explore them in my work.
7. Which of your novels was the most difficult to write? I can never tell how difficult a book is going to be to write until I'm in the revising stage. My novel A Summer Affair was very hard to write, because I was faced with the daunting task of trying to make my characters, who were misbehaving badly, likable. My task was no easier in Silver Girl, because I was dealing with characters in extreme circumstances -- always a tightrope walk. But I'm pleased with the end result.
8. Do you find that you have a consistent process when writing a novel or is it a different adventure with each one? Oh, I'm very much a creature of habit. I have a routine which is strict and flexible. I write 4-5 days a week from 11-6. In the summer, I write at the beach. In the winter, I write in a wonderfully huge house in town that's empty. I prefer writing outside in summer, obviously, but I get more done in the winter. I write longhand in legal pads, then transfer the work to the computer later.
9. How has your writing changed from your first novel, The Beach Club, to now? Well, it's my goal to be a better writer in each new novel. I'm sure if I read The Beach Club now, I would find fifty ways to revise it (thank God I don't have time for such fruitless exercises!) I live and I learn, and each new experiences and each added piece of wisdom finds its way, eventually, to the page.
10. Many of your readers have felt that your novels would make for great movies. Do you have any plans to take any of your novels to the big screen? The movies are coming. I can feel it in my bones.
11. Your loyal readers are eagerly awaiting the release of Silver Girl. What can they expect with this novel? Silver Girl is different from my other novels, in that it has a "ripped from the headlines" aspect, but in so many ways, it's still classic Elin Hilderbrand: friendship between women, beach picnics, boat rides, unexpected romance.
12. Are any of your novels based on actual events in your life? It's a mystery what details from my real life will make it into a novel. A lot of times, I'll hear an incredible story and I'll say, "Oh, I'm definitely going to use that." But then, it doesn't work or fit. So I basically just think of myself as a satellite dish, picking up everything around me, then filtering it, carefully, into my fiction.
13. You grew up in Pennsylvania, and have lived and traveled to many other places. What about Nantucket has kept you there for so long? To paraphrase John Denver, when I was 23 I came home to a place I'd never been before. That place was Nantucket. This island is my home; I've lived nearly all of my adult life here. Now, I have a home and a husband and three children, all Nantucket natives. I've seen a lot of the rest of the world, but Nantucket is home. I always feel a combination of relief and elation when I land here on a plane or pull off the ferry.
14. Many of your readers feel so connected to your characters that they are not ready to part with them at the end of a novel. Do you have any plans to revisit any of your books and write a sequel? No sequels yet. I really work hard to make sure that I leave my characters safely on the ground at the end of a book, so that there's no reason to go back and revisit them. Maybe someday, though. Shall see.
15. Silver Girl is your tenth novel to be released. Which of your books are you most proud of? I love all of my books in different ways, but I probably am most engaged with the book I am currently writing at that time. To look back, I would say that my favorite of my novels is The Blue Bistro. It's set in a restaurant on Nantucket, and it has so much good food writing in it, not to mention a fascinating love triangle.
16. Many young writers struggle with turning ideas into full-blown books. Do you have any advice for emerging writers trying to turn out their first book? Advice for young writers of any age: Finish your book. This is a matter of discipline. So many people have three chapters of something in a drawer. What distinguishes published writers from everyone else isn't genius. It's work ethic. Once your book is finished, get an agent. And then let him worry about selling your book; you worry about writing your next novel.
Review of Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand And a Giveaway!
Publisher: Reagan Arthur Books
Release Date: June 21, 2011
More Info: Amazon The Book Depository
Book Blurb:
Meredith Martin Delinn just lost everything: her friends, her homes, her social standing - because her husband Freddy cheated rich investors out of billions of dollars.
Desperate and facing homelessness, Meredith receives a call from her old best friend, Constance Flute. Connie's had recent worries of her own, and the two depart for a summer on Nantucket in an attempt to heal. But the island can't offer complete escape, and they're plagued by new and old troubles alike. When Connie's brother Toby - Meredith's high school boyfriend - arrives, Meredith must reconcile the differences between the life she is leading and the life she could have had.
Set against the backdrop of a Nantucket summer, Elin Hilderbrand delivers a suspenseful story of the power of friendship, the pull of love, and the beauty of forgiveness.
My Thoughts:
"Silver Girl" is a good book to take on vacation; it's long enough that you won't finish it too quickly but an easy read and one that while inspired by current events, is also focused on relationships and emotions. It tugs at the heartstrings but Hilderbrand also shows us the painful and very real aftermath of treachery, betrayal, and loss, regardless of their causes.
Meredith has been cut off by friends and acquaintances, she's alone, emotionally raw, and devastated by what her husband has done. She's vilified, almost broke, and afraid to be seen in public. She vacillates between wondering if there was a part of her that knew what he was doing and being convinced that she was clueless. Being clueless is not much of an improvement but Hilderbrand deftly portrays the relationship between Meredith and Freddy. It's a fact that there are many couplings and marriages where one partner is so left out of the other's work and parts of their emotional life. Hilderbrand also deftly portrays Meredith's utter abandonment and her feelings of loss at the relationships that she thought she had.
The story happens over the course of the summer and we see Meredith struggle, adjust and grow; we see her and Connie rebuild their friendship, and we see the parallels in their grief and loss. It was a little slow at times and Hilderbrand definitely aims to tug on your emotions but it's an interesting read and one that at times is raw and painful. Overall, it's an enjoyable story and perfect for the beach or pool.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Release Date: June 21, 2011
More Info: Amazon The Book Depository
Book Blurb:
Meredith Martin Delinn just lost everything: her friends, her homes, her social standing - because her husband Freddy cheated rich investors out of billions of dollars.
Desperate and facing homelessness, Meredith receives a call from her old best friend, Constance Flute. Connie's had recent worries of her own, and the two depart for a summer on Nantucket in an attempt to heal. But the island can't offer complete escape, and they're plagued by new and old troubles alike. When Connie's brother Toby - Meredith's high school boyfriend - arrives, Meredith must reconcile the differences between the life she is leading and the life she could have had.
Set against the backdrop of a Nantucket summer, Elin Hilderbrand delivers a suspenseful story of the power of friendship, the pull of love, and the beauty of forgiveness.
My Thoughts:
"Silver Girl" is a good book to take on vacation; it's long enough that you won't finish it too quickly but an easy read and one that while inspired by current events, is also focused on relationships and emotions. It tugs at the heartstrings but Hilderbrand also shows us the painful and very real aftermath of treachery, betrayal, and loss, regardless of their causes.
Meredith has been cut off by friends and acquaintances, she's alone, emotionally raw, and devastated by what her husband has done. She's vilified, almost broke, and afraid to be seen in public. She vacillates between wondering if there was a part of her that knew what he was doing and being convinced that she was clueless. Being clueless is not much of an improvement but Hilderbrand deftly portrays the relationship between Meredith and Freddy. It's a fact that there are many couplings and marriages where one partner is so left out of the other's work and parts of their emotional life. Hilderbrand also deftly portrays Meredith's utter abandonment and her feelings of loss at the relationships that she thought she had.
The story happens over the course of the summer and we see Meredith struggle, adjust and grow; we see her and Connie rebuild their friendship, and we see the parallels in their grief and loss. It was a little slow at times and Hilderbrand definitely aims to tug on your emotions but it's an interesting read and one that at times is raw and painful. Overall, it's an enjoyable story and perfect for the beach or pool.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am giving away the galley that I received for review. Since it IS a galley, there are a handful of typos and the final product may differ from this version.
To enter, leave a comment below about your favorite place to go in the summer. It doesn't have to be a travel destination; it can be closer to home - the library, an ice cream stand, grandma's house, etc. Make sure you leave a way to contact you - twitter account, email, etc. You can use the Kontactr form, after posting, to give me that info if you'd rather not have it in public.
The giveaway will be open through 11:59PM EST of this Friday, July 1st. I will use random.org to choose the winner. I'm sorry but this one is only open within the US.
Thanks and good luck!
The Giveaway is now closed. Thank you for visiting and commenting. :)
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Guest Review of Hexed, an anthology by Ilona Andrews, Yasmine Galenorn, Allyson James, and Jeanne C. Stein
Publisher: Berkley
Release date: June 7th, 2011
More Info: Amazon The Book Depository
Book Blurb:
Four of the bestselling names in romance and fantasy come together in this collection of thrilling novellas featuring powerful women who know how to handle a hex or two...
New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews spins "Magic Dreams." Shapeshifting tigress Dali Harimau finds herself in deep waters when she must challenge a dark being to a battle of wits or risk losing the man for whom she secretly longs.
In "Ice Shards," New York Times bestselling author Yasmine Galenorn returns to the Otherworld as Iris Kuusi, a Finnish house sprite, journeys to the frozen Northlands to confront the crazed shadow of her former lover and break the curse that is keeping her from marrying the man she loves.
National bestselling author Allyson James takes you to Magellan, Arizona, where Stormwalker Janet Begay and her friends are trapped by a powerful curse. It will take every bit of magic simmering beneath her skin for the Stormwalker to survive being "Double Hexed."
From national bestselling author Jeanne C. Stein comes "Blood Debt," in which bounty-hunter-turned-vampire Anna Strong is visited by three witches who ask her to right an old magical wrong. Anna will have to live up to her last name to make it through alive.
Today we have another guest reviewer, Elizabeth. She's another person from the Hurog board and from time to time, as her schedule allows, she will post reviews here. She's 30, lives in Alabama with her husband and young son, used to live in Japan, recently started a paying job outside the house, and loves to read. Please welcome her to the blog. :)
My Thoughts:
I’ve just read "Hexed", a collection of four novellas by some very good writers. The first story is "Magic Dreams" by Ilona Andrews, which takes place between Magic Bleeds and Magic Slays in her Kate Daniels series. I am a rabid (squees and all) fan of her work, so it should come as no surprise that I found it to be a well thought out plot and timeline. In it we follow the white tiger, Dali, as she tries to save the Feline Alpha, Jim, from a curse that is killing him. As usual, Andrews touches on more than one system of religion and magic with a well thought out flow of information that doesn’t get in the way of the plot.
The second story is "Ice Shards" by Yasmine Galenorn. I have as yet to pick up the main series that this novella is from, and I noticed the lack when reading this short. The idea behind this story is wonderful, the characters are colorful and show a good bit of growth from the background she slips in painlessly. The main character, Iris, and her friends go back to her home dimension to try to release her first love from the cursed half life he’s leading as a murderous shadow, while she searches for the truth of whether or not she caused him to be that way. I found some of the lack of forethought on the main characters part a little hard to swallow given that she’s supposedly been thinking about this for over six centuries, but overall it was a worthwhile read.
The third story is "Double Hexed", the title story of this book by Allyson James. She is a new to me author who has piqued my interest. In this installment of her "Stormwalker" series we watch Janet and her motley collection of friends try to break a disturbing curse laid on her hotel, that’s not only keeping them hostage but not so slowly driving them to their baser behaviors. With guest appearances by American Indian gods and demon goddesses this dark short story manages not to be depressing, and even a little adult in its content. I plan on picking up the first in this series sometime in the near future.
The fourth and final story is "Blood Debt" by Jeanne C. Stein. This story starts out with a familiar feel to anyone who reads Urban Fantasy novels but loses the formulaic feel quickly. Our main character Anna, a vampire PI, who just so happens to be a Chosen One who dictates human/vampire interactions, is called to another plane to answer for killing two people. This ‘call’ comes in the form of blackmail, to save her friend’s brother from death, she has to defend her actions and justify killing a dark witch and her bodyguard while in a place of sanctuary. In a genre overburdened with formula heroines with predictable angst this story keeps the appeal mainstream with subtle distinguishing plot points that keep the story fresh.
In other words, this book was well worth the read. Kudos to the four authors on such wonderful stories.
The reviewer own this book.
Release date: June 7th, 2011
More Info: Amazon The Book Depository
Book Blurb:
Four of the bestselling names in romance and fantasy come together in this collection of thrilling novellas featuring powerful women who know how to handle a hex or two...
New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews spins "Magic Dreams." Shapeshifting tigress Dali Harimau finds herself in deep waters when she must challenge a dark being to a battle of wits or risk losing the man for whom she secretly longs.
In "Ice Shards," New York Times bestselling author Yasmine Galenorn returns to the Otherworld as Iris Kuusi, a Finnish house sprite, journeys to the frozen Northlands to confront the crazed shadow of her former lover and break the curse that is keeping her from marrying the man she loves.
National bestselling author Allyson James takes you to Magellan, Arizona, where Stormwalker Janet Begay and her friends are trapped by a powerful curse. It will take every bit of magic simmering beneath her skin for the Stormwalker to survive being "Double Hexed."
From national bestselling author Jeanne C. Stein comes "Blood Debt," in which bounty-hunter-turned-vampire Anna Strong is visited by three witches who ask her to right an old magical wrong. Anna will have to live up to her last name to make it through alive.
Today we have another guest reviewer, Elizabeth. She's another person from the Hurog board and from time to time, as her schedule allows, she will post reviews here. She's 30, lives in Alabama with her husband and young son, used to live in Japan, recently started a paying job outside the house, and loves to read. Please welcome her to the blog. :)
My Thoughts:
I’ve just read "Hexed", a collection of four novellas by some very good writers. The first story is "Magic Dreams" by Ilona Andrews, which takes place between Magic Bleeds and Magic Slays in her Kate Daniels series. I am a rabid (squees and all) fan of her work, so it should come as no surprise that I found it to be a well thought out plot and timeline. In it we follow the white tiger, Dali, as she tries to save the Feline Alpha, Jim, from a curse that is killing him. As usual, Andrews touches on more than one system of religion and magic with a well thought out flow of information that doesn’t get in the way of the plot.
The second story is "Ice Shards" by Yasmine Galenorn. I have as yet to pick up the main series that this novella is from, and I noticed the lack when reading this short. The idea behind this story is wonderful, the characters are colorful and show a good bit of growth from the background she slips in painlessly. The main character, Iris, and her friends go back to her home dimension to try to release her first love from the cursed half life he’s leading as a murderous shadow, while she searches for the truth of whether or not she caused him to be that way. I found some of the lack of forethought on the main characters part a little hard to swallow given that she’s supposedly been thinking about this for over six centuries, but overall it was a worthwhile read.
The third story is "Double Hexed", the title story of this book by Allyson James. She is a new to me author who has piqued my interest. In this installment of her "Stormwalker" series we watch Janet and her motley collection of friends try to break a disturbing curse laid on her hotel, that’s not only keeping them hostage but not so slowly driving them to their baser behaviors. With guest appearances by American Indian gods and demon goddesses this dark short story manages not to be depressing, and even a little adult in its content. I plan on picking up the first in this series sometime in the near future.
The fourth and final story is "Blood Debt" by Jeanne C. Stein. This story starts out with a familiar feel to anyone who reads Urban Fantasy novels but loses the formulaic feel quickly. Our main character Anna, a vampire PI, who just so happens to be a Chosen One who dictates human/vampire interactions, is called to another plane to answer for killing two people. This ‘call’ comes in the form of blackmail, to save her friend’s brother from death, she has to defend her actions and justify killing a dark witch and her bodyguard while in a place of sanctuary. In a genre overburdened with formula heroines with predictable angst this story keeps the appeal mainstream with subtle distinguishing plot points that keep the story fresh.
In other words, this book was well worth the read. Kudos to the four authors on such wonderful stories.
The reviewer own this book.
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