Blog Tour Hosts Needed!

Sizzling PR, a book promotions company that I sometimes work with, is looking for new hosts. The demand for their services is so high that there just aren't enough hosts. They specialize in romances of all flavors, and they do an excellent job of providing you the information you need for posts. If you're interested, take a look at their site, then fill out this form.

Review of Sagebrush Song by J.A. Campbell

Publisher: Echelon Press
Release Date: December 12, 2011
Series: #5 Into the West
Buying Links: Amazon     OmniLit

Book Blurb:

*Contains spoilers for previous books*

In the further adventures of Time-traveling Tina, her favorite cowboy, Rowe, has come forward to her time to ask for her help. They know where the silver mine is, but Old Man Taggart’s cowboys are still getting shot and the survival of the ranch is uncertain.

 Rowe truly believes that Tina can help, but before she can go back with him they need a plan. With Medicine Man Eli and his apprentice’s help, they convince Tina’s parents to let her go on a desert survival camping trip. That allows them to travel back in time to the Old West Flagstaff to find help for the Taggarts. 

 With all the differences, Tina gets a real appreciation for her era. Life in the old west isn't easy, especially if you have to ride a horse in a dress. But Tina is up for the challenge and takes it all in stride. After all, it's part of being a cowgirl in training. And having a cute cowboy for a boyfriend makes everything fun.

Teaser:

"Do you want to be my girlfriend?"

Tina slammed on the brakes, glad she wasn't out of the neighborhood. 

"Uh."

"It's okay if you don't."

"Well, yeah, that'd be great. What about the whole time difference thing."

My Thoughts:

*May contain spoilers for previous books*

I was starting to think that this installment would never be released. The publisher kept delaying the release date. I squeed when I saw it was finally available. It's the next to last installment and I'm still having trouble seeing a happy ending for Tina and Rowe.

Rowe and Tina, in conjunction with Eli and his apprentice, Angie, have come up with a plan that they think will help save Taggart's ranch. In the first part of the book, Rowe is in Tina's time and we see him as the fish out of water, trying to adapt. In the latter part of the book, Tina travels back to Rowe's time and it's her turn to be the fish out of water. She has a slightly easier time since she has some knowledge of past, but even so, it's not easy and gives her an appreciation of what it was like for Rowe.

This installment moves the story along, showcasing Tina and Rowe's relationship, as well as Tina's evolving feelings about living out west and her adjustment to it. There's not as much action in this one, it focuses more on character development, but it's fun and a good read. As much as I'm looking forward to seeing how Campbell wraps things up, I'll be sorry to see this series end.

I own this ebook.

Review of Zero Day by David Baldacci

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Release Date: October 31, 2011
Buying Links: Amazon     The Book Depository

Book Blurb (from goodreads):

 In this heart-racing thriller by bestselling writer David Baldacci, the author of Hell's Corner, military investigator John Puller is called to a remote, rural area where an entire family have been murdered in their home.

John Puller is a former war hero who has become the best military investigator in the U.S. Army's Criminal Investigative Division. He is a loner who has an unstoppable determination for finding the truth.  

 As he investigates the murder case, John learns that the dead husband was in the army and the wife worked for a Pentagon contractor. John makes plenty of enemies whilst working this case, including a local homicide detective, a woman who has personal problems of her own.(less)

Teaser:

She moved forward too.
Puller saw it and launched, He hit Cole right in the gut, lifting her off the ground. They tumbled back toward the tree line two seconds before the truck detonated. A front wheel landed within six inches of them. Debris crashed down around them. Puller covered Cole with his body. A long strip of rubber landed across the back of his legs. It stung, but did no permanent damage. He would have a welt there, but that was all.
As the flames leapt over the truck, Puller knew he had a second problem. He grabbed Cole by the arm, lifted her over his shoulder, and ran into the woods. A few seconds later, the gas tank exploded, sending a second wave of wreckage sailing in all directions.

My Thoughts:

I have a weakness for military suspense novels. Partly it's due to my love of mysteries, partly it's due to a partiality for things military since I grew up as a military brat, and partly due to a fascination with the way various writers handle writing about the US government and military. Despite a certain partiality for the military, I also tend to be a skeptic and know that neither the government nor the military are always the best they can be nor looking out for what's best for the country. Baldacci writes intimately about the US government and military as well as the various alphabet agencies in his books, and he writes with a somewhat cynical eye while portraying his deep love for and belief in the US. It can be a tricky balance and he pulls it off well.

In "Zero Day" our protagonist, John Puller, is an enlisted man in the Army, from an Army family. His father, now retired, was a much decorated, respected, and feared three star Army general; his brother was a scientist and a major in the Army. John, or Puller as he's usually called, often has to defend his choice to go the enlisted route instead of the officer route. Puller likes his current work investigating military related crimes and is content to stay there. His personal life is also complicated - his father is not in good health, seemingly from dementia though Baldacci never actually says, and his brother is serving a life sentence for treason, though again we're never given details.

Baldacci does give lots of details on things such as weaponry, investigative techniques, chain of command, etc. At times it felt like too much detail, as if I were reading a manual, but some readers may enjoy that. The story also gets overly complicated at times and, despite his propensity, for detail, Baldacci has a knack for withholding certain details and facts until just the right moment in the story. At times that was frustrating. When Baldacci finally reveals one of the conspirators, Puller claims to have suspected him from early on but we weren't shown that. I was more surprised by Puller's claim than I was by the identity of the conspirator.

Still, Puller is a fascinating character and I enjoyed his interactions, especially with his family. I hope we'll get more books with him. The other characters are well done and felt real. The overall story is well written and complex, with more depth than I expect in a book in this genre. I really liked the different setting, rural West Virginia, and learning more about both the coal mining business and the military and the government's early work with nuclear weapons. It's a long, somewhat complicated read (all those details) so don't read it when you're tired or short on time, but do read it.

I received a hardcover from the publisher for review.

Witches and Vampires and Ghosts…or Maybe Not…A Guest Post by Author Angela Addams

PNR author Angela Addams is visiting again today. She was first here in spring of 2011, when I reviewed her book, "Ghost Bride" and also interviewed her. While her first few books were paranormal romance, her new one, "Going the Distance", is a contemporary romance, with just a hint of fantasy.

Every day is Halloween for author Angela Addams. Enthralled by the paranormal at an early age, Angela spends most of her time thinking up new story ideas that involve supernatural creatures in everyday situations.

She lives in Ontario, Canada in an old, and she believes haunted, house with her loving husband and children. 

Book Blurb (from publisher):


Ronan’s been in love with Steph Randell since they were teenagers. Pierced by Cupid’s arrow as a teen, the country boy fell hard for her.


As an award-winning actress, Steph has a mind of her own and is blinded by her ambition. Yet, for all her money and fame, the only time she truly finds peace is in Ronan’s arms. But she thinks that all she needs is a friend with benefits.


Cupid messed up and needs to fix things—an incredible boon if he can succeed. All he has to do is show Steph what she is missing and prove to Ronan that Steph is worth fighting for. What will Steph risk for love? And what is Ronan willing to give up to get his girl?

GOING THE DISTANCE

By ANGELA ADDAMS 

ASIN: B006QLUMX2

Published by: EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING

Genre: FICTION, ROMANCE

Format: ebook

Length:134 KB

Release Date: DECEMBER 26, 2011 

Author Website: http://www.angelaaddams.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/AngelaAddams

Angie, thanks for stopping by today and sharing with us the challenges you faced writing this story.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

So, here’s the thing, I’ve kind of made a brand for myself that is centered around all things paranormal. That was always just a natural fit for me. So color me surprised when I started writing my latest novella, Going the Distance, and discovered that there wasn’t a werewolf, vampire or witch in sight! I mean, come on! There’s got to be a way to fit in some kind of paranormal creature, right? RIGHT?

 

Ahem, well, no, no there wasn’t. This particular story wasn’t feral enough for a werewolf tale . There was no room for a vampire lover. There wasn’t even a place for a measly little apparition to float around. No paranormal. Period. Well, not exactly NO paranormal. This particular story was written to fit into a series called Cupid’s Conquests in which Cupid, aka Eros, has been banished to Earth until he can fix the sad romantic state of the world. He must intervene in the lives of romantically deprived individuals and hook them up. In the case of Going the Distance, he’s got to fix a mistake he made years before.

 

So I found myself in an interesting situation, a little scared, I will admit, but not so put off that the story wasn’t flowing. I have to say I’m quite pleased with the result. This novella is HOT, right from the get go. It was interesting delving into a realistic world with common problems and having my heroine and her hero overcome obstacles that any one of us could face. 

It was my first experience with a story taking over and even though I tried for a little while to force it into my paranormal mold, I knew it wouldn’t fit. I had to accept the reality that my brand was going to take a little detour into uncharted territory. And to be perfectly honest it was a great little jaunt…one I will most likely repeat at some point.

 

So now I can say that I’ve written a somewhat, mostly, contemporary erotic romance which is my favorite so far (I can say that because it’s my only so far ;-)

 

I truly hope it becomes your favorite too.

To celebrate my new release, I’m giving away an e-copy of Going the Distance! All you have to do is leave a comment (make sure to put an email address) and I will randomly draw a winner a week from today!

Live Video Chat with Becca Fitzpatrick, Author of the Hush, Hush Series!

Join Becca Fitzpatrick, internationally bestselling author of The Hush, Hush Saga, for a live video chat on Goodreads on Tuesday, January 10 at 7 pm Eastern, 4 pm Pacific Time. If you aren't a Goodreads member, it's easy, and free, to join.

To celebrate the long anticipated paperback release of Crescendo, book two in The Hush, Hush Saga, author Becca Fitzpatrick has a major announcement to make about book four!

SimonTeen is keeping quiet about the big announcement for now, but they did say that that Becca will be hosting a live Q&A session. Special guest Moira Young, author of Dust Lands, book one: Blood Red Road, will also be joining the chat all the way from York, England.

The Crescendo paperback, the only place where you can get an early first look at the fourth book in The Hush, Hush Saga, is on sale now. 

Click here to RSVP for the event.

Dusty Reads #4

 

  Dusty Reads is a weekly meme hosted by Giselle at Xpresso Reads where we spotlight a book sitting in our TBR pile. My TBR breeds when I'm not looking, I swear. Between ebooks (darn those kindle freebies, lol)  and print books, I have a couple hundred that I haven't yet read. Eeep.

For my first one of 2012, I have a book that's been sitting on my kindle for about a year now. I've started it several times, but always get sidetracked and then it's ages before I get back to it, and then I get sidetracked. Sometimes my attention span is no better than the two and three year olds in my class. :D  I have no doubt I'll enjoy, once I finally sit down and read it, I've liked everything I've read by this author. 

Red's Wolf (Terra's Guardians #2) Publisher: Decadent Publishing Release Date: Aug. 30, 2010

 Book Blurb (from goodreads):

Carri has definitely caught the eye of the big bad wolf. 

 Visiting the Glacier Valley pack to get a little breathing room from life in the city, she uses her skills to help install a high tech airspace sensor array for her adoptive grandmother’s pack. Jason is a lone wolf, good at doing his job and good at being alone. Sparks fly between them, igniting desire hotter than Carri’s red hood. But the Glacier Valley pack has made it clear that Carri is under their protection and off limits. And yet, the heat between them is undeniable and when Carri makes her choice clear, Jason is ready to claim her as his. He’ll go against the pack and any rivals, even take down an alien hunter to have her and protect her.

I read the first book in this series, Heart's Sentinel, and enjoyed it. Schnyder mixed were-creatures with a bit of sci fi and a bit of apocalyptica with some hot and heavy sex scenes and romance. They're both novellas, not full length novels, so it won't take me long, once I get around to it. 

Review: Noah Zark: Mammoth Trouble by D. Robert Pease

• Publisher: Walking Stick Books 
• Release Date: August 13, 2011
• Series: #1 Noah Zarc
• Buying Link: Amazon    Barnes & Noble
•  
• Book Blurb:
• Noah lives for piloting spaceships through time, dodging killer robots and saving Earth’s animals from extinction. Life couldn’t be better. However, the twelve-year-old time traveler soon learns it could be a whole lot worse. His mom is abducted and taken to thirty-first century Mars; his dad becomes stranded in the Ice Age; and Noah is attacked at every turn by a foe bent on destroying a newly habitable, post apocalyptic Earth.
  
  Traveling through time in the family’s immense spaceship, Noah, a paraplegic from birth, must somehow care for the thousands of animals on board, while finding a way to rescue his parents. Along the way, he discovers his mother and father aren’t who he thought they were, and there is strength inside him he didn’t know he had.

My Thoughts:

I’ve read a lot of YA novels and often found myself unable to relate to the drama they seem to    feel over every little thing. 

That never happened in this book. It’s a beautifully written YA Sci-Fi novel which seems to hit most of the standard archetypes without coming off as stale or trite. I was worried that this would be a religious book in Sci-Fi disguise, but it thankfully never happened. This book starts off with a bang and while it’s pace slows down after the initial attention grabber, but it never feels slow. There are fun Sci-Fi toys, sibling rivalry, parent issues, historic and current animal info, space and time travel, fights, and a light taste of romance. This book never left me saying ‘yes, but get on with the plot’ despite plenty of dialog, descriptions, and explanations. The character interactions are realistic, logical, and likely with one exception. That exception is the relation between the main character, his parents and the antagonist. I found that a little difficult to swallow, but that could be because I am over twice the target audience’s age. I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone in a preteen/young teen target audience with a taste for science fiction.

I felt that there could be more detail, a compliment since I don’t expect the level that I want as an adult in a YA novel. I thought the author did a wonderful job with this book and I’m waiting to see if this becomes a series. 

The reviewer, Liz, received a ePUB from the author for review.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy New Year!

I hope 2011 was a good year for you all, and that 2012 is off to a good start. May 2012 bring you a peaceful, happy year.

2011 was an mixed year for me, but on the whole it was a decent year. I did fail on three year of my personal goals: no ER visits, no hospital admissions, and ending the year healthy. Sigh. Perhaps 2012 will be better. I'm researching a new treatment but trying not to get my hopes up.

I want to cut back on my review reading this year and do more reading for fun, I even joined a challenge with that as it's goal. I want the blog to be fun to do, not just work, so overall things will slow down. That said, I have some things booked through April already. O_o But, after February, things will slow down.

And now, I'm off to cuddle with my cat (seen in my header) and finish the book I started on December 29th. Happy New Year,