The Sunday Post Mailbox & Recap #8

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer. 
~this meme was inspired in part by - In My Mailbox~

It's a chance to share News. 

A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog. 

 

Summer is here! Though, the weather has been wacky, even for New England. We'll have two or three days of 90+ degree temps followed by a week or more of 60's and 70's and at least two days straight of rain. Weird, and not very summery. But, my school's regular year is finished and we start summer session tomorrow. We have class two days, then closed on Wednesday for the US's Independence Day celebration, then two more days of class. Many of our kids are on vacation this week so it will be a light week at school.   

Last week was light on the blog, and this week will be also. I posted an update on the lung surgery for my asthma; a spotlight on a new romance "This Tangled Thing Called Love" by Marie Astor, which includes a jewelry giveaway (still open); a cover reveal for Kelley Armstrong's upcoming novella, "Forbidden"; and a review of "Magic Lost, Trouble Found" by Lisa Shearin. I also had a giveaway for "Vampire Bay" by Sandra Cox, which ended yesterday.

Coming up this week, I will have a spotlight on "Alana's Surrender" by KT Grant; a review of "Beach Season"; an anthology with stories by Lisa Jackson, Cathy Lamb, Holly Chamberlain, and Rosalind Noonan; a guest post from author Brenda L. Baker; and an interview with author Barbara Lambert along with a giveaway of her book, "Charlie: A Love Story". 

 

BOOKS!

 

Review  

 

 

Review coming this week, maybe Wednesday. 

Gifted

 

 A few weeks ago, I posted that I received from Penguin Books,"Darkness Devours", book three in Keri Arthur's Dark Angels series. I hadn't read the first ones however. I tweeted Keri, asking her if I could read DD as a stand alone and she replied no. She then generously offered to send the books to me and they arrived this week, along with a signed cover flat for "Full Moon Rising". I'm still a bit in shock at her generousity. (She lives in Australia, for anyone unfamiliar with her. So, two books plus mailing to the US = a generous author and a very happy reader.)

Kindle Freebies

 

 

Yep, it was even a quiet week for freebies. There wasn't a lot this week that caught my eye and with my goodreads TBR shelf at 549 books, I really need to get busy reading. 

I hope you had a good week. Leave me a link and I'll try to visit this week.

Review of Magic Lost, Trouble Found by Lisa Shearin

Publisher: Ace Fantasy
Series: Raine Benares #1
Release Date: May 29, 2007
Buying Links: Amazon     The Book Depository

Book Blurb (from author website):

A girl with attitude. An all-powerful amulet.
This could only mean trouble.

My name is Raine Benares. I’m a seeker. The people who hire me are usually happy when I find things. But some things are better left unfound…

Raine is a sorceress of moderate powers, from an extended family of smugglers and thieves. With a mix of street smarts and magic spells, she can usually take care of herself. But when her friend Quentin, a not-quite-reformed thief, steals an amulet from the home of a powerful necromancer, Raine finds herself wrapped up in more trouble than she cares for. She likes attention as much as the next girl, but having an army of militant goblins hunting her down is not her idea of a good time. The amulet they’re after holds limitless power, derived from an ancient, soul-stealing stone. And when Raine takes possession of the item, it takes possession of her.

Now her moderate powers are increasing beyond anything she could imagine—but is the resumé enhancement worth her soul?


Teaser:

We went below. Phaelan was at the table in the center of the cabin, the remains of some kind of meal in front of him. With Phaelan's night owl tendencies, who knew which meal it was supposed to be. I crossed the cabin in three strides and greeted my cousin with a big hug. Phaelan wasn't the touchy-feely type, and normally I respected his personal space, but things hadn't been normal for days so I felt entitled.

Piaras had to duck his head to get through the door, and my cousin's smile vanished when he saw the young elf's bruised face. The color hadn't faded, but at least the swelling had gone down.

"What happened?" Phaelan's voice promised many bad things for whoever had caused that bruise. 

"Nothing good," I told him. My voice suddenly sounded as exhausted as I felt. I think it was the sight of somewhere to sit, and no one standing between me and there, waiting to kill me. I pulled up a chair and sat down, my muscles tight and protesting from a night of running and other less healthy activities. "I should probably start from when I left home yesterday morning." 

Reviewed By: Bea

Bea's Thoughts:

A month ago, I interviewed Lisa Shearin in conjunction with the release of her newest, and last, Raine Benares book, "All Spell Breaks Loose". I hadn't yet read any of the books in that series but Has from The Book Pushers had suggested it, as had a few others. It sounded like something I'd enjoy, and the author Lisa also made it sound interesting, so I requested book one from my library. While I didn't love it, I did enjoy it. 


Raine Benares is a finder which often translates to a thief, and she's proud of it. She's good at what she does. Her family, well her mother's side of the family, has a long and proud history of skirting, or outright breaking, the law. Raine has never known her father and her mother died young so she was raised by her aunt and uncle. She's also sorceress, though her magical abilities are weak.

The story starts with Raine helping out Quentin, a friend and occasional employee. The action comes quickly after that and a lot happens. People get hurt, alliances are broken and made, there's even the beginning of a potential new romance. Shearin uses traditional species from fantasy and fairy tales: trolls, orcs, elves, etc. and a Middles Ages inspired world, mixed with modern speech patterns and a few tweaks of her own. It's not a terribly original world but she makes it hers nonetheless and it has enough familiar elements that I could focus on the story and the characters.

The characters are fully developed, with none of them being perfect, and even the villains have moments of just being normal. I especially liked Raine's voice and character: intelligent, self aware, a sense of humor that was sometimes ironic, sometimes dry, the ability to laugh at herself and also to see her flaws, loyal, and compassionate but not weak. Shearin has a strong cast of characters that flesh out the story and provide Raine with friends and family. Though she often works alone, she's not a loner or a misfit. The story dragged a bit at times, but it kept me engaged most of the time and I ended up staying up until 2AM to finish it. I'll be checking my library for the next book in the series; yes, I'm going to actually read a series in order, lol. Go me!

I borrowed this paperback from my library.

Forbidden: New Kelley Armstrong Cover

Yes, another Kelley cover reveal. :) She's a busy lady, which is good news for her readers. This is for her upcoming novella from Subterranean Press, due out in December. I confess, this one is a bit bland color-wise for me, but it does have a creepy look to it. I'm such a Kelley fan, I ordered my book already; the cover was not a concern either way. :D

This cover is for the signed, limited edition. The trade edition will have a different cover, which has not been revealed yet.

What do you think? Do you like it? Will you buy it?

It's almost burning time!

On Monday, I talked to the research nurse in charge of the study that I'm participating in. I was approved and accepted into the research study back in April. I was sick enough but not too sick. :D But, I had been on prednisone too many times in a 12 month period so we had to wait three months, hoping I didn't need any prednisone in that time period, and then within that new 12 month time frame, I'd have an acceptable number of prednisone doses. I'm now 2 weeks away from that magic one year mark. I WILL stay off prednisone for the next two weeks. I WILL! Now, that might seem easy, but my allergies are a trigger for an asthma episode, as is humidity (it's summer where I live) and stress. Trying not to stress, about anything, will stress me, lol. So, it's not impossible that I develop an asthma episode in the next two weeks, which would mean going on prednisone, which would mean pushing back the surgery.

Once I hit that lovely, delightful, magical one year mark, I go back to the asthma specialist and repeat previous tests to ensure that I'm still a match for the study. If those results come back acceptable, then we set a date! Right now, the earliest possible date is July 24th, a mere month away. Squeeeeeeeeeee!

When I have that date, I'll post it. Heck, you'll hear me shouting in joy all the way around the world.

Now, the surgery is not a cure for asthma. Nor is there a guarantee that it will, in fact, provide me any relief. BUT...I have nothing to lose. We have tried everything else, I'm on a boatload of meds, yet asthma still rules my life. It's worth a try. Now, I just need some allergy relief and then I'd be downright healthy.

So, please, if you wouldn't mind, cross your fingers, pray, send positive vibes, and so on, that everything works out for me. It will be much appreciated.

Spotlight On: This Tangled Thing Called Love by Marie Astor w/an Excerpt

 

Today I have a fun contemporary romance by Marie Astor to share with you. Marie is a die-hard romantic who wholeheartedly believes in true love, which is why she writes in the contemporary romance genre. Marie is the author of contemporary romance novels This Tangled Thing Called Love, Lucky Charm, On the Rim of Love, and a short story collection, A Dress in a Window.

If you would like to learn more about Marie’s writing, please stop by her website: www.marieastor.com to sign up for book release updates and events or visit her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marieastorcollection

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Book Blurb (from author):

Twenty-eight-year-old Claire Chatfield has everything a girl could possibly wish for: looks, a promising career at New York’s top architectural firm, and an engagement ring from one of New York’s most eligible heir-bachelors! Life should be a dream, but when Alec Brunell, a sexy tango dancer, moves into the apartment one floor above from Claire’s, he unwittingly awakens Claire’s old insecurities, making her question her life choices. Will Claire brave her fears and allow herself to take a chance on Alec, or will she continue to play it safe?

In order to secure his place as his father’s successor, thirty-three-year-old David Lawson must settle down with a wife befitting the future head of Lawson Enterprises - and who could fit the prerequisite better than the stunningly beautiful and incredibly bright Claire Chatfield? There is just one glitch – David Lawson is in love with another woman – a Hollywood Legend Claudia Block.

A successful tango instructor, Alec Brunell has never lacked for women’s attention, but he finds himself at a loss when faced with his downstairs neighbor, Claire Chatfield. Upon hearing of his occupation, most women swoon with desire, but Claire runs for the door. Still, her iciness only adds fuel to his fire, as Alec is determined to change Claire’s view of him.

Dance Me to the Stars is a love story about finding one’s perfect match - sometimes following one’s heart is as convoluted as learning the steps of tango.


THIS TANGLED THING CALLED LOVE
By: Marie Astor
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services
ASIN: B0078IPNCW
Genre: FICTION, ROMANCE, CONTEMPORARY
Format: EBOOK
Length: 439 KB, 254 pages
Release Date: FEBRUARY 12, 2012
Website
Twitter
Facebook
goodreads

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 Excerpt

 

“So what do you want to do today?” Claire asked after she had loaded the dishes into the dishwasher. She had replaced her evening dress with indigo jeans and peasant blouse – that was another recent change – David had suggested that she leave a few of her things at his place, so that she would not have to rush home to change when spending the weekend with him.

“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry. Didn’t I tell you? I have to get back to the office. I’m working on a major deal that is due to close on Wednesday and I’ve got to go over the financials one more time to make sure everything is in shipshape.”

“Oh.” Claire fought back the disappointment – she had been looking forward to seeing David all week, and already, their time together was over.

“I tell you what - why don’t you go to the pool downstairs, maybe do some shopping, and I should be back around seven or so.” David reached for his wallet and handed Claire his credit card. “Do you forgive me?”

Most women would jump at the chance, but Claire wanted David, not his credit cards, and if she knew anything about men, it was that you could not let a man think that you sat around moping for him. “That’s all right, David. Actually, I’ve just remembered that I have a few work things to catch up on myself.”

“I’m really sorry, baby. I swear I’ll make it up to you next weekend.”

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Giveaway

Marie will be giving away three prizes of custom made jewelry to three randomly drawn commenters during the tour (Continental US only).: Prize #1: Coral necklace sterling silver chandelier coral earrings set, Prize #2 Blue opal sterling silver plated necklace and Prize #3 Sterling silver chandelier earrings with green aventurine, rose quartz and amethyst .

The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/04/virtual-book-tour-dance-me-to-stars-by.html

The Sunday Post Mailbox & Recap #7

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer. 
~this meme was inspired in part by - In My Mailbox~

It's a chance to share News. 

A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

It was a busy week last week, whew! There was a lot going on at the blog. This week, I have a busy work week so the blog will be quieter, plus I've got a quietish summer planned for the blog. No big plans for the summer, apart from my surgeries, just wanted to lighten my workload a bit.

On the blog last week, I had:

1 review: Deep Autumn Heat by Elisabeth Barrett

1 interview: Benedict Jacka

2 guest posts: Linda Lael Miller and Elisabeth Barrett

2 cover reveals: Kelley Armstrong and Mira Grant

3 spotlights: The Taken by Vicki Pettersson    Revealing Hamilton by Sarah J Carr    Minder by Sandra Cox

3 giveaways (all still ongoing): The Taken by Vicki Pettersson   Vampire Bay by Sandra Cox   Deep Autumn Heat by Elisabeth Barrett

Books Won

I won this on Dream several weeks ago and it arrived a few days ago. I love it! I immediately took it to school, where the kids haven't been as enthusiastic as me. I haven't given up yet though. Review to come.

Received for Review

Purchased

This is put out by my employer so no review. But, I was hearing good things about if from my co-workers so I bought it.

Kindle Freebies

Swag

Remember I posted last week that I bought Kelley Armstrong's new ebook, "The Hunter and The Hunted"? Well, she did a promo with it where she gave away bookmarks to the first 1000 people who emailed, to a special address, their order receipt. The womens bookmark is signed, the mens is not. One of her board members, Xaviere, did the art. She also did the artwork for "Forbidden" and "Beginnings".

So how was your week? Leave a link in your comment and I'll come around during the week for a visit.

Cape Cod and Romance: A Guest Post by Elisabeth Barrett w/a Give Away

Small towns, the ocean, food, and yummy brothers. Mix them all together and you get Elisabeth Barrett's new romance, "Deep Autumn Heat". It's the first in her Star Harbor series, about the Grayson brothers. DAH is about Sebastian Grayson, a chef and former bad boy.

Photo by Tim Herby

Elisabeth Barrett is thrilled to make her debut with Loveswept on July 9 with the release of DEEP AUTUMN HEAT, the first book in her Star Harbor series, featuring the too-tempting Grayson brothers. Elisabeth lives in Northern California with her husband and three children. She grew up in New England and can’t get enough of Cape Cod. You can connect with Elisabeth on her Website, Blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

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A huge thank you to Bea for hosting me. I’m thrilled to be here! Today, I’d like to talk about my debut novel, DEEP AUTUMN HEAT, the story of two stubborn chefs who butt heads, both in the kitchen and out, before falling madly, deeply in love. When Sebastian Grayson, chef-owner of New York City hotspot Helena, returns to his Cape Cod hometown of Star Harbor, Massachusetts, to recharge, the last thing he expects is to find inspiration. But when he steps foot into the Lexie Meyers Kitchen and takes one bite of Lexie’s delectable coconut cake, he immediately gets hooked – on her.

Several folks have asked why I decided to set the book on the Cape. There’s an easy answer – I lived there!

I spent three idyllic summers working at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution on Cape Cod, and living on the Cape and Martha’s Vineyard. Even back then, I knew how romantic it was—the long, sun-drenched days, the warm, star-filled nights. I have so many memories from my time there, it’s hard to pick just one, but I’ll tell you my favorite.

One summer night, some friends and I went swimming in the dark waters of Vineyard Sound. We were right by the shore, and in the water, there were millions of bioluminescent phytoplankton (which, incidentally, I was studying in my lab). When I swept my hand through the water, the tiny specks shimmered and glittered in the moonlight. I floated on my back, looking up at the full moon, my long hair twining around my shoulders like a mermaid’s. It was one of the most magical nights of my life.

Now can you understand why I had to set my first book on Cape Cod?

It also helps that I am from Connecticut, and have lived most of my life in New England. From the get-go, I knew that I’d have to depict the Cape in all its glory – every season represented to showcase the area’s beauty. That is actually the chief reason I decided to make the books into a series instead of standalones. I really wanted to bring the wonder and the beauty of each season on the Cape into the books.

Also, most of the towns on the Cape are small, and for those of you who’ve grown up in or even visited small towns, you know they sometimes take on a life of their own. Star Harbor itself becomes one of the protagonists – the character bringing everyone else together. People are drawn to Star Harbor because of its community, camaraderie, and beauty. DEEP AUTUMN HEAT releases on July 9, and I hope you enjoy reading about Star Harbor as much as I enjoyed writing about the little town.

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Book Blurb: 

 

In this sexy new Star Harbor romance series, featuring the too-tempting Grayson brothers, a celebrity chef turns up the heat for a local café owner—and things start to sizzle.

Lexie Meyers decides there’s nothing sweeter than watching Sebastian Grayson’s perfect, wicked mouth devour her coconut cake. He’s hot, he’s hungry, and he’s sizing her up like she’s the best thing on the menu. But she’s been burned in the past and flings just aren’t her thing. Too bad Sebastian can’t resist a challenge.

Worldly, famous, and notorious with the ladies, Seb had planned a weekend of fishing and relaxation with his brothers. Until Lexie, with her kissable lips and frosty “get lost” attitude, makes him want to forget his culinary empire and create some magic with her. After he fires up his charm—including challenging her to a televised cook-off to break through her resistance—it’s now hotter in the bedroom than it is in the kitchen and Lexie isn’t sure whether she’s lost her mind . . . or just her heart.

DEEP AUTUMN HEAT
By: Elisabeth Barrett
Publisher: Loveswept (Random House)
ISBN: 9780345534330
Genre: FICTION, ROMANCE, CONTEMPORARY
Format: EBOOK
Length: 300 pages
Release Date: JULY 9, 2012
Website
Twitter
facebook
goodreads
Buying Links: Amazon    Barnes & Noble      Random House

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Thank you Elisabeth, it's been a pleasure working with you. 

Elisabeth and Random House are offering one digital preview copy for giveaway. You will need a NetGalley account to access the book.

To enter the giveaway, post your answer to the following question in the comments, along with a way to reach you - email, twitter, etc. 

Are you a small town or a big town person? Why?

Elisabeth, I have a question of my own for you: What IS the secret to Lexie's coconut cake?

ARC Review of Deep Autumn Heat by Elisabeth Barrett

Publisher: Random Loveswept

Series: Star Harbor #1

Release Date: July 9, 2012

Buying Links:  Amazon     Barnes & Noble     Random House

Book Blurb (from goodreads):

In this sexy new Star Harbor romance series, featuring the too-tempting Grayson brothers, a celebrity chef turns up the heat for a local café owner—and things start to sizzle.

Lexie Meyers decides there’s nothing sweeter than watching Sebastian Grayson’s perfect, wicked mouth devour her coconut cake. He’s hot, he’s hungry, and he’s sizing her up like she’s the best thing on the menu. But she’s been burned in the past and flings just aren’t her thing. Too bad Sebastian can’t resist a challenge.

Worldly, famous, and notorious with the ladies, Seb had planned a weekend of fishing and relaxation with his brothers. Until Lexie, with her kissable lips and frosty “get lost” attitude, makes him want to forget his culinary empire and create some magic with her. After he fires up his charm—including challenging her to a televised cook-off to break through her resistance—it’s now hotter in the bedroom than it is in the kitchen and Lexie isn’t sure whether she’s lost her mind . . . or just her heart.

Teaser:

Typically, whenever Seb was around, women just dropped whatever they were doing to cater to him. It was a bit unsettling to realize that this woman didn't and wouldn't put him first.

 It was also odd to find a woman in the business who didn't worship him because of his celebrity.

Unsettling, but attractive.

Reviewed By: Bea

Bea's Thoughts:

I confess. For a book about Sebastian, I was much more interested in Theo, his twin. He's quiet, reads a lot, is a writer, and seems to lack Seb's arrogance and overbearing behavior. I had a hard time warming up to Sebastian: he's not only arrogant and overbearing, cocky, rude, aggressive and thinks he's God's gift to women. Every time he said or did something nice, he ruined it by being obnoxious: on two separate occasions, he ambushed and publicly embarrassed Lexie in her diner, in front of customers and employees, he bullied his way into hanging around the diner while Lexie was working, even when she didn't want him there, and so on. Yet at other times, he respected her work as a chef and deferred to her in her kitchen, helped her when she was attacked (though he then was obnoxious about insisting he take her home, though she preferred to be alone).

Lexie starts out as strong, determined, skilled, loyal, a bit stand-offish, private, and ambitious. She relocated across country to escape an abusive relationship, threw herself into opening and running her diner, and makes little time for a personal life. She really does need a nudge in that area of her life, but Sebastian doesn't nudge, he harasses and pesters until he gets what he wants. Towards the end of the story, when Seb has actually gotten serious about her, and when her ex shows back up, Lexie's backbone gets a little wavery. While I understand her reluctance to take a chance on Seb, she also treats him poorly, then gets mad because he doesn't call. Huh? She wants her coconut cake and to eat it too? Then when her life is threatened, she gets all "oh help! All I can do is stand here and scream!" before getting her nerve back and standing up for herself.

One other problem I had with "Deep Autumn Heat" is the excessive number of mysteries/crimes happening in the story: 1) Lexie is receiving threatening letters demanding to know her coconut cake recipe, 2) Someone is sabotaging the equipment at the diner, 3) Lexie is attacked by an unknown person 4) the diner's fresh produce deliveries are also being sabotaged 5) there's a drug ring in town 6) there's a mysterious missing pirate treasure. All that in a book billed and marketed as a romance, and not as a romantic suspense or a mystery. Lexie's mysteries get resolved in the story, some in a predictable fashion, some less so. The drug ring and the pirate treasure will be back in future books; they have to be because one Grayson brother is the local sheriff and another is a DEA agent. It was a little disconcerting to have all of thus happening in what I thought was a romance. I enjoy mysteries and also romantic suspense, but I like to know what I'm getting. If I think it's one genre, only to read and find it's a different one than promised, it annoys me and also makes me scramble to re-arrange my expectations.

So, by now you may be wondering if I liked ANYTHING about the book. Why yes, yes, I did. I liked Lexie, came to like Seb somewhat, have a crush on Theo, enjoyed the other secondary characters, appreciated that Barrett resisted the impulse to make all of the small town people cutely quirky, enjoyed the Massachusetts setting, the sex scenes, there's humor and my attention was engaged the entire time. Barrett's style was easy and relaxed, and the story's flow was smooth. Despite my rantings and ravings at times as I read, I did enjoy the book as a whole and will read more in the series. If only to see who Theo ends up with! 

So, now that you know what you're getting, stop back after you read and tell me what you thought of the book. I'm curious as to other people's reactions to this book.

I received an eGalley from the publisher for review.