It's time for another Giveaway Hop, this time it's the Showers of Books Giveaway Hop, and for this weekend around here it's very appropriate. It looks to be a rainy weekend on the coast of NC, but our garden needs it! But back to the books. This hop is hosted by One A Day YA and I Am A Reader, Not A Writer so be sure and check out their blogs and the 150+ other blogs participating as well.
What am I giving away? I'm keeping it simple this time and making it International. You can choose any one book up to $15 from The Book Depository, or if you prefer a Gift Certificate to Amazon or Barnes and Nobles if you like ebooks. For The Book Depository, if they ship to your country for free, you can enter. Thanks to everyone who visits! Simply fill out the Rafflecopter, the only entry that is mandatory is a free entry.
**My Review will be coming at a later date, I just started the book and so far I am enjoying it very much**
About the Book: Two kingdoms, five centuries, one destiny
In a world where the Sojourners, a nearly extinct race with preternatural abilities struggle to preserve their faith and heritage, destiny thrusts two youths from opposing nations into the heart of a centuries-old conflict. Render, an orphan from the outskirts of the culturally enlightened Kingdom of Valdshire Tor, escapes slavery and seeks the truth about his true identity only to discover a web of conspiracies. This quest leads to the revelation of his uncanny ability to wield the destructive forces of nature.
Ahndien, sole survivor of a heinous raid on her peaceful village in the Eastern Kingdom of Tian Kuo, embarks on a journey to find her father, now a captive of Torian troops. What she uncovers surpasses anything she can imagine as she masters the ability to manipulate fire.
Guided by shape-shifting spirits, Render and Ahndien's fates collide when first they meet as mortal enemies. However, to save their people from annihilation, they must unite both kingdoms against a terrifying enemy that threatens to destroy both realms. But how can a young slave and a peasant bring sworn enemies of half a millennium together?
ONCE WE WERE KINGS: The first book in a saga of destiny and redemption, in a world of dying hope.
About the Author: When Ian Alexander’s debut epic fantasy novel ONCE WE WERE KINGS first launched in ebook format in May 2011, it instantly hit three bestseller lists on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. Mr. Alexander first wrote in the fantasy genre because of a commission by a very important and influential person: His 6-year old son.
***I received through Partners in Crime Book Tours for an honest review. I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free. ***
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
I saw this last week on WoW and it was compared to the love story in Matched by Ally Condie with the jungle themes in "Lost". I read that and didn't need to read any more. Okay I read the description too and I was completely sold. What do you think?
Origin by Jessica Khoury Razorbill, September 4, 2012 Hardcover, 272 pages ISBN-10: 1595145958 ISBN-13: 978-1595145956 Young Adult
An electrifying action-romance that's as thoughtful as it is tragic
Pia has grown up in a secret laboratory hidden deep in the Amazon rain forest. She was raised by a team of scientists who have created her to be the start of a new immortal race. But on the night of her seventeenth birthday, Pia discovers a hole in the electric fence that surrounds her sterile home--and sneaks outside the compound for the first time in her life.
Free in the jungle, Pia meets Eio, a boy from a nearby village. Together, they embark on a race against time to discover the truth about Pia's origin--a truth with deadly consequences that will change their lives forever.
Origin is a beautifully told, shocking new way to look at an age-old desire: to live forever, no matter the cost. This is a supremely compelling debut novel that blends the awakening romance of Matched with the mystery and jungle conspiracy of Lost.
Today I welcome Jamie Lisa Forbes, author of Unbroken which I reviewed last week for a great author interview plus you get the added bonus of some great photos of her writing area (I always enjoy things like that). So get comfy and enjoy. And then when you get finished getting to know Jamie, be sure and enter the giveaway for a copy of Unbroken.
Describe
the area you write in.
It
is quite unusual. It is a
hexagon-shaped room that sits forward of the main walls of my house. The room faces the southeast and there are
floor to ceiling windows on the three outer sides of the hexagon so it catches the
first light and stays light until mid-afternoon. Immediately outside of the window next to my
work space is my sidewalk to the main door, which I always have lined with
flowers-- pansies at this time of year-- and a huge sprawling azalea, which,
when flowering, is always a deep pink, nearly purple. It should be trimmed but it is so magnificent
that I cannot bring myself to it.
At
nights, when it is dark outside, the room has a cozy atmosphere because it is
quite small.
All
of Unbroken was written in this room.
What's
your favorite season?
In
Wyoming, my favorite season was spring.
Here in North Carolina, all seasons except for the summer are wonderful.
Describe
your ideal reading space (no expense spared here).
This
again, I already have. Beyond my study,
which I described in the first question, there is a wrap-around. I have wing chairs on the west side and in
all seasons but the summer, I enjoy curling up in one of those chairs and
reading.
What
is a typical day like in your life?
My
“day job” is law. The areas I practice
in are family law, tax, estate planning and estate administration. With these areas of practice, I am constantly
absorbed in very real and serious problems of other people. I enjoy getting away from these problems by
returning to my fictional characters.
If
you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
I am
sorry that when I lived in the West, I did not get to see as much of it as I
would have liked, because I was ranching and couldn’t get away. I would love a long trip to southern Colorado,
Utah and Montana.
Tell
us a little bit about Unbroken.
Unbrokenis the story of two women: the
heroine, Gwen, a traditional ranch wife, and Meg, who has eschewed traditional
roles, confident in her own independence.
The novel tracks the rise and fall of the friendship between these two
women and--once both their lives have been up-ended-- it follows each as they
struggle to restore meaning in their lives.
What
inspired you to write Unbroken?
I originally got the idea for Unbroken in 1990 when I was still in family
ranching. I was surrounded by so many women in the ranching community who lived extraordinary lives, yet there was an
absence of women in literature about the West. I wanted to turn the cowboy myth on its head and write about the real
heroes, actually, heroines, of the West.
But I didn’t start writing then. I started the novel ten years later and seven years after I had left family ranching. I was then living in a great community, but I knew few people who had any conception of life in the West and no one who had experience in the ups and downs of agriculture. While I still had all my original concepts, the impetus to start writing was the desire to memorialize the life I had once lived.
And finally in the course of writing the novel, the characters took on lives of their own. They became real people to me and molded the story in ways I had never anticipated. Inspiration, in terms of
this novel, was a process.
Which
character really spoke to you when you were writing Unbroken?
The
answer to that question speaks to my development both as a writer and a human
being.
My
original concept had been to write about Meg, because, I, like Meg, had wanted
to ranch alongside my husband and my father and I too struggled for acceptance
in this male-dominated profession.
But
as the chapters unfolded, it occurred to me how much I had overlooked women in
traditional roles and how truly extraordinary their lives are. Gwen’s day-to-day chores, beginning before
dawn and sometimes ending in the middle of night, which she carries on year
after year in the face of tedium and self-doubt, spoke to me of the power of
commitment.
What
are you working on now?
I
have lived in North Carolina nearly twenty years now and decided it was time to
write about the rural south. My new
novel is about a young man whose family
takes in an abused child for one year and the impact of those events on the
rest of his life.
Giveaway:
Win 1 copy of Unbroken by Jamie Lisa Forbes courtesy of the author, open to the US only. Simply enter using the Rafflecopter below. The only required entry is a free entry! Giveaway ends 4/23/12 and the book will ship directly from the author.
My Review:
So You Want to Start Running...Again is a quick easy read that's encouraging and basic to help anyone get started running or get started back running. I found it to be informative, but very superficial. But then again, this is just about getting started. I think this book is great for inspiring someone on the cusp on starting to run again. I read it in less than an hour and can see referring to it from time-to-time. Mr. Stevenson is well-researched and his topics are handled well.
I suggest this for someone who's thinking about running or getting back into running that wants a quick read to get them out the door again. His title says it all and it delivers.
About the Book: Let me start by saying
this... "I am no expert! I am only writing about my experiences. The
opinions expressed here are simply that, opinions. I have cited others'
work and linked to those sites I found expert information."
In
January 2011, I began running again, something I had not done since I
was in high school over 25 years ago. I know I am not alone in my quest
to get back into shape at age 45. My goal here is shared some running
tips that helped me get back into running. This book is written for
persons, like me, who have recently become aware of their need for more
physical fitness activity in their lives.
Much of the information
in this book can be found online at an number of resources. However, I
have put a lot of thought and time into including my personal
experiences in the hopes that others are able to have a similar
successful experiences as a benefit of your individual efforts. I hope
to encourage and perhaps inspire others to start or restart running.
FTC Information:
I received this book through Media Guests for an
honest review. I do make money from purchases made at The Book
Depository, Alibris and B&N.com, but all money is used to fund
giveaways and shipping for giveaways from the blog.
Mass Market Paperback, 442 pages Fiction, Romantic Suspense ISBN:978-0373776566
Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor #4
My Review:
I know I keep saying it every time I read a romantic suspense book, but romantic suspense is one of my favorite genres. And Lori Foster is a master at writing in this genre. As she finishes up the Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor series with Arizona and Spencer's story, she goes out with another great story and a great way to finish up. We get to see all of our favorites from this series and see things tied up nicely as well.
For a romantic suspense novel, the majority of this book's action is with the characters. Yes there are bad guys and there is a suspense plot, but the main setup is getting Arizona past her issues (which are not superficial) and Spencer past things he needs to get past as well so they can figure out that they are in love and supposed to be together. Ms. Foster is a master of sexual tension. I told my husband that. I think that is my favorite part of these books. I don't read them for the sex, but the sexual tension in them is amazing. Knowing the two main characters are attracted to each other, but they are trying to either avoid it or work through things first makes things very interesting. And trust me, things can get rather tense and very interesting between Spencer and Arizona.
I wasn't really sure I liked Arizona at first. It was more I could not relate to her. She's tough, she's been through total hell in her life as a victim of human traffickers, but she has survived and in her survival she seeks to right wrongs for others who are being taken advantage of. That said, I admired her, but I don't know women like her, especially since she is so young. But as the book progresses and I got to know Arizona more I began to like her more and more. She has spunk, but she can be kind as well. She cares for Spencer and for the other men and their wives as well and it shows.
Spencer, is an amazing specimen of a man, but he really doesn't seem to know it. He is a widower and while he has had a fling with his neighbor he is not the typical pretty-boy womanizer and I liked that about him. He's also noble with Arizona. He thinks he's too old for her. He wants to help her. But what I love most is eventually he learns to listen to her and love her for who she is. That is a good man. But of course it takes him the whole book to figure that out. It wouldn't be fun if he knew that from page one. But their romance is not frustrating. In fact it's very enjoyable to watch. I almost did not like being drawn away from it for the suspense parts, even though they were integral to the romance parts and to who Arizona and Spencer were.
And then there is the suspense. While it kind of takes a backseat in this book to the romance, it's there and like I mentioned, it's very integral to the story. It focuses on human trafficking, and I have to say I was surprised by the outcome. I loved that all the men were eventually involved and we got to see them and their wives/girlfriends again before the series ends. It's also fun to see how the other men react to Spencer as pseudo big brothers to Arizona. Yes there is humor among the seriousness of the book.
A Perfect Storm is another great installment to this series and I'm sorry to see the series end. While I thought Spencer and Arizona's story wouldn't do as much for me as the others, I found out quickly I was very wrong and this story was extremely enjoyable. Amazing romance, great suspense and characters that are interesting and believable. Ms. Foster has created another winner in my book.
My Rating: 4.5/5.0
About the Book: He never saw her coming…
Spencer Lark already knows too many secrets about Arizona Storm, including the nightmare she survived and her resulting trust issues. But in order to expose a smuggling ring—and continue avenging his own tragic past—the bounty hunter reluctantly agrees to make Arizona a decoy. Yet nothing has equipped him for her hypnotic blend of fragility and bravery, or for the protective instincts she stirs in him.
Arizona wants to reclaim her life, which means acting as bait to lure the enemy into a trap. Sure it's dangerous, especially with a partner as distractingly appealing as Spencer. But as their plan—and their chemistry—shifts into high gear, Arizona may discover there's an even greater risk in surrendering her heart to a hero…
About the Author (from her website):
Lori Foster first published with Harlequin in January 1996. Her second book launched Temptation Blaze and her 25th book launched Temptation Heat. Since those early days, Lori has routinely had 6 to 10 releases a year. She's a Waldenbooks, USA Today, Publisher's Weekly and New York Times bestselling author with over 50 titles published through a variety of houses, including Berkley/Jove, Kensington, St. Martins, Harlequin and Silhouette. Website Twitter Facebook
Buy the book by clicking on any of these links (they will take you to B&N)
Ebook Paperback
FTC Information: I received this book through Meryl L. Moss Media Relations for an honest review. I do make money from purchases made at The Book Depository, Alibris and B&N.com, but all money is used to fund giveaways and shipping for giveaways from the blog.
She had a need to even the score with people already dead, the monsters who’d hurt her badly.
Suddenly she leaned forward. “Can you keep a secret?”
Damn, he didn’t want to play these games. “Depends.”
She scowled. “On what?”
“On whether or not keeping it is in your best interest.”
Sitting back in irritation, she demanded, “Why does that concern you?”
He countered with, “Why do you want to tell me?”
For
long moments they stared at each other, and then she broke. “Fuck it. I
don’t. Not anymore.” After downing the rest of her coffee, she scraped
back her chair. “I’m outta here.”
Spencer caught her wrist. And of course, that got her going.
My review of A Perfect Storm will be coming later today.
Shedding Light on Human Trafficking by Lori Foster
I
can’t say that any particular series has affected me in a great way.
I’m a writer – I “make up stuff.” I know evil exists, but I also know
love is there to help balance it. That said, obviously, after all the
research, I’m more aware of human trafficking. It’s HERE, in our cities,
our towns, sometimes our own neighborhoods. People you thought were
safe, are not. Careers you considered mundane are intricately involved.
I
have truck drivers in my family. GREAT guys. Totally trustworthy.
Wouldn’t hurt a fly, and would do what they could to defend anyone
abused.
Yet
in my research I found that many sales of underage girls and captives
happen at truck stops. Obviously, all truckers don’t take part, but
enough do that it’s a key spot for surveillance when breaking down
trafficking rings. I don’t know if the men are ignorant of the girl’s
age and/or circumstances. Maybe they think these women are willingly
taking part. Maybe they think the underage girls are older. Regardless,
it’s unforgiveable.
I also learned that Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore have a *wonderful* organization. http://demiandashton.org/ “We
are committed to forcing sex slavery out of the shadows and into the
spotlight. Freedom is a basic human right and slavery is one of the
greatest threats to that freedom. No one has the right to enslave
another person. Freedom - It's in our DNA.”
These days, I stop in to get my nails done, and I notice closed doors in the back, women who look like they’ve just awakened.
I pass by shabby hotels or read about issues at restaurants, and wonder
if one of the rooms is used to house innocents caught up in forced
labor. I see kids on the street, and pray that they’re just out and
about having fun, getting into the same mischief common to many youths.
But I always worry now.
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