Friday, December 7, 2012

Author Interview: Timothy O'Brien (The Lincoln Conspiracy)

Today I welcome Tim O'Brien, author of The Lincoln Conspiracy, a historical novel that takes a look at Lincoln's murder and a detective that will stop at nothing to bring the truth to light.  So grab your favorite cuppa and join me this morning (mine's a Peppermint Mocha from McDonald's, my first, and it's yummy) welcoming Tim to My Reading Room.





What three things do you need in order to write?

Imagination, inspiration, and words.

What's your favorite season?

Summer

If you could write in any other genre besides historical fiction what would it be?

Literary fiction

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

Tahiti

What's the first sentence of The Lincoln Conspiracy?

“The rain kept the dust down.”

Where did the idea for The Lincoln Conspiracy come from?

A lifelong fascination with Abraham Lincoln and Sherlock Holmes

Tell us what is The Lincoln Conspiracy about.

It’s about a husband and wife trying to avenge the assassination of Abraham Lincoln by relying on their wits and their odd mix of extraordinary talents.

How did you do the majority of your research for The Lincoln Conspiracy?

Through books, original documents and the web resources.

How did you feel when you finished The Lincoln Conspiracy?

Very satisfied and very tired!

For all of us impatient readers, what is up next for you?

The sequel to The Lincoln Conspiracy, which is the next installment in the Temple McFadden mystery series.

Thanks Timothy!

About The Lincoln Conspiracy:
A nation shattered by its president’s murder. Two diaries that reveal the true scope of an American conspiracy. A detective determined to bring the truth to light, no matter what it costs him

From award-winning journalist Timothy L. O’Brien comes a gripping historical thriller that poses a provocative question: What if the plot to assassinate President Lincoln was wider and more sinister than we ever imagined?

In late spring of 1865, as America mourns the death of its leader, Washington, D.C., police detective Temple McFadden makes a startling discovery. Strapped to the body of a dead man at the B&O Railroad station are two diaries, two documents that together reveal the true depth of the Lincoln conspiracy. Securing the diaries will put Temple’s life in jeopardy—and will endanger the fragile peace of a nation still torn by war.

Temple’s quest to bring the conspirators to justice takes him on a perilous journey through the gaslit streets of the Civil War–era capital, into bawdy houses and back alleys where ruthless enemies await him in every shadowed corner. Aided by an underground network of friends—and by his wife, Fiona, a nurse who possesses a formidable arsenal of medicinal potions—Temple must stay one step ahead of Lafayette Baker, head of the Union Army’s spy service. Along the way, he’ll run from or rely on Edwin Stanton, Lincoln’s fearsome secretary of war; the legendary Scottish spymaster Allan Pinkerton; abolitionist Sojourner Truth; the photographer Alexander Gardner; and many others.

Bristling with twists and building to a climax that will leave readers gasping, The Lincoln Conspiracy offers a riveting new account of what truly motivated the assassination of one of America’s most beloved presidents—and who participated in the plot to derail the train of liberty that Lincoln set in motion.

Author Bio

Timothy L. O’Brien is the Executive Editor of The Huffington Post, where he edited the 2012 Pulitzer Prize–winning series about wounded war veterans, “Beyond the Battlefield.” Previously, he was an editor and reporter at The New York Times. There, he helped to lead a team of Times reporters that was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize in Public Service in 2009 for coverage of the financial crisis. O’Brien, a graduate of Georgetown University, holds three master's degrees -- in US History,Business and Journalism -- all from Columbia University. He lives in Montclair, New Jersey, with his wife and two children.

www.timothylobrien.com
 




Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Book Review: Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens

Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publish Date: Nov. 6, 2012
Paperback, 544 pages
Fiction, New Adult, Romance
 ISBN: 9781476717470
Thoughtless #1




My Review:
Warning: This story is addictive, emotionally draining and well-worth the time-spent reading it if you enjoy books like this.  And to be honest I wasn't sure I would enjoy a story like this.  I don't like cheating stories.  But I like this "New Adult" genre a lot and had been hearing so much about these books so when I was sent the ARC I knew I had to give it a try.  What resulted was pretty much an uninterrupted reading of a 500+ page book, and I could pretty much let that speak for itself and let the review end here, but I'll clue you in to what made me like this book.

First this is fiction and truthfully we can all pick the type of fiction we like to read.  Don't like the realistic stuff, don't read it. Me personally I don't read much sci-fi, but you might love it.  But that's what makes the world a wonderful place.  So Thoughtless has a place. It's realistic.  There are people like Kiera, Denny and Kellan out there. Confused 20-somethings that want a relationship, want to do what's right and end up screwing things up no matter what.  I was captivated by this thought.  Captivated by Kiera's need to do what was right and her need to be safe.  What woman can't relate to that (okay, I can).  Denny is safe, Denny is right, but Kellan, oh Kellan, he's something else entirely.

Yes a lot of the book is going back and forth.  It's an emotional roller coaster, but I never felt like it grew old or tired.  I felt like each time each character was exploring something new.  I think the author did a great job with the plotting, because honestly it's 500-pages of "who am I going to choose" but it never gets boring.  I loved getting to know Kiera, Denny, Kellan plus the other bandmates, Kiera's co-workers and her sister.  Each character was intriguing and had a great place in the story.  I wanted more of each of them.

Finally, for those of you unsure of the heat-level of this in the recent climate of the "50-Shades" world, this is mild, there is sex, but just the typical romance novel variety.  It's hot, it's sexy, but not out there. This is not erotica.  This is romance.  She just happens to be involved with two guys at the same time (but not in the same room, lol).  I don't have anything against erotica, I enjoy it, but I don't want people to shy away from this book because of the cover image.

In the end, I would highly recommend this book for people who love relationship books that put them through the wringer.  This isn't a happy-go-lucky romance novel. Yes there are happy parts, but there are parts that will parts that will equally have you wanting to kill all three of the main characters because of their stupidity with each other.  But you keep reading because you care, because you want to know what happens, because somehow Kiera, Denny and Kellan worm their way into your heart and brain and you care.  For those hours that you read this book, you will care, the author just has a way of making it happen.  I know it did for me and I had to make myself not open my ARC of Effortless right away, but it will be opened soon, because I am eager to know what happens next.  So give Thoughtless a chance and let it take you away for an afternoon or evening or two or however many it takes . . .


My Rating: 5.0/5.0


About the Book:
For almost two years now, Kiera’s boyfriend, Denny, has been everything she’s ever wanted: loving, tender, and endlessly devoted to her. When they head off to a new city to start their lives together—Denny at his dream job and Kiera at a top-notch university—everything seems perfect. 

Then an unforeseen obligation forces the happy couple apart. Feeling lonely, confused, and in need of comfort, Kiera turns to an unexpected source—a local rock star named Kellan Kyle. At first, he’s purely a friend she can lean on, but as her loneliness grows, so does their relationship. And then one night everything changes . . . and none of them will ever be the same.

About the Author (from Goodreads.com): 
S.C. Stephens is an independent author who enjoys spending every free moment she has creating stories that are packed with emotion and heavy on romance.

Her first attempt at a full-length novel was Thoughtless. She wrote the angst-filled love triangle in early 2009 and published it that summer on FictionPress. Amazed and surprised by the response, more stories were quick to follow.

Conversion, the first novel in a three story vampire series, was released in the fall. Collision Course, a tragic, yet hopeful tale of love and loss was released in early 2010. The second Conversion novel came out next, along with It’s All Relative, a different take on a one night stand story.

In addition to writing, Stephens enjoys reading other people’s fabulous novels, loading up her iPod with writer’s block reducing music, heading out to the movie theaters, and spending quality time with her children.

You can contact Stephens at ThoughtlessRomantic@gmail.com


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FTC Information: I received this book from the publisher for an honest review. 

Monday, December 3, 2012

Book Review and Giveaway: The Emperor's Conspiracy by Michelle Diener

The Emperor's Conspiracy by Michelle Diener
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publish Date: November 27, 2012
Trade Paperback, 336 pages
Fiction, Historical Fiction, England
 ISBN: 9781451684438






My Review:
I thoroughly enjoy the historical fiction genre and I am careful about which ones I accept because I as I have stated before I am always scared I will get bogged down with facts and history in a historical novel. Not that it has happened yet and it definitely did not happen with The Emperor's Conspiracy.

The Emperor's Conspiracy is a very fast-paced plot based novel that had me flipping the pages as fast as I could to find out what would happen next in Charlotte Raven's world.  I had no doubt that Charlotte would end up okay, but I wanted to know how and what the devil was going on. And it seemed like there was a lot going on.  Ms. Diener does a wonderful job creating and weaving the plot in this novel and basing it on a historical fact that I did not know about at all which made it more interesting.  I like telling my husband things that he did not know since he is a major history-buff.  You can easily get caught up in Miss Raven's world which traverses the posh area of London and the seedy back alleyways as well.  

I think there was mastery in the creation of Miss Charlotte Raven.  Creating her as a chimney sweep who is transformed into a noblewoman so she knows both sides of London and can travel them both well.  She is also still mired in both sides so that adds the extra interest and extra plotline to the book.  I would have loved a little  more depth to her character but realize the length of the novel and type of novel probably limited the character development some.  We do see some of her development, but I want more Charlotte and also more of Edward.  I feel he was more of a cardboard cutout that got filled in some.  I liked him a lot, and feel he was a typical male of the time, and what he needed to be for his job, aloof and distant, but I wanted to know him just a little more.  That said, I still enjoyed him and Charlotte as characters.  I also enjoyed the secondary characters, though sometimes I was a little confused (but it could have been the medicines, I read this when I had a sinus infection, so I could have been addled some).

Overall this book was well worth my time and has me wanting to check out Ms. Diener's backlist and anything she writes in the future.  She writes in a way that is easy to read and catches your interest from the first page.  She knows how to plot well and tie up things without making it too pat.  Her pacing was also well done,  it never felt rushed, I felt the book moved along well.  I was kind of sad it ended and to say goodbye to these wonderful characters.  I wish I could see more of Charlotte and Edward, they were fun together.  So if you enjoy a good nineteenth-century English suspense set in London then this is just the book for you.  But be prepared to spend a few hours reading because you won't want to put it down. 


My Rating: 4.25/5.0


About the Book:
From nineteenth-century London’s elegant ballrooms to its darkest slums, a spirited young woman and a nobleman investigating for the Crown unmask a plot by Napoleon to bleed England of its gold.

Chance led to Charlotte Raven’s transformation from chimney sweep to wealthy, educated noblewoman, but she still walks a delicate tightrope between two worlds, unable to turn her back on the ruthless crime lord who was once her childhood protector.


When Lord Edward Durnham is tapped to solve the mystery of England’s rapidly disappearing gold, his search leads him to the stews of London, and Charlotte becomes his intriguing guide to the city’s dark, forbidding underworld. But as her involvement brings Charlotte to the attention of men who have no qualms about who they hurt, and as Edward forges a grudging alliance with the dangerous ghosts of Charlotte’s former life, she faces a choice: to continue living in limbo, or to close the door on the past and risk her heart and her happiness on an unpredictable future.


About the Author: 
Michelle Diener has always had a passion for reading and writing. She began writing stories when her parents gave her a typewriter for her twelfth birthday, and she hasn’t stopped since. Born in London and raised in South Africa, she now lives on the west coast of Australia with her husband and two small children.


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Giveaway:
Thanks to Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours and the Publisher, I have one copy of The Emperor's Conspiracy by Michelle Diener to giveaway.  Open to US/Canada, ends 12/10.  Copy will be mailed from the publisher.

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FTC Information: I received this book from the publisher through Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for an honest review. 

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Week in Review - 12/2/12



What went on in my life:
This week's picture features my cat keeping my oldest son company while he rests and plays video games while staying home.  Sickness!  My oldest and I have been hit with a sore throat and sinus infection. Mine started Monday morning, his Monday afternoon. He missed Tuesday-Thursday of school and I missed a week of work due to it coinciding with a flare-up of my other symptoms as well.  We did see the doctor together on Thursday, he was able to go to school on Friday due to an antibiotic shot and a negative strep test but we've kept it low-key this weekend.  So that meant lots of rest and reading for me.

How was your week?

What I read (links take you to my reviews or to Goodreads page):
Crossed by Ally Condie (on my Kindle Fire) - It was good, not as gripping to me as Matched, but it was completely different. I liked it though and it's why I was very excited to get Reached from the library on Thursday for reading this week!
Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent (my audio book) - Good urban fantasy/paranormal romance. Enjoyed the setup and world building and can't wait to read the second in the series.  The narrator was great too in this one because she changed her voice enough that I was never confused about who was speaking, I purchased this through Audible.
Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead (library) - Great third installment in this series.  Can I just say if you are like me you won't even know you are speeding through these pages.  I realize I wasn't working or doing much of anything, but this book just flew by.  I have immediately requested the next book in the series from the library as well.
The Emperor's Conspiracy by Michelle Diener (review) - review coming tomorrow, but this was another fast read and I'm always concerned going into historicals if I will get bogged down.  Not this one for sure.

What I received (links take you to Goodreads page):
Fallen Crest High by Ti Jan - I was looking through my suggestions on the Pure and Sinful by Killian McRae page on Amazon which I bought last week, and this looked like it would hit the spot, I loved Beautiful Disaster, yet this sounds different enough and interesting enough that I had to get it.  Besides it's just $0.99 with 30 5-star reviews and while I don't base my purchases solely on that, it did help swing my decision. I'm going to try and read this one during this week.
Headed for Trouble by Suzanne Brockman - received through Edelweiss and I can't wait to read, releases April 30, 2013, I plan on reviewing April 29.
Hunk for the Holidays by Katie Lane - received as a Happy Holidays package from Forever Romance and Forever Yours along with Last Chance Christmas. It released September 25, but will be a great read for this time of year.  Stay tuned for giveaway of this book and the next three.
Last Chance Christmas by Hope Ramsey - as mentioned received as part of the Happy Holidays package, can't wait to dive in and let you know what I think.  Released September 25.  
Under the Mistletoe by Jill Shalvis - This was mentioned in the materials I received in the package and I will take all the Jill Shalvis I can get so I promptly went to NetGalley and requested.  Can't wait to read this novella which will release on December 3.
A Highlander for Christmas by Paula Quinn - another author I had to read, and who doesn't need a Highlander for Christmas?  Sounds like a good novella for a early December night and it will go great with the hot cocoa Forever sent in the package.  This e-novella released October 2.
Betrayed by Shadows by Nancy Gideon - through Edelweiss and an invitation from the publicist at Simon and Schuster, sounds like a great one.  On Sale December 17, 2012, my review around then.
Chance of a Lifetime by Jodi Thomas - from Berkley for a blog tour, my date is January 2, 2013. I love Jodi's Harmony, Texas series so I cannot wait to read this one! Release date is 12/31/12.
Running a Marathon for Dummies by Jason R. Karp, PhD - received through the Amazon Vine program. Why do I receive a book like this when I'm down and out with a horrible sinus infection?  But next week I'll start reading it, I have a goal to run a half-marathon by the time I'm 40 so I have a little over a year left so I need to get busy.


What I'm Reading Now:
Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens (review) - excellent so far, I am having a hard time putting it down.  The emotions have really drawn me in. 
All-Together Dead by Charlaine Harris, Sookie Stackhouse #7 (audiobook) - not too far into this yet but I love these on audio, love the voice.
Reached by Ally Condie (library) - Just starting, can't wait to see how this trilogy turns out.



What are you reading?



Friday, November 30, 2012

Cover Reveal: The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller


Click the cover to view the larger image.

On the outside, seventeen-year-old Madelyne Summers looks like your typical blond cheerleader—perky, popular, and dating the star quarterback. But inside, Maddie spends more time agonizing over what will happen in the next issue of her favorite comic book than planning pep rallies with her squad. That she’s a nerd hiding in a popular girl's body isn’t just unknown, it's anti-known. And she needs to keep it that way.
Summer is the only time Maddie lets her real self out to play, but when she slips up and the adorkable guy behind the local comic shop’s counter uncovers her secret, she’s busted. Before she can shake a pom-pom, Maddie’s whisked into Logan’s world of comic conventions, live-action role-playing, and first-person-shooter video games. And she loves it. But the more she denies who she really is, the deeper her lies become…and the more she risks losing Logan forever.



 
 
Leah Rae Miller
 Born and raised in northern Louisiana, Leah Rae Miller still lives there on a windy hill with her husband and kids. She loves comic books, lava lamps, fuzzy socks, and Cherry Coke. She spends most of her days reading things she likes and writing things she hopes other people will like.

Entangled Teen is an imprint of Entangled Publishing, an exclusive, boutique publisher of romantic fiction. Located in Fort Collins, Colorado, Entangled's goal is to bridge the gap between traditional and indie publishing, giving both readers and authors the best of both worlds.

Get more information at our website.

 


Wednesday, November 28, 2012

First Time: The Legend of Garison Fitch Book Blast


First Time: The Legend of Garison Fitch

"What if history didn't happen that way ... the first time?"

Garison Fitch was one of the most revered scientists in the Soviet Americas until he left fame behind to work on a secret project in his log cabin in the mountains of Marx.

But something went wrong. Instead of traveling interdimentionally, Garison has traveled through time ... twice.

Now, he's in something called "The United States of America" and a woman he's never met before is calling herself his wife. It it a hoax? Or, has he somehow changed history?

If so, can he return the world to what he believes is "normal", or must he live in this strange world he created?



Purchase



Praise:

"Sam continues to weave his magic as a storyteller. I always find myself anxious to find out what will happen next and what kind of twist will befall the adventurers. It helps to be familiar with the places that the heroines go, which adds to the story."
~Labdaddy, Texas

"I've had a few very unproductive but enjoyable days thanks to Samuel Ben White. If you haven't read Sam's books you have been missing a treat. These were funny, suspenseful, spiritual and kept you turning the pages."
~Karen S.

"Just wanted to say how much I have enjoyed your books. I have a Kindle and I have purchased all of the Garison Fitch novels. I am in Saudi Arabia and your books have really helped take me away from here."
~Scott, Saudi Arabia


Also Part of the Series:


Saving Time

Two years ago Garison Fitch traveled through time and rewrote history. An accident in the eighteenth century created a whole new world, and even gave Garison a wife he had never met before. Now, he’s got a daughter and he’s coming to enjoy this world he created. Until he’s attacked by men masquerading as Indians, and a funeral procession from out of the past enlists his help, and a tree grows from sappling to full-grown in a matter of minutes, threatening his daughter’s very life. Time itself is unraveling and Garison’s trips through time seem to be the cause. Garison must go back in time once again and keep himself from making the original trip that started the problem. But he can’t use his time machine to go back. How does one sew up a rip in time?





Lost Time

Jason Kerrigan and Brownwyn Dalmouth are pilots with the Republic of Texas Army Air Corps. A world war is going on and bombs have just brought an end to Crockett Air Field in south Texas. Jason and Bronwyn, though, are called away from the battle to be test pilots for a new aircraft that-they're told-will bring the war to an end. The experimental craft lives up to expectations in early tests, but then it lands them somewhere it never should have sent them. Another place? Another time? Another dimension? Somehow, they've taken a trip to the future and changed the past. Or did they? The answer to their change of reality may be known to a Justice of the Peace in Colorado named Garison Fitch. To figure it out, though, Garison may have to team up with his least favorite person: Bat Garrett.





Purchase



Author Samuel Ben White

Samuel Ben White (“Sam” to his friends) is the author of the national newspaper comic strip “Tuttle’s” (found at www.tuttles.net) and the on-line comic book “Burt & the I.L.S.” (found at www.destinyhelix.com). He is married and has two sons. He serves his community as both a minister at a small church and a chaplain with hospice. In addition to his time travel stories, Sam has also written and published detective novels, a western, three fantasy novels and four works of Christian fiction.





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Book Blast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/16/12
*You need not enter your twitter name for each entry. Simply enter it when you follow Sam then you can leave the others blank.

Open to anyone who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent's permission. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


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Monday, November 26, 2012

Cover/Blurb Reveal & Giveaway: SOMETHING DARKER by S.A. Price!



Expected publication: December 18th 2012

SOMETHING DARKER (book one of the Inferii Dii)

The one thing Syrus Alcot, the God of Death Osiris in the Egyptian Pantheon, wants in all the worlds is the woman he loved and lost returned to him. When he gave up his powers, and freedom for a life of service he was promised her return. That was over one thousand years ago. A member of a team of dark gods charged with keeping humanity safe, he leads a loveless existence in New York City, searching for the one thing that could bring his wife back to him, a lapis scarab that was lost to him ages before.

Gwen Stapleton, a mild mannered librarian, is unaware that she holds the key to not only Syrus’ happiness, but her own. Seemingly stuck in a hopeless relationship with a man she doesn’t love, she has no idea that a chance meeting in Alphabet City will start a landslide to her heart’s content. Because Gwen is the keeper of the scarab, and is everything Syrus has ever wanted… and hes not the only one.

An Ancient evil is waking, and its servants will stop at nothing to see it seize its rightful place as the new pantheon of earth. And in order for Syrus and his team to save the world, Gwen is going to have to accept him, and show that love does make all the difference.



To learn more about authors Stella and Audra Price, visit their Website:



***VIRTUAL RELEASE PARTY NEWS***


On December 18th, SOMETHING DARKER will be available for purchase and to celebrate the release authors S.A. Price are giving away some AMAZING, out of this world prizes! TRUST ME, you DO NOT want to miss out!

What are they giving away?

Are you ready for this?

A registration to Authors After Dark (2013 or 2014 if you are already registered for 2013), a VIP package including VIP early seating and entry badge, and welcome goodies from the hotel, a gift basket fulla goodies, backlist books, and Breakfast with Stella and Audra on Tuesday morning.  Awesome right? We thought so.

To learn more about Authors After Dark visit www.authorsafterdark.org

And wait, it gets better!!!

There will be a second and third place winner!

SECOND PRIZE winner will win a Nook Touch.
THIRD PRIZE winner will win tons of signed swag.

There's a little extra, too, but you will have to wait until December 18th to find out! :)

Mark your calendars... DECEMBER 18th!!!

Right now we're kicking off an early celebration with a $20 Amazon/BN Gift Card - Winners choice.



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