Monday, May 26, 2014

Reading update

Hi all!

I hope you all had a great weekend! I sure did, I did lots of reading, outside in the sun! Loved it, we had some great weather this week! But know it is raining yet again. Anyway I am half way through two great books! Below the two books I am currently reading.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Books: Dark Duet ~ Kasonndra Leigh ~ promo


Title: The Dark Duet
Author: KaSonndra Leigh
Serie): A Musical Interlude #3
Publication date: June 24th 2014
Publisher: Self published
Language: English only
Genres: Contemporary, Adult, Romance
Other books in this series: see below

About Dark Duet

Family. What does that word mean?
Kindness. Generosity... Love? None of that applies to mine. 
I think we should try vicious, corrupt... Deadly. I am not an innocent.
I do not believe in fate. Revenge should have its moment to shine. I’ve been a slave to circumstance... A child of the shadows. Now, I embrace the gloom and thrive inside it.
Revenge. Love. Vengeance. Salvation. The battle inside me rages on. At least it does until one day when... I find her. I do not understand. I cannot allow myself to believe that... There is light inside the darkness. ~Nikolai Belikov

 ** This novel contains mature content. It is intended for an audience at 18+ years of age.**


So here is the beautiful cover in the third installment, Dark Duet, of the Musical Interlude series:

About Prelude (The Musical Interlude #1) 


After finishing design school six months ago, Erin Angelo left her tragic past behind in the States and started a new life in Milan, Italy. Burying the grief, silencing her demons, and living a life without any real attachments has worked well for her so far. But when Erin secures her first real job as a budding clothing designer, her controlled world is shaken to its core by the mysteriously sexy director of the local symphony.

Alek Dostov is a man who knows what he wants and how to get it. He’s successful, hot, the son of a millionaire, and women all over the world flock to see one of his performances. For Alek, Erin represents the ultimate challenge: sexy, smart, and unaffected by his charms…or so she thinks. Just like Erin, Alek avoids attachments that leave him emotionally vulnerable. But unlike Erin, his pursuit of all things pleasurable is ruthless.

Knowing how wary they both are concerning any kind of committed relationship, Alek finds a way to pursue Erin, satisfying the intense attraction between them without sacrificing the freedom they both enjoy. Sometimes the deepest passion brings out the darkest emotions. And Erin finds herself completely unprepared for the forbidden world of the young maestro and his truths and even his secrets, as she struggles to deal with her own.

Music, passion, betrayal and forbidden love spun together in one of the most romantic cities in the world.

Read my review here.

About An Aria In Venice (The Musical Interlude #1.5) 

New Adult Contemporary Romance
(Standalone)
Release Date: April 22nd, 2014

His goal…One night with the ballerina.
Her goal…To beat the player at his game.
The outcome...Something completely unexpected.

Adriana Dostov pegged Luca Martuccio from day one: gorgeous, talented, arrogant, a man who has had difficulty committing to one woman in the past. He is known in fashion circles as the player with a scandalous history. So when the girls in her ballet troupe suggest she gives up her virginity to him, she doesn't say no. But she’s not sure that a ‘yes’ is the right answer either. Yet, she can’t stop herself from making the offer... a one night stand in Venice.

Luca wanted feisty little Adriana the moment they first met - and he fully intends to have her, hence why he's agreed to accept her proposal. In the end, he'll get what he wants. No commitment. All sex.

But, as Luca discovers, there's more to the ballerina with the overbearing mother - and he can't help but care about the frightened girl behind those sad eyes.

Adriana discovers Luca isn't just walking sex on a stick - he has a wildly passionate side, a lost soul who has suffered just as much grief as her. And it could be, they're exactly what the other one needs. 

The Crescendo (The Musical Interlude, #2) 

He taught her how to walk outside the line. She taught him how to leave the past behind. In the end, fate brought them both together.

Six months ago, Erin Angelo was hired by Alek Dostov, the charismatic Maestro who hired her design firm, the same man who healed the wounds of her tragic past.

In the highly anticipated, reader requested sequel to THE PRELUDE, Alek and Erin are preparing to embrace their new life and love for music while nurturing Erin’s blossoming singing career.

But when a mysterious figure from Erin’s past walks back into her life, Alek and Erin’s belief that their love will conquer everything is put to the test. As Alek continues to struggle with the ghosts of his past and recent family troubles, Erin finds a way to reconnect with her fiancĂ©e. The couple set out on a tour of Italy, taking Alek’s music group to the next level.

But Alek’s mother, Katerina, has other plans in mind. She orders the tour manager to go along with them. Now, they will face new challenges while dealing with the pressures of their careers.

Buy the books on Amazon

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Books: Not Quite Dead ~ Lyla Payne ~ promo



Titel: Not Quite Dead
Author: Lyla Payne
Serie(s): A Lowcountry Ghost Story, book #1
Publication date: April 1st 2014
Publisher: self published
Language:  Only English
Number of pages: p.
Agecategory: New Adult
Other books in this serie: Not quite cold, book 2


Synopsis ~ Samenvatting: 

A broken engagement sends Graciela Harper crawling back to Heron Creek with her tail between her legs, but finds the sleepy little town too changed to set her life right. Not even her budding drinking problem can obscure her Gramps’s failing health, or erase the mental picture of her first love happily married to her childhood best friend. To top it all off, she’s having a heck of time convincing the town’s dashing young mayor of her unfit-for-dating status.

When the ghost of 18th century lady pirate Anne Bonny starts insisting on a near daily audience, Graciela has to confront something else she never expected—being certifiably nuts at twenty-five years old.

Her brand new “I don’t give a crap” attitude makes it easy to dismiss the mysterious threats that seem to be tied to her search for more information on the long dead pirate, but when her family becomes a target, Gracie knows she needs to find out why the ghost insists on being a constant, reeking companion.

If Graciela can put aside her prejudice against people without a pulse, she may discover that Anne Bonny’s problems are intricately linked with her own. The past harbors answers could help the cantankerous spirit find closure, but she is, after all, already dead. If Graciela doesn’t move fast, she might find herself doing the haunting, instead of the other way around.


About the author ~ Over de schrijver

Lyla Payne has been publishing New Adult romance novels for a little over a year, starting with Broken at Love and continuing with the rest of the Whitman University series. She loves telling stories, discovering the little reasons people fall in love, and uncovering hidden truths in the world around us - past and present. In her spare time she cuddles her two dogs, pretends to enjoy exercising so that she can eat as much Chipotle as she wants, and harbors a deep and abiding hope that Zac Efron likes older women. She loves reading, of course, along with movies, traveling, and Irish whiskey. Lyla's hard at work, ALWAYS, and hopes to bring you more Whitman University antics and at least one more Lowcountry ghost tale before the end of the year. Lyla Payne is represented by Kathleen Rushall at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. If you want to know more, please visit her at http://lylapayne.com If you're a fan of Young Adult fiction--science fiction or otherwise--please check out her work that's published under the name Trisha Leigh. http://trishaleigh.com


EXCERPT #2

Maybe it’s lingering fear of Anne’s ghost, or a sudden urge to burn some fat, but my feet find the sidewalk instead of my butt finding the driver’s seat of my car. I have an hour, and the walk will take fifteen minutes. I’ll regret it later, when the trek home in a hundred muggy degrees drenches me from head to toe, but that’s then.
I’m out to prove that I don’t give a shit about consequences after all. Fuck adulthood.
Avoiding my car turns out to be a moot point when, less than two blocks from Gramps’ house, the scraggly redhead from my backseat joins me on the sidewalk. Her gait matches mine, but her feet don’t make any sound on the concrete despite her clunky, knee-high leather boots. Lord if she doesn’t smell bad enough to gag a maggot, even outside.
Yesterday, I ran. Today, for some reason, it’s as though none of this is happening in real life and I don’t go faster, or slower, just keep going, eyes forward, clinging to the hope of waking up. It’s like swimming through the air with my blood pumping through me ten times too fast, depositing a chilly sweat on my brow and palms.
She doesn’t talk, but based on my sideways glances, the premise that she’s Anne Bonny seems legitimate. The smell and her stiff men’s shirt, trousers, and boots, combined with the sword and dagger belted at her waist, convince me that she’s Anne Bonny or that I’m going nuts. Or both.
The expression on her face wavers between frustration and sorrow, but nothing about it or her posture suggests causing harm is on her agenda. We walk side by side a few more steps, me and my reeking ghost, before my nerve returns out of nowhere.
Dead or not, she’s kind of starting to bug me.
"What do you want?" The question would sound more at home in the mouth of the first victim in a horror flick, but it has to be asked.
Even so, Anne—if it is Anne—doesn’t reply. Maybe she thinks it’s a dumb thing to ask, too.
"Okay, obviously you left your tongue in your grave. Let me guess, you want to grab a coffee and a bagel? I’m thinking about stopping at Westies, but I’m not sure…Oh," I gasp as my body turns to ice.

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Books: Hedge Witch ~ Simon Kewin




Title: Hedge Witch
Author: Simon Kewin
Series: The Cloven land trilogy #1
Publication date: April 2014
Publisher: Stormcrow books
Languages: English only
Number of pages: 285 p.
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Other books in this series: 
Worm Lord, book 2
Lich King , book 3
I received a copy of this book as part of the Hedge Witch  blog tour organized by Xpresso book tours. This review is my honest opinion of this book, and is not influenced by the fact that it was provided as part of a book tour.


First of all I want to thank Xpresso Book tours for the change to review this book. Unfortunately I did not finish the book in time to put up my review on the time I should, making me a day late. For those who have been waiting for my review, I am extremely sorry you had to wait this long. So I decided to make this review extra special! 

Synopsis: 

Fifteen year-old Cait Weerd has no idea she’s being sought by the undain: sorcerous creatures of necromancy that feed off the spirit of the living. She doesn’t know the undain need her blood to survive. She doesn’t even know she’s a witch, descended from a long line of witches. Cait Weerd doesn’t know a lot, really, but all that’s about to change.

At Manchester Central Library she’s caught up in sudden, horrific violence. In the chaos she’s handed an old book that’s been hidden there and told to run, hide the book or destroy it. It contains all the secrets of the undains’ existence. They and their human servants want to find that as much as they want Cait. What’s more, she learns that the fate of two worlds is at stake here. Just what she needs.

Along with definitely-not-a-boyfriend Danny, she has to decide what the hell to do. Run, fight or just hope it all goes away. It’s only then she learns who she really is, along with the terrible truth of what the undain have been doing in our world all this time …


Review

This book was not at all what I expected it to be, the synopsis doesn't do it justice (not that I could write a better on myself), in a good way. There is way more to this book then the synopsis lets on, this books is set in both the modern world and in the other world: which is cut in half by the river An. One side is the land Andar, the other side is the land of the "Undain" Angere.

Part of the story is told by two of the witches of Andar, Hellen and Fer. Their world intrigued me, it lured me in, it was like I walk right back into Middle-Earth or Alagaesia. Worlds I miss and haven't visited in a while.

I took me a while to find the connections in the story, the master plan and how the worlds work. It was interesting, it is an exciting thing when you first enter a new world, without know what you walked into. Fer, Ran and Johnny Electric set out for this world, Cait's world , but their travel is not without many obstacles. With them also traveled another interesting companion, an Archaeon, a bookworm, he made quiet an interesting character, he reminded me of another riddle speaking creature but I am not sure from which world. The fight agains evil has started and it is a wild ride, exciting, interesting and lovely.

This book is action-packed from beginning until the end, without a pause to breath. I devoured this book and I am very glad that I have signed up for the book tour! What made me decide to sign up for this book tour was the pretty cover, ain't it beautiful? Also the fact that it said witch on the cover caught my immediate interest. I love books with witches and haven't read many lately.

If you love stories like those of the masters of Fantasy, you might also like this one, even though this world is not as complex as that of for example Alagaesia, but it has a lot of similar elements in it. I can tell you that if you like urban and epic fantasy you will surely love to read this.


Rating

This book was fantastic! Great world-building, great realistic characters and very original. 


Quotes

She charged at the creature. She still carried her school textbooks. Uselessly, not really knowing what she was doing, she tried to batter the monster with English Literature.

"It really exists?" Of course. Sung unceasingly at Islagray for years uncounted. Andar itself given voice. The spirit of the land. The beauty of it, the life and death of it." " I would be allowed to hear?"

"Spring always follows winter," Fer said. "True. But the winter doesn't care who lives through it and who dies."

Music

There is a scene in this book, where Cait is caught by Genera, the humans that work for the undain. This song, it fits the scene, the purpose, the business, and the machines.

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Books: Rocked ~ Cari Quinn & Taryn Elliott ~ promo



Title: Rocked
Authors: Cari Quinn and Taryn Elliott
Serie(s): Lost in Oblivion #1
Publication date: April 9th 2014
Publisher: 




Synopsis ~ Samenvatting: 


Love definitely wasn’t on the setlist.

Opening for their idols on their first tour, Oblivion is living the dream. Mostly. Frustrated at being shoved out of his mediator role by their new manager, Deacon McCoy loses himself in brutal workouts. He only comes up for air long enough to refuel—and to tease the deliciously cute chef who makes him crave a lot more than what she’s offering on her serving plate.

As the child of roadie parents, Harper Pruitt has heard every pickup line twice. To her, musicians are one step above the scraps on her cutting board. All she wants is to get enough experience to run her own catering company, but Deacon and his bottomless stomach are too tempting to resist. He’s far from the typical rock star and before long, she finds herself experimenting with him, inside and out of the kitchen.

Apron – and panties – optional. When Harper sees that Deacon’s dream band with his best friends may be turning into a nightmare, she can’t walk away. Deacon’s so much more than just a peacemaker and the man behind the bass. But she has her own dreams to chase…even if she’s starting to think what she’s building with him might be the biggest one of all. You met Deacon McCoy in SEDUCED, now you can watch just how far a big man can fall.

About the authors

TARYN ELLIOTT comes from the great state of New York—upstate, thank you very much. She’s usually busy making up stories with her best friend until the wee hours of the morning, or fangirling over her favorite TV show. She falls in love with each and every one of her leading men as she writes their book, and there’s always a soundtrack to match. She loves talking to readers, so if you’d like to reach her, please visit her website: tarynelliott.com and sign up for her newsletter, or drop her a line at: taryn@tarynelliott.com.

USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR CARI QUINN saves the world one Photoshop file at a time in her job as a graphic designer. At night, she writes sexy romance, drinks a lot of coffee and plays her music way too loud. When she’s not scribbling furiously, she’s watching men’s college basketball, reading excellent books and causing trouble. Sometimes simultaneously. Visit Cari at www.cariquinn.com to sign up for her brand new newsletter, or drop her a line at:cariquinnauthor@gmail.com.

If you enjoy a little colorful fun please join our Facebook reader group, The Word Wenches.

Guestpost

Our Process How the heck do you co-write? Oh, this question makes me squirm. I’m sure some authors have a better answer—at least a more cohesive one. Because Cari and I hash out an idea over the phone usually. For HOURS. We totally get lost in an idea. Then, because we’re both of the seat-of-our-pants mentality, we take off and running inside the story and sometimes…okay, most of the time…we go off plot.

But that works for us! We’re best friends in and out of the realm of writing. We trust each other to be able to adjust and rework an idea to suit. Does Cari want to use a sledgehammer to my skull sometimes? Suuuure. But the joy of being writers that aren’t a slave to the original plot is that we sometimes find something even more exciting on a re-visit to the storyline.

We also check in with each other all the time. And more trust comes into play because when we have those a-ha moments, the other half gets even more excited about a project. Sometimes after a beating must occur. I kid…sort of. ;) All in all, Cari Quinn and I just love to jump in the sandbox that is our series of characters and play with them. All sorts of hilarious things happen. Especially to Simon Kagan from Oblivion. His story is going to be a hoot to write! So, to end this…our process is simply to trust in the story and my partner. I know Cari won’t steer me wrong and vice versa.

If you’d like to hear more about the guys from our Lost in Oblivion series, or learn about the spin off series for supporting characters coming this summer…heh. Then visit our websites and sign up for our newsletter. All sorts of fun happens in the newsletter.

Also, the WORD WENCHES on Facebook is a blast. It’s a reader group that Cari and I have cultivated. Actually more like the Wenches took on a life of their own. And man do we have fun in there. Thanks so much for having us and giving the Big Guy—aka Deacon McCoy—a chance. ROCKED was a labor of love and I think it comes through in our very first road trip with the boys of Oblivion.

My question to leave you…do you like spin-off stories? Or better yet, do you like series at all?

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

TBR-Update #1




What have I read? 

1. Runes ~ Runes #1 ~ Ednah Walters
2. Cirque Du Freak ~ Cirque Du Freak #1 ~ Darren Shan
3. Glass Houses ~ Morganville Vampires #1 ~ Rachel Vincent
4. Bitten ~ Women Of Otherworld #1 ~ Kelley Armstrong
5. Of Breakable Things ~ Of Breakable Things #1 ~ A. Lynden Rolland
6. My Wishful Thinking ~ Shel Delisle
7. Aubrey ~ The Encounters series #1 ~ April Vance
8. Nomad ~ J.L. Bryan
9. Eyes Ever To The Sky ~ The Sky Trilogy #1~ Katie French

What I want to add to my TBR?

1. Reread/Herlezen: Beautiful Creatures ~ The Caster Chronicles #1 ~ Kami Garcia & Margareth Stohl
2. Beautiful Darkness ~ The Caster Chronicles #2 ~ Kami Garcia & Margareth Stohl
3. Beautiful Chaos ~ The Caster Chronicles #3 ~ Kami Garcia & Margareth Stohl
4. Beautiful Redemption ~ The Caster Chronicles #4 ~ Kami Garcia & Margareth Stohl
5. Erik of het klein insectenboek ~ Godfried Bomans
6. Profeet van de Duivel ~ Duivel #1 ~ Adrian Stone
7. Zoon van de Duivel ~ Duivel #2 ~ Adrian Stone
8. Ziel van de Duivel ~ Duivel #3 ~ Adrian Stone
9. Maire ~ De roep van de jachtmaan ~ Tisa Pescar
10. Jager ~ Jager & Prooi #1 ~ Kim ten Tusscher
11. Gebonden In Duister ~ Lilith #1 ~ Kim ten Tusscher
12. Verbroken In Schemer ~ Lilith #2 ~ Kim ten Tusscher
13. Geboren In Licht ~ Lilith #3 ~ Kim ten Tusscher
14. Reread/Herlezen: Shiver ~ Wolves Of Mercy Falls #1 ~ Maggie Stiefvater
15. Linger ~ Wolves Of Mercy Falls #2 ~ Maggie Stiefvater
16. Forever ~ Wolves Of Mercy Falls #3 ~ Maggie Stiefvater
17. Ivoren Hart ~ Evi Parker

Currently Reading: 

1. Reread: The Vampire Academy ~ The Vampire Academy #1 ~ Richelle Mead
2. Hedge Witch ~ The Cloven Land Trilogy #1 ~ Simon Kewin
3. Het Meisje Dat Vlam Kon Vatten En Andere Verhalen ~ J. Sharpe

Monday, May 5, 2014

Stacking The Shelves #16 Dutch Edition


Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! This is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and anyone can get involved!

So I found myself another great model to take pictures with! His name is Dennis and was a gift from my sister for my mom's birthday! I hope you like my tiny cute little model! ;D



Het meisje dat vlam kon vatten en andere verhalen ~ J. Sharpe


Maire ~ De Roep van de Jachtmaan ~ Tisa Pescar

Wait, this book is signed? Wow Great signature! 

Jager ~ Kim Ten Tusscher


Wait is this one signed too??? Let me check. 
A big thank you to the publisher Zilverspoor. Who provided me this copy!

Duivel Trilogie ~ Adrian Stone


Lilith Trilogie ~ Kim Ten Tusscher


What did you get this week?

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Ramblings: Misinterpretation

I really need to get something of my chest, because one of my reviews, got misinterpreted by author, Darren Shan.  You can read, what he had to say about it here: Darren Shan News. It has been bugging me all week so that is why I am writing about it know.


It's my review of Cirque Du Freak #1, which you can read here: Cirque Du Freak. In the review I clearly stated that I was dissappointed by the first book in the series, because I have seen the movie first. This was interpreted by the author as me liking the movie better than the book. NO, that was not what I meant to say at all because my motto really is: Books are always better than the movie.  So I want to rectify this part of my review right here and now:



I in no way intended to say that the movie is better than the book! 

So why was it interpreted that way? I think I know why, the movie ruined the reading experience for me, gave me very high expectations of the book, with lots of action, many things happening at the same time. Where as the book took things a little slower, this took me by surprise and left me with know choice but explaining it, very badly, the way I did in my review. The movie just gave me a false image of what the book might be like. I really wish I could reverse the situation and read the books before seeing the movie. I can promise you this, I will not write a movie review before I read all the books.

This bad feeling also concluded in me picking up the second book in the series: The Vampire's Assistant. I just started reading it friday night and I can promise you that the review for this book is going to be a lot different than that of the first, because I am loving it already. There is less mix up with the movie. Or maybe I have gotten use to the fact that I really need to separate them. Put them in different boxes in my head.

Just the way I did with The Vampire Diaries, which causes them same kind of reactions for people, the way I reacted by seeing Cirque du Freak first before reading it. I heard people say about TVD: the books are so disappointing and  that the TV-series is so much better. (This is when my blood begins to boil because the books are equally as good as the TV-series, just different.) By the way, I haven't read the TVD books after Midnight because they are not written by L.J. but by a ghostwriter.

I hope you all understand a little better where I am coming from now. I am not going to change my review, this article is just to clarify it a little more.  I am glad to get this of my chest I am feeling a little better now.

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Swinging Saturdays #37 ~ Mom's music



Swinging saturdays is a musical meme hosted by Ice Cold Passion, to share our passion for music. The goal is to make a top 5 (or Top 10) for whatever genre or artist you like or get creative and share a theme based music top 5. For example a bookish soundtrack, funny songs, song to listen to on a rainy day top 5.