Dru Pagliassotti - Clockwork Heart

I was recommended a book, first by Renee and then by Tracy. When Renee first mentioned it, I wasn't sure because of the Steampunk genre it falls into. Not having read Steampunk before, I didn't really give it much thought. But then Tracy mentioned she was reading it and said I'd probably like it. She said it had some romance in it. With that I went to the store and found one copy. I read it the other day and I can't seem to get scenes and images out of my head. It was an amazing book and I'd have to say that the author did a superb job with describing imagery. And the characters took on a life of their own. The tone, the tension, the world-building, the pace, the character relationships, the way the society is set up, everything about this book was perfect!

Dru Pagliassotti
Clockwork Heart
Learn more here.
Buy here.

Taya soars over Ondinium on metal wings. She is an icarus — a courier privileged to travel freely across the city’s sectors and mingle indiscriminately among its castes. But even she can’t outfly the web of terrorism, loyalty, murder, and intrigue that snares her after a daring mid-air rescue. Taya finds herself entangled with the Forlore brothers, scions of an upperclass family: handsome, brilliant Alister, who sits on the governing council and writes programs for the Great Engine; and awkward, sharp-tongued Cristof, who has exiled himself from his caste and repairs clocks in Ondinium’s lowest sector. Both hide dangerous secrets, in this city that beats to the ticking of a clockwork heart….

If any of you are ever in the mood to try something different, I would absolutely recommend this book to you. I was fascinated!

I am so happy to note that the author is working on the sequel, Obstruction Currents.

Elysa Hendricks - The Sword and the Pen

The Sword and the Pen
Elysa Hendricks
May 2009, Love Spell
Read Chapter One Here
Buy Here

Ever heard the saying "The Pen is Mightier than the Sword"? Well, when it comes to this book, that could not be closer to the truth. You hear authors say all the time how their characters talk to them and sometimes take over the story insisting it go this way or that way, that they seem so real to them. Imagine if that were to really happen; a character becoming a living, breathing person.

Words were his strength, his weapon, his shield. With words he could do anything.He spilled them upon the screen like blood across a battlefield. He drained them from his body, from his very soul. pg. 155

That's exactly what happens to Brandon Alexander Davis. He is a writer of an extremely successful fantasy series. However writer's block hinders him from writing the final book and for reasons unknown to him, Brandon's leading female protagonist Serilda appears in his home! Brandon thinks she's a lunatic fan, and Serilda thinks he's a powerful wizard who used magic to bring her to his world.

Thinking this lady is a wacko fan, but not sure what to do with her, Brandon begins to wonder if maybe she really is who she says she is. He's constantly thrown off guard when Serilda mentions something that is part of backstory that only he, the author, knows as backstory! How could she possibly know...Unless she is from his make-believe world?

Brandon realizes by the end of the book that just because he is ready to end a series, does not mean his characters are ready for that end!

I thought this was a fine book. I enjoyed it and appreciate the uniqueness. And Elysa Hendricks has a great writing voice, very smooth flowing. When I first discovered this book a few months ago I thought it would have some quirkiness, not be too serious. I thought it would be kind of a fun humorous tale. Especially considering the heroine, Serilda, is from a fantasy world that has a historical feel to it. So when she discovers phones and cars and electricity and other things of our modern world, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the characters reactions were not silly. The story had a seriousness to it that I'm glad it did, even though I assumed it would be more on the humorous side. I mean some of them made me chuckle, like this little scene...

I edged closer behind him. It looked like no carriage I had ever seen. Its massive, boxy frame looked too heavy to be pulled by any horse. I sniffed the air, it smelled not of straw and manure but of metal and some pungent odor I didn't recognize. "where are the horses?"

He patted the front portion just below another expanse of glass. "Three hundred horses under the hood of this baby."

For a moment I forgot he was a wizard. "How did you squeeze three hundred horses in there?"

His laughter rasped across my already raw nerves. "Well, if nothing else you're good for a laugh. It doesnt really have horse under its hood. It's a machine. It has an engine. We measure the power of the engine by horsepower."pg.62

I don't know what else she has in the works other than a fantasy series with Imajinn Books, but I'd sure pick up something else of hers in the future.

Mailbox Monday

It's Monday again and it's going to be another warm beautiful day. And I have some more gardening planned! I picked up two azaleas, a blackberry plant and a raspberry bush for Devin that I need to plant today :).

I did got a couple good books in the mail last week.

I received the first Hell's Eight book by Sarah McCarty, Caine's Reckoning. I read one of her western historicals and I thought it was great. I've been wanting to read these books, since they are also published in the Harlequin Spice line, and I have loved the ones I've read so far.

The Hell's Eight is the only family he's ever needed, until he meets the only woman he's ever wanted . . . Caine Allen is a hardened Texas Ranger, definitely not the marrying kind. But when he rescues a kidnapped woman and returns her to town, the preacher calls in a favor. One Caine's honor won't let him refuse. From the moment he beds Desi, Caine knows turmoil will follow. Desi might have the face of a temptress, but she also has a will of iron and while she needs his protection, she's determined that no man will control her again. They establish an uneasy bond, but it isn't enough for Caine. He wants all Desi has to offer. He wants her screams, her moans, her demands . . . everything. Yet there's still a bounty on Desi's head, and keeping her sexually satisfied is proving easier than keeping her alive.

Warsworn by Elizabeth Vaughan, the second book in the Warlands Trilogy. Thanks to Renee for offering her copy. I'm still waiting for the first book, Warprize. I ordered a used copy but the seller couldn't find their advertised copy. So they ordered from another used seller.

And I ordered another print copy of my book. The two I had I gave away. I only wish I knew how to format it to look professional. It's kinda close, but I don't know my way around MS word well enough to get it right :).



Did ya'll get any new books either in the mailbox or at the store?

All in a Days Work

Today we had the most beautiful day of the year. Summer is just around the corner and today we got our first dose of it, and it was a spectacular one. Needless to say I did no reading, but spent most of the entire day outside. I started this morning about 10 am cleaning out all the leaves from my front yard garden. Two trips to the Home Depot for mulch, a new plant and several scratches on my arms and...walaahh! My hard work has paid off. The nice thing about laying down fresh mulch is the smell. That cedar scent permeates the air and I just love it! Devin had a half day so he helped me pick out a few other shrubs for his garden in the back yard. That's tomorrow, if it's not too windy!


I suppose you really can't tell a difference from one picture to the other, but it is a lot of work cleaning out that garden. The top picture is already cleaned out, the bottom one is after the mulch.


The boys even had a chance to enjoy the warm day and play in the water. It started in my yard and ended at the neighbors with a water balloon fight :).

Aww, sharin a sunbeam! Even the animals were relaxin in the sun!
I hope you all had a lovely day today too!

Elizabeth Vaughan - Dagger Star

Elizabeth Vaughan
Dagger-Star (book 0ne)
Publication Date - April 2008
Buy Here

After captivating readers with her Chronicles of the Warlands trilogy, Elizabeth Vaughan now returns to that world with a beguiling tale of daggers and destiny. A cold and beautiful mercenary known as Red Gloves finds Josiah, a lone figure emerging from the torched fields and razed farms of his homeland. All Josiah knows about the mysterious woman is her dagger-star birthmark, a sign that she is destined to free the people from a ruthless usurper's reign of terror…

Red Gloves aka Red, a mercenary with secrets and Bethral, her sword-sister, travel to Palins, a land suffering from a corrupt government. They hope to find mercenary work. Considering the land is in such turmoil they figure their services would be most appreciated, but that proves not to be the case. Finding shelter with a man who they assume is no more than a poor goatherder, Red learns some very interesting things regarding the birthmark below her breast, and Josiah the goatherder is more than he lets on.

I really enjoyed this first book. Although, I was not too fond of the leading protagonist, Red. There were times that she seemed a little too uncompassionate and just blunt. And the way she is with Josiah at times grated on my nerves. But I think having a wonderful supporting cast of characters standing beside her, making Red not always the center of the story, made her character flaws tolerable. As much as I had trouble connecting with Red, I finally did at the end. The ending was great, it fit Red's character and I was mightily pleased.

Throughout the entire book you are left wondering why Red wears the gloves on her hands. All you really know is that if she should ever take them off you should run--run as fast and as far away as you can! It was quite a shocking surprise the reason why. But it made me like Red :).

I had one other issue, but I don't think it's terribly bad, or cause to not enjoy the book. It's in respect to the Chosen and the Prophecy. It seemed a bit choppy in that you really have no clue how long ago this prophecy was foretold. All you ever get of a past time is 5 years ago. It makes you think that the prophecy started five years ago, but that can't be because Red is an adult, born with the mark of the chosen. It was always in the back of my mind while reading, but I don't think it truly hindered the experience of reading the book.

Having said that, I loved the story plot with the land of Palins in upheavel, the prophecy, the maked 'Chosen Ones', all of it made for a very engaging story, easy to follow. I have White Star, book two in this series, to read. And I'm looking forward to continuing where the story left off in Dagger-Star. I'm also working on gathering the first three books of Elizabeth's set in the same world, Warprize, Warsworn and Warlord!

The Chronicles of the Warlands.

Blog Award

I normally don't pay these awards forward. Doesn't seem very friendly of me. I'm always honored when I receive one. I feel like I should pay this one forward. Recently a couple blogger friends had such wonderfully touching things to say about my blog and I wanted to let all of you know that in one way or another I love visiting your blogs and also, my blog wouldn't be what it is without you all stopping by.

THANK YOU!

"The Let's be Friends Awards stands for this: These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eightas many as you like bloggers."

Anna from Anna's Book Blog
Blanche from There's no Such Thing as too Many Books
Blodeuedd from Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell
Carolyn Jean from The Trillionth Page
Christine from The Happily Ever After
Cecile from All I want and More
Cindy from Cindy Reads Romance
DeSeRt RoSe from Desert Rose BookLouge
Dottie from My Blog 2.0
Erotic Horizon from Erotic Horizon
Fantasy Dreamer from Fantasy Dreamer's Ramblings
Julie from Outlandish Dreaming
Kris from The Reading Spot
KristieJ from Ramblings on Romance
Lea from ClosetWriter
MsMoonlight from Moonlight to Twilight
Nath from Books Books and More Books
Renee from Renee's Book Addiction
Stacy from Stacy's Place On Earth
Tracy from Tracy's Place
VampFanGirl from Lovin Me Some Romance
The Lovely Ladies from Lust in Time

You all are just so wonderful and I love visiting your blogs, even if I don't comment all the time:). Without all of you my blog would be pretty darn boring. Even those of you that don't have blogs but leave comments, thank you also.

Earth Day

Earth Day is a name used for two different observances, both held annually during spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and during autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.

These are intended to inspire awareness of and appreciation for the Earth's environment. The United Nations celebrates Earth Day -- which was founded by John McConnell in 1969 -- each year on the March equinox.

In addition, a global observance -- originated by Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in, and since January 1970 also called Earth Day -- is celebrated in many countries (including the US) each year on April 22.

I don't do a whole lot but I do recycle every week. Thanks to my son for hounding me to get a recycle bin a few years ago!

I use those nifty reusable bags when I grocery shop. (Sometimes I forget and leave them in the car, but not too often anymore.)

We use these lovely energy saver light bulbs.

And every year I always plant something new in my yard. I can't do it today, my weather doesn't much permit new planting. But you can believe in a few more weeks, I'll be planting some new things!

What do you do to help promote Earth Day? I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday today!

Mailbox Monday

I had a really great mail week this past week! A lovely new-to-me blogger, Brooke, offered to send me her ARC of Sea Lord by Virginia Kantra. I have really enjoyed this series. I haven't read too many books that are based around the Selkies and I think Ms. Kantra did a really great job creating a lovely and original series with The Children of the Sea books.

I bought White Star last week and I had to order Dagger-Star and it arrived on Friday. I had looked into her war trilogy a while ago but passed because they were in first person. I think I made a mistake though. First person or not, I think they might be one trilogy I shouldn't have judged. But I do plan on reading them now.

I also got some goodies from Pati Nagle! A small calander, bookmark, and post card, all featuring that beautiful cover. I also received a coverflat from Amanda McIntyre for her future book, well it's an anthology with two other authors that I'm really psyched about reading, Winter's Desire. Another awesome cover! And then from my dear friend Anna, always feeding my appetite for author goodies, sent me some more awesomely cool stuff. Like a signed coverflat of Eve Silver's His Wicked Sins!! Oh man, I just love her historicals!


What about you? Did you get anything in the mail this past week?

Pati Nagle - The Betrayal

Pati Nagle
The Betrayal (Book One)
Fantasy with a nice splash of romance
Buy Here
Pati's Website

This book happened to catch my eye the other day with the cover and the book blurb. I'm always on the look out for fantasy with some romance in it and this one has it. This turned out to be one of those buys I'm glad I found.

With hints of a looming invasion from a clan that was once part of the Aelven and long ago ousted for their vampiric ways, their leader, Shalar is determined to provide survival for her clan with whatever means she can provide. Feeling unjustly persecuted and aiming for revenge, the leader of Clan Darkshore plans an overtaking of the Aelven land her clan once governed.

Eliani is nextkin of her father to govern one of the Aelven lands known as Alpinon. She meets the son of another governor from another Aelven land when he travels to honor and witness the ceremony that marks Eliani as nextkin. Learning that she and Turisan have a very special, very rare ability called mindspeech, Eliani is afraid that if she should give in and allow herself to speak with Turisan that she will lose herself, opening herself up to heartache that would far surpass what she has already experienced. Now with the fear of an attack from the Aelvens enemy, the kobalen (an inferior race of beings), and quite possibly the beginning of a new war, Eliani is faced with a decision she is reluctant to make. But if she doesn't choose to mindspeak with Turisan, and accept this ability they now share, she could be making a most grievous error. With the land and its people in turmoil, Eliani and Turisan have the ability to sway things in the favor of the Aelven people.

What an awesome new world to get lost in. Pati Nagle really has a wonderful, vivid, and extremely imaginitve creation in The Bertayal and the world of the Aelven. A very well fleshed out story with fantastic world-building. Never that I can recall have I read a book where I felt a strong compassion for the antagonists like I did in this book. Shalar and her people are not evil bent only on destruction and revenge, and I am very intrigued to see how the story further unfolds in future books. The end of the book is in no way the end of the series. Several things were left open, leading you into book two that will hopefully release this time next year.

The romance was not a strong one, meaning it was not what drove the plot forward, but it was a fine romance. It was enough that kept me in tune to see how the plot would unfold as well as the relationship between Eliani and Turisan. The Betrayal had a very nice, slow building romance that added to the overall plot.

Pati Nagle has an awesome website dedicated to her realms of the Aelven. Defintiely something to peek at while reading the book--www.aelven.com.

Jade Lee - Dragonbound

Jade Lee
Dragonbound - Book 2
April 2009
Buy here
Jade's Website

Back Cover: Horrific are a dragon’s claws, its fiery breath and buffeting wings. Potent is its body, fraught with magic down to the very last glistening scale. But most fearsome of all is a dragon’s cunning—and the soul that allows it to bond with humans. Sabina was the one girl of her generation chosen as Dragonmaid, friend and caregiver to the copper dragon of her nation’s tyrant king. There she witnessed the greed, lust and rage such a beast could incite—and acquired her own very dark secret.

I read Dragonborn when it released last year and thought it was a wonderful new fantasy romance. I had hoped that there would be more in this exciting new world, and was elated when I first came across Dragonbound.

Dragonbound expands on previous characters in Dragonborn, Sabina and the Copper, Cordain. We learn more of the past with Jaseen, Natiya and her dragon scholar parents. I was a little worried when I began reading and every other chapter went back in time retelling Sabina's years as a dragonmaid. But the set-up was perfect. You get such an in-depth look at Sabina and the Emporor Dag Racho, and the bond that is slowly formed over the many years that Sabina was the dragonmaid to the copper, Cordain.

Jade Lee is an amazing fantasy romance author. I am so glad she stepped into this genre. I hope to see more in this wonderful world. This may be a fanstasy world with dragons, dragon eggs, and lands ready to war with one another, but the focus remainded heavily on the characters. Sabina's growth as she went from child to woman, the life she lived, and suffered, was so tragic and so well-told. Jade Lee has a fabulous writing voice that sucks you into the story, makes you feel what the characters feel.

Dragonborn and Dragonbound are two awesome and imaginitive books. Jade Lee's take on dragons and their relationship with humans is refreshingly original and it would be truly sad if there were no more in this series.

I'd recommend these books to anyone who loves a good fantasy romance and dragons!

Dragonborn
Book One