Journey with Books

Dec 20, 2011

Book Review: Pulled by Amy Lichtenhan

Unknown December 20, 2011 7 Comments

Author: Amy Lichtenhan

Category: Romance

Publication date: Feb 24, 2011

Pages: 388

ISBN (paper): 978-1-61213-016-3

ISBN (ebook): 978-1-61213-017-0

Book Blurb:
For nine years, they drift through life, unable to forget the one who holds the strings to their hearts. In an attempt to escape the pain of her past, Melanie finds herself trapped in a loveless marriage, while Daniel loses himself in a career that means nothing without Melanie by his side.

Now, when their lives intersect, neither can deny the connection they felt so long ago.

But will the power that drew them together be enough to heal the wounds from their past, and do they have the courage to overcome the insecurities and fears that threaten to keep them apart?
Pulled is a story of attraction and separation, of destiny and duty, of a love so strong it refuses to give up even when all others have.

My Thoughts:

Pulled by Amy Lichtenhan will surely make you feel different intense emotions from the beginning till the very last page! It would be one hell of a roller coaster ride that would bring you down low and will toss you up high.

This book is probably one of the most emotional and heart wrenching book I've ever read. Pulled is a very different read in which you can't help but feel the intense emotions that the characters inside the book feels. It's the kind of book you wouldn't want to miss reading.

Of course, those who goes and reads my blog regularly, knows I'm such a sucker for intense dramas and that is why I knew that this book is something I would love. This is not a simple romance that we all read. It has depth and intensity that will surely captivate you., it will imprison you until you've read the last word.

The characters are complex. Melanie and Daniel are very complex characters that are not perfect. And I liked them that way because it makes them more real and because of it, the emotions that the author tried to convey went straight to my heart as a reader. What they went through together and apart made them grow into someone a reader can relate to. Although, I must say that there were times that their actions frustrates me and I'm shouting inside my head to them to just get back together already! And I guess it's one of the reasons why I think this book is great because I think if a book didn't frustrate you (in a good way) somehow then the author of that book failed because the book didn't made you feel but this book "Pulled" succeeded in making me feel and that is good!

I love how Ms. Amy Lichtenhan shifts the timeline and points of view in this book. The shifts/flashbacks helped in maintaining the mystery of the plot. It holds the curiosity of the reader. You'd keep reading it, wanting to know what happened between Melanie and Daniel and how they end up to where they were in the present. The different points of view also helped in making this book interesting because Melanie and Daniel have these contradicting points of view and you'd confused and curious and yet you'd really empathize with what they are going through and what they feel.

Do I have to say more about Melanie and Daniel's chemistry? Well, all I can say is that you will really feel the 'PULL' they feel for each other.

I want to say Congratulations to Ms. Amy Lichtenhan for having the guts to stray from the usual romance and offer her readers something more than what the usual romance do.

Buying Links:

More about the Author:

Amy Lichtenhan first found a love for writing during her days as a young mother and college student. She filled the journals she carried with short stories and poems used as an emotional outlet for the difficulties and joys she found in day-to-day life.

Years later, she shared a short story she'd been working on with her two closest friends, and with their encouragement, this story became her first full length novel, Pulled.

Amy resides in Southern Arizona where she lives with her husband and three beautiful children, where she enjoys the freedom of working from home. Her favorite pastime is spending time with the ones she loves.

Dec 19, 2011

Cover Reveal: Sleepers by Megg Jensen

Unknown December 19, 2011 0 Comments

Hi my loves! How are you guys doing?! We have something new on my blog today!

This blog is a part of the revealing of the new cover for Sleepers by Megg Jensen.

To celebrate the re-launch of SLEEPERS in January of 2012, Megg is giving it a new cover with artwork from the incredible PhatPuppy.

And here's the amazing new cover of Sleepers!

Synopsis:

An adoptee raised in a foreign land, sixteen-year-old Lianne was content with her life as handmaiden to the queen, until a spell cast on her at birth activated. Now she's filled with uncontrollable rage and access to magic she thought had been bled from her people years ago. Even her years of secret training in elite hand-to-hand combat and meditation can’t calm the fires raging inside her.

Her heart is torn between two boys, the one she’s always loved and the one who always ignored her. But when the kingdom threatens to tear itself apart due to rumors surrounding the queen’s alleged affair, who will Lianne protect and who will she destroy?

Buying Link:

More About the Author:

Megg Jensen has been a freelance parenting journalist since 2003 and began writing YA novels in 2009. She co-runs DarkSide Publishing, is a member of SCBWI, and blogs about writing while juggling freelancing, volunteering, and family life. She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, two kids, and their miniature schnauzer, Ace.

Dec 15, 2011

Author Interview and Giveaway: Crossroads by Mary Ting

Unknown December 15, 2011 20 Comments

Hi my loves! How are you doing? Guess what??? We have a very special guest on my blog today! A very talented author who I personally admire. Well, can you guess? It's the very talented author of Crossroads, Ms. Mary Ting! She agreed to be interviewed by me! We're very lucky today! So let' not prolong the wait!

Here's the interview now!

· Tell us something about yourself. Something most of the readers don't know yet about you.

Besides being an author, I teach kindergarten. I took several years of piano and flute lessons. I also teach a dance routine every year for my daughter and her friends at their school talent show. I was also one of the five foundering members in a sorority called Kappa Zeta Phi at UC Irvine. For two years, I was PTA president (Parent Teacher Association).

· How and when did you start writing?

I started writing about 3 years ago when my grandmother passed away. It was a way for me to heal. After I started writing, I stopped crying. There is a character named after her in my book. I had so much fun writing Crossroads that I couldn’t stop. I’ve been teaching kindergarten for almost 20 years and never planned or dreamt about being an author. I guess it was meant to be.

· Can you tell us how you published your book?

I first self published. Then I signed with a traditional publisher, World Castle. Publishing a book is a lot of work, but it’s very rewarding.

· How did you make the world of Crossroads as accurate as it is now?

Crossroads was written based on a dream I had in high school. Chapter one and two are based on my dreams. I just added the characters.

What was the hardest part in writing an awesome story like Crossroads?

First of all, thank you for thinking Crossroads is awesome. The hardest part was writing the parts of Gamma, especially the funeral part. The character Gamma is based on my grandmother.

How did you come up with the characters? And tell us how you made the chemistry between Michael and Claudia so captivating? Was it hard to make them as real as possible?

Many of my characters are based on my friends…hehe! Though I don’t like to admit it, Claudia is based off of me. Michael is based off my husband. Claudia’s friend who passes away in a car accident is a true story. My friend had the same first and last name as me and she passed away as I describe it in the book. Patty is also a friend of mine; she’s a social butterfly. Davin’s character is based on my friend who passed away as well. He was loved by many of his friends. I can go on with the other characters. As far as Michael and Claudia’s chemistry, I just had to think about mine…hehe!!!

· Michael and Claudia's relationship is forbidden. Have you ever experience a forbidden love?

I guess you I can say my relationship with my husband when we were dating in college…lol!!! I hid my relationship from my parents because they wanted me to date someone from the same race.

If Crossroads will ever be made into a movie, who would you choose as lead characters?

If Crossroads was made into a movie, I would want new faces; however, here are my dream cast:

Claudia-Nina Debrov

Michael-Ben Barnes

Davin-Channing Tatum

Vivian-Megan Fox

Caleb-Chase Crawford

Patty-Amanda Seyfried

Austin-

Philip-Orlando Bloom

Agnes-Courtney Cox

Margaret-Angelina Jolie

Gamma-Susan Sarandon

Aden-Huge Jackman

And the Fun Part:

Favorite part of the body?

The eyes. I believe the eyes are the window to a person’s soul.

When the word "HOT" is uttered, who is the first person that comes in to your mind?

Besides my husband…right…lol!!! Channing Tatum

If you ever get to heaven and you only have one person to be with, who would you choose?

This is too hard and if my kids ever find out they would be hurt so I would have to say my family. My husband and my two children. I’m not following the rules here am I? lol!!!

If you're going to hell who would you bring with you? (^_~)

Hmmm… how about if I bring a thing. I would bring my laptop. I could write a great hell of a story…lol!!!

And the last question is:What can we expect on the second book of Crossroads? More Action? Romance? (yup I'm fishing for spoilers, LOL)

Lol!!! No problem. More angels on Earth. This group of angels have to work together with the alkins to keep Claudia safe. You’ll get to read multiple point of views. And of course, more romance and action.

Thanks for letting me interview you!

Thanks for having me. I took on a journey not knowing how rewarding it would be for me. I’ve meet so many wonderful people from all over the world through facebook, twitter, goodreads and blog sites. I’ve made everlasting friendship where friendship knows no boundaries. And I have to thank my grandmother who continues to watch over me from Heaven. Thank you for loving Crossroads where love and friendship know no boundaries!!!

Well, there you have it! If you wanna know more about Crossroads just see my review here:

http://journeywithbooks.blogspot.com/2011/12/book-review-crossroads-by-mary-ting.html

Book Blurb:

There, Claudia meets Michael, a nephilim, a half angel, half human, whom she often meets in her dreams. It turns out that this isn’t her first visit to Crossroads, which is an enigma for no human can ever travel there until Claudia. Now the fallen and demons are after her, suspecting she must be special and it is up to Michael and the other nephilims to protect her.

Can Michael fight his growing feelings for Claudia and protect her as a guardian angel should? The answer awaits you! Follow the exciting path to Crossroads!

Buying Links:

Blog Tour: Pyxis: The Discovery (Pyxis Book 1) by KC Neal Review and $45 Gift Card Giveaway

Unknown December 14, 2011 2 Comments

Hi my loves! Another blog tour and giveaway for you!

I am now presenting you the Pyxis by KC Neal.

I'm supposed to do an interview but I didn't have much time to send in the questions to the author because real life decided to interfere! Oh well, maybe some other time. But just because we don't have an interview doesn't mean we'll forget the book review. So let's see how awesome this book is...

Book Blurb:

Corinne lives an average teenage life working at her dad’s cafe, hanging out with her best friend, and trying to forget a falling-out with her almost-boyfriend Mason.

Things take a strange turn when she uses her late grandmother’s food dyes for a bake sale, and her customers suddenly find her irresistibly alluring. Then she discovers she and Mason are haunted by the same dreams of a dark force that consumes everything in its path.

Pursued by shadowy figures and a crazy woman with secrets from the past, Corinne must find out who her grandmother really was.

In her quest to unravel her family’s history, she learns she is destined to protect this world--and the dark world of her dreams. She races to find the answers she seeks before her nightmares break free.

My Thoughts:

Pyxis is very different from the usual YA Paranormal reads that I've read, different but definitely good!

It's a shorter read than what I usually read but it's fine because I enjoyed it. I finished it in one seating. I love the characters. They are interesting and fun to get to know. Watching Corrine's growth in the book is exciting.

Mason and Corrine's chemistry is also nice. I loved reading their interactions although sometimes their awkward situation annoys me but their sweetness and closeness despite everything that is between them, makes me root for them. I'm very excited to see their relationship develop into something more than what it was on this book.

But what I liked the most about this book is how the author maintained the air of mystery without making it boring. Ms. KC Neal knows how to hold the attention of her readers. As I said before Pyxis is very different from the usual Paranormal books. It has a very different plot and I must say that I really love its uniqueness. The flow of the story is good. It was natural and easy to follow through.

Overall, I can say that Pyxis is very nice read for me. If you want to read something different that's full of mystery and magic then you should definitely try Pyxis!

Buying Links:

http://www.amazon.com/Pyxis-Discovery-ebook/dp/B0061UAWQ0/

Blog Tour: Dating 911 (Dating Series Book 1) by Kathleen Grieve Giveaway

Unknown December 13, 2011 3 Comments

Hi my loves! I'm back with another blog tour! We're all gonna see what Dating 911 by Kathleen Grieve is all about. All of you will get a glimpse of it through the Book Excerpt! Plus, you're favorite part... the giveaway! So let's start now!

BLURB:

Emergency room nurse, Roxanne Carter is a loser-magnet wishing she could enjoy her single life. Commiserating with girlfriends over butterscotch martinis creates the idea of The Dating Manifesto--a not so scientific research project which promises to point the way to dating success. While gathering data to find the most suitable single men available, she wades through a series of unsavory, stale dates, which literally places her back at ground zero. Just when she is ready to give up, sin personified in the form of sexy firefighter Jett Avery, arrives tainting all of her previous data.

A traumatic warehouse fire, in which firefighter Jett Avery's closest friend dies, has him suffering from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Attempting to stave off the worst of his depression, he decides to use his brand of therapy...Sex. The remedy has lost luster until he encounters ER nurse Roxanne Carter.

The pursuit of Roxanne by Jett's twin brother, Doctor Cruz Avery, complicates her research and interferes with Jett's therapy. Does Roxanne choose the brother who by analysis is the perfect match? Or the broken, dark and irresistible one?

EXCERPT:

She held up her hands, palms facing toward him. “Stop. This is a hospital. Not some stupid television show where the medical staff is always making out in a closet. I work here. Don’t even think about it!”Jett closed the distance between them until her hands pressed against his chest, searing their imprint through the thin cotton of his T-shirt. He grasped her fingers and lifted them to his mouth, licking the sensitive tips with his tongue one by one. Heat filled her eyes and she trembled.
“You feel the pull, too. Don’t you?” he asked, dropping her hand.
Jett slid his hands to her waist, and molded her against his erection. A perfect fit. Her sharp intake of breath as she shook her head told him all he needed to know. He smiled. Satisfaction filled him.
“Liar. Shake your head in denial all you want, but I can see the reflection mirrored in your eyes, and feel the powerful draw when I touch you,” he said in a husky tone. He rubbed his stiff cock against her stomach. The intensity of his desire eliminated all reason.
Jett buried his face in her neck and breathed in her sweetness. “Hmm. Today you smell like chocolate.” His tongue traced the delicate shell of her ear as his hands stroked her bare arms. “But you taste like honey.”Her knees bent and he placed his leg between hers to support her. On the brink of total insanity, he continued his light exploration. His hand skimmed her torso, and skirted the side of her breast. With slow, deliberate care, he let his fingertips graze her collarbone on the way to grasp the back of her neck. Another tremor rippled through her.God, she felt so damn good.She tilted her chin and her head rested in his open palm. “Jett,” her sultry voice caused his penis to throb. “This is not a good idea. Anyone could come in here and….”
He pushed his thigh against her crotch. She inhaled sharply, desire deepening the blue of her eyes. “You were saying?”Her brow furrowed. “And…”
“Intoxicating being a little naughty, isn’t it?” he rasped. He gently tugged her face closer to his. “Hmm. I believe you mentioned the other night that your most recent sexual exploits have been lacking. Let’s add something of interest for your science venture.”

BUY LINKS:

Evernight Publishing

http://www.evernightpublishing.com/dating-911-by-kathleen-grieve/

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A graduate of University of Nebraska Medical Center, Kathleen Grieve earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Science and Nursing in 1994. She has been a dedicated nurse for the past seventeen years, serving most of those years in intensive care. Always writing, Kathleen chose to pursue yet another career- that of a writer. An avid romance reader of all genres since age 13, she decided to try a hand at writing her own novel in the summer of 2006.

She draws a lot from the real-life medical drama she experiences as a RN for her novels. Writing romance is a creative outlet where she can effectively deal with the daily stress and sorrow, adding levity and humor to situations that provide a happily ever after when there isn't one.

To find out more about Kathleen Grieve and her books, you can stop

by her blog, Keeping A Pulse On Life & Romance at: http://kathleengrieve.blogspot.com

Her website: www.kathleengrieve.com

Follow her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Kathleen-GrieveAuthor/251669291518939

Follow her on Twitter: @KathleenGrieve

Book Review: Crossroads by Mary Ting

Unknown December 04, 2011 0 Comments

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Author: Mary Ting

Pages: 315 pages
ISBN 13 (TP): 978-1-937085-75-9
ISBN 13 (eBook): 978-1-937085-76-6

Book Blurb:

Claudia Emerson has a good friend who shares the same first name and last name. That friend unfortunately dies in a tragic accident during homecoming dance. Claudia is distraught at the loss of her friend, but is even more disturbed by her dreams, which seem to take her to another place called Crossroads. Unknown to her, Crossroads is like a second heaven, a place between heaven and earth. It is where the souls of humans in comas or near death experiences may wander. Where, Claudia meets Michael, a nephilim, a half angel, half human, whom she often meets in her dreams. It turns out that this isn’t her first visit to Crossroads, which is an enigma for no human can ever travel there until Claudia.

Now the fallen and demons are after her, suspecting she must be special and it is up to Michael and the other nephilims to protect her. Her dream becomes a nightmare as more secrets are revealed, about who she really is, and the true identities of the people she loves most. Can Michael fight his growing feelings for Claudia and protect her as a guardian angel should?

My Thoughts:

Have you ever read a book that makes you unaware of your surrounding while reading it? A book that completely sucks you in that if bomb explodes, you wouldn't even hear it? I can tell you with so much honesty that I did! "Crossroads" by Mary Ting did it to me.

I had so much fun reading this book. It had me hooked just by reading the Prologue! I always say that YA books seldom do this to me. From those people who had been reading my blog from the start knows that there are very few YA books that I've loved and I'm very much happy to inform everyone that I've just added Crossroads on the list of those YA books that made me happy!

The characters are very much lovable. Claudia and Michael's chemistry is very much undeniable because you would feel the sparks from their interactions. I absolutely love every minute of reading how their relationship grew. And the other characters are likable too, I really want to know more about them in the next one.

The pacing of the story is nice. It's not overly fast and it's not dragging which makes it much nicer to read. The world that Ms. Mary Ting built in this book is very fascinating to explore. It's not like the other Paranormal Romances that is so confusing and so hard to understand that you'd lose interest in finishing it.

This book is a very good read for me. Mary Ting is a very talented author who knows how to keep her readers satisfied and happy! I really want to read the next book of this series!

More about the Author:

Mary Ting resides in Southern California with her husband and two children. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Writing Crossroads was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother. It was inspired by a dream she once had as a young girl.

Author's Blog: www.marytingbooks.blogspot.com/

You may contact the author for comments / feedback at : maryting.crossroads@gmail.com

Buying Links:

www.amazon.com

www.barnesandnoble.com

www.worldcastlepublishing.com

Dec 1, 2011

Blog Tour: Foxworth Coven by Kayden McLeod Guest Post and Giveaway

Unknown December 01, 2011 2 Comments

Hey my loves! I'm back! After a dreadful silence, I'm here again! And I'm so happy to have the author of Foxworth Coven Series, Ms. Kayden McLeod in my blog today. So I'm not making this any longer, let's see what she have to share for us today..

It’s All About The Sound Of Music

Dear Reader,

As many authors, I listen to a variety of music while writing. The type of music depends heavily on the mood I’m going for to inspire which direction my mind will go.

I can’t say a precise artist inspires something specific. It’s the song itself: the lyrics and the tone of voice used throughout it. For example, for those of you who are familiar with Sara Cornwall, from the Cornwall Coven Series and Sara’s Story—the last WIP I worked on for her is Darker Indulgences.
Sara is a complicated, conflicted character born of violence. She is bitter and hateful to outsiders, yet full of loving, protective emotion for those she trusts. While writing about her I listened to Eminem and Rihanna’s Love The Way You Lie, over and over again for days. I barely processed the lyrics or beat while I wrote, yet my subconscious, or muse if you will, absorbed the sentiment. Something about it screamed SARA to me.

There never has been any rhythm or reason, no pun intended, to what I listen to. All genres, all flavors, all artists. Some stuff gets added, and I never listen to it again. Others are once in a blue moon, then there is the selections that are the bread and butter for a specific piece, where I listen to the same 2-10 over and over again, until anyone around me knows each word-by-word. Fortunately, I live with people who never say anything about it, lol.

This is a very eclectic chunk of music from my playlist. These random selections have been listed in order from my Facebook playlist that is added to when I hear a song on the radio, or find myself humming something while writing.

Thank you so much for coming by today! Please feel free to come by and visit me. Leave a comment for a chance to win a Foxworth Coven E-Book!

My Facebook Group
Website

Kayden McLeod

Thank You Ms. Kayden McLeod for sharing this to us and for letting me be a part of your tour. And for the record, I love your taste in music!

I've read the first book of your series and all I can say is WOW! I'll be posting my review of that book in the coming days. When my (crazy) College life stop interfering with my blogging life!

Death of Innocence

Book One of the Foxworth Coven Series

By Kayden McLeod

Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance (Vampires, Deities, M/F)

Hate Rating: Three

Warning: Some violence, off-scene rape

Publisher: Solstice Publishing (Solstice at Night)

Price: $4.99

Summary:

Even unconditional love cannot always banish an eternal nightmare

The Foxworth family has blazed a trail through human and vampire history alike, changing the ways of both races in Canada for all time. The Council has demanded a full report for the long and twisted tale of how the Surrey Coven had come to be the most powerful and feared; an assemblage that anyone would question before coming up against.

The Leader of the Surrey Coven, Canya recalls how her family came to be. A story filled with pain and heartache, until she meets Gregory Foxworth: a debonair CEO to the family shipping company. Gregory remembers taking her away from a life that shocks him, hoping to shelter and love her. But little does he know all he has done, was make her a target for a sadistically warped man. One who will have her and his own personal brand of vengeance. Sometimes, a grudge is forever.

Natural Urges

Book Two of the Foxworth Coven Series

By Kayden McLeod

Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance

(Vampires, Shifters, Deities)

Word Count: 76,561

Hate Rating: Three

Warning: Some violence off-scene rape

Summary:

Love conquers all...and evil seeks to destroy it.

Arcadia Foxworth has no idea what destiny has in store for him. He thought his life as an elite Council Hunter of Rogues was his perfect career choice. But little does he know his fate truly lies in one little powder keg, Korbin Callows. She’s beautiful, graceful—and a stripper. After having woken up, remembering nothing about her old life, Korbin had to pull herself together and make tough decisions to survive a harsh world. And now people she doesn’t even know are out to kill her. She finds herself relying on Arcadia to maneuver the new dangers presented to her, as she starts to recall who she really is. A powerful being that could make every vampire in British Columbia fall to their knees, including Arcadia.

More About the Author:

Kayden McLeod lives in beautiful British Columbia, and is the author of the M/F Paranormal Romance and erotica series, The Coven Series, which consists of three Covens; The Foxworths, The Cornwalls and The Jerichos. She also dabbles in a multitude of other genres that are in the works, like BDSM, Ménage, M/M and Horror. As well, Kayden is a freelance Graphic and Cover artist, a Cover Artist for XOXO Publishing, and an owner of Otherworlds Publicity and Siren Book Reviews.

Connect with Kayden online:

Website: http://kaydenmcleod.com/

Blog: http://kaydenmcleod.blogspot.com/

Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1848048830

Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kayden-McLeod-Author-of-the-Coven-Series/181298315224950

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/KaydenMcLeod

Deviant Art: http://kaydenmcleod.deviantart.com/

GIVEAWAY:

And for all of you my loves, as Ms. Kayden McLeod said she is offering a copy of her book! So what are you waiting for? Hit the comment section now!

Worry not! This giveaway is open to everyone! To make it clearer, this is open INTERNATIONALLY! Everyone is welcome!

And this giveaway will last till December 5 of 2011.

There is absolutely no need to follow my blog although it would be much appreciated!