Follow Me
Grab my feed
Posts
All Comments
Wanna Shop?
2013 Reading Challenge
Jen (That's What I'm Talking About) has
read 0 books toward her goal of 75 books.
New-To-Me Authors
2013 reading goal:
15 new-to-me authors.
1) Stacy Gail
2) Heather Massey
3) Sidney Bristol
4) Ann Mayburn
5) Thea Harrison
6) Virna DePaul
7) Mary Quast
8) Molly Harper
9) Eleri Stone
10) PJ Schnyder
11) Kait Ballenger
12) Denise L. Wyant
13) Lucy Monroe
Sunday Snippets
More Blogs
original images by marin & papaija2008 at FreeDigitalPhotos.com
banner designed by Jennifer from Books Make Me Happy
Friday, November 30, 2012
Contest Winner - Lords of Deliverance
I would like to thank everyone for stopping by for my interview with the awesome Larissa Ione and my review of Rogue Rider, the fourth and final book in her Lords of Deliverance series. I’d also like to thank Grand Central Publishing for sponsoring the giveaway of Larissa’s series.
The winner as selected by Rafflecopter:
CONGRATULATIONS!!
Winner... please email me at twimom227 (at) gmail (dot) com with your full name and mailing address so the publisher can send you the books. You have until Friday December 7, 2012 (end of day) to contact me. If I don’t hear from you by then, I will draw another winner.
Thank you and Happy Reading!
Labels:
Review: City of Dark Magic by Magnus Flyte
City of Dark Magic
Author: Magnus Flyte
Release Date: Nov. 27, 2012
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 978-0143122685
Genre: Paranormal Romantic Suspense
Format(s): Paperback (464 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
|
Once a city of enormous wealth and culture, Prague was home to emperors, alchemists, astronomers, and, as it’s whispered, hell portals. When music student Sarah Weston lands a summer job at Prague Castle cataloging Beethoven’s manuscripts, she has no idea how dangerous her life is about to become. Prague is a threshold, Sarah is warned, and it is steeped in blood.
Soon after Sarah arrives, strange things begin to happen. She learns that her mentor, who was working at the castle, may not have committed suicide after all. Could his cryptic notes be warnings? As Sarah parses his clues about Beethoven’s “Immortal Beloved,” she manages to get arrested, to have tantric sex in a public fountain, and to discover a time-warping drug. She also catches the attention of a four-hundred-year-old dwarf, the handsome Prince Max, and a powerful U.S. senator with secrets she will do anything to hide.
What VampBard’s talking about:
|
Feeding the musician with her favorite composer? Yes, please! Sure, the blurb talks about Beethoven, but I never dreamed that Magnus Flyte would create such a compelling plot surrounding the mystery of Beethoven's Immortal Beloved!
I took notes on the characters in this novel. I wanted to make sure that I didn't get my wires crossed. Eventually, I did stop taking notes; I figured that I would be able to keep things straight because I had fallen completely in love with the characters created in City of Dark Magic.
I adore Sarah. This tenacious heroine of our story had more guts than I initially gave her credit. Beginning the story, she appeared to be an insecure music historian, trying to find her own way in the shadow of her mentor. When she received her invitation to curate the Beethoven collection in Prague, I felt she began coming out of her shell. Sarah, however, was no prude. The girl likes sex, and she's adventurous!
Nico. A little person. He's positively ancient, too. His teasing bites of snark kept me chuckling and on my toes. No. There wasn't anything kinky about Nico.
Max, however, began the story shielded in mystery and intrigue. Sure. He's the heir to the prince-dom. He's not the stuffy type, however. I do have to say that I truly appreciated Max after a surprise event near the beginning of the title.
I really like the fact that Flyte brought in The Golden Fleece. I had to squee just a little bit; here I am, reading a book about both Beethoven and some mythology. **Boggle** Additionally, we have espionage on the world level. KGB, CIA, and assassination. Yup. It's all here.
Lest you're thinking this is a stuffy, academic book, think again. The light humor made my day, even when dealing with a difficult topic:
“The way across has been revealed to me, and I intend to cross over tonight.” … “That doesn't even sound like him,” Sarah frowned. “Shabotsky was fusing traditional musicology with brain science. He definitely did not talk like Professor Dumbledore.”
Even though City of Dark Magic started off a whole lot like The Historian for me, it definitely had a lighter feel, along with some fun and hot sex. Even though most people would never believe that a LSD-type trip would make for interesting reading, I was riveted. Yup. That's a tease. You'll have to pick up a copy of City of Dark Magic to solve the mystery of the meds, and the other intrigue laced expertly throughout the story. I look forward to reading future installments from Flyte.
VampBard’s Rating:
|
Purchase Info:
Review: Black Moon by J.D. Tyler
Black Moon
Author: J.D. Tyler
Release Date: Dec. 4, 2012
Publisher: Signet Eclipse
Alpha Pack #3
ISBN: #13: 978-0451238832
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): Paperback (352 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
|
A group of former Navy SEALS, the Alpha Pack is a top-secret team of wolf shifters with Psy powers combating the greatest dangers in the world. But sometimes those dangers are more intimate than they bargained for…
Ever since he saved Dr. Mackenzie Grant’s life, panther shifter and sorcerer Kalen Black has had trouble keeping the beautiful doctor out of his thoughts, and his heart. The brush with death awakened an intense passion between them—one that for the first time had the notorious loner letting down his guard.
With the Alpha Pack battling an evil Fae who is slowly gaining control over Kalen’s mind, Kalen can no longer trust his own actions, and he breaks off his affair with Mackenzie in order to keep her safe. But when Mackenzie learns that she is carrying Kalen’s child, no amount of danger will keep her away from the man she loves. To protect his mate and unborn child, Kalen will have to battle a terrible evil, unleash the full fury of his power, and risk destroying them all…
What G & U are talking about:
|
Black Moon is the third installment in the Alpha Pack series by J.D. Tyler. In this novel, we find out the fate of Kalen (the misunderstood bad-boy) and Mackenzie (the good girl-next-door doctor) and the future of Alpha Pack as well. A major story arc is ended at the conclusion of this novel but we know there is much more to come in this series.
We were itching to read this installment of the Alpha Pack series. Kalen is the odd-duck of the group. Due to a very troubled past, he neither makes friends easily nor trusts in general. Considering that his parents kicked him out at the age of fourteen to fend for himself – he has survived much. To have been thrust into the group and suddenly told this is a safe place and to relax – is an anathema to him. Kalen is inclined to believe that anything that is too good to be true will cause great pain and suffering. Hence his wariness and sudden denouncement of Mackenzie after their very brief tryst in Black Magic, the novella that chronicles what happens to Mackenzie and Kalen on a chance night out.
Mackenzie is in some ways Kalen’s opposite. She is educated, compassionate and fun loving. However, she has her own dark reasons for being a part of the Alpha Pack. Yet, when she first laid eyes on Kalen, they both felt an instant connection. But there were many looming obstacles to their budding relationship. Besides Kalen’s distance and pessimism, Mackenzie is a decade older and she is akin to an adopted sister to the Alpha Pack. No one wants to see her harmed, physically or emotionally. As one of the doctors in the group, she helps to maintain the health and wellbeing of the soldiers and has come to be a vital part of the group. In all outwardly appearances Mackenzie and Kalen could not be more polar opposites.
Black Moon is the culmination of all of our fears and hopes as we have watched the connection between Kalen and Mackenzie develop. The evil Fae, Malik, has somehow bonded with Kalen and is trying to control him for his own nefarious purposes. Kalen is torn between the promises made by Malik and the family he thinks he may have found with the Alpha Pack. But when things that should make life better for Kalen go terribly wrong, it allows Malik to use his greatest weapon, doubt, to his advantage. Ultimately Kalen will have to decide, but will he choose the potential home and family with Alpha Pack and Mackenzie or will he sacrifice them for ultimate power?
As you can see, Black Moon is a gripping read. There are many moments where you feel things are starting to look up for Kalen, only to watch as they go terribly, terribly wrong. One element that is so central to this book is the importance of open and honest communication between people. Mackenzie’s father, General Grant, says it well when he tells her there is no good time to give bad news. Both Kalen and Mackenzie have a tendency to not share information in a timely manner, which leads to distrust and hurt between them. The course of Black Moon is almost a cha-cha; two steps forward, one step back. What keeps it from being overly frustrating or tedious is that the blame is shared between the two of them. And that we, as the reader, have the advantage of knowing what each of them is thinking and feeling. It helps to give credit to the situation and, at least kept us from screaming at them.
So much is riding on the choice that Kalen will make in Black Moon. He is an incredibly powerful sorcerer with the potential for good or evil. Kalen’s past gives him the perfect excuse to embrace his powers for his own comfort and satisfaction. For once the pre-cog leader of the team is not sure what side Kalen will choose – or even on which side his inclination lies. There is quite a buildup to the final confrontation.
Black Moon is the resolution of a major story arc. Although one element is resolved, there is so much more left at the end. In some ways it is a cliffhanger in that we have no clue what awaits us in the next novel (due out summer of 2013). However, we encourage you, if you haven’t, to pick up the Alpha Pack series. You need not read Black Magic in the course of the series, but we encourage you to do so. It is actually book 2.5 in the series, and enriches Savage Awakening along with Black Moon.
Their Rating:
|
Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
Thursday, November 29, 2012
25 Days of Christmas with Sourcebooks
Sourcebooks is feeling the spirit of the holiday season and they want to share it with you! They're running their biggest promotion yet: daily discounts on their most popular ebooks, starting December 1 and lasting through December 25! When you sign up, you’ll be notified every morning of which book is going on sale that day. And, when you sign up to receive their daily email notifications, you’ll automatically be entered to win two ereaders: one for you, and one for a friend or family member.
In addition, they'll also be giving away more fun prizes every single week, from candy, to gift baskets, to books. Sign up today! You’ll be able to see the featured books once you’ve signed up.
Double your chances: Each time one of your friends sign up, it doubles your chances of winning, so make sure to forward your emails to all of your nearest and dearest, encouraging them to sign up, too!
Sign up today for the Sourcebooks Christmas eBook Spectacular on their ebook promo page, for the chance to get great books and great prices, and to win ebooks, candy, print books, and an eReader for you – and one for a friend or family member!
Please feel free to share this information! Be sure to check out the @sourcebooks and @sourcebookscasa Twitter accounts for daily updates and links each day, as well as the Sourcebooks Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/sourcebooks.
I hope you enjoy these great deals and chances to win!
Happy Reading and Happy Holidays!
I hope you enjoy these great deals and chances to win!
Happy Reading and Happy Holidays!
Quickie Review: Friends with Benefits by Jennifer Labelle
Friends With Benefits
Author: Jennifer Labelle
Release Date: Oct. 3, 2012
Publisher: Decadent Pub.
Decadent’s Edge Series
Genre: M/M, GLBT, novella
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
|
Collin Harrison is loving life as a bachelor, but can’t convince his meddling mother to back off. She’s constantly in his business and keeps trying to set him up on blind dates, when all he wants is friendship and a good time. To make matters worse he’s been confused ever since his new neighbor entered his life. An instant rapport between the two men sparks a desire neither are sure about pursuing. Until one night after a hockey game his mother pushes him too far and he decides it’s time to enact, landing him in the arms of another man for the first time.
Devin Hardy is no stranger to fulfilling his most intimate desires. He’s got open minded friends, a great libido, and fond feelings for a neighbor he’s not sure is interested. Until one night they both take the leap, turning their friendship status into one with scorching hot benefits.
What I’m talking about:
|
Friends With Benefits is one of Decadent's Edge series stories, and as far as I can tell, unrelated to another story. The Edge series are short stories (less than novella length), which focus on a small segment of a budding romance. The vignettes always center on a sexual encounter, but typically leave the reader with the feeling something more is going to occur after the end of the story.
Friends with Benefits is one such story, told from the point-of-view of Collin, an almost 30 year old man who secretly lusts for his male neighbor. Collin has never been with a man but cannot stop thinking about Devin, so much that it’s impacted his social life. After finally getting up the courage to say something, Collin lets known his feelings. Thankfully, Devin is willing and more than experienced and prepared for them both.
This vignette is sexy and erotic, without any hint of a romance. Friends with Benefits is all about making a sexual fantasy come true, and ending up with a friend with benefits. The dialogue isn't flowery or romantic, which fits the situation. The guys are just that - guys, and they are excited to experience shared carnal pleasure. It's sex and move on, with the opening for more fun down the road.
If you are looking for a romance, the story is not for you. However, if you’d like to read a hot little short, this is straight up smokin’ smex for fun!
My Rating:
|
Liked it, but I had some issues - recommend (B)
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Review: Nightingale by Jennifer Estep
Nightingale
Author: Jennifer Estep
Release Date: July 12, 2012
Publisher: Self-published
Bigtime Superheroes #4
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): E-book
Book Source: Author
About the book:
|
Anxious brides. Drunken businessmen. Panicked partygoers. As Bigtime, New York’s premiere event planner, Abby Appleby is capable of handling almost any crisis, but even she’s not prepared when she finds herself in the middle of a fight between superhero Talon and his ubervillain nemesis Bandit. Abby manages to save Talon, but the superhero is temporarily blinded, so she takes him back to her loft, where the two wait out a snowstorm. During a blizzard that shuts down the city, Abby and Talon grow close, and he starts calling her Nightingale because of her love of music and singing.
But Abby is afraid of what Talon will think when he can see the real her, so she conceals her identity from the sexy superhero, and they go their separate ways. However, Abby discovers that Talon is looking for Nightingale, looking for her—and so is Bandit. The mercenary ubervillain thinks that Abby has information that belongs to his boss, the mysterious Tycoon. Abby knows that she’s in serious trouble and that not even Talon—or the Fearless Five—may be able to save her …
What G & U are talking about:
|
The Bigtime Superheroes series is, as described on Ms. Estep’s website, “book candy.” We really feel this is a great description of this e-book series. If you love comic books, superheroes and ubervillians, then you really should check out this series. Gikany and Una started, by chance, with A Karma Girl Christmas. We enjoyed the story so much; we were pleasantly surprised to be able to have a chance at reviewing the latest book in the series, Nightingale.
Abby is your dependable gal Friday. She always makes it happen, never lets anyone down and gets the job done. Despite all her hard work and determination, she is very good at being behind the scenes. She feels invisible, unlike the high society darlings, she feels like a wallflower that just blends into the background -- easily dismissed and overlooked. Poor Abby has given up on love – between her super senses and being so average – she has thrown herself into her business. However, everything changes when she has a chance encounter with Talon – one of Bigtime’s superheroes.
Talon is not like most of the superheroes in Bigtime. He is not imbued with super senses or healing powers and can’t fly. He is a gadget superhero able to help fight off ubervillians with his intelligence and powerful gadgets. However, he is overwhelmed in an alley, shot and at the mercy of the ubervillan, Bandit, when Abby comes to his rescue.
The story then takes off between Abby and Talon. It is a delightful story completely told from Abby’s point of view. The twists and turns that Abby and Talon take could be frustrating but they are completely tempered by the enjoyable characters and colorful world that Ms. Estep has created. Although there are plenty of clues to figure things out, the actual course to get there is not straightforward. Nightingale kept us on our toes, and rooting for both Abby and Talon. It was a gripping read simply for its entertainment and joy.
Nightingale is a quick, fluffy and most enjoyable read. Gikany and Una delighted in the lightheartedness of it. The Bigtime Superheroes series is a wonderful blend of comic superheroes, regular people/characters you can certainly relate to, and a mystery plot to solve. As a side project of Ms. Estep’s, we truly appreciate the time it takes to self-publish something that is so very enjoyable as a treat for her readers. If you haven’t had the chance to pick it up, give it a try. We jumped in on the series and have not felt that we have missed out on anything, except maybe a fun story.
Their Rating:
|
Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Review: The Final Piece by Maggi Myers
The Final Piece
Author: Maggi Myers
Release Date: Nov. 15, 2012
Publisher: self-published
ISBN: 978-1480055544
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Fiction
Format(s): Paperback (312 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Purchased with my own funds
About the book:
|
Elizabeth Bradshaw has spent her life picking up the the pieces of her delicate past and hiding them. Her secrecy has worked until the day Beth receives word that her only confidant, Tommy, has been killed. Devastated, she leaves her new life behind to embark on a pilgrimage home for Tommy’s funeral. When faced, yet again, with more pieces to pick up and pack away, Beth begins to question the choice to keep everyone in life at arm’s length. As Beth reconnects with Ryan, Tommy’s nephew, she begins a journey that will unearth her secrecy and teach her grace, love and forgiveness.
What VampBard’s talking about:
|
The Final Piece, debut novel by Maggi Myers, contains a little bit of everything. Even though Ms. Myers works with a substantial amount of material, she manages to remain true to her story throughout. As a reader, I was drawn in by the beautiful descriptions provided for and by the main characters. We saw the point-of-view shift between Beth and Ryan a few times throughout the story, and it was neither awkward nor distracting.
I knew before picking up this title that Ms. Myers would be writing about some sensitive topics. She deals with child molestation and rape in a substantial, thoughtful, and compassionate manner. If The Final Piece had only this sensitive material, I would recommend an older young adult audience. Ms. Myers brings to the forefront the process of healing from childhood atrocities. Later in the title, after Beth has graduated college, we see some explicit love-making scenes. This raises the rating to Mature Audiences for me.
The Final Piece needed at least one more editing drive-by to catch a few errors in usage and mechanics. I also noted a couple plot inconsistencies that could use some tidying-up. This would be the H.S. English teacher side piping in, and it did tarnish the reading experience for me a tad, lowering my rating by at least ½ star.
Beth is one of the strongest female main characters that I have read in a long time. Beginning the story when she is a teen, we watch Beth grow up and move on with her life. After being a child of using parents, Beth is forced to reconcile herself with her parents' behavior. Unfortunately, due to her parents' misbegotten attention to their friends and drugs, they ignored the fact that they trusted the wrong people. Beth, challenged with honestly accepting their mistake and not allowing blame to fall upon herself, is pretty much ripped from the safety of her grandparents' home and the only adults she has ever truly trusted with her safety. As Beth grows up, it is evident that she continues to have issues from her childhood abuse. She struggles to have open, meaningful relationships with those around her, leaving this reader with the impression that Beth was going through the motions of life; she was in superficial mode, not ever working on the difficult things life drops in our laps. She sweeps them under the rug and refuses to confront them head-on. Beth also, during her 10-year hiatus from Ryan, Tommy's nephew, mourns 'what could have been', as well as the forceful loss of her innocence during childhood.
Tommy, while not truly a relative of Beth's, is the heart of the novel. I found Tommy to be a trustworthy, endearing character that truly loved young Beth. As a friend of the family – to both her parents – Tommy had always been a part of Beth's life. He was so entrenched in Beth's well-being, happiness and comfort that I suspected that we would learn that Tommy was, in-fact, Beth's father. Not so. Don't worry. The story isn't that convoluted. As Beth grew, Tommy gave her the wings to move on. She knew he would always be there for her, but he didn't hover. Tragically, Tommy died. Beth was a basket-case. She traveled home to pay homage to one of the most influential men in her life. While Beth mourned, she did remember several poignant moments with Tommy, and that seemed to strengthen her resolve to maintain her emotions...occasionally.
Ryan is not only Beth's 'first love', but the one person she trusts with who she truly is, at least superficially. Even through their 10-year separation, Ryan never stops loving Beth. He compares each girl to Beth, and even seriously dated another Elizabeth for a period of time. All things came back to Beth. He also dwelled in the land of 'what if' for 10 years. I thought it was particularly telling that Ryan was the one to comfort Beth when Tommy died. That was, I'll have to admit, a mutual comfort thing. I think of Ryan as a younger version of Tommy, and I think that is initially what allows Beth to open up to him.
Gram and Pops, as well as Aunt Kristin and Uncle Rob are important secondary characters. I found Beth's parents to have a tertiary role, and that they were rather insignificant in the grand scheme. We also meet three of Beth's college friends that superficially appear important, but seem to be 'extras' to assist in moving the plot. I did, however, love how each of Myers' characters were crafted. I want to sit down for Happy Hour with Cyn and Les. My kind of peeps. Uncle Rob – yeah, he can join the party, too. His 'observations on life' seem to be spot-on, as though he were written to be observer when a guest is in the House.
Over-all, I truly enjoyed Maggi Myers' debut novel, The Final Piece. This title is full of heart, soul, emotion, forgiveness, and a little something-something I can't quite name...but I found myself with that warm, fuzzy, book-coma when I was through. That's always a good thing! I look forward to reading more from Ms. Myers, and hopefully hearing more about Beth and Ryan!
VampBard’s Rating:
|
Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Purchase Info:
Author Guest Post & Giveaway: Maggi Myers
Hello Readers! Today I bring you debut author, Maggi Myers. Maggi self-published her first title, The Final Piece, earlier this month.
Maggi was born in West Des Moines, Iowa and raised in Miami, Florida. She has a deep love for The Heartland and really good Cuban food. When she isn't writing, you can find her reading or singing into the end of her hairbrush. She's a steel magnolia and a mischief maker, wrapped up and tied with a sarcasm bow.
Currently she resides in Greensboro, NC with her incredible husband and sons. For more about Maggi and future projects, you can follow her on Twitter @Magnolia_B_My and Facebook.
Maggi is here today to share a little about The Final Piece. Keep reading to learn more about her debut title and enter to win a SIGNED copy! GIVEAWAY details are below.
Please help me welcome Maggi to That’s What I’m Talking About.
Thank you for having me here today! I’m so excited about my debut novel The Final Piece. The story follows the tumultuous life of Beth Bradshaw and the cast of characters that come and go throughout the years. Her story is about overcoming a painful past and finding redemption in putting the pieces back together.
Eight years ago the character of Tommy was born out of the grief of losing someone who meant the world to me. I wrote him a letter detailing all of the ways he shaped my life and how grateful I’d always be for his friendship. When I left that letter at his grave, I was overwhelmed with the feeling that my friend was there with me and I immediately heard Tommy’s voice in my head. It comforted me to create a character that possessed all the things I loved and missed about my friend; it still does.
Here is one of my favorite Tommy scenes:
After dinner, Tommy grabs his guitar case and plops in sand by the fire. As he starts tuning the strings, I am unable to resist the pull of the notes and move to sit closer to him. He looks up at my approach, giving me a brilliant smile and begins strumming the chords to “Beth” by Kiss.
I groan in mock misery and throw my hand up to my forehead, “Doesn’t that ever get old?” I whine.
He stops strumming and kicks my foot. “Kiss hater,” he laughs, “have any requests?”
I shake my head and wait for him to start again. This time he chooses an upbeat song, laced with a little reggae.
“I like this,” I encourage as I subconsciously begin swaying to the rhythm. He starts singing about how short life is and how we shouldn’t hesitate to grab it before it goes by. Slick move, tricking me with a carefree island beat that carries hidden philosophical words.
“I’m yours-ah,” he exaggerates the last line and chord. His enthusiasm is charming my suspicious nature into submission. As if he can sense a shift in my demeanor, he starts to play one of my favorite songs.
Brown noser.
I lean back on my elbows and close my eyes as the sound of the notes moving across the fret board flow through me. Tommy starts to sing the first verse and I join him on harmony during the chorus. We drift along, singing in sync together like we have a hundred times before. I open my eyes when the song ends and find Tommy’s eyes swimming with unspoken emotion. “You sound just like your mama.”
The praise makes my heart full. “I do? Thanks, Tommy!” No one has ever said that I remind them of Mom in any way. Mostly I hear about how I’m not like her at all.
“You are more alike than you know, baby girl.” He chuckles.
When I sit up and brush the sand from my elbows, I see Ryan sitting across the fire, watching us. I hold my breath, waiting for him to start making fun of me. One side of his mouth tilts into a lopsided grin that starts my heart tripping again.
“Pretty.” He says.
My mouth drops open in cartoonish fashion at that one word. Tommy’s barking laughter reverberates in my ears and my entire body turns beet red.
“Your voice, Beth!” Ryan stammers, glancing back and forth between Tommy’s amused face and my shocked one.
“I know what you meant,” I lie. For a moment, I had been soaring at the thought of him calling me pretty. I stand and brush the rest of the sand off me, not wanting to stick around for round two of Awkward Conversations With Beth and Ryan.
“No! I mean, you are pretty and all,” he is stuttering now. “I just meant...I mean, you have a great voice but...you’re fourteen!” He’s rambling, which has Tommy howling. This only sends Ryan deeper into his despair when he blurts out, “Knock it off, Tommy! It’s not like that, I am not a pedophile!”
There it is. I can never get too comfortable without something dredging it back to the surface. I picture a neon pink sign flashing bright cursive letters above my head, “Pedophile Plaything.” My subconscious is cruel enough, but Ryan’s words sting like I have been slapped. My eyes blur with my hurt. It is a direct contradiction to the practiced smile I have cemented on my face. Before the tears can spill over, I spin on my heel to scurry out of there.
Within a few quick steps, warm hands grip my shoulders and spin me around. Tommy squeezes me against his chest whispering into my hair so no one else can hear, “He doesn’t know, Beth. He has no idea. He just thinks you’re embarrassed because he said you’re pretty. Shoot, he can hardly see past his own verbal diarrhea. He’s squirming over there.” Tommy’s words rumble deep in his chest, against my ear.
“It doesn’t matter,” I whisper back. Who cares whether he’s figured it out or not, it doesn’t change what I am or what’s been done.
“It does matter because it is your story to tell to whomever, whenever you want to tell it.”
Tommy’s words are reassuring, but I still want to find a big hole to climb inside. I let go of him and peek around his back at Ryan. He is sitting with his arms draped across his bent knees. He is shaking his head at the sand, and I wonder if he is replaying the scene in his head, like I am. He lifts his hand to run his fingers through his hair while he scans the beach.
“It’s better if I just scoot. Pops and Gran are packing up, anyway.” I wipe my face and smile at Tommy’s concerned expression. “I love you, Tommy. What would I do without you?”
“You’ve never got to worry about it, baby girl. I am always here. Always,” he promises with a kiss to the top of my head.
Thanks again for sharing your time with me today! Make sure you check back later for the review.
Thank you, Maggi for stopping by. It is a true delight to have you here!
As Maggi mentioned, stop by later today for Vampbard’s review of The Final Piece.
GIVEAWAY Thank you, Maggi, for stopping by That’s What I’m Talking About. Maggi is graciously giving away a SIGNED copy of The Final Piece. To be entered, please use the RAFFLECOPTER form below. As part of your entry, please leave a comment telling Maggi about a favorite music-related memory you may have. You do not need to be a google friends connect follower of my blog, but it is always appreciated. Contest is open from November 27, 2012 until Saturday December 1, 2012 at 12:01 AM EST. Contest is restricted to US mailing addresses only. One (1) winner will be selected from eligible entries. I am not responsible for items lost in the mail. If you have problems with the RAFFLECOPTER form, please email me at twimom227 (at) gmail (dot) com.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Review: The Oracle Glass by Judith Merkle Riley
The Oracle Glass
Author: Judith Merkle Riley
Release Date: Nov. 6, 2012
(first published 1994)
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
ISBN: 978-1402270581
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Historical Romance
Format(s): Paperback (544 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher/ NetGalley
About the book:
|
It is the reign of Louis XIV, the Sun King, and a Queen of Shadows rules in secret over Paris. So great is the power of La Voisin that even the king's mistress, Madame de Montespan, is dosing her royal lover with the sorceress queen's aphrodisiacs. Ladies of the highest fashion frequent the "fortune tellers" of her secret society to purchase abortions, luck charms, and poisons as easily as they might order a new gown.
Into this world of brilliant debauch and evil enters a dazzling and mysterious figure, the Marquise de Morville. She is rumored to be over one hundred and fifty years old, with powers to read the future in the swirling waters of her oracle glass.
In fact she is Genevieve Pasquier, a precocious, crippled adolescent girl with genuine prophetic powers, abandoned by her family and taken up and trained by La Voisin, the Shadow Queen, to enter the very highest court circles. Shrewd, witty, and observant, Genevieve carries off her role as an ancient prophetess with flair, even though her heart is torn with a young girl's emotions.
But just as she is on the verge of discovering true love, the Chief of Police in Paris, Gabriel Nicolas de la Reynie, is on the verge of discovering La Voisin's network of poisoners and sorcerers. Can Genevieve escape the stake? Who will live and who will die in the wake of the king's terrible vengeance?
What VampBard’s talking about:
|
I struggled to get into The Oracle Glass. However, once things got moving, I truly enjoyed the story. It's one of those slow starters, with tons of information in the backstory that is absolutely necessary. The reader is welcomed into the lives of the characters, especially Genevive.
As the story opens, we see Genevive berated and shunned by her mother. The death of her father and grandmother, the only relatives that have ever shown her kindness, has a profound effect on the teen. Clothed in her mourning dress, she heads to the cold river to commit suicide. She is intercepted by La Voisin, The Shadow Queen, and the hub of 'witchcraft' in town.
Predictions are a hot commodity, and young Genevive has a natural penchant for water reading. By simply peering into water, she can oftentimes see the future. La Voisin grooms young Genevive into the 150 year-old Marquise de Morville, a widow. The 'Marquise' was allowed to have her freedom without the questions and whispers from the public. She would also be able to move freely about town, unescorted.
Time rolls on, and Genevive grows up. She perfects her ruse, and money begins to roll in. The courtiers are interested in Genevive's visions, as they always want to know whether they will be in favor, or whether they should be working harder to ingratiate themselves to the crown. Especially the mistresses of the Sun King.
Even a girl with resources beyond her imagination yearns for romance. Genevive pined for Lamotte, the gorgeous playwright, who pined after her sister. Plot twists, losses, and the necessity for mutual comfort found these unlikely bedfellows wrinkling the sheets on a single occasion. However, Genevive learns that Florent is infatuated with her, and begins a relationship with him that ultimately fulfills her needs. The road to romance was paved with broken and lumpy stones for the duo.
Florent, the son of a clockmaker, was forced to falsely endure imprisonment. Returning to Genevive was one of the few things to which he looked forward upon the conclusion of his sentence. As both Florent and Genevive were students of logic, it stood to reason that they would have mutual affection for one another. They would understand the methods by which decisions were made, and would thusly follow similar thought and decision-making patterns. It looked as though things were to be easy for them. Naturally, things were far from simple.
Over-all, my impression of The Oracle Glass was favorable. I thoroughly enjoyed the banter between Genevive and La Voisin, Genevive and Florent, as well as the tenacity of Genevive in general. I got the impression that Genevive's re-invention of herself was merely to spite her mother and brother. She wanted to be a well-concealed success. She was able to be a strong, independent woman (with a few limits set by La Voisin), and make her own way in the world at a tender age, despite a society that fiercely forbid such things from happening. The patriarchal society was a difficult thing for Genevive to survive, as she was her father's heir – and control of all assets were held by her brother, as she was unmarried. Cue the problem-solving prowess of Florent. I like the way his mind works. Nothing is hotter than a man that can problem-solve on-the-fly.
The romance between Genevive and Florent was sweet. There were a few flaming-hot moments, but truly, this story is not about the romance. It's about commitment to one's self as well as the ability to commit to another. The physical manifestation of love is the passionate sexual encounters to which we're privy as readers. Genevive and Florent are definitely a couple to which the burden of love has been imbued.
VampBard’s Rating:
|
Purchase Info:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Grab My Button
