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2013 Reading Challenge
Jen (That's What I'm Talking About) has
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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
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Showing posts with label Tee Morris. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tee Morris. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Cover reveal Dawn’s Early Light by Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris
Today I have the privilege of revealing to you the cover for Dawn’s Early Light by Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris. This is the third book in their amazing Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Series. Without further ado.... May I present to you Dawn’s Early Light...
Dawn’s Early Light (Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences #3)
ACE publishing, late 2013 or early 2014
ACE publishing, late 2013 or early 2014
Working for the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences, one sees innumerable technological wonders. But even veteran agents Braun and Books are unprepared for what the electrifying future holds…
After being ignominiously shipped out of England following their participation in the Janus affair, Braun and Books are ready to prove their worth as agents. But what starts as a simple mission in the States—intended to keep them out of trouble—suddenly turns into a scandalous and convoluted case that has connections reaching as far as Her Majesty the Queen.
Even with the help of two American agents from the Office of the Supernatural and the Metaphysical, Braun and Books have their work cut out for them as their chief suspect in a rash of nautical and aerial disasters is none other than Thomas Edison. Between the fantastic electric machines of Edison, the eccentricities of MoPO consultant Nikola Tesla, and the mysterious machinations of a new threat known only as the Maestro, they may find themselves in far worse danger than they ever have been in before…
About the Authors:
New Zealand born fantasy writer and podcaster Philippa (Pip) Ballantine is the author of the Books of the Order and the Shifted World series. She is also the co-author with her husband Tee Morris of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences novels. Her awards include an Airship, a Parsec, and a Sir Julius Vogel. She currently resides in Virginia with her husband, daughter, and a mighty clowder of cats.
Tee Morris began his writing career with his 2002 historical epic fantasy, MOREVI The Chronicles of Rafe & Askana. In 2005 Tee took MOREVI into the then-unknown podosphere, making his novel the first book podcast in its entirety.
He won acclaim and accolades for his cross-genre fantasy-detective Billibub Baddings Mysteries, the podcast of The Case of the Singing Sword winning him the 2008 Parsec Award for Best Audio Drama.
Tee bought all these skills to the award-winning Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series which he wrote with his wife, Pip Ballantine. When he is not writing, Tee enjoys life in Virginia alongside Philippa Ballantine, his daughter, and three cats.
Right now Pip and Tee are also running a Kickstarter for a brand new anthology and a roleplaying game set in the world of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences. Check out the project here http://bit.ly/ministry-initiative.
Labels:
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Ministry Initiative Blog Hop Giveaway
Hello readers... Happy SPRING! I am so excited that we are finally having some warmer weather up here in New England. I’m looking forward to the holiday weekend and annual family and friend get togethers.
But enough about me... I’m here today because I’m participating in the Ministry Initiative Blog Hop
What is the Ministry Initiative?
Galileo Games and Imagine That! Studios have teamed up to bring you an ambitious steampunk project! The Ministry Initiative is a two-part creative endeavor that will not only premiere new fiction from the steampunk world of the Ministry but also present a brand new role playing game from the makers of Bulldogs! and the ENnie Award winning game Shelter in Place. With this initiative you can thrill to the tales in Ministry Protocol anthology, or join in as an Agent in The Ministry Initiative RPG.
Find out more about this endeavor and support the Kickstarter here: http://bit.ly/ministry-initiative
Now for the fun part!!! Several blogs have teamed up for this blog hop. Each site has its own individual giveaway. Stop by and visit each site and enter as many contests as you like.
Here at That’s What I’m Talking About, I’ve got a great giveaway of recently released books, featuring several first books in a new series titles. The prize includes:
Rising Darkness by Thea Harrison
Time Thief by Katie MacAlister
The Cursed by Alyssa Day
Garrett for Hire by Glen Cook
Tales of Majipoor by Robert Silverberg
The Rules for my contest: To be entered, please use the RAFFLECOPTER form below. As part of the entry, leave a comment telling me what new-to-you series you have recently started reading or read (can be brand new series or an older one you’ve just picked up). Contest is open from May 22, 2013 until Wednesday May 30 at 12:00 AM EDT. One entry per person. 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.
Now be sure to stop by the other participating blogs for more contest and fun:
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Quickie Review: Gimme Shelter Anthology
Gimme Shelter
Editor: J.R. Blackwell
Release Date: Jan. 15, 2012
Publisher: Galileo Publishing
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Anthology, Horror
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Purchased
About the book:
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The Zombies Are Here!
Gimme Shelter, the anthology of the zombie Apocalypse, is about zombies, survival, fathers and daughters, teenagers making out, guns, awkward third dates, reality TV gone wrong, and having a sense of humor in the face of impending disaster. It’s a love letter to horror, zombies and the apocalypse.
Gimme Shelter features all-new fiction from Filamena Young, Jared Axelrod, PJ Schnyder, Christiana Ellis, Peter Woodworth, Tee Morris, Mur Lafferty, Rob Wieland, David A. Hill Jr., Phillipa Ballentine, Chuck Wendig, and J.R. Blackwell.
The fiction in Gimme Shelter was created as a special thank you to the Kickstarter supporters of Shelter in Place.
What Una is talking about:
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Gimme Shelter is a collection of vignettes. Each is few pages that describe a moment or event in an aspect of post-apocalyptic zombie earth. A different author crafted each one and they give a different point of view of the zombie apocalypse. The contributions range from heartbreaking to touching to downright creepy! There is a wide range of pathos while reading Gimme Shelter. I found it hauntingly wonderful.
Although I was gifted Gimme Shelter as a paperback copy, my research for this quick review showed that it is only available in e-book format. However, it is the perfect companion for a short wait at the doctor’s office, to board a plane, or while away an hour. The moments captured by each author may linger in your thoughts. They certainly did mine, as did several questions some posed. What would you do in a similar situation? How would you react?
All in all, it was an incredibly entertaining and witty read. If you are interested in zombie urban fantasy but are unsure, you might want to pick up Gimme Shelter as a way to test out the genre.
Una’s Rating:
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Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)
Purchase Info:
Friday, May 25, 2012
Review: The Janus Affair by Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris
The Janus Affair
Author: Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris
Release Date: May 29, 2012
Publisher: Harper Voyager
The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Series #2
ISBN: #978-0062049780
Genre: Steampunk
Format(s): Paperback (432 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher - Edelweiss
About the book:
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Certainly no strangers to peculiar occurrences, agents Wellington Books and Eliza Braun are nonetheless stunned to observe a fellow passenger aboard Britain’s latest hyper steam train suddenly vanish in a dazzling bolt of lightning. They soon discover this is not the only such disappearance… with each case going inexplicably unexamined by the Crown.
The fate of England is once again in the hands of an ingenious archivist paired with a beautiful, fearless lady of adventure. And though their foe be fiendishly clever, so then is Mr. Books…and Miss Braun still has a number of useful and unusual devices hidden beneath her petticoats.
What I’m talking about:
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The story opens with our wonderful agents, Eliza Braun and Wellington Books, on their way home from Scotland. While on the train, they witness a bizarre incident where a woman is snatched up in a ball of energy and just disappears. This truly is a Peculiar Occurrence, but since Ms. Braun and Mr. Books have been relegated to the Archives (and after making a bit of a mess taking down the House of Usher in the last story, Phoenix Rising), the investigation is left to the bumbling traitor, Bruce Campbell. Of course, since we are talking about Ms. Braun and Mr. Books, and after personal intercession from Eliza’s past, have no fear... they are secretly on the case.
After being blow away by the first book of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences, I could not wait to get my hands on The Janus Affair, and once again, I am enamored. The action begins right from the start and doesn’t slow down until we solve the mystery. One does not need to have read the first book in this series to enjoy The Janus Affair, but it is an excellent book and gives marvelous backstory - it is truly worth while.
The first thing I noted and was excited about was the deepening relationship between Eliza and Welly. The two have become comfortable with one another - almost like best friends. But as the books moves forward and we gain perspective from Wellington’s point of view, we realize that he is truly smitten with Eliza. It is sweet and endearing and makes the book that much more enjoyable. Welly is crushing big time on Eliza, but she remains obtuse despite the small signs. A wrench is tossed into the duo’s potential romance when Eliza’s first love, Douglas, comes to visit from their homeland of New Zealand. Not only do a multitude of emotions spring forth in Eliza, but it also serves to remind her that she can never return home to see her family.
Douglas arrives on the scene escorting his mother, Kate Sheppard, who is a suffragist leader from New Zealand. She is in England to garner support for the cause, but instead is fearful for her life as one-by-one the suffragist leaders are being kidnapped in the ball of energy. Kate asks for Eliza to help investigate and stop the abductions. Douglas wants to pick up where he and Eliza left off, and Eliza isn’t certain what to think or do. With their arrival, we discover though suggestions and innuendo that Eliza’s expulsion from her homeland was related to an incident involving Kate.
I did not care for Douglas and felt he was up to something the whole time I read the book. I even wondered if he was directly involved in the abductions (spoiler-free here!). His garish behavior - especially in front of Wellington - along with his constant interfering with Eliza’s work infuriated me, but Eliza handles herself just like she should! Kuddos to the authors for creating a character that I love to hate!
In my note taking, I have flagged so many wonderful passages - most of which are dialogue between Eliza and Wellington. The pair work so well together, despite the circumstances and pressures. Secrets are unraveled and the pair learn to get past it all.
As Eliza and Wellington work behind-the-scenes (with help from the wonderful “Ministry Seven” - a group of vagabond children with many mischievous “skills”), we are interrupted from time-to-time with short “Interludes” which detail a much larger story arc. The nefarious and mysterious Maestro returns to the scene in his continued efforts to bring down the Ministry and its director, Doctor Sound, but what his plans are remains unknown. He has enlisted the help of Peter Lawson, Duke of Sussex, who in turn has an “inside” man in agent Bruce Campbell. Also continuing in her roll as master thief and trouble-maker is the lovely Sophia del Morte. The whole sequence of events gives much to the content of the story without detracting from the plot. I want to know so much more.... what is Doctor Sound up to?
If it seems like there is a lot going on, it’s because there truly is. However, the plot is fairly seamless and the story is so engrossing, that one hardly notices. There were a few times I felt lost, but it never was cause for a re-read.
Overall, The Janus Affair is an excellent story. Although I got a little lost in the words at times, the descriptive settings were exquisite (and for steampunk fans, the contraptions are wonderful!). The madcap schemes and intricate plots are on par with classic whodunit mysteries. The story has amazing humor, non-stop adventure and action, and yes... romance! The addition of the romance sweetened the story without cheapening it. Welly's smitten behavior and the introduction of Douglas added a new dimension to the fabulous series. I am still trying to figure out the overall story arc and look forward to finding out more... hopefully sooner than later.
My Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Sunday Snippets #57
Phoenix Rising: A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel
by Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris
Harper Voyager Publishing
April 26, 2011
For a few moments, only the low rumbling of the Ministry’s generators filled the space. Wellington read the Daily Mail headline several times and tried to remember to breathe. He felt the confession on the tip of his tongue, but he was too far invested into this forgotten case now. He would probably meet the same fate as Agent Braun, even if he withheld nothing from the Director about what he and Eliza had really been up to in their brief time together.As if in answer to Wellington’s prayer, Eliza asked, “Could it be the House of Usher, sir?”
“Well, Agent Braun, the black carriage with--”
Doctor Sound turned the newspaper back around and, after a moment, began reading. “--‘wheels of nefarious construction smiting down innocents as would the scythe of the Reaper’ does sound very House of Usher, but then I have to stop and consider the other particulars in this story.
“Note, if you will: ‘Eyewitnesses report that Mistress Death was locked in mortal combat with a hansom that kept chase, its drivers a man and a woman lacking modesty most proper.’ Now, here is a detail I find most curious: ‘The heroic hansom did carry a lone passenger, the man’s purpose unclear as all he seemed to be doing was screaming as would a banshee of the rolling moors of West Yorkshire.’ What do you make of that, Books?”
Wellington felt his tongue swell. He found himself totally paralyzed by the cool, steely gaze of the Director. His mouth went to open, his throat dry as if he had been walking through an Egyptian expanse.
“As I read about such outrageous behaviour from the subjects of Her Majesty,” Doctor Sound said, folding the newspaper and placing it where the seventh vase should have been, “I thank God in heaven that I am the director of a clandestine organisation where our specialty is our subtlety.”
He slowly turned to Eliza, his eyes narrowing on her. “Isn’t that correct, Agent Braun?”
Eliza nodded. “Most of the time, sir.”
“Yes,” he agreed. “Most of the time.” Sound’s eyes went back and forth between them both, and Wellington could feel a tightness in his chest.
“Well then, I shan’t keep you. I just thought I would pay my Archives a visit, and I am quite glad I did so.” He took in the shelves, the massive difference engine and its vast network of pulleys, and finally their shared desk, and he nodded approvingly. “I should do this more often. So please, if I ever do pop down ther when the mood strikes me, just go about your business. Pretend as if I am not here.” He lifted a figure up to his mustache and tugged at it a bit. “You can do that, can’t you?”
With a final look at the tow of them, Doctor Sound headed for the stairwell. “Agent Braun, Agent Books, good afternoon.”
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Review: Phoenix Rising: A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel
Phoenix Rising: A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel
Authors: Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris
Release Date: April 26, 2011
Publisher: Harper Voyager Publishing
Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences #1
ISBN: #978-0062049766
Genre: Steampunk
Format(s): paperback (416 pgs), e-book
I received a copy of this book from the NETGALLEY for the purposes of an honest review.From the author’s website:
These are dark days indeed in Victoria’s England. Londoners are vanishing then reappearing, washing up as corpses on the banks of the Thames drained of blood and bone. Yet the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences—the Crown’s top-secret organization whose bailiwick is the strange and unsettling—will not allow its agents to investigate. Fearless and exceedingly lovely Eliza Braun, however, with her bulletproof corset and a disturbing fondness for dynamite, refuses to let the matter rest…and she’s prepared to drag her timorous new partner, Wellington Books, along with her into the perilous fray.
For a malevolent brotherhood is operating in the deepening London shadows intent upon the enslavement of all Britons. And Books and Braun—he with his encyclopedic brain and she with her remarkable devices—must get to the twisted roots of a most nefarious plot…or see England fall to the Phoenix!
What I’m talking about:
Agent Eliza Braun is one of those secret agents that always gives 100 percent, lives for the thrill, and always uses a bit more dynamite than necessary. After completing a mission to save the Ministry’s Archivist, dashing Wellington Books, she is sent to work with Agent Books in the Archives. There she discovers countless abandoned and unsolved cases, including one that lead to the downfall of her previous partner. Soon Ms. Braun has dragged the prim-and-proper Agent Books into the middle of a far-reaching, diabolical plot against Her Majesty.
Phoenix Rising is a well-written amazing adventure. The plot unfolds at just the right pace, leaving me at the edge of my seat throughout much of the tale. The story is smart and the characters witty. The steampunk world created in this tale is reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes or the movie The Prestige. (For those still unfamiliar with “steampunk,” the authors have a wonderful post you can read HERE.)
Agents Eliza Braun and Wellington Books are the perfect duo. With her field experience, fighting capabilities and feisty attitude and his vast knowledge, keen interest in mechanisms and upper-crust breeding, they complement each other. They may not run like a well-oiled Mark I Mechamen (read the book!), but they always seem to make it out alive, taking the bad guys down as they exit. I throughly enjoyed watching the pair get over their fears and learn to trust each other to the point that they become true partners.
As for the rest of the cast and crew... we learn of two sets of “bad guys” that have ideas of bringing down the Queen: the House of Usher, the group responsible for kidnapping Agent Books, and the Phoenix Society, the primary focus of this story. The Phoenix Society is run by those types of bad guys you love to hate, including the “evil genius” to run the show. Toss in a beautiful assassin-for-hire and a somewhat bumbling traitor and you have the ideal mix of fiendish adversaries.
Ms. Ballantine and Mr. Morris have captured my imagination, heart and mind with their wickedly delightful tale. Phoenix Rising kicked off what I hope to be a long-lived series of adventures for Ms. Braun and Mr. Books. Although they may have closed the unsolved case they uncovered in the Archives, there are mysteries remaining and bigger bad guys waiting in the wings. I look forward to the next story from the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences.
My Rating:
Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)
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