Blog Tour: Mini-Review/Giveaway!! What Happens In Venice: Love Spirits & Lagoon Lure, by Diana Cachey

Lagoon Lure
(What Happens In Venice, #2)
Diana Cachey
Trade Paperback, 160 pages
CreateSpace
Mystery, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy

Tagline:

As Interpol expert Louisa Mangotti is learning, ghosts watch over Venice. Can she trust them—or her ex-lover—when spirits offer confusing clues to solve a double murder in this sexy paranormal mystery?

Book Description:

Lagoon Lure resumes the story of Interpol expert Louisa Mangotti’s Venetian exploits and the paranormal assisted murder investigation she began in Love Spirits.

Still unnerved by the notion that Venetian ghosts are real, Louisa delves further into the deaths of two glassmakers while juggling the lustful manipulations of her ex-lover, Matteo, whose role in the murders grows murkier.

Meanwhile Louisa's usually shy sister, Barbara, explores her newfound sexuality with Venice's willing men, sharing her adventures with her sister but keeping one particularly mysterious man a secret.

When Louisa's best friend, "Rouge," arrives for Carnival to sample its masked men, she complicates the situation further by encouraging the sisters to embrace the pleasures of Venice.

Paranormal clues and apparitions lead Louisa deeper into the lagoon and she is forced to reluctantly enlist Matteo’s support. Can she trust him, or will this ghostly lagoon lure prove deadly?

- See more at: http://www.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com/2014/10/sexy-ghosts-guest-blog-and-giveaway.html#sthash.2CTLFFK8.dpuf

Tagline: As Interpol expert Louisa Mangotti is learning, ghosts watch over Venice. Can she trust them—or her ex-lover—when spirits offer confusing clues to solve a double murder in this sexy paranormal mystery?

Book Description:  Lagoon Lure resumes the story of Interpol expert Louisa Mangotti’s Venetian exploits and the paranormal assisted murder investigation she began in Love Spirits.

Still unnerved by the notion that Venetian ghosts are real, Louisa delves further into the deaths of two glassmakers while juggling the lustful manipulations of her ex-lover, Matteo, whose role in the murders grows murkier.

Meanwhile Louisa's usually shy sister, Barbara, explores her newfound sexuality with Venice's willing men, sharing her adventures with her sister but keeping one particularly mysterious man a secret.

When Louisa's best friend, "Rouge," arrives for Carnival to sample its masked men, she complicates the situation further by encouraging the sisters to embrace the pleasures of Venice.

Paranormal clues and apparitions lead Louisa deeper into the lagoon and she is forced to reluctantly enlist Matteo’s support. Can she trust him, or will this ghostly lagoon lure prove deadly?
Coming soon from CreateSpace!

 

Love Spirits

(What Happens In Venice, #1)

Diana Cachey

Trade Paperback, 164 pages

CreateSpace

July 22, 2014

Mystery, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy

Tagline: Among the romantic canals of Venice—and oh so many Italian distractions—can a stunning American lawyer and her psychic sister help the Ghosts of Venice solve a hushed-up crime?

Book Description: Louisa Mangotti is a gorgeous American lawyer and Interpol expert who, after being offered a job working with the international crime unit in Venice, receives a mysterious postcard from the Venetian Ghosts, the ancient protectors of the Republic. But Louisa assumes her bad-boy ex, Matteo, sent it in a quixotic attempt to gain her attention.  Louisa may have dismissed the ghosts, but the ghosts aren’t quite done with her.

When the bodies of two glassmakers wash up on Murano Island, the cryptic messages persist. Reluctantly, Louisa calls upon Matteo to help decipher the clues. And before she knows it, a flame that was never fully extinguished is rekindled.  Sensing that her sister is in over her head, Barbara Mangotti rushes to the rescue, only to be lured away by two handsome Venetian men.  

With time running out, can the two beauties solve a crime that could threaten the city of Venice itself? 

Goodreads/CreateSpace/Amazon

Having read excerpts from both of these books, I can honestly say that they're exciting, well-written adventures in a very romantic setting -- Venice. This ancient  city, with its myriad canals and  mysterious, shadowed alleys, is also the perfect setting for international intrigue. Cachey also throws in a paranormal twist, which makes it even more fascinating!

The two sisters are interesting characters one  can immediately relate to, and Cachey effectively uses her background as a lawyer to give realism to the story. She has also done her research on this grand city, as is evident from her excellent descriptions of it! Of course, she must have visited, as well, since she describes details about the city with the familiarity of someone who has been there.

The splendor of Venice is as famous as its rather decadent atmosphere, and I like the fact that the sparks of an old romance are rekindled for Louisa, while her sister, Barbara, has apparently discovered a new man. With ghosts who are the guardians of the city (and send postcards a la Phantom of the Opera) to complicate matters, these novels should prove to be hard to put down!

The 2014 Jane Eyre Read-Along, Week 3: Chapters 6 - 10

Welcome to the third week of 

the 2014 Jane Eyre Read-Along,

brought to you by

A Night's Dream of Books

and

Babbling Books!!

Jane Eyre

(Illustrated Junior Library)
Charlotte Bronte

Hardcover, 576 pages

Grosset & Dunlap
October 14,1983

Classics, Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction,

Literary Fiction, Mystery, Romance

Amazon US/Barnes & Noble

Week 3  Discussion Questions:

Chapters 6 -10
(Questions provided by

Babbling Books)

****** 

NOTE

Participants need not answer

all six questions, but are free to

select three of them.

******

1.) What are your impressions of the way Helen Burns endures punishment and abuse?

I have very mixed feelings about this. For one thing, I think it's very sad that Helen takes such undeserved abuse without protesting, relying on her faith alone to sustain her through every incident. To me, it doesn't seem quite normal. Most children, I think, would rebel, as Jane does. Helen's resignation to the abuse seems very unusual for a child her age. But then, in the history of Christianity, there have been martyrs and saints who have taken her attitude. Such people, if very young, are like prodigies in other areas of human endeavor; they are wise beyond their years. Helen certainly is very mature for her age. It's a well-known fact that people with such gifts don't live very long. I do think of Helen as a saint.

On the other hand, I think that perhaps Bronte is criticizing such a long-suffering attitude, which has been lauded by Christian leaders throughout the centuries. She might very well be stating, through the character of Helen, that this type of attitude is too masochistic to do real credit to Christianity, since it perpetuates abuse, instead of addressing it directly. 

2.) What are your impressions of the way that Jane sees punishment and abuse in comparison to Helen?

Jane's attitude toward these things seems more normal and realistic to me, especially for a child. In her short life, she has never done anything to deserve  the way she's been treated by Mrs. Reed and her son, John. So she is perfectly justified in feeling anger at the injustice, and consequently, the impulse to rebellion.

What I like and admire about Jane is that she refuses to be cowed by the horrible people in her life. She might not be able to defend herself effectively, since she's a child, but inside, she is able to hold on to her real self.

3.) Would Mr. Brocklehurst have been a more realistic and interesting character had he been less overtly fanatical, cruel and hypocritical, and just deeply flawed, instead?

This is a very interesting question! Perhaps he would indeed have been more interesting, had he not been such an obvious villain. I hate this character so much, though, I would not have wanted to feel any sympathy toward him, or any inclination to justify or excuse his cruel, despotic behavior, balancing it with any virtues he might have possessed.

Although Bronte could be criticized for creating such a patently cardboard character, I believe that she did so to forcefully bring the public's attention to the very real abuses that were being perpetrated by the religious establishment, and the society in general, of her time. Brocklehurst's hypocrisy is based entirely on the class prejudice then prevalent. The upper classes could do the most despicable things, and get away with such behavior. They viewed the lower classes with contempt, attributing all kinds of vices to them, while blind to their own. The religious institutions of the time actually pandered to the unjust, immoral activities of the rich.

There's an excellent PDF essay that covers this topic (although I do not agree with the writer's view of Helen Burns's situation).  It's titled Jane Eyre: A Rejection of Class Prejudice.    

4.) Helen Burns exudes confidence and is sure of her personal beliefs. Do you find it realistic that a young person exhibits such traits?

Well, sadly, I would say that Helen only has confidence in the value and efficacy of her own faith. She herself does not possess any confidence, outside of that. In fact, I would say that she's totally lacking in self-esteem, for she tells Jane that she (Helen) does have certain "faults". She meekly accepts correction for these so-called faults, which, when compared to the nobleness of her spirit, her kindness and compassion, her great intelligence, amount to nothing at all. Her teacher, Miss Scatcherd, being of a petty, mean-spirited nature, was, I believe, actually jealous of Helen's virtues. Such people, when confronted by the truly great in spirit, will do everything in their power to bring them down, to belittle and humiliate them.

Although Helen's views are indeed unusual for such a young person, I feel that she is either a saint, and/or Bronte was using her character as a counterpoint to Brocklehurst, much as she did with Miss Temple. Still, it's very obvious that Helen, like Jane, is a very special child. 

5.) Miss Temple seems to influence Jane's personality and outlook on life during her stay at Lowood. Would Jane have developed differently without her influence?

I definitely think so! Without Miss Temple's influence, it seems very clear that Jane would have grown up to be a very bitter young woman. Also, her passionate nature needed to be channeled properly, and I'm sure that Miss Temple had a very calming effect on her. Besides, through her teacher, Jane saw that not every Christian was a hypocrite. Thus, Miss Temple was certainly an antidote to the poison injected into Jane's soul by Brocklehurst.

6.) Jane's time at Lowood is marked in the narrative by the seasons and the description of weather. Does this have any significance?

Absolutely! The weather and seasons play a major role throughout the novel.

When Jane sets off for Lowood, it's a bitterly cold winter morning. This mirrors Mrs. Reed's coldness toward Jane; she doesn't even bother to get up early to see the child off. 

Jane's journey to the school begins at the crack of dawn; this marks the beginning of a new life for her.

The rain and the cold at Lowood are indicative of the deplorable conditions being endured by the orphans. It is also a fact, stated in the novel, that Lowood is located in a very unhealthy, damp, region of the country, "a forest-dell", which brings typhus into the school. It's ironic that this takes place as spring is beginning to arrive in the area. Jane points out this irony when she contrasts the gloomy halls of the school, smelling like a hospital, with the beautiful, flowering gardens and hills surrounding Lowood. 

Discussion Questions for 

Next Week: Chapters 11 - 14

(Questions Provided by

A Night's Dream of Books)

1.) Jane meets her pupil, Adele Varens, in Chapter 11, and we learn more about her in subsequent chapters. How is this little girl contrasted with Jane herself, when she was a child?

2.)  How does Bronte set the general atmosphere surrounding Jane's  awkward meeting with Mr. Rochester, in the country lane, which takes place in Chapter 12? 

3.) Jane states that she would not have offered her help to the fallen rider, had he been conventionally handsome. What does this tell the reader about Jane?

4.) What further information about Jane's personality, and her philosophy of life, do her paintings convey?

5.) What do you think is the real purpose of Mr. Rochester's interview of Jane? Or do you think it's the typical interview an employer would conduct, when hiring a new domestic employee?

6.) Do you see any hints of foreshadowing in Chapter 14? Please explain. 

Post & Reading Schedule

Announcement/Signup Post

Sept. 9th

A Night's Dream of Books

Babbling Books

Week 1: Sept. 22nd

Reading: Chapters 1 - 5

Thoughts on Reading Jane Eyre 

Discussion Questions for Next Week:

A Night's Dream of Books

Week 2: Sept. 29th

Reading: Chapters 6 -10

Discussion Questions: Chapters 1 - 5

Discussion Questions for Next Week:

Babbling Books

Week 3: Oct. 6th

Reading: Chapters 11 - 14

Discussion Questions: Chapters 6 - 10

Discussion Questions for Next Week:

A Night's Dream of Books

Week 4: Oct. 13th

Reading: Chapters 15 - 19

Discussion Questions: Chapters 11 - 14

Discussion Questions for Next Week:

Babbling Books

Week 5: Oct. 20th

Reading: Chapters 20 - 23

Discussion Questions: Chapters 15 - 19

Discussion Questions for Next Week:

A Night's Dream of Books

Week 6: Oct. 27th

Reading: Chapters 24 - 28

Discussion Questions: Chapters 20 - 23

Discussion Questions for Next Week:

Babbling Books

Week 7: Nov. 3rd

Reading: Chapters 29 - 33

Discussion Questions: Chapters 24 - 28

Discussion Question for Next Week:

A Night's Dream of Books

Week 8: Nov. 10th

Reading: Chapters 34 - 38

Discussion Questions: Chapters 29 - 33

Discussion Questions for Next Week:

Babbling Books

Week 9: Nov. 17th

Discussion Questions, Chapters 34 - 38

Week 9: Nov. 21st

Book Reviews Posted

Be sure to link up for 
today's post in the

Linky Widget below!

Shelf Candy Saturday #131: The Curse Defiers by Denise Grover Swank

Welcome to Shelf Candy Saturday!!

This is my weekly feature

showcasing beautiful book covers!

It also provides information,

if available, on their very talented creators!

For more information

about Shelf Candy Saturday,

just click HERE.

Here's my choice for this week!

 The Curse Defiers

(Curse Keepers Series, #3)

Denise Grover Swank

Paperback, 382 pages

47North

September 30, 2014

Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy

Young Adult Fiction

AmazonUS/Amazon UK

Amazon CA

Barnes & Noble

The Book Depository

Why do I love this cover?

The color blue will always call out to me, so I can't help but love this cover! Actually, the color here is really aqua, which is a variation of blue. Aside from the color, though, it's the unusual elements in the design that make this cover so beautiful.

The main image is a standard one of a young woman looking out at the viewer. Her gaze is a very direct one, too. It's the burst of light behind her, as well as the strange splotches to her right (the viewer's left) that intrigue me, and make me pause to stare. Equally compelling is the mysterious landscape behind her.

Last but not least, the transparent band of darker aqua across the middle of the cover, within which the title is nestled, adds to the visual appeal. Somehow, it makes the cover really stand out!

The font used for the title is equally appealing; it's classically Roman, but has been altered to give it a somewhat medieval look. I like that the letter "t" in the title looks like a cross, and that the letter "u" in the word "curse" has also been altered to look slightly menacing. This is very much in keeping with the title.

The brilliant designer of this cover is Larry Rostant, whose work I have previously featured on "Shelf Candy Saturday". When  I looked up the artist in the Amazon reader, I was pleasantly surprised to see his name. Obviously, his work has an aesthetic quality that really connects with me!

Rostant is a photo illustrator who has beautifully decorated many book covers with his amazing work.

Based in the U.K., he is a photographer who uses digital techniques along with photos to create his unique images.

Online Links 

Website

Science Fiction Encyclopedia

 Facebook

Twitter 

Artist Partners: Portfolio

Fantasy Faction Interview

   

  

What do you think of 

this week's choice?

Please leave a comment 

and let me know!

The Book Lover's Den #6: Fahrenheit 451 and Censorship

Welcome to my Friday feature!

In each weekly post, I explore 

my thoughts on several 

book-related topics.

This masterpiece of dystopian science fiction, first published in 1953, is the quintessential novel written on the subject of censorship. Bradbury is a master of prose that vividly brings to life the stories he tells, and his characters always remain with the reader. In this brilliant novel, he accurately depicts the deadening effects of total censorship. His fictional society has completely banned books -- ALL books. It is the written word itself, in whatever form it might take, that is considered dangerous, because masterful writing is evocative, because it arouses feelings and instills beliefs that breed discontent, intelligent inquiry, and ultimately, perhaps revolutions. Furthermore, the authorities in this society consider it evil for people to be offended. When people are offended, their reasoning goes, discontent can also breed societal upheaval.

Instead of reading books, people endlessly watch inane, mindless programming, which is broadcast right into their living room walls.  

The plot of this novel centers around a fireman (ironically, firemen in this novel burn any books they might find, instead of saving lives) who eventually rebels against the strictures of this bland, authoritarian society.  

In light of all this, I was really surprised to find out, during Banned Books Week, that Fahrenheit 451 has been challenged several times since its original publication. 

The first of these incidents took place when Bradbury's publisher, Ballantine Books, released an expurgated version, in 1967, which was aimed at high school students. The novel was significantly altered for this edition, known as the "Bal-Hi edition".  Incredibly, this did not come to Bradbury's attention until 1979, when he demanded that Ballantine remove this edition from circulation, and bring back the original. Ballantine did so in 1980.

There were other incidents, all involving schools and libraries; the first of these was in 1987, in Panama City, Florida, another in 1992, in Irvine, California, and yet another in 2006, in Montgomery County, Texas. 

All of these incidents involved complaints that this novel contains  vulgarities, as well as biased portrayals of Christians, and depicts a scene in which a Bible is burned.

I have read this novel myself, and can attest to its power  and high intellectual/emotional impact.  Bradbury clearly demonstrated the effects of total, tyrannical censorship, and they were truly scary. Living in the society depicted in the novel rendered people apathetic, intellectually inferior, without the spark of passion for ideas, for the acquisition of knowledge. 

Fahrenheit 451 has won the following awards: the Prometheus Hall of Fame Award, in 1984, and the Retro Hugo Award for Best Novel, 2004. In 2007, Bradbury also received a Special Citation at the Pulitzer Prize ceremonies for "....his distinguished, prolific, and deeply influential career as an unmatched author of science fiction and fantasy."

I have gone back and done some skimming of this novel, and yes, I see the vulgarities now.....but, for me, these do not take away from the power of this book. As for biased portrayals of Christians, I would have to do a more thorough search of the book to find them, or just re-read the book. Quite frankly, I really don't recall anything in that regard. However, since I was highly impressed with this book during my first reading of it, I don't think such portrayals affected me much, or I would certainly have mentioned them in my review, which I posted on this blog in 2010. 

I find it truly ironic that a novel having the theme of censorship -- although it does deal with other themes -- should have itself been subject to censorship. Bradbury had a lifelong passion for books, and, in fact, educated himself by going to libraries in his twenties, as he could not afford a college education. His passion shows throughout this novel in many ways. Therefore, I believe that focusing on the book's use of such words as "damn" and others (I do not, however, recall the word I simply cannot stand -- "the F bomb" --) is to miss the overall picture. Bradbury actually, uses such words to drive home his point that books are indeed important, that without access to them, a society simply stagnates.

Here are some quotes from the novel:

"Somewhere the saving and putting away had to begin again and someone had to do the saving and the keeping, one way or another, in books, in records, in people's heads, any way at all so long as it was safe, free from moths, silverfish, rust and dry-rot, and men with matches."

"The magic is only in what books say, how they stitched the patches of the universe together into one garment for us."

"I am Plato's Republic. Mr. Simmons is Marcus. I want you to meet Jonathan Swift, the author of that evil political book, Gulliver's Travels! And this other fellow is Charles Darwin, and this one is Schopenhauer, and this one is Einstein, and this one here at my elbow is Mr. Albert Schweitzer, a very kind philosopher indeed. Here we all are, Montag, Aristophanes and Mahatma Ghandi and Gautama Buddha and Confucius and Thomas Love Peacock and Thomas Jefferson and Mr. Lincoln, if you please. We are also Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John."

This last quote is a very poignant, powerful one. Since books had been declared illegal, and were burned if found in someone's possession, certain members of the underground movement had memorized entire books, so as to pass them on to future generations!

In short, while Fahrenheit 451 does contain some profanity, it also makes a brilliant philosophical statement about the value of books, and the evils of total censorship. This novel should never have been challenged. Instead, perhaps it should be reserved for older, more mature readers, who will be able to appreciate its urgent message, overlooking any negative aspects of it in the process.

In appreciating the quality and messages of serious literature such as Fahrenheit 451, a reader needs to weigh in the balance elements s/he might consider objectionable, with the author's intent in writing his/her work. In this case, I find that the overall merits of this novel far outweigh the criticisms leveled against it. 

For my review of Fahrenheit 451, please click HERE.

For Further Information 

 Fahrenheit 451:Wikipedia

SparkNotes: Fahrenheit 451  

Ray Bradbury: Wikipedia 

Ray Bradbury: Special Pulitzer Prize Citation

Ray Bradbury: L.A. Weekly News

 

What do you think of my views?

Please leave me a comment

and let me know!

   

Something Wicked Strikes Halloween Giveaway Hop!!

Welcome to this stop in 

the Something Wicked Strikes

Halloween Giveaway Hop!!

This awesome blog hop is 

brought to you

by four blogs, no less:

Rainy Day Ramblings,

Candace's Book Blog,

The Nocturnal Library, and

My Guilty Obsession!!

It's that time of year again, 

when spooks and goblins

walk the night, along with vamps, witches, 

and werewolves.....

But wait!  My kind of Halloween

creatures are more on the order of

those that make you laugh, 

or at least, snicker a little as you turn pages.
They're also romantic ones!

So here's my AWESOME, non-scary,

non-gory selection of prizes
you can choose from!!
The Book Depository will deliver!!

Check to see if TBD

delivers to your country by 

clicking HERE! 

You could win one of these, and 
then get ready to laugh, and be 

swept away by a romantic

paranormal being!!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway



GOOD LUCK, EVERYONE,
AND......
HAPPY 
HALLOWEEEEEEENNN!!!!