A Night's Dream of Books

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Waiting On Wednesday #93: Ruin and Rising, by Leigh Bardugo

This is a weekly event hosted by

Jill @ Breaking the Spine!!

It showcases future releases which

we book bloggers

are eagerly anticipating!!

Here's my choice for this week!

Ruin and Rising

(The Grisha Trilogy, #3)

Leigh Bardugo

Henry Holt & Co.

Hardcover, 432 pages

June 17, 2014

Fantasy, Paranormal Romance,

Young Adult Fiction

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14061957-ruin-and-rising?ac=1

http://www.amazon.com/Ruin-Rising-Grisha-Trilogy-Shadow/dp/080509461X/ref=sr_1_1_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1392785080&sr=1-1&keywords=ruin+and+rising+leigh+bardugo

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ruin-and-rising-leigh-bardugo/1116970676?ean=9780805094619

http://www.bookdepository.com/Ruin-Rising-Leigh-Bardugo/9780805094619

Book Synopsis

The capital has fallen. The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.

Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.

Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.

Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for.

Why am I waiting on this book?

Well, the very first thing is that cover!!

I think this is my very favorite one, out

of the three I've seen thus far.

Also, I really enjoyed the first book

in this series, Shadow and Bone,

and own the second, Siege and Storm,

which I hope to read soon!

The world of this novel is a totally

fascinating one for me!

It's based on the culture of old Russia,

in the later years of the 19th-century -- a

world that is extremely appealing

to me, the world of Tolstoy

and Dostoyevsky, Tchaikovsky,

and the doomed Romanov family,

around whom flitted the sinister Rasputin....

This fantasy series is unique because

the author used a very different

setting for her story, instead

of the usual medieval one, somewhere

in England or Ireland.

And I love the characters!

I can't wait to see how Bardugo ends

this totally enthralling tale!

What do you think of my choice?

What fascinating book(s)

are you waiting on this week?

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Romance Is In The Air Giveaway Hop Winner!!

This is the winner of the

Romance Is In The Air
Giveaway Hop,
hosted by

I Am A Reader, Not A Writer,

and Rachael Anderson!!

Julia Dawn!!

CONGRATS, JULIA!!!!!

She has already claimed her prize,

which is the following book!

(Click on the cover to access the

Goodreads page.)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17322949-eleanor-park

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I'd like to thank everyone
who participated in

this fabulous giveaway!

Please stay tuned for the

Leap Into Books Giveaway Hop,

also hosted by

I Am A Reader, Not A Writer,

which is coming up

very soon!!

Monday, February 17, 2014

Blog Tour: Guest Post! Remember Me, by Kenya Carlton

Welcome to this stop in the tour for

Remember This, sponsored by

Bewitching Book Tours!!

And a big "thank you" to Kenya

Carlton for her guest post!!

About the Book

Remember This
Kenya Carlton
Trade Paperback, 162 pages
Parker Publishing, Inc,
June 23, 2013
Contemporary Romance

Book Synopsis: Ex-ballerina turned rehab designer Cece Newman competes in a reality show that could give her fledgling company the boost that it needs. Assigned a relic of a house in a renovation challenge, Cece soon becomes suspicious of the producer’s intentions. When she finds the house is one of many properties her ex-fiancé and baby daddy Brock Thorn owns, Cece is convinced that she is being set up for failure. Ready to drop the project and what’s left of her career, Cece has to find a way to ignore the handsome athlete while she navigates around his kooky family. Cece must also convince their daughter that mommy and daddy won’t be getting back together again, a job easier said than done—especially when the attraction between the two is hotter than ever.

The biggest hit Brock Thorn took on or off the field occurred when Cece Newman left him at the altar. Five years later, Brock is more determined than ever to get answers from his baby’s momma. Even in regards to joint custody of their daughter, Brock’s only form of contact with Cece is through her loving, protective sister Lily. Brock packs up his high profile life and digs his heels in at the crappy house he’s inherited—the very one Cece is set to renovate. As he dodges cameras and uninvited family members, Brock must get to the bottom of his failed romance with Cece—especially if he has any chance of getting back the life that was lost when Cece left.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18246581-remember-this?ac=1

Print Edition

Amazon US/Amazon UK

Kindle Edition

Amazon US/Amazon UK

Guest Post: "Straight Romance"

Kenya Carlton

Straight romance is typically not my thing. I usually write ghost stories or paranormals, something off-beat, but Remember This is my first cozy romance. Brock Thorn is an ex-football player for the Ravens. Unlike many of his counter partners, he made a fortune with his own company as a financial investor. Brock has a golden life with only one problem; his baby’s momma left him at the altar five years previously without a peep. Odd circumstances bring him face to face with his long-lost love at a busted farm house.

Cece Newman was top in her field as a Prima Ballerina until she got pregnant with her ex-fiancé's child. Thrown into a world of construction and dirty men, Cece’s life changed drastically as she began refurbishing old houses. Entered into a tacky reality show against her will, Cece is brought face to face with her past in the form of Brock Thorn.

Something happened before the wedding night that Brock doesn’t remember, and Cece won’t talk about it. Left with a lot of unresolved issues, this couple must co-parent together and navigate the terrain of a different kind of relationship.

I love these two characters. They have such great chemistry, and I’m not just saying that because I wrote them. Out of all of my romance characters, this couple was meant to be together. But first they have to tackle a few issues, such as arrogance and pride. Other than that, Cece and Brock are sublime. Straight romance is hard for me; I really want people to run, jump, or shoot at things. If a ghost is involved, it’s even better, but raw emotion that doesn’t lean toward sappy or syrupy is a challenge. It’s easy to rely on the crutch of romance cliches. Hopefully I struck the right note with these two and their bad baby, Phoebe. Enjoy!

Kenya Carlton

About the Author

A native of Chicago, Illinois, Kenya worked in the Network Operation Center for PBS and TLN television stations. As Executive Producer of her own production company, Black R.O.K. Productions, Kenya produced a pilot for a travel series, "Destination Everywhere", an independent short film, "Dawn", shown at the Chicago Latino Film Festival, and wrote and directed the documentary "Our Africa". Writing titles available: Jaded, Sweet as Sin, Brazil (re-issue), Devil's Play, and Remember This.

Online Links

Website

Blog

For the complete tour schedule

of all participating blogs,

just click on the banner below!

http://bewitchingbooktours.blogspot.com/2014/01/now-on-tour-remember-this-by-kenya.html

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Shelf Candy Saturday #103: Heaven Sent, by E. Van Lowe

Welcome to Shelf Candy Saturday!!

This is my weekly feature

showcasing beautiful book covers,

and provides information,

if available, on their very talented creators!

For more information

about Shelf Candy Saturday,

just click HERE.

This week, I'm showcasing

two slightly different covers for

the same book!

The above is the new, just released cover!

Heaven Sent

(Falling Angels Saga, #3)

E. Van Lowe

Trade Paperback, 212 pages

White Whisker Books

First Edition

February 20, 2013

Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy,

Young Adult Fiction

Why do I love these covers?

The basic reason is, of course, all the blue! That blue background is so very beautiful!! It's more intense in the second cover, which is the original one. The new cover has toned down the blue just a little bit, but it's still beautiful enough for me to love it!

Although I do have a slight preference for the blue background in the original cover, the new one is much better because of the new font used for the title. The letters are classically Roman in style, but the flourishes added to the word "sent" -- especially the letter "s" -- make the title look absolutely gorgeous! The word "sent" is also edged in blue, which not only emphasizes it, but adds to its visual appeal.

The couple looks great on both covers. They both stare out at the viewer, presenting a united front. The way they're posed is just perfect, as well. They seem to be sitting on a motorcycle; in fact, another motorcycle is visible in the background; it's more noticeable on the second cover. In fact, more details are visible on the new cover -- again, because the lighting is slightly different.

The young male model is especially attractive! Such a penetrating gaze.... The slightly brighter new cover has made his features more visible as well, and this is a definite plus!

Another obvious improvement presented by the new cover is the much greater prominence given to the author's name. I'm sure Van Lowe must be very pleased with that!

I like that the young girl seems to be reaching for what appears to be a rose, which is placed right next to the young man's wrist. The rose is nicely contrasted with the very prominent spikes on the wristband he's wearing.

The very talented designer of these superb covers is Jayde Pedler, also known as Adara Rosalie and jayderosalie. The images are from shutterstock.com, and the artist has digitally manipulated them.

Jayde is a self-taught, young Australian artist whose work is much in demand for book and CD covers. She has just produced the cover for the fourth and final book in the Falling Angels Saga, titled Falling. If you missed my recent post about this cover, you can check it out HERE.