Saturday, March 22, 2014

Shelf Candy Saturday #110: The Dancers at the End of Time, by Michael Moorcock




Welcome to Shelf Candy Saturday!!


This weekly feature
showcases beautiful book covers,
and 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 Dancers at the End of Time
(The Eternal Champion, #10)
Hardcover, 534 pages
White Wolf Publishing
May 1,1998
Romance, Satire, Science Fiction, 
Steampunk


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/801235.The_Dancers_at_the_End_of_Time




Why do I love this cover?


This is an exquisitely detailed cover!  It looks as if the two people are on a very ornate stage setting, either performing a Shakespeare play in 19th-century dress, or perhaps a Verdi aria.  It was the balcony that reminded me of Shakespeare (Romeo and Juliet, of course).  It certainly looks as if the man is shyly declaring his love for the woman, who seems to have been interrupted in her reading, and is pensively listening to his declaration.

The drawing and colors are exquisite, as well.  I especially love the intricate folds of the woman's gorgeous dress, and the soft pink tones of most of the cover.  

The balcony is absolutely beautiful also, as well as meticulously detailed.  It looks very much like something  from the 19th-century.  Indeed, the plot of this novel has much to do with the last years of that time period, evoking such people as Oscar Wilde and Aubrey Beardsley.

The dreamy-looking landscape in the background is a perfect complement to the rest of the cover.  

The font used for the title is absolutely beautiful and graceful, and has a definitely medieval look to it.

In short, this is the type of cover that makes me want to read a book right this very minute!  I wish I knew who the very talented artist was, but again, I have not been able to get any information about that person.  The Amazon reader was no help at all this time!




What do you think of my 
choice this week?
Please leave me a comment 
and let me know! 


 


Friday, March 21, 2014

Blog Tour: Spotlight/Giveaway!! At Death It Begins & In Death's Touch, by Elle Jefferson




Welcome to this stop in the tour for 
At Death It Begins &  
In Death's Touch, sponsored by 
Bewitching Book Tours!!



About the First Book


At Death It Begins
(ADIB #1)
Elle Jefferson
Trade Paperback, 366 pages
CreateSpace
April 17, 2013
Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy


Book Synopsis:   Lendyn Hughes' grandmother has kept a secret for thirty-one years: who Lendyn's parents are. A devastating break-up following her grandmother's death leaves Lendyn alone, confused and determined to find answers. Armed with only a name, Lendyn attempts to unfurl the branches of her family tree, never guessing it would put her life in danger.

For over two hundred years Englishman Callum Scott lived a life surrounded by beauty. A life free from all those annoying human emotions. That is until the American showed up. Lendyn flipped his world upside down and put him in the worst sort of jeopardy. He's starting to feel things and a murderer can't afford to feel.



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18652095-at-death-it-begins?ac=1






Chapter 1: Short Excerpt


            My hand fumbled through the darkness, reaching for Devin.  I needed to feel him, know he was there.  Something troubled me, but I couldn't put a finger on what.
A morsel of his flesh beneath my fingers would pacify me. Assure me he was still there. I reached further until my fingers collided with the soft, peach under-flesh of his forearm. I ran a hand across his solid form pausing for a moment to trace a figure eight on the mound of muscle encompassing his shoulder. He had a body fit to be relished even in the troubling hours lack of sleep brought.
He purred for a moment before stretching an arm and rolling over to his stomach stifling his rhythmic snoring. I tucked the sheets over him and kissed his golden hair. It was a perfect evening; work failed to interrupt our plans, which was a rarity. We went for a moonlit walk along Paradise Cove, an exclusive beach you had to be a member of to stroll along. This meant no paparazzi to hassle us. 
They were one of many drawbacks to dating a celebrity, but as I admired the contours of his body, there were benefits too. Though maybe tonight had been too perfect. That was silly thinking. We didn’t spend enough time alone for anything to be too perfect.
An eerie flash of red in my peripheral vision caught my attention. I sat up, noticing for the first time the clock on the nightstand was flashing 11:41 over and over. One of the problems to living in an old hotel like the Beltmore … things tended to fizzle out all the time. Last month it was the air conditioning, before that, the hot water. Maybe Devin was right, and it was time to move out of this hotel and into an apartment. I shrugged; I’d debate that tomorrow.
I patted the nightstand for my cell; it wasn’t there. Then I remembered I had dropped it on the dresser earlier this evening, when Devin had pinned me there to deliver one of his toe curling kisses. Trying to keep quiet while navigating the dark became impossible when I stubbed my toe on one of Devin’s Sketchers and tripped headfirst into the dresser. My hand flew to my mouth muffling a scream that rushed to my lips. Devin stirred but didn’t wake.
Phew. The last thing I needed was to wake him. He was a bit of a grump and once he was awake, he’d have to leave. Work always came first.
Along the dresser, I felt the smooth outline of my phone. When the screen lit up the time was only 2:08 a.m., still early and plenty of time to crawl back into bed and snuggle up next to Devin. Halfway back to bed and my phone started vibrating. There were fourteen missed calls and one voicemail, all of which, came from one number—Emma. Now, I was a bit worried. It’d been a while since the last time I’d spoken with my best friend Emma. 
             Emma had this philosophy about calling once and not calling again until you called her back, hence my worry.
I dialed my voicemail, “Wednesday, 12:15 a.m—Lend, it's Em. Call me as soon as you—BEEP.” Em was calling on the other line. Why was I so nervous to answer it?
          “Em what’s going on—” I swallowed, “—is everything okay?”
           Emma didn’t even get my name out before she broke into sobs. Maybe she and “Mister Perfect” had brokne up again.
          “Hello,” I said a little louder, “you still there?” All I could hear was sniffling; maybe she accidentally pocket dialed me. I debated hanging up and calling her back when a familiar English accent came on the line—Mister Perfect. “Lendyn, it’s Zach … I’m afraid I have bad news … there was an accident involving Gigi,” he paused to take a breath as I held mine, “I’m afraid she didn’t make it.”
          The room began to spin, and gravity pulled at me. Was I dreaming? This had to be a dream.
          Zach’s voice continued, but I didn’t hear anything except a loud buzzing as my legs gave out, and I collapsed to the floor.








About the Second Book


In Death's Touch
(ADIB #2)
Elle Jefferson
Trade Paperback, 380 pages
CreateSpace
February 14, 2014
Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy


Book Synopsis:  Lendyn Hughes had everything she wanted. A family that welcomed her with open arms and a man who loved her as-is. So what if they were all vampires, love picked you, not the other way around. Besides, she was half vampire herself.

One brief encounter. One wrong decision took it all away.

Now Lendyn is trying to remember what in the world she’s exactly doing in London, why she’s back with her ex, where she got the bruises covering her ribs from, and who the taunting voice in her head is.

I’m sorry. Two words Callum never hated more. They were the two words he’d found on the Dear John note in Lendyn’s room. With one breath she declared her love and in the next breath she left him. Now his future looks bleak without Lendyn to color the way.



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20868889-in-death-s-touch


Amazon US/Amazon CA
Amazon UK
Barnes & Noble




About the Author

Elle Jefferson lives up in northern Arizona with her two beautiful sons, wonderful husband, and her German Shepherd, Dorrie.  When she's not reading or writing, she's painting or enjoying the great outdoors.

She is currently working on her follow-up to At Death It Begins -- In Death's Shadow -- and hopes to have it released in early December.




Online Links
Blog 
Facebook 
Amazon Author Page
Goodreads Author Page 
Twitter





Bewitching Book Tours
is holding a giveaway with some 
really AWESOME prizes,
so don't forget to enter below!! 







For the complete schedule of 
participating blogs,
just click on this tour banner!

http://bewitchingbooktours.blogspot.com/2014/02/now-on-tour-at-death-it-begins-and-in.html
  

 

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Waiting On Wednesday #97: Now and For Never, by Lesley Livingston




This is a weekly event hosted by
It showcases future releases which
we book bloggers
are eagerly anticipating!!




Here's my choice for this week!



 Now and For Never 
(Never #3)
Trade Paperback, 312 pages
Razorbill Canada
May 22, 2014
Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, 
Science Fiction, Young Adult Fiction


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18519159-now-and-for-never?ac=1




Book Synopsis

Past and present collide on the high seas when Clare and Allie hurtle back in time once more in a perilous attempt to retrieve Marcus Donatus—Allie’s blast-from-the-past crush—and put an end, once and for all, to the Time Monkey Shenanigans. But when Clare and Allie unexpectedly find themselves temporal stowaways on a Roman warship full of looted Celtic gold, sailing straight for the heart of a magic-fuelled maelstrom, there’s not much they can do but hang on for the ride—and hope Milo can tap into the Druid lore trapped in his genius brain to help bring them home, before it’s too late. The only thing that’s going to save Clarinet Reid and Allie McAllister now is if they join forces with old enemies, new loves … and unexpected friends.




Why am I waiting on this book?

I have discovered yet another great 
series I want to read!!
I just love this synopsis!!
Magic and time travel and romance, 
and adventure and.....oh, my!
Yes, all these things are very definitely
my cup of tea, and I know I'll fall
right into these books 
without missing a beat, as well as
without missing reality at all.
Besides, these covers are beyond...
GORGEOUS.
'Nuff said!!  



Previous Volumes In The Series



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7656228-once-every-never







https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15841818-every-never-after







What do you think of my
choice this week?
What wonderful, fantastical,
book(s) are you waiting
on this Wednesday?






Monday, March 17, 2014

Blog Tour: Guest Post/Giveaway!! Loving Nate, by Janice Ross


http://fabulosityreadsbookpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/03/tours-stop-schedule-loving-nate-by.html


Welcome to this stop in the tour for
Loving Nate, sponsored by 
Fabulosity Reads Book Tours!!

Please click the button above
for the entire tour schedule!



Loving Nate
Janice G. Ross
Trade Paperback, 158 pages
Cultural Cocktails
February 17, 2014
Contemporary Romance





Loving Nate is Leah's story of falling in love with Mr. Perfect. Leah falls fast and hard, losing all sense of reasoning. Love can do that to a gal, especially when the guy is as smooth as Nathan Moore. Loving Nate is about Leah's journey of falling in love, when she should have been standing in love.



I’ve decided to provide two very different endings to this novella. Have you ever made a decision and wondered whether or not it was the right choice? Or perhaps you made the right choice because you knew that the alternative would’ve been disastrous? This is my gift to readers. Regardless of Leah’s final choice, I wanted readers to be able to reflect on the possibilities.




Nate pulls up in front of the building in a light-gray Infiniti QX56. Noticing that he’s too eager to play escort, I extend my palm to stop him and attempt to rush into the vehicle. I’m moving forward, while my head is turned backward, making sure to keep tabs on everyone coming out of the lobby.

As I step up and go to rest down, my leg misses. Had I been paying attention, I would’ve recognized the difference between inside and outside. Since I wasn’t, I end up hanging onto the door, practically straddling the ground. I don’t want to get up; my only desire is to shrivel up and disappear into thin air. Obviously, that will never happen. No sooner do I end up in this embarrassing disposition, I’m recovered by a saint and delivered onto the passenger seat. I sit completely still, clutching my purse against my gut. I think he feels bad for me because he takes hold of the seatbelt and guides the path under my arms, securing me for the trip.

“Are you okay?”

I shake my head. How do I recover from being a complete imbecile?

“Why are you so jumpy, Leah?” Nate asks once he’s behind the wheel.

“Because I’m heading out with my boss’s boss. How do you think that looks? And on my very first day too . . .”


Guest Post:
Oh, For The Love Of Words

What is this desire that many have with books?  Whether we choose to read in a traditional state by way of tangible books, or by way of an electronic device, the abilities of mere phrases to transform is astonishing.  Can anyone think back to the first time they fell in love with a book?  My first enticement was in reading Wuthering Heights at about eight years old.  Sure, I'd read more age-appropriate titles before that time, but there was just something about the language that seduced my young mind.  And then, I moved from Emily Bronte to Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre.  With either book in hand, a dictionary in the next, and notepad (with pen) on my bed, I became bedazzled by great writing.  I would sniff each book, inhaling the musky aroma, because they held a promise of life -- a life that I could claim whenever I read.  Talk about imagination!  I would consider each unfamiliar term, look it up in the dictionary, write it out, and use it in a sentence to make certain I understood its meaning.  I was desperate for stories, and felt my life too simple.  And would you know, any life at all would do.  I tried not to limit my reading because you never really know what treasure you might find within the pages of a book.  And so I read the wonderful Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, and a book that I am not sure of how I ever got hold, Dianetics.  All that mattered to me was that I was reading.  Oh, for the love of words!

I've grown since then and continue to enjoy words, book-learning, and even my own writing.  I still know to appreciate great reading and remarkable words.  But these days, I read on my tablet.  It has a built-in dictionary.   I'm able to highlight and comment on my thoughts.  Boy, do I take full advantage of those features.  This enables me to daydream and hold m spot at the same time.  You see, each book offers a life of its own.  And for those writers that gift us with work that serves up the deepest, most intimate thoughts of their characters, I thank you for feeding my needs.  Thank you, Paulo Coelho, for every single book that you have ever written!   And thank you to the newer published authors that have fed my need for words.

As for my work, I strive to do the same.  It's about what a writer includes and how they include it all.  I love to be seduced by remarkable characters, clever wording, and believable circumstances.  But then, there is also that need for a story to captivate all of my senses, keeping me alert and aware at every moment.  I strive to give this to my readers.  I write to make that connection as real as possible.  Oh, for the love of words!

Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Blog Hop!!




Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!
Welcome to the 
Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop,
hosted by the blogs



For my own giveaway, which is international,
I'm offering a book of your choice,
worth up to $15.00, from
The Book Depository!!
Before entering, please make sure TBD 
delivers to your country!
You can do that by clicking HERE.

Not sure what book you want?
Well, here are some suggestions!!
Click on each cover for more information !


St. Patrick's Day Reads

http://www.bookdepository.com/Celtic-Myths-Legends-T-W-Rolleston/9780486265070

http://www.bookdepository.com/Irish-Myths-Legends-Michael-Scott/9780751512427

http://www.bookdepository.com/Selkie-Spell-Sophie-Moss/9780615793313


Young Adult Reads


http://www.bookdepository.com/Eternity-Cure-Julie-Kagawa/9780373211135

http://www.bookdepository.com/Allegiant-Veronica-Roth/9780062287335



Literary Fiction

http://www.bookdepository.com/Orphan-Masters-Son-Adam-Johnson/9780552778251

http://www.bookdepository.com/Luminaries-Man-Booker-Prize-winner-2013-Eleanor-Catton/9781847084323

http://www.bookdepository.com/Round-House-Louise-Erdrich/9781472110008



Historical Fiction

http://www.bookdepository.com/Unwinding-George-Packer/9780374534608?b=-3&t=-20#Fulldescription-20

http://www.bookdepository.com/Endurance-Alfred-Lansing/9780786706211

http://www.bookdepository.com/Light-Between-Oceans-M-L-Stedman/9781451681758


Romance Reads

http://www.bookdepository.com/Falling-Into-You-Jasinda-Wilder/9780989104401

http://www.bookdepository.com/Halfway-Grave-Halfway-Grave-Bk-1-Jeaniene-Frost/9780575093775

http://www.bookdepository.com/Retribution-Sherrilyn-Kenyon/9780749954888





Be sure to read 
the terms & conditions
before you enter the giveaway!!
 Good luck to everyone!!



a Rafflecopter giveaway



Don't forget to visit the rest of 
the participating blogs
to enter their own awesome giveaways!!