tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17715026986344760192024-02-19T08:02:12.970-08:00OldVictorianQuillSorcha O'Dowdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265397147755909836noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1771502698634476019.post-62666515916359193912014-01-20T00:00:00.000-08:002014-01-22T04:58:58.955-08:00Blog Tour ~ 'Ratgirl: Song of the Viper' by Gayle C. Krause.<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/ratgirltourbanner1.png"><img class="wp-image-1721 aligncenter" alt="RatgirlTourBanner1" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/ratgirltourbanner1.png?w=300" width="473" height="176" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final13.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1426" alt="FINAL13" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final13.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></p><br/><br/><div style="text-align:center;"><br/><div><br/><div><br/><div><br/><br/><strong>RATGIRL: Song of the Viper by Gayle C. Krause </strong><br/><br/>Publication date: January, 2014<br/>Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult<br/><br/></div><br/><div></div><br/><div><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/ratgirl.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-1719" alt="Ratgirl" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/ratgirl.jpg?w=193" width="247" height="383" /></a></div><br/><div></div><br/><div>----</div><br/><div></div><br/><div><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final31.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1324" alt="FINAL3" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final31.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></div><br/><div></div><br/><div><b>SYNOPSIS</b></div><br/><div></div><br/><div>Sixteen-year-old streetwise orphan, Jax Stone is an expert at surviving in a dangerous city, where rats rival the homeless for food and shelter, but she’s an amateur at fighting the immoral mayor when he kidnaps her little brother. Desperation demands she quickly master the role of courageous opponent. She uses her hypnotic singing voice to lead rats to their death, and all the children to safety, in a dying city cursed by the deadly sun.</div><br/><div></div><br/><div><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17409913-ratgirl?ac=1"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1226" alt="goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png" width="130" height="41" /></a></div><br/><div></div><br/><div></div><br/><div>----</div><br/><div></div><br/><div><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final61.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1327" alt="FINAL6" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final61.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="82" /></a></div><br/><div></div><br/><div>~ <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ratgirl-Viper-Gayle-C-Krause-ebook/dp/B00HMNHYFM/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=1-1&qid=1389632701">Amazon UK</a> ~ <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ratgirl-Viper-Gayle-C-Krause-ebook/dp/B00HMNHYFM/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=1-1&qid=1389632701">Amazon US</a> ~ <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ratgirl-gayle-c-krause/1117993183?ean=2940148293934">Barnes & Noble</a> ~</div><br/><div></div><br/><div></div><br/><div>----</div><br/><div></div><br/><div><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final21.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1323" alt="FINAL2" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final21.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></div><br/><div></div><br/><div><strong>Book Review ~ 'Ratgirl: Song of the Viper' by Gayle C. Krause.</strong></div><br/></div><br/><div><br/><br/>My first forage into the dystopian world of storytelling was with ‘The Hunger Games’. Being so in love with that story, I’d been reluctant to revisit the dystopian genre for fear that I would be disappointed, but from the minute I started reading ‘Ratgirl’, I knew that I would love the story and would feel the flame return for dystopian storytelling.<br/><br/>‘Ratgirl’ was a brilliant depiction of future society. The author had cleverly combined a number of real-life issues and examined how these issues would have grown in the future. She created a brilliant setting of underground city dwellers who could only exit at night due to the dangerous heat and radiation given off by the Sun. The topic of rats was also a brilliant concoction as it shows a more fearful view of the future where humans are no longer top of the food chain and all powerful, but instead on the same level as rats with whom they have to compete with for food and survival.<br/><br/>My love for this book was further intensified by the arrival of some amazing characters whom I fell in love with and rooted for from the get go. Jax was a no-nonsense yet likeable role model, whose bravery and dedication to her younger brother was admirable and had me supporting her every step of her journey. Colt was also a lovely dishy hero who I drooled over from the start. His mission to protect the less fortunate had him adopting the future vision of Robin Hood, and makes a brilliant parallel to the past and present of today, and how today’s legends can still be known in the future.<br/><br/>My favourite character however was Alder. I absolutely adored his loveable nature and admired everything he did for those he loved. Although I loved Rafe, a sewer-dweller and bad boy with a heart of gold, and loved the sincerity of his love for Astoria and the protective nature he had for his friends, I really connected to Alder and Astoria’s story of forbidden love. At times I was laughing when Rage snubbed Alder only to receive no response because all of Alder’s attention and worry was fixed firmly on Astoria.<br/><br/>The storyline regarding the corrupt leader was brilliantly written, and to discover that his kryptonite of his flesh-and-blood children was so difficult for him to find for himself due to his own malicious actions of making women infertile and therefore unable to bear his child.<br/><br/>The action scenes were suspenseful and heart-pounding. I loved the Jax’s originality when it came to her plots and plans, but will these be enough to thwart or fool the evil dictator who holds both Jax’s life and all those she holds dear in his power. You’ll have to read to find out!<br/><br/><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/5-stars.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1501" alt="5 Stars" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/5-stars.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a><br/><br/></div><br/><div>----</div><br/><div></div><br/><div><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final51.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1326" alt="FINAL5" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final51.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="80" /></a></div><br/><div></div><br/><div><b>Tour Wide Giveaway</b></div><br/><div></div><br/><div>Enter below for the chance to win a Kindle!</div><br/><div></div><br/><div>Giveaway is open Internationally!</div><br/><div><br/><div><br/><div><br/><div></div><br/><a id="rc-d04251311" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d04251311/" rel="nofollow">~ A Rafflecopter Giveaway ~</a><br/><br/></div><br/></div><br/><div></div><br/><div>----</div><br/></div><br/><div></div><br/><div><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final11.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1322" alt="FINAL1" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final11.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></div><br/><div><b> </b></div><br/><div><br/><div><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/author.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-1720" alt="Author" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/author.jpg" width="164" height="219" /></a></div><br/><div></div><br/><div><strong>Gayle C. Krause</strong></div><br/><div></div><br/><div><br/><br/>Gayle C. Krause is a member of SCBWI, YALITCHAT and The Cliffhouse YA Wonderwriters.She writes across the genres. Her first publication credit was a short story in Chicken Soup for the Kid’s Soul 2 (2006). The Storyteller’s Daughter, her YA historical short story, was featured in Timeless, A YA Historical Romance anthology from Pugalicious Press (2012).Her new YA novel, RATGIRL: Song of the Viper was published in February 2013 (Noble Young Adult).<br/><br/>During the course of her writing career Ms. Krause has served as assistant editor for Underneath the Juniper Tree, a dark fantasy online magazine developed for young teens, a children’s book reviewer for Children’s Literature .com and she offers a critique service for children’s writers at First Peek Critique. (<a href="http://www.gayleckrause.com" target="_blank">www.gayleckrause.com</a>)<br/><br/>She also runs a blog that encourages new children’s writers through contests, book reviews and author interviews. <a href="http://thestorytellersscroll.blogspot.com" target="_blank">http://thestorytellersscroll.blogspot.com</a>.<br/><br/></div><br/><div></div><br/><div>----</div><br/><div></div><br/><div><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final8.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1346" alt="FINAL8" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final8.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></div><br/><div></div><br/><div>~ <a href="http://thestorytellersscroll.blogspot.ca/">Blog</a> ~ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6443239.Gayle_C_Krause">Goodreads</a> ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/GeeCeeK">Twitter</a> ~</div><br/><div><br/><div></div><br/>----<br/><br/></div><br/><div></div><br/><div></div><br/><div><a href="http://xpressobooktours.com/2013/11/15/tour-sign-up-ratgirl-song-of-the-viper-by-gayle-c-krause-2/"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1249" alt="XpressoBannerTours" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/xpressobannertours.png?w=300" width="300" height="76" /></a></div><br/><div></div><br/><div></div><br/><div></div><br/><div>Tour organized by 'Xpresso Book Tours'. Click the banner above to follow the tour!</div><br/></div><br/></div><br/></div><br/><p style="text-align:center;"></p>Sorcha O'Dowdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265397147755909836noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1771502698634476019.post-55491693541518804612014-01-18T00:00:00.000-08:002014-01-22T04:58:58.994-08:00Book Blitz ~ 'The Appeal of Evil' by Pembroke Sinclair.<div style="text-align:center;"><b> <a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/appealofevilblitzbanner.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-1741" alt="AppealofEvilBlitzBanner" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/appealofevilblitzbanner.png?w=300" width="450" height="166" /></a></b></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final14.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1427" alt="FINAL14" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final14.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"><br/><div id="ecxbloop_customfont"><br/><div id="ecxbloop_customfont"><br/><div id="ecxbloop_customfont"><br/><div id="ecxbloop_customfont"><br/><div><br/><br/><strong>The Appeal of Evil by Pembroke Sinclair </strong><br/><br/>Publication date: January 17th, 2014<br/>Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult<br/><br/></div><br/><div></div><br/><div><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/appealofevil.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-1740" alt="AppealOfEvil" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/appealofevil.jpg" width="264" height="395" /></a></div><br/><div></div><br/><div>----</div><br/><div></div><br/><div><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final31.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1324" alt="FINAL3" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final31.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></div><br/><div><b>SYNOPSIS</b></div><br/><div><br/><div></div><br/><div><br/><br/>Katie wants to invest her heart and soul in love, but she may lose both to Hell.<br/><br/>Katie, a senior in high school, is torn between loving the “good” guy, her childhood friend Wes who makes promises he doesn’t keep and abandons her when she needs him the most, and the “bad” guy, the new kid at school Josh who is also a real demon from Hell. Katie wants someone who pays attention to her and puts her first, but what is she willing to give up to find him?<br/><br/></div><br/><div></div><br/><div></div><br/><div><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19549576-the-appeal-of-evil?ac=1"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1226" alt="goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png" width="130" height="41" /></a></div><br/><div></div><br/><div></div><br/><div>----</div><br/><div><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final61.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1327" alt="FINAL6" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final61.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="82" /></a></div><br/><div></div><br/><div>~ <a href="http://www.amazon.co.UK/The-Appeal-Evil-Road-Salvation-ebook/dp/B00GURYUDA">Amazon UK</a> ~ <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Appeal-Evil-Road-Salvation-ebook/dp/B00GURYUDA">Amazon US</a> ~</div><br/></div><br/><div></div><br/><div>----</div><br/><div><br/><div> <a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final51.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1326" alt="FINAL5" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final51.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="80" /></a></div><br/><div><br/><div><br/><div><br/><div><br/><div></div><br/><div></div><br/><div><strong>Enter below for the chance to win a print copy of 'The Appeal of Evil'</strong></div><br/><div></div><br/><div>(US Only)</div><br/><div></div><br/></div><br/><div><br/><div><br/><div><br/><div><br/><div><br/><div><br/><div><br/><br/><a id="rc-d04251313" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d04251313/" rel="nofollow">~ A Rafflecopter Giveaway ~</a><br/><br/><br/></div><br/><div></div><br/><div><br/>----</div><br/><div><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final41.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1325" alt="FINAL4" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final41.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="77" /></a></div><br/><div></div><br/></div><br/></div><br/></div><br/></div><br/></div><br/></div><br/></div><br/></div><br/><div><br/><br/><em>Interview with Author Pembroke Sinclair.</em><br/><br/><strong>1. What inspired you to write your first book?</strong><br/><br/>I started the story (Coming from Nowhere) in high school, and it was a competition between me and a few other girls on the swim team. Our teammates were supposed to be the judges, but no one finished their stories. I think I may have been the only one to revisit and rewrite it years later.<br/><br/> <br/><br/><strong>2. Writing can be a difficult job, what inspires you to keep going?</strong><br/><br/>Compulsion. If I don’t write, it makes me crabby. It’s a stress release for me. Plus, the voices in my head get very insistent.<br/><br/> <br/><br/><strong>3. What are you working on now? What’s next?</strong><br/><br/>Currently, I am working on a nonfiction book about zombies. Next will be the sequel to The Appeal of Evil.<br/><br/> <br/><br/><strong>4. What’s your writing process, schedule, or routine?</strong><br/><br/>I squeeze it in whenever I can. With a full-time job and a family, time is a luxury I don’t have, but I try to write whenever I find a spare moment.<br/><br/> <br/><br/><strong>5. Who is your favorite book character of all time? Why?</strong><br/><br/>If you’re talking about a book I wrote, it would have to be Krista from my undead books (Life after the Undead and Death to the Undead). She is tough and witty, yet still full of issues.<br/><br/>If you’re talking about a book I’ve read, I can’t really say. Over the years, so many characters have intrigued me, and not one of them really stands out in my mind.<br/><br/> <br/><br/><strong>6. What advice would give to aspiring writers?</strong><br/><br/>Be persistent and patient. Publishing is a rough world filled with “Nos.” But it only takes one yes to make everything all right!<br/><br/> <br/><br/><strong>7. What’s your favorite quote?</strong><br/><br/>“Do. Or do not. There is no try.” From the wise and wonderful Yoda. It can be applied to any aspect of life, and it’s very true.<br/><br/> <br/><br/><strong>8. Who would you most like to have a cup of coffee with? (Dead or alive)</strong><br/><br/><strong>Explain...</strong><br/><br/>The person who is going to make sure my books are seen by everyone in the world. I’m sure we’ll need to come up with a marketing plan.<br/><br/> <br/><br/><strong>9. What is your biggest pet peeve?</strong><br/><br/>When people don’t respond to emails. That drives me insane! Especially if it’s the only way you have to communicate with them.<br/><br/> <br/><br/><strong>10. Tell us something quirky about you.</strong><br/><br/>Orange pop is my weakness.<br/><br/> <br/><br/><strong>11. Favorite comfort food?</strong><br/><br/>Anything with cinnamon and no nuts in it.<br/><br/> <br/><br/><strong>12. Star Wars or Star Trek?</strong><br/><br/>Star Wars, although I enjoy Star Trek too.<br/><br/> <br/><br/><strong>13. Sunrises or Sunsets?</strong><br/><br/>Both.<br/><br/></div><br/></div><br/><div>----</div><br/><div></div><br/><div><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final11.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1322" alt="FINAL1" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final11.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></div><br/><div><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/pembroke.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1742" alt="Pembroke" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/pembroke.jpg" width="200" height="266" /></a></div><br/><div></div><br/><div><strong>Pembroke Sinclair</strong></div><br/><div><br/><br/>I have had several short stories, novels, and novellas published. My story, “Sohei,” was named one of the Best Stories of 2008 by The Cynic Online Magazine. I have novellas and a short story collection available from Musa Publishing and eTreasures Publishing. I have a novella, The History of My Wishes, published by MuseItUp Publishing. My novels, Coming from Nowhere (adult, sci fi), Life After the Undead (YA, horror), and Death to the Undead (YA, sequel to Life After the Undead) are available from eTreasures Publishing. Life After the Undead was a Top Ten Finisher in the Preditors and Editors Reader’s Poll in the YA category and the cover art category.<br/><br/>In April, I have a middle grade novel called The Ifs coming out, which will be published by Little Devil Books. I also have two picture books that will be available from eTreasures Publishing. All of the children's titles are written under the pen name J.D. Pooker. Under Pembroke Sinclair, I also have an adult urban fantasy novel entitled Wucaii that will be published by MuseItUp Publishing.<br/><br/>Under my real name, Jessica Robinson, from March 2008 to January 2011, I wrote scientific articles for Western Farmer-Stockman. I have a nonfiction book, Life Lessons from Slasher Films, published in July 2012 from Scarecrow Publishing (an imprint of Rowman and Littlefield).<br/><br/>I have my Master’s in English, and I am a freelance content editor for Musa Publishing, as well as a former content and line editor for eTreasures Publishing.<br/><br/> <br/><br/>----<br/><br/><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final8.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1346" alt="FINAL8" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final8.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a><br/><br/>~ <a href="http://pembrokesinclair.blogspot.ca/">Blog</a> ~ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3522214.Pembroke_Sinclair">Goodreads</a> ~<br/><br/></div><br/><div><br/><div></div><br/>----</div><br/><div></div><br/><div><a href="http://xpressobooktours.com/2014/01/07/blitz-sign-up-the-appeal-of-evil-by-pembroke-sinclair/"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1249" alt="XpressoBannerTours" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/xpressobannertours.png?w=300" width="300" height="76" /></a></div><br/><div></div><br/><div></div><br/><div>Book Blitz hosted by Xpresso Book Tours.</div><br/></div><br/></div><br/></div><br/></div><br/></div><br/></div>Sorcha O'Dowdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265397147755909836noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1771502698634476019.post-12858224190005556022014-01-17T05:00:00.000-08:002014-01-22T04:58:59.038-08:00Cover Reveal ~ 'Picture Perfect' by Elisabeth Grace.<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final7.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1340" alt="FINAL7" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final7.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/picture-perfect-ebooklg.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-1766" alt="Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000037_00032]" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/picture-perfect-ebooklg.jpg?w=191" width="231" height="362" /></a></p><br/><br/><div style="text-align:center;"><br/><div><strong>Picture Perfect by Elisabeth Grace </strong><br/>(Limelight #2)<br/>Publication date: March 2014<br/>Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance</div><br/><div></div><br/><div><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/picture-perfect_wrap.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-1767" alt="Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000037_00032]" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/picture-perfect_wrap.jpg?w=300" width="441" height="321" /></a></div><br/><div></div><br/><div>----</div><br/><div></div><br/><div><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final31.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1324" alt="FINAL3" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final31.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></div><br/><div></div><br/><div><b>SYNOPSIS</b></div><br/><div></div><br/><div><br/><br/><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being the daughter of a big-city mayor, twenty-one year old Skye Summers has giant shoes to fill in her first real job out of college. With the public spotlight on her family, and her dad’s expectations running high, she jumps at the chance to work side-by-side on an important project with her sexy new boss.</span><br/><br/>Playboy entrepreneur Landon Steele has built a successful PR firm and broken more than a few hearts along the way. He’s counting on his enthusiastic new assistant to help him expand his business into LA… until he discovers she’s a pampered rich girl who’s in the public spotlight as much as his famous clients. Still, he agrees to give her a chance, and soon the two are heating up the bedroom as well as the boardroom.<br/><br/>But when Skye’s ex-boyfriend threatens to reveal a dangerous secret from her past, her job, relationship with Landon, and her father’s career are suddenly all on the line. Will she be forced to leave Landon? Or will she pursue her heart, regardless of the cost?<br/><br/></div><br/><div><br/><div></div><br/><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18887333-picture-perfect?ac=1"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1226" alt="goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png" width="130" height="41" /></a><br/><br/>----<br/><br/><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final61.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1327" alt="FINAL6" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final61.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="82" /></a><br/><br/><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/rumor-has-it-sale-graphic.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-1768" alt="Rumor Has It Sale Graphic" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/rumor-has-it-sale-graphic.jpg?w=300" width="375" height="375" /></a><br/><div></div><br/><div>The first book in the 'Limelight' series, 'Rumor Has It', is on sale for only $.99/77p.</div><br/><div></div><br/><div>Grab it now!</div><br/><div></div><br/><div></div><br/></div><br/><div>----</div><br/><div><b> <a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final51.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1326" alt="FINAL5" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final51.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="80" /></a></b></div><br/><div></div><br/><div><br/><div>The author Elisabeth Grace is hosting a giveaway to celebrate the cover reveal of 'Picture Perfect'.</div><br/><div></div><br/><div>Enter below for the chance to win!</div><br/><div></div><br/><a id="rc-43abf08" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/43abf08/" rel="nofollow">~ A Rafflecopter Giveaway ~</a><br/><br/><div></div><br/><div></div><br/><div>----</div><br/><div></div><br/><div><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final11.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1322" alt="FINAL1" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final11.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></div><br/><div></div><br/><div><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/elisabeth.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1765" alt="Elisabeth" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/elisabeth.jpg" width="177" height="266" /></a></div><br/><div></div><br/><div></div><br/><div><strong>Elisabeth Grace</strong></div><br/></div><br/><div><br/><div><br/><div><br/><div><br/><div><br/><br/>I have a soft spot for romance novels with happily ever afters and a hot spot for alpha males! I currently live outside Toronto, Canada with my hubby and two small children. Life is busy, but never to busy for a good story and to share my love of reading and writing with others.<br/><br/>My debut New Adult Contemporary Romance, Rumor Has It, was released December 6, 2013.<br/><br/>For more of the lowdown on me feel free to visit my author website at <a href="http://www.elisabeth-grace.com/" target="_blank">http://www.Elisabeth-Grace.com</a><br/><br/></div><br/><div></div><br/><div>----</div><br/><div></div><br/><div><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final8.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1346" alt="FINAL8" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final8.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></div><br/><div></div><br/><div>~ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Elisabeth-Grace-Author/637982532897100">Facebook</a> ~ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7276641.Elisabeth_Grace">Goodreads</a> ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/1elisabethgrace">Twitter</a> ~ <a href="http://www.Elisabeth-Grace.com">Website </a>~</div><br/><div></div><br/><div></div><br/>----</div><br/><div></div><br/><div><a href="http://xpressobooktours.com/2013/12/13/cover-reveal-sign-up-picture-perfect-by-elisabeth-grace/"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1249" alt="XpressoBannerTours" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/xpressobannertours.png?w=300" width="300" height="76" /></a></div><br/><div></div><br/><div>Cover Reveal hosted by Xpresso Book Tours.</div><br/><div></div><br/><div>----</div><br/></div><br/></div><br/></div><br/></div>Sorcha O'Dowdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265397147755909836noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1771502698634476019.post-870835279146610492014-01-07T00:00:00.000-08:002014-01-22T04:28:29.504-08:00Blog Tour ~ 'Draw Me In' by Megan Squires.<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/drawmeintourbanner2.png"><img class=" wp-image-1641 aligncenter" alt="DrawMeInTourBanner2" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/drawmeintourbanner2.png?w=300" width="471" height="174" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final13.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1426" alt="FINAL13" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final13.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Draw Me In by Megan Squires </strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Publication date: January 7th 2014<br/>Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/draw-me-in_megansquires_ebooksm.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-1642" alt="Draw Me In_MeganSquires_ebooksm" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/draw-me-in_megansquires_ebooksm.jpg?w=198" width="250" height="378" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">----</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final31.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1324" alt="FINAL3" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final31.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>SYNOPSIS</strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">He’s a young, up and coming businessman with the keys to his family’s Italian wine enterprise.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I’m a fine arts student, navigating life in the Big Apple, my pencil and sketchpad in hand.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">We meet. We fall in love.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">But it’s not that story.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Sometimes, by a rare gift of fate, two lives cross paths. And hey, if that happens to occur when staring at Michelangelo’s naked masterpiece, even better. We can tell our future children how a seventeen-foot tall marble guy named David brought us together.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">But there’s always more to a relationship than its beginning and ever after. In life, there’s a whole lot of backstory. There are ex-fiancés and hot roommates and family members whose advice continues, even beyond the grave.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">When you say you love someone, it’s never just that one person you’re saying it to. And it’s never just that one moment that sets everything in motion.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">There is always more that draws you in.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18817750-draw-me-in"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1226" alt="goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png" width="130" height="41" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">----</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final61.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1327" alt="FINAL6" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final61.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="82" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">~ <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Draw-Me-In-Megan-Squires-ebook/dp/B00HQ6KQNW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389101930&sr=8-1&keywords=draw+me+in+megan">Amazon UK</a> ~ <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Draw-Me-In-Megan-Squires-ebook/dp/B00HQ6KQNW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389101930&sr=8-1&keywords=draw+me+in+megan">Amazon US</a> ~ <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/megan-squires">B&N</a> ~</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">---</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final21.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1323" alt="FINAL2" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final21.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">There is always a few things that I take into account when I start rating and reviewing a story. These are that the story connects with me on an emotional as well as natural level, without the characters deemed to be too perfect or without flaws, and that the choices that the characters make, regardless of whether I agree with them, are made with as much thought as we would make them in our own lives. 'Draw me in' did all of these things and the author brought the story together with some great laughs, some gorgeous romantic scenes and a brilliant writing style which flowed so effortlessly from scene to scene, making the story easy to read and impossible to put down until I had finished it.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I absolutely adored this story and the deep issues that are entwined within the romantic element of the story. Leo and Julie's relationship was one that simply warmed the heart. I loved the differences between the two, and really connected to Julie as the story's heroine as she was so realistic and human in her ways. I liked how she learnt from Leo that being herself was all he wanted from her, and it was beautiful to see how Julie blossomed into her own being rather than one that she felt she had to put on to be what Leo wanted of her.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I also loved how Leo and Julie shared a great sense of humour and how although Julie's own humour style was very different to his, Leo didn't think any less of her instead only regarding her more fondly for her adorable ways. (Julie's drunk scenes were hilarious!)</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I always enjoy seeing how authors use the arts to mimic the storylines the y are writing. Julie's art work was a brilliant way for me as a reader to get an insight into Julie's character. The whole moral of the story of the outer beauty of the roman statue David by michaelangelo, being nothing in comparison to the strength and utter owner of a man fighting for his life was brilliantly done and I applaud the author for the wonderful and original way she depicted this.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">What I really admired about this story was the way that the issue of Cancer was delicately brought to the table, and it was a real reminder that even the youngest, fittest (and hottest) of men can be hiding a terrible illness. I was so distraught when Leo's journey with Cancer was revealed, and Julie having this realisation that every day in love is sacred was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. The strength of Leo and Julie's love was a real inspiration to me. The way that author Megan Squires was able to show both sides of the battle of Cancer was I truly beautiful. She flawlessly creates a wonderful distinction and connection between those who suffer from cancer! telling the story not only of the victim, but also of the caretaker, and for me, this was the true beauty of this book that I took this message with me from reading this story, and I know I will carry it with me forever.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">This was a beautiful, heartwarming and funny tale which was an absolute pleasure to read. 5 stars and a definite recommended read.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/5-stars.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1501" alt="5 Stars" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/5-stars.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">----</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final51.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1326" alt="FINAL5" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final51.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="80" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Grand prize giveaway open Internationally.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Enter below for the chance to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a id="rc-d04251300" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d04251300/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">----</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final11.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-1322" alt="FINAL1" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final11.jpg?w=300" width="360" height="94" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/megan.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1643" alt="Megan" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/megan.jpg" width="177" height="266" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Megan Squires</strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Megan Squires lives with her husband and two children just outside of Sacramento, California. A graduate from the University of California, Davis, Megan is now a full-time mother, wife, and dreamer—though her characters don’t often give her much opportunity to sleep.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Visit <a href="http://www.theoutlierchronicles.com" target="_blank">www.theoutlierchronicles.com</a> to learn more about her latest young adult series.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">----</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final8.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1346" alt="FINAL8" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final8.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">~ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MeganSquiresAuthor">Facebook</a> ~ <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6547282.Megan_Squires">Goodreads</a> ~ <a href="http://megansquiresauthor.com/">Website</a> ~</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">----</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://xpressobooktours.com/2013/11/26/tour-sign-up-draw-me-in-by-megan-squires/"><img class="alignnone wp-image-1249" alt="XpressoBannerTours" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/xpressobannertours.png?w=300" width="380" height="96" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Tour hosted by 'Xpresso Book Tours'. Click the banner to follow the 'Draw Me In' Blog Tour.</p>Sorcha O'Dowdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265397147755909836noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1771502698634476019.post-18509964806274657342013-12-27T13:52:00.000-08:002014-01-22T04:28:29.484-08:00Book Review ~ 'To Catch a Falling Star' by L. Duarte.<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final15.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1428" alt="FINAL15" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final15.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/to-catch-a-falling-star-by-l-duarte.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-1635" alt="To Catch a Falling Star by L. Duarte" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/to-catch-a-falling-star-by-l-duarte.jpg?w=194" width="259" height="400" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final31.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1324" alt="FINAL3" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final31.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>'To Catch a Falling Star'</strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/116980-crossing-stars"> Crossing Stars #2</a></strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">by L. Duarte</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Genres: Romance, Contemporary, New Adult.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Release Date: TBA</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>SYNOPSIS</strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">It’s been five years, but Melody still mourns the death of Tim, her soul mate and beloved husband who never had a chance to hold their daughter. Mel and her daughter have the love and support of Mel’s brother Will and sister-in-law Portia, the famous Oscar-winning actress-turned-mother. Mel works three jobs and mothers Ella, but she spends her mornings facing the demons of her grief. Her faith and her father, the pastor, helps Mel grapple with her grief.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Portia opens her home to her childhood friend Tarry Francis, a successful, womanizing rock star. He’s trying to beat his addictions. Again. He’s going through the motions, but needs his drugs and rowdy lifestyle to keep his childhood pain in check. Tarry’s privileged upbringing contrasted with his cruel parents, who starved him of affection. Who can fix that?</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Mel is forced to counsel Tarry, but he’s so damaged and unwilling to try that she’s not sure anyone can help fix him. She gives him a special coin. Could this open their hearts to each other and fuel their love? Is this a step forward that will free them to catch the falling stars? Or will Mel remain faithful to her first love?</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Rich in meaning, To Catch a Falling Star is about two lovers whose hearts struggle to open to find the magic of the journey of love. It’s a joyful and passionate story about overcoming challenges to lead us to love and the fulfillment of our dreams.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">To Catch a Falling Star is the stunning follow-up novel to L. Duarte’s debut Chasing Stars about Portia and Will’s romance. A spiritual and playful read, L. Duarte has provided readers the chance to believe in healing a broken heart.<br/><br/></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18801973-to-catch-a-falling-star?ac=1"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1226" alt="goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png" width="130" height="41" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">----</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final21.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1323" alt="FINAL2" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final21.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><em>I received an ARC of 'To Catch a Falling Star' in exchange for an honest review.</em></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I always lament when I start an amazing book just before Christmas. With all the festivities, helping my parents prepare for the annual 'have the whole family over for boxing day' bash, having to remove my nose from a book long enough to have christmas dinner is a tough chore, especially when reading a book as wonderful, emotional and heartbreaking as 'To Catch a Falling Star'.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I absolutely adored the first book in this series 'Catching Stars' which told the story of Portia and Will, and I was so pleased that author L. Duarte was able to not only meet the brilliant level of 'Chasing Stars' but also to exceed it and literally have me travelling to the stars as I read this<br/>beautiful story.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">L. Duarte's beautiful writing style always has the ability to bring me to tears in the space of a second. Her gorgeous prose had me so connected to the story, and I found myself so invested in Tarry's personal development of overcoming his demons and his fight against addiction, as well as the beautiful relationship that he and Mel begin to develop when they are both at the lowest points of their lives.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">What I really loved about 'Chasing Stars' was how not everybody got their happily ever after. I really liked how Tarry was still spiralling despite his best friends finding solace in their life. To be able to read Tarry's story from his own perspective, to see the struggle he had and the way his mind worked through the addiction that plagued him was a real priviledge. Tarry's internal dialogue was written to absolute perfection and I felt so connected to him as not just a character but as a real man who was struggling to find his true self. To see his connection with music and how he expressed his inner demons through singing and composing was great, and I loved how he shared this with Mel.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Mel was another great character who I really connected with. I've always been one of those people who is sceptical of second love. I've not experienced love for myself so I suppose the romantic in me always believes that you can't love another person after your first husband dies. Reading Mel's story completely widened my view on this. The story was tackled so beautifully and with such grace that I finally began to understand how Mel was finally able to think of Tim and their time together fondly rather than wallowing in his absence. I loved how we were given glimpses into Mel and Tim's past, it made him seem so real to me, and I mourned his loss with Mel and understood her fear of falling in love again. This was delicately approached and I can't say how much I loved this story and the pace of the development of Mel and Tarry's relationship.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">With her beautiful storytelling and her creation of realistic and relatable characters, L. Duarte has become one of my favourite authors who I would read time and time again. 'To Catch a Falling Star' is on my list of favourite books for 2013, and I can't wait to see more of L. Duarte's work.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">5 Stars and a definite recommended read. This book will have you travelling to the stars!</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/5-stars.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1501" alt="5 Stars" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/5-stars.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">----</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final8.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1346" alt="FINAL8" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final8.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">~ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/LDuarte/265326050277001">Facebook</a> ~ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7170413.L_Duarte">Goodreads</a> ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/LDuarte77">Twitter</a> ~</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">----</p>Sorcha O'Dowdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265397147755909836noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1771502698634476019.post-40260113964381144412013-12-12T00:00:00.000-08:002014-01-22T04:28:29.349-08:00Blog Tour & Review ~ 'North Pole Reform School' by Jaimie Admans.<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/nprs-tourbanner.png"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1494" alt="nprs-tourbanner" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/nprs-tourbanner.png?w=300" width="300" height="148" /></a></p><br/><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final13.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1426 aligncenter" alt="FINAL13" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final13.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a><br/><div dir="ltr" style="text-align:center;"><strong><strong>Title: North Pole Reform School</strong></strong></div><br/><div dir="ltr" style="text-align:center;">Author: Jaimie Admans</div><br/><div style="text-align:center;">Date of Publication: November 6, 2013<br/>Genre: YA rom-com, fantasy</div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"><br/><br/><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/nprscover.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1493" alt="NPRSCover" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/nprscover.jpg?w=200" width="200" height="300" /></a><br/><br/>----<br/><br/><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final31.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1324" alt="FINAL3" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final31.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a><br/><br/><strong>SYNOPSIS</strong><br/><br/></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"><br/><div dir="ltr"></div><br/><div dir="ltr"><br/><div dir="ltr">Mistletoe Bell hates Christmas. So would you if you had a name like hers. Her Christmas-mad parents make the festive season last all year, and with another Christmas looming, Mis doesn’t think she can take any more. After her carelessness causes an accident at school, it seems like things can’t get any worse.</div><br/><div dir="ltr"></div><br/><div dir="ltr">Then she wakes up to find The Ghost of Christmases Ruined in her bedroom.</div><br/><div dir="ltr"></div><br/><div dir="ltr">She is taken to the North Pole, to a reform school run by elves determined to make her love Christmas. Stuck in a misfit group of fellow Christmas-haters with a motley crew of the weird and even weirder, watched over by elves day and night, she doesn’t expect to meet cute and funny Luke, who is hiding a vulnerable side beneath his sarcastic exterior. She doesn’t expect to fall in love with him.</div><br/><div dir="ltr"></div><br/><div dir="ltr">But all is not as it should be at the North Pole. A certain Mr Claus is making the elves’ lives a misery, and pretty soon Mistletoe and Luke are doing more than just learning to like Christmas.</div><br/><div dir="ltr"></div><br/><div dir="ltr">A YA romantic comedy in which Santa is the bad guy, teaching reindeer to fly is on the curriculum, and zombies have a fondness for Christmas music.</div><br/><div dir="ltr"><br/><br/>-<br/><br/></div><br/><div dir="ltr"><br/><br/>Suitable for older teens and upwards due to bad language.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18754638-north-pole-reform-school?ac=1"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1226" alt="goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png" width="130" height="41" /></a><br/><br/>----<br/><br/><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final61.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1327" alt="FINAL6" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final61.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="82" /></a><br/><br/>'North Pole Reform School' is also available in Paperback.<br/>This would be the perfect gift to put under the tree for a book lover this Christmas!<br/><br/>~ <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/North-Reform-School-Jaimie-Admans-ebook/dp/B00G48C42E">Amazon UK</a> ~ <a href="http://www.amazon.com/North-Reform-School-Jaimie-Admans-ebook/dp/B00G48C42E">Amazon US</a> ~<br/>----<br/><br/><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final10.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1355" alt="FINAL10" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final10.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a><br/><br/></div><br/></div><br/></div><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I’m still looking around for a weapon when two people walk in.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Two small people.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Two… elves?</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">No, they can’t be elves just because they’re small and dainty and wearing red and green outfits. And they have pointy ears. A little bit like Luke’s, actually.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“Good morning, everyone,” the female one says way too cheerfully. “What a lovely day. It’s so nice to meet you all. I am Elf Tinsel, and this is my husband, Elf Navidad.”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“Hello.” Elf Navidad waves enthusiastically. “Remember, there’s no point in closing the stable door if the horse is wearing spectacles.”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“Welcome to North Pole Reform School. Now, I’m sure you’re all wondering what’s going on here, and we have come to tell you. If you’ll just… wait…” She consults a clipboard in her arms. “There’s one missing, Navi. Have any of you seen another one?”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“Another one of what?” Luke asks.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“One of you,” Tinsel says. She counts us with a pen. “Yes, there are only four. There are supposed to be five. Have any of you seen the other one?”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">We all shake our heads in bewilderment.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“Go and see if you can rouse him would you, Navi dear?”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Navidad walks over to one of the other doors and goes inside.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“Now, the rest of you, we’ve brought some clothes for you to wear, and we’ll need you to put them on before we can get started, and—”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Navidad comes back out. “Bit of a problem, Tinsel. He appears to think he’s dead.” He says it in what is supposed to be a whisper to his wife but we can all hear him.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“You know we can hear you, right?” Luke asks.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Navidad turns to him. “Then you won’t mind helping. Be a pal and go and convince the little boy in there that he isn’t dead.”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Luke shrugs. “Maybe he is dead. Maybe we all are.”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“You’re not dead,” Tinsel says. “None of you are dead. As I was trying to get to, this is the North Pole Reform School. You’re in Santa’s Village at the North Pole, and you’re all here to learn a very important lesson. But we can’t start without everyone being here.”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Joe lets out a laugh. “Yeah, right.”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Luke rolls his eyes.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“What, Elf Boy? Why’d you have ears like theirs? Why do you have elf ears? Something you want to tell us?” Joe questions Luke.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“No, okay?” Luke frantically tries to smooth his hair over his ears again. “No, I have nothing to tell anyone. Nothing.”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“I think you’re—” Joe starts.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“Please don’t fight,” Tinsel interrupts. “I will explain everything just as soon as I sort the fifth student out. All stay here, please.”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Tinsel walks over and goes into the room Navidad just came out of. We all go over to crowd around the door and look in. Even Duck Lady has got off the sofa and joined us.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">The small room looks the same as the one I woke up in. A small window on one wall, a couple of feet of space between that and the bed. In the corner of this room is a boy, cowering on the floor, the sheet from the bed wrapped around himself and clutched to his chest. Tinsel is crouched in front of him, talking gently. We hear her telling him he is safe and nothing bad will happen to him.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">He doesn’t look like he believes her.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“Let me help,” Duck Lady says and pushes herself into the room with the boy and the elf.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Even as I think it, I can’t believe I’m taking this seriously. Elves don’t exist. Santa and his village in the North Pole don’t exist. And yet here I am, watching an elf try to cajole a little boy into believing he isn’t dead.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Luke is squashed in the doorway next to me and I can’t help but look up at him. He really does have the same ears as Tinsel and Navidad. He must sense me looking because he glances down and winks at me. I can’t help but smile back.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Now Duck Lady is crouched in front of the boy too, and Tinsel seems to have taken a step back. Maybe Duck Lady has gone to tell him he’s being watched by ducks; no doubt that will make him feel better.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“Don’t crowd around, please.” Tinsel comes over and starts to herd Joe, Luke, and me out of the doorway. “Go and wait on the sofas—we’ll be out in a minute.”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">She eventually pushes us back far enough that she can shut the door in our faces.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“Well, that was rude,” Joe says. “I was only trying to help.”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“No, you were all gawking,” Navidad says. “Not everyone copes as well as you apparently have. Never mind; if life gives you lemons, ask the fish for oranges instead.”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“Yeah, well not everyone is sane,” says Luke.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“So, be straight with us, little elf man.” Joe turns to Navidad. “What’s going on here? We in some kind of weird dream or mad scientist’s experiment or what?”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“Nothing like that,” he says. “We’ll explain everything when Tinsel gets back with the boy.”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“Okay, but where are we really?” I ask him. “I mean, I know we’re not in the North Pole, so where are we? Why have you two put so much effort into your elf costumes? We all know you’re not really elves, so why not just stick on a pair of pointy shoes and be done with it?”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“Wrong on both counts,” he says. “We are in the North Pole and we really are elves.”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“That’s impossible,” I say. “Elves don’t exist, and if we were in the North Pole then we would be dead by now. If the temperatures hadn’t killed us then the polar bears would have.”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“We’ll explain everything in a minute,” Navidad says.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“Hey, maybe you can tell me, little elf man,” Joe says to Navidad again, “what’s white and round?”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Luke and I groan simultaneously.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Navidad thinks it over. “A snowball.”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“Wrong,” Joe says happily. “A red cube.”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“That doesn’t make any sense.”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“Yeah, well not everyone is sane,” Luke repeats.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">The door opens and Tinsel comes out, closely followed by Duck Lady and the dead boy.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">She goes to stand next to Navidad again. “Now that we’re all here, the most important thing is to get dressed.”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“The most important thing is for you to tell us what the hell is going on here,” Luke says.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“All in good time,” she says. “Navi has arranged some clothes for you. These will be your outfits for the duration of your stay here. Please take them and go back to your rooms to change. Once you have your clothes on, come back out here and we’ll tell you everything.”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“Why not just tell us now?”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“It’s important for you to be dressed in your outfits first.”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“That makes no sense.”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“Not everything has to make sense at first glance,” Navidad says. “A picture is worth two camels on a roundabout.”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Luke rolls his eyes.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“Now, please come and take your outfits from Navi. The sooner you do so, the sooner we can answer all your questions.”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Duck Lady goes up to take her outfit and the little boy follows.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I glance at Luke and he smiles at me. “It can’t be any worse than thermal long johns, right?”</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">We go and get our outfits too, and I go back to my room to change.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Luke was wrong, though. It can be worse than thermal long johns, and it is. Much worse.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">They’ve given me an elf outfit.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">----</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final51.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1326" alt="FINAL5" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final51.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="80" /></a></p><br/><br/><div dir="ltr" style="text-align:center;"><b>Enter below for the chance to win </b><strong><strong>a $25 Amazon Giftcard</strong></strong></div><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a id="rc-dc4290192" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/dc4290192/" rel="nofollow">~ A Rafflecopter Giveaway ~</a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">----</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final21.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1323" alt="FINAL2" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final21.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>'North Pole Reform School' by Jaimie Admans ~ 5 Stars!<br/><br/></strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I always love it when a new book by Jaimie Admans is released. She is one of those authors that you just know will give you a fun story to escape into for a few hours, without the worry that the storytelling will not be up to scratch. ‘North Pole Reform School’ was yet another one of her great laugh out loud stories with a spunky heroine, some hilarious secondary characters, and as always exemplary storytelling that just bring the story to life.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Mistletoe Bell’s hate for Christmas is warranted ( I mean parents naming their child is close to crossing the line to child abuse), so to follow her journey through the North Pole Reform School was great fun. The storyline was cleverly created as seeing the reason that the five Reform Pupils ruined Christmas for others makes you think more clearly about the two sides of Christmas. Some people love it, some people hate it.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I for one do like Christmas, but my Christmas spirit usually extends from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day so to my surprise I found myself siding with the Reformers on their stance of Christmas. Jaimie Admans is very clever in the way she portrays conflict for teenage characters as whenever I read her books I am immediately transported back to my own teenage years where I remember thinking how unfair teachers were when they wouldn’t listen to my side of the story. This is real teenage conflict, and I love how Jaimie always creates this so realistically in her books, especially in North Pole Reform School. Seeing the Elves treat the reformers as though they are completely to blame for ruining somebody else’s Christmas made me well up with adolescent feelings of unfairness, and really helped me connect to the characters in a way that I have found more difficult in stories where the teenage protagonists act years above their age.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I loved the atmosphere that Jaimie Admans created in this book. It was a unique view of the North Pole, and with the added threat of North Pole Zombies (To avoid spoiling I will just say ‘HILARIOUS’), the North Pole became a more fantastical place and further away from the characters normal world, almost as though they were on a different planet.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I laughed out loud so many times whilst reading this book and cringed with the characters as they were forced to endure the most festive of chores in order to be allowed to return home. The idea of having to eat Mince Pies and Candy Canes for every meal had me wrinkling my nose and craving a salad. Me craving Salad never happens, so this just does the author further credit for using her brilliant wit and storytelling in a way that had me craving healthy food!)</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Saving Christmas was the main storyline that evolved in ‘North Pole Reform School’ and it was great to see Mistletoe and Luke work together to save a celebration that they have always disliked. I really adored Luke as a character and loved how he was realistically portrayed as a teenage boy. He was annoyed at the world, felt good after doing something bad, but had a bigger heart than we as readers and the elves ever knew, in his deepest desire to keep his younger sister safe.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Overall this was a fantastic festive read which I would recommend to all. With Jaimie Admans wit and storytelling, this is one that will have you howling with laughter, groaning at the injustice of being forced to be cheerful at Christmas, and sitting on the edge of your seats in suspense to find out whether Christmas will be saved.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/5-stars.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1335" alt="5 Stars" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/5-stars.jpg" width="277" height="63" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">----</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final11.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1322" alt="FINAL1" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final11.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></p><br/><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/jaimieadmans2.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1081 aligncenter" alt="jaimieadmans2" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/jaimieadmans2.jpg" width="250" height="251" /></a><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Jaimie Admans</span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Jaimie is a 28-year-old English-sounding Welsh girl with an awkward-to-spell name. She lives in South Wales and enjoys writing, gardening, drinking tea and watching horror movies. She hates spiders and cheese & onion crisps. She has been writing for years but has never before plucked up the courage to tell people. North Pole Reform School is her fifth novel and she hopes you enjoy it. There are plenty more on the way!</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">----</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final8.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1346" alt="FINAL8" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final8.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">~ <a href="http://facebook.com/jaimieadmansbooks">Facebook</a> ~ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6524232.Jaimie_Admans">Goodreads</a> ~ <a href="http://twitter.com/be_the_spark">Twitter</a> ~ <a href="http://www.jaimieadmans.com/">Website</a> ~</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">~ Sign up for Jaimie's newsletter <a href="http://jaimieadmans.us5.list-manage2.com/subscribe?u=04161dd56c144c7526c50bd9a&id=4ad24a0564">here</a> ~</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">----</p>Sorcha O'Dowdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265397147755909836noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1771502698634476019.post-21014689094801414072013-09-26T00:00:00.000-07:002014-01-22T04:28:28.979-08:00Blog Tour and Book Review for 'Not Pretty Enough' by Jaimie Admans.<div style="text-align:center;"><br/><br/><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/npetourbanner.png"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1079 aligncenter" alt="NPEtourbanner" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/npetourbanner.png?w=300" width="300" height="150" /></a><br/><br/></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"><b>Title:</b> Not Pretty Enough</div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"><b>Author:</b> Jaimie Admans</div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"><b>Date of Publication:</b> August 1, 2013</div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"><b>Genre:</b> contemporary YA comedy</div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/npe-cover-done.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1080" alt="npe-cover-done" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/npe-cover-done.jpg?w=199" width="199" height="300" /></a></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final31.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1324" alt="FINAL3" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final31.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"><b>SYNPOSIS</b></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"><br/><div style="text-align:center;">“New Year’s Resolutions:</div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;">1. Lloyd Layton will know I exist. He once said three whole words to me, so this is obviously progress. If I don’t get a proper conversation out of him soon, then I’ll take my top off and streak through the cafeteria, because nobody could fail to notice these boobs.</div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;">2. I will not get expelled for streaking through the cafeteria.”</div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;">Those are the words that begin her mission.</div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;">Chessie is fourteen, not pretty enough, and very much in love. Lloyd Layton is hot, popular, and unaware of Chessie’s existence.</div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;">Her goal is clear: to get Lloyd to love her as much as she loves him, and she has exactly one year to do it.</div><br/><div style="text-align:center;">As Chessie’s obsession with Lloyd reaches boiling point and she starts to spin a web of lies that spiral out of control, Lloyd turns out to be not quite the prince she thought he was. Can Chessie avoid the gathering storm before things go too far?</div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;">-- -- -- -- --</div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"><em>Not Pretty Enough is a contemporary young adult comedy suitable for ages thirteen and over.</em></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"><em> </em></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"><em><em>Book two in the series will be released early 2014.</em></em> <br/><br/></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;">-- -- -- -- --</div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"><br/><br/><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final10.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1355" alt="FINAL10" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final10.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a><br/><br/>I’ve been in this school for two and a half years now. I’ve had this teacher – Mr Edmond – for a year and a half of them, and he has not yet realised that I am not interested in geography. In fact, the only thing even mildly interesting in this classroom is the fact that Lloyd Layton is in it.<br/><br/>I don’t know if it’s because my seat is directly opposite the teacher’s desk, or if it’s because he just doesn’t like me, but he loves to do quick fire questions, usually before you’ve even settled at your desk and got your books out. I’m always the first one he picks, and it’s always some rubbish about the Earth’s core or volcanoes that erupted fifty years ago. I never get it right, and I think Mr Edmond thinks I’m teasing him by pretending to be stupid when the truth is that I can just about find my way home from the bus stop.<br/><br/>“Miss Clemenfield,” Mr Edmond begins just as we are settling down in our chairs. “The population of Japan is?”<br/><br/>“Um…”<br/><br/>“Wrong. The population of Japan is not um. It is in fact…” He stops and stares at me for a moment. “Francesca, are you okay?”<br/><br/>I look up. “Yes, thank you. Yourself?”<br/><br/>“No, your face. It’s all red.”<br/><br/>“I had to run down from my last class. Mr Griffiths kept us behind.” I nod emphatically. Okay, so I’m seriously unfit. Why don’t you point it out to the whole class and have Lloyd Layton turning to look at my red, sweaty self, panting due to a short run from the maths block?<br/><br/>“If you’d like to go and get a glass of water from the fountain, you’re welcome to go now before the lesson begins.”<br/><br/>“I’m good, thanks.”<br/><br/>He walks away and starts the quick fire questions down the other end of the room.<br/><br/>“Are you sure you’re okay?” Ceri, who sits on one side of me, asks.<br/><br/>“You know, you do look a bit red and blotchy, Chess,” Ewan says from the seat on my other side.<br/><br/>“All right, I’m unfit,” I snap. “Why don’t you just announce that I’m a fat cow during school assembly and be done with it?”<br/><br/>“Sorry.” He holds his hands up and starts intently reading his textbook.<br/><br/>Leigh leans across from where she sits a few chairs down. “Don’t worry, Chessie,” she says with a sickly sweet smile that’s as fake as plastic flowers. “I suffer from PMT too. Do you want me to ask for a tampon for you?”<br/><br/>“At least mine’s not permanent,” I snap at her.<br/><br/>After ten minutes or so goes by, the teacher is about to fire another dumb question when he stops in his tracks and stares at me.<br/><br/>“You know, Francesca, I really think you ought to go and see the nurse.”<br/><br/>God, won’t anyone just leave me alone today?<br/><br/>“It’s Chessie, please.” I grab my bag from the floor and dig around in it until I find my compact mirror. “Is there something wrong with the lighting in this class or something today, Mr Edmond? Because I’m absolutely fi—”<br/><br/>Oh God. My face is all red and blotchy. It’s like I’ve come out in some sort of a rash. Crikey, no wonder the teacher was worried about me.<br/><br/>“Sorry,” I say quickly.<br/><br/>“Ewan, Ceri,” Mr Edmond addresses them. “Could you two move your chairs away a little bit, just in case it’s contagious. If everybody could just shift down a little.”<br/><br/>Contagious. Contagious? He thinks I’m contagious? And he’s just announced it to the rest of the class, and suddenly thirty pairs of eyes are peering at me and talking amongst themselves.<br/><br/>Crap.<br/><br/>Couldn’t he just have said something to me quietly, without making the entire class think I have the bubonic plague? That’s just great, isn’t it? Now Lloyd will never look twice at me because I’m like a walking wart. A giant walking wart that is contagious.<br/><br/>Although, perhaps a more pressing matter is what on earth is wrong with me. Why is my face all rash-like? I look like I’ve been sleeping in a nest of stinging nettles.<br/><br/>“I think you should go to the nurse, Chessie.” Mr Edmond puts unnecessary emphasis on my name.<br/><br/>“Yes, thank you.”<br/><br/>I grab my bag and rush out the door, grateful to be able to walk away from the staring eyes.<br/><br/></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18142578-not-pretty-enough"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-832" alt="goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png" width="130" height="41" /></a>-- -- -- -- --<br/><br/></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final61.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1327" alt="FINAL6" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final61.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="82" /></a></div><br/></div><br/><p style="text-align:center;">~ <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Not-Pretty-Enough-ebook/dp/B00DP3Y3NY">Amazon UK</a> ~ <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Not-Pretty-Enough-ebook/dp/B00DP3Y3NY">Amazon US</a> ~</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">-- -- -- -- --</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final21.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1323" alt="FINAL2" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final21.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></strong></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I always love losing myself in a young adult story. Whilst I'd be horrified at the thought of ever having to go through that mortifying and confidence shattering time in my life, reading of the woes of a teenager at that age is one of my guilty pleasures and I adored 'Not Pretty Enough' for its realistic yet hilarious storyline.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">As I started reading 'Not Pretty Enough' it wasn't long before I was sighing with relief and thinking 'Finally! A young adult book that is actually relatable to <strong><em>young adults!'</em> </strong>The daily trials that young Chessie's faces in her quest to get the attention (and affection) of popular and dishy Lloyd, were a wonderful mix of humour and that second hand sympathy and embarassment you feel for Chessie that I think many readers will remember feeling<b> </b>all too often when they watched their own friends attempts at guy-catching in their teen years. This is something that always love in Jaimie Admans books. Because we join the characters through their journey, and see first hand the flaws they have we then suffer along with them when consequences of their actions hit. I love how there is no false description is made of heroine Chessie and how well her thoughts and actions were so true to that of a teenage girl.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">When I was a teenager I remember finding it hard to relate to some of the characters in young adult fiction as the thought processes and actions of the characters were so mature and grown up. Chessie was a wonderful example of a real, teenage girl, flaws and all. Not every teenage crush gets a happy, fairytale ending, and this book was perfect in how it portrayed this chapter of Chessie's life.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">'Not Pretty Enough' also raised some important issues that I think are hugley important for teenagers to remember in today's society. The seriousness of issues like child abuse and how unfounded accusations can be dangerous not only to the child but also to a parent, was very well portrayed, and I admire the way that Jaimie Admans was able to put this issue across without detracting from the main storyline.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">A brilliant book that had me laughing out loud and reminiscing of my own school years. A realistic portrayal of a teenagers daily troubles that will be a perfect read for young adults!</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/5-stars.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1335" alt="5 Stars" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/5-stars.jpg" width="277" height="63" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">-- -- -- -- --</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final51.jpg"><br/><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1326" alt="FINAL5" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final51.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="80" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a id="rc-dc429079" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/dc429079/" rel="nofollow"><br/>a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></p><br/><br/><div style="text-align:center;"></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;"></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;">-- -- -- -- --<br/><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final11.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1322" alt="FINAL1" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final11.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></div><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/jaimieadmans2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1081" alt="jaimieadmans2" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/jaimieadmans2.jpg" width="250" height="251" /></a></p><br/><br/><div style="text-align:center;"></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;">Jaimie is a 28-year-old English-sounding Welsh girl with an awkward-to-spell name. She lives in South Wales and enjoys writing, gardening, drinking tea and watching horror movies. She hates spiders and cheese & onion crisps. She has been writing for years but has never before plucked up the courage to tell people. Not Pretty Enough is her fourth novel and she hopes you enjoy it. There are plenty more on the way!<a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final8.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1346" alt="FINAL8" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final8.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a><br/><br/> <br/><br/></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;">~ <a href="http://facebook.com/jaimieadmansbooks">Facebook</a> ~ <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6524232.Jaimie_Admans">Goodreads</a> ~ <a href="http://eepurl.com/oDXZj">Newsletter</a> ~ <a href="http://twitter.com/be_the_spark">Twitter</a> ~ <a href="http://www.jaimieadmans.com/">Website</a> ~ <br/><br/></div>Sorcha O'Dowdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265397147755909836noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1771502698634476019.post-2513924088365335312013-08-18T23:00:00.000-07:002014-01-22T04:28:28.899-08:00Blog Tour and Review - 'Her Dear and Loving Husband' by Meredith Allard<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3602" alt="Her Dear & Loving Husband Banner" src="http://bestchicklit.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Her-Dear-Loving-Husband-Banner.jpg" width="600" height="150" /><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Welcome to the blog tour for Her Dear and Loving Husband, a historical romance novel with a paranormal twist ...</strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Her Dear & Loving Husband (The Loving Husband Trilogy Book 1) – Meredith Allard</strong></span></p><br/><strong>What they say:</strong><br/><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-3597" alt="Unknown-204" src="http://bestchicklit.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Unknown-204.jpeg" width="183" height="275" />‘James Wentworth has a secret. He lives quietly in Salem, Massachusetts, making few ties with anyone. One night his private world is turned upside down when he meets Sarah Alexander, a dead ringer for his wife, Elizabeth. Though it has been years since Elizabeth's death, James cannot move on.<br/><br/>Sarah also has a secret. She is haunted by nightmares about the Salem Witch Trials, and every night she is awakened by visions of hangings, being arrested, and dying in jail. Despite the obstacles of their secrets, James and Sarah fall in love. As James comes to terms with his feelings for Sarah, he must dodge accusations from a reporter desperate to prove that James is not who, or what, he seems to be. Soon James and Sarah piece their stories together and discover a mystery that may bind them in ways they never imagined. Do vampires and witches live in Salem? Will James make the ultimate sacrifice to protect Sarah and prevent a new hunt from bringing hysteria to Salem again?<br/><br/>Part historical fiction, part romance, part paranormal fantasy, Her Dear and Loving Husband is a story for anyone who believes that true love never dies.’<br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004UVQOBO/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B004UVQOBO&linkCode=as2&tag=bestccom0a-21">~ Click Here To Buy This Book - UK</a> ~<img style="border:none !important;margin:0!important;" alt="" src="http://ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=bestccom0a-21&l=as2&o=2&a=B004UVQOBO" width="1" height="1" border="0" /></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004UVQOBO/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B004UVQOBO&linkCode=as2&tag=bestccom0f-20">~ Click Here To Buy This Book - US ~</a><span style="color:#ff0000;"><br/></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>My Review - 'Her Dear & Loving Husband (Loving Husband #1)' by Meredith Allard ~ 5 Stars!</strong></span></p><br/>‘Her Dear and Loving Husband’ was a stunning novel, and a heart-warming journey to read.<br/><br/>Infused with a beautiful and heart-warming love story, this book is a definite must for everyone who believes that true love never dies, even after the death of the body. ‘Her Dear and Loving Husband’ tells the beautiful spiritual tale of love after death and having a second chance with the one you love.<br/><br/>I loved the characters that I was introduced to throughout the novel, and I really felt connected to Sarah as she struggles to make a place for herself in Salem after the breakdown of her marriage, and sympathised with her desire to avoid making any romantic connections for the foreseeable future.<br/><br/>I can’t say how impressed I was with the cleverly written dreams that Sarah has. Meredith Allard presented a realistic, and scary image of the Salem Witch Trials, and these sequences were brilliantly contrasted with the writing style of the present day action. The voices and speech of the past was clearly well researched, and made the reading experience so much more believable, and making me feel as though I was actually there in that era. Brilliantly done!<br/><br/>I loved the elements of fantasy that were introduced throughout the novel, which although made up a large part of the story, what with our discovery of James’ true form, and Jennifer and Olivia’s true powers, didn’t seem forced or unrealistic. Not once when reading this book did I think that the fantasy elements were taken too far, and I really admire the author for being able to balance the fantasy and contemporary storylines so well.<br/><br/>The spiritual past life elements were spoken of in a way that made the idea of past lives seem not only possible, but probable. I think this story will resonate greatly with pagans, like myself, those who are interested in the worlds other, unseen elements, and those who believe that there is more to life than what we are told.<br/><br/>I adored James as a character, and greatly admired the devotion he had for his long dead wife, and how he made it his mission to prove to Sarah that he loved her for herself and not because of the possible connection between her and his wife. The scenes that were written after the death of James’ wife were heartbreaking and poignant, and shows the struggle that people who are left behind after the death of their loved ones must face. I cried when I read some of the simple yet overpowering lines.<br/><br/><i>“I miss my Lizzie.”</i><br/><br/>This story was cleverly crafted and in some ways I’d describe it as a suspense or thriller. There was a real focus on the issues that have been brought to the world’s attention since the days of the Witch Trials, and Meredith Allard showed a heartbreaking reality where we see the true dangers of stigmatism and prejudice. One worry or fear of something that can’t be seen or explained, can easily turn communities against each other, eradicate whole towns, and kill innocent men, women and children in the crossfire. It was a powerful message that gave me chills.<br/><br/>The pace of the novel was perfectly set, making the story a fluid and believable journey to read. It was a fantastic and beautifully written story, with an incredible amount of feeling put into every word.<br/><br/>5 Stars and a definite recommended read!<br/><p style="text-align:center;">~</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>***GIVEAWAYS***</strong></span></p><br/><strong><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-3601" alt="Unknown-201" src="http://bestchicklit.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Unknown-201.jpeg" width="181" height="278" />Win</strong> <strong>a copy of The Salem Witch Trials: A Day by Day Chronicles of a Community Under Siege by Marilynne K. Roach. This is a factual book Meredith used to research the Salem Witch Trials:</strong><br/><br/><strong>What they say:</strong><br/>‘Based on over twenty years of original archival research, this history unfolds a nearly day-by-day narrative of the Salem Witch Trials as the citizens of Salem experienced the outbreak of hysteria.’<br/><br/>Entry via Rafflecopter. Giveaway open to US residents only and closes on August 27th.<br/><br/><a class="rafl" id="rc-4a377217" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4a377217/" rel="nofollow">A Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br/><strong>Win</strong> <strong>a dinner for 2 at Salem’s very own Adriatic Restaurant & Bar!</strong> Enter our giveaway and you could be the lucky winner of a sumptuous meal for 2 at Mediterranean eatery Adriactic Restaurant & Bar. Set within a warm interior, you’ll not only be treated to excellent, fresh cuisine but you’ll also find yourself in the heart of Her Dear & Loving Husband’s setting. Entry via Rafflecopter. Givea<strong><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-3600" alt="final" src="http://bestchicklit.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/final-300x136.jpg" width="300" height="136" /></strong>way is for food only. Airfare is not included. Closes on August 27th.<br/><br/>A<a class="rafl" id="rc-4a377218" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4a377218/" rel="nofollow">Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br/><br/><strong>Win 1 of 5 e-copies of Her Dear & Loving Husband by Meredith Allard</strong><br/><br/>Entry via Rafflecopter. Closes on August 27th.<br/><br/><a class="rafl" id="rc-4a377219" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4a377219/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br/><br/><strong>Author Bio – Meredith Allard:</strong><br/><br/><strong><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-3596" alt="Author Photo" src="http://bestchicklit.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Author-Photo-240x300.jpg" width="240" height="300" /></strong><br/><br/>Since 2000, Meredith Allard has been the Executive Editor of The Copperfield Review, an award-winning literary journal for readers and writers of historical fiction. She received her B.A. and M.A. degrees in English from California State University, Northridge, and she has taught creative writing and writing historical fiction seminars at Learning Tree University, UNLV, and the Las Vegas Writers Conference.<br/><br/>Her short fiction and articles have appeared in journals such as The Paumanok Review, Moondance, Wild Mind, Muse Apprentice Guild, Writers Weekly, CarbLite, and ViewsHound. She is the author of the Amazon Best-Selling Loving Husband Trilogy, as well as the historical novels Victory Garden, Woman of Stones, and My Brother’s Battle.<br/><br/>Victory Garden and Woman of Stones have also been Amazon Best-Sellers in the Historical Fiction and Religious Fiction categories.<br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Find out more about The Loving Husband Trilogy:</strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007W8GYR6/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B007W8GYR6&linkCode=as2&tag=bestccom0a-21"><img class="alignnone" style="border:0;" alt="" src="http://ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B007W8GYR6&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=GB&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=bestccom0a-21" width="107" height="160" border="0" /></a> <img style="border:none !important;margin:0!important;" alt="" src="http://ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=bestccom0a-21&l=as2&o=2&a=B007W8GYR6" width="1" height="1" border="0" /><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00CFA0RJW/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B00CFA0RJW&linkCode=as2&tag=bestccom0a-21"><img class="alignnone" style="border:0;" alt="" src="http://ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00CFA0RJW&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=GB&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=bestccom0a-21" width="107" height="160" border="0" /></a><img style="border:none !important;margin:0!important;" alt="" src="http://ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=bestccom0a-21&l=as2&o=2&a=B00CFA0RJW" width="1" height="1" border="0" /></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Find Meredith Allard:</strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://meredithallard.com" target="_blank">~ Website </a>~<br/>~ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/authormeredithallard" target="_blank">Facebook</a> ~<br/>~ <a href="https://twitter.com/copperfield101" target="_blank">Twitter</a> ~<br/>~ <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4866638.Meredith_Allard" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> ~</p>Sorcha O'Dowdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265397147755909836noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1771502698634476019.post-75253700942684280152013-08-09T12:58:00.000-07:002014-01-22T04:28:28.836-08:00Book Review ~ 'The Selkie Spell (Seal Island Trilogy #1)' by Sophie
Moss.<p style="text-align:center;"></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/the-selkie-spell-seal-island-trilogy-1-by-sophie-moss.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1007" alt="The Selkie Spell (Seal Island Trilogy #1) by Sophie Moss" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/the-selkie-spell-seal-island-trilogy-1-by-sophie-moss.jpg?w=194" width="238" height="368" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Book Review - 'The Selkie Spell (Seal Island Trilogy #1)' by Sophie Moss ~ 5 Stars!<br/></strong></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Well wow! What an AMAZING book! Why did I wait so long to read this?</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I absolutely adored Sophie Moss' fluid and stunning writing style with beautifully detailed prose that linked the story together. It gave an incredible sence of place, and just her wonderful descriptions had me feeling wet sand beneath my feet and the cold foamy ocean lapping over my chilled toes. Stunning, just stunning!</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">The storyline was so cleverly put together with their being a perfect balance between the fantasy elements and the contemporary romance and suspense that formed the story. The care and delicacy with which Sophie Moss wrote of Tara's marital abuse whilst also painting a harsh, terrifying and realistic view of this issue was done without fault, and perfectly balanced with the strength that Tara had to find within herself and the connection her story had with that of the Island's Selkie.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Her relationship with Dominick was paced perfectly, and I loved the turbulent start they had when he was distrustful of her and protective of further harm to his family and friends. His continued scepticism of her intentions was great fun to read, as I loved witnessing his harsh mask occasionally falling away as he noticed her vulnerability, and he felt himself fighting between his head and heart.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I loved the balance of the story, with lots of gorgeous descriptions of the Island, the people that Tara slowly begins to trust and befriend, and the everyday life on the small Island, as well as the development of the intriguing Selkie storyline and how Tara fits into the legend. I adored how both Tara and the Selkie's freedom were closely tied to each other, and the final chapters in which the group of main characters desperately struggle to rescue Tara from her abusive husband and free the Selkie was intense and had me gripped and on the edge of my seat.<br/><br/></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I loved all of the characters that we were introduced to on the Island and am excited to see the relationships that are formed between them. I'm especially eager to see Sam again, as I was so intrigued by his character and he provided some great lines, impulsive actions and a hope for further romance with the brilliant Glenna.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">A stunning debut novel from Sophie Moss. 5 Stars and a definite recommended read!</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13020731-the-selkie-spell?ac=1"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-832" alt="goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png" width="130" height="41" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>'The Selkie Spell' is the first book in the 'Seal Island Trilogy' and is available to buy on Kindle and in Paperback.</strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">~<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Selkie-Spell-Island-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00642RLC8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1376078114&sr=8-3&keywords=the+selkie+sorceress">Amazon UK</a> ~ <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Selkie-Spell-Island-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00642RLC8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1376078114&sr=8-3&keywords=the+selkie+sorceress">Amazon US</a> ~</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Follow Author Sophie Moss</strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">~ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SophieMossAuthor?ref=ts&fref=ts">Facebook</a> ~ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5318290.Sophie_Moss">Goodreads</a> ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/SMossWrites">Twitter</a> ~ <a href="http://www.sophiemosswrites.com/">Website</a> ~</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"></p>Sorcha O'Dowdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265397147755909836noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1771502698634476019.post-13990780883738990042013-08-08T04:37:00.000-07:002014-01-22T04:28:28.798-08:00Book Review - 'Of Water and Madness (Dryad Quartet #4)' by Katie
Jennings.<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/of-water-and-madness-dryad-quartet-4-by-katie-jennings.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-988" alt="Of Water and Madness (Dryad Quartet #4) by Katie Jennings" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/of-water-and-madness-dryad-quartet-4-by-katie-jennings.jpg?w=193" width="260" height="404" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Book Review - 'Of Water and Madness (Dryad Quartet #4)' by Katie Jennings ~ 6 Stars!</strong></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Here I am again, struggling to express just how much I loved this book, this series, and all the characters that have been shaped so wonderfully.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">As I returned to the world of Euphora for its last story, I felt both emotional and desperately sad. Emotional for having witnessed the amazing journeys these characters have gone through, and sad that their stories were drawing to a close.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">‘Of Water and Madness’ tells Liam’s story as a Water Dryad. Since reading Rhiannon’s story in ‘A Life Earthbound’ I’ve been eagerly awaiting reading Liam’s point of view on their relationship.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Liam’s story is both as witty and clever as I’d expected. His desire to have fun and be a good, hard working Dryad is commendable and I loved the influence his ‘happy go lucky’ personality had on Rhiannon, as we see her further blossoming though Liam’s love and devotion.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">The way all of the Dryad’s were now closer, especially Blythe and Rhiannon, despite their still sceptical attitudes towards each other was heart-warming, as I’ve been hoping for a reunion between the dryads without past grievances and issues getting in their way. Blythe looking out for Rhiannon during Capri’s wedding and calling her ‘honey’ had me tearful and so happy despite the reason that Blythe’s comfort was necessary.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Liam’s story in this book broke my heart. To see him become nothing more than a puppet through dark magic, yet still fighting in his mind for Rhiannon was beautifully written. I was so connected to Rhiannon’s character that I felt her pain as my own and felt angry at Thea for not taking Liam’s out of character behaviour more seriously.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">It is a credit to Katie Jennings as a writer that she can make me feel so many emotions all at once, something that I haven’t experienced since reading each Harry Potter book for the first time.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">The conclusion to this story was brilliantly written as the awaited battle finally arrives, and despite the formation of cliques among the inhabitants of Euphora, and the bitter rivalries that have been forged, all of the characters fight as one for each other and for their home. It was brilliant to see characters who hated each other take arms and fight together.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Without giving too much away, I especially loved reading further about Capri and Rian, whose relationship is so beautiful and devoted that I now hold out hope for my own Rian.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">All I can say now is how grateful I am to the author for taking me on such an incredibly beautiful, emotional and fantastical journey which I know will be a part of me forever. 'Of Water and Madness' was such a beautiful conclusion to the Dryad Quartet and reading Liam's story was just as brilliant as I hoped it would be!</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">6 Stars and if you haven’t read this series yet, what are you waiting for? Links below!</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15704386-of-water-and-madness?ac=1"><br/><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-832" alt="goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png" width="130" height="41" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>'Of Water and Madness' is the Book Four in the 'Dryad Quartet' and is available on Kindle and in Paperback</strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Water-Madness-Dryad-Quartet-ebook/dp/B008BIGNQ8/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1375961166&sr=8-4&keywords=of+water+and+madness"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-828" alt="amazon" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/amazon.gif" width="137" height="28" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Water-Madness-Dryad-Quartet-ebook/dp/B008BIGNQ8/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1375961166&sr=8-4&keywords=of+water+and+madness"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-830" alt="amazon1" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/amazon1.gif" width="138" height="32" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>'The Dryad Quartet Special Edition' is a compilation edition where you can get all four books (Breath of Air, Firefight in Darkness, A Life Earthbound, and Of Water and Madness) in one book. This edition also includes beautiful illustrations and a brand new epilogue scene! The Special Edition compilation is available on Kindle and in Paperback.</strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Dryad-Quartet-Special-Edition/dp/0615737803/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1375961223&sr=8-2&keywords=dryad+quartet"><img alt="amazon" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/amazon.gif" width="137" height="28" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Dryad-Quartet-Special-Edition/dp/0615737803/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1375961223&sr=8-2&keywords=dryad+quartet"><img alt="amazon1" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/amazon1.gif" width="139" height="31" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><br/>~ See My Reviews for; ~</strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">~ <a href="http://oldvictorianquill.wordpress.com/2013/04/23/book-review-breath-of-air-dryad-quartet-1-by-katie-jennings/">Breath of Air (Dryad Quartet #1</a>) ~</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">~ <a href="http://oldvictorianquill.wordpress.com/2013/05/02/book-review-firefight-in-darkness-dryad-quartet-2-by-katie-jennings/">Firefight in Darkness (Dryad Quartet #2)</a> ~</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">~ <a href="http://oldvictorianquill.wordpress.com/2013/07/05/book-review-a-life-earthbound-dryad-quartet-3-by-katie-jennings/">A Life Earthbound (Dryad Quartet #3)</a> ~</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><br/>~ Follow Author Katie Jennings ~</strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">~ <a href="http://katieajennings.wordpress.com/">Blog</a> ~ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/authorkatiejennings?fref=ts">Facebook</a> ~ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5825906.Katie_Jennings">Goodreads</a> ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/dryadquartet">Twitter</a> ~ <a href="http://www.katieajennings.com/">Website</a> ~</p>Sorcha O'Dowdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265397147755909836noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1771502698634476019.post-78195303077520876812013-08-08T03:18:00.000-07:002014-01-22T04:28:28.769-08:00Book Review - 'Sunlounger' by Belinda Jones Travel Club.<p style="text-align:center;" align="center"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/sunlounger-by-belinda-jones-travel-club.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-981" alt="Sunlounger by Belinda Jones Travel Club" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/sunlounger-by-belinda-jones-travel-club.jpg?w=218" width="256" height="352" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;" align="center"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final21.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1323" alt="FINAL2" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final21.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;" align="center"><b><span style="text-decoration:underline;">'Sunlounger’ by Belinda Jones Travel Club ~ 5 Stars!</span></b></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;" align="center">I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">When my parents went off on a two week holiday to Italy without me, major jealousy issues ensued. However after having read ‘Sunlounger’, when I received their postcard from ‘Sorrento, Italy’, I could only laugh and think, ‘Oh, I’ve been there, and Ibiza, Turkey, Australia, Greece, Spain, Cairo, Argentina, Paris, Mexico, Marrikesh, Mauritius, Jamaica, Thailand, Brazil, Cambodia, Iceland, Russia, Dubai and Mallorca. So there!’</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">This was a wonderful collection of stories to read, and I absolutely loved each one. There were those that were downright hilarious, so hilarious that I literally cackled like a lunatic whilst reading them. There were those that were shockingly sad and emotional, those that made me cry, those that gave me a warm glow and those that made me think ‘Wow!’.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">But most of all, every single story made me think ‘I would love to go there.’</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I loved how all the writers approached the holiday prompt and had their story give a different message. For example, some of the stories were romantic comedies, but all spoke to the reader in a different way.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">All the stories brilliantly depicted the cultural barriers that travellers face when in a different country for the first time. One that really resonated with me in this way was Carrie Duffy’s<b> </b>‘At First Sight’ (Holiday Destination – Dubai) where an interior designer who is married to her work, is ushered into a shop of robes and experiences a glimpse of the life of a Dubai women, where she is covered head to toe with only her eyes on display. It was a brilliant story that showed just how different life is in different cultures. A man in Dubai may fall in love with a woman after only glimpsing her eyes, whereas in other cultures, there tends to be a focus on entire body image.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Kate Guest’s ‘Hanoi Jane’ (Holiday Destination – Vietnam) was great fun as we see character Jane defy the health laws of the country and skip out onto her very own adventure with loveable American Toby. It was both hilarious and dealt with serious issues. I loved it!</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Two stories that particularly express the dangers of travelling to other countries were Kate Harrison’s ‘Holiday Reading’ (Holiday Destination – Barcelona, Spain), where we see the dangers of women being prey to muggers, and Wendy Rigg’s ‘From Elvissa With Love’ (Holiday Destination – Ibiza) which describes the dangers of young girls travelling alone, being captured and forced into illegal activities in order to gain their freedom. Sadly these are real issues that face travellers today, and I liked how these stories subtly expressed these warnings without forcing the information on you.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Rosie Blake’s story ‘Ice, Ice Baby’ (Holiday Destination – Iceland) had me in fits of laughter throughout, starting with realistic glimpses of the everyday life of a couple, with them greeting each other in the morning with grunts, yet how despite their petty arguments, are still in love and can be incredibly romantic when the occassion calls for it.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Valerie-Anne Baglietto’s heartbreaking story ‘Genie of the Rock’ (Holiday Destination – Gibraltar) tells the tale of a young recently widowed woman having a miracle happen, and the story really touched me. There was an added element of fantasy that wasn’t too overpowering and gave a wonderful balance to the story, which made it both realistic and magical. Despite this being the second story of the forty-four in the book, this story stayed with me right till the end.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">The award for 'Story that had me most intrigued' and 'wishing for a whole novel devoted to the story,' was Margaret James' ‘The Anniversary’ (Holiday Destination – Tuscany, Italy)<b>. </b>I loved the mystery infused within the story and how the reader is left guessing and pondering over what exactly happened. Who was the man and why was the woman his ‘project’? Why and how did the events happen the same day every year? And what was the woman’s accident she mentioned? It was a brilliant mysterious and heart-wrenching story that I adored!</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I am a sucker for friends turned lovers stories, and loved Pernille Hughes' ‘Fia McQueen’s Great Escape’ (Holiday Destination – Mauritius) where we see a young girl Fia grieving after being jilted by her fiancé, and is brought back to life by her closest friend Simon. It was a funny, touching and heart-warming story.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">And not all of the stories had a happily-ever-after. I really connected to some of the deep emotional stories where I could feel the writer’s pain as I read, as though they had literally poured their soul into their characters. ‘Love at First Kiss’ by Lisa Heidki (Holiday Destination – Venice, Italy & Sydney, Australia) was a moving story about a woman pining after a man who she kissed whilst holidaying in Venice. Seeing her unable to move on and live in the present was sad, and although there was no romantic reunion at the end of the story, I rejoiced to see the heroine realise that she needed to find a better place for herself. A stunning piece of writing.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Holly Martins ‘One Hundred Proposals’ (Holiday Destination – Australia) was a fantastic addition to the book, which makes the reader really think about what they themselves want. What is the Perfect Proposal? And what makes it perfect? A brilliant story!</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">And what better way to send off the readers than with Tiffany Wright’s work of art ‘Signs from Sydney’ (Holiday Destination – Sydney, Australia). This was a brilliant story about the journey of self-discovery and had the greatest twist at the end that had me swooning and squealing in equal measure.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">‘Sunlounger’ has taken me on my very own holiday this year and has made me laugh, cry, ponder life, and rethink romantic displays of affection (I’m so climbing a tree to get a lime for a guy’s beer one day. Just to see the look on his face! As seen in Emily O'Neill's 'La Posada Amor' (Holiday Destination - Mexico)) I wish I could talk about every story in detail because I loved them all so much, like Nicola Moriarty’s ‘The Red Glove’ (Holiday Destination – Australia) and Miranda Dickinson’s ‘Midnight in St. Petersburg’ (Holiday Destination – St Petersburg, Russia) but I’ll just give a mention to every other author who contributed, as I loved every single one of these stories!</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">5 Stars, and a definite recommended read!</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18137021-sunlounger"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-832" alt="goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png" width="130" height="41" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">----</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final61.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1327" alt="FINAL6" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final61.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="82" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>'Sunlounger' is available now to download on Kindle</strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">~ <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/SUNLOUNGER-Ultimate-Beach-Read-ebook/dp/B00DP3R99Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375957093&sr=8-1&keywords=sunlounger+belinda+jones">Amazon UK</a> ~ <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/SUNLOUNGER-Ultimate-Beach-Read-ebook/dp/B00DP3R99Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375957093&sr=8-1&keywords=sunlounger+belinda+jones">Amazon US</a> ~</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">----</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final31.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1324" alt="FINAL3" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final31.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>To find out more about this project click the link below.<br/></strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>~ <a href="http://www.va-va-vacation.com/team-sunlounger">Website </a>~</strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">----</p>Sorcha O'Dowdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265397147755909836noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1771502698634476019.post-69519582755113431692013-07-05T06:24:00.000-07:002014-01-22T04:28:27.745-08:00Book Review - 'A Life Earthbound (Dryad Quartet #3)' by Katie Jennings.<p style="text-align:left;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/a-life-earthbound-dryad-quartet-3-by-katie-jennings.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image aligncenter" id="i-931" alt="Image" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/a-life-earthbound-dryad-quartet-3-by-katie-jennings.jpg?w=297" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Book Review - 'A Life Earthbound (Dryad Quartet #3)' by Katie Jennings ~ 5 Stars!</strong></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Here I am again, completely speechless and awestruck at how much I love this series. ‘A Life Earthbound’ is the third book in the ‘Dryad Quartet’ by Katie Jennings, and quite honestly nothing makes me happier than this book, so much so that I was crying emotionally when I finished it purely because I had been so happy reading it.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Since the beginning of the series, I have always loved Rhiannon’s character and was desperately sad to see how Blythe thought of her in ‘Firefight in Darkness’. Where I feel many readers may have viewed her as self-important and snobby, I always saw through this front she presented to the world and really wanted to know more about her lonely character. ‘A Life Earthbound’ was such a beautiful tale in which we finally see the true Rhiannon.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I really connected to Rhiannon’s character in this book and maybe due to being quite similar in some respects, I really sympathised with how her hard upbringing had caused her to have a focused view of life and a unromantic view of love and marriage. Most people will identify with wanting to make their parents happy, but Rhiannon, instead of being the selfish girl that Blythe portrays her to be, is actually the most selfless person in the series. Where Capri is so easy to like due to her innocence and sweet nature, Rhiannon is quiet in her caring for others and puts herself on the line to help others silently, meaning her true kindness is not made clear to everybody, and she is misunderstood. A scene that broke my heart was Rhiannon using her own saved money to pay for a shopping trip with her sister because she didn’t want to cause any problems by asking her parents for money. Rhiannon’s scenes with Dante also showed just how much she is undervalued compared to the characters of the other dryads, despite her utter devotion to her calling, and her natural skill.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Rhiannon’s relationship with Liam was one that I have been eagerly awaiting since I started the series. If anyone could help Rhiannon become a young girl who could live and love, it is Liam. Their scenes together were beautiful and I loved seeing how their relationship developed throughout their early childhood. Unlike the other books so far, ‘A Life Earthbound’ starts at Rhiannon’s birth and follows her story until adulthood. It was heartbreaking to see how Serendipity’s indifference to her daughter caused Rhiannon to believe that she was not worthy of love, and it was somehow her own fault. Her fear of allowing herself to feel love for those around her was constant throughout the novel and I really enjoyed following her story, which although was not as action-packed as Blythe’s, showed a beautiful flourishing that had my heart pounding in my chest, and me reaching for a box of tissues at regular intervals.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I felt so strongly in this storyline, perhaps more so than in the last two books as I felt that all the hurt that Rhiannon felt, I felt too. When Jax, in passionate defence of Blythe, cruelly insulted Rhiannon, I felt my own heart break and my own tears fall as though they were aimed at me. Katie Jennings has a wonderful skill in really making the reader connect with the characters and I don’t just feel as though I have read a book, but have lived the story as the characters have.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">This was such a stunning piece of literature, and I absolutely love losing myself in the world of Euphora, and this book in particular really resonated in me, and I was so glad to have facts that backed up why I have always loved Rhiannon’s character.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">And a special note to Katie Jennings; thank you so much for Capri’s announcement in the last chapter, that made my day!</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">A stunning, beautiful tale of love and sacrifice.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Five dazzling, shiny stars!</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15704379-a-life-earthbound"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-832" alt="goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png" width="130" height="41" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>'A Life Earthbound' is the third book in the 'Dryad Quartet' and is available to buy both on Kindle and in Paperback.</strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Earthbound-Dryad-Quartet-ebook/dp/B008BICUWE/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1366715750&sr=1-2&keywords=the+dryad+quartet"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-828" alt="amazon" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/amazon.gif" width="137" height="28" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Life-Earthbound-Dryad-Quartet-ebook/dp/B008BICUWE/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1366715750&sr=1-2&keywords=the+dryad+quartet"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-830" alt="amazon1" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/amazon1.gif" width="120" height="28" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Follow Author Katie Jennings</strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">~ <a href="http://katieajennings.wordpress.com/">Blog </a>~ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/authorkatiejennings?fref=ts">Facebook</a> ~ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5825906.Katie_Jennings">Goodreads </a>~ <a href="https://twitter.com/dryadquartet">Twitter</a> ~ <a href="http://www.katieajennings.com/http://">Website</a> ~</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"></p>Sorcha O'Dowdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265397147755909836noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1771502698634476019.post-8184878399459449002013-06-26T22:00:00.000-07:002014-01-22T04:28:27.682-08:00'Illicit Love (Marlow Intrigues #1)' by Jane Lark ~ Blog Tour and
Review!<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="aligncenter" alt="Illicit Love banner copy" src="http://bestchicklit.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Illicit-Love-banner-copy.jpg" width="500" height="275" /></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">'Illicit Love (Marlow Intrigues #1)' by Jane Lark Blog Tour!</span></strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Welcome to Stop One on the Illicit Love blog tour! Jane Lark is celebrating her first instalment in the Marlow Intrigues series with a HUGE giveaway - including a one night stay in London's Regency Hotel, a novella, Amazon gift voucher, signed copies of Illicit Love and plenty of swag!</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Illicit Love - What they say:</span> </strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><img class="aligncenter" alt="Unknown-95" src="http://bestchicklit.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Unknown-95.jpeg" width="183" height="275" /></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">'Ellen Harding longs to be free of the life she is trapped in - her husband died at the battle of Waterloo and her family disowned her and now she lives under the reign of a cruel protector. When her eyes are drawn to a beautiful man for no other reason than his looks, she imagines escaping her chains for a night by giving her body to him – to a man of her choosing – even if only to infuriate her captor.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">But Edward Marlow is kind and gentle when he touches her and her subconscious whispers that this man could save her. Yet how can he help her when she has secrets which prevent her ever being free. She has too many battles to fight.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Edward is restless, lonely and a little angry with his lot in life – it is his only excuse for being drawn to another man’s mistress. The woman’s dark hair and pale eyes are striking and he cannot take his gaze off of her while she watches him over the top of a fan with an illicit intent in her eyes. But once he’s known her he cannot forget her - and once he’s seen how brutal her protector is, how can leave her with the man? But she will not run anymore than she will speak of her past, so how can he help her…'</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00CKGRD4I/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B00CKGRD4I&linkCode=as2&tag=bestccom0a-21">Click Here To Buy This Book - UK</a><img style="border:none !important;margin:0!important;" alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=bestccom0a-21&l=as2&o=2&a=B00CKGRD4I" width="1" height="1" border="0" /></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CKGRD4I/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00CKGRD4I&linkCode=as2&tag=bestccom0f-20">Click Here To Buy This Book - US</a><img class="aligncenter" style="border:none !important;margin:0!important;" alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=bestccom0f-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00CKGRD4I" width="1" height="1" border="0" /></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><img style="line-height:18px;" alt="72Bookcover" src="http://bestchicklit.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/72Bookcover-187x300.jpg" width="187" height="300" /></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong> Check Out Jane's <strong>New Novella Available At Amazon:</strong></strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Captured Love - What they say:</strong></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">'Rupert Stanforth, Earl of Morton, is missing his cousin’s company. He has too many burdens weighing down his shoulders, including the task of finding his sister, Rowena, a husband.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Meredith Divine has one friend in all the world, Lady Rowena Stanforth. She clings to their friendship as though it is a rope, when she is drowning in a lake of social isolation. Even Rowena’s elder brother cannot stand Meredith. Everyone judges her poorly, simply because her father is in trade. But despite Lord Morton’s constant rejection, Meredith’s heart still favors Rowena’s proud, judgmental brother.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Lord Morton would break the friendship his sister has with Miss Divine if he could, but the more he disparages Miss Divine, the more Rowena favors the girl. He’s ceased his complaints, in the hope the friendship would wither and die, believing the girl would make a wrong step soon. He just did not anticipate what that step might be...'</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Want To Win A Night In London's </strong><strong>Regency Hotel?</strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">The Regency Hotel has been kind enough to support the Illicit Love blog tour by donating a one night stay for two lucky winners this August! Located in the Royal Borough of Chelsea and Kensington, you could find yourself relaxing in one of hotel's plush new bedrooms or sampling the delights of their incredible traditional afternoon teas.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><img alt="121007_1020" src="http://bestchicklit.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/121007_1020-150x150.jpg" width="150" height="150" /> <img alt="121007_2003" src="http://bestchicklit.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/121007_2003-150x150.jpg" width="150" height="150" /> <img alt="Club" src="http://bestchicklit.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Club-150x150.jpg" width="150" height="150" /></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Readers have plenty of chances to win:</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Either entry via the Rafflecopter below AND/OR add your review of Illicit Love to Amazon and Goodreads and email the review link to Charlotte@BestChickLit.com.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">The winner will be emailed a voucher, which can be redeemed for stays during August 2013 only. Giveaway closes 19th July 2013.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a id="rc-4a377211" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4a377211/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/about-the-author.gif"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-926" alt="About the Author" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/about-the-author.gif" width="364" height="91" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><img alt="396571_511573772204817_47496660_n" src="http://bestchicklit.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/396571_511573772204817_47496660_n.jpg" width="160" height="160" /><strong></strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Jane is a writer of authentic, passionate and emotional love stories. She began her first historical novel at sixteen, but a life full of adversity derailed her as she lives with the restrictions of Ankylosing Spondylitis. When she finally completed a novel it was because she was determined not to reach forty still saying, I want to write. You might think that Jane was inspired to write by Jane Austen, especially as she lives near Bath in the United Kingdom, but you would be wrong. Jane's favourite author is Anya Seton, and the book that drew her into the bliss of falling into historical imagination was 'Katherine' a story crafted from reality. Jane has drawn on this inspiration to discover other real-life love stories, reading memoirs and letters to capture elements of the past, and she uses them to create more realistic plots. 'Basically I love history and I am sucker for a love story. I love the feeling of falling in love; it's wonderful being able to do it time and time again in fiction.' Jane is also a Chartered Member of the Institute of Personnel and Development in the United Kingdom, and uses this specialist understanding of people to bring her characters to life. Check out Jane's musical inspirations <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNpeK7sDLzE" target="_blank">HERE</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crrOl0egI00" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Follow Jane Lark</strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">~ <a href="http://janelark.wordpress.com/">Blog</a> ~ <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Janelarkauthor">Facebook</a> ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/JaneLark">Twitter </a>~ <a href="http://www.janelark.co.uk/index.html">Website</a> ~</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong><strong style="text-align:left;"><img class="aligncenter" alt="images-167" src="http://bestchicklit.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/images-167-150x150.jpeg" width="150" height="150" />Win £30 (or $40) Amazon Gift Voucher!</strong> E<span style="color:#000000;">ntry via the Rafflecopter below AND/OR add your review of Illicit Love to Amazon and Goodreads and email the review link to Charlotte@BestChickLit.com.<b> </b></span> <a class="rafl" id="rc-4a377212" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4a377212/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a> Giveaway closes 19th July 2013 and is open to UK and USA residents only. <strong>Win One Of Three Swag Packs With Signed Paperback Copy of Illicit Love</strong> Entry via the Rafflecopter below AND/OR add your review of Illicit Love to Amazon and Goodreads and email the review link to Charlotte@BestChickLit.com. <a class="rafl" id="rc-4a377213" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4a377213/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Giveaway closes 19th July.<strong><img class="aligncenter" alt="Illicit Love giveaways" src="http://bestchicklit.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Illicit-Love-giveaways-150x150.jpg" width="150" height="150" /></strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Book Review - 'Illicit Love (Marlow Intrigues #1)' by Jane Lark ~ 5 Stars!</strong></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">A wonderful break from the real world, ‘Illicit Love’ is a beautiful story of the strength of love in the face of adversity and the importance of the bond of family. There is so much that I love about this story but can’t talk about in case it spoils the story development for potential readers, but I will say that this is a superbly written book. I absolutely adored Jane Lark’s writing style, and I am in awe at how beautifully the descriptive prose flowed throughout the novel.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">‘Illicit Love’ is very different to a lot of books in the ‘Historical Romance’ genre, and with its very real characters, I feel it gave a more realistic view of life in an era which most of us tend to think of as extremely romantic. Whilst we all tend to swoon at characters such as Mr. Darcy for their respectful and appropriate treatment of women, I really loved the way that hero Edward Marlow was depicted and particularly how he acts with Ellen during their first meeting. Whilst he abhors the treatment young mistresses receive from their ‘owners’, the author is clear to show that above all else, he is still a man, and despite his virtues he still engages in a sexual relationship with heroine Ellen during their first encounter, even if he later regrets his actions. I think a lot of us tend to forget when reading historical romances that men are still men, no matter what era they were born into, and I loved seeing this different side to a romantic hero.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">From this I loved everything about Edward and Ellen’s relationship, especially how Ellen blossomed when she was in Edward’s company, but also how she feared that he was too good for her. I liked how despite Edward being a few years younger than Ellen, he seemed wiser than his years, and his experience of the real world therefore didn’t make him seem too young for her.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Despite being at risk of being attacked by feminists everywhere, my favourite character was Edward’s brother Robert. From our first glimpse of Robert I found myself so intrigued with his character, and the obvious pain and heartbreak he was hiding behind a mask of disinterest and sarcasm. Whilst I felt furious at his behaviour towards Ellen during their first meetings, I always had hope that his actions were all due to his desire to protect his brother from harm, and I loved how his character developed throughout the course of the story.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">The pace of the novel was so different to many novels, and I really loved it. In many novels you have a huge build-up to the main drama at the end part of the novel, however in ‘Illicit Love’, the story has many peaks and falls in the intensity of the drama, starting well before the mid-way point of the book. It was a brilliant way of keeping the reader’s attention and also giving little snippets of new information that is uncovered from each crisis that is then added together in a stunning conclusion where we finally understand the feelings and actions of the different characters.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">The historical context of the novel was well depicted, and I loved the brilliant descriptions of the clothing of both the men and women. I loved how attention was given to the fashion of the time, as it really helped me to integrate myself into the story and feel myself as part of it, rather than merely reading about it from the outside.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">This was a fantastic read which I highly recommend to all lovers of romance. A superbly written tale of love, loss, family and bravery, this is one not to be missed. 5 Stars!</p>Sorcha O'Dowdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265397147755909836noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1771502698634476019.post-61267913639854808372013-06-17T07:19:00.000-07:002014-01-22T04:28:27.618-08:00Book Review - 'First, I Love You (The Downey Trilogy #1)' by Genevieve
Dewey.<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/first-i-love-you-the-downeys-1-by-genevieve-dewey.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image" id="i-791" alt="Image" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/first-i-love-you-the-downeys-1-by-genevieve-dewey.jpg?w=307" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Book Review - 'First, I Love You (The Downey Trilogy #1)' by Genevieve Dewey ~ 5 Stars!</strong></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">To start, all I can say is WOW! This is an absolutely amazing book that has something for everyone in it. It has a mix of genres including gangster crime, detective, mystery, romance and family. This is a book not to be missed.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I genuinely applaud the author Genevieve Dewey for how incredibly well this book was written. With six main characters and the narration skipping between each character for each chapter, I was worried at first that too many points of view would get confusing especially with this kind of fast-paced detective storyline, but I need not have worried as it was handled superbly, with the different characters stories intertwining brilliantly. I absolutely loved how easily I connected to all the characters, especially those whom you would not expect to appreciate or have any respect for if you hadn't read their story from their point of view.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Reading Mickey's storyline was a real experience for me as it really made me see that even though the gangsters in this story have done bad things, that doesn't necessarily mean that they are people with no feelings. We can see that the love Mickey has for all his children transcends all the feelings he has for his work, and his inability to earn his son Tommy's respect isn't necessarily his own fault, but due to the circumstances and lifestyle that he himself was brought up in. His relationship with Tommy's mother was also brilliantly written, and it really emphasised the importance of family and how the love of a parent can outweigh that of romantic love.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">James and Kiki's storyline was so much fun, and I really connected with Kiki and felt her turmoil at the life she lived, and her worry over her growing relationship with James. At many times I wanted to bang her and James' heads together and just yell at them to talk to each other, which I loved as it really shows how much I connected to the story and the characters. Throughout this book, I also really wanted to reach into the pages and give Tommy a huge hug. I look forward to seeing how his growing friendship with Ginny will develop, as I love the connection they share and how their devotion to their work gets in the way of them taking the next step in their relationship.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">The author's decision to use an epilogue was brilliant, as there are far too many books which end with a cliffhanger and leave you feeling a little let down that you don't get a little closure from the books storyline. This epilogue left me feeling greatly excited for the next book in the series, as it gave me closure to some of the issues that were risen during the first book, and raised intriguing questions that the characters will have to answer in the next book of the series.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Overall this book is a real gem that if I could give more than five stars, I definitely would! It is a beautiful story of love, friendship and most of all family that will have you laughing and crying. Go and check it out! You won't be disappointed.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17859810-first-i-love-you?ac=1"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-832" alt="goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png" width="130" height="41" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>First, I Love You is available to download on Amazon Kindle</strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/First-Love-Downey-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B008FZKTOO/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371478412&sr=1-2&keywords=first%2C+i+love+you"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-828" alt="amazon" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/amazon.gif" width="137" height="28" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/First-Love-Downey-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B008FZKTOO/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1371478412&sr=1-2&keywords=first%2C+i+love+you"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-830" alt="amazon1" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/amazon1.gif" width="134" height="31" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Follow Author Genevieve Dewey</strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">~ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GenevieveDewey">Facebook</a> ~ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6441991.Genevieve_Dewey">Goodreads </a>~ <a href="https://twitter.com/GenevieveDewey">Twitter</a> ~</p>Sorcha O'Dowdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265397147755909836noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1771502698634476019.post-38959681700477679312013-06-11T22:26:00.000-07:002014-01-22T04:28:27.574-08:00'Sunspots' by Karen S. Bell Blog Tour and Review.<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2802" alt="Sunspots Banner" src="http://bestchicklit.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Sunspots-Banner-.jpg" width="500" height="250" /></p><br/><img class="size-full wp-image-2642 alignleft" alt="images-160" src="http://bestchicklit.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/images-160.jpeg" width="186" height="271" /><strong>Sunspots by Karen S. Bell</strong><br/><br/>Sunspots follows the healing journey of a young woman thrown into the horror of losing a spouse. It is a love story of loss and redemption and the ghosts that haunt our lives and our houses. Skirting the genres of magical realism and romance, Sunspots, explores the existence of the afterlife and the paranormal. The story takes the reader on a path of high emotion as the narrator, Aurora, uncovers her husband Jake’s secret life and her own internal conflicts as she matures to self-awareness.<br/><br/>The novel’s tone vacillates from irreverent humor to solemnity as Aurora relates her previous life with Jake and her present challenges. The title refers to the solar maximum which became the backdrop for Aurora’s conception when her hippy parents went to Canada to observe the Aurora Borealis. In name and in spirit, Aurora is connected to the observable and unobservable energy around us. With the help of friends, family, and the ghost of Viola Parker (her home’s original owner), Aurora accepts her fate and the secrets revealed about Jake’s true character. She realizes that in this life she will finally break the cycle of pain caused by her love for this man, Jake Stein, through the centuries.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sunspots-ebook/dp/B00ANBR4TQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370108194&sr=8-1&keywords=Sunspots+Karen+S+Bell">Click here to buy this book – UK</a><br/><br/><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sunspots-ebook/dp/B00ANBR4TQ/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1370108227&sr=8-1&keywords=Sunspots">Click here to buy this book – USA</a><br/><br/><strong><img class="size-full wp-image-2803 alignright" alt="KSB" src="http://bestchicklit.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/KSB.jpeg" width="240" height="249" />Author Bio:</strong><br/><br/>Walking with Elephants was my debut novel in 2010, although I am not new to writing. I was a theater critic and celebrity interviewer for a weekly tabloid in Jacksonville, Fl and I earned a Master’s in Mass Communication from Oklahoma State University. For 15 years I worked in Corporate America as a technical editor/editor/writer. I experienced first hand the politics and intrigue that goes with that territory and the balancing act that comes with being a working mother. I salute all those mothers who are the glue that holds their families together while pursuing the nine to five brass ring. That experience was the inspiration for Walking with Elephants.<br/><br/>With my second novel, Sunspots, I continue to be in awe of the magical and wondrous phenomenon called life. As an observer and obvious participant in feminine values and approach to our human challenges, I bring this perspective to my work. Fascinated by the mysteries of the unseen forces that perhaps play a role in guiding our choices, I search for answers in the mundane as well as in the cosmic forces that surround us.<br/><br/>I am working on my third novel and live in Ponte Vedra, Fl. with my husband and our two furry kids.<br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Book Review - 'Sunspots' by Karen S. Bell.</strong></span></p><br/>I can find no other way to describe ‘Sunspots’ than it being a stunning piece of literature. It is a beautiful and heartbreaking story of a young woman Aurora who loses her husband Jake in a car accident and, during her battle to move on, is confronted with information showing her late husband wasn’t as deserving as she believed.<br/><br/>This story took not only Aurora on a journey but also me as a reader. I felt myself connect so strongly to Aurora and her pain, feeling heartbroken at her grief and a strong desperation for her to find peace with herself at the sudden end of her marriage. Sunspots was so cleverly written and I applaud Karen Bell for taking me on such a journey through her writing that when I finished it I was shaking and sobbing, feeling as though I’d been going through the same trials as the characters.<br/><br/>I sometimes feel sad when I read books where we are made to dislike the main characters original love interest immediately, and then spend the rest of the book looking for her new one, so it was a wonderful and refreshing change to see the development of Aurora and Jake’s relationship from the start, which makes us also in a way connect to Jake and feel hope that he too loved Aurora as much as she did him. This also made me more strongly connect to Aurora as a character, and grieve with her as she starts her new life without her husband.<br/><br/>What I really loved about this story was the glimpses of the past we were given throughout the novel. The switch from the present to the past was expertly done, and I greatly enjoyed how the two storylines unfolded. I was stunned by how cleverly the switches in time were placed within the story, as the chapters of Aurora and Jake’s beautiful courtship and their obvious love for each other coincided with chapters set in the present where Aurora was grieving for the lost love that she thought was perfect, and then as Aurora began to realise that her life with Jake had some issues, the flashbacks to the past showed the less deserving side of Jake which had always slipped through Aurora’s rose-tinted view of her husband. This was incredible storytelling, and helped lead to some brilliant character development.<br/><br/>The paranormal and spiritual side to ‘Sunspots’ was wonderfully balanced and whilst being an important feature in the second half of the book, wasn’t unrealistic in its role. It was instead a beautiful and poignant reminder that there is more to this world than we always realise, and didn’t at all detract from Aurora’s storyline of her finding acceptance. I loved the past-life elements that were infused within the story and there was some brilliant use of foreshadowing in the flashback chapters that all adds together in the final chapters.<br/><br/>I cannot recommend ‘Sunspots’ enough, and if I could give it more than 5 stars, then I definitely would. It is a beautiful journey of love, loss, grief and acceptance, which portrayed a realistic and heartbreaking view of the world that we live in today.<br/><br/>5 Stars!<br/><br/> <br/><br/>Sunspots is available to download on Kindle and to buy in Paperback.<br/><br/> <br/><br/>Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sunspots-ebook/dp/B00ANBR4TQ/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1371817760&sr=8-1<br/><br/>Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Sunspots-ebook/dp/B00ANBR4TQ/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1371817760&sr=8-1Sorcha O'Dowdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265397147755909836noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1771502698634476019.post-16046833069330277832013-05-20T10:40:00.000-07:002014-01-22T04:28:27.453-08:00Book Review - 'The Sea of Tranquility' by Katja Millay.<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/the-sea-of-tranquility-by-katja-millay1.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image" id="i-655" alt="Image" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/the-sea-of-tranquility-by-katja-millay1.jpg?w=307" /></a>,</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"> <span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Book Review - 'The Sea of Tranquility' by Katja Millay ~ 100 Stars!</strong></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">The Sea of Tranquility has been sitting on my Kindle for far too long. Everyone has been raving about how brilliant it is, so I made myself a deal that I would wait until I'd finished University to read it so that I could really throw myself into the story without any distractions.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I can quite honestly say that 'The Sea of Tranquility' is one of the best books I have ever read, if you know my love for Harry Potter and I say that this book was up there on my scale of 1 to amazing, then you’ll know just how much I loved it (a clue: it was a lot). It is very rare that you read a book that speaks to you in such a way that you feel as though your heart and soul is being scrutinised as you turn each page. Reading Nastya and Josh’s story was very much like that. It was a beautiful reminder that no matter what you are going through, there is someone who will be there for you. It was so true to real life and that made the journey all the more wonderful. Everything about this book was pure genius and it was one of those stories that will stay with me forever.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Katja Millay’s writing style was beautiful and so clever. When we first meet Nastya, her narration is short and to the point. Her sentences are rarely longer than a few words, and straight away I knew we were being introduced to a character who was deeply emotionally scarred. I was so deeply engrossed in Nastya’s inner turmoil, that I didn’t even notice the most defining thing about her. It was stunningly clever writing, and I honestly had chills as I read.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><i>“I am so sorry. You must be Nastya.”</i></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><i>This time I nod.</i></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><i>“You don’t talk.”</i></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">The transition of the style of Nastya’s monologue’s was incredibly moving to see, as she grows stronger in herself, and finds herself a home and family with Josh and Drew that her descriptions become more colourful, her sentences longer, and the blunt, daggered tone that we first saw from her became softer and gentler.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I loved the relationship Nastya had with both Josh and Drew. At first I was expecting to greatly dislike Drew, having the suspicion that his respect for Josh wouldn’t be enough for him to stay away from Nastya, so I absolutely loved how Drew, whilst still flirting and generally being his typical male self, really wanted the best for Josh and Nastya. The way Drew seemed to see himself as Nastya’s older brother was wonderful to read. In these kind of books we often get swept up by the main romance of the story, but Nastya and Drew’s relationship was a beautiful reminder that true friends will be there for you, no matter if they are your boyfriend, brother or friend. The Leighton’s kindness to Nastya, by inviting her to Sunday dinner was a real golden lining in Nastya’s world. She is so submerged in pain and rage and anger at what another human being did to her, that she found it hard at first to accept the selfless generosity and kindness that the Leighton’s gave her.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Nastya’s relationship with Josh was such a beautiful journey that had me crying, smiling, laughing, sobbing and just generally an emotional wreck. Their connection because of the trials of their past was heartbreaking, and it was wonderful to see how they both opened up to each other in ways that they couldn’t to anyone else.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><i>“There’s no reason to keep hiding in the bathroom. Hide here. There’s a force field, you know.” He lowers his voice when he says it, like he’s telling me a secret and then just barely hints at a smile that no one but me would catch before he puts it away and sobers, adding quietly, “No one will bother you.”</i></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">There story was a rollercoaster ride, but one that had true meaning in its ups and downs. The scenes when we saw them together, when in Josh’s garage, eating ice cream, wishing with pennies at the fountain, was perfection. Even the scenes when they are arguing or furious with each other, I never felt that it was uncalled for. Everything was placed perfectly.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Let’s just say that after reading such utter perfection, I put my Kindle down and had a long cathartic sob. It was such an incredible piece of writing that took me on a wonderful journey through the highs and lows of life and reminded me to be lucky for what I have, and to never take advantage of it.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">And the ending line, wow! Let’s just say that summed up the whole novel in two words. Go and read it to find out what those words were.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">A stunning piece of perfection is the only way I can describe this book. I can’t wait for it to be released in Paperback, because this is definitely one that I will be rereading for the rest of my life.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">It seems kind of devastating that I can only rate this 5 Stars! In a perfect world, with a scale of 1 to 100 stars, this would rate at 100.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">You can pre-order a Paperback copy of 'The Sea of Tranquility' here:</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">UK Link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sea-Tranquility-Katja-Millay/dp/1476730946/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1369071694&sr=1-1&keywords=the+sea+of+tranquility</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">US Link: http://www.amazon.com/Sea-Tranquility-Katja-Millay/dp/1476730946/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1369071694&sr=1-1&keywords=the+sea+of+tranquility</p>Sorcha O'Dowdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265397147755909836noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1771502698634476019.post-10143063271139136032013-05-07T04:23:00.000-07:002014-01-22T04:28:27.411-08:00Book Review - 'Edgar Wilde and the Lost Grimoire' by Paul Ramey.<p style="text-align:right;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/edgar-wilde-and-the-lost-grimoire-by-paul-ramey.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image aligncenter" id="i-560" alt="Image" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/edgar-wilde-and-the-lost-grimoire-by-paul-ramey.jpg?w=308" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Book Review - 'Edgar Wilde and the Lost Grimoire' by Paul Ramey ~ 5 Stars!</strong></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">'Edgar Wilde and the Lost Grimoire' was such a delight to read! A lot of the time with short books I feel like the story and character development can be rushed in order to keep to a lower wordcount, but Paul Ramey wrote this book expertly, with the storyline and character development perfectly balanced!</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">The storylines alternated between the 1700s and the present day, and the manner in which it was done was brilliant as it didn't detract from the present day story, instead giving you another small clue to solving Edgar, Corinthian and Shelby's present day mystery.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I loved that Edgar is not your typical teenage hero, and for that reason I found myself really connecting to his character. It was nice to see a fifteen year old boy who wasn’t worried about school, girls or social status, but was enthused by historical research, and had a goal that he wanted to achieve. This really made him stand out from his peers, and it was nice to see that not all teenage boys are as arrogant as the ones I used to go to school with. I also chuckled reading some of Edgar's narrative about Shelby, both bewildered and taken with her female charm. It was a refreshing change to see the strange creatures that men see in women.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Shelby is a brilliant example of a young girl who I'd have wanted to be friends with in school. The way she started off by teasing Edgar for his fashion sense and constant presence in the local library made me laugh. A classic example of how girls act when they don't want to seem too obvious! I loved how fiercely loyal she was to Edgar when her friends teased him, and I whooped with delight when she put them in their place.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><em>“We’ve already kissed,” Shelby boasted defiantly. “Last night, in fact. I don’t know where he learned to kiss like that, but he’s pretty amazing. You two don’t know what you’re missing.”</em></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">You go Shelby! Loving a bit of girl power!</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Corinthian's character was also great fun. I liked seeing how fond he was of Edgar, but how little things made us begin to doubt him. Despite some of the bad things he does, I really felt sorry for him. His whole life had been consumed by his desire to find the lost grimoire and when he fails, it makes you wonder what he will do with his life.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">The storyline of the healers and witches was one that I always find thought provoking. Being Pagan myself it breaks my heart to see how these people were treated all because of their desire to help heal the sick. It is often a common reaction to place blame with the church, so it was a wonderful change to see how the reverend was not involved in the witch hunting, and saved the woman he loved despite the fact that it was against the teachings of his religion.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">A wonderful, fun, thought provoking read. A definite recommended read and 5 stars!</p>Sorcha O'Dowdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265397147755909836noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1771502698634476019.post-32009998494158120162013-05-02T05:20:00.000-07:002014-01-22T04:28:27.368-08:00Book Review - 'Firefight in Darkness (Dryad Quartet #2)' by Katie
Jennings.<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/firefight-in-darkness-by-katie-jennings.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image" id="i-536" alt="Image" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/firefight-in-darkness-by-katie-jennings.jpg?w=297" /></a></p><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Book Review - 'Firefight in Darkness (Dryad Quartet #2)' by Katie Jennings ~ 5 Stars!</strong></span></p><p style="text-align:center;">‘Firefight in Darkness’ is the second book in the Dryad Quartet, and is another wonderful piece of art that I find it hard to express just how much I loved it!</p><p style="text-align:center;">I loved reading from Blythe’s point of view, and it was such a dramatic change from Capri’s sweet and innocent narrative in ‘Breath of Air’, that I’m very impressed with how Katie Jennings managed to switch between the two narratives so flawlessly. I loved the differences in how I connected to the characters when switching to Blythe’s view point, and it was refreshing to have the feeling that Blythe is not always right, where with Capri it was easy to see the logic behind her every decision. Instead, Blythe is fiery, demanding and stubborn, and it was great fun to see how she clashed with Jax with her tendency to run into a situation head first without thinking about the consequences.</p><p style="text-align:center;">It also broke my heart to see how Blythe thought of Rhiannon. I loved Rhiannon’s sensitive but lonely character in ‘Breath of Air’, and I found it desperately sad to see how she is shunned by Blythe, through no real fault of her own. I can’t wait to read more about Rhiannon’s character and her story in the third book of the Dryad Quartet.</p><p style="text-align:center;">This story was brilliantly timed, and didn’t rush into the action. We were given time to get an idea of how Blythe thinks and feels, and the desire she has to escape from her problems on Euphora. In many books this stage of storytelling tends to be rushed, but it was perfectly balanced in this story, as I came to really sympathise with Blythe having seen how hard it was for her on Euphora since Brock’s return.</p><p style="text-align:center;">Jax was the perfect hero for this story. Whilst Rian still remains by favourite ever book boyfriend, Jax was perfectly matched for Blythe and I loved that he was good friends with Rian, which was a brilliant device to give Blythe some much needed girl time with Capri. Capri’s excitement at Blythe’s romantic life was brilliant and so true to real life, and I loved how the romantic Capri began to make her friend less cynical, as Blythe finally comes to realise that being in love doesn’t make you a lesser person. The image of Jax and Blythe spending evenings on the porch of his house with Dog, Cooper, for company was heart warming.</p><p style="text-align:center;">I also liked seeing how Capri has grown in this book, becoming more confident in herself, no doubt through help from Rian *sigh* Oh how I love him. Her helping in the final battle by creating a storm was badass and great!</p><p style="text-align:center;">What struck me most with this book was Bristol’s storyline, as told through her diary. It was desperately sad to see how she had been used by two men in her life, and then banished from Euphora, and I felt instantly bad for all the bad things I’d thought about her previously. It was a genius plot device when we see what really happened in the alleyway the night of the raid, and it really hits home in reminding us that not everyone is what they seem, and we should not judge people before we have the whole story.</p><p style="text-align:center;">Yet again I am awestruck by the beautiful world that Katie Jennings has created in her Dryad Quartet, and it is honestly a world that will stay with me forever. 5 Stars!</p>Sorcha O'Dowdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265397147755909836noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1771502698634476019.post-84926360144949367752013-04-23T14:33:00.000-07:002014-01-22T04:28:27.324-08:00Book Review - 'Breath of Air (Dryad Quartet #1)' by Katie Jennings.<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/breath-of-air-dryad-quartet-1-by-katie-jennings.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image" id="i-519" alt="Image" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/breath-of-air-dryad-quartet-1-by-katie-jennings.jpg?w=297" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Book Review - 'Breath of Air (Dryad Quartet #1)' by Katie Jennings ~ 5 Stars!</strong></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I couldn’t wait to read ‘Breath of Air’ after reading all the amazing reviews for it, so after throwing down my dissertation in annoyance I allowed myself to pick up my Kindle, hoping to lose myself in a different world for an hour before getting back to work.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Needless to say, I was hooked and that hour soon turned into four hours, and I was so engrossed with the beautiful storytelling that I didn’t even realise what the time was until my Mum came into my room to tell me she was going to bed.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Whoops. Not much of my dissertation got done that night.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Reading Capri’s story was such a wonderful journey for me. I can’t express how much I loved this book, the characters and the brilliant storyline. The imagery that Katie Jennings used to describe Euphora was purely magical, and I felt almost as though I was there, sleeping in one of the comfy beds, in a beautiful castle that was light, open and peaceful.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I also loved how Capri really grew into a strong and more confident woman throughout the story, after being very shy and timid when she first returns home to Euphora. I also loved her relationship with Blythe and Liam, and how she desperately wanted to help fix the relationship between Blythe and Rhiannon. Her relationship with her father was also beautifully written, and the scenes between these two were so beautifully written that you could feel the emotion coming off the page with Clynn’s relief that his daughter had been returned to him safely and Capri finally feeling that she belongs.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">The mystery storyline was brilliant and the writing was so clever that I was second guessing all the different characters that we had seen, feeling as though no one could be trusted blindly, just like Capri was starting to feel. I loved how the reactions to Capri’s return from the different groups within Euphora had us suspicious about certain individuals from the start, but who ended up being perfectly innocent.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">But most of all, my favourite part of this book was Capri and her relationship with Rian. I was only about 20% into the book, and we had only seen briefly seen Rian twice, when I found myself longing to know more about him and rooting for him. I spent a few of the early chapters in the book worrying that Capri was going to be with Liam and I was getting a little too overinvested in Rian’s character, so I was so happy when I saw Capri’s relationship with Rian develop, slowly but beautifully. The story of Capri giving Rian a flower when she was a baby, and her upset when he refused it, had me ‘awwwing’ in my mind. For me, it seemed that Capri would be the perfect person for Rian, her openness and loving nature a perfect match for Rian’s fiercely loyal but independent manner. Their story was so beautiful, that I had tears in my eyes seeing how Rian began to open up to her and how Capri began to feel as though she’d finally found the family and love that she had been searching for in all her years on earth.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">A brilliant start to the Dryad Quartet. It's difficult to believe that this was Katie Jennings debut novel, as it is such a wonderful piece of art! An absolute pleasure to read. 5 Stars and a definite recommended read. Go buy it NOW!</p>Sorcha O'Dowdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265397147755909836noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1771502698634476019.post-60471278413105478632013-04-11T14:41:00.000-07:002014-01-22T04:28:27.163-08:00The New Melody<p style="text-align:center;"><b><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/563741_10151371220742401_592679889_n.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-460" alt="563741_10151371220742401_592679889_n" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/563741_10151371220742401_592679889_n.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="125" /></a></span></b></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Entry for the Dark Fairy Queen Bridal Shower!</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Congratulations to Anna and Michael! I wish you every joy and happiness together! Here's my gift to you.</p><br/><br/><div style="text-align:center;">Title: <b>The New Melody</b></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;">Author: <strong>Sorcha O'Dowd</strong></div><br/><div style="text-align:center;">E-book: <strong><strong>Yes</strong></strong>*</div><br/>Her fingers gently caressed the keys of the Piano, the thin layer of dust coating her shaking finger tips as she drew them softly over the smooth keys, careful not to press too hard. She stopped, as her right thumb automatically took its place on Middle C, a movement still so natural. Even after so long.<br/><br/><i>“Breathe.” </i>She reminded herself silently, before taking a deep shuddering breath.<br/><br/>She pressed lightly and the echoing sound of the long-since tuned Piano reverberated through the dusty, abandoned room.<br/><br/>Heaving a sob, she pulled her hand back quickly, covering her mouth as she waited for the pain of remembrance to slice through her heart.<br/><br/>It didn’t.<br/><br/>She waited another minute.<br/><br/>Still nothing.<br/><br/>It took another minute before she laughed. A laugh of surprise and...was it <i>hope</i>?<br/><br/>Reaching forward again, she placed both hands on the keys and cautiously began to play.<br/><br/>The notes grew stronger as her fingertips flew across the keys, not at all hindered by the years of abstinence. Notes that told her story. The story of the helpless girl who’d fallen madly and naively in love, the pain of her heart being cruelly crushed, and the despair so deep that she’d existed through a layer of numbness.<br/><br/>But then the sharps and flats of G minor stopped suddenly, replaced by a sweet melody in G major that spoke of friendship, loyalty, and an overwhelming love that had fixed her.<br/><br/>She didn’t stop playing as she sensed him enter the room, just closed her eyes, letting the music flow through her, hoping he would understand the meaning of the melody.<br/><br/>He’d fixed her.<br/><br/>Him.<br/><br/>As the notes began to slow, and gradually faded to nothing, she took a moment to revel in the charged stillness of the room. The echoes of the notes rang, disturbing the dust particles which shone like fireflies in the strip of early morning sunlight that beamed through a gap in the thin, dilapidated curtains.<br/><br/>Finally she turned, smiling softly as she saw him hastily wipe at his eyes. Because he’d been through it too.<br/><br/>He’d been hurt by love.<br/><br/>And she’d fixed him.<br/><br/>Just like he had her.<br/><br/>“Ready to go?” She asked quietly, unwilling to disturb the peace in the room with unnecessary words.<br/><br/>Words had never been necessary with them. A look, or a soft touch to the arm spoke more to them than any words ever could.<br/><br/>So she knew what he was asking from the way he walked towards her, his eyes desperate as he reached for her hand, caressing her fingers softly with his thumb.<br/><br/>“Yes.” She replied to his silent question, feeling her eyes blur with tears of happiness.<br/><br/>“I haven’t asked you yet.” He chided, tears of his own now falling even as a smile grew on his face.<br/><br/>“So ask me then.” She teased.<br/><br/>“I don’t have a ring.” He said, his ice blue eyes apologising even as they twinkled.<br/><br/>“Just ask me.”<br/><br/>So he did.<br/><p style="text-align:center;">*</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"></p>Sorcha O'Dowdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265397147755909836noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1771502698634476019.post-65233349049091538842013-04-02T15:15:00.000-07:002014-01-22T04:28:27.114-08:00Brief Review: 'Afterlife Academy' by Jaimie Admans.<p style="text-align:center;"></p><br/><strong><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final15.jpg"><img class="aligncenter" alt="FINAL15" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final15.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></strong><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/17335477.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image" id="i-401" alt="Image" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/17335477.jpg?w=286" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Afterlife Academy by Jaimie Admans.</strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Humour</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">----</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final31.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1324" alt="FINAL3" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final31.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>SYNOPSIS</strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Even being dead isn’t enough to get you out of maths class.<br/><br/>Dying wasn't on sixteen-year-old Riley Richardson's to-do list. And now, not only is she dead, but she's stuck in a perpetual high school nightmare. Worse still, she's stuck there with the geekiest, most annoying boy in the history of the world, ever.<br/><br/>In a school where the geeks are popular and just about everything is wrong, Riley has become an outcast. She begins a desperate quest to get back home, but her once-perfect life starts to unravel into something not nearly as great as she thought it was. And maybe death isn’t really that bad after all...<br/><br/>Welcome to Afterlife Academy, where horns are the norm, the microwave is more intelligent than the teachers, and the pumpkins have a taste for blood.<br/><br/>- - -<br/><br/><em>Afterlife Academy is a Young Adult paranormal romantic comedy, suitable for approximately ages 14 and up.</em></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18754847-afterlife-academy?ac=1"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1226" alt="goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png" width="130" height="41" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">----</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final21.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1323" alt="FINAL2" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final21.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><span><strong> 'Afterlife Academy' by Jaimie Admans ~ 5 Stars!</strong></span></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Afterlife Academy was a fantastic, amazing book! I know it is said to "never judge a book by its cover", but I'm not ashamed to admit that the beautiful cover of this book only increased my excitement to read it. Add that to Jaimie Admans gripping first paragraph, and I am hooked.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><em><strong>"I have always been a good girl. I’ve always been a girl who never gets into trouble. In fact, the one and only time that I do something even vaguely wrong, do you know what happens? I die."</strong></em></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I was prepared to greatly dislike main character Riley from the start, we learn very early on that despite her opening description of herself, she is not what you would call a 'good girl'. Having been one of the bullied once upon a time, I gritted my teeth at the idea of warming to Riley, a self-confessed bully who revels in the awed attention of others, but I found it impossible not to. Jaimie Admans gives us a beautifully heartfelt insight into the mind of someone who needs redemption, and I loved following Riley's journey to find peace within herself, and with her death and new life in 'Afterlife Academy'.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Another reason that this book is a must-read is the wonderful creation of Anthony, who was very quickly added to my list of fictional crushes.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">5 stars and a definite recommended read.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">----</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final8.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1346" alt="FINAL8" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final8.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/jaimie-admans.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1492" alt="Jaimie Admans" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/jaimie-admans.jpg" width="250" height="251" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Jaimie Admans</strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">~ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jaimieadmansbooks?fref=ts">Facebook</a> ~ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6524232.Jaimie_Admans">Goodreads</a> ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/be_the_spark">Twitter</a> ~ <a href="http://jaimieadmans.com/">Website </a>~</p>Sorcha O'Dowdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265397147755909836noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1771502698634476019.post-1599835050597205732013-01-15T15:29:00.000-08:002014-01-22T04:28:27.015-08:00Book Review - 'Beautiful Disaster' by Jamie McGuire.<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/image.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-227" alt="image" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/image.jpg?w=197" width="197" height="300" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire</strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Beautiful #1</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Genre: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Drama.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">----</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final31.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1324" alt="FINAL3" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final31.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a><br/><strong>SYNOPSIS</strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">NTENSE. DANGEROUS. ADDICTIVE.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University’s Walking One-Night Stand.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby wants—and needs—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11505797-beautiful-disaster?ac=1"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1226" alt="goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png" width="130" height="41" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">----</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final21.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1323" alt="FINAL2" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final21.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful #1) by Jamie McGuire.</strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Well it's taken me a few hours to work through my feelings for this book. It was amazingly written which is why I have it the 5 stars over 4. I really enjoyed it, and I couldn't put it down (I was reading until 3am before I even realised what the time was), but there's something niggling in the back of my mind wondering about why I enjoyed it so much.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I love flawed characters and Abby and Travis are that in a nutshell. I loved the change in Travis when he realised that actually he was capable of loving someone, and that if he didn't win Abby over then he would never be happy. Reading it from Abby's point of view, I loved to feel her confusion and hesitation when it came to Travis, but what I think was bothering me the most when I read it was that I knew that it would have been better for both of them if they had never met, yet still I wanted them to work it out. That is what made this book such a compelling and emotional read, as it really makes you conflicted, just as the characters are too.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Before I read this book I saw some reviews talking about how violent Travis was which made me cautious when I started reading, as I will never condone violence to women in a relationship no matter how upset someone is. But those reviews are completely misleading, yes Travis is violent, but even with that aggressive nature and his ability to be violent to those around him, he has he would never be violent towards Abby, and if he ever was, I couldn't imagine he'd be able to live with himself afterwards.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">What I wold have liked to see was some explanation for why Travis was the way he is. His mother died when Travis was very young, and of course that would have a huge impact on him as he grew up with a dysfunctional family unit, but I felt there should have been more of a reason for why he was so deeply emotionally damaged. Of course this may be explained more fully in the second book written from Travis' points of view 'Walking Disaster'.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">So overall this was an emotional roller coaster of a read, I immensely enjoyed it, but the fact that I was so conflicted with how their relationship progressed and the pain that they both were in when they were together and apart made the book so much more to me than just another book on the 'read' bookshelf, it had engaged me emotionally and made me really think about how life can be. That is what made the book so great, and I'll definitely be checking out more of this author's works. Sadly the only thing that I didn't connect to was the descriptions of Travis' appearance. I couldn't connect to the character as a shaved head for some strange reason and had to imagine him with unruly dark hair before I felt his character come alive to me. Just because, being a student myself, I know that the guys the girls tend to fawn over, much like the girls in this book, tend to have a mop of hair. But that's just me :)</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">So 5/5 for this electric story!</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">----</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final61.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1327" alt="FINAL6" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final61.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="82" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">~ <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beautiful-Disaster-Jamie-McGuire-ebook/dp/B008KL2ITW/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1387376427&sr=8-1&keywords=beautiful+disaster">Amazon UK </a>~ <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Disaster-Jamie-McGuire-ebook/dp/B008KL2ITW/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1387376427&sr=8-1&keywords=beautiful+disaster">Amazon US</a> ~</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">----</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final8.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1346" alt="FINAL8" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final8.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">~ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Jamie.McGuire.Author?fref=ts">Facebook</a> ~ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4464118.Jamie_McGuire">Goodreads</a> ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/JamieMcGuire">Twitter</a> ~ <a href="www.jamiemcguire.com">Website</a> ~</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">----</p>Sorcha O'Dowdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265397147755909836noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1771502698634476019.post-62251504567788860612012-11-23T11:46:00.000-08:002014-01-22T04:28:26.961-08:00The Plan...Starting Now!<p style="text-align:center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">The Plan...Starting Now!</span></strong></p><p style="text-align:center;">1) Sort out my life (AKA My bedroom)<br />2) Don't let other people get me down<br />3) Finish Uni<br />4) Write like there's no tomorrow</p><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/writing1.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image" id="i-198" alt="Image" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/writing1.jpg?w=487" width="496" height="371" /></a></p>Sorcha O'Dowdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265397147755909836noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1771502698634476019.post-72858875386224798792012-11-22T03:53:00.000-08:002014-01-22T04:28:26.940-08:00Book Review - 'No Such Thing as Immortality' by Sarah Tranter.<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/no-such-thing-as-immortality-by-sarah-tranter.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-517" alt="No Such Thing as Immortality by Sarah Tranter" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/no-such-thing-as-immortality-by-sarah-tranter.jpg?w=195" width="234" height="360" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">No Such Thing as Immortality</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">(No Such Thing #1)</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">by Sarah Tranter</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Publisher: <a href="http://www.choc-lit.co.uk">Choc Lit</a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">----</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final31.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1324" alt="FINAL3" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final31.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I will protect you until the day I die … forever!</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">A vampire does not have to feel any emotion not of his choosing. And Nathaniel Gray has spent two hundred years choosing not to feel. But when he accidentally runs Rowan Locke off the road, he is inexplicably flooded with everything she’s feeling, and that’s rage, and lots of it.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">He is consumed with the need to protect Rowan at all costs, including from himself. To Nate what is happening is unthinkable, and is pretty much as unbelievable as the existence of faeries.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">But you see, there is no such thing as … immortality.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">This is Nate’s story …</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16059057-no-such-thing-as-immortality?ac=1"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1226" alt="goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47.png" width="130" height="41" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">----</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final61.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1327" alt="FINAL6" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final61.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="82" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">~ <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Such-Thing-Immortality-Choc-ebook/dp/B00A7092FC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1353585294&sr=8-2">Amazon UK</a> ~ <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Such-Thing-Immortality-Choc-ebook/dp/B00A7092FC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1353585408&sr=1-1 keywords=no+such+thing+as+immortality">Amazon US</a> ~</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">----</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final21.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1323" alt="FINAL2" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/final21.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Book Review ~ 'No Such Thing as Immortality' by Sarah Tranter ~ 5 Stars.</strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Any new Vampire series released is going to get the inevitable ‘Twilight comparison’, and without thinking about it, whether you are a fan or not of Twilight, these comparisons will knock around in your head as you read.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">For me ‘No Such Thing as Immortality’ is 100 times better than Twilight. Not only do the characters show huge emotional depth for acceptable and understandable reasons, rather than just being unreasonably broody, Sarah Tranter’s writing style is fantastic and electric, and I loathed the moments I had to put it down to go to my lectures.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Nate is a lovable and emotionally troubled Vampire, who you just want to drag out of the pages and give a big hug to, although he’s got plenty to keep him occupied from his thoughts what with his (rather awesome) friend James forcing him out onto supposedly deserted roads to race cars.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“<em>Yeeeeesssss!! I just thrashed your anally retentive arse!”</em></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I can not imagine a better first line than that. James is now my new best friend.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">And what happens when immortal men think it’s a good idea to race cars? Yep. A crash happens.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Enter, Rowan Locke.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><em>“You complete and utter moron.”</em></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">This is no weak and feeble Bella Swan, and straight away I’m hoping this will be Nate’s love interest. This is how I want to see a main female character; feisty, able to hold her own, and not content to let a man run her over (quite literally). This is what all girls should do if a man driving recklessly crashes into their car, get out, get angry and scream at them for being so high on testosterone they can’t use their eyes. Of course, in the interests of your personal safety (and that of your foot as illustrated by Rowan) you should probably wait for the police, but I for one was all for it. You go Rowan, make Nate grovel a little.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">The fear Nate experienced feeling all of Rowan’s emotions as his own was beautifully written. You could feel his terror leaping off the page. Imagine having to live for over two hundred years without needing to feel any pain and then have an emotional woman’s every feeling hit you and become like your own. Now, as an emotional woman myself, I can announce that that would be painful.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I loved the development of Nate and Rowan’s relationship. How she could be stubborn and teasing, yet as shy and nervous as you’d expect someone to be when they find someone they like. But I love how she didn’t fall into his arms with a swoon (at his sexy and beautiful Darcy like speech), and she made Nate work for it a bit. That’s my kind of heroine.<br/>And if you haven’t fallen in love with Nate already (which I can’t imagine personally) you will after this line;</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><em>“I have never tried Cat...I quickly dismissed the thought – too small, not remotely satisfying enough.”</em></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Nathaniel Gray, I am officially in love with you.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I’m also loving Rowan’s Cat Tinks.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">“<em>Barking sometimes, I’d say.” Rowan added fondly. Tinks meowed loudly and leapt from her lap and stalked off.”</em></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">That’s right Tinks, you defend your feline rights to have no dog spoken of in your presence.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><em>“Dear God! How the bloody hell could a two-hundred-and-thirty-year-old vampire, go to a human child’s birthday party, dressed as a bloody dinosaur.”</em></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Think of the most romantic couple you can think of, fictional or otherwise. I can’t imagine even Damon Salvatore would dress as a dinosaur to make Elena Gilbert happy, and I’ve never seen someone more in love than him (If that made no sense, I urge you to go away and watch The Vampire Diaries and swoon at Damon’s bad-boy awesomeness.)</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Yes, Nathanial Gray dressed up as Barny the dinosaur for Rowan. Now that is love right there. This chapter spoke to me so much. Nate had warned Rowan off making their relationship more intimate for the time being, fearing he would not be able to control his bloodlust, but I loved the simple chaste kiss he gave her. It was heartwarming and had me tearing up. It was simple, but beautiful and meaningful.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">But Nate’s own humiliation at having to dress up as a dinosaur just couldn’t be complete without friends like James and Frederick to help you never live it down.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><i>“Barney the WHAT? – Mama Mia! – Hamleys? – A HORNY KISS! – You dirty bugger! After everything you said to me...”</i></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">If I was Nate I’d take great pleasure in shouting <i>“I know a song that will get on your nerves”</i> on constant repeat in my head just to drive them mental, although I have to say Elizabeth’s own Vampire distracting techniques makes me whoop in delight for Team Girl Power!</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><i>“But I do have a great idea for protecting my thoughts from him and enhancing my marriage! I’ve bought a new book from Amazon. I’m going to read it and then simply think of it when he’s around.”</i></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Can you guess?</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><i>“The Complete Illustrated Kama Sutra. It’s a bit tame, obviously designed with human limitations in mind, but it will get his imagination going on how a Vampire might improve on the positions.”</i></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">High five Elizabeth. And this round goes to the girls.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">And I’m going to take a moment here to rave about how much I love the relationship between Nate and Elizabeth. You find out later in the book the reason for why they were both turned, and the respect I felt for Nate after finding out the reason behind his transition was overpowering. It’s very often in fiction that the sibling relationship is overshadowed by the romantic elements of the story, so I love that Sarah Tranter wrote such a beautiful, heartfelt relationship between Nate and Elizabeth that lets you know that they’ll always be there for each other in their times of need.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><i>“We hugged, surrounded by giant cuddly toys and helicopters buzzing around our heads.”</i></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">This had me tearing up. Such a beautiful image, and if I can ever drag my own brother into a toy shop I’ll make sure to hug him by the cuddly toy stands in homage to this beautiful moment.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Seeing sadness in these characters is something that I love. Not because I like to see the characters in pain (I’m not that mean), but because of how they express it.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">I am always furious when I read books and the heroine never cries during a hard time. We are women, that’s what we do best. We get emotional and we have a good sob to make us feel better. So I was thrilled to see Rowan crying when she was cruelly denied the right to change projects at work to avoid Simeon Frey.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><i>“I could hear the rustle of the tissue as she wiped her nose. ‘I’ve been working here for eight years and have never cried in toilets before!’”</i></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">And speaking of Simeon Frey *shudders*...keep an eye on him. He’s far too slimy for his own good.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">And when the moment we all dread arrives, I am strangely relieved that Rowan is scared of Nate.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><i>“Do not be scared? Do not be scared? You’re a fucking vampire!”</i></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Finally! As much as I love Twilight’s Bella, I’ve always thought she was incredibly stupid for just shrugging away the fact that Edward was a vampire as though he’d just told her he was a rock star. Even if the guy has been nice to you, take a moment to show a little bit of fear! Nate is amazing and I love him to bits, but Rowan is right to be afraid of him. She doesn’t know anything about him, doesn’t understand the way he lives or whether he has control over his bloodlust. For all she knows he could be out every night scoring with drunk girls and drinking the night away on B positive. So thank you Rowan for being sensible about this, and for that reason I will not be too angry at you for hurting Nate.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">The confrontation scene between Simeon Frey, Nate and his friends, and the Fay was electric. I was on the edge of my seat as Frey and Nate battled it out.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><i>“Rowan,” I choked. “Rowan, my love, you cannot leave me in this world without you. You cannot.”</i></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">This just killed me. One of my favourite classics is Emily Bronte’s ‘Wuthering Heights’ and the comparisons with this just blew me away. Heathcliff’s famous line, <i>“Only <em>do not leave me in this abyss, where</em> I cannot find you” </i>came to me the minute I read this heartbreaking scene with Nate. Nate and Rowan are such a beautiful couple, and just like Cathy and Heathcliff, they could never be happy with anyone else.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">The final scenes of this fantastic book are the ones where you shake your head in despair at how hopeless Nate is when it comes to understanding women. Even when Rowan is desperately crying “I love you!” after him he still thinks she’s terrified of him.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><i>“NO. NO. NO. </i> <i>She hadn’t just said that. She could not have. She was terrified of me.”</i></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Just go and kiss her you hopeless, adorable man.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><i>“You are not terrified of me?”</i></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Finally he gets the hint.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Nothing makes a better ending than with Nate giving us some beautiful Darcy-like speech that has me giggling and swooning in equal measure.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><i>“We need to talk, my love. Then if you still feel able to consider...a more physical relationship...then I would be honoured...so truly, irrevocably...unquestionably...honoured...to oblige.”</i></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Oh Nate....Oh wait you weren’t talking to me...*sigh*</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><i>“Then talk – fast, Nate!”</i></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">Another high five to Team Girl Power.</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">5/5 stars. A definite recommended read!</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">----</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final8.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1346" alt="FINAL8" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/final8.jpg?w=300" width="300" height="79" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/sarah-tranter.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1514" alt="SARAH TRANTER" src="http://oldvictorianquill.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/sarah-tranter.jpg" width="200" height="177" /></a></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Sarah Tranter</strong></p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">~ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6545102.Sarah_Tranter">Goodreads</a> ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/sarah_tranter">Twitter</a> ~ <a href="http://www.sarahtranter.com/">Website </a>~</p><br/><p style="text-align:center;">----</p>Sorcha O'Dowdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265397147755909836noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1771502698634476019.post-6254227861685912352012-11-20T13:59:00.000-08:002014-01-22T04:28:26.915-08:00NaNoWriMo. Round Three. Write!Add your thoughts here... (optional)Sorcha O'Dowdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265397147755909836noreply@blogger.com3