Theme Thursday

Theme Thursdays is a fun weekly event hosted by Reading Between Pages that will be open from one Thursday to the next. Anyone can participate in it. The rules are simple:

• A theme will be posted each week (on Thursday’s)
• Select a conversation/snippet/sentence from the current book you are reading
• Mention the author and the title of the book along with your post
• It is important that the theme is conveyed in the sentence (you don’t necessarily need to have the word)
  Ex: If the theme is KISS; your sentence can have “They kissed so gently” or “Their lips touched each other” or “The smooch was so passionate”

This will give us a wonderful opportunity to explore and understand different writing styles and descriptive approaches adopted by authors.

This week’s theme is:

March is going to be all about making life easy. This month we will do ‘Pick what you see first‘ themes.

Open the book you are reading –> Open the page number that has your birthdate (I was born on the 3rd so that is Page 3) –> pick the first sentence from it and post the snippet. Sorry, but ‘No Ebooks’ this time as well. With this week’s theme, we will also get to know your birthdate

BIRTHDATE - First snippet from the page that is your birthdate

From the two books I'm currently reading:

Drink Deep by Chloe Neill

"I could admit I was gun-shy"

Pg 30

Doubletake by Rob Thurman

"It was eight in the morning when someone banged a fist against our door."

Pg 30

Teaser Tuesday - Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading. Pick a page and a couple of teaser sentences from that page to share.


I know I've been gone from the blog for a while, and I'm sorry to all my followers about that.  I promise, I have a good reason though!  My husband and I have found out that we are expecting our first child in August.  So, basically I've been spending most of my free time either cleaning out the junk room/soon-to-be baby room, and sleeping.  Lots of sleeping in the afternoons LOL!  I've been told to get it while I can.  Unfortunately, working on the blog just hasn't been a priority.  I have been reading still, but I haven't been keeping up with my reviews.  Actually, I have quite a few that need to be written so that I can catch up some.  But I do appreciate all of you that have stuck around.  Maybe I can get back into the swing of things soon!


So, on to Teaser Tuesday, and in celebration of Valentine's Day I thought I'd let Barrons, from Karen Marie Moning's Fever Series, explain love to us:


"'Love's a bloody river with level-five rapids.  Only a catastrophic act of nature or a dam has any chance of stopping it - and then usually only succeeds in diverting it.  Both measures are extreme and change the terrain so much you end up wondering why you bothered. No landmarks to gauge your position when it's done.  Only way to survive is to devise new ways to map out life.'"

Taken from Shadowfever, page 427, Kindle location 7825

Review of Shadow Heir by Richelle Mead

Shadow Heir (Dark Swan #4)
Richelle Mead
Paperback, 390 pages
Zebra (Kensington Publishing)


Review copy was provided by publisher.








Description from Goodreads:
#1 New York Times bestselling author Richelle Mead returns to the Otherworld, a mystic land inextricably linked to our own--and balanced precariously on one woman's desperate courage... 

Shaman-for-hire Eugenie Markham strives to keep the mortal realm safe from trespassing entities. But as the Thorn Land's prophecy-haunted queen, there's no refuge for her and her soon-to-be-born-children when a mysterious blight begins to devastate the Otherworld... 

The spell-driven source of the blight isn't the only challenge to Eugenie's instincts. Fairy king Dorian is sacrificing everything to help, but Eugenie can't trust the synergy drawing them back together. The uneasy truce between her and her shape shifter ex-lover Kiyo is endangered by secrets he can't--or won't--reveal. And as a formidable force rises to also threaten the human world, Eugenie must use her own cursed fate as a weapon--and risk the ultimate sacrifice..


My Thoughts:
I have loved every book in the Dark Swan series by Richelle Mead.  There are so many twists and turns throughout each one that a reader is sure to be kept on their toes, never knowing what’s going to happen next.  Shadow Heir is no exception.  I really enjoyed reading this book - its just the last few pages I am bothered by.  To me, the ending felt more like it belonged to one of the other books in the series, not the FINAL book.  There are certain things (can’t say too much without spoiling anybody) that do not feel completed.  If I hadn’t known any better, I would have honestly thought there was another book coming out in this series! But I understand that Mead might have wanted to leave the ending where the reader can make their own future for the characters, or maybe she has plans we don’t know about.  Either way, I really did love this book, and I guess I’m just not ready to leave the Dark Swan world.  Eugenie is an awesome kick-butt heroine who doesn’t let her power get to her head and always works to protect those she loves and cares for.

There were some interesting side characters in Shadow Heir, and the reader also learns more about what makes Volusion the way he is.  I thought it was extremely cool to be able to find out more about him, as he’s always been a dark and shadowy feature of the story.  By the end, I actually felt kind of sorry for him, and anyone who’s read these novels knows what a feat that is!  There are other secrets that come out in Shadow Heir that will surprise many readers, as I know they were a surprise for me as well.

This is a series that I recommend to all of my friends who are fans of paranormal romance and urban fantasy.  Richelle Mead creates a world that is dark and exciting, with characters that are layered and fascinating.  None of them are perfect, but together they make for an engrossing read that will keep you interested till the very end.

My Bookworm Santa - Secret Santa Reveal!

UPDATE: I received my secret santa package today! Thanks to Sharonda for my copy of Basilisk by Rob Thurman. (Though silly me put book two on the wishlist and not book one lol!)

I did have fun gathering up items to send to my person, Peggy from Pawing Through Books!  I thought it was too funny that a person I'm friends with ended up being the person I got to send a present to!!!


I sent Peggy two books: Before I Fall & Lola and the Boy Next Door.  I also sent her a couple of other little goodies for her and her pup Bella.  Can't forget Bella!

I also sent an extra gift to Cristina from Alaskan Book Cafe.  I just had to give her a copy of my new favorite book The Hunger Games, and I also knew she needed the new Chicagoland Vampire book, Drink Deep.

Hope you two enjoyed your gifts!

I also wanted to add that I received a couple of nice presents from both Peggy and Cristina as well.  Peggy sent me Firelight and City of Fallen Angels, as well as some other nice goodies! Cristina sent me a box of all sorts of goodies from Alaska, including t-shirts, coasters, a cookbook and a book journal, among other things!  Thanks so much to you two for my lovely gifts!!!

The Twelfth Day of Christmas and a Happy Birthday to Jess Haines!

Jess Haines, author of the H&W Investigations series, is Books and Barks final author in the 12 Days of Christmas Extravaganza!  Jess writes a wonderfully funny series that you should most certainly check out.  Another reason you should read her books - today is her birthday!  Books and Barks wishes Jess a super, awesome, spectacular birthday!!!


You can visit her website and blog at: http://www.jesshaines.com/

Hot Cocoa or Apple Cider?
Oooh!  I like both, but I have to say hot cocoa wins this round.


Favorite holiday story?
Rudolph's story has always been my favorite!  I love how everything works out for him in the end.


Favorite holiday movie?
A cheesy 80's film called Santa Claus: The Movie.  I must have watched it a hundred times when I was a kid!


Best gift received for the holidays?
My mom bought me the Barbie dream horse, Rosebud, for Christmas in '91.  I played with that thing for years. It finally gave up the ghost in the late 90's when I accidentally broke one of the legs off.


RIP Rosebud.


Favorite holiday song?
Ever see Billy Idol perform Jingle Bell Rock?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsthP5AONzc


C'mon, you know that's hot.


How many books do you have planned for the H&W Investigations series? Any other projects you’re working on?
I'm currently contracted through book 6 in the series.  I'm not sure how far we'll go beyond that yet, but book 4 (STALKING THE OTHERS) will be out July 3rd, 2012.


As for other projects, I've got a few other things up my sleeves, but nothing I can talk about just yet.


What do you enjoy doing that isn’t writing related?
Watching movies, listening to music, going for walks, and chatting with my friends. Attempting (and usually failing) to teach my cockatoo new words.  I also like to cook, but I hate all of the cleaning that inevitably comes after.


What is your favorite memory of the holidays?
Making snow angels and having snowball fights with my friends in New Hampshire when I was a kid.  We used to have tons of fun shoving slush down the backs of each others' shirts!  ;)


What would you like to find in your stocking?
Something other than coal, lol.  If someone got me a gift card to Barnes & Noble or Amazon, I would love them forever.


What’s the one food that is a must have for Christmas dinner?
Cranberry sauce!


Any special New Year’s resolutions?
Oh, you know, the usual.  Eat better.  Exercise more.  Take over the world...


A special thanks to Jess and all the other authors that so willingly participated in the 12 Days of Christmas Extravaganza.  I really enjoyed working with them all and getting to know them better.


PS - Don't forget to check out Pawing Through Books & Alaskan Book Cafe to see what authors they are featuring today!  Also, check out the main post HERE for links to the grand prize giveaways! Also, make sure you check out the previous days for other guest posts/interviews and giveaways!

The Twelfth Day of Christmas with Angie Fox

Welcome to Angie Fox, author of the Accidental Demon Slayer books!  She was kind enough to answer a few questions about the holidays for us, and is also offering up an entire set of signed Demon Slayer books!!!  At the end of the interview, simply answer the question in a comment to enter. 

Goodreads Bio:

Angie Fox is the New York Times bestselling author of several books about vampires, werewolves and things that go bump in the night. 

She claims that researching her stories can be just as much fun as writing them. In the name of fact-finding, Angie has ridden with Harley biker gangs, explored the tunnels underneath Hoover Dam and found an interesting recipe for Mamma Coalpot’s Southern Skunk Surprise (she’s still trying to get her courage up to try it). 

Angie earned a Journalism degree from the University of Missouri. She worked in television news and then in advertising before beginning her career as an author. 

Visit Angie at www.angiefox.com. You’ll find freebies galore and answers to burning questions, like What is Your Biker Witch name? 

Hot Cocoa or Apple Cider?

Ghirardelli hot cocoa with marshmallows


Favorite holiday story?
Frosty the Snowman

Favorite holiday movie?
A Christmas Story

Best gift received for the holidays?
Best gift ever? That would have to be my Easy Bake oven. I rocked those mini-cupcakes and pies. And it had the added bonus of driving my big brother crazy because everything was so small.


Favorite holiday song?
All I Want for Christmas is You

Any new projects you’d like to tell your readers about?
Sure. Biker witch fans will be glad to know that the Red Skulls have a story of their own coming out in the spring. It's called I Brake for Biker Witches and it's part of a fundraising anthology for Ninc (Novelists Incorporated). (More details to come on my website.) In this story, Lizzie and the gang visit a ghostly biker bar and end up connecting with gang members who have passed on.


Then I have a new series coming out in the summer about a group of paranormal MASH surgeons. The heroine is a surgeon who falls for one of the immortal warriors she treats. The first book is called Immortally Yours and it comes out in August.

How many Demon Slayer books do you have planned?  Please tell me there’s a wedding in the future?!?
There will be five books in the series, so far. In fact, I'm working on the fifth one right now. In it, Lizzie is trying to quell a rebellion in hell while simultaneously planning her wedding to hot griffin, Dimitri. 

Everyone seems to have their own ideas on the wedding and on how Lizzie should save the world, and frankly, I'm just hoping no good guys end up getting a switch star up the rear before this is all over. I don't have a hard release date yet for the book, but I'm aiming for Fall 2012.

If you could buy yourself any present for Christmas, what would it be?
Nathan Fillion with a bow on his head

Snow or no snow for the holidays - which would you prefer?
Lots of snow

If you could invite anyone you wanted over for dinner for the holidays (living or dead) - who would be there?
Oh now that would be fun. I'd pop a lasangna in the oven (no sense getting distracted by cooking), open up a bottle or three of wine and sit down with Edgar Allan Poe, Agatha Christie, Elizabeth Peters/Barbara Mertz, MaryJanice Davidson and Charlaine Harris.

To win a signed set of Demon Slayer books, simply tell me who YOU'D like to invite to dinner for the holidays?  Make sure to leave an email where I can contact you if you win, and standard RULES apply.  Sorry, but open to US RESIDENTS only.  The giveaway will run through December 31st.

    

The Eleventh Day of Christmas with Lisa Kessler

Goodreads Bio:

Wow! Goodreads just asked me for my city of birth and date of death... What if I could answer that? Would I live life differently if I knew for sure how much longer I had left? 

Interesting thought. 

That's generally how my writer brain works. I've been dreaming up stories since I was in elementary school. My first book was titled "The Wonders of Unicorn Creek" and my publisher was Dehesa elementary school. 

Since then, I've published numerous short stories in anthologies and magazines. My story, "Immortal Beloved" was a finalist for a Bram Stoker award and was recently re-released in the "Dead Souls" anthology, along with a follow-up never-before-published story, "Subito Piano". 

I've completed 4 novels so far, and just received a contract from Entangled Publishing to publish my Night Walker series!!! 

Night Walker will be available Fall 2011... 

I also post new short stories on my Blog, so feel free to stop by for a read. http://lisakessler.wordpress.com 

Paranormal tales are my favorite and I tend toward the dark side. Join me? :)

Hot Cocoa or Apple Cider? 
Hot Cocoa


Favorite holiday story?
The Littlest Angel by Charles Tazewell - I cry every time I read that story...


Favorite holiday movie? 
Christmas Vacation


Best gift received for the holidays?
My Nightmare Before Christmas Wreath from the Disneyland Haunted Mansion ride!


Favorite holiday song?  
O Holy Night


Besides writing, you are also a professional vocalist. The heroine in Night Walker, Kate Bradley, is a musician as well. Any other similarities between you and Kate?
Kate got to be a choir director and I always wanted to be one! LOL  Kate also plays piano much better than I do... :)


How many books do you have planned for the Night Walker series?
For now there are 3 novels and a novella planned.


If Night Walker was to be made into a movie, who would you pick to play the characters of Calisto and Kate?
Calisto was always Antonio Banderas in my head, however Johnny Depp could pull him off too.  (Have you seen Johnny Depp in Don Juan De Marco?  Wow!)


And I picture Katie Holmes making a good Kate.


How does your family like to spend the holidays? Any special traditions?
My kids like to choose the ugliest live tree we can find at the tree farm and Panda names the tree...  Last year we had Josiah, and we just acquired Yanosh for this year.  After Christmas we plant the trees in the backyard.  Edgar and Jethro are very large out there now! :)


If you could buy yourself any present for the holidays, what would it be?
I fell in love with these watches they make out of old typewriter keys...  I've been oggling them for a while now! :)


Any New Year’s resolutions?
I hope I'll make more time to ride the exercise bike and stay healthy...




Night Walker - Available now! http://is.gd/QETE1E
Across the Veil - Available now! http://amzn.to/e98xZo
http://lisakessler.wordpress.com
http://twitter.com/LdyDisney
http://facebook.com/LisaKesslerWriter


PS - Don't forget to check out Pawing Through Books & Alaskan Book Cafe to see what authors they are featuring today!  Also, check out the main post HERE for links to the grand prize giveaways! Also, make sure you check out the previous days for other guest posts/interviews and giveaways!