Blog Tour: Unleashed by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie + GIVEAWAY!!

Wolf Springs Chronicles: Unleashed by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie 5 of 5 stars.

Katelyn McBride's life changed in an instant when her mother died. Uprooted from her California home, Katelyn was shipped to the middle of nowhere, Arkansas, to her only living relative, her grandfather. And now she has to start over in Wolf Springs, a tiny village in the Ozark Mountains.

Like any small town, Wolf Springs has secrets. But the secrets hidden here are more sinister than Katelyn could ever imagine. It's a town with a history that reaches back centuries, spans continents, and conceals terrifying truths.

And Katelyn McBride is about to change everything.

Broken families, ageless grudges, forced alliances, and love that blooms in the darkest night--welcome to Wolf Springs. (Book Blurb)

Katelyn wants to fly. Her dreams of becoming a performing in the Cirque Du Soleil are crushed when her ballerina mother is killed in a housefire, and Katelyn is sent to live with the grandfather  who has kept his distance from her since the tragic shooting death of her father. 

Miserable with no way to train for the life she wants to create and grieving still for both of her parents, Katelyn must find a way to kep herself going in this frightening new world that she cannot seem to make herself understand. Someone in this small Victorianesque village is hiding something; something deadly.

Heart-wrenching loss, terrible lies, and firey passion. Unleashed is a romance and a thriller. A perfect combination of horror, suspense, and humor. The writing is that wonderful down-to-earth style I've come to associate with Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie, and the plot is wonderfully paced and surprising. 

I adored the main character, Katelyn, because of her personality and the way she thinks. She was as well-rounded a character as you could hope to find. I couldn't help but think that she's not exactly the type of girl whose going to stand up for herself in every situation even if she is a fighter. That does fit the story pretty nicely, though. 

On the other hand, Katelyn's friend Cordelia is temperamental and not afraid of anything--excluding her family. At the same time I couldn't completely like Cordelia. It's not that she's not a well thought out character, but that she just isn't a likeable character. Though she is sympathetic.

And as far as our heroes go in this story... I'm rooting for grandpa! haha While I like Trick, I feel like he's hiding something, and Justin kind of gives me the creeps...

Overall, Unleashed is a remarkable edge of your seat first installment to a series that I have a feeling will be wonderful. But I must warn you-- the ending is so abrupt it will leave your reeling for days after you finish it.

Giveaway!


Enter your name and email in the comments (Don't forget a shout-out to Nancy and Debbie!) below to be entered for a chance to win a copy of Unleashed


Must be a US Resident to enter.

The Screaming Season by Nancy Holder

The Screaming Season by Nancy Holder 5 of 5 stars
 A POSSESSIONS NOVEL

IF A GIRL SCREAMS IN THE WOODS 
AND NO ONE IS AROUND TO HEAR HER,
DOES SHE MAKE A SOUND?

Lindsay wakes to find herself strapped down in the Marlwood Academy infirmary. She had a breakdown and might have tried to kill her nemesis Mandy or Mandy's boyfriend, Troy--or both. The details are hazy, but one thing is certain: she is possessed by a spirit and cannot trust.

Her disbelieving friends refuse to see the ghosts that haunt them, and Lindsay soon realizes that nowhere on campus is safe. Then, she finds a surprising ally in a former rival. Together, they must figure out who can be trusted--and who wants them dead. (Book blurb)

Think you have the mysteries of Marlwood figured out? Think again. As new characters come into play and old ones are thrown into a new light, you will question everything you thought you knew about the creepy boarding school, its bloody past, and the terrors that haunt poor Lindsay. Nothing is as it seems in this ever-twisting horror series.

Let's go ahead and clear the air. I am not a fan of scary movies. Ghosts have always given me the creeps, and I had no expectations of liking The Evil Within when I first read it a little over a year ago. Still and yet, Nancy Holder managed to blow me out of the water completely. I loved the second novel in the possessions series, despite the fact that it made the hair on my arms stand up and I was tempted to scream a time or two while reading it.

The Screaming Season was exactly the same... only better. The characters I thought I knew, I didn't. Everything I thought I had figured out was wrong. It was so surprising and full of suspense, I didn't put it down til I'd read it cover-to-cover.

I'm not going to get into all of the details about what I liked about who, because with a story like this it is much too easy to have spoilers. But I will say that while the plot was amazing and wonderful I didn't like the end. I felt like Lindsay ended up with the wrong guy completely, and I really wanted there to be another book. But I guess I'll just have to pout because I don't think that's going to happen.

If you're a fan of horror or just love a really good and slightly terrifying novel this time of year (hey, Halloween is just around the corner!) you should most definitely pick up a copy of The Screaming Season. Just make sure you've read the rest of the Possessions novels first. Otherwise you won't get the whole affect.

To order The Screaming Season from Amazon.com, please click here.

Book Tour: Damned by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie

Damned by Nancy Holder and Debbi Viguie 5 of 5 stars.
Second book in the Crusade Trilogy.

There is a fine line between love and sacrifice. . .

Antonio would do anything for his beloved fighting partner, Jenn. He protects her, even suppresses his vampire craving to be with her. Together, they defend humanity against the Cursed Ones. But tensions threaten to fracture their hunting team, and his loyalty--his love--is called into question.

Jenn, the newly appointed Hunter, aches for revenge against the Cursed One who converted her sister. And with an even more sinister power on the rise, she must overcome her personal vendettas to lead her team into battle.

Antonio and Jenn need each other to survive, but evil lurks at every turn. With humanity's fate hanging in the balance, they must face down the darkness. . . or die trying. (Book blurb)

Jenn has the weight of the world on her shoulders. Between being named the leader in a team of "Hunters" trying to save the world by ridding it of the vampires that threaten to suck it dry, the desperate need to see her newly converted sister turned into a "good" vampire like Antonio, and, worst of all, the doubt about Antonio's humanity that grows stronger and stronger as she battles the blood lust and destruction of his kind.

New characters join the fray, adding even more diversity to the already colorful Salamanca team. Love is tested and allegiances questioned. Will the Salamanca hunters survive this war? Or will the few underground hunters be destroyed and all of humanity fall prey to the unquenchable thirst of the CO's?

I adored Crusade, and I am tempted to say that I liked Damned even more. It is definitely a close call. Action, suspense, romance, and betrayal; everything one could want in an epic paranormal series. There is hardly ever a dull moment, but as with the last book, I found myself wanting to see more of certain things and certain people and a bit less of some of the rest.

The new characters Noah and Taamir were an awesome surprise. The almost instant bond between Noah and Jenn was so sweet, and I couldn't help myself but hope that Jenn would end up with him and not Antonio. Sorry. I'm a bit biased when it comes to vampires.

The bigger glimpses into Holgar's past and his life in the werewolf pack were very entertaining. He became one of my favorite characters in this book. His sweet demeanor and unwavering loyalty are positively endearing.

I think the thing that really sets the Crusade trilogy apart from other books of its kind is the staggering amount of diversity between the characters in the books. Catholics, Jews, Witches, Muslims, etc. all thrown together and fighting under the same flag, bound by their heartache and need to save their world from an enemy that threatens to destroy it. I can't help but wonder how much research went into this series to create such a believable and amazing story.

Overall, its definitely worth reading for anyone who loves supernatural creatures or just a good, action-packed story. I am dying to get my hands on the next book in the trilogy myself.

To order Damned from Amazon.com, please click here.

Check out the rest of the Damned book tour here!

((My apologies to Nancy, Debbie, and all of the awesome people who put together the Damned book tour and allowed A Sea of Pages to be featured in it. I was not able to have my post up on time due to emergencies at home, but NOT due to a lack of enthusiasm toward the series.))

TBR Pile!

I've recently gone through my books and made an ACTUAL to-be-read pile. It is currently up to my hip and does not include my AP English lit books, classics I'm reading per my New Year's revolution, OR the entire first three books of the Inheritance Cycle that I plan to re-read before the September release of Book IV.

(Sorry it's not straight. Blogger won't cooperate with iPhoto.)

That said, I finally think I've have it chiseled down to a managable size. I also ordered a copy of Dark Goddess by Sarwat Chadda as well as the first 6 books of the Mitford series. I'm reading The Screaming Season by Nancy Holder now and let me say, I could barely tear myself away from it long enough to type up this post. It is incredible!

The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Two Towers by JRR Tolkien
Book II in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

"One Ring to rule them all,
One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all,
And in the darkness bind them."

The Fellowship was scattered. Some were bracing hopelessly for war against the ancient evil of Sauron. Some were contending with the treachery of the wizard Saruman. Only Frodo and Sam were left to take the accursed Ring of Power to be destroyed in Mordor–the dark Kingdom where Sauron was supreme. Their guide was Gollum, deceitful and lust-filled, slave to the corruption of the Ring.

Thus continues the magnificent, bestselling tale of adventure begun in The Fellowship of the Ring, which reaches its soul-stirring climax in The Return of the King. (Goodreads)


With the death of Boromir and the courageous escape of Frodo and his trusty gardener Samwise, the Fellowship of the Ring was scattered but not quite broken. Despite feeling as though their lost companions must surely be dead--or worse--each man in the company continues to do his part in taking down the evil of Sauron. 



Pippin and Merry are captured and taken away from their friends who pursue on foot for a while to no avail. But there's is perhaps the most magic of adventures out of all of their companions.


Legolas, Gimli, and Aragorn are left to ally with the King of Rohan in hopes of defeating the digusting orcs converging on Middle Earth. And one old companion who was lost will return again, triumphant and powerful, ready to release his wrath on Saruman, Sauron, and all other evil in the land. Hope, however, is dwindling-- held together by only the hearts of men. Whether any of them will make it out of this war alive is yet to be seen...


I'm not sure I can say that I enjoyed The Two Towers any more than The Fellowship of the Ring but it definitely pulled me much farther into the world and the story and held a greater grip on my mind. Tolkien's lulling and lyrical prose wound around me like an enchanted piece of elven rope and still hasn't let go. 



We meet some new characters in this second installment who quite nearly stole the show, in my opinion. Faramir was a big surprise to me. I never really liked him in the movies, he seemed more like his greedy, misled brother. In the book, though he was gallant and kind. A bit frightening for Frodo and Sam, but a great and worthy ally in their quest.


I fell in love with the people of Rohan as well. They're so rough and wary, but also so good hearted. They were almost more interesting to me than the elves and Galadriel had been in the first book. I loved Eomer, King Theoden, and of course, Eowyn.


The bit of unrequited love between Eowyn and Aragorn was shown for the first time in this book, and my heart went out to her. She's had such a cold and stuffy life, it's easy to see why she would be looking for someone gallant to cling to, but it is also obvious that Aragorn won't be having any of that.

The only character in the book (or the trilogy, rather) that I don't enjoy is Gollum. He's funny at times, but for the most part he just creeps me out. I can't decide whether to be proud of Frodo for his mercy and kindness or angry at him for his naivete in letting the little Stinker stay with him.

Now, I'm just dying to read the last book in the beloved trilogy, and I'm afraid that I'll cry when I finish it. There is no doubt in my mind that I will carry all of these character with me for the rest of my life. Their impression on the reader is so great it is hard to imagine them not being with you, and harder still to accept the fact the they (and likely no one like them) exists in our world any more. The thought is enough to bring tears to my eyes, so instead of weeping I'm and doing what Tolkien taught us: hoping. Hoping to find that bright light, courageous goodness, and honor in those around me.



Click here to read my review of The Fellowship of the Ring.

Blog Tour: One-Question Interview with Teresa Frohock

 Hi, everyone! Today I have a very cool one question interview with Teresa Frohock to share with you! Make sure you leave her a comment to say hi!



Raised in a small town, Teresa Frohock learned to escape to other worlds through the fiction collection of her local library. She eventually moved away from Reidsville and lived in Virginia and South 

Carolina before returning to North Carolina, where she currently resides with her husband and daughter.

Teresa has long been accused of telling stories, which is a southern colloquialism for lying. Miserere: An Autumn Tale is her debut novel.

Teresa can be found most often at her blog and web site (www.teresafrohock.com). Every now and then, she heads over to Tumblr and sends out Dark Thoughts http://teresafrohock.tumblr.com, links to movies and reviews that catch her eye. You can also follow Teresa on Twitter (http://twitter.com/TeresaFrohock ) and join her author page on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Teresa-Frohock/134892453223242).

When writing MISERERE: AN AUTMN TALE did the story/characters surprise you in any way? Meaning, did they veer from the path you had originally intended for them?


Oh, absolutely, Arya. I think it happens to all of us at one time or another, don’t you? No matter how meticulously we plan our novels, we have those characters that get away from us.

For me it was Lindsay.

Lindsay is twelve years old in MISERERE, and she passes through the Crimson Veil from Earth into Woerld with her brother Peter. Lindsay is Lucian’s foundling, and it’s his job to teach Lindsay how to control her talents and become a Katharos.

I had originally written Lindsay as a brat and wanted a lot of twenty-first century references through her character. She was supposed to change from a little horror to a good kid through her interaction with Lucian. I also wanted her to be the catalyst that brought Lucian out of his self-absorption.

However, as the story progressed and shifted and changed (as stories tend to do as writers find their voices), Lindsay’s character changed. I really struggled with how to portray her. It was quickly apparent to me that Lindsay as brat wasn’t working. All the scenes I wrote with her fell flat and the twenty-first century references jerked the reader out of Woerld.

So I shifted gears and made her a good kid. Then she was boring. I kept trying to kill her, but my daughter reminded me that Lindsay had an important job later on. Hours of brainstorming went into this one character. In the end, I didn’t kill either Lindsay or my daughter.

I just kept writing and hoped that Lindsay would eventually show up and join the party. It wasn’t until one of my critique partners mentioned that I had Lindsay too trusting of Lucian during one scene. My partner said that as a child of an alcoholic, Lindsay would be highly sensitive to sudden mood shifts, and she would be wary of Lucian at that particular point.

I had to read her email twice, then I went back to the manuscript and, sure enough, I had planted the idea that Lindsay was the child of an alcoholic in her very first scene. It was a real ah-ha moment for me and I was able to go back and work more detail through the beginning. Weronika really helped me with Lindsay too, and I believe it was that last push by Weronika that made Lindsay’s character believable.

When I finally quit trying to ram Lindsay into being the kid I wanted her to be and just let her be herself, I was able to get into sync with her character, but it was work. I had to let go of some preconceived ideas of how she fit into the plot and I had to expand her role. [Here’s a scoop for you: While Lindsay has minor roles in both MISERERE and DOLOROSA, she will be the protagonist in BELLUM DEI.]

I think she’s a solid character now and can carry her own story, but it was not an easy road to bring her to that point. The trick I employed was to cut and paste every scene from Lindsay’s point of view into a separate document. Then I could read her actions and reactions to others around her more clearly. I went back to the main manuscript and filled in the blanks until I was satisfied with her growth.

That was how I did it.

What about you? Have you ever had a character get away from you and turn into someone completely different?

The next interview in the blog tour will be at Michele Corriel’s blog http://mcorriel.livejournal.com/ where I’ll be talking about the relevance of the magical world of MISERERE to contemporary society.

I hope you’ll join me there.



Miserere: An Autumn Tale (Night Shade Books www.nightshadebooks.com / July 1, 2011)

Exiled exorcist Lucian Negru deserted his lover in Hell in exchange for saving his sister Catarina's soul, but Catarina doesn't want salvation. She wants Lucian to help her fulfill her dark covenant with the Fallen Angels by using his power to open the Hell Gates. Catarina intends to lead the Fallen’s hordes out of Hell and into the parallel dimension of Woerld, Heaven’s frontline of defense between Earth and Hell.

When Lucian refuses to help his sister, she imprisons and cripples him, but Lucian learns that Rachael, the lover he betrayed and abandoned in Hell, is dying from a demonic possession. Determined to rescue Rachael from the demon he unleashed on her soul, Lucian flees his sister, but Catarina's wrath isn’t so easy to escape. In the end, she will force him once more to choose between losing Rachael or opening the Hell Gates so the Fallen's hordes may overrun Earth, their last obstacle before reaching Heaven's Gates.

Read the first four chapters of Miserere FREE here.

LINKS TO PREVIOUS INTERVIEWS:
All Things Books
Layers of Thought
The Written Connection

Publishers...

I don't think I noticed how shallow publishers were until just recently. HarperTEEN, a long-time favorite of mine, has dropped the last book in one of my favorite series because of recent budget cuts. This just after they paid a TON for big tickets like Josephine Angelini's Starcrossed (the so-called Percy Jackson for girls). It seems they don't want to spend any time on books unless they are certain they will sell...

I might not be so vehement about the whole ordeal if it weren't for the fact that I have never seen where HarperTEEN did much to promote the Warrior Princess books that they have now dropped like a hot potato.

The Warrior Princess books, and indeed all of the books by Allan Frewin Jones, are amazingly written. He  has a knack for words and voices that often reminds me of our beloved J.R.R. Tolkien. This is especially true in the Warrior Princess books.

That said, I do understand the kind of stress the publishing market is under right now. My own theory is that all the trouble stems from the uprising of eReaders. Which is one of the many reasons why I avoid eBooks like the plague. It's sad that people can be reading more and the bookstores and publishing houses still be struggling to keep their doors open.

I would really like to get more people involved in the fan community surrounding Mr. Jones's books, and if you are a fan, I ask you to please contact HarperTEEN and express your disappointment in losing the tail-end of a wonderful trilogy.

I've included links below to help you better understand what's going on and what YOU can do about it!

Announcement and explanation on Mr. Jones's blog

More info and a chance to WIN many of Mr. Jones's books

Fan Community

Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran

Madam Tussaud by Michelle Moran 5 of 5 stars.

When Marie Tussaud learns the exciting news that the royal family will be visiting her famed wax museum, the Salon de Cire, she never dreams that the king's sister will request her presence at Versailles as a royal tutor in wax sculpting. As Marie familiarizes herself with Princess Elisabeth and becomes acquainted with both Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI, she witnesses the glamorous life of the court. It's a much different world than her home on the Boulevard du Temple in Paris, where bread can only be had on the black market and men sell their teeth to put food on their tables.

The year is 1788, and men like Desmoulins, Marat, and Robespierre are meeting in the salons of Paris, speaking against the monarchy; there's whispered talk of revolution.

Spanning five years from budding revolution to the Reign of Terror, Madame Tussaud brings us into the world of an incredible heroine whose talent for wax modeling saved her life and preserved the faces of a vanished kingdom. (Book blurb from press release)

Madame Tussaud is a deftly written novel that portrays all of the important players of the French Revolution through the voice of a shrewd young woman who manages to straddle the worlds of both 'Royalists' and 'Patriots' to an amazing degree. During the day she may spend time with King Louis XVI's sister, Madame Elisabeth, in her beautiful Montreuil but at home in the evening she is listening to men set on destroying the royal family at all costs.

As violence grows steadily in Paris, the woman who will become Madame Tussaud is caught between loyalty to her friends on both sides and the simple need to survive this horrid time. She will do anything to ensure the safety of herself, her family, and, of course, her Salon even if it mean taking wax models of severed heads of people whose only crime was being in the wrong place in France at the worst time possible.

When I read the synopsis for this book I was overjoyed by the fact the Michelle Moran had written another historical novel. I expected it to be much like her others, but was pleasantly surprised. Instead of being completely immersed in the intrigue and grandeur of the French court the reader is simply given the chance to dip their toes in it from time to time, focusing more on what was happening in Paris during the most bloody time in this country's history.

Moran finds a way to perfectly straddle the closed world of Louis XVI and the harsh reality of the French people. She shows the royal family in a light that will make you sympathize with them. The naive love Louis had for his people was beyond my grasp of understanding, and indeed beyond that of those who were closest to him. We receive a rather horrid view of what the consequences of a "weak" king really are.

I once read a book about Marie Antoinette that made me feel I understood her to some extent, but since then I have watched one historical documentary after the other that pretty much condemned her as the doom of France and, eventually, the French monarchy. This is the first time in a while I have seen Antoinette from a different light, and I will admit that I cried when she was executed. (This is not technically a spoiler since everyone should already know she died.) Every time she tried to economize she was attacked by her courtiers. Historians can say what they wish, but in my mind I will always see Marie Antoinette as a prisoner in a rather gilded cage.

However, the most interesting character in the book has to be the wax artist Marie Tussaud. A shrewd business woman and an amazing artist, she helps immortalize the French Revolution in her own way. The things she was willing to do to ensure her survival and that of her family continue to astound me, and that makes the ending all the more surprising.

If you are a Moran fan, a history buff, or just an avid reader looking for a good story I would suggest you read Madame Tussaud. It is the best historical fiction novel I've read since Moran's last book Cleopatra's Daughter, and the great thing about this author's works is that they never really feel historical. They feel like they directly relate to our modern lives.

To order Madame Tussaud from Amazon.com, please click here.

Weekly Author Writing Prompt!

Hey, guys!

I'm not sure if you've noticed (hopefully you have!), but I've started a new meme called "Weekly Author Writing Prompt". That's pretty self-explanatory, don't you think?

In case I'm wrong, let me explain. Every week (though it hasn't really been weekly yet due to craziness) I will be hosting one of your favorite YA authors on the blog. They will be presenting you with a writing prompt to get your creative juices flowing. Its basically just a little activity to do or a snippet of something to read that will, hopefully, inspire you. You'll be able to comment on the post with your creation for everyone else and the author to see. Or you can just hoard your pretty words.

Anyway, the fun in this is to just get us all writing for a little while every week. Plus, you get inspiration from your favorite authors. I will also be hosting occasional giveaways and contests!

Below is a working list of the authors who have been featured. Please, please, please help spread the word about this on your blog/twitter/facebook and most importantly, participate!

C. Lee McKenzie
Fran Orenstein -Giveaway still OPEN!

Author Writing Prompt with Fran Orenstein + Giveaway!

Welcome to Author Writing Prompt Week 2! This week, I'm hosting children/YA author Fran Orenstein. She has a wonderful prompt for you guys, and I hope you'll join in.

Rules: All you have to do is comment, including your name email address to be entered for a chance to win Fran's book  The Spice Merchant's Daughter! You may also post your work for the prompt as well. We would all love to see it!
(Giveaway open to US/Canada residents only!)

Fran Orenstein, Ed.D., award-winning author and poet, wrote her first poem at eight and received her first rejection for a short story at age twelve. Her published credits include a ‘tween mystery series, The Mystery Under Third Base and The Mystery of the Green Goblin, a fantasy series for ‘tweens, The Wizard of Balalac and The Gargoyles of Blackthorne, and the second edition of a ‘tween fiction novel dealing with childhood obesity and bullying, Fat Girls From Outer Space, two young adult historical romances, The Spice Merchant’s Daughter, and, coming in June 2011, The Calling of the Flute. Her poetry book for young children is out-of-print, but she plans to reissue it with additional poems in 2012. 

Moving into literature for adults, prize-winning short stories and poetry have appeared in various anthologies. A book of poetry is currently in the works for publication in late 2011. Fran is currently seeking a publisher for a recently completed novel about a woman’s most devastating loss and her eventual redemption.

Fran wrote professionally as a magazine editor/writer, and also wrote political speeches, newsletters, legislation, and promotional material for New Jersey State Government for fourteen years. She produced professional papers on gender equity and violence prevention, which were presented at national and international conferences.

Fran has plans for more books in the ‘tween mystery series, as well as more YA historical romance novels. She also has plans for a second woman’s novel dealing with marital emotional abuse. She is currently writing the third book in the fantasy series, The Centaurs of Spyr.

Beating The Block: one writer’s cure

by Fran Orenstein

Scenario: The Bard sits at a table, quill in hand, creating words that will live on for 400 years, perhaps a thousand years; words spoken by actors over the centuries, memorized by school children. He strokes his beard, scratches his head. Putting quill to paper he writes,   “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears. I come to bury Caesar….”  

Just then he is interrupted, perhaps Anne calls him to dinner, or a blot of ink ruins the paper. When he returns a day or so later his mind is blank. Why was this character Marc Anthony going to make a speech? Is it a necessary speech? What was the purpose? Is he wasting his time creating a play out of some ancient murder nobody cares about any more. He fiddles with the fire that is dying in the hearth. He checks the inkwell, sharpens the quill, stares out the window. He does everything but write the next sentence. Imagine Julius Caesar never written because William Shakespeare developed a writer’s block that he couldn’t break. 

At some point during the writing experience, every writer gets blocked. I have gone into a manuscript that was flowing beautifully and couldn’t write another word. It seemed boring, inane, insipid. What was I thinking? Who would want to read this? Yet, just yesterday it was exciting. 

Have you ever closed down the computer, covered the typewriter, or put the pen in a drawer, and your stomach churns every time you think of starting again? I have a simple solution that works every time. I go back to the beginning of the manuscript and start editing and rewriting. As I move along, I realize it’s really good. I understand why I chose to write it. By the time I reach the point of yesterday’s despair, I know what comes next. Even if I only write one page, I’ve moved on. 

Once I learned that, I always go to the beginning of the previous chapter and read it through. I generally find things to add or change and it inspires me to continue writing. Bedsides breaking the block, I’ve been editing and rewriting as I go along. Every writer has some technique or there would not be any books. This is one suggestion and the next time you face writer’s block, try rereading to get back into the thread and feeling of the story. Whatever you do, don’t give up…it isn’t fatal. 

Visit her at www.franorenstein.weebly.com 

The Spice Merchant's Daughter by Fran Orenstein

The Spice Merchant's Daughter by Fran Orenstein 5 of 5 stars.

In 1685, Jean-Claude Dubois, son of a French spice merchant, escapes from the violence against Protestant Huguenots and sails to Prussia. Jean-Claude falls in love with Marie and they marry and have a daughter, Katy. At thirteen, fluent in French, Katy is sent away to be the companion of spoiled, aristocratic Charlotte, to tutor her for a marriage into French nobility. Katy must accompany her to France, where she meets the blacksmith's apprentice, Gilles. Their love appears doomed, when the family takes her to Versailles for the wedding. They remain there for two years, while Charlotte's lecherous brother Franz pursues Katy to become his mistress and although terrified of him, Katy is powerless to help herself. Finally Katy and Gilles are reunited when the family returns, but Franz, enraged at Katy's stubborn refusal, frames Gilles for attempted murder, sending the young couple fleeing for their lives across the French countryside. (book blurb)

The Spice Merchant's Daughter opens through the eyes of Jean-Claude Dubois as he is making his escape from France with his younger brothers in tow. It then continues to follow him all the way to Prussia and to the new life he has made for himself there, away from the King of France's tyranny. When his oldest daughter, Katy, is thirteen the narrative switches to her.

It is a heart-wrenching look at the lives of people in that time, particularly women. Forced into becoming a sort of governess and companion to the young Ms. Charlotte, Katy slowly becomes a young woman as she falls in love, stands up to the King of France, and helps Charlotte through her own rough spots.

Fran Orenstein did a remarkable job with this novel. Her prose has the rich and wonderfully simplistic tone of a storyteller. I believe that The Spice Merchant's Daughter would make a great audio-book, and that isn't something I say very often.

The cast of character was interesting and fairly well-rounded. From Charlotte and her betrothed to Katy's own struggling parents and her love Gilles, they all added something unique and different to the story; contributing toward a many-threaded plot. I must say, though, that I didn't quite understand Gilles as a whole. His love for Katy didn't seem quite genuine, and beyond that love I don't see any other motivations for his actions throughout the book. More than likely, however, this is just me reading too deep into the story.

While I liked the book as a whole very much and hardly put it down the entire time I read it, I didn't really enjoy the beginning from Jean-Claude's point-of-view. As soon as the story switched to his daughter it was like another book entirely. The writing gained depth and the plot thickened into something concrete.

This is a YA novel, in my opinion, based on the content, but I do think that the younger end of the YA audience will enjoy the story much more.  That said, it is best to keep in mind that this novel does have sexual content that some under 13 might not feel completely comfortable reading.

To order The Spice Merchant's Daughter from Amazon.com, please click here.

Click here to check out Fran Orenstein's website!

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte 5 of 5 stars.

Jane Eyre is the single most mesmerizing novel I've ever read. The voice is rich and conversational with enough darkness to keep you on the edge of your seat. The book was literally glued to my hands the entire time I read it. I couldn't get over little Jane Eyre's deep and sometimes rather dangerous thoughts. The musings of the writer that dealt such universal and frightening truths.


I've never been a huge fan of the brooding, scary male lead. Like Mr. Darcy for instance. Yeah, sure, Colin Firth made him awesome, but he really wasn't all that wonderful in the book. However, there was something vastly different about Mr. Rochester. Everybody says he isn't a loveable character, but I think just the opposite. He's not dark and scary all of the time, there is a levity to him that takes away from his gruffness. And then, of course, the man has been hurt so many times in his life. Despite (in most cases) trying to do the right and honorable thing, he finds himself in one horrible position right after the other. It makes you want to cheer for him despite his pride and arrogance.

Jane is also, officially, one of my favorite heroines. Her unique way of thinking and independence made me want to keep listening to her. I was terribly disappointed when the book ended. She was strong, courageous but also gentle and kind. You don't find that in many modern heroines. The way she stood up to St. John was incredible. Jane will take a lot, but in the end she will let no one trample over her. Jane talks about needing a person with a strong will around her, as though she doesn't have one of her own. But Mr. Rochester recognizes the indomitable strength within her.

My favorite parts of the book were the verbal sparring matches between Jane and Mr. Rochester. They are a bit hard to keep up with but absolutely hilarious (and at times frightening) if you can. Its remarkable how well matched the two are in intellect and it adds considerably to the strength of their bond.


This book is the kind of love story that you don't necessarily want in your own life. Its full of heartbreak, secrets, and more pain then any two people deserve. It is what's at the heart of this love story that makes us crave it for ourselves. It is the fact that these two remarkably similar people, these kindred spirits could find each other that makes us want a love like that between Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester. That they--in the end--could reach beyond social and economical barriers and be together is the beauty of it.

I have heard some say that Rochester's wife being locked in the attic is symbolic of the way women were treated at the time. I don't believe that. I don't think there is anything really symbolic about it, though there may be some parrallels with insanity or a person not being virtuous at all. As I see this part in the story, I think that the way Rochester treated Bertha Mason was the kindest thing he could do. He had been through so much and could have basically left her at any of his other estates (or sent her to an asylum which, during that time period, would have been far more cruel) instead he kept her where he could watch over her and where she would be taken care of. Even when she was nothing more than a burden and a danger to his happiness and his life, he kept her. 

Charlotte Bronte crafted a novel that could withstand the test of time and leave its reader with love for the characters long after the story had ended. Her gothic prose and rich description make the story a masterpiece.

Below I have embedded a trailer for the latest screen adaptation of Jane Eyre though I have not had a chance of seeing it myself yet. My favorite out of the ones I have seen is the 1983 version.

Weekly Writing Prompt with C. Lee McKenzie!

Hey, everyone! From now on I'll be posting a writing prompt by one of your favorite YA authors every Thursday. I'll also be doing some contests and giveaways later on for those of you brave enough to join it! Here are the rules:

Write just write.
Share pretty please! Post what you wrote each week in the comments section! Let the author see your awesome work.


C. Lee McKenzie


C. Lee McKenzie has written YA and MG novels as well as short stories and nonfiction articles. Judging by all the buzz surrounded her latest book Princess of Las Pulgas (read my review if you haven't!), you might say she's a veritable master behind a keyboard.

This week, Ms. McKenzie has given us a writing prompt to really get the juices flowing!

"Every writer knows that the opening lines of a book can make or break a sale, so my writing prompt is about creating a dynamite opening. The catch is you have to include the following words and it can't be longer than a paragraph.

alive OR dead

hug (any verb form)

importance, important

Here's my stab at a "grabber" opening for a YA novel. Enjoy and write up something irresistible for that agent, that editor, or your readers.

If I’d known I wouldn’t be alive today, here’s what I would have done . . . in order of importance.

Hugged Mom
Apologized to Ben
Tossed all my diaries
Punched Kelly Pollard in the mouth" --C. Lee McKenzie

Her website!
My review of Princess of Las Pulgas!

Many thanks to Ms. McKenzie for participating this week! I hope you will all join in and keep this going!

Chunky Bling Review

I'm sure you've all noticed the gorgeous button to the left, right? The one with the pretty purple watch? That is for the awesome jewelry site called Chunky Bling. They've got all kind of jewelry that features awesome chunky beads and beautiful hunks of Swarovski Crystals. What's a Swarovski Crystal? You know the stones in the pretty ring/necklace/bracelet of yours? The ones that shine so much they look like diamonds? Those are more than likely Swarovski Crystals. They are cut to have as many shiney facets as possible so that they reflect the most light. I've always adored them.

When a representative from Chunky Bling contacted me about posting an ad on my blog, I told him that I would have to review the product to make sure it was of good enough quality to support on here. He agreed that this would be fine, and I chose the beautiful Palace Green Swarovski Crystal Ring. I was a bit apprehensive when it came to picking a size because I have very long thing fingers and alot of times my ring size differs, so I just have to try them on. Ordering online was a bit different for me. But I guesstimated the size and sent out for it.

When the ring arrived I was surprised to find that instead of just being a straight ring, it was a little bit elasticy and fit my finger perfectly. I normally don't like rings with elastic because they aren't very comfortable, but this one fit and felt just fine. It didn't make any marks on my fingers, and oh, how it shined!

The stones are most definitely Swarovski Crystals and they shimmer in the light beautifully. The color was a bit lighter than it appears in the photograph on the website, but it is still gorgeous. It has become one of my favorite pieces of jewelry.

As for the other stuff on the site, I'm thinking about order a watch myself. And I hate watches. These are just too cute!

So, if anyone is looking for any jewelry please, please, please check out Chunky Bling. The site is small, but it is 100% legit, and I promise you will be satisfied with your order!

 

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I receive a small commission every time someone makes a purchase on the website after following one of my buttons. However, this does not affect my opinion of the product.
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Blog Tour: Odessa - Seraphym Wars by Rebecca Ryals Russell

 

"Myrna Ashlin Watts graduated from High School in Jacksonville, Fl just in time to find herself transported to a bizarre and primal planet corrupted by demon-dragons. And they want her DEAD. Her problem is she has been recruited to kill them, too.

18-year-old Myrna is drawn into the middle of an epic battle between Seraphym and Demons. An average High School student from Florida, struggling with inner demons resulting from a rape two years earlier, she wakes one morning on the Steampunk planet of Dracwald, home of the demon-dragons responsible for her brother’s recent murder as well as many other atrocities in the news. She meets Michael, who becomes her guide and explains that according to prophecy, Myrna must gather the remaining six Vigorios (teen warriors with special talents) then train with the Majikals on an enchanted island.

Reluctantly, and knowing it is her only way to get back home, she agrees to lead, battling dragons and monsters while crossing swamps and mountains, forests and seas. She wrangles with the old inner demons when three very different men join her quest—a seasoned demon/dragon-slayer who irritates but beguiles her, a tender and sweet mentor in whom she trusts completely and a roguishly handsome Scientist who sets her senses aflame. How is she expected to lead the others and keep everyone safe with so much inner turmoil?

Will love and lust, jealousy, greed, deceit and distrust break the delicate tie that binds these teen warriors called The Vigorios? Can a troupe of teens help the Seraphym finally defeat the massive empire of evil dominated for eons by the demon-dragons of Dracwald?" - Goodreads

This or That with Rebecca Ryals Russell

1.  Cookies or cake? Cake. Particularly carrot cake. Every birthday we have carrot cake because everyone knows it’s my favorite. I also like Red Velvet, Black Forest and cheesecake (although it’s not officially cake). 

2. Jelly or jam? Neither. I prefer preserves because I like the bits of actual fruit. My favorite is Orange Marmalade, then Strawberry. But, I also love Guava Jelly or Apple Jelly and Apple Butter. Apple Butter and Peanut Butter make a delicious sandwich, by the way. 

3. Bright colors or darker colors?  Both. In my decorating, clothing and any time color is a choice, I prefer any shade of red, then bright yellows and dark purple. 

4. Travel by train or travel by bus?  Train travel is definitely preferable, but even so can be rather tedious. About 15 years ago we took our 4 young children from Jacksonville to Savannah, Ga on the train. It was a LOOOOOOOOONG ride with 4 little ones. But we all remember it, and that’s what counts. 

5. Art museum or science museum?  Science Museum. When my kids were little we had an annual membership to the Jacksonville Science Museum where they could play, or we’d attend the Planetarium and watch the laser lights played to rock music. They especially enjoyed the Dinosaur exhibit. We went to the Orlando Science Museum one time. They had a travel exhibit about the body that was outstanding. 

6. Socks or bare feet?  Bare feet for sure. Growing up in South Florida I grew up barefoot and never got out of the habit. 

7. Go for a walk or go for a run? Walk. I can’t run anymore. When I was in my twenties my hubby and I would jog at an exercise park near our apartment in Orlando. I developed shin splints. Ever since, if I don’t stretch well, or go too fast before my muscles warm up, I can hardly even walk. It’s very frustrating. 

8. Dresses or pants?  I’ve always been one for skirts or dresses. I guess I enjoy feeling feminine. I wear pants and jeans when necessary, but I love all of the full-length, flowing skirts available these days and pretty much live in them with embroidered or crochet-enhanced peasant tops. I’m so happy styles from the ‘60’s have become popular again. 

9. Dance or sing? Dance. When I was in college, and dating my hubby, we went ‘clubbing’ every Friday night. There was one night we got into a battle between the drummer and us dancing. Everyone left the dance floor at the end of the set, but we kept dancing and the drummer kept going. It lasted at least another 30 minutes before we finally gave up. The whole club cheered us on. It was so much fun. I miss dancing since we moved into a Victorian house with wooden floor and a crawl space. Bounce, bounce, bounce. 

10. Celebrate with a small group or celebrate with a large group?  I’m definitely a small group gal. I’m quite shy and have trouble connecting with too many people at once. That’s why the Internet is perfect for me. Whenever I’m in a large group, like at a Writing Conference, I always choose the rear corner table and sit in the far corner of the room. The irony is that I was a Middle Grades teacher for 14 years. Talk about being front and center and with the most opinionated age there is. 

Thank you, Rebecca! Hopefully, a review will of Odessa will be soon to follow!

To order Odessa - Seraphym Wars from Amazon.com, please click here. 

Blog Tour: Overprotected by Jennifer Laurens

Overprotected by Jennifer Laurens 5 of 5 stars.


Ashlyn: A lonely society princess living in New York City.

Daddy hired you to be my bodyguard.

Colin: Childhood enemy, now her protector.

Daddy thought I'd be safe. He thought I'd never fall in love.
He thought he could keep me forever.

Charles: Obsessed with keeping her safe, keeping her his,
he hires the one person he knows she could never fall in love with:
Colin.


Daddy was wrong.
(Book blurb)

When Ashlyn was five years old she was kidnapped by her father's stalker. Ever since, paranoia has run rampant in her house. At seventeen, being kept behind the walls of a townhouse and constantly being watched by a bodyguard, she's almost like a modern-day princess in a tower. Only worse, because Ashlyn feels there is absolutely no chance of a handsome prince getting her out of this one. Little does she know that she doesn't need one.

Ashlyn thinks her life is about to get a whole lot worse when Daddy hires the boy who tormented her as a child, Colin Brennan, to be her bodyguard. But Colin is all grown up now and more than a little handsome. As Ashlyn tries to get past her hatred of Colin her feelings for him change, she also has to come to terms with a reality she never even knew existed in her house. And with only one friend, Ashlyn has very few allies she can count on.

Overprotected is a heart-stopping edge of your seat kind of novel, but it also has the soft undertones of youth and redemption along with the bitterness of a coming to age that came all too fast. Jennifer Laurens is a truly brilliant writer who's wonderful voice kept me turning the pages. I literally couldn't put it down.

The characters are so remarkably real and yet at the beginning (and perhaps a little throughout the rest of the book) the situation seems terribly unrealistic. But something in the way Laurens tells the story and the emotions of the characters makes us believe in Ashlyn's plight, whether it is realistic or not. That's what makes a story of this type wonderful.

Ashlyn's voice was innocent and unique. In the beginning I thought she was a bit too complacent and didn't have any fight in her, but as the story continued, and I watched Ashlyn grow as a character and saw her eyes be opened to the world around her I wanted to do nothing more than cheer her on.

As for Colin, he is probably one of my new favorite fictional heroes. His gentlemanly demeanor and honest-to-goodness care toward Ashlyn makes my heart melt. His personality may have been that of the near-perfect hero we all dream about and feel we'll never find, but sometimes those kind of characters are just what we need to lift are spirits.

Over all, the story is remarkably well written, the plot is intense and surprising, and the character will make you miss them. Anyone who loves a good story will like this book, no matter what genre you prefer. As for me, Jennifer Laurens has officially made it onto my "favorite author's" list!

To order Overprotected by Jennifer Laurens from Amazon.com, please click here.

Jennifer Laurens's Top Ten Fiction Characters!


Top Ten Fiction Characters I LOVE:
Cam - Sea Swept by Nora Roberts
Roxy - Honest Illusions by Nora Roberts
Luke - Honest Illusions by Nora Robers
Barbara Covett - Notes on  A Scandal
David - Endless Love by Scott Spencer
Jamie - Outlander - Diana Gabaldon
Damon Salvatore - Vampire Diaries
Sayuri - Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden

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Many thanks to Jennifer and to Teen {Book} Scene for letting me participate in this blog tour. Please leave Jennifer a comment below!
~

CSN Stores Review - Milk Frother

Do you remember when I did that teaser post about my CSN Stores milk frother review? Well, I intended to write the review and post it long before now but between the holidays, being sick with winter colds, and the start of my new classes for school I just haven't found time. Until now...



The Cuisinox 27 oz. Cappuccino frother is a wonderful addition to anybody's kitchen. Especially if you like hot milky drinks. All you have to do is pour however much milk, hot chocolate, or whatever you want frothed into the stainless steel frother and set it on the stove. As it heats, you use this little plunger that is attached to some kind of netting-wire thing that aerates the milk.

I've found that heating the milk first and then frothing it, however, is the best way to go. If you don't and you just put it in the little frother its hard to tell when the milk is hot enough. Taking the lid on and off while frothing causes a sticky, milky-burned mess on the stove-top.

And that brings me to my problem with the lid in general. The little rod that is connected to the aerator goes through the lid, and you use it as a little pump. So when you pull the lid up, you pull the dripping aerator up as well. That is problem enough in and of itself, but the worst part is that there isn't any kind of lock or very good suction on the lid. So in order to pump the plunger up and down you have to put your other hand on the lid to keep it from popping up and down too. When you've got it on the stove or with nearly-boiling milk inside, that stainless steel lid gets pretty hot.

I know it sounds like I'm bashing this things, but remember; This is a good review. I just want to make sure you know what you're getting into before you buy it. Its a lot more work to make that delicious, steaming bunch of froth than I thought it was going to be.

Now, onto the delicious steamy froth! It is just that fluffy, light, and wonderful. It may not be of the Starbucks quality, but it adds at least 3 in. of foamy goodness to your favorite drink. Which, by the way, is very comforting on a blustery winter/spring day.

That's all I have to say for now, other than that ordering from CSN Stores is always an absolute pleasure. I have to make it a point not to look at the website very often. Its kind of like avoiding the stores you know you'll buy alot of stuff at on impulse in the mall. Only, its way bigger than that store in the mall...

Click here to check out the Cuisinox 27 oz Cappuccino Frother on CSNStores.com!

Awesome Giveaway!

You have got to check out the awesome giveaway going on at Le Vanity Victorienne. Nevey is giving away a really cool Goddess Girls: Athena the Wise prize pack!



Click here to go enter!

And if you haven't entered her Amazon Gift Card Giveaway, do that too! --->>

The Charmed Return by Frewin Jones

The Charmed Return by Frewin Jones 5 of 5 stars.
Faerie Path Book Six 

By the light of the
pure eclipse, two worlds
will be as one. . .

She was once a princess of Faerie, the seventh daughter of King Oberon. But sixteen-year-old Anita Palmer has no memory of the Faerie Realm; her true Faerie princess identity; her love, Edric; or her quest to save Faerie from a deadly plague that ravaged it. With the help of an unexpected ally, Anita must figure out a way to reawaken Tania, her Faerie self--but how?


Now Anita--or is she Tania?--doesn't know who, or what, to trust, including her own memories. With no time to spare, Anita must act. A thrilling final battle is soon to be waged that will affect not only her destiny but the fate of both Faerie and the Mortal World. Loyalties will be tested, true love questioned, and nothing is what it seems.(Book blurb)

Magic and mayhem prevail as our favorite Faerie Path characters rush to save the kingdom once again. This time it is Tania's dreadful uncle who is trying to take-over Faerie and all of those in it. But, of course, evil villains of this sort never hold their ambitions in only one realm...

New friends join old for a semi-apocalyptic battle in the most epic Faerie Path book yet. Excitement, danger, and romance will keep you on the edge of your seat from the first moment, while the author's gentle and beautiful writing calls to mind images both lovely and terrifying.

I feel ridiculous trying to right Faerie Path reviews anymore. Everyone knows how much I adore these books, and the plots in this series are so twisted I always feel like I jumping through hoops in an attempt not to accidentally leave you any spoilers.

But needless to say, The Charmed Return is probably one of my favorite installments of this series thus far. It has an ending that will leave you *squee*-ing with happiness. Even while you desperately want another Faerie Path book. You'd think six would be enough, but apparently not.

If you haven't read the previous Faerie Path books, then I wouldn't even suggest attempting this one. You'll be far too lost and this book is too wonderful to read it without getting the full effect.

To order The Charmed Return from Amazon.com, please click here.

Lore: East and Eight by Chad T. Douglas

East and Eight by Chad T. Douglas 5 of 5 stars.

Darkness only darkens when you put out fires...

His dead brother lying in his wake, Thomas Crowe walks into trouble's open arms once again when an Atlantean sorceress comes to him looking for a stolen talisman. When Tom refuses to return it, the consequences are dire. Plagued by two new foes, a demon and a mysterious octet of immortal-hunters simply known as "The Eight", there seems to be nothing the young werewolf can do when the truth about his past life comes to surface and the world tries to eat him alive. Molly Bishop is Thomas Crowe's only hope. Wrought by anger and confusion toward her father, the beautiful and talented gemseeker must wrestle with demons of her own if she hopes to live long enough to keep Thomas from succumbing to his end. Armed with strength and power anew, Molly lights the way as she and Tom make the treacherous journey east, to Romania. (Book blurb)

Thomas Crowe's adventures continue in the latest Lore novel. This time there are new and far more evil dangers to face. Though not without the help of strange new allies and deadly potent powers. Molly and Tom's love story continues, however with a great deal more heartache as we learn more about the past that shaped the two swashbuckling characters. Their world is far from predictable, making East and Eight a pirate book to keep you on the edge of your seat.

East and Eight proved itself to be a wonderful addition to the Lore trilogy of books, standing as yet another testament to its author's incredible talent.

While I adored the characters, both old and new, I found that they had changed a great deal since the last book. Whether from the guilt of killing his brother, or from the curse laid upon him near the beginning of this second book, Tom lost some of his comical side. The very thing that made us fall in love with his craziness in the first book. However, it was interesting to watch how he grew throughout the trilogy so far.

As for new characters, there are several that I completely adored. I thought the descriptions and overall characteristics of Ine to be very well written and developed. The Japanese warrior-woman reminded me a bit of Mulan. (Who is, of course, the all-time best Disney character ever drawn. If you didn't know.) The princely vampire Leon was also an interesting addition, his "honorable" chararacter bringing contrast to the pirates of the story.

The were a few other wonderfully surprising characters that showed up in this second book, but I'm not about to tell you everything! The only one I didn't quite understand was William. Perhaps I'm wrong, but it seems to me he only served to fill up pages.

Other than that the plot went smoothly, though a bit hard to keep up with at times. The imagery was wonderful and the writing exquisite. Definitely a trilogy and an author to follow. The one thing I would like to caution readers about a bit though, is the fact that the second installment was a good bit more racy than the last. I know alot of younger kids read book for older teen, so just be careful about this one. There was a bit more sexual content in it than you find in the majority of the YA books these days. Not to the point that it was terribly over-done. Just a warning.

Other than that, I completely suggest East and Eight to anyone who is a fan of pirates and adventure. Just be sure you read the first book!

Many thanks to the author for sending me a copy to review!
The first book, A Pirate's Charm, has entered into the second round of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards! Congrats!

To order Lore: East and Eight from Amazon.com, please click here.