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Monday 30 September 2013

Guest Post: Laure Eve - Fearsome Dreamer



Hi Guys!  I'm really thrilled to be able to give you a guest post from the lovely Laure Eve, author of Fearsome Dreamer.  Fearsome Dreamer is Laure's debut book, I shall be reviewing it over the next few weeks. 


Guest Post:  Laure Eve


Full disclosure: I actually work in publishing. Fuller disclosure: not as advantageous as you might think to getting published. Or at least, not to me.

I was a bit of an idiot, I suppose, in that I couldn’t bring myself to talk to anyone at work about my secret ambition to be a published writer. I was a little embarrassed, and a little afraid that people knowing would lead to questions and expectations – things I wasn’t ready to handle until I’d gotten somewhere with it all.

What did help was understanding, through my job, how the industry worked in general. I knew I needed an agent to even be considered by almost all traditional publishers (and this still holds true, unless you make a massive splash in online self-publishing first). So that was my first stop.

The internet is the most invaluable tool you could possibly have access to. I researched what other people had done to get an agent, what kind of a cover letter I should write, and crucially, which agents out there were looking for what I wanted to sell. I made a shortlist of my top four choices, based on what they said on their sites and social media channels. I freely admit that I totally stalked them on twitter. And then I submitted, the slush pile way.

I heard back from my now agent within a week. He had read the first three chapters and wanted the whole thing. A few days later he wanted to meet me. Two hours after that meeting, I was represented. And two weeks after that, we had an offer from Hot Key. This is pretty damn fast. Some people can take months to land an agent and months more to get a deal – but I’d be willing to say that I don’t think length of time is a determiner of career success.

Hot Key were brand new and untested. We could have held out to see if a bigger, weightier publisher offered us a deal, but we took a risk. Of course, one Carnegie medal and massive success later, and I’m pretty confident we went with the right people. But what impressed me wasn’t the offer so much as the passion for the book they showed. That passion will see you through. You need people in your corner rooting for your book all the way. You need people on your team who get it, through and through, and if you have that, you are, like me, lucky lucky.

A great deal of this business is luck, and hard work is not always rewarded with success. A lot like life, then. I’m learning to both appreciate and take advantage of the opportunities I’ve been given, rather than be embarrassed by them and worry about where the next one is coming from. Fear of tomorrow spoils today.

Hammy... but true :)

If you are a writer reading this, the very best of luck with your career.


 Fearsome Dreamer by Laure Eve

Released:  3rd October 2013
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Series: Yes #1 in the Fearsome Dreamer series
Find At: Goodreads | Amazon UK | The Book Depository

Goodreads Synopsis:

There is a world where gods you’ve never heard of have wound themselves into hearts, and choice has led its history down a different path.

This is a world where France made a small, downtrodden island called England part of its vast and bloated empire.

There are people here who can cross a thousand miles with their minds. There are rarer people still who can move between continents in the blink of an eye.

These people are dangerous.

And wanted. Desperately wanted.

Apprentice hedgewitch Vela Rue knows that she is destined for more. She knows being whisked off from a dull country life to a city full of mystery and intrigue is meant to be. She knows she has something her government wants, a talent so rare and precious and new that they will do anything to train her in it.

But she doesn’t know that she is being lied to. She doesn’t know that the man teaching her about her talent is becoming obsessed by her, and considered by some to be the most dangerous man alive ..


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"The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."

Robert Frost, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Thursday 26 September 2013

***Review*** Darker Days by Jus Accardo


Darker Days by Jus Accardo



Released: August 2013
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Series: Yes #1 in the Darker Agency series
Format: Digital ARC
Source: From the Publisher
Find At: Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US 


 Find Jus Accardo 
 Blog 
                                                           Twitter 
 

Many thanks to the Publisher for my review copy, this is in exchange for an honest review.


Goodreads Synopsis:

 Jessie Darker goes to high school during the day, but at night she helps with the family investigation business. Cheating husbands and stolen inheritances? They’re your girls—but their speciality is a bit darker. Zombie in your garage? Pesky Poltergeist living in your pool? They’ll have the problem solved in a magical minute. For a nominal fee, of course...

When gorgeous new client, Lukas Scott, saunters into the office requesting their help to find a stolen box, it sounds like a simple case—until the truth comes out. The box is full of Sin.

Seven deadly ones, in fact.

They’ve got five days to recapture the Sins before they're recalled by the box, taking seven hijacked human bodies with them. Easy peasy—except for one thing...

There’s a spell that will allow the Sins to remain free, causing chaos forever. When the key ingredient threatens the life of someone she knows, Jessie must make the ultimate choice between love and family—or lose everything
.


My Review:

Wow loved this!  Another explosive series from Jus.  I loved the Denazen series and guess what I love book one in this series.  I think sometimes you just click with an author and Jus Accardo has to be one of those I instantly click with.  I love her writing style and the sassy butt kicking main female characters she creates.

Jessie is awesome, she leads a colourful and positively mad life and her personality, whit and charisma shines through.  I can't quite decide whether Jessie or Dez (from the Denazen series) is my favourite character.  Both equally awesome.  Whilst I'm onto characters there are some equally amazing ones, the seven deadly sins were worked into the story well.  Lukas was cute but then again aren't most of Jus' boy characters swoon worthy. 

I rarely give a five star review but here it is guys.  This book is well deserving of its five star rating.  Good on you Jus you've created another cracker of a book :) I highly recommend Darker Days!  It has the Chocolate Chunky Munkie seal of approval.

Can't wait for book two and also can't wait to see what happens to the characters next. 

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Overall:
Fabulous, amazing ahhhhh so gutted I've finished reading it.  Just off to sulk :(

My Thoughts on the Cover:

Cute Sassy and has Jus' stamp all over it.  Love it and it has my favourite colour splashed around, purple rocks.


  • You can check out the Guest Post from Jus featuring Darker Days

  • You can see my review Touch HERE - The first book in the Denazen series


Sunday 22 September 2013

***Review*** The Archived by Victoria Schwab



The Archived by Victoria Schwab

Released: 22nd January 2013
Publisher: Hyperion
Series: Yes #1 in the Archived series
Format:  Digital ARC
Source: From Netgalley

Author Site: Victoria Schwab

Many thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for my review copy, this is in exchange for an honest review.

Goodreads Synopsis:

 Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.

Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.

Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often—violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.

Being a Keeper isn’t just dangerous—it’s a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da’s death was hard enough, but now her little brother is gone too. Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.

In this haunting, richly imagined novel, Victoria Schwab reveals the thin lines between past and present, love and pain, trust and deceit, unbearable loss and hard-won redemption.


 

My Review:

The Synopsis to this sounded so good, I mean how cool is the idea of having the dead rest on shelves like library books.

But I have to say overall I found this one to be a bit of a deadpan, it stayed the same level all through the book.  I was waiting for the excitement and the tension but I didn't feel it.  I didn't connect with the book and I just about scraped through to the end.  No I didn't hate it, it just didn't light a fire underneath me.  Shame really as the concept sounded so good.

I liken it to a pan of simmering water, just a few bubble breaking the surface but not the great frenzy you get from a pan of boiling water.

 The writing style was descriptive and very visual, it certainly didn't lack in imagination but maybe this was its downfall for me.  Instead of creating the world I wish the story would have come through a bit quicker, then I think the story would have flowed through better.

I haven't got any characters that stood out, I did sort of like Mackenzie but to be honest I wasn't too fussed on the others.

Obviously this is my opinion of the book and it's not all bad, someone else may think it's a five star book.  It just wasn't for me.  The writing style isn't bad so don't be too put off by me. 



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Overall:  
Not for me and left me with a lukewarm feeling.

My Thoughts on the Cover:
It certainly captures the key elements of the book.  I do find it a bit spooky, the smoky effect around the girl is haunting.

Saturday 21 September 2013

Guest Post: Jus Accardo Author of Darker Days

Hi Guys!  I'm really excited to bring you a guest post from the lovely Jus Accardo.  This is to celebrate the launch of her new book Darker Days.  It's a new series and boy am I excited to be able to get my hands on a copy.  I have loved her Denazen series and always eagerly await the next instalment.  So without further ado here is the guest post from Jus.  Underneath you'll find the blurb about Darker Days.  Enjoy!



Guest Post:  Jus Accardo

Darker Days Dream Cast

I think most writers envision a specific face while creating their characters. Personally, I need that visualization. It helps me work out the scenes and the mood, and get the expressions right in my head.

Today I'm here to share my cast from Darker Days. Lemme know what you all think!


Emma Roberts as Jessie Darker



Kate Winslet as Klaire Darker



Dave Navarro as Damien




Taylor Swift as Kendra Belfair


Steven R McQueen as Lukas Scott




Demi Lovato as Meredith Wells


What about you? Have you read Darker Days? Is there someone you think would be better suited? Or did I forget your favorite character?



Darker Days (Darker Agency, #1) by Jus Accardo 

Synopsis 
Jessie Darker goes to high school during the day, but at night she helps with the family investigation business. Cheating husbands and stolen inheritances? They’re your girls—but their specialty is a bit darker. Zombie in your garage? Pesky Poltergeist living in your pool? They’ll have the problem solved in a magical minute. For a nominal fee, of course... When gorgeous new client, Lukas Scott, saunters into the office requesting their help to find a stolen box, it sounds like a simple case—until the truth comes out. The box is full of Sin. Seven deadly ones, in fact. They’ve got five days to recapture the Sins before they're recalled by the box, taking seven hijacked human bodies with them. Easy peasy—except for one thing... There’s a spell that will allow the Sins to remain free, causing chaos forever. When the key ingredient threatens the life of someone she knows, Jessie must make the ultimate choice between love and family—or lose everything.



Find Darker Days 

About Jus Accardo 

JUS ACCARDO spent her childhood reading and learning to cook. Determined to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps as a chef, she applied and was accepted to the Culinary Institute of America. At the last minute, she realized her path lay with fiction, not food, and passed on the spot to pursue writing.

Jus is the bestselling author the popular Denazen series from Entangled publishing and is currently working on the first book in a new adult series due out summer 2013. A native New Yorker, she lives in the middle of nowhere with her husband, three dogs, and sometimes guard bear, Oswald.

 Find Jus Accardo 
 Blog 

Sunday 8 September 2013

*** Review*** The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa




Released:  30th April 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Series: Yes #2 in the Blood of Eden series
Format: Digital ARC
Source: From Netgalley

Author Site: Julie Kagawa

Many thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for my review copy, this is in exchange for an honest review.


Synopsis:

How do you face the end of eternity? 

In Allison Sekemoto's world, there is one rule left: Blood calls to blood  

She has done the unthinkable: died so that she might continue to live. Cast out of Eden and separated from the boy she dared to love, Allie will follow the call of blood to save her creator, Kanin, from the psychotic vampire Sarren. But when the trail leads to Allie's birthplace in New Covington, what Allie finds there will change the world forever-and possibly end human and vampire existence.
There's a new plague on the rise, a strain of the Red Lung virus that wiped out most of humanity generations ago-and this strain is deadly to humans and vampires alike. The only hope for a cure lies in the secrets Kanin carries, if Allie can get to him in time.
Allison thought that immortality was forever. But now, with eternity itself hanging in the balance, the lines between human and monster will blur even further, and Allie must face another choice she could never have imagined having to make.



My Review:

I love this series, just when I think I could be getting a little bit sick of vampires along comes a different take on things and livens up my interest.  There are some edge of the seat moments and there is high tension running all the way through this book.

I love the world that Julie has created, it's dark, it's deadly and downright scary.  But I just love it!  Great characters, especially Allie, she is fierce and ticks all the right boxes.  There's a good mixture of good guys and bad evil critters.

I'm not going to spoil the story as this is book two, but what I can tell you is that there is more character development and it has left me craving for more.  I am a huge fan of this series and cannot wait for the next one, it will be interesting to see where the next book leads.  Book one is still the best but this one more than holds it's own.


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Overview:
Great addition to the series and lots of tension, so hold on tight to your seat!

My Thoughts on the Cover:
Bit too simple for me, I would have loved a more detailed cover.  I do like the blue colour.


You can see my review for:
Book #1 The Immortal Rules HERE




Monday 2 September 2013

Cover Reveal: Kat Scratched by D.T. Dyllin


 
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