Monday, October 28, 2013

Kresley Cole--Shadow's Claim (The Dacians #1)

Paranormal Romance - adult

#1 New York Times bestseller Kresley Cole introduces The Dacians: Realm of Blood and Mist, a new paranormal series following the royal bloodline of Dacia, a vampire kingdom hidden within the Lore of the Immortals After Dark. Shadow’s Claim features Prince Trehan, a ruthless master assassin who will do anything to possess Bettina, his beautiful sorceress mate, even compete for her hand in a blood-sport tournament— to the death.

HE WON’T BE DENIED

Trehan Daciano, known as the Prince of Shadows, has spent his life serving his people—striking in the night, quietly executing any threat to their realm. The coldly disciplined swordsman has never desired anything for himself—until he beholds Bettina, the sheltered ward of two of the Lore’s most fearsome villains.

SHE’S BOUND TO ANOTHER

Desperate to earn her guardians’ approval after a life-shattering mistake, young Bettina has no choice but to marry whichever suitor prevails—even though she’s lost her heart to another. Yet one lethal competitor, a mysterious cloaked swordsman, invades her dreams, tempting her with forbidden pleasure.

A BATTLE FOR HER BODY AND SOUL

Even if Trehan can survive the punishing contests to claim her as his wife, the true battle for Bettina’s heart is yet to come. And unleashing a millennium’s worth of savage need will either frighten his Bride away—or stoke Bettina’s own desires to a fever pitch. . .

{4 stars}
I have read the Immortals After Dark series (except the last 2). Kresley Cole has a writing style of beginning each book back at the same start point as the last one, but from a different point of view. Like the spokes on a wheel, which I find annoying at times. So I thought that this was a new start, a new wheel so to speak, but it does bring up things that happened in Lothaire's book and Dreams of a Dark Warrior. Even though I didn't read Lothaire, I had no trouble keeping up. And for a book over 450 pages, I didn't get bored (I did put it down twice to read something else). It's a great story, loved Trehan, all the things he gives up and goes thru for Bettina is incredible. Bettina is sort of a sheltered princess, but she has dreams and aspirations of her own. The side characters are a plus to this story, my only complaint was the ending, it kind of fell flat for me. After all they went thru there should have been a little more HEA.



















Tuesday, October 22, 2013

WATTPAD - author spotlight

If you read my first post about this website, then you know what its all about. Up and coming authors trying out their stories, working towards being discovered and eventually published. I will "spotlight" certain authors that I think are worthy of attention as I come across them.

http://wattpad.com/rembear45

Spin The Bottle

Rachel and Miles have been best friends since they were ten-years-old.  He's the dangerous, mysterious playboy, while she's the shy, innocent good girl.  An unlikely pair, for sure, these two have never seen each other as anything more than just "friends."

But, one day, Miles convinces Rachel to attend a party in celebration of their senior year of high school.  Will an innocent game of "Spin the Bottle" change their relationship forever?


Thanks for stopping by!  Since you're here, feel free to follow me :) I would love to have this book published one day.  Please support my dream.


Take My Breath Away

My name is Margaret, but most people call me by my nickname, “Mag.” This year has been unbelievably crazy and intense.  I moved to a new town after my brother’s car accident, and I was just trying to survive my senior year of high school – literally. 

I played basketball, and I had to deal with a sociopath for a coach while battling severe asthma.  Hell doesn’t even begin to describe that situation.  But, in the midst of everything I met and fell in love with the school’s most notorious player – Michael Allen.  He was the star of the basketball team.  I quickly learned there was more to him than just good looks and a killer jumpshot, though. 

Our story is nothing short of amazing.  This is THE story, MY story.  It’s rare, it’s real, and it’s going to make you believe in love again.  Find out how we came together in the face of tremendous odds, tragedy, and people who wished to tear us apart.

Enjoy!  You'll laugh, cry, and leave this book feeling inspired.  I promise.  Give it time - it's slow to start, but by the end, you're going to be so glad that you gave it a chance.  It's NOT your typical teen romance - don't let the beginning fool you.

{4 stars}
I have been following both of these stories. They are both YA, which is not usually my favorite genre, but they caught my attention with how different they seem to be from the usual. This author addresses some serious topics, like bullying. Which is not an easy topic to write or live thru. but she does a great job giving us a glimpse into the life of someone being bullied (Take My Breath Away). I commend her bravery in sharing some of this with us. Both stories are "in progress" so we are reading it as she writes. Spin the bottle reminds me of many a high school party that I went to, and Take My Breath Away keeps me hanging on the edge waiting for the next chapter. This author has a lot of promise. I hope you will open your mind, and remember it is a work in progress, an unpolished gem in the making, and give these stories a try. I think you will like them.

To see what I am reading on wattpad. go to: http://wattpad.com/texasreaderstacy

Monday, October 14, 2013

WATTPAD - discovering unpublished writers

About Wattpad

http://www.wattpad.com/about

Great stories bring people together!

Wattpad is the world's largest community for discovering and sharing stories. It's a new form of entertainment connecting readers and writers through storytelling, and best of all, it's entirely free. With thousands of new stories added every day, an incredibly active community of readers, and the ability to read on your computer, phone, or tablet, Wattpad is the only place that offers a truly social, and entirely mobile reading experience.

I had one of my favorite authors turned me on to Wattpad because she posts her "Dear Diary" series there. And what a world I discovered!! There are lots of authors just waiting to be discovered and published. I have come across several stories that have kept me captivated, and I hope that you will fall in love with their stories as well. A lot of them are "fan fiction", but that is how we all discovered E.L. James Fifty Shades series, everyone has to start somewhere right?



After series by imaginator. http://wattpad.com/imaginator1D

After 1: Tessa Young is an 18 year old college student with a simple life, excellent grades, and a sweet boyfriend. She always has things planned out ahead of time, until she meets a rude boy named Harry, with too many tattoos and piercings who shatters her plans.


{ 4 stars}
I started reading the first book, After, at lunch to kill time, but was so captivated by the storyline and characters that I couldn't stop reading. I actually read book 1 and 2 over the weekend. And honestly, I had no idea who Harry Styles was until I googled him, I guess I'm to old...LOL...but I think that made the books better for me cause I was reading them without any expectations.

Harry is damaged and self destructive, Tessa has been sheltered and has never experienced life. Their whirlwind story is full of angst, college parties, yelling, drama, and 'turn you inside out' passion. I won't give any spoilers away, the dynamic between the 2 is amazing. I see parts of myself in both of them, and at times actually cried with them. How she is not published is a shock to me, if a book can pull emotions from me and a commitment to the characters, then it should be in print! The third book is not finished yet, but she updates almost daily, so we can read along as she writes. Go into reading these stories with an open mind, don't be critical. They need a little polishing and some minor editing, but they are great stories, they pulled me in, and the emotional connection is what gets me hooked into any book.



***If you want to check out more stories in my reading list, click the link below***

http://wattpad.com/texasreaderstacy



Sunday, October 6, 2013

Chelsea Cain--Let Me Go (Archie & Gretchen #6)

Adult-Thriller

Beautiful killer Gretchen Lowell tightens her grip on Detective Archie Sheridan in Let Me Go, New York Times bestseller Chelsea Cain’s newest nail-biter.

Detective Archie Sheridan is about to receive a birthday present from the last person he ever wants to see again: Gretchen Lowell.

The investigation into Jack Reynolds's drug enterprise is heating up and has Archie heading off to attend a masked Halloween party on Jack Reynolds's island, where Susan is a reluctant guest. But the next morning one of the guests is found murdered, and Archie quickly realizes that nothing is what it seems. Only one thing is clear: Gretchen is back, and she's been closer than anyone thinks. On Halloween Eve, with time running out, Archie will have to risk everything, and choose wisely whom to trust, if he and his loved ones are going to live through the night.



{4 stars}
If you have read the first 5 books in this series, then you know what Archie has gone thru with Gretchen. She will never let him leave their game. This time around she returns for Archie's birthday, and a present from Gretchen is never just a simple present. Her game take years to take affect and you never quite see her coming. Rachel? Didn't see that one, even though I never trusted her. Susan is back in the middle of things as usual and lots of secrets are revealed. We flash back frequently to before Gretchen kidnapped Archie and we learn some more secrets from when they were together. Lots of twists, turns, and another twisting puzzle to solve. Really enjoyed this one, Cain keeps us guessing each time Gretchen returns to twist the scalpel into Archie's life.

***If you have never read this series, start at the beginning. It captured my attention immediately. I have never read a thriller where the serial killer is a female, blond, beauty, who stuns everyone with just how depraved she really is. The "cat and mouse" game between her and Archie is attention grabbing with each book.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Tara Sivec--Love and Lists (Chocoholics #1)

Adult Romance 18+

Love and Lists is the first book in the Chocolate Lovers spinoff - Chocoholics: The foul-mouthed offspring tell their stories.

Twenty-five-year-old Gavin Ellis has always had the love and support of his family ever since he was a little boy and couldn't stop talking about his penis. He's also always had their unsolicited advice and uncanny knack of embarrassing him at all costs. Now that he's an adult and trying to convince the love of his life to love him back, things haven't changed very much from when he was younger.

When Gavin's best friend Tyler suggests he make a to-do list of items that will ensure he wins the girl, Gavin is one-hundred-percent on board: after a few six packs.

After puking in the shrubs, a bad experience with Viagra, a Sex-Ed course gone wrong, and a slew of other mishaps courtesy of his family and friends, Gavin is pretty sure this list will be the death of him.

Sometimes, trying to make someone love you with a list isn't always the best idea. Especially when "Show her your penis" is the first "to-do" item...


{4 stars}

 Question, are Tara Sivec and Madeline Sheehan the same person? Are they BFF's? Are they really Liz and Claire in real life? I get great sneak peeks for each of their books in the other ones books....just pondering......

Ok, I will say that this was not quite as funny as Chocolate Lovers, because I didn't shoot soda out my nose and hyperventilate/snort laugh until I cried. BUT, that doesn't mean it isn't absolutely LOL!!! I have learned that you can't eat, drink, or read her books in public or you risk choking or just flat out embarrassing yourself. Gavin all grown up is great, and with Tyler and his "drew". Nothing could be funnier, I would love to have all these people as friends, I probably would never get anything done, but what a way to go........