Welcome to Book Lovers Paradise

Welcome to my attempt at blogging. I am a true to heart bibliophile. Here I will discuss and review books as I read them. You are welcome to do the same. The only rules are no profanity, no politics, no religion, and have fun!
Donna

Friday, December 30, 2011


We are proud to be part of the virtual book tour
for
Damian's Oracle
by 
Lizzy Ford

Damian’s Oracle 
By Lizzy Ford 

Genre: sweet paranormal romance

Inspired by Slavic mythology, Damian’s Oracle is the entree into the ongoing battle between good and evil over the fate of humanity. The White God, Damian, and his Guardians protect the world from the Black God and his monsters while rescuing Naturals – humans with extraordinary paranormal gifts – from the Black God, who would kill or convert them.
Caught in the middle is cool-headed Sofia, a Natural whose gift will tip the scales in the war. Sofia begins her transformation from human into oracle, the first in thousands of years. Damian rescues her from the Black God in time to complete a ceremony that will bind her to him for eternity. Sofia struggles with her new world and her role as an oracle and Damian’s mate while haunted by a mysterious man from Damian’s past who’s supposed to be dead. Unbeknownst to her, her link to the dead man may be all that saves Damian, his Guardians, and the fate of humanity.
While he wants nothing more than for the petite beauty to take her place at his side like the oracles of legend did his White God forefathers, Damian can’t quite rationalize having to win her over instead of command her. Further complicating his life is the sobering realization that there are spies in his organization who are helping the Black God take out his Guardians. Damian must help Sofia reach her potential fast, especially when a threat from his past returns.


Damian’s Oracle links:

Excerpt:
Sofia froze as the scene straight out of her vision—the little boy, Cody, spread-eagled in the street near the storm drain—materialized before her. They boy’s mother was hysterical, screaming at once at the driver and her dead son. Coldness seeped through Sofia as she watched the familiar scene before her. In the distance, she heard her cell phone ring. It ceased and began to ring again. As if in a dream, she pulled it free and answered.
“Ms. Fast?” The deep baritone voice pierced her thoughts. “This is Damian Bylun. You left a message with my receptionist?”
Her world was beginning to spin as she realized her vision had come true. Her legs felt weak, and she sat heavily on the curb, struggling to control her breathing so she didn’t pass out.
God, what’s wrong with me? I saw him die …
“Pardon?”
Realizing she clenched the phone in her hand, she locked the screen and sat staring at the asphalt. Someone touched her, and visions flared across her mind. A pretty brunette, mugged in a back alley, raped and killed.
“Hey, are you all right?” someone else asked. As the man took her arm to help her stand, his haggard face appeared in yet another vision. An older man with dementia left to rot and finally die in an old folks’ home.
“Get away from me!” she cried, tearing her arm away. She fled, staggering as she bumped into more people and more visions flashed. She ran until the cold air burned her lungs and the people were far behind her. She retreated to her apartment, breathing raggedly, with cold tears stiffening her cheeks.
She closed and locked the door behind her. She froze when she saw the disaster that was her apartment. Everything was overturned or shredded, from the furniture to the bookshelves to the TV lying on its face. The windows were open and the apartment cold.
Her headache was now a migraine, and she shielded her eyes against the light from the street that filtered past her honeycomb blinds. She all but staggered into her bathroom. She wrenched open the medicine cabinet for the most powerful of the drugs Dr. Mallard prescribed for her and slammed the cabinet shut.
Her eyes were fully silver, swirling and glowing in the dark bathroom. Whatever she was, she wasn’t a normal human.
“What is wrong with me?” she screamed, slamming her fists against the mirror.
Her blood spattered on the wall, and buzzing filled her ears. She sank to the floor. Her phone began to ring again as she slid into a dead faint.



About the author:




Lizzy Ford is the hyper-prolific author of the "Rhyn Trilogy" and "War of Gods" series, both launched in 2011, as well as multiple single title young adult fantasy and paranormal romances. Lizzy's books have reached into the bestseller lists on both Amazon US and Amazon UK in multiple categories. Through her unconventional online marketing strategies, Lizzy has gone from selling 20 books in January 2011 to around 5000 books in September 2011 and from over 7,000 free downloads of her work in January 2011 to over 40,000 downloads in September 2011.

The Lizzy Ford team consists of: Matt, IT and search engine optimization expert; Christine LePorte, freelance book editor; Dafeenah, graphics artist; and Toni, English-Spanish translator.

Lizzy is considered by most to be the ultimate writing freak of nature for her ability to write and epublish a new book every 30-45 days. She is also a regular contributor for the Curiosity Quills website and is an active member of a small guild of nine passionate, talented writers, the Indie Eclective.  Lizzy's books are available from Amazon, BN, Smashwords, iBooks/iTunes, and all other eReader libraries. 

Lizzy’s links: 







MY QUICK REVIEW

WOW- what an amazing book.  You have got to read this book!
Great characters, well written plot and just FUN to read.  I love going to other worlds through the eyes of a great writer.  Lizzy Ford is just such a writer. I liked watching Sofia change into the Oracle. Watch for Part 2 of the series, Damian's Assassin.


The Unwilling Bride
by 
Candy Ann Little

given by the author for an honest review

Don't you just love the cover?

synopsis (from Goodreads)

Beautiful and high-spirited Caitlin Gallagher has no desire to be married. When she’s forced into an arranged marriage, she vows to loathe the man. Her anger is kindled even more when she finds out he was born in England. Her family was forced to flee Ireland and move to America because of the war with England. Now this Englishman is stripping her freedom away. Dillon Cade is her enemy twice! 

Gentle Dillon Cade has lived a quiet life for thirteen years in Norfolk, Virginia. When he agrees to marry a young maiden so she can stay in America while her parents are deported back to Ireland, he gets more than he bargains for. As he uses his newspaper to fight President Adams’ sedition acts and help Thomas Jefferson get elected, he must also deal with an unwilling bride, who now disturbs his peaceful life. 

Can Caitlin work through her anger, finding faith in God and love in Dillon’s arms? Can Dillon tolerate her behavior long enough to win her trust?



MY REVIEW


Christian Romances are not my usual genre, however, I have to keep my eyes open for more books by Candy-Ann Little.  

This novel is very well written, the spirituality is not overwhelming.  This book will be enjoyed by both Christians and non-christians alike.  If you like a good romance, and be honest- we all need a little romance in our lives, read this book.  

I really liked the strong female lead, Caitlin Gallagher.  She is sassy and funny without behaving too much like a shrew.  As for Dillon Cade, you are going to love him!  I guarantee it!

The book has a wonderful historical aspect to it.    I give it 5 stars and look forward to reading more from Candy-Ann Little




Thursday, December 29, 2011


synopsis (from Goodreads)
For a mother, life comes down to a series of choices. 
To hold on… 
To let go.. 
To forget… 
To forgive… 
Which road will you take? 

For eighteen years, Jude Farraday has put her children’s needs above her own, and it shows—her twins, Mia and Zach—are bright and happy teenagers. When Lexi Baill moves into their small, close knit community, no one is more welcoming than Jude. Lexi, a former foster child with a dark past, quickly becomes Mia’s best friend. Then Zach falls in love with Lexi and the three become inseparable. 

Jude does everything to keep her kids safe and on track for college. It has always been easy-- until senior year of high school. Suddenly she is at a loss. Nothing feels safe anymore; every time her kids leave the house, she worries about them. 

On a hot summer’s night her worst fears come true. One decision will change the course of their lives. In the blink of an eye, the Farraday family will be torn apart and Lexi will lose everything. In the years that follow, each must face the consequences of that single night and find a way to forget…or the courage to forgive. 

NIGHT ROAD is vivid, emotionally complex novel that raises profound questions about motherhood, identity, love, and forgiveness. It is a luminous, heartbreaking novel that captures both the exquisite pain of loss and the stunning power of hope. This is Kristin Hannah at her very best, telling an unforgettable story about the longing for family, the resilience of the human heart, and the courage it takes to forgive the people we love.




MY REVIEW

It's been a long time since I've read a book that made me teary, or a book I couldn't put down.  The author does an amazing job of pulling the heartstrings of the reader.  I think she takes the neurotic personality of 
the mother, Jude, a bit too far.  I wanted to slap Jude over the head a few times.  Several of the other characters left a lot to be desired.  Mia and Zach are twins.  Zach is the leader of the two, with Mia trailing behind as the weaker of the two.  Mia is portrayed as a somewhat childish teenager who is a social outcast.  Her brother, on the other hand, is the handsome jock loved by all.  The character of Lexi, now there was the star of this book.  She's the daughter of a drug addict who spent time in jail.  Lexi's mom dies and Lexi spends years in foster care.  A relative is located and Lexi moves in with her (Aunt Eva).  The three become inseparable, until one night when tragedy strikes. Lexi bears the brunt of a horrific accident.  An accident that is the result of poor judgement from all three kids, Lexi, Zach and Mia.  Zach shows nothing but weakness by allowing Lexi to take the blame.  This single act ruined his character for me.  No matter what happened after in the book, I saw him as weak.  Yes, he did stand up and speak on Lexi's behalf, but he didn't fight for her.  The tragic result of an unfortunate accident pulled a family apart. I found the end very unrealistic.  This is not a bad book, it tugged at my heart. It made me cry.  I just think it could have been so much better.  The characters could have been so much stronger. I would have liked to see Zach and Miles stand up to Jude.  The only advice I can offer, read the book yourself, and decide for yourself.  No matter what you think of the book, it WILL make you feel raw emotion.
I originally gave this book three starts, but after thinking about it, I changed my rating to 4 stars based on the emotion I felt after reading.




Tuesday, December 27, 2011


Today we are featuring Fran Orenstein
you can read about our featured author

Monday, December 26, 2011




Announcing the Farsighted  Social Media Whirlwind Tour! As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Farsighted eBook edition is just 99 cents this week. What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes, including lots of Amazon gift cards (up to $100 in amount) and 5 autographed copies of the book. Be sure to enter before the end of the day on Friday, December 30th, so you don’t miss out.  

To Win the Prizes

  1. Purchase your copy of Farsighted for just 99 cents on Amazon or Barnes & Noble
  2. Fill-out the form on Novel Publicity to enter for the prizes
  3. Visit today’s featured event; you may win an autographed copy of the book or a $50 gift card!
  4. BONUS:  If you leave a comment on this blog post, you have another chance at $100!
  5. DOUBLE BONUS:  If I receive more comments than any other blogger, *I* win $100.
 

...And I can win too!

Over 100 bloggers are participating in this gigantic event, and there are plenty of prizes for us too. The blogger who receives the most votes in the traffic-breaker poll will win a $100 gift card as well. So when you visit Novel Publicity’s site to fill-out the contest entry form, don’t forget to say that I referred you, so I can get a point in the poll.  

The Featured Events include:

monday, a guest blog on Novel Publicity! Emlyn kicks off the tour on the Novel Publicity Free Advice blog by discussing her brightly burning passion for books in a guest post entitled “My journey through the pages and toward a life-long love of reading.”  One commenter will win an autographed copy of Farsighted. Don’t forget to enter for the other contest prizes while you’re over there!

tuesday  , Twitter sharing contest! A tweet is tiny, only 140 characters. But on Tuesday, it could win you $50. Send the following tweet across the twittersphere, and you just may win a $50 Amazon gift card. An autographed copy of Farsighted is also up for grabs. The winners will be announced Wednesday morning. Here’s the tweet:  Looking for a fun read to round out your holiday break? The paranormal YA hit Farsighted is just 99 cents! http://ow.ly/81Dt1 #whirlwind

wednesday, Google+ sharing contest! Yup, there’s yet another awesome opportunity to win a $50 Amazon gift card, and this time it just takes a single click! Visit Google+ and share Emlyn Chand’s most recent post (you’ll see the Stay Farsighted book cover included with it).

thursday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. An autographed copy of Farsighted is also up for grabs. Two chances to win with just one click! How about that?
  Thursday, Facebook sharing contest! Stop by Novel Publicity’s Facebook page and share their latest post (you’ll see the Farsighted book cover included with it). It’s ridiculously easy to win!

friday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. An autographed copy of Farsighted is also up for grabs. Friday, special contest on the author’s site! Are you ready for some more fun? Take a picture of yourself with your copy of Farsighted either in paperback or on an eReading device, then post it to Emlyn Chand’s Facebook page or email a copy to author@emlynchand.com. You just way win one of three Amazon gift cards! A $100 prize will go to the photo with the most interesting setting (so put your holiday travel time to work for you). Another $50 will go the funniest photo, and one more prize of $50 will go the scariest photo—this is a paranormal YA book after all. An autographed copy of Farsighted will go to one randomly selected entrant. For more details about this contest, please visit www.emlynchand.com.  

Remember, it’s all about the books!

About Farsighted: Alex Kosmitoras may be blind, but he can still “see” things others can’t.  When his unwanted visions of the future begin to suggest that the girl he likes could be in danger, he has no choice but to take on destiny and demand it reconsider. Farsighted is the winner of the 2011 Dragonfly eBook Awards. Get it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. About the Author:  Emlyn Chand has always loved to hear and tell stories, having emerged from the womb with a fountain pen grasped firmly in her left hand (true story). When she’s not writing, she runs a large book club in Ann Arbor and is the president of author PR firm, Novel Publicity. Emlyn loves to connect with readers and is available throughout the social media interweb. Visit her on her website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.  


Now please enjoy this exciting excerpt from Farsighted...



  “Did Dad tell you? A new tenant moved into the old pharmacy next door.” “Really?” I ask, not letting on I already know. If I feign ignorance, Mom’ll divulge all the details. “What is it?” “It’s a psychic shop,” Her voice crackles with excitement like a fire that’s just beginning to burn. “The All-Seeing Miss Teak. Isn’t that cute? Miss Teak, Mystic. Ha, I wonder if that’s her real name.” I laugh. “That is funny. Never had a psychic in town before. What’s she like?” “Oh, she’s very friendly. Why don’t you go over and say ‘hi.’  I’m sure she’d like to meet you.” “Okay, I think I will.” I’m incredibly intrigued, because first off, it’s a psychic shop—how weird is that?—and second, its presence made Dad super uncomfortable—also very cool. I waste no time heading next door to check out the scene. As I step cautiously into the new shop, a recording of soft, instrumental music greets me. I can make out chimes and a string instrument I don’t recognize but for some reason reminds me of snake charmers. The smell of incense fills my nostrils, which explains the burning I detected earlier. “Hello?” I call out into the otherwise quiet room. Nobody answers. I walk in deeper, sweeping my cane out in front of me in a metronome fashion. This place is new to me, so I need to be especially careful while moving around. Thump! Despite my precautions, I stub my toe on something hard, big, and made of wood. Just my luck to stub the same toe twice in one day. I reach down to press my fingers into my throbbing foot to alleviate some of the pain. Something teeters before rolling off of the chest and across the floor; the sound it makes indicates a curved path. Suddenly, the object stops. Somebody’s stopped it. “Hello?” I call again. “Hello,” a deep, feminine voice responds, placing more emphasis on the first syllable than the second. “I- I’m sorry I knocked that thing over. I didn’t mean to…” I hope she’s not angry. Probably not a good idea to get on a psychic’s bad side. “That wasn’t just a thing, it’s a crystal ball,” she says as she walks over, sending my blood pulsing through my veins. I sense her looking at me for a moment before she places the ball back on top of the chest. “Can it see the future?” I ask, allowing my curiosity to outweigh my uneasiness. “No.” After a pause lasting several beats, she continues. “But I can see the future sometimes when I look into it.” “Oh, okay.” I tighten my hand around my cane and turn to leave. It may not be the most polite thing to do, but all of this hocus-pocus stuff is freaking me out more than I would’ve guessed. The psychic lady speaks again, stopping me cold. “Don’t run away, Alex Kosmitoras.” She must’ve spoken to Mom earlier today. That must be how she knows my name. “I’m not running away,” I say meekly. “I’m just going back over to Sweet Blossoms.” “Don’t run away,” she repeats—this time she speaks louder and with more energy. “Don’t run away from your abilities. They are gifts.” “What?” I ask in confusion. What abilities is she talking about? “You already know. Watch. Listen. Be open to your gifts.” I turn to face Miss Teak, but find she’s already gone, returning to wherever she was before I got there. Is it safe to leave? I trail my fingers across the wooden box I ran into earlier; a thick coat of dust clings to the tips as I pull away. If this shop just opened, why is it already so dirty? I wipe my hands over my shirt to get the gritty substance off. Shivers rock my whole body. Something about this place is wrong, and I’m not sticking around to figure out what. Tapping my cane along the floor, I’m able to find the exit without knocking into anything else.