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, January 13, 2012

Today we welcome author Molly Snow.
She has written a couple of amazing books:
BESWITCHED   AND
BESWITCHED WITCH


synopsis (from Amazon)

Product Description
When a magical black cat, Surla, runs away from her bombastic witch, she has no idea she will soon be living the life of shy teenage girl, Cathy Phillips-- confronting the mean girls and cute guys of Washington High.

Cathy’s peers notice a dramatic change when she starts standing up for herself, dressing differently, snagging dates and picking up feline habits. Meanwhile, Surla’s witch is a flaming red-haired fury, awkwardly trying to fit into society, so she can find her familiar and perform magic once again.

The “curse” of being BeSwitched may just be the most purr-fect secret these new best friends could ever have!


and


synopsis (from Amazon)

Product Description
Idis, a hot-tempered witch, was pronounced dead Halloween night. Her runaway cat, Surla, has a horrific premonition-come-true, when Idis escapes the morgue and then a mental hospital. These two enemies unexpectedly cross paths in the woods, triggering the curse of being BeSwitched.

A powerful opportunity comes with Surla switching bodies with her witch. She can dominate the now little black furball, giving her an education, teaching her patience and taking the shrew to the salon for a fun makeover.

The two go to high school together, when Surla passes as a teenage girl with a little help from magic. When Surla is magnetically drawn to the curious new guy, Jax Morreau, she is infatuated. Could ravens, coffins or a cursed ring keep Surla away from her invitation to the Morreau Family Reunion at Lake Sequoia? An ancient mystery will be revealed, but at what cost?



Molly is here today with a guest post.


BLP: Thank you Molly, for visiting and offering 
          this guest post.
Molly: Thank you, Donna, for inviting me to your blog for the BeSwitched Blog Tour! I've brought a guest with me you may know- IDIS.  I wanted to let her share some thoughts with your readers.    
Love, Molly Snow


Take it away, Idis!



5 Clever Comebacks from Idis


Hi, everyone, in the Bloggersphere. My name is Idis, star of BeSwitched and BeSwitched Witch. Okay, okay, I am a supporting character, but that's besides the point! I'm here to give some practical advice on how to deal with a bully. Let’s say you have a bully at school and you aren’t sure what to do; you are completely pathetic, always getting wedgies and thrown into lockers. Take some of my advice from someone who was a bully for over 300 years.


1. If you can’t think of anything else to say, “Dingbat” will work. Even a witch like myself can get tongue-tied. This word is fool proof. Try it! Dingbat!
2. Learn to cackle. To be extra dramatic, let your head fall back as you cackle. Laughing alone will show your bully you are superior.
3. Be creative. You can’t use overused words, like “Whatever.” That's what every teen says. Instead respond with, “Well, Twiddle-dee-dee!” That will throw your bully off, giving you a moment for another comeback.
4. Call them words like “Sweetie” as you pass them some brownies filled with itch cream. They will think you are desperately wanting to be allies, and (trust me) a bully never refuses food.
5. If they don’t stop, just tell them I’m coming for them. This should scare them away. Not only am a witch, who can cast a spell on their behind, I have died and come back to life, like all great villains. Add to that the fact that I have been consigned to a couple funny farms in the past, and they will change schools to get away from you.


Okay, I have more important things to do right now, like clip my toenails. Adios.




NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY:
MOLLY HAS GENEROUSLY OFFERED AN AWESOME GIVEAWAY OF A KINDLE TOUCH WI-FI AND/OR AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF BeSWITCHED AND BeSWITCHED WITCH

FOLLOW THIS LINK:    http://mollysnowfiction.blogspot.com/
to enter into the giveaway




Thank you Molly and Idis for the visit and the guest post!
I would like to announce a new blogsite started by Lucas (my 10 yr old- I oversee the site) He wants to invite anyone who may be interested to check out and view his site HERE   The site is called
POKEMON, BRICKS AND TRAINS, OH MY!
He will showcase his custom made Lego trains and other  creations.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012


We welcome Mayra Calvini
author of 
Dark Lullaby

Dark Lullaby
By Mayra Calvani





Blurb:

At a trendy Turkish tavern one Friday night, astrophysicist Gabriel Diaz meets a mysterious young woman. Captivated by her beauty as well as her views on good and evil, he spends the next several days with her. Soon, however, he begins to notice a strangeness in her–her skin’s abnormally high temperature, her obsession with milk products, her child-like and bizarre behavior as she seems to take pleasure in toying with his conscience.

The young woman, Kamilah, invites him to Rize, Turkey, where she claims her family owns a cottage in the woods. In spite of his heavy workload and the disturbing visions and nightmares about his sister’s baby that is due to be born soon, Gabriel agrees to go with her.

But nothing, not even the stunning splendor of the Black Sea, can disguise the horror of her nature. In a place where death dwells and illusion and reality seem as one, Gabriel must now come to terms with his own demons in order to save his sister’s unborn child, and ultimately, his own soul…

*Dream Realm Awards Finalist!

What readers are saying…

“Mayra Calvani is a masterful storyteller… Dark Lullaby is complex and compelling…” –Habitual Reader

“Dark Lullaby is an atmospheric paranormal horror that grips you from page one and refuses to let go until you’ve raced, breathless, to the end.” –ePinions

“Dark Lullaby is a page-turner. A horror story from the top shelf! You’ll love it.” –5 stars from Euro-Reviews

“This is a terrific horror…” –Harriet Klausner

“Dark Lullaby will capture you with its rich descriptions, its exotic location, and the need to uncover the dark secrets hidden within its pages.” –Cheryl Malandrinos, The Book Connection



Author bio:
Mayra Calvani writes fiction and nonfiction for children and adults and has authored over a dozen books, some of which have won awards. Her stories, reviews, interviews and articles have appeared on numerous publications such as The Writer, Writer’s Journal, Multicultural Review, and Bloomsbury Review, among many others. A reviewer for over a decade, she now offers online reviewing workshops. When she’s not writing, reading, editing or reviewing, she enjoys walking her dog, traveling, and spending time with her family. 
Visit her website at www.MayraCalvani.com. Join her mailing list and receive the first two lessons of her book reviewing workshop, as well as her free ebook, Reviewers Talk About Their Craft.


TO PURCHASE DARK LULLABY:

 Dark Lullaby

The book will be $.99 on Kindle until January 15th. Then it will go up to $2.99.





and now, courtesty of Mayra and Bewitching tours we are proud to offer an excerpt and a GIVEAWAY

go here  for the ebook giveaway of Mayra's book The Cat Cellar

excerpt:

Dark Lullaby Excerpt 1

After Gabriel paid the bill, they walked outside.
The night had a shimmering, liquid quality to it. A warm summer breeze caressed his face and tousled his hair. He lifted his eyes to the sky. Perfectly clear, the sky looked like a black velvet curtain embedded with Swarovski crystals.
“I don’t have a car,” Kamilah said.
“Mine is that way.” He pointed to the end of the street.
The breeze played with the soft layers of her short hair. He had a hard time tearing his eyes from her face. Her hazel eyes were so luminous they seemed to possess a life of their own.
She held his hand, entwining her fingers with his. Once again, he was startled by the temperature of her skin. So hot.
They reached his red Porsche and he opened the door for her.
On the way to his apartment, Kamilah asked him many questions about his profession, about his work at the Institute. He found himself talking a lot about himself, not because he enjoyed it but because she seemed insatiable. He loved his profession, he told her. Yet, his present job was routine and he wished for something more challenging. He wanted research. This was his passion, but he needed a doctorate degree. His plan was to work one more year at the Institute, then give himself full time to graduate school. It meant living off scholarships and student loans. In other words: no more expensive Spanish paellas or bottles of Belgian beer. He would be the romantic poor scientist.
“Where are you from, originally?” she asked.
“I was born in Puerto Rico, though my parents’ family came originally from the south of Spain. I lived in San Juan until my last year of high school. Then I won a scholarship from the University of Arizona, where I earned my Bachelor’s degree. Later I moved here to do my Master’s at Johns Hopkins, and I have been here ever since.”
 “Do you visit Puerto Rico often?”
“Not really.” He paused. “Actually, I haven’t been there since I left the year of my high school graduation.”
“When did you decide you wanted to become an astrophysicist?”
“I made the decision when I was in my last year of high school, but I’ve always been in love with the stars, ever since I was a little boy.”
How could he explain to her what looking at the stars had meant to him, when, as a terrified and miserable little boy, he had wished for the vast darkness of the sky to swallow him? At the age of seven, gazing at the constellations from the quiet darkness of his room, he had experienced a grand realization. Even lost in the endless void of space, he would be safer there than at home. How to explain to anybody that the sky and stars had been more than a simple escape? They had been his salvation. Only his sister understood.
All this rushed through his mind in a second. Kamilah sat very still. But he could feel her gaze gnawing at him. Electricity permeated the air. He resisted looking at her, his eyes on the road.
“What about your family?” she asked.
But at that moment, he made a sharp turn into the curving driveway of his apartment complex.
“Here we are,” he said, giving her a smile. Good timing. He hardly ever talked about his family with friends, much less with strangers. To distract her, Gabriel started giving her general information about the complex, its good location and facilities.
Did she really want to look at his telescope? This is what he really wanted to think about as they stepped into the elevator and he pressed for the fifth floor. One minute later, they were inside his apartment.
Luckily, he had cleaned up two days ago, so the place wasn’t a complete disaster. But it was muggy. He turned on the air conditioning.
“I love your apartment,” she said, looking round her. “It’s very warm—the feel of it, I mean.”
Books, books, books. Floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with books covered one large wall. More shelves on the opposite wall displayed a medium-sized TV and stereo system. The coffee table consisted of a large rectangular slab of glass supported by four pillars of books instead of legs. The burgundy sofa looked worn and battered, but the leather was still beautiful. His apartment consisted of a living room, a kitchen, a bedroom, and a bathroom. Propped against the shelves were several canvases, some unfinished.
“You paint?” she asked him.
“When I find the time. Helps combat the stress. But I haven’t done it in months.” He gestured to the sofa. “Sit down. Do you want something to drink? Are you hungry?”
She shook her head.
“Do you like bagels with cream cheese and smoked salmon?”
“What?”
“Delicious. My favorite meal. I’m always hungry for them.”
She smiled. “Bagels and salmon?”
“Sure. You’ll love it.”
Gabriel went into the kitchen to prepare the food. A few minutes later he came back carrying a food tray, two crystal goblets and a bottle of red Spanish wine. He placed them on the glass coffee table.
She readily accepted the wine, murmuring thanks without taking her eyes off him. In spite of her insistent stare, she didn’t seem like the aggressive type. On the contrary. She radiated vulnerability, like a lost child in need of protection. The intense glow in her eyes startled him. He could clearly distinguish the little yellow and green specks round the irises.
Gabriel sank into the sofa next to her. “You don’t look Turkish,” he told her, leaning forward to offer her a bagel.
“I’m from the north-eastern coast of Turkey, almost at the border with what used to be the Soviet Union, on the Black Sea. You can find many blond people over there. Many green and hazel eyes…Mmm…This is good. I’ve never eaten this before.”
He looked pleased. “I used to have them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”
“How impetuous. Do you love like that, too—all the way?”
His face felt flushed. “Kamilah,” he scolded gently. “You’re embarrassing me.” He lifted his goblet of wine in toast. “To the purity and nobility of the soul.”
“To those special souls out there.”
They clinked glasses and drank. The wine caressed his throat, felt far too pleasant. With all the drinking he’d had at the tavern, he was more than light-headed by now. He felt hypnotized by the luster of her golden-brown hair, by perfectly unblemished skin.
“So…Where’s your telescope?”
“In my bedroom.”
Her eyes abruptly shifted to an ornate silver framed photograph on the side table.
“My sister,” he said.
Her eyes darkened as she gazed at it with deep concentration. “She’s beautiful,” she whispered.
Gabriel reached for the picture and showed it to her. “She’s my only sister.”
“What’s her name?”
“Elena. She lives in Belgium.”
“Belgium…” For a moment there was a dream-like quality to her as she studied his sister’s face. “You must miss her a lot, having her so far away. Do you go and visit her sometimes?”
He nodded. “Of course. As a matter of fact, I’m planning on going there soon. She’s going to have a baby.” He stiffened as the image of the empty pram flashed through his mind.
There was a silence.
Kamilah seemed to be examining his face. Gently she took the picture from him. It was a close-up of Elena’s face. Corn silk blond hair, bob-styled, enclosed a pair of mellow brown eyes, a small nose, and a gentle half smile. Her eyes were smiling more than her lips.
“Does she have other children?”
“No, this will be the first. She had a baby girl three years ago, but she died a couple of hours after delivery.”
“How awful…” Kamilah murmured, as if the fact hurt her deeply. “Why is she living in Belgium?”
“Her husband is working at NATO. They’ll be there for one more year, then they’ll go back to Boston.”
“What about your parents?”
Gabriel took the picture from Kamilah and placed it back on the side table. Tilting back his head, he downed the rest of his wine. “My parents are dead,” he said.
“Oh. I’m sorry. Maybe we should change the conversation.”
“No, it’s okay. I just…I don’t like talking…”
“You don’t like talking about them with a stranger.”
“I didn’t mean it like that,” he said gently. But she was right. Some things were better forgotten or ignored. In this case, he couldn’t forget. He could only try to pretend that his childhood had never taken place; a sort of willful amnesia, a defense mechanism.
He ate the rest of his bagel and poured himself more wine. Kamilah was silently eating her bagel. Without asking, he refilled her goblet. “Well, do you want to see the telescope?” he said, rising to his feet. “Wait here a second.”
Gabriel walked into the dark bedroom to get the Meade telescope—a portable, computer-controlled Schmidt-Cassegrain, one of his little investments. It stood on its tripod by the window, the lens directed toward the heavens. He hesitated. Should he bring it into the living room or simply tell Kamilah to come here?
He felt a strong presence behind him and swung around.
Kamilah stood in the doorframe.
For an eerie second his surroundings seemed to shift. The dark bedroom, the soft light coming from the living room, Kamilah’s dark silhouette at the threshold—all seemed to acquire a surreal quality. Her face was in shadow, a black mask. He was perspiring from the beer, the raki, the wine. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d gotten like this. He didn’t want to deal with any damned telescope. Instead, he wanted to crush Kamilah against his chest and squeeze all oxygen out of her lungs.
He took in all the curves of her shape. The full round breasts, the snug waist, the feminine voluptuousness of her hips, her perfectly shaped legs, her…
He stood, paralyzed with shock.
Panicked, he fumbled for the night lamp next to him and switched it on.
A dim yellow light flooded the room.
He stared down at her feet, but everything looked normal now.
“What’s wrong?” Kamilah asked, alarmed.
He blinked, swallowing hard, his eyes moving down to her feet, up to her face, down to her feet again.
“What is it, Gabriel?”
His heart had given a skip nearly big enough to kill him. Relieved, he burst out laughing. He sat down at the edge of the bed and laughed some more.
“Jesus,” he muttered. “I’m fine. It’s nothing. I just thought I saw—nothing.” The semi darkness, the alcohol in his brain had played a trick on his vision.
Kamilah studied her own feet, her brows furrowed.
“There’s nothing wrong with you, Kamilah. There it is, the famous telescope,” he said, making a dramatic gesture with his hand.
The distress on her face faded and a reassured smile curved her lips.
She went across the room and stood next to it. Then she touched it and, looking at him and smiling, trailed the length of it with her fingers. If she was in any way aware of the suggestiveness of her deed, he couldn’t tell. Her face was the embodiment of virtuousness. But he would never look at a telescope the same way again.
The window was closed and the curtains drawn.
She leaned over and peered into the eyepiece.
“Darkness,” she whispered.
“That’s the universe, Kamilah. Ninety percent darkness, empty voids. With only billions of tiny clusters of galaxies containing billions of tiny stars. Of course, it might help to uncap the lens,” he mocked gently, getting up from the bed and lifting the cover.
She giggled. “Oh. Sorry.”
“And to turn off the lights.” As he leaned over to switch off the night lamp, he shot a sideways glance to her feet. Enclosed in beige sandals, the toenails shiny with pink polish, feminine and pretty.
“Show me Jupiter!” she demanded with childlike enthusiasm.
“You can’t see Jupiter now. It practically rises and sets with the sun. It’s stunning during the winter months, though.”
“Oh…” She seemed disappointed.
“Kamilah?”
Something about his voice must have sounded different, because she suddenly turned to him with a serious expression. Their bodies were very close.
“How did you overhear our conversation amid all that noise? In the tavern, I mean.”
For a moment she was silent. “I have telepathic powers,” she finally said.
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.” She smiled, enchanting him again, displaying her sharp, perfect little teeth. “Show me the rings of Saturn,” she insisted.
In such proximity he could feel her breath, sweet, clean.
“I’m afraid Saturn is also a winter planet. But don’t look so sad. There’s much more to see at this time of the year. Mars is quite impressive. The Andromeda Galaxy, the Northern Cross, Vega, as well as several star clusters.” He cleared his throat, which had abruptly turned parched. “I’ll show you many things, but not from here. The window and balcony are looking to the north. Eastern and southern skies are the best. We’ll go to the roof. There we’ll have the whole scope. It’s quite spectacular.”
“Now?”
He glanced at the digital clock on the night table. “It’s almost two thirty.  I guess it is a bit late for exploring the universe?” His voice sounded alien, husky.
She remained motionless, her eyes never leaving his.
“Tomorrow night,” he said. “I promise you. On the roof.”
“The glint in your eye…it’s perverse…for such a pure and noble soul.” She leaned her head on his chest.
“You will corrupt me,” Gabriel whispered next to her ear, while his hands firmly pulled her to him.
She gave a soft gasp, her arms instantly around his neck. “Yes, Gabriel…” she said breathlessly. “But for now you’re still the angel.”
He lost himself in her.
Then, for a split second, what he had seen previously struck him like an explosion: the sight of her legs without feet. Oh, her feet had been there all right, attached to her ankles, but they were facing the opposite way.
Her feet had been backwards.


AND NOW THE GIVEAWAY:

The giveaway is for Mayra's collection of stories
THE CAT CELLAR


giveaway is international




Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Monday, January 9, 2012

WANT TO TRY FOR A CHANCE TO WIN AN IPAD 2 OR KINDLE FIRE, COURTESY OF RAFFLECOPTER?

Kids'n'books: EVE HALLOWS AND THE BOOK OF SHRIEKSby Robert Gra...

Kids'n'books:
EVE HALLOWS AND THE BOOK OF SHRIEKS
by Robert Gra...
: EVE HALLOWS AND THE BOOK OF SHRIEKS by Robert Gray synopsis (from Amazon) For fourteen-year-old Eve Hallows, life can be ...

I am taking part in this years Mythology Challenge.
HERE for information.

My first mythology book this year (my goal is 10) is Destined by Jessie Harrell.
What an incredible book!
It is a retelling of the Psyche/Eros love story.
Jessie does an amazing job creating truly wonderful characters.  At first, I did not like Eros but, I came to love him as the story progressed.  His love for Psyche was true and complete.  Mom Aphrodite is a bit too much to take, but even she ended up being a great character.  Comic relief was provided by Hermes, his character was amusing and fun.   
The star of the book is Psyche herself.  She is a character you will just fall in love with!  She starts as a somewhat spoiled young daughter but ends up as an immortal.  

If you like Greek Mythology, and love a great story, do yourself a favor and read this book!




Replication

by Jill Williamson

published by Zondervan
received from NetGalley for an honest review

synopsis (from Goodreads)

When Your Life Is Not Your Own
Martyr---otherwise known as Jason 3:3---is one of hundreds of clones kept in a remote facility called Jason Farms. Told that he has been created to save humanity, Martyr has just one wish before he is scheduled to 'expire' in less than a month. To see the sky.

Abby Goyer may have just moved to Alaska, but she has a feeling something strange is going on at the farm where her father works. But even this smart, confident girl could never have imagined what lies beneath a simple barn. Or what would happen when a mysterious boy shows up at her door, asking about the stars.

As the reality of the Jason Experiment comes to light, Martyr is caught between two futures---the one for which he was produced and the one Abby believes God created him to have. Time is running out, and Martyr must decide if a life with Abby is worth leaving everything he's ever known.


MY REVIEW 

Excellent book!!  Made me think about genetic experimentation- is it right or wrong? Are we attempting to play God?  This book addresses issues that were once science fiction but are rapidly becoming reality.

Clones are created by a 'mad' scientist named Dr. Kane (Cain perhaps?) The clones are clones he created from his own genetic makeup.  He experiments on these clones.  These poor 'less than human' creations don't even have names.  They are addressed by their 'batch' number.   Is it acceptable to utilize these clones for research and warlike endeavors?

God is addressed by Abby's unyielding faith. (Abby is the daughter of another scientist).  Religion in this book is not overwhelming or suffocating, it is perfect in context with the story.  

My review consists of more questions than answers because this book encourages questions.  Questions of faith, questions about what is right or wrong.

The story itself is suspenseful and perfect for a young audience.  The book is well written and thought provoking.