Thoughts On: The Dreamer's Thread Ep 13 & 14

The Dreamer's Thread

By:  Starla Huchton

Genre:  Fantasy

Format:  Ep 13 ~  42:38 mins

Chapters:  23 & 24

Book Synopsis:
Everyone Dreams.  But what would you do if you suddenly found out that you were one of the few who creates dreams for the whole world?  Would you use your power to harness the light and weave it into beautiful tapestries of magic and wonder, or would you fall prey to the seductive siren song of darkness and nightmares?  For artist Aura Mayville, this becomes a reality as she is ripped from her life.

This Episode:
With her friends again by her side, Aura tries to save the missing children of Lichshire...

My Thoughts and Summary:
Aura is worried of the terrible mental consequences of the lost soul she saved.  Can she help?  Then once Aura has an idea what to do, her and her friends pull their magic to work together to save the rest.

On the way to find more of the lost souls, Aura realizes one of her visions from the crystal ball.  They are coming to pass.  Aura wears herself and Ina out saving some of the lost.  One boy is quite a challenge, both in saving and pulling back to calm.

This is lots of work for Aura here.  Challenging in the tasks to be done and who are affected.  Really great to see the team working together.  More magic used, and Aura has come to learn more what she can do.  I do fear, however, that the Queen of Nightmares might be trying to get to Aura through what Aura is doing to help.

She is doing right, and should keep going.  This is what a good Dreamer should do.  But still, I can feel the worry of those with her as there could be trouble to come.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Format:  Podcast, Ep 14 ~  41:08 mins

Chapters:  25 & 26

This Episode:
As the fight against the monsters comes to it's conclusion, heartbreaks and new information are revealed in Lichshire...

My Thoughts and Summary:
Aura wakes after her passing out of drained energy.  A plan is set and off the crew goes to see what they can do.

Oh!  We hear Stephen.  Sometimes when Aura is this drained she seems to connect back to the real world.  But it vanishes as she wakes in the Dream world again.

I have to thank Gabrien!  For standing up to the people for Aura.  I understand what these parents and adults want, but she needs rest in order to do what they want.

Aura is concerned about the victims, but she wonders what created this nightmare parasite.  We learn of Seeders, and what they are capable of.  The thinks we learn here.  We see the gross Seeder, and learn much.  Aura even receives a gift in the end.

Oh! And Mory!  Mory had tried "calling" Aura in the last episode, but to much was going on and Aura seems to have forgotten she missed the call.  This would have been so important!

Now Aura is hearing a voice.  One she seems to recognize.  I'm thinking this is the Dreamer-turned-Nightmare.  She is trying to get to Aura!  Eep! That just smells of trouble.


These two episodes, 13 & 14, have caught my attention and I'm pulled in.  They are full of action and information.  The happenings and more have drawn me to the story and I'm looking forward to finishing the story more and more.

You can learn more about Starla Huchton's works at her site:

Upon the Wings of Greater Things

You can listen to The Dreamer's Thread by Starla Huchton for free at:

(the whole book is available for listen now)

i Tunes

Podiobooks

Or you can purchase the book to read in print or ebook at:

Teaser Tuesday (161)

Teaser Tuesday

is a weekly event

Sponsored by MizB of Should be Reading

Here's how it works:

Grab the book you are currently reading (anything at all)

Open the book to any random page.

Share 2 teaser sentences from anywhere on the page

Please Make Sure They Are Not Spoilers!

(Don't Give Too Much Away)

Just enough to pique our interests

This Week:

The gangster with the clockwork face leveled his weapon, and Carson leaped toward a different set of crates just as his previous cover burst into flames.  What the hell kind of gun...

Clockwork Mafia
By:  Seleste deLaney
43pg



Yesterday was release day for Clockwork Mafia!  Congrats, and hope you take the time to enjoy the Badlands.


Eep!  I've loooved reading it.

I even picked a theme song for the series (which also reminds me of Firefly).

My review will be coming this week along with a guest post by Seleste...a tour of the Dark Hawk and hideaway spots for a private rendezvous....on a full flying air ship there's not much in way of privacy.

1st book:

Now Available:

Lilith Saintcrow in PRINT!

Lilith Saintcrow has a few books that were in ebook format, NOW IN PRINT!

Awesome right!  I know I'm a fan of print books.  This doesn't happen all that often, and since people asked, Orbit did it.  The prices are a little higher with being Trade Paper back, but they are available to drool and fawn over on your shelves.

The Hedgewitch Queen
(Romances of Arquitaine #1)

Amazon   /   Barnes&Nobles   /   Book Depository

Vianne di Rocancheil is a lady waiting at the Court of Arquitaine, where she studies her books, watches for intrigue, and shepherds her foolhardy Princesse through the glittering whirl. Court is a sometimes-unpleasant waltz, especially for the unwary, but Vianne treads its measured steps well.

Unfortunately, the dance has changed. Treachery is afoot in gilded and velvet halls. A sorcerous conspiracy is unleashed, with blood, death, and warfare close behind. Vianne must flee, carrying the Great Seal of Arquitaine with her. This is the one thing the conspirators need to rule, and they won’t rest until they have it. A life of dances, intrigues, and fashion has not prepared Vianne for this. Nor has it prepared her for Tristan d’Arcenne, Captain of the King’s Guard and player in the most dangerous games conspiracy can devise. Yet to save her country and avenge her Princesse, Vianne will become what she must and do whatever is required.

A Queen can do no less.

The Bandit King
(Romances of Arquitaine #2)

Amazon   /   Barnes&Nobles   /   Book Depository

Tristan d'Arcenne is what he always wished to be--Vianne di Rocancheil's Consort. But Vianne is no more a noblewoman, she is the Queen of Arquitaine, faced with treachery, invasion, war, and a Consort whose secrets may well shatter their marriage. For before Tristan was hers, he belonged to a King...and that King died by Tristan's hand.

Arquitaine needs them both. The country is locked in a deadly game whose rules change by the moment. The Queen is an adept player, but hardly ruthless enough. The contest requires a man who has nothing to lose, a man who has already done the worst and will continue to do so for his wife, his country, and his own salvation.

The Bandit King approaches...

The Damnation Affair
(Bannon and Claire 1.5)

Amazon   /   Barnes&Nobles   /   Book Depository

The West is a wild place, where the poison wind blows and the dead walk. But there is gold, and whiskey, and enough room for a man to forget what he once was--until he can no longer can.

Jack Gabriel's been the sheriff in Damnation almost since the town grew out of the dust and the mud. He keeps the peace--sort of--and rides the circuit every dawn and dusk with the chartermage, making sure the wilderness doesn't seep into their fragile attempt at civilization. Away from the cities clinging to the New World's eastern rim, he doesn't remember what he was. At least, he tries not to. Good enough.

But Damnation is growing, and along comes a schoolmarm. Catherine Barrowe is a right proper Boston miss, and it's a mystery why she would choose this town where everything scandalous and dangerous is probably too much for a quality lady like her. Sometimes the sheriff wonders why she came out West--because everyone who does is running from something. He doesn't realize Cat may be prickly, delicate, and proper, but she is also determined. She's in Damnation to find her wayward older brother Robbie, whose letters were full of dark hints about gold, trouble...and something about a claim.

In a West where charm and charter live alongside clockwork and cold steel, where hot lead kills your enemy but it takes a blessing to make his corpse stay down, Cat will keep digging until she finds her brother. If Jack knew what she was after, he could solve the mystery--because he was the one who killed Robbie.

The thing is, Cat's brother just won't stay dead, and the undead are rising with him...



If you want to read the Bannon and Claire series:

Mythical Monday (9)

It seems there are many books based on or influenced by Myths and Mythological Beings.

There are so many different Mythology and Mythological Beings recorded. Some are very popular and well known, others not so much. There are many similar beings, yet different depending on the culture it’s based in.  The definition of Myth covers about anything in the Urban Fantasy/Fantasy realm to me.

I’ve invited authors to share briefly the Mythological being or Myth that influenced their character(s) or story, or what their character(s) are based on influencing their books.  Hosting here, one author and being or myth per week.

This week we have:

Urban Fantasy (Adult & Young Adult) author Jennifer Estep

Jennifer Estep has a young adult series I thought would fit this meme perfectly.  Lots of great mythology in this series.

Jennifer Estep is tied up with deadlines for her amazing books, but I still wanted to highlight her books as well.  Jennifer was gracious to offer the fourth book in her young adult Mythos Academy series, Crimson Frost as a gift to one commenter.

Would you like to win a signed copy of this book and some book marks?  I'm going to make this easy.

Open Internationally.  (I'll be mailing, but I want to invite everyone to play.)
Giveaway Ends:  Tuesday May 7, 2013 11:59 pm EST

a Rafflecopter giveaway


If you would like to to purchase the previous three books:



If you've read all the books through Crimson Frost, maybe you need 4.5 novella:



Or would like to pre-order Midnight Frost (#5)

Sunday Post #9

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news ~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share new about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

~~~~~~~~~~

Wow.  I forgot today was even Sunday... pretty bad.  Yesterday we had a party for the kiddo and I sat in the warm sun for a few hours reading and relaxing.  Then when about 8:30 pm rolled around....well, I crashed.  I slept (with a minor interruption from dog) till about 9:30 am this morning.  I have not done that in I can't tell you how long.  lol.  I must have been needing the sleep, and allergies getting to me.  I've been running with errands all day.  Now I feel stressed for time.

Were to start?  I finished my Camp NaNoWriMo project, and still writing on other projects too.  I rounded out my Nano with just shy of 25k.  WOW!  I was thrilled! and addicted to writing. LOL!

As for reading...it's been slow goings with life and Nano.  I seem to have been out of time at every turn this past week.

What's Happening in Books:

Current Read:
No Return by Zachary Jernigan

Current Podcast Book Listen:
The Dreamer's Thread by Starla Huchton

Finished Last Week:
Nothing.

~~~~~~~~~~

Last Week on the Blog:

Author Interview!  With Amanda Carlson on Hot Blooded.
GIVEAWAY!!! Amanda Carlson is giving away limited edition T-shirts of the pack!

Guest post by Seleste deLaney.  Romancing Rendezvous spots on the airship Dark Hawk!

Thoughts On:  The Dreamer's Thread ep 11 & 12 by Starla Huchton

Vampire Voyage by Kelly Lougheed  (review)
In The Beginning by Philippa Ballantine  (review)

Weekly Posts:
***NEW*** Mythical Monday ~ R.M. Prioleau on Harpies
Teaser Tuesday
Who? What? Where? Wend.
Throwback Thursday
Freebies and Deals, on Nook too
Looking Forward To...

~~~~~~~~~~

This Week to Come on the Blog:

The Weekly Posts.  And....I'm not sure.  Like I said, I didn't even realize it was Sunday. lol. I have to look over the calendar and list.

~~~~~~~~~~

Received Last Week:

For Review:

Rough Magic by Kenny Soward
Goodreads Synopsis:
Niksabella the gnome has tinkered in the shadows for years, developing an invention that might change the world, even if she doesn’t know it yet. She has few friends and even fewer allies in the city of Hightower, where social and academic status is quite important. 

Her brother, Nikselpik, is a cantankerous wizard who drinks too much, sings dirty songs, and makes rude passes at gnomestresses. A dark addiction consumes him, a habit called bugging, which gives him increased power and feelings of euphoria while pushing him closer to death. 

Dark creatures from the ultraworlds have come calling. Niksabella must fight to protect her life and her invention, while Nikselpik engages the enemy as an unlikely guest of Hightower’s military elite. Niksabella and Nikselpik must find their true powers together, or perish apart. Will they heal the wounds of their childhood before it's too late?

Book one of debut fantasy author Kenny Soward's GnomeSaga series.

Freebies:

In The Dark by P.G. Forte
Goodreads Synopsis:
When you live forever, you’re bound to make a few mistakes.

Children of Night, Book 1

1969 San Francisco. World-weary Conrad Quintano should have known better than to fall in love with a human—much less Suzanne Fischer, the barely legal, adventure-seeking hippie beauty known as Desert Rose. And the very last thing he should have agreed to do was to raise her babies and protect them with his life. But even twelve-hundred-year-old master vampires can find it hard to reject a deathbed request—especially when issues of love, guilt and blood are involved.

Present day. Raised in virtual isolation, twins Marc and Julie Fischer have always known they are vampires. But they never knew their parentage—or their unique status in the vampire world—until their “uncle” Damian comes to fetch them home. The family reunion, however, isn’t what they expect. They’re thrust into a world for which they’re totally unprepared. And the father they expected to see, Conrad, is missing.

How to find him…and whom to trust? Solving the mystery of betrayal and vampire family values will prove the Beatles had it right. All you need is love…and an occasional side of blood.

~~~~~~~~~~

Reviews in the Works:

The Crown Tower by Michael J. Sullivan
The Rose and the Thorn by Michael J. Sullivan

The Dimensional Shift by Frances Pauli

Clockwork Mafia by Seleste DeLaney

Hmm, looks like I'll be out of reviews in stock soon.  I'll have to speed up reading when done with Camp Nano. :)

Freebies and Deals, on Nook too (52)

Barnes and Nobles Freebie Thread.  I have this fantasy read in Print. :)

Free:

In the Dark by P.G. Forte
Amazon ~ Kindle   /   Barnes & Noble ~ Nook
Goodreads Synopsis:
When you live forever, you’re bound to make a few mistakes.

Children of Night, Book 1

1969 San Francisco. World-weary Conrad Quintano should have known better than to fall in love with a human—much less Suzanne Fischer, the barely legal, adventure-seeking hippie beauty known as Desert Rose. And the very last thing he should have agreed to do was to raise her babies and protect them with his life. But even twelve-hundred-year-old master vampires can find it hard to reject a deathbed request—especially when issues of love, guilt and blood are involved.

Present day. Raised in virtual isolation, twins Marc and Julie Fischer have always known they are vampires. But they never knew their parentage—or their unique status in the vampire world—until their “uncle” Damian comes to fetch them home. The family reunion, however, isn’t what they expect. They’re thrust into a world for which they’re totally unprepared. And the father they expected to see, Conrad, is missing.

How to find him…and whom to trust? Solving the mystery of betrayal and vampire family values will prove the Beatles had it right. All you need is love…and an occasional side of blood.


Deals:
This one is a full kick ass novel for $2.99.  Yes, I've read it and absolutely LOOOOOVED it!

Bloodlines by Skyla Dawn Cameron
Amazon ~ Kindle   /   Barnes & Nobles ~ Nook
Goodreads Synopsis:
After three hundred years of unlife, vampire Zara Lain has seemingly done it all, and she's now making a living as a successful thief-turned-assassin. Her newest assignment seems simple enough--kill the aging leader of the O'Connor Coven and his only heir, and she'll have another ten million in the bank.But in the dangerous world of the supernatural, few things are ever "simple."When a massive assault decimates the continent's population of powerful witches and warlocks, and its orchestrator has vampires being hunted down and captured, Zara realizes the tables have turned and now she'll be playing the hero. Forced to join with a smart-mouthed fellow vampire, a demonologist who's also a fan of hers, a recently widowed--and frequently brooding--warlock, and her best friend's mom, Zara's grudgingly willing to do what she can to save the day.If only people would stop ruining all her outfits...


Now, I know I saw more deals and freebies this week...but I can't remember them. *sigh* Sorry!

If you've found anything amazing, let me know so I can check it out. :)

Looking Forward To...(118)

There are so many amazing books already on the shelves and new ones coming out.

For a list of books yet to be released I'm looking to get, you can also look on my right Sidebar at the ever growing list titled Desired Reads - just scroll down. Of course there are tones of other new books to come out that are amazing as well, but these ones are part of series I have already started or for one reason or another caught my eye (and haven't seen much on other blogs yet). But I will highlight one here each week.

(mentioned in order of Release Date then Alphabetical if there are more than one book coming out on the same date.)

It's been a while since I've done one of these Friday Looking Forward posts.  And I miss doing them.

Next Book Is...

Clockwork Mafia
Badlands #2

By:  Seleste deLaney

Due Out:  April 29, 2013

And another I've already read and absolutely loved.  It'll be coming out Monday!

Goodreads Synopsis:

Inventor Henrietta Mason is retiring from airships and adventuring to return home to Philadelphia. Determined to erase all trails leading to her late father's duplicity, she dismantles his lab and removes all records of the Badlands gold. While in the city, she can't resist the lure of a charity gala but winds up regretting the whole experience. Well, everything except a heart-racing dance with a certain U.S. Marshal.

His career and vengeance on the line, Carson Alexander must prove a connection between Senator Mason and the mafia. He lucked out happening across Mason's strikingly beautiful daughter, only to have her slip through his fingers. On a desperate hunt to track her down, he never expects his search to take him into the brutal Badlands.

With a mechanically enhanced enforcer after them, only Carson knows the extent of the danger they face. He'll have to win over Henrietta's trust, and her heart, before it's too late...

Sequel to Badlands.

64,000 words

Author Interview! With Amanda Carlson

It is ALWAYS a great pleasure to have Amanda Carlson by the blog.  She has rocked the UF books with her new series, now two books and a novella strong - Jessica McClain.

Please give Amanda a strong welcome back to the blog!

M:  Amanda!  Wonderful to have you back to the blog.  You’ve got some great new exciting things happening with Jessica.  And we are completely looking forward to it!

AC:  Thanks for having me, Melissa! I always love visiting you.

M:  Hot Blooded!  And let me tell you, my blood was running hot.  I couldn’t get through the pages fast enough.

Jessica is really evolving as we go through this book.  There is more to her than even the Cain Myth we mentioned in your second interview.  Will Jessica learn all she is capable of?  Or will she always have more as there was a mention in this book that there could be?

AC:  She will definitely learn about her powers, and they will be finite, but they do adapt. I love that part about her and it gives her more range, but Jessica won’t be able to solve everything on her own. Her team is a very important part of the series. And because she’s such a new supernatural, it’s going to take her some time to figure everything out. Moving forward in COLD, it’s very clear that Jessica will need help…and she gets it from the most unlikely source (hehe, no spoilers from me!).

M:  We have formed new bonds in Hot Blooded.  I loved Naomi, and the bond that evolved between her and Jessica.  Is this going to be a strain in some areas for Jessica and help in others?

AC:  So far the only strain Jessica feels is keeping her entire team safe. Her relationship with Naomi will continue to grow and thrive. Naomi complements her in a way no one has before. Her belief in Jessica is unfaltering. I had no idea when I wrote Naomi how important she would become, but she’s a great balance for Jessica. I love their interaction.

M:  The boys are amazing!  Tyler, Jessica’s twin brother, and Danny.  Will they venture with

Jessica in Cold Blooded as well?  And maybe Nick?

AC:  Yes!

M:  The world is growing!  The Supe’s are starting to surface; along with others the wolves never expected…Demons.  We’ll be seeing more of the demons to come?  And more supernatural’s as well?

AC:  Most definitely. I had a blast coming up with some supes you don’t see very often in HOT BLOODED, which was a journey for Jessica in so many ways. It was perfectly set up for me to add some menacing beasties. In COLD she’s back in town and it’s very much back to urban, but I did sneak in a few surprises. I love having a big world. It excites me as both a reader and a writer. Why let weres and vamps have all the fun? I like to keep it interesting.

M:  Did you do a lot of research for the creatures you’ve used?  Any of the demons, the water naiads?

AC:  Yes, with most of the supes I craft, I try first to find a thread of real myth. Even the Mahrac. That myth actually comes from the Altai Mountains in Mongolia. If it’s plausible in our world, why wouldn’t it be plausible in my fictional world? The only thing I made up in HOT were the…animals, LOL. They were both Selene’s creation. Everything else was researched.

M:  We’ve learned, and still learning, the werewolf ways.  We’ve touched on vampires and demons.  Will sorcerers and witches be next?

AC:  Oh, yes. *rubs hands together* The fun is just beginning.

M:  Okay, I saved the best for last…Rourke.  Now, he’s taken and I don’t want to upset Jessica in any way, so I’ll take a step back.  What a sight we come across!  Will we ever learn in whole what he is, was?

AC:  Yes. You learn in a big way! I wouldn’t string you guys along too far. I don’t want any riots on my hands.

Thanks so much for hosting me today! It’s always such a pleasure to drop in.

M:  Thank you Amanda!  It's a pleasure to have you by.  Here's wishing you all the best in words and pages.


Curious about Amanda's books?
Here is the reading order:
**Blooded: A Jessica McClain Novella, Full Blooded, and Hot Blooded are all available for purchase.  Cold Blooded is pre-order & will release October 8, 2013.  You do not have to read the novella before starting the first book, but is one of the best I've ever read.

Want to learn more of Amanda and her books?

You can find her:

Site:  Amanda Carlson, Urban Fantasy Author

(you can sign up for her newsletter to keep up with important scoop)

Twitter:  @amandaccarlson

Facebook:  Author Amanda Carlson

Goodreads:  Amanda Carlson

Book Review: In The Beginning

In The Beginning

By:  Philippa Ballantine

Publisher:  Imagine That! Studios

Publish Date:  March 22, 2013

Format:  eBook

Genre:  Fantasy

Series:  1st in Chronicles of the Order, affiliated with A Book of the Order series

Recommendation:  Yes, to get the glimpse of the Break through one weary citizens view watching the world change around her.

Synopsis:
This short story is set in teh world of the Deacons of the Order, before the time of the novels, Geist, Spectyr, Wrayth and Harbinger.

It tells the story of the first day of the Break, when the undead come in the world of Arkaym, and the horror they bring with them.  One small village is caught in the chaos of that day.  Some will live, and some will find new purpose.

First Sentence:
Life might be hard in the highlands, but death came in a few regimented ways; starving in the winter, falling from a cliff top, or succumbing to wet lung.

Purchase At:

Amazon   /   Barnes & Nobles   /   Smashwords (for other eformats)

My Thoughts and Summary:
Life is hard and death is harder here in the highlands, but what death they find next is the worst.  Myra was enjoying her early spring day with her flock of sheep, son, and two dogs.  Following out a harsh winter the predators were on the prey, when suddenly wolves of strange behavior show, threatening her family.  When Myra goes to get the healer what she finds... is death and loss and a question of why.

A view of the Break through an innocents eyes.  Philippa brings the feel of worry and strange new in a world to the front for the people.  New fears surface, and a far worse death than any could expect.

This is a quick jump into Myra and her son's short story.  It keeps you here, wanting to learn.  The things of campfire stories to scare children come to life... Geists now appear along with Geistlords.  What happens this night breaks Myra's thoughts on the religion she was raised on.  The world has changed and she has experienced it first hand.

Can you read this without reading A Book of the Order series?  Yeaaa, you could.  But I think you'd be lost on what's happening.  After reading at least the first book of the series?  Yes, you will understand the break and geists.  You'll get the geists here but there's more to the background you get from the books to fill in for reading this.  It in now way spoils what's to come in the books, this is the far history of what happened to bring the world to the point we read in the series.

Myra doesn't have answers but she hopes to find them.  I would like to read more of Myra's journeys to learn what's coming of the world and why.  And how they tend to it to come to the system we find in A Book of the Order series.  This one leaves me wanting more.



You can listen to this short story for free, read by Philippa Ballantine.  Pip has other amazing authors playing in the world as well, which you can listen to on Philippa Ballantine's page.



*I read this short story for my own enjoyment.

Throwback Thursday (112)

I found this picture of Trinity College Library, and thought it would work for this meme with a little play with lighting and adding the words.

Let's talk about those books already on the shelves, yours or the stores.

I have a post for books I'm looking forward to coming out;

Looking Forward To...

But what about all those wonderful books that are ALREADY on the shelves.

Whether it be on your shelf waiting to be read or on the shelves in the stores waiting for you to give it a good home.

So, I thought I would share a book a week that is just waiting for me to travel through it's world.

Now... where do I start? Lets go by Published Date on the books...

This Week:

I've heard this series is really good.  That Holly Black is amazing.  So, I got it from a resell store and look forward to reading it one day.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old Kaye is a modern nomad. Fierce and independent, she travels from city to city with her mother's rock band until an ominous attack forces Kaye back to her childhood home. There, amid the industrial, blue-collar New Jersey backdrop, Kaye soon finds herself an unwilling pawn in an ancient power struggle between two rival faerie kingdoms - a struggle that could very well mean her death.

I've heard back from a few bloggers that they would like to join in this meme post, so I'm adding a Linky for you to join in.  Grab the picture above, and join in.  All I ask, is if you can acknowledge my blog in the post so others know where to come back to 

Book Review: Vampire Voyage

Vampire Voyage

By:  Kelly Lougheed

Publisher:  Mundania Press

Publish Date:  October 16, 2012

Format:  Trade paperback 180pgs, 5"x8"

Genre:  Young Adult Urban Fantasy

Series:  3rd book in Hawthorn Dormitory series; 1st Book ~ The Graveyard Gymnasium, 2nd Book ~ Dormitory of the Dead

Recommendation:  You've read the first two?  Oh, Charity is to cute and fun, you must read what troubles she gets into next, and how things go for her and Nicholae (the love of her life).

Synopsis:
When Charity signs up for the Hawthorn School spring break trip to the St. Judas School for Boys in Romania, she has an inkling the trip won't just be all fun and romantic flings.  Being constantly surrounded by exotic European boys would be great...if so many of the boys weren't homicidal vampires.

While trying not to succumb to the peer pressure of drinking human blood at one of the vampire parties, Charity and her BFF Louise get tangled up with a boy named Ivan, who may or may not plan on using them in a nefarious scheme to turn all the Hawthorn girls into vampires.

Louise refuses to believe Ivan capable of murder -- he's far too handsome!  But Charity sees evil in the way Ivan slicks his hair back with such unnecessary amounts of hair gel.  Can Charity -- in between seducing a past fling, Nicholae, and hiding her late-night wanderings from the trip chaperone, Ms. Van Tessel -- save her classmates from becoming bloodsucking fiends?

First Sentence:
The reality of the trip only hit her when Charity stood in the doorway of her dorm room, dragging her wheelie suitcase in one hand and clutching her backpack trap with the other.

Purchase At:

Amazon   /   Barnes & Nobles

My Thoughts and Summary:

***NOTE:  There are spoilers for Previous Books***

Last semester was the exchanged St. Judas School of boy's coming to Hawthorn School.  Now, it's the girls turn for Spring Break.  The girls are heading to an eastern European school for boys.  Downfall...the boys are Vampires!  Charity is excited.  Resulting from the events of the boys visit last semester, her ghost teacher Ms. Van Tessel and now vampire best friend Louise, are nervous.  The first day there Louise gets invited to a party.  A party Charity is excited about until she learns she can not go.  A vampire party.  Louise is uncomfortable at the party with the boys working to break her vow regarding human blood.  Yet meeting a well read cute boy, agrees to a party the next night.  Charity talks Louise into going and taking her... to see and talk to Nicholae.  But, human blood drinking vampire party with a human walking in...could not end well?  But learns of a scheme to turn the girls of Hawthorn School that are visiting.

Now the girls get the feel of what the boys had while visiting their all girls school last semester.  All eyes, of the opposite sex, are on the girls as they are introduced and move about the school.  The same feel the boys felt in The Graveyard Gymnasium.  We are hoping the boys have...matured some since then.  Or at least the ones left in Romania are.

Charity and her eccentric thinking.  She's a tenth grader with boys hot on her mind, one boy in particular - Nicholae.  She cracks me up with her creations and stories of "what's going to happen."  She definitely has an overactive imagination.  A brilliant imagination and in the same smarter than she knows.  Charity might not have the grades, but she is a smart girl.  The things she thinks up, and the angles she thinks.  The girl knows things when she applies herself to something.  The small quick jokes she makes to herself, made me smile.

Ivan, who's trying to *help* the girls with information, but Charity doesn't fall for it.  She feels he's the evil mastermind behind an evil plan - based solely on his hair style.  Louis is taken with the boy and doesn't believe Charity.  When Charity goes undercover to weasel out the plan details and thwart the scheme, things get complicated with the strong vampires.  Maybe Charity can find the slayer center she felt before, to save her co-students.

Oh! There was a little surprise here, or two.  One was the feelings one has for Charity.  And the other, well, I can't tell you that as it's a little twist you will enjoy in the investigation to stop the vampires.

The beginning builds the places and brings you to know the characters, then you go right in with the troubles of vampires.  This is a cute book and one I would suggest to young teenage/preteen girls.  It's a touch of Urban Fantasy and young crushes but with a strong girl that will come though.



**I read this book for an honest review from the publisher.

Who? What? Where? (112)

Who are you with? Where are you at? What's happening?

Share with us just a little bit of what is happening in the book you are reading, right where you are now.

Just a tiny taste of what's happening, remember try to not give spoilers of the book.

his is a new meme I'm going to try and will tweak as I go. And please don't laugh at my lame attempt at drawing. ;D )

This Week:

I'm walking with Berun toward a house, following a mage.  It's very dark in this vision.  I'm getting the feel this could be a possible future.  I'm curious what's to come when we get to the house.

No Return
By:  Zachary Jernigan

Others have shown interest in joining in this post, and linking up.  So I've created a linky for that.
My only requests; copy the picture to use, and link back to My World...in words and pages.
Please visit any joining in.
Thank you!

Thoughts On: The Dreamer's Thread Ep 11 & 12

The Dreamer's Thread

By:  Starla Huchton

Genre:  Fantasy

Format:  Ep 11 ~  24:16 mins

Chapters:  20

Book Synopsis:
Everyone Dreams.  But what would you do if you suddenly found out that you were one of the few who creates dreams for the whole world?  Would you use your power to harness the light and weave it into beautiful tapestries of magic and wonder, or would you fall prey to the seductive siren song of darkness and nightmares?  For artist Aura Mayville, this becomes a reality as she is ripped from her life.

This Episode:
Aura says her farewells and begins the next leg of her quest...

My Thoughts and Summary:
Aura assures Sira she got the go ahead with her plan, but needs to do something for Theas first.  Yet, with the side mission, Aura feels something tugging at her to do this.  She feels a need to follow this path now.  Then we get visions from Ina of another Region, village.  There was another attack by those dark creatures.

Aura learns how to do more in the dream world.  This time, it's how to contact Ina.  And Aura makes another temporary adjustment to herself to help her get around.

There is a feel of a nightmare in the new region we hop to.  While walking down the path, it feels like a nightmare.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Format:  Podcast, Ep 12 ~  31:44 mins

Chapters:  21 & 22

This Episode:
Aura awakens in a village and finds a new challenge awaiting her...

My Thoughts and Summary:
Aura wakes in a new town.  A town with troubles of their own accompanied with the sound heard before their losses which called when she came the night before.  The town folks fear she maybe affiliated with what happens here...until they learn who she is.

We learn of a new terror in this town.  Wow!  What she finds in the black nightmare!  And what she does...

Aura has a way of making friends and making people a little more at ease with her presence, even though they are still frightened of what she might do.

The visions Aura saw before coming here... She's not sure where or who sent them after talking with Ina.  That is a question and mystery in itself.  I wonder if the Nightmare Queen is, or trying to, affect Aura.

You can learn more about Starla Huchton's works at her site:

Upon the Wings of Greater Things

You can listen to The Dreamer's Thread by Starla Huchton for free at:

(the whole book is available for listen now)

i Tunes

Podiobooks

Or you can purchase the book to read in print or ebook at:

Teaser Tuesday (160)

Teaser Tuesday

is a weekly event

Sponsored by MizB of Should be Reading

Here's how it works:

Grab the book you are currently reading (anything at all)

Open the book to any random page.

Share 2 teaser sentences from anywhere on the page

Please Make Sure They Are Not Spoilers!

(Don't Give Too Much Away)

Just enough to pique our interests

This Week:

I threw the phone down in frustration right as Danny and Tyler trotted back into the area carrying more supplies.  My father had known that if he'd stayed on the line he risked my complete cooperation.

Hot Blooded
By:  Amanda Carlson
126pg



Today is Release day for Hot Blooded!  An amazing read in and outstanding series.

Guest Post by Seleste deLaney

I'm thrilled to have Seleste deLaney by today.  Starting off her tour today for her release to come,

Clockwork Mafia (April 29th), with this fun post.  For those new to Seleste's Badlands series, this series is set in a clockwork/steampunk focused world with badlands - full of strong women patrolling for men exiled to for terrible crimes - at the edge.  Yet love still finds it's way into the hearts of those, still.  I've absolutely loved these tales.

So, when Seleste was looking for blogs to visit, I jumped at the chance to have her by.  The idea...spots for a smexy rendezvous on the dirigible, Dark Hawk.  And Seleste rose to the idea, giving you a tour of the Dark Hawk as well.

Please warmly welcome the amazing Seleste deLaney.

So…You Wanna Make Out on the Dark Hawk?

One of the fun things about writing the Badlands series is playing with the Dark Hawk. It’s my Millenium Falcon, so to speak, and whenever I think of that ship, I think of Han and Leia in close quarters trying to repair the hyperdrive and she falls and they almost kiss and… *happy sigh* So, when Mel asked me about make-out locales on board the Dark Hawk, I was absolutely giddy.

Cabins

This is the obvious answer. All the crew members have cabins where they can take their paramours and canoodle or fornicate or do whatever else comes to mind. Considering this is also where they keep their personal effects, those instances can have a variety of…implements utilized in various ways. *cough* Zeke *cough*

Cargo Hold

While very open, there’s a lot of room here for more…aggressive interludes. Or group sex. *shrug* I can’t really see the crew getting up to that, but if the Badlands warriors took over for a night, who the hell knows what could happen. Then again, for more privacy, all it would really need is to be loaded and private alcoves could be formed all over the place. Hide and seek sex. Damn it, now I want to write that in somewhere…

Infirmary

While this might be assumed to be Henrietta’s realm only, she’s not there all the time and if someone happens to be injured…well, one thing could easily lead to another in such close quarters.

Bridge

I doubt anyone would have sex there, but it’d be a pretty sexy spot to have a make-out session. The vista before you as you sail into the sunset over the mountains. Yeah…I take it back. Under the right circumstances, someone might have sex there. High risk of being caught though—even higher than the cargo hold.

Gunnery Boat

Even if it’s rocking, they won’t come a-knocking. This is pretty much the ideal spot for privacy. Unless they’re under attack or there’s reason to believe someone is in the gunboat, no one’s likely to go down there hunting for anyone or anything. And the view is second only to the Bridge. Not a bad place to be romanced…though the splinters could get annoying, so take a blanket.

Engine Room

Dirty…smelly…but in the engine room no one can hear you screaming “Oh God! Yes, take me now!” So, the engine room has its benefits. Plus, if you’re going to have dirty sex, you might as well mean it both literally and figuratively. Not to mention, it’s hot…damn hot. So nice slippery, sweaty bodies.

Ratlines

For thrill seekers and those with no fear of death only. Strap yourself to the bag’s ratlines for some aerial acrobatics and feel the wind whipping through your well…everything. Quite frankly, I don’t think even Noah is crazy enough to try this, but given the right incentive…

There is a place for most flavors of romance on the Dark Hawk. Ever and Spencer have tried one or two. And Henri gets her own kisses in Clockwork Mafia, but of the possibilities, where would you most like to have a make-out/sex session on the Dark Hawk? Inquiring minds want to know ;-)

Clockwork Mafia:

Inventor Henrietta Mason is retiring from airships and adventuring to return home to Philadelphia. Determined to erase all trails leading to her late father's duplicity, she dismantles his lab and removes all records of the Badlands gold. While in the city, she can't resist the lure of a charity gala but winds up regretting the whole experience. Well, everything except a heart-racing dance with a certain U.S. Marshal.

His career and vengeance on the line, Carson Alexander must prove a connection between Senator Mason and the mafia. He lucked out happening across Mason's strikingly beautiful daughter, only to have her slip through his fingers. On a desperate hunt to track her down, he never expects his search to take him into the brutal Badlands.

With a mechanically enhanced enforcer after them, only Carson knows the extent of the danger they face. He'll have to win over Henrietta's trust, and her heart, before it's too late...

Purchase Clockwork Mafia at:

Carina Press

Amazon

Amazon UK

Amazon CA

Barnes & Noble

All Romance Ebooks

Audible

Books-A-Million

You can also find Seleste around the internet

If you aren’t going to be able to see her next week at the Romantic Times Booklovers’ Convention—or even if you are—:

Website

Blog

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The Series: