Sunday, June 2, 2013

Sunday Post #14

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.

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Well, live can be messy...you're all reading this and I'm probably not home.  See, Saturday morning I got the call that my step mother unexpectedly passed away.  It was a shocker seeing as we all thought my father would go first.  That sounds terrible, but you have to understand, he's had a severe stroke 13 years ago.  He can't talk, right half of his body completely paralyzed, and has been having other issues as well.  This isn't the order it's to happen.  Or, at least that we were prepared for.  Now, not only do we have to get through an unexpected funeral (yes, I know it happens all the time) but I have to find care for my father.  He is beyond what I can do for him.  So that will be my chore this week.

I guess what I'm saying is if I'm not around much, please bear with me.  I'm sorry.  It's been crazy for me and I've been behind, seems like I'll get a bit more behind now.

Other than that, I've got a whole crap load of books to share with you below as I've got my Balticon purchase list here too.

What's Happening in Books:

Current Read:
I'm beta reading.


Finished Podcast Book Listen:
Hmm, I didn't listen to anything.


Finished Last Week:
Nothing. :(


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Last Week on the Blog:


Cover Reveals: (click titles to go to post & learn more)

Reviews:
Thoughts on: The Dreamer's Thread Episodes 21, 22, 23 & 24 by Starla Huchton

Maven by Starla Huchton  (review) SFR - 4 stars


Giveaways!!!
The Jessica McClain Ultimate Swag Giveaway!




Weekly Posts:

***NEW*** Mythical Monday ~ Rachel Neumeier talking of Griffins!
Teaser Tuesday
Who? What? Where? Wend.
Throwback Thursday
Freebies and Deals, on Nook too
Looking Forward To...

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This Week to Come on the Blog:

Um...I'm not sure at this point.  It's Saturday night and I've not looked at the schedule yet. *sigh* Sorry.
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Received Last Week:


Review:
After Dark by Gena Showalter and Kait Ballenger
Goodreads Synopsis:
A timeless seduction A unique temptation And a whole world of dark desires... 

From New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter 

The Darkest Angel 

Winged warrior Lysander has been alive for centuries, and yet he's never known desire-until he meets Bianka. Spawned from the bloodline of his enemy, the beautiful but deadly Harpy is determined to lead the untouched Lysander into temptation. He may try to evade her attempts, but even the most iron-willed demon assassin can resist for only so long.... 

And from debut author Kait Ballenger 

Shadow Hunter 

Vampire hunter Damon Brock's first assignment with the Execution Underground is Rochester, New York, a city crawling with the undead. But he isn't the only hunter in town gunning for vamp blood. Tiffany Solow is fierce and ruthless when it comes to slaying the monsters that destroyed her family-and she works solo. But being alone is no longer so desirable when she meets the mysterious hunter who wants more than just her turf. As they work to massacre the local covens, the line between good and evil blurs when they are forced to decide between their lifelong beliefs... and their newfound hearts.

Purchased/Winnings:
This goes both ways.  I won the bidding for this and donated money to the school when I won.  
Unbound by Adriane Ceallaigh
Goodreads Synopsis:
Kayla Blackstone wasn't always a slave. At one time she was a highly sought after Bounty Hunter. She never questioned what she carried, never cared, so long as the pay check didn't bounce. But everything changes the night the Mage Hunters come, the night her entire life is stolen. 

Now she's been given a second chance, a run for her freedom. Keaton offers her a deal--she delivers a package before midnight and he'll let her go free. Unfortunately for Kayla, nothing is ever as simple as it appears
First (Wrong) Impressions by Krista D. Ball
Goodreads Synopsis:
Lizzy Bennet’s fundraising mission is to keep her homeless centre’s clients well-fed through a cold prairie winter. She meets the snobby and pompous William Darcy of Fitz & William Enterprises. While she'd never dare ask him for help, she can't stop bumping into him -- sometimes, quite literally.

But when Lizzy's campaign is cut short by the disappearance of her sixteen year old sister, William and his younger sister step in to help the woman they want to make part of their family.

Inspired by Jane Austen's classic, Pride and Prejudice, First (Wrong) Impressions is Lizzy's quest for happiness, security, and love in the 21st century.
Walk the Fire 1 (anthology)
Goodreads Synopsis:
The flames: any who step through may stride across the world, and beyond. A precious, precious few, the Ferrymen, can guide you true through any flame.

From prehistory through today, powers vie for control of the Flames. In the deep future, fleets travel space for lifetimes, reach new worlds, challenge the black between galaxies...all thanks to the Ferrymen.

Walk The Fire, and discover this future for yourself. May the Ferrymen take you!

A shared world anthology featuring stories from Jake Bible, Jason Andrew Bond, Brand Gamblin, Nathan Lowell, Patrick McLean, Edward W. Robertson, J. Daniel Sawyer, Matthew Sanborn Smith and John Mierau.

Got at Balticon:
I will share these next week.  I might have got a bit purchase happy... er, yep. I did. 
Hot and Steamy: Tales of Steampunk Romance (anthology)
Goodreads Synopsis:
From the co-editor of Steampunk'd comes an all-new collection of adventure and romance amid Victorian steampunk settings. Sparks fly in these original stories of a steam-driven airship searching for a lost city, a crazy inventor in a powered wheelchair with a plot to take over the world, and a love story set in an alternate history version of America. Adventure abounds in these stories of love, loss, and danger- and there is plenty of steam!


The Golden Sword by Janet E. Morris  (this was a free addition from mystery box, to one of my purchases)
Goodreads Synopsis:
She had the power to create planets. The sixty carved bones of the Yris-tera foretold her ancient fate. Her heritage of power took her beyond time and space and stole from her the one man she loved.


Brooklyn Knight by C.J. Henderson
Goodreads Synopsis:
Professor Piers Knight is an esteemed curator at the Brooklyn Museum and is regarded by many on the staff as a revered institution of his own if not an outright curiosity. Knight’s portfolio includes lost civilizations; arcane cultures, languages, and belief; and more than a little bit of the history of magic and mysticism.What his contemporaries don't know is that in addition to being a scholar of all things ancient he is schooled in the uses of magical artifacts, the teachings of forgotten deities, and the threats of unseen dangers.

If a mysterious object surfaces, Professor Knight makes it his job to figure it out--and make sure it stays out of dangerous hands.

A contemporary on an expedition in the Middle East calls Knight's attention to a mysterious object in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum … just before it becomes the target of a sorcerous attack that leads to a siege on a local precinct house by a fire elemental.

What looks like an ordinary inscribed stone may unlock an otherworldly Armageddon that certain dark powers are all too eager to bring about--and only Piers Knight stands in their way.


In an Iron Cage: The Magic of Steampunk (anthology)
Goodreads Synopsis:
It's a Mod, Mod World When there are gnomes among the gears, and the mists of magic mingle with the steam of tech, you know you've entered a realm where fantasy and science meet in an absolutely riveting collection of enchanting tales of steampunk adventure.In An Iron Cage: The Magic of Steampunk takes the best of both worlds and melds them into fiction that will absolutely transport you.With stories by: David Sherman, Brenda Cooper, Alma Alexander, C.J. Henderson, Elektra Hammond, Bernie Mojzes, Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Patrick Thomas, Stuart Jaffe, James Chambers, A.C. Wise, James Daniel Ross, Jeff Young, and Darren Pearce.


Dragon's Lure (anthology)
Goodreads Synopsis:
Here There Be Dragons What is the deal with virgins? Why would a dragon want to swallow the moon? Is a bed of treasure really to be desired? At long last a collection that delves in the lore on what lures a dragon. We bring you nineteen tempting tales of draconic wonder--along with the lyrics to two classic and much-beloved songs--certain to broaden your understanding of these legendary creatures that have fascinated mankind throughout time and across cultures. Trek across a dragon's dream space in C.E. Murphy's Perchance to Dream...Take wing in Misty Massey's Flying Away Home...and the burning question in Vonnie Winslow Crist's Weathermaker...got milk? Everything you wanted to know about dragons, but no one has survived to ask... With stories by John Grant, Vonnie Winslow Crist, Patrick Thomas, James Chambers, Misty Massey, Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Mike Penncavage, C.E. Murphy, Hildy Silverman, Bernie Mojzes, Randy Farran, C.J. Henderson, Claire Stevens McMurray, Robert E. Waters, D.C. Wilson, Jean Marie Ward, Keith R.A. Decandido, Anna Yardney, Jeffrey Lyman, James Daniel Ross, and David B. Coe, this is a tome you are sure to treasure.


Bad-Ass Faeries 1 (anthology)
Goodreads Synopsis:
Clap Your Hands...NOW Because you better believe the world is full of Bad-Ass Faeries Toss out your childhood notions of faeries that are all goodness and light. No golden pixies clothed in gossamer, dancing on the wind, here to make the rainbows shine and the birds sing. These tales are of faeries on the raw edge, battle-worn and in black leather, with a glimmer of darkness in their eyes, if not their very hearts. From the meanest city streets to one dusty, disturbing saloon, on the wing or the back of a Harley, no matter where you look, they are headed your way, trailing attitude, bodies, and a dust devil of magic in their wake. Good or bad or just plain rotten, you'll never look at faeries the same way again.


Rum and Runestones (anthology)
Goodreads Synopsis:
We Are, We Are Pirates Pirates And Magic. Tall Ships And Dark Rum Intermingle With Spells And Romance In This Collection Of Short Stories Of Nautical Derring-Do Guaranteed To Send Chills And Thrills Down Your Spine. Join The Crew, And Push Off To Worlds Unknown. Just Be Warned... Thar Be Pirates In Them Thar Waters. With Tales By: Gail Z. Martin * Ba Collins * Danny Birt * James R. Stratton * Laurel Anne Hill * Mj Blehart * Tera Fulbright * Davey Beauchamp * Michael A. Ventrella * Danielle Ackley-Mcphail * Stuart Jaffe And Misty Massey Interior Art By Bryan Prindiville


The Shattered Visage Lies by Brian Koscienski and Chris Pisano
Goodreads Synopsis:
Who am I? 

A daunting question on a normal day. But what about on the day you wake up with unfathomable power? All across Pennsylvania, people are now struggling with this question. 

An English professor. An elderly widow. A middle-aged businessman. A thug. A little girl. And still more people of divergent lifestyles and motivations cropping up daily. Yesterday, they had nothing in common, but seemingly overnight they all developed powers beyond comprehension. But is it a rapturous blessing? Or a debilitating curse? 

Struggling to find answers, some seek to exploit their new found abilities while others wish them gone, wanting their lives back to normal. As these characters search for reasons for their new change, they cross paths, discovering the best of people…and the worst of themselves. 

Will they control their new powers? Or be consumed by them? 

What would you do?


Secrets of the Sands by Leona Wisoker
Goodreads Synopsis:
Cafad Scratha, a powerful desert lord with a persecution complex, believes everyone is lying to him. When his obsession collides with the king's efforts to rebuild the shattered realm, the orphaned street-thief Idisio and the king's emissary Alyea become pawns in their multilayered game. The secret world into which Idisio and Alyea are drawn will not only change their lives: it will change them.


Fairy with a Gun by Patrick Thomas
Goodreads Synopsis:
AGAINST CLUB CRASHING VAMPIRES, A SERIAL KILLER WEREWOLF WHO THINKS PRETTY WOMEN SHOULD PLAY LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD TO HIS BIG BAD WOLF, ANCIENT CREATURES OF DARKNESS, THE CORPSE KNOWN AS ZOMBIELICIOUS, A GIRL GANG GATHERING PINK DEATH, A VICIOUS TROUSER SNAKE AND THE ULTIMATE BAD-ASS SOME WOULD SAY YOUR BEST DEFENSE IS A GOOD OFFENSE THOSE IN THE KNOW WILL TELL YOU THE BEST OFFENSE IS TERRORBELLE: FAIRY WITH A GUN.


Three Chords of Chaos by James Chambers
Goodreads Synopsis:
Once, lord of lyrics; once, prince of peace... Now a demon let off his leash... Three Chords of Chaos No greater musician than Gorge ever lived in the Realm of the Sidhe. No faerie musician ever delved so deeply into the taboo songs and the forbidden music-the Way of the Bone. Yet, Gorge refused to deny himself their temptations. In reward his true love betrayed him, and the faerie kings and queens who once praised him stripped him of his magic and exiled him to the mortal world. Left to go mad and die, Gorge discovered new life in the arms of a mortal woman, Delilah-and new magic in the music that sings in the souls of mortals. Decades later, Gorge walks a dark path through the musical underground of New York City. He lives a secret life, hiding from the fae, waging a guerilla war of punk rock, and wielding his guitar like a weapon as he gathers magic and recharges his power. Until the day he's strong enough to return home and open the Way of the Bone to all the Faerie Kingdoms. But the mortal world is far more dangerous than it seems. Gorge never expected to discover such raw power, almost beyond his control, among the mortals who worship his music. Nor did he count on a mortal wizard to discover his secrets or turn the ancient weapons of the fae against him. Caught in a dangerous game of magic, music, and lies, Gorge must find the truth and uncover the source of his enemy's magic. Survival and love hang in the balance. And Gorge has only his music to protect him, only a song for any hope of salvation....


Sky Lit Bargains by Kelly A. Harmon
Amazon Synopsis:
Refusing to become her brother-in-law’s plaything, Sigrid leaves the only home she’s known on the day of her twin sister’s marriage. She packs a bag – and her sword – and sets sail across the channel for her uncles’s keep in search of her mother’s dowry. 

The gems are long gone when she arrives, but her uncle proposes an idea which could bring them both the income they need…if only by agreeing Sigrid didn’t have to risk her life!






Free Ebooks:
Wild Hunt by Gail Z. Martin
Goodreads Synopsis:
When a strange relic shows up in town and people start dying, Sorren and Dietger battle dark forces and the hounds of Hell.

This series of adventures spans over 500 years, from the 1500s to modern day as a small cabal of vampires and their human helpers battle supernatural enemies to find and destroy dangerous magical items and keep the world safe from dark forces.
Lost in the Seven Worlds by Petronela Ungureanu
Goodreads Synopsis:
Lost in the Seven Worlds is the debut work of Petronela Ungureanu, an avante-garde Romanian writer. 

When a young woman finds herself captive in another world, she makes the mistake of falling for one of the disgraced beings. In the name of love, she is confronted with a most disturbing demand and faces a crucial decision. Will she remain lost in the Seven Worlds, or will she accept the challenge of a love beyond mortality?
Hunter's Blood by Marianne Morea
Goodreads Synopsis:
This fast paced short story sets the beginning of the Cursed by Blood Saga. The novella also includes the first four chapters of book two... Enjoy!

Revenge...it's a way of life for psychic, Lily Saburi. Haunted since the brutal murder of her best friend and partner, she's obsessed with retribution-a vigilante bent on striking a blow for humanity against the shadowed world of the supernatural. Prey turned predator she aims to even the score-one bullet at a time starting with the beast that changed her life forever. Prepared for Armageddon she's in for the fight of her life. But when mortally wounded by a diseased and insane Were, Lily is rescued by a most unlikely savior-Were-hunter, Sean Leighton. Sexy and powerful, Leighton is charged with destroying anything infected with the deadly pathogen threatening the survival of his pack, and that includes Lily. But their immediate attraction leaves them both breathless and confused. As Lily grapples with truth about herself, Leighton is faced with the looming reality that he will most likely have to kill the woman he's falling in love with. Only time will tell if they are destined to be together or if they'll fall victim to the Hunter's Blood.


The Lost Code by Kevin Emerson
Goodreads Synopsis:
In the year 2086, Camp Eden promises summer “the way things used to be,” back before the oceans rose, the sun became a daily enemy, and modern civilization sank into chaos. Located inside the EdenWest BioDome, the camp is an oasis of pine trees, cool water, and rustic charm.

But all at Camp Eden is not what it seems.

No one will know this better than 15-year-old Owen Parker. A strange underwater vision, even stranger wounds on Owen’s neck, and a cryptic warning from the enchanting lifeguard Lilly hint at a mystery that will take Owen deep beneath Lake Eden and even deeper into the past. What he discovers could give him the chance to save the tattered planet. But first, Owen will have to escape Camp Eden alive… (this copy taken from the paperback edition)


Al Unbound by Nancy Kress  (free ebook of month through Phoenix Pick w/code)
Goodreads Synopsis:
These two outstanding stories give us a fascinating look into the evolution of artificial intelligence and the impact it has on human society. 






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Reviews in the Works:

The Crown Tower by Michael J. Sullivan
The Rose and the Thorn by Michael J. Sullivan
Rough Magic by Kenny Soward

20 comments:

  1. I'm sorry to hear about your family! :( *hugs*

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    1. Thank you tonyalee @lilybloombooks, It has been a long week already, and keeps going. Hope you are having a good week.

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  2. Melissa I'm sorry for your loss and I'm sorry that your dad is in poor health as well. My prayers and thoughts go with you
    xoxo
    Deb

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    1. Thank you Debbie Haupt. Thank you for all your thoughts. It's appreciated.

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  3. I am so sorry to hear about your loss. Taking care of a sick parent is always hard, and it is a hard thing to go through. I've been there, and my thoughts are with you and your family.

    Jenea @ Books Live Forever's Sunday Post

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    1. Thank you Jenea Whittington. And sorry to hear you've been through it as well. Thank you for you thoughts. It's appreaciated.

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  4. Oh sweetie, massive hog. It's always hard when something unexpected happens. I hope everything works out but take care of yourself as well. It may take time but be sure you don't rush anything. Take care!

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    1. Thank you Mel. It's a hard thing, but we'll get through. Thank you! **hugs**

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  5. Wow Melissa, it sounds like you have your hands full. I know what you mean about it happening differently then you expected. My thoughts and prayers will be with you and yours. Lovely haul as always but I am sure that is the last thing on your mind. The Sunday Post

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    1. Thank you Kimba. It's been a rough week, and still going. But we will get through.

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  6. wow that's a lot of books this week, it's impressive. I really hope you'll like them all. Only had the Kait book. Happy reading!

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    1. lol. Thank you Melliane. I had a bit of trouble saying no to buying. lol. Thank you.

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  7. Hugs! I do understand, I expected my grandma to pass for years, and all her younger siblings passed away before her. All healthy

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  8. I'm so sorry to hear about your stepmom, Melissa :( Huge hugs and please take everything easy xxx

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    1. Oh thank you Kara-karina. I really needed a day off of all the stress, so responding on comments today. **hugs**

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  9. ((HUGS)) I'm sorry for your loss and I do hope that things go smoothly for you and your dad. Take care of yourself!

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    1. Oh thank you Melissa (B&T). There's a lot to do, but we'll get through. Thank you *hugs*

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  10. Again, I'm so sorry about your stepmother. Don't worry about teh blog, take care of yourself and your father.

    The dragon anthology is appealing. I'm reading a different dragon anthology now, maybe I'll try this one too.

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    1. Bea, oh thank you. I needed a break today, so here I am...responding. lol. But it makes me feel better. Thank you for the thoughts.

      And yea, I couldn't pass on the dragon anthology. :) Thank you!

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