Just For Thought: A Few Changes & What do you like here at My World...?

While doing NaNoWriMo I started thinking... I want more time to fix up these projects and work on new ones. I want to stretch my legs in a few new avenues as well. But, to do that I need to make time somewhere. I love blogging and sharing all that I read, in different ways. I love blog visiting everyone else too! So...I think it's time I ease up on some of the blogging things.

This will probably affect my responses here, but things grow and so shall we. I have discussion ideas for posts here and at The Challenged Writers blog as well - questions and thoughts on different aspects of writing and books. I hope you join me there as well.

I want to know what you honestly like here. What I should keep.

- I like doing the Sunday Posts as it groups everything from the prior week and what I got in the mail. Do you like this?
- I love the Mythical Monday author posts. I will be keeping this. I learn so many new myths and books this way.
- Tuesday Teasers - I think I'm going to let this one go. I'll do it if I have time, but for the most part I'll not be doing it.
- Who? What? Where? - I think I'm going to drop this one for the time as well.
- Throwback Thursday - I would like to keep this one as well, but you let me know. I love sharing the books I have sitting on the shelves that I'm desperately needing the time to get too.
- Freebie Friday - I don't usually find many freebies, and usually they show up on other blogs freebies. Although from time to time I do find a few others don't. *shrug shoulder* I don't know about it.
- Looking Forward To... - These are books I desire that are to be released yet. I don't know about this either.


I have several reviews lined up. They should last me a few months. So you should be able to get two reviews a week for some time.

What I'm keeping:
  2 Reviews a week
  Mythical Monday
  Throwback Thursday

I'm Definitely Stopping:
  Tuesday Teaser

Questionable Posts:
  Sunday Posts (I'm leaning toward keeping, but there will be minimal posts weekly now too.)
  Who? What? Where?
  Freebie Friday
  Looking Forward To...


What does all this mean? Is My World...in words and pages disappearing? No, it's not. I'm here to stay, believe me. I enjoy the interaction with readers and authors. But, I do have a few things I'd like to step into. I've been beta reading and enjoying that aspect of seeing manuscripts. I'd like to learn more about editing. I also have found a love in listening to Podcasts. If I'm offered, I might join in a few chats, we will see what happens there (I'll have to see about getting a mic and a better room to do so in). ;)

I'm here to stay, but there are more things on the horizon for us. Stick around!

Exclusive Cover Reveal: Selene

I can't tell you how excited I am to share this gorgeous cover with you!

Ever wonder what happened to Selene in the Dante Valentine world by Lilith Saintcrow? Well, there is a serial available for your reading. FOR FREE! At this time. But, to your great pleasure (and mine) Lilith will be publishing Selene in an ebook and paperback.

Yep! Selene will be all in one place and her very own book! Also, (here's a cool note!) the Selene shorts that were previously published in anthologies (Brother's Keeper and Coming Home) will be included in this as well! Eeep!

Are you ready for it? I'm sure you already peaked. So I hope you came back up to read the details I have.

Selene

A Saint City Novel

By:  Lilith Saintcrow

Due Out:

Free Serial - Read NOW! (still going & will end beginning of January)

Ebook - January 2014

Paperback - January 2014

Description:

Life isn't easy for a sexwitch. Even your own body betrays you. It's bad enough that Selene is part slave to Nikolai, the Prime Power of Saint City, but she's got her brother Danny and she's got her job at the college. In the postwar wreckage of an uncertain world, it's pretty much all she's ever allowed herself to want. 

Then Danny ends up murdered, and Selene finds herself a pawn in a dangerous game. Indentured to a bloodsucking Nichtvren and helpless, told to stop trying to uncover the identity of her brother's killer, Selene has nowhere to turn. If she's a good girl, Nikolai will leave her a little bit of freedom. He'll take care of her, and she'll be safe--if she obeys. 

But Selene hasn't survived this long by being obedient to her cursed powers, or to the men who buy her time. Her brother was all she had, and now she's ready to borrow, beg, lie, steal or kill--whatever it takes to avenge him. 

And if Nikolai gets in the way, Selene will use every tool in her arsenal to make him regret it...

What do you think? I think Beauuuuutiful! And dang I need to get to her in the books.

Throwback Thursday (136)

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 got this one for my son. He read and enjoyed it. Now, I need to get to it.

Goodreads Synopsis:

In the wake of a devastating disease, everyone sixteen and older is either dead or a decomposing, brainless creature with a ravenous appetite for flesh. Teens have barricaded themselves in buildings throughout London and venture outside only when they need to scavenge for food. The group of kids living a Waitrose supermarket is beginning to run out of options. When a mysterious traveler arrives and offers them safe haven at Buckingham Palace, they begin a harrowing journey across London. But their fight is far from over-the threat from within the palace is as real as the one outside it.

Full of unexpected twists and quick-thinking heroes, The Enemy is a fast-paced, white-knuckle tale of survival in the face of unimaginable horror.

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: Cursed By Destiny

Cursed by Destiny

By:  Cecy Robson

Publish Date:  January 7, 2014

Format:  ARC

Genre:  Urban Fantasy Romance

Series:  3rd in The Weird Girls series; 0.5 Novella ~ The Weird Girls, Book 1 ~ Sealed with a Curse, Book 2 ~ A Cursed Embrace, 2.5 Novella ~ A Cursed Moon

Recommendation:  Oh my. Yes. You love the connection between Celia and Aric. And the fight to survive.

Synopsis:
Celia Wird and her three sisters are just like other 20-something girls—with one tiny exception: they're products of a backfired curse that has given each of them unique powers that make them, well, weird…...

Celia’s a girl in trouble. Her heart is bound to Aric, but he is a pureblood were who must deny her or risk condemning his species to extinction. And that’s just her love life. She’s also been called to take down a group of demon terrorists looking to overthrow the paranormal world. (No pressure.)

In order to bring them down, Celia must ally herself to Misha, the master vampire who has made no secret of his desire for her. And if that weren’t enough misfortune for one girl, a clairvoyant’s prediction could destroy Celia and Aric’s love for good. The only way to protect the world from unbridled supernatural terrorism is for Celia to bind herself to her destined mate. And that doesn’t appear to be Aric….

First Sentence:
"Are you ready, Celia?"

Purchase At:

Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles  /  Book Depository

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

My Thoughts and Summary:
Celia's staying at Misha's, training to be a valuable weapon for the Alliance against the Tribe. Misha desires more. Then Celia meets another that is destined for more. Celia's not ready for more with any, other than her mate. Someone is trying to kill Celia. Over and over again.This someone is percipient and insistent that Celia is to die as she is a threat to their existence. With all the complications and stress around Aric, Misha, attempts on her life, and sisters, Celia is ready for any mission she can get against the Tribe. But there are greater threats that will come.

A roller coaster ride of emotions with Celia, her sisters, the wolves, and so many more. My heart thumps for them, in excitement and in tribulation. But my thoughts in the end are always for hope with the moments we do see it.

Dang! I'm waiting for the NEXT story. I need to see what Celia does next!

I can see many different views coming from this book. There is a good bit of tribulation for the girls and many more in this book. It's good to see some come through, but not all do. The heartache can go both ways with readers in this series. This is the third book of the series, I'm not sure what others will think, but I'm thinking mixed thoughts will come about. I love the struggle, that love IS worth it. But there is a lot of struggle and some might be ready for that to be easing up. *shrug shoulders* We will see. I think there is a string of hope left for us to grasp to, while we wait for the next book.

I love reading these books they are full of everything in the Urban Fantasy and Romance realms. From the magic to feeling my heart bleed for them all. I'm holding out hope though. I have too. I know love is not easy and life creates massive obstacles. But to fight the way Celia and Aric have. Wow. This is some love for them.

Oh man. I love Celia. I love Aric. I love the sisters and all the wolves and weres in this book. Heck, I love the vampires too! But... Can we throw a girl a bone? The heartache I feel with Celia. Wow. Celia is struggling, but doing her best with her Aric situation. Part of me understands yet the other part doesn't, on how Celia's three sisters are accepted by the Elders and Celia is not. In this token, the were Elders irritate me. Aric is even struggling as well. Gods! This couple hurts and eases my heart as I read.

Cecy has left some breadcrumbs and planted a few seeds in this book. I'm curious to see how they play out in the future. There are little things mentioned that I am curious to see if she uses in future books, and with whom they are used on. Interesting. Nicely added Cecy, nicely added.

I enjoy the clear divisions and little ways of each supernatural race. I enjoy the surprising ways we learn of the vampires ways, yes Celia is as new to their ways as us so it's very surprising. Even the were ways. Interesting to learn little things we do of the different weres and of the mated bond.

Oh, I'll be waiting for the next book with Celia. Most definitely. I'm three books in and FULLY vested with Celia and the Weird sisters. I WILL be seeing them through to the end!



AUTHOR BIO:
Cecy (pronounced Sessy) Robson is a full-time writer, registered nurse, wife, and mother living in the Great Northwest. A member of Romance Writers of America, she attributes her passion for storytelling to the rough New Jersey neighborhood she was raised in. As a child, she was rarely allowed to leave the safety of her house and passed her time fantasizing about flying, fairies, and things that go bump in the night. Gifted and cursed with an overactive imagination, she began writing in May 2009. Her Weird Girls Urban Fantasy Romance series is published with Penguin Random House’s Signet Eclipse and released to stellar praise from multiple reviewers including: Publisher’s Weekly, USA Today, and Romantic Times. THE WEIRD GIRLS: A Novella, SEALED WITH A CURSE, and A CURSED EMBRACE are now available. A CURSED MOON: A Novella, releases December 3, 2013, followed by CURSED BY DESTINY, January 7, 2014.

LINKS:
Website: www.cecyrobson.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cecyrobson
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Cecy.Robson.Author
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/goodreadscomCecyRobsonAuthor

For the tour and celebrations for the book release,

Cecy has offered to do a giveaway!

Signed copy of CURSED BY DESTINY

A Magnet

Lip Balm

Bookmarker

This giveaway is US mailing addresses only.
You might find an international blogger that is available to do an International giveaway. Check out the tour.
I kindly ask, if you win on another blog please let me know and another winner will be selected. Share the love.

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AudioBook Review: The Shambling Guide to New York City

The Shambling Guide to New York City

By:  Mur Lafferty

Publish Date:  May 29, 2013

Format:  Podiobooks & Trade size print, 338pgs

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Series:  1st in The Shambling Guide series

Recommendation:  Oh goodness yes! Fun twist to the city of New York and story.

Synopsis:
A travel writer takes a job with a shady publishing company in New York, only to find that she must write a guide to the city - for the undead!

Because of the disaster that was her last job, Zoe is searching for a fresh start as a travel book editor in the tourist-centric New York City. After stumbling across a seemingly perfect position though, Zoe is blocked at every turn because of the one thing she can't take off her resume - human.

Not to be put off by anything - especially not her blood drinking boss or death goddess coworker - Zoe delves deep into the monster world. But her job turns deadly when the careful balance between human and monsters starts to crumble - with Zoe right in the middle.

First Sentence:
The bookstore was sandwiched between a dry cleaner's and a shifty-looking accounting office.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles  /  Book Depository

Until December 15, 2013, you can listen to this story for FREE thanks to Mur Lafferty.
Mur Lafferty's Blog  /  iTunes 

**I listened/read this story for my own enjoyment.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Zoe has moved back to her home city, New York City, after a terrible incident with her last boss and...his unbeknownst to her, wife. She has some money to live off of, but needs a job. She is a wiz at travel guides and the book store and coffee shop she stumbles into has the perfect add on it's board:

Underground Publishing

LOOKING FOR WRITERS

Underground Publishing is a new company writing travel guides for people like you. Since we're writing for people like you, we need people like you to write for us.

Pluses: Experience in writing, publishing, or editing (in this life or any other), and knowledge of New York City.

Minuses: A life span shorter than an editorial cycle. (in this case, nine months).

Zoe feels she's a perfect fit. The owner...not so much. Zoe learns of the special employees and that she might be in mortal danger from them. These beings are all through the city. Then the danger she comes upon with the city as a whole. Zoe tries to balance the attacks on her, find out who and why they are after New York City, and finish a layout for the new Travelers guide all at the same time.

Mur takes New York City and twists what we know to the supernatural lives as well. What we know as one meaning also has another to the supernatural world. We start with the implications and feelings there is something off with a few places. We are human and the supernatural do hide themselves rather well, but we the readers are looking for it and see the small flickers in their glamour. ;)

The first chapter left me wanting more. I was curious to what the world is like behind the curtains we don't know are there. I did get the feel there were some supernatural in the world. And when Zoe was talking about the publishing company; on yes, something was going on.

Zoe's personality is perfect. One that takes things in stride, and what she learns about what's been in New York City all these years, and everywhere, trips her up for a heartbeat but she goes on. She needs the job to badly and finds it all interesting at the same time. I love her thinking process on the monsters in the city. They'd been here for some time, so why was it different from last week? I love seeing Zoe interact with the "monsters" and all that is present in the world. The connections of Zoe's life to what's happening around the Coterie is not viewed as a coincidence by the Coterie. There is more to it. Then we meet Zoe's neighbor, nice young man, Arthur. But Arthur has a secret as well.

I love that we get Zoe's story and clips from her guide book at the end of each chapter. The clips give an insight to what we've already learned, places we've visited, and what's to come.

This story has a blend of everything here. Fun. Supernatural. Story that grows as we get more and more acquainted with the world. And a spark of relationships. Definitely a must buy series for me! Mur is wonderful at weaving fun into a story. She has a great cast of characters and twists things with a supernatural element along with her quick one liners that make me chuckle. Mur weaves a whole system to the supernatural world. One that keeps it secret to the human world as well.

Thank you Mur, and Orbit, for podcasting this book. I loved every minute of listening to it and HAD to get the book! I want this to show off and go back through.

This fun humored read and story is one I'll suggest to many for the fun and world. You'll be flipping the pages to learn what next is in this world and the humor that will come with it. Then, you'll find you are sucked in to a story that you didn't see coming.

Cover Reveal & GIVEAWAY!: In Too Deep

Oooo, a hot new cover for you. It's a romance read and I'm liking the sounds of this one.

In Too Deep

Due South series #1

By:  Tracey Alvarez

Due Out:  January 20, 2014

Description:

She vowed never to return. 

To save her brother from financial ruin, Piper Harland must do the one thing she swore she’d never do—return to the tiny island hometown where Ryan “West” Westlake crushed her heart. Piper is tough, resilient and a little wild—much like the remote and beautiful Stewart Island where she grew up. As a cop who’s part of the elite New Zealand Police National Dive Squad, bringing the dead back to their families still doesn’t stop the guilt she feels over her father’s drowning death. Now nine years later she’s obligated to return to a hostile community as the outsider, and forced to work with the man who was once her best friend and first lover. 

She’s a risk he can’t take. 

West is an Island man, through and through. As owner of the local pub, he lives and breathes the local community, and sure as hell can’t imagine living anywhere else. But most of all he refuses to ever fall for a woman like his flighty mother. He lost Piper once to give her the chance to fulfil her dreams of becoming a cop. But now she’s back for an unexpected six week visit to help her brother—his best mate. Maybe West wants her a little bit, maybe he can’t resist the temptation to tease and touch her, but can he fall in love with such a flight risk? 

Saying goodbye the second time might just destroy them both. 

Find and learn more of Tracey Alvarez books at these links:
Tracey Alvarez Facebook Page
Tracey Alvarez Website
In Too Deep on Goodreads
Twitter


Author Bio:
Tracey Alvarez lives in the Coolest Little Capital in the World (a.k.a Wellington, New Zealand) where she’s yet to be buried under her to-be-read book pile by Wellington’s infamous wind—her Kindle’s a lifesaver! Married to a wonderfully supportive IT guy, she has two teens who would love to be surgically linked to their electronic devices. Fuelled by copious amounts of coffee, she’s the author of contemporary romantic fiction set predominantly in New Zealand. Small-towns, close communities, and families are a big part of the heart-warming stories she writes. Oh, and hot, down-to-earth heroes—Kiwi men, in other words. When she’s not writing, thinking about writing, or procrastinating about writing, she can be found reading sexy books of all romance genres, nibbling on smuggled chocolate bars, or bribing her kids to take over the housework.

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NaNoWriMo 2013 - WINNER!

This was a hard NaNo for me. I did struggle a bit through this month, but came out in the end 56+k richer in words.

Yeah, sounds like I'm exaggerating about the harder NaNo for me. But I'm not. I struggled in the beginning. I was working on a sequel novella and by the forth day of the month I was tired of fighting it. It didn't feel right for me. I took a day off. Felt as if I was not going to get ANY words this month. Since the beginning of June life has been a bit hectic with family stuff. With all that's happening my creative side seemed to go on strike. I didn't feel as I could create anything. So, Jackie (@seolmara) talked me into doing a flash fiction. Then I got the spark idea for Dragon Gods. And I just COULDN'T let Starla Huchton (@riznphnx) beat me to 50k (which she did in the end).

I got through Dragon Gods and believe it or not had two story ideas sparking in the front of my mind. Yes, front. Not back. One of which I debated on starting for Nano when I couldn't go with my original idea, but it needs more research to it than I had time for at that moment. The second idea, I dictated onto my iPod and phone and have created note cards for. I'm ready to start it here in December.

But back to Nano...

What did I learn?
1.) No Sequels - At this point in my writing ability, I'm not able to breeze through a sequel book for NaNo.

2.) Free-for-all Writings - Sometimes you just need to write a project that will go no where. One to get the juices flowing again. Something creative but fun. This is what I did for NaNo this year.

3.) Needed, Good Healthy Competition - I am one that likes a good healthy competition. Starla Huchton gives me that. Although, she has surpassed my writing speed with all her amazing works this year, she still makes me work. Thank you Starla!

4.) Support System - Nano is rough. It's a lot. But the great support system to help keep you going when you need that kick in the kester is wonderful. Jackie really helped me when I was stuck. When I was ready to say "I'm done" Jackie suggested something that helped me pick up the pieces and keep moving forward. Even if we each wrote a book of short stories for Nano, we were going to keep going. Thank you Jackie!

5.) Get the Juices Flowing! - Once you get going, the ideas will come. Kind of like, You build it, they will come. Well, they do. I was exctatic to finish out Nano with two ideas sparking in my mind.


Once again, Nano go my juices flowing. Now, life willing, I will remain active in getting projects out of my head and in black and white along with re-writes of past projects.


The Results:
Sleeping Beauty Laying Beneath: 8,612
Short Story: 1,671
Dragon Gods: 46,120

(And I even had 836 words that I added to first story that I forgot to add into the count at NaNoWriMo.)