Review of "The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker"

There must be something wrong with me, so many posts in such a short amount of time! But I don't want to hear any complaining!

Now tonight, we have a review of "The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker" by Leanna Renee Hieber.

Because the back of the book is better than my own explanation.. "What fortune awaited sweet, timid Percy Parker at Athens Academy? Hidden in the dark heart of Victorian London, the Romanesque school was dreadfully imposing, a veritable fortress, and little could Percy guess what lay inside. She had never met its powerful and mysterious Professor Alexi Rychman, knew nothing of the growing shadows, of the Ripper and other supernatural terrors against which his coterie stood guard. She saw simply that she was different, haunted, with her snow white hair, pearlescent skin and uncanny gift. This arched stone doorway was a portal to a new life, to an education far from what could be had at a convent - and it was an invitation to an intimate yet dangerous dance at the threshold of life and death..."

Now for my thoughts - wow! I've not read any historical paranormal romance before, or anything historical paranormal for that matter. Except maybe Dracula, if that counts. Well, it's not really a secret that I love any and all things dealing with mythology, especially Greek, and this book hit the spot for me. Not just mythology, but ghosts! I think we need to see more books with ghosts, especially ones where they are not always the bad guys.

The description in this book was breathtaking, as was Miss Percy Parker herself. Other than her "condition," I was able to identify with her - I also love languages and the study of them, and I am certainly not the best student in math. In fact, it is because Percy Parker is so bad at math that she must have weekly tutoring sessions with her professor, Alexi Rychman. And woof, if you like your men dark and brooding (I know I do!), look no further! I also rather enjoyed her take on Jack the Ripper. Now, the scenes dealing with "The Darkness" were a little confusing, but maybe they needed to be vague. I give this book a FIVE out of FIVE. Yay!

That said, I've heard there is to be a sequel! I hope so, I'd love to heard more about this all! AND! Lucky me, Leanna Renee Hieber is a local author (from my city even! Southwest Ohio represent!), and she's doing a book signing in the area! I'm going with a couple of friends.

Happy Reading! And be sure to check out "The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker" by Leanna Renee Hieber!

Photo courtesy of amazon.com

Review of "Mr. Darcy, Vampyre" by Amanda Grange

Just finished "Mr. Darcy, Vampyre" by Amanda Grange. What's with all the Jane Austen sequels, etc coming out now? "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies," "Sense and Sensibility and Seamonsters," "Mr. Darcy's Diary," etc. Not that I'm complaining.. I love "Pride and Prejudice" and I love to see Elizabeth and Darcy's story continued. On that note...

"Mr. Darcy, Vampyre" picks up where "Pride and Prejudice" leaves off. We begin with Darcy and Elizabeth's wedding day, and follow them on their wedding tour of Europe. But Elizabeth is worried, because her husband seems so preoccupied, he isn't showing her the affection she expected of a husband. And indeed, it seems he has quite a secret that he is keeping from her.

I love that this book references "Pride and Prejudice" on several occasions, Elizath and Darcy teasing one another about past occurances, or discussing how they met, etc. Both Darcy and Elizabeth are kept in character for the most part, though we can only assume that is how Elizabeth would act when faced with such a situation. A nitpicky point here, maybe, but I felt there was a little too much repition in the beginning. Several times Darcy asks Elizabeth if she had been overseas, or in a boat. And not just him, but other seems to keep asking the same. It just got old fast.

I liked her version of the vampire myth, which is not something I've seen much of lately. Each Vampyre family has a different weakness. One has no reflection, another can't handle religious items, and another still must be indoors at both sunset and sunrise because they become transparent.

All in all, I thought the book was good, and will give it a THREE POINT FIVE out of FIVE. I thought the story was interesting, but it moved a little slow for me, and I really don't see myself re-reading this much in the future. It'll probably sit next to my copy of "Pride and Prejudice" and whenever I have the urge to re-read that, I'll probably follow it up with "Mr. Darcy, Vampyre." However, I can totally see Darcy as a vampire, and I know there are plenty out there who will agree! Make sure to check out "Mr. Darcy, Vampyre" by Amanda Grange

Happy reading!

Photo courtesy of Amazon.com

Katie MacAlister covers!

Since I was talking about favorite authors recently, I figured I would promote one of my favorite authors, by showing some cover art of two of her upcoming books.

First we have "Steamed" her first book in the steampunk genre. I've not read any steampunk before.. infact, I didn't even know it existed until she started talking about writing it. Now I can't wait! And just look at that cover, isn't it wonderful? Very bright, very eyecatching.. I'm sure it will fly off the shelves! I know I can't wait.








And what do we have here? Her next book in the dragons series (this time it's a novel of the Light Dragons!) titled "Love in the Time of Dragons." For those of you that follow her Dragon septs series, it's Baltic's story.



For more information on the dragon book, she has a blog_post that answers some questions.


And for more information on her writing process, her life, and some dishy guys (every monday!) visit her BLOG !


And, not a fan of paranormal romance? Don't worry, she also writes contemporary romance, historical romance, as well as her paranormals. She has also started writing a paranormal mystery series under the name Kate Marsh. AND she has some YA fiction under the name Katie Maxwell ("Circus of the Darned" is my favorite!).

Check it out! And be sure to drool over the amazing covers.

Covers courtesy of Katie MacAlister's blog

Favorite authors, what makes us stay?

So today, I received some books in the mail, and one of them was "The Brat" by Lynsay Sands. I opened it, admiring the beautiful new copy (the one I read was a library copy, and an old tattered one to boot), and found out it was signed! I instantly became giddy. I love Lynsay Sands, mostly her Argeneau series, and I was overjoyed just to own something she's signed. So that got me thinking about my favorite authors, why they're my favorites, and wondering what everyone else's favorites are.

I have several authors I consider my favorites, and I will read anything and everything they write, whether it's my genre or not. So I'll list them here for you, and include a thing or two about why I love them.

Katie MacAlister (aka Kate Marsh, Katie Maxwell). - She's quirky, her stories are magical, and her Dragons and Dark Ones make me drool. And it was because she started writing a mystery series ("Ghost of a Chance" Kate Marsh), I decided to start checking out other mysteries. And she's writing a Steampunk novel now ("Steamed"), so I'll be trying a steampunk romance as soon as that comes out!

Sherrilyn Kenyon (aka Kinley MacGregor) - I love mythology, and I love how she uses it in her novels. I have enjoyed every one of her Dark-Hunter series books, and own them all. And "Born In Sin" (Kinley MacGregor) is now and always will be my favorite Historical Romance.

Lynsay Sands - As I said, I love her. Her Argeneau series is wonderful. Another series where I love the characters, and keep going back to the series to see those characters again. I think my favorite Argeneau is Lucian. His book is my favorite to date, but she keeps coming out with good ones, that might change.

Laurell K. Hamilton - Two great series here, the Merry Gentry series (faeries), and the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series. I can't tell you which I like more anymore. For a while, it was the Merry Gentry series, because she stayed with the plot, the story kept moving forward at a good pace. The Anita Blake series, for a while, got to a point where it was just mindless sex, the plot was confusing and forgetful, and so on. But her most recent book ("Skin Trade") was very good, back to the old Anita Blake that made me love her. Well, with a few nitpicks, anyways.

Jeaniene Frost - I actually read this series out of order. I read the second one first, then went back and read the first. I love Cat. I might love Bones a little more, but shhh. And her most recent book, I've never wanted to cry, smack a character, and laugh at the same time. I can't wait for her next book. And bonus, if you follow her blog, she occasionally has "flash contests" where if you're the first couple people to comment on the post, you automatically win. It's how I won a signed copy of one of her books that if I had a treasure chest, it would be in it.

That said, who are your favorite authors, and what makes you keep going back to them?

Review of "The Blue Enchantress" by M. L. Tyndall

So I just finished "The Blue Enchantress" by M. L. Tyndall, and I will be completely honest in saying I had to force myself to finish it. I reviewed this book as part of an Early Reviewers program, and I refuse to do a review if I haven't read the whole thing, as difficult as that may be.

From the back of the book:
" Still grieving the loss of her mother - and private tragedies of her own - Hope Wescott plays the part of a dutiful admiral's daughter. But longing for the love and acceptance she never felt at home, Hope plunges into Charles Towne society... and an illicit affair with Lord Falkland. For Captain Nathaniel Mason, wealth means security, so he is determined to build his shipping business - ignoring God's call on his life to become an impoverished pastor. He also ignores his attraction to the frivolous, vain Hope Wescott. Hope's adventure seeking lands her in the hands of an unscrupulous ship captain who wants to sell her to the highest bidder. When Nathaniel sees Hope on the auction block, will he listen to God and sacrifice his ship, cargo, and security to save her? "

So... I will be the first person to admit I don't read Christian literature. But I received this book and told myself to give it a fair chance. However, some issues, at least issues to me, arose while reading. I really don't have a problem with God appearing in books, not popping up in the story, I mean, but being present or being a part of the story. I understand some characters have religious ties, I'm okay with that. But this book seems to take it a little too far. I thought this would be a love story, but instead I found myself being preached to, with a little bit of a love story on the side, shoved to the backburner. I think the biggest problem I had with this story was that while the main male - Nathaniel Mason, loved the heroine - Hope Wescott, he wouldn't admit his love to himself or her until she "gave herself to God." He wouldn't even allow himself to picture a future with her until she became religious. Before she "turned to God," he did nothing but judge her, and himself for liking her. Heck, even after she had this miraculous change, he kept judging her. I'm all for issues between characters that they have to overcome to be together, that's part of a good love story, but this seems a little extreme.

All that said, I'm giving this book a TWO out of FIVE. I would give it a ONE out of FIVE, since I thought the story itself was awful. But M. L. Tyndall had a very good, descriptive, flowing writing style, and for that alone, I brought the grade up a point. I really don't suggest this book unless it's your sort of thing. I know there are people out there that liked to be preached to, and by all means, check out "The Blue Enchantress." Me, however, I think I'll stick with my vampire romances, hunky cowboys, and handsome devils.

Happy Reading!

Photo courtesy of Amazon.com

Blogger Award - Zombie Chickens!

I received an award, which I'm so excited to get! My first ever! And now I get to pass it on!

I received this award from Romantic_Harbor and now I get to pass it on!

"The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken-- excellence, grace, and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all."

I'm passing it on to..
1. J_Kaye
2. BOOK_JUNKIE
3. Stumbling_Over_Chaos
4. Park_Avenue_Princess
5. Literary_Escapism

These are some of my favorite blogs, I check them every day, and you all should too! Please let me know of any of those links don't work, and I will fix them, I want everyone to be able to visit these great blogs!

Happy Reading!

BBAW!

Well, it's Book Blogger Appreciation Week!! I'm excited. Since I'm still so new to blogging in general, I decided not to participate in a big capacity. Mostly I'm just sitting back and watching the madness. And entering contests like crazy.

But this week is a great way to discover new blogs. I've already found several (just today!) that I will be following from now on. Next year I plan to participate a little more actively, maybe have some contests of my own, do more to celebrate. This year I can just watch and observe. I'm good at that. I'm close to finishing another book to review, so that should be up in the next few days, barring massive amounts of reading for school. So look for the review of "The Blue Enchantress" by M. L. Tyndall.

That said, happy reading everyone! And Happy BBAW!