GUEST POST: Avery Flynn, author of "A Dry Creek Bed"!!

Ladies and Gentlemen, please help me give a warm welcome to author Avery Flynn. Avery is promoting her recent release "A Dry Creek Bed," the sequel to "Up A Dry Creek" [Click the title for my review!] So without further ado.. Avery Flynn!

Note: Come back tomorrow for a GIVEAWAY of "A Dry Creek Bed"!!

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The Meaning of Family
By Avery Flynn

With A DRY CREEK BED, I really wanted to explore the idea of family and what the word parent really means.

More than seven million women in the United States have an impaired ability to have children. 

Slightly more than two million married women between the ages of fifteen and forty-four are infertile.

Nearly twelve percent of women between the ages of fifteen and forty-four have received infertility services.

Many women are childless by choice and I say more power to them. However, there are millions of women out there who are unable to conceive despite it being their greatest wish and they report often feeling alone in their struggle. My heart breaks for them. 

I have three rug rats of my own, but spent quite a bit of time researching infertility issues before writing A DRY CREEK BED, the second in my hot and steamy romantic suspense series.

Beth Martinez is the heroine and she’s recently had a hysterectomy because of a fibroid tumor. This has rocked Beth’s world. Her parents died when she was eight, the grandparents who raised her have passed on and now she won’t be able to have children of her own.

To twist the knife even more, she’s been in love with Dry Creek County Sheriff Hank Layton for most of her life. Hank wants Beth, there’s no doubt about it, but he also wants to start a family and Beth’s emotions are so tangled ups she’s not sure if she ever wants to adopt. Not wanting to force Hank to give up his dreams of a family or make him feel obligated to stay with her, Beth keeps her infertility a secret and denies she has any interest in him.
 
Hank can’t stop thinking about Beth to the point where he’s afraid of becoming permanently bowlegged. And even though the sexual tension between them is thick enough to trip over, she runs every time he chases.
But when a mysterious developer forces her neighbors off their land, Beth becomes the one person standing between the scoundrel and millions of dollars. Only Hank can help her uncover the truth. Together they risk their lives exposing decades-old secrets and learn that everything is not as it seems in their rural Nebraska town.

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About Avery Flynn: Romantic suspense novelist Avery Flynn’s first Dry Creek novel, Up a Dry Creek, was published in 2011.  Her latest, A DRY CREEK BED, has just been released by Evernight Publishing.

          Born and raised in western Nebraska, the setting of her fictional town of Dry Creek, she now lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.  There she continues to write and work at her day job while enjoying her own happily ever after with her husband, three children and two dogs.  She dreams of one day having a floor-to-ceiling library, à la Beauty and the Beast, and is working to perfect the coffee IV drip.  She is delighted to have her first two books published and to be hard at work on High and Dry Creek, her third Dry Creek novel.

Get a copy at Amazon.com - or come back tomorrow (Thursday, 1/19) for a GIVEAWAY of "A Dry Creek Bed"!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

REVIEW: "Angelfire" by Courtney Allison Moulton

Why this book?: Well, you all know how I feel about angels. Like I could turn this book down when my library/work purchased a copy? Pft!

Type: Young Adult Fiction, Paranormal, Light Romance, Angels!, Reapers, kick-butt heroines, amnesia (sorta..), Series

About the book: First there are nightmares.

Every night Ellie is haunted by terrifying dreams of monstrous creatures that are hunting her, killing her.

Then come the memories.

When Ellie meets Will, she feels on the verge of remembering something just beyond her grasp. His attention is intense and romantic, and Ellie feels like her soul has known him for centuries. On her seventeenth birthday, on a dark street at midnight, Will awakens Ellie's power, and she knows that she can fight the creatures that stalk her in the grim darkness. Only Will holds the key to Ellie's memories, whole lifetimes of them, and when she looks at him, she can no longer pretend anything was just a dream.

Now she must hunt.

My Review: There were parts of this book that I really, really loved. And I don't know if the rest of the book was just so-so for me, or if what I liked out-shined the rest of it so much that it fell way behind. Ellie was alright for a main character, but I didn't really enjoy her around her friends so much. I liked her better when it was just her and Will, training or just talking. And I loved their relationship. Each time Ellie is reincarnated, even when she gets her memories back, she's a little different, and this time more so. I loved watching Will and Ellie reconnect. They know each other so well in some ways, Will knowing Ellie more since he has all his memories, but at the same time, they are both someone new to the other. And I really felt that, so in that regard, the author did a truly wonderful job.

I also very much enjoyed the Reapers. The idea of the reapers, the mythology between those that fight for heaven and hell.. all of that, was absolutely fantastic. Well thought out and incredibly interesting, I, just like Ellie, kept wanted to ask more and more questions. To learn more about the world Ellie was born into/thrown into. And I can't wait for the second book so I can hopefully get more answers and more experience. By now, my readers will know how I feel about any sort of mythology in my books (for those that don't - I LOVE IT!), and it was refreshing to see Sumerian mythology and history cropping up. I'm not saying Greek mythology is overdone, I'm still a huge fan after all, but seeing Sumerian is new and fresh, something different.

As for the rest of the story, I really didn't care to learn more about Ellie's birthday present (a car), her friends, or any of her actual teenager-y duties. And these are all things that are important to Ellie, so of course they play a large role in the story. I'm not sure if I thought they weren't as well done or as well developed, I just know they sort of gray-ed out in my memory, especially when compared to how truly intriguing the Reapers and Will were. I know Bastian was supposed to be the villain of the story, but I just wanted to learn more about him than anything. The person I truly hated was Ellie's father. I hope we learn he's actually a demon or something in the future books. I really want him to have a reason to be such a complete jerk.

Cover Lovin': I really like this cover. I think it fits the story perfectly, and I was pleased to see the cover model actually resemble what I thought the heroine would look like. And it's great to get a visual of the sword she uses.

Recommendation: Good for teens and adults alike. There is light romance in this book, so probably geared towards those that would enjoy it, but as I said, it is LIGHT... parents need not fear - they do nothing more than kiss. Darn (in my opinion).

Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE (4/5). I did enjoy this book. It's a quick read, and I didn't want to put it down for long. I loved the relationship between Ellie and Will, and that sense of them knowing each other, but it still being so new and different.

Book two in the Angelfire series, "Wings of the Wicked" will be released this month, January 31st, 2012! Have you read "Angelfire" and/or are looking forward to "Wings of the Wicked"? Share your thoughts in the comments! Want to pick up a copy! Click the titles above to go to Amazon.com! Click HERE for the author's website.

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

Where I pick my best/favorite books of 2011!!

Hello all! I've been wanting to do this for a few years, so darnit, I'm doing it this year! I'm going to list my top books of this year.. in no particular order. I'll also link to my review on here or on Romance Reviews Today when applicable!

1. "Howl's Moving Castle" by Diana Wynne Jones. LOVED this one. I'm so mad I never thought to pick this one up before this year! Reviewed on my blog, check that out HERE.

2. "The Guardian" by Sherrilyn Kenyon. More than a few of Kenyon's recent Dark-Hunter novels were a little, shall we say.. formulaic. But "The Guardian" blew me away! I absolutely loved it, and it's now my second favorite Dark-Hunter novel! Reviewed on Romance Reviews Today, go HERE for that review!

3. "A Courtesan's Guide to Getting Your Man" by Celeste Bradley and Susan Donovan. One of those books where I very nearly cried at the end.. because I was just so darned happy! Reviewed on my blog, check it out HERE.

4. "Beg for Mercy" by Jami Alden. I was practically shaking the entire time I read this. I'm not usually one for suspense, but this book was FANTASTIC! Reviewed for Romance Reviews Today, but the review hasn't been archived on the new server yet, alas.

5. "The Restorer" by Amanda Stevens. This one was so good, I picked it as my next book club choice for the Positively Paranormal Book Club at my library. I can't wait to hear what our patrons think about it! And darn, this is another one that hasn't been archived. Hopefully soon!

6. "Credo's Hope" by Alison Holt. I'll admit it, I wasn't sure about this book when I agreed to review it. But the author really blew me away. I was lucky to review the sequel to this, "Credo's Legacy," as well, and it was just as good.. but since "Credo's Hope" was the first one, I chose that one to be on the list. Excited for the third in the series, which I hope will release soon! Reviewed on my blog, see my review HERE!

Well, those are my choices for the top books I've read this year. There were tons on my original list.. but I wanted to limit it to 6 or 7. And don't you dare ask me to pick an absolute favorite out of those, I could never! Ha.

So you've heard my choices, what are yours? Comment below with your list, or a link to your list!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

REVIEW: "The House of Many Ways" by Diana Wynne Jones

Why this book?: I read book one in this series, "Howl's Moving Castle" and just HAD to get more of Howl and Sophie.

Type: Young Adult, Fantasy, Magic, Witches/Wizards, Series, Demons

About the book: When Charmain Baker agreed to look after her great-uncle's house, she thought she was getting blissful, parent-free time to read. She didn't realize that the house bent space and time, and she did not expect to become responsible for an extremely magical stray dog and a muddled young apprentice wizard. Now, somehow, she's been targeted by a terrifying creature called a lubbock, too, and become central to the king's urgent search for the fabled Elfgift that will save the country. The king is so desperate to find the Elfgift, he's called in an intimidating sorceress named Sophie to help. And where Sophie is, the great Wizard Howl and fire demon Calcifer won't be far behind. How did respectable Charmain end up in such a mess, and how will she get herself out of it?
Review: Immediately after finishing "Howl's Moving Castle" I looked to see if there were sequels. I *needed* sequels. Lucky for me, there were two! One is still on my To Be Read list, and "The House of Many Ways" was checked in at work, and waiting for me.. so it got to go first.

I will say I didn't like this as much as the first book. I loved "Howl's Moving Castle" so much.. but I still really enjoyed this book - mostly Waif (the dog).. as well as Howl and Sophie's role in the story. Charmain was a tough character to like, at least for me. I felt some relation to her, since we are both clearly obsessed with books, but her Attitude (with a capital A) is tough to get past.

Howl shows up in this novel as Twinkle, a 7-or-so year old boy. Howl's reasoning is that he wants to investigate and go unnoticed... as well as to relive his childhood. His lisp is just one small part of the overall hilarity, and I certainly don't envy Sophie having to take care of him. I know Charmain was the main character... but I loved the side characters way more, and therefore paid more attention to them than the main character.

The mystery and adventure in this novel is well done, though it seems a lot happens in the end, all at once, while there is plenty of time in the middle where little happens. Pacing could have been better, but this book was still excellent and entertaining, just not as much as its predecessor. So if you want an excellent book, read "Howl's Moving Castle".. and read this one if you need more magic and Howl.

Cover Lovin': Works well with the story. Definitely a good cover choice for this book.

Recommendation: For young adults and adults alike that enjoy a really good fantasy story. Something to suggest to younger teens. Definitely recommended to read book one, "Howl's Moving Castle," first!

Final Rating:  FOUR out of FIVE (4/5). Good, definitely not as good as the first, but it was still an engaging read.

Have you read "The House of Many Ways" by Diana Wynne Jones? Share your thoughts in the comments! Want a copy? Get it from Amazon.com!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

REVIEW: "Howl's Moving Castle" by Diana Wynne Jones

Why this book?: I was reading an article and this was mentioned as one of their favorite books of all time. I wanted to know why.

Type: Young Adult, Fantasy, Magic, Witches, and Wizards, oh my!, Demons

About the book: Sophie has the great misfortune of being the eldest of three daughters, destined to fail miserably should she ever leave home to seek her fate. But when she unwittingly attracts the ire of the Witch of the Waste, Sophie finds herself under a horrid spell that transforms her into an old lady. Her only chance at breaking it lies in the ever-moving castle in the hills: the Wizard Howl's castle. To untangle the enchantment, Sophie must handle the heartless Howl, strike a bargain with a fire demon, and meet the Witch of the Waste head-on. Along the way, she discovers that there's far more to Howl—and herself—than first meets the eye.

Review: After reading this... I can definitely see why this book would be listed as one of someone's all-time favorites. It really was an excellent story, I have no clue why it took me this long to pick this book up and read it. But "Howl's Moving Castle" came at a great time for me. I was reading the emotional roller coaster known as "The Hunger Games" yet again, this time for a book club at work, and I needed something fantastical, something lighter, like this. There is great adventure to be had in this book, and it was just what I, and maybe even you!, needed.

Sophie is fascinating. She's sure she won't get a happy ending because she's the oldest daughter, and in fairy tales, the oldest never gets a Happily Ever After. So when the Witch turns her into an old woman, she decides to screw the stories and head out for adventure. Well, that, and she's hoping the crazy, mad, possibly evil wizard in the moving castle will be able to change her back.

The moving castle was one of my favorite parts. I love the idea that one door could open to so many different places. In my copy of the book, there was an interview with the author, and she mentioned her idea behind this door. She said just because the door to your bedroom has always opened into your bedroom before, doesn't mean you can't suddenly open it, and be facing something entirely different. She even mentioned leaving most of the doors in her home slightly ajar so the room doesn't disappear on her.

The characters were truly charming, even the grumpy ones. Michael, Howl's apprentice, was adorable.. and really felt his age - even the way he dutifully cared for Howl and Calcifer. And oh, Calcifer. Despite the fact that he was a demon and played up his grumpiness, you could tell he truly cared for Sophie.. and indeed everyone else as well. He was one of my chief comic amusements in this story.. well, him and Howl. There aren't enough words to properly describe Howl. Fantasy novels have certain conventions - an old wizard, wise beyond his years, bearded and fierce, yet gentle and kindly when they need to be. And then Howl comes along... he's young, vain, a coward.. at least 2 plus hours of his day are spent in the bathroom making himself look handsome. Despite Howl's many, many faults, his sense of humor and slitheriness (Sophie's word) is classic, and even lovable.

The anime movie based on this novel won several awards, and I'm eager to see how the two compare. Usually I try not to watch a movie too soon after I've read a book, because I will automatically dislike the movie.. so I'm trying to hold off as long as possible. But my love for this story is so great, I'm not sure I can hold it off much longer!

Cover Lovin': I loved it! There are several different covers for this book.. the original, later reprints, and even movie tie-in covers, and every one that I've seen looks wonderful.

Recommendation: For readers young and old, this is a fantasy tale that quickly moved to the top of my all time favorites list, and I'm sure it will for you as well!

 Final Rating: FIVE out of FIVE (5/5)! I loved it, I practically inhaled it, reading it all in one sitting.. it was wonderful. Great story, great characters... and hopefully great movie, I'll see soon enough!

Have you read "Howl's Moving Castle"? Share your thoughts in the comments! Want to purchase a copy of your own? Get it from Amazon.com!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

REVIEW: "A Courtesan's Guide to Getting Your Man" by Celeste Bradley and Susan Donovan

Why this book?: I heard some rave reviews, and wanted to see what all the commotion was about!

Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Type: Romance (Contemporary and Historical), Steamy (not for readers under 18 years old).

About the book: Regency London’s most celebrated courtesan, The Blackbird, was a woman before her time—uninhibited, financially independent, and free to live by her own rules. Schooled in the sensual arts by the one man she loved the most, she recorded every wicked detail in her diaries…

When Boston museum curator Piper Chase-Pierpont unearths The Blackbird’s steamy memoirs, she’s aroused and challenged by what she finds. Could the courtesan’s diaries  be used as a modern girl’s guide to finding love and empowerment? One curious curator—and one very lucky man—are about to find out…

Review: This is an example of a well done story featuring characters in booth the past and the present. Other books have attempted it, but this is the best one I've seen/read so far.

"A Courtesan's Guide to Getting Your Man" has a cast of truly excellent characters. I actually love all of the main characters. I was originally worried I wouldn't connect with everyone, afraid the characters in one time period would outshine the others and I would be bored with half the story, but there was an amazing balance. And all the main characters were appropriately fleshed out - which is a truly great thing to see. Some novels with more than one or two main characters seem to be lacking in the character development/realness.

It's not often I want to cry at the end of a book (especially when the book has a happy ending!) but I wanted to for this one! This is one of those books I want to immediate thrust into other people's hands and make them read it. In fact, I did. I gave this book to my mother to read, with the caveat that we not discuss the steamy scenes.. well, other than saying they were quite dishy.

And speaking of steamy scenes, this book is choc full of them! I didn't feel that the scenes were over the top, after all.. she's going through training to be a Courtesan. This was not smut for smut's sake, it was erotic, beautiful, and enough to make me want to fan myself. That said, if sex scenes aren't your thing, this book may not be for you. If you don't mind scenes that will fog up your mirror, go get your copy ASAP!

Cover Lovin': Not the best cover in the world, but it does alright, I'd say.

Recommendation: Excellent novel, for fans of both (or either) Contemporary and Historical Romance. Due to some of the more graphic love scenes, not suggested for readers under 18.

Final Rating: FIVE out of FIVE (5/5). This is one of those books I immediately started passing out to people, telling them they just HAD to read it because it was something I wanted to discuss. Excellent!

Have you read "A Courtesan's Guide to Getting Your Man?" by Celeste Bradley and Susan Donovan? If so, share your thoughts in the comments! If not, CLICK HERE to get your copy from Amazon.com today!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

I'm back, baby!

Hello all!

I know it's been ages, but I finally feel ready to return. I had surgery in the beginning of November.. and there was a lot of prep involved beforehand.. and I'm still not fully recovered from it. BUT.. I have decided I will make my official triumphant return today, a MONDAY of all days. If I wanted it to be a truly happy return to reviewing.. I should have done it on a Friday, when everyone is celebrating the weekend, right? Pft.

I have really missed blogging, as well as reading everyone else's blog. I had these grand plans for when I was off work after my surgery.. I figured since I was off, I would have tons of time to read and relax, catch up on my favorite blogs, etc. Well, clearly I have never had major surgery before - I was tired all the time! Even sitting up and concentrating long enough to read a chapter was killer. So instead, I napped a lot. Finally I'm to the point where reading isn't such a difficult task, and I'm  so excited!

I probably won't be back to my old speed for some time, alas, but I will do the best I can, and maybe add in some filler posts and things go along. I have a review coming up tomorrow, so be on the lookout for that.

Again, I've missed everyone and I'm so glad to be back!
Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~