Book Review: Swept Up by the Sea by Tracy & Laura Hickman

Publication: Shadow Mountain/ July 2, 2013
Length: 320 pages/924 KB
****--4 Stars

Book Description off of Amazon: Determined to seek his fortune, Percival Taylor leaves behind his sleepy hometown and sets out to become a legendary pirate—only no one at the roguish seaport of Blackshore will allow him any- where near a ship! Percival must find other means to win the heart of the beautiful Tuppence Magrathia-Paddock, who has mistaken him for a pirate rogue out of one of her romantic tales. She is entirely willing to swoon into his arms if he can prove his buccaneer soul—and she is willing to arrange her own kidnapping to prove it. Percival eventually finds himself captain of a broken-down ship, complete with a crew of pirates who make their living selling fake treasure maps, a jilted fiancee, a reclusive Master Shipwright, and an old professor with a secret that could kill them all. It’s Pirates of Penzance meets Princess Bride as this motley group of characters sets sail for treasure and romance. 

My Review: I was expecting something a little more serious and was pleasantly surprised at how funny this story was! The humor was subtle in places and the overall tone was pure fun.

Percival Taylor is told he's a dead pirate's long-lost son and must go on an adventure. He sees the beautiful Tuppance, the governor's daughter, and decides to make her part of his fate, even though he's expected to marry a local girl. Vestia, the local girl, is sent by her mother to try to win him back, with the help of the Dragon's Bard. Total chaos, adventure, romance, unique and eccentric characters explode to life in the course of this adventure.

I loved how each new character was introduced. It was done in a way that gave a little background, yet tied things together. I loved how the fantasy parts of the story were not over the top, but blended into something that could be construed as real life. Why shouldn't I see a naiad the next time I'm at the beach?

It's hard to pick a favorite--I think my two favorite parts were the hidden treasure and the kidnapping. Both had me laughing.

For a light-hearted, delightful adventure with all the fixings--pirates, comedy, fantasy creatures, adventure, and romance, be sure to check this one out!

**I received this from NetGalley for review and this in no way influenced my review.**

To pre-order this book from Amazon, click  here.

Book Review: Deadly Undertakings by Gregg Luke

****--4 Stars
288 pages
Publication Date: August 2012

From Amazon: Being an assistant to the state medical examiner in Salt Lake City might sound like a dead-end job, but Rebekah Smith loves the mystery and challenge of determining the cause of death in the bodies delivered to their morgue. Tutored by her friend and boss, Dr. Sandeep Mahesh, she gains understanding not only for her job but also for how to mask her own troubled past. While analyzing the corpse of a one-hundred-year-old woman, Rebekah discovers some disturbing elements: not only was the deceased woman a healthy centenarian, but she was also embalmed before anyone discovered she’d passed away. When two identical cases surface, Rebekah enlists the help of her boyfriend, special investigations officer Josh Logan. Together they uncover shocking truths about the bizarre deaths, which eventually lead them to a nightmarish revelation they weren’t prepared for. Yet unknowingly, the more they reveal, the closer they come to being the killer’s next guinea pigs.

My Review:  I love a good mystery/suspense story and this one was great!! It was so creepy, but not over the top. I thought things flowed well and tied together. The reasoning behind the whole storyline was very fascinating and...twisted...but it worked very well.

Rebekah is so independent and strong and I kept thinking that I'm glad there are people out there who don't mind doing autopsies because I sure couldn't stomach it!! She seemed to me to be the type of woman who doesn't really need a man in her life, yet when it really came down to it, she did. I don't think she realized the full extent of her feelings until she was put in a life or death situation. One little pet peeve about her: she was constantly calling her boyfriend, Josh, "Clouseau" (like the detective from the Pink Panther), but he didn't like it. He would tell her he didn't like it, yet she still did it anyway. She often treated him like he was kind of stupid.

Josh, the detective boyfriend, was great, yet sometimes rushed into things without thinking it through first. He was also quite reserved in his feelings, which in understandable, since his first wife died while they were still newlyweds. Everyone kept wondering what he was waiting for, even he thought that, yet he held back. But he was great towards the end!!

The villain was perfectly creepy and insane!!

I think this is Gregg Luke's best novel to date!!

Content: some violence, but nothing graphic.

Click here to buy.

Book Review: Untethered by Marcia Lynn McClure

*****--5 Stars.
Amazon Blurb: A man tethered by pain and guilt borne of past tragedy, A young woman with the soul of a guardian angel, And an unspeakable evil about to be unleashed. As Cricket lay in the soft comfort of her bed, continuing to let her mind nest on thoughts of how truly wonderfully attractive Texas Ranger Thibodaux was, she giggled, thinking that looking at him was more refreshing than swimming naked on a summer Sunday afternoon. He was a tall drink of water—far taller than most of the other men in town—and his shoulders were as broad as the state of Texas itself. Sky-blue eyes, bronze skin, square jaw, and dark hair—and that smile! In truth, Cricket had only seen Heathro Thibodaux smile three or four times, but each incidence was something she’d never forget. His smile was bright and white, and the gold tooth he owned on the upper-right incisor of his smile only embellished the richness of it. That one tooth. Cricket’s smile faded as she thought of it. Oh, no doubt the flash only added to the splendor of his smile. Yet it also served as a reminder to anyone who had ever read or heard of what had happened in Texas one year before. No doubt it was a powerful remembrance to Heathro Thibodaux himself—a visual indication of true barbarity, pain, and loss. In that moment, Cricket wondered—when Heathro looked in the mirror each morning and saw that tooth, did he think of eight dead girls buried in the bottom of a bleak and barren canyon? Did he think of the eight dead girls that he, for no fault of his own, had been unable to save?

My Review: Magnolia (aka Cricket) is always jumping in bare feet first into mischief. She and her three good friends are the secret do-gooders--always on the lookout for someone who needs a little extra something special, but in their innocence, they don't always keep an eye out for trouble. Heathro (Heath) is a Texas Ranger who just endure a tragedy. He is such a hero though! When Cricket and a few other girls are kidnapped for ill intent, Heath is on the move, trying to rescue them before something bad can happen. I love how spunky and innocent Cricket is. She's such a good friend and a natural-born leader. Heath seems to battle within himself to allow himself happiness, but he's a great hero and asset to the community. I loved the corn scene. :) A totally fun Western romance that I already can't wait to read again!!

Marcia's book are all about the kissing. They don't go beyond that and they are so sweet.

 If you want to download this book, click here.

Author Interview and Giveaway!!! The Trouble with Toads by DanyelleLeafty

  Author Danyelle Leafty Danyelle Leafty writes upper MG and YA fantasy, and is the author of THE FAIRY GODMOTHER DILEMMA series. Danyelle has always loved fairy tales, and prefers stories where someone gets eaten, or at the very least, transmogrified. Much of her inspiration has come from fairy tales, because as G.K. Chesterton so aptly states, "Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten." In her spare time, she collects dragons, talking frogs, and fairy godmothers. She also collects books, and one day hopes to make a house out of them. She enjoys learning languages, fiddling with her harp, and perfecting the fine art of mothering. (It's a lot like trying to herd chickens during a lightning storm while a goat stampede is going on.) One of her heroes is Albert Einstein, particularly for the following quote: "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The most important thing is not to stop questioning."

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Blog

INTERVIEW:
 

What is your favorite fairy tale?

My favorite fairy tale is East O' the Sun, West O' the Moon. There's something about the winds and the troll princess that have always intrigued me.

Which fairy tale character is your favorite?

I'd have to say the winds. I love that their personality matches their temperament.

Are any of your characters patterned after people you know?

Bits and pieces here and there, but I've never taken a whole person and turned them into a character. My characters usually come to me fully formed, so trying to mold them into anything else would bring the story to a screeching halt. (My characters have been known to go on strike if I misunderstand their intentions or personalities. >.<)

Do any of your characters share qualities, character traits, or anything else with you?

Again, I think maybe in bits and pieces. Every story I write is woven through with thread of me--my personality, dreams, hopes, quirks, etc. But every story calls for a different angle, and while the seeds for the characters may have begun with me, they quickly take root in their own gardens, if that makes sense.

Do you ever write more than one book at a time? If so, how do you keep everything straight?

Story ideas and random characters are constantly tugging at me and tackling me in the dark corners of my mind. I usually jot down notes in my Master Story List to make sure I don't lose anything Then I sit down and write the story that's the loudest. Sometimes I do end up writing more than one story at a time--I'm usually juggling a couple in various stages. But each story has its own unique voice that it's easy to keep that straight. What's harder is keeping the details for that particular world in order.

What books or authors are your favorites?

I love anything by Patricia McKillip (especially Riddle-Master), Diana Wynne Jones (pretty much everything, but especially Howl's Moving Castle), Patricia C. Wrede (her Enchanted Forest Chronicles and Sorcery and Cecelia), Vivian Vande Velde (A Well-Timed Enchantment and Three Good Deeds), Sherwood Smith (Crown Duel), JRR Tolkien, William Joyce's Guardians of Childhood, and Patrice Kindl's Goose Chase.

What is your favorite snack?

Food allergies and sensitivities make eating not so fun, so I'd have to go with a really good book. (Yes, I have been known to choose books over food many times. :p)

If you could be any character in any book, who would you be and why?

I'd probably be Raederle in Riddle-Master by Patricia McKillip. Her world is lush and beautiful, though dangerous. She isn't a typical fairy tale princess that waits for the prince to come and rescue her. Instead, she brushes up on her pig curses and goes after the prince in order to help him save the world. She also learns to embrace the parts of her heritage that she's afraid of. Plus, she's not afraid to bargain with the dead!

If your book had a soundtrack, what songs would be on the playlist?

With Bettony being the main character, it would probably be an opera of sorts. :p

I'm not sure if a type of music like this exists, but it would be something between a sprightly celtic jig and a haunting Romanian lullaby. 

How do you celebrate good reviews on your books? How do you react to bad ones?

I don't. :) Every book I release is the very best story I could make it at the time. I'm hoping to improve with each one, but I've made it a general rule *not* to read my reviews. In my opinion, the reviews are there to help readers decide whether or not to take a chance on a book. (At least that's how I use them if I'm looking for a good book, but am on the fence.) I try to respect that space. :) Each story represents a specific time and place in my writerly development, and there really isn't anything I'd go back and change about any of them. I know the stories I have to tell won't appeal to everyone, and I'm good with that. What I'm working toward is making it easier for people who will enjoy my books to find them. :)

~Collector of dragons, talking frogs, and fairy godmothers~

danyelleleafty.com

mglitchat.blogspot.com

myth-takes.blogspot.com

Here is an excerpt: 

Her grandmother shrugged, the lines of sympathy gone from her face. She picked up the first bottle and added a pinch of the dust to the bowl. “Suit yourself, missy. But remember that is a choice you made for yourself this very day. I’ll not countenance you running back to me with complaints. You want beauty, and you shall have it—and all that comes with it. Are we clear?”

Fear and wonder and enchantment had stolen her voice away, so Bettony nodded. Anticipation rumbled in her center, a bright flame that made her feel heavy and light all at the same time.

“And if this spell gets you into mischief, you can’t come running to me to fix it. You make the mess, you clean up after yourself. Are we clear?” Her grandmother pulled out the lead stopper on the second bottle. Her hand quivered with age, but she was very careful only to allow a single drop to gloop down into the bowl.

Bettony nodded again, almost giddy. Magic wasn’t going to cause her problems. It was going to solve them. Once she was beautiful, she’d be able to do whatever she wanted.

Her grandmother hesitated before she picked up the final bottle. “No refunds, exchanges, or regrets. What magic does is done. Do you understand?”

Bettony gave a decisive nod. Of course she understood. She wasn’t a child.

Her grandmother snorted as though she’d heard Bettony’s thought. “I don’t think you do, but that’s good enough for the binding. You don’t have to actually understand, you just have to believe you do. Now, add that frog of yours, and we’re nearly finished.”

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The Trouble with Toads Once upon a time a young girl wanted revenge. But first, she wanted to be beautiful. Twelve-year-old Bettony has read enough stories that begin with ‘Once upon a time’ to know what happens to the ugly stepsisters at the end, and she’s determined to escape that fate by any means necessary—even by magic. Unfortunately, when it comes to magic, there is no place for regret, refunds, or exchanges. Even if you accidentally turn your older sister into a toad. If Bettony wants her Happily Ever After to end well, she’s going to have to find a way to turn her sister back into a person before their mother finds out she’s been dabbling with magic and grounds her for life. Tracking down the family magic turns out to be surprisingly easy. Now, if only it came with directions . . . THE TROUBLE WITH TOADS (45,000 words) is the first book in a new upper MG series The Secret Stepsister Society. The second book will be released Summer 2013. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Amazon

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 6/28/13

a Rafflecopter giveaway Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Prize value $25 US.  

FREE ebook!!! Untethered by Marcia Lynn McClure

FREE on Amazon today!! I really enjoyed this western clean romance by the "Queen of Kissing" author, Marcia Lynn McClure. Get it before the price goes up!!

Book Review: A Change of Fortune (Ladies of Distinction Book #1) by Jen Turano

****--4 Stars.
Publication Date: November 1, 2012
Length: 320 pages
 Amazon Blurb: Rollicking Debut from an Exciting New Author Lady Eliza Sumner is on a mission. Her fortune was the last thing she had left after losing her father, her fiance, and her faith. Now, masquerading as Miss Eliza Sumner governess-at-large, she's determined to find the man who ran off with her fortune, reclaim the money, and head straight back to London. Mr. Hamilton Beckett, much to his chagrin, is the catch of the season, and all the eyes of New York society--all the female ones, at least--are on him. He has no plans to marry again, especially since his hands are full keeping his business afloat while raising his two children alone. Eliza's hapless attempts to regain her fortune unexpectedly put her right in Hamilton's path. The discovery of a common nemesis causes them to join forces and, before she knows it, Eliza has a whole retinue of people helping her. Eliza's determination not to trust anyone weakens when everyone's antics and bumbling efforts to assist her make her wonder if there might be more important things than her fortune and independence. When all of Hamilton's and Eliza's best-laid plans fall by the wayside, it will take a riot of complications for them to realize that God just might have had a better plan in mind all along.

My Review: What a witty story!! I liked how the characters found themselves in the craziest scrapes that kept me laughing.

Eliza is new to New York, as a governess. She is really a lady of society from England, but is searching for the couple who stole her fortune, therefore, she is in disguise as the governess. Two brothers get mixed up in the mess and it's a recipe for even more mixups and confusion.

I thought Eliza was quite brave to be traipsing all over a strange country in order to complete her mission. I like the easy relationship the two brothers share both with one another, and with the women. Hamilton's kids were great too--Biting Ben and Precocious Piper.

There were some mild Christian themes, but it never came off across as too preachy, in my opinion.

Content: clean.

To buy this book, click here.

Book Review: A Secret Fire by Deborah McBride Hathaway

****--4 Stars
Publication Date: May 2, 2012

Amazon Description: Emma Marchant leads an uneventful life, but when cowboy Thatcher Deakon walks into the Marchant Inn that she runs with her family, she fears she may never be the same. Can Emma gain confidence in herself and realize that she has the right to be in love? Only Thatcher can help her overcome her insecurities, but he has his own fears to surmount. This heartwarming, clean romance novel reveals that when the love between two people is real, it can exceed all obstacles.

Excerpt:

The door to the Marchant Inn swung open behind them, causing the bell to ring above it, and Emma turned around to welcome their unexpected guest. A broad-shouldered figure appeared in the doorway and stole her attention entirely. His spurs clanged against the wooden floor as he walked into the room, and Emma couldn’t help but notice his long, thick legs matching his barreled chest. The thin white shirt he wore clung to his biceps that bulged with each movement he made, and his shoulders stretched the fabric to what looked like ripping point.

The handsome man’s deep brown eyes met with Emma’s light blue as she looked back at him, her heart flipping. The solid square jaw that framed his face was shadowed with scruff, having no doubt grown during one afternoon, and his mouth, though not in as friendly a grin as the first man’s, was turned up in a slight smile.

Never had she seen a man more attractive.

 

My Review: It's been awhile since I've read a kindle book that I absolutely love!! I thought the dialogue was very real and flowed well; the interactions between characters was realistic as well. I felt like I could see inside the characters and understand them and what made them tick, yet I got a great story in the process.

I don't believe we're given a time period, but I believe it's probably 1800s western (telegraphs, horses, words used, etc). Emma's parents have passed away and she is living with her best friend and sister-in-law, Eliza, and her brother, Seth. They run an inn in town and when two handsome cowboy brothers show up looking for a room, Emma is thrown into a world of confusion and love.

Emma and Thatcher both have insecurities that threaten their relationship. It was nice to see even a manly man feel those kinds of feelings, instead of being all tough and almost feelingless. Emma had a lot going for her, yet she refused to see and believe that someone like Thatcher could possibly be interested in her. Sometimes those types of heroines are annoying, but Emma wasn't.

I loved it from beginning to end and look forward to more of this author's works.

Content: clean. This book is a great deal right now on Amazon--$2.99!! To buy, click here.