Bookworms News / The Very Inspiring Blogger Award

BOOKS READ

Firefight by Brandon Sanderson

Of Blood and Sorrow by Christine Rains

BOOK REVIEWS

Firefight by Brandon Sanderson

Everything David thought he knew about Epics is not even the half of it in Brandon Sanderson's Firefight. David is a strong, intelligent, and sometimes rash character. He has a tendency to get into trouble and find a way out. I love how he thinks for himself and doesn't go along with the Reckoners' plans. The book is fast paced. I didn't want to put it down and had to find out what would happen next. The revelations about Epics sometimes made me gasp, and I'm looking forward to learning more about the world David lives in. Firefight by Brandon Sanders is an epic sequel to Steelheart. Can 2016 hurry up already so I can read Calamity (book three)?

Of Blood and Sorrow by Christine Rains

Letting a vampire loose on the city may be one of the best and worst things demon Erin Driscol has done in Christine Rains' Of Blood and Sorrow. One of the things I love the most about this book is Erin, a Phage demon. Her insecurities make her relatable, and her growth throughout the story made me root for her. Quite the handsome hero, Nicolas is quite a match for Erin. He breaks the vampire mold. The Putzkammers are the family anyone would be lucky to have, and I loved the mysterious of the characters Abdiel and the Lady. The story is fast paced, action packed, and quite emotional. Erin could've supped on my own sorrow over some things that happened in the story. Rains makes vampires and demons feel new again. I enjoyed delving into the world she created again and again. If you're looking for something unique amongst vampires and demons, then look no further and read Of Blood and Sorrow by Christine Rains.

COVER REVEAL

A monster hunts us. After hibernating for a decade, it’s ravenous. We long to stop this nightmare, but the end of the road is far. There is no waking up once a legend sets its sights on you.

Disappearances every ten or so years make little impact on the small town of New Haven, Virginia. Hikers get lost. Hunters lose the trail. Even when a body is discovered, the inhabitants’ memories last about as long as the newspaper articles.

No one connects the cases. No one notices the disappearances go back beyond Civil War times. No one believes a legendary monster roams the forests in Southwestern Virginia.

I don’t either until the truck breaks down on an old mountain trail. Cell phones won’t work in this neck of the woods. It’s amazing how much a person can see by starlight alone. So what if we can’t feel our fingers or toes as we hike toward the main road. How many more miles left to go?

Crrraaack!

Hear that noise?

Amygdala Design created this pre-designed cover that I thought was perfect for Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection. I'm looking forward to seeing the print version too as soon as I have that information available to give to Ida.

A legend awakens...

April 2015

Paranormal Horror/Thriller

Add on Goodreads.

BOOKS RELEASED IN FEBRUARY

Polar Day by Julie Flanders

Don’t Forget to Breathe by Cathrina Constantine

Defying Reason by Elizabeth Seckman

Saltwater Cowboys by Dayle Furlong

The Wonders by Paddy O’Reilly

The Death of the Detective by Mark Smith

Blanche Among the Talented Tenth by Barbara Neely

Heart Collector by Jacques Vandroux

Everything Burns by Vincent Zandri

Finding Sheba by H.B. Moore

Almost Dead by T.R. Ragan

Follow the Leader by Mel Sherratt

The Venus Trap by Louise Voss

Shady Cross by James Hankins

Monday’s Lie by Jamie Mason

The Glittering World by Robert Levy

Tiva Boon: Heir of Abennelp by Jenn Nixon

Wide-Open World by John Marshall

It's What I Do by Lynsey Addario
The Great Time Lock Disaster by C. Lee McKenzie
Mark of the Thief by Jennifer Nielsen
The Return by Jennifer L. Armentrout

By the way, this is my 1000 post!

Tyrean Martinson awarded me with the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. I consider her a dear writer/blogger friend. She always has a way of making me feel special. She's the author of the Champion Trilogy, which you should check out if you haven't already.

The rules for accepting this award are as follows:

1. Thank the person who nominated you and link to their blog.
2. Display the award logo.
3. Nominate at least 15 other blogs (more or less) and provide a link where they may be found.
4. Then, go to their blogs, leave a comment to let them know they have been nominated, and where to find the information they need to accept (rules).
5. Mention three things that inspired you the most during the past few weeks.

Three things that have inspired me recently:
1. The new cover art for the second edition of Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection. A lot of people may say you should leave a published book alone, but I'm so pleased that I am doing another content edit and such and republishing it with a new title and new cover. I feel like I'm finally doing this collection the justice it deserved, and the cover art inspires me to keep working.

2. This being my 1000th post. When I started blogging in May 2009, I never really thought I would reach ten posts, much less than one thousand.

3. I know it's probably cheesy, but all of you inspire me. Your posts, your comments, your encouragement throughout the years. If I hadn't met so many great friends through the blogging and writing communities, then I doubt I would still be here. My blog is my one comfortable spot on the web, and that's because of you.

As for nominations, I really, really hate to nominate people. I don't want anyone to feel left out. It's like having to choose between chocolate chip cookies, cheesecake, and donuts. Don't make me choose. If you want the award, consider yourself nominated.

Bookworm News: February / Writing Update: March Goals

 

*By the way, I've decided to take Books Read, Book Reviews, and Cover Reveals finished after last Bookworm News to this Bookworm News. However, Book Releases will be ones for the month.*

BOOKS READ

Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

Pan's Conquest by Aubrie Dionne

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Model Position by Kitsy Clare

Beyond Belief by Helen Smith

Love on Loch Ness by Aubrie Dionne

BOOK REVIEWS

Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

 

From out of the mists, a young woman has the power to control metal in Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn: The Final Empire. Sanderson is the King of World Building. His worlds are lush and complex, particularly the magic within his worlds. As a reader, I believed Allomancy could work. The characters are well-written. Kelsier often made me laugh, particularly with his fashionable tardiness (I can relate!). Vin pulled on my heartstrings. The main crew and Sazed were amazing, and the Lord Ruler and Inquisitors are fearsome foes. And Elend was adorable (I love a man who reads!). Sanderson laid out the twists and turns within the novel well, and I can't wait to dive into book two. For a brilliant example of high/epic fantasy, I highly recommend Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson.

Pan's Conquest by Aubrie Dionne

 

Pan has met his match in Syrinx, the Goddess of Chastity, in Aubrie Dionne's Pan's Conquest. Syrinx a.k.a. Sylvia Rain holds onto her chastity like a security blanket, even though her river nymph's passion ignites when around Pan a.k.a Parker Thomas. I enjoyed the growth of her character and how she learned what truly defines her. Wild and handsome Pan/Parker is a worthy adversary and love interest toward Syrinx/Sylvia. His character's growth warmed my heart. Sylvia's friend Kaye is adorable and at times stole the show along with Rutherford, whom I loved. Dionne's lyrical style is beautiful to read. I smiled, laughed, and cried throughout the book and thoroughly enjoyed the Greek mythological flare to the storyline. For a sweet romance with a flash of danger and hotness look no further than Pan's Conquest by Aubrie Dionne.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

 

Karou's discovery of who she is will change everything in Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone. The exquisite setting of Prague intrigued my interest, and Taylor does a fantastic job with world building two worlds. I loved the mythology of the seraphim and chimaera. Taylor's poetic prose was a highlight of the story, and yet the prose often slowed the pace down to the trickle. Although strong characters, I felt distanced from Karou and Akiva. I wanted to like them as much as Zuzana, Kaz, Brimstone, Issa, and the other secondary characters, but I never quite did. Perhaps the third person point of view distanced me. I'm not quite sure. By the end of the novel, I felt like I had just grazed the surface of the main storyline. Although beautifully written with great world building, the plodding pace of Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor didn't quite capture my attention as much as I'd liked. I am on the fence on whether or not to continue to read this series.

Model Position by Kitsy Clare

In Kitsy Clare's Model Position, a little chaos can hit the right spot in Sienna's overly organized life. Sienna, a graduate art student, lives for order and art, but she's not afraid to get a little messy for the right guy. Erik, a mysterious model, works hard in the positions of his life. I loved Sienna and Erik smokin' chemistry and how there is more to both of them than meets the eye. The secondary characters come to life as much as Sienna and Erik do. Clare shows the glitz, glamour, and possible heartbreak of being an artist in New York City in this fast-paced novella. Model Position by Kitsy Clare pops like sunshine yellow and ignites like fiery red and is overall a colorful romantic read.

Beyond Belief by Helen Smith

 

The psychics say someone is going to drown, so it's up to Emily Castles to solve the case in Helen Smith's Beyond Belief. One of the best thing about this novel is the cast of characters. They are unique, a tad quirky, and fun to read about. Emily definitely captured my heart in her logical mannerisms. The mysterious yet lovely setting of Torquay, England enchanted me. The storyline hooked me with two questions: who would die and will someone prove to have psychic abilities. I love mystery stories with a bit of paranormal mixed in. The only things that made this a four-star instead of a five-star read for me were the blatant foreshadowing due to the book's omniscient point of view--I prefer a more limited view--and it took over half the book for someone to die--I like my murder mysteries to have the death closer to the first few chapters. Beyond those two personal qualms, I enjoyed Beyond Belief by Helen Smith and would read more Emily Castles Mysteries.

Love on Loch Ness by Aubrie Dionne

 

One way or another, Loch Ness is about to give up its secrets in Aubrie Dionne's Love on Loch Ness. The setting of Loch Ness and Scotland lends a mysterious atmosphere to this novel. As I reader, I could hear Nessie's call and feel the chill of the enigmatic lake. Flynn Maloney is swoon-worthy from his Scottish brogue to his childlike wonder and caring disposition. He definitely has his work cut out for him in order to win over Dr. Gail Phillips, a believer in all things logical and who has given up on silly dreams and romance. They appear opposite of each other, but I loved how there is more to each character as the story progresses. Dionne crafted a fast-paced, suspenseful, and romantic storyline that swept me to Scotland. I never wanted to leave. One of my favorite books by Aubrie Dionne, Love on Loch Ness inspires the dreamer in all of us.

Jaded by Kristy Feltenberger Gillespie

 

Jade must decide what is right in Kristy Feltenberger Gillespie's Jaded. The dystopian-like yet unique setting pulled me into the story. I wanted to know the secret behind the eye surgeries and the strange community. Jade is a strong character, and I love how she was torn between doing what was right and what her community expected of her. Her connection with Ty definitely gave the story some sweet romance. The mystery was well-laid out. Although it wasn’t a surprise what was going on, I still have questions about the world Jade lived in. Although I wasn't always 100% connected with the characters all the time, I must admit I was easily hooked on the story and what would happen next. By the end, I was left craving for book two. I recommend Jaded by Kristy Feltenberger Gillespie to people who are looking for a new take on a dystopian world.

Bloodlust by Nicole Zoltack

A barbarian princess and an orc prince must join forces to save their kingdoms in Nicole Zoltack's Bloodlust. Barbarians are strong, but barbarian princesses must be even stronger, and I love how Ivy uses her strength in more ways than just by the sword. Goliaths always seemed like ugly brutes, but Lukor shows they are more like us than we think. I loved how Zoltack takes an unlikely pairing and makes it work. The world-building transports the reader to a unique fantasy place with goliaths, trolls, elves, barbarians, and humans. They are different yet similar and all must find a way to survive within their realm. Fast-paced and action-packed, Bloodlust by Nicole Zoltack twists classic fantasy romance upon its head and creates a unique world and characters a reader can root for.

 

COVER REVEALS

"War has come to Demos City.

It’s up to Leon to fix ... what's most important to him."

Bullet, a Demos City Novel, by Jonathan Lister will be released on June 16, 2014 by J. Taylor Publishing.

"Home is worth the fight."

M. Pax's fifth book in the Backworlds' series comes out in March! What a truly epic cover!

In a world torn by prejudice and hatred, six races struggled for supremacy.

Nicole Zoltack's newest novel is out now! You can add it on Goodreads or purchase it on Amazon. 

BOOKS RELEASED

Beasts of Burdin by Alexander Nader

Shadowscale by Rachel Hartman

Love on Loch Ness by Aubrie Dionne

Elevated by Elana Johnson

Grandmaster by David Klass

Me Since You by Laura Wiess

Blood Crown by Ali Cross

 Graveyard of Memories by Barry Eisler

Spy For Hire by Dan Mayland

The Contractors by Harry Hunsicker
Pan's Conquest by Aubrie Dionne
Keeper by Susan Kaye Quinn
Dovetailed by RaShelle Workman
Marine for Hire by Tawna Fenske
Night and Day by Emi Gayle
Scintillate by Tracy Clark
Jaded by Kristy Feltenberger Gillespie
Bloodlust by Nicole Zoltack
Confessions of a Sex Fiend: A View to Ecstasy by Rayven Godchild

---

 

Happy Wednesday!

This month has been busy with final edits of Reborn. I only found a tiny bit of time to work on a couple chapters in Reforged as well as Remarked. I'm hoping to finish the map of the Kingdom of Amora and the outline for Redestined and Remarked by the end of this week.

Here are my March goals:

• Proofread Reborn. I'm going to do a backwards proofread (starting at the last page and reading through to the first page) for Reborn and then incorporate my proofreader's suggestions, so I can get ARCs out to reviewers by March 17. Then, I'll be formatting for print, so I can get the print proof to me by late March/early April.
• Continue working on Reforged. I hope to finish my rewrite/edit of the first sixteen chapters by the end of March. I'd like to have Reforged finished by the end of May, but we'll see, since Reborn and Remarked come first.
• Continue working on Remarked. At the first of February, I had an idea to write a novella for The Fate Challenges to bridge the gap from Reborn to Reforged. This novella is from Liam's point of view (instead of Yssa's like the three main books). If all goes well in writing it, I hope to publish it later this year or early next year. Remarked will be The Fate Challenges #1.5, and my goal is to finish the first draft around the end of April. It also has this awesome first line, but it's such a spoiler to the end of Reborn that I can't share it with anyone. *frowns*

And that's it. Of course, I might relax some too, since my birthday is in March (8th).

I also will be slow in responding back to comments until Monday, since I'm having some out-patient surgery today and won't be back at work with the good internet until then.

What are your goals for next month? Read any good books lately?

2014 Stats

7,216 Words Written

505 Pages Edited

*Stats taken from 1/1/14-2/25/14 

Bookworm News: February Edition

 

It's time for Bookworm News. Every month I'll be collecting information on cover reveals (not those already mentioned on the blog) and book releases as well as mentioning my own book reviews written on my Surrounded by Books Reviews' blog. Then, I'll report the news I've found on the fourth Monday of the month.

  

Books Read

Mad Max: Unintended Consequences by Betsy Ashton
The Renaissance of Hetty Locklear by M. Pax
Playing the Maestro by Aubrie Dionne

  

Reviews

Liberty by Annie Laurie Cechine - Five Bookworms

Blood on the Cards by David W. Huffstetler - Five Bookworms

1303 - The Dragonslayer by Christine Rains - Five Bookworms

Bolero by Joanie McDonell - Five Bookworms 

Cover Reveals

 

Isn't this an amazing cover? Tied by Laney McMann will come out September 9, 2013 from J. Taylor Publishing. Click here for more information.

I have the first book in the series on my Kindle. I need to move it up the TBR list. I love the simplicity of these covers.

 

Isn't this a starling beautiful cover! I already want to know more about this girl.

 

Archaeologist David Alexander investigates the cave where his father disappeared and hurtles into another world, one filled with magic and bizarre creatures. The mad ravings in his father's journals of icemen and dragons may not be fantasies after all. 

Convinced his father may still be alive, David begins a treacherous journey to find him and discover a way home. Along the way, he encounters a few unlikely friends. A Dreean warrior, a beautiful thief and a satyr join him as he searches. 

David's arrival into this new world sets off an explosive chain reaction of events. Faced with powerful adversaries and few clues, he may not get the chance to rescue his father before disaster strikes, condemning both of them to death. Or worse. 

Find Laura Eno on: Website - Blog 

It's such an awesome cover! I can't wait to read this book. 

New Releases

Liberty by Annie Laurie Cechine released on 2/1/2013

How to Publish and Promote Your Book Now! by L. Diane Wolfe released on 2/5/2013

House Rules by Chloe Neill released on 2/5/2013 

Champion in the Darkness by Tyrean Martinson released on 2/6/2013 

Polar Night by Julie Flanders released on 2/7/2013

Dark Sentinels Book Two: Torin by Dariel Raye released on 2/10/2013

Playing the Maestro by Aubrie Dionne released on 2/11/2013

The Gathering Dark by Christine Johnson released on 2/12/2013

The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead released on 2/12/2013 

1303 - The Dragonslayer by Christine Rains released on 2/13/2013 

Jump Boys: SOS by Alex Banks released on 2/13/2013