tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83414285749373812612024-03-13T10:04:16.423+00:00Mel's Random ReviewsCommuter = Reader of everything including Urban Fantasy, Science Fiction, Crime, Literature and anything else that takes my fancy!Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232105105688358961noreply@blogger.comBlogger1172125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341428574937381261.post-17660539650149076802013-10-20T18:46:00.001+01:002013-10-20T18:46:59.891+01:00On a break!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzJymboPyTxBtQiYcBt6etNZhqrBTS3q0wE6oObKANLpKZWTB99LsYzeGicI6qrKUljr6GvVx1fdM7cmuuxMMhY9ED7T5dKIqkc8IBffKNpVOjSK6UYGvQa05XM8Hvr7eGrGIhPIxzy8/s1600/post-it-note.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzJymboPyTxBtQiYcBt6etNZhqrBTS3q0wE6oObKANLpKZWTB99LsYzeGicI6qrKUljr6GvVx1fdM7cmuuxMMhY9ED7T5dKIqkc8IBffKNpVOjSK6UYGvQa05XM8Hvr7eGrGIhPIxzy8/s320/post-it-note.jpg" width="314" /></a></div>
<br />Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232105105688358961noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341428574937381261.post-47784310738511018772013-10-02T10:30:00.000+01:002013-10-02T10:30:00.877+01:00Charming (Pax Arcana #1) Review<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYp2uwuhjRPNQ6pbq12JqlgZkafC-IIZ_eBvs358RSUQnCR_gMW1cwbe2rE2-TmQ6nyHFNRlEqflkOZDGmMUlMY4yynJhcU2isBdyNYIDft4vNX_fosioKbb_tVhvbNMMdzwH55BYFV0/s1600/Charming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYp2uwuhjRPNQ6pbq12JqlgZkafC-IIZ_eBvs358RSUQnCR_gMW1cwbe2rE2-TmQ6nyHFNRlEqflkOZDGmMUlMY4yynJhcU2isBdyNYIDft4vNX_fosioKbb_tVhvbNMMdzwH55BYFV0/s320/Charming.jpg" width="212" /></a><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Charming (Pax Arcana #1)<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Elliott James</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Publisher: Orbit <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">E-Arc Courtesy of Netgalley & Orbit<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">John Charming isn't your average Prince... </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">He comes from a line of Charmings — an illustrious family of dragon slayers, witch-finders and killers dating back to before the fall of Rome. Trained by a modern day version of the Knights Templar, monster hunters who have updated their methods from chainmail and crossbows to kevlar and shotguns, he was one of the best. That is — until he became the abomination the Knights were sworn to hunt.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">That was a lifetime ago. Now, he tends bar under an assumed name in rural Virginia and leads a peaceful, quiet life. One that shouldn't change just because a vampire and a blonde walked into his bar... Right?</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
first in a new Urban Fantasy series is usually a delicate balancing act of
introducing new characters, world building especially how their world varies
from ours and plot and while the story might lack a little, the characters and
the world-building are great foundations for a series. It just feels like a
little bit more mixing is needed but for the first in a series, this is a good
effort and I will definitely be continuing with this series! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Charming</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> has some interesting characters with
a mix of powers and abilities although some characters are better developed
than others; I liked Sig and her Valkyrie powers – she doesn’t just fall for
John’s charms, but struggles with her current relationship and fitting John
into her group. In many other books Sig would have been the main character but
John Charming takes the lead. John has been on the run for a long time and has
a very mixed heritage which makes him unique. When he runs into Sig and starts
meeting the rest of her team, you really feel this is the first time he has
interacted with anyone on a more than superficial level for a long time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
world of magic and supernatural creatures is hidden from ours through old fae
magic called the Pax Arcana and there are plenty of asides that give you the
impression of a wider world still to be explored. So the weak link is really
the plot. The search for the new vampire who may pose a drastic threat to
humanity in the future is simply lacking any momentum. There is very little
time spent building the vampire as a credible threat now or any personality for
her which would add tension to the hunt. As such when the big finale arrived it
was underwhelming and lacked any emotional resonance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There
is potential for an intriguing world and an expanded universe with so many
possibilities so I will give the series a chance and see if the next book
allows all the elements to work together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Recommended
for fans of Benedict Jacka and MLN Hanover. 7 out of 10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232105105688358961noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341428574937381261.post-58788532942016798252013-09-22T07:30:00.000+01:002013-09-22T07:30:03.603+01:00My Book Haul / Showcase Sunday<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is <a href="http://www.booksbiscuitsandtea.co.uk/" style="color: #4c0077; text-decoration: initial;">Books, Biscuits and Tea's Showcase Sunday</a> where I share my lovely book hauls each week. Have a look back at Vicki's link up to see what everyone is up too!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week was my first week back at work so I was back on the commuter train and back reading. I finished <b><span style="color: blue;">Delia's Shadow by Jaime Lee Moyer</span></b> - an interesting historical mystery, <span style="color: blue;"><b>Charming by Elliott James</b></span> a new male lead Urban Fantasy series and finally <b><span style="color: blue;">Sleeping with the Fishes by MaryJanice Davidson</span></b> - a fun comic paranormal romance.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A fairly quiet week after all the goodies from Canada so only couple of books arrived!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Bought</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The Shining Girls - Lauren Beurkes</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Publisher: HarperCollins</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9L-jaOGU5OiVuZitZZ8AsAoSS-xYZC5g17uNZJzeLVeGOTNOcgoBY8iMJ4IWWPvv-RiA4TDswA6FXn_rphxMfFqnCNhbiPPvXtt1gr6lFAPvhzouEUpwFCpyPg-uX-pFKiXyLJx82sA/s1600/The+Shining+Girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9L-jaOGU5OiVuZitZZ8AsAoSS-xYZC5g17uNZJzeLVeGOTNOcgoBY8iMJ4IWWPvv-RiA4TDswA6FXn_rphxMfFqnCNhbiPPvXtt1gr6lFAPvhzouEUpwFCpyPg-uX-pFKiXyLJx82sA/s320/The+Shining+Girls.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>THE GIRL WHO WOULDN’T DIE</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Kirby is lucky she survived the attack. She is sure there were other victims were less fortunate, but the evidence she finds is … impossible.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>HUNTING A KILLER WHO SHOULDN’T EXIST</i></span></div>
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<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Harper stalks his shining girls through the years – and cuts the spark out of them. But what if the one that got away came</i></div>
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I read a couple of good reviews of this book so when I spotted cheap in Asda I thought it wouldn't hurt to give it a try!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn</span></b></div>
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<b>Publisher: Crown Publishing</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0Nq0Co1rKXk5aHZPfP2-Dr91EipTWlzzdJ9RPjjaig8J6d6WdskBr_AM6hxoa1PoMDgQCrhTP-Txsqy6mzqTuJrS3ep_q6mmq4B3FghUEQuuMF5AysCo-EvKa2uUFTemGVP_TjS8eMY/s1600/Gone+Girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0Nq0Co1rKXk5aHZPfP2-Dr91EipTWlzzdJ9RPjjaig8J6d6WdskBr_AM6hxoa1PoMDgQCrhTP-Txsqy6mzqTuJrS3ep_q6mmq4B3FghUEQuuMF5AysCo-EvKa2uUFTemGVP_TjS8eMY/s320/Gone+Girl.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne's fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick's clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn't doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife's head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media--as well as Amy's fiercely doting parents--the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he's definitely bitter--but is he really a killer?</span><br style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn't do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?</span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">I'm feeling in the mood for some thrillers at the moment so this one is a top seller that a friend told me to try - so I have!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">So what have you picked up this week...?</span></span></div>
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232105105688358961noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341428574937381261.post-89321204910557272882013-09-20T10:30:00.000+01:002013-09-20T10:30:00.830+01:00Gluten For Punishment (A Bakers Treat Mystery #1) Review<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRdeopucoV-IUBuJQ8OjTIihfW9iRc19j4dw-Yzxr-bq_kGoyhtZeXE4LdSkS3_lC602zzEIFZa_nfX1kCnmPziTZvwci6-rA_0OAa2SC1qRL4LKFBQ2SlamKwMB1zCdTRPufZLHzZr5M/s1600/Gluten+For+Punishment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRdeopucoV-IUBuJQ8OjTIihfW9iRc19j4dw-Yzxr-bq_kGoyhtZeXE4LdSkS3_lC602zzEIFZa_nfX1kCnmPziTZvwci6-rA_0OAa2SC1qRL4LKFBQ2SlamKwMB1zCdTRPufZLHzZr5M/s320/Gluten+For+Punishment.jpg" width="198" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Gluten for Punishment (A Baker’s Treat Mystery #1)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Nancy J Parra</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Publisher: Berkley Crime</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">With her mother’s death, Toni Ryder returns home to OilTop, Kansas bringing her gluten-free bakery business with her. But Toni has never felt at home in her hometown and cooking wheat-free in the middle of wheat country isn’t making her any less a fish out of water. When Toni becomes a suspect in OilTop’s first homicide investigation in twenty years, she must count on her crazy family and follow the clues to solve the mystery and clear her name</span> </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I picked this up while in Canada purely because one of my cousins over there is Gluten-intolerant and been bemoaning the lack of cakes she can eat now.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">J</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What I discovered was a fun, sweet mystery with a good bite to it and some great characters. Toni opens a Gluten Free bakery right in the middle of Wheat country, but despite some minor protest at her grand opening, she is surprised when her main opponent is found dead just outside her bakery. With the police focusing on her as the only suspect, she and her Grandmother decide they need to solve the case themselves…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are some interesting characters – both secondary and minor which helps keep interest in the story. Toni’s grandmother, Ruth is an eccentric old lady, riding a scooter and determined to grow old gracefully. She is the driving force behind Toni’s investigation. But she also adds plenty of colour and joy to the scene every time she shows up. I also loved the description of the various gluten-free goodies Toni bakes which made me feel hungry during most of the book! Toni’s best friend is an intriguing character as she is struggling with her business, a new boyfriend and a child who is autistic and I liked their friendship immensely.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The investigation itself is fairly simple with just a couple of conversations to other locals rather than any big evidence or sleuthing skills. However, consider the police are not particularly good at their job and don’t even bothering to find out who was also on Main Street the morning of the murder, this seems to do the job nicely. It’s not a complicated mystery but the story is well told with enough amusement from the characters to make an entertaining read!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended for fans of Sofie Kelly and Connie Archer. 7 out of 10</span></div>
Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232105105688358961noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341428574937381261.post-53812857001392057752013-09-19T14:00:00.000+01:002013-09-19T14:00:00.712+01:00Throwback Thursday #97 - The Good Fairies of New York<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsppYbwRR47vbURyZ24TZQjNHDonivA9VCziLx_7d0tWXO5lTcFDBqPDfZkfV4HvKpbRyck_YKNgMwKGmhekxxpTeeF5XoCtnzz8IBgfWn9p2MfdPAFJKUM-QimS-HpoC13towzG2n8U/s1600/Throwback+Thursday2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #a111cc; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: initial;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsppYbwRR47vbURyZ24TZQjNHDonivA9VCziLx_7d0tWXO5lTcFDBqPDfZkfV4HvKpbRyck_YKNgMwKGmhekxxpTeeF5XoCtnzz8IBgfWn9p2MfdPAFJKUM-QimS-HpoC13towzG2n8U/s1600/Throwback+Thursday2.jpg" style="border: currentcolor; position: relative;" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a great feature that Melissa at <a href="http://melissa-melsworld.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: initial;">My World...in words and pictures </a>has been doing for a while which looks at those wonderful books that are ALREADY on my shelves that we haven't got round to reading yet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The Good Fairies of New York - Martin Millar</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Publisher: Soft Skull Press</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xxhkQMGuigzFXWUsvAl1ZzrcPlwKw94eWStmBvhf3opg3sxU08winUwN86PdQX3F7rvDRgU7oanD0pR7JzZpI1YIsLT66QEnx_YvzW4apshlpb4igtQVLhyVVEfFU2PxwScmGTjKtoM/s1600/The+Good+Faires+of+new+York.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xxhkQMGuigzFXWUsvAl1ZzrcPlwKw94eWStmBvhf3opg3sxU08winUwN86PdQX3F7rvDRgU7oanD0pR7JzZpI1YIsLT66QEnx_YvzW4apshlpb4igtQVLhyVVEfFU2PxwScmGTjKtoM/s320/The+Good+Faires+of+new+York.jpg" width="205" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">When a pair of fugitive Scottish thistle fairies end up transplanted to Manhattan by mistake, both the Big Apple and the Little People have a lot of adjusting to do. Heather and Morag just want to start the first radical fairy punk rock band, but first they’ll have make a match between two highly unlikely sweethearts, start a street brawl between rival gangs of Italian, Chinese, and African fairies, help the ghost of a dead rocker track down his lost guitar, reclaim a rare triple-bloomed Welsh poppy from a bag lady with delusions of grandeur, disrupt a local community performance of </span><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">A Midsummer Night’s Dream,</span><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"> and somehow manage to stay sober enough to save all of New York from an invasion of evil Cornish fairies.</span><br style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">If they can stop feuding with each other, that is</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">This was a present from Sarah, my occasional guest reviewer when she visited New York some time ago and looks like such a fun read, but like many it's not been read yet. Perhaps I should arrange a visit to New York for encourage me to read it! :-)</span></span></div>
Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232105105688358961noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341428574937381261.post-39079897816875431752013-09-19T10:30:00.000+01:002013-09-19T10:30:00.397+01:00What Shall I read This September Results!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">Decisions, decisions...I can never make my mind up so once a month I offer up a choice to you wonderful and wise blog readers and hand you the keys to my next book choice. The results have been counted, checked and rechecked and the winner for September is...</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAbCLoHXMKtIjZhYLEHB4WV36cCUk-H-OOaIMdEaG-Jo5lADoKlz9YXhyphenhyphencAtjJtia2dI3CR1UAnj7Qiz2lR4lMZrjcBBRRsA-46Ls5Nt6p34fZbvfRFCkuGqWdUAsuB9ngqzHTbZCjtY/s1600/Sleeping+with+the+fishes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAbCLoHXMKtIjZhYLEHB4WV36cCUk-H-OOaIMdEaG-Jo5lADoKlz9YXhyphenhyphencAtjJtia2dI3CR1UAnj7Qiz2lR4lMZrjcBBRRsA-46Ls5Nt6p34fZbvfRFCkuGqWdUAsuB9ngqzHTbZCjtY/s200/Sleeping+with+the+fishes.jpg" width="125" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga1bQYbeVLtMJWYWIOgRshscCeUkOZ8z8Cjq5lrNna56znF_XNasDkVO8DRSD5taHiNE1hgAv0u7_0MIA_BfhlsTEOKFjfy0CHkfGFfEa3yzi7MI3wvUqHqioWQDiow_FbI-DmpnElY2M/s1600/Hunter's+Moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga1bQYbeVLtMJWYWIOgRshscCeUkOZ8z8Cjq5lrNna56znF_XNasDkVO8DRSD5taHiNE1hgAv0u7_0MIA_BfhlsTEOKFjfy0CHkfGFfEa3yzi7MI3wvUqHqioWQDiow_FbI-DmpnElY2M/s200/Hunter's+Moon.jpg" width="123" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_01562M3p6OYUlVQkjzMi97NrZBfK7ldBO4tljyiD0WyinxisVBcyMOpnE6G8XtqFoUCyXNpYvdThgAD1HEsq1r6neNKIICtO2YhbpfPlQ26H0chEwtoozs6067z6z3zaIsjMhzi-4Q/s1600/A+Quick+Bite.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_01562M3p6OYUlVQkjzMi97NrZBfK7ldBO4tljyiD0WyinxisVBcyMOpnE6G8XtqFoUCyXNpYvdThgAD1HEsq1r6neNKIICtO2YhbpfPlQ26H0chEwtoozs6067z6z3zaIsjMhzi-4Q/s200/A+Quick+Bite.png" width="123" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5X6LvA1cWdBR_prf5dlCLtoh_S37BO7Y6s9vgv8QIF4L5FqZzi-5tFxUPjQyStqbNPCuY_gXxB3FM9WWBc-JDTspjNWJgJ5-NvE3uuSOIut6BfZPowpXEmWAxxUgT9ExJH_JJd4Py-os/s1600/Nice+Girls+Don't+Have+Fangs.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5X6LvA1cWdBR_prf5dlCLtoh_S37BO7Y6s9vgv8QIF4L5FqZzi-5tFxUPjQyStqbNPCuY_gXxB3FM9WWBc-JDTspjNWJgJ5-NvE3uuSOIut6BfZPowpXEmWAxxUgT9ExJH_JJd4Py-os/s200/Nice+Girls+Don't+Have+Fangs.png" width="123" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's right you couldn't make your minds up any more than I can!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The full results were...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hunters Moon:<b> 25%</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sleeping With Fishes: <b>25%</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs: <b>25%</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A Quick Bite: <b>25%</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">So I'm taking the responsibility onto myself this month and will read which ever I feel like - although because of my holiday I'm a little behind this month so the review may not go up until October!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">And who won their choice of book from my TBR pile? The winner is...</span><b><span style="color: blue;">Barbara E!</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Congratulations! An email has been sent to you asking for choice!</span></div>
Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232105105688358961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341428574937381261.post-61592319939522387462013-09-18T10:30:00.000+01:002013-09-18T10:30:03.012+01:00The Kingmaker's Daughter (Cousin's War #4)<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonUj4sg4Z_q0QtuKvbiKG4UovH9UXiu2TWC8ehH4B-5oHZvBi9FGw4CkvNHaIx1_JVgSzkhrBuq5fa-wiC5yqpGVLIj2WKvPNxWIY1jA6H1YloBnRaKXJ5bG3__cQm6TeYPi4JuxPRe4/s1600/kingmaker's+daughter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonUj4sg4Z_q0QtuKvbiKG4UovH9UXiu2TWC8ehH4B-5oHZvBi9FGw4CkvNHaIx1_JVgSzkhrBuq5fa-wiC5yqpGVLIj2WKvPNxWIY1jA6H1YloBnRaKXJ5bG3__cQm6TeYPi4JuxPRe4/s320/kingmaker's+daughter.jpg" width="209" /></a><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The Kingmaker’s Daughter (Cousin’s War
#4)<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Phillippa Gregory</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Publisher: Simon & Schuster<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> At the court of Edward IV and his beautiful queen, Elizabeth Woodville, Anne grows from a delightful child brought up in intimacy and friendship with the family of Richard, Duke of Gloucester, to become ever more fearful and desperate when her father makes war on his former friends. Her will is tested when she is left widowed and fatherless, with her mother in sanctuary and her sister married to the enemy. Fortune’s wheel turns again when Richard rescues Anne from her sister’s house, with danger still following Anne, even as she eventually ascends to the throne as queen. Having lost those closest to her, she must protect herself and her precious only child, Prince Edward, from a court full of royal rivals</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Having
recently watched the BBC adaptation of the Cousin War books, it really
encouraged me to pick up this book. Focusing on Warwick ‘the Kingmaker’s
youngest daughter, Anne, we follow Anne through her life as she grows up close
to the crown and is dragged into her father’s manipulations and plots to
control those on the throne. She grew up in the House of York but her first
marriage is to the heir of the House of Lancaster which means she is front and
centre of some of the most intriguing political and actual battles of the
‘Cousin’s War’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Anne
is young and naive at first but she learns from those around her especially the
different way the women around behave from her mother’s self-preservation to
Margret of Anjou determination to fight for her son’s throne and even her
sisters fear of Elizabeth Woodville, the White Queen. This was a period of time
when women were used for their family connections and bloodlines, yet managed
to carve out their own roles behind the scenes. The events Anne lives through
are tense and exciting which make for a fun read especially her possible
involvement with the princes in the tower. Anne maybe overlooked in history in
favour of the men in her life – her father, the kingmaker, her first husband,
Edward, Prince of Wales and her second husband the infamous Richard III but she
makes a lively and engaging narrator with her very different view point on
events from Elizabeth Woodville, the White Queen and Margaret Beaufort, the Red
Queen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">That
period of history was largely unknown to me previously with most history
lessons focusing on the Tudors, but I’ve loved learning more about the era
immediately prior to the infamous Henry VIII. There are some great mysteries
from this era with whispers of witchcraft, and sibling rivalry over the throne
pushed to extremes. I really enjoyed this story which felt fresh and enticing
as a summer’s breeze on a warm day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Recommended
for fans of Alison Weir and Anne O’Brien. 8 out of 10 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232105105688358961noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341428574937381261.post-21224289922630577902013-09-17T10:30:00.000+01:002013-09-17T10:30:04.104+01:00Early Review: Delia's Shadow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0X7A6C3AEh0YZJaIEBFK19kyr87UXFTo8UEHsXJEr5qUVJz5PRFR8WSMPL589IsAocVKcCn-C5jgvYsX_Ai7CinAdKe0Sxl1HUoKw8Yx2Sn24pPYd3fum_zVXaUllqbConDwq9KJB0k/s1600/Delia's+Shadow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0X7A6C3AEh0YZJaIEBFK19kyr87UXFTo8UEHsXJEr5qUVJz5PRFR8WSMPL589IsAocVKcCn-C5jgvYsX_Ai7CinAdKe0Sxl1HUoKw8Yx2Sn24pPYd3fum_zVXaUllqbConDwq9KJB0k/s320/Delia's+Shadow.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Delia’s Shadow<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Jaime Lee Moyer</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Publisher: Tor Books - To Be Released
on 17<sup>th</sup> September 2013<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">E-Arc Courtesy of Netgalley & Tor
Books<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">It is the dawn of a new century in San Francisco and Delia Martin is a wealthy young woman whose life appears ideal. But a dark secret colors her life, for Delia’s most loyal companions are ghosts, as she has been gifted (or some would say cursed) with an ability to peer across to the other side. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Since the great quake rocked her city in 1906, Delia has been haunted by an avalanche of the dead clamoring for her help. Delia flees to the other side of the continent, hoping to gain some peace. After several years in New York, Delia believes she is free…until one determined specter appears and she realizes that she must return to the City by the Bay in order to put this tortured soul to rest. </span></i></span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">It will not be easy, as the ghost is only one of the many victims of a serial killer who was never caught. A killer who after thirty years is killing again. </span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">And who is now aware of Delia’s existence...</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Delia
returns home to San Francisco when a particularly persistent ghost demands her
attention and she become involved in the police investigation into a series of particularly
brutal killings. Slowly she and her friend Sadie, become aware that the ghost
named Shadow may hold the key to finding and stopping this murderer before he
comes too close.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This
story has a wonderful mix of society of San Francisco in that era, a blossoming
romance between two particularly guarded and emotionally distraught characters
and an involving murder mystery. The writing is very easy to follow with some
wonderful descriptions of the fair in San Francisco at the time which allow you
to smell the grounds and be awe-struck by the stands. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
crimes themselves are horrific. While the impact of the gruesome murder scenes
are described on the character, the details of the actual scenes are absent which
allows all our information about the crimes come to us filtered through a characters
reaction – something which helps to connect to both Delia and Gabe, the lead
police detective on the case. I really liked the different characters
surrounding to two leads with Gabe’s partner, Jack a good foil to the
seriousness of Gabe while Sadie the flighty but strong best friend, ailing
foster mother Ether and mothering Annie help make Delia grounded and more than
just a conduit to the spirits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Great
characterisations and an involving murder mystery are layered with Delia and
Gabe’s growing relationship which is built on respect and personality. It’s
hard to know what I enjoyed the most but the whole package built a thoroughly
entertaining read that I will want to re-read before long!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Recommended
for fans of Elizabeth Peters and Elizabeth May. 8 out of 10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232105105688358961noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341428574937381261.post-60098662087586229492013-09-15T08:00:00.000+01:002013-09-15T08:00:00.758+01:00My Book Haul / Showcase Sunday<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQ7x9VWqs9WAG70k-5Viq7AsUfwr2ImtmuK87A_s95QIuM3fG0DNY7faWBGsloEIqW3Vxl-ZpdgnE5Oyv7Rf-d5AVXTu5rPvxiZi4iaDgK2DiqMetabvCvVu_P4KAg_p9miltS_2ju5c/s1600/SSsmall.png" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #a111cc; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQ7x9VWqs9WAG70k-5Viq7AsUfwr2ImtmuK87A_s95QIuM3fG0DNY7faWBGsloEIqW3Vxl-ZpdgnE5Oyv7Rf-d5AVXTu5rPvxiZi4iaDgK2DiqMetabvCvVu_P4KAg_p9miltS_2ju5c/s320/SSsmall.png" style="border: currentcolor; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is <a href="http://www.booksbiscuitsandtea.co.uk/" style="color: #4c0077; text-decoration: initial;">Books, Biscuits and Tea's Showcase Sunday</a> where I share my lovely book hauls each week. Have a look back at Vicki's link up to see what everyone is up too!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm back!! I had a fabulous time in Canada - Toronto is such a fun city! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJbM1AMu7j8VOpesj597itMdbgyDzF6IJHVMp4TmJoguW2-9riIFILpgRSyyKcEloLT1wdU2xUH-A9ozcyRduc93F9bgEkyzs6fYyOJMHtamQRpxzTT8VuVJ23MvoAF5Ji0qZGnI4n8w/s1600/DSCF1951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJbM1AMu7j8VOpesj597itMdbgyDzF6IJHVMp4TmJoguW2-9riIFILpgRSyyKcEloLT1wdU2xUH-A9ozcyRduc93F9bgEkyzs6fYyOJMHtamQRpxzTT8VuVJ23MvoAF5Ji0qZGnI4n8w/s320/DSCF1951.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately in the two weeks I was far too busy having fun to do much reading... I finished </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">The Kingmaker's Daughter by Phillippa Gregory</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and then rushed straight into </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">The White Princess also by Philippa Gregory</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - love the historical detail in both books! Finally I finished <b><span style="color: blue;">Gluten For Punishment by Nancy J. Parra </span></b>- an enjoyable cosy mystery...not exactly the holiday reading list I set out before I went away but to be honest I'm not fussed! :-)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Won</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While I was away a few competition wins came through in the post...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Talking To The Dead - Harry Bingham</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Publisher: Orion</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiMW-RE8Fz7VVYMXAmgKkOJ4FwZLrhaYZGFvalqIjshvFlElXQQCW_Q1K0XvvLWDH8MOy_WEY2wmfOdeIPbiqT2C9zfSlwKjWWqdvzZ89FeGOilKrRenegQimkzW1iUkhS0l-hGzAYLw/s1600/Talking+To+The+Dead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiMW-RE8Fz7VVYMXAmgKkOJ4FwZLrhaYZGFvalqIjshvFlElXQQCW_Q1K0XvvLWDH8MOy_WEY2wmfOdeIPbiqT2C9zfSlwKjWWqdvzZ89FeGOilKrRenegQimkzW1iUkhS0l-hGzAYLw/s320/Talking+To+The+Dead.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">It's DC Fiona Griffiths' first murder case - and she's in at the deep end. A woman and her six-year-old daughter killed with chilling brutality in a dingy flat. The only clue: the platinum bank card of a long-dead tycoon, found amidst the squalor. </span><br style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">DC Griffiths has already proved herself dedicated to the job, but there's another side to her she is less keen to reveal. Something to do with a mysterious two-year gap in her CV, her strange inability to cry - and a disconcerting familiarity with corpses.</span><br style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Fiona is desperate to put the past behind her but as more gruesome killings follow, the case leads her inexorably back into those dark places in her own mind where another dead girl is waiting to be found.</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">This was a win from the wonderful <a href="http://www.booksbiscuitsandtea.co.uk/" target="_blank">Vicki at Books, Biscuits and Tea</a> as part of her crime month. It looks very creepy...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><b>River Road (Sentinels of New Orleans #2) - Suzanne Johnson</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><b>Publisher: Headline</b></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB46NfwcJg-0vEh5DbdvN9BrhHT8-MeD4aEjxeIQ5IXYX1B-NDiYAe9Gr3xIRaFh-wVVpeIBRO2ENhBK2WQqips4dC-in7qJGUGxED5mkAeAlgMVQQErHh5sa_ankdPCtfU7ffpihscJY/s1600/River+Road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB46NfwcJg-0vEh5DbdvN9BrhHT8-MeD4aEjxeIQ5IXYX1B-NDiYAe9Gr3xIRaFh-wVVpeIBRO2ENhBK2WQqips4dC-in7qJGUGxED5mkAeAlgMVQQErHh5sa_ankdPCtfU7ffpihscJY/s320/River+Road.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><b> </b></span><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">Hurricane Katrina is long gone, but the preternatural storm rages on in New Orleans. New species from the Beyond moved into Louisiana after the hurricane destroyed the borders between worlds, and it falls to wizard sentinel Drusilla Jaco and her partner, Alex Warin, to keep the preternaturals peaceful and the humans unaware. But a war is brewing between two clans of Cajun merpeople in Plaquemines Parish, and down in the swamp, DJ learns, there’s more stirring than angry mermen and the threat of a were-gator. </span></i></span></div>
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<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wizards are dying, and something—or someone—from the Beyond is poisoning the waters of the mighty Mississippi, threatening the humans who live and work along the river. DJ and Alex must figure out what unearthly source is contaminating the water and who—or what—is killing the wizards. Is it a malcontented merman, the naughty nymph, or some other critter altogether? After all, DJ’s undead suitor, the pirate Jean Lafitte, knows his way around a body or two.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I won this over at the Shadow Realm and I was looking forward to the second book in this series!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>A Novel Way To Die - Ali Brandon</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Publisher: Berkley Crime</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WZXatWlRvG0gKjsBSqC0Pnbf-Ghyphenhyphenpjwq-V7oy0ud8FacFnkIgzNBELGwN39rpv3m8wkTAqHL50xb8EnMzj_kt4BGByOp-jQ62Dd98qT02CWjHaYaJO23ZDDmskcKU18JD6neLOEgIf8/s1600/A+Novel+Way+To+Die.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WZXatWlRvG0gKjsBSqC0Pnbf-Ghyphenhyphenpjwq-V7oy0ud8FacFnkIgzNBELGwN39rpv3m8wkTAqHL50xb8EnMzj_kt4BGByOp-jQ62Dd98qT02CWjHaYaJO23ZDDmskcKU18JD6neLOEgIf8/s320/A+Novel+Way+To+Die.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the owner of Pettistone’s Fine Books, Darla is settling nicely into her new life, even reaching an uneasy truce with Hamlet. Unfortunately, when she needs to hire a new clerk, the finicky feline decides to lend a paw to the hiring process. He chases away applicants who don’t meet his approval, finally settling on an unlikely candidate: Robert, a book-loving Goth kid who has a secret only Hamlet knows. And Hamlet can’t seem to stay out of trouble. One of the bookstore’s regular customers, a man who is renovating a local brownstone, claims he’s seen Hamlet prowling the neighborhood. When the man’s business partner is found dead, Darla discovers that Hamlet may have been the only witness to what could be murder. With the crafty cat’s help, she wonders if they just might be able to pounce on a killer...</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was from the lovely <a href="http://qwillery.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Qwillery</a> as part of the ParaCozyMystery month.</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Bought</u></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While in Toronto I did manage to find my way into a couple of bookstores and pick up a few presents for myself...</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHaQsKjjmwlnTnyHy5vYQ2X7CMqnOlYS6nR-vJfbaWfxrlxqGhF_cLDMgaUEPmmFWxlASUcxMMNgFhlwJbTxZXhzH9oiOqlsK1eu0DJftuZ0KXRdMM5P4QR9ORHopRa48l5ToFO8ZU4M/s1600/canada+books.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHaQsKjjmwlnTnyHy5vYQ2X7CMqnOlYS6nR-vJfbaWfxrlxqGhF_cLDMgaUEPmmFWxlASUcxMMNgFhlwJbTxZXhzH9oiOqlsK1eu0DJftuZ0KXRdMM5P4QR9ORHopRa48l5ToFO8ZU4M/s320/canada+books.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Libriomancer - Jim C. Hines</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Red Rain - R.L. Stine</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Tempest Reborn (Jane True #6) - Nicole Peeler</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Dead Iron - Devon Monk</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Blood Gospel - James Rollins & Rebecca Cantrel</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Wild Ways - Tanya Huff</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Omens - Kelley Armstrong</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This post would be far too long if I put the synopsis of each book up!</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what did you pick up this week...?</span></span></div>
</span>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232105105688358961noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341428574937381261.post-23364242423579352902013-09-05T10:30:00.000+01:002013-09-05T10:30:00.593+01:00What Shall I Read This September...? + GIVEAWAY<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2X86JAbVskNR4fhQu3KlzxTsCGuWatzpHCqkOW6XniEQ-bSZXC67c7hyphenhyphenFeE1jEoetG_S_Gd73f3sYgjrfIq-XHefHbIRh-tEdMW6KLOkrz5e1Ta_y8og-ZlN-Nn5REj09OalhIZj3tM/s1600/Seraphina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2X86JAbVskNR4fhQu3KlzxTsCGuWatzpHCqkOW6XniEQ-bSZXC67c7hyphenhyphenFeE1jEoetG_S_Gd73f3sYgjrfIq-XHefHbIRh-tEdMW6KLOkrz5e1Ta_y8og-ZlN-Nn5REj09OalhIZj3tM/s200/Seraphina.jpg" width="131" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's the first Thursday of the month so you know what that means - I need help to choose a book to read this month! Last month you guys picked Seraphina by Rachel Hartman and it was full of dragony goodness!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">So what is this all about? I realised the other day that I've been doing these Throwback Thursday posts inspired by Melissa at </span><a href="http://melissa-melsworld.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;">My World...in words and pictures </a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">for nearly year now - I have posted about over 100 books I own but I have hardly read any yet. So on the first Thursday of each month I will post a poll highlighting all the Throwback Thursday books I've highlighted in the last month plus one of the older Throwbacks and ask you to pick which book I should read. The most popular book after 5 days or so, will be picked up by me and actually read and (hopefully!) reviewed by the end of the month. However, in thanks I will also offer anyone who enters a copy of any book from my TBR Shelf. This way older books get a lot of love from both of us!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br />So to summarise -<br />- Pick a book you want me to read from my Throwback Thursday's posts and be in with a chance to win a book for yourself from my TBR pile for your own - check my TBR Shelf at the top for some other books that I need to get round to reading!<br />- I'll ship it out to from the Book Depository or fishpond so it will be open internationally.<br />- Leave a comment for an extra entry telling my why I should read your choice!<br />- Open to followers only (Sorry, but I want to reward those who stop by regularly! Also I'm not advertising or publicising this giveaway so it's just for those who read my blog regularly!)<br />- Poll closes midnight on Thursday 12th August - I will try to announce the winning book and lucky follower, by next Thursday.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="text-align: justify;">This month was I hanking for some paranormal romance!</span><span style="text-align: justify;"> You can go to the original posts to see what I said about them if you click on them.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNH29I0GVVUFyRSkXYgx77zgSoxtqUuYWUraq_dPRuN3NZJVrFbKArbsEbsqNDPwX8Sndjk16yJUvjHuWjUZifMijTnY-1QaD6hTfLlSXrnobhKcHiMmO-4qfiTL4mU934m117J17ZRQ/s1600/Hunter's+Moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNH29I0GVVUFyRSkXYgx77zgSoxtqUuYWUraq_dPRuN3NZJVrFbKArbsEbsqNDPwX8Sndjk16yJUvjHuWjUZifMijTnY-1QaD6hTfLlSXrnobhKcHiMmO-4qfiTL4mU934m117J17ZRQ/s200/Hunter's+Moon.jpg" width="123" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://melsrandomblogs.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/throwback-thursday-93-hunters-moon.html" target="_blank">Hunter's Moon - CT Adams & Cathy Clamp</a></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://melsrandomblogs.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/throwback-thursdays-95-sleeping-with.html" target="_blank">Sleeping With The Fishes - MaryJanice Davidson</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs - Molly Harper</span></span></div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="1100" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1pixcHRXhI7T4uSfXVol12Nq3rXt7cZPelAYF44N03us/viewform?embedded=true" width="560">Loading...</iframe>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232105105688358961noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341428574937381261.post-10624211826655403362013-09-04T10:30:00.000+01:002013-09-04T10:30:00.733+01:00A Night On The Orient Express Review<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-YSp6m_6KW3MKv1EaisZNBJ5_SfqqtcrSKqDa0k-vp2onXAbX3rpV8LJvchgPQQ19-vv_KB5pT25HZIN1SVryWGnq2WrlLJmqk7JgseRkUc3UTtJXUlxtmSVfNjEN7rYoxBiB9fHZrE/s1600/A+Night+on+the+orient+express.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-YSp6m_6KW3MKv1EaisZNBJ5_SfqqtcrSKqDa0k-vp2onXAbX3rpV8LJvchgPQQ19-vv_KB5pT25HZIN1SVryWGnq2WrlLJmqk7JgseRkUc3UTtJXUlxtmSVfNjEN7rYoxBiB9fHZrE/s320/A+Night+on+the+orient+express.jpg" width="217" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>A Night On The Orient Express</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Veronica Henry</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> <span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">The Orient Express. Luxury. Mystery. Romance. </span></i></span><i style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">For one group of passengers settling in to their seats and taking their first sips of champagne, the journey from London to Venice is more than the trip of a lifetime. </span></i><i style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">A mysterious errand; a promise made to a dying friend; an unexpected proposal; a secret reaching back a lifetime...As the train sweeps on, revelations, confessions and assignations unfold against the most romantic and infamous setting in the world.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My overwhelming thought when I finished this book was that I need to go on the Orient Express. An overnight journey from London to Venice via Paris in all the luxury and decadence that this famous train journey continues to offer sounds wonderfully sumptuous and plush. If nothing else this book is a wonderful travel brochure for the journey with the surroundings, the history and food on offer. I really hope Veronica Henry gets a percentage of future holidays booked after people read this!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The story itself actually follows several characters on the same train journey – a modern family with two late teens rebellious children with big secrets, a strict father and nervous new step-mother, an art dealer who is heading to Venice to pick up a birthday present from her grandmother, but struggling to decide between an unsuitable romance and a new job offer, an aging photographer and his muse making their annual trip to Venice, but he has a surprise in store for this year and finally a young couple on a blind date but each with a broken heart. While they are all on the same train, their stories don’t overlap much, if at all so at times it feels like a collection of short stories. Especially as there are flashbacks to the Grandmothers past and how she ended up on a similar journey years ago.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, I will confess this story had me in tears before the first 50 pages were over due to a character’s early demise – and it is an emotional story. I had initially picked it up thinking it was a light read – a little chick-lit but the setting of the Orient Express and Venice is just rich background for big emotional upheavals in many characters life’s at different points. By the end they have all made big choices and while we are left unaware of how these choices will affect each person, there is some satisfaction in knowing things do change. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While the beginning and middle was stronger for me, this is a wonderful holiday read with a pleasing balance between romance, family relations and the impact the past can have on the future. Like a champagne breakfast, this should be savoured and enjoyed until the last crumb.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended for fans of Erica James and Kate Mosse. 8 out of 10</span></div>
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232105105688358961noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341428574937381261.post-55752257103993833142013-09-02T10:30:00.000+01:002013-09-02T10:30:02.855+01:00Early Review: The Woken Gods<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9swBKTWXZJ3T9jk3KSRvJRsWq4eRk7AunwHSC4JkNLCRi_9iK1HTKg4CiExGt5RVQKGI8cHQDyOuWTi5CFel8fepJ9VSag_x6Ay7rREJWsT0jsxByx-CkEPGIYW0sMwvD0TZM0d06Pyc/s1600/The+Woken+Gods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9swBKTWXZJ3T9jk3KSRvJRsWq4eRk7AunwHSC4JkNLCRi_9iK1HTKg4CiExGt5RVQKGI8cHQDyOuWTi5CFel8fepJ9VSag_x6Ay7rREJWsT0jsxByx-CkEPGIYW0sMwvD0TZM0d06Pyc/s320/The+Woken+Gods.jpg" width="211" /></a><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The Woken Gods<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Publisher: Strange Chemistry – published
3<sup>rd</sup> September<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">E-Arc courtesy of Netgalley and
Strange Chemistry<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">The more things change…</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">Ten years ago, the gods of ancient mythology awoke all around the world.</span></i></span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">The more things stay the same…</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">This morning, seventeen-year-old Kyra Locke was late for school.</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">But that’s not out of the ordinary in a transformed Washington, D.C., dominated by the embassies of divine pantheons and watched over by the mysterious Society of the Sun that governs mankind’s relations with the gods. What is unusual is Kyra’s encounter with two trickster gods on her way home, one offering a threat, and the other a warning.</span></i></span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">Kyra escapes with the aid of young operatives from the Society, who inform her that her scholarly father has disappeared from its headquarters at the Library of Congress and taken a dangerous Egyptian relic with him. The Society needs the item back, and they aren’t interested in Kyra’s protests that she knows nothing about it.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">Now Kyra must depend on her wits and the help of everyone from a paranoid ex-boyfriend to scary Sumerian gods to operatives whose allegiance is first and always to the Society. She has no choice if she’s going to clear her father’s name and recover the missing relic before </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">the impending summer solstice.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">What’s at stake? Just the end of the world as Kyra knows it.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">All
the Gods people have ever worshipped throughout time are real and a few years
ago they woke up. The world changed. Washington DC has become the centre for
communication between the Gods as represented by the Trickster Gods and the
Society, group who use relics to protect humans from the Gods power. Krya grew
up in the midst of the awakening, but when the Tricksters start to take an
interest in her, she realises that there are more secrets in her family that
she ever knew...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
idea that all the Gods are real and that they have only been sleeping is such a
strong premise for a world similar to ours but different in that one vital area
and provides a wide range of possibilities for story-telling. Adding to the mix
Krya is one damaged girl but strong and determined. She has problems over and
above the usual teen romance and authority issues so when her Dad goes missing
and the gods are involved, she ignores his request that she leave town and
decides to find him. Her friends refuse to let her deal with it alone. I loved
the relationships Krya has with her friends – both old and new. They ground her
and prevent her becoming too isolated. Each have their own family issues but
still stick by her side. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As
well as a variety of Gods from global pantheons, there is a mysterious Society
who are able to keep the Gods in line with threats. However, we all know secret
societies are not always to be trusted... The mix of mythology, teen issues and
action is well balanced with plenty of action and some intriguing twists – I
have to admit the end really ups the stakes taking it from a personal tragedy
to all out war. The books suffers a little from teens knowing better than
adults every time (a lot of YA have that fault though!), but the teens are such
stronger characters that it doesn’t matter too much. There is plenty to enjoy
and I can’t wait to see what the next book in this series will throw up.
Especially as the end is a real game changer! A fresh take on ancient mythology and a fun read!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Recommended
for fans of Tom Pollock and Kim Curran. 8 out of 10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232105105688358961noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341428574937381261.post-78730735650399842592013-09-01T08:30:00.000+01:002013-09-01T08:30:01.339+01:00My Book Haul / Showcase Sunday<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is <a href="http://www.booksbiscuitsandtea.co.uk/" style="text-decoration: initial;">Books, Biscuits and Tea's Showcase Sunday</a> where I share my lovely book hauls each week. Have a look back at Vicki's link up to see what everyone is up too!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now in theory I shouldn't have anything to share this week but last Monday was a bank holiday which meant an extra day off work...and for me an extra to visit the shops! While supposedly stocking up on toiletries I just had to visit The Works and picked up three new books!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The Shambling Guide To New York - Mur Lafferty</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Publisher: Orbit</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhae52itO3g4loOywN2q4WujCzZimSo3v9Yo6pFR_ebntsoyGvGMfDdiVizqFfJmi7HrGUdGac6vjbYvMBQT1jjYumHddbVqY7rpyPdbL1u4Lgl5CFoIsTNDvf9zj67TFIKWAnfPMr9qVE/s1600/Shambling+Guide+to+New+York.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhae52itO3g4loOywN2q4WujCzZimSo3v9Yo6pFR_ebntsoyGvGMfDdiVizqFfJmi7HrGUdGac6vjbYvMBQT1jjYumHddbVqY7rpyPdbL1u4Lgl5CFoIsTNDvf9zj67TFIKWAnfPMr9qVE/s320/Shambling+Guide+to+New+York.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">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!</span><br style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">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. </span><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">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.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">This looks like a lot of fun and I couldn't resist when I heard it was available in The Works!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><b>Necessary Evil (The Milkwed Triptych #3) - Ian Tregillis</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><b>Publisher: Orbit</b></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbS3-OUGmKso_iHOZU91BFEIpb-8MOKAQqZW8vEFHpytW9WXd98VKhOr3DqC86Ndi62HrE7uZUGKu4m2mPre4UDwrFutssX7nQ3aUijx2cExk9Zwvh9Uep_Mao0NVTsEF9fXxGFvOqnc/s1600/Necessary+Evil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbS3-OUGmKso_iHOZU91BFEIpb-8MOKAQqZW8vEFHpytW9WXd98VKhOr3DqC86Ndi62HrE7uZUGKu4m2mPre4UDwrFutssX7nQ3aUijx2cExk9Zwvh9Uep_Mao0NVTsEF9fXxGFvOqnc/s320/Necessary+Evil.jpg" width="203" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">The history of the Twentieth Century has been shaped by a secret conflict between technology and magic. When a twisted Nazi scientist devised a way to imbue ordinary humans with supernatural abilities - to walk through walls, throw fire and see the future - his work became the prized possession of first the Third Reich, then the Soviet Army. Only Britain's warlocks, and the dark magics they yield, have successfully countered the threat posed by these superhuman armies. </span><br style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">But for decades, this conflict has been manipulated by Gretel, the mad seer. And now her long plan has come to fruition. And with it, a danger vastly greater than anything the world has known. Now British Intelligence officer Raybould Marsh must make a last-ditch effort to change the course of history - if his nation, and those he loves, are to survive.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">This is the third in a trilogy I haven't started yet but it looks so interesting I thought I'd get all three books before I started reading - plus low price at The Works!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><b>Graveminder - Melissa Marr</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><b>Publisher: HarperCollins</b></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Rebekkah Barrow never forgot the tender attention her grandmother, Maylene, bestowed upon the dead of Claysville. While growing up, Rebekkah watched as Maylene performed the same unusual ritual at every funeral: three sips from a small silver flask followed by the words, ""Sleep well, and stay where I put you.""</span><br style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Now Maylene is gone and Bek must return to the hometown--and the man--she abandoned a decade ago, only to discover that Maylene's death was not natural . . . and there was good reason for her odd traditions. In Claysville, the worlds of the living and the dead are dangerously connected--and beneath the town lies a shadowy, lawless land ruled by the enigmatic Charles, aka Mr. D. From this dark place the deceased will return if their graves are not properly minded. And only the Graveminder, a Barrow woman, and the current Undertaker, Byron, can set things to right once the dead begin to walk.</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">This has been in my radar for a while especially as the author as the coolest first name there is! ;-)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">So what have you picked up this week...?</span></span></div>
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232105105688358961noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341428574937381261.post-39917748920348486042013-08-31T09:00:00.000+01:002013-08-31T09:00:02.851+01:00Mel's Random August<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">August is usually a reasonably quiet month for me but this year there was plenty going on with work, friends and preparing for holiday. As you read this I will be in Toronto taking my first two week holiday in over five years... it's been a very long couple of years and I really need some time to recharge and get my head together. Plus I get to see family and enjoy a different country with plenty of new shops!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So while I don't have any recent pictures to share this month, but I thought you would like to see a little island temple in Egypt that I visited a few years ago...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Books</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://melsrandomblogs.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/love-in-revolution-review.html" target="_blank">Love In Revolution - B.R. Collins </a>(British Books Challenge)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://melsrandomblogs.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/mr-lynchs-holiday-review.html" target="_blank">Mr Lynch's Holiday - Catherine O'Flynn</a> (British Books Challenge</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://melsrandomblogs.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/early-review-crown-of-midnight-throne.html" target="_blank">Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2) - Sarah J Maas</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://melsrandomblogs.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/magic-rises-kate-daniels-6-review.html" target="_blank">Magic Rises (Kate Daniels #6) - Ilona Andrews</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://melsrandomblogs.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/agave-kiss-corine-solomon-5-review.html" target="_blank">Agave Kiss (Corine Solomon #5) - Ann Aguirre</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://melsrandomblogs.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/ive-got-your-number-review.html" target="_blank">I've Got Your Number - Sophie Kinsella</a> (British Books Challenge)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://melsrandomblogs.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/seraphina-review.html" target="_blank">Seraphina - Rachel Hartman</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">XO - Jeffery Deaver</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Ebooks</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://melsrandomblogs.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/all-our-yesterdays-review.html" target="_blank">All Our Yesterdays - Cristin Terrill</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://melsrandomblogs.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/early-review-bone-season.html" target="_blank">The Bone Season - Samantha Shannon </a>(British Books Challenge)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Sarah's Review</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://melsrandomblogs.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/guest-review-american-gods.html" target="_blank">American Gods - Neil Gaiman</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://melsrandomblogs.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/guest-review-grave-mercy.html" target="_blank">Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin #1) - Robin LaFevers</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Other Posts</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Same Books/Different Cover - <a href="http://melsrandomblogs.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/same-book-different-cover-under-never.html" target="_blank">Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Author Interview: <a href="http://melsrandomblogs.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/author-interview-jon-robinson-author-of.html" target="_blank">Jon Robinson, Nowhere</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">So updating the challenges -</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">British Books Challenge</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"> - 29 Read - half way to my personal target of 50 books by British Authors!</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRK7InDRXWamVBU5GKVF3hN3UDt5izBZ5wehl09-rmZXUMD4hrSSPIv7zWaxOfuCeC8g4MI3mdh010tjimU0_VrQgH-n_Cph4h26vYXmDrtBYJJvIKZGjpXHqma0CmamBzssD1iUBEtrU/s1600/best+of+the+bunch.png" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #4c0077; float: left; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtx03mjb9JpcVfVk0mZkN-KLkDl9ZtgoHNadoVMJDdW3qk34iuztwPRE4SRwNV1S0ojWV_3H5T9WIfMsAixWYpkG9P-z2mJEtrYLIVb8pVCOkLCrEKi4j7t8j6AYcB3X5QwpJ-9LuLMQA/s1600/Crown+of+Midnight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtx03mjb9JpcVfVk0mZkN-KLkDl9ZtgoHNadoVMJDdW3qk34iuztwPRE4SRwNV1S0ojWV_3H5T9WIfMsAixWYpkG9P-z2mJEtrYLIVb8pVCOkLCrEKi4j7t8j6AYcB3X5QwpJ-9LuLMQA/s200/Crown+of+Midnight.jpg" width="132" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRK7InDRXWamVBU5GKVF3hN3UDt5izBZ5wehl09-rmZXUMD4hrSSPIv7zWaxOfuCeC8g4MI3mdh010tjimU0_VrQgH-n_Cph4h26vYXmDrtBYJJvIKZGjpXHqma0CmamBzssD1iUBEtrU/s1600/best+of+the+bunch.png" style="border: none; position: relative;" /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px;">Best of the Bunch:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><b style="color: blue;">Crown of Midnight </b>was fantastic - I've missed strong YA Fantasy and this definitely fills that hole!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><br /><br /><b style="color: #333333;">Honorable Mentions:</b><span style="color: purple; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="color: purple; font-weight: bold;">Magic Rises </span>- this is one of the best Urban Fantasy series there is! <b><span style="color: purple;">I've Got Your Number</span></b> was pure fun as well! <b><span style="color: purple;">Seraphina</span></b> was definitely worth reading as well!<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333;">So what was your month like? :</span></span></span></div>
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232105105688358961noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341428574937381261.post-8758114729710567952013-08-30T10:30:00.000+01:002013-08-30T10:30:00.705+01:00My Holiday TBR Pile #2<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even as you read this I will be taking to the air (barring any delays!) and heading across the pond to Toronto for 10 days! I'm visiting family mostly but I am looking forward to a nice long break away from work. I haven't had two weeks away from work for over 5 years so I figure I deserve it now especially after the stressful recent year!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, even though most of my holiday will be spent with family and sightseeing, I am hoping to squeeze in a few books. As ever I will be taking my kindle so I'll have a choice of books to read...but these are the ones that are top of my mental TBR pile for Canada...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Stone Maiden - Ann Aguirre</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love Ann's UF series staring Corine Solomon so I'm hoping this early fantasy story will be as intriguing and interesting. I certainly haven't heard much about it from elsewhere but I trust Ann's writing!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5R8Oygpu1UAbEBd7Tqfkv6h6ZiTOKL_nnBkrKFMERL60thXj1oMUmdtfWK_1qo2LZLf7XgRr7dvAPiWj5gQIfcsdVKBek5g4b9MxcnyP_oxLPk_KglMjyNz0LjfodyO3yOSwRtxTLw80/s1600/666+Park+Avenue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5R8Oygpu1UAbEBd7Tqfkv6h6ZiTOKL_nnBkrKFMERL60thXj1oMUmdtfWK_1qo2LZLf7XgRr7dvAPiWj5gQIfcsdVKBek5g4b9MxcnyP_oxLPk_KglMjyNz0LjfodyO3yOSwRtxTLw80/s200/666+Park+Avenue.jpg" width="131" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>666 Park Avenue - Gabriella Pierce</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know a TV series was made based on the books but was cancelled quickly. I've never seen it, but the books look like quite short reads with a bit of paranormal thrown in so I'm up for trying it!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIpzQ1Z0iBfniIZfLqluG04t6IvqJ2PZkap8msGernZ1hH4ipZj-38TtWWO5VK8QJBTS2qNzgXbSz9-ZP-NJ9FMFe4IwZHi1Y3Z2QaJf_d5941CAuWB1XrN9klMq0RgyjwcwNzGeXpHA/s1600/boneshaker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIpzQ1Z0iBfniIZfLqluG04t6IvqJ2PZkap8msGernZ1hH4ipZj-38TtWWO5VK8QJBTS2qNzgXbSz9-ZP-NJ9FMFe4IwZHi1Y3Z2QaJf_d5941CAuWB1XrN9klMq0RgyjwcwNzGeXpHA/s200/boneshaker.jpg" width="133" /></a><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Boneshaker – Cherie Priest<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I meant to read this in Portugal earlier in the year but never quite got around to it. Still Steampunk has been missing from the blog for a while so I think it's time to re-introduce it!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13A7mhL_q9az3n9e5Ipn3OiIf2paUw_rVbKeOu_phjkw233uQo8hMO0ZWjFDsJxQipDX6v4qhkrOUuKB0Koan04OjIKKf3AiSBdbtDzm4gkZxRDdE5HIlrC6kUopza58nMbBjIAvBj5I/s1600/Devil's+Consort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13A7mhL_q9az3n9e5Ipn3OiIf2paUw_rVbKeOu_phjkw233uQo8hMO0ZWjFDsJxQipDX6v4qhkrOUuKB0Koan04OjIKKf3AiSBdbtDzm4gkZxRDdE5HIlrC6kUopza58nMbBjIAvBj5I/s200/Devil's+Consort.jpg" width="127" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Devil's Consort - Anne O'Brien</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I like historical fiction and the recent BBC drama series The White Queen has ignited a need for some historical reading! Okay, this is a different time period from the White Queen but I think it will be a intriguing read!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBzmvri8wT_rSSfw2c-wJnSQazDsbYStrnIVzbBgAoZ__X2K29USCMGRL_nwgp5_G9UJhUhLIoFPKUgAPcok2ZtpECc4Sp0b-SfADIUaFuIPLZfzh_ZG_e8fzwAmbDk8i6duviYpuEjLo/s1600/Life+of+Pi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBzmvri8wT_rSSfw2c-wJnSQazDsbYStrnIVzbBgAoZ__X2K29USCMGRL_nwgp5_G9UJhUhLIoFPKUgAPcok2ZtpECc4Sp0b-SfADIUaFuIPLZfzh_ZG_e8fzwAmbDk8i6duviYpuEjLo/s200/Life+of+Pi.jpg" width="132" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Life of Pi - Yann Martel</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Another modern classic I seem to avoided so far - but to be honest until I saw clips for the film it never appealed to me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">So that's what I'm planning on reading - however, who knows what my mood will mean I'll end up reading - if in fact I do much reading at all! What books would you guys recommend for a city break adventure..?</span></div>
Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232105105688358961noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341428574937381261.post-8073206058251350752013-08-29T10:30:00.000+01:002013-08-29T10:30:00.602+01:00Throwback Thursdays #96 - Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsppYbwRR47vbURyZ24TZQjNHDonivA9VCziLx_7d0tWXO5lTcFDBqPDfZkfV4HvKpbRyck_YKNgMwKGmhekxxpTeeF5XoCtnzz8IBgfWn9p2MfdPAFJKUM-QimS-HpoC13towzG2n8U/s1600/Throwback+Thursday2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #a111cc; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: initial;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsppYbwRR47vbURyZ24TZQjNHDonivA9VCziLx_7d0tWXO5lTcFDBqPDfZkfV4HvKpbRyck_YKNgMwKGmhekxxpTeeF5XoCtnzz8IBgfWn9p2MfdPAFJKUM-QimS-HpoC13towzG2n8U/s1600/Throwback+Thursday2.jpg" style="border: currentcolor; position: relative;" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a great feature that Melissa at <a href="http://melissa-melsworld.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: initial;">My World...in words and pictures </a>has been doing for a while which looks at those wonderful books that are ALREADY on my shelves that we haven't got round to reading yet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs - Molly Harper</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Publisher: Pocket Star</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvkGE7-cV2UiCXE5FDAkLtUpZFTVRL7gIUDAhEZqM4SwliD3p-kCY8jJRbhSgM8CDMnG9JNmhYL2-k45GTb4fTxgGZLaQIBMgh2WMHZ2ccr1bvJeZFE3anNJiTEn85il3yhoHVd0Bdc0/s1600/Nice+Girls+Don't+Have+Fangs.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvkGE7-cV2UiCXE5FDAkLtUpZFTVRL7gIUDAhEZqM4SwliD3p-kCY8jJRbhSgM8CDMnG9JNmhYL2-k45GTb4fTxgGZLaQIBMgh2WMHZ2ccr1bvJeZFE3anNJiTEn85il3yhoHVd0Bdc0/s320/Nice+Girls+Don't+Have+Fangs.png" width="198" /></a></div>
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<i style="color: #181818; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Maybe it was the Shenanigans gift certificate that put her over the edge. When children's librarian and self-professed nice girl Jane Jameson is fired by her beastly boss and handed twenty-five dollars in potato skins instead of a severance check, she goes on a bender that's sure to become Half Moon Hollow legend. On her way home, she's mistaken for a deer, shot, and left for dead. And thanks to the mysterious stranger she met while chugging neon-colored cocktails, she wakes up with a decidedly unladylike thirst for blood.</i><i style="color: #181818; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Jane is now the latest recipient of a gift basket from the Newly Undead Welcoming Committee, and her life-after-lifestyle is taking some getting used to. Her recently deceased favorite aunt is now her ghostly roommate. She has to fake breathing and endure daytime hours to avoid coming out of the coffin to her family. She's forced to forgo her favorite down-home Southern cooking for bags of O negative. Her relationship with her sexy, mercurial vampire sire keeps running hot and cold. And if all that wasn't enough, it looks like someone in Half Moon Hollow is trying to frame her for a series of vampire murders. What's a nice undead girl to do?</i></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">This is the fourth and final Paranormal Book this month which has been sitting on my shelves gaining a deep layer of dust! I picked this up after reading a certain Mel rave about it and never actually opened it. It sounds like a lot of fun though - I like romances that are fun as well as hot!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Next week you guys get to decide which PR I should read so get your thinking caps on...if you can find them! </span></span></div>
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232105105688358961noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341428574937381261.post-2116407756276587872013-08-28T10:30:00.000+01:002013-08-28T10:30:00.155+01:00XO (Kathryn Dance #3) Review<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipi74QF8ZjqwwzyKobruzu4dQp5mim_lKIse4fRb6JZPBcJzp2_gBU2eK-Pyr2qN1_GQgAg0GKx-UP4VrNwmASAP3YOhezoNsf25o1p7sXXl9_qpV2tl6voMcYnWzaU5qlAgUz6QaonSc/s1600/XO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipi74QF8ZjqwwzyKobruzu4dQp5mim_lKIse4fRb6JZPBcJzp2_gBU2eK-Pyr2qN1_GQgAg0GKx-UP4VrNwmASAP3YOhezoNsf25o1p7sXXl9_qpV2tl6voMcYnWzaU5qlAgUz6QaonSc/s320/XO.jpg" width="208" /></a><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">XO (Kathryn Dance #3)<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Jeffery Deaver</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Kayleigh Towne is a beautiful and successful singer-songwriter, and Edwin Sharp is her biggest fan. When she replies to one of his fan letters with 'XO', Edwin is convinced she loves him, and that her latest hit song 'Your Shadow' was written for him. Nothing Kayleigh or her lawyers can say persuades him otherwise. Then the singer gets an anonymous phone call; it's the first verse of 'Your Shadow' playing. Soon after, one of the crew is horribly murdered. Kayleigh's friend Kathryn Dance, a special agent with the California Bureau of Investigation, knows that stalking crimes are not one-off occurrences, and, sure enough, more verses of the song are played as warnings of death to follow. With a little help from forensic criminalist Lincolyn Rhyme, Dance must use her kinesic and investigative skills in an attempt to find the killer before more people die.</i></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This
month I’ve really been bouncing around between genres with chick-lit, teen,
fantasy and literature all taking some time alongside my usually UF reads. This
is my crime novel for the month and I have to confess I like Jeffery Deaver’s
books a lot. To my mind he invented CSI with Lincoln Rhyme years before Grissom
entered the room. This is the third book with Kathryn Dance as the main
investigator and Kathryn rather than a forensic expert is a kinesics expert –
she can read body language and what people say to see if they are lying or
telling the truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This
time Kathryn is taking a few days off from work and meeting up an old friend,
famous country singer, Kayleigh Sharp. However, Kayleigh has problems in the
form of a stalker and when one of her road crew and an ex is killed, it looks
like Kathryn’s vacation may turn into a bit of a working holiday...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Kathryn
ends up working with the local police force in order to figure out what her
stalker will do next. I really enjoyed the initial confrontations between the
local cops and Kathryn – there are some amusing power plays and the differences
in the type of investigation each would run. Kathryn’s interrogations are
intriguing to read and you don’t know until after what she got out of the
Q&A session which adds extra tension. There are plenty of twists and turns
here as red herrings and suspicious character abound. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There
are a couple of deceptive endings – where it seems as if the case has been
wrapped up but the number of pages left to go suggest otherwise – and made the
twist seem less of a surprise. However, this was a fun read with plenty to get
you thinking and attempting to work it out yourself. I would love to see these
in a film – it feels quite cinematic at times with the local area and locations
well described and given character of their own. Added to which are some
ongoing issues of Kathryn’s personal life and there is a nice balance between character
and plot which many books miss. I really enjoyed the whole journey and still
think Jeffery Deaver is one step ahead of many in this genre!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Recommended
for fans of Patricia Cornwall and James Patterson. 8 out of 10 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232105105688358961noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341428574937381261.post-34478054829366375862013-08-26T10:30:00.000+01:002013-08-26T10:30:01.321+01:00Seraphina Review<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc1GvEjRpI4BKdFDQkakxLV8B29bfIqa7MT2N_-On7l-qqIE9lXNPI3RbuVUydR21yc7J6PvSZl0NR0nX0TS3hlnEgQKQhH6Vt6usN7rIVhm08czFZBdLod048mHZIFULx8LClmBLUJ-4/s1600/Seraphina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc1GvEjRpI4BKdFDQkakxLV8B29bfIqa7MT2N_-On7l-qqIE9lXNPI3RbuVUydR21yc7J6PvSZl0NR0nX0TS3hlnEgQKQhH6Vt6usN7rIVhm08czFZBdLod048mHZIFULx8LClmBLUJ-4/s320/Seraphina.jpg" width="211" /></a><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Seraphina<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Rachel Hartman</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Publisher: Corgi<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life.</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Seraphina
is a talented musician at the royal court, but she has a secret that should
never be told – her mother was a dragon. Growing tensions between humans and
dragons mean she gets caught up in political issues, especially when the royal
prince is murdered and all suspicions point to dragons as the culprit. Did
dragons kill him? Will the peace last? And what if it doesn’t...?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Seraphina
is a fantastic character – self-contained by necessity, but brave and smart.
She understands both sides of the conflict but is hidden from both. Her growing
friendship with the second heir, Princess Glisselda is fun and yet very serious
as Seraphina almost incidentally starts to show her how to be more open to
other ideas. Prince Lucien is a intriguing character and the relationship
between the two of them is realistic and filled with difficulties. And then
there are the dragons... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Typically
shapeshifting dragons are portrayed as humans with temper issues (okay – I’m
grossly generalising but you get the idea). What I loved about Seraphina was
the portrayal of the dragons as a truly alien species – with emotions thought
to be common and unworthy of them. However, when in human form they struggle
with understanding heir new bodies and the thoughts and feelings this brings.
It asks some interesting questions about how much our bodies shape our thoughts
and actions verses how much is our minds and spirits. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In
total this is a complex and layered story with a history and (hopefully!) a future
that will entertain and amuse. There is a murder mystery, complicated political
tensions, dragon fights, music, family secrets and dysfunction with just a
slight scent of romance. I was pulled in from the beginning and the story never
goes for easy or simple making this one of the best YA fantasy offerings out
there! Highly recommended!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Recommended
for fans of Sarah J Maas & Rae Carson. 9 out of 10 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232105105688358961noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341428574937381261.post-73870136650129011422013-08-25T08:00:00.000+01:002013-08-25T12:29:21.956+01:00My Book Haul / Showcase Sunday<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is <a href="http://www.booksbiscuitsandtea.co.uk/" style="color: #4c0077; text-decoration: initial;">Books, Biscuits and Tea's Showcase Sunday</a> where I share my lovely book hauls each week. Have a look back at Vicki's link up to see what everyone is up too!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Less than a week now until I head for Canada for a couple of weeks. I'm desperately trying to put together enough interesting reviews and posts to keep you all going once I jet off - its exhausting! So this week I read <b><span style="color: blue;">XO by Jeffery Deaver </span></b>- an entertaining crime novel with plenty of twists and turns, then I raced through <b><span style="color: blue;">Kitty In The Underworld by Carrie Vaughn</span></b> and finally I enjoyed <b><span style="color: blue;">The Woken Gods by Gwenda Bond</span></b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a bit of a bumper week this week with a big giveaway win which had me dancing around the room! Plus a couple of request were accepted on Netgalley so I didn't do too badly this week!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>For Review</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Resist (Breathe #2) - Sarah Crossan</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Publisher: Bloomsbury</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXAYkbR6rxQ4CAPnJ0dcQJUqp1nNPK-4b2Wqr09tHBNNYQs1VkBmkc6EfUERgDEw3gu1IhFpRyCuNuzbAYVK_9rAurisWTioiWl1imSWHk1zSDKHlzrSXhsT5aoJSj7BniGktKDCiiu8/s1600/Resist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXAYkbR6rxQ4CAPnJ0dcQJUqp1nNPK-4b2Wqr09tHBNNYQs1VkBmkc6EfUERgDEw3gu1IhFpRyCuNuzbAYVK_9rAurisWTioiWl1imSWHk1zSDKHlzrSXhsT5aoJSj7BniGktKDCiiu8/s320/Resist.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Resistance to the Pod Leadership has come apart. The Grove has been destroyed but so has the Pod Minister. Quinn, Bea and Alina separately must embark on a perilous journey across the planet's dead landscape in search of the rumoured resistance base Sequoia. Meanwhile the Pod Minister has been succeeded by his capricious daughter. Her brother, Ronan, is supposed to advise her, but his doubts about the regime lead to him being sent out of the Pod in search of Quinn. In a world in which the human race is adapting to survive with little air, the stakes are high.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I loved Breathe last year so I am intrigued to see where this sequel will take the story!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Dying Is My Business - Nicholas Kaufmann</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Publisher: St Martins</b></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6q6vyK9JYoB50bl-10DjYITpFXFov18POBfRFf_YNd9ovaMNlZuC6MPDlLfWAisaesXQApKTJ_EjErfGyvv0zGK8yFm-1gVlbHfL7-lwGfKtel_z3QWoZJiOZJhtlfehf0Uw4nnwXss/s1600/Dying+Is+My+Buiness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6q6vyK9JYoB50bl-10DjYITpFXFov18POBfRFf_YNd9ovaMNlZuC6MPDlLfWAisaesXQApKTJ_EjErfGyvv0zGK8yFm-1gVlbHfL7-lwGfKtel_z3QWoZJiOZJhtlfehf0Uw4nnwXss/s320/Dying+Is+My+Buiness.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Given his line of work in the employ of a psychotic Brooklyn crime boss, Trent finds himself on the wrong end of too many bullets. Yet each time he’s killed, he wakes a few minutes later completely healed of his wounds but with no memory of his past identity. What’s worse, each time he cheats death someone else dies in his place. </span><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Sent to steal an antique box from some squatters in an abandoned warehouse near the West Side Highway, Trent soon finds himself stumbling into an age-old struggle between the forces of good and evil, revealing a secret world where dangerous magic turns people into inhuman monstrosities, where impossible creatures hide in plain sight, and where the line between the living and the dead is never quite clear. And when the mysterious box is opened, he discovers he has only twenty-four hours to save New York City from certain destruction.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I requested this as it looked like a cool Urban Fantasy - good vs. evil, a hero with shades of grey, New York - lets hope it is as good as it sounds!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Won</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Exit Kingdom - Aiden Bell</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Publisher: Tor</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZimm_ShTHdiEGAgQJ5oTnXuAAbdg4NpdB790YpJECXlyNhlWWofrCAkdLRHqW5BXIl4DNHIj3ooRZ8q9IDhZ5H6mFdExWF5EbUbi1tYTKkUuOBndETbJdsto7y-6M0vp-mtn_r0uYY0/s1600/Exit+Kingdom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZimm_ShTHdiEGAgQJ5oTnXuAAbdg4NpdB790YpJECXlyNhlWWofrCAkdLRHqW5BXIl4DNHIj3ooRZ8q9IDhZ5H6mFdExWF5EbUbi1tYTKkUuOBndETbJdsto7y-6M0vp-mtn_r0uYY0/s320/Exit+Kingdom.jpg" width="196" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">In a world where the undead outnumber the living, Moses Todd roams the post-apocalyptic plains of America. His reprobate brother, Abraham — his only companion — has known little else. Together, they journey because they have to; because they have nowhere to go, and no one to answer to other than themselves. </span><br style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Traveling the bloody wastelands of this ruined world, Moses is looking for a kernel of truth, and a reason to keep going. And a chance encounter presents him with the Vestal Amata, a beguiling and mysterious woman who may hold the key to salvation. But he is not the only one seeking the Vestal. For the Vestal has a gift: a gift that might help save what is left of humanity. And it may take everything he has to free her from the clutches of those who most desire her</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">I won this from the wonderful <a href="http://torbooks.co.uk/" target="_blank">Tor Blog </a>(go have a look as they have some great posts!). I like zombie books although I haven't read one for a while. Still it's not long until October and I might try some seasonal reading then! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">I was also lucky enough to win the British Book Challenge prize pack for July from Sarah over at <a href="http://www.feelingfictional.com/" target="_blank">Feeling Fictional</a> and it was a MEGA pack. I'm not going to put in the summary for each one as it would this post as long as the Eiffel Tower is tall! Is it any wonder I was dancing when the box arrived! The books are...</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD69t_VNH_BngsCrnidzYH6MGfF6XOyqJGdFPq2ehyphenhyphens8EcJAunrMww5PaT38c1Z43dbKq3OUTIFZt_xjYJ3xxjB-lbswtf85lMm-RMlZDEJ70rqMAFgY-aDVVY1FKMy3AZjxPB6U_C8Z8/s1600/July+Prizepack.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD69t_VNH_BngsCrnidzYH6MGfF6XOyqJGdFPq2ehyphenhyphens8EcJAunrMww5PaT38c1Z43dbKq3OUTIFZt_xjYJ3xxjB-lbswtf85lMm-RMlZDEJ70rqMAFgY-aDVVY1FKMy3AZjxPB6U_C8Z8/s320/July+Prizepack.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">Burn Mark by Laura Powell</b></div>
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<b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">Witch Fire by Laura Powell</b></div>
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<b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">The Disgrace of Kitty Grey by Mary Hooper</b></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">This Northern Sky by Julia Green</b></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">Killing Rachel by Anne Cassidy</b></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">Anthem for Jackson Dawes by Celia Bryce</b></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">Hostage 3 by Nick Lake</b></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">In Darkness by Nick Lake</b></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan</b></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">Breathe by Sarah Crossan</b></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">The Wall by William Sutcliffe</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">So what have you picked up this week...?</span></span></div>
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232105105688358961noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341428574937381261.post-17168426828987159602013-08-23T10:30:00.000+01:002013-08-23T10:30:00.983+01:00Guest Review: Grave Mercy<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>My cinema buddy, Sarah has popped again to share her thoughts on ninja assassin nuns...and if that doesn't intrigue you, nothing will!</i></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgP-Y-LUxE4neozMu2wkN8RDQdhVgDW2QtKpBDdwy7DRiHZzjAO3mu83IB-oxgQgiK6UWTbkGXHOQiDygybUPun2cTDhTqsdeF2zz_4Uub6-mPZFBwEGQC10WrqeFmF_tptFLplnJpbg/s1600/Grave+Mercy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgP-Y-LUxE4neozMu2wkN8RDQdhVgDW2QtKpBDdwy7DRiHZzjAO3mu83IB-oxgQgiK6UWTbkGXHOQiDygybUPun2cTDhTqsdeF2zz_4Uub6-mPZFBwEGQC10WrqeFmF_tptFLplnJpbg/s320/Grave+Mercy.jpg" width="211" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="font-size: x-large;">Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin #1)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Robin LaFevers</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">Whilst I love my current office job, it has seriously impinged on my reading levels in the last 18 months. Previously, I would get through a book in around 3 days. Now? Only one every 6 days. This means that I am not as much help to Mel when it comes to doing reviews as I used to be, although it does mean that I try my very best to only read books I think I’m really going to enjoy, rather than a lot of ‘oh, I’ll give it a go’ books. I thought that Grave Mercy looked a book right up my street – thankfully, I was right. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The premise is not a vastly original one – one character has a horrid childhood, is saved by a seemingly well-meaning group who train them in their field of expertise (in this case, assassination), said character is sent out to dispatch a mark, and instead sparks fly. However, when the horrid childhood is brought about by a failed attempt at abortion, the well-meaning group is a convent for the training of assassin nuns, and the intended mark is the bastard half-brother to the ruling Duchess it all becomes rather more than un-original!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our heroine is Ismae, our hero Duval, and, unlike in many fantasy novel romances, both are strong-willed, untrusting and capable of playing the game whilst notching a crossbow. It was also a very pleasant change to read about two people falling in love with the other’s personality, not their physical appearance. At no point is either character described as beautiful/handsome/striking/lovely etc etc, instead they both appear to be, well, normal! On a good day, they scrub up well, on a bad day, they don’t. A very satisfying novel for us average-lookers!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite doing History A-Level, my knowledge of French history is extremely limited, so I have to admit to having no idea whether or not the events portrayed in Grave Mercy are accurate. This does mean, however, that I could enjoy the political machinations as they were described, and without bias. Add to this an alternative take on the subject of Gods that leaves many a question unanswered and many an avenue to be explored, and I am gagging to get my hands on book two in the series.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In short, if you like your romances realistic, your fantasy historical, and your nuns to be assassins, then I defy you to not enjoy Grave Mercy. One for fans of Naomi Novik and Maria Snyder, 8.5 out of 10.</span></div>
Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232105105688358961noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341428574937381261.post-91628588231537046492013-08-22T10:30:00.000+01:002013-08-22T10:30:02.376+01:00Throwback Thursdays #95 - Sleeping With The Fishes<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsppYbwRR47vbURyZ24TZQjNHDonivA9VCziLx_7d0tWXO5lTcFDBqPDfZkfV4HvKpbRyck_YKNgMwKGmhekxxpTeeF5XoCtnzz8IBgfWn9p2MfdPAFJKUM-QimS-HpoC13towzG2n8U/s1600/Throwback+Thursday2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #a111cc; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: initial;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsppYbwRR47vbURyZ24TZQjNHDonivA9VCziLx_7d0tWXO5lTcFDBqPDfZkfV4HvKpbRyck_YKNgMwKGmhekxxpTeeF5XoCtnzz8IBgfWn9p2MfdPAFJKUM-QimS-HpoC13towzG2n8U/s1600/Throwback+Thursday2.jpg" style="border: currentcolor; position: relative;" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a great feature that Melissa at </span><a href="http://melissa-melsworld.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: initial;">My World...in words and pictures </a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">has been doing for a while which looks at those wonderful books that are ALREADY on my shelves that we haven't got round to reading yet..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Sleeping With The Fishes - MaryJanice Davidson</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Publisher: Piatkus</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcpFtYZC83i1V4wm6CwsxEaNvv0ACLOkuO0CB99a9IKc03pyJMiT7YF-CYYQTDrTv6sAlq2Wt_TNPf7VZUegIe4E-Isw0Hz1-eF0KrW93qIkUa4uVKRXB73qprgbCAcYnKaL81-bN9KMY/s1600/Sleeping+with+the+fishes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcpFtYZC83i1V4wm6CwsxEaNvv0ACLOkuO0CB99a9IKc03pyJMiT7YF-CYYQTDrTv6sAlq2Wt_TNPf7VZUegIe4E-Isw0Hz1-eF0KrW93qIkUa4uVKRXB73qprgbCAcYnKaL81-bN9KMY/s320/Sleeping+with+the+fishes.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Fred is not your ordinary mermaid. She's not blonde. She's not buxom. And she's definitely not perky. In fact, Fred can be downright cranky. And it doesn't help matters that her hair is blue. </span><br style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">While volunteering at the New England Aquarium, Fred learns that there are weird levels of toxins in the local seawater. A gorgeous marine biologist wants her help investigating. So does her merperson ruler, the High Prince of the Black Sea. You'd think it would be easy for a mermaid to get to the bottom of things. Think again.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Continuing my Paranormal Romance theme this month on Thursday is Sleeping With The Fishes. I've had mixed thoughts about mermaids in the past and I have to confess I got a little bored with the Queen Betsy Undead series also by MaryJanice Davidson but I remain hopeful that this new series with tick all the right boxes for mermaids and some romance!</span></span></div>
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232105105688358961noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341428574937381261.post-13325601821091626012013-08-21T10:30:00.000+01:002013-08-21T10:30:00.825+01:00I've Got Your Number Review<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3qNz3UWL-IMJ8rie4WV3Gzo_YE9bYJ3qDTw9JiQ45Ab5Qb7GkcMR6g7qABhYMu1e_cWgpU-eZTt1dBvHr7udALILly5-PDq-A6olsPNssal3epEq85Wrhi_XBrXP7LX4lEhZ4amNMcQ/s1600/I've+Got+Your+Number.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3qNz3UWL-IMJ8rie4WV3Gzo_YE9bYJ3qDTw9JiQ45Ab5Qb7GkcMR6g7qABhYMu1e_cWgpU-eZTt1dBvHr7udALILly5-PDq-A6olsPNssal3epEq85Wrhi_XBrXP7LX4lEhZ4amNMcQ/s320/I've+Got+Your+Number.jpg" width="207" /></a><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I’ve Got Your Number<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Sophie Kinsella</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Publisher: Black Swan<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">I've lost it. :( The only thing in the world I wasn't supposed to lose. My engagement ring. It's been in Magnus's family for three generations. And now, the very same day his parents are coming, I've lost it. The very same day. Do not hyperventilate, Poppy. Stay positive!! :)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">A couple of glasses of bubbly with the girls at a charity do and Poppy's life has gone into meltdown. Not only has she lost her engagement ring, but in the panic that followed, she's lost her phone too. As she paces shakily round the hotel foyer she spots an abandoned phone in a bin. Finders keepers! Now she can leave a number with the hotel staff. It was meant to be! </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">Except the phone's owner, businessman Sam Roxton, doesn't agree. He wants his phone back, and doesn't appreciate Poppy reading all his messages and wading into his personal life. As Poppy juggles wedding preparations, phone messages </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">and</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;"> hiding her left hand from Magnus and his parents, can things get any more tangled?</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
sun is shining, I’m in short sleeves and I really don’t feel like reading a
dark story about the end of the world or creatures who only come out at night,
so what do I reach for...? Sophie Kinsella for some bright light reading, with
plenty of humour, fun characters and some unique situations. On every level
this book delivers warmth, entertainment and some sweet relationships.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Poppy
is in the final weeks before her wedding and while she feels a little intimidated
by her fiancés family she is looking forward to the big day. However, losing
her engagement ring – a family inheritance and her phone on the same day is not
what she had planned. Then she finds a phone in a bin and becomes involved in
owners life. From the opening conversation between Poppy and Sam on the found
phone there is a real chemistry and connection between them – after all how
likely are you to stop a Japanese businessman leave a hotel by singing his name
in the style of Beyonce for a stranger? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
loved that the phone complete with emails and texts is the main connection
between them – these days a lot of friendships and romance rely heavily on this
type of communication and so many modern romances overlook this everyday method
of communicating. Poppy’s relationships with her soon to be in-laws, her work
friends and now with Sam are all believable – and if some of the situations
lean heavily towards extreme they still amuse. There were several occasions
when I laughed out loud (receiving some bemused looks on the train!) and I was
urging Poppy on throughout. Occasionally in Chick-Lit I find the main heroine a
little wet or annoyingly stupid but Poppy was actually quite capable and
emotionally confused. She was someone you wanted to do well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This
is the perfect summer read – easy, fun and with a fabulous leading lady and a
commanding guy. This helped me pass a couple of days journey to work quickly
and with much amusement!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Recommended
for fans of Jenny Colgan and Jane Green. 8.5 out of 10 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232105105688358961noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341428574937381261.post-54871955145098587892013-08-19T10:30:00.000+01:002013-08-19T11:06:58.460+01:00Early Review: The Bone Season<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5ogK6cQdhJl9P4QR507mzPeNx6r2AN56f209QNo1s8sdtfoyd8pqKis05IEEvD4gBlNfokkQ6M6UZoT80Woht83mhQGoMxVBLdShsVSgBR3SLQoZEEBTYmjvoamgowBF9r_bLJBFZRo/s1600/The+Bone+Season.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5ogK6cQdhJl9P4QR507mzPeNx6r2AN56f209QNo1s8sdtfoyd8pqKis05IEEvD4gBlNfokkQ6M6UZoT80Woht83mhQGoMxVBLdShsVSgBR3SLQoZEEBTYmjvoamgowBF9r_bLJBFZRo/s320/The+Bone+Season.jpg" width="209" /></a><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The Bone Season<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Samantha Shannon</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Publisher: Bloomsbury - Released 20th August 2013<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">E-Arc Courtesy of Netgalley &
Bloomsbury<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">It is the year 2059. Several major world cities are under the control of a security force called Scion. Paige Mahoney works in the criminal underworld of Scion London, part of a secret cell known as the Seven Seals. The work she does is unusual: scouting for information by breaking into others’ minds. Paige is a dreamwalker, a rare kind of clairvoyant, and in this world, the voyants commit treason simply by breathing. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">But when Paige is captured and arrested, she encounters a power more sinister even than Scion. The voyant prison is a separate city—Oxford, erased from the map two centuries ago and now controlled by a powerful, otherworldly race. These creatures, the Rephaim, value the voyants highly—as soldiers in their army. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">Paige is assigned to a Rephaite keeper, Warden, who will be in charge of her care and training. He is her master. Her natural enemy. But if she wants to regain her freedom, Paige will have to learn something of his mind and his own mysterious motives.</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Set
in the near future, but in a world which diverged from ours two hundred years
ago, The Bone Season has its work cut out introducing us to a world and society
very different from what we know. However Samantha Shannon succeeds brilliantly
by introducing us, not only to one new world, but to many via a multi-layered
complex society with secrets and prejudices. The world building is strong and
could withstand an earthquake! Scion hold cities in their grip, terrified of
those among the population who can read minds, communicate with ghosts and use
the dead as weapons. Paige is one of these voyants, working for a criminal mime-lord
in central London when she is captured by the Scion and sent to the former city
of Oxford where she discovers that there is more to voyants and Scions hatred
of them than she ever knew.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Paige
is a great heroine – tenacious, determined but smart and slightly on the
defensive side as she has had to hide what she is all her life, even from
family. She resolves to escape Oxford however she can but there are multiple
threads around her with many people working on their own agendas – who can she
trust? Other voyants are self serving and her Keeper, Warden is distant and
unsympathic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
admit I was a little wary when I first started The Bone Season as I thought it
was going to be like multiple other YA stories with simple characters and a
straight forward right verses wrong story. I was so happy to be proved wrong!
The characters are all three dimensional with their own prejudices. The Rephiam,
far from being slightly different types of human are unique, with their
motivations mysterious. They feel different and like Paige, you are never sure
what they are up to or what they want. Paige’s reaction and relationships are
well explored and you do feel that she is a good person in an impossible
situation. However, I have to admit that the timing of the story felt a little
off to me – I felt that only a couple of weeks had passed for Paige wince she
was captured but it turned out to be months.Manybe I was just reading too fast!
</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">My
real joy in reading The Bone Season was the complexity of the plot which varied
and twisted back on itself. There is some truly horrific violence. While the story
started here is complete with a satisfying conclusion there are plenty of
questions and mysteries still outstanding not least is how Paige has changed
after her experiences. I will be looking forward to seeing how the rest of this
wider arc plays out!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Recommended
for fans of Deborah Harkness and Isobelle Carmody. 8 out of 10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232105105688358961noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341428574937381261.post-51014118612467784532013-08-18T08:00:00.000+01:002013-08-18T08:00:02.398+01:00My Book Haul / Showcase Sunday<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQ7x9VWqs9WAG70k-5Viq7AsUfwr2ImtmuK87A_s95QIuM3fG0DNY7faWBGsloEIqW3Vxl-ZpdgnE5Oyv7Rf-d5AVXTu5rPvxiZi4iaDgK2DiqMetabvCvVu_P4KAg_p9miltS_2ju5c/s1600/SSsmall.png" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #a111cc; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQ7x9VWqs9WAG70k-5Viq7AsUfwr2ImtmuK87A_s95QIuM3fG0DNY7faWBGsloEIqW3Vxl-ZpdgnE5Oyv7Rf-d5AVXTu5rPvxiZi4iaDgK2DiqMetabvCvVu_P4KAg_p9miltS_2ju5c/s320/SSsmall.png" style="border: currentcolor; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is <a href="http://www.booksbiscuitsandtea.co.uk/" style="text-decoration: initial;">Books, Biscuits and Tea's Showcase Sunday</a> where I share my lovely book hauls each week. Have a look back at Vicki's link up to see what everyone is up too!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was another good week reading wise - I finished <b><span style="color: blue;">A Night On The Orient Express by Veronica Henry</span></b> which has really given me the urge to journey to Venice! <b><span style="color: blue;">The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon</span></b> was a wonderfully complex story while <b><span style="color: blue;">Seraphina by Rachel Hartman</span></b> was a wonderful take on Dragon mythology! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought I wouldn't have anything to report this week as I didn't receive any books in the post but then I met up with a good friend yesterday and together we managed to explore a lot of book stores in London and I couldn't leave without picking up one or two! :-)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Bought</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Half Sick of Shadows - David Logan</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Publisher: Corgi</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfsxQF75AMaa6FPJcjl85Y5_U2mJ8MG4Etgsuj6CSBmBR6_AigpuqY2NQyvD0QDHbgRqRQegoKtmuj85hZhCADoL4a5dOwh-POpCnsWIxF-YBE7CeGLwL5ARKVUj9iduVUNpjda5td7c/s1600/Half-Sick+of+Shadows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfsxQF75AMaa6FPJcjl85Y5_U2mJ8MG4Etgsuj6CSBmBR6_AigpuqY2NQyvD0QDHbgRqRQegoKtmuj85hZhCADoL4a5dOwh-POpCnsWIxF-YBE7CeGLwL5ARKVUj9iduVUNpjda5td7c/s320/Half-Sick+of+Shadows.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">On the eve of Granny Hazel's burial in the back garden a stranger in his time machine visits five year old Edward with a strange request. And Edward agrees to be his friend.</span><br style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Edward is not alone in the world. His twin sister, Sophia, is about to bring future tragedy upon herself by misunderstanding a promise she will make to their father.</span><br style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">While Sophia stays at home in The Manse, Edward is sent to boarding school. There he encounters the kind and the not so kind and befriends the strangest child, Alf – whose very existence hints at universes of unlimited possibilities ... and who one day might help Edward free Sophia.</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been after this since it won the first Terry Prachett prize last year and now the paperback copy is out I get to indulge my love of time travel stories!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Publisher: Headline</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBlqh2up9Vbhsn2arLDmiYXVom2S1aFts0iiDv6p7ZJmybSvBkDmdVb_dyDdwMIGm0BvJlE9NDtCpvfvSnNvBly2aHs5vZMFMi8hm_do1tGJ2YLhxB9iLQBQ9QitMLBkAuwoAxnX2bFY/s1600/Neverwhere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBlqh2up9Vbhsn2arLDmiYXVom2S1aFts0iiDv6p7ZJmybSvBkDmdVb_dyDdwMIGm0BvJlE9NDtCpvfvSnNvBly2aHs5vZMFMi8hm_do1tGJ2YLhxB9iLQBQ9QitMLBkAuwoAxnX2bFY/s320/Neverwhere.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Under the streets of London there's a place most people could never even dream of. A city of monsters and saints, murderers and angels, knights in armour and pale girls in black velvet. This is the city of the people who have fallen between the cracks.</span><br style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Richard Mayhew, a young businessman, is going to find out more than enough about this other London. A single act of kindness catapults him out of his workday existence and into a world that is at once eerily familiar and utterly bizarre. And a strange destiny awaits him down here, beneath his native city: neverwhere.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This book has also been on my must-read list for ages - and I finally gave in and bought a copy! Now I just need to find time to read it...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what have you been up to this week...?</span></div>
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Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232105105688358961noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8341428574937381261.post-75303883593667491512013-08-16T10:30:00.000+01:002013-08-16T10:30:00.611+01:00Guest Review: American Gods<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Sometimes it takes a while but when either Sarah, my regular guest reviewer or I like a book we try and persuade the other to read it. Having read and loved American Gods in 2011 (<a href="http://melsrandomblogs.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/american-gods-review.html" target="_blank">read my review here</a>), Sarah has finally got around to it!</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81_grI8GakKtKePi2rZ8NHNkMW_NLfp5sBn4eUpznLWow6Qc4EqZb8aBcWMNDMSGTws8Pmllm-4e_TfINu8Z_1Ysoo2dul0GEHA8E2x7Xp-q_ZIJg701rx6bg1ILUkRqPsLbx0yULzbY/s1600/American+Gods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81_grI8GakKtKePi2rZ8NHNkMW_NLfp5sBn4eUpznLWow6Qc4EqZb8aBcWMNDMSGTws8Pmllm-4e_TfINu8Z_1Ysoo2dul0GEHA8E2x7Xp-q_ZIJg701rx6bg1ILUkRqPsLbx0yULzbY/s320/American+Gods.jpg" width="210" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>American Gods</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Neil Gaiman</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Publisher: Headline</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Days before his release from prison, Shadow's wife, Laura, dies in a mysterious car crash. Numbly, he makes his way back home. On the plane, he encounters the enigmatic Mr Wednesday, who claims to be a refugee from a distant war, a former god and the king of America. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Together they embark on a profoundly strange journey across the heart of the USA, whilst all around them a storm of preternatural and epic proportions threatens to break.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mel reviewed this weighty tome back in 2011, so it shows just how far behind the times I am! I am most definitely a Neil Gaiman fan, although as I prefer him in ‘straight-up’ fantasy mode, I was a little hesitant about reading one of his more surreal urban fantasy books, especially one as large as this (thank god for the Kindle!). And speaking of gods/Gods….</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What happens to the Gods of old? Just because we no longer believe in them, does that mean that no one else does? Once a God is no longer worshipped, do they still qualify for the title, or do they simply cease?</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our hero Shadow, an ex-con displaying a wealth of kindness, and the ability to articulate wonderfully exactly what he (and the reader) is thinking at the most perplexing moments, is presented with the physical embodiment of all these questions, and is expected to accept and move on. His post-prison employer, known by the moniker Mr Wednesday, is a shadowy trickster with more linguistic tricks than a mensa tongue-twister, but the question is, is he a god, or a God?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have to admit, that this novel was a bit too surreal for my tastes, but it will be up many people’s curvy street (Mel for one!). If it hadn’t have been for Gaiman’s sublime grasp of storytelling, and his ridiculously likeable hero, I might have had to bail out early. However, I was in it to the end, which earns this (one for fans of China Mieville) an 8 out of 10</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12232105105688358961noreply@blogger.com3