Teaser Tuesday: August 31, 2010

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two "teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! Share the title and author, too, so that others can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser!

The Exiled Queen: A Seven Realms Novel (ARC)

by Cinda Williams Chima

 
Unwilling to chance the Waterlow amulet, Han grabbed a fistful of Micah's cloak and pulled him forward, pressing the blade of his knife into Micah's throat. (pg. 215)

"I think I know how to solve our burglar problem," he said. (pg. 323)

Review: The Innocent by Posie Graeme-Evans

The Innocent: A Novel

by Posie Graeme-Evans

First Copyright Date: 2005

Type of Book: Historical Fiction

ISBN No. 0-7432-7222-6

Book Description:

The year is 1450, a dangerous time in medieval Britain. Civil unrest is at its peak and the legitimacy of the royal family is suspect. Meanwhile, deep in the forests of western England, a baby is born. Powerful forces plot to kill both mother and child, but somehow the newborn girl survives. Her name is Anne.

Fifteen years later, England emerges into a fragile but hopeful new age, with the charismatic young King Edward IV on the throne. Anne, now a young peasant girl, joins the household of a wealthy London merchant. Her unusual beauty provokes jealousy, lust, and intrigue, but Anne has a special quality that saves her: a vast knowledge of healing herbs. News of her extraordinary gift spreads, and she is called upon to save the ailing queen. Soon after, Anne is moved into the palace, where she finds her destiny with the man who will become the greatest love of her life -- the king himself. 

Before I even start I will say that this is heavy on the fiction side. You read minimal about the big events that happened and mainly about the love story of Edward and Anne.That is okay, it was a decent story. A little tough to get into it but after the first few chapters the story unraveled rather well.

Anne's knowledge of healing herbs brings her to the attention of Queen Elizabeth. Dame Jehanne is in charge of the queen's body servants.  Jehanne does not know at this time that Anne is the child that she helped bring into this world (won't spoil who Anne's parents are for you). Queen Elizabeth is portrayed as a cold and mean woman to her servants (first time that I have read a description about her that is unfavorable) but very devoted and loving to her husband. King Edward finds himself in love with Anne but after Anne finds out who her parents were she knows that it can never be. But of course, eventually she gives in but then has to flee for her own safety. Edward and Anne's relationship is like an yo-yo. I did get wrapped up in it wondering when they would finally give in to temptation. So many times it was SO close! The ending leaves it wide open for the next book and I won't give away the reason why...:)

Nothing too exciting in this book but is a good story. Book is not a keeper on my historical fiction shelf but I will read the next one.

Rating:

2 of 5 Stars

**book personally purchased by me**

In My Mailbox: August 23-29

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. Anyone can participate in IMM and you are not limited to only sharing books that arrive via your mailbox. You can also share books that you've bought or books that you've gotten at the library. If interested please click the link above and sign up!

FOR REVIEW 

(all books have been provided for an honest review either by the author or publisher)

Wild Evolution (Wilds Book 1) by C. Fern Cook

When Dan defends his livestock against a wild dog attack, he is put in a 'kill or be killed' battle. When he takes the head of a wild dog in to be tested for rabies he discovers he has the head of a human male instead of a wild dog. Now he is forced to cover up a self-defense killing because no one would believe he killed a wild dog when he has a human head. A werewolf by contamination, Dan's life spins out of control. All his senses are heightened including his passion for the wild. His passion for the wild compels him to try to stop a new housing development that threatens the local wildlife from loss of habitat, but things don't go according to plans and now he has a second body to dispose of. 

 

Wild Justice (Wilds Book 2) by C. Fern Cook

In book #1 of the Wild Series, Wild Evolution, Colorado rancher Dan Tucker’s life is turned upside-down. After surviving a mutant canine attack, Dan discovers the animal he killed is not a wild dog, but a man. To protect himself even though it was a self-defense killing, he covers up the murder.
With his quiet life as bachelor rancher transformed into a constant battle of wits to keep his deep, dark secret safe, Dan finds himself at odds with everyone, including his girlfriend and his former best friend – and most of all, himself.

In book #2 of the Wild Series, Wild Justice, we find Dan worrying about keeping his nocturnal life a secret as his wedding gets closer. He soon discovers that’s the least of his worries…  

His Darkest Embrace by Juliana Stone (E-ARC)

A solitary hunter with no regard for the human world, Jagger Castille is a shifter living on the edge. A woman who calls him enemy will give him reason to live . . .
Jagger is a creature of the night—Skye Knightly soars in the sun. Natural adversaries, they are now joined in a mission entrusted to Skye's family centuries ago: nothing less than the salvation of the Earth.
Wounded and bitter, Jagger sought escape in the solitude of the jungle, driven by a need to disappear forever . . . until a mysterious shifter who calls to his soul and feeds a yearning long forgotten pulls him from his dark path. A courageous warrior, Skye's passion is equal to Jagger's—but can she trust a man whose secrets are as devastating as her own?

Each is the other's sole hope for survival. But a dark and twisted truth is leading them toward the ultimate sacrifice for a love they may never live to claim.

WON

The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials Book 1) by Philip Pullman

The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials Book 2) by Philip Pullman

The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials Book 3) by Philip Pullman

Thanks to Marcie at To Read Or Not To Read for the books above!!

PURCHASED

Abercrombie Trail: A Novel of the 1862 Uprising 

by Candace Simar

Endlessly fascinating. . . . The ultimate I was there book. I have read many books about Scandinavians coming to America in the turbulent 1860s, but thanks to author Candace Simar, this is the first time I was ever transported from my easy chair right into the book to experience it with them. The images of courage, cruelty, intolerance, discovery, and simple pleasures have stayed with me. This is one book I won t forget. John Koblas, author Let Them Eat Grass trilogy "Abercrombie Trail, Candace Simar's first-rate debut novel, beautifully captures the wild unpredictability of nineteenth-century immigrant life out on the Great Plains." Diana Ossana, Academy Award-winning co-author of Brokeback Mountain

I discovered a little used bookstore that specialized in area authors while camping this weekend! Check it out Little Apple Bookstore

The Friday 56: August 27, 2010

Tonya @ Story Time With Tonya and Friends hosted this fun weekly meme, which is you have to;
* Grab a book, closest.
* Turn to page 56, find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of the blog.
*Post a link along with your post back to Tonya's blog
*Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest or most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST!

Wild Evolution

by C. Fern Cook

The male youngster takes great lengths to mimic the other two adult males' actions. Imitation is supposed to be the highest form of flattery, but in this case it is a learning tool.

Waiting on Wednesday & WWW: August 25, 2010

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating. This week I am eagerly awaiting:

Chasing the Night

by Iris Johanson

Release Date: October 19, 2010
 

A CIA agent’s two-year-old child was stolen in the night as a brutal act of vengeance. Now, eight years later, this torment is something Catherine Ling awakens to every day. Her friends, family, and colleagues tell her to let go, move on, accept that her son is never coming back. But she can’t. Catherine needs to find someone as driven and obsessed as she is to help her— and that person is Eve Duncan. She knows that Eve shares her nightmare, since closure is also something that eludes Eve after the disappearance of her daughter Bonnie. Now, Eve must take her talents as a forensic sculptor to another level, using age progression as a way to unite Catherine with her child. As Eve gets drawn deeper into Catherine’s horror, she must face looming demons of her own.
Bonnie’s killer is still out there. And a new killer is taunting Eve and Catherine at every turn. Is Catherine’s son alive, or not?

CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEW EVE DUNCAN BOOK! LOVE HER WRITING!!

WWW Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Should Be Reading that answers these three questions:

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you will start next?

CURRENTLY READING

Still reading this one. It is good, not spectacular but worth the read if you like historical fiction.

The Innocent

by Posie Graeme-Evans

The year is 1450, a dangerous time in medieval Britain. Civil unrest is at its peak and the legitimacy of the royal family is suspect. Meanwhile, deep in the forests of western England, a baby is born. Powerful forces plot to kill both mother and child, but somehow the newborn girl survives. Her name is Anne.

Fifteen years later, England emerges into a fragile but hopeful new age, with the charismatic young King Edward IV on the throne. Anne, now a young peasant girl, joins the household of a wealthy London merchant. Her unusual beauty provokes jealousy, lust, and intrigue, but Anne has a special quality that saves her: a vast knowledge of healing herbs. News of her extraordinary gift spreads, and she is called upon to save the ailing queen. Soon after, Anne is moved into the palace, where she finds her destiny with the man who will become the greatest love of her life -- the king himself. 

FINISHED READING

Finished this one while reading the above one. Love Tiny's story by Lynsay Sands!

Bitten by Cupid

by Lynsay Sands, Pamela Palmer, Jaime Rush

Vampire Valentine by Lynsay Sands
Mirabeau LaRouche knew she had a job to do, but she never expected her assignment to take her through New York City′s dark, dank underground-in her bridesmaid gown, no less! And when her partner turns out to be mortal private investigator Tiny McGraw, Mireabeau knows it′s no ordinary Cupid′s arrow that has struck her heart this Valentine′s Day.

Hearts Untamed by Pamela Palmer
Ten years ago Zeeland left D.C. to join the Therian Guard, needing to put some distance between himself and the still-too-young Julianne. Now he′s returned, in the midst of a Valentine′s celebration to find Julianne more beautiful than ever, still angry at him for leaving, and up to her lovely eyebrows in an intrigue that threatens both of their immortal lives.

Kiss and Kill Cupid by Jamie Rush
Kat Morgan has no use for Valentine′s Day, since hearing other people′s thoughts puts a real damper on any kind of intimate relationship. When she overhears the Killer Cupid serial killer targeting her for his Valentine′s Day murder, Kat is terrified. But is Adrian, the one man whose thoughts she can′t hear, her savior, or killer?

UP NEXT

Still thinking of reading this one next

White Witch, Black Curse

by Kim Harrison

Kick-ass witch and bounty hunter Rachel Morgan lost her lover, and now she won't rest until his murder is solved and avenged. But the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and Rachel's past comes back to haunt her -- literally.

Teaser Tuesday: August 24, 2010

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two "teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! Share the title and author, too, so that others can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser!

The Innocent

by Posie Graeme-Evans

"Sir, I feel that Lady Margaret really does need to speak to you." She refused to say more, folding her lips quite firmly, and would not look him in the eye.(p.88)

Elizabeth glided into the king's little office with a glittering smile on her face. He knew that look and it made him impatient--it meant she was angry but biding her time, waiting for the moment she could play her hand to the maximum advantage. (p.376)

In My Mailbox: August 16-22

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. Anyone can participate in IMM and you are not limited to only sharing books that arrive via your mailbox. You can also share books that you've bought or books that you've gotten at the library. If interested please click the link above and sign up!

Wow...what a week. Found some great books and won a few also! We also went to Valleyfair this weekend and while in the Cities found a store called Half Priced Books (who could go by there and not stop??)

WON

Return the Heart by T.K. Richardson (from YA Urban) also a notebook and 2 bookmarks!

Bed by Tao Lin ( from Well-Read Wife) and a cute gnome bookmark!

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer (from All-Consuming Book Reviews by Tiger)

The Crescent bookmark (from A Simple Love of Reading)

 

Thank you everyone for the great books and swag!!

PURCHASED

Bloodsuckers: The Vampire Archives Volume 1 edited by Otto Penzler

Demon's Kiss by Eve Silver

The Monster Book of Zombies edited by Stephen Jones

Three Shades of Night by Janet Trautvetter, Sarah Roark and Myranda Sarro

Vampire Stories edited by Richard Dalby

The Restless Dead edited by Deborah Noyes

Walking Dead by C.E. Murphy

The Duchess by Amanda Foreman

 

E-BOOKS PURCHASED OR FREE

Pagan by Andrew Chapman

Along Came a Demon by Linda Welch

Premiere by Melody Carlson

 

GOODREADS

The King's Daughter by Sandra Worth

Alice Hartley's Happiness by Philippa Gregory

 

PAPERBACKSWAP.COM

Friday Night in Beast House by Richard Laymon

Leader of the Pack: Tales of an Urban Werewolf by Karen MacInerney

The Devil's Due by Jenna Black

Awaken Me Darkly by Gena Showalter

Enslave Me Sweetly by Gena Showalter

Blacklisted by Gena Showalter