That's what HE said Thursday

That's what HE said Thursday

Hosted by Chapter Break

Every Thursday we post a favorite line from your book boyfriend to his heroine. These are direct quotes from dialogue in a book. 

Pawn
by Aimee Carter
(Review)

This week I decided to share 

Benjy to Kitty 
“Perennial means that once they’re planted, they keep growing year after year.” He placed the flower in my palm and brushed his lips against mine. “They never give up, like someone I know.”

I thought this week's was sweet. 

What's your "That's What He Said" this week?

My Dusty Bookshelf

My Dusty Bookshelf

I've got an addiction for adding books to my bookshelf but never getting around to them. I'm sure I'm not the only one either. It's just so easy with all the new books to forget about the older ones. I'd like to start reading some of the books I've had for years and just haven't read. I thought this would be a good way to share and rekindle some interest in my dusty books. Plus I love giving books a little extra spotlight when I can. 

The year is almost over, and I've been craving some holiday books. This one I picked up last winter but I forgot about it.

Starry Night by Debbie Macomber
(Goodreads)

Synopsis

’Tis the season for romance, second chances, and Christmas cheer with this new novel from Debbie Macomber.

Carrie Slayton, a big-city society-page columnist, longs to write more serious news stories. So her editor hands her a challenge: She can cover any topic she wants, but only if she first scores the paper an interview with Finn Dalton, the notoriously reclusive author. 

Living in the remote Alaskan wilderness, Finn has written a mega-bestselling memoir about surviving in the wild. But he stubbornly declines to speak to anyone in the press, and no one even knows exactly where he lives.

Digging deep into Finn’s past, Carrie develops a theory on his whereabouts. It is the holidays, but her career is at stake, so she forsakes her family celebrations and flies out to snowy Alaska. When she finally finds Finn, she discovers a man both more charismatic and more stubborn than she even expected. And soon she is torn between pursuing the story of a lifetime and following her heart.


Filled with all the comforts and joys of Christmastime, Starry Night is a delightful novel of finding happiness in the most surprising places.

 How is your reading going? Anything interesting that's been sitting on your shelf a long time. Do you read holiday theme books based on the holiday?

Book Review: Pawn

Title - Pawn

Author - Aimee Carter 

Series - The Blackcoat Rebellion #1

Genre - YA Dystopian

Format - Kindle Arc Ebook

Published - November 26th 2013

Publisher - Harlequin Teen

(Goodreads)(Amazon)

Synopsis

YOU CAN BE A VII. IF YOU GIVE UP EVERYTHING. 

For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country. 

If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter. 

There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed …and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand.

Review

I received Pawn in return of an honest review from the publisher via NetGalley. Kitty Doe is an orphan growing up in the system till she hits 17 and takes the test which will determine her future in life. When she tests but only succeeds in being ranked as a three with an assignment across the country in order to stay in town with her boyfriend her only option is to join Tabs in prostitution. On her first night they auction her off to the highest bidder, who plans to change Kitty’s life making her on of the most powerful girl in the country.

Kitty wakes up from surgery with a whole new life taking over for the late Lila who died in a skiing accident. Kitty has no other choice but to accept the offer and pretend to be Lila or end up like Tabs. Everyone has plans for Kitty from being against the rebels to supporting the rebels. With the help of Lila’s mother and fiancé Kitty is tossed into a new world full of deceit, murder, secrets and even a little romance. As the truth about what’s really going on starts to come out will Kitty fall victim like Lila or survive?

I wasn’t sure about Kitty at first but as the story progressed I grew to love her she is like a wine just keeps getting better with age. I loved that she cared so much for her boyfriend Benjy and was willing to risk her life to keep him safe. I wasn’t sure about Knox I wanted to dislike him but I just couldn’t and I see a lot of potential for him in the next book. I was worried we would see a love triangle but we didn’t get one which I was really happy about.

I’ve been sitting on this one far too long, as I received it for review over a year ago and I feel terrible about not getting to it sooner. Pawn is an interesting concept while it’s still a dystopian I found the story fresh and exciting. The storyline has a nice mix of suspense and action making it hard to put the novel down. This is my first book by Aimee Carter but I have become a quick fan of her writing style it just flows so smoothly and I was captivated by the book. The characters are easy to connect with I loved Kitty by the end and can’t wait to continue her story. Pawn is one of those must reads for fans of the dystopian genre it’s a clean novel so teens as well as adults will enjoy it. I’ve already picked up the second one and I’m looking forward to find out what happens next in Kitty’s world.

Wishlist Wednesday

Wishlist Wednesday

Wishlist Wednesday is a book blog hop where we will post about one book per week that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added (it's entirely up to you), that we can't wait to get off the list and onto our wonderful shelves. 

Hosted by Pen to Paper

I love Urban Fantasy novels. This one is new to me but it sound interesting, the cover is stunning and this big furry guy in the back is calling my name. 

My choice this week is:
Family Heir: A Bigfoot Novel
by Sara M. Drake 
(Goodreads)

Synopsis
Kelley longed for a normal life – to go to college, to have normal friends, and to work a nice desk job. When an unknown predator starts a killing spree, she finds herself drug back into a world that includes vampires, werewolves, and her ex-husband. Kelley agrees to lead the small team to find the murderer – which consists of one uncommunicative ex-hubbie and an inexperienced federal agent. Only shots in the night prove that Kelley has become a target and her training as a Hunter does nothing to prepare her for being hunted.

What's on your wishlist?

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday December 17th 2014

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating. In my case not so patiently waiting for the new releases, which I lack.

I feel like I just keep adding more and more new books for 2015. I didn't even read all of 2014..... This week I decided to go with a must read author favorite of mine. All of her books so far have been awesome. Plus it's just after the first year. 


The Return by Jennifer L. Armentrout 
(Goodreads)
Expected February 17th 2015

Synopsis
The Fates are cackling their bony asses off…

It’s been a year since Seth made the deal with the gods that pledged his life to them. And so far, the jobs they’ve given him have been violent and bloody–which is kind of all right with him. But now Apollo has something else in mind for Seth. He’s got to play protector while keeping his hands and fingers off, and for someone who really has a problem with restraint, this new assignment might be the most challenging yet.

Josie has no idea what this crazy hot guy’s deal might be, but it’s a good bet that his arrival means the new life she started after leaving home is about to be thrown into an Olympian-sized blender turned up to puree. Either Josie is going insane or a nightmare straight out of ancient myth is gunning for her.

But it might be the unlikely attraction simmering between her and the golden-eyed, secret-keeping Seth that may prove to be the most dangerous thing of all.

Because history has once again been flipped to repeat.


Book 1 in the new adult paranormal TITAN series, spin-off to the best selling COVENANT series.

What are you waiting on?

Top Ten Tuesday!

Top Ten Tuesday!

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke And The Brookish. Who doesn't love lists. They make life easy! And fun!! It's always a never ending topic.

I'm playing around with my own graphic I'll be trying a few out of the next month. I want one unique to me. 

This week's topic:
Top Ten books I read in 2014

I didn't read as many this year but I did read some I really enjoyed those I was able to read. 

1. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (Review) One of my favorites of 2014 that I think would make an excellent movie. The book is so executed so well I would love to see how it plays out on the big screen. I know for sure I will be reading this book again. It's just so beautifully done. I recommend this book to readers and non-readers alike. 

2&3. Dead Over Heels (Review) &  Donna of the Dead (Review) by Alison Kemper. I really loved her unique take on zombies mix in some romance and it was a perfectly done story. These are by far my favorite zombies novels and I can't wait to see what comes out next. They are on my must read when I need a zombie kick. 

4&5. The School for Good and Evil (Review) & A World Without Princes (Review) by Soman Chainani. Another duo that I just fell head over heels with. I'm impatiently waiting for the third book. 

6. Alyssa Rose Ivy - I read several of her books this year all of which I loved so I decided to just pick her and share all the ones I loved. 

Wrecked (Review) ~ Dire (Review) ~ The Hazards of Skinny Dipping (Review) ~ Shaken Not Stirred (Review) ~ Flight (Review)

7. Tempting Fate by April White (Review) This is the sequel to Marking Time which was my favorite book of 2013. I absolutely loved Tempting Fate and I'm dying to get my hands on the next one. I love the concept for Saira as a clocker. I'm kind of jealous I don't have her ability. 

8. His Frozen Heart by Nancy Straight (Review) Nancy is my favorite authors however I've only read her centaur series so when I had the chance to jump at her New Adult Romance I jumped at it. I honestly loved His Frozen Heart. 

9. The One by Kiera Cass (Review) One of my favorite series, and I feel like I waited forever for this book. I was so sad to see it end because I loved America as a character she is by far one of my favorites. I learned next year that she will be continuing the series in an exciting new twist. Can't wait!!!! 

10.    Fledgling (Review) & Avian (Review) by Nicole Conway   Last by in no way least of all is the duo of The Dragonrider Chronicles. This one is funny my hubby glanced over when I was reading the invite and was like we should read that book. So of course I signed up and it was love at first book. Both of us read the book together. Well my hubby started it but I started and finished long before he did. So of course I had to read book 2 as did he on his deployment. Both of us are anxiously waiting for the next book. This is the first book we have read together it's kind of awesome. 

Not ten this week but still a good list. I'm sure I will be adding lots of books to my TBR this week. I can't see what your favorites are.  

What's on your top ten list this week?

Musing Mondays

Musing Mondays 
Hosted by Should Be Reading

Musing Mondays asks you to muse about one of the following each week…

• Describe one of your reading habits.

• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).

• What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it! 

• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren't) enjoying it.

• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us!

• Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then!

This week:

• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren't) enjoying it.

Currently I'm reading Pawn by Aimee Carter. This is my first book by her and so far I'm really enjoying it. Just can't seem to find the time to read which is driving me nuts. Hopefully today I will be able to finish my book because I would love to see how it all ends. I just made a butterscotch latte and plan to curl up on the sofa with a blanket and read read read the morning away. 

What are you musing today?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? December 15th 2014

Welcome to It's Monday! is a weekly event hosted by Sheila at Bookjourney to share with others what you've read the past week and are planning to read the next.

Last week
It's going to be the first year at this rate I don't finish my challenge goal. Eek I feel terrible. I have no excuse for why I didn't get much reading done. I'm super captivated by Pawn just to much end of the year real life stuff. 

Atlantis Riptide by Allie Burton (Review)

Currently Reading 

Pawn by Aimee Carter (Goodreads)

Up Next
Not sure yet.

Rest of the week

Something quick because I need to cram in a lot of books before the end of the year. 

What are you reading this week?

The Sunday Post

The Sunday Post 

Hosted by:

Kimba the "Caffeinated Book Reviewer"

The Sunday post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer~ It's a chance to share new ~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. 

What happened last week: 
A whole lot of nothing. The hubby worked but I had a lot of real life to keep me busy so I didn't get as much reading done. I have just over 10 days to get as much reading done as I can than after xmas I have lots of reading time. I'm still hoping to complete my goal of 150 books. It's always this time of year when real life likes to step in and take over. Thankfully I just have to make xmas dinner and appetizers for Christmas Eve.

My newest additions to my shelves.
Trying to be good just picked up a few I couldn't wait for.

Zodiac by Romina Russell (Goodreads)

Now That You're Here by Amy K. Nichols (Goodreads)

Firebolt by Adrienne Woods (Goodreads)

Wicked by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Goodreads)

Around the blogosphere
So much end of year stuff happening. 
Kindle Obsessed has a 21 day Giveaway Extravaganza (Here)
Best of 2014 Giveaway Hop @ Bookhounds (Here)
2015 Debut Author Challenge @ The Artsy Reader Girl (Here)

This coming week 
I'm currently reading Pawn and should be done by this afternoon. I hope to get a few more in.

I hope all of you have an amazing week!!!!!

GRAND FINALE BLITZ: Claus Box Set (clean YA Sci-Fi)‏

A themed tour through Prism Book Tours.

It's the Grand Finale for

The Claus Box Set Tour

By Tony Bertauski

Now you can purchase all three books in the Claus Series together!

Amazon - Barnes & Noble

Have you ever wondered if Claus had a family? Who exactly is Jack Frost? How about a living, breathing snowman? Have you ever thought about how it all would work? Let Tony Bertauski's imagination and fabulous storytelling take you on a journey through a sci-fi winter wonderland! If you missed any of the stops for the tour, you're welcome to go back and check them out now...

Launch - The Claus Universe

The story of Santa has been told a billion, billion times on the screen and the television, the written page and the digital, in short form and long, in verse and song. He’s been animated and claymated, horrified and glorified. There’s not a single word left unwritten about the jolly old fat man.

Except, maybe, not that I recall, in science fiction...

Mommabears Book Blog - Excerpt from Claus

And in March of 1820, just as the sun had begun to rise from its long winter disappearance, they set out to do what no human – Inuit or otherwise – had done before.

They would touch the North Pole.

The Arctic was stunning.

SBM Book Obsession - Characters from the Claus Universe

Elven

An ancient race that evolved through the Ice Age, the elven are short and fat with generous layers of blubber to tolerate the cold. Their fat feet are large and wide like snowshoes, the soles scaly to slide across ice. Technologically evolved, long-lived and wise, they carve their homes in the North Pole ice and secretly monitor the growth of the human race while living in harmony with their environment.

Mythical Books - Characters from Claus

Nicholas Santa

Born in the late 1700s, Nicholas Santa set out with his wife, Jessica, and son, Jon, to become the first people to journey to the North Pole. However, they discover something much more than snow. Nicholas finds himself in the middle of an elven conflict. And we discover how he becomes the immortal and mythical figure known as Santa Claus. Why does he wear a red coat? Why is he fat? Why does he laugh like that? It all makes sense.

Wishful Endings - Characters from Jack

Janack (Jack)

An elven, son of Jocah and fraternal twin of Claus. Due to a genetic abnormality, he is the only hairless elven in existence. Jack can freeze people, elven and objects with the touch of a finger. He returns to this modern day story through the science of cloning...

Letters from Annie (Douglass) Lima - Excerpt from Jack

Joe leads her into the maze. They run their hands over the flat-topped boxwoods, shuffle over the oyster shell path. The sunken garden is imbued with warmth, the kind that flows through her, melts in her stomach, opens her heart. She smiles, involuntarily, as she couldn’t frown if she tried.

The short, fat woman sits on a square pedestal inside a round pool, water dripping from her frozen hands. Light emanates from the center without a source.

“Who is she?” Sura asks.

“You’ve never heard the Myth of Jocah?”

Beck Valley Books - Characters from Flury

Flury

The snowman that lives on the property. He is rarely seen until Oliver comes to live with Grandmother. The snowman becomes his protector and slowly reveals the family secrets that have been hidden for over a hundred years.

fuonlyknew - Excerpt from Flury

“You have grown.”

She doesn’t let go while looking him over: his hair, the stray whiskers on his chin, the insufficient winter clothing. She stares at the floor. His socks are loose at the ends of his frozen toes, specks of snow clinging to the fabric. Small puddles begin to bead on the polished floor.

“And how old are you?”

“Fifteen.”

My Life Loves and Passion - Review

"These books were awesome. I am not a huge fan of holiday themed books for myself, but these were different. Each book is a very different story about 3 very common winter myths. I loved that these stories were not all candy and rainbows. There was such a good mix of fantasy and holiday spirit.

I started reading and before I knew it hours had passed. It pulls you in and makes you want to keep reading."

 The Book Lovers' Lounge - Spotlight

Book Babble - Review

"By the end of the book, I couldn't want to move on to the second one to find out what was going to happen next...

This book really took me on a wild ride. Every time I thought I had something figured out, the plot went in a completely different direction...

There is a great deal of humor in the story, and some really fun dialogue..."

More About the Series

Claus: Legend of the Fat Man

(Claus #1)

by Tony Bertauski

YA Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Holiday

Paperback & ebook, 326 Pages

June 19th 2012

The Christmas story you never heard.

In the early 1800s, Nicholas, Jessica and Jon Santa attempt the first human trek to the North Pole and stumble upon an ancient race of people left over from the Ice Age. They are short, fat and hairy. They slide across the ice on scaly soles and carve their homes in the ice that floats on the Arctic Ocean. The elven are adapted to life in the extreme cold. They are as wise as they are ancient.

Their scientific advancements have yielded great inventions -- time-stopping devices and gravitational spheres that build living snowmen and genetically-modified reindeer that leap great distances. They’ve even unlocked the secrets to aging. For 40,000 years, they have lived in peace.

Until now.

An elven known as The Cold One has divided his people. He’s tired of their seclusion and wants to conquer the world. Only one elven stands between The Cold

One and total chaos. He’s white-bearded and red-coated. The Santa family will help him stop The Cold One. They will come to the aid of a legendary elven

known as...Claus.

   

Amazon - Barnes & Noble

Jack: The Tale of Frost

(Claus #2)

by Tony Bertauski

YA Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Holiday

Paperback & ebook, 290 Pages

October 17th 2013

Sura is sixteen years old when she meets Mr. Frost. He’s very short and very fat and he likes his room very, very cold. Some might say inhumanly cold. His first name isn’t Jack, she’s told. And that’s all she needed to know.

Mr. Frost’s love for Christmas is over-the-top and slightly psychotic. And why not? He’s made billions of dollars off the holiday he invented. Or so he claims. Rumor is he’s an elven, but that’s silly. Elven aren’t real. And if they were, they wouldn’t live in South Carolina. They wouldn’t hide in a tower and go to the basement to make…things.

Nonetheless, Sura will work for this odd little recluse. Frost Plantation is where she’ll meet the love of her life. It’s where she’ll finally feel like she belongs somewhere. And it’s where she’ll meet someone fatter, balder and stranger than Mr. Frost. It’s where she’ll meet Jack.

Jack hates Christmas.

   

Amazon - Barnes & Noble

Flury: Journey of a Snowman

(Claus #3)

by Tony Bertauski

YA Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Holiday

Paperback & ebook, 300 Pages

November 15th 2014

Life hasn’t been kind to Oliver Toye.

As if juvenile diabetes isn’t enough, he’s forced to live with his tyrannical grandmother in a snow-bound house. He spends his days doing chores and the nights listening to the forest rumble.

But when he discovers the first leather-bound journal, the family secrets begin to surface. The mystery of his great-grandfather’s voyage to the North Pole is revealed. That’s when the snowman appears.

Magical and mysterious, the snowman will save Oliver more than once. But when the time comes for Oliver to discover the truth, will he have the courage? When Flury needs him, will he have the strength? When believing isn’t enough, will he save the snowman from melting away?

Because sometimes even magic needs a little help.

   

Amazon - Barnes & Noble

About Tony Bertauski

During the day, I'm a horticulturist. While I've spent much of my career designing landscapes or diagnosing dying plants, I've always been a storyteller. My writing career began with magazine columns, landscape design textbooks, and a gardening column at the Post and Courier (Charleston, SC). However, I've always fancied fiction.

My grandpa never graduated high school. He retired from a steel mill in the mid-70s. He was uneducated, but he was a voracious reader. I remember going through his bookshelves of paperback sci-fi novels, smelling musty old paper, pulling Piers Anthony and Isaac Asimov off shelf and promising to bring them back. I was fascinated by robots that could think and act like people. What happened when they died?

I'm a cynical reader. I demand the writer sweep me into his/her story and carry me to the end. I'd rather sail a boat than climb a mountain. That's the sort of stuff I want to write, not the assigned reading we got in school. I want to create stories that kept you up late.

Having a story unfold inside your head is an experience different than reading. You connect with characters in a deeper, more meaningful way. You feel them, empathize with them, cheer for them and even mourn. The challenge is to get the reader to experience the same thing, even if it's only a fraction of what the writer feels. Not so easy.

In 2008, I won the South Carolina Fiction Open with Four Letter Words, a short story inspired by my grandfather and Alzheimer's Disease. My first step as a novelist began when I developed a story to encourage my young son to read. This story became The Socket Greeny Saga. Socket tapped into my lifetime fascination with consciousness and identity, but this character does it from a young adult's struggle with his place in the world.

After Socket, I thought I was done with fiction. But then the ideas kept coming, and I kept writing. Most of my work investigates the human condition and the meaning of life, but not in ordinary fashion. About half of my work is Young Adult (Socket Greeny, Claus, Foreverland) because it speaks to that age of indecision and the struggle with identity. But I like to venture into adult fiction (Halfskin, Drayton) so I can cuss. Either way, I like to be entertaining.

And I'm a big fan of plot twists.

Website - Goodreads - Facebook

Tour Giveaway

   

$25 Amazon gift card and the Claus Box Set ebook

Open internationally

Ends December 21st

a Rafflecopter giveaway