Friday, October 19, 2012

Venom Blog Tour - Venomous Excerpt & Giveaway



I am very excited to be apart of the Venom Blog Tour. I loved this book (as you can tell from my review posted yesterday) and hope you do to.  

This tour includes something a little special. Fiona Paul has written a short story to accompany the upcoming release of Venom. Be sure to check out all the tour stops for the full story. 


Venomous
A Secrets of the Eternal Rose short story
By Fiona Paul

The year is 1600 and the streets of Venice, Italy are ripe with intrigue and danger. In this introduction to the world of Venom, eighteen-year-old Mariabella has recently elevated herself from the rank of common prostitute to the status of courtesan, a respected high-class escort for those men in Venetian society who can afford them. Mariabella steps out to attend a party on the arm of her powerful new patron, certain that the night will be filled with glamour, secrets, and adventure. 

If you missed the last part of the story, check it out on Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

          Back inside, Joseph is guzzling wine at an alarming rate as he chats with Donna Domacetti, the host of the party. She is a broad-shouldered obese woman and the large farthingale she wears beneath her skirts make her take up the space of three or four people. I smile briefly at her and try not to stare at the taut fabric of her bodice, at the seams threatening to split open if she makes any sudden movement. Everything about her disgusts me, from her stack of chins to the raucous manner in which she speaks. She seems to revel in being crass. 
          "It is more than just idle chatter, Signore." She gestures with her hands as she talks. "Several have told me about Don Vittorio's predilections."
          "So he makes his courtesans cut their hair." Joseph shrugs, umimpressed. "Unusual, but so what?"
          "Not just cut their hair," the donna says. "They say in private he dresses them as men, breeches, doublets, even boots. Why, I hear he once requested that his favorite wear a false moustache."
          She stares triumphantly, as though daring me to react. I smile, as she expects me to. Her story is probably true, but how she discovers these things, I'll never know. Besides, what concern is it of hers?
          I lean in close to Joseph to speak directly in his ear. "Signore. A moment please?"
          He turns away from Donna Domacetti to regard me. Unsurprisingly, his wine glass is empty again. 
          "What is it, Mariabella?" he asks. 
          "Since you do not wish to see me later, I'm going to take my leave it it's all right."
          He regards me coolly. "Do you have other plans I do not know about?"
          "Of couse not. I---"
          "Are you not enjoying yourself?" he inquires. His voice is as smooth and sharp as a sword. 
          "I've had a wonderful time." I direct this comment to both Joseph and Donna Domacetti. "But my mother has been feeling ill and I thought I might go out to the Giudecca to visit her."
          It's partially true. My mother does live on the Giudecca. And she's old, so it stands to reason she might be feeling ill. I wouldn't know because she stopped speaking to me once I became a courtesan. I don't know if she is jealous of me or simply angry that I proved her wrong by becoming more than she ever thought possible, but she refuses to unbolt the door when I come. Each week I leave her a small bundle of coins. Each week, I hope the door will be unlocked. 
          "Would you like one of my men to accompany you?" Joseph asks.
          It's a thoughtful gesture, but it would mean getting out on the Giudecca and then finding another boat to get to San Domenico, the tiny island where I'm supposed to meet Batista. 
          "That's all right." I lean in close and brush my lips against his. "I'll come by tomorrow afternoon as we planned."
          He kisses my hand and then turns back to Donna Domacetti, who is now talking to a thin blond woman with a cheek full of smallpox scars. The woman is standing with her head tilted awkwardly, as if she's trying to keep the disfigured side of her face out of Joseph's field of vision. Feeling sympathetic, I flash her a smile but she looks straight through me. 
          "No, Hortensa." Donna Domacetti's chins waggle back and forth as she shakes her head at the blonde woman. "There really are certain herbs from the Orient that increase a man's abilities. I know of a certain senator who swears by them."
          "I wish my husband swore by them," Hortensa says. "If he did, I might be less inclined to enjoy myself with his cousin while he's away."
          Both women erupt into laughter. It's definitely time to leave. 

~~~~~~~~~~

For the next part of the story, visit The Elliott Review on Monday 10/22. 


Cassandra Caravello is one of Renaissance Venice's lucky elite: with elegant gowns, sparkling jewels, her own lady's maid, and a wealthy fiance, she has everything a girl could desire. Yet ever since her parents' death, Cassandra has felt trapped, alone in a city of water, where the dark and labyrinthine canals whisper of escape. 

When Cass stumbles upon a murdered woman-practically in her own backyard-she's drawn into a dangerous world of courtesans, killers, and secret societies. Soon, she finds herself falling for Falco, a mysterious artist with a mischievous grin... and a spectacular skill for trouble. Can Cassandra find the murderer, before he finds her? And will she stay true to her fiance, or succumb to her uncontrollable feelings for Falco?

Beauty, love, romance, and mystery weave together in a stunning novel that's as seductive and surprising as the city of Venice itself. 




Preorder your copy now:



And now for the giveaway.......


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Venom ARC Review

Venom (Secrets of the Eternal Rose, #1)Book: Venom
Author: Fiona Paul
Book one in the Secrets of the Eternal Rose series
Edition Read: ARC

Blurb:

Cassandra Caravello is one of Renaissance Venice's lucky elite: with elegant gowns, sparkling jewels, her own lady's maid, and a wealthy fiance, she has everything a girl could desire. Yet ever since her parents' death, Cassandra has felt trapped, alone in a city of water, where the dark and labyrinthine canals whisper of escape.

When Cass stumbles upon a murdered woman-practically in her own backyard-she's drawn into a dangerous world of courtesans, killers, and secret societies. Soon, she finds herself falling for Falco, a mysterious artist with a mischievous grin... and a spectacular skill for trouble. Can Cassandra find the murderer, before he finds her? And will she stay true to her fiance, or succumb to her uncontrollable feelings for Falco?

Beauty, love, romance, and mystery weave together in a stunning novel that's as seductive and surprising as the city of Venice itself.

My Review:
**4.5 Stars**
I received an ARC for an honest review. 

MY OVERVIEW: I don't normally like historical books, but the description of this one pulled me in. And I am so glad it did! This was an amazing story filled with murder, mystery, romance, and a masque ball. (Don't you just love the cover?)

PROS: I love the vividness in which everything is portrayed. You really see everything beautifully. Sienna was great. I really like how she became a better lady's maid through the book, and how her and Cass' relationship grew. Hmm, who am I rooting for? Luca. Even though we really don't see him much in this book, I really liked what we did see. He is a true gentleman.

CONS: Really Cass? There is a murderer running around, who has already tried to warn you away, and you still insist on going out at night to investigate? Really? Well, I suppose if she hadn't it would have been a very boring book. : )  The only other "con" I have is that I needed an Italian-to-English translator handy with some of the words that were thrown in.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: I loved this book and would highly recommend it. Even if you aren't into historical books, this one really sucks you in. I can't wait for the next in the series.



Please check back tomorrow for a special excerpt from Fiona Paul's short story Venomous and a giveaway!

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Prowl Trilogy Blog Tour ~ Unveil Review and Interview with Amber Garza


And here is my final post for the Prowl Trilogy Blog Tour. I was fortunate enough to interview Amber Garza and the interview is included below my review of Unveil.
Unveil (Prowl Trilogy #3)
Mackenzie is looking forward to her eighteenth birthday and upcoming high school graduation. Until an unwelcome visitor from her past appears, threatening her future plans. 

Will she ever be free?

Armed with a new weapon and the boy she loves by her side, Mackenzie prepares to fight. She doesn't realize that she is about to step into the ultimate battle between good and evil, where the stakes are higher than ever before. 

My Review: 
**3.5 Stars**

MY OVERVIEW: This was my least favorite book in the series. It did wrap up everything in a neat little bow, but it seemed a little scattered at points.

PROS: Oh Tanner, you are such a great guy. :) I love how Kenzie's mom changed in this book. I think it was really great how their relationship grew by leaps and bounds throughout the whole book.

CONS: I feel that the whole thing with Kenzie's dad was just kinda thrown in there, like it didn't have as much thought put into it as the rest of the book. Also the weird creepy kid was never fully explained. I think that was the only thing that was left unfinished.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Not the ending I was hoping for, but still a good ending to the series. I know this is a short review and doesn't go through much, but the book seemed kinda rushed and there wasn't as much substance to comment on. Still.... good ending.



My Interview with Amber Garza:

1. Have you always wanted to be a writer?
Yes. I can't remember a time when I didn't. Recently I found a paper that I wrote back in second grade that said I wanted to be an author when I grew up. I've been making up stories since I was old enough to talk. 

2. Are there any authors who have influenced your writing?
Absolutely. One of my favorite authors is Alice Hoffman. Her writing is haunting and lyrical. She really evokes a mood with her words. My writing is very different from hers, but my work is a little dark and I've gleaned a lot of knowledge from reading her work. 

3. How did you come up with the concept for the Prowl Trilogy?
I wanted to write a teen series that was Christian based, but was similar to the mainstream books out there. I wanted it to be something a Christian teenager could relate to, feel proud to carry around and something they wouldn't be resistant to share with friends. The idea of the battle between good versus evil was simple - I felt that it's an issue every teen faces, so I just kind of went that route. I pulled from experiences from my teen years as well as other teens I know and came up with all the plot lines. 

4. Who was your favorite character to write (out of the series) and why?
It would make sense for me to say Kenzie, since the books were written from her perspective, but honestly I think my favorite character to write was Tanner. That may seem funny to my readers since the majority of them were Isaac fans. But there was just something about Tanner and his character that I really connected with and I enjoyed writing his scenes a lot. I also had a blast writing Kenzie's mom. She was quirky and rough around the edges so it made it fun to write her.  

5. What project are you working on now? 
I just finished DAZZLE, the first book in my new YA series. This series is much different from Prowl, in that it is more your typical paranormal romance. There is a biblical parallel, but not everyone will pick up on it. The first book will release in October and I'm very excited about it. 

6. Why did you choose the Young Adult genre?
A couple of different reasons. One is that when I was a teenager we didn't have this huge selection of wonderful teen titles. I mostly read adult fiction. It's exciting for me to be a part of such an incredible genre. Two is that my teen years were pivotal years for me. Let's face it: Teen years are tough! I wanted to give kids a great story to escape into but also a message of hope and truth. 

7. Do you prefer to write with a pen and paper or on a laptop/computer?
Laptop/computer definitely. 

8. What do you think makes a good story?
I think great characterization is key. If the reader connects with the characters they will follow them anywhere. A juicy romance always helps too. 

9. How did you come up with the titles for each of the books in the series?
In the Prowl Trilogy each title coincides with the verse the book is based on, which can be found on the first page of each book. 

10. Do you have any hobbies?
Other than writing and reading, I also sing. 

11. Last question ~ Coffee, tea, or neither?
COFFEE!! And lots of it. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I want to thank i LOVE Tours for putting this together. I would also like to thank Amber for providing such great and wonderful books as well as answering my questions. 

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Lacrimosa Review

Lacrimosa (Requiem, #1)Book: Lacrimosa
Author: Christine Fonseca
Book one in the Requiem series
Edition Read: Kindle

Blurb:

It's been three thousand years since the fall of Azzaziel and the rebirth of evil; three thousand years since the Sentinal Order, and elite group of warrior angels, returned to Celestium. Their job-rid Earth of the dark creatures, the UnHoly. And with luck, end Azza's rule.

As if casting out demons isn't hard enough, five-hundred-year-old Nesy has to masquerade as a teenage girl to do it. Nesy is the best of the Sentinals. She never makes mistakes, never hesitates, never gets emotionally involved. Until she meets Aydan.

He is evil incarnate; a fallen angel that feeds off the souls of others. Everything Nesy is supposed to hate. But she can't, because he's also the love of her former life as a human girl-a life that ended too soon, tying her emotions she was never supposed to feel.

Now Nesy must choose between doing her duty-damning Aydan to the fiery depths of hell-or saving him, and condemning herself. And her choice may cost her, and Celestium, far more than anyone realizes.

How much will she sacrifice for love?

My Review:
**4.5 Stars**

I was provided a copy of this book for an honest review through a read-to-recap program 
on Goodreads.com. 

MY OVERVIEW: Wow, this book is written beautifully. At points it was almost poetic with how it was written.

PROS: You really feel everything that Nesy and Aydan go through. You have set in your mind how you want everything to end. The history between them was set up perfectly. I just wish that Lori's history had been included a little better. I aslo loved the inner struggle that Aydan went through. Especially how it is clear that Nesy made him different.

CONS: I think that really the only Con I had was that it wasn't a stand-alone-book. It flowed really beautifully and would have made perfect sense as a single book rather than a series.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: I'm not sure how the series will really continue and still have the great flow and poetry that this book had, but I look forward to continuing the series.



Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Prowl Trilogy Blog Tour ~ Entice Review


Welcome back! Today on the Prowl Trilogy Blog Tour I am featuring my review on Entice. Please be sure to check out the full schedule HERE and check back on October 9th for my Unveil review and interview with Amber Garza.


Entice (Prowl Trilogy #2)
Mackenzie returns home from the summer with her grandma, certain that Wesley is out of her life for good. Until the nightmares resurface, and strange things start to happen. 
Is Wesley back?
When the danger escalates and threatens those closest to her, Mackenzie must fight to save them. Only this time the evil is more powerful, and Mackenzie is faced with an impossible decision.

My Review:
**4 Stars**

MY OVERVIEW: Holy cliffhanger Batman! Wow, another great book by Amber Garza that bringt you on an emotional rollercoaster.

PROS: I honestly don't know what to say here. Kenzie was great as always, but she was kinda clueless in this book. And boy, what a way to bring in the whole love triangle thing. I have no idea who I want her to choose. I think I am on team Tanner. He seems more down to earth and genuine than Isaac is. I thought that Wesley was scary, but he is nothing compared to what goes on in this book. I really enjoyed seeing more of Kenzie's mom, even though there was a lot of bad things that happened there.

CONS: Kenzie's cluelessness was annoying. She should have been talking to her Grandma about what was going on and figuring out how to deal with everything. Oh, and if she didn't want to fall for Tanner, she should have stopped hanging out with him when she realized what was happening between them.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Another great book in this series. I really look forward to reading the last one.