Giveaway: ARC of Enchanted by Alethea Kontis

Giveaway Open : Internationally

This giveaway was originally posted on Pages from My Thoughts

Book Blurb : It isn't easy being the rather overlooked and unhappy youngest sibling to sisters named for the other six days of the week. Sunday’s only comfort is writing stories, although what she writes has a terrible tendency to come true.

When Sunday meets an enchanted frog who asks about her stories, the two become friends. Soon that friendship deepens into something magical. One night Sunday kisses her frog goodbye and leaves, not realizing that her love has transformed him back into Rumbold, the crown prince of Arilland—and a man Sunday’s family despises.

The prince returns to his castle, intent on making Sunday fall in love with him as the man he is, not the frog he was. But Sunday is not so easy to woo. How can she feel such a strange, strong attraction for this prince she barely knows? And what twisted secrets lie hidden in his past - and hers?


Giveaway Open : Internationally
Date of Enter : 29/03/2012 to 14/04/2012
Winner Announcement : 15/04/2012 on Announcement section. Winner will be notified withing 48 hours by email
Copy Available : One
Format : ARC Paperback
Note : The book will be directly send to you by the author

This giveaway is international, feel free to enter :)

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Book Review: The Canary List

• File Size: 538 KB
• Print Length: 322 pages
• Publisher: WaterBrook Press (June 21, 2011)
• Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004J4WL6Y

Protected by the dark of night, Jaimie Piper runs. But is anywhere safe when Evil is hunting you?

She’s just a twelve year-old girl, bumped around between foster homes and relegated to school classes for challenged kids, those lagging in their test scores or with behavioral issues. But her real problem is that she can sense something the other kids can’t—something dark. Something compelling her to run for her life.

All Crockett Grey wants is to mark the anniversary of his daughter’s death alone.

But when his student Jaimie comes to him, terrified, her need for protection collides with his grief, and a tangled web of bizarre events sends them both spiraling toward destruction.

Crockett’s one hope of getting his life back is to uncover the mysterious secrets of Jaimie’s past and her strange gift. It isn’t long before his discoveries lead him to a darker conspiracy, secrets guarded by the highest seat of power in the world—the Vatican.

After reading the description, I thought this book is like Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons, but after reading it, Canary List may have the issues of conspiracies in the Vatican Church, but this is more like pointing out that there may be evil in the Church but not everyone and is less “scandalous”.

The Canary List is set in present day Vatican City (for the most part). Brouwer's writing is engaging and nearly three dimensional. The descriptions are vivid that you could actually picture the Vatican Secret Library, the city’s walls and atmosphere.

I actually like Crockett, he is so human, both vulnerable and strong. I felt for him so deeply not just with the death of his daughter but also of the false accusations against him in the school where he teaches.

Meanwhile, Jaime is the protagonists I highly salute of. Especially in the chapters where she has the POV, you could really feel the fear and doubt raging inside her.

The 3 stars is because I don’t really feel like this is a Christian book although it has the message of letting us know that evil exists, it’s more of a thriller to me. Another is because I was not satisfied after the end, I know that this is what the author intends, to make us think for our own, but I just don’t like books who technically does not have an ending. Why would you read something that would just left you hanging at the end >no sequel<

Although, some readers may say that this is biased, or some form of Catholic bashing, personally I believed that the author had been fair in giving two versions of the truth. At the end, the reader is left to conclude for himself. The author’s role was just to present the idea, and then for us to think about.

All in all, if viewed as whole fiction, this is a very good read from a promising author. I recommend this book to those who believe in such things and even for those who are skeptic.


Disclosure: I received this book for an honest review from waterbrook multnomah -blogging for books 

Breaking Dawn Part 2 Trailer!

If you were one of the millions of people who had watched "The Hunger Games" this weekend, then you would have seen the first full teaser trailer for "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 too."

A teaser for the teaser was released online last week.  Don't worry if you hadn't seen it at the Hunger Games movie, it was now ONLINE!

Remember that at the end of "Breaking Dawn - Part 1," Bella was about to die from the strain of giving birth and Edward had no choice but to turn her into a vampire.  The film ended with her opening her now red eyes.  In the teaser for "Part 2," we see Bella as a new vampire, darting super fast in the woods.

We all saw Jacob's and Edward's reactions to the new Bella. She has the deep red eyes of a "newborn" vamp and pale skin -- well, paler.

 The trailer ends with Bella stalking a deer in the forest.I can't wait to see the movie with Bella in super-vampire mode..:D

By the way the 48-second trailer was just too short. But we're certain to get more peeks at the last installment before "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2" opens on November 16.

Book Review: His Steadfast Love

His Steadfast Love by Golden Keyes Parsons

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (November 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595546294
• ISBN-13: 978-1595546296

It isn't until the Civil War comes to her doorstep that Amanda Bell must choose between love and family.

It's the spring of 1861 on the Gulf Coast of Texas. Amanda never thought she would marry because of a promise she made to her dying mother, but her attraction to Captain Kent Littlefield is undeniable.

When Texas secedes from the Union, her brother Daniel aligns with the Confederate States, while Kent remains with the Union troops.

Her heart is torn between the two men she is closest to and the two sides of the conflict. Amanda prays to God for direction and support, but hears only silence. Where is God in the atrocities of war-and whose side is He on?

Amanda senses her life is at a turning point. She must trust God to deliver her family through the chaos of war with her heart and her faith intact.

His Steadfast Love is a Civil War-era novel mainly centered on Amanda and her difficult choice between supporting his brother, Daniel who fights for the South and her love interest, Kent who fights for the North. Torn between choosing family versus love in a war where no one really wins, she struggles with her faith and her heart too.

Ms. Parsons has made a well-researched historical-romance-politics book that would make you realize the horrors of what men, fathers, sons and families had to endure when our own country went to war against itself. The plot isn’t that unique, but the storyline and the other subplots especially the theme of faith and slavery makes “His Steadfast Love” a wonderful book. The descriptions of the culture, surroundings and even what war look like was well-written. This book put you back into the time of the Civil War.

I love all of the characters, Ms. Parsons made a wonderful job in weaving them to reality. I was carried away with the real emotions and real prejudices. The flaws of each of the characters made the story real too. I honestly hate too perfect characters, but in this book, they had flaws, they made mistakes. And it’s the best thing that makes reading this relatable.

I really love Kent here..:)… he’s not just a soldier fighting for his country and what he believes in but he’s willing to fight for love too. Amanda’s is a strong character I would also remember because of how she learned and listened to her heart and God’s word.

The reason I give this 4.5 is because the story was in a slow-paced, there are fighting, drama, conflicts but these are evenly placed. Also because although I really admire the protagonists relationship and how God put them together, I felt it was rushed or like they met, met some more and fall in love. >not everyone may share this opinion. Also because, the story jump fast into time, like one month, then the next chapter is 6 months (maybe it’s just because I’m curious to what happened during the lost time :D)

His Steadfast Love is about love, family and loyalty. Where does your loyalty rely- to your country or to your own family? Is love enough to disobey your family? This book made us see death and how hope, even in the darkest times could make life worthwhile.

An engaging and thought-provoking read that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys historical pieces with the subthemes of love, faith, loyalty and slavery.

Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

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In My Mailbox #1

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

I have been very lucky this week..:D

Here are the books I received:

For Review:

Manifest

Mystify

Mayhem

Mesmerize

*I received 4 books of the Mystyx Novel from the author Artist Arthur..Thanks!

The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges

*Thanks Ms. Bridges

Frey by Melissa Wright

*Thanks Ms. Wright

Promises by Amber Garr

*Thanks Ms. Garr

Laney by Joann Martin Sowles

*Thanks Ms. Sowles

By The Light of the Silvery Moon by TriciaGoyer

*Thanks Ms. Goyer

(Not Shown)

Virgo by Joanna Martine Woolfolk

*Thanks Ms. Woolfolk

Sister Queens by Julia Fox

*Thanks RandomHouse-Bertelsmann

Promises

Passover Promises

*Thanks to the author, Ms. Susan Perkins

Death Drop by Sean Allen

*Thanks Mr. Allen

Waves of Light by Naomi Kinsman

*Thanks Zondervan/ZonderKIDZ

This is all I got this weekend  :D… What about you guys?

Book Review: Desired

Desired by Nicola Cornick

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: HQN Books; Original edition (November 15, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373775903
• ISBN-13: 978-0373775903

Her wicked ways were the talk of the ton

Teresa, Dowager Marchioness of Darent, is rumored to have exhausted her four deceased husbands with her insatiable needs. So it's no surprise that every rake in the ton wants to bed her. If they only knew…through clever marriages to men who would ask nothing of her physical self, Tessa has remained rather innocent in the ways of the bedroom. But now she's on the verge of losing everything and wants to take care of the stepson she's grown to adore.

Enter Captain Owen Purchase. The handsome American adventurer has come into the title of Viscount Rothbury. And the rumors surrounding his injuries at sea suggest that he could fit Tessa's requirements. But little does Tessa realize that the gossipmongers are wrong. She just might lose her heart, and her desires, to the most unlikely of men….

"Let them whisper-the more they whisper, the farther away they are from the truth". –I really loved this quote from Tessa.:)

This is the first book that I’ve read from this author, and I wasn’t disappointed, the story had me at its best.. :D I usually avoided writing long reviews, but this is the shortest I could manage with this book..:)

Aside from the very beautiful cover, Desired is a book that covers not only romance, but also politics (reforms) and the roles and rights of women (Spousal abuse) in the society. It’s also a book of emotional wounds, hopes and all of the heart’s desires.

I really enjoyed reading Tessa and Owen’s cat-and-mouse interactions. These two characters have been developed well. From the very first page of knowing them, I am already engaged as to what would happen to these two. Their train of thought, was fascinating, and seeing them try to discover and peel each other’s secrets is what I look forward to the most…

I loved how Ms. Cornick developed the chemistry, it wasn’t forced at all, the fusion of these two was just plain perfect. Tessa may have look like a featherbrain, but underneath her smiles, and tempting body, lies an intelligent, admirable and caring woman.. she actually leads a reform movement and has an alter ego named Jupiter (a cartoonist), whom the government is pursuing. Owen is very tender, understanding, and a real protector, and he would do everything to heal the emotional wounds Tessa has.

I loved the development of the story, especially how the two of them started to trust each other, and how their romance developed from pretense into something their heart’s desired. But at the end though, it seemed to me, that the story was rushed into its end. It’s like the author realizes, she’d written a lot already, so she decided to give it an end. It was just at the end of the story though, I still enjoyed this a lot.

Another good thing about this book is there’s the right humor and intensity .I nearly died of laughter when Owen's virility was called into question..lol, and I shed tears when Tessa's true history was known.

DESIRED moved me, I laughed and cried all throughout the story, and most importantly I had gained a better understanding of what happened in this regency era, but there’s a lot to learn more with the last book in the series, “Forbidden” coming this Summer 2012.

It’s a refreshing, entertaining, fascinating, heart-wrenching romance! A must-read!

Warning though, after reading this book, you would have an insatiable urge to buy the other books to learn about the side character’s own stories.


♥♥~♥♥♥ ♥:)♥♥~♥ ♥♥




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