FREE EXCERPT: The Proposal by Mary Balogh

Title: The Proposal

Author: Mary Balogh
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group

Release Date: May 1 2012

 

This is an original historical novel by Mary Balogh – THE PROPOSAL – A story which I’m sure you’ll enjoy:

In Mary Balogh’s engaging and seductive new novel of drama and romance, a woman comfortable in her solitude allows temptation to free her heart, when a daring war hero shows her how truly extraordinary she is.

 

Gwendoline, Lady Muir, has seen her share of tragedy, especially since a freak accident took her husband much too soon. Content in a quiet life with friends and family, the young widow has no desire to marry again. But when Hugo, Lord Trentham, scoops her up in his arms after a fall, she feels a sensation that both shocks and emboldens her. 

Hugo never intends to kiss Lady Muir, and frankly, he judges her to be a spoiled, frivolous—if beautiful—aristocrat. He is a gentleman in name only: a soldier whose bravery earned him a title; a merchant’s son who inherited his wealth. He is happiest when working the land, but duty and title now demand that he finds a wife. He doesn’t wish to court Lady Muir, nor have any role in the society games her kind thrives upon. Yet Hugo has never craved a woman more; Gwen’s guileless manner, infectious laugh, and lovely face have ruined him for any other woman. He wants her, but will she have him? 

The hard, dour ex-military officer who so gently carried Gwen to safety is a man who needs a lesson in winning a woman’s heart. Despite her cautious nature, Gwen cannot ignore the attraction. As their two vastly different worlds come together, both will be challenged in unforeseen ways. But through courtship and seduction, Gwen soon finds that with each kiss, and with every caress, she cannot resist Hugo’s devotion, his desire, his love, and the promise of forever.

The Proposal by Mary Balogh

FREE EXCERPT: The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great by Eva Stachniak

Title: The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great  

Author: Eva Stachniak
Publisher: Bantam

Release Date: January 10th 2012

 

From award-winning author Eva Stachniak comes this passionate novel that illuminates, as only fiction can, the early life of one of history’s boldest women. The Winter Palace tells the epic story of Catherine the Great’s improbable rise to power—as seen through the ever-watchful eyes of an all-but-invisible servant close to the throne.

Her name is Barbara—in Russian, Varvara. Nimble-witted and attentive, she’s allowed into the employ of the Empress Elizabeth, amid the glitter and cruelty of the world’s most eminent court. Under the tutelage of Count Bestuzhev, Chancellor and spymaster, Varvara will be educated in skills from lock picking to lovemaking, learning above all else to listen—and to wait for opportunity. That opportunity arrives in a slender young princess from Zerbst named Sophie, a playful teenager destined to become the indomitable Catherine the Great. Sophie’s destiny at court is to marry the Empress’s nephew, but she has other, loftier, more dangerous ambitions, and she proves to be more guileful than she first appears.

What Sophie needs is an insider at court, a loyal pair of eyes and ears who knows the traps, the conspiracies, and the treacheries that surround her. Varvara will become Sophie’s confidante—and together the two young women will rise to the pinnacle of absolute power.

With dazzling details and intense drama, Eva Stachniak depicts Varvara’s secret alliance with Catherine as the princess grows into a legend—through an enforced marriage, illicit seductions, and, at last, the shocking coup to assume the throne of all of Russia.

Impeccably researched and magnificently written, The Winter Palace is an irresistible peek through the keyhole of one of history’s grandest tales.

The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great by Eva Stachniak (Excerpt)

Book Review: Promises

Promises by Amber Garr

• Paperback: 266 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace (April 8, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1468006797
• ISBN-13: 978-1468006797

Amazon

She knew this day was coming.

When seventeen-year-old Eviana Dumahl is faced with the responsibility of an arranged marriage and clan leadership, she is forced to choose between the life required of a mermaid and one of a teenage girl simply infatuated with the wrong guy. Kain, her devoted fiancé would make a wonderful husband except that she’s been in love with Brendan, a shape-shifting selkie, ever since they were kids. Choosing to abandon her family, her clan, and her life with Kain will have dire consequences far beyond anything she could have imagined.
A war is brewing amongst the clans and Eviana unwittingly becomes a pawn in the intricate schemes of a twisted mastermind. With Brendan’s life on the line, she has no choice but to involve those who she once considered friends. Amidst encountering senseless tragedies and immense loss, Eviana discovers that she is more valuable as a clan leader than anyone ever suspected. Her survival is not only dependent upon the loyalty of her friends, but also on her acceptance of a life that she had so adamantly tried to escape.

First, I’d like to say that I loved the cover. It fits wonderfully into the theme of the novel.

“Promises” is the first book of The Syrenka Series trilogy following Eviana and her friends through the perils of clan wars, tragedies and immense loss.
I admit that it’s easy to predict the storyline in the first chapters, but soon I’d find a lot of unexpected turns and twist that left me stunned and emotionally affected. And from there, I was totally hooked with the story.

What makes the story so relatable and enjoying to read is Ms. Garr’s writing. I enjoyed reading the conversations, and she made the story flow naturally.
I enjoyed the author’s description especially how these sea creatures change from human form to their magical form. It’s easy to picture it happening. I enjoyed the mermaid lore and other stuffs about them. This is actually my first mermaid novel and I was not disappointed.

This book is a love triangle, and even though it was Brendan that Eviana loves, I find Kain to be charming and lovable. With Eviana’s narration, it’s easy to see that she has a mounting feeling for Kain, which makes Kain almost the center of the book. There was more detail on him than Brendan, but I hope to learn more of Brendan in the next book too.

Eviana meanwhile, even though I want to smack her most of the times, her character was developed as the story goes on. In every situation she was put in, she grows and learns something from it.

The ending of this book meanwhile is a little too-happily-ever-after for me. But the excerpt of the second book takes that feeling back and replaces it with thrill and excitement..:)

All in all, Promises is a great book to start The Syrenka Series. I was deeply absorbed with the book from beginning til end. YA Romance mixed with sea folklores and legends make “Promises” a unique book that is fascinating, engaging and over-all a must-read!

Highly Recommended to everyone!..:)

P.S.There is a free excerpt of the Chapter 1 of Betrayal , the sequel at the back of the book. It promises another Eviana and Kain moment, and a little bit creepy…:)



Check out my interview with Amber Garr and possibly win either Promises or Betrayal!
View all my reviews

Book Review: Frey

Frey by Melissa Wright

• Paperback: 246 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace (March 12, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1475005660
• ISBN-13: 978-1475005660

Amazon|Free Kindle

Unaware she's been bound from using magic, Frey leads a small, miserable life in the village where she's sent after the death of her mother. But a tiny spark starts a fury of changes and she finds hersef running from everything she's ever known.

Hunted by council for practicing dark magic, she is certain she's been wrongfully accused. She flees, and is forced to rely on strangers for protection. But the farther she strays from home, the more her magic and forgotten memories return and she begins to suspect all is not as it seems

First, I’d like to say that I was in love with the cover, it isn’t really great, but the simple design, the lettering, the color, it just makes it so delicious to a hungry reader’s eyes..:D

At first, the book started slow for me, but as the story progresses and the information are getting clear, I found myself in an unending ladder of excitement and twists.

The author weaved this story wonderfully. The descriptions are vivid. Ms. Wright’s writing style is something I never experienced before, she makes the story a bit complicated and after a few pages, you would say, “so, that’s it!!!, that’s the reason!”. It’s a great book, when a reader is always thinking what would happen next and this is what happened to me with “Frey”.

The characters are developed well and really likable. I could definitely feel with them. I enjoyed reading each of their backstories which lead me to understand and loved them more. They are the kind of characters which would leave marks in your heart even long after you read the book.

I loved Freya/Elfreda a lot. Although I think this is a weakness of the book since the heroine (I think) is not strong enough to be considered a heroine. She always faints and rely on others to solve the problems. Meanwhile I feel her pain, her sufferings and I root for her, would be by her side til the end of her journey..:D >I wish to see her become the strong and great heroine that she really is in the next books..

The story is fast-paced; wherein the story never lies low, there’s always something to uncover and be excite about.

I was frustrated, saddened, thrilled, angered and hopeful. This is a roller-coaster ride I wouldn’t dare miss out. I am eagerly anticipating the next book in the series..:)

Packed with fantasy; elves, fairies and magical powers, Frey is a book I’d highly recommend!



Interview with the author coming up! Stay tuned!
View all my reviews

Book Review: Little Brother's World

Little Brother's World by T. Jackson King

Amazon

• Paperback: 218 pages
• Publisher: Fantastic Books (September 14, 2010)
• Language: Engdlish
• ISBN-10: 1604599405
• ISBN-13: 978-1604599404

"From Scavenger to Justice seeker, his courage shakes his world…"

Little Brother had survived as an orphan on the colony planet Mother's World by following two very firm rules in his scavenging through the Alor City trash dump: First, you grabbed anything edible before the valuables. Second, you never talked to the garbage. But then the Pube girl Sally talked to him—and he talked back, even though she was tied up "garbage" deposited in the dump.

To make matters worse, Sally was not your everyday garbage person. She was a Breed, a person with a finely tailored genetic code whose geneflesh was very, very valuable on a world of rigid castes, hard choices, and little sympathy for those who questioned the rules. And keeping secret Sally's genetic heritage took more than a robe with long sleeves to hide the GeneCode tattoo on her wrist.

For rather than be happy with a full belly and a warm place to sleep, Sally questioned the way of Mother's World, and her questioning drew unwanted attention. Before Little Brother knew it, they were both on the run to escape the deadly attention of the Church of Flesh and the assassin of Sally's parents.

Little Brother discovered that, in rescuing Sally, he had begun a quest to learn why he alone had been born without the GeneCode tattoo that set one's status, job, and destiny. That quest would lead him to a truth that some on his world would kill to keep secret—and the lives of two young people count for nothing in the Game of Power. But Little Brother has a Talent stronger than hatred or power, a Talent linked to his birth without a GeneCode tattoo. It is a Talent that might help both of them survive.…


LittleBrother’s World is a sci-fi novel where Genetic Engineering exists. Everyone has a unique gene-code tattooed on the arm. This Gene-Code serves as your destiny; this defined the job, status, level of education a person is allowed. Little Brother, whose daily routine is to scavenge in a garbage dump is the only one who do not have a GeneCode tattoo. Little does he know that what comes from that fact is a Talent that would greatly help him and Sally.

The cover could be improved while the description is an impressive one. It contains enough details and enough thrill to make the book buyers/readers grab it and settle for an afternoon read…:)

This book is well-written and had a well-defined plot. Mr. King made a world of genetic engineering with a very clear idea of the people, culture, and everything. It seems that every detail had been very well-thought of, from the birth, tattoos, society rules and even the conflicts.

I never found a boring part in the story. It was fast-paced and keep me entertained all throughout. The characters are fascinating and likable too.

This book made me realize about a possible outcome, when finally science and technology wins over traditional ones. It is a harsh world. It is unfair how the rules applied and how a person can be defined by just a mere code. Although, I really liked this fictional world and was amazed by the different things in it, I can’t imagine myself in that world, if it actually happens someday. I might never live a day in it.>:D
See, this book made me see a future in it. This is how absorbed I am.>D

I just noticed though that Little Brother and Sally’s love story developed a little fast. Nonetheless, I enjoyed their banter, Sally’s inquisitive questions and Little Brother’s patience and understanding.
All in all, Little Brother’s World is another sci-fi novel from T. Jackson King that is both exciting, thrilling and fun. Full of suspense, adventure, romance, secrets, conspiracies, this book would take you in a roller-coaster ride.





View all my reviews