Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Review: Old Man's War by John Scalzi

Old Man's War (Old Man's War, #1)Title: Old Man's War
Author: John Scalzi
Publisher/Publication Date: Tor Books, January 15, 2007
Genre: Science Fiction
Format/Source: Paperback, Purchased

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

John Perry did two things on his 75th birthday. First he visited his wife's grave. Then he joined the army.

The good news is that humanity finally made it into interstellar space. The bad news is that planets fit to live on are scarce-- and alien races willing to fight us for them are common. So: we fight. To defend Earth, and to stake our own claim to planetary real estate. Far from Earth, the war has been going on for decades: brutal, bloody, unyielding.

Earth itself is a backwater. The bulk of humanity's resources are in the hands of the Colonial Defense Force. Everybody knows that when you reach retirement age, you can join the CDF. They don't want young people; they want people who carry the knowledge and skills of decades of living. You'll be taken off Earth and never allowed to return. You'll serve two years at the front. And if you survive, you'll be given a generous homestead stake of your own, on one of our hard-won colony planets.

John Perry is taking that deal. He has only the vaguest idea what to expect. Because the actual fight, light-years from home, is far, far harder than he can imagine--and what he will become is far stranger...


My Thoughts:

With Old Man’s War by John Scalzi I had really high expectations—I kept seeing the series come up in various places, so I decided to go ahead and just give it a try. And you know what I was pretty impressed by it. Everything from the concept to the characters, even the various (often time’s completely alien) places were interesting and what ultimately kept me reading. I was invested in the story and eager to see where the characters ended up by the end of the novel.

Old Man’s War was exactly my kind of book.

The story is basically told from the perspective of John Perry, and at the age of seventy-five he decides to join the army. Well, this wasn’t any old army, because it primarily dealt with conflicts in the far reaches of outer space. The beginning was solid and introduced the concept, and I especially liked the parts that explained what really happens when you join the Colonial Defense Forces (CDF). There were a lot of stipulations that came along with the numerous benefits, and it was interesting to see how it played out later on in the story. I can’t say much about the other characters, because it’s a spoiler
— or there wasn’t much about them. The focus of the story remained primarily on John and his experience in the CDF.

The technology—ships and weapons—were also cool. Other aspects that I enjoyed was the way that the CDF operated, and the numerous missions that the recruits had to do under their specific orders. I also liked being able to see some of the training they underwent. I think that this book worked because it blended science fiction elements with strategy and war. So on that note, I look forward to eventually getting more of Scalzi's novels.



Rating 5/5

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Release Day Blast, Excerpt & Giveaway: Taming Lily by Monica Murphy


We're celebrating the release of TAMING LILY by Monica Murphy! 


TAMING LILY (The Fowler Sisters #3) by Monica Murphy
Adult Contemporary Romance

BLURB

I’m in trouble. Again. And instead of facing my problems head-on, I’ve run away. Far away this time, and no one can catch me—not my two younger sisters, Violet and Rose, not my father, my grandmother, or that witch Pilar who wants to take control of my family’s cosmetics company. Now I’m in Hawaii, enjoying the sun and sand and water, where nobody knows the hot mess known as Lily Fowler. And I’m loving every minute of it.

But someone is watching me. Following me. He’s gorgeous. Soon we’re talking, and against all my instincts, I reveal bits and pieces of myself to Max. It feels good, though I know he can’t be the man for me. These sudden feelings we share are way too complicated, too fraught, too intense.

Then everything explodes and I’m forced to return home. My intentions have always been true, but now everyone’s mad at me. I don’t know who to turn to anymore . . . except to Max. He’s the one I want to trust. But I’m not so sure I should. Maybe it’s worth the risk—what-ifs be damned. . . .

EXCERPT

“Looks like Maui agreed with you.” Violet greets me as I walk toward her, practically falling into her welcoming hug. I squeeze her back, closing my eyes for the briefest moment as I absorb her love and warmth, so incredibly thankful to be with her again.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you in person,” I tell her before I withdraw, though I don’t let her go my hands still clasp her shoulders and she’s holding on to my arms.

“I know.” Violet’s smiling at me, looking gorgeous with all that dark hair falling down her back in luxurious waves, her dark eyes sparkling as bright as the giant diamond on her finger. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen Violet look so genuinely happy.

I could almost get choked up, having her here in front of me. I didn’t realize I missed my sister so much until now. “Skype just doesn’t cut it, you know,” I say, my voice rough as I clear my throat past the emotional bubble clogging it.

Violet rolls her eyes and smiles. “I totally agree. But guess what? You’re stuck with me now. No more going back to Lon- don for us except to visit.”

I’m so grateful for her warm acceptance of me that I can feel the tight knot in my chest slowly unravel. I was scared to death this morning as I prepared to come into Fleur. Seeing Daddy, Grandma, Rose, and Violet . . . and worst of all, that evil witch Pilar . . . I wasn’t looking forward to it, and that’s the understatement of the year.

I was petrified really, afraid of what any of them might say. I’d rather pretend the fact that I ran away to Maui to escape my problems—especially a problem that neither I nor Pilar wants made public knowledge, I’m sure—was swept under the rug.

I don’t even want to talk about Maui and what happened there. The man I met. The man who somehow, some way, double-crossed me. Stole from me . . .

I have my suspicions about why Max did what he did. Nothing confirmed yet, but come on. I had jewelry in my suitcase— expensive jewelry. Cash in my wallet and stashed away in my travel bag. Yet he took my laptop and that’s it. The fucker stole from me.

Why?

Could he be working for Pilar?


No. It couldn’t be possible, just some weird coincidence.


Maybe he didn’t steal from me. Maybe one of the hotel employees snagged my Mac. I hadn’t checked on it in days. For all I know, it could have been missing since the day I stashed it up on the shelf in my closet.
That’s the problem. I don’t know what happened, when it was stolen or why. I can suspect Max all I want. It makes sense in a way. He held me close until I fell asleep and when I woke up in the morning, groggy and hung over, he was gone. Disappeared like he’d never existed in the first place. He didn’t even leave a note. I searched for him everywhere. By the pool, in the lobby, down by the beach, in the hotel restaurants, but he wasn’t there.

I went to his hotel room only to find the door cracked open and the maids inside, cleaning. His stuff was gone. The maids let me know he’d checked out that morning.

He didn’t even bother saying goodbye.

It hurts that he didn’t believe me worthy of a goodbye. Worse, 
he lied to me. Said that we would see each other again and then ditched me. I don’t get it.

What did I do wrong? That last night, when we had sex, I gave him everything I thought he wanted. I wanted to please him, wanted to be the submissive woman, not only to make him happy, but because it made me feel...good. I liked handing over the control to Max so I could get lost in the pleasure. It aroused me, his controlling ways, the words he said, the demands he made on my body. I wanted more. I wanted all of him . . .

And he didn’t want me at all. 











Giveaway



AVAILABLE NOW!

OWNING VIOLET (The Fowler Sisters #1) by Monica Murphy
Adult Contemporary Romance
NOW AVAILABLE: 
Books a Million: http://bit.ly/YUMZLj


STEALING ROSE (The Fowler Sisters #2) by Monica Murphy
Adult Contemporary Romance
Books-a-Million: http://bit.ly/17yNfVe


ABOUT THE AUTHOR


New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author Monica Murphy is a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite with her husband and three children. She's a workaholic who loves her job. When she's not busy writing, she also loves to read and travel with her family. She writes new adult and contemporary romance and is published with Bantam and Avon. She also writes romance as USA Today bestselling author Karen Erickson.
Facebook | Twitter | Website

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

ARC Review: Put Up Your Duke by Megan Frampton

Put Up Your Duke (Dukes Behaving Badly, #2)
Title: Put Up Your Duke (Dukes Behaving Badly, #2)
Author: Megan Frampton
Publisher/Publication Date: Avon Books; June 30, 2015
Format/Source: E-ARC, Publisher/Edelweiss
Genre: Historical Fiction
ISBN: 9780062352224

Amazon    Goodreads

About the Book

He was once happily bedding and boxing, but in the newest Duke's Behaving Badly novel, Nicholas Smithfield has inherited a title and a bride . . .

To keep his estate afloat, the new Duke of Gage must honor an agreement to marry Lady Isabella Sawford. Stunningly beautiful, utterly tempting, she's also a bag of wedding night nerves, so Nicholas decides to wait to do his duty—even if it means heading to the boxing saloon every day to punch away his frustration.

Groomed her whole life to become the perfect duchess, Isabella longs for independence, a dream that is gone forever. As her husband, Nicholas can do whatever he likes—but, to Isabella's surprise, the notorious rake instead begins a gentle seduction that is melting every inch of her reserve, night by night . . .

To his utter shock, Nicholas discovers that no previous exploits were half as pleasurable as wooing his own wife. But has the realm's most disreputable duke found the one woman who can bring him to his knees— and leave him there?

My Thoughts

Put Up Your Duke by Megan Frampton is an absolutely intriguing historical romance novel.  Frampton does an excellent job of capturing some of the mannerisms and beliefs of the people from the 1800s. Even though Isabella was less than thrilled about her parents’ arrangement for her to marry the Duke of Gabe, she still tried to adhere to societal norms as she maintained her perfect composure and acted as a duchess should. I was glad that there was a slightly different spin on this historical romance novel. Instead of Isabella having to rebel to get what she wanted, Nicholas was the one encouraging her to be herself and speak what was on her mind. I loved how she became a more daring individual, because her behavior led to some unexpected and entertaining moments. Overall, Nicholas was depicted as being respectful and protective, and I love the way that he dealt with her overbearing parents who accepted nothing less than perfection. Needless to say, he was a swoonworthy character. Nicholas and Isabella did have some communication issues, which resulted in tension between them, but the path they traveled seemed realistic. I also enjoyed the portrayal of some of the secondary characters—especially her sister Margaret who was full of surprises. You simply won’t want to miss what Frampton has in store for readers in this second installment of Dukes Behaving Badly.

Rating 5/5

I received an e-arc of Put up Your Duke from the publisher/Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
                           
Author Info

Megan Frampton writes historical romance under her own name and romantic women's fiction as Megan Caldwell. She likes the color black, gin, dark-haired British men, and huge earrings, not in that order. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and son.


Friday, June 26, 2015

Sale Blitz, Excerpt & Giveaway!!! Alive at 5 by Linda Bond


Come On A Thrilling Adventure Vacation in Alive at 5 by Linda Bond, Now On Sale for 99 cents!!!
Now on SALE! Read the book that is described as a mix of James Bond and Romancing the Stone! Spend part of your summer vacation on a adventure with a TV news reporter and a thrill-seeking undercover cop while they search for a murderer and face their greatest adventure of all, love.

Interested where the idea for Alive at 5 came from? Check out Linda’s blog post here!

Not only is ALIVE AT 5 having a sale, but it also got a new cover! Check it out below!

About Alive At 5  

Description: TV news reporter Samantha Steele is one panic attack away from losing her job. Future on the line and cameraman in tow, she follows her mentor on an exhilarating adventure vacation. When he dies while skydiving, her investigative instincts scream “murdered”, and lead her to gorgeous thrill-seeker Zack Hunter. Zack is an undercover police officer investigating his uncle’s death through the same adventure vacation company. Samantha is a thorn in his side the moment they meet. Not only is she investigating the same case, but the emotionally wounded loner doesn’t want another partner, especially one whose goal is to splash evidence all over the evening news. But Samantha’s persistence is quite a turn-on, and Zack’s overpowering desire makes it harder for him to push her away. When the killer turns his attention to Zack, Samantha might be the only one who can save him, forcing the anxiety-riddled correspondent to finally face her greatest fear.




Check out the one of kind book trailer for Alive at 5 here!

Fresh Fiction had this to say about ALIVE AT 5:

"What a Treat: Great Characters, a Clever Plot, and Extreme Adventures!"

“ALIVE AT 5 is extremely well written, fast paced, and what a joy it was to experience, even vicariously, skydiving, scuba diving, and swimming with sharks! Ms. Bond has crafted a superior romantic suspense, and Sam, Zach, and Sam's cameraman George make such a fine team, I dare hope it's the beginning of a series! No chance of dozing off while reading ALIVE AT 5!”

On Sale At These E-Retailers:

Alive at 5 by Linda Bond Excerpt 1
“I don’t really expect you to help me, just give me a cover.”
He groaned in a blast of disbelief. The irony of this situation was not lost on him. If he wanted to remain undercover for real, he had to provide her with a pretend cover. The woman did have balls, he had to admit. He forced a smile. “And if I don’t go along with your plan?”
“I walk right over to my detective friend and tell him my suspicions.” She stared boldly his way, hands on hips, legs slightly apart. “I’ll tell him that Maxwell was killed and you know all about it. That you’re here investigating the other suspicious deaths. I don’t know what agency you’re working for, but Stuart could find out in less than ten minutes, and I imagine you don’t want to blow your cover just yet. Am I right?”
His jaw dropped. “Blackmail? Really? Do you know the penalty for that if I really am a cop?”
She snorted. “Extortion, actually. Well?”
He snapped his jaw shut. He knew very well what would happen if the adventure vacation company knew his real identity, and what his bosses would do if they found out he was still investigating this case after they’d specifically pulled him off it.
Wow. She had him. He was impressed, and a little turned on. He ground his teeth. He would agree to her plan, only because he had no choice. He was determined to find and nail the son of a bitch who had killed his uncle.
“All right, fine,” he reluctantly said.
She might lose her job if she didn’t come back with her investigative story. But he would definitely lose his job if she exposed his undercover activities and his family’s private life on the news. So he would have to keep the nosy reporter under his thumb and under his control.
One way or another.
Linda Bond has a new release coming out soon called Cuba Undercover!
Check out the exclusive book trailer here!
Here is a never before scene excerpt from Cuba Undercover featuring Zach and Samantha from Alive at 5!

“Nicely done.” Zack Hunter was right beside her, tall as hell and commanding in his presence. “Sam sent me over to rescue you. But once again, looks like you can get out of an uncomfortable situation without much help.” He grinned down at her.

Zack’s confidence reminded Rebecca a lot of Antonio’s strength and power. Her heart fluttered at the thought of Antonio. But Zack was a more flirty kind of guy, winking and grinning, very unlike Antonio, who was always so intense and serious.

“Thanks.”

“We’re over here.” Zack gestured toward the door to another room.

“Did you have a chance to check on the case for me?” Her cheeks heated. She knew she shouldn’t be putting Sam’s fiancé on the spot. He was an agent for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and could get in trouble for talking to a reporter about information in an active case.

Instead of looking pissed, Zack just smiled. “Yes.”

Yes, and? “I know I shouldn’t ask you, but…”

“You’re going to anyway.” Zack winked at her. “Sam warned me you would. Here’s what I can tell you. Off the record, of course.”

“Of course.”

“The FBI’s kidnapping case is still open.” Zack casually led her through the crowd, nodding as they passed people, looking cool and in control. No wonder Sam lived for this guy. “Since we can only assume the other kidnapper, the one caught on tape throwing you in the van here in Tampa, is dead in the waters of Cuba, and Antonio Vega is still in Cuba, the FBI’s case will remain open for a while, but I wouldn’t worry about it.” Zack’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “You were clearly the victim in all of this.”

Was I? She exhaled. “Well, right, I’m not in trouble. I just don’t want Antonio to be either.”

Zack stopped dead in the middle of the room. “Really?”

Now her checks were flaming. One thing she’d left out of her documentary was her growing attraction to and relationship with Antonio. “Well, he has a family here now to support and…” In fact, she hadn’t shared all the details with Sam, either.

Zack threw up a hand. “Then your friend should stay in Cuba where our federal law officers have no jurisdiction.” Shaking his head, Zack motioned for her to move through the door first. “The man still masterminded a kidnapping that resulted in a murder.”

“He didn’t kidnap me, Zack.” Rebecca wished she had proof of what happened to both Ignado and Antonio, but even Esmeralda hadn’t been able to get info from inside Cuba. Rebecca furrowed her brow, a slight headache coming on.

“You okay?” Sam walked up, handing Rebecca a much-needed glass of white wine. “You look stunning in your Alexander McQueen.”

“Oh, right.” Rebecca glanced down at her black rented gown. “Thanks.” She’d forgotten how excited she’d been to wear it here tonight. That was before her trip to Cuba and before Antonio. “I’m fine. Thanks for the wine.” She raised the glass in salute to Sam, Dallas, and Zack, her friends all gathering around her in support. “Salud. To a great night.” She must concentrate on what was good right now. Friends, fame, and food. Unlike in Cuba, there would always be plenty of food here.

Dallas rolled his eyes. “You get any happier, and that face is gonna fall off.”

She sighed. Dallas nailed her with the truth. Once again. “I’m just feeling a little guilty.” Why not tell Sam the truth, too? “Antonio is probably being roughed up in some Cuban jail cell, skinny and sick.”

She turned to look at the man who would definitely understand. “And Dallas, we’re here, drinking and being celebrated for exposing his poor family on national TV.” There. She’d said it. “And if Antonio ever comes back to America, I’m the reason he’ll probably be arrested.”

 Zack Hunter cleared his throat. “You did nothing to seal that man’s fate. He’s a grown man who made his own decisions. You are a victim.”

Maybe in the beginning, but I became a willing participant. And now I miss Antonio. Damn it. She missed every damn thing about him. She especially missed the way Antonio made her question her every decision. He’d forced her to think. He’d been the force behind her growth. And she was a better person now for it. She felt enlightened.

Add it to your TBR today!

About the Author

Linda Bond is an Emmy award winning journalist by day and an author of romantic adventures by night.  She’s also the mother of five, four athletes and an adopted son from Cuba. She has a passion for world travel, classic movies, and alpha males. Linda currently lives in Florida, where the sun always shines and the day begins with endless possibilities.  You can become a Bond girl and share in her continuing adventures at www.lindabond.com

You can also visit her online at the following places

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Goodreads  |  YouTube |  Google+  |  Pintrest


Giveaway
Don’t forget to enter to win a $25 gift card from Amazon or Barnes and Noble!


Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Teaser Blitz: Taming Lily by Monica Murphy




Title:  Taming Lily (Fowler Sisters, #3)
Author:  Monica Murphy
Publisher/Expected Publication Date: Bantam; July 7, 2015
Genre: Contemporary Romance

BLURB

Perfect for fans of Christina Lauren, Emma Chase, and Maya Banks, the anticipated finale in New York Times bestselling author Monica Murphy’s sexy contemporary romance series about three fiery and determined sisters with their own ideas about life and love.

I’m in trouble. Again. And instead of facing my problems head-on, I’ve run away. Far away this time, and no one can catch me—not my two younger sisters, Violet and Rose, not my father, my grandmother, or that witch Pilar who wants to take control of my family’s cosmetics company. Now I’m in Hawaii, enjoying the sun and sand and water, where nobody knows the hot mess known as Lily Fowler. And I’m loving every minute of it.

But someone is watching me. Following me. He’s gorgeous. Soon we’re talking, and against all my instincts, I reveal bits and pieces of myself to Max. It feels good, though I know he can’t be the man for me. These sudden feelings we share are way too complicated, too fraught, too intense.

Then everything explodes and I’m forced to return home. My intentions have always been true, but now everyone’s mad at me. I don’t know who to turn to anymore . . . except to Max. He’s the one I want to trust. But I’m not so sure I should. Maybe it’s worth the risk—what-ifs be damned. . . .

AVAILABLE  JULY 7,2015

Pre-Order Today

iBooks     Amazon     Nook     Kobo

TEASER


TRAILER


Click on the links to learn more about Owning Violet

and Stealing Rose, the first two books in the series!


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author Monica Murphy is a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite with her husband and three children. She's a workaholic who loves her job. When she's not busy writing, she also loves to read and travel with her family. She writes new adult and contemporary romance and is published with Bantam and Avon. She also writes romance as USA Today bestselling author Karen Erickson.



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