Author: Ambrosia

Musing Monday 4/8/13

- Ambrosia 4 Comments

Musing Monday is hosted over at 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).
• 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!

My Muse today is what do your pets do when your reading? I have two dogs and 8 (yes you read that correctly) cats. The dogs usually have no interest at all in what I am doing when I am reading. The cats however are all together different. Sometimes they do not care others however all they want to do is get in the middle of what I am doing. In front of the book pushing the book into my face..you know if you have a cat I am sure you have had those issues too.

Then there is this too

That is Cubby with one of my bookmarks that a friend made for me on his head. Yup they steal book marks all the time. As you can see he feels no shame at his theft..although he is a little perplexed how he managed to get it on his head like that.

Blogger Feature & Giveaway

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The lovely Christine over at Oh, Chrys! Asked if anyone would like to be a featured blogger. Your humble hostess here me thought it would be fun as I have been thinking about doing such a feature on this blog right here. So I wanted to see how some other folks did features before I did mine.

Along with the interview I gave, short but hey it had some great questions! Christine is giving away one of my favorite books, Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward.

So click the above link or THIS ONE and head over to Oh, Chrys! To see what the buzz is about.

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Book Review: The Heiress of Winterwood by Sarah E. Ladd

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Release Date: April 9th 2013

Amelia Barrett gave her word. Keeping it could cost her everything.

Darbury, England, 1814

Amelia Barrett, heiress to an estate nestled in the English moors, defies family expectations and promises to raise her dying friend’s infant baby. She’ll risk everything to keep her word—even to the point of proposing to the child’s father, Graham, a sea captain she’s never met.

When the child vanishes with little more than a sketchy ransom note hinting to her whereabouts, Amelia and Graham are driven to test the boundaries of their love for this infant.

Amelia’s detailed plans would normally see her through any trial, but now, desperate and shaken; she examines her soul and must face her one weakness: pride.

Graham’s strength and self-control have served him well and earned him much respect, but chasing perfection has kept him a prisoner of his own discipline.

Both must learn to accept God’s sovereignty and relinquish control so they can grasp the future He has for planned for them.

The Heiress of Winterwood for me was a pretty good book but it did not blow me away. It was one the books I was talking about in my Musing Monday post though with the formatting issues so that did make it a bit harder for me to read and sit back and enjoy. I may visit it again when it is officially released to see if I can enjoy it more.

That said the story itself was pretty good. I liked the plot and it was not one that I had not read before. Amelia is a strong and independent of a sweet nature with a huge heart. You can not help but love a woman who would take on the responsibility that she did and take it to such a point that she would think to marry a man she did not even know just so she could keep a promise. The child vanishing without a single trace..well that adds a whole bunch of trouble into the characters lives. The ups and downs were enjoyable in this read and while I could not finish it with this read through I will give it another shot later on because I enjoyed what I could read.

My Gemstone Rating:

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Readble Kingdom Looking for Tour Hosts!

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Okay this is a bit of a shameless plug, I admit it. However it is my blog so I think I will plug a little bit I have not done any of that in a very long time after all!

I am active in hosting tours and I have been since I started this blog. I did have some slower time periods but I was still always hosting. I finally took the jump and started my own promotion company and I feel I have a fantastic team of people (yes including me) ready to review more books and get the word out. All comers are welcome for our Authors but we will be putting a big focus on Indie Authors who do not have huge budgets and huge publishers behind them. Being the wife of a Musician who has played in some awesome bands without a label I really understand Indie Artists of all sorts.

I offer to my readers be you fellow reviewers or Indie Authors who may be looking for some promotion. Readable Kingdom.

The site is still fresh and we have not gone into heavy advertising just yet, but it is open and I would love to get some more hosts on the roster. So if your interested check it out and drop a line. If you see things that could be improved let me know about that too. I am always happy to work on things.

Teaser Tuesday 4/2/13

- Ambrosia 7 Comments

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

She rode home at the back of a party of knights returning to London. Jane stayed behind.For a few moments, Isabel revelled quietly in her solitude; the first time all day she hadn’t had to guard her expression. ~ Pg. 143 Figures in Silk by Vanora Bennett

Musing Monday 4/1/13

- Ambrosia 3 Comments

Musing Monday is hosted over at 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).
• 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!

You will not see any April fool’s jokes here. I am not a fan of the tradition on this day the one I call “The day you trust nothing that comes out of anyone’s mouth.” At any rate onto the book stuff.

I have a bone to pick with those who have put Ebook’s out there for review. Not everyone I know it is dangerous to put the whole brush painting thing out there, alas I have just over this weekend alone read 3 books that were terribly formatted.

I don’t mean just a little bad space here and there, I mean words stuck together likethis every 5 or 6 words. Large massive spaces where one shouldn’t be. Lik

e this. The authors name and random numbers in spots where it just did not make any sense. Now I know when you get a copy before release there is some work that needs to be done. However I am starting to feel that they could at least do a cursory look to make sure it is readable. If your offering the book for review after all one would think you would want the book to be read by the reviewers. Is it just me am I wont or over reacting in this feeling?

Book Review: The Seduction of Emily by Rachel Brimble

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Release Date: April 8th 2013

Seduction is a wicked game, and no one plays it better than the devilish Will Samson in Rachel Brimble’s captivating new novel. . .

Since girlhood, Emily Darson has accepted that she will marry Nicholas, the son of her father’s trusted business partner. The marriage contract safeguards her family legacy, Emily’s fortune, and everything she values–except her independence. Only when a sinfully handsome scoundrel enters her life does Emily realize quite how much a loveless match will cost her.

Will Samson has advanced from expert pickpocket to confidence trickster of the highest caliber. Now he has come to Bath to exact vengeance on the man who destroyed his mother–the man Emily will soon marry. But from his first glimpse of the enemy’s bewitching, spirited fianc�e, Will’s plan changes.

Amid the ballrooms and salons of elegant society, heated glances explode into scandalous kisses. Revenge is sweet, but surrender will be irresistible. . .

I really wanted to sit back and enjoy this book. The story seemed there and I liked what I had heard about it so far. That said the copy I had was so badly edited I simply could not enjoy the book at all. There were spaces where there should not be spaces, every 5 or 6 words or so there was no space at all, the authors name would show up at various points with a number that made no sense. I know I got an early copy so perhaps the final copy will be better edited. I hope so anyways as for me this was a big disappointment that I could not sit and enjoy the book.

Update 4/3/13: The Author Rachel Brimble contacted me personally via e-mail (which was lovely) to appologize for the formatting issue. It was a not completed copy (which I did mention I figured) and she told me that once it was complete I am being offered a error free version to read. I am excited to be able to read it and I will very happily do a new review once I do.

My Gemstone Rating:

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Book Review: Table Talk: Memoirs of a Bikini Waxer by Caren A. Stein

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Brutally Honest & Ridiculously Funny…Table Talk: Memoirs of a Bikini Waxer is a hilarious collection of stories, opinions, rantings and ravings that will leave you laughing your hairless ass OFF! Each chapter represents a different hat worn by Caren on any given day as a hair removal specialist. The Bikini Waxer — The Love Doctor — The Bearded Lady — The Belle of the Balls- no subject is off limits. Not only funny but sincere and uplifting, this book will leave any female reader with a sense of womanly pride and dynamism. “As a woman who knows women, I have found that no issue is too big or too small to discuss. We are passionate conversationalists regardless of the subject matter. Whatever the issue may be from finding a new wrinkle or a gray hair to buying a new outfit, dating a jerk, getting a divorce or not knowing what color to paint the damn powder room, it’s all important to us – at least for the time it’s on the table. Some women look to me for answers. I can only tell them what I would do in certain situations but it’s important to tread lightly with some subjects. After all, despite what some may think, I don’t have all the answers. Who on this planet does

My first thought when I got this book was, “So why did I want to read about waxing again?”, that did not last very long at all. This is a very fun and enjoyable read that had me laughing out loud several times. Caren A. Stein has written a sassy, smart little romp about how she lives her life and what she does. There were some stories of things that she has put up with as a waxer that made my jaw absolutely drop. The way she handled them was professional and yet also a bit laughable. It did not take me long to read the book as it is a short and fast paced read but it is put together very well. There is some coarse language so if that is something you are okay with it will not be a bother to you. The formatting of the book makes it easy to read and the chapter titles are pretty funny as well.

I am a person who enjoys a little look into other peoples lives and Caren A. Stein gives us a fun look into hers. I can not say this book made me ever want to go and get a bikini wax, I suspect I might end up being a whiner which Ms. Stein lets us know is not very well liked by those in the field. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a good laugh and a nice fun easy read. It is a good book if you ask me.

My Gemstone Rating:

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Book Review: The House of Special Purpose by John Boyne

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From the author of The Absolutist, a propulsive novel of the Russian Revolution and the fate of the Romanovs.

Part love story, part historical epic, part tragedy, The House of Special Purpose illuminates an empire at the end of its reign. Eighty-year-old Georgy Jachmenev is haunted by his past—a past of death, suffering, and scandal that will stay with him until the end of his days. Living in England with his beloved wife, Zoya, Georgy prepares to make one final journey back to the Russia he once knew and loved, the Russia that both destroyed and defined him. As Georgy remembers days gone by, we are transported to St. Petersburg, to the Winter Palace of the czar, in the early twentieth century—a time of change, threat, and bloody revolution. As Georgy overturns the most painful stone of all, we uncover the story of the house of special purpose.

I really wanted this book to blow me out of the water, alas it did not. That said I did enjoy it over all. I think it was just the tone of the main character who tells the story that kept me from being blown away. I could not warm up to him much at all. That said the story itself the words that he told were well done. I like how the imagery is painted it is not done in a rosy colored bunch of colors. You get the dark and the grime of the time along with the moments of happy hope. I would recommend it because someone else might actually warm to the main character more than I did, I can not actually say why I didn’t like him.

My Gemstone Rating:

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Book Review: The Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

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St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger…

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

So yes after many fellow Young Adult and Vampire fans nagging at me I finally decided to read The Vampire Academy. I got it through paperback swap so I did not have to worry about being out any money for it if I found out I really did not enjoy it. So what did I think? That is theoretically why you are reading the review after all.

I didn’t love it and I didn’t hate it either. I just feel kind of like “well okay I read that.”

Most of the character to me seemed a bit vapid, I did like Dmitri the Guardian of course he is Russian and not a bad guy so I tend to like when Russian’s get a good guy role (wait for a rant about that on my other blog). Overall I think I will go ahead and read the next book at some point in the future but I am not rapid to do it and I am not sure I am sold 100% on this series. Not good not bad just kind of in the middle of the road for me.

My Gemstone Rating:

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