Author: Ambrosia

Teaser Tuesday 1/29/13

- Ambrosia 2 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!

Blackmoor cut in, his question appearing to all as casual curiousity.”Has she told you that something is bothering her?” Nick shook his head, waving his hand dismissively. ~ The Season by Sarah MacLean pg. 151

Musing Monday 1/28/13

- 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.

I have started a new habit. Whether that be because of busy time or because I have picked up on a fellow friends OCD about sorting things I am not sure. My latest reading habit is making first a stack of my hard copy books, then a list of my Kindle books that I will be reading next. I have the next 12 or so books sorted out. Now that is not to say I won’t change my mind and go with a different book if I feel like it, but there it is they are sorted.

One good thing about this new sorting is since I am doing blog tours again on a regular basis it is helping me keep my tours sorted. I also have those placed on a google calendar to make sure that I have the reviews scheduled and ready to go in time.

The Sunday Salon 1/27/13

- Ambrosia Leave a comment



Hello again Sunday. Another week and here we have the last Sunday in the Month of January. This month has gone by rather quickly don’t you think? On the reading front this has been a very good week for me. I read three books and enjoyed each one of them. All of them were very different from one another too. I love when you can get in a swing of books that you devour and really enjoy deeply.

The first was Front Page Fatality by LynDee Walker

Then there was Covet by J.R Ward

and finally what I finished yesterday Mistress to the Crown Isolde Martyn

Not a bad week! This week I may not get as much of a chance to read as many books but of course that also will depend on how fast I manage to read them. Sometimes I am faster then others it just always depends. In other good news I finally got my copy of Lily of the Nile too! It took me two orders to get it but I did get it, even if the package was beat up the book arrived alright. For all the trouble I went through to get the book I hope it is a good one.

Book Review: Mistress to the Crown Isolde Martyn

- Ambrosia 1 Comment

Release Date: Feb 1st 2013

The day Lord Hastings came into her husband’s store, Elizabeth saw the opportunity she had waited twelve years for — a way to separate herself once and for all from her dull, impotent husband, William Shore. The handsome stranger presented not only the chance to partake in the dance of desire, but legal counsel to annul her 12-year marriage.

She did not, however, foresee her introduction to the King of England, nor her future at his side…and in his bed. From this unlikely alliance, Elizabeth is granted severance from Shore, and finds herself flourishing in the radiance of the King’s admiration. But she soon finds that her new position comes at a terrible price — her family has shunned her, the people of London have labelled her a harlot and the Queen’s family want her to burn in Hell.

So long as King Edward and Lord Hastings stay close, Elizabeth is safe. However, her beloved Ned falls ill and Lord Hastings falls out of favour.

Can Elizabeth’s wiles keep her out of trouble? Or will they lead her to further trouble…and the hangman’s noose?

Mistress to the crown takes us once again into an England that is on the cusp of the Tudor reign placing us into the stories of the Last Plantagenet King’s. Elizabeth Shore is a good and dutiful Wife who has a husband who can not preform the duties he is meant to. While she is wistful for a child and very unhappy in her marriage she remains faithful, all until Lord Hastings Chamberlain to the King arrives in her shop one day and sets her world on it’s head.

First she becomes a lover to Lord Hastings, learning that the art of being in bed is indeed a pleasure. However after they are barged in upon by a man dressed in messengers clothing but with the air of something else Elizabeth’s life changes further. It is later when the messenger summons her under the name of Lord Hastings that she finds out he is indeed King Edward.

Isolde Martyn has done a fantastic job in bringing these characters to life. It is never easy to be a King’s Mistress and they are often painted as little more than grasping harlots. In truth they are often little more than what they are painted as. However Elizabeth Shore is brought to life as a very human character. While I did not like her in the first chapter when she was young and seeking an annulment I think she was a normal girl of her age. When we come upon her later and she is indeed an independent woman who is dealing with a situation no one would like I warmed to her.

We see growth within Elizabeth with each turn of the page, and to say that King Edward was a charmer is putting it lightly. However he was a King and we see his human side as well, from his fits of temper to his moments of deep sadness in which he seeks comfort. Over all this makes for a very real and human book that engages you to the characters. I would recommend this book to any historical fiction readers especially those who like the War of the Roses time period. The history is well presented and the facts that have been filled in because we do not know them seem to stay true to what we do know.

My Gemstone Rating:

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Booking Through Thursday 1/24/13

- Ambrosia 3 Comments

It has been a while since I have done this MEME but since I am bringing back the Meme’s it is time to do this one as well. If your only here for the reviews..sorry scroll on down *wink*

This one is Hosted at the Booking through Thursday Blog.

This week it is asked:


Do you ever try to pair music with the book you’re reading? Play the movie soundtrack while reading the original book? Find mood music that fits with your story?

I do sometimes pair music with the books I am reading. I do this in a couple of different ways really. I love music so sometimes I will get distracted by it if I am not that fully focused on a book. That aside sometimes when I am relating to a character I will put a soundtrack to them. Songs I think fit them a theme song or something for the situation. I did that recently with Covet as I was reading each character got a theme song.

If I am reading a book that has been made into a movie sometimes I will listen to the sound track. I know when I read Les Mis I had the soundtrack going. How could you not? It is one of those ones that just screams for that. Sometimes I just have music on in the background softly and I find without knowing that it fits what I am reading. Moods can go with moods sometimes when you don’t even notice it.

Book Review: Covet by J.R Ward

- Ambrosia 2 Comments

Redemption isn’t a word Jim Heron knows much about—his specialty is revenge, and to him, sin is all relative. But everything changes when he becomes a fallen angel and is charge with saving the souls of seven people from the seven deadly sins. And failure is not an option. Vin DiPietro long ago sold his soul to his business, and he’s good with that — until fate intervenes in the form of a tough- talking, Harley-riding, self-professed savior. But then he meets a woman who will make him question his destiny, his sanity, and his heart—and he has to work with a fallen angel to win her over and redeem his own soul.

Covet is the first book in the Fallen Angels series and my first trip outside of the Black Dagger Brother hood with author J.R Ward. The setting is once again in Caldwell, New York and my first question when we hit that setting was, where is the Brotherhood? Well while they do not jump out of the pages and say here I am there are some veiled references. We have mention of Zerosum and the reverend, and we even catch a description of one of the Brothers going into a meeting. So alright they are around.

However this book isn’t about them. Jim Heron is your typical military bad ass. He works alone as his license to kill black ops kind of way of being suggests and while hes trying to live in retirement it would seem like has other plans for him. Jim ends up being recruited for another kind of war, the war between good and evil. He is told that he is a player seen by both sides as agreeable on the field and he has to save 7 souls. If he doesn’t well that’s it for existence gone in the blink of an eye. His first soul? His boss one Vin diPietro.

I have to say again while it did take me a little bit to get into this book once I got into it, I could not set it down. The story is gripping and will keep you going “no way” over several things that happen. Of course it is a paranormal so the skies are the limit on what your going to see. I like that while it is obviously a battle of good and evil, good isn’t your typical saintly kind of guys. In fact they are more like guys you wouldn’t bring home to Mom, at first. There is some comedy to lighten the darker moments in the book and I really appreciated those comedy moments. I found myself literally laughing out loud at several parts. If you like paranormal this is a good book for you, if you like The Black Dagger Brotherhood, this is also a good book for you.

My Gemstone Rating:

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WWW Wens 1/23/13

- Ambrosia 2 Comments

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

I am currently reading Covet by J.R Ward, see I said I would! I have not read any of the fallen Angels series before so we will see how this one goes. I love her Black Dagger Brotherhood series so I don’t see why I won’t like the fallen Angels too. Broadening my horizons a bit again in my reading. Feels good to do. So many good books out there.

I just finished reading Front Page Fatality as listed in my review of it yesterday. I did enjoy it even if it only got a 3 gem (really more of a 3.5) and I will be looking for more books in the series to read. I may be keeping my eyes open for books of a similar vein as well.

What I will read next. I have put it in my “currently reading” on deck spot as I call it. When you see me with two books on the currently reading side you can bet the one on top I am actually reading and the one below it is what is up next. So as you can see up next will be Mistress of the Crown. Yes back to historical.


Posted in WWW

Book Review: Front page Fatality by LynDee Walker

- Ambrosia Leave a comment

Release Date Jan 29 2013

Crime reporter Nichelle Clarke’s days can flip from macabre to comical with a beep of her police scanner. Then an ordinary accident story turns extraordinary when evidence goes missing, a prosecutor vanishes, and a sexy Mafia boss shows up with the headline tip of a lifetime.

As Nichelle gets closer to the truth, her story gets more dangerous. Armed with a notebook, a hunch, and her favorite stilettos, Nichelle races to splash these shady dealings across the front page before this deadline becomes her last.

Jumping into a Genre I do not usually read I was given the chance to read Front Page Fatality from Net Gallery. LynDee Walker introduces us to a Lois Lane at heart Nichelle Clarke. She is a very go and get them kind of reporter and of course she does it in fashionable shoes. A girl after my own heart because what girl does not love her Jimmy’s and her Manolo’s? Nichelle like me however is also a deal seeker and gets her lovely shoes off ebay. You really do have to love a girl who can write and find a deal on shoes.

Nichelle soon finds herself up to her eye balls in trouble however as she stumbles upon the story of the year. The bad side of this is that she starts to suspect almost everyone around her of being in on the crime. The hunky sports guy who works with her at the paper Parker, her buddies at the Richmond PD Aaron and Mike and the Deputy Chief of Police. Although who ends up being at the center of what is going on will be a surprise and a swat in the face to most. I know it was to me.

LynDee Walker has truly written a fun, but exciting story. I could not pick out what the ending was going to be while reading, which to me is a good thing. There is nothing worse than reading a mystery and knowing the ending before your at the end. I am glad that this is marked as number one in the series because I will be reading the next one. I had a few issues with the formatting and a couple of spots in the plot to me just didn’t seem to fit with the rest. Otherwise this was a good one and not a bad one to have on your to read list.

My Gemstone Rating:

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Teaser Tuesday 1/22/13

- Ambrosia 2 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!

“You can read all about it in the morning,” I grinned at Parker. “And you don’t even have to cough up the 75cents.” Bob did the Chuckle/Wince thing again. ~ Front Page Fatality 43%

Musing Monday 1/21/13

- 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.
This week I am going to muse about what I am reading right now. I am currently reading Fatality on the Front Page. It is a book that I normally would not have read, because I tend to stay out of the murder/mystery genre. It is not that I do not like mystery’s just for the most they have not appealed to me. I actually chose this one from Net gallery for a very funny reason. It was set in VA. Yes I picked it purely because it was set in my favorite state. Is that bad or what?

However I actually am really enjoying the book and the plot does not strike me as obvious yet. I like that. I would maybe not put it on my all time favorite list but I do really enjoy the book. So thumbs up to that. Welcome to Monday.

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