Musing Monday 4/15/13

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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!

I am reserving my muse post today to send love and healing light to all of those in Boston today. I was going to make a bookish rant about book store lines and such that I had recently, but it seems moot giving what has happened.

Book Review: Silver Sphere by Michael Dadich

- Ambrosia 1 Comment

Shelby Pardow never imagined killing someone. That’s about to change.

While hiding from her troubled father in the local library, Shelby stares at a flashing instant message on her computer: YOU ARE NEEDED. She discovers a portal that opens and teleports her to the planet Azimuth, where soldiers await. Here, she is not a child but a warrior, Kin to one of the six Aulic Assembly members imprisoned by Malefic Cacoethes, the daunting leader of the Nightlanders.

Malefic, the evil spawn of the demon Biskara, razes towns and cities in his quest to rule Azimuth, and yearns to turn his forces against Earth. Yet every time Biskara gets close to achieving his malevolent goals, the Assembly uses the Silver Sphere, a sophisticated armillary device, to thwart him.

With the Assembly deposed, Biskara directing Malefic’s conquests, and the Silver Sphere out of reach, Shelby is thrust into an unforgettable quest with her fellow Kin. She must learn to kill and lead an army into battle, or Azimuth—and Earth—will fall.

It took me a little bit of time to get into this book because I had trouble doing the bit of a jump from one to the other of the time frames if you could call it that. The portal bit for me was just a little bit “yeah okay”. That aside however the rest of the book was really enjoyable for me. The world that has been created is inventive and interesting. I love both the good guys and the bad guys, and for me a mark of a truly well developed and well written character is when I can like a bad guy.

For me this was a fast read that I read cover to cover without to much issue. The part that was perplexing to me was in the beginning and not very long, so it did not take away from my enjoyment. I would recommend this book to anybody who wants a good read.

My Gemstone Rating:

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Spring is Here: Out with the Old in with the New!

- Ambrosia 2 Comments

With spring finally here I’ve been thinking about clearing up the clutter and getting some shiny new things! I’ve just started my spring-cleaning and that means getting rid of some old things and bringing in some new things. Lately I’ve been wanting to have a more comfortable place to sit and when I was out shopping with my husband I was suddenly hit with what I wanted….a bean bag chair!!

I used to love these things when I was a kid, and when I moved away to college I had one in my dorm room. I’ve noticed that a lot of bean bags are designed for kids so a lot of them really wouldn’t suit me. I was looking online and a found a couple of really cute ones in nice patterns, and some even came in faux leather. But before I buy one I have to find a side table to go with it! Leave your ideas in the comments!

My favorite so far:

Your thoughts? Image credit BeanBagBoss.com

March Challenge update

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I know I am way behind on making this post. Honestly it boils down to the fact that I have been really busy and did not have time to sit down and do all the organizing for the update. I still have not updated the widget counters. But I can do that at the end of this month. That said this month is shaping up to be a slow reading month. It is spring and I am doing all kinds of spring stuff.

Anyways here we go.

My over all 2013 challenge is going very well as of right. I ended March at 35 books into my goal of 60 so that puts me well ahead of things. I might even increase my goal but we will see you never know how things will shape up on the reading front.

Historical Fiction Challenge: 14 of 25+ books done.

Immortal Challenge: 7 of 11 books done.

Animal Challenge: 3 of 6 books done.

Ebook Challenge: 18 of 10 so yeah all complete and I think it might be time to increase this one.

TBR Challenge: 7 of 11-20 done on this one. I feel the need to kick it up a notch on these ones so for May I am going to try to focus on the older books on the TBR.

Overall not to bad I think I am right on track with this set of goals this year

Book Review: Figures in Silk by Vanora Bennett

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As the Wars of the Roses draw slowly to a close‚ England is a place of turmoil. Edward IV is on the throne but his position is unstable and he finds himself challenged by a man who would become Henry VII.

But one woman‚ a silkweaver to the court and mistress to Richard III‚ can cut through the turmoil with her clever ways and her pretty smile. Her sister is mistress to Edward IV. Could they hold the keys to power″

And London is turned constantly on its head‚ with business never sure where to turn‚ where the favours lie‚ who is in power from one moment to the next. Vanora Bennett brings to life a time of passions and politics‚ a time of turmoil and tension‚ a world in flux and a country up for grabs.

I have to say of all the war of the roses books this is going to be one of my favorites. While it does focus on the royals in some respects the main focus is the story of trying to get the silk weaving business brought to England. You learn all the ins and outs of the mercers guild and many others within England at the time. Isabel Lambert a fictional created sister to the infamous Jane Lambert, better known as Jane Shore Mistress to King Edward is the center piece in all of this silk world.

Isabel after meeting with a mysterious stranger (who I guessed right on the first meeting) goes on to marry the Son of the wealthiest independent silkwomen in London Alice Claver. After the death of her Husband not very long after they were married Isabel is stuck with a question of what to do. She ends up becoming the apprentice of her Mother in Law. We follow these industrious women for a very long road of over 10 years as they have ups and downs and work towards a dream of not having to import woven silk from the various ports of the world. I loved learning about the silk world and following them along the path. The back story with the royal family fit as well because the merchants could not act without the royals and the royals often wanted loans from the merchants. It certainly is an interesting fiction and would I very much recommend.

My Gemstone Rating:

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Teaser Tuesday 4/9/13

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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!

Yeah it is a bigger book and I am a bit slow so..here is another teaser from Figures in Silk.

Isabel blurted: ‘They’re saying he might take it into his head to marry you next.’ She was miserably aware that she hadn’t got her opening gambit right, even before she saw Elizabeth’s green eyes move down to fix consideringly on her own lowered head ~ Pg.361 Figures in Silk by Vanora Bennett

Book Blast: Replacing Gentry by Julie N Ford

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Replacing Gentry

When Marlie agrees to attend a cadaver ball at Vanderbilt Medical School, she did not expect to actually see any cadavers. Or, that a strange apparition would issue her a chilling message.

Despite the cadaver’s warning, Marlie is married a year later to Tennessee State Senator, Daniel Cannon, and living in a plantation-style mansion with two step sons. Add to the mix her growing suspicion that something is amiss with the death of Daniel’s first wife, Gentry; and newlywed Marlie is definitely in over her pretty Yankee head.

What begins as an innocent inquiry into her new husband’s clouded past, ends with Marlie in the midst of a dangerous conspiracy.

A modern twist on the classic Gothic romance novels of Rebecca and Jane Eyre, Replacing Gentry follows Marlie’s precarious journey as she learns the truth about the man she married.

Author Julie N. Ford

Julie N. Ford graduated from San Diego State University with a BA in Political Science and a minor in English Literature. In addition, she has a Masters in Social Work from the University of Alabama. Professionally, she has worked in teaching and as a Marriage & Family Counselor. She is the author of two women’s fiction novels, The Woman He Married and No Holly for Christmas, published in 2011. In addition, she wrote a romance/chick-lit novel, Count Down to Love, also published in 2011. Count Down to Love was a 2011 Whitney Award finalist. Her next novel, Replacing Gentry, is due for release April 9th, 2013.

Currently, she lives in Nashville, TN with her husband, two daughters and one hedgehog.

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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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