Blog Tour Book Review: Warrior’s Moon by Jaclyn Hawkes

February 7, 2014 - Ambrosia Leave a comment

They loved each other desperately.
Never in all the kingdom has there been a more brave and protective champion. Nor such a loyal and capable maiden.
He rescued her the first time when she was three years old in a killing storm. Years later, he was still occasionally rescuing her. ‘Twas in him to be a hero, and she had a pure intrepid way of getting into the kinds of scrapes that took rescuing. With such a brawny, masculine guardian around, ‘twould have been a fair pity to waste the gallantry anyway.
Their childhood friendship between two young peasants had grown into a devotion few are ever blessed to experience. It was strong enough to withstand all their dark age held—danger, feudalism, disease, and unfair oppression.
Or is it strong enough? They truly loved each other desperately.
They loved their kingdom more.

This was a great read, fast and fun. I enjoy a good romance and this one is not only a good romance but one with a deep story and history to it. We start the book with a tragedy which kind of slaps you in the face a bit but in a way that gets your attention and pulls you into the book. From that point on you find yourself invested with the characters. Investment in the characters is key at least for me to enjoy any book.

I did feel the middle point dragged just a little bit, not enough to make me upset or turned away from the book, just the one point that kept me from giving 5 gems. Other then that this is a great read and I would highly recommend it. There are Christian themes but it is proper for the time period and does not as i like to say “over take the general message” of the book. Two thumbs up for Warrior’s moon.

My Gemstone Rating:

Booking through Thursday 2/6/14

February 6, 2014 - Ambrosia Leave a comment

This one is Hosted at the Booking through Thursday Blog.

There was no official question this week so I am going to make my own:

Do you like to read on freezing cold days?

With the weather being a frozen wasteland of Tundra in most places these days I have to ask do you like to read when it’s cold out? Or how about when you are sick, I happen to be dealing with both myself right now. While I do love to read when it’s cold ( no going outside) I find personally when I am sick my attention span for reading tends to start slipping. I don’t know if it is because I just feel icky or if it is because my brain says lay off..but that seems to be the pattern when I am sick.

Looking for a new Ac unit?

February 6, 2014 - Ambrosia Leave a comment

It may seem hard to think about for most of the country right now being that it is freezing, but spring and then summer will be here soon. There are also some parts of the country like, Florida that are actually still warm so it is never too early to think about what you will do if your home air conditioning unit needs to be replaced. It was something that my family had to look into doing recently when our old one conked out, so I wanted to pass on 5 useful tips to keep in mind when picking your own unit. If these tips interest you and you want to read more just click the link.

BTUs: This is the The capacity of an air conditioner and is known as British Thermal Units per hour. You need to know in general what you need for BTU’s. The best way to find out what is ideal for your home is to multiply the square footage of the space and multiple by 10 then add 4,000.

Energy Star rating: The Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star ratings indicate that an appliance is at least 10 percent more energy-efficient than the minimum federal standards. These types of AC units will often also get you a rebate if your energy company is offering rebates for efficient appliances.

EER: A room air conditioners EER, or Energy-Efficiency Ratio, is the ratio of the cooling output divided by the unit’s power consumption. The higher the EER, the more efficient the model, this applies mostly to window units but since not everyone is looking into central air it is something to keep in mind.

Anti-Microbial filter: Most room air conditioners come with reusable electrostatic filters, which may be treated with triclosan. You may want to get an untreated version for health reasons if it is going to be your window unit. Filters should always be paid attention to no matter what kind of unit so ask your retailer or installer for information.
Price: Remember sometimes you get what you pay for but there is no reason you can’t shop for some bargains. Look to see who is offering rebates, money back or other perks and get the best you can for your budget.

WWW Wednesday 2/5/14

February 5, 2014 - Ambrosia Leave a comment

This is another one hosted over at Should be Reading

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

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What are you reading next?

I am not currently actually reading anything, although I am listening to something so I am going to count that as my current read. It is just a case of having not picked anything else yet.

The story of a remarkable boy called Yann Margoza; Tetu the dwarf, his friend and mentor; Sido, unloved daughter of a foolish Marquis; and Count Kalliovski, Grand Master of a secret society, who has half the aristocracy in thrall to him, and wants Yann dead. Yann is spirited away to London but three years later, when Paris is gripped by the bloody horrors of the Revolution, he returns, charged with two missions: to find out Kalliovski’s darkest deeds and to save Sido from the guillotine. With a tangle of secrets, a thread of magic and a touch of humour, the follies of the aristocracy and the sufferings of ordinary people are unfolded as their lives move relentlessly towards the tragic and horrific days of the Terror. THE RED NECKLACE is not only a tremendous adventure story but a vibrant and passionate picture of Paris in turmoil and of a large cast of memorable characters

What I just finished reading:

Look for my review on this one soon.

What is next?

Well I am still contemplating however it is looking pretty good for this one, because it is for a tour and because I like the sound of it. Right now though I am a little focused on crochet..so Audio book wins out.

Hollie Porter is the chairwoman of Generation Disillusioned: at twenty-five years old, she’s saddled with a job she hates, a boyfriend who’s all wrong for her, and a vexing inability to say no. She’s already near her breaking point, so when one caller too many kicks the bucket during Hollie’s 911 shift, she cashes in the Sweethearts’ Spa & Stay gift certificate from her dad and heads to Revelation Cove, British Columbia. One caveat: she’s going solo. Any sweethearts will have to be found on site.

Hollie hopes to find her beloved otters in the wilds of the Great White North, but instead she’s providing comic relief for staff and guests alike. Even Concierge Ryan, a former NHL star with bad knees and broken dreams, can’t stop her from stumbling from one (mis)adventure to another. Just when Hollie starts to think that a change of venue doesn’t mean a change in circumstances, the island works its charm and she starts to think she might have found the rejuvenation she so desperately desires. But then an uninvited guest crashes the party, forcing her to step out of the discomfort zone where she dwells and save the day … and maybe even herself in the process.

Teaser Tuesday 2/4/14

February 4, 2014 - Ambrosia 1 Comment

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!

“I know you wanted to take glamorous weekend trips to Europe”, I started gently “and I know we talked about waiting a year before trying for children, but this is a blessing, and we’ll still be able to do all the things we wanted to do, well just have someone else to do them with.” pg. 87 The Other Woman by Jane Green

Book Spotlight: The Enchantress of Lynniah by A.L Bawden

February 4, 2014 - Ambrosia Leave a comment

Tour Schedule

The Enchantress of Lynniah

Have you ever come across a vain, impetuous little creature called a Mandie, and had to quickly dodge one of her poisonous darts? Or, have you ever imagined having to sing to a fruit to get it to peel open? Perhaps you’ve bumped into freakishly large, blue men, called Dreads? Well, with all of that, along with evil Nymphs and blood thirsty Banelorgs – these are things you’ve only likely experienced if you’ve had a nice long visit to Lynniah.

Corrah’s life suddenly and drastically changes with the unexpected and inexplicable death of her loving mother, Lillian. She and her two sisters, Gaela and Stormy, are suddenly thrust into the unknown and sent to live with their mysterious Aunt Rainee, who lives in the seemingly bewitched village, called Lynniah. Living in a house that their mother’s family had occupied for hundreds of years, they find clues that begin to unlock the startling reality that they are all part of an important magical heritage. A heritage that has been kept secret to save them from a dark and powerful enemy. Corrah has to find a way to battle and balance the onslaughts of loss, young love, and learn to uncover the personal power she has hidden inside her to overcome overwhelming adversity.

Amazon

Praise for The Enchantress of Lynniah

“I loved this book! It had a bit of everything…fantasy, adventure, romance, intrigue, and really unique characters! I was immediately drawn in and it held my attention throughout the story. It’s the type of book I could read over and over again. I highly recommend it if your looking for a fun read.” ~Shelly on Goodreads

“This book was awesome! It stayed with me for days, I kept thinking about all the characters. I can’t wait for the sequel!” ~Emma on Goodreads

Author A.L. Bawden

A.L. Bawden was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, into a large family of artists. Her father is a renowned sculptor -(Dee Jay Bawden), and her mother was an ingenious crafter, interior decorator, and seamstress. She has siblings that are sculptors, photographers, painters, cake decorators, tattoo artists, film makers, and crafters. She and a couple of her sisters have also had a successful mural painting business in Utah, called Artistic Murals. Her other hobbies include, reading, sewing & designing costumes, making jewelry, crafting, wake-boarding, snow-boarding, camping, fishing, boating, hiking, and running. She is a lover of fantasy fiction books and has enjoyed writing ever since she was a kid. She is the mother of three and is currently managing a couple of small online businesses

Google + * Blog * Twitter * Goodreads

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 2/26/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Prologue:

The moonlight leaked sparingly through the rigid thickness of trees in front of Lillian, giving barely enough illumination and just enough time to jump over the large roots, rocks and other unrecognizable obstacles, as she ran with all her might to elude the enemies behind her. She knew from the sharp snaps and crackling of leaves and twigs that they were gaining up on her fast. Dreads are large, but not quick on their feet, and to her advantage none of them were on horseback. The fortress couldn’t be too far ahead, she thought. And she knew that if she reached it she might find cover enough to cast some effective spells. The deep grunting of Dreads closed in behind her. She held her hand up against the sky with a beckoning motion, causing large branches to crack violently; hoping to create a more solid barrier between her and her savage foes. Glancing after, she could see that it had worked, if only for a moment. She tried to gain speed, but her legs were becoming tight and sore from the constant, grueling chase. Arrows continued whizzing violently through the sky all around her, as she reached the top of the small hill ahead – that’s where she could finally see it. Foreboding as it was, with its black, slick, and sinister design; it still looked very extraordinary in the moonlight. She had reached the fortress at last. It had taken years to discover how to disarm the protective enchantments around it, and now she was finally here. Four members of the Great Council, her companions, had been killed tonight on this deadly quest and she simply couldn’t bear to fail them all now. As she scanned the open clearing around the building, she noticed that more Dreads were standing guard and preparing for the oncoming chase that was imminently obvious by the arrows, yells, and loud trampling coming their way. Lillian continued to rain debris in their path, frantically casting spells behind her as she ran. Taking cover behind a large tree, she began enchanting the rocks to fly in the direction of her pursuers. Loud grunts and angry howls echoed through the forest as the rocks made contact. A few moments of near silence ensued, giving Lillian the confidence she needed to break away from the tree and descend the slope in front of the fortress. She speedily moved down the slope, hiding between trees and large rocks on the way to conceal her. It seemed as if her pursuers had finally fallen behind! She triumphantly moved nearer to the entrance, when all of the sudden something hot and forceful struck her violently in the back. The heat surged through her body rapidly, causing instant paralysis. As she fell backward onto the hard earth, and just before her eyes closed, a long black haired figure hovered over her, piercing her with dark and soulless eyes.

1st Paragraph:

Life often changes suddenly and devastatingly. It is then that our reality takes a deep plunge into the unknown, and can alter much of what we once knew to be true. It causes us to wake up and be ready for the changes that are inevitably coming. In this change, there is always a chance to grow and learn who we really are, if we choose it to be so. We can choose light or darkness – to expand or be stagnant. We will never find out what we are made of, if we do not conquer what is laid before us for our benefit. We can have unbelievable strength that we never thought was possible, if we open ourselves up to who we really are…

Musing Monday 2/3/14

February 3, 2014 - Ambrosia 5 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!

I will be entering into a bit of a rant today, yes I shall. Is it selfish to not want to borrow your books out? I have a great many books in my library (400 hard copy TBR) but I really hate lending them out. If you are at my house and wish to read one that is fine! You want to take it home?! NO NO NO NO NO NO NO! Selfish? Maybe but almost every single time I have given a book to someone that leaves my house I never see it again and if it is from my shelves chances are I haven’t read it yet and if its a keeper it is either special or just THAT good. I want to grab them all and run away screetching MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE.

Selfish?

Book Spotlight: Eire’s Viking by Sandi Layne

February 3, 2014 - Ambrosia 1 Comment

Eire’s Viking by Sandi Layne

Published by The Writers Coffee Shop

Available from Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, and TWCS

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Summary:

Ten years after Charis marries Cowan at the end of Éire’s Captive Moon, Agnarr Halvardson returns to the Green Island—this time, to stay. He wants what any man wants: To make a life for himself, wed, and have sons.

Before he can express these goals, he is injured and taken to Bangor Monastery. There, Aislinn—adopted daughter of Cowan and Charis—treats him as a patient while she ignores the immediate attraction he holds for her.

Agnarr decides Aislinn would be a good wife for him as she teaches him her language and customs. She commands his respect and wins his affection. The past is just one barrier of many between them, however.

There are new invaders to Éire. Pledging his loyalty to the new king of Dál Fiatach, Agnarr prepares to defend his new home while persuading Aislinn to be his wife.

Success or failure will affect the lives of many.

Author Bio:

There are many profiles that detail the author’s lifelong dream of authorship being realized with the publication of their first novel or short story. This is not one of those profiles.

To make an exceedingly odd story moreso, Sandi Layne had no wish to be a writer, but went through a storyline bootcamp in the form of strange dreams for a month and took careful notes. Fifteen years later, she’s still writing stories that veer slightly off the beaten path, both in Christian and historical fiction.

Married for more than twenty years to a very tolerant (and brilliant!) man, she has two sons, no pets, and a plethora of imaginary friends. Her interests range from ancient civilizations to science fiction for both reading and research. With degrees in English and Ministry, she also claims Theology’s crimson Masters collar which she has been known to don on rare occasions.

If you drive by her window before dawn, it is likely she’ll have a light on for you. Or at the very least, she’ll be alert on twitter. She invites you to visit her online space at http://sandyquill.com. Bring coffee.

Connect with Sandi Layne on

Facebook and Goodreads

Other books by Sandi Layne

Blog Tour: Spotlight Rubber Soul by Greg Kihn

February 3, 2014 - Ambrosia Leave a comment

Tour Schedule

Rubber Soul by Greg Kihn

Greg Kihn is a rock star, seasoned radio host and author. Rubber Soul, his latest novel is inspired by intimate interviews that he conducted with Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Pete Best, Yoko Ono and Patti Harrison. Though Rubber Soul is fiction, as Greg says it is “100% historically accurate” and an candid glimpse of the phenomenon that is The Beatles.

Rubber Soul is a an innovation in the Rock Thriller genre, taking readers on a rollicking ride through The Beatles legacy from the early days in Liverpool to six sold out shows per night in Hamburg and full-fledged Beatlemania.

Dust Bin Bob runs into some lads from Liverpool at his second hand shop on Penny Lane. The lads: John, Paul, George and Ringo and Dust Bin Bob become firm friends, sharing vinyl that will spark a revolution. Murder, mystery and Beatlemania mayhem ensues—with the boys narrowly avoiding an international incident and an attempted assassination. It’s the ultimate Beatles story that could have happened!

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo

Praise

“There’s no one more qualified to write a rock-and-roll novel than Greg Kihn. He’s the real deal and at his Kihntillating best in this book.” – Guy Kawasaki, former chief evangelist of Apple

“Rubber Soul is a magical mystery tour de force by Greg Kihn, a rocker who obviously has a way with words as well as music. His imagined story about the Beatles is fast-moving, full of twists and tension, and musical nuggets and insights. Great story-telling set to a Fab-four beat.” – Ben Fong Torres

“Rubber Soul captures what Rock-n-Roll is all about – and Greg Kihn would certainly know! This nearly-true story of the Beatles is pure magic and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.” – Eddie Money

“Greg Kihn is the most compelling author who ever had a top five singing career. Rubber Soul is a fantastic story by Greg, with an historical back beat. I urge you not to miss this.” – Joan Jett

“I’m happy to report that Rubber Soul, the latest work by my pal Greg Kihn, has correct punctuation, complete sentences, even full paragraphs – some of the exact same literary devices that can be found in the greatest novels our culture has ever produced! It’s also written in English, which happens to be one of my very favorite languages.” – “Weird Al” Yankovic

“While the RIAA may not be able to certify Kihn’s work with a gold disc, fans of Kihn and The Beatles, as well as those who long for the simpler yet magical time of the 1960’s will thoroughly enjoy and fall in love with Rubber Soul. They certainly don’t write ‘em like this anymore.” – Chris Shapiro, RetroPulse

Author Greg Kihn

NBC called Greg Kihn “Rock’s True Renaissance Man” and for good reason. As part of the eponymous band he has: toured the globe, had hit records, been inducted into the San Jose Rock Hall Of Fame, opened for the Rolling Stones and jammed with Bruce Springsteen. You may have heard of his smash worldwide #1 hit “Jeopardy” and “The Breakup Song”, not to mention the parody written by Weird Al Yankovic.

Being a famous and successful rock star is only one part of the mosaic that is Greg’s story. In the 90s Greg poured his passion for lyrics into writing fiction—publishing four novels, one of which “Horror Show” was nominated for the prestigious Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel.

In this vein, Greg merged his love of writing with Rock and Roll and wrote “Rubber Soul”—a unique rock murder mystery featuring The Beatles. The inspiration for this novel came from Greg’s interviews with Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Pete Best, Yoko Ono and Patti Harrison. In this way Greg gained exclusive access to the biggest band ever to exist. “Rubber Soul” is a work of fiction, but it is 100% historically accurate and a story that only rock veteran Greg Kihn could have written.

Website * Twitter * Facebook

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 2/16/14

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Ed Sullivan Theater on West 53rd Street only held seven
hundred people but the show had received about fifty thousand
applications for tickets. Cops lined the street in front.
Bobby thought the Beatles were keeping remarkably calm.
Ed Sullivan himself greeted the band, waving a telegram
from Elvis Presley.
“He wishes you luck,” Ed said proudly. “Elvis and the
Colonel both wish you success in America.”
All four band members nodded, impressed that the King of
Rock and roll would acknowledge their presence.
Bobby stayed out of the way and accompanied George’s
sister Louise to her seat. Bobby saw a dense crowd of teenage
girls squirming in their seats. The atmosphere crackled with
electricity. TV cameras waited.
At last the stiff, uncomfortable image of Ed Sullivan
appeared. After a rehearsal John had said Ed walked like he
had a pole up his ass. Bobby could now corroborate this
although no pole was visible. The red lights above each camera
flickered on; the time was at hand.
Ed welcomed the viewers, made a few remarks, then
introduced a brief commercial. A minute later he returned to a
breathless audience. He must have known his words would go
down in history, yet he rushed through them in the excitement
of the moment.
“Now, yesterday and today, our theater has been jammed
with newspapermen and hundreds of photographers from all over
the nation, and these veterans agree with me that the city has
never witnessed the excitement stirred by these youngsters
from Liverpool who call themselves the Beatles. Now, tonight
you’ll be twice entertained by them, right now, and in the
second half of our show. Ladies and gentlemen, the Beatles!”
Paul counted off the song and went into the first line of
All My Lovin’. As soon as the band joined in, shrill keening
filled the air. The sound shook the theater walls, echoing
across America and raised the hair on the back of Bobby’s
neck. Hysterical screaming drowned out the music washing over
them like a sonic tsunami. Louise clutched Bobby’s arm.
The response to the Beatles was thunderous. The manic
behavior of the audience frightened Bobby. Faces around him
seemed twisted and desperate. The screaming rang in his ears.
Tears rolled down the cheeks of the female audience members.
Bobby found himself swept up in it and realized he too was
shouting at the top of his lungs.
The Beatles seemed above it all, delivering their music
to the frenzied masses in a thoroughly professional manner.
The harmonies in All My Lovin’ were perfect; the vocal blend
was as natural and smooth as the Everly Brothers. Bobby was
impressed that the group could play that flawlessly with
relentless screaming in their ears.
All My Lovin’ ended and Till There Was You started with
another Paul vocal. Bobby thought it odd that they would
follow All My Lovin’ with another ballad sung by Paul but
realized it was probably a group decision with Brian Epstein
and Ed Sullivan approving the choice.
The third song, She Loves You, galvanized the audience
and caused the greatest reaction of the set. Bobby considered
She Loves You the ultimate Beatles song. Its “yeah, yeah,
yeah” chorus and high pitched “whooo” at the end of the verses
made it instantly recognizable.
When it ended the theater seemed to deflate. When the
Beatles left the stage a huge vacuum sucked up the atmosphere.
Bobby looked at Louise. She blinked unbelieving.
“Good Lord. I don’t believe it.”
“It’s beyond anything we could imagine,” Bobby said.
They hardly noticed the next act, a man in a tuxedo doing
card tricks.
Bobby’s mind went back to the Beatles. He wondered what
they thought of it. They were used to British Beatlemania, but
this was… well, this was out of control. Bobby wondered where
it would all lead.
The cast of the Broadway show Oliver followed, but Bobby
couldn’t focus on the song. Frank Gorshin did impersonations
of celebrities Bobby never heard of, but Bobby enjoyed the
man’s elastic face and wild body language. Tessie O’Shea stood
larger than life, strumming her banjo and belting out show
tunes, but it seemed boring and ordinary to Bobby. The Beatles
made everybody sound boring and ordinary.
An odd comedic team did a skit about a boss and his
secretary, and Bobby found himself glancing at the clock,
counting the minutes before the Beatles returned. At last they
were back, and the screaming began anew.
“One! Two! Three! Fah!” Paul barked the count and Bobby
instantly recognized the guitar intro to I Saw Her Standing
There.
George played his dark brown Gretsch Country Gentleman
guitar held high, picking the notes to the solo with a
flourish. Bobby wondered why he wasn’t using the black
Rickenbacker he’d bought in St. Louis. John was playing his.
Bobby imagined the matching black guitars would have looked
cool on television. I Want To Hold Your Hand finished the set
and caused the audience to expend what little

The Sunday Salon 2/2/14

February 2, 2014 - Ambrosia Leave a comment

Bit to busy to do much writing today. I know that is terrible of me, I should be dragged out in the streets and flogged. I may try to comment more later but it is just one of those weeks. In the mean time. Enjoy some man candy.