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Thursday, July 31, 2014

Cat Thursday #58



Welcome to the weekly meme that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s) and then link up at the host's site: The True Book Addict. It's all for the love of cats!
 
The dog keeps dragging fleas in the house so this is a sad reality of the life of our three kitties:
 
 
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Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday #122

 
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine and is where we can talk about books we are looking forward to being released.
 
Uprooted
 
Summary:
 
Naomi Novik, author of the bestselling and critically acclaimed Temeraire novels, introduces a bold new world rooted in folk stories and legends, as elemental as a Grimm fairy tale.
“Our Dragon doesn’t eat the girls he takes, no matter what stories they tell outside our valley. We hear them sometimes, from travelers passing through. They talk as though we were doing human sacrifice, and he were a real dragon. Of course that’s not true: he may be a wizard and immortal, but he’s still a man, and our fathers would band together and kill him if he wanted to eat one of us every ten years. He protects us against the Wood, and we’re grateful, but not that grateful.”
Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river. But the corrupted Wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life.
Her people rely on the cold, driven wizard known only as the Dragon to keep its powers at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his help: one young woman handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as falling to the Wood.
The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid. She knows—everyone knows—that the Dragon will take Kasia: beautiful, graceful, brave Kasia, all the things Agnieszka isn’t, and her dearest friend in the world. And there is no way to save her.

But Agnieszka fears the wrong things. For when the Dragon comes, it is not Kasia he will choose.
Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 432 pages (Hardcover)
Expected Publication Date: June 30th 2015 by Del Rey
 
Why I'm Waiting:
 
I love Novik's Temeraire series which deals with alternate history and dragons so I can't wait to see how her YA novel will turn out.
 
The Lightkeeper's Wife
 
Summary:
 
Alone on the tip of the cape, Hannah Snow is on the verge of her most heroic rescue yet.

On 19th century Cape Cod, Hannah Snow shouldn't even be in the water. Her husband, John, would be furious-it's his job to tend to Dangerfield Light. It's certainly not women's work, and his quick trips out of town don't give her permission to rush toward the tattered ships. But she does, and though she can't save everyone, William "Billy" Pike, is someone she can. He's recuperating in her care when John's horse is found abandoned. Hannah invites Billy to stay as a hired hand-but soon discovers that he is not at all whom she thought he was. When everything holding her together falls apart, can Hannah learn how to save herself?
Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 304 pages (Paperback)
Expected Publication Date: September 9th 2014 by Sourcebooks Landmark
 
Why I'm waiting:
 
I rather like lighthouses, and find that any time I read a book set around one that it's always a good read.
 
What are you waiting on?
 
 
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Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Teaser Tuesday #55

 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!
 
London Falling (Shadow Police, #1)
 
Summary:
 
The dark is rising . . .

Detective Inspector James Quill is about to complete the drugs bust of his career. Then his prize suspect Rob Toshack is murdered in custody. Furious, Quill pursues the investigation, co-opting intelligence analyst Lisa Ross and undercover cops Costain and Sefton. But nothing about Toshack’s murder is normal. Toshack had struck a bargain with a vindictive entity, whose occult powers kept Toshack one step ahead of the law – until his luck ran out.

Now, the team must find a 'suspect' who can bend space and time and alter memory itself. And they will kill again. As the group starts to see London’s sinister magic for themselves, they have two choices: panic or use their new abilities. Then they must hunt a terrifying supernatural force the only way they know how: using police methods, equipment and tactics. But they must all learn the rules of this new game - and quickly. More than their lives will depend on it.
Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 417 pages (Kindle)
Publication Date: April 16th 2013 by Tor Books (first published December 6th 2012)       
 
     
Teaser:
Pg. 223
 
 
She smiled at him, and he felt he should say something. "What do you do?"
"I'm a witch."
Quill couldn't help it. "No you're not," he said and moved on.
 
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Tuesday Jams #22

 
Tuesday Jams is a meme where you share your favourite songs. bands and the current song you're feeling and is hosted by Sharonda from Salacious Reads
 
 
 

 
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Monday, July 28, 2014

Quote-Tastic Monday #57

 
This one is simple and just about sharing your favorite quotes and the books they come from! Hosted by the FABULOUS Anna at Herding Cats & Burning Soup
 
The Perfect Play (Play by Play, #1)
 
Summary:
 
Football pro Mick Riley is an all-star, both on the field and in the bedroom. But a sexy, determinedly single mom just might be the one to throw him off his game...
For years Mick has been taking full advantage of the life available to a pro athlete: fame, fortune, and a different girl in every city. But when he meets and beds confident, beautiful event planner Tara Lincoln, he wants much more than the typical one-night stand. Too bad Tara's not interested in getting to know football's most notorious playboy any better.
As the single mother of a teenage son, the last thing Tara needs is the jet-set lifestyle of Mick Riley; even though their steamy and passionate one-night stand was unforgettable. Tara's life is complicated enough without being thrust into the spotlight as Mick's latest girl du jour. Tara played the game of love once and lost big, and she doesn't intend to put herself out there again, especially with a heartbreaker like Mick.

But when Mick sets his mind to win, nothing will stop him. And he has the perfect play in mind.
Summary & Cover taken from Goodread.com
Length: 324 pages (Paperback)
Publication Date: February 1st 2011 by Penguin Berkley Heat
 
Quote:
 
“You dance really well.”
“I took ballet lessons.”
She tilted her head back to search his face, certain he was joking. “You did not.”
“I did. Several of us on the team did. Good for coordination.”
Resisting the laugh that bubbled up in her throat, she said, “Somehow I can’t picture you in tights and a tutu.”

But he did laugh. “We made sure no one with a camera got within miles of the studio.”  
 
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Sunday, July 27, 2014

*[Blog Tour Review & Giveaway] Wild Iris Ridge (Hope's Crossing #7) by RaeAnne Thayne




Wild Iris Ridge (Hope's Crossing, #7)

wildiris

Summary:

Lucy Drake and Brendan Caine have only one thing in common…

And it's likely to tear them apart. Because it was Brendan's late wife, Jessie—and Lucy's best friend—who'd brought them together in the first place. And since Jesse's passing, Brendan's been distracted by his two little ones…and the memory of an explosive kiss with Lucy years before his marriage. Still, he'll steer clear of her. She's always been trouble with a capital T.

Lucy couldn't wait to shed her small-town roots for the big city. But now that she's back in Hope's Crossing to take care of the Queen Anne home her late aunt has left her, she figures seeing Brendan Caine again is no big deal. After all, she'd managed to resist the handsome fire chief once before, but clearly the embers of their attraction are still smoldering…

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 352 pages (Mass Market Paperback)
Source: Review Copy
Available Formats: Print/E-book
Publication Date: June 24th 2014 by Harlequin HQN

This summer I've been working to knock some authors that I've been wanting to read for ages off my  tbr list so of course I had to sign up for this tour since I'd been hearing lovely things about RaeAnne Thayne's Hope's Crossing series for a long time and it turned out to be another series that I'm kicking myself over not starting it sooner.

While I do wish that I had started this series sooner, as it reminds me very much of Robyn Carr's Virgin River series, I'm just happy that I started it period. I loved Lucy and Brendan's story and really liked the small town atmosphere of Hope's Crossing which just felt like I was coming home when I read it.

I thought the backstory for Lucy and Brendan was quite good. Both were a little lost, and confused. Lucy was fired, and falling for her dead best friend (and cousin's)  husband. While poor Brendan was a widower with two wee ones to take care of and conflicting emotions about Lucy.

The chemistry between the two was apparent from the beginning but I did really appreciate that their relationship was slow building despite the fact that they'd known each other before, and had a past of their own that they had to deal with they didn't just jump in bed together and play house right away. There was a lot of hurt feelings, bad memories and apologies on both sides that I found realistic and refreshing.

I went through a wide variety of emotions when I read this one. I laughed, felt angry, got frustrated and wanted to bang both their heads together and tell them to smarten up. I liked both Lucy and Brendan on their own though Lucy was the star for me. I just loved her but Brendan annoyed me in a few parts (he is a man after all) but despite all that I loved their love story and reading about how they found each other was lovely.

I jumped into the series in book 7 and while I didn't have any real difficulty in following the story I feel as though I missed some things about some characters, but that didn't impact my over all enjoyment of the novel at all and now I'm wanting to start the series from the beginning and get to know some of the side characters I met.

I'd recommend this one to fans of the Hope's Crossing series as well as fans of Robyn Carr's Virgin River series with a bit of a sweeter twist. The small town atmosphere and the people in it will have you wanting to pack your bags and find a slower pace of life (and maybe a fire chief too!).



*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.
 
Really Liked It!
★★★★
 
To Like RaeAnne on Facebook CLICK HERE
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To become a Fan of  RaeAnne on Goodreads CLICK HERE
To visit RaeAnne's Website CLICK HERE
To purchase the book via Chapters Indigo CLICK HERE
To purchase the book via Kobo CLICK HERE
To purchase the book via Harlequin CLICK HERE
To purchase the book via Amazon CLICK HERE
To purchase the book via AmazonUK  CLICK HERE
To purchase the book via The Book Depository CLICK HERE
To purchase the book via Barnes & Noble CLICK HERE

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18722897-wild-iris-ridge

Author Bio:


Best-selling author RaeAnne Thayne 
USA TODAY bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne loves words. This led her to a fifteen-year career in journalismas a newspaper reporter and editor. But through it all, she dreamed of writing the kind of stories she loved best, romance, and has since published more than 40 titles. RaeAnne finds inspiration in the rugged northern Utah mountains, where she lives with her hero of a husband and their children. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website, RaeAnneThayne.com
 
Giveaway:
 
Hopes-Crossing-Giveaway-Banner
 
 
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Saturday Snapshot #13

 
West Metro Mommy Reads
 
To participate in Saturday Snapshot: post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky on West Metro Mommy Reads' Blog. Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don’t post random photos that you find online.
 
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Friday, July 25, 2014

Feature & Follow #17

Increase Blog Followers
 
Gain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers -- but you have to know -- the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee's View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it'll allow us to show off more new blogs!

How does this work? First you leave your name here on this post, (using the linky tools -- keep scrolling!) then you create a post on your own blog that links back to this post (easiest way is to just grab the code under the #FF picture and put it in your post) and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them "hi" in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you!
 
Increase Blog Followers
 
Gain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers -- but you have to know -- the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee's View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it'll allow us to show off more new blogs!

How does this work? First you leave your name here on this post, (using the linky tools -- keep scrolling!) then you create a post on your own blog that links back to this post (easiest way is to just grab the code under the #FF picture and put it in your post) and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them "hi" in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you!
 
What is your favorite tv series that you can watch over and over again on Netflix?
 
 
Follow on Bloglovin
 
http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3809429
 
 
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Thursday, July 24, 2014

Cat Thursday #57



Welcome to the weekly meme that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s) and then link up at the host's site: The True Book Addict. It's all for the love of cats!
 
 
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Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday #122

 
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine and is where we can talk about books we are looking forward to being released.
 
Plague Land: A Murder Mystery
 
Summary:
 
Oswald de Lacy was never meant to be the Lord of Somerhill Manor. Despatched to a monastery at the age of seven, sent back at seventeen when his father and two older brothers are killed by the Plague, Oswald has no experience of running an estate. He finds the years of pestilence and neglect have changed the old place dramatically, not to mention the attitude of the surviving peasants.

Yet some things never change. Oswald's mother remains the powerful matriarch of the family, and his sister Clemence simmers in the background, dangerous and unmarried.

Before he can do anything, Oswald is confronted by the shocking death of a young woman, Alison Starvecrow. The ambitious village priest claims that Alison was killed by a band of demonic dog-headed men. Oswald is certain this is nonsense, but proving it by finding the real murderer is quite a different matter. Every step he takes seems to lead Oswald deeper into a dark maze of political intrigue, family secrets and violent strife.

And then the body of another girl is found.

Sarah Sykes brilliantly evokes the landscape and people of medieval Kent in this thrillingly suspenseful debut."
Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 336 pages (Hardcover)
Expected Publication Date: February 15th 2015 by Pegasus Books
 
Why I'm Waiting:
 
I love reading books set in medieval England, and I love how dark the story sounds.
 
Mist of Midnight (Daughters of Hampshire, #1)
 
Summary:
 
In the first of a brand new series set in Victorian England, a young woman returns home from India after the death of her family to discover her identity and inheritance are challenged by the man who holds her future in his hands.

Rebecca Ravenshaw, daughter of missionaries, spent most of her life in India. Following the death of her family in the Indian Mutiny, Rebecca returns to claim her family estate in Hampshire, England. Upon her return, people are surprised to see her… and highly suspicious. Less than a year earlier, an imposter had arrived with an Indian servant and assumed not only Rebecca’s name, but her home and incomes.

That pretender died within months of her arrival; the servant fled to London as the young woman was hastily buried at midnight. The locals believe that perhaps she, Rebecca, is the real imposter. Her home and her father’s investments reverted to a distant relative, the darkly charming Captain Luke Whitfield, who quickly took over. Against her best intentions, Rebecca begins to fall in love with Luke, but she is forced to question his motives–does he love her or does he just want Headbourne House? If Luke is simply after the property, as everyone suspects, would she suffer a similar fate as the first “Rebecca”?

A captivating Gothic love story set against a backdrop of intrigue and danger, Mist of Midnight will leave you breathless.
Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 352 pages (Paperback)
Expected Publication Date: March 10th 2015 by Howard Books
 
Why I'm Waiting:
 
I love a good gothic love story and can't wait to read the first book in this new series.
 
What are you waiting on?
 
 
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Library Loot #29

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Linda from Silly Little Mischief that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries.
 
The Haul: 
 
Ross Poldark: A Novel of Cornwall, 1783-1787 (Poldark, #1)Napoleon's Pyramids (Ethan Gage, #1)The Scourge of GodThe Summer InvitationThe Walking Dead, Vol. 19: March to WarUnwept (The Nightbirds, #1)Invincible, Vol. 2: Eight is Enough
 

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