Friday 29 November 2013

Shrouded by Frances Pauli Blog Tour: Spotlight


Title: Shrouded
Author: Frances Pauli
Release Date: November 21, 2013
Series: Princes of the Shroud
Publisher: The Zharmae Publishing Press (Zharmae.com)




Book Description:
Vashia’s father is the planetary governor. Unfortunately, he’s also a complete bastard. When he promises her to his lackey, Jarn, she panics. On the run in the nastiest corner of the galaxy, Vashia seizes her one chance at escape and signs on as a bride candidate for the elusive race of aliens known as the Shrouded, unaware that she very well may be chosen as the next Queen of Shroud.

Of the seven, volatile Shrouded princes, Dolfan may be the only one that doesn't covet the throne. So the last thing he expects to find in the future queen is the woman of his dreams. If he wants Vashia, he must accept the throne as well. Unfortunately, his long-time rival has the same idea. Now, only the planet’s sacred crystal can decide their fates, but what happens when the right woman is paired with the wrong man? And when Jarn comes after what was promised to him?

Giveaway:


About the Author:
Frances Pauli writes speculative fiction, usually with touches of humor or romance, which means, of course, that she has trouble choosing sides.
She's always been a fan of things outside the box, odd, weird or unusual, and that trend follows through her books, which feature aliens, fairies, and even, on occasion, an assortment of humans.


Where to Find Frances:

On Facebook at Frances Pauli
On Twitter @MothinDarkness
On Good Reads at Frances Pauli



Thursday 21 November 2013

Cover Reveal: Tegan's Power (The Ultimate Power, #4) by L.H. Cosway

Hello, 

Today I am doing a Cover Reveal for the lovely Author L.H. Cosway!


Tegan's Power (The Ultimate Power, #4) by L.H. Cosway 

Really love this cover! 

Description

Welcome to the city of Tribane, you can come in any time you like but you can never leave.

Fearing Ethan’s transformation, Finn has decided to escape the city with his friends in tow. Unfortunately, a magical barrier has been erected preventing anyone from leaving. Along the way he makes the acquaintance of a runaway half elf named Allora. While Finn takes her under his wing, he finds that his feelings for Tegan are fading as a new love blossoms.

Tegan is learning that it’s not all fun and games being with the most powerful vampire in the city. For one thing, there seems to be a catastrophe around every corner, and for another, how can a relationship between a human and an immortal actually last?

In anticipation of Theodore’s next move, the group cast their prejudices aside and join forces once more. They know that they must put an end to the sorcerer if the city is to have any chance of surviving, but Tegan is still determined to save Rita. The thing is, she doesn’t know if it’s possible to take down Theodore without destroying her best friend in the process.

Tegan’s Power is the concluding instalment in the Ultimate Power Series and is told from the dual POV of Tegan and Finn.

Release date: December 17th 2013.



I can't wait too read it!


Books by L.H.Cosway: 







Sunday 27 October 2013

Review of Vampire Knight, Vol. 01 (Vampire Knight #1) by Matsuri Hino, Tomo Kimura

Vampire Knight, Vol. 01
Description
Yuki Cross has no memory of her past prior to the moment she was saved from a vampire attack ten years ago. She was adopted by the headmaster of Cross Academy, and now works alongside Zero to guard the Academy's secret. Cross Academy is attended by two groups of students: the Day Class and the Night Class. At twilight, when the students of the Day Class return to their dorm, they cross paths with the Night Class on their way to school. Yuki Cross and Zero Kiryu are the Guardians of the school, protecting the Day Class from the Academy's dark secret: the Night Class is full of vampires!


My Thoughts
This is the first time I have ever read a whole volume of a manga, but the reason why I started with this one, is because I have watched the Anime of Vampire Knight and Vampire Knight Guilty. So other than the fact the cover is really interesting the reason why I read this wasn't because of the title or name or anything but because I loved the Anime.

Read it, Liked it and Enjoyed it.
This is exactly how the Anime goes and yes that may seem cheating to most people, but though I knew what was happening and all of that, it was still different to read it, instead of watching it.

Most people find "Vampire" stories predictable and most likely the same kind of thing, but let me tell you, that this is nothing like any other vampire story, nothing like "Twilight" or "Vampire Diaries". It of course has the same thing that they need blood to survive but that's pretty much the only thing that's the same. I found it interesting to see a take on vampires in a new light (mind my pun).

The story had a flow to it so it kept me reading until I was finished, and because of reading the Anime I am not intrigued to see if it's going to be the same throughout or if there is going to be some changes. It's easy to read and understand once you know how to read a manga, which I am still sometimes struggling on, but I am slowly getting the hang of it.

Yuki Cross is the main female character and in my opinion I am so intrigued and interested in her and I love her in this manga so much. She strong, confident and doesn't get scared easily, but then you will know why when you read it yourself.
Zero Kiryu is one of the main male characters and in my opinion he is a good character but I felt he was a little stubborn at times.
Kaname Kuran is the other main male character and I am in love with him, and that's really all I can say without giving anything away. 

My overall opinion of this, is I liked it a lot but because of watching the anime first I didn't enjoy it as much as I could have. 
I would recommend this to people who love vampire stories and reading manga. 


Tara
Rating:



Sorry

Hello, 

Sorry that I have not posted in a while.
I have been busy with College and haven't had time to blog or even read that much.


I have decided to take a break from youtube so from now until whenever all reviews will be done by written form or normal video form which isn't linked to youtube. 
My reviews may not be as detailed as normal as I haven't did one in ages! 

I hope to get back into this slowly but If I do disappear again, just know that there's a reason and that I will always return.


So once again, I am sorry!


Tara 
xxxxx

Saturday 21 September 2013

Library Haul (9) ! :)

Hello everyone!
I went to the library today with my boyfriend even though I have the cold and feel so ill!
I didn't actually go in there for something specific as I only went in there to hand back the last book I borrowed but I always end up taking books out! 
I picked up the last two in a trilogy I think!! I hope!

I am looking forward to reading these two books as the first one was really good!

A Million Suns (Across the Universe, #2)

and

Shades of Earth (Across the Universe, #3)


That's it for now!

Tara
xxxxxxx

Saturday 14 September 2013

Library Haul (8) ! :)

Hello everyone :D
So I went to the library today to return 2 books and I didn't want to take out any new ones as I haven't really been reading this month.. but.. I saw a book I couldn't walk away with without taking it out! 

That book is a second in a series as I enjoyed the first one.. and just wanted to find out more about it!


Underworld (Abandon Trilogy #2) by Meg Cabot

Underworld (Abandon Trilogy, #2)

I am loving the UK covers for this series!

That's all this time :D 

Tara
xxxxxx

Friday 6 September 2013

August Wrap Up (2013)

Hello, 
It is time for my "late" August Wrap up, where I tell you what book I read in this month and the rating for each book. :) 

Tara
xxxxxx

August Book Haul (2013)

Hello, 
Today I am bringing you my "late" August Book Haul!



The List of books:

Amazon.co.uk 
Pushing the Limits (Pushing the Limits, #1) by Katie McGarry
The Selection (The Selection, #1) by Kiera Cass

The Works:
Fade Out (The Morganville Vampires, #7) by Rachel Caine

Pack:
Hush, Hush (Hush, Hush, #1) by Becca Fitzpatrick   
Evercrossed by Elizabeth Chandler
Raising Demons by Rachel Hawkins
The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

The Works:
Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine
Abandon by Meg Cabot
Smoulder/The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff


Thanks for watching!

Tara
xxxxxx

Saturday 31 August 2013

library Haul (7) ! :)

Hello all,
I am a little bit late with this haul as I got these book on Tuesday! (oops)
I had to get straight to the library after I finished the 2nd book in the series of Hush Hush as the ending just made me go "...what!?".

So I of course got out:



Silence (Hush, Hush, #3)Finale (Hush, Hush, #4)

I am so excited to finish this series off! :D 

Tara
xxxxxx

Saturday 24 August 2013

My Life In Books Tag

I have another Tag here!
This time it's called My Life In Books Tag, oh and also I was actually Tagged!



Original video by Dani on Books - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SymB7raQrJA

I was tagged by Amanda from  Pandwen - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UHErei6pu0


Questions:

1) Find a book for each of your initials

Tara - Thirteen (Women of the Otherworld, #13)by Kelley Armstrong
Jayne - Jenny Pox (The Paranormals #1) by J.L. Bryan
Bell - Beastly by Alex Flinn


2) Count your age along your book shelf- which book is it?

a) Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson


3) Pick a book set in your city/state/country.

a) The Nature of Cruelty by L.H,Cosway -- Ireland/London 

4) Pick a book that represents a destination you would love to travel to.

a) City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1) by Cassandra Clare

5) Pick a book that's your favourite colour.
a) Sever (The Chemical Garden #3) by Lauren DeStefano


6) Which book do you have the fondest memories of?
a) Skellig  by David Almond 


7) Which book did you have the most difficulty reading?

a) Twisted Heart (Dark Angel #2) by Eden Maguire


8) Which book in your TBR pile will give you the biggest sense of accomplishment when you finish it?
a) Fear (Gone, #5) by Michael Grant and The Rise of Nine (Lorien Legacies #3) by Pittacus Lore



Thanks
Tara
xxxxxxx

Thursday 15 August 2013

library Haul (6) ! :)

Hello everyone, 

I have once again went to the library with my boyfriend.
I went there with a certain book in mind and left the library with two books (hehe).

The two books are:


Crescendo (Hush, Hush, #2)

This was the book that I went in t get and I am so happy that I managed to get the first book and to love it as well. I can't wait to read the second book.  




Thirteen (Women of the Otherworld, #13)

This.. was what I saw with the corner of my eye... OMG I can finally finish the series. I have been waiting forever to read this one. So happy I can finally finish it! 


That's all for now :) 

Tara
xxxxxx


400 Followers :)

Hello all, 

I have now noticed I have 400 followers on my blog. 
I am so happy to see that!

I wish I had the money to do a giveaway, so as soon as I get some, I will have 1 :) 


Thank you :)

Tara
xxxx

Tuesday 6 August 2013

Review of Partials (Partials, #1) by Dan Wells

Partials (Partials, #1)
 Description
The human race is all but extinct after a war with Partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the population.

Reduced to only tens of thousands by RM, a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island while the Partials have mysteriously retreated. The threat of the Partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to RM in more than a decade. Our time is running out.

Kira, a sixteen-year-old medic-in-training, is on the front lines of this battle, seeing RM ravage the community while mandatory pregnancy laws have pushed what's left of humanity to the brink of civil war, and she's not content to stand by and watch. But as she makes a desperate decision to save the last of her race, she will find that the survival of humans and Partials alike rests in her attempts to uncover the connections between them—connections that humanity has forgotten, or perhaps never even knew were there.

My Thoughts


Tara
Rating:




Monday 5 August 2013

This or That Book Tag

As this Is my first ever book tag I will explain what it is:

A book tag is where there is a certain thing you have to do, and then afterwards you either say "who" you want to do it by "Tagging" them or you can just say I "tag" everyone who is watching this.




Original Tag- Aura's channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/AurasBookBox


Questions:

1.audio or book in hand

2.soft cover or hardback

3.fiction or non-fiction

4.fantasy world or real life issues
5.harrypotter or twilight

6.kindle, I-pad or other

7.borrow or buy

8.bookstore or on online
9.tell me onetime or total trilogy
10.moster read or short and sweet
11.stary eyed romance or full of action
12.curl up in your snuggie or bathe in the sun
13.hot chocolate or latte
14.read the review or decide for yourself


Hope you do it!

Tara
xxxx

Saturday 3 August 2013

library Haul (5) ! :)

Hello everyone, 

I went to the library today with my boyfriend and picked up two books! 
1 of them I was VERY excited about, the other 1, I just want to know how the series continues!

Partials (Partials Sequence #1) by Dan Wells

Partials (Partials, #1) 

Which I am so excited to read, as I have been waiting to read this for so long!
I have heard really good things about this book, so I am going to read this knowing that loads of people love this!


Twisted Heart (Dark Angel #2) by Eden Maguire

Twisted Heart (Dark Angel, #2)

I got this one after finishing the first one, which was in my Library Haul (4) ! :)
I am interested in reading the second one, but I am not as excited as reading Partials. :D 



Tara
xxxxxx

Friday 2 August 2013

Friday 26 July 2013

Review of The Silver Chain (The Unbreakable Trilogy #1) by Primula Bond

The Silver Chain (Unbreakable Trilogy, #1)
Description 
Bound by passion, she was powerless to resist.

One dark evening in London, photographer Serena Folkes is indulging her impulsive side with a night-time shoot. But someone is watching her – mysterious entrepreneur Gustav Levi. Serena doesn’t know it yet, but this handsome stranger will change her life forever…

Serena is fascinated by Gustav, the enigmatic owner of the Levi Gallery, and she soon feels an irresistible pull of attraction. The interest is mutual, and Gustav promises to launch Serena’s photographic career at his gallery, but only if Serena agrees to become his exclusive companion.

To mark their agreement, Gustav gives Serena a bracelet to wear at all times. Attached to it is a silver chain of which he is the keeper. With the chain Gustav controls Serena physically and symbolically – a sign that she is under his power.

As their passionate relationship intensifies, Gustav’s hold on the silver chain grows stronger. But will Gustav’s dark past tear them apart?

** Contains Sex and I think Strong Language ** 



My Thoughts
First off, I just want to say I received this copy from Netgalley.

What drew me in to read this was I felt like I should start reading more adult books a little bit more. The cover is simple but yet effective as the title and cover is linked together. The colours used on the cover are only Silver, Pink, Black, White and Grey and that’s it so I liked the fact the colours were simple too. The Title was also very intriguing and I just wanted to know “WHAT ABOUT THE SILVER CHAIN!” Once all of the first impressions was over I then read what it actually was about. I kind of guessed it would be a book with sex in and stuff. Also the thing I wanted to know about the silver chain was answered in the description. A few people compare this to Fifty Shades of Grey, but I really hope it’s better.

I really enjoyed this book a lot. It was most definitely better than Fifty Shades of Grey as it had more storyline to it and more in depth with the characters. I couldn't put this book down, well I did but I didn't want to as it was so good.

The storyline was very detailed and well developed and I felt there were no faults in the writing style at all. The pace of book goes along in a steady pace. There was something that really bugged me and I can see why some people compared it to fifty shades of grey as at some points I kept thinking of “Fifty Shades of Grey” ... but that was only now and then but that it is the reason why 1 star was knocked off as I really like stories to not be the same as other stories.

The characters are well developed and I loved each and every one for their own little reason.
Serena is trying to be an independent woman in London and trying to start her career. I love the fact she wanted to do this by herself with no help and the fact she moved to London which is like the most hectic place in England. She is a very great character and I loved her throughout the whole book.
Gustav, Gustav, Gustav.. What can I say about him, He is nowhere near perfect at all. He has flaws and he has a dark past. I actually enjoyed him, though at times I was like “Why!?”.

The ending makes me want to read the second one.. oh wait .. it's not out yet!


My overall opinion on this book was I really enjoyed apart from those times when I kept thinking of “Fifty Shades of Grey”.
I would recommend this book to people who like reading books which are like this book.


Tara 
Rating:




Follow Friday 28





Q. What do you do with your books after you’re done reading them?


A: If I borrowed them from my sister.. then I return them. If I bought them, I put them randomly somewhere in my room or around the house as I don't have a bookshelf.... If it's kindle Ebooks then on my kindle fire I remove it from the carousel so that doesn't get to clogged up. 

I do know if I read a book that I hated, then I would most likely give it to a charity shop :) 



So what about all of you? 


Follow me and give a link to your blog and I will follow you back :) 

Tuesday 23 July 2013

Along the Watchtower Blog Tour

Hello,

I am part of the Tour of Along the Watchtower!

Below is excerpts, Interview and guest post from the Author:
Plus the actually giveaway is down below!











1. An excerpt from Watchtower:
Please enjoy this gripping excerpt from Along the Watchtower by David Litwack. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including a Kindle Fire, $650 in Amazon gift cards, and 5 autographed copies of each book.  

Becky

On the ground floor, the center of the hospital opened into a small courtyard, an insecure space with too many places for insurgents to hide. I took a quick breath and tensed. “Wait up, Ralph.” “It’s okay, Freddie. You’re safe here.” “Give me a minute. It’s my first time out.” I surveyed the perimeter. A few benches. A flower garden dominated by hydrangeas, but not like the softball-sized blossoms my mom used to grow. These were small and paler than the Cape Cod variety, which were a blue that could compete with the sky. At once, I could see my mom, hands buried in the hydrangeas, grooming her flowers—one of the few memories I could bear to recall. Me and my brothers in the driveway shooting hoops. Mom telling us to keep the ball out of her garden. She was happy then, surrounded by her family, her garden, and the ocean. I looked past the hydrangeas to find purple asters and some lilies too. But no roses. For some reason, I’d been hoping for roses. Despite the nice day, the courtyard was deserted, except for a woman about my age who sat on a wooden bench, finishing up a brown-bag lunch. Her eyes were closed and her head tipped back to take in the sun, making her appear to be dreaming. Sitting alone on the bench, her face seemed framed by flowers. When she heard us coming, she sat up, straightened her scrubs, and smiled. “Hey, Ralph. What do you have there? Another victim for me?” “Becky,” Ralph said. “What’s up? This is Freddie, Lt. Williams, our newest patient. We’re trying to bring him back from the dead. Freddie, meet Becky Marshall, one of our physical therapists.” I nodded a greeting to her, not much in the mood for small talk. She tilted her head to one side as if evaluating me. Then she gave me the kind of look that said we’d met before, if not in this world than in another, and that she intended to make a difference in my life. “Is he ready for me?” “Soon. If he’s assigned to you.” My attention was drawn to a soda can on the bench next to her. I’d seen too many IEDs in soda cans. She caught me fixating on it and grinned. “Just my diet Pepsi, Freddie. See?” She chugged what was left and tossed the can into a nearby trash basket. Then she crumpled the bag into a ball and to show off, stepped off exactly five paces and shot the bag into the basket in a perfect arc. “Nice shot,” I said. “I make that shot every time.” “Yeah, right.” She came close enough that our knees were almost touching and hovered over me, sizing me up. “You’ll be mine,” she said finally. “I can tell. I get all the hard cases.” As she walked away, light on her feet like a dancer, I fumbled for the wheel of the chair, trying to spin it around so I could watch her go. But Ralph had set the brake.  

The Gardener

The white butterfly fluttered before her face. When she saw it, she reached out a hand and at once it landed on the curve of her wrist. “Now there’s a fine omen for you,” she said. “Light knows we need one these days.” She whispered some words and the butterfly flew off across the courtyard and out over the castle wall. A fine omen? Perhaps. But I’d learned to be wary. I stepped forward, scuffling my boots to make noise. She ignored my presence. Not until I was a pace away did she turn. It was hard to say if she was beautiful or even pretty. Soil from the garden had splattered her cheeks and marked her forehead with a splotch that looked like a raven. A muddied apron hid her shape. But I took note of a glint in her gray-green eyes, as if the flowers had conspired to lend their color. And her mouth was a crescent moon upturned on its side. The corners of the crescent twitched when she saw me but only for an instant. Then she went back to her work as if I were invisible. Her hands cradled each bloom as she sliced off the heads with a small knife. “Are you spirit or demon?” I demanded. She made no answer. I drew my sword, relieved it slipped so easily from its scabbard, and stretched it in her direction. She watched the point from the corner of her eye but kept her head down and continued to work. Finally, I nudged her with the tip. She let out a yelp. Only then did I realize I’d thrust too hard, and the blade had slit her garment. I backed off at once, ready to apologize, but then recalled my encounter with the assassin. I poked again, more gently this time. “Why do you keep doing that?” she said. “To see if you’re real.” She stood and faced me, feet set wide and planted squarely on the ground. “Why shouldn’t I be real?” She was tall for a girl, her head rising above my chin, and had a bearing unlike a servant. When I continued to challenge her, she reached out and eased the point of my sword to one side. “Would you put that silly thing away?” I began to back off, then remembered the circumstance and held firm. “Why didn’t you say anything when I first approached you?” “Because we servants aren’t supposed to talk to you royals.” She lowered her gaze and turned back to the flowers. “I’m sorry . . . Milord.” “What’s your name?” “Rebecca.” “Rebecca. My name is Frederick.” She paled and then bent in a deep curtsy, her brashness collapsing into two whispered words. “The dauphin.” . . . I wandered in a circle, hands folded behind my back, and inspected the flowers, unsure of what else to say. Then a thought occurred to me. “Do you have roses in this garden?” “No roses, Milord. I have asters and hydrangeas. Some fall crocus. And climbing the wall to the watchtower, sweet autumn clematis. A bit of monkshood underneath and tulips in the spring. But no roses.” I must have looked disappointed. She came closer and reached out, but not enough to touch me. “It must be lonely, Milord, a terrible burden. Every morning as I walk from my village to the gardens, I see the darkening clouds and wonder where my strength will come from. Then I remember. The dauphin will protect us. Save Him Oh Goddess, I pray. If only I could do something to help.” I mumbled a thank you and turned to go, but stopped when I saw her examining her damaged apron. “Are you here every day?” “No, Milord, I have other gardens as well.” “Come tomorrow, and I’ll bring you a new apron to replace the one I tore.” She curtsied more deeply this time. “I’d be so grateful, Milord, but I have nothing to give in return.” “No need.” “Ah, wait.” She took her small knife and clipped off a bulging blossom at the stem and handed it to me. “Now place it in water the first chance you get.” I accepted the gift and admired her through its petals. “Thank you,” I said. “Tomorrow at noon.” As I walked away, I glanced over my shoulder to get one last look at the gardener. She was back at her work, resuming her song and snipping away, so light of hand and foot. As she blew away a curl that had drifted across her face, the summer dress rustled against her skin. I inhaled the scent of the flower and thought I caught the sun peeking through the clouds over Golgoreth. And for the first time since my father died, goddesses seemed possible.



2. An excerpt from Prophet:
Please enjoy this series of excerpts from the deep, dark dystopia, There Comes a Prophet, by David Litwack. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including a Kindle Fire, $650 in Amazon gift cards, and 5 autographed copies of each book.  

Excerpt One: The Longing

“Is this what you want me to do, Orah, run like a coward?” “Not to run, but to be careful, especially with the vicar so near.” “Only one in three are taken.” “It’s not worth the risk, Nathaniel. Or have you forgotten the look of those who have been taught? The far off stare, the dreams seemingly ripped away.” Dreams ripped away. What good were dreams if they stayed unfulfilled? Since coming of age the month before, Nathaniel had brooded on one thought — life was passing him by.  

Excerpt Two: The Teaching

Thomas stared out, trying to see to the opposite wall. It had to be close, because he could feel his boots pressing against it. But try as he would, he couldn’t penetrate the darkness. There was no glimmer to help, only the darkest dark he’d ever known. No moon, no stars, no hint of light. A dark to haunt one’s dreams. Sometimes, he’d startle to the grating of the ceiling cover being removed. Light would pour into the room, flooding him with exhilaration…He’d stand, stretch his stiff limbs and look into the plump faces of the vicars surrounding him, seniors all with their decorated hats. They, in turn, would look down on him sympathetically before beginning a litany of the horrors of the darkness…  

Excerpt Three: The Secret

Nathaniel had forgotten his dilemma. The idea of the keep had awakened something in him he thought he’d lost forever. “But who’ll solve the puzzle?” “The founders of the keep believed a new generation would arise that would seek the truth at all costs, even at the risk of their lives. Some few from that generation would take the lead. These would be called seekers, and their task would be to solve the puzzle and rediscover the keep.” “But what’s in the keep?” “The chain started so long ago, Nathaniel. Even the keepers don’t know any more. The keep may not even exist.” “Ancient magic?” “More. Something the Temple fears. Something that might change the world.” Nathaniel’s hands were shaking. I’d be a seeker if I could.



2. An interview with the author:

Please enjoy this interview with David Litwack, author of the gripping contemporary novel, Along the Watchtower, and the deep, dark dystopia, There Comes a Prophet. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including a Kindle Fire, $650 in Amazon gift cards, and 5 autographed copies of each book.

   1. Along the Watchtower is a powerful blend of contemporary fiction and fantasy that demands the reader's attention from start to finish. What was your inspiration for writing this work, and for combining World of Warcraft with a casualty of war and a dream world? I’ve always been fascinated by how we perceive reality. Think of the film Rashomon, the classic exploration of multiple realities, where several witnesses to a crime describe events completely differently, each bringing their own life experience and biases into play. But it’s when we’re ripped from our normal life and placed in extreme circumstances that our reality becomes totally fragmented. Such is the case with hospitals and war. At the same time, I’d become engrossed in playing the online fantasy game, World of Warcraft, with my son, an avid player. With me on the east coast and him on the west, he suggested we meet weekly in the fantasy world of Azeroth—an invitation I could hardly resist. For several months, we had a Wednesday evening appointment, where our avatars would meet in this virtual world and go on quests together. I was struck by how totally immersed I could get in the game, how quickly time passed, and the surreal mood of wandering around in castles and crypts, solving riddles and following quests. The fantasy gaming experience has a dream-like quality to it. And I began to wonder: how would this experience affect the dreams of someone whose reality has been fragmented by war, PTSD, and traumatic brain injury. These concepts—war, hospitals, and the fantasy world of online gaming—came together in Along the Watchtower.

  2. Without giving away too much, can you introduce us to the main character Lieutenant Freddie, and tell us how he's similar and different in both worlds he inhabits? When Freddie comes out of his medically-induced coma in the VA hospital, he’s nearly given up hope. Everything he had to live for was gone, and he was racked with bad memories and guilt, in addition to his physical injuries. Prince Frederick doesn’t have the luxury of giving up. If he yields to despair, the kingdom that depends on him will fall into darkness. Because of this, he’s more willing to struggle through his trials. It’s through the prince in the fantasy world that Freddie is finally able to confront and overcome his personal demons in the real world.

  3. Your first novel, There Comes a Prophet, explores the roots of the dystopian fiction category while also reinventing it for a younger generation of readers. This genre boasts many great classics including Slaughterhouse V, 1984, and Brave New World to name a few. What are your favorite classic books? Dystopia literally means dysfunctional utopia, not necessarily an evil, power-hungry regime oppressing its people, but a well-intentioned system that has lost its way, resulting in a world gone awry. My favorite such dystopian is Arthur C. Clarke’s The City and the Stars. In this near perfect world, there’s no disease, hunger or poverty, and people are effectively immortal. But all are afraid to venture outside the walls of their city or even look beyond them. The thought of the open expanse of stars in the night sky terrifies them. All of this had been put in place to protect them from some past too horrible to mention. Yet the unfulfilled aspirations of a single individual drive him to discover the lost truth and let humanity move forward again. Lois Lowry’s The Giver is another great example. In a simple but beautiful writing style, she tells the story of a seemingly perfect world where bad memories have been abolished, except for one person, the keeper of memories. But the people are left unable to feel anything much—good or bad. 4. People read books for many different reasons. Of all the different reasons you've seen in reviews, can you relate one story that really stood out for you about a reader's experience? One reviewer read Along the Watchtower and it brought back memories of being a young college student, witnessing the twin towers fall on 9/11. The book touched him deeply, because it reminded him that, as a result of that tragic event, we’ve been at war his entire adult life. The shock he felt on 9/11 all came back to him in reading the struggles of the recovering Lt. Freddie Williams. Interestingly enough, that same reviewer had a powerful reaction to the dystopian world of There Comes a Prophet. In that book, a ruling power limits learning and growth. This reviewer associated my story with the courageous young Malala Yousafzai, the Pakastani girl who the Taliban tried to kill for advocating education for women.
 5. Along the Watchtower features a veteran's healing process on the physical, emotional, and intellectual levels. What role do you think fantasy role-playing games and dreaming can play in a healing process? When we’re confronted with trauma too terrible to comprehend, our mind sometimes shuts the experience out to let us heal. But the memory still lingers in our subconscious. Sometimes it’s easier to confront those feelings through fantasy, like dreams or video games, rather than facing them head on in the cruel light of reality. Then once confronted, we’re better able to move on.
 6. Symbolism and description play a huge role in the opening chapters of Along the Watchtower. As the lines between reality and fantasy become more and more blurry, did you find it difficult to remember which 'character' you were talking as? Freddie and Prince Frederick were undergoing the same trials at an emotional level, even though their circumstances differed. The hardest part in writing the two was to maintain a distinct voice for each—for Freddie the gritty language of the VA hospital and for Prince Frederick, more of a high fantasy tone. This difference was important to make each world believable. But since the book was written in a first person point of view, it was also critical to quickly alert the reader whenever there was a switch in worlds.
 7. Ocean imagery features prominently in your book Along the Watchtower. What's your favorite place to visit, and what scenery do you find most inspiring as an author? I almost hate to mention this because it’s such a well-kept secret. But my favorite spot is a place called The Knob in my home town of Falmouth. It’s a raised spit of land rising up dramatically into the harbor onto a domed rock, reachable only after a half-mile walk through the woods. I’ve actually used it as a setting in my upcoming novel, The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky.
 8. You run a very active blog and website, though the demands of marketing yourself can be overwhelming for many authors. How do you find balance in your life, and time to enjoy your surroundings in a highly technical world? Coming from a software background, I'm sure you might have unique insights on balancing the 'real' world with the technical one. I’ve spent most of my adult life in front of a computer, first as a software engineer and now as an author. The key is to take advantage of non-computer time to get out and enjoy yourself. But all writers want to be read, so you have to spend time reaching out to readers. The software equivalent was that I used to enjoy taking a break from developing software to visit customers and see how they were using what I’d developed.
 9. You've published two books, Along the Watchtower and There Comes a Prophet. Is there anything you'd like to share with readers and your future writing plans? I’m in late stage edits with an alternate world story called The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky. It’s about a world divided between the Blessed Lands, a place of the spirit, and the Republic, whose people worship at the altar of reason. A mysterious nine-year-old girl from the Blessed Lands sails into the lives of a troubled couple in the Republic and seems to heal everyone she meets. She reveals nothing about herself, other than to say she’s the daughter of the sea and the sky. But she harbors a secret wound she herself cannot heal. I’m also currently planning what will be a sequel to There Comes a Prophet. I’ve always wondered what happened to Orah and Nathaniel after their world changing heroics and what became of the contemporaries of the keepmasters who had crossed the ocean. Stay tuned.
 10. What do you like to do to unwind? You know, in those rare moments when you're not writing! Since writing and social networking are indoor activities, I try to get outside as often as possible. I go for long walks on the seashore, play some golf, bicycle, and generally try to stay active. I’m fortunate to be able to split my time between Cape Cod and Florida, both beautiful places in their respective nice seasons.


4. A guest post by the author:

Please enjoy this guest post by David Litwack, author of the gripping contemporary novel, Along the Watchtower, and the deep, dark dystopia, There Comes a Prophet. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including a Kindle Fire, $650 in Amazon gift cards, and 5 autographed copies of each book.  

The Virtual World of Gaming and the Plight of War Veterans: A Guest Post by David Litwack

  Gaming and war would seem to be as far apart from each other as you can get. But while you’re in the midst of them, they share one thing in common—a sense of being in an alternate reality. I’ve always been fascinated by how much of what we consider to be reality is subjective, how each of us bring our own experiences and biases into play. But when we’re ripped from our normal lives and placed in extreme circumstances, our reality becomes totally fragmented. Such is the case with hospitals and war. A couple of years ago, I became engrossed in the online game, World of Warcraft, thanks to my son. I’m on the east coast and he’s on the west, so we’d meet every Wednesday evening in the virtual world of Azeroth, where our avatars would go on quests together. I was struck by how immersed I became in the mood of the game as we wandered through castles and crypts, solving riddles and vanquishing demons, how for a short period of time, I could totally buy in to the alternate reality. The fantasy gaming experience has a dream-like quality to it, which led me to wonder: how would this experience affect the dreams of someone whose reality has been fragmented by the trauma of war? These concepts—war, hospitals, and the fantasy world of online gaming—came together in Along the Watchtower. I began to research the effects of war on returning veterans. I learned that 30% are diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress. That means after six months they’re still dealing with flashbacks, disturbing dreams, depression and difficulty re-assimilating into their former lives. And that doesn't account for the many others who are seemingly able to adjust but continue to deal with inner turmoil. The war experience changes all forever. Many have suicidal thoughts (the suicide rate among veterans is triple that of the general population. More soldiers have died by their own hand than in the war itself). Many struggle with dark thoughts and have difficulty forming relationships, unable to “turn off” the normal flight or fight syndrome, leaving them suspicious in crowds and always on alert. And then, there are the physical injuries. One of the ironic successes of these recent wars is the advance in battlefield medicine. The result is that far fewer die of wounds than in prior wars. The ratio of wounded to dead in WWII was 1.1/1, in Vietnam 1.7/1. In Iraq, it’s 7/1. More are saved, but more come home with debilitating, lifelong injuries. And 68% of the wounded have some form or brain trauma, penetrating injuries from shrapnel or non-penetrating concussions from the blasts of IEDs. To learn more about brain injuries, I read In an Instant, the story of Bob Woodruff. The brilliant Woodruff had just been named co-anchor of ABC’s World News Tonight. Then, while embedded with the military in Iraq, an improvised explosive device went off near the tank he was riding in. Bob suffered a traumatic brain injury that nearly killed him. The book describes his recovery and recounts how fragile the human brain can be. At one point, the erudite Woodruff could rattle off the names of all prior U.S. presidents but couldn't remember the names of his own children. And I read about post traumatic stress. One of the best books is Achilles in Vietnam. Written by Jonathan Shay, a Vietnam War era PTSD counselor, it compares his clinical notes from patients to the text from Homer’s Odyssey, showing how we as human beings have dealt with war trauma across the millennia. He shows how war disrupts our moral compass, leaving re-entry into normal life as a brutal and agonizing experience. Playing a make-believe fantasy game and going to war both have a surreal quality that takes us out of our normal reality. But for war veterans, the sense of normality doesn't return without a struggle. The Wounded Warrior Project is a wonderful organization, dedicated to helping veterans adjust. Their stated mission is: “To foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded service members in our nation's history.” How successful we’ll be at achieving that goal will tell a lot about who we are. It’s one of the most important stories of our time.


As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, both Along the Watchtower and There Comes a Prophet by David Litwack are on sale this week. What’s more, by purchasing either or both of these fantastic books at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes. The prizes include a Kindle Fire, $650 in Amazon gift cards, and 5 autographed copies of each book. All the info you need to win one of these amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment--easy to enter; easy to win! To win the prizes:
  1. Pick up Along the Watchtower at its discounted price of $2.99 on Amazon
  2. Get There Comes a Prophet at its discounted price of 99 cents
  3. Enter the Rafflecopter contest below
  4. Visit the featured social media events
  5. Leave a comment on my blog for a chance at a $100 prize.
Along the Watchtower tells of a tragic warrior lost in two worlds; a woman who may be his only way back from Hell. Get it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or iTunes. There Comes a Prophet A thousand years ago the Darkness came—a time of violence and social collapse. Nathaniel has grown up in their world of limits, longing for something more. For what are we without dreams? Get it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or iTunes. David Litwack, the once and future writer, explores the blurry line between reality and the fantastic. Visit David on his website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

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Monday 22 July 2013

Review of The Nature of Cruelty by L.H.Cosway

The Nature of Cruelty
Description:
A standalone contemporary romance novel about love, hate, cruelty and forgiveness.


Her name is Lana. She wasn’t dealt the easiest cards in life. She wasn’t dealt the hardest. She has an illness, but she doesn’t let it rule her. The first time she laid eyes on her best friend’s twin brother she fell in love at first sight. It didn’t last very long. He was a hateful boy who made her miserable. The happiest day of her life was when he moved away to London six years ago.

His name is Robert. He breaks the ones who love him. He’s always liked to play games with Lana, see how far he could push her. He once thrived on her pain, but no more. Now she’s coming to London to live with his sister for the summer and this time he plans on being her friend instead of her tormentor. But Lana is scarred by his past bullying. She doesn’t trust him, nor does she have any reason to.

When the two find themselves living under the same roof, they call a truce. This summer will change both of their lives, as they put their history aside and learn one another from scratch.

When fear takes over, we use cruelty as a mask. Robert and Lana’s story will see their masks slip away as the love they felt on the inside shows its true face.

**Not suitable for younger readers. Contains strong language and scenes of a sexual nature.**


My Thoughts 


Tara
Rating:



My goodreads :D

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