Teaser Tuesday 8.31.10

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading and it asks us to...

  • Grab your current read

  • Open to a random page

  • Share a couple of “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 Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.

  • Isalys's Teaser
    :
    The doors banged against the inside walls as they opened. Assorted gasps reached Becky's ears. Panic surged, a cacophony in her head. Still in bed beside her, his torso bare but the sheet pulled over his waist, Jack turned to the doorway. She clutched the bedcovers to her neck.

    "Rebecca!"

    Oh, God. It was her brother's voice.

    ~p. 52 of "A Season of Seduction" by Jennifer Haymore


    Ruh-roh raggie - someone just got seriously busted!! *tee-hee*


    New Releases 8.31.10

    Hi guys,

    I'm going to have to half-ass this week's New Releases and not include the lovely book pictures! Work has been *ugh* hectic {got home tonight at 8 pm - again!} and I'm flying out to Chicago at the butt-crack of dawn tomorrow morning for a quick business trip!

    I'm just going to include the titles and links for this week because I need to wrap this up and finish packing.

    Thanks for understanding :)

    Contemporary / Fiction
    Freedom by Jonathan Franzen

    Historical Fiction
    Nemesis (Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries) by Lindsey Davis

    Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel


    Biography / Memoir / Inspirational
    None :(

    Mystery / Suspense / Thriller
    The Evolutionary Void (Void, #3) by Peter F. Hamilton

    Horror
    Nada :(
    Urban / Fantasy
    Ghost Moon (Bone Island Trilogy #3) by Heather Graham

    The Way of Kings (Stormlight Archive #1) by Brandon Sanderson

    Sparks (Anya Kalinczyk #2) by Laura Bickle

    Paranormal Romance
    Lots :D

    Last Dragon Standing (Dragon Kin #4) by G.A. Aiken {Kindle Edition}
    Dark Peril (Carpathians #21) by Christine Feehan

    Born to Bite: An Argeneau Novel (Argeneau #13) by Lynsay Sands
    When Blood Calls (The Shadow Keepers #1) by J.K. Beck

    Midnight Crystal (Harmony #7) by Jayne Castle

    Historical Romance
    The Devil Wears Plaid by Teresa Medeiros

    Contemporary Romance
    1022 Evergreen Place (Cedar Cove Series #10) by Debbie Macomber

    Maybe This Time by Jennifer Crusie

    Romantic Suspense
    Nope :(

    YA
    Plenty of YA :D


    Book Break-Up # 2

    It's not me, it's you!

    Sometimes a book fails to grab you...or sometimes it grabs you, struggles to hold on and then you are forced to just let go! Either way, you will find yourself on occasion "breaking up" with a book or series. That's what this meme is all about.

    We were inspired to participate by Lori at Pure Imagination who was in turn inspired by Carla at The Crooked Shelf...and thus, Book Breakups is born! We thought this was a very cool idea and are going to make it a regular post so we hope to have a button ready for it some time :)

    This week, Isalys is breaking up with:

    Tantalize (Tantalize #1)
    by Cynthia Leitich Smith

    I read this book a while back and sadly, I was left disappointed. I picked it up because it had an interesting premise. However, when it was all said and done I felt a bit like a deflated balloon. I closed the last page and thought, "that's it?"

    I personally felt that this book is lacking...lacking in a strength & clarity of plot, lacking in development of characters, and lacking in plot resolution. There was so much potential and it did have some interesting parts, but that was not consistent throughout the whole novel.

    The 2-star clincher was the ending, or again lack-of. It was like everyone just gave up and the novel just fizzled into nothingness. This book can be described in one word - FORGETTABLE!





    I briefly considered reading Eternal {which is not really a sequel but more of a follow-up to Tantalize} in the hope that Eternal would be some sort of redemption - but alas, it's also getting poor reviews.





    So this is the end of the road for me with this series :(


    Vlog, Hop and Follow 8.27.10

    THE VLOG IS BACK!

    And YouTube was a barrel of laughs at usual {hence our tardiness}! We recorded our vlog twice and we liked our second take better but although it uploaded, YouTube gave me an error message. The good news is that we managed to upload our first take.

    So hang out with us for the next 11 min and 33 seconds in this week's Vlog, Hop and Follow!



    It's time for The Blogger Hop and Follow Friday again. The Blogger Hop is hosted by Crazy-for-Books and Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee's View. They created these memes to give bloggers and readers a chance to network, support each other and find new blogs to read & enjoy.

    Vlog


    Books We Received
    Radiance by Alyson Noel
    Sin Undone by Larissa Ione
    Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead
    Devil at Midnight by Emma Holly
    Blood on Silk by Marie Treanor
    A Princess in Hid Bed by Lila DiPasqua

    Books We Purchased or Borrowed
    Isalys Purchased:
    Swept Away By A Kiss by Katherine Ashe

    Vanessa Purchased:
    Fairy Rebels by RJ Anderson {Library}
    This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen
    Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen
    That Summer by Sarah Dessen
    Nobody's Prize by Esther Friesner
    Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

    Books We've Read
    Isalys Read:
    A Lady's Guide to Improper Behavior by Suzanne Enoch {♥ ♥ ♥ ♥}
    Seduced by a Highlander by Paula Quinn {♥ ♥ ♥ ♥}
    My Soul To Lose by Rachel Vincent {♥ ♥ ♥ ♥}
    Linger by Maggie Stiefvater {♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥}
    A Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa James {♥ ♥ ♥ ♥}
    Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead {♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥}
    Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler {♥ ♥ ♥ 1/2}

    Have a GREAT weekend!!

    Thanks for stopping by and if you're new to us, don't forget to leave a comment with your blog link so we can visit YOU too!

    Blog Tour / Giveaway: Seduced by a Highlander by P. Quinn


    Title: Seduced by a Highlander
    Author: Paula Quinn
    Published: September 1, 2010 by Forever
    ISBN-10: 0446552372 |ISBN-13: 9780446552370
    Pages: 352 pgs, Mass Market Paperback

    Reason for reading: Participating in Blog Tour/Giveaway courtesy of Hatchette Book Group.

    Synopsis:SINS THAT CAN'T BE FORGIVEN
    Tristan MacGregor is famed throughout the Highlands as a silver-tonged seducer and an unrepentant rogue. Bold and charming, he's dallied with many women, yet none as mysterious as the lass he steals a kiss from at king's court. Little does he know this beauty is one of his clan's greatest enemies.

    PASSION THAT CAN'T BE DENIED
    Isobel Fergusson has despised the bloodthirsty MacGregors ever since they murdered her father. She's horrified to learn that the handsome stranger she kissed is of this clan. But Tristan means to possess her at any cost and Isobel's body turns traitor at his touch. Can a man she's sworn to hate be the only one she can ever love?

    Tristan MacGregor is famed throughout the Highlands as a silver-tonged seducer and an unrepentant rogue. Bold and charming, he's dallied with many women, yet none as mysterious as the lass he steals a kiss from at king's court. Little does he know this beauty is one of his clan's greatest enemies.

    PASSION THAT CAN'T BE DENIED
    Isobel Fergusson has despised the bloodthirsty MacGregors ever since they murdered her father. She's horrified to learn that the handsome stranger she kissed is of this clan. But Tristan means to possess her at any cost and Isobel's body turns traitor at his touch. Can a man she's sworn to hate be the only one she can ever love?


    MacGregor and Grant Family Trees

    Author Website
    Paula Quinn on HBG
    Follow Paula on Twitter | Become a Fan on Facebook


    REVIEW:
    For the past ten years, Tristan MacGregor has felt responsible for the boyhood fight that sparked a feud between his family and the Fergussons; a fight where both families lost loved ones. He lost his uncle who he loved like a father and admired for his unwavering sense of honor. In retaliation, Callum MacGregor (Tristan’s father and chieftain of the MacGregor clan) killed Archibald Fergusson (chieftain of the Fergusson clan). And thus, the MacGregors and Fergussons became sworn enemies.

    As a grown man, Tristan and his family visit England’s Whitehall Palace to celebrate the new king’s coronation. While visiting the palace, he meets a woman that enchants him with her simple yet alluring beauty. They spend the afternoon engaged in conversation and flirtatious glances. However, all too soon he learns that she is Isobel Fergusson, daughter of their enemy.

    Isobel is enraged to learn that this insanely handsome, velvet-tongue rogue that nearly bewitched her with his smooth words and radiant smile comes from the family that is responsible for her family’s demise. She immediately vows to put Tristan MacGregor behind her and never think of him again. Oh, if only it were that easy!

    Somehow, despite all of Isobel’s efforts to make Tristan understand how much she despises him and his family, he manages to creep into her life and into her heart. Tristan has never thought twice of the same woman, but he just can’t seem to let Isobel go. Not only does he physically ache for her like never before, but he wants to redeem his family in her eyes. The MacGregors are not the barbarians that she thinks they are and ten years has been long enough to hold to old grudges.

    While visiting the Fergusson’s home, he is attacked by a devious eleven year old boy (Isobel’s youngest brother). Over the course of his recovery, he manages to win over almost all of Isobel’s brothers, but can he win over Isobel herself? Isobel’s resolve is indeed weakening but worse than falling in love with him, she fears he’ll discover a secret that she’s kept for ten years; a secret that can reignite the bloodshed all over again.

    I really enjoyed this second installment of Paula Quinn’s Children of the Mist series. Once again, Quinn delivers a wonderful story of star-crossed lovers filled with romance, mystery and drama. Tristan and Isobel were entirely different from their predecessors in Ravished by a Highlander. Tristan was such a charmer and although he knew just how to wrap a woman around his finger, he had a deeply rooted sense of honor and honesty that made him even more lovable. Isobel was fiercely loyal to her family and would even risk her health to protect them. Both characters were incredibly stubborn which I found to be frustrating at times. Although Isobel’s hatred for Tristan’s family was understandable, I felt she was too hard on him most of the time. Conversely, Tristan was too persistent and it didn’t seem worth the fight. It wasn’t until they both conceded to their love that the cat and mouse game became worth it.

    I also enjoyed getting reacquainted with the MacGregor family members that we met in the previous book as well as meeting the Fergusson men introduced in this book. appreciate the interesting and rich variety of characters that Quinn offers in this series as well as the authentic setting and language. She did a great job of making the distinction between classes and helping the reader to understand how very different life was during the middle ages. I look forward to reading the third installment involving Tristan’s fiery sister, Mairi and the highlander that got away.


    ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

    Giveaway
    August 25 - Sept 1
    {5 Copies available}

    FILL OUT THIS FORM TO ENTER GIVEAWAY
    {Important: Please leave a comment on this post stating you filled out the form! Thank you!}

    Rules:
    • To enter the giveaway you must complete the form (linked above) and leave a comment indicating that you've completed the form.
    • Books will be delivered directly from the publishers so the giveaways are only available for U.S. and Canada residents. No P.O. boxes please.
    Note: It may take several weeks to receive your prize so please be patient!
    • Winners will be drawn soon after the contest ends and posted thereafter.
    • Winners will be chosen using random.org!

    Ways to earn extra entries:
    +1 for being a follower
    +1 for following us on Twitter
    +1 for following us on Blogged
    +1 for being a Facebook Friend
    +1 for subscribing via email or RSS reader
    +1 for comments on other posts throughout the week
    (Please reference which other posts you've commented on)
    +1 for twittering or posting about this giveaway on your blog/site
    (Please include a link to the post)

    ♥ Feel free to contact us via email at booksoulmates[at]gmail[dot]com if you have any questions ♥

    Good luck!

    A little rant...

    What the heck is up with all the Chinese spam these days?? *Grrrr*

    This has been bugging the crap out of me for a while now and I don't know what to do about it. I keep logging in to find these Chinese comments on my posts {I'm sure some of you have noticed when you leave me comments} and if I accidentally click on it, it takes me to some Chinese "buy-a-bride" site or some shit!

    I've been deleting them, but that's not a permanent solution.

    Help me guys!

    I already have captcha enabled, but it doesn't seem to be working :(

    What can I do to stop getting these? Am I the only one?


    US vs. UK (Round 6)

    US vs. UK is back for Round 6

    We recently featured the cover art for Rachel Vincent's MY SOUL TO STEAL which is the fourth installment in the Soul Screamers series.

    So in light of this AWESOME cover art release, we thought it'd be cool to pair up the US and UK titles for her first three novels in this series.

    So here we go...

    My Soul To Take - Book # 1



    My Soul To Save - Book # 2



    My Soul To Keep - Book # 3




    This is another toughie for me! I feel myself leaning towards the UK series though. I have absolutely nothing against the US cover - I really do like them. However, the UK covers just grab me, pull me, and say "look at me, look at me". I do like that the color schemes are consistent with both countries though - thumbs up for that!

    Now YOU tell us...which series of covers do you like more?


    Blog Tour Winners



    1. Jacinda H. {Submitted}

    2. Elyssa H. / Literary Day Dreams {Submitted}

    3. Ashley C. {Submitted}

    4. Kisha P. {Submitted}

    5. Laisa C. {Submitted}


    1. Natasha J. / Bookmark Your Thoughts {Submitted}

    2. Caitlin R. / Vision Quest Fail {Submitted}

    3. Jen D. / Not Now I'm Reading {Submitted}

    4. Shera A. / Book Whispers {Submitted}

    5. Cynthia D. {Submitted}


    1. Virginia C. {Submitted}

    2. Trisha M. / Trisha's Book Blog {Submitted}

    3. Sharon D. {Submitted}

    4. Meredith M. {Submitted}

    5. Victoria Z. {Submitted}


    Winners were chosen using random.org. We will email those who we do not have addresses for already. You have until next Friday to get back to us with your address (if we don't already have it). If we haven't heard from you by then, a new winner will be chosen.
    If you are still interested in more giveaways, check out our giveaways page {here}!

    Review: Seduction Wears Sapphires by Renee Bernard

    Title: Seduction Wears Sapphires
    Author: Renee Bernard
    Publish Date: Aug 3, 2010
    by Berkley
    Pages: 271, paperback
    Reason for reading: Reviewed for The Season

    Bernard
    gives us a sweet & sassy love story between a spoiled Englishman and his unassuming yet captivating American chaperone.

    Ashe Blackwell has changed. Once focused and well-mannered, he has now become your typical rake and his grandfather has had enough of it. What his grandfather doesn’t understand is that Ashe’s lifestyle is his way of forgetting the painful memories of his capture in India some years before. His grandfather makes him a wager. If Ashe can prove himself to be responsible by remaining free of scandal for the remainder of the season, then he will not be removed from the will thus retaining his inheritance. That’s not all though. His grandfather has ensured that the reins on his grandson will be held tight by a chaperone – enter Miss Caroline Townsend.

    Miss Caroline Townsend, from Boston, has booked passage to London at the request of her grandfather’s dearest friend. She is to temporarily chaperone a spoiled English nobleman under the pretense that she is being introduced to English society. If she is successful, she stands to gain a very nice paycheck, which she intends to use to open her own school where young ladies can be educated. Unbeknownst to anyone but herself, she is in dire straits and this income will help her fulfill her dream as well as help her to survive on her own.

    Ashe does not take well to this assignment and he is hell-bent on sending the drab and mousy little American packing back to the Colonies. What he is unprepared for is the ease at which this mousy little American can woo people. She’s smart, incredibly charismatic, and stubborn to a fault. Their little game eventually becomes all too real though. Soon, Caroline realizes that she cannot compete with the beautiful and wealthy women of the English ton and Ashe realizes that until Caroline, he’s never really known love or passion.

    I really enjoyed getting to know these characters and Caroline in particular was a breath of fresh air. Too often, we read historical novels that, from the English point of view, criticize Americans. It was so refreshing to read about an American girl who, in spite of her lack of wealth and her drab appearance, wins the hearts of even the staunchest Englishmen.

    The plot involving the wager and the subsequent conflict between Ashe and Caroline is a bit simplistic. However, Bernard does a great job expressing the chemistry and passion between them. There are also a few scenes that are especially fun to read.
    The thought helped him to rein in the blaze of raw lust and address the problem at hand – why in God’s name was Caroline Townsend in his bedroom? “Miss Townsend?” He stepped forward, deliberately making no effort to race for a dressing jacket or make some show of false modesty. It would serve the little terrier right to get a taste of her own medicine. “If you meant to call on my jest about helping me to bed…”

    She turned to face him, and he knew immediately that something was off. The crisp intelligence that generally shone from her eyes was muted behind a dreamy glow. “Can you believe it? I never thought I’d make such a good sailor, but the seas are so calm.” “Are they?” Ashe smiled and shook his head at the amazing revelation that his prim and impossible little chaperone suffered from the most delightful malady. The lady sleepwalked.” ~pg 45-46
    Without giving away too much, I’d like to mention that I was happy with the ending to their story. She didn't simply run into his arms because he said those three magical words. Although he knew as well as she did that she loved him too, he had to prove that she was more than enough for him. In a twisted sort of way, that endeared him to me because he demonstrated that they were both worth it...and that was sweet!

    This was my first Bernard novel, but I certainly don't think it will be my last!





    Teaser Tuesday 8.17.10

    Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading and it asks us to...

  • Grab your current read

  • Open to a random page

  • Share a couple of “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 Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.

  • Isalys's Teaser
    :
    A strange look crossed his eyes. "You should slap me for that kiss, for taking advantage of your chill."

    She moved around him, heading to the bow of the boat and Wick's outstretched hand. Just before disembarking, she paused and looked over her shoulder [at Gabriel]. "Perhaps I took advantage of you," she said, quietly enough so that no one on shore could hear her.

    He blinked and then said, "I only wish you would."

    ~p. 166 of "A Kiss at Midnight" by Eloisa James




     
    Blog Design by Use Your Imagination Designs The Artists' Faeries Lovely Papers by Lorie Davison