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Just a ‘Taste’ of Something Great

Melissa — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:00:20 +0000

Taste by Kate Evangelista
Crescent Moon Press (May 2012)

There are three excerpts out for this book today, only one is actually in this post, but other bloggers have posted one and the third is only on the author’s site. I have placed the link to the author’s excerpt somewhere in this post for you to find if you look carefully.

About the Author:
When Kate Evangelista was told she had a knack for writing stories, she did the next best thing: entered medical school. After realizing she wasn’t going to be the next Doogie Howser, M.D., Kate wandered into the Literature department of her university and never looked back. Today, she is in possession of a piece of paper that says to the world she owns a Literature degree. To make matters worse, she took Master’s courses in creative writing. In the end, she realized to be a writer, none of what she had mattered. What really mattered? Writing. Plain and simple, honest to God, sitting in front of her computer, writing. Today, she has four completed Young Adult novels.

About the Book:
At Barinkoff Academy, there’s only one rule: no students on campus after curfew. Phoenix McKay soon finds out why when she is left behind at sunset. A group calling themselves night students threaten to taste her flesh until she is saved by a mysterious, alluring boy. With his pale skin, dark eyes, and mesmerizing voice, Demitri is both irresistible and impenetrable. He warns her to stay away from his dangerous world of flesh eaters. Unfortunately, the gorgeous and playful Luka has other plans.

When Phoenix is caught between her physical and her emotional attraction, she becomes the keeper of a deadly secret that will rock the foundations of an ancient civilization living beneath Barinkoff Academy. Phoenix doesn’t realize until it is too late that the closer she gets to both Demitri and Luka the more she is plunging them all into a centuries old feud.

And Now…a brief Taste:

I mentally stomped on the intimidation their perfection brought into my mind and said, “Excuse me.”

The group froze, startled by my words. The girls had their brows raised and the boys stopped mid-speech, mouths agape. They stared at me with eyes the shade of onyx stones.

I smiled and gave them a little wave.

The boy a step ahead of the rest recovered first. His stunning features went from shocked surprise to intense interest. He reminded me of a hawk eyeing its prey. I gulped.

“A Day Student,” he said, his eyes insolent and excited.

Something about the way he said “Day Student” made my stomach flip. “Excuse me?”

They snickered. The boys looked at each other while the girls continued to stare, muffling their laughter by delicate hands. I seemed to be the butt of some joke.

“You broke the rule.” The boy’s grin turned predatory.

The students formed a loose semi-circle in front of me. My gaze darted from face to face. Hunger filled their eyes. The image of lions about to chase down a gazelle came to mind. I mentally shook my head. I was in the mountains not the Serengeti for crying out loud.

I took a small step back and cleared my throat. “Can any of you give me a ride back to the dorms?”

The boy wagged his forefinger like a metronome. “Ah, that’s unfortunate for you.”

One of the girls pinched the bridge of her nose. “Eli, you can’t possibly—”

“It’s forbidden, Eli,” another boy interrupted, pronouncing the word “forbidden” like a curse.

The nervous murmur at the pit of my stomach grew louder. Six against one. Not good odds. Instinct told me to cut my losses and run. Bad enough I faced expulsion, now it seemed like weird, beautiful people who’d suddenly appeared on campus wanted to beat me up. No, scratch that. Judging from the way they studied me, beating me up wouldn’t satisfy them. Something more primal prowled behind their looks.

I definitely wasn’t going down without a fight. Years of self-defense and hand-to-hand combat classes had me prepared. While other children from rich and important families got bodyguards, I got defense training. But I think my father meant for my skills to go up against potential kidnappers, not against other students who may or may not be crazy. Oh God! Maybe I stepped into a parallel universe or something when I reentered Barinkoff.

“None of the students are supposed to be on campus,” I said. Then, realizing my mistake, I added, “Okay, I know I’m not supposed to be here either. If one of you gives me a ride back to the dorms, I won’t say anything about all this. Let’s pretend this never happened. I didn’t see you, you didn’t see me.”

“We’re not ordinary students,” Eli answered. “We’re the Night Students.”

He’d said “Night Students” like the words were capitalized. I didn’t know Barinkoff held classes at night. What was going on here?

Eli smiled with just one side of his mouth and said to the group, “She’s right, no one will have to know. We’re the only ones here. And it’s been so long, don’t you agree?”

The rest of them nodded reluctantly.

“What’s been so long?” I challenged. I fisted my hands, ready to put them up if any of them so much as twitched my way.

“Since the taste of real flesh passed through my lips,” Eli said. He came forward and took a whiff of me then laughed when I cringed.

“Flesh.” Yep, parallel universe.

“Yes,” he said. “And yours smells so fresh.”

Someone grabbed my shoulders from behind and yanked me back before I could wrap my mind around the meaning behind Eli’s words. In a blink, I found myself behind someone tall. Someone really tall. And quite broad. And very male.

I realized he wore the same clothes Eli and the other boys did. Not good. He was one of them. Although… I cocked my head, raking my gaze over him. He seemed born to wear the uniform, like he was the pattern everyone else was cut from. My eyes wandered to long, layered, blue-black hair tied at the nape by a silk ribbon. Even in dim light, his hair possessed a sheen akin to mercury.

I looked down. The boy’s long fingers were wrapped around my wrist like a cuff. His fevered touch felt hotter than human standards, hot enough to make me sweat like I was standing beside a radiator but not hot enough to burn.

“I must be mistaken, Eli,” the boy who held my arm said in a monotone. “Correct me. Did I hear you say you wanted to taste the flesh of this girl?”

A hush descended on us. It had the hairs at the back of my neck rising. How was it possible for the atmosphere to switch from threatening to dangerous? Unable to help myself, I peeked around the new guy’s bulk. Eli and his friends bowed. They all had their right hands on their chests.

“Demitri, I’m sure you misheard me,” Eli said.

So the guy standing between me and the person who said he’d wanted to taste me was named Demitri. I like the sound of his name. Demitri. So strong, yet rolls off the tongue. Definite yum factor.

“So, you imply I made a mistake?” Demitri demanded.

“No!” Eli lifted his gaze. “I did no such thing. I simply wanted to show the girl the consequences of breaking curfew.”

“Hey!” I yelled. “Don’t talk about me like I’m not here!”

Demitri ignored my protest and continued to address Eli. “So, you threatened to taste her flesh.” His fingers tightened their grip around my wrist. “In the interest of investigating this matter further, I invoke the Silence.”

All six students gasped, passing surprised glances at one another.

Before I could ask about what was going on, Demitri yanked me down the hall toward the library. But why there? Oh, maybe we were getting my things. No, wait, he couldn’t have known about that. Everything was too confusing now.

Eli and the others didn’t try to stop us when we passed them. Demitri’s cold command must have carried power. Handsome and powerful, never a bad combination on a guy.

We reached the heavy double doors in seconds. He jerked one open effortlessly. I’d needed all my strength just to squeeze through that same door earlier. To him, the thick wood might as well have been cardboard. I raised an eyebrow and mentally listed the benefits of going to gym class.

“Why are we here?” I asked after my curiosity overpowered my worry. I’d almost forgotten how frightened I’d been right before Demitri showed up. I wasn’t above accepting help from strangers. Especially from gorgeous dark-haired strangers with hot hands and wide shoulders.

Demitri kept going, tugging me along, snaking his way deeper into the library. I had to take two steps for every stride his legs made. I tried to stay directly behind him, praying we didn’t slam into anything.

He stopped suddenly and I collided with him. It felt like slamming into a wall.

“Hey,” I said, momentarily stunned. “A little warning would be nice!”

He faced me, and I gasped. His eyes resembled a starless night, deep and endless. Their intensity drilled through me without pity, seeming to expose all my secrets. I felt naked and flustered beneath his gaze.

“You could have died back there,” he warned.

A lump of panic rebuilt itself in my throat.

Codicil:
Click the bookcover or title for more info or to purchase a copy.
My friend Lisa has another excerpt you can check out at Just Another Rabid Reader.
Check out more previews of this book.
Don’t forget to click the author’s name or photo to visit her website. By the way the author has a third excerpt on her website.
I haven’t read this one and don’t yet have my hands on a copy but if I ever do get ahold of one you can be sure I’ll let my readers know and be posting a review.
The author provided materials and permission for this post.

Nook Freebies

Melissa — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 04:29:42 +0000

Here’s several Christian Fiction titles available free for your Nook or Nook reading app:

Daughter of Joy (Brides of Culdee Creek Series #1) by Kathleen Morgan
Love, heartbreak, and triumph lie deep within the wilds of the Colorado highlands.

Abigail Stanton’s whole life was rooted in her faith, a faith she now clings to for survival. After losing her husband and young son, Abby sets out alone, bereft, and heartsick. And when she is led to Conor MacKay’s doorstep, the very foundation of her belief starts to shift.

As the volatile rancher’s new housekeeper, Abby is supposed to keep his affairs–and his capricious little girl–in order. Abby feels anything but order, though, when she and Conor are together. Can love heal the wounds of the past? Or will Abby and Conor risk even greater losses than they have already suffered?

The first in the Brides of Culdee Creek series, Daughter of Joy takes you on a journey of grief, intrigue, and redeeming love in the nineteenth-century Colorado highlands.

Relentless by Robin Parrish
Grant Borrows’ life has just taken a drastic left turn. There’s another man in the world wearing his face and living his life. What’s more, the man he sees in the mirror is a stranger.

Somehow, he’s been Shifted — his whole life fundamentally altered, in the space of a single breath. But the changes don’t stop at skin-level. Inexplicably, he’s able to affect objects around him by simply thinking about them. And as he soon learns, he’s become the central figure in a vast web of intrigue that stretches from an underground global conspiracy to a prophecy dating back over seven thousand years, that tells of his coming. Enemies and allies find him at every turn, but one thing they all learn very quickly is that you don’t want to push Grant Borrows too far…

Can destiny be undone?

The players are ready. The game is in motion. And the pace is Relentless.

In the allegorical tradition of Tolkien and Lewis comes a powerful new myth for a new generation.

Gods and Kings: A Novel by Lynn Austin
Gods and Kings is the story of King Hezekiah, heir to the throne of King David. When his evil father plots to sacrifice him, Hezekiah’s mother, Abijah, searches frantically for a way to save him. But only two men can help her, and neither of them seems trustworthy. In a time and place engulfed by violence, treachery, and infidelity to Yahweh, Abijah and her son must discover the one true Source of strength if they are to save themselves and their country. Book 1 of Chronicles of the Kings.

Ruby (Dakotah Treasures Series #1) by Lauraine Snelling
A New Dakotah Territory Saga From Bestselling Author Lauraine Snelling!

Book 1 of Dakotah Treasures. Author Lauraine Snelling once again takes readers west to the untamed land of Dakota Territory, introducing new characters both unique and appealing. Ruby Torvald and her young sister, Opal, have received an inheritance from their long-lost father who left home years ago to seek his fortune in the Black Hills. When they leave their comfortable situation in Chicago and arrive at the mining town of Medora to claim their inheritance, the sisters discover that rather than the legacy of gold they expected, their father has left them a shocking bequest. Ruby’s bold determination in the face of scandal leads the reader on a journey both heartwarming and inspiring.

Heart of Gold by Lacy Williams
Wyoming, 1902–Ranch foreman Charlie Welch suspects his boss’s daughter has returned home with purely selfish motives–she wants money.
After being estranged from her father for years, Opal Bright hopes her homecoming will result in both reconciliation and a solution to help the orphanage she sponsors back home in Omaha.
When Charlie and Opal find themselves mixed up with a ragtag group of bandits and trapped in an abandoned gold mine, they must risk everything to survive… including their hearts.

To Love Anew by Bonnie Leon
A heart-gripping journey toward forgiveness and love

Hannah Talbot has no one. Forced to leave the only home she’s ever known, she works for a cruel employer who brutally takes the one thing she has left–her dignity. When she is banished to an Australian prison, she is certain God has turned his back on her. How could he–or anyone else–ever love her again?

John Bradshaw is a successful businessman, but his untamed spirit wants more. Little does he know what he will have to endure to find the adventure he seeks. Betrayed by those closest to him, he loses everything, even his freedom. There is no returning now. His life is not his own.

Now aboard a ghastly prison ship, John and Hannah are about to cross paths. What will happen when two hearts filled with pain discover how to love anew? This first book in the Sydney Cove series will capture your heart.

The Light of Eidon (Legends of the Guardian-King Series #1) by Karen Hancock
Book 1 of Legends of the Guardian King which follows the life of Abramm Kalladorne in his turbulent search for truth and self–a search that will transform him from a sickly, head-in-the-clouds youth to a legendary hero of strength and courage. Set in a world of swords and cloaks, of glittering palaces and mystical temples, of galley ships and ancient, mist-bound cities, his journey illustrates how God pursues and how He uses suffering to mold His children into something greater than was ever thought possible. Written by Karen Hancock, the acclaimed author of Arena.

Rhythms of Grace by Marilynn Griffith
Grace Okoye was a promising young dancer when her career was cut short by a brutal assault that left her scarred for life. Twenty years later, when her past gets in the way of her happiness, she heeds the invitation of her dance instructor and returns home to help hurting children and rediscover the rhythms of grace. What she doesn’t expect is to meet a man who already seems to know her beat. But for all they share in common, the biggest thing in Grace’s life is noticeably absent in his–faith. She’s finally found the love of her life, but can she choose between him and God?

Real, raw emotion and the promise of redemption run through this soulful new book from Marilynn Griffith.

Sweet Baklava by Debby Mayne
After years of looking for a place to belong, Paula Andrews finally finds her niche in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Her soap and candle shop flourishes, and her friendship with the Papadopoulos family gives her the love and support she never got from her own family.

The only thing missing is a romance—or in the grand hopes of the Papadopoulos family, a proper marriage. Preferably with Nick, their favorite son, currently serving in the Air Force. Paula, however, has doubts. After all, he’s been gone a long time and loves flying. Their lives have grown apart. Would he still feel anything for her?

When Nick comes home on leave, sparks fly, and not just with Paula. Nick’s father wants him home, helping with the family sponge-diving business. His mother wants him back in the family, back in church. Nick just wants Paula . . . and the Air Force.

So who’s going to give in first? And what will it mean for their love and future?

Highland Blessings by Jennifer Hudson Taylor
Highland Blessings is the story of a highland warrior who kidnaps the daughter of his greatest enemy and clan chief to honor a promise he made to his dying father. Bryce MacPhearson, a highland warrior, kidnaps Akira MacKenzie on her wedding day to honor a promise he made to his dying father. While Akira’s strength in the Lord becomes a witness to Bryce, she struggles to overcome her anger and resentment when he forces her to wed him, hoping to end a half-century-old feud between their clans. While Akira begins to forgive, and Bryce learns to trust, a series of murders leaves a trail of unanswered questions, confusion, and a legacy of hate that once again rises between their families. Clearly, a traitor is in their midst. Now the one man Akira loves no longer trusts her, and her own life is in danger. Can Bryce look beyond his pain and seek the truth? Will Akira discover the threat against her before it’s too late? How will God turn a simple promise into bountiful Highland blessings?

Charlotte Figg Takes Over Paradise (Bright’s Pond Series) by Joyce Magnin
Newly widowed Charlotte Figg purchases a double-wide trailer sight unseen and moves to the Paradise Trailer Park with her dog, Lucky. Unfortunately, neither the trailer nor Paradise are what Charlotte expected. Her trailer is a ramshackle old place in need of major repair, and the people of Paradise are harboring more secrets than Bayer has aspirin. Charlotte’s new friend Rose Tattoo learns that Charlotte played softball and convinces her to rally the women of Paradise into a team. Reluctant at first, Charlotte warms to the notion and is soon coaching the Paradise Angels. Meanwhile, Charlotte discovers that the manager of Paradise, Fergus Wrinkel, abuses his wife, Suzy. Charlotte sets out to find a way to save Suzy from Fergus and in the process comes to a difficult realization about her own painful marriage.

Scream by Mike Dellosso
While talking to his friend on the phone, Mark Stone is startled by a cacophony of otherworldly screams. Seconds later, a tragic accident claims his friend’s life. When this happens several more times—screams followed by an untimely death—he is compelled to act.

Battling his failure as a husband and struggling with his own damaged faith, Mark embarks on a mission to find the meaning behind the screams and hopefully stop death from calling on its next victim. When his estranged wife is kidnapped and he again hears the screams as she calls from her cell phone, his search becomes much more personal and much more urgent.

The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow (Bright’s Pond Series) by Joyce Magnin
The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow is the story of an unusual woman, Agnes Sparrow. No longer able or willing to leave her home, where she is cared for by her long-suffering sister Griselda, Agnes has committed her life to the one thing she can do-besides eat. Agnes Sparrow prays and when Agnes prays things happen, including major miracles of the cancer, ulcer-healing variety along with various minor miracles not the least of which is the recovery of lost objects and a prize-winning pumpkin.

The rural residents of Bright’s Pond are so enamored with Agnes they plan to have a sign erected on the interstate that reads, “Welcome to Bright’s Pond, Home of Agnes Sparrow.” This is something Agnes doesn’t want and sends Griselda to fight city hall. Griselda’s petitions are shot down and the sign plans press forward until a stranger comes to town looking for his miracle from Agnes. The truth of Agnes’s odd motivation comes out when the town reels after the murder of a beloved community member. How could Agnes allow such evil in their midst? Didn’t she know? Well, the prayers of Agnes Sparrow have more to do with Agnes than God. Agnes has been praying to atone for a sin committed when she was a child. After some tense days, the townsfolk, Griselda, and Agnes decide they all need to find their way back to the true source of the miracles-God.

They Almost Always Come Home by Cynthia Ruchti
When Libby’s husband Greg fails to return from a two-week canoe trip to the Canadian wilderness, the authorities soon write off his disappearance as an unhappy husband’s escape from an empty marriage and unrewarding career. Their marriage might have survived if their daughter Lacey hadn’t died . . . and if Greg hadn’t been responsible. Libby enlists the aid of her wilderness savvy father-in-law and her faith-walking best friend to help her search for clues to her husband’s disappearance . . . if for no other reason than to free her to move on. What the trio discovers in the search upends Libby’s presumptions about her husband and rearranges her faith.

NOTE: E-Books are free for download via the links provided at time of posting. B&N Prices are subject to change at their disgression and are not within this publication’s control. Please check prices before downloading and be aware that changes may occur at any time. These posts are provided as a service by a fellow Nook user who has found a lack of available listings of free titles for the Nook outside of simply searching the thousands on B&N itself.

A Lasting Impression Blog Tour Contest and FB Party

Melissa — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 01:38:05 +0000

While Tamera and her book, A Lasting Impression, are traveling across the country virtually (with a few international stops as well!), she will be hosting a Kindle
Fire Giveaway (11/4 – 11/15) and preparing for a lavish Southern-Style Facebook Party (11/15) (dripping with hospitality, of course). She will be giving away Southern Food Baskets, books, and an array of other fabulous freebies! Don’t miss a minute of the fun. Swoon!

Read what the reviewers are saying here.

One grand prize winner will receive:

A Brand New Kindle Fire (shipped as soon as it releases)
A copy of A Lasting Impression and 3 other special books Tamera wants you to have (for Kindle)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on November 15th. Winner will be announced at A Lasting Impression Facebook Party on the 15th. Tamera will be wrapping up the A Lasting Impression celebration with an author chat and giving away Southern Food Baskets (Loveless Cafe Food Baskets, books, Amazon & Starbucks gift certificates, and copies of Christy Jordan’s Southern Plate cookbook), six gift certificates to Starbucks and Amazon.com, and copies of A Lasting Impression! So grab your copy of A Lasting Impression (it’s okay if you don’t have one yet- you might win one!) and join Tamera on the evening of November 15th for an author chat, a trivia contest (How much do you know about the 1860′s?) and lots of Southern-inspired giveaways (complete listing here).

Don’t miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER. Hope to see you on the 15th!

Love on the Line Blog Tour Contest & Party

Melissa — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 01:32:53 +0000

Deeanne is thrilled to introduce Georgie and Luke to the world in her latest novel, Love on the Line. To celebrate Deeanne’s publisher, Bethany House, is hosting the Love on the Line iPad2 giveaway and an Author Chat on Facebook! Enter today and follow the link below to RSVP for Deeanne’s rip-roarin’ Facebook Party!

One fortunate winner will receive:

A Brand New iPad2
An Autographed Hardback Copy of Love on the Line by Deeanne Gist

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 7th. Winner will be announced at Deeanne’s Author Chat Facebook Party. Deeanne will be wrapping up the Love on the Line celebration by chatting with friends new and old! So grab your copy of Love on the Line (it’s okay if you don’t have one yet- you might could win one!) and join Deeanne on the evening of November 8th for a rip roaring book chat, a little trivia and lots of giveaways (books, and Amazon, iTunes & Starbucks gift certificates)!

Don’t miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends. Hope to see you on the 8th!

Women of Faith Over the Top in Sacramento

Melissa — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:05:41 +0000

Tomorrow is conference day 1. I’ve been running around at the last minute as usual trying to get everything together for the morning. As a habitually organized person procrastination still seems to catch me off guard on personal planning more than I’d like. Thankfully it only affects the items that aren’t vital to “making the grade”. High priority tasks still get pushed through the fast lane if necessary.

Anyway although this is the first time I’ll be attending a WOF venue that is too far from home to drive back and sleep in my own bed tomorrow night because of a move earlier this year, it probably won’t change my usual sleep patterns when I’m excited – that is I don’t sleep much. That helps with the packing but not much with the focus tomorrow lol. It should still be a great experience the next two days though despite the fact that I will get home Sat night exhausted from two long days. For some reason even though the conferences are always full of wonderful material from great speakers they also prove to be draining for me both because of the crowds and for some undefinable other reason emotionally that has to do with the spiritual experiences that inevitably occur in a two day conference like this. I love the powerful spiritual boost I get but I need a couple days afterwards just to recoup. I’ll be back sometime next week with a post on the conference itself and perhaps if I can figure it out and am not too busy I’ll do some tweeting or post some facebook status updates from the conference tomorrow and/or saturday.

Kiss of Night by Debbie Viguie Blog Tour Intro & Giveaway

Melissa — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 03:48:11 +0000

This is going to be a busy day at Bibliophile’s Retreat since I promised a number of features for this tour. There will be the usual review of the book in question but there are also a few additional goodies for readers to sink their teeth into. I’ve got a guest post by the book’s author Debbie Viguie and the publisher was kind enough to offer a giveaway copy of the book as well. See the end of this post for how to enter the giveaway as well as links to my review and the author’s guest post.

Visit the other Blog Tour hosts
October 3:
Renee’s Reads
Tori Lounge
Bitten by Books
Steeler Girl 83
My Book Addiction and More
Moonlight Book Reviews
Edgy Inspirational Romance

October 4:
A Fair Substitute for Heaven
Freda’s Voice
Kitty Crochet Two
Heart of a Bookworm
Practical Frugality
Electrifying Reviews
My Only Vice

October 5:
My Friend Amy
Ashley’s Bookshelf
In the Hammock
Overweight Bookshelf
Seasons of Humility
Mike Duran
Ticket to Anywhere

October 6:
RBC Library
Reviews by Molly
Books with Bite
Reviews from the Heart
Tina’s Book Reviews
It’s Time to Read MaMaw

October 7:
Books, Movies, Chinese Food
A Few of My Favorite Things – Michelle
Book Zone
Proud Book Nerd
Amusing Reviews
Tales of Whimsy
Libs Library

Giveaway Rules-
US & Canada Mailing Addresses ONLY & No PO Boxes
(If either of the above two are violated when I receive the winner’s mailing address- the win is voided and a new name will immediately be drawn)
All entries/comments must be time stamped no later than 11:59PM Pacific Time Fri Oct 21. Winner’s name will be Drawn and notified by email after Oct 22.

How to Enter the Giveaway:
1)Leave a comment with one thing about this book from either my review post or the author’s guest post that makes you want to read the book or more than one thing. Be sure and include an email address in your comment so I can reach the winner when a name is drawn and get your mailing address for the publisher to send out the book. Disguise the email from spambots – for example – your name [at] domain [dot] net

2) Use the Share button at the end of this post to Tweet, Digg, Facebook, ….. your choice of 100′s of options to post this across the web and tell your friends so they can enter too. Up to 3 entries per day for each share using a different service that day. (Monday Tweet, Digg and Facebook 3 entries. Tuesday Stumble, Tweet, Reddit 3 entries. etc) For those shares to count you must leave a comment telling me which services you shared the entry on, include the link to the share on each service and your user name or email address for that service.

3) Without number 1 no entry will be placed in the drawing. Without an email address no entry will be placed in the drawing either.

Debbie Viguie Guest Post for Kiss of Night Blog Tour

Melissa — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 21:15:13 +0000

TOPIC: What inspired you to write Christian Fiction integrating a Vampire character in the plot? How and Why was this particular book born out of that inspiration? Were you aware or trying to feed into any current market trends at the time or was that simply incidental to the topics of the book?

Why a Christian book about vampires? A lot of people have asked me that question and it’s actually pretty easy for me to answer. I want to entertain myself and others with the kind of story that I enjoy without the gratuitous sex and language that so many secular versions have. And further, I want that story to play upon the themes that I hold near and dear to my heart such as redemption of the soul. This is at its heart a redemption story with a fun and exciting plot wrapped around it. I love fantasy and horror fiction and particularly monster stories. It’s why when I wrote Scarlet Moon, my retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, I made the wolf a werewolf. Classic monster stories are fun and stretch far back into our storytelling past. For me the idea for this book and this series was born in high school, nourished in college, and is now ready for me to put forth to the world.

In high school I read two books that affected me deeply. The first was Dracula. The book itself is remarkable with the story told from several different points of view in a very unique way. It captivated me. The second book that really moved me was the scariest book I had ever read and it still is. The book was This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti. The book shows the influence of angels and demons on people struggling in extraordinary circumstances. It showed me that someone could write truly frightening and deeply meaningful Christian fiction. In college I eagerly tried to find more horror books and films hoping to feel the way I’d felt when reading those two books. Unfortunately I couldn’t find anything else which contained a positive portrayal of a Christian character. So one day it occurred to me that since I couldn’t find a book with a strong Christian fighting some sort of monster that maybe I should write one myself. I quickly seized on the idea of writing a novel where Christians had to team up with a vampire to save the world from other vampires. I realized that an essential component of the book would have to be the redemption story of the vampire.

Vampire fiction has been popular on and off for decades. The current hysteria about vampire fiction is not necessarily any greater than it was twenty years ago. So, I wasn’t trying to tap into market trends so much as write in a genre I’d been wanting to write in for years. Being able to share Kiss of Night and the rest of the trilogy with the world is a dream come true.

Enter the giveaway of this book. Read my review.

~Mailbox Monday / In My Mailbox~ May 16

Melissa — Mon, 16 May 2011 06:18:09 +0000

Marcia at The Printed Page created and Hosted this on Mondays. Marcia has renamed her book blog A Girl and Her Books. While the Printed Page appears to remain as is and accessible I believe Marcia has indicated it will become an archive as it exists now but will not be updating with posts any longer. As of Aug 2010 Mailbox Mondays are hosted by other blogs for the duration of a month each. Drop by the new Mailbox Monday blog for the hosting schedule or to add your blog to the waiting list for hosting. May’s Host is Mari at Mari Reads Check out the current host for more info and to read what other participants are saying plus leave your own links for the current week. While you’re at it also drop by The Story Siren for a similar meme, In My Mailbox which is also a Monday Feature.

Reviews will go up as I get to the books. In the meantime click bookcovers or titles to read more. Don’t forget to check out author sites too.

Well my friends and fellow readers it has been quite a few months since I’ve done any linking/meme posts. What’s been up in my world you might ask. Quite a bit actually. I spent three weeks visiting my folks in California’s central valley over Christmas/New Years. Made the trek back to the Pacific Northwest with about three weeks to get my act together before I moved down more permanently the end of January. Books have been shuffled around and quite a few read during this time but I’m still a bit behind on posting reviews for everything I’ve read since Dec/Januaryish. I think that pile consists of about 15 books at the moment. Oh yes and since the move I’ve been spending a significant amount of time with my niece and nephew which is so different from a week or so at Christmas time. He turned six the end of March and she’ll be three near the end of Sept. This is the first year I’ve really had a chance to get to know them and spend concentrated time at my brother’s. Unfortunately the rest of my news isn’t quite as exciting. As some of you know I’ve been hunting for a steady office job for a number of years and working temp when available. Lots of applications going in but not much response.

On the plus side it does give me a little more reading time as well as a chance to reorganize all my bookish updates (like the stagnant lists at Goodreads and Shelfari. Oh and on that note I recently acquired a SmartPhone on which I can read EBooks (still trying this out to see how it works for me) and with the use of the camera I can scan barcodes and add the books on my Amazon account from which I can then import the data to Goodreads and copy it from there to Shelfari and other book sites that have cataloging features.

Ok so back to the real reason for this post a bit of update on the blogging and such. For this week I’ll simply list what I’ve received in the last several weeks that is still in my TBR for review pile. In the process of experimenting with the phone as a reading device, I’ve become more active on Netgalley which I joined at the get go but didn’t have a very practical way to read the galleys so let that sort of just sit. Anything that I access via Netgalley I will indicate as E-ARC. I will still use the links and other identifying details for the printed edition of the book for those that don’t use ereaders. For those that do most sites, Amazon and BN in particular indicate if other editions are available and provide links. Please note all bookcover and title links will take you to the book page at Barnes and Noble for additional info. Author name links are to Author’s site.

In the Shadow of Evil
by Robin Caroll
B&H Books (Mar 01, 2011)

Thanks to B&H for review copies of this entire series so far. This title is book 3, the prior two books are Deliver Us From Evil and Fear No Evil.
(ISBN#9780805449792, 320pp, $14.99)

The Art of Romance (Matchmakers #2)
by Kaye Dacus
Barbour Books (May 1, 2011)

Thanks to Barbour for a review copy.
(ISBN#9781602609907, 320pp, $12.99)

No Safe Haven

by Kimberley & Kayla Woodhouse
B&H Books (Mar 15, 2011)

Thanks to B&H for a review copy.
(ISBN#9781433671166,352pp, $14.99)

Scandal in Scotland (Hurst Amulet, #2)
by Karen Hawkins
Pocket (May 24, 2011)

Thanks to Pocket for a review copy.
(ISBN#9781439175934, 384pp, $7.99)

Targets Down
by Bob Hamer
B&H Publishing Group (Jun 01, 2011)

Thanks to B&H for a review copy
(ISBN#9781433672774, 368pp, $15.99)

Fallen Angel

by Jeff Struecker
B&H Books (Jul 01, 2011)

Thanks to B&H for a review copy.
(ISBN#9781433671401, 400pp, $14.99)

Dancing on Glass
by Pamela Ewen
B&H Books (Aug 01, 2011)

Thanks to B&H for a review copy.
(ISBN#9780805464306, 352pp, $14.99)

Fairer Than Morning (Saddler’s Legacy #1)
by Rosslyn Elliott
Thomas Nelson (May 10, 2011)

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley for an E-ARC. This is one of my test books on the phone.
(ISBN#9781595547859, 400pp, $15.99)

Hawaiian Crosswinds (The Dawn of Hawaii #2)
by Linda Lee Chaikin
Moody Publishers (Jun 01, 2011)

Thanks to Moody and Netgalley for an E_ARC. Another of my test books.
(ISBN#9780802437501, 336pp, $13.99)

Surrender the Night (Surrender to Destiny # 2)
by M.L. Tyndall
Barbour Books (Mar 01, 2011)

Thanks to Barbour and Netgalley for an E-ARC. This is test title #3 in my experiment.
(ISBN#9781602601666, 320pp, $12.99)

~Mailbox Monday/In My Mailbox~ Nov 15

Melissa — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 00:32:29 +0000

Marcia at The Printed Page created and Hosted this on Mondays. As of Aug Mailbox Mondays are hosted by other blogs for the duration of a month each. Drop by Marcia’s MMBT Page for the hosting schedule or to add your blog to the waiting list for hosting. November’s host is Julie at Knitting and Sundries Check out the current host for more info and to read what other participants are saying plus leave your own links for the current week. While you’re at it also drop by The Story Siren for a similar meme, In My Mailbox which is also a Monday Feature.

Reviews will go up as I get to the books. In the meantime click bookcovers or titles to read more. Don’t forget to check out author sites too. Inspy Shortlist books will be read but no reviews or comments made until after the winning titles are announced publicly around the middle of December to maintain the integrity of the awards organization team and judges. I will list those five titles at the end of this post.

It has been over a month since I last posted and I will try to include as many titles here as I can but could be missing some since other than the last couple of weeks there are several books I’ve acquired in that time period.

Uncertain Heart (Seasons of Redemption #2)
by Andrea Kuhn Boeshaar
Realms (October 5, 2010)

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy. An excerpt is already posted and my review is coming soon.
(ISBN#9781616380236, 304pp, $12.99)

Love Remains (The Matchmakers #1)
by Kaye Dacus
Barbour Books (August 1, 2010)

Thanks to Barbour for a review copy.
(ISBN#9781602609891, 320pp, $12.99)

Angel Song
by Sheila Walsh with Kathryn Cushman
Thomas Nelson (August 10, 2010)

Thanks to Thomas Nelson for a review copy.
(ISBN#9781595546852, 352pp, $14.99)

Skin Map (Bright Empires #1)
by Stephen Lawhead
Thomas Nelson (August 31, 2010)

Thanks to C Grant and Co along with Thomas Nelson for a review copy.
(ISBN#9781595548047, 448pp, $24.99)

Words
by Ginny L Yttrup
B&H Books (February 1, 2011)

Thanks to B & H for a review copy.
(ISBN#9781433671708, 352pp, $14.99)

Where Hearts Are Free (Darkness to Light #3)
by Golden Keyes Parsons
Thomas Nelson (September 14, 2010)

Thanks to Thomas Nelson’s Book Sneeze for a review copy.
(ISBN#9781595546289, 352pp, $14.99)

The Perfect Blend (Tea Shop #1)
by Trish Perry
Harvest House Publishers (September 1, 2010)

Thanks to Harvest House for a review copy.

A Secret Kept
by Tatiana DeRosnay
St. Martin’s Press (September 14, 2010)

Thanks to St Martins Press for a review copy.
(ISBN#9780312593315, 320pp, $24.99)

The Book of Days
by Jim Rubart
B&H Books (January 1, 2011)

Thanks to B & H for a review copy.
(ISBN#9781433671517, 400pp, $14.99)

A Prisoner of Versailles (Darkness to Light #2)
by Golden Keyes Parsons
Thomas Nelson (September 1, 2009)

Purchased with giftcard.
(ISBN#9781595546272, 368pp, $14.99)

A Secret Identity (Amish Farm Trilogy #2)
by Gayle Roper
Harvest House Publishers (September 1, 2010)

Purchased with giftcard.
(ISBN#9780736925877, 224pp, $10.99)

Eternity’s Edge (Echoes from the Edge #2)
by Bryan Davis
Zondervan (September 30, 2008)

Purchased with giftcard.
(ISBN#9780310715559, 365pp, $12.99)

The Bridge of Peace (Ada’s House #2)
by Cindy Woodsmall
WaterBrook Press (August 31, 2010)

Purchased with giftcard.
(ISBN#9781400073979, 352pp, $13.99)

The Last Dance (Carter House Girls #8)
by Melody Carlson
Zondervan (March 16, 2010)

Purchased with giftcard.
ISBN#9780310714958, 208pp, $9.99)

Through Thick and Thin (London Confidential #2)
by Sandra Byrd
Tyndale House (March 4, 2010)

Purchased with giftcard.
(ISBN#9781414325989, 288pp, $6.99)

A Rush of Wings (Rush of Wings #1)
by Kristen Heitzmann
Bethany House (October 1, 2010)

Thank you to Bethany House for a review copy.
(ISBN#9780764208454, 384pp, $14.99)

INSPY Shortlist For Amish Fiction:

An Honest Love by Kathleen Fuller (Thomas Nelson)

Anna’s Return by Marta Perry (Berkley)

Love Finds You in Charm Ohio by Annalisa Daughety (Summerside Press)

Plain Paradise by Beth Wiseman (Thomas Nelson) – I already had a copy of this title in my TBR so I did not request it from the publishers for the Award judging process.

Winter’s Awakening by Shelley Shepard Gray (Avon Inspire)

[All Publishers kindly provided Copies of the INSPY Shortlist titles for judges to preview in their assigned categories.] Finalist Title in all Categories will be announced mid-december.

~ Mailbox Monday / In My Mailbox ~ Sept 20

Melissa — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 23:35:03 +0000

Marcia at The Printed Page created and Hosted this on Mondays. As of Aug Mailbox Mondays are hosted by other blogs for the duration of a month each. Drop by Marcia’s MMBT Page for the hosting schedule or to add your blog to the waiting list for hosting. Sept Host is Kathy at Bermudaonion’s Weblog Check out the current host for more info and to read what other participants are saying plus leave your own links for the current week. While you’re at it also drop by The Story Siren for a similar meme, In My Mailbox which is also a Monday Feature.

Reviews will go up as I get to the books. In the meantime click bookcovers or titles to read more. Don’t forget to check out author sites too.

Masquerade
by Nancy Moser
Bethany House (August 1, 2010)

Thanks to Bethany House for a review copy. (ISBN#9780764207518, 400pp, $14.99)

The Waiting (Secrets of Lancaster County #2)
by Suzanne Woods Fisher
Revell (October 1, 2010)

Thanks to Revell for a review copy. (ISBN#9780800733865, 320pp, $14.99)

Almost forgot I got the finished copy of Jamie Carie’s Snowflake this week. The ARC came a bit back so the title was already on an ~MM~, ~IMM~ post when I got that copy.