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Month: May 2018

Review – Chosen by Grace

Posted in Book Blogger

Chosen by Grace

by Alicia Rades

Chosen By GraceSeries: Divine Fate Trilogy, Book 1
Genres: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Release Date: February 23, 2018
Pages: 226
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
My Rating: ★★★★☆

She thought the demons were in her head… until the night they attacked.

Ryn Tyler didn’t intend to kill a demon when she moved to Eagle Valley—or to become the hero of a divine race of angels. She just wants to be a normal teenager, but fate has other plans.

While discovering the secrets of the supernatural, Ryn navigates a complicated relationship with Marek, the guy who can’t stop saving her life. But Marek knows more about Ryn’s magic than he’s letting on.

Only Ryn has the power to stop the coming apocalypse. But there’s a demon in Eagle Valley who wants that power for himself—and if Ryn wants to survive, she’ll have to fight back.

Cover Reveal – Fate’s Kiss

Posted in Book Blogger, and Exalted Bloodlines

Fate’s Kiss

by Rachel de la Fuente

Fate's Kiss

Found In: Summer Heat
Series: Exalted Bloodlines, Book 1.5
Genres: Paranormal, Romance
Release Date: July 6, 2018 
Purchase From: Amazon (pre-order)

When our eyes met, I felt an instant connection, like a string was tying us together.

– – – –

Shawn

Selene is unlike any woman I’ve ever met, and it makes me want her so much that I can hardly control myself around her. But she’s a vampire princess, so I don’t see how we could have a future. After all…

– – – –

… royalty doesn’t mate with humans.

– – – –

Selene

Those are my mother’s words, so unless my father declares otherwise, they’re law to me. Maybe if she knew about the connection Shawn and I share, she’d be more amenable to the match. But I don’t know what the connection is, other than a gut feeling that Shawn is my fated mate. So I must trust that…

– – – –

… Fate happens, even if it seems impossible.

Book Blitz – Renegade

Posted in Book Blogger

Renegade

by Sharonlee Holder

RenegadeSeries: Blood Of The Custodians, Book 2
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: May 28, 2018
Purchase From: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

As the war between the Fates and the resistance rages on, Colin Murphy—bastard son of Hades—finds himself caught between his loyalty to Eros and a past that threatens to destroy him.

Pursued by Persephone’s bounty hunters, and with a pissed-off daemon to contend with, there is one thing that Murphy knows for sure – Hailey, the human he now shares his mind and body with, is innocent in all of it. She is a firefly flickering in the darkness of his black existence, and he will do anything and everything to protect her.

Hailey was groomed to be a socialite, with her entire future mapped out for her. Nothing could have prepared her for the abrupt ending to that life—or the impact of living in such close, intimate confines with a forsaken son of Hell. He’s powerful, he’s dangerous…and he’s her only hope of escaping the dark forces that pursue her.

Boundaries will be tested, loyalties questioned, and hearts pushed to the limits in this action-packed paranormal romance that continues the epic Blood of the Custodians saga by Sharonlee Holder.

Fountain Pen 101: Where to Start (with Pens)

Posted in Fountain Pens

Welcome back to Fountain Pen 101, and happy Fountain Pen Friday! This week, I’m taking a look at what I think are the best pens with which to start your fountain pen journey. This one is rather long, but I wanted to give you a good overview of each pen.

If you’ve never touched a fountain pen before, I’d suggest trying out the Platinum Preppy or the Pilot Metropolitan. They are both solid pens, with far more benefits than detriments. Another good pen, although a “step up” price-wise from the Preppy and Metropolitan is the Lamy Safari. It’s another solid pen that’s unlikely to let you down.

EDIT 2/12/2021: Since writing this post, I’ve changed my mind about the Safari being the best “step up” pen. I’m leaving the review below, because it’s not a bad pen by any means. However, there are two pens that, in my opinion, beat it out for top “step up” pen: the TWSBI 580 series and the Kaweco Sport series.

I’m leaving out the disposable Pilot Varsity, because, although inexpensive, it abandons the best parts of fountain pen use: changing inks and re-usability.

I’ll be rating each of the three pen on reliability (in terms of writing), appearance, durability, ink (both the availability of cartridges and the converter quality/style), nibs, and ease of cleaning.

I also took a look at several major retailers to see who offers the best deal for a “starter pack” of pen, pack of cartridges, and a converter. Prices listed below are in US dollars with the total price first, and the price of standard shipping to Maryland, United States — included in the total price — in parentheses.

Review – Eligible

Posted in Book Blogger

I was incredibly excited when The Austen Project (a plan to re-write Jane Austen’s book in modern settings) was announced. I had high hopes that the modern retellings would have the charm and life of Jane’s original works. However, after being plagued by delays, once the books were completed and the reviews started appearing, I was sure I’d be sorely disappointed.

So, I lowered my expectations, as I waited for Pride and Prejudice. And waited. And somehow missed the release entirely (which was on my birthday!), only discovering Eligible‘s existence last December. I immediately bought and read it, and posted a review on Amazon. As I’ve delved into book blogging since then, I’ve decided to include my review here as well.


Eligible: A modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice

by Curtis Sittenfeld

EligibleSeries: The Austen Project, Book 4
Genres: Literary Fiction, Romance
Release Date: April 19, 2016
Pages: 528
Purchase from: Amazon | Audible | Barnes & Noble | IndieBoundiBooks | Books-A-Million | Hudson Booksellers
My Rating: ★★★☆☆

This version of the Bennet family—and Mr. Darcy—is one that you have and haven’t met before: Liz is a magazine writer in her late thirties who, like her yoga instructor older sister, Jane, lives in New York City. When their father has a health scare, they return to their childhood home in Cincinnati to help—and discover that the sprawling Tudor they grew up in is crumbling and the family is in disarray.

Review – Bound

Posted in Book Blogger

Bound

by Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor

BoundSeries: Magnus Blackwell, Book 2
Genres: Adult, Supernatural, Ghosts, Occult, Voodoo
Release Date: April 17, 2018
Pages: 360
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
My Rating: ★★★☆☆

Magnus Blackwell’s past is about to catch up with him.

An evil force has seized New Orleans. Pestilence, suffering, and darkness cloak the city. The citizens are scared and need their mambo to guide them, but Lexie Arden can’t help anyone. A diabolical presence has taken Lexie’s power and severed her ties with the other side.

Magnus Blackwell is fighting demons of his own. Torn between his devotion to Lexie and a spirit from his past, Magnus’s loyalty is put to the test. He must revisit his sins to uncover the key to the hatred ripping the city apart. If he doesn’t, Lexie’s reign as mambo will end.

Their search for answers leads them deep into the darker realms of voodoo—until a desperate Lexie does the unthinkable, and Magnus can do nothing to spare her from her fate.

Review – Knights After My Heart

Posted in Book Blogger

NOTE: This is another review I’m transferring over from Amazon. I don’t want the reviews ax to eliminate it.

Knights After My Heart

by Sonya Jesus

Knights After My HeartSeries: Knights, Book 1
Genres: Romance, Suspense
Release Date: September 21, 2017
Pages: 304
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
My Rating: ★★★★☆

Amelia’s past issues and personal time limits propel her into a relationship that alters her normal life at Westbrook University. Connor, her new potential boyfriend, triggers jealousy, rehashes old relationships, sparks new ones, and ignites a rage in others that will devastate her ordinary life. As she desperately tries to hold on to her pre-Connor life, she struggles to balance the new-found attention while trying to follow her heart. Something she realizes is complicated… very complicated – because her heart has no idea where it’s going.

Connor may be the change Lia is looking for, but he is certainly not the ending Hawk wants for his Queen. Hawk’s invested too much time in planning his future to let some random guy walk away with his happily ever after. He will do anything to protect her virtue, even if it means protecting her from herself because Amelia belongs to him.
He’s chosen her…
He’s watched her…
He’s studied her…
He knows everything there is to learn about her…
And when the time is right she will reign his heart.

Fountain Pen 101: Anatomy of a Pen

Posted in Fountain Pens

Welcome back to Fountain Pen 101. Before I really dive into the meat of this series, I want to cover the basic anatomy of a fountain pen. I’m just going to cover the parts I’ll be discussing later. If you want an in-depth look at all of the parts, I suggest you check out this post on the Goulet Pen Co. blog.

Open fountain pen

Cap: This one’s easy. Most pens have a cap. Those that do, it’s important to keep them capped when not in use, so the nib doesn’t dry out. Some people like to post the cap when using their pen (like in the photo below), but not all pens are postable. It depends on the body.

Fountain pen with cap posted

Body/Barrel: Another easy one. The “official” term is barrel, but I doubt anyone would be confused if you call it the body. If you’re using a cartridge or converter pen, this is the part you unscrew to get to said cartridge or converter. Depending on the shaping of the body (if it’s tapered or not) you may or may not be able to post the cap.

Review – Damned

Posted in Book Blogger

Damned

by Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor

DamnedSeries: Magnus Blackwell, Book 1
Genres: Adult, Supernatural
Release Date: October 3, 2017
Pages: 426
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | KoboiBooks
My Rating: ★★★★☆

Over a hundred years after the death of Magnus Blackwell, Altmover Manor sits abandoned.

Lexie Arden and her fiancé, Will Bennet, are determined to rescue the neglected Mount Desert Island landmark. They want to make Altmover Manor their home. But Magnus has other plans.

A spirit bound to his former residence, Magnus finds himself inexplicably drawn to the young woman. She has a supernatural gift; a gift Magnus wants to exploit.

As Lexie and Will settle in, secrets from Magnus’s past begin to surface. Compelled to learn all she can about the former owner, Lexie becomes immersed in a world of voodoo, curses, and the whereabouts of a mysterious dragon cane.

Magnus’s crimes won’t be so easily forgotten, and what Lexie unearths is going to change the future … for everyone.

Review – The Friend Request

Posted in Book Blogger

The Friend Request

by Charles Soto

Genres: Romance
Release Date: February 4, 2015
Pages: 314
Purchase from: Amazon
My Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Chase has it all. Owner of a successful business, social standing and respect, killer looks and not the fiancé of any man’s fantasy. His life is in control, just the way he planned; but everything is not as it appears. His brother, also his business partner and closest friend, is angrily rejected when he attempts to tell Chase the Truth. As Chase blindly races toward an empty future based on lies and deceit, his brother makes the dangerous decision to protect him.

Carly, a single and struggling mom, has always sacrificed personal happiness in an effort to protect her son. Lonely and stuck in a dead-end job, her life revolves around her special needs child; until the abusive father threatens to take him. Carly decides to take a chance on life and accept a friend request from her high school sweetheart. Can she let down her defenses and open her heart, or will the past cloud her future? Will a simple Facebook friend request bring Chase and Carly the happiness they so desperately desire, or will secrets from their past threaten to keep them apart … forever.

Cover Reveal – Uncovering Lily

Posted in Book Blogger

Uncovering Lily

by Rene Webb

Uncovering Lily

Series: MacKay International, Book 1
Genres: Erotica, Romance, Suspense
Release Date: June 7th 2018
Cover Design: 

Kidnapped.

Imprisoned.

Betrayed.

Virgin, Lily MacKay has been drugged, kidnapped and imprisoned in a Hong Kong brothel with no way of escaping. And she’s tried. Will the man she’s been given to for the night, be her worst nightmare or her rescuer?

Businessman, Xavier Finch was at the brothel to meet with a potential investor. He never intended to spend the night. When he sees Lily he instantly recognizes her, but she doesn’t remember him.

Now Xavier has only one night to make her his.

Are you ready to spend the night with Xavier?

Fountain Pen 101: Why Fountain Pens?

Posted in Fountain Pens

Welcome to my inaugural Fountain Pen 101 issue! I’ve had a handful of questions about fountain pens on my various social media accounts, so I thought it might be helpful (and fun) to provide an introduction series. This 101 series is intended to provide you with all of the information necessary to make your first (informed) fountain pen purchase and/or prepare you to use a fountain pen you’ve been gifted. Stay tuned for a 102 series that will guide you through this rabbit hole you’ve discovered.

Down the rabbit hole

I’ll be posting weekly on Fountain Pen Friday (yes, that’s a thing), but you might want to subscribe to avoid missing a post. Before I go any further, I’d like to take a moment to say this won’t be an objective, all-informative series. I’ll be including what I’ve learned so far in my 1.5(ish) year journey down the fountain pen rabbit hole, including some very subjective information/analysis.

I decided to start with the simplest question: why fountain pens? But before I answer that, I’d like to take a step back and address a larger question. Why write?

The benefits of writing vs. typing have been well-documented, and are easy-to-find. Writing improves memory/recall, sharpens critical thinking, and pen/pencil and paper are easier on the eyes than digital screens.

Now, imagine how much the benefits improve when you enjoy writing. Ballpoint/Rollerball/Gel pens have come a long way. The writing is smoother, there are more color choices, and the pens are prettier than they ever have been. But fountain pens give you a completely different experience that really brings joy to writing.

Benefits

So what are some of the real benefits to fountain pens? Keep in mind, this list is not exhaustive, it’s an overview of what I consider to be the biggest perks.