The Kingdom of Vosh by Jason C. Conly

Genre: Steampunk
Publisher: Jc Publishing
Source: I received an e-copy for review

Secrets have been formed in the dark corners of the kingdom. Change is in the air and whispers of new ideas and technologies have swept the land. Unfortunately, the King is old and simple and his daughter is concerned only with worldly possessions. A man by the name of Buul, a man long forgotten, has returned to pay a visit to the King on the King’s birthday. He has not come empty handed and will be the King’s undoing.

The King, in moments of panic and war, can trust no one with the protection of his daughter. He quickly decides to entrust her life with a creature most vile and uncommon and chains her to a Vork. He does not leave her empty handed though. His last gift to the Princess is an amulet with powers even he does not comprehend. The land’s only chance, the only one loyal to the King’s memory, is the daughter that cares nothing of the Kingdom of Vosh.

I am very conflicted about The Kingdom of Vosh. I did not love this story neither did I hate it.

I enjoyed the world Jason C. Conly has build. I would actualy like to see more of this world. I also enjoyed the story very much. The story comes with a spycholog, socilogic and political undertone, which which nice coincide with the story. He used a lot of different kind of characters and creatures which I always enjoy.

An udate...

Ok I know I have been absent lately, but I just have not been feeling like myself for the past few months. Unfortunately I had a little relapse with my depression. It has just been a tough year untill now (it's probably the 13) and I will be so happy ones this year is over.

At the moment I just take a day at a time. I am feeling much better and somewhat like myself again and this is getting better by the day. The problem is just that I am so tired that I mostly sleep when I am not at work.

However I have started reading again and I writing reviews so new posts will show up here again. And ofcourse I still have some giveaways that need winners and I will get to them soon.

I hope everything will be back to normal soon, but as I said I'll just take it day by day.

At the moment I am reading The Sentinal Wars series by Shannon K. Butcher and I am enjoying them a lot. I am currently half way through Running Scared. Now I just need to order the rest of the books in this series because I am affraid I am hooked. And it has been a long time since I felt that way about a series....

Apocalypse! Giveaway Blog Hop

Welcome to the Apocalypse! blog hop, hosted by Maya @ The Nocturnal Library, Heidi @ Rainy Day Ramblings and Christy @ Love of Books.

So what can you win? The winner can choose between a copy of Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson or Without Warning by John Birmingham.
Be sure to check back later this week to read my reviews of these books.

Slingshot by Matthew Dunn & giveaway

Genre: Thriller/Espionage

Series: Spycather #3

Publisher: William Morrow

Buy the book: Book Depository 

Source: I received an e-arc from the publisher

Master spy Will Cochrane must catch a missing Russian defector as well as one of Europe’s deadliest assassins in this action-packed follow-up to Sentinel, written by real life former field officer Matthew Dunn.

Will Cochrane monitors the nighttime streets of Gdansk, Poland—waiting for the appearance of a Russian defector, a man bearing a top secret document, who Will believes is about to step out of the cold and into the hands of Polish authorities. But suddenly everything goes sideways. The target shows up, but so does a team from Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) hell-bent on keeping the man from walking. Then, in a hail of crossfire, a van speeds into the melee and snatches the defector out from under them all. Everyone wants the man and the codes he carries—but now he’s gone and it’s up to Will and his CIA/MI6 team to find him before the Russians.

Will tracks both the missing Russian and his kidnappers, believing the defector has his own warped agenda. But soon it’s apparent that the real perpetrator could be someone much more powerful: a former East German Stasi officer who instigated a super-secret pact between Russian and US generals almost twenty years ago. An agreement, which if broken for any reason, was designed to unleash the world’s deadliest assassin.

Then Will learns that the Russians have tasked their own ‘spycatcher’—an agent just as ruthless and relentless as Will—to retrieve the document. Now Will knows that he faces two very clever and deadly adversaries, who will stop at nothing to achieve their aims.

I always van enjoy a good spy novel. For one reason it is ok to read them out of order in series. This is the third book in the series but it is not a problem in this case, but after reading Slingshot I will check out the other books in this series because I really liked this one.

Wicked Wildfire Read-a-thon

Lately I hardly can find the time to read. I am either working or sleeping and I am way behind on my reading. So when I heard of the Wicked Wildfire Read-a-Thon, hosted by April @ My Shelf Confessions, starting on the day of my vacation, I knew I had to join and try to catch up.

Since this is my vacation I am going to try and read 7 books this week, a book a day.

I will updat this post with the books that I read.

Update

Incarnate by Lawrence Weill

Genre: Psychological Thriller
Publisher: BlackWyrm Publishing
Buy the book: Amazon
Source: I received an ecopy from Tomorrow Comes Media

What should a woman do if she believes she is the mother of the second coming of Christ? This is the problem Lara Joyner faces when she comes to believe, through her visions, through the look on his face, through her cards, and through the thousands of hidden signs she sees in nature, that her son is Christ incarnate.Incarnate is driven by this woman’s character and readers struggle between wanting to sympathize and knowing she is deeply troubled. In the end, we discover how her delusion turns many worlds upside down, as well as how faith overpowers reason. The story follows Lara and her two sons as she pushes Dale to perform miracles and save humanity. Although obviously unable to do so, he goes through the motions to protect his little brother Louis. Told alternately from Lara’s perspective (in the present tense) and from the other principles in the story, the plot follows the trials brought on by Lara’s spiraling madness, her husband’s desperate search for his family, and the children’s bewilderment and fear.

Incarnate is about Lara, amother of two, who believes her oldest son is the second coming of Christ. Her delusion makes her push him into performing miracles. 

Guestpost Bill Blume + Giveaway

Taking Comfort in Ragnarök

Readers will embrace a sad ending. You need only look to how our favorite myths conclude to see it, and when it comes to the end of the world, you'll be hard-pressed to find a religion or mythology that can outdo the Norse.

The tale of Ragnarök delivers a climactic battle of heroes and villains. We're treated to sacrifice and conflict so great that victory isn't defined by who lives and dies, but by who lives a few heartbeats longer. In the struggle between the thunder god Thor and the massive sea serpent Jörmungandr, the former wins but lives only long enough to walk a mere nine steps more.

Ragnarök is a glorious, bloody end that brings definition to every other tale in the Norse Mythology. How many times are we offered stories of Loki's mischief and the monsters he spawned and left to think, "What if the other gods had put an end to him here? Would it prevent all that horror?" How much greater do those adventures become because of where it all concludes?

As a writer, one of the earliest lessons I took to heart was to know my story's end. When I start my stories armed with the knowledge of how they will finish, they are much easier to write. I recognize those important moments even as I write them. Sometimes I also see when an element to the story won't carry its weight and slash it within minutes of putting it on the page.

Spotlight Seasons of Death by M. Mitchell & G. Yeagle

In the fall of 1969 in the mountains of eastern Tennessee, a poor backwoods farmer and his wife were brutally shot and killed by four drunken hunters, along with their three dogs, horse and two fawns. The farmer’s two young sons managed to escape but were unable to identify the killers. Now decades later, the murders of the Pender family remain unsolved. In Townsend, Tennessee, in Blount County, someone has decided to take revenge. 

Find the book on Amazon

 It’s springtime in the Smokies and despite the four murders of the previous year, tourists from every corner of the country have made the journey to Townsend, Tennessee. The hiking trails are packed, the restaurants are jammed, and the campsites are full. Vacation season is in full swing in the peaceful side of the Smokies. But then… there is another murder.

Find the book on Amazon

Gary Yeagle was born and raised in Williamsport, Pa., the birthplace of Little League Baseball. He grew up living just down the street from the site of the very first Little League game, played in 1939.

He currently resides in Louisville, Kentucky, with his wife and four cats. He is the proud grandparent of three and is an active member of the Jeffersontown United Methodist Church. Gary is a Civil War buff, and enjoys swimming, spending time at the beach, model railroading, reading, and writing.

Originally from St. Louis, Marlene makes her home in Kentucky now. A mother and grandmother, Marlene has a wide range of interests including watercolor and oil painting, yet writing has always been her passion. That comes through loud and clear in her wonderful novels!

These novels reflect a genuine sincerity with very strong characters to which her readers can relate. To quote Marlene: “It took me a long time to start writing, but now I can’t stop. The stories just keep on coming.”

Guest Post William Dickerson + Excerpt No Alternative + Giveaway

A Thrilling Example of My Day as a Writer

7:15 am: I have what’s called a Zen Alarm Clock, which consists of a series of solitary chimes at pre-planned intervals.  It chimes once, softly, then again 3 ½ minutes later, then again about 2 minutes after that.  Again and again and again…each increment gets smaller until the body recognizes the sound and awakens naturally; or, at least in a more natural way than rousing suddenly to a shrieking alarm.  The one hiccup in my zen-awakening is that my dog, Duet, without fail, hears that first chime and proceeds to stomp on my head, rendering the remaining succession of chimes pointless.  I assume the creators of the Zen Alarm Clock had not accounted for canine bedfellows.

8:30 am: I consume breakfast – usually granola with almonds and sliced bananas.  Blueberries are sometimes substituted for the bananas, but not often.  Very large cup of coffee.

8:30 am - 11:30 am: I write as much as possible.  If I’m writing a novel, I don’t limit myself; I just keep going until I can’t go anymore.  If I’m writing a screenplay, I often limit myself to 5 pages a day.  That way, I know I’ll have a draft in 3 weeks.

11:30 am - 11:45 am: I pace around my apartment and eat some kind of snack, while pacing; it’s usually goldfish crackers or whatever salty, crunchy treat my wife has provided for my pacing-time.

Wallflower by Carolyn McCray

Genre: Thriller

Series: Harbinger Mystery Series

Publisher: Off Our Meds Multimedia 

Buy the book: Amazon

Source: I received an ecopy from the author

A vicious killer in on the loose. Can famed FBI profiler Kent Harbinger overcome his own mental instability to catch the mad man before he kills again? With all the twists and turns and shocking conclusion, Wallflower is the perfect sequel to Plain Jane: Brunette Beware.

No the blurb does not reveal a whole lot, I know, and I don't think I will let you know much more about the story. Why? Well If I have learned anything from reading Carolyn McCray's books it is you just need to read it.

The story starts off with action right away which had me on the edge of my seat right from the start. And fortunately that stayed that way throughout the story.

I love Kent, he is arrogant and bolt, but I am unable to hate him for it. Then there is his relationship with Nicole, who is quite the opposite from Kent, but they are so good together.

Carolyn McCray can come up with some of the most sick serial killers, it gives the story just that extra "creepy" factor which I love.

I thought that with Plain Jane (the first book in the series) Carolyn McCray surprised me with the ending, but I can tell you I did not see this one coming. There are lots of twist and turns in this story and the ending was a complete surprise. This with the high "creepy" factor this story has made for a very enjoyable story.

My rating: 4/5

Top Ten Tuesday #4

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by Tahleen @ The Broke and the Bookish.

This weeks feature:

Top Ten Books at the Top of my Spring TBR list! In no particular order.

Ready Player One by Ernest Clive

Science Fiction

I have read so many good reviews for this one I must see if they are right.

The Troupe By Robert Jackson Bennett   

Horror/Fantasy

This one has been sitting on the shelf for too long and since I just received American Elsewhere I think the time has come to start and read.

Interview Kari Lee Townsend + Giveaway

Today I welcome back Kari Lee Townsend back on the blog. Trouble in the Tarot, the third book in her Fortune Teller Mystery series will be out tomorrow. I love this series and I am very pleased to have her back on the blog.
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*Tell us in one sentence why we should read the Fortune Teller Series.

If you like a touch of humor, romance, quirky characters, a mysterious immortal cat and light paranormal books, then the Fortune Teller Mysteries are sure to be your cup of tea :-)

*Why did you decide to write Paranormal Cozy Mysteries?

I love anything paranormal. It has always fascinated me. I once had my tea leaves read, as well as my palm and a past life reading. All were uncanny in their accuracy. I figured I would be researching the various fortune-telling tools anyways, so why not share what I learned with my readers. It's so much fun writing about something I'm passionate about.

Back from the Dead by Peter Leonard

Genre: Thriller
Series: Harry Levin #2
Publisher: The Story Plant
Buy the book: Book Depository
Source: I received an ecopy from the publisher

Bahamas, 1971. Ernst Hess, missing and presumed dead, regains consciousness to find himself stuck in a hospital bed on a strange ward in a foreign country. He must do what he needs to do to get his life back and to finish the job he has been doing for decades.
Harry believes he has already stopped Hess. When he finds out that the war criminal has somehow survived, Harry must do the only thing he can do - kill Hess again - even if it means crossing continents and putting his life and the lives of those that matter to him on the line.

*This review contains spoiler from the first book Voices of the Dead*

I was not expecting a sequel to Voices of the dead so I was quite surprised when I got the review request, don't get me wrong it was a very pleasant surprise. 

Excerpt - Between Dark and Light by D.A. Adams

Chapter 3 

The Life That Should Have Been 

In the faint light of dawn, Crushaw squatted and drew a crude map in the dirt near the gate to Kwarck’s farm, outlining the western mountains, the Mother of Ice, and the plains. Then, he marked where he wanted the ogres to set their defenses, several miles south of their border within the lands of Rugraknere. From traveling those lands with Roskin, he remembered an expansive field north of the last town they had stopped in that would serve perfectly. Across from him, Vishghu and Kwarck quietly watched, each staring intently at his scheme. 

Carpathia by Matt Forbeck

Genre: Horror

Publisher: Angry Robot Books

Buy the book: Book Depository 

Source: I bought a copy

It's Titanic meets 30 Days of Night.

When the survivors of the Titanic are picked up by the passenger steamship Carpathia, they thought their problems were over.

But something's sleeping in the darkest recesses of the ship. Something old. Something hungry.

File Under: Fantasy [ Bump In The Night | Unthinkable | Rescue Remedy | 1912 Overture ]

After the Titanic hits the iceberg you think the survivors have left the worst part behind them, being rescues by the Carpthia, but there is something lurking in the shadows of the Carpathia and it is getting tired of hiding.

Top Ten Tuesday #3

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by Tahleen @ The Broke and the Bookish.

This weeks feature.

Top Ten Authors that are on my Auto-Buy List.

10. J. K. Rowling

9. Dean Koontz

8. Harlan Coben

7. Karin Slaughter

6. Peter Leonard

5. Kay Hooper

4. John Green

3. Chris Carter

2. Jim Butcher

1. Krisi Keley

This is my Top Ten list of authors I have on my Auto-Buy List. I love the way they tell their stories and the worlds they have created. I don't even have to think twice if I want to buy a new book that comes out from these authors. 

Corpse in the Crystal Ball by Kari Lee Townsend

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: A Fortune Teller Mystery series #2

Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime

Buy the book: Book Depository

Source: I received a copy from the publisher

Psychic Sunshine Meadows makes a dark discovery in the woods… After clearing her name as the prime suspect in a murder, Sunny Meadows hopes she can finally enjoy some serenity in the idyllic town of Divinity in upstate New York. She’d also like a second chance with Detective Mitch Stone. But when Mitch’s gorgeous ex-girlfriend Isabel Gonzales shows up, Sunny’s not sure she can compete. Then Isabel mysteriously disappears. When the police turn to Sunny for help, her visions lead to the discovery of Isabel’s corpse in the woods. Before she died, Isabel scrawled a message in the dirt implicating Mitch in her murder. Now Sunny must help the man she’s falling in love with as she sets out to find the real killer. But this time Sunny’s clairvoyant abilities might not save her—as what she doesn’t see can hurt her…

I really enjoyed reading Corpse in the Crystal Ball, it is a very fun and fast read. It had me giggling at times and even made me laugh out loud a few times. 

Now Sunny has cleared her name and trying to settle into her new life in Divinity she gets a little surprise. Her parents send Granny Gert to her house to check up on her. But Granny Gert is not the only new person in Divinity. 

Guest Post David Brown

Today I welcome David Brown to the blog. He wrote a guest post in which he shares the birth of Elenchera.

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Birth of a New World

When I left school and headed for college to study English, History and Computing, I never envisaged creating a new world while I was there. Growing up I had always enjoyed fantasy. Films such as The Neverending Story, Legend, Willow, The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth never ceased to enthral me and even today those films stand up as true escapism pieces.

In 1998 I spent my free time from studies on my brother’s Playstation. I used to just play whatever games he had but then I started branching out and trying some of my own. On a whim I bought the RPG Final Fantasy VII and it changed my life. It was my first experience of this series and after negotiating the opening few hours I was enjoying the game to an extent but then the story left the city of Midgard at the outset and took you into the wide world. I was blown away.

I eagerly snapped up Final Fantasy VIII when that came along and moving between the two games things slowly changed for me. This RPG series has gods that your characters can summon to aid them in battle. The creators have drawn on gods from world mythologies, such as Shiva and Quetzalcoatl, and I was fascinated to learn more about them. One god – Odin – led me down the path of Norse mythology. I read extensively, taking in such works as Sturlusson’s The Prose Edda. From there I embraced the Icelandic sagas and even read Beowulf. After a few months of Final Fantasy and Norse mythology, I had drawn a world map that became Elenchera.

Shadow of Time by Jen Minkman

Genre: Paranormal Romance

buy the book: Amazon | Amazon Kindle

Find the author: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Source: I received an ecopy from the author

All Hannah needs is a nice and quiet vacation after her first year of teaching French at a high school. She joins her brother Ben for the summer in their mom’s log cabin in Arizona. There, she meets Josh again, Ben’s childhood friend from the Navajo reservation. The little boy from the rez has grown up fast, and Hannah can’t help but feeling more for him than just friendship. 
But fate apparently has something else in store for her. And it’s not peace and quiet. Night after night, Hannah is plagued by strange nightmares about the past of Navajo Nation and terrifying shadows chasing her. They seem to come closer – and why is Josh always present in her dreams? 
Sometimes, the past has a way of catching up with you.

With Shadow of Time Jen Minkman has written an amazing and original love story. Shadow of Time is a very good read and I enjoyed every minute of it. 

Top Ten Tuesday #2

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by Tahleen @ The Broke and the Bookish.

This weeks feature:

Top Ten Books I Resolve To Read In 2013

Yes I am going to try this again. I failed miserably last year when it came to read the books I really wanted to read because I read none. So I got a new list of the books I want to read this year in no particular order.

10) Feed and Deadline by Mira Grant - I still have not started reading this one *hangs head in shame*

9) Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn - I have heard very good things about this one so I really look forward to reading it.

Happy 2013!

Happy 2013 everyone!!!! I hope 2013 will bring you nothing but good things 

and some really amazing books.

So just to do a quick look what 2012 brought me was not so good. Thanks to a depression I did not meet any reading goal I set for myself....I failed them miserably to be honost.

For 2013 I am only going to challenge myself to read 75 books. No other reading challenges this year.

However I did however meet some amazing new authors last year! And read some amazing books.

I also got ome new followers and have reached over 200 followers this year *jeej* so thank you to all my followers. I feel a follower giveaway coming soon!

I can not wait to see what 2013 will bring!

Later today I will mention the books I am really looking forward to reading this year. And later this week I will tell you about the books I am looking forward to that are coming out this year.