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I’ve decided today is Tuesday – so no Monday worries here. It’s totally Tuesday. All Day. Tomorrow…well we’ll do a repeat of Tuesday – All Groundhog Day/Bill Murray style. :)
Monday Morning Cuteness!
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I’ve decided today is Tuesday – so no Monday worries here. It’s totally Tuesday. All Day. Tomorrow…well we’ll do a repeat of Tuesday – All Groundhog Day/Bill Murray style. :)
A Little Honesty
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So if you are a regular visitor to Cheeky Reads you might have noticed that I haven't posted any reviews in the past week or so and that most of my posts have been giveaways or guest posts. There's a reason for that and I thought it only fair to be honest with my readers. I've been kinda down in the dumps lately. It didn't feel right to write reviews for books when I knew my dumpy attitude might have a negative impact on what I would say. I also stopped reading review books during this time. Again, I didn't want my mood to creep into my feelings about a book.
Now, I think there is an interesting side point in this. That is, that it's important to remember that every reader brings their mood, experiences, attitude, etc to the reading of a book. So no matter when I read something, it will always be regarded through the lens of all those things. These are things every reviewer and reader brings to a book. But, this time I knew that my circumstances would affect my reading and reviewing more so than ever before and wanted to be fair to those books and authors.
I'm still not feeling as cheerful as my normal self, which I have to say is usually pretty darn chipper. I do suddenly sense the black cloud lifting and can feel the need to find something awesome to read. That lets me know I can do a book justice again. So, I'm happy to say I'm back to reading and you'll start seeing reviews here again very soon along with great giveaways and guest authors.
Thanks for sticking with me and for allowing me a place to express my love of books. My followers kick ass and I always love to hear from you.
So, what do you do when you are feeling a little blah? Is there something that always cheers you up or helps chase away sadness? I could use the help!
New: Hand Over the Books Giveaway Newsletter!
Terry Kate from Romance in the Backseat is asking readers what they really want from blog giveaways. Head over and let her know – I’ll be keeping my eyes on that post to help with giveaways here as well! Here’s the link.
AWESOME NEW E-NEWSLETTER!
Also, I’m super excited to announce that I’m joining with a group of fellow book bloggers to create a special e-newsletter for readers called “Hand Over the Books.” It’s about all the awesome giveaways out there in blogland. Each blog will be listing their giveaways in the newsletter so you’ll have advance notice of where to go to win big!
To sign up for the HAND OVER THE BOOKS e-newsletter, click here.
Giveaway Winner!!! EMBERS by Laura Bickle
As selected by Random.org, the winner of a copy of EMBERS by Laura Bickle is...
Kimberly B.
Email me your address at cheekyreads @ gmail.com (no spaces) and I'll give Laura your contact info.
Happy Reading!
Welcome Guest Author Laura Bickle – EMBERS: A VERY New Take on the Goddess of Love Myth
Take it away Laura!
I've always loved reading about powerful heroines, women who are in charge of their own story. I grew up reading Robin McKinley's heroines, like Aerin in THE HERO AND THE CROWN, who slew their own dragons. I was even sympathetic to the legend of Medusa - in my eyes, she was a tragic figure who turned all her lovers to stone. Myths are rich in stories of women who have attempted to balance power and love. I quickly learned that writing a powerful heroine is a whole different kettle of fish than reading about one.
One of the myths I was drawn to was the myth of Ishtar. Ishtar is the Babylonian goddess of love, war, and sex. Her love was known to be fatal. In the Epic of Giglamesh, Giglamesh tells her:
“Listen to me while I tell the tale of your lovers. There was Tammuz, the lover of your youth, for him you decreed wailing, year after year. You loved the many-coloured roller, but still you struck and broke his wing… You have loved the lion tremendous in strength: seven pits you dug for him, and seven. You have loved the stallion magnificent in battle, and for him you decreed the whip and spur and a thong... You have loved the shepherd of the flock; he made meal-cake for you day after day, he killed kids for your sake. You struck and turned him into a wolf; now his own herd-boys chase him away, his own hounds worry his flanks."
One of the most famous myths about Ishtar involves her descent to the Underworld, in pursuit of the soul a lost lover. She descends through the gates of hell, shedding her weapons and clothing as offerings, until she reaches Ereshkigel, Queen of the Underworld. Ereshkigel poisons Ishtar, dooming her to the Underworld. She can only be freed if someone will take her place.
Ishtar returns to the surface of the earth, in the company of demons, to find someone to take her place. She finds that her husband, Tammuz, has not mourned her. In a fit of rage, she sends him back to the underworld in her place, with the demons.
The myth fascinated me, the idea of a mythic heroine who was a love goddess, who could also be so ruthless. She wasn't like any of the other love goddesses I'd studied. Ishtar didn't recline prettily on a fainting couch, twirling her hair and awaiting her destiny; she picked up her sword and fought for who and what she wanted. I was eager to recast a bit of her in a modern image.
“You have the eyes of Ishtar.”
This is what the heroine, Anya, of EMBERS, is told. She doesn’t want to believe it. She’s got enough on her plate: by day, she’s an arson investigator on the trail of a serial firebug. By night, she works with a group of ghost hunters as a Lantern, a medium capable of seeing and devouring spirits. Anya’s responsible for keeping her fire salamander familiar, Sparky, from chewing on electrical cords. And she’s confused by her feelings for a fellow ghost-hunter, Brian, attempting to keep her distance.
A serial arsonist, Drake, tells Anya that she has the Babylonian goddess’s terrible gaze. He should know -- he’s a fellow Lantern, the only other one she’s encountered. And he tells her that she has much more than Ishtar’s gaze…
A character patterned after the Ishtar archetype was a challenging one to write. She’s not the usual heroine who always makes the morally-correct choices. She has a dark side, and she must struggle with it. She’s somber, angry, and is confused about her feelings. Though she’s emotionally armored, she’s very human. She loves, and aches to be a part of something larger than herself. But she’s an outsider: she’s apart from the world of humans, and even the ghost-hunters don’t fully trust her powers. Like many of us, she wants to be understood. And the only person who fully knows what she is, what she’s capable of, is another Lantern: Drake, the man determined to burn a city to the ground.
As Ishtar did long ago, Anya finds herself in the company of demons. While attempting an exorcism, Anya absorbs an ancient Babylonian demon, who works to possess Anya. The demon manages to gain a toehold in Anya’s own darker impulses, driving her into the arms of evil.
Like Ishtar, Anya must surface from the Underworld victorious, rescuing the souls she’s descended to rescue. And she must decide which sacrifices to make, who will remain in the Underworld behind her.
Anya is more human than Ishtar. She's reluctant to use her power, and tangled in her own feelings of guilt. But, still, she has some of the imprint of Ishtar upon her, the desire and the power to act on it. I think that there's something inherently interesting about how people deal with power and love that gives them a story, something to struggle against.
Check out more about Laura and EMBERS at these links:
Blog: www.salamanderstales.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/laurabickle
Link to the first chapter of EMBERS : http://www.juno-books.com/embers-excerpt.html
Laura has graciously offered a copy of EMBERS to one of our U.S. readers today! Tell us, Do you like your heroines powerful? Love the characters who struggle with the the underworld? Is there another myth you love seeing rewritten into modern stories? Tell us and enter to win!
Whispered Lies Winner!
As picked by random.org, the winner of Whispered Lies by Sherrilyn Kenyon & Dianna Love is…Comment # 3 – Stacey Stew!
Email me your address at cheekyreads @ gmail.com (no spaces) and I’ll send your information to the publisher.
If you didn’t win, be sure to check out Silent Truth, the latest BAD Agency release from Kenyon & Love next week!
Casting BAD: Who should play your fav BAD men? Tell us & Win a copy of Whispered Lies!
Now, over on Sherrilyn’s website, she has character profiles and photos of the BAD characters. Did her hero pics do it for you, or did you picture those heroes a little differently? Who would you like to see instead? Tell us your dream BAD Men or share a photo and you’ll be entered to win a copy of Whispered Lies!
*Sorry, contest open to US residents only. Winner will be selected 4/14/10 by 5pm.
Not familiar with the BAD Agency yet? Here’s a snippet about Whispered Lies…
In the suspenseful thriller from New York Times bestselling coauthors Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love, a Bureau of American Defense agent and an irresistible informant join forces to thwart a deadly global conspiracy. . . .
Gabrielle Saxe has hidden from a killer for the past decade, sending anonymous tips on international criminals to intelligence agencies around the world. When a postcard arrives from a friend who is supposed to be dead, she takes a risk that catapults her into the midst of dangerous operatives on a treacherous mission—and into the arms of Bureau of American Defense operative Carlos Delgado. Dutybound to surrender her to Interpol as an international felon, Carlos is the last person Gabrielle should trust and the only one standing between her and death. But little does she know, she holds the key to his survival as well. . . .
To learn more about the Authors and to Watch the Trailer click on the link (http://books.simonandschuster.com/Whispered-Lies/Sherrilyn-Kenyon/9781439169940) or visit SimonandSchuster.com!
Make sure you catch up with Whispered Lies before the latest BAD Agency release, Silent Truth , comes out next week!
Monday Morning Cuteness!
Happy Monday! I had a fantastic birthday weekend and am now trying to recuperate. :)
I have some fun stuff coming up this week – tomorrow we have a special surprise giveaway, and on Thursday we have author Laura Bickle guest posting about her latest release EMBERS and she’s hosting a giveaway!
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Birthday Weekend
It's my birthday today and I'm traveling to NYC for the weekend, so I don't have a post ready for you. Hoping to have some cool news when I get back and will work on some reviews for you while I'm traveling.
Have a great weekend and happy reading!
Have a great weekend and happy reading!
Dee Tenorio Winner!
As chosen by random.org, the winner of their choice of a backlist ebook from Dee Tenorio is...
Comment #10 - Armenia
Congrats! Head over to Dee's website here, and chose one of her backlist titles. Sorry, that doens't include All of You, but does include other kick-ass titles. Then email me your choice at cheekyreads @ gmail.com (no spaces) and Dee will get your ebook out to you.
Comment #10 - Armenia
Congrats! Head over to Dee's website here, and chose one of her backlist titles. Sorry, that doens't include All of You, but does include other kick-ass titles. Then email me your choice at cheekyreads @ gmail.com (no spaces) and Dee will get your ebook out to you.
Welcome Guest Author Dee Tenorio & GIVEAWAY
Welcome Dee!
They Call Me...The Twin Whisperer
Actually, no one calls me that, but really, I wish they would. I'm getting tired of yelling, whispering once in a while would be nice.
Now, if you haven't met me before, my name is Dee. I'm a writer. I married a twin. I gave birth to twins. And I am now beginning my second series about twins, The Lonnigans. In fact, the first book, "All Of You", is out today from Samhain Publishing! Which is why I'm here today. Because if you've never known a twin...you might not realize what you could be getting into when you pick up this series. These Lonnigans aren't your regular Romance twins. But I'll get to that...
See, in my many years of twin experience, I've learned quite a few things about these unique sets of people, and I like to try to set the stereotypes back a little in my writing--thus those amazing Lonnigan differences--but I thought, hey, why not share a little of the knowledge? Help people do a little twin-whispering of their own.
So here it is, Dee's Five Facts About Twins Most People Get Wrong:
1) They are two separate people. I know, it's kind of obvious, but you'd be surprised how often folks think twins are interchangeable. They might often have moments of startling similarity in motion, tone and tastes, but believe me, they have such individual quirks and personality differences that if they had a different face, you'd never mistake them for members of a collective. So, if you know someone who's married to a twin, don't ask her if she ever gets confused. She doesn't. In fact, just the thought probably makes her gag. (I know it does me...no offense, BIL)
2) Not all twins are polar opposites. I see this a lot in romance and it kind of cracks me up. I'm sure there are night & day twins, but honestly, most siblings will share at least some common interests. Take my husband, for example. All of his siblings--including the twin--love Japanese animation and a deep love of movies. Blending likes and not-likes is a big miss when it comes to representing twins realistically.
3) Fraternal Twins are still twins. Honest, my next set of fictional twins are going to be fraternal, lol. Just to mess with people. My own twins are identical, but due to a really difficult birth, I had one baby natural and one baby c-section. (Yes, the suckage of that is epic). As a result, "Natural" baby has a different head and face shape from C-Section baby, giving people the idea they're fraternal. (Nope, they're not--they still confuse me from time to time, I rely on that slight difference to tell them apart) So, I hear a lot, "Oh, then they're not real twins." Ask their mother, they're twins. And they have a great many of the same similarities as Identicals. In fact, I may come up with a story just to explore that further. It's not the faces that make them twins. It's the togetherness.
4) Not all twins are psychic. You know, unless they're actually psychic. Granted, some kooky alikeness things happen (hubby and his twin tended to wear the same colors, though they woke and dressed in different places and times), but they're not open ended walkie-talkies. (Though, that would really come in handy.) The same can be said of very close regular siblings.
5) Raising twins isn't the same as having two kids, one right after another. It's not. Twin babies are on the run about 20 hours a day and they are at the same level of understanding and needs. If you've ever met a nine month old, you'll know he's already trying to walk and is sitting up and is on some kind of schedule. Not saying it's easy, but believe me, a kid who can sit and hold a bottle while the other gets nursed is a godsend in comparison to two--often smaller and premie, to boot--babies who need 24 hour care. So, if you ever get the urge to tell a twin parent that you know how they feel--which is run over and trampled and probably cranky--step away from the thought. Just offer the poor parent something to wake them up. They need it.
So what is it that makes these two romance heroes so unique? Well, I like to think they're a bit more real. They're close, but they also show a bit of the frustration that comes from knowing someone since conception. (You know, you love him, but you'd also like to choke him a little) The twin bond is a real thing, but for most twins, it's a love bond. A friend bond. And while there is something magical and mystical about that kind of connection, for most twin folks, it's just part of every day. And I wanted to bring you into that every day world as best I could.
Oh, and if I didn't mention, Lucas--the twin in the second Lonnigan novel, "All Or Nothing" (out in July!)--has his story running at exactly the same time! (Okay, so I got a little twinny there. Can you forgive me?)
So, just to make this fun, how about you all take part in my giveaway for today?
Head on over to my Website and check out the upcoming books section. See if you can find the names of both heroines for the Lonnigan series from the book blurbs and excerpts. Post the names here in the comments and you're entered to win a free ebook of your choice from any of my backlist! (Sorry, All Of You doesn't count. :) )
Dee
More Triple Threat: Team Jacob Contest @ Romance In the Backseat
If you weren't lucky enough to win my Triple Threat Giveaway from Friday, here's another Triple Threat Contest for you. Head over to the Romance In The Backseat Blog and enter to win!
Calling Team Jacob and Twilight fans. Pick your favorite pic of Taylor and enter to win a free book from Romance in the Backseat. http://ritbs.blogspot.com/2010/04/sexy-sunday-team-jacob-
Calling Team Jacob and Twilight fans. Pick your favorite pic of Taylor and enter to win a free book from Romance in the Backseat. http://ritbs.blogspot.com/2010/04/sexy-sunday-team-jacob-
Guest Book Review: Beautiful People by Wendy Holden - 1 Heart Review
By: Wendy Holden
Sourcebooks Landmark
1 Heart Review from Guest Reviewer Lisa
Darcy’s a struggling English rose actress when The Call comes from L.A. An Oscar-tastic director. A movie to make her famous. The hunkiest costar in Hollywood. So why doesn’t she want to go?
Belle’s a size-zero film star but she’s in big, fat trouble. Hotter than earth’s core a year ago, she’s now Tinseltown toast after her last film bombed. Can she get back to the big time?
Emma’s a down-to-earth, down-on-her-luck nanny trying to weather London’s cutthroat childcare scene and celebrity mom whirlwinds. What will it take for her to get back in control of her own life?
Jet to London, Hollywood and Italy; toss in a passionate star chef, a kind-hearted, disillusioned paparazzo, and a reluctant male supermodel and find [author] Wendy Holden at her best.
This back-cover description pretty much covers it all. The story doesn’t go much deeper than this and you can probably guess the answers to those questions.
Holden weaves a story in which each of her many characters cross-paths and get unexpectedly involved in each others lives’. The problem is there is nothing unexpected about the plot for the reader. It’s highly clichéd and full of stereotyped characters.
There is Orlando, the teenager who was once awkward and pimply, but almost overnight turns into the hottest guy at his school. The popular girls want to get at him, but so does a talent scout for a modeling agency who thinks she’s found the next big “face”. Along with Emma and Darcy, he is one of the “pure” souls who get sucked into the lives of the beautiful people.
In contrast, we meet Belle, the silicone-enhanced Hollywood starlet, and Christian, the actor trying to climb to the top one bed at a time. These two will do anything in their pursuit of fame and fortune. Predictably (to the fictional world in which she lives and to the reader), Belle even finds herself adopting an African orphan to get back in the headlines.
There are too many other characters to introduce in this review. I got the feeling that even the author had trouble managing her cast. The character we meet in the first chapter disappears almost entirely until the middle of the book. That’s about where I stopped reading. Up to that point the characters and plot were so empty I didn’t care to find out what happens to them next. Don’t waste your time with this one.
HUGE thanks to Terry at Romance In The Backseat who created The Triple Threat.
Now, for the most important part ~ the winner of a paranormal gift basket as selected by random.org is…
Comment #14 – HELLION!
Drop me an email at cheekyreads @ gmail.com (without the spaces) with your mailing address so I can send you your goodies! Congrats!
Discussion & Giveaway: What is it about Twilight that Grown Women Love?
Two authors have joined me today to give their take on the subject, and I can't wait to hear what you think about thier opinions. Do you agree or not, and are you a lover or a hater of the Twilight phenom?
Share your thoughts and enter to win a surprise book basket!
Guest Author Jo Lynne Valerie's Take:
Twilight, the first novel in the YA series by Stephenie Meyer, was an immediate hit with tweens and teens. There are cute guys, vampires, werewolves, pretty girls and there is angst. A winning recipe! But the book proved its marketability to a broad audience when adults and parents of all ages, fell in love with Twilight, too.
I think I know why. There are powerful themes in Twilight. Edward, the hero, is a vampire with a heart. Bella, the heroine, is an opinionated if slightly awkward teen. The pair fall in love. Due to Edward's vampire nature, that love is forbidden. But forbidden love only scratches the surface of what develops between Edward and Bella. As a whole, Twilight is infused with big, booming life-themes. (Let's get this out of the way: Edward is dreamy. That said, eyes on the themes here, people, eyes on the themes!)
Edward belongs to the Cullen family, a group of vampires living together as vegetarians, by choice. This is a big deal; it means they feed off of animals, not humans. The Cullens also strongly appreciate the arts: cooking, music, reading, the masters. These choices help the Cullens maintain their humanity. Come to think of it, who doesn't struggle to stay in touch with who we are? We all work hard not to lose sight of ourselves and what we love.
Last, we come to Edward and Bella, the characters readers and viewers fell in love with. Or did we fall in love with the passion they share? Edward loves Bella completely. He can literally feel Bella's needs and he responds to them with urgency. Bella aches for Edward so much that she is willing to change her entire world and risk her life just to be with him. We all want that. We all want that crazy, can't sleep, over-the-top, I have to be with you, can't keep my hands off of you, kind of love.
All of these elements and themes combined form a heady mix. No wonder we love Twilight!
Check out Jo Lynne's website at www.JoLynneValerie.com and her author blog at www.JoLynneValerie.blogspot.com
Guest Author Pembroke Sinclair's Take:
Adult women are so drawn to Twilight because, like romance, it represents escape. When they read or watch this story, they don’t have to worry about the kids or bills or husbands or jobs or day to day routines; they can get lost in the moment. Women are traditionally viewed as caregivers. Society expects them to take care of their friends, kids, families, etc., but Twilight and romance novels give them the chance to be taken care of. It is alluring and flattering that Edward makes it his mission to ensure Bella’s safety.
The looks of the leading men in the movie might have something to do with the attraction, but since I don’t really find them attractive, I don’t know how major a role that plays. Really, I think it has to do with an ideal. Most women were probably awkward and gawky in high school with low self esteem and a poor body image (remember I said MOST, not all), and Edward represents the unattainable male: the popular, mysterious, rich guy everyone wanted. In real life, he would probably date the head cheerleader, but in this world, he falls for the geek. It’s every woman’s fantasy.
Visit Pembroke's blog at http://pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com/.
So readers, do you agree or disagree? Why do adult women love these books and movies so much? Is it all about the boys? Are you a women who has no interest in Twilight at all? Let's Discuss!
Leave us a comment and you'll be entered in a random drawing to win a paranormal themed book basket!
Sorry, but this giveway is limited to US residents only. I know that sucks, but hopefully soon I'll be able to open my contests up internationally.
The Friday Blog Hop!
It's Friday, so that means a great weekend ahead and the Friday Blog Hop!
The Blog Hop is a great place to go to find new book review blogs. Hosted by Crazy-For-Books, it happens every Friday and I always find some exciting new blog there. Head over to check it out!
Happy Reading!
Romance Book Review: Proof By Seduction by Courtney Milan – 4 Heart Review
By: Courtney Milan
HQN
4 Heart Review
She was his last chance for a future of happiness…
A gifted fortune-teller from a humble background, Jenny can make even the most sophisticated skeptic believe her predictions simply by batting her smoky eyelashes. Until she meets her match in Gareth Carhart, the Marquess of Blakely, a sworn bachelor and scientist.
He just didn't know it yet
Broodingly handsome, Gareth is scandalized to discover his cousin has fallen under the spell of "Madame Esmerelda," and vows to prove Jenny a fraud. But his unexpected attraction to the fiery enchantress defies logic. Jenny disrupts every facet of Gareth's calculated plan—until he can't decide whether to seduce her or ruin her. Now, as they engage in a passionate battle of wills, two lonely souls must choose between everything they know…and the boundless possibilities of love.
First of all, I’m hugely behind in posting this review but didn’t want to not share my thoughts. If you’re like me, you don’t always rush out to buy new authors so maybe you’re still deciding on this one or somehow hadn’t heard about it yet.
This debut book by Courtney Milan was exciting to read since it introduced a wonderful new historical writer that should provide us with many quality romances in the coming years.
One reason I really enjoyed the book, was the intricate way that Courtney developed her hero. For the first fourth of the book, I was engrossed in the story but not really sure this hero could find redemption. It would take a lot for him to become worthy of Jessica. The story unfolded with Blakely slowing growing in this reader's esteem into Gareth – following the same development that Gareth goes through to find himself and the love he feels for Jenny.
The insight Courtney provides into each character's thoughts and actions make for a rich and balanced story that feels ripe with emotion. From Jenny to Gareth and even to Ned and Laura, Courtney provided deep descriptions of their motivations and insecurities. This made for a very rich story that wrapped me up in the world Courtney created.
I honestly didn’t find anything about this book that struck me as out of place or something I didn’t like. It’s a well-written and plotted book whose characters I grew to love. Maybe that’s what held it back from being a 5 Heart Review for me – I had to grow to love the Hero and that might have made the first part of the book not as engrossing to me as the second half. The hero was prefect before the end of the book, but it was harder to cheer for him in the beginning. I liked the way Gareth develops, but it did keep me from being as drawn into the story at first.
For fans of historical romance, or those who are looking for a great historical to try, I highly recommend Proof By Seduction. There is so much to like about this book, and so little I can say of negatives!
Purchase Proof by Seduction From Amazon Here
Happy Reading!
Guest Post @ Bria Quinlan's Blog - Real Life Job Description
I'm honored to be a guest at Bria Quinlan's blog today! She asked me to do a guest post about my "real life" job description. Based on some of the past guests, I had a tough act to follow. I LOVED Danielle's Bossy Wench post.
So what is my Real Life Job Description? TREASURE HUNTER!
Head on over to the Bria's blog if you want to check it out. :)
So what is my Real Life Job Description? TREASURE HUNTER!
Head on over to the Bria's blog if you want to check it out. :)
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