Thursday 31 January 2013

Enigma Black - Sara Furlong Burr

Enigma Black (Enigma Black, #1)Description
When she was just seventeen, the course of Celaine Stevens' life was permanently altered with the murders of her father, mother, and brother in one of a series of mysterious and violent explosions occurring across the country. Struggling with picking up the pieces, she's haunted by the memory of that day and her promise of retribution against those responsible for her misery. But just as she seems to be getting her life back on track, an encounter with a mysterious stranger promises her the vengeance she desires, ultimately turning the former target into the assassin.

However, as she soon learns, all choices come with consequences. And the consequence of her choice threatens to destroy the very fabric of her being.


My Opinion
All I can say is wow! This book surpassed all of my expectations and kept me hooked from beginning to end and I'm glad I received the professionally edited copy so I could read it without any trouble. This book is faced paced, action packed and took me on an emotional ride.

I loved Celiane, she had a dry sarcastic sense of humor which I adored and made me laugh on occasions  She was also strong willed and determined but Sara cleverly interwove moments of vulnerability to create an engaging character that I could sympathise with. Also because of this vulnerability it justified her actions, which created a solid and strong story line. As well as this the two guys, Chase and Blake were total opposites. Chase being the sweet, caring, shoulder to cry on and Blake the partner who has had his emotions drilled out of him. These two really played with my emotions through out the book as their relationships with Celiane changed but I loved the difference in personality as it made it all the more interesting to read.

In Enigma Black the action is constructed incredibly well, it is fast paced but filled with loads of detail that leaves everything easy to imagine and visualise. I loved it when Celaine turned into her cold 'super hero' version of herself and the confrontations with The Man in Black were brilliant. The start did confuse me slightly as it is written from multiple POV but that was down to the fact we hadn't been introduced to everyone. After that I had no trouble and towards the end I had the moment of "Oh I get the beginning now" which was great as it linked nicely. 

The only bad thing I have to say about this book is the cliff hanger ending! It definitely leaves you wanting to know more and I don't know if I can wait too long to find out what happens next. Overall this book is an engaging, action packed story that will take you on an emotional ride and keep you hooked all the way to the end. I would highly recommend this to anyone and I am eagerly awaiting the next installment!


Wednesday 30 January 2013

Book Spotlight - Viviana by Georg Freese

Viviana

Description
Viviana loves her man Bartolomeo, who does not love her as much any more. This tense tale of love and blood takes place in 18th century Venice, where Viviana and Bartolomeo dwell in a mansion with their five brethren; their coven of Vampires. As Bartolomeo's mistress, Viviana presides over the coven, but when a new girl, Nicoletta, joins the family and begins to challenge her, Viviana finds herself fighting both to assert her place and to regain Bartolomeo's love.

Genre: Vampire/Gothic/Romance



Links: http://www.vivianabook.blogspot.com/

Georg FreeseAbout the Author
Georg Freese has lived in Europe, South America and the United States, observing and learning from different cultures and peoples. His narrative is intimate and brazen, compelling readers with dangerous storylines.

History and Fantasy are his main inspirations, though the themes of his works, albeit set in ancient lands or mystic realms, always pertain to human nature and the force of circumstances, honoring the old proverb, "adversity reveals the true character of an individual.




Tuesday 29 January 2013

Teaser Tuesday (4)



This is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.
To participate you:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!



Revolver
This week's teaser comes from....


Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick


"nobody gets killed over iron mining, that's what my father says.' Sig had been trying to lift the tone , to see if Wolff was actually not as frightening as he seemed, nut he knew as soon as he uttered the words, they had been a mistake."


Look out for my review at some point.

Amazon Kindle
Amazon paperback

Monday 28 January 2013

Cover Reveal ~ Crimson Flames (The Crimson Series#2) by Ashley Robertson


Crimson Flames (The Crimson Series#2) by Ashley Robertson

Half-vampire Abby Tate is determined to learn more about the sorceress powers that were awakened inside her when she was turned into a vampire—making her a whole new hybrid species. There’s a group of rogue vamps banding together and forming a Resistance against the vampire governing body, The Head Council, and Abby’s newly discovered powers are the key to the Council’s victory. Now the Resistance will do anything possible to remove the hybrid threat, and with no other options, Abby is forced to rely on the aid of the Council, yet can she trust the very vampires that hunt for her human lover? And even worse, can she fight the unwelcome attraction that’s growing between her and one of those ancient vampire rulers?



Author Bio:
Ashley Robertson resides in sunny Orlando, Florida and loves reading and writing about everything urban fantasy and paranormal romance. When she isn’t writing you’ll find her spending time with family and friends, training in her home gym, traveling and exploring new places, drinking fine red wines, and making gourmet coffees with her Nespresso machine. Visit her website to learn about her upcoming releases, guest blog posts, and featured giveaways at:www.AshleyRobertsonBooks.com

Author Links:

Crimson Groves (The Crimson Series#1)  by Ashley Robertson

Abigail Tate was a normal human girl—until the day Bronx the vampire barges into her life and turns her against her will. Held captive while forced to deal with never-ending cravings for blood, Abby prays for a way to escape. Only when an opportunity arises, it’s with the aid of an innocent human named Tyler—except vampires are forbidden to interact with the unbitten. But Abby quickly learns this human has secrets of his own...secrets that can either help her or get her killed. Only Abby soon discovers that she is the one with the biggest secret of all.

Crimson Groves - Goodreads link
Crimson Groves- Amazon link


Chapter One Crimson Flames Sneak Peek 

The Deal

Sunday 27 January 2013

Book Spotlight - Death in the Glades by J.M Garlock

Death in the Glades

Description
Down in the Florida Everglades, rookie cop Karan Karew is an African-American veteran who fought in Iraq. She's a deputy sheriff down in Coral City but soon comes into conflict with racist deputy Freddie Gillespie and is suspended from the force. So she starts looking into Gillespie's transgressions - such as blackmail and gun running - and when her maid's son is kidnapped she also stumbles upon a murder squad operating in the normally serene city. The alligators are the least of her worries, but fortunately she has her attack-trained Rottweiler on her side.


Link:  http://www.actionmysteries.com




About the Author
J.M. Garlock began his career by writing more than 40 Gothic and Victorian romance novels for small, independent publishers. He has written extensively about reptiles and amphibians for many national publications including Reptile Magazine, The Florida Naturalist, Florida Currents, Reptile and Amphibian Hobbyist and Wildland Firefighter. His photographs of alligators, crocodiles and venomous snakes accompanied the articles. For The Artilleryman he wrote a series of articles on 18th and 19th Century seacoast fortifications from New York to the Dry Tortugas, Florida. His interests include film noir and Formula 1 racing.

Find him of Book Blogs, Facebook and LinkIN


Saturday 26 January 2013

Book Spotlight - The Black Conspiracy by Ken Magee

The Black ConspiracyThe Black Conspiracy

Description

Ancient magic has infected the Internet… is this the end for civilisation?

Ancient magic has transported Tung, a young thief, and Madrick, a has-been wizard, across a millennium. Now the magic has infected the Internet and civilisation simply can’t handle the consequences.

To make matters even worse, evil wizards have followed Tung and Madrick through time. They’re determined to hunt down and destroy the pair, and with them, our modern way of life. Saving the world has just got a whole lot harder.

The Black Conspiracy is the spellbinding, stand-alone sequel to Dark Tidings.



Buy Links: paperback or Kindle format.

Teaser trailer for The Black Conspiracy. The Trailer.

About the Author



My name is Ken Magee and I’m an... author.
I live in Bangor, Co Down. I worked for many years in the computer industry in a wide variety of roles including programming and sales. In the middle of it all, I served in the Navy Reserve for five years... which was hard work, but fun. In 2010, I decided it was time to finish the book I had started many years ago (writing not reading). I would have finished it sooner, but life got in the way. It’s finished now, but I don’t think any of the original book survived the process! I enjoyed writing so much that I’ve also completed the sequel and the third book is well underway.
Even as a young boy, I loved Fantasy and Science Fiction books and, if they had a good sprinkling of comedy, then I was happy. Harry Harrison and the Stainless Steel Rat probably paved the path which eventually led to the likes of Terry Pratchett. I would love to think that my first series of books at least hints at those influences. One reviewer seemed to think so, and that really pleased me…

“Imagine the worlds of Terry Pratchett and Dan Brown coming together - Dark Tidings provides a witty and clever read that will appeal to all readers.”

I am married with two children and two dogs. I love reading, writing and words. I have a keen interest in music, technology, movies, travel and the Internet. To keep fit I play badminton when I get the time… and I walk the dogs even when I don’t get the time (they insist on it!).

This is my Author page if you’d like to check out the books. Ken Magee Author Page.

Follow him here:

Twitter - https://twitter.com/KenMageeAuthor
Blog - http://kenmagee.blogspot.co.uk/


Friday 25 January 2013

Marked for Vengeance (Alyx Rayer Chronicles #1) - S. J. Pierce

Marked for Vengeance (Alyx Rayer Chronicles, #1)
Description
Alyx Rayer’s existence in Atlanta, the eternally bustling capital of Georgia, is one of routine and blending in among the worker bees. But her ‘normal’ life is actually a façade for a higher calling; she's a three hundred year old soul, encased in a human vessel and sent from the darkness between heaven and Earth to capture her Marked when summoned by her superiors.

During the initial, routine stake-out of her Marked, a dream prophet named Isaac Walsh, Alyx is thrown for an emotional loop when his allure captivates her heart from two rooftops away. The event marks the very instance when her sense of what’s right and what’s wrong is brutally challenged as her contact with him is strictly forbidden.

While already trapped between honor and desire, her emotional struggles are further challenged by a man in a black suit who continually pops up when she least expects it, his presence evoking a strange response from the scar she was branded with at birth. The scar tingles like a warning beacon, alerting her that something is amiss. Because her superiors never told her what this would mean, or much of anything except what to do when they summon, she can only conclude to try and keep her sanity, and her life, from completely shattering to pieces.

This engaging first book of the series is a Paranormal Romance novel interlaced with twists, turns, and thrilling suspense that is sure to satisfy readers of any genre. 

My Opinion
First of all I must say that I really like the cover of this book, it is simple but the colours work really well. Also it reminds me of the Hunger Games logo slightly. Anyway this book was an interesting read with a different take on angels, as they are assigned to protect one human but without interaction. There was a lot of mystery surrounding what Alyx was and her mark at the start of the book which was slowly unraveled throughout the novel. This was good as it left me with questions that made me want to read on. There was also mystery about random strangers appearing which led me to hope about something happening. As well as this I liked Isaac's character. His love for his son was believable and he was one character I was able to engage and relate to as his feelings were realistic . However this is probably the only character I could do this with.  

Written in the third person I became very detached from the characters as the book switched POV. The book became repetitive as well with the phrases "he did & she did" starting sentences constantly. I think I was so detached as Pierce described unnecessary daily actions in huge amounts of detail yet never went into the same amount about the characters/action. Due to this the book was a slow read at times so I found myself skimming pages waiting for the action to start (when it did it was very brief). The unnatural speech and the emphasis on minor words "TOO" or "too" also detracted from the story as it became slightly annoying as the book went on. As well as this I wasn't so keen on Alyx. She was too wishy-washy and took too long to realise things. After spending 2 lives on Earth previously it wasn't believable. There were also quite a few grammatical errors, missed out words and typos which added to the slowness of the book.

Over all this book had an interesting concept with a new take on angels. However for me it needs less detail on everyday actions and more development of the main story line and characters so readers can engage with them better and not want to skim read. As well as this the book could use another round of editing but it was an ok read that may be of interest to paranormal readers.


Thursday 24 January 2013

Spotlights - Update to Policy

I am happy to post all books as a spotlight as long as I am comfortable with the cover. Just send me a request and I will reply with what I need before scheduling it for my next available date.

However due to the amount of requests I am receiving for spotlights there are a few things I will no longer be doing for time reasons.

  1. I will no longer chase information. Once I have sent you a reply with a list of things I need it is then up to you. I will not email you again to gain information if you forget unless I have saved a date for you. If this is the case I will notify you a week before the spotlight is due and if I hear nothing then I will give your a date away.
  2. I will not follow links for information. Not only is this very time consuming but I also have no idea which book, info etc you want me to include - this also stands for reviews. I do not do this for myself (I may get a few extra page views but it is mainly for your promotion) so if you want me to run a spotlight the least you can do is not be lazy and send me the required info. 
  3. If you send me an email stating "all info can be found here" I will probably not respond as I do not have the time. If you can't be bothered to attach info or ask me to feature your book I cannot be bothered to google your book.
  4. I will not email authors to spotlight your books. I've had this a few times on forums "I'd love a spotlight email me here..." If you want me to feature your work send me a request as again this is for your benefit not mine. It doesn't bother me whether you feature your book or not so I will not email you until you send me a request either on my sites or directly.
Basically if you can't be bothered to put the time into gathering the information I need I won't spotlight your book as I don't have the time to look for it either.

I know this may sound harsh but it is happening too often and I do not have the time as I am busy writing my own work, reviewing your work and running all the promotional offers on here as well as attending college. This is something I do because I love it and does not always take priority. I will try and reply to all emails as soon as possible but please do not harass me if it take me awhile as I am busy with other things too.

Guest Post - My Monsters by Mary Twomey

Today I am pleased to welcome Mary Twomey, author of The Saga of Spheres and Jack & Yani Love Harry Potter to Lost to Books. She has kindly written a guest post for us so everyone please give a warm welcome to Mary and look out for her book spotlights coming up in May!


Image of Mrs. Mary E TwomeyMy Monster

Writing is a strange monster. Gorgeous, unpredictable, terrifying, and precious. One moment you love what you’re into, the next you’re swearing you should scrap it all and declare yourself an illiterate just so expectations can be lowered. Learning to spell your name would become a note-worthy feat. “Wow! You did it yourself? Amazing! Sit down and take a rest. Have a cookie, you smart bunny.” Alas, with an English degree, more is expected of you when the pen hits the paper. If it’s not Shakespeare, and if you don’t use fanciful words like “alas”, then it must simply not be worth anyone’s time, lease of all yours. 

This kind of thinking led me to deleted documents, trashed notebooks, abandoned plots and a total tailspin. If it wasn’t completely hatched and grown gracefully into an adult by the end of the page, it was obviously a failure. A plot that wasn’t complete before the first word was scribbled was a waste. Being a notorious math class disappointment led me to the conclusion that if you don’t have the right answer – all the right answers – it’s best to keep your mouth shut and your head down. Mistakes are for people who will never find the solution, and wrong guesses are for people who should find a new calling.
Oh, Mary. Silly Mary.
Oh, you reader. Silly you.

Today I write to encourage you to stop judging your imperfections. It’s odd that we are often the first one to cast the stone at ourselves. We’ll be amazingly polite and kind to others, but when it comes to giving grace to the person with the funky morning hair in the mirror, we plum run out of mercy just about every time. You would never tell your husband or your best girl friend, “What a stupid idea. That’ll never work. Look how
many things you still have to figure out. Best just watch TV and leave the high heels to the big girls.”

Fortunately for all of us, today is a new day. Today we will be different. We will be kind to ourselves. We will look in the mirror and believe the things our loved ones say about us. We will trust our ridiculous ideas and not shoot them down just because they are ours. Today we take ourselves seriously and give an honest effort to becoming that person who can see the possibilities.

A funny thing dawned on me in the midst of writing and editing the Saga of the Spheres. I allowed the ink to flow for fun. I did not write for other people. I did not plot for the masses. I wrote, laughed, swooned, and bit my lip as an unknown world shifted into focus on the page. I’m very excited to share the keepers, the seers, the spheres and the wombats with you. My hope is that you find your own possibility, take the first step, and then start running.

Mary E. Twomey


Thank You Mary!



Follow Here:
Twitter @shesleepssoftly
Visit her on the web at Website
View other books by the author at Saga of the Spheres

Wednesday 23 January 2013

Book Spotlight - Run For Your Life by Diane Wilkie

Run For Your Life

Description
In today's world there seems to be an unhealthy obsession with the supernatural, which is being glorified through television, books and magazines.

The story begins in the midst of extreme poverty and suffering and is set in the heart of Africa. Obi fights to escape a legacy of hopelessness, and at times deep dark elements threaten to completely overwhelm him. He finds himself in a nightmare that he cannot seem to wake up from.

He enters a world where fear rules, and conflict threatens to crush the very life from him. There is nothing he can do about it and no one to help him. Something sinister takes merciless hold of him and escape seems out of the question.

Good and evil are locked in an intense battle, both determined to gain the last say over the final outcome. Obi is desperate, battered and bruised and a man fighting for his life! He is severely disadvantaged because although he cannot physically see his enemies, he is painfully aware of their reality. He bears the scars of the intense conflict in his body, mind and soul. About to give up, Obi finds hope has a way of floating up to the top when you least expect it! 


This book is written for every person who has ever bitten off more than they could chew and found themselves in a life and death situation!

Genre: Mystery Thriller


Links




About the Author
Diane Wilkie is a freelance writer and author. She has written for several publications including blogs that inspire about marriage, raising twins, and coping with life in general. She is also a ghost writer for other people. She lives in England with her husband and sons.








Tuesday 22 January 2013

Teaser Tuesday (3)



This is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.
To participate you:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's teaser comes from...


Sweet Evil (The Sweet Trilogy, #1)Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins



"I almost dropped my bags, tightening my grip just in time. Then I casually looked around, pretending not to notice them watching me. I thought of Kaidan's words"


Amazon Paperback
Amazon Kindle

Monday 21 January 2013

Book Extravagaza Tour & Giveaway

Book Extravagaza Tour

with
Kindred Night School Vampire Hunter Book 2
The Life and Times of Noone In Particular
The Skeleton Key

By – in order of books above

Michelle Cornwell-Jordan
Jamie B. Musings
C.P. Bialois

Tour Wide Giveaway - $25 Amazon Gift Card & 1 Cecile Monique Music CD


Sunday 20 January 2013

The Chronicles of the Dragon Sisters - P. R. J. Quatrine

The Chronicles of the Dragon Sisters (Book 1)Description
Estranged twin sisters Eva and Jane move from London to a bizarre country house, rife with dragon decor and motifs. Follow the adventures of the twins as they are drawn into fantastic and dangerous worlds as they begin to learn of their heritage and themselves. Rich with diverse characters, conflicts, situations and settings.

First book in a series that together will form The Chronicles of the Dragon Sisters.




My Opinion
This book surprised me in a good way. I really wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did as I'm not really into the whole dragon/fantasy side of things. This book had a great mystery element at the start of it which I loved as I couldn't figure it out and even though I knew dragons would come into it at some point I enjoyed the way the sisters discovered them. As well as this the story line was solid and it was evident everything had been planned out.

The book was fast paced and engaging, it kept me wanting to read on. I also loved the riddles and thought they were an excellent edition to the book that made it all the more interesting to read. It was like you were trying to solve the puzzle as well as the girls. I think I enjoyed this book because it wasn't featured totally on dragons and the fantasy creature until the end, they came in and out when needed and were kept simple. My favourite was definitely Zen (probably because I imagine him as cuter than the rest).

One thing I wasn't so keen on was how the story developed towards the ending. For me it got a little too far fetched in the fantasy world and the creatures got wider. The other thing was there were quite a few errors with punctuation. These mainly came in the form of speech marks facing the wrong way or not joining on. I know these are only small things but they take away from the overall finish of the book and if corrected would make it look more professional.

Overall The Chronicles of the Dragon sisters was a surprisingly enjoyable read that kept me hooked. There were a few minor issues with punctuation but nothing major. I would recommend this to mystery/fantasy lovers.


Book Spotlight - Dark Tidings by Ken Magee

Dark Tidings
Dark Tidings

Description
What happens when ancient magic meets the internet? One thing is certain, modern life will never be the same again.
A thousand years ago, a young thief, Tung, and a disgraced wizard, Madrick, are thrust together in an executioner’s dungeon.
In the darkness, Madrick reveals an incredible secret about a legendary spell. The great spell helps them escape their prison cell… and eventually their century.
Catapulted into the present day, their lives collide with Michael, a computer hacker who plans to destroy the world’s largest bank. But sinister people are tracking their every move and they will stop at nothing to steal their spell.



Buy Links: Amazon in paperback or Kindle format.

Teaser trailer for Dark Tidings  The Trailer.

About the Author



My name is Ken Magee and I’m an... author.
I live in Bangor, Co Down. I worked for many years in the computer industry in a wide variety of roles including programming and sales. In the middle of it all, I served in the Navy Reserve for five years... which was hard work, but fun. In 2010, I decided it was time to finish the book I had started many years ago (writing not reading). I would have finished it sooner, but life got in the way. It’s finished now, but I don’t think any of the original book survived the process! I enjoyed writing so much that I’ve also completed the sequel and the third book is well underway.
Even as a young boy, I loved Fantasy and Science Fiction books and, if they had a good sprinkling of comedy, then I was happy. Harry Harrison and the Stainless Steel Rat probably paved the path which eventually led to the likes of Terry Pratchett. I would love to think that my first series of books at least hints at those influences. One reviewer seemed to think so, and that really pleased me…

“Imagine the worlds of Terry Pratchett and Dan Brown coming together - Dark Tidings provides a witty and clever read that will appeal to all readers.”

I am married with two children and two dogs. I love reading, writing and words. I have a keen interest in music, technology, movies, travel and the Internet. To keep fit I play badminton when I get the time… and I walk the dogs even when I don’t get the time (they insist on it!).

This is my Author page if you’d like to check out the books. Ken Magee Author Page.

Follow him here:

Twitter - https://twitter.com/KenMageeAuthor
Blog - http://kenmagee.blogspot.co.uk/


Saturday 19 January 2013

Book Spotlight - Meet me in the Dark by Lilly M. Love

Meet Me in the Dark (Demons of Dreams Saga, #1)Meet me in the Dark

Description
The beginning. Part I of the Demons of Dreams Saga Did you sleep well last night? Did you dream? Have you met someone in your dream? Whether it was pleasant or not, it was just a dream ... wasn?t it? Are you sure? What if you think you're dreaming, but you?re not? What if suddenly a handsome stranger shows up in your dreams and you fall in love with him? What if you wake up in the morning and your body is covered with scratches that you cannot explain? What if not only you begin to question your mind? They come at night, sneak into your dreams and if they want, also into your life! They are the demons of dreams and no one is safe from them... Did you really just have a dream last night? Leia Walsh is a young woman, successful in her job selling high-priced properties to New York’s wealthy. Against her good judgment she falls in love with a man who appears regularly in her dreams. Leia doesn’t believe that he is a product of her imagination, but is convinced that he exists. She starts to look for him in her daily life, but the game of the demons of dreams can be confusing and Leia soon doubts her sanity until she is invited to a party one day...was it just a dream after all?

Genre: fantasy, romance, paranormal, mystery

Buy Link: Amazon

Lilly M. LoveAbout the Author
Lilly M. Love studied languages, assisted a medium helping people to get over the death of relatives for a while and worked in a hypnosis-center in South America, where she currently lives with her family since 2007. Both jobs inspired her to write about dreams, death, suicide, the afterlife and the twilight zone because she believes that there is more in between than we think. 

Wednesday 16 January 2013

Book Spotlight -Shadows of the Past by Carmen Stefanescu

Shadows of the Past
Shadows of the Past

Description
Anne's relationship with her boyfriend Neil has disintegrated. After a two-year separation, they pack for a
week vacation in hopes of reconciling. But fate has other plans for them.

The discovery of a bejeweled cross and ancient human bones opens a door to a new and frightening world-
-one where the ghost of a medieval nun named Genevieve will not let Anne rest. This new world threatens
not only to ruin Anne and Neil's vacation but to end all hopes of reconciliation as Anne feels compelled to
help free Genevieve's soul from its torment.

Can Anne save her relationship and help Genevieve find her eternal rest?

The twists and turns in this paranormal tale keep the reader guessing up to the end and weave themselves
together into a quest to rekindle love.



Publish date: 4th December 2012
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing
Genre: paranormal/light romance/light horror.

Buy Links: 


Carmen StefanescuAbout the Author
Carmen Stefanescu was born in Romania, the native country of the infamous vampire Count Dracula, but where, for about 50 years of communist dictatorship, just speaking about God, faith, reincarnation or paranormal phenomena could have led someone to great trouble - the psychiatric hospital if not to prison.
Teacher of English and German in her native country and mother of two daughters, Carmen Stefanescu survived the grim years of oppression, by escaping in a parallel world, that of the books.

She has dreamt all her life to become a writer, but many of the things she wrote during those years remained just drawer projects. The fall of the Ceausescu’s regime in 1989 and the opening of the country to the world meant a new beginning for her. She started publishing. Poems first, and then prose. Both in English.

Sunday 13 January 2013

Liebster Blog Award

Liebster Blog Award
OK so I have now been nominated 5 times! First by  Jessica O'Gorek , second by Lynelle Clark,
 thirdly by Inklings of Two Booklingsfourthly by Free spirit books and Fifthly by K Nowinsky for the Liebster Blog Award! The award's purpose is for you to get to know blogs with less than 200 followers a little better. Thanks so much all of you :) 

In order to accept and participate there are some steps:

1. Tell 11 things about yourself.
2. Answer 11 questions from the blogger who nominated you.
3. Post 11 questions for those who will be nominated by you.
4. Nominate 11 bloggers who have less than 200 followers.
5. Get in contact with those 11 bloggers in order to inform them that you nominated them.


11 Things About Me
  1. I love reading
  2. I have published 3 books
  3. I have two cats
  4. I enjoy photography
  5. I play netball, hockey, rounders, tennis and run the 100m and 200m
  6. I live in the middle of nowhere
  7. I hate the rain
  8. Want to move abroad to a hot country
  9. I'm currently taking my A-Levels
  10. I'm quite shy
  11. I love summer
My Answers to Jessica's Questions
  1. What inspires you to write/blog? I love reading so decided to start reviewing to let other people know about good books.
  2. What is the best way you have found to get followers? Giveaways and the website Book Blogs.ning
  3. Do you use other site similar to Book Blogs and if so, what? Not at the moment
  4. What would you do with a million dollars? Buy a lot of books first
  5. What genre do you read the most? Paranormal/romances
  6. What is your favorite book? I have too many, maybe Dragonfly by Julia Golding
  7. Who is your favorite actor? Johnny Depp maybe
  8. What is your favorite food? Chinese
  9. When you get stuck creatively, what do you do to move past the rut? Go for a run
  10. What are your hobbies? Writing, sports and photography
  11. Do you think the education system values reading enough? Yes
My Answers to Lynelle's Questions
  1. Describe your blogging experience in one sentence. Crazy, hectic but I'm loving every second!
  2. A word of wisdom for fellow bloggers - Make sure you update your calendar often and record things in as many places possible.
  3. What is the negative side of Blogging? I don't think there is one, I do this because I love it.
  4. What is your favorite genre and why? Paranormal/romances because they are not too far fetched but not as realistic. They seem more imaginative to me and I read books to escape reality for a while so fantasy books are best for that.
  5. When searching for a good book what attracts you first? The cover then description
  6. Favorite character, male or female? Umm that's hard - Stingo (SAS Soldier) from Ringmaster by Julia Golding, or Skulduggery from Derek Landy's Skulduggery Pleasant. They are both funny and make me laugh.
  7. If you could ask your favorite character anything, what would it be? 
  8. Your favorite author? Julia Golding
  9. Your thoughts in regards to Selfpublishing and Published Houses. I'm an author as well so I am all for self-publishing and thinks it's great people can get their work out there themselves now.
  10. What is your newest project? Writing/editing my 4th book and looking to develop this blog.
  11. Name two things on your bucket list. Travel to as many places possible, stay in the ice hotel and see the northern lights
My Answers to Inklings Questions
  1. Which are the three ingredients a good book must contain? Fast paced, intriguing story line, relate-able or engaging characters, natural speech
  2. Describe your life with a book title. 
  3. If you were to write a book, what would the blurb look like? Have written 3 already.
  4. What skill would help you win the hunger games (mad origami skill is not an option)? Being invisible (people don't notice me a lot)
  5. Its your birthday and the doctor offers you one trip with the TARDIS. What event (in the past or future) would you like to witness and why? Some time way in the future to see what humans are like.
  6. If you could spend one day in a book, which book would you choose? Why? Empty Quarter by Julia Golding because 1) I would love to go to Egypt and 2) it's full of adventure/spy stuff
  7. Would you rather spend a day in the Cullen's house or in a cold torture chamber with Bellatrix Lestrange? Umm The Cullen's house?
  8. Aliens exist! And they have libraries! Huge, amazing libraries filled with books from all over the universe! Awesome! They want to expand their collection so they ask you to pick 5 books (or book series) from Earth to be placed in the great galactic library. Which books would you choose? Ringmaster - Julia Golding, Dragonfly - Julia Golding, Skulduggery Pleasant - Derek Landy, Blood Ties - Sophie Mckenzie and Blood Bound - Rachel Vincent
  9. Ever fell in love with a fictional character? Who swept you off your feet the most? Not Really 
  10. If reading was prohibited by law, what other hobby would you choose? Photography
  11. Would you rather be a vampire for life of a warewolf during the full moon? Vampire
My answers to Beth's Questions
1. Who is your favorite author? - Julia Golding
2. What is the best book you've ever read and why? - Dragonfly by Julia Golding because I just fell in love with the story and characters.
3. What book got you hooked on reading? - Diamond of Dury Lane by Julia Golding
4. What is the worst book you've ever read? - Would rather not say - you can probably tell from my reviews though.
5. Why did you choose your blog title/ what does it mean? - My family always joke that I'm lost in other worlds when reading so I called my blog Lost to Books
6. Do you finish a book if you hate it? Why or why not? - Depends when I hate it. I will read if I'm hoping something will happen but in general no.
7. Have you ever written a book? - Published 3 and am writing a 4th and 5th currently
8. What is your favorite place to get books from? - Amazon
9. Do you have any hobbies other than reading? - Photography and writing
10. Do you have any other blogs? - Yes



My Answers to K Nowinsky's Questions
11.) What is your all-time favorite movie? Moulin Rouge
10.) If you could go anywhere, where would it be? I don't mind so long as it's hot!
9.) How often are you on-line and approximately for how long? Everyday, hours...
8.) What is your favorite sport to play or watch (or both)? I hate watching sports as I prefer playing them and get impatient. my favourite to play is netball
7.) If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be and why? To be a best-selling author because writing is what I love.

6.) What was the last song you listened to? Example - Close Enemies
5.) When was the last time you donated to a charity? Don't know
4.) Have you ever ridden in the subway or mass transit? Where and why? Don't have one where I live.
3.) Are you happy with how you look? Why or why not? Yes, I can't change it so why think about it, plus I can eat what I like and not put the weight on :)
2.) Who was the last person you talked to on the phone? I avoid answering it.
1.) What was the last book you read and would you recommend it? I just finished The Sweetest Dark by Shana Abe (ARC from NetGalley) and yes it was an enjoyable read.


My Questions for Nominees
  1. What is your favourite book?
  2. How old is your blog?
  3. What do you do in your spare time?
  4. What's the best indie book you've read/reviewed?
  5. How many books do you read a week?
  6. Favourite author?
  7. Dream place to go on holiday?
  8. Do you write as well as blog?
  9. What's your favourite thing about blogging?
  10. What supernatural creature would you be and why?
  11. Would you pick a stable romance or a dangerous romance with your star crossed lover?

My Nominees 
  1. Onur KINACI BIRLER -  http://dikkatspoilericerir.blogspot.com
  2. Patricia - http://www.nightreadings.com/
  3. Becs is an Angel - http://sinfullysexybooks.blogspot.com
  4. Starlin Verity - http://www.musingsofthefanaticreader.blogspot.co.uk/
  5. Fam Min - http://blog.thebookling.com/
  6. Chelsea - http://chelssizzle.blogspot.co.uk/
  7. Momma Chaos - http://reviewinginchaos.blogspot.co.uk/
  8. Becky Torno - http://www.abstractsandreviews.com/
  9. Debra Boivin - http://www.kidsbookstomakeadifference.blogspot.co.uk/
  10. Sadrina Cassi - http://booksandtheirwordlyrealm.blogspot.co.uk/
  11. M. Lathan - http://mlathan.blogspot.co.uk/
If the nominees decide to participate please leave a comment with a link to your post.

Sienna x

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