Prophecy: Child of Earth (Symphony of Ages, #2) by Elizabeth Haydon

• Title: Prophecy: Child of Earth 
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Fantasy
  
• Format: Paperback, 736 pages
• Publisher: Tor Fantasy (August 13, 2001) 
• ISBN-10: 9780812570823
• ISBN-13: 978-0812570823
• ASIN: 0812570820 

The Prophecy of the Three

The Three shall come, leaving early, arriving late,

The lifestages of all men:

Child of Blood, Child of Earth, Child of Sky.

Each man, Formed in blood and born in it,

Walks the Earth and sustained by it,

Reaching to the sky, and sheltered beneath it,

He ascends there only in his ending, becoming part of the stars.

Blood gives new beginning, Earth gives sustenance,

The Sky gives dreams in life--eternity in death.

Thus shall the Three be, one to the other.

In Rhapsody: Child of Blood we meet Rhapsody, Grunthor, and Achmed. Brought together by what appears to chance. By the end of the book, however, we realize things are being manipulated by Meridian, a time editor. He is the one who brought Emily and Sam together in the prologue of the first book. The trio, Rhapsody, Gruthor, and Achmed, travel through the ground following the roots of the great tree, Sagia. They cross the Axis Mundi, the center of the earth, and reenter hundreds of years after they left. The Great tree was said to be planted where Time began. It's power is said to be tied in to Time itself. They emerge from the ground to find their homeland has been destroyed and find themselves on the other side of the Earth where most of the survivor's  descendants now live. We learn at the end of the Rhaposdy: Child of Blood, that Rhapsody, is in fact Emily, and the mysterious Ashe is Sam. We also learn that Rhapsody is a Namer and it is her skill that accidentally freed Achmed from his enslavement to the F'dor, and evil demon, when she stated used his old true name of Brother to rename him Achmed the Snake. Rhapsody can rename others, heal, and calm people down.

In Prophecy: Child of Earth we slowly get to learn what the prophecy of the three means means and how it pertains to Rhapsody, Grunthor, and Achmed. We finally get to meet a full blooded dragon - Elysynos, although the introduction is very brief. We get to find out the history of the beginning of all races. We'll meet the sleeping child and learn it's significance. Rhapsody and Ashe will finally realize they are Emily and Sam, however, this does not happen until the end of the book. We'll also learn what Meridian was up to when he took Sam into the past and into Emily's life. I feel a bit like Meridan has been weaving a tapestry and we've been looking at the back (which gives you know idea of what it will look like) and we've finally gotten a glimpse of what the front of the tapestry will look like, although it's incomplete.


I love that at the beginning of the book Haydon gives us a good foundation to start with. If you had any confusion as to what happened in the first book I felt she did a good job of clearing it up. The first book was a bit much to take in. This book at times seemed to drag or give you an information overload. At other points, however, you had to ask yourself, 'What just happened?' The world Haydon built is impressive and I there are characters you can't help loving while others you can't help hating. I truly thought the person who the Rakshas turned out to be was a nice twist. Haydon's got a enviable imagination. She totally had me with that one. Now if we can only figure out the identity of the F'dor. Crossing my fingers that it'll be revealed in the next book. I have my suspicions. I gave this one 3 1/2 out of 5 roses.

Order of the series:

Dark Awakening(Dark Dynasties #1) by Kendra Leigh Castle

Title: Dark Awakening
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Paranormal
Format: Paperback, 368 pages 
Publisher: Forever; Original edition (July 1, 2011) 
ISBN-10: 1609418379 
ISBN-13: 978-1609418373



"Your mark is your destiny." 

In a hierarchy of vampire society the Cait Sith are the lowest on the totem poll. With no leader and their bloodline rumored to be tainted with Fae blood, they are looked down upon. Referred to by others as gutterbloods they are one of the lines who can change to animal form (cat). Each line has it's own mark and when you enter into the society you are branded by the mark of your sire's line. It can be modified, but never removed.

"It was dangerous to question the power structure, to question why one mark should be venerated while another should be spat upon"
 
Tynan (Ty) MacGillivray was on a mission. The Ptolemy, the oldest and most powerful of the vampire dynasties, are being hunted and wiped out by a Mulo, a flesh-eating spirit conjured by a curse. Ty was sent out to hunt down a Seer in the hopes they could predict when the Mulo would strike next and who might have sent it. Seers are rare and no one has come across one for a very long time. They may have died out. If the Mulo can't be stopped the Ptolemy face extinction. Ty is a Cait Sith who chose to become the equivalent of a slave for the Ptolemy. While searching for a Seer he finds Lily Quinn. He's uncertain if she's a Seer, but all the signs are in place to suggest she is. There is one problem, however. She carries the mark of a vampire, yet is human. Such a thing should be impossible for vampires can't reproduce. What started out as a straight forward mission is now complicated, and Ty knows he must figure out what it means before turning her over to Arsinoe, the leader of the Ptolemy. What Lily is will change everything.

A friend and I were discussing, okay arguing, about a vampire series. I said there are only so many variations of the creature that could be told. I insisted there just wasn't much that could be done with the being that hadn't already be done. I, Lisarenee, am now eating my words and am happy to do so. Castle put a fresh spin to her vampire series that I hadn't seen before. With vampires being able to change into smoke, mist, or animals, and roots linking them back to Egypt I found myself spellbound. The world building was superb and I found myself captivated from the very first page. An underdog, er, cat  and tortured hero, I found Ty to be simply irresistible. The chemistry between Ty and Lily was entrancing. When your heart gets set a flutter, and you need a fan for a love scene that goes no father than second base, you know you're in for a treat. I HIGHLY recommend this one and found this to be a total and complete book seduction. I gave this one 5 out of 5 roses. Yay! I've got another author to add to my ever growing list of favorites. *sigh* I am so looking forward to the sequel.

Order of series:





1. Dark Awakening (Dark Dynasties, #1)
2. Midnight Reckoning (Dark Dynasties, #2) Tentatively scheduled to be released January 1, 2012 

How to Marry a Duke by Vicky Dreiling

• Title: How to Marry a Duke 
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Historical Romance
• Format: Paperback, 432 pages
• Publisher: Forever; 1 edition (January 1, 2011)
• ISBN-10: 0446565377
• ISBN-13: 978-0446565370

Tessa Mansfield is a self proclaimed matchmaker. When the Duke of Shelbourne, Tristan - a rake, proposes she help him find his ideal mate, she rises to the challenge. In proceedings reminiscent of 'The Bachelor'  TV show, Tristan will attempt to choose a wife from 24 hand picked woman of the ton. As Tristan's requirements for a Duchess are specific, and no one lady meets all of them, Tessa feels when in doubt the Duke must check them all out. While there is one lady who appears to possess all the qualities that Tristan is looking for, she has absolutely no plans to ever wed. Tessa is hoping to make the match of the century. It just might not be in quite the way she was thinking. 

This is a novel that does not have a perfectly flawless heroine. Yet despite her dark secret she still manages to get her man. That is one of the things I truly love about this story. Plus, the story is given an added dimension when Tessa's secret past is slowly revealed. Tristan is absolutely scrumptious and you can see why so many ladies of the ton would attempt to gain his attention. Plus, you get the added bonus of Hawk, Tristan's best friend. He is equally delightful. The best part, however, is the chemistry and interaction between Tristan and Tessa. It is utterly swoon worthy. *sigh* A very fun read. I gave this one 4 out of 5 roses. 

The order the trilogy should be read:


1. How to Marry a Duke
2. How to Seduce a Scoundrel
3. How to Ravish a Rake (tentatively coming late 2011 or early 2012)

Q&A and Giveaway - How to Seduce A Scoundrel by Vicky Dreiling

Description: 

Miss Julianne Gatewick is in a pickle. It started when her brother's best friend-for whom she's long nursed a secret tendre-agreed to act as her guardian for the Season, only to seduce her with a risqué waltz. But when the music stopped and the expectant ton waited for Marc Darcett, Earl of Hawkfield, to claim her as his own, he made his disinterest clear. Rather than succumb to humiliation, Julianne does what any self-respecting, recently discarded young miss with a wicked sense of humor would do. She secretly pens a lady's guide to enticing unrepentant rakes . . . and it becomes the hottest scandal sheet in London.

Every honorable rake knows that friends' sisters are forbidden. But suddenly, Julienne has a spark of mischief in her eyes that Hawk can't resist. Try as he might to push her away, he spends his days listening for her laughter, and his nights dreaming of kissing her senseless. He's always avoided innocents and their marriage-minded mothers, but has the man least likely to wed finally met his match? To read an excerpt CLICK HERE. 

Q&A

Lisarenee: What is the hardest thing you find about writing a book? Is it writing the dialogue and having it flow like a real conversation, filling in all the details so your readers can visualize events and places, research, or something entirely different?

Vicky: Writing dialogue is my favorite part. I love when the hero and heroine spar. Also, I happen to be one of those rare extroverted writers, which means I talk a lot. Interestingly, so do most of my characters.  Dialogue in fiction only simulates real conversation. If you’re ever created a transcript from a recorded conversation, you’ll understand how real dialogue is full of “ums” and “hmms” and goes off topic frequently. For me, dialogue is the best part and the easiest to write.

I’m not much of a plotter, other than to come up with the high concept premises of my books. To me, plotting generally involves top of mind ideas and only scratches the surface. What I look for is deeper and more complex emotions, and discovering this involves the subconscious. It’s what Stephen King calls the stuff in the basement. So while it’s a messy process, I think my stories are richer when I rely on my gut instincts. 

Setting isn’t something that interests me greatly, unless there is an emotional component involved, whether that involves humor, fear or angst. I tend to write spare setting and choose to focus on one or two intriguing aspects of the setting. Description of inanimate objects rarely captures my attention. However, I love descriptions of people as certain characteristics can reveal a great deal about the character. For example, in HOW TO MARRY A DUKE, Tristan taps his thumb repeatedly, a sure sign of what we now think of as a Type A personality. He also paces a great deal when he’s perturbed, because he has an abundance of energy.

Ultimately, what I find most difficult is when I fail to realize I’ve gone off track in the book. I’m uber persistent, so I’ll continue to try to fix a bad scene and fail to realize it just needs to be scrapped.

Lisarenee: What characteristics do you feel make the best hero of a romance novel, and have you incorporated any of them into your current books?

Vicky: I like heroes who are rakes, but retain a core sense of honor. For example, in HOW TO SEDUCE A SCOUNDREL, Hawk’s sense of honor is tested when he must resist his attraction to his best friend’s sister. Even rakes abide by the unspoken rule that a friend’s sister is forbidden.

Lisarenee: What do you think it is about historical romances that draws so many readers to the genre?

Vicky: I think it’s the fantasy of a strong man who is also chivalrous. Also the tight breeches are a draw. 

Lisarenee: If you could go back in time to a specific time period for a day, what time period would you choose, what would you want to see, and is there anyone you'd like to meet? 

Vicky: I’d love to spend a day in Regency England, provided I got to wear a gorgeous ball gown and waltzed with a handsome hunk! I would like to meet Byron to see if he’s truly mad, bad, and dangerous to know. 

Lisarenee: What do you feel is one of the most romantic things a person can do for someone else? 

Vicky:  Tell them how much you love and admire them.

Lisarenee: Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to answer my questions.  

Vicky: Thanks so much for inviting me to your blog. May the Magic Romance Fairies be with you!

Vicky Dreiling

www.vickydreiling.com

Five Fun Facts

1. The Rules and He’s Just Not That into You inspired Vicky to write HOW TO SEDUCE A SCOUNDREL.

2. Vicky writes to music and created a playlist for HOW TO SEDUCE A SCOUNDREL. Readers can listen to the songs on her website. The theme song for the book is Better Man (Pearl Jam).

3. Lady Julianne, the spunky heroine of HOW TO SEDUCE A SCOUNDREL, finds inspiration in Anne Boleyn, who was said to be only moderately attractive but managed to charm everyone at court with her wit and vivacity.

4. A giant statue of Napoleon at Apsley House, the Duke of Wellington’s residence, was the inspiration for the hideous statue of Apollo in the opening scene.

5. One scene involving a decanter of wine and a thumping door is based on something that Vicky overheard. She plans to include a spoiler on her website that details the hilarious incident. 

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

I’m giving away 3 copies of How to Seduce a Scoundrel by Vicky Dreiling.

Rules to be eligible for giveaway:

1. Only residents of the US or Canada are eligible. 

2. Please leave either your email address or a link to your Goodreads profile so I may get in contact with you to get your mailing address. No P.O. Boxes, please. If uncomfortable about giving out such information on my blog, please feel free to email me your information at seducedbyabook@gmail.com.
3. Become a follower of my blog, if you aren't already.

4. Leave a comment about what kinds of things you like to see in a Romance novel.

Winners will be randomly chosen. Books will be sent directly from publisher. Giveaway ends July 10th,  midnight eastern time. Winners will be posted on my blog and notified by email or message posted to them via Goodreads. Winners will have 72 hours to respond before another winner will be selected.

July's Featured Author of the Month - Vicky Dreiling Author of 'How to Marry a Duke' & 'How to Seduce A Scoundrel'

Meet Author Vicky Dreiling

Vicky Dreiling is a confirmed historical romance junkie and Anglophile. Frequent business trips to the UK allowed her to indulge her passion for all things Regency England. Bath, Stonehenge, and Spencer House are among her favorite places. She is, however, truly sorry for accidentally setting off a security alarm in Windsor Castle. That unfortunate incident led her British colleagues to nickname her “Trouble.”

When she’s not writing or getting into trouble, Vicky enjoys reading, films, concerts, and most of all, long lunches with friends. She holds degrees in English literature and marketing. A native Texan, she shares her home with her daughter and a spoiled mini-lop rabbit that lives in a slightly gnawed cardboard cottage.

Vicky came on to the romance scene early this year with her first book, 'How to Marry a Duke'. Inspiration  struck while she was watching an episode of 'The Bachelor' on TV. She thought it would be fun to write a book that took elements of the show into the Regency-era. One of the challenges she faced was how to make the situations the girls encountered fit for the Regency England time period. Let's face it overnight dates could ruin a girl's reputation. Additionally, a Duchess would have certain requirements that would need to be met which would have to be taken into account. To add another dimension to the story, Dreiling decided to give a secret past to the heroine, Tessa, which would cause her to decide never to marry. To read an excerpt CLICK HERE.


Vicky's second novel, 'How to Seduce a Scoundrel', was released June 28th. This book was inspired by 'The Rules' and 'He’s Just Not That into You'. Already knowing that Tristan's sidekick, Hawk, would be the next Hero in her yet unnamed trilogy, she recalled a conversation with a male co-worker's about "The Rules". She decided to come up with a Regency-era version which she entitled 'Secrets to Seduction'. Once again she was faced with the task of coming up with a version that would be acceptable for the Regency-era. She also decided it would be fun if the scoundrel in this book would be faced with the task of watching out for his best friend's sister whom he was attracted to. After all, even a scoundrel knows that a best friend's sister is off limits. To read an excerpt CLICK HERE.

Vicky's third book, 'How to Ravish a Rake', is tentatively scheduled to come out the end of 2011 or the beginning of 2012. There is no cover image available at this time. The story will be about Amy Hardwick, one of Julianne’s friends, and Hawk's younger brother, William Darcett. The two were introduced at Julianne's and Marc's wedding at the end of 'How to Seduce a Scoundrel'. William is known by the scandal sheets as 'Devil Darcett'. This one should be good. I look forward to reading it.

As you can imagine, Vicky gets inspiration from many things. She likes to write while listening to music. If you visit her website (I provided a link at the end of this post) you'll find a playlist for each of her books, including one for 'How to Ravish a Rake' which is yet to be published. The theme song she picked for 'How to Seduce a Scoundrel' is 'Better Man' by Pearl Jam. 

 10 Fun Facts About Vicky

1. Vicky started a diary when she was ten and kept one for the next decade.

2. Her high school diaries showed no signs of literary talent, but she apparently had a great tan and many surfer boyfriends.

3. She went to university with Barbara Walter’s producer. He tried to teach her how to lift weights. She has a grainy photo to prove it.

4. In her twenties, Vicky worked as a certified aerobics instructor. Her corporate lunchtime class nicknamed her “Sergeant.”

5. She bought her first romance novel by accident, and she’s been hooked ever since.

6. As an unpublished writer, Vicky won $450, the overall grand prize in a contest, with 5 pages of 'How To Marry A Duke'.

7. On her first trip to Paris, Vicky stayed at the Hilton Paris. Alas, she did not see the famous ‘celebutante.’

8. Her favorite Parisian haunt is the Musee d’Orsay where the Impressionist Paintings are housed.

9. She has been to the Reeperbahn in Hamburg, Germany where the Beatles played gigs before becoming famous.

10. Owing to a sad lack of the direction gene, Vicky has gotten lost in many famous places including the Louvre, Hyde Park, and Warwick Castle.

Vicky's road to fame was not the usual one. Some friends invited her to attend a writer's conference. At the conference she was able to make appointments with various agents to talk about her manuscript. The agent she truly wished to talk to, however, was booked solid. Fortunately for her, the fates were looking out for her because later that night when she arrived late for the conference dinner the only seat available was the one next to the agent Vicky was hoping to meet, Lucienne Diver. By the end of the night she had Lucienne's business card in her hand. The rest, as they say, is history. Okay, I must admit, I shortened the story just a tad. To read the full version of how Vicky got her book published, and  the full story of how she came up with the idea of her first book check out this article by Vicky:
http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/Vicky_Dreiling_%281537569%29_AuthorArticle%281%29.htm
Additionally, if you wish to read the full story of how Vicky came up with 'How to Seduce a Scoundrel' check out this article:
http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/Vicky_Dreiling_%281537569%29_AuthorArticle%282%29.htm


To learn more about the Vicky please visit her website at:
http://www.vickydreiling.com/

You can follow her on twitter:
http://twitter.com/#!/vickydreiling

You can follow her on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/people/Vicky-Dreiling/655248319

You can also find her on Goodreads - Don't forget to become a fan:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4107724.Vicky_Dreiling

 Don't forget to visit my blog tomorrow for a chance to win a copy of 'How to Seduce A Scoundrel'. Additionally, I'll be having a Q&A and Vicky is scheduled to drop by.

How to Seduce a Scoundrel by Vicky Dreiling

• Title: How to Seduce a Scoundrel
• Classification: Adult Fiction
  
• Genre: Historical Romance
  
• Format: Paperback, 448 pages
• Publisher: Forever; Original edition (June 28, 2011)
• ISBN-10: 0446565385
• ISBN-13: 978-0446565387

Four years ago at her debutant ball Lady Julianne Gatewick fell in love. The object of her affection was Marc Darcett (Hawk), Earl of Hawkfield. He's her brother's best friend and she's known him for what seems like forever. In the four years since her debut, it seemed he only saw her as his best friend's little sister and nothing more. Then at a ball held by the Breresfords, her fairytale ending looked like it was within her grasp. During a waltz with Marc he couldn't seem to take his eyes off her. She felt like Cinderella at the ball dancing with the Prince. In an instant, however, the spell of the evening was broken. Not by the chiming of the clock at midnight, but by the words Marc would utter for all the ton to hear, "Lest you or anyone else harbor the wrong idea. I will set the record straight. Lady Julianne is practically a sister to me."

Utterly devastated, Julianne was determined to move on and forget about Marc. That was easier said then done as he would act as her guardian for the season. Marc's aunt Hester, who was sponsoring her this season, decided to take Julianne under her wing and give her the advice she would have imparted to her daughter, if she'd had one. While Hester might not be able to turn a pumpkin into a carriage, she did know a little something about landing a husband. She'd been married 5 times. Through Hester, Julianne, will learn the 'Secrets of Seduction.'

This was an enchanting tale that had me grinning from ear to ear. The chemistry between Marc and Julianne was flammable and only needed a spark to set it off. The interaction and bantering between the two was fun to witness. I loved seeing the way Marc tried to fight his feelings for Julianne since she was his best friend's sister.  Plus, there was an added dimension to the story because something happened in Marc's past which made him determined never to ever marry. Thinking himself unworthy of such happiness, Julianne had her work cut out for her.

Once again a book inspired a song to dance through my head. In this case, however, it wasn't just one, but two. Taylor Swift's songs Love Story and White Horse kept alternating at various times in my head. While no song totally fits a book snippets like "I'm not a princess, this ain't a fairy tale" and "it's a love story baby just say yes" danced in my head. I gave this one 5 out of 5 roses.

The order the trilogy should be read:


1. How to Marry a Duke
2. How to Seduce a Scoundrel
3. How to Ravish a Rake (tentatively coming late 2011 or early 2012)

Early Review of Confessions of an Improper Bride (Donovan, #1) by Jennifer Haymore

Title: Confessions of an Improper Bride
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Historical Romance
Format: Paperback, 384 pages
Publisher: Forever; Original edition (July 26, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0446573140
ISBN-13: 978-0446573146




Six years ago Serena Donovan fled London in humiliation after being caught in about as compromising a  situation as is possible. Shortly after the "incident", the man whom she thought was "the one" gave her the cut direct in public stating he did not know her. Tragedy struck on the way home when her identical twin sister was knocked overboard in a freak accident and presumed dead. Her mother, thinking to make the best out of a tragic situation, told everyone it was Serena who had died. Only her immediate family knows the truth. Now she must face society once more as her sister, Meg, engaged to her sister's former beau. She never intended to enter London society again. She never intended to see him again. She never intended to make the same mistake twice...

I really enjoyed this story. I have to admit, however, the ending seemed a bit abrupt. I would have liked a few of the remaining loose ends tied up in an epilogue, but perhaps that will happen in a sequel? The story moved at a good pace and had a couple of twists. I love it when a story is not totally predictable. I enjoyed watching Jonathan Dane's inner struggle to determine if he was mad or sane in his suspicions that Serena was actually pretending to be Meg. Wondering if the woman he betrayed, yet loved, was still alive. Wondering if what he felt for Meg were the residual feelings of what he had felt for Serena. I also enjoyed watching Serena come to terms with her feelings for both Will, her betrothed, and Jonathan, the man she had once loved. This was the first book I have read by Jennifer Haymore, but it won't be the last. I look forward to reading the sequels. I gave this one 4 out of 5 roses.