I picked another book to read from my successful free downloads from iTunes.
This time I picked 'One of Us' by Antonia Adams. Antonia Adams joined the Xcite team in 2010, but she is no stranger to writing. She uses various pseudonyms and her work has been published extensively in the UK and abroad for the last 25 years. She also lectures in creative writing at events around the country. This book is a small one, comprising only of 136 pages on my iPhone 5.
The story is about successful 35 year old artist Natalie Crane who meets handsome, independent and spirited Will Falcon at her art exhibition. A romance is quickly formed with the secretive Will, only to end in heartbreak and betrayal, so Natalie thinks. As Natalie's art show comes to a close, so does her relationship with Will, especially since he stands her up on her last day in Dorset. While the romance is in full swing the sex is hot and steamy and very well written. While in Dorset, Natalie's most beloved and treasured painting, 'Waiting for her Lover' is stolen and Natalie jumps to the conclusion that it was the enigmatic Mr Falcon, who only recently was found to be admiring it too closely. When Natalie goes back to Dorset to confront Will...a different surprise awaits her.... It is a well written story and I enjoyed it thoroughly even if it was a really quick read.
Other books written & edited by Antonia Adams include:
I'm going to review a series of books written by Gena Showalter. There are only 2 in this series and they are about an ordinary girl who meets with an extra-ordinary accident and becomes endowed with super powers. But wait there is also a super hunky supernatural good guy. He is of course sexy, muscled to the max, soft as a marshmallow and as tough as nails.
Playing with Fire
Meet Belle Jamison, barista - currently. Belle has been leading an ordinary life, wishing for super powers, being unsatisfied with her life, believing that she should be doing more. She's always late for work and finds it hard to hold down a job long enough to make ends meet. Her ultimate goal is to make enough money to pay for her father's assisted living care.
One day, while on the verge of getting fired, a mad scientist, Dr Roberts, - and I mean MAD - slips a super power formula into her Mocha Latte. Needless to say the beautiful Ms Jamison becomes ill and while going through the 'change', the delectable Agent Masters comes to her rescue or rather her 'neutralization'.
They talk, they fight and finally they fall in love and have extremely well written hot sex. Oh how nice? I love reading sappy love stories especially when there is awesome hot sex involved. I'm not going tell how it ends but after a series of mishaps - spoiler alert - a very happy ending.
Twice as Hot
Part 2 in the series and the - spoiler alert - pukily happy couple are planning - you guessed it - their wedding. Agent Rome Masters is on a mission, which goes horribly wrong and he comes back without his memory of Belle. He can't remember Belle and is being manipulated by his ex-wife as well to get him back to make a second go of their marriage. In the meantime, Belle is trying to make Rome remember her but makes a deal with the man who stole Rome's memory that she will go on 3 dates with him if only he gives Rome his memory back. This man is gunning for Belle's affections and is willing to do anything to win her heart. There is a moment or 2 when you think it's over but wait there's more! And that's all I'll say about that.
I personally think it's well written, even if the story line is a little predictable. There is a few hot make out sessions and Agent Masters is drool worthy!
Gena Showalter wrote the first of the series in 2006 and followed it up 4 years later with book 2.
Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty books in paranormal and contemporary romances, as well as young adult novels. Her series include White Rabbit Chronicles, Angels of the Dark, Otherworld Assassins, Lords of the Underworld, Alien Huntress and Intertwined. Her novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan Magazine, and Seventeen Magazine, and have been translated in all over the world. The critics have called her books "sizzling page-turners" and "utterly spellbinding stories", while Showalter herself has been called "a star on the rise".
Check out Gena's personal website for further information about her upcoming books. Gena is also on Goodreads.
I've read a few other books written by Gena and I have to admit I was never disappointed. If you've never read any of her books I highly recommend her.
Blacklisted is about 2 girls who just want to have fun. Camille has the hots for bad boy Erik, who, unbeknownst to Camille is an Alien Investigation and Removal agent. This book is more for young teenagers, but I still enjoyed it.
Oh My Goth is about a fiercely individualist Goth girl who wakes up to discover that the whole world has gone Goth and she's actually -- gag -- popular. Jade Leigh is a nonconformist who values individuality above all else. She has a small group of like-minded Goth friends who wear black, dabble in the dark arts, and thrive outside the norm. They're considered the "freaks" of their high school. But when Jade's smart mouth lands her in trouble -- again -- her principal decides to teach her a lesson she'll never forget. Taken to a remote location where she is strapped down and sedated, Jade wakes up in an alternate universe where she rules the school. But her best friends won't talk to her, and the people she used to hate are all Goth. Only Clarik, the mysterious new boy in town, operates outside all the cliques. And only Mercedes, the Barbie clone Jade loathes, believes that Jade's stuck in a virtual reality game -- because she's stuck there, too, now living the life of a "freak." Together, they realize they might never get back to reality...and that even if they do, things might never be the same.
This too is a book for young adults/teenagers, but still an enjoyable light hearted read for us older folks.
I finally remembered to buy a new 'book review' book. In honour of this auspicious occasion I'm going to write down a list, call it a wishlist, if you like - of books I'm going to endeavour to read over the holidays. That's from NOW until late February 2013! These books have already been acquired, but I just have not had the time to read any one of them. And because I've lost my first 'book review' book, I'm going to have re-read some, which are earlier books in a series. Very frustrating! This list is not going to be alphabetical, because that would just take forever and I don't have that kind of time.
Justin Somper is the British author of the children's horror novel series Vampirates.Justin Somper is the British author of the children's horror novel series Vampirates. He was born in St Albans and graduated from Warwick University. He worked as a publicist before starting his writing career.
Culinary Mystery with Recipes - I have read a few of these books and they are excellent, very entertaining. Because I don't have my trusty books I don't remember which ones!
This Author also writes the Morganville series - I have a friend who has read this series and she swears they are great, so while I don't actually own any of these books I am going to buy them and start reading! Check out the Book Depository for great prices on books and best of all FREE delivery to anywhere in the world!
Becca Fitzpatrick grew up reading Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden with a flashlight under the covers. She graduated college with a degree in health, which she promptly abandoned for storytelling. When not writing, she's most likely prowling sale racks for reject shoes, running, or watching crime dramas on TV. She lives in Colorado.
I've read the first one in the series and it was fantastic. I've also purchased 2 & 3 in the series but have not had time to read them. Over the next few months, I plan to re-read 1 and then read on to the next 3 (once I've purchased the final one in the series - that is!)
Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty books in paranormal and contemporary romances, as well as young adult novels. Her series include White Rabbit Chronicles, Angels of the Dark, Otherworld Assassins, Lords of the Underworld, Alien Huntress and Intertwined. Her novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan Magazine, and Seventeen Magazine, and have been translated in all over the world. The critics have called her books "sizzling page-turners" and "utterly spellbinding stories", while Showalter herself has been called "a star on the rise". White Rabbit Chronicles 1. Alice in Zombieland (2012) Intertwined 1. Intertwined (2009) 2. Unraveled (2010) aka Unravelled 3. Twisted (2011) Tales of an Extra-ordinary Girl 1. Playing with Fire (2006) 2. Twice as Hot (2010)
Robert Browne is an AMPAS Nicholl Award-winning screenwriter who ran screaming from the movie industry and jumped into writing novels.
His first novel, KISS HER GOODBYE, was recently produced in Chicago as a pilot for a CBS Television series tentatively titled THE LINE, by Sony Pictures and Timberman/Beverly Productions, with a script written and directed by Michael Dinner.
Alex Duval was born and raised in Paris, before moving to California to pursue a career in fashion photography. Alex loves all sports, especially surfing. When not writing books, Alex loves watching movies, especially The Lost Boys, and visiting art galleries around the world. Alex has homes in both Paris and LA.
Darren is a massively successful author of numerous fantasy and horror books for both young people and adults.His most famous works include the 12 books of The Saga of Darren Shan; the 10 books of The Demonata, The City Trilogy; The Thin Executioner and his most recent series of 4 books, The Saga of Larten Crepsley. A movie of Cirque Du Freak was completed in 2009.
By the start of 2010, Darren's books were on sale in every continent, in 39 countries, in 31 languages, and have been children's bestsellers in America, Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway and other countries. The books have topped adult bestseller charts in Hungary, Japan and Taiwan. In total, his books have sold close to 15 million copies worldwide.
Nikki Gemmell has written four novels, Shiver, Cleave, Lovesong and The Bride Stripped Bare, and one non-fiction book, Pleasure: An Almanac for the Heart. Her work has been internationally critically acclaimed and translated into many languages.
Veronica Roth is from a Chicago suburb. She studied creative writing at Northwestern University, and wrote DIVERGENT, her YA dystopian thriller (Katherine Tegen Books, May 2011!), while she was supposed to be doing homework. This was a decidedly good choice that will unfortunately make it difficult for her to someday lecture her future children on how important it is to get your homework done.
Steven Dunne is 50 years of age and have been writing since he left university in Kent in 1979. He spent some time being a freelance journalist writing for The Times, Independent and Guardian.
A native of the dust bowl, Rachel Vincent is the oldest of five siblings, and arguably the most outspoken of the bunch. She loves cats, devours chocolate and lives on flavored coffee. Rachel's older than she looks--seriously--and younger than she feels, but remains convinced that for every day she spends writing, one more day will be added to her lifespan.
My Soul to Lose (2009) 1. My Soul to Take (2009) 2. My Soul to Save (2009) 3. My Soul to Keep (2010) 4. My Soul to Steal (2011) 5. If I Die (2011) 6. Before I Wake (2012) 7. With All My Soul (2013) Reaper (2010) Never to Sleep (2012) I've read some of the Soul Screamers books and they are great - that one will be the first series from this author I will be tackling! Just in case I run out of time! I think that should do for now. I plan to start reading as soon as possible. What I want to do is write a review as I finish each book and hopefully do a little research about each author and story as well, but we'll see how I go - no promises! The information about the authors is taken from the Fantastic Fiction website. I find this site great for information about authors, their books and also new release books. My friend put me onto this site and I don't know how I ever got along without it!
I've made a decision. In order to honour the commencement of Season 3 of The Walking Dead (TWD) I will be dedicating this Blog to anything and everything Zombie until the end of October. This will also be fitting considering it is Halloween on October 31.
So if you have any interesting facts, trivia, knowledge or insider information about zombies you would like to share please leave a comment. Any such appropriate material is allowed to be posted on this Blog.
Don't forget this dedication is only until 31 October - after which time the Blog will revert back to its usual diversified self.
I've run out of time - it's 12.44am Qld time - so I'll start by adding some information tomorrow. There'll be heaps of groovy stuff - I'll make sure of it. I'll put in here links, events, reviews of zombie books and movies as well as lots and lots of pictures!
OOOHHHHH SCARY!!!!!
I'll leave you all with this parting picture. GOOD NIGHT!
I'll be back later to bring more interesting information about Zombies!
Firstly, final weeks of Uni and this week saw me finishing not 1 or 2 assessment items BUT 3 assessment items! And received marks for an earlier assessment piece - which was very disappointing.
Two more to go and then another semester is over.
To be honest...not doing so well this semester. The semester started out very slow and somewhat disorganised (aussie spelling lol). This is reflected in the results. The best I can hope for is a pass, which is still achievable - after a lot of cramming! :-)
I'm no brainiac - obviously, but at least when I put my mind to something I can still do OK. Nothing wrong with average! Some knowledge still leaks in and stays in sometimes.
So after my epic post I got very busy and hardly even had any time to scratch myself let alone study much. The weekend after my epic blog I basically just buckled down and researched for my debate topic. Team meeting and more research. The debate was on Friday at 4:30pm - who does that to people? Obviously law lecturers don't have a sense of humour or a very cruel one!
Anyway, day off work to do more research and then a team meeting before facing the firing squad. My team was lucky because we got there early enough and the lecturer asked if we wanted to sit through the debate before ours and listen to the adjudicators comments. Did we ever? Lucky we did because I think the comments were an enormous help. Needless to say we won the debate, even though I felt that I stuffed up my 5 mins of fame :-). I'm just not good with having to think on my feet and prepare a rebuttal then and there. I didn't do too well at that! Regardless of my performance the team won anyway and that was mostly due to my insistence that we link the topic to the course materials. THANK GOODNESS I INSISTED!!!! This is what won us the topic.
Oh yeah, our topic was "Traffic speeding laws are legitimate and effective". My team was selected to argue from the negative side. I enjoyed the research for the topic, not so much the delivery. On top of preparing my argument, I also had to prepare a 2000 word argument, due a week later, representing the affirmative side. This wasn't too hard because basically most of the material I used I had come across when researching the negative side; however it still took me around 5 days to put it all together and especially making sure that it tied in with the course materials and was properly referenced. That was lodged on Wednesday and unfortunately, the results will not be known until almost the end of the semester.
The 3rd and final assessment item due this week was a 40 question multiple choice exam on Contracts. Oh what fun! I'm not doing so well in Contracts because the other subject is taking up all my time with research and this reflected in the multi-choice test. I scored, drum roll please!?, 22 out of 40! SHOCKING!!!! So in total with the other assessment pieces, I have 24 out of 40 points, which is still a passing grade, but it just means that I have to really cram from now until the end of semester exam to actually maintain the pass. I CAN DO IT!
With all this frantic studying and research I haven't had much time for anything else, including sleep. I think probably over the last week I may have had around 10-12 hours in total. On top of all the study/research I also work full-time and have an 11 year old child who has a life too! Cricket season has started so we had our first training night on Wednesday and the first game is on this Saturday - 8.30am start. Why?
Between my travels in the library and trawling through internet sites for research materials I did manage to snag a few hours for some personal 'interesting' reading. A girl gotta have her priorities straights!
