WWW Wednesday 6-18-2014

WWW Wednesday. This meme is from shouldbereading.

Oh, and while I’m at it–two things! I have two different tumblrs. One is A Book in the Hand, where I only post images of people or critters holding books. There are some really cool images there, check it out.  You know what I’d love to be able to add? Some images of people holding or reading This Crumbling Pageant–whether on their digital reader or print. That would make me so happy!

The other thing–I have recently started a different tumblr, planetpooks, that is just for anything cool that comes my way. I’d love it if you’d follow me there, too, and let me know where to follow you!

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

• What are you currently reading?

I don’t know. Just finished a book in the wee hours this morning and am not reading anything right now. Probably will read a research book, but not sure which one.

• What did you recently finish reading?

A Study in Silks by Emma Jane Holloway

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Brilliant characterization in a kick-ass story. Steampunk, a mystery that works, and a romantic triangle that is emotionally wrenching and compelling. Can’t wait to read the next, or listen, since I listened to the excellent audiobook.

 

 

 

• What do you think you’ll read next?

The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith

I’ve pre-ordered this book from the UK, since I always read UK editions whenever possible. Amazon made it even more practical for me by not allowing pre-orders on Hatchette books.

I am told it’s on the way.

I have loved everything JK Rowling has written, despite how different they all are. Loved Cuckoo’s Calling. Can’t wait for this one to hit the mailbox.

 

What about you? What have you been reading lately? Put the link to your WWW Wednesday entry in comments, or just tell us!

 

The Author Visits!

This week I’m at TheAuthorVisits, where you’ll find this:

And this:

And a chance to win a print copy of this–autographed to you!

In addition is a fabulous new review of this:

So go, read, enter, comment!

See you there!

WWW Wednesday 6-4-2014

Yes, it’s Wednesday, but first I’ve just got to share this amazing news. My book, This Crumbling Pageant, just got a 4.5 star review from RT Book Reviews. “Fantastic story!” I’m over the moon! RT doesn’t give 5-star reviews so…. yeah. Color me stardust & moonglow blissed!

Now, back to WWW Wednesday. This meme is from shouldbereading.

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

• What are you currently reading?

I’m reading the third book in the Montmaray Journals,  The FitzOsbornes at War. What a terrific series. In the first book we find a tiny island nation off the coast of Spain with only a handful of inhabitants. A mad king who spends most of his time behind closed doors, a prince and two princesses, their housekeeper [madder than the king, truth be told] and her son, all living in a castle filled with relics of an earlier age, and in dire poverty and scraping along as best they can with less food and comfort than the handful of ‘subjects’ who still live on the island.

This doesn’t do it justice.

All I can say is World War II, Nazis, more name-dropping of major players of that time period than you can begin to list, all the pangs of young love, London, balls, the Blitz… all told through the three journals of Her Highness Sophia of Montmaray, Princess, and in this book, employee of the office that oversees food rationing in England. Honestly, I can’t describe these books. But I do like the heck out of them.

• What did you recently finish reading?

I don’t think I mentioned this book when I was reading it, and I finished it recently. Miss Mabel’s School for Girls (Network Series #1). First off let me say that the magical world building is dark, intense and solid. However, I just am so distracted by the term “Network” in this context. It is just an “off” term in the context of a magical world, but oh well, minor in the general scheme of things. Good book, and I’m looking forward to more in this series.

It’s a very unusual cover. I like it.

 

• What do you think you’ll read next?

Sex in Georgian England.

Hey, don’t judge. It’s research!

It’s odd that for a long time I could post whatever I wanted and not worry about it, but now there are people trying to figure out what happens next in The Fury Triad and I certainly don’t want to tip my hand here.

Just to be safe, if you’re reading the books and don’t want spoilers, close your eyes, stick your fingers in your ears and say, “La la la la la!” and pretend you never saw it. Deal? Deal!

 

What about you? What have you been reading lately? Put the link to your WWW Wednesday entry in comments, or just tell us!

 

WWW Wednesday 5-28-2014

WWW Wednesday. This meme is from shouldbereading.

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

• What are you currently reading?

I’m reading the most fabulous amazing wonderful fantastic book.  CODE NAME VERITY, by Elizabeth Wein. Set duringWorld War II, it’s about kickass young British women who fly planes and spy and do all sorts of amazing things, and I have been almost breathless since I began reading. I am so serious about loving this book, that even though I got it as a library ebook, I’m going to track down a hardcover edition to add to my personal library.

And to all those people who have been talking about this book for oh so long and didn’t say anything about it, I say thank you. And you will, too, if you don’t know anything about it and just start reading. It’s a very intense book. WW II. Spies. Use your imagination. But if that doesn’t put you off–

DO IT.

Read this book.

• What did you recently finish reading?

A Brief History of Montmaray, yes, another WWII series, but this one is a slightly alternate history, and so amazingly crafted from real people and events that it feels more real than some of the documentaries I’ve seen.

Michelle Cooper has created an astonishing world that spans three volumes, and I have read the first two. The third awaits me on my kindle. And yes, there is a chance I’ll be picking these up, as well, if they end as well as they’ve begun.

 

• What do you think you’ll read next?

Taking a moment to plug the book I’m reading and rereading and will be reading yet again as I write the second book in my own trilogy. If magic mixed with Regency England, with romance and YA elements isn’t your cup of tea, surely you know somebody who would like it? If so, tell them about This Crumbling Pageant.

Here it is on Goodreads so you an see what other readers are saying about it.

It’s available for sale here:

Amazon Kindle    Amazon Trade Paperback

BN-Nook    BN Trade Paperback

Kobo   iBooks

 Buy it yourself or tell your friends about it or–do both!

What about you? What have you been reading lately? Put the link to your WWW Wednesday entry in comments, or just tell us!

 

Blog Tour Day Three & WWW Wednesday 5-7-2014

Today I am Q&Aing on Suzanne Johnson’s blog, and giving away a gift card to some lucky commenter. So go, read and comment! I’d love one of you to be the winner!

First question:

Give us the “elevator pitch” for your latest work?

Hunger Games meets Jane Austen. [Okay, dark and edgy tale of young, magical heroine in the time of Jane Austen.]

Also, tomorrow is a big huge lollapalooza of a blog tour day, with three simultaneous entries on three different sites, all linked back and forth for the fun and sheer madness of it! Don’t miss it!

BLOG TOUR:

May 5: The Word Wenches  How Research Gave Me the Home I Didn’t Want and the World I Needed

May 6: Get Lost in a Story  Welcome Patricia Burroughs Q&A

Mary Robinette Kowal: My Favorite Bit: Patricia Burroughs

May 7:  Suzanne Johnson: Q-and-A With Patricia Burroughs and Win a GC

~o0o~

 And now, what a lot of you are looking for, WWW Wednesday. This meme is from shouldbereading.

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

 

 

• What are you currently reading?

Amethyst by Lauren Royal. This 1666 English setting is unusual in the midst of all the Regency and Victorian love we’re currently seeing in romance. Charles II and his dissolute court are part of the story, but I find the heroine’s dilemma the most interesting part of the story. Her father is a jeweler and she learned to create beautiful art with fine metals and jewels, but is faced with a marriage to a man who won’t let her continue. That sounds typical romance in today’s market, with a woman who won’t be allowed to continue following her dream if she ends up with the wrong guy, but Lauren doesn’t make things easy. The world of the jeweler–how they lived, how they treated their ‘treasures,’ etc.–is fascinating. And our hero has to step up to the plate and BE a hero soon! Gotta get back to reading…

• What did you recently finish reading?

Phoenix and Ashes by Mercedes Lackey. I love the post WWI setting!

In this dark and atmospheric rendition of the Cinderella fairy tale, an intelligent young Englishwoman is made into a virtual slave by her evil stepmother. Her only hope of rescue comes in the shape of a scarred World War I pilot of noble blood, whose own powers over the elements are about to be needed more than ever.

I have never been too interested in retellings of fairy tales, but Lackey is showing me that they can be dark, edgy and fascinating. Am enjoying her Elemental Masters series.

Older heroine, younger hero.

Never Too Late by Royce Amara

Honoria Duchamp is well aware that men often consider widows easy prey for the role of mistress. What else could explain the attentions of handsome Lord Devin, and his visits to her bookshop? The much younger Viscount has even shown interest in the printing press with which she creates pamphlets on London’s basest injustices. Yet his chief interest appears to be in her...

This book worked on a lot of levels, and the conflicts were real and interesting, as were the injustices our heroine cared so deeply about.

• What do you think you’ll read next?

I’ll be at RT Booklovers Convention next week and won’t be reading much, but will probably come home with a ton of new books. In the meantime, I bought Jaye Wells’ Dirty Magic last weekend at DFW Con so that may give me something to read when I’m not book-blogging and promoting my new book, which by the way, you can buy now! Check out the reviews on Goodreads and LibraryThing!

 

Amazon Kindle    Amazon Trade Paperback

BN-Nook    BN Trade Paperback

Kobo

Hardcover and iBook links coming soon!

 

 

 

 

What about you? What have you been reading lately? Put the link to your WWW Wednesday entry in comments, or just tell us!