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For the best in romance, from sweet to naughty!

Monday, January 30, 2012

Monday Morning Flash Fiction Challenge, Week 78

Good Monday Morning Flash Fiction Aficionados!!

Well, I certainly hope this week is better than last! (Let's start by hoping this posts on time Monday Morning... unlike last week...)

It's Monday morning, so that MUST mean it's time for a new challenge in the....

Monday Morning Flash Fiction Challenge!!


I hope everyone's been enjoying the lovely images that we have recently. Linda (aka the lovely Blodeuedd) has been diligent in finding us new, different, beautiful images. And this morning images is another of her wonderful finds.


It's beautiful, otherworldly, ethereal... I hope it excites your imagination!!

The rules remain the same, 350 words or somewhere there abouts, and come back Friday to post your response.

Have a great week!!

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Key to the Cursed.... Hot New Book Trailer!

Check out Jean Murray's hot new book trailer for her Key to the Cursed Series from Crescent Moon Press. Awesomeness!


Wednesday, January 25, 2012

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Starring: Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Stellan Skarsgård, Christopher Plummer
Director: David Fincher
Running Time: 160 minutes



Synopsis: (from the book cover)

A spellbinding amalgam of murder mystery, family saga, love story, and financial intrigue.

It’s about the disappearance forty years ago of Harriet Vanger, a young scion of one of the wealthiest families in Sweden . . . and about her octogenarian uncle, determined to know the truth about what he believes was her murder.

It’s about Mikael Blomkvist, a crusading journalist recently at the wrong end of a libel case, hired to get to the bottom of Harriet’s disappearance . . . and about Lisbeth Salander, a twenty-four-year-old pierced and tattooed genius hacker possessed of the hard-earned wisdom of someone twice her age—and a terrifying capacity for ruthlessness to go with it—who assists Blomkvist with the investigation. This unlikely team discovers a vein of nearly unfathomable iniquity running through the Vanger family, astonishing corruption in the highest echelons of Swedish industrialism—and an unexpected connection between themselves.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo brings to life Steig Larsson's first book of his masterful Millennium  trilogy. As the movie opens, Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song (performed by Karen O) screams into the theater, setting the pace and tone for the film. It flashes in pieces and tidbits, exciting the viewer, drawing you in tighter, as it explodes across the big screen.

Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) is a disgraced journalist caught in the trap of a scheming businessman/millionaire, Hans-Erik Wennerström (Ulf Friberg), literally robbed of his career. When Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer) decides to hire someone to do what he has been unable to do and needs to finish before his demise, he looks to Mikael to accomplish the daunting task, to find the murderer of his niece, Harriet Vanger (Moa Garpendal).




She went missing 40 years prior after attending a children's festival. I say it is a daunting task because all the information is 40 years old, as are the pictures, recollections, police investigation. And Henrik is sure the murderer is a close family member.




Which leads us to the mysterious island of the Vanger family stronghold, Hedeby Island. It's where all (almost all) the Vangers live in relative peace, meaning they stay away from each other. Distrust runs rampant.




During World War II, the Vangers were known for the Nazi leanings, two of the three brother were Nazi sympathizers (Gottfried {Jürgen Klein} and Harald {Per Myrberg}), though Gottfried drowns himself in a drunken fall before Harriet's (his daughter) disappearance. Henrik is disdainful of his brothers, though with the disappearance of his niece, he has but little choice other than his nephew, Martin Vanger (Stellan Skarsgård) to operate the family business which interests are wide and varied.




Mikael's task seems insurmountable, and he asked for the use of an assistant/investigator which the family lawyer Dirch Frode (Steven Berkoff) readily provides, Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara) a twenty-three year old ward of the state, currently being abused by newly assigned legal guardian, Nils Bjurman (Yorick van Wageningen).




She's a pierced, tattooed hacker/investigator known for her rough lifestyle and antisocial behavior, and admittedly, she has little reason to trust. Lisbeth is also a little lost, looking for an anchor, one she thinks she's found in Mikael. Together Mikael and Lisbeth piece together what might have happened, only to have reality slap them in the face, very much alive, in the here and now, and murdering still. Not everyone is who she or he appears to be, and the mystery grows.




One of the powerful lines in the movie, "I want you to help me catch the killer of women."




It will take all the skills of the rogue journalist and tattooed investigator to stay alive.

This is an amazing film that grips the viewer with the onslaught of images in the opening credits to the end of the wild ride of the movie. Twists and turns abound, danger lurks around every corner. I've read that the Sweden movie did better justice to the book, and I haven't seen the 2009 Swedish made film (but I want too). With all that said, Rooney Mara plays Lisbeth Salander, the socially different, outcast survivor to perfection and Daniel Craig (famed 007) plays Mikael Blomkvist with just the right amounts of human need, disillusionment, and vengeance. If you haven't seen this movie, it's high on my recommend list, one I'd like to see again, as well as the 2009 English captioned Swedish film of the same name, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. It's a rock em, sock em, roller coaster ride. One of the best films I've seen (and I watch a lot of movies!).





Five out of Five Fairy Kisses (tempted to add 5 more!)


Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Monday Morning Flash Fiction Challenge, Week 77... (The Tuesday Edition)

Good Tuesday Morning (Afternoon)!! (Thanks B for letting me know...lol)

I've been such a bad blogger... I have a head cold and it's KILLING me.. lol. I had a post scheduled for Monday, and I didn't even check to see if it posted... I'm slipping bad...

So, here's yesterday's post today..

Good Monday Morning!

I'm going to get right to it this morning... It's time for another edition of Monday Morning Flash Fiction Challenge!!


This morning's image is another I found while creeping through deviant art/fantasy pages.... hope you all enjoy it!


Definitely warrior-ish... I wonder what it will lead too? I also wonder why guy warriors never have THEIR chest exposed, lol!! But, it's too good to pass up (just cos I gotta problem with less armor, maybe in my story... she'll pull on a chest plate of some kind.... but then again... maybe not).

Hope everyone enjoys it and we have some fantastic flash!!

Have a great week!

Ciao bella!!

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Deliverance, Mortal Path, Book 3 by Dakota Banks

Publisher: Harper Voyager / Harper-Collins
Pages: 304

(Release Date: March 27, 2012)

From the Cover:

“A gut-kick of a read, with non-stop action and as inventive a world as I’ve ever seen.”
—Vicki Pettersson, New York Times bestselling author of the Signs of the Zodiac series
“Great characters who jump from the page; a smart, layered plot, and pacing that screams. This is the kind of book that makes you look forward to a rainy day.”
—John Gilstrap, author of Nathan’s Run


“Readers…will devour Banks’s clever and compelling Mortal Path series. Assassins, demons, and danger, oh my!”
—Lisa Gardner, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love You More

Dakota Banks has taken the supernatural thriller and given it a breathtaking new twist! Deliverance is the third book in Banks’s relentlessly exciting urban fantasy series, Mortal Path, featuring heroine Maliha Crayne, once a demon’s henchwoman and paranormal assassin now determined to atone for her centuries of murderous acts. A cross between Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft and Marvel Comics’s Elektra, Maliha finds her powers are rapidly fading in Deliverance, and discovers that her quest to avoid eternal damnation has put those she loves most in gravest peril. Banks’s Deliverance delivers suspense and edge-of-your-seat adventure—a non-stop paranormal roller coaster ride that fans of Jeaniene Frost, James Rollins, Vicki Pettersson, and Indiana Jones, won’t want to miss.

It will be another rockin rollin thrill ride from Dakota Banks and my favorite heroine, Maliha Crayne... a kick-ass ex-assassin, bent on reclaiming her soul. Can't wait to see what happens!! 

I have to say, Dakota is blessed with some of the best cover art... I'm loving these covers!!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Black Fang by Susan Blexrud

Publisher: DCL Publications
Pages: 45


(Released: August 17, 2011)

From the Cover:

Someone is deliberately infecting bats with a deadly fungus. The flying mammals are dying by the thousands, and along with them, a significant number of vampires in bat form have also succumbed.

Enter John and Lauren Wright. The vampire couple has conquered evil enemies in the past, but the perpetrator behind the bat deaths is more cunning than any they’ve encountered. Though John initially suspects that werewolves are the culprits, he discovers he is up against a colony of Unseelie faeries. The intoxicating scent of the faeries has been known to deceive vampires, pitting friend against friend—and wife against husband.

When a good friend flies into John's house, dying from fungus poisoning known as white nose syndrome, John makes it his business to find out what's going on. The vampires are falling as quickly as their little furry friends, and it has to stop.

To find out, he'll have to go bat himself. He suspects the weres, but after investigating, it appears to have a fey connection. When his wife, Lauren gets suck into a fairy mound, he'll have to try something new and hope it works, or she'll forget him and their daughter forever.


Black Fang is an excellent tidbit of a read from Susan Blexrud. She gives us characters that while preternatural are all too human, with just enough humor to give the reader a few chuckles too. I very much enjoyed this new addition to her Love Fang books. Just what I needed between reads and after NaNoWriMo, the perfect little getaway, the perfect change of pace even if only for a few moments. Five out of five fairy kisses for this reader.







I received this book from the author, because that's just how she rolls (and besides, I had to read.... there were fairies involved....). Thanks Susan!! All opinions expressed are my own.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Dealers of Light by Lara Nance

Publisher: Crescent Moon Press
Pages: 336

(Released: August 19, 2011)

From the Cover:

A malevolent group of Light-Dealers have surfaced in Cara Collin's hometown of Norfolk, Virginia. Led by an ancient Aztec demon, the "Takers" are torturing and murdering their way to world domination. As the horror spreads, Cara-who has the ability to send "Light" into others to augment healing-receives a special power from a patient making her a crucial weapon in stopping the Takers. But, she must figure out how to use the gift before the Takers make her their next target.

When mysterious Rolf Van Harding shows up in town with information that may help her, she's torn between joining his quest and running for her life. When she discovers he's a powerful, ancient Light-Dealer she fears their growing passion will be a weakness-a weakness that could allow the Takers to murder the last remaining Light-Dealer capable of stopping them.

Cara Collins has been a healer her whole life, she knows no other way to be. She's part of a group of Dealers who support and help each other, and when possible, save each other.

When someone comes into her clinic sick or injured, Cara locates their portal and gives part of her inner Light to strength and support the person in need. A young woman, Nicki, comes into her clinic, claiming to have seen some kind of vampiric suctioning of another and Cara doesn't know what to make of it. But on her heals, Emmie comes into her clinic, claiming she's ready to meet her maker. She only came to share her gift, and Cara will need it, if she's to survive what's coming. Mystery engulfs her. Emmie won't accept Cara's healing light, and imparts what she has held within herself, dying in front of Cara's eyes.

Rolf Van Harding strolls into Cara's life, searching for the Takers, corrupted Dealer who have become addicted to the taking of Light. It's everything that goes against what Cara has done with her life, it sickens her to know that instead of helping others, these Takers are stealing Light from their victims. The individuals are mainlining the Light of others, drinking them dry, leaving a husk of a body behind, no visible signs of injury. But, Rolf knows different. He's spent his ancient existence killing the Takers, and now he fears that his greatest enemy has found a home in Atlanta.

When Rolf meets Cara, it's like rediscovering his heart. Emotions that he thought to be long dead, stir to life. Together they discover a bond, the ability to link together. And it might be the Dealers only saving grace.

Dealers of Light by Lara Nance is an sweet paranormal romance. Rolf is a strong alpha male who lost his mate many centuries ago. He's an immortal, his existence has become finding and killing the Takers, the ones responsible for his mate's death. When he stumbles across Cara, there's something about her that brings him to life, makes him want to care again, to live again. What Cara sees in Rolf's eyes is a longing for something more, if only he'll let her be that something more. Until finding Cara, Rolf has been looking for a way to leave life behind. It almost takes her loss for him to discover the depths of his feelings. Now, together, they must protect their small group, because they're the only thing standing between the eventually conquering of humanity and the Takers who are determined to take it all.

Dealers of Light is an unique story, combining ancient myths and modern times. Dealers takes place in Atlanta, though Rolf is from ancient Egypt. But, it is only with his help that Cara and her group can figure out what happening around them. And Rolf needs Cara and her group help if he's going to thwart an ancient evil, almost as old as he is, a demon and his greatest enemy. Dealers is a story of a love reborn, through great time and distance, Rolf learns to love again. And isn't that the best kind of love story there is? This feels like the beginning of a series, and I hope we see more of the wonderful cast of characters Lara Nance has created. The love story between Cara and Rolf is just building, and it's going to be great. I'd love to see more of their life together, and hope to in the future. I highly recommend this sweet paranormal romance (with one scorching love scene) to all lovers of romance, paranormal or not. It's a love story that build across the centuries to find a home with Cara, and with Rolf. I very much enjoyed Dealers of Light, the only thing I could have asked for more of was the hot romance building between Cara and Rolf... but maybe in the next book?? Five out of five fairy kisses for this reader.







I received my copy for review from the author, Lara Nance. All opinions expressed are my own.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Monday Morning Flash Fiction Challenge, Week 76

Good Monday Morning!! (and Happy Birthday Martin Luther King!! One of my personal heroes)

Soooo.... this promises to be a busy week. But, everyone is back to school and work, which is a relief. And everyone is settling back into their routines. But, anyway, it's Monday, so it's time for another challenge. I hope everyone is enjoying the images!!


This morning's image in one I found on the internet while stumbling through fantasy sites. I have no idea who the authors are, but they're pretty sweet!! Enjoy!!


I don't believe we'd have anything similar to this image for a long time. I've been trying to find some different images, and I think this one is certainly different, lol.... and I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with.... I think I already know which way I'm going to go.... yeah, I have some good ideas.

Have a great week everyone!!

Ciao!

Friday, January 13, 2012

Monday Morning Flash Fiction Challenge, Week 75.... The Friday Post

It's been another loooong week here at Taylor ranchero..... yes, it's been that kind of week.... *sigh*

Without further ado or circumstance... The Friday Post...



And the lovely image provided by Ana!!





Of Fae and Men
by Dottie Taylor
word count: 610

Galen moved with the big cat, his eyes reflected the panther's. It's hunger, it's need. When it roared into the blackness of the night, he felt his own vocal cords stir with the rumble of a growl.

“Where is she?” Galen gazed down the corridor of darkness, the panther glanced back. “Come, my pet.” And the cat turned at his words, and slinked back to his side. “Maybe another night, hmm?” His hand found the thick fur between the big cat's ears, and rubbed it's silken softness. “Another night.” His eyes glowed like the cat's, and again he growled.

Together, the man and beast strolled through the streets, the cat's nostril quivered with a scent, but not the one they sought the most. Her scent, her heat. Suddenly, the cat's head swiveled around, a shadow followed. Galen reached down, and stroked it's fur. “I know, my friend, we're being followed.” The cat growled deep in it's throat. The only sound that echoed in the night was the click of powerful nails and the soft footfalls of Galen's leathered souls. Whatever followed was silent as death.

They rounded a dark corner, and waited, man and beast, breath held. Their helpless prey continued, stumbling into their shadows with a small yelp. It was a woman, but not the one they searched for, it was another. But, maybe, she would do.

The big cat roared back, and the woman brought her hands up to cover her face. “Please, sir!” She begged even as she imagined the claws of the beast burrowing through her flesh. “Please, I've been told only you can help.”

“Blackspell, calm yourself, you're frightening our young charge.” Galen smiled at the cat, and it snarled back, a great tongue swiped across it's piercing fangs. The young woman shivered, maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all.

Galen bowed and offered his hand, “Galen Reunalt. And you are?”

She curtsied, and offered her own. “Lisbeth Rigley, and I've been told you help those in need.”

“And who would have presumed to tell you that?” He asked irritation in his voice.

“Sir, it is common knowledge.” She replied, stepping into the light.

Galen's heart stopped, before his stood an exact duplicate of the woman he searched for, only younger, and he inhaled, sweeter. He peered carefully into her bright blue eyes, and purer, no infection of the darkness whatsoever.

“Who are you, my dear?” He questioned again, circling her body.

“Mademoiselle Elizabeth Marie Rigley, Monsieur.” She returned, “and I think you know my mother.”

Galen let out the breath he'd been holding. So, the woman had a daughter? Letting her roam the streets was a foolish mistake. “Many search for her, the Fae aren't known for taking prisoners.” He scowled, “What do you think you're doing out here, and alone?”

“Same as you, I imagine, sir. Searching for my mother. She must be found, as you say, the Fae take no prisoners.”

Again he scowled, the silly young thing was going to get herself killed or worst, mistaken for her mother. Her bounty was high, set by the Unseelie King himself. “You'll not find her this way.” He growled, and the big cat growled too.

“Ah, but you will, won't you sir? It's imperative I find her, she's holding the secret to my brother's release.” She sighed, Lord Galen was her last hope.

“There's more of you?” He shook his head, not believing his ears.

“Yes sir. And if she doesn't return what was stolen, his life is forfeit.”



Well.... that's all I have for today.... tune in again Monday morning, same bat time, same bat channel for another edition of......


Monday Morning Flash Fiction Challenge!!!

Ciao bella!! 

Have a great weekend!!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

The Star-Crossed Saga: Protostar by Braxton A. Cosby

Publisher: Firefly Publishing
Pages: 378

(Released: September 25, 2011)

From the Cover:

It Starts With Choice! What would you choose: love or irrefutable duty?

On the brink of Civil War, the Torrian Alliance continues with its mission to obliterate Star-children across the universe in order to suppress an intergalactic evil. Following the recommendations of his Council, King Gregorio Derry has agreed to send his only son on a mission to restore honor to his family. Bounty Hunter Prince William Derry has crossed thousands of light-years to planet Earth in order to fulfill this age old prophetic practice. 

The quiet days of Madisonburg, Tennessee are officially over as Sydney Elaine now knows the full meaning of the phrase 'Be careful what you wish for' when she is confronted by this strange visitor. As an unforeseeable event delays his assassination, William decides to study his target more closely and begins to form a 'connection' with Sydney that challenges his inner being. But this conflict is the least of his problems, as a conspiracy back on his home planet Fabricius threatens the lives of those he loves and his father's royal legacy. 

Along with that, he must unravel a hidden menace on Earth that threatens both his and Sydney's safety. Will William be able to complete his mission or will he choose love, sacrificing everything he stands for?

Sydney Elaine is just a small town girl waiting for life to start. Will she find love? Can she with any of the boys she's known her whole life? Then the earthquake happens, and strange things follow... like her grandmother taking in a strange boy stranded by a car accident. But, where are the friends he's supposed to have? Why don't they come back for him?

William Derry is from a distant star system and a bounty hunter sent to kill the star child. When his craft folds space, the Earth is shaken, and the small town of Madisonburg, Tennessee is rocked by the quake. When he shows up on Sydney's doorstep, she's instantly aware of him, even if his story sounds a little fishy.... I mean who ends up abandon by friends on a mountain road, without a cell phone or a change of clothes?

William finds himself attracted to the magnetic Sydney, with her internal warmth and humanity, both of which he has seldom experienced. Sydney also suffers from attraction, even if she shouldn't be.

Protostar by Braxton A. Cosby is a unique telling of star crossed lovers, separated by the wide expanse of space. When William finds Sydney, he becomes addicted to the star power that rests within her body, waiting to be discovered. It's warmth like he's never experience before. But, if he fails in his mission to kill the star child, he'll bring disgrace upon his family. It becomes an internal battle, torn between duty and desire. Sydney knows William is different, but she can't figure out how, and she wouldn't believe it anyway, until the dreams start. Could William be her destiny?

Protostar has loads of possibilities. It has an excellent storyline, characters that you want to get to know. But, there's also the trap that many new writers fall into, the curse of telling instead of showing. When I read a story, especially science fiction/fantasy, I want to feel the rumble of the engines vibrating beneath my feet as the craft roars through the soundless expanse of space. I don't need to know that the hull is white and the ship is an elongated shape of one kind or another, or the diameter, the internal workings. Let that come about through how someone else sees the craft, when someone else touches it icy exterior. If a character cries with the loss of a love, I want to feel the sadness. Telling slows the story down when it should be fast paced, as when the ship tears through space, folding it, shaking buildings apart the Earth's surface. I want to have to side step the rubble as it falls above my head. That's what this story is missing, as well as some addition editing to catch a few spelling errors, misuse of words, and grammatical errors. Also, this is a YA book (I read tons of YA), but the language felt somewhat stilted, unnatural, forced. I could see why William's speech patterns would have been stilted, he's an alien trying to fit in, but Sydney's speech pattern could be more natural, more teen like (not teen speak though, it ends up not sounding right) and toss away the thesaurus, the story will be better for it. I found myself trying to skim the first part of the story, or every time there was an over share of information, but I was afraid I'd miss a vital bit of information. It made the story slow reading, at least for this reviewer. See Amazon for more reviews. I think Braxton Cosby came up with a winner as far as the storyline goes, the cover art is beautifully eye catching and relates directly to the star child's story and the space hunters sent to find her. I'll look forward to the next in the series, but I do encourage additional editing. This could be a fantastic tale! Three out of five fairy kisses for this reader.








I received my review copy from the author, Braxton Cosby. A big thank you to Braxton!

Monday, January 9, 2012

Monday Morning Flash Fiction Challenge, Week 75

Good Afternoon to all the Flash Fictioneers out in the blogosphere!!

It's been a looooog day. Dealing with college issues for the kids. I just want to let everyone out there with kids know.... it doesn't get any easier as they grow up. It only gets more expensive, time consuming, and demanding.... It's been a rough day at the Taylor household. I knew it was going to be a rough first year of college for my daughter. I'm cringing, waiting to reality to strike. I don't want to be here when the bomb explodes, lol.

But, anyway, it's Monday, and time for a new challenge (I'll also have more time to do the challenges myself... EVERYONE goes back to school tomorrow....YAY!!!!! I never knew it would be this stressful to have a kid in college. Neither of my sons are this much work....) The Monday Morning Flash Fiction Challenge... that is!!


Today's images comes from the lovely Ana.... it's a beautiful image, thought provoking. I don't use a lot of images with animals in them... don't know why, but this one is too beautiful to pass up!!


So have fun!! I have a bunch of flashes to post, so, I'll try to sprinkle them in throughout the week... if I have enough time. Please to the powers that be..... I don't need another day like today!

The rules remain the same 350 words and come back Friday to share your flash!!!

Have fun my friends!!

Ciao!!!

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Centauri 2: Centauri Twilight by Cynthia Woolf

Publisher: Cynthia Woolf/Smashwords
Pages: 158


Lara Danexx suffered years of torment at the hands of the evil and twisted Ranzon Slavarien. But she escaped and raised an army of rebels to destroy him. Victory is within her grasp when an unwelcome intruder hunts her down and spins wild tales of her lost family and royal blood. This arrogant invader stirs her long dead emotions and threatens to ruin all of her plans. She can’t allow herself to desire his touch, or believe his lies…too much is at stake.

General Anton Coridian gave his word that he would find his beloved queen’s long lost sister, Princess Jondalara. He expects a pampered princess. Instead he finds a guerilla leader with an army of loyal cut-throats and rogues at her back. Every instinct he has demands that she is his lifemate and he must steal her away to safety. But the dark determination and pain in her eyes reminds him of his own tortured past. She offers him redemption and the chance to right an unspeakable wrong. Destiny must be laughing, because now he’s fallen in love with a woman who will stop at nothing to free her people…even if it means sacrificing herself. Anton is determined to join her, both in bed and in battle. Now he must convince Lara that his love can save not just her life, but her battered heart.

General Anton Coridian has suffered at the hands of the Centauri mortal enemy, the Slavarien family. The cruel society perpetuated by the elder Thoriz Slavarien, their leader and master of his sons. Slavers in the true sense of the word. Everyone conquered by them are leashed, treated like animals, displayed to keep the general citizenry compliant and dominated. He was beaten and tortured almost to the point of death before his escape was made with the help of his queen and one time fiance. Though his body is healed, his mind is still suffering, bent to the point of breaking. Only the need to find his queen's sister and vengeance holds him together. He has refused the help of healers, his pain is his own, private.

Lara Danexx was abandoned by her family or that's the story she been led to believe since the death of her uncle and protector. She has suffered a far worse fate than just beating and torturing, her body has been used and abuse by Ranzon Slavarien, and he was taught by the best, Thoriz. And, she's the only woman to escape from Ranzon's captivity. She has raised a small band of followers, vowing to take the lives of Thoriz and Ranzon for their cruel treatmeant not only of her, but to all those they touch. She can almost see victory within her grasp when General Anton Coridian steps into her life with lies of a family who has been searching for her, who want her back, who need her. She won't be dissuaded.

Anton has made promises and plans to keep him, first to his queen, then to the Slavariens. Without Lara, the darkness will take him. Anton and Lara have the ability to heal each other as well as seek their vengeance, but will they? Can they? Can they learn to trust, even as a lifemate?

Centauri Twilight by Cynthia Woolf is a futuristic space scifi paranormal romance. It's set in a world where the cruel Slavariens control the fate of a world, their captivities used until death takes them. It's Lara's leadership of a small ban of rebels that provides the only hope. When Anton threatens to take her away from her vengeance, she rebels. Her emotions long dead from abuse, her heart frozen with the need to take the Slavariens from power. Anton also needs to heal his emotions, he needs a balm to salve his rawness. Lara could be that balm, if she'll let herself, if she can start to feel again. But, neither will truly rest until Thoriz Slavarien has either been captured or killed. When they finally come together, even on Lara's limited terms of need, sparks fly, and if Lara will allow it, love will grow.

Centauri Twilight has the makings of an excellent paranormal romance, and with a little growth and editing to mesh the pieces together to perfection, it will be. I am an early reader of this book, and was offered this book as a consolation prize for a contest held by Ms. Woolf and Jean Murray, before it's release in October 2011. I had already read Ms. Murray wonderful book, Soul Reborn. This is the third self published release from Cynthia Woolf, and she has potential. The big thing, and this is terribly hard for a self published author, is to show instead of tell. Cynthia does this pretty well, and with a little more development, she'll have a winner. I like the cover art on the first book of this series better, so that's something I would work too. Remember, cover art helps sell the story, the blurb is a fantastic synopsis, excellently told for this story. It's a wonderful story of the wound tortured hero, and a heroine who has suffered as well (I loved it), and it's created a hard protective shell that heroine hides inside, refusing the love that could save her. The story of need and desire of this pairing is great. I'll keep watching this author to see how she grows and what she gives us next.

Three and a half fairy kisses for this reader (and I'm leaning toward four).








I received my copy as a consolation prize (I already owned Soul Reborn). I happily read and reviewed, excellent attempt by this emerging author.

Promo ~ Marissa Meyer's The Lunar Chronicles...Cinder

Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pages: 387

(Released: January 3, 2012)

From the Cover:

Even in the future, the story begins with Once Upon a Time….

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth's fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future.

This one of my most anticipated reads for 2012!! I freaking love the cover!

Marissa Meyer's website, here.... Facebook Fan Page, here.... and Twitter, here.

Monday, January 2, 2012

Monday Morning Flash Fiction Challenge, Week 74

I don't believe this, I'm actually posting this on Monday morning... miracles will never cease to exist... lol

I've have a couple of flashes written, but honestly, I've been so busy trying to catch up from NaNoWriMo and Christmas.... I had to write FIVE freaking reviews this weekend. One more to go and about 50 books to read and I'll finally be up to date... sigh... And still editing this years NaNo MS. The story continues to draw me, though a few places still have a little drag (how to pep up??? I hate it when the story drags).

Anyway, it's time for another Monday edition of..... (if it posts correctly... is anyone else struggling with blogger??? It's really starting to tick me off!) Addendum: The freaking post didn't post at all!!! RRRR!! But, I checked it and I'm able to at least post manually... Some days... oh well...

Monday Morning Flash Fiction Challenge!!!

This weeks images comes to us from the lovely Blodeudd!! It's different from what we've had lately, I hope everyone enjoys it. I might struggle to write for this one *chews fingernail* but I'm going to give it a try!!


It's so interesting, and I really want to know her story. Is she at war, leaving home, just returning?? Lots of possibilities here!!

The rules remain the same, somewhere around 350 words, and come back Friday to post your response. But most of all, have fun!! As the fabulous Henri Matisse said "Creativity takes courage." Lets make this a courageous year!!

Ciao!!

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Happy New Year 2012

From Tink and Me to the Blogosphere.....





Have a wonderfully fabulous New Year!!!

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