Book Review and Giveaway -TWO COPIES: The Goblin King by Shona Husk

Yes - I like fairytale romances.:-)

The Goblin King

by Shona Husk

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; Original edition (October 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402259859
• ISBN-13: 978-1402259852

Genre: Fantasy
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Product Description:
Cursed by a Druid millennia ago, Roan lives a bleak existence in the Shadowlands, desperately trying to retain his soul and not succumb to the goblin horde. When a beautiful human summons him to grant a wish, he sees a glimmer of hope. But will she ever agree to be his queen?

Review: Here are Goblins you can really like.
Roan, the last King of his clan, was unfairly cursed a thousand years ago.  Roan might have given up over the years but the curse also included his brothers and members of his clan.  There were six originally but now only three remain.  The others were killed in goblin wars, lost the struggle to remain human and succumbed to the lore of gold and became fully Goblin or killed themselves rather than become goblin.  One of the same fates await Roan and his brothers unless they can find a way to end the curse.

Roan is summoned by Eliza when she is threatened by her power grabbing fiancé, Steve.  Eliza had called on the Goblin King to rescue her nine years earlier when she was only 15. She can’t remember the details but has had vague dreams and a warm sense that the Goblin King is real and can help her.  Note - If you read The Summons (available at Kindle, Barnes & Noble or ITunes) it tells the earlier encounter and I think helped the flow of this book.

When Roan recognizes Eliza he is even more convinced that she should stay in Shadowland and become his Queen.  Roan and his brother, Dai, think perhaps a woman who would come willingly to be Queen could break the curse.  Eliza sees good still in Roan and wants to help but she doesn’t really want to stay in the land of greed, rot and death. And why would she want to leave one loveless relationship for a guy who doesn't even have a heart to love with?

If Roan keeps Eliza he would be risking trapping her in Shadowland when he turns full Goblin and has no recollection of her. Can they find a way to compromise to be together or a way to break the curse before the lure of greed overcomes him or he dies trying to kill the druid who now threatens Eliza?

I was not familiar with the Goblin King legends so this was all new and fun to me.  I really liked these characters and was rooting for Roan and Dai. I felt the disappointments when the curse wasn’t broken by the actions they hoped would work.  The story moved quickly and was an entertaining read. I liked Dai’s character as well and hope he finds a HEA in his book although I can’t imagine how the next book could have the magic and deadline of doom suspense that helped drive this book.

On a personal note - My main disappointment with The Goblin King was that the cover didn’t show Roan’s beaded dreadlocks which were described so nicely in the book. Oddly dreads aren’t something I normally like but I liked the amber beads that made music for Roan and Eliza.

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Thank you to Sourcebooks for this book to  review and for offering two books for giveaway.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for TWO COPIES:
1. Visit the author's website and tell me something of interest you found there. This is required for entry.

2.  For two extra entries comment on the Author Interview.

3.   Two more entries for answering Question #8 from Author Interview.

4.  For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

5. For two entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Eight total entries possible.)

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on November 4, 2011.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
TWO WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED on November 5. 
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

It's Monday! What are you Reading? October 17, 2011

This meme starts at Book Journey!

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I had another pretty good reading week - I finished five books.   I posted three reviews, two with giveaways. I was hoping to post a fourth review but that didn't happen. I added a Flash Giveaway this week along with the usual regular Friday Pick Giveaway; Saturday Sharing Beyond Books, and Sunday posts.

I did get to visit a few blogs last week to say "Hi."
These were last week's posts plus Winner posts not listed.

•  It's Monday What are You Reading? October 9, 2011.

• Book Review and Copy Giveaway: Where Tomorrow Waits by Jane Peart. Inspirational, Historical;  My Rating: 4.0.  Ends 10/21.

• Book Review and Review Copy Giveaway: Kiss of Night by Debbie Viguie'.  Fantasy;  my rating 4.25. Ends 10/28.

• Audio Book Review: Immortal by Gillian Shields. YA (or tweens?); my rating 3.75.

•  Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway October 14, 2011.  Open Worldwide. Ends 10/20.

• Flash Giveaway from ARC and Review box. Open Worldwide. Ends 10/17

• Sharing Beyond Books #18 Comment Giveaway.  Open Worldwide. Ends 10/21.

•  Sunday Words of Encouragement October 16, 2011. 

Finished Reading:

1.  Print/Kindle

Kiss of Night 
by Debbie Viguie'

Review and ARC Giveaway linked above.

2. Kindle
Summons: A Goblin King Prequel
by Shona Husk

This is a prequel to A Goblin King and I do recommend you read it. It sets the background for the main book.

Product Description:
Every fairy tale has to have some basis in fact, right? That's what Eliza thought as she made a desperate plea to the legendary Goblin King. If he could grant her wish, she'd finally be safe. He would protect her. But what would he ask in return...?
Enjoy this short free prequel and a sneak peek of The Goblin King, the first of a highly imaginative new paranormal series by Shona Husk.

3.  Print/Kindle:

The Goblin King
by Shona Husk

A fun read.
Review and author Q&A
on Monday October 17.
Read for Sourcebooks.

4. Audio
Unmeasured Strength
by Lauren Manning

This is a very remarkable story.

I am reviewing this for Audiobook Jukebox and Macmillan Audio.  I will post the review on Tuesday October 18.

5. One undisclosed book. 

Line Edits/Releases:

We released the second book in the Brides and Dark Secrets Anthology. The Weeping Bride by Pembroke Sinclair.

Scorned at her own wedding, The Weeping Bride has vowed to make every bride from her hometown miserable until she finds her own happiness. When the groom at a friend's wedding disappears, Melanie and Tyler must solve the mystery of the Bride to save him. Time is not on their side. Will they find him before The Weeping Bride's revenge is satiated?
Genre: Paranormal Romance
pages: 57, Novella

Currently reading:

Print/Kindle:

The Christmas Wedding 

by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo

This is delightful.
I will post the review Wednesday, October 19.

Reading for Little Brown & Company, a division of Hachette.

Product Description:
The tree is decorated, the cookies are baked, and the packages are wrapped, but the biggest celebration this Christmas is Gaby Summerhill's wedding. Since her husband died three years ago, Gaby's four children have drifted apart, each consumed by the turbulence of their own lives. They haven't celebrated Christmas together since their father's death, but when Gaby announces that she's getting married--and that the groom will remain a secret until the wedding day--she may finally be able to bring them home for the holidays.

But the wedding isn't Gaby's only surprise--she has one more gift for her children, and it could change all their lives forever. With deeply affecting characters and the emotional twists of a James Patterson thriller, The Christmas Wedding is a fresh look at family and the magic of the season.

audible/audio

by Graham Storrs

This is quite interesting.

I am reviewing this for Audiobook Jukebox and Iambik Audiobooks

Product  Description:
Jumping back in time used to be fun... until people started dying. In the year 2050, London is on the verge of destruction. A thrill-seeker calling himself Sniper is about to jump back in time to create a time paradox. It's called timesplashing. It is exciting, dangerous, and the people who do it love every moment. Best of all, it doesn't change a thing - except in the present. When the acausal backwash from the splash hits the present, all hell breaks loose. Make a big enough timesplash, far enough back, and it can devastate a whole city. Once, timesplashing was an extreme sport and an excuse for a big party. Then Sniper took it too far. People started dying. Sandra and Jay are two people whose lives were shattered in a timesplash that went badly wrong in 2047. Now, each in their own way, they are hunting the timesplashers. And if they don't find them, millions could die.

Print/Kindle:

The Rose Garden
by Susanna Kearsley

Set on the Cornish Coast and blending present to past.
I'm looking forward to another Kearsley read.
Reading for Sourcebooks.

Product Description:
Acclaimed author Susanna Kearsley's previous works have won the RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Award, and finaled for both the UK Romantic Novel of the Year and the RITA awards. Eva Ward is a modern woman thrown back three centuries to 1715 only to find that might be exactly where she belongs. There she finds true love with Daniel Butler, but the discord surrounding Hanoverian King George plunges the lovers into a world of intrigue, treason, and love.

???
I am pretty sure I will start one more book this week but I haven't decided which yet.

I am also listening to The Listener's Bible NIV 
read by Max McLean. 
I am at Jeremiah 27 and Timothy 1.

Line Edits: I am working on more of the Dark Bride Anthology series for October and continuing to set up print releases.

Scheduled Events in October:
10/26 Mind Over Matter - Author Guest Post and Giveaway - Bewitching Book Tours

Additional Sourcebooks Review Books:
In Winter's Shadow by Gillian Bradshaw
Utterly Charming by Kristine Grayson
Unleashed by Sara Humphreys

Additional Hachette Titles (just received): October or November
Help! For Writers by Roy Peter Clark - Little Brown
The Revisionists by Thomas Mullen - Mulholand/Little Brown

Remaining September Author Selections:
Karen Weisner - Love Is Blind and It Don't Pay the Bills Either (Denim Blues Mysteries, Book 2) (read)

Souls on (B)oring Street [Denim Blues Mysteries Book 3]
Anne Patrick Renegade Hearts
Nibi Soto - The Chronicles of Quant
Nathan Patrick Hardt - The Second Sonata
Caedem Marquez - The Path Home
 

[To be posted:
These were read and ready for reviews for Authors. I am sending out interviews for these. I hope to post them all soon.
Quest for Magic by Jean Hart Stewart - Read; review to be posted with interview.
Seeing for the First Time (What You See is What You Get) and To See (What You See is What You Get) by Nicole Zoltack - Both Read; setting up author interview with reviews.
Steamrolled by Pauline Baird Jone. Read; review to be posted with author interview.]

Sunday Words of Encouragement October 16, 2011

This morning we were blessed with a guest minister/singer, John Starnes. John spent a number of years as a singer with the Jimmy Swaggert Ministries.  He gave a bit of testimony sharing how he had his life all planned out - he'd sing at his job for 30 years or so, then retire; his daughters would grow up in the Swaggert school, then attend college and go into missions.  When the Swaggert ministry crashed in scandal the lives of many of the teachers, assistant ministers and others changed drastically.

Over the years John discovered that God had a different plan for his life - one he would never have imagined.  John became part of the Walk Through the Bible ministries hoping to have a new career in taking the program to various churches. This past year John was directed and blessed to bring the Walk Through the Bible program to the Florida Prisons... as a volunteer program (unfunded).

John reminded us not to put God in a box.  God will always open a door where He wants us to go. We just need to recognize that it may not be a high door, but a low door.  In my words: it might not be a mighty ministry Cathedral door with golden trim but rather a lowly prison gate of bars.

John sang some good songs (lovely voice!) including this one which he wrote
and was made popular by the Gaither Band.

I'll be Singing with the Saints.

Verses for Today:

Proverbs 3:5-6 New International Version (NIV)  

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart

   and lean not on your own understanding;

⁶ in all your ways submit to him,

   and he will make your paths straight.

Thank you Brother Starnes for reminding us that we are on a journey and we should always allow God to be the guide!  I'll be praying for you, your family and your ministries.
Learn more about John Starnes at his website and check out the Timothy's Gift program.

Sharing Beyond Books #18 Comment Giveaway - 10/15/11

Happy Saturday Night again.  I hope everyone has had a good week. Mine was busy, busy. Ha - so what's new?
Thanks for your comments this past week - it seemed like those questions were a bit easier to answer than some.

The majority of us like any setting but we all seem to agree we want it well written and fitting to the story.  
Several preferred the urban settings for Thrillers or mysteries... I wonder why that is. Carol M likes city and courtroom settings. I thought I was a rare person who likes courtroom settings... And we do know why that is. *grin*

The vote was closely split for past and future time travel although past nudged out future. Abby and Mona just couldn't pick but wanted both. :-)  Interestingly many of you wanted to be careful not to effect the past and then there were a couple who want to change or at least re-live their own past. Most of those who wanted to go to the future were curious to see how things turned out.

~~~~

The Winner from SBB #17 comments is: #11 Krystal. There are still 9 'love' books to pick from, 7 Christmas choices and 2 Summer titles below so Krystal please choose a book from the remaining Love Books List for Giveaway or remaining Christmas Giveaway Books, the one summer book below OR pick from the ARC box and let me know your choice, your address and a choice of bookmarks by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #18 Questions

Q1. Jennifer asks another question this week:  You've just won a date with your favourite literary character...who would it be and what would you do on your date??

A: NOTE: I jumped to the conclusion this meant a male since it asks about a date.  Ohhhh - that is just too hard to try to remember just one literary character as a favorite. There have been so many handsome Dukes or Viscounts I've liked; and of course the hunky Highlanders; a few vampires, demons and even goblins - like characters I've read this week!

One character that does come to mind - hunky, rich, dark,  sensitive and Irish background to boot - is Roarke from the Eve Dallas series (Nora Roberts).  But since they are married it would have to be a double date with our spouses. Since Roarke does interplanetary travel, I choose a restaurant on another planet. The one below looks exotic.

Q2. Now... to go along with the first question: if you could choose a day outing with a favorite female literary character who would you pick and where would you go/what would you do?

This seemed to be a good matching question but it is still a hard one.  I guess I am in stealth mode tonight instead of Ballroom romance. I have Eve Dallas on my mind but I also like Lindsay Boxer from Patterson's Women's Murder Club. Hard choices but... I think I would like to have a day out with Eve working on mystery clues.

*** I will probably think of different characters tomorrow!

Hmmm- speaking of solving mysteries - doesn't this game look like it would be fun?

Margrave: The Curse of the Severed Heart

~~~~

Thanks to those who are sending in Questions. DON'T BE SHY! Surely everyone has a Q or two you'd like to ask.  Input suggestions in this Suggested Question Form.  At the end of each month I will draw from the suggestions I used the month before and that person will get a book choice or GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions but some of you others might want to get in a question or two as we have a few people submitting most of the questions so far.  Either way - it works for me. :-)

Your turn to share:

1.  You've just won a date with your favourite literary character...who would it be and what would you do on your date??

2.  If you could choose a day outing with a favorite female literary character who would you pick and where would you go/what would you do???

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the remaining  Valentine and "Love" books or the remaining Christmas Giveaway Books - there are still about 17 books available plus 2 left in the Summer titles to choose from. Also I have added the Review and ARC Box now.

The Days of Summer: A Novel

My copy is a paperback from 2006

with a different cover.

A Summer Affair (Calhoun Chronicles)
I love Susan Wiggs historicals!

SBB Rules: a) Must be a follower; 
b) Share a comment on any (or all) of the two/three questions above.
Open internationally and an international winner may get a smaller book or a $5.00 GC if I decide the mailing is too much.
I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made by Friday, October 21 at 10PM central.

Flash Giveaway from the ARC/Review Box - Ends 10/17

Just for fun this is a FLASH GIVEAWAY  I have been intending for several weeks and more.

Since I wanted to post this before my cruise I am going to have TWO Winners.
The giveaway is for ANY book on my Review and ARC giveaway list!
I have added a few more ARC and review books.

TO ENTER:

•  Must be a follower and state how you follow (GFC, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads; email); all links are on the sidebars.
•  Tell me what day you like for Flash Giveaway, assuming I will keep it open 2-3 days only? 

1. Sat - Mon
2. Sun - Tues
3. Mon - Wed
4. Tues - Thurs
5. Wed - Fri
6. Thurs - Sat
7. Fri - Sat

•  Check out the available books, make a choice and leave a comment saying what book you would like!

I will mail the review or ARC copy OR order the chosen book through Book Depository provided the postage or book cost is under $10.00.


Open Worldwide. Winners will be picked by Random.org.
Ends October 17, 2011 at 10 PM Central.