Book Review: Nadir (The Samsara Chronicles Book 2) + Kindle Giveaway Link!

The mystery continues to build.
Nadir (The Samsara Chronicles Book 2)
by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley

• File Size: 139 KB
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: eXtasy Books (May 25, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0086FP9AC

Genre:Science Fiction
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: May 25, 2012

The fate of a besieged Earth rests on Aislinn and her soul mate, Dylan, to battle the alien Eletarii bent on conquering humanity.

Aislinn, directed by circumstance to meet her past and future soul mate, Dylan Young, begins to understand the daunting task awaiting her. In order to save Earth, she and Dylan must open the portal, the celestial gateway that will allow salvation of Earth's chosen. Facing opposition at every step from a world plunged into chaos, they have until midnight, December 31st, to reach their destination.

Review:
This is the second book in the Samsara Chronicles series. Although it picks up where the first book ends, it doesn’t review much of the first book but seems to assume that the reader has read book 1. This book is all about introducing the reader to Aislinn and Dylan and briefly explaining their mission.

Aislinn is a survivor who moved from her parents’ farm (book 1) to go to college and then get a job in the city of Vancouver which, even with much destruction, has fared better than many cities that have been reduced to rubble by earthquakes, fires, drought and uncontrolled looting. Aislinn has always had her own private light bubbles to comfort her in times of stress. Now she learns from her bubbly light friends that she is "the bearer of the light", a chosen leader. The warm, comforting lights explain that Aislinn must run and hide to be kept safe from the enemy, the Eletarii, who are actively seeking to kill her. The Eletarii presence is growing and they will do whatever it takes to stop Aislinn from saving Earth.

Aislinn also learns that the police detective, Dylan, who responded to the break in at her home is another 'chosen'. It is implied they had a past together and that they are intended to be together to help save the Earth although the battle and plan of salvation are not yet fully explained. I liked the calm strength of both Aislinn and Dylan.

The authors set the scene in the devastated city, including many devastated lives that have sunk into extreme depravity. It is ugly and shocking. There is some bit of telling through the light beings rather than showing through action. Yet the story is engaging as it builds.  This book only lays a foundation for the continuing story. There is much yet to be developed in the characters and the plot and I am interested to learn more in the next book.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An example of description that I liked:

Misshapen snowflakes resembling gray tufts of cotton candy rained a dismal veil. It seemed ironic that the frosty blanket would soon smother the drought-scorched land... Location 645.

I am Reviewing this series for the authors through Pump Up Your Book Blog Tours.

This is set in Vancouver and I will add it to my ARC challenge List.

~ ~ ~ KINDLE FIRE GIVEAWAY ~ ~ ~

Pump Up Your Book and The Samsara Chronicles are teaming up to give you a chance to win a Kindle Fire!

Here’s how it works:

Each person will enter this giveaway by liking, following, subscribing and tweeting about this giveaway through the Rafflecopter form placed on blogs throughout the tour.  If your blog isn’t set up to accept the form, we offer another way for you to participate by having people comment on your blog then directing them to where they can fill out the form to gain more entries.
This Kindle Fire promotion will run from June 1 – August 31. Winner will be chosen randomly by Rafflecopter, contacted by email and announced on September 1, 2012.
Each blogger who participates in The Samsara Chronicles virtual book tour is eligible to enter and win.
Visit each blog stop below to gain more entries as the Rafflecopter widget will be placed on each blog for the duration of the tour.
If you would like to participate, email Dorothy at thewriterslife(at)gmail.com. Last day to sign up is July 27. What a great way to not only win this fabulous prize, but to gain followers and comments too! Good luck everyone!

Click on the graphic below to find out how you can win!

[If the picture link doesn't work, go to this page].

~ ~ ~WIN $50 GIFT CERTIFICATE ~ ~ ~

One lucky person who comments the most on The Samsara Chronicles’ blog stops will receive a $50 gift certificate. The blog host who receives the most comments through the tour will also receive a $50 gift certificate!

Q&A With Caridad Pineiro, Author of The Claimed

Please help me welcome Caridad Piñeiro

author of

The Claimed (Sin Hunters)

Questions for Caridad:
Q1  What is a “Typical” day like for you?

CP:  I am an early riser and during the week I head to work on the train.  I usually write on the train during the commute and that gives me some solid time to write.  When I head home, I try to get in some exercise and lots of time with my family.  I don’t normally write at night because I’m too tired, but if a deadline calls, I will do so.  On the weekends, I sleep in a little later (until 6) and then get up and put in a few hours of writing.  Then it’s off to do household chores or maybe a nice long stroll along the boardwalk.

Q2  Claimed is part of the Sin Hunter Series. I am always curious about series books: did you have each book plotted out before you started the first one or did the subsequent books flow from the first book?

CP:  I had a very strong idea about the plots for the first two books.  I knew I was going to introduce the world and the Hunters in the first book and then really build on their powers and the mythology in the second.  Of course, I also knew what the romances would be like in both because for me it’s important to have a strong emotional arc for the characters.  As I was finishing up the second book, I knew which two characters would headline in the third and based on what had happened in the battles, created the storyline for books 3 and 4 – THE SHATTERED and THE HUNTED.

Q3  How do find your characters and personalities?  Is there any special inspiration?

CP:  They say writers are the only people where it’s okay to have someone talking to them in their heads!  My characters come to me very powerfully and scream for me to write their stories.  It’s also usually the female characters and because I want them to really have to work to have the happily-ever-after, I generally try to set up the worst possible guy and/or climax for them.  In THE CLAIMED, it can’t get any worse for Victoria than to fall in love with her mortal enemy and I knew it would be hard work for them to get together.

Q4  Which word would you use to describe yourself and your personality?

CP:  I am a Type AA.  I am very driven and determined, but also kind and friendly.  Basically shy which shocks a lot of people.  I’ve only learned to be more extroverted because of my day job and also because of the writing.  I’ve been lucky to meet so many fabulous people with the writing and I would have missed them if I hadn’t gotten over my shyness.

Q5  How do you handle it when some element of what you're writing decides that it just doesn't want to work the way you want it to?

CP:  It’s very frustrating to want something to work when it isn’t going the way you want.  But as Einstein said, lunacy is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.  So I guess what I’m saying is that if it’s not working, you need to step back and figure out a different way of approaching it, otherwise you will continue to be frustrated.  When that happens to me, I’ll take a long walk or a shower.  Both help me clear my brain and think about what I might be doing wrong in a scene and how to get it to work better.

Questions for Victoria:

Q6  Which word would you use to describe yourself and your personality? 

Victoria: I’m determined to help my people do better, but I’m also lonely because of the weight of leadership.  I’d love to find a partner that could help me carry that burden.

Q7  What is something you would never be caught dead doing/saying?

Victoria:  “I can’t….”  There is nothing that I can’t do because I will work hard at accomplishing what I want for myself and my people.

Q8  Do you have any pet peeves? 

Victoria:  People who pollute the environment or litter.  We all share the world and leave it for our children, so we should respect it and care for it.

Q9  What do you do for fun when you aren’t helping your family, friends or managing your business? 

Victoria:  I love to do all kinds of water sports like kayaking, surfing and swimming.  My natural affinity is for the water, so I love to spend as much time as I can in it.

Q10  What is the one thing your reader’s would be surprised to know about you?

Victoria:  That I wish I was more human.  Having the powers that I have brings great responsibility and that can be tiring if you don’t have someone by your side.

Final Question:

Q11  If you could have readers finish a sentence what would it be?

 If I could shapeshift, I’d love to become a ……

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for a copy of The Claimed:
1. Answer the author's Question in red at Q11.  This is required for entry.

2. For another entry:  Make a meaningful comment on the interview or review (previous post).

3.  For two extra entries: Visit the author's website and tell me something of interest you find there.

4.  For one more extra entry, become a follower on any media (GFC, Twitter @MSEREADS, Facebook fanpage: http://www.facebook.com/ReviewsByMarthasBookshelf , Goodreads or Linky - links on right sidebar) or tell me if you are already a follower.

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

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

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on June 22, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
The WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on June 23. 
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Book Review: The Claimed by Caridad Pineiro

This is an exciting story and strong romance.

The Claimed (Sin Hunters)  
by Caridad Piñeiro

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Forever; Original edition (May 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446584606
• ISBN-13: 978-0446584609

Genre: Paranormal Romance
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2012 | Series: Sin Hunters (Book 2)

THE CLAIMED

Victoria Johnson loves her life. She's her own boss in a quaint beachside town, and has great friends who keep her grounded. If only they knew who she really is: an heiress to an ancient race who possesses astonishing superhuman powers. It's Victoria's duty to restore her clan of Light Hunters to their former glory by choosing the perfect mate. In Christopher Sombrosa, she just may have found him. Strong, smart, and successful, Christopher exudes a powerful energy. Their connection is sensual, irresistible-and forbidden.

A member of the Shadow Hunter clan, Christopher has defied his own father to lead his people away from affliction and violence. Yet he cannot ignore his duty to carry on his ancient bloodline. Stunningly beautiful and brimming with an erotic life force, Victoria is everything Christopher ever hoped for in a mate . . . but as a Light Hunter, she's his mortal enemy. Together, they could unite their warring tribes. But murderous factions on both sides don't want peace-and they'll stop at nothing to keep light and darkness apart forever . . .

Review:

Victoria is a lovely character. She is strong and caring. She has to balance her personal life with her duties as a business owner but most importantly as a future leader of her Light Hunter clan.  Victoria will soon be coming into Equinox, the biological time during which she must mate or her powers will be weakened and her whole clan will be diminished. On the other hand she needs to be careful who she selects as a mate. Her parents have been forced to acknowledge that the mate promised to her as a child is no longer available. Now she must get them to agree to allow her to make her own choice.

Christopher is an equally wonderful character of strength, fairness and goodness. He is he son of the Anaru, Alexander, the leader of the Shadow Hunter clan. The Shadow Hunter clan has been deceased and weakened with the deadly pox because they have denigrated to feeding off other Hunters or humans. Unlike his father though, Christopher and a small following of their clan have been purifying their bodies by returning to the ancient ways of feeding only from natural elements. While Alexander looks for a powerful Light Hunter as a feeding energy source Christopher thinks perhaps he could become allies with the Light Hunters. He is convinced that they can survive and thrive if they purge the sickness and the bad feeding practices, even if it means he will have to fight his own father.

Victoria and Christopher have a glimpse sighting of each other that sparks interest but they don’t pursue a connection until a second encounter. Then the sparks begin to really ignite even as they realize that they are from enemy clans. The forbidden friendship--or more--is difficult enough but there are jealousies and traitors who will fight the possibility of a merger of Light Hunter with Shadow Hunter. Can they learn to trust each other? Will they survive to protect each other?

Ms. Pineiro has developed a fascinating world of superpowers and internal conflicts. I was immediately engaged by the characters and the plot. There are some likeable secondary characters as well as some really unpleasant wimps, traitors and nasty characters.  There are conflicts, obstacles and plenty of action to give this a good pace for entertaining reading.

I was a little wary of the level of sexual heat from this author.  I am pleased to say that the encounters between Victoria and Christopher are highly sensual and, although pretty detailed, they are loving and in no way lewd. There is one female enemy who is close to a succubus and I found her actions rather offensive but suitable to her character.

If you like your stories hot and intense with lots of conflict, excitement and heavy romance, this author and book fit the bill!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Isn't this what every romantic female looks for? 

Even though her biological clock was ticking, Victoria would not let that alone determine her fate. She wanted a partner for the future. Someone who would share her joys and her sorrows and help to lead her people. But more important, someone she could love. Page 39.

Thank you to Caridad Piñeiro and Pump Up Your Book tours for this book to review. Please see the Author Q&A post for a chance to win this exciting book.

This is set in Avon-by-the-Sea, New Jersey, for my Where are You Reading Challenge. I will also add it to my ARC challenge list.

Audio Book Review and Giveaway: Web of Evil by J.A. Jance

This is not the best J.A. Jance I have ever read; entertaining but with parts that make you roll your eyes.

Web of Evil: A Novel of Suspense (Ali Reynolds Mysteries) J.A. Jance (Author) Karen Ziemba (Reader) 

Simon & Schuster Audio, December 2008
Abridged Compact Disk, 5 disks
ISBN-10: 0743576136
ISBN-13: 9780743576130
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
My Rating: 3.5 of 5.0

Book Description

Publication Date: January 9, 2007 | Series: Ali Reynolds Mysteries

J.A. Jance's new series, begun in the New York Times bestseller Edge of Evil, continues with a powerhouse tale of suspense.

The highway from Los Angeles to the Palm Springs desert is parched, unforgiving, and deadly. In the suffocating stillness of a car trunk, a man -- his mouth and hands bound with tape -- awaits his fate. What possible enemy could be bitter enough to commit such a heinous crime? And when will the monster make another move?

Ali Reynolds is traveling that same blistering, lonesome highway, looking forward to putting her past behind her. But her cheating husband is in a hurry for a divorce, and the television network who wrongfully dismissed Ali for the sole sin of being over forty will face her in court as well. So Ali must return to the scene of these crimes. As she passes the site of a horrifying accident, she thanks goodness it's no longer her job to report the news. Until she finds out the news is her own. . . . For the victim is Ali's cheating husband, and soon she'll find herself the prime suspect at the center of a terrifying web of evil.

A twisted and lethal drama of heart-pounding suspense, Web of Evil asks the question: If hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, just what punishment could that fury unleash?

Review:

This thriller starts off well but sadly moves into incredulity by mid-book.

Ali Reynolds is suing her previous employer, a network television, for wrongful dismissal after they let her go to hire a younger woman. She is also struggling with a divorce from her husband who found a younger model. Ali has been spending time blogging about her work situation and upcoming divorce from “Fang,” the cheating husband.

Ali travels from Sedona to Palm Springs for her final divorce hearing and a deposition in her wrongful dismissal case. Problems arise when her husband, who plans to marry his pregnant mistress the next day, fails to appear for the final hearing. Within 24 hours he is discovered murdered at an accident site that Ali drove past on her way into town.

Ali is a prime suspect because of the acrimonious relationship, her motive for gain as the surviving spouse, and her opportunity being in the wrong place at the right time. Her high powered divorce attorney quickly engages another firm attorney who specializes in criminal law. Her mother comes into town to give support and an old high school friend and local deputy, Dave, who is on vacation also arrives. Since none of them trust the local police department they team together to find the true killer on their own.

The protagonist, Ali Reynolds is a bright career woman but an irrational suspect and sleuth. She does everything she is told not to do such as getting into a patrol car with two police officers without calling her attorney, talking about her estranged husband’s murder on her blog, entering crime scenes, running off to investigate without letting anyone know where she is going. Her mother does much of the same.

Although the twists and turns of the story are good, the actions of the amateur sleuths are very exasperating. Even a police sting operation was startlingly inept and put innocent people in danger which made no sense.  It made my husband and me roll our eyes and want to shout at the audio: “Are you crazy? How stupid can you be!!”

Also, there is a good bit of telling through the use of Ali’s blog which slowed the pace of the mystery without contributing much besides some compassion. Being a blogger, I don’t think I minded that as much as my husband did. Keep in mind too that this was the abridged version so I doubt that a full version would help in this area.

Having read and enjoyed other J.A. Jance titles, I have to say that this one is a bit disappointing. My final summary is this had some good thriller/mystery twists but got dragged down by the blogging and the stumbling method of investigating.

This was a CD audiobook I picked up one day so it is from my own TBR.

This story is set in Los Angeles/Palm Springs, CA, for my Where are you Reading Challenge. I will also add it to my TBR and Audio challenge lists.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the Audiobook Copy:
1. Share a comment on how you feel about books that disappoint you when you have read better from the author.  This is required for entry.

2.  For an extra entry, become a follower on any media (GFC, Twitter @MSEREADS, Facebook fanpage: http://www.facebook.com/ReviewsByMarthasBookshelf , Goodreads or Linky - links on right sidebar) or tell me if you are already a follower.

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

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

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on June 15, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
The WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on June 16. 
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Mailbox Monday June 11, 2012

Welcome to Mailbox Monday. Thanks everyone for linking and visiting with me last month - it was fun to host.
FOR JUNE: the Mailbox Monday Tour host has been updated to Burton Book Review.

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs.  This Meme started with Marcia at A Girl and Her Books (fka The Printed Page) but is now hosted at Mailbox Monday and through various blog hosts.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists. 

My book garden is steadily growing! How about yours?

Review Titles

I received a lovely list of eBooks to review from Leatherwood Press.
My first book to review is Queen in Exile by Donna Hatch. (I really like this cover.)

 Wins

I won a discount of 50% for a download at Gypsy Shadow Publishing through Coffeetime and The Romance Studio Romance and Coffee Anniversary Extravaganza.

Purchased

I had to order extra copies of Flabbergasted at Christianbook.com for Ladies' Book Club so I ordered
Nipped in the Bud by Susan Sleeman. It sounded cute.

 Free

I picked up more free Kindle books last week.