Review of Kristin Cashore's eSampler & Bitterblue Release Gear Up



Synopsis: "Three powerful women. Three books that transcend the fantasy genre.

Enter the Graceling Realm with these three stunning novels by Kristin Cashore: Graceling, Fire, and Bitterblue. Discover the romance and adventure of the seven kingdoms and beyond. With additional material never before published."

My Review: Love it! This free download for your ereader includes the first couple of chapters from each of Kristin Cashore's books. I did like the brief reminder of both Graceling and Fire as I anxiously await the release of Bitterblue! The additional letter material was awesome, I loved them and the little bit of insight it gives you into each character. I forewarn you though once you read these couple of chapters you will want to read each of the books!

My Rating: So for this just being a short sampler with some extra content, I think it is great. A short read to introduce you to Kristin Cashore's work and get your interest piqued for her upcoming release of Bitterblue.  I give it a rating of Four Paws.

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Now as many of you know I am a huge fan of Kristin Cashore and she has quickly became one of my favorite authors.  On Tuesday, May 1st the long awaited Bitterblue is to be released.

Synopsis: "Eight years after Graceling, Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisors, who have run things since Leck died, believe in a forward-thinking plan: Pardon all who committed terrible acts under Leck’s reign, and forget anything bad ever happened. But when Bitterblue begins sneaking outside the castle—disguised and alone—to walk the streets of her own city, she starts realizing that the kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year spell of a madman, and the only way to move forward is to revisit the past.

Two thieves, who only steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck’s reign. And one of them, with an extreme skill called a Grace that he hasn’t yet identified, holds a key to her heart."

I am very excited for this release and have my copy on pre-order (and have since they allowed it) but I will also end up downloading it on my nook since I won't be able to wait for the mail!

If you would like to check out my reviews of the other books please click the links below:

Graceling

Fire

Also I have a little post about the Boston Book Festival when I went to see Kristin Cashore speak and have my books autographed

Boston Book Festival 2010 & Kristin Cashore

So I hope some of you are as excited as I am and if not I hope you will give this trilogy of books and their amazing author a chance!!



Review of Undone by Rachel Caine



Synopsis: "Once she was Cassiel, a Djinn of limitless power. Now, she has been reshaped in human flesh as punishment for defying her master—and living among the Weather Wardens, whose power she must tap into regularly or she will die. And as she copes with the emotions and frailties of her human condition, a malevolent entity threatens her new existence..."

My Review: Wow! That was different and exciting! I have never read Caine's Warden series, and honestly the cover drew me to this book. The beginning of the book was kind of confusing to me, mainly because I hadn't read the other series and it took some time to straighten out exactly what the characters were but it wasn't to the point of taking away from the story. I also am not a huge fan of 1st person narration but I honestly I don't think that it would have drawn me in as much written any other way. It was very interesting to see someone learning about humans for the first time. Undone is definitely a book filled with ups and downs, twists and turns. You can't help but feel for the characters. Cassiel is an ultimate bad ass! I love her! She is a fantastic heroine with some flaws, but still fantastic. I won't give away the ending but I will tell you that I finished this late last night and now this morning I am downloading the next book in the series!

My Rating: I really enjoyed this book and read it straight through in one day (with a brief interruption to drive home). I give it a rating of Three Paws and Stump Wag!

Wednesday Writing

So Wednesday is my official writing update day. I have so many story projects going on and I need a push to get some done. So I will be trying to post each Wednesday about how my writing adventures are going (and I may need a swift kick in the pants by you guys sometimes).

Current Active Project:

Princess Bs - 32,131 words

A story about a woman, recently divorced and returned to her home town to figure out what is next. She encounters an old friend and spends a weekend with him and his daughters. Feelings that are long since buried are rising up again, but are her recent loss and his current life going to stand in the way of their happily ever after?

Other Works in Progress:

The New Old Home - 17,193 words

Everyone dreams of winning the lottery, but what would you do with that money? That is the question presented to Natalie, when she is at the lowest point in her life, she is presented with an opportunity to make any normal person's dreams come true, but all those winnings can't give her what she wants most.

Tamlyn Marie's Grace - 12,072 words

Think Cinderella only with a matchmaker ;)

The Last Mountains - 15,352

A equine shapeshifting family is being hunted to near extinction and the young new leader must go against all her lessons and approach the elite council for aide. Will they help her? How will she keep her family's traditions and values alive, let alone her herd?

Night Rider - 17,229

Alice is a recent high school graduate who is a very accomplished competitive rider in Hunter/Jumper, Dressage, and Western/Rodeo. Her parents had arranged for her to attend a private college on the east coast geared specifically to equine professions. However, Alice wants to focus on her studies in English Literature. When she arrives at the college she hides her riding abilities, but can she keep her talent and love of horses hidden?

Other Ideas Plotting:

Bloodsoar's Story

A pegasus struggles through life, ejected from the herd, near capture by humans.

The Assassin's Assassin

A student learns what the school is really teaching and sets out to destroy those who support the program.

Angel Story

Angels battle out an age old feud in a parallel world

 

 

 

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So as I promised, I have organized my writing!!

 

I found this handy box at Target that even has a separate locking area for pencils & post it notes!

And a nice big interior where I can organize everything by story and ideas!

I haven't gotten any new writing done per say but I have started to read through Princess Bees and made some notes as to where I want to take it! It feels good to get organized and feel motivated again!



 

Infertility Awareness Week

I know this is a way off topic post here at Eastern Sunset Reads, but it is an important subject that needs more light shed on it and more people educated.

I request that all my readers take a moment to educate yourselves on the struggles of infertility.  Chances are that you all know some one who has battled this disease, most of whom have or are still fighting their battle in silence.

I have a dear friend who has been brave enough to share her story with all its struggles and joys, Hurdles of Life, Love & Family

Infertility effect about 1 in 8 couples according to a 2002 National Survey of Family Growth and unfortunately insurance often does not cover fertility treatments.  According to Resolve.Org, only 15 states have passed laws requiring some level of coverage from insurance companies.

Resolve is a fantastic site and organization that assists those currently struggling with infertility and educates others.  So please take some time to educate and support those struggling with this disease.

Thank you!

Review of Her Heart for the Asking by Lisa Mondello

Synopsis: "Promises made...secrets kept...

Mandy Morgan swore she’d never step foot in Texas again after Beau Gentry left her for life on the rodeo circuit eight years before. He once promised he'd love her forever. But he'd abandoned their love for the rodeo and she hadn't seen him since. Now she's back in Texas. Her uncle’s heart is failing and Mandy has to convince him that surgery will save his life. She never dreamed the first thing she’d see when she stepped off the plane would be her biggest nightmare...the one man she’d never stopped loving.

Beau Gentry had the fever for two things: the rodeo and Mandy Morgan. But for Beau, loving Mandy was complicated by his father’s vendetta against her uncle and a promise he'd made to an old friend. Hank Promise, Mandy's uncle, was more like a father to Beau than his old man had been. The hardest thing Beau had ever done was leave Mandy behind for the rodeo. He can still see the bitterness and hurt on her face. It has killed him all these years to think Mandy had forgotten him...maybe even in the arms of another man. But now they’re both back in Texas, and Beau's going to do all he can to win back her love."

My Review: I have really started to enjoy the characters that Mondello creates. Though the stories feel a little chopped up, like you completely missed the first half and a little in the middle and even a little wrap up at the end. This had a great story behind it and I just wished for a little more development. There were some great surprises through out and as I said the characters really were fantastic, main and sub characters. I was particularly fond of Hank, he reminded me of so many of the old cowboys I grew up around. I did like Mandy, but I found her a little too emotionally unstable to really love, but the personality fit the story. Beau, such a typical cowboy with a little bit of a rough past, but a still well developed sense of honor. And for those of you who are use to my more explicit romances, this is a very clean romance, suitable for any reader!

My Rating: While I did enjoy the book, it just seemed a little unfinished to me. I give it a rating of Two Paws and Stump Wag.

Monday Reading List

Its Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Shelia at Book Journey. Share what books you have finished in the last week, are currently reading and what might be coming up next!

What I Read Last Week:

Links will take you to my review

Her Heart for the Asking by Lisa Mondello (review coming soon)



Currently Reading:

Frost Kisses by Kailin Gow - pb - on page 45 of 284

For Camelot's Honor by Sarah Zettel - pb - on page 52 of 384

Next Books to be Read:

Catundra by Stephen Cosgrove - Childrens/Bedtime stories
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden - May Book Club

Liberty: A Lake Wobegon Novel by Garrison Keller- Mount TBR Challenge

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Meet Me on Monday

So I found this fun little meme I thought would be great to add so people get to know me a little better (and discover my strange little quirks). Meet Me On Monday is hosted by Acting Balanced where 5 questions are posted each week for us to answer about ourselves and share with all of our readers.

 

 

So this week is another recipe week

 

Hmmm . . .  of course I am at work so I don't have my cookbooks in front of me :( So no sharing a recipe this week. 

 

 

 

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So does anyone else hate the new blogger layout? I find it very uninspiring, it almost makes me not want to read other blogs when I have to pick them out of a screen full of typing :(

 

 

I haven't gotten a whole lot done lately, still packing up my library/craft room. It really is amazing how much crap you can cram in one room!!  I am pretty excited for Wednesday Writing though, I organized my writing stuff and can't wait to show it off for you!!

 

 

Hope you all have a great week!