Friday, March 30, 2012

Feature & Follow #17

Welcome to the Feature & Follow

If you are new to the #FF fun, Feature & Follow Friday is a blog hop that expands your blog following by a joint effort between bloggers. Feature & Follow Friday is now hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow us to show off more new blogs!

How does this work? First you leave your name here on this post, then you create a post on your own blog that links back to this post (easiest way is to just grab the code under the #FF picture and put it in your post) and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them “hi” in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you!

Now to make this #FF interesting we do a FEATURE blogger. If you are interested in becoming a Feature click on the drop down link above FEATURES > Feature & Follow Friday and get on the waiting list! How do you follow someone? Well, if you have a preference, state it in your #FF post. A lot of blogs are transitioning to WordPress in which they do not have the luxury of GFC, so an RSS subscription is appreciated or if you choose an email subscription. If you don’t have GFC please state in your post how you would like to be followed.It is also required, that if you participate you must follow the hosts (Parajunkee & Alison Can Read) and the two Feature blogs.

Parajunkee's Feature – Alluring Reads

Alison Can Read's Feature - Justin's Book Blog

And now the Random Question of this week:

Do you read one book at a time or do you switch back and forth between two or more?

I can only do two at a time. One on my Kindle Fire and one paperback or hardcover. I am currently reading Jennifer Esteps latest Elemental Assassins book - By a Thread AND Night Games by Crystal Jordan both in paperback. One is for my own reading pleasure the other is a review request from publisher. As far as my Kindle Fire. I am starting the Hunger Ganmes Trilogy ATM and next up is one MOST of you have hounded me to start at some point...(mentioning something about becoming an addict?? *wink*) not going to mention, but if you read yesterdays Dirty Little Secret its right there...LOL

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Dirty Little Secret # 26


Dirty Little Secret is a weekly meme hosted by Under the Covers. Every Thursday we get to know other bloggers and our readers more intimately by asking them a question hoping to reveal their dirty little secrets. We hope that you will all join us!
To participate in the meme all you need to do is:
  1. Be a follower of Under the Covers.
  2. Create a post in your blog taking the meme image (code above) and copy instructions.
  3. Answer the question proposed! This can be done in any way you like, post a video, write a post etc.
  4. Then add your link below.
Non-bloggers: We want to hear from you as well!!! Let us know your answer in the comments!
We hope you join us and let us know your Dirty Little Secrets!

"What book has been sitting in your TBR pile the longest and why haven't you picked it up yet? Or more importantly, will you ever read it now that its been sitting there for forever?"

Oh sure! Way to put us all on the spot with that question! Hmmm... one that is still in my TBR pile that I have to start is the BDB Series. I'll remind you ALL again I came into the PNR, UF< Sci-Fi and blogging only last summer, so many series you all have come to love and have Book Boyfriends for are completely new to me. I'm working on getting to it at some point in the near future, but it may be a while before I can get to that ever expanding series. But I will my friends!

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Guest Post - Forsaken Series

The Forsaken Series by Elise Whyles and Ciara Lake

Creating a believable world.

In every genre your world building is key. With some genres the world is already built you just fill in the romance, mystery, or whathaveyou. When you start to do books in paranormal, fantasy, and other like genres you have to build the world from scratch. How do you do it? How can you as an author build a world the reader will be drawn into and hooked and finish the book thinking I wish I could go there?

Its not an easy thing to do. There's a lot of thought, work goes into the process. With some beings such as vampires, werewolves etc we have an idea established about them - not always the way an author sees it but if the reader thinks vampires are all blood sucking males who are allergic to the sun how can you work with that while building something original? You have to stretch it.

When we started on Forsaken Series, we had a generalized idea of what we were wanting to do. What species we were thinking of, what we felt were overdone or had flooded the market. So we decided we need to build worlds for each species, make them all connected much like earth and give each one its own social, political, and legal system. Meant a lot of time spent in Google chat I tell you, I think we wore it out there for a while lol. But the overall ideas, the feel we wanted was there.

Would I suggest building twenty different worlds at once - uh never again - but when you're starting out you don't know. So after many weeks of chats, of brainstorming and ideas being bounced around, we figured out there were three things we each needed to do to be sure our worlds were what the reader could get into and believe.

1. Each world is just enough like Earth to be believable without being cliched. There are marked differences, but if you read from one to the next there's one sun, one moon, seasons, connections to earth in many forms.

2. Vivid, technicolor threads throughout. No world is the same, and we've worked hard to ensure the descriptions of our worlds are spot on and key to the story, the plot, the series.

3. Fun. Even in the dark, edgy tone of these books the reader will see there are things about our worlds that are fun. From the parties, to sunsets, to culture shocks...there's something a reader can relate to.

Something we also did was have a blast with planning and creating. None of what we've done was easy, but we took our time and hashed it out. Open and solid communication is key to building that believable world in the books.

http://forsakenvamps.com

http://forsakenvampires.blogspot.com

The Forsaken Series By Elise Whyles and Ciara Lake

Series Overview:

Among us walk immortal beings – cursed to hide within the shadows they live along side us as they have for centuries. Using, feeding, living off the mortals so reviled for their weakness – yet there are some who will be awakened and immortality will be given.

Now, an ancient evil stirs – rising to threaten not only the Immortal Realms but the mortal world. A cursed vampire General stirs, plotting his revenge on those who have forsaken him…but he’s forgotten about the innocent, who like him have been punished.

There are those who are Forsaken.

It could be anyone among us…

Forsakes Series Site
Elise Whyles Facebook
Ciara Lake Facebook

The first book, Forsaken Heart by Elise Whyles is set to release in April 2012. The second book Curse of a Dargon’s Claim by Ciara Lake will release shortly after.

  

Forsaken Heart

Punished for sins not her own, can a mortal claim her vampire mate?

The world of immortals must unite to save both themselves and the mortals they co-exist with from an ancient evil. For Bede MacTaggert this means trusting in the warrior sent for her sister—a man of mystery, of power, and one who could easily sweep her into a world she's destined to be part of.

An imperial guard to the king of vampires, Gawain has always tuned out the needs of the flesh. Dedicating himself to the service of the royals, he's lived on the fringes of his people for centuries. Now he's forced from the shadows and into the arms of a woman who will awaken his heart and body to a passion unequaled.

Content Warning: sexy alpha vampire, explicit sex, violence

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Reivew: Light My Fire by Jodi Redford

Aiden and Jace Fortune are twin Drakoni (dragon shifters) who are on the verge of becoming the ultimate alpha dragons in their clan. However they must mate and claim their sacrifice before they can take their rightful place. Aiden is a more contemporary person who thinks that some traditions should be thrown out as they are very behind the times and are also very vague and not very clear on what has to be done. Jace is the laid-back, relaxed brother because he believes that Aiden alone is due to be the true alpha dragon. Until Aiden is given the ultimatum of finding and claiming the sacrifice or loose his chance at being the alpha and being banished from the clan.

Dana Cooper is a struggling artist who sells her works at the local Renaissance Festival and at her local gallery. She is a fantasy lover as her paintings and works are typically those of fairies and other things of that sort. When Aiden and Jade come walking into her small fair booth she gawks at their likeness and the looks plastered on their faces. Poor girl is gonna fall...and hard. Unfortunately she hasn't a clue what these strapping handsome men have come for her. And chances are she wouldn't believe them if they told her anyways.

Aiden and Jace are a force to be reckoned with as they tell her they are there to protect her, even if she doesn't think she needs protecting. Her friend in the Tarot booth tells her they were sent for her, but she doesn't believe in that and shakes it off, but as she finds out things aren't always what they seem, and neither are Jace or Aiden. However she tries to get them to leave, and ends up nearly killing laid back Jace! Aiden meanwhile is falling in love with determined and strong-willed Dana, but soon finds out that a Council member is setting up a trap of his own to get Dana so Aiden can't fulfill his destiny. Things get more complicated as another Drakoni end up getting involved as there is a link between her and the Council member out for Dana. Whatever are Jace and Aiden to do?

They do end up finding out what is going on and devise a plan to get to the council member, however they didn't count on a Hunter to complicate things. This hunter isn't out for Dana, but for one of our heroes...and he wants his ultimate battle to prove his worthiness as a supreme hunter. Aiden find out who it is and finds out that he has to get to the hunter before he hurts Dana and eliminate the threat he possess. We do get our HEA, but I wont spoil it.

I loved the story, and I love Dragons so this book was really neat for me to read. I loved how Dana wanted to be rid of the twins, but grew on the idea of having them around. The chemistry is HOT with all three, but a coupling is evident as the story progresses. Jodi wasn't kidding with her warnings, kinky dragon bondage DOES ensue as do improper use of paintbrushes! I about dies laughing, but that could be because I'm an artist as well so reading that scene certainly does inspire some visuals. I did have to wonder what part Jace was going to play as he was definitely being played as a second-hand character. However, he had many moments where he was needed and came out blazing HOT! Another story to captivate me even more. A solid 4 of 5 stars for Light my Fire.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Review: Fever by Joan Swan

Review Book courtesy Kensington Publishing

Doctor Alyssa Foster is just trying to work her way up the ladder for a new position at work, but she has a co-worker who likes to weasel his way around and make her look like the under-dog in their quest to for a better position. All she's doing is taking extra shifts for coworkers and others who need help. However it seems that fate is out to get her one night when she takes on another shift, but being a radiologist for the local prisoners who need medical attention...

Enter Teague Creek, who was being seen for his medical needs, Accompanied by two officers Creek is being treated for injuries when he takes Alyssa hostage, and plans to use her to attain his freedom and get his daughter back and escape from authority. He escapes with the help of another inmate who had outside connections. Unwittingly they didn't know Alyssa wasn't their intended target, they never checked her identity before taking her hostage and taking off. They expected a docile and complaint Hannah to be their captive and sex slave. They certainly got their hands full with Alyssa, she's not willing to give up everything just because of the situation she's in. Creek is challenged by her when she tried to escape several times, only to get into more trouble in the process. with their pictures in the papers everywhere being seen in public is not a smart decision, but after Alyssa is seriously injured when a gang tries to go after them and get to Alyssa for their own purposes he risks it to get supplies he needs to help her.

Things go from Bad to worse as there is SWAT and FBI out to get Creek back in prison or if that doesn't work, kill him and anyone who finds out what he already knows. There is a deeper plot and back story to where Creek is coming from and Alyssa finds out as she sees that there is something more to Creek then what he is letting on. She comes to find out he was a Firefighter and Paramedic before a tragic warehouse fire caused him to gain a new "feature" and some unwarranted attention form the FBI and local authorities. He is now struggling to get custody of his daughter, gain his freedom, even if it means fleeing the US, and uprooting his daughter from her home. Alyssa finds a soft spot for the hunky fugitive and when she finds out whats really going on, she gets her brother, a highly powerful laywer involved.

I really loved how everything came together in the end, it was quite surprising and fun to see it end how it did. I didn't like Alyssa's overprotective brother for awhile, but he did grow on me quite well in the end for being a smart alec. Kudos to Joan Swna for creating a captivating and enthralling tale which got me on the edge of my seat and still being able to fully keep the romance and heat going throughout the entire story. A solid and gleaming 5 stars for her powerful debut.

Reivew: Memory of Roses by Blair McDowell

Review

Brittomartis "Brit" McQuaid is a young author and college instructor in a bit of a writing funk after her Father's death in which he has left his Greek estate to Brit with the simple words, "Perhaps Corfu will help you find happiness." She is still feeling the pains and loss, but a mysterious package with instructions has her wondering what happened on Corfu with her father? She has a sabbatical coming up, so why not use it and go to Corfu? She has put in her request and is ready to leave behind the fragmented and fractured past which is keeping her from happiness.

Once upon arriving and situated in her hotel until she can travel to the remote areas of Corfu she meets some locals who help her find her estates caretaker. She finds the home has not been used in quite some time since her Father left Corfu, it needs some housekeeping and touch-up, but can be done in time with some good hard labor. She also finds some new friends in the caretakers niece, who is a maid in a local hotel during the tourist season and her caretakers son, who undertook the caretaker of the estate when his father, the original caretaker dies several years ago.

Then comes Andreas Leandros. Her live flesh version of the Hermes statue in the Greek museum. He arrives to her estate thinking the "Doctor" McQuaid is her father whom he spoke with more then 10 years before when he spoke at a conference. Brit thinks he is there to speak to her, only then to learn of her father's death, he ends up helping her restore a central fountain out in the courtyard wit the other help, but ends up falling for Brit...hard. He believe that he and her share a very spiritual deep connection, but Brit is trying to pawn all the help and his attraction on the estate and the feeling of Corfu.

With her estate being restored love is blooming all around her as she begins to learn how the Greek way of life is slower, more relaxed and more meaningful spiritually. She also get to experience the holidays there and how they differ from the States. She comes to love Corfu, but must settle things back in the states - selling her old house, which has been rented out thanks to her Father's old lawyer and financial manager. She also resigns for her teaching position. She also learns she is wealth beyond her imagination. She realizes she doesn't need the money as the Greek way of life the husband, male head of house is to pay for the mortgage and other expenses. This is hard for Brit having grown up independent and on her own.

We also get a glimpse into the past from both Brit's fathers point of view near his death and that of his Greek Love, Maria. These helped get into what went on during her father's time in Corfu and what happens upon his return home. It was a total shocker! Not going to say anymore, you really need to read about it for yourself.

There are some BIG surprises near the end, which I cannot and won't spoil which set a darker tone in the end, but it takes a turn which I didn't expect and make me happy. The ending was superb and very well done. I really ended up falling for Brit and Andres as well as the other characters as they all became fast friends, and ended up pairing off. Blair did a wonderful job of spinning in the Green mythology and the Greek way of life and making it feel so relaxed and normal. It was a perfect surrounding to set the story and introducing all the local people and how everyone knows everyone really was true in such a small intimate community.

An excellent true romance with a touch of mythology to make it genuine. I loved seeing Brit grow and Andreas change together to adapt to each others way of life. When they are together they work in unison, two halves make the whole. Highly recommend for those who like a touch of history and growth in their stories. A strong 4 of 5 for Memory of Roses.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Feature & Follow #16

Welcome to the Feature & Follow

If you are new to the #FF fun, Feature & Follow Friday is a blog hop that expands your blog following by a joint effort between bloggers. Feature & Follow Friday is now hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow us to show off more new blogs!

How does this work? First you leave your name here on this post, then you create a post on your own blog that links back to this post (easiest way is to just grab the code under the #FF picture and put it in your post) and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them “hi” in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you!

Now to make this #FF interesting we do a FEATURE blogger. If you are interested in becoming a Feature click on the drop down link above FEATURES &amp;gt; Feature &amp;amp; Follow Friday and get on the waiting list! How do you follow someone? Well, if you have a preference, state it in your #FF post. A lot of blogs are transitioning to WordPress in which they do not have the luxury of GFC, so an RSS subscription is appreciated or if you choose an email subscription. If you don’t have GFC please state in your post how you would like to be followed.It is also required, that if you participate you must follow the hosts (Parajunkee & Alison Can Read) and the two Feature blogs.

Parajunkee's Feature – Short abnd Sweet

Alison Can Read's Feature - Sarah's Books & Life

And now the Random Question of this week:

What is the longest book you’ve read? What are your favorite 600+ page reads?

I can't quite think of the longest off hand..and without it in front of me it's hard to say for certain.

Favorite 600+ page reads have definitely been the Harry Potter ones. I was unemployed at the time so when I dove into those I finished the last 3 in the series in a little over a week. Otherwise I believe at least Breaking Dawn was over 600 pages and I did like that book.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Dirty Little Secret #25


Dirty Little Secret is a weekly meme hosted by Under the Covers. Every Thursday we get to know other bloggers and our readers more intimately by asking them a question hoping to reveal their dirty little secrets. We hope that you will all join us!
To participate in the meme all you need to do is:
  1. Be a follower of Under the Covers.
  2. Create a post in your blog taking the meme image (code above) and copy instructions.
  3. Answer the question proposed! This can be done in any way you like, post a video, write a post etc.
  4. Then add your link below.
Non-bloggers: We want to hear from you as well!!! Let us know your answer in the comments!
We hope you join us and let us know your Dirty Little Secrets!

"How do you go about reviewing 1 or 2 star books or books you didn't enjoy?"

As I'm in the process of finishing the book The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing I'm learning that a critique should explain what you did/did not like about the book, but not to go about it by bashing the author. Take an overall look at the book - writing style, character depth, are they realisitc, are the hero and heroine a good match, doies the plot move along, are there gaps, etc. You can have a positive/ negative review without making the author look like their writing is terrible, but letting them know that, hey this part of their story development is good, but it can be developed different can also be a learning experience for them as well. Only helping them become better and gain us book reviews some credibility in our reviews.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Book Blitz - The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing

Slippery Art of Book Reviewing Book Blitz

The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing Author: Mayra Calvani and Anne K. Edwards
Publisher: Twilight Times Books
ISBN: 978-1-933353-22-7
Genre: Reference/Writing
Format: Trade paperback
Price: $16.95 print, $4.99 ebook
Pages: 180
Chapter excerpt

Description:

Are you passionate about books? Do you have the desire to share your thoughts about a book with readers, yet are unsure about what makes a good review? Are you curious about the influence reviews have on readers, booksellers, and librarians? If you’re an experienced reviewer, The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing will serve as an excellent reference tool and amalgam of resources. If you’re a beginner, this book will show you how to write a well-written, honest, objective and professional book review. It will also teach you:

  • How to read critically
  • How to differentiate the various types of reviews
  • How to rate books
  • How to prevent amateurish mistakes
  • How to deal with the ethics and legalities of reviewing
  • How to tell the difference between a review, a book report, and a critique
  • How to start your own review site
  • How to publish your reviews on dozens of sites and even make money while you’re at it, and much more

If you’re an author, publisher, publicist, bookseller, librarian, or reader, this book will also bring to light the importance and influence of book reviews within a wider spectrum.

Amazon
B & N

What reviewers are saying…
“There’s not a reviewer out there that wouldn’t benefit from this review of reviewing… this is a great reference book for libraries…”
–Heather Shaw, Editor-in-Chief, ForeWord Magazine

“This book from Mayra Calvani and Anne K. Edwards is the first ‘Reviewer’s Desk Reference’ for book reviewers at all levels.”
–Reviewed by Ernest Dempsey, The World Audience

“As an experienced reviewer I learned that I do not know it all and will keep my copy of The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing for reference. It is not a book I will loan out because it won’t be returned…If you want to break into book reviewing, The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing is a must-have reference. Heed the author’s advice and you can write reviews that will get you and the books you review noticed.”
–Reviewed by Sharon Broom, Armchair Interviews

“The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing is a useful took for both amateur and professional book reviewers, as well as book review editors. There should be no doubt that the good tips, thoughtful perspective and resource information can be of considerable value to anyone wishing to practice this art.”
–Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford, Allbooks Reviews

“I do recommend The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing as a must-have resource guide. Calvani and Edwards present a well-written gold-mine to potential reviewers as well as a source of information for experienced reviewers and authors.”
–Reviewed by Irene Watson, Reader Views

“The Slippery Art… is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in book reviews – writers, reviewers, publishers, publicists, librarians, booksellers and readers.”
– Reviewed by Francine Silverman, Editor of The Book Promotion Newsletter

Authors’ bios:

Mayra Calvani writes fiction and nonfiction for children and adults. She’s had over 300 stories, articles, interviews and reviews published both online and in print, in publications such as The Writer, Writer's Journal, Acentos Review, Bloomsbury Review, Mosaic, and Multicultural Review, among many others. A reviewer for more than a decade, she now offers numerous book reviewing workshops online. She also offers workshops on the art of picture book writing. She's represented by Mansion Street Literary and Savvy Literary. Visit her website

Anne K. Edwards is an award-winning multi-genre author, reviewer and editor of Voice in the Dark Ezine. Her latest novel is the suspense thriller, Shadows Over Paradise, published by Twilight Times Books. Visit her website

My review is coming later this week. Please keep your eye open for this. it certainly has been informative just from the description.

Guest Post and Review with Blair McDowell

Good Morning Everyone!

I'm excited to be having a guest today. I am pleased to welcome Blair McDowell to Picked by Poison. Without further ado....take it away Blair!

Venice, A City for Lovers
Blair McDowell
Blair McDowell

In the fall, I will be traveling again to Venice, visiting the scene of the denouement of The Memory of Roses. I will get to walk the paths and glide through the canals in vaporetti and gondolas that my heroine, Brit, traversed after her shocking discoveries about her father’s past, as she rushes back to the arms of her lover, Andreas. It is no accident that I chose Venice for this important scene in my book. It is a city so breathtakingly beautiful, so dramatic in each and every vista that it calls out for mystery and romance. It is a setting just waiting for a story, as countless famous authors in the past have realized.

But Venice has its problems. The Scirocco, a warm wind that comes from the south, brings with it the aqua alta, high water, to Venice. There are only three openings to the sea in Venice. The southern wind pushes the waters of the high tide inside the lagoon, into all of Venice’s waterways, and doesn’t allow it to flow out. When the next high tide comes, it is piled on top of the already high water levels.

I was there once for an aqua alta. The night before, I wandered in the Piazza San Marco and saw what looked like platforms piled all around the arcade. I wondered if a performance of some kind was scheduled for the next day. I was correct. The performer was Mother Nature at her worst.

The next day, in the Piazza San Marco, I was walking on those platforms, above two feet of water, while water shot into the air from all the drains as if from fountains. Vaporetti, the water busses everyone uses to get around, were not running on most routes, because they could not get under the many bridges that connect the islands that make up this city. The water levels were too high.

Aqua Alta routes were posted at every vaporetto stop. These were pedestrian routes, and in Venice, everyone is a pedestrian. The only modes of transportation are boats and feet.

Four million people a year visit Venice. This is a city with only sixty-five hundred inhabitants. According one innkeeper, most tourists spend only one night in Venice. This man, who used to be a concierge at the Danielli, one of the most prestigious hotels in Venice, told me that “tour groups would check in at six pm, take a gondola ride, have dinner, and check out the next day, having seen Venice.” He said that Venice was sinking as much under the weight of tourists as under the aqua alta.

Be that as it may, if Venice isn`t on your Bucket List, it should be. It is the most magical of cities. If you can only give it a day, so be it, but if you can spend a week or more there, do so. If you do, I guarantee you will return. It gets into your blood. Venice, to my mind is the most beautiful city in the world. A city made for lovers.

In the following scene from The Memory of Roses, Andreas and Brit have just arrived in Venice.

“I think you’ll like this place,” Andreas said. “I always stay here when I come to Venice.”
They climbed a long flight of stairs to the pensione and were shown to a small, comfortably furnished room on the front.
Brit went to the tall windows, looked out and drew in her breath sharply.
Andreas came up behind her and encircled her with his arms. “I think this is the most beautiful view in Venice,” he said.
She leaned against him. Together they gazed across the Grand Canal, to the magnificent colonnaded marble church and monastery of San Giorgio Maggiore on its own small island in the Lagoon. Below them the waters teamed with vaporetti, private motor launches and boats filled with produce heading for the market, water taxis, and, slipping silently among them, beautiful black gondolas decorated in gold and red, some hundreds of years old, navigated by striped shirted gondoliers wearing the same traditional straw hats they had worn for generations.
Andreas said, “This is the reason I prefer this little guest house to any of the larger hotels in Venice. I know of none of them with such a view of Venice. Just wait until you see it at sunset.”
“Can we go for a walk?” Brit asked. “I want to see the Piazza San Marco. I’ve wanted to see it all my life, but somehow, I never wanted to come here alone. If any city was meant for lovers, I think Venice is.”

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Feature & Follow #15

Welcome to the Feature & Follow

If you are new to the #FF fun, Feature & Follow Friday is a blog hop that expands your blog following by a joint effort between bloggers. Feature & Follow Friday is now hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow us to show off more new blogs!

How does this work? First you leave your name here on this post, then you create a post on your own blog that links back to this post (easiest way is to just grab the code under the #FF picture and put it in your post) and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them “hi” in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you!

Now to make this #FF interesting we do a FEATURE blogger. If you are interested in becoming a Feature click on the drop down link above FEATURES &amp;gt; Feature &amp;amp; Follow Friday and get on the waiting list! How do you follow someone? Well, if you have a preference, state it in your #FF post. A lot of blogs are transitioning to WordPress in which they do not have the luxury of GFC, so an RSS subscription is appreciated or if you choose an email subscription. If you don’t have GFC please state in your post how you would like to be followed.It is also required, that if you participate you must follow the hosts (Parajunkee & Alison Can Read) and the two Feature blogs.

Parajunkee's Feature – TBA at the time of posting

Alison Can Read's Feature - JoAnne @ The Fairytale Nerd

And now the Random Question of this week:

What is the best book you've read in the last month? What is the worst book you've read in the last month?..

Best Book was definitely Jodi Redford's book Cat Scratch Fever because she got me into shifter books which I am very particular about and she did it for me!


Worse Book, haven't had a truly bad one per-say, but there was one I just havent had the heart to finish yet.
I had started it and was really into how fun it sounded but then I just got sick of the main character and her sounding like a vampire whore and thinking becoming a vamp would make her peftect and get the guy...not quite honey!

Dirty Little Secret #24


Dirty Little Secret is a weekly meme hosted by Under the Covers. Every Thursday we get to know other bloggers and our readers more intimately by asking them a question hoping to reveal their dirty little secrets. We hope that you will all join us!
To participate in the meme all you need to do is:
  1. Be a follower of Under the Covers.
  2. Create a post in your blog taking the meme image (code above) and copy instructions.
  3. Answer the question proposed! This can be done in any way you like, post a video, write a post etc.
  4. Then add your link below.
Non-bloggers: We want to hear from you as well!!! Let us know your answer in the comments!
We hope you join us and let us know your Dirty Little Secrets!

"What are your top 3 movies? "

  1. Queen of the Damned - OMG this version of Lestat (portrayed by Stuart Townsend) and her Marius (Portrayed by Vincent Perez) are droolicious!
  2. Coyote Ugly - what girl doesn't love to cut loose!
  3. Transformers one - Linkin Parks New Divide is a great song!

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Dirty Little Secret #23


Dirty Little Secret is a weekly meme hosted by Under the Covers. Every Thursday we get to know other bloggers and our readers more intimately by asking them a question hoping to reveal their dirty little secrets. We hope that you will all join us!
To participate in the meme all you need to do is:
  1. Be a follower of Under the Covers.
  2. Create a post in your blog taking the meme image (code above) and copy instructions.
  3. Answer the question proposed! This can be done in any way you like, post a video, write a post etc.
  4. Then add your link below.
Non-bloggers: We want to hear from you as well!!! Let us know your answer in the comments!
We hope you join us and let us know your Dirty Little Secrets!

"Shuffle your playlist and give us the first five songs that come up. "

  • Disturbed -Enough
  • Linkin Park - The Little Things Give You Away
  • Linkin Park - What I've Done
  • Green Day - Boulevard of Broken Dreams
  • Good Charlotte - Wondering

Hmmm...can you tell I love Chester and Linkin Park a bit. *grins and giggles*

Friday, March 2, 2012

Feature & Follow #13

Welcome to the Feature & Follow

If you are new to the #FF fun, Feature & Follow Friday is a blog hop that expands your blog following by a joint effort between bloggers. Feature & Follow Friday is now hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow us to show off more new blogs!

How does this work? First you leave your name here on this post, then you create a post on your own blog that links back to this post (easiest way is to just grab the code under the #FF picture and put it in your post) and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them “hi” in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you!

Now to make this #FF interesting we do a FEATURE blogger. If you are interested in becoming a Feature click on the drop down link above FEATURES &amp;gt; Feature &amp;amp; Follow Friday and get on the waiting list! How do you follow someone? Well, if you have a preference, state it in your #FF post. A lot of blogs are transitioning to WordPress in which they do not have the luxury of GFC, so an RSS subscription is appreciated or if you choose an email subscription. If you don’t have GFC please state in your post how you would like to be followed.It is also required, that if you participate you must follow the hosts (Parajunkee & Alison Can Read) and the two Feature blogs.

Parajunkee's Feature – My Mercurial Musings

Alison Can Read's Feature - Laura Ashlee @ Owl Tell You ABout It

And now the Random Question of this week:

What book would you love to see made into a movie or television show and do you have actors/actresses in mind to play the main characters?

My book of choice is Laura Kaye's Forever Freed. I've previously done a post about this for the Bout of Books. Here's the post.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Dirty Little Secret #22


Dirty Little Secret is a weekly meme hosted by Under the Covers. Every Thursday we get to know other bloggers and our readers more intimately by asking them a question hoping to reveal their dirty little secrets. We hope that you will all join us!
To participate in the meme all you need to do is:
  1. Be a follower of Under the Covers.
  2. Create a post in your blog taking the meme image (code above) and copy instructions.
  3. Answer the question proposed! This can be done in any way you like, post a video, write a post etc.
  4. Then add your link below.
Non-bloggers: We want to hear from you as well!!! Let us know your answer in the comments!
We hope you join us and let us know your Dirty Little Secrets!

"Which author introduced you to urban fantasy or paranormal romance? "

So many good answers. I keep forgetting about the UF part. I can't honestly remember who got me reading that, but I've sung enough praise to the one author who got me into reading PNR... the Fabulous Laura Kaye! 'Nuf said. *winks*