24 Bones – A Review

I was immediately drawn to this book by the name.

An indication that I watch entirely too many dramas. “24″ and “Bones” being two of my favorite shows at the moment.

Of course, this story has nothing to do with either. It’s just recognition you know? I kept wondering if the author had done that intentionally (of course, it is tied to the plot, therefore not being just buzz words used only for hype), but  it sure left me with an impression, even before I laid eyes on the gorgeous cover art portraying Samiya!

I know, I know. I gush constantly over Drolleire’s fab cover art, but how can one not? And I love all the cool little graphics they pack into the PDF, every books seems to get its own personal touch which I think is pretty awesome of them.

The Blurb:

Seth, Horus, and Osiris are reborn, fated to re-fight their greatest battle.

Samiya, an Egyptian woman, and Taggart, a Canadian professor of Comparative Religion, have nothing in common, until they find themselves on opposite sides of a bloody war for causes neither is sure they believe in.

The Balance is in jeopardy, and either The Fullness: humanity, law, and reason; or The Void: animal instinct, chaos, and death; will soon rule the world.

But which is the right side? Reason has ruled for centuries. Is it time for Chaos to have a chance?

Multicultural main characters + Egyptian mythology + strong main female character +EPIC three-sided battle  + Fated DOOM + Shades of Grey?

Um, Mr. Stewart? You had me at “hello”.

Or rather, his first scene. A baptism of sorts involving the five elements. Water, Earth, Fire and Air. I was utterly captivated from them on. God, I’m such a culture geek and I swear, 24 Bones is like crack to a culture geek (figures, he has a B.A. in History), but its more than that. Mr. Stewart’s style is very to the point without being rushed. He gives you enough description (beautiful by the way) to ground you, then moves on. Enough emotion to stimulate your own, and so on. I love finding male writers that can do emotion effectively without making me think that they were trying too hard and I think Stewart had a really nice balance.

And this IS  a thriller. Fast paced and a ton of fun, but that is not to imply that it is in anyway lacking in depth. A big theme is Balance of Power. Chaos vs. Order. Light vs. Dark, or in the case of Taggart and Samiya, Fullness Vs. The Void. And, as I mentioned, lots and lots of gray shades, something that has a HUGE appeal to me as a reader. These are the kinds of stories I live for (if you’ve no doubt surmised from my love of Joely’s work).

However, a warning. If your religious sensibilities are easily offended even in the face of something clearly FICTIONAL, you may want to skip this book. I’m not going to go into detail. Don’t like? Don’t read. That is all. Although I’ll pity you the loss of a fantastic read.

Now for the rest of you rational, fantasy-lovin’ myth-craving folk. This is DEFINITELY the book for you. Full on, thoroughly engaging, not preachy, action-packed fun. Treachery abound and honestly, I loved every minute of it. I think its best when the lines are blurred. When you’re not quite sure whose side you are or should be on. From the very beginning, I knew who I was rooting for, and it wasn’t a side so much as a character. Samiya, a truly amazing character who I think may have knocked someone off my top-ten list. She’s THAT cool.

But I’m not telling who won, who lost, or who suffered brutally only to be a pawn to the whims of the gods. That, my dear reader, is for you to find out.

And then tell me, whose side are you on?

If you’ve been intrigued about what I’ve had to say about 24 Bones, do yourself a favor and read the excerpt here, or if you don’t need the teaser and want to jump right on in to the story, allow me to direct you to Drollerie’s bookshop where you may pick yourself up a copy. Should you need further coercing, Michael Stewart has been doing some interesting posts on 24 Bones over at his website.

Happy reading!

Dear Sir, I’m Yours – A Review

Joely gets the best covers EVER.

Seriously, if there is a cover art fairy, she’s hoarding it. Or maybe just blessed by it. Hell, if I were a cover art fairy I’d hang around Joely too, she writes some of the most emotionally gut-wrenching stories I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. And considering she usually writes Fantasy, the switch to contemporary read seamlessly.

God lover her, I don’t know how she does it, continuously turning out great read after great read.

The Blurb:

This professor’s final exam includes a spanking.

There’s no house restoration too challenging for Rae Jackson, a.k.a. “The Fix-It Lady”. There’s no fixing the past, though. Like the day she left college. A semester of flirting with her English professor ended when he spanked her to the best orgasm of her life. Afraid of her own eager willingness to comply with the sexy dom’s commands—no matter what—she fled.

Yet not even five years can dim her memory of his masterful touch.

Conn never forgot the one student who gave him a big fat “F” on the greatest test of his life. After all these years, he’s still haunted by his uncharacteristic loss of control. When he finds the very object of his shame—and desire—crawling around under his grandmother’s house, he swears to do anything to win Rae’s trust.

Rae finds herself helpless against Conn’s slow seduction. Exactly the way she likes it. Instead of poetry, this time she learns the erotic pleasure to be found in bondage…and submission to the sexiest professor alive.

Warning: Explicit sex, spanking, light bondage, a crazy old lady who talks to ghosts, and one lethal pink parasol.

Dear Sir, I’m Yours is a red hot contemporary romance with depth and some wickedly awesome characters. Passionate does not even begin to describe it. You might want to have a fan near by for this one, or schedule in a cold shower afterwards.

Dr. Hotnes-er, Dr. Connagher, that is, certainly had me squealing just about every other line. I would add to the warning that this is not for the faint of heart, nor the prudish. Me, closet pervert and BDSM-curious that I am? Adored it. There’s a little bit of something for everyone here. The depth of Conn and Rae’s love will appeal to romance readers, the HOTHOTHOT sex scenes for the erotica scene (or for those, also like me, who are fascinated by the psychology of sex), even a touch of paranormal, which I wasn’t anticipating but greatly appreciated.

Which reminds me, I want to be like Miss Belle when I grow up. Pink parasol and all, but minus the cooking skills, or lack thereof.

If you’ve been intrigued by what I have to say, I sincerely recommend you hop on over to Samhain’s website and pick yourself up a copy.

And you’re in  luck, it seems Joely Sue Burkhart is doing a bit of a “Behind the Scenes of” week over on her blog. Today she’s talking about the playlist for Dear Sir. If your a writing geek like me, check it out! I always love seeing what tunes inspire my favorite authors, and she has some great taste in music.  I’m greatly looking forward to the next installment in “The Connaghers” series.

Dirge Redux – Day 22

4492 / 100000 words. 4% done!

Damn it’s been one hell of a week.

For starters I came into posession of yet another stray kitten to add to my collection (I have three fully grown ones). Poor thing was on the side of the road and would have gotten smooshed if not for my neighbor’s interverance. They brought him home, having no interest in keeping him and were content to let him stay outisde, where he could end up getting smooshed accidentily. Plus, it was supposed to rain that night. Like hell I was going to let it stay out there, despite my mother’s insitence that we simply could not afford to keep him.

She’s just as much of a sucker for a cute face as I am, and we managed to get her to consent to keeping him a few days till we found him a home.I kept him in a box in my room that first night and, as adorable and snug-able as he was, he drove me nuts. I got about four hours sleep tops and that’s only when i kicked him out in the front room the previous morning.

I really did do my best to find him a home, showing his picture to my friends (both local and internet-based, although the latter was more just to gush over how adorable he is) at one point, it even looked like I might have to hand him over to the Humane Society, something I wasn’t entirely comfortable with but-to cut a long grueling story short-mom caved.The Pharaoh (as I have taken to calling him) is staying.

We’ve also been having a bit of a connectivity issue down here. If its not one thing its another. First the system was down, then there was an issue with the modem. Then I found out the Pharaoh had tugged one of the wires too hard and it had fallen out. Brilliant. He’s already finding ways to get me to pay more attention to him.

Then one of my other cats attacked my mom. Swell. I would go into detail but the thought still makes me violently ill. She’s fine but she had to go to the clinic to get her arm bandaged and get a shot so that it didn’t get infected. I still have yet to figure out what the hell got into him…but he is old, and maybe its a sign that he is becoming unwell.

Anyway, I managed to get three scenes done today. I finally allowed myself to write a scene without nitpicking everything to death about it being PERFECT, which is a huge step for me. You’ll also see that I reduced my goal by a bit. I’m not sure if it will stay that way but I’ve been debating with myself and it seems like a better idea to aim for 100,000 instead of 150,000.

Now, I don’t expect 100,000 to be the end result, its just I tend to overwrite in the first draft.

And oh look, only one more measly percent until I go back to sharing snippets!

New words for the Day: 1,511

June word count: 5,071

2009 Word Count: 6,286

Dirge Redux Day 21

2981 / 150000 words. 2% done!

HURRAY 2%!

See? I’m easily appeased.

I finished a whole scene today! More than I am usually able to accomplished without slamming my head against the desk! Not too shabby. It helps that the next few scenes are going to be so much fun. It’s only the first chapter and I’m already bringing on the heartache. Bwahaha!

And hmm, me thinks I have to reconsider my percentage until I’m allowed to share more snippets. Instead of 10% perhaps I’ll make it 5% since that seems to go along way in terms of actual words.

New words for the Day: 1411 (woo!)

June word count: 3,560

2009 Word Count: 4,775

Dirge Redux Day 20

1570 / 150000 words. 1% done!

Man that 1% is getting on my nerves.

Finished the scene from hell though, and I’m not going back over it. I am contemplating changing the POV character to make the scene more effective. Or rather, the tension in the scene.

Meh, maybe. We’ll see after I get to “THE END”.

New words for the Day: 227

June word count: 2,149

2009 Word Count: 3,364

Dirge Redux Day 19

1135 / 150000 words. 1% done!

A little late getting this post up but better late than never.

Not a hell of a lot, but oddly, it isn’t because I wasn’t working. I decided to plot out the previous scene and give it another go. A last go before I moved on from it. On a conceptual level, I’m loving it so far. Of course its very rough so not perfect but I’m glad i decided to start a little earlier in the scene. Did wonders for it. I hope to finnish it off tomorrow and add another 2k.

New words for the Day: 64 (well that’s embarrassing)

June word count: 1, 922

2009 Word Count: 3,137

Dirge Redux Day 18- ‘JuNoWriMo’ Day 1

Yes, I’m aware there isn’t actually a JuNoWriMo (or is there?) but Joely’s still working on her MayNoWriMo project and I’m working on Dirge, so why the hell not?

This scene is kicking my ass. I think its because I can’t tell what aspects of Sasha I want to show. She’s a complex little b. Quiet, and yet I have her trading low blows with her, er, “catty” partner. Which ain’t a bad thing, I mean she has to speak sometimes right? But is this what i want the reader’s first impression of her to be?

I think I just discovered my problem. D’oh. Off to do a quick fix and then I’ll be back to post a snippet.

EDIT: Still not completely happy with it but problem fixed for now. I have decided to relinquish my ’snippet’ rights until I get to at least 10% for continued motivation.

1071 / 150000 words. 1% done!

New words for the Day: 1004 1071

June word count: 1071

2009 Word Count: 3,073

24 hours to tie up loose ends

I love Jem.

Ahem.

Lots of stuff done today, lots of stuff still needing to be done in order to be ok for tomorrow. What happens tomorrow you say?

Tomorrow I get off my ass and go back to work on Dirge. I have most of the prep work done just need  to rework the outline AGAIN and I will be ok. No sopping, no stalling. Not this time. Especially since I have two weeks free for me,me, me! I plan to confine myself to Fast Draft rules ala Candace Haven and shee how well that goes. Ya’ll will be the uh…second to know.

To Accomplish

1. Rediscover love for idea.

2. Write out IDEA, Sentence and Blurb for project

3. Fine-tune Sentence

4. Market Research for back-up plans

5. Details and conflicts all in order

6. Critical Character, Time&Place, Worldbuilding sheets

7. Format previous info/worksheets into One Note

8. Maps, maps and MOAR maps

9. Outline (Needs tweaking)

10. Work out Scheduling Math (ohgawdtheHORROR)

11. Dissect Outline

12. Incorporate other loose worksheets but only if CRITICAL (Have decided these work best as REVISION tools)

13. Post any new progress made on 2YN board (cause lord knows, its been awhile)

14. Get new!shiny word meter

15. Put together Character Collage? Later…If time is not a factor…

Now back to being knee-deep in plot gunk. Sayonra for now Wonderland!

The Road to Shanhasson- A review

Note: This is the Second book of Joely’s (epic!) Bloods and Shadows trilogy. To read my      review of book one, The Rose of Shanhasson, go here. I strongly recommend buying it if you haven’t already, and if you are interested in what I have to say about The Road to Shanhasson here, as Joely says that it is difficult to understand Road if you have not read Rose. Well worth the purchase. Onward.

Note the second: Joely has a cover art fairy god mother. Deena, your work is absolutely stunning.This was just the PERFECT cover. It still makes me all tingly looking at it.

For a short snippet of what I said about Rose:

“The characters and their world will haunt me for the rest of my life.”

Yep. Still haunted.

I should call this “Soleil’s Squealing Corner”, but well that doesn’t sound as professional does it? Not that I’m by any means a professional reviewer. I do this for fun and love of story not money.  And boy do I love Joely’s books!

Blurb:

Shannari has survived her enemies’ plots long enough to return to the Plains with Rhaekhar, but their new life together will not be easy. First, she has to get through a wedding ceremony that will make both him and his personal guard, Gregar, her co-mates…without anyone dying. Since both she and Gregar are Shadowed, that may prove to be an impossible feat.

Tensions redouble with her return and Rhaekhar is further away than ever in uniting the Nine Camps of the Sha’Kae al’Dan. His enemies have the perfect weapon to use against him: his outlander woman.

And no matter how far she is from the political–and deadly–waltz of the High Court, her destiny drags her step by reluctant step to Shanhasson. The road back to Shanhasson is thick with shadows and stained with blood. How many of her loved ones will die in her fight to claim the Rose Crown?

Warnings: Explicit sex, violence, torture, sadomasochism, menage a trois, and an impossible battle against an enemy that can’t die again.

This is “Gregar’s Book” and EVERYTHING is upped! The magic, the blood, the sex (always white hot and overflowing with passion). And  Joely’s great with pacing. Although there are a lot of relatively “peaceful scenes” before the big battle, they’re chock-ful of tension. Erotic and otherwise. And she’s always got neat little twists up her sleeves that she drops on you at the best of times. And a wicked sense of humor that she skillfully weaves into her best characters. (Gregar, Sal, Rhakehar. Even Shannari lets her hair down and gets some great one-liners!)

But reader, be warned. This book literally tore my heart in two when I read it the first time. I had tears streaming down my face. But I love books that make me FEEL as opposed to leaving me lukewarm, so this was the perfect book for me. If you’re hopped up on Romancelandia’s supposed “rules”, this may not be the book for you. Me? I think some rules were meant to be broken and Joely breaks them superbly. I LOVE series books and I love THIS series. “Road” is a great sequel to Rose and has me pining for the third installment, tentatively titled Return to Shanhasson.  But seeing how busy poor Joely is and intends to be, I might have to wait awhile. (*off screen* *SOOOOOOOOOB* CRUEL FATES!!!)

Ok, ok. I’m composed. I can wait.

forliketenseconds.

Hey Bethanie, can we share Gregar doll while we wait please?

Like Rose, I highly recommend The Road to Shanhasson for every lover of Romance, Fantasy, or even better, both. It has just about everything you could possibly want in a book with characters you love (and love to hate!), who make you jump for joy, laugh out loud, cry your eyes out. The Blood and Shadows Trilogy is quickly becoming my favorite series and it has a permanent place on my ever growing virtual keepers shelf. (Though I have every intention of getting printed copies a.s.a.p…. I must. There’s simply no living without them. Say Joely, you’ll sign mine if I send it right? Pretty please with naked Gregar and whip cream on top? )

Thank you kindly for taking the time to read this review. If you are intrigued/liked by what I’ve had to say, and or want to buy the book just for the cover (Hell, I would have!!) then please, support my favorite author. Her books are my crack. Can never have too much. Head on over to Drollerie Press and pick up a copy. While you’re there, check out Rose if you haven’t and some other DP goodies.

Should you need further persuasion, allow me to point you in the direction of Joely’s free read, The Shadowed Blood, prequel to the Bloods and Shadows trilogy. If that doesn’t hook you-well, I have to wonder if you’re not made of the cold mechanic things.

Quick Update

To the person who asked: ‘Should I talk dirty with my Scorpio?’ and wound up here, allow me to assist you:

The short answer is yes.

The long answer is still yes, but only if you’re in a relationship with said Scorp and not just trying to pick one up.

Or you’re a masochist whose willing to lose an appendage. And if you were smart enough to try it, I guess there’s no hope for you to guess which appendage…

Ahem, as for my people, sorry for not posting with more regularity, been a tad busy with the personal life here. Helping my mom and sister set up our new business, doing photography work, formatting the ADs, coming up with the newsletter. All very hectic but rewarding.

I should be back to posting in a bit, mostly reviews, and then back to updates on Dirge. I have two weeks where I will be mostly free to work on me, me, me so I’m taking it and possibly implementing a FAST DRAFT on myself. Will let you all know how that works out.