The Unfinished Song: Initiate by Tara Maya

From the Cover:
DEADLY INITIATION

A DETERMINED GIRL...
Dindi can't do anything right, maybe because she spends more time dancing with pixies than doing her chores. Her clan hopes to marry her off and settle her down, but she dreams of becoming a Tavaedi, one of the powerful warrior-dancers whose secret magics are revealed only to those who pass a mysterious Test during the Initiation ceremony. The problem? No-one in Dindi's clan has ever passed the Test. Her grandmother died trying. But Dindi has a plan.


AN EXILED WARRIOR...
Kavio is the most powerful warrior-dancer in Faearth, but when he is exiled from the tribehold for a crime he didn't commit, he decides to shed his old life. If roving cannibals and hexers don't kill him first, this is his chance to escape the shadow of his father's wars and his mother's curse. But when he rescues a young Initiate girl, he finds himself drawn into as deadly a plot as any he left behind. He must decide whether to walk away or fight for her... assuming she would even accept the help of an exile.

Tifferz Take:

I want to say I had the honor of reviewing an arc copy of this ebook from the author! I am so glad I was introduced to a new author! I will be watching for more from Tara Maya! I feel like I have discovered a really great secret!
First off the cover is amazing and I totally love it! I can honestly say I would have bought the book just based on the cover. I also loved the story it was fast paced. This story has twist and turns galore and will keep you on your toes. I love fantasy, magic, faeries, fighting and lots of dancing. I am intrigued with this world and love watching these characters journey. This story will leave you hanging and wanting more! I can't wait to return to this world with Tara's next book The Unfinished Song: Taboo coming out in March.

You can get the ebook here:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Unfinished-Song-Initiate-ebook/dp/B004H4XE5I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1296142204&sr=1-1

The Girl Who Played with Fire by Steig Larsson

Jewels is back with another review!

From the cover:
Part blistering espionage thriller, part riveting police procedural, and part piercing exposé on social injustice, The Girl Who Played with Fire is a masterful, endlessly satisfying novel.

Mikael Blomkvist, crusading publisher of the magazine Millennium, has decided to run a story that will expose an extensive sex trafficking operation. On the eve of its publication, the two reporters responsible for the article are murdered, and the fingerprints found on the murder weapon belong to his friend, the troubled genius hacker Lisbeth Salander. Blomkvist, convinced of Salander’s innocence, plunges into an investigation. Meanwhile, Salander herself is drawn into a murderous game of cat and mouse, which forces her to face her dark past.

Jewels Take:
The Girl Who Played With Fire, by Stieg Larsson is the 2nd book in the Millenium Series that began with The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. This sequel begins about a year following the end of the first book. Lisbeth has spent the past 12 months or so traveling about the world and has had no contact with Mikael since she left Sweden. She is enjoying her travels and financial independence, when she finds reason to quickly return to Sweden. Meanwhile, Mikael has tried unsuccessfully to get in touch with Lisbeth over the past year, but has stayed busy with his new-found celebrity due to his book and magazine article that was the denouement of the first book. The book unfolds as two of Mikael's friends are murdered and Lisbeth becomes the prime suspect for the crime. Like the first book in the series, the plot is engaging and the story has plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. Also like the first one, there is a lot of development time spent in introducing characters and plot lines. Larsson likes to develop various plot lines without divulging how they are connected and even introduces characters without revealing their names. This got a bit frustrating for me, but it serves the purpose of increasing suspense and a desire to find out exactly what is going on. This book wasn't as disturbing for me to read as Tattoo was. It isn't as graphic. However, it does deal with the "sex trade" of teenage girls being brought from Russia to Sweden to be used as prostitutes. It also has too much homosexuality for my taste - meaning sexual encounters. I didn't have a problem with the relationship(s) existing, I just didn't care for the number of encounters and extent of the descriptions. Overall, I was just as engaged in this book as I was the first. I will say that it really leaves you hanging at the end. There was also a part at the beginning of the story that was left unfinished. I don't know if it will be addressed in the next book, but it seemed odd that it was included and then it was never returned to. I kept thinking that it would tie into the main murder mystery somehow, but it was never again addressed. So, I now have to finish the series because now there are just way too many unanswered questions.

you can buy the book here:
http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Who-Played-Fire-Vintage/dp/product-description/030745455X/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books&qid=1296141830&sr=8-2

you can get the ebook here:
http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Who-Played-Fire-ebook/dp/B001NLKT60/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

Thanks Jewels for your review!

Cheers,

Tifferz

Sorry

Sorry guys my little boy has been sick and I don't have a review for you. I will try to get one up this week and if not I will have one for you next week.
Happy Reading!

Cheers,
Tifferz

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

I have a guest reviewer Jewels today!


From the Cover:
Disgraced journalist Mikael Blomqvist is hired by Henrik Vanger to investigate the disappearance of Vanger’s great-niece Harriet. Henrik suspects that someone in his family, the powerful Vanger clan, murdered Harriet over forty years ago.

Starting his investigation, Mikael realizes that Harriet’s disappearance is not a single event, but rather linked to series of gruesome murders in the past. He now crosses paths with Lisbeth Salander, a young computer hacker, an asocial punk and most importantly, a young woman driven by her vindictiveness.

Together they form an unlikely couple as they dive deeper into the violent past of the secretive Vanger family


Jewels Take:
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson is the first in an international bestselling trilogy which I just finished reading for my book group. It can be generally classified as a murder-mystery novel, but I tend to believe it is more of a social commentary. I started reading the book on Tuesday and was finished in the wee hours of Saturday morning. I actually stayed up until about 2:30am on Saturday morning to finish it because I just couldn't put it down. I can't honestly say I "enjoyed" reading the book, but I did become wrapped up in the storyline to the point that I couldn't stop reading. The book follows Mikael Blomkvist (a financial journalist known for exposing financial and corporate corruption) as he sets out to unravel a forty-year-old disappearance/murder mystery at the request of a certain Henrik Vanger. The mystery itself involves research, investigations and many twists and turns which provide for a very engaging storyline. The actual "girl with a dragon tattoo" is not the missing person, but an enigma of a young woman named Lisbeth Salander who works for a security company and specializes in investigative research. As I mentioned, I do believe this book is more of a social commentary than a book written for entertainment. While I think that Larsson handled things appropriately, the topics themselves are heavy and they may be offensive to some readers. I personally would not recommend this book for anyone under the age of eighteen because of the topics involved. Be advised that the following are included in this book: rape, sexual assault, sadomasochism, violent murder, casual sex, extra-marital affaires, incest, and abuse. I read somewhere that the original title of this book was "Men Who Hate Women" I think that would have been a more appropriate title. So, should you choose to read this book, please know that you have been warned.

You can pick up the book here:
http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Dragon-Tattoo-Stieg-Larsson/dp/0307454541/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1295232159&sr=8-1

You can pick up the ebook here:
http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Dragon-Tattoo-ebook/dp/B0015DROBO/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&qid=1295232159&sr=8-1

Thank you Jewels for your review!!

Cheers,
Tifferz

And the winner is.....

Joanne figuringoutthesmallstuff(at)gmail(dot)com -


Congrats! You are the winner of my blog giveaway!!! I hope you enjoy this series as much as I did! I have emailed you pdf files!
Happy Reading!

Cheers,
Tifferz

Dreaming of Books Giveaway!!

This giveaway is open to all new and old followers of my blog! Just leave a comment below with your email and you will be entered to win The Queen of Raz series by Amanda Winters in pdf ebook format! One entry per follower and the giveaway ends on Jan. 17 at midnight! Good luck.

summary-
Ann Kerwin learns she is going to be Queen on a planet called Raz when Hathor arrives to take her there. But is she ready to be Queen? And when she has to choose between Hathor, someone she barely knows, and William, an old boyfriend, to be her king, which one will she choose?

summary-
Two years after Ann becomes Queen, William decides he wants a second chance, and the clone of a Paler once thought dead helps William bring Ann back to the past. The problem is, the clone has an ulterior motive which may mean destruction for everyone on Earth. Can Hathor and the other Palers come to rescue in time?

Three years after book 2, Ann is once again called to go on a galatic quest. This time, she comes to the Olympians' defense. But this particular journey takes her to a very unexpected place: Earth...and back to the legendary Atlantis where she meets an old foe who she must either destroy once and for all or die.

Summary-
Amanda, Ann's daughter, assumes the royal throne on Raz, but she has a real problem: she can't decide who's going to be her king. While debating which of her many suitors will be a good fit, she is called to go to Atlantis on Earth, where she is to destroy the city. But the man she meets up with is just as determined to go back in time and prevent Atlantis from sinking into the ocean in the first place.


Tifferz Take-
Aren't these covers fun? I sure think so. I loved this series! It is a great adventure with a sweet romance! If you like Fantasy these are the books for you. Amanda has a way with words! The characters are well developed and the story line intriguing I was sucked into the story within the first few pages. I only put these books down to make dinner.The laundry and dishes piled up. Worth the time to read this series! These books are clean. I would highly recommend this series to all romance and fantasy lovers!

If you can't wait or don't win you can pick up the ebook book series here:

http://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=Queen+of+Raz+series

For more than 160 Dreaming of Books giveaways click here:

http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/p/giveaway-hop-page.html

A Wanted Man by Nancy J. Parra

From the Cover:
Brianna McGraw ventures out West to find and rescue her brother from bandits who will sell him illegally to the highest bidder. Separated after they were orphaned a few years ago, Brianna has worked hard as a librarian to save money for the trip. But when she arrives, she realizes she has to somehow come up with a thousand dollars to buy him back.
She then sees a wanted poster with a sufficient reward and decides to become a bounty hunter, accomplishing two good deeds at once--bringing a criminal to justice and saving her brother.

Trey Morgan's renegade days are long over. He is at home on his ranch, tending to his cattle, when Brianna appears and arrests him. He is more amused than concerned, wondering how she thinks she's going to drag him 900 miles through the mountains.

To his surprise, Brianna proves over and over again that she is intelligent and strong enough to make the long and grueling trip. While he quietly observes his beautiful captor, his discomfort grows when she begins to win more and more of his respect and admiration.

Soon, the threat his beautiful captor holds over him is not so much in the pistol she wields, but the lasso she has firmly fastened over his heart.

Tifferz Take:

I was hooked from page one! You all need to read this book if you love a sweet romance with a strong and spunky leading lady and a hero that will have your heart skipping a beat or two! A Wanted Man is well written. I loved the combination of romance and adventure. This is a clean read with great sexual tension. This book you could read from age 12 to 112 years old.
I read this fantastic story in one sitting and will be reading this one again and again! LOVED THIS STORY!!! This is a MUST READ AND BUY!!! You will want to have this around when you need a romantic fix! I am so glad I have this purchased this book! Now if only Nancy would put all her books on ebook! Life would be almost perfect! I am now trying to get all my favorite books in both hard copy and ebook.

I look forward to Nancy J Parra's newest book The Counterfeit Bride coming in 2011!!
for a sneak peak click here:
http://www.nancyjparra.com/gpage4.html


you can pick up the book A Wanted Man here:
http://www.amazon.com/Wanted-Man-Avalon-Historical-Romance/dp/0803495668/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1294623267&sr=8-1

Take A Walk With Me by Marcia Lynn McClure

Excerpt:


“Grandma?” Cozy called as she closed the front door behind her. She inhaled a deep breath—bathing in the warm, inviting scent of banana nut bread baking in the oven. “Grandma? Are you in here?”
“Cozy!” her grandma called in a loud whisper. “I’m in the kitchen. Hurry!”
Cozy frowned—her heart leapt as worry consumed her for a moment. Yet, as she hurried to the kitchen to find her grandma kneeling at the window that faced the new neighbors yard, and peering out with a pair of binoculars, she exhaled a sigh of relief.
“Grandma! You’re still spying on him?” she giggled.
“Get down! They’ll see us! Get down!” Dottie ordered in a whisper, waving one hand in a gesture that Cozy should duck.
Giggling with amusement at her grandma’s latest antics, Cozy dropped to her hands and knees and crawled toward the window.
“Who’ll see us?” she asked.
“Here,” Dottie whispered, pausing only long enough to reach for a second set of binoculars sitting on the nearby counter. “These are for you.” She smiled at Cozy—winked as a grin of mischief spread over her face. “And now…may I present the entertainment for this evening…Mr. Buckly hunk of burning love Bryant…and company.”


Tifferz Take:

If you are looking for a sweet, feel good story then this is the ebook for you. I really liked the relationship that Cozy had with her grandma. It was really fun. Some of the things they do I would do with one of my sisters!I don't need to tell you about the great kissing because that is a given with any Marcia book. I don't need to tell you the hero is totally amazing cause I have yet to be disapointed in a Marcia hero.I also liked this story because it is a little different from Marcia's normal book for example no drama. Yet Marcia was able to make that work. I would say this is a must read. I was smiling and laughing throughout this story! I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. So, pick this one up right away! I hope Marcia adds to this story in the future and makes it a full length novel and puts it into paperback!

You can get the ebook here:
http://www.distractionsinc.com/orderbook/paypalebooks.cfm

Happy New Year!!!

I just wanted to wish you all a Happy New Year!!!

Cheers,
Tifferz