Friday 24 October 2014

Major life changes of a mom-to-be book blogger #1: Following mom blogs



I still don't remember when this shift has happened.  I was once reading a lot of book blogs or searching for the next great series to start and tracking (stalking) all my favorite author's new releases.  But now, I seem to care less about those things.  The grave truth - but there is no denying that I started to lose interest in them.  Yeah, I still can't stop getting excited about Richelle Mead or Rick Riordan or Jill Shalvis or so many other authors' new releases.  I still pre-order and read them the moment I get them in my hands.  But, my major focus is on the mom blog nowadays.

I am really really terrified regarding about this whole baby thing, as much as being excited about them.  Maybe, I am looking for some support group or to check whether there is someone as terrified as me.  Maybe, that's the reason I started following mom blogs.  But, whatever the reason is, I don't regret this change.  I actualy love them.  Maybe, one day, I will relate to them more than I do today.  But, for now, it is easy to think that my kid would be more easy to deal with, compared to those bloggers' kids.  I find myself smiling automatically, when I read about other mom's experiences with their little ones.  It surprisingly calms me about my pregnancy fears, or atleast makes it easy to hold these fears at bay in the hope of having my own adventures with my kid.

Is this me coping in my own way?  Or did you also do this - following blogs other than something based upon books, I mean?

Monday 20 October 2014

Review & $10 Amazon GC Giveaway: Black Hole Bounty by Sienna Bronwyn


SYNOPSIS

Destiny is written in the stars? Maybe, but when you’re in a black hole you make your own damn destiny.

It’s not every day you get abducted by an alien general, but then, Jerusa Whichab isn’t having an average day. Earth is fading from view and she’s got a decision to make—cooperate with her despotic, yet unnervingly attractive captor or receive an injection of goo. General Toyeb can’t be trusted, and his body-healing, mind-blowing Theta waves leave her panting for more. But what choice does she have if she’s to stay alive?

None, if enemy bounty hunter Berwyck dal Korth has his way. Intent on capturing Jerusa, he performs a binding ritual to ensure she cannot escape him—a ritual with unforeseen side effects for both of them. Forced into hostile proximity, Berwyck and Jerusa battle to subdue their rising attraction, but will they conquer their desire—or succumb?

REVIEW

Jerusa was abducted by aliens, just when she is trying to overcome her phobia of flying.  It seems that she is descended from the aliens herself and her blood is the only thing that can save the alien species from a virus.  Jerusa accepts to help, provided she will be handed over to her family unharmed.  And just when she thinks that things settled down, she is abducted again.

Jerusa's characters is not something bold or admirable.  She doesn't stand up for herself and easily convinced.  And the two male main characters in the book are also not your typical hero material.  But, the author has to be given credit for making a reptilian alien look appealing.  It's a unique premise and a tough one too.  For the first book in the series, this book is a good start.

The author has potential and the novel could have been better at many areas, especially in the characterization.  I have no complaints in the world building.  The author has done an amazing job on that front.  The Kuna Indian history is fascinating.  And the writing style is witty and neat.

Overall, a good start from a potential author!

3.5 STARS!


GIVEAWAY

Sienna will be awarding a $10 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday 7 October 2014

$100 Gift Card Giveaway: A Matter Of Grave Concern by Brenda Novak




When Maximillian Wilder joins the notorious body snatchers known as the London Supply Company, the last thing on his mind is love. He’s worried about Madeline, his vanished half sister, who was last seen in the company of Jack Hurtsill, the gang’s conscienceless leader. Raiding graveyards, stealing corpses, and selling them to medical colleges as dissection material is dirty work, but he has to gain Jack’s trust. He’s determined to find out what happened to Madeline—and to bring Jack to justice if she was murdered for the coin her body could bring.

Beautiful, spirited Abigail Hale, daughter of the surgeon at Aldersgate School of Medicine, detests the challenging, hard-bargaining Max. But she must procure the necessary specimens if she is to save the college and her father’s career. She believes she is going to be successful—until Jack double-crosses her. Then she’s swept into a plot of danger and intrigue, one where Max must intervene and protect her, no matter the risk to his plan . . . or his heart.

EXCERPT

It was a perfect specimen. Almost.

Abigail Hale took a steadying breath and stooped into the cool, dark alley to examine the bloodless gash on the cadaver’s high forehead. The injury was a minor flaw, really. Nothing to worry about, although she intended to use that imperfection to best advantage when haggling over price. 

Straightening, she opened the door wide and motioned the five figures surrounding the body inside. “Quickly!” 

Three men followed as two, their features distorted by the flickering light of her lamp, hefted the sack containing the corpse into her father’s office and dropped it with a thud as solid as though it contained nothing more than so many rocks.

Abigail squared her shoulders and crossed to the desk adjacent to her father’s. Although she had dealt with resurrection men during the last school year, thrice, she had never done business with this particular gang. The sheer number of them took her off guard. Usually a couple of gravediggers or sextons showed up, regular men who didn’t look nearly so unsavory. 

Hoping to keep the “sack ’em up” men from seeing how badly her hands were shaking, she clasped them behind her back. 

A behemoth of a man, marked with the smallpox and dressed all in black, stepped forward. “When I saw the name on your letter, I assumed we were dealin’ with the good surgeon himself,” he said with a thick Cockney accent. “So who the bloody hell are you?”

“Who I am doesn’t matter so long as you get paid. Am I correct, Mr.…Hurtsill?” She was guessing at his name. This was the first time she had ever met him, but he seemed in charge and had referenced her letter.

“This is some risky business we’ve got going here, little lady. I have to trust you and you have to trust me. And that means who you are matters more than you might think.”

Since he didn’t correct her, she assumed she had accurately identified him. “Fine. I am steward of the household accounts here, if you must know.” 

He picked a piece of food out of his teeth. “The surgeon’s daughter, eh?”

Apparently, he knew more about the school than she had expected.

“Does your father know you’re doin’ this?” he asked.

If they didn’t get on with it, he would find out. And she couldn’t have that. “Time is money, Mr. Hurtsill. How—”

“Big Jack,” he interrupted.

“I’m sorry? 

“Call me Big Jack.”

“Fine. Mr…er…Jack, then. How much do you want for…um…” Abigail nodded toward the sack.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Brenda Novak is the author of more than fifty books. A four-time Rita nominee, she has won many awards, including the National Reader’s Choice, the Bookseller’s Best, the Book Buyer’s Best, the Daphne, and the Holt Medallion. She also runs an annual on-line auction for diabetes research every May at www.brendanovak.com (her youngest son has this disease). To date, she’s raised over $2 million. For more about Brenda, please visit www.brendanovak.com.

AUTHOR ONLINE: Twitter | Facebook | Amazon

GIVEAWAY

Brenda will be awarding a $100 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Monday 6 October 2014

Out with it.....Finally!

Source: Sodahead

So, I have been very inactive in my blog for the past few months.  I apologize for leaving my blog like this with occasional memes and discussion posts.  But, trust me, for last few months, I don't want to blog.  Well, I don't want to do pretty much anything else either.  Okay, this is it, the big reveal -- I am pregnant - for 5 months now.

We were so happy when the doctor confirmed our assumption.  But, then the symptoms hit - nausea, dizziness and vomiting.  I was thrown off guard.  I had a full time job to deal with.  Luckily, my company gave me permission to 'work-from-home' for a month.  Before we even had time to celebrate the good news, I felt like I am in a roller coaster, only this time vomiting all the way (Ew!  I know!).

But, you know, we both wanted to have a child and we know this will be okay.  My hubby was so supportive and so are my mom, dad and my brother.  I stopped cooking altogether for these few months.  I took all meals from my mom's home.  Now that it's the fifth month and almost all the symptoms subsided, I finally feel better.  Of course, there is still this lower back pain and disturbed sleep pattern.  I think I can manage with these things.

AND I felt my baby move a week back (** squeals **).  And he/she has been doing a lot of acrobatics ever since.  It's the feeling I would not trade anything else with - feeling some new life inside you for the first time.  Everything is worth it for this moment.

Yes, I am still deadly terrified of my labour and the wellness of my baby.  (** sighs deeply **)  But, I trust and I know it's going to be okay..we are going to be okay.

So, that's my 'big' reason for partially abandoning my blog.  I don't want to review or blog.  But, I still read and update in Goodreads.  And suddenly, for the past few days, I feel like I want to write something..anything.  So, DO NOT blame me, if there are more of random discussions or completely unnecessary and/or irrelevant posts.  It's totally one of the pregnancy perks. :)

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