I was interrogated by Busy Moms Who Love to Read!

Pam from Busy Moms Who Love to Read interrogated me. Click here to visit her blog and read my interrogation :)

Thanks Pam!

ARC Review: Poison by Sara Poole

Title: Poison
Author: Sara Poole
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Available: Now
Number of Pages: 416


4 out of 5 Stars










Description from Goodreads:


In the simmering hot summer of 1492, a monstrous evil is stirring within the Eternal City of Rome. The brutal murder of an alchemist sets off a desperate race to uncover the plot that threatens to extinguish the light of the Renaissance and plunge Europe back into medieval darkness. 

Determined to avenge the killing of her father, Francesca Giordano defies all convention to claim for herself the position of poisoner serving Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia, head of the most notorious and dangerous family in Italy. She becomes the confidante of Lucrezia Borgia and the lover of Cesare Borgia. At the same time, she is drawn to the young renegade monk who yearns to save her life and her soul. 

Navigating a web of treachery and deceit, Francesca pursues her father’s killer from the depths of Rome’s Jewish ghetto to the heights of the Vatican itself. In so doing, she sets the stage for the ultimate confrontation with ancient forces that will seek to use her darkest desires to achieve their own catastrophic ends. 

First Line:

The Spaniard died in agony. That much was evident from the contortions of his once handsome face and limbs and the black foam caking his lips. A horrible death to be sure, one only possible from the most feared of weapons: Poison

Favorite Quote:

“Have you noticed that those who murder in the thousands invariably claim divine favor while those who kill on a far more modest scale, myself included, know in our hearts that God weeps for our sins?”

My thoughts:


I know I rarely add quotes or first lines to my reviews. I just had to with this one because I was impressed by much of the writing.


Poison begins with Francesca Giordano confessing to poisoning the Cardinal’s poisoner. A position that belonged to her father before he was brutally beaten to death. She hopes that she’ll be able to take over the job of poisoner, and find the opportunity to avenge her father’s murder. Francesca sets out to discover who ordered her father’s beating, while doing the Cardinal’s bidding. The trail takes her into the Jewish neighborhoods of Rome, and she uncovers secrets that she isn’t sure her father ever wanted her to know.


I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Francesca is such a troubled soul, but that didn’t prevent me from liking her. There is also an extraordinary cast of secondary characters. I hope we’ll learn more about some of my favorites as this series continues. I was fascinated by the factual historical elements the plot contained. Many characters were based on people that actually did exist during this time period. While Francesca is purely fictional, I’d love to think Rome contained a few women as fierce as her.


This novel also explores the trouble faced by the Jewish population of Europe. Some parts are graphic, and horrifying. I was under the impression this was a young adult novel, but I’m not really sure. I’d say it is definitely suitable for older teens, but keep in mind it does contain violence, sexual situations, and mild language. It was a pretty heavy read. 


If you enjoy historical novels that contains fiction with a dash of fact check this one out.  I’m looking forward to the next book in this new series.

Sara Poole on the web:

Website | Blog

Trailer: No Mercy (Dark Hunter Series) By Sherrilyn Kenyon

No Mercy by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Available on September 7th!

"Live fast, fight hard and if you have to die then take as many of your enemies with you as you can. That is the Amazon credo and it was one Samia lived and died by. Now in contemporary New Orleans, the immortal Amazon warrior is about to learn that there's a worse evil coming to slaughter mankind than she's ever faced before....."

Find out more information about No Mercy and the entire Dark Hunter Series on Sherrilyn Kenyon’s website.

Guest Post: Adam Jay Epstein & Andrew Jacobson authors of “The Familiars"

“A Bunch of Random Things We’ve Learned Since Becoming Authors”

ADAM JAY EPSTEIN spent his childhood in Great Neck, New York, while ANDREW JACOBSON grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but the two met in a parking garage out in Los Angeles. They have been writing for film and television together ever since. The Familiars  is their first book.

One day, Adam asked Andrew, “Are you familiar with what a familiar is?” And from that simple question, Vastia was born, a fantastical world filled with the authors’ shared love of animals and magic. They wrote every word, sentence, and page together, sitting opposite each other.

Adam Jay Epstein lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Jane, their daughters, Penny and Olive, and a black-and-white alley cat who hangs out in their backyard. Andrew Jacobson lives with his wife, Ashley, and their dog, Elvis, four traffic lights away.

THE FAMILIARS will be produced for film by Sam Raimi and Sony Animation.

It turns out “The Familiars” is not a YA book like we first thought.

It’s actually an MG book, or middle grade. We didn’t even know there was such a thing. But yes, tween and teen lit are sub-divided into picture books, MG, and YA.

We learned what those Amazon sales rankings actually mean.

And #479,505 is not good.

Naperville, Illinois has a pretty dope hotel.

While on our pre-pub tour we stayed at Naperville’s very own Hotel Arista, an ultra-modern, eco-friendly hotel. The rooms were gorgeous, there was a TV in the bathroom mirror, and there was an incredible restaurant downstairs. It would have been even better if the two of us didn’t have to share that bed (jk).

There is a difference between an MS, a galley, and an ARC.

What that is exactly we still don’t know.

They will let you speak on the airplane intercom if you ask nicely.

At least they will on Southwest Airlines. You can watch Adam doing just this at our blog thefamiliars.blogspot.com.

We learned what “stacked words,” “orphan words,” and “widow words” are in copy editing.

They all have to do with setting the type in the final book so that there isn’t an imbalance on the page. It’s kind of like feng shuing your novel.

You can learn more about “The Familiars” at www.thefamiliars.com

The Familiars Book Trailer:

Meet the authors:

The Familiars releases on September 7th!

Thanks Adam and Andrew for visiting The Fiction Enthusiast! Best of luck with your debut novel!

Review: John Belushi Is Dead by Kathy Charles (Blog Tour)

Title: John Belushi is Dead
Author: Kathy Charles
Available: Now
Publisher: MTV Books
Number of Pages: 320
Reading Level: Young Adult


4.5 out of 5 Stars








Description provided by publisher:


Pink-haired Hilda and oddball loner Benji, both high school seniors, have an obsessive and unusual hobby: they frequent the places where Hollywood celebrities have died. Bound by their interest in the macabre, Hilda and Benji neglect their schoolwork and social lives in favor of prowling the most notorious crime scenes in Los Angeles. Hilda knows her own interest has more than a little to do with her parents’ recent death in a car accident, but doesn’t understand why Benji shares her fascination so deeply.  In rundown Echo Park, a seedy suburb of Los Angeles, they find the squalid apartment where a second-rate silent movie star stabbed himself to death. Its current tenant is Hank, an old man with a mysterious past. Hilda finds herself drawn to Hank in a way she can’t explain, and soon the two strike up an unlikely friendship. But when Hank’s aspiring screenwriter neighbor Jake tries to insert himself into the equation, Hilda’s life becomes more complicated than she ever could have imagined. And who is the real threat to her precarious balancing act? Is it Jake or Benji? 


My thoughts: 


Hilda and Benji have a morbid fascination with death. Spending most of their time together traveling to the sites of famous murders and overdoses. As Benji starts to take the death obsession to a point that makes Hilda uncomfortable, she starts to pull away. Orphaned and living with her workaholic aunt, she finds a most unlikely friends in Hank, a reclusive senior citizen. As she actively tries to get Hank to disclose his secrets, she reveals a few of her own as well. The closer she grows to Hank the more she seems to realize how unhealthy Benji’s behavior truly is. When Hank’s neighbor, Jake, suddenly enters the picture Hilda finds herself smitten even with Hank’s warnings not to trust him. She also finds herself lying to Benji which seems to push him further to the edge. Poor Hilda is feeling pulled in several directions, and unable to decide who to trust.


John Belushi is Dead was a delightfully disturbing read, and another amazing debut novel. Not a book for the squeamish as it delves into great detail regarding the demise of many prominent celebrities. Don’t let the pretty cover fool you. This is a gritty and dark read with a few moments of sunshine. 


The plot moved quickly, and was littered with celebrity trivia. I love the great detail the author went into while describing the many locations Hilda visited, as well as the tragedies that occurred there. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like Hilda in the beginning, but once her relationship with Hank blossomed I found her delightful. Benji was thoroughly damaged, and quite frightening at times. As uncomfortable as some of the death talk made me, I couldn’t stop reading. Hilda is one of those characters you want to see come out on top. 


A great read for older teens and adults alike. I loved experiencing another 2010 debut that was seriously full of awesome. Kathy Charles has an amazing “voice” for story telling. I can’t wait to see more from this author.

Kathy Charles on the web:

Website | Blog

Add to your shelf on Goodreads

Order from Amazon:

 John Belushi Is Dead

*Received from the publisher in exchange for my review.

Waiting On Wednesday (22)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. This week I’m waiting on,

Empty by Suzanne Weyn

Releases: October 2010

Description via Goodreads

It's the near future - the very near future - and the fossil fuels are running out. No gas. No oil. Which means no driving. No heat. Supermarkets are empty. Malls have shut down. Life has just become more local than we ever knew it could be. 

Nobody expected the end to come this fast. And in the small town of Spring Valley, decisions that once seemed easy are quickly becoming matters of life and death. There is hope - there has to be hope - just there are also sacrifices that need to be made, and a whole society that needs to be rethought.

Teens like Nicki, Tom, and Leila may find what they need to survive. But their lives are never going to be the same again.

What are you “waiting on”?

ARC Review: Girl Parts by John M. Cusick

Title: Girl Parts
Author: John M. Cusick
Available: Now
Publisher: Candlewick
Number of Pages:
Reading Level: Young Adult


4 out of 5 Stars










Description from Goodreads:


"Hello, David. My name is Rose. It’s a pleasure to meet you. We are now entering minute two of our friendship. According to my Intimacy Clock, a handshake is now appropriate…"

David and Charlie are opposites. David has a million friends, online and off. Charlie is a soulful outsider, off the grid completely. But neither feels close to anybody. When David’s parents present him with a hot Companion bot to encourage healthy bonds and treat "dissociative disorder," he can’t get enough of luscious red-headed Rose — and he can’t get it soon. Companions come with strict intimacy protocols, and whenever he tries anything, David gets an electric shock. Severed from the boy she was built to love, Rose turns to Charlie, who finds he can open up, knowing Rose isn’t real. With Charlie’s help, the ideal "companion" is about to become her own best friend. 


My thoughts:


Girl Parts opens with a girl committing suicide to a live internet audience. David inadvertently witnesses the streaming video, and his parents become concerned. After a meeting with his guidance counselor they decide a robotic “companion” might be just what he needs. Companion Rose arrives in a box, and David is immediately awed by how lifelike (and hot) she is. Elsewhere is loner Charlie. He isn’t one of the cool kids. He’d prefer to spend his time studying plant life as opposed to partying with the popular crowd. When David breaks Rose’s heart, Charlie must help pick up the pieces.


The entire premise of this book was seriously clever. Dark at moments, yet able to make you laugh during others. This is really something special. It has the necessities to appeal to both male and female readers. Two interesting male protags, and a little bit of mushy romance for readers that dig that sort of thing. I was under the impression this would be a quick, light read. While it was fun, and I read it in just a few hours, it packs a punch and makes you think. 


Does contain emotionally heavy content (suicide), sexual situations, drinking, and language. I’d be ok with recommending this to my children if they were 14 or older. 

John M. Cusick on the web:

Girl Parts Website | Blog | Twitter

*Received from Around the World Tours

In My Mailbox (20)

In My Mailbox is a meme where we showcase books received during the week. It is hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren. 

For Review:

I’m in love with the awesomeness in my mailbox this week. Next week should be the week of all weeks because my preorderd copy of Mockingjay will arrive. Anyone else planning to sacrifice eating and sleeping for time with Katniss? 

What was in your mailbox this week?

Review: Angel Star by Jennifer Murgia

Title: Angel Star
Author: Jennifer Murgia
Available: Now
Number of Pages: 251
Reading Level: Young Adult


4 out of 5 Stars










Description from Goodreads:


Seventeen-year-old Teagan McNeel falls for captivating Garreth Adams and soon discovers that her crush has an eight-point star etched into the palm of his right hand-the mark of an angel. 

But where there is light, dark follows, and she and Garreth suddenly find themselves vulnerable to a dark angel's malicious plan that could threaten not only her life, but the lives of everyone she knows, and now, she is torn between one angel's sacrifice and another angel's vicious ambition. 


My thoughts:


I adored this book, and was so disappointed when I finished because the sequel isn’t due to be released for months (7 long ones to be exact). Angel stories are still new to me, but this has to be my favorite so far. I was hooked from the first page, and thanks to a well paced plot my attention never faltered. Teagan was a wonderful main character. I loved her immediately, and had to know what was going to happen between her and the dueling forces of good and evil. 


I applaud the author for creating a teen girl who is respectful, responsible, and has a mother who loves her and actually has rules. Yes, her mom is single and works quite a bit, but Teagan is growing up in one of the healthiest families I’ve encountered in young adult literature. It was so nice to get a break from the dysfunction and angst that seems to encompass so many books these days. Angel Star was truly a pleasure to read, and I can’t wait for more from this talented author.

Jennifer Murgia on the web:

Website | Twitter

Books in this series:

Angel Star

Lemniscate Coming in 2011

*Received from Book It Forward ARC Tours

Review & Giveaway: Captured by Desire by Kira Morgan

Title: Captured by Desire
Author: Kira Morgan
Available: Now
Number of Pages: 384
Reading Level: Adult


4.5 out of 5 Stars












Description from Hachette Book Group:


In 16th century Scotland, young Miss Florie Gilder runs away from her drunken foster father to find her real father and her noble heritage. Along the way, she is accused of theft, becomes a fugitive hiding in a forest, and is accidentally wounded by a handsome local huntsman. The huntsman--a Robin-Hood figure who poaches wild game from the landowner's estate to feed the starving poor--carries the beautiful maiden to a church where she is guaranteed 40 days of sanctuary from the law. During that time, he learns her true story, falls in love with her, and helps her in her quest, at the risk of his own life.


My thoughts:


Florie Gilder is a goldsmith by trade. She travels to a market to sell her wares, and also search for her birth father. While at the market her assistant unknowingly sells her only proof of her paternity. After trying to reason with the women who bought it, Florie resorts to returning the money quickly, grabbing the item, and running. While fleeing through the woods in search of sanctuary at a nearby church, Florie takes an arrow in the thigh when a huntsman mistakes her for an animal. The huntsman, Rane, is a gorgeous Scot from Viking decent, and also an excellent shot. He redirected the arrow at the last minute so as to not kill the woman, and carries her to the church which was her destination. Now he feels he owes her his protection even when the sheriff appoints him as her guard during the 40 days she claimed sanctuary.  


Rane’s good heart gets him far with the ladies, but he has no desire to settle down. Florie is jaded when it comes to love after witnessing the heartbreak experienced by her mother and stepfather. Rane and Florie both find themselves reevaluating their feelings as the days in sanctuary pass.


I loved this book. Rane is a gentle and caring soul, but still maintained the masculinity I find appealing in my historical romance heroes. It was so nice to see such a kindhearted man as the leading love interest. Florie’s independence and spunk sets her apart from many other women in historical fiction. I found it fascinating that she had a trade typically suited for a man and excelled at it. The mysterious elements of the plot were well constructed, but the romance was front and center. Rane is my newest literary crush. A Vikings build with a Scottish brogue? Yes, please! I can promise his actions will make you swoon. Not as steamy as other books from this genre, but still one I recommend for all the die hard romantics out there.

Captured by Desire Trailer:

Kira Morgan on the web:

Website | Facebook

Fun and informative extras:

5 Fun Facts

Sanctuary

Damsels in Shining Armor

Unsung Heroes (and heroines)

Want to win a copy of Captured by Desire?
I have 5 copies up for grabs thanks to Anna with Hachette Book Group!


Rules:
U.S and Canada addresses only
No P.O Boxes please :)
Book will ship from publisher
Ends @ 11:59 CST on September 4th
Leave a comment letting me know you’d like to enter

*Received from publisher in exchange for my review.

ARC Review: Sleepless by Cyn Balog

Title: Sleepless
Author: Cyn Balog
Available: Now
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Number of Pages: 224
Reading Level: Young Adult




3 out of 5 Stars










Description from Goodreads:


Eron De Marchelle isn't supposed to feel a connection. He is a Sandman, a supernatural being whose purpose is to seduce human charges to sleep. While he can communicate with his charges in their dreams, he isn't encouraged to--after all, getting too involved in one human's life would prevent him helping his other charges get their needed rest. 

But he can't deny that he feels something for Julia. Julia, with her fiery red hair and her sad dreams. Just weeks ago, her boyfriend died in a car accident, and Eron can tell that she feels more alone than ever. Eron was human once too, many years ago, and he remembers how it felt to lose the one he loved. Eron has always felt protective of Julia . . . but now, when she seems to need him more than ever, he can't seem to reach her . . . 

Sandmen are forbidden from communicating with humans outside their dreams. But will Eron be willing to risk everything for a chance to be with the person he loves?


My thoughts:


Julia is a teen who is trying to forget a nightmare she experienced as a child. She finally found Griffin, a boy who sees her for her, and not the girl who made the paper’s front page. Always the joker, Julia thinks he must be at it again when she receives a phone call telling her that he was killed. Only this time it isn’t a joke. He was killed in a car accident after leaving her home. 


Instead of going where the dead usually do, Griffin was offered the chance to serve as a Sandman. Yep, like the ones that sprinkle sand in your eyes and help you sleep. Julia’s current Sandman is responsible for Griffin’s training. After the training is complete, Eron will have the chance to live a human life. Eron isn’t supposed to develop an attachment to his charges, but there is something about Julia he can’t ignore. When he gets a taste of humanity he can’t stay away from her. Griffin is mad, and sets out to complicate things even if that means violating the Sandman rules he is expected to live by.


This book was cute, but not without faults. The plot moved slowly, and I didn’t connect with the characters like I’d hoped. Maybe if it had been longer the author would have had a chance to make the characters more complex, and also create a more intricate plot. It seems a common issue that the shorter books lack the “meat” I find necessary to become attached to, and invested in the characters. With it being on the shorter side I was able to read it in an afternoon, so no regrets. I do hope to check out some of her other novels to compare.

Cyn Balog on the web:

Website | Twitter

*Received from Around the World Tours