Free Books!

Who doesn't love free stuff?

Mills and Boon are giving away 11 (soon to be 12) free ebooks over at everyonesreading.com  It's a great opportunity to read titles from series you may not have tried before, plus there's a competition to win a Sony eReader.

Book Review: Whisper of Scandal

Whisper of Scandal
Nicola Cornick

Published: 28 September 2010 by HQN
Format: Paperback
ISBN-10: 0373774400
ISBN-13: 978-0373774401

Summary:
Lady Joanna Ware has no desire to wed again but that doesn't stop the flurry of suitors knocking on her door. Desperate to thwart another proposal, Joanna brazenly kisses Arctic explorer Alex, Lord Grant. Unable to deny the blazing attraction that flares, Joanna knows she's just set the gossip mill turning.

After suffering countless infidelities during her marriage, she's accustomed to scandal. But nothing prepares her for the shocking news that her deceased husband has bequeathed his illegitimate child to her and his friend Alex. As rumors run rampant in the ton, Joanna and Alex travel to the Arctic to claim the orphan. Battling blizzards, dangerous wildlife and a treacherous plot, Alex must protect Joanna, but not before he wickedly seduces her…
[Courtesy of Goodreads]

Review:
Lady Joanna Ware is the darling of the ton. She is an intelligent and spirited widow who hides behind a facade of superficiality to protect herself.

Lord Alex Grant is an explorer and national hero. He is also the good friend of Joanna's late husband and therein lies the problem. Alex's opinion of Joanna is prejudiced by the stories told to him by the late Lord Ware and he is determined to think the worst of Joanna despite his physical attraction to her.

I loved Joanna and Alex and the chemistry between them sizzles on the page. Ms Cornick immerses you in a Regency world with the unusual setting of the Arctic. The story really comes to life when Joanna and Alex embark on their expedition to Spitsbergen, and it's in this harsh landscape that Alex finally faces his fears. Great stuff.

This is the first book in a new series about the Scandalous Women of the ton. One Wicked Sin is Lottie's story and Mistress by Midnight is Merryn's story. I really hope at some point the dashing Messrs Owen Purchase and James Devlin get their own books - those guys are seriously hot. Just wait 'til you see what Mr Devlin can do with an ice sculpture!

Rating:
I loved the characters and the unusual setting of this fast paced book and give it a very enjoyable 4 out of 5.

On My Wishlist #6

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by the lovely Carolyn over at Book Chick City. It's where I list all the books I desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. It's also an event that you can join in too - Mr Linky is always at the ready for you to link your own 'On My Wishlist' post. If you want to know more click here.

The Small Hand
Susan Hill

Published: 2 September 2010 by Profile Books
Format: Hardback
ISBN-10: 1846682363
ISBN-13: 978-1846682360

Is it wrong to want a book so much you keep going into bookshops just to stroke it? Yes, I guess it is really. I love everything about this book from it's small size to the fact that it's a beautifully tactile hardcover at a paperback price. Oh, and it sounds like a great ghost story as well.

Summary:
This is the chilling tale of a man in the grip of a small, invisible hand...A ghost story by the author of "The Woman in Black" and "The Man in the Picture", to be read by the fire on a cold winter's night.

Returning home from a visit to a client late one summer's evening, antiquarian bookseller Adam Snow takes a wrong turning and stumbles across the derelict old White House. Compelled by curiosity, he approaches the door, and, standing before the entrance feels the unmistakeable sensation of a small hand creeping into his own, 'as if a child had taken hold of it'. Intrigued by the encounter, he determines to learn more, and discovers that the owner's grandson had drowned tragically many years before.

At first unperturbed by the odd experience, Snow begins to be plagued by haunting dreams, panic attacks, and more frequent visits from the small hand which become increasingly threatening and sinister...
[Book Depository]

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So that's what's on my wish list this week - I'd love to hear what you've got on yours.

I Must Be Mad!

After two weeks of shall I or shan't I, I've finally gone and done it. *Drumroll* I've entered the Mills and Boon New Voices competition.

Now I'm sitting here feeling sick and absolutely terrified. I know just how those poor people on X Factor feel waiting for the verdict from the judges. I only hope I don't end up on the receiving end of some Simon Cowell type criticism.

If you want to take a look at my story, it's in the  paranormal category and you can find it here. The title is Be Careful What You Wish For.

All constructive criticism is very welcome (and votes even more so). But just a warning about the rose voting system. You only get the chance to click once - so make sure your mouse is in the right place. If you click in the centre of the rose it only awards half a rose. You have to click right over on the right hand side to award a full rose. I have noticed some very good stories have been rated quite low and I think it's due to people not realising that each rose counts for 20 percent.

Good luck to everyone else who has entered the competition and I raise a congratulatory glass of bubbly to you.

Anyway, thanks for listening to my panicky ramblings and now I'll go back to hitting the refresh button on the New Voices website.

(PS: thanks to Lacey Devlin for my spangly New Voices entry badge. Isn't it purdy?)

On My Wishlist #5

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by the lovely Carolyn over at Book Chick City. It's where I list all the books I desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. It's also an event that you can join in too - Mr Linky is always at the ready for you to link your own 'On My Wishlist' post. If you want to know more click here.

All That Mullarkey
Sue Moorcroft

Published: 1 June 2010 by Choc Lit

Format: Paperback
ISBN-10: 1906931240
ISBN-13: 978-1906931247

Several people have recommended this book to me, so it just has to go on my wishlist. I love Sue's writing so I can't wait to read this one.

Summary:
Revenge and love: it's a thin line... The writing's on the wall for Cleo and Gav. The bedroom wall, to be precise. And it says 'This marriage is over.' Wounded and furious, Cleo embarks on a night out with the girls, which turns into a glorious one night stand with... Justin, centrefold material and irrepressibly irresponsible. He loves a little wildness in a woman and he's in the right place at the right time to enjoy Cleo's. But it s Cleo who has to pick up the pieces of a marriage based on a lie and the lasting repercussions of that night. Torn between laid-back Justin and control freak Gav, she s a free spirit that life is trying to tie down. But the rewards are worth it!
(Goodreads)

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So that's my wishlist for this week. I'd love to hear what's on yours.

Ironing

A photo of my 'ironing' as requested
(apologies for the poor lighting)

To see encaustic wax art done properly take a look at my friend Phil Madley's website. He is an awesome artist.

One Lovely Blog Award

I won this award from Books and Bliss, Cathy @ The Crazy Bookworm and Lilk13 @ lilk13's Reading Library. Thanks guys, it's much appreciated.

This is how the award works:

• Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.
• Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered.
• Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

I pass this award to:

Gale Stanley

The Life (and lies) of an inanimate flying object

Tattoed Books

Reading on a Rainy Day

Books are Critical

A F Stewart

Books - Treasure or Trash

Super Reader Girl's Book Reviews

Escape between the Pages

Stiletto Storytime

Dearest Dreams

Literary Magic

Words, words, words

Book Obsessed

Curling up by the Fire

For those who want to be award free or who have already received this, I apologise. The whole idea is to have fun and recognise some of the fantastic blogs out there. So if you want to pass the award along do, but don't feel you are under any obligation.

The Versatile Blogger Award

Woo hoo I received this really cool award from Breathless Books. Thank you so much Becky. Stop by and take a look at her blog; it's stunning.

Here's how the award works:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass the award along to 15 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic for whatever reason! (In no particular order...)
4. Contact the bloggers you've picked and let them know about the award.

7 Things About Me:

1. I really, really, really hate slugs. Even more than I hate snails
2. I have watched every episode of Supernatural (several times)
3. My favourite colour is red
4. I paint abstract art using hot wax and an iron. It's the only ironing I ever do!
5. I love spinning, knitting and working with beautiful fibres
6. I spend far too much time watching craft demos on Ideal World TV
7. and I spend far too much money on nice pens and pretty notebooks

I pass this award to:

Midnight Glance

The Crazy Bookworm

Love is...

'Til we read again

Kindle Vixen

The Thoughts of a Book Junky

Literary Cravings

I Love to Read

Steph the Bookworm

Once upon a Review

Reclusive Bibliophile

Bookworming in the 21st Century

Ramblings of a Mad Woman

About Happy Books

For those who want to be award free or who have already received this, I apologise. The whole idea is to have fun and recognise some of the fantastic blogs out there. So if you want to pass the award along do, but don't feel you are under any obligation.

Book Review: Forbidden Pleasures

Forbidden Pleasures
Jo Rees

Published: August 2010 by Corgi
Format: Paperback
ISBN-10: 0552156248
ISBN-13: 978-0552156240

Summary:
From Las Vegas to Dubai, from Shanghai to London, the fatal pull of the gambling world stretches...Savannah, pleasure-loving It Girl, wants to prove herself to her powerful, ruthless father Michael Hudson - until a terrible tragedy forces her to re-think her life. Lois, an ex-cop from the wrong side of the tracks, is now running the gambling business of Michael's greatest rival, Roberto Enzo - and torn between the glamour and wealth of the casinos and the needs of her vulnerable young daughter. Both women have to confront their pasts, discover new loves, and find out the really important things in life before the greed and corruption of their worlds consume them forever?
[Goodreads]

Review:
I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy this book at first and must admit that I struggled to get into it. I found the pace a little slow at the beginning, but things really got moving after the first third of the story.

I was rooting for ex-cop Lois from the start but hated the rich spoilt Savvy. It wasn't until a pivotal incident two thirds of the way through the book that I began to warm to Savvy and by then I was hooked.

The story starts in the present and then flashes back five years to the first time Savvy and Lois met. As I got further and further into the book I couldn't work out how Ms Rees was going to get the characters from where they were to where you know they are at the start of the story.

I thought the characters were well rounded, especially Savvy. Ms Rees has a writing style that is easy to read and keeps you turning the pages. The plot is complex and interesting with plenty of twists and turns to keep you reading on.

This book is a perfect holiday read. The men are gorgeous, the settings are glamorous and the women are beautiful.

Rating:
I loved this book and give it 4 out of 5.

A big thank you to Transworld for sending me this book to review as part of the Transworld Summer Reading Challenge.