Taste of Kiwi: Blog of Author Shelley Munro

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

~ Grab your current read

~ Open to a random page

~ Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

~ BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

~ Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser this week is from Ink by Amanda Sun. I’ve just started reading this paranormal young adult story, and I have to say I haven’t looked forward to reading a book this much for ages. Both the cover and blurb absolutely seduced me. Ink is due for release on 25 June 2013.

If she saw me now, the way I was pressed against the wall all spylike, she’d think I was eavesdropping, and I didn’t need rumors circulating about me. I was already a gaijin, an outsider—I didn’t need to be a weirdo, too.

Note – this is an ARC so the final text might vary.

On the heels of a family tragedy, the last thing Katie Greene wants to do is move halfway across the world. Stuck with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. She doesn’t know the language, she can barely hold a pair of chopsticks, and she can’t seem to get the hang of taking her shoes off whenever she enters a building.

Then there’s gorgeous but aloof Tomohiro, star of the school’s kendo team. How did he really get the scar on his arm? Katie isn’t prepared for the answer. But when she sees the things he draws start moving, there’s no denying the truth: Tomo has a connection to the ancient gods of Japan, and being near Katie is causing his abilities to spiral out of control. If the wrong people notice, they’ll both be targets.

Katie never wanted to move to Japan—now she may not make it out of the country alive.

Pre-order from Amazon

What are you reading this week?

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

~ Grab your current read

~ Open to a random page

~ Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

~ BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

~ Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I’m currently reading Lord of Darkness by Elizabeth Hoyt. This is book five in the Maiden Lane series, one that I highly recommend to any reader who enjoys historical romance and hasn’t already discovered Ms. Hoyt. She’s my favorite historical author. Her books are set in the 1700s rather than the regency period.

This teaser is a little longer than usual. I couldn’t resist.

The night Godric St. John saw his wife for the first time since their marriage two years previously, she was aiming a pistol at his head. Lady Margaret stood beside her carriage in the filthy St. Giles street, her glossy, dark curls tumbling from the velvet hood of her cloak. Her shoulders were square, both hands firmly grasped the pistol, and a murderous gleam shone in her pretty eyes. For a split second, Godric caught his breath in admiration.

In the next moment, Lady Margaret pulled the trigger.

BOOM!

page 1, Lord of Darkness

BLURB:

WHEN STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT
He lives in the shadows. The mysterious masked avenger known as the Ghost of St. Giles, his only goal is to protect the innocent of London. Until the night he confronts a fearless lady pointing a pistol at his head—and realizes she is his wife . . .

BECOME LOVERS…

Lady Margaret Reading has vowed to kill the Ghost of St. Giles—the man who murdered her one true love. Returning to London, and the man she hasn’t seen since their wedding day, Margaret does not recognize the man behind the mask. Fierce, commanding, and dangerous, the notorious Ghost of St. Giles is everything she feared he would be—and so much more . . .

DESIRE IS THE ULTIMATE DANGER

When passion flares these two intimate strangers can’t keep from revealing more of themselves than they had ever planned. But when Margaret learns the truth—that the Ghost is her husband, Godric St. John—the game is up and the players must surrender . . . to the temptation that could destroy them both.

Purchase Lord of Darkness

What are you reading this week?

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

~ Grab your current read

~ Open to a random page

~ Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

~ BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

~ Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser today comes from True, a new adult story by Erin McCarthy. I really enjoyed this one, and my review is below.

Let her go, Grant. Now.

He did, and I fell to the ground, gasping, scrambling backward, my floral rain boots giving me traction to butt-scoot out of his reach.

Location 114, True.

Awkward girl meets scorching-hot boy…

When Rory Macintosh’s roommates find out that their studious and shy friend has never been with a guy, they decide that, as an act of kindness they’ll help her lose her virginity by hiring confident, tattooed bad boy Tyler Mann to do the job…unbeknownst to Rory.

Tyler knows he’s not good enough for Rory. She’s smart, doctor smart, while he’s barely scraping by at his EMT program, hoping to pull his younger brothers out of the hell their druggy mother has left them in. But he can’t resist taking up her roommates on an opportunity to get to know her better. There’s something about her honesty keeps him coming back when he knows he shouldn’t…

Torn between common sense and desire, the two find themselves caught up in a passionate relationship. But when Tyler’s broken family threatens to destroy his future, and hers, Rory will need to decide whether to cut her ties to his risky world or follow her heart, no matter what the cost…

Due out May 7 – Preorder at Amazon

REVIEW:

Rory Macintosh is smart and an excellent student, but a little inept when it comes to socializing. She’s also a virgin, and her two roommates Jessica and Kylie decide to help her out by paying one of their guy friends to take care of the problem.

Tyler Mann comes from a broken family. His mother is a druggie, and he’s struggling to make a family for his two younger brothers while studying to become an EMT.

The two hit it off, despite Rory learning of the arrangement to help her get rid of her virginity. The trouble is that they come from different backgrounds and soon it doesn’t look as if all the love in the world can help keep them together.

This is a new adult story told from Rory’s point of view. I liked Rory. In fact she reminded me of a couple of people I know—smart but not comfortable when it comes to socializing. I liked that she didn’t flinch from the hard stuff. She didn’t stick her head in the sand.

Tyler was a real hero throughout the story from the moment he saved Rory from getting raped. He watched out for his two younger brothers, taking crap from his mother while trying to improve his situation by getting a qualification. Tyler was a great character, and I thought he and Rory were perfect together.

The plot was organic and came from the characters’ situations, culminating in the climax.

My only quibble with this story was the way things were tied up so quickly at the end. To be truthful, I wasn’t convinced that all would be well as they went into the future together. That said, this was an enjoyable read, and I recommend it.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

~ Grab your current read

~ Open to a random page

~ Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

~ BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

~ Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I’ve read a lot of young adult stories during the past six months, and snapped up a copy of The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau when it was offered at NetGalley.

Here’s my teaser:

No matter how hard I worked, I wasn’t good enough to be chosen for The Testing.

As I leave the stage and am given hugs of congratulations by my friends, I can only wonder, What will I do now?

page 15, The Testing

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one in the same?

The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career.

Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies–trust no one.

But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust.

The Testing is due for release on 4 June 2013.

Download the free e-prequel for The Testing

Review:

When I started reading The Testing, I immediately drew mental comparisons between the Hunger Games trilogy and the Divergent series. There are many similarities. The Testing is a story about Cia, a graduating student who is on the cusp of change. She wants to receive a higher education, but must face The Testing and compete against other students to win a place at university.

I found the first chapter a little slow, but the pace and plot picked up, hauling me along for the ride. While some people might say this book is nothing different, I found the story entertaining and once past the slow start, read it in huge gulps.

Cia is an engaging character. She’s kind and doesn’t only think of herself. I enjoyed the growing closeness between her and Tomas. Their relationship wasn’t forced but grew organically out of the plot.

The ending was a bit abrupt and there were some plot strands that were not tied up at the conclusion. This is the first book in the series, and I expect I’ll learn more in the next instalment.

Anyone who enjoys dystopian stories will like this one. Certainly fans of Hunger Games and Divergent will enjoy Ms Charbonneau’s take on a dystopian plot. I enjoyed The Testing and will definitely look for book two in the series.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

~ Grab your current read

~ Open to a random page

~ Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

~ BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

~ Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser today comes from Wrapped in Your Arms by Grace Samuels. It’s a short historical erotic romance and is set in Egypt. If you liked The Mummy, you’ll enjoy this story as much as I did. I recommend it!

For the thousandth time, he asked himself what he was doing in Egypt. Had he really thought coming to this dry, dust-filled country would solve anything?

page 6, Wrapped in Your Arms

In 1922, Cairo is a city filled with French Foreign Legionnaires and treasure hunters seeking the lost wealth hidden beneath the ever-shifting Egyptian sands.

New finds and discoveries are found and brought to the Museum of Antiquities almost daily—only to be packed in crates and hidden away. Pieces of an ancient puzzle not yet ready to be put together.

Howard Carter is on the verge of finding King Tutankhamun’s tomb in the desert sands of the Valley of the Kings.

It’s a time of great excitement and discovery.

However, Daniel Livinghouse is in the historical City of the Living for an entirely different reason. He’s not seeking treasure—he’s looking for a woman. A woman who has reached through the millennia to haunt his dreams for the last decade.

On the day of his eighteenth birthday, Daniel dreamed of her for the first time. Initially the dreams were random, but over the last year—a decade later—they had become more frequent to where she visited him almost nightly. Her shoulder-length black hair decorated with silver beads, the honey tone of her skin. They stood under a star-filled sky, amongst giant stone structures. He could feel her fingers caressing his face, tracing his brow and cheekbone, stroking down the side of his arm until she reached his fingers, wrapping them within her own…

Too bad he doesn’t know she’s been “dead” for over five thousand years.

Book details: This book contains the Book of the Dead, a curious Howard Carter, a naked woman determined to seduce, a man willing to give in to all that seduction—after a little resistance of course *wink*, and ancient gods. Oh! And a mummy. Can’t have a paranormal story like this without at least one mummy.

Purchase Wrapped in Your Arms

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

~ Grab your current read

~ Open to a random page

~ Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

~ BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

~ Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser today comes from Along Came Trouble by Ruthie Knox, a small town romance I read during my recent holiday and enjoyed very much.

Everything about her was so casual tonight, it was throwing him off his game. He’d come over here prepared to do battle with Amazon Ellen, and instead he got this woman with the butter-soft body and the seductive smile.

Location 566

An accomplished lawyer and driven single mother, Ellen Callahan isn’t looking for any help. She’s doing just fine on her own. So Ellen’s more than a little peeved when her brother, an international pop star, hires a security guard to protect her from a prying press that will stop at nothing to dig up dirt on him. But when the tanned and toned Caleb Clark shows up at her door, Ellen might just have to plead the fifth.

Back home after a deployment in Iraq and looking for work as a civilian, Caleb signs on as Ellen’s bodyguard. After combat in the hot desert sun, this job should be a breeze. But guarding the willful beauty is harder than he imagined–and Caleb can’t resist the temptation to mix business with pleasure. With their desires growing more undeniable by the day, Ellen and Caleb give in to an evening of steamy passion. But will they ever be able to share more than just a one-night stand?

Purchase from Amazon

What are you reading this week?

Review – Along Came Trouble by Ruthie Knox

Along Came Trouble is book two in Ms. Knox’s Camelot series. I haven’t read the first story in the series and didn’t feel that I’d missed out on series details related in the earlier book.

Ellen’s pop star brother has fled Camelot, leaving his ex-girlfriend and his sister at the mercy of paparazzi looking for a newsworthy story. He does, however, arrange for a local security company to provide protection for his sister and ex-girlfriend. Meanwhile, Ellen is also dealing with her ex-husband and his shenanigans.

Caleb, the security guard wants to do a good job and get his business off the ground. Ellen wants her privacy and the security guard gone, despite the zip of attraction she feels for him.

I enjoyed this novella very much and read it in one sitting. The characters are likeable and well-rounded and the secondary romance between Carly, Ellen’s neighbor and Jamie, Ellen’s brother adds to the charm of this story. Jamie comes across as selfish and careless of those who care for him, taking them for granted. He’s made to work for what he wants, making me cheer. Caleb with his strong and steady manner is very compelling and likeable. Real hero material wrapped up with sex appeal. My only slight niggle was with Ellen. At times I felt she took her need for independence to extremes, despite her motivation.

The plot moved along at a good clip with everything tied up neatly at the end. I also liked that Ellen wants a no-strings affair with Caleb while Caleb wants something permanent with Ellen. The shift from traditional agendas made for an interesting read.

If you’re a fan of contemporaries and small-town romances you’ll love Along Came Trouble. Highly recommended.

This book was provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

~ Grab your current read

~ Open to a random page

~ Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

~ BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

~ Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser today comes from My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century, a young adult time-travel by Rachel Harris. From the moment I saw the cover and heard about the premise I wanted to read this book. It seems that on occasion a cover will seduce me! This book has been out since September, but I’m glad I waited to read it since I’ve just visited Florence.

“Peanut, I know you’re always trying to take care of me, but I’m the grown-up. And it’s my job to look out for you. I want you to have at least one normal childhood experience.”

page 4, My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century

On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family’s trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze.

Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore.

Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever?

Purchase My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century

Ponte Vecchio, Florence is mentioned in My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century. The medieval bridge crosses the Arno River. The bottom photo shows the shops that line the bridge. These days they’re mainly expensive jewellery shops.

What are you reading this week?

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

~ Grab your current read

~ Open to a random page

~ Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

~ BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

~ Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I had the pleasure of reading Stellarnet Rebel by JL Hilton recently, and I’m currently reading the follow-up story Stellarnet Prince, which came out at Carina Press this week.

Here’s my teaser:

“When Tikat invaded my world, when they took away my family, I swore to the Great Ocean that I would devote my life to the freedom of the people,” said the Glin.

“Then go home!” yelled a colonist who looked like he hadn’t eaten or bathed in a long time. “I’m trying to sleep.”

page 69, Stellarnet Rebel

Welcome to Asteria, a corporate-owned, deep-space colony populated with refugees, criminals and obsessive online gamers. Genny O’Riordan has shifted in from Earth determined to find a story that will break her blog into the Stellarnet Top 100, and even better–expose the degradation of the colony’s denizens.

Duin is an alien–a Glin–a hero of a past revolution against the Glin royal family, yet branded a terrorist. Duin speaks every day in the Asteria market, hoping to spur humans to aid his home world, which has been overtaken by the evil, buglike Tikati.

When Genny and Duin meet, what begins with a blog post becomes a dangerous web of passion and politics as they struggle to survive not only a war but the darker side of humanity…

94,000 words

Purchase Stellarnet Rebel

REVIEW:

Blogger, Genny O’Riordan moves to Asteria to join her current boyfriend, to report on life in the colony and to find a story that will propel her blog into the big league. During her tour of the colony, she comes across her first alien—a Glin. She’s fascinated and immediately sees the seeds of a great topic for her blog.

With Genny’s help and friendship, the plight of Duin’s race is brought center front, but there are some people who don’t support her cause. Her strength of conviction brings danger and unexpected love.

The thing I liked most about Stellarnet Rebel is the world building. JL Hilton has done a wonderful job of creating the Glin, an alien race who are tribal hunter-gatherers. Like humans they are capable of verbal and written language. They can reason and solve problems. They’re amphibian-like in appearance, have a bald head, no visible ears and large eyes, consisting mainly of iris. Their skin is speckled in shades ranging from taupe to grayish-green. They wear a form-fitting garment that resembles a wetsuit.

Not only do the Glin fit seamlessly into the story, but all the technology and the way the colony functions is blended into the plot without weighing down the reader and making them feel as if they’re reading a science textbook.

I’ll admit that I didn’t warm to Genny straight away. At the start she seems a bit self-absorbed, but I soon lost that impression. Once she meets Duin and starts to help him, I found her more likeable. Duin is determined to free his people and passionate about his cause, despite the backlash and racist remarks from people who don’t understand. He’s a great character.

I enjoyed Stellarnet Rebel very much and raced through the smooth plot in no time. Highly recommended.

This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

~ Grab your current read

~ Open to a random page

~ Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

~ BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

~ Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser today comes from Thief of Shadows by one of my favorite authors Elizabeth Hoyt. This is book four in The Maiden Lane series.

Never volunteer. Not even when pleasantly filled with warm scones and hot tea.

page 1, Thief of Shadows

A MASKED MAN . . .
Winter Makepeace lives a double life. By day he’s the stoic headmaster of a home for foundling children. But the night brings out a darker side of Winter. As the moon rises, so does the Ghost of St. Giles—protector, judge, fugitive. When the Ghost, beaten and wounded, is rescued by a beautiful aristocrat, Winter has no idea that his two worlds are about to collide.

A DANGEROUS WOMAN . . .
Lady Isabel Beckinhall enjoys nothing more than a challenge. Yet when she’s asked to tutor the Home’s dour manager in the ways of society—flirtation, double entendres, and scandalous liaisons—Isabel can’t help wondering why his eyes seem so familiar—and his lips so tempting.

A PASSION NEITHER COULD DENY
During the day Isabel and Winter engage in a battle of wills. At night their passions are revealed . . . But when little girls start disappearing from St. Giles, Winter must avenge them. For that he might have to sacrifice everything—the Home, Isabel . . . and his life.

Purchase Thief of Shadows

What are you reading this week?

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

~ Grab your current read

~ Open to a random page

~ Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

~ BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

~ Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I haven’t read any category romances for ages, but this week I’ve read two. This is my current read – Coming Up For Air by Karen Foley. It’s a military romance from Harlequin Blaze where both hero and heroine are helicopter pilots.

Without taking his eyes from her, he thrust his cue toward the nearest man and caught her hand firmly in his own as he pulled her toward the dance floor. He swung her into his arms, and finally Jenna knew first-hand what it was like to have all that strength and grace surround her.

page 16, Coming Up For Air

Subject: Army Major Chance Rawlins, Helicopter Pilot.Current Status: Soon-to-be-deployed to Afghanistan.

Mission: Report to Captain Jenna Larson for a sexy, one-night inspection.

Obstacle: She’s mistaken him for another man!

Major Chance Rawlins has a bit of a reputation, both in and outside of the helicopter cockpit. He’s a hotshot, and he knows it. But when he enjoys a spontaneously naughty night with Captain Jenna Larson, Chance realizes Jenna has no idea who he is and that she’s mistaken him for his twin brother!

Since it was just a one-nighter, Chance decides not to give the game away. But when their paths cross again in the dry heat of Afghanistan, Chance sees an opportunity to show Jenna exactly who he is—and what he can do to her. After all, the best pilots know when to hold back and when to engage in a little sexy fire!

Purchase Coming Up For Air

What are you reading this week?