I had planned to review Get Lenin by Robert Craven this week but I am savouring it and it is taking me longer to read than I anticipated... not because it is heavy going or hard to read, quite the opposite... I'm enjoying it to much and I'm not ready to let it finish yet. :)

So I'm giving two quick shout-outs today.

The first is for Six Weeks by Jessica L Demargo.... check out my review on Amazon for this great book by Jessica which is different from her other work but by no means does that mean it wasn't as good, on the contrary!
http://www.amazon.com/Six-Weeks-ebook/dp/B005H2FYNY/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1313570366&sr=1-1

The next is for The Dead Beat by Cody James

There is only one thing to say about this book.... simply brilliant.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Dead-Beat-ebook/dp/B004DL0MT6/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1313570393&sr=1-2

Shinobi, Book One:  Concealed in Shadow

This homoerotic story is not for the faint hearted. Luckily I’m not faint hearted or I would have missed the opportunity to read this great book.  The opening chapters are raw and overwhelming and on more than one occasion I hissed in breath as we journey with Yoshi through his brutal mistreatment but the wonderful part is, we come out the other side and I found myself wrapped up in the love stories.

Not only is it high on the sizzle factor but it is a multi layered story about love, passion, loyalty, betrayal and there is some good old fashion romance (in Sessha’s unique man/man way) too.
 
This took me into the world of Japanese ninjas and opened up a whole new dimension for me which intrigued and interested me from the beginning.  
 
With characters that will endear you in Yoshi, Makoto, Souta and Daisuke, a great story to pull you in and hot, hot, hot love scenes, Shinobi has it all.
 
Even if you aren’t a homoerotic fan, this book is worth a read for the rich characters and in depth and powerful story.  The sizzle factor is merely a bonus. 
 
The only negative thing I have to say... I have to wait for Book Two!

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 author and perhaps a link to the book so that folks can add it to their own TBR lists.

Link to the book: http://www.amazon.com/Shinobi-Book-One-Concealed-ebook/dp/B0054M51TE/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1312872673&sr=1-2

Don't forget to pop over to the host site below.
http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/2011/08/09/teaser-tuesdays-aug-9/

Here is my teaser from Shinobi, Book One: Concealed in Shadow by Sessha Batto 
“I never thought anyone could love me, and I certainly didn’t expect to develop such feelings in return. You helped me become human, in a way I haven’t been for a very long time.”

 
Tomorrow as always I will be review this fabulous book.... if I get time to finish it that is! :)

It has been a long time between drinks... or in this case reviews. Life, again, rewriting, editing... has all got in the way. Trying to fit reading in is a challenge so I’m going to do ‘shout-out’ reviews for this edition of Writers I Know.

Firstly is the book I’m currently reading. Black Shadows by Simon Swift.

 If you like a gritty tale, set in New York, when gangsters were common place and private detectives like Errol wore suits and fedoras and the dames are named Ava and Marlow, then this one is for you. I still haven’t
finished this great story but so far I’m loving my nostalgic trip...

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Shadows-ebook/dp/B004TAFNCM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1312344982&sr=1-1
 
Next is Seithe by Poppet

As you may or may not know I am a big fan of Poppet's work. Seithe was the first I read way back from authonomy days and it is definitely my favourite. It is punchy, it is romantic and it will have you turning page after page as you wonder who is Seithe, what is he? What will happen...

I cannot say enough about this fabulous book except you will not be disappointed. I also have a little crush on Seithe and this is always a sign of a great book. I can’t wait to read the rest of Poppet’s book on my kindle.

http://www.amazon.com/Seithe-ebook/dp/B005DNTPM8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1312345031&sr=1-1
 
The next shout-out is for my good friend –Tom Sharp and his great short Unfamiliar Country.

The only thing I have to say is WOW and when is he going to publish more! 

http://www.amazon.com/Unfamiliar-Country-Short-Story-ebook/dp/B004OEKBKC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1312345961&sr=1-1 

My last for this edition is Clip by Kenneth Wayne

Before I start I will say this isn’t my usual read but then again there isn’t anything ‘usual’ about this story and I mean that in the complimentary way! For something a little different, I recommend you give it a try.
 
 http://www.amazon.com/Clip-ebook/dp/B004NIFN7U/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1312346283&sr=1-1

 Hopefully, all going to plan, next week I will be able to post my review for Shinobi... I am so
looking forward to this one but first I have to finish with Errol Black and Black Shadows...

Finally don't forget to check out Recommended by.... see details on my home page. :)

It has been a long time since I posted a FreeRead and I have been a very slack blogger of late!  Busy, Busy, working on WIP's and rewrites... anyway here is a chapter from Twisted Fire...

Jared watched as Charlotte strode in and his heart skipped a beat. He’d better resolve this problem before there was too much damage done. Somehow she’d gotten under his skin and he needed to learn more about her. The desire to taste her rosy lips again filled his mind and he shook it off. Thinking about that was not going to repair the situation.

She scanned the room before locating whomever she was seeking and then sauntered over to him. When he caught sight of her intended target and she started to flirt with him, a surge of jealousy rushed through him. Mitch, his unattached, charming brother - just what he needed. Seeing his immediate response to her made him suddenly livid. Envy pieced his heart.

Mitch never struggled to relate to women – some would say he was a womaniser - whereas Jared’s cautious and solemn nature made it difficult for some women to understand him. He didn’t like where this might go and he needed to put an end to it before it got started.
 
* * *
Mitch spotted Jared approaching over Charlotte’s shoulder, his dogged stride indicating his mood. The moment he saw the determined, stern expression in his brother’s eyes, Mitch sensed he was treading on rocky ground. Charlotte had gotten to Jared and no doubt in his clumsy way Jared had screwed it up.

Knowing his brother was within earshot, Mitch elected to provoke Jared’s envious nature to perhaps inspire him to let his guard fall. He dropped the punch line to a story he was telling and she let out a spontaneous throaty laugh. The effect was anticipated correctly as Jared seethed. Mitch knew when to step aside. He now hoped Jared could make amends with her as he knew how easily his little brother could offend.
 
* * *
Jared heard Charlotte let out a husky laugh and the sudden deep timbre tore through his composure. Pure hunger shoved aside any rational thought. He gazed at her standing with her back to him and for the infinite time took in how amazing she looked in that dress. It hugged her perfect slim tall figure and the colour next to her skin was amazing. Strawberries and cream. 

“I see you have met my entertaining brother Mitchell,” he said irritably.

“Yes, and he is one funny guy,” she said touching Mitch’s arm, leaving Jared incensed.

“Yes, he’s very jovial,” he replied his voice rich with derision. “May I talk to you for a moment please,  Charlotte?”

“I think we have talked enough. Besides I’m talking to Mitch who I have to admit is much better company.”

“Ouch,” Mitch said and laughed.

Jared sent him a warning glare.

“Go ahead, Charlotte, I’m not going anywhere. I’ll wait for you to come back,” Mitch told her, identifying this would make his brother crazy. Perhaps Jared would feel rather than think for a change.

“Fine, I really don’t know what you could possibly say to … ” She was cut off by a forceful hand on her arm. Jared all but dragged her outside to the very same spot he’d taken her breath away minutes before.

“What do you want?” she demanded.

“Besides you?” 
 
She didn’t answer as a jolt of electricity ran through her veins.

“I wanted to tell you how sorry I am for offending you before. I sometimes lack diplomacy,” he told her with
sincerity.

“Fine, apology accepted.”She started to walk off.

“Wait, where are you going?”

“Back inside to talk to a more pleasant Montgomery.”

“OK, I asked for that. Please stay, I really want to talk to you some more. I think our first impressions of each other have been inaccurate and I wondered if perhaps we could start afresh.” Her eyes searched his face and she seemed for a moment to consider.

“You’re very serious aren’t you?” Her beautiful face held a slight look of amusement, as though a smirk was hiding beneath the surface.

“Generally.”

“Well, I can be too. I take my job and the health of animals very seriously. I also take the health and wellbeing of my family very seriously. Just because I like to have fun and tease doesn’t necessarily mean I’m superficial as well. Besides, seems to me you could loosen up a bit and be less … rigid.”

“Probably,” he said as he took a step towards her. She leant against a post near the opening at her back. 
He brought his arm around her waist and pulled her to him again. “I haven’t been about to stop thinking about you since I met you. Especially how your lips would taste and now that I have tasted them, I want to again.”

He pressed his lips with gentle force against hers. Instantly she became giddy and loose limbed again. She wrapped her arms around his neck to steady herself, should her legs betray her, and played with
the curls which skimmed his collar. All the while desire surged through her body, taking control of her senses and mind.

He took in the details this time to savour her. Lips soft and full and hair like silk. Her bare skin under his hands felt velvety and far better than anything his imagination could have conjured. Her aroma was intoxicating and his fuzzy mind couldn’t put a name to the fragrance.  
 
As he continued to trail his hands down her smooth bare back, caressing every inch along the way, she moaned into his mouth and it was almost his downfall. He stopped and pulled back slightly, without releasing her.

“I have to stop, babe,” he said hoarsely, “or I won’t be able to prevent what happens next.”

Her passion-filled gaze was her only response.

“I don’t do casual. As much as I want to keep going, I also want to know more about you. You are the most beautiful, intriguing woman I have ever met.”

“Flattery will get you everywhere.”

He smiled and she felt her pulse quicken. His smile was incredible.

“I would like to see you tomorrow, cook for you, but I have to work. Can I pick you up when I finish?”

“Yes,” she replied breathlessly. 
 
Stunned by the affect she was having on him, it took him a moment to answer.

“About six, ok?”

She nodded. “I’d better get back before my family wonders what has happened to me.”

“As long as you stay away from Mitch, then you can go.” He held her tight against him, reluctant to release her.

“Oh, so he does have a sense of humour.” Her teasing smile didn’t seem as frivolous now as he’d first thought. Though seductive, it was also sincere.

“I’m not completely humourless but in this instance I’m deadly serious.”

“Hmm, a little possessive too. I like that.”

“If you take up with me, you will come to realise very quickly that I do not share.”

“I haven’t made up my mind about that yet and I like to keep my options open,” she said flippantly. “Now would you kindly release me?” 

“Mitchell?”

She rolled eyes. “You cannot ban me from talking to your brother.”

“Watch me.” 
 
She wriggled to see if she could break free and found it to be pointless; he was way too strong.

“Fine, I’ll stop flirting with him.”

“That will do for now.”

He grudgingly removed his hands and watched her stroll gracefully back to the party.

Someone hit my snooze button but I don’t mind during grey winter. But like it always does Monday woke me up. Manic Monday.

There is a saying that my grandmother kept in the kitchen and it became an important mantra for me. I have since heard that it is an AA thing too so that is interesting. 
 
Grant me,
The serenity to accept the things I cannot change. 
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.
 
Change the things you can and accept the things you can’t and working out which is which. Sounds easy enough but is it?
 
Now being brave is difficult. The ultimate thing I believe here, it also involves change, and if you’re like me, you don’t like it. But I can find grit determination when I have to and can follow through on what I decide, mostly. There is a downside to changing things you can, for it may be something you don’t want to let go of but for your own peace of mind, you probably should. So the courage to change things I can usually is the easier option for me. 

If you have serenity to believe in yourself and push forward when you can’t change something you don’t like then I admire you. Acceptance of a situation you have no control over is a major hurdle. For me it involves not getting what I want and this is something I’m not terribly good at. I could blame being an only child but that is unfair, so it is perhaps just me. If you can find peace when you can’t push for what you want then I tip my hat.  Acceptance is the key point here. Can you accept that you cannot change something you want to and have serenity with this acceptance? I’m not sure I can or do.
 
Wisdom, well I have it in some ways. I’m probably still young enough to do dumb things and make idiotic choices. Do I have enough wisdom to know which choice is mine or someone else’s? This is where it gets tricky. 

So if you have a situation in your life that isn’t working for you, then you need to either accept you cannot change it or change what you can... the hard part is working out which one is which. 

Basically the point of my long winded version is that I look to this when the need for direction and focus is required. It works. It makes you reach down into your guts and take control of what you can. Courage. Find
calming yet determined thoughts. Serenity. Then listen to the wisdom. Sounds simple. ;-)

I first read Burn Baby Burn when it had another title on Authonomy and also had the privilege of being in the top 5 on the Editor’s Desk with Jake. So when this was released as an ebook and I got my kindle, it was one of the first books I downloaded. I have been looking forward to it and once again, as I have a lot recently, became awestruck by this fabulous thriller writer.

Wow what a gritty thrilling ride this story is. I cringed, I winced, my heart raced, and I turned the pages with haste wanting to reach the final conclusion which had a twist I never saw coming.
 
The characters are wonderfully endearing, easy to immediately relate too and like. In particular Donna and Dexter who I thought were a great combination and bounced off each other with aplomb. The character of Donna is particularly easy to be drawn to and I found I enjoyed her journey almost as much as the thrilling story. Then there is the evil Marcus and there are no words to describe how well done this character is. You will have to read for yourself to see.
 
Jake has a vivid imagination combined with excellent story telling ability. His ability to set scenes so they are clear in your mind is inspiring and the edge of your seat, what is going to happen next thrill is up there with the best.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good thriller, doesn’t mind a little gore (which I must add is appropriate to the story and isn’t ever too much. There is no being gory for the sake of it here. It is done,
as is everything in this book, well) and wants to go on a gripping ride. I will read more from the talented Jake Barton.

Although the sun is shining and the birds are singing on this
cold winter day, I’m still feeling the blues. Perhaps it is because the mundane
chores of life become more pronounced when your fingers are numb. So, therein,
lies melancholy.

To be manic, as it is Monday, is substantially harder to do with
a frost. Yet it has become the perfect environment for writing. Rewriting to be
exact, I’m still going, even though I thought I may not, and I’m halfway in and
enjoying the process. Is it better? Probably in patches but I’m practicing which
I hope counts for something.
 
This has me thinking of it being like a muscle. I’ve heard it
said that you should write every day to keep it toned, but I find this concept
hard to follow because when I force it, its bollocks and I feel dejected and
ditch the project. So do I need to stretch it? I think I should push myself more
often and work at it. Although I wonder whether it is more about style and less
about execution but that is a discussion that I tend to avoid. I sit on the
fence there. 

Still the question remains, should we use the muscle before it
withers away and the ability to use it is lost forever. I don’t know. I go long
periods where I don’t write anything but an occasional blog post or review. Then
I could feel charged and away I go again doing it all at once. Today became one
of those days.

So manically I rewrite a few chapters and feel good about the
exercise... if only I didn’t really have to read it AGAIN! This is probably why
I jump around works like the energiser bunny...

Once again I have read a book that I feel I won't be able to do it justice... it seems I have been reading so many books lately that have left me lost for words... a writer, who would have thought.

Anyway here is my short but raving review for The Bringer

This a wonderfully imaginative and unique story which captivated me from page 1. 

This is a story about love having no boundaries. How a bringer and an angel will take desperate measures for true love.  Add in, Samantha’s smooth, easy to read style with vivid descriptions and endearing characters and you have a winner.
 
I love a good romance and this is definitely one of those.  It isn’t overly gushy, it is a sweet romance, wrapped in a unique story. It starts off with a great opening that will intrigue you from the beginning and Lucyna is a character easy to love as she learns about being human and falling in love.  James is a sweet yet realistic character who will endear you from the moment he is introduced.  I read this quickly, eager to find out whether love will conquer all. 

As usual I’m not going to give away whether it does or doesn’t... but you can probably work it out. ;)
 
You will smile, your heart will swoon and if you are anything like me you will shed a tear or two. 
  
Here is a link to this wonderful story:  
http://www.amazon.com/The-Bringer-ebook/dp/B004ZGDDJ0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1308724907&sr=8-2

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 author and perhaps a link to the book so that folks can add it to their own TBR lists.
Link to the book: 

http://www.amazon.com/BURN-BABY-ebook/dp/B004HILQ7W/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1308632693&sr=1-1

Don't forget to pop over to the host site below. 

http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/2011/06/21/teaser-tuesdays-june-21/

Here is my teaser from Burn Baby Burn by Jake Barton

 Sad eyes, full of misery, on the verge of despair. Making a visible effort, she twisted her features into what she probably thought to be a smile. From where Donna sat, it looked like she needed a lot more practice.

I will be doing a review of this chilling thriller next wednesday as tomorrow I am posting my delayed review of The Bringer by Samantha Towle.