Tag: Book View Cafe

5 good things that happened this week

On By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations, Life, Paranormal Romance, Writing

 

This is in no particular order. :).

– James Hetley released a new Stonefort novel.

This made me so happy. I love his books, and I had almost given up on reading a new Stonefort novel. It was really good. You should buy it from BVC.

Summer arrived.

The weather in June was a bit cold ( to put it mildly). But this week summer arrived with a bang. I am also reminded that I don’t like temps over 25 C. But the sunshine is nice!

– Patricia Rice named a character after me

I was reading Patricia Rice latest California Malcolm novel, when a character named Mikala appeared. I blinked, realised that she named her after me. It was the first time! ( Well, Kari did it once in a short story, but I knew about that before hand.)

The bookplate Nalini Singh sent me arrived

In May, I e-mailed Nalini Singh and asked if she could send me a signed book plate. Which she agreed to do, once she got home. It arrived this week! So now I have a signed copy of Shield of Winter, without having met Nalini person. 🙂

My cover was finalized.

I could finally post the faboulus cover that Skyla Dawn Cameron designed for me. I love it! And yes, I know, you have already seen it . But I’m just so happy. It feel as if things are moving forward. Now I need to get back to the edits…

Must read summer releases

On By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations

This summer is packed full with books that I’m itching to read.

To begin with, there is Shield of Winter by Nalini Singh. Which was the reason I re-read the series now. Mmm.  ( I’ll admit that I’m crossing my fingers that my book store makes the same mistake they did last year. *cough*)

Then in July  Shaman Rises by C.E Murphy releases. *sob* I’m still struggling with the fact that it is the last Walker Paper novel.

Also in July the third book in Patricia Rice California Malcolms trilogy releases. I’m having my fingers crossed that she writes more, though. If not… well… I’ll nag her until she changes her mind. 🙂

And Wen Spencer’s next Elfhome novel releases in July! Perfect for some fun, fastpaced summer read.

Oh! Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews is out  July too.  This book wraps up this series arc, although there will be more books. And Michelle Sagara’s Cast in Flames are out in July.

And in September, Ghost Layer by Robin D Owens is out.  The first book was so good.  But then all Robin’s books are really good. 🙂

So many books. So little time. 🙂 What books are you looking forward to read this summer?

 

 

ARC Review: Beguiled Again by Patricia Burroughs

On By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations2 Comments
The Particulars: Contemporary Romance, Book View Cafe, available as e-book and in print
The Source: e-ARC from the Author
The Grade: B+
The Blurb:

Order
Jeff shook off Cecilia and her high school crush seventeen years ago, and he’s made an orderly, boring, safe, successful life for himself as an accountant. Just the way he wants things.
Chaos
Cecilia’s taste for driven, orderly men has left her divorced with three kids and two half-incomes. But nobody’s looking over her shoulder, criticizing her for being messy and disorganized. Life is never boring, is always filled with laughter and energy. Just the way she wants things.
Disaster
From the moment she sucks him into her sticky, single-mom universe, Jeff can’t keep it together anymore. Her checkbook is a nightmare, her oldest kid hates him, and she’s lush and messy, mouth-watering and independent and annoyingly unforgettable. And he can’t stay away.
Cecilia is a fighter. She doesn’t need Jeff turning up again, making her feel like she’s still fourteen years, treating her like she can’t manage her life without his assistance. Why, why, why does he keep trying to help? To make matters worse, Jeff is hotter than ever, and a single mom can’t afford a sex life.
Plus, his parrot hates her.
In this battle between order and chaos, between hostile kids and cranky parrots, between romance and responsibility, is heartbreak inevitable?
Or this time, can love win?

The Review:

I have wanted to read this ever since I saw the blurb and cover on Patricia Burroughs blog. So when she contacted me, wondering if I would be interested in an ARC, I said yes.
And, I had a blast reading it. Cecilia’s and Jeff’s romance was a case of opposites attract. Jeff’s life were ordered, Cecilia’s were chaotic. It was intresting to see how they fought against their attraction, yet they couldn’t stay away from each other. I really appreciated was that the obstacles were believable. From Cecilia’s children, to Jeff’s busy schedule, to Cecilia’s scars after her divorce.
But,it was also intresting to see how their lives changed during the story. Cecilia slowly started to realise that she didn’t have to fit the mold, that her occupation was perfect for her. Jeff started to realise that he needed Cecilia’s chaos in his life, and that Cecilia needed his calm. One thing I especially liked was how Cecilia’s children treated Jeff. From the wariness at the beginning, to the grudging acceptance at the end of the book.
All in all, this was an enjoyable romance. I just wish that it was longer. I wanted to stay with Cecilia and Jeff, and see how they together dealt with all the chaos created by a household full of children.

Why I love Book View Cafe

On By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations2 Comments

I am not sure what caused this post. Maybe I just got tired off badly formatted books, from both publishers and indie authors? But here it is. All the reasons why I love Book View Cafe. 🙂 

Their books are edited, copyedited, proofread and professionally formatted

This might sound like nit picking, but books that haven’t been through the publication process, from editing to proofreading drives me nuts. Because if the author don’t care enough about their book to make sure it is a good as it can be, why should I pay my hard earned money?
All the books are vetted for
Since Book View Cafe is a coop for previously published authors, which means that all of them knows the need of editing. What it means to me as a reader? No need to wade through a digital slush pile to find the gems. And, yes, I know that my gems might be someoneelse dreck, and the other way around.
The books are reasonably priced
Alright. Some books might feel a bit high, but I willingly pay their prices, since I know that even backlist titles have additional costs. ( Like sending paperbacks to be scanned, proofreading, formatting, creating covers etc.)
The fact that it is a co-op
I love that they are a co-op, and that they help each other when it comes to the various aspects of publishing.
They are willing to try different price levels:
This might not be Book View Cafe, but rather the different authors. I love the fact that Book View Cafe offers authors a choice between simply lowering the price, or using coupons.
Their books are DRM free
When Book View Cafe first launched, and I found out that their books were DRM free I got happy. If I buy a book, I want to be able to read it when the mood strikes. Plus, there are the fact that e-bookstores folds or changes their DRM.

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Arc review: Scandalous by Patricia Burroughs

On By MikaelaIn Uncategorized1 Comment
The Particulars: Contemporary Romance, Book View Cafe, available as e-book
The Source:  e-ARC from the author 
The Grade: B- 
The Blurb:
Why live in the boring present when you have a century’s worth of vintage couture to live up to? Why be ordinary with centuries of Vandermeir scandals to shape your destiny?

Paisley Vandermeir was born on a hippie commune in the 60s, transplanted to high society Manhattan in the 70s and mentored by her wild Aunt Izzy, whose Roaring 20s exploits still tarnish the family name. Paisley is the very definition of “Vandermeir scandal.” It’s simply a matter of what and when. Following in the steps of her forbears, she intends to create her own scandal, then walk away from family and Society and find her own future.

Enter Christopher Quincy Maitland, the blond and gorgeous Rock of Gibraltar who carries the weight of his family’s fortune on his shoulders–safe, dependable, scandal proof. Or is he?

When irresistible force meets immovable object, what happens next is SCANDALOUS.

The Review:
When Patricia Burroughs sent me the ARC of this book, I assumed it was a novel. I have no idea why, I just did. When I sat down to read it, I discovered that it was a novella.
And it is wonderful.
The romance between Paisley and Christopher felt timeless. The story took place in the Upper Echelons of the New York Society. And maybe that is part of the reason it felt so timeless. The Society has some old fashioned traditions, that should have felt out of place during the early 90’s, yet they didn’t.
This is the story of opposites attracts. Paisley is flamboyant and outspoken, yet I loved the feeling of uncertainty that glimpsed through occassionally. Christopher is stable, and respectable. Yet, they each need each other. Christopher needs a bit stir in his life, and Paisley needs the stability.
But the path to their happily ever after wasn’t easy. I enjoyed reading, wondering if they would follow in the path of their forebears, or if they would strike out a path of their own.
Adding to the sense of uncertainty was the fact that Christopher were engaged. Paisley was certain that Christopher wouldn’t pick her. Christopher, on the other hand, struggled between duty and love. 
The main problem I had with this story was that it took awhile before I warmed up to the characters.  But, I am glad Patricia Burroughs sent me the arc, since it is a touching story.

Book Lover’s Giveaway hop: Scandalous by Patricia Burroughs

On By MikaelaIn Uncategorized10 Comments

In a lucky coincidence, tomorrow happens to be the release day of Scandalous by Patricia Burroughs. And since I had the fortune of reading an ARC, I want to spread the word of this book. So I am giving away 3 e-book copies. Just leave your e-mail address, so I can gift it through Amazon.

 Why live in the boring present when you have a century’s worth of vintage couture to live up to? Why be ordinary with centuries of Vandermeir scandals to shape your destiny?

Paisley Vandermeir was born on a hippie commune in the 60s, transplanted to high society Manhattan in the 70s and mentored by her wild Aunt Izzy, whose Roaring 20s exploits still tarnish the family name. Paisley is the very definition of “Vandermeir scandal.” It’s simply a matter of what and when. Following in the steps of her forbears, she intends to create her own scandal, then walk away from family and Society and find her own future.

Enter Christopher Quincy Maitland, the blond and gorgeous Rock of Gibraltar who carries the weight of his family’s fortune on his shoulders–safe, dependable, scandal proof. Or is he?

When irresistible force meets immovable object, what happens next is SCANDALOUS.