Apr 25 2013

Slowing Down

This year so far has been bad for blogging for me for some reason. Not only have I gone through 2 blogging and reading slumps, but I’m finding it hard to catch up now because of it. Life has also been getting more busy too with so much planning to do (I’m hoping to move soon).

So the blog posts will slow down a bit, but I’m not disappearing. Instead of two reviews each week, I’m going to only do one. This will help me catch up in scheduling reviews in advance, but also make sure I don’t get stressed out and get another slump. I also plan on reading more of my own books and going to be library more often instead of buying.

Reviews will be going up on their usual Tuesday, but until further notice Thursday will be empty. Hopefully this won’t last longer than a month, but the alternative was not posting anything for a month straight, so I figured this was a good medium.

So don’t worry, I’ll still be around, just catching up! I also hope this gives me more time to comment on blogs, since I haven’t had much time to do that lately either. If you have any questions let me know!

Apr 8 2013

Arrow of the Mist Book Blitz!

Arrow of the Mist by Christina Mercer
Publication date: March 21st 2013
Genre: YA Fantasy

Synopsis:

Terror strikes the Celtic inspired kingdom of Nemetona when barbed roots breach the veil of a forbidden land and poison woodsmen, including 15-year-old Lia’s beloved father. Lia and three others embark on a quest to the forbidden land of Brume to gather ingredients for the cure. But after her elder kinsman is attacked and poisoned, she and her cousin, Wynn, are forced to finish the quest on their own.

Lia relies on her powerful herbal wisdom and the memorized pages of her late grandmother’s Grimoire for guidance through a land of soul-hungry shades, trickster creatures, and uncovered truths about the origin of Brume and her family’s unexpected ties to it. The deeper they trek into the land, the stronger Lia’s untapped gift as a tree mage unfolds. When she discovers the enchanted root’s maker, it forces her to question everything about who she is and what is her destiny. Ultimately she must make a terrible choice: keep fighting to save her father and the people of the lands or join with the power behind the deadly roots to help nature start anew.

Purchase

Amazon- Barnes & Noble

Excerpt

This book sounds so cool, and I love the cover! So here’s an awesome excerpt in case you wanted a little more info about it.

Grandma Luis halted and turned Dobbin to face his troop. The chilled air tugged at his cloak and swept through his winter white hair. His eyes shone from his face and the young trio drew their horses back a few steps.

“We’ve a straight and narrow trail ahead. We’ll go in single file—”

“A narrow trail?” Lia cut in. “But, I thought it’d be some kind of, well, secret passage or something. How is it that only you and Grandma made it through the fog safely? Why didn’t others just follow behind, track your steps?”

“There were many who tried.” His voice turned morose. “Even after all m’warnings. Men hovering in the wooded outskirts, creeping in the grasses, waiting till I was snug enough within the fog before charging in behind me, their lives over before I could utter a word. Because you see, as with most gates, there are guards.”

Lia’s eyes widened. She cast a glance at Wynn, whose jaw hung, and at Kelven whose face was like stone.

Granda Luis added, “But not to worry, our passage was assured long ago.”

Lia opened her mouth, but held her tongue as Granda turned Dobbin around and headed him toward the perilous boundary. Guards? How is that possible? The notion of it chilled her like an icy deluge. Then the words from the Grimoire echoed inside her head:

Fogged, bogged gates of Brume, barrier to my home;

Timeless, faceless watchers loom, but I am allowed to roam.

“Come on, Dobbin. ’Tis all right, boy, steady now,” Granda Luis cajoled. Dobbin snorted and flipped his head up and down. “I was afraid o’this. He’s strong as a bull, but nervous as a cat, nothing like his fearless sire who’d brazen out the fog without a wink. Come on, boy, walk!” He struggled to move Dobbin forward, but the animal reared and the other horses backed away.

Kelven rode up and neared the anxious horse. “Luis, sir, I think I can help.” He dismounted Koby and commanded him with a mere nod, and his mount stood stock-still.

Kelven approached Dobbin and whispered words that Lia couldn’t make out. He placed one hand on Dobbin’s muzzle and used his other to caress the sorrel-colored mane. Dobbin settled, finally stilled, and whinnied softly. Lia reveled in Kelven’s poise, her fears ebbing like a receding tide.

Kelven reached into his leather jerkin and brought out a carrot, feeding it to the calmed animal while he stroked his coat. “If you’ll allow me to lead as we go through this fog, we could pull him through to the other side. He’d feel better, I think, following another horse in.”

With his brow knitted, Granda Luis replied, “All right, but listen to me carefully; you must stay to the trail, keep your eyes to it at all times, as that’s the only way to ensure we don’t get lost in the mists. I’ll be stopping us mid-way to leave a few offerings.”

Well, that might explain the separate pack of ale and bread, Lia surmised. Then she shuddered to think about what sort of creature could subsist in the fog.

Ropes connected the small band, led by Kelven astride his horse Koby, with Wynn and his dapple-gray Nolan bringing up the rear. The procession eased into the mists, and the air turned frigid, like the breath of a cave.

Merrie’s ears twitched and she snorted. Light dimmed to mere shadows and Lia barely made out Dobbin’s tail swishing in front of her. She pulled her cloak tighter, leaving only her face exposed to the chill. The wall of fog enveloped them, with only the horse’s rhythmic hoof beats to break its eerie silence.

No turning back now, Lia thought.

—

About the author

Christina Mercer writes fiction in addition to mothering two young adults, a pack of large dogs, and about 100,000 honeybees. She’s been an avid reader since she could walk and took her first writing job at age 10 as reporter for her local 4-H group. Her varied interests and ambidextrous skills prompted her to study creative writing in college, earn her official degree in Accounting from California State University at Sacramento, become a CPA., acquire a certificate in Herbal Studies from Clayton College of Natural Health, and become a hobbyist beekeeper. She took Writer’s Best in Show at the 2012 SCBWI CA North/Central Regional Conference and was a semi-finalist in the 2010 Amazon Breakout Novel Award Contest. You can find her at www.christinamercer.com or blogging with the girls over at www.indie-visible.com

Author Links:

Website / Facebook / Twitter

Mar 16 2013

Blog Updates-March 2013

I just wanted to make a quick post, highlighting a few things on the blog here! First, as you’ll notice, I have a new design! After the new year I went into a big blog and reading slump and I figured that to get me back into it, it was time to freshen up the blog a bit. I went with Shirley from Creative Deeds and I suggest you check her out too, she’s fun to work with! I really think the new design suits me more too

Now, for those that use Google Reader to follow many blogs, including mine, make sure you switch over to something new before July 1st. I know that all you’ve probably been hearing about, but I wanted to post a little something anyway.

I have switched to Bloglovin, and you can move over your RSS feeds pretty easily with it. I just like the main page and how I can comment on the blogs in the program itself. It can also track your followers if you’re looking for something like that. I know there are a ton of programs out there that you might love even more so choose which one you like the most, but just in case below is the button to follow my blog with Bloglovin (you can also copy & paste my website to add to any other RSS readers). If you’re really unsure there are lots of bloggers out there trying different programs and giving their view on it.

Here’s a few:

Rachelia over at Bookish Comforts-Google Reader is Retiring… So Now What? 4 Possible Alternatives

Parajunkee-BB101:Reader Alternatives

Bewtiched Bookworms-Discussed! Google Reader gone.. and now what?

Jan 4 2013

My Top 5 Favourite Covers of 2012

Since there are so many covers for books out there, and so many versions, I’m going only with books that came out in 2012 and ones that I’ve actually read too. There are way more than 5 that I love, but I decided to only choose a few for this. Covers go to Goodreads.

Throne of Glass (UK version)

Not only do I love this book, as it’s probably my favourite read this year, but this version of the cover is just so awesome! I think it matches much better than the one that was released here in Canada for sure.

Born Wicked

The cover just drew me in, and it definitely had the witchy feel that I was looking for when I read this book. I’m not happy that they decided to change this cover for the paperback though, the new version isn’t as nice.

Crown of Embers

Not only is the colour scheme beautiful, but the way the jewel pops out on the hardcover of this book is just so pretty!

My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century

The cover really sets the mood for this book, full of adventure but fun and cute! I actually bought the book because of the cover.

Stormdancer

Doesn’t this just look so kick-ass? The book was good, but I really do love this cover, especially the samurai look!

What were your favourite covers this year?

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To buy any of these books, go to the Book Depository for free shipping, and to support this blog use this link!

Jan 1 2013

My Top 20 Favourite Books I read in 2012

If you’ve seen my recent giveaway, you’ll know most of the books I’m going to add to this but I decided to make the number bigger since it’s so hard to choose.

So here is the list of my favourite books this year! Not all of these books were released in 2012, but they were the ones I read this year and loved the most!

All images go to Goodreads