Review & Giveaway: Dark Muse by BrokenSword

ISBN #: 9-780615196312
Page Count: 622
Publisher: GreenDragon Publishing
Copyright: 2008

About the Author:

I really didn't find any bio info on the web or on the back cover of Dark Muse.  So, to learn more about this web-reclusive author, I requested an interview ... which he graciously accepted.  Click here to learn more about the author, BrokenSword.

(Interview has been removed by the blog's owner)

Summary:

(Taken from back cover)

Jason, a miller from 18th Century Carolina, seeks to escape a loveless marriage while on an Atlantic voyage to Italy, aboard a ship whose captain hides a pirate past.  As he watches his wedding ring disappear beneath the waves, he's chosen to alter his path.  Within his yearning to find true love, is a hidden passion for rhyme and verse.  Taking strength from his words, he builds relationships with others onboard who share his passionate nature, including a supernaturual muse who shapes his words and ideas, and ultimately, the truths he finds within himself.

When his poetry becomes more than a connection between himself and his emotions, Jason finds the opportunity for love that he seeks.  But another has already claimed him.  Exotic and erotic, the Dark Muse clings to his senses, forming the kiss on his lips.

Immortal, Leanan Sidhe is a Queen of the Fae, and daughter of the Sea Gods.  As Jason holds a hand out to the love he's been seeking, as lust crashes like Atlantic waves on the rock of his soul, his experiences with both will be defined in terms of betrayal...

Review:

Poetry is something that runs in my family.  It's something that I, myself, have written many times.  Although, I feel that I am simply an artist and not a craftsman (explanation of differences to be found inside Dark Muse).  Even still, I wanted to love this book for the poetic foundation it was built on.  Sadly, I did not.  Now, don't get me wrong ... I did enjoy the book, but I did not fall in love with it as I had hoped.

For one thing, the cover of the book is a little ... lackluster.  I would have liked to see a little interaction between the two characters on the cover... a little sexual tension, a little heat ... a visual preview of what was in store in between the covers ... of the book, that is.  =)

I did feel bad for Jason.  He was locked inside of a loveless marriage.  All he wanted was to love and be loved.  He would've gladly poured out his affection on his wife, but she was the type to find excuse after excuse as to why she would not, or could not, fulfill her 'wifely duties.'  After quite a few months of being told 'no,'  what else would a virile man do but find someone else?

It's then that Jason meets a lady on the ship he falls in love with.  It's also around this time that his Dark Muse comes to him and makes herself known to him.

I'm not going to tell you what happens (I don't want to ruin the story for you), but I will say that there were incidents, reveals and happenings in the story that I didn't expect.  Some were a pleasant surprise, while others were disappointing.  Of course, that makes a good story doesn't it ... Ones that draw you in, make you think, reveal the unexpected and cause you to feel a wide range of emotions?  If this, and the fact that there is a happy ending (slight spoiler, I know), intrigues you then you'll enjoy this book.  =)

Giveaway:

This giveaway has now ended.  Click on the Giveaways link at the top right of this page to view the winners.

Teaser Tuesday #4

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Mizb at Should Be Reading.  To participate, you need to:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two teaser sentences from somewhere on that page
• Be careful not to include spoilers
• Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser

This week's teaser comes from:

"She tensed at the earnest look in his eyes, the touch of his hand.  A shard of panic shot through her and must have shown."

I've not read this story yet, but now that I've read this teaser, I'm thinking ... "Why is she panicking?  Is she in trouble?  Are they in public?  Alone?  Is he somebody she likes?  Somebody she's trying to avoid?"  I have so many questions already.  Guess I'm going to have to read this book soon.  =)

In My Mailbox (#5)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi, The Story Siren.  This meme was began so we could all share what books we received the previous week ... whether it was in the mail, from the library or what we bought at a store.

I've had a pretty good week, this week.  Here's what I've received:


Stan's Leap by Tom Duerig:  I received this book from the author's publicist for review.  The main concept of the story is about a couple who takes a vacation on a remote island and are stranded there with several other couples.  I'm anxious to begin reading this to find out what happens to them!



A Rush of Wings by Kristen Heitzmann:  This is one of three books I received from Bethany House Publishers for review.  After reading the back cover, I've gathered that this story is about a woman running from her past and winds up at a horse ranch.  While there, two brothers vie for her attention and affection as her past catches up with her.



Hatteras Girl by Alice J. Wisler:  This is book two of the three books I received from Bethany House Publishers for review.  The synopsis of this book is about Jackie, a reviewer of local business owners, who dreams of finding Mr. Right and owning her own business one day.  She meets a man who holds the key to her dream of owning a business, and could possibly be Mr. Right, but the details she learns of his past make her wonder if she's on the right path to her future.

Amy Inspired by Bethany Pierce:  This is the third book I received from Bethany House Publishers this week for review.  I'm anxious to read this one as well because it's about an aspiring writer, Amy, who gave up her job to pursue a life of writing (how appropriate for National Novel Writing Month!).  After being rejected many times by publishers, she meets a man who makes her want to be more than friends.  Is this meant to be or a distraction from her dream of being a writer?

Bending Towards the Sun by Leslie Gilbert-Lurie:  I received this book from FSB Media for a review.  It's a memoir written by a woman and her mother.  The mother had to flee her home at five years of age to hide from the Nazis.  While in hiding, she saw her younger brother and mother die before her eyes.  Years later, the daughter digs into her mother's past to discover how her mother's pain has affected her life.  It is a legacy that unites, inspires and haunts them.

The Reflections of Light for Daily Living by Dr. Tiffany Brown:  I received an ebook copy from the author's publicist.  I will be hosting this author on her blog tour on Friday, November 12th. 

"This book will provide daily tools to endure storms while dealing with haters and toxic friends all while grindin' to get to the next level of your life ... (this book) consists of a series of 365 daily passages or 'teachings' to help give you an inspirational boost to your day. While it is possible to read the passages straight through as you would a novel, think of the book as a collection of individual stories, each of which tells its own tale and can be approached one at a time." (Taken from the PublishAmerica website)

Book Blog Hop Friday #6

This is a weekly meme hosted by Jennifer at Crazy for Books.  This is a chance for people to visit other book-related blogs that they normally wouldn't find and/or visit on their own.  To participate, a question must be answered. 

Before we get to the question, I would like to welcome any new viewers/followers to my blog.  If you're an 'oldie but goodie' ... welcome back! =)

Now, this week's question is:

"What are your feelings on losing followers?  Have you ever stopped following a blog?"

I don't like to lose followers, because I'm trying very hard to be one of those blogs everybody loves, comments on and follows.  However, I know there's going to be people who have stopped blogging, lose interest in blogging, etc and they stop following.  Then, there's going to be those people who just don't like what you have to offer any more.

I will say, here and now, that if there's ever a time any of you thinks or sees a way for me to improve my site, all you have to do is email me.  I am fairly new to blogging on a regular basis and appreciate any and all suggestions for improvements.  So, please, if you are in the group of people who don't really care for what I have to offer, give me a chance to improve before you stop following.  =)

Yes, I have stopped following a blog.  When I'm sent an email and I'm told that I've won something, please follow through with actually sending me what I've won.  When it's been three weeks and I still haven't seen my prize and I email you to ask you if, maybe, I misunderstood the rules or the concept of the contest, please don't ignore me.  I like to give people chances to explain themselves.  I tend to be very understanding, but when you ignore me, how else am I to interpret that but that you don't care about one of your followers?  So, for that reason, I've stopped following a blog.

I'm curious to see what you all have to say about this.  Hope to hear from you! =)

Contest & Review: Pandora's Succession by Russell Brooks

Welcome to one of the stops on Russell Brooks' blog tour!  For the tour, I was graciously given an e-copy of Russell's novel to read and review, which is now availabe in e-format on Amazon or any other e-book retailers.

Summary:

Lieutenant Captain Ridley Fox is a CIA operative on a mission to stop potential terrorists from releasing Pandora, a microbe that can spread world-wide to eliminate human life as we know it.  During his mission, as he travels from Chechnya to West Darfur to Tokyo, he experiences betrayal from those he thought he was able to trust.  Nothing and nobody are what they appear to be ... Is this mission one that Fox has to finish on his own or will he be able to find those he can actually trust to help him?

My Review:

When I first began the book, I thought it was going to be one of those that only guys would enjoy due to the military and weapons references.  Once I got past the technicality of it all and actually paid attention to the story line, I was hooked.

The detail Russell gives to the descriptions of weapons and modes of military transportation will help detail the story in the mind of a person who is familiar with such things.  But, for people like me who have no idea what a UH-60 Blackhawk or a D-W73 Cold War era Russian Air Force Officer's Dagger look like, the details tend to be a little much.  However, the fight scenes were extremely realistic and that is due, in part, to the details given about the weapons.

As far as the plot is concerned, it was thrilling and intriguing.  It kept you in a state of suspension from beginning to end.  One thing I do, while reading a story, is to picture the book as a movie in my mind.  At the end of each chapter, I pretend that is where the movie would pause for a commercial.  Some stories fail to end with a cliff hanger at the end of each chapter, but not this one.  I can say that at the end of each and every chapter, if a commercial were to come on at that time or if you stopped reading for the night at that spot, you couldn't wait to get back to it and see what happens next.  I think this skill is one that not every author can accomplish.  Russell Brooks has definitely mastered this skill.

One thing I did wish for was that it took a little longer revealing the mastermind behind it all.  I would've enjoyed a little more suspense in that area of the story.  Other than that, I really liked this novel.  And, I'd like to say 'Thank You' to Russell for putting the Epilogue at the end.  It helped to tie up some loose ends.  Without it, a reader would be left wondering if a sequel was in the making.

Author Info:

Russell Brooks is a former Canadian Track and Field Team member who currently resides in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.  You can visit his blog, The Big Picture, by clicking here.

If you have any questions you'd like to ask Russell, please leave a comment below and he will reply back.  How often do you get to chat with an author one-on-one?!

Can't think of any questions to ask?  Perhaps after you read the first five teaser chapters on Russell's site (here), you'll have some questions about the book.  So, go check them out and come back to ask your questions.

Contest Rules:

Everyone that leaves a comment with their email address (in the body of your message) will win an autographed book cover of Pandora's Succession.  After the blog tour (ends November 14th), ten commentors, from all of the blogs hosting the tour, will be drawn to win free autographed ebook copies of Pandora's Succession.