Winners Gallore!

Okay a bit late but I finished the evil project today. I hope it is good to go now but I still have to copy it again- handwritten and yes I HAVE to cuz my professor is crazy and wants us do this project without any computer help. So I will sit down and write these 18 pages again tonight. *le sigh* And hello hand cramps!

But back to the happy news: We have winners!!!

Woot woot!

Me and Mr. Random.org (look at the picture on the right-->) got close and personal again and cuz I'm such a nice student he gave me the 6 names of our winners.

Blogoversary Read-List Giveaway:

~*~*~drumroll~*~*~

Lea

who said:

Happy Blogoversary Susi:

It's been wonderful getting to know you via Twitter and your blog. Your blog rocks BTW and it was through yours that I got the inspiration for my own design.

((hugs))
Hey Thanks for the giveaway!

Congrats!

You chose Sweet Temptation by Maya Banks.

Next up we have the winner of my Stephanie Draven Giveaway.

~*~*~drumroll~*~*~

Stella (Ex Libris)

Congrats! You won an ARC of Midnight Medusa.

Next we have the lucky winner of a digital copy of Midnight's Ghost by Sara Brookes.


~*~*~drumroll~*~*~

JenM

Congrats!

Next we have the 3 lucky winners of my Julia Rachel Barrett Giveaway.

~*~*~drumroll~*~*~

Cathy M won a copy of Beauty and the Feast
s7anna won a copy of My Everything
Lucy won a copy of Captured

Congrats! 

Okay I will now EMail you all.

Hope you all have a wonderful Monday.

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Giveaway Update: Extra Day

Okay I have a hard case of blogging disability today so you all get an extra day to enter my blogoversary giveaway.


I got the wonderful news today that a project for the university I worked on all week is not the way it should be and I have to get it fixed till Tuesday. O_o

And I totally forgot to give you a link to my review of Cheat the Grave by Vicki Pettersson. You can find it here@Book Lovers Inc. Vicki will also be at BLI tomorrow for a wonderful interview and a huge giveaway. I just say: whole signed series set.

I will try to enjoy the rest of my day now without thinking anymore about any stupid projects and classes.

Hope you all have a great Sunday.

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Guestpost by Author J. A. Saare

I'm happy to have Author J.A. Saare aka Jaime here today. I met her on twitter and she is such a nice and funny person. She's also a multi-published author in varying genres. Jaime is here today to talk about inspiration and movies. Please give her a warm welcome.

Authors can find inspiration in the oddest of places, whether it’s while they’re out for lunch, driving in their car, or taking a shower. For me, inspiration struck before I was even aware of what the concept was. So when Susi asked if I’d be willing to write something about my influences when it comes to reading/writing, I knew my answer probably wouldn't come as the norm. You see, I started creating stories in my head when I was a kid but, unlike many authors, never put them to paper. They remained untouched in my mind, little movies if you will, and it all began after I spent a weekend at my grandmother’s home and watched a film that changed my life forever.

Let me take you back. I was seven or eight years old and my Mommaw had this enormous video library. I spent hours combing the shelves, trying to decide what I’d watch after she went to bed and it was just me and her enormous television (remember the big wooden monsters that you pushed, not carried, from place to place?). She’d recently gotten a new flick with this awesome cover of a woman with glowing iridescent eyes and a beautiful man. There was something captivating about the image and I immediately chose it -- the movie was The Bride featuring Sting and Jennifer Beals.

I can’t tell you how much that movie changed my life. It gave me an entirely new outlook on romance (Bride of Frankenstein remakes will do that to you, or so I’m told) and warped the way I viewed things. Forever gone was the young girl who believed in knights in shining armor and happily ever after. Love didn’t have to be wholesome and pure, not when touched by obsessive madness, not when it ended in rage and hate. It wasn't until I was older that I learned that the motion picture industry wasn't the only venue to relate that concept, finding it was just a matter of perusing the bookshelves of the local B&N. It was because of this that those little movies in my brain became something far darker, more macabre, and at times rather terrifying.

Oftentimes, I tell people I believe the rise in PNR popularity is directly due to those who love a dash of dark in their romance, perhaps not as ghastly as I prefer but prevalent. There is a reason vampires, werewolves, magic, shape shifters, and things that go bump in the night are so huge right now. People are drawn to the unknown, unable to turn away as horrible things are presented to them because it’s something new in a genre saturated by devilishly handsome rogues who claim to be big and bad but are about as dangerous as a gnarly looking gun minus the bullets. I know that for me, there is nothing sexier than a hero that is truly unobtainable or so deadly that one kiss can kill. Where is the adventure if you remove the risks?

Now that I’ve shared, I’d like to know if there is a film that changed the way you viewed romance. Was it something sweet, like Steel Magnolias, Flashdance, or The Princess Bride? Or was it something darker? Like say…The Lost Boys, Dracula, or The Wolf Man?

Please share a comment. I can’t wait to read your answers.

Happy Reading!

Jaime AKA J.A. Saare

About the Author:
J.A. Saare is a multi-published author in varying genres and has written stories featured in horror magazines, zombie romance anthologies, and flash fiction contests. Her work has a notable dark undertone, which she credits to her love of old eighties horror films, tastes in music, and choices in reading, and have been described as “full of sensual promise,” “gritty and sexy,” and “a breath of fresh air.”

Currently she is penning numerous projects within the urban fantasy, erotic and contemporary, and of course, paranormal romance categories.
Where you can find Jaime:
website, blog, twitter

About her new book: Dead, Undead, or Somewehere in Between
One bad corpse can ruin your whole day. No one knows that better than Rhiannon Murphy. She’s left behind the flash and sass of Miami for the no-nonsense groove of New York City, eager for a clean slate and a fresh start. A bartender by trade, a loud mouth by choice, and a necromancer by chance; she’s managed to keep her nifty talent hidden from those around her – until now.
The deliciously good-looking vampire Disco knows her secret, and when he strolls into her bar to solicit help investigating the mysterious disappearances of his kind from the city, she discovers he’s not the kind of person that appreciates the significance of the word no.
But in a world where vampires peddle their blood as the latest and greatest drug of choice, it’s only a matter of time before the next big thing hits the market. Someone or something is killing vampires to steal their hearts, and unlike Rhiannon, this isn't their first stroll around the undead block.

Read more...

My One Year Long Blogging Journey

I'm still really awed that I'm already blogging for one year. Where did the time go? And because I'm sentimental today (it's the actually blogoversary day) I decided to tell you about my first baby steps into the Blogging Universe.

I had a rather tough start in October 2008 when I decided to change my mayor into civil engineering. I already studied so long and I felt like I'm getting way too old to start something new. My first mayor was a total failure for me and it really scraped at my ego but I tried to be strong and started from scratch. So there I was already 23 years old in a class full of 18 year olds and I just didn't click with them. Not in the least. I never had this problem before and it irked me to be unable to get a conversation with those people. They don't read, they don't like the same movies and in my opinion what these people listen to can't even be described as music.  I luckily found some nice people in another class and I wanted nothing more then change to this one. But as it is in Germany it was rather complicated to achieve that. I tried my best but I was stuck with the "babies" for the first semester and I escaped into the world of books. I discovered the Twilight books and without even noticing I started reading other paranormal romance books. But now that I read so much I wanted to talk about it too and unfortunately for the first time BF didn't want to read the books I read. So what to do? I searched online for people who like the same books. I discovered the world of blogging and at first I only watched, staying in the safe space behind my computer. After a while I thought perhaps you should try it and if they laugh at your English you can always stop. But no-one laughed and I was addicted to the whole blogging thing so fast I just couldn't even think about stopping. I found people to talk about books and they showed me other books I might like and I have to say these recommendations are way better than the onces amazon made.

So I build my own blog. The whole html/CSS topic nearly made me crazy at first but I survived it after all.
My first post was rather short but it says it all:

I can't believe how long I'm capable of trying to add a goodreads widget without throwing the PC out of the window. *headdesk*
But I think it worked now. *hope*
So now I will try to add twitter without getting totally crazy. Perhaps I should get a new coffee before starting ;-)

I started to write about what I like about the books I read and I started to comment on other blogs. I was so proud about making my first comment. I was so afraid to says something wrong, shy me and all, but still no-one laughed and I felt at home. And I also discovered twitter and I can't imagine life without it..

My first comment was from the wonderful Leontine on my rather short review of Red by Jordan Summers and it totally made my day. I was still so unsure about what I did and I was thrilled that someone really reads the stuff I write. Thanks again for that Leontine!

Some time later pattepoilue found my blog and I think I found a soul-mate (in a total platonic way LOL) in her. I can't say often enough how much she means to me and I'm still surprised that we 2 are really the same kind of crazy. She always gets my stupid jokes and understands my english even before I drank any coffee in the morning. Alone for that blogging is a win win project for me.

In July I started with my monthly reading summaries and again I was surprised how many people read these kind of posts.

In August I had my first author comment and I was soooo thrilled. I jumped up and down like the crazy I am and just couldn't stop talking about it for 3 days. Thanks to Deidre Knight for that. I also discovered the world of erotica in August and OMG thank god for that. *wink*

In September I started my first own feature "Science Fiction Hunks" and now that I think about it I really should make a new post for that one.
I also discovered my
At the end of September I also had my first ARC review Sweet Seduction by Maya Banks. I was so unsure about that one and I changed at least a million times.

I wrote my first email to an author in October asking a question and I was so thrilled that Ms. Erin McCarthy answered even if it was not the answer I wanted.

I started My Geeky Desires in November and again the readers surprise me with liking it. I moved this feature to Book Lovers Inc in January: We gave it a new name and I post it there as Geekdom of Books.
In November I also wrote about the Fall of the Berlin Wall and what that meant to me. I thinkit was a good idea to write this post. I still get hits on that post from searches like: why was the fall of the berlin wall such a big deal? At least I hope these people understand why after they read a post like mine.

I won my first real paperback ARC from Shiloh Walker and I was so thrilled I had to take a pic.

My first guest post was in December. Teal Ceagh (Tracy-Cooper Posey) came over and it was so much fun. I really liked that experience so over the time the list of guest authors became longer. A BIG Thank You to:
Tracy Cooper-Posey, Tina Donahue, Julia Rachel Barrett, Sara Brookes, Stephanie Julian, Heather Long, Destiny Blaine, Joely Sue Burkhart, Stephanie Draven and JA Saare (she will be here tomorrow).

In January me and a few fellow bloggers founded Book Lovers Inc. This was a huge step for all of us and a huge pain in the ass concerning the organization and even more horrible concerning the template. I wasted so many hours of work on the first template and it just never wanted to do what I said it should. But after what felt like 25 years finally the layout is okay and I'm proud that I did it. Go Susi!!!!

The rest of 2010 was rather a blur for me blogging wise. With the 2 blogs at onces it was hard to find a rhythm of paying enough attention to both. It's like 2 kids and you don't want one to feel left behind. I have to admit that probably The Geeky Bookworm is the one that took a bit of a backseat in the last few months but in my heart it will always be my first baby blog. It got even harder cuz I took over more organizing tasks for BLI in April but I'm proud of what I achieved there.

But back to The Geeky Bookworm. What were the moments that made my heart swell with proud? When an author mentions your review on her blog. I never thought that would happen but it did and perhaps it made me a bit teary eyed each time.

Here a few stats about The Geeky Bookworm:
- 155 published posts
- 1513 comments (this number is counted by me so it could be wrong LOL but still WOW)
- 11 Guestposts
- 14 Giveaways
- Post with most comments: They Did It how? by Tina Donahue
- Post with the strangest comments: Gargoyles as heroes? by Teal Ceagh Thanks to Minxy!
- The most drooled over Post: Science Fiction Hunks- Dark Angel (931 hits OMG LOL)
- The geekiest Post: My First Geeky Desires



Okay at last but not least I want to thank you all. For making this year to something so wonderful and special. You all totally rock and I'm so lucky and grateful that I found you. Blogging with you wouldn't be as much fun as it is for me and I still thrilled about every comment.

So girls: grab a glass of champagne to celebrate! My treat. ;)

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

And don't forget to enter the giveaways. A list of links to each post can be found at the top. =)

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Guestpost and Giveaway with Author Joely Sue Burkhart

I'm so happy to have Joely Sue Burkhart here today with a wonderful Guestpost. She asked me what I would like her to post about and I told her I adore Conn (hero of Dear Sir, I'm Yours) and so she offered this post. OMG I love it. I think I have to print it out and put a frame around it. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. And don't forget the giveaway at the end of the post.

Susi, this is an exclusive poem written by Conn just for you!

He was rather taken aback by some comments that a professor does not "teach" but "lectures." He agrees for the most part, but there's an important distinction he wants to make. Some professors lecture, standing at the head of the class droning on and on, never caring whether their students survive the class or not. Conn is different. He's not just the sexiest professor alive, he also gives a damn about whether his students--especially his one very special student--learns from him.

A startling revelation has been brought

To my most eager attention:

Instead of helping my students, I ought

Provide mere cold direction.

My voice -- as sexy as it may be --

Is surely quite enough!

Tho' students clamor, beg, and plead,

Discard them as dry and itchy slough!

But I cannot, Dear Reader, abandon my hope;

Most sincere, my heart's true calling:

Never leave a student in darkness to grope

Ever deeper in lost despair falling.

I seek that light, fragile and bright

A spark of pure understanding;

The deeper confusion and shaking fright,

The greater battle, vict'ry notwithstanding.

One spark in that bewildered haze

Is worth its weight in gold,

For one who's seen that treasured gaze

After denying ignorance to enfold.

So when my heart's most beloved mate

Stands before me in trembling fear--

How can I do less than eagerly abate

Every doubt while I kiss each tear?

And if she hesitates with dread

At the thought of our dark need,

Shall I lecture her instead

And leave her heart to bleed?

Shall I swear my cruel hands are safe?

That I would surely never harm

Such an innocent, lovely waif!

With calculated snake-oil charm.

Are mere words enough to defeat

Bone-deep fear of surrender?

My body, hands, lips to cheat

The temptation of this flower so tender?

Nay! God forbid my beloved ever

Look upon me with disgusted fear!

For I would rather my head to sever,

and cleave my arrogant heart with spear!

Dearest Reader, forgive me if I carefully taught

With consideration so mundane;

Instead of lecturing from on high and haught:

For I cannot bring myself to feign.

*le sigh* I love it!

~*~*~Giveaway~*~*~

Joely offers a digital copy of Dear Sir, I'm Yours or a digital ARC of The Bloodgate Guardian, her new Carina Press release.

(I have to tell you I loved both books. You can read my homage to Conn here and my dual review with the wonderful pattepoilue here. The review of The Bloodgate Guardian will be up next week.)

Just leave a comment on this post.

Giveaway ends Friday June 4th and I will announce the winner on Saturday.

Good Luck!

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Book Lovers Inc linkage of the week!

Okay before I get todays Guestpost up I have to tell you about a few things I've got up on Book Lovers Inc.
Yeah, I noticed that I'm a bit posting crazy this week but the coffee keeps me going.

First we have my Geekdom of Books post about Google Analytics from Monday. You can find it here.

Today my review of Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane went up here and also the Interview with Stacia is online now here. I really loved interviewing her. You also get a chance to win the book for leaving a comment on one or both posts.

Tomorrow my review of Cheat the Grave by Vicki Pettersson will be up and I will come back to update this post then.

Here as a reminder the posts we had so far this week. It's still time to enter all the giveaways:

Start: My best wishes giveaway for a book of your choice can be found  here.

Monday: Guestpost/Giveaway: Author Stephanie Draven

Tuesday: Interview/Giveaway: Author Sara Brookes

Wednesday: Guestpost/Giveaway: Julia Rachel Barrett

Hope you all have a great week!

And enjoy the blogoversary.

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Guestpost and Giveaway with Author Julia Rachel Barrett

I very proud to have Julia Rachel Barrett here today. She is a multi-published author and one of my great discoveries of my blogging year. I love her books and so it is my pleasure to haver her here today. You can check out my review of her last book The Beauty and the Feast here. And because Julia is made of awesome we have a huge wonderful giveaway for you at the end of the post.
Please give her a warm welcome.

Happy Birthday Susi Sunshine!

When Susi asked me to be a guest blogger for her anniversary week, I felt honored. In my world, there is nobody more admirable than a book loving self-described Geek! Despite her busy schedule, Susi reads, she reviews our books with grace and good humor, and generously provides a forum for authors and readers, bringing the two sides of our special coin together. She also represents the next generation of romance readers. She carries the torch.

To quote the Machiavellian character, Yabu, from James Clavell’s masterpiece, Shogun, “The pen is a long arm from the grave.” I agree with him, no question about it. The written word reaches out to future generations. One generation imparts its essence to the next, not only in cultural mores and technological advancements, but in its literature, maybe most especially in its literature and art, even in the case of romance writers and romantic poets. Think of the Bronte sisters and Jane Austen, Mary Shelley and George Elliott, Louisa May Alcott and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. A few hundred years after stories like Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice, Frankenstein and Little Women were recorded, we still read and discuss them.

We can go back even further to the tragic story of Tristan and Isolde, The Canterbury Tales, Don Quixote, and the Arthurian romances written by Chretian de Troyes, a French troubadour. These are love stories, hero stories – the authors utilize the exact same themes romance writers use today – a roadblock thrown in the way of a relationship, a challenge that must be overcome in order to achieve the ultimate goal. What is the ultimate goal? What else? For the purposes of romance, the ultimate goal is true love. I’m a big fan of true love.

So keep dreaming, keep reading, keep enjoying our stories!

~*~*~Giveaway~*~*~

Julia offers 3 books for 3 winners:

Beauty and the Feast

My Everything

Captured

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post

Open to everyone who own's a email addy.

Giveaway is open till Sunday May 30th and I will announce the winner on Monday.

Good Luck!

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Interview and Giveaway with Author Sara Brookes

I'm so happy to have Sara Brookes here again. She released a new book, Midnight's Ghost and I fell in love with this wonderful science fiction romance. You can read my review here. Please give her a warm welcome and be sure to check out the giveaway at the end of the post. 


Susi: Hey Sara. Thanks so much for coming over to The Geeky Bookworm again. First of all tell us a bit about yourself?

Sara: Geek. Sums it all up in one word. *G*

Susi: Describe a typical day of writing? Are you a planner or pantser?

Sara: Since I work a full-time job, writing is usually crammed into the few minutes I have when I get to my desk before I actually have to start for the day, my 1/2 hour lunch break and then whatever time I can make at night or on the weekends. Luckily I have a very supportive family that understands when the brain starts chugging along. Needless to say, pizza delivery is on speed dial. Oh, I'm definitely a pantser. A good majority of my writing is done in a spiral notebook, loose leaf paper or even post-its. I travel a lot, so while the laptop is a great writing partner - pen and paper are still my best friends.

Susi: Your new book was released the month and to my luck it is a science fiction romance. You know I love you now? I really have to grab this opportunity to talk science fiction.


What was the first science fiction novel you ever read?

Sara: The first one I remember reading was Splinter in the Mind's Eye by Alan Dean Foster. I imagine most people are scratching their heads, but it was a novel written in case Star Wars bombed (and we know how that turned out...) and gives a different perspective on things. A waaaay different perspective. Leia fights Vader - hello!

Susi: And your first movie?

Sara: Empire Strikes Back (Hrm...are we seeing a Star Wars theme?) when I was 5. To this day, it is my all-time favorite movie. I vividly remember standing in line for tickets to see Return of the Jedi and I was 8 for that. Had the thrill of my, very short to that point, life when I got to meet Darth Vader while waiting.

Susi: First TV series?

Sara: Buck Rogers, believe it or not. I was 4 when it started airing on TV and I remember sitting down with my dad to watch it.

Susi: Comparing your experience in the science fiction genre: is the actual science part more important than the cultural differences between the races?

Sara: I think both are important, but I tend to read sci-fi books with more science than explanations of the differences. I wanted to have a world where everything was just accepted as the way it was without getting too much into lengthy explanations of difference races. There's some of that in Midnight's Ghost, but I try to keep it to a minimum. The different races just exist with each other just as if it's always been that way.

Susi: If you could choose any character out of science fictional world to hang out with, who would it be?

Sara: Rick Deckard (as if the Star Wars stuff didn't date me already...). As you can tell, late 70's/early 80's sci-fi was a huge influence for me. Blade Runner is still, to this day, a fantastic movie. Or maybe it's just Harrison Ford...

Susi: Okay back to your book now: Tell us a bit about Midnight's Ghost?

Sara: Space opera. Those are usually the first words that come to mind when I think about the book overall. It's dramatic, filled with action and adventure. Plenty of romance and sex and a co-pilot that's just too amusing not to laugh aloud at sometimes. It's about two people who were already deeply in love at one point in their life but ended up separated through events. Events that one of them, Wallace, still blames himself for (and probably always will). Tarans's not a pushover, and yes, she's stubborn, but he hurt her and any woman would react the way she does.

Susi: One of the most important things for a science fiction novel in my eyes is the consistence of the created universe. Tell us a bit about your Star Runner world. What makes your world special?

Sara: One of the great things about world building for sci-fi is while you're only limited by your imagination, you still have to operate with basic rules. That's the "science" part of it. I think you start edging into fantasy if you don't and there's nothing wrong with it. There's a touch of it in this world I've built, with Taran's tactile abilities, but for the most part, it's science. From the spaceships flying around to the cybernetic technology that's discussed. Because you need to understand how the world works as a whole, the rules and limitations of the characters, politics enter into the mix - but only just a bit. I don't intend for that to be the sole focus of the series.

Susi:  Tell us a bit more about the political system of your world and how they effect the action of your main characters?

Sara: Well, you have the Federated Electorate, which is basically an alliance of planets all seeking the common good for all. But they have their own rules that some planets don't join - for instance, Earth isn't a part of it. Then there's the IGP, or the Intergalactic Patrol, who started off as the "police" to keep everyone safe. But as everyone knows, absolute power corrupts absolutely. Taran's still holding a grudge with the Federated Electorate because they've done nothing about her father's death. But, as I said, Earth's not part of the alliance, so they don't care. The IGP is just outright tyrannical with the whole 'do as I say not as I do' attitude. No something you want to mess with, but I wouldn't have a book if my characters listened. ;^)

Susi: Your heroine Taran is a real kick ass woman with her own spaceship. Tell us a bit about her?

Sara: Taran's a spit-fire, no doubt about it. She's the only female Star Runner, so she inevitably feels as if she has something to prove. Really, she just wants to be left alone to run cargo, but Wallace, obviously, has other ideas. Add in her differences with being human and being a tactilepath, and she really, really feels she has something to prove.

Susi: I loved Taran's sassy attitude and her witty and straightforward way through the whole book. Was it hard for you to keep the jokes coming while writing?

Sara: With her, no. They came through naturally as I was writing her dialogue and keeping in mind her mindset as I worked through the story. It's probably because there's a lot of tension and the humor helps break that tension a bit.

Susi: I have to admit I have a little crush on your hero Wallace but what makes him so irresistible in your eyes?

Sara: Oh, Wallace. I said once that his is probably the most broken man that I've written. He's got so many layers to dig through and Midnight's Ghost only scratches the surface. It's not about his physical appearance, though that helps for sure, but as the story unfolds and you hear what he's gone through for her - for his love for her - you understand that he truly, truly loves her and would do just about anything for her. As she learns just how far he'll go, well...I'm not going to say because it's a key scene in the book, but *my* heart even broke as I was writing that scene.

Susi: How many books are planned in your Star Runner series?

Sara: Three overall, so two more are planned to be written. That doesn't mean sci-fi will stop for me. Just with these characters. Their story isn't done yet and I've got some questions to still answer that were raised in Midnight's Ghost. How did he get out of Widow's Bay? What really happened to her dad? And how do they deal with the overall fallout at the end of Midnight's Ghost?

Susi: What's up next in your schedule? What should we keep our eyes open for?

Sara: I'm currently in the middle of writing the next book in the Star Runner world, Midnight's Shadow. It's about 1/2 complete at this point. Since I'm usually writing several books at once, I'm also writing the 3rd book in my paranormal series. Blood Fever, the 2nd book in that series, will be out in July/August of this year.

Susi: Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions.

Sara: Thanks for having me again!


About the Author:
Sara has always been fascinated by the strange, the unusual, the twisted and the lost. She enjoys writing about reality with a razor sharp edge and loves where that sometimes takes her during the journey. Sara lives in Virginia with her husband, who long ago accepted the fact she converses with imaginary people. They are the proud parents of an energetic daughter who constantly wonders why Mom doesn’t just have the laptop surgically attached to her hip. The entire family is owned by two cats, Galahad and Loki, who graciously allow them to live in their house.


About the Book:
The timeline is excruciating.

Taran has three days to get her former lover – whom she’s barely speaking to – and the mysterious teenager she knows nothing about from one planet to another. Given the fact her ship, Eidolon, is the fastest in the star runner fleet, Taran knows she can make the run in the time Wallace has allotted. As the best – and only – female pilot, she’s got something to prove.

As if things weren’t complicated enough, Wallace, and the teenager he has in tow, are both escapees from the harshest prison facility in seven galaxies. Not only is Taran putting her career on the line, she’s got the Intergalactic Patrol hot on her heels. It isn’t long before unresolved feelings and tempers flare to life again and Taran is left second-guessing her decision of putting everything she stands for on the line.

Her determination may just cost her everything.

One man who feels no remorse for a crime he committed and one woman pilot determined to fulfill her promise equal one impossible mission.

~*~*~Giveaway~*~*~

Sara was so kind and offers a copy of Midnight's Ghost to one lucky commenter.


All you have to do is ask Sara a question or just comment on the interview.


Open to everyone who own's a email addy.


Giveaway is open till Sunday May 30th and I will announce the winner on Monday.


Good Luck!

Read more...

Guestpost and Giveaway with Author Stephanie Draven

I'm so happy to have a new to me author here at The Geeky Bookworm today. Stephanie Draven is here to talk about how she tries to come up with new ideas. She needs your help so tell her what you think. Please give her a warm welcome!

Hi everybody! My name is Stephanie Draven, and I write paranormal romance for Harlequin's Nocturne line. I'm here today to celebrate the Geeky Book Worm's blogoversary and I thought I'd do it by talking a little bit about the creative process, asking for your help with my latest project, and running a little contest for a free ARC of one of my novellas.

When Harlequin made an offer for MYTHICA, my Greek myth-inspired paranormal romance series, I was ecstatic. Over the moon. I'm pretty sure I still haven't come back down. My first full-length novel, POISONED KISSES releases in October and I think I've announced this to everyone in my neighborhood, including the mailman. It's about a dark nymph of the underworld who goes hunting a modern day hydra, only to find out that he's not the monster she thought he was, and that the one man that can kill her, is also the only man she's ever loved. So, if you've ever wondered what kind of Daddy issues a daughter of Ares might have, my book is for you! Think Percy Jackson, for grown-up girls.

Anyway, in spite of all this mad excitement, after writing four back-to-back romances about modern day gorgons, chimeras, hydras, dryads, and minotaurs, I'm starting to realize that my creative process is a bit like one of those slow cookers. You know the kind--you set the timer, leave for the day and when you come back you've got a rich, delicious stew. In short, I need time for ideas to take shape, so now's the time to start thinking about where I go next.

I have a few ideas. I'll give you these very rough pitches:
- A sexy ghost huntress sets out to battle the 18th century lord of the manor whose been haunting her town she discovers a man who will fight for her heart.

- When an rock-n-roll diva is accused of luring midshipmen to their deaths, she learns the truth about her dark past, and falls in love with the one man who is immune to her siren song.

- An ambitious young witch has trained all her life to take the place of the Spring Sorceress, but when a powerful mage kidnaps her before she can take her vows to Mother Nature, the season of love may never be the same.

- To earn his way into heaven, a fallen angel sets out to tame a stripper and self-professed wild child, but what if she can offer him something better than redemption?


~*~*~Giveaway~*~*~

So what do you think? Got a favorite?
While you're thinking about it, I'd like to offer you the chance to enter a contest to win a free ARC of my novella, MIDNIGHT MEDUSA.

All you have to do to enter is sign up for my newsletter at www.stephaniedraven.com then post that you've done so in a comment on this thread.
If you'd like to follow me on twitter or Facebook, I'll give you an extra chance at winning, and if you Tweet, Facebook, or Blog about this contest, I'll be happy to give you a third shot at the prize!

Giveaway ends Sunday 30th May!

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Start of my blogoversary week, a search and a winner!

Yay!!!! I can't believe it but today is the first day of my first blogoversary week! Woot!
The actual day when The Geeky Bookworm turn one is Friday but I decided to make a week of fun out of it. Today we will start with a guestpost and a giveaway with author Stephanie Draven.

I also made a blogoversary button. Feel free to grab it if you want:

<a href="http://thegeekybookworm.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="The Geeky Bookworm" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5OUxcpubXg-mYCbvMY4LltHiRrpAxwVB6CgFyYb02f0u-DOkziE9X31oLRnhm0kYw57MLliUbSBxaEQstT_lDTwIGyvLsgagoyCEbFxF3X1nwPNDPghMfBwYONDvDSh3iKzgmlU4LLGY/" /></a>
(yeah I know it's big but I can tell you how to make it smaller)

Next: We are searching for a new Book Lover @Book Lovers Inc. 

Every Book Lover needs time for the actual reading and we as Book Lovers Inc think we could use a bit help to achieve that for ourselves more often. ;)
So here it is! The big opportunity to join our group and become a full member of Book Lovers Inc.

What are we searching for?
- someone who loves books as much as we do
- a good reviewer with at least a bit of experience
- a team-member who wants to work with us
- an open mind full of ideas
- a reliable person with a bit of time to spare for us ;)

Sounds like you?
We would love to hear from you. If you are interested please fill out this form and we will get back to you ASAP.

Now to the winner:

The lucky winner of Blood Born by Linda Howard and Linda Jones is....

*runs to random.org and comes back real fast*

~*~*~drumroll~*~*~

SiNn

Congrats! I will write you an Email now!

Hope you all have a wonderful Monday!

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Review: Moon Sworn by Keri Arthur

Description:
Some nights never end.
Some desires never die. . . .
She ventures where no one else dares—into realms of peril and pleasure. But will this next journey be her last?
Shape-shifting werewolf and vampire Riley Jenson is through with death–causing it, solving it, surviving it. Her soul mate, Kye Murphy, is dead–and at Riley’s own hands. Not even the seductive embrace of her vampire lover, Quinn, can fully ease her mind, for she has begun questioning everything that makes her Riley–including her job at the Directorate.
Now, the ritualistically slain bodies of ex-cons have started turning up. Reluctantly, Riley takes the case, but something even worse is waiting in the wings. For a vicious enemy from her past is determined to strip Riley of everything that gives her life any meaning: her lover, her brother–and even her own identity. Can Riley survive this ultimate assault? All she knows is, she must fight one last time to find answers, before everything goes dark forever…


Review:
I received this book as a review copy from the publisher and I was so happy I got the chance. I adored the last book and OMG this one was so much better. I just couldn't stop reading. I really wanted a HEA for Riley and Quinn and after the last book I was unsure if that would be so easy.

Riley still suffers from the events of the last book. She hurts, she knows how lucky she should be to have her brother , Liander and Quinn but she just can't stop feeling the pain deep inside her. She lost so much and she still hates to be a Guardian. She not only lost her soul mate, she also lost her dreams of having a normal werewolf life. She tries to be strong but being unhappy with your life doesn't make that task easier. Riley really grew through the whole series and I have to admit that I like her more now than in the first 2 books even if she is  a bit broken inside. She is still a strong woman who says what she thinks and does what she wants. I know I am a prude but I especially liked that she didn't fuck around in this book. I never really like that.

I loved Quinn as always. He is ones of the best heroes ever and at some points I would have loved just to put my head on his shoulder like Riley and feel the safety of his presence. He is the rock that keeps Riley steady and he loves her the way she is, without reservations. He is caring and is worried- but not in such an overbearing way that alpha-males usually love. He respects her space and knows where he has to give her space and where not. And he is hot like hell so who could resist? Not me.

The plot in this book was okay. I was a bit annoyed with the whole memory losing at the beginning but it worked after a few pages. I liked how all the little glimpses came back to her and she could finally put the whole puzzle back together. I loved who the story unfolded itself, how Riley made her own decisions even if they weren't in sync with the Directorate.I know it's bad to want revenge but I really really liked the end- it was so what I wanted.

I squeed, I laughed and nearly cried in this book. It was a ride full of emotions and I think it would have even been better if I would have read all the previous books in this series. The story flows through the whole book. Ms. Arthur writes in a way that draws you in after the first few sentences. I caught myself peaking in the book even if I just had enough time to read a page or two. I just couldn't resist the temptation. One thing I know for sure: I have to get the previous books I'm still missing in this series and figure all the small things out.
 This book is highly recommended not only for Riley Jenson fans. I know it will probably not be that good without the back-story but it was such a good romance. I loved it to pieces.





To learn more about Keri Arthur and her books please visit her website here.


The Riley Jenson Guardian Series:

1. Full Moon Rising: reviews @goodreads, buy @amazon 

2. Kissing Sin: reviews @goodreads, buy @amazon 
3. Tempting Evil: reviews @goodreads, buy @amazon

4. Dangerous Games: reviews @goodreads, buy @amazon
5. Embraced By Darkness: reviews @goodreads, buy @amazon 

6. The Darkest Kiss: reviews @goodreads, buy @amazon 
7. Deadly Desire: reviews @goodreads, buy @amazon 
8. Bound to Shadows: my review, reviews @goodreads, buy @amazon 

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Review: Midnight's Ghost by Sara Brookes

Description:
The timeline is excruciating.

Taran has three days to get her former lover – whom she’s barely speaking to – and the mysterious teenager she knows nothing about from one planet to another. Given the fact her ship, Eidolon, is the fastest in the star runner fleet, Taran knows she can make the run in the time Wallace has allotted. As the best – and only – female pilot, she’s got something to prove.

As if things weren’t complicated enough, Wallace, and the teenager he has in tow, are both escapees from the harshest prison facility in seven galaxies. Not only is Taran putting her career on the line, she’s got the Intergalactic Patrol hot on her heels. It isn’t long before unresolved feelings and tempers flare to life again and Taran is left second-guessing her decision of putting everything she stands for on the line.

Her determination may just cost her everything.

One man who feels no remorse for a crime he committed and one woman pilot determined to fulfill her promise equal one impossible mission.

Review:
I knew the moment Sara told me about this book that I need to read it. You may have noticed that I have a  little obsession with science fiction so it's not surprising that I jumped up and down like a crazy teenage girl when Sara offered me a copy for review. First I have to say, I really like the cover. It resembles Taran and Wallace so good and I really like the colors and the layout. Me and my cover infatuation again.

But back to the important part of the book: the actual novel inside. I grabbed this book yesterday evening and am writing the review now only 18 hours later(and I slept a few of those hours). I practically inhaled this book from the first to the last word.

Midnight's Ghost starts with a big bang. Let me quote the first few lines for you:

Whoever said karma was a bitch wasn’t kidding. I wondered what cosmic entity I had pissed off this time in order to earn this particular boot in the stomach. I mean that literally, by the way.

That was enough to get me hooked. Taran, our heroine is a real kick ass woman. She is a Star Runner which means she transports persons or cargo through the universe with her OWN spaceship. How cool is that? One of my never forgotten childhood dreams.  As you can see in the first few lines the world she lives in has no problem with beating the shit out of a girl but she knows how to defend herself. She is strong, not only with her hands but also with her mind. She is witty, says what she thinks and is never too shy to giver her 2 cents. She is her own boss with her own ship(I can't say that often enough) and business, because she has this little problem with taking orders. *wink* This girl is exactly the way I like them. Okay I admit throughout the story I wanted to slap her from time to time for being way to stubborn but I know I can be that way too from time to time so I won't throw any stones.

Taran meets her ex in all the mess of this little, let us call it "discussion with hand and feet" and I'm not sure what's worse for her the fight or Wallace presence. He broke her heart in the past, even if I think that this is something she just sees that way because of her stubbornness but women are women after all. He still is what she wants, she would never admit it but he is what her heart and her body craves. I have to say I agree with her body very much.

So let me talk about Wallace a bit. He is an Ilium an alien race as near to a human as you can get. He's bossy, funny,  a total smartass and sometimes a bit full of himself or better said that is what the reader thinks at the start. He needs Taran's help. He has to reach the planet Delphine Five in 3 days which is near impossible for most ordinary star runners. But he knows that Taran can make it and he has no other person to turn to. It is a really important mission and he needs to be sure that it will be done- no matter what. So even if he knows that she just hates his guts he has to ask and take all the insults and curses she throws at him.

The relationship between these two was scorching from the start. Taran tries to keep her distance but she sees soon that her resistance is futile (LOL..sorry I  couldn't resist). There was this one scene on the ship where nothing really happened besides Wallace telling Taran what he wants to do *huge wink* and OMG I really had to fan myself.  I love the build up between them and I liked that we only discovered bit by bit of their past through the story. They captured my attention and didn't let go.

The plot In Midnight's Ghost was wonderfully woven into the romance and I liked that .it took the centre stage at the end. I enjoyed the action and who doesn't like spaceship fights? The political intrigue behind the action was fascinating and well thought through. I can't wait to read what happens in the next book.

All in all Midnight's Ghost is an action packed erotic romance and in my opinion even not as geeky readers as me will appreciate the science fiction part. Highly recommended.

To learn more about Sara an her books please visit her website here.

Read other reviews @Goodreads, buy the book @LiquidSilverBooks

And be sure to come back next Tuesday. Sara will be here for an interview and a giveaway for Midnight's Ghost  on next Tuesday(that the May 25th also know as the Magic Bleeds day).

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