In My Mailbox (correct link)

Mailbox Monday is now on a blog tour.

This month's host is Julie at Knitting and Sundries, a new blog to me and her quote is 'Never judge a book by its movie" - ain't that true! Visit every week this month to see links to the latest and greatest books arriving in mailboxes! Be aware, though, visiting can lead to book envy and toppling TBR piles!
Julie will also be offering a different giveaway every week throughout November to encourage participation!

I don't participate in this meme often but I found Julie's blog today and enjoyed looking through so wanted to support.

I just came back from vacation and this was in my mailbox, such a surprise, I completely forgot about agreeing to review Beneath the silver lining by Amanda Wolfe, it sounds good don't it?  My review will be up end of November.

Summary from Amazon -

Amanda hopes to take you with her into her dark past. One which she tried desperately to bury, she buried all of her terrible little family secrets of lies, abuse, sexual abuse and mistrust inside the imaginary black box inside her. It kept her sane and able to live life without the fear, dread and angst of it all. Well, almost, guilt ridden for years and full of a deep sadness she didn’t understand, trusting no-one with her feelings until now. She eventually had to face her past so she could find her future. This book will make you laugh, cry and be angry. Come with her on a journey that is twisted, frightening and strangely erotic. It will keep you reading and wanting more...


I also downloaded Glimpse, a Verse Novel, my review is here and my all time favourite movie, Silence of the Lambs, I wanted to be finished reading it today but that is not going to happen.

Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

OMG - no comments, where are my posts????

Please HELP!!!!

My email is marceblogspot(at)hotmail(dot)com

Yesterday I tried to upload a different comment widget but it didn't seem to work so I deleted it and now I can't see my comments, don't think it even offers and my posts before the last one.

I am freaking out here.

Honestly any help would be helpful.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE...........

Review - Glimpse (Verse Novel) by Carol Lynch Williams

Book Summary from Amazon

Lizzie and Hope learned long ago that they had to watch out for one another. Their neglectful mother, who turns tricks for a living, has left the girls to fend for themselves for nearly as long as they can remember. Yet when Hope walks in on Lizzie and finds her holding a gun, everything changes. After Lizzie is sent to a psych ward, her sister is left to wonder when and why things got so bad. Though Lizzie's terrible secret will be quickly evident to readers, Hope's painful, yet poignant, self-realizations unfold more slowly.

My Review - 3 1/2 More Sugar Please

Novel verses have became one of my simple pleasures.  I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to those that are YA fans.

Lisa Schroeder by far is the most amazing Verse Novel Author in my mind, her writing and style gripped you and didn't let go, so for me all Verse Novels have to compete with her and none have so far.  So if you want to try you have to pick up one of hers.

This was a good story.  A mom that needs mental help but doesn't realise she does.  It is a very sad story to see unfold.  The younger sister is so sweet but naive, as she should be though.  The love between these sisters is an emotional sisterly love, I enjoyed that.  The story doesn't go into details but you are still disgusted.

YA is just never enough for me so it is hard to review.  Here are a few snippets....

On Kindle at 24%

When things get touch...
When things get touch...
When life is rough...
When life is rough...
The Chapman girls...
The Chapman girls...
Will take only enough...
Will take only enough.

On Kindle at 87%

and any of those things -
the watcher,
the snake,
or the killer alligator -
would have been better
than what I found out
today.


Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

Blog Hop - Inspiration for my Library/Art Gallery

Welcome to Tea Time with Marce, hope you enjoy my post.

It is Book Blogger Hop Time.  Thank you Jennifer for Hosting such a fun networking meme.  I am joining this week because I am off and will have time to really connect with blogging friends and find new bloggers.

This week's question is "What is the one bookish thing you would love to have, no matter the cost?"

I would love to have my own Library/Art Gallery

I can picture it, modern and high tech.  I will have Book Cover Posters of my favourites, a large screen with my blog and another large screen with Book Cover and summary before entering specific genres, I would focus my Library/Gallery with Thrillers, Mystery, Horror, Suspense, Adult Fiction and at times Honorable Mentions with Memoirs and YA.

It would be overlooking the ocean with floor to ceiling windows with BuddaBar music in the background.

Here are some inspiration pictures......... 'ahhhhh to dream'  :-)

(Picture from blogging friend Jackie at Lovely Little Shelf)

I love the ceiling and lettering around the bookshelf edging.

Inspiration - Windows, TV Screen

Inspiration - look at those windows, imagine your favourite book cover where the art work is.....

Inspiration - Gallery look

And of course Book Art will be featured.

Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

Review - These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf, Release Feb 2011

Book Summary from Amazon - Releasing February 1, 2010
Allison Glenn tried to hide what happened that night...and failed. The consequence? Five years in prison. Now she's free. But secrets have a way of keeping you caged...When Allison is sent to prison for a heinous crime, she leaves behind her reputation as Linden Falls' golden girl forever. Her parents deny the existence of their once-perfect child. Her former friends exult in her downfall. Her sister, Brynn, faces the whispered rumours every day in the hallways of their small Iowa high school. It's Brynn - shy, quiet Brynn - who carries the burden of what really happened that night. All she wants is to forget Allison and the past that haunts her. But then Allison is released, and is more determined than ever to speak with her sister. Now their legacy of secrets is focused on one little boy. And if the truth is revealed, the consequences will be unimaginable for the adoptive mother who loves him, the girl who tried to protect him and the two sisters who hold the key to all that is hidden.

My Review - 3 1/2 stars More Sugar Please

I enjoy the style that Heather G has used again and hope she sticks to it, writing her story through multiple characters.  Even though I love this style I do not think this one was as strong as her debut book, at times I felt the distinction in voice wasn't there and I enjoyed the Librarian character but at times was confused by her age, is she young is she old, but I found a few characters to have that 'old soul' personality.

For me this read like a YA book, which is not my favourite, it could have had more emotional depth but half way the author drops a shocking jaw dropping punch and you just have to read until the end.  The rhythm of the book was great from then.

This teaser sentence is the essence of the book - A new start, a new beginning.  A new life.  These Things Hidden is the perfect title, there are many secrets hidden that you can't wait to find out.  Sometimes hidden you didn't know they existed. The consequences of the hidden secrets, depending on the eye of the beholder were all very different.

My favourite character was Charm, just the name alone was touching and meaningful.

The Weight of Silence was HeatherG's debut and I gave it 5 stars, it was a favourite of mine last year.

Here is another review. from Zia's blog, I got really excited after reading her great review and couldn't wait to read Heather's new release, thank you to her Publisher for allowing me to receive it through NetGalley.


Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

Friday Finds, Crime Fiction/Psychological Thrillers by Leigh Russell

Friday Finds with MizB - to participate, network and get some ideas to add to your TBR list go here http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/





I read this summary and review and immediately knew I had to read it.  Clarrisa over at Listen to the Voices has a great review and interview of Leigh Russell, go over and visit.

Book Summary from Amazon - Cut Short, Book 1

D.S. Geraldine Steel expects the quiet town of Woolsmarsh to be dull. She quickly discovers she is wrong. The park is a place where children play, friends sit and gossip, people walk their dogs, or take a short cut to avoid the streets. But in the shadows a predator prowls, hunting for victims. A woman sees the killer and comes forward as a witness-someone whom the killer must stop at all costs. For D.S. Geraldine Steel, it is a race against time to find the killer before he strikes again, as public pressure mounts with the growing death toll.

Book Summary form Amazon - Road Closed,  Book 2

When a man dies in a gas explosion, the police suspect arson. The Murder Investigation Team are called in to investigate, but the case takes on a new and terrible twist when a local villain is viciously attacked. As the police enquiries lead from the expensive Harchester Hill estate to the local brothel, a witness dies in a hit-and-run. Was it coincidence—or cold-blooded murder? The Murder Investigation Team has problems of its own—and so does Geraldine Steel. A shocking revelation threatens her peace of mind as the investigation races towards its dramatic climax.

Great covers, intriguing summaries, definitely can't wait to read these ones.



Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

Review/Horror - Relic by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Book Summary on Kindle

Just days before a massive exhibition opens at the popular New York Museum of Natural History, visitors are being savagely murdered in the museum's dark hallways and secret rooms.  Autopsies indicate the the killer cannot be human...

But the museum's directors plan to go ahead with a big bash to celebrate the new exhibition, in spite of the murders.

Museum researcher Margo Green must find out who-or-what is doing the killing.  But can she do it in time to stop the massacre?

My Review - 4 1/2 Great to the Last Drop

I love horror movies and this is one of my favourites, I watched it when it came out in 1997.  I highly recommend this horror movie and now I can recommend the book.  I'm going to rent and watch it again for Halloween night.

Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child did a great job of keeping you wondering what is next, you wanted to know what or who is killing in the museum.  Everyone is thinking what the hell is going on.  I don't enjoy pages of description so it was perfect how the authors gave me a visual chill with direct gruesome description and action.

There is a ton of scientific language and conversation but I feel like it was needed, maybe only a touch to much.  The science part added to the mystery of the story and the dynamic versatile personalities of all the museum staff.  There was a great amount of characters that was developed well and they were all a part of the puzzle.  The before, during, after and epilogue.  And the police detectives were my favourites, especially Detecitve D'Agosta.  There was an overall feel of i'm better than you, right from the Executives of the Museum, Scientists and Police Detectives.

This book was executed very well, a little long for my preference but great stuff.  It wasn't scary to me, I love and look forward to the 'scary' parts but I can tell you that the characters were scared out of their minds.

Teaser Quote - As he was about to squeeze behind the large crates, Ven stopped abruptly. There was a strange odor here: something earthy, goatish, decaying.


Can you imagine being so frightened from a smell, sends shivers down my spine, greatness this was.

A favourite Teaser Quote - "I am concerned with emphasis, not accuracy.  Something can be entirely accurate but have the wrong emphasis, and thus give the wrong impression.

My Title Opinion - The title is perfect once you understand the meaning:  Relic, an object surviving from an earlier time, esp. one of historical or sentimental interest.  or a part of a deceased holy person's body or belongings kept as an object of reverence. - from Kindle's built in dictionary.

Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

Your thoughts on Dracula by Bram Stoker and Inspired Works

So for the RIP Challenge I have chosen Relic and Dracula, my Relic review will be up tomorrow.  I love watching horror movies but haven't read any, most of the recommendations I have received I consider to be scary because they mess with your head, which are Great and I Love but not horror in my mind, so I have chose the classic horror Dracula.

What are your thoughts, did you love it, when did you read it, have you read inspired works, etc?

Also, this month I have noticed so many Books inspired from Dracula, have you read them, will you, what do you think?

Here are the Inspired Works I found on the blogosphere that I may read if I enjoy Dracula.

Dracula in Love by Karen Essex

From Karen Essex's site

London, 1890. Mina Murray, the rosy-cheeked, quintessentially pure Victorian heroine, becomes Count Dracula’s object of desire. To preserve her chastity, five male “defenders” rush in to rescue her from the vampire’s evil clutches. This is the version of the story we've been told. But now, from Mina’s own pen, we discover that the story is vastly different when told from the female point of view.

In this captivating, bold act of storytelling, award-winning author Karen Essex breathes startling new life into the characters of Bram Stoker's Dracula, transporting the reader into the erotic and bizarre underbelly of the original story. While loosely following the events of its classic predecessor, Dracula in Love deviates from the path at every turn.

The Stoker Sisters, daughters of dracula by Kailin Gow

From Amazon

Two sisters... Born during the time of Jane Austen... Set to marry for advancement, but escaped their fates by becoming vampires. Now vampires in the 21st century, hunted by a sect of rogue hunters and governed by an ancient Romanian and Bulgarian vampire myth, the sisters live in a small beach town of California where they meet Keegan Knowles, a mysterious boy. For hundreds of years they've shared clothes, books, and their home, but will they share the same boy or is it there going to be war?



Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

Waiting on Wednesday - Wow, more from Heather Gudenkauf

Book Summary from Amazon - Releasing February 1, 2010

Allison Glenn tried to hide what happened that night...and failed. The consequence? Five years in prison. Now she's free. But secrets have a way of keeping you caged...When Allison is sent to prison for a heinous crime, she leaves behind her reputation as Linden Falls' golden girl forever. Her parents deny the existence of their once-perfect child. Her former friends exult in her downfall. Her sister, Brynn, faces the whispered rumours every day in the hallways of their small Iowa high school. It's Brynn - shy, quiet Brynn - who carries the burden of what really happened that night. All she wants is to forget Allison and the past that haunts her. But then Allison is released, and is more determined than ever to speak with her sister. Now their legacy of secrets is focused on one little boy. And if the truth is revealed, the consequences will be unimaginable for the adoptive mother who loves him, the girl who tried to protect him and the two sisters who hold the key to all that is hidden.

I saw this over on Zia's blog, she had a great review. I am really excited to read her new release.

The Weight of Silence was HeatherG's debut and I gave it 5 stars, it was a favourite of mine last year.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event spotlighting upcoming releases we are highly anticipating. It is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.


What are you waiting on?   I look forward to coming over to your blog to see what your WOW is. 

Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

Teaser Tuesday - Horror: Relic by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!






Just do the following and go here to participate: Teaser Tuesday

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!
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Relic by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
 
Teaser on Kindle at 3%
 
As he was about to squeeze behind the large crates, Ven stopped abruptly.  There was a strange odor here:  something earthy, goatish, decaying.
 
I watched this movie years ago, over 10 years ago and I loved it, it had me on the edge of my seat, this book so far is just as good, can't wait to share my review with all of you, probably this weekend as its almost 500 pages.
 
Book Summary
 
A series of bizarre and brutal murders is taking place in the halls of the New York Museum of Natural History, only days before a massive exhibition is set to open. Margo Green knows that the killer is something not human, something that's not even supposed to exist. Where did it come from, how did it get into the museum, and how can it be stopped?
 
Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

2010 Reviews by Marce, with Genre and Rating

5 - Tea Time Perfection

The Manufactured Identity by Heath Sommer - read in February
Psychological Suspense

Tell-Tale by Sam Hayes - read in May
Mystery

I heart you, You haunt me by Lisa Schroeder on Kindle - read in February
YA Verse Novel

A Note from an Old Acquaintance by Bill Walker - read in July
Romance

Out of my Mind by Sharon Draper on Kindle - read in May
YA

4 1/2 - Great to the last Drop

Relic by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child - read in Oct
Horror
Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris on Kindle - read in Nov
Horror

After You by Julie Buxbaum on Kindle - read in Sept
Adult Fiction

Buying Time by Pamela Samuels Young - read in July
Thriller

13th Hour by Richard Doetsch  - read in May
Thriller in reverse

Prophecy Sisters by Michelle Zink - read in April
YA Paranormal Suspense

Far From You by Lisa Schroeder on Kindle - read in March
YA Verse Novel

Ace of Hearts by Jean Holloway - read in March
Erotic Thriller

Fade by Lisa McMann on Kindle - read in March
YA Mystery

The Last Bridge by Teri Coyne on Kindle - read in March
Adult Fiction, Thriller

The Quickie by James Patterson - read in February
Thriller

Wake by Lisa McMann on Kindle - read in February
YA Mystery

The Wednesday Letters by Jason Wright on Kindle - read in January
Adult Fiction

Lightning by Dean Koontz on Kindle - read in January
Paranormal Thriller

4 - Great to the last Drop

Beneath the Silver Lining by Amanda Wolfe - read in Nov

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley - read in Dec
Mystery

Black Jack (Deck of Cardz) by Jean Galloway - read in Oct
Thriller
The Godmother by Carrie Adams on Kindle - read in Sept
Adult Fiction

Beautiful Lies by Lisa Unger on Kindle - read in Sept
Thriller

The Shadow of Your Smile by Mary Higgins Clark - read in Sept
Suspense

The Remains by Vincent Zandri - read in Aug
Thriller

Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink - read in Aug
YA Paranormal Suspense

Crank by Ellen Hopkins on Kindle - read in Aug
YA Verse Novel

The Sculptor by Gregory Funaro on Kindle - read in Aug
Thriller

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee - read in July
Classic

Dead Game by Jennifer Chase on Kindle - read in May
Thriller

Motherhood is Murder by Diana Orgain on Kindle - read in April
Mystery

Letter to my Daughter by George Bishop on Kindle - read in April
Adult Fiction

Lessons from a Dead Girl by Jo Knowles - read in January
YA

3 1/2 More Sugar Please

The Grand Delusion by Heath Sommer - read in Nov
Thriller

Glimpse by Carol Lynch Williams on Kindle - read in Oct
YA Verse Novel

Still Missing by Chevy Stevens on Kindle - read in Sept
Thriller

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins on Kindle - read in Aug
YA Dystopian

Angel Star by Jennifer Murgia on Kindle - read in July
YA Paranormal

Horns by Joe Hill on Kindle - read in July
Horror

The Murderer's Daughters by Randy Susan Meyers on Kindle - read in June
Mystery

Halo Effect by M J Rose on Kindle - read in June
Erotic Thriller, no review

Gone by Lisa McMann on Kindle - read in June
YA Mystery

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk on Kindle - read in March
Horror

Push by Sapphire on Kindle - read in March
Adult Fiction

Heartsick by Chelsea Cain on Kindle - read in Feb
Thriller

Happiness Sold Separately by Lolly Winston - read in Jan
Adult Fiction

Such a Pretty Girl by Laura Wiess on Kindle - read in Jan
Adult Fiction


3 More Sugar Please

Cut Short by Leigh Russell - read in Dec
Crime Thriller
The Perfect Love Song by Patti Callahan Henry - read in Nov
Holiday Adult Fiction

Sexaholics by Pynk on Kindle - read in June
Erotica

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane - read in April
Psychological Suspense

Th1rteen R3asons Why by Jay Asher on Kindle - read in March
YA

The Prisoner's Wife by Asha Bandele read in March
Memoir

Uglies by Scott Westerfield - read in Jan
YA Dystopian


2 1/2 Not My Cup of Tea


My Formerly Hot Life by Stephanie Dolgoff on Kindle - read in Aug
Memoir

Review - Black Jack (Deck of Cardz) by Jean Holloway

Summary

Lead Homicide Detective Shevaughn Robinson has gone from the cop everyone, including herself, doubted to the "golden child" of the Portsborough Police Department with a record of sensational arrests and closed cases. But when Helene Elliott is found dead from an apparent suicide, her family insists it was murder and pressures the Portsborough Police Department to take on the investigation. Detective Robinson is assigned to the case at a time when she is struggling to strike a balance between her personal and professional life following the death of Tony O'Brien, the love of her life. Elliott's case awakens a complicated relationship with Terri Becker who harbors resentment towards Shevaughn for the death of Eric Becker, the serial killer dubbed Ace of Hearts.


My Review - 4 Great to the last Drop

This was a solid read, I enjoyed the continuation of Detective Robinson's story and the thriller Jean Holloway gives us.  Some don't enjoy romance in their thrillers but Jean Holloway does it well, adding an adult relationship adds to the story.  I continue to find it interesting in real life and in books how one serial killer motivates and inspires another or how one will try to out do the other.   The common theme, they are all sick psychos.

In Black Jack like Ace of Hearts, we know who the serial killer is but I enjoyed following the investigation and the abrupt moment they find him. Very well done, adds the dynamic of surprise with you wanting more.

From Ace of Hearts you knew the following story would involve the dynamics between Detective Robinson and Terri but I wouldn't have thought like this.  The crime, investigation, use of physic powers, family dynamics, innocence and naivety was brilliantly twisted in this thriller.

I still can't put my finger on if I enjoyed the paranormal side of the story or if it is because the character was a nutcase, omg, kind of creepy silly, you have to read it to understand.

Here is my review of the 1st book in this thriller series, Ace of Hearts  I highly recommend this series, you must read it in order. I enjoyed Ace of Hearts more, will change my rating to 4 1/2, I realised this before reading Black Jack.

Summary for Ace of Hearts

Something sinister is going on... And Love has nothing to do with it. First he seduces them... Then he kills them... What he does next is unspeakable. Detective Shevaughn Robinson gets her first big case, investigating a series of gruesome murders unaware the killer is not only becoming obsessed with death, but also with her.


Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce
 

What are you Reading, Monday - after Reading Slump

It's Monday, What are You Reading.  Sheila over at One Persons Journey has an incentive for networking so go over and have fun while adding to your Wishlist.

I had a really hard time last week friends, I just couldn't get past the 1st page or chapter, I tried 4 different books and finally tonight, one gripped me from the 1st page and I can't wait for the thrill.  Reading slumps are so depressing.


I'm currently reading....

Black Jack (Deck of Cardz) by Jean Holloway.  I read her debut Ace of Hearts earlier this year, a favourite of the year so far actually so decided to continue the series.
Last week.....

I started a Vent/Discussion about Still Missing by Chevy Stevens.  Please only read if you have read it, the discussion is full of spoilers.

I finished The Godmother by Carrie Adams, I gave it 4 stars.

I have no idea what will be next after how hard it was to get into a book this week.


Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce, have a wonderful week.

Happy Birthday Weekend to Me

Happy Birthday to Me, Happy Birthday to Me, Happy Birthday dear Meeeeeee, Happy Birthday to Me :-)

Have a cup cake, some tea, coffee, wine, chocolate martini or my favourite a Bellini - peach snapps and champagne, yummmy

I go 35 on Sunday friends and will be staying in a hotel for the weekend, so I won't be on until Monday or so.  Going to the spa, dinner and brunch with friends, that is the weekend plans.  I love birthdays, definitely a time I celebrate myself and take the time to be thankful for life.

As of today I am making this an Awards Free Blog.  I truly appreciate it but it takes so long to pass them on, I would prefer not to have to use more than an hour on passing them on but that time to network and comment on your blogs.  Please do not take this as me not being appreciative, I am but realised when I don't have the time, I do not pass them on and that is not great protocol that friendships thrive on. 

My way of saying thank you to my blogging friends and followers that comment is by commenting and being a part of your blogging life. So this will be my last time officially passing them on. There are 2 awards I would like to pass on and they are to all of the following blogging friends, commenters who have been loyal for a long time, you can receive both or which ever one you haven't before and also a thank you without passing them on is fine because the fact that you come to Tea Time with Marce and comment is more than a simple pleasure I love :-)

I am working hard on trying to organising my blog for all of my blogging friends and favourite blogs in order to make my networking easier.

Received this one from Freda, thank you

Received this from CMash and JulieP

The rules for this award are simple really, just answer this one question and then pass it on to six bloggers of your choosing.

If you had the chance to go back and change one thing in your life, would you and what would it be?

It would be the major break up with my partner, father of our daughter.  We are currently happily together but broke up for a year and it was the hardest heartbreaking year ever, more than my divorce and friends and family were involved at a level that we will never be able to mend.  We have moved on and are happy but friends and family were hurt and the trust level and genuine love will never be the same. Sometimes you just have to fight for what you believe in and love.




Christa from Mental Foodie

Kathy at Bermudaonion's Weblog

Michelle from Red headed book child

Juju from Tales of Whimsy

Jennifer at Crazy-for-books

Cheryl from CMash loves to read

Julie from Reading without restraint

Steph The Bookworm

Cat from Tell Me a Story

Freda from Freda's Voice

Darlyn from darlyn & books

Christina from Reading Extensively

Paula from Tome's Devotee

Aths from Reading on a Rainy Day

Missy from Missy's Book Nook

Emidy at Une Parole

Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce - HUGS, have a great weekend.