Word & Question: befallen

I am thrilled yet again to present another W&Q poetry piece received from antiaphrodite which is in keeping with my August Thrills-n-Chills month.

btw: today is the last day for submissions for the W&Q #15 edition.

~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
by antiaphrodite
~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
As I continue along my way
Through this darkened fever dreamscape
Of cursed spaces bound in spells
-- Each one falls gently, without pause
The quiet steps that I take

For I know the path that I need to walk

With me I carry nothing
And both my hands are empty
While all my fingers twitch
-- Having been pricked, cut and scathed
More than I can now bear to recall

Empty but for the memory of thorns

I know what I have come to meet
And I--frail, hideous and small
I tremble as I draw even closer
To where it is that I must go

For what I crave is bound with what I fear
What I desire follows what I dread

And now, among those that have come to watch
The final act of this delirious dream-play
A ravenous hunger has befallen them
-- Having been promised by the idol
An appropriated taste of my blood

If all should stay until the end

Still, perhaps, in some fading dream
My hands will hold roses soon

~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
by antiaphrodite
~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~

Word & Question #15
Prompts for Marian
Word: befallen
Question: What do you both crave and fear?

~*~
* image source from slatch design

* Playing Poetry game created by Shredded Cheddar. Join in the first Wednesday of the month! details here

~!~ August Thrills-n-Chills schedule ~!~

Lucky Charm by Marie Astor

Lucky Charm
by Marie Astor

Visit Marie:
Book Excerpt
Website
Facebook
Goodreads

Published: 2011
Genre: France, Romance
ebook
Rating: 4

Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Smashwords

My two-bits:
In-a-word(s): heart-shaped pendant
The first half of the story takes place with the sights-n-sounds of New York. The second half takes in the sights-n-sounds of Paris which is the draw for me in this story.

This was a nice chick-lit romance that presents aspects of betrayal, break-ups and finally love.

PeekAbook:



--~ eBook Giveaway courtesy of author ~--
signup to win this ebook

~*~
* review copy courtesy of author

* part of Books&Brioche event

* part of Lucky Charm blog tour - check out the other stops for more details on this book and goodies

special offer from Marie here on September 19

Word & Question: belfry

I am thrilled to present another W&Q poetry piece received from MAD of Mary Ann DeBorde Writes (and Reads!) which is in keeping with my August Thrill-n-Chills month.

btw: today is the last day for submissions in the W&Q #15 edition.

~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
by Mary Ann DeBorde Writes (and Reads!)
~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
Ten Little Zombies

Ten little zombies in a hurry to dine,
One was too plump and then there were nine.

Nine little zombies pounding at the gate,
One got shot-blasted and then there were eight.

Eight little zombies, the one named Kevin
Fell under a semi and then there were seven.

Seven little zombies flirted with some chicks,
One was a bad-ass and then there were six.

Six little zombies strugglin' to survive,
One ate his ownself and then there were five.

Five little zombies stranded on the shore,
In came a big wave and then there were four.

Four little zombies climbed the tall Bellfry,
One was scared of heights and then there were three.

Three little zombies crawled down the flue,
One turned sideways and then there were two.

Two little zombies now on the run,
Followed by steamroller, thus there's only one.

One little zombie moaning just for fun,
Looked in a mirror and then there were none.

~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
by Mary Ann DeBorde Writes (and Reads!)
~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~

~*~

Word & Question #15
Prompts for Mary Ann DeBorde Writes (and Reads!)
Word: belfry
Question: What was that sound?

~*~
* image source

* Playing Poetry game created by Shredded Cheddar. Join in the first Wednesday of the month! details here

~!~ August Thrills-n-Chills schedule ~!~

Giveaway: Hades by Alexandra Adornetto

Hades
by Alexandra Adornetto
Release date: August 30, 2011
Heaven Help Her.

Bethany Church is an angel sent to Earth to keep dark forces at bay. Falling in love was never part of her mission, but the bond between Beth and her mortal boyfriend, Xavier Woods, is undeniably strong.

But even Xavier’s love, and the care of her archangel siblings, Gabriel and Ivy, can’t keep Beth from being tricked into a motorcycle ride that ends up in Hell. There, the demon Jake Thorn bargains for Beth’s release back to Earth. But what he asks of her will destroy her, and quite possibly, her loved ones, as well.

The story that Alexandra Adornetto built in her New York Times-bestselling debut, Halo, comes alive in action-packed and unexpected ways, as angels battle demons, and the power of love is put to the test.

PeekAbook:



Visit Alexandra:
Book tour this Fall
Facebook
Goodreads
Website
Booksite
Twitter

--~ Book Giveaway courtesy of publisher ~--
Win a copy of this book!

Open to US and CANADA only.

Offer ends: September 10, 2011

TO DO:
Watch the video.

Send me a link to a picture of a creature Bethany might see in HELL.

AND, leave your email (if I don't already have it)

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

Contest has ended - winner is here

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

Participant entries:

BrittanyGale says...


Donna says...


Jessica says...


Julie says...


Kimyunalesca says...


Kristina says...


Krystal says...


Krysykat says...


Lieder says...


Michelle says...


Ruby says...


Vivien says...


~*~
* image sources for participant entries are in comments

~!~ August Thrills-n-Chills schedule ~!~

Bedbugs by Ben H. Winters

Bedbugs
by Ben H. Winters

Visit Ben:
Website
Blog
Facebook
Goodreads
Twitter

Release date: September 6, 2011
Publisher: Quirk Books
Genre: Horror
Paperback: 256 pages
Rating: 4

Amazon | Barnes&Noble

FOR RENT: Top two floors of beautifully renovated brownstone, 1300 sq. ft., 2BR 2BA, eat-in kitchen, one block to parks and playgrounds. No broker’s fee.

Susan and Alex Wendt have found their dream apartment.

Sure, the landlady is a little eccentric. And the elderly handyman drops some cryptic remarks about the basement. But the rent is so low, it’s too good to pass up.

Big mistake.

Susan soon discovers that her new home is crawling with bedbugs . . . or is it?

She awakens every morning with fresh bites, but neither Alex nor their daughter Emma has a single welt. An exterminator searches the property and turns up nothing. The landlady insists her building is clean.

Susan fears she’s going mad—until a more sinister explanation presents itself: she may literally be confronting the bedbug problem from Hell.

Amusing quote:
We give it a few days. If we so much as hear a bug farting in the night, we are out of here.
- page 148, chapter 17

My two-bits:
In-a-word(s): badbugs
I found this to be a slow creeping kind of horror. The kind of horror that gently envelopes you to the point where it's too late to turn back and you just have to push forward. And then you're glad you did.

--~ Book Giveaway courtesy of publisher ~--
signup to win this book

~*~
* review copy courtesy of publisher

~!~ August Thrills-n-Chills schedule ~!~

Happy Release: A Thousand Glass Flowers by Prue Batten

A Thousand Glass Flowers
by Prue Batten
Release date: August 2011
Two people…
one an extraordinary young woman,

the other an embittered immortal man.

Both seeking concealed spells that could annihilate Life.

In a quest through a world where Others lace their way in and out of the lives of mortals, this is a story of legend, love, and clashing ideals.

A story of murder, regret and revenge… a story that journeys across a world too hauntingly like our own.

FUN TIDBIT:

Raspberry and White Chocolate Brownies
...my cake recipe launched A Thousand Glass Flowers.

One hundred and three thousand words! --Prue Batten

Visit Prue for the recipe and the story behind this quote here.

--~ eBook Giveaway courtesy of author ~--
Win a kindle copy of this ebook!

Open to all.

Offer ends: September 30, 2011

TO DO:
Tell me your favorite dessert.

AND, leave your email (if I don't already have it)

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

Contest has ended - winner is here

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

Watch out: Deceived by the Others by Jess Haines

Deceived by the Others
by Jess Haines
Just released: July 2011
Amazon | Barnes&Noble
Shiarra's relationship with sexy werewolf Chaz is somewhat unconventional. Still, after a few bumps, Shia is ready to get serious. That means meeting family - or in this case, bringing Chaz's entire werewolf pack along for a rollicking full-moon weekend in the Catskills.

Soon after they arrive, threatening notes appear, warning Chaz to go home. Then, their cabin is ransacked. Shia starts digging to find out whether it's the work of teenaged werewolves or something more sinister. As rumours about her vampire connections arouse the pack's hostility, Shia has to contend with other, potentially fatal dangers.

Released earlier this year...
Taken By The Others
by Jess Haines
Amazon | Barnes&Noble

WANNA start with the first book...

--~ Book Giveaway courtesy of author ~--
Hunted By The Others
by Jess Haines
signup to win this book

~!~ August Thrills-n-Chills schedule ~!~

Zombies on Monday

Grab some cookiezzzzzzzzzzzzzz
from the Zombie Cookie Jar and watch some of The Walking Dead Motion Comic.

The beginning of Robert Kirkman’s “The Walking Dead” graphic novel, featuring the voice of Phil LaMarr.



AND, here's a cool Animated Opening Credits video for The Walking Dead.



BTW: the tv show returns October 31 with 12-13 episodes - brainzzzzzzzzzzz

have you been watching the show?

BUT be on the lookout here for September Zombiessssssss...

Giveaway: Bedbugs by Ben H. Winters

Bedbugs
by Ben H. Winters
Release date: September 6, 2011
FOR RENT: Top two floors of beautifully renovated brownstone, 1300 sq. ft., 2BR 2BA, eat-in kitchen, one block to parks and playgrounds. No broker’s fee.

Susan and Alex Wendt have found their dream apartment.

Sure, the landlady is a little eccentric. And the elderly handyman drops some cryptic remarks about the basement. But the rent is so low, it’s too good to pass up.

Big mistake.

Susan soon discovers that her new home is crawling with bedbugs . . . or is it?

She awakens every morning with fresh bites, but neither Alex nor their daughter Emma has a single welt. An exterminator searches the property and turns up nothing. The landlady insists her building is clean.

Susan fears she’s going mad—until a more sinister explanation presents itself: she may literally be confronting the bedbug problem from Hell.

--~ Book Giveaway courtesy of publisher ~--
Win a copy of this book!

Open to all.

Offer ends: September 30, 2011

TO DO:
Send me a link to a picture of a scary-looking bug.

AND, leave your email (if I don't already have it)

Participate entries:

Entry pictures removed.

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

Contest has ended - winner is here

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

~*~
*image source for participant entries are in comments

~!~ August Thrills-n-Chills schedule ~!~

In My Mailbox - 8.28.11

Free from Kindle: beware some free offers are limited

The Witch of Agnesi
(Bonnie Pinkwater series)
by Robert Spiller
-mystery

Frost Moon
by Anthony Francis
-urban fantasy, shapeshifters

For Review and giveaway:

The Egyptian
by Layton Green
-adventure, suspense
courtesy of author
Thanks Layton!
stay tuned: giveaway for this on September 1

Free from Netgalley: got mine, get yours!

Blood Rights
by Kristen Painter
-urban fantasy, vampires

The Dragon and the Pearl
by Jeannie Lin
-historical romance

Defying Convention
by Abby Niles
-action, romance

~*~
Bookie Brunch schedule
Now follow me to this week's Bookie Brunch meeting for a bit of chit chat at Splash of our Worlds

Bookie Brunch Question of the day:

What's the most important part of a book for you, characters or plot?

~*~
* get a heads up on free or discounted ebooks from Books on the Knob

* per usual, check out the sidebar for my current giveaways to you

* image from Leafcutter Designs - world's smallest postal service and you can get a letter kit at Chronicle Books

* In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren and inspired by Pop Culture Junkie. A post where we share books acquired via mailbox, library, store, etc.

The Book of Nonsense by David Michael Slater

The Book of Nonsense
by David Michael Slater

Visit David:
Website
Blog
Facebook
Goodreads

Published: 2008
Publisher: Blooming Tree Books/CBAY
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Hardback: 256 pages
Rating: 5

Amazon | Barnes&Noble

The book is ancient, ravaged and full of utter nonsense. But the moment it enters Daphna and Dexter's lives, bizarre things begin to happen. Why is their father, who found the book, suddenly so distant?

Is the old man who took it from him some kind of hypnotist?

Why is a giant, red-eyed boy menancing them?

And what does their thirteenth birthday have to do with all this?

Daphna and Dexter can't stand each other, but they'll have to work together to learn the truth about the Book of Nonsense - before their lives come apart completely.

Quote to note:
But of course it wasn't smells that made Daphna love books. No, it was the words themselves. It was mind-blowing to think that you could learn absolutely anything in the world if you just had the right words in the right order.
- page 9, chapter 1

Series:
The Book of Nonsense (Vol. I)
The Book of Knowledge (Vol. II)
The Book of Maps (Vol. III)
The Book of All Things (Vol. IV)

LISTEN to an interview with David about this book:

Listen to internet radio with Authors Read on Blog Talk Radio

My two-bits:
In-a-word(s): quack

Wonderful start to an adventure series including twins and a book quest. The characters are varied and colorful which makes this story fun to follow.

--~ eBook Giveaway courtesy of author ~--
Win a set of ebooks 1-4 of this series!
signup to win this series

~*~
* review copy courtesy of author

* fyi: if you are interested in reviewing this book, David is offering free review copies at his site

~!~ August Thrills-n-Chills schedule ~!~

Happy Release Day: The Egyptian by Layton Green

The Egyptian
by Layton Green
-adventure, thriller
OH, happy day!

It's a happy ebook release day for author, Layton Green, and he is currently offering his thrillers The Egyptian and The Summoner kindle versions for 99 cents!

The Summoner
by Layton Green
-thriller


~!~ August Thrills-n-Chills schedule ~!~

The Sky: The World by Jessica McHugh

The Sky: The World
by Jessica McHugh

Visit Jessica:
Book Excerpt
Website
Facebook
Goodreads
Twitter

Published: 2010
Publisher: Reliquary Press
Genre: Steampunk
Paperback: 160 pages
Rating: 5

Amazon | Barnes&Noble

Who is Doctor Azaz?

It is the 19th Century, and Azazian England is at it's pinnacle. Aeroplanes rule the sky, and crystalline technology has transformed life itself. But for stunt pilot Jack Racine, life is little more than an endless tailspin into liquor, laudanum, and loose women.

But all that is about to change.

For Jack Racine is about to have an audience with the architect of the age, the mysterious Doctor Azaz...

Quote to note:
Darling, your triangle has become a square, Harlow said and marched back into the bedroom to gather her things.
- page 113, chapter 6

PeekAbook:



My two-bits:
In-a-word(s): scoundrel
LOVED this coming-of-hero story set in a steampunk world.

Touches of Egypt and its lore add to the adventure and mystery which makes this a colorful story.

~*~
* read guest post by Jessica which includes character from this book here and here

* review copy courtesy of author

* part of SteamBoyz event

Happy Release: Blue Skies by Sarah Sundin

Blue Skies
by Sarah Sundin
signup for giveaway
Aug 22 to Sep 10, 2011
To celebrate the August release of this third book in the series, Sarah is giving one lucky winner A Vintage Prize Package!

One grand prize winner will receive:

* Kindle with Wi-Fi

* Handmade vintage apron for you and a friend

* Blue Skies Tomorrow (for Kindle)

Winner announced on Sep 12 at Sarah’s website.

Horror books from Imajin

Skeletons in the Closet & Other Creepy Stories
a collection of short stories
by Cheryl Kaye Tardif
Fiction: Horror, Supernatural, Suspense, Collection, Anthology
Ebook

Thirteen stories take you from one hold-your-breath chapter to the next.
Enter the closet…

Remote Control
a novelette
by Cheryl Kaye Tardif
Fiction: Horror, Supernatural, Suspense
Ebook

In this dark, suspenseful and somewhat comical look at one man's desires, Remote Control by bestselling author Cheryl Kaye Tardif delivers a strong message: Be careful what you wish for!

JOIN the IMAGIN scavenger hunt and win these books and maybe even a kindle!



~*~
*hint hint: location of my hidden badge

* fyi: Imajin's book selection includes mystery, paranormal and thriller genres

~!~ August Thrills-n-Chills schedule ~!~

Play Time by R. Scott McCoy

~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
by Louise Bohmer
~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
Play Time
by R. Scott McCoy

Maya crawled out of her bed and put on her pink bunny slippers. She went down to the lab, careful not to step on any of the squeaky boards on the stairs. She paused outside the lab door and looked all over, making sure Daddy hadn’t followed up on his threat to install additional security. When she was sure nothing had changed, she opened the first door and stepped inside, making sure it made no noise when it shut. She turned on her flashlight and worked the dial on the combination lock. He hadn’t changed it and she felt it catch. Then she punched the combination into the cipher lock and pushed open the door. The alarm started to beep, and she pushed a chair over to the keypad, climbed up and entered the code to disarm the alarm.

With that out of the way, she ran over to her daddy’s desk and stared at the vials of purple liquid. She would have preferred pink, but daddy hadn’t asked her. They were all marked complete and were in four different groups: Drug, Bomb, LE and CA. She thought LE was Law Enforcement and didn’t want the others. CA sounded interesting. She grabbed two vials and headed for the door. She left the system unarmed. If her plan worked, she could come and go as she pleased. If not, there would be no way to cover up what she’d done.

She went to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. She took a syringe from her Mommy’s insulin kit and filled it with ten cc’s of purple fluid.

Paul tried for the hundredth time to move his hand, but the stay command given by Maya locked his muscles in place. He could move his eyes, and he looked around the kitchen table at his family. His older daughter Sarah had stopped crying, but her eyes were closed. His wife Elizabeth was giving him the look. The “it’s all your fault, and you better figure a way out of this” look.

He’d been working on it since the moment he realized what had happened. The kitchen table was covered with the good china, because Maya had decided that the whole family would have a tea party. Maya had decided that she was Alice and he was supposed to be the Mad Hatter and Elizabeth was the Red Queen. The doorbell had rung and Maya left the room, but not before giving her favorite command. “Stay.”

~end

Excerpt from Old School created for August Thrills-n-Chills event by Louise Bohmer, editor of Old School
© 2011. All rights reserved.


~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
by Louise Bohmer
~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~


--~ eBook Giveaway courtesy of author ~--

Old School
edited by Louise Bohmer

signup for giveaway

~*~
* image source pink bunny slippers

~!~ August Thrills-n-Chills schedule ~!~

The Friday 56: Mr. Softee by Mike Faricy

The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted at Freda's Voice.

If you want to play along, here are the rules:

Grab a book, any book.
Turn to page 56.
Find any sentence that grabs you.
Post it.
Add your (url) post in the Linky at Freda's Voice.

~*~

Mr. Softee
by Mike Faricy
PAGE 56: this is an ebook, so sentence is from location 56

I nodded at the smiling Barbie doll sitting up straight in the vinyl chair.

~*~
AND, here's a special offer...

--~ eBook Giveaway courtesy of author ~--
Win a copy of this ebook!

Open to all.

Offer ends: September 10, 2011

TO DO:
Check out those heels on the cover of this book!

Send me a link to a picture of a pair of funky high heels.

AND, leave your email (if I don't already have it)

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

Contest has ended - winner is here

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~


Participant entries:

Krysykat picks...


~*~
* If it's your first time here, WELCOME!
and feel free to signup for my other current giveaways on my sidebar -->

* image sources of participant entries are in comments

* part of August Thrills-n-Chills event