A Prah and Constantine Review: Treasured Chest

If you are enthralled with movies like The Black Swan, Captains Courageous, and the blockbuster, Pirates of the Caribbean, then you'll love this novel by Zrinka Jelic---Treasured Chest.

A swashbuckling, sword slinging pirate novel that makes one feel you're on board the Strega. A xebec, a three-masted lateen-rigged vessel, filled with disadvantaged women and commandeered by the legendary Sirena.

 Zrinka's descriptions of the vessel are so precise it's amazing; more reasons to feel your watching a movie in your head. 

I couldn't help but snicker when I read such phrases as 'Arrrrgh,' and 'scurvy dogs,' and the best, 'Blistering barnacles did the bilge rat make it?'



The story unfolds on the Adriatic Sea in the 1700's with the main character, Carmen, being designated the new legendary captain---Sirena, upon the old captain's death. You can almost smell the pungent odor of gunpowder and hear the singing of sword play as the women of the Strega battle their enemies.


Not only is there action on the high seas, but also blood churning action between Sirena and the wildly handsome Captain Marko. You immediately fall for Marko with his blond locks curling into his eyes, and long slung ponytail. A well known womanizer, can Marko be tamed by the virulent, commander of the Strega? 


Read Treasured Chest and be thoroughly entertained with a blazing swashbuckler and a hot romance rolled into one.
  


My pic to play the dashing Marko.
Who Else??

Now check out Nana Prah's Review at http://nanaprah.blogspot.com/

Constantine Reviews

Absolute Surrender by Georgia Lyn Hunter

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I highly recommend Absolute Surrender!!




Georgia Lyn Hunter has created a series of complex and fascinating realms. From earth, to Empyrea, to the darkest, sulfur regions of hell. So intrigued with this novel, I couldn't put it down. The raging melee sequences between the demonii and the Guardians are thrilling, fast paced, and on the edge of your seat reading.


Georgia Lyn has a superb talent for penning pure sexual tension, and eventually evolving into heated passion.

Absolute Surrender: An Empyrean Prince is banished from their realm and joins the Guardian's on earth to protect humans from the demonii. A prophecy is unfolding and the Guardian's must find this physic healer before the powers of hell prevail.

Aethan,six foot, seven inches tall, adorned with inexorable strength, ropy muscle, and is one steely, gorgeous Prince. What's not to love about this half-angel, immortal- man from Empyrea?

Echo is a human who has psychic powers, and is able to see demonitii. She is hell bent on destroying the demonitii who murdered her friend. Aethan catches Echo in the act of killing a demonitti and is bizarrely attracted to the young woman. Not to put in spoilers, but there is more to Echo that will be unveiled, astonishing everyone.



View all my reviews

PERSEVERANCE

Penning a novel was, and is, arduous work. A writers brain is consistently powered-up. When we're not punching on computer keys attempting to breathe life to our characters and story, or honing our craft by reading, which at one time, long, long ago was only for enjoyment, is now an exciting opportunity to expand ones brain. A writer even weighs words said in a movie, TV show or in the company of others.

Beware of writers! We are on the lookout for enthralling details to steal for our novels. I say this lightheartedly, for those who were concerned!

People wouldn't comprehend the endless night's that writer's sleep and, write at the same time. All you writers out there know what I'm talking about. Once in a while a vision sticks with you.

Countless author's have actually started their novels with a dream. So true. And I can definitely say, the dream continues throughout the plot -to the end. 

What astonishing me are the numerous writers who work full-time, take care of a family, and then write a fabulous novel. How is it done!! Congratulations to those who can do it all! 

On the other side of the fence, I work a measly part-time job and am able to write most days. I still find it  time consuming. Since recently editing two books, preparing them for publication, I can't believe the toll it has taken on my feeble brain, which sent me to this blog post. 

I say again, writing is arduous work, though, totally fulfilling to see a wondrous story unfolding before your eyes. 

For writer's who are losing hope, I say keep keep going. Never give up if you have a yarn to spin!


                       PERSEVERE! PERSEVERE! PERSEVERE!

Prelude

WICKEDLY THEY COME

Eyes like embers burn into my soul

As gnarled fingers stretch to sow seeds of terror

Weaving a realm of pandemonium

Nightmares pour a viscous poison upon sleep’s tangled web

And on and on the vision’s dance:

I saw the world blind and hollow

Floating in the void of space

Feeding upon the vapors of some

Translucent suspended beast

Disjointed bodies then did appear

Sprinkling death and devouring life

Coaxing earth into silent slumber

Blazing eyes again emerged

Red brightness true to hellish fire

Fixed upon my wandering eye

Flames burst upon the scene

Wild and wily, leaving not one piece to fix upon

Except for those eyes of ember

A Prah & Constantine Review

Nana Prah and Cathrina Constantine have come together to offer a two sided, opinionated review: 

The book we've chosen is Crazy Little Thing by Tracy Brogan. 

Without collaborating on our personal views, we'll each offer our separate opinions on our blogs, and then start a short discussion. Everyone and anyone can offer a comment and ask questions.

I guess we've started our own forum of Siskel and Ebert!

Crazy Little Thing by author Tracy Brogan:

After reading the first sentence I was not impressed. I'd then wished Nana and I had agreed on a different read. (However I persisted, and was glad I did!)  Discovering her attractive, yet philandering husband was having illicit affairs, Sadie Turner was scarred with some mental repercussions. A year after her divorce, Sadie was having terrible trust issues with men. (Go Figure!) 

Sadie and her two children vacation at her eccentric Aunt Dody's beach house. It was to be a time of healing and getting her head together. (I immediately started getting involved, and was enjoying the characters)

At certain junctures in the book, poor Sadie tends to be her own worst enemy. (I laughed and cringed) As the reader, I flinched and had secondhand embarrassment at some of her misconceptions of a sexy, handsome doctor named Desmond, who came off as the dream of a lifetime for any woman. 

I must admit, in the end, I really liked this book. Crazy Little Thing was entertaining and actually had me laughing out loud. Especially when searching for an appropriate pair of underwear or attempting not to think about the phallic implications while peeling a carrot and eavesdropping on the conversation between her aunt and the intriguing Desmond. (you'll know what I'm talking about when you read the book)

Tracy Brogan writes with quick humorous wit and I thoroughly expect everyone will be entertained and have a couple of hearty giggles with this read, I know I did!  

Now hop over to Nana Prah's blog to read her review: http://nanaprah.blogspot.com

Book Description:

Publication Date: October 23, 2012

If Sadie Turner is good at anything, it’s putting stuff in order. So when she finds her “perfect” life in disarray, she hopes a summer vacation at her aunt’s lake house will help her piece it back together. She wants to relax, reboot, and heal the wounds left by her cheating ex-husband. And that requires time away from men. All men.
Or so she thinks.
With two slobbering dogs and two cousins living there—one a flamboyant decorator intent on making over Sadie—it’s hard to get a moment’s peace at eccentric Aunt Dody’s house, especially with everyone so determined to set her up with Desmond, the sexy new neighbor.
Desmond is Sadie’s worst nightmare. Tall, tanned, muscular…and to top it off, he’s great with her kids. But he must have a flaw—he’s a man—so Sadie vows to keep her distance.
As summer blazes on, the life Sadie is trying so hard to simplify only becomes more complicated—a new career presents itself, her evil ex haunts her, and Aunt Dody reveals a tragic secret—but maybe a little chaos is just what Sadie needs to get her life back in order.