GIVEAWAY: Forbidden by Tina Smith

Today I have a giveaway via Sarah's Reviews for Forbidden (Wolf Sirens #1) by Tina Smith. How cool is this cover, check out the synopsis and giveaway at the bottom.

Title: Forbidden
Series: Wolf Sirens #1
Author: Tina Smith
Publisher: Outskirts Press
Release Date: 20th July 2012
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

When Lila unwillingly moves to the country town of Shade, she can’t imagine the life-altering events that lie in wait for her. Shade has a curfew and has always been surrounded by myths. A central feature of the town is its famous statue of Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt, whose spirit is said to protect the innocent.

Lila falls in with a group of intriguing teenagers with luminescent eyes and soon she is drawn into the shadowlands of fantasy and reality, where destiny collides.

A mysterious local girl, Cresida, warns her to stay away, but Lila is drawn to them like a moth to a flame.

Cresida knows their fatal secret and she is honour-bound to protect those who are endangered. But she underestimates Lila’s passion for the mysterious and charismatic clan of youths. Lila begins to feel a call she cannot ignore. Yet her heart is filled with vulnerable desires that begin to turn the underworld upside down, for both hunter and hunted, as she learns they have been waiting for her…

Inspired by the legend of the mythical femme fatale, Wolf Sirens is an intimate tale of unrequited and forbidden love in the underworld, a masterpiece of romance fantasy.

A compelling debut novel about how love and fate chooses you. Inspired by Grecian demigod Artemis and the mythical femme fatale, Wolf Sirens is sure to enthral all lovers of the fantasy, romance genre.

About the Author

Tina Smith is an herbalist, dog lover, Piscean and mother with a fondness for strong female protagonist's. A love of the fantasy genre and the deep exploration of dark and evocative subjects inspired Wolf Sirens Forbidden. The sequel Fever further unfolds the tale of the heroine femme fatale, on her journey in the underworld between the lands of myth and reality.

~ Blog ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~

Other books in the series:

Book 2

Giveaway

1st Winner - Forbidden Paperback and charm bracelet (wolf charm on a cord)
2nd Winner - Swag (3D bookmark and charm bracelet) and eBook of Forbidden
Open to everywhere except Asia (sorry!)
Ends 16th July 2013

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Book Review: Fifty Bales of Hay by Rachael Treasure

Goodreads Summary: Come have a roll in the hay with one of Australia′s leading rural fiction authors, Rachael Treasure, in her romping, rollicking first-ever collection of romantic stories, celebrating the sexy side of rural life. Guaranteed to get your tractor revving, FIFTY BALES OF HAY is an honest and imaginative exploration of everyday men and women getting down and dirty on the land.
From the dairy shed to the Royal Agricultural Show pavilion, Treasure′s cheeky satirical humour and wicked imagination offers up a dozen fun-filled, and sometimes poignant, tales of dust and lust. This collection will have you clamouring for a stock whip, a saddle and a jackaroo.

Title: Fifty Bales of Hay
Series: n/a Anthology
Author: Rachael Treasure
Publisher: Harper Collins Australia
Release Date: 4th December 2012
Format: Paperback
Source: The Reading Room

Well, what’s to say, this was a whole lot of fun to read. Fifty Bales of Hay is a collection of short stories set in rural Australia. I haven’t read any of Rachael Treasure’s books before this one, but I must say I will definitely be picking some up now. Her writing style is fabulous, easy to read and funny. This is classed as erotica, but I mean you just take it all like a grain of salt, so funny. There were quite a few digs at the Fifty Shades of Gray books, but that too was in humour.

There are twelve short stories and they are straight to the point where it comes to the sexy scenes. Some you just can’t believe that would ever happen in real life, but hey, I guess it could happen. If I had to pick a favourite, it would be Truck Wash.

TRUCK WASH
Celia was having trouble with her husband; they were growing distant and not having as much intimate time. Driving and delivering a load of cattle, she had to wash out the truck and found a truck wash along the way. Pulling in she couldn't work out how to use the machine to start the automated hose, so goes over to the only other truck in the bays. The man in the bay didn't see her and washed her down with the water (by accident). Her shirt is saturated and this starts the stirrings in her body, from the blast of hard water directed at her chest. Hilarious and shocking!

They all contained female protagonists and were all strong characters. Some had sad back-stories and found “fun” in order to overcome their sadness and move forward in their lives. Each night I would read a couple stories and the next day would tell the tales to my husband and we would laugh together and wonder if these things actually happened in reality. Who knows, maybe an older woman would find riding a ride-on-mower “exciting” and essential to her garden maintenance. LOL I find that the summary tells it all though.

Thank you to Harper Collins Australia and The Reading Room for supplying a copy for review.

4 FUNNY BOOKS

About the Author

Before we get to the serious biography below, I am essentially a mother to two wonderful little humans, I am a writer, regenerative agriculturalist, and a lover of all things in life.

I want to channel love into everything I create so that I can share it with the world. I’m also really good at taking the mickey out of myself, so I laugh a lot… even at the tough stuff life dishes up.

Here’s a sketch of my professional life below. You’ll have to buy me a drink one day in a pub to find out the other many sides of me…

Rachael Treasure Biography

Author Rachael Treasure currently lives in southern rural Tasmania with her two young children, Rosie and Charlie. 

Rachael is passionate about encouraging non-readers to read, inspiring farmers to consider regenerative agricultural practices and animal handlers to better understand their dogs and livestock.

She is a Rural Business Administration graduate of Orange Agricultural College and has a Bachelor of Arts (Communication) degree from Charles Sturt University, Bathurst NSW.

In between studying she has worked as a jillaroo, rural journalist, ABC radio broadcaster, professional woolclasser, part-time vet nurse, family farm manager, drover and stock camp cook. 

 
Her first novel Jillaroo, published in 2002, has grown to become one of Australia’s iconic works of fiction inspiring other country women to contribute to the genre of contemporary rural literature.

Her other best selling works include, The Stockman, based on her experience with working dog education, The Rouseabout, inspired by her wild times at Australia’s Bachelor and Spinster (B&S) Balls and The Cattleman’s Daughter which grew from her experience in the Victorian High Country riding horses and droving cattle. 

Her screenplay Albert’s Chook Tractor, was made into a half hour drama for SBS Independent Television and was filmed in Tasmania’s Fingal Valley and starred John Jarrett. 

Rachael’s latest self-published book Dog Speak has recently been re-released since its original publication as part of a Tasmanian Rural Woman of the Year rural bursary. 

A collection of Rachael’s short stories, The Girl and the Ghost Grey Mare, flew to number four position in the Australian Best Seller list when released in October 2011.

Rachael was the brainchild behind the $1 a week rental campaign for houses in her rural area. The campaign attracted International attention, saved her local school and sparked similar programs in other struggling rural towns across Australia. 

She is now trialling the latest pasture cropping and holistic grazing management techniques on her farming block using methods taught by NSW farmer, Colin Seis and Victorian Farmer Graeme Hand and backed by NRM South. 

Her experiences will be woven into her fifth novel so as to inspire other farmers to care more for their soil health thereby delivering healthy food to our Australian families.

~ from Rachael's website

~ Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~

Book Review: Slave Girl by Alexa Moses

Goodreads Summary: Thirteen-year-old exchange student Jenna has nabbed an appointment in New York's coolest hair salon, but when her teacher insists she stay with the group at the boring Metropolitan Museum, she storms off and stumbles into what she thinks is a fancy-dress party. And it is a party. In ancient Egypt. 3500 years ago. Once Jenna accepts she's really travelled back in time, she realises she has to work out a way home - with only her big mouth, a smart phone and a pair of second-hand Marc Jacobs sandals to get her out alive. Jenna's attempts to bluff her way out of her precarious situation are often brave, sometimes ingenious and guaranteeably funny.

Title: Slave Girl
Series: 1st in Jenna Bookallil-Brown
Author: Alexa Moses
Publisher: Harper Collins Australia
Release Date: 1st August 2012
Source: Publisher via NetGalley ~ thank you!

I always love discovering Australian Author’s; they are always interesting and diverse. Alexa Moses is no exception to this rule and Slave Girl was a great read directed at Middle Grade-Young Adult. The easy flow of the writing style was fabulous and the characters were fun.

Jenna Bookallil-Brown is a 13 year old on an exchange program, currently visiting museums in New York. Jenna is very excited to be in New York staying with her Great Aunt and trying to become the sophisticated, fashion conscious teen that every girl wants to be. Jenna is visiting the Metropolitan Museum and has an appointment that she must get to. Her chaperone will not allow her to leave and Jenna is torn whether to disobey or just suck it up.

Jenna notices a strange cat under the bench she is contemplating on and the cat watches Jenna in return; how strange. The cat jumps onto the bench and steals the envelope with all Jenna’s money for her appointment. OMG – a cat stealing an envelope full of money, haha. Jenna takes off after the cat to rescue her treasured envelope.

One second Jenna was in the Museum and the next in a strange room with a party themed with people in Egyptian costumes. Huh, Jenna has no idea what is going on, why would there be a party at the Museum like this? Jenna is still chasing the cat, spots it behind a group of dancers. Trying to stay inconspicuous, she crouches and waddles over towards the cat; the cat takes off, Jenna gets caught and is taken into a room with a bunch of other girls.

Jenna still doesn’t know what is going on and everybody doesn’t seem to know what she is talking about or understanding her way of talking. Before long Jenna is taken to the kitchen to start her daily duties, she is now a slave.

Will Jenna find that dastardly cat? Can she find her way home to New York in her current era? Will she be able to survive being a slave and all it entails?

Follow along on a fun adventure with Jenna, trying to search for the cat while not being captured or imprisoned or even sentenced to death. This was a fantastic quick read that I recommend to all Middle Grade readers and above for something fun. Plus hello, Australian authors are fantastic. This is the first in a series of adventures for Jenna and I look forward to reading the next.

4 STARS OF FUN

~ Amazon ~ Bookworld ~

About the Author:
Alexa Moses graduated from a masters degree in screenwriting at the Australian Film Television and Radio school in 2001, thinking she wanted to write comedy, but got a job as a reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald instead and discovered she loved journalism.

Over her six years at the Herald, she worked as an arts and features writer and entertainment reporter, along the way stalking Nicole Kidman, writing about the Asian tsunami she survived, panthering her way through the deportment course Princess Mary took before becoming royalty, and receiving hate mail during her time as a film critic. In 2007, she won the VarunaHarperCollins fellowship for her first manuscript. More recently, she’s been working as a novelist and screenwriter for children’s television including The Woodlies, Gasp the Goldfish andThe Davincibles.

When she’s not reading and writing, Alexa spends her time knitting, cooking, watching sitcoms and musicals, and listening to maudlin pop music.

~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Website

Book Review: The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton

Goodreads Summary: 1959 England. Laurel Nicolson is sixteen years old, dreaming alone in her childhood tree house during a family celebration at their home, Green Acres Farm. She spies a stranger coming up the long road to the farm and then observes her mother, Dorothy, speaking to him. And then she witnesses a crime.
Fifty years later, Laurel is a successful and well-regarded actress, living in London. She returns to Green Acres for Dorothy’s ninetieth birthday and finds herself overwhelmed by memories and questions she has not thought about for decades. She decides to find out the truth about the events of that summer day and lay to rest her own feelings of guilt. One photograph, of her mother and a woman Laurel has never met, called Vivian, is her first clue.
The Secret Keeper explores longings and dreams, the lengths some people go to fulfill them, and the strange consequences they sometimes have. It is a story of lovers, friends, dreamers and schemers, play-acting and deception told against a backdrop of events that changed the world.

Title:  The Secret Keeper
Author:  Kate Morton
Publisher:  Allen and Unwin Australia
Release Date:  1st November 2012
Source:  Allen and Unwin via The Reading Room (Thank you for sending me this book, I loved it)

Wow, I don’t even know where to begin. This book is amazing to say the least! It took me a little while to get through the almost 600 pages, but they were needed to unravel the mystery that is Dorothy Nicholson. If this review seems a little vague, it is because I don’t want to give away any spoilers; there are just so many events along the way.

We start in 1961; Laurel is a 16 year old teenager hiding in the childhood tree house to escape from her sisters. Her Mother, Dorothy comes looking for the cake knife with her baby brother Gerry. Laurel is frozen in shock when she witnesses the most horrific crime. Laurel and her mother are the only people that know what truly happened on that day.

Dorothy Nicholson is the best Mother any child could have; she is so creative and full of fun. The children are never without a story. Now in the present and Dorothy is in hospital, she is frail, old and dying. Laurel is visiting with Dorothy and the mystery of the crime is still fresh in her mind. Her Mother is muttering about mistakes and regrets. Laurel cannot forget what happened on that fateful day back in 1961 and decides to find out why it happened and how. Laurel takes it upon herself to investigate her Mother’s past. Her brother decides to help and they both go on the hunt.

Going back to 1941; WW2 is in full swing and Dorothy has left her parents and brother behind to find her destiny in London. Dorothy has a boyfriend, a job and then meets the Lady across the road, Vivien. Vivien is the friend that can help Dorothy go places in society. Horrible things start to happen to Dorothy, sad news and betrayal. Dorothy seeks revenge. This revenge is a plan; things don’t go right and Dorothy has to flee.

What happened to Dorothy’s boyfriend Jimmy? What is the betrayal that makes Dorothy want revenge? What makes Dorothy commit the crime that ruined Laurel’s childhood? Who is Dorothy from 1941? Can Laurel unravel the mystery that is her Mother?

The whole story flows along beautifully, travelling from 1941 to 1961 to 2011 finding all the clues to Dorothy’s past. This is such a beautiful story and the twists along the way are so shocking you are left speechless. The historical part of the book is amazing and in such detail, right down to the clothes and attitudes of the day. Full of action, suspense, romance, fun and the tissues are needed (well for me anyway). This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I am stunned. I will certainly be picking up her others.

5 STARS - BEST BOOK EVER

You can find Kate Morton's books on Amazon, Kobo, Goodreads, The Reading Room and Kate on Facebook and her website.

Giveaway Tug of War by Ross Collier

Today I am lucky enough to have a giveaway of an awesome Australian historical thriller written by one of my favourite Australian Authors. Ross Collier has recently released Tug of War and is generously giving away a paperback to one lucky winner.

Author Bio:

Ross has been writing for a number of years but decided to publish his own books when a publisher accepted one and then decide it didn't fit their list after all. He was an early adopter of Internet publishing with Jacobyte Books. He writes thrillers because he has had a long love of the genre since reading his first Enid Blyton's 'Famous Five'. He believes thrillers offer the opportunity to write observations about society and human nature in a readable narrative. He lives on a small farm in central Victoria, Australia, is a partner in an accounting practice and is married with three children.

Tug of War is the third book in Ross' collection.

Summary: Captain John Garrett of the Australian Army has been ordered back to Melbourne from Townsville to investigate a suspected intelligence leak in Central Bureau.

Garrett and an American Captain, Al Tucker are placed into the unit ostensibly as intelligence officers with no one, including the current section leader Captain Anthony Myers, aware of their mission.

Tucker begins to work against Garrett who desperately tries to track down the spy operating in the city. In doing so he discovers the most closely guarded secret of the Pacific war. As he draws closer to the truth so begins a life and death battle for survival.

To read my review, please click here.

Sink or Swim summary:  Harry Gordon, sports hero and merchant banker, finds that despite his best efforts, a year after taking over the family steel business it is on the brink of collapse. Then he discovers that the seemingly random events leading to this point are not simply related to market forces. In a race against time that becomes a matter of life and death, Harry is forced to draw on all his skill and courage to avoid certain disaster.

To read my review, please click here.

The Fenians summary:  When a bomb explodes at the Australian Open tennis tournament, freelance photographer Jack Summers is caught up in the hunt for the bomber. One puzzle leads to another, until Jack stumbles across an assassination plot with its roots deep in history. In modern Australia, an ancient secret society is out to wreak havoc.

To read my review, please click here.





To purchase books written by Ross Collier, visit Amazon, Kobo Books or Smashwords and you can find Ross on Twitter, Goodreads and his website.

Giveaway ends Tuesday 30th October 2012 and is open internationally.

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eBook Review: Tug of War by Ross Collier

Captain John Garrett of the Australian Army has been ordered back to Melbourne from Townsville to investigate a suspected intelligence leak in Central Bureau.Garrett and an American Captain, Al Tucker are placed into the unit ostensibly as intelligence officers with no one, including the current section leader Captain Anthony Myers, aware of their mission.Tucker begins to work against Garrett who desperately tries to track down the spy operating in the city. In doing so he discovers the most closely guarded secret of the Pacific war. As he draws closer to the truth so begins a life and death battle for survival. ~ via Ross Collier's website

Title:  Tug of War
Author:  Ross Collier
Publisher:  CreateSpace
Released: 1st July 2012
Source:  Author for review, thank you.

I always love an Australian Author and their books situated within Australia. Ross' book is no exception and is fantastic. As with his previous books, Sink or Swim and The Fenians; they are all placed in Melbourne, Australia. A place that is dear to my heart.

Placed back in 1942, when WWII was in full swing, Captain John Garrett was transferred back to Melbourne to investigate an alleged leak within the intelligence bureau. It is believed that somebody is leaking information to the Japanese and people are dying.

At Central Bureau whilst getting his orders, Captain Garrett is introduced to an American Captain, Al Tucker who will be assisting him with the investigation. From the get go, Garrett is apprehensive about the Captain and he doesn’t trust him as far as he can throw him.

Going under cover, Garrett starts investigating and the information he discovers just doesn’t add up. The further he goes into the investigation, the more dangerous it becomes. Garrett doesn’t know who to trust or which side the spy is even coming from. Seeing his old flame again, Jennifer, brings all his feelings back for her. This only causes trouble for them both and puts Jennifer into grave danger.

After a man is shot for being the number one suspect, things start to go down hill for Garrett. The Central Bureau believes the man has been stopped, but Garrett isn’t so sure and is disobeying the Major General in order to get the leader of the spy ring.

This is an amazing journey following Garrett from pillar to post in order to discover who the top spy really is. Will Garrett be able to put a stop to the spy(s)? Will he discover what the secret codes and messages really mean? Will Jennifer and Garrett be able to be together? What will happen to the protocols when Garrett gets caught? Will Garrett get court martialled?

This book is so suspenseful that you have to keep reading until the end. The historical detailing is so amazing that you can picture the characters and their lives unfolding on the pages. This book has it all, a hint of romance, thrilling, suspense and most of all action. The twists and turns along the way keep the reader guessing and wondering who the actual culprit is. I recommend this to all historical fiction readers and Australian’s in general.

4 STARS

You can find all of Ross Collier's books on Amazon, Smashwords, Goodreads and Ross himself on Twitter and his website.

eBook Review: Code Crimson (Arkie Sparkle) by Petra James

Goodreads:  Eleven-year-old Arkie Sparkle's archaeologist parents have been kidnapped. With the help of her genius cousin TJ and basset hound Cleo, she must find seven treasures across the seven continents in seven days.
Day 1: EgyptArkie must find the first treasure in the temple of the Egyptian Pharaoh, Ramses II. But first she has to find the temple, buried deep in the sands of the Sahara Desert.

Title:  Code Crimson
Series:  Arkie Sparkle, Treasure Hunter #1
Author:  Petra James
Publisher:  Pan Macmillan Australia
Source:  Self Purchase


This is a fantastic action adventure book for middle grades. Arkie Sparkle is a miniature Indiana Jones and she is on a quest to find her parents.

Arkie comes home from school to find the house open and her parents no where in sight.  After eating the last cookie in the cookie jar, she finds a ransom note.  Arkie now has to embark on an adventure to find clues to treasures and her parents. Arkie is no newbie to treasure hunting and has all the gadgets available under the sun.

Book 1 is day 1 of her adventure and sends her to Cairo. After fighting through a sandstorm and making historical friends, she has found what she is after, but this is only the beginning.  The accompanying illustrations and the cover are also great and something kids will love.

4 STARS

You can find Petra James books on Goodreads and Amazon.

eBook Review: Harbinger by Peta Crake

Amazon: As an Olympic messenger, suburban Aussie girl Ophelia Lind is used to being at the beck and call of the gods. But when gorgeous demigod Aden moves into her neighbourhood and starts taking advantage of her services, Ophelia believes life could not get any worse. She's about to be proven very wrong.Ophelia tries to enjoy a normal, everyday life while running messages for the Greek gods – but without warning an odious creature - evil incarnate - begins to stalk her. As a messenger dealing with the all-powerful and sometimes frightening gods, Ophelia is accustomed to adventures and scrapes. But this is different. Even Aden, who is madly and deeply in love with Ophelia, finds it difficult to protect her. Suddenly Ophelia is in a battle for survival and begins to question everything – her upbringing, her identity, and her true feelings for the alluring and entirely frustrating Aden.
Harbinger is a terrific romance laced with humour, danger and adventure. The deeply likeable, unstoppable Ophelia takes us on a quest that puts all the memories she holds dear – and her own heart – at risk.

Title:  Harbinger
Author:  Peta Crake
Publisher:  Destiny Romance
Source:  NetGalley

Not only is Peta an Australian author, but her novel is amazing. The story unfolds and brings some unexpected turns along the way. The easy flow of the story makes reading it so pleasurable and when I wasn't reading I was wondering what was going to happen to Phi next.


Ophelia (Phi) is a messenger for the Gods.  Her mother passed away 10 years ago and left her heartbroken and alone.  Her father is a God and as such she was given a job to hand deliver messages between them. A messenger is not meant to be harmed, they are meant to be neutral like Switzerland. But as Phi discovers, even Gods have a price.

Phi meets Aden, the son of Aphrodite.  She turns him down and Aden takes this as a challenge. Sending her around the globe with messages, he discovers this is the only way she will see him. Along her journey she finds her father is not who she always believed him to be.

The mystery of her father and the feelings that begin for Aden drive Phi to do some investigating. But questioning the Gods is not something done lightly. Phi is also hunted by a terrible creature that is looking for an orb. An orb that Phi has no idea what or where it is.

Phi's adventure begins in Chapter One and doesn't end until the last page. This fantastic book is a must read for all that enjoy mythology, humour, romance and action. It has it all.

5 STARS - AWESOME

You can find Peta Crake at her website, twitter and Amazon.