Book Giveaway - Christmas Intervention

Since I've been neglecting my reviews lately, I'm going to make it up to you guys with a giveaway! Mara Ismine was kind enough to donate copies of her ebooks for me to raffle off!

The first giveaway is her Christmas Intervention books. The lucky winner of this giveaway will receive Christmas Intervention Phase 1 and 2. Note: Both of these are in PDF format.

Jase hates Christmas, always has done. His best friend, Rai, has always loved everything about Christmas - until this year. Jase tries to help Rai get into the Christmas spirit and finds that Christmas might not be so bad after all. 

There are three simple ways to enter this contest:

1) Leave me a comment here with your email. (If you're not comfertable posting your email, send your email to DancingDoveReviews (at) gmail.com Please include the name you posted on here with.)
2) Become a follower of my blog. (Make sure you tell me you're a follower in your comment!)
3) Spread the news about the giveaway around! Post about it on your blog, on Twitter, on your Goodreads group, etc. Make sure you give me a link to where you posted about it in your comment here so I can verify. (Don't forget to link back here when you tell your friends!)

So that's it! Each person can get three entries into the raffle. The contest ends on February 7th at Midnight EST and the winner will be announced on February 8th!

Good luck and keep and eye on the blog for more upcoming giveaways!

Please Help a Wheelchair Bound Girl

I know this isn't book related, but I felt like I really should post this. One of my friends is suffering from multiple autoimmune diseases. As a result, she has a hard time getting around; she spends most of her time in bed and is wheelchair bound. She always helps out her friends when they're in need but now she needs some help. She recently got a new wheelchair which makes it easier for her to get around but sadly, it can only be transported with a wheelchair van. Since she cannot afford to get a wheelchair van, she is asking for help. If you have some extra money lying around, even if it's only a few dollars, please donate and help her get a wheelchair van.

You can find out more information and how to donate here: http://www.giveforward.org/freedomdrive

Thank you!

Update: Best selling author, Neil Gaiman was kind enough to tweet about this! http://twitter.com/neilhimself/status/8430697916

Teencrentric Canceled

Due to "nasty weather" Teencentric is canceled. =[ I was excited about meeting Tamora Pierce and getting my books signed too. =[

iPad

Most of you have probably heard that Apple revealed it's new tablet - the iPad. Seriously though, what "genius" in marketing named that one? As a side note, I found this quite giggle worthy: Macs + iPad = Macsipad. =)

The media has been heavily marketing this as an "ereader." IMO, this isn't going to corner the market in ebooks like they seem to think it will. For one, it doesn't use e-ink, reading off the iPad's screen is going to be like reading off a regular computer screen. Then there's the weight. It's going to weigh a lot more than a classic ereader (Kindle, Sony, Nook). Also, from what I've heard, they're going to be charging $12-15 for a book rather than the $9.99 that Amazon charges.

On the other hand, it may be useful for artists and for note taking. It'll also probably be good for photo editing and things like that.

The bottom line is, the new "iPad" is basically just a giant iPhone or iTouch, not a dedicated ereader.

Teencentric

Hey guys! Sorry I haven't posted in a while but school has been really hectic. I'm hoping to have some more reviews up by this weekend.

I do have some news for you though! I will be going to Teencentric. Teencentric is a teen reading festival in Spartanburg, SC. Fantasy author Tamora Pierce will be there speaking and signing books. I'm really excited to meet her since she is one of my favorite authors. Teencentric is this Saturday from 1-4PM at the Spartanburg Public Library in South Carolina. I'll probably post about it when I get home so look forward to that!

Hope you're all doing great!

New design

As you can tell, I've added a few new things to the design of the blog. The biggest things I've added are the new graphics. I have a new banner at the top and a new footer that's below every post. (The footer banner is still being tweaked a little bit.) These two lovely graphics were designed by the awesome graphic artists at Articulate Productions. If you ever need high quality graphics done, I highly recommend them. They do excellent work.

I've also changed a few things on the sidebar. I slowed down the scrolling cover images a tad. I'm also currently looking at a new code for it because it's looking at little glitchy to me. I've also added a "Featured Book". Each month I'll be advertising a newly published book by an author that I love.

If anyone has suggestions for ways to improve this blog, feel free to leave me a message or send me an email. You can contact me at DancingDoveReviews (at) Gmail.com

Happy reading everyone!

Between Brothers

Title: Between Brothers
Author: J.M. Snyder
Series: N/A
Rating: 5/5 stars
Review:

Brian hasn't been to his childhood home in over fifteen years. But when his younger brother calls him one day and asks him to come home, he comes running. But Brian hasn't been avoiding his family for nothing - he's been hiding a secret. He's in love with his baby brother, Joey.

The first thing I need to say, is either J.M. Snyder grew up in South Jersey or she did a lot of research. I grow up in South Jersey and I was amazed at how accurate some of her word choices and details were. I've read a couple books by authors from New Jersey that haven't been this accurate.

Snyder also did a great job of creating real characters. I was often very moved by some of the things her characters said or felt. I've never seen characters like hers before - none of them were anywhere near a stereotype. Brian wasn't a perfect character - he had plenty of flaws just like real people do. Joey seems perfect, but since the story is told from Brian's POV, I think that's more of how Brian see's him, rather than how he is.

Her plot was excellent. Though it focused on solely internal conflict, it was excellently done. Most of the time I prefer a mix of internal and external conflict but the internal conflict in this was so convincing and real, it worked. I have to say though, I think my favorite parts of the story were the flashback scenes about the brothers as kids. They were cute and touching and it gave great insight into how the boys grew up. (And made me go "Awwww" out loud.)

The only thing that I didn't like was the tenses. I'm used to reading things in past tense that having this in present tense was a little jarring at some points. I got used to it fairly quickly though and I think it worked pretty well for this story.

To some this up, I absolutely loved this novel. I am really glad I was able to read it and I'd highly recommend it to others. If you only read one romance story this year, I'd go with this one. It's filled with realist characters, plausible situations and great detail. Rather than finding a novel about incest, I've stumbled upon a novel of deep love and devotion between brothers.

FREE book - Alien Cradle

One of the new things I'm doing on this blog is to post when I come across a free (and legal) book. Some of these books will be ebooks, some will be physical books, some will be temporary, some will be permanent and some will be giveaways. So, without further ado:

Title: Alien Cradle
Author: Jeff Inlo
Link: Download Here
Length: 85,918 words / 250 pages
Genre: Science Fiction
Summary:
Rath Scampion, outer rim scout, explores the barren landscapes of Fenrir just before a Regency Scientific Council plants the seed of a genetically created "alien". Once the colony takes hold, researchers discover the Fenrites advancing at an alarming pace, passing quickly through complex stages of industrial and technological growth. As the experiment spirals out of control, Rath must flee Regency investigators, ending up in the midst of marauders and outcasts. He is caught with no safe haven as the Fenrite disaster spurs on political and military chaos throughout the Regency controlled worlds. (Summary from ManyBooks.net)

All Work & No Play

Title: All Work & No Way
Author: Carol Lynne
Series: Cattle Valley
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Review:

Cattle Valley is a community that is largely gay. The town is one of the most accepting on the planet and that appeals to Ryan, Nate, and Rio. The three men have been in a relationship together and are hoping Cattle Valley's residents will be more open to it than their hometown. Only when they get there, Nate discovers that even Cattle Valley has its problems.

Starting with the basics - the story was definitely interesting and I did enjoy reading it. I didn't spot any major grammar mistakes that would turn a reader off. The only big problem I found with this is that Lynne's plots are starting to all blend together. They all seem to follow the same general formula - People are happy, someone starts trouble, there's a fight, the trouble maker goes to jail and everyone lives happily ever after. I probably wouldn't have noticed it if I had spaced her books out, but I've read over a dozen of her books in the past two weeks.

Lynne's novel seem to focus more on external conflicts rather than internal conflict. To me, a good plot has a blend of the two so that you're not overwhelmed and bored with one of them. A romance story that focuses on a bigot and has a sickenly happy couple is only entertaining for so long same with a story that is nothing but angst. That's why I enjoyed Twin Temptations - it had a pretty good blend of internal conflict and external.

The characters in this novel were pretty well developed. I like Nate in particular who acts like a stereotypical gay man, but is a lot deeper than that. The one thing that I didn't like was how Nate brags numerous times about having his fourth degree blackbelt in various styles. It made him seem arrogant when he normally isn't. Also, I've done martial arts for many years and met many high ranking blackbelts and that generally don't brag about their ranks. A true fourth degree blackbelt knows that he still has a lot to learn and he's not invincible.

This one was really hard to rate for me. I kept bouncing between three and four stars. On one hand, I did enjoy the story. On the other hand, the plot is almost the same as her other novels but with different characters. I recommend reading this, but don’t read too many of her books at once or you'll tire of them.

** Warning ** This novel contains sex scenes and may not be appropriate for readers under than age of 18.

A Fostered Love

Title: A Fostered Love
Author: Cameron Dane
Series: N/A
Rating: 4/5 stars
Review:

After fifteen years, Jonah Roberts finally returns to the foster home that he lived in for a couple months. When he was sixteen, he screwed up and ended up being sent to Juvenile Detention. But no matter what, the woman who ran the foster home, never gave up on him. Now, fifteen years later, he's returned to attend her funeral. When he comes back, he finds himself falling for Christian Sanchez - the boy he used to share a room with. Jonah knows Christian used to have a crush on him when they were teens and now he has to face that.

Dane did a great job with her characters in this novel. Both characters were unique and could've easily been real people. Her characters made mistakes and they learned from them, just as real people would. They both faced problems through out the novel - both internal and external.

The plot was good is used a good balance of internal and external conflict that didn't rely too heavily on either. I've got to admit, some of the scenes were sad and did make me cry a little. The flashback scenes were touching and gave us a glimpse into their past and what made them who they are. The story Dane paints is extremely touching - a romantic story that's not just about guys getting off.

I definitely recommend reading this novel. I'm glad it was the first book I read this year, and I'll probably read it again. Be warned though, though they are not related, this is a story about foster brothers falling in love.

** Warning ** This novel contains sex scenes and may not be appropriate for readers under than age of 18.

The Slayer's Apprentice

Title: The Slayer's Apprentice
Author: Zathyn Priest
Series: N/A
Rating: 4/5 stars
Review:

This is a really complex story, and I'm having trouble summarizing it without giving something away. So, I've borrowed the summary from the book's page. (I did not write this summary. It belongs to whomever originally wrote it.)
When Senior Constable Daniel Hart stops bartender Phoenix Love from picking his pocket one evening, it's an inauspicious beginning, but Daniel falls for the beautiful Phoenix anyway. Things become complicated when Detective Paul Somerset, who's been on the trail of Australia's notorious serial killer "The Crucifix Slayer", sets his sights on Phoenix. 
Convinced that Phoenix Love is the killer, Detective Somerset pursues him single-mindedly. As evidence, and Phoenix's behavior, point toward Somerset being right, Daniel must protect their fledgling love affair, his own heart and his lover while  deciphering whether or not Phoenix actually is the killer. Is Phoenix Love a victim or is his love affair with Daniel doomed to fall at the whims of a monster?

The characters in Priest's novel are extremely complex. Both of the main characters are deep and well thought out. Phoenix in particular is very hard to read and must've taken an immense amount of time to write. I applaud Priest's effort with these characters - he created two completely unique characters that I've never seen anything like.

The plot of this novel was really good. It definitely leaned more towards a mystery novel than a romance and I'm glad. I'm not a big fan of cheesy romance novels and this was able to satisfy my appetite for a romance novel and a mystery novel at the same time. However, it wasn’t all good. There were three or four chapters that were nothing but info dumps. An anonymous narrator gave us the facts of things that happened, and these parts were extremely boring and I kept skimming those parts. They weren't extremely long and did progress the story, but I wish Priest had found a better way to tell this information.

Overall, I'm glad I read this novel. It did seem rather long during certain parts, but during others it seemed really short. This is a good novel for people who want to read a romance novel, but don't want some cheesy superficial story. Though the story doesn't contain sex, I wouldn't recommend reading this if you're under the age of about 15-16 since the story line is very graphic and violent.

(Sorry for posting this late. I got distracted forgot I wrote it. :x)

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all of my readers! 2009 was a pretty good year for me, I met some great new people and I read a bunch of good books. I actually read a total of 151 books last year. (Anyone have a Pokemon flashback there? No? Okay, maybe I watched too much Pokemon growing up...) I also managed to start this blog last August.

Now that it's 2010, I have a couple new things planned for this blog. A new layout is high on my list as well as a banner for the top of the page. I'm also going to try and review more of the books I read. Last year I fell into the habit of putting them off and never getting around to it. Hopefully, this year that'll change. I'm also going to try and improve my reviews by being more specific about what I liked or didn't like in the books. My reading goal for this year is 300 books and I've already started working on that goal. The first book I finished in 2010 was A Fostered Love by Cameron Dane. I should have a review of it up some time today.

I'm also going to start advertising for different authors each month. None of these authors are asking me to and I'm doing this because I believe these authors deserve it.

This month is going to be J.M. Synder. Ms. Snyder has done an excellent job in all the works I've read by her. Her newest novel, Rockstar, is due out this month. You can find out more about this book here. Don't forget to read some of her older titles as well. If you'd like to "test" out her writing before you spend your hard earned money, she has excerpts of her books on her website and also have a good amount of free stories for her fans to read. You can find J.M. Synder online at her website: JMSnyder.net.

Have a great year everybody!