Teaser Tuesdays–The Lantern by Deborah Lawrenson

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

• 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! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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The Lantern

Summary from Goodreads:
A modern gothic novel of love, secrets, and murder--set against the lush backdrop of Provence.
Meeting Dom was the most incredible thing that had ever happened to me. When Eve falls for the secretive, charming Dom in Switzerland, their whirlwind relationship leads them to Les Genevriers, an abandoned house set among the fragrant lavender fields of the South of France. Each enchanting day delivers happy discoveries: hidden chambers, secret vaults, a beautiful wrought-iron lantern. Deeply in love and surrounded by music, books, and the heady summer scents of the French countryside, Eve has never felt more alive.
But with autumn's arrival the days begin to cool, and so, too, does Dom. Though Eve knows he bears the emotional scars of a failed marriage--one he refuses to talk about--his silence arouses suspicion and uncertainty. The more reticent Dom is to explain, the more Eve becomes obsessed with finding answers--and with unraveling the mystery of his absent, beautiful ex-wife, Rachel.
Like its owner, Les Genevriers is also changing. Bright, warm rooms have turned cold and uninviting; shadows now fall unexpectedly; and Eve senses a presence moving through the garden. Is it a ghost from the past or a manifestation of her current troubles with Dom? Can she trust Dom, or could her life be in danger?
Eve does not know that Les Genevriers has been haunted before. Benedicte Lincel, the house's former owner, thrived as a young girl within the rich elements of the landscape: the violets hidden in the woodland, the warm wind through the almond trees. She knew the bitter taste of heartbreak and tragedy--long-buried family secrets and evil deeds that, once unearthed, will hold shocking and unexpected consequences for Eve.

Teaser:

"All I had were my impressions, which may or may not have provided an accurate picture of what really happened.  And when the time comes that you really want to find out the truth, there is no one left to ask."  pg 134*

What's your teaser today?




*Quote taken from an ARC and may differ from the finished product.

Follower Love Giveaway Hop!

 Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and  author Rachael Renee Anderson.

The dates: February 7th through  February 14th. There are lots of blogs participating and each has their own entry rules and geographic limits, so be sure to read the rules for each one.


 (If you are on the home page and can't see the Rafflecopter either click on the post title or "read more" at the bottom to go to the individual post's page so you can see the widget!) 


Up for grabs at this stop is a brand new (non-read) ARC of Switched by Amanda Hocking!  I was lucky enough to win two of these in December and I want to share!

Switched (Trylle Trilogy)
Summary from Goodreads:
When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - a world both beautiful and frightening, and Wendy's not sure she wants to be a part of it.

• How to enter:
  1. You must use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter this giveaway.
  2. You must follow via GFC for the initial entry.  Additional options may be chosen for extra entries. You may choose one option or all options of the extra options. Each option is worth one entry into the giveaway.
  3. For each option you choose to enter with, click on “CLICK FOR INSTRUCTIONS” FIRST, follow the instructions, then click on “I DID THIS” and fill out the required information.
  4. The giveaway ends on Feb 14th at 11:59pm EST.
  5. At the conclusion of the giveaway, I will verify all entries.
  6. Once the verification process is complete, I will use the Rafflecopter widget to select the winner and contact her/him.
  7. The winner will have 48 hours from the notification email to respond with her/his full name and mailing address. If I do not receive a response, the prize will be forfeited and another winner will be selected. Please be sure to check your spam filters!
  8.  This Contest is for US addresses only!

 Please make sure that you have read my Giveaway and Privacy Policies Here

Wicked Winter Read-A-Thon Wrap Up & Final Challenge!

Hosted by: Rebecca @ Kindle Fever, April @ My Shelf Confessions

This Challenge is  The Fight for Survival Continues | April @ My Shelf Confessions 

Congratulations you’ve survived the Ice Age this long – some of you were more ingenious than others. However all of you will now face one of the Ice Age’s greatest challenges: the Wicked Winter Witch. She has magick and uses the fierce weather and temperatures to her advantage.
How will you save yourself and the precious books you’ve managed to save and savor through this long winter? How will you defeat the Wicked Winter Witch so you can go on and fight another day until this evil Ice Age ends?

The Wicked Winter Witch may sound like an formidable opponant, but the truth is that any true witch is only as strong as the love and friendship that surrounds her.  And the Wicked Winter Witch is surrounded by fear and hatred.


I'd gather all of my Witchy friends, including Dumbledore, Snape, Hermoine, Ron, & Harry (from Harry Potter); Sally, Gillian, Jet & Frances (from Practical Magic); Mary Poppins; Glinda (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz); Gandalf (Lord of the Rings) and Willow (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).  Then together using all of our magical powers compounded and strengthened by the power of friendship and love we would easily defeat the pitiable Wicked Winter Witch!


Read-A-Thon Wrap Up


I'm sad to admit that I didn't even finish one book this weekend!  Between having work on Friday, holding interviews all weekend for a position that my sister and I are filling, my regular weekend household chores and baking, and then the Superbowl this evening...I've been quite distracted!  I'm hoping to at least get close to finishing my book when I go to read in bed shortly.  However I did have a ton of fun sneaking away from work and hosting a challenge, participating in most of the other challenges and chatting with the other participants!

Sentence to Song Challenge (WWReadathon)

Hosted by: Rebecca @ Kindle Fever, April @ My Shelf Confessions

This Challenge is  Sentence to Song | Amanda @ Letters Inside Out

So, I challenge you…*smiles sweetly* to come up with a song on that fits your current read.
WHAT I WANT:
*Name of your current read/Author *Link the YouTube video in the comments OR post it on your blog and leave that link in the comments *Explain briefly why that song fits. Just remember: No spoilers, please.

My book is The Lantern by Deborah Lawrenson.
The Lantern
It is a beautifully descriptive modern gothic set in Provence, France.  A little romance, a little mystery, and a little ghost story.  I think that this haunting French melody and lyrics suit it perfectly.


Le Gris performed by Nicole Renaud

Lyrics (translated into English)hold me in your arms in grey ... hold me in your arms in grey 
after the day, before nightfall, 
behind the silence and the rain, 
out of sight, sheltered from noise. 
hold me in your arms in grey 
very far from her as from him, 
behind the flowery folding screen 
near the statues fallen asleep. 

abandoned in prayer, 
disappearing in the heart of winter, 
deleting all traces and landmarks, 
choosing darkness rather than light. 

hold me in your arms in grey 
hidden away backstage 
under the clouds fleeting away 
in the hollow of the afternoon. 
hold me in your arms in grey 
and gently, as by magic, 
on the couch of oblivion 
whisk me away to infinity ..

Tease at Random Challenge (WWReadathon)

Hosted by: Rebecca @ Kindle Fever, April @ My Shelf Confessions

This Challenge is Tease at Random | Claire @ Project TBR 

I love taking part in the Teaser Tuesday meme, but I've noticed how sometimes the teasers can be very different to what the book is actually like. So when April and Rebecca gave me the chance to create my own challenge I thought of this and immediately started to wonder what would happen if teasers were taken throughout a book - would they be close to the real story, or would it create a whole new one?
For this challenge I would like you to tease me at random from your current read. All you need to do is to divide your book roughly into thirds and then randomly select two sentences from each third (so six in total) and put them together to give a good tease.

Love the idea of this challenge but I will say that it did spoil some things for me since I had to look ahead in my book!  In future I'd only do this with a book I've already read!

  Mine is from The Lantern by Deborah Lawrenson taken from an ARC so the finished product may differ slightly.

The Lantern
1. "But that wasn't the end of the episode.  Far worse was to come." pg 99

2.  "No, they said, these were human bones. As time came juddering to a sudden stop, it was the small details I noticed: the shard of green printed pottery up from the recently moved soil; the mud caked on a man's boot; the black rime on another worker's fingernails; knobbles of rubble; the broken piece of brick; the individual blades of grass.  Piano notes ascended, Dom too intent on his own sounds to register that others had been silenced." pg 209

3  "Because something had happened-was happening-that made me need him, quietly, more than ever.  It was dreadful timing, and I wasn't absolutely sure, but all the signs were there." pg 278

In My Mailbox - 2/5/12

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme created by The Story Siren to share whatever books and bookish goodies that you've bought, borrowed, won, or been gifted and have thus entered your home the previous week. You can show off books that you are excited about and it's also a great opportunity to showcase books that you may not actually have the time to read or review.

Added to my Bookshelf for Pleasure:

Hardcover of Everneath – Brodi AshtonSigned paperback of On a Dark Wing – Jordan Dane (along with some swag and yummy snacks!)Hardcover of Die for Me – Amy Plum

Paperback of Stay Tuned – Lauren ClarkHardcover of Enjoy Every Sandwich – Lee Lipsenthal, MD
Added to my Bookshelf for Review:  
Personalized paperback of The Eternal Child – David WassermanReview copy of The Family Affair – Leon Gildin
Added to my nook for Pleasure:

Fractured Light – Rachel McClellan

Added to my nook for Review:

Here – Denise Grover Swank

So folks…I need some input pretty please!  Do you prefer my IMMs short and sweet like this one with links to Goodreads?  Or do you prefer when I include the whole synopsis for each book?  please let me know in the comments! Thanks!

Picture Puzzle Challenge (WWReadathon)

Hosted by: Rebecca @ Kindle Fever, April @ My Shelf Confessions

This Challenge is Guess the Title – Picture Puzzle | Michelle @ Book Briefs

Ok, so how does this work? First you pick a book. Then you find pictures to represent the words in the book title. Then you put the pictures/clues together and try to guess what the book title is.  Get creative and make it as challenging as you want. Make a post with your Book picture puzzles and go around to different blogs and try to guess some of the puzzles.

Here is my entry:

Any Guesses?

Wicked Winter Ball Challenge!!

10AM – 2PM EST | The Wicked Winter Ball | Kimberly @ Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

As part of the Wicked Winter Read-a-thon you have been invited to attendThe Wicked Winter BallThis is a formal affair and you can bring a guest.

 Using book covers show us what you will wear and who you will bring!

What a fun challenge-I've always wanted to go to a ball!! Even though I don't dance!  There are so many covers with gorgeous dresses that I had a hard time choosing...So I narrowed it down to two each! lol.

I'd wear one of these:

And I'd want to bring either Christian Bale or Adrian Paul...(and if you can't figure out why just by looking at the covers... hen...well...that's just sad! lol)

Book Feature & Giveaway: With this Kiss by Victoria Lynn

(Make sure to read all the way to the bottom for the giveaway---And if you are on the home page either click on the post title or "read more" at the bottom to go to the individual post's page so you can see the rafflecopter!)

Title: With This Kiss
Author: Victoria Lynn
Buy it: Amazon Paperback | Amazon Kindle | BN


BLURB: Beauty and the beast: they were the scandal of the ton.  All eyes feasted on the beautiful flame-haired gambler in London’s most infamous club.  But Julia Prentisse was interested only in the rake-turned-recluse whom they now called “The Beast.”  She lured him out of the crowded club to a deserted warehouse, where she made her scandalous offer: If he married her and protected her from her uncle, she would help him capture the arsonist who had ruined his life.
 An act of heroism had left Morgan St. James burned, scarred for life, but Julia’s bold gaze lit other fires he had long suppressed.  And now this glorious stranger was his bride.  But when he tried to claim his husbandly rights, she demanded three months grace—three months to know a stranger’s mind, to touch a stranger’s soul, to go where no woman had ever gone before.  Into his heart…

EXCERPT:

"Why did you come here?" he asked.

Gathering her courage, she ventured hesitantly, "If you're not too busy, I thought we might do something today. Together. As man and wife."

He released a bored sigh. "What did you have in mind, a waltz? Ordinarily I'd indulge your whim, but as you can see, the orchestra has temporarily abandoned its post."

"I've missed you."

The statement hung in the air between them. Morgan studied her face for a long moment.  "There is a term in fencing for toying with one's opponent."

"Are we opponents?"

"Are you toying?"

"I'm not sure what I'm doing."

"Forgive me if I find that difficult to believe. I've never met a more purposeful woman in my life."

A small smile touched her lips. "Is that good or bad?"

"What do you want, Julia?"

She couldn't remember him ever using her name be­fore. The sound of it rolling off his tongue sent an unex­pected rush of pleasure racing through her. Idly wondering if his reaction would be the same if she spoke his name, she said, "I thought it might be nice if we spent a little time together, Morgan."

She saw something flash in his eyes, but the emotion, whatever it was, vanished too quickly for her to properly define. "Ah. So that's it." A small, cynical smile curved his lips. His gaze moved over her body with scorching inten­sity, as though he were able to see right through to her drawers. He straightened and glanced around the empty room, then back at her. "Interesting timing."

Heat flooded her cheeks. "I didn't mean—"

"Didn't you."

"Certainly not. Must you always be so base?"

"You're the one who came to me."

"With the simple proposition that we attend Lord Attmark's boating party this afternoon," she said, seizing upon the sudden inspiration. "That's all I had in mind."

"Lord Attmark's boating party?"

"I thought it would be quite diverting."

"Floating along a river that smells like rancid sewage in this sweltering heat. That's what you came to see me about."

"Yes."

A knowing smile curved his lips. "Liar."

"I don't know what—"

"Liar," he repeated softy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Victoria Lynne is the author of five historical romance novels.  She’s received two RITA Award nominations, and has consistently earned Romantic Times’ “Top Pick” award.  Called “A Fabulous Storyteller!” by Rendezvous Magazine, her work consistently draws rave reviews and continues to attract new readers.  Her books have been translated into German, Italian, and Spanish, and are currently available online through Kindle and Nook.   Ms. Lynne lives in Vermont with her husband and two children.  When she’s not plotting her next novel, she loves to get away from her keyboard to ski and hike.

Find Victoria Here: Facebook

GIVEAWAY TIME:


One lucky reader will win an e-book copy of With this Kiss!  Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter!

My Reading/Blogging Space (Wicked Winter Read-A-Thon Challenge)

Hosted by: Rebecca @ Kindle Fever, April @ My Shelf Confessions

This challenge is hosted by Vicky @ Books, Biscuits and Tea

Everyone has their own reading habits and their own reading space. What is yours like?
Take a photo of your reading space/corner, the place where you're blogging from right now - and make it fun! Showcase the books you chose for the read-a-thon, the snacks you bought for this event, your pets who sleep next to you while you read, etc. Feel free to tell us a few words about why you chose this place for reading or about your reading habits so that we can get to know each other a little bit better. :) 

Here are some photos of where I blog and where I read :)

My desk with some finished books (Home Front, Rippler, & Chameleon) waiting to be reviewed :

My book shelves on the wall opposite my desk (And yes...my guest room/office is painted two colors-green & blue-who knows what the people who lived here before me were thinking! I hope to take up the carpet & repaint soon. LOL):

My corner of the couch in the living room where I like to curl up with a good book, a cup of tea, and a blanket:)

And my view from the couch of my shelves in the living room that flank my television armoire:

And here are the books that I hope to finish this weekend!!  They are listed on my 

Wicked Winter Read-A-Thon Post Here.

I also read a lot in bed before I go to sleep and that is where my kitty will usually join me...but I'm not posting pictures of my messy bed today! : P


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Edited: When I went to go read a bit before bed Piper looked so cute that I snapped a shot...turned the computer back on and added this last picture:)

Wintry Sentences Challenge 2 & Giveaway (Wicked Winter Read-A-Thon)

Hosted by: Rebecca @ Kindle Fever, April @ My Shelf Confessions

Welcome to the second challenge of the Wicked Winter Read-A-Thon Weekend!  This challenge is open Internationally (as long as the Book Depository ships to your country)!  This challenge will be short and sweet!  Using at least 3 of  the titles of the books below...make up the most interesting, funny, romantic, mysterious, or simply ridiculous sentence that you can! All entries must be received between 4pm & 8pm EST.  The most creative sentence will win the "wintry" book of their choice up to $10 from The Book Depository!

Remember that to be eligible to win the challenge you must be signed up to participate in the Read-A-Thon and you must leave your wintry sentence or a link to your post with your sentence in the comments below before 8pm EST!

Kissing Snowflakes
Shiver
Cold Kiss
The Black Ice
Frozen
After the Snow
Frost
Cold Magic
Winter Garden

So have at it!!  Leave your wintry sentence or link to your post in the comments below, make sure that I'll have a way to contact you if you are the winner, and visit other participants' posts to see what they've come up with!!  Have Fun!!


Also be sure to visit the next challenge:
8PM – 12AM EST | Welcome into the Unknown | Vicky @ Books, Biscuits and Tea

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UPDATE:

All of your entries were absolutely amazing...you sure made it tough for me to pick just one winner!  So I picked my top three (in random order):


"After the Snow, the Winter Garden remained Frozen, and many years passed until its Cold Magic dared to melt away."~~~Carla @ Cuidado com o Dalmata


"A shiver caressed down her spine as she looked out to frost gathering over the forest as the first snowflakes began to fall, if only he was there to turn the cold kiss he left her with to the warmth she so desperately needed."~~~Em @ Musings from an Addicted Reader


"After the snow made everything outside sparkle, I went for a walk in the winter garden, hoping to feel the cold magic of the kissing snowflakes, but the snow had stopped falling & the frozen landscape with its silence and the black ice and frost on the trees all around me only made me shiver with fear from the winter's cold kiss."~~~Aleksandra @ Aleksandra's Corner


Then I emailed all three to my fiance (our offices are in different rooms lol!), who had no clue about the contest and simply asked him which sentence he liked best....


And the Winner is:


Em @ Musings from an Addicted Reader


Congratulations--I'm emailing you now:)