#GIVEAWAY: UNCORKED by Rebecca Rohman

UNCORKED

by

REBECCA ROHMAN

A Contemporary Romance With Elements Of Suspense

Read my review

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GIVEAWAY

The author is generously offering 1 print copy (US residents) and 1 e-copy (non US residents) of her debut novel UNCORKED to 2 lucky followers of this blog. To enhance your chances of winning Rebecca's book, please 'Like' her Facebook page and 'Follow' her on Twitter. Leave a comment and your email address in the comments section. Good luck!

About the book 

"Chella Noon’s life isn’t her own. Her success as a Marketing Executive in the cosmetic division of an international conglomerate is overshadowed by a series of tragic events from a decade ago. With no family, few trusted friends and years spent on the run, she opens herself up to the possibility of a future with a sexy new real estate investor despite escalating threats from a psychotic ex determined to torment her. Mitch Mariani never met a deal he couldn’t close. So when Chella walks into his life, he will stop at nothing to prove he is worthy of her trust. But as Chella’s past catches up to them and danger exposes his well-guarded secrets, his heart may not be the only thing at risk of a tragic end." 

 About the author

Rebecca Rohman is a wife and designer currently living in the North Eastern Unites States.  She was a former Sales Manager for a tourist magazine, and for many years prior, she first did Marketing for a jewelry company, and later a fine wine distributor. About fifteen years ago, she started writing this story just to purely entertain herself.  It was not until early in 2012 when she decided to complete it, and share it with the world.  This story has now been published into her first romance novel. She hopes that the story lines, characters and exotic destinations will transport you into a different world,  as you read through the pages of her new book, Uncorked.
To know more about her, please visit her website or connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.  

http://www.rebeccarohman.com 

https://www.facebook.com/rebecca.rohman.5

https://twitter.com/rebeccarohman1

UNCORKED by Rebecca Rohman (Books & Wine #4)

UNCORKED 

Author: Rebecca Rohman

Published February 2013 by Rebecca Rohman

Edition: ebook, 366 pages

Genre: contemporary fiction, thriller, suspense, romance, women's fiction

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads  

BUY IT on Amazon

Blurb - "Chella Noon’s life isn’t her own. Her success as a Marketing Executive in the cosmetic division of an international conglomerate is overshadowed by a series of tragic events from a decade ago. With no family, few trusted friends and years spent on the run, she opens herself up to the possibility of a future with a sexy new real estate investor despite escalating threats from a psychotic ex determined to torment her. Mitch Mariani never met a deal he couldn’t close. So when Chella walks into his life, he will stop at nothing to prove he is worthy of her trust. But as Chella’s past catches up to them and danger exposes his well-guarded secrets, his heart may not be the only thing at risk of a tragic end."

My review - This contemporary debut novel, authored by indie writer Rebecca Rohman, is labeled as "romance with elements of suspense." Well, the label may not adequately describe the intensity and scope of those romantic and suspenseful elements. Apart from being an enjoyable read, I was pleasantly surprised to find more than promised by the concise synopsis and the refined, but not-so-revealing, cover artwork: suspense a-go-go and 'steam' beyond my expectations. With a profusion of well written love scenes (more in the vein of an erotic romance novel), and a sustained use of plot twists (at times predictable but nonetheless engrossing), Uncorked was a solid, well-paced, and engaging read. My only perplexities about the book (minor issues affecting mainly the first part) regard a certain stiltedness in the dialogues, but they are quite successfully resolved by the author as the story unfolds. Actually, Ms. Rohman takes the emotional intensity of the storyline to a remarkably heart-grabbing level, particularly in the final chapters. I found myself rooting for Chella and Mitch more than I initially thought I would: their love story was sweet, spicy, and 'angsty' enough to entice me and keep me captive from cover to cover. A promising debut.

*E-copy generously provided by the author in return of a fair and unbiased review

                                                          
                                                                  

BOOKS AND WINE

Chella & Mitch's story takes place for the most part in beautiful San Diego, so I'm going to pair the book with a Californian red, which happens to be also Mitch's favorite. Opus One is available in a variety of great vintages, but my choice would be Opus One Red Bordeaux Blend Napa Valley 2001, a medium bodied, dark ruby red, with notes of plums, black currants, and anise. Elegant and complex, Opus One is an excellent conversation starter on a date and perfect complement for a candlelight dinner...Uncorked will put you just in the right mood for it. My menu for a romantic tête-à-tête would be mushroom risotto with peas, pork roast, and baked fennels au gratin. Cheers!

THE FIRST PILLAR (Everville #1) by Roy Huff - #GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY

Epic Fantasy and Young Adult  fans, I have great news for you! 

1 Kindle e-copy of Amazon's #1 international bestselling epic fantasy novel EVERVILLE: The First Pillar (Everville #1) by Roy Huff is up for grabs here on Mina's Bookshelf. 

Please leave a comment below with your email address and use the Rafflecopter widget to enter the contest. Ends August 15, 2013. Open to all. 

*If you don't own a Kindle reader, no worries! You can download the free Kindle App on your PC, Android, iPhone.

About the book

Owen Sage is the emblematic college freshman at Easton Falls University. With all the worries about his first year in college, he was not prepared for what would happen next. His way of life was flipped upside down when he mysteriously crossed into another dimension, into the beautiful land of Everville. His excitement was abruptly halted when he discovered that there was a darkness forged against both the natural world, which he knew well, and the new land which he discovered, Everville. He must devise a plan to save both worlds while joining forces with the race of Fron and The Keepers, whom both harbor hidden secrets he must learn in order to gain power over the evil that dwells in The Other In Between. With a race against time to save both worlds, his short time at Easton Falls did not quite prepare him for the evil, dark forces he must fight in order to conquer The Other In Between. 

Goodreads

About the author
Roy Huff is the author of Amazon's #1 international bestselling epic fantasy novel, Everville: The First Pillar. He is a man of many interests including science, traveling, movies, the outdoors, and of course writing teen and young adult fantasy fiction. He holds five degrees in four separate disciplines including liberal arts, history, secondary science education, and geoscience. Roy Huff's background includes work in art, history, education, business, real-estate, economics, geoscience, and satellite meteorology. He was born on the East Coast but has spent more than half his life in Hawaii, where he currently resides and writes his epic fantasy sagas. Find him on Amazon, Twitter@Evervillerseries and Twitter@EvervilleFans.

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"SWORN SWORD by JAMES AITCHESON" #BlogTour (Author Spotlight & Excerpt)

SWORN SWORD

(THE BLOODY AFTERMATH OF 1066 #1)

BY

JAMES AITCHESON 

ISBN 9781402280764; Historical Fiction 
 Hardcover; $24.99; Sourcebooks Landmark 

                                                               

The thrilling epic set in eleventh-century England and France marks the beginning of James Aitcheson's breathtaking saga of the Norman Conquest

January, 1069

Less than three years have passed since Hastings and the death of the usurper, Harold Godwineson. In the depths of winter, two thousand Normans march to subdue the troublesome province of Northumbria. Tancred a Dinant, an ambitious and oath-sworn knight and a proud leader of men, is among them, hungry for battle, for silver and for land. But at Durham the Normans are ambushed in the streets by English rebels. In the battle that ensues, their army is slaughtered almost to a man. Badly wounded, Tancred barely escapes with his life. His lord is among those slain. Soon the enemy are on the march, led by the dispossessed prince Eadgar, the last of the ancient Saxon line, who is determined to seize the realm he believes is his. Yet even as Tancred seeks vengeance for his lord's murder, he finds himself caught up in secret dealings between a powerful Norman magnate and a shadow from the past. As the Norman and English armies prepare to clash, Tancred begins to uncover a plot which harks back to the day of Hastings itself. A plot which, if allowed to succeed, threatens to undermine the entire Conquest. The fate of the Kingdom hangs in the balance.

James Aitcheson was born in Wiltshire, England in 1985 and studied History at Cambridge. Sworn Sword is his first novel, praised by The Mail on Sunday, Historical Novels Review, Publishers Weekly, and bestselling author Ben Kane, among others. The second installment, The Splintered Kindgom, is forthcoming (August 2014). To know more about him, please visit his website www.jamesaitcheson.com

Excerpt from Sworn Sword

The first drops of rain began to fall, as hard as hammers and as cold as steel against my cheek. My mail hung heavily upon my shoulders, and my back and arse were aching. We had risen at first light and had spent much of the day in the saddle, and now night lay once more like a blanket across the wooded hills.
Our mounts' hooves made hardly a sound against the damp earth as we pressed on up the slope. The path we followed was narrow, little more than a deer track, and so we rode in single file with the trees close on either side. Leafless branches brushed against my arm; some I had to fend away from my face. Above, the slender crescent of the moon struggled to make itself shown, casting its cold light down upon us. The clouds were rolling in, and the rain began to come down more heavily, pattering upon the ground. I pulled the hood of my cloak up over my head.
There were five of us that night: all of us men who had served our lord for several years, oath-sworn and loyal knights of his own household. These were men I knew well, alongside whom I had fought more times than I cared to remember. These were men who had been there in the great battle at Hæstinges, and who had survived.
And I was the one who led them. I, Tancred a Dinant.
It was the twenty-eighth day of the month of January, in the one thousand and sixty-ninth year since our Lord's Incarnation. And this was the third winter to have passed since the invasion: since we had first mustered on the other side of the Narrow Sea, boarded ships, and made the crossing on the autumn tide. The third winter since Duke Guillaume had led our army to victory over the oath-breaker and usurper, Harold son of Godwine, at Hæstinges, and was received into Westmynstre church and crowned as rightful king of the English.
And now we were at Dunholm, further north than any of us had been before: in Northumbria, of all the provinces of the kingdom of England, the only one that after two years and more still refused to submit.
I glanced back over my shoulder, making sure that none were lagging behind, casting my gaze over each one of them in turn. In my tracks rode Fulcher fitz Jean, heavy-set and broad of shoulder. Following him was Ivo de Sartilly, a man as quick with his tongue as he was with his sword, then Gérard de Tillières, reticent yet always reliable. And bringing up the very end of the line, almost lost in the shadow of the night, the tall and rangy figure of Eudo de Ryes, whom I had known longer and trusted more than any other in Lord Robert's household.
Beneath their cloaks their shoulders hung low. They all held lances, but rather than pointing to the sky as they should have been, ready to couch under the arm for the charge, they were turned down toward the ground. None of them, I knew, wanted to be out on such a night. Each would rather have been indoors by the blazing hearth-fire with his pitcher of ale or wine, or down in the town with the rest of the army, joining in the plunder. As too would I.
"Tancred?" Eudo called.
I turned my mount slowly around to face him, bringing the rest of the knights to a halt. "What is it?" I asked.
"We've been searching since nightfall and seen no one. How long are we to stay out?"
"Until our balls freeze," Fulcher muttered behind me.
I ignored him. "Until daybreak if we have to," I replied.
"They won't come," Eudo said. "The Northumbrians are cowards. They haven't fought us yet and they won't fight us now."

Sworn Sword Blog Tour

July 31 - Mina's Bookshelf

August 7 - Tanzanite's Castle Full of Books

August 8 - Devourer of Books

August 11 - Radiant Light

August 12 - Broken Teepee

August 13 - My Reading Room Blog

August 15 - Bibliophilic Book Blog

August 16 - Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews

August 23 - Booksie's Blog

August 26 - Booked and Loaded

 

INFERNO by Dan Brown (Books & Wine #3)

INFERNO (Robert Langdon #4)
Author: Dan Brown
Published May 14, 2013 by Doubleday
Genre: mystery, thriller, suspense, historical fiction, contemporary novel, sci-fi
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads
BUY IT on Amazon


"The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their  neutrality in times of moral crisis."

From the cover - "In the heart of Italy, Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon is drawn into a harrowing world centered on one of history’s most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces . . . Dante’s Inferno. Against this backdrop, Langdon battles a chilling adversary and grapples with an ingenious riddle that pulls him into a landscape of classic art, secret passageways, and futuristic science. Drawing from Dante’s dark epic poem, Langdon races to find answers and decide whom to trust . . . before the world is irrevocably altered."

My review -  Dan Brown doesn't shine for the pristine quality of his prose: his narrative style is far from flawless and, in more than one occasion, those historical facts and cultural references that normally represent the best asset of his writing were simply too extensive to absorb...Don't get me wrong. I admire Brown's ambition to incorporate history, art, and science in a work of fiction. I am all for it. But when an author veers off course with minute descriptions that would better serve as footnotes, and disrupts the action with frequent and distractingly lengthy digressions, then the result is anticlimactic...now and again I lost track of Robert Langdon and I had to rewind in order to locate his whereabouts. Obviously, Brown's appeal lays elsewhere.

Despite the drawback of an uneven narration, Inferno remains an intellectually rewarding read, grand in scope and thought-provoking. 

Firenze, Italy

Meticulously researched and well documented, Inferno paints a suggestive portrait of some of the most enchanting European locations and their history (Florence, Venice, Istanbul). Sumptuous descriptions and an elaborate game plan inspired by the rich symbolism of Dante Alighieri's monumental masterpiece (La Divina Commedia) are the pillars of Brown's conspiracy thriller, but what sets it apart from his previous books is a stronger sci-fi spin. 

Venezia, Italy

Brown leaves the beaten path of esoteric doctrines to take on a more secular and alarmingly current subject, a subject that resonates with a strong socio-political underscore. More than ever before, his signature mind boggling theories provide a springboard for social commentary: the villain of the story, a genetic engineer of exceptional skill and vision, has been trying in vain to bring the risks of overpopulation to the attention of government agencies and world organizations.

Istanbul, Turkey

Unhinged and ostracized by the scientific community, he believes that extinction is impending and that the catastrophic circumstances of our species require an 'uncomfortable' solution. Is his transhumanist approach an act of genetic terrorism or a way to fix the fatal flaws in our evolution? Is it unethical to use technologies that advance and help the human kind to survive in a changing world? Should we consider genetic engineering as just another step in our evolution (like fire and wheel) rather than an unnatural deviation? After all, scientists dabble in the gray areas of science every day, indisturbed; government agencies are among the first ones to weaponize ground-breaking technologies:

"...expect the worst from people who hold power." 

For once, the evil genius may have a point.

Botticelli's Map of Hell

                                                         

BOOKS & WINE 

Sommelier extraordinaire Andrea Mussone is on the blog today to share his expertise and offer his tips on books and wine pairing. Big fan of Dan Brown and passionate about the art of wine tasting, Andrea recommends a classic Italian red.

 "Since Inferno is mainly set in Florence, Tuscany, I've immediately thought of a territorial pairing, and this region offers a wide choice of wines. More specifically, being Inferno an intriguing and complex book, rich in historical references,  the perfect wine match would be a Brunello di Montalcino. The town of Montalcino is located south of Florence, in the province of Siena. Brunello is one of Italy's most famous and prestigious wines, historically one of the oldest. The "terroir" (soil) contributes to the vast range in characteristics and potential complexity of Brunello di Montalcino. It is made from Sangiovese grape, an indigenous grape variety. Following fermentation, the wine is aged three years or more in oak casks or small oak barrels. At the nose it generally offers a wide range of aromatic notes: spices, pepper, herbs, underbrush, then ripe red fruit, berries, currants, violet, tobacco, leather. On the palate Brunello is warm, seductive, rich, deep, intense, complex, velvety, mineral, spicy, balsamic. This full-bodied wine is particularly suited to accompany a beef filet,  "Fiorentina" style. Being also a meditation wine,  Brunello is the perfect 'sipping companion' to Inferno". 

Andrea Mussone, Italy

FROM THIS MOMENT ON by Bella Andre: GIVEAWAY WINNER

BELLA ANDRE "Summer Of Love" BLOG TOUR - 1 print copy of FROM THIS MOMENT ON (The Sullivans #2) GIVEAWAY

And the winner is...

SANDY

Congratulations, Sandy! Please check your email for instructions to claim the prize.  I would like to thank all the nice gals who entered the contest. Stay tuned! Book #3 in The Sullivans series (CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE) will be up for grabs very soon. Happy reading!

THE KING'S DECEPTION by Steve Berry (Books and Wine #2)

THE KING'S DECEPTION (Cotton Malone #8)

Author: Steve Berry

Hardcover: 409 pages

Published June 11, 2013 by Ballantine Books

Genre: thriller, suspense, mystery, international thriller, contemporary novel, historical fiction

Rating: 5 plus out of 5 stars

Goodreads

BUY IT on Amazon

"She went to her grave with her secret inviolate" 

Cover jacket blurb - Cotton Malone and his fifteen-year-old son, Gary, are headed to Europe. As a favor to his former boss at the Justice Department, Malone agrees to escort a teenage fugitive back to England. But after he is greeted at gunpoint in London, both the fugitive and Gary disappear, and Malone learns that he’s stumbled into a high-stakes diplomatic showdown—an international incident fueled by geopolitical gamesmanship and shocking Tudor secrets. At its heart is the Libyan terrorist convicted of bombing Pan Am Flight 103, who is set to be released by Scottish authorities for “humanitarian reasons.” An outraged American government objects, but nothing can persuade the British to intervene. Except, perhaps, Operation King’s Deception. Run by the CIA, the operation aims to solve a centuries-old mystery, one that could rock Great Britain to its royal foundations. Blake Antrim, the CIA operative in charge of King’s Deception, is hunting for the spark that could rekindle a most dangerous fire, the one thing that every Irish national has sought for generations: a legal reason why the English must leave Northern Ireland. The answer is a long-buried secret that calls into question the legitimacy of the entire forty-five-year reign of Elizabeth I, the last Tudor monarch, who completed the conquest of Ireland and seized much of its land. But Antrim also has a more personal agenda, a twisted game of revenge in which Gary is a pawn. With assassins, traitors, spies, and dangerous disciples of a secret society closing in, Malone is caught in a lethal bind. To save Gary he must play one treacherous player against another—and only by uncovering the incredible truth can he hope to prevent the shattering consequences of the King’s Deception. (Cover jacket blurb)

Elizabeth I, Darnley Portrait, c. 1575

My review - Who says that history cannot be entertaining? Historical anomalies actually are among the most intriguing topics: popular myths and urban legends fire our imagination more than tomes and tomes of official history will ever do. I've always been fascinated by the argument that Elizabeth I of England might have been the real author of plays and tragedies attributed to obscure commoner (and most likely illiterate) William Shakespeare. Another interesting theory about the real identity of The Virgin Queen has recently surfaced and, although regarded as a preposterous curiosity, it could shake the British Crown to its foundations if proved to be true.
Multiple clues hinting at a fraud were dropped during her longevous kingdom and they have been uncovered by scholars, writers, even lawyers, over the course of five centuries (the Bisley Boy legend, Famous Imposters by Bram Stoker, a group of Irish Nationalist lawyers). None of those clues led to an irrefutable evidence, an evidence that may remain buried forever in a tomb at Westminster Abbey. 

Queen of England, France and Ireland, the 'iron fist ruler' provided her kingdom with stability and wealth for an exceptionally long time (1558-1603). Spinster and childless, she didn't possess any grace or beauty. Marriage proposals (and there were many) were all turned down, no doctor was ever allowed to examine her body when she was ill, and no autopsy was authorized and performed at her death. Bad-tempered and prone to cursing, she was depicted as commanding and authoritative as a man. And she might have been one.

 

Elen Mirrer in 'Elizabeth I' (HBO tv drama)

One of the best kept secrets in history, and the grave repercussions this secret may have on the United Kingdom's fate, lay at the heart of Steve Berry's conspiracy thriller. The King's Deception swept me away with its non-stop action, flawless writing, and fleshed-out characters. Cotton Malone's multi-layered arc (ex US Department of Justice, newly divorcee and antique books amateur) unfolds throughout eight novels, yet his charismatic personality and back story are fully delineated, portraying him not only as a highly regarded intelligence agent, but also as a flawed man with a failed marriage on his belt and all the post-divorce challenges a father has to face in order to strengthen his bond with a teenage son. The introduction of two adolescent characters (Cotton's son Gary and street urchin Ian) allows the author to enrich the dramatic texture of his action-driven plot with a good insight into the emotional world of kids coming from dysfunctional families. Kudos to Berry for his ability to incorporate historical references and architectural descriptions in his narration, without breaking momentum and without disrupting the action flow with anti-climactic changes of pace. Keeping the chapters short and ricocheting from scene to scene as more frequently as we approach the final pages of the book, Berry managed to enhance the suspense factor: intrigues, shifting loyalties, a rich cast of players, a high-octane opening chapter and a relentless escalation of pulse-pounding action, all played out in an effortless and adrenaline-spiking fashion. Berry's 'deception' excelled where Brown's 'inferno' fell short. Clever, solid, and extremely well-crafted. From now on Steve Berry's novels will be on my 'must-read' shelf.

*Review copy graciously offered by the publicist in return of an unbiased and fair review
                      

 

BOOKS AND WINE 

For this complex and engrossing thriller I have decided to upgrade my wine suggestion to a Scottish single malt with a regal name. The Royal Lochnagar 12 year old, a scotch whiskey with a royal connection, is legendary for his classic and mellow flavor. With upfront flavors of earth, freshly cut grass, and spice, light notes of  sandalwood and hay, it became a favorite of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert during their visits to their Scottish estate at Balmoral. Great on ice or with a splash of water, you will find it irresistible in a cocktail of bold, fruity flavors. Cheers!

BLOOD & SAND Cocktail Recipe

Ingredients for 1 serving:

3/4 oz scotch whiskey

3/4 oz rosso vermouth  

1/4 oz cherry brandy

1 1/2 oz orange juice

Shake over ice cubes, strain into a chilled cocktail glass, and serve.

Steve Berry is the New York Times bestselling author of the Cotton Malone series featuring The Jefferson Key, The Emperor's Tomb, The Paris Vendetta, The Charlemagne Pursuit, The Venetian Betrayal, The Alexandria Link, and The Templar Legacy. He also has three stand-alone thrillers: The Third Secret, The Romanov Prophecy, and The Amber Room (and two e-book original short stories, The Balkan Escape and The Devil's Gold). Silver Bullet Award winning author, he has 12 million books in print, which have been translated into 40 languages and sold in 51 countries. He's also an accomplished instructor, having taught writing to audiences across the globe. When Steve's not writing, you can find him either on a beach, a golf course, or traveling (discovering more things lost) and thinking of the next novel. He lives in the historic city of St. Augustine, Florida. Steve and his wife Elizabeth have also started a foundation, History Matters, dedicated to aiding the preservation of our heritage. To know more about him, please visit his website www.steveberry.org