Christmassy Fun Quiz with...Carolyn Crane

Last but by no means least, I introduce to you the awesome and amazing author...Carolyn Crane

Carolyn Crane is one of my favourite urban fantasy authors of all time. I only discovered her (via lastbitepodcast) this year and I am so glad that I did. Carolyn is author of the Disillusionist Trilogy. Two books from the series are currently released and I am hungrily awaiting the release of book three =). Please take the time to check Carolyn Crane's website out.

You can follow Carolyn in the following ways;

Blog: The Thrillionth Page

Twitter: @CarolynCrane

Now on with the crazy quiz...

1. If you could stop time for one night like Santa Clause, what would you do with it?

OMG, Naomi, you don’t start with the easy ones. I think I’d sit in front of the fireplace with my husband and read. And have music on. And I would feel like I had all my work done. The cats would be there - behaving, because it’s a magical night. Also, cheese and crackers would be involved.  

2. If you could take one moment from a past Christmas and put it in a snow globe, what moment would it be and why?

I’d go for the Christmas when I was six. I think our family was really happy that year. Christmas seemed magical, and my sisters and I believed in Santa.   

3. When you think of Christmas, do you get that warm fuzzy feeling inside or do you just think ‘it’s just another day and want it to be over with’?

I don’t think of it as another day at all, and I hate to admit this, but I do sometimes hate Christmas. I wish I loved it like some other people do. Somehow, I never feel like I’ve done enough, or gotten people good enough presents or something. My guilty conscience!   

4. What is your favourite thing about Christmas and why?

When it’s over. Look at me! I am always really relieved. Maybe that is why I write urban fantasy! It is the most un-Christmassy genre, besides horror.  

5. Do you have any Christmas traditions that you always keep to?

Actually, I love to take a walk with family on Christmas. That is a really important tradition for me, and our family has always done that, like after Christmas dinner, or sometimes, after the present-opening frenzy. I think, just the action of slowing down and being outside is nice, and gives a sort of good holiday feeling about relationships and all that. At least for me.   

6. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

LOL. Oh yes yes yes. And I have always felt bad about it. I always feel like the people know!!

7. Tree topper: Star or Angel? Star!

8. Sledge or bin lid? What? I don’t know what either of those things are. Oh, maybe a kind of sled? Like a saucer? If you are asking sled or saucer, saucer all the way!

9. Red or Green? Red red red!

10. Rockin’ Robin or Jingle Bell Rock? Rockin’ Robin, you kook. That is your funniest question.

11. Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? Day.

12. Mistletoe: Yes or No? Alas, no.

Thanks again Carolyn for taking part...Merry Christmas!!!

Review: Double Cross by Carolyn Crane

Double Cross by Carolyn Crane

My Rating: E, P, B

Published: 2010
Publisher: Ballantine Books

Author's Website: authorcarolyncrane.com

Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

Justine Jones lived her life as a fearful hypochondriac until she was lured into the web of a mysterious master-mind named Packard, who gifts her with extraordinary mental powers – dooming her to fight Midcity’s shadowy war on paranormal crime in order to find the peace she so desperately craves.

But now serial killers with unheard-of skills are terrorizing the most powerful beings in Midcity, including mastermind Packard and his oldest friend and worst enemy, Mayor Otto Sanchez, who has the ability to bend matter itself to his will.

as the body count grows, Justine faces a crisis of conscience as she test the limits of her new powers and faces an impossible choice between two flawed but brilliant men – one on a journey of redemption, the other descending into a pit of moral depravity.

Double Cross is the second book in the Disillusionist trilogy by Carolyn Crane. Full of mystery, intrigue and plot twists galore. This book/series will keep you on your toes.

Justine is still adjusting to her new life as a disillusionist working for Packard who is currently free from his prison as long as his team of disillusionists work for Otto by disillusioning the high-cap criminals that are prisoner by his mind. On top of this, Justine is trying to have a normal relationship with Otto Sanchez, the Mayor of Midcity, when a new team of bad-ass high-cap resistant team start targeting high-caps trying to kill them. On top of all that, Justine has to deal with dream-dropping in on the one and only person she wishes to not be linked to.

Shelby, Carter and Simon make an exceptional return. We see another side of Shelby that is really sweet as I didn’t think she had it in her what with her pessimistic attitude towards life and its’ surroundings. I also just love her character as a whole as she is so funny with her dry wit humour. Carter is still as angry as ever and remind me to never get on the wrong side of him, that would be scary and very, very, life endangering. Simon is his same old usual self; constantly taking chances and trying to find ways to escape Packard’s hold on him.

I absolutely adore his series by Mrs Crane. This book is full of suspense and there is enough action to keep you on your toe. Just when you think the suspense is coming to an end, wham, you are knocked out by a total and utter plot twist that you could never have seen coming a mile away and then it ends. It ends on such a killer cliff hanger that I physically wanted to throw the book at the wall and scream blue murder. Of course I didn’t do that as I love my books but still, the cliff hanger has definitely got me sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for the release of the untitled third and final book in the series. Hopefully my sanity will have returned and I will have the guts to read it to find out what else is in store for Justine and Co.

My favourite part of the book was near the end after the long and scintillating build up where Justine gets to be with the man of her dreams. But then that cliff hanger at the end just leaves you speechless and angry. Nevertheless, I still loved this book and have thoroughly enjoyed the series so far and now I am going to wondering what in store for the disillusionists in the third and final book of the series.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book and the series to any urban fantasy fans out there. If you haven’t heard of these books already, then where on earth have you been living? Under a rock? In all seriousness, this book and its’ series is writing like nothing else I have ever read. It has everything you could want from a book/series; awesome characters, a love triangle between the “good guy”, “the bad guy” and the heroine, hard core criminals with supernaturalesque powers and a seriously amazing thrilling and suspenseful story line.

Disclaimer: I was sent this book by the wonderful Carolyn Crane herself for review. I have not been paid to review this book and everything I have said is of my own honest opinion.

In My Mailbox...(14)

In My Mailbox is a meme that is hosted by The Story Siren every Sunday.

Okay, so I was having some issues last week uploading pictures to blog posts so my IMM covers last week as well as this week's post.

Borrowed

Faefever by Karen Marie Moning

Kissing Sin by Keri Arthur

Bought

 

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Torment by Lauren Kate

Sent for Review

Double Cross by Carolyn Crane  - sent to me and signed by the lovely Mrs Crane herself along with a couple of awesome bookmarks =) You can find her over at The Thrillionth Page or follow her on Twitter (@CarolynCrane)

The Trouble With Spells & The Demon Kiss by Lacey Weatherford - sent to me and signed by the absolutely amazing Lacey Weatherford herself along with a couple of bookmarks, badge and fridge magnet (see pic below) =) You can find her blog over at The Delusional Diaries or follow her on Twitter (@LMWeatherford)

Won

I won the above (Black Molnija Babydoll T-Shirt, Red Leather VA Bookmark, and two VA Molnija Key Rings) from Vampire Book Club

What did you guys get?

Review: Mind Games by Carolyn Crane

My Rating: E, E, P

Published: 2010
Publisher: Ballantine Books (Spectra)

Author's Website: authorcarolyncrane.com

Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

Justine Jones has a secret. A hardcore hypochondriac, she’s convinced a blood vessel is about to burst in her brain. Then, out of the blue, a startling handsome man named Packard peers into Justine’s soul and invites her to join his private crime-fighting team. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime deal. With a litter of Packard’s hands-on training, Justine can weaponize her neurosis, turning it outwards on Midcity’s worst criminals, and finally get the freedom from fear she’s always craved. End of problem.

Or is it? In Midcity, a dashing police chief is fighting a unique breed of outlaw with more than human powers. And while Justine’s first missions, including one against a nymphomaniac husband-killer, are thrilling successes, there is more to Packard than meets the eye. Soon, while battling her attraction to two very different men, Justine is plunging deeper into a world of wizadry, eroticism, and cosmic secrets. With Packard’s help, Justine has freed herself from her madness – only to discover a reality more frightening than anyone’s worst fears.

Mind Games is the debut novel, first in a trilogy, of up and coming author Carolyn Crane. Her first novel is nothing like anything I have read before. It’s original and full of zing.

The first time I read the synopsis of this book, I wasn’t entirely sure if I would be my kind of book. But in the end I gave in and bought the it and I got really excited about getting to read it and I must say I was not disappointed in the slightest.

I was constantly on edge reading this book. I never knew what was going to happen in this story and what Justine was going to do next. She isn’t a girl that gets pushed around easily. We see her go from a very severe hypochondriac to an all powerful zinging machine that helps reform the humans of Midcity that can’t be proved guilty in court. Justine has help in the form of her disillusionist team mates, Shelby, Carter, Simon and Packard. But zinging comes at a cost.

Shelby has this dry humour about her and I absolutely loved her character to the bone. Carter is like my male double, especially when he is driving a car. Simon is the dangerous one in the group, he doesn’t always follow the rules and makes his own boundaries. Packard is the leader of the disillusionists, he formed the group and decides the cases they take on.

My absolute favourite part of the book was the scene with the pool, which is a lot further in the book. This is the turning point in the book which will cause readers to really think about the story. I know I got confused from here on as I didn’t know who was the good guy and who was the bad guy. The line seems to be really thin. I also love all the interaction that Justine has with Shelby and Simon. Although I didn’t like Simon to begin with, but he sort of grew on me.

This book is an absolute mind blower and I would recommend this to everyone. Seriously, just try it, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed. I wasn’t. I can’t wait for the next instalment in the series. I wonder what the disillusionists will get up to next.

Disclaimer: I bought this book with my own money and I am not paid to review this book in any way. Everything I have said is of my own honest opinion.