Apr 27, 2010

TEASER. Hells yes.

Long time, since I posted a teaser. But here, it is...(Ronni's back!)


*snipped*

Apr 19, 2010

Dipped in theobroma: A Chocolate Wishes Review

Title: Chocolate Wishes
Author: Trisha Ashley

Life is sweet for chocolate maker Chloe Lyon! Business is booming at her artisan chocolate-makers 'Chocolate Wishes' in the picture-perfect Lancashire village of Sticklepond - not least because all of Chloe's sweet treats contain an inspirational prediction for each customer. If only her own life was as easy to read in the cards, perhaps Chloe could have foreseen being jilted at the altar! But Chloe has long put thoughts of love behind her - after all, life is busy enough, especially as she tries to sort out her friends' tangled love lives and the village welcomes its new vicar, Raffy Sinclair. However, the village rumour mill goes into overdrive when it is revealed that Raffy is the distinctly unorthodox ex-front man of rock band 'Mortal Ruin' - and also happens to be Chloe's first love, who left her broken-hearted! Whilst Chloe tries to ignore this blast from her past, will she discover that wishes can come true when you least expect it!?

Trisha Ashley's latest offering Chocolate Wishes can be summed up as Chocolat meets Jane Austen, with dollops of magic and a dash of some oddly endearing characters. Chloe Lyon is a succesful chocolate maker who seems to have quite a few things going on in her life - a mother who's done a disappearing act, eccentric housemates in the form of a goth brother, a warlock for a grandfather and a gypsy aunt, and two particular 'blasts from the past', that if not upset, definitely sends tremors through her otherwise delightfully crazy existence. So, along with the introduction of a sexy, ex-rockstar of a vicar, we have an almost-satanic cult bobbing it's head in the village of Sticklepond (which also appeared in Trisha Ashley's 'A Winter's Tale') and together with mistaken paternal identities we have sprinklings of love portions and guardian angels!

Chocolate Wishes might have suffered from too-many-subplots syndrom if Trisha Ashley had not deftly blended in the magical and the mundane. Dialogue is certainly her strong point, for it is through the interactions of the characters that we get to know not just what they are thinking but also how the latest proceedings are affecting the Sticklepond locality, which is (inspite of being a first person narrative with focus on one particular character) an important aspect of the story. Having said that, characters are definitely where Trisha Ashley nails it, for her cast and supporting cast never fail to delight the reader and hold their interest. Some might say that the plot loosens at certain places but considering how I lurrve character-driven books more, that never was a problem with me.

I enjoyed Chocolate Wishes immensely and even if you are the rare anti-chocolate person, I recommend this to you and You and YOU.
Really, go read this. You might be tempted to take a dip in chocolate and live on chocolate for the rest of your life, but honestly, what's the harm in that? Who cares about getting fat when you can have all the chocolate you want?
(Warning: Delicious recipes inside)

Apr 11, 2010

What You Can't (rather MUST NOT) Miss

Something along the following lines happened yesterday afternoon:
Brother smelled smoke. I saw smoke tendrils blanketing the balcony. Rushed to find a bucket, a stool and a chair reduced to a heap of ashes on the ground. No wire or fire-instigating tool in sight. No crazy people around our neighbourhood who'd throw anything inflammable into our balcony. Nobody in our house as so much as loves playing with fire. No sworn enemy wanting to take revenge aka Bond-style. Creepy. Very, very creepy.
We still have no clue as to how or why the fire started in the first place. This morning we did some cleaning up, and even after after vigorous washing and scrubbing this is how it looks
Our poor balcony at the back the house, which used to be my fave writing hideout as a kid, is damaged. RIP.
Then, the other day at the supermarket, somebody left this filled trolley in the middle of the slope-y aisle and bam! it crashed into me and injured the middle finger of my right hand *grumble, grumble, stupid trolley, stupid trolley owner* While I can still write, it hurts and it's been a frustrating two days. Grrr..

Ah, well.

On to better things now. The reasons for this post being written. The What-You-Can't-(rather-MUST-NOT)-Miss reason(s). Oh yes, it's time for contest updates!
--> Check out Punk Writer Kid Emilia's BOOM DE YA DA contest featuring an epic I-love-Publishing video and a copy of Courtney Summers' Some Girls Are.
--> Head over to back-from-hiatus fellow YA writer BECCA'S contest of Artistic Proportions. Honestly, this kinda contest happens once in a while!
-->Drop by badass book reviewer CHOCO'S 600 Follower Giveaway to win Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall and Julia Hoban's Willow.

Look, if you're still wondering which to enter, I'll say you're being stupid deciding. They are all international and all supremely amazing, so take the chance and shoot off entries for all three!

Apr 9, 2010

Winner of Writing Journal

In case you're wondering, no I haven't forgotten. Yes, I've been lazy (or busy -hey, it's all about how you put it) what with writing, reading, upcoming exams, incessant power cuts (it's happening *wails*) and life in general, but I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN.

So, yes, I have a WINNER.


I bet you're happy now. *makes I-told-you-so face here*
In all honesty, those were some great entries. Heck, who wouldn't want a writing journal -one where you can scribble all those little too-dark thoughts you wouldn't want the outside-journal world to know? You want it and I want it too (really unfortunate I couldn't enter, because if I did I'd win, wouldn't I? Ah, well, you guessed it *whines*)

Lauren Bjorkman, proud writer of My Invented Life and proud designer of the MIL Writing Journal, did the honours. Somewhat like this:

I wrote down one word to summarize each lovely entry, and then had my son look at them all, close his eyes, and touch one with the tip of his pencil. He chose "love" which I had written down for mfhed@yahoo.com 's entry. She is the winner!




So, yes, now you can shake that sparkling champagne and wait for Lauren to email you :D
If you didn't win, don't lose heart. As long as Dreamcatcher's Lair is here and you're a part of it, you know there will be more contests coming this way (this one's the 3rd, btw).
 
I heart you all!

Apr 3, 2010

CONTEST OF THE CENTURY

...THAT CRACKED THE EARTH IN TWO!

Bestie Tahereh (arguably the coolest blogger in blogosphere) is holding a contest of EPIC PROPORTIONS. Oh yes, you heard that right! This one will blow the top off your head.
You ask why?
Well, firstly, you get a $100 AMAZON GIFT CARD *punches air*
Or, TWO YA BOOKS OF YOUR CHOICE + Surprise
Or, ONE YA BOOK OF YOUR CHOICE + Surprise
Or, if you impress her enough, an HONORARY MENTION (with a SURPRISE)

Of course, you have to work for it (I mean, get creative). Go, look for the details and join!

        CONTEST SUPREMO

GO, GO, LET THE CREATIVE JUICES FLOW!
 
Blog Design By Use Your Imagination Designs With Pictures from Pinkparis1233
Use Your Imagination Designs