Posts Tagged ‘Leanna Renee Hieber’

The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker
I received this book from the author, and I must say, the second installment in Percy’s saga is just as beautifully written as the first. Exciting, dramatic and romantic, it will take you away to a world of intrigue, while simultaneously having you laugh out loud as you bond with the jovial characters.

In the last installment, the mystery of Percy’s past was revealed, along with how she is emotionally linked to Alexi. The revelations continue in this book, uncovering details from how they came to be, and how The Guard has progressed through time.

Despite the first book’s climactic (and greatly satisfying) ending, the danger to Percy isn’t over. Now being the official “seventh” in the Guard, and belonging with a group of loving yet powerful humans, their fight escalates yet again, as the “Darkness” perseveres to come through (and that story in itself, is fascinating and scary). Despite the extra help from the “Whisper World” in their fight to protect mankind (The Great Work), the Prophecy needs to be fulfilled, and there are no guarantees.

While The Guard strategize together, Alexi deals with his personal conflict to keep Percy protected and by his side.

She was his. Not a god’s, not destiny’s, not The Guard’s, not England’s but his. He’d fight to death and beyond to keep it that way.

Deeply in love, their new found romance is interrupted by the threat to mankind and their duty to protect it. Alexi struggles with his possessive and protective nature, as Percy struggles with her destiny (and what a destiny it is)!

“Percy,” he whispered. “Before words fail us, as I know they will…” He lifted her so that she reclined upon his knees. “I need you to know that, Prophecy aside, no matter what divine remnants have taken up in us, I, as a mortal man, am desperate for you. I’d have loved you no matter my fate.”

And despite the constant lurking danger and imminent threat, there is comic relief! Elijah (a member of The Guard) continues his relentless teasing of Alexi and his brooding personality…

“And more happily.” Elijah snorted. “To have someone sweet and dainty to look after, rather than His Royal Eeriness, Minister of the Constant Sneer…”

Percy glanced at her betrothed. “You don’t sneer. Do you?”

“See?” Alexi offered blandly to Elijah.

“Perhaps you’ve been spared, Miss Parker. So far. But, beware. Who knows what may happen now? My God. The bravery, my dear Miss Parker, the bravery of your young heart! Oh! Take note, Miss Parker – you see?” Elijah cried.

Percy turned. Alexi was indeed sneering.

*giggle* So many funny moments that will have you chuckling…in between the adrenaline rushes. Relief indeed!

Sooo… the book has a GRAND story inside waiting to be revealed. But, you must read book one one first, or you’ll be missing many delightful parts that this one expands upon. The enchantment abounds, and the members of The Guard are sure to capture your heart!

Looky what I got! I love mail with brown book-sized packages!

I received the latest book from Leanna Renee Hieber: The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker (review coming soon!!)

I also received an ARC of Shadow Bound by Erin Kellison (expected release date: July 2010) – this one looks great!

And a pile of bookmarks and “collector cards” for Tsunami Blue (by Gayle Ann Williams). By the way – these are for you guys

I have 24 sets to give away (okay, I’ll admit, it was 25 sets, but I kept a set ). All you have to do is leave a comment on my review for Tsunami Blue (please make sure it’s relevant to the book in question), and I will send a set to the first 24 visitors that leave a comment relevant to the book or to my REVIEW (and if you read the book, what was your favorite part?). Don’t post your mailing address in the comments section (just send me that by clicking on “contact me”). Since I’m covering the cost of the stamp, this is valid to the continental United States only.

I’ve returned from a business trip and I’m so happy to be back to my regular schedule! Do you know how hard it is to read during a business trip? You think there will be plenty of reading during downtime, but there is no downtime! Well, unless you count getting back to your room, and being so exhausted that you’re fast asleep by 10pm as “downtime”. Each night, it never failed! I’d barely get through a chapter without my eyes closing. And well… I haven’t mastered reading with my eyes closed yet Stupid sleeping!!

So I’m catching up with what our author’s are up to…let’s see what I can find!

• Jeaniene Frost interviewed Melissa Marr today.
• Shiloh Walker is hosting a contest – win a $25 gift card to the Sony Ebook Store?! Oooh wait this one’s for me! I have a Sony E-Reader!! Yay me! Ok you guys can enter too – but wait! You have to follow Shiloh on Twitter (and while you’re at it, follow me too!). Here’s how to enter (and you have until tomorrow, so go quick!) – I selected “Broken (Berkley Sensation)” as the one I want to read – what did you guys choose?
• Elisabeth Naughton gives us an excerpt of her upcoming book “Marked (Eternal Guardians)“
• Diana Rowland announces the official release date of “SECRETS OF THE DEMON” (January 4th 2011)
• Yasmine Galenorn has a new assistant. Read more here
• Alyssa Day introduces us to a new YA author/twitterer: @HeatherDbooks (Heather Davis – author of Never Cry Werewolf and The Clearing)
• Michelle Rowen interviews Charlene Teglia on her blog for “30 Days of Demons” (a contest for free books too! Wicked Hot & Claimed by the Wolf: A Shadow Guardians Novel)
• Shiloh Walker gives us an excerpt from her upcoming re-released book “No Longer Mine”.
• Leanna Renee Hieber has an amazing announcement! “It’s official. Rights sold. The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker is being adapted into a musical theatre production.”  I told you guys how good it was!! It really is! WOW!!! Congratulations Leanna! You deserve it!

More to follow as I find more cool tweets…

Want to read these tweets directly? Check out my Authors Who Tweet post, and make sure to follow them! It’s always good stuff!

Some Twitter fun to keep me busy during my work breaks today (tee hee! Ok I admit, I’m being bad again!)

• Jenna Black is hosting a contest (electronic “demon hunters” trading cards!)
• Caridad Pineiro blogged some tips: Networking – The Day After the Conference Tips
• Diana Rowland is also hosting a contest! Prizes range from various autographed books to a Barnes & Noble gift card.
• Elisabeth Naughton is giving away 1st chapter booklets of her upcoming book “Marked (Eternal Guardians)” on her website.
• Richelle Mead just completed the first draft of “Last Sacrifice”, and will soon begin working on Iron Crowned.
• Leanna Renee Hieber offers up some “Alexi” details – he smells like clove tea…
• Who’s writing as we tweet? Shannon K Butcher (her hero needs to suffer), Katie MacAlister is plotting her next dragon book, Lauren Dane is working on an argument scene, Jenna Black is working on her next Sekrit project, Lori Devoti is writing in 500 word increments, Shiloh Walker is working on her latest contemporary romance and Terri Garey’s just writing (and will reward herself with reading).
• Sherrilyn Kenyon clears up some rumors…
• Karen Marie Moning posted some fan artwork
• Alyson Noel just twitpic’d an ARC copy of her book Radiance.
• Larissa Ione is writing…and her latest hero War is mentioning some unmentionable things…I think he’s being bad! *blush*
• Michele Hauf just posted the cover of her upcoming book “Angel Slayer (Silhouette Nocturne)“

More to follow as I find more cool tweets…

Want to read these tweets directly? Check out my Authors Who Tweet post, and make sure to follow them! It’s always good stuff!

I just discovered, from Leanna’s blog, that the next book in her “Percy” series will be out on April 27th 2010, and will be entitled “The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker”.

After having met the delightful Leanna at the Romantic Times Convention, and reading her exquisite first novel in the series (The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker), I am highly anticipating this upcoming release.

Check out Leanna in her “Percy” costume - (with her pale face, and long white hair, and striking contacts for her eyes – she looked fantastic!)

Congratulations Leanna on the extremely successful debut, and being a bestseller!!

This novel (officially released today), has become, unequivocally, one of my favourite books (I was lucky enough to get a “sneak preview”). It is an amazing paranormal love story rivaling some of the sweetest tales. It will have you chuckling, teary eyed, and “love drunk” midway through.

Set in Victorian London, the novel introduces us to a group of six children, each gifted with a specific supernatural ability, and the ability to see (but not hear) ghosts. Their duty is to form an alliance called “The Guard” that protects humans from restless spirits.

At the time of their formation, a beautiful “oracle” of sorts, informs them of their upcoming duties, selecting “Alexi Rychman” as the group leader (the oracle seemingly has an emotional tie to him from a deep past). She informs them that they will eventually encounter a “seventh” that will complete their group but warns them of a potential threat that may mislead them into not fulfilling their destiny (which could result in catastrophic events).

“The Guard?” Rebecca piped up confused.

“That is what you will do; guard the living from the dead wandering the earth, whom you now see but cannot hear. Your Grand Work is to maintain the balance between this world and the one beyond, beside. Darkness would run rampant over your great city and beyond – and will, unless you silence his emissaries. Hold fast, for the struggle will worsen. Darkness will seek to destroy the barrier pins between worlds. And to fight this, a prophecy must be fulfilled. A seventh member will join you. She will come as your peer to create a new dawn.”

 As adults, the individuals that make up the “Guard” have attempted to lead normal lives by keeping conventional occupations. Some run a local pub, while Rebecca and Alexi have started a school (Rebecca being headmistress, and Alexi, one of the professors). Eighteen year old Percy Parker, enrolls in their school. Orphaned at birth, and raised in a convent, she has lived a sheltered life. Due to her very unique appearance (ghostly features with fair white skin, and long white hair), she is extremely shy, and self-defeating, and hides behind cloaks of scarves and eyeglasses so as to avoid the constant snickers of those around her. She also has her own rare gifts, that I will leave you the luxury of discovering. 

Percy, brilliant in language arts, finds herself struggling in Alexi’s mathematics/science class,

Nonetheless, her distaste for science suddenly seemed an extraordinary misfortune, as she hated the thought of doing poorly in a class taught by someone so breathtaking.

and the professor offers to tutor her. 

While the brooding and elegantly handsome Alexi (someone mentioned, the actor “Richard Armitage” and I concur!) keeps his professional guard up, he finds himself intrigued with Percy’s gentle disposition, and gradually helps her develop self-confidence. He also finds his own highly guarded seclusion dissolving with each of Percy’s highly anticipated visits, and opens himself up to experience the friendship that is building between them.

In an effort to make his student more at ease, Alexi did his best to appear wholly disinterested as she carefully removed her protections with delicate, private ceremony.  But then she turned to face him, clutching those items that had held her unusual features in mystery. He forced his eyes to his book.

“As you would have it so, Professor, here is your pupil in all her ghastliness.”

Alexi looked up. Though Miss Parker’s hands clearly trembled, her voice did not.

His furrowed, generally disapproving brow rose slightly, and he leaned back in his chair and took her in. Luminous crystal eyes held streaks of pale blue shooting from tiny black pupils. A face youthful but devoid of color, smooth and unblemished like porcelain, had graceful lines as well defined and proportioned as a marble statue. Her long, blanched locks shimmered in the candlelight like spider silk. Upon high cheekbones laid hints of rouge – any more would have appeared garish against her blindingly white skin, but she had been artful in her application. Her rosebud lips were tinted in the same manner.

She was attuned to even the most minuscule response. Her merciless, hypnotic gaze found his and she frowned. “You see, Professor, even you, so stern and stoic, cannot hide your shock, surprise, distaste – ”

“Distaste?” he interrupted quietly. “Is that what you see?”

If Percy had taken the time to truly consider his response, she would have noticed that his tone was far from distasteful; it was, in fact, flattering. But she plowed on, choosing hurt. “What else can one feel when they behold living flesh that looks dead?”

“You assume ghost and not angel?”

Simply, breathtaking….

Here is an excerpt from one of my favorite “silly” moments of the book. Ahhh… how am I to capture just a small part of such an amusing repartee, and have it convey enough of the “laugh factor”? I will attempt by describing the scene: The crew (minus Alexi) are having a laugh at Alexi’s expense in regards to his dark, brooding and oft too serious disposition.

Elijah grinned, unrepentant. He looked innocently at his fellows. “Me? And what of me would you tease, when Alexi so much more deserves it. I do not stalk about like one of those gothic vampir onstage at the Royal. Nor do I brood with dramatic zeal, nor can I start fires of my own accord, nor daily dress as if in mourning. Nor do the first bars of Beethoven’s Fifth seem to burst forth each time I enter a room!”

As the banter continues, and Alexi’s comrades howl with laughter, Alexi, unexpectedly enters;

Through the laughter, they failed to hear the door open and click shut, and a tall, cloaked formidable figure dressed all in black approached. His stoic features were offset only by his blazing eyes. Alexi Rychman stared down at his friends with a frown.

“Something amusing?” he asked.

At the sound of his low, rich voice, the group look up and shrieked, delighted. Elijah cried out the first notes of Beethoven’s Fifth, unable to help himself. This did nothing for the other’s composure. In fact, Michael, head thrown back in a wail of laughter, lost balance and fell from his chair.

This section had me laughing out loud, and I was hooked!

Eventually, a beautiful stranger haphazardly makes her way into their lives, accompanied by many “signs” that were prophesied long ago, on that fateful night of their integration. While they are certain that she is their long-awaited “seventh”, Alexi suspects that the “seventh” may actually be Percy. The Guard, who commonly share an earnest and fun camaraderie, feel divided as they notice a difference in Alexi’s demeanor. They fear his regard for his pupil could affect his better judgement.

Before I accidentally divulge “spoilers” for this amazing story, I implore you, for the benefit of your own happiness, to read this book (there is MUCH more, I promise you)! You will be delighted in the intriguing mystery of Percy. The potential merging of powers, with secrets that could change the fate of the world, foreboding danger along with the exquisite delight in a budding romance between a trusted teacher and his student, a lonely soul and a gentle heart, will keep you riveted until the very end. I was so deeply captivated by the story, that I completely forgot to eat!

You will be delighted in the twists and turns that will unfold in a tale full of surprises that you didn’t see coming (and you’ll find yourself heartbroken to realize you’ve reached the end), but fear not! Leanna will be indulging us with three more books in this series.

While the story, in itself is fascinating, the author has a haunting way with words, that will caress your very soul. With an abundance of romantic tension and angst, mystery, and adventure, you will be hard-pressed to put it down.