February 19, 2013

Blog tour




I'd like to thank all the friendly ladies who accepted to host my virtual book tour for Shadows of the Past:

Liss on     28th February,
Amanda   1st March,
Ankita      2nd March,
Catalina   3rd March,
Amina     4th March,
Bianca     5th March,
Pamela     6th March 
and last but not least
Liliana      7th March!

Please, join me on this tour and let me know what you think about the book, reviews, interviews and even win one of the three copies I offer at the Giveaway!







February 16, 2013

Reviews (VII)


February 13, 2013 - by Ankita S (http://booklokcoffee.blogspot.in/2013/02/review-shadows-of-past-by-carmen.html)

 

Title: Shadows of the Past
Author: Carmen Stefanescu 

Pages: 231, ebook
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing
Genre: Historical/Paranormal
Release: December 4th 2012


MeThinks:

Well at first look you would think "I don't normally read this", that was my first thought as well. I normally read Young-Adult books and occasionally switch the genre. So when Ms. Carmen approached, after reading the synopses I was indeed intrigued with paranormal and historical theme so I gave it a chance. And I must say it was different and Amazing!! 
The Book cover may seem Adult but story isn't so much, Yes there is romance but the sweet one. As Carmen said that she like to keep the romance sweet in her books.
 ‘Our past and our future are tea leaves in the cup of our present.’
Shadows of the past starts in the 14th century, with a medieval times girl Genevieve and alternatively introducing the modern times girl Anne. As the story proceeds the connection between both the girls gets more intricate. Where Anne is strong business women determined to reconcile with her love Neil, Genevieve is a victim of fate, terrible luck and forced to face the horrid world. As the medieval times story proceeds it creates an eerie atmosphere with a cursed forest, a strange stream, dark magic and many such things. Genevieve has faced many tragedies time and time again losing the people she loves then finally when circumstances made her a nun, the tragedies didn't cease. She fell in love with a Priest Father Andrew and he also loves her back but fate has again planned something dreadful for her.
Genevieve's heart breaking story seems very real. Carmen did a fantastic job in creating her character with such fineness and giving life to so many other characters.
The villain in the book is scary, spooky and very well created, her presence is there through out the book making every page more interesting, The villain has ruined Genevieve and is now disturbing Anne immensely.

 Here, Anne is set on to have a nice time with Neil, to reconcile but she encounters a tormented soul and visions and that changed everything for her.
Being a strong headed women she is determined to solve the mystery of that ghost which leads to many revelations. Can she set that tragic soul free... or burn in the same magic!!

I love the ballad by almost the end describing the tragic destiny of Genevieve and Andrew.
“Shadows of the Past” is a real page-turner and a dark spooky romantic story that is crafted masterfully. Despite all the evil, love wins by the end. I really liked that.








February 13, 2013

Giveaway contest



Giveaway contest for 3 - three - copies of Shadows of the Past at

starting on 14th February  -Valentine's Day.
Don't miss this opportunity to win one!

February 4, 2013

Reviews (VI)

Shadows of the Past
by Carmen Stefanescu (Goodreads Author)

Amanda Masters's review


Feb 01, 13



  
Read in February, 2013



This book was amazing! I don't usually read books that aren't YA books anymore but occasionally I come across one that sparks my interest like this one did. The author Carmen Stefanescu did a amazing job on describing people and places and I felt like I was in the story from start to finish. I loved all the historical elements to the story and all the attention to detail that Carmen puts into the story especially when it came to the wiccan people and their practices. As a wiccan myself I really appreciated this aspect. I also loved the villain in the story I always say you can't have a good story without an good villain and wow I wanted to run...lol...I best part though was the tremendous love felt throughout the whole book that through all the tragic loss and pain there was still love.

Anne and her husband Neil are trying to rekindle their romance with a week long vacation and some hiking when they get lost in the woods. The woods are spooky and Anne begins to have dreams and visions of a woman who looks very much like her and leads them deeper into the forest. They soon learn that this may be the tragic restless spirit of Genevieve a nun from the local Abby with a most tragic and lost past and who is still being chased by the one thing she feared most. Can they save her and themselves before it is to late?

The book goes back and forth from the past to the present which in some books I have found annoying but quite enjoyed in this book. I was a little confused for maybe the first two chapters but quickly learned what all the back and forth meant. Genevieve quickly became my favorite character and I was hooked on her heartbreaking story! I just couldn't put the book down! I highly recommend this book to one and all!

January 28, 2013

Reviews (V)




Title: Shadows of the Past
Author: Carmen Stefanescu
ebook provided by author for an honest review
Reviewed by: Cassie
What we say: mysterious and magical!

Summary (from Goodreads.com)

When Anne and Neil leave on a one-week holiday hoping to reconcile after a two-year separation, little do they know that destiny has other plans for them. Their discover of human bones and a bejeweled cross in the hollow of a tree open the door to a supernatural realm and the anguished life of Genevieve, a nun from medieval England.

Can Anne save her relationship and help Genevieve her eternal rest?

The twists and turns in this paranormal tale keep the reader guessing up to the end and weave themselves together into a quest to rekindle love.

Shadows of the Past isn't a book I would normally read; I usually read only YA because I'm pretty picky. And my dad would throw a fit if he saw romance/adult book covers. That being said, I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised with this! Despite what the cover may suggest, this has few romantic aspects (you know, steamy hot scenes) which was kind of a relief to me. Why? Well, my older brother somehow saw my phone while I was skimming a romance book and never looked at his little sister the same way again.

Anyways! So.

Shadows of the Past switches back and forth from the past and the present. I'm fine with this, and it actually was a really good choice. It made me intrigued by the historical mystery, yet kept it so that I wasn't so fed up with it that I quit the book. Normally I don't do historical fiction, but the parts of this book that were historical fiction actually made me like the book more.

Now, we don't really get much look into the characters- an aspect I was 'eh' about. Usually the characters make or break the book for me. If the characters are really well done, I LOVE the book, and vice versa. In Shadows of the Past, it's done in 3rd person, so we don't really get much insight to the characters. I still felt pretty sad for Genevieve and Andrew, but I felt a bit detached from them.

With a refreshing plot, thought-worthy mystery, and sweet romances, Shadows of the Past is a book you should definitely give a try. I didn't even have an inkling as to what happened to the nun and priest in the past, and although I couldn't relate to the characters because they were older and pretty seriously in love, I still enjoyed them.

January 23, 2013

Book Reviews : Listen To The Heartbeat by Liliana Soare

All romance lovers out there will enjoy Liliana's debut novel Listen To The Heartbeat.

Edward Whitfield dies, leaving his daughter, Lucy, a very wealthy orphan. Until she turns eighteen, in five months, she just changes her jailor. Andrew Langston becomes the new guardian to the frail but stubborn girl who'd sunk her teeth in his arm, years ago. 

Lucy is beautiful but don't be fooled by her appearance; she is stubborn and determined as well. And her heart is given to a wonderful and rich young man, Peter Randall. Her attempts to be with him are continually hindered by the tyrannical jailer, Andrew. She will do everything in her power to be with the love of her life, Peter, on the one hand, while Andrew's heart melts under her gaze, on the other.

The story picks up momentum from the moment Andrew and Lucy meet and never once falters in its intensity. Taming the shrew, Lucy has become after her father's death, is not an easy job for Andrew as Lucy behaves naughty, reckless and immature at times that had me rolling my eyes in frustration.

I enjoyed the original and intriguing plot and the sizzling sensual chemistry that she creates between her romantic leads. Liliana's story includes all the ingredients for a pleasant, entertaining read: love, grief, cheating and peril. It's the kind of book you want to keep reading, but never want it to end! I enjoyed the story and the writing. I give it  5 stars.




January 21, 2013

Liebster Blog Award


Wow! This came as a great and pleasant surprise. Oana from All Fantasy Worlds and Cassie - Rafia from Fiction Fairies , nominated me for the Liebster Award.  
Thank you!

If you don’t know: Liebster Blog Award is given to upcoming bloggers that have less than 200 followers and the purpose is to get to know them since we think that they deserve it. The word “Liebster” is German and means favorite. So, basically, I’m nominated for favorite blog award.



The steps are:
1. Tell 11 things about yourself.
2. Answer 11 questions from the bloger who nominated you.
3. Post 11 questions for those who will be nominated by you.
4. Nominate 11 bloggers who have less than 200 followers.
5. Get in contact with those 11 bloggers in order to inform them that you nominated them


11 things about myself
1. I live in Romania, known to many as Dracula's country.
2. I am a teacher of English and German in my native town.
3. I've been reading and writing since I went to nursery.
4. My life-long dream to become a published writer has become reality.
5. I love Louis de Funes's movies.
6. I have two grown-up daughters and a three year-old grandson.
7. I have pets: several cats and a dog; a permanent source of both amusements and annoyance.
8.  I am fascinated by computers. If I'd been twenty years younger I'd have changed my job and become an IT engineer.
9. I am suspicious of people who don't read.
10. The words that characterize me: forgiving and perseverant.
11. My favorite places - libraries and bookstores; favorite color - purple.

Now the answers for the questions I received from Oana:
1. What other hobbies/ obsessions do you have besides reading and writing?
            Playing computer games. Mostly, role-playing games.
2. Do you lend your books to friends?
I do, even if, sometimes they tend to forget returning them. I like other people to read books I found interesting, captivating.
3. Have you ever convinced someone who hasn’t read a book in their life to start reading? How?
As I am a teacher I had this opportunity more than once. I asked the pupils to make comments on certain books and in the end they had to read them.
4. What book did you hate despite everyone saying it was awesome?
I will never hate a book. Or, anyway I've never had the opportunity to read something and hate it. I don't deny there may be books that urge people to hate their fellow-beings, that are full of hatred, prejudice, intolerance. I will absolutely hate such books.
5. Which book character would you like to date and why?
Edmond Dantes, from The Count of Monte Cristo. I found him fascinatingly courageous, honest and determined.
6. If your life would be turned into a movie, which actress/ actor would you like to play you and why?
Meryl Streep. Although she's not the glamorous type she is charismatic and friendly looking. I'd like to be acted by her.
7. Which is your favorite villain?
"Don" Vito Corleone from Mario Puzo's Godfather trilogy.
8. Is there a genre you would never read?
Non-fiction. Only if absolutely necessary, that is, something linked to my PC's management.
9. Which is your favorite classic novel?
Thomas Hardy, Tess of the D'Urbervilles. Like Hardy I believe in fate and the predestined path of our existence.
10. What magic power would you like to have and why?
I'd like to be one of the characters in role-play games: a wizard having the power to make all bad things disappear from my country and from the whole world.
11. Who is your favorite author and what question would you ask him/ her if you had the chance.
I have more favorite authors. Let's choose one who's still alive: Stephen King. I'd ask him if he'd ever experienced any of the strange events going on in his books: It, The Shining.


My questions for the nominees:
1. Why did you get into blogging?
2. How did you come up with the name of your blog?
3. Do you have a favorite classical author?
 4. If you could swap the place with a famous author who would this be?
5. If you are a writer, too, which do you prefer best: writing on the blog or writing your book?
6. How do you feel when rejecting a review request from an author who asks you nicely?
7. How do you decide which book to review?
8. If you could choose a famous author to cooperate with you for a project who would this be?
9. What's your favorite book turned into movie?
10. What character in a book you've reviewed so far do you hate/love most?
11. If your life would become subject in a book what genre would it be: romance, thriller, horror, sci-fi and why?

I nominate the following bloggers for the Liebster Blog Award:
1. Shawn from http://srhowen1.blogspot.ro/
2. Liliana from http://lilianasoare.blogspot.ro/
3. Terri from http://territalleyventers.blogspot.ro/
4. Estefania from http://bookaholiccorner.blogspot.ro
5. Julia from http://asyouwishreviews.blogspot.ro/
6. Natali from http://bookcupid.blogspot.ca/
7. Marcia from http://bookmusterdownunder.blogspot.com.au/
8. Amy from http://abluemillionbooks.blogspot.ro/
9. Josie from http://josies-haven.blogspot.ro/
10. Sonia from http://soniafogal.blogspot.ro/