The boys are back and ready for more adventures.
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/into-the-lions-den/9760961
I would love to hear your comments and feeback. This is something I will miss from AFF; the possibility to hear from you.
I hope you enjoy it
Update June 2nd. Someone in Goodreads was kind enough as to post a website with coupons for Lulu I was not aware of. Thank you very much!
http://www.retailmenot.com/view/lulu.com
yay!! :D Cannot wait to begin reading! But, do we not have an option for an e-book this time?? (totally understand if don't since you need to recover costs from the editor; I just wanted to save trees again haha)
ReplyDeleteHi, Lulu always shows the paperback edition, but there's a link for the download as well. It will be available in a few hours.
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Tionne! Just bought it some mins ago. Although I have read it 3 times before, but I can't wait to read this edited version.
ReplyDeleteyoshi
Yay! \^o^/
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the publication of Into the Lion's Den! Here's a toast to an astounding success. *cheers*
Now, off to get a copy (y a contestar el correo que te estoy debiendo)...
Ta!
**huggles**
ReplyDeleteYay!! This is amazing. I'm just going to purchase this now and save it for my trip to California (even though I already read it 3 times). I'm seriously going to bring both of your books to college with me. I can't survive without them. whaaa O_O;
Anyway, did you ever think of putting your books on amazon since more people will get to know more about it?
Alright, here is a "review" since I'm a little over halfway through and you are absolutely blowing my mind!!! I won't write in too much details, lest I accidently ruin things for any future readers ^^;
ReplyDeleteFirst, I was so heartbroken reading this "other" Guntram during his relationship with Constantin. The man was so very selfish, and I can confidently say that I'm no longer a fan. However, I am not sure anything he did feels worse than what Konrad did in the Substitute..in some ways, it wasn't as bad? I'm not sure. ^^; I'll let you know later on what my final feelings are on Constantin.
Second, LACROIX!!! I have read up to Chapter 20, to put in context my outrage, so right now-if Constantin's suspicion is correct I am /beyond/ confused/upset with that man. I'm going to have to go back and re-read The Substitute to see if that man appeared anywhere else, because right now I feel as if he's one of the most selfish people in the world. Yes, I understand he had to disappear. I also understand that he still wants to get rid of the Order. BUT, he lost. He failed in his original plan and instead of moseying back to his child (where we know, no one would have found him) like I feel he should have, he remained living his sneaky lawyery life with Lefebre to carry on his noble task of destroying the Order....... really? These gentlemen are a bunch of Don Quixotes without the beautiful charm!!! >:( ;alskdjfal;kdf I'm not sure I could dislike a character of yours more than Konrad, but you (as of this chapter) did it with "Lacroix." haha On that note, it brings me to my third comment...
Along with Lacroix, I cannot believe Olga. The torture scene was so very heartbreaking, and each time someone acts stupidly with Guntram (either making an ignorant comment or forcing him to do something) I cringed and cried a little.... Those Russians are very stupid when it comes to psychological trauma. Alexei got it right; he and his ex-comrades (not meaning to make a pun) are trained to deal with physical torture. Sometimes the training is good, and you avoid the worst of the psychological fall out. But Guntram, good god!! As for the writing, I applaud you for having him attempt suicide...It is not that I wanted fictional Guntram to experience it, but it the most logical and realistic action a person in his situation would do. I think one of the biggest mysteries I had with TS was that he never attempted it with Konrad. Or perhaps nothing Konrad did truly *damaged* Guntram as the attack did? I could see that... I mean, Guntram evolved for the better from Konrad's HORRIBLE treatment (note that I'm almost saying Guntram was better in *spite* of Konrad's idiocy...gah) unlike from this attack. He's doing better now that he's around a better and healthier support network. Honestly, I wish Konrad would get himself a group of friends that know nothing of his businesses and play golf with him on the weekends. I suppose he cannot because of how busy and secretive he is, but that's what all the nouveau riche in the States do :) have a group of guys that play every afternoon or during the weekends, play the game, bitch about work or home life, drink a little, then go home.
And last, but certainly not least, I love you for mentioning TEXAS!!! :D I'll let you guess why ;) Of course, having Constantin running around our state's capital with our wretched oil tycoons is a bit unsettling, but YAY!! Texas LOVE!! ^^;
I am loving this so far!! in case my insane comment didn't suggest this ;) Congrats again, and until next time!
Absolutely loved it! <:'D
ReplyDeleteI am so very happy with this story. I hope we see more of Konrad and Guntram in the future... and the babies, too! :D
T_T I miss the coupon.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, congratulations on this new release!
It was pretty good though I am giving a slight edge to the Substitute
Can't wait to read your sequel ^__^ hopefully it is a worthy sequel to the Substitute. * Take Your Time *
Hello Tionne!! I'm back for the second half of my review :) I'm going to start to reread it soon so that I can see what all I may have missed, and hopefully I'll be able to produce for you several different reviews for my favorite chapters, rather than splitting your book into two parts! There is so much to comment/review but I just couldn't stop myself from reading ^^; Once again, I'm going to try not to disclose anything that may be a major spoiler for anyone.
ReplyDeleteJust to get it out of the way, Lacroix definitely redeemed himself and I'm having to eat my words that I posted earlier ^^; He got straight to the point about acknowledging he made some mistakes (miscalculations as I think he'd say), and did not waste time apologizing. The way he played everyone is incredible, and I can only hope that this little plot idea of yours may evolve in TS2 because we didn't get to enjoy it throughout TS and it's a lot of fun!
I am also happy/sad that you gave us this other perspective of Constantin.... I cannot get his inner monologues out of my head from the start of their relationship (and to the end) and it just makes me sick. I was just about (if not more, since we know who he didn't end up with) as naive as our Guntram when it came to the Russian in TS. BUT, I will say that you made a wonderful Konrad this time around. Perhaps it is the inner perspectives and mood reflections that made me more sympathetic to Konrad. God, I never thought i'd say that ^^; better not to say it again since his ego's already as large as central Europe. haha In all seriousness though, Konrad of this novel is far better than all other suiters of Guntram in your books (although, the poor Volcker guy might have been nice? Or even Pedro haha); I hope this is not a sign that I am "used" to the Duke's outbursts, but reading about him as he snapped into one of those maniac frenzies, only to regret it the moment he took it too far with Guntram, was incredibly touching; he seemed to be a lot more open with Guntram about his own mental vulnerability this time around; it made him even more of a ridiculous man-child thing, but it also means he and Guntram can heal together as the really seemed to throughout this story.
And now on to the BIG things of your story that I feel are absolutely fantastic. I was so stunned with how many of the "incidents" that occurred in TS happened here :) I was worried it be too... predictable, perhaps? I don't know, but most of the events came as a surprise for me! It was so great! It almost implies that whatever happened, would have happened regardless-just varying in degrees. I have "Time Machine" type lesson! LOVE that, too. But, even with certain events still occurring the people and places did alter a little, which was very interesting to read and see how it developed. Alexei and our favorite chef were very similar to the first story, while I felt Fredriech was much more critical to Konrad. Of course, all of this is hard to say considering we never really had anyone's POV other than Ferdinand's and of course Guntram's in TS, so he may well have been super critical with Konrad. I personally loved it!
I am still blown away with how much more I enjoyed the relationship with Konrad and Guntram this time around. I couldn't believe how kind (for the most part) Konrad was once he realized what kind of person Guntram was. It was painful to see how demure Guntram became because I loved how much more moody/volatile he was in TS :) but knowing /why/ he was the way he was, made it so the change in personality did not bother me at all. In fact, I think it made it easier for him to live with Konrad and Konrad with him :) PLUS he now gets to enjoy his time with a couple of adorable gentlemen you know I love, without the melodramatic antics of Konrad ^^;
Well, now that I've ambushed your blog I'm going to go start to reread and I'll email you may subsequent reviews :) Thank you again for the lovely story!!!
Hi LS, Thank you so much for two wonderful reviews. I just loved them.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the suicide, I confess that I toyed with the idea, specially after when Guntram discovers who Konrad really is. Finally, I prefer to describe the symptoms of a acute depression and getting him out it with the coming of the babies. In ITLD, Guntram has no "vital project" to cling unto; lover is a mobster, health ruined, no friends or any kind of support, becoming a "pet", etc and goes for this "solution". In TS he has been abused but not destroyed like in ITLD.
Also the Konrad of ITLD is not so "tortured" by secrecy; Guntram knows who he is and what he does, so he is not so afraid of "ruining" his relationship with the truth. He has more time to "inspect" the "merchandise" (the long courtship of G. in which he inspects the boys is as it looks and once he is convinced that he's "exactly as promised" he goes after him. Konrad does not jump at his bones like in Venice. This one is a move more calculated.
I worked mostly with a idea of a fate where some events will occur no matter what, as if they were debts to be paid (a concept similar to karma); Morozov's uprising and assasination; the babies; working for the Vatican; Alexei and Jean Jacques.
We'll be seeing more of Lacroix in TS2.
Best wishes and I would love to hear more from you,