Braintasia Books

Blogger Burnout

2012-02-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

Recently, I haven't been posting much on the blog because I've been, for lack of a better word, burned out. It's not so much that I didn't want to blog, but I had so many other things that I just wanted to do more, and then I ended up running out of time, again and again and again. I don't know if this is normal or not, but usually when I'm not blogging regularly, that's why.

My blog is a hugely important part of my life, and I've been thinking about starting up a second blog to review the comics and graphic novels that I read, and I really want to avoid this issue and be a good blogger, but I just don't know what to do to stop it!

I know that blogger burnout has been a problem for most of us in the past, and I was wondering if anyone had any useful tips for overcoming it in the future. If you do, thanks in advance for sharing!

Cover Trends (17)

2012-02-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

COVER TRENDS

Cover Trends is a feature here at Braintasia Books where I discuss aspects of book covers that I've seen recently that seem to be popping up in a lot of books. Sometimes they're good, sometimes they aren't, but they're all getting quite common. These book covers tend to only represent YA, UF, and PNR since those are the genres I read, and as such, the covers I see.

This week's trend is Symbols/Objects w/o People. In some instances, I love it, in other instances I hate it. This trend could be cute and artsy, stark and statement-making, or just plain ugly. These examples, I think, run the gamut, although I won't name any names.

Examples:

What do you think of this trend?

REVIEW: Last Breath by Rachel Caine

2012-02-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

With her boss preoccupied researching the Founder Houses in Morganville, student Claire Danvers is left to her own devices when she learns that three vampires have vanished without a trace. She soon discovers that the last person seen with one of the missing vampires is someone new to town-a mysterious individual named Magnus. After an uneasy encounter with Morganville's latest resident, Claire is certain Magnus isn't merely human. But is he a vampire-or something else entirely?

Book: Last Breath by Rachel Caine
Release Date: November 1, 2011
Format: eBook
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Young Adult
Series: Morganville Vampires, #11
Obtained: Bought on Amazon
Rating: (5 Zombies)

I can't even begin to express how much I love this series! Every book is better than the last, even though I never think it could be possible, and I fly through them all in a matter of nail-biting, enthralled hours, wishing it would never end while at the same time looking forward to the final showdown.

Claire Danvers, the protagonist, is one of the most entertaining and human characters ever, and I will never stop loving any book that she is in. She really makes these books pop, and I miss her like a real life friend in between books.

Despite how amazing Claire and the other characters are, the best part of the Morganville Vampires series is Morganville, itself. It is the perfect setting for me, very self-contained and full of complex relationships and political dynamics. And, of course, vampires. I love me some good ol' over-done vampires, no matter how saturated the YA market gets.

If you aren't reading this series, then I don't know why not. You need to get yourself on the Morganville bandwagon as soon as possible. You'll never get off.

Waiting on Wednesday (55)

2012-02-08T00:00:00.000-08:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by the amazing Jill at Breaking the Spine. Each week, participating bloggers will make a post about a book whose publication they're eagerly awaiting.

This week, I'm featuring Black Dawn by Rachel Caine.

Despite the fact that there's no synopsis available yet, I am dying to get my hands on the next Morganville Vampires book. I love this series to death, and after the last book, Black Dawn is all that I can think about!

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

REVIEW: Undercurrent by Tricia Rayburn

2012-02-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

The sirens are back, but Vanessa may be the biggest threat of all. . . .

Nothing has been normal since Vanessa Sands learned that her sister was murdered by sirens—femme fatales of the watery depths—and that everything she believed about her family was a lie.

Her boyfriend Simon’s been the only person Vanessa feels she can really trust. But now there are some secrets she can’t tell even him. And when Vanessa finds herself in the sights of Parker, Hawthorne Prep’s resident charmer, she needs someone to confide in more than ever. Doubting her relationship with Simon, unsure of Parker’s intentions—and of her own—and terrified by what she’s learned about herself, Vanessa has never felt so alone.

But personal problems must be put aside, because the Winter Harbor sirens are back for revenge. Now, Vanessa must face her past and accept that she is just like her enemies—every bit as alluring, every bit as dangerous.

The eagerly anticipated second novel of the Siren trilogy, Undercurrent is a seductive paranormal romance that will leave you breathless.

Book: Undercurrent by Tricia Rayburn
Release Date: July 12, 2011
Format: Hardcover
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Young Adult
Series: Siren, #2
Obtained: Purchased from Amazon
Rating: (4 Zombies)

It took me a while to get into Undercurrent because of how mind-blowingly amazing Siren (the first book in the series) was. I was having trouble because I kept expecting that it would be better than the first book, but it really wasn't. That isn't to say that it wasn't good, though, because it was. Just not quite as good as Siren.

I think that one of the biggest problems I had with Undercurrent was that it left the mysterious, whimsical setting of the first book in exchange for a more real-world school setting that didn't thrill me. The setting was one of the best things about Siren, and I understand, logically, why it had to be changed for most of Undercurrent, but that doesn't mean that I was happy about it. It could have been handled better, in my opinion.

Now, on from the worst part of the book to the best: the deeper relationship between Vanessa and Simon. I didn't feel like their relationship was explored at all in the first book, but Undercurrent really delved into the intricacies of their romance, and I loved how fleshed out it was. I can't wait to see where they go as a couple (if they even do), and how they will resolve the issues they've developed lately.

I missed Caleb, Simon's younger brother, since he wasn't in it much and I loved his character in the first book, but that was a fairly minor complaint.

If you've read Siren, I definitely recommend that you pick up a copy of Undercurrent, and if you don't come into it expecting a repeat of the greatness of the first book, then it will be a fun, enjoyable sequel, but not groundbreaking.

Back From Hiatus!

2012-02-06T00:00:00.000-08:00

I went through a pretty difficult semester in college, even though I was taking fewer classes than usual. I guess they were just a lot of work, and I'm transferring soon, so I need to get fantastic grades in order to get into the school I'd like to go to. I had a lot of school work, and I just wasn't feeling very motivated to read much, and without reading, I really can't post much on this blog because it's about books XD So, I finished the semester up, the holidays are over, and I'm ready to get back into the swing of things, blogging-wise. I can't wait to get back into the rhythm of things and start interacting with all of my fabulous readers and fellow bloggers again! You guys are amazing and one of the reasons that I've been blogging for almost two years now!

The Apocalypse Gene

2012-01-27T11:51:00.000-08:00

Here's an excerpt of The Apocalypse Gene by Suki Michelle and Carlyle Clark:

Excerpt – Chapter One – The Good As Dead: Olivya has just learned that her mother plans to upgrade their home-based hospice center to euthanasia, a service called “deliverance”. GAD is short for “Good-As-Dead”. The first “customer” as arrived:

Deliverance. Olivya hated that slithery word, that thin euphemism. Why not call it what it was? Murder. Her legs tensed, straining to run through the front door, down the street, east to Lake Michigan, and keep on going, right into the cool deep waters. Instead, she crept to the foyer, careful to stay out of Mama's line of sight.
The new GAD lay mummy-bound in a pale blue blanket. This one had no intention of hanging out in a tranquilized coma or happily zoned on Hypno-Peace. He just wanted out. She wanted to look into the soul of this death-wisher. Did it take courage to broadcast that invitation to the Reaper? You are cordially invited to escort me to oblivion.
The sickly sweet stench of diseased flesh and stale urine wafted from the GAD. His sweat-soaked orange hair lay like worms on his forehead. Straps held his wrists to the side rails. His lips fluttered with each labored breath. She frowned. He looked just like all the others. Nothing special - shrunken, coma-tranked, and reeking. Was he a coward or a hero? The answer didn't show in his face, but she could find it in his aura.
A chill breeze rippled, raising gooseflesh on her arms. Maybe the old Reaper was already standing right there, ready to claim his prize. If she allowed herself to fully Sight, would she see Death's black robes, its bottomless eyes rimmed in bone? She wanted to curse it, spit in its hideous face. Like Papa, this newcomer had set out a welcome mat for Death.
Mama would be furious if she caught her gaping, disobeying orders to stay away. Olivya would have to hurry, but a moment was all she needed.
She closed her eyes, lifted her defenses and willed the Sight to come. Colors, shapes and lights swirled behind her lids. She compressed them into a single point of white-light deep inside her mind, then she opened her eyes.
The GAD's aura, at first vague and wavy, sharpened into view. Despite the drug-induced coma, misery rose from him in sluggish waves. The dull red of malignancy throbbed against a background of greenish-gray - similar to the other Good-As-Deads, but somehow weightier. Intuition told her to look more closely.
Faint hues darted behind that auric death-shroud, ghosts of the man's former emotions. A streak of robin's egg blue, shimmers of peach. An eerie feeling came over her. Something looked familiar about this combination of gentle pastels in this particular pattern.
The face of a smiling man rose in her mind's eye, one who had always been patient with the friendless psychic girl. Mr. Gragg. Her Seventh Grade English teacher from the old brick and mortar. Could this be him? It looked nothing like him. Mr. Gragg had been thick-muscled and robust, his hair a riot of bright orange ringlets. Yes. That pastel aura was Mr. Gragg's. She recognized the colors of his unique, unflagging kindness. Why him? Then again, so many in the world had cancer. Why not him?
Olivya caught Mama's voice in the kitchen. “Any family?”
“Not any more,” the deliveryman said.

***

Excerpt – Chapter Two - Mikah: Mikah, an unitiated member of the Kindred clan, dreads his encounters with the Kindred leader, a demon hybrid who goes by the name of Prime . . .

It wasn't just the thought of Initiation and what it might do to him that made Mikah sick with dread. It was the fact that he'd have to be alone with Prime, close to the monster's twisted energy and constantly morphing shape, that hideous creature near enough to touch. He hated thinking about that cellar-dwelling thing, yet his presence permeated the Complex. Prime. The Ancient One. Vile. Disgusting.
Sometimes at night, Mikah would gaze out his bay window, dreaming about what it might be like to plunge through the glass and ride the gravity express straight down to eternal nothingness. He'd catch a glimpse of a lurching form among the trees, a darker dark in the shadows, oozing through the expanse of park-like grounds that joined the Complex with the shores of Lake Michigan. He’d spy Prime, the monster, slipping along the beach in random directions, as if lost.
That shape sometimes caught the moonlight, a pale glow darting among the perfectly manicured hedges at the Complex boundaries. Prime. No boogieman. Real. He'd haunted Mikah's nightmares since he was a little kid. Lately, the changes had accelerated. Prime was growing restless, leaving the Complex more and more often, capering and shrieking about the grounds.
Just a week ago, Mikah caught a rare sight of Prime inside the Complex, slinking past an open door in one of the first floor parlors. He looked thick and clumsy. Then yesterday, Mikah saw the beast again. He'd changed, become taller, oddly flexible, and lighter on his feet. Only Prime's brown, shapeless robes stayed the same, and the absurdly long black patent leather dress shoes sticking out beneath his hems.
“You should not put your attention on him,” Changarai said.
“My shield is up. How did you know I was thinking of Prime?”
“You wear the same expression you did as a toddler when Prime was near. One doesn't need psionic ability to recognize fear.”
“Yeah, well. It's just another thing that separates me from all of you. I fear him. You worship him.”
“You will too,” Changarai said. “Soon.”
No way would Mikah stay alone with that shambling horror while they're at the Gathering. Then he relaxed. He wouldn't be alone tonight. He'll be with Olivya.

***

Except – Chapter Three – That Familiar Malevolence: This a scene from Olivya and Mikah’s first meeting face to face. They have escaped a Shivpack, a gang of vicious street thugs, by sliding into a rushing stream that runs through the abandoned Lincoln Park Zoo . . .

They barely heard the last as the stream swept them away. After what seemed like a long time, they reached a sturdy bush on a muddy bank. They grabbed it and pulled themselves up, soaked and shivering. The grassy sides of the moat, though wet, were less steep here. Olivya scrambled to the top, Mikah close behind. Her thigh burned where the fence had caught her jeans. She peeled back the torn denim. A deep scratch, puffed and red, but the bleeding had stopped.
Mikah swiped at the splotches of mud and grass from his clothes. Olivya checked him out beneath half-lowered lids. The moonlight illuminated him, as if his strange aura attracted and magnified its glow. She'd never seen anyone so beautiful, almost pretty, but rugged and rough. His skin was the color of sweet tea, a pale creamy brown, incredibly smooth. Latino? Indian? No. Arab. Maybe Native American? No way to tell. He was all races, yet no race. Strong jaw, full lower lip, shining black hair, broad shoulders. He removed his light cotton jacket to wring it out. He wore a form-fitting black T-shirt, now wet and plastered to his smooth, wide chest. His torso V'ed down to narrow hips and long-muscled legs. She glanced back up to his face to find those periwinkle blue-violet eyes staring straight into hers.
She looked away, busily rubbed mud and grass off herself. Just great. She was supposed to be angry with him and he had just caught her, well, ogling. And she was furious at him again, doubly so, for making her feel embarrassed. He was the one who should be humiliated. After all, hadn't she just caught him in a lie? Didn't he scare her half to death with that insane light show? He didn't even care that her leg was cut, and it hurt like hell, and, and− “You little liar!” She shoved her face into Mikah's. “How do you move that way - blurry and super-quick? What the hell did you do to Ripper? And why did Mako run away like a frightened dog when you barely touched him?”
Mikah shrugged and sighed. “Olivya, it's complicated.”
“Use small words.”
“I'm not entirely human.”
Olivya ground her teeth. More lies. She watched his aura, waiting for it to turn lemon-green with deceit . . . and waited. It gleamed steady, a truthful apricot-orange. She took a step back. “O-o-okay?”
“I sensed you were special the first time our holo-sims chatted,” he said, “but I didn't realize how talented you are, how intense your Sight. I wonder if you even know.”

Website: http://www.theapocalypsegene.com/

Blog: http://www.theapocalypsegene.com/cy-chi

Facebook FanPage:

http://www.facebook.com/TheApocalypseGene

Goodreads Amazon

Jaye Frances Guest Post

2012-01-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

Thank you, Cade, for hosting me on Braintasia Books today. I really appreciate the opportunity to talk about The Kure, and to let your readers know about my “Resolve To Read” promotion on Amazon through the month of January.

What would you do if an ancient and evil influence threatened both the sanity and soul of those you hold most dear? And what if you were the one who unleashed the wicked curse, and now had to find a way to protect those in its path? When one of the main characters, John Tyler, seeks an alternative remedy to heal a devastating disease that is ravaging his body, he discovers an ancient book of healing, the Kure. Driven to pursue its evil secrets, John seeks out Sarah Sheridan, the one person who fulfills the requirements of a forbidden ritual. What John doesn’t know is that he has unwittingly awakened the power of the demonic book, and both he and Sarah are about to be haunted by its malevolent control.

In the following excerpt, John becomes concerned with Sarah’s unusual behavior after their failed attempt to invoke the power of the ancient ritual, and he fears that she may have fallen under the sinister influence of the Kure.

Here’s an excerpt:

Sarah pulled herself tighter, her knees touching her chin as she continued to move like the pendulum of an over-wound clock.

He began to imagine the worst. What if her behavior was a symptom of regret? What if she had decided to end their relationship and was only indulging him until the weather would allow him to leave?

He did not want to consider the more heinous alternative—not because it was a lesser possibility, but because it would mean her sanity was being threatened by the same predatory demons that had pulled him into the very pit of hell. While he could no longer dispute the book’s power, he could only hope the evil and vicious overlords of the void would recognize the difference between his transgression and hers, considering her unselfish motives before extracting payment from the innocent.

John became increasingly uneasy as he waited, watching for a sign, a blink, a nod, a gesture of any kind—to confirm she was not under malevolent control. But her eyes remained as somber as the dark clouds, her disturbing motion as constant as the shocks of rain assaulting the roof.

“Sarah?”

Nothing. Only the unbroken sway of her body as it paced the steady surge and swell of the wind.

He tried again. “Sarah, are you listening? Please say something . . . anything. Just talk to me.”

Although there might have been a slight change in her expression—he wasn’t sure— she remained silent, giving no indication she was even aware of his presence.

Sarah’s behavior was completely out of character, and it forced John to consider the grim possibilities: Was her dazed detachment the result of an awakened conscience, or had her mind been abducted by demons, her soul forced into a nightmare of conscripted service to the devil?

Here’s a brief synopsis:

John Tyler, a young man in his early twenties, discovers he has contracted a ghastly affliction affecting a most sensitive part of his body. When the village doctor offers the conventional, and potentially disfiguring, treatment as the only cure, John tenaciously convinces the doctor to reveal an alternative remedy—a forbidden ritual contained within an ancient manuscript called the Kure.

Although initially rejecting the vile and unholy rite, John realizes, too late, that the ritual is more than a faded promise scrawled on a page of crumbling paper. And as cure quickly becomes curse, the unholy text unleashes a dark power that drives him to consider the unthinkable—a depraved and wicked act requiring the corruption of an innocent soul.

Ultimately, John must choose between his desperate need to arrest the plague that is destroying his body, and the virtue of the woman he loves, knowing the wrong decision could cost him his life.

For a limited time, read “The Kure” for only $.99 (kindle version)

I always spend the last few days of December reviewing my writing plan for the coming year—to determine what’s going to receive priority and how I will budget my time to make sure I get it done. During one of those planning sessions, I noticed my husband was also putting a few goals together for the new year. When I asked him to tell me about his “resolutions,” he said that one of them was to read more, especially books that fall outside his favorite genres, “just to see what else is out there.” We began to talk about how many more people are now reading books of all kinds, primarily due to increased availability and choice of low-cost eBooks for the kindle and nook. I’m constantly reading comments from readers who decided to try a particular author’s work because it was ninety-nine cents, or in some cases, free. Then my husband asked an interesting question: “Why don’t you offer some kind of promotion to encourage more people to read The Kure, with the idea that they’ll be more inclined to read the book if you temporarily lower the price?” I really had to think about this one, but after realizing it might motivate a few more folks who are not familiar with The Kure to take a look, I

decided to do it. I’m calling it “Resolve To Read”, and it’s going on right now. Effective for the month of January, the kindle version of The Kure can be purchased for ninety-nine cents on Amazon. So if you were planning on buying a kindle version anyway, why not take advantage of the “Resolve To Read” promotion and save two bucks?

I’d like to conclude by sharing a few details about myself. I was born in the Midwest and grew up surrounded by traditional values and conservative attitudes (which I quickly discarded). I’ll readily admit that my life’s destination has been the result of an open mind and a curiosity about all things irreverent, and I invite visitors to my website with a friendly caveat: “Be forewarned, my life has not followed the traditional path of homemaker, wife, and mother.” When I’m not consumed by my writing, I enjoy cooking, traveling to all places tropical and “beachy” and taking pictures—lots of pictures—many of which wind up on my website. I live on the central gulf coast of Florida, sharing my home with one husband, six computers, four cameras, and several hundred pairs of shoes.

My website is: http://www.jayefrances.com

My blog is: http://blog.jayefrances.com

Goodreads:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12718447-the-kure

My Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Jaye-Frances-writer/171415992923563

Links for The Kure on Amazon and BN:

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Kure-Jaye-Frances/dp/1466262966/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1317073140&sr=1-1

BN:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/the-kure-by-jaye-frances?keyword=the+kure+by+jaye+frances&store=ebook

Dear Marvel

2012-01-18T00:33:00.001-08:00

Dear Marvel, I am a big fan. I got into comics very recently, and thanks to the amazing selection of heroes offered by Marvel, I don't even have to look at the DC shelves in my local comic store.

I've seen every movie made by Marvel Studios, and loved almost all of them. I can't imagine not going out at midnight on opening day with my friends to see the Avengers movie this summer, but if that's what I have to do, then I'll see something else instead.

As a blogger and an overall internet lover, I couldn't live with myself if I didn't stand up against censorship, and that is the only word that can be used to sum up the SOPA and PIPA bills. They are wrong, and against the United States Constitution. What would Captain America think if he could see this, Marvel?

As much as the movies, comics, and action figures have brightened my days lately, if Marvel does not rescind its support of SOPA and PIPA, then I'll be forced to take my business elsewhere--and, no matter how many amazing powers the X-Men have, I know that the power of the purse is the only one that matters to a big corporation like Marvel. I hope that fans, new and old, won't have to use it.

I hope to still be a big fan when all of this is over.

Hellsbane Excerpt

2011-12-29T05:51:00.000-08:00

Title: Hellsbane (Hellsbane, #1)

Author: Paige Cuccaro

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Length: Novel

Release Date: December 2011

ePub ISBN: 978-1-937044-64-0

Print ISBN: 978-1-937044-65-7

Books 2 and 3 coming May 2012 and January 2013!

http://www.entangledpublishing.com/hellsbane/

A HELLSBANE BOOK - Book One - by Paige Cuccaro

Emma Jane Hellsbane just found out she’s not human—or, at least, not only human. She’s half angel, too, and now Heaven’s got a job for her: round up all the Fallen angels and their red-skinned, horned devil-demon minions and boot their butts back into the abyss. Only problem? The demons and their Fallen masters fight back…and they don’t fight fair.

Luckily for Emma, she can put a stop to the constant threat of having her head hacked off if she figures out which Fallen angel is her father—and then kill him before he kills her. Of course, in the meantime, she’ll have to avoid accidentally seducing her angelic mentor, help an old friend conquer his own Fallen sperm donor, and basically save the world from a cataclysmic divine smack down.

No one said being Heaven’s bounty hunter would be easy. But with a name like Hellsbane, Emma Jane was born for the job.

“Perhaps you’ve mistaken my statement for a request,” he said. “It wasn’t.”
“Ah. So it’s like that, is it?”
He snaked an arm around my waist, jerked me to him so our bodies were flush against each other. I gasped, my hands going to his chest on reflex.
“Yes,” he said. “It’s like that.”
A soft wind shifted through my hair, and the world around us blurred as if in motion. But our feet hadn’t moved. The overlook, the cars, the townhouses, the sky, everything raced past us.
Then it was gone. Darkness engulfed us, with only the distant stars twinkling in the vast emptiness. My hands leached around Eli’s neck, brought us cheek to cheek.
“You’re safe in my arms, Emma Jane. Always,” he said, his lips brushing my ear. A shudder traveled straight down to my center with the sweet sound of his words. The man had an orgasmic voice. What a waste.
His embrace loosened, and I leaned back enough to see his face. A soft glow lightened the shadows from behind me, just enough to cast a silvery glow over his expression. Time and space suddenly rushed in on me, and my brain spun like I’d been twirling around on my toes for an hour.
I let go of him with one hand, pressing it to my forehead to stop the spin and to keep my brain from coming out of my ears. “What was that?”
“Your mind is struggling to match speed with your body. May I help?”
I’d told him once never to use his power to give me false rapture, but it was like asking a fish not to swim. I nodded and he rested his hand over mine, the warmth of his skin heating through me. The nauseating twirling stopped.
“I hoped moving slower would help lessen the shock, but it seems the effect allowed your vision too much time to try and compensate,” he said.
“We moved at angelic speed?” I asked, guessing.
“No. I am able to travel at the speed of thought. We moved an increment slower.”
“Um, thanks.” I tried to see over his shoulder, to get my bearings, but I couldn’t push up on my toes. I moved the muscles, and nothing happened. I looked at my feet—there was nothing beneath us. No floor, no ground, no...anything, just more blackness and millions and millions of distant twinkly lights.
An icy bolt of panic shot up my spine and I clutched at Eli. My gut twisted and a scream caught in the back of my throat. Eli hugged me tight.
“Where are we?”
“Look behind you,” he said.
It took a few seconds of internal argument, but eventually my courage rallied, and I glanced over my shoulder. “Is that...”
“Earth,” he said.
Sheer awe loosened my grip. I shifted my feet to his—I had to stand on something—and turned, holding his hands to my hips to anchor me, my back to his chest.
The world looked exactly the way it does in all the pictures...but so much more. More beautiful, more breathtaking than any picture could capture.
There was a storm swirling over one of the oceans, and night was quickly approaching for half the world. A thick line of darkness crept over land and water as the planet spun. On the other side, brilliant light ate away the darkness at exactly the same pace.
“This can’t be real. How?” I asked, my brain fighting reason and everything I knew about space and time and reality.
His hands slipped over my belly, his embrace enveloping me. “In the arms of an angel, Emma Jane, all things are possible.”
My eyes closed, and I leaned back into his chest. I tried not to enjoy the feel of him around me, but the heat of his body, the comforting strength of his muscles, and the sweet, summery scent of his skin decimated my willpower.
“Behold what your birthright has brought you, Emma Jane,” he said. “No mortal human could claim as much.”
I opened my eyes and felt that rush of awe all over again at the view. “It’s amazing, Eli. Thank you.”
“This is only the beginning. You have been chosen to battle creatures far more powerful than mere mortals. You are not like other humans; you cannot be. Your task requires much of you, and for it, much has been given. Time and space unravel for you to traverse with the same intrinsic understanding as those you hunt. The world is quite literally at your feet.”
Before I could take a breath, I found myself staring out over a large valley and an ocean beyond. Gone was the great global marble spinning in the endless black of space. Suddenly, I was blinking at a waking cityscape miles below with large water inlets and busy harbors. There was blue sky above me and green land below. We were back on Earth.
Hard, unrelenting wind whipped my hair, making it hard to see. But I could make out the white sand-lined shores and the short mountain ranges that blocked sections of the city from the ocean.
“Where are we?” I yelled, but my voice was lost on the roaring wind.
Eli tucked me under his arm, and silence descended over us like he’d closed a door. My hair floated back against my head and I could stand on my own. I shoved at the strands over my face and tried to clue in my brain. “Brazil.” Eli pointed at the city. “Rio de Janeiro.”
“It’s beautiful.” My gaze followed the landscape below to the base of the mountain, then to the long winding staircase tracing up the side until they disappeared far below the edge of the outcropping we stood on. It’d been nearly six a.m. in Pittsburgh by the time Eli and I left Earth, which made it nearly seven a.m. in Rio, and the city was already bustling.
What are we standing on? I fisted my hand around Eli’s jacket and leaned over for a better look. “No way. Christ the Redeemer? Seriously?” We were on his arm and I looked to the left at the huge, white, carved face of Jesus.
“Remarkable, isn’t it?” Eli said. “And yet it pales in comparison to the miracle that is you and those like you.”
He smiled wide, so pleased with himself, and I could almost forgive him for not warning me one wrong step could send me tumbling over a hundred feet to the very, very hard landing below.

REVIEW: Air by Shauna Granger

2011-12-15T00:00:00.000-08:00

It was a rough start to the school year for Shayna and her friends, Jodi and Steven, but thankfully summer break is near. Trying to sort out her feelings for the new guy in town, Shayna agrees to let Jensen join her on a group date with her friends. While out they end up at a local coffee house where their classmate, social outcast Jeremy McCormick, is humiliated by his baseball star brother. When Jeremy runs away from the jeering crowd, Shayna and Jodi hear the unmistakable sound of a thousand wings chasing after him, but no one else seems to hear them. These are not like any air elementals that Shayna or Jodi have ever encountered before and they fear Jeremy has gotten himself tangled up in something too dangerous for him to handle. But when Shayna tries to help Jeremy control his magical abilities she realizes it might be the biggest mistake of her life.

Book: Air by Shauna Granger
Release Date: October 31, 2011
Format: eARC
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Young Adult
Series: Elemental, #2
Obtained: For review from the author
Rating: (5 Zombies)

After reading and loving Earth, the first book in this series, I came into Air with quite high expectations, and I'm happy to say that it definitely lived up to them! I've read quite a few second books lately that disappointed me, and I'm really glad that this wasn't one of them.

Shayna is an amazing main character, and the only major flaw that I noticed was that she was so hard on Jensen. If you've read my review of Earth, then you know that Jensen, the love interest, is one of my absolute favorite characters ever, and I love him to death in a completely non-creepy way. I didn't really like how Shayna treated him in Air, but at the same time, I understood her reasoning. Jensen is just so awesome, I couldn't help but disagree . . .

The plot was, as in Earth, a fabulous mystery mixed in with equally fabulous character development, which came together to make a really fabulous book. If you haven't read Earth yet, you should definitely zip over to Amazon and pick up an ebook copy, and if you have, then make sure to snap up Air, because it is one of the best YA reads of 2011!

REVIEW: Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber

2011-11-28T00:00:00.000-08:00

The Picture of Dorian Gray meets Pride and Prejudice, with a dash of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

New York City, 1882. Seventeen-year-old Natalie Stewart's latest obsession is a painting of the handsome British Lord Denbury. Something in his striking blue eyes calls to her. As his incredibly life-like gaze seems to follow her, Natalie gets the uneasy feeling that details of the painting keep changing . . .
Jonathan Denbury's soul is trapped in the gilded painting by dark magic while his possessed body commits unspeakable crimes in the city slums. He must lure Natalie into the painting, for only together can they reverse the curse and free his damaged soul.

Book: Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber
Release Date: November 8, 2011
Format: eARC
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Young Adult
Series: Magic Most Foul, #1
Obtained: As part of a book tour
Rating: (4 Zombies)

I loved how Hieber mixed the classic stories of Dorian Grey and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde--both of which I love, and am fascinated by--to create Darker Still, a historical YA novel that would make a pretty good classic itself.

Natalie was an awesome, strong main character, and by far my favorite character in the entire book, which is pretty rare if you know me. I usually like some quirky side character, but Natalie was just so darned cool, I couldn't help but love her. Jonathan, the love interest, was also a lot of fun to read about, but no one could compare to Natalie, and how she overcame everything that was against her and didn't give up.

The plot was also amazing, and when combined with Natalie and the rest of the characters, made one of the best YA books I've read lately. You should definitely give this one a try!

GUEST POST: Piper Maitland

2011-11-26T06:00:00.000-08:00

The History of Vampirism

in Acquainted With the Night

Back in 2008, when I started working on a vampire novel, I began paying attention to the hours between dusk and dawn. I tried to look at the world through the eyes of an immortal. Would I miss daylight? Would I try to adapt? Would I plant night-blooming flowers in my garden? Perhaps I’d buy a telescope and study the constellations.

Early in the process, I knew the book would center around Historia Immortalis, an ancient manuscript that details the immortals’ history, along with their secret society, traditions, covenants, and ethics.

Historia Immortalis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Historia Immortalis, sometimes known as the Book of the Night, is one of the lost Christianities. Written before 200 A.D., the manuscript was considered heretical due to its subject matter: death and resurrection. The book is distinguished by graphic accounts of people rising from the dead.

Although the author is unknown, some theologians believe Historia Immortalis was written by monks known as νυχτοπερπατητής, the Greek phrase for “night walkers”—early astronomers who’d mapped the evening sky. They were been dogged by rumors of blood sacrifice and longevity. Other scholars claim the book was forged by the notorious Carpocratians. However, the majority believed that Lazareth of Bethany penned the manuscript.

In the 4^th century, leather-bound papyrus scrolls were discovered in the Gilf Kebir region in southern Egypt. While being transported to a monastery, the scrolls vanished. Many scholars scoffed at their existence. Critics were mystified when a Coptic version of the book appeared in the Alexandria library, however this copy went missing before the great fire.

Interest in the manuscript piqued again when codices were discovered at Nag Hammadi. After the 12^th volume was burned by a Bedouin woman, fragments were examined. Some scholars believed they were pages from Historia Immortalis.

During the 8^th century, the papyrus scrolls surfaced long enough for Charlemagne’s monks to translated the text into Medieval Latin. All five hundred vellum pages were lavishly embellished (see illustration) with vibrant, sometimes disturbing illustrations. The scrolls were allegedly burned during a fire at the scriptorium in Marmoutier, France. Illustrated copies of the manuscript were adopted by certain sects (see Catharism) in Southern France. These copies were ruthlessly hunted during the Albigensian Crusade and ignited the Inquisition.

In 1982, ten pages of the Latin translation were auctioned at Sotheby’s for 1.5 million pounds. Weeks later, the pages vanished.

Countless copies of the book were destroyed, but a few managed to elude the crusaders. “There’s just something odd about Historia Immortalis,” a collector said. “It won’t stay put. It possesses a type of kinetic energy.”

The book has a disturbing history of its own. During World War II, ten vellum leaves were found in the basement of the Louvre and were taken back to Berlin. A Munich collector bought them. Not long afterward, his only son hanged himself. The pages were sold to an Austrian violinist. Days before her murder, she sold the pages to a South American dictator who couldn’t get rid of them quickly enough. Before he could find a buyer, the pages were stolen. Decades later, they ended up at a Sotheby’s auction.

Most importantly, for mortals, the book serves as an introduction and a guide to the secret world of vampirism. Several chapters describe how immortals are irresistible to humans. They’re rather like cone shells, with brown-and-white patterns that are intricate and beautiful as a mosaic. Conidae are toothed shells. They are hungers, built for survival. They impale their prey and inject it with venom.

“I know what is written in Historia Immortalis,” Father Aeneas said. “It is forbidden for a vampire to love a human. Yet they do, of course, because an immortal’s libido is as powerful as their craving for blood. They freely mate with humans, but it is nearly impossible for them to reproduce. A mortal woman can conceive a child by a vampire, but the pregnancy usually ends in a miscarriage.”

In less than half a percent of cases, a half-vampire baby is carried full term. These rare offspring are called hybrids, and they possess unique traits. They don’t consume blood. They have unusual speed and strength, coupled with an ability to heal rapidly. They have strong immune systems. And they exude a type of olfactory chemical that attracts, then repels. Hybrids cannot form lasting relationships with any human. Most possess a hyperawareness of danger. Some an even read minds. Others can sense when immortals are near—that’s why hybrids often make successful vampire slayers.

Of course, just as in today’s world, the ancient vampires didn’t keep their own rules. Exceptions were made when an immortal fell in love with a well-connected human, and vice versa. If you were in the peerage, if you possessed land or influence, the vamps looked the other way. Greed is a human response to an inhuman dilemma. However, when a high-born vampire romanced a lowly human, the rules were enforced, and the unfortunate lovebirds were ostracized.

Some scholars believe that Historia Immortalis was forged by the notorious Carpocratians, a heretical Gnostic sect. But many others believe the text was written by second-century monks. The language is typical of the era and reads like a Gnostic Gospel.

A Coptic version was translated during Charlemagne’s era. Each vellum page was covered with illustrations and lavish black script, and the script was unique, with upper and lowercase letters. The words were also spaced. This is why the book was called a Carolingian minuscule. It was an illustrated manuscript, a picture book for the illiterate.

Caro saw ten vellum sheets, each one lavishly illustrated. Magenta knights held shields, each one woven with infinity symbols, and below the knights, a dead stag lay with its neck ripped open. Many pages showed graphic, alluring illustrations of sex and vampirism.

She lifted a page, and the dazzling colors seemed to vibrate, washing over the back of her hand. Obsidian, lapis, topaz, amethyst, shot through with gilt. Each page curled at the edges like dried tobacco leaves.

Part of this tome is a treatise about the night—nocturnal animals, moon phases, constellations, and botany. It also contains the vampires’ moral codes. The book’s theme is resurrection. The first line says, “This is the secret Gospel of the night. Whoever finds the correct interpretation of the text will find eternal life.”

In the 8^th century, a copy of Historia Immortalis found its way to the Vatican. The Church had always fretted endlessly about heresy, but it also had a means to eliminate it. The Pope objected to the book because it was a chronicle of people who’d achieved eternal life. And God did not intend for man to live eternally without His judgment.

The Albigensian Crusade was launched, and copies of Historia Immortalis were ruthlessly ferreted out and burned—along with their owners. The book was a threat—it had the power to shake Christianity, and humanity itself. Historia Immortalis would eventually ignite the Inquisition.

Centuries later, the book was still causing problems. Collectors longed to own a copy. The Church wanted to burn it. The owner of a London pharmaceutical company hoped to exploit it:

The book was much more than the history of vampirism: It held secrets to longevity and, interestingly enough, methods of destroying the immortals. Mortals were no match for the vampires’ superior physical abilities, not to mention their otherworldly skills such as telepathy and telekinesis. The lot were canny survivalists. For thousands of years,, they’d endured in a symbiotic relationship with humankind. They’d restrained themselves. If they got the upper-hand, humans would be openly slaughtered, and as the earth was depopulated, wide-spread panic would erupt. A polarized society is a weak society. Civilization would disintegrate. The immortals would roost in Buckingham Palace, feeding on animal blood, and humans would go the way of the Neanderthal.

If the tome fell into the wrong hands, it would pit science against religion. Men would lash out against vampires, depriving them of rights, but the battle would inevitably disintegrate into a predictable man-against-man conflict. Some humans would oppose the immortals, and some would offer support—or even breed with them.

Initially the outing of vampirism would cause a social upheaval. The affluent, centuries-old clans would be ostracized. After all, the royals were a bit finicky about bloodlines. However, that would be the least of the vampires’ problems. The wealthy and common alike would go into hiding. While they reorganized, they’d be sought by fringe groups and bounty hunters. Enthusiasts might hunt them for sport.

As Caro’s uncle Nigel once said:

“If you didn’t wish to grow old, if you preferred a short but interesting life, get yourself mixed up with Historia Immortalis. Each cursed page attracted death—ironic for a tomb that celebrated immortality.”

Acquainted With the Night will be published November 29^th (Berkley). Piper Maitland is currently working on the sequel, A Requiem for Daylight.

GUEST POST: Nova Sparks

2011-11-23T06:00:00.000-08:00

Hello Guys!

My name is Nova Sparks and I'm the author of the sci-fi urban fantasy romance series, the DOME trilogy. The first installment of the trilogy is called the DOME and is available now on Amazon, BN, and Smashwords. The second installment of the trilogy is called the DOME revelation and will be made available on November 30th!

Being an author, I find myself reading a lot. Even before I started writing, I would read a whole bunch. Even though the DOME trilogy is an adult series, I also enjoy reading a lot of Young Adult books, my secret love. When a book is SOOO good, I get caught up in the story. I love character driven stories, Darwin's Children/Unnatural Law by Natasha Larry and Caleo by James Crawford are AWESOME because of the amazing story they tell and the amazing characters.

But being caught up in a story that is so good causes you to glance over certain things. Now before I mention these things, many people may decide that these things aren't important details, and in fact, a story can survive without them. And they will be right, a story can survive without these "unmentioned details". In fact, I know of tons of stories that have done ridiculously well, selling millions of copies, without never once mentioning these details. So, what are these details? If we are writing about fiction human characters, these charcters still have to be really human. And being really human, even in a fiction would, means doing things that real humans do in real life. So, why is that many books have characters that never eat, never use the bathroom, and never take showers?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know what you guys are saying...that these things are not important and don't contribute to the fabric of a good story. And again, I will say you're sorta right. I just find it quite odd that many authors, including myself, choose to ignore human habit and behavior. In the Dome trilogy, I had to literally remind myself every time I wrote a new day, to feed my characters and make sure they took showers. It just didn't seem right not adding that in there. Does this make me crazy? Am I obsessing about meaningless details? I hope not, because if I am, many of you may find it quite odd that I made my teenage character, Emma, go through her menstrual cycle. Hey, she's a young girl and months go by. Don't females have the rag every month? lol

Nova Sparks Author of the DOME (the DOME trilogy #1)

Sample or purchase the DOME (the DOME trilogy #1):
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/64825
http://amzn.to/itzlO6
http://bit.ly/me1LxX

REVIEW: The Hunter by Theresa Meyers

2011-11-15T00:00:00.000-08:00

They're the Chosen—Winchester, Remington and Colt—brothers trained to hunt down supernatural beings using the latest steam-powered gadgetry. It's a hard legacy to shoulder, and it's about to get a lot more dangerous. . .

A Devil Of A Job

Colt Jackson has gotten his name on many a wanted poster with success in the family business: hunting supernaturals across the frontier. Lately, though, there's a sulfur stink in the wind and the Darkin population is exploding. A rift in the worlds is appearing. To close it, Colt will have to do the unthinkable and work with a demon to pass arcane boundaries no human alone can cross.

Except when he summons his demon, he doesn't get some horned monstrosity: he gets a curvy redheaded succubus named Lilly, who's willing to make a bargain to become human again. He also gets Lilly's secret expertise on the machinations on the dark side of the rift. And her charm and cleverness help to get them out of what his silver-loaded pistol and mechanical horse can't. Of course, when all hell breaks loose, he might have to sacrifice his soul. But what's adventure without a little risk?

"Meyers puts the steam in steampunk." —Cherry Adair

Book: The Hunter by Theresa Meyers
Release Date: November 1, 2011
Format: ARC
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series: The Legend Chronicles, #1
Obtained: As part of a book tour
Rating: (4 Zombies)

I really liked the adventure/mystery aspect of The Hunter, but I was kind of distracted by both Colt's and Lilly's pretty much single-minded focus on sex. They were sex crazy whack jobs for the majority of the book, but the rest of the story was so good that I only took off one zombie for that.

Marley was my favorite character, hands down, because I just can't resist a mad scientist, especially a steampunk mad scientist. He was soooo much more awesome than either of the main characters, and he really made the book for me.

In The Hunter, the two main storylines are the romance between Colt and Lilly and the adventure of searching for the missing Book of Legend. The adventure was, by far, the better of the two, and it kept me reading long past when I should have gone to sleep, eager to find out what would happen next.

One odd thing about The Hunter was that, as you read it, you can tell that the events of the next two books are happening at the same time as the one you're reading, which is something I've never seen before. It was kind of disconcerting at first, but also kind of cool.

If you're into adventure and westerns, and don't mind a little (a lot) romance, then I definitely recommend The Hunter. I'm looking forward to reading the second book as soon as I can get my hands on it!

REVIEW: Devil Unknown by Steena Holmes

2011-11-08T15:58:00.000-08:00

“Each generation, evil takes form and steals the soul of the most devout.”

A long forgotten myth holds the key to the evil descending upon Bandit Creek. When the town turns to their beloved former pastor for answers, little do they realize he may be the evil they fear.

Nathan Hanlin is at a crossroads. His soul is in jeopardy, and he doesn’t know it. Yet. He thought leaving the church would be easy, but when demonic crows start talking and demons reveal a secret about his past -- he realizes turning his back on God might have been a mistake. A ripped page from a journal holds the key to discovering why the supernatural are appearing in Bandit Creek but it’s too late. The myth is real and the only person who knows the answer is missing. Can Nathan save the woman he loves...or is he the reason her life is in danger?

Book: Devil Unknown by Steena Holmes
Release Date: October 16, 2011
Format: eBook
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series: Bandit Creek Books
Obtained: As part of a book tour
Rating: (4 Zombies)

This is a really fast-paced, mysterious, awesome novella, which is really saying something for me because, as a general rule, I don't like novellas very much. I loved reading about the mysteries of Bandit Creek and finding out what was going on along with Nathan.

Due to the length of the book, I don't really have too much to say in my review, but if you're a fan of the paranormal, mystery, and a good romance, then this is definitely something you should add to your TBR list!

REVIEW: Bridger by Megan Curd

2011-11-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

Ashlyn McVean doesn't believe in fairy tales. That is, until Ashlyn is thrown into the crosshairs of grudges her grandmother created long ago. After finding out she is one of two people able to cross between faerie realms, Ashlyn is faced with trying to understand her abilities, along with navigating a new relationship with her boyfriend, Liam. As if being on a centuries old hit list and dealing with crazed pixies isn't enough, her new abilities mean trouble for Liam. Knowing her new life puts everyone she loves in danger, Ashlyn must decide what's most important in her life between friends, family, love, and ultimately, realms.

Book: Bridger by Megan Curd
Release Date: June 4, 2011
Format: eBook
Genre: Fantasy/Young Adult
Series: Bridger, #1
Obtained: As part of a book tour
Rating: (4 Zombies)

I loved loved loved reading about Ashlyn's adventures over the course of Bridger! It reminded me somewhat of Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series, but not in a copycat way, more of just the general feel of the book. Any fans of the Iron Fey should definitely give Bridger a try.

Ashlyn was one of my favorite MCs in a while because, no matter how much she got thrown at her, she never gave up or whined about it, she just kept going. Anyone who knows me knows that one of the tings I hate most about YA main characters is that so many of them think of themselves as victims and wait for everyone else (generally their boyfriends) to save them. Ashlyn was amazingly different from the norm in that sense.

If you love fantasy and faeries, then Bridger is a great -- not to mention inexpensive -- book that I would recommend to anyone!

Interview with Shayna from EARTH

2011-10-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

I interviewed Shayna, the main character from Earth by Shauna Granger, and here are her answers to a few of my questions below:

1. What is it like being a magic user in a world where pretty much everyone around you doesn't even believe in magic?

It’s a little strange, kind of like finding out you’re the last one in your class who still believes in Santa. I know I’m lucky to have other magic users around me; as I got older (especially dealing with high school), it became very clear to me why a lot of magic users who don’t understand what powers they have, or don’t have people around them to help them with it, slowly go insane one way or the other.

2. What are the best and worst parts of having magic?

Hmmm, as far as my magic goes, the best part is my elemental abilities, being so in tune with the Earth and getting to see other magical creatures like faeries, gnomes, stuff like that. But my empathetic magic makes being around so many other teenagers that much harder. Each one is like a tiny tornado of anger, hormones, stress and erratic bursts of happiness. It’s a little much to deal with.

3. If you could change one thing in your life, what would it be?

I wouldn’t mind being a few inches taller, haha! Really though, I don’t know if I would change anything. I could do with a shorter time in high school, but at least it’s almost over. I think if I changed anything I would miss out on something I would regret. I don’t know if Steven and Jodi and I would’ve ended up such close friends if we didn’t all have the bond of magic. I try not to tempt Fate.

4. How hard is it to keep your magic secret from the majority of the people around you?

Most days, now that I have better control of it, it’s not so hard. But there are still days where I know my other classmates think I’m a freak because I have a hard time being in crowds of unknown people; all of those unknown emotions just wreak havoc with my empathetic abilities. Really, how many teenagers do you know who need someone to hold their hand just to go to the movies or to a restaurant with friends? That came be pretty lame some days. But I am glad we live in Southern California; since my elemental magic is tied to the earth there have been a couple of panic induced earthquakes that would’ve been hard to explain otherwise. I guess that could also fall under the category of “worst parts of having magic” and “what would you change in your life.” Hopefully I’ll get that under control before someone catching me doing it on one of those damn cellphone cameras and it’s all over the web.

To win an ebook of Earth, leave a comment with your email address on this post! Giveaway ends on Oct. 30.

Comment on every blog’s post to be entered into the Grand Prize for a signed print copy of soon to be released Air and bookmark! Second Grand Prize is a signed print copy of Earth and a bookmark!

REVIEW: The Legacy of Kilkenny by Devyn Dawson

2011-10-28T00:00:00.001-07:00

The Legacy of Kilkenny is the story of Abel Casey, an ordinary boy until the stunning Pru Phelan came to town and introduced him to his destiny. Pru had a vision that the Great Wolf was born and he can be found in Piedsville, Oklahoma and his name is Abel Casey. Pru's main assignment? To kill Abel... at least make his family believe he is dead. The Great Wolf is expected to become the leader of all packs. As Abel starts training he begins to have abilities of a werewolf, he hasn't shifted and he doesn't want his family to believe he is dead. Will he be able to convince the pack that he can protect his family. Just when everything seems to be going okay, Abel's sister Allie meets a new guy named Arien. Arien isn't any guy, he is a vampire and he knows the Phelan pack has found the Great Wolf, he wants to know who it is and he is threatening to turn Allie into a vampire if they don't tell him who it is. Allie is already moody, will she contract the Human Vampiric Virus (HVV)? Abel wants a relationship with Pru, but she only has eyes for her bodyguard Oakley. The story will have you cheering for the good guy.... hating the bad guy... dream of the sexy werewolves and love to hate the vampire Arien. The multiple scenarios may be too much to bear for our newly unshifted werewolf Abel, can he save his sister? Will he find love? Will Pru be able to fulfill her assignment? Will Allie become a vampire? Who will be brutally murdered? Enjoy this page turning supernatural story.

Book: The Legacy of Kilkenny by Devyn Dawson
Release Date: June 11, 2011
Format: eBook
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Young Adult
Series: The Legacy Series, #1
Obtained: As part of a book tour
Rating:1/2 (3.5 Zombies)

I loved reading about the main characters, Pru and Abel, and seeing how they interacted with each other and their circumstances in The Legacy of Kilkenny. The characters, more than anything else, made this book for me, and I'm definitely looking forward to reading more about them in future books.

The many conflicts involved in the characters' lives added some awesomely frustrating suspense to the book and had me reading at all hours of the night.

The Legacy of Kilkenny was a very fast-paced, entertaining read that I recommend to any fan of supernatural thrillers of the young adult variety. Check it out whenever you're in the mood for a real page-turner.

GIVEAWAY: Destined by P. C. & Kristin Cast

2011-10-26T12:33:00.000-07:00

About "Destined":

"...Zoey is finally home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side, and preparing to face off against Neferet – which would be a whole lot easier if the High Counsel saw the ex-High Priestess for what she really is. Kalona has released his hold on Rephaim, and, through Nyx's gift of a human form, Rephaim and Stevie Rae are finally able to be together – if he can truly walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father's shadow…"

Rules:

1. To enter, leave a comment telling me either who your favorite House of Nigh character is and why (no big spoilers for the more recent books, please!), or your favorite Halloween read if you haven't read the HoN books yet. Make sure to leave your email.

2. Giveaway ends on Nov. 5 at 11:59 p.m.

3. Entrants must have a valid address in either the United States or Canada.

4. Winner must respond to notification email within 24 hours or a new winner will be selected.

Thanks for entering! Good luck!

REVIEW: Ink by S. J. Davis

2011-10-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

“It’s a good day to die.”
My mother holds my arm fiercely.
“But as you grieve for me, listen for
the voices.
Then, you must get the ink.”

Sparrow stumbles between two worlds,
light and dark, love and hate, what is real
and what is in her mind.

When her mother dies on the Reservation,
Sparrow’s world is shadowed with anger
and narrowed by pain. The voices arrive,
but are they real? And how can a tattoo
make her stronger?

Book: Ink by S. J. Davis
Release Date: September 1, 2011
Format: eBook, Novella
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Young Adult
Series: Not sure if this is part of a series
Obtained: As part of a book tour
Rating: (4 Zombies)

I really enjoyed the Native American mythology that was explored (however briefly) in Ink. It was a lot of fun to read about some of Sparrow's customs and beliefs that seem so strange to someone like me, who hasn't had much exposure to Blackfoot culture, but come so naturally to her.

Ink had a dreamy, vague style of writing which I really liked. It fit the story well and made it feel like a Native American tale, more than an account of a teenage girl's life. I'm not sure I would enjoy this type of writing in most other stories that I like to read, but I think it worked really well with Ink.

I definitely hope that there will be a sequel, because I would love to see what happens next in Sparrow's tumultuous life, but Ink ended on a point where it could go either way and not be disappointing. I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was, and I look forward to reading more of Davis' work.

REVIEW: Mind Over Monsters by Jennifer Harlow

2011-10-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

Paranormal heroes take on zombies in this funny and thrilling debut

Very few people know the truth about Beatrice Alexander. She's no ordinary schoolteacher with a fondness for classic movies. Beatrice can move objects with her mind, an embarrassing and dangerous skill that she's never learned to master—or embrace. After nearly killing her brother by accident, she joins F.R.E.A.K.S. The Federal Response to Extra-Sensory and Kindred Supernaturals is a top-secret offshoot of the FBI that "neutralizes" ghouls, trolls, and other monsters threatening humanity.

Beatrice has no desire to become Buffy the vampire slayer. But F.R.E.A.K.S. offers training to control her power. Also, she doesn't feel like such a freak next to the other supernatural members, including a cute former detective who's a werewolf and an unbearable vampire determined to seduce Beatrice. Despite a natural instinct to flee from hideous, bloodthirsty zombies, Beatrice must prove herself on her first mission to find a cunning necromancer.

Book: Mind Over Monsters by Jennifer Harlow
Release Date: October 8, 2011
Format: Paperback
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: A F.R.E.A.K.S. Squad Investigation, #1
Obtained: As part of a book tour
Rating: (5 Zombies)

When I first picked up Mind Over Monsters, it was mainly because my tour date was coming up and I needed to get it read and reviewed in very little time. I read the back and had no idea why I'd decided to join this tour, because it looked insanely terrible and very much not my thing. The cover was ugly and the book didn't sound great. I was unexcited, to say the least. When I opened up Mind Over Monsters, the first thing I saw was that Karen Chance, the author of one of my favorite UF series, had read and loved it, but I still didn't think it was going to be great. Then I started reading.

Mind Over Monsters is one of the best UFs I've read in a long time. Beatrice, the main character, wasn't some badass jaded monster killer, but she was still amazing and totally frickin' awesome. I loved loved loved reading about her adventures, and all of the wonderful side characters she shared them with.

The love interest, Will the werewolf, was shy and sweet and loveable with a stubborn streak a mile wide, and I couldn't help but fall in love with him along with Beatrice. Oliver the vampire created a sort of love triangle thing that I wasn't quite on-board with until the end of the book, but I'm having a hard time deciding between the two now that I've read the entire book.

If you're looking for a great mystery and fantastic characters, you have got to pick up a copy of Mind Over Monsters ASAP!

REVIEW: Spirit Seeker by Jamie Haden

2011-10-06T00:00:00.000-07:00

Life is strange and difficult for the granddaughter of a shaman. Sixteen-year-old Talisa Santiago was born in the desert underneath the full moon in January-the wolf moon. However, she left the desert with her mother when she was a young girl. She remembers bits and pieces of her past but it isn't until she and her mom move to a remote barrier island off the coast of North Carolina that she feels fate has finally called-secretive and mysterious he stands alone on the edge of the bank. Her friends tell her to stay away; she hears rumors that he is dangerous. Still, she can't resist. Whether Talisa realizes it or not, she knows a thing or two about boys like Jag Chavez. Fate is funny that way. For the first time in her life, Talisa meets kids just like her-Native Americans who know the ways of the spirit. The closer she gets to Jag, the more she realizes he is hiding a dark secret. He may have the markings of the Thunderbird, but he is named for the powerful Jaguar. Together they embark on a journey that will haunt her forever.

Book: Spirit Seeker by Jamie Haden
Release Date: August 26, 2011
Format: eBook
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Young Adult
Series: Talisa Santiago, #1
Obtained: As part of a book tour
Rating: (4 Zombies)

I really enjoyed reading Spirit Seeker, and I loved the supernatural storyline as well as the actual characters. Sometimes supernatural books can get to be somewhat repetitive, what with the vampires and werewolves and vampires, but Spirit Seeker was really different.

My favorite part of Spirit Seeker has to be the Native American mythology. It was so cool learning about all of the myths and legends that Talisa has grown up being told, and I'm definitely going to stop by the library in the near future and take a look at some more Native American literature. I thought that that aspect of the book was really fun and original, and I can't wait to find out more.

Talisa herself wasn't my favorite character, but I didn't hate her either. She just didn't stand out too much to me, especially surrounded by a cast of amazing secondary characters. I hope she gets to be more of an enjoyable character in later books, which I can definitely see happening after witnessing her growth throughout this book.

Overall, Spirit Seeker was a pretty awesome book, and I'm really looking forward to reading the second when it comes out!

REVIEW: The Vampire Way by Derek Clendening

2011-10-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

Eighteen year old Rick Thompson is a marked man. When Damien Masonite comes to his school, he knows something is up. And when his friends start falling to vampire attacks, he knows that he and his girlfriend Laura are next. The quest to understand immortality, true love and undying friendship compromise his safety even more. Can he keep his best friends, his true love and keep his mortal life?

Clendening has created somewhat of a subtle emotional firestorm in The Vampire Way. This story understands the desperation of young dreams and the price some may pay to attain them. Engaging, tightly written and poignant, this tale must be sought after for those who love the bloodsucker genre!

--Benjamin Kane Ethridge,
Bram Stoker Award winning author of BLACK & ORANGE

Book: The Vampire Way by Derek Clendening
Release Date: April 20, 2011
Format: eBook
Genre: Horror/Young Adult
Series: The Vampire Way, #1
Obtained: As part of a book tour
Rating: (3 Zombies)

I loved how The Vampire Way juxtaposed everyday teenage (and human in general) struggles with the horror movie scenario of being on a vampire's bad side, but I didn't like the characters as much as the concept. I had a hard time relating to them individually, rather than the events that they were going through.

Rick, the main character, didn't get quite as much page time as I would have liked, though I genuinely enjoyed reading about him for the most part. For a main character, I would have expected that he would narrate the story much more often than he did, but the characters Damien, John, and Bobby told so much of the story that it was kind of hard to see who the main character was without the GoodReads synopsis.

I haven't read many horror novels, but as far as movies go, this book was definitely not bad, if a bit typical. Not great characters, but realistic problems as well as those that come with the horror genre; fast-paced without a huge deal of development; sometimes quite frightening, in the best way possible; and short, but definitely fun. If you're a fan of the horror genre, I would recommend this book, especially with Halloween coming up at the end of the month :)

Rue Volley Series

2011-09-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

Excerpt from Blood and Light

Chapter 17...entitled "Tuning Fork"

This is one of many favorite exchanges that occurred between Rue Volley and Joshua Barrington in my first book in the series I am writing. Joshua is trying to teach Rue how to "bond" with her blades so that she will become a warrior like him and as usual the situation goes crazy on her, as it always does. Rue is still trying to accept and learn how to be a protector...aka" Vampire", for all intense purposes. This is three pages of chapter 17 and I hope you enjoy it....who knew that fighting with a blade could feel so good:)~Rue

I gripped my blades and grumbled. He was toying with me now. I'm gonna knock him out. I pressed my hand against the ground and his trail opened up to me...swirling in black color. I flashed forward and I scanned the trees and everything around me. All of a sudden the trail ended and I skidded to a stop. I looked up and rolled out of the way as Josh dropped down from a tree above me. I pushed myself up and left one leg extended as I raised my head to look at him. He flashed towards me and I flipped my blade in my hand and rose up, hitting him in the side as he passed me by. He groaned and skidded to a stop behind me and I spun around. He rubbed his ribs.

"God I wish that you would stop doing that." he said.

"I could have hit you in the "you knows." I said as I looked down his body.

He laughed. "The 'you knows'...I like that."

I smiled and flashed towards him, he twisted his body and I missed him, I almost ran into a tree. I stopped and jerked my head, to move the hair out of my face. He stood there and turned the blades sideways in his hands.

I looked at him and grinned. "You ready to do this for real?" I asked him.

He looked me up and down and grinned. "I'm ready to do all kinds of stuff with you."

"Shut up." I said as I came at him.

He stood his ground and our blades hit, light flashed off of them and my heart started to beat harder in my chest. We stood there, face to face, with blades glowing.

He leaned towards me. "You are getting me hot." he whispered.

I yelled out and slid my blades downward, the metal made a slicing sound as I went down...I ran under him, between his legs and then kicked him in the butt, as I kicked my leg out behind me. He stumbled forward and turned around biting his lip.

I stopped and laughed at him. "Smooth." I said.

He flipped his blades into the ground and they hummed like a tuning fork as they swayed back and forth. He closed his eyes and held his hands out, palms up. I watched as black color started to swirl around his blades, it went upward...almost like a tornado in slow motion. He opened his eyes and his pupils looked black as night. I watched in wonder. I need to know that trick. He placed his hands out over both of his blades as they shot out of the ground and into his hands. A trace of black mist trailed behind them and started to roll around his feet.

"Now I am centered." he said to me.

I gripped my blades tightly in my hands, I suddenly got the feeling that I had not seen him battle for real yet, although I knew this was for sport. He took a stance with me that I had seen from him before. His heartbeat slowed, his breathing slowed, and the glow on his blade pulsated with each breath that he took.

"Okay, I need to know how to do that." I said as I relaxed my hands. He grinned at me.

"I told you that it is all in how you focus. The blades are an extension of you, they feel as you do...if you are not focused, they will not serve you."

I looked down at my blades and then threw them at the ground, they laid there on their sides. I looked up at him and he walked towards me.

"Pick them up." he said kinda forceful.

I leaned down and saw that his feet were right next to mine. I stood up and felt a humming in my body. I think I blushed, but I couldn't tell. He walked behind me and I felt the heat coming off of him. He reached around me from behind and put his hands on mine. I looked down at my blades and he raised my hands just slightly and flipped them towards the ground. I let go and both of my blades stuck out from the ground with that tuning fork hum coming from them, like his had. He held onto my hands and rubbed his thumbs across my palms, I took a breath, a little staggered...I didn't mean too. I felt his breath on the back of my neck. He held my hands out at my sides and placed them palm up.

"Close your eyes." he said calmly. I closed them.

"I want you to feel the metal, cold and hard...listen to the song they are singing to you...it's only for you."

I slowed my breathing and focused on the metal, and it's song. My heart slowed, I could see color swirling behind my eye lids...blue, with traces of silver. He let go of my hands and backed away from me.

"Now look, Rue."

I opened my eyes and saw blue swirls coming out of the ground around my blades, it snaked upward. I opened my mouth and breathed it in, it tasted like honey in my mouth.

"Now place your hands over them and call them to you. You don't have to say it out loud, they will hear you."

I placed both my hands out, palms down over my blades and I called to them. They shot upward and I felt them slip into my hands...for the first time. They felt like they had a heartbeat...my heartbeat. I held them up and watched the blue color swirl on the blades and around my wrists, it felt like a cat rubbing against me while it purred. I grinned as I looked up at Josh, who stood there with no expression on his face.

"Did I do it right?" I asked.

"Yes...you did. I shouldn't be surprised that you got it on the first try, you are a quick study." He said as he leaned down and turned his blades in his hands. He came at me in a flash and I instinctively spun around, bringing my blades down to my sides. His blade struck mine and I felt an adrenaline rush go through me, unlike any I had ever had. My heart fluttered. he flashed to my ear.

"Feels good doesn't it?" he whispered.

I nodded as he brought his blades up in a blur and I brought mine up to counter him. I sucked in my breath as the metal clashed together. My body hummed and my breathing staggered.

"You need to calm down." he said.

I lowered my head and closed my eyes. I felt like I had just been kissed. I raised my blades and looked at them. I saw my reflection in the metal and my eyes swirled light blue and white. I lowered it and looked at him.

"I feel funny." I said.

He laughed. "Of course you do...fighting with your blades is a seductive experience."

I ran at him in a flash and every move he made, my blades came down and hit his. I started to gasp after the sixth hit and I stopped. I staggered back from him and gripped my blades. I reached up and wiped the sweat from my forehead. He came at me and I countered his every move, with each hit I started to make noises and he stopped. I stood there panting and my eyes felt glossy. I didn't know what I was feeling, but I loved it. He grinned.

"I think you are enjoying this too much." he said.

I flashed at him and suddenly I felt a tremor in my body, I fell to my knees and gasped. I threw my head back and then fell to the ground.

"Oh my God!" I yelled out.

He ran to me and knelt down. I kept my head down and tried to breath. I don't know what just happened, but it was the best feeling in the entire world. Well, I kinda know. I kept my head down, realizing that the embarrassment was coming. I peeked up at him, my face flush.

"I think that I just..." I whispered.

"Holy shit." he said as he touched my back.

I stood up and stumbled, then backed away from him.
"Don't touch me...not right now." I said.

"Listen Rue...it's okay, I should have warned you to control yourself. I just didn't think that you would, ya know...have an orgas.."

"Shut up Josh!"

Waiting on Wednesday (54)

2011-09-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by the amazing Jill at Breaking the Spine. Each week, participating bloggers will make a post about a book whose publication they're eagerly awaiting.

This week, I'm featuring Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber.

The Picture of Dorian Gray meets Pride and Prejudice, with a dash of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

New York City, 1882. Seventeen-year-old Natalie Stewart's latest obsession is a painting of the handsome British Lord Denbury. Something in his striking blue eyes calls to her. As his incredibly life-like gaze seems to follow her, Natalie gets the uneasy feeling that details of the painting keep changing...

Jonathan Denbury's soul is trapped in the gilded painting by dark magic while his possessed body commits unspeakable crimes in the city slums. He must lure Natalie into the painting, for only together can they reverse the curse and free his damaged soul.

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Cover Trends (16)

2011-09-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

COVER TRENDS

This week's trend is PDA. Yup, public displays of affection. I can go either way with this one, because sometimes they're cute, other times they're weird, and still other times, they're just completely over-the-top. So, yeah, if done right I really like this one, but if done wrong, I really dislike it, so I consider this one of the riskier trends because when you fail, you fail bad.

Examples:

What do you think of this trend?

REVIEW: Awaking by Madeline Freeman

2011-09-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

Morgan Abbey’s life is about to change.

Just weeks before her senior year is set to begin, a mysterious stranger approaches Morgan with information that has far-reaching ramifications. First, the psychic ability she believes she has just been pretending to have since middle school might actually be real.

Second, her mother, who disappeared abruptly and completely almost a decade ago, might still be alive.

Morgan finds herself in the drawn into a centuries-old struggle involving a group of people who quietly coexist alongside the common people of the world. This shadowy group believes it is time for them to reclaim their former positions of power—and they believe Morgan is the key.

But when the time comes, will Morgan be able to do what it takes to reunite with her mother and fulfill her destiny?

Book: Awakening by Madeline Freeman
Release Date: October 8, 2010
Format: eBook
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Young Adult
Series: Naturals, #1
Obtained: As part of a book tour
Rating: (4 Zombies)

I've recently read a string of not-so-great indie books, and Awaking was a great change. It was refreshingly entertaining and well-written and has effectively restored my faith in indie authors. Thank you, Madeline Freeman :D

Morgan was an awesome main character, and I loved reading her story, even though not a whole lot happened for about the first 3/4ths of the book (probably my biggest complaint). She was realistic, not catty, and very human.

Something that's bothered me a lot about the past few indie books I've read is that the dialogue is very stiff and formal sounding, not at all like how normal (or not-so-normal) teenagers talk, and that was continuously pulling me out of some otherwise quite good stories, which I really really really hated. Awaking, thank god, didn't run into this problem at all, as far as I can remember. I was beginning to think that it was an unbreakable trend!

While Awaking isn't fast-paced or action-packed, it's definitely a cute, interesting, very entertaining read, and a great way to spend one of the few remaining summer afternoons.

REVIEW: The Cowboy and the Vampire by Kathleen McFall and Clark Hays

2011-09-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

Reporter Lizzie Vaughan doesn’t realize it, but she has 2,000 years of royal Vampiric blood coursing through her veins. Neither she nor Tucker, her cowboy lover, has any idea that Julius, the leader of the undead, has a diabolical plan to reign over darkness for all eternity—with Lizzie at his side.

Lizzie battles for her life—and her soul—as she and Tucker find themselves caught up in a vampire war, pursued by hordes of Julius’ maniacal, bloodthirsty followers.

Who will be left standing when the sun rises?

“Deliciously dark.”—BOOKLIST

Check out the book's website at www.cowboyandvampire.com.

Book: The Cowboy and the Vampire by Kathleen McFall and Clark Hays
Release Date: October 8, 2010
Format: Paperback
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy
Series: Standalone
Obtained: As part of a book tour
Rating: (4 Zombies)

It took me almost two weeks to read The Cowboy and the Vampire, and the terrible part was that it wasn't because I didn't enjoy it. I did. The problem was that the cover and title combined to make it impossible to read in public. No way was I about to strut my stuff all over campus carrying this monstrosity. So, unfortunately, the book stayed at home and I read a whole lot of non-fiction about television writing when I would otherwise have been reading this.

Lizzie and Tucker were a really cute couple, and I think that they worked really well together. I loved reading about their story, and how their relationship progressed over the course of the book, even when they were apart.

The supporting cast was great, and I thought that the little character guide at the beginning was a really cute idea, and it worked amazingly with this particular book. My favorite part, though, was how the characters' speech reflected their backgrounds. Tucker, being a cowboy and all, had shitty grammar and used many southern colloquialisms, but not to the point of sounding unrealistic. It made the characters' voices easier for me to imagine as I read.

If you're looking for an exciting, fun, and romantic book with a few paranormal goodies, then The Cowboy and the Vampire would be a great choice.

Waiting on Wednesday (53)

2011-09-21T17:45:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by the amazing Jill at Breaking the Spine. Each week, participating bloggers will make a post about a book whose publication they're eagerly awaiting.

This week, I'm featuring Crave by Melissa Darnell.

Savannah Colbert has been shunned all her life by the kids of the Clann. And when she undergoes some drastic changes after a strange illness, Savannah learns secrets about the group and about herself—dangerous secrets. For the Clann are powerful magic users, and Savannah herself is half Clann and half vampire—a forbidden, unheard of combination. Falling for Clann golden boy Tristan Coleman isn't just a bad idea—it could be deadly if anyone finds out. But her attraction to Tristan—and his to her—isn't something either of them can resist for long.

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Cover Trends (15)

2011-09-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

COVER TRENDS

This week's trend is BIG FONTS. This is another trend that I really like. Big fonts tend to create a statement for me, and they really stand out, especially with blockier letters.

Examples:

What are your thoughts on this trend?

REVIEW: The Demon's Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan

2011-09-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

Mae Crawford’s always thought of herself as in control, but in the last few weeks her life has changed. Her younger brother, Jamie, suddenly has magical powers, and she’s even more unsettled when she realizes that Gerald, the new leader of the Obsidian Circle, is trying to persuade Jamie to join the magicians. Even worse . . . Jamie hasn’t told Mae a thing about any of it. Mae turns to brothers Nick and Alan to help her rescue Jamie, but they are in danger from Gerald themselves because he wants to steal Nick's powers. Will Mae be able to find a way to save everyone she cares about from the power-hungry magician's carefully laid trap?

Book: The Demon's Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan
Release Date: May 18, 2010
Format: E-book
Genre: Young Adult
Series: The Demon's Lexicon, #2
Obtained: Purchased
Rating: (5 Zombies)

Sorry for the crappy cover image. That was the best I could find D: Oh, well. And I don't think that that's Mae on the cover, because obviously Mae has pink hair. According to Jamie, she has flamingo hair. The cover model, quite simply, does not. Maybe this is Sin?

Speaking of Sin, the next book is going to be from her point of view, and I'm not quite sure how I feel about this. Sin is all fine and dandy as a friend to Mae and maybe Nick, but as the main character? I'm just not sure I like her well enough. Or at all, come to think of it.

I do, on the other hand, really like Mae. She was an awesome MC, even if I was a bit sad to see Nick go. I can't wait to see how their relationship resolves itself, though I'm not sure how complete the picture will be with Sin telling the story. That is, unless Nick and Sin end up together, which would just be wrong. Maybe Sin and Alan? I'm not entire opposed to that. And while we're picking couples, I'd just like to add that I am totally shipping Jamie/Seb, although I wouldn't be terribly unhappy with Jamie/Gerald. (BTW, Gerald's parents must have been evil to name him that.)

I LOVE LOVE LOVED how Nick and Mae's relationship progressed in Covenant. It was so sweet and dangerous and not-quite-right in the most beautiful way. Nick is so socially awkward and wonderful! And hilarious! Let's not forget that Nick is made of funny. As is Jamie.

Jamie is, in fact, probably the funniest YA character I've ever read. He makes me laugh at two in the morning, when I really shouldn't be laughing, considering I live with three other people who all go to sleep at decent hours. Yay for me! I keep everyone up late at night while I laugh hysterically! Or would that be early in the morning? Whatever.

Mae is just awesome. She is kick-ass without knowing how to do . . . well, anything at all. Hm. Well, I assume she knows how to dye hair, unless someone else is doing it for her. Also, she can dress herself. But that's about it! And she still manages to be wonderful! How does this happen? Possibly because, much like Nick and Jamie, she is freaking FUNNY! I can't get enough of these funny people!

But Covenant is certainly not all humor. There are scenes where people cry! And kiss! And fight! (Nick is quite good at fighting.) There is sibling love and sibling hate and lots and lots of angst, with a bit of bad weather thrown in! It's all good fun ;) There is even some hand-holding action that is quite good.

If you want to get in on some of this funny/angsty/wonderful-ness, then you must make haste to your nearest bookstore (or book-selling website) and BUY IT BUY IT BUY IT. Now. Or Nick will stab you in the liver.

Waiting on Wednesday (52)

2011-09-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by the amazing Jill at Breaking the Spine. Each week, participating bloggers will make a post about a book whose publication they're eagerly awaiting.

This week, I'm featuring The Revisionists by Thomas Mullen.

Would you kill to make the world a peaceful place?

Zed is an agent from the future. A place where all of the world's problems have been solved. No hunger. No war. No despair.

His mission is to keep that way. Even if it means ensuring every cataclysm throughout history runs its course, especially one just on the horizon.

Zed's mission will ensnare the lives of a disgraced former spy named Leo; a young lawyer, Tasha, grieving over the loss of her brother; Sari, the oppressed employee of a foreign diplomat; and countless others. But will he finish his final mission before the present takes precedence over a perfect future? One that may have more cracks than he realizes?

The Revisionists is a literary tale of action and intrigue that puts a fresh spin on today's global crises, asking questions about the nature of history and the future, and our own roles in shaping them.

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

REVIEW: In the Shadows by Julieanne Lynch

2011-09-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

“In The Shadows”, the first of The Shadows trilogy, is an urban fantasy of vampires and the supernatural, and much, much more. In the shadows you will find lust and passion, battles for power and for blood, and death and fear around every corner. In the shadows you are carried away to an unknown future. Your destiny awaits, and you are no longer who you thought you were. You have a thirst, for blood perhaps, but a thirst for very much more than that.

Giselle was a normal girl with an attitude common to most girls of her age. Her family might not have been perfect (whose is?) but she loved them, and her future looked bright. She had an awesome best friend and a steady boyfriend, but how could she possibly have been so wrong about someone she loved? And how could she have been prepared for the darkness and for what she was to become?

Book: In the Shadows by Julieanne Lynch
Release Date: July 20, 2011
Format: eBook
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Young Adult
Series: Shadows Trilogy, #1
Obtained: As part of a book tour
Rating:1/2 (3.5 Zombies)

I debated for a while on whether I wanted to give In the Shadows 3 or 4 zombies, but finally decided on 3.5 because, despite the awesome world and some really great characters, I couldn't quite get over the slightly awkward writing.

Giselle was an awesome main character, much more realistic than most, and not some kick ass, impossible to relate to Valkyrie. She was really fun to get to know and I can't wait for the next book in this series.

The only problem I had with In the Shadows was the writing itself. Sometimes, the dialogue could get extremely awkward-sounding, and that pulled me out of the story somewhat. The characters had a stiff, too-formal way of speaking at times that could've easily been avoided by throwing in a few contractions and some less than perfect grammar that normal teens use, but it wasn't too huge of a deal.

If you like vampires and sexy page-turners, then In the Shadows is a book that I would definitely recommend, although it is not for young teens and tweens because of the sex scenes and more mature topics.

REVIEW: The Ghoul Next Door by Lisi Harrison

2011-09-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

Cleopatra de Nile:

New pet snake
Has Deuce-the hottest guy in school-wrapped
Herve Leger bandage dress, strappy gold platforms

Cleo was the queen bee of the RADs, the normies, and everyone in between at Merston High. But now it's "Frankie this" and "Melody that" . . . these new girls sure know how to get her lashes in a tangle. When Cleo lands a Golden Teen Vogue photo opp for her friends everything seems to be back on track...until they bail to be in some film . . . Frankie and Melody's film! Can't a royal get some loyal?

Frankie Stein:
Frankie lost her head over Brett once and vows never to do it again. Not that she has a choice. Bekka is clinging to her guy like saran. But when Brett comes up with a plan that could help the RADS live freely, sparks fly. And Bekka will stop at nothing to put out their flames. Even if it means destroying the entire monster community.

Melody:
The clock is tick-tick-ticking away. Melody has a serious deadline to save her boyfriend, Jackson, from being exposed by the vengeance-seeking Bekka. But Cleo is making it royally difficult for the normie while threatening her acceptance into their exclusive group. A group that melody suspects she has more in common with than she even thought.

Book: The Ghoul Next Door by Lisi Harrison
Release Date: April 5, 2011
Format: Hardcover
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Young Adult
Series: Monster High, #2
Obtained: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Rating: (4 Zombies)

The Monster High books are in no way deep or challenging, but they're always a lot of fun and a quick read. While The Ghoul Next Door wasn't quite as good as it's predecessor, Monster High, it was still a nice light, fluffy read to get my mind away from some of the darker stuff I've been reading lately.

TGND stars Cleo, Frankie, and Melody from the previous book, and I'm really glad that, while Harrison chose to add Cleo's POV, she didn't take away those of Frankie and Melody, who I had really enjoyed in the first book. Frankie will eternally be my favorite. (I hate picking favorites, but she's just awesome, other than her Justin Bieber love. Hate that kid.)

The plot was slightly unbelievable in points, but since this is a series I go to for its fluff, I didn't really mind. It's hard to find anything at all believable in these books, but they're adorable and I don't care. I wouldn't recommend these to anyone looking for anything amazingly emotional and action-packed, but if you just want something fun to reset your pallet, this series is a great place to look.

REVIEW: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

2011-09-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.

She's wrong.

Book: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Release Date: September 27, 2011
Format: Paperback ARC
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Young Adult
Series: Mara Dyer, #1
Obtained: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Rating: (5 Zombies)

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer was so unexpectedly awesome, there are no words. It was just awesomesauce. I loved it so much I just want to go up on top of my roof and scream, "I LOVE ~~MARA DYER~~ NOAH SHAW!!" Yeah, Mara so does not win in that contest.

Mara Dyer kind of thinks that she's crazy. And, at first, so did I. I can't tell you whether she is or isn't, but I went back and forth until the end when I found out for sure one way or the other. Some Ouija board said that she was going to be the cause of her friends' deaths, and then they all died, so she's understandably a bit mentally unstable.

So, her family packs up and moves and she goes to this really awesome school in Florida (can you say "humidity"?), where she meets the aforementioned amazingly sexy Noah Shaw, WHO IS FREAKING BRITISH. Enough said. (Seriously, he is British. St. Claire is British. All the sexies are British. That accent! *dies*)

So, basically the plot is is she or isn't she crazy with lots of awesomeness and swoony-times thrown in for good measure, and if you don't read it you will die, so go pick up a copy as soon as it comes out. DO IT.

REVIEW: A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young

2011-09-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be Forgotten...

Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become--her mark on this earth, her very existence--is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.

Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny--no matter how dark the consequences.

Book: A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young
Release Date: June 21, 2011
Format: Hardcover
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Young Adult
Series: A Need So Beautiful, #1
Obtained: Bought
Rating: (5 Zombies)

I don't know what I expected going into A Need So Beautiful, but the awesomeness that I got was definitely not it. It was shocking and poignant and just plain cool.

Charlotte, out MC, is the most well-adjusted foster child on earth, and so freakin' nice you wouldn't believe it. I have never met, or read about, anyone half as good as Charlotte. I wish I could be like her, even just a little bit. She's a pretty awesome role model.

The side characters, like Monroe and Harlin and Sarah, were all awesome in their own little ways, and it was great to see how they interacted with Charlotte and how they affected her, and vice versa.

If you don't mind crying your eyes out, A Need So Beautiful is an amazing, fast read with a huge cliffhanger of an ending.

Waiting on Wednesday (51)

2011-09-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by the amazing Jill at Breaking the Spine. Each week, participating bloggers will make a post about a book whose publication they're eagerly awaiting.

This week, I'm featuring The Rising Moon by Nilsa Rodriguez.

How many lives do you have to live to realize that love is stronger than time and death?

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

Orphaned at the age of five, Angelia (Lia) Lafosse was left with questions about whom and what she truly was. One thing was clear. Lia was different. Some might even say cursed.

With the help of her best friend, Ryan Woodruff, she begins to unlock the secrets of her families past and discover answers that prove more startling than she ever imagined. Not only was she a werewolf, but a reincarnation of the immortal werewolf, a werewolf with immense powers beyond any of her kind. A werewolf that if discovered by the Lobison’s to have returned, can jeopardize both Lia and those she love.

As destiny finds her love does too…and they couldn’t be more different. Torn between Lyle Ulric, the charming werewolf whose bloodline is as ancient and powerful as her own. And Adam Ambrose, the mysterious and alluring vampire who’s determined not to allow fate or anyone tear their love apart again.

Lia has to make a choice… Destiny or Love…Run or Fight…Live or Die

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Cover Trends (14)

2011-09-06T00:00:00.000-07:00

COVER TRENDS

This week's trend is HISTORICAL SETTIGNS. This trend is pretty awesome, and I love how, unlike most, it actually relates to the book's content, because why on earth would you put a girl in a late 18th century dress on a cover of a book about a skateboarding 21st century tomboy? So, this is one of my favorite trends, despite some of the more questionable covers.

Examples:

What are your thoughts on this trend?

REVIEW: Darwin's Children by Natasha Larry

2011-09-04T01:23:00.000-07:00

Life can get pretty complicated for any seventeen-year-old girl, but for a home-schooled telepathic black girl trying to survive in a prestigious private school in small-town Jonesborough, Tennessee, it can be maddening – especially when her telepathic father keeps eavesdropping on her thoughts!

Jaycie Lerner’s family isn’t the usual mom-dad-kid setup. Jaycie’s mom’s MIA, but Allison, her personal live-in ‘trainer,’ is more than a mom, with her own special abilities, like being able to lift cars and run incredibly fast. And Jaycie’s godfather John is more than persuasive – he can literally convince anyone to do anything.

As far as the rest of the world’s concerned, Jaycie’s on the outside looking in. The townsfolk love Jaycie’s pediatrician father, but she doesn’t fit in with ‘normal’ kids, and she doesn’t really want to. Most of her free time is spent training to keep her telekinetic and telepathic powers under control. But there’s one thing she can’t control – and that’s her feelings, especially when her best friend Matt is nearby. If only he knew what she was truly capable of...

Everything seems to be status quo for Jaycie until she receives a cryptic message from a stranger and meets a very unusual girl new to Jonesborough. Then all hell breaks loose!

Book: Darwin's Children by Natasha Larry
Release Date: June 8, 2011
Format: eBook
Genre: Young Adult/Urban Fantasy
Series: Darwin's Children, #1
Obtained: Book tour
Rating:1/2 (3.5 Zombies)

I liked the side characters in this book a lot, Allison especially. She was really awesome and I think that it would be really cool to get to know her in real life. I also liked Matt, the BFF-slash-love interest, and I loved seeing how he and Jaycie interacted.

The first fourth of the book or so is kind of slow-paced, so it took me a while to get into it, but once I did, I was really interested in finding out what was going to happen next. The pacing problems were quickly resolved and didn't effect my reading experience very much later on.

My biggest problem with Darwin's Children was Jaycie herself. She was kind of hard to relate to and her almost god-like powers made her very hard to empathize with. Jaycie seemed like this ultra-powerful superhuman who hated pretty much everyone who wasn't as powerful and amazing as she was, which really put me off of her.

Matt and Allison really go a long way toward making up for Jaycie's personality issues, and I'm looking forward to the next installment in this series.

Positive Reviews

2011-09-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

I was participating in a discussion a while back with some other bloggers and readers about positive vs. negative reviews, and I was surprised to learn that the majority of them said that they don't trust bloggers who give only or mostly positive reviews. This doesn't sit well with me because I have a niche. I read books by authors that I already like and in genres that I like, so why should I constantly be reading books that I don't like. It doesn't add up. I suppose it might if I were more eclectic, but, as is, I give four or five zombie reviews to most of the books that I read because I only pick up a book if I think that it'll be decent, and I'm usually right.

What I don't understand is why me liking most of the books that I have decided to read is a problem. Am I supposed to read terrible books, or books in genres that I would normally avoid, just so that people will trust my reviews and not think that I'm trying to suck up to authors or sugar coat things? And the fact that I know some of these people IRL makes it even worse. Shouldn't they trust my reviews because they know me? I guess not.

What are your thoughts on this issue? Do you guys only trust blogs that give out a lot of two and three star ratings? If so, why?

REVIEW: The Electric Church by Jeff Somers

2011-09-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

Avery Cates is a very bad man. Some might call him a criminal. He might even be a killer - for the Right Price. But right now, Avery Cates is scared. He's up against the Monks: cyborgs with human brains, enhanced robotic bodies, and a small arsenal of advanced weaponry. Their mission is to convert anyone and everyone to the Electric Church. But there is just one snag. Conversion means death.

Book: The Electric Church by Jeff Somers
Release Date: September 25, 2007
Format: Paperback
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Avery Cates, #1
Obtained: Bought
Rating: (5 Zombies)

Science fiction is a genre that I love to death but don't read nearly often enough, so when I went on vacation to San Diego, this was the first book I picked to take with me, and it definitely lived up to my expectations.

Avery Cates was a freakin' awesome MC, and every word out of his mouth was a gem of amazingly witty sarcasm. The guy was seriously a genius. Even though he thinks he's bad, Avery is one of the only good guys in this distopic sci-fi, and it shows.

His friends, while slightly grungy and definitely bottom-feeders, were great, too. I loved how loyal they all were to each other while spewing fountains of bull about how bad they were. They were a great group, and it was so sad to see that not all of them made it through the book :'(

If you haven't read much sci-fi and you're looking for an in, or even if you've read it all, this is a really good book for anyone who's interested in the genre.

REVIEW: Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

2011-09-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

The thrilling conclusion to #1 bestselling Shiver trilogy from Maggie Stievater

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. In Linger, they fought to be together. Now, in Forever, the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in.

Book: Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
Release Date: July 12, 2011
Format: Paperback ARC
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Young Adult
Series: The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #3
Obtained: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Rating: (5 Zombies)

Sniff, sniff. It really sucks that this series is over. This has been one of my favorite, and it's really sad to see it go. Sam and Grace get a great finish in Forever, though, and it's definitely a worthwhile read.

Sam and Grace are the same wonderful and amazing and adorable Sam and Grace we met in Shiver, but I think it's really Isabel and Cole who have grown the most over the course of the series, both individually and as a couple.

I can't say much about the plot without giving away spoilers, but it was awesome and terrible and heartbreaking and why can't there be more?

I love this series so much, and I can't think of anything to say that would do it any justice, but you have got to pick it up if you haven't already. So good. (And I think that Isabel and Cole really need a spin-off. Please?)

Waiting on Wednesday (50)

2011-08-31T00:00:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by the amazing Jill at Breaking the Spine. Each week, participating bloggers will make a post about a book whose publication they're eagerly awaiting.

This week, I'm featuring Johannes Cabal: the Fear Institue by Jonathan L. Howard.

Johannes Cabal and his rather inexact powers of necromancy are back once more. This time, his talents are purchased by The Fear Institute as they hunt for the Phobic Animus - the embodiment of fear. The three Institute members, led by Cabal and his Silver Key, enter the Dreamlands and find themselves pursued by walking trees plagued with giant ticks, stone men that patrol the ruins of their castles, cats that feed on human flesh and phobias which torment and devastate. The intrepid explorers are killed off one by one as they traipse through this obfuscating and frustrating world, where history itself appears to alter. Cabal, annoyed that the quest is becoming increasingly heroic, finds himself alone with the Institute's only remaining survivor, and after a shockingly violent experiment, begins to suspect that not everything is quite as it seems...

I really loved the first two books in this series, and I can't wait to find out what happens next with this amazing character.

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Cover Trends (13)

2011-08-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

COVER TRENDS

This week's trend is REDHEADS. I. LOVE. THIS. TREND. It is so freakin' awesome! I've always thought that red hair is beautiful, and the girls on these covers definitely do it justice! I especially love the cover of Fever by Lauren DeStefano.

Examples:

What do you think of this trend?

REVIEW: Hourglass by Myra McEntire

2011-08-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

One hour to rewrite the past . . .

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut.

Book: Hourglass by Myra McEntire
Release Date: June 14, 2011
Format: Paperback ARC
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Young Adult
Series: Hourglass, #1
Obtained: Book trade
Rating: (5 Zombies)

Hourglass wasn't quite what I'd expected, but in a good way. I loved the twists and turns of the plot, and I didn't guess most of them but they were still believable, which I don't see too often in most of the books I read.

The MC, Emerson, was kind of crazy but also kind of cool. It was interesting, to say the least, reading from her POV, and also kind of irritating at times. She wasn't the greatest viewpoint character, but she definitely wasn't the worst, either.

Everyone's been talking about the swoon-worthiness of Michael, the main love interest, but I much prefer Kaleb, who is I guess the secondary love interest/possible love triangle-maker. He was just awesome and sexiness given human form. Loved him!

I can't really say anything about one of my favorite parts of the book because it's such a huge freakin' spoiler, but holy crap there is some awesomeness in Hourglass. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind a little crazy.

REVIEW: Static by Tawny Stokes

2011-08-27T00:00:00.001-07:00

Be careful what you listen to....

During the summer before her senior year, 17 year old band groupie, Salem Vale, has been following her favorite punk rockers, Malice, from gig to gig hoping that one night she might get backstage and meet the sinisterly sexy guys. She’s been saving her virginity for the lead singer Thane. One fateful evening she gets her wish. It’s a dream come true.

Except the dream turns to a nightmare when she wakes up in a dumpster, tossed away like yesterday’s trash, with no memory of what happened the night before. She feels strange, different, as if something is trying to get out. Soon she realizes she’s changing…turning into something not quite human.

Now a hunger deep inside claws at her to feed, to siphon energy from those around her. Before she can do just that, Trevor, the band’s roadie shows up and stops her from killing. With his help she learns to control the hunger inside, because he’s just like her. And in return he wants her help to do one little thing…

Help him kill the members of Malice.

Book: Static by Tawny Stokes
Release Date: December 3, 2010
Format: eBook
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Young Adult
Series: Standalone
Obtained: As part of a blog tour
Rating: (5 Zombies)

When I first started reading Static, I was on the road and about the go to a friend's house for dinner. (Obviously, I was not the one driving.) I only got two percent into the book, and it was not a hugely impressive two percent. Because of this, I didn't read at all the next day. I just wasn't interested in what had happened so far. Then came the next day, and I was sitting in a different car waiting for Jai to get his hair cut, which takes forever. I started reading Static again, and I was hooked by four percent.

While Static and I didn't get off to the best start, we were fast friends once we got to know each other. I loved how the main character, Salem, was quite realistic and flawed, but also strong in her own way despite the torture her mother inflicted on her with that awful name. I can't say much about why without spoiling things, but she's great at adapting to her situation without panicking and having to be rescued. In fact, Salem does more than her fair share of rescuing, herself.

Trevor, the Boy-with-a-capital-B (it is capital, right? Not capitol? LOL) was totally swoon-worthy *insert swoonage here* and complimented Salem's character nicely, despite some slight stalkerish tendencies toward the beginning of the book. He really surprised me as I got to know him, and in the best way possible. There was a lot more to Trevor than I thought at first, and I really enjoyed the process of finding it out over the course of the novel.

Static is fast-paced and I couldn't put it down once I got into the story. I finished it in a matter of several hours! I would recommend this book to absolutely anyone, male or female, book-lover or not, because the sheer awesomeness must be shared with the entire world! How can awesom-ocity of this level not be recognized by everyone on earth? Pick up a copy as soon as you can, and if you don't, then you're seriously missing out.

REVIEW: The Fallen by Celia Thomson

2011-08-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

Chloe King was a normal sixteen-year-old girl.

She did her homework and got good grades, but she wasn't afraid to ditch class sometimes to hang out with her best friends. She slept at home, but otherwise avoided all human contact with her mom. The usual stuff.

Then she fell from San Francisco's highest tower, and her life changed. For starters, she died. And then, she woke up.

Now Chloe's life is anything but normal: Suddenly guys are prowling around her, she's growing claws, and someone's trying to kill her.

Luckily for Chloe, she still has eight lives to go.

Book: The Fallen by Celia Thomson
Release Date: May 25, 2004
Format: Paperback
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Young Adult
Series: The Nine Lives of Chloe King, #1
Obtained: Library
Rating: (4 Zombies)

I read this book a few weeks before the show started, but didn't get around to reviewing it until now. I really liked it, even though it was pretty short. It was cute and enjoyable and just plain awesome!

Chloe is a really fun character to read about, and I loved how she could be cute and funky and strong all at the same time, while still remaining believable and down-to-earth. She was just great.

Her friends, Amy and Paul, were also really fun, though they were a bit less believable and overall hugely crazy. They were fun, but a bit weird at times. The love interests, Brian and Alek, were both awesome. I'm seriously having a hard time choosing between the two of them, but the adorable kitty hat is tilting the scale in favor of Brian. So sad that they glossed over that in the show. Not manly enough?

Seriously, if you don't mind a cute, quick read, you have got to pick this book up! It was so much fun to read!

REVIEW: The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

2011-08-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

My name is Meghan Chase.

I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.

This time, there will be no turning back.

Book: The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
Release Date: January 25, 2011
Format: eGalley
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Young Adult
Series: The Iron Fey, #3
Obtained: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Rating: (5 Zombies)

I love love love this series soooooo much it's not even funny, and I'm so sad to see it end, no matter how awesome this (sort of) last book was. I know that there's still Ash's book left, and there's going to be a spin-off staring Ethan, but I was seriously bummed that this was the last book.

Meghan was awesome as always, and I'm also depressed that this was the last book from her POV. I'm going to seriously miss this chick. She is one of the best MCs of YA fiction, and I've loved every page of her witty, intense narrative. *sob*

The side characters were hilarious and amazing in The Iron Queen, and I love every one of them, from Ash to Ethan to Grimalkin. I miss them all already (well, except for Ethan. I'm just looking forward to his books). You guys, the side characters totally make this series. They are great.

If you haven't already read this series, then do it now. This is literally the very best fantasy series I've ever read. Not that I've read much fantasy. But it's seriously awesome.

Waiting on Wednesday (49)

2011-08-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by the amazing Jill at Breaking the Spine. Each week, participating bloggers will make a post about a book whose publication they're eagerly awaiting.

This week, I'm featuring A Beautiful Evil by Kelly Keaton.

A power she can’t deny. A destiny she’s determined to fight.

When Ari first arrived in the dilapidated city of New 2, all she wanted was to figure out who she was. But what she discovered was beyond her worst nightmare. Ari can already sense the evil growing inside her—a power the goddess Athena will stop at nothing to possess.

Desperate to hold on to her humanity and protect her loved ones, Ari must fight back. But Athena’s playing mind games, not just with Ari but with those she cares about most. And Athena has a very special plan for the brooding and sexy Sebastian.

Ari is determined to defeat Athena, but time is running out. With no other options, Ari must unleash the very thing she’s afraid of: herself.

I really loved the first book in this series, and holy crap what a cliffhanger. Can't wait to find out what happens next!

What are you waiting for this Wednesday?

REVIEW: Lure of the Vampire by Bertena Varney

2011-08-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

Lure of the Vampire is a pop culture reference book that begins with history and mythology and ends with modern living vampires. The author has provided "fun" lists like the Powers of Dracula, Real Live Vampire Murders, Television Shows and African Americans who have Played Vampires. There are also websites in each section that show the most popular vampire books and even children's shows and books. But, there is a personal twist when it comes to Lure of the Vampire. The author has provided personal essays from national and international vampire authors as well as her own. They range from a personal look at vampires in mythology to the romantic lust filled vampire. There are also interviews with various groups and individuals involved in the vampire community. Lure of the Vampire: A Pop Culture Refence Book of Lists, Websites, and "Very Telling" Personal Essays is a perfect quick to grab reference book for the vampire fan or author. It is concise enough to assist you in finding links to what you are looking for without our being too cumbersome and confusing.

Book: Lure of the Vampire by Bertena Varney
Release Date: June 22, 2011
Format: eBook
Genre: Non-fiction
Series: Standalone
Obtained: As part of a book tour
Rating: (3 Zombies)

There's not much to say about this one. It's a reference book, basically, for anyone who wants to learn about vampires. It's really interesting and extensive and I'm sure that anyone who needs to know about vampires for any reason will find this book to be an awesome resource. I especially like how internet-oriented it was.

I don't recommend Lure of the Vampire for a pleasure read, but if you need a lot of information on anything to do with vampires, as well as links to more info, then Lure is definitely the book for you.

REVIEW: Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

2011-08-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

Love ties them together. Death can't tear them apart.

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.

Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan's violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn't help that Aura's new friend Zachary is so understanding—and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart...and clues to the secret of the Shift.

Book: Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready
Release Date: May 4, 2010
Format: Hardcover
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Young Adult
Series: Shade, #1
Obtained: Won
Rating: (4 Zombies)

This book was a lot better than I expected it to be from the summary, and I flew through it because I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. It was a great intro to the world and characters of this series, and I'm really looking forward to reading the second book.

Aura (seriously, worst. name. ever.) was a cool character, though she could get on my nerves at times, and I enjoyed reading about the events of the book from her POV. I'm not really into characters who are hugely special, which Aura is (she's the first born before the Shift), but I didn't mind too much in Shade.

The two love interests, Zachary and Logan, weren't too amazing. At first, I really liked Logan, but then he started getting kind of creepy and I sort of changed my mind, but Zachary didn't impress me either, so I'm not going to pick a team.

The best part of Shade was the mystery and the action in the plot. It was very well done and exciting to read, which offset the somewhat mediocre characters for me. If you want something plot-fueled and fast-paced, Shade is a good, quick read.

Back to School Read-a-Thon: Day 1 Updates

2011-08-20T11:59:00.000-07:00

Back to School Read-a-Thon

Updates:

Static by Tawny Stokes (5 zombies!!)

Started reading at noon-ish.
Currently 4% into the book (Kindle copy).
50% at 2-ish. This book is kind of awesome.
75% at 3:39pm. I'm so in love. I don't want this book to end, except that I'm doing a read-a-thon, so at the same time, I can't wait for it to end. That didn't make sense.
Finished at 4:41pm. That book was freaking awesome!

The Thirteenth Chime by Emma Michaels

Started at 5pm.

REVIEW: Silver Moon by Stacey Thompson-Geer

2011-08-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

After 130 years, you'd think I would know better than to go looking for trouble, but I just can't seem to help myself. The council wants me to catch a werewolf. I just want to paint my nails. Rose is a bitchy sarcastic vampire that ends up hunting a werewolf in, of all places, Las Vegas. She finds very quickly that things are not going to go as planned.

Book: Silver Moon by Stacey Thompson-Geer
Release Date: December 3, 2010
Format: eBook
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Standalone short story
Obtained: As part of a blog tour
Rating: (3 Zombies)

Since this is a short story, this will also be a short review. Silver Moon mostly lost the two zombies because the main character, Rose, spent the majority of her time mooning over every single man in the book, including the bad guys, which was seriously annoying. Also because of the grammatical and spelling errors littered throughout the 39-page story.

Rose herself, other than the constant drooling over random guys, was a decent character. She was tough and smart, although it was kind of odd that she couldn't seem to stop mentioning her "bone-straight red hair." Yeah. Bone-straight. But she was cool enough.

The actual plot of the story is fast-paced and easy to dive into if the 100000 hot guys don't bother you too much. If you're looking for an hour of simple entertainment, Silver Moon isn't a bad choice.

Back to School Read-a-Thon

2011-08-19T22:55:00.000-07:00

Back to School Read-a-Thon

I'm going to be doing a little read-a-thon this weekend with Jai from Bored Books so that we can get a few more books in before school starts, which is Monday for him and next week for me. It's not a huge deal if we don't end up doing a lot of reading, but there's some stuff I'd really like to get in before I return to the land of homework and late night cramming. I don't dislike school, but two English classes in one semester (yay for college!) is going to mean a lot of non-pleasure reading, so I won't have as much time to read from my TBR pile.

I may continue my part of the read-a-thon through the next week since I don't have any obligations before school starts on the 29th.

If anyone else wants to join in, you're all welcome to post what you plan on reading in the comments or on your own blog and give us as many updates as you want! Updates give us an excuse to stop reading for a few minutes XD I love books, but my attention span is not what it could be.

So, here are a few of the books I'm hoping to read between whenever I wake up on Saturday morning through whenever I go to sleep on Sunday night/Monday morning:

~~1. Finish Static by Tawney Stokes~~ (5 zombies)

I already started reading this one on Friday night (unless you count the two percent I read on Thursday), but I'd like to finish it as part of the read-a-thon.

2. Finish Undercurrent by Tricia Rayburn

I started this one about two weeks ago, but then I had to read a bunch of tour books, so it kind of got abandoned.

3. Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

This one has been staring at me from the bookshelf for a while now, and I can't wait to start reading it!

4. Between by Jessica Warman

Haven't heard much about this, but I got an ARC and it looks cool, so what the hell.

On the slim chance that I get past four, these are a few other books I'd like to read in the near future:

5. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

6. Crushed by K. C. Blake

7. Thin Air by Lynn Seresin

8. The Thirteenth Chime by Emma Michaels (I can't believe I still haven't read this! I bought a signed copy at the OC Children's Book Festival last October, and then it got lost on my TBR pile.)

I'd love to hear what you guys are planning on reading soon, even if it isn't for my little weekend read-a-thon!

REVIEW: The Gift of Illusion by Richard Brown

2011-08-19T00:00:00.001-07:00

ELMWOOD'S BEST DETECTIVE IS ABOUT TO MEET ITS WORST VILLAIN!

An ancient evil has returned to continue the study it began over a century ago, and it's looking for volunteers. Isaac Winters is the perfect test subject. He's a detective with a damaged past, and something to prove.

On the night of his wife's murder sixteen years ago, which left him a single father, Isaac thought he had seen the worst mankind had to offer.

Until now.

It moves like a virus from person to person, carefully selecting its next host, and leaving a trail of incinerated bodies in its wake. There are no witnesses and no evidence except for a small statue of some unknown figure. Accompanied by a partner short on experience, Isaac must uncover and defeat this faceless villain before it takes from him the greatest reminder of his dead wife. Their daughter.

Book: The Gift of Illusion by Richard Brown
Release Date: August 23, 2011
Format: eBook
Genre: Paranormal/Thriller
Series: Standalone
Obtained: As part of a book tour
Rating: (3 Zombies)

This book was definitely a thriller. It was packed full of a twisted mystery and tons of action, and the lead detective had the requisite sad, tortured background (semi-cliched). Yes, it was a thriller, but The Gift of Illusion didn't thrill me.

Don't get me wrong, it was nice enough. Very short and fast-paced, so it only took me a few hours to read. I don't think I'd pick up another book by this author unless I got it for review, though. Despite the good mystery, the characters were all somewhat flat and most of the story was pretty predictable.

One of the worst things about The Gift of Illusion was the grammar. This book could have greatly benefited from a good editor. Awkward--or just flat out incorrect--sentences frequently pulled me out of the story to puzzle out their meanings or just wince at an English major's worst nightmare.

If thrillers are your thing (I don't think they're really mine), and you don't mind a few grammatical errors, then The Gift of Illusion is a fast-paced paranormal thriller that's worth picking up. It just isn't what I look for in a book.

REVIEW: Wildefire by Karsten Knight

2011-08-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

Every flame begins with a spark.

Ashline Wilde is having a rough sophomore year. She’s struggling to find her place as the only Polynesian girl in school, her boyfriend just cheated on her, and now her runaway sister, Eve, has decided to barge back into her life. When Eve’s violent behavior escalates and she does the unthinkable, Ash transfers to a remote private school nestled in California’s redwoods, hoping to put the tragedy behind her. But her fresh start at Blackwood Academy doesn’t go as planned. Just as Ash is beginning to enjoy the perks of her new school—being captain of the tennis team, a steamy romance with a hot, local park ranger—Ash discovers that a group of gods and goddesses have mysteriously enrolled at Blackwood…and she’s one of them. To make matters worse, Eve has resurfaced to haunt Ash, and she’s got some strange abilities of her own. With a war between the gods looming over campus, Ash must master the new fire smoldering within before she clashes with her sister one more time… And when warm and cold fronts collide, there’s guaranteed to be a storm.

Book: Wildefire by Karsten Knight
Release Date: July 26, 2011
Format: eGalley
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Young Adult
Series: Wildefire, #1
Obtained: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Rating: (4 Zombies)

From the first page all the way through the last, Wildefire was full of non-stop action and left me breathless when I finished. At some points this was awesome and amazing, at others it was horrifying and sad, but it was always exhilarating. I couldn't believe how much emotion was packed into this one debut novel.

Ash, our viewpoint character, was so kickass and awesome in a way that most YA characters can't even aspire to. Guys, she actually fistfights with other characters! How cool is that? (Kids, don't fistfight. It's bad.) But seriously, she is so cool! (Bad.)

Her group of friends are also awesome (I use that word a lot, don't I?), and you learn a lot more about them and their thoughts than you would in most other books, as you'll see if when you read Wildefire. It's a really cool scene, and you'll understand which one I'm talking about as soon as you read it.

The epic cliffhanger at the end left me going W. T. F?! and I soooo can't wait for the sequel. Read it.

REVIEW: Possess by Gretchen McNeil

2011-08-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

Fifteen-year-old Bridget Liu just wants to be left alone: by her mom, by the cute son of a local police sergeant, and by the eerie voices she can suddenly and inexplicably hear. Unfortunately for Bridget, it turns out the voices are demons – and Bridget has the rare ability to banish them back to whatever hell they came from.

Terrified to tell people about her new power, Bridget confides in a local priest who enlists her help in increasingly dangerous cases of demonic possession. But just as she is starting to come to terms with her new power, Bridget receives a startling message from one of the demons. Now Bridget must unlock the secret to the demons' plan before someone close to her winds up dead – or worse, the human vessel of a demon king.

Book: Possess by Gretchen McNeil
Release Date: August 23, 2011
Format: Paperback ARC
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Young Adult
Series: Standalone (I think?)
Obtained: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Rating: (4 Zombies)

I'm really not sure what's going on with this cover, but it's kind of really gorgeous and that was the first thing that drew me into this book. I got it unsolicited, so it wasn't too high on my reading pile, but the prettiness just kept staring at me and I finally caved and read it waaaaay before the release date, and it was a lot better than I expected since the summary doesn't really sound like my kind of book.

The main character, Bridget Liu, was really awesome and kind of kick-ass. I loved reading about her journey and seeing how she changed as she found out new things about who she really was and what that meant for her personally as well as for those around her, although the third person POV was somewhat of an impediment to this. I'm not a huge fan of third person.

The love interest, Matt, was involved in so little of the story that he's barely worth mentioning, but he was cute enough, if not hugely interesting. My favorite side character was actually the priest sent in from the Vatican, Father Santos. For some reason, I kept picturing him as looking like Mark A. Sheppard, which might have had something to do with it. But seriously, he was an awesome character.

This book is definitely on the more horror-y side of YA, so if that isn't your thing, then you might want to avoid it, but otherwise it's a pretty good book, and I would definitely recommend it.

REVIEW: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

2011-08-11T00:00:00.000-07:00

Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie’s always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shape-shifter, and she's the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still. Normal.

Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.

Book: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
Release Date: August 31, 2010
Format: Hardcover
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Young Adult
Series: Paranormalcy, #1
Obtained: Bought
Rating: (4 Zombies)

I actually bought this book the day it came out, but it took me almost a year to get to reading it. Shows how backed up I am. I didn't really know what it was about, but from what I'd read about it online, I thought that Paranormalcy was going to be a light, cutesy read. Boy, was I ever wrong. It was dark, but still humorous, and very intense, though it isn't the longest book ever.

Evie was an interesting main character, extremely girly and feminine, but still tough and capable at the same time, and she was also quite insecure because of her childhood growing up in such a clinical environment with no real family. It was awesome to read about how she overcame her issues because of this, and how she didn't in some cases, and I thought that this made Evie a very realistic character. Not everyone can be perfectly normal and well-adjusted.

For some reason, when I started reading Paranormalcy, I thought that there was some sort of love triangle with Evie and Lend and Reth, but I quickly figured out that Reth was just a creepy stalker-ish faerie dude, and Lend was the awesome one. So, yay for no actual love triangle in a YA book. That's pretty rare these days. (Side note: it took me four tries before I could type "rare" right. Fail.)

So, while Paranormalcy wasn't exactly what I was expecting or looking for when I started it, the sheer awesomeness of White's writing and the world she has created made it so that I couldn't help but enjoy it.

Waiting on Wednesday (48)

2011-08-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by the amazing Jill at Breaking the Spine. Each week, participating bloggers will make a post about a book whose publication they're eagerly awaiting.

This week, I'm featuring Fever by Lauren DeStefano.

Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind.

Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.

The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.

In the sequel to Lauren DeStefano’s harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price - now that she has more to lose than ever.

I loved Wither, the first book in Lauren DeStefano's Chemical Garden trilogy, and I can't wait to find out what happens next. Hopefully I'll get an ARC of this one. I did, after all, get three of Wither LOL.

What are you waiting for this Wednesday?

REVIEW: Dante's Girl by Natasha Rhodes

2011-08-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

The Barnes & Noble Review
This novel by Natasha Rhodes (best known for movie novelizations and motion picture tie-ins like Blade: Trinity, Final Destination: The Movie 1, and A Nightmare on Elm Street: Perchance to Dream) is an action-packed supernatural thriller that is as wildly erotic as it is utterly readable.

For Kayla Steele -- a street-savvy Southern California babe with a "to-die-for" body and an aversion to wearing underwear -- her upcoming date with handsome and mysterious boyfriend Karrel Dante is going to be a turning point in her life; he's finally going to pop the question. But before Dante is able to meet his beautiful bride-to-be, he's killed -- mauled to death by werewolves. When he miraculously returns from the dead, however, Kayla learns that he was a Hunter, part of an underground organization dedicated to wiping out dangerous supernatural beings. Vowing to avenge her lover's death, Kayla begins a journey that will lead her directly into the sordid underbelly of Los Angeles

The sheer tonnage of dark fantasy/paranormal romance hybrids being currently released is absolutely mind-boggling. The success of authors like Laurell K. Hamilton, Kim Harrison, and Kelley Armstrong has created a virtual feeding frenzy for novels that feature strong, sexy, butt-kicking female protagonists who are more often than not passionately involved with one or more supernatural studs (vampires, werewolves, zombies, etc.). And while Dante's Girl will undoubtedly be categorized as such, Rhodes's exceedingly witty and vividly descriptive writing style -- not to mention her ability to keep the narrative's pacing consistently pedal-to-the-metal -- place this novel a cut above the rest. Smart, sexy, and oh so satisfying. Paul Goat Allen

Book: Dante's Girl by Natasha Rhodes
Release Date: February 27, 2007
Format: Mass market paperback
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Adult
Series: Kayle Steele, #1
Obtained: Bought
Rating: (5 Zombies)

As a fan of comic books and superhero movies, I must say that this read like a novelization of one, which makes sense since Natasha Rhodes' previous books are novelizations of action movies. It was completely different from any other book I've ever read, though somewhat similar to a few comics, and very enjoyable. I loved reading about Kayla's adventures, though Julissa and a few other side characters got on my nerves at times. (Mutt was my absolute favorite character, by far!)

Dante's Girl is written in an interesting style, where Kayla is definitely the main character, but we also get quite a lot from other characters' POVs. Sometimes this was awesome, but at other times it felt a bit tedious, like the author just wanted to throw in someone other than Kayla for a little. I got the feeling that Rhodes enjoyed writing Julissa much more than I enjoyed reading her.

The plot was fast-paced and action-packed, completely unpredictable and insanely fun to read. I loved watching the somewhat confusing beginning slowly piece together into the hugely explosive conclusion. I can't wait to read the next book to find out what happens after the events of Dante's Girl.

I recommend this to all fellow comic readers and action movie lovers, and anyone who loves a good explosion or two.

GIVEAWAY: Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon

2011-08-07T17:07:00.000-07:00

Giveaway!

Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon

The amazing publishers of Sherrilyn Kenyon's newest book have been nice enough to do a giveaway of Retribution through my site for those of you who don't have it yet.

More about 'RETRIBUTION':

"...Harm no human…

A hired gunslinger, William Jessup Brady lived his life with one foot in the grave. He believed that every life had a price. Until the day when he finally found a reason to live. In one single act of brutal betrayal, he lost everything, including his life. Brought back by a Greek goddess to be one of her Dark-Hunters, he gave his immortal soul for vengeance and swore he’d spend eternity protecting the humans he’d once considered prey.

Orphaned as a toddler, Abigail Yager was taken in by a family of vampires and raised on one belief- Dark-Hunters are the evil who prey on both their people and mankind, and they must all be destroyed. While protecting her adoptive race, she has spent her life eliminating the Dark-Hunters..."

The winner must have a US/CA address, and the giveaway ends 12:01 AM PST, August 11, 2011. To enter, leave a comment with your favorite Urban Fantasy novel and why you like it, and your email address. The winner will have 24 hours to respond, or a new winner will be chosen. Thanks for entering!

In My Mailbox (47)

2011-08-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren that I participate in regularly. All you have to do is post whatever books you've received in the past week, bought or for review, and any cool swag you want to mention.

For Review:

Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans

Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Dark Parties by Sara Grant

Between by Jessica Warman (ARC)

Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

GIVEAWAY: If I Die by Rachel Vincent ARC

2011-08-05T14:54:00.000-07:00

Okay, so if you've been following the YA Crush Tourney, then you know that today is Tod from Rachel Vincent's Soul Screamers series vs. Zachary from Jeri Smith-Ready's Shade series, and at this point the winner is completely up in the air. Since Tod, my absolute favorite YA guy, ~~has fallen a bit behind~~ wow, in the time it took me to write this post, Tod got back in the lead!, I've decided to give him a little support. If you guys can get him another win in this awesome competition, I will give one random Tod-supporting commenter (US only) on the tourney post my beloved ARC of If I Die.

The only rule is that you have to vote for Tod to be entered, and since I love this book so much, I'll only give it away if Tod wins this round.

You can only get one extra entry for tweeting or blogging and leaving your link here, but all extra publicity is appreciated!

REVIEW: The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

2011-08-04T00:02:00.000-07:00

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children. 
 
If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company. 
 
And there are no strangers in the town of Near.
 
These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life. 

But  when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears  outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of  these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of  Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls  under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them.  Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the  children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that  just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to  speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless  boy.

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut  novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long  ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.

Book: The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
Release Date: August 2, 2011
Format: Paperback
Genre: Fantasy/Young Adult
Series: Standalone
Obtained: For review in exchange for an honest review
Rating: (5 Zombies)

I read The Near Witch as soon as I got my copy in the mail, mostly because the cover is really pretty, but it was the story that kept me up all night reading. I could not put it down (even during class XD)! Lexi was an amazing main character, and Cole was one of the cutest, most enigmatic male leads I've read in a long time.

The actual writing of The Near Witch really stood out to me, too. I usually don't pay a huge amount of attention to authors' writing styles unless they're absolutely horrendous, but I couldn't help but notice the simple beauty of Victoria Schwab's words. They fit the story and characters perfectly and drew me into the book immediately.

If you're looking for an interesting, quick, and truly amazing fantasy read, this is definitely the book for you, like a cross between a fairy tale and a paranormal romance. Read it and weep!

Waiting on Wednesday (47)

2011-08-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by the amazing Jill at Breaking the Spine. Each week, participating bloggers will make a post about a book whose publication they're eagerly awaiting.

This week, I'm featuring Fateful by Claudia Gray.

It's about a servant girl named Tess in 1912, who wants to escape from the house where she works, and most particularly the lecherous young lord of the manor. But that's not her biggest problem. While on a voyage to America, where she plans to escape and start a new life, she meets Alec, who's ruggedly handsome, fabulously wealthy, intelligent and yet so clearly troubled that she'd rather not fall for him, but she does. That also is not her biggest problem. Alec, it turns out, is a werewolf ... one cursed to change every night, unless and until he surrenders his independence and joins the Brotherhood, a pack of violently misogynistic werewolves who have been tracking him for months. You'd think that would be their biggest problem, wouldn't you?

But no. Their biggest problem -- though they don't know it yet -- is that they're aboard the RMS Titanic.

I've only read the first two Evernight books by this author, but they were really good and I can't wait for this new book from Claudia Gray!

What are you waiting for this Wednesday?

Cover Trends (12)

2011-08-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

COVER TRENDS

This week's trend is SEEING THROUGH SOMETHING. I'm definitely on the fence for this one. Some of the covers are good, others are bad, and still others are just meh. It doesn't stand out either way to me, but I've been noticing it hanging around lately, so I thought I'd give this trend a little time in the spotlight.

Examples:

What do you think of this trend?

In My Mailbox (46)

2011-07-31T00:00:00.000-07:00

In My Mailbox

For Review:
Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Dreams of Significant Girls by Cristina Garcia

Bought:
Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

I hate to admit it, but this cover has really grown on me. It's just a little bit gorgeous in person. I hold firm that the new cover for Nightshade is positively atrocious, though.

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

Book Trading

2011-07-27T10:41:00.000-07:00

I've participated in a few book trades with other bloggers lately, and since I have like 873629479362904737284 books just lying around and I probably won't be able to read all of them, I've decided to do a little book trade of my own :)

Books for Trade

ARCs (all in good condition):
Fall For Anything by Courtney Summers
Wither by Lauren DeStefano (I have two of these to trade for)
The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver
Possess by Gretchen McNeil
Enclave by Ann Aguirre

Hardcovers:
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (no dust jacket)
The Coffin Club by Ellen Schreiber
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
The Ghoul Next Door by Lisi Harrison
Blood Promise by Richelle Mead
Stay by Deb Caletti (no dust jacket)
The Saga of Larten Crepsley: Ocean of Blood by Darren Shan
Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin
Of All the Stupid Things by Alexandra Diaz (signed)
Purple Daze by Sherry Shahan
The Chaos by Rachel Ward
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Blood Red Road by Moira Young
Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma
The Lost Crown by Sarah Miller
Everfound by Neal Shusterman

Trade paperbacks:
The Demon King and I by Candace Havens
Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos
My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent (this one's kind of beat up)
Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
Flawless by Sara Shepard
The Vampire Shrink by Lynda Hilburn

Mass market paperbacks:
Kissing Coffins by Ellen Schreiber
Dance with a Vampire by Ellen Schreiber
Heart's Blood by Gail Dayton (I also have two of these)
Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause

Unfortunately, I can only trade within the US. If you see anything you want to trade for, email me at ArcadiaWearsPrada@yahoo.com. The books that I'm willing to trade for can be found here. Thanks in advance!

Waiting on Wednesday (46)

2011-07-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by the amazing Jill at Breaking the Spine. Each week, participating bloggers will make a post about a book whose publication they're eagerly awaiting.

This week, I'm featuring Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent.

By blood, by word, by magic . . . 

Most can't touch the power. But Liv Warren is special – a paranormal tracker who follows the scent of blood.

Liv makes her own rules, and the most important one is trust no one.

But when her friend's daughter goes missing, Liv has no choice but to find the girl. Thanks to a childhood oath, Liv can't rest until the child is home safe. But that means trusting Cam Caballero, the former lover forbidden to her.

Bound by oath and lost in desire for a man she cannot have, Liv is racing to save the child from a dark criminal underworld where secrets, lies, trauma and danger lurk around every corner...every touch...every kiss.

And more blood will be spilled before it's over . . .

I loved Rachel Vincent's Shifters series, and I can't wait for her newest adult book! I'm currently in the middle of her upcoming YA If I Die, and loving that so far, as usual for the Soul Screamers books :)

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

EXCERPT: In the Shadows

2011-07-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

In the Shadows

By Julieanne Lynch

Published July 21st 2011

Strict Publishing International

ISBN 9780857791962

“In The Shadows”, the first of The Shadows trilogy, is an urban fantasy of vampires and the supernatural, and much, much more. In the shadows you will find lust and passion, battles for power and for blood, and death and fear around every corner. In the shadows you are carried away to an unknown future. Your destiny awaits, and you are no longer who you thought you were. You have a thirst, for blood perhaps, but a thirst for very much more than that.

Giselle was a normal girl with an attitude common to most girls of her age. Her family might not have been perfect (whose is?) but she loved them, and her future looked bright. She had an awesome best friend and a steady boyfriend, but how could she possibly have been so wrong about someone she loved? And how could she have been prepared for the darkness and for what she was to become?

“In The Shadows is a must read for anyone who loves urban fantasy.” ~Review by Dawn and Wini Book Lovers

“ Julieanne writes so eloquently you can feel and picture everything Giselle is going through, with no question as to what role every character in the book plays.” ~Review by Ada McEwan

“Julieanne is a great story teller with a vivid imagination for the supernatural. I absolutely love everything about it.” ~Reviewed by Firefly and Wisp

And now, for the excerpt you've all been waiting for!


Excerpt from In the Shadows:

I felt his eyes on me before I returned the look.  He knew what I was thinking and, like always, he knew the right way to cheer me up.  Best friends where like that, and Alex was without a doubt my knight in shining armour.  He was like my shadow, and the last six years proved to me just how dependable he had become.
“We need sugar and lots of it,” he practically shouted, pulling into the lot.
“But we’ll be late for school... I can not have another detention, Alex, and besides, I need to see Marc before class,” I sighed.
“Well, Marc can wait... Strawberry glaze or chocolate sprinkles?” he asked me as he got out of the car.
Alex winked at me, and I giggled like a little girl following him.
“One of each,” I said.  “It’s a Monday, I need me some sugar.”
Grabbing hold of his arm, I held onto him and ignored the sneering looks from a group of girls leaving the cafe.
“Still slumming it I see, Alex.  Call me when you man up,” the local slut hollered as she walked across the lot with her minions in fold.
I ignored them and their giggles, and walked inside, escaping to our favourite table.
“Bitches,” I scowled, looking out the window.  “Who does she think she is?”  My face reddened with anger.
“Ignore her, G.  She’s harmless.”
“Why are you always defending her?”  My voice was now an octave above a whisper.
Grabbing the menu from me, he threw it on the table.  “Look at me... They can say whatever they want; they can make as many comments, and it won’t change a thing.  You’re my friend, Giselle... And besides, you look way better than them.”
Laughing, I looked back outside and watched Evie with her perfect body driving off in her perfect car, and I felt sick inside.
“Marc seems to think she’s great.”
“Marc’s an ass,” Alex said as he looked over the menu, pouting his lips at whatever he fancied.  He did that when something appealed to him.
“Alex!”
“Well, think about it.  He’s dating you, and yet he has time for said ‘bitches’.  Give me a break.  If you were my girlfriend, and this is just hypothetical, I wouldn’t let you out of sight or give them asses reason to pick on you, but that’s just from my viewpoint...  Now let’s order.  I am starving.”
The small bistro was buzzing with customers.  The delicious scent of freshly made coffee filled the air; it woke up my taste buds.  Its bright and bold colours hurt my eyes.  Shades of orange, lime green and sunbeam yellow had been painted abstractly on the walls, reminding me of summer.  Even the ceiling reminded me of the ocean with its cool shades of baby blue.  Somehow, it had become a place of comfort to me.  The people reminded me that I belonged here and, like always, Marion was the first to come welcome us and take our order.
“Morning, you two.  The usual?” she asked.  Turning to face me, she smiled and her voice softened.  “How is your mother, Giselle?”
“Hi Marion, um, yeah the usual, but can I have a side order of arsenic to go?” I laughed.  “Um, mom is good, thanks.”
“That’s great, sweetheart.  Give her my love.”  Laughing, she walked back towards the counter, shaking her head.
Alex sat forward, his brilliant green eyes staring hard into mine.  “Arsenic?”
“Well, it was either that or crushed glass.”
We both burst out laughing, getting the attention of the people on the table next to us.
We were like two naughty school children.  Giggling as we ate, we did not care who scowled at us.  It was just Alex and me, in our own world and nothing was going to break that bond - ever.
Of course, the ride to school was becoming increasingly uncomfortable.  My pain increased with each kilometre the closer we got to school.  I knew I had to face Marc at some point in the day, but to be honest I was too pissed off with him to really care about why he had dropped me for some lame party in town.
My stomach spun and I was nervous as I got out of the car.  Marc was standing over by his truck on the far side of the lot and there was no avoiding him.  He stood with Aaron and Doug, and watched me as I tried my best not to look at him.  But it was so hard.  He and his beautiful puppy dog eyes always got to me, and I knew I would be putty in his hands.
Yet, I wanted him to squirm just a little while longer.
Alex swung his arm over my shoulder and pulled me in close to him, reassuring me that my impending confrontation would be fine.  I wished I had his confidence in me.
“Relax.  Just keep eye contact and scowl.  Scowl like a mad woman,” he whispered as we parted company.  “Laters, Bergman,” and he was gone.
I was on my own.
Marc eyeballed me as I slowly made my way over to him.  The bell rang and people bumped past me as they rushed off to homeroom.  I, on the other hand, had to lay a few things to rest before I could face my day of boredom and its side helping of bitchiness.
“Hi!” I greeted all three of them.
“Um, morning, G,” Aaron said as he nudged Doug in the arm.
Guys must have some sort of secret code, because without Aaron saying anything, they both looked at each other, then at Marc, and left.
“You took your time coming in today,” Marc said as he slung his bag over his shoulder.
“Yeah, but that’s my business,” I bitterly retorted.
“G, you’re meant to be my girlfriend.  Maybe you should start acting like it.”
“What?  Are you for real?  You’re such an ass, Marc.”  Anger began to boil inside me, and I walked on ahead of him.
“Giselle, wait,” he called after me.  “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry doesn’t even cut it, Marc,” I sighed.  “You blew me off for what?  Drinks with the ‘guys’.  I went to so much trouble.  Can you imagine how dumb I felt waiting for you to turn up?”
“I really am sorry.  I didn’t know that Andy was going to some frat house.  If I had known, I wouldn’t have gotten into the car.  I swear, G, I would have shown up; only, things got out of hand.”
It was so hard staying mad at him.  I really wanted him to grovel more and feel like total shit, but I couldn’t do it to him.  I adored him and wanted to make up so badly.
“It was our anniversary, Marc.  Four years is a pretty big deal... But, you can make it up to me,” I said coyly.
Looking up into his delicious blue eyes, I felt my anger melt and I was more than ready for our make up kiss.  Pulling me in close to him, he cupped my face in his hands and gently pulled my mouth to his.  I could smell his cologne, and as it danced in circles around my nostrils I kissed him back, our tongues lightly brushing together.
The kiss got a few whistles of approval and a stern mouthful from Mr. Green.
“What is the meaning of this public display of... of...” he stuttered.
“Affection,” Marc tried to finish the line for him.
I held in my laugh as he led us into the school and straight to Principal Brooks’ office.
Standing outside Brooks’ office, neither Marc nor I said anything, but his smile said it all.  We were back on track.
“Bergman, Clark, g.. g.. get in here now,” Green bellowed from the doorway.
Marc entered the office first, and I hastily stopped at the door, avoiding eye contact with Brooks.
“Bergman, close the door when you’ve decided to join us,” Green said sarcastically as he folded his arms.  His face was red and swollen, and by the looks of things the night before had been a heavy one.  Everyone knew he was a little too fond of the booze.
“Giselle, come in and close the door,” Principal Brooks directed me.
Obediently, I shut the door behind me and stood close to Marc, trying my best not to laugh.  When I get nervous, I tend to mask my feelings by laughing or making light of the situation, but right there and then I doubted my humour would have been appreciated.
“Giselle, I am very disappointed in you.  How many times have we had this discussion?  You are always late for school, you’re behind in your assignments and, to be blunt, I am getting quite sick of your casual display of affection with Mr. Clark.”
I could not believe it.  He was pinning it all on me.
“But…” I tried to speak.
“Enough of your excuses.  You’re on detention for the rest of the week.  I believe you should be in English, and if you make it quick I am sure Ms. Royston won’t add to your ever growing record of disobedience.”  He ushered me out of the room.  “Marc, this game on Friday night...”  The door closed and the conversation became nothing more than muffled voices.
As I made my way to class, I could not have felt more pissed off.
Walking into the already quiet classroom was bad enough, but having Evie smugly looking at me as I fumbled through my bag was the last straw.
“When you’re ready, Giselle,” Ms.Royston said.
Sitting down, I looked around for him, and there he sat, smiling at me, showing concern with those luminous green eyes, and instantly I felt calm.
“You okay?” he mouthed at me.
Nodding my head, I tried not to distract Ms. Royston, but failed.
“Is there something you’d like to share with the rest of the class, Giselle?” she asked me.
I could feel my cheeks going red and my heart pounded hard in my chest.
“No.”  My voice quivered.
Everyone was looking at me and I could feel Evie’s eyes staring hard at me, but I refused to give in and just stared ahead.
“Really?  Well, maybe you can take part in our class discussion.  What is Atticus’s relationship to his children like?”  She sat back against her desk and folded her arms, waiting for my input.
Oh my God, I thought.
I had read the book, well, only slightly, but God, I didn’t have a clue.  My face became redder and redder as I slowly died inside.
Alex spoke up.  “Atticus is a kind and I suppose loving father.  He reads to his children and offers them comfort when they need it.  He is also capable of teaching them pretty harsh lessons, like when he allows Jem to come with him to tell Helen Robinson about Tom’s death.  But he is also a very wise man, one who is committed to justice and equality, and his parenting style is based on fostering these virtues in his children - he even encourages Jem and Scout to call him “Atticus” so that they can interact on terms as equal as possible.  Well, that is what Giselle and I discussed earlier.”  He confidently sat back in his chair and grinned at me.
“Well, that was…” Ms.Royston began, but then the bell went and I was out of that room in a flash.
I stood by my locker, defeated by Monday’s usual round up, and I craved my warm bed.  I wanted to escape the usual bullshit of school life and wanted nothing more than to run away, live my life far from here on the other side of the world.
“It can’t be that bad,” Alex said as he stood beside me.
“Wanna bet?  I have just had the worst morning ever.  I was hauled in by Green for kissing Marc, and now Brooks has me on another week of detention.  My dad is gonna kill me.”  Closing my eyes, I inhaled a deep breath.
“Ouch!  But at least you have the prom on Saturday.  That is something to look forward to, right?”  He tried his best to make me feel better.
“With the way my week’s going, I doubt I’ll make it to Saturday.”
“Oh come on, G, play it cool.  Just keep your head down and for God’s sake stay out of Green’s way,” he said as he hugged me.
“Yep, but easier said than done.”
The noise from the corridor began to fade and the bell rang again.  I had an awful knack for being late for everything, and at this rate I was more than likely going to be late for my own funeral.
“See you later...  I gotta go dazzle the lovely Ms Shultze.”  He winked at me and left me alone.
I stood with my eyes closed for a few moments, trying my hardest not to succumb to the overwhelming feelings growing inside me.  I wanted to cry.  Hell, I wanted to throw a tantrum that a two year old could get away with, but knowing the endless chaos it would bring would probably ruin my school life forever.  I played it safe and held my emotions in, like always.
Opening my locker, I searched for my algebra book.  “Damned thing,” I cursed to myself.  And instead I found a sealed brown envelope, lodged between my music folder and my copy of ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’.
Pulling it out I looked it over and then checked the corridor for any peering eyes, and opened the blank envelope.  Inside, I found a disc and a small note.  There was nothing else, and that was when I decided to let my curiosity get the better of me and I skipped the rest of the day’s lessons.
I knew no one would be home when I got there.  Dad was away on another business trip and mom was more than likely planning some charity convention with the other contenders for ‘Mother of the year’.
Grabbing a bag of chips and a can of Pepsi from the refrigerator, I casually strolled into the family room, sliding the disc into the DVD player and pressing play.
Sitting back on the sofa, I chugged down half the can and started munching on my favourite snacks.  Before I could swallow my mouthful, what I saw caught me completely off guard.  Struggling to control the ever-growing knot in my stomach, my eyes filled with tears.  I was torn in two, disbelief at what I was seeing and anger that this was no set up.
I wanted to scream, but my voice just would not come out.
Breathe Giselle.  Breathe.
That was when reality really hit me and I started screaming, with uncontrollable sobs and tears that fell down my cheeks.  My head pulsated as I searched through my bag for my phone whilst the audio played in the background.  Her laughter and moans filled my head, and in a rage I threw the controller at the TV screen.  It cracked, and the screen went dead momentarily.
Frantically, I dialled Alex’s number and paced, waiting for him to answer.
“Hello?” he answered.
“Alex... Alex...” I sobbed.
“Giselle, what’s wrong?” he asked, concerned.
“Oh God... Marc and... he…”  I broke down.
“Where are you?” he asked.
“Home.”
I sat on the floor in the middle of the room, crying.  Inside, my stomach churned over and over, and at times I felt like vomiting.  But it didn’t happen.  Instead, I inhaled long deep breaths to counteract my sobs.  Dizziness plagued me as I tried to make sense of what I had just seen.  Surely it had been some kind of sick joke, but it was too real.  Marc had to have known about this, but I was at a loss as to what to do.  If it was true, then things would never be the same again, and inside I could feel a part of me die.

About the Author:

Fiery Librian Julieanne Lynch is an author of urban fantasy books for both adults and teens. Originally from Northern Ireland, Julieanne now lives in Ireland, where she works on her Shadows Trilogy and other series full-time. Before becoming a writer, she considered a few different career paths, a rock star being one of them. She studied English Literature and Creative Writing at The Open University, and considered journalism as a career path. However, she decided writing was the way for her and believes all of her education and reading prepared her for it.

An avid reader, Julieanne has always had an encompassing fascination with folklore. When not writing, she enjoys crime series such as Criminal Minds, CSI, NCIS and Cold Case, and loves anything with Vampires, listening to metal, meeting new people, drinking lots of green tea, and sharing her dreams with her children. She is a self-professed goth wanna-be,and is happy when left to write into the early hours of the morning.

Find Julieanne online:

http://www.julieannelynch.co.uk/

http://www.julieannelynch.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Julieanne-Lynch/147566121974789

REVIEW: Fanfare by Renee Ahdieh

2011-07-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

Cris Pereira hates starring in a cautionary tale. Alas, her recent heartbreak relegates her to this unbecoming fate. The only good thing about being dumped a foot from the altar is the newest layer to her punchy sarcasm. All she wants is a do-over, but this is not your average fairy tale, and wishes don't come true in the real world. One Sunday afternoon, she meets a movie star. Tom Abramson is intelligent, charming, and impetuous. In other words, he plays the role a bit too well. She isn’t falling for it. She knows better. All British men are not descendants of Fitzwilliam Darcy, and movie stars are genetic mutations gone awry: X-Men with statistical disadvantages and emotional handicaps. Keep your knight in shining armor. A modern girl can rescue herself, thank you very much. After all, dreams are for the foolhardy, nightmares are just a part of life, and . . . this is not your average fairy tale.

Book: Fanfare by Renee Ahdieh
Release Date: May 31, 2011
Format: eBook
Genre: Contemporary/Adult
Series: Standalone
Obtained: For a blog tour in exchange for an honest review
Rating: (5 Zombies)

Let me just say one thing real quick: This summary is terrible. And weird. And confusing. I have no clue what the person who wrote is was smoking, and I'm sure they never actually read the book, because this makes no sense whatsoever, and does this amazing book absolutely no justice.

Cris was an awesome, strong, and wickedly funny, and I loved reading her story! The way she dealt with some issues kind of bugged me, but she was overall pretty damned awesome.

The love interest, Tom, was kind of awesome, too. He was funny and cute and intelligent and BRITISH! You all know how much I love those Brits XD (Ahem, Noah.) Anyways, he was really cool. And a movie star.

I loved Fanfare, and can't wait to read anything else that Ahdieh chooses to write. Like shopping lists. And little post-it note reminders. Fun stuff like that.

In My Mailbox (45)

2011-07-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

For Review:

Past Midnight by Mara Purnhagen

The Cowboy and the Vampire by Clark Hayes and Kathleen McFall

Won:

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

Bought:

Undercurrent by Tricia Rayburn

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

GUEST POST: Christy Dorrity - Book Blogger's Cookbook - Kindle Contest!

2011-07-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

Christy Dorrity put together an awesome cookbook for people who love good food and good books, and she was kind enough to do a guest post for us today, too!
Here's a link to the launch website. Anyone who comments and promotes the launch will be entered to win an Amazon Kindle Wi-Fi! For more details, visit the launch site.

5 Tips for “Reating”-the Fusion of Books and Food.

One of the greatest pleasures in life is the combination of good food and good books. When all of the kids are in bed and the lights in the kitchen are off, get ready for some “me” time. Snuggle up with a good book and something yummy! Some people say that it is unhealthy to eat while you are reading, but if you follow these helpful tips, you can give yourself permission to enjoy the fusion of great reads and great eats.

5 “Reating Fusion” Tips:

1. Choose a Great Book—one that you can’t wait to get into. If you need help choosing a read, there are loads of great book bloggers out there that give honest reports about what’s great and what’s not.

2. Pick a food that is a treat for you. My favorite reading treats are chocolate, if I’m craving sweets, or chips and salsa when I want something salty. My husband prefers to have seconds of dinner for his dessert—especially when we have tacos.

3. Portion out your treat into a serving size that makes sense for you. If you are going to have a treat that comes in a large container, such as a bad of potato chips or a box of malt balls, take out a sensible amount and put away the extra. That way you won’t mindlessly munch during the intese action scene in your novel.

4. Find a comfortable place to snuggle up. Some of my favorite spots include bed, a cozy couch with a soft-glow lamp, the back deck, a bench in the forest or park, and a hammock on the beach (I wish!).

5. Relax and enjoy yourself. Immerse yourself in the experience of a tasty read and adventurous foods.

What’s your favorite Reating Fusion blend?

Blogfest 2011 Giveaway

2011-07-14T23:48:00.000-07:00

For my Blogfest giveaway, I have one (1) finished copy of Wildefire by Karsten Knight up for grabs!

Rules:

1. Comment with your name, your favorite mythological god or goddess, and your email address.
2. One (1) extra entry for following, one (1) extra entry for tweeting or blogging. Make sure to post a link.
3. US only, unless you're willing to pay the international shipping.
4. Giveaway ends 11:59pm, July 17th.

You can track which giveaways you've entered here, and possibly win more prizes!

The next five blogs in the hop are:
Budget Savvy Diva
Cate Masters
Chasing Dreams
Chick Loves Lit
Christmas TV History

Good luck!

REVIEW: Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey

2011-07-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in ghosts. But they believe in her. After spending years participating in her mother's elaborate ruse as a fraudulent medium, Violet is about as skeptical as they come in all matters supernatural. Now that she is being visited by a very persistent ghost, one who suffered a violent death, Violet can no longer ignore her unique ability. She must figure out what this ghost is trying to communicate, and quickly because the killer is still on the loose.

Afraid of ruining her chance to escape her mother's scheming through an advantageous marriage, Violet must keep her ability secret. The only person who can help her is Colin, a friend she's known since childhood, and whom she has grown to love. He understands the true Violet, but helping her on this path means they might never be together. Can Violet find a way to help this ghost without ruining her own chance at a future free of lies?

Book: Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey
Release Date: June 21, 2011
Format: Paperback
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Young Adult/Historical
Series: Standalone
Obtained: For a blog tour in exchange for an honest review
Rating: (5 Zombies)

Like most historical fiction that I've read, Haunting Violet has a bit of a slow start as introductions are made and the setting is established. Unlike most historical fiction that I've read, Haunting Violet's slow start is interesting and quite enjoyable. The setup is entertaining and informative at the same time, and when the action finally comes, it comes big and grand!

Violet is a strong-willed, but not too-stubborn lead, and absolutely amazing to read about, and she definitely made the book for me. I loved her not-so-traditional take on the love triangle aspect of the story, and it was nice to have a character actually choose the guy that I was routing for.

Since I just said that Violet picked my guy, I won't say anything about the love interests, Colin and Xavier, because I don't want to spoil anything, but I will say that they were both fulfilling and awesome in their own little ways, but one of them really stood out for me.

Altogether, the historical setting and ghostly mystery came together to form an artfully spooky, wonderfully entertaining book that no YA reader should miss out on.

Once Upon a Read-a-Thon 2011: Den Třetí

2011-07-13T00:05:00.000-07:00

These are my plans so far for the third day of the read-a-thon:

Reading the books I chose for this year's read-a-thon. (The list can be found here.)
Posting reviews of the books as I finish them (or not).
Participating in mini-challenges and other read-a-thon related activities.
Browsing through participating blogs.

Today, I hope to finish only one book:

1. Hounded by Kevin Hearne - 289 pages - GoodReads - Amazon

Tempe, Arizona is as  far removed from paranormal activity as is   possible. And that’s where  Atticus O’Sullivan, rare book salesman, herb   peddler, and 2,000 year old  Druid   the last of his kind   has  decided  to set up shop. He’s been on  the run, guarding a very powerful  sword  from a very angry ancient  Celtic god for over two millennia  now. But  while these years have been  good to him   Atticus has become  more  powerful than he could have  possibly imagined   The Morrigan, a  very  old god of death, has predicted  death and doom for our hero, and  it’s  up to Atticus, with help from a  pride of werewolves, and a  gorgeous  bartender possessed by an Indian  witch, to stay alive,  hopefully for  another thousand years.

UPDATES:
Hounded by Kevin Hearne

Started Hounded @ 10:37 PM Monday night.
I got absolutely no reading done on day 2 because real life hates me :'(

Mini-Challenges:

Wicked Awesome Books challenged us to play matchmaker and pick two characters who should be together.

My choices are Niko from Rob Thurman's Cal Leandros series and Cassie from Karen Chance's Cassandra Palmer series because they both hate being lied to and because Niko could possibly make Cassie a bit less of a scatterbrain XD

Books From Bleh to Basically Amazing challenged us to recommend two books, which I will post in the near future.

Book 1: A book that I would recommend just because is The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin. Part psychological thriller, part paranormal romance, Mara is non-stop action and impossible to put down. I loved the characters and the fantastic plot, but my favorite part was unraveling the mystery of what really happened in the prologue.
Book 2: The read-a-thon book that I would recommend is Chimera by Rob Thurman. Chimera is the literary version of a comic book, with the craziest possible twists and turns, but still believable. I would like to call it urban sci-fi in the sense that it really reminds me of an urban fantasy where the fantasy aspect isn't exactly fantasy. Any fans of stories exploring family relationships will love this one, and anyone who likes a good, fun action thriller.

Once Upon a Read-a-Thon 2011: Jour Deux

2011-07-12T02:15:00.000-07:00

These are my plans so far for the second day of the read-a-thon:

Reading the books I chose for this year's read-a-thon. (The list can be found here.)
Posting reviews of the books as I finish them (or not).
Participating in mini-challenges and other read-a-thon related activities.
Browsing through participating blogs.
Watching Teen Wolf. What? I can't help it.

Today, I hope to read two books:

1. Hounded by Kevin Hearne - 289 pages - GoodReads - Amazon

Tempe, Arizona is as  far removed from paranormal activity as is  possible. And that’s where  Atticus O’Sullivan, rare book salesman, herb  peddler, and 2,000 year old  Druid   the last of his kind   has decided  to set up shop. He’s been on  the run, guarding a very powerful sword  from a very angry ancient  Celtic god for over two millennia now. But  while these years have been  good to him   Atticus has become more  powerful than he could have  possibly imagined   The Morrigan, a very  old god of death, has predicted  death and doom for our hero, and it’s  up to Atticus, with help from a  pride of werewolves, and a gorgeous  bartender possessed by an Indian  witch, to stay alive, hopefully for  another thousand years.

2. Among the Ghosts by Amber Benson - 256 pages - GoodReads - Amazon

A ghost story in which a  young girl's parents ship her off to a  boarding school where, after  some snooping around the gothic old  estate, she meets a group of similar  outcasts that can finally relate  to.  Unfortunately, her new friends  turn out to be the ghosts of  students who died in a horrible dormitory  fire. Things go from weird to  worse when her new ghostly schoolmates  start disappearing and she  realizes that she is the only person, living  or dead, who can help  them.

UPDATES:
Hounded by Kevin Hearne

Started Hounded @ 10:37 PM last night.

Mini-Challenges:

The Bookish Type's challenge was to write a fake synopsis for one of our read-a-thon books based on the cover.

Hounded by Kevin Hearne: Half-man, half-goat, this sword-wielding red-head is really Irish. Red is generally a nice dude, but he takes himself a bit too seriously and is on an epic quest to get laid so that he can stop staring sulkily into the distance. Also, he would like a razor to get that long goatee under control. Can he do it all before those ominous storm clouds start pouring bunnies and budding flowers? The world may never know.

YA Bliss' challenge is to list your top three love triangles.

Marc v. Jace from Rachel Vincent's Shifters series,
Will v. Jem from Cassandra Clare's Infernal Devices series,
and Delilah v. George from Rob Thurman's Cal Leandros series.