Saturday, March 31, 2012

March RAK WrapUp

Another month of RAK has come and gone.  Here is a rundown of how March went for me.


Mailed:


Witch in the House by Jenna McKnight to Samantha
Box of Books to Laura (No Blog)
Box of Books to The Book Queen

Received:


All Things Wicked by Karina Cooper from The Book Queen
A Sliver of Shadow by Allison Pang from Sullivan McPig
Ashes by Ilsa J Bick from RainMaiden Jen

I'm looking forward to April RAK.  :)

March Review ReCap

I can not believe it is the last day of March - it seems like last week was Christmas.  :)  Time is steadily moving forward and it seems like it's picking up speed.


My reads for the month were varied and so were the ratings.  Here is a recap:


5 Stars
Plague Town - Dana Fredsti
A Perfect Blood - Kim Harrison
Black Howl - Christina Henry


4 Stars
Dead on the Delta - Stacey jay
Doubletake - Rob Thurman
Run From Fear - Jami Alden
Deadly Dance - Dee Davis
The Thirteen - Susie Moloney


3 Stars
Assassins in Love - Kris DeLake
Fated - Benedict Jacka


2 Stars
Shaded Vision - Yasmine Galenorn
Dead of Night - Jonathan Maberry  


How was your reading for March?

Friday, March 30, 2012

Winner: Wide Open by Deborah Coates

The giveaway for a copy of Wide Open by Deborah Coates has concluded and the winner chosen.


Using random dot org, the winning number is #2 - Estella.


Congrats, an email is on the way.


Thank you all for participating in this giveaway.


Happy Reading!

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Cover & Promo: Iced by Karen Marie Moning

Iced is the first book in the Dani O'Malley series by Karen Marie Moning.

Blurb:

I figure the folks that are the most interesting get to go to heaven. I mean, if I was God, that’s who I’d want there with me. I also figure being eternally happy would be eternally boring so I try not to be too interesting, even though it’s hard for me. I’d rather be a superhero in hell than an angel in heaven. What the feck would I do all day if I wasn’t kicking demon ass?

Product Details
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Press (October 30, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0385344406
ISBN-13: 978-0385344401


Winner of the Mortal Path Swag Bag

The giveaway with Author Dakota Banks has concluded and the winner of the Mortal Path Swag Bag chosen. Thank you all for participating.


Using Random dot Org the winning number is:


#7, Blodeuedd


Congrats!  An email is on the way.


I'd like to thank Dakota Banks for celebrating the release of her latest book, Deliverance, with us here at Michelle's Book Blog.


Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Harper Voyager (March 27, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062049984
ISBN-13: 978-0062049988

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Review: A Perfect Blood by Kim Harrison


A Perfect Blood is the tenth book in the Rachel Morgan series by Kim Harrison and an Urban Fantasy from Harper Voyager.

Book Blurb:

Ritually murdered corpses are appearing across Cincinnati, terrifying amalgams of human and other. Pulled in to help investigate by the I.S. and the FIB, former witch turned day-walking demon Rachel Morgan soon realizes a horrifying truth: a human hate group is trying to create its own demons to destroy all Inderlanders, and to do so, it needs her blood.

She’s faced vampires, witches, werewolves, demons, and more, but humanity itself might be her toughest challenge yet.

My thoughts:


When Rachel declared herself demon - the authorities declared her dead.  Now at the DMV trying to register her car and renew her drivers license, Rachel is meeting prejudice even worse than she suffered as a shunned witch.


When an ancient vampire hijacks (with permission) the body of a living vampire at the DMV - Rachel is asked to help with an ongoing investigation.  Murdered corpses are being left out in the open - taunting the I.S with what appears to be demon magic gone wrong.


Rachel does not trust the I.S - so insists that the F.I.B be brought in as well - but it turns out, Rachel can’t trust anyone...


This is one of my favorite series.  The world building is rich, the characters so life like they leap from the page.  I love it and look forward to each installment.


I give A Perfect Blood 5 out of 5 stars.

Product Details
Hardcover: 448 pages
Publisher: Harper Voyager (2-21-12)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061957895
ISBN-13: 978-0061957895   

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Review: The Thirteen by Susie Moloney


The Thirteen is a Novel by Susie Moloney from William Morrow.

Blurb:

Haven Woods is a suburban heaven, a great place to raise a family.  It’s close to the city, quiet, with terrific schools and its own hospital right up the road.  Property values are climbing, and the crime rate is practically nonexistent.

Paula Wittmore hasn’t been back to Haven Woods since she left as a disgraced teenager.  Now she’s returning to care for her suddenly ailing mother, and she’s bringing her daughter and a pile of emotional baggage.  She’s also bringing, unknowingly, the last chance for her mother’s closest frenemies...twelve women bound together by a powerful secret that requires the sacrifice of a thirteenth.

My thoughts:


Paula Wittmore left Haven Woods, at the insistence of her mother, when she was just sixteen.  Unwed and pregnant, Paula was still reeling from the loss of two very important people in her life - and being forced to leave her home and her mother - was almost too much to bear.
Twelve years later, unemployed and low on cash, Paula returns to Haven Woods to care for her hospitalized mother.  Despite the circumstances surrounding her return to Haven Woods, Paula is looking forward to starting over.


Surprisingly, Haven Woods has not changed much in the years since Paula left.  The same families live in the same neighborhoods - everyone looks happy and no one seems to be down on their luck at all...


But behind those happy facades are women who are desperate to right the wrongs that have befallen them. They are a secret coven of witches pledged to an entity that has seen them prosper over the years.  All they needed were thirteen women and an occasional sacrifice.


But they have lost their thirteenth sister and in doing so, lost the favor of their patron...now things are going bad - very bad - and if they don’t regain their numbers - everything is lost... 


I enjoyed The Thirteen - it’s a little on the creepy side and I like that very much.


I give The Thirteen 4 out of 5 stars.

Product Details
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (03-27-12)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062117661
ISBN-13: 978-0062117663 

Monday, March 26, 2012

Early Review: Plague Town by Dana Fredsti


Plague Town is the first book in the Ashley Parker series by Dana Fredsti and a Horror Novel from Titan Books.

Book Blurb:

People are dying.  Then they are waking up.  Hungry.

In the small university town of Redwood Grove, people are succumbing to a lethal strain of flu.  They are dying - but not for long.

Ashley Parker and her boyfriend are attacked by these shambling, rotting creatures that crave human flesh.  Their lives will never be the same again.

As the town falls to ever-growing numbers of the infected, Ashley and a small band of survivors fight to contain the outbreak - but will they be enough?

My thoughts:


Ashley Parker is trying to put the pieces of her life back together after divorcing her husband.  Enrolled in classes at the local university, Ashley has finally found her niche - now if only she could shake off the last energy draining fatigue of the Walkers Flu - her life would be almost perfect.


That is until she and her boyfriend are attacked by zombies.  Yes, zombies.  Pure instinct drives Ashley to fight the zombie - but more take its’ place.  Ashley and her boyfriend are overwhelmed and Ashley is bitten.


When she wakes she finds that the town has been quarantined and she has survived.  Now under military supervision, Ashley is given the opportunity to train and fight the zombies.  


She accepts.  


Ashley and her team work to clear the campus of zombies and rescue any survivors before moving on to the outlying areas.  Just when it looks like the tide is turning in their favor - news reaches the team that this is only the beginning...


I absolutely loved Plague Town - this is how I picture the zombie apocalypse.  


Ashley is snarky and smart a$$ed and doesn’t take any crap from anyone.  But she is also sympathetic and willing to help others.  She’s just a regular person who’s survived an extraordinary event.


I can’t wait for more 


I give Plague Town 5 out of 5 stars.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Titan Books (April 3, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0857686356
ISBN-13: 978-0857686350

Saturday, March 24, 2012

In My Mailbox: 03-24-12

In My Mailbox is a feature that was started over at The Story Siren. Each week we share what we bought, borrowed from the library or received in the mail.


Here is what I received this past week:     

For Review:
A Brush of Darkness - Allison Pang
A Sliver of Shadow - Allison Pang
Nice Girls Don't Bite Their Neighbors - Molly Harper
Thanks to Simon & Schuster


For Review:
Geared for Pleasure - Rachel Grace
Thanks to Penguin


Purchased:
Kiss of the Vampire - Cynthia Garner
Tempted by Blood - Laurie London 

Friday, March 23, 2012

Giveaway: Wide Open by Deborah Coates

Thanks to TOR, I have one copy of Wide Open up for grabs.



Blurb:

When Sergeant Hallie Michaels comes back to South Dakota from Afghanistan on ten days' compassionate leave, her sister Dell's ghost is waiting at the airport to greet her.

The sheriff says that Dell's death was suicide, but Hallie doesn't believe it. Something happened or Dell's ghost wouldn't still be hanging around. Friends and family, mourning Dell's loss, think Hallie's letting her grief interfere with her judgment.

The one person who seems willing to listen is the deputy sheriff, Boyd Davies, who shows up everywhere and helps when he doesn't have to.

As Hallie asks more questions, she attracts new ghosts, women who disappeared without a trace. Soon, someone's trying to beat her up, burn down her father's ranch, and stop her investigation.

Hallie's going to need Boyd, her friends, and all the ghosts she can find to defeat an enemy who has an unimaginable ancient power at his command.


Product Details
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Tor Books (March 13, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0765328984
ISBN-13: 978-0765328984


This giveaway is open to all followers of this blog with a US mailing address - just leave a comment with a valid email addy and you are entered.  Using Random dot Org winner will be chosen and announced and 3-30-12.


Good luck and Happy Reading!

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Guest Post & Giveaway with Author Dakota Banks


Today Author Dakota Banks is stopping by Michelle's Book Blog with a guest post and a wonderful giveaway to help celebrate the release of Deliverance, the third book in her exciting Mortal Path series.


Welcome Dakota!



Thank you, Michelle, for the opportunity to appear on your blog. Hi, everyone!

I love to read. I’ve been a reader ever since I figured out how to hold books right-side-up so the words made sense. The words in early readers tended to be short and plain, without much thought to the beauty of the English language. I came across that part—the beauty—later, when the words had more than one syllable and a lot more variety! I developed favorite words that I loved to say or whisper to myself, just for the wonderful sounds of them. Later still, I learned that characteristic is called euphony: a pleasing effect to the ear. What makes a word euphonious? It’s usually a string of vowels, and you have to set aside the meaning of the word because it’s the sound only that’s involved. I’ve found it also helps if you whisper the words in a breathy voice. Here’s a sample of some of my favorite euphonic words, in no particular order.

lyrical
serendipity
lollypop
whisper
cinnamon
aurora
harmony
willow
translucent
melancholy
ethereal
purr
tranquil
diaphanous
mercurial
whimsy
sumptuous
ripple
murmur
gossamer

And I could go on and on, because I love these words! They sound especially nice whispered into someone’s ear. Your basic handsome hunk gathers his lady in his arms, puts his mouth near her ear, and whispers, “Diaphanous willow.” Works for me.

What would beauty be without its opposite, ugliness? Cacophony describes words that are hard on the ears, regardless of their meaning. Here are some of my candidates. Remember, block out the meaning, focus on the sound.

leech
shriek
hoarse
grotesque
coarse
rancid
hirsute
visceral
slaughter
disgust
noisome
vulgar
pustule
phlegm
vomit
squat
blood
bonanza

So our hunk whispers in his lady’s ear, “Grotesque pustule.” He’ll be sent on his way, lucky if he doesn’t get a slap.

What does all of this have to do with writing? I make conscious use of euphony and cacophony throughout my books, and even in the titles. Dark Time, Sacrifice, and Deliverance are all euphonic. I want those titles rolling off the tongue sweetly, even if their meanings are not so sweet. My main character? Maliha Crayne. Whisper it. Ugly words definitely have a role, too: blood, treacherous, gash, scabbard, gut, inflicted, ragged, staggered, knife, torn, pain. Those are all from Chapter One of Deliverance. Action scenes can be filled with ugly words! Most authors make these word choices automatically, but if you’re a new writer, make sure you match the word to the type of scene. “What,” you say, “does it matter if the reader isn’t reading aloud? Whispered words, bah.” Trust me. It matters. The reader’s mind responds!

Here are some titles by other authors I find especially euphonic.

The Scent of Shadows by Vicki Pettersson
Kissed by Smoke by Shea Macleod
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs
Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep
Eternal Rider by Larissa Ione
Sins of the Demon by Diana Rowland

What are some of your beautiful and ugly words?

I love this topic.  Here are my answers:


Beautiful Words
ephemeral
labyrinthine
ensorcelled


Ugly Words
clamor
racket
disharmony


Now for the giveaway.  Dakota is offering a Mortal Path Swag Bag that contains a tote bag, 3 signed books, pens, bookmarks, magnets, and a calculator.  


This giveaway is open internationally to all followers of this blog.  Just leave a comment with a valid email addy and you are entered.  Using random dot org, winner will be chosen and announced on 3-29-12.



A demon's assassin for centuries, Maliha Crayne has gone rogue, determined to save a life for every one she's destroyed in order to free herself from an eternity of enslavement, damnation, and excruciating torment. But as the powers that sustained her in the past fade, she is wary of trusting those closest to her--especially her lover, Jake. And her friends are beginning to disappear, one by one. Amid her anger, suspicion, and sorrow, her life is spiraling out of control.

Worse still, a beautiful Renaissance murderess is recruiting Maliha as her new assassin. Maliha is turning into a lethal puppet with Immortal pulling the strings, forced to kill innocents or see her missing friends die horribly. Suddenly trapped in a moral no-man's-land, Maliha is damned if she does and damned if she doesn't ... and time is rapidly running out.


Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Harper Voyager (March 27, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062049984
ISBN-13: 978-0062049988




You can find Dakota Banks in several areas on the web:


Website
Blog
FaceBook
Twitter
GoodReads


I'd like to thank Dakota for stopping by today and for the wonderful giveaway she's offering.


Good luck everyone and Happy Reading!


Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Blog Tour: Run From Fear & Deadly Dance (Reviews)


Today Michelle's Book Blog is participating in Forever Romance's Romantic Suspense Blog Tour.


This tour is showcasing two new releases from two great authors; Jami Alden and Run From Fear and Dee Davis and Deadly Dance.


For my spot on the tour, I chose to review both books.



Run from Fear is a novel by Jami Alden and a Romantic Suspense from Grand Central Publishing.

Book Blurb:

With each step she takes, he tracks her every move, waiting for the perfect time. The perfect revenge. Until then, he'll watch her . . .

RUN FROM FEAR

More than anything, Talia Vega wanted to leave behind her harrowing past. Moving eight hundred miles away, she succeeded . . . until the one man who knows her darkest secrets wanders into the restaurant where she works. Now the agonizing memories come crashing back-along with an undeniable desire for Jack Brooks, the ex-Green Beret who rescued her from a sadistic monster two years ago.

Jack Brooks knows that showing up unannounced is a purely selfish move. Talia doesn't need his protection anymore, but he can't get the raven-haired beauty out of his mind. And when a twisted madman is hell-bent on resurrecting her torturous past, Jack vows to do anything to keep her safe-even risk his own life to save the only woman he's ever loved.

My thoughts:

Talia Vega and her younger sister, Rosario, spent time in a safe house - hiding out from the serial killer known as the Seattle Slasher.

Finally settling in Palo Alto, California - Rosario has enrolled at Stanford and Talia is working as bar manager at an up scale hot spot.  Things are looking better than either woman had thought possible a couple of years ago.

That is until Rosario goes missing.  Talia is frantic - and an easy target.  She is nabbed as well and both women are at the mercy of a sadistic madman.

Jack Brooks can’t get Talia out of his mind - even though the ex-Green Beret hasn’t seen her for two years. Showing up unannounced at her place of business is unsettling - for both of them - for different reasons.

When Jack realizes that Talia and Rosie are missing he is determined to get them back.  Pulling every string he has at his disposal, Jack tracks them - finds them - and is more than willing to sacrifice his own life to save them.

Run From Fear is an edge of your seat read.  I enjoyed it very much.

I give Run From Fear 4 out of 5 stars. 

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 464 pages
Publisher: Forever (March 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446572810
ISBN-13: 978-0446572811




Deadly Dance is the fifth book in the A-Tac series by Dee Davis and a Romantic Suspense from Grand Central Publishing.

Book Blurb:

As the intelligence officer for A-Tac, a black-ops CIA unit masquerading as Ivy League faculty, Hannah Marshall is used to working behind the scenes. But when a brutal murder hits too close to home, Hannah finds herself in the middle of the action, falling in love while racing to outwit a sadistic mastermind. 

A KILLER CLOSES IN

After the death of her A-Tac partner, Hannah doubts everything she thought she knew about love and loyalty. When handsome Harrison Blake joins the team, she's reluctant to trust him - or to act on her intense attraction to him. Then Hannah receives a podcast of a gruesome murder, and the only person who can help her find the killer is Harrison.

Harrison has spent years trying to hunt down the cunning monster who killed his sister. Now investigating with Hannah, he faces a shocking possibility - his sister's murderer has resurfaced. As the danger escalates, Hannah and Harrison grow closer, the desire simmering between them ignites. And when Hannah disappears, Harrison has only one chance to save the woman he loves.

My thoughts:

Hannah Marshall is part of a top secret organization housed beneath Sunderland College in New York.  Known as A-Tac, this black ops unit of the CIA has been working on bringing down the Consortium for some time - but every time they think they’ve made a break through, the Consortium slips away.

When their last mission resulted in the betrayal of the unit and the death of her partner, Hannah is left feeling uneasy and distrustful - to say the least.

When a student comes to Hannah with what looks to be a video of a girl being murdered Hannah takes it to the newest member of A-Tac, Harrison Blake.

Harrison is ex-FBI and he has first hand knowledge of serial killers - his sister was a victim of one - and it looks like her killer or a copy cat - is at it again.  When Hannah becomes the killers latest victim Harrison and A-Tac must race the clock to find out where Hannah is being held and tortured - before her time runs out...

Deadly Dance is an exciting read.  I enjoy the A-Tac series and look forward to each installment.

I give Deadly Dance 4 out of 5 stars.


Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Forever (April 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446582948
ISBN-13: 978-0446582940

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Review: Dead on the Delta by Stacey Jay


Dead on the Delta is the first book in the series by the same name from Stacey Jay and a Pocket Books Urban Fantasy.

Book Blurb:

So Much Danger, So Little Time...

Once upon a time, fairies were the stuff of bedtime stories and sweet dreams. Then came the mutations, and the dreams became nightmares. Mosquito-size fairies now indulge their taste for human blood - and for most humans, a fairy bite means insanity or death. Luckily, Annabelle Lee isn't most humans. The hard-drinking, smart-mouthed, bicycle-riding redhead is immune to fairy venom, and able to do the dirty work most humans can't. Including helping law enforcement - and Cane Cooper, the bayou's sexiest detective - collect evidence when a body is discovered outside the fairy-proof barricades of her Louisiana town.

But Annabelle isn't equipped to deal with the murder of a six-year-old girl or a former lover-turned-FBI snob taking an interest in the case. Suddenly her already bumpy relationship with Cane turns even rockier, and even the most trust-worthy friends become suspects. Annabelle's life is imploding: between relationship drama, a heartbreaking murder investigation, Breeze-crazed drug runners, and a few too many rum and Cokes, Annabelle is a woman on the run - from her past, toward her future, and into the arms of a darkness waiting just for her. . . .

My thoughts:


Annabelle Lee lives in Donaldson, Louisiana within the sturdy fifteen foot iron fence that surrounds the town. When the mutation of fairies occurred - most survivors left town - but Annabelle stayed.


Being immune to the venom in the fairy bite makes Annabelle one of a very few who can venture outside of the protection of the fence without wearing a specially designed iron suit.


This makes her invaluable to the Fairy Containment and Control or the FCC.  She is able to freely go into areas others can’t, collecting samples for tests, gathering evidence in crimes - whatever is needed.  Due to this ability - the FCC puts up with a great deal of disrespect from Annabelle.


When a murder occurs, Annabelle believes it has to have been committed by someone within the boundaries of the fence.    


A murder investigation is more than Annabelle bargained for when she joined the FCC - but there aren’t enough rum and cokes in the world to allow Annabelle to forget what she’s seen - or turn her back on it. 


Dead on the Delta is a great read.  


I love that Annabelle is so flawed - just going with the flow, never committing to more than she’s comfortable with (which isn’t much).  I can’t wait for more in this series.


I give Dead on the Delta 4 out of 5 stars. 

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Pocket Books (May 31, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1439189862
ISBN-13: 978-1439189863    

Monday, March 19, 2012

My thoughts on The Walking Dead Finale

*Contains Spoilers*



What did you think about the season 3 finale of The Walking Dead?  I liked it - but I was also expecting more.


Before I go any further let me stress how much I love this show!  And I have not read the graphic novels - so all of this is new to me as the seasons unfold.


My first observation is the herd.  If they were in fact following the noise from that helicopter, why didn’t they stop when the helicopter out distanced them?  In the first season, when Rick was in the middle of Atlanta on the horse, a helicopter flew overhead and the zombies did not follow it.  That the zombies followed the copter and then continued walking such a huge distance was a bit of a stretch for me.  But, okay.  I’ll go with it.


The whole dodge and weave Rick and Carl displayed while trying to make it to the barn was laughable.  I’m guessing after walking such a long way, the zombies were tired and that made them a little more lethargic giving the guys a leg up on speed.


Jimmy to the rescue in the RV.  Who is Jimmy again?  Oh yes, Beth’s boyfriend - zombie fodder.  He was needed to save our guys and then perish heroically - or stupidly in my opinion.  Why not make sure the door was secure? Speaking of zombie fodder - we lost Patricia too, I guess she wasn’t needed to help with any more surgeries... 


Hershel was determined to stay with his ancestral home. A noble gesture.  And he did show an extreme amount of cajones standing there firing at the herd - but I am glad Rick was able to make him see the reasoning behind leaving it all behind.  I am glad they are off the farm - it was getting a little boring.


Lori.  Oh my goodness.  I have never liked Lori and last night just confirmed that feeling.  She can’t seem to keep up with her kid - who in my opinion needs a firmer form of discipline than a stern talking to or he is going to end up zombie food.  She is holier than thou, sticking her nose in where it doesn’t belong.  No matter that she may be impregnated by her husbands best friend.  The way she reacted when Rick told her what happened with Shane just made me angry.  I hope the zombie’s eat her.


Daryl is my favorite.  Cool as can be, sitting on his bike watching the barn burn - not a care in the world that a zombie herd is running rampant on the farm.  But when Carol screamed - he wasted no time rushing to help.  He is truly a knight is very rusty, red neck, armor.  I hope he and Carol pair up.


And Daryl was willing to go back and look for Andrea. That bugged me a lot - that no one was willing to go back and look for her.  Yes, she has had some issues in the past - but come on, she is part of the group.  No one left behind - right?  Right?  I guess not.


Now to one of the most shocking things for me.  Who in the world was that hooded figure that saved Andrea?  And what’s up with the pet zombies?  If you know, don’t tell me.  I can’t wait for more on that front.


I think the pressure has finally gotten to Rick.  The fact that he had to kill Shane, coupled with the emergency evac of the farm and the reaction Lori had to his announcement was just too much at once.  I’m hoping the gang will stick by him - and that Lori will be eaten by zombies.  Just saying.


And speaking of Lori.  If they are all infected - what does that mean for her baby?  Will she give birth to a zombie baby - or will it try to eat her from the inside?  Let’s ponder that for a moment...  


What do you think about the huge facility we saw off in the distance?  I’m thinking it was a prison or maybe a military installation of some kind.  I wonder what our gang will find there?


I hate that we lost Shane.  He was Nuts - but he was unpredictable and kept us guessing.  We need another renegade to take his place.  One who isn’t so crazy and doesn’t want to sleep with Lori.      


It is going to be a long wait for Season 3.

It's Monday...What Are You Reading?

It's Monday... What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.  This is a chance to showcase what you read in the last week, what you are reading now, and what you plan to read for the upcoming week.   

Books Read Last Week:
The Darkest Seduction - Gena Showalter
A Perfect Storm - Lori Foster
Shadow's Flame - Dianne Sylvan
Love in the Time of Dragons - Katie MacAlister
The Thirteenth Sacrifice - Debbie Viguie


Current Read:
Black Dawn - Rachel Caine

Sunday, March 18, 2012

In My Mailbox: 03-18-12

In My Mailbox is a feature that was started over at The Story Siren. Each week we share what we bought, borrowed from the library or received in the mail.


Here is what I received this past week:     

*Upcoming Giveaway*
Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs - Molly Harper
Nice Girls Don't Live Forever - Molly Harper
Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men - Molly Harper
Thanks to Simon & Schuster

For Review:
Under Suspicion - Hannah Jayne
The Thirteen - Susie Moloney
Thanks to Author Hannah Jayne and William Morrow

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Friday, March 16, 2012

Winner: Box 'O Books Giveaway

The Box 'O Books giveaway has concluded and using Random dot Org, the winner chosen.


#8 - Rain Maiden


Congrats! An email is on the way.


Thank you all for participating in this giveaway and for following my blog.


Have a great weekend and Happy Reading! 

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Review: Dead of Night by Jonathan Maberry


Dead of Night is a novel by Jonathan Maberry from St. Martin’s Griffin.

Book Blurb:

A prison doctor injects a condemned serial killer with a formula designed to keep his consciousness awake while his body rots in the grave.

But all drugs have unforseen side effects.

Before he can be buried, the killer wakes up.

Hungry.  Infected.  Contagious.

This is the way the world ends.  Not with a bang...but a bite.

My thoughts:


In a small town in Pennsylvania a mortician receives a body to be readied for burial.  This transfer is surrounded by secrecy and meant to stay that way - no one is to know that this body is being buried in this town.


Unfortunately, even those in the ‘know’ have no idea just what this body houses.  Unknown to the US government, this body has been subject to a supposed defunct experimentation gone horribly wrong - Lucifer 113.


Now infected with a zombie like virus, this body rises and begins to feed.  His bite transfers the virus to his victim and the virus spreads.


Officer Dez Fox wakes to another hang over, jumps into her uniform and meets her partner for a quick shot of caffeine.  They receive word that a distress call has come in from the local mortuary - so they head on over to take a look.


Dez had no idea that her hangover would be the highlight of her day.  What she and her partner find is a couple of torn up, dead bodies and a missing perp.


Then all hell breaks loose as those dead bodies begin to attack...


I enjoyed Dead of Night - but not as much as I thought I would.  


I didn’t mind that the zombie plague was a man made bio weapon and though odd to me, the fact that the zombies were consciously aware of what was going on - but unable to do anything about it, was not a deal breaker.
What bothered me the most was that the cops appeared to be so clueless.  In one spot Officer Fox shoots a zombie three or four times, hitting it in the chest - only to have it pop right back up - and wonders aloud why they won’t stop coming.


Now unless these guys have lived under a rock their entire lives - or in this world Romero does not exist and no one has ever seen a zombie movie or tv show - they should know that the kill shot has to be to the head.


If I saw someone shambling down the street, ripping into someone and eating their brains and entrails - I’d be like, zombie!   Double tap to the head.


Maybe I’m nit picking.  But being the zombie nerd that I am - I just had to point out what bugged me the most.


I give Dead of Night 2 out of 5 stars.

Product Details
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (10-25-11)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 031255219X
ISBN-13: 978-0312552190 

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Review: Fated by Benedict Jacka


Fated is the first book in the Alex Verus series by Benedict Jacka and an ACE Fantasy.


Blurb:


Alex Verus is part of a world hidden in plain sight, running a magic shop in London. And while Alex's own powers aren't as showy as some mages, he does have the advantage of foreseeing the possible future--allowing him to pull off operations that have a million-to-one-chance of success. 


But when Alex is approached by multiple factions to crack open a relic from a long-ago mage war, he knows that whatever's inside must be beyond powerful. And thanks to his abilities, Alex can predict that by taking the job, his odds of survival are about to go from slim to none...


My thoughts:


Alex Verus is a mage - a diviner to be exact.  He can see the multiple possible outcomes of any event he focuses his ability on.  A very handy ability to have - especially when running from an enemy.


And Alex does have enemies.  Ten years ago, apprenticed to Dark Mage Richard Drakh, Alex realized that the Council and their Concord was not in place to help those in need - but to keep peace between the Light and Dark Mages - anyone caught in the crossfire was on their own.


Alex has turned his back on the Council as much as they have turned their back on him - but now, they need his help.


An ancient and supposed powerful relic has surfaced and the Council wants it.  They’ve already lost people trying to force it open and they feel that with a diviner on their team - they have a better chance of opening it without losing anyone else.


But there is a problem - the Council is not the only group interested in this relic - and Alex is on diviner speed dial.


Fated is an enjoyable read and I look forward to more of Alex’s adventures.


I give Fated 3 out of 5 stars.


Product Details
Reading level: Ages 18 and up
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Ace (February 28, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1937007294
ISBN-13: 978-1937007294  

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Spring Break Giveaway: Box 'O Books

My children are on Spring Break this week and I thought - why not have a giveaway?  :)


I have a box of books up for grabs.  This box contains gently used paranormal romance and urban fantasies - those are the genre's I read the most.   


Because this is a good sized box that I will be mailing out - this giveaway is open to all those followers with a US mailing address.


Just leave a comment with a valid email addy and you are entered.


Using random dot org, winner will be chosen and announced on Friday, 3-16.


Good Luck!   

Monday, March 12, 2012

It's Monday..What Are You Reading?

It's Monday... What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.  This is a chance to showcase what you read in the last week, what you are reading now, and what you plan to read for the upcoming week.  


Books Read Last Week:
Plague Town - Dana Fredsti
Fated - Benedict Jacka
Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men - Molly Harper
Enraptured - Elisabeth Naughton
Untouched - Sara Humphreys

Current Read:
A Perfect Storm - Lori Foster

Winner: Fair Game by Patricia Briggs

The giveaway for a copy of Fair Game by Patricia Briggs has concluded.  Thank you all for participating.


Using random dot org, the winning number has been chosen:


#9, Van Pham


Congrats! An email is on the way. 



Product Details
Reading level: Ages 18 and up
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Ace Hardcover (March 6, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0441020038
ISBN-13: 978-0441020034

Saturday, March 10, 2012

In My Mailbox: 03-10-12

In My Mailbox is a feature that was started over at The Story Siren. Each week we share what we bought, borrowed from the library or received in the mail.


Here is what I received this past week:     


For Review:
Devil's Punch - Ann Aguirre
Shadow's Fall - Dianne Sylvan
Sins of the Son - Linda Poitevin
Thanks to Penguin

The Thirteenth Sacrifice - Debbie Viguie
Magic Without Mercy - Devon Monk
Thanks to Penguin

Chase Me - Tamara Hogan
Plague Town - Dana Fredsti
Thanks to SourceBooks and Titan Books