Michelle's Book Blog

January Review ReCap

2012-01-31T06:59:00.001-05:00

I can't believe the first month of the new year has come and gone. :) Time flies when you're lost in a book (or several). I had a fabulous reading month.

Here are the reviews I posted for January:

5 Stars
Flesh Eaters - Joe McKinney

4 Stars
Alpha Instinct - Katie Reus
The Mortal Bone - Marjorie M Liu
A Demon Does It Better - Linda Wisdom
Cinder - Marissa Meyer
Dust of the Damned - Peter Brandvold
Raven Cursed - Faith Hunter
The Bride Wore Black Leather - Simon R Green
American Vampire - Jennifer Armintrout

3 Stars
Hold Me If You Can - Stephanie Rowe

How was your reading month?

January RAK Wrap-Up

2012-01-31T00:07:00.001-05:00

Another month of RAK has come and gone. :) I love this program! If you haven't participated yet - give it a try.

I mailed to Megan @ Book Brats

Rosemary & Rue - Seanan McGuire
Infinite Days - Rebecca Maizel
Wither - Lauren Destefano

I received:

Blood of Eden - Tami Dane
Bad Girls Don't Die - Katie Alender
From Megan @ Books Brats

Blood Bound - Rachel Vincent
From Danielle @ Romance Book Junkies

Cover & Promo: Embrace of the Damned by Anya Bast

2012-01-30T17:50:00.000-05:00

A damned Viking warrior.

Centuries ago Broder Calderson committed murder. As punishment, he was given over to the dominion of Loki, the Trickster God, made part of the Brotherhood of the Damned and condemned to an immortal life of battle against the Blight, blood-drinkers from Hel.

A mysterious woman he can’t resist.

One thousand years to the day he was damned, Loki allows him a woman as reward for his good service and repentance of his crimes. Once Broder sees Jessamine Hamilton, he is overcome with need. But Jessa is no ordinary woman, and the truth of who — and what — she is could have dangerous consequences.

A tormented man she can’t deny.

Though a future together is impossible, the warrior’s touch ignites an irresistible passion in Jessa. But every heated kiss pushes them closer to destruction. Forced to return to the brutality of his Viking past to protect her, will Broder surrender forever to his darkest impulses?

Release Date: 05-01-12

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

2012-01-30T07:14:00.000-05:00

Dead on the Delta - Stacey Jay

Viper Moon - Lee Roland

Intervamption - Kristin Miller

Pure - Julianna Baggott

Switched - Amanda Hocking

Currently Reading

The Grimrose Path - Rob Thurman

Winners: Alpha Instinct

2012-01-30T07:02:00.000-05:00

The Alpha Instinct giveaway has concluded and using Random dot Org the winners chosen. Thank you all for participating.

#11 - donnas
#02 - Riva

Congratulations! An email is on the way.

I'd like to thank author Katie Reus for stopping by MBB and providing giveaway copies of Alpha Instinct.

Happy Reading!

In My Mailbox - 1-29-12

2012-01-29T14:06:00.000-05:00

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:

Pure - Julianna Baggott

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing

I will be hosting a giveaway of Pure on February 8th - be sure to stop by and enter.

Winner: The Shameless Giveaway Hop

2012-01-28T10:55:00.000-05:00

The Shameless Giveaway Hop has concluded. Thank you again to Jen and Brie for allowing me to co-host. I hope we can do it again. :)

I had 181 entrants - thank you all for participating. Using Random dot Org, the winner has been chosen:

#41 - AimeeKay

Congrats! An email is on the way.

Flash Fiction Friday: Week #77

2012-01-27T08:36:00.001-05:00

Dottie over at Tink's Place has come up with the idea for a Monday Morning Flash Fiction challenge. Each Monday a new picture prompt will be posted and if you choose to participate - you post your story on Friday - 350 words, give or take.

And here is picture prompt #77:

In The Name of Honor
By Michelle Greathouse

Valeria moved through her chamber quickly, practice had been especially harsh and she longed for a bath. She placed her sword on the table and removed her outer armor, relishing in the cool breeze that prickled her overheated skin.

“My, my. What a lovely sight. Will you be removing the rest of your clothing?” Valeria whirled, sword in hand. “How did you get in here Lex? Get out, now!”

Lexor E’Lan chuckled, ignoring the sword and Valeria’s threatening stance. “I unlocked the door, my dear.” He taunted her with a key. “No locked door in this compound will keep me from going where I want to go.”

“You overstep your bounds Lex. I don’t believe this is what the king had in mind when he appointed you first command.”

Valeria walked around the table placing as much distance between herself and Lex as possible. It was a useless effort, Lex followed her - backing her into the wall.

“Oh Valeria. When will you accept that you will be mine?” His hot gaze raked her from head to toe. “I will have you, whether you will it or no - and there is not a frekking thing you can do about it.”

Valeria gasped as Lex sent a wave of power through her - forcing her head back and locking her muscles. She closed her eyes against the pleasure/pain surging within her core. She hated Lex with every fiber of her being - but at this moment she wanted nothing more than to have him inside her.

Fighting the impulse his power wrought within - Valeria closed her fist around the pommel of her sword. If only...

With a primal scream Valeria opened her eyes and lunged with her sword. Lex opened his mouth in silent wonder, glancing from Valeria to her sword sticking out of his chest.

Valeria walked over to the comm unit, called for security and sat down at the table to await their arrival.

The End
Word Count: 334

I hope you enjoyed this one. It has been so long since I participated - but I love the picture and the story immediately came to mind. :)

Guest Post with Author Claire Ashgrove

2012-01-27T00:01:00.000-05:00

CENTURIES AGO,

Templar knights defied the archangels and unearthed the copper scroll, revealing the gates to hell. Cursed for their forbidden act, they forever roam the earth protecting mankind from evil. But darkness stalks them, and battles they fight bring them ever-closer to eternal damnation. One promise remains to give them salvation – the return of the seraphs.

Embittered by his purpose, Merrick du Loire must honor an ancient pact and bring peace to his cousin’s soul. When he stumbles upon history professor Anne MacPherson, he discovers she possesses a sacred artifact that marks her as a seraph. Duty demands he set aside his personal quest and locate the knight she’s fated to heal. As he struggles with conflicting oaths, Anne arouses buried hope and sparks forbidden desire that challenges everything he’s sworn to uphold.

Anne has six weeks to complete her thesis on the Knights Templar. When Merrick takes her to the Templar stronghold, he presents her with all she needs—and awakens a soul-deep ache, he alone can soothe. Yet loving Merrick comes with a price. If she admits she's destined for him, her gift of foresight predicts his death.

Name: Gareth of Aletorp

Profession: Knight Templar (European branch)

Age: (JUST BEFORE PHILIP’S TERROR)

Height: 6’0”

Hair Color: Sandy Blonde

Eye Color: Soft brown

Thank you, Gareth, for meeting with us before you head back to England and Raphael. I was wondering if you might provide a little more insight on the division between the two temples, the two commanding archangels?

Gareth: Of course, damsel. You have but to ask. And when one is as fair as yourself, ‘tis no difficult chore to converse. I serve Raphael, the European commander of the Knights Templar. Mikhail is commander of the North American forces. Our roles are similar, but the knights who serve Mikhail are older. (He smirks.) Soon they shall be fat and lazy.

Somehow, I can’t picture any of you fat and lazy. Do both branches serve the same purpose?

Gareth: Indeed. We are all sworn to guard the gates to Azazel’s realm and protect both mankind and the holy relics Azazel desires.

So why is it you are younger? And did I hear correctly that the curse doesn’t seem to affect the European faction as much?

Gareth: Aye, ‘tis true our health is better, but the reasons we do not know. We are younger because we joined the Order just prior to its eradication.

I see. Do you work well together then?

Gareth: (Chuckling) At times.

Othertimes not quite as much?

Gareth: Several of Mikhail’s knights – Merrick’s sworn brethren – resent myself and my brothers. Let us say only that at times it becomes tedious.

You and Anne are fairly close, right?

Gareth: We have become such, aye. ‘Tis my understanding that I somehow spurred both she and Merrick together. I shall miss her greatly upon my departure.

Spurred them together? I sense a story. Do tell.

Gareth: (shaking his head) The details were not shared with me. I suspect ‘tis told in IMMORTAL HOPE, Anne and Merrick’s biographies.

Okay okay, I was hoping for some secrets. Let’s talk for a minute about the archangels. Is it true that what we’ve been taught as a foundation of Christianity is not entirely true? That the archangels play different roles than documented?

Gareth: Over time, man has made a few, shall we say, adjustments to the truth. At the core, the archangels are the same, but they carry many aspects of simple man, and in some cases their roles are different. For instance, damsel, Raphael. He is cited as the Master of Healing. In truth, ‘tis Uriel who heals.”

Will we learn more about this in IMMORTAL HOPE then?

Gareth nods, and his grin flashes. “Indeed. You will learn far more than such, as well. There are many things that have been mistakenly recorded.

Oooh, that sounds fascinating. One last question and I’ll let you get back to packing.

Gareth: Ask, damsel. I am willingly at your service.

Any chance we’ll be reading about your seraph next?

Gareth: Ah, milady, only the mighty Gabriel knows the seraphs. Though perhaps… (a devilish grin lights his eyes) we might expedite Gabriel’s disclosure by investigating whether you might possess my mark? T’would only require the removal of your clothes.

(He doesn’t give me a chance to respond. Before I can stumble out a few words, he kisses my cheek, and strides to the door, where he stops to flash me a wink.) “Good day, milady.”

While I recover from that pulse-tripping experience, enjoy this excerpt from IMMORTAL HOPE.

EXCERPT:

“Dine,” Merrick insisted as he jabbed at her bowl with his spoon, the gesture jerking her out of her thoughts.

Anne stared down at the greasiest bowl of . . . glop she’d ever seen. Merrick said it was stew. But her eyes—and her stomach—refused to consider this mushy concoction as anything but garbage. “Oh. Hell. No.”

She pushed the bowl away and fought back the urge to whimper. She was so hungry her stomach was in knots. But even starving people had their standards, and that bowl of crap defied the minimal ones she possessed.

Spoon poised near his mouth, Merrick lifted one reproachful eyebrow. The men on each side of him—men Merrick hadn’t wasted time in discovering they weren’t meant for her—stared at her as if she’d just committed blasphemy. A blush crept up her cheeks, and she offered Merrick a weak, apologetic smile.

“ ’Tis food, Anne.”

“No it’s not.” No wonder everyone around here had massive chips on their shoulders. How long had it been since they’d had a decent meal? “Is there maybe some salad somewhere?”

Merrick’s other brow shot up. “Salad?”

His companions continued to stare. Behind Merrick, a stranger with long ash-blond hair turned to looked over his shoulder. His gaze narrowed. Cold blue eyes flashed. Dangerous energy assaulted her.

Anne swallowed down unexplainable foreboding and met Merrick’s soothing onyx stare. The uneasy tension in her belly dissolved. “Yeah, you know— lettuce, celery, carrots, croutons?”

A chuckle shook his shoulders, but he refrained from smiling. “A man does not eat leaves.”

Just like they didn’t believe in radios. Somehow that didn’t surprise her. She dropped her spoon to the table, folded her arms over the scarred surface, and gave each gawking face a sugary-sweet smile. The two men hastily turned their attention to their meal. Behind Merrick, the nosy stranger abruptly turned back to his meal. Anne gestured at her bowl. “If I’m going to eat greasy crap, I think I’ll take McDonald’s. Or maybe Pizza Bob’s. He delivers, you know.”

Merrick indicated her food with his spoon. “What did you tell me earlier? Ah, aye, get used to it.”

Claire will be giving away a $25 Amazon.com gift certificate to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour, and a second $25.00 Amazon.com gift certificate to a second randomly drawn commenter at the end of the tour. Be sure to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning!

Claire Ashgrove (Blog Tour)

ClaireAshgrove.com

@ClaireAshgrove

Guest Post & Giveaway: Katie Reus & Alpha Instinct

2012-01-26T07:12:00.003-05:00

A little about Katie Reus: I’ve been reading romance from a young age—ever since I discovered my mom’s hidden stash. Luckily the addiction stayed with me into adulthood. I write paranormal romance and sexy romantic suspense for Carina Press, Harlequin Nocturne, and NAL/Signet Eclipse. To learn more about me please visit my website, my blog, facebook or find me on twitter @katiereus.

Welcome to MBB, Katie!

Thank you so much to Michelle for having me here today at her blog!

For as long as I can remember I’ve had a fascination with all things paranormal and supernatural. And when the show Supernatural came out? I was in freaking heaven (even if the sexy Winchester brothers do tend to hunt some of the creatures I like). Now paranormal shows seem to be taking over the airwaves (True Blood, Grimm, Once Upon a Time, Fringe, Ghost Hunters) and I totally dig it.

So it’s no surprise that I also love visiting haunted places. In the past few years I’ve been on some fun haunted tours. I’ve been on a haunted tour in New Orleans (more than once) that’s more of a history lesson than anything else (but very interesting). I’ve also been to the lighthouse in Pensacola Florida that’s supposedly one of the most haunted lighthouses in America. But I must say my favorite haunted tour was in Saint Augustine Florida. There are so many haunted spots there but the Huguenot Cemetery was by far the creepiest (and coolest).

Established in 1821, the Huguenot Cemetery is close to the city gates (another haunted hotspot but that’s for another blog post). There was a problem with yellow fever and this cemetery was used to bury Protestants in the ancient city. A little over ten years after it was created a Presbyterian church bought it and by the end of the 19th century it was closed because of overcrowding. The most well-known ghost lurking in this cemetery is Judge John Stickney. In 1882 on a trip to Washington DC he became sick and died of typhoid fever, but his body was brought back to Saint Augustine to be put to rest. Years later his children decided to move up north and had his body exhumed to be brought with them. Didn’t they know you’re not supposed to disturb the dead? Apparently there was some sort of disturbance when his body was dug back up and someone stole all his gold teeth in the chaos. While his body was transferred up north, his ghost supposedly remains in Huguenot Cemetery (probably looking for his stolen teeth!) haunting it to this day. When my husband and I were there we didn’t see the judge, but a woman on the tour with us snapped a bunch of digital pictures of the graveyard and I swear, there was a male face next to one of the tombstones. It was soooo creepy.

This story doesn’t have anything to do with my upcoming release. I just wanted to share a little bit about myself. As you can probably tell, I’m a total junkie for anything related to the supernatural! Even though I started out writing romantic suspense it was only a matter of time before I turned to the paranormal genre. I’m glad I did because that’s how the Moon Shifter series was born. I love researching legends and lore of various creatures and while I like vampires, I adore werewolves and shifters. Hopefully that’s obvious in my upcoming release Alpha Instinct (1st book in a new paranormal series).

Fear has a scent. So does desire…

Ana Cordona has been a strong leader for the lupine shifters who survived after all the males and most of the females in her pack were mysteriously poisoned. As tough as she is, with no Alpha male, the pack is vulnerable to the devious shifter Taggart, who wants to claim both their ranch and Ana as his own. When Connor Armstrong comes back into her life, promising protection, it’s almost enough to make Ana forget how he walked out on her before—and reluctantly accept his offer to mate.

The minute Connor sees Ana again, it reawakens a raw hunger. He must have her for his bondmate—his wolf cries out for it. But his human side knows he must proceed with caution because of their complicated past. If he is to truly have her body and soul, he must go beyond his burning desire and win back her heart. Whatever it takes, he is determined not to leave her side again.

But Taggart and his rival pack are not their only enemies. A human element in town is targeting shifters. Their plan not only threatens Ana and Connor’s future, but the lives of the entire pack…

Now for the giveaway:

What do you love about paranormal romance? Do you like ghost tours? Which ones have you been on? Answer any of the questions and be entered to win a copy of Alpha Instinct, my upcoming paranormal release from Signet Eclipse (2 copies up for grabs, US & Canada only eligible).

My answers are easy:

1. I love the Alpha Males! :)

2. No ghosties for me - I'm a big chicken.

But what about you? Leave your answers in a comment along with a valid email addy and you are entered to win. Giveaway will run through Sunday 1-29-12 and using Random dot Org, the (2) winners will chosen and announced on Monday 1-30-12.

I'd like to thank Katie Reus for stopping by MBB and for the generous giveaway of (2) copies of Alpha Instinct.

My review of Alpha Instinct can be found here.

Thanks again to Michelle for having me here today!

ARC Review: Alpha Instinct by Katie Reus

2012-01-25T07:01:00.001-05:00

Alpha Instinct is the first book in the new Moon Shifter series by Katie Reus and a Paranormal Romance from Signet Eclipse.

Book Blurb:

Fear has a scent. So does desire...

Ana Cordona has been a strong leader for the lupine shifters who survived after all the males and most of the females in her pack were mysteriously poisoned. As tough as she is, with no Alpha male, the pack is vulnerable to the devious shifter Taggart, who wants to claim both their ranch and Ana as his own. When Connor Armstrong comes back into her life, promising protection, it's almost enough to make Ana forget how he walked out on her before--and reluctantly accept his offer to mate.

The minute Connor sees Ana again, it reawakens a raw hunger. He must have her for his bondmate--his wolf cries out for it. But his human side knows he must proceed with caution because of their complicated past. If he is to truly have her body and soul, he must go beyond his burning desire and win back her heart. Whatever it takes, he is determined not to leave her side again.

But Taggart and his rival pack are not their only enemies. A human element in town is targeting shifters. Their plan not only threatens Ana and Connor's future, but the lives of the entire pack...

My thoughts:

Ana Cordona stepped into her Alpha father’s shoes when most of their pack died from poison. She and the remaining females of the pack have made do the best they can - but without a strong male Alpha, they are fair game for any immoral Alpha out there.

Her next door neighbor is one of those immoral Alpha’s. Taggart wants Ana as his own - but more than that - he wants her land. And he is willing to stoop to whatever means necessary to obtain them both.

In a meeting meant to take her by surprise, the tables are turned on Taggart when the Armstrong boys and their new pack of warriors show up unexpectedly.

It has been fifty years since Ana and Connor have seen each other - but neither has forgotten the other. Connor offers his protection to Ana and her pack - all he asks in return is that she become his bondmate.

But Connor has secrets - and Ana will only agree to a mating with him until he comes clean.

In the meantime, another wolf falls sick from poison and it looks like the same kind as before. Connor and his brother Liam are determined to find out who is threatening their new pack - and put a stop to it - permanently.

I enjoyed Alpha Instinct very much. Both Connor and Liam and fiercely protective of their females and their pack. Ana is no shy flower and doesn’t run from danger - or back down from Connor.

I can’t wait for more in this series.

I give Alpha Instinct 4 out of 5 stars.

Product Details
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Signet (2-7-12)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451236092
ISBN-13: 978-0451236098

Top Ten Tuesday - My Favorite Book Series

2012-01-24T08:18:00.001-05:00

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. Each Tuesday we're given a book related topic and we post our top ten favorites for that topic.

This week is a freebie topic - and my first week participating. I've chosen to list my Top Ten Favorite Book Series.

1. Immortals After Dark - Kresley Cole

I had the first book in the series on my tbr shelf for some time before reading it - due to the less than spectacular cover. This series is amazing and thankfully, the covers are much improved.

2. Stephanie Plum - Janet Evanovich

I was in the book store one day - just waiting for something to jump out at me - when the manager handed me the first book in this series. She said if I wanted a good laugh - this was the series for me. I went home, read the book in one sitting then went back to the book store the next day and bought the next three books in the series.

3. In Death - J D Robb

My father gave me the fourth book in this series. I had not read the previous books, so left it on the shelf for a couple of years. I happened across the first book at the thrift store and bought it - read it - and had to have the rest of the series.

4. Sookie Stackhouse - Charlaine Harris

Long before True Blood, I found the Sookie Stackhouse omnibus edition, Dead in Dixie, from the Science Fiction Book Club. This edition includes the first three books in the series. I loved it!

5. Rachel Morgan - Kim Harrison

I found the second and third book in this series at the grocery store of all places. I loved the back blurbs so bought them both - went home and put up my groceries and then headed to the book store in search of the first book. I was immediately hooked.

6. Black Dagger Brotherhood - J R Ward

This is another omnibus I picked up from the SFBC - this one contains the first two books in the series. I wasn't immediately hooked on this series because of all the baby powder smelling lessers - but I am absolutely happy that I kept with it. I love the guys!

7. Demonica/Lords of Deliverance - Larissa Ione

Yes, this is actually two separate series - but they are connected, so I've included both. I saw the first book in the Demonica series on the shelf for a couple of weeks - picked it up, read the blurb, put it back. It seemed so different - a demon hospital run by demons. I took the plunge - bought the book and fell in love. This is an amazing world!

8. Lords of the Underworld - Gena Showalter

The first book in this series was all over Myspace (before I had a blog) and I was intrigued by the cover as much as the blurb. I was hooked from the first chapter and have since tried all of Ms. Showalter's series - but this one is my favorite.

9. Morganville Vampires - Rachel Caine

My daughter borrowed the first book in this series from her BFF in 9th grade. She enjoyed it and said I might as well. It was a short book, I had the time - so I read it. I loved the concept of a town full of vampires - and one young woman who plays such a huge role in their 'lives'.

10. Outlander - Diana Gabaldon

I found the first book in this series at the used book store. I actually picked it up for my mother - but ended up reading it myself. I was floored. This book came alive for me and is still one of my all time favorites. Even though the last book was a bit of a disappointment and we have to wait so long for new installments - Jaime and Claire will always hold a place in my heart.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

2012-01-23T07:21:00.002-05:00

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:

Deliver Me From Darkness - Tes Hilaire
The Night is Mine - M L Buchman
A Brush of Darkness - Allison Pang
Ascension - Sable Grace

Current Read:

Stud - Cheryl Brooks

Upcoming Reads:

I've read my review books for February - so I don't have any books that require reading this week. I'm not a planner, I usually just stand in front of the tbr bookcase and wait for something to grab my attention.

In My Mailbox: 1-22-12

2012-01-22T07:40:00.001-05:00

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:

Bought:

The Thirteenth - L A Banks

For Review:

Untouched - Sara Humphreys

Enraptured - Elisabeth Naughton

Thanks to SourceBooks

The Shameless Giveaway Hop (INT)

2012-01-20T00:01:00.001-05:00

The Shameless Giveaway Hop is hosted by Michelle's Book Blog, Red Hot Books and Romance Around the Corner.

Welcome to the Shameless Giveaway Hop. This is the first hop I have hosted and I want to thank Jen and Brie for allowing me to co-host with them.

My giveaway is a book of your choice, up to $10, from The Book Depository. Just make sure The Book Depository delivers free to your address.

As always, my giveaway is open to all followers of this blog. Just leave a comment with a valid email addy and you are entered.

The Shameless Giveaway Hop will run through midnight 1-27-12 and using random dot org, the winner will be chosen and announced on 1-28-12.

Be sure to stop by all the participating blogs and Good Luck!

Review: American Vampire by Jennifer Armintrout

2012-01-19T06:45:00.000-05:00

American Vampire is a novel by Jennifer Armintrout and a Paranormal Romance from Mira.

Book Blurb:

He’s the Good kind of vampire. Sort Of.

Buried in the Heartland is a town that no one enters or leaves. Graf McDonald somehow becomes its first visitor in more than five years..and he was only looking for a good party.

Unfortunately, Penance, Ohio is not that place. And after having been isolated for so long, they do not like strangers at all.

Jessa’s the only one to even remotely trust him, and she’s desperate for the kind of protection that only a vampire like Graf can provide. Supplies are low, the locals are ornery for a sacrifice and there’s a monster more powerful than Graf lurking in the woods.

New men are hard to come by in this lonesome town, and this handsome stranger might be Jessa’s only hope for salvation.

Even if she has to die first...

My thoughts:

Five years ago the small town of Penance, Ohio changed overnight making it impossible for anyone in town to leave - or for anyone outside of town to enter.

Until now.

Graf McDonald is a vampire on his way to a party when he gets lost and pulls over at an abandoned gas station looking for a map.

He finds so much more.

Jessa has been chased by IT - an unbelievable being that showed up in Penance at the same time the town was closed off - and she has taken shelter in the abandoned gas station.

Imagine her surprise when Graf walks in - the first stranger Jessa has seen in five years. Graf wants no part of Jessa - aside from a quick snack - or Penance, Ohio.

But though he may have gotten into Penance - it doesn’t look like he’ll be getting out anytime soon.

And dawn is coming.

American Vampire was a very enjoyable read - it gave me a very Stephen King kinda vibe. :)

I give American Vampire 4 out of 5 stars.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Mira (February 22, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0778328783
ISBN-13: 978-0778328780

WoW: Wrong Side of Dead by Kelly Meding

2012-01-18T06:54:00.001-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly post started by Breaking the Spine to showcase books we are patiently awaiting.

My WoW for the week:

Monster hunter Evangeline Stone woke up on the wrong side of dead this morning - and now there's hell to pay.

Barely recovered from her extended torture at the hands of mad scientist Walter Thackery, Evy can use a break. What she gets instead is a war, as the battered Triads that keep Dreg City safe find themselves under attack by half-Blood vampires who have somehow retained their reason, making them twice as lethal. Worse, the Halfies are joined by a breed of were-creature long believed extinct - back and more dangerous than ever.

Meanwhile, Evy's attempts at reconciliation with the man she loves take a hit after Wyatt is viciously assaulted - an attack traced to Thackery, who has not given up his quest to exterminate all vampires . . . even if he has to destroy Dreg City to do it.

With Wyatt's time running out, another threat emerges from the shadows and a staggering betrayal shatters the fragile alliance between the Triads, vampires, and shapeshifters, turning Evy's world upside down forever.

Product Details

Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages

Publisher: Bantam (January 31, 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0345525795

ISBN-13: 978-0345525796

Review: Flesh Eaters by Joe McKinney

2012-01-17T08:18:00.000-05:00

Flesh Eaters is the third book in the Dead World series by Joe McKinney and a Horror novel from Pinnacle.

Book Blurb:

They Rise...

Out of the flooded streets of Houston, they emerge from plague-ridden waters. Dead. Rotting. Hungry. And as human survivors scramble to their rooftops for safety, the zombie hordes circle like sharks. The ultimate killing machines.

They Feed...

Houston is quarantined to halt the spread of the zombie plague. Anyone trying to escape is shot on sight - living and dead. Emergency Ops sergeant Eleanor Norton has her work cut out for her. Salvaging boats and gathering explosives, Eleanor and her team struggle to maintain order. But when civilization finally breaks down, the feeding frenzy begins.

They Multiply...

Biting, gnawing, feasting - but always craving more - the flesheaters increase their ranks every hour. With doomsday looming, Eleanor must focus on the people she loves - her husband and daughter - and a band of other survivors adrift in zombie-infested waters. If she can't bring them into the quarantine zone, they're all dead meat.

My thoughts:

The day began like any other for Eleanor Norton, a sergeant in the Emergency Ops division of Houston, Texas. Meetings and planning for assisting the thousands of people who were stranded by the most recent hurricane.

Reports are filtering in from the rescue crews - the city has been hit hard. No power or running water, no food or resources for the survivors and odd sightings of what looks to be cannibals...

When news arrives that a second and possible, third hurricane are headed their way, Eleanor thankfully heads home to help her own family prepare for the coming disaster.

But there could be no preparation for what Eleanor and family are about to face. The dead are rising - and they are hungry. The military has been called in and Houston has been closed off - no one is to be allowed to leave the area.

But Eleanor is determined to see her family to safety - no matter the cost.

Flesh Eaters is a fantastic read. I love this series and look forward to each installment.

I give Flesh Eaters 5 out of 5 stars.

Product Details
Paperback: 364 pages
Publisher: Pinnacle (April 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0786023600
ISBN-13: 978-0786023608

Cover & Promo: Wicked Road To Hell by Juliana Stone

2012-01-16T09:16:00.000-05:00

Wicked Road to Hell is the first book in the new League of Guardians series by Juliana Stone.

Book Blurb:

With the legions of the underworld gathering and chaos close at hand, Sorcerer Declan O’Hara’s deadly skills will be tested. But nothing will sway him from his duty, not even her…

Rescued from eternal darkness, vampire Ana DeLacrux owes her life to a mysterious stranger who asks for only one thing—her absolute allegiance. She serves this master without question until Declan, the one man who can make her forget her vow, returns. His magic is stronger, darker…more compelling than ever. His blood awakens a hunger she must resist, or risk deadly consequences.

As Ana and Declan join forces, the streets of New Orleans become a dangerous place for both humans and the otherworld. And the most dangerous place of all is a road Declan’s traveled before…the wicked road to hell.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Avon (April 24, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062022644
ISBN-13: 978-0062022646

In My Mailbox: 1-14-12

2012-01-14T11:01:00.000-05:00

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:

Unbroken - Rachel Caine

Undone Deeds - Mark Del Franco

Thanks to Penguin

Sex, Lies and Valentines by Tawny Weber

Alpha Instinct - Katie Reus

Thanks to Tawny Weber and Katie Reus

The Night is Mine - M L Buchman

Deliver Me from Darkness - Tes Hilaire

Stud - Cheryl Brooks

Thanks to SourceBooks

Cover Reveal: Night Seeker by Yasmine Galenorn

2012-01-13T17:36:00.000-05:00

Night Seeker is the third book in the Indigo Court series by Yasmine Galenorn.

Release Date: 07-03-12

Review: Virtual Virgin by Carole Nelson Douglas

2012-01-13T07:12:00.000-05:00

Virtual Virgin is the fifth book in the Delilah Street: Paranormal Investigator series by Carole Nelson Douglas and an Urban Fantasy from Pocket Books.

Book Blurb:

She's Like a Virgin . . . Simulated for the Very First Time

For a red-blooded male, Las Vegas offers a virtual smorgasbord of temptation: sexy showgirls, vampy vampires, zombie starlets, you name it. But paranormal investigator Delilah Street isn't worried about losing her man to these vixens. Especially when the one woman with a soft spot for the guy also has a hard-shelled exterior. . . .

She's a robot - or a CinSim, to be exact - a near-perfect simulation of the silver-metal robot Maria from the classic science fiction movie Metropolis. Part innocent teenage actress, part depraved sex goddess, the new Maria is hooked on Delilah's partner, Ric, who raised her from the dead. She also happens to be the perfect secret weapon for a demonic drug lord. Which could be one hell of a problem. Delilah's not the jealous type, but this tin-can temptress must be stopped - even if it forces Delilah to forge a dangerous alliance with her wicked mirror-twin, Lilith. If robo-girl goes ballistic, every player in Vegas loses. . . .

My thoughts:

After seeing ‘herself’ on an episode of CSI, Delilah Street heads to Las Vegas in search of her doppleganger, Lilith Quince.

What she found was a completely different world - full of vampires, zombie’s, were’s and the charismatic CinSim’s - black and white simulations of long ago movie stars.

Now Delilah’s boyfriend, Ric, has the ability to pull a CinSim from the silver screen - and he has done just that with a robot/woman from the movie Metropolis.

Neither Delilah nor Ric are comfortable with the appearance of the robot Maria - especially when she mutters ‘master’ whenever she is in close proximity to Ric.

These two may not want her around - but there are plenty of others who would kill for possession of the robot...and that is not a good thing.

Virtual Virgin is a completely unique read. I have to give Ms. Douglas props for creating a world unlike any I have ever read. But it was not my cuppa tea...and Virtual Virgin was a DNF for me.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Pocket Books (11-29-11)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1439167796
ISBN-13: 978-1439167793

Review: The Bride Wore Black Leather by Simon R Green

2012-01-12T08:44:00.000-05:00

The Bride Wore Black Leather is the twelfth book in the Nightside series by Simon R Green and an ACE Fantasy.

Book Blurb:

In the secret heart of London, under the cover of endless darkness, the Nightside caters to anyone with any unusual itch that needs to be scratched. But enter at your own risk. The party animals who live here may be as inhuman as their appetites...

My name is John Taylor. The Nightside is my home. I didn't plan it that way. In fact, I once tried to get away. But I came back. And now it seems I'm settling down, with a full-time job (in addition to my work as a very private eye) as Walker-the new Voice of the Authorities in the Nightside-and a wedding in the offing.

I'm marrying the love of my life, Suzie Shooter, the Nightside's most fearsome bounty-hunter. But nothing comes easy here. Not life. Not death. And for certain, not happily-ever-after. Before I can say I do, I have one more case to solve as a private eye-and my first assignment as Walker.

Both jobs would be a lot easier to accomplish if I weren't on the run, from friends and enemies alike. And if my bride-to-be weren't out to collect the bounty on my head...

My thoughts:

After years of service to the citizens of the Nightside, John Taylor is hanging up his PI hat. His new gig is that of Walker - the representative of the Authorities in the Nightside - not a gig John would have chosen for himself.

But the Nightside has a way of having its’ way with you.

Thinking to close up shop with one last PI gig - John chooses to respond to an anonymous tip about an immortality serum. He ends up gate crashing the Ball of Forever - and things head down hill from there pretty quickly.

Now John is caught up in trying to solve a double murder, stop The Sun King and prove himself innocent of killing one of Nightside’s most prominent citizens...

...and get to the wedding in time.

A novel in the Nightside series is always a great read. I am always entertained and surprised by the citizens that call Nightside home.

I give The Bride Wore Black Leather 4 out of 5 stars.

Product Details
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Ace Hardcover (1-3-12)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1937007138
ISBN-13: 978-1937007133

WoW: All Things Wicked by Karina Cooper

2012-01-11T07:30:00.000-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly post started by Breaking the Spine to showcase books we are patiently awaiting.

My WoW for the week:

The Coven of the Unbinding never forgets what's theirs.

Juliet Carpenter thought of the coven as family, but when she falls for a man who betrays them all, she's left alone and desperately searching for a reason why. Caleb Leigh has spent the past year in hiding, unable to escape his demons. When Juliet finds him again, her need for vengeance clashes with the hunger still burning between them.

It's a fight born from the embers of a half-forgotten attraction and the wounds of a past too raw to ignore. With enemies circling and secrets threatening to consume them all, Caleb has no choice but to fulfill a promise made long ago--protect her, save her. Even if it costs him his blood, his body... and what's left of his mind.

Product Details

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages

Publisher: Avon (January 31, 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0062046934

ISBN-13: 978-0062046932

Review: Raven Cursed by Faith Hunter

2012-01-10T06:49:00.000-05:00

Raven Cursed is the fourth book in the Jane Yellowrock series from Faith Hunter and a ROC Fantasy.

Book Blurb:

Jane Yellowrock is a shape-shifting skinwalker and a vampire killer for hire. But lately instead of just slaying vampires, she’s been working for them...

The vampires of Asheville, North Carolina, want to establish their own clan, but since they owe loyalty to Leo Pellissier, vampire Master of the City of New Orleans - and Jane’s boss - they must work out the terms with him. To come up with an equitable solution, Leo sends an envoy with the best bodyguard blood money can buy: Jane.

But when a group of local campers is attacked by something supernatural, Jane goes from escort to investigator. It’s up to her to keep peace in the region, and unless she wants to face a very angry vampire Master, Jane will have to work overtime to find the killer. It’s a good thing she’s worth every penny...

My thoughts:

Leo is in New Orleans working on negotiations with the Witch Council hoping to make reparations for years of abductions and murder of young witches. When the vampires of Asheville, NC, ask for an audience, Leo sends Gregoire in his place - and sends Jane along as head of security.

Everything is going according to schedule until a couple of campers turn up dead - and Jane realizes the deaths are the work of were’s. Were’s that have followed Jane to NC - were’s who are looking for revenge.

Now Jane has to find these were’s and stop them before they infect humans with the were-taint.

That is easier said than done.

Jane is shocked to discover that the Coven leader of the local witch coven is somehow involved. To make matters worse, the coven leader is the sister of Jane’s best friend, Molly.

Now Jane has to juggle vamp politics, rogue were’s, black magic witches and the local PD...

I completely enjoy the Jane Yellowrock series. I love the internal dialogue between Jane and Beast - and let’s face it, Jane is one kick a$$ woman.

I give Raven Cursed 4 out of 5 stars.

Product Details
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Roc (January 3, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451464338
ISBN-13: 978-0451464330

Review: Dust of the Damned by Peter Brandvold

2012-01-09T06:55:00.000-05:00

Dust of the Damned is a novel by Peter Brandvold and a Berkley Western.

Book Blurb:

Mankind has fought the war against ghouls of all kinds since the beginning of time. The last stronghold of evil in the known world is the American frontier, but for how long?

Bounty hunter Uriah Zane and Deputy US Marshal Angel Coffin are humanity’s last hope to rid the world, once and for all, of this demon scourge...

The Hell’s Angels are a gang of werewolves who have escaped from Hellsgarde Penitentiary. Originally they were recruited out of eastern Europe by Abraham Lincoln to mercilessly tear the Confederates into submission at Gettysburg, thus ending the Civil War. But the Hell’s Angels never returned home.

They headed west - to join the legions of other ghouls...

My thoughts:

Uriah Zane is a bounty hunter - he hunts ghouls: vampires, were’s, hobgobbies - anything that will bring him a good bounty. And he is very good at what he does - some might say he has the uncanny ability to sense what the ghouls are going to do - before they do it.

Deputy Marshal Angel Coffin has the law in her blood. Her father, Marshal James Coffin, taught her everything she knows about law enforcement - and he was very proud that she chose to follow in his footsteps.

With the ghouls overrunning the West, every able bodied man and woman is needed to make a stand against the invasion.

If the ghouls can’t be stopped - it will be a literal hell on Earth...

I have avid readers in my family - on both sides - and this book brought back fond memories of my maternal grandfather. He loved westerns, Zane Grey was one of his all time favorites and later in his life, when he couldn’t read anymore - he would tell me about the books he’d read.

I’m not sure how he would feel about Dust of the Damned, he used to laugh at me for reading books with vamps and were’s. But I enjoyed it very much - both for the story itself and for the trip down memory lane.

I give Dust of the Damned 4 out of 5 stars.

Product Details
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Berkley Trade; (January 3, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0425245179
ISBN-13: 978-0425245170

Discovery: Plague Town by Dana Fredsti

2012-01-07T15:12:00.000-05:00

Plague Town is the first book in the Ashley Parker series by Dana Fredsti.

Book Blurb:

Ashley was just trying to get through a tough day when the world turned upside down.

A terrifying virus appears, quickly becoming a pandemic that leaves its victims, not dead, but far worse. Attacked by zombies, Ashley discovers that she is a 'Wild-Card' -- immune to the virus -- and she is recruited to fight back and try to control the outbreak.

Product Details

Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages

Publisher: Titan Books (April 3, 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0857686356

ISBN-13: 978-0857686350

This one is going on my wishlist. :)

Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

2012-01-06T06:45:00.000-05:00

Cinder is the first book in The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer and a YA novel from Feiwel and Friends.

Book Blurb:

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth's fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction.

Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future.

My thoughts:

Linh Cinder does not remember much of her past. As a matter of fact, her first memory is waking on the surgeons table after having a significant part of her body replaced with cybernetics - she was eleven years old.

Now five years later she resides with a ‘guardian’- don’t call her mother - who barely tolerates her, and two ‘sisters’. No one knows she is a cyborg - that would be too shameful for the family.

Cinder is a mechanic, possibly the best around, and she has come to the attention of the Prince who needs her to take a look at one of his droids.

There is an instant attraction - but Cinder knows nothing could possibly come of it. She is a cyborg and Kai is a Prince.

With a deadly plague spreading across the country Prince Kai feels he must do everything within his power to save his people.

The Lunar Queen has come to visit and she has claimed to have a cure for the plague - all she wants in exchange for the cure is Prince Kai to marry her.

Prince Kai wants to do what is best for his people - but Cinder believes the Queen can’t be trusted.

I absolutely enjoyed this book. I was captivated by Cinder and her circumstances. I can’t wait for more.

I give Cinder 4 out of 5 stars.

Product Details
Reading level: Ages 12 and up
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (1-3-12)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312641893
ISBN-13: 978-0312641894

Review: A Demon Does It Better by Linda Wisdom

2012-01-05T06:55:00.000-05:00

A Demon Does It Better is a Paranormal Romance from Linda Wisdom from SourceBooks Casablanca.

Book Blurb:

A Madhouse Is No Place For A Curious Witch...

After more than a century, Doctor Lili Carter, witch healer extraordinaire, has taken a job at Crying Souls Hospital and Asylum, where strange and sinister things are happening. Patients are disappearing, and Lili wants to know why.

And Doubly Dangerous For A Demon...

Lili finds herself undeniably attracted to perhaps the most mysterious patient of all - a dangerously demented and seriously sexy demon named Jared. What’s behind the gorgeous chameleon demon’s bizarre disappearances?

Before long, Lili and Jared are investigating each other - and creating a whole new kind of magic.

My thoughts:

Lili Carter is a witch healer. She has worked in both the mundane and the supernatural world but now she has taken a job at the supernatural Crying Souls Hospital and Asylum. Lili has a couple of reasons for taking this job: she loves helping people for one thing and she is looking for a friend who’s gone missing - a friend who worked at the hospital.

Lili is hoping to find some answers.

What she finds is more questions.

Why does the head doctor have his mental patients locked away in the basement of the hospital? Where does he go when he unexpectedly leaves the hospital? What kind of ‘experimental’ magic is he using in his treatments?

Jared has been a guest of the good doctor for more than a hundred years. He has suffered the abuse of power, the mistreatment by the orderlies - and the loneliness of his ‘prison’ cell.

He has endured all of this by leaving as often as he can. Jared is a shadow demon and when he embraces the shadows, he is able to move - within a certain distance - from his confinement. An ability he has not shared with the good doctor.

When Lili sees Jared for the first time - she is immediately attracted. When she sees him the second time - she is completely confused. How can the beautiful man she saw while out shopping - be the same unkept patient in her hospital?

A Demon Does It Better is a very enjoyable read. I was instantly drawn into the plight of the patients at the hospital and eager to learn more. I like Lili and love Cleo. :)

I give A Demon Does It Better 4 out of 5 stars.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (1-1-12)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1402236727
ISBN-13: 978-1402236723

Review: Hold Me If You Can by Stephanie Rowe

2012-01-04T07:03:00.000-05:00

Hold Me If You Can is the third book in the Soulfire series by Stephanie Rowe and a Paranormal Romance from SourceBooks Casablanca.

Book Blurb:

Escaping Hell Was The Easy Part...

Nigel Aqurian has escaped with his life, and with his inner demons. He needs beautiful Natalie Fleming, the woman he’s admired from afar for years, to soothe his turmoil...if only she wasn’t consumed with her own problems...

Staying Out Is Gong To Be The Real Challenge...

Ever since her brush with death, all Natalie wants is to run her famous chocolate shop and be left alone. But the only way she can kick-start her powers is by giving free rein to her sensual side, which Nigel is more than happy to help her explore...

With Nigel making quite a convincing case for losing control, Natalie is finding the temptation darn near irresistible...

My thoughts:

Natalie Fleming is a Sweet - her blood is irresistible to the chocolate addicted Deedubs. Having escaped her fate of a death by Deedub poison, Natalie wants nothing more than to make her chocolates and help people with their sexual problems.

But now that she has escaped her fated death - the Deedubs want her more than ever.

Nigel Aquarian escaped the Den of the Death’s psycho Granny - and he has his drawing to help keep him centered.

But now his drawings are being manipulated. Death’s Granny may have left the Den, but her apprentice, Mari, is still in residence - and she is determined to drag the warriors back - one drawing at a time.

Nigel needs Natalie to use her powers of persuasion to make him stop drawing - but Natalie’s powers are blocked. If they can’t figure out something quick - all of them will wind up in Hell.

The Soulfire series is quirky and fun - I never fail to laugh. Hold Me If You Can is another enjoyable installment.

My favorite line in this book is: “Use your chocolate power to make it happen. Now.”

I give Hold Me If You Can 3 out of 5 stars.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (1-1-12)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1402241976
ISBN-13: 978-1402241970

Review: The Mortal Bone by Marjorie M Liu

2012-01-03T06:56:00.001-05:00

The Mortal Bone is the fourth book in the Hunter Kiss series by Marjorie M Liu and an ACE Novel.

Book Blurb:

Tattoos with hearts, minds, and dreams - they are obsidian shadows of the flesh. Created to be armor that protects my body, they unwind by night and take on their own forms - demons made flesh.

When the bond Maxine Kiss shares with Zee and the boys - the demons tattooed on her skin - is deliberately severed, the hunter is left vulnerable and unprotected. For the first time in ten thousand years, the boys have a taste of freedom - without Maxine’s guiding influence.

As they grow more violent and unpredictable, Maxine starts to fear that the little demons will lose their minds without their attachment to her. But reuniting won’t be easy, as a great temptation waits for her little demons: a chance to return to their lives as Reaper Kings and unleash hell on earth.

My thoughts:

Maxine, now married to Grant, is hoping to enjoy a little quiet time on the farm that belonged to her mother. That quiet is broken by the arrival of a terrified demon who flings an otherworldly artifact at Maxine before racing off again.

Confused and uneasy, Maxine and Grant have no time for more than cursory inspection before they are called away.

It appears that Maxine’s Mom - who is dead - has left her a message. That message turns out to be life altering.

In the blink of an eye Maxine and her boys are ripped apart - the tattoos removed from her body and the demons free.

Though Zee tries to keep the others in check - the freedom is too much - the power, too much. Maxine must stand by and watch as the boys struggle with who they once were - and what they’ve become.

No longer protected by wearing the boys on her skin - Maxine is a target for the other demons. For the first time in a long time - Maxine can be hurt - and she doesn’t like it.

War is coming and Maxine, Grant and the boys have choices to make.

The Mortal Bone is a great read.

The struggle that the boys are going through is sad. I know they are demons - but they have been - literally - bound to human women for more than ten thousand years. They’ve evolved....to a certain degree. :)

I give The Mortal Bone 4 out of 5 stars.

Product Details
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Ace (12-27-11)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1937007189
ISBN-13: 978-1937007188

January RAK Sign-Ups

2012-01-02T07:33:00.001-05:00

Random Acts of Kindness is brought to us by the ladies of Book Soulmates. How big is your RAK?

It's a new year and we have new opportunities to share our love of reading. January RAK sign-ups are going on now and you can find all the info you need over at the Book Soulmates Blog.

Links you will need:

Sign up for January [HERE]
See who else is participating [HERE]
If you have any questions regarding RAK, please contact us via the following: rakbybooksoulmates @ gmail . com

If you are looking for my wishlist - it can be found on GoodReads.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T08:12:00.001-05:00

Books Read in 2011 :)

2011-12-31T19:57:00.000-05:00

I have had the same reading goal of 200 books a year since I started blogging - and this year, not only did I finally reach it - I exceeded it by 11 books. For a total of 211 books read in 2011. How appropriate. :)

5 Stars

Blood Song - Cat Adams

StormWalker - Allyson James

FireWalker - Allyson James

Monster Island - David Wellington

Crimson Wind - Diana Pharaoh Francis

Red Hot Fury - Kasey Mackenzie

Nekropolis - Tim Waggoner

Dreams of a Dark Warrior - Kresley Cole

Treachery in Death - J D Robb

Love You More - Lisa Gardner

The Guardian - Margaret Mallory

The Forest of Hands and Teeth - Carrie Ryan

Pale Demon - Kim Harrison

Abandon the Night - Joss Ware

Shotgun Sorceress - Lucy A Snyder

Zombie Britannica - Thomas Emson

This Side of the Grave - Jeaniene Frost

Enclave - Ann Aguirre

Eternal Rider - Larissa Ione

Lydia - Tim Sandlin

Hush - Cherry Adair

Dead by Midnight - Carolyn Hart

Ghost Town - Rachel Caine

The Time-Traveling Fashionista - Bianca Turetsky

Green-Eyed Envy - Kasey Mackenzie

Apocalypse of the Dead - Joe McKinney

Immortal Danger - Cynthia Eden

The Darkest Secret - Gena Showalter

Hunt the Moon - Karen Chance

Nightshade - Andrea Cremer

Mystical Warrior - Janet Chapman

Smokin' Seventeen - Janet Evanovich

Killer Move - Michael Marshall

Hit List - Laurell K Hamilton

WolfsBane - Andrea Cremer

Shadowflame - Dianne Sylvan

My Life As a White Trash Zombie - Diana Rowland

All You Desire - Kirsten Miller

Gone - Michael Grant

Daughter of Smoke & Bone - Laini Taylor

Isle of Night - Veronica Wolff

Tempted - Elisabeth Naughton

Kindling the Moon - Jenn Bennett

Dark Descendant - Jenna Black

The Night Eternal - Toro & Hogan

Ghost Files - Hawes & Grant

Bite Club - Rachel Caine

Last Breath - Rachel Caine

The First Days - Rhiannon Frater

Fighting to Survive - Rhiannon Frater

Fate's Edge - Ilona Andrews

Shaedes of Gray - Amanda Bonilla

How to Worship A Goddess - Stephanie Julian

Explosive Eighteen - Janet Evanovich

New York to Dallas - J D Robb

Blood Rights - Kristen Painter

The Darkest Surrender - Gena Showalter

Immortal Rider - Larissa Ione

Green-Eyed Demon - Jaye Wells

Eternal Kiss - Laura Wright

4 Stars

Harvest Hunting - Yasmine Galenorn

The Fallen: Raziel - Kristina Douglas

Beyond the Night - Joss Ware

The Thieves of Darkness - Richard Doetsch

Virgin - Cheryl Brooks

Absolution - P L Parker

Sandman Slim - Richard Kadrey

Enslave Me Sweetly - Gena Showalter

The Pack - Jason Starr

Blood Wyne - Yasmine Galenorn

Graveminder - Melissa Marr

The Undertakers: Rise of the Corpses - Ty Drago

Infinity - Sherrilyn Kenyon

The Tender Mercy of Roses - Anna Michaels

Numbers - Rachel Ward

Embrace the Night Eternal - Joss Ware

So Close the Hand of Death - J T Ellison

Shadowfever - Karen Marie Moning

Demons Are A Girls Best Friend - Linda Wisdom

Rock Hard - Olivia Cunning

Gambit - Kim Knox

Collision Course - Zoe Archer

Blood of the Maple - Dana Marie Bell

Just For The Night - Tawny Weber

Dead City - Joe McKinney

Cross Your Heart - Michele Bardsley

Inseparable - Brenda Jackson

What A Goddess Wants - Stephanie Julian

Cover Me - Catherine Mann

Dead Reckoning - Charlaine Harris

Trace of Fever - Lori Foster

As Lie the Dead - Kelly Meding

Firespell - Chloe Neill

Forgotten - Cat Patrick

Dead Iron - Devon Monk

A Shot in the Dark - K A Stewart

Grave Dance - Kalayna Price

Undead & Undermined - MaryJanice Davidson

Afterlight - Elle Jasper

Chosen By Blood - Virna DePaul

Raven - Suzy Turner

Paradise 21 - Aubrie Dionne

The Immortality Virus - Christine Amsden

Blood of the Wicked - Karina Cooper

CrossRoads - Jeanne C Stein

Fallen - Traci L Slatton

Dark Parties - Sara Grant

Memento Nora - Angie Smibert

Ashes, Ashes - Jo Treggari

Hellforged - Nancy Holzner

Bed Bugs - Ben H Winters

After the Virus - Meghan Ciana Doidge

Nightfall - Ellen Connor

Bloodshot - Cherie Priest

Wither - Lauren Destefano

Born at Midnight - C C Hunter

Matched - Ally Condie

Bloodstone - Nancy Holzner

Unleashed - Sara Humphreys

The Shadow Reader - Sandy Williams

Thief - Anitra Lynn McLeod

Blood Eternal - Marie Treanor

Blood Sin - Marie Treanor

Blood on Silk - Marie Treanor

Ashes, Ashes - Jo Treggiari

Embrace the Highland Warrior - Anita Clenney

The Storm that is Sterling - Lisa Renee Jones

Blood Drunk, Faded Blue - Angela Lovell

Magic on the Line - Devon Monk

Sex, Lies and Mistletoe - Tawny Weber

Acquainted with the Night - Piper Maitland

Succubus Revealed - Richelle Mead

Left Hand Magic - Nancy A Collins

Deep Kiss of Winter - Cole and Showalter

Never Again - Michele Bardsley

Divergent - Veronica Roth

Winging It - Deborah Cooke

3 Stars

Once Bitten - Kalayna Price

Sugar and Sin - Stella and Audra Price

All That's True - Jackie Lee Miles

To Have and To Kill - Mary Jane Clark

Black Wings - Christina Henry

Enemy Within - Marcella Burnard

Right Hand Magic - Nancy A Collins

Blood and Steel - Angela Knight

Taste Me - Tamara Hogan

Alice in Zombieland - Lewis Carroll & Nickolas Cook

Rogue Oracle - Alayna Williams

Afterlife - Merrie Destefano

Surrender the Dark - L A Banks

River Marked - Patricia Briggs

Touch If You Dare - Stephanie Rowe

Aftertime - Sophie Littlefield

Lover Unleashed - J R Ward

Delirium - Lauren Oliver

The Betrayal - Diane Noble

Working Stiff - Rachel Caine

Bloodlands - Christine Cody

Catriona - Jeanette Baker

Red's Hot Cowboy - Carolyn Brown

Tout Sweet - Karen Wheeler

Where Demons Fear to Tread - Stephanie Chong

Ghost of a Smile - Simon R Green

Guardian of the Dead - Karen Healey

The Paladin - Ken Newman

Crossed - Ally Condie

Crazy in Paradise - Deborah Brown

The Lost - Caridad Pineiro

The Goblin King - Shona Husk

Dead Mann Walking - Stefan Petrucha

Sins of the Angels - Linda Poitevin

The Doomsday Vault - Steven Harper

Who Do, Voodoo? - Rochelle Staab

One Grave at a Time - Jeaniene Frost

Before I Fall - Lauren Oliver

Beautiful Creatures - Garcia & Stohl

The Sounding - Carrie Salo

Dead Bolt - Juliet Blackwell

Hot Zone - Catherine Mann

The Cross - Sean McCabe

Retribution - Sherrilyn Kenyon

2 Stars

Demons Prefer Blondes - Sidney Ayers

Wickedly Charming - Kristine Grayson

The Legend of Michael - Lisa Renee Jones

The Vampire Next Door - Ashlyn Chase

The Magicians - Lev Grossman

Nocturne - Syrie James

Enemy Lover - Karin Harlow

Deadworld - J N Duncan

DNF

Stripped - Marcia Colette

Song of Scarabaeus - Sara Creasy

State of Mind - Sven Michael Davison

Frail - Joan Frances Turner

In My Mailbox: 12-31-11

2011-12-31T11:32:00.000-05:00

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:

Memories of Murder - Lara Nance

Immortal Beloved - Cate Tiernan

Darkness Falls - Cate Tiernan

Thanks to Lara Nance and Little, Brown

Christmas Presents:

The Walking Dead - Robert Kirkman & Jay Bonansinga

Patient Zero - Jonathan Maberry

Dead of Night - Jonathan Maberry

Deadline - Mira Grant

A Brush of Darkness - Allison Pang

Must Love Lycans - Michele Bardsley

Living On The Edge - Shannon K Butcher

Primal Law - J D Tyler

Darkness Descending - Devyn Quinn

That's my mailbox for the week. How was yours?

Bookish Faves of 2011

2011-12-30T14:59:00.000-05:00

This year I thought I would do a favorites post - broken down into a few categories. Here we go:

Favorite New To Me Authors/Series:

Allyson James - Stormwalker Series
Kasey Mackenzie - Shades of Fury Series
Dianne Sylvan - Shadow World Series

Favorite Zombie Reads:

Rhiannon Frater - As the World Dies Series
Joe McKinney - Dead World Series
Thomas Emson - Zombie Britannica
Tim Waggoner - Nekropolis Series

Favorite YA Reads:

Veronica Wolff - Isle of Night
Andrea Cremer - NightShade
Laini Taylor - Daughter of Smoke & Bone
Rachel Caine - Last Breath
Ann Aguirre - Enclave

Favorite Installment to an Established Series:

Kresley Cole - Dreams of a Dark Warior
Gena Showalter - The Darkest Surrender
Laura Wright - Eternal Kiss
Janet Evanovich - Smokin' Seventeen

Favorite New Series:

Larissa Ione - Lords of Deliverance
Jenn Bennett - Arcadia Bell
Amanda Bonilla - Shaede Assassin

Unexpected Favorite:

Margaret Mallory - The Guardian

Most Anticipated:

Rhiannon Frater - The First Days

Biggest Disappointment:

Joan Frances Turner - Frail

Favorite Cover(s):

Kristen Painter - House of Comarre Series

So that is a rundown of my faves and a couple of my not so faves. :) What do you think?

December Review Rewind

2011-12-30T07:45:00.001-05:00

I can't believe that another month has come and gone. Despite the holidays, I was able to read a fair amount of books.

5 Stars
Shaedes of Gray - Amanda Bonilla
How To Worship A Goddess - Stephanie Julian
Explosive Eighteen - Janet Evanovich
New York to Dallas - J D Robb
Blood Rights - Kristen Painter
The Darkest Surrender - Gena Showalter
Immortal Rider - Larissa Ione
Green-Eyed Demon - Jaye Wells
Eternal Kiss - Laura Wright

4 Stars
Succubus Revealed - Richelle Mead
Left Hand Magic - Nancy A Collins
Deep Kiss of Winter - Cole & Showalter
Never Again - Michele Bardsley
Divergent - Veronica Roth
Winging It - Deborah Cooke

3 Stars
The Sounding - Carrie Salo
Dead Bolt - Juliet Blackwell
Hot Zone - Catherine Mann
The Cross - Sean McCabe
Retribution - Sherrilyn Kenyon

How was your reading month?

December RAK Wrap-Up

2011-12-30T00:31:00.001-05:00

Another month of RAK has come and gone. :) With the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I only mailed out two books.

To Sullivan McPig - Ascension by Caris Roane

To Danielle - Everdark by Elle Jasper

How was your RAK?

Review: Eternal Kiss by Laura Wright

2011-12-29T08:04:00.001-05:00

Eternal Kiss is the second book in the Roman Brothers Trilogy/Mark of the Vampire series by Laura Wright and a Paranormal Romance from Signet Eclipse.

Book Blurb:

Family is Blood.

His father unknown, his mother dead, Nicholas Roman was raised by the vampire Breed with one wish: to live as a normal vampire. But once he’s transformed against his will into a gifted immortal. Nicholas now has one goal: to stop the Eternal Order of vampires from controlling his life and from transforming more males from his bloodline for their vicious reign.

Then comes a beautiful stranger with a startling secret...

Vampire Kate Everborne claims she’s sheltering Nicholas’s long-lost son. If this is true, then who is the mother? And how endangered are they if, indeed, Nicholas does possess the bloodline so coveted by the Order?

These are questions that with every seductive whisper, every silken touch, draw Nicholas and Kate intimately closer and nearer still to the truth. But aroused too are Nicholas’s fears that this tantalizing woman has even more secrets - both dangerous and provocative - she has yet to share.

My thoughts:

Nicholas Roman is a son of the Breeding Male, a pureblood vampire who’s genetic code and structure have been altered by the Eternal Order to enable him to impregnate at will and decide the sex of the baby.

The Roman brothers despise the Eternal Order.

As the governing body of all vampires, the Eternal Order has dictated that the Roman brothers must locate and kill a rogue vampire - Ethan Dare. If they do not, one of the brothers will be forced through early Morpho. Nicholas does not want this to happen to his brothers - so he is determined to find Ethan and kill him.

Kate Everborne hates the Eternal Order as well - she has spent the last ten years of her life with nothing to do but think of the ways she hates the Order.

Just when Kate sees the light at the end of the tunnel, things take a turn for the worse and she feels obligated to fulfill a dying wish - even if it means drawing the attention of the Order.

When Kate and Nicholas are unexpectedly thrown together, neither trusts the other. But their attraction can’t be denied. Banding together to fight a common enemy, Kate and Nicholas come to realize that together they are unstoppable.

Eternal Kiss is an amazing read. Nicholas is pure Alpha and Kate can kick a$$ with the best of them.

I give Eternal Kiss 5 out of 5 stars.

I am looking forward to the next installment - Eternal Captive coming February of 2012.

Product Details
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Signet (April 5, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451233840
ISBN-13: 978-0451233844

WoW: Lothaire by Kresley Cole

2011-12-28T08:06:00.001-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly post started by Breaking the Spine to showcase books we are patiently awaiting.

My WoW for the week:

Book Blurb:

ALL FEAR THE ENEMY OF OLD

Driven by his insatiable need for revenge, Lothaire, the Lore’s most ruthless vampire, plots to seize the Horde’s crown. But bloodlust and torture have left him on the brink of madness—until he finds Elizabeth Peirce, the key to his victory. He captures the unique young mortal, intending to offer up her very soul in exchange for power, yet Elizabeth soothes his tormented mind and awakens within him emotions Lothaire believed he could no longer experience.

A DEADLY FORCE DWELLS WITHIN HER

Growing up in desperate poverty, Ellie Peirce yearned for a better life, never imagining she’d be convicted of murder—or that an evil immortal would abduct her from death row. But Lothaire is no savior, as he himself plans to sacrifice Ellie in one month’s time. And yet the vampire seems to ache for her touch, showering her with wealth and sexual pleasure. In a bid to save her soul, Ellie surrenders her body to the wicked vampire, while vowing to protect her heart.

CENTURIES OF COLD INDIFFERENCE SHATTERED

Elizabeth tempts Lothaire beyond reason, as only his fated mate could. As the month draws to a close, he must choose between a millennia-old blood vendetta and his irresistible prisoner. Will Lothaire succumb to the miseries of his past . . . or risk everything for a future with her?

Product Details

Hardcover: 506 pages

Publisher: Gallery Books (January 10, 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1439136823

ISBN-13: 978-1439136829

Review: Never Again by Michele Bardsley

2011-12-27T07:16:00.001-05:00

Never Again is the first book in the Wizards of Nevermore series by Michele Bardsley and a Paranormal Romance from Signet Eclipse.

Book Blurb:

Welcome to Nevermore, Texas, population 503, where witches and wizards live side by side with humans. Small towns like Nevermore are vanishing in America - and in this case, that could be the work of a freelancing witch...

Cursed and Double Cursed

Lucinda Rackmore never would have been caught dead in a town like Nevermore. Of course, that was before the ‘great reckoning’ drained the family finances and her former lover, ruthless master wizard Bernard Franco, snuffed out Lucy’s magical abilities.

But can Lucy really expect protection from the Guardian of Nevermore, her ex-brother-in-law, Gray Calhoun? Gray wants nothing to do with her - and Lucy can’t blame him. Not after her sister sacrificed him to a demon lord. Still, with everyone in town looking to settle a score with the Rackmores and Bernard bent on dragging Lucy back into his clutches, Gray might be her only hope for survival...

My thoughts:

Lucinda Rackmore grew up the privileged younger daughter of a wealthy magical family. She never wanted for anything, never worked for anything - it was a pretty good life.

Until the day the Rackmore fortunes were taken away as payment for a demon deal an ancestor made hundreds of years ago.

Now all of the Rackmore’s are penniless and most of them are shunned. To add insult to injury, Lucy has been personally cursed by her crazy ex. She can no longer use her magical ability to heal - and to try leaves her in unimaginable pain.

As a last resort, Lucy makes her way to Nevermore, hoping to find help in the form of Gray Calhoun.

Gray Calhoun is the Dragon Guardian of Nevermore - but for the last five years, he hasn’t done much guarding. Lost in his own world, Gray has let duties to Nevermore fall to the wayside. And the town has suffered for it.

Nevermore is unbalanced and that leaves it vulnerable to bad magic. Someone is aware of this imbalance and is poised to take advantage of it - wanting to obtain the title of Guardian - no matter who stands in the way.

I absolutely love Michele Bardsley’s writing - fast paced, fun with little unexpected twists - I am always entertained.

I give Never Again 4 out of 5 stars.

Product Details
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Signet (March 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451232755
ISBN-13: 978-0451232755

Review: Green-Eyed Demon by Jaye Wells

2011-12-26T08:08:00.001-05:00

Green-Eyed Demon is the third book in the Sabina Kane series by Jaye Wells and an Orbit Fantasy.

Book Blurb:

Things to do:

1. Rescue sister.
2. Murder grandmother.
3. Don't upset the voodoo priestess.

The clock is ticking for Sabina Kane. Her sister has been kidnapped by her grandmother, the Dark Races are on the brink of war, and a mysterious order is manipulating everyone behind the scenes.

Working on information provided by an unlikely ally, Sabina and her trusty sidekicks--a sexy mage named Adam Lazarus and Giguhl, a Mischief demon--head to New Orleans to begin the hunt for her sister. Once there, they must contend with belligerent werewolves, magic-wielding vampires and--perhaps most frightening of all--humans.

But as much as Sabina is focused on surviving the present, the past won't be ignored. Before she can save those she cares about most, she must save herself from the ghosts of her past.

My thoughts:

Sabina Kane has received a direct order from the Queen, kill Lavinia Kane. That works pretty well for Sabina, she’s wanted to kill her grandmother for some time - but now, more than ever.

Lavinia is holding Sabina’s sister hostage in New Orleans - it’s just a ploy to get Sabina out in the open - Lavinia would like nothing better than to kill both sisters.

Unfortunately, Lavinia isn’t the only problem Sabina has to deal with - the Caste of Nod is also in town - and they are very interested in Sabina.

With time running out, Sabina and her friends race to find her sister and stop a summoning before all hell breaks loose.

I love this series.

I give Green-Eyed Demon 5 out of 5 stars.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Orbit (March 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 031603777X
ISBN-13: 978-0316037778

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T08:08:00.001-05:00

In My Mailbox: 12-24-11

2011-12-24T13:55:00.000-05:00

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:

Immortal Hope - Claire Ashgrove

Assassins in Love - Kris DeLake

Thanks to TOR and SourceBooks

For Upcoming Giveaway:

Graveminder - Melissa Marr

For Review:

A Perfect Storm - Lori Foster

Thanks to William Morrow & HQN

For Review:

Boyfriend from Hell - E Van Lowe

Earth Angel - E Van Lowe

Thanks to Author E Van Lowe

For Review:

A Discovery of Witches - Deborah Harkness

Thanks to Penguin

Blog Tour: E-Book Giveaway, Hellsbane by Paige Cuccaro

2011-12-23T19:00:00.000-05:00

Book Blurb:

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.

I have one (1) E-Book of Hellsbane available for giveaway. Because this is an e-book, this giveaway is open 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 Wednesday, 12-28-11.

Good Luck!

Entangled Publishing

Amazon

Review: Deep Kiss of Winter by K Cole & G Showalter

2011-12-23T08:05:00.002-05:00

Deep Kiss of Winter is an omnibus that includes a story from Kresley Cole’s Immortal’s After Dark series and a story from Gena Showalter’s Alien Huntress series.

Untouchable by Kresley Cole
Book Blurb:

Murdoch Wroth will stop at nothing to claim Daniela the Ice Maiden, the delicate Valkyrie who makes his heart beat for the first time in three hundred years. Yet the exquisite Danii is part ice fey and her freezing skin can't be touched by anyone but her own kind without inflicting pain beyond measure.

A Valkyrie aching to be touched, desperate for closeness, in an agony of frustration, Murdoch and Danii will do anything to have each other. Together can they find the key that will finally allow them to slake the overwhelming desire burning between them?

My thoughts:

Murdoch Wroth is one of the renowned Wroth brothers - four brothers who were turned vampire over three hundred years ago. When a man is turned vampire, his heart stops beating - only the touch of his Bride can restart his heart.
Murdoch has found his Bride - but he can’t touch her.

Daniela the Ice Maiden is part Valkyrie and part Ice Fey. She is the rightful heir to the Icere kingdom - but upon her mother’s death assassins were sent to kill her as well.

Now living in New Orleans, Danii hopes that the humid temperatures will keep the Icere assassins from finding her.

No such luck.

Murdoch finds Danii fleeing several Icere assassins and steps in to lend a hand. Only to realize that the touch of his hand burns her flesh.

As their attraction grows, so does their frustration. How can the overcome the painful obstacle that stands in their way?

I give Untouchable 5 out of 5 stars.

Tempt Me Eternally by Gena Showalter
Book Blurb:

Aleaha Love can be anyone - literally. With only skin to skin contact she can change her appearance, assume any identity. Her newest identity switch has made her an AIR (alien investigation and removal) agent and sends her on a mission to capture a group of otherworldly warriors.

Only, she becomes the captured.

Breean, a golden-skinned commander, known for his iron-will, who is dangerous and soul-shatteringly seductive, threatens her new life, because for once, she only wants to be herself.

My thoughts:

Aleaha Love has no idea what she is - human or alien - she only knows that she has to keep her identity and her abilities secret.

Keeping her identity secret is pretty easy - she just takes on another one whenever she feels threatened. With a simple touch Aleaha can become anyone she chooses.

Her latest persona is that of Macy Briggs, ex-cop turned AIR agent. How ironic that Aleaha is now working for the very people she is terrified will find out her secret.

Aleaha’s first field assignment is to ambush an incoming cadre of Schon aliens bent on infecting Earth with a debilitating virus. But the warriors that come through aren’t Schon.

Breean and his warriors hate the Schon for invading their home world and destroying it with the plague virus. Breean is now looking to make Earth their home and they are willing to work with the AIR agents against the Schon...if they can convince them that they’re telling the truth.

Aleaha is instantly attracted to Breean - and the feeling is mutual. But Breean causes Aleaha to lose focus and her identity shifts when that happens - something she can’t allow - especially in front of her co-workers.

I like the Alien Huntress world - but it is not my favorite Showalter series. I don’t really like it when we go from possible alien enemy to making out in the span of a chapter.

I give Tempt Me Eternally 3 out of 5 stars.

As a whole, I give Deep Kiss of Winter 4 out of 5 stars.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 528 pages
Publisher: Pocket Star (12-28-10)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1451600054
ISBN-13: 978-1451600056

Review: Immortal Rider by Larissa Ione

2011-12-22T08:34:00.001-05:00

Immortal Rider is the second book in the Lords of Deliverance series by Larissa Ione and a Paranormal Romance from Grand Central Publishing.

Book Blurb:

Sexy, powerful, and immortal, Limos is on a crash course with destiny. She’s been marked as Satan’s bride and her jealous fiancé wants her all to himself. The only way this Horseman can keep herself - and everyone else - safe is to keep her distance.

Arik Wagner knows the saying ‘love hurts’ better than most, yet he never thought stealing a kiss from Limos would land him in Hell. Literally. It tales all his military training to survive the demon torture, but once he’s topside, Arik realizes that the agony has just begun.

With the Apocalypse looming and Satan demanding his bride, will Arik and Limos surrender to the desire smoldering between them? Or will giving in to their passion unleash hell on earth?

My thoughts:

Limos, the only female Horseman, has waited five thousand years for a man’s touch. Not by choice - but with fear of ending up as Satan’s bride. As long as she stays untouched - Satan can’t claim her.

Too bad she didn’t tell Arik that little bit of info...

Arik, a human soldier with the paranormal R-XR, is accustomed to seeing all kinds of beings in his line of work. Demons, wargs, vamps..but Limos has given him pause. She is beautiful and he is attracted.

Giving in to that attraction, Arik steals a kiss - and all hell breaks loose - literally.

Dragged to Sheol, Arik spends a month being tortured by demons before he escapes. But his escape is planned not by his allies - but his enemy. Everyone’s enemy - Pestilence - and Pestilence doesn’t do anything out of the goodness of his heart.

Now Arik and Limos are fighting both Pestilence and Satan - as well as trying to find Limos’ agimortus before her Seal breaks and the world is one step closer to the Apocalypse.

All that because of one little kiss....

The Lords of Deliverance is one of my top ten favorite series and Immortal Rider rocks out loud.

I give Immortal Rider 5 out of 5 stars and can’t wait for the next installment, Lethal Rider, coming in June of 2012.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (12-1-11)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446574473
ISBN-13: 978-0446574471

Review: The Darkest Surrender by Gena Showalter

2011-12-21T08:22:00.001-05:00

The Darkest Surrender is the tenth full length novel in the Lords of the Underworld series by Gena Showalter and a Paranormal Romance from HQN.

Book Blurb:

Possessed by the demon of Defeat, Strider cannot lose a challenge without suffering unimaginable pain. For him, nothing stands in the was of victory. Until Kaia, an enchanting Harpy, tempts him to the razor’s edge of surrender.

Known among her people as The Disappointment, Kaia must bring home the gold in the Harpy Games or die. Strider is a distraction she can’t afford because he has an agenda of his own - steal first prize, an ancient godly artifact, before the winner can be named.

But as the competition heats up, only one prize will matter - the love neither had thought possible...

My thoughts:

Strider and his demon, Defeat, have one motto: Win. At any cost.

Even the most harmless phrase can be taken as a challenge by Defeat. And when Defeat does not win - Strider suffers. Painfully.

When Strider first saw the Harpy, Kaia, he was instantly attracted. But having learned that Kaia had slept with Paris, the warrior housing Promiscuity, Strider walked away. The challenge of being Kaia’s best was one he might not win - and not winning was not an option.

Kaia has been estranged from her mother - from her people - since she was fourteen. When her actions brought about the slaughter of many of her people and earned her the nickname, Disappointment.

Kaia is sure that Strider is her Consort - but she can’t get him to look at her twice. Now for the first time in years, Kaia and her sisters have been invited to participate in the Harpy Games and they are brutal.

If Kaia can convince Strider to come along - as her Consort, it would give her the boost she needs to win.

Winning is something Strider can understand. But can he withstand his attraction to Kaia - and walk away in the end?

I absolutely love the Lords of the Underworld series and The Darkest Surrender is my favorite so far.

I give The Darkest Surrender 5 out of 5 stars.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: HQN Books (9-27-11)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0373775814
ISBN-13: 978-0373775811

Blog Tour: E Van Lowe, Earth Angel

2011-12-20T07:18:00.010-05:00

Writing A Series

Writing the Falling Angels Saga is new ground for me because I have never written a series before. When I worked in day-to-day television (The Cosby Show, Even Stevens, Knight Rider) my job was to write episodes of all sorts of TV series. I did this my entire career, yet as an author I had only written one-offs.

Boyfriend From Hell started out as a one-off, but as I learned more about the fans of the genre, I realized I needed to write a series. As you all probably know, fans love series. Just like in TV series where we enjoyed coming back to Lost each week to see what happened next, fans of book series like forming an ongoing relationship with the author’s characters.

I wasn’t contemplating a series when I began doing my research on angels for Boyfriend From Hell. Yet before long I had all these characters in my head, and all these different storylines. Without realizing it, I had created a series.

One of the joys in writing a series is seeing what happens next. Series allows authors to delve deeper into characters and to watch them change and grow before our eyes. Just like real life. That definitely happened with Boyfriend From Hell and Earth Angel. Megan is pretty self-centered at the beginning of Boyfriend From Hell. By the end, however, she’s grown into a pretty terrific heroin. In Earth Angel we get to see a more grown up Megan deal with a new set of problems.

Writing a series is exciting for me, and I hope reading Boyfriend From Hell and Earth Angel will be exciting for you. I’ve already outlined the third book in the series. It’s a doozie.

Blurb:

Heaven Can Wait!

Just because Megan Barnett recently defeated Satan, has a fantastic new best friend, and has won the love of deliciously handsome, Guy Matson, doesn’t mean her troubles are over. Far from it. For Megan doesn’t realize it, but in her possession is a powerful weapon, a weapon sought after by both angels and demons and everything in between. They will do ANYTHING to get it.

In E. Van Lowe’s humorous, romantic and thrilling sequel to Boyfriend From Hell, Megan winds up in a gripping life or death battle to save herself, the boy she loves, and all of mankind from unthinkable evil.

Product Details

Paperback: 190 pages

Publisher: White Whisker Books (12-8-11)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0983632936

ISBN-13: 978-0983632931

Amazon

E. Van Lowe

Winners :)

2011-12-19T20:31:00.000-05:00

I had two giveaway's end today and the winners have been chosen.

Winner of a copy of Shaedes of Gray by Amanda Bonilla:

#6 - Sariah

Winners of a copy of The Other Guy's Bride by Connie Brockway:

#18 - ML
#08 - Martha Lawson
#05 - Myra C

Winners have been notified and confirmed.

Thank you all for participating.

Happy Reading!

Review: Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon

2011-12-19T08:05:00.001-05:00

Retribution is the twentieth book in the Dark Hunter series by Sherrilyn Kenyon and a Paranormal Romance from St. Martin’s Press.

Book Blurb:

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 and training for the day when she meeting the man who killed her family: Jess Brady.

A gun in the hand is worth two in the holster.

Jess has been charged with finding and terminating the creature who's assassinating Dark-Hunters. The last thing he expects to find is a human face behind the killings, but when that face bears a striking resemblance to the one who murdered him centuries ago, he knows something evil is going on. He also knows he's not the one who killed her parents. But Abigail refuses to believe the truth and is determined to see him dead once and for all.

Brought together by an angry god and chased by ancient enemies out to kill them both, they must find a way to overcome their mutual hatred or watch as one of the darkest of powers rises and kills both the races they've sworn to protect.

My thoughts:

William Jessup Brady, also known as Sundown, was betrayed in 1873 by the one person he trusted. Crying out for vengeance, his plea reached the ears of Artemis - and another Dark Hunter was born.

Now 138 years later, Jess has been transferred to Las Vegas to help with the Daimon outbreak. But there is something more going on - Dark Hunters are being killed.
By a human. A human woman leading a group of Daimons.

Unheard of.

Abigail Yager lost her parents when she four years old - at the hands of Sundown Brady. She has spent the subsequent years with her foster family training for one thing - to find and kill all Dark Hunters - especially Jess Brady.

Jess and Abigail meet on the streets of Vegas and Abby is determined to put Jess down - permanently. But there are other players in town - players that neither Jess nor Abby are familiar with - and they have their own agenda.

Sadly, Retribution is not my favorite installment in the Dark Hunter series. I think it has something to do with the Vegas locale, as opposed to New Orleans. I missed Sanctuary and the usual players.

Retribution introduced new players and new lore - and it was interesting enough - but I didn’t love it.

I was very pleased with the 19 page bonus scene that included Ash, Tory, Simi and Artie - it was my favorite part of Retribution.

I give Retribution 3 out of 5 stars.

Product Details

Hardcover: 432 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press (8-2-11)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312546599
ISBN-13: 978-0312546595

In My Mailbox: 12-17-11

2011-12-18T07:42:00.001-05:00

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:

Cinder - Marissa Meyer

Archon, The Books of Raziel - Sabrina Benulis

Thanks to Feiwel and Friends & Harper Voyager

Review: Blood Rights by Kristen Painter

2011-12-17T09:11:00.000-05:00

Blood Rights is the first book in the House of Commare series by Kristen Painter and an Urban Fantasy from Orbit.

Book Blurb:

Born into a life of secrets and service, Chrysabelle’s body bears the telltale marks of a comarré—a special race of humans bred to feed vampire nobility. When her patron is murdered, she becomes the prime suspect, which sends her running into the mortal world…and into the arms of Malkolm, an outcast vampire cursed to kill every being from whom he drinks.

Now Chrysabelle and Malkolm must work together to stop a plot to merge the mortal and supernatural worlds. If they fail, a chaos unlike anything anyone has ever seen will threaten to reign.

My thoughts:

Chrysabelle has been trained her entire life to be a comarre. Using special gold ink, her blood has been enriched with nutrients to feed her patron.

Her blood rights and being purchased for an exorbitant amount of money, her will is no longer her own. She lives only to serve her patron to the betterment of his house.

Chrysabelle’s patron has been killed - legally she is free - if she weren’t suspected of his murder.

In fear of her life, Chrysabelle flees into the human world. With her Aunt’s connections, she hopes to contact someone who will help her clear her name.

Mal is anathema, a noble vampire who has been cast from society for killing one of his own. If that weren’t bad enough - he’s also been cursed, twice.

With the ghost of his last victim and a varcolai who can’t shift hanging around - Mal has troubles of his own to deal with. He doesn’t have the time or the inclination to help Chrysabelle.

But if he doesn’t help her - she won’t be the only one in jeopardy. The whole status quo is about to change...and every being will suffer the consequences.

Blood Rights is the first book I have read by Kristen Painter and I loved it.

I give Blood Rights 5 out of 5 stars.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Orbit (October 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316084778
ISBN-13: 978-0316084772

Review: New York to Dallas by J D Robb

2011-12-16T07:13:00.001-05:00

New York to Dallas is the thirty-third installment in the In Death series by J D Robb and a novel from Putnam Adult.

Book Blurb:

It was one of Eve Dallas’s earliest takedowns, back in her uniform days. A monster named Isaac McQueen had been abducting young victims and leaving them scarred in both mind and body. Thanks to Eve, he wound up where he belonged, removed from civilized society in Rikers.

But he’s not behind bars anymore.

After his escape, McQueen has two things in mind. One is to take up where he left off, preying on the young and innocent - when necessary, with the help of a female partner all too willing to be manipulated and to aid and abet his crimes.

His other goal: to get revenge on the woman who stopped him all those years ago, now a high-profile lieutenant in the NYPSD and married to one of the city’s richest men.

My thoughts:

For once Eve has nothing more pressing to do than paper work - no one has died under suspicious circumstances, no active case is keeping her up at night. As a matter of fact, Eve is a little bored.

All that changes when she is called to a very well known address, well known to her and the NYPSD. Twelve years ago Eve played a crucial role in bringing down Isaac McQueen and throwing him in a cage.

Unbelievably Isaac escaped that cage and walked right back into Eve’s life. He wants to take her on one more time - prove he is the better man. But he wants Eve on his terms, on his turf.

Isaac heads to Dallas, Texas - a place that holds nothing but nightmares for Eve. Isaac gives Eve only hours to follow him to Dallas and she is determined to stop him before he can harm anyone else.

Taking only Roarke with her, Eve must work side by side with both the Dallas PD and the FBI - not something she is looking forward to doing.

Both Isaac and Dallas bring back horrible memories for Eve - and if that weren’t enough - Eve confronts another person from her past - one she thought she’d never see again.

The combination of it all will test even Eve’s considerable strength.

The In Death series is one of my all time favorites. I look forward to each installment.

I give New York to Dallas 5 out of 5 stars.

Product Details
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Putnam Adult (9-13-11)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0399157786
ISBN-13: 978-0399157783