Sara's Urban Fantasy Blog

In My Mailbox (114)

2012-01-28T23:39:00.003-05:00

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.

This week was pretty quiet until we hit the used bookstore today. We met our downfall at the clearance shelf. Seven books for $5! And many were only $1 from the overstock sale. Although, I did get home to find I already owned a copy of The Taste of Night by Vicki Pettersson... Whoops. I also picked up a finished copy of Sins of the Angels by Linda Poitevin. I already have a signed ARC, so I'm gonna pass that one on to a co-worker. Christen also grabbed a couple historical romances I'm not including in this post.

Review:
The Vampire Shrink by Linda Hilburn (ARC) [Buy now]

Won:
The Twisted Kiss by Anya Bast (e-book)
Thanks to Anya Bast!

Bought:
Forbidden by Syrie James & Ryan James [Buy now]
Fallen in Love by Lauren Kate [Buy now]
Fury by Elizabeth Miles [Buy now]
Thanks to Cindy from Princess Bookie for Fury!

Used (Sara):
Bite the Bullet by L.A. Banks [Buy now]
Desdaemona by Ben Macallan [Buy now]
Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer [Buy now]
Sins of the Angels by Linda Poitevin [Buy now]
Birth of the Pack by Petru Popescu [Buy now]
Doppelgangster by Laura Resnick [Buy now]
Who Do, Voodoo? by Rochelle Staab [Buy now]
Blood Red Road by Moira Young [Buy now]

Used (Christen):
Immortal Rider by Larissa Ione [Buy now]
Fire Me Up by Katie MacAlister [Buy now]
Love in the Time of Dragons by Katie MacAlister [Buy now]
Me and My Shadow by Katie MacAlister [Buy now]
You're So Vein by Christine Warren [Buy now]

DNF Reads of 2011 (Part 1)

2012-01-28T22:53:00.005-05:00

I was bored the other day and started thinking about the different reasons I decide to DNF a book (mostly because I was contemplating DNFing my current read at the time). And I realized that I never really mention them outside of my month in review posts. So I decided to compile my DNFs from 2011 just to give them a little shout out. Who knows, my reasons for disliking a book could be a reason someone else will like it. I know that I have contrary tastes to some bloggers that I follower, and therefore am often tempted to pick up a big they dislike because I know that their pet peeves aren't a dealbreaker for me.

Anyway, on to the books. I DNFed 19 books in 2011. That may seem like a lot, but I'm actually kinda proud of myself. I have a problem putting books down sometimes, especially if it was one I anticipated, and often try to force myself to continue. (Edit: I posted January through July. Blogger ate the other half, so I'll probably post it tomorrow or whenever I feel like typing it again...)

January
His Darkest Hunger by Juliana Stone (PNR)
Reason for picking up: I'm always looking for interesting PNR, even if I don't read them as often as UF or YA.
Reason for DNF: After about sixty pages, I just hadn't connected with the heroine or the hero. That's kind of a big deal for me when it comes to PNR.

Manifest by Artist Arthur (YA)
Reason for picking up: The blurb on the back was interesting.
Reason for DNF: The main character and her friends were a bit too immature for me.

February (none)

March
License to Ensorcell by Katherine Kerr (UF)
Reason for picking up: The cover intrigued me and the blurb sounded like my kind of UF.
Reason for DNF: After about 150 pages, nothing had really happened. Also, considering how far into the novel I got, a number of paranormal items weren't explained well.

April
Three Quarters Dead by Richard Peck (YA)
Reason for picking up: I just tend to grab anything that grabs my eye when I'm at the library. I often leave with more books than I can hold.
Reason for DNF: The characters were super catty for no reason, and the main character confused me.

Deadworld by J.N. Duncan (UF)
Reason for picking up: I had my eye on this novel for a while. I picked it up while waiting in a long line for a movie (we got there really early), and started reading right there.
Reason for DNF: There were some crazy twists and turns in the first 100 pages, but after that the plot stalled.

May
Hard Magic by Laura Anne Gilman (UF)
Reason for picking up: Another library grab. Plus, I love reading about main characters in or just out of college
Reason for DNF: Being on vacation may have played a role in this novel not keeping my attention.

Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell (YA)
Reason for picking up: Another library grab.
Reason for DNF: I didn't connect with the main character. As I get older, I find this happening a bit more often with YA.

June
Hunted by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast (YA)
Reason for picking up: I enjoyed the first four books in the series.
Reason for DNF: I was listening to this as an audiobook while driving to and from TN (I can't read in the car). I didn't finish before we got home, and didn't really want to continue listening. I do want to go back to this novel and the rest of the series in the future.

July
Dead Iron by Devon Monk (steampunk)
Reason for picking up: I wanted to love this novel so much. It sounded amazing, and I enjoyed other works by the author.
Reason for DNF: This novel just moved sooo slow. I took a couple breaks from it and am holding on to it just in case.

Review: Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep

2012-01-27T22:10:00.005-05:00

Title: Kiss of Frost
Author: Jennifer Estep
Series: Mythos Academy #2
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Release Date: 11/29/11
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

Logan Quinn was trying to kill me. My Spartan classmate relentlessly pursued me, swinging his sword at me over and over again, the shining silver blade inching closer to my throat every time. A smile tugged up his lips, and his ice-blue eyes practically glowed with the thrill of battle...

I’m Gwen Frost, a second-year warrior-in-training at Mythos Academy, and I have no idea how I’m going to survive the rest of the semester. One day, I’m getting schooled in swordplay by the guy who broke my heart -- the drop-dead gorgeous Logan who slays me every time. Then, an invisible archer in the Library of Antiquities decides to use me for target practice. And now, I find out that someone at the academy is really a Reaper bad guy who wants me dead. I’m afraid if I don’t learn how to live by the sword -- with Logan’s help -- I just might die by the sword...

Plot: 4.5 Stars
When I first read that this novel was going to center around the school taking a ski trip for a winter trip, I immediately thought of Frostbite by Richelle Mead. While the two novels share that one plot idea in common, the two are far from the same, and I admit that Kiss of Frost is definitely better. Although the winter trip seemed straight forward in the beginning, Gwen soon found herself mixed up in a possible Chaos plot. There were twists and turns around every corner, and I was left guessing until the very end.

Pace: 5 Stars
My favorite part of any of the author's novels is that she does a great job of reviewing key points from past novels in a way that flows with the current novel. I'm never left trying to remember what exactly happened previously, regardless of how long I go between novels. This one was no exception. There was also never a lull in the action, once the story picked up.

Characters: 4.5 Stars
I loved the character development in this novel. Not only do we learn more about Gwen and her powers, but we learn more about her friends, classmates, and teachers also. There's also the addition of students from other Mythos Academy campuses added to the mix. Some characters had ulterior motives that surprised me, and some characters showed their true feelings that also surprised me. All in all, I was very excited with the characters in this novel and their actions.

Cover: 4.5 Stars
Although the cover model on this cover doesn't seem to be the same as the first book in the series, I really enjoy her pose and the snowflakes. The act of blowing a kiss is a play on the title, and I think it's an unusual pose that will stand out against many of the paranormal young adult novel it's shelved with. The snowflakes are a nice way of alluding to the winter holiday that the novel centers around. The gargoyle in the background and the sword in the place of the letter "t" in the titles bring continuity to the covers, while still allowing them to be unique. The choice of pink for some of the text was a very interesting choice and went well with the faint purple hue of the cover.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I received a signed ARC of this novel for review from the author.

Waiting on Wednesday (46)

2012-01-25T16:03:00.002-05:00

This book blog meme is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Title: Wicked As They Come
Author: Delilah S. Dawson
Series: Blud #1
Genre: Paranormal/Steampunk
Release date: 03/27/12
Chosen by: Sara
Summary:

Have you ever heard of a Bludman? They’re rather like you and me—only more fabulous, immortal, and mostly indestructible. (They’re also very good kissers.)

Delilah S. Dawson’s darkly tempting debut drops her unsuspecting heroine into a strange faraway land for a romantic adventure that’s part paranormal, part steampunk... and completely irresistible.

When Tish Everett forces open the ruby locket she finds at an estate sale, she has no idea that a deliciously rakish Bludman has cast a spell just for her. She wakes up in a surreal world, where Criminy Stain, the dashing proprietor of a magical traveling circus, curiously awaits. At Criminy’s electric touch, Tish glimpses a tantalizing future, but she also foresees her ultimate doom. Before she can decide whether to risk her fate with the charming daredevil, the locket disappears, and with it, her only chance to return home. Tish and Criminy battle roaring sea monsters and thundering bludmares, vengeful ghosts and crooked Coppers in a treacherous race to recover the necklace from the evil Blud-hating Magistrate. But if they succeed, will Tish forsake her fanged suitor and return to her normal life, or will she take a chance on an unpredictable but dangerous destiny with the Bludman she’s coming to love?

In My Mailbox (113)

2012-01-22T00:17:00.003-05:00

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.

Review:
Curses! A F***ed Up Fairy Tale by J.A. Kazimer (ARC) [Buy now]
Royal Street by Suzanne Johnson (eARC) [Buy now]
Thanks to J.A. Kazimer and Netgalley!

Won:
Devil's Kiss by Zoe Archer (signed!) [Buy now]
Thanks to Zoe Archer via Moira Rogers' blog!
Hammer Down by Moira Rogers (e-book)
Thanks to Moira Rogers via the Deadline Dames blog!

Bought:
Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan [Buy now]

Library:
Witchlanders by Lena Coakley [Buy now]

Mini-Review: The Hunter by Theresa Meyers

2012-01-20T15:43:00.004-05:00

Title: The Hunter
Author: Theresa Meyers
Series: Legend Chronicles #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: 11/01/11
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

Colt Jackson has gotten his name on many a wanted poster with success in the family business: hunting supernaturals across the frontier. Lately, though, there's a sulphur stink in the wind and the Darkin population is exploding. A rift in the worlds is appearing. To close it, Colt will have to do the unthinkable and work with a demon to pass arcane boundaries no human alone can cross. Except when he summons his demon, he doesn't get some horned monstrosity: he gets a curvy redheaded succubus named Lilly, who's willing to make a bargain to become human again. He also gets Lilly's secret expertise on the machinations on the dark side of the rift. And her charm and cleverness help to get them out of what his silver-loaded pistol and mechanical horse can't. Of course, when all hell breaks loose, he might have to sacrifice his soul. But what's adventure without a little risk?

Mini-Review: This novel was a Paranormal Romance with Steampunk elements, most of these elements being the weapons and tools Colt used in his fight against demons. He ran into many different demons throughout this novel, and each was unique and interesting. Although there were a few points in which the plot slowed down, overall the pace of this novel flowed very well. My favorite part of the novel was the succubus Lilly and how she interacted with Colt. And I can’t wait for the next novel so that I can learn more about his brothers. The mechanic horse on the cover was one of the main reasons I picked up this novel, so I was very excited to find he was an important part of the novel. I also really loved the cover model’s outfit and accessories because they really rang true with the novel.

Plot: 4 Stars
Pace: 3.5 Stars
Characters: 4 Stars
Cover: 4 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this novel for my own reading pleasure.

Mini-Review: Crux by Moira Rogers

2012-01-20T14:43:00.006-05:00

Title: Crux
Author: Moira Rogers
Series: Southern Arcana #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: E-book: 03/03/09, Print: 01/05/10
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

To find her destiny, she must trust him with her life... and her heart.

Southern Arcana, Book 1

Jackson Holt makes a decent living as a private investigator in New Orleans, home of one of the largest underground supernatural populations in the United States. He and his partners have never met a case they couldn’t crack... until a local bar owner asks him to do a little digging on her newest hire.

New Orleans is the fourth destination in as many months for Mackenzie Brooks, a woman on the run from a deranged stalker. After all, any man who shows up on her doorstep claiming to be her destined lover has more than a few screws loose. But crazy doesn’t explain why he always finds her no matter how far she runs.

Mini-Review: I love shapeshifter books, so I was intrigued by this novel. The stalker element added a dark and creepy feel to the book as Mackenzie is introduced into this world of paranormal creatures. The cast of characters Mackenzie meets when she arrived in New Orleans are a varied and interesting bunch of paranormals, and a very strong cast of characters. Although this novel was a little slow in the beginning, once it picked up it was a race to the end. Although the cover is a bit simple, it really gets the point of the novel across with its little details.

Plot: 3.5 Stars
Pace: 3.5 Stars
Characters: 4 Stars
Cover: 3.5 Stars
Overall: 3.5 Stars

Disclosure: I received this book as an anniversary gift (yes, we gave each other books).

Most Anticipated Books of 2012

2012-01-14T23:31:00.004-05:00

First off, not every book I'm eagerly awaiting made this list. The main group that were left off are the next books in series I'm not up to date on. For example, although I've only read Hounded by Kevin Hearne so far, there's no doubt I'll be picking up Tricked the day it comes out regardless of whether or not I've caught up. The other group is the novels that either don't have final titles, covers, and/or release dates. I'll most likely highlight these using Waiting on Wednesday as more information is available. Anyway, on to the list!

Urban Fantasy:

To Walk the Night by E.S. Moore (01/03/12) **already purchased
By a Thread by Jennifer Estep (02/28/12) **received eARC
Black Howl by Christina Henry (02/28/12)
Blood on the Bayou by Stacey Jay (03/27/12)
Royal Street by Suzanne Johnson (04/10/12) **received via Netgalley
Nightshifted by Cassie Alexander (05/22/12)
Boyfriend from Hell by Jamie Quaid (05/29/12)
Blood of Innocence by Tami Dane (06/05/12)
Changeling by Kelly Meding (06/21/12)
Darklands by Nancy Holzner (07/31/12)

Paranormal Romance:

Alpha Instinct by Katie Reus (02/07/12)
Wicked as They Come by Delilah S. Dawson (03/27/12)
The Slayer by Theresa Meyers (04/01/12)
Shadow Bound by Rachel Vincent (05/22/12)

Young Adult:

A Beautiful Evil by Kelly Keaton (02/21/12)
Insurgent by Veronica Roth (04/28/12)
Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep (05/29/12)
Wake by Amanda Hocking (08/21/12)

Review: Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore

2012-01-11T21:31:00.005-05:00

Title: Between the Sea and Sky
Author: Jaclyn Dolamore
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: 10/25/11
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

For as long as Esmerine can remember, she has longed to join her older sister, Dosinia, as a siren -- the highest calling a mermaid can have. When Dosinia runs away to the mainland, Esmerine is sent to retrieve her. Using magic to transform her tail into legs, she makes her way unsteadily to the capital city. There she comes upon a friend she hasn't seen since childhood -- a dashing young man named Alandare, who belongs to a winged race of people. As Esmerine and Alandare band together to search for Dosinia, they rekindle a friendship... and ignite the emotions for a love so great, it cannot be bound by sea, land, or air.

Plot: 4.5 Stars
I absolutely loved the world that the author created in this novel. Between the underwater world of the mermaids, the high flying world of the Fandarsee, and the humans in between, there was always something new to learn while reading. While the different races interacted at times, they were all very inclusive. I loved how the author worked in all the little details about the different groups of people as Esmerine and Alan were on their journey.

Pace: 5 Stars
This novel was a very quick read. I got home from the book signing really excited to read it and jumped right in. I only put it down to eat and sleep (and possibly work), which I don't do very often anymore. Although Esmerine was on a journey to find her sister, none of the events of the novel came across as rushed. The story unfolded very naturally as Esmerine and Alan first reunited and then began the journay to find her sister, Dosinia.

Characters: 5 Stars
My favorite part of this novel was watching Esmerine reunited with her childhood friend, a Fandarsee names Alandare. I loved watching their relationship change and morph as they got to know each other once again. They were so different, and yet very similar. Between Esmerine's parents and younger sisters, Alan's family, and the humans they meet along the way, there was also a very strong cast of supporting characters. Although some of them had smaller parts than others, the author did a great job of introducing each character.

Cover: 5 Stars
This novel was blessed with a beautiful cover. The image of Esmerine bursting out of the water is very striking, and the wave around her frames her in a great way. You can't really tell where the water ends and the sky begins. The pose of the cover model works well considering that Esmerine becomes a siren. The blues and greens of the cover are very serene and definitely gives the feel of mermaid. The tail fin detail on the title is actually the only part of the cover that actually says mermaid, and does so in a way that doesn't take away from the rest of the cover.

Overall: 5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this novel for my own reading pleasure.

In My Mailbox (112)

2012-01-07T22:35:00.003-05:00

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.

Spending-money-wise, this past week was pretty chill. But in regards to books I didn't pay for, this past week has been epic. I won a huge box of UF/PNR from Anna's Book Blog, and there were even a couple surprise books. The three with asterisks are books that I already have and enjoyed, and I will be passing them a co-worker that enjoys UF. We swap books occasionally, and recommend books to each other (and I've been trying to get her to read Spider's Bite for like two years). I picked up Switched by Amanda Hocking this week and absolutely loved it (review to come, eventually). I've been very hesitant to read self-published work. I'm new to the e-reader scene and I have way too many books on my TBR pile. But when I saw Switched at my local Target after work, I knew it was a sign. And yes, I do realize it's technically not self-published anymore. I don't know if I'll be venturing out into the world of more self-pubbed books anytime soon, but there will definitely be more books by Amanda Hocking in my future.

Review:
By A Thread by Jennifer Estep (eARC)
Thread of Death by Jennifer Estep (eARC)

Bought:
Switched by Amanda Hocking [Buy now]
Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay [Buy now]

Free Kindle:
Hollowland by Amanda Hocking
The Emerald Talisman by Brenda Pandos

Library:
Dark of the Moon by Tracy Barrett [Buy now]
Knight's Curse by Karen Duvall [Buy now]
The Floating Islands by Rachel Neumeier [Buy now]
The Bookman by Lavie Tidhar [Buy now]

Won:
From Anna @ Anna's Book Blog:
Darkness Unbound by Keri Arthur [Buy now]
Spider's Bite* by Jennifer Estep [Buy now]
Adam by Jacquelyn Frank [Buy now]
Hunter of Shadows by Nancy Gideon [Buy now]
Night Rising by Chris Marie Green [Buy now]
Black Wings* by Christina Henry [Buy now]
Blood Trinity* by Sherrilyn Kenyon & Dianna Love [Buy now]
Secret Life of a Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks [Buy now]
Sexiest Vampire Alive by Kerrelyn Sparks [Buy now]
Covet by J.R. Ward [Buy now]
Angels of Darkness anthology [Buy now]
From Mandy @ Smexybooks:
Flashfire by Deborah Cooke [Buy now]

Blogging Resolutions: 2012

2012-01-05T21:09:00.003-05:00

For 2012, I have decided to come up with some blogging resolutions for the year. My blogging kinda waned near the end of 2012, and I want to kick myself into gear this new year. I don't do New Year's Resolutions for my real life (I actually made a New Year's Resolution in high school to never make one again...) because I can never stick to them, but I feel like these six blogging resolutions will be fun and productive for this blog.

1. Keep Up With Reviews
There was a time when I reviewed books right after I finished reading. This kind of fell by the wayside after being computer-less for a month due to virus things. Every time I get caught up, I fall behind again. This past holiday season was especially harsh, so I have quite a bit to catch up on. In order to catch up and continue to keep up on reviews, I want to set up two days a week in which I write the reviews needed. I haven't decided which days these will be because I don't have a set schedule at work. I do know that it won't be Monday or Tuesday, I always work on those days. But I'll definitely have the days picked out after jury duty next week (yay!).

2. Reading Goal = 104 Books
I know 104 probably seems like a completely random number, but it averages out to two books a week. I've been able to obtain this goal two out of the last three years, so I'm gonna go for it again.

3. Read More Evenly Between Genres
I tend to read an overwhelming amount of Urban Fantasy. While the name of the blog is Sara's Urban Fantasy Blog, and Urban Fantasy is my favorite genre, I want to try to read more evenly between my favorite genres because I books more evenly than I read them. Although I only tend to read one to two Paranormal Romances a month, I tend to buy three or four, so I have a lot more of them laying around waiting to be read.

4. Read More Steampunk and Dystopian
I really enjoy what I have read of these two genres and have bought a number of titles, but I tend to pass on them for Paranormal novels when choosing what to read next. So I want to try to read a couple more of each this year.

5. Read More Sequels.
I have a crazy bad habit of reading the first book in a series and then never going back. Even after I absolutely loved book one, and even after I've bought the next two or three or five books in the series. I'm particularly guilty of buying all three books when a series releases books one through three in consecutive months. I always tell myself I'll go back, but them I start another new one. Most of the series in which I've read past book one are series that I've continued to receive for review. I think it's because I tend to enjoy book one the most, because the introduction to the world building and the characters are my favorite parts. But I really need to go back to some of these great series, both because I really enjoyed book one and because I own through at least book three of the majority of them. So I'm going to break them up by genre and makes lists of the four in each genre I absolutely have to read this year.

Urban Fantasy
Shadowglass by Erica Hayes
Hexed by Kevin Hearne
Flesh and Blood by Kristen Painter
Tracking the Tempest by Nicole Peeler

Paranormal Romance
Scoundrel by Zoe Archer
When Pleasure Rules by J.K. Beck
Storm's Heat by Thea Harrison
Firewalker by Allyson James

Paranormal Young Adult
Shadowspell by Jenna Black
The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready
Betrayal by Gillian Shields

6. No Review Requests of Author Events During the Holidays
This resolution is only to be followed if I am still working in retail next holiday season. This past year has shown me that I can't juggle everything during these crazy months, so if I'm still in retail I'll be closed for requests between Black Friday and New Year's. You may still e-mail me during this time with a request if the book releases after this time, or to schedule something after this time. The only exceptions will be author's that I already have a relationship with that may have books releasing during this time period, but it won't be a guarantee. I know this is eleven months in advance, but it's just a precaution.

Best Books of 2011

2011-12-31T18:00:00.006-05:00

My wanted to do a Top 11 of 2011, but my Top 11 books of 2011 is technically 13 books, but I lumped the three Jennifer Estep titles together so that I could include all of my 5 Stars books for the year. I love love loved Hounded and My Life as a White Trash Zombie SO MUCH that I could not choose an overall winner for the year, so my top read is a tie between them. Here's the breakdown of my top 13: nine Urban Fantasy, one Paranormal Romance, and three Paranormal Young Adult. It's no surprise to me that Urban Fantasy takes up the majority of this list, because it is my favorite genre.

1. Hounded by Kevin Hearne & My Life as a White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland
The reason these two novels were my favorites of the year was their humor. It was just the right balance of giggles for Urban Fantasy. Plus, each novel was a great addition to the genre with their unique paranormal creatures. And don't get me started on the covers. Hands down two of my favorite covers of the year as well.

3. Coyote's Creed by Vaughn R. Demont
This was my first M/M novel, and I enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would. My favorite part was that the main character was believeable as a bisexual, so I related to him.

4. Dead on the Delta by Stacey Jay
Awesome take on killer faeries! And the main character's alcohol addiction made her feel very real. I really enjoy novels that take place in New Orleans because it's such an interesting place to read about.

5. Trance by Kelly Meding
I love when authors give us new takes on the traditional super heroes, and this was one of the best. There aren't nearly enough novels like this.

6. Grave Witch by Kalayna Price
This novel had some of the strongest secondary characters of all the books I read this year. Plus, I love when a character's magic takes a physical toll on them. It makes it more interesting, and limits how much they can and can't do with their powers.

7. Spells by Aprilynne Pike
It's not very often that the second book in a series holds up to the first for me. I enjoy the introduction to new characters and worlds so much, that books ones are almost always my favorite. But this novel was just as good as the first.

8. Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore
This was by far the best mermaid books I've ever read, and makes me want to add some more to my shelves. It was a sweet love story that I really enjoyed.

9. Tangled Threads/Touch of Frost/Spider's Revenge by Jennifer Estep
What a year for Ms. Estep! I love both of these series and can't get enough. She's obviously doing something right if three out of four of her 2011 releases are on this list.

10. Beauty Dates the Beast by Jessica Sims
The dating service aspect to this novel was very interesting, and the reason I picked it up. It added a bit of humor to an edgy PNR. There was never a dull moment, which is rare for me and PNR.

11. Kitty's House of Horrors by Carrie Vaughn
I think this one may be my favorite Kitty Norville book of the series (although I haven't read the most recent). The reality television aspect to this novel was a great plot. Ms. Vaughn always surprises me by using aspects of every day life and mixing in the paranormal.

Month in Review: December

2011-12-31T17:47:00.003-05:00

I was very naughty in December. I really neglected the blog and didn't write a single review. I still have a few from November that need to be written. Working in retail during the holidays is just such a stressful bummer, and I took it out on my blog. I apologize. Tomorrow, I will be putting together a Blogging Resolutions for 2012 post in hopes that it motivates me to catch up and stay caught up.

Outside of my lack of posting, I read a pretty decent amount of books this month. Here's the breakdown of the eleven titles: three Paranormal Young Adult, four Urban Fantasy, and four Paranormal Romance. There were four DNFs this month, but the two with stars are just books that I couldn't finish by the end of the year but plan to pick up again in the new year. I know I don't normally review DNFs, but I may have to make a post about Tyra Banks' Modelland because I just have to talk about it. It was just so ridiculously random. I also read my first M/M this month with Coyote's Creed, and found my #3 best book of the year.

December: 11

Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep ARC (4.5 Stars) review coming soon
The Hunter by Theresa Meyers (4 Stars) review coming soon
Blood Trinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon & Dianna Love (DNF*)
The Rift Walker by Clay & Susan Griffith (DNF*)
Tempest by Julie Cross ARC (3 Stars) review coming soon
That Thing at the Zoo by James R. Tuck (3.5 Stars)
Modelland by Tyra Banks (DNF)
Coyote’s Creed by Vaughn R. Demont (5 Stars) review coming soon
Beauty Dates the Beast by Jessica Sims (5 Stars) review coming soon
Ocean’s Touch by Denise Townsend (3 Stars)
Radiant Desire by Inara Scott (DNF)

So what did everyone else read in December?

My Christmas List

2011-12-31T17:23:00.004-05:00

First off, I'd like to wish everyone a belated Happy Holidays! I know I kept saying I'd catch up on my days off around Christmas, but it was so nice to just chill out and read. I doubled my total reads for December this past week.

Next, I'd like to explain my Christmas List a little. I use In My Mailbox, and other posts like this to keep track of how I receive all of my books because I'd never remember how I got each and every one when writing my reviews. I would also like to say that this post is not me bragging in anyway. I like to share the titles I find each week, in hopes that readers will come across something new they hadn't heard of yet. Also, I don't know about anyone else, but my favorite part of the holidays is shopping to find gifts for friends and family, wrapping the gifts (except when the cats intervene), and watching them open the gifts (especially if they're surprises).

I was blown away by the generosity of my family this holiday season. My mom went a little crazy because she knows that she won't be able to afford any sort of gifts next year (she lost her main source of income when they downsized at the newspaper). My dad surprised me with three huge giftcards (and surprised everyone else with equally generous gifts). He received a large check from my grandpa, who has been cashing in some of his investments. I don't know if he knows something he's not sharing (health-wise, not finance-wise), but I think it's freaking everyone out a bit.

And lastly, I also found quite a few awesome deals on Kindle, which allowed me to stretch the giftcards much further than I thought I would. I don't know if the deals are still available, so I'm not going to link anything. But Angel Burn was $3.19 and Haunting Violet was $2.45 just to name a few.

From Christen:

Devil Without a Cause by Terri Garey
Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey
Once Every Never by Lesley Livingston
Legend by Marie Lu

From my grandparents:

Lightbringer by K.D. McEntire
Serpent's Kiss by Thea Harrison
Beauty Dates the Beast by Jessica Sims

From Dad:

Target ($50 giftcard)
Lost in Time by Melissa de la Cruz
Dark Prince by Christine Feehan
Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick
The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

Amazon ($50 giftcard)
Blood, Smoke and Mirrors by Robyn Bachar
Prince of Air and Darkness by Jenna Black
No Proper Lady by Isabel Cooper
Head Rush by Carolyn Crane
Blood of Eden by Tami Dane
Something Secret This Way Comes by Sierra Dean
Coyote's Creed by Vaughn R. Demont
Bad Blood by Lucienne Diver
True Colors by Thea Harrison
The Zero Dog War by Keith Melton
Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly

Barnes and Noble ($50 giftcard)
Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Night Reigns by Dianne Duvall
All that Bleed by Kimberly Frost
Shadow Heir by Richelle Mead
To Walk the Night by E.S. Moore
Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

From Mom:

Being Human Season 1
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 2
The Vampire Diaries Season 2

Amazon ($25 giftcard)
Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey
My Blood Approves by Amanda Hocking
The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
Ocean's Touch by Denise Townsend
A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young

In My Mailbox (111)

2011-12-18T16:30:00.004-05:00

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.

The past two weeks have been nuts at work. I apologize for my lack of activity, but the holiday shoppers have left me completely drained. I find myself not even wanting to read some days. I promise that I'll be back with a review or two later on in the week, once I'm done with work until after Christmas. I didn't particularly want to post an IMM due to my lack of anything else recently, but I wanted to get these out there because next week will be my holiday mailbox.

Anyway, the bulk of my mailbox this week are contest wins. I was really surprised at how huge the bag of books I won from Elizabeth Boyle's blog was. Besides the huge pile of swag (not pictured), there was also eight books (five of which were signed). It was like she snuck into my house to check out my bookshelves because every book that wasn't a first in series, was somehow the next in the series I needed. I didn't buy too much for myself because it's the holidays. But I did find a couple good Kindle deals. I wanted to have more money to spend on family and friends. Plus, I'm sure I'll have giftcards to spend next weekend. I also finally got a copy of Modelland from the library. Everyone keeps laughing at me for wanting to read it, but I just have to know. Tyra Banks is crazy, and I want to see how crazy her YA novel is. It's the next book I plan to read, but I peeked already and the first line is so wrong it's almost right. I read for enjoyment, and a book doesn't have to be a masterpiece to be fun, so I hope I enjoy it.

Bought:
Shaedes of Gray by Amanda Bonilla [Buy now]

Kindle Deals:
StarCrossed by Elizabeth C. Bunce
Plain Fear: Forsaken by Leanna Ellis
That Voodoo You Do by Jodi Redford (free)

Library:
Modelland by Tyra Banks [Buy now]
Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey [Buy now]

Won:
From Carrie Lofty (half of Ellen Connor) via her Twitter:
Daybreak by Ellen Connor [Buy now] (signed!)
Midnight by Ellen Connor [Buy now] (signed!)
Nightfall by Ellen Connor [Buy now] (signed!)

From Elizabeth Boyle via her blog: (swag not pictured)
Blood of the Wicked by Karina Cooper [Buy now] (signed!)
Trinity by Lauren Dane [Buy now]
A Tale of Two Demon Slayers by Angie Fox [Buy now] (signed!)
Harvest Hunting by Yasmine Galenorn [Buy now] (signed!)
Ascension by Sable Grace [Buy now] (signed!)
Scarlet by Jordan Summers [Buy now]
Tsunami Blue by Gayle Ann Williams [Buy now]
Lord of the Fading Lands by C.L. Wilson [Buy now] (signed!)

From The Qwillery, made by Cemetery Cat Jewelry:
Lady Caroline necklace

Giveaway Winners: Unleashed by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie

2011-12-15T20:01:00.003-05:00

First off, I'd like to apologize for my lack of posting recently. Work has been crazy and stressful due to the holidays, and I haven't felt like doing much of anything when I get home. I haven't been sleeping well, so I tend to come home and fall asleep on the couch. The next six days are gonna really suck, but then I'm off again until after Christmas, so I'm hoping to become a bit more active somewhere in there. Anyway, on to the reason you are here: Giveaway winners!

There was a total of 32 participants in the Unleashed by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie Giveaway. Using random.org, I randomized the list of entries, and then random selected the winners. The winners are...

4.brandisbookmusings!
12.It's a Meow World!
23.Krista@Cubicleblindness!

Congratulations! Please respond to the e-mail I sent with your mailing information within 72 hours.

Didn't win? You can pick up a copy from The Book Depository and have it shipped for free! Just click here.

In My Mailbox (110)

2011-12-03T23:09:00.003-05:00

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.

I was very surprised to get Dead Alert in the mail today. I won that giveaway on Goodreads months ago, and had all but forgotten about it, so it was a great after work surprise. I think I did much better spending wise this week. :)

Bought:
The Doomsday Vault by Steven Harper [Buy now]
The Hunter by Theresa Meyers (Kindle)
Demon Bait by Moira Rogers (Kindle)

Won:
Dead Alert by Bianca D'Arc [Buy now]
Thanks to Goodreads and Kensington!

Library:
The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch [Buy now]
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente [Buy now]
Shifting by Bethany Wiggins [Buy now]

Month in Review: November

2011-12-03T22:30:00.002-05:00

So NaNoWriMo was a bit of a bust for me. After about a week and almost 9,000 words, work became a bit overwhelming. I've decided that NaNo being in November is a bit ridiculous for me since I work in retail. I really like what I started, so I think I'm gonna do my own NaNo in January or February when work slows down (and Christen will be keeping me on track). Anyway, November was a pretty good reading month, all things considered. This past month consisted of two Urban Fantasies, one Paranormal Romance, one Steampunk Romance, and five Paranormal Young Adults.

November: 9

Spider's Revenge by Jennifer Estep 5 Stars
iDrakula by Bekka Black 2.5 Stars
Drink Slay Love by Sarah Beth Durst DNF
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin 4 Stars
Kitty Goes to War by Carrie Vaughn 4.5 Stars
Miss Bramble and the Leviathan by Kristen Painter 4 Stars
Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore 5 Stars review coming soon
Crux by Moira Rogers 3.5 Stars review coming soon
Unleashed by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie 4.5 Stars (+ giveaway)

So what did everyone else read in November?

Review + Giveaway: Unleashed by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie

2011-12-03T16:05:00.004-05:00

Title: Unleashed
Author: Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie
Series: Wolf Springs Chronicles #1
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Release Date: 11/22/11
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

Katelyn McBride’s life changed in an instant when her mother died. Uprooted from her California home, Katelyn was shipped to the middle of nowhere, Arkansas, to her only living relative, her grandfather. And now she has to start over in Wolf Springs, a tiny village in the Ozark Mountains. Like any small town, Wolf Springs has secrets. But the secrets hidden here are more sinister than Katelyn could ever imagine. It’s a town with a history that reaches back centuries, spans continents, and conceals terrifying truths. And Katelyn McBride is about to change everything.

Broken families, ageless grudges, forced alliances, and love that blooms in the darkest night -- welcome to Wolf Springs.

Plot: 4.5 Stars
There was a cloud of mystery surrounding this entire novel that gave it a fantastically creepy feel. Wolf Springs itself was a pretty mysterious and creepy place filled with mysterious and creepy people. The setting really gave a lot to the rest of the novel, and allowed for some storylines that may not have worked in a more urban setting. Although I figured out pretty early what the paranormal creature in this novel was, it was still interesting to follow Katelyn as she figured it out. And I was definitely surprised by who was and wasn’t said paranormal creature. There were many twists and turns in this novel, many of which I didn’t expect. I really liked how some of the mystery was figured out, but other parts have been left to explore more in future books. It really makes me antsy in anticipation for the next novel. This is definitely a great addition to Paranormal Young Adult.

Pace: 4.5 Stars
This was a fast-paced novel that I read in only a few sitting. What sucked me in so quickly was the weirdness of Wolf Springs and its residents. I wanted to know what was going on and why everyone was so strange. Katelyn’s grandfather’s strict rules about not going in to the woods after dark only furthered my curiosity. Just when things seemed to be getting a bit more normal with schoolwork and parties, something crazy would happen to suck me right back in. Although the novel didn’t end with a cliffhanger exactly, it did end right as Kat had a revelation that could definitely change things. And it left me wanting more. I can’t wait for the next novel in this series to come out.

Characters: 4.5 Stars
In a small town like Wolf Springs, everyone knows everyone, so it was the talk of the town when Katelyn showed up after her mother’s death to live with her grandfather. She had a lot of her plate: dealing with her grief, leaving her home and best friend, starting at a new school, and trying to make new friends. I think she dealt with everything pretty well, especially when thrown into weird positions. I would have liked to learn a bit more about her late parents and best friend, Kimi, and hope more information about them appears in future books. I also don’t feel like I learned that much about her grandfather, considering Kat was living with him. But the air of mystery surrounding him made him an interesting character. Trick was Kat’s ride to school, and kind of a weird dude (in a good way). He didn’t always make sense and didn’t get along with some of the other kids, but he was a great character. Cordelia, on the other hand, was a very frustrating character. Her moods flip-flopped constantly and she was always very vague when answering questions. She was hiding a big secret, but sometimes it was too frustrating. And her family was all kinds of dysfunctional.

Cover: 4 Stars
The top half of the cover works a lot better than the bottom half. I like the full moon in the woods. It gives the cover a mysterious feel that really fits Wolfs Springs. It also hints at the paranormal aspect of the novel. The bottom half comes across very over-dramatic vampire movie to me. The hands gripping the cover model’s head, along with the way she leans her head back to expose her neck, just screams vampires instead of werewolves. There’s also a bit of dead space around the cover model and the mysterious arms. But I absolutely love the font chosen for the title, and really like when the series title is included. The way the title splits the cover in half is very unique, and really draws the eye. The navy blue color chosen for the cover is a great choice because it really fits the mood of the novel.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I received a copy of this novel for review from the publisher.

Giveaway:
I have three (3) copies of Unleashed to giveaway! To enter, just answer the following question: Would you rather live in a tight-knit small town, or a large urban city?

Giveaway Rules:
1. Must leave a comment answering the question.
2. Must leave a valid e-mail address.
3. Giveaway is open to the US only.
4. Giveaway is open until midnight on Wednesday 12/14.
5. Winners will be chosen on Thursday 12/15 using random.org.

Review: Miss Bramble and the Leviathan by Kristen Painter

2011-12-02T19:38:00.003-05:00

Title: Miss Bramble and the Leviathan
Author: Kristen Painter
Genre: Steampunk Romance
Release Date: 10/19/10
Reviewed by: Sara
Summary:

The last thing she planned to steal was his heart.

The Company. Military institution, protector of Praeton and the nation of Grand Isle. Dirty rotten thief.

When Pandora Bramble steps aboard the Company’s premiere airship Daedalus it’s not for the exclusive VIP tour. It’s to secure proof that the Company stole the regulator valve her father designed -- even if it means tearing the engine apart. Foiled by the unexpected appearance of a handsome crew member, she despairs of ever getting another chance -- until he kisses her.

Captain Theolonius Hatch, sentenced to engine room duty for refusing to take part in the Company’s fleet week activities, never dreamed a woman like Pandora existed. Her brains match her beauty, a combination that adds up to more trouble than he ever expected.

As Pandora allows Theolonius to sweep her into a whirlwind courtship, her wildest dreams come true. As do her greatest fears, leaving her to decide what matters most. Loyalty... or love.

The clock is ticking.

Warning: This book contains airships, mechanical owls, women who are good with tools, men in and out of uniform, steam generated by engines and people, and some hot carriage scenes.

Plot: 4 Stars
My favorite part of this story outside of the romance was the Steampunk details. I liked the scenes in which the inventions were involved and I got to learn more about the world the story took place in. The inventions and gadgets are almost like their own brand of paranormal creature to me, which is probably why I like Steampunk more and more with each story I read. The romance in this story had its ups and downs, even in the short amount of time. There was a couple twists and turns at the end that took me by surprise. All in all, this novella was a great story for romance and Steampunk lovers.

Pace: 4 Stars
Although this novella was on the shorter side, it never felt rushed. There was great character development in the beginning, along with great information about the technology of the world. It didn't take long for the two main characters to meet and get to know each other. The synopsis of the novel describes it as a whirlwind courtship, and I think that's the perfect way to describe it. There are parts of the relationship that seem a bit rushed, but in a realistic way that can happen when two people instantly connect. There were no dull moments in this novel, and even a couple surprises.

Characters: 4 Stars
Pandora Bramble was a great character. She didn't fit into gender norms. She had to work at her father's shop fixing things due to his drinking and gambling. It made her more interesting than the rest of the female characters in the story. I really connected with her since I'm definitely not a girly-girl. Captain Hatch was also an interesting character. He definitely met his match with Pandora. Pandora's father, although a very small character, affected the story in a number of ways. It was his invention that the Company stole, and it was his invention that Pandora was trying to steal when she met Captain Hatch.

Cover: 4 Stars
Is it me, or does the cover model look a lot like Kirsten Dunst? Probably does now that I mentioned it... Anyway, besides the possible celebrity look-a-like, the cover model is a great representation of Miss Bramble. Although you can’t see a lot of detail in her clothing, what you can see definitely gives off a Victorian feel which fits perfectly with the Steampunk aspect of the story. My favorite part of this cover is the background details. The clock, the light posts, the bridge all fit in very well with the story. There’s also a bit of fog layered over the cover that gives it a mysterious vibe. I wish the cover hadn’t been quite so monochromatic, but the blue is a very striking and lovely color. The font choice for the title worked very well, except I would have made “Leviathan” a more masculine font to play off of the cursive of “Miss Bramble”. But this is definitely one of my favorite covers from Samhain Publishing.

Overall: 4 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this novel for my own reading pleasure with a gift card I received for my birthday.

Review: Kitty Goes to War by Carrie Vaughn

2011-12-02T19:21:00.005-05:00

Title: Kitty Goes to War
Author: Carrie Vaughn
Series: Kitty Norville #8
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 06/29/10
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

Kitty Norville, Alpha werewolf and host of The Midnight Hour, a radio call-in show, is contacted by a friend at the NIH's Center for the Study of Paranatural Biology. Three Army soldiers recently returned from the war in Afghanistan are being held at Ft. Carson in Colorado Springs. They're killer werewolves -- and post traumatic stress has left them unable to control their shape-shifting and unable to interact with people. Kitty agrees to see them, hoping to help by bringing them into her pack.

Meanwhile, Kitty gets sued for libel by CEO Harold Franklin after featuring Speedy Mart -- his nationwide chain of 24-hour convenience stores with a reputation for attracting supernatural unpleasantness -- on her show.

Very bad weather is on the horizon.

Plot: 4.5 Stars
There's never a dull moment in Kitty Norville's life. My favorite part of every novel is the beginning, when she's doing her radio show. It's such a great concept and the reason I fell in love with this series in the first place. I really enjoyed her radio show this time around, as she did a segment on Speedy Mart, a convenience chain, and whether or not there was something paranormal happening with the business. And of course, this gets her into a bit of trouble with the CEO. Before much can come of the libel suit, she is asked to help with a group of military werewolves. The alpha of the military werewolves was killed and in Afghanistan, and the now the pack is unable to function. It was very interesting to see how Kitty and her pack dealt with these newcomers to their territory.

Pace: 4 Stars
This book took a bit longer to get into than the past couple of the series. Given the two main story lines being so different, there was a bit more introduction than the average novel from this series. Although the two story lines came together in the end, for the majority of the book they seemed to be happening parallel to each other, with Kitty bouncing from one to the other as needed. This isn’t a bad thing; it just led to a bit more explaining before we could get to the action. But once the metaphorical crap hit the fan, this novel was action packed and kept me on the edge of my seat. It was definitely one of those novels in which I seriously did not know how the good guys were going to come out on top. I have to remember not to bring any books in this series to work because I end up taking longer than I should for lunch because I can’t put them down.

Characters: 4.5 Stars
The past couple novels had focused a lot on Ben and Kitty and the growth of their relationship, so I was glad to see this novel focus a little more on their pack, Cormac, and some newcomers. Kitty didn’t try to deal with everything on her own, which allowed members of her pack to come into the spotlight a bit. If it wasn’t for her pack and their reach, the bad guy would have ended up with much more power. It was also really fun to read about the pack dynamic after the last couple novels focusing more on Kitty. My favorite part of this novel was that Cormac was back and ready for action, although he did seem a bit different than the last time we saw him outside of a jail cell. He’s very quiet and seems to know a bit more about certain supernatural things. When Kitty finally got some answers out of him, it definitely wasn’t anything I expected, but it makes his character even better. The military werewolves that the story kind of centered around were a very interesting concept. The dynamic between them and Kitty was probably the highlight of the book.

Cover: 4.5 Stars
I’m glad that Tor kept the same feel to the covers after acquiring the series. It was easy for me to know that it was the next novel in the Kitty Norville series, and not something similar but random. The addition of the small “first time in print” also helps with any confusion. My favorite part of the cover is the camouflage tank top Kitty is wearing, playing off of the title. I also like how the cover model is proving her dominance by standing over the three wolves on the cover. The three wolves are also very important to the novel, so it was great to see all three and not just one or two. The different textures in the background were a nice touch and gave the cover a bit more depth. I’m not sure if yellow was the best color for this cover, especially since the series already had a yellow cover, but the oranges mixed in allow it to stand out against the other yellow cover.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this novel for my own reading pleasure.

In My Mailbox (109)

2011-11-27T00:17:00.004-05:00

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.

Although Christen's birthday was two weeks ago (she turned 25!), I waited until this week to include all of her birthday gifts so that they could all be together. And because she took about a week to decide if she wanted her own Kindle. I think she's going to enjoy it even more than me because she was like a kid in a candy story when I showed her the Samhain Publishing website. She found so many books she wanted. I probably shouldn't have purchased quite so many books this week, considering I went a bit DVD crazy at work on Friday (I couldn't help it, they were so cheap). So I'm gonna try my best to tone it down between now and Christmas, especially since I haven't started Christmas shopping yet. So what did everyone get this week?

Bought:
Avenger's Angel by Heather Killough-Walden [Buy now]
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi [Buy now]
Bad Blood by Kristen Painter [Buy now]
The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff [Buy now]

Kindle:
Motor City Fae by Cindy Spencer Pape

Won:
A Darkness Forged in Fire by Chris Evans [Buy now]
The Light of Burning Shadows by Chris Evans [Buy now]
Ashes of a Black Forest by Chris Evans [Buy now]
Thanks to Pocket Books and Books, Movies, Review! Oh my!!

Library:
The Mephisto Covenant by Trinity Faegan [Buy now]
Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey [Buy now]
After Obsession by Carrie Jones & Steven E. Wedel[Buy now]

CHRISTEN'S BIRTHDAY The new Kindle + cover
Books:
In Bed with a Highlander by Maya Banks [Buy now]
Seduction of a Highland Lass by Maya Banks [Buy now]
Never Love a Highlander by Maya Banks [Buy now]
Song of the Nile by Stephanie Dray [Buy now]
One Grave at a Time by Jeaniene Frost [Buy now]
The Poison Diaries: Nightshade by Maryrose Wood [Buy now]

Kindle:
Ravenous by Abigail Barnelle
The Pearl at the Gate by Anya Delvay
Dark Sins and Desert Sands by Stephanie Draven
Ready to Run by Kinsey W. Holley
Little Red and the Wolf by Alison Paige
Dangerous Magic by Alix Rickloff

Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

2011-11-26T23:01:00.004-05:00

Title: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
Author: Michelle Hodkin
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Release Date: 09/27/11
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

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

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

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

Plot: 4 Stars
This novel did a fantastic job of keeping the reader in the dark, while giving away just enough to keep the wheels turning. As peculiar events continued to transpire as I read, I couldn't help but wonder what the paranormal element to the story was. There were a couple scenes that seemed more like random tangents, and it was great when they tied together later on in the timeline. Although I'm not sure I completely understand the mysterious paranormal element of the story, it was very interesting and definitely not something I've come across before. I hope to learn more about it in the next novel, especially after the cliffhanger at the end.

Pace: 4.5 Stars
I could not put this novel down. There was just something about it that kept me coming back for more. The author did a great job of weaving everything together. Every now and then, bits and pieces of the past were brought in to give the reader more background. It was also very interesting to try to figure out if a scene was actually happening as I read, or if it was just a hallucination due to Mara's PTSD.

Characters: 3.5 Stars
Mara was a very strange character. Given the events leading up to the start of the novel and her PTSD, there were times when Mara wasn't sure what was going on. It was very interesting to be along for the ride as she tried to figure out if certain events were actually happening. Noah seemed a bit too interested in Mara a bit too fast, like many Paranormal YAs, but he grew on me as the story continued. Besides Mara and Noah, none of the characters really interested me. They were either a bit flat, or I didn't feel like I learned enough about them.

Cover: 4 Stars
The cover is a striking image that immediately grabs the eye. The murky colors along with the titled overlaying the majority of the image adds to the mystery surrounding the novel. The two floating bodies are entangled, and you cannot tell the reason. You can't tell if someone is being saved or drowned, or if they're just floating for the heck of it. As striking as this cover is though, it doesn't depict a scene from the novel and doesn't seem to be relevant. As much as I'd like the cover to be a bit more relevant, it was also refreshing against many other Paranormal YA covers. It doesn't include a close up of the female cover model, and it doesn't include the cover model running away in a overly dramatic gown. I'm also a really big fan of the font choice for the cover.

Overall: 4 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this novel for my own reading pleasure with a gift card I received for my birthday.

Review: Spider's Revenge by Jennifer Estep

2011-11-21T21:18:00.002-05:00

Title: Spider's Revenge
Author: Jennifer Estep
Series: Elemental Assassin #5
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 09/27/11
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

Old habits die hard for assassins.
And I plan on murdering someone before the night is through.

Killing used to be my regular gig, after all. Gin Blanco, aka the Spider, assassin-for-hire. And I was very, very good at it. Now, I’m ready to make the one hit that truly matters: Mab Monroe, the dangerous Fire elemental who murdered my family when I was thirteen. Oh, I don’t think the mission will be easy, but turns out it’s a bit more problematic than expected. The bitch knows I’m coming for her. So now I’m up against the army of lethal bounty hunters Mab hired to track me down. She also put a price on my baby sister’s head. Keeping Bria safe is my first priority. Taking Mab out is a close second. Good thing I’ve got my powerful Ice and Stone magic -- and my irresistible lover, Owen Grayson -- to watch my back. This battle has been years in the making, and there’s a good chance I won’t survive. But if I’m going down, then Mab’s coming with me... no matter what I have to do to make that happen.

Plot: 4.5 Stars
The epic showdown that all readers of this series have been waiting for: Gin vs. Mab. I could not wait to dig into this novel because I've wanted this showdown to happen since I read the first book. I had pretty high expectations going in, and it definitely didn't disappoint. There were some twists and turns before the epic battle that left me gaping at the pages as I read. Even knowing that the sixth book in the series comes out in January, I was worried for Gin and company when the time came. There was a moment near the end that was a bit reminiscent of the last Harry Potter, but it really worked. It gave the reader a bit of insight into Gin. I also loved how this book continued to fill in the gaps in Gin's history.

Pace: 5 Stars
I could not put this novel down. This is definitely my favorite Urban Fantasy series, and the latest installment didn't disappoint. I haven't read a full-length novel as fast as I read this one in months. It was so refreshing to not want to put a book down. Even when the characters were planning their next move, it was anything but boring. Normally, the downtime between action scenes where the characters plan their next move can drag by a bit, but the author definitely has a way of leaving me on the edge of my seat before the action even begins. I also really enjoy how the author weaves in details of previous books. No matter how much time goes by between books, I'm never lost because each new novel includes the perfect amount of details.

Characters: 5 Stars
Although things are still tense, Gin and Bria are making progress. I really enjoyed their interactions in this novel as they tried to move forward. And with Bria hanging around more, Finn also got to know her more. The interactions between Bria and Finn were very entertaining. I was really excited to see more of Owen in this novel, especially when he was helping defend Gin. He was definitely a badass, and it was great to see him as more than just Gin's lover. This novel also involved a bit of growth for Gin. Normally a calm and cool assassin, she had a few moments that led to situations getting a bit out of hand. It was definitely a wild ride as she tried to get out of some sticky situations.

Cover: 5 Stars
My favorite part of this cover is how it embodies the epic showdown between Mab and Gin, fire and ice. It makes the cover stand out in the series. The first four covers were a bit more monochromatic, but this cover is a nice mix of complementary colors. The grayish-blue of the sky and stones really makes the orange of the fire stand out. I also really love the pose of the cover model. I just wish one of her spider runes were visible. This is the first cover in which neither of her palms are showing off the spider rune. This series has some of the best covers around because of the details. The setting of the covers are always specific scenes from the book, and this one is no different.

Overall: 5 Stars

Disclosure: I received an eARC of this novel for review from the author, and also received a finished copy as a gift from my girlfriend.

Review: Dark Hunt by Naomi Clark

2011-11-18T16:06:00.004-05:00

Title: Dark Hunt
Author: Naomi Clark
Series: Urban Wolf #2
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 10/16/11
Reviewed by: Sara
Summary:

Ayla Hammond is taking on Paris.

Hoping for a romantic getaway in the City of Lights with her girlfriend, Shannon, she finds a city under the dark thrall of Le Monstre.

Getting caught up in mystery and murder was the last thing Ayla and Shannon expected to find in the City of Love, but as the body count grows and tension rises between Parisian werewolves and humans they find themselves stalked by an unknown terror.

What is Le Monstre and why does it make Ayla's wolf want to turn tail and run? Can it be stopped before they become its next victims?

Plot: 4 Stars
I love that this is a story about a female werewolf and her girlfriend, and it doesn't include a coming-out story or tons of gratuitous sex scenes. As a bisexual woman in a relationship with another women, I love that Ayla and Shannon's relationship is a focus without being the entire point of the novels. Instead, it is a fantastic Urban Fantasy that just so happens to include GLBT characters. This addition to the series takes place in Paris, where Ayla and Shannon have decided to take a vacation together. The vacation definitely doesn't go as planned, between dealing with a pregnant werewolf, getting caught in a fire due to people who are anti-werewolf, and being hunted by a creature so mysterious it is only known as Le Monstre. There are a lot of surprising twists and turns as Ayla and Shannon explore Paris, and I can't wait for the next novel in the series. I also really enjoyed the short story at the end because I really enjoyed reading about how Shannon and Ayla met.

Pace: 4 Stars
This was the first book I read on my Kindle. Since I was reading it as a PDF, the font was pretty small, but it didn't affect my reading at all. The story sucked me in and wouldn't let go. Once the mayhem hit Paris, there was no downtime between all of the action (although Ayla and Shannon probably could've used a little here and there). For a vacation, there wasn't much rest and relaxation. Instead, it was noon-stop action and a race for their lives against a scary creature unlike anything they had ever seen before. All in all, I'm glad this was the first book I read on my Kindle. Had I read a book that didn't hold my interest as much, it may have brought my opinion of the device down. Instead, I can't wait to read another e-book and I hope it's just as great as this one.

Characters: 4 Stars
The author's depiction of Ayla and Shannon's relationship is fantastic. They've been together for a while, and you can feel the love they have for each other as you read. I also really enjoy that it isn't a picture perfect relationship; they have their disagreements. Shannon doesn't always understand Ayla's decisions or the werewolf pack, but they try their best. I also really enjoyed the characters they met in Paris. Sun, a pregnant werewolf, waffled between wanting to be independent and needing their help. Shannon and Ayla didn't always agree on how to deal with her. Clemence was my favorite character of the book. She was a spunky little werewolf that stood up for herself and the other wolves. Although Shannon and Ayla are headed back to England, I hope Clemence makes an appearance in a future novel.

Cover: 3 Stars
This cover had aspects that worked and aspects that didn't. My favorite part of the cover is the Eiffel Tower because it tells you right away that the characters are travelling to Paris. The moon and the werewolf are great additions too, considering the novel. The purple background is a great color that seems to be showing up more and more in Urban Fantasy covers. The part of the cover that didn't work for me was the white glow around the images and the slight effect used to make the images look like they were made of light. I think it would've worked better if the images looked more realistic and were blended together a bit more cohesively. Although I like the color and font choices, I think the placement of the title and author could've been better. Overall, the cover could use a couple tweaks but it's a good edition to the series.

Overall: 4 Stars

Disclosure: I received an eARC of this novel for review from Queered Fiction.

I'm Guest Reviewing Today

2011-11-14T19:19:00.002-05:00

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of The Shadow Reader by Sandy Williams from Fantasy & SciFi Lovin' News & Reviews, one of my most anticipated novels of the fall. And today, I'm guest reviewing over at Fantasy & SciFi Loving' News & Reviews. You can read my review here. I hope you'll check out the review because it was a really great Urban Fantasy debut.

In My Mailbox (108)

2011-11-13T01:59:00.010-05:00

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.

What a crazy week! First, I went to Jaclyn Dolamore's signing today. You can see my post about the event here. She was handing out Magic Under Stone ARCs. After the event, I went across the street to the used bookstore because they were having an overstock sale. I liberated some ARCs. The four ARCs I have listed under used books I purchased were all chilling out at the overstock building. I already own a finished copy of Legacies and don't read a lot of SciFi so Across the Universe doesn't appeal to me too much, but I grabbed all four because I didn't want anyone else making a profit off of them (ie, a regular consumer purchasing them and then selling them back somewhere in the future). I know not everyone will agree with me, but I felt like I needed to do something. I've never seen an ARC for sale in the actual store where they would be priced to make a profit (the overstock sale is in a separate building where they store extra books), but it definitely has me thinking about looking for a new used bookstore to shop at. I'll definitely be stalking RAK lists in the future, or maybe put together a giveaway. The six books from the overstock sale came to $5, so I don't think the bookstore made a profit perse on the ARCs if that makes anyone feel better. Anyway, after I got home, the mail man showed up at 6pm (crazy!) with lots of packages. All in all, it was definitely an interesting week to say the least.

Review:
Blood and Bullets by James R. Tuck ARC [Preorder]
That Thing at the Zoo by James R. Tuck eARC [not pictured]
Thanks to James and Kensington!

Gift:
Magic Under Stone by Jaclyn Dolamore ARC [Preorder]
Thanks to Jaclyn!

Won:
Crossed by Ally Condie ARC + poster [Buy now]
Thanks to The Reading Geek!
Living Violet by Jaime Reed ARC + swag [Preorder]
Thanks to Jaime and Kensington Teen!

Bought:
The Pledge by Kimberly Derting [Buy now]
Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore [Buy now]
Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore [Buy now]

Kindle Purchases: (not pictured)
Daimon by Jennifer L. Armentrout [Buy now]
Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout [Buy now]

From Michelle G:
Witch Heart by Anya Bast [Buy now]
Ghost of a Smile by Simon R. Green [Buy now]
Unleashed by Sara Humphreys ARC [Buy now]
The Goblin King by Shona Husk ARC [Buy now]
Crossroads by Jeanne C. Stein [Buy now]

Used:
Personal Demons by Kelley Armstrong ARC [Buy now]
Living with the Dead by Kelley Armstrong ARC [Buy now]
The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray [Buy now]
Clarity by Kim Harrington [Buy now]
Legacies by Mercedes Lackey & Rosemary Edghill ARC [Buy now]
Across the Universe by Beth Revis ARC [Buy now]

So what did everyone else get in their mailboxes?

Author Signing: Jaclyn Dolamore

2011-11-12T20:48:00.006-05:00

This afternoon, I headed over to our local Books-A-Million to meet Jaclyn Dolamore. She was signing copies of her latest release, Between the Sea and Sky, along with copies of Magic Under Glass. The coolest part of the afternoon was how Jaclyn signs books, because she includes doodles of her characters.

I picked up a copy of Between the Sea and Sky and Magic Under Glass. I had an older copy with the original cover art, but I'm a really big fan of the new cover and had to get one. I had Jaclyn sign my old copy for my brother's girlfriend. The only thing better than books for Christmas is signed books for Christmas!

Jaclyn also had a great surprise... Magic Under Stone ARCs! I was so excited and would've given her a big hug if I wasn't so awkward around new people. I don't know if everyone who stopped by for a signed book got an ARC. I couldn't stick around too long because I had to pick my mom up from work. But I know she definitely made some Orlando-area readers very happy today! (We don't get a lot of author events around here...)

And totally un-book-related... The cafe at this particular Books-A-Million has both almond and Irish cream syrup for lattes. We haven't been able to find these flavors anywhere since Borders closed, and the Barnie's by my dad closed. Yay!

About Me (Better Late than Never!)

2011-11-12T19:40:00.004-05:00

I just realized that I don't have an About Me page, just the little paragraph on my sidebar. So here it goes... I love to read (obviously!) and I tend to stick to paranormal things. I've been reading Paranormal YA since I was around 16, when it was slim pickin's. It wasn't until I was 19 that I ventured over to the adult Fantasy/SciFi section. I had run out of choices in Paranormal YA (at that moment). I picked up Dead After Dark by Charlaine Harris and Wicked Game by Jeri Smith-Ready, and my love affair with Urban Fantasy began. Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost had me venturing over to the romance section a couple months later. And somewhere in there, the Paranormal YA market exploded, and I still can't get enough. Since then, I've broadened my horizons a little to include Steampunk, Dystopian, and the occasional SciFi (although I'm quite picky about the SciFi).

I recently turned 24. I have a Bachelors in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Finance from Jacksonville University. I currently work in retail in a non-management position. While I'm technically working in my field of study, I'm not at the level I expected to be over two years after graduation. But I try not to let it get me down.

My girlfriend, Christen (who posts reviews occasionally), and I recently celebrated our fifth anniversary. We met our sophomore year in college because we lived a couple doors down from each other in the dorms. She majored in Art with a concentration in Glass Blowing (I know!) and a minor in Marketing. She works at the same store as I do, in a different position. We both live with my mom at the moment, with three cats. Rupert belongs to my mom, Wade belongs to Christen, and Riley belongs to me.

I have five tattoos and eleven piercings. I went a little crazy when I turned 18 in college (since my birthday is late and I started school up north, I graduated high school/started college at 17). I'm definitely not a girly-girl and tend to shop in the men's section just as much as the women's. I wear flip-flops 24/7, even during our one week winter in January.

I'm a pretty shy person, even on the internet. But feel free to follow me on Twitter @sara_UFblog. I tend to lurk on there more than anything, but I occasionally come out of my shell.

In My Mailbox (107)

2011-11-05T23:47:00.007-04:00

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.

I think this week was even crazier than last week. I hadn't planned to purchase as many books as I did. But when we were in Sam's I saw great prices on the books and couldn't stop myself from blowing the rest of my birthday money. I got Beautiful Chaos, The Iron Knight, and If I Die for around $23. It also seemed like there was at least one book at the door every single day. I was really excited to finally get the presents from my dad. I love love love the cover her got me for my Kindle. And I also found some great deals on Kindle. Diary of an Urban Panther was $0.99 yesterday, although it's now back up to $3.99. Jacob is still $1.79. I also used my first Kindle deal to get a horror title for $1, and I got Once Bitten. I'm just glad I stayed away from the library, or this post would be a mile long.

Bought:
Heart of Darkness by Lauren Dane [Buy now]
Crave by Melissa Darnell [Buy now]
Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl [Buy now]
The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa [Buy now]
If I Die by Rachel Vincent [Buy now]

Won:
Hades by Alexandra Adornetto [Buy now]
Thanks to Princessbookie!
Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey [Buy now]
Thanks to Susan Adrian and Scott Tracey!

Review:
Unleashed by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie [Buy now]
Thanks to Delecorte Press!
A Demon Does it Better by Linda Wisdom eARC [Buy now]
Thanks to Netgalley!

Kindle Purchases:
Diaries of an Urban Panther by Amanda Arista [Buy now]
Jacob by Jacquelyn Frank [Buy now]
Once Bitten by Kalayna Price [Buy now]

Kindle Free Reads:
Wild & Steamy by Meljean Brook, Jill Myles & Carolyn Crane [Buy now]
I Dream of Genies by Judi Fennell [Buy now]

BIRTHDAY
From my dad: Green Fleur de Lis Kindle cover
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake [Buy now]
Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs [Buy now]
Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel [Buy now]
The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton [Buy now]
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin [Buy now]
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor [Buy now]

Review: Trance by Kelly Meding

2011-11-05T20:06:00.004-04:00

Title: Trance
Author: Kelly Meding
Series: MetaWars #1
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 10/25/11
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

Kelly Meding’s war-ravaged Los Angeles is ground zero for the ultimate Meta human showdown in this sexy, action-packed new series.
Fifteen years ago, Teresa “Trance” West was a skilled telepath and a proud member of the Ranger Corps. But ever since the Rangers were inexplicably rendered powerless at the climax of the devastating Meta War, she’s bounced from one dead-end job to another. Now her powers have reappeared just as mysteriously as they vanished -- only they’re completely transformed and more potent than ever. And they’re threatening to destroy her.

Trance heads to Los Angeles to track down the surviving Rangers and discover who restored her powers -- and why -- but a phantom enemy is determined to kill them before they can reassemble. As they dodge his deadly attacks and come to terms with their new role as heroes, Trance and the rest of the team set out to annihilate the sinister madman... only to discover their own powers are his greatest weapons.

Plot: 5 Stars
I love a good urban fantasy that mixes in superheroes and superpowers instead of the paranormal. They only comes around every once and a while, and I've been waiting for a great one like this since I read Black and White by Jackie Kessler & Caitlin Kittredge. The powers that the characters had were very interesting, and I really enjoyed how they often had physical characteristics to match. I also really loved the codenames that the author came up with. Codenames are something that could easily become corny or cliche, but the author really made them fit each character and his or her powers. I also loved how the author wove the history of the MetaWars into the novel. It never felt like a history lesson. Instead, little pieces were brought out just when the reader needed them. And the twists and turns in this novel were epic. I was completely flaberghasted to find out who the bad guy was at the end. I totally didn't see it coming, and I totally can't believe the author went there.

Pace: 4.5 Stars
This novel started out really strong and reeled me right in. The first chapter acted kinda like a prologue, giving the reader a glimpse into the past when the MetaWars originally ended. It was great to see Trance as a child, using her powers to help the other kids as they fought for their lives. There were a few moments that seemed a bit repetitive throughout the novel. There were only so many times the remaining Meta humans could be attacked before you started to see the next attack coming. But even if I had a feeling something bad was going to happen, I was still completely shocked by what actually happened. Once the group started making a bit more progress in finding Spectre, the pace picked up and it was non-stop action until the very end.

Characters: 5 Stars
After the MetaWars, the kids were left without powers and shipped across the country to start over with new families. Many didn't have the greatest times, although some could blend in better than others. When their powers unexpected return, these kids that have now grown up are thrown for a loop but now have a sense of purpose. Trance kinda falls into a leadership position as the Meta humans make their way back to headquarters in LA. She wasn't always comfortable with the position, but she did what needed to be done. Gage was there to back her up every step of the way. I really liked how the two of them interacted throughout the novel. They had a past together as kids and just returned powers to bond over, but it was almost like they were meeting for the first time. The author did a great job of reintroducing the Meta humans to each other and allowing them to bond throughout the chaos.

Cover: 5 Stars
My favorite part of this cover is the orange title, and how it stands out against the purple. The two colors stood out against each other without clashing. The purple was a great choice for the cover considering Trance has natural purple streaks in her hair, and the color starts to take over more of her body after she regains her powers. Normally, I'd want the cover model to keep her natural colors, instead of blending in with such a monochromatic color scheme, but this time it fits the plot perfectly. I also really loved the glowing ball of energy in the cover model's hand. Not only does it give you a superhero/superpower vibe, it's also a power that Trance has. The skyscrapers in the background were a great touch, considering the majority of the novel takes place in Los Angeles.

Overall: 5 Stars

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this novel for review from Pocket Books.

Random Acts of Kindness: October Wrap-Up

2011-11-04T23:14:00.002-04:00

First, I would like to start by saying that I won't be participating in RAK this month. November really snuck up on me. I'm behind in reviews, have way too many books to read, and am participating in NaNoWriMo. I just received a bunch of great books for my birthday, and I have to start saving money for the holidays.

But back to October's wrap-up. I didn't receive any RAKs for October, but it was still a great month. I got a Kindle from my mom and a giant pile of books from everyone else. I did send out one book. At the beginning of the month, I went to Kristen Painter's signing. Although I bought myself a finished copy of Blood Rights for her to sign, I also brought along my ARC to be signed and passed it along to Michelle G. @ Michelle's Book Blog. I really loved Blood Rights and hope Michelle does too. :)

Month in Review: October

2011-11-04T23:06:00.004-04:00

October was a weird month. I didn't finish a single novel until about the 15th. I was bouncing between two books for the first two weeks, but they were taking forever to read and put me behind in review requests. So I put them aside to read some review requests. They aren't on this list because I put bookmarks in them and am going to get back to them ASAP. I had also planned to write a couple reviews for the past couple days, but NaNoWriMo took over a bit. I started out pretty strong with almost 5500 words in the first two days, and am hoping to keep that pace going. Work is gonna be nutty for the first half of the week, but I hope to have a couple more reviews up soon, especially since I enjoyed the books so much.

October: 8

Dead Mann Walking by Stefan Petrucha 3.5 Stars
The Summons: A Goblin King Prequel by Shona Husk 3.5 Stars
The Strange Case of Finley Jane by Kady Cross 4.5 Stars
Slayers by C.J. Hill 3 Stars
Trance by Kelly Meding 5 Stars review coming soon
Fury by Anya Bast 3 Stars
The Shadow Reader by Sandy Williams 4.5 Stars review coming soon
Dark Hunt by Naomi Clark 4 Stars review coming soon

So what did everyone else read in October?

Review: Slayers by C.J. Hill

2011-10-30T21:09:00.003-04:00

Title: Slayers
Author: C.J. Hill
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Release Date: 09/27/11
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

Dragons exist. They’re ferocious. And they’re smart: Before they were killed off by slayer-knights, they rendered a select group of eggs dormant, so their offspring would survive. Only a handful of people know about this, let alone believe it –- these “Slayers” are descended from the original knights, and are now a diverse group of teens that includes Tori, a smart but spoiled senator’s daughter who didn’t sign up to save the world.

The dragon eggs have fallen into the wrong hands. The Slayers must work together to stop the eggs from hatching. They will fight; they will fall in love. But will they survive?

Plot: 3 Stars
I really wanted to love this novel. The premise was fantastic. There aren't nearly enough urban-fantasy-esqe novels that include dragons. But I found the lack of details a bit disappointing. The reader get the basics as to how the slayers came to be and what the different abilities are, but many of the hows and whys were left unanswered. A few too many details are just taken for granted by the characters. Even while Tori is still learning about her destiny and questioning things, there are some details and history that I wanted her to question, but she did not. Those details aside, this novel was still very interesting. The different powers the slayers possessed and the training they went through were interesting. My favorite parts were the prologue and the last chapter. The prologue gives a glimpse of how evil the dragons can be and leaves you wanting to know more while Tori is finding her way. And the last chapter drops a bit of a bomb. It's not quite a cliffhanger, but it did leave me wanting to know what happens next.

Pace: 2.5 Stars
This novel moved a bit slow for my taste. Life at camp moved at a pretty slow pace while the slayers practiced and showed Tori what was going on. There were entire chapters dedicated to smaller, more trivial events that could've been wrapped up much quicker, like when Tori runs off to get her hair fixed after getting the majority of her ponytail burnt off. There were quite a few times in which the smaller details of every day life were blown up into much bigger scenes than they needed to be. It also threw me off a little when the point of view of the novel changed. The majority of the book was from Tori's perspective, but every now and then there would be a chapter all in italics that was a different point of view. It was normal enough the first couple times, when the point of view only changed to Jesse. But it seemed a little forced when the point of view jumped to a couple other characters.

Characters: 3.5 Stars
Some of the characters in this novel were definitely developed more than others. I really enjoyed the more developed characters, like Tori and Jesse. I wanted to like the less developed characters, but I really didn't get to learn that much about them. Many of the slayers tended to stay in the background, only coming into the spotlight when their powers were needed. Tori was a very interesting main character. She straddled the line in regards to being a bit spoiled. The author did a good job of making sure the reader could still relate to her and not think of her as a spoiled brat. I really enjoyed that she was vulnerable as she began to practice with the slayers. She didn't learn how to use her powers and fight overnight, which made her feel a bit more real.

Cover: 3 Stars
The dark green of this cover is my favorite part. The color really fits a novel about dragons. The yellow color of the title pops against the dark green and continues the dragon feel. But the font itself chosen for the title is a bit too masculine considering about half of the slayers are female, and the novel is mostly from Tori's point of view. The dragon egg used as the focus of the cover fits the novel, but doesn't really draw the eye. It's a little hard to tell what the item is or to distinguish details at a quick glance. I would've rather the cover included a real dragon and maybe a couple characters. This cover is just a bit too generic and doesn't give off enough of a dragon vibe to grab your attention.

Overall: 3 Stars

Disclosure: I received a copy of this novel for review from Authors on the Web.

In My Mailbox (106)

2011-10-29T22:52:00.004-04:00

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.

This past Wednesday was my birthday, so this IMM is a bit bigger than usual. And it's not even as big as it could be, because some books that I ordered aren't here yet. I finally got a Kindle! I have been really hesitant to buy myself one because I've looked at the displays and they make my eyes water a little when the page turns, but I still wanted one. Between the two giftcards I received, I spent $85 on books (both print and Kindle) in less than an hour. I was also very surprised when I got the package from HarperCollins with my giveaway win this week. The giveaway had been just for a copy of Den of Thieves, but the publicist threw in a copy of book two that just released.

Bought:
Darker Still by Leanne Renee Hieber [Buy now]
Flesh and Blood by Kristen Painter [Buy now]

Free Read:
A Dark Kiss of Rapture by Sylvia Day [Buy now]

Won:
Den of Thieves by David Chandler [Buy now]
A Thief in the Night by David Chandler [Buy now]
Thanks to HarperCollins and Bastard Books!

BIRTHDAY
From my mom: The new Kindle + charger

From my brother: $25 Amazon Giftcard
Bound by Night by Amanda Ashley [Buy now]
Goddess with a Blade by Lauren Dane [Buy now]
Dead Girls are Easy by Terri Garey [Buy now]
The Business of Death by Trent Jamieson [Buy now]
Miss Bramble and the Leviathan by Kristen Painter [Buy now]
Wilder's Mate by Moira Rogers [Buy now]
Incarnate by A.C. Ruttan [Buy now]

From my dad: $60 B&N Giftcard
I've already ordered six YA hardcover novels that I've been eagerly anticipating, and hopefully they'll arrive sometime next week. My dad also got me a pretty cool Green Fleur de Lis cover for my Kindle, but the shipping was delayed a bit so it didn't arrive until today. I'm hoping to be able to pick it up tomorrow.

Review: Dead Mann Walking by Stefan Petrucha

2011-10-29T15:50:00.003-04:00

Title: Dead Mann Walking
Author: Stefan Petrucha
Series: Hessius Mann #1
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 10/04/11
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

After Hessius Mann was convicted of his wife's murder, suppressed evidence came to light and the verdict was overturned -- too bad he was already executed. But thanks to the miracles of modern science Hessius was brought back to life. Sort of.

Now that he's joined the ranks of Fort Hammer's pulse-challenged population, Hessius attempts to make a "living" as a private investigator. But when a missing persons case leads to a few zombies cut to pieces, Hessius starts thinking that someone's giving him the run-around -- and it's not like he's in any condition to make a quick getaway...

Plot: 4 Stars
I loved the premise to this novel. I definitely enjoy higher functioning zombies as compared to the ones that just run around craving brains. There was a lot of details about the hows and the whys of the zombies that I really enjoyed. It felt as if these zombies were very thought out, and the author definitely made them his own. I loved all of the details about how the zombies reacted to different elements and the precautions they had to take, even when they were a bit gory. There was also the aspect of the zombies going feral, or losing their higher functions that was always at the back of their minds. Besides the awesome zombies, the plot also had a number of twists and turns that I wasn't expecting that led to a very adventurous ride.

Pace: 3 Stars
Although the great take on zombies and a couple quick plot twists pulled me right into this novel, there were some bumps along the way. About three second times in the middle of the novel, it seemed to slow down. There were some scenes between the action in which Hessius spent a bit too much time thinking things through or sinking a little close to feral territory, which brought the pace of the novel down. In these instances, it left me wondering where the novel was going and if I should put it down for a little bit, but then something unexpected would draw me right back in. And once the story reached the showdown near the end, not only was I surprised by some of the events, I also could no longer put the novel down.

Characters: 3.5 Stars
Hessius was a very interesting character and zombie. Although the transition from dead to zombie causes memory loss, he never let it get him down too much. Instead, he bought a digital recorder to make sure he remembered important information. It was very interesting to see how he had adjusted to his new life, and to see hints of the detective he used to be come through. Other than Hessius, the rest of the characters played pretty small parts. I would've like for some of these characters to have slightly larger supporting roles, and I hope we get to see more of them in future books.

Cover: 3.5 Stars
The color palette of this cover really screams zombies to me. The brownish color mixed with the texture that's overlayed over the image gives the cover a bit of a grungy feel that fits a zombie book. The yellow eye on the cover model really stands out and catches your attention, although I don't remember the zombies specifically having yellow eyes. I did like how the title matched the eye color. It made the title fit in with the rest of the image instead of stand out. The red band across the bottom was a great way to bring attention to the series name without taking away too much attention from the rest of the cover. The one part of the cover I wasn't that big of a fan of was how the cover model's face wrapped around to the back cover. Although I could tell it was another image of the same face, the break in the image caused by the spine cut the image in a weird way.

Overall: 3.5 Stars

Disclosure: I received a copy of this novel for review from Ace/Roc.

Review: Bloodstone by Nancy Holzner

2011-10-28T14:00:00.004-04:00

Title: Bloodstone
Author: Nancy Holzner
Series: Victory Vaughn #3
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 09/27/11
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

They call it Deadtown: the city's quarantined section for its inhuman and undead residents. Most humans stay far from its borders -- but Victory Vaughn, Boston's only professional demon slayer, isn't exactly human...

Boston's diverse South End is known for its architecture and great restaurants, not its body count. So when mutilated human corpses begin turning up in the area, the entire city takes notice. The killer -- dubbed the South End Reaper -- uses a curved blade for his grisly work. And even though there's no real evidence pointing to a paranormal culprit, the deaths are straining the already-tense relations between Boston's human and inhuman residents.

As the bodies pile up, Vicky, her formidable aunt, Mab, and her werewolf boyfriend, Kane investigate, only to find that the creature behind the carnage is after something much more than blood...

Plot: 4.5 Stars
I love that each book in this series starts out with a regular demon extermination job for Vicky. It gives us a look into her normal life, between the life-threatening moments, without boring us with their smaller and less mysterious complications. It's also a great way for the author to introduce readers to the different kinds of demons in a fun way. The Reaper put Boston on edge, allowing those in charge that do not sympathize with the paranormals to put Deadtown on lockdown. This posed a pretty big problem for Vicky as she tried to stop Reaper from finishing the ritual, but she found a very interesting way to sneak out. This was another fantastic addition to one of my favorite Urban Fantasy series. I can't wait for book four.

Pace: 5 Stars
I could not put this novel down. After totally and completely loving Deadtown, I found Hellforged to be a bit slower in pacing, so I was so excited that this novel's pace was more consistent with the first book. For a good portion of the novel, Vicky was one step behind the South End Reaper and she tried her best to catch up so that she could stop him. It didn't leave much time for her to slow down, which led to less down time between the craziness. There were even a few plotlines from book two that hadn't been tied up. They could've easily distracted Vicky or just slowed the plot's progression down, but instead they wove together with this book's plot perfectly.

Characters: 4.5 Stars
Vicky is one of my favorite kick-ass Urban Fantasy heroines. This novel forced her to be a bit more vulnerable than previous novels, and it was very interesting to see how she dealt with these circumstances. I wish we could've seen more of her shapshifting in this novel, but I understand that she can't shift all willy-nilly like some paranormal creatures. It was also interesting to see her neice growing up and possibly coming into her powers. Learning the truth about why her sister hates Mab was unexpected. Although Juliet came out of hiding, she was still out of commission for most of the novel. I really hope she has a larger part in the next novel because I miss her sense of humor and odd mannerisms. Kane's part was definitely not what I expected considering he was stuck in the wrong form, and definitely posed a number of problems for Vicky. I was also very glad to see Tina quit acting like quite as much of a diva as she did in book two. Her zombie buddies actually helped Vicky out when she really needed it.

Cover: 4.5 Stars
It's great to finally see Vicky's face, and the progression of the cover model turning to the read over the three novels is a nice touch. On the Deadtown cover, Vicky is facing completely away from the reader as she looks out over the city. On the Hellforged cover, Vicky has turned towards the reader a bit, but not enough to get a good look. On this cover, Vicky is facing the reader and she's still holding her flaming sword. I also really enjoyed the deep blues of the cover and how well the flaming sword stoof out against it. And don't get me started on the grim reaper-like image floating in the sky. I totally didn't notice it at first. Then one day while I was in the middle of the novel, I noticed him and it creeped me out a bit. I kinda wanted to warn the cover model to watch her back, because he's totally sneaking up on her. This series has definitely been blessed with fantastic cover from the cover gods.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I received a copy of this novel for review from Ace/Roc.

Author Interview: Kristen Painter

2011-10-27T10:28:00.004-04:00

Today I'd like to welcome Kristen Painter, author of the House of Comarré series from Orbit. The second book in the series, Flesh and Blood just released this past Tuesday (October 25th) and I can't wait to read it after enjoying book one so much. You can see my review of Blood Rights here.

Sara: How would you describe the House of Comarré series, for readers who haven’t heard of it before?

Kristen: I always tell people it’s like Underworld meets Memoirs of a Geisha. If you haven’t seen either of those movies, think vampires that don’t sparkle with blood slaves and a bunch of other creatures.

Sara: How would you describe each of your main characters in three words?

Kristen: Mal –- dark, dangerous, tortured
Chrysabelle –- scared, learning, vulnerable

Sara: Do you have a favorite character to write? Is there a character that’s a bit harder than the rest to write?

Kristen: Chrysabelle is my hardest character to write because she’s the most unlike me. She’s trying to find her place in the world, struggling to come to terms with all the changes in her life. A lot of things are brand new for her and she has a lot of baggage to either deal with or leave behind.

Sara: What sets your series apart from the rest of the Urban Fantasy genre?

Kristen: I’m not sure I’m the right one to answer that question as I’ve purposefully tried not be influenced by the work of other authors while creating this series, which basically means I haven’t read much in the UF genre for awhile. It’s tough because there are so many good books out there!

Sara: How many more novels set in Chrysabelle’s world can we look forward to?

Kristen: There will be five in total in the House of Comarré series. I’m working on book five, Last Blood, right now.

Sara: If Chrysabelle could work together with any Urban Fantasy hero or heroine, who would you want her to work with?

Kristen: I think my hero, Mal, would have something to say about this. As in, like hell that’s going to happen. Therefore I feel it’s in my best interest not to answer this question since I need him to cooperate with me a little while longer.

Sara: Tell us a little about your writing process. Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Kristen: I’m mostly a pantser. I tend to know my beginnings, some things that happen in the middle and have a general sense of the end. Whatever else happens is just the fun of writing. Without those little discoveries, I’d probably get bored and read all day.

Sara: Do you have any other projects in the works? Are there any genres you’d like to branch out to in the future?

Kristen: The only project I’m working on at the moment is book five in the series, Last Blood. As for other genres, I’d love to get into writing comics or graphic novels.

Sara: What are your influences both in and out of Urban Fantasy?

Kristen: Too many to name! Everything from movies to art to comics to games. I just love the strange and interesting.

Sara: What are you currently reading?

Kristen: The ARC of Shadow Ops: Control Point by Myke Cole. I don’t usually read military fantasy, but I forced Myke to promise to send me an ARC at Comic Con –- which he did –- so I’m happily reading it!

Thanks again for stopping by, Kristen! And for readers who want to learn more about Kristen or the series, there is a chat tonight at 9pm. I've heard there will be books given away at this chat, so you should definitely check it out. Here are the details:

WHAT: Chat with Kristen Painter
WHEN: Thursday, October 27th at 9pm ET
WHERE: TKA Chatroom
HOW: Enter any combination of username and password to enter

Title: Flesh and Blood
Author: Kristen Painter
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 10/25/11
Summary:

With the ring of sorrows still missing, and the covenant between othernaturals and mortals broken, Chrysabelle and Malkolm's problems are just beginning. Chrysabelle still owes Malkolm for his help, but fulfilling that debt means returning to Corvinestri, the hidden vampire city neither of them is welcome in.

The discovery that Chrysabelle has a brother could mean reneging on her promise to Malkolm, something that might make him angry enough to loose the beast living inside him. And fulfilling her vow could prove devastating for Chrysabelle -- especially when you throw in power hungry witches, dead fringe vampires, and the Kubai Mata.

And don't forget, Bad Blood comes out next month! I know I can't wait!

Title: Bad Blood
Author: Kristen Painter
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 12/22/11
Summary:

Samhain approaches, bringing with it the final melding of the mortal and othernatural worlds. No one knows just how much power the night holds...

Violent murders occur in Paradise City as counterfeit comarré are systematically hunted. The police and the Kubai Mata have more than enough trouble to keep themselves occupied. As war erupts at home, Malkolm and Chrysabelle head to New Orleans to recover the Ring of Sorrows. Chrysabelle is forced to make a life and death decision and will realize that her relationship to Malkolm may have fatal consequences.

The clock is ticking...

In My Mailbox (105)

2011-10-22T22:30:00.005-04:00

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.

This week was a very ecclectic mix in regards to how they arrived. I was completely confused the other day to find two identical envelopes from St. Martin's Press in the mailbox. The only difference between the two was a different font used for the address. This difference was only noticed because both envelopes had an ARC of Tempest. I had won a Goodreads giveaway recently, and it looks like a whoopsie. I wonder if any (or all 200) winners received two copies. Anyway, it works out pretty well because I'm going to give one copy to my brother's girlfriend for Christmas since she reads a lot of YA also. I would love to run a giveaway, but I just can't afford it right now. I was also very excited to win a signed copy of Hereafter, especially since the other half of the giveaway includes an ARC of Arise once the author receives them. Last Sunday was mine and Christen's fifth anniversary, so of course we got each other books (and I also got her a mug she'd been eyeing at Starbucks). I think that's enough rambling for now. And just a warning, my birthday is on Wednesday, so the next IMM is probably gonna be ginormous.

Won:
Tempest by Julie Cross ARC [Buy now]
Thanks to Goodreads and St. Martin's Press!
Hereafter by Tara Hudson [Buy now]
Thanks to Tara!

Review:
Dark Hunt by Naomi Clark (e-copy)
Thanks to QueeredFiction Press!

Gift (from Christen):
Spider's Revenge by Jennifer Estep [Buy now]
Crux by Moira Rogers [Buy now]

Gift (from Sara):
Unwelcome by Michael Griffo [Buy now]

Used (Sara):
Midnight Awakening by Lara Adrian [Buy now]
Spellcast by Barbara Ashford [Buy now]
Always a Vampire by Nancy Haddock [Buy now]

Used (Christen):
The Kitchen Witch by Annette Blair [Buy now]
Atlantis Unleashed by Alyssa Day [Buy now]

Library (Sara):
It Happened One Bite by Lydia Dare [Buy now]
Clockwork & Corsets by anthology [Buy now]

Library (Christen):
Blameless by Gail Carriger [Buy now]

Review: Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey

2011-10-21T14:57:00.003-04:00

Title: Witch Eyes
Author: Scott Tracey
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Release Date: 09/08/11
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

A boy who can see the world's secrets and unravel spells with just a glance.

Braden's witch eyes give him an enormous power. A mere look causes a kaleidoscopic explosion of emotions, memories, darkness, and magic. But this rare gift is also his biggest curse.

Compelled to learn about his shadowed past and the family he never knew, Braden is drawn to the city of Belle Dam, where he is soon caught between two feuding witch dynasties. Sworn rivals Catherine Lansing and Jason Thorpe will use anything -- lies, manipulation, illusion, and even murder -- to seize control of Braden's powers. To stop an ancient evil from destroying the town, Braden must master his gift, even through the shocking discovery that Jason is his father. While his feelings for an enigmatic boy named Trey grow deeper, Braden realizes a terrible truth: Trey is Catherine Lansing's son... and Braden may be destined to kill him.

Plot: 3.5 Stars
There were so many reasons I wanted to read this novel. The main character of the novel is gay, instead of a smaller background character. It's a young adult novel that focuses on a male main character instead of a female. Plus, the magic and specifically Braden's witch eyes really drew me in. There are so many ways you can twist magic and wizards/witches to be your own, and the author definitely did that. I really enjoyed Belle Dam as the setting. It was a very creepy place that centered around a fued between Catherine Lansing and Jason Thorpe. There were a number of details about the fued that were glossed over that would've probably helped me understand things a bit more as the reader, and I hope more of these details will come out in future novels as Braden learns more about his witch eyes.

Pace: 4.5 Stars
This novel flew by as Braden ran around Belle Dam trying to learn anything he can about his witch eyes. Although there were a couple points in which Braden was in a rush, whether to get away from something or to find something else before it was too late, the novel didn't feel rushed. And the calmer scenes, like hanging out with other student at school or falling asleep after a migraine, didn't slow the book down. It felt like Belle Dam was sending Braden in circles as he tried to learn more about his abilities, and it was fun to follow him on his journey.

Characters: 4 Stars
My favorite part of this whole novel was that Braden was gay, he knew he was gay, and he wasn't ashamed of it. It was who he was, and it did not affect the majority of the story. I really liked that he had already figured everything out, it wasn't a big deal, and that this novel was not his coming out. I thought it was a bit too coincidental that Trey, the boy Braden had a crush on, just happened to also be gay. But as they got to know each other, and things weren't always perfect, the coincidental feeling went away. Trey's sister was also a very interesting character, although I wish her part could've been a bit bigger. Although everyone in town knew about the Catherine Lansing and Jason Thorpe rivalry, I didn't feel like I was as up to speed as the rest of the characters, so I hope more information about them and their rivalry comes out in the next novel.

Cover: 4 Stars
The eyes of the cover model really grab your attention, which makes sense due to both the title of the novel, and Braden's ability. The lightning type detail on one of the eyes gives a hint as to the powers Braden possesses, but still leaves you wondering exactly how his witch eyes work. Although floating face covers don't always work for me, I can't think of any other way to focus on the eyes. I also like that the nose and lips kind of fall away into the forest so that there is nothing to draw your attention to a different part of the cover model. The forest and the mansion below the cover model's face are creepy in all of the right ways. The colors are a bit somber, but fit the feel of Belle Dam quite well.

Overall: 4 Stars

Disclosure: I borrowed this novel from the local library.

Guest Blog: Naomi Clark

2011-10-20T10:01:00.006-04:00

Today I'd like to welcome back Naomi Clark, the author of the Urban Wolf series from QueeredFiction Press. Last February, I had the chance to review the first novel in the series, Silver Kiss, and really enjoyed it. You can read my review here. To celebrate the release of the next novel in the series, Dark Hunt, Naomi is here today to answer the question "Why werewolves?"

A question I'm asked a lot as a writer is "why werewolves?" I've managed to sneak them into almost everything I write, including my university dissertation, and my collection of werewolf books is bordering on the ridiculous. So I thought it might be fun to try to answer that question and trace back the origins of my werewolf obsession in five steps:

Tamora Pierce. As a teenager I read and fell in love with Tamora Pierce's Immortals Quartet, about a girl who could speak to animals. The second book, Wolf Speaker, sees the heroine, Daine, living with a pack of wolves and as far as thirteen-year-old me was concerned, this was the best thing ever. I wanted to be Daine. I wanted to run with those wolves and play with those cubs. It was a source of great disappointment to me that the family cocker spaniel just wasn't interested.

Nature documentaries. We watched a lot of nature documentaries in my household, and my favourites were always about wolves and foxes. They're beautiful animals and I loved the social bonds and family ties they have. It made it very easy to anthropomorphize them for the fantasy stories I was already writing.

Little Red Riding Hood. I love fairy tales, but the one I always loved best was this one. Now, of course here the wolf is a bad guy, but that didn't make him any less fascinating to me. If anything, it made him more interesting. Am I the only one who always feels a bit sad when the huntsman kills the wolf at the end?

Angela Carter. I didn't discover Angela Carter's beautifully twisted fairy tales until I was at university, but they had a big impact on me – especially her two stories The Company of Wolves and Wolf-Alice. The Company of Wolves is a dark, fascinating reworking of Little Red Riding Hood and Wolf-Alice is about a feral child and the attempts to civilise her. It's a theme I love – the clash of wilderness and civilisation, and the werewolf encapsulates that perfectly.

WereBears. Hear me out. This isn't the most obvious connection. But you remember Care Bears, right? Well, WereBears were the anti-Care Bears? They were stuffed toys that you could flip from cute little happy bears into fanged, clawed scary bears! I had three or four growing up, and I'm pretty sure they're responsible for my love of shapeshifters. There was something very appealing about turning those cuddly little bears into fierce little monsters!

Title: Dark Hunt
Author: Naomi Clark
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 10/17/11
Summary:

Ayla Hammond is taking on Paris.

Hoping for a romantic getaway in the City of Lights with her girlfriend, Shannon, she finds a city under the dark thrall of Le Monstre.

Getting caught up in mystery and murder was the last thing Ayla and Shannon expected to find in the City of Love, but as the body count grows and tension rises between Parisian werewolves and humans they find themselves stalked by an unknown terror.

What is Le Monstre and why does it make Ayla's wolf want to turn tail and run? Can it be stopped before they become its next victims?

Contest Time:

We're giving away plenty of swag in the DARK HUNT blog tour (http://tiny.cc/drkhunttour). There are daily ebook giveaways and hampers of goodies up for grabs at the grand finale of the tour including ebooks, limited DARK HUNT t-shirts, personal horoscopes and tarot readings by Naomi Clark, as well as postcards from Ayla, Shannon, Vince, Joel and Glory (urban wolf series characters). Leave a comment here (ask me a question; tell me about your fondest childhood memories/influences; your paranormal passions; or just say hello) with your email address to be entered. Enter at each point along the tour for more entries and more chances to win.

NAOMI CLARK

Naomi Clark lives in Cambridge and is a mild-mannered office worker by day, but a slightly crazed writer by night. She has a perfectly healthy obsession with giant sea creatures and a preference for vodka-based cocktails. When she's not writing, Naomi is probably either reading or watching 80s cartoon shows, and sometimes she manages to do all three at once. You can follow Naomi at Twitter (http://twitter.com/#!/naomi_jay); Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/naomijclark) or on her Blog (http://naomijay.blogspot.com/).

Giveaway Winner: Slayers by C.J. Hill

2011-10-16T21:16:00.003-04:00

There was a total of 9 participants in the Slayers by C.J. Hill Giveaway. Using random.org, I randomized the list of entries, and then random selected the winners. The winners are...

Barbara E and Robin K!

Congratulations! Please respond to the e-mail I sent with your mailing information within 72 hours.

Didn't win? You can pick up a copy from The Book Depository and have it shipped for free! Just click here. And don't forget to check out C.J. Hill's guest blog, if you haven't already.

In My Mailbox (104)

2011-10-15T23:41:00.005-04:00

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.

A few weeks ago I finally got the courage to make my first review request, and it worked out so awesome because I got a copy of Trance yesterday! My happy dance freaked out my mom a little, and the cats a lot. We also got funny looks at the library after walking up to check out with over 10 books. It was like they've never seen anyone who wants to read so much. Who knew. I guess everyone around here rents DVDs... We wouldn't have grabbed so many except Christen doesn't like to read my mass markets because I'm "too OCD" about my books (ie, she's afraid she'll crease the spines), so the books with ** next to them are ones that I already owned but we rented for Christen.

Review:
Trance by Kelly Meding ARC [Buy now]
Thanks to Pocket Books!

Bought:
Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions anthology [Buy now]

Library (Sara):
iDrakula by Bekka Black [Buy now]
Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst [Buy now]
Switched by Amanda Hocking [Buy now]
Awaken Me Darkly by Gena Showalter [Buy now]

Library (Christen):
Death's Daughter by Amber Benson ** [Buy now]
Changeless by Gail Carriger ** [Buy now]
Heartless by Gail Carriger ** [Buy now]
Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep ** [Buy now]
Stormwalker by Allyson James ** [Buy now]
Earl of Darkness by Alix Rickloff [Buy now]
Lord of Shadows by Alix Rickloff [Buy now]

Guest Blog: C.J. Hill

2011-10-15T00:17:00.006-04:00

Today, I'd like to welcome C.J. Hill to Sara's Urban Fantasy Blog. C.J. Hill is the pseudonym for a popular young adult author who makes her fantasy debut with Slayers.

Most story ideas don’t come to me whole and complete but are cobbled together from several incidents and thoughts. Slayers is that way. The first incident happened when I was fifth grade and had just moved to Silver Springs, Maryland. All the adults there were quite excited because this was the year that the cicadas would emerge from the ground after remaining dormant and hidden for 17 years. The next door neighbor happily explained to me that this was the cicadas’ way of avoiding predators. Since they only emerged every 17 years, predators couldn’t depend on them as a food source.

A brilliant adaptation, I might add, for an insect that isn’t smart enough to avoid accidentally flying into your hair.

I remember finding a lot of hollow cicada skins that summer, because cicada’s also shed their skin. Ahh, there’s nothing nicer to find hanging from your bedroom windowsill than a creepy, hollow bug skin.

But anyway, the point to all of this was that as a child I immediately picked up on what the adults seemed to have missed in the cicadas’ amazing return from the underworld. If bugs could (sort of) hibernate for nearly two decades in order to give themselves a natural advantage, why couldn’t other species do it too? Maybe there were animals with such long life cycles we just hadn’t caught them emerging yet.

I grew up on Godzilla movies and so had a strong and deep rooted fear that dinosaurs might one day show up and start smacking buildings around and eating screaming Japanese people -- or worse yet: eat me.

No one knew what had caused the extinction of the dinosaurs and I was surprised that no one had come up with my theory. They weren’t really gone. They were just hibernating. Waiting until there were lots of yummy fifth grade girls around to chomp on. And there were probably some eggs buried under my house!!

The nice thing about childhood fears is that you can use them later in your novels. Nothing is ever wasted when you’re a writer.

The next piece that added to the Slayers plot was my own clumsiness. I will sometimes wake up in the morning and notice bruises or scratches and I have no idea how or when I got them. My husband is understandably amazed by this phenomenon. He’ll say things like, “How can you not realize it when you hurt yourself? Were you with your body all day yesterday?”

Apparently not. Writers are like that sometimes.

I got tired of my husband’s comments so I started telling him, “While you sleep at night, I secretly go out and fight dragons.”

And then because I have a writer’s brain I wondered what it would be like to fight dragons. Viola, the beginning of a plot. When I researched dragons, I found another interesting fact. Just about every ancient culture had a dragon mythology. Most people are familiar with European and Chinese dragons, but Japanese and Koreans had them too. The Aztecs had Quetzalcoatl the flying feathered serpent, the Native Americans had Thunderbirds -- birds so big that when they flapped their wings, it sounded like thunder. The Bible has dragon references in both the New and Old Testaments. Even the Hawaiians have a dragon mythology. When the dragon goddess, Kihawahine, needed help retrieving her runaway human husband, she called on all the dragons from the Islands to fly over and help her.

I bet you never knew dragons provided that service, did you? They fly, breathe fire, and provide marriage counseling. Can a creature get cooler than that? All of this got me thinking even more about the subject. What if they had really existed? Who could have killed them? What powers would they knights have needed to fight them? And what if some people wanted to save the dragons instead of killing them? Where would they have taken them to protect them?

So that’s how Slayers came about. It was a really fun book to write. I hope readers have just as much fun reading it.

Thanks again to C.J. Hill for stopping by. And don't forget to enter for a chance to win a copy of Slayers! Click here to enter the giveaway. Ends tonight.

Also, check out the book trailer for Slayers!

Review: Fateful by Claudia Gray

2011-10-14T23:38:00.005-04:00

Title: Fateful (ARC)
Author: Claudia Gray
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Release Date: 09/13/11
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

Eighteen-year-old maid Tess Davies is determined to escape the wealthy, troubled family she serves. It’s 1912, and Tess has been trapped in the employ of the Lisles for years, amid painful memories and twisted secrets. But now the Lisle family is headed to America, with Tess in tow. Once the ship they’re sailing on -- the RMS Titanic -- reaches its destination, Tess plans to strike out and create a new life for herself.

Her single-minded focus shatters when she meets Alec, a handsome first-class passenger who captivates her instantly. But Alec has secrets of his own. He’s in a hurry to leave Europe, and whispers aboard the ship say it’s because of the tragic end of his last affair with the French actress who died so gruesomely and so mysteriously...

Soon Tess will learn just how dark Alec’s past truly is. The danger they face is no ordinary enemy: werewolves exist and are stalking him -- and now her, too. Her growing love for Alec will put Tess in mortal peril, and fate will do the same before their journey on the Titanic is over.

In Fateful, New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray delivers paranormal adventure, dark suspense, and alluring romance set against the opulent backdrop of the Titanic’s first -- and last -- voyage.

Plot: 4 Stars
From the moment I heard the phrase "werewolves on the Titanic" I knew I had to read this novel. Werewolves are my favorite paranormal creature, and I was very interested to see how the author fit them into everything we know about the Titanic and its tragedy. The amount of details would've been tedious in any other novel, but it was definitely needed to help shape this huge ship in your imagination. You can really tell that the author did her research, and it led to a great story. It was also refreshing to read a historical novel that I really enjoyed. This was definitely the best blend of historical and paranormal I have ever read.

Pace: 3.5 Stars
The pace of this novel felt a little slow at some points, but I believe that is due to a large plot point not being a surprise due to the author's choice of setting. Although the day to day life of the characters kept me engaged and wondering what would happen next, there was a part of my brain that was waiting for the ship to hit the iceberg and start sinking. Tess's job and actions seemed a bit redundant at times, although the amount of research the author put into the novel came through and definitely made the characters come to life. For all of the waiting involved as the story unfolded, the events after the iceberg really took me by surprise. I knew that the Titanic was going to hit the iceberg, but I hadn't really thought about what would happen to the characters after the crisis, so the ending of this novel had a few twists I really enjoyed.

Characters: 4 Stars
Tess was a lovely character with big dreams. She was both very mature for her age, and a bit naive at times. She dealt with the Lisles and they're attitudes quite well, and I was very glad that the Lisle's daughter, Irene, was kind to her. I feel like her character wouldn't have been believable if everyone in the family treated her like dirt. Alec was a very troubled young man who was trying to keep a very big secret while aboard the Titanic. He was also very strong in his refusal to join the brotherhood of werewolves due to their cruelty. Although Alec and Tess shouldn't have had the chance to socialize, unforseen circumstances brought them together and I really enjoyed watching their relationship grow.

Cover: 4 Stars
The simplicity of this cover is what draws the eye. I'm so glad they only included Tess, and that she is facing away from the reader. The cover could've easily been too busy or corny if too many characters were included, or worse, an image of the Titanic. My favorite detail is the cover model standing in water up to her knees. Although the cover isn't depicting a particular scene from the novel, it has a sense of despair and hopelessness that really fits given what we already know about the Titanic. The use of only blues also adds to that mood without being too overwhelming. Normally, I don't like really embellished fonts for titles, but the wave details details in this particular font hit the mark.

Overall: 4 Stars

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this novel from Anna @ Anna's Book Blog through the Random Acts of Kindness program started by the Book Soulmates.

Giveaway Winner: Spider's Revenge by Jennifer Estep

2011-10-13T20:29:00.004-04:00

There was a total of 16 participants in the Spider's Revenge by Jennifer Estep Giveaway. Using random.org, I randomized the list of entries, and then random selected the winner. The winner is...

whitewolfreads!

Congratulations! Please respond to the e-mail I sent with your mailing information within 72 hours.

Didn't win? Haven't started the series yet? You can pick up a copy from The Book Depository and have it shipped for free! [Spider's Revenge] Or, if you're new to the series, you can start with book one. [Spider's Bite]

In My Mailbox (103)

2011-10-08T23:39:00.003-04:00

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.

Bought:
Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon [Buy now]

Won:
Sins of the Angels by Linda Poitevin ARC [Buy now]
Thanks to Dear Author and Ace!
The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff *signed dust jacket*
Thanks to Brenna!

Blogoversary Giveaway Winner!

2011-10-07T15:30:00.001-04:00

There was a total of 17 participants in the 2 Year Blogoversary Giveaway. The prize includes Mercy Thompson: Homecoming by Patricia Briggs, Personal Demons & Demon Inside by Stacia Kane, and Falling, Fly & In Dreams Begin by Skyler White, and a handful of bookmarks from Jennifer Estep. Using random.org, I randomized the list of entries, and then random selected the winner. The winner is...

Bethany C.!

Congratulations! Please respond to the e-mail I sent with your mailing information within 72 hours.

Giveaway: Slayers by C.J. Hill

2011-10-05T20:48:00.005-04:00

Courtesy of AuthorsOnTheWeb, I have two (2) copies of Slayers by C.J. Hill to giveaway.

Title: Slayers
Author: C.J. Hill
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Release Date: 09/27/11
Summary:

Dragons exist. They’re ferocious. And they’re smart: Before they were killed off by slayer-knights, they rendered a select group of eggs dormant, so their offspring would survive. Only a handful of people know about this, let alone believe it –- these “Slayers” are descended from the original knights, and are now a diverse group of teens that includes Tori, a smart but spoiled senator’s daughter who didn’t sign up to save the world.

The dragon eggs have fallen into the wrong hands. The Slayers must work together to stop the eggs from hatching. They will fight; they will fall in love. But will they survive?

Giveaway Rules:
Answer the following question: Would you want a pet dragon?

1. Must include a valid e-mail address.
2. Open to US and Canada only.
3. Giveaway ends Saturday October 15th.
4. Winners will be chosen via Random.org.

Month in Review: September

2011-10-04T21:17:00.004-04:00

September was a very slow month for me. It seemed like every book I read took forever to read, and not because the books themselves were slow. It was more because my brain wasn't working as quickly as usual. I only had one DNF this month, and it wasn't even a true DNF. It's not that I didn't want to continue and finish the novel, it was just due back to the library and I didn't want to anger the library gods. Other than that, all of the books I read this month were 4+ stars. Pretty good books this month. I just wish there could've been more. Hopefully my slump won't continue on into October. I also promise to catch up on reviews. They suffered even more than my reading this past month.

September: 6

Damned by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie 4.5 Stars
Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent 4.5 Stars
Fateful by Claudia Gray 4 Stars review coming soon
Sweetly by Jackson Pearce DNF
Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey 4 Stars review coming soon
Bloodstone by Nancy Holzner 4.5 Stars review coming soon

So what did everyone else read in September?

Review: Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent

2011-10-04T20:51:00.003-04:00

Title: Blood Bound
Author: Rachel Vincent
Series: Unbound #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: 08/23/11
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

By blood, by word, by magic...

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

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

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

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

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

Plot: 5 Stars
The talents that the author introduces in this novel are very interesting. Trackers can find anyone if they have their name or their blood. Binders can bind a person to a contract, sometimes without their knowledge. Travellers can move through the shadows, kind of like teleportation. If there is a shadow big enough, a traveller can enter the room. Being in the proximity of a jammer makes it impossible to be tracked. Others can see into the future or tell if a person is lying. All of these talents comes together to create a complex world with new rules. Promises cannot be broken, if made with the wrong people, unless you want to live with crippling pain. Anyh blood spilled must be destroyed. Complete names are never shared, even between parents. Rooms must stay lit at all times so that there are no unexpected visitors. Throw a couple of mob-like bosses into the mix, and you've got some of the best world-building I've read all year.

Pace: 4 Stars
This was a long book. It took a bit for me to finish it, but not because it was slow. It was just a bit longer than the average novel. Liv and Cam are on a wild goose-chase across both sides of the city. Each have their own bindings to deal with, which complicates some of their actions and decisions. I also like how the author alluded to their past, without giving everything away too quickly. I really enjoyed the multiple points of view. Getting to read from both Liv and Cam's point of view gave the story more depth, and allowed the reader to learn more about both characters.

Characters: 4.5 Stars
Liv was a very no-nonsense, kick-ass heroine. She could definitley take care of herself. Although some of the choices she made weren't in her best interest, she often made them to save her friends from a worse fate. It was very interesting to learn about how Liv and her friends accidently bound themselves to help each other whenever asked. It was especially interesting to see how what seems like a good idea, slowly turns into the dissolution of their friendship. She was also very headstrong, especially when backed against the wall. Cam is in my top five list of awesome heroes because he was very real. Yes, he had tracking powers. Yes, Live found him gorgeous. But he didn't seem too good to be true like many heroes. Instead, he came across as very real and genuine.

Cover: 4.5 Stars
I like the soft purple color of the cover. It works very well with the other elements. My favorite part is the placement of the cover models. I like how the covers models of Liv and Cam are standing so close to each other. It almost looks like they're starting to blend into one person. I'm a tiny bit confused by the trees in the background though, considering most of the novel takes place in the city. The setting is definitely a bit more urban than the trees on the cover lead you to believe. The way the letters of the title are linked is reminiscent of the marks given to employees of the mob-like bosses that run the city, and are also very eye-catching with the light around them.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this novel for my own reading pleasure.

Review: The Restorer by Amanda Stevens

2011-10-04T20:22:00.004-04:00

Title: The Restorer
Author: Amanda Stevens
Series: The Graveyeard Queen #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: 04/19/11
Reviewed by: Christen
But the Book:

Summary:

My name is Amelia Gray. I'm a cemetery restorer who sees ghosts. In order to protect myself from the parasitic nature of the dead, I've always held fast to the rules passed down from my father. But now a haunted police detective has entered my world and everything is changing, including the rules that have always kept me safe.

It started with the discovery of a young woman's brutalized body in an old Charleston graveyard I've been hired to restore. The clues to the killer -- and to his other victims -- lie in the headstone symbolism that only I can interpret. Devlin needs my help, but his ghosts shadow his every move, feeding off his warmth, sustaining their presence with his energy. To warn him would be to invite them into my life. I've vowed to keep my distance, but the pull of his magnetism grows ever stronger even as the symbols lead me closer to the killer and to the gossamer veil that separates this world from the next.

Plot: 4.5 Stars
I really don't think this book qualifies as a Paranormal Romance as labelled on the spine, but damn it was good! One of the first things I noticed while reading this book was how somber and lovely it was. I thought it was fitting considering the majority of the book takes place in a cemetery. Amelia Gray has the unfortunate ability to see ghosts, and these aren't your average Casper the Friendly Ghosts. These are creepy, soul-sucking entities. I can honestly say that this was one of the few books, including Peeps by Scott Westerfeld, that have scared me. I had to make sure not to read it too close to bedtime. The reader is carried along as Amelia pieces together the past of her love interest, Devlin, as well as one twisted serial killer who takes a personal interest in her.

Pace: 3 Stars
As good as this book was, it was a bit of a slower read for me. I think that was due to the lack of additional characters. Also, other than going to the graveyard and the library, there really weren't that many events or settings. There were quite a few flashbacks also slowed the pace down for me.

Characters: 3 Stars
If I could personify a graveyard, it would be Amelia Gray. I found it kind of hard to relate to Amelia. She was very passive and dreary. Definitely not how I want my heroine. That being said, she felt like a real person and not just a figment of the author's imagination. I didn't enjoy her tendancy to pine after the love interest, Devlin, who can only be described as severely emotionally damaged. Too damaged, in my opinion, to ever have another normal relationship.

Cover: 4 Stars
I found this cover very intriguing and mysterious, as well as slightly creepy, which fit the feel of the novel very well. The black and blue-green color scheme is reminiscent of the materials found in a cemetery. The two images, the crying angel on top and the inverted tree on the bottom, seem a bit disjointed. The ivy above the title looks a bit too computer generated against the other two images.

Overall: 3.5 Stars

Disclosure: I borrowed this novel from the local library.

In My Mailbox (102)

2011-10-02T00:56:00.003-04:00

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.

I wouldn't have purchased any books this week if there weren't two book signings this weekend. But you can't go to a book signing without purchasing any books.

Review:
Slayers by C.J. Hill [Buy now]
Thanks to Authors on the Web!

Won:
The Storm that is Sterling by Lisa Renee Jones ARC [Buy now]
Thanks to Lisa and Goodreads!

Bought:
Alterant by Sherrilyn Kenyon & Dianna Love [Buy now]
Blood Rights by Kristen Painter [Buy now]

Weekend of Book Signings

2011-10-02T00:22:00.005-04:00

This weekend was a great weekend. I went to two book signings. On Friday, Sherrilyn Kenyon & Dianna Love were in the Orlando area to promote Alterant, which came out this past Tuesday. And today, Kristen Painter was out near the beach to promote Blood Rights, which also came out this past Tuesday. (I really enjoyed it!)

I didn't include a picture of my signed copy of Blood Trinity because the authors signed on different pages, which would make it difficult to photograph.

The Sherrilyn Kenyon & Dianna Love signing was packed. We showed up a tiny bit late because dinner ran longer than planned. They did about 45 minutes of Q&A, and tossed t-shirts to those asking questions. There were a lot about Kenyon's tv and movie deals. It was fun to hear them talk about their books. The line for the sign was epic, and I was near the end. The authors took the time to chat and take pictures with everyone, although I forgot my camera. I was surprised there wasn't a limit on how many books you could bring to get signed since I've heard of some authors and bookstores setting limits. I only brought Blood Trinity and then purchased Alterant. I started reading Blood Trinity in line, and although it's a bit too early in the story to judge, I'm enjoying it so far.

I love the message she signed! In case you can't read it, it says Suck it up!

The Kristen Painter signing included three other local authors from different genres. Kristen recognized me from my blog picture as I was walking up. You have no idea how giddy that made me. I had to force myself not to do my crazy-happy-seal-clap. We chatted for a little bit, not all of it book related. There were definitely some pictures of cats shared. Lol. Although we haven't made definitive plans yet, Kristen will probably be dropping by the blog in the future. And I found out that I have another doppleganger. Kristen introduced me to a friend who swears she saw me at another signing. (I believe it was author Roxanne St. Claire, another local author... I apologize, but I'm bad with names when I'm nervous...) That's the third time I've heard of a possible doppleganger of mine. And I remembered my camera! All in all, it was a great afternoon! (Although my mom does not understand driving for an hour to meet an author for 20 minutes... She'll never understand my craziness when it comes to books and stuff...)

Orbit sent Kristen with a tall banner with her cover on it to sit behind her. It was definitely eye catching, although we stood in front of it.

Random Acts of Kindness: October (& September Wrap-Up)

2011-10-01T23:49:00.006-04:00

If you haven't checked out the Random Acts of Kindness program, hosted by the Book Soulmates, then you're really missing out. Basically, book bloggers sign up with their wish lists and other generous book bloggers can send them a something from that wish list. This month was a pretty awesome month. I received four books, and sent out

I sent an ARC of The Greyfriar by Clay & Susan Griffith and Mind Games by Taylor Keating to Michelle at Michelle's Book Blog. I also sent Unearthly by Cynthia Hand, Pretties/Specials/Extras by Scott Westerfeld, and Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon to Erika at Readspect Reviews and Such.

I received an ARC of Fateful by Claudia Gray from Anna at Anna's Book Blog, Shadow Kin by M.J. Scott from Michelle at Michelle's Book Blog, and Kitty's Greatest Hits and an ARC of The Shadow Reader by Sandy Williams from Theresa at Fantasy & SciFi Lovin' News & Reviews.

Now onto October. Below, I have posted both information about the Random Acts of Kindness program along with my wishlist for October.

Here are the details for October Sign Ups.

Rules:
•Please sign-up each month that you can participate (and by participate, we mean give as well as receive).
•Show off your participation by grabbing our RAK button (code is in the sidebar).
•Create a wish list (on Amazon, Goodreads, or your blog etc) and post it in the Google Doc located in each R.A.K post for the month.
•If you choose to do a R.A.K for someone, check out their wish list and contact that blogger directly for their information.
•Once you receive a RAK, send us an our new email to [rakbybooksoulmates @ gmail . com] so that we can update the Google Doc. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU SEND EMAILS TO THIS ADDRESS!
•E-book participation is limited to files being gifted directly to a person from the e-book store. Amazon's Kindle Store is set up to allow this, as well as the Kobo store and we believe Barnes & Noble as well.
•At the end of the month, SHOW US YOUR R.A.K by making a "RAK Wrap-Up" post. This post should include who you SENT gifts to as well who you RECEIVED gifts from :)

OPEN TO EVERYONE!
Let's keep our International bloggers in mind and in our hearts.
Remember, there's always the Book Depository and they offer FREE shipping!

Wishlist:
Ripple by Mandy Hubbard
Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst
Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon
The Unbecoming of Mara Cyer by Michelle Hodkin
THe Mephisto Covenant by Trinity Faegan
Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Fury by Elizabeth Miles
The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton
Another Kind of Dead by Kelly Meding
Through Her Eyes by Jennifer Archer
No Proper Lady by Isabel Cooper
Devil Without a Cause by Terri Garey
Nightfall by Ellen Connor
Once Every Never by Lesley Livingston
Twisted by Gena Showalter
Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay
Haunting Violet by Anyxandra Harvey
Something Deadly This Way Comes by Kim Harrison
A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young

***Note: I do not have an eReader, but I am all for used books and ARCs.

Author Interview + Giveaway: Jennifer Estep

2011-09-29T23:00:00.002-04:00

I'd like to welcome back urban fantasy author Jennifer Estep! She's the author of two wonderful series, the urban fantasy Elemental Assassins series and the young adult Mythos Academy series. Today, we're celebrating the recent release of her fifth Elemental Assassins book, Spider's Revenge.

Sara: How would you describe Spider’s Revenge, for readers who haven’t heard of it before?

Jennifer: Spider’s Revenge in the fifth book in my Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series that was released on Sept. 27. The books focus on Gin Blanco, an assassin codenamed the Spider who can cotrol the elements of Ice and Stone. When she’s not busy killing people and righting wrongs, Gin runs a barbecue restaurant called the Pork Pit in the fictional Southern metropolis of Ashland. The city is also home to giants, dwarves, vampires, and elementals –- Air, Fire, Ice, and Stone. Other books in the series are Spider’s Bite, Web of Lies, Venom, and Tangled Threads.

In Spider’s Revenge, Gin is gearing up to finally go toe-to-toe with Mab Monroe, the Fire elemental who murdered Gin’s family when Gin was a kid. Also, Gin has to deal with the bounty hunters that Mab has hired to come to Ashland to track down the Spider –- and there’s a bounty on the head of Gin’s sister, Bria, as well. So there’s a lot of action in the book, which I hope will appeal to readers.

Sara: Do you have a favorite character to write? Is there a character that’s a bit harder than the rest to write?

Jennifer: Finnegan Lane, Gin’s foster brother, is a lot of fun for me to write. Finn is a shameless, greedy womanizer who says exactly what he wants to whenever he wants to –- no matter who’s listening or what the consequences might be. Finn usually gets the best and funniest lines.

Bria is a bit difficult to write at times, mainly because her character is in between two worlds. On one hand, Bria is a good, honest cop. On the other, she has Gin, an assassin, as her sister. So it’s sometimes challenging to have Bria straddle those two worlds and have her struggle with where her heart and loyalties lie versus her job.

Sara: How many more novels set in Gin’s world can we look forward to?

Jennifer: I am currently under contract for two more Elemental Assassin books. By a Thread, the sixth book, will be released in March 2012, while the seventh book (untitled) is scheduled for an August 2012 release.

I’d love to write even more books in the series beyond these. I think there are a lot of Gin stories left to tell.

Sara: If Gin could work together with any Urban Fantasy hero or heroine, who would you want her to work with?

Jennifer: Good question! Hmm. There are a lot of great heroes and heroines in urban fantasy, but I would say Harry Dresden from the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher. I think Gin and Harry would make a pretty formidable team, with her deadly skills and his magic. Plus, I think it would just be fun to have Gin hang out with Bob the skull, Murphy, and the other characters in the series.

Sara: If you could have an elemental power, which element would you choose?

Jennifer: Well, my hands are almost always cold, so I would have to go with Ice magic. LOL. Plus, it would be handy for cooling down on a hot summer day, and we’ve had plenty of those this year.

Really, though, I think all the elemental powers in my books would be cool to have. It would be interesting (and dangerous!) to be able to create fire with your bare hands or turn your skin into the equivalent of human marble so that nothing could hurt you. I always have a lot of fun thinking about the elemental magic and how Gin and all the other characters can use it and what they might do with it.

Sara: Do you have any other projects in the works? Are there any genres you’d like to branch out to in the future?

Jennifer: I also write the Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series. The books focus on Gwen Frost, a 17-year-old Gypsy girl who has the gift of psychometry, or the ability to know an object’s history just by touching it. After a serious freak-out with her magic, Gwen is shipped off to Mythos Academy, a school for the descendants of ancient warriors like Spartans, Valkyries, Amazons, and more.

Touch of Frost, the first book in the series, was released in August. First Frost, a prequel e-story to the series, is available as a 99-cent download. Kiss of Frost, the second book, will be released Nov. 29. Dark Frost, the third book, will be out in June 2012.

Also, Halloween Frost, a Mythos Academy e-story, can be found in the Entangled e-anthology that I am participating in with several other authors. The e-anthology is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other booksellers. All proceeds from Entangled will go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. For more information about all my books, folks can visit my website at www.jenniferestep.com.

I’d love to branch out into even more genres. I’d love to write a western someday, along with a romantic suspense book and a heist book.

Sara: I saw that your Bigtime novels are being released in e-book format with new covers. Can you tell us a bit more about them?

Jennifer: Of course. The Bigtime paranormal romance series features sexy superheroes, evil ubervillains, and smart, sassy gals looking for love. The books are set in Bigtime, a fictional city where everything is bright, colorful, fun, and larger-than-life, including the zany characters.

Books in the series are Karma Girl, Hot Mama, and Jinx, and they are available as $2.99 e-books from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance Ebooks, and Smashwords.

Sara: What are you currently reading?

Jennifer: I’m in between books right now, but some of the titles in my TBR pile are Carte Blanche by Jeffrey Deaver; Among Thieves by Douglas Hulick; Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter; Last Chance by Christy Reece; and Kissing Comfort by Jo Goodman -– along with about twenty other books. I always wish I had more time to read. Happy reading, everyone!

Thanks again for stopping by, Jennifer! Thanks to Jennifer, I have one (1) copy of Spider's Revenge to giveaway to a lucky person! To enter, just leave a valid e-mail address.

Giveaway Rules:
1. US only
2. Must leave a valid e-mail address
3. Giveaway will be open until midnight October 9th
4. Winner will be chosen using random.org October 10th

Title: Spider's Revenge
Author: Jennifer Estep
Series: Elemental Assassins #5
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 09/27/11
Summary:

Old habits die hard for assassins.
And I plan on murdering someone before the night is through.

Killing used to be my regular gig, after all. Gin Blanco, aka the Spider, assassin-for-hire. And I was very, very good at it. Now, I’m ready to make the one hit that truly matters: Mab Monroe, the dangerous Fire elemental who murdered my family when I was thirteen. Oh, I don’t think the mission will be easy, but turns out it’s a bit more problematic than expected. The bitch knows I’m coming for her. So now I’m up against the army of lethal bounty hunters Mab hired to track me down. She also put a price on my baby sister’s head. Keeping Bria safe is my first priority. Taking Mab out is a close second. Good thing I’ve got my powerful Ice and Stone magic—and my irresistible lover, Owen Grayson -- to watch my back. This battle has been years in the making, and there’s a good chance I won’t survive. But if I’m going down, then Mab’s coming with me... no matter what I have to do to make that happen.

Pocket Books: Alterant by Sherrilyn Kenyon & Dianna Love

2011-09-27T16:18:00.002-04:00

Title: Alterant
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love
ISBN: 9781439195246
Release Date: 09/27/11 On sale now!
Price: $7.99/$9.99 Can
Description:

In this explosive new world of betrayals #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR and shaky alliances created by New York Times bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love, the only free Alterant faces an impossible task -- recapture three dangerous escaped creatures before they slaughter more humans... or her.

The way Evalle Kincaid sees it, saving mankind from total destruction should have cleared her name. But when words uttered in the heat of combat are twisted against her, she's blamed for the prison break of three dangerous Alterants. She has one chance to clear the cloud of suspicion hanging over her... for good. All she has to do is recapture the escapees. But deals with gods and goddesses are tricky at best, and now the lives of all Beladors, and the safety of innocent humans, rides on Evalle's success. The only person she can ask for help wants to see her dead.

http://books.simonandschuster.com/buy/Alterant/9781439195246/from-other-retailers#book_retailers

Click here to get the FREE Short Story of FIREBOUND! A Belador Story. Only on Pocket afterdark.com!
http://pocketafterdark.com/_Short-story-from-Sherrilyn-Kenyon-and-Dianna-Love/blog/5105912/159176.html

Two Year Blogoversary + Giveaway!

2011-09-26T19:14:00.003-04:00

I started blogging two years ago, and I never thought my blog would be what it is today. True, it's still pretty small in comparison to many, but I like it this way. I have enjoyed getting to know other bloggers and authors. And to celebrate, I'm hosting a giveaway! Here's a picture of what's up for grab:

Mercy Thompson: Homecoming by Patricia Briggs (graphic novel)
Personal Demons by Stacia Kane
Demon Inside by Stacia Kane
and Falling, Fly by Skyler White
In Dreams Begin by Skyler White
A handful of bookmarks from Jennifer Estep
(All books are gently read, with the exception of Demon Inside, which is brand new!)

This small pile of books will be going to one lucky commenter. To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment with your e-mail address and an answer to the following question: What upcoming release are you most looking forward to?

Giveaway Rules:
1. Must answer question and leave a valid e-mail address.
2. Giveaway is open to US resident only.
3. Giveaway is open until midnight on Thursday 10/06.
4. Winner will be chosen using random.org on Friday 10/07.
5. Winner will have 72 hours to respond with their mailing information. If the winner fails to do so, I will choose another winner.

In My Mailbox (101)

2011-09-24T23:29:00.003-04:00

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.

I rewarded myself this week with two books because I kept my spending down (and my paycheck was a little more than expected). I had to venture further than my local B&N, because that one is a small on in our tiny mall, but we also got cupcakes so it worked out. I also got a completely unsolicited ARC this week from a publicist I've worked with before. I have not included it because it is in no way paranormal, and therefore not my cup of tea. I think I'm gonna ask around at work to see if anyone wants to read it.

Review:
Dead Mann Walking by Stefan Petrucha [Buy now]
Thanks to Stefan and Roc!

Bought:
Roil by Trent Jamieson [Buy now]
Isle of Night by Veronica Wolff [Buy now]

Review: Surrender the Dark by L.A. Banks

2011-09-22T19:33:00.004-04:00

Title: Surrender the Dark
Author: L.A. Banks
Series: The Dark #1
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 03/29/11
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

National bestselling author L.A. Banks’s electrifying new paranormal series is set in a sizzling world where Dark and Light are trapped in an eternal struggle for the fate of mankind.

Celeste Jackson has fought all her life against a fog of hallucination and substance abuse, but it’s not until she meets her protector, Azrael, an angel who has left the safety of the Light, that she learns of the evil forces that have been trying to ruin her, and why. A fierce battle for control of the mortal realm is brewing, and only Celeste -- with the help of the Remnant, her half-human, half-angel brethren -- can stand in the way. Together, Celeste and Azrael must gather an army of sensitives to defeat the dark powers that have ruled humanity for centuries, but time is running out. If Azrael surrenders to his growing desire for Celeste, he risks being trapped among humanity forever. But the longer he stays, the harder she is to resist. To save the world, Celeste must draw on her own dark experiences with addiction to help Azrael overcome the one temptation that could possibly make him an eternal prisoner -- his obsession with her.

Plot: 2 Stars
My biggest problem with this novel: I don't like my fallen angels to be tied to religion. I read paranormal fiction, not religious fiction, for a reason. Although Azrael explains that all religions tied together to the same God that he never really named, there was still a large amount of religion within the novel. I could almost deal with that, but there was a lot of preaching added on to that. In order to help Celeste, Azrael had to help her cleanse her body. Not just from alcohol and drugs, but from processed food and drink also. I could handle that, except for the delivery. Instead, I felt like the author was using these characters to preach to the reader about all of the horrible things humans put into their bodies. Also, I wouldn't recommend reading this novel unless you have the sequel ready to go right after it. This novel didn't end in a cliffhanger, but there wasn't much resolution.

Pace: 1.5 Stars
This book really dragged. It felt like everything had to be explained to Celeste in painstaking detail. Azrael was one of the most long winded characters I've ever read, and Celeste wasn't that far behind. The worst part about these super long explanations was that they didn't feel real. It didn't feel like conversation. It felt like I was back in college, sitting through a lecture for 400 pages.

Characters: 2 Stars
The novel starts off with Celeste thinking she's schizophrenic and using alcohol to make the voices go away. She is also living with an abusive boyfriend who is a horrible person. Azrael comes into her life because she is a piece of the puzzle between good and evil. He cleanses her body of her addiction, and it's like Celeste had never had alcohol before. It just wasn't a very realistic description of an addict fighting to stay sober. I understand that this was an Urban Fantasy, but I think Celeste would've been a much stronger character if she continued to fight with her addiction throughout the rest of the drama. In regards to Azrael, I don't think the book's description found on the back cover holds true. It talks a lot about Azrael's obsession with Celeste and how awful it could turn out. But in the novel, he is intrigued by her and develops feelings, but it is never portrayed as an obsession.

Cover: 3 Stars
I applaud Pocket for embracing these characters and not white-washing the cover. The characters were people of color, so they used models who were people of color. I think the cover model chosen for Celeste was a great match to the descriptions within the novel. I wish that the cover model they chose for Azrael wasn't facing away from the reader. Although it allows for a better shot of his wings, I would've liked to see him turned towards Celeste since he was sort of a Guardian Angel to her. The greens in the title blended well with the background were a good choice for the cover. It stands out on the shelves in a genre that has much more reds, oranges, purples, and blues.

Overall: 2 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this novel for my own reading pleasure.

Waiting on Wednesday (45)

2011-09-21T19:47:00.002-04:00

This book blog meme is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Title: Nightshade
Author: Maryrose Wood
Series: Poison Diaries #2
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Release date: 10/25/11
Chosen by: Christen
Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Jessamine Luxton is heartbroken. Her true love, Weed, the strange but intriguing young man who came into her life so suddenly, has disappeared. How could he have left her with no farewell, and no word since?

Jessamine may not know why Weed vanished, but she does suspect that her own father, Thomas, may have had something to do with it. Thomas, who was so obsessed with Weed’s secret knowledge of dangerous plants that he would do anything to learn it. This suspicion -- and her experiences with poisons -- has changed her. She is no longer innocent, and now she has her own intimate knowledge of the power of the plants.

So when Jessamine learns that Weed is alive, she will do whatever it takes to be reunited with him.

She is, after all, her father’s daughter...

Title: Darker Still
Author: Leanne Renee Hieber
Series: Magic Most Foul #1
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Release date: 11/01/11
Chosen by: Sara
Summary:

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

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

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

Giveaway Winner: Damned by Nancy Holder & Nancy Viguie

2011-09-19T20:34:00.002-04:00

There was a total of 16 participants in the giveaway for an ARC of Damned by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie. Using random.org, I randomized the list of entries, and then random selected the winner. The winner is...

xander_316!

Congratulations! Please respond to the e-mail I sent with your mailing information within 72 hours.

Didn't win? Haven't started the series yet? You can pick up a copy from The Book Depository and have it shipped for free!
[Crusade] [Damned]

In My Mailbox (100)

2011-09-17T23:54:00.004-04:00

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.

I hit the jackpot at the library this week. I also had a couple great afternoons in which I found some lovelies in the mailbox. Hopefully some of these titles with help me with the reading slump I've gone through. So far, I'm about to finish my third novel of the month (only three!), and they've each taken six days each. It's driving me nuts, especially since they've been really good.

Review:
Bloodstone by Nancy Holzner [Buy now]
Thanks to Nancy and Ace!
Radiant Desires by Inara Scott (not pictured)
Thanks to Netgalley!

Won:
A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies [Buy now]
Thanks to Goodreads and HarperTeen!
The Hour of Dust and Ashes by Kelly Gay [Buy now]
Thanks to Katiebabs @ Babbling About Books and More and Pocket!

Used:
The Taste of Night by Vicki Pettersson [Buy now]

Library:
Nocturne by Syrie James [Buy now]
Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones [Buy now]
Shimmer by Alyson Noel [Buy now]
Dead Rules by Randy Russell [Buy now]
Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey [Buy now]
After Midnight by Lynn Viehl [Buy now]
Blood Red Road by Moira Young [Buy now]

Waiting on Wednesday (44)

2011-09-13T22:09:00.003-04:00

This book blog meme is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Title: First Kill
Author: Heather Brewer
Series: Slayer Chronicles #1
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Release date: 09/20/11
Chosen by: Christen
Summary:

Joss McMillan’s perfect life crashes down the night he witnesses his sister’s murder -- at the hands of a vampire. He then finds out his family’s secret heritage: They are part of the Slayer Society, a group whose mission is to rid the world of vampires. Joss is their new recruit. As Joss trains, bent on seeking revenge for his sister, he discovers powers that could make him the youngest, strongest Slayer in history. But there is a traitor in the Society, one whose identity would shake Joss to the core... if the traitor doesn’t kill him first. With over a million copies already in print, The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod is still sinking its fangs into new readers every day. Now, bestselling author Heather Brewer brings us the other side of the story, from the perspective of Vlad’s former friend turned mortal enemy: vampire slayer Joss McMillan. This is the first in a series of five books that can be read alongside Vlad Tod or entirely on their own.

Christen: I love, love, love Vlad Tod and didn't want his series to end. As much as I'm looking forward to this spin-off, I'm also skeptical because I'm really not a fan of Joss.

Title: Between the Sea and Sky
Author: Jaclyn Dolamore
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Release date: 10/25/11
Chosen by: Sara
Summary:

For as long as Esmerine can remember, she has longed to join her older sister, Dosinia, as a siren -- the highest calling a mermaid can have. When Dosinia runs away to the mainland, Esmerine is sent to retrieve her. Using magic to transform her tail into legs, she makes her way unsteadily to the capital city. There she comes upon a friend she hasn't seen since childhood -- a dashing young man named Alandare, who belongs to a winged race of people. As Esmerine and Alandare band together to search for Dosinia, they rekindle a friendship... and ignite the emotions for a love so great, it cannot be bound by sea, land, or air.

Sara: Jaclyn is a local author for me. We've chatted on Twitter a bit (mostly about the local libraries and Borders closing), and I think it'll be a lot of fun to meet her in November and celebrate her new release.

In My Mailbox (99)

2011-09-10T21:34:00.004-04:00

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.

So, my mailbox is a bit smaller than usual. This past week, I had a bit of a wake up call from my bank account O_O and although books weren't the only spending problem, they're in the top three. So I've decided that I'm going to rely on the library more, and try to get through my giant TBR mountain. Considering at least 50% of my books have not been read, I should be set for a while. My local library's YA section has grown a lot over the past year, plus I can also borrow from a neighboring county's library too (although I can't put anything on hold without paying) and that library system is huge. If there are any new releases I HAVE TO HAVE, my birthday is next month and I'm sure I'll get a couple gift cards. I also received a RAK today, but I'm going to wait until my wrap-up post at the end of the month to highlight it.

Won:
Demon Night by Meljean Brook [Buy now]
Thanks to Meljean!
Chimera by Rob Thurman [Buy now]
Thanks to Jackie Kessler via the Deadline Dames!

Used:
Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore [Buy now]
Succubus Revealed by Richelle Mead [Buy now]
Thanks to Cindy @ Princess Bookie!

Review + Giveaway: Damned by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie

2011-09-10T12:58:00.006-04:00

Title: Damned
Author: Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie
Series: Crusade #2
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Release Date: 08/30/11
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

Vampires -- the Cursed Ones -- have made their presence known to mankind... and declared war on humanity. Most people are too afraid or unwilling to take a stand, but eighteen-year-old Jenn Leitner trains to become a vampire fighter, risking everything in the process.

When Jenn falls for Antonio, a vampire fighting on the side of humanity, she discovers a love that transcends attraction and physical consummation -- but before the couple can reconcile their forbidden affair, they must bring light into the darkness that vampires have spread across the world.

Plot: 4.5 Stars
This novel picks up shortly after where Crusade left off. The fight against the Cursed Ones, or vampires, seems even more dire than before. The team gets wind of a Cursed One in Russia making "super soldiers" by combining the DNA of vampires, werewolves, and humans. The Salamancan hunters set off for Russia to try to stop these experiments, and they find out there's more to the situation than everyone originally thought. This sets off a chain of events that has them running across the globe in hopes of not only defeating the key vampires in this war, but putting their team back together.

Pace: 4 Stars
The pacing of this novel was better than the first novel. Since we learned about each character's past and foundation in the first novel, it allowed the story to develop a bit faster in this novel, even as the point of view jumped between characters. Considering the group doesn't always stay together in this novel, the book needed the different points of view to keep the reader in the loop with many of the events. Also, by getting inside each character's head, it helped the reader fully understand the motivations behind each character's actions and decisions. There were a number of plotlines in this book that kind of weaved around each other through the different points of view, and I can't wait for the next book when these different paths are all going to come together.

Characters: 4.5 Stars
This series has such a strong cast of characters. Jenn, now the leader of the Salamancan hunters, has to make a number of important decisions throughout this novel. She doesn't understand why Father Juan put her in charge, and neither does Jamie, who voices his opinion every chance he gets. Antonio is definitely put to the test in this novel, and only time will tell which side he will end up on. Eriko's body continues to breakdown, due to the elixir given to her when she was chosen as the hunter, and she tries to hide it as best as she can. Her past comes back to haunt her, although the team does use it as a chance to attack the Cursed Ones. I really enjoyed learning more about Holgar before he left his pack to fight vampires because I felt like he was the team member we learned the least about in book one. Skye's past comes back to haunt her also in this book, and it'll be very interesting to see how she deals with it in the next novel. Father Juan continues to be a rock for the entire team, even as the university is put in danger.

Cover: 5 Stars
I loved that we finally get to see Antonio on this cover. The cover model chosen to depict Antonio was perfect, very close to how I envisioned the character. The snowy background and blue colors were perfect for this cover considering a good portion of the novel takes place in Russia during the winter. It also lends a starkness to the cover that really fits Antonio's character and what he goes through. The placement of the cover model on this cover really helps continue the feeling of isolation that Antonio often feels. The cover model himself is very small, with the cold, snowy background taking up the majority of the image. While this cover (and the new cover for the paperback release of Crusade) are a bit of a departure from the original cover for Crusade, I feel like they really embody the two main characters of the story.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this novel for review from the publisher.

Giveaway:
I have one (1) ARC of Damned to giveaway! To enter, just answer the following question: Would you join the resistance against the Cursed Ones?

Giveaway Rules:
1. Must leave a comment answering the question.
2. Must leave a valid e-mail address.
3. Giveaway is open internationally.
4. Giveaway is open until midnight on Sunday 09/18.
5. Winners will be chosen on Monday 09-19 using random.org.

Waiting on Wednesday (43)

2011-09-07T19:41:00.002-04:00

This book blog meme is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Title: Flesh and Blood
Author: Kristen Painter
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release date: 10/25/11
Summary:

With the ring of sorrows still missing, and the covenant between othernaturals and mortals broken, Chrysabelle and Malkolm's problems are just beginning. Chrysabelle still owes Malkolm for his help, but fulfilling that debt means returning to Corvinestri, the hidden vampire city neither of them is welcome in.

The discovery that Chrysabelle has a brother could mean reneging on her promise to Malkolm, something that might make him angry enough to loose the beast living inside him. And fulfilling her vow could prove devastating for Chrysabelle -- especially when you throw in power hungry witches, dead fringe vampires, and the Kubai Mata.

In My Mailbox (98)

2011-09-03T22:16:00.005-04:00

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.

I hit Borders for one last time this past week. I got four mass market paperbacks and a hardcover for under $20. We also had a larger number of new releases at work this week, so yay for my employee discount. And this was me keeping my spending in check... It could've been so much worse (there were so many new releases this past week) if I had less self-control.

Won:
Blood Cursed by Erica Hayes [Buy now]
Thanks to Suzanne Johnson!

Library:
Dead Girls are Easy by Terri Garey [Buy now]
Sweetly by Jackson Pearce [Buy now]

Purchased by Sara:
Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch [Buy now]
Where Demons Fear to Tread by Stephanie Chong [Buy now]
Blood Rules by Christine Cody [Buy now]
Feast: Harvest of Dreams by Merrie DeStefano [Buy now]
One Grave at a Time by Jeaniene Frost [Buy now]
Fury by Elizabeth Miles [Buy now]
All You Desire by Kirsten Miller [Buy now]
Soul Thief by Jana Oliver [Buy now]
Beneath the Skin by Adrian Phoenix [Buy now]
A Shot in the Dark by K.A. Stewart [Buy now]

Purchased by Christen:
The Poison Diaries by Maryrose Wood [Buy now]

Edit: Due to my card being declined and getting a reality check from my bank account, I have returned a number of recently purchased titles because I need gas and cat food before my next paycheck. The following titles need to be disregarded for this week's IMM: Where Demons Fear to Tread by Stephanie Chong, Blood Rules by Christine Cody, One Grave at a Time by Jeaniene Frost, Fury by Elizabeth Miles, and Soul Thief by Jana Oliver. And the following titles from previous IMM have also been returned: Bargains and Betrayals by Shannon Delany and Nocturne by Syrie James.

Review: Blood Rights by Kristen Painter

2011-09-03T18:57:00.004-04:00

Title: Blood Rights (ARC)
Author: Kristen Painter
Series: House of Comarre #1
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 09/27/11
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

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.

Plot: 4.5 Stars
The author created a very unique new twist on vampires in this novel. There were different castes of vampires, and even a race bred solely to feed the royal vampires The comarre were very interesting, with their gold tattoos and their secrets. It was great to learn more about them as Chrysabelle educated Malkolm. There were also fae and shapeshifter races that I hope to see more of in future books as Chrysabelle continues her journey. There were a couple plotlines in this novel that twisted and turned around each other until everything came together in the end. I was on my toes throughout the entire novel, never knowing what was going to happen next and it was a fun ride.

Pace: 4 Stars
Although Chrysabelle's storyline is the main storyline of the novel, there were a couple smallers ones that wove themselves into the story as well. Because of this, the point of view switches between a steady number of characters throughout the story. What could've easily been muddled and confusing, was treated perfectly by the author. Each change in perspective was needed to understand the full scope of the story, and not just Chrysabelle's point of view. There were a few times in which this seemed to slow the pace down a bit, especially when multiple scenes were happening at the same time. After bouncing from point of view to point of view, it felt like more time had elapsed between scenes from the same point of view than had really elapsed. But it was definitely worth it to get inside the heads of multiple characters.

Characters: 4.5 Stars
This novel had a very strong cast of characters. Chrysabelle was a tough heroine that learned to stick up for herself quickly once she was out in the human world. Malkolm, with his voices and tattoos was a vampire carrying a curse. It took him a bit to open up, but he turned out to be a great foil for Chrysabelle. They tested each other, and neither would back down. Mal lived on an old ship with Fi and Doc. Fi is a ghost tied to Malkolm and Doc is a shapeshifter who is also cursed. Together, they make an interesting team that comes to Chrysabelle's aid. Tatiana, the noble vampire who is after Chrysabelle for the murder of her master, is a very evil woman. I really enjoyed rooting against her as the story progressed.

Cover: 5 Stars
This cover is absolutely gorgeous. I would've wanted to read it due to this cover even if it wasn't an urban fantasy centered around a new kind of vampires. Although Chrysabelle spends most of the novel in more casual clothes, I could totally picture her in the outfit the cover model is wearing. The intricate gold tattoos were the make or break detail of this cover, and the artist totally delivered. Even though Chrysabelle covered them at times, I couldn't imagine the cover without such an important detail to who and what she was. The intricate frame around the cover model is an interesting touch, especially once I noticed that the red ribbon is hanging out of the frame. The choice to have the cover model's back to the reader adds to the mystery of Chrysabelle, although I was glad when the covers for books two and three were released and we got to see her face.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this novel for review from Orbit.

Random Acts of Kindness: September (& August Wrap-Up)

2011-09-03T12:24:00.007-04:00

If you haven't checked out the Random Acts of Kindness program, hosted by the Book Soulmates, then you're really missing out. Basically, book bloggers sign up with their wish lists and other generous book bloggers can send them a something from that wish list. I didn't receive any RAKs this past month, but I sent a couple out.

I sent Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simber to Faye at The Book Angel, and I sent Peeps and The Last Days by Scott Westerfeld to Shannon at The Scribbling Quill.

Now onto September. Below, I have posted both information about the Random Acts of Kindness program along with my wishlist for September.

Here are the details for September Sign Ups.

Rules:
• Sign up each month you'd like to participate in.
• Show off your participation! Grab one of the buttons available :)
• Create a wish list and post it in the Google Doc located in each R.A.K post for the month. (Post on your blog, Amazon, where ever as long as there's a link to it.)
• If you choose to do a R.A.K for someone, check out their wish list and contact that blogger for their address.
•NEW REQUEST: Please, once you receive a RAK, email or tweet me {Vanessa} so that I can update the Google doc. There are a lot of requests for this!
• At the end of the month, SHOW US YOUR R.A.K! Make a post saying 'Thank You' to whoever granted one of your wishes and share it with us :)

OPEN TO EVERYONE!
Let's keep our International bloggers in mind and in our hearts.
Remember, there's always the Book Depository and they offer FREE shipping!

Wishlist:
~~Kitty's Greatest Hits by Carrie Vaughn~~
Ripple by Mandy Hubbard
~~Fateful by Claudia Gray~~
Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey
Isle of Night by Veronica Wolff
Another Kind of Dead by Kelly Meding
Through Her Eyes by Jennifer Archer
No Proper Lady by Isabel Cooper
Crux by Moira Rogers
Devil Without a Cause by Terri Garey
Nightfall by Ellen Connor
Once Every Never by Lesley Livingston
Twisted by Gena Showalter
Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay
Haunting Violet by Anyxandra Harvey
Something Deadly This Way Comes by Kim Harrison
After Midnight by Lynn Viehl
A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young
Roil by Trent Jamieson

***Note: I do not have an eReader, but I am all for used books and ARCs.

Waiting on Wednesday (42)

2011-08-31T21:07:00.002-04:00

This book blog meme is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Title: The Shadow Reader
Author: Sandy Williams
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release date: 10/25/11
Summary:

A Houston college student, McKenzie Lewis can track fae by reading the shadows they leave behind. For years she has been working for the fae King, tracking rebels who would claim the Realm. Her job isn't her only secret. She's in love with Kyol, the King's sword-master -- but human and fae relationships are forbidden. When McKenzie is captured by Aren, the fierce rebel leader, she learns that not everything is as she thought. And McKenzie must decide who to trust and where she stands in the face of a cataclysmic civil war.

Month in Review: August

2011-08-31T16:59:00.003-04:00

August was a record for the year. Not only is my total of 12 books for the month the most I've had all year, but the four DNFs is also a record for me. I tend to hold on and try to finish a book (especially if it was highly anticipated for me), but this month I tried the "50 page rule" in which I put a book down if it didn't grab me by page 50. Of the DNFs, two were YA and two were UF. The other eight novels included four YAs, one MG, and three UF (one being a graphic novel). There was a lot of YA this past month because a lot of recent releases were available at the library, and I only brought library and used books on vacation so that nothing happened to my books. I'm weird about my books. I didn't realize that there were no PNRs for August and will try my best to read more of those. Christen tends to read more PNRs, so at least we'll still have some reviews.

August: 12

First Frost by Jennifer Estep (4 Stars)
Vampire Crush by A.M. Robinson (DNF)
Demonkeeper by Royce Buckingham (2.5 Stars)
Possession by Elana Johnson (4 Stars)
Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris (3 Stars)
Key to Conflict by Talia Gryphon (DNF)
Entwined by Heather Dixon (DNF)
Heist Society by Ally Carter (4 Stars)
Allison Hewitt is Trapped by Madeleine Roux (DNF)
Blood Rights by Kristen Painter (4.5 Stars) review coming soon
Blood Work by Kim Harrison (3.5 Star)
Surrender the Dark by L.A. Banks (2 Stars) review coming soon

So what did everyone else read in August?

Review: Heist Society by Ally Carter

2011-08-31T15:55:00.003-04:00

Title: Heist Society
Author: Ally Carter
Series: Heist Society #1
Genre: Contemporary Young Adult
Release Date: 07/06/10
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre... to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria... to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own -- scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving “the life” for a normal life proves harder than she’d expected.

Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring Kat back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has a good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.

For Kat, there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family's history -- and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

Plot: 4 Stars
Normally, I'm not a fan of Contemporary Young Adult, but this novel stood out against the rest of the genre and intrigued me. The idea of a group of teenagers pulling off a heist that even seasoned adults think is impossible sounded like it would be a roller coaster ride. The author definitely didn't disappoint. The twists and turns in this novel were on a much grander scale than many novels because they brought the characters all across the globe in search of answers. The progression of Kat's re-entry into the world of heists was accomplished in a great way. As she runs into more and more characters from her former life, we get to see glimpses of the past and learn more about Kat and her world. The reader is left guessing until the very end, unsure of whether or not Kat and her cohorts are going to make it out scott-free or in handcuffs.

Pace: 4 Stars
I really liked how the novel was split up between each day, counting down until time was out. It also gave the reader a better feel of how much time was elapsing and where the characters were travelling to over the course of the two weeks. It helped keep the timeline in perspective. The author also did a great job making sure the amount of travel and action in each day wasn't excessive and unrealistic for a twenty-four hour period. Due to the time constraints of the heist, there was never a dull moment throughout this novel. Whether Kat and her friends were travelling to another country on a lead, or plotting their next move, there was never a point in which the plot slowed down or became boring.

Characters: 4.5 Stars
My favorite part of this novel was the progression in which the reader gets to learn about Kat's past. Many questions are answered, and we learn a lot about her and her family. But there are also some things that are only hinted at, which will hopefully be addressed further in the next novel. Her cousin was her complete opposite, which made for a bit of humor. Hale was a very interesting character, and I hope he continues to have a large role in the next novel. I also hope that Kat isn't as oblivious to the signals Hale sends her way in the next novel. I also hope that we learn more about the rest of Kat's crew because they were very interesting characters.

Cover: 3.5 Stars
This cover was a bit straightforward and simple. That's not necessarily a bad thing. I just think it needed something added to help grab the attention of someone browsing since it kind of blends in to the novels around it on the shelves. The image could've been zoomed out a little bit and possibly included some details of the background. I do like that Kat is wearing large sunglasses, because it gives off a secretive vibe that fits the novel very well. My favorite detail of this novel is the painting reflected in the sunglasses, which I didn't notice at first. It was a great hint as to what the plot of the novel involved without being too blatant. The bold red chosen for the title definitely stands out against the cover model, and the font was a great choice.

Overall: 4 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this novel for my own reading pleasure.

Review: Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris

2011-08-30T20:42:00.006-04:00

Title: Bad Taste in Boys
Author: Carrie Harris
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Release Date: 07/12/11
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

Someone’s been a very bad zombie.

Super-smartie Kate Grable gets to play doctor, helping out her high school football team. Not only will the experience look good on her college apps, she gets to be this close to her quarterback crush, Aaron. Then something disturbing happens. Kate finds out that the coach has given the team steroids. Except... the vials she finds don’t exactly contain steroids. Whatever’s in them is turning hot gridiron hunks into mindless, flesh-eating... zombies.

Unless she finds an antidote, no one is safe. Not Aaron, not Kate’s brother, not her best friend... not even Kate...

It’s scary. It’s twisted. It’s sick. It’s high school.

Plot: 3 Stars
My favorite part of the novel was the twist on zombies. I liked that the zombie virus was spread via a steroid given to some of the football players. I really enjoyed the internal struggle Kate had in regards to actually admitting what was happening was indeed zombies. She often referred to it as the "z-word" and didn't want to say it. Aaron, Kate's crush, gets caught up in all of the mayhem as Kate is trying to figure it out, and it felt like he accepted what was going on a bit too quickly and without enough questions. The ending of this novel definitely caught me by surprise, but I felt like a few things wrapped up a little too nicely.

Pace: 4 Stars
I read this novel in one day, while on vacation, so I think it's safe to say that the pace was pretty good. The novel was on the shorter side, but it didn't feel rushed. There was no downtime for Kate once the steroids were given to the football players. A couple scenes, including the pancake breakfast at the high school, added a bit of much needed humor as the zombies were going around biting everyone. This was one of those rare novels that sped by as I was reading.

Characters: 3 Stars
Kate was a very interesting character. I liked that she was a bit more of a nerd than the typical Paranormal Young Adult heroine. Her love of science was a very interesting character trait, and ended up helping once the zombies were loose. Her seizures also added some depth to her character. I've never read about a character that suffers from seizures before, but I really enjoyed Kate. Other than Kate, the rest of the cast of characters in this novel were a bit flat. Kate's brother added some humor when he was around, but we didn't get to learn much about him. Her friends at school didn't have big parts and we only learned what Kate tells us about them.

Cover: 3 Stars
This cover confused me a bit. I would have never guessed it belonged to a zombie novel without reading the jacket. The main focus is a set of lips that is covered in what looks like sugar. While the zombies in this novel do bite each other, sugar-covered lips never come into play. There was never a point in which any character's lips were focused on for any reason. But it is a striking image that makes you want to know more. I really enjoyed the title. The font was a great choice because it kinda looked like it could've been Kate's handwriting. I also liked how the color of the title echoes the color of the lips behind the sugar.

Overall: 3 Stars

Disclosure: I borrowed this novel from the local library.

Review: Possession by Elana Johnson

2011-08-28T20:31:00.006-04:00

Title: Possession (ARC)
Author: Elana Johnson
Series: Possession #1
Genre: Dystopian Young Adult
Release Date: 06/07/11
Reviewed by: Sara
Buy the Book:

Summary:

Vi knows the Rule: Girls don’t walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn... and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi’s future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.

But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they’re set on convincing Vi to become one of them... starting by brainwashed Zenn. Vi can’t leave Zenn in the Thinkers’ hands, but she’s wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous: everything Zenn’s not. Vi can’t quite trust Jag and can’t quite resist him, but she also can’t give up on Zenn.

This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.

Plot: 4 Stars
Once I got the hang of the tech and its vocabulary, I really enjoyed the world that the author built. The technology and terms for said technology could have easily been confusing, but the author's choice of terms weren't too complex. The technology also wasn't too out there; many of the devices described may not be that far from existing for real. The different areas of the city were also interesting, and I liked how the reader got to learn about each as Vi did. Vi spend the majority of the novel being pulled in different directions; between the voice in her hear, the Thinkers trying to catch her, and the resistance, it was amazing at times that Vi could think and make decisions. There were some aspects to her rule-breaking and abilities that I figured out, but there was also a lot to this world that took me by surprise.

Pace: 4.5 Stars
I could not put this novel down. And considering I was on vacation at the time really tells you something. We were at the beach for a week (and I'm not the biggest fan of the beach), but I could have been a bit more social. Instead, I had my nose in this novel for about three days of the vacation. I even brought it with me to the beach when my friends dragged me out there. Vi takes the reader on a wild journey as she is on the run and trying to escape, all the while figuring out who she is and what she can do. I was often blindsided by the turns this novel took, and couldn't wait to see what was around the corner.

Characters: 4 Stars
Vi was a very strong character, but her flaws made her a great character. She didn't follow the rules as well as other teenagers, but as you learn about her past you realize that may not be a totally bad thing. Vi is faced with some big decisions in this novel, and she does her best to do what is right for her. From what we learn about Zenn through flashbacks, he seems like the perfect boy for Vi, but the Zenn we actually meet is not the same boy. I wish we could've seen a little more of the past Zenn before he becomes brainwashed. I absolutely loved Jag from the moment he was introduced. He had an attitude that fit his character's past, and he gave Vi a hard time while she was adjusting. There were a large amount of smaller characters to keep track of, and there were a couple points in which I got them muddled a little. But in the end, it didn't affect the story for me and I figured out what was going on.

Cover: 4 Stars
The best part of this cover is the bright, saturated teals and purples of the butterfly. The image of the butterfly in the ice cube is striking, and it's symbolism makes you think without giving anything away. I also like how the colors of the text match the butterfly without taking the eye away from the image. I'm not the biggest fan of large amounts of white on covers, but when I saw a finished copy on the shelf I liked it more because the white background is slightly glittery and shiny. There is a lot of empty space around the main image of the cover. It may have been a little more balanced if the ice cube and butterfly were a bit larger, but I can understand not wanting the image to be too large and overwhelming.

Overall: 4 Stars

Disclosure: I won an ARC of this novel from The Apocolypsies.

In My Mailbox (97)

2011-08-27T21:45:00.004-04:00

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.

Review:
Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep [Buy now]
(Jennifer was kind enough to send me a signed ARC along with a pile of bookmarks! One set was signed to me, but there's also an unsigned set not pictured that may be a part of my blogoversary giveaway.)

Won:
Eternal Hunger by Laura Wright [Buy now]
(Thanks to Laura! I won this through a twitter giveaway she ran.)

Purchased by Sara:
Grimspace by Ann Aguirre [Buy now]
Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs [Buy now]
Bargains and Betrayals by Shannon Delany [Buy now]
Eternal by Gillian Shields [Buy now]
Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent [Buy now]

Used:
Skin Heat by Ava Gray [Buy now]
My Forbidden Desire by Carolyn Jewel [Buy now]
The Affinity Bridge by George Mann [Buy now]
Blaze of Memory by Nalini Singh [Buy now]

Review: Demonkeeper by Royce Buckingham

2011-08-26T11:51:00.004-04:00

Title: Demonkeeper
Author: Royce Buckingham
Genre: Paranormal Middle Grade
Release Date: 10/02/08
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

Ever since his mentor -- the original Demonkeeper -- mysteriously disappeared, Nat has been in charge of the demons that live in his house. Most of them are just nuisances, but the Beast who lives in the basement is very dangerous. When Nat goes out one night, a clueless burglar breaks into the house and unwittingly sets the Beast free. Meanwhile, a vicious villain, the Thin Man, wants to use the Beast for his own evil purposes. Can Nat defeat the Thin Man and return the Beast to the basement without any major casualties?

Plot: 3 Stars
This novel was my second middle grade novel (the first being The Lightning Thief). I wanted to love it, but it was a bit lacking in details. We know that Nat's mentor has passed away, but we do not really know what happened. He is now in charge of this house full of demons, but we don't really learn much about the demons, except for Nat's three minions and the Beast. Nat's minions are interesting, but even their powers are barely mentioned. At one point, a comment is made that having three minions means the Demonkeeper is very strong, but it is never elaborated on. Outside of these lack of details, the story was quite enjoyable. There were some twists I wasn't expecting, but there were also a few I saw coming.

Pace: 2 Stars
For such a short novel, there were a lot of chapters. Some of these short chapters felt a bit choppy, especially when they kept jumping from one point of view to the next. I feel like this novel could've been a bit longer and included a little more information without really slowing down the pace. The point of view jumping wasn't a problem because it helped get to know each character, but it sometimes seemed like chopped the timeline up. There would be a chapter involving Nat then the next couple would jump to other character, and when it got back to Nat a couple chapters later, almost no time had passed.

Characters: 3 Stars
What we learned about each character was very interesting and unique, but I wanted more. It felt like we only skimmed the surface of each character, like it was more important that they fit the roles needed to further the plot than to actually become their own person. We didn't get to learn nearly enough about Nat's past for him to be the main character. And the Thin Man didn't really have any characteristics besides being the evil antagonist of the story. It's not that these characters were bad. I actually enjoyed them. I just wanted more from them.

Cover: 2.5 Stars
I really enjoyed that Nat's three minions were included on the cover, especially since they look exactly how they were described. Their details and colors really catch the eye. Other than the minion, the cover is a bit boring. The background is flat black. There's no detail in the background to give a better idea of the story and setting. And Nat is only included in profile. This would work if his minions had played a bigger part, but Nat was the focus of the novel so it would've been nice to see more than just his outline. The font and color choices for the title and author fit in with the minions, but take up a bit too much of the cover.

Overall: 2.5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this novel (from the bargain section) for my own reading pleasure.

Review: Dark Embers by Tessa Adams

2011-08-24T21:03:00.004-04:00

Title: Dark Embers
Author: Tessa Adams
Series: Dragon's Heat #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: 07/06/10
Reviewed by: Christen
But the Book:

Summary:

A new erotic paranormal series, starring dragon shapeshifters, kicks off with a very sexy debut...

Prince Dylan MacLeod is one of the last pure-blood dragon shape-shifters -- and ruler of a dying race, the Dragonstar clan. It falls to him to protect his people and their ancient magic. But he has one important duty: to provide an heir...

Like all dragons, Dylan, who has a dark, rampant sexual appetite, can only procreate with his destined mate -- for whom he's searched for the last five hundred years. But his quest is delayed when a disease sweeps through the Dragonstars, and Dylan must venture to the human world to find a cure. He tracks down bio-chemist Phoebe Quillum, never imagining the beautiful scientist would be the mate he's been seeking. But even with the fate of the clan on their shoulders, Phoebe and Dylan are overcome by their sexual desire.

Their passion turns to something truer, but when Phoebe is kidnapped by Dylan's oldest enemy, he must risk everything for his love and his clan...

Plot: 2.5 Stars
This was my first dragon read, and it wasn't bad. But I think it definitely could have been better. Never, not once, could I picture in my mind what these dragons actually looked like. I kept waiting for the big information drop, where the reader and the human character gets the inside scoop on dragons and what it's like to be this dragon in particular, but I didn't get that. The human character did at some point off stage, but it would have been helpful to the reader as well. Also, I would have liked a little more explaination about both of the character's pasts, Dylan's in particular. A couple of things happen in order for Dylan to be king, but they are only mentioned in Dylan's mental monologues, which comes across a bit biased. Just an explaination from a secondary character would have been nice.

Pace: 2 Stars
In the summary, it tells you that Phoebe and Dylan are destined mates. Guess when they figured that out? The last page. When could they have figured it out? On page 85. All he had to do was look at his arm, he would have noticed that his tattoo had changed. I don't understand how anyone can go almost three months without looking at your arm. That was very frustrating. Besides that, all of the action was packed into the last fifty pages, which means my attention wandered a bit through the first 300 pages or so.

Characters: 3 Stars
Both Dylan and Phoebe were good characters. They had pasts, they had attitudes, and they had their hang-ups. They were believeable characters. The author spent a lot of time introducting them to the reader and added new layers to each character, just like you would if you were getting to know them. The secondary characters, however, weren't as well done. The few secondary characters that actually had lines were pretty much just that, lines. They were never explained and hardly introduced, just thrown in to help the story progress.

Cover: 3 Stars
The cover model is okay, but he kinda needed a shirt. The tattoo, although pertinent to the story, looked completely fake. The dragon belt buckle was an interesting way to tie in the dragon shifter aspect of the story. Without the belt buckle, the cover didn't really say paranormal. The city in the background helps you place that this is happening in or near the desert. But as far as I could tell, they were never in a city. I really liked the colors chosen for the color, especially the purple at the top.

Overall: 2.5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this novel for my own reading pleasure.

Waiting on Wednesday (41)

2011-08-24T17:08:00.003-04:00

This book blog meme is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Title: Sins of the Angels
Author: Linda Poitevin
Series: The Grigori Legacy #1
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release date: 09/27/11
Summary:

A detective with a secret lineage. An undercover Hunter with a bullet-proof soul. And a world made to pay for the sins of an angel...

Homicide detective Alexandra Jarvis answers to no one. Especially not to the new partner assigned to her in the middle of a gruesome serial killer case -- a partner who is obstructive, irritatingly magnetic, and arrogant as hell. Aramael is a Power -- a hunter of the Fallen Angels. A millennium ago, he sentenced his own brother to eternal exile for crimes against humanity. Now his brother is back and wreaking murderous havoc in the mortal realm. To find him, Aramael must play second to a human police officer who wants nothing to do with him and whose very bloodline threatens both his mission and his soul.

Now, faced with a fallen angel hell-bent on triggering the apocalypse, Alex and Aramael have no choice but to join forces, because only together can they stop the end of days.

Review: Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep

2011-08-21T20:33:00.004-04:00

Title: Touch of Frost
Author: Jennifer Estep
Series: Mythos Academy #1
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Release Date: 08/01/11
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

Gwen Frost is an outsider at Mythos Academy, a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword. Gwen is an outsider both to the students of the Academy and the rest of the world. But when her gift of psychometry -- the ability to know an object's history just by touching it reveals dark undercurrents and danger afoot, she has no choice but to get involved.

Plot: 5 Stars
First and foremost, I love a good paranormal boarding school novel. Hands down, it's my favorite trope in Paranormal YA. Also, this novel had less annoying teenage drama than many Paranormal YAs I've read lately. Now, don't get me wrong, there was definitely drama in this novel. But it was a more paranormal, lives-at-stake drama and a lot less does-he-like-me, what-should-I-wear drama. Gwen is dealing with her grief and moving to a new school, and she's not exactly sure what to believe. Everyone around her acts as if all of the myths they're learning about are real, and she's seeing some things that she can't explain. I can't wait for the myths and how these students play into them to be elaborated on further in the next book. The plot took a number of twists I wasn't expecting, and had me guessing until the very end.

Pace: 5 Stars
There was never a dull moment throught this novel. From the moment we meet Gwen as she confronts another classmate in the restroom, it a rollercoaster ride straight through to the end. Even her job at the academy's library is a full of surprises. Definitely more eventful than most library jobs. As Gwen learns more and more about the world she has stepped into, it could've easily become overwhelming and jumbled for both her and the reader. But the author does a great job of showing and explaining all of the details to the reader as Gwen learns new things about her classmates, the academy, and the myths.

Characters: 5 Stars
Gwen's character growth in this novel was fantastic. Not only is she dealing with her grief, but she's also thrown into a new environment. She starts the novel off very isolated, with no friends and no reason to really talk to anyone unless they want her to use her psychometry to find something for them. As the novel progresses, we get to follow Gwen as she gets to know a couple classmates. One in particular is a bit surprising considering the earlier interactions between them. It was nice to see Gwen open up after being a bit of a loner in the beginning. Gwen also starts to believe a little more about the myths she's learning about in class, especially after she sees little things here and there from other classmates that support these myths. Her grandmother was an interesting character that I hope to see more of in future novels. And it was a nice surprise to learn that one of her teachers has a connection to her mother.

Cover: 4 Stars
Although I was a fan of the original cover, I can see the broader appeal of the one printed. I liked the blues and greens of the original, along with the gargoyle being front and center. I'm glad it was included in the final cover because I think it really draws the eye. The cover model is a good representation of Gwen. I just wish she had on a hoodie, because Gwen was barely seen without one. My only small criticism of the final cover is the overwhelming use of black. There just seems to be a bit too much dead space between the images, although the title and author's name cover the majority of it. My favorite part of the cover, besides the gargoyle, is the sword that takes the place of the word "frost" in the title. Not only is it a cool detail, but it also has significance to the story.

Overall: 5 Stars

Disclosure: I received an eARC of this novel for review from the author, and also purchased a copy for my own reading pleasure.

In My Mailbox (96)

2011-08-20T22:09:00.002-04:00

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.

Library:
Blood Work by Kim Harrison [Buy now]
Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder [Buy now]
Outside In by Maria V. Snyder [Buy now]

Purchased by Sara:
Original Sin by Lisa Desrochers [Buy now]
Nocturne by Syrie James [Buy now]
Green-Eyed Envy by Kasey Mackenzie [Buy now]
Concrete Savior by Yvonne Navarro [Buy now]

Purchased by Christen:
Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night by Kresley Cole [Buy now]

Waiting on Wednesday (40)

2011-08-17T19:02:00.002-04:00

This book blog meme is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Title: Blood Bound
Author: Rachel Vincent
Series: Unbound #1
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release date: 08/23/11
Summary:

By blood, by word, by magic...

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

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

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

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

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