Leap Day Giveaway!

I don't really know why, but I really love Leap Day. Since I had a couple books sitting around for a future giveaway, I figured what better day than Leap Day! The two Paranormal Romance novels are duplicates that I ended up with, and the Paranormal Young Adult is an ARC I rescued from a local used bookstore's bargain bin that I already own a copy of. The two PNRs are brand new, although Ascension's spine was damaged during printing or shipping. The Paranormal YA has obviously been read given where I found it, but is in great condition.

So without further ado, here are the books up for grabs:



There will be two winners:
1. First Place: Blood of the Wicked by Karina Cooper and Ascension by Sable Grace
2. Second Place: Legacies by Mercedes Lackey & Rosemary Edghill (ARC)

To enter the giveaway, just answer the following question: What March release are you most excited for?

Giveaway Rules:
1. To enter, you must answer the question and include a valid e-mail address.
2. If you do not want to be entered for both prizes, please let me know. Anyone who doesn't specify will be entered into both.
3. Open to the US only.
4. Giveaway ends at midnight on Wednesday 03/14 (Pi Day! Another day I love!)
5. Winners will be chosen via Random.org.

Title: Blood of the Wicked
Author: Karina Cooper
Summary:

When the world went straight to hell, humanity needed a scapegoat to judge, to blame... to burn.

As an independent witch living off the grid, Jessie Leigh has spent her life running, trying to blend in among the faceless drudges in the rebuilt city. She thought she was finally safe, but now she's been found in a New Seattle strip club -- by a hard-eyed man on a mission to destroy her kind.

A soldier of the Holy Order, Silas Smith believes in the cause: trawling the fringes of society for the murderous witches who threaten what's left of the world. Forced into a twisting web of half-truths and lies, he has to stay close to the most sensuous and electrifying woman he has ever seen and manipulate her into leading him to the witch he has to kill: her brother. Silas doesn't know that Jessie's his enemy, only that he wants her, needs her, even as he lies to her... and must protect her until his final breath.

Title: Ascension
Author: Sable Grace
Summary:

The gates of hell have opened, and one woman will stand in the crossfire as the Dark Breed -- vampyre, demons, shape shifters—and mankind fight their last battle for survival.

Kyana is half Vampyre, half Lychen... and the last of her kind. Determined, dangerous, and damned, she has no love for the mortals who have imprisoned and misused her. But when the Order of Ancients entrusts her with a mission -- to find the key that will send the Dark Breed back into Hell for eternity -- Kyana has no choice but to accept.

She is furious to learn her assignment comes with an escort... Ryker, a demigod and fierce warrior who long ago found a way under her skin and stayed there. In a shaky alliance, they discover an ancient cult with dangerous motive and a god who seeks to destroy all others. And as Kyana begins to feel the heat that threatens to bind her to Ryker, she knows she has to resist. For it could only mean the undoing of them both...

Title: Legacies
Author: Mercedes Lackey & Rosemary Edghill
Summary:

Who -- or what -- is stalking the students at Oakhurst Academy?

In the wake of the accident that killed her family, Spirit White is spirited away to Oakhurst Academy, a combination school and orphanage in the middle of Montana. There she learns she is a legacy -- not only to the school, which her parents also attended, but to magic.

All the students at Oakhurst have magical powers, and although Spirit’s hasn’t manifested itself yet, the administrators insist she has one. Spirit isn’t sure she cares. Devastated by the loss of her family, she finds comfort with a group of friends: Burke Hallows, Lachlann Spears, Muirin Shae, and Adelaide Lake.

But something strange is going on at Oakhurst. Students start disappearing under mysterious circumstances, and the school seems to be trying to cover it up. Spirit and her friends must find out what’s happening -- before one of them becomes the next victim...

Mini-Review: Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber

Title: Once in a Full Moon
Author: Ellen Schreiber
Series: Full Moon #1
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Release Date: 12/28/10
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

Beware of a kiss under the full moon. It will change your life forever.

Celeste Parker is used to hearing scary stories about werewolves -- Legend’s Run is famous for them. She’s used to everything in the small town until Brandon Maddox moves to Legend’s Run and Celeste finds herself drawn to him, much to the chagrin of her friends and perfect boyfriend. But when, after an unnerving visit with a psychic, she encounters a pack of wolves and gorgeous, enigmatic Brandon, she must discover if the stories are more than legend. He may be Celeste’s hero or he may be the most dangerous creature she could encounter in the woods of Legend’s Run.

Psychic predictions, generations-old secrets, a town divided, and the possibility of falling in love with a hot and heroic werewolf are the perfect formula for what happens... once in a full moon.

Mini-Review: This novel was a short and sweet werewolf tale, and a great start to a series. Fans of the author's Vampire Kisses series will not be disappointed. I especially enjoyed the psychic portion of the story. It was definitely a quick read, but not in a rushed way. While I really enjoyed Celeste and Brandon, the rest of Celeste's friends were really shallow. Her on-again, off-again boyfriend creeped me out a bit in his resistance of Celeste's breaking up with him, and her friends' insistance she stay with him to keep the group together was weird. My favorite part of the cover was the tree branches at the bottom, since so much of the story happened in and around the woods.

Plot: 3.5 Stars
Pace: 4 Stars
Characters: 3 Stars
Cover: 3.5 Stars
Overall: 3.5 Stars

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

Mini-Review: The Mephisto Covenant by Trinity Faegen

Title: The Mephisto Covenant
Author: Trinity Faegen
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Release Date: 09/27/11
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

Sasha is desperate to find out who murdered her father. When getting the answer means pledging her soul to Eryx, she unlocks a secret that puts her in grave danger -- she is an Anabo, a daughter of Eve, and Eryx’s biggest threat.

A son of Hell, immortal, and bound to Earth forever, Jax looks for redemption in the Mephisto Covenant -- God’s promise he will find peace in the love of an Anabo. After a thousand years, he’s finally found the girl he’s been searching for: Sasha.

With the threat of Eryx always looming, Jax knows he has to keep Sasha safe and win her over. But can he? Will Sasha love him and give up her mortal life?

Mini-Review: I'm always a little hesitant when religion is wrapped up in the paranormal aspect of a novel, but this one sounded very interesting. Lucky for me, while it was a novel about good vs. evil, it was in no way preachy. I really enjoyed the Anabo, Mephisto, and Eryx; it was a fresh addition to Paranormal Young Adult. There was just a lot of information that about them that bogged the pace down at certain times. Also, due to Eryx's influence, many characters came across a little flat. I really enjoyed Sasha and Jax, but there was a lot going on around them. The cover is a beautiful image, but it's one in a bunch of YA covers featuring a teenage girl in a fancy dress that the main character may or may not wear.

Plot: 3 Stars
Pace: 3 Stars
Characters: 3 Stars
Cover: 3.5 Stars
Overall: 3 Stars

Disclosure: I borrowed this novel from the local library.

Review: By A Thread by Jennifer Estep

Title: By A Thread
Author: Jennifer Estep
Series: Elemental Assassin #6
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 02/28/12
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

When killing people is your job, there’s no such thing as a vacation.

Then again, how often does an assassin live long enough to enjoy her retirement? In this line of work, you either get lucky or you get dead. And since I destroyed my nemesis Mab Monroe a few weeks ago, all of Ashland’s lowlifes are gunning to make a name for themselves by taking out the lethal Spider -- me, Gin Blanco. So I’m leaving behind my beloved barbecue joint and heading south with my baby sister, Bria, to cool my heels in a swanky beach town. Call it a weekend of fun in the sun. But when a powerful vampire with deadly elemental magic threatens an old friend of Bria’s, it looks like I’ll have to dig my silverstone knives out of my suitcase after all. Complicating matters further is the reappearance of Detective Donovan Caine, my old lover. But Donovan is the least of my problems. Because this time, the danger is hot on my trail, and not even my elemental Ice and Stone magic may be enough to save me from getting buried in the sand -- permanently.

Plot: 5 Stars
I feel like a broken record, but I absolutely loved this novel. Although she was supposed to be relaxing and enjoying her vacation, Gin ended up getting into yet another dire situation that left me wondering how she'd make it out alive. Gin always surprises me with the situations she gets in, and then the lengths she must go to to get out of said situations. The author does a great job of putting her in mortal peril, while keeping her escapes completely believable.

Pace: 4.5 Stars
This novel started out with a bang, as Gin takes care of another threat that dropped by the Pork Pit after hours. She finally gives in to Finn's idea of a vacation. Of course, it wouldn't be a vacation for Gin if it didn't involve at least a little bit of killing. I loved how quickly she became involved in the local mob boss problems without even trying. There were a number of times I had to remind myself that Gin would make it (book seven comes out in August), because I wasn't sure she would and I couldn't put the book down.

Characters: 5 Stars
The strong characters and relationships were the best part of this installment in the series. Not only did we get to see more of Gin, Finn, Bria, and Owen, but there were new characters and someone from Gin's past. Gin gets to meet Bria's best friend, Callie, who also owns her own restaurant. After a meal at the restaurant, Gin and company get dragged into the local mob boss' politics when he sends some goons to threaten Callie. And then Donovan makes an appearance. I enjoyed reading as Gin dealt with the reappearance of Donovan, and how she dealt with him. The mob boss of Blue Marsh was a crazy S.O.B. and definitely made for an eventful vacation.

Cover: 5 Stars
This series is totally blessed by the cover gods. Each stands out in its own way, but they all work together and look fantastic on my bookshelf. The bright green of this cover grabs the eye, and also depicts the setting of the novel very well. My favorite part of the cover is how the cover model's jeans fade into the green of the background, but her blue tank top stands out. I'm not sure if I'd be running around in those heels if I was killing people, but they make the model seem like a badass (even without the knife on her belt). I also really enjoy that the cover model is facing forward completely, showing off the rune in her palm, as if to say, "Yeah, I'm the Spider. What are you gonna do about it?" And lastly, I will always enjoy the font choices of this series.

Overall: 5 Stars

Disclosure: I received an e-ARC of this novel for review.

In My Mailbox (118)

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



Review:
Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep eARC [Buy now]
Thanks to Jennifer!

Bargain Books:
Jeweled by Anya Bast [Buy now]
The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer [Buy now]



Library:
Legacy by Molly Cochran [Buy now]
Genie Knows Best by Judi Fennell ** [Buy now]
The Nightmare Garden by Caitlin Kittredge [Buy now]
Life Eternal by Yvonne Woon [Buy now]

Kindle:
Bodyguard by Jennifer Ashley **
Bare Necessities by Dana Marie Bell **
Angelfall by Susan Ee
Her Chosen Wolf by Renee Michaels **
Hurricane by Moira Rogers **
Kamikaze by Moira Rogers **
An Alpha's Path by Carrie Ann Ryan **

**Books borrowed or purchased by Christen