Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday (3)





"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, 
hosted by Breaking the Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases
that we're eagerly anticipating.

My can’t wait for choice this week is,

Dead In The Family (Sookie Stackhouse #10)
by
Charlaine Harris

Warning: Possbile spoilers for the first 9 books in the series below!

Releases: May 4, 2010

Description from Goodreads:

Sookie Stackhouse has finally settled into a relationship with the Viking vampire Eric, and her errant brother Jason seems to have his life in order, too. But all the other people in Sookie’s life – Eric himself, her former lover Bill, her friend and boss Sam – are having family problems. Eric’s maker shows up with Eric’s ‘brother’ in tow, the ailing Bill can only be healed by a blood sibling, and Sam’s brother’s marriage is about to take place... or will it? The furor raised by the coming out of the two-natured has yet to settle; some people are just not ready to sit down to dinner with a man who turns into a dog. And Sookie herself is still recovering from her last ordeal. She’s definitely improving, physically and mentally, but she’s always going to have some dark moments now. The werewolves tell her that there have been strange and ominous passers-by in the Stackhouse woods; now Sookie is about to come face-to-face with one of her more distant relatives...

The first chapter of Dead In The Family 
is available on Charlaine Harris’s website.

What book are you waiting for? 
Leave a link to your blog post so I can stop by and check it out!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Website for Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder



The website for Inside Out has launched. I loved this book so I had to share. 
You can read the first 3 chapters on the new website 
and check out some interactive goodies.
You can read my review of Inside Out here.




Review: Her Vampire Husband by Michele Hauf



Title: Her Vampire Husband (Wicked Games #3)
Author: Michele Hauf
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: HQN Books
Release Date: 04/01/2010
Number of pages: 368

ISBN: 978037377499

Copy received from Net Galley







Description from Goodreads:

An arranged marriage between a werewolf and a vampire.

There will be blood.

She may resist his bite, but she can't resist his charms...

Werewolf princess Blu Masterson won't allow her seductive vampire husband to consummate their marriage with his bite, marking her forever. Alone in a secluded estate with her sworn enemy, Blu curses the marriage arranged to bring their rival nations together, especially since Creed Saint-Pierre calls out to her most feral desires.

When Blu uncovers her pack's secret plot to destroy the vampire nation—and Creed—she is forced to confront her growing feelings for her sexy undead husband. Will she choose the only life she's ever known or accept his vampire bite?

My thoughts:


Her Vampire Husband is listed as the 3rd book in the Wicked Games series. I had no problem reading it as a standalone novel.

Michele Hauf has created a fascinating world of vamps, witches and weres. I love that the characters from her other books crossover from series to series at times. It makes me want to read more of her work so I can possibly catch a glimpse of one of my favorite characters.

After I was a few chapters into Her Vampire Husband I had to ask myself why I’d waited so long to pick up another one of Michele Hauf’s books. She really has a knack for creating strong female characters. I loved Blu and her many colored wigs. She had experienced her share of trauma but still managed to be a free spirit who loved life. I never really warmed up to the vampire husband, Creed. He was stuffy and a little bland. I’m not sure if that was because of his age (900 years or so) or because it is impossible to outshine Blu.

I did enjoy this book but like I said never really felt any love for Creed. Blu was fantastic though and made me want to keep reading.

This is a pretty steamy read. I wouldn't recommend it for vampire or werewolf lovers under the age of 17.

Visit Michele Hauf:

She also participates in several group blogs. They are listed on her website.

Teaser Tuesday (4)





Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

*Grab your current read
*Open to a random page
*Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week I’m reading

Richelle Mead


“Georgina’s being stalked,” declared Roman.
“Georgina’s always being stalked.” Jerome sighed. “What is it this time?”
~p. 57

Saturday, March 27, 2010

In My Mailbox (4)


In my mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren and inspired by Pop Culture Junkie.

I usually do this on Sunday but we’re going out of town tomorrow.

Here is what was in my mailbox this week.


Genoa Bay by Bette Nordberg ~ For review
Succubus Shadows by Richelle Mead ~ Purchased by me

My copy of Succubus Shadows came signed. I love Richelle Mead and am so excited to own a signed copy of one of her books.



Ebooks purchased this week.

by Mark Henry



by Rhiannon Frater




& that is it.

I’ll most likely be MIA until Tuesday. My baby girl turns 3 on Monday and we’re heading to Houston to celebrate.

Have a great weekend!


Review: Just the Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James



Title: Just the Sexiest Man Alive
Author: Julie James
Release Date: 10/7/2008
Publisher: Berkley
Number of pages: 320

ISBN-10: 0425224201
ISBN-13: 978-0425224205






From the publisher’s website:

Nothing fazes Taylor Donovan—not in the courtroom and not in her personal life. So when she’s assigned to coach People’s “Sexiest Man Alive” for his role in the next big legal drama, she refuses to fall for the Hollywood heartthrob’s charms. Even if he is the Jason Andrews

My thoughts: 

I don’t read much contemporary romance. I prefer my love stories with werewolves and/or vampires. Faeries are nice too ;) I had heard great things about Julie James so I decided to see what all the fuss was about.  

Just the Sexiest Man Alive was a quick and fun read. I enjoyed the banter between Taylor and Jason. I liked that Taylor was a strong and independent woman. She was established in her career as a lawyer and happy for the most part with her life. This book was difficult to put down and had me up past my bedtime reading. I'd highly recommend it. 

You can find out more about Julie James on her website or blog.

On My Wishlist (3)


On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday.
If you'd like to participate create your own "On My Wishlist" post. Make sure to stop by Book Chick City and add a link to your post.

All descriptions are from Goodreads.

Descent Into Dust by Jacqueline Lepore


The Extraordinary Adventures of Emma Andrews, Victorian Lady and Vampire Hunter

"Though it is many decades later, it all comes back to me; back to those early days when the terror was new and I was dangerously untrained. When I was young and did not yet know I had a secret . . ."

Twenty-five-year-old widow Emma Andrews grew up in the shadow of her mother's madness, so when she arrives at Dulwich Manor in the midst of a mysterious plague and soon thereafter begins to see specters, her family fears fate has finally caught up with her. But one guest among them knows Emma's visions are more than a trick of the mind. Valerian Fox has hunted the great vampire lord Marius through time and across continents, and he knows Emma has a remarkable destiny. She is Dhampir—a vampire hunter.

Surrounded by those who would use her powers for their own ends, Emma does not know who to trust or what she can believe. But when her young cousin is marked for death, she must embrace the terrible inheritance that lies in her very blood to save those she loves.

An extraordinary saga of courage, love, duty, and honor, of darkest destiny and ancient evil . . . and of the shadow of the Dracula himself. It begins.

Intertwined by Gena Showalter


There's something about the new guy at Crossroads High . . .

Most sixteen-year-olds have friends. Aden Stone has four human souls living inside him:

One can time-travel.

One can raise the dead.

One can tell the future.

And one can possess another human.

With no other family and a life spent in and out of institutions, Aden and the souls have become friends. But now, they're causing him all kinds of trouble.

Like, he'll blink and suddenly he's a younger Aden, reliving the past. One wrong move, and he'll change the future. Or, he'll walk past a total stranger and know how and when she's going to die.

He's so over it. All he wants is peace.

And then he meets a girl who quiets the voices. Well, for as long as he's with her. Why? Mary Ann Gray is his total opposite. He's a loner; she has friends. He doesn't care what anyone thinks; she tries to make everyone happy. And while he attracts the paranormal, she repels it. For her sake, he should stay away. But it's too late. . .

Somehow, they share an inexplicable bond of friendship. A bond about to be tested by a werewolf shape-shifter who wants Mary Ann for his own and a vampire princess Aden can't resist. Two romances, both forbidden. . . doomed. Still, the four will enter a dark underworld of intrigue and danger. . . but not everyone will come out alive. . .



Maybe it was the Shenanigans gift certificate that put her over the edge. When children's librarian and self-professed nice girl Jane Jameson is fired by her beastly boss and handed twenty-five dollars in potato skins instead of a severance check, she goes on a bender that's sure to become Half Moon Hollow legend. On her way home, she's mistaken for a deer, shot, and left for dead. And thanks to the mysterious stranger she met while chugging neon-colored cocktails, she wakes up with a decidedly unladylike thirst for blood.

Jane is now the latest recipient of a gift basket from the Newly Undead Welcoming Committee, and her life-after-lifestyle is taking some getting used to. Her recently deceased favorite aunt is now her ghostly roommate. She has to fake breathing and endure daytime hours to avoid coming out of the coffin to her family. She's forced to forgo her favorite down-home Southern cooking for bags of O negative. Her relationship with her sexy, mercurial vampire sire keeps running hot and cold. And if all that wasn't enough, it looks like someone in Half Moon Hollow is trying to frame her for a series of vampire murders. What's a nice undead girl to do?

What's on your wishlist?
If you have a wishlist post leave me a comment with a link.
I'd love to check it out!

Friday, March 26, 2010

Book Blogger Hop!! (4)




It is time for the weekly Book Blogger Hop hosted by Jennifer at Crazy for Books!

It’s a fantastic way to connect with other book bloggers.

See you at the Hop!!
Thursday, March 25, 2010

The Character Connection (1)



Jennifer from The Introverted Reader is hosting a brand spanking new meme called The Character Connection. This is a super fun idea and I’m so excited to participate. Here is what Jennifer had to say about The Character Connection,

“We all have characters we love.
Let's spotlight these fantastic creations!
Whether you want to be friends with them
or you have a full-blown crush on them,
you know you love them and
want everyone else to love them too!”

My pick this week is Pam from the Southern Vampire series by Charlaine Harris. She is a vampire that just happens to dress like a soccer mom and has no qualms about speaking her mind. I adore Pam’s quick wit. She always has the perfect retort for any situation. Eric Northman (swoon) is her maker and I love the interaction between the two of them. He lets her get away with things no other vampire would dare try.

Pam is a secondary character in the series but has left enough of an impression on me that I look forward to her appearances in each book. Pam can also be found on HBO’s True Blood. While book Pam is my favorite I also enjoy her TV persona and wish we saw more of her.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Review: Rampant by Saskia Walker



Title: Rampant
Author: Saskia Walker
Release Date: April 1, 2010
Publisher: Spice
Number of pages: 368
ISBN: 9780373605422














Description from publisher:

The moment she arrives at her rented vacation cottage nestled in northern Scotland, Zoë Daniels feels it—an arousal so powerful she’s compelled to surrender to the unusually forceful carnal desires…with nearly anyone who crosses her path.

Zoë knows she’s not quite in control of herself and begins to wonder if there’s any truth to the legend of Annabel McGraw, a powerful, promiscuous 18th century witch who once owned the cottage, and whose spirit is rumored to affect anyone who stays there. Zoë doesn’t believe in anything that even hints at the occult, but now strange visions are turning frightening… and only one man’s touch can bring her back to earth.

My thoughts:

I was initially drawn to Rampant because of the paranormal aspects. Erotica isn’t something I usually read, but I found the synopsis for Rampant interesting so I decided to check it out. I’m glad that I did.

Yes, this book was naughty but it also had a great plot. The author has a very beautifu,l and descriptive style of writing. You couldn’t help but to hate the bad guys, and love the good ones. The setting was a beautiful coastal town in Scotland which just happens to be one of my favorite places to visit when opening a book. The descriptions of the terrain were so vivid it made me feel as if I was there seeing it all through the character’s eyes. As if that wasn’t enough the romantic interest was a gorgeous man with a Scottish brogue. Men with accents always win my heart. There was no exception when it came to Grayson Murdoch the blonde witch and love interest of Rampant’s protagonist Zoe.

Rampant is a beautifully written work of erotic romance. It contains fascinating characters, and steamy love scenes all set in the gorgeous country of Scotland. All in all I found this a very entertaining read. I’d recommend it to those that enjoy paranormal romance and whose senses aren’t offended by more risqué sex scenes.

Trailer Alert



Check out the trailer for Maria V. Snyder’s Inside Out. You can read my review of Inside Out here


Waiting on Wednesday (2)





"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My can’t wait for choice this week is,

Succubus Shadows (Georgina Kincaid #5)
by Richelle Mead
Release Date: March 30th
I’ve pre-ordered this baby and noticed my credit card was billed yesterday.
 I’ll be stalking the mailman until it comes.



WARNING: Spoilers for first four books below!

Description from Goodreads:

Georgina Kincaid has formidable powers. Immortality, seduction, shape-shifting into any human form she desires, walking in heels that would cripple mere mortals—all child’s play to a succubus like her.


Helping to plan her ex-boyfriend’s wedding is a different story. Georgina isn’t sure which is worse—that Seth is marrying another woman, or that Georgina has to run all over Seattle trying on bridesmaid dresses. Still, there are distractions. Georgina’s roommate, Roman, is cluttering her apartment with sexual tension. Then there’s Simone, the new succubus in town, who’s intent on corrupting Seth.

And if that wasn't bad enough, she's started having dreams shadowy, dangerous but alluring dreams, dreams that don't want to let go. These dreams are created by the Oneroi, demons in the service of Nyx, a creature from Hell who's bent on revenge. These are dreams that can trap their chosen victim and drain their powers through nightmares. This mysterious force that’s visiting her thoughts, is trying to draw her into a dark, otherworldly realm. Sooner or later, Georgina knows she’ll be too weak to resist. And Georgina is powerless as she watches those in the real world try to find her, she comes to understand that her freedom her fate lies in the hands of the only one who can find her soul, who just happens to be the man who s about to marry someone else. She’ll discover who she can trust, who she can’t—and that Hell is far from the worst place to spend eternity…
Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Teaser Tuesday (3)



Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

*Grab your current read
*Open to a random page
*Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week I’m reading

Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison


“And I’ve got my mother’s taste for blood,”
 she said kneeling on the table between us.. 
“It’s like some people’s craving for sugar.” p. 83


Monday, March 22, 2010

Cover Chatter

Another pretty cover to share.

Paranormalcy is the first book in a new series by author Kiersten White. 
How cool is that title?


Description from Goodreads:

Sixteen-year-old Evie's job is bagging and tagging paranormals. Possessing the strange ability to see through their glamours, she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency. But when someone--or something--starts taking out the vamps, werewolves, and other odd beasties she's worked hard to help become productive members of society, she's got to figure it out before they all disappear and the world becomes utterly normal.

Normal is so overrated.

Paranormalcy is schedule to be released in September 2010.

Visit Kiersten White here:
Sunday, March 21, 2010

In My Mailbox (3)


In my mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren and inspired by Pop Culture Junkie.

Here is what was in my mailbox this week.

Moon Craving by Lucy Monroe


I received this one from the Blog it Forward at DemonLover’s Book Reviews & More.
Thanks Kelly!

Ebooks I bought:

by Julie James


Dark Harvest by Lynda Hilburn



By J.A Saare



What was in your mailbox? 

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Cover Chatter

I stumbled across a few awesome new covers this week and wanted to share.

First up is the cover for the second book in the The Caster Chronicles 
by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. 
I loved Beautiful Creatures and can’t wait to read this one.
Beautiful Darkness is scheduled to be released October 2010.


You can find more info on this series plus some fun extras
at the Beautiful Creatures website.

My review of Beautiful Creatures can be found here.


Next is the cover and trailer for Nightshade. I am seriously swooning over this one. If I could run off into the sunset with this cover I would.

Nightshade is the first book in a new series and also the debut novel for author Andrea Cremer.
It’s scheduled to be released October 2010.

Isn’t it lovely? :sigh:



You can visit the author here:
Andrea Cremer’s Blog
Andrea Cremer’s Website


The final cover I’d like to share is for the second book in the Disillusionists Trilogy by Carolyn Crane. The first book Mind Games will be released next week. It’s stirring up serious buzz among the blogging community and on Twitter. Thanks to all the tweets about the awesomeness of this book I’ll be downloading it to my Kindle as soon as it’s available.
The second book is Double Cross and it is scheduled to be released September 2010.


You can visit the author here:
Carolyn Crane's Website
Carolyn Crane's Blog  

On My Wishlist (2)






On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday.
 If you’d like to participate create your own “On My Wishlist” post. Make sure to stop by Book Chick City and add a link to your post.

Here are my picks this week. All descriptions are from Goodreads.

by Mary E. Pearson


Who is Jenna Fox?

Seventeen-year-old Jenna has been told that is her name. She has just awoken from a year-long coma, and she's still recovering from the terrible accident that caused it. Her parents show her home movies of her life, her memories, but she has no recollection. Is she really the same girl she sees on the screen?
Little by little, Jenna begins to remember. Along with the memories come questions—questions no one wants to answer for her. What really happened after the accident?
In this fascinating novel, acclaimed author Mary E. Pearson presents an unforgettable look at one human life and a glimpse into a possible future that may be closer than we think.

by Alex Archer




An ancient order tied to the Vatican...

A blood fortune buried in the caves of France...

A conspiracy of power, greed and darkest evil...

Archaeologist and explorer Annja Creed's fascination with the myths and mysteries of the past leads her to a crypt in the caves of France, where the terrifying legend of the Beast of Gevaudan hints at the unimaginable. What she discovers is shattering: an artifact that will seal her destiny; a brotherhood of monks willing to murder to protect their secret; and a powerful black-market occultist desperate to put his own claim to centuries-old blood money. Annja embarks on a high-tension race across Europe and history itself, intent on linking the unholy treachery of the ages with the staggering revelations of the present. But she must survive the shadow figures determined to silence her threat to their existence.

by Diana Rowland


Cop and conjurer of demons, she's a woman in danger of losing control—to a power that could kill....

Why me? Why now? That’s what Beaulac, Louisiana, detective Kara Gillian was asking herself when an angelic creature named Rhyzkahl unexpectedly appeared during a routine summoning. Kara was hoping to use her occult skills to catch a serial killer, but never had she conjured anything like this unearthly beautiful and unspeakably powerful being whose very touch set off exquisite new dimensions of pleasure. But can she enlist his aid in helping her stop a killer who’s already claimed the lives—and souls—of thirteen people? And should she? The Symbol Man is a nightmare that the city thought had ended three years ago. Now he’s back for an encore and leaving every indication on the flesh of his victims that he, too, is well versed in demonic lore.

Kara may be the only cop on Beaulac’s small force able to stop the killer, but it is her first homicide case. Yet with Rhyzkahl haunting her dreams, and a handsome yet disapproving FBI agent dogging her waking footsteps, she may be in way over her head...

What’s on your Wishlist?



Friday, March 19, 2010

Review: Inside Out by Maria V Snyder


Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder
Reading Level: Young Adult
Available: April 1, 2010

Description from Goodreads:

Keep Your Head Down.

Don't Get Noticed.

Or Else.


I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I've got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? The only neck at risk is my own…until I accidentally start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution.



My thoughts:

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading Inside Out. The synopsis was vague and left me wondering. Being the inquisitive sort I found myself intrigued. Let me just say this book grabbed me from page one and didn’t let go until the end. I can’t recall a single moment where my mind wandered or that I wished it would end. I was sucked in and sad when the ride was over.

In this book we meet Trella. Trella is a scrub who lives in Inside. In my mind (at least in the beginning) Inside is like a large factory with lots of metal and machines. Trella was assigned the job of cleaning air vents and pipes due to her small size. She’s quite the explorer and is familiar with almost every inch of Inside’s air vent system. This has earned her the nickname “Queen of the Pipes”. Trella’s a loner and the only person she considers a friend is Cogon. He was her care mate growing up and like the big brother she never had. What is a care mate you ask? When children are born the child is taken and raised by a Care Mother until they are considered old enough to start their trade. Trella and Cogon were assigned to the same Care Mother and therefore their bond was formed.

Inside is divided into two sections. The areas are referred to as Upper and Lower Inside. The scrubs reside in Lower. As you can tell from the name "scrub" the folks in Lower are treated as a lower class of people. There is no socialization between Uppers and Lowers with the exception of the police force that is referred to as the “Pop Cops”. All that the scrubs know of the Uppers is what they’ve been told.

Cogon is desperate to believe that there is something beyond Inside. There are rumors of a place called Outside. Some believe this is just a myth but the scrubs who long for a better life hang onto the hope that it does exist. In Cogon’s attempt to convince Trella of the Gateway to Outside he takes her to a prophet who has requested her assistance. The prophet is wheelchair bound and aptly named Broken Man. Broken Man was banished from Upper and requests Trella’s help in retrieving discs that he claims will lead them to Gateway. He also shares some unsettling news about Trella’s past. Trella the disbeliever as always decides to help simply to prove Broken Man a fraud. Instead she stirs up loads of trouble.

I could go on and on about this fabulous book but I don’t want to give too much away. I absolutely loved it and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoyed The Hunger Games or The Forest of Hands and Teeth. My only complaint is the ending seemed rush. This could just be my selfishness for not wanting the story to end. I would have loved to see the resolution spread out over a few more pages.


Book Blogger Hop!! (3)





It’s time for the weekly Book Blogger Hop hosted by Jennifer at Crazy for Books!

Head on over and sign up then spread the word. It’s a fantastic way to connect with other book bloggers.

See you at the Hop!!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Waiting On Wednesday (1)


"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My can't wait to read choice this week is:

Releases: April 27th, 2010

Description from Goodreads:
 
Wedding baker Laurel McBane is surrounded by romance working at Vows wedding planning company with her best friends Parker, Emma, and Mac. But she’s too low-key to appreciate all the luxuries that their clients seem to long for. What she does appreciate is a strong, intelligent man, a man just like Parker’s older brother Delaney, on whom she’s had a mega-crush since childhood.
 
But some infatuations last longer than others, and Laurel is convinced that the Ivy League lawyer is still out of her reach. Plus, Del is too protective of Laurel to ever cross the line with her – or so she thinks. When Laurel’s quicksilver moods get the better of her – leading to an angry, hot, all-together mind-blowing kiss with Del – she’ll have to quiet the doubts in her mind to turn a moment of passion into forever…



Want to participate?
Grab the logo, post your own WoW entry on your blog,
and leave a link in the comments section here!


Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Teaser Tuesday {2}


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

*Grab your current read

*Open to a random page

*Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
 
This week I'm reading Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder
 

"We've uncovered more illegal activities this week than in the past 30 weeks. Caught a woman who was raising her own children." 
~Inside Out p. 93