Summer Giveaway Hop

This hop is hosted by Kathy at I Am a Reader, Not a Writer and Mary at BookHounds.
Over 300 blogs are participating in book-related giveaways. We are all linked together so that you may hop from one blog to the next. The hop runs from Monday, August 1 through Sunday, August 7, 2011.

I have a great giveaway for you! There will be 1 winner.

Giveaway
The winner will receive 1 book of their choice (up to $15 value) at The Book Depository.

Giveaway Details
To enter this giveaway, you must follow this blog and fill out the form below. 
You can earn an +1 entry for tweeting the giveaway.  
Entries will be accepted until 11:59 pm, August 7, 2011.
                                                                                                                            

Review: When Tommy Adams Burned the World: Part 1 Into the Province

"When Tommy Adams Burned The World: Part 1, Into The Province" is the first part in a six part series.

Follow the adventure of Tommy Adams, a boy with magical powers, dropped into the fantastical land of The Province. Chased by zombie pirates, an alchemist and the fairy prince's Knight and his page, Tommy has to figure out why the Daemons that own his soul have sent him there all the while staying two steps ahead of everyone.

For readers 12 and up.



My Thoughts


When Tommy Adams Burned the World is part one in a six-part series of short stories by Timothy Nies. In the Prologue, we are introduced to Mr. Fate. His job, I think, is to collect souls. Mr. Fate, all though evil, was a wickedly delcious character to read. He is arrogant, snobbish. Mr. Fate, comes to collect a new soul, an infant. Turns out, that infant is his great-nephew, Tommy. When Mr. Fate learns this, his cool facade drops. But he is clearly not the man in charge and once he is reminded of that, he completes his job.

Once the story begins, we are re-introduced to Tommy Adams, on his fourteenth birthday. A little backstory tells us that he has not had an easy road. As it happens, when Mr. Fate took Tommy from his parents, he allowed them to bargain for Tommy's upbringing. Each year of his life, a new clause is enacted on his birthday. On his fourteenth birthday, the clause states that he will receive the finest education man or demon can offer. Happy to enact the clause, Mr. Fate sends Tommy on his way, Into the Province.  Once in the Province, Tommy quickly encounters amazing new characters. As the story ends, Tommy has realized he must think, and move, fast if he is going to survive in the Province.

My first thought was...this is a really cool concept. Part One was a perfect, bite-sized nugget of fantastic storytelling. At only 55 pages, I zoomed through the story in no time. Tommy is an engaging young boy who is easy to root for. I was definitely left wanting for more.

Timothy Nies, the author, sent me a few illustrations of Mr. Fate.  So talented! So cool!






Part One: When Tommy Adams Burned the World at  Amazon.
You can learn more about the author, Timothy Nies and Tommy Adams at The Majitorium website.

*I received a copy of this story from the author, in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: The Abused Werewolf Rescue Group, by Catherine Jinks



I still hadn't fully absorbed the terrible possibility that I might actually be a werewolf. A werewolf. I kept stumbling over that word; it made no sense to me. How could I be a werewolf? Werewolves didn't exist.
When Tobias Richard Vandevelde wakes up in hospital with no memory of the night before, his horrified mother tells him that he was found by the police. At Featherdale Park. In a dingo pen. 
As if that isn't weird enough, suddenly a very menacing looking guy and a priest show up at his door. 
As the mystery unfolds, Toby finds himself keeping company with some very strange and sickly looking people - members of a suburban vampire support group. And when he's abducted in broad daylight, he will need all their help to break free ... and to come to terms with his own incredibly rare condition.
(From GoodReads)

My Thoughts

I'm not quite sure where to begin with this review. When The Abused Werewolf Rescue Group starts, Toby wakes in the hospital with no recollection of how he ended up in a dingo pen. Shortly thereafter, a young man and a priest show up at his home and inform him that he is a werewolf. Of course, Toby and his mother are convinced the two men are crazy and send them away. While he is still in denial, Toby is kidnapped by smugglers who run a "werewolf fighting ring". While trying for rescue, Toby and his new group of friends must overcome hurdle after hurdle. All the while, Toby is trying to get a grip on his newfound condition.

The book did get off to a mysterious start. Why and how does Toby end up in a dingo pen? And why can't he remember the events leading up to that? The mystery and action continues steadily throught Abused Werewolf, building up to an intense climax during the rescue. To be honest, the rescue efforts go on and on, a little too long. It seemed like everytime the rescue seemed to be finished, another obstacle popped up. I really just wanted to say "Enough!" and get on with it. After the constant action for numerous pages, the ending left me underwhelmed. The ending of the book revealed a premise behind the story, one I did not care for at all. It just felt too neat, or like a cliche`.

I did like the main character, Toby. Jinks did a fantastic job of writing a teen boy, something I think would be extremely difficult. Not once did I find myself incredulous towards the dialogue. I think Abused Werewolf would likely do well with YA boys.

*I received this book from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.*

Review of The Adventures of Benjamin Skyhammer, by Nicole Sheldrake

Benjamin Skyhammer has more than his fair share of problems. He's a magic-less outcast, he's hiding a terrible secret from his best friend and the valuable Relic he found has been stolen. Just when he thinks things couldn't get any worse, he discovers that the human species believes he's a sorcerer bent on destroying their magic powers and they want him dead. (From Smashwords)

My Thoughts

The Adventures of Benjamin Skyhammer, by Nicole Sheldrake, is a lively fantasy adventure. The story revolves around Benjamin Skyhammer. Skyhammer is a relic-hunter, think treasure hunter, who is unable to use magic. In this fantasy world, everyone is able to perform magic. This leaves him thought of as sub-human, basically an outcast. Skyhammer is joined by Higgins, his partner, who is a very powerful magician. When Skyhammer and Higgins discover a powerful sorcerer is out to destroy everyone's ability to perform magic, they must stop the sorcerer before their world is destroyed.

In Benjamin Skyhammer, Nicole Sheldrake has built a fantastic world unlike any I've read before. The level of detail was vivid, imaginative. The opening immediately drew me in. It gave a strong sense of the characters' personality, their status in the world.

Skyhammer isn't the typical, wholly moral hero. He has deep, deep secrets. He often came across as jealous, self-centered and sometimes, even whiny. He will (and has) done literally anything to get a relic. Because of these major flaws in character, he was often hard to sympathize with.

Higgins, on the other hand, was a totally different story. Although she is a secondary character, she was definitely my favorite. As a brilliant magician, she is often the one to get Skyhammer out of trouble. With a funny comment or a kick in the rear, she pulled him out of his self-obsessed despair. I loved her!

However, I had a problem with the story. I know I have said that the detail in the world-building was immense. But it sometimes left me feeling a little lost. There were so many different species of "people" and so many geographical areas that I sometimes got lost in the details. Another little problem I had was an unanswered plot point. I mentioned above that Skyhammer has a deep, dark secret. In an effort to keep this spoiler-free, I won't say what the secret was. I was really bothered that although it was referenced in his thoughts and by a few who knew what happened, Skyhammer was never confronted about what he did. I would have liked to have seen that issue addressed.

So. I know I've done a lot of griping about my perception of Skyhammer's character. But, I do have to (happily) say that within the last portions of the book,  his actions did a lot towards his redemption.  Benjamin Skyhammer began to act out of love and towards the greater good, and not for his own selfish gains. And don't we all like a character who is mostly morally redeemed?

You can find The Adventures of Benjamin Skyhammer at Smashwords

*I received a copy of this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review.*

Waiting on Wednesday…Forgotten Souls by Tiffany King

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

This week we are waiting on:

Forgotten Souls is book two of the Saving Angels series, by Tiffany King.

Why we can’t wait: Meant to Be (Saving Angels: Book 1) was a beautifully written, thrilling story. I can’t see what author Tiffany King has in store for Krista and Mark in Forgotten Souls.

You can learn more about Forgotten Souls at GoodReads.

Teaser Tuesday: The Adventures of Benjamin Skyhammer, by Nicole Sheldrake

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as 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 any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others!

Make sure to share the title and the author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR piles!

Benjamin Skyhammer has more than his fair share of problems. He's a magic-less outcast, he's hiding a terrible secret from his best friend and the valuable Relic he found has been stolen. Just when he thinks things couldn't get any worse, he discovers that the human species believes he's a sorcerer bent on destroying their magic powers and they want him dead. (From Smashwords)
“Blood soaking her ripped shirt, Higgins faced the warrior, who now wore a smug smile. The Nasuchu lunged at Higgins.”

You can find The Adventures of Benjamin Skyhammer at Smashwords

Series Feature! The Madly Series by M. Leighton

MADLY AND WOLFHARDT

**INCLUDES BOOK 1 & 2 OF THE MADLY SERIES**
Madly is your average nearly-eighteen year old girl—for a mermaid princess, that is.
Madly James is thoroughly enjoying her internship in Slumber when the unthinkable happens—there’s a prison break in Atlas, Madly’s home beneath the sea. A traitor has set free eight Lore, the spirits of what humans know as fairy tales, and they are making their way to Slumber to awaken their descendants.
The first spirit to arrive is that of Ulrich Wolfhardt, a man that was once obsessed with wolves and a young maiden he would follow through the woods. After a bite from a wolf, Wolfhardt’s obsession with the girl became an unnatural hunger and the young maiden’s grandmother cursed him with a fate worse than death. And now he’s back…with a vengeance and a bite that can infect others as well.
Madly must learn the identity of Wolfhardt’s descendant and stop him before he kills again and spreads his curse across the earth. But the only person strong enough to help Madly is Jackson, the Sentinel who vowed to protect her and the one person capable of breaking her heart. Can Madly resist forbidden love long enough to save the world from Wolfhardt? Or will she have to sacrifice her heart and her destiny to save the ones she loves?
FIND AT Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Madly-Wolfhardt-Book-ebook/dp/B005CKHYDE/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1310992867&sr=1-1
FIND AT Barnes & Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/madly-and-wolfhardt-m-leighton/1104277798?ean=2940012836878&itm=1&usri=madly%2band%2bwolfhardt
 

ABOUT MICHELLE

M. Leighton is a native of Ohio, but she relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she can be near the water all summer and miss the snow all winter. Possessed of an overactive imagination from early in her childhood, Michelle finally found an acceptable outlet for her fantastical visions: writing fiction. Six of Michelle's novels can now be found on Amazon, as well as several other sites. She's currently working on sequels, though her mind continues to churn out new ideas, exciting plots and quirky characters. Pick one up and enjoy a wild ride through the twists and turns of her vivid imagination.
OTHER M. LEIGHTON BOOKS
Blood Like Poison: For the Love of a Vampire
Blood Like Poison: Destined for a Vampire
Caterpillar
The Reaping
Wiccan
FIND MICHELLE
Blog http://mleightonbooks.blogspot.com/
FB http://www.facebook.com/pages/M-Leighton/189192087759491#!/pages/M-Leighton/189192087759491
GR http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1152263.M_Leighton
Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/mleightonbooks
EM m.leighton.books@gmail.com

Review of Passion, by Lauren Kate

"Every single lifetime, I'll choose you. Just as you have chosen me. Forever."
Luce would die for Daniel. And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn’t need to be that way. . . .
Luce is certain that something—or someone—in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime . . . going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel . . . and finally unlock the key to making their love last.
Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history.
Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames . . . forever.


My Thoughts
I love Lauren Kate’s The Fallen series. I was instantly besotted with book one, Fallen. Daniel and Luce and their tragically doomed love was mesmerizing. Tempted, book two, I was a little less thrilled with because of the distance between Luce and Daniel, but I still devoured it, nonetheless. But with Passion, Lauren Kate and her star-crossed lovers are back in their full glory.
So, as Passion begins, Luce has taken off through time, determined to discover for herself whether her fiery fate with Daniel is worth all the heartbreak they must endure. She will now go back to some of her former lives to witness their love firsthand.  Luce, with Daniel chasing her, confront their past selves. Initially, I must admit, this was more than a little confusing. I had to read, then re-read paragraph because I wasn’t sure if “Present Luce” or “Past Luce” was with “Past Daniel” or “Present Daniel”. Or would Luce conversing with her past self mess up the whole “time-space-continuum”? (points to those who got my Back to the Future reference!) Once I got a mental grip on past/present aspect of the story, I quickly fell in love with Passion.
As Luce begins her journey, she is joined by “Bill”. Bill wants to help Luce through time to discover the key to breaking her curse. Luce is thrown into some of the most memorable moments throughout time. Lauren Kate did a beautiful job of setting the scenes in history so completely. From Moscow to Egypt, and beyond, the location was thoroughly set. Each time, she also had to make Luce and Daniel, and even their friends, into completely new characters. For me, each jump into the past brought a fantastic sense of anticipation.  Each discovery Luce uncovered was tragic and beautiful.
While I’ve always liked the character of Daniel Grigori, he definitely came across as aloof and untouched at times. By giving Luce and Daniel parallel storylines into the past, Kate made Daniel into a more sympathetic and likeable character. His pain each time he loses Luce is heartbreaking. His resolve to endure the pain each lifetime is unflinching.
Passion was an intense read. The knowledge that just around the corner could lurk an impending doom and final revelation was riveting. With each leap through time, the stakes intensified. I found myself with a thudding heart and held breath. Will Daniel find Luce before it’s too late? Will their love withstand Heaven and Hell? The answers, the entire book, left me completely staggered.
The final book in the Fallen series, Rapture, is set to release Spring 2012.

*Passion is a book that I purchased myself.*

My 1st DNF…

So. I’m sadly calling my first DNF since I’ve been reviewing/blogging. I tried. I really, really tried. But this book was becoming painful. Just too weird. And I love weird. I do weird really well. Some people think I am weird. But this book was just beyond… anything. No. Just no. So I’ve declared it a done day on “Savannah Grey”.  I’m moving on to better, greener (figurative) pastures.

Have any of you read Savannah Grey? If you have, please let me know what you thought of it. Was it just me? (I’m paranoid)

*I received Savannah Grey from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. *

Review: Darwin’s Children, by Natasha Larry

Life can get pretty complicated for any seventeen-year-old girl, but for a home-schooled telepathic black girl trying to survive in a prestigious private school in small-town Jonesborough, Tennessee, it can be maddening; especially when her telepathic father keeps eavesdropping on her thoughts!
Jaycie Lerner’s family isn’t the usual mom-dad-kid setup. Jaycie’s mom is MIA, but Allison, her personal live-in trainer, is more than a mom, with her own special abilities, like being able to lift cars and run incredibly fast. And Jaycie’s godfather John is more than persuasive; he can literally convince anyone to do anything.
As far as the rest of the world is concerned, Jaycie is on the outside looking in. The townsfolk love Jaycie’s pediatrician father, but she doesn’t fit in with normal kids, and she doesn’t really want to. Most of her free time is spent training to keep her telekinetic and telepathic powers under control. But there’s one thing she can’t control and that’s her feelings, especially when her best friend Matt is nearby. If only he knew what she was truly capable of...
Everything seems to be status quo for Jaycie until she receives a cryptic message from a stranger and meets a very unusual girl new to Jonesborough. Then all hell breaks loose! (From GoodReads)

My Thoughts
The synopsis for Darwin’s Children was a real attention-getter for me.  As you may expect from the title, the premise behind the abilities exhibited by Jaycie and her family is evolution. As humans evolve, they are able to access parts of the brain previously unused. According to Jaycie’s father, Mason, “Evolution is nature’s tool  to ensure the survival of the species”. All supernatural beings (vampires, slayers, werewolves) and those with supernatural abilites (telepaths, empaths, telekenesis) are the result of evolution. Their world is all about the balance of good and evil.
Darwin’s Children has winsome characters that made me like them instantly. Jaycie was smart, brave and funny. She was also a little petulant and whiny, just like any good seventeen year old! She wants to have normal teenage experiences, but it’s almost impossible as a telepath. She can barely control her mind or her body. Every time she and her best friend Matt try to take their relationship to the next level, she is likely to shatter a window with her “vibrations”.  Allison, Jaycie’s nanny/trainer is a 90 year-old woman, with the body of a 20 year-old. Mason and John, Jaycie’s father and godfather are the heads of their group. Mason is lovingly devoted to his daughter, but not above eavesdropping on her thoughts. John is a second father to Jaycie and spends his time devoted to finding and researching others like them. The character of Haylee was the wildcard for me. I just never could fully like her or trust her. Haylee is an outsider like Jaycie, with extra abilities of her own, but unwilling to open up to help from Jaycie. Haylee has some dark, dark secrets. I found her storyline really disturbing, hard to read.
Darwin’s Children is a layered, smart and complicated story. I really enjoyed the intelligence that was undoubtedly at work writing this book. Darwin’s Children was a book thoroughly unlike anything I’ve read before. Sure, I’ve read books about humans with super abilities, but none with so much thought, creativity and explanation behind the abilities.  Although I have to admit, I got a bit lost in the explanations, especially at the end of the book. But I will definitely give the sequel a try.
You can learn more about Darwin’s Children at GoodReads.
*I received Darwin’s Children from the author, in exchange for an honest review. *

Waiting on Wednesday…

"Waiting On"  Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking  the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
This week we are anxiously waiting on:



This thrilling sequel to the much-talked-about Nightshade begins just where it ended-Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemy, and she's certain her days are numbered. But then the Searchers make her an offer-one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack-and the man-she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive.
Hardcover, 400 pages
Expected publication: July 26th 2011 by Philomel
Why we can’t wait: When Nightshade ended, Calla had left Ren. While we do like Shay, we are most decidedly Team Ren and are dying to know if Calla comes to her senses.

Review of Bridger, by Megan Curd

Ashlyn McVean doesn't believe in fairy tales. That is, until Ashlyn is thrown into the crosshairs of grudges her grandmother created long ago. After finding out she is one of two people able to cross between faerie realms, Ashlyn is faced with trying to understand her abilities, along with navigating a new relationship with her boyfriend, Liam. As if being on a centuries old hit list and dealing with crazed pixies isn't enough, her new abilities mean trouble for Liam. Knowing her new life puts everyone she loves in danger, Ashlyn must decide what's most important in her life between friends, family, love, and ultimately, realms. (From GoodReads)
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I was  looking forward to reading Bridger, and it got off to a pretty thrilling start. The opening of the story was full of action, drama and foreshadowing. But beyond that, much of Bridger, to me,  just felt sort of forced.

From the beginning, the fact that there was a big secret regarding Ashlyn is pretty apparent. The uncovering of that secret was fairly drawn out. And call me impatient, I just wanted to get on with it. To be fair, what Ashlyn learns about herself was a very creative and unique concept. I just felt the revelation was too slow.
Another problem I had with Bridger was the pace of the story. The scenes felt abrupt to me. Ashlyn meets Liam and within minutes they are snuggling and sharing secrets? Really? For example, on the first night they meet, Liam tells  Ashlyn his little brother was kidnapped by faeries. What?  She doesn’t exactly believe him, but just shrugs the story off, thinking that he’s gorgeous but crazy. Without giving spoilers, I’ll say that there were several decisions by the characters that I just didn’t get.

Lest I come off as Miss Crankypants, there were some things that I did like about Bridger. I genuinely liked the actual premise of the story. The Bridger was an innovative concept that I haven’t read before. Such a relief. Even though I didn’t feel a full connection to the characters, there were some that I liked.  Tess, Liam’s mom, was a warm and loving mother with a few secrets of her own. Ashlyn’s grandmother, Memaw, was funny, protective and a total ninja-style badass. Even Ashlyn, though I didn’t love a lot of her choices, was courageous and loving.

I had no intentions for this to be a purely negative review. But I do have to “call it like I see it”.  I didn’t hate Bridger, it just wasn’t the book for me.

*I received a copy of Bridger from the author, in exchange for an honest review. *

Teaser Tuesday: Darwin’s Children by Natasha Larry

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as 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 any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others!

Make sure to share the title and the author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR piles!

Life can get pretty complicated for any seventeen-year-old girl, but for a home-schooled telepathic black girl trying to survive in a prestigious private school in small-town Jonesborough, Tennessee, it can be maddening; especially when her telepathic father keeps eavesdropping on her thoughts!
Jaycie Lerner’s family isn’t the usual mom-dad-kid setup. Jaycie’s mom is MIA, but Allison, her personal live-in trainer, is more than a mom, with her own special abilities, like being able to lift cars and run incredibly fast. And Jaycie’s godfather John is more than persuasive; he can literally convince anyone to do anything.
As far as the rest of the world is concerned, Jaycie is on the outside looking in. The townsfolk love Jaycie’s pediatrician father, but she doesn’t fit in with normal kids, and she doesn’t really want to. Most of her free time is spent training to keep her telekinetic and telepathic powers under control. But there’s one thing she can’t control and that’s her feelings, especially when her best friend Matt is nearby. If only he knew what she was truly capable of...
Everything seems to be status quo for Jaycie until she receives a cryptic message from a stranger and meets a very unusual girl new to Jonesborough. Then all hell breaks loose! (From GoodReads)

I’m not too far into Darwin’s Children, and not quite sure how I feel about it yet. Here is my teaser:

"As soon as she told him this, she felt a familiar tingling at the back of her neck, followed by a warm pinch that radiated down her spine. She narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously. “

You can check out Darwin’s Children here.

Review of Anathema, by K.A. Tucker

Evangeline has spent her teenage years in obscurity. Her foster parents have the emotional aptitude of robots and her classmates barely acknowledge her existence. About to turn eighteen and feeling like a social pariah, she is desperate to connect with someone. Anyone.
When Evangeline meets Sofie after literally stumbling upon her café, she believes she’s found that connection. Willing to do anything to keep it, she accepts a job as Sofie’s assistant and drops everything to fly to Manhattan, where she is thrust into a luxurious world of Prada, diamonds, and limitless cash.
With such generosity and kindness, it’s easy for Evangeline to dismiss certain oddities . . . like Sofie’s erratic and sometimes violent behavior, and the monstrous guard dogs. She’s even willing to dismiss her vivid dreams of mob-style murders, beautiful homeless people living in caves, and white-eyed demons that haunt her each night as figments of her imagination—especially when one of those figments is the gorgeous Caden. When she wakes up with bite marks on her neck, the fairy tale quickly turns into a nightmare. She slowly unravels the mystery surrounding Sofie and friends, and the reality of the bites and the “dreams.” What she discovers is far more mysterious and terrible than anything she could have imagined.
In a world where everyone has motive to lie for personal gain, Evangeline must decide which deception is least likely to get her killed. (From GoodReads)
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What if you had nothing and no one? No roots to hold you to your life. What if you had the opportunity of a lifetime? The most luxurious aspects of life become yours for the taking. What price would you pay?

Evangeline is a girl with no family, no ties to her life. When the glamorous Sofie mysteriously insinuates herself into Evangeline’s life, her life changes in ways she could never possibly imagine.  Upon arriving in New York, Sofie introduces Evangeline to Viggo and Mortimer. The fact that the three are hiding something from Evangeline quickly becomes apparent. But who can worry about that when wads of cash and loads of clothes are heaved upon you at every turn? Things take a bizarre turn on her first night in New York. A terrifying “dream”  has Evangeline meeting strangely beautiful and dangerous people, coming under attack, and waking up with a bump on her head. Night after night, she becomes more involved in the “dream world” and day after day, she is faced with increasingly troubling behavior from Sofie, Viggo and Mortimer. With deceptions coming at every angle, Evangeline is left choosing who she can trust. The wrong choice may certainly cost her life.

In Anathema, K.A. Tucker has created a fascinating world filled with rich characters, alternate realities and psychological drama. Although Evangeline is the main character, Sofie was, for me, the most interesting character. Sofie was by turns ruthless, deceptive and surprisingly caring. Evangeline started the story as a meek character, but developed the strength to handle her circumstances.

To be completely honest, the jumping between Evangeline’s dream world and daily life was a little confusing and left me hoping that there would be a great explanation. Every time she was thrown from one reality to the other, I was thrown off track. Both storylines were excellent, but they felt distinct, not fully cohesive.  The dual storylines are explained about halfway through the book, and eventually come together very nicely.

My favorite aspect of Anathema was the deception between the characters. While reading this book, you can never take anyone at “face value”. Each time I felt I knew who Evangeline could trust, the tables were turned. The level of deceit and trickery is astounding. I changed allegiance continuously and by the time I finished reading the book, I was still not sure I, or Evangeline, made the right choice. 

K.A. Tucker beautifully set the stage for the sequel, Asylum, due out in 2012.

You can learn more about K.A. Tucker at her blog


*I received Anathema from the author, in exchange for an honest review.*

Review of Starcrossed, by Josephine Angelini

How do you defy destiny?
 
Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.

As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart. (From GoodReads)

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I don't think it is an understatement when I say that books using Greek mythology as a part of their storyline are a HUGE deal right now. Some utilize the mythology better than others. In a world saturated with these books, Starcrossed rises above the crowd.

Starcrossed got off to an interesting start, but I wasn't quite sure how the story would come together. That caused me to take a while to become fully invested in the book.  But once the story picked up the pace, I was taken on one heck of a ride!

The main character, Helen, has no idea why she has freakishly abnormal traits, why she wakes each morning parched and dirty, or why she tries to kill newcomer Lucas Delos at first glance. As weird as it may seem, I can't express how happy I was that Helen has this reaction to Lucas. Almost every book I read has the heroine feeling love at first sight when she sees the mysterious new guy in town. Every time Helen and Lucas tie it up, the crazy person inside of me cheered. Of course, this violence between the two cannot go on and the explanation as to why they share this violent, visceral reaction to each other is tied to the Fates.

In Starcrossed, the reader is able to go on the journey of discovery with Helen, learning the secrets to her abilities, her heritage and destiny.  As she moves down the path of  awareness, Helen must learn to control her powers while trying to maintain a normal facade with her father and friends.

The book is filled with loads of amazing secondary characters. Lucas' extended family, especially his sister and cousins, help move the story along, as they help Helen understand and embrace what is her's. Helen's best friend, Claire, is a pint-sized powerhouse. She's funny and almost completely unflappable, rolling with the unending "punches" Helen's life brings. The antagonism-turned-flirtation between Claire and Jason, Lucas' cousin, was a particular bright spot in the story.

The twists and turns in Starcrossed are unending. The end of the book left me infuriated and heart-broken. It
"hurt so good". The forces at work against Helen and Lucas are of legendary proportion and seem practically insurmountable. Who can fight fate? Who can fight the gods?

Hopefully, we will get some of the answers when Dreamless (Starcrossed #2) is released May 2012.

On a side note, I am impressed and appreciative of the work Josephine Angelini did involving the Greek mythology in Starcrossed. I am a huge fan of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey and loved how she made him and his works part of the story.

*I received Starcrossed via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. I also own my own copy of the book.*

Cover Reveal of Weaving Destiny: Book Two of The Soulkeepers Series, by GP Ching

Malini Gupta thought Jacob Lau was her destiny, that they were meant to be together. But after months of failing to decipher how she fits into the Soulkeepers, frustration threatens to tear their relationship apart. As does a new Soulkeeper named Mara who is ready to stop time itself to earn Jacob's love.

When Malini faces her worst fears and even death, she learns a funny thing about destiny; nobody said hers couldn't change. The future is a tapestry of choices, and she's about to weave hers. (From The Soulkeepers Series website)

Weaving Destiny is the highly anticipated second book in The Soulkeepers Series by GP Ching. If you haven't yet read The Soulkeepers, you are missing out on an amazing book.

Learn more about the series here:
The Soulkeepers Series

Review of Things to Do in Denver When You're Un-Dead

For ten years Kal Hakala has been the Bureau of Supernatural Investigation's top man, the longest surviving agent in its blood-soaked history. There has been no case he couldn't crack, no monster he couldn't kill. Until a plague of zombies in Denver turns into an investigation of a vicious serial killer dubbed The Organ Donor. Fueled by rage and a hatred of all things supernatural, he dives headlong into the one mystery that could finally kill him. ~From GoodReads

  Beware: Major Praise Coming...

  From the funny, attention-grabbing opening line "Mondays suck. Always. Standard rule of life.", Things to Do in Denver When You're Un-Dead, had me completely hooked. Mark Stone has built a fantastic new world that was fascinating to read.
  The cast of characters were gruff and gritty, but also likeable and worth rooting for. The center of the story, Kal Hakala, is the ultimate hero.  Kal is a tough guy, but also can be kind and generous when the circumstances warrant it. Clues lead to the belief that Kal has a secret. A secret that has led him to this point in his life, and could be his undoing. He is the ultimate leader and go-to guy in a company of preeminent undercover warriors. Each member of the team, from Pat the receptionist/psychiatrist, Sue and Brian, fellow agents, on up to the man in charge, BB, is intriguing and worthwhile of their own story.
  The world that Mark Stone has (hopefully) invented for Things to Do in Denver When You're Un-Dead is so thorough, I don't believe a single detail was left amiss. There is a weapon or computer program to combat every situation. The beings who occupy this world range from miniature creatures, Brownies, who keep his life running smoothly as long as he supplies them with snacks and live in a miniature RV under his desk, all the way up to Class 5 demons who are the ultimate enemy of the team.  There are vampires, zombies and ghouls to contend with. And believe me when I say that in this world they are not the misunderstood and endearing creatures we've been reading lately!
  Things to Do in Denver When You're Undead is perhaps the "smartest" book I have read in quite a while. The dialogue is sharp, witty, funny and kept me reading obsessively. The plot was brilliant. There were many major twists and turns that had me guessing, and gasping, and at one point sobbing, right up until the very last line of the book. My only complaint? That now I'll have to wait for a sequel!

**Honestly, I could have written a whole review based on the many lines in the book that I loved. Here is my favorite:

"Fortunately for the good citzens of the Mile High City, we came, we saw, and we kicked undead ass, ridding the place of a smelly, rotting menace."

Waiting on Wednesday…

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

This week we are waiting on...



The grave is one wrong step away.
Having narrowly averted an (under)world war, Cat Crawfield wants nothing more than a little downtime with her vampire husband, Bones. Unfortunately, her gift from New Orleans' voodoo queen just keeps on giving--leading to a personal favor that sends them into battle once again, this time against a villainous spirit.
Centuries ago, Heinrich Kramer was a witch hunter. Now, every All Hallows Eve, he takes physical form to torture innocent women before burning them alive. This year, however, a determined Cat and Bones must risk all to send him back to the other side of eternity--forever. But how do you kill a killer who's already long dead? (From GoodReads)

Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages
Expected publication: August 30th 2011 by Avon Books (Mm)
 
Why we can’t wait:  The Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost just keeps getting better. These books are exciting, sexy, and wicked funny! Cat and Bones are the perfectly imperfect couple.

Teaser Tuesday: Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as 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 any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others!

Make sure to share the title and the author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR piles!
 

How do you defy destiny?
Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.
As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart. (From GoodReads)
“In the morning when Helen woke up and looked at her feet, the cuts were gone. She almost believed that she had imagined them-until she saw that her sheets were dirty with dried, brown blood and grit.”
You can take a look at Starcrossed at GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9462795-starcrossed

Review of Hunting Human, by Amanda Alvarez

For two years, Beth Williams has run from the past, and the beast that dwells inside her. She is haunted by memories of
being kidnapped and the savage attack that killed her best friend. Now Beth finally thinks she's ready to move on...with
Braden Edwards, a charming, irresistibly sexy man who tempts Beth to embrace the present.
But the past lurks closer than Beth realizes. Markko Bolvek, one of the werewolves who kidnapped her, has tracked her
to Portland, Oregon, his pursuit fueled by a hunger for vengeance. Only Braden, a werewolf himself, senses the danger
shadowing her steps. The Edwards and Bolveks have been enemies for centuries—and despite the instant connection
he feels with Beth, Braden isn't sure which side of the war she's on.
With suspicion at odds with their attraction, Beth and Braden must learn to trust one another to stop Markko for good.
Can Beth accept the wolf within—and love a man who embodies everything she fears? (From GoodReads)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well, I think I have officially burned myself out on werewolf novels. Don’t get me wrong, I love werewolves.  I just haven’t seen anything new lately. Having said that, I did like Hunting Human. It was well written, with a fast pace and good characters.
Hunting Human gets of to a suspenseful, terrifying start with the recounting of the events that killed Beth’s best friend and changed her life.  She is changed in ways we, the reader, do not even know through the first half of the book. Beth, understandably is traumatized, withdrawn from the life around her. When she meets Braden, she just might find the will to move on with her life.  This couple has amazing chemistry, very well written chemistry supplied by the author. That happened to be my favorite part of the book.  The love scenes were sexy, really sexy, without going over the top, porno style.
Some of the secondary characters were lots of fun to read, such as Angie and Marianne, Beth’s boss and coworker. Lucy, Braden’s sister, was also a nice addition. A few characters, such as Braden’s brothers, Chase and Caleb, were just okay for me.  I tended to speed through many of the parts that focused on them.  I literally hated Markko, which speaks well for Alvarez, since he was the book’s villain.  And Yikes! He was ferocious.  The scenes told from his point-of-view were definitely hard to read. As were the scenes focusing on the attack of Beth and Rachel.
Like I said at the beginning of this review, Hunting Human was a fast, smooth, nicely written book. Hopefully, you’re not “werewolf-ed out” like I am, because it is definitely a deserving book.

* I received Hunting Human via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. *

Review of Breathe, by Abbi Glines

Sadie White's summer job isn't going to be on the beach life-guarding or working at rental booths like most kids her age. With her single mother's increasing pregnancy and refusal to work, Sadie has to take over her mother's job as a domestic servant for one of the wealthy summer families on a nearby island.
When the family arrives at their summer getaway, Sadie is surprised to learn that the owner of the house is Jax Stone, one of the hottest teen rockers in the world. If Sadie hadn't spent her life raising her mother and taking care of the house she might have been normal enough to be excited about working for a rock star.
Even though Sadie isn't impressed by Jax's fame, he is drawn to her. Everything about Sadie fascinates Jax but he fights his attraction. Relationship's never work in his world and as badly as he wants Sadie, he believes she deserves more. By the end of the summer, Jax discovers he can't breathe without Sadie.
But can their love overcome the disparity in their lifestyles? Or will they have to learn how to without each other breathe again? (From GoodReads)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It’s not often that I read a young adult novel that doesn’t have a single paranormal element.  Much of the time, I need that little “something extra” to hold my attention.  That was SO not the case with Breathe. Author Abbi Glines has written a beautiful, emotionally charged book about falling in love for the first time.
In Breathe, I found characters that were easy to love, and root for. Main character, Sadie, is a girl who has lived a hard life. Practically raising her own mother, working to provide for them, and all the other responsibility forced onto her has left no room for  friendship, or love, in her life.  Sadie manages to be vulnerable at moments, but never pitiful. Jax Stone, the world’s heartthrob, tries to unwind from his hectic life by spending summers incognito, in coastal Alabama. And guess what, he is a nice guy! No games, no secrets and lies. So nice to read about a great, up-front guy.  Jax is charming, but never smarmy. He’s kind to the people who work for him, taking an interest in them and their lives.  Not what Sadie expected from a world-famous star. The secondary characters were as easy to embrace as Jax and Sadie. They all managed to partake in the story in a meaningful way, not just space-fillers.
Breath was such an easy book to get sucked into. The atmosphere is so richly described, I felt as if I were a part of the scenes. The way coastal Alabama is portrayed, the sand and surf, blazing sunsets,  the sweet tea always at the ready, makes me even more excited that I’m going to actually be where the book is set, very soon.
So, here’s what I LOVED about Breathe. This book managed to put my heart through an emotional wringer. By the end I felt as if my heart had been lifted up, then yanked back down to Earth, twisted up like a sponge, then stomped on. And just maybe, lifted back up.  I loved every breath-stealing second of it. This book made me feel so much. I was reminded of what it felt like to be a young girl falling in love for the very first time.  Breathe made me smile wistfully, cry at the poignance,  tear up with the emotional pain, and laugh with relief.  I went through a gamut of emotions in the few hours it took me to read this book.  It only took a few hours because I could not put this book down.
I think Breathe, while it is perfect to read anytime, is an ideal summer read.  So if, like me, you’re headed to the beach soon, get this lovely book to read while enjoying the ocean.  I think I just may have to re-read this when I head to coastal Alabama…

The trailer to Breathe is debuting at Abbi Gline’s blog today. Here is the link: http://www.abbiglines.com/
You can find Breathe on GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11479285-breathe
                                                        Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0051BJSRO/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img
                                    Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/abbi-glines?store=book


* I received this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review. *

Winners!! Bone Dressing Giveaway

Thanks to all of you who entered the Bone Dressing giveaway. There were a lot of entries. Here are the winners:

* DeMarie

*magsannie

*Laura Ann Dunks

Congratulations to the winners! I am contacting the winners now. If I do not receive a reply w/in 48 hours, I will choose new winners.

Review and Giveaway of Exiled, by MR Merrick

Chase Williams is a demon hunter in the Circle, or at least he was supposed to be. Failing to develop any elemental magic on his fifteenth birthday left him exiled in a world full of half-demons, and no hunters to protect him.
When Chase discovers the Circle's plan to unlock a portal and unleash pure-blood demons into the world, he vows to stop them. Knowing he can't do it alone however, he accepts help from Rayna, a sexy witch with an attitude and a secret.
As the pair attempt to stop the Circle, Chase realizes working with a demon is only half the battle. When they find themselves in the middle of the Circle's plan, it leaves one of them to decide what their friendship is worth, and the other's life depending on it. (From GoodReads)
 
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I am always excited, and a little nervous, to read a debut from a new author.  Especially when that brand new author is a friend.  What do you say if you don’t love the book? And if you love their work, how do you dish out the praise without others thinking your just blowing smoke on behalf of your friend? Well, luckily for me, my problem is the latter.  MR Merrick has written an excellent opening book in what I believe will be a fantastic series.
With Exiled, MR Merrick has managed to build an exciting, imaginative world with crazy-cool characters and action galore. The supernatural characters in this world are scary and have their own imaginative spin, with an excellent attention to details.  The demons, trolls, and hunters are all great but what really blew me away was the author’s take on vampires. I won’t go into detail because I want you to discover the world for yourself. I have read so many books with vampires, but the author managed to portray them in a completely new way. 
The main characters, Chase and Rayna, were also well-written.  They are both natural-born survivors, using their strength, skills, and wit to make it in their dangerous world. Chase and Rayna also share quite a bit of chemistry. Chemistry that I hope will be delved into more in the next book in the series. The supporting cast of characters in Exiled were also by turns engaging, endearing, or infuriating. I quickly developed a soft spot for Willy. Willy is a half-demon who stutters and in kind of wimpy, but manages to come through for his friends.  Trust me, you’ll love him!
Exiled drew me in from the first lines and held me all the way until the end. The end, by the way, left me trying to turn the page, wanting more.  If you’re looking for an action-adventure with great characters and fantastic style, look no further. Exile has all that and more.
You can check out Exiled at GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11787541-exiled-book-1       
                                                       Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/69979     
                                                       Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0058OMWYU/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img
     
MR Merrick is giving TWO lucky people an ecopy of Exiled. All you have to do is fill out the entry form below. This giveaway will run from July 5-July 8, 2011. I will draw two winners on July 8th. If you are a winner, I will notify you by email. I will also notify the author so that he can send you your ecopy of Exiled. This giveaway is International.  Good Luck!          
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              


* I received Exiled from the author, in exchange for an honest review. *

Teaser Tuesday: Hunting Human by Amanda Alvarez

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as 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 any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others!

Make sure to share the title and the author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR piles!

My Teaser is from Hunting Human, by Amanda Alvarez.

For two years, Beth Williams has run from the past, and the beast that dwells inside her. She is haunted by memories of being kidnapped and the savage attack that killed her best friend. Now Beth finally thinks she's ready to move on...with Braden Edwards, a charming, irresistibly sexy man who tempts Beth to embrace the present. But the past lurks closer than Beth realizes. Markko Bolvek, one of the werewolves who kidnapped her, has tracked her to Portland, Oregon, his pursuit fueled by a hunger for vengeance. Only Braden, a werewolf himself, senses the danger shadowing her steps. The Edwards and Bolveks have been enemies for centuries—and despite the instant connection he feels with Beth, Braden isn't sure which side of the war she's on. With suspicion at odds with their attraction, Beth and Braden must learn to trust one another to stop Markko for good. Can Beth accept the wolf within—and love a man who embodies everything she fears? (From GoodReads)

“When Rachel remained frozen, his knife widened the nick in Liz’s neck to a shallow cut. ‘I will slit your friend’s pretty throat.’ His promise skittered down Liz’s spine.”

You can learn more about this book at GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10147914-hunting-human

Review & Giveaway of The Goddess Test, by Aimee’ Carter

It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.
Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.
Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess. (From GoodReads)
 
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I have had The Goddess Test sitting on my bookshelf for quite a while now.  Two months, to be exact.  Now, I feel like slapping myself on the head because I waited so long to read this book.  Simply put, I loved The Goddess Test. From start to finish, this was a thoroughly enjoyable, completely engrossing book.  Debut author Aimee’ Carter has managed to take an age-old myth and give it a bright new spin.
The Goddess Test is obviously the story of Kate and Henry. And I’ll say, I did love that aspect of the story.  Kate is a strong young woman. Strong by nature and strong because of her life’s circumstances. She willingly takes on the challenge of the tests. Tests she must pass with no help from Henry.  Kate has spent much of the past few years trying to keep her mother alive through sheer will.  Now she will try to keep Henry through her will, as well. Kate and Henry’s relationship has a nice development from friendship to partnership, and finally to love.  While the romance between the pair was great, Carter gave their relationship a characteristic that I’ve been missing lately in the books I’ve read, mutual respect and partnership.  Henry treats Kate as his true equal. He doesn’t “look down” on her. He doesn’t draw her in one moment and push her away the next. He is as honest with her as he can be. Henry believes in Kate and in her ability to survive the tests. 
I also really loved the fact that Carter didn’t devote huge chunks of the book to Kate swooning over Henry. Sure, she notices (and appreciates) his good looks. But she doesn’t go on endlessly with an internal dialogue musing over the “smooth planes of his face, the rock-hard abs”, etc. 
I very quickly learned that The Goddess Test was about more that Kate, Henry and Tests. This book was also about a girl and her mother. Kate’s mother has been dying for four years. Although she has had much time to prepare, Kate is still not ready to let go. For me, The Goddess Test was a “long goodbye” between mother and daughter. I feel as if this part of the book had to come from somewhere deep inside the author.  That journey was so heartbreaking and realistic, without becoming overwrought.
If The Goddess Test is on your TBR list, don’t be a dummy like I was. Go read it right now!  If you don’t already have a copy, enter my giveaway below.
I’m going on vacation this weekend (Don’t be jealous!), so this will need to be a fairly quick giveaway. If you want to win your very own copy of The Goddess Test, just fill out the form. The giveaway will run July 4-July 7. I will announce a winner on July 8, and if I receive a response in time, I will mail the book before I go on vacation. This contest is for US residents only. Good Luck!!



*I received The Goddess Test via NetGalley, but also own my own copy. *