Book Review ~ BALTHAZAR (An Evernight Novel) by Claudia Gray

Haunted by memories from his first days as a vampire, Balthazar has spent hundreds of years alone—without allies, without love. When he emerges from his isolation to help Skye Tierney, a human girl who once attended Evernight Academy, Balthazar has no idea how dangerous it will be. Skye’s psychic powers have caught the attention of Redgrave, the cruel master vampire responsible for murdering Balthazar and his family four centuries ago. Having learned of Skye’s powers and the remarkable effect her blood has on vampires, he plans to use her for his own evil purposes. As they stand together to fight the evil vampire, Balthazar realizes his lonely world could finally be changed by Skye...just as Redgrave realizes that he can destroy Balthazar once and for all by taking her for his own.

In a story filled with forbidden love and dark suspense, one of the most beloved characters in Claudia Gray’s New York Times bestselling Evernight series will captivate readers with his battle to overcome his past and follow his heart.

For as long as I've been blogging, I've heard that I must read the EVERNIGHT series by Claudia Gray. I do own the first book in the series, EVERNIGHT, but haven't read it yet. BALTHAZAR is a stand-alone, spin-off of the EVERNIGHT series. And yes, reading this means I've read the series out of order, but honestly, I don't care.

BALTHAZAR was a great read. Maybe I've missed out on some of the backstory that would lend this one some extra magic, but I don't think so. Author Claudia Gray did such a fabulous job of doling out bits of information that helped keep me abreast of what put these characters, Balthazar and Skye in the place they are now. I never felt lost, or that I was lacking in essential knowledge of the characters or their world.

The "hook" grabbed my attention within the first few pages. I appreciate when that happens, I'm thrilled actually, because there is nothing worse than when the "hook" or the "reveal" comes entirely too far into the story, and it's a big dud. Basically, the story is this: Skye has "magic blood" because of an event that occured before the story begins. Bad vampires are after her because her blood virtually takes them back to a time when they were alive. So Balthazar (who I will discuss in depth) is there to protect her from the bad guys. Of course, they are attracted to one another, giving him a crisis of conscience. Between eluding the vampires after Skye, and eluding his own feelings, Balthazar has his work cut out for him.

Sounds fun and exciting, right? It is. Balthazar is what I'll call, "swoon-tastic". He's basically everything you want in a hero: handsome, thoughtful, brave, self-sacrificing. My favorite quality, though, is that Balthazar isn't freaking bi-polar. I am so over guys in books who run hot/cold, changing their personalities so fast my head spins. Balthazar quickly realizes he has feelings for Skye. Whether he acts on them is one story, but he never denies them. I enjoyed Skye, as well. She inadvertently, because she had helped a friend, gets put in a terrifying situation. But she faces it head-on; she actually listens to Balthazar when he tells her to run (finally!); and she doesn't play games. She lets Balthazar know that she wants him, without being sleazy, and is determined to make him work at forgetting her!

I will say, the story got the teensiest bit slow, for me, in the middle. It happens. I never got bored, but maybe it only felt slow because I wanted to find out what would happen with Balthazar and Skye. True love can't be denied, right?!

If you like paranormal young adult, I think you will most definitely enjoy BALTHAZAR. This book is extremely well-written and includes the best (fun, action, adventure, romance) of what the genre offers.
Favorite Quote(s):
"Balthazar was the kind of guy who used totally correct spelling and punctuation even when he was texting, which was sort of bizarrely hot. She was in serious trouble if commas could get her going."
(pg. 27, ARC)

"Don't go after her unless you're going to follow through, he told himself. Don't put her through it. If you stop her from being alone with Keith, you're stopping her from moving on. You can't do that unless you're willing to go the whole way." (pg.279, ARC)

Browse inside Balthazar.

Hardcover, 374 pages

Expected publication: March 6th 2012

You can pre-order Balthazar at:

Barnes & Noble  |  Amazon  |  Book Depository

Source: I received an ARC from the publisher for review.

Cover Reveal ~ LONELY SOULS, by Karice Bolton

I have another beautiful cover for you, lovies! Author Karice Bolton is unveiling the cover for the first book in The Witch Avenue series, LONELY SOULS.

It's two weeks before Triss turns 18, and her world is about to change into the most magical one imaginable as she readies herself to enter The Witch Avenue Order... that is until her mother's disappearance. Instead of celebrating her transformation, she finds herself spreading rose petals into her mother's empty grave.

When Logan, her best friend from junior high, moves back to town for college, he vows to help her find the answers she so desperately seeks surrounding her mother's disappearance. As they begin uncovering clues, it becomes apparent that the life of white magic they both grew up loving, is not what the majority practices, and their lives are in danger.

With a haunting feeling that her mother may still be alive, she begins to hear a call to the wilderness. Triss realizes that in order to find the answers she needs, she must learn the ways of her ancestors and become the hunter, not the hunted before it's too late, and she becomes part of the lonely souls.

 The LONELY SOULS cover was designed by Phatpuppy Art. I don't know about you, but I am excited for this one. In fact, I've already signed up for the blog tour! Can't wait.  Be sure to click the GoodReads link to add LONELY SOULS to your "to read" list.

The release is schedule for June 2012.

Karice Bolton's

Website  |  Blog   |   Facebook  |  TwitterTwitter

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's WoW selection is...

Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered.

Since then, Mac’s life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac’s hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy’s killer: A white werewolf.

Lupine syndrome—also known as the werewolf virus—is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy’s murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy’s boyfriend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

Kathleen Peacock’s thrilling novel is the first in the Hemlock trilogy, a spellbinding urban fantasy series filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love. ~From GoodReads

Technically, I'm not waiting, since I have the ARC. But, I'm forcing myself to wait until closer to publication date, so I think it counts!

Hardcover, 400 pages

Expected publication: May 8th 2012 by HarperCollins

You can pre-order Hemlock at:
Barnes & Noble  |  Amazon  |  Book Depository

Leap Into Books Giveaway Hop!

It's blog hop time again. YAY!

This hop is hosted by Kathy at I Am a Reader, Not a Writer and Jinky is Reading.

Hundreds of 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 February 29 - March 5, 2012.

Go here to find all the blogs participating.

The Prize:

Dying of a broken heart is just the beginning.... Welcome to forever.

BRIE'S LIFE ENDS AT SIXTEEN: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her, and the news breaks her heart—literally.

But now that she's D&G (dead and gone), Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend has been keeping a secret about Jacob, the boy she loved and lost—and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there's Patrick, Brie's mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul . . . who just might hold the key to her forever after.

With Patrick's help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she's ready to move on. But how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces? ~From GoodReads 

~ The Catastrophic History of You and Me, by Jess Rothenberg
~ A signed poster  from The Catastrophic History of You and Me (Thanks to the super sweet, amazing   Jess Rothenberg!)

The Rules:

• Must be 13+ years of age to enter.
• Book Depository must ship to your country (check here).
• Must fill out the Rafflecopter form (please leave a comment if you have trouble).

Teaser Tuesday

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.

This week's Teaser is from

Haunted by memories from his first days as a vampire, Balthazar has spent hundreds of years alone—without allies, without love. When he emerges from his isolation to help Skye Tierney, a human girl who once attended Evernight Academy, Balthazar has no idea how dangerous it will be. Skye’s psychic powers have caught the attention of Redgrave, the cruel master vampire responsible for murdering Balthazar and his family four centuries ago. Having learned of Skye’s powers and the remarkable effect her blood has on vampires, he plans to use her for his own evil purposes. As they stand together to fight the evil vampire, Balthazar realizes his lonely world could finally be changed by Skye...just as Redgrave realizes that he can destroy Balthazar once and for all by taking her for his own.

In a story filled with forbidden love and dark suspense, one of the most beloved characters in Claudia Gray’s New York Times bestselling Evernight series will captivate readers with his battle to overcome his past and follow his heart.

My Teaser:

"Balthazar was the kind of guy who used totally correct spelling and punctuation even when he was texting, which was sort of bizarrely hot. She was in serious trouble if commas could get her going."
(pg. 27, ARC)

I am loving this book!

Hardcover, 374 pages

Expected publication: March 6th 2012

You can pre-order Balthazar at:

Barnes & Noble  |  Amazon  |  Book Depository

Review ~ ILLUMINATE (GUILDED WINGS #1) by Aimee Agresti

Haven Terra is a brainy, shy high school outcast. But everything begins to change when she turns sixteen. Along with her best friend Dante and their quiet and brilliant classmate Lance, she is awarded a prestigious internship in the big city— Chicago—and is sent to live and work at a swanky and stylish hotel under the watchful eyes of a group of gorgeous and shockingly young-looking strangers: powerful and alluring hotel owner Aurelia Brown; her second-in-command, the dashing Lucian Grove; and their stunning but aloof staff of glamazons called The Outfit.

As Haven begins falling for Lucian, she discovers that these beautiful people are not quite what they seem. With the help of a mysterious book, she uncovers a network of secret passageways from the hotel’s jazz-age past that leads her to the heart of the evil agenda of Aurelia and company: they’re in the business of buying souls. Will they succeed in wooing Haven to join them in their recruitment efforts, or will she be able to thwart this devilish set’s plans to take the souls of her classmates on prom night at the hotel?

Illuminate is an exciting saga of a teen’s first taste of independence, her experience in the lap of luxury, and her discovery she may possess strength greater than she ever knew. ~ From GoodReads

Haven Terra is living the typical teenager's life. Great school, great friends, great "family"...life is good. Except for the fact that she was abandoned as a baby, left with scars on her chest and back. Luckily Haven was taken in and cared for by Joan, a nurse, and her coworkers. When Haven and her best friend Dante, along with classmate Lance, are whisked away for a once-in-a-lifetime internship at a soon to be opened hotel/nightclub in the Chicago, it's a dream come true.

Once the internship begins, the fact that something is "off" is quickly evident. Maybe it's the fact that The Outfit, the beyond glamorous staff, act like freakish robots? Or the mysterious book that seems to be communicating with Haven? But how about the fact that Aurelia, her boss, and Lucian, Aurelia's next in command, act plain creepy? When Haven discovers the secrets behind this dangerous group, she faces it head on, determined to save herself and those she loves.
Once again, I find myself at odds, opinion-wise, between myself and so many other readers. The cover is beautiful, with the right amount of foreshadowing. A cover like that is sure to put a book on my radar. And a lot of bloggers I know have read ILLUMINATE and have given it glowing reviews. So I was excited to read this one. I was primed and ready to love it. But, it just didn't happen, for several reasons.
First, I didn't feel a "hook", a strong plot line that grabbed my attention and demand that I read this book. I knew what the hook was supposed to be. It's actually spelled out in the synopsis. The framework was laid out so slowly that I became bored. I knew danger was coming, but I honestly just wanted Haven to get a clue and get on with it. There wasn't this big "aha" moment, where things suddenly got real. Everything Haven learned was through eavesdropping and thinly veiled hints during conversations.

Another aspect to the story that did not connect with me was the love interest. Upon arrival at the hotel, Haven meets Lucian. Lucian is of course, impossibly gorgeous, wealthy, charming...you know what I'm saying. I just didn't get it. I don't care how hot I am for a guy, if he always cancels dates, disappears for days, and asks me to give him my soul, that's a huge dealbreaker. But maybe that's just me. Not Haven. She falls hard for Lucian and keeps seeing him despite his efforts to damn her for eternity. Sigh. And yes, it may be possible that the devilish Lucian will have a change of heart. Even so, that's a bridge too far to cross, in my opinion.

My biggest issue with ILLUMINATE is the fact that the story moved so slowly. Much of the "action" was Haven running errands delivering chocolate, or learning the various duties of her position. She did lurk through the tunnels and crawlspaces of the hotel, but not a lot came of it. The revelations, what there were of them, came so slowly that I found myself easily distracted from the story. Even the big events didn't wow me.

I know I sound like a complete grouch after writing this (grumble, grumble). That is never my intention. I wanted to love ILLUMINATE. The author does have a nice writing style. The words and dialogue flowed extremely well. The book had some beautiful passages. I liked Haven, Lance and Dante, for the most part. Overall, though, I found ILLUMINATE to be too long and too slow to suit my tastes.


Favorite Quote:

"After a thing like that, worry becomes more than a reflex; it becomes an umbrella shadowing daily life, hovering closer every time someone gets home late or doesn't call when they say they will."
(pg.5, ARC)


For an alternate viewpoint, here is a very positive review of ILLUMINATE.

Hardcover, 531 pages

Expected publication: March 6th 2012 by Harcourt Children's Books

You can pre-order Illuminate at:

Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Book Depository

Source: Southern Book Bloggers Blog Tour (Thanks, ladies!)

Cover Reveal ~ LUMINOSITY, by Stephanie Thomas

Hi! I have the pleasure of bringing you another exciting cover reveal from Entangled Publishing.

LUMINOSITY is a YA Sci-Fi/Dystopian from author Stephanie Thomas.

"My name is Beatrice. When I was born, I was blessed with the Sight. I was
immediately removed from my parents and enrolled in the Institution. At
the age of twelve, I had my first true vision, earning my raven’s wings.
And when I turned seventeen, one of my visions came true. Things haven’t
been the same since.

The Institution depends on me to keep the City safe from our enemy, the
Dreamcatchers, but I’m finding it harder to do while keeping a secret from
everyone, including my best friend Gabe. It is a secret that could put us
all in danger. A secret that could kill me and everyone close to me.

But the enemy has been coming to me in my dreams, and I think I’m falling
in love with him. He says they’re coming. He says they’re angry. And I
think I’ve already helped them win."

Gorgeous and intriguing, yes? I can't wait to read LUMINOSITY!

 Publication date: September 11, 2012

Pre-Order from Amazon.

In My Mailbox, #28 (And I met Lauren Kate!)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme created by Kristi at The Story Siren. It is a great way to put a spotlight on books received during the past week.

Books Mentioned:
(click on title to go to GoodReads page)

Born Wicked, by Jessica Spotswood (Thanks to Kathleen @Kathleen Foucart.com)
Bittersweet, by Sarah Ockler
Fallen (Fallen #1) by Lauren Kate
Torment (Fallen #2) by Lauren Kate
Passion (Fallen #3) by Lauren Kate
The Earthquake Machine, by Mary Pauline Lowry (Thanks to the author.)

Mini Review ~ SOULQUEST (The Soulquest Trilogy, #1) by Amy Maurer Jones

Do you remember how horrified you were about the idea of attending high school? I remember ticking off those last miserable days of my summer vacation following my eighth grade year. Maybe you don’t, maybe you were one of 'those people.' You know who I’m talking about, people like Melissa Small, the distinguished District Attorney, Larry Small’s daughter, popular, gorgeous... and absolutely terrifying to someone like me, Liv Glyn. No, I am far from measuring up to the standards required to make Melissa’s crowd. I’m not even close. I’m just a simple man’s daughter, mostly tolerated by my peers with average looks. If this isn’t depressing enough for you, stay tuned, it gets worse. I was commanded with Spirit at birth by the Great Spirit, Hala. I know, it sounds crazy but it’s true. If you think it's difficult being a teenager, try being a teenager who was born destined to save the world from soul sucking Daevas and their mutant progeny Aengels. There are four of us. My companions of Spirit are Laith, Brayan and Meena. Melissa Small is Laith’s step sister and she is always meddling where she doesn’t belong, further complicating our lives. To make matters even worse, my best friend Jedd is apparently aware of things that are typically undetectable to ordinary humans. So, I have to lie to Jedd, the boy who has been my constant standby since the third grade, to shield him from the horrible and very dangerous truth. Did I mention that I think I’m falling in love with him? The term  awkward doesn’t even begin to cover it, trust me. Welcome to the mess that is my life. ~ From GoodReads

This is going to be short and to the point. Soulquest just wasn't the book for me. I think I get what the author was going for with the story. But sometimes, a story just doesn't sit well or resonate with a reader and that is the case here.

For me, there was just too much going on. The story jumped back and forth between 2001 and 2014 (there may have been a few other years in there, as well). And it was indicated at the opening of each chapter, but I had a hard time keeping my bearings. To be perfectly honest, I'm still not sure what happened in Soulquest.

The amount of characters was a bit overwhelming, too. As far as the "otherworldly beings", there were Oracles, Guardians, Nature Spirits, Elders, Aengels, Daeva. That's not to mention the actual characters: Liv, Melissa, Laith, Brayan, Meena, Hala, Paul.... I felt as if I needed to compile a list to keep up with who/what everyone was, not to mention what was going on.

I will say that the main character, Liv, has a cute teen voice and there were some parts to her story that I did like. The rest, though, simply overwhelmed me.

Again, I'm not saying that Soulquest isn't enjoyable for some, or many, readers. It has a 4-star rating average on GoodReads, so obviously many readers do like it. I have included a link to a positive review and a sample below.

For an alternate point of view, here is a very positive review of Soulquest.

You can purchase SOULQUEST at:
Barnes & Noble  |  Amazon 

You can read a sample at Amazon.

Source: Received from author for review.

Kindle ebook and print

Published February 19th 2011

The Guardian's Wildchild Blog Tour ~ Review and Giveaway

Welcome to The Bookish Babes' stop on THE GUARDIAN'S WILDCHILD Blog Tour. My stop included my review of the book and yes, a giveaway. So be sure and entire after you read the review.

The Guardian's Wildchild is a story that's unlike anything you've read before. It's not a typical romance story of starry eyed lovers in the throes of passion. No, Sidney Davenport and Captain Samaru Waterhouse are adversaries, at first.
Sidney Davenport is gifted in the paranormal, but carefully conceals her powers from the world. Even in the crises that threaten her life, she refuses to use her powers of telepathy, telekinesis, space/time travel. If her enemies discovered the truth of who she is, her Guardian people would be at risk. She calls upon her spirit guides, Seamus and Celeste, to guide her through a mine field of the insane - Madame and Captain Butchart.

But, God help Sidney, she can't deny her attraction to the man who has orders to perform her execution - the tall, dark eyed Captain Waterhouse. He's meticulous, disciplined and trusted by his ship's officers and naval seamen.

Captain Waterhouse is walking a fine line between his mother's Buddhist influence and a dark destructive path. He is about to scrap his higher morals to bust out of his hell. When a female prisoner is delivered to his ship, he has no idea she is capable of turning his disciplined life into a storm of unimaginable experiences. His prisoner's enemies, he discovers, are also the ones who hold his life in the palm of their hands.

The ending? Not a fairy tale ending here. But enough said.

Through stunning imagery, an intricate and adventurous plot, and a strong cast of characters, Feather Stone gives readers a fast paced story woven with murder and magic. ~ From GoodReads

The Guardian's Wildchild caught me off guard. The opening paragraph demanded my attention. When the story opens, Earth has been ravaged by natural disasters. Martial law is in effect. No mercy is shown to those perceived as a threat. Sam Waterhouse is a virtual captive to the military he is part of, there's no way out without risking his life or those of his children. Sidney Davenport is a Guardian, she was destined for greatness. When she is captured and sentenced to execution aboard Sam's ship, their worlds collide and are radically altered. Neither may make it out alive.

The Guardian's Wildchild really surprised me. I'm not sure why, but I expected this book to be more of a paranormal romance. There is definitely a strong paranormal slant to the story, and a bit of romance. But it really read, to me, like a mystery. And that's fine. The story was really strong, with the twist coming at every turn.

The Guardian's Wildchild was very well-written. I didn't love all the choices or avenues the story took, but the motivations were concise and well-thought out. The author seemed to have a strong sense of the story she wanted to tell and never took the easy way out of an awful situation. And I must say, I was very surprised with the ending. It was tough and raw. And I honestly never saw it coming. If you like stories that have a intense mystery with a fantasy spin, The Guardian's Wildchild may be the book for you.

Favorite Quote:
"The year 2020 was one long, terrifying nightmare. The planet trembled violently for months as if desperately trying to shed its skin. " (pg. 1)

Paperback, 277 pages

Published September 27th 2011 by Omnific Publishing

You can purchase The Guardian's Wildchild at:

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble 

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

IT'S GIVEAWAY TIME!

Omnific Publishing is giving one lucky person an ebook of The Guardian's Wildchild!

I have made this giveaway super easy. Here are the details:

• Fill out the form.
• There are no "follow" requirements. All I need is your name and email address.
• You can tweet this giveaway for an extra entry. Please leave your link on the form.
• This giveaway is open Internationally.
• Giveaway ends Jan 29, 2012 at 11:59 pm.

Go here to find all the stops on the tour.

Good Luck!

Cover Reveal ~ THE VINCENT BROTHERS (THE VINCENT BOYS,#2) by Abbi Glines

You guys, I may die from happiness. Surely by now, you know how much I love Abbi Glines' books. I feel like I'm tweeting or blogging about them at least once a week. So you can imagine how freaking excited I was when Glines told me she was writing a follow-up to THE VINCENT BOYS! I can hardly wait to read this book. I can assure you, I will read it the moment I get it. So, before I hyperventilate just thinking about it, here is the cover for

THE VINCENT BROTHERS

He may have given her up without a fight, but Sawyer Vincent is far from over losing the girl he’s loved all of his life. Instead of giving up his best friend and the girl he thought he’d spend forever with, he gave Ashton and his brother Beau his blessing. However, adjusting to seeing Ashton wrapped up in Beau’s arms isn’t easy. Complicating everything even more, Ashton’s cousin Lana is in town for the summer. Sweet, kind, soft-spoken Lana, who gets under his skin. Just being near her makes him forget all about Ashton and his broken heart. Lana is everything he wanted Ashton to be except she isn’t Ashton. She lacks the backbone to stand up for herself and confidence that Ashton wears like a crown.

Lana McDaniel has lived her life in her cousin's shadow. While Lana struggled with her grades no matter how hard she tried, her mother praised Ashton's intelligence. She hadn’t been blessed with Ashton’s blond hair and flawless skin, but that didn't keep her mother from lamenting her naturally red hair and freckles. But none of that would have mattered if Ashton hadn’t always had Sawyer Vincent wrapped around her finger -- the only boy Lana wanted. Once Ashton let Sawyer go, Lana had been so sure that he’d move on. Determined to make Sawyer finally see her, she'd talked her mother into letting her spend the summer with Ashton. But Sawyer is still in love with Ashton, and Lana isn’t going to be anyone's rebound girl. No matter how yummy Sawyer Vincent’s kisses taste.

So...yeah. THE VINCENT BROTHERS is going to be one hot book.

Abbi is sharing her Dream Cast for the books. 

(Hot enough to melt your computer, right?!)

Glines also provided the playlist for you to enjoy. I think it gives a great feel for what to expect with TVB.

If you haven't read THE VINCENT BOYS, (and really, what are you waiting for?), you can read
my review.

Expected release date: June 5, 2012. (My birthday is June 4th. Happy Birthday to me!!!)

Go add it to your GoodReads to-read list.

Book Review ~ DEARLY, DEPARTED (Gone With the Respiration, #1) by Lia Habel

Love can never die.

Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?

The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.

But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.

In Dearly, Departed, romance meets walking-dead thriller, spawning a madly imaginative novel of rip-roaring adventure, spine-tingling suspense, and macabre comedy that forever redefines the concept of undying love. ~From GoodReads

From the moment I saw the cover of DEARLY, DEPARTED, I was in love. And when I read the synopsis, I knew this book had to be mine. So I put the lovely on pre-order and anxiously awaited for DEARLY, DEPARTED to make it's way into momma's (my) hands. But then, as usual, life got in the way. I became a slave to my reading schedule (by the way, have you ever heard a nerdier phrase than "reading schedule"?). Then I saw that a couple of my blogging friends were reading it and I decided that enough was enough. I picked up my copy and dove right in, hoping for the best.

I got the best. DEARLY, DEPARTED rocked my world! I started the book full of anticipation and never once felt let down. My enthusiasm is so strong that I feel myself veering into rambling territory, so I will try to keep myself reigned in.  Here's what I loved about DEARLY, DEPARTED.

Let's start with the world-building. The setting is year is 2195 and the setting is New Victoria. Earth and it's people have undergone huge transformations, sending what's left of the people into the southern hemispheres of the world. New Victoria is located in the northern portion of South America. In an effort to assert control in a world gone mad, the survivors have gone back to a time of order and refinement, a "Golden Age" in history, the Victorian era. So we have what feels like a historical time to the reader, yet it's the future. Women wear dresses with petticoats and corsets, carry parasols; couples "court"; manners are imperative. I felt as if I were reading a historical piece of work, until such things as "Holos" and "digidiaries" were mentioned. Or a character would say "freaking" or mentioned that their ancestors would use words like "duh" and "epic". Yet, and this is what I love, the setting is also futuristic... and it's steampunk. I loooove steampunk. There were airships and carriages powered by coal and a tribe of people called Punks. It was wonderful!

Now for the characters. Nora was an absolute delight. She is irrepressible, thoughtful, not easily intimidated. Imagine being taken in the night by zombies! Nevermind that these are the "good guys", zombies are freaking scary, no matter how you slice it. Yet Nora, ever cautious, takes a semi-calm and rational approach to the situation. Her best friend Pamela could have been an afterthought, the filler character. I actually expected her to have no true impact on the story. Was I ever wrong! Pam was a true heroine in her own right, absolutely worthy of her own book.

I'm not a zombie fan. They really gross me out, I can't even watch them on television without getting queasy. But I fell in love with the zombies of DEARLY, DEPARTED, the good ones at least. Due to a technique developed by Nora's father, some of those infected with The Laz are able to retain most of their human qualities. They have become a force in the Army dedicated to protecting the people. These are the zombies who have taken Nora Dearly and their leader is Bram Griswold. Remember how I said zombies gross me out? Strike that thought when it comes to Bram. I can't tell you if he's all that handsome now that he's two years past dead, but from what I can gather, he's hot for a zombie. But what I loved about him is his personality. Bram is gentle and kind, protective and enamored with Nora. His efforts to earn Nora's trust and friendship made me love him. Maybe my favorite part about Bram is his choice to let Nora make her own decisions. Instead of keeping her in the dark about events or trying to keep her from taking part, he includes her in the process and is resigned that she won't sit idly by (see my second quote below).

Author Lia Habel is a creative genius. Many stories take something beautiful, maybe a vampire forever frozen at a young age, and go from there. Habel took something we often consider hideous, because what's more gross than a zombie, and made characters so achingly human and beautiful. She never lets the characters or the reader forget that Bram and the others are, in fact, technically dead. There most likely will not be a happily ever after for Nora and Bram, but it is precious for however long it lasts.

DEARLY, DEPARTED is an alternately ingenious, sublime, and morbid take on everything I thought I knew about love and zombies.


Favorite Quote(s):

"She tried to compose herself then, with several deep breaths. I gave her as long as she needed, all the while mentally designing my tombstone. R.I.P., Captain Abraham R. Griswold. He was completely useless and made girls cry." (pg. 125)

"Returning my voice to a conversational level, I called back, 'Nora, I'm not attempting to embarrass you or single you out. I know you're capable. But stay behind Chas, okay? You die, you die permanently, and for various reasons that we've already gotten angsty about together, I don't want that to happen.' "

Hardcover, 470 pages

Published October 18th 2011 by Del Rey  

You can purchase Dearly, Departed at:
Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository  |  Amazon

Source: Personal purchase                

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's WoW selection is...

You would think after helping save her boyfriend from an eternity in Hell that things would go back to normal. Well, as normal as life can be when you can see souls and your boyfriend is Death. But for Pagan Moore, things are just getting weirder.

The high school quarterback and reigning heartthrob, Leif Montgomery, is missing. While the town is in a frenzy of worry, Pagan is a nervous wreck for other reasons. Apparently good ‘ol Leif isn’t your average teenage boy. He isn’t even human. According to Death, Leif doesn’t have a soul. The quarterback may have skipped town but he’s still showing up in Pagan’s dreams... uninvited.

Dank has known from the beginning Leif wasn’t human. But he hadn’t worried about a simple soulless creature. Now, he realizes he made a grave mistake. Pagan’s soul has been marked since birth as a restitution, to a spirit so dark not even Death walks near it. Dank knows saving Pagan’s soul won’t be easy but Pagan is his. And he’s already proven he’ll defy Heaven to keep her. If Hell wants a piece of him too, then bring it on.  ~ From GoodReads

Why I'm Waiting ~

For starters, I love Abbi's books. But reason #1: I must know what is going on with Leif!

Expected publication: April 4th 2012 by Wild Child Publishing

TEASER TUESDAY

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.

This week's Teaser is from

Haven Terra is a brainy, shy high school outcast. But everything begins to change when she turns sixteen. Along with her best friend Dante and their quiet and brilliant classmate Lance, she is awarded a prestigious internship in the big city— Chicago—and is sent to live and work at a swanky and stylish hotel under the watchful eyes of a group of gorgeous and shockingly young-looking strangers: powerful and alluring hotel owner Aurelia Brown; her second-in-command, the dashing Lucian Grove; and their stunning but aloof staff of glamazons called The Outfit.

As Haven begins falling for Lucian, she discovers that these beautiful people are not quite what they seem. With the help of a mysterious book, she uncovers a network of secret passageways from the hotel’s jazz-age past that leads her to the heart of the evil agenda of Aurelia and company: they’re in the business of buying souls. Will they succeed in wooing Haven to join them in their recruitment efforts, or will she be able to thwart this devilish set’s plans to take the souls of her classmates on prom night at the hotel?

Illuminate is an exciting saga of a teen’s first taste of independence, her experience in the lap of luxury, and her discovery she may possess strength greater than she ever knew. ~ From GoodReads

My Teaser ~

"After a thing like that, worry becomes more than a reflex; it becomes an umbrella shadowing daily life, hovering closer every time someone gets home late or doesn't call when they say they will."
(pg.5, ARC)

Hardcover, 531 pages

Expected publication: March 6th 2012 by Harcourt Children's Books

You can pre-order Illuminate at:

Barnes & Noble  |  Amazon  |  Book Depository 

BECAUSE OF LOW BLOG TOUR ~ REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

Hi and Welcome to my second stop on the Because of Low Blog Tour. Today's stop will include my review of Because of Low along with a giveaway.

In my debut novel, Breathe, Sadie may have fallen in love with the teen rock star, Jax Stone, but readers fell head over heels for Marcus Hardy. This is his story…

Marcus Hardy had hoped to enjoy a year away at college while he put the summer he’d rather forget behind him. But instead, he’s jerked right back to the coastal town of Sea Breeze, Alabama due to a family crisis. His dear ol' dad found himself a girlfriend only a few years older than Marcus. So now his sister needs help dealing with their mother who is mentally falling apart. The only bright spot to returning is the fascinating red head who sleeps over several times a week. The problem is she's sleeping in bed with his new roommate, Cage Watson.

Willow “Low” Foster needs a place to live. Running to Cage’s apartment every time her sister kicks her out isn’t exactly a long term solution. Juggling her courses at the local community college and a part time job doesn’t produce excess income. But Cage has a new roommate and suddenly sleeping over at her best friend’s apartment isn’t such a bad thing. Not when she gets to see those sexy green eyes of Marcus Hardy’s twinkle when he smiles at her like he wants her there.
Even though Cage seems a little territorial where Low is concerned, Marcus finds time to spend with Low without upsetting his roommate. Cage may use his small college baseball star persona to sleep with every hot female in his path but he’s still under the disillusion that when he’s through sowing his wild oats, he’s going to marry Low. Marcus intends to change that assumption for both Cage and Low. Until his carefully laid plans come crashing down with a revelation he never expected. He’ll have to choose between Low or his family. Because once the truth comes out.... there’s no other choice. ~ From GoodReads

I am going to be upfront and tell you, I am a huge fan of Abbi Glines. To which those of you who know me will say "Duh!". It's a fact. And when I learned she was writing a companion book to BREATHE, I just about Squee'd myself to death. Seriously, I was that happy.

You see, Marcus Hardy needed his own story. When he got his heart broken in BREATHE by Sadie, I wanted to take that poor sweet boy in and fix him. Every reader I have talked to about BREATHE loved Marcus as much as they loved Jax and Sadie. And that is a testament to Glines' ability to write fascinating, endearing characters that refuse to be ignored.

So in BECAUSE OF LOW, Marcus has moved on from the summer that broke his heart. When family circumstances bring him home to Sea Breeze, Alabama, he's not happy to be there, but determined to help his beloved Momma and sister. Life has just handed him a big bucket of pooh. But then... in walks Low. And Marcus' whole world is turned upside down.

BECAUSE OF LOW is everything I want in a contemporary book. I want the sweetness of a blossoming relationship. I want the romance. I want the circumstances that truly knock the characters on their hind ends. I want character growth, the challenges that force these people to become more than what they started the book as. And believe it or not, I want the pain. Without the pain, if the story was all happiness and rainbows, there wouldn't be the big payoff. And believe me, Glines' books are all about the payoff.

Glines brings all of those elements to each remarkable story she writes. She makes me fall head over heels in love with her characters. The sweet and innocent, like Low; the sweet and sexy but sometimes misguided, like Marcus; the delicate, heartbroken Amanda. There's a hot cast of friends,who provided much-needed comic relief: Preston, Dewayne, Rock and Trisha. But don't ever ask me to like Tawny, Low's sister, 'cause that is NOT gonna happen. And let me tell you, nobody and I mean nobody, can write a bad boy like Abbi Glines. I thought Abbi had written the ultimate lovable bad boy when she created Beau Vincent (The Vincent Boys). And I do love Beau, but she really outdid herself with Cage York. Cage is like Beau gone wild, if he'd kept spinning on his own axis and never found the love of a great girl.  But like Beau, you know there is a hurt, good-hearted boy beneath the swagger. Holy geez! I was definitely left sputtering and blushing by some of the things Cage did and said. A lot of supposed bad boys in the books I read are actually jerks. Not Glines' guys. One of my favorite things about her bad boys is, even though they can get up to no good and are a little (or a lot!) rough around the edges, they aren't bad people. They aren't being asses just for the sake of it. So yeah... I can't wait to read more about Cage in the future!

I flew through BECAUSE OF LOW in one night. I stayed up practically all night (4am) reading it, and it was so worth it. I started the book full of anticipation, went into full-on swooning mode (Marcus has some HAWT friends, yo), then I proceeded to get caught up in the "will they/won't they" fierce sexual chemistry between Marcus and Low. I got angry at a few choice characters, wanting to throw my Kindle, but too afraid of waking up my kids. I cried, a lot. It was ugly and heart-wrenching. But most of all, BECAUSE OF LOW made me smile and I got completely lost in Marcus and Low's story. Abbi Glines, once again, has delivered one of her "signature" stories, a grand slam.

Favorite Quote:

" 'I don't think I'm making myself very clear Low,' he'd lowered his voice and the effect made goosebumps break out over my body. 'I was only interested in one person at that bar last night. I only came to see one person,' he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and softly caressed my earlobe before tracing the line of my jaw. 'I was there for you.' "

Kindle Edition

Published February 7th 2012

You can find Abbi Glines at:

website  |  Twitter   |  Facebook

* I received a copy of Because of Low from the author, en exchange for an honest review. *

Giveaway

Abbi is supplying each blog on the tour an ebook copy of Because of Low and a signed bookmark to giveaway.

To enter all you have to do is comment below. You can get more entries by tweeting about this post and adding a link back. If you tweet about it be sure to add @abbiglines to the post so Abbi can keep up with how many entires you have.

Grand Prize:

1. Signed copy of Breathe by Abbi Glines
2. Signed copy of The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines
3. Signed copy of Existence by Abbi Glines
4. Signed copy of Because of Low by Abbi Glines

ONE person will win all three copies of Abbi’s other books that are now in print signed by the author along with an ebook copy of Because of Low. To enter for the grand prize be sure to leave a comment at a minimum of five of the blog tour stops.

Cover Reveal and Excerpt ~ INBETWEEN by Tara Fuller

I'm thrilled to be taking part in another exciting cover reveal from Entangled Publishing. INBETWEEN the first book in the KISSED BY DEATH series by Tara Fuller, looks amazing and is sure to be on everyone's tbr-list once they've seen this gorgeous cover and the synopsis. And... I have an excerpt to share with you! So read and enjoy and be sure to add INBETWEEN on GoodReads.

Since the car crash that took her father’s life three years ago, Emma’s
life has been a freaky—and unending—lesson in caution. Surviving
“accidents” has taken priority over being a normal seventeen-year-old, so
Emma spends her days taking pictures of life instead of living it. Falling
in love with a boy was never part of the plan. Falling for a reaper who
makes her chest ache and her head spin? Not an option.
It’s not easy being dead, especially for a reaper in love with a girl fate
has put on his list not once, but twice. Finn’s fellow reapers give him
hell about spending time with Emma, but Finn couldn't let her die before,
and he’s not about to let her die now. He will protect the girl he loves
from the evil he accidentally unleashed, even if it means sacrificing the
only thing he has left…his soul.

Expected publication: August 7th 2012 by Entangled Publishing

And now...*cue the drumroll* a super awesome  excerpt from INBETWEEN!

Chapter 1

Finn

Sometimes Emma made me feel so alive, I almost forgot I was dead.

Almost.

I sank down onto the side of her bed, amazed by the blazing wildfire that swept through me whenever Emma was near enough to touch. I took a deep, unneeded breath, and settled down on my side next to her. The mattress didn’t sink. The springs didn’t groan with the weight of an extra body. The distance between us was an impossible void. Inches that might as well have been miles. Miles that left me wanting in so many ways that I ached.

Even the sun couldn’t resist her. Its glowing rays caressed her skin, and stained her hair the satiny color of summer wheat. Before I knew what was happening, my hand followed their lead. Cells ignited. My skin burned, screaming with the agonizing need to touch—

“What do you think you’re doing?”

I jerked my hand away just as Easton melted up from the polished hardwood floor beneath the window. Like an oil slick coming to life, he unfolded his long, shadowy legs until he was just an ink blot against the square of tangerine sunrise behind him. His violet eyes pinned me like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

Which, I kind of was.

“Nothing,” I lied.

“Yeah, looked like nothing.” He strolled across the room accompanied by a wave of sulfur and smoke, the black serpent tattoo on his neck glinting. “What were you planning to do, recite her poem? I swear to God, if you were still alive I’d confiscate your man card.”

I ignored the barb and scrunched up my nose. “Jesus, Easton. Don’t they have a shower somewhere between here and the afterlife?”

“Screw you. You didn’t just have to tow somebody’s grandpa to Hell.” He brushed something chalky and grey off of his cloak and a shudder worked its way down my spine. God only knows who or what it belonged to. “Besides I wasn’t the one about to feel up a sleeping human.”

“I wasn’t—”

“Save it.” He waved his hand. “We have work to do. I don’t have time for your useless obsession with the human today.”

“Will you please stop calling her that?”

“What?” Easton glanced up from Emma’s vanity, where he’d been inspecting the various lotions and bottles like he was on some alien planet. Then again, Easton had been dead for something like four hundred years, so all of her stuff probably was sort of alien to him.

“The human. You make me sound like a freak. It’s not like we’re a different species for God’s sake. We were humans, too, or don’t you remember that far back?”

“Were. Past tense.”

We could have gone back and forth like that for hours, but the call came. It always did. It started in my bones—a cold so cutting that it sliced through me like a machete. When I looked up, Easton’s jaw was clenched, his muscles taut and ready. He slowly closed his hand around the handle of his scythe that burned black and softly smoked at his side. I flexed my fingers as the icy ribbons of death worked their way through each one of my limbs.

“Can you take this one for me?” I asked. “You’re already going to be there, and I just got back—”

“No,” Easton said. “Hell no. I have my own job to do. I can’t keep covering for your sorry ass. Besides, you’re already on thin ice with Balthazar. Don’t push your luck, Finn. Just keep your nose down, collect your souls, and thank the Almighty that you don’t have my job. Now let’s go.”

“Yeah, but…” My eyes returned to Emma. Sleeping. Perfect. Safe.

“For the love of God. She’ll be fine, you pansy.” Easton clamped a hand over my shoulder and dragged me from the bed.

“How do you know?”

He shrugged. “I don’t.”

With that he vanished, consumed in a flash by the keening wails of the damned. The screams beckoned. Clawed at me from the inside out.

Rule one as a seeker: Death doesn’t wait for anyone.

And it sure as hell wasn’t waiting for me now.


Well, that was awesome, right?!

Add INBETWEEN on GoodReads.

Pre-order INBETWEEN on Amazon.

IN MY MAILBOX, #27

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme created by Kristi at The Story Siren. It is a great way to put a spotlight on books received during the past week.

For Review:


Illuminate, by Aimee Agresti (Thanks to the Southern Book Bloggers ARC tour)
The Bro-Magnet by Lauren Baratz-Logsted (Thanks to the author/via NetGalley)


Purchased:



Angel Burn (Angel, #1) by LA Weatherly
Angel Fire (Angels, #2) by LA Weatherly
Meeting Destiny (Destiny #1) by Nancy Straight FREE for Amazon Prime members!
Almost, by Anne Eliot FREE for Kindle this weekend!


Received in Trade:


Don't Breathe a Word, by Holly Cupala


Won:



Forbidden, by Syrie James and Ryan James
Tempestuous (Wondrous Strange, #3) by Lesley Livingston

Be sure to leave a link so I can check out your mailbox. Thanks for stopping by!