The Bookish Babes

"Launch Into the Galaxy" Blog Hop and Giveaway

2012-03-01T22:23:00.001-08:00

I am very thrilled, and honored, that author Heather Hildenbrand asked me to take part in the "Launch Into the Galaxy" Blog Hop and Giveaway. ACROSS THE GALAXY was one of the first books that I reviewed for this blog. I loved it, so much, and completely went fan-girly on Heather (poor thing!). I fell in love with the story, the unique world she built, and the characters. Ander seriously still makes my heart pitter-patter. But now I'm going to stop, and let Heather tell you a little more about the "relaunch".

This week marks the re-launch of Heather Hildenbrand’s YA fantasy, Across The Galaxy.

Here’s what Heather says about it:

For me, January marked one year as a published author and to mark that, I wanted to do something special to celebrate how far I’ve come in such a short amount of time. I can think of no better way to celebrate than to show some love to the title that got me here in the first place. Across The Galaxy was my first book and as a result, was also my guinea pig in a lot of ways. Through publishing it, I learned so much and met so many awesome bloggers and readers that I am so grateful for that story and for where it took me. For everything it’s given me, I want to give something back to it. (Yes, I realize I’m referring to my book as if it were a real person. Don’t you do that with the characters inside it? Yeah, I’m not the only crazy here.)

So, I found one of the best cover artists EVER and together we came up with a brand new cover that will basically rock your socks. Not sure? Take a minute. Go stare at the new cover and then come back and finish reading. I’ll wait. It’s worth it.

… Now, with a change this big, we aren’t stopping with just a cover reveal. That’s just not enough. So, we’re also doing an e-book giveaway here and another e-book giveaway on every site participating in the “LAUNCH INTO THE GALAXY” Hop this week so be sure to stop everywhere. In addition to THAT, I am also running a giveaway on my publisher’s site at www. Accendopress.com and another one on my personal site at www.heatherhildenbrand.blogspot.com that will include a signed paperback and a very sleek and sexy, leather Kindle cover. Be sure to check that out! And be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think of the new cover!

About The Book:

Alina Leone is in hiding.

Her parents are dead, her best friend is a horse, and she can’t return to her home planet of Gliese until the Shadows, the monsters who hunt for her, are found and destroyed.
But they found her first. The same creatures that murdered her parents and forced her to flee to Earth all of those years ago. And they’ll stop at nothing to destroy the only thing standing in their way for universal domination – Alina.
She must find the strength to defeat them, even if it means choosing between victory and the one she was meant to save…

THE NEW COVER...

And my review...

(This is one of my first reviews, a little scary to re-post!)

I have found myself typing and erasing my opening sentence over and over. Why? Because I love Across the Galaxy so much, I didn't quite know where to start. I want to enthuse how much I enjoyed this book, but I don't want to sound like a blabbering idiot. So, I'll do my best to control myself. But I can't make any promises!

Across the Galaxy is a beautifully descriptive book. Author Heather Hildenbrand does a terrific job of placing the reader into the scenery. While reading of Arizona, I felt myself visualizing the terrain, the orange and red of the sky, the heat. As I was taken 'across the galaxy' into each ensuing world, the imagery given made each planet feel real. The animals, trees, grass, water; every detail was given its due. True escapism at its best.
Each character in the story, beginning with Alina, is set up in a realistic way. Their emotions, reactions, the conversations were all believable. I felt as if I got to be a part of the characters getting to know one another. There wasn't any of the "insta love" I've read in a lot of books. When Alina meets Ander, also a native to her home planet, they actually take the time to get to know one another in a real way. That was very, very refreshing. But as they do get to know each other, that chemistry is smoking hot!

The plot of Across the Galaxy had an excellent pace. I never felt as if it was rushed. The story was layered. Each new turn of events was a nice, new piece to add to the puzzle. The plot kept building, bit by bit, throughout the book. I felt as if Hildenbrand was constantly weaving the threads of the story together. Little things that I didn't note as tremendously important throughout the story would wrap back into it later. I constantly found myself saying "Oh, that's why she/he said or did that!" I love that the author didn't just lay everything out in a neat row.

The editing of Across the Galaxy was excellent. I'm a bit of a "grammar freak", driven insane by poor spelling or word usage. The writing was clean and conversational, never redundant.

What I loved the most about Across the Galaxy is that I never guessed exactly what was going to happen. I was just going along for the journey and where that would take me. I hope each of you take that journey, as well. You won't regret it.

Favorite Quote:
"But sitting here in the daylight, staring at the most gorgeous guy I had ever seen, I thought two things. First, I was kidding myself to even think the whole 'never left alone' rule would just wear off with Peter, and second, if my babysitter looked like this, maybe I didn't mind so much."

Okay, that totally convinced me that ACROSS THE GALAXY is due for a re-read, ASAP!

Add to your GoodReads to-read shelf.

Now for the GIVEAWAY!

Heather will be giving one lucky winner, at each stop, an ecopy of ACROSS THE GALAXY! On the last day of the hop, she will be giving a GRAND PRIZE away at the publisher website. Go to all of these stops to enter:

2/26/12 - Cambria Hebert, A Diary of a Book Addict

2/27/12 - Nightly Reading

2/28/12 - AwesomeSauce Books

2/29/12- Magnet 4 Books

3/1/12- Fiktshun

3/2/12- Taking It One Book At A Time, Bookish Babes

3/3/12- The Readiacs

3/4/12- Sassy Book Lovers

3/5/12- Talk Supe, A Book Vacation

3/6/12 - Accendo Press - giveaway of a Kindle cover and e-book of your choice!

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Find Heather Hildenbrand at:
her blog | Twitter | Facebook

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

2012-02-29T23:05:00.000-08:00

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

2012-02-29T22:02:00.000-08:00

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

2012-02-28T21:16:00.000-08:00

"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!

2012-02-28T14:21:00.002-08:00

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).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teaser Tuesday

2012-02-27T21:45:00.000-08:00

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

2012-02-27T00:36:00.000-08:00

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

2012-02-26T21:01:00.002-08:00

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!)

2012-02-25T21:37:00.000-08:00

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

2012-02-25T00:56:00.003-08:00

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

2012-02-24T00:32:00.002-08:00

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!

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

2012-02-23T21:03:00.000-08:00

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

2012-02-22T22:14:00.000-08:00

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

2012-02-21T21:10:00.000-08:00

"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

2012-02-20T21:33:00.000-08:00

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

2012-02-19T22:01:00.000-08:00

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:

Signed copy of Breathe by Abbi Glines
Signed copy of The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines
Signed copy of Existence by Abbi Glines
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

2012-02-19T21:01:00.000-08:00

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

2012-02-18T20:18:00.000-08:00

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!

LA WEATHERLY BOOK SIGNING

2012-02-18T00:02:00.000-08:00

Hi, guys! Something that very rarely occurs in little ole Arkansas happened this evening: an author event! I was so excited a few weeks ago when I heard author LA Weatherly was coming to her home state of Arkansas and would be appearing at two events. When I heard this, I had to go support and meet an fellow Arkansas who had earned such success. I was able to attend the second event, at a Barnes & Noble in Little Rock. There were several people in attendance, but it was a nice, quiet group that was very attentive and respectful.

Ms. Weatherly began by giving a very thorough and intriguing overview of her books, Angel Burn and Angel Fire. I haven't read the series yet, but I had heard from fellow bloggers that the books are very good. And wow, when she described the books, how she perceived her "angels" and the way the interact in our world, I was hooked. She told of how the story came about. The characters had been with her for some time, but it wasn't until she was in a bookstore (go figure!) and came across books about angels, that the story began forming. Weatherly and her husband traveled the same route as her characters across the United States so she could get a true feel of what she wanted to convey to the reader. And in Angel Fire, they traveled to Mexico City to gain perspective on the setting of the story.
After this, Ms. Weatherly performed a brief reading from Angel Burn.

Next, she took questions. The advice she gave was like many authors: write, write, write! She began writing books at the age of five! Her mother, unbeknownst to LA, kept her stories, which as a mother, I completely understand. She even recited one of her earliest stories from memory. It was an adorable story that I'm sure my kids would love.

The time came for the books to be signed. I decided to browse the YA section surrounding us while others moved through the line. When my turn came, Ms. Weatherly was extremely kind. She asked how I had learned about her books, and of course, I gave a huge shout-out to my fellow bloggers. LA seemed pleasantly surprised about this, saying that as this was her first YA series and had been originally published in the UK, this meant a lot. She encouraged me to blog about this, which I had already planned to do, but it was lovely that she was so enthusiastic about blogging. Her assistant gave me a cool Angel Burn tote bag and dog-tag necklace. Then Ms. Weatherly graciously took a picture with me.

I have to say, tonight was wonderful. It's always nice to see someone from my small, often overlooked state who has made an impact on the writing world. The Angel series sounds absolutely wonderful and I can't wait to get started. Ms. Weatherly was a lovely and I highly encourage each of you to attend an event with her if you ever get the chance.

Find ANGEL BURN (ANGELS, #1) at GoodReads.
Find ANGEL FIRE (ANGELS, #2) at GoodReads.

BECAUSE OF LOW BLOG TOUR ~ GUEST POST FROM ABBI GLINES

2012-02-16T21:45:00.000-08:00

Hello and Welcome to my first stop on the Because of Low Blog Tour! I am so happy to have a guest post from author extraordinaire, Abbi Glines. Her post features one of my favorite post topics, music. Namely, the favorite music of the main characters from the book. Be sure and read the entire post to find out how to enter the giveaway. Now I'm going to hush and let Miss Abbi do her thing. Enjoy!

Because of Low - Character’s Favorite Songs

Cage (Marcus’s roommate and Willow’s best friend) - “When I’m Gone” - Three Doors Down
Asking someone to love you no matter what screw ups you have is selfish but it’s intense. You want them but you want it all. Even when you aren’t there you want to know they will be waiting on you to return. Loving you when you’re gone.

Preston (Marcus’s best friend) - “Wall to Wall” - Chris Brown
Because it’s bad ass. The girls love me. I feel his pain in this one.

Willow (Female main character) - “All I Wanted” Paramore
It’s real. Everyone has wanted that one person out of their reach. You felt like it was simple. You were only asking for one thing. That one person. But it was unattainable and there was never a way to change that. No matter how badly you wanted it to be different.

Marcus (Male main character) - “I’d Come For You” Nickelback
The guy made a mistake. We all make them. It sucks. The song says he’ll come for her if she ask him to. But he is waiting on her to decide because he has royally screwed up. It is eye opening and every guy who has ever been in love has been there.

Amanda (Marcus’s little sister) - “Fix You” - Coldplay
Dealing with pain,betrayal, and anger. This song talks about how someone needs fixing when things come along to knock you on your ass. When everything seems perfect and then life can jerks the rug out from under you, this song gives you hope that someone someday can fix what you’ve become.

Tawny (Willow’s older sister) - “Follow Me” - Uncle Kracker
It’s fun and let’s face it, this happens. Sometimes relationships fall apart and there is someone else who can make you smile again. Someone who makes life fun again.

And there you have it. What a great list. And having read Because of Low, I can say those are great choices.

Giveaway:

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

Grand Prize:

Signed copy of Breathe by Abbi Glines
Signed copy of The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines
Signed copy of Existence by Abbi Glines
ebook copy of Because of Low

(I have quite a lot of Abbi's Predestined and The Vincent Boys bookmarks. I will give five random commenters a bookmark. )

You can find Abbi Glines at:

website | Twitter | Facebook

REVIEW ~ PARTIALS (PARTIALS, #1) BY DAN WELLS

2012-02-16T00:34:00.000-08:00

The human race is all but extinct after a war with Partials--engineered organic beings identical to humans--has decimated the population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by RM, a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island while the Partials have mysteriously retreated. The threat of the Partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to RM in more than a decade. Our time is running out.

Kira, a sixteen-year-old medic-in-training, is on the front lines of this battle, seeing RM ravage the community while mandatory pregnancy laws have pushed what's left of humanity to the brink of civil war, and she's not content to stand by and watch. But as she makes a desperate decision to save the last of her race, she will find that the survival of humans and Partials alike rests in her attempts to uncover the connections between them--connections that humanity has forgotten, or perhaps never even knew were there.

Dan Wells, acclaimed author of "I Am Not a Serial Killer," takes readers on a pulsepounding journey into a world where the very concept of what it means to be human is in question--one where our humanity is both our greatest liability and our only hope for survival. ~ From GoodReads

Wow. Wow,wow,wow! After falling in love with the post-apocalyptic world in Under the Never Sky, I didn't think I would find another novel to compete with it for quite some time, let alone this soon. But in Partials, that is exactly what I found, and I couldn't be more excited.

If you take a good look at the cover, the story is laid before you. The world as we know it is a wasteland, bleak and empty, with the buildings and homes humans once occupied nothing but an empty shell. The story is set in 2076, not so far ahead that it cannot be envisioned. And the circumstances that led to this downfall are entirely too plausible. The United States was involved in a war with Iran and another war with China, scarily possible. The government needed an unbeatable army, so they created Partials, who look like us, talk like us, but are much harder to kill. After the wars were over, the Partials were relegated to an oppressive existence. They revolted. They won. But not only did they win, they decimated the human population with the RM virus, leaving the human race unable to bring a child into the world longer than a few days. Which means the human race is going extinct. But things are not always what the seem. Who is the real enemy?

How scary is that? I found the plausibility of the plot to be a most terrifying, yet intriguing concept. My whole life, I've heard older people say that our technology would one day bring about our downfall. Robots would take over the world, and take us down. I always laughed that idea off, but what if it's true?

On top of the brilliant plot line, the author has created a terrific cast of characters. The interaction between the characters, the nonverbal and spoken communication was excellent. I had a great sense of who they were, how they felt about one another without the author having to overexplain. Main character Kira is a medical researcher, intelligent and resourceful. And the girl, only sixteen years old, never says quit. Willing to risk her own life to save humanity (and her best friend's baby), Kira is fierce and loyal. Tough as granite, she holds firm in the face of all adversity, including a huge bomb of a secret she is sitting on.

Kira's boyfriend Marcus was without a doubt the most entertaining character. He is always quick with a one-liner that diffuses a tense situation. He is faithful and believing in what Kira hopes to achieve. I loved him, so much. Xochi, another of Kira's friends and a partner, was also absolutely hilarious and endearing. Even with all of the drama going on, she was great for comic relief. Truthfully, there are at least five more characters that I would love to talk about in depth. But I'm going to hold back a bit because this is a review about a book and not an actual book.

I don't always enjoy post-apocalyptic books because many have become formulaic, in my opinion. That is absolutely not the case in Partials. The fact that not only is there one enemy out there, but two, in addition to the virus that will eventually kill of the human species, left me reeling. The terror is lifted to a whole new level, leaving you feeling surrounded on all sides. The author does not take the easy way out with the characters and the situations they face. Any character, shockingly, can be collaterol damage. The end of Partials left me frantic, flipping the pages as quickly as possible and crying. The story is tragic and bittersweet, yet promising. It was a terrific finish that left me wanting more, but not angry. But, honestly, I'm dying for more!

Favorite Quote:

" 'That is the second worst idea I've ever heard,' said Tovar, 'but since the first worst is you shooting me in the face, I'm all for it.' " (pg. 61, ARC)

"All we have left is each other, so let's enjoy it. Let's be together, like we've always said we'd be, and let's forget all this death and fear and everything else and just live. You want to leave this island, let's leave- let's go somewhere no one will find us, away from the Senate and the Voice and the Partials and everything else. But let's do it together." (pg. 133, ARC)

Browse Inside Partials.

Watch the PARTIALS trailer

Listen to the PARTIALS playlist.

Hardcover, 1st Edition, 472 pages

Expected publication: February 28th 2012 by HarperTEEN

You can pre-order PARTIALS at:

Book Depository | Barnes & Noble | Amazon

Find Dan Wells at:

his website | Facebook | Twitter

COVER REVEAL ~ GRAVITY (THE TAKING, #1) BY MELISSA WEST

2012-02-15T21:06:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to be taking part in this cover reveal. GRAVITY is a book that I am anxiously waiting on, and after you see the cover and read the synopsis, you will be too.

In the future, only one rule will matter:

Don't. Ever. Peek.

Seventeen-year-old Ari Alexander just broke that rule and saw the last
person she expected hovering above her bed - arrogant Jackson Locke, the
most popular boy in her school. She expects instant execution or some kind
of freak alien punishment, but instead, Jackson issues a challenge: help
him, or everyone on Earth will die.

Ari knows she should report him, but everything about Jackson makes her
question what she's been taught about his kind. And against her instincts,
she's falling for him. But Ari isn't just any girl, and Jackson wants more
than her attention. She¹s a military legacy who¹s been trained by her
father and exposed to war strategies and societal information no one can
know - especially an alien spy, like Jackson. Giving Jackson the
information he needs will betray her father and her country, but keeping
silent will start a war. ~ From GoodReads

Expected publication: October 2012 by Entangled Publishing, LLC

You can pre-order GRAVITY at Amazon.

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY

2012-02-14T21:32:00.000-08:00

"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...

Everything is in ruins.

A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her. ~From GoodReads

Why I'm Waiting ~ What first caught my attention, of course, was the cover. Simply stunning, and haunting. But when I read the synopsis, I got to thinking. I always thought that I wasn't much of a Poe fan, but I when I think about it, I sort of am. I had an awesome Literature teacher who force-fed me classic works, heavy on the Poe. I read the original Masque of the Red Death, The Raven, The Tell-Tale Heart, Murders in the Rue Morgue. And the thing about his stories is, they've all stuck with me. So, long story short, I'm really excited to read this re-telling.

Hardcover, 320 pages

Expected publication: April 24th 2012 by Harper Collins

You can pre-order Masque of the Red Death at:
Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Amazon

TEASER TUESDAY

2012-02-13T21:56:00.000-08:00

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

Strangers in reality, inseparable in dreams…

After years of suffocating under her boss’s scrutiny, whale biologist Zoe Morgan finally lands a job as director of a tagging project in Hervey Bay, Australia. Success Down Under all but guarantees her the promotion of a lifetime, and Zoe won’t let anything—or anyone—stand in her way. Not the whale voices she suddenly hears in her head, not the ex who won’t take no for an answer, and especially not the gorgeous figment of her imagination who keeps saving her from the fiery hell of her dreams.

Gavin Cassidy hasn’t been called to help a human Wyldling in over a year, which is fine by him. Still blaming himself for the death of his partner, he keeps the guilt at bay by indulging in every excess his rock star persona affords. That is, until he’s summoned to protect Zoe from hungry Fyre Elementals and learns his new charge is the key to restoring order in the dying Dreaming. He never expects to fall for the feisty Dr. Morgan…nor does he realize he may have to sacrifice the woman he loves to save an entire country. ~ From GoodReads

My Teaser:

“He’d face an army of Fyres by himself, walk into the bloody sun if he had to, but don’t ask him to hold her. He’d never be able to let go.”

I finished INHALE a few days ago. I absolutely loved it. You can find my review at GoodReads.

Paperback, 462 pages

Expected publication: May 1st 2012 by Howling Mad Press

You can find author Kendall Gray at her website.

REVIEW ~ CAPTIVATED (AN AFFLICTION NOVEL, #1) BY DEB APODACA

2012-02-13T00:28:00.000-08:00

"I stood close to the edge looking down at what I thought was my death. Then, I somehow ignored the water and only saw him. He looked like a dark angel on a cloud of mist holding his arms out to me. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. Then I jumped." Mindy

After Mindy's childhood best friend, Dean Aiken, shuts her and everyone else out of his life, she learns to move on. Years pass and she gets used to the fact that he's no longer a part of her life, but things begin to change

Mindy's new best friend, Markus Medina, witnesses Dean kill two people behind a club. Mindy has a hard time believing him, especially when he mentions that the bodies disappear. Poof! Into thin air. Markus decides he has to follow Dean around in order to get evidence that he's been killing people, so he doesn't sound like a nut to the police.

Despite Marcus' crazy theories about the possibility of Dean not being human. And not to mention the fact that he's dangerous. Mindy can't help that she may be falling in love with him. Even after hiding their feelings for each other from the world. Dean and Mindy being together stirs up dangers that neither of them could ever imagine. When she finds out about what Dean really is and the world he tried to keep her away from...it's already too late. ~From GoodReads

Captivated is the story of Mindy, a normal teenage girl surrounded by abnormal occurrences. First, she loses her best friend Dean when his parents are murdered and he becomes withdrawn. Then, years later, as she is still missing Dean, another mysterious guy, Shane, comes to town. There is clear animosity between Dean and Shane, and Mindy and her friend Markus want to know what is going on. When Markus thinks he has witnessed Dean murdering several people, Mindy thinks he's crazy. But is he? Mindy quickly becomes involved in a dangerous web of events, and she may not make it out alive.

Alright. I had major mixed feelings about Captivated. There were moments I felt myself being pulled into the story, and I liked I was reading. But also, there were a few issues I had with the story, one major. So let me get started with the aspects that I liked.

In general, I liked the story. I don't want to get into the details, for fear of spoilers, but the mystery surrounding Dean and Shane was intriguing. I had a good idea as to what was going on, at least with Shane, but I didn't know for sure. So for that reason, I must give props to the author.

I liked the character of Dean. But honestly, that's a no-brainer because I'm a huge Supernatural fan and yeah...I love Dean on the show. So she basically had me the first time his name was mentioned. But then again, I was distracted by the name because I wanted to go watch a few episodes instead of reading. I digress. Dean is definitely the strong silent type, letting his actions or laser beam glares do his talking. He is super buff, has tattoos and makes all the girls in school drool when he's around. But as quiet and dangerous as Dean is, he has a soft spot where Mindy is concerned.

As for Mindy, I wanted to like her, I really did. She was fun and lighthearted, a real sweetie. But the girl spent almost all of her time ogling and drooling, I mean a lot of time. Even as really weird events were occurring, she was more focused on Dean and his rock hard muscles. Which leads me to the part of the book in which I jumped off board.

I'm not trying to spoil the story for anyone, and honestly, this subject isn't a big deal in the story, and that makes this a HUGE deal for me. Fairly early on, Mindy is almost raped by a guy she's been dating. Before that can happen, she is rescued by a mystery guy she is never able to see. He saves her, covers her up and leaves before she comes to. Afterwards, instead of completely freaking out over nearly being raped, she is upset because she didn't see her rescuer. She daydreams about the guy, wants to see him again, even dressing up when she goes out the next night in hopes of seeing him. When she sees her would-be rapist, and she confronts him, Mindy is only upset because he'll never tell her who saved her.

So...where do I begin. I don't want to make this personal, but I think I must. As a female in general, and someone who was almost assaulted in the same way described, I am more than a little offended. It sends a horrible message to young readers. The way it was written makes light of a subject that deserves be treated carefully. You can say that Mindy is a teenager, and not everyone reacts in the same manner. However, I was the same age as Mindy when that happened to me, and I know how I reacted. No, there wasn't a mystery dude to save me, I saved myself with a lot of screaming and a typewriter (long story), but I can tell you that even if there had been a guy, I wouldn't have cared less if he was a hottie. I was too busy crying, trying to get myself together and wanting to kill the jerk who tried to hurt me. Mindy's reaction is so off the wall, I just don't get it. I tried to get over it, get over myself, but then a line like this comes along:

"Well, you're the only girl I've heard of that can handle almost being raped with a smile."

Yeah. I'm not going to say any more about this subject.

Truthfully, I had a lot more to say in my review, more about the other parts of the book, but writing that last bit took a lot of the wind out of my sails. So I'll be brief.

The pacing of the story was slow for me, but did pick up in the last quarter of the book. The huge questions raised throughout a lot of the book were answered. The action was intense and lightning quick. Captivated left off with a huge, frustating, but very intriguing cliffhanger. The kind that will make your jaw drop and sets up book two perfectly. If you loved Captivated, you would be positively dying for book two. Obviously, I'm not.

For an alternate point of view, here is a positive review of Captivated.
Favorite Quote:

"He slowly swam towards me. Eyes focused. He looked like a shark coming at me, as if I were the prey" (ebook, 48%)

Paperback, 375 pages

Published June 10th 2011 by Eminent Books

Purchase Captivated at Amazon.

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

In My Mailbox, #26

2012-02-11T20:32:00.000-08:00

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.

Received in Trade:

Mind Games (The Disillusionists Series, #1) by Carolyn Crane

Double Cross (The Disillusionists Series, #2) by Carolyn Crane

White Cat (Curse Workers, #1) by Holly Black

For Review:

On the Island, by Tracey Garvis-Graves (Thanks to the author)

Won:

Abandon (Abandon, #1) by Meg Cabot (Thanks to Flashlight Reads)

Gifts:

Soul Screamers Vol. 1, by Rachel Vincent and CUPCAKES (that's right, CUPCAKES from Jessica at Hackaroo's Reviews

Tons of Paranormal Plume swag (Thanks to Autumn at Autumn Review)

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great week!

LET "HANA" BE YOUR VALENTINE!

2012-02-10T23:31:00.000-08:00

Have you heard? Lauren Oliver has written a new story that tells the events of DELIRIUM through the perspective of Hana, Lena's best friend. HANA goes on sale February 28, 2012, but if enough people pre-order PANDEMONIUM, MTV.comwill post HANA for FREE on Valentine's Day!

You can hear the good news from author Lauren Oliver at her blog.

Now, go pre-order PANDEMONIUM and enjoy!

Pre-order PANDEMONIUM (DELIRIUM, #2) at:
Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Book Depository

Order DELIRIUM at:
Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Book Depository

REVIEW ~ BEWITCHING (KENDRA CHRONICLES), BY ALEX FLINN

2012-02-09T22:20:00.000-08:00

Bewitching can be a beast. . . .

Once, I put a curse on a beastly and arrogant high school boy. That one turned out all right. Others didn’t.

I go to a new school now—one where no one knows that I should have graduated long ago. I’m not still here because I’m stupid; I just don’t age.

You see, I’m immortal. And I pretty much know everything after hundreds of years—except for when to take my powers and butt out.

I want to help, but things just go awry in ways I could never predict. Like when I tried to free some children from a gingerbread house and ended up being hanged. After I came back from the dead (immortal, remember?), I tried to play matchmaker for a French prince and ended up banished from France forever. And that little mermaid I found in the Titanic lifeboat? I don’t even want to think about it.

Now a girl named Emma needs me. I probably shouldn’t get involved, but her gorgeous stepsister is conniving to the core. I think I have just the thing to fix that girl—and it isn’t an enchanted pumpkin. Although you never know what will happen when I start . . . bewitching. ~ From GoodReads

What if the fairy tales we all grew up on got it wrong? What if the evil step-sisters weren't so bad, but cruelly manipulated by Cinderella? What if the mermaid didn't get her "happily ever after", but a tragic end? What if the witch wasn't an evil shrew, but just a lonely girl who tries to help others, sometimes with disastrous results? Bewitching, re-telling classic tales through the eyes of the witch, breathes new life into these stories and shows us (to quote my favorite witch, Alex Russo!) "everything is not what it seems".

I have to start by saying that Bewitching caught me completely off-guard. I expected the story to be a little fun and cute, but I didn't expect the lessons learned and to have as much fun as I did! The story is primarily from Kendra's point-of-view, but does switch to the view of the character she is helping at the moment, mainly Emma. Emma is a sweet, but plain girl, bookish and quiet, living a happy life with her mother and step-father. But her life takes a dramatic turn when her beautiful, perfect, and seemingly fragile step-sister Lisette comes to live with them after her mother's death. Emma is desperate for a sister, and wants to be close to Lisette, but it quickly becomes apparent that Lisette is out to destroy Emma, out of jealousy. Because she is so sweet and seems innocent and broken, Lisette (Cinderella?) is automatically given the benefit of a doubt. Emma, who is plain and quiet, rarely has the courage to speak up for herself, is quickly turned into the "evil stepsister". Kendra, for the most part is a quiet observer to Emma's pain, only offering bits of advice. But when Lisette goes too far in her effort to destroy Emma, she decides to step in and help. Will her efforts turn out as tragically as it did with a certain mermaid? Or will she be able to change a life for the better, as she did with the Beast?

Bewitching is the first of Alex Flinn's books I've had the pleasure to read. I had heard about Beastly, but not until it became a movie and that's most likely because I have a super-strong Alex Pettyfer radar. But now I'm sure to hunt more of her books down and read them. The tale is told in a fun, conversational manner that made me feel as if Kendra and I were having a nice, long chat. The stories she wove into Emma's (the night the Titanic sank, a young French prince searching for a wife) were nice asides that expanded upon the lesson Kendra was conveying.

Bewitching, with a clear message about remaining true to oneself, is a great book for young readers. I could absolutely see a reluctant teen (or tween), snatching this book up and devouring it. But, it's also a story that adults, at least those young at heart, can enjoy!

Favorite Quote:

"She stared at me, at my open mouth. 'Now, what are you going to do about it, Emma? Burn me at the stake? Organize a boycott of all the Harry Potter books because they gave me ideas?' "

Hardcover, 336 pages

Expected publication: February 14th 2012 by HarperTeen

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

* I received an ARC of Bewitching from Harper Collins, in exchange for an honest review. *

REVIEW ~ WINGS OF THE WICKED (ANGELFIRE, #2) BY COURTNEY ALLISON MOULTON

2012-02-09T00:25:00.000-08:00

Life as the Preliator is harder than Ellie ever imagined.
Balancing real life with the responsibility of being Heaven’s warrior is a challenge for Ellie. Her relationship with Will has become all business, though they both long for each other. And now that the secret of who she really is has come out, so have Hell’s strongest reapers. Grown bold and more vicious, the demonic threaten her in the light of day and stalk her in the night.

She’s been warned.
Cadan, a demonic reaper, comes to her with information about Bastian’s new plan to destroy Ellie’s soul and use an ancient relic to wake all the souls of the damned and unleash them upon humanity. As she fights to stay ahead of Bastian’s schemes , the revelations about those closest to her awaken a dark power within Ellie that threatens to destroy everything—including herself.

She’ll be betrayed.
Treachery comes even from those whom she loves, and Ellie is broken by the deaths of those who stood beside her in this Heavenly war. Still, she must find a way to save the world, herself, and her love for Will. If she fails, there will be hell to pay. ~From GoodReads

Wings of the Wicked is book two in the Angelfire series by Courtney Allison Moulton. If you read my review of Angelfire, you’ll know I wasn’t a big fan of that book. In general, I actually liked the overall concept of the series, but a lot of the choices and the writing style just didn’t connect with me. I went into Wings of the Wicked hoping for the best. I wanted to like the book, the characters, and hoped that the writing had improved. All of that did happen, to an extent.

Let me start with what didn’t work for me with Angelfire and still doesn’t work in Wings of the Wicked. The demonic Reapers. They’re just not frightening. When they pop up from the Grim, slobbering, screeching and basically announcing their arrival by saying things such as “Come out and play!”, I laugh. Funny = not scary. I will admit, the demons towards the end of the book do pack more of a punch, but nothing that will keep me up at night.

Another issue I had with book one was the problem of showing vs. telling. Every time Ellie “felt” any strong emotion, no matter how devastating, romantic, frightened, I only knew because I was told she felt that way. The author did a better job of conveying the emotions of the characters, especially during a part in which Ellie experiences a catastrophic loss, but still, it could have been so much better. For example, she mentions that Will says something “in that way of his that turned my insides to jelly” as if I know what she means. But, I don’t. Show me the effect it has on you, how it makes you feel. Don’t just tell me that it creates that response in you, because I’m not going to simply take your word for it. Here is another example of a lost opportunity: in the beginning of the book, Will introduces Ellie to Marcus, another “good” Reaper she knew in past lives. Instead of Ellie sharing a flash of memory or a burst of emotion tied to her past, she simply mentions how his face is familiar, that she has a flood of memories and that Marcus is her friend, simple as that. Later she is hesitant to take Marcus out with her friends because she knew “how rowdy Marcus could get”, as if I know what she’s talking about. Give me a snippet of a memory to go along with the observations. I can’t become fully vested if I’m not involved in the important aspects of the story.

In my review of Angelfire I mentioned that the revelation of Ellie’s true nature really bothered me. Guess what? It still does, a lot. Without giving it away, I’ll say that it’s just weird. Surely there was a way to make Ellie unobtainable and fearsome and place a huge block between her and Will without going “there”. What Ellie really is is a hard pill for me to swallow. I get that the author is probably trying to make the stakes very, very high, which would make a payoff at the end of the series extremely satisfying. But this hurdle seems impossible without a lot of backtracking or no happy resolution. Maybe I will be forced to eat my words with the series conclusion. I actually hope so, believe it or not.

I spent a good bit of time during Wings of the Wicked, as I did during Angelfire, re-reading lines and paragraphs to make sure that I understood what I had just read. Some of the lines felt redundant, saying the same thing but in a different way. For example: “I need to have a normal life on top of all this. I need some kind of normalcy” (pg 48, ARC) . It’s not necessary and makes the book way longer than it needed to be. Another example, not necessary (and redundant), are passages like this:

“Some part of me believed him when he said he’d never eaten a human before. It was hard to imagine a boy that hot eating people, and eating people was just all kinds of wrong.” (pg 32, ARC)

Say what?!?

Now for my last gripe, I promise. I think, based on what I’ve seen other people say, and from a few spots in the book, that Wings of the Wicked is supposed to contain a love triangle. Will loves Ellie, and Ellie loves Will. But Cadan also loves Ellie, or so he says. Cadan had such a small impact on me in Angelfire that I never mentioned him in my review. He plays a larger role in this book, but not much. I don’t know offhand how many scenes he has (five, maybe six?), and they are short portions of time, but in that small bit, he has fallen hopelessly in love with Ellie and will love her until he dies. The love he has for Ellie causes him to make a few great choices that do change the course of the story, but I just didn’t get where the undying love came from.

Alright, now for what I did like. I did admire the fact that though Ellie is deeply in love with Will, she intends to remain her own person with her own identity separate from him. She doesn’t give up her friends, family, or school life (including the PROM! Yay!). Having said that, I’m just going to pretend that the fact she hangs out with humans puts them all in the same danger she faces every day. Anyway, I admire that about the character, because so many heroines give an outside life up at the first sign of true love.

Speaking of true love, I do love Ellie and Will. But I’m not going to lie, that’s mainly due to Will. He is honorable, respectful, and brave; but also kind, self-sacrificing, and hot, carrying himself with a certain princely charm. I am sort of smitten with Will and hate that he must endure the many challenges he faces, like Ellie’s mood swings, not to mention almost certain death at any moment.

The action sequences. They simply kicked butt. When other portions of the story seemed to drag for me, the fights woke me up and got my heart pumping. I know I said the demonic Reapers aren't scary, and they aren't. But the way Ellie and Will fight them is so fierce. That girl has a wicked way with a sword!

When I sit here and try to sift through my thoughts of Wings of the Wicked, I’m very conflicted. It was a definite improvement on Angelfire, that’s for sure. There were several things about it that bothered me, such as some of the writing and choices. For a large portion of the book, I could have set it down and left it, without a moment’s bother. But the last half of the book, the last two hundred pages or so, I found myself very interested in the outcome. I’m still not sure if it’s because I was truly enjoying it or because I had invested so much time that I wanted to see the story through. But I was reading, and I actually cared. So that in itself says something about Wings of the Wicked.

For an alternate point of view, here is a very positive review for Wings of the Wicked.

Favorite Quote:

“He really was terrified, as if the most frightening reaper on the planet was no scarier than a mouse, and yet put him in a tux and it was the Apocalypse.” (pg. 492, ARC)4

You can purchase Wings of the Wicked at:
Book Depository | Barnes & Noble | Amazon

* I received an ARC of Wings of the Wicked from Harper Collins, in exchange for an honest review. *

HARPER'S MONTH OF LOVE!

2012-02-07T23:59:00.000-08:00

What better way is there to spend February than combining love and books with the "Month of Love" feature from Harper Collins? Head over to the Epic Reads Facebook Page and join the fun with promotions and giveaways.

While you're at it, why not check your book compatibility with the "Story Crush Calculator"!

Head over the the Story Crush Facebook Page and find out which books are sure to win your heart!

See you there!

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY

2012-02-07T21:49:00.000-08:00

"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...

What if you forgot your identity and had to rely on other people to tell you who you were?

And what if to discover your true self, you first had to unravel a mystery so big and terrifying you were not sure you’d survive solving it?

When Marshall and Elyse wake up in each other’s arms with zero memory of how they got there or who they are, it’s the start of a long journey through their separate pasts and shared future.

Terrified by their amnesia, the two make a pact to work together to find the answers that could jog their missing memories. As they piece together clues, they discover they’re in the idyllic mountain resort town of Summer Falls, where everyone seems mysteriously happy, but as Marshall and Elyse quickly learn, darkness lurks beneath the town’s perfect facade. Not only is the town haunted by sinister ghosts, but none of its living inhabitants retain bad memories of anything—not the death of Marshall’s mom, not the hidden shame in Elyse’s family, not even the day-to-day anguish of high school.

Lonely in this world of happy zombies, Marsh and Elyse fall into an intense relationship...but the secrets they uncover could be the death of this growing love—and the death of everyone, and everything, they love in Summer Falls. ~ From GoodReads

Why I'm Waiting...

Geez, where do I begin? Glimmer wasn't even on my radar until I received a surprise copy from Harper, and boy am I glad I did! This book has amnesia, ghosts, and zombies. Yeah. This should be a great ride!

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

TEASER TUESDAY

2012-02-07T00:14:00.000-08:00

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

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

My Teaser ~

" '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.' "

This book was so wonderful! Come back next week for my stop on the Because of Low Blog Tour.

Kindle Edition

Expected publication: February 14th 2012

Find Abbi Glines at:

GoodReads | website | Twitter

FOLLOWER LOVE GIVEAWAY HOP

2012-02-06T23:59:00.000-08:00

It's blog hop time again. YAY!

This hop is hosted by Kathy at I Am a Reader, Not a Writer and Rachel Renee Anderson.

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 7-14, 2012.

Go here to find all the blogs participating.

THE PRIZE:

One winner will win their choice of a book (up to $10 value) from Amazon or B&N (US) or Book Depository (Intl).

To enter, simply feed the 'Copter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BLOG TOUR ~ ALL'S FAIR IN VANITIES WAR, BY ELIZABETH MARX

2012-02-06T00:08:00.000-08:00

Welcome to today's stop on the All's Fair in Vanities War blog tour. I have a guest post from author Elizabeth Marx, followed by a giveaway of the book, along with bookmarks. Enjoy!

Top Ten Celtic Gods

1. Ankou is the death omen. He is a tall haggard looking figure with long white hair or a skeleton with a revolving head that sees all. He collects the souls of the dead and puts them into his spectral cart that two ghostly figures pull on foot.

2. Belenus is one of the most widely worshiped Celtic deities. The great fire festival of Beltane on May 1st is to commemorate him, and cattle are walked through pyres to cleanse and protect them before put out to pasture for the summer. His name means bright, brilliant, or shining one. Belenus or Bel is not a sun god; there is no evidence of sun worship of any kind among the Celts, where the day began at sunset.
Old version New version

3. Cernunnos is known as the stag lord or the great horned one. Because he is half-man half-stag he is usually portrayed seated and crossed-legged and surrounded by other animals, especially the snake. There are no snakes in Ireland because Cernunnos took them from Ireland and uses them at his will. He carries the snake in one hand representing knowledge and in the other the torque, the symbol of Celtic nobility in the other. He says things like, “I am the fair among the flowers.”

4. Dis Pater is the god of the underworld and would be the modern equivalent to our devil. Although in ancient to be the guardian of the underground meant you were quite wealthy as that was where gems and resources where buried.

5. Genii Cucullati are called the hooded ones because all you can see of their faces are their blue-black eyes and jagged teeth. They are flesh eaters whose black tongues emit the scent of rotting meat. They speak in a language older than Gaelic and are usually depicted as a triad of either males or females.

6. Intarabus is a god depicted as a beardless man with long hair draped with a wolf skin. His name means between two rivers.

7. Lugus or Lugh is the god of creation and learning. His name means to swear an oath and he is the god who defeated Balor the Evil Eye. He is known as a great leader of men and fearless.

8. Luxovius is the god of a city’s water. He is the deity of light and curative waters two elements that are linked in Celtic mythology. He is often depicted as a water wheel.

9. Oengus is the divine son and the god of youth, an eternally youthful spirit found at Newgrange. He is usually portrayed as a lover and a trickster.

10. Sucellus is the god of love and time. He was powerful and widely worshiped throughout the Celtic world. He reigned over agriculture and alcoholic drinks, and is often depicted with a mallet and libation saucer indicative of his power to protect and provide. He is often shown with a cask of wine symbolizing his serving at OtherWorldly feasts.

(My apologies to Ms. Marx, who had provided pictures to accompany the descriptions. My internet and computer have had major issues, and I was unable to attach the pictures.)

GIVEAWAY

The author is giving two winners an ecopy of her book. All you have to do is comment below. I will use random.org to select two winners. She has also provided bookmarks to give away. I will also use random.org to select five winners for the bookmarks. Please be sure to leave an email address.

GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY

The guidelines for the grand prize are as follows:

A $50 Amazon giftcard is up for grabs. To enter:

You must "LIKE" The Seer's Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/TheSeers7DeadlyFairyTales), then post one of her best lines from All's Fair in Vanities War on the wall.

You can find all of the stops by going here.

In My Mailbox, #25

2012-02-05T00:02:00.000-08:00

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:

Snap: The World Unfolds, by Michelle Drier (Thanks to the author)

Sweet Evil, by Wendy Higgins (Thanks to Harper Collins)

Glimmer, by Phoebe Kitanidis (Thanks to Harper Collins)

Hemlock, by Kathleen Peacock (Thanks to Harper Collins)

Goddess Interrupted (Goddess Test, #2), by Aimee` Carter (Thanks to Harlequin Teen)

Received in Trade:

Tempest, by Julie Cross

Lock and Key, by Sarah Dessen

Purchased:

Exiled, by Rashelle Workman

Moonlight and Oranges, by Elise Stephens

Heavenly, by Jennifer Laurens

Thanks for stopping by. Leave a link and I will be sure to check out your IMM!

REVIEW ~ ANGELINA'S SECRET, LISA ROGERS

2012-02-04T00:08:00.000-08:00

As a child, Angelina spent years in counseling learning that Josie, her imaginary friend, wasn't real, but it turns out her childhood friend wasn't imaginary after all.

Now Angelina has to accept she's either (A) crazy or (B) able to see ghosts. Wanting to believe in her sanity, she chooses (B) and welcomes Josie back into her life. But even Josie can't help her deal with Shelly, the spirit of a confused teenager, and things go very, very wrong.

When Angelina finds herself in a psychiatric hospital, she faces a choice: she can spend the rest of her life pretending to be someone she isn't, or she can embrace who she is and take a chance that she may never get to go home. ~ From GoodReads

Angelina's Secret is the story of a seemingly normal girl, with a big secret. Angelina has premonitions, and sees ghosts. As a child, she was forced to think that the ghost who visited her was an imaginary friend. But when the ghost, Josie, shows up, along with a few others, she is forced to confront her biggest fear: Is she crazy or is she right? Either answer is a scary thought.

Angelina's Secret was a book, I'm sad to say, that I just couldn't get in to. The opening was confusing. It opens in the midst of a premonition, Angelina envisioning herself in a situation, and I didn't know what was going on. Once I realized what was happening, the reading became easier. But still, I felt a bit disjointed as I was reading this.

I felt a lack of connection or empathy to each character. I know that I was supposed to be frightened or worried for the state of Angelina's mental health, but I didn't. Maybe because she didn't have strong reactions to the situations she faced. She would simply go along with whatever was happening. Her friend Daphne was so off-putting in manners and speech, I tried to get through her dialogue as quickly as possible. But I guess you could say that I had feelings about one character, Angelina's mother. What an awful woman! Each time Angelina went to her for help or comfort, she would act as if Angelina was attacking her. She would cut Angelina off and shut down. I literally wanted to reach into my book and smack her.

As for the ghosts, they weren't scary at all, but they were a bit comical. I don't know if that was intended or not. Being as some of them had been dead for many years, they experienced a lot of confusion with popular slang. There were a lot of mix-ups and misunderstandings in the conversations, which was kind of cute. In the end, it's a situation a lot like the movie Beetlejuice, with the ghosts and the family living together, happily ever after.

Overall, I would say the biggest issue with the book, for me, was confusion. When I read the synopsis, the story seemed like a creepy thriller. Is Angelina crazy? There was never any question for me. So that left me with a girl, her ghosts, and the struggle to make her family understand.

For an alternate point of view, I have included a link to this positive review I found on GoodReads.

Paperback, 186 pages

Expected publication: February 1st 2012 by Spencer Hill Press

You can purchase Angelina's Secret at:

Book Depository | Barnes & Noble | Amazon

*I received an ARC of Angelina's Secret from Spencer Hill Press, in exchange for an honest review.*

DARK DAYS BLOG TOUR ~ GUEST POST FROM CA KUNZ

2012-02-03T00:41:00.000-08:00

Welcome to today's stop on The Childe/Dark Days blog tour! I'm very excited to be taking part in this fun event. A few weeks ago, the blog tour stopped by and featured my review of Dark Days. You can read that review here. You can also read my review of the first book in the series, The Childe, here. Be sure read this entire post so you can find all the details about the tour (links, giveaways).

Favorite Reads: Indie Published

So since we are indie published authors, we feel we need to take some time and share some of our favorite reads from fellow indies. We’ve actually enjoyed these novels just as much as other traditionally published novels, if not a touch more. Below is a list of some of our top indie reads:

Recommended for Young Adults:

The Saving Angels Trilogy by Tiffany King
Breathe by Abbi Glines
Dirty Blood by Heather Hildenbrand
Madly by M. Leighton
Mortal Obligation by Nichole Chase
The Book of Lost Souls by Michelle Muto
Callum and Harper by Fisher Amelie
The Soul Quest Trilogy by Amy Jones
Significance by Shelly Crane
Winnemucca by Laura Elliott
Released by Megan Duncan
Every Last Kiss by Courtney Cole
The Forest of Adventures by Katie M. John
The Tale of Lunarmorte Trilogy by Samantha Young
Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale by Ramona Wray
The Soulkeepers by G.P. Ching
Ethereal by Addison Moore
Anew by Chelsea Fine

Recommended for Adults:
The Chosen One Trilogy by Mireille Chester
Betrayed by Wodke Hawkinson
Near Death by Richard Hale
Let Us Prey by Jamie Lee Scott
On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves
The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines

That's a great list of books. And I'm happy to say that I have read or plan to read at least ten of those.

Now for the Good Stuff!

Grand Prize Giveaway:

The Grand Prize is a Kindle Fire (I have one, trust me, you want it.)At every blog stop, once five (different) people have left comments, the authors will post a question in the comment section. The question will pertain to something in the post, so you must read carefully to find the answer. Once you've found the answer, you can submit it to kindlefirechilde@gmail.com. But there are more ways to earn points.

Here is the point break down:

For each post there will be 10 possible points to gain.

5 points- for answering the post question correctly through email.

1 point- for following the blogger's blog ( must post GFC name).

1 point- for tweeting blog post (must post tweet link).
1 point- for following CA Kunz's blog (must post GFC name).
1 point- for sharing post on Facebook (must post link).
1 point- for liking either CA Kunz's Facebook page or The Childe Facebook page.

Weekly Giveaway (5 in all):

Every week the authors will have a giveaway of one signed copy of The Childe and a swag pack to a random commenter on one of the blogs that week. The day and comment number will be known only by the authors, and it could happen on any day of the week and will be completely random.

Be sure to go to all the stops for more chances to win!

Blog Tour Schedule

Sunday, Jan. 8^th – Books Complete Me

1^st Week:

Monday, Jan. 9^th – A Diary of a Book Addict

Tuesday, Jan. 10^th– Book Love AND Ash Talks Books

Wednesday, Jan. 11^th – Book Bite Reviews AND Intoxicated by Books

Thursday, Jan. 12^th – Amethyst Daydreams

Friday, Jan. 13^th – Mundie Moms AND Fiktshun

2^nd Week:

Monday, Jan. 16^th – Reading Away The Days AND Jowanna Reads

Tuesday, Jan. 17^th – Blethering Book Worm AND Reading Lark

Wednesday, Jan. 18^th – Katelyn Torrey

Thursday, Jan. 19^th – Bookish Babes

Friday, Jan. 20^th – Mundie Moms AND Me and Reading

3^rd Week:

Monday, Jan. 23^rd – Me Myshelf and I AND Insane About Books

Tuesday, Jan. 24^th – Katelyn Torrey

Wednesday, Jan. 25^th – Blethering Book Worm AND Words 2 Follow

Thursday, Jan. 26^th – Fiktshun AND All Things Books

Friday, Jan. 27^th – Page Flipperz

4^th Week:

Monday, Jan. 30^th – Book Bite Reviews

Tuesday, Jan. 31^st – Me and Reading AND Page Flipperz

Wednesday, Feb. 1^st – Reading Lark

Thursday, Feb. 2^nd – Books Complete Me

Friday, Feb. 3^rd – Bookish Babes AND Jowanna Reads

5^th Week:

Monday, Feb. 6^th – Amethyst Daydreams AND Reading Away The Days

Tuesday, Feb. 7^th – Insane About Books

Wednesday, Feb. 8^th – All Things Books

Thursday, Feb. 9^th – Words 2 Follow

Friday, Feb. 10^th – Forever Lost In My Own World

Saturday, Feb. 11^th – Books Complete Me

COVER REVEAL ~ LUCID (BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS #2)

2012-02-03T00:06:00.000-08:00

I am very excited to be part of the cover reveal for Lucid (A Brightest Kind of Darkness, #2)! I absolutely loved the cover for A Brightest Kind of Darkness and this, too, is gorgeous. The release date has not been announced yet, and the synopsis hasn't been released, either. So for now, just revel in the beauty of Lucid.

You can check out my review of A Brightest Kind of Darkness here.
Add Lucid to your TBR- list at GoodReads.

You can find author PT Michelle at:
Twitter | Facebook | Website| Goodreads

Review ~ Angelfire (Angelfire, #1) by Courtney Allison Moulton

2012-02-02T00:30:00.000-08:00

First there are nightmares.
Every night Ellie is haunted by terrifying dreams of monstrous creatures that are hunting her, killing her.

Then come the memories.
When Ellie meets Will, she feels on the verge of remembering something just beyond her grasp. His attention is intense and romantic, and Ellie feels like her soul has known him for centuries. On her seventeenth birthday, on a dark street at midnight, Will awakens Ellie's power, and she knows that she can fight the creatures that stalk her in the grim darkness. Only Will holds the key to Ellie's memories, whole lifetimes of them, and when she looks at him, she can no longer pretend anything was just a dream.

Now she must hunt.
Ellie has power that no one can match, and her role is to hunt and kill the reapers that prey on human souls. But in order to survive the dangerous and ancient battle of the angels and the Fallen, she must also hunt for the secrets of her past lives and truths that may be too frightening to remember. ~From GoodReads

Hmmm...I'm not quite sure where to start with this review. That can't be reassuring, right? I went into Angelfire with what I felt were reasonable hopes. I had heard it was an amazing book, but I hear that (and say that) about books every single day. So, I don't think I had unrealistic expectations. To be perfectly honest, I was...disappointed. Initially, I thought the story would be fun. And occasionally, it was. But mostly I was left thinking "Are you freaking kidding me?" Here's why.

At four hundred fifty pages, Angelfire is a fairly long book. To my surprise, though, I was flying through it, even if it wasn't snagging my attention. Then I realized, I was actually skimming a good bit. The writing felt a bit choppy, and lacked a sense of depth or emotion. Sure, I knew Ellie was frightened or angry, but only because the sentence told me she was. I tend to prefer a flowing, melodic style of writing, one that will sweep me away and capture my attention. That could be just be my preference and I'm being nit-picky. In regards to the dialogue, however, I do not think is just me. Some of the exchanges between Ellie and her friends made me cringe. I'm sure I said stupid crap all the time as a teen, I still do, but this just felt awkward.

Ellie was a fairly likable protagonist. She was a little snarky and sarcastic without being over the top. But, really, what was with all the name dropping? BMWs, Jimmy Choo, her best friend eyeing something at Valentino; I guess that's in there to remind you that Ellie is a normal girl who likes to shop. Maybe I have some deep seeded resentment, because all it did was make me roll my eyes. If you're going to write a realistic character, maybe shop at The Gap or even J. Crew (fancy, in my opinion!).

As for the secondary characters, what can I say? I don't think any of them served much of a purpose other than Will, who I did like. He was apparently hot, because Ellie said so, and very kind. He has a special connection to Ellie, one that he values immensely. Will is intense, and quiet and is probably the only character who didn't annoy me at some point. Maybe that's because he has a Westley (from The Princess Bride) vibe, even replying "As you wish" to many of Ellie's requests.

Now on to the rest of the characters. Ellie's parents. Her mom, who was an extremely kind and understanding character, has no backbone. She loves her husband, a huge jerk, so much that she willing puts up with the verbal and emotional abuse he dishes to Ellie and her. I had a hard time holding any respect for her because of that. Her dad is a ginormous jackwad. A mean, mean man who shows no emotion, other than disdain, towards Ellie. BUT, I suspect there is something up with daddy, because Ellie repeatedly states that he is nothing like the father she once knew. Oh, and Will tells her that he (meaning dad) smells like blood. I get it. Daddy has something big brewing. Something that will most likely be revealed in book two. But just come on and tell me so I can stop hating her mom for putting up with him.

Landon and Kate, Ellie's oldest friends, did nothing for me. Kate was funny sometimes, but sort of skanky, too. Landon wants to be with Ellie. But she doesn't reciprocate the feeling, so he possibly moves on with Kate. That whole little subplot almost felt like a filler or an afterthought, and fell flat.

And lastly, the bad guys. I didn't find them scary in the slightest. The were laughable, almost cartoonish. The lines they aimed at Ellie were just comical and accompanied by lots of drooling.
"We meet again, Preliator!" and "And now you are mine."
Not exactly terrifying.

The ending of Angelfire reveals exactly what Ellie is. I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't read Angelfire, so my hands are tied as to exactly why I didn't like it. I will give credit to the author, I didn't see it coming. But I also didn't buy it. I just didn't get it at all.

Having said all of that, I didn't outright hate Angelfire. I just feel that it could have been so much better. I am going to read book two Wings of the Wicked in a few days. I plan on going into it with as open of a mind as I can. But I certainly hope it's an improvement on Angelfire.

Favorite Quote:

"For the longest two seconds of my life I couldn't breathe or move. My back hurt like hell, and I groaned painfully as I picked myself up, brushing the glass off me. My gashes healed almost instantly and left a few bloody streaks behind on my face and arms.

And my party dress was ruined. I was so pissed."

For an alternate point of view, here is a very positive review I found on GoodReads.

Hardcover, 453 pages

Published February 15th 2011 by HarperCollins / Katherine Tegen Books

You can purchase Angelfire at:

B&N | Amazon | Book Depository

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY

2012-01-31T22:34:00.000-08:00

"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...

Twittercide [twit-er-sahyd]: the killing of one human being by another while the victim is in the act of tweeting.

Call me crazy, but I figured writing for the Herbert Hoover High Homepage would be a pretty sweet gig. Pad the resume for college applications, get a first look at the gossip column, spend some time ogling the paper's brooding bad-boy editor, Chase Erikson. But on my first big story, things went...a little south. What should have been a normal interview with Sydney Sanders turned into me discovering the Homecoming Queen-hopeful dead in her pool. Electrocuted while Tweeting. Now, in addition to developing a reputation as HHH's resident body finder, I'm stuck trying to prove that Sydney's death wasn't suicide.

I'm starting to long for the days when my biggest worry was whether the cafeteria was serving pizza sticks or Tuesday Tacos... ~From GoodReads

I absolutely adored Deadly Cool. So when I found out Gemma Halliday had written another book starring the funny, amazing Hartley Featherstone, I was bouncing with excitement. I actually have an ARC of Social Suicide, but am waiting until closer to release to read it. I don't know how long I can hold out!

Paperback, 272 pages

Expected publication: April 24th 2012 by HarperTeen

You can preorder Social Suicide at:

Book Depository | B&N | Amazon

Book Review ~ Unnatural Law (Darwin's Children, #2), by Natasha Larry

2012-01-31T21:27:00.000-08:00

Seventeen-year-old Jaycie Lerner’s psychokinetic power surge is over, and her astounding powers are under control for the time being – sort of. As she struggles to maintain her humanity in the face of the awesome terror and responsibility of her abilities, she also yearns for the chance at a normal life – and a relationship with Matt Carter, the best friend she had to leave behind. But Matt’s got a few tricks up his sleeve, and he’s not about to give up on his feelings for Jaycie.

As Jaycie and her family grapple with the day-to-day routine of trying to keep their world together, Jaycie’s mother figure, Allison Young, endures a personal crisis of her own. The superhuman blonde possesses the physical equivalent of Jaycie’s awesome psychic power. So evolved, at ninety-two she still looks twenty. But what good is extended life when everyone else around her is so fragile? With no one to share her unusual life, she’s a uniquely lonely woman yearning for the romantic love she sees all around her. But in a dream she gets her wish – and it quickly turns to a nightmare for everyone else in her life. The memory of a rose is all she can hold onto in the storm of obsession that nearly sweeps her away.

Things quickly turn deadly for the vampires, but the Dey-Vah Guard fairies refuse to acknowledge there’s an imbalance in the nature they protect. As the danger gets ever closer to Jaycie and her family, the race is on to find answers before a secret plot can destroy them all. ~From GoodReads

Unnatural Law, by Natasha Larry, is a strong follow-up to book one in the series, Darwin's Children. Teen phenom Jaycie Lerner has been dominated by a surge in her powers, rendering her vulnerable to the overwhelming force of her own mind and body. Her family, made up of her father and closest friends, lifelong and new, are coping with the fallout of Jaycie's surge, and there to help control her. Her closest friend-turned boyfriend, Matt, just wants to know what's happening to the girl he loves. Add in a mix of vampires and fairies, all vying for power and control, and you have a recipe for an exciting, powerful story!

When I first began this series last summer, I was very hesitant. This story reminded me of what the X-Men might be like. Well, what it might be like if I had actually watched the movies or read the comics. That type of story isn't always my thing. But the author's technique of gradually building the fantasy elements into the plot, along with the conversational, easy tone of the story, quickly eased my fears and turned me into a fan of this series.

To be honest, I was afraid of what would happen in Unnatural Law. I am a huge Jaycie fan, and was afraid of what would happen if she was no longer the focus of the story. And though a few characters, namely Allison, the closest person Jaycie has to a mother, do have larger roles, this series still has Jaycie as it's main focus. And, oh boy. I was so, SO happy Matt played a HUGE role in Unnatural Law! Guys is young adult fiction do not come any better than Matt. He's eerily almost perfect, but never annoying. Matt is tenacious when it comes to Jaycie and supportive to the max. Score one for the good guys! The growing relationship between Matt and Jaycie was my absolute favorite part of the book.

I said it before, when I reviewed Darwin's Children, and I'll say it again: This is a series that will appeal to your intelligence. The concepts Larry puts to work, regarding evolution and the abilities of the body, especially the brain, will appeal to those who love creativity and intelligence in their books. But believe me, it's written to be not as complicated as that sounds. So, if you like your books with heart and a huge dose of intelligence, this series is most definitely for you.

Favorite Quote:

"Jaycie looked up at the ceiling and laughed at all this new information. 'Now I have concrete, scientific data that says Matt is the perfect guy. Not just for me, but for every woman on the planet. The frickin' genesis.' " (pg. 49)

Kindle Edition

Published October 26th 2011 by Penumbra Publishing

You can purchase Unnatural Law at:

Amazon | Book Depository | Barnes & Noble

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

TEASER TUESDAY

2012-01-30T22:39:00.000-08:00

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

First there are nightmares.
Every night Ellie is haunted by terrifying dreams of monstrous creatures that are hunting her, killing her.

Then come the memories.
When Ellie meets Will, she feels on the verge of remembering something just beyond her grasp. His attention is intense and romantic, and Ellie feels like her soul has known him for centuries. On her seventeenth birthday, on a dark street at midnight, Will awakens Ellie's power, and she knows that she can fight the creatures that stalk her in the grim darkness. Only Will holds the key to Ellie's memories, whole lifetimes of them, and when she looks at him, she can no longer pretend anything was just a dream.

Now she must hunt.
Ellie has power that no one can match, and her role is to hunt and kill the reapers that prey on human souls. But in order to survive the dangerous and ancient battle of the angels and the Fallen, she must also hunt for the secrets of her past lives and truths that may be too frightening to remember. ~From GoodReads

My Teaser:

"If I was to be some kind of hero, how many people would I be unable to save? I couldn't even eat fries without dripping ketchup on myself. How could I be responsible for someone else's life when I couldn't be responsible for my own shirt?" (pg 87)

I'm reading Angelfire in prep to read/review Wings of the Wicked. I'm really enjoying this and will have my review up in a few days.

Hardcover, 453 pages

Published February 15th 2011 by HarperCollins / Katherine Tegen Books

You can purchase Angelfire at:

B&N | Amazon | Book Depository

Blog Tour ~ Shift (Protector, #2) by MR Merrick

2012-01-29T22:31:00.000-08:00

Welcome!

Today is an exciting day at The Bookish Babes. I am so happy to be hosting the opening day of the SHIFT BLOG TOUR. MR Merrick, the fantastic author of SHIFT is here with a guest post about his writing process, but to be honest, I don't know how he finds time to write with all of the cereal eating and hashtag slinging he does! But anyway...stick around after the guest post for my review of SHIFT, book two in The Protector series.

What difference was there in writing Shift, versus Exiled?

Short Answer: Everything.

But I suspect you’re not looking for the short answer .

The first thing you should know is that I didn’t use an outline for Exiled. I just wrote, and I didn’t stop until I thought this part of the story was over. Writing by the seat of your pants is fun, in fact, it’s sort of a neat experience, but it makes for more work later. You have to go back and patch up plot holes you started but never took anywhere, and there’s a lot of smoothing out to do as far as character development. When you start writing without an outline, you don’t really know who these people are, but as the story progresses, the layers get peeled back. So writing without a plot, you experience the book much like a reader would; only the story is in its roughest form.
With Exiled, I had to rewrite the dialogue and some of the actions of Chase for the first four chapters, because he became someone completely different as the story progressed. He took shape and turned into a “real” person. But, when I was done, there was still something that wasn’t there. The story was done, but it was missing a piece. I found it in the other dimension, Drakar, that Chase, Rayna, and Tiki travel too. I went back later and added a ton to that part of the book and it turned out to be the best part of the story – in my opinion. I added in the trolls, more of the scenery, and built the world up in a bigger way. I expanded the last chapter and rewrote the epilogue time and time again, until I truly felt the story was complete. Then it was a matter of editing and smoothing out the flow, wording, and pacing of everything to prepare it for the rest of the world.

With SHIFT, everything was easier. I had a detailed outline, so I knew the story before I started page one. The world – for the most part – had already been created, the rules were laid out, and I knew what needed to be done. I was a machine writing Shift. Multiple times I pushed out over 10,000 words in a single night, and to my surprise, most of them weren’t garbage. For anyone reading this who isn’t a writer, that’s A LOT.

I knew from some of the reviews of Exiled that readers loved to read about the other dimensions, and I loved writing about them. Before I started, I had already developed the new dimension for Shift. I’d already created the monsters in my mind, what they looked like, what they were capable of, and where they would be in the story. I knew from the general series outline what needed to be accomplished, I knew exactly what was going to happen to each character, and how the story would end.

My craft has improved so much since I published Exiled, that everything just seemed…easier with Shift. At least that’s what I’m telling myself. Maybe I haven’t gotten to be a better writer; maybe this story just came naturally to me. The one thing I learned from Shift is that for me, using an outline changed everything. That being said, when I start the new series that’s brewing in my imagination, I’m not sure I’ll use one for the first book. In writing SHIFT, I did struggle for a short while, because I was trying to the following the outline like a rule book. I had to stop that. The outline was my guide and sometimes, the story took me elsewhere. Once I let it, everything else fell into place. When I start the new series, I might have to let the words spill on the page until the story comes out, then go back and clean it up, like I did with Exiled. Or, I could write an outline and now that I know it’s just a guide, go from there. Which way things go has yet to be seen.

Thanks Andrea for letting me take over your blog today, and for being the FIRST stop on the SHIFT blog tour!

Thank you, Matt, for stopping by! It's always a pleasure taking a trip through your brain.

M.R. Merrick is a Canadian writer, and author of Exiled, the first installment in The Protector Series. Having never travelled, he adventures to far off lands through his imagination and in between cups of coffee. As a music lover and proud breakfast enthusiast, he's usually found at the computer, between a pair of headphones and in front of a large bowl of cereal.

Find MR Merrick at his: blog | Twitter | GoodReads

(The SHIFT synopsis contains an EXILED spoiler!!)

My review of EXILED

As Chase struggles to control his magic, his enemies are closing in. Everyone has staked a claim on his ring, and destroying it may be his only chance to stop Riley. But Chase must decide if stopping him is worth risking the lives of everyone he cares about, or if protecting the ring will be enough to save his world. ~From GoodReads

Attention: MR Merrick has done it again.

What's "IT", you ask? The "IT" to which I am referring is the fact the he has written another action-packed, exhilarating, tension-riddled monster of a book!

Main character Chase Williams is still reeling over the tragic event that marked the end of Exiled, book one in The Protector series. He is grief-stricken and bound by guilt, and most certainly not in a happy place at the opening of Shift. But even the loss he has experienced and the continuous revelations can bring Chase down. With the power he controls, his trademark wit, and his patchwork family, Chase Williams is never down for the count.
This family, the individual pieces that make the whole, are fun and amazing. Marcus, Chase's mentor, is struggling to lead and guide them down their dangerous path, all while battling his own grief and guilt. Willy, who seems to have stolen the readers' hearts (mine included), is back, and still the Willy we know and love, with a surprising, but very well-played, turn to his storyline. The change to Willy's story definitely becomes a game-changer and makes Willy more integral to the story than I would have imagined when I first "met" him. The two characters that I had the most fun with were Tiki and Vincent. I won't get into all of the reasons I enjoyed these characters, that's best left to the reading experience, but I will say that so many of the scenes with those two involved the so glamorous "snort-laugh" by yours truly.

My favorite character in Shift, hands down, was Rayna. This surprised me. I enjoyed Rayna in Exiled, but I loved her in Shift. She had already undergone so many painful events in her life before we met her. Now, she is fighting painful transformations. Transformations that can actually end her life. And as if her physical battles aren't bad enough, emotional devastation land at her doorstep, as well. Rayna became more "human" (for lack of better term) in Shift. I found myself crying on her behalf and actually wanting to fold her into my arms and take care of her. Now, that's not to say the girl has become a softy, no way. She is still quick with a retort, or a slap, if needed!

As for the storyline that unfolded in Shift. I couldn't even begin to cover it. I finished Shift two days ago, and am still reeling. Here's the deal. I'm not trying to brag, but I am very good at guessing what will happen in a story. It doesn't matter if it's a book, a movie, a television show, I am all over it and can predict what will happen no later than halfway through. I credit that to my soap opera upbringing. Predicting those story lines is insanity, and super fun. But back to the story. The Protector series has spun into directions I never would have imagined when I read Exiled last summer. I thought this series would be strictly the story of a young man's struggle to prove and redeem himself, while ridding the world of a few bad guys.

And it is that, but also so much more. The Protector series has become more developed and covers a broader spectrum than I could have ever imagined. There is a complete sense of world-building, the feeling that Merrick knows these characters through and through. That he has every little element of the worlds the series spans so thoroughly thought out and plotted, that you will not find those little mistakes or pieces that feel patched together you sometimes find in such a broad urban fantasy. Merrick seems to literally have all of his bases covered.

Shift took what was a nice beginning of an epic tale and blew it wide open. From the jaw dropping opening that had me cringing and clutching at my chest, through the energy packed (and very often, funny) plot, all the way to the ending that had me cheering and feeling as if I were teetering at the edge of a cliff, Shift has it all. Merrick has evaded the "sophomore slump" and has delivered a book that will have you devouring your book and wanting for more.

Favorite Quote:

" 'I've got no time for a demanding child and his girlfriend. Stand down.'
'Does this look like the army? This is my house, not your backyard, so don't try marking your territory here.' " (ebook, 26%)

ebook, 1st Edition

Expected publication: February 1st 2012 by M.R. Merrick

~~Author MR Merrick is giving one lucky reader a Shift ebook. To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment. I will choose a winner on Monday, February 6, 2011. Good luck!~~

The winner of the SHIFT Giveaway is:

M.E. Franco!!

Congratulations! I hope you enjoy Shift as much as I did!

* I received an eARC of SHIFT, in exchange for an honest review. *

In My Mailbox, #24

2012-01-28T22:14:00.000-08:00

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:

Social Suicide (Deadly Cool, #2) by Gemma Halliday (Thanks to Harper Pub)

Because of Low, by Abbi Glines (Thanks to Abbi Glines)

Received in Trade:

Lock and Key, by Sarah Dessen

Someone Like You, by Sarah Dessen

Purchased:

Overprotected, by Jennifer Laurens

Fallen in Love (Fallen, #3.5) by Lauren Kate

Thanks for stopping by!

Book Review ~ Incarnate (Newsoul, #1) by Jodi Meadows

2012-01-28T00:12:00.000-08:00

NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

NOSOUL
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

HEART
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

Jodi Meadows expertly weaves soul-deep romance, fantasy, and danger into an extraordinary tale of new life. ~From GoodReads

Incarnate is the story of Ana, who depending on who you ask, is either a nosoul or a newsoul. In a world filled with souls who have been reincarnating for thousands of years, Ana is an anomaly. Burdened by anger and shame over her daughters soul status, Ana's mother, Li, raises Ana outside the city of Heart, the home of the souls. After enduring the first eighteen years of her life, emotionally and physically abused at the hands of her mother, Ana is ready to flee. To discover how and why she came to be. With the help of her rescuer and friend, Sam, the journey she undertakes will push her beyond greater highs and lows she could have ever imagined.

I want to start by saying I am at a bit of a loss over writing this review. I wanted to love Incarnate, to be swept away and overrun by the emotions in the book. I went into this book with a completely open mind, open to the unique world and fascinating possibilities.

But what happened was...I was a bit confused, and sometimes underwhelmed. I spent the first one hundred pages trying to get my bearings, to know exactly what was going on. I had questions. Where does this take place? Earth, another planet, an alternate dimension? When does it take place? The past, the future, an alternate parallel timeline? And the biggest question of all: Does it even matter (aka, why can't I just shut up and read)? With these questions swirling in my head, I had a hard time focusing on the story at hand.

In addition to the questions I just posed, there were a few more things I had a difficult time wrapping my head around. The Souls have been around for 5,000 years! Let that sink in a minute...I spent a lot of time trying to fathom the amount of identities they possessed. One life you're a man, the next a woman, fat/thin, handsome/ugly...my head hurts. Add in the fact that if you have a "soul mate", in one life they may be born within a few years of you; the next life you may be the same age as their grandparents. Another factor that I didn't understand was the "Years". There were "Years of Song", "Years of Hunger", and several others. I didn't feel those were explained very well, so I wasn't able to follow along when they were discussed. In general, I felt the world-building in Incarnate was less than complete.

The characters and their relationships to one another are what made Incarnate a likable read, for me. Ana was a brave, resilient, and clever girl. She was raised by a deliberately cruel mother who abused her at every turn. Ana was able to eke an existence out of the poor circumstances she held, and I admire her strength. The character I really fell in love with, though, was Sam. Sam saves Ana and instantly becomes her friend and protector with no hesitation or judgment. He is willing to go to the wall, take any chances to protect her. His gentle approach to Ana, who is as skittish as a wild, wounded animal made me fall in love with him. The fragile, slow-building relationship between Ana and Sam is what saved Incarnate for me.
I wouldn't say that I didn't like Incarnate. In fact, there were moments that I downright loved it. But they were not enough to make this a must-read book, in my opinion. I had such high hopes for Incarnate and hope that a lot more about the world will be explained in book two.

Favorite Quote:

" 'So all our time in the cabin was nothing to you?'
I remembered listening to him read aloud, telling him about the roses I brought back to life, and falling asleep leaning against his shoulder. 'It was everything,' I whispered, half hoping he didn't hear."
~pg 112-113 (ARC)

Browse inside Incarnate.

Watch the book trailer.

Hardcover, 384 pages

Expected publication: January 31st 2012 by HarperCollins Children's Books

You can pre-order Incarnate at:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

* I received an ARC of Incarnate from Harper Teen, in exchange for an honest review. *

Cover Reveals ~ Possession and Surrender (by Elana Johnson)

2012-01-28T00:01:00.000-08:00

POSSESSION, by Elana Johnson, gets a new look for the paperback release!

And the new cover for SURRENDER

I have to say, I really like these covers. They are both so much more vibrant and appealing than the original white covers. I'm not usually a fan of cover re-designs, but this one is awesome.

What do you think?

You can find author Elana Johnson at:

Blog | Website | Twitter

Embrace Blog Tour ~ Guest Post and Giveaway!

2012-01-27T00:45:00.000-08:00

Hello and Welcome to today's stop on the Embrace Blog Tour, hosted by A Tale of Many Reviews. Today I have author Cherie Colyer here with a guest post on how music influences her writing. Be sure to stick around and enter the giveaway at the bottom of the post. Enjoy!

How does music influence your writing?

I might be in the minority here, but I can’t listen to music and write. I’ve always found this funny because I can block out the television and I’ve even managed to block out the people around me if I’m in the zone. Music, not so much. It’s because I like to sing along. I find it impossible to focus on my story if I’m busy belting out the words to my favorite songs.

Music does help me get past moments of writer’s block and it also helps me to plot out scenes. What I listen to really depends on my mood and which scene I’m working on. For instance, when I was trying to capture the mood of the characters, I listened to songs filled with emotion. A few of my favorite songs from this playlist are Crash into Me by Dave Matthews Band, Far Behind by Candlebox, and How to Save a Life by The Fray.

When I was stuck, not sure what would happen next, I liked to listen to something a little more upbeat like Bubble Toes by Jack Johnson, Friends and Family by Trik Turner, and Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd. I’ve also found that my mind will wander when I don’t like a particular song. In fact, some of my best plot breakthrough moments came to me in the car when I stopped listening to the radio and started listening to my characters.

I don't know about you all, but I am always fascinated about the writing process!

Cherie is always dreaming of romance and expressing her dreams in stories. She combined her passion for writing with her fascination of all things mythical to weave together a youth romance story that led to her debut novel,Embrace.

She lives with her family in a suburb of Chicago, Illinois.

You can find her at:
Website | Facebook | Twitter

And now...the GIVEAWAY!

Author Cherie Colyer is graciously giving one lucky winner an Embrace ebook, an Embrace bookmark, and a bracelet!

~~(Because of shipping costs for the bracelet, this giveaway is for US residents only. Sorry.)~~

~~You can find all of the tour stops and giveaway information~~ ~~here.~~

The winner of the Embrace giveaway is Amy @ Book Loving Mom!

You can purchase Embrace at:
Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Amazon

Book Review ~ Embrace, by Cherie Colyer

2012-01-26T22:26:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you end up hurting the ones you love.
You find you can't save them or yourself.

Madison is familiar enough with change, and she hates everything about it. Change took her long-term boyfriend away from her. It caused one of her friends to suddenly hate her. It’s responsible for the death of a local along with a host of other mysterious happenings. But when Madison meets a hot new guy, she thinks her luck is about to improve.

Madison is instantly drawn to the handsome and intriguing Isaac Addington. She quickly realizes he’s a guy harboring a secret, but she’s willing to risk the unknown to be with him.

Her world really spins out of control, however, when her best friend becomes delusional, seeing things that aren’t there and desperately trying to escape their evil. When the doctors can’t find the answers, Madison seeks her own.

Nothing can prepare her for what she is about to discover.
Dangerous, intoxicating, and darkly romantic, Embrace is a thriller that will leave you spellbound.~From GoodReads

Let me start by saying, Embrace was exactly what I was looking for in a book. And this book opens with one heck of a promise:

"Your life's about to change, and there's nothing you can do about it."

Promising, yes? And with that sentence, I was hooked. I had to know what life-altering change was about to take place. Who or What was going to change main character Madison's life? If you're guessing a boy, you may be on the right track. But that's not all that's headed Madison's way.

The paranormal aspect of the book surprised me. I truly had no idea what sort of slant the story would have, and I am certainly not going to give it away in this review. Looking back at the synopsis, I see a small clue. But, honestly, I was happy to go into this one blind because Embraced is built around one of my very favorites in the paranormal field. Are you curious now? Good!

Now, onto the characters. Madison was instantly engaging and easy to cheer for. Life hasn't always been the easiest for sweet Madison. She lost her mother at a young age, her boyfriend moved away, one of her former friends has turned into a hateful twit. But Madison keeps going, never self-pitying or annoying, largely in part with the help of her best friend, Kaylee. Kaylee is a superb best friend, the type we all wish to have. She is always looking out for her girl, never hesitating to step up when Madison needs backup. Kaylee is always quick with a funny line or a wink just when Madison needs it. Kaylee's boyfriend, Josh, is exactly the kind of guy we all wish for our best friend (if not for ourselves!). He is charming, handsome, supportive and a great friend to Madison, as well. And that leaves the mysterious new guy, Isaac. Isaac...*swoons*, yeah, you could say I liked him. Isaac has that certain "new guy" mystique we all know. He is mysterious, it's clear right away there is something different about him, but he is also sweet, charming, and playful. What a treat! I was so happy that Isaac wasn't a guy that ran hot or cold.

And yeah, Isaac and Madison have a fairly instantaneous connection, something that seems to draw them together. But, for me, this wasn't a case of insta-love. They do begin hanging out together right away, and they clearly like each other, they don't try to hide that. But they weren't declaring their love and forsaking all their friends for one another, especially Madison. What a strong-willed girl! She is determined to be absolutely positive that their attraction is more that the paranormal connection that is between them. I really admire this quality, the self-awareness and identity, that the author gave her.

I have a major weakness in books, a sure-fire way for the author to bring me on board: a core group of friends who work together to solve a mystery. I don't know why that is always a huge positive for me, maybe because one of my favorite series as a kid was the Trixie Belden mysteries, which featured another "gang" of problem-solving teens. I admire when the main character is willing to work with others instead of holding all of her issues, problems, and fears inside, letting them fester until they can't be contained and it's almost too late. But I digress. Madison, Isaac, Kaylee, and Josh make quite the team, determined to bring down the evil that is plaguing their town.

The only, very small, area that was less than perfect (and it's hard for me to explain without spoiling the story) was the way the storyline was wrapped up. One of the people who looked guilty wasn't guilty and I didn't quite buy the fact that he/she was innocent. And, a few areas that dealt with wrapping up the ending felt a little rushed. But, all in all, I was extremely happy with the Embraced!

Embrace is a thrilling, whirlwind of an adventure. With an intriguing, unique plot line, engaging characters, abounding danger, and a lovely, well-written romance, it is a story that had me reading on the edge of my seat.

Favorite Quote (one of many):

"He leaned in closer to me. His eyes were a shimmering, deep brown, but there was a speck of ocean blue at the edge of his right iris. I couldn't remember what I was about to say. My heart did a pirouette in my chest, and my breath caught in my throat. I closed the distance between us. His lips were firm and warm, and I wanted to kiss him forever."

Published December 20th 2011 by Omnific Publishing

You can purchase Embrace at:
Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Amazon

Cherie is always dreaming of romance and expressing her dreams in stories. She combined her passion for writing with her fascination of all things mythical to weave together a youth romance story that led to her debut novel, Embrace.

She lives with her family in a suburb of Chicago, Illinois.

You can find her at:
Website | Facebook | Twitter

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

Young Adult Giveaway Hop

2012-01-26T15:14:00.000-08:00

It's blog hop time again. YAY!

This hop is hosted by Kathy at I Am a Reader, Not a Writer and Amber at Down the Rabbit Hole.

Over 200 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 January 27-31, 2012.

Go here to find all the blogs participating.

I have a great giveaway for you. One person will win three books.

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin

Havoc (Deviants #2) by Jeff Sampson (ARC)

Generation Dead by Daniel Waters

~~The Details:~~

~~You must be 13+ years of age to enter.~~

~~You must fill out the Rafflecopter form. If the form doesn't work (shocker!) please leave a comment letting me know and I will help you.~~

~~Following this blog is NOT required, but you gain +2 entries if you do.~~

~~You can gain +1 entry each for following The Bookish Babes on Facebook and @BookishAndrea on Twitter.~~

~~Good Luck and Happy Hopping!~~

The winner of the giveaway is

Carrie Lee Ardoin!

Blog Tour ~ Asylum (Casual Enchantment, #2)

2012-01-26T00:56:00.000-08:00

Hello and Welcome to today's stop on the Asylum Blog Tour! Asylum author KA Tucker has stopped by with a fun guest post. Read her post then check out how to enter her blog tour giveaways.

Thank you to the Bookish Babes for hosting me today on my Asylum Tour! In Book 2 of the Causal Enchantment series, we meet some new ‘creatures’ - a result of another of Sofie’s spells gone awry. While I won’t tell you ANYTHING about them here (you’ll just have to read the series to learn more), I will tell you what I’d want with me if I ever had to face them!

Five Things I’d Bring With Me to the Island of the Ambulans Mortem:

5. Neosporin - with all that fire, I’m bound to burn myself at some point. I wouldn’t want them healing me…

4. Catnip - Tigers like that stuff, don’t they?

3. Air mattress - because I’m a princess when it comes to my sleep

2. Breathable full body suit - I wouldn’t want a toe or a shoulder accidently brushing up against one of those things!

1. Heavy duty elbow-length rubber gloves - because you can never have enough protection

Strange packing list for a trip to an island, right? Well, if you’ve read Asylum, you’ll likely fight me for some of these priceless items. If you haven’t read it yet, you must be a little curious. Go find out what you’d like to have with you when you hang out with the Ambulans Mortem. Asylum is only $2.99 on Kindle, Nook, Apple, Sony, and Smashwords. The first book in the series, ANATHEMA, is currently FREE!

If you’ve been following along with the tour, you’ll know we’ve been giving away print and ecopies of Asylum all month. There is ONE more print book giveaway on Sunday. Go sign up here!

Thanks to The Bookish Babes for hosting me today!

Thanks, KA, for such a great post. Having read Asylum, I know exactly what you mean. I would also add ear plugs and a sleeping mask. Those Ambulans Mortem people keep strange hours!

About author KA Tucker:

Born in small-town Ontario, Kathleen published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She is a voracious reader and the farthest thing from a genre-snob, loving everything from High Fantasy to Chick Lit. Kathleen currently resides in a quaint small town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.
Asylum, the second book in the Causal Enchantment series, will be released January, 2012.

(from the author's website)

Find her on:

Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Amazon | Blog

I am giving away Asylum bookmarks, signed by the author! I will randomly choose three commentors.
And yes, this is International. So, be sure and leave some comment love!

The bookmark winners were:

Joella, Camille, and Amy

Congrats!

Book Review ~ Asylum (Casual Enchantment #2) by KA Tucker

2012-01-25T20:55:00.000-08:00

Tucked away in Sofie's wintery asylum with no hope of release for years, Evangeline must come to terms with her situation: the curse still plagues her, she's now hunted by a
two thousand-year-old vampire, and the guy she's in love with tried to kill her.
Plus, she's locked up with a cranky Max and the Forero kids—two people everyone
seems to prefer dead over alive. Things aren't looking good.

Meanwhile, back in Manhattan, Sofie struggles to keep forty trapped and bloodthirsty Ratheus vampires at bay and a desperate Viggo from killing Evangeline's friends, all
while hints stir outside the walls of the NYC vampire asylum of a war brewing
between the Sentinel and the witches.

Is there any hope for Evangeline and Caden? Can Sofie control the rival powers? Is the fate of Earth predestined? Find out in Book 2 of the Causal Enchantment series, a sequel to ANATHEMA. ~From GoodReads

Ack! You guys, I'm at a loss. How do I write my review without revealing spoilers, especially for those who haven't read book one, Anathema?!? I'll try not to give away anything you couldn't deduce by reading the synopsis. This is a tough one, but I'll do my best.

Asylum, thankfully, picks up immediately where Anathema left off. Chaos has ensued. Evangeline, along with Max and Leo, have been whisked away to a snowbound hideaway to protect her from the vampires who want to kill her, including the man she loves, Caden. Heartbreaking, right? So, Evangeline, separated from her boyfriend and best friends, is devastated. Leo is his usual wise, faithful self. Max, who can't hunt as much as he'd like is super cranky. And the Forero kids, including the handsome Julian, are understandably upset and confused. Good times!

Meanwhile, back in NYC, things have gone to hell. Poor Sofie. She must contend with the ever manipulative Viggo and Mortimer, a ton of blood thirsty vamps, and her biggest hope, to protect Evangeline. If you had told me while reading the first two-thirds of Anathema that I would root for and love Sofie, I would have laughed in your face. Oh, how times have changed.

Asylum is very much Sofie's story. Yes, there is a good portion of the book from Evangeline's perspective, but since she is trapped in her "asylum", there isn't a lot of action with her until the last portion of the story. I did love the progression of her relationship with Julian, from distrust and resentment, to a true friendship. And, as always, I loved her relationships with Leo and Max. To see Evangeline struggle to maintain hope for a future with Caden and her friends was heartbreaking.

But, back to Sofie. This poor lady has to watch her back at all times! Everywhere she turns, there is someone (usually Viggo) trying to take her down. There are the vampires trying to escape. And her biggest, and most heartfelt, challenge is to keep her beloved Evangeline safe. I must say that I have grown to admire and adore Sofie as a character. At times, while she is juggling her many responsibilities, I don't see how she can keep all the balls in the air. Somehow, she always manages to pull through.

And oh... the ending. The last third of Asylum was crazy! And I can't say what happened but WOW! Evangeline...and Caden...and Sofie...and Veronique...and the FATE OF EARTH!!! Ahhhhh! I just reread the last chapter again and I'm still reeling!

I absolutely love the unique, dangerous, and enchanting world(s) author KA Tucker has created in the Casual Enchantment series. I quickly fell in love with book one, Anathema. And the magic continues at a whole new level in Asylum. Love, action, danger, betrayal...this series has it all!
Favorite Quote:

" 'She's safe,' I whispered breathlessly, relief flooding my soul as my hands flew to his cheeks, suddenly the cheeks of an angel in my eyes. He may want to kill her, but he wouldn't break her heart - perverse but comforting."

Published December 12th 2011 by Papoti Books

You can purchase Asylum at:

Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble

You can get Anathema (Casual Enchantment #1) for FREE at:

Smashwords | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About author KA Tucker:

(from the author's website)

Find her on:

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

Waiting on Wednesday...

2012-01-24T22:15:00.000-08:00

"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...

I've heard this synopsis will be so spoiler-y, the publisher is waiting to release it until the book has been released in the UK. I have been freaking out since I read IF I DIE. Kaylee...Tod...Nash...Sabine...Emma! What is going to happen next? I can't wait!!!!!!!!

Paperback, 304 pages

Expected publication: June 22nd 2012 by Harlequin Teen

You can pre-order Before I Wake at:

Amazon | Book Depository | Barnes & Noble

Teaser Tuesday

2012-01-23T21:01:00.000-08:00

aser 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

Last year, Annabel was "the girl who has everything"—at least that's the part she played in the television commercial for Kopf's Department Store.This year, she's the girl who has nothing: no best friend because mean-but-exciting Sophie dropped her, no peace at home since her older sister became anorexic, and no one to sit with at lunch. Until she meets Owen Armstrong. Tall, dark, and music-obsessed, Owen is a reformed bad boy with a commitment to truth-telling. With Owen's help,maybe Annabel can face what happened
the night she and Sophie stopped being friends. ~From GoodReads

My Teaser ~

"Instead, from where I was crouched on the ground, the green of the grass filling my vision, the first thing I made out were the hands, a flat silver ring on the middle finger of each. One was clutching my notes. The other was reaching out for me." (pg. 88)

Hardcover, 383 pages

Published April 6th 2006 by Viking Juvenile

You can purchase Just Listen at:

Amazon | Book Depository | Barnes & Noble

Review ~ Havoc (Deviants #2) by Jeff Sampson

2012-01-23T00:01:00.000-08:00

Emily Webb thought life would return to normal after the death of the man who attacked her and her fellow “Deviants.” Or as normal as it could be, after discovering that she has nighttime superpowers . . . and she’s a werewolf. But when Emily awakes one night to find an otherworldy Shadowman watching her, she knows the danger has only just begun.

So Emily and her pack-mates set out to find the people who made them what they are, and why. But as they get closer to the truth, they realize they aren’t the only ones in town with special powers: The most popular girls in school might just have a secret of their own–and they might just have it out for Emily.

With shadowy beings stalking them, a mysterious company doing all it can to keep the truth hidden, and the secrecy of her new identity in jeopardy, life threatens to spiral out of control for Emily. Soon these dangers will come together in one terrifying confrontation that may force her to make the toughest choice of her life . . . so far. ~ From GoodReads

This is going to be a short review. Not because I'm lazy (though I am!) but because I honestly don't have a lot of thoughts about this book. I think I've been spoiled lately. I have had the great fortune to read a lot of "Wow" books, and therefore, it has become harder to knock my socks off. It's not that there is anything wrong with Havoc, I just wasn't blown away.

Havoc is book two in the Deviants series, by Jeff Sampson. The story picks up a few days after the end of book one, Vesper. The main character, Emily, is still reeling from the whirlwind that has become her life. Not only does she have an alternate "Nighttime" personality, but she's also a werewolf, and...she had to kill a man. So now Emily and Spencer, her new "mate", are out to find out exactly what they are and how they became that way. Add in fellow "pack member" Dalton, and a mysterious unknown member and you have quite the scenario. It's a lot to deal with for a sixteen year old, yes?

Havoc is certainly fast-paced. There is so much going on action and plot-wise. Emily is constantly in motion, trying to find answers. She is a likeable character who is easy to get behind. I also enjoyed reading Spencer. He is a great support and partner to Emily. Fellow werewolf Dalton was also fun, at first. He ended up going places that I didn't really see coming and acted in ways that made me cringe. It's actually understandable, though, if you take into consideration that he's, you know, a werewolf. I didn't like Emily's best friend, Megan. She seemed so one-dimensional for a lot of the book. She was sullen, abrasive and just not much fun to read.

My problem with Havoc was the lack of connection I felt to the characters and the story. I couldn't get myself immersed into the book and become emotionally invested in the characters and the outcome. Oh, and the sniffing. That's right, I said the sniffing. I get that these kids are werewolves, and they sniff, a lot. But, honestly, I got sort of tired of the amount of detailed passages about how much these kids like to smell each other. For me, the story was fine. Nothing more, nothing less.

Fans of the Maximum Ride series by James Patterson would likely enjoy this one.

Favorite Quote:

"I wanted to sigh, but I stopped myself. 'Well, I'm not really sure what it is right now.' Except that we're both werewolves who are supposed to be mates, though whether that's in the British slang sense or the Wild Kingdom sense, I'm not entirely sure." -pg 29, ARC
(Emily trying to explain her new relationship to her best friend)

Vesper (Deviants #1) Book Trailer

Hardcover, 1st Edition, 352 pages

Expected publication: January 24th 2012 by Balzer + Bray

You can purchase Havoc at:

Amazon | Book Depository | Barnes & Noble

* I received an ARC of Havoc from Harper Publishing, in exchange for an honest review.*

In My Mailbox, #23 {vlog}

2012-01-22T00:01:00.001-08:00

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.

If any of you watched this, "Sorry" and "Thank you".

For Review:

The Mayfair Moon, by JA Redmerski (Thanks to the author.)

The Haunted (MacKinnon Curse, #2), by JA Templeton (Thanks to to author.)

Shift (The Protector, #2), by MR Merrick (Thanks to the author.)

Royal Street (The Sentinels of New Orleans, #1) by Suzanne Johnson (Thanks to Tor Pub.)

The Guardian's Wildchild, by Feather Stone (Thanks to Omnific Publishing.)

Borrowed:

Fracture, by Megan Miranda (Thanks to Jessica Naccari.)

Trade:

What Happened to Goodbye, by Sarah Dessen

Bought:

Breathe, by Abbi Glines

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

Soul Screamers Reading Challenge: My Soul to Lose (Soul Screamers, #0.5) by Rachel Vincent

2012-01-21T23:50:00.000-08:00

It was supposed to be a fun day, shopping at the mall with her best friend. Then the panic attack started and Kaylee Cavanaugh finds herself screaming, unable to stop. Her secret fears are exposed and it's the worst day of her life.

Until she wakes up in the psychiatric unit.

She tries to convince everyone she's fine--despite the shadows she sees forming around another patient and the urge to scream which comes burbling up again and again. Everyone thinks she's crazy. Everyone except Lydia, that is. Another patient with some special abilities... ~From GoodReads

I am re-reading the Soul Screamers series as part of the Soul Screamers Reading Challenge, hosted by the awesome Rachel at Fiktshun. I recently read the entire series, including the novellas and, I believe, all of the short stories found in various anthologies. But this reading challenge was too good to pass up.

My first introduction to the Soul Screamers series was an audiobook of My Soul to Lose (Soul Screamers, #1) that I found free on Audible. I loved it and quickly downloaded My Soul to Take. I also loved it, so I bought physical copies of all the books. For the sake of saving time, I chose to once again listen to the audiobook of My Soul to Lose.

This isn't going to be a traditional review, but more of a post on my thoughts about the first time vs. this time with the series. It's gonna be short and sweet (unlike my intro) so let's get to it. Oh, and by the way:

Do Not Read any Further if You Have Not Read If I Die!! There Is a Mild Spoiler and You Will Hate Me and YOURSELF if You Read This!!

Actually, my spoiler isn't huge, I just don't want anyone to lose the small shock I felt during a certain scene in If I Die.

First off, I spent most of the story anticipating. I kind of love when I know everything the main character doesn't. But I also spent most of it feeling really sorry for Kaylee, and super mad at her family. Yes, I know they were trying to protect her. Good idea in theory, but it's not so good to let that poor girl think there is something wrong with her or that she's crazy.

I loved the little (odd) things about Uncle Brendan that Kaylee noticed and mentions. Such as, the fact he can talk people into things, his voice is very soothing, and that his eyes are churning, or what I refer to as the "bean sidhe swirl".

Another point I was anticipating, and this was the biggie: Lydia. She plays a huge part in this story. She literally takes all of Kaylee's anguish away, at least temporarily. You know there is something major going on with Lydia. But I completely forgot about her after this story. I did not think about her at all until Kaylee goes back to the facility in If I Die. The fact that Rachel Vincent sort of brought that small storyline full circle in If I Die caught me by surprise and sort of blew me away. And now I'm wondering if Lydia will play a part in the last two books of the series.

They say hindsight's 20/20. That is so true with this series. I found the re-listening of My Soul to Lose to be a fun, enlightening experience and I can't wait to tackle each book again.

Favorite Quote:

"Great. I'm psychotic and sparkly."

You can read My Soul to Lose for FREE here.

ebook, 87 pages

Published July 1st 2009 by Harlequin Teen