Five Reasons to Read: Elysian Fields (Sentinels of New Orleans #3) by Suzanne Johnson

Series: Sentinels of New Orleans #3

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: Sentinels of New Orleans #3

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Torbooks

Publication Date: 8/13/13

Format: Hardcover

Pages:  352

Source: Received from publisher for review

GoodReads  |  Amazon  |  BN

An undead serial killer comes for DJ in this thrilling third installment of Suzanne Johnson’s Sentinels of New Orleans series

The mer feud has been settled, but life in South Louisiana still has more twists and turns than the muddy Mississippi.

New Orleanians are under attack from a copycat killer mimicking the crimes of a 1918 serial murderer known as the Axeman of New Orleans. Thanks to a tip from the undead pirate Jean Lafitte, DJ Jaco knows the attacks aren’t random—an unknown necromancer has resurrected the original Axeman of New Orleans, and his ultimate target is a certain blonde wizard. Namely, DJ.

Combatting an undead serial killer as troubles pile up around her isn’t easy. Jake Warin’s loup-garou nature is spiraling downward, enigmatic neighbor Quince Randolph is acting weirder than ever, the Elders are insisting on lessons in elven magic from the world’s most annoying wizard, and former partner Alex Warin just turned up on DJ’s to-do list. Not to mention big maneuvers are afoot in the halls of preternatural power.

Suddenly, moving to the Beyond as Jean Lafitte’s pirate wench could be DJ’s best option.

   

My Reviews   Royal Street  |  River Road


First Line -  The scariest sound in New Orleans' French Quarter is silence.

BLOG TOUR: DARK LIAISON by J.D. BROWN ~ EXCERPT AND GIVEAWAY

 

 

Today is The Bookish Babe's stop on the Dark Liaison Blog Tour!

Be sure to check out the excerpt and tour giveaway.

 

 

Series: An Ema Marx Novel #1

Category/Genre: Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Muse It Up Publishing

Publication Date: 3/12

“You’re a vampire” is so not what Ema Marx wants to hear when she wakes from a two-day coma in a cryptic yet exquisite castle in northern Finland. Unfortunately, it explains a lot. Like why she’s able to see in the dark and walk through solid objects. What she doesn’t understand is why the other vampires expect her to have all the answers. It’s their fault she turned into one of them…right?

Jalmari’s hatred for his old-man intensifies when he’s ordered to bring that troublesome girl to their castle. He has a clan to run, there’s no time for babysitting newborn vampires no matter how they were converted to their culture. But when a two-thousand-year-old premonition threatens to take the crown and his life, Jalmari sees no other choice than to take out the catalyst. Ema Marx. Fortunately for Ema, she could also be the clan’s only savior.

The race to figure out her vampiric origins is on. And maybe she’ll get the hang of the blood-drinking gig along the way…

 

 

Series: An Ema Marx Novel #2

Category/Genre: Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Muse It Up Publishing

Publication Date: 5/31/13

The Ema Marx Series continues with the tantalizing sequel:

Ema Marx wishes her life would go back to normal, but there’s nothing normal about being a Romani-Vampyre with an ancestor who wants you dead. Apollyon is back, wreaking havoc on the lives of everyone she cares about while plotting her demise.

Ema thought she would find a new best friend in her trainer, Bridget, until the exotic vampire vies for Jesu’s attention. Jesu can date who he wants, right? Ema has more important things to worry about, like honing her powers. When Apollyon’s thugs appear out of the shadows to attack her, Ema knows it’s time to take action. But everyone else has other plans in mind.

One thing is for certain, being under house arrest in the German vampyre king’s castle was not part of her plan to save the day.

 

 

 

Excerpt from Dark Heirloom

 

Chapter One

 

            A scream tore from my throat. The rapid slap of my sneakers against asphalt echoed through the alley. Wind ripped my hair and coat back as if trying to halt my escape.  A chain link fence rose in the distance as I neared the end of the alley. Shit. I could have sworn this one opened to Clark Street.

            Thud.

            I froze. My heart pounded in my ears. Tears fell as I closed my eyes. Please, please, God…

            His heinous laugh drowned out my ragged breath. Caught at a dead end, I had no choice but to turn and face him. He stood in the shadows, the darkness of his attire blended in with the night. Only the glow of his emerald-colored eyes gave him away.

            Think, I shouted to myself. What does he want? My purse? My money? With a shaky hand, I pulled my wallet from my bag and flung it at him. He shifted his weight, dodging the wallet in one simple move. I stared like an idiot as it landed in the gutter behind him. Why is he chasing me if he doesn’t want my money? What else could he want?

            He grinned, bearing a set of abnormally sharp, fluorescent-white teeth. Who the hell is this freak? He stepped toward me. My fists clenched as I stepped back. He took another step forward. My back pressed against the cold metal of the fence. Tears blurred my vision and fell as ice melted through the back of my coat. Chills rolled down my spine, sending a quiver to my lip. I swallowed the lump of panic building in my throat. “Leave me alone!”

            He kept advancing, his eyes locked on my face, his gait slow with one foot in front of the other, like a cat. I shoved a trembling hand in my purse in search of my pepper spray. He snatched my wrist and yanked me to my knees. The contents of my purse spilled and scattered.

            “What makes you think I want anything from you?” he sneered.

            My chest heaved as I pushed myself up. From the corner of my eye, I glanced at the mouth of the alley, now behind me.

            He scoffed. “You think you can run? Go ahead, mouse. Run.”

            I did.

            I was almost to the street when a thick shadow dropped from the sky. Two rock-solid fists shoved my chest. I fell backward. My head hit the pavement. Stars danced in the periphery of my vision as I struggled to sit up, but my limbs moved in slow motion.

            Two hands, each finger adorned by a silver ring, gripped my shoulders and lifted me. My back hit something solid and cold—a brick wall. My feet dangled above the ground. He held me at eye level; his sour breath churned my stomach as his face inched closer to mine.

            “I know what you’re thinking.” His voice was deep, smooth, as he rolled his R’s. “You’ve done nothing wrong. Nevertheless, once you kill one rat, you have to kill them all. Even a little mouse like yourself.”

            My blood drained at the utterance of the word kill. I squirmed in his grasp. “Please, don’t hurt me.”

            He clenched my jaw with one hand as his fingernails dug into my skin. I cried not from the pain, but from fear.

            “Would you like to know a secret?” His hot breath caused bile to rise in my throat. “Only you disgusting rats can see our eyes glow. I’m sure you knew that already. I’m sure your mother told you the stories. I’ll bet you didn’t listen to her. I bet you thought they were just fairy tales and bad dreams, hmm?”

            I had no idea what he was talking about. I concentrated on finding a way out of his grip, hoping his guard would slip while he continued his monologue.

            “You know, when you find one rat, there are a dozen more in the nest.” He tightened his grasp. “Where’s your rathole, eh little mouse?”

            “Let me go!” Pain manifested in every inch of my face. My jaw throbbed and my head spun. A stiff ache cut through my spine. Fear and cold shook my core. Exhaustion weighed down my struggling limbs. I just wanted it to end.

            He studied my face for a moment, a frown tugged at his lips. “Very well.”

            He released my jaw then reached back under his jacket. The sound of sharp metal being unsheathed pierced the night as he drew out a long silver dagger. My eyes widened at the emblems engraved on every inch of the blade and handle. I recognized them as Norse in origin. I also recognized the precise way in which he held the dagger level with my left rib cage. He’s going to stab me in the heart.

 

Book Trailers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase Dark Heirloom at:

Amazon (Print & Kindle)  |  Barnes & Noble (Print & Nook)  |  iTunes (for Apple products)

Muse It Up Publishing (all eReaders)  |  Smashwords.com (all eReaders)

Book Depository (Print for International shipping)

Official Dark Heirloom Vampires Store (signed print copies)

 

Purchase Dark Liaison at:  

Muse It Up Publishing (all eReaders)

 

 GIVEAWAY

Three winners will have their choice of Dark Heirloom or Dark Liaison (ebook).

Simply comment to enter, but please leave your email address or some way to contact.


The winners were: Mary, Erin and Cait!

 

 

About the author:

J.D. Brown writes Urban Fantasy for MuseItUp Publishing, as well as a monthly “how-to” newsletter column for PDMI Freelance Publishing. She graduated from The International Academy of Design and Technology with a Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts and currently lives in Wisconsin with her two Pomeranians. J.D. loves paranormal characters; from vampires and werewolves, demons and angels, to witches and ghost. She is a self-proclaimed expert in vampire and Greek mythology. Her writings are often a combination of suspense and romance. J.D. enjoys helping her fellow writers and interacting with her fans and leads an active life on the web.

Connect with J.D.

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  YouTube  |  Amazon  |  GoodReads

Blog

 

 

{DOUBLE REVIEW} LET IT BLEED and LUST FOR LIFE (WVMP RADIO SERIES) by JERI SMITH-READY

Today I have a double review of Let It Bleed and Lust for Life, books 3.5 and 4 in the WVMP Radio Series by Jeri Smith-Ready. The reviews will be spoiler-free for the two books I'm reviewing, but there are spoilers for books 1-3, Wicked Game, Bad to the Bone, Bring on the Night.

Series: WVMP Radio #3.5
Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Jeri Smith-Ready
Publication Date: 6/26/12
Format: ebook
Source: Free download, via Jeri Smith-Ready.com

BLOOD IS THICKER THAN SLAUGHTER

Con artist-turned-radio-station-manager Ciara Griffin hopes to settle into a normal un-life as a fledgling vampire, with the help of her immortally hot fiancé, grunge DJ Shane McAllister. But she has bigger problems than finding a sane blood donor and a new home for those boxes of mac ‘n’ cheese. Ciara’s best friend mourns her like she’s dead instead of undead, and her own maker clearly wishes she’d never been born (again). Worst of all, the WVMP crew calls a Code Black: hippie vampire DJ Jim has murdered a pair of humans—humans who share Ciara’s true last name.

That’s when trouble rolls out the red carpet, straight into Ciara’s life. At Shane’s first live concert, Ciara finds herself face to face with her Irish Traveller cousins, a not-so-welcome family reunion that might hold the key to Ciara’s anti-holy blood. Jim’s spiral into madness makes Ciara an unwilling prize in his deadly feud with Shane. As Ciara clings to what’s left of her humanity, she’ll need her new vampire strength—and old con artist cunning—now more than ever.

Ugh. There is honestly not much I can say about Let It Bleed without spoiling the story. I'll just say...things happen. BIG, BIG THINGS. There's death (!), blood (duh), sexy times (YES!), and most of all, Shane and Ciara. These two -- they're my favorite. The risks they take for one another, the team they have formed into, the pure love they share. I just can't... I love them. Oh, and just when I think I can't possibly love Shane more, he goes and plays an acoustic version of "Everlong". Only fans of the series understand what a big deal this is.

The story on how Let It Bleed came to be is very cool, and goes to show that Jeri Smith-Ready is honestly one of the best authors to her readers. You can find it on her website, linked above. What makes Let It Bleed so cool is that, even though it is novella, it is actually a part of the series story line. You can not skip this one, or you will be lost when you start Lust For Life.

Let It Bleed made me laugh, cringe, swoon, and cry. I loved every moment.


Favorite Quotes:

  "If I were a poet, I would say you outshine the sun, moon, and stars put together." He steps forward, pressing the length of his body against mine. "But I'm not a poet, so I'll say that no matter what you wear, I always picture you naked."
  "Pornographic poetry--my favorite kind." I lift my chin for a kiss.   (5%)


  No one wears jeans like Shane, like each pair was his secret soulmate, pining away on a department store shelf, waiting for him to fill them, fade them, fray them to perfection.
  He unbuckles, unbuttons, unzips.
  No one unwears jeans like him, either.   (30%)


  The master of control loses it. He muffles his own scream and moves faster. All at once, his blood changes, surging electric, completing the arc that shoots up and down my entire body. If he weren't holding me so tight, I'd be in a million fiery pieces spread across the universe. But I'd rather be here, in one piece, in his arms.   (32%)


  "Everlong" was never this full of ache on the radio, in electric or acoustic version. The words take me back to the happy moments we shared when I was alive, when it seemed like we could steal a life of bliss with the force of our shared breath alone.   (44%)



Series: WVMP Radio #4
Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Pocket Books
Publication Date: 11/27/12
Format: Paperback
Pages: 352
Source: Received from publisher for review.

EVERYONE’S OUT FOR BLOOD—HERS Ciara’s con-artist parents taught her three keys to survival: keep low, keep quiet, and most of all, keep moving. But managing WVMP, the Lifeblood of Rock ’n’ Roll—not to mention becoming a vampire herself—has kept her in one place long enough to fall madly in love, adopt an undead dog . . .

. . . and make more enemies than she can shake a stake at.

A psychotic DJ, a wanna-be necromancer, and a posse of vengeful hippies would all love to see Ciara get her day in the sun—literally. To protect Ciara, her fiancé, Shane, has traded his flannel shirt and guitar for a flak jacket and crossbow. If she survives to walk down the aisle, will she recognize the man waiting at the altar?

In this final chapter of the award-winning WVMP RADIO series, Ciara must decide who to trust, whom to love—and whom to kill.

  

Oh. My. God. Lust for Life. I'm at a complete loss for words. There is almost nothing I can say about this book that won't deal in spoilers. What I can say is: Prepare to be shocked. I can most assuredly say that I never, in a million daydreams (yes, I daydream about these books), ever considered the WVMP series going out in such an unexpected manner. I mean...wow. I just do not know what to say. But, I loved it.

Since I can't really say much about Lust for Life, other than it's shocking and brilliant, I want to just emphasize how much I have loved the WVMP Radio series. This vampire-centric Urban Fantasy is truly one of a kind. I know that seems impossible anymore, but it's absolutely true. Smith-Ready created her own brand of the beloved creatures, particularly that each is stuck in the era he/she was turned in. Spencer, Monroe, Jim, Noah and Regina each lent the series character. Shane and Ciara was the heart and soul. I've said to anyone who will listen to me, and I will say it again -- Shane and Ciara are probably my favorite book couple ever.  The amount of respect, love, and sacrifice they share is inspiring. Shane and Ciara are two individuals who were equally awesome in their own right. Together, they are magic.

I honestly thought this would be a super quick and easy review to write, but I'm stuck. I have so much I want to say about how much I loved Lust for Life, how happy I am with the way the series ended and how lucky I feel to have experienced the ride. This series has given me some of my favorite characters, favorite couple and reminded me how much I love good music. Thank you Jeri Smith-Ready. You never let your readers down.


Favorite Quote:

  "I'm not fighting vampires."
  "No, you're fighting something much bigger. You're fighting time, and for that you need all the strength in the world." Shane leans over and kisses my cheek, right in front of my ear. "Let me give you that strength."   (pg. 118)


"For a moment, this is enough. For a moment, this is everything."  (pg. 177)


  I shiver at the thought of him lurking outside our home, and am ecstatically happy that we brought Dexter with us to the station. "You must've also missed our sign that says Absolutely No Solicitors or Assassins."   (pg.214)


  I'd rather spend an eternity in darkness with him than in the light with the rest of the universe. I won't let him be alone.   (pg. 236)



You can purchase Lust for Life at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

The WVMP Radio Series

 

{REVIEW} RIVER ROAD (SENTINELS OF NEW ORLEANS #2) by SUZANNE JOHNSON

Series: Sentinels of New Orleans #2
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Tor Books
Publication Date: 11/13/12
Format: ARC
Pages: 330
Source: Provided by author for review.

Hurricane Katrina is long gone, but the preternatural storm rages on in New Orleans. New species from the Beyond moved into Louisiana after the hurricane destroyed the borders between worlds, and it falls to wizard sentinel Drusilla Jaco and her partner, Alex Warin, to keep the preternaturals peaceful and the humans unaware. But a war is brewing between two clans of Cajun merpeople in Plaquemines Parish, and down in the swamp, DJ learns, there’s more stirring than angry mermen and the threat of a were-gator.

Wizards are dying, and something—or someone—from the Beyond is poisoning the waters of the mighty Mississippi, threatening the humans who live and work along the river. DJ and Alex must figure out what unearthly source is contaminating the water and who—or what—is killing the wizards. Is it a malcontented merman, the naughty nymph, or some other critter altogether? After all, DJ’s undead suitor, the pirate Jean Lafitte, knows his way around a body or two.

It’s anything but smooth sailing on the bayou as the Sentinels of New Orleans series continues.

 

 

Magic, Murder, and Mayhem

 

River Road is the fantastic second installment in the Sentinels of New Orleans series by Suzanne Johnson. The first in the series, Royal Street, is a book that I really liked. But River Road is where I fall in love with this imaginative Urban Fantasy series.

I think what makes River Road so special for me was that it was FUN. The world has been established, the characters are known, and life in post-Katrina New Orleans is interesting to say the least. I love Johnson's pretes; you have loup garou, shifters, nymphs, were gators, mer people, and my personal favorite, the historical undead. The historical undead aren't ghosts, but are real historical figures, kept "alive" through memory.

 The most prevalent of the Historical Undead, in this series, is Jean Lafitte, a 18th century "privateer" (ie, pirate). And though Jean Lafitte is long-dead, he is one of the three men who drive our heroine Drusilla "DJ" Jaco up the wall. The other two men being Alex and Jake Warin. Alex is DJ's partner, which makes him off-limits, for now. Jake is Alex's sexy, sweet, and slightly dangerous cousin. The sexual chemistry that DJ has with each man, yes even the undead Jean, makes River Road so much fun.

But, these three men, and DJ's potential relationship with each, is not the focus of River Road. DJ takes her job seriously and though she sometimes stumbles, she is good at it. Her dedication is admirable. She has become more confident in her abilities and is no longer one to let her superiors walk all over her. DJ has turned into a full-blown, take control, urban fantasy heroine.

River Road kicked off to a fun start, quickly developed into supernatural mystery, and kept me hanging on the entire time. The story ended with a strong finish and the last line left me dying for book three. The Sentinels of New Orleans is a series that will surely be loved by all Urban Fantasy fans.




Favorite Quotes:


" 'Jean Lafitte can use a telephone now. God help us.' The man was learning his way around the modern world entirely too well. Driving, taking showers and now making phone calls. He'd probably even learned to turn on his lamp." (ARC, pg 131)


  "His hand brushed my wet cheek. I'd planned to get in his head and somehow, instead, he'd gotten in mine. 'I'm sorry,' he said. 'You just don't seem to understand that this isn't a one-sided thing with us. I don't want to lose you either. Not because you've put yourself in danger protecting me or because of the shitty baggage you drag around from your screwed-up family.' He paused a heartbeat. 'And not because of Jake.' "   (ARC, pg 233)



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

 

Sentinels of New Orleans Series

(click on cover to see my review)

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY

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

This week's WoW selection is...

  

He sacrificed his soul to the devil he hates to spare the heart of the woman he loves…

After a terrible accident rocks the foundation of their relationship, Gavin Cassidy, leader of the Sentinels who protect humans in Australia, and whale biologist Zoe Morgan call it quits on their short-lived affair. He can’t come to terms with the trust he inadvertently shattered, and being with him is killing her. Literally.

But love is a powerful motivator, and neither biology nor misguided oaths sworn to mortal enemies is strong enough to keep them apart, despite the fact that their new paths are on a collision course that can only end badly. When Gavin’s illicit alliance with his most hated foe threatens to betray millions of innocents to ruthless Fyre Elementals, Zoe vows to sacrifice everything - including the whales she loves - to stop him from making the biggest mistake of his life.

* This book contains graphic language, sex, and some violence. Not suitable for readers under the age of 18. ~From GoodRead

** The author will donate all profits from the sale of the JUST BREATHE trilogy to programs that educate people about whales and the challenges they face. **


Why I'm Waiting ~ I love, love, love this series and author Kendall Grey. This series is at the top of my favorites list. But, I have to say, this synopsis scares the frijoles out of me. Seriously. I absolutely cannot wait for JUST BREATHE.

Check out my review of INHALE.

Check out my review of EXHALE.

Expected publication: August 7th 2012 by Howling Mad Press

Cover Reveal ~ JUST BREATHE (Just Breathe, #3) by Kendall Grey

You guys are in for such a treat. Not only do I have a cover reveal for the beyond-gorgeuos JUST BREATHE, by Kendall Grey, I also have a look behind the scenes to share with you. I actually got to see the cover a few weeks ago (a perk of being friends with Kendall) and fell in love. But when I saw the behind-the-scenes pictures, I was blown away.

Take a look.

And the big reveal....

Are you ready?

Revel in that beauty.

Do you even understand how utterly perfect this cover is???

This is another stunning cover from Phatpuppy Art

If you haven't read book one in the JUST BREATHE series, do yourself a favor: Go get it. It's only $2.99 and all profits go towards whale research and protection programs.

INHALE is now available: Kindle, Nook, and paperback

Review ~ ROYAL STREET (Sentinels of New Orleans, #1) by Suzanne Johnson

As the junior wizard sentinel for New Orleans, Drusilla Jaco’s job involves a lot more potion-mixing and pixie-retrieval than sniffing out supernatural bad guys like rogue vampires and lethal were-creatures. DJ's boss and mentor, Gerald St. Simon, is the wizard tasked with protecting the city from anyone or anything that might slip over from the preternatural beyond.

Then Hurricane Katrina hammers New Orleans’ fragile levees, unleashing more than just dangerous flood waters.

While winds howled and Lake Pontchartrain surged, the borders between the modern city and the Otherworld crumbled. Now, the undead and the restless are roaming the Big Easy, and a serial killer with ties to voodoo is murdering soldiers sent to help the city recover.

To make it worse, Gerald St. Simon has gone missing, the wizards’ Elders have assigned a grenade-toting assassin as DJ’s new partner, and undead pirate Jean Lafitte wants to make her walk his plank. The search for Gerry and the killer turns personal when DJ learns the hard way that loyalty requires sacrifice, allies come from the unlikeliest places, and duty mixed with love creates one bitter gumbo.                    ~From GoodReads

Set in New Orleans in the days preceding Hurricane Katrina, and the tumultuous weeks after, ROYAL STREET is the story of  Drusilla "DJ" Jaco. DJ, a Green Congress wizard, is charged with helping to protect modern day New Orleans from the Beyond. What lies in the Beyond? Vampires, Weres, Elves, the Historical Undead...All who are itching to cross over. When Hurricane Katrina forces a breach in the borders, and DJ's mentor, Gerry goes missing, she'll find out is she's ready to take on the preternatural bad boys, or die trying.

Oh, how I love a great Urban Fantasy. I'm always amazed when an author can create a world all his/her own. Suzanne Johnson is no exception. And though I thoroughly enjoyed many elements of ROYAL STREET, I have to give major props for the world-building. Johnson's brand of wizard was well developed, interesting and not terribly complicated. Hurricane Katrina was a horrible time for Louisiana, especially the New Orleans area. But to take such devastation and create a series around it's havoc was brilliant. New Orleans is an easy pick, with it's rich, decadent heritage. And it is hip deep in the "historical dead", my new favorite type of supernatural being.

For example, Jean Lafitte, a historically famous pirate. ROYAL STREET opens with DJ and Jean facing off in the bayou. He's a freaking riot, maybe my favorite character in the book. He's handsome, possesses a wicked charm, and is dead sexy. Even though he would probably feed DJ to the gators if it served him well, I couldn't help but smile every time that bad boy showed back up. The fact that I'm gushing over Jean instead of the main character should tell you how much I liked him.

Speaking of main characters, I really liked DJ. Her dialogue, verbal but especially internal, was funny, a tad snarky, and sincere. DJ's a tough, brave chick. She does tend to let her heart rule her head, sometimes a bit too much, but I have to admire a girl with so much loyalty and courage. There were a few times I wanted her to take a beat and thinks things through a bit more. But who wants a completely perfect, obedient heroine? Boring!

DJ has a hot, slightly brooding, more than capable partner in Alex Warin. Sa-woon. I mean, sure, Alex is a bit on the quiet side, and yeah, he's a tad secretive. But when he begins to open up...I don't know how DJ can stand staying in the "Just Partners Zone". Alex's cousin, Jake, though, offers a nice alternative. Jake is open, funny, and sexy as heck. Better yet, he's not DJ's partner. The chemistry between DJ/Alex and DJ/Jake was perfect. And even though it never turned into a true triangle, you can just see an emotional storm brewing on the horizon. Either way, DJ can't possibly make a wrong choice.

As much as I enjoyed ROYAL STREET, I did get into a bit of a lull throughout the middle portion of the story. There was lots of talking and plan making about finding Gerry and protecting the wards, but not a lot of actual action going on. It felt like a long, slow build-up to the big confrontation. But once we got there? Wow. What a great, action and emotionally-packed ending. I had no idea what would happen. Johnson ended the story with some resolution, and a super set-up for book two in the series, RIVER ROAD, due out in November.  I've already added it to my to-read list.

Favorite Quote:

" ' I know you think I'm hot.' Then the grin faded. 'Of course, you think Jake's hot, too, and Jean Lafitte, who's not even alive. You're really screwed up, you know that?' " (pg. 167)

Paperback, 336 pages

Published April 10th 2012 by Tom Doherty Associates

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


Source: Received from publisher for review.

Review ~ SNAP: THE WORLD UNFOLDS, by Michelle Drier

SNAP, a multinational celeb TV show and magazine, is the holy grail for Maxie Gwenoch. When she snags the job as managing editor, she's looking for fame, fortune and Jimmy Choos. What she finds is a media empire owned by Baron Kandesky and his family. A family of vampires. They're European, urbane, wealthy and mesmerizing. And when she meets Jean-Louis, vampire and co-worker, she's a goner. The Kandesky vampire family rose in Hungary centuries ago. They gave up violence and killing to make a killing on the world's commodities markets and with that beginning they built SNAP, an international celebrity multimedia empire. Now cultured...and having found food substitutes for killing...they’ve cornered the world market for celebrity and gossip journalism. They haven't fully left the past behind. Their Hungarian neighbors and rival vampire clan, the Huszars are starting to ramp up attacks, maybe looking to start a war to take over all the Kandeskys have built. Maxie believes she's found her ultimate career. She doesn't realize that she's found a family feud like none other, a centuries-old rivalry between vampire families, with her as the linchpin. Bells ring with Jean-Louis, but she doesn’t realize they’re alarm sirens until she learns that Jean-Louis is second in command of the Kandeskys...but by then it's too late. ~From GoodReads

Set in the world of a twenty-four hour celebrity media empire, SNAP: The World Unfolds Maxie Gwenoch, a much coveted young executive. Maxie thinks she's in for a typical, yet exciting new job. But she soon learns that there's more to the job than it seems and her very life is at stake.

I'm going to be honest and say that I didn't connect with this story. Maybe it was the fact that there's no backstory on Maxie, no reason to be invested in her or the job. Chapter one begins with her first day at SNAP and thrusts you directly in the action, which is fine, but with the lingo and rapid pace, I felt a bit disoriented. Maxie's complete trust in those around her, even when she discovers deception, threw me. I think discovering your bosses are vampires and your driver is a demon warrants a major freakout, but that's just me.

I didn't connect to the secondary characters, either. Maxie's potential love interest, Jean-Louis, came off cold and stiff, maybe fitting to his nature, but I didn't get the appeal. Even when the become closer, I didn't get a sense of true attraction between Maxie and Jean-Louis.

I will say, though, that the backstory in regards to the vampires was quite interesting. I'm always amazed when an author takes such a well-explored genre and creates a little bit of their own history. The centuries-long war between the Kandeskys and the Huszars is full of political and personal intrigue, bloodshed, and betrayal.

As I said before, SNAP: The World Unfolds just wasn't the book for me. The lack of connection or inventestment in the outcome was too big of a leap for me.


Favorite Quote:

"This devil didn't wear Prada, but with my new salary, I was angling for Jimmy Choos." (pg.9)


I've provided a very positive review from GoodReads for an alternate viewpoint.

Published July 1st 2011 by Michele Drier

You can purchase SNAP: The World Unfolds at Amazon .


Source: Received from author for review.

TEASER TUESDAY

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as following:

·Grab your current read
·Open to a random page
·Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
·Be careful not to include any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others.

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

This week's Teaser is from

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.

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

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. *

Waiting on Wednesday

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

This week's WoW selection is...

If you live in the dark long enough, you begin to forget the light…

KORI DANIELS is a shadow-walker, able to travel instantly from one shadow to another. After weeks of confinement for betraying her boss, she’s ready to break free of the Tower syndicate for good. But Jake Tower has one final job for Kori, one chance to secure freedom for herself and her sister, Kenley, even if that means taking it from someone else…

The job? Recruit Ian Holt—or kill him.

Ian’s ability to manipulate the dark has drawn interest from every syndicate in the world, most notably an invitation from Jake Tower. Though he has no interest in organized crime, Ian accepts the invite, because he’s on a mission of his own. Ian has come to kill Tower’s top Binder: Kori’s little sister.

Amid the tangle of lies, an unexpected thread of truth connecting Ian and Kori comes to light. But with opposing goals, they’ll have to choose between love and liberty...~From GoodReads

Why I'm Waiting ~ I read Blood Bound (Unbound #1) last Fall. Amazing. Rachel Vincent built a unique, intricate, intriguing world full of promises, betrayals, love, and lies. I'm practically bouncing waiting for Shadow Bound!

Expected publication: May 22, 2012 by Mira

You can pre-order Shadow Bound at:

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository

In My Mailbox, #21

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.

Hi! It feels like it's been forever since I've an IMM. (three weeks, to be exact). I am going vlog-free this time, because I've been sick with a nasty, ugly cold/sinus infection. And trust me, you don't want me to inflict my appearance on you! So here it is, my massive IMM!

For Review:

Lying Season (Experiment in Terror, #4) by Karina Halle (Thanks to the author)

Dark Days (The Childe Series, #2) (Thanks to the authors)

Bought:

Eyes of Crow (Aspect of Crow, #1) by Jeri Smith-Ready

Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott

The Unwritten Rule, by Elizabeth Scott

Waitng For You, by Susane Colasanti

Obsidian (Lux, #1) by Jennifer L Armentrout

Divergent (Divergent, #1) by Veronica Roth

Never to Sleep (Soul Screamers, #5.5) by Rachel Vincent

Generation Dead (Generation Dead, #1) by Daniel Water

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac, by Gabrielle Zevin

The Summer I Turned Pretty (Summer, #1) by Jenny Han

We'll Always Have Summer (Summer, #3) by Jenny Han

Gifts:

Raised by Wolves (Raised by Wolves,#1) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes 

Trial by Fire (Raised by Wolves, #2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

            (Both books thanks to April at Sim-sational Books!)

The Power of Six (Lorien Legacies, #2) by Pittacus Lore

Wolfsbane (Nightshade, #2) by Andrea Cremer

Beautiful Chaos (Caster Chronicles, #2) by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

The Son of Neptune (Heroes of Olympus, #2) by Rick Riordon

The Scorpio Races, by Maggie Stiefvater

Eve (The Eve Trilogy, #1) by Anna Carey

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer, #1) by Michelle Hodkin

Trades:

Along for the Ride, by Sarah Dessen

Anna Dressed in Blood (Anna, #1) by Kendare Blake

Well, that's it. Be sure to leave a link so I can check out your mailbox. See ya!