Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance

Teaser Tuesday #11: Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

2012-03-05T18:11:00.000-08:00

Here are the rules:

1. Grab your current read

2. Open to a page

3. Pick out 2 lines that are SPOILER FREE (I usually go over 2 lines, can't help myself.)

4. Name the title, author, etc.

I received Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter from NetGalley. Though I have not read The Goddess Test, the first book of the Goddess Test Series, I have had no trouble figuring out what has happened previously and how it relates to this book. Though I am only 70 pages in, I am finding this story quite intriguing and can't wait to read the rest.

Title: Goddess Interrupted
Series: Goddess Test
Author: Aimee Carter
Teaser:

I looked away, refusing to let her see my eyes fill with tears. Losing would mean destruction beyond anything I could comprehend. At best, it would mean enslavement for Henry and my mother, and everyone I'd come to care about; at worst, it would mean our deaths.

The council might have had countless lifetimes to live, but I was nineteen years old, and I really wanted to see twenty.

If you liked the Teaser, here is the Summary:

Kate Winters has won immortality.

But if she wants a life in the Underworld with Henry, she’ll have to fight for it.

Becoming immortal wasn’t supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she’s as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he’s becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate’s coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry’s first wife, Persephone.

Did this Teaser make you want to read this book? Which book did you tease us with this week? Leave a link so I can check it out.

Review: In the Flesh by Portia Da Costa

2012-03-04T06:00:00.000-08:00

In the Flesh

by Portia Da Costa

Publisher: HQN Books (March 2012)
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 379 (eBook)
Source: NetGalley
Purchase at: Amazon / Book Depository
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2 stars)

Summary
SOCIETY ALREADY BELIEVES SHE’S A SCARLET WOMAN.

Why not become one?

Posing nude to appease her now ex-fiancé perhaps wasn’t the most prudent idea Beatrice Weatherly has ever had. With the photographs scrutinized up and down the ton and her brother running them into debt, Beatrice’s hopes of making a respectable marriage are dashed.

After one glance at Beatrice’s infamous racy cabinet cards, wealthy, powerful Edward Ellsworth Richie is soon obsessed with Beatrice’s voluptuous figure. His indecent proposal—one month of hedonistic servitude in exchange for enough money to pay her brother’s debts—is one she can hardly refuse.

Determined not to let the rogue best her, Beatrice sets out for the infamous House of Madame Chamfleur to learn how to appease Edward’s well-known appetite. Soon the couple is playing out exquisite fantasies…and feeling emotion that goes deeper than flesh. But Edward harbors a shocking secret, and Beatrice must decide if she’s prepared to give up everything for a man who can offer her nothing, but who means everything.

The Good
Usually I would do my own little recap of the book but there is no need. The summary hits it right on the button. So let's get straight to the review.

One, Two, Threesome...
I have to say, the characters of this book were very interesting. Beatrice was a strong, vivacious woman that I think many could respect. She knows how to survive and have fun doing it. She was very open-minded for a young lady in the 1890s and I admired her willingness to try anything and her view on enjoying life.

Richie knows what he wants and isn't ashamed to grab life with both hands. His passion for Beatrice was so raw and sweet at the same time. He may have secrets but he is a good man overall. He's strong, ruthless, and has a business savvy that all men would revere. And Richie and Beatrice together make an adorable couple that don't hold back their passions.

It was actually Jamie, Charlie, and Polly who where the funniest threesome. And I mean THREESOME. All three were mischievous in their own way and had me smiling every time they entered the scene. Jamie is still a mystery to me, and I liked that. Kept me guessing, wanting to know his story.

Times Long Passed...
I did enjoy the banter between all of the characters. That was probably the best part of In the Flesh. The writing was beautiful and the lush description was very well done. I really got a feel for the time period. I truly do love reading historicals because I find it captivating to read about how people lived in times long passed.

The Bad
My biggest problem is the lack of plot. Okay, yeah, Beatrice's reputation has been ruined by her nude photos, so she sells her charms to Richie in exchange for money. Cool. But that was literally the extent of this book. Nothing else to add. We get a little side story with Beatrice's brother and some servants. We have the villain that wants to tear the couple apart. But he doesn't even try anything evil until the end of the book. And even that was lackluster.

There were barely any obstacles or huge events that tested the love of Beatrice and Richie. Just one small inconvenience that was eventually taken care of quite quickly. In the Flesh is only about the lead up to a month of sex, then the actual month of sex. Then the couple both start to have feelings for each other. Bam! Done. I told you the whole story. Where was the drama, the action, the twists?

Now, I do realize that the cover and description are very sexual, but I have read many book summaries and seen lots of book covers even more racy than In the Flesh and they still followed the guidelines of a true romance, not erotica.

The Snuggly
Well, if you are looking for sex, you found it. This book is chalk full of sexual situations. A lot of them I felt belonged more in a soft erotica sort of book. I just don't see how this book can be called a romance, it goes way beyond that. I am in no way a prude, I just didn't like being surprised with such graphic sex when I expected to read a romance (Which in my experience has sex but not to this extent. It's more about the love story). Did this book have romance, sure. But the focus was the sex, that simple. I did like Beatirice and Richie together though. They were quite cute together.

Overall
Though there were a few redeemable qualities in this book, overall I would not recommend it for romance readers. But if you are looking for a soft version of erotica with a little plot, then this might be the book for you. So this one will have to be a judgement call for most of you. Me, if I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have requested this book from NetGalley. It was not what I was looking for.

Excerpt
"Who is that man over there?" demanded Charlie, "See the one I mean? The tall impertinent looking fellow by the ballroom door, talking to Sir Horace Rumbelow."

Beatrice Weatherly suppressed a sigh. Her brother always got peevish when he drank too fast, and the champagne was disappearing down his throat at an alarming rate.

"I advised you to wear a more conservative dress. Something dark and modest," Charlie went on "and now look what's happened. I swear that if he doesn't stop ogling you this minute, I'll go across there and box his ears for him!"

I'd like to see you try, brother dear. He looks as if he could swat you like a gadfly with just one hand.

"Please, ignore him, Charlie. He isn't bothering me in the slightest, so I don't see why he should bother you." Keeping her face carefully averted, Beatrice sipped her own champagne. She was determined to make every glass last as long as she could tonight. Just look what had happened the last time she'd drunk it.

But, truth be told, her bold scrutinizer across the reception room did bother her and it wasn't an urge to box his ears she felt. No, it was something far more alarming. Her heart pounded and her entire body felt deliciously strange every time she caught his hot gaze on her. Something that seemed to happen every few moments or so because try as she might, she couldn't help looking back at him. And he hadn't taken his eyes off her since they'd entered the room.

Of course, when she and Charlie had been announced, almost everybody had swiveled around stare at them. "Oh look," she imaged them all saying, "There she is, Beatrice Weatherly, the 'Siren of South Mulberry Street'… the shameless hussy who posed naked for those dreadful cabinet cards…" Men who probably owned copies of the said cards had eyed her with salacious interest when their wives weren't looking. Their wives had frowned and pursed their lips as if worried that their men would be so overcome with lust that they'd flock around the indecent Siren, unable to help themselves. Even the discreet servants circulating with their trays had seemed to study her covertly.

Blogspiration #7: Lincoln, He's the Man!

2012-03-03T02:23:00.002-08:00

Blogspiration is a Brand Spankin' New weekly meme hosted by both GrowingUp YA and Saz101. The meme was created to help spark inspiration among bloggers, readers and writers alike. An inspirational quote/picture/video is posted weekly, on the day of the author's choosing, so that it may inspire creativity, conversation and just a little SOMETHING.

When I saw this article and pictures, my jaw dropped. But before I get into what my Blogspiration is this week, let me tell you a true story. And by true story I mean totally fictitious and in no way based on actual events. Okay, some of it is true but the rest is just a creation of my imagination and a scary amount of consumed chocolate. :)

So here's the situation. You're a historian. You are super cool because you love books, right? Anyone who loves reading is a-okay in my book. But back to the story. You're a historian and your doing your thing, probably wearing thick, black rimmed glasses and a super puffed out ascot while smoking your pipe. You go, fashionable Historian!!! Then all of a sudden you realize it's President's Day in the good ol' US of A. And you're like, "OMG, I totally forgot. This is bad. I should be celebrating today and I totally spaced. How can I fix this?" And then it comes to you. You grin like the freakin' Cheshire Cat. It's the perfect way to celebrate President's Day and you might just go down in history as being one, cool historian. So you grab your other historian buddies, who are also as brilliant as you are, and you create a masterpiece, a work of art that will inspire anyone and everyone. And this masterpiece is........

What's this, you ask? Um, well, isn't it obvious? It's a tower of 7,000 books all written about the coolest president EVER! Abraham Freaking Lincoln. Okay, 'Freaking' might not his real middle name but it does have a ring to it, right? Anyway, this group of historians wanted to memorialize President Lincoln in a unique way. They wanted people to physically see his importance to the US. So they took about half of the 15,000 books ever written about him and created this tower, which measures 8 feet around and 34 feet high. When I saw this, I was simply amazed. When I buy my books for this month, I am going to make sure to add one about Lincoln because he truly was the most influential president in history and he deserves to be remembered.

You can find the tower dedicated to the 16th president in the lobby of the new Ford's Theatre Center for Education and Leadership. Excluding Jesus Christ, Lincoln has had the most books written about him in all of history. To read the whole article just click here. (Info from www.npr.org)

So what does everyone think? Pretty cool, right? If you were going to build a tower of books in tribute of a series, author, or person, which or who would you choose to memorialize? (Fiction or non-fiction)

I'd build a tower of Christine Feehan books. She writes like one book every three months. She is a writing machine. I love her Dark series and Ghost Walker series. She writes really enjoyable romances. She is the reason why romance is my third favorite genre.

Cover Reveal: Bonds of Fenris by S.J. Bell

2012-03-02T02:25:00.001-08:00

I have to admit, I always had a thing for werewolf books. So when Bell contacted me to post a cover reveal for him, I was more than happy to. And then I saw the cover and was even more thrilled. I thought it quite haunting and eye-catching. And so, without further ado, here is my first cover reveal on this blog.

Bonds of Fenris is a paranormal novel by S.J. Bell, due to be released through Smashwords on May 7, 2012.

Click here to visit S.J. Bell's website and learn more.

The cover art is by the delightful Stephanie Mooney (click to visit her website).

Summary
Talia Thornwood's life ended one year ago, when she became awerewolf. She survived the attack, and the horrifying transformation a monthlater, but the life she has now is barely worth living. She lurks about in afilthy, run-down house, with too many werewolves crammed into too small aspace. Every day is a struggle against the stress of human contact, theromantic prodding of her obnoxious packmate Pierce, and the gnawing hunger forflesh in her soul.

She's all but resigned herself to a dreary existence on themargins of society when she meets Corwin. Corwin is a werewolf like none other.He walks among humans as if it was nothing, and can keep his wolf under controleven when the moon is full. Talia's mind is suddenly opened to thepossibilities before her, and the realization of how little she really knowsabout lycanthropy.

Corwin claims that he can teach her how to cope as he does,even how to transcend her affliction. But it will not be easy. It is a hardeducation that requires her to question everything her pack taught her, andconfront exactly what she has become. And, more amazingly, what she neverstopped being.

So what does everyone think? Does the cover intrigue you? Does the summary make you want to read Bonds of Fenris? I know I for one would love to read this book. My lovely readers can expect a future review, author interview, guest post, and giveaway all centering around S.J. Bell and his book. To add Bonds of Fenris to your TBR pile on Goodreads, click here.

Follow Friday #18 / TGIF #12

2012-03-01T18:56:00.001-08:00

Feature and Follow Friday is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read

This Week's Question: What book would you love to see made into a movie or television show and do you have actors/actresses in mind to play the main characters?

Answer: I would love the first book of the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Series by Laurell Hamilton to be made into a movie. Guilty Pleasures is one of my favorite books of all time and there is definitely enough action and supernatural creatures in it to make one hell of a movie.

I picture Anita Blake being played by Eva Longoria and Jean-Claude would be Jared Leto. Then Nikolaos would be Hayden Panettiere. I was almost going to say Dakota Fanning for Nikolaos but she has already played a vampire for Twilight so it was too similar.

TGIF at GReads is a Friday Feature hosted by Ginger at GReadsBooks.com! The point of TGIF is to re-cap on this week’s posts and answer the question of the week!

My Posts this Week:

Follow Friday #17 / TGIF #11

In My Mailbox #3: Vampire Memorabilia

Blogspiration #6: Guilty Pleasures

Teaser Tuesday #10: Hunted by Cheryl Rainfield

Author Interview: Robin P. Waldrop

Review: Unknow by Rachel Caine

This Week's Question: Book Moments - What has been your favorite moment (scene) in a book that you've read so far in 2012? Please be kind & not include spoilers.

Answer: Well, this one's a hard one because all my favorite scenes contain spoilers. My favorite scene is the one from By a Thread by Jennifer Estep where Gin finally confronts Donovan. It was magical and just freakin' perfect. I was so happy how Gin handled herself after so many books of those two bickering. But I also want to share a scene without giving away any spoilers so I had to go with a scene that made me laugh and stuck with me. It too is from By a Thread. I love this scene because I totally get what Gin is thinking. She was exhausted, bleeding, and irritated. She just wasn't going to take it from no one, not even a gator:

I’d been so intenton putting one foot in front of the other that I hadn’t realized I’d come to theedge of a small pond hidden in the larger marsh. I was on one side of the pond,and the gator was on the other, with only a few feet of murky water separatingus.

It was a bigsucker, at least seven feet long, and its eyes glimmered like ghostly marblesin the moonlight. Its gnarled, bumpy body looked like a rotten log resting inthe grass, but the distinctive curve of its long snout gave away the illusion.I couldn’t see its teeth, but I knew that they were there, resting inside thosepowerful, massive jaws. If I’d thought that being bitten by Dekes had beenagonizing, it would be nothing compared to being attacked by a gator. Thecreature would latch onto me, drag me into the water, and drown me beforegobbling up my bloody remains at its leisure.

The gator staredat me, and I glared right back at it. Sometime during the long night, the painpounding through my body had turned to rage—rage at Dekes and what he’d done tome, what the vamp had done to Vanessa, Victoria, and who knew how many otherwomen over the years, what he still might do to Bria and maybe even Callie if Ididn’t stop him. The rage coated my heart much like my Ice magic had earliertonight. The cold, dark emotion and even uglier, blacker thoughts of revenge werethe only things that were keeping me upright at this point.

“F**k off, sugar,or I’ll make a pair of shoes out of you,” I growled.

Yeah, I knew itwas nothing but talk. All of my Silverstone knives were back on Dekes’s mantel,and I didn’t see so much as a sturdy stick I could use to fend off the gator—muchless stab it to death. Besides, it wasn’t like I had the strength to do thatanyway. But Dekes had already sunk his teeth into me tonight, and I’d be damnedif anything else would.

Maybe the gatorhad already eaten. Maybe it realized that I wouldn’t go down without a fight.Or maybe it recognized the dangerous predator in me just as I did in it, butthe creature stared at me another second—and then it slipped into the water andswam off in the other direction.

Well, well, well.It looked like luck, that capricious bitch, wasn’t quite done with me yet. Ididn’t know whether to smile or cry.

What did you think of the Excerpt? Leave your link to your meme post and I will come and visit. If you happen to follow me, I will follow you back.

Review: Unknown by Rachel Caine

2012-02-29T16:31:00.000-08:00

Unknown

Book #2 of the Outcast Season Series

by Rachel Caine

Publisher: ROC (February 2010)
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 305 (paperback)
Source: Personal Library (Purchased)
Purchase at: Amazon / Book Depository
Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5 stars)

Summary
Living among mortals, the djinn Cassiel has developed a reluctant affection for them-especially for Warden Luis Rocha. As the mystery deepens around the kidnapping of innocent Warden children, Cassiel and Luis are the only ones who can investigate both the human and djinn realms. But the trail will lead them to a traitor who may be more powerful than they can handle...

The Good
'It' Factor...
Sometimes I just can't figure out how Caine does it. She writes in such rich detail and description that you would think it would bore the reader, but no. She has so much action and fighting going on in Unknown you would think it would be too much, but no. She writes about such complex characters you would think they'd be hard to understand, but no. I think Caine has that 'it' factor, whatever the hell it means, doesn't matter, she's got it in spades. Sometimes I think it's not even the stories she writes that fascinate me so much, it's HOW she writes these stories that gets me every time.

Ch-Ch-Changes...
Cassiel is faced with a world-changing predicament. Give into Ashan, the Djinn conduit, and destroy all of humanity to ensure Djinn survival and her return as a Djinn, or fight with the humans (and remain one in the process) and hope that she can destroy Pearl, a one-time Djinn who has gained unspeakable power. The choice is not so easy anymore since Cassiel has turned human. Now her emotions control her actions and her growing attraction to Warden Luis Rocha has only solidified her determination to save the world. But with Luis's niece and many other kidnapped children in the hands of the monster Pearl, Cassiel doesn't know if she can win. Can she fight an army of well trained Warden children, even if they are trying to kill her and her friends, when her human side says never to hurt a child?

Up Sh!t Creek Without a Paddle...
Unknown starts off where Undone ends. It was revealed that Cassiel was cast out of the Djinn race for her refusal to destroy mankind. But even Cassiel has to admit that killing off every last human on Earth might be the only way to stop Pearl from destroying not only the world but all the Djinn as well. Soooo, yeah, Cassiel is pretty much up sh!t creek. Hey, but at least Luis will be at her side during the journey. Dying is so much more fun when you have a hunk at your side. Okay, maybe not, but a hottie at your side does make most things better.

Ms. Don't Call Me Cass, My Name's Cassiel...
I love Cassiel. I am literally obsessed with her character. I have this odd interest in characters without emotions. Characters that don't follow the status quo of what 'good' characters should be like. Experiencing the world through her eyes is almost hypnotic. She doesn't understand all the stupid crap humans do or put up with. She likes saying what she wants and doing what feels right, not worrying what society expects of her. Though turning human has taught her some things: weighing options before acting, how emotions make life worth living, how the physicality of the human body makes your time on the earth more precious because it's finite. But what's better than watching Cass learn her new world, is seeing what she was like as a Djinn. She pretty much was horrible, which is why I like her even more. I love flawed characters, ones who have not always been the heroes.

The Menfolk...
Sure, I like Luis, but he still hasn't sparked too much interest in me. He is the kind of guy that I like when he is around Cassiel and they are arguing and saving each other's lives, but I have a feeling that if I had to read a page with him as the main character, I would skip it. Now, I don't think he deserves to be in the bad section of my review because he is still an overall cool character, he just hasn't done it for me yet. Maybe in a few more books I will be under his spell. We shall see.

Now to the good part. The one, the only...Rashid. He's a new Djinn, unlike Cassiel who was once an old Djinn (born Djinn). The old Djinn think very little of the new Djinn, who were once humans. But with Cassiel being humanfied and fragile, Rashid has started taking an interest in her. But we don't know for sure what his true agenda is. Watching Cassiel fear a Djinn she would have once sneered for even existing is quite entertaining. Rashin thinks so, too. He is playing some kind of game with Cassiel, and I wish I knew what his goal is. But whatever it is, I can guarantee you it does not bode well for Cass.

When the Men are Scared of You, Then You Might have Gone Too Far...
I can't tell you how exciting Unknown was to read. Some scenes literally made my jaw drop in horror and fascination. The lengths Cassiel will go are just amazing. All I can say is she does something so shocking that she has to let her human consciousness hide while the Djinn part of her takes over and gets the job done. And when she did this thing, the men around her witnessing this act didn't even know what to do with themselves. They just sat their and stared at her in horror and fear. If I remember correctly, one person even threw-up from what he witnessed. So, yeah, good times.

I hate to say it but Cassiel might be even more interesting than Joanne (the main character in Caine's connected series, Weather Wardens). And I LOVED Joanne. But there is something about Cassiel that just hits every trait I love about main characters.

And So...
The storyline may not be the most unique but it still makes me want to read more. The action was fast-paced and abundant and the character development was superb. The pace was perfect, never a dull moment. I felt all the emotions: fear, excitement, joy, and shock. And with how this book ended, I need the next book STAT.

The Bad
Though I had as much fun reading this book as I did the first book of the series, I couldn't help but knock off a half a star for the dragged out plot. This book pretty much gained no momentum from the continued storyline of Undone. We just get a bunch of awesome actions scenes and crazy adventures then, pretty much, nothing is resolved once again. Come on, Caine, this is book two, you can't drag this same storyline on for this many books. Don't get me wrong, I love the concept, but having the characters running around trying to save the day two books in a row without any resolution is a little annoying.

The Snuggly
We get an almost sex scene which really annoyed me. Not that it wasn't well written or interesting. No, my problem is a little more scandalous. I wanted to scream in frustration when Cassiel and Luis got interrupted because I actually wanted them to have SEX. I think Luis is kind of a chicken when it comes to admitting his feelings for Cassiel, so I know he is going to overthink it and probably say it's not a good idea that they hook-up next time. Luis, you wuss, grow a pair and dive in because Cassiel is a cool chick who deserves to have her moment of fun. I can't believe I am fighting over imaginary sex. *bangs head on desk*

Overall
If not for the lack of an ending to the storyline that has lasted two books, I would say this book is perfect. I read it in two days and was sad to put it down. Cassiel has easily become my second favorite heroine in urban fantasy history, and I can't wait to see what Caine has in store for her next.

Excerpts
They (bikers) surrounded my Victory in a ring of metal and bodies.

I straddled the motorcycle, tossed the empty bottle effortlessly in the trash twenty feet away, and said, simply, "Move."

They laughed.

"That's a whole lot of bike for you, lady," one of them said. "You sure you can handle it?" That woke suggestions from several about what else I could handle, or might want to.

For answer, I gave the speaker a brilliant, false smile. "Your bike is also nice," I said. "Is it a ten speed?"

~

"I wanted to hate you," he continued softly, "but I couldn't. You're just...baffling."

"Baffling," I repeated. I rather enjoyed that description. "How so? I try to speak my mind."

"No shit." He pulled in a breath as I circled my hips on his. "Holy crap, don't do that."

"Is it because I wish to touch you? To remove your clothes and touch you everywhere, to know you completely?" I was not certain of human protocols in these matters, but Luis didn't seem offended. I leaned closer, slowly, and settled my arms around his neck. His skin felt hot and firm. "Because I wish to feel your body on mine? Your needs pounding through your veins?"

My Reviews of the Outcast Season Series:
Undone - Book #1

Author Interview: Robin P. Waldrop

2012-02-28T15:34:00.000-08:00

Today, I am pleased to introduce Robin P. Waldrop, the author of the YA Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy novel, Ties to the Blood Moon (click for my review). Her book was a fun and exciting read that was hard to put down. I now anxiously await the second book of her series because I simply have to know what is going to happen next. And the sneak peek Waldrop sent me has only upped my anticipation to nail-biting levels.

For a chance to win Ties to the Blood Moon just click here.

Jennifer: I have to say that your YA paranormal romance/urban fantasy book, Tiesto the Blood Moon, was a very fun read. It had adventure, mystery, and romance.But for those who have yet to read it, can you tell us a little more about yourbook?

Robin: Firstlet me say thank you for having me on your blog, and also for writing such agreat review. It was detailed and just all around lovely.

Ties ToThe Blood Moon is about Genevieve, a seventeen year old girl who’s just had herworld ripped apart with the loss of her only living parent … her mom who waskilled in a house fire. Genevieve is whisked away to her aunt’s house in Haven,Alaska to finish out high school, or so she thinks. Little does she know herlife will never be her own again.

A veryold Native Alaskan tribe—one with certain secrets— has been waiting for thereturn of their princess who will bring peace after many years of war. Not justany war, but an ongoing battle between blood drinkers and shape-shifters.

Jennifer: Aww, thank you. It was a great book which made writing a review that mucheasier. So how did you come up with the concept for Ties to the Blood Moon?

Robin: I’msure you’ve heard this before, but the original idea came to me in a dream, oractually a nightmare. I woke up about one o’clock in the morning and shot outof bed. Of course, I laughed when I realized I had been dreaming, but it seemedso real I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Withpen and paper in hand I sat up the rest of the night fleshing out the story andearly the next morning Ties To The Blood Moon was born.

Jennifer: I love when stories come from a dream. It's like it was meant to be, likethis is the book you were always destined to write. :) So can you tell us aboutyour writing routine? When, where, how often, and if you have any specialquirks or rituals?

Robin:Do youwant the truth? Because I can promise a lie would sound much moreglamorous. Seriously though, I live in ahouse full of folks, which makes it hard sometimes to get in any writing. Idon’t have an office yet so I am forced to write at the bar next to thekitchen. Sometimes I need it to be quiet when I write and other times I enjoylistening to music.

Iusually try to get up around four a.m. and write about an hour before the restof the crew starts to stir. After that it’s whenever I can get time to myself.Whether it be midday or midnight, I try to write everyday. If not my mind getstoo flooded.

One ofmy grandsons stays with me a lot. He’s only four and he demands my attention.So, when I have him I divide my day between writing and playing transformers,army men, and—my personal favorite—Batman and Robin.

Jennifer: Aww, that's just too dang adorable. So between writing and spending timewith your family, do you ever get the time to read? If so, what kind of booksdo you like to read and which authors are your favorite?

Robin: Oh yes!I always make time to read. I’ve talked with many different authors aboutvarious things and have gotten a slew of different opinions about certainthings, but when it comes to reading they all have said the same thing: Inorder to be a great author you have to make time to read. So, that’s what I do.I sneak a little me time when I can and curl up someplace quiet with a cup ofcoffee and one of my favorite authors like Catherine Coulter, John Grisham, andNicholas Sparks. I have too many favorites to list them all now, so these arejust the ones I am currently reading.

Jennifer: I have to say, you have some great taste in authors. You mentioned that youhave talked with many authors over the years. Is there any writing wisdom/tipsyou have learned from them or along your writing journey that you can sharewith us first-time writers?

Robin: Well,there are way too many to speak of all of them, but a few of the ones that havestuck with me the most or that I’ve put to use the most are:

AaronP. Lazar who is a wonderful mystery author and a great friend and mentor oncetold me “Write like the wind, edit like an architect.” He told me this becauseI have this big problem with trying to edit while I write. And any good authorwill tell you if you try to write that way you will never finish anything,because no matter how many times you look at it you will always find somethingto change or tweak.

CatherineCoulter who writes both FBI suspense/thrillers and historical romances told meto “Never give up no matter what!” When I wrote my very first novel, which isan FBI suspense/thriller, I queried about fifty agents. Long story short—theyall ended with rejections. I felt so defeated I wrote to her and thanked herfor all of her advice and told her I was hanging up my writing hat. Needless tosay, she had a fit. She told me no matter what anyone says, if you believe inwhat you’re doing, if it makes you happy, never give up. Keep going andeventually you will get wherever it is you’re trying to go—and I am gettingthere … slowly but surely.

JohnMarion Francis is not a big name author, but he is a great friend andinspiration to me. He said, “Never stop writing.” When you finish writing abook, short story, or novella, it’s okay to celebrate, but then you have towrite something else, then something else, then something else. So far, I’vewritten two novels, three short stories, and one novella.

Thereis one other important piece of advice I have been told from every author I’veever asked for advice. Read. Read. Read. Definitely read, and read more thanyou write.

Jennifer: Wow, what great advice. I love what Lazar said "Write like the wind,edit like an architect.” I have the same problem with editing while I write.And thank goodness for Coulter because I think you have a very successfulfuture ahead of you if you keep writing the way you do. Okay, time for the oddquestion. Which one of your characters would you most like to sit down and havedinner with? What would the two of you talk about and eat?

Robin: Well, Iwould have to say William. He was my idea of the perfect guy when I wasyounger. He is alluring and mysterious. He also has a bit of the ‘bad boy’syndrome. Even though he’s sexy as #@%$, he has a dark side that the readerwon’t see until book 2. Does that mean he’s a bad guy? Certainly not. However,he does have some dangerous qualities. I can’t really describe what or thatwould spoil it for folks.

As faras eating, vampires don’t eat, so I think I would have some wine while Williamhad some of my blood. Gen describes it as the most intense, most wonderful,knock your socks off feeling when someone drinks your blood. I would just haveto try it once and see for myself. As far as talking, well … I guess you knowthere wouldn’t be much talking, now would there?

Jennifer: Sounds like a perfect date to me, lol. I love your honesty. And I can't waitto see William's dark side in book 2. Now that I think about it, how do youcome up with your character's personalities and traits? Do you base any of themoff yourself or people you know or are they purely from scratch?

Robin: Honestly,both. Some of their traits come from my children. I have five children and fivegrandchildren so I have many different personalities to choose from. Andsometimes I base them solely on my idea of how I think that particularcharacter should be. Now, I look at the Ties characters as if I have known themforever.

Jennifer: OMG. With such a big family I don't know how you find the time to write. Butat least they help you develop your character's personalities. So before I letyou go, can you share with us what was the best and worst part of writing Tiesto the Blood Moon?

Robin: I guessthe best part AND the worst part would be the time spent away from thecommotion of a large family. I wrote TIES in just over two months so I wasalone a great deal of that time, which meant peace and quiet. But on the otherhand, I missed out on a lot of things by not being available for them. Believeme, they definitely like me better when I’m in between books.

Jennifer: I can't thank you enough for taking the time to answer a few of myquestions. I hope you had as much fun as I did. Is there anything else youwould like to mention to my readers before we part ways?

Robin: Yes,Jennifer. First, I would like to thank you. It’s been fun and you are theperfect blog hostess. I also want to thank you for taking a chance and readingan unknown author. So many people still think that self published means youaren’t good enough to get picked up by a publishing company. I’m sure it’s truefor some, but there are so many more good authors who go through all the samesteps as any traditionally published author, except one—we take charge of ourown publishing and marketing. Thanks to all the readers/reviewers who dobelieve in us.

Book 2in the series will be out in late March. I will be revealing the title and bookcover soon. TIES, as you know is available on all digital sites. It will bereleased in print in about two weeks, and also in audio in about two months.

Jennifer,I also would like to invite your audience to stop by my blog and say hi. Orvisit me on twitter and facebook.

http://www.robinpwaldrop.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/robinsauthorpage

@Robinpwaldrop

Teaser Tuesday #10: Hunted by Cheryl Rainfield

2012-02-27T17:54:00.000-08:00

Hosted by Should Be Reading

Here are the rules:

1. Grab your current read

2. Open to a page

3. Pick out 2 lines that are SPOILER FREE (I usually go over 2 lines, can't help myself)

4. Name the title, author, etc.

I was contacted to be a part of the Hunted Blog Tour. Hunted is a YA Dystopian/Paranormal Fantasy written by Cheryl Rainfield. Here is the summary:

Caitlyn is a telepath in a world where having any Paranormal power is illegal. Caitlyn is on the run from government troopers, who can enslave, torture, or even kill her, or make her hunt other Paranormals. When Caitlyn settles down in a city, she falls for Alex, a Normal (someone without Paranormal powers), which is dangerous because he can turn her in. And she discovers renegade Paranormals who want to destroy all Normals. Caitlyn must decide whether she's going to stay in hiding to protect herself, or take a stand to save the world.

I actually put off reading this book because even though I like dystopian novels, I always get nervous to read them because they tend to be a little depressing and sad. But once I started Hunted, I couldn't put it down. The characters are interesting, and the story is heart-wrenching but very entertaining. I can't even begin to tell you how much I am enjoying read this book.

Title: Hunted
Author: Cheryl Rainfield
Teaser:
I press my fingers to my temples. My scalp is hot, itchy with sweat, the pain so bad it feels like my head will explode.

Terror nips at the edges of my mind.

I shove it away, but it comes back stronger. It's not Daniel; I am sure of it. He's not this afraid.

I let down my shield. Screams rush in, and a burst of heat engulfs me. There's a crackling, roaring sound as the heat licks at me.

Fire! Someone's trapped in a fire!
pg 228

So, what do you think? Are you intrigued? Leave me a link to your Teaser so I can take a look.

Blogspiration #6: Guilty Pleasures

2012-02-26T01:33:00.000-08:00

This week's Blogspiration comes with a question: What book inspires you?

This question's a hard one because I have a lot of books that inspire me in different ways. So I have to narrow it down to the one that inspired me to become a writer.

About two years ago I read Guilty Pleasures, the first book of Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series. And once I was half way through, I was already changed forever. I don't know if I can say exactly what inspired me so much but all I knew was that after turning the last page, I inspired to create my own story. My novel is set in a somewhat similar world that Hamilton has created in her novels. Though our stories are completely different, it was Guilty Pleasures that helped me open my eyes and envision limitless possibilities.

First of all, the book was written beautifully. It had great pacing, one-of-a-kind characters, and a strong female protagonist who knows how to use a gun. I loved that Guilty Pleasures discreetly promoted female empowerment. I didn't read a lot of Urban Fantasy back then, so this was one of the first times that I saw a woman save the day. Anita Blake has been trained to kill the bad guys, and she's damn good at it. I also couldn't get over how well the plot was interwoven throughout the whole novel. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and was genuinely surprised by many of the twists and turns. I walked away from this book knowing I wanted to write a story about a kick-ass heroine who could take care of herself.

Hamilton did such a flawless job of mixing the paranormal with reality that I read this whole book without ever questioning the existence of supernatural creatures. I was sorely disappointed when I finished it and realized I still lived in the real world. Stupid reality, always ruining things.

Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Book 1) by Laurell K. Hamilton.

Summary:
“My name is Anita Blake. Vampires call me “The Executioner”. What I call them isn’t repeatable.

Ever since the Supreme Court granted the undead equal rights, most people think vampires are just ordinary folks with fangs. I know better. I’ve seen their victims. I carry the scars…

But now a serial killer is murdering vampires—and the most powerful bloodsucker in town wants me to find the killer… “

“In a world where vampires, zombies and werewolves have been declared legal citizens of the United States, Anita Blake is an “animator” – a profession that involves raising the dead for mourning relatives. But Anita is also known as a fearsome hunter of criminal vampires, and she’s often employed to investigate cases that are far too much for conventional police. But as Anita gains the attention of the vampire masters of her hometown of St Louis, she also risks revealing an intriguing secret about herself – the source of her unusual strength and power.”

Here are some awesome quotes from Guilty Pleasures for your enjoyment:

“I spend most of my waking hours confronting and destroying things that I fear. A thousand-year-old master vampire was a tall order, but a girl's got to have a goal.”

“Pity is an emotion that can get you killed. The only thing more dangerous is blind hate, and maybe love.”

“Violence has to become a part of your thinking. It makes you cautious, suspicious as hell, and lengthens your life expectancy.”
“That kiss was really nice you know before you...bit me, but it was still nice.”

“You smell of other people's blood, ma petite."
I smiled sweetly at him. "It was no one you knew.”

In My Mailbox #3: Vampire Memorabilia

2012-02-24T21:13:00.001-08:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It's an opportunity to share the books we've bought or received in the last week!

So I am still trying to catch up a little bit by sharing what I have received this past month and a half. Last week was only for what I won. And since I haven't bought any book in a little while, I will share what I received for review. Plus, I did win a little more stuff since last week.

I want to thank Laura Kaye for hosting such an awesome giveaway. I have never won so much stuff in one shot before. I love all my vampire memorabilia. The book on vampire history is just plain amazing.

I also won:
from I Smell Sheep, from Stuck in Books
I totally can't remember who I won this from. Sorry. The author sent it to me directly and the blog with giveaway was not mentioned.

What I got for review:

I got these books from NetGalley...
and and and

Authors provided for review...
and and and and

All books are linked to Amazon if you would like to learn more about them. Some of these books are in print form and others are ebooks. Now I am all caught up. Yay. I plan on buying a whole bunch of books in a week or so. Especially a lot of YA books that have been suggested to me (like Vampire Academy). I can't wait!!!

Follow Friday #17 / TGIF #11

2012-02-23T18:57:00.001-08:00

Feature and Follow Friday is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read

This Week's Question: Activity!!! Take a picture or describe where you love to read the most…

Answer: I always sit on my comfy La-Z-Boy rocking recliner. I usually have my shawl with me because I get ridiculously cold very easily. This is the most comfortable chair I have ever sat in. Plus it rocks, like a rocking chair. I like rocking while I read. Yeah, I know. It's kind of weird, but I don't like to sit still for too long so it's a way to keep my body moving (well, kind of moving, but you get what I mean). I also have a reading light right next to me, it's super bright so it's perfect for a reading area. The chair is actually in the family room of my house. I like to be with the rest of my family when I read. I don't know why.

TGIF at GReads is a Friday Feature hosted by Ginger at GReadsBooks.com! The point of TGIF is to re-cap on this week’s posts and answer the question of the week!

My Blog Posts for this Week:
Follow Friday #16 / TGIF #10
Author Interview: S. Ravynheart (Aftershock Blog Tour)
This Blog Won the One Lovely Blog Award
In My Mailbox #2: I'm a Winner
Review: Immortal Rider by Larissa Ione
Review: By a Thread by Jennifer Estep

This Week's Question: Required Reading - Which book from your school days do you remember reading & enjoying? Is there a book published now that you'd like to see in today's curriculum for kids?

Answer: I don't remember which grade I was in but I do remember reading Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls and bawling my eyes out. Though it is super sad, I still enjoyed it. It was the first book that I couldn't put down. I didn't even care that it was required reading. It was a well told story that really made my emotions run wild and drew me in from page one. I felt like I walked away a little wiser and a little more grown-up after reading this book.

Summary: Billy, Old Dan and Little Ann -- a Boy and His Two Dogs...

A loving threesome, they ranged the dark hills and river bottoms of Cherokee country. Old Dan had the brawn, Little Ann had the brains -- and Billy had the will to train them to be the finest hunting team in the valley. Glory and victory were coming to them, but sadness waited too. And close by was the strange and wonderful power that's only found...

An exciting tale of love and adventure you'll never forget.

When I was volunteering for my old elementary school, the librarian suggested a book for me to read. It was called Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. Even as an adult, I loved reading this middle-school book. It has great characters and an interesting storyline. It also teaches important real life lessons for young kids. I don't know if this book is already in today's curriculum, but if not, it should be.

Summary: Jess Aarons' greatest ambition is to be the fastest runner in his grade. He's been practicing all summer and can't wait to see his classmates' faces when he beats them all. But on the first day of school, a new girl boldly crosses over to the boys' side and outruns everyone.

That's not a very promising beginning for a friendship, but Jess and Leslie Burke become inseparable. Together they create Terabithia, a magical kingdom in the woods where the two of them reign as king and queen, and their imaginations set the only limits.

Thanks for stopping by. Leave a link to your Blog Hop post so I can return the favor. If you follow me, I will follow back.

Review: By a Thread by Jennifer Estep

2012-02-21T19:45:00.000-08:00

By a Thread

Book #6 of the Elemental Assassin Series

by Jennifer Estep

Publisher: Pocket Books (February 28, 2012)
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 384 (eBook)
Source: Author supplied me the ARC
Purchase at: Amazon / Book Depository
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)

Summary
When killing people is your job, there’s no such thing as a vacation.

Then again, how often does an assassin live long enough to enjoy her retirement? In this line of work, you either get lucky or you get dead. And since I destroyed my nemesis Mab Monroe a few weeks ago, all of Ashland’s lowlifes are gunning to make a name for themselves by taking out the lethal Spider—me, Gin Blanco. So I’m leaving behind my beloved barbecue joint and heading south with my baby sister, Bria, to cool my heels in a swanky beach town. Call it a weekend of fun in the sun.

But when a powerful vampire with deadly elemental magic threatens an old friend of Bria’s, it looks like I’ll have to dig my silverstone knives out of my suitcase after all. Complicating matters further is the reappearance of Detective Donovan Caine, my old lover. But Donovan is the least of my problems. Because this time, the danger is hot on my trail, and not even my elemental Ice and Stone magic may be enough to save me from getting buried in the sand—permanently.

The Good
My Happy Place...
I am so giddy right now I just want to punch someone in the face. Okay, yeah, my happy place is a little violent but that's okay because I can blame it on Gin. She just brings out my feisty side. I can't even begin to tell you how much I LOVED By a Thread. It had everything: fighting, violence, suspense, horrible villains, kickass heroes, and a little side of romance. It's no secret that Gin is one of my favorite protagonists ever. And she's only getting better book by book.

Trouble with a Capital 'T'...
So Gin takes a vacation. What? Oh yeah, you heard right. Our lovable assassin (please don't tell her I called her that, I 'd like to keep all my appendages attached to my body) has finally decided to take a break. It's the only logical decision since everyone wants a piece of her after she came out of the assassin closet. But don't worry, we are talking about Gin here. Where Gin goes, trouble follows. This trouble happens to be a very powerful vampire (Dekes) who wants to obtain Callie's (Bria's best friend) restaurant by any means possible. Callie has no interest in selling her restaurant but as Dekes' goons like to say, "Accidents can be arranged." In steps Gin to save the day. But Gin might have bitten off more than she can chew because this vampire knows way more than he should. And we all know the saying, knowledge is power.

'D' is for Drama...and Donovan
I can't stress enough that this book had EVERYTHING. We get what we always expect from Estep: descriptive writing, dynamic characters, action galore, and drama, drama, drama. And when I say drama, I mean Donovan Freaking Caine. I actually hate Donovan more than I hate the villains. Why? Because we know the villains are bad guys, we expect it. Even they know that they are bad. They don't try to hide it. Gin knows the bad guys are going to come after her, hurt her, and she prepares herself for it. But Donovan is a whole nother story. He is the good guy, the detective who we should all trust. And he has hurt Gin more than anyone else ever has. His hatred for what Gin is is so strong that even our cold-hearted assassin breaks just a little under the scrutiny. Assassin's have feelings too, people. Donovan's conviction has uglied him in my eyes, and there is no coming back from what he did to Gin in the past. So when Estep brought him back for this book, my heart sank, but in a good way. I think it was time for Gin to finally confront him. I have to admit, I was stressed out over what would happen between Owen and Gin when Donovan came back into the picture. And that's all I am going to say about that because I don't want to spoil what happens.

Slices and Dices...
Gin was her old kickass self. She still slices and dices when the need arises, she still has her family to support her, even if Bria and Gin's relationship is a little strained, and she's still the ultimate survivor. I literally had to put the book down three times because I got so flustered and became a nervous wreck when she got into some hairy situations. I, one hundred percent, didn't have a clue how she was going to get out of this one situation. It seemed impossible. But Estep amazed me once again with her plausible and creative twists. Her writing actually pulled me into the story so much that someone was calling my name for five minutes and I never heard them until they shook me out of my reading coma. True story.

I am so happy Estep finally brought this certain concept up for a plot. I am not going to tell you what it is because that would ruin the surprise, but I have been thinking of this certain connection with vampires from book one, Spider's Bite. So to finally have it addressed and fully explained was very exciting.

The Crew's All Here...
Owen, Finn, and Bria were all there and awesome as ever. Bria still carries resentment towards Gin for being an assassin, which broke my heart because it's really starting to get to Gin. But how Estep addressed this issue was perfect. It all tied in very nicely. Owen is still the sweetest boyfriend ever. I don't think anyone could have written a better partner for Gin than Estep did. He is everything Gin needs: someone who loves her for who she is, not despite it, has the same need to take care of his family no matter the means, and who sees her strength and determination as something to admire, not belittle for. He is a male lead to revere and drool over. *Owen, will you marry me? Woah, Gin, I was just kidding. Put the knife down.*

When I turned the last page, I actually let out a breath of satisfaction. By a Thread addressed a lot of problems that have been weighing on Gin for a long time. Her life may not be perfect, but it's getting damned close. Which kind of makes me suspicious, like something bad is going to happen soon. But I will take my happy ending and sleep well for now.

The Bad
I truly can't think of anything I didn't like about this book. I use to complain that Estep wrote too much backstory and recap, but I didn't feel this way about this book at all. I am starting to think that the recap bothered me only because I read the first five books in a row. This book had the appropriate amount of recap that helped the reader get back into the story very easily.

The Snuggly
We get our token sex scene that is oh so naughty but not too risque. It's just enough to show us how much love Owen and Gin have for one another. How they crave each other no matter each other's pasts. Owen is the perfect man for Gin, and I can only hope that they stay together. Even Gin, with her coldness, has warmed up because of Owen and his unconditional love.

Overall
If you don't want to read this book or series, then something is wrong with you. lol. Just kidding. But come on, people, this is a fascinating series and book. It shouldn't be passed over. This is a true urban fantasy story that hits all the levels of perfection. I read By a Thread in a day and my nails were all but bitten off because the heart-pounding suspense on almost every page. A highly recommended read.

Excerpt

“Yeah, yeah,” I said. “I know exactly what you’re going tosay. I’m a bitch, this isn’t over, and I’ll be seeing you again real soon. If Ihad a dollar for every time I’d heard that, I’d be even richer than I alreadyam.”

Pete kept glaring at me, so I leaned forward so that my face was levelwith his.

“Trust me, dude,” I said, letting him see the cold violence thatalways lurked just below the surface of my wintry eyes. “You do not know whoyou are messing with, and you do not want to find out. Do yourself a favor. Whenyour boss Dekes springs you from the pokey, tell him that Callie Reyes isoff-limits and to find somewhere else to build his fancy resort—or he will besorry that he didn’t. You got that?”

The Elemental Assassin Series:
Spider's Bite, Book 1
Web of Lies, Book 2
Venom, Book 3
Tangled Threads, Book 4
Spider's Revenge, Book 5

Review: Immortal Rider by Larissa Ione

2012-02-20T01:38:00.000-08:00

Immortal Rider

Book #2 of the Lords of Deliverance

by Larissa Ione

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (December 2011)
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 326 (eBook)
Source: NetGalley
Purchase at: Amazon / Book Depository
Rating: ★★★½☆ (3.5 stars)

Summary
Sexy, powerful, and immortal, Limos is on a crash course with destiny. She’s been marked as Satan’s bride and her jealous fiancé wants her all to himself. The only way this Horseman can keep herself—and everyone else—safe is to keep her distance. But not even Limos can save herself from the secrets she’s kept . . . or resist the seductive allure of one very brave human.

Arik Wagner knows the saying “love hurts” better than most, yet he never thought stealing a kiss from Limos would land him in Hell. Literally. It takes all his military training to survive the demon torture, but once he’s topside, Arik realizes that the agony has just begun. With the Apocalypse looming and Satan demanding his bride, will Arik and Limos surrender to the desire smoldering between them? Or will giving in to their passion unleash hell on earth?

The Good
A Slap and a Tickle...
Since I did not read the first book in this series, it took me some time to get use to the characters and learn the lingo. Once I did, I quite enjoyed reading Immortal Rider. If you're looking for action, torture, and sex, this book is for you. LOL. Sorry, I just read that last sentence back and it's a bit rough. But, to be truthful, this book is rough. Ione is not the kind to shy away from any area when she writes. She creates in-your-face characters with gory and sexy storylines that leave an impact. She's my kind of gal. A good gritty read is fun sometimes. Immortal Rider is like a refreshing slap in the face, but with a silk glove.

The Devil is in the Details...
The Horsemen of the Apocalypse aren't really that bad. They don't turn truly evil until their Seal breaks (don't ask me what a Seal is because I am still trying to figure that out myself). When a Horseman's Seal breaks before a prophecized time, he or she can't help but turn evil and rain down hell on earth. But surprisingly, the whole Horsemen and Apocalypse thing is just a side story, for now. Limos, the only female Horseman, has bigger fish to fry. Like her fiance, Satan. Oh yeah, you heard right, Satan. Limos is starting to regret this 'deal' she struck with him so long ago. An eternity in Satan's bed can get a girl a little queasy, especially when that girl starts to have feelings for a human named Arik.

Arik, on the other hand, has more love-hate feelings for Limos. Sure, she's cute as hell and her strength cannot be compared, but when you spend a month being tortured in hell for just kissing her, well, a man can get a little skittish. They may both have ugly pasts, but if they could just trust one another, then maybe they can both overcome their personal nightmares.

A Horseman and a Gentleman...
I loved Limos from page one. She is feisty, strong willed, and can kickass like nobody's business. I found it interesting that she was the slightly more devious Horseman compared to her brothers. Her secret past was so shocking that I didn't know how anyone could ever forgive her. And that made her so much more fascinating. She was not always on the good side, which made her unpredictable and exciting to read about.

Then we have Arik. I wince even thinking about what he went through in hell. I don't care what anyone says, a little lip action is not worth torture in hell. But as you can guess, Arik isn't the most logical of people. Who falls in love with a woman who is the reason for their torture, a woman who can bring down Armageddon to all of Earth, a woman who has lied to the very people she loves to save her own butt? Yup, Arik does. But you got to give him credit, he is one strong son of a sea biscuit. He takes it, and dishes it right back. He is fearless, caring, and sexy. He pretty much takes Limos' past in stride and loves her despite her downfalls. I can't help but admire him, even if he is a fictional character.

A Balance...
Immortal Rider encompasses a lot of other characters but my favorites were Reaver and Harvester. Both are fallen angels of sorts. I wish I knew more about their stories. They both watch over the Horsemen but in different ways. There always has to be a balance between good and evil. So once one of the Horseman's Seal's broke, Reaver was put in charge of the good Horsemen while Harvester went with the evil Horseman. And boy, is she perfect for the job because Harvester is bad to the bone. The things she does to Reaver are just atrocious. And even with his hatred for what Harvester has done to him, Reaver still saves her from a horrible fate. That's when we see Harvaster's sensitive side. I don't know what Ione has in store for these two, but I can't wait to find out.

Back to the Start...
The action was simply fantastic and the characters were brilliantly written. Each one had completely different personalities which made them believable. The grit and blood in this book is abundant, and it only makes it that much more intriguing. The humor was very well done. It wasn't too corny, it was a perfect mixture of sarcasm and good-natured ribbing. I loved the concept, too. The four Horsemen of the Apocalypse trying to prevent their fate. Falling in love and learning what it's like to actually live instead of just exist. This book makes me want to read book one for sure.

The Bad
I am going to start off by saying that even though this book can somewhat be read as a stand-alone, I wouldn't recommend it. I, unfortunately, did not read the first book of this series so it took me maybe one-half of the book to catch up and understand all the terminology. I do wish I could have read the first book of the series because I think I would have enjoyed this book more.

My main problem with this book is the same problem I have with all of Ione's books. In a paranormal romance, I like to focus on the main couple. But Ione likes to branch out and have alternating chapters about different characters and potential couples for later books. I don't mind this usually, but with Ione, she overdoes it. I would say only one-third of this book was actually about Limos and Arik. I found myself skipping pages to get back to them, then pouting as I had to go back and read the pages I skipped because they were most often vital to the plot.

Some things were left unsettled which bothered me. It was confusing to have the characters all of a sudden no longer worry about things that took up a major part of the book.

The Snuggly
If you're squeamish when it comes to reading sex scenes, then this book is not for you. Ione is known for her sexed-up books and Immortal Rider does not dissapoint in that aspect. Some of the sex is aggressive, and an almost rape or two can also be expected. Nothing overdone or super uncomfortable. It all fit with the storyline and characters. The romance was charming some of the time, and other times it was more about dislike that slowly turned into love. I found it a little exhuasting how many couples we had to read about, but that's how Ione writes so I knew what I was getting myself into.

Overall
I knew I shouldn't have read book two without having first read book one. But I couldn't help myself. I love Ione's Demonica series so much that I had to grab at my chance in getting book two of Lords of Deliverance when it came out. But I still enjoyed the story and characters very much, even if I was a little confused some of the time. I think paranormal romance fans that like lots of sexual situations and action/fighting will love this book. A recommended read.

Quotes
He looked up as Harvester appeared in the doorway, a sheer black robe draping her sleek body. In her hand was a bottle of what he thought might be read wine. "Good. You're awake."

"Good," Reaver mimicked. "You're still a bitch."

She saunteered into the room. "I think someone woke up on the wrong side of his chaines."

~

"It would be smarter to hide the body so no one will know what happened to him, and no one can tie his death to you. There's no sense in drawing attention to yourself, Li"

"Helloooo. I am a Horseman of the Apocalypse, and I'm betrothed to the most infamous, most powerful demon in existence. I couldn't draw more attention to myself if I wore Lady Gaga's meat dress to a PETA convention."

In My Mailbox #2: I'm a Winner!

2012-02-18T15:45:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It's an opportunity to share the books we've bought or received in the last week!

So I haven't done a IMM in a while. I guess I was lazy and I haven't bought any new books for over a month. But I have won a lot of books and other stuff, so I thought I would share those with you.

Here is what I won in the past month or so:

That is not me in the shirt, it was provided by the blog website I won the shirt from. Here is the list of all the blogs I won these books and prizes from:

http://tsktskwhattoread2.blogspot.com/
http://www.pickedbypoison.com/
http://fullmoonbites.blogspot.com/
http://www.chelseafinebooks.com/
http://synchronizedreading.blogspot.com/
http://forget8me8not.blogspot.com/
http://ttoria.blogspot.com/

So far I haven't read any of these books. I am kind of behind on my review requests at the moment. So these shall have to wait, but expect some reviews of these books in the future. And thank you bloggers for hosting such great giveaways.

What did you get in your Mailbox this week? Leave a link in my comments. :)

This Blog Won the One Lovely Blog Award

2012-02-17T15:44:00.000-08:00

WooHoo. I have some great news. Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance has won the One Lovely Blog Award. This award is designed to recognize fellow bloggers andshow appreciation for their work. It was also created for people to pass these awards alongto deserving blogs so we can discover new and great blogs.Thank you so much to Celine and Ela from YA Anonymous - for YA Addicts for honoring me with this award.

Here are the following rules for this award:

1. Link back to the person that bestowed the award upon you.

2. Follow the person that bestowed the award upon you.

3. Pass along to 15 Lovely Bloggers!

Listed below are the blogs I think deserve this lovelyaward, in no particular order:

Sarah @ Saz101
Miss Vain @ Miss Vain's Paranormal Fantasy
Linsey @ Urban Fantasy Book Reviews
Kt @ A Book Obsession
Kristin @ GrowingUp YA
VampireNovelFan @ Your Urban Fantasy
Candace @ Lovey Dovey Books
Christine @ Reading on the Dark Side

Mariya @ Mystifying Paranormal Reviews
Becky @ Underworld Love Addiction
Jennifer @ The Bawdy Book Blog
Julie @ Yummy Men and Kick Ass Chicks
Shanan @ The Book Addict
Addicted to Heroines
Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews

Congrats to all the winners. I have chosen you because you amaze me with your book blogs. I feel each of you offer something that all readers would benefit from.

Author Interview: S. Ravynheart (Aftershock Blog Tour)

2012-02-16T00:56:00.000-08:00

Today I would like to introduce the author S. Ravynheart, co-author of Aftershock (click for review) and the rest of the Rise of the Unseelie series. This urban fantasy book and series has hooked me from the get-go. The fey mythology and fast-paced action is just purely amazing. The characters are so intriguing, and I can only assume that it's because of how Ravynheart and his co-author came about writing these books. It is quite fascinating. To learn more just continue reading. Enjoy!

Jennifer: I'm going to be honest: you're a genius. You'vemade it impossible for anyone who starts reading your series, Rise of theUnseelie, to stop at just book one. As you can guess, after reading Aftershock: Rise of the Unseelie Part 1, I am itching to get my hands on book two, Scars ofSilver. But before I get ahead of myself, can you tell us a little about Aftershock?

Ravynheart:Genius? *chuckles* Thank you. I'm glad to hear I'm not theonly one excited about the series. *smiles* I've been hooked on it since backwhen Archer and I first started role playing it out.

It has been foretold that the unification of the Seelie andUnseelie would mean the destruction of the Sidhe. Aftershock follows Jhaer,leader of the Unseelie Elite, on the day that this prophecy is put to the test.

After the unthinkable happens Jhaer must pick up the piecesand rebuild, well, everything. He must now pull together the remaining Sidhe,earthborns, untrained and as yet untapped potential, to recreate not just ahome for the Sidhe, but a home for all the Fey.

Aftershock is the first of five books in the Rise of theUnseelie miniseries. It begins as the Unseelie side of the same event takingplace in End of the World, but quickly goes its own way.

Jennifer: Oh yes, Archer told me all about the roleplaying that lead to the creation of this series. It's actually the mostinteresting reason for writing novels that I ever heard of. This actually makes mewant to know more about the author behind the book. Can you tell us a little aboutyourself? And please tell me your last name really is Ravynheart because thatwould be awesome. If not, I'm totally stealing it to name one of my characters.

Ravynheart:Aside from being co-creator of The Sidhe project, I am alsothe graphic designer for us. All of the covers, graphics on the website, theblog banners and all of our graphics were created by me. As for the nameRavynheart, that is actually the name of the very first character I ever roleplayed. Yes, The Sidhe are not the first characters I ever role played,although they were the quickest to flesh out. When we started in December of2010, Donovan was actually a nameless character. We thought he was going tosimply be “current enemy for this scene” then would get thrown away. But hetook on a life of his own and ran with it. *chuckles* He became the head of theUnseelie that we brought together, and became the bitter enemy to Lugh, thelead from Champion of the Sidhe. Donovan is me, I am Donovan. When you read theRise of the Unseelie, you’re seeing how I would react in the situations thestory puts him in.

Jennifer: Wow. I can't believe you did all the graphicsI've been seeing on the covers and website. You've got talent, that's for sure. Soyou're a graphic designer who knows how to tell one hell of a story. Now let'sget to know you as a reader. What kind of books do you like to read? Do youhave a favorite novel and author?

Ravynheart:Actually, I haven't had time to read much of anything latelyaside from our stories. I used to read horror and thriller back in the day. Iwould read Stephen King or Dean Koontz books every chance I got. But I haven'treally read much in that sense, in a long time.

I don't really have a favorite novel, except for the storythat we have going. By which I mean what you all are just getting a first tasteof. I could go on and on about the world, the stories, the characters, but,I'll bite my tongue and not bore you with those details right now. *chuckles*

Jennifer: I love King and Koontz. Great classic authors.So let's get back to your amazing book. What where the best and worst parts ofwriting Aftershock?

Ravynheart: Well, the best part of writing Aftershock was getting itdown the first time. Seeing the story play out right in front of me, notknowing what would come next until I witnessed it. The worst part is always theediting. Coming back later and seeing that I did not catch the real feel, thesights, the sounds, exactly the way I experienced them. Then having to changethings around to get the right words, the right emotion for what I experiencedwhen I first wrote it down.

Jennifer: Oh yes, that horrid editing stage. I have toagree with you on that one. So you said that the character Donovan is you. Thathow he reacts is how you would react in the same situations. Is his personalitybased off yourself as well? Do you usually base your characters off yourselfand the people you know or do you like to create from scratch, letting yourimagination run wild?

Ravynheart:Donovan's personality is based somewhat on my own. Actually,all of my characters have a part of me that they are based on. They each havetheir own personalities, their own wants, wishes, likes and dislikes. But deepdown, part of them is based on me. My imagination is allowed to run wild whereeach characters powers are concerned, but I can't seem to get into a characterthat doesn't share at least some small part of me.

Jennifer: I have to agree, it is hard to get into acharacter unless there is something in them that is based on a small part ofyourself. So, now for the odd question. Out of all the characters you havecreated, which one would you most like to have dinner with? What would the twoof you talk about and eat?

Ravynheart:I have dozens of characters that I've created through theyears, so that could be a difficult question, but I'll stick to the charactersfrom The Sidhe series. The one I would have dinner with would be Donovan, inthe Glamour Club, at his personal table just off to one side of the main dancefloor. We would have blackened chicken Alfredo while discussing the next bigplans for the Unseelie. Talking about whether we thought Trip might actuallystay with the group. And about the guys training, or, pretending to train, insome cases.

Jennifer: I know I would love to have dinner with Donovan.I love his tenacity. Before we part ways, can you tell us what we have to lookforward to from the rest of the Rise of the Unseelie series without giving toomuch away?

Ravynheart:The rest of Rise of the Unseelie sees the team learning whatit means to be Unseelie and beginning to control their powers. We will also seea key player join the group. The end of the series finishes with a major clashthat will throw the doors open for the next chapter in the lives of our youngUnseelie.

I just wanted to thank Ravynheart for taking the time to answer my questions. I can't wait to read your whole series to finally see how it all turns out.

Follow Friday #16 / TGIF #10

2012-02-16T00:45:00.000-08:00

Feature and Follow Friday is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read

This Week's Question: BeefcakeandBabes Asks - I like unique names for characters and am looking forward to coming up with some when I start writing. What’s the most unique character name you’ve come across?

Answer: J.R. Ward (Black Dagger Brotherhood Series) gives her characters hilarious names: Rhage, Zsadist, Vishous, Phury, Rehvenge, Xhex, Payne, and Tohrment. The first time I read the first book, Dark Lover, I laughed my butt off. I almost didn't read the series because of the ridiculous names. But now I am use to it and I love the series. Of course there is also Bones from the Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost. I love his name. I think it's cute. Yeah, I know, I'm weird if I think the name Bones is cute. But I can't help myself. I love Bones so much that his name is adorable to me. OMG, and Curran from the Kate Daniels Series by Ilona Andrews. A unique name and my Favorite sexy beast EVER!

TGIF at GReads is a Friday Feature hosted by Ginger at GReadsBooks.com! The point of TGIF is to re-cap on this week’s posts and answer the question of the week!

This Blog's Posts for this Week:

Follow Friday #15 / TGIF #9

Guest Post: Shadow Figures by Vanessa Morgan

Review: Worlds Burn Through by Vicki Keire

Blogspiration #5: Awe Inspiring Libraries

Teaser Tuesday #9: Immortal Rider by Larissa Lone

Review and GIVEAWAY: Aftershock by S.A. Archer and S. Ravynheart (Blog Tour)

This Week's Question: Book Blogger Pride - What do you take pride in when it comes to blogging?

Answer: I take pride in creating a unique blog look and my ability to learn the tricks of the trade by myself. It's nice to know that I did this on my own (mostly) and figured out all the difficult parts of being a blogger and overcame them. I take pride in making friends with so many bloggers out there who are so generous, helpful, and just plain brilliant. I also take pride in writing content that both helps and influences writers and readers. Every time some random person writes me saying they love my blog and are a fan, it makes my day. I take pride in introducing readers to traditional and self-published authors who create some amazing stories. And most of all, I take pride in how far I have come with my blog in a matter of four and a half months. Yaay, me! :)

Please follow my blog and/or comment on this post and leave a link to your post so I can return the favor.

Review and Giveaway: Aftershock by S.A. Archer and S. Ravynheart (Blog Tour)

2012-02-14T21:37:00.000-08:00

Aftershock

Book #1 of the Rise of the Unseelie Series

by S.A. Archer and S. Ravynheart

Publisher: Ravynheart Publishing (self-published) (October 2011)
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Pages: Novelette (eBook)
Source: Review Request from Author (Aftershock Blog Tour)
Purchase at: Amazon
Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5 stars)

Summary
The day the Mounds collapsed Jhaer, leader of the Unseelie Elite, sacrificed his strength, his magic, and his very life to save his world.

It wasn’t enough.

He thought that was the end of his story… Instead it is the beginning.

The Good
Aftershock is book one of the Rise of the Unseelie series, which is one branch out of three in a serial series called The Sidhe. All three series are set in the same world with interconnected characters. In this book we get to see what happened in End of the World from Jhaer's (Unseelie leader) point of view.

Jhaer is none too happy when he finds out his people, the Unseelie, plan to relinquish their authority to the Seelie court. But when he goes to confront the Seelie fey, all hell breaks loose. The fey mounds start to crumble for unknown reasons. Jhaer, with the power of Earth magic, survives the big collapse of the only home most fey have ever known. Though devastated at first, Jhaer is not one to wallow in self pity. Sure, the fey needed those magical mounds to survive, but there are always other options out there in the human world. So in order to stop the fey from Fading, Jhaer devises a plan of action. He begins to create his own fey haven in the hopes that other fey will come and learn to live off the Earth, as many exiled fey have done for years. He wants to lead these fey, protect them, teach them a new way of life, and start again. And him being the leader of these lost fey just happens to be an awesome side benefit. To represent this new beginning Jhaer renames himself Donovan. (I will be referring to Jhaer as Donovan from now on.)

I love that Donovan is creating a new world for his people. A place where all are welcome, especially the earthborn fey. He is determined not to Fade and his plans for his people are extensive. I was already initially impressed by Donovan's heroic ability to hold the mounds as long as possible so many of his people could escape with their lives. Then his resilience in picking up the pieces and starting anew only makes me admire him more. But he also has this bad boy side that I find sexy as hell. Donovan is the kind of man that will not be tamed, and hell, who would want to tame him? He's perfect the way he is.

The world building in the story was amazing. I walked away from this book and felt like I was still immersed in the fey world. The action was fast-paced and had my adrenaline pumping. The magical side was very intriguing and the characters were well fleshed out. Aftershock had that similar gritty feel as Cursed did, which I liked a lot better than the somber feel of End of the World.

I love the set-up for future problems with the wizards, vampires, and changelings. Each creature wants to possess the fey for different reasons, but Donovan wont allow this. He has no qualms in killing to keep his people from slavery, and I can't wait to see how much further he will go to save his people. Donovan's interactions with Dawn and Trip interested me the most. Dawn, who so looks like a fey but has the mannerisms of a human, and Trip, with her tortured past in slavery. I can't wait to see what Archer and Ravynheart have in store for Dawn and Trip.

Archer and Ravynheart's writing style is what pulled me in from the beginning and kept me glued to the pages all the way through. It is both beautiful and dynamic. I love the start to this series.

The Bad
You have to be prepared for the shortness of these books. Each book can be read in one sitting. I am getting use to it but it can be a little frustrating at first.

The Snuggly
No sex and pretty much no romance. But there is a hint of possible romance in the future.

Overall
I truly get excited every time I read one of Archer's (and Ravynheart's) books. I don't know how everything is going to be brought together, but I'm happy to be a part of this journey. I am already invested in all the character's lives and now have a little crush on Donovan. If you love a great urban fantasy book, then I highly recommend Aftershock and the Rise of the Unseelie series.

Excerpt
All hope shattered, leaving only fatalistic determination. Through raw force of will, Jhaer held aloft the vast cavern ceiling, allowing as many fey as possible the chance to escape, the stronger ones via teleportation, the lesser fey certainly crowding the portals that might whisk them to the surface. Alone, Jhaer balanced each rock, each clump of dirt. For miles. Sweat ran in rivulets down the strained muscles of his body. Holding. Binding. Unyielding. And yet fissures snaked through the cavern under the oppression of tons upon tons of earth overhead. Fissures Jhaer could not mend. Fissures that sheared as chunks broke free and rained from the sky. Chunks that slipped through his shattering strength. Jhaer dropped to his knees, giving all his power to the failing magic. The edges of the cavern crumbled, creating a cascade as each lost rock freed those above it. Rockslides like waterfalls poured down in a roaring that could not completely annihilate the screams of terror. Down the ceiling fell in ever greater pieces until the entire cavern plummeted down like a mountain to entomb everything beneath, burying alive everyone who had not already escaped. Including Jhaer.

Time for a giveaway. Anyone who would like to win the complete Rise of the Unseelie series, just enter below for a chance to win. Any additional information is on the Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teaser Tuesday #9: Immortal Rider by Larissa Ione

2012-02-13T19:45:00.000-08:00

Hosted by Should Be Reading

Here are the rules:

1. Grab your current read

2. Open to a page

3. Pick out 2 lines that are SPOILER FREE (I usually go over 2 lines, can't help myself)

4. Name the title, author, etc.

I got this Paranormal Romance book from Netgalley. I have not read book #1 but I've heard you can still enjoy the second book without reading book #1. At first I was a little confused, but as the book went on I started really getting into it. The only thing that bothers me is that Ione focuses on a lot of characters at once, not just the main couple. I find myself just wanting to read about the main couple and getting pretty bored with the other stories.

Title: Immortal Rider
Series: Book #2 of the Lords of Deliverance
Author: Larissa Ione
Teaser:
"You kissed me!" Eyes wild, she backed away so fast she lost her flip-flops. "Do you know what you've done, you idiot? You're going to pay for kissing me."

Son-of-a--

All around him, the ground began to rumble, and a second later, giant, spiny arms punched out of the dirt. Hands seized him, a dozen maybe. Agony wrenched through him as his limbs were twisted and pulled, and his skin was shredded.

Consciousness became a fluid thing, something he couldn't quite reach. His vision went dark, but his ears still worked, and before they shut down, he heard Limos' panicked voice, but what she said made no sense.

"Don't say my name, Arik! No matter what they do to you, don't speak my name!" pg 10

Leave me a link to your Teaser so I can take a look.

And I just wanted to say, I hope everyone has an awesome Valentine's Day.

Blogspiration #5: Awe Inspiring Libraries

2012-02-12T16:31:00.000-08:00

This week I thought I would present everyone with some truly beautiful libraries from across the world. Just looking at these pictures makes me tingle all over. I am such a reading junkie that seeing this many books in such luxurious and architecturally magnificent buildings takes my breath away. *New Goal in Life: Visit an Awe Inspiring Library once in my life.

Abbey Library St. Gall in Saint Gallen - Switzerland

George Peabody Library - Baltimore, Maryland

Library at El Real Monasterio de ElEscorial - Madrid, Spain

Have any of you ever been to a library that literally took your breath away?

Review: Worlds Burn Through by Vicki Keire

2012-02-10T21:33:00.000-08:00

Worlds Burn Through

Book #1 of the Chronicles of Nowhere Series

by Vicki Keire

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press (January 2012)
Genre: Paranormal Sci-Fi
Pages: eBook
Source: Review Request by Publisher
Purchase at: Amazon
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4 stars)

Summary
Chloe Burke has nightmares of a world burned to ash and the strange boy who saves them both.

Underneath the dreams lurks a deeply buried reality; Chloe and a handful of others are survivors of a decade old apocalypse that burned their home world to the ground.

Now their ancient enemies hunt them again. To keep their adopted world safe, Chloe must undergo a ritual of blood sacrifice that will have life-long consequences if she survives. Her lethal protector, Eliot Gray, must keep her alive long enough to do it.

Together they will uncover even more dangerous secrets buried in the past’s deepest, darkest ashes.

The Good
The goose bumps that engulfed my arms refused to dissipate the first few pages of Worlds Burn Through. I was sucked in from the get-go and didn't put the book down until I turned the last page.

Chloe has lived a somewhat normal life, but after her father's death, things just wouldn't go back to normal. Chloe and her mother now have a strained relationship, which is about to get even more tense as Chloe is pulled into a world of weird. For reasons unknown to Chloe, these creatures called the Abandoned are out to kill her, and only her guardian Eliot Gray, the boy who haunts her dreams, can keep her alive. What the future holds for Chloe, no one knows, but it's not going to be pleasant, that's for sure.

I would almost classify this book as young adult if not for some language that I haven't seen in a young adult book yet (though I have not read a lot of YA in general). But the classification I got from the publisher's website says paranormal sci-fi. But it could easily fall into the urban fantasy category with a potential in paranormal romance.

Chloe as a character was pretty interesting. She has not been the same since her father died. She doesn't find enjoyment in the world like she use to. And after some horrible things happen to her (sexual assault and an attack from horrible fire creatures), she is finding it hard to accept the new reality she is forced to now live in. But she has an obvious potential for strength that I think will grow in future books.

I liked Eliot a lot. His strength, both physical and mental, was quite obvious from the beginning. His care for Chloe was very endearing, and I can't wait until it takes a turn towards the romantic. His combat skills were noteworthy and made for some exciting fight scenes. But it was actually Alexander who interested me the most. He was not a big part of the book, but his short appearance made a huge impact. His fight is also with the Abandoned but in a whole other way. The Abandoned are using his influential family as a means to getting Chloe. Alexander may not know it, but through his aversion to these things that parade as humans, his political and financial battle with them may just save Chloe's life. His snarky attitude fits perfectly with his aggressive/jokester demeanor. I can't wait to see what he has in store for the Abandoned.

This book focuses on multiple characters, which at first irritated me but then became both exciting and essential. As a reader, it was nice to know what was happening in other parts of the region while the Abandoned sank their claws into numerous victims.

I am looking forward to learning more about the dynamics of the world Keire has created. The little background we get from this book was a great appetizer for what I hope will be a hefty load of world building we will see in the next book.

Worlds Burn Through is full of suspense and amped up my adrenaline through good old fashioned anxiety. I truly did fear for the characters and often held my breath, waiting to see how they were going to get out of some pretty dismal situations. Keire's writing is both streamline and mesmerizing. I will for sure be looking out for other books by this wonderful author.

The Bad
Really, the only thing that annoyed me was how abruptly it ended. The book doesn't end, it just stops in the middle of the story. Kind of like a 'to be continued' sort of thing. I don't mind cliffhanger endings, but this sudden ending bothered me enough to knock off a star.

The Snuggly
Not too much romance in this book but there is a lot of hints that there will be in the next book. No sex except for a scary close call of a sexual assault.

Overall
I can't wait for the next book. Keire has created a thrill ride of action, adventure, with a hint of romance. Though I wish the book was longer, I still enjoyed reading every page. Chloe, Elliot, and Alexander are all multi-dimensional characters that make this story a great read. I think Keire might be a hidden gem in the writing world and has a bright future ahead of her. A highly recommended book.

Excerpt
“Chloe,” he whispered, and the room around them exploded into a ring of fire. There were shapes in the fire, of people who were wrong, who were stretched too thin and who undulated with the flames. Their hands were flattened and sharp with fingers and teeth like razors, and she knew they had to get out. There were no adults to save them now. She did not cry out as the boy dragged her out of her bed. His slim body blocked her from the flames, his hands a strange alchemy of object, motion, and light. He cut through blood-colored flames with a single flare of gold, with a strength and steadiness that did not match his age, and walked through them, past razor-sharp hands that reached for them. He brought her to a place thick with the smell of forest and river where her mother waited, catching her up in the smothering embrace frightened parents reserve for their children. As she looked over her mother’s shoulder, she saw, through what looked like an arched, open door, a world engulfed in flames. There were tears on her cheeks, and she didn’t know why, except that a world was burning, her world, and there was nothing she could do.

Guest Post: Shadow Figures by Vanessa Morgan

2012-02-09T05:37:00.000-08:00

I would like to welcome Vanessa Morgan, the wonderful author of Drowned Sorrow (click for review). Her paranormal suspense novel is a creepy and enjoyable read that will leave you breathless. She has also written The Strangers Outside, which has received high praise among many reviewers. Both books are being turned into movies, so keep an eye out. Morgan was kind enough to provide us with a chilling guest post about Shadow Figures, things you might have come into contact with without really knowing what they are. If you want to know more about Shadow Figures and possible explanations for their existence, then just continue reading.

Shadow Figures

Vanessa Morgan

Shadow figures are human shaped forms that canbe seen out of the corner of your eye. They are opaque black and move quickly,and when you turn to face them, they vanish into the ether. They often comewith a feeling of dread and doom as if something bad is about to happen. Somebelieve that more people will see shadow figures when the end of the world willbe near. Strangely enough, the number of eyewitness accounts is increasing atan alarming rate. Is this because everyone is talking about this phenomenon soothers are admitting to it? Or is something more eerie going on?

These shadow figures were my initialinspiration for the dark hooded beings in my short story The Strangers Outside.Although I haven’t remained entirely faithful to the phenomenon (the darkfigures in The Strangers Outside are clearly visible when you look at themdirectly and even seem to come closer and closer), I have kept several of itscharacteristics such as their dark nature, their hooded shape, and the factthat they seem to be harbingers of catastrophes.

Shadow figures are commonly believed to bespirits or ghosts, but paranormal investigators argue that they are too fastmoving and too solid to be ghosts, that it is much more likely that they aredemons or inter-dimensional creatures that do not like for us to know that theyare watching. A minority also believes that they are time travelers or aliens.

There are also many scientific explanationsfor the presence of shadow figures. Humans are capable of seeing only a smallfraction of an object and filling in the blanks to understand what the completeobject is about. It is not uncommon to see part of a lamp post out of the cornerof your eye and believe it is a cat.

Also, living in a world with HD TV, computerscreens, and other kinds of electronics that constantly update their screens ata high rate of speed is changing our vision rapidly. Things we didn't see inour peripheral vision before are now available to us. A peripheral vision of upto 90 images per second is also able to handle faster light waves than thecentral vision of 3 to 4 high quality telescopic images per second. That meansthat your peripheral vision would be more likely the place to pick up somethingthat moves in a higher speed spectrum. Perhaps shadow figures are the onlyimages out there that are rapidly refreshing, other than our electronics, whichmight explain why we aren't seeing anything else.

However, those who have had encounters withshadow figures firmly believe in the supernatural aspect of this phenomenon.For them, the scientific theories only explain why we are able to see thesebeings, but they don't explain what they are or where they come from. One ofthe weirdest things is that some people do see them with their central vision,especially young people who trained their eyes on high-speed computers andtelevisions from a tender age while their visual perceptions are still forming.And what about shadow people who seem to have a mind of their own and move offto incredible speed when someone notices them? An eyewitness says: "Thefigure seemed to be made of darkness, no discernible features other than theoutline. It was mid afternoon and the kitchen was quite bright, yet the figureseemed to just absorb the light. For two or three seconds I stared at thefigure, then it seemed to notice me. As soon as it did it moved off to the leftat incredible speed, almost seeming to melt away in that direction."

Let's finish with your opinion on this. Whichtheory do you think is the correct one? And have you ever had an encounter witha shadow figure?

About Vanessa Morgan:

Screenwriter and novelist Vanessa Morgan isknown as the 'female Stephen King'. In her short story THE STRANGERS OUTSIDE,two sisters return to their remote holiday cottage after a day at the seaside.Soon after their arrival, they will find themselves surrounded by shadowfigures. When these beings make their intentions known, things take ashockingly terrible turn and an intense battle for survival will begin. TheStrangers Outside has also been turned into a film directed by Philippe Geus.You can find out more about Vanessa Morgan and her work by going to herpersonal blog http://vanessa-morgan.blogspot.com.

Also by Vanessa Morgan:

DROWNED SORROW (novel): A creepy story about aremote New England village where water has become a supernatural element thatcan think... and kill.

AVALON: Cute online cartoon series aboutVanessa's cat Avalon. Available at http://avalon-lion.blogspot.com

I just wanted to thank Morgan for this eerie article. I really learned a lot. I think I might have even encountered these shadow figures before. Which theory I believe, I am not sure. I may lean towards the scientific explanation but I always keep an open mind when it comes to the paranormal. How about you? Which explanations do you believe?

Follow Friday #15 / TGIF #9

2012-02-09T05:28:00.000-08:00

Feature and Follow Friday is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read

Question this week: What would your prefer, reading your favorite book over and over again until you got sick of it OR reading 100s of mediocre books? And why?

Answer: This is a hard one. I would probably rather read 100s of mediocre books. First, because I would hate to get sick of my favorite book, that would just make me sad. Second, I have to have new material to read or I would go crazy. Even if I didn't enjoy them as much as my fav books, I still rather read new stories with new characters.

TGIF at GReads is a Friday Feature hosted by Ginger at GReadsBooks.com! The point of TGIF is to re-cap on this week’s posts and answer the question of the week!

This Blog's Posts this Week:

Follow Friday #14 / TGIF #8

Guest Post: In Whom You Trust (Chapter 3) by S.A. Archer (Blog Tour)

Review: Undone by Rachel Caine

Blogspiration #4: The Power of Books

Review: Ties to the Blood Moon by Robin P. Waldrop

Teaser Tuesday #8: Worlds Burn Through by Vicki Keire

300 Followers GIVEAWAY

Review: Drowned Sorrow by Vanessa Morgan

Question this week: Love Stories - What are some of your favorite fictional love stories?

Answer: This is pretty much the easiest question ever. Though I fear I will have to cut down my list because an essay length answer is probably too much. So here are a few that I think stand out the most. I listed them by couples because I mainly read series and these love stories are still going on.

Cat and Bones: I don't think anyone who's read the Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost can deny that Cat and Bones are one of the most lovable characters in the urban fantasy genre. Though their relationship was a bit rough in the beginning--with Bones chaining Cat to a wall, half naked, and interrogating her--their love is so evident it sometimes hurts to read about them. I have never read so much love between two characters in my life.

Kate and Curran: My favorite urban fantasy series of all time, the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews, has my other favorite couple of all time. Their love story is very slow in that it takes them a lot of books into the series to finally get together. And with that lovely build up, their constant bickering, and their consuming love for one another, this is one of my favorite love stories of all time.

Joanne and David: These awesome characters are from the Weather Warden series (urban fantasy) by Rachel Caine. Though this series focuses on action most of the time, Caine also makes sure to add a good amount of romance. Joanne and David are a part of a love story (series) in which everything and their mother tries to tear them apart. But no matter the obstacles and the obvious reasons not to stay together, they hold on and tough it out. Thinking about them makes me want to cry with joy.

Phedre and Joscelin: Oh, God. Just thinking about the Kushiel's Legacy series by Jacqueline Carey exhausts me. These dark fantasy books are so rich in eloquent language and in depth plot that you will walk away in awe. And Phedre and Joscelin could not be more opposite. Their love grows despite heartache, loss, and horrors you can never imagine. Through it all, they had only each other. This built a bond like no other I have ever seen. Kushiel's Legacy series is the most breathtaking love story ever, though it is slow in coming. This is the first series in a long time that made me cry.

Claire and James: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon has another one of those love stories that will make you want to cry and whoop in joy at the same time. It is a historical romance that sucks you in and doesn't let go. Claire and James slowly get to know each other over time and what they go through together strengthens their bond that no one could ever sever. To me, this seems like the most realistic romance out of all of them.

Okay, maybe I ended up writing an essay for an answer. Sorry about that; love stories are my weak spot. I could talk about them for hours.

Follow me and/or leave a comment and link to your Follow Friday or TGIF post and I will return the favor.

Review: Drowned Sorrow by Vanessa Morgan

2012-02-08T02:07:00.000-08:00

Drowned Sorrow

by Vanessa Morgan

Publisher: Llumina Press (Self-published)
Genre: Paranormal Suspense
Pages: 188 (eBook)
Source: Review Request by Author
Purchase at: Amazon / Book Depository
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3 stars)

Summary
Megan Blackwood has just lost her only son in a terrible accident. Now she has come to Moonlight Creek with her teenage daughter Jenna, hoping a change of scenery might help to put her life and that of her daughter back together.

But something odd is going on in Moonlight Creek. When rain falls over the village, its inhabitants commit grisly murders, leaving the place deserted with the first rays of sunshine. Beneath the lake's surface, an eerie presence watches ... and waits .... Waits to reveal a tragic past drowned in mystery and fear. One that doesn't bode well for visitors.

By the time Megan realizes that her life, as well as that of her daughter, is in danger, it may be too late to escape.

The Good
Let me start off by saying that the author let me know that there is a movie of this book in the making and that Drew Barrymore is slated to direct. I want to congratulate Morgan for this huge step in her amazing career. I wish her the best.

I was heartbroken from the beginning of this story, sweated from fear and trepidation in the middle, and wanting to cry by the end. Drowned Sorrow was a rollercoaster ride of mystery, horror, and overall creepiness.

Megan has always put her job before her family. But after the death of her son and proceeding divorce from her husband, all Megan wants to do is try to rekindle her relationship with her daughter, Jenna, and save the family she so long neglected. Megan and Jenna have drifted apart since the tragedy and a vacation is just what they need to let go of past hurts and move forward. But Moonlight Creek is not all they hoped it would be. It's a town where the townspeople only come out of their houses during overcast, rainy days and where the general store only sells water, not food. After some odd and downright frightening experiences, Megan realizes Moonlight Creek is not safe for outsiders. But when she and her daughter try to leave, that's when all hell breaks loose.

Though the beginning was a bit slow for me (I will admit that the suicide of Megan's son in the first chapter of the book did evoke some strong emotions that kept me reading), once the book picked up, it REALLY picked up. I couldn't put the book down after the halfway point. More than a few times goosebumps showered my skin as the most eerie things I have ever read occurred in this freakish town. I couldn't help but put myself in certain situations and wonder what I would do. Probably die from fright, to be honest.

Megan was a hard character to like. She has a hard time caring about her family as much as she cares about her job. But she truly does try to do the right thing after her son's death. She wants to save her family and has taken steps to ensure this. Unfortunately, she picks the wrong town to vacation in. She tries to be strong for her daughter, and you can't help but admire her determination to survive.

I feel Jenna was the better character in this book. She had emotion that pulled you in, she had a strong will that was fun to see in action, and she even had a bit of mystery around her. She loves her parents but knows that her brother's death might have changed the dynamics of her family forever.

The horror in Drowned Sorrow was undeniably terrifying, and the townspeople were downright disturbing. I didn't know what to expect from them, and the unknown always makes me nervous. The paranormal aspect was very original and the twist at the end really took this book to a whole new level of intriguing.

The Bad
Though I liked the story overall, I just didn't like the disjointed feel of so many points of view. It got a little hectic, and I started wanting to put the book down because I got bored with some people's point of view. It made the story drag a bit.

Megan just seemed a little idiotic to me. She had so many warnings and creepy things happen that when she continued to stay in the weird town, I just started hoping something bad would happen to her because of her stupidity. Megan, as a character, was not likable. Though it didn't bother me too much, I just thought I would mention it for those who hate unlikable main characters.

There were some inconsistencies in this book that may cause you to read a page over again in confusion. A little more editing was definitely in order.

The Snuggly
Nothing really romantic in this paranormal suspense. No sex either. It's pretty clean. But there is love between characters, a type of caring that causes bad things to happen.

Overall
I had fun reading this book. The suspense was intense and the horror was abundant. Megan isn't my favorite character of all time, and the inconsistencies where a bit annoying, but the overall story was interesting. I know for a fact that when this book is made into a movie, I will be there the first day it comes out. Suspense fans will enjoy this book very much.

Quotes

Megan gasped as something brushed against her back. Startled, she flipped over and treaded water, glancing down into the water around her. She turned in circles, didn't see anything. She glanced again at the shoreline, content to see Jenna still there on the beach. She turned to look around her once more, surprised to find a man's head and shoulders emerging from under the water. She hadn't seen anyone swimming this close to her, but then, she hadn't really been paying that much attention as she'd floated. The man's face seemed awfully pale to her, and he stared wide-eyed and unblinking at her.

Seconds later, another face popped up to the surface, followed by yet another. Her heart began to pound. She offered a tentative smile and turned around, intending to head back to shore, but yet another man blocked her view of the beach. The hair on the back of her neck rose, and incredibly enough, the water seemed to grow even colder.

300 Followers Giveaway

2012-02-07T00:03:00.000-08:00

Yaaay. I made it. 300 followers. I want to thank everyone who has supported me and continues to support me and my blogging adventure. I love books and nothing makes me happier than sharing my love of books with everyone who has the same reading obsession. Thank you to my fellow blogger friends who put up with my craziness and my mom who reads every one of my posts and is my official grammar checker. Sorry for those lazy days, mom. I swear I didn't see that extra 'the' until you pointed it out. That's why you're the best!

For all my lovely readers, I have a special treat for you. The author, Robin Waldrop, was kind enough to supply us with 2 (two) copies of her Young Adult Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy ebook Ties to the Blood Moon. Click for my review of this book. This is an international giveaway that will have 2 (two) winners.

All I can say is I really enjoyed Ties to the Blood Moon. It was one of the better YA books I have read in the past couple months. It has everything a reader could want: action, fighting, romance, drama, and mystery. So enter below for a chance to win this awesome ebook. Any giveaway related info can be found at the bottom of the rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teaser Tuesday #8: Worlds Burn Through by Vicki Keire

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

Hosted by Should Be Reading

Here are the rules:

1. Grab your current read

2. Open to a page

3. Pick out 2 lines that are SPOILER FREE (I usually go over 2 lines, can't help myself)

4. Name the title, author, etc.

After Curiosity Quills interviewed me for their review blogger column, I asked for their ARC of Worlds Burn Through by Vicki Keire. CQ has their own Press that publish some amazing books. I am almost done with the book and I am in love. Though I wish it was a bit longer because I want to keep reading to see what happens next.

Title: Worlds Burn Through
Series: Book #1 of Cronicles of Nowhere
Author: Vicki Keire
Teaser:
“Chloe,” he whispered, and the room around them exploded into a ring of fire. There were shapes in the fire, of people who were wrong, who were stretched too thin and who undulated with the flames. Their hands were flattened and sharp with fingers and teeth like razors, and she knew they had to get out. There were no adults to save them now. She did not cry out as the boy dragged her out of her bed. His slim body blocked her from the flames, his hands a strange alchemy of object, motion, and light. He cut through blood-colored flames with a single flare of gold, with a strength and steadiness that did not match his age, and walked through them, past razor-sharp hands that reached for them.

Leave a link to your teaser so I can take a look.

Here is the Summary of the book if you are interested:
Chloe Burke has nightmares of a world burned to ash and the strange boy who saves them both.

Underneath the dreams lurks a deeply buried reality; Chloe and a handful of others are survivors of a decade old apocalypse that burned their home world to the ground.

Now their ancient enemies hunt them again. To keep their adopted world safe, Chloe must undergo a ritual of blood sacrifice that will have life-long consequences if she survives. Her lethal protector, Eliot Gray, must keep her alive long enough to do it.

Together they will uncover even more dangerous secrets buried in the past’s deepest, darkest ashes.

Review: Ties to the Blood Moon by Robin P. Waldrop

2012-02-05T14:47:00.000-08:00

Ties to the Blood Moon

Book #1 of the Ties to the Blood Moon Series

by Robin P. Waldrop

Publisher: Self-Published (Nov. 2011)
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy
Pages: eBook
Source: Review Request from Author
Purchase at: Amazon
Rating: ★★★★☆(4 stars)

Summary
A teenage girl is forced from her home in sunny California shortly before her mother dies in a horrific fire. Now living with her aunt in Alaska, she begins hearing myths that could only exist in fairytales…or so she believes. What were once just scary nightmares now haunt Genevieve's daily life. When it all becomes too much, she seeks comfort in the arms of her boyfriend, but something tells her he isn't what she things he is.

Fate now rules Gen's life. Can she complete her destiny and save the ones she cares about?

The Good
I am so happy I decided to read more young adult books. Ties to the Blood Moon was an adventure and a half that kept me enthralled from beginning to end. I just wish book two was already out because I can't wait to see what Waldrop has in store for her characters.

After her mother's death, Genevieve moves in with her aunt in Alaska. Everything may seem normal at first, but slowly Gen finds out that not all fairytales are myths. And as her world takes a turn for the weird, Gen finds out that her role in the chaos is vital to bringing peace amongst supernatural beings. And through all this, Gen falls in love with one guy while feelings for another start to surface.

This book was really fun. I read it in two days, staying up pretty late both nights. I couldn't help but turn the page to see what happened next. It kind of starts out a little slow but picks up pretty quickly a few chapters in. Even when it was frustrating as hell, I loved the constant mystery throughout the whole book. It kept me guessing.

Gen was a very interesting character. For a seventeen year old she is slightly immature, but I thought it gave everything a little more humor. Even when you feel bad for Gen and her many humiliating moments, her reactions cracked me up. I've never seen someone cry so often. But it worked with the circumstances of the book since Gen is going through some very terrifying and emotional changes. But she manages to keep on going, no matter the obstacles and many secrets constantly surrounding her.

William was a very mysterious sort of character. You don't know his true motives until the very end, which made it a little hard to really like him. Doesn't mean I didn't fall in love with him just as much as Gen did. There is something about him that makes me want to smile. I got all giggly every time he showed up and charmed Gen (and me, apparently) once again.

Gen's best friend, Luna, was very hot and cold. At first she is like the best friend everyone wants, then she has major jealousy issues. But considering this is a young adult book, it's to be expected that teens have their ups and downs and emotional dramas. I actually thought it was all very entertaining. Now Joseph, Luna's twin brother, was my favorite character. When you get to know him, he is a really sweet guy and you only hope for his happiness. But his feelings for Gen have only brought him grief since she is obviously in love with William. It's hard to watch Joseph's pain, and I can only hope he has something to look forward to in the future.

The fighting scenes were very fast-paced and exciting. I liked that at first Gen couldn't really take care of herself, but as she accepted her destiny, she became a better fighter and more skilled. I hate when books portray their main character being instantly strong for no reason. Gen is still growing into her new powers, which is how it should be. I still can't believe how many twists and turns this book had. When I thought I had things figured out, Waldrop would find a way to surprise me with each chapter.

I can't stress enough how much the mystery behind every action and dialogue between the characters really made Ties to the Blood Moon an intriguing read. If this is what I should expect from most young adult reads, then I am on the path to becoming a young adult junkie.

The Bad
There were some inconsistencies in this book that were a little annoying. Sometimes places or movements were described in an odd way and did not hold true the whole scene. Transitions were sometimes awkward and confusing, and I had to reread parts to understand what just happened.

I felt the ending was a little too convenient. Like Waldrop had to find a way to ensure a second book of the series, so she kind of threw things together to make everything fit. But it just felt forced to me. But it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book overall.

The Snuggly
The romance was a little more like an obsession at first, but eventually things begin to take a more loving turn. I, of course, like the love triangle in this book, even when I was sad when one guy gets left behind. There is a little sexual content which gets heavy near the end, but nothing over the top; it is a young adult book after all.

Overall
I can guarantee you that I will be reading the next book in this series one way or another. I loved the teen drama, the love triangle, and the unfinished business that will hopefully be solved in book two. The characters are interesting and I know they have the potential to grow into even stronger, mature characters. I recommend this book to all young adult book lovers. And be on the look out for a giveaway of this book, an author interview , and a guest post from Waldrop.

Quotes
All during class I sat with my head propped on my hand and kept catching myself staring at William. You know, one of those open-mouthed stares. Then, the most embarrassing thing of my teenage life happened.

“Miss Labreck,” Mr. Donovan snapped at the same time as he slammed his pointer stick on someone’s desk in the front row.

I jerked and sat up straight. “Huh … uh, yeah?”

“You can worship your Romeo after class. Right now we are talking about Juliet’s Romeo.”

A burning flush flew over me when the entire class busted out in laughter. I pulled my hoodie further over my head and sunk down into my seat as far as I could go. I would have gotten under my desk if I could have fit.

~

A couple hours later I woke up, my head felt like lead, and I had an awful taste in my mouth. It was cold and the wind was blowing. I cracked my eyes open and glanced around. Everyone was still asleep, except the pilot. His seat was empty and the back door was wide open. It took longer than normal for everything to register. I even looked behind me, thinking he might be in the bathroom, before it finally hit me … we had been drugged.

Blogspiration #4: The Power of Books

2012-02-05T01:24:00.000-08:00

The Power of Books

I thought this picture really captured what it's like to read an amazing book. I spent a little time thinking up which books I've read that fit each picture. For me the bloody pic represents Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews, the plant one is Claimed by Shadow by Karen Chance, and the fire one is Firestorm by Rachel Caine. What kinds of books do these pictures make you think of?

Review: Undone by Rachel Caine

2012-02-03T02:03:00.000-08:00

Undone

Book #1 of the Outcast Season Series

by Rachel Caine

Publisher: ROC (Febuary 2009)
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 305 (Paperback)
Source: Personal Library (Bought)
Purchase at: Amazon / Book Depository
Rating: ★★★★★(5 stars)

Summary
Once she was Cassiel, a Djinn of limitless power. Now, she has been reshaped in human flesh as punishment for defying her master--and living among the Weather Wardens, whose power she must tap into regularly or she will die. And as she copes with the emotions and frailties of her human condition, a malevolent entity threatens her new existence...

The Good
O. M. G. I was genuinely surprised by Undone. I did not expect to love this book as much as I loved Caine's Weather Warden series. But I truly did. It was everything one comes to expect from Caine and her beautifully descriptive writing.

Now that Cassiel has been struck from the Djinn race and turned into a kinda, sorta human, she has been having trouble assimilating to human living and emotions. And her assimilation process is violently cut short as something tragic happens that will change the rest of her life, short as it may be. But with the help of Luis, a strong earth warden, Cassiel is hell bent on destroying the evil entity that seems just as determined to eliminate the ex-Djinn. Of course, it's not going to be that easy as this entity gains power and followers each day, and its final goal might be more catastrophic to the human race than Cassiel first assumed.

I just love the world Caine has created in both series. There's never a dull moment in her books because enemies are just too abundant. Even the weather, earth, and closest friends are never what they seem. The action is ridiculously constant (which I love), and Caine's characterization is superb. Not one character is the same. Each have their very own personalities, mannerisms, and motives. And for those who miss the characters we have come to love from the Weather Warden series, you will get your Joanna, David, and Lewis fix in Undone since they do appear at the beginning of the first few chapters.

Cassiel is pretty much one of the most amazing characters ever. Reading about her transformation and journey in a human body was inspiring. Especially when she was one of the old Djinn who thought humans and the new Djinn were worthless beings. I loved how Caine made everyday human things seem so weird and odd through Cassiel's eyes. It made me see our world in a whole new light. Cassiel is both hilarious in her ignorance and frightening in her seriousness. It was so endearing how human emotions crept up on her ever so slowly. Her fondness for Ibby, the daughter of the warden who provides Cassiel with her energy to stay alive, was the sweetest thing I ever read. And Ibby was pretty much as cute as a button. She almost made me like kids...almost. Oh, and I am totally obsessed with Cassiel's hair. You'll understand what I mean when you read this book.

I really didn't get Luis at first. He seemed a little unnecessary, but as the book progressed he became vital to Cassiel's survival. I like the idea of him but he has not won me completely over yet. But I do love that he doesn't put up with Cassiel's crap. Come to think of it, he is probably a perfect match for her.

I was stunned with the twists and turns in this book. I didn't expect Undone to turn out the way it did. I wanted to cry most of the time because Cassiel's constant regret and sorrow over events she in no way could have prevented. But it's understandable why she blames herself, especially when loss is a new experience for her.

The big reveal at the end made my jaw drop. I wasn't expecting Cassiel's big secret to be so monumental. With this new information I know the next few books will not lack in the action or drama department. This series looks very promising.

The Bad
I truly loved every part of this book. Okay, maybe I wanted to pull my hair out when it ended on a cliffhanger. Okay, okay, maybe I DID pull my hair out, but just a little. My hair grows pretty fast so it's all good.

The Snuggly
Don't hold your breath for any snuggly. Cassiel was an unemotional Djinn who is now a slightly less unemotional human. Sex is not in her current equation, either is romance. But there is a scene that signifies future romance.

Overall
The constant adventure and "who done it" feel of this book made it one amazing read. Cassiel's haughty attitude and struggle to fit in with humanity make her a fun and unique character. And as her human emotions start to crack through her iron tough shell of her past Djinn attitude, you can't help but love her. Any fan of the Weather Warden series will easily adore the Outcast Season series. Highly recommended.

Quotes
I learned more of my human body, and the more I learned, the less I liked. Its machinery was too fragile and required too much maintenance. Food. Breathing. Finally, sleeping. The humiliating process of waste elimination was enough to make me wish fondly for oblivion.

~

The child bounced up from the couch and jumped in place, face alight with pleasure. "Cassie, Cassie, Cassie!"

I sighed. "Cassiel, please." For all the good I sensed it would do. Angela stifled a laugh.

I had no idea of the human protocol for such things, but I knelt down, and the child rushed my arms. Warm, chubby arms around my neck. A moist kiss on my cheek. "Ewwww, you smell like burning things," Ibby said.

Guest Post: In Whom You Trust (Chapter 3) by S.A. Archer (Blog Tour)

2012-02-02T03:11:00.000-08:00

S.A. Archer was kind enough to provide us with a lovely guest post for his End of the World Blog Tour. But this is no ordinary guest post. It is one chapter out of a short story he recently wrote. To read the complete story visit all participating blogs. If you are having any trouble finding all participating blogs, just click here for all blog tour information.

*ALERT! This is part 3 of a 6 part story. “In Whom YouTrust” is a prequel to the Champion of the Sidhe series, an urban fantasyadventure. This prequel is free for you to enjoy, and has been posted on 6websites as part of a blog hop to promote the series. Begin your journey atFey Cast for part 1. Follow the links at the bottom of eachsection to go to the next part of the story. Check out the details posted withpart 1 of the story to find out how to register for part of an awesome giveawayprize package.*

Guest Post:

In Whom You Trust - Chapter 3

by S.A. Archer

At Kaitlin’s insistence, they detoured to a shop in the feytown that thrived just beyond the castle walls. Lugh gallantly refrained fromany comment about the importance of clothes shopping when she had, mere momentsearlier, expressed the significance of her quest. Kaitlin found for Lughclothing very similar to what she herself wore. In short order Lugh was clad ina black cotton undershirt and a hooded sweat shirt with a zipper up the front.The denim jeans hung a tad looser from his narrow hips than he was comfortablewith, but Kaitlin insisted that this was the proper manner for contemporaryfashions. The running shoes were actual imports from the surface and notcreated in the Mounds to mimic human clothing, as was the rest of what he wore.

Once he was properly attired, Kaitlin rose up on her toes topull the hood over his head and cover his ears. He inquired, “Would not Glamourbe sufficient?”

“You can’t always be certain about Glamour,” she avoided eyecontact after that statement. It didn’t bode well that she’d have that insight.

In the next moment she teleported them away from the Moundsto the surface world above. The early morning glow of first light broke throughthe clouds in the east, and Lugh paused to experience the moment. The sun. Hissun. Standing before the sunrise now, he inhaled the air deeply, and almostimmediately suppressed a cough. Even in this field where she’d brought them hecaught the scent of industry and autos. The illusion of the sun in the Moundswas by his magic, and though he cherished the rare times he came to communewith the true sun, the very aspect of his personal magic, the prevalence oftoxins marred the perfection. One of the many reasons the fey of the Moundswere content staying home.

Kaitlin tugged at his elbow, turning him around to face thesmall gathering of vehicles situated in lines on a yard of crushed stones. Ah,the source of the stench. Lugh maneuvered about the autos, drawn by Kaitlin,until they crossed to the street side of the yard. It struck him as odd to havea large and random collection of autos in the midst of nothing but fields. Thepeople milling about all appeared human. As various groups finished fussingwith their gear, they hiked along a paved walkway toward a structure of somekind.

Not a structure, actually…

Lugh’s body stilled utterly, until even his magic seemed topaused for a beat.

With too many people close enough to eavesdrop; Lugh curledan arm around Kaitlin. He drew her against him and then hugged her in an ironembrace from which she could not easily squirm. His gaze never ceased to scanabout them for the slightest hint of danger. With his lips against her ear hehissed, “Stonehenge? You brought us to Stonehenge? Are you determined to perishin the most spectacular fashion conceivable? Or are you just completelyoblivious to the dangers of the wizard kind?”

“They don’t watch it like they used to. And besides, we’rein disguise.” She twisted to free herself but he didn’t allow it. “It’s notlike it’s Samhain or even Lughnasadh.” She mentioned the High Holiday namedafter, and in celebration of, Lugh himself. “These are just tourists. Justregular people.”

“We’re leaving now,” he growled.

“This might be the last chance, Lugh. If Manannan gets hisway, the courts will unify today.” She leaned back in his embrace, eyespleading. “This is the last chance to find Aoife, and maybe stop this. Please?We’ll be here for no more than an hour. I swear it.”

“If I spot one wizard, just one…”

“You’ll drag my arse kicking and screaming back to theMounds, I know, I know.” This time he permitted her to wriggle away andstraighten her clothing as she regained her dignity.

By the standing stones in the distance tents were beingraised and music began to filter across the field. “Is there to be acelebration?”

A woman close by heard his question and cheerfullyannounced, “Riley is here!” The energy in the group around her spiked as theyall started speaking at once, praising the wide and varied merits of this‘Riley’ person. Someone spouted the word ‘druid’ and Lugh’s eyes locked withKaitlin.

A few of the lads expounded upon the ‘cool magic’ that thedruid could perform. How he commanded real power. How he was showing hisfollowers the ‘old paths.’

All the while Lugh’s expression remained faultless, nothingbut pleasant to those that did not know him. No one but Kaitlin would see thefaintest notion of what he was thinking, and under the pressure of his evenstare the younger Sidhe finally broke. “It’s not what you think,” she whisperedto him, then cast a smile over her shoulder at the human, so they would notsuspect the seriousness of this conversation. “Just trust me.”

“As you said before,” his voice soft and for her sharp earsonly, “It is not about trusting you, but in whom you trust.”

“Just…” She shifted from one foot to the other, and thenback again. “Just hang back. Ok? Just trust me,” she repeated, and then finallybegged, “Please? You promised to behave.”

She was taking his promise in the broadest possibleinterpretation. Or perhaps, in Seelie fashion, she was attempting to persuadehim into believing he’d made such a promise, but he knew the words he’d spoken.‘Behaving’ wasn’t among them. “I always keep my promises.”

*Before you move on to the next part of the story, makesure to place a comment below to enter into the giveaway! You have to commenton all 6 parts to be eligible to win. The next part of the story can be foundat Gathering Leaves. And THANK YOU for joining us on this bloghop!*

Other posts on my blog dedicated to S.A. Archer and his books:

Review and Giveaway: End of the World by S.A. Archer (Blog Tour)

Author Interview and Giveaway: S.A. Archer (Cursed Blog Tour)

Guest Post: Playing Fair with Readers in Urban Fantasy by S.A. Archer (Blog Tour)

Review: Cursed by S.A. Archer (Blog Tour)

Follow Friday #14 / TGIF #8

2012-02-02T03:08:00.000-08:00

Feature and Follow Friday is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read

This Week's Question: Define what characteristics your favorite books share. Do they all have a kick ass heroine or is the hot love interest the Alpha Male?

Answer: My favorite books all have kick ass heroines. I love reading about strong women with interesting and snarky personalities. They are all witty and hilarious in their antics or sayings.

And, of course, my fav books all have paranormal elements. I love reading about a world that doesn't have the same rules and limits as ours. I find it more exciting to read a book with endless possibilities because that way I am always surprised.

TGIF at GReads is a Friday Feature hosted by Ginger at GReadsBooks.com! The point of TGIF is to re-cap on this week’s posts and answer the question of the week!

My Week's Post Re-cap

Follow Friday #13 / TGIF #7

Review: What Our Eyes Have Witnessed by Stand Litore

Giveaway: Audiobook of Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Blogspiration #3: Book Dominoes

Teaser Tuesday #7: Unknown by Rachel Caine

Curiosity Quills Interviewed Me for Their Review Blogger Column

Review and Giveaway: End of the World by S.A. Archer (Blog Tour)

This Week's Question: Book Appeal - When you're browsing goodreads, the library, or another blogger's reviews, what grabs your attention to make you want to read it?

Answer: The cover has to grab me. I like something that catches my eye or invokes emotions with just that one picture. I, unfortunately, judge a book by it's cover quite often.

I always look to see what rating a blogger gives a book first before I read their review. If I see lower than 3 stars (depending on their rating system) then I probably wont waste my time buying the book. I will still read the review but in the back of my mind I know I have no true interest in reading the book. On goodreads, I always look for the rating as well. Same rules apply.

In reviews, I look for when reviewers talk about great characters, an interesting storyline, fast-paced action, and when the word unique is mentioned. I like to read original ideas, not carbon copies of other books. I also like when reviewers mention that the book hooked them from the beginning. There has to be something that sparks my interest from the get-go or I will put a book down and not pick it back up for months.

Follow my blog and/or leave a comment with a link to your FF or TGIF so I can visit your blog in return.

Review and Giveaway: End of the World by S.A. Archer (Blog Tour)

2012-02-01T02:22:00.000-08:00

End of the World

Book #1 of the Champion of the Sidhe Series

by S.A. Archer

Publisher: Ravynheart Publishing (Self-Published) (October 2011)
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Pages: eBook (Short Story)
Source: Author Review Request (Blog Tour)
Purchase at: Amazon
Rating: ★★★½☆(3.5 stars)

Summary
The day Lugh, Champion of the Sidhe, has long fought for finally manifests; all Sidhe unified under one Court. No more Light versus Dark. No more wars. Brothers, one and all. But on the day that should be celebrated as their greatest triumph, treachery brings his world crashing down, literally. Now if he can’t find a way to stop it no fey will survive.

The Good
After reading Jhaer's story in Aftershock, book one of the Rise of the Unseelie series, I had to read this book to see the other side of the story. In End of the World, we get to see what happens to Lugh as the fey Mounds fall. And boy, was is heartbreaking.

For those who don't know, Archer has created three interlacing series that focus on different characters that live in the same world. All series, Touched, Rise of the Unseelie, and Champion of the Sidhe, interconnect somehow to create an amazing super series.

This series and book focuses on Lugh and his adventures after the fall of his beloved fey mounds. Lugh has spent his entire life protecting the Sidhe. And when a battle between Seelie and Unseelie begins to brew, Lugh is willing to do anything to defend his territory and people. Especially when something threatens to stop the attempt at unifying the two sides of Sidhe. But after a murder of a very important fey, things begin to unravel.

Lugh has this sense of entitlement that I actually find attractive in a character. He is so completely sure of himself that when something doesn't go his way he kind of crumbles. But you can't really blame the guy since the fey race is in grave danger of fading after the horrible events proceeding the fall of the fey mounds, the fey's home and magic source.

I love the direction this series is going. Lugh has already formed a plan of action to save his people and I can only guess what sort of obstacles he is going to face.

The tale about how the mounds were created really intrigued me, and I can't wait to see how Lugh is going to fix the mess his people are in. Expect action, a fast-paced plot, and oodles of drama in this read.

The Bad
There was nothing wrong with this story. I just found it too short to thoroughly enjoy. I don't mind short reads, but not enough happened in this book for me to really get into it. So far, I like the other two series a lot more, but then again, this is only book one of this series so I am hoping for something substantial for book two.

The Snuggly
No snuggly or romance in this book. Just action and heartbreak, which can be just as fun if you're sadistic like me. :)

Overall
I really did enjoy this story, I just found the beginning of the other two series a little more interesting. This is a fun little story that will leave you wanting more. I can already see Lugh being a very entertaining character. A recommended read.

Quotes
Heart pounding, he used the handrail to catapult himself as he raced up the long, curving stairwell to the second level. No one need tell him where to find the All-Mother. All fey connected to the Mounds possessed a sense of her. No guards manned the watch outside the throne chamber. No bodies strewn about to explain their absence. No blood. No dropped weapons. Fear for friends and lovers kindled behind the greater dread that brought him to a sliding stop on the dust-covered floor just inside the chamber.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway below for a chance to win End of the World as well as the rest of the Champion of the Sidhe series.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Curiosity Quills Interviewed Me for Their Review Blogger Column

2012-01-31T14:01:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to announce that I was contacted not too long ago by Verity Linden at Curiosity Quills. Curiosity Quills is an active community site built around literature aficionados of various bents. This website posts articles about writing tips and marketing your books, as well as genre discussions. The site is also host to high quality free fiction in the form of a small number of serialised novels, and professionally edited short stories.

They presented me with their idea for a new weekly review blogger column:

Review blogs are well established by now as one of the best and most popular routes by which readers find recommendations for good quality books in the endless slush pile of new and otherwise unknown authors. This is word of mouth, made grand and far-reaching by the power of the internet age, and Curiosity Quills plan to host a weekly column about it.

The column will focus on and interview a different review blog every week, talking about the blogger’s passions, favourite books, how and why they blog, personal projects and what makes them chose to review one book over another (as the TBR pile is always so much higher than the time available!), among other things. We want to highlight blogs readers can rely on for quality, unbiased reviews to help them find books they will truly enjoy.

And guess what? I am the FIRST review blog that they have interviewed. I was so honored that they contacted me. Plus, I think it's great that they are helping out us book bloggers by featuring us and our work.

I just want to say I had a great time doing this interview, though I found being on the other side of the interview quite nerve-wracking. I now give major credit to the many authors who I have interviewed lately because now I know how it feels. Though I know I wasn't the best interviewee ever, I still had fun, and I am so grateful to Curiosity Quills for this amazing opportunity to be a featured blogger this week. So, without further ado, please check out my interview by clicking this link: http://curiosityquills.com/book-blog-spotlight-reading-writing-urban-fantasy-paranormal-romance/

I also wanted to mention that CQ also runs Curiosity Quills Press, a small, independent publisher with a small stable of carefully chosen authors. Their catalogue for Review Copies can be found at http://curiosityquills.com/request-review-copies/. I actually took advantage of this and am currently reading Worlds Burn Through by one of their amazing authors, Vicki Keire.

Teaser Tuesday #7: Unknown by Rachel Caine

2012-01-30T17:56:00.000-08:00

Hosted by Should Be Reading

Here are the rules:

1. Grab your current read

2. Open to a page

3. Pick out 2 lines that are SPOILER FREE

4. Name the title, author, etc.

After the end of Rachel Caine's Weather Warden series, I was undeniably depressed. I both love and hate when a series ends. I love that I got to be a part of a character's world and see their adventures to the end. But I'm also sad because I know I will miss reading about my favorite characters' lives. So you can imagine how ridiculously excited I was when I realized I had bought the branch off of the Weather Warden series called the Outcast Season series and simply forgot. It is set in the same world and my favorite characters from the Weather Wardens also make appearances. I devoured book one in under a day and now I am on book two. I LOVE this new series and am counting the days until book three comes out, which is on February 1st. Yaaaay.

Title: Unknown
Series: Book #2 of the Outcast Season Series
Author: Rachel Caine
Teaser:
They (bikers) surrounded my Victory in a ring of metal and bodies.

I straddled the motorcycle, tossed the empty bottle effortlessly in the trash twenty feet away, and said, simply, "Move."

They laughed.

"That's a whole lot of bike for you, lady," one of them said. "You sure you can handle it?" That woke suggestions from several about what else I could handle, or might want to.

For answer, I gave the speaker a brilliant, false smile. "Your bike is also nice," I said. "Is it a ten speed?" pg 106

Make sure to leave a link to your teaser so I can take a look. Thanks for stopping by.

Blogspiration #3: Book Dominoes

2012-01-29T20:35:00.000-08:00

I don't have anything too inspirational for this week. But I did find this interesting YouTube video that made me smile. So I wanted to share that smile with the rest of you. Plus, I never put a video on a post before so this is kind of a practice run to see if I can do it. It's pretty sad when my adventure for the day is embeding code in a post for a video. :D

Hope everyone has a great week. Blogger Power Unite!!!

Giveaway: Audiobook of Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon

2012-01-28T16:02:00.000-08:00

Esther Bochner, Senior Publicist of Macmillan Audio, contacted me recently. He generously offered to let me giveaway one paranormal romance audiobook of Retribution (Book #20 of the Dark-Hunter series) by Sherrilyn Kenyon. I want to thank him for providing such a wonderful prize to giveaway on my blog. He also gave me a sample audio clip that can be found at the bottom of my Review of Retribution. Please enter to win below.

Harm no human...

A hired gunslinger, William Jessup Brady lived his life with one foot in the grave. He believed that every life had a price. Until the day when he finally found a reason to live. In one single act of brutal betrayal, he lost everything, including his life. Brought back by a Greek goddess to be one of her Dark-Hunters, he gave his immortal soul for vengeance and swore he’d spend eternity protecting the humans he’d once considered prey.

Orphaned as a toddler, Abigail Yager was taken in by a family of vampires and raised on one belief- Dark-Hunters are the evil who prey on both their people and mankind, and they must all be destroyed. While protecting her adoptive race, she has spent her life eliminating the Dark-Hunters and training for the day when she meets the man who killed her family: Jess Brady.

A gun in the hand is worth two in the holster...

Jess has been charged with finding and terminating the creature who’s assassinating Dark-Hunters. The last thing he expects to find is a human face behind the killings, but when that face bears a striking resemblance to the one who murdered him centuries ago, he knows something evil is going on. He also knows he’s not the one who killed her parents. But Abigail refuses to believe the truth and is determined to see him dead once and for all.

Brought together by an angry god and chased by ancient enemies out to kill them both, they must find a way to overcome their mutual hatred or watch as one of the darkest of powers rises and kills both the races they’ve sworn to protect

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: What Our Eyes Have Witnessed by Stant Litore

2012-01-27T04:06:00.000-08:00

What Our Eyes Have Witnessed

Book #2 of the Zombie Bible Series

by Stant Litore

Publisher: Dente's Heart (Self-Published) (December 2011)
Genre: Dark Fantasy / Horror
Pages: eBook
Source: Review Request by Author
Purchase at: Amazon
Rating: ★★★★★(5 stars)

Summary
Father Polycarp has a Gift. He can bring peace and rest to the restless dead.

At his touch, each hungering corpse lies still at last. But to do this, he must first look into each one's blind eyes and find the remnant of the soul caught within the shambling corpse. He must witness each one's secrets, each one's suffering -- all that each had loved and feared and regretted in their brief lives. Only then can he absolve them and set them free. Only then will they cease to walk and feed.

But Polycarp may be burned for it.

In this alternate history of second-century Rome, the lives of the early martyrs are retold as a chapter in humanity’s long struggle with hunger and with the hungry dead. This isn’t your parents’ Sunday School. It isn’t your college bible study or history class. It’s the old stories coming back, with teeth, carved open so you can see every beat of their hearts. The Zombie Bible is a lethal series that wrestles with the violence of human hunger and the power of hope. This novel is its second installment.

The Good
If I was going to write a one word review, it would be WOW. Just like the previous book, I was speechless when I finished What Our Eyes Have Witnessed. Litore once again surrounds us in a world so realistic, so horrific that you want to shield your eyes from the words that so effortlessly paint a picture of hope, despair, and hunger.

Father Polycarp has seen the withered souls of the walking dead in their sightless eyes. He knows what causes the dead to rise and devour without thought. It is the very people of Rome that curse themselves. In a time when Rome was fresh with rising power, its people appeased their dead ancestors with food while men, women, and children wasted away on the streets for circumstances beyond their control. Their dismal placement in the caste hierarchy dictates their future. A future of slavery, of hunger, and of death. But if the people of Rome could only see that it's this very separation, their rejection of people who they consider lower than themselves that has brought the very destruction they so helplessly want to end, then maybe Rome could thrive. Polycarp sees this. His followers see this. Regina, his closest friend, follower, and insula manager sees this. But the person who could do the most good, initiate the most change refuses to see. Cauis has lost too much already to yield. No, he will see the destruction of Polycarp no matter the consequences.

You can't help but admire Polycarp's determination and courage in this story. He looks the dead in the eye, sees their true selves, and sets their tortured souls free. He helps those who others throw away. He provides for those who cannot provide for themselves. And he stands up to his convictions even when faced with the possiblity of a horrific death by fire. And even when it is obvious that Cauis and the jury of his peers refuse to see the truth, Polycarp holds firm to his beliefs and faces the prospect of death with stoic calm and grace. This is a man I could truly admire.

I wanted to hate Cauis. A man with power who refuses to do what's right. But I found that I could easily sympathize with him. Because to him his acts of violence and unreasoning are the right solutions. Forcing himself to be blind to alternatives, he truly believes that the destruction of Polycarp, the desecrater of Rome's ancestors, the man who spreads his mass delusion to the youth of Rome, is the answer to silencing the dead that bang on the doors of the living. He is driven by the atrocities in his own life, and he truly wants to save Rome and its people. He is simply ignorant and rigidly set in his ways. To change the very social structure of Rome is unthinkable. He would rather hold onto the lies that Rome lives on while Polycarp would rather face the truth head on and find a resolution that benefits all. Cauis will always do what he thinks is best for Rome's aristocracy, even if it dooms them all.

Personally, I think this story is truly about Regina. The freed pleasure slave that has found a home in Polycarps insula. There she is domina, the head of the household. Her love for the man who freed her, Polycarp, is a love of depth, gratitude, and admiration. Though Polycarp may struggle with his attraction to Regina, he never allows such lust to come to fruition, even though Regina may wish it otherwise. In Polycarp's eyes she sees a better future for herself and all of Rome. I fell in love with Regina's character very easily. Her emotions are so strong and heart-wrenching that I almost wept for her pain. Her faith in Polycarp and his God may be tested, but she never fails to amaze me with her courage to stand up for what she believes in when it is most important. I loved the underlying tone of female empowerment in this book. In a time when women were considered almost worthless, Regina shows that women can also have the power to make a difference.

Litore has created a cast of characters like no other. They all have honor, strength, and devotion in their own way (well, almost all of them). Their faith, valor, and love are all tested, and in the end, each one comes out a hero (even Cauis in a small way) through their actions and words.

Though What Our Eyes Have Witnessed provides us with an alternative biblical history, it is not a religious story. It is a story of poverty, injustice, human frailty, as well as hope, courage, and belief in oneself. Oh, and zombies. Can't forget the zombies. Litore has a way of writing action scenes so chilling and real that you can feel the breath of the dead warm the back of your neck. There were many times that I couldn't help but hold my breath as zombies made their presences known. Their moans becoming louder as they neared. The sight of their disfigured bodies as they reached for another victim. This book was definitely chock full of zombies to satisfy any zombie-loving reader.

The historical content was abundant and obviously thoroughly researched. The characterization was superb, as well as the detailed description.

The Bad
There really wasn't anything bad about this book. I loved reading every minute of it. I don't know how Litore did it but it even surpassed the first book of the series, Death has Come Up into Our Windows.

The Snuggly
I loved the sexual tension in this book. It was nothing risque, it was actually quite charming.

Overall
I still can't get over the beautiful horror of Litore's writing. This is a story of tragedy but with a glimmer of hope for the future. Regina was a breathtaking character that stole the show for me. She, and people like her, are what Polycarp is fighting for, and I can only hope that his teachings will show up in Litore's future Zombie Bible books. What Our Eyes Have Witnessed was another awe-inspiring take on the zombie genre that truly changed me as a reader. Even as I write this review my eyes mist over because Litore has created a world that even today slightly holds true. Looking past the zombies, you will find that Litore writes about the very core of human error and it has both humbled me and made me appreciative of the life I live. Highly recommended.

Quotes
The alley was filled with dead. The light of the lamp Polycarp held brought them out of the dark, showing the gashes and bites in their gray skin in stark detail. For a moment, his hand shook, and the light guttered. The dead slouched and slid along the wall of the insula toward him; several milling at the outlet to the Via Aquae Bruneae turned their heads with unnatural slowness, and their eyes reflected back the lamp. Their mouths opened, filling the alley with the low groaning of their hunger.

~

The guardsman slid his captives from his shoulders; Regina felt the pavement hit her back and rump hard, and sucked in her breath. The fourth walking corpse bent and snatched at her hair. But the guardsman’s knife slid from its sheath in a song of metal, and he drove his blade into the creature’s chest. That did not slow it. Regina cried out as she felt her head lifted by the hair, her wrists tied helplessly beneath her. The thing’s face a shadow above her, its teeth reaching for her. She tried to speak, to beg, to scream – no sound came.

~

"We are all on trial,” he cried. “Our dead are here to demand answers, and we are out of time. We have to choose, now, this day. Will we have a City divided into the eaters and the eaten – a City populated in the end only by the hungry dead! – or will we build a City where we break bread together, all of us, Roman and Greek and Syrian, male and female, master and slave, not feeding on each other but feeding and sustaining each other? Give me your verdict, please, then let me rest. The past few days have been more exhausting than any in my life. I will admit that I would rather die in my bed than in a fire. But now, if you can’t manage to look at the truth and decide what to do about it, I am done talking with you.”

Follow Friday #13 / TGIF #7

2012-01-26T18:59:00.000-08:00

Feature and Follow Friday is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read

This Week's Question: Which book genre do you avoid at all costs and why?

Answer: I really love all genres but I do try to avoid books with endings that are so horribly sad that I want to sit in bed and cry myself to sleep. But, when I really think about it, I do not like reading memoirs very much. I have read some pretty good biographies from famous or historical figures but memoirs by people I don't know is a no-go for me. I don't think I am interested in the western genre, but I am not really sure since I never read a book from this genre yet. Hmm, maybe I should read a western book first so I can say for sure if I like the genre or not. Probably shouldn't assume.

TGIF at GReads is a Friday Feature hosted by Ginger at GReadsBooks.com! The point of TGIF is to re-cap on this week’s posts and answer the question of the week!

My Posts for this Week:

Review: Cursed by S.A. Archer (Blog Tour)

Follow Friday #12 / TGIF #6

Author Interview and Giveaway: S.A. Archer (Cursed Blog Tour)

Guest Post: Playing Fair with Reader in Urban Fantasy by S.A. Archer (Blog Tour)

Review: Kevin's Point of View by Del Shannon

Blogspiration #2

Teaser Tuesday #6

Review: Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon

This Week's Question: Buy or Borrow: Where do your books that you read come from? The bookstore? The library? Do you prefer to own a book, or have it on loan?

Answer: The majority of my books I buy from amazon. I love buying books in bulk about every one to two months. I never get books from the library. I like to own my books, plus I am a Germaphobe and library books creep me out because I know they have millions of germs on them. I have never been a part of book loaning or swapping either. I do get free books from publishers and authors occasionally, both ebooks and hard copies. I have recently signed up for netgalley.com which I am starting to love. So I will probably be getting my books evenly from amazon and netgalley for now on.

I still and will always love owning my own books. I love the feel of them in my hands and looking at the beautiful colors and designs of their covers. I like being able to reference back to them and marking them up when I find a quote I like.

Follow me and leave a comment and link to your Follow Friday or TGIF so I can follow back and leave a comment as well.

Review: Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon

2012-01-24T16:46:00.000-08:00

Retribution

Book #20 of the Dark-Hunter Series

by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Publisher: St. Martin's Press (August 2011)
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 420 (Hardcover)
Source: Personal Library (Purchased)
Purchase at: Amazon / Book Depository
Rating: ★★☆☆☆(2 stars)

Summary
Harm no human...

A hired gunslinger, William Jessup Brady lived his life with one foot in the grave. He believed that every life had a price. Until the day when he finally found a reason to live. In one single act of brutal betrayal, he lost everything, including his life. Brought back by a Greek goddess to be one of her Dark-Hunters, he gave his immortal soul for vengeance and swore he’d spend eternity protecting the humans he’d once considered prey.

Orphaned as a toddler, Abigail Yager was taken in by a family of vampires and raised on one belief- Dark-Hunters are the evil who prey on both their people and mankind, and they must all be destroyed. While protecting her adoptive race, she has spent her life eliminating the Dark-Hunters and training for the day when she meets the man who killed her family: Jess Brady.

A gun in the hand is worth two in the holster...

Jess has been charged with finding and terminating the creature who’s assassinating Dark-Hunters. The last thing he expects to find is a human face behind the killings, but when that face bears a striking resemblance to the one who murdered him centuries ago, he knows something evil is going on. He also knows he’s not the one who killed her parents. But Abigail refuses to believe the truth and is determined to see him dead once and for all.

Brought together by an angry god and chased by ancient enemies out to kill them both, they must find a way to overcome their mutual hatred or watch as one of the darkest of powers rises and kills both the races they’ve sworn to protect.

The Good
I actually bought this book a couple months ago when it just came out. I read the first chapter then put it down and haven't picked it up again until a couple days ago. For some reason, Retribution just didn't keep my attention at first. But I did start getting into it the more I read.

Jess was an interesting character. He has a past that still haunts him, but he lives his life as a Dark Hunter with determination. He's strong, courageous, and sexy as hell. You can't help but feel bad for him with what he went through, so you really want him to have a happy ending.

Abigail has had just as hard of a life as Jess. She was brought up to believe lies that has pit her against the one person who is vital to her destiny. She has gone above and beyond to gain strength in the hopes that one day she will defeat the person who killed her parents. But we learn that Abigail might have been fighting the wrong side this whole time.

I like when girls get to kick just as much butt as the boys, so Abigail was a fun character for me. You can't help but feel horrible for her when she realizes most of what she has believed in has been a lie. But her determination to make things right is honorable, even if you want to yell at her to fight harder to live for the people she loves. And she does love Jess. Even in the small amount of time they had together, they find something in each other that they can't live without. And we learn their destiny goes farther back than anyone can imagine.

The action was non-stop and Kenyon's obvious research was very in-depth. You will learn a lot about Native American culture in this book. I loved the side characters, too. Ren and Sasha were hilarious. Choo co la tah was...interesting. At first I found him annoying because of his constant spewing of wise sayings but then I realized that's just how he rolls. *giggles* He is a little eccentric and it actually makes him more mysterious.

The Bad
You might ask yourself why I didn't really say anything about the actual story. Well, that's because I just didn't like it at all. This is probably the worst book out of the whole series. The plot was confusing because Kenyon interwove so much Native American legends and mythology that I just couldn't keep track. I felt like she overcomplicated this story to the point that I wanted to give up trying to understand what the hell was going on.

Though I liked Jess and Abigail as characters, I did not like them as a couple. They tell us they love each other but it happens so fast it's unrealistic. I don't want to give too much away but their love comes more from past incidents. So I felt like we got jipped since we were not there to witness their love build.

A lot of the conversations were a little too corny for my taste. This book was filled with so much cheese that is was hard to swallow.

The ending was very dissatisfying. They spend this whole time chasing the bad guys then almost nothing is resolved at the end. Really? I mean REALLY? I don't like pointless books. The only thing Retribution does is set up a new dilemma for the Dark-Hunters to fix. Yay. In case you didn't catch it, that was a sarcastic yay.

The Snuggly
One sex scene that seemed so out of place that I couldn't really enjoy it.

Overall
I only mildly enjoyed reading some of this book. I liked reading about the characters and their personal stories of loss and pain (because that's the only time I felt emotion towards them), but that's about it. I would have given this book one star if not for the bonus scene at the end that shows Ash and Tory having their first baby. That was all kinds of fun right there. If you read this series, you might as well read this book since events in this installment will be important to know for the next books in the series. But I would not recommend this book for people who do not follow this series. However, I would recommend the series as a whole. I have always loved the Dark-Hunters and will continue reading every one of their stories.

Quotes
"You keep talking to me like that, cowboy, and you might get lucky tonight."

"I already got lucky tonight."

"Mmm, so you're a one-shot-a-night guy, huh?"

He laughed in her head. "Ah, now, sugar, I didn't say that. The stallion never minds an all-night ride, especially when it's a wild one."

"Stallion? That's some ego you have there."

"It's not ego when it's true."

~
Jess pulled a couple (tissues) out and wedged them into his nostrils. He gave Abigail a sheepish smile. "Sexy, right?"

"Oh yeah, baby. You're so hot right now, if I was chicken I'd lay hard-boiled eggs."

Audio Sample of Book:

Teaser Tuesday #6

2012-01-23T18:26:00.000-08:00

Hosted by Should Be Reading

Here are the rules:

1. Grab your current read

2. Open to a page

3. Pick out 2 lines that are SPOILER FREE

4. Name the title, author, etc.

I bought Retribution a while back when it was actually the latest published book of the Dark-Hunter series. But I didn't get to it for a little while. I started reading it a couple months back and just stopped. I couldn't get into it. Now I am almost done with it and found I liked it better as it went on.

Title: Retribution
Series: Book #21 of the Dark-Hunter Series
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Teaser:

"Oh my God! Are you all right? Are you alive? Did I hurt you?" She clutched at his body as if trying to find an injury. "Jess? Can you speak?"

It was so wrong, but he couldn't help grinning at her panic. No woman had been this scared for him in a long while. "Yeah, I can talk. But I kind of like the attention you're giving me. You want to grope a little lower, it'd be even better." pg 201

Please leave the link to your teaser so I can check it out.

Blogspiration #2

2012-01-22T20:10:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine posted this on Facebook. It literally sent chills down my spine when I read it. You can't deny that this is the best, shortest horror story ever. It's so simple, yet its impact is huge.

There are so many scenarios that ran through my mind about what would happen next. I want to know who the hell is at the door! I actually found this story very inspirational in my writing.

Review: Kevin's Point of View by Del Shannon

2012-01-21T17:28:00.000-08:00

Kevin's Point of View

by Del Shannon

Publisher: Flatiron View Books (Self-Published) (October 2010)
Genre: YA/Middle-Grade Fantasy/Adventure
Pages: 400 (paperback)
Source: Author Review Request
Purchase at: Amazon / Book Depository
Rating: ★★★★☆(4 stars)

Summary
To escape the emotional turmoil of his father’s death 12-year-old Kevin Tobin has retreated inside himself, developing his imagination into a dangerous foil and a powerful ally. While he antagonizes everyone with his superhero antics, his ability to escape inside himself becomes critical to his survival after his life is once-again turned upside down a year after his father’s death.

When a mysterious package arrives in the mail, Kevin and his best friend are hunted by a ruthless villain who is determined to retrieve the package, which holds the key to his plans for world domination. After enlisting Kevin’s teenage sister and her pizza-delivery boyfriend in a battle for control over time itself, the group escapes into the mountains west of Boulder, Colorado and eventually discover that Kevin’s entire existence is because of the love of someone we never expected.

Kevin's Point of View is Del Shannon's debut novel and shows a deep appreciation for the powers of imagination, family ties, and the desire of young boys to both escape reality and prove themselves within it. The fast-paced, adventure-filled storytelling style makes this a book with wide appeal for readers of all ages.

The Good
Kevin's Point of View is not my typical read. But when Shannon contacted me to review his book, he presented it in such a way that I had to know what this book was about. And I can honestly tell you I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this book. It has non-stop action, a great protagonist that you continuously cheer for, and a seriously evil bad guy that you can't help but yell out "Why won't you die?" every time he shows up to once again wreak havoc.

I was surprised how heartfelt some of this book was. Kevin has not been the same since his father died. The only way he can deal with the pain of his father's death is to retreat into a fantasy world where he has complete control of his surroundings and actions. A place where no emotions and real-world problems can find him. Surprisingly, Kevin's creative imagination becomes vital when Devin, the bad guy, stops at nothing to retrieve his Influxitron. The very item that was mailed to Kevin by mistake. Through the help of his family and friends, Kevin escapes Devin's reach time and time, but this frightening chase of cat and mouse is not simply a scary adventure. The Influxitron, the very thing Devin is after, has the power to change the future in a catastrophic way.

Kevin made this book. I literally cried from laughing so hard in just the first few chapters. Kevin's antics as Captain Disaster was down-right hilarious. How he created a fantastical world in his head and related it to the real world was pure genius. If for no other reason, I had to keep reading this book just to see what shenanigans Kevin got himself into next. And his friend Tony is the perfect contrast to Kevin. Tony is a realist, he can't hide from reality as Kevin so easily does. And so Tony is the constant worrier, though I can't blame him. If I had Devin and his lackeys trying to chase me down and kill me, I'd be freaking out like crazy. I think Tony's fear is what helps Kevin take charge of every situation. He has to be the brave one if they both want to get out of this situation alive.

I loved the fact that Betsy, Kevin's sister, and her boyfriend, Scratch, were caught up in the mix. Scratch, the pizza delivery boy, really made me smile every time he showed up. He had a way of making light of a dire situation to the point that I was in hysterics, even when the bad guys were winning. Scratch was the much needed comedic relief that helped me get through this book, even when I was tense with anxiety (which was all the time).

Devin is the perfect devious bad guy. I truly hated him from the start and wanted bad, bad things to happen to him. There is no redemption when it comes to Devin.

Shannon has somehow weaved together an adventurous and mysterious plot with a mosaic cast of characters that when brought together produces reader gold. How he could amp up the action with every turn of the page is beyond me. Reading this book is like being on a constant adrenaline high. And even through all the action and suspense, Shannon found a way to evoke emotions that even the most cold-hearted person could not deny.

And the ending. Can anyone say 'wow'? The conclusion of this nerve-wracking tale is nothing short of brilliant. How everything was wrapped up and explained had me walking away satisfied.

The Bad
Halfway through the book, when we have not only Kevin and Tony running for their lives, but Pudge, Betsy, and Scratch, too, I felt Kevin was put on the back burner. He was the character I came to love from the get-go so I wish the focus stayed on him throughout the novel.

Pudge was a little childish for me, especially since he was suppose to be an adult.

The Snuggly
This is a very clean book. Great for schools to carry.

Overall
I have to applaud Shannon on a job well done. I truly enjoyed reading Kevin's Point of View. I am so happy I decided to go outside of my comfort zone and read a book unlike my usual genres. And I want to thank Shannon for sending me a signed copy of his book. This was an expertly and cleverly written story that caught my interest and never let go.

Quotes
"What on earth possessed you to jump out the bathroom window without clothes on, Kevin?" she asked in her 'my-life-is-too-hard' voice. "What will our neighbors think? I'll tell you what they'll think. They'll think I let my children run around naked in the backyard before school because I'm two sandwiches short of a picnic. Then they'll cart me off to the asylum, which might not be that bad, because then I may actually get some time to myself."

~

"Have you ever noticed that the way you puke is unique?" Kevin offered after Tony's last gag.

"What?" Tony asked, not really believing Kevin would be asking such a stupid question right now.

"Well, you've been puking for the last few minutes and I couldn't help but notice that the way you hurl is kind of unique," Kevin continued. "It's your own personal thing. Like the way you write, or the way you walk. You can't hide the way you puke because it's the way you are."

Guest Post: Playing Fair with Readers in Urban Fantasy by S.A. Archer (Blog Tour)

2012-01-20T00:02:00.000-08:00

Let me introduce S.A. Archer once again. He is the fabulous author of Cursed (click for review), book 1 of the urban fantasy series Touched. For the Cursed blog tour, he has supplied us with a fascinating guest post that anyone who loves urban fantasy must read. And don't forget to check out my interview with him where he reveals how he came up with the idea for his many books in the The Sidhe world. And especially don't forget to enter the giveaway where one winner will receive all 5 books of the Touched series.

Playing Fair with Readers in Urban Fantasy

by S.A. Archer

Back before I started writing stories in the world of TheSidhe, my partner S. Ravynheart and I role played these characters. When yourole play, you need to have certain rules so all the players are on the samepage. For our game we determined that all fey characters could useteleportation and Glamour, which could disguise one’s appearance. The Sidhewould be the only type of fey to possess the magic of the Touch, and itrequired skin contact. And then lastly, each Sidhe would possess a single focusof magic. So Rico, who appears in Cursed, has ‘storm’ as his aspect of magic.Not only can he cause rain to start and stop at his command, but any possibleaspect of a storm would potentially be within his domain. So he could alsoproduce lightning or hurricane force winds.

Even with such nicely defined rules clearly stated on thegame page, occasionally we had players who wrote scenes where their characterdid something beyond their defined capabilities. I had a hard time explainingthis to one player in particular. Her character was a Sidhe whose aspect ofmagic was healing. In her scene she wrote that her character manifested afireball and threw it at an enemy. As the moderator, I paused the game andreminded the player that she could only use teleportation, Glamour, the Touch,or her healing power. If she could not explain how her character created afireball from one of those abilities, she was going to have to re-write herscene. She argued that her character used magic to create it, because the Sidhewere magical creatures. She thought her character could do anything she had anotion to do, and simply state magic was how it was accomplished. On her secondattempt, her character levitated an object. Once more, I called her aside andexplained that her character could only do the clearly defined magic that waswithin her capabilities. Third time was a charm. She realized she couldn’t useany of her magic defensively in the situation. Instead, she had the charactergrab a pistol from a fallen enemy and shoot at her approaching attackers.Bull’s-eye. It was a wonderful scene with a creative solution to the problemand it stayed within the rules of the game.

While having rules to govern magic makes sense in a roleplaying game, you need to have the same rules when writing any sort of fantasyworld. Just like you want to play fair with other players in a game, you haveto play fair with the readers. Even if you don’t spell out all of the rules inyour magic system, as a writer you need to know them and understand how theywork. In a story an author might be tempted to use ‘cheater magic’ and just havetheir character cast a fireball at the villain, but if their character is not afire-wielder then they just cheated their readers. How much more exciting tofind your character facing a situation that their magic can’t get them out of,and then think outside the box and come up with a creative solution? Thereaders will be thrilled by the story twist and the impact of the action willbe far more intense.

London presented a wonderful challenge in Cursed. As a humanamong the fey, she is at a disadvantage. It’s easy to give in to temptation andhave her go all ninja on the fey who attack her, but she is not an expert inninjutsu. Beyond some simply street fighting and her average ability to fire abullet in the general direction she intended, she has to rely on her wit anddetermination. And occasionally on the belated good sense to just get the heckout of Dodge. It makes her more real and the story more believable. It alsoheightens the tension and excitement for the reader.