Saturday, June 30, 2012

IMPOSTOR by Jill Hathaway cover!

Hey guys! As you all know I ADORED Slide, and I cannot wait until the sequel. So I am extremely excited to share this cover with you!

Release Date: 03/26/13
Synopsis from goodreads.com:
What if a killer took control of you?

Vee Bell’s gift (or curse) of “sliding”—slipping into the mind of another person and experiencing life, briefly, through his or her eyes—has been somewhat under control since she unwillingly witnessed the horrific deaths of her classmates six months ago.

But just as things are getting back to normal, Vee has a very bizarre experience: she loses consciousness and finds herself in a deserted area, at the edge of a cliff, with the broken body of the boy who took advantage of her on the rocks below.

As Vee finds herself in stranger and stranger situations with no memory of getting there, she begins to suspect that someone she knows has the ability to slide—and that this “slider” is using Vee to exact revenge on his or her enemies.



Want to pre-order it?




I think this cover is beautiful! What do you guys think?

FRAGMENTS by Dan Wells cover reveal!

Hey guys, here is the cover for the much anticipated sequel to Partials by Dan Wells!

Fragments
By: Dan Wells
Release Date: 02/26/13
Synopsis from goodreads.com:
Kira Walker has found the cure for RM, but the battle for the survival of humans and Partials is only just beginning. Kira has left East Meadow in a desperate search for clues as to who she is. That the Partials themselves hold the cure for RM in their blood cannot be a coincidence—it must be part of a larger plan, a plan that Kira knows she is a part of, a plan that could save both races. Her allies are Afa Demoux, an unhinged drifter and former employee of ParaGen, and Samm and Heron, the Partials who betrayed her and saved her life, the only ones who know her secret. But can she trust them?

Meanwhile, back on Long Island, what’s left of humanity is gearing up for war with the Partials, and Marcus knows his only hope is to delay them until Kira returns. But Kira’s journey will take her deep into the overgrown wasteland of postapocalyptic America, and they will both discover that their greatest enemy may be one they didn’t even know existed.



I think this cover is pretty awesome! What do you guys think?

Friday, June 29, 2012

Follow Friday #18


This is a meme hosted every Friday by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read, where book bloggers answer a question each week and check out how others answered it. It's a cool way for bloggers and viewers to connect and learn more about each other!

If you can't follow via GFC, then please follow via NetworkedBlogs or e-mail! :)


Please state in the post if you're a new follower or old follower. If you don't tell me that you are following, then I don't know that you are. Therefore, I'll not follow you back. I would like to follow each and every one of you back, so it is important that you clearly state that you are following me and not just stopping by. When someone says, "just saying hi!" or "just hopping through!" then I have no idea if you are following or not. That means that I may or may not return the visit, depending on how much time I have. The people who state they are following me will definitely get a visit and follow back. Also be sure to leave a link back to your blog, otherwise I won't know where to go to follow you! Thank you.   




Q: Birthday Wishes — Blow out the candles and imagine what character could pop out of your cake…who is it and what book are they from??


A: Easy! Adrian Ivashkov from the Bloodlines series or Daemon Black from the Lux series... Hell it'd be my birthday right? I'm selfish, I choose both! 


Who would you guys pick?

FAE by Emily White cover reveal!

Hey guys, I'm super excited to bring you the cover of Fae, book two in the Auri series (the first book is Elemental) by Emily White! This cover is gorgeous!

Release Date: 12/10/13
Synopsis:

Fae
Not all fae'ri tales come with a happy ending.
     Ella thought taking care of the ego-bloated Mamood god would be a sure way to bring peace to the galaxy and satisfy her taste for revenge.
     But she was wrong.
     Despite the fact their god is gone, the Mamood refuse to abandon their attack on the planet Soltak and Ella's own so-called friends start to turn against her. And with Soltak dying--its oceans drying up and its plants withering in the ground--Ella and Cailen suspect there's a new enemy at work. As more people die and more water is leached from the planet, they both prepare for something straight from a nightmare. 

The fae are coming.


I don't know about you guys, but I can't wait for this book!

I can't wait to read DEFIANCE!





Come over to the dark side and read Defiance!


Also, head on over to C.J. Redwine's blog to enter a contest to win a pre-order of Defiance!

Thursday, June 28, 2012

THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT by Veronica Rossi cover reveal!

Hey guys, here's the cover for the follow-up for Under the Never Sky!



I think it's beautiful! What do you guys think?!

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

BLOOD MOON by Alyxandra Harvey

Blood Moon
Alyxandra Harvey

Rating: C+
Synopsis from goodreads.com:
"I can still smell his blood, Lucy. I can smell it everywhere. It's in the grass, in the air, on me. I'm not safe." 

When the vampire tribes convene for the rare Blood Moon ceremonies, Solange Drake is plunged into a battle with her feral nature. The Drake brothers have been raised knowing they had to protect their younger sister at all cost. But forbidden magic and a mysterious stranger have put all of them in terrible danger.
Nicholas is going to have to make a difficult choice: between his girlfriend, Lucy, and his little sister, Solange - blood or love?



My thoughts on the book:
I have been waiting for this novel since I finished Bleeding Hearts. I've been a fan of this series since Hearts at Stake, and I've thoroughly enjoyed every book. However, Blood Moon fell flat for me. The novel was nothing like Harvey's former work, and Solange has gotten so annoying that I wanted to throw my Kindle out the window every time a chapter said it was being told from her POV (The POV alternated between Lucy, Solange, and Nicholas. Keiran narrated the epilogue). The pacing was slow, the plot was scattered, it ended on a cliffhanger and there was a distracting error. I'm pretty disappointed in this installment. I'll be reading the 6th (and perhaps final?) book in the series, just to see what happens. Maybe it'll be as good as the previous four were. 


My biggest pet peeve in this novel was Solange. She has turned into such a brat, I can't stand to read anything from her POV anymore. All she did was whine about how no one understands her and how hard her life is, then she throws fits, makes stupid decisions, and whines some more. Seriously, I wanted to stake her. I finally found out what was going on with her, but it would have been much more effective had that been disclosed earlier in the novel. Then maybe I wouldn't have been so irritated at her. I had to put the book down and walk away during every chapter she narrated. It took me five freaking days to read this book because of that. I really did not enjoy her chapters at all. 

There was so much going on in the plot that I couldn't really keep up. Apparently neither could Harvey because a lot of balls seemed to be dropped. Maybe loose ends will be tied up in the next book, but this one ended with nothing being answered. Literally nothing was resolved, and half of the plot threads started and didn't really progress at all. I mean sure, every new thing kept getting mentioned, but instead of actually, oh I don't know, wrapping something up, Harvey just kept introducing new problems. It got to be ridiculous. I don't even remember what the book was about, and I just finished it. And the cliffhanger is just ridiculous. Basically, Harvey had two characters act really out of character, then she ended it. Yea, thanks for that. There weren't enough unresolved plot threads already. I'm glad you added a couple of more. 

The error also took me out of the story. One error, which really bugged the crap out of me for about four chapters after I read it, was when Lucy was checking to see if her cell phone was working. She said it had a dial tone. Cell phones don't, and as far as I know, never have had dial tones. I mean everyone has a cell phone. Harvey should have known better than to write that, and an editor should have caught that and realized the mistake as well. 


The chapters from Lucy and Nicholas' points of view really brightened the story for me. I enjoyed those chapters immensely and kept wanting to hear more from them. Lucy and Nicholas are my favorite characters and couple in the series, though. I wish there had been more of them and less Solange, though I understand why some of the story had to be told from her POV. Otherwise, we wouldn't know what's going on with her. That's one question that was actually (finally) answered in Blood Moon, and I'm glad for that little bit of information. I also enjoyed Keiran's narration, and I hope he gets to narrate more in the next book. I feel like we got to know him a lot better in this novel, and I like him more for it. 

Overall, I'm really disappointed in this book. It's not horrible, and I finished it, but I expected more from Harvey and this series. If you're a fan of the Drake Chronicles, then I recommend you read it, if nothing else, just to know what happens next. For now, I'll just hope that Book #6 is better. 

Want to buy Blood Moon?


Waiting on Wednesday #19

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly post hosted at Breaking the Spine. Here is the upcoming release that I'm not-so-patiently waiting for! 


A Fractured Light
By: Jocelyn Davies
Release Date: 09/25/12
Synopsis from goodreads.com:
When she wakes up in unfamiliar surroundings, Skye knows something terrible has happened to her. But it's not until she hears Asher, the dark, rebellious angel she fell in love with, that the memories come flooding back. She tries to put the past behind her, but she knows she'll be forever haunted by the ruthless betrayal that almost took her life.

Skye returns home, but with the knowledge of who she really is, nothing can ever be the same. As she tests the limits of her newfound powers, Skye discovers that she's capable of far more than anyone could have imagined. Both the Order and the Rebellion want her for their side as war between the factions looms. She can't forget the terrifying truth she now knows about the Order, but something holds her back from embracing the Rebellion. 

A Fractured Light picks up right after A Beautiful Dark's shocking cliffhanger ending and is perfect for fans of Lauren Kate's Fallen and Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush, Hush saga.



Why I'm waiting:
It took me forever to read A Beautiful Dark, but when I finally did, I loved it! The cliffhanger ending irritated me because I despise cliffhangers, but I've been literally counting the days until this release since I finished A Beautiful Dark. Also, the cover is gorgeous! 


What book are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

DEEP BETRAYAL by Anne Greenwood Brown cover reveal!

Synopsis from goodreads.com:
It's been thirty days, two hours, and seventeen minutes since Calder left Lily standing on the shores of Lake Superior. Not that she's counting. And when Calder does return, it's not quite the reunion Lily hoped for. Especially after she lets her father in on a huge secret: he, like Calder, is a merman. Obsessed with his new identity, Lily's dad monopolizes Calder's time as the two of them spend every day in the water, leaving Lily behind.

Then dead bodies start washing ashore. Calder blames his mermaid sisters, but Lily fears her father has embraced the merman's natural need to kill. As the body count grows, everyone is pointing fingers. Lily doesn't know what to believe—only that whoever's responsible is sure to strike again...


IRON'S PROPHECY by Julie Kagawa cover reveal

I had no idea about this novella, but I am so excited!

Release Date: September, 2012
Synopsis:
Meghan Chase is finally getting used to being the Iron Queen, ruler of the Iron Fey. Her life may be strange, but with former Winter prince Ash by her side at last, she wouldn’t have it any other way.
But when they travel to the Summer and Winter courts’ gathering for Elysium, the oracle from Meghan’s past returns with a dire prophecy: “What you carry will either unite the courts, or it will destroy them.” Now Meghan faces a devastating choice that may determine the future of all fey—and her and Ash’s unborn child…. 
A novella from the bestselling Iron Fey series.



What do you guys think?

THE INDIGO SPELL by Richelle Mead cover reveal!

AHH It's beautiful! I see my fictional future husband, Adrian, on this cover!


What do you guys think? Seriously, can't it be February already!?

Happy EVERSWORN Release Day Hailey Edwards!!

Guys, I am so excited for this release. I LOVE Hailey Edwards' books, and I can't wait to read Eversworn! Actually, I have Evermine sitting on my Kindle waiting to be read as well. I just haven't gotten to it yet. I did read Everlong back when it first came out, though, and I was blown away! Anyway, I'm super excited for the release of Eversworn, and I am so happy to be taking part in this release day blitz! Be sure to check out the synopsis AND sneak peek of the first chapter below!



Title: Eversworn
Author: Hailey Edwards
Series Title: Daughters of Askara
Release Day: June 26, 2012
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

Buy Links
Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Synopsis:
Steal the salt. Bind the grimoire. Escape the
male.

When an exchange of stolen goods in the Feriana marketplace turns sour, Isabeau stumbles from the encounter bruised and laden with new orders to complete an even larger heist. With her child’s life at stake, there’s no room for error—or allies.

Armed with a lethal book of spells, she strikes a dangerous bargain with Roland Bernhard. Steal a shipment of salt from the Feriana colony, and she’ll have her freedom—and her daughter. It’s all she’s ever wanted. At least it was…until she runs into Dillon Preston.

Dillon is out of commission after a mine explosion, and itching for a distraction. He gets it when the female who saved his leg arrives at the colony with nothing but flimsy excuses and even flimsier attire. She’s after something, but is it him—or the salt?

Trapped in a desperate bid to gain true freedom, Isabeau is willing to sacrifice her life for her daughter’s, but Dillon has other plans. He wants a package deal, and he’s not willing to lose either female, even if it means the future king of Sere’s head will roll.

Warning: This title contains a heroine desperate to save her daughter and a hero determined to make them a family. It also includes wings, horns and other assorted appendages.

Author Bio:

Hailey is a wife turned mother turned writer, who loves her husband, her daughter and alone time with her computer. Whenever southern living strikes her as too ordinary, she can be found squinting at her monitor as she writes her next happily-ever-after or with her nose glued to her Kindle’s screen. Wings and/or cupcakes are usually involved…

She loves to hear from readers. Drop her a line here.

You can also swing by her blog or subscribe to her newsletter for all her latest news.

Author Links
Website: http://haileyedwards.net/
Blog: http://haileyedwards.net/blog/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorhaileyedwards
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/HaileyEdwards

Click read more to read chapter one!

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Stacking the Shelves #7

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by  Tynga's Reviews! This meme showcases the books received, bought, or checked out from the library over the course of the past week.   

I've been staying at my Mom's to conduct fieldwork this week, and she has a great used bookstore by her house. Therefore, I went a little crazy. I also have a wide assortment of models with the books this week.


Purchased:
From Amazon:
The Golden Lily
By: Richelle Mead
See my review here.
Synopsis from goodreads.com:
The second thrilling installment in Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy spinoff series

Tough, brainy alchemist Sydney Sage and doe-eyed Moroi princess Jill Dragomir are in hiding at a human boarding school in the sunny, glamorous world of Palm Springs, California. The students--children of the wealthy and powerful--carry on with their lives in blissful ignorance, while Sydney, Jill, Eddie, and Adrian must do everything in their power to keep their secret safe. But with forbidden romances, unexpected spirit bonds, and the threat of Strigoi moving ever closer, hiding the truth is harder than anyone thought.


Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Richelle Mead's breathtaking Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive. In this second book, the drama is hotter, the romances are steamier, and the stakes are even higher.
 

I was so freaking excited to get this book! 

 Don't they look gorgeous together?!

Until I Die
By: Amy Plum
See my review here.
Synopsis from goodreads.com:
Kate and Vincent have overcome the odds and at last they are together in Paris, the city of lights and love.

As their romance deepens there’s one question they can’t ignore: How are they supposed to be together if Vincent can’t resist sacrificing himself to save others? Although Vincent promises that he’ll do whatever it takes to lead a normal life with Kate, will that mean letting innocent people die? When a new and surprising enemy reveals itself, Kate realizes that even more may be at stake—and that Vincent’s immortality is in jeopardy.

In Die for Me, Amy Plum created a captivating paranormal mythology with immortal revenants and a lush Paris setting. Until I Die is poised to thrill readers with more heart-pounding suspense, spellbinding romance, and a cliff-hanger ending that will leave them desperate for the third and final novel in the series.
 

These are two of the most beautiful covers I've ever seen! 


Also, this is one of my absolute favorite series. I have a bit of an obsession with France.


Sweet Evil
By: Wendy Higgins
Check out my review here.
Synopsis from goodreads.com:
Embrace the Forbidden

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?

This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.

Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?


Here are those three new books in their new home! YAY!

Blood Moon
By: Alyxandra Harvey
Currently reading

Synopsis from goodreads.com:
"I can still smell his blood, Lucy. I can smell it everywhere. It's in the grass, in the air, on me. I'm not safe."


 

When the vampire tribes convene for the rare Blood Moon ceremonies, Solange Drake is plunged into a battle with her feral nature. The Drake brothers have been raised knowing they had to protect their younger sister at all cost. But forbidden magic and a mysterious stranger have put all of them in terrible danger.

Nicholas is going to have to make a difficult choice: between his girlfriend, Lucy, and his little sister, Solange - blood or love?


I love this series, and I really hope Nicholas chooses Lucy. Solange really got on my nerves in the last book, and she's pretty much my least favorite. I really like Lucy, so he should choose love over blood, for sure. I normally wouldn't say that, but in this case, I make an exception. I'll let you guys know what I think as soon as I finish reading it.  I'm about 20% in right now, and it's amazing so far!


From the used bookstore:


 The Dark Divine 
By: Bree Despain
I've already read this book, but didn't review it.
Synopsis from goodreads.com:
Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.

The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.

The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy's dark secret...and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul.


This is one of my favorite trilogies, and I'm excited to collect  these for my bookshelf. I already have them on my Kindle. The model is my mom's dog, Curly.



Destined for an Early Grave

By: Jeaniene Frost
I've already read this book.
Synopsis from goodreads.com:
Her deadly dreams leave her in grave danger...

Since half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her undead lover Bones met six years ago, they've fought against the rogue undead, battled a vengeful Master vampire, and pledged their devotion with a blood bond. Now it's time for a vacation. But their hopes for a perfect Paris holiday are dashed when Cat awakes one night in terror. She's having visions of a vampire named Gregor who's more powerful than Bones and has ties to her past that even Cat herself didn't know about.

Gregor believes Cat is his and he won't stop until he has her. As the battle begins between the vamp who haunts her nightmares and the one who holds her heart, only Cat can break Gregor's hold over her. She'll need all the power she can summon in order to bring down the baddest bloodsucker she's ever faced . . . even if getting that power will result in an early grave.


I lost this book in a move, and I've been trying to find a copy of it at a used bookstore ever since. I have the rest of the series, and I was really annoyed by the fact that I could not replace this book. I finally found a copy!

Misguided Angel
By: Melissa de la Cruz
I've already read this title.
Synopsis from goodreads.com
After inheriting the dark Van Alen Legacy, Schuyler fled to Florence with her forbidden love, Jack. Now the two of them must embark on the mission Schuyler was destined to complete: to find and protect the five remaining gates that guard the earth from Lucifer, lord of the Silver Bloods.

Back in New York, Mimi has been elected Regent of a crumbling coven. Struggling with her heartache over the loss of Kingsley and with her overwhelming desire to destroy Jack, she must focus all of her energy on a perilous new threat. Vampires are being abducted and their captors are planning to burn them alive online…for all the world to see. Help arrives in the form of Deming Chen, a Venator from Shanghai, who must untangle the web of deceptions before the killers strike again.

As the young vampires struggle for the survival of the coven, they uncover a deadly secret, a truth first discovered by Schuyler’s mother during the Renaissance but kept buried for centuries. And as the Blue Blood enclave weakens yet further, fate leads Schuyler to a terrible choice that will ultimately map the destiny of her heart


I have all of these books on my Kindle, but I love the series so much that I wanted to add them to my shelf collection. I'm slowly adding to the collection as I find the novels at the used bookstore. 

Need
By: Carrie Jones
See my review here.
Synopsis from goodreads.com:
Zara White suspects there's a freaky guy semi-stalking her. She's also obsessed with phobias. And it's true, she hasn't exactly been herself since her stepfather died. But exiling her to shivery Maine to live with her grandmother? That seems a bit extreme. The move is supposed to help her stay sane...but Zara's pretty sure her mom just can't deal with her right now.

She couldn't be more wrong. Turns out the semi-stalker is not a figment of Zara's overactive imagination. In fact, he's still following her, leaving behind an eerie trail of gold dust. There's something not right - not human - in this sleepy Maine town, and all signs point to Zara.

In this creepy, compelling breakout novel, Carrie Jones delivers romance, suspense, and a creature you never thought you'd have to fear.


I really enjoyed this series when I checked them out from the library and participated in the blog tour with Bloomsbury, so when I saw this book, I had to jump on it. It'll make a beautiful edition to my collection! The model is Max, my mom's other dog. 

Captivate
By: Carrie Jones
See my review here.  
Synopsis from goodreads.com:
Zara and her friends knew they hadn't solved the pixie problem for good. Far from it. The king's needs grow deeper every day he's stuck in captivity, while his control over his people gets weaker. It's made him vulnerable. And now there's a new king in town.

A turf war is imminent, since the new pixie king, Astley, is moving in quickly. Nick nearly killed him in the woods on day one, but Zara came to his rescue. Astley swears that he and Zara are destined to be together, that he's one of the good guys. Nick isn't buying it, though Zara isn't as sure -- despite herself, she wants to trust the new king. But it's a lot more than her relationship with Nick that is at stake. It's her life -- and his. 


I also found the second book in the series. Just two more, and my collection is complete. 

Dead Reckoning
By: Charlaine Harris
I have read this, but I've not reviewed it. 
Synopsis from goodreads.com:
With her knack for being in trouble's way, Sookie witnesses the firebombing of Merlotte's, the bar where she works. Since Sam Merlotte is now known to be two-natured, suspicion falls immediately on the anti-shifters in the area. Sookie suspects otherwise, but her attention is divided when she realizes that her lover Eric Northman and his "child" Pam are plotting to kill the vampire who is now their master. Gradually, Sookie is drawn into the plot-which is much more complicated than she knows...

I have this book on my Kindle, but I don't have the print copy yet. I haven't even bought the new one because it's so freaking expensive on Kindle and in print. Again, I'll wait until it shows up at the used bookstore. However, this book and the latest one are the only two missing from my collection. One more to go!

For Review:
Through to You
By:  Emily Hainsworth
Release Date: 10/2/12
A big thank you to Balzar + Bray!
Synopsis from goodreads.com: 
Camden Pike has been grief-stricken since his girlfriend, Viv, died. Viv was the last good thing in his life: helping him rebuild his identity after a career-ending football injury, picking up the pieces when his home life shattered, and healing his pain long after the meds wore off. And now, he’d give anything for one more glimpse of her. But when Cam makes a visit to the site of Viv’s deadly car accident, he sees some kind of apparition. And it isn’t Viv.

The apparition’s name is Nina, and she’s not a ghost. She’s a girl from a parallel world, and in this world, Viv is still alive. Cam can’t believe his wildest dreams have come true. All he can focus on is getting his girlfriend back, no matter the cost. But things are different in this other world: Viv and Cam have both made very different choices, things between them have changed in unexpected ways, and Viv isn’t the same girl he remembers. Nina is keeping some dangerous secrets, too, and the window between the worlds is shrinking every day.

As Cam comes to terms with who this Viv has become and the part Nina played in his parallel story, he’s forced to choose—stay with Viv or let her go—before the window closes between them once and for all.


What did you guys stack your shelves with this week? 

Saturday, June 23, 2012

THE HUNTER AND THE HUNTED by Kelley Armstrong

The Hunter and the Hunted
Kelley Armstrong

Rating: A
Synopsis from goodreads.com:
In Off-Duty Angel , dark witch and half-demon Eve Levine is desperate for a little entertainment while her lover, Kristof Nast, is detained in afterlife court—enough to volunteer an extra week’s worth of angel corps duty just to pass the time. Luckily something even better comes up: a real celestial bounty-hunter mission to trail a shaman, someone who might prove to be a useful lead in Kristof’s court case. Following the target goes smoothly, until he leads Eve to the British Museum, where she inadvertently steps into a secret dimensional passage and stumbles upon a far more enticing puzzle . . . and a much greater danger.


This collection also includes Stalked (Otherworld #7.3), previously printed in My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon.
It’s not a good sign when Elena Michaels and Clayton Danvers resort to everyday activities on their long-awaited honeymoon in St. Louis. But their encroaching boredom is about to take a backseat to an unexpected threat that catches Clay’s attention. A non-pack werewolf is clearly stalking them—out to claim Elena for himself—and Clay has no intention of letting the upstart mutt spoil their romantic getaway, even if that means deceiving Elena as he pursues the rival werewolf on his own.


Includes an exclusive early look at the first seven chapters of Thirteen, the Otherworld series finale coming July 24, 2012.



My thoughts on the book:
The Hunter and the Hunted are two short stories from Kelley Armstrong's the Otherworld series. Penguin also threw in the first seven chapters of Thirteen, and let me just say that I cannot wait for that book. I've had it pre-ordered for awhile now, but reading these first few chapters really sold me on it. I'm counting the days until it's released. The two short stories are good, and I always love getting more Elena and Clay. While I enjoyed them, I enjoyed the sneak peek of Thirteen more.

The first story in this novella is a short story about Elena and Clay, told from Clay's perspective. I love when Clay narrates because he has such a unique perspective. It's always like I'm reading from a wolf's perspective instead of a man's. I love Elena as a narrator too, but it's always interesting to see Clay's take on things. "Stalked," the story, is a cute story about Elena and Clay's honeymoon. It was interesting to see how they interacted and how much they tried to stick to human ideals while on their honeymoon. I'm going to miss those two characters when the series ends. 

"Off-Duty Angel" is told from Eve's perspective. It's also a cute story, and it was nice to get to know Eve better. Since she only had one book in the series, I don't feel like I know her as well as I know the other characters. She's not present as much as Jaime (who also only had one book) is. I feel like I know Eve more through reputation than through observing her behaviors, so I liked getting to see more of her. Both stories are only around 30 pages each and very light-hearted. 

The teaser for Thirteen blew my mind. I was already wishing July 24 would hurry and get here, and now it's a billion times worse. The final book in the Otherworld series is shaping up to be an intense and emotional thrill-ride. I have a feeling I'll laugh, cry, and be on the edge of my seat throughout the whole book. I'm literally counting the days until I can get my hands on this novel. 

Overall, I'd recommend this novella to any Kelley Armstrong fan. If you're a fan of the Otherworld series, then you'll love getting more looks into the characters' lives. It's also a nice edition to the series because we get to hear from characters who usually don't get to narrate their own stories. If you haven't read the Otherworld series yet, then you're missing out. Start with Bitten, though. You'd be completely lost with this novella if you hadn't read the other books first. The Hunter and the Hunted is available at Barnes and Noble and Amazon in e-book format. This is a novella you'll want to add to your e-reader library.

Want to buy The Hunter and the Hunted?

THE GOLDEN LILY by Richelle Mead

The Golden Lily
Richelle Mead

Rating: A+
Synopsis from goodreads.com:

The second thrilling installment in Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy spinoff series

Tough, brainy alchemist Sydney Sage and doe-eyed Moroi princess Jill Dragomir are in hiding at a human boarding school in the sunny, glamorous world of Palm Springs, California. The students--children of the wealthy and powerful--carry on with their lives in blissful ignorance, while Sydney, Jill, Eddie, and Adrian must do everything in their power to keep their secret safe. But with forbidden romances, unexpected spirit bonds, and the threat of Strigoi moving ever closer, hiding the truth is harder than anyone thought.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Richelle Mead's breathtaking Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive. In this second book, the drama is hotter, the romances are steamier, and the stakes are even higher.

My thoughts on the book:
Wow! Richelle Mead does not disappoint with the second installment of the Bloodlines series. The Golden Lily is amazing! It took me four days to finish this book because I have so much going on right now, but every time I'd pick the book up again, I'd get sucked into Mead's world. The pacing for everything is perfect. There is plenty of character-growth, action, and romance in this novel. The Golden Lily cannot be missed. 


Sydney grows a lot in this novel, but she doesn't change so quickly that it seems unrealistic. Her progress is very natural and believable. She's starting to question the Alchemists (thankfully), but she hasn't completely grasped that they're not the best people ever. But Sydney's not the best judge of character, so it will take her awhile to figure it out. As she's stated, she works with facts and data. Social interactions are beyond her comprehension, so it takes her longer to figure out her feelings and people's true motives than it would a "normal" person. However, she is improving, and I'm confident that she'll end up making the right choices in the end. I really enjoyed watching her grow, and her awkwardness is endearing to me. She makes me laugh, a lot. Almost as much as Adrian. 


Speaking of my fictional future husband, he is spectacular as always in this novel. He is snarky and sarcastic and wonderful. He also grows quite a bit, and some of his changes are shocking. He is becoming a braver and more responsible Moroi. Also, we get to see A LOT of Adrian because he is involved in every aspect of the plot. I think the overabundance of Adrian is my favorite part of this book, and I can only hope that Mead  shows as much of Adrian in future books as well. I feel like I got to know him and Sydney both a lot better in this novel. 


The action is pretty much nonstop, though when I say action, I don't necessarily mean fight scenes. I mean intense moments, mysterious occurrences, people going missing, romantic tension, things falling apart, etc. There are a few fight scenes, but most of the suspense is because of other, less violent, events. There is one big surprise that I saw coming, but even that had a few twists that I wasn't expecting. Some of the things seemed odd when they were happening, then after everything fell in place, I got all excited like, "oh, NOW it makes sense!" 


There is plenty of romance in this novel, too. People get together, break up, drift apart, drift together, go against what they thought they wanted, and so on. I like where things are heading, but this book ended with a lot of characters sad, and not just Sydney and Adrian. I think things will work out for each character in the end, and I think that the fans will be really happy with what happens as the series progresses, but the ending kind of ripped my heart out a little. I have faith in Mead, though, and I know she won't lead us astray. Also, I agree with how this book ended, even though it wasn't what I wanted to happen. If things had happened the way I wanted them to happen, then it would not have been believable, and I would not have liked it. As it stands, I can't wait to see how this plays out and what happens in the third installment. 


The Golden Lily is just an exciting read from cover to cover. I was not bored for a single second while reading it. It was a bit of an emotional roller coaster at times, and I was kept on the edge of my seat throughout most of the novel. I laughed a lot because of Sydney's awkwardness, a certain weirdness that has to do with Jill, and Adrian's sarcasm. Even though the ending was a bit sad, I still finished this book with a happy sigh. I can't wait until February! You did an amazing job, Ms. Mead. 


Want to buy The Golden Lily?

Friday, June 22, 2012

BOUNDLESS by Cynthia Hand cover reveal!

Hey guys, as you know, I adore the Unearthly series. Well, the third book, Boundless, is coming out January 22, 2013, and Cynthia Hand shared its cover today. It is GORGEOUS!


I mean, I loved the first two covers, but this one is even more beautiful.

What do you guys think?!

TRIANGLES by Kimberly Ann Miller cover reveal!

Hey guys, I'm happy to share the cover of Triangles by Kimberly Ann Miller with you! I'll also provide the synopsis so you can see what this awesome book is about!


Here is the synopsis!


Triangles

A cruise ship. A beautiful island. Two sexy guys. What could possibly go wrong? 

In the Bermuda Triangle--a lot.

Hoping to leave behind the reminders of her crappy life--her father's death years ago, her mother's medical problems, and the loser who's practically stalking her--seventeen-year-old Autumn Taylor hops on a ship with her sister for a little distraction. When she wakes up in the Bermuda Triangle, she fears she's gone nuts for more than one reason: that loser's suddenly claiming they're a happy couple... a hot guy is wrapping his arms around her and saying "Happy Anniversary"... and suddenly, she's full of bruises, losing her hair, and getting IV medication. Autumn visits the ship's doctor, hoping for a pill or a shot to make the craziness go away. Instead, she's warned that one of these "alternate realities" could become permanent.

She just has to ask herself one question--how the hell is she going to get out of this mess? 

Title: Triangles
Author: Kimberly Ann Miller
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press (www.spencerhillpress.com
ISBN: 978-1-937053-36-9
Release Date: June 18, 2013
Formats: Paper, e-book

I don't know about you guys, but I'm looking forward to this one. I hate that we have to wait AN ENTIRE YEAR before it comes out, though! 

Follow Friday #17


This is a meme hosted every Friday by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read, where book bloggers answer a question each week and check out how others answered it. It's a cool way for bloggers and viewers to connect and learn more about each other!

If you can't follow via GFC, then please follow via NetworkedBlogs or e-mail! :)


Please state in the post if you're a new follower or old follower. If you don't tell me that you are following, then I don't know that you are. Therefore, I'll not follow you back. I would like to follow each and every one of you back, so it is important that you clearly state that you are following me and not just stopping by. When someone says, "just saying hi!" or "just hopping through!" then I have no idea if you are following or not. That means that I may or may not return the visit, depending on how much time I have. The people who state they are following me will definitely get a visit and follow back. Also be sure to leave a link back to your blog, otherwise I won't know where to go to follow you! Thank you.  



Q: If you could “unread” a book, which one would it be? Is it because you want to start over and experience it again for the first time? Or because it was THAT bad?


A: I would unread Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer. I've never been so angered by a series finale (or a book, for that matter) in my life. I still refuse to ever read anything by her again because that was the worst ending ever. If she can't do any better than that for her readers, then I don't want to read her work. It was so disappointed because I really loved the Nightshade trilogy up until that horrid ending. 

What about you?

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Live To Read: BEA Giveaway

Hey guys, you have to check out this awesome giveaway!

Live To Read: BEA Giveaway!!!!! *Includes links to my INT giveaw...

THE ASYLUM INTERVIEWS: BRONX by Jocelynn Drake

The Asylum Interviews: Bronx
Jocelynn Drake

Rating: C-
Release date: 07/03/12
Synopsis from goodreads.com:
In Low Town, where humans walk and work side-by-side with elves, vampires, ogres, and all manner of creature, it's understandable that people occasionally need a little help in their lives. Whether is love, work, or ... other, tattoo artists are there to try to help turn the odds into your favor. When Gage's friend Parker needs help with his love life, tattoo artists Gage and Bronx are only too happy to help. But the incubus ends up getting more than he bargained for with his new tattoo, and his friends are forced to scramble to fix the mess they've created before someone gets hurt.


My thoughts on the book:
Let me start this review by saying that since it was a short work, the review will be shorter than usual. That being said, I did not enjoy this novella as much as I wanted to. Drake wrote from the first person perspective of Gage, a male tattoo artist. However, Gage, nor any of the other men in the novel, came across as men. They came across as a bunch of gossiping women. It was very clear that a female was writing this instead of a man, and I couldn't buy the male perspective for a minute. Men just don't sit around drinking and talking about feelings. They sit around drinking and talking about obscene things, video games, and sports. Not how much they love someone. That just really bugged me. Because of that, I couldn't get into the story. 


The world Drake created was intriguing, at least. I really love it when all of the supernatural creatures are out in the open like they are in this book. The way the world operates reminded me of Kim Harrison's The Hollows series. The writing itself was good, too, and the pacing was pretty spot on. I was never bored throughout this novel. As I said, my main (and really only) problem with this book is that I just didn't buy that the story was being told by a man about himself and his male friends. It just wasn't believable. However, the rest of the book was excellent, and I will be giving the full length novel a try as well before making a final judgment on the series. 


Overall, I'd say give this a try since it's just a novella. It gives you a chance to get to know the characters, for one thing, even if they do act like a bunch of gossipy old women. Also, it introduces you to the captivating world that Drake has created. Fans of Kim Harrison and Laurell K Hamilton will love this series.