DIVINELY RUINED Blog tour stop!

Hey everybody! I'm super excited to tell you about this new book out from Entangled Publishing. It's called Divinely Ruined, and it is a wonderful read! Don't forget to enter the contest, which is open internationally, at the end of this post!

Divinely Ruined
By: Diane Alberts
E-book currently available in internet stores!
Synopsis:


She finally meets a decent man–after she’s oath-bound never to touch men again!

Rebecca’s life sucked before she became an angel. Crappy apartment, awful jobs, abusive boyfriends–it was no wonder she jumped at the chance to escape it all and become a real live angel.

The problem is Rebecca’s not very angelic, and she’ll have to do more to earn her wings than end her love affair with the word f–er, frick. Especially when she’s assigned to save single father Tony Weis, whose less-than-pure thoughts wreak hell on a telepathic angel’s nerves. It’s all Rebecca can do to keep her hands off him…but when she loses her memory injuring herself to save Tony’s daughter, now it’s Tony’s turn to be her angel and care for her. But will Tony’s devotion tempt her from her angelic path, even if it means being human again?


Buy links:
Barnes and Noble
Amazon
Books on Board

Read first chapter free:
Entangled Publishing


About the author:

Diane Alberts current contracted works with Entangled Publishing are:

CONDITION (February 2012, Ever After line) and DIVINELY RUINED (April 2012, Ever After line). Her current works with Decadent Publishing are: KILL ME TOMORROW (October 2011, NightStand series), RECLAIMED (December 2011), ABSOLUTION (March 2012, Honor Guard series), BROKEN (March 2012, NightStand series), and ESCAPE TO ME (TBA, NightStand series).

Diane Alberts has always been a dreamer with a vivid imagination, but it wasn’t until 2011 that she put her pen where her brain was, and became a published author.

Since receiving her first contract offer, she has yet to stop writing. Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal clear water.

She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, and a Senegal parrot. In the rare moments when she’s not writing, she can usually be found hunched over one knitting project or another.

She is a multi-published, bestselling author with Entangled Publishing and Decadent Publishing. She is repped by her fabulous agent, Lauren Hammond of ADA Management. She has, as of this date, two books with Entangled Publishing, and five books with Decadent Publishing. Her February release with Entangled Publishing, ON ONE CONDITION, hit #18 on the Barnes and Noble Bestseller List. She has a lot of projects currently being shopped around by her fabulous agent, and her goal is to write so many fantastic books that even a non-romance book fan will know her

Interview:

Diane: Thank you so much for having me here today, and letting me talk about Divinely Ruined, the first book in the Divine Temptations Trilogy from Entangled Publishing!

Question: Can you tell us a little bit about your inspiration for Divinely Ruined?

Answer: Sure! I wanted to write a paranormal book about angels that are less than, well, angelic. I read tons of angel books, but none of them quite fit the mold of what I thought angels would be like. My aspiring angels are temperamental, emotional, and real…like humans.

It isn’t until they earn their wings that they become what most people think of when they think angels—mild-mannered and calm. Rebecca, who has not yet earned her wings, is very, very far off that mark.

Q: Rebecca and Tony are unique characters… did you pattern them after people you know, or are they completely made up?

A: They were characters that formed in my head. Rebecca was the loudest—and most insistent. She knew how she wanted to be portrayed, and I listened. And once I knew what Rebecca was going to be like, her perfect match came to mind—the tortured, equally pessimistic Tony.

Once they were together, well, sparks fly, as do tempers.

Q: Can you tell us about your writing process? Do you outline or write freely?

A: I’m not a planner or outliner, usually. With the rare exception of the second book of the Divine Temptations Trilogy…I’ve never once outlined. I like to sit down to an empty page, and let the words flow out. It’s how I work best.

Q: What other projects are you working on at the moment?

A: I am currently working on two projects, which is weird for me. I’m working on the second book in the Divine Temptations trilogy, Divinely Ransomed. And I’m also working on a Contemporary Romance that hasn’t been titled yet.

Q: If you could have coffee with one of your characters, who would you pick and why?

A: Rebecca. I’d love to get to know her in real life. She’s been through so much, and seen so much, yet she still manages to come out on top. I would want her as one of my best friends.

Q: Who are some of your favorite authors?

A: Oh, there are so many. Christina Dodd, Johanna Lindsey, Teresa Medeiros, Julia Quinn, Rachel Harris, Lisa Burstein, J. Lynn, and Jennifer Probst…need I go on? I know I forgot a bunch of authors…but I love so many! I could be here all day!

Q: What song reminds you of Rebecca and Tony?

A: Oh, gosh. That’s a hard question. Is there a song out there that is about two people not being able to trust anyone else, or let their love show? I’d love some suggestions from commenters on this one. You stumped me! LOL

Q: Can you talk a little bit about Divinely Ruined (for the people out there who
haven’t read it yet)?

A: Sure! It’s about an aspiring angel who is far from angelic. Rebecca has a temper as bright as her red hair, and has tendency to curse. When she is given her first assignment—her last step to earning her wings—she couldn’t be happier. Until she meets him, and realizes she just might not make it through this encounter unscathed.

Tony is bitter and has lost his faith in all things but his daughter. When an angel shows up…he laughs, then proceeds to try to chase her away. What he doesn’t expect is that he ends up wanting her to stay. And when she is injured, he finds himself thrust into the role of taking care of her…and falls even more.

Q: Was it hard to find the balance between comedy and romance?

A: For me, not really. BUT, I do have a habit of throwing humor into a highly emotional moment, and my editor is really good at weeding those moments out. Sometimes, in real life as well, I tend to throw something funny in there to calm down the emotions.

He’s good at leveling it all out, and making it perfect. Editor’s rock.

Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring authors out there?
A: Keep writing! If you get rejected, write more. The more you write, the more you learn. Trust me, I know.


Amber: Thank you so much, Diane, for taking the time to answer these questions! It was great having you here.

Everyone, don't forget to click the buy links above and get your copy of Divinely Ruined today!


Enter to win a free e-copy of Divinely Ruined! Contest is open internationally. Winner has 48 hours to respond to email before another winner will be chosen.
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RAPTURE by Lauren Kate

Rapture
Lauren Kate

Rating: B-
Release Date: 06/12/12
Synopsis from goodreads.com:
The sky is dark with wings . . . .

Like sand in an hourglass, time is running out for Luce and Daniel. To stop Lucifer from erasing the past they must find the place where the angels fell to earth. Dark forces are after them, and Daniel doesn’t know if he can do this—live only to lose Luce again and again.

Yet together they will face an epic battle that will end with lifeless bodies . . . and angel dust. Great sacrifices are made. Hearts are destroyed. And suddenly Luce knows what must happen.

For she was meant to be with someone other than Daniel. The curse they’ve borne has always and only been about her—and the love she cast aside. The choice she makes now will be the only one that truly matters.

In the fight for Luce, who will win?

The astonishing conclusion to the FALLEN series. Heaven can’t wait any longer.


My thoughts on the book:
Let me just say that this is by far the best book in the series. I haven't been a huge Fallen fan, but I kept picking up the books for some reason. I guess I was curious about what happened to Luce, even though she is the most boring protagonist of all time. I also hate Daniel because he is so boring. However, the plot of Rapture is enough to draw you in and keep you interested. The first half of the book is a bit slow moving, like all of Kate's novels, but after I passed the 50% mark, I could not put the book down. The book didn't end how I wanted it to exactly, but this ending didn't leave me feeling extremely angry for days like Bloodrose did. All in all, I'd recommend the series to people who like angel stories, and this book is a must read for anyone who's read the previous three books. 


The cover to this book is gorgeous, obvious, but the writing/dialogue/love story is a complete cheese fest, which has come to be expected from the Fallen series. Other things that I've come to expect from this series and just make myself look over are: Luce is weak, stupid, and co-dependent. Daniel is boring, vague, and annoying. Cam is amazing as usual, but he isn't in the story that much, unfortunately. That really disappointed me some. He is the only character that actually interested me throughout this entire series, and I've been team Cam from the start. 


The characters didn't develop a lot (big shocker), but at least the ending surprised me. I mean I knew how it would end as far as who Luce would end up with (I think we all do), but I didn't know how it would happen. Kate surprised me with how everything ended up working out. Honestly, the Epilogue was probably my favorite part of the entire novel. 

The plot is pretty slow-moving and boring for the first half. Things pick up around the halfway point, and it's pretty intense reading until the very end. The pacing picked up as well, and I couldn't put the book down until I saw what happened to everyone. The dialogue was as over-dramatic and hokey as ever. The pseudo-Shakespearean (that's what I call the whole... "I wanted to do this, for I was distraught" type BS) writing style was, of course, ever-present and plagued me throughout the entire novel (See, I can be dramatic too!). However, the book was not a complete disaster. I finished it feeling like, "wow, that wasn't half bad." That's a big improvement over how I felt about the other books in the series. 

Overall, I'd recommend this book to people who have read the Fallen series. It's a must-read for any Lauren Kate fan. This is the best book in the series, and it's worth the slow-moving beginning to see how things finally end. 

Want to pre-order Rapture?

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository

Stacking the Shelves #3

This week for my Stacking the Shelves post, I really am stacking the shelves (usually I buy more e-books than physical books, and receive more e-galleys and library books than I do physical ARCs). 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 went a little crazy this week at the used bookstore. I bought a lot of books that I already have on my Kindle, but I wanted to add them to my physical book collection too. So, all of the books I bought I've already read and love!


E-Galleys For Review:

The Goddess Legacy
By: Aimee Carter
Release Date: 07/24/12
A big thanks to Harlequin Teen and Net Galley!
Synopsis from goodreads.com:
For millennia we've caught only glimpses of the lives and loves of the gods and goddesses on Olympus. Now Aimé e Carter pulls back the curtain on how they became the powerful, petty, loving and dangerous immortals that Kate Winters knows. 

Calliope/Hera represented constancy and yet had a husband who never matched her faithfulness...

Ava/Aphrodite was the goddess of love and yet commitment was a totally different deal...

Persephone was urged to marry one man, yet longed for another...

James/Hermes loved to make trouble for others-but never knew true loss before...

Henry/Hades's solitary existence had grown too wearisome to continue. But meeting Kate Winters gave him a new hope...

Five original novellas of love, loss and longing and the will to survive throughout the ages.

Purchased:

Raised by Wolves

By: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Synopsis from goodreads.com:

Adopted by the Alpha of a werewolf pack after a rogue wolf brutally killed her parents right before her eyes, fifteen-year-old Bryn knows only pack life, and the rigid social hierarchy that controls it.  That doesn't mean that she's averse to breaking a rule or two.  

But when her curiosity gets the better of her and she discovers Chase, a new teen locked in a cage in her guardian's basement, and witnesses him turn into a wolf before her eyes, the horrific memories of her parents' murders return. Bryn becomes obsessed with getting her questions answered, and Chase is the only one who can provide the information she needs.

But in her drive to find the truth, will Bryn push too far beyond the constraints of the pack, forcing her to leave behind her friends, her family, and the identity that she's shaped?

Trial by Fire

By: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Synopsis from goodreads.com:

There can only be one alpha. 
 
Bryn is finally settling into her position as alpha of the Cedar Ridge Pack—or at least, her own version of what it means to be alpha when you’re a human leading a band of werewolves. Then she finds a teenage boy bleeding on her front porch. Before collapsing, he tells her his name is Lucas, he’s a Were, and Bryn’s protection is his only hope.
 
But Lucas isn’t part of Bryn’s pack, and she has no right to claim another alpha’s Were.  With threats—old and new—looming, and danger closing in from all sides, Bryn will have to accept what her guardian Callum knew all along. To be alpha, she will have to give in to her own animal instincts and become less human. And, she’s going to have to do it alone.
 
Bryn faces both the costs, and the rewards, of love and loyalty, in this thrilling sequel to Raised by Wolves.

Hourglass

By: Myra McEntire

Synopsis from goodreads.com:

One hour to rewrite the past . . . 

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn't there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents' death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She's tried everything, but the visions keep coming back. So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson's willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he's around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

Spellbound

By: Cara Lynn Shultz

Synopsis from goodreads.com:

What's a girl to do when meeting The One means she's cursed to die a horrible death? 

Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Connor, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.

Touch of Frost
By: Jennifer Estep
Synopsis from goodreads.com:

My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy — a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest.

But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why—especially since I should have been the one who died. . .

Abandon
By: Meg Cabot
Synopsis from goodreads.com:
New from #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot, a dark, fantastical story about this world . . . and the underworld.

Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid.

Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away . . . especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.

But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld.

Masquerade
By: Melissa de la Cruz
Synopsis from goodreads.com:
Schuyler Van Alen wants an explanation for the mysterious deaths of young vampires. With her best friend, Oliver, Schuyler travels to Italy in the hope of finding the one man who can help—her grandfather. Meanwhile, back in New York, preparations are feverishly underway for the Four Hundred Ball, an exclusive gala hosted by the city's wealthy, powerful, and unhuman—a true Blue Blood affair.

But it's at the after-party, a masquerade ball thrown by the cunning Mimi Force, that the real danger lurks. Hidden behind the masks is a revelation that will forever change the course of a young vampire's destiny.

Rich with glamour, attitude, and vampire lore, this second installment in the Blue Bloods saga will leave readers thirsting for more.

Revelations
By: Melissa de la Cruz
Synopsis from goodreads.com:
Have you ever wondered what secrets lurk behind the closed doors of New York City s wealthiest families? They're powerful, they're famous... they're undead.

Schuyler Van Alen s blood legacy has just been called into question - is the young vampire in fact a Blue Blood, or is it the sinister Silver Blood that runs through her veins? As controversy swirls, Schuyler is left stranded in the Force household, trapped under the same roof as her cunning nemesis, Mimi Force, and her forbidden crush, Jack Force.

When one of the Gates of Hell is breached by Silver Bloods in Rio de Janeiro, however, the Blue Bloods will need Schuyler on their side. The stakes are high; the battle is bloody; and through it all, Carnavale rages on. And in the end, one vampire s secret identity will be exposed in a revelation that shocks everyone.

Bloody Valentine
By: Melissa de la Cruz
Synopsis from goodreads.com:
Vampires have powers beyond human comprehension: strength that defies logic, speed that cannot be captured on film, the ability to shapeshift and more. But in matters of the heart, no one, not even the strikingly beautiful and outrageously wealthy Blue Bloods, has total control. In Bloody Valentine, bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz offers readers a new story about the love lives of their favorite vamps - the passion and heartache, the hope and devastation, the lust and longing. Combined with all the glitz, glamour, and mystery fans have come to expect, this is sure to be another huge hit in the Blue Bloods series.

Also, witness the bonding of Jack and Schuyler.


From the Library:

Black Dawn

By: Rachel Caine

Synopsis from goodreads.com:

The hotly-anticipated twelfth instalment in the Morganville Vampires series

In Last Breath, the rain brought a new and dire threat to Morganville and its vampires... their ancient enemies, the draug. Now, the vampires are fighting a losing war, and it will fall to the residents of the Glass House: Michael, Eve, Shane and Claire, to take the fight to an enemy who threatens to destroy the town, forever.

Lovers of Morganville, rejoice: Black Dawn takes the intrigue, romance and nail-biting suspense of the series to its highest level yet!

Wither

By: Lauren DeStefano

Synopsis from goodreads.com:

By age sixteen, Rhine Ellery has four years left to live. She can thank modern science for this genetic time bomb. A botched effort to create a perfect race has left all males with a lifespan of 25 years, and females with a lifespan of 20 years. Geneticists are seeking a miracle antidote to restore the human race, desperate orphans crowd the population, crime and poverty have skyrocketed, and young girls are being kidnapped and sold as polygamous brides to bear more children. 

When Rhine is kidnapped and sold as a bride, she vows to do all she can to escape. Her husband, Linden, is hopelessly in love with her, and Rhine can’t bring herself to hate him as much as she’d like to. He opens her to a magical world of wealth and illusion she never thought existed, and it almost makes it possible to ignore the clock ticking away her short life. But Rhine quickly learns that not everything in her new husband’s strange world is what it seems. Her father-in-law, an eccentric doctor bent on finding the antidote, is hoarding corpses in the basement. Her fellow sister wives are to be trusted one day and feared the next, and Rhine is desperate to communicate to her twin brother that she is safe and alive. 

Will Rhine be able to escape--before her time runs out? Together with one of Linden's servants, Gabriel, Rhine attempts to escape just before her seventeenth birthday. But in a world that continues to spiral into anarchy, is there any hope for freedom?

Enchanted 

By: Althea Kontis

Synopsis from goodreads.com:

It isn't easy being the rather overlooked and unhappy youngest sibling to sisters named for the other six days of the week. Sunday’s only comfort is writing stories, although what she writes has a terrible tendency to come true.

When Sunday meets an enchanted frog who asks about her stories, the two become friends. Soon that friendship deepens into something magical. One night Sunday kisses her frog goodbye and leaves, not realizing that her love has transformed him back into Rumbold, the crown prince of Arilland—and a man Sunday’s family despises.

The prince returns to his castle, intent on making Sunday fall in love with him as the man he is, not the frog he was. But Sunday is not so easy to woo. How can she feel such a strange, strong attraction for this prince she barely knows? And what twisted secrets lie hidden in his past - and hers?

TIMEPIECE by Myra McEntire

Timepiece
Myra McEntire

Rating: C-
Release Date: 06/12/12
Synopsis from goodreads.com:
A threat from the past could destroy the future. And the clock is ticking...

Kaleb Ballard's relentless flirting is interrupted when Jack Landers, the man who tried to murder his father, timeslips in and attacks before disappearing just as quickly. But Kaleb has never before been able to see time travelers, unlike many of his friends associated with the mysterious Hourglass organization. Are Kaleb's powers expanding, or is something very wrong?

Then the Hourglass is issued an ultimatum. Either they find Jack and the research he's stolen on the time gene, or time will be altered with devastating results. 

Now Kaleb, Emerson, Michael, and the other Hourglass recruits have no choice but to use their unusual powers to find Jack. But where do they even start? And when? And even if they succeed, it may not be enough...

The follow-up to Hourglass, Timepiece blends the paranormal, science fiction, mystery, and suspense genres into a nonstop thrill ride where every second counts.


My thoughts on the book:
I am going to be very honest in this review, even though it pains me to do so. I am extremely disappointed in Timepiece, the follow-up to the amazing Hourglass novel by Myra McEntire. Hourglass completely blew me away. I read it all in one sitting, and when the book ended, I was sitting there with my mouth hanging open, and all I could say was "wow." Timepiece had the exact opposite effect on me. I was so looking forward to this novel, and I adore Kaleb. Therefore, I was super excited when I found out he was going to be the narrator. However, this book fell incredibly flat for me. It took me three days of reading to get through it. I had to force myself to pick it up, and every time I did, I'd sigh and think, "let's get this over with." I will be reading the sequel, though, because I have faith in McEntire. I firmly believe that this was just a rough patch and things will get better from here on out.


Kaleb was fine as a narrator, but he and Lily had no chemistry whatsoever. Also, there was no relationship development. They randomly poured their hearts out to each other for no reason when it seemed like they didn't even know each other that well. Also, they invited one another to be present for private family moments, and that seemed really awkward. I didn't buy into them as a couple, and I am so sick and tired of authors throwing a couple's two best friends or siblings together in a convenient match. It just wasn't believable. And Kaleb and Lily were just... blah. It felt forced, and there was no chemistry between them at all. I was hoping for some Emerson and Michael type chemistry, but alas, none came. I really hope Kaleb and Lily break up and Kaleb finds someone better suited for him because this was awful. He still seemed to care more about Emerson than Lily, too. Maybe something will come of that and it'll add some spice to the next book.


McEntire's writing was amazing. I love her descriptions and how she gives each of her characters a unique voice. When I read her books, I can hear the characters' voices inside my head when they speak. That doesn't happen for me often in novels. I also enjoyed getting to know more about Kaleb, his power, and his past. Additionally, the new characters that were introduced were intriguing and I can't wait to learn more about them. Jack, of course, was the most despicable bad guy ever. The more I learn about him, the more I hate him, which I think is the intended reaction.


The plot itself was a bit all over the place. It wasn't as well-defined and easy to follow as the plot in Hourglass. However, the mystery and suspense should have had me intrigued, and it would have had it not been for the god awful pseudo-romance between Lily and Kaleb. The two of them together really ruined the entire story for me. I don't think I've been this strongly against a couple since the Nightshade series with Calla and Shay. I hated Shay with a deeply burning passion, though, and I don't hate Lily and Kaleb... I just hate them together as a couple. Anyway, back to the plot. The pacing was spot-on, and the book didn't drag at all. A lot was going on, and sometimes it was hard to keep track of things, but I really felt like I was inside Kaleb's head. There were a lot of twists and turns, and I never knew what was going to happen from one second to the next. When I was ignoring the crappy romance, I was kept on the edge of my seat. The ending was a bit of a cliffhanger, but a few things were tied up from Hourglass. Also, Kaleb grew a lot as a character, so I felt that the novel accomplished what it set out to do. 


Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone who loved Hourglass. If you haven't read Hourglass, you need to go out and buy it stat. Timepiece was a bit of a disappointment for me, but I will be continuing the series. I have a feeling that the next book will blow my mind and totally make up for this disappointment. As I stated, my main problem with this book was the romance between Lily and Kaleb. It just didn't feel real. Hopefully something will be done about this in the following books. While I wasn't impressed with Timepiece, it's a definite must-read for all Hourglass fans! 


Want to pre-order Timepiece?
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository

Follow Friday #13

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: Summer Break is upon us! What would be the perfect vacation spot for you to catch up on your reading & relax?


Well, first of all, I'd like to get more than a week for a break *grumbles at UNC*. Other than that, I'd go to a beach... probably the Outer Banks because it's so peaceful. I caught up on quite a bit of reading while I was there, and it's my favorite vacation spot that I've been to so far. If I went to Paris or Hawaii or something, there'd be so much that I'd want to do that I'd get no reading or relaxing done. 


What about you guys?

DARK KISS by Michelle Rowen

Dark Kiss
Michelle Rowen

Rating: A-
Release Date: 05/29/12
Synopsis from goodreads.com:
I don't do dangerous.  Smart, über-careful, ordinary Samantha-that's me. But I just couldn't pass up a surprise kiss from my number-one unattainable crush. A kiss that did something to me...something strange. Now I feel hungry all the time, but not for food. It's like part of me is missing-and I don't know if I can get it back. Then there's Bishop. At first I thought he was just a street kid, but the secrets he's keeping are as intense as his unearthly blue eyes. If he's what I think he is, he may be the only one who can help me. But something terrifying is closing in, and the one chance Bishop and I have to stop it means losing everything I ever wanted and embracing the darkness inside me.... NIGHTWATCHERS When angels and demons must work together, something beyond evil is rising...


My thoughts on the book:
Wow, this book was pretty awesome. Dark Kiss is the right blend of romance, action, and suspense. It's a definite page turner. I read this entire novel in one sitting because I could not wait to see what happened next! The characters are believable and easy to relate to, and the plot is intriguing. The story idea itself is unique, and I had no idea what was going to happen next. I cannot wait for the sequel! 


Rowen created a rich world with captivating characters. I enjoyed reading about all of the characters, even the bad ones. Each character had his or her own personality, and each one had his or her own voice. The story was told from Samantha's POV, and she is a likable character. It wasn't terrible being inside her head. She isn't some whiny emo girl. She takes charge and does what she has to do. Bishop is an extremely flawed hero, but I couldn't help liking him as well. My absolute favorite character, though, is Kraven. He's hilarious. I love his snarky attitude. 


The world-building was excellent, and I feel that I have a pretty good grasp of the world Rowen created. She did a terrific job of explaining things without including information dumps, which I hate in books. I got to learn about the world right along with Samantha, but Sam didn't ask a ton of dumb questions, so it wasn't annoying. Also, the world Rowen created is unique. These angels and demons are unlike any angels and demons that I've encountered in the YA angel literature. The rules are different, and good and evil doesn't seem to be as clearly defined as they are in a lot of the books. Trinity, New York, is an intriguing place, and I can't wait to read more about it. 


Rowen's writing was good, but her overuse of the word "flippant" got on my nerves a bit. I hope that will be edited out of the finished edition. Half of what was said was said in a "flippant way." It got to be annoying after about the fifth "flippant" in a row. Other than that, I enjoyed her writing. The pacing was spot on, and I never felt bored. The plot was suspenseful and kept me on the edge of my seat. I had no idea what was going to happen next, and that doesn't happen to me often with books. Usually I can predict the ending, but I had no idea what was coming in this novel. That was refreshing. Furthermore, the ending tied everything up nicely without a cliffhanger. Things were left open for a sequel, but the main questions raised in this novel were answered by the end. I appreciate it when an author does that. 

Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys any form of paranormal story, but is tired of the typical angel book. Dark Kiss is an amazing and unique novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. Be prepared to lose sleep with this one. 

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A BLOOD SEDUCTION by Pamela Palmer

A Blood Seduction

Pamela Palmer

Rating: B+

Release Date: 05/29/12

Synopsis from goodreads.com:

Vampires live only for lust and pleasure in the eternal twilight of Vamp City. But the city’s magic is dying. The only person who can restore it? A beautiful woman from the mortal world...one who knows nothing of the power she wields.

Quinn Lennox is searching for a missing friend when she stumbles into a dark otherworld that only she can see—and finds herself at the mercy of Arturo Mazza, a dangerously handsome vampire whose wicked kiss will save her, enslave her, bewitch her, and betray her.

What Arturo can’t do is forget about her—any more than Quinn can control her own feelings for him. Neither one can let desire get in the way of their mission—his to save his people, hers to save herself.

But there is no escape from desire in a city built for seduction, where passion flows hot and blood-red. Welcome to Vamp City...

My thoughts on this book:

A Blood Seduction is a terrific start to a new series. Palmer weaves together two separate worlds, our world and the world of Vamp City, flawlessly. Be warned that this book is extremely dark. It is not for the faint of heart or those who have weak stomachs. There are some very intense, graphic, and disturbing torture scenes. The vampires in this novel are extremely evil and pretty much soulless. There are a few exceptions, but none of them are actually good. However, if you can stand the torture scenes and sheer darkness of the book, the story is amazing. It's full of mystery, action, romance, intrigue, and well-developed characters. I can't wait to see what happens next in Vamp City. 

A Blood Seduction is told from various limited third person POVs. Somehow, Palmer manages to do this and still maintain an air of mystery around Arturo and his true intentions. There's a sense of urgency throughout the entire story because you don't know if Quinn's going to live from one minute to the next, and she's a likable character. Also, you don't know if Arturo is going to screw her over or be a knight in shining armor. The whole thing leads to a lot of frustration, but also the inability to put the book down. I read this all in one setting because I had to know what was going to happen. To me, that's the mark of a good book. 

All of the characters are well-developed, although extremely flawed. It's easy to tell who the narrator is following because of the very distinct personality traits of the characters. Also, the narrator's voice changes with each character change. It's almost like free indirect discourse, but a little more defined than that. I'm so torn over how I feel about Arturo. I can't decide if I like him yet or not. On the one hand, he's a very compelling character who obviously has some good in him, but on the other hand, he's such a freaking snake that I can't trust that he's actually going to do anything good in the long run. I almost like him because of my conflicting emotions about him. I would like to see more of his good side in the future, though. Quinn is likable and easy to relate to. She has unwavering loyalty, but a few self esteem issues and a bad temper. I like when characters are flawed. It makes them more realistic. The story follows Quinn the most, but slips into Zack's and Arturo's POV sometimes as well. 

The world Palmer created within Vamp City is intriguing and fascinating. The rules are clearly defined, but because no one is ever honest, it's hard to know which rules are actually true and which ones were made up to give people a false sense of security. An idea of an alternate universe that's stuck in the past and exists over our world is an interesting concept. The fact that some people can pass in between the two worlds and that people go missing because they are getting kidnapped and brought into the other world is even more fascinating. Palmer puts in some nice details about the landscaping, too, such as only dead trees can grow in Vamp City. And it's either dusk or night time... never full daylight. Also, even though Vamp City was created in 1870, it seems to be a mash-up of various time periods. Events like the Games and the banquets that are held and everything are throw backs to earlier times. 

The pacing for the story is spot-on, and there is never a dull moment within the plot. The entire plot is filled with action, adventure, suspense, and/or romance. The ending wraps things up nicely for this novel but leaves room for a sequel. It's not a cliffhanger, though, thankfully. However, the closing phrase has made me impatient for the second book, which is ridiculous because this one isn't even in stores yet. I have a long wait ahead of me!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I can't wait for the sequel. I'd recommend this book to fans of Patricia Briggs, Kelley Armstrong, Laurell K. Hamilton, and Kim Harrison. It's a bit darker than most of Briggs', Armstrong's and Harrison's work. However, if you can handle the torture scenes and really really evil bad guys, then you'll love this book!

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