Win Hades (Halo #2) by Alexandra Adornetto

Description:

Bethany and Xavier are even closer since battling Jake Thorn and his evil influence (in Halo) and Beth and her angel siblings must still protect Venus Cove from the Dark Forces.

When a party game – a séance – inadvertently releases Jake from the Underworld, he disguises himself and tricks Beth into taking a ride on his motorcycle. When the highway opens up and swallows them, Beth learns too late that she’s now a prisoner in hell. What happens to angels there? As her archangel brother, Gabriel, her sister Ivy, Xavier, and her best friend, Molly search for her, Beth must weigh Jake’s bargaining for her freedom: one night with him, and she will be released back to Earth.
Can Jake be trusted in this wager? And is he also using Beth to engineer the fall of the archangel Gabriel? Xavier has already lost one love – when Jake tricks him into thinking that Bethany is dead, his grief and anger result in a betrayal that will leave Bethany – and readers – wondering if he is so good after all.

It will be up to Beth to use everything she’s learned about her powers as an angel – and about love – to free herself and those she loves from the clutches of Hades.

Giveaway!

Zeitghost Media has allowed me to give away one book to someone with a US/Can address. Just fill out the giveaway form to enter. I'll end the giveaway on the 10th. You will have only 24 hours to get back to me if you don't leave your snail mail addy. If you leave it, then no worries.... I'll just send the winner's name and address to the publisher. So, make sure it is correct!

Good Luck!
Giveaway is over!

Alexandra Adornetto Links:

See Alexandra Adornetto on tour this Fall: http://www.facebook.com/penfataletour

Alexandra Adornetto Facebook Fan Page

Macmillan page for the book & author: http://us.macmillan.com/hades

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Description:

A mysterious island. 

An abandoned orphanage. 

A strange collection of very curious photographs. 

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

I admit, I was wanting this book since I read the title. Oh this is so me! I need it! And then a magical thing happened... I won it on Goodreads First Reads program! Squee! Oh I couldn't wait to get to it, but then the evil review pile appeared. It made me wait to pick up this wonderous book. Finally, one day the opportunity appeared! Did I live happily ever after. Well, no, but then this was only a reading adventure...

I really enjoyed reading this book. I sped through it quite quickly. It was a magical type of faerie tale that weaves through vintage photos to tell this story. The photos made it seem more magical and fun and made the world created just a little bit more convincing. I found this such a great creative way to come to a tale and was perfect for kids of all ages.

I don't want to get too far into the book or I fear I may spoil something. I'll leave the telling to the trailer which the author produced. It sets it up nicer than I would have in words. I give this book 4 stars. I recommend it to anyone, YA or adult, who loves an unusual adventure. Oh and yes, there will be a sequel. That is a good thing since the ending was set up for one. *whew!*
I was given this book by the publisher and Goodreads First Reads Program and no compensation was given.

Soul Survivor by Misty Evans: Review by AimeeKay

Greetings once again from the Rusty Dagger. We are currently on the lookout for Vampires and other soul shivering things as we sail along in the Caspian Sea. As was hinted in a comment in my last post the Narwal has made an appearance! But things are not always as they seem, and Melissa was kind enough to send me this next book which seems fitting with the possible romance that has seemed to be brewing. As I write this I am eagerly awaiting to arrive at our next destination and discover more of the Narwal's secrets...but until then, let us commence with the review of Soul Survivor by Misty Evans.


Soul Survivor by Misty Evans
Amazon link
currently priced at $3.99

amazon summery:

Haunted by tragedy, FBI profiler Rife St. Cloud is driven to find the person who brutally attacked six women. Unfortunately the only survivor, Keva Moon Water, has no memory of what happened, and the evidence makes her the prime suspect.

Keva cannot die. She has waited a thousand years to be reunited with the man she loves, whose soul sleeps within Rife. Though he refuses to believe her claims of immortality, there's no denying the passion that burns between them. Keva desperately hopes their sexual connection will be enough to awaken Rife's memories of the love affair that started a war and bound their souls together for all eternity.But when Keva's own memories come trickling back, she realizes that a future with Rife depends upon confronting the mistakes of the distant past...

I have to admit I had a difficult time writing the review of this book. I personally love a good love story. I especially love them when they involve magic and mystery. However for some reason I just couldn't get into this one. I love Native American lore and the involvement of it in this story was a refreshing change from the recent overdose of shifter novels I have seen out there lately. Maybe it was the fact that the novel seemed to move too quickly? Not in the sense of "oh my goodness the book is already over" but more in a sense of "gosh we're already at the end, it seems like there should be more". I understand Rife and Keva's love will blossom quickly. Their souls are meant to be together so of course there is no denying what is between them. But everything seemed to just happen so fast. Not them rediscovering each other, but just the story in general.

On the whole though I did enjoy the story itself. I liked how Evans weaved the ancient culture into the story and I could see the places and people she described. I really enjoyed her descriptions, especially of how the characters themselves felt when travelling through time. But somehow at the end it still felt as if the story was missing something. I still can't quite put my finger on what, just that what ever it was it wasn't there.

Don't get me wrong though, the book is a nice read. Especially if you are looking for something to read as you are enjoying the end of your summer vacations. ***SPOILER ALERT*** It doesn't end with any teasing cliff hangers and everything is positive and happily ever after at the end.***END SPOILER ALERT*** Which in my opinion is how love stories should end anyway. I like my love stories that way. If you don't then, well, um, well whats wrong with you???? Ok just kidding, it is my opinion and you are all welcome to your own opinions, so if you are of the opposite view, then maybe this isn't quite the book you want to pick up.I would however like to also say that according to Evan's acknowledgments this is suppose to be the first book in a series, and even though I'm not completely in love with this one, it did pique my interest and I wouldn't turn down a chance to read more of her work or more of this series.

I've heard it's awfully hot back home, so I hope where ever you are reading this that you are someplace nice and comfortable and not too sweaty.

Til next time,

AimeeKay

Giveaway!

The author would like to giveaway a ebook of this book to one lucky winner. The format is either an Epub or PDF, so anyone with a reader or computer should be able to read this one! All you have to do is leave a comment and an e-mail addy to enter! I'll end the giveaway on Sept. 4th. 

Good luck!
Giveaway is over.

Misfit by Jon Skovron

Description:

Jael has always felt like a freak. She’s never kissed a boy, she never knew her mom, and her dad’s always been superstrict—but that’s probably because her mom was a demon, which makes Jael half demon and most definitely not a normal sophomore girl. On her sixteenth birthday, a mysterious present unlocks her family’s dangerous history and Jael’s untapped potential. What was merely an embarrassing secret before becomes a terrifying reality. Jael must learn to master her demon side in order to take on a vindictive Duke of Hell while also dealing with a twisted priest, best-friend drama, and a spacey blond skater boy who may have hidden depths. 

Author Jon Skovron takes on the dark side of human nature with his signature funny, heartfelt prose.

Since I love mythology of all cultures, I really enjoyed this book. It encompasses current religious mythology with those of the pagan mythology. I found this fascinating and quite surprising within a YA book. And within this weaving of mythologies we find things we had been taught aren't quite true. Not only that, but we are left to wonder exactly what is the truth for us humans. I found that delicious. ;)

Now most of this book revolves around a person who has been brought up Catholic as Jael attends several Catholic schools during her childhood. So, therefore, a demon is simply a creature with mythological magical powers and at times were deemed gods by the masses. In other words, any creature with power that directly influenced people good or bad within a pagan context would be classified as demon. This, of course, troubles Jael as she now has to learn new definitions as what she is and who she is once she claims her demon powers. That growth was frustrating and interesting at the same time. In some ways she is a typical teen, selfish because the world revolves around her. However, when she finds herself with the world really revolving around her, she drops the selfish act and finds true independence. She is not the only one that grows through her transformation. Her father, once seen as selfish himself, drops his pretense and becomes the father he should have been from the beginning.

However, having said that, I wouldn't judge them harshly in the beginning.

Would you be able to devote your life to saving the physical life of the one person that matters to you and have energy left to parent a child? Survival would be your focus. Plus, how could we blame Jael? Knowing nothing of her mother than she was a demoness who died. Having a father who is constantly looking over his shoulder he becomes an absent parent? Pretty tough stuff to deal with if you were a typical teen. Oh and add to this the fact that you are running from some powerful demon who wants you dead...

My only complaint was Hell. Yep, THE hell. Since it was a blending of mythologies from several cultures, I would have like it to reflect that more earnestly. Instead of a underground cave, we could be presented with several versions of the afterlife with or without human entities. The Elysian fields, for instance, would be lush and beautiful. However, this is just an introduction to the series and perhaps that dimension will open up more for the reader as we get further into Jael's adventures.

I give this book 4 1/2 stars. I was looking for something different and I think I found it within this book. If you don't mind the blending of pagan and Catholic mythologies, enjoy great complimentary secondary characters and are wanting something dark to read, I suggest you pick up this book. Adults as well as older YA readers will enjoy it.
I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher and no compensation for my review was given.

Write A Post, Help a Dog!

You spend any amount of time on this blog, you know I love dogs. I have my doberman reading at the top. Unfortunately, he doesn't help out with the reviews. Anyway, thought that I would do my small part to help out homeless animals. So, here is my post for those sweet pups. Feel free to copy any part below the deets as well as any of the pics in this post for your own. Don't forget to add it to the link so Pedigree can count it!

Deets:

Pedigree is resurrecting is insanely successful Write a Post, Help a Dog program. In 2010, 391 bloggers wrote about the program and with each post, Pedigree donated 20 pounds of its Healthy Longevity dog food to shelter animals. In all, 7,820 pounds of food was donated to two shelters renowned for their care of senior dogs: Muttville Senior Dog Rescue in San Francisco and Castaway Critters in Harrisburg, Pa.

How you can help in 2011

Simply spread the word about Write a Post, Help a Dog 2011 and once again Pedigree will donate 20 pounds of food for each blogger's post. Here's all you need to include in your post:

• The Write a Post, Help a Dog program is aimed at raising awareness and food for the more than four million dogs that wind up in shelters and breed rescues each year.
• For each blog post mentioning the Pedigree Foundation from now until midnight ET on September 3, Pedigree will donate 20 pounds of its new dry Pedigree recipe food for dogs -- its best recipe ever -- to a shelter, because every dog deserves leading nutrition. 
• The Pedigree Foundation -- a 501 (C)(3) nonprofit organization is committed to helping dogs by providing grants to shelters and rescues and encouraging dog adoption. This year the Foundation has already raised more than $376,570 against its goal of $1.5 million to carry out its work to fund grants that not only help shelters operate, but to further shelter innovations.

The Pedigree Foundation depends on charitable contributions from individuals to carry out its mission to help dogs find loving homes. In addition to writing a blog post, here's how you can help:

• Donate online at http://pedigreefoundation.org/donate.aspx
• Apply for a shelter grant from the Pedigree Foundation by completing a form atwww.pedigreefoundation.org
• Purchase Dogs Rule Gear at www.dogsrulegear.com where the proceeds go to the Pedigree Foundation to help loving dogs find a home. SPECIAL OFFER: Get 10 percent off Dogs Rule Gear by using the promo code BlogPaws10 from August 22 - September 30.

Then, link up to our Blog Hop below, hosted by the Pedigree BlogPaws bloggers to help spread the word about Write a Post, Help a Dog.

On My Wishlist... First Book edition!

I participate in the meme hosted by Book Chick City

Vicious Deep by Zoraida Córdova
tbp: March 2012

Description:
Set against the backdrop of a Coney Island summer comes The Vicious Deep, the story of sixteen year old Tristan Hart whose life is turned upside down when the mermaids make an unscheduled return to land in search of their new king.

When a sudden storm pulls Tristan from lifeguard duty into a deadly riptide, he discovers what he really is—a prince of the Sea Court. Turns out, his girlfriend hopping and talents as a swimmer aren’t caused by his teenage prime hormones after all.

In this modern Arthurian tale with a twist, when all a guy wants to do is get The Girl and enjoy the freak show that is a Coney Island summer, Tristan has to fight for his life, the lives of his friends, and his humanity, if he still wants it, as he’s caught in a race for a throne that is as ancient as the gods.

Oh yes!!! Mermaids! I gotta have. Plus it looks bloody good. ;) Not sure if it is a series, but it still counts, right?

Royal Street by Suzanne Johnson

tbp: April 10, 2012

Description:

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

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

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

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

Yes, it's book #1 and this looks like a UF I'd enjoy!

Alpha Instinct by Katie Reus

tbp: Feb. 7, 2012

Description:

Fear has a scent. So does desire…

Ana Cordona has been a strong leader for the lupine shifters who survived after all the males and most of the females in her pack were mysteriously poisoned. As tough as she is, with no Alpha male, the pack is vulnerable to the devious shifter Taggart, who wants to claim both their ranch and Ana as his own. When Connor Armstrong comes back into her life, promising protection, it’s almost enough to make Ana forget how he walked out on her before—and reluctantly accept his offer to mate.

The minute Connor sees Ana again, it reawakens a raw hunger. He must have her for his bondmate—his wolf cries out for it. But his human side knows he must proceed with caution because of their complicated past. If he is to truly have her body and soul, he must go beyond his burning desire and win back her heart. Whatever it takes, he is determined not to leave her side again.

But Taggart and his rival pack are not their only enemies. A human element in town is targeting shifters. Their plan not only threatens Ana and Connor’s future, but the lives of the entire pack…

Yes! It's #1 with a alpha shifter and a kick-ass heroine! :)

All That Bleeds by Kimberly Frost
tbp: Jan. 3, 2012

Description:
They should never have met.

In a glittering community in the Colorado Rockies called the Etherlin, the descendants of the ancient muses live behind a wall that separates them from the world and the dangerous creatures who crave them.

Alissa North is inspiration made flesh, so she should never have met Merrick, a deadly half-vampire enforcer, but when they do meet, the connection is instantaneous, and an illicit flirtation is born. He sends her secret gifts. She writes him secret letters.

The long-distance friendship was never supposed to go any farther. But when she is kidnapped and thrown briefly into his world, everything changes. Now Alissa realizes he’s the only person she can trust, and Merrick finds he’ll do anything to protect her, even risk his life by crossing the wall.

As both worlds close in on them, Alissa knows that getting caught with Merrick could cost her everything she’s ever cared about, but giving him up proves harder than she ever imagined…

Met Kimberly and she rocks... so need this one!

BTW, I hope no one has fainted...  ;)

So, *brings out smelling salts* what is on your wishlist this week?

Winners!

I didn't forget... I need to announce some winners!

The winner for:

is...

ioanaraluk95! (confirmed!)

The winner for:

is...

Ivy! (confirmed!)

Ioana has already received her ebook and Ivy should be getting her's shortly!

Thanks for entering!

Luck of the Devil by Patricia Eimer

Description:

Being the youngest daughter of the Devil isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. The days of teenage rebellion and vows of chastity made just to tick off her father are over, and now all Faith Bettincourt wants is a nice, quiet life. Unfortunately, thanks to the unexpected arrival of her demonically-downsized sister, a ditzy succubus roommate, and dear old Dad himself, Faith’s plans for a relaxing vacation spent watching reruns go up in flames.

Now it’s all Faith can do to keep the family reunion from Hell (literally) under wraps, and the angelically-inclined hottie across the hall from realizing there’s something weird about his neighbor. And, thankfully, it’s working. Until an angelic stalker shows up in a bid to steal her powers and take over the world.

Forget watching reruns. With the way things are going, Faith will need the luck of the Devil just to survive until Monday.

Looking for a paranormal that makes you laugh? You have found it! I really enjoyed Faith and her family. I don't always connect to the characters so easily in a comedy/parody like this, but I didn't have this problem here. The whole family dynamic you are introduced to was more like a dysfunctional family ratcheted it up to new heights because of the paranormal aspects. Makes it perfect comedic fodder.

So is it just the dad the Devil and his minions.. uh family... we deal with? Oh no, you also have cousin Jesus and Faith's uncle Alpha (God). They play a critical role in the end with humorous results as well. I also enjoyed the secondary characters of Faith's siblings, a rogue Angele, her demon bodyguard and a ghost. Oh and for those that might worry, I didn't see anything blasphemous, but more of a "What if God was one of us..." type of vibe to the whole thing.

I give this book 4 stars. I really enjoyed the humor and the over the top family of this book. I can't wait to see what other shenanigans Faith gets into in the next installment. :) Oh and I'd add it to the "snort club" ala Felicia the Geeky Blogger but I just get creeped out by her lady that heads it (I dare you to go to her blog and search for snort club and not shiver! lol). The devil, no probs... that lady... *shiver* ;)

Some quotes to get you going:

Women flocked to Churresco's Coffee and Sweets for the first time to ogle the former Penguins player who worked the counter, but anyone with a lick of sense~ or good sense about what they licked~ kept coming back for his mom's pastries. They were so good, people sold their souls for them. No, really~ a local incubus had used them to lure women into his unholy embrace. Talk about a marketing ploy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My life was becoming its own reality television show. Real World: The Paranormal Season. All we needed was a fairy, two werewolves, and a vampire with sexual-identity issues. It’d be a guaranteed a hit.

I had more, but it really only made more sense and had a lot more humor once you knew what was going on. ;) Yes, I'm *evil laughing* at you all for being curious now. ;)
I was given this book by the publisher and no compensation for my review was given.

If you are now more curious about this book, don't forget there is a blog post by the author and a giveaway going on now for this book. If you are a fan of humorous paranormal books, check this one out!

Author Guest Post: Patricia Eimer and Giveaway!

Where Did That Idea Come From?

Ever since I nervously announced to the world at large that Entangled Publishing was taking a chance on me and publishing my first novel – Luck of the Devil—that has been the second most asked question I’ve received. We won’t even talk about the first question which is “can you introduce me to your agent?” Short answer: I don’t have one.

Anyway, back to the secret of where Luck of the Devil came from. What brilliant flash of lightening struck my brain and beamed Faith Bettincourt into my head fully formed like her own reverse version of a Greek Goddess? Okay, lean closer. Real close. Not that close.

Here is the secret I’ve never shared with anyone else. She came to me in the grocery store. Yep. Frozen Food Aisle 3 am frozen pizza run. There I am, middle of the frozen pizzas watching this young woman in nurses scrubs who looked completely frazzled, wandering the store and arguing with someone on her cell phone. I don’t mean to pry but its 3 am and I’m a writer. Prying into other people’s stories and then changing them slightly to make them funny is what I do. And I hear the words:

“I don’t know what the Hell I’m going to cook? Why am I doing the cooking? Satan is your mother after all. Why don’t you cook her something? Then it might be good enough.”

And it just sort of resonated in my head. Who hasn’t had the family reunion from Hell? Or had their in-laws show up at the doorstep with a big smile and a heart full of “you’re not good enough for my precious darling son?” I know I live through it at least once a year. More if my in laws are feeling particularly spiteful.

We’ve all been there. Even if we don’t want to admit it. And that is when Faith Bettincourt wiggled into my brain and said “oh sista you have no idea.” Which lead to me sort of stealthily following the young woman in mid breakdown through the store. Because at that point she was Faith Bettincourt for me. Frizzy hair falling out of its ponytail. Nurses scrubs covered in gunk. Totally flustered. The Devil’s youngest daughter in all her glory. Right there in the middle of the grocery store.

Shortly afterwards I went on vacation and had way too much free time on my hands. And up piped Faith. Before the vacation was over I was hip deep in her life and dying to know more. But it all started because of my love of pepperoni at 3 am and one very frazzled young nurse.

To be fair, I did give her my mother in law approved easy cheese cake recipe. Who knows if it worked for her but it always gives mine something to cram in her mouth so she’s too busy to criticize me. Here it is if you want to try it.

Patricia Eimer’s No Bake, No Fuss, No Muss Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cheesecake Recipe

Ingredients:

1 premade graham cracker crust

1 box cream cheese, left out to soften

1 container of Cool Whip (this can be flavored of you want to change it up a bit. I’ve used both chocolate and the French Vanilla before in different variations)

1 cup of sugar

2 tsp of vanilla

1 bag of strawberry glaze

Chocolate sauce to taste

Directions:

Cut the cream cheese into chunks once it’s softened and toss in a bowl. Add the sugar and the vanilla extract. Then add the Cool Whip and beat with a mixer until smooth. Once the mix is smooth, slowly start adding in the strawberry glaze and continue mixing. Then add chocolate sauce to taste still mixing. Once the whole mixture is consistently mixed together pour into premade pie shell and cover with that plastic lid thing they always give you. Put it in the fridge, pour yourself a glass of wine, and complain about how much work you had to put into making gourmet deserts for your guests. Hope your spouse is impressed with your efforts. Demand that they do the dishes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After a stint of “practical thinking” in her twenties where she earned degrees in Business and Economics, Patricia Eimer gave in and followed her passion for books. Her first novel, Luck of the Devil, is coming out August 2011 from Entangled Publishing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks Patricia for coming on the blog today! I actually think I could make that cheesecake! I don't have in laws, but there are some people *cough* I could stuff food in so there would be no criticizing! :)

So... does this whet your appetite for something fun to read? Well...

Giveaway!

I am able to give away one ebook of the Luck of the Devil to one lucky winner! Just comment below and give me your e-mail. Easy! I'll end the giveaway on the 31st! Good Luck!
Giveaway is over!

Guest Author Post: Rosalie Lario and Giveaway!

Only in Dreams

I love to sleep. Really, like a lot. No, I’m not narcoleptic. I’m a writer.

Many people might characterize sleeping too much or excessive daydreaming as a disorder. I just call it work. Because see, I’ve always been a vivid dreamer, and that’s where I get my best ideas.

Ever have a crazy dream that you couldn’t get out of your mind? Maybe something outrageous happened, like you flew or had magical powers. Maybe you unexpectedly fell in love. Or you were being chased by an evil monster. Yup, I have those dreams too. But while most people just put these dreams out of their mind upon awakening, I actually sit and think about how I can incorporate them into a storyline. And since I write paranormal romance, nothing is off limits!

BLOOD OF THE DEMON, the first book in my Demons of Infernum series, was released earlier this month by Entangled Publishing. The seed for this story first came to me in my sleep: a half-demon battling his father. It went through many incarnations before becoming the story it is today (including a total rewrite), but the image of the hero is still the same one I dreamt up.

MARK OF THE SYLPH, the second book in this series, releases in early September, and guess where I got most of my storyline from? You know it: my dreams!

Since I’m sharing, I’d love to hear yours. Come on, you know you want to tell me: What’s the craziest dream you ever had?
~~~~~~~~~~~
Rosalie Lario practiced law for five years before finally admitting to herself that negotiating contracts wasn’t nearly as fun as dreaming up stories. The first book in her Demons of Infernum series, Blood of the Demon, will be released August 2011.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for coming on the blog today! I often have such crazy dreams I don't know if I should share! People around here already see me as crazy! LOL

I bet her dreams make you want to know more about this book...right? RIGHT? Well...

Giveaway!

I have the privilege to giveaway one ebook, Blood of the Demon by Rosalie Lario. Just comment below and make sure an e-mail is present so I can contact you if you win! I'll end the giveaway on the 31st. Good luck!
Giveaway is now over!

Blood of the Demon by Rosalie Lario

Description:

Keegan lives to exact revenge on the evil demon who sired and abused him. When his father devises a plan to bring on the apocalypse, he and his three half-brothers, interdimensional bounty hunters for the Elden Council, are charged with capturing and delivering their father for punishment. 

Art gallery owner Brynn Meyers has no idea that her ability to read memories embedded in objects and drain people of their life force means she has demon ancestry. Unfortunately for Brynn, she's also the key to raising an ancient zombie army, which puts her on every demon's Most Wanted List. 

And no one wants her more than Keegan's father. 

Keegan must protect Brynn from his father by any means necessary, but he'll have to learn to harness the other half of his genetics-the far deadlier, uncontrollable half-when he starts to fall for the one woman standing between him and the vengeance he so desperately seeks. The one woman he'll never be able to resist.

Hm... okay Demons and an artist who owns an art gallery. Yep, I had to read this one. It was a moral imperative! Brynn is the artist and was kidnapped by Keegan and his brothers, all half demons. She is a wanted commodity in their world all because of a long ago ancestor who dared to defy a council who oversees dimensions. She is the key to awakening a army of zombies. Keegan falls for Brynn and together they try to find away to thwart evil. Evil Keegan is very familiar with.

I have to say that I did have a hard time connecting to Keegan and Brynn at the beginning of the story. They fell hard and fast and I think I needed more character building before that happened, especially since this is book 1 in this series. I did like the brother's chemistry with each other. Fighting because they loved each other made it seem like they were family and they were loyal to each other. I think I would have enjoyed more of that. However, as the story went along and you really get into the adventure, I finally did begin to connect to the main characters. By the end, I really liked Brynn and am curious about the next scrape she gets into. Yes, there is a set up for the next book, but this one is complete. No cliffie!

I give this story 3 stars. Despite the beginning, I did enjoy the ending. I am looking forward to the next installment  of the Demons of Infernum.
I was given this ebook by the publisher and no compensation for my review was given.

Come back tomorrow for a blog post by the author and a giveaway!!

Changeling Moon by Dani Harper

Description:

He roams the moonlit wilderness, his every sense and instinct on high alert. Changeling wolf Connor Macleod and his Pack have never feared anything — until the night human Zoey Tyler barely escapes a rogue werewolf’s vicious attack. 

As the full moon approaches, Zoey has no idea of the changes that are coming, and only Connor can show her what she is, and help her master the wildness inside. With her initiation into the Pack just days away and a terrifying predator on the loose, the tentative bonds of trust and tenderness are their only weapons against a force red in tooth, claw … and ultimate evil.

Oh this is a fun PNR. It has what most people want in their shifter PNRs. A smexy man... too good to be true, and a veterinarian with a huge heart to boot! A kick-ass female who has no problem staring down death with a glare. It is a mate for life book that makes most women who love it swoon (yes, I'm swooning!). However...

There is some action... and not just in the bedroom. There is an EVIL (oh SO evil) villain that I DARE you to like even a smidge. It also packs in a few surprises at the end. I think that is my only complaint. Zoey's surprises are the biggest and I kinda wished she would have found them out sooner so I could have had more of that. :) There is even a heartbreaking scene right before that discovery. I could yell at the author for that, but it did give more emotional punch to the scene, if I have to admit anything. *sigh*

I give this book 4 stars. I wouldn't mind being a member of their small town and meeting a single Macleod man... or two. ;) I recommend this book to readers of shifter PNR. I think you will enjoy it!
I was given this book by the publisher and no compensation for my review was given.

On My Wishlist...

Wishlist meme hosted by Book Chick City

Saints Astray by Jacqueline Carey
tbp: Nov. 22, 2011

Description:

Fellow orphans, amateur vigilantes, and members of the Santitos, Loup Garron-the fugitive daughter of a genetically engineered "wolf man"-and Pilar Ecchevarria grew up in the military zone of Outpost 12, formerly known as Santa Olivia. But now they're free, and they want to help the rest of the Santitos escape. During a series of escapades, they discover that Miguel, Loup's former sparring partner and reprobate surrogate brother, has escaped from Outpost 12 and is testifying on behalf of its forgotten citizens-at least until he disappears from protective custody. Honor drives Loup to rescue Miguel, even though entering the U.S could mean losing her liberty. Pilar vows to help her.
It will take a daring and absurd caper to extricate Miguel from the mess he's created but Loup is prepared to risk everything... and this time she has help.


I reviewed the first book, Santa Olivia, a long time ago and really loved it. I can't wait for the second.

Seduced by Shadows by Jessa Slade
Book #1 of the Marked Souls
Published!!

Description:

After an accident left her near death, Sera Littlejohn is struggling to piece her life together again. But when a violet-eyed stranger reveals a supernatural battle veiled in the shadows, Sera is tempted to the edge of madness by a dangerous desire.

Ferris Archer takes Sera under his wing now that she is talyan, possessed by a repentant demon with hellish powers. Archer and his league of warriors have long risked their demon-shattered souls to stop darker spirits from wreaking havoc. But they’ve never fought beside a female talya before, and never in all his centuries has Archer found a woman who captivates him like Sera.

With the balance shifting between good and evil, passion and possession, Sera and Archer must defy the darkness‹and dare to embrace a love that will mark them forever…

After having met Jessa Slade, I really want to read her books. She rocks, so naturally her books rock. This is the first in the series (don't faint... I sometimes read in order!)

So, what is on your wishlist this week?

Griffin Rising by Darby Karchut: Review by AimeeKay

amazon paper back-griffin rising link
$12.44

amazon kindle link
$3.25

Amazon description:

For centuries, rumors have abound of a lowly caste of supernatural beings known as the Terrae Angeli or Earth Angels. Armed with the power to control Earth, Fire, Wind and Water, these warriors clandestinely serve as guardians for mortals in danger.

Yet for one young angel-in-training, Griffin, life is hell as a cruel master makes his apprenticeship a nightmare. On the verge of failing, a new mentor, Basil, enters his life and changes it forever.

Masquerading as the average teen next door, Griffin struggles to learn his trade under the tutelage of his strict, but kindly Mentor, navigate the ups and downs of modern life among humans (including falling in love with the girl next door), and prepare for the ancient trial-by-combat every apprentice must pass at sixteen or become mortal.

Greetings from the Rusty Dagger. We are still anchored in the Persian Gulf while Captain Vix ferrets out more information on the Narwal's where abouts. The upside to this is that is gives me extra time to do some reading. The latest book sent to me by Melissa is Griffin Rising by Darby Karchut.

Let me just start off by saying that this was a very good read. It was fresh and unique. I love supernatural stories, and this one wasn't your typical Vampire or Werewolf novel which seems to be all the rage these days. Now don't get me wrong I love me a good Vampire or Shifter novel, but Karchut's take on Angels that walk amongst us is something I haven't seen in a while and not only was it well written, but it also made me want to delve deeper into Angelic lore on my own. That alone is a pleasant surprise. It made me interested in Angels the way I was interested in Vampires the way I was when I read my first Vampire novel. Some of her story even has it's roots in The Celestial Hierarchy, a manuscript from the fifth century. Which makes me want to go give a look see at that also.

As for the story itself, her characters are well rounded and I really started to become interested in where they were going. I also loved the way she worked the main characters 'journal' entries into the body of the book. I felt it helped give a deeper insight into how the characters themselves were feeling and dealing with the extraordinary events that are going on around them. I also liked the way she showed how Griffin began to heal emotionally once he was taken under wing (no pun intended) by Basil. The only flaw I really found with the novel itself is that Katie and her family seem to take the revelation of Griffin being an angel a little to easily. But then again this isn't a full fledged adult novel. In my personal opinion there are a lot of YA novels out there that try to be too adult. I read for many reasons. But one of the main reasons is to get lost in a story and when I do I want to see those characters have a happily ever after, even if my rational adult mind knows that sometimes happily ever anywhere isn't all it's cracked up to be. The best stories for this type of ending are in my opinion YA, when the characters are still young enough to not have to have dealt with that much of the 'real world'. I'm not saying that Griffin and Katie have an easy road by any means. Especially with Griffin's nemesis seeming to win out at every turn. But it was still sweet. No love triangles, no heart wrenching decisions. (at least not yet in the series, although as Griffin and Katie progress into adult hood I am sure there will be some) And Katie and Griffins new found love is teenage romance at its purest. Unconditional. I hope Karchut sticks with that.

 
Ok done on my own personal rant. Back to the review.

Yes this is a YA novel. Following that form it it's main hero is a young teenager struggling to deal with teenage problems, as well as deal with his own supernatural abilities. Yes there are some romantic scenes. But nothing more than PG at the most. I would definitely hand this book over to a teenager without any qualms about them being exposed to anything that they aren't already going through. I think that this series has the potential to be one to remember. I am eagerly awaiting the next installment. And rooting for Griffin to succeed even though he seems to have an entire legion of angels set against him. (hope that wasn't too much of a spoiler.

Til next time

AimeeKay

Devil Without a Cause by Terri Garey

Description:

Idle hands are the devil's workshop 

Temptation and seduction are the tricks of the Devil's trade, and when offered the chance to regain his wings by playing guardian angel, he's hell-bent on doing things his way . . . 

Faith McFarland is in need of a miracle. So desperate to save her sick child, she's willing to make a deal with the Devil: steal a ring worn by Finn Payne, the bad-boy rockstar who long ago sold his soul for rock 'n roll. Temptation and seduction become necessary evils, yet Faith's salvation means Finn's damnation . . . because the ring is all that stands between him and Hell. Falling in love was never part of the bargain, but now that they've tasted heaven in each other's arms, can they convince the Devil to give up his due?

I enjoyed the characters in this story (obviously... check out yesterday's post). Faith is a true mother. One who will do anything for her son. Finn has already done anything for his muse to express itself through music. And then there is a horny (not so little) devil at the center of it all. Hard choices, interesting tasks with rules, and things that they find out not only about each other, but about themselves. Even the secondary characters were interesting. Plus, there is a back story there I can't wait to find out about! Oh and before you scold me for reading this one in the middle of the series, this book is #1! (nah nah NAH nah nah) Now, I understand it is a spin off of her Nicki Styx novels which I now want. Oh and no, you do not have to read the Nicki series before to enjoy this book.

Now in a way the story is quite straight forward. Making bargains with the devil for either selfish or unselfish reasons, the devil trying to get his due, trying to get out of the deal. However, the story that weaves around that simple story is very captivating. A romance, a sweet little boy who captures everyone's heart, and a few surprises for that blue eyed devil himself. The story is complete and does not end in a cliffie, but you will want the next book in the series to continue your hellish visit with "Sammy". You will want to know what he does next with his little surprise. Oh you will have to read it to find out just what that was. Okay, you know it's coming... *evil laugh* ;D Hey, it really fits here!

I give this book 4 stars and can't wait for the next installment! I'm just not making a deal with that devil to get it. ;D
I received this book from the publisher and no compensation for my review was given.

Oh, enjoy this vid! ;)

My Book Boyfriend(s)

Since I haven't had a book boyfriend for a bit, thought I'd step it up and add 2!! ;D Got them both from the same book:

(review tomorrow)

First up: A horny devil. ;)

Yes, he is actually the #1 fallen angel. The prince of darkness himself. Even though he actually loves misery and causing chaos... he actually fell in love. He let her go. Oops! Must be something left of the angel before he fell. Hm... I wonder.... Could he do more good deeds? Hey, this isn't the review... but a vision fest of man flesh. *ahem* So... who do I nominate for this?

Why, it's young Brad Pitt! I picked the younger version because he still had that boyish "who me?" look before he turned into a man. I think the Prince of Lies would work this look easily. Yep. I can see him drawn in innocents and not so innocents with this look. ;)

Now there was another character, Finn, that was quite interesting and smexy to boot. He was a rocker and someone who made a deal with the devil to gain fame with his music. He wanted to make music so much he would do anything (and did) to gain inspiration. My nomination for this damnable soul is:

Orlando Bloom! Oh I could see him as Finn very easily!

Btw...

and...

*ahem* Attention!

So, who is in your man harem this week. Yes, yes... you can go back to staring...

Watched by Sharde Richardson

Description:

Mikayla doesn’t want much: just to rock out to her favorite band, become the next Kwiki Stop video gaming champion, and keep her Q-tip habit under control. What she does want is the sight of the sudden inexplicable dark auras around everyone to stop. Problem is, those auras are demons and Mikayla is the last trait holder with the power to ban them. Which is a total buzz kill. 

To make matters worse, the town folk of Sulphur Springs don’t look the same, and her classmates are a little dark in the eyes. There are murders, suicides, reckless skinny-dipping, gratuitous use of Q-tips, and newfound powers that Mikayla must learn to control. 

Her past becomes present when a shape-shifter tells her what her true identity is, and how to keep the demons of Hell from nipping at her Converse. Through him she’ll discover who to trust, who to kiss, and how valuable her abilities are to the right beings. Because the evils of Hell aren’t staying down without a fight. 

Or without her soul.

This is a very dark and short novel. The dialog is gritty and not very sweet. At first it did get in the way of the story, but as the paranormal part picked up it smoothed down just a bit and so it fit perfectly. In other words it was more sarcastic at first and then went into my beloved snark. ;) There are about 3 mysteries within this book. All of them related to Mikayla, one of them about her past. Mikayla grows a lot within this short story and I enjoyed that a lot. There is also a potential love interest that may please those that hate insta-love romances. There is reason for the intense feelings of these teens. You will enjoy figuring that part out. ;)

Favorite quote (yes the book is dark): Hurt shouldn’t pile up like this inside of someone. No one should suffocate beneath pain on top of pain. You should have time to breathe, time to scream it out until it doesn’t exist anymore. 

Oh I don't want to tell too much about this story. *evil laugh* I will warn you of a few things. One is that there are some spelling and gramatical errors within the book. They didn't bother me, but I know some out there it might annoy. There is also the one thing I hate in all of YA lit. The cliffie! There is more than one cliffie in this book! You will be clamoring for more after reading it. 

Therefore, I give this book 3 stars. It really is a wonderful and fun ride within a paranormal mystery. I just wish it was longer to spare me at least a few cliffies!! If you want to pick up this book, it's only about $3 on Kindle! Oh and could someone get me the next book please?

I received this ebook from the author and no compensation for my review was given.

The Marked Son by Shea Berkley

Description:

Seventeen-year-old Dylan Kennedy always knew something was different about him, but until his mother abandoned him in the middle of Oregon with grandparents he's never met, he had no idea what. 

When Dylan sees a girl in white in the woods behind his grandparents' farm, he knows he's seen her before...in his dreams. He's felt her fear. Heard her insistence that only he can save her world from an evil lord who uses magic and fear to feed his greed for power. 

Unable to shake the unearthly pull to Kera, Dylan takes her hand. Either he's completely insane or he's about to have the adventure of his life, because where they're going is full of creatures he's only read about in horror stories. Worse, the human blood in his veins has Dylan marked for death...

What really captured me with this book was the human characters at the beginning of this book. The mother was portrayed perfectly as a parent who is abusive to his son. I know that is strange praise, but I really felt it was true to form and usually authors tread lightly around this subject. I thought the subject was handled with great care and realistic. She is also not a one dimensional character, but later we see some of her motivation as to why she was so abusive. That perhaps was less realistic, but at least we come to see that a little information does shed a lot of light on the subject. I should quickly add, it still didn't make me like the mother. ;)

The main character, Dylan was someone you really could connect. You felt his pain and his growth in this book showed you that he really had a good heart. He was blinded by some of the same things that blinded others in his position of power, but unlike the others, he listened. I really love that in a character. I also enjoyed the secondary characters. Ones that Dylan learns much... most importantly trust and responsibility.

Of course I did like some of the characters in Teag. Not only did I like Kera, but my favorite had to be Bodog. Sort of the same situation we saw in the Harry Potter books; other magical creatures of the realm were deemed unworthy and subservient. Bodog, having a position below the land of Teag sees and hears all, most importantly the truth without blinders. He makes a great grumpy companion to have in Teag. You just have to read this book to meet him!

The story is well done and keeps you interested in what is going on and what will happen next. There is a good romantic story line and I think it is done well. There is no cliffie as the main mystery was solved but at the very end a door widely opens for you to want the next book in this series quickly. Therefore, I give this book 4 stars and am impatiently awaiting the next book. If you are in the mood for a good bit of fae action, a realistic opening, and a good male protag, pick up this book. I think you will enjoy it.
I was given this book by the publisher for review and no compensation was given.

Btw, if you missed it, I am currently a part of a blog tour and am giving away this book! Just go HERE to enter! Btw, all giveaways are listed right below the blog header! Good luck! 

Shea Berkley Guest Post and Giveaway!

The land of Teag 

I’d like to thank Melissa and her crew for letting me hang out at Books and Things for the day and share a bit about the world I created for my book, THE MARKED SON.

Have you ever visited a place that was so beautiful it made you cry? Or at the very least, made you never want to leave? In THE MARKED SON, the land of Teag is such a place. It’s been perfected by its people who can control nature.

On the outside, Teag looks beautiful, peaceful and perfect, but the deeper you delve into its people, the firsts, you find the rot that’s destroying the land. The firsts are elitists, believing only those whose first blood runs pure should live in Teag. The taint of human blood must be exterminated at all costs because unlike the firsts, the humans are liars and manipulators—a dishonorable, faithless breed.

Long ago, the barrier between the first and the human realms was easily traversed. The firsts loved science and magic and melded the two, and harnessed the power of the earth. Their need to develop beyond the element of steam lost its appeal, and they settled into an age of refinement and strict decorum, using their skills to enhance the earth’s beauty. It’s their calling and they take it seriously.

The firsts view humans as barbaric and destructive, and not surprisingly, they decide to use the humans as slaves. The humans’ ability to lie and their blatant disregard for the firsts rules becomes a problem, and the firsts build a wall between the realms, blocking any human or first from traveling back and forth. Only a few gateways exist and only a select few can use those gateways.

Can you see the problem that exists? What happens to all the humans that were taken into the firsts’ realm?

After the initial rush of accusations and killings, the humans that survive at first become trusted members of society. Decades pass and then a series of events destroys that trust and war is declared. Humans are murdered. Any first with mixed blood is hunted down and killed. The land splits, and a king is lost to madness because of his love for a woman of human descent. All too quickly, the firsts turn into the barbarians they have always accused the humans of being.

Out of the quest for perfection evil can rise. Although the theme of this book is dark, when I wrote THE MARKED SON, the one thing I wanted more than anything was to write a book that would give my readers a fun, wild ride. I hope you fall in love with Dylan as much as I did. He’s a great hero, and Kera is the perfect girl to help him achieve his goals.

Connect with Shea: Facebook/ SheaBerkley.com / Goodreads / 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Woah! That has to make you curious about this book! Curious about this world? Well...

Giveaway!

I am able to give away one hard copy of this book to a US/Can entrant! All you have to do is comment to enter! Leave an e-mail if it isn't in your profile. I'll end the giveaway on the 21st. Good luck!
Giveaway is over!
I'll also have my review of this book tomorrow.

Also coming from Shea Berkley on 11/1/11:

Torrien by Shea Berkley 

What if the only hope of saving a magical world depended on an ordinary boy? 

Taelyon is a land divided; its mortals distrust those different than them; its wizards live indifferent to the suffering of others to see the danger on their doorstep. The battle for dominance is never far off, and death is a daily fear provoked by King Hcaon the Younger's inability to lead. 

Torrein’s parents are powerful wizards, and Torrein's greatest fear is that he'll be denied the gift of magic. When magic is denied him, he's chased from his own village by those he used to call friends. Alone and wandering in a world he doesn't know, Torrein doesn't understand that his destiny is far greater than any he could have achieved if magic had been granted him. What plagues him is a desire he can't have - to be with his family and live his life in peace. 

Peace is not easily found in Taelyon. The destiny Torrein fights lies in a prophecy soaked in blood. To claim his rightful power, he must calm his fears and face those who want him and his people dead. Everyone has been blinded to the real evil in their midst, and it will be a fight till the end of the age to reclaim Taelyon's freedom. Though it's hard for him to accept, it’s up to Torrein to protect those who have been deceived, and to make sure the evil in their midst doesn't destroy them all.