Happy Thanksgiving or just Happy Thursday!

Going to take a short break and be back Monday. Figured it would be a good time to have a break because so many people will be MIA anyway. :) So, I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving or a Happy Thursday depending on where you are in the world. :)

Don't forget, if you want to participate in:

I've been joined by Felicia the Geeky Blogger in the past and she is joining in with me this year as well! If you would like to join us in doing something for this, give me a e-mail shout. Just put Puppy Celebration in the subject line so I know what it is about. (Example of what I did last year)

If you have a favorite charity do link up below or chose one to support:

This will also show up on the animal linky page above.

Also, Don't forget if you have extra books (even ARCs) then think about giving to Candace from Candace's Book Blog. She is doing a book drive to give to the people of the Pine Ridge Reservation. Go HERE for the deets!

Also...

Many cool things for you to join up in the coming months:

You can always see what is going on on the giveaways/contest page.

The Second Chance Dog: A Love Story by Jon Katz

288p.
Publisher: Ballentine Books
Available Now
Source: LibraryThing Early Reviewers for review

From New York Times bestselling author Jon Katz comes a wise, uplifting, and poignant memoir of finding love against all odds, and the power of second chances for both people and dogs. 

“I had no idea that Frieda would enter my life and alter it in the most profound way, but that’s one of the beautiful things about animals. They change you, and you almost never see it coming.” 

In 2007, a few years after purchasing Bedlam Farm in upstate New York, Jon Katz met Maria Wulf, a quiet, sensitive artist hoping to rekindle her creative spark. Jon, like her, was introspective yet restless, a writer struggling to find his purpose. He felt a connection with her immediately, but a formidable obstacle stood in the way: Maria’s dog, Frieda.

A rottweiler-shepherd mix who had been abandoned by her previous owner in the Adirondacks, where she lived in the wild for several years, Frieda was ferociously protective and barely tamed. She roared and charged at almost anyone who came near. But to Maria, Frieda was sweet and loyal, her beloved guard dog and devoted friend. And so Jon quickly realized that to win over Maria, he’d have to gain Frieda’s affection as well.

While he and Maria grew closer, Jon was having a tougher time charming Frieda to his side. Even after many days spent on Bedlam Farm, Frieda still lunged at the other animals, ran off into the woods, and would not let Jon come near her, even to hook on her leash. Yet armed with a singular determination, unlimited patience, and five hundred dollars’ worth of beef jerky, Jon refused to give up on Frieda—or on his chance with Maria. 

Written with stunning emotional clarity and full of warm yet practical wisdom, The Second-Chance Dog is a testament to how animals can make us better people, and how it’s never too late to find love.

My thoughts:
I haven't read Jon Katz's other dog books, but have always wanted to read at least one. When I was given a chance to read this one I was happy to read a dog story that I knew did not have a unhappy ending. In other words, I knew this dog would always have a home and nothing tragic happened to her before I picked up this book. Those that shy away from dog books for this reason, rest easy. :)

This book was really half of what Jon and, his now wife, Maria went through to be together. One of Jon's biggest obstacles was gaining Frieda's, Maria's protective dog, trust. I have to admit, I wasn't involved in the story until Jon started unraveling Frieda's past and he gained insight into being a generous person to the people he loves. After this happened, I couldn't wait to read how things progressed with Frieda and Maria.

My one complaint is really a general one. Whenever someone, especially dog trainers, adamantly complain and decree that dogs should not ever be anthropomorphized, I usually scoff and then roll my eyes. Why? Because you can always catch them doing just that. In the book, yes, I did catch him several times putting human emotion or reasoning to an animal... and sometimes he even caught himself. I mean I do it all the time, but I don't tell people to "how dare you" not ever do it. I mean, they do have emotion, right? :) Anyhoo... at least this wasn't a major part of this book so it didn't get in the way too much.

I give this book 3 stars. For dog lovers you will really enjoy how he never gave up on a dog that seemed determined to never be a part of the farm's life. You will enjoy the dedication he gave to this dog and his, now wife, Maria.

http://www.bedlamfarm.com/

http://www.fullmoonfiberart.com/

Top Off Tuesday: Taken by the Cowboy

"Every once in awhile there are covers that just make you say Oh My! Sometimes it is good, sometimes it is bad, and sometimes it is head scratching. The point of Top Off Tuesday is to show you the ones with their Tops Off! Seriously y’all hunting out Top Off Tuesday covers is one of my favorite pastimes and you should join the fun!" ~from the Geeky Blogger

I have been enjoying this meme on Felicia's The Geeky Blogger's blog and have finally found some time to join in. The other players are Amanda from On a Book Bender, Christi from Smitten with Reading. Button made by Missie at The Unread Reader

My submission:

Taken by the Cowboy
by Julianne MacLean

HERO AND PROTECTOR

Former bounty hunter, expert gunslinger, and the toughest sheriff Dodge City has ever known, Truman Wade is a real man from the tip of his black Stetson right down to his spurs and leather boots. He’s never met his match in a gunfight, but he’s never met a gorgeous, gutsy woman from the twenty-first century either…

TORN BETWEEN TWO WORLDS

Newly single after a rocky breakup with her self-absorbed fiancé, newspaper columnist Jessica Delaney crashes her car in a lightning storm and soon finds herself dodging bullets in the Wild West. Before the night is out, she’s tossed in jail for a murder she didn’t commit, and if things don’t seem complicated enough, the impossibly handsome sheriff in charge of her arrest has danger written all over him - and a sexy swagger to die for. Jessica knows she needs to get home, but when Sheriff Wade’s enticing touch sets her passions on fire, she begins to wonder if fate has other plans for her, and soon she must choose between the life she longs for in the future… and the greatest love she’s ever known.

Yes, those that keep wanting me to get into cowboy novels can rest easy... I got this one and I bet you can guess why... :) 

Crash into You (Pushing the Limits #3) by Katie McGarry

Series: Pushing the Limits #3
474p.
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Published: 11/26/13
Source: Publisher and NetGalley for review

From acclaimed author Katie McGarry comes an explosive new tale of a good girl with a reckless streak, a street-smart guy with nothing to lose, and a romance forged in the fast lane

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind.

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look.

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.

My thoughts:
 This is the book I was waiting on. Ever since we met Isaiah in the first book I have wanted to know this character. He was interesting and you couldn't help feel for someone who had to deal with unrequited love. Your heart just broke for the guy.

Isaiah is someone who has not had a generous life. Yet, he finds the good in it and holds onto that with a fierce edge. He has a f.u. attitude which gives him space to do what he needs to do to make his life better. It also makes him quite lonely. He has a hard time trusting others, but when he does he is loyal to a fault. He also has narrow vision and has a hard time seeing the bigger picture. That makes sense if your main concern is survival from a very young age.

The other POV is Rachel. A girl who has panic attacks and the world on her shoulders. I wanted to really like her family, but as caring as they are they are also extremely selfish and uses Rachel for their own goals... all the while claiming they are protecting her from some unnamed threat. The reasons for her dysfunctional family seemed contrived, but I've seen people who do nothing but tiptoe around the elephant in the room. I did feel for Rachel, but I couldn't stand her family.

These two come together over cars and a threat from a character who rules a good portion of the streets. Isaiah tries to help Rachel out of her situation and in the mist of it all, they fall hard for each other.  I also admit that throughout most of the book I was worried that the author had written herself into a hole so deep that nothing could save it. However, she seemed to pull it off for me. As you might guess from the other books in this series, there is an HEA, but it does have a twist at the end. One that made me cuss at the book and then smile. It was a cheestastic ending, but what can I say... call me a mouse. :)

I give this book 4 stars. I really have enjoyed this series and I can't wait for the next installment. The ending is cheesy as I stated above, but if you like those kind of things and just want to be entertained, you will enjoy the book as well.

Winner!

The winner of:

is...

Carol M!

(confirmed)

Congrats!

AimeeKay Review: The Unseen by J. L. Bryan

Available Now

Source: From author for review

Cassidy is a young tattoo artist living in the Little Five Points neighborhood of Atlanta. She’s always suffered terrible nightmares, and sometimes the hideous creatures seem to follow her out of her dreams and into her waking life, though she’s the only one who can see them. Drugs and alcohol can blot them out, but never entirely chase them away.
When a demonic cult begins to take control of the people in her life, including her younger brother, Cassidy discovers that the unseen world of monsters is very real. She can no longer avoid it. To protect those she loves, she must accept her own hidden supernatural talents and face the forces of evil before the sinister cult achieves its twisted goals and casts the world into darkness.

AimeeKay's thoughts:

I love reading J.L. Bryan’s work. I am always amazed at the different worlds he is able to create in his novels and The Unseen is no exception. I will say that The Unseen runs darker than his other novels that I’ve read, but it still drew me in from beginning to end.

The main character, Cassidy, is on big hot mess. She has the ability to see creatures that aren’t there, but she doesn’t realize that they are real. She ‘copes’ with her ‘hallucinations’ by getting as high and drunk as she can, all day, every day. In her defense I think she has a wicked sense of humor and Bryan does an awesome job at having her grow into a kick ass heroine. As I mentioned above this novel is on the darker side. He also does a great job with the supporting and side characters as well. For instance, I actually felt bad when one of the ‘extras’ died. (Nope not saying who, don’t want to spoil anything) But seriously she was funny and I had gotten to where I was looking forward to seeing what she would say next.

I love the detail Bryan puts into his work. Not only does he bring his characters to life, but he makes the world they inhabit feel real enough to walk into. The unseen creatures that Cassidy sees feeding on the people around her make my skin crawl. I can just see them in all their creepy crawly glory. Another great example of his descriptive prowess is when Cassidy is going through physical therapy from her accident. He just describes the pain and her reactions perfectly.

As for the overall story itself, as I said above it pulled me in from beginning to end, but it is dark. There is violence, gore and some very twisted sex. If you are a fan of his other series’ I think you will definitely like this one too. The ending does have some loose ends, but they are written as the perfect jumping off point for the next novel. No overly steep cliff hanger or anything.

I would definitely recommend this one to anyone over 18. It’s good, but it is for mature audiences only people! I’m saying this because the holidays are a comin’ and J.L. Bryan is an awesome writer and his books would make awesome prezzies. So if you know someone that likes fantasy/horror that is over 18 I would recommend this one as a great gift. However if you are shopping for a younger teen, I would recommend going with his Songs of Magic series instead.

The Unseen is only $3.99 on Kindle!

$3.99 at Barnes and Noble as well for Nook!

Throwback Thursday: Blood by Moonlight

Meme hosted by Melissa My World in Words and Pages. It's about books that are already on the shelves and are waiting to be read. Go to her website to join in!

My submission this week:

Blood by Moonlight
by Jocelynn Drake
Terri Garey
Caris Roane

Just in time for the scariest season of all, three popular paranormal authors come together to tell original tales of romance where Anything can happen under a Halloween moon... 

Tempers flare and passions rise in Jocelynn Drake's Of Monsters and Menas the local werewolf pack clashes with the Winter Court's Wild Hunt...

In Terri Garey's The Ghoul Next Door, a witch and a warlock battle it out for possession of a haunted house, but the ghost may have her own agenda... 

And, in Trick or Treathen by Caris Roane, a master vampire struggles to stay away from the mortal woman who enflames his very soul.

I won this one and I can't wait to dive into this anthology.

Any anthologies on you tbr? 

The Genius of Dogs by Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods

384p.
Publisher: Plume
Available Now
Source: Goodreads First Reads Program for review

This New York Times bestseller offers mesmerizing insights into the interior lives of our smartest pets 

In the past decade, we have learned more about how dogs think than in the last century. Breakthroughs in cognitive science, pioneered by Brian Hare, have proven dogs have a kind of genius for getting along with people that is unique in the animal kingdom. is dog genius revolution is transforming how we live and work with our canine friends, including how we train them. Does your dog feel guilt? Is she pretending she can’t hear you? Does she want affection—or just your sandwich? In The Genius of Dogs, Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods lay out what discoveries at the Duke Canine Cognition Lab and other research facilities around the world are revealing about how your dog thinks and how we humans can have even deeper relationships with our best four-legged friends.

My thoughts:
 This book is more a scientific book, but it reads easily for anyone curious about a dog's cognition abilities. It starts out from where Brian Hare started and why he became interested in the dog's ability to learn. There are times when I did skim because it was basic HS biology (eg: Mendel's Pea experiment) but the parts where he did specific experiments were interesting. Especially those built on explaining the difference between wild animal's cognitive abilities and domestic animals. There are interesting differences.

I especially like the way he criticized both main schools of training thought for dogs toward the end of the book. Those two are generally dominance training and positive training. Neither school of thought has good things to say about the other, but this book brings the specific criticisms based on evidence that I agreed. Neither is perfect and has flaws. My only complaint with this is that if he feels that cognitive training is superior, I would have liked specific examples to this kind of training. This was perhaps not the book for that, but it still would have been nice to see a dog trained with this method.

I give this book 4 stars. It accomplishes what it sets out by introducing the science of canine cognition. You may skim some of the simpler biological parts, but I feel that is there so even those who have not yet taken a biology class can understand why and how he went about his experiments.

Bloggy Note:

Every year I've been having something that celebrates my dog's birthday that lands in Dec. I've been joined by Felicia the Geeky Blogger in the past. I was unsure if I was going to be able to do it this year, but things fell into place and I'll be able to do it again in Dec.

If you would like to join me in doing something for this, give me a e-mail shout. Just put Puppy Celebration in the subject line so I know what it is about. (Example of what I did last year)

What I usually do is have the person do something for animals to be able to enter for the prize. They must tell me what they've done to get that entry. I decided to make a list of organizations for those that don't have a place to start. So, I made a page called Animal Links (above, under the home link button). I was going to put the linky below, but I was afraid that those that don't read this little rambling might put the wrong thing down and think it is a blog hop or something. It is NOT a blog hop, but a list of animal charities, therapy, rescue groups, etc. that take donations and do a great job for animals. 

Anyhoo... *takes breath* sorry for rambling but let me know what you think! :)

PS
Oh and if you have a bunch of books that need giving away... Candace from Candace's Book Blog is doing a book drive to give to the people of the Pine Ridge Reservation. Go HERE for the deets!

Tell Me Something Tuesday: Blogger Burnout

Tell Me Something Tuesday, a meme started by CambriaHebert, but now hosted on Rainy Day Ramblings. It is a chance to get to know your fellow bloggers by sharing fun stuff, discussions and more. Grab the question and post your answer on your blog and link up at Rainy Day Ramblings! Have fun!

This weeks question:

What do you do when you are feeling blogger burnout?

Actually this is a question I would really like to know how people handle it. Usually I either push through it or I just take a few days off of blogging. Getting posts ready ahead of time really help with this. Doing easy memes help. It fills up the page with things you don't mind talking about to others and it doesn't take a lot of energy. Usually they are fun. Trying a genre you don't usually read. Mostly I think that just doing something else helps the most. Giving yourself a break or just get a different perspective.

I also have been doing less in terms of accepting reviews. I'm TRYING to slow things down here a bit, but a author you want to help or a good book comes along... *sigh* Perhaps I'm not the one to suggest anything... LOL

So what do you do when you are feeling blogger burnout?

Watcher of the Dark (Jeremiah Hunt #3) by Joseph Nassise

Series: Jeremiah Hunt #3
304p.
Publisher: Tor Books
Published: 10/19/13
Source: From author for review

A spine-tingling new Jeremiah Hunt dark fantasy thriller. 

New Orleans was nearly the death of Jeremiah Hunt, between a too-close brush with the FBI and a chilling, soul-searing journey through the realm of the dead that culminated with a do-or-die confrontation with Death himself. 

But when he performs an arcane ritual to reclaim the soul of the magically gifted, beautiful woman who once saved him, he must flee the law once again, to Los Angeles, city of angels, a temporary sanctuary. In L.A., he has to contend with Carlos Fuentes, who sees in Hunt a means to obtain the mystical key that would open the gates of Hell. Fuentes knows Hunt’s weakness—his loyalty to the woman he loves, and to another “gifted” friend—and uses the real threat of torturing them as a way to get Hunt to help complete his dread quest. 

Hunt has learned a lot since his life was irrevocably hijacked by fate months ago. But when his friends are threatened by the supernatural predator known as the Preacher, Hunt knows that all his newfound experience and ability will go for naught unless he can keep both the Preacher and Fuentes at bay long enough for him to somehow find a way to free his friends from mortal peril.

My thoughts:
I've read the other 2 books in this series: Eyes to See, and King of the Dead. I enjoyed both and when I was asked to review this one I jumped at the chance. I enjoy these characters but was a bit disappointed that 2 of my favorite side characters weren't in this one as much. There is a reason explained at the end of the second book... so you can see these books are best when read in order. One book does build upon another.

The cover does look like a horror book, but like the other 2 this one is really more of a UF or thriller kind of book. Yes, there are scary elements, but nothing to scare you but more to enhance the flavor of this world. If you read dark UF, but don't like true horror, you will be fine.

In this story and mystery Jeremiah finds himself embroiled in a plot to take over LA in the magical realm. It is hard to figure out who is good and who is evil in this story, but we get glimpses of who we might trust. However, nothing is certain in this world. There is also a race of sorts to get to one of the gates of Hell which would bring about Hell on earth as well as solidify the person opening it as the one who reigns over the world. In the search for the key we find ourselves with Jeremiah in a bind where there seems to be no way out. I was surprised by this ending. :) Yes, that is all I will say.

I give this book 4 stars. All 3 books have the edge of the seat quality in them. I do recommend this series to anyone who loves a good dark UF/thriller.

Bloggy Note:

A giveaway is going on at the author's site HERE. It is for all 3 books! Check it out! :)

Giveaway: Dark City by F. Paul Wilson

I've been asked by Tor to giveaway...

  (below is from the publisher, Tor books)

“This second chronicle (after Cold City) of the formative years of Wilson’s long-running series character Repairman Jack begins with an adrenaline-pumped chase across the top of a moving subway train, and the thrills don’t stop until the final page… Any reader who has followed Jack’s exploits over the decades will find this book an entertaining addition to the series.”

—Publishers Weekly

“ This second entry sets up Jack as the man he’s to become – the Repairman who settles the score for the beleaguered victims of sadistic threats. It’s a treat to see a little further into his psyche, and to get carried along in the days before a holy war was brewing and Jack was just fighting the bad guys to keep his corner of the world on an even keel.”

—RT Book Reviews

“A fast-paced, thrill fest… It’s no wonder why thriller fans rave about this ordinary guy who is out to protect the citizens, with a little of the supernatural thrown in for good measure.”

—Suspense Magazine

                For over twenty years, Repairman Jack has been one of the most popular characters in contemporary dark fantasy and thrillers. Blending science fiction, horror

and mystery elements, F. Paul Wilson has woven a deep mythology around the beloved character in fifteen highly-original and engaging books. In May 2012, the series came to a close with Nightworld—Wilson’s definitive edition of a great, long-out-of-print work. Although previously published, this new version of Nightworld garnered a spot on the New York Times bestseller list proving fans are still hungry for more adventures.

                Luckily for those longtime fans as well as any fan of great thrillers, Wilson now ventures into the earlier days of the Repairman in DARK CITY (A Tor Hardcover; $25.99; On-Sale October 15, 2013)—the second of three prequel novels which depict the naïve New Jersey refugee’s metamorphosis into the urban mercenary known as Repairman Jack.     

                DARK CITY takes readers back to February 1992.  Desert Storm is raging in Iraq but twenty-two-year-old Jack has more pressing matters at home. His favorite bar, The Spot, is about to be sold out from under Julio, Jack’s friend. Jack has been something of a tag-along to this point, but now he takes the reins and demonstrates his innate talent for seeing biters get bit. With a body count even higher than in Cold City, this second novel of the Early Years Trilogy hurtles Jack into the final volume in which all scores will be settled, all debts paid.

                More of a straight crime novel than the later books of the Repairman Jack saga, DARK CITY is a perfect entry point for new readers and is sure to excite Wilson’s legion of fans by shedding more light on the background of their favorite “fix-it” man.

F. PAUL WILSON, the New York Times bestselling author of the Repairman Jack novels, lives in Wall, New Jersey. In 2008, he won the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement. Visit him online at www.repairmanjack.com or @fpaulwilson.

I reviewed the first book in this prequel, Cold City. This is the second in the prequel trilogy!

To enter, fill out the rafflecopter form below:

(US/Can only)

Throwback Thursday: To Kill a Warlock

Meme hosted by Melissa My World in Words and Pages. It's about books that are already on the shelves and are waiting to be read. Go to her website to join in!

My submission this week:

To Kill a Warlock
Dulcie O'Neil #1
by H. P. Mallory

The murder of a dark arts warlock. A shape-shifting, ravenous creature on the loose. A devilishly handsome stranger sent to investigate. Sometimes working law enforcement for the Netherworld is a real bitch. 

Dulcie O’Neil is a fairy. And not the type to frolic in gardens. She’s a Regulator—a law-enforcement agent who monitors the creatures of the Netherworld to keep them from wreaking havoc in the mortal world. When a warlock is murdered and Dulcie was the last person to see him alive, she must uncover the truth before she’s either deported back to the Netherworld, or she becomes the next victim. 

Enter Knight Vander, a sinfully attractive investigator sent from the Netherworld to work the case with Dulcie. Between battling her attraction to her self-appointed partner, keeping a sadomasochistic demon in check, and fending off the advances of a sexy and powerful vampire, Dulcie’s got her hands full. As the body count increases, Dulcie finds herself battling dark magic, reconnoitering in S&M clubs and suffering the greatest of all betrayals.

I'm kind of a sucker for a cartoonish UF/PNR book. It usually means snark to me... even if there is none there. However, I think there may be some humor to be had here.

Any humorous/snarky books on your tbr? 

Endless by Amanda Gray

1st in a series
384p.
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC
Available Now
Source: From NetGalley and Publisher for review

Jenny Kramer knows she isn't normal. After all, not everybody can see the past lives of people around them. 

When she befriends Ben Daulton, resident new boy, the pair stumble on an old music box with instructions for “mesmerization” and discover they may have more in common than they thought. Like a past life. 

Using the instructions in the music box, Ben and Jenny share a dream that transports them to Romanov Russia and leads them to believe they have been there together before. But they weren't alone. Nikolai, the mysterious young man Jenny has been seeing in her own dreams was there, too. When Nikolai appears next door, Jenny is forced to acknowledge that he has travelled through time and space to find her. Doing so means he has defied the laws of time, and the Order, an ominous organization tasked with keeping people in the correct time, is determined to send him back.

While Ben, Jenny and Nikolai race against the clock - and the Order - Jenny and Nikolai discover a link that joins them in life - and beyond death.

My thoughts:
I do enjoy a time travel novel. Most of the times I can ignore the parts where a lot of people have to shout, "It can't happen like that!" because I'm more invested in the characters and their story. It was like that here. I did become invested in Jenny and Ben mostly. I did like the other characters, but these two were my favorites. I really enjoyed their friendship and how they started to slowly open up to each other.

When Nikolai came onto the scene, I was intrigued. However, for some reason I cannot put my finger on, I just didn't fully buy Jenny and Nikolai's romance. It didn't feel false, and how it came about make some sense, but I don't think my ability to ignore the "but" worked here. For example: I can see why there are intense feelings present but Jenny has lived a different life and why would she so easily succumb to those feelings without some reflection or a bit more questioning.  Perhaps it is because she is so young? Still, it was a bit fast for me.

I did enjoy the novel, but it sort of seemed like something I've read before. Not that something like that is necessarily a negative (don't we all read the same stories over and over because we enjoy the trope?) but I was wanting a bit more variation on my time travel story. I will fully admit, this might have been just me and where I was when I read it. I would still pick up the next story to see where it goes. I give this novel 3 stars.

Top Off Tuesday: Twelfth Moon

"Every once in awhile there are covers that just make you say Oh My! Sometimes it is good, sometimes it is bad, and sometimes it is head scratching. The point of Top Off Tuesday is to show you the ones with their Tops Off! Seriously y’all hunting out Top Off Tuesday covers is one of my favorite pastimes and you should join the fun!" ~from the Geeky Blogger

I have been enjoying this meme on Felicia's The Geeky Blogger's blog and have finally found some time to join in. The other players are Amanda from On a Book Bender, Christi from Smitten with Reading. Button made by Missie at The Unread Reader

My submission:

Twelfth Moon
by Lori Villarreal

Cadence LaPorte is about to be hanged. 

For weeks, U.S. Marshal, Jonah Kincaid, has been hot on her trail for the murder of his brother. His pursuit ends in a dusty Texas town at the scene of a lynching - namely, Cadence's. Since revenge is at the top of his list, he saves her from death-by-hanging - for now. 

Except Jonah thinks he's been tracking a young boy. 

And Cadence has this itsy-bitsy little problem: The women in her family are shape-shifting panthers, and once a year they're compelled to mate with any male who happens to be in the vicinity - and become bound to him for life. 

Jonah Kincaid is the last man on earth Cadence would wish to bind herself to. If she doesn't find a way to escape him soon, she'll be mauling the infuriating (handsome) U.S. Marshal - but as a woman, not as the panther. 

Jonah is determined to take his prisoner back to New Orleans for a quick trial and a proper hanging. But the kid doesn't seem to possess the size and strength to overcome, let alone kill, a man much larger than he was. 

After one escape attempt and one erotic dream that ends with Jonah's elbow jammed in Cadence's chest, they arrive in San Antonio. Jonah gets a room, orders a bath, and plies her with whiskey, determined to make a 'man' out of her. Her mind made fuzzy by the liquor, Cadence can't seem to remember the significance of why she should protest the bath. 

She kisses him. 

Caught off-guard, Jonah pushes her into the tub and she hits her head on the way down, rendering her unconscious. 

Then he discovers she's a woman. 

Shock over his discovery turns into something dark and hungry. Temptation rises within Jonah - sudden, inexplicable, and uncontrollable. But the painful memory of a past experience with a woman makes him uneasy and distrustful of his own judgment where Cadence is concerned. 

On their journey from Texas to New Orleans, Jonah and Cadence meet a trio of Apache warriors from the spirit world, Cadence's secret is revealed, and Jonah is faced with a life-altering event. 

Despite the obstacles thrown in their path, can two imperfect people find perfect true love?

Wow that is quite a blurb!

 I guess this proves that even in B/W the bare chest reigns supreme. However, what is it with the title covering too much? Could of squeezed it in the side, right? :)

What is on you ToT?

I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai

 

352p.
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Available Now
Source: TBR pile

When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley in Pakistan, one girl spoke out. Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced and fought for her right to an education. 

On Tuesday, October 9, 2012, when she was fifteen, she almost paid the ultimate price. She was shot in the head at point-blank range while riding the bus home from school, and few expected her to survive.

Instead, Malala's miraculous recovery has taken her on an extraordinary journey from a remote valley in northern Pakistan to the halls of the United Nations in New York. At sixteen, she has become a global symbol of peaceful protest and the youngest nominee ever for the Nobel Peace Prize. 

I AM MALALA is the remarkable tale of a family uprooted by global terrorism, of the fight for girls' education, of a father who, himself a school owner, championed and encouraged his daughter to write and attend school, and of brave parents who have a fierce love for their daughter in a society that prizes sons. 

I AM MALALA will make you believe in the power of one person's voice to inspire change in the world.

My thoughts:
I had heard of the girl, Malala, fighting for girls education in a place where women often don't have many rights. I knew this made the girl brave, and her words were wise. I was horrified to hear that she was shot by the taliban and later glad to hear she was recovering. I have been interested in her story for some time. I also like learning about cultures in places I have never been. So, when I had a chance to get this book I jumped at it. :)

The title is the answer to the question the talib asked before he fired his gun. However, this is mostly a story about a girl. Sometimes an "ordinary" (if anyone can truly be ordinary) girl. She has a huge difference in her life, her father, Ziuddian, who praised and cherished her as much as he cherished her brothers. He found that she had a spirit like his own and encouraged learning and wisdom. Her father overcame his own obstacles and had his own mind about things happening in the world. He also took action where he could and spoke with wisdom and encouraged peace where ever possible. He also included his wife in his decisions and spoke out for women's rights. In a way it was his book as much as Malala. Her mother is not absent from the book either. Much praise goes to a strong and caring mother to help shape her views of the world as well. Her mother was often found caring for those around her and would open their door to anyone in need. The compassion from both her parents seemed never ending and you can see the influence within Malala.

I want to say so much about the thoughts I had while reading this book, but I think this is a book you should have your own experience. You can see how things are universal: corruption in government, how attitudes and actions through fear create chaos, why education is crucial. You also see what it was like for Malala to live in a war zone and how constant terror impacts her, her family and neighbors. You also see her family live through and rise above the terror which gave this girl a larger voice than she thought possible. You also get an epilogue and see how the fame and inability to go back home also affects the whole family. This is a girl who loves her valley.

I give this book 5 stars. I think the book brings a culture most would not otherwise experience. It also explains why education is so important to her. I think this book achieves those goals well. It is a book that should not be missed.

Quotes:

"He believed that lack of education was the root of all of Pakistan’s problems. Ignorance allowed politicians to fool people and bad administrators to be re-elected."

He hated the fact that most people would not speak up. In his pocket he kept a poem written by Martin Niemöller, who had lived in Nazi Germany. First they came for the communists, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a communist. Then they came for the socialists, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn’t speak out because I was not a Catholic. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.

"I reassured my mother that it didn’t matter to me if my face was not symmetrical. Me, who had always cared about my appearance, how my hair looked! But when you see death, things change. “It doesn’t matter if I can’t smile or blink properly,” I told her. “I’m still me, Malala. The important thing is God has given me my life.""

"“Let us pick up our books and our pens,” I said. “They are our most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world.”"

The Malala Fund (for girls education)

The Daily Show with Malala

Diane Sawyer Sits Down with Malala

Winner!

the winner for:

is...

Victoria Z.!

(confirmed)

Congrats!

Anther giveaway coming soon!

Cold Spell (Fairytale Retellings #4) by Jackson Pearce

Series: Fairytale Retellings #4
336p.
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: Nov. 5, 13
Source: NetGalley and Publisher for review

Kai and Ginny grew up together–best friends since they could toddle around their building’s rooftop rose garden. Now they’re seventeen, and their relationship has developed into something sweeter, complete with stolen kisses and plans to someday run away together. 

But one night, Kai disappears with a mysterious stranger named Mora–a beautiful girl with a dark past and a heart of ice. Refusing to be cast aside, Ginny goes after them and is thrust into a world she never imagined, one filled with monsters and thieves and the idea that love is not enough. 

If Ginny and Kai survive the journey, will she still be the girl he loved–and moreover, will she still be the girl who loved him? 

Jackson Pearce, author of the acclaimed SISTERS RED and FATHOMLESS, has returned with a unique vision of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen,” one about power and redemption, failure and hope, and the true meaning of strength.

My thoughts:
I knew that the stories build on themselves, but had only read Fathomless, the last book in this series. It did help me to have read that last book and now I do want to read the ones prior as well. Sort of work my way back to where it all started. I may even understand more by the time the next book appears. :)

This one is based on the Snow Queen with the author's own twist. In this book the Queen was once an Ocean Girl who gained back her memories and therefore broke from the pack. She finds she can manipulate the water into snow which slows down her pursuers. She is also lonely and finds that what was done to her she can do to others and they become her companions until she is bored with them and discards them. Kai captures the Queen's interest but Ginny, the girl he loves and loves him back, decides to fight the Queen. It is what happens on Ginny's quest to get back the boy she loves is the real story here. It is her growth and the way she finds that she can love another without being lost herself. In fact, she finds herself along the way and it opens up a sense of freedom she never knew before. I also enjoyed the secondary characters in this tale. I'm curious to see if either of those will take precedence in the next installment of this series. If so, I would enjoy reading it.

One of my biggest complaints of the story is that the romance between Ginny and Kai is poorly developed at the beginning, but as stories were told I did finally get why there was such a connection between the two. The adventure slowly reveals the tale of their romance and that was better than finding the instant connection at the beginning. So my complaint turned into a positive in the end.

I give this book 4 stars. I enjoyed my time here and really enjoyed the growth Ginny goes through in her adventure. I recommend it to those that enjoy retellings and those following this series which I now need the first 2 books. :)

Throwback Thursday: Sign of the Zodiac by Vicki Pettersson

Meme hosted by Melissa My World in Words and Pages. It's about books that are already on the shelves and are waiting to be read. Go to her website to join in!

My submission this week:

The Scent of Shadows
Sign of the Zodiac #1
by Vicki Pettersson

When she was sixteen, Joanna Archer was brutally assaulted and left to die in the Nevada desert. 

By rights, she should be dead. 

Now a photographer by day, she prowls a different Las Vegas after sunset—a grim, secret Sin City where Light battles Shadow—seeking answers to whom or what she really is . . . and revenge for the horrors she was forced to endure. 

But the nightmare is just beginning—for the demons are hunting Joanna, and the powerful shadows want her for their own...

I actually got 5 in the series (there are 6 currently) when they were all on sale for $.99. I still need to get to them! 

(the other 4)

So, do you have a almost whole series waiting for you on your tbr? I hope I'm not the only one. LOL

Born Wild (Black Knights Inc. #5) by Julie Ann Walker

Series: Black Knights Inc. #5
352p.
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Published: Nov. 5, 2013
Source: NetGalley and Publisher for review

She's got three rules: 

1. Trust no one… Eve Edens has been abandoned, used, or manipulated by almost everyone she's ever met. Born into ridiculous wealth, she's dealt with the petty jealousies and sordid little resentments for nearly thirty years. But after three botched attempts on her life, she can no longer ignore the truth. Someone wants her dead. 

2. Avoid the bad boys at all costs… William "Wild Bill" Reichert, the wonderfully sexy boy who abandoned her years ago, is back in town. Only he's no boy. Now he's a covert operative - and he's all man. When Eve hires Bill to help her discover who is behind the attacks, Bill soon comes to suspect it's someone much closer to Eve than she dares to believe. 

3. And never fall for the same ruse twice… The search for the killer takes Bill and Eve deep into the dark secrets and strange world of the rich and famous, and into the heart of red-hot passion re-ignited by the peril that threatens to consume them both. But does Eve dare risk her heart on Bill a second time?

My thoughts:
 I enjoyed the characters Eve and Bill. I especially enjoyed this cover... but I have to say that both characters got on my nerves from time to time. Both lamenting what happened in the past even during intense times when lives were on the line. I get that they both were hurt and regretted what happened in the past, but I just wanted to take them both and put them in a small room to hash it out so we could get on with the story. I mean how hard was it to figure out that the father, who is meddlesome and selfish, is the one that got in their way. *throws up arms and walks away*

However, the rest of the story was pretty interesting. You still wanted to kick these guys for being so stupid... and we get to know more about the bartender, Delilah. I was quite happy about that and I can't wait to see that love story unfold. :) In the end, though we do get our HEA and I did smile at the end. So, since I'm an ending girl, I did really enjoy the twisted love tale of Eve and Wild Bill. There was a twist in Eve's mystery (other than the one that was easy to guess) and so it made me enjoy the story even more.

I give this book 3 1/2 stars. Even with the problems I encountered with the characters, I did enjoy the romance at the end. "Yay!" for HEAs! :D

Top Off Tuesday: Born Wild

"Every once in awhile there are covers that just make you say Oh My! Sometimes it is good, sometimes it is bad, and sometimes it is head scratching. The point of Top Off Tuesday is to show you the ones with their Tops Off! Seriously y’all hunting out Top Off Tuesday covers is one of my favorite pastimes and you should join the fun!" ~from the Geeky Blogger

I have been enjoying this meme on Felicia's The Geeky Blogger's blog and have finally found some time to join in. The other players are Amanda from On a Book Bender, Christi from Smitten with Reading. Button made by Missie at The Unread Reader

Born Wild
Black Knights Inc. #5
by Julie Ann Walker

She's got three rules: 

1. Trust no one… Eve Edens has been abandoned, used, or manipulated by almost everyone she's ever met. Born into ridiculous wealth, she's dealt with the petty jealousies and sordid little resentments for nearly thirty years. But after three botched attempts on her life, she can no longer ignore the truth. Someone wants her dead. 

2. Avoid the bad boys at all costs… William "Wild Bill" Reichert, the wonderfully sexy boy who abandoned her years ago, is back in town. Only he's no boy. Now he's a covert operative - and he's all man. When Eve hires Bill to help her discover who is behind the attacks, Bill soon comes to suspect it's someone much closer to Eve than she dares to believe. 

3. And never fall for the same ruse twice… The search for the killer takes Bill and Eve deep into the dark secrets and strange world of the rich and famous, and into the heart of red-hot passion re-ignited by the peril that threatens to consume them both. But does Eve dare risk her heart on Bill a second time?

Ah this cover is so nice, I'm going to have it on twice! :D Tomorrow I'm reviewing this little book. Yep, I do like the cover. ;)

So, what is on your ToT?  

Cover Reveal: Kissed by a Dark Prince by Felicity Heaton

Kissed by a Dark Prince

series: Eternal Mates #1

by Felicity Heaton

Olivia thinks it’s her lucky night when a dangerously handsome unconscious fae ends up on her inspection table. He’s her chance to redeem herself with her employer, the demon-hunting organisation, Archangel. But when the tall, dark and deadly immortal warrior awakes, she gets much more than she bargained for…

Attacked by his enemy in the elf kingdom, the last thing Prince Loren expects when he comes around is a beautiful angel watching over him and medical technology of the mortal realm. Hazy from his injuries, all he can focus on is the pulse ticking in her throat and the sweet allure of her blood.

One single bite reveals she is his eternal mate, triggering a bond between them that will leave him weakened until it is complete… or broken, and pulling Olivia into the crossfire of his ancient feud.

To protect his people and his mate from the machinations of a madman, Loren must risk everything by working with Olivia at Archangel to find a way to break the bond blossoming between them.

But will Loren be strong enough to place duty before desire and give up the one thing he has waited millennia for and craves above all others—his eternal mate? And will Olivia be able to resist the incredible heat that burns between them and the temptation of her dark prince’s kiss?

Kissed by a Dark Prince is due for release in ebook and paperback on November 30th 2013 and will be available from all major online book retailers

Join Felicity’s mailing list to receive a notification when Kissed by a Dark Prince is released, plus a sneak preview of the first 6 chapters of the book and chances to win a signed copy: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/newsletter.php

Add the book to your Goodreads shelf at: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18710035-kissed-by-a-dark-prince 

About Felicity Heaton:

Felicity Heaton is a USA Today best-selling author who writes passionate paranormal romance books as Felicity Heaton and F E Heaton. In her books she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons!

If you're a fan of paranormal romance authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter, Larissa Ione and Christine Feehan then you will enjoy her books too.

If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, Felicity Heaton’s best-selling Her Angel series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires then try the Vampires Realm series she writes as F E Heaton or any of her stand-alone vampire romance books she writes as Felicity Heaton. Or if you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic then try Felicity Heaton’s new Vampire Erotic Theatre series.

In 2011, five of her six paranormal romance books received Top Pick awards from Night Owl Reviews, Forbidden Blood was nominated as Best PNR Vampire Romance 2011 at The Romance Reviews, and many of her releases received five star reviews from numerous websites. In 2013, Heart of Darkness was a finalist in the paranormal romance category at the Epic Ebook Awards, and she became a USA Today best-selling author.

If you want to know more about Felicity, or want to get in touch, you can find her at the following places:

Website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk

Blog: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/blog/ 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/felicityheaton 

Twitter: http://twitter.com/felicityheaton

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/felicityheaton

Oh I think this would make a good ToT post, right? :) Also sounds like an interesting PNR.

Winner!

The winner for:

is... 

Victoria Z.

(confirmed)

There is still time to enter for:

(ebook... international giveaway! Just click on the pic to go to post!)

Author Blog post: Unseen Book Tour by J.L. Bryan

 

Book Your Astral Travel Plans Today!

by J.L. Bryan

You want a vacation—in fact, you need a vacation, but times are tough.  Who wants to spend all that money on airfare, hotels, restaurants, liquor, and other necessary vacation expenses?   And who wants to wait in line at the airport, anyway?

When you book with Astral Projection Travel Agency, you can save a bundle while seeing all the sights, plus you’ll never have to wait in line!

Here’s how it works: first, you tell us where you want to go.  You and your family (or that guy from work with whom you’re having a shameful passionate affair) come to our offices at the appointed time and stretch out on the recliners, chairs, and hammocks in out back room.  Our Astral Travel Consultants will put you into a trance using music, incense, crystals, and New Agey junk like that.  You’ll float up out of your body in no time.

Soon you’ll be zipping off to your chosen destination!  Whether you want to visit the South Pacific Islands, the Great Wall of China, Paris, Venice, or Rio de Janeiro, you’ll find yourself there in no time flat!

Without your body to slow you down, you’ll never have to wait for a thing.  Travel out of body to the

remote and wild places of the earth—the Amazon, the North Pole—without worrying about bugbites, frostbites, or weird intestinal worms in the drinking water!

But there’s more!  Out of body travel means never having to pay admission.  Ever.  Whether you’re visiting Disney World or the Louvre, you can pass right through the front gates and wander freely inside, never waiting in line, never paying a thing!  How’s that for cheap and convenient tourism?

An out-of-body vacation can take you to unforgettable destinations offered by no other travel agency.  Stroll the surface of the moon, take in the scenic mountains of Mars, or go zipping around the rings of Saturn—no shirt, no shoes, no oxygen, no problem!

Astral travel—the perfect way for a budget-conscious vacation without all the hassle of food, shelter, or finding a not-too-gross bathroom!  End your day with a home-cooked meal and a bed as comfortable as your own, because you’ll be eating and sleeping in your own home at no added expense.

Book your astral vacation today, and just say “no” to overpriced vacations where you have to haul your body around with you!  Stop by our office to learn more!

The Unseen
by J.L. Bryan
Publication date: October 31, 2013
Genres: Horror

Cassidy is a young tattoo artist living in the Little Five Points neighborhood of Atlanta. She’s always suffered terrible nightmares, and sometimes the hideous creatures seem to follow her out of her dreams and into her waking life, though she’s the only one who can see them. Drugs and alcohol can blot them out, but never entirely chase them away.

When a demonic cult begins to take control of the people in her life, including her younger brother, Cassidy discovers that the unseen world of monsters is very real. She can no longer avoid it. To protect those she loves, she must accept her own hidden supernatural talents and face the forces of evil before the sinister cult achieves its twisted goals and casts the world into darkness.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18630803-the-unseen

Purchase:

--B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/jl-bryan

--Author site: http://www.jlbryanbooks.com/books/theunseen.html

Amazon: http://amzn.to/16dyV0d

Nook:http://bit.ly/1gRtjzR

The Unseen by J.L. Bryan has a special release price of 99 cents through Halloween. See his website for details and links: http://jlbryanbooks.com/books/theunseen.html

AUTHOR BIO:

J.L. Bryan studied English literature at the University of Georgia and at Oxford, with a focus on the English Renaissance and the Romantic period. He also studied screenwriting at UCLA. He enjoys remixing elements of paranormal, supernatural, fantasy, horror and science fiction into new kinds of stories.

He is the author of The Paranormals series (starting with Jenny Pox), The Songs of Magic series, Nomad, and other books. He lives in Atlanta with his wife Christina, his son John, and some dogs and cats.

Website: www.jlbryanbooks.com

Twitter: @jlbryanbooks

Giveaways!

There are 2 giveaways with this tour! One is for the book in which the tour has allowed me to give away one ebook so it is international!

The second is for the grand prize:

A pendant and handbag! (US/Can only)

Fill out the rafflecopter forms below to enter: