12.21.12 by Killian McRae: Review by AimeeKay

The only way to save the future is to decode the past. The only way to decode the past is to save the future.

Archaeologist Sheppard Smyth has staked his career and the honorable memory of his wife and partner on proving his widely panned theory: Cleopatra VII, the last sovereign pharaoh of Egypt, was not a victim of suicide as history suggests, but of a well-concealed murder. When a statue of the doomed Queen is unearthed in a pre-Columbian excavation site in Mexico, Shep rushes to investigate and, hopefully, find the proof that has evaded him for so long. The statue, however, is only the first clue suggesting a mysterious connection between Mesopotamia and Mesoamerica, and possibly - beyond. Suddenly thrust into the heated rivalry between sexy and enigmatic antiquities thief Victoria Kent and the infamous Russian mafioso Dmitri Kronastia, Shep finds himself a common pawn played by forces working to see out a quest older than the pyramids and cloaked in the Mayan Doomsday prophecy of 12.21.12.

McRae does an excellent job of weaving together ancient myths and legends in 12-21-12. Sheppard Smyth is a wonderfully flawed character. While at one point in his life he would have been that perfect hero, his wife's death has caused him to become even more obsessed with his theory on Cleopatra, and also with alcohol. He on more than one occasion has found himself at the bottom of a bottle and wishing that the bottle was a bit bigger. The writer doesn't try to paint him as perfect, and I think this made him very likable. Victoria and Dmitiri are intriguing as well. Combine their individual goals with the twists and turns that the author has placed in the novel and up until the end it is very hard to see who is the villain and who isn't. While sometimes these twists and turns left me almost as confused as poor Shep. For the most part though, it was confused in a good way. It made me want to keep turning the pages to see where the author was taking me. However near the end it when some of the mysteries were revealed, the explanations weren't as thorough as I would have liked. ***spoiler alert*** I personally got confused over which bond was passed to which human and how. Plus I wasn't sure whether Shep was the descendant of royal Egyptians , or Alex, or Christine. I would have liked a little genealogy chart maybe to go along with it. Maybe added as an appendix?***end spoiler***

While the book is set perfectly to lead into a sequel, it did have a nice happy ending for more than one of it's main characters. I am a huge fan of Happy Ever After, so this wasn't an issue for me. Plus I think that after all the crap that Dmitri and Alex put Shep through, he definitely deserved it. The only other issue I had with the book, is that I wanted to find out more about Victoria, and her other proxies. (I love myths and legends and would have loved to see how the author weaved Victoria and her proxies into history) However this issue has been semi-resolved. 

 Melissa was kind enough to let me know about a side series the author is releasing called The Twelve. I was lucky enough to download a copy of the first part from Smashwords. The full title is The Twelve: Altunai Subset One, and it introduces the reader to the first three proxies of Victoria. The only problem I have with it is that it is too short. I think that each of the proxies, at least the ones I've read about so far, could easily deserve their own book. Not just a few pages. This however won't stop me from trying to get my hands on the next book to find out about the other proxies. And I definitely would be interested in reading more about Victoria and finding out what happens to her and Alex, and the rest of the world she's created for that matter. I think this book was really good and I definitely would recommend it.

Til next time

AimeeKay

note from Melissa:

Giveaway!

If you would like to win an ebook of this story, just let me know in the comments. I'll chose a winner on the 19th.

Giveaway is over!

Hounded Read-A-Long Chpts. 6-10

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This weeks questions come from On a Book Bender:

1. In Chapter 6, Atticus goes hunting with Oberon and Flidais. What was supposed to be a fun hunting trip turned rather disastrous. Were you expecting something like this to happen or did it catch you by surprise? Have you ever had something that should have been fun turn disastrous or nearly disastrous? 

Well, the gods/fae tend to be fickle, so I wasn't completely caught off guard. Plus, you knew something was going on the minute Atticus changed into a wolfhound and sensed something amiss. And sure... I've had things ruin a fun trip. Usually it's an illness. :P

2. We are only briefly introduced to the witches (or, a witch) in chapter 7. What are your first impressions? How much would you trust the witches? Why? 

I wouldn't trust the witches in Atticus's world. Too much power and it is too easy for them to become corrupt from that power. I think I would err on caution's side as Atticus does. 

3. Oberon says, “With dogs you just go up and smell their asses and you know where you stand. It’s so much easier. Why can’t humans do that?” Do you ever wish there was an easier way to find out where you stand with someone (besides Oberon’s suggestion, of course)? In what cases would it be easier or better to hide your true feelings?

Hell yes. Oh.. I mean sure. LOL I think people tend to complicate the simple and simplify the complicated way too much. I am guilty of that as well. In what cases? I think when you know the other person is up to something and is trying to find a way to make life more difficult for you. That might in fact be the reason we can't just go up to someone's butt and sniff. Um... can I say ew? :D

4. Chapter 9 makes Atticus’ life much more difficult: the witches are in some way working with Aeghus Og, Bres comes after Atticus, and more trouble appears at the end of the chapter. Have you made sense of what has happened thus far? Any predictions for what might happen?

Sense as in that Aeghus Og wants to make Atticus's life difficult or non-existant. Don't know why yet Aeghus wants the sword. No predictions right now.

5. Atticus has had plenty of time to cultivate attitudes and ethics that would allow him to live a very long time. What do you think it is about Atticus that has allowed him to live for as long as he has?

Caution and a quick wit. I think he also has a finely tuned BS meter. I think that helps when dealing with the supernatural and the normal. :D

Hope you are having fun. The next set of questions will be from Smash Attack Reads

Embrace by Jessica Shirvington

It starts with a whisper: “It’s time for you to know who you are…”

Violet Eden dreads her seventeenth birthday. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. As if that wasn’t enough, disturbing dreams haunt her sleep and leave her with very real injuries. There’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms that wasn’t there before.

Violet is determined to get some answers, but nothing could have prepared her for the truth. The guy she thought she could fall in love with has been keeping his identity a secret: he’s only half-human—oh, and same goes for her.

A centuries-old battle between fallen angels and the protectors of humanity has chosen its new warrior. It’s a fight Violet doesn’t want, but she lives her life by two rules: don’t run and don’t quit. When angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden…

 I've always been fascinated by all mythology. I remember a poster a friend of mine had that broke down the ranking and hierarchy of the Hebrew angel mythology. I remember how complex and beautiful it looked. This book takes a small portion of that mythology and weaves it into a world where all exiled angels are dangerous and corrupt. It doesn't matter if they come from the light or the dark. In fact the book tries to put those assumptions into question. This I liked immensely. Also, for those that shy away from books like this because you fear it may be preachy, do not worry. It does not come across that way at all even though some chapters start with a bible quote. It is only to set the stage for the chapter, not the religion.

Now although I enjoyed some of the myth play, I have to admit it also felt incomplete. Answers eluded me and I would have liked it fleshed out more. Those things may be solved in the coming books, but might frustrate some of us in this first book. Also, you are left to question some of the actions of the ordinary folk. I didn't understand her father who was absent throughout most of the book, but turns up later very interested in her life. I did love her best friend but she also confused me a bit. She seemed to have less trouble about the whole suddenly an angel thing than Violet.

Oh, I do have to mention the suitors that Violet has. One is Lincoln. He was a nice guy. Great guy, but I honestly didn't connect with him well in this story, but then he wasn't in much of the book. However, Phoenix. *sigh* Bad, bad, bad angel in such a good way. LOL Although you knew he was bad for Violet, you knew he was playing her somehow... and yet I cheered for him. I wanted him to win. He had so much more depth and layers to his character than Lincoln that I think I'll be cheering for him in the next book. :D

I give this angel book 3 1/2 stars. I really enjoyed the mythology despite my questions but I am aware this is part of a series. I'm hoping those lingering questions will be better answered in the next 2 books. I also enjoyed the Violet's adventure to learning who she is... and Phoenix. ;) I think, though, I would have liked her "normal" relationships to have been stronger. More fleshed out. I think it would have made her character stand out more. It would have made Violet more believable to me.
I received this ARC from the publisher and no compensation for my review was given.

Brand New Embrace Book Trailer from Sourcebooks Inc on Vimeo.

My Book Boyfriend

Yes, I know... I haven't done this in an age. Time to change that.

First, I'd like to revisit a book boyfriend I actually revisited before:

Oh yes... you know it's coming... I'm staking my claim again on Owen. Oh Owen! You sure showed us how swoon worthy you are in this book. You accept Gin for who she is and love her without doubt or reservation. Darn it! ;) Stop doing that! You are MINE!

So... you know it's coming... I've featured him as Owen before (posts) and I'm going to do so again.

MY Owen is played by Jason Momoa. Ah so let's get to the man candy, shall we?

Since there are several scenes in this book on the beach, I think I'll go for those type of images:

Must be talking to Bria...

Can't forget this beach look...

Oh Owen... I'd love a vacay with you at the beach! ;D

Don't forget there is a giveaway of this book currently going on HERE

My second man candy here and newest addition to the man harem is Talivar from:

Oh this fallen prince is one of the few fae who know what it is like to see beyond the beauty. To see someone for who they are and not just who they present themselves to be. Now, he has been described several times as a scruffy Legolas. So for these, imagine a bit of beard scruff as well as an eye patch. However, I still felt that Legolas would fit the bill for Talivar nicely. So, here is a sweet, heartbroken, loving Talivar played, of course, by Legolas/Orlando Bloom. He really does have an elfan name, doesn't he?

I actually see him with darker hair.. but this will do for now. ;)

Sorry, I couldn't find a shirtless version. Darn Legolas never took his shirt off. I think we need to complain. :D

So, who is new in your man harem this week?

By A Thread (Elemental Assassin #6) By Jennifer Estep

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

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

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

Warning: There will be small spoilers for those that have not been reading the series...

I can't believe it is already #6! I love this series and I'm so glad to have been able to read this one. You think that after solving one of her biggest problems things would just settle down and perhaps almost be boring (I mean how boring could it be with Owen around? *sigh* Anyway back to the review...). Oh but this is Gin and of course you know that nothing is that simple with her. She finds someone in dire need of her services and it happens to be her sister's very best friend. So, if it involves her sis in even the smallest way, Gin is willing to come to the rescue and do things that others can't or are unwilling to do.

The story also involves Gin's strained relationship with Bria. I did have a problem with Bria's attitude, especially when she's been dating Finn who also isn't completely lawful and has killed people for money. I always thought that was a bit hypocritical. Also, we see that Donovan Caine is back and still has the same attitude with Gin and what she does. However, do not let these two things bring you down in the book. Both are solved and in a quite brilliant way. Bria gets a stick removal and Gin gets to tell Donovan how she hurt. I totally applaud both moves!

Oh and then there is Owen. *sigh* OWEN! Oh the contrast between Donovan and Owen just makes him SO much more swoon worthy. You will feel like me and want... no demand... that Owen be real and sweep... well.. ME off my feet. :D Oh Owen fans will NOT be disappointed with this book. Oh and I still say there was not enough Owen in the book... but again... I'm just a greedy wench. ;)

I give this book 4 1/2 stars. It is a great addition to the Elemental Assassin series. It closed some doors, opened some possibilities and gave me a fun ride in the process!

And if this makes you salivate for this book, don't forget Jennifer is having a giveaway for a signed book at my blog! Just go HERE to enter!