Reading the Paranormal

Review: All Hallows' Moon (Seasons of the Moon #2) by S.M. Reine

2012-03-02T06:03:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Rylie survived becoming a werewolf at great cost. She moves to her aunt’s ranch in the hopes she can enroll in a new high school and quietly continue her life... with a few distinct changes. She transforms into a beast every new and full moon and struggles to control her murderous urges.

Without many werewolves left, it’s hard to stay in hiding. A family of hunters -- Eleanor, Abel, and Seth -- recognize the signs and follow Rylie to her new home. They want to stop her before she murders someone, and the only way to do it is with a silver bullet. Seth soon realizes the werewolf is Rylie, the one monster he failed to kill. Worse yet, he’s still in love with her.

Torn between family and love, Rylie struggles to reconcile her feelings and control the wolf within while Seth fights to do what’s right. But what is right-- obeying desire or duty?

My Thoughts: Big fat disclaimer: I love werewolves. Like, I get ridiculously excited whenever a new werewolf book/author/movie/whatever pops up on my radar because those werewolves are just so darn fun to play with. That said, I tend to gravitate toward the paranormal romances (mmm... big strong Alpha who need to claim their mate) where the werewolves in question are strong, powerful individuals. So, when I first read book1 I was pleasantly surprised to find myself enjoying Rylie's tale as much as I did. I mean, she didn't have any sort of easy werewolf-y transition. It was brutal and bloody and when the wolf takes her over she doesn't have much (if any) control over her actions. But I really enjoyed her journey and I was thrilled with the way the book ended.

So, then book 2 migrated into my hands and I was all "YAY! More wolves! MOAR!" and there was great rejoicing. Or at least I devoured the book in record time because I needed to know how Rylie was going to get out of her situation. Now, I'm all emotionally wrung out and I'm sending mental pokey fingers at S.M. Reine because I can only imagine what the next book is going to bring. *poke, poke*

I loved the comparison between Seth's extremely dysfunctional family life (Whoa! Hey there, crazy mom. How you doing?) and the life that Rylie's begun to carve out with her aunt, as unconventional as it might seem on the outside. Aunt Gwen might seem like a hard lady on the surface but she's there for Rylie whereas Seth's mom is just a fanatical nutjob who's more concerned about their next kill than whether or not her youngest son graduates from high school. There was something poetic about that.

Probably the biggest thought that kept running through my head was how Rylie was a wolf without a pack. Right now, she's doing her best but she really has no guidance. She needs someone experienced in being a werewolf to show her the ropes and I'm desperately hoping that she finds someone soon. Not that Seth isn't trying his hardest to help but, well, he doesn't go furry twice a month and he's flying just as blind as she is.

A fun book with enough blood and guts to keep me smiling (What? Werewolves need to eat, too, you know!), I am super excited for book 3.

Other reviews in this series
Book 1: Six Moon Summer

More books by S.M. Reine

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge, Why Buy the Cow? Challenge
All Hallows' Moon was a free Kindle download I picked up 01/27/12.

Review: Tempted by Blood (Sweetblood #3) by Laurie London

2012-03-01T12:07:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Deep within the forests of the Pacific Northwest, the battle for supremacy rages on between two Vampire coalitions:
Guardian enforcers sworn to protect humanity, and Darkbloods, rogues who kill like their ancient ancestors….

He might be known for his effortless charm, but Guardian Jackson Foss is hiding a terrible secret. For months, he has battled the emergence of his dark nature—deadly urges that threaten to consume him. And those cravings only intensify when he meets Arianna Wells, the human he's been assigned to protect. Smart and perceptive, Arianna doesn't seem like a dangerous temptress. Yet she awakens in Jackson an unstoppable need that, if left unchecked, will brand him a traitor…a crime punishable by death.

But soon their bond may be Arianna's only hope. For stalking her in the shadows is a merciless enemy—one who will stop at nothing to claim her completely...

My Thoughts: I always love when authors take a character that comes across as shallow *cough*and man whore-ish*cough* and gives them a great reason for doing the things that they do. In this case, Jackson is a lady killer. His fellow Guardians see him as a womanizing playboy who can score a new lady (or three) every night. What they don't know is that he has off the charts energy needs and he seeks out these women to keep those needs in check.

I guess I'm trying to say that Jackson never really pinged my radar in the first books because I did see him as the goofy, shallow playboy. Yet, he ... isn't. He's desperately afraid that his energy needs are a sure sign that he's reverting. As a Guardian, reverting will earn him a one way ticket to dead and that's not really something Jackson wants to deal with. So he hides his needs and lets everyone keep thinking that he's a sex fiend who scores on everything in sight.

Enter Arianna. Jackson is drawn to her but he's afraid of sucking up too much of her energy so he holds himself in check. Due to a trauma in her past, Arianna is pretty accepting of Jackson and his ways once her eyes are opened to the vampire population. She's not a sweetblood herself but her young cousin is one of the ones that was rescued at the end of book 2, so she's fully immersed in her world before she even knows it exists.

Simply put, I like these books. I think the worldbuilding is well thought out, the characters are sassy and protective, the bad guys are bad enough that I wouldn't want to meet them in a dark alley. Because they'd, you know, kill me. Overall, it's an extremely enjoyable read. Have I mentioned that I love the cover? I do. Jackson keeps following me with his eyes. *shifts from side to side* See? I like it.

Other books in this series
Book 1: Bonded by Blood
Novella 1.5: Hidden by Blood
Book 2: Embraced by Blood

More books by Laurie London

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge
Tempted by Blood was provided for review by Harlequin through NetGalley.

Review: Taking Liberty by Jodi Redford

2012-03-01T06:02:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

From zero to naked at warp speed...

Rini Campell's one shot at keeping her field agent position with the United Galaxies' repo department means bringing in the spaceship Liberty. Piece of cake. Except she didn't count on the pilot still being on board. Or being buck naked

Lucus Granger doesn't have time to deal with a pain-in-the-ass repo agent. Not when he's minutes away from dropping off a cargo haul for the psychotic alien dictator of Aquatica. Though he figures it's just about the stupidest bargain he's ever made, he allows Rini to tag along for the flight.

Big mistake.

Stranded in enemy territory, they find themselves fighting a battle on two fronts. Against a creepy dictator who'd as soon drown them as look at them. And against a blazing attraction hotter than the godforsaken planet itself. For these two wary hearts, love could bloom in the desert...if it doesn't kill them first.

Warning: A feisty heroine and yummy hero getting sweaty in the desert. Squid aliens who bring new meaning to the word slimy. Oh, and some close encounters of the sexy kind.

My Thoughts: Jodi Redford scares me. Seriously. When I read her books I sometimes wonder if she doesn't sneak into my room in the middle of the night and attach a complicated tangle of wires to my forehead to suck out all the things that I like so that she can incorporate them into her books. You guys might think I'm joking BUT I'M NOT! It's like she has a direct line to all the things that make me tingly. Sexy sci-fi, tentacled aliens, BEING STRANDED ON A BARREN PLANET AND FORCED TO GET NAKED WITH A HOT PILOT! I'd tell her to stay out of my head but I like what she writes too damn much to deny myself.

Anyway. One thing that doesn't scare me about Jodi is her ability to write really fun characters. Rini, for example, is a hoot. She's strong-willed, skilled, and she just might be the tiniest bit OCD about her antibacterial wipes. How can you resist a girl who carries a virtual medical kit in her pockets "just in case"? You can't. She casts her antibacterial magic on you and is irresistible. Then there's Lucus, with his 9 inch... err, I mean, with his slightly battered outlook on relationships and his self-depreciating humor.

Did I mention the tentacled aliens yet? Because PLEASURE VALVE! Lol! Oh, man. That just cracks me up beyond belief.

"It's been proven that the males of our species have bigger brains."
"Too bad the same can't be said for your pleasure valve."

Funny and sexy with a side order of never-boring. Jodi Redford might have frightening mind reading abilities but she writes a damn good book.

More books by Jodi Redford

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge

Review: Hunter's Prey (Bloodhounds #2) by Moira Rogers

2012-02-29T06:02:00.000-08:00

Release date: March 6, 2012
Synopsis (Goodreads):

Ophelia retired from life as a prostitute, but her new position is even more complicated. Managing the bloodhound manor in Iron Creek is difficult and time-consuming, a job she enjoys less with each passing day. Then there's her inconvenient attraction to Hunter. The newly turned hound seems eager to enjoy her company, but wary of anything more intimate.

Having survived the violence of his first full moon out of a cage, Hunter isn't looking forward to his first new moon. Ophelia offers to be the woman who sates his needs during the three long days of sexual fury, but he can't abide the thought of hurting her in a state of mindless lust. Especially since she longs to settle into a respectable life, and his needs are anything but respectable.

Their mutual goal is simple: avoid entanglements. It's a solid plan, at least until a vampire drug lord and a couple of nosy Guild representatives force them to work together to defend their friends and everything they hold dear--including each other.

Warning: Contains a mostly feral, vampire-hunting hero and a tough survivor of a heroine whose retired-hooker heart is more steel than gold. Also included: dangerous frontier intrigue, fancy brothels, mad-scientist weapons and a good dose of wicked loving in an alternate Wild West.

My Thoughts: Oh.mi.gawd. Now, I'm not one to usually fawn over fictional characters... no, wait. That's my evil, non-obsessive twin. The one with the goatee and pointy eyebrows. *I'm* totally a fawner. A fall in love with the brawny Alpha type of girl. A sucker for the tormented hero. A lover of all things sexy. In short, Hunter hits all my shifter-lovin' kinks. His torment is epic. His feral attraction to Ophelia is both incredibly hot and incredibly sweet. His drive to protect those around him - especially from himself - made me adore him ridiculous amounts.

Needless to say, Hunter is fantastic. He's battling so hard against himself - and with the way he was made and the way he spent the beginning of his existence as a Bloodhound, can you blame him? - that he doesn't trust his instincts in the least. He's sure he's going to hurt Ophelia unintentionally. On her end, Ophelia is trying to settle into her role as a retired prostitute running the manor. She's battling her need to help her friends with the drag of a job she doesn't enjoy. Her attraction to Hunter, when he doesn't seem to want to want her, is another thing pulling her down. Good thing that new moon lets them throw all those pesky inhibitions and doubts out the window!

Oh, wait. It's never that easy, is it? Because once they've come together they find themselves with some new issues. But, oh, it is a glorious ride. A glorious, fun, aggressively sexual ride with a few outside distractions thrown in for good measure.

Fantastic characters, a funky, steampunk world, and ominous setup for future shenanigans... really, what more can you ask for?

Other books in this series:
Book 1: Wilder's Mate

More books by Moira Rogers

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge
Hunter's Prey was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Deep Dark Secret (Secret McQueen #3) by Sierra Dean

2012-02-28T07:04:00.000-08:00

Release date: March 6, 2012
Synopsis (Goodreads):

Secret McQueen has hunted vampires, werewolves, and every conceivable supernatural menace-to-society. Seen it all? Not even close. When the queen of the were-ocelots comes to her for help finding a missing girl, the half-vampire/half-werewolf soon realizes how much she has to learn about the things that go bump in the night.

The case of the missing cat is one thing. Pile it up with her new duties as a Tribunal Leader, her tenuous position as mate to the king of the Eastern werewolves, and a slew of new (and unwelcome) supernatural abilities, and Secret is once again in familiar territory. Way over her head. But for this multitasking half-breed, it’s business as unusual.

What knocks her for a loop, though, isn’t her lover’s intoxicating kiss. It’s the missing memories rushing at her from out of nowhere, signaling a rapidly approaching fork in her destiny. Her choice will affect not only her life, but her love.

Warning: Contains a werewolf king with wandering hands, a creepy English professor with nefarious plans, and one hell of an unexpected gala evening at Columbia.

My Thoughts: Sierra Dean, you rat! I equal parts love the way you can twist up my emotions and curse you for making me empathize with Lucas when he does something that I *really* didn't initially agree with. You've made me into a waffling mess. And now I want waffles! Look at what you've done to me!

*deep breath*

As per usual, Secret is pretty awesome. She can kick supernatural booty with the best of them... no, better than the best of them. I like that in a girl. I like that she has a stable of men drooling over her and she's so fiercely devoted to Desmond. I like that she has found a way to make her poly-amorous love life work. I like that she is battling both sides of her nature in different ways. I LOVE how quick she is to jump to someone's defense when they need her.

The bad guy is appropriately nasty here and Secret has her work cut out figuring out the intricacies of who and what he is as well as how to defeat something she's never faced down before.

There are some big happenings in this book. BIG. Things that make me frown, things that make me gasp, things that make me want to bite my nails. I love Secret's world. I love that she's such a huge part of it yet at times she's so wonderfully clueless. I'm dying to know what's going to happen next to our intrepid heroine.

Other reviews in this series
Novella 0.5: The Secret Guide to Dating Monsters
Book 1: Something Secret This Way Comes
Book 2: A Bloody Good Secret
Short Story 2.5: Secret Santa

More books by Sierra Dean

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge
Deep Dark Secret was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Teaser Tuesday (02/28/12)

2012-02-27T20:30:00.000-08:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Deep Dark Secret (Secret McQueen #3) by Sierra Dean (Goodreads)

If the entire night staff of a museum were murdered by monsters, it probably wouldn't bode too well for the reputation of paranormal creatures everywhere. Really, I was doing the council a giant favor by preemptively putting a stopper on what might be a huge scandal.

All Hallows' Moon (Seasons of the Moon #2) by S.M. Reine (Goodreads)

The girl seemed pretty normal for the first few hours- quiet, but normal- but she got more nervous as time went on. Now her skin was flushed and her pupils were too wide.

Have I told you guys how much I love my werewolves? I LOVE THEM! There are werewolves aplenty in the current set of books I'm reading. LOVE!

I'm wandering the blogosphere again...

2012-02-27T07:48:00.003-08:00

Today, I'm guest reviewing A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young over on Amanda's blog! Go and show me some comment love, bebes!

Review: Serpent's Kiss (Elder Races #3) byThea Harrison

2012-02-27T06:02:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

In order to save his friend's life, Wyr sentinel Rune Ainissesthai made a bargain with Vampyre Queen Carling—without knowing what she would ask from him in return. But when Rune attempts to make good on his debt, he finds a woman on the edge.

Recently, Carling's Power has become erratic, forcing her followers to flee in fear. Despite the danger, Rune is drawn to the ailing Queen and decides to help her find a cure for the serpent's kiss—the vampyric disease that's killing her.

With their desire for each other escalating just as quickly as Carling's instability spirals out of control, the sentinel and the Queen will have to rely on each other if they have any hope of surviving the serpent's kiss.

My Thoughts: Oh.mi.god. This book bowled me over and beat me down with a sharp stick. And just when I thought I'd have a chance to catch my breath, it did it again. I salute you, Thea Harrison, for your unprecedented ability to reduce me to a gasping mass of emotions. *curls into a fetal ball and rocks*

*deep breath* Where do I begin with this one? Rune. He's... well, here's the thing, Thea Harrison builds these characters that are so unrepentantly sexy and *male* and you just want to crawl into their world and sit beside them to soak in some of that strength and power. Rune is all the things that I love in a main character. He's powerful, playful, hot, and he is a genuinely good guy at heart. He will kill to protect the people that he deems worthy. He will give everything inside him for the woman he loves. And, oh, does he love Carling. In an interesting twist he has the chance to see her as she matures into the woman she is today and he falls a little more in love with her with every incarnation he meets. However, being a pig-headed male Wyr, he denies it with every fiber of his being and writes off his desire for her as simple lust.

Boys are so funny sometimes.

Carling on the other hand has accepted that her time is short. Although she's still looking for a cure, she knows that the disease eating away at her has stamped an expiration date of her already impressively long life. Rune's refusal to let her fade gives her something to hold onto and her attraction to him is an unexpected bonus. Did I mention that these two are smokin' hot together? *fans self* Whoa. Just, whoa.

I absolutely loved the twists this book took. I loved that we were introduced to the main characters in the next book and they look like they're going to be FANTABULOUS. I even loved the hiccup the relationship between Rune and Dragos took (although I am hoping those two big lugs work things out down the line). I love the secondary characters (I'm firmly of the belief that ALL the Sentinels need their own books now) and the power struggles and the worldbuilding.

I'm sorry, Thea Harrison, I'm in love with your books. I want to hug them and squeeze them and call them George. *strokes them* Simply put, I need more.

Other reviews in this series
Book 1: Dragon Bound
Book 2: Storm's Heart

More books by Thea Harrison

Clock Rewinders (02/26/12)

2012-02-26T05:00:00.000-08:00

Clock Rewinders on a Book Binge is the brain child of Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Tara @ 25 Hour Books. I'm inviting myself to their party (as I sometimes do) because I have so damn much fun reading Amanda's posts that I couldn't help myself.

Reading the Paranormal Week in Review:

Review: Heart of Darkness by Felicity Heaton - Vampire lovin' never gets old!
Teaser Tuesday - Demons and merfolk!
Review: Straight to Hell (Lilith Straight #1) by Michelle Scott - A very fun look into the life of a reluctant succubus.
Guest Post & Giveaway: The Kure by Jaye Frances
Review & Giveaway: Getting Familiar with Your Demon (That Old Black Magic #4) by Jodi Redford - I <3 Jodi so hard for giving me all the demons I can handle. *squeezes her tight*
Review: Illumine by Alivia Anders - Enjoyable.
Double Take Review: My Soul to Save (Soul Screamers #2) by Rachel Vincent -This series is just as fun the second time around!

Books, I have some:
Bought
Never to Sleep (Soul Screamers #5.5) by Rachel Vincent (Kindle)
Valentine's Day of the Undead (Megan Berry #2.5) by Stacey Jay (Kindle)
**psst... this book is under a dollar until the end of February. #JustSaying**

Freebies
Forged in Fire (The Forged Series #1) by Trish McCallan (Kindle)

For Review:
Hungry For You by A.M. Harte (Kindle)
BaSatai (Outside In #1) by Suzan Battah
Tempted by Blood (Sweetblood #3) by Laurie London (Kindle)
Caressed by Night (Rulers of Darkness #2) by Amanda J. Greene

Library Finds
The Wood Queen (The Iron Witch #2) by Karen Mahoney (Paperback)

Places I've been creeping around this week:

On Monday, I popped over to Smash's blog to review horror novel Dead Man's Eye by Shaun Jeffrey. I talk about my fear of clowns and bugs and having my eye force me to kill someone. THAT STUFF HAPPENS, YOU KNOW!
Tumblr - It's been a slow-ish Tumblr week for me. I've been distracted or something. I don't like it.

Random Randomness:

I don't know if I've ever mentioned it here, but the Nieceling and I are HUGE Walking Dead fans. Sunday nights are full of fangirl flailing and an in depth dissection of the episode. Tonight, we're planning on making Walking Dead Sundaes just because I was unable to resist the awesomeness of the pun. WALKING DEAD SUNDAES, PEOPLE! Lololol! Oh, man. There will be pictures. There will be!
Have you guys ever reached a point where you just sort of ... lose interest in a meme that you've been pretty faithful to? I'm feeling that way about Teaser Tuesday. I just... I don't know. I'm getting bored with it. I think I might join the ladies who run Top Off Tuesday instead. Because, really, nothing says Tuesday like a shirtless dude. I'm actually completely serious about that. Amanda has ruined me with her shirtless covers.

For Your Enjoyment:

I am a huge Star Wars fan and I'm a little in love with these promo flyers. They remind me of the BSG propaganda poster series which I thought was BRILLIANT and ridiculously fun when it came out. *goes off to watch The Empire Strikes Back*

And since I have you all in thrall at the moment...

Random Twitter Awesomeness!

Sometimes Amanda and I are scary, aren't we?

Until next week!

Double Take Review: My Soul to Save (Soul Screamers #2) by Rachel Vincent

2012-02-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

When Kaylee Cavanaugh screams, someone dies.

So when teen pop star Eden croaks onstage and Kaylee doesn't wail, she knows something is dead wrong. She can't cry for someone who has no soul.

The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad's ironclad curfew and putting her too-hot-to-be-real boyfriend's loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls: a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld—a consequence they can't possibly understand.

Kaylee can't let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk….

Original review: 01/02/11
My Thoughts: I have a secret. I'm a little bit in love with going back a year after my initial read and taking another crack at these books. Knowing what's coming for Kaylee and crew down the road is giving me a different perspective on what I'm seeing this time around. I want to shake Nash and I want to give Tod great big cuddles. I still pretty much loathe Sophie, so nothing's changed there. The biggest difference I can see is that I don't trust Nash this time around. I'm almost afraid to read book 3 now because I don't like what he does to himself and to Kaylee.

There's part of me that respects Kaylee for giving her all to try to help Addison regain her soul. And then there's a big part of me that can't believe she put both herself and Nash in danger to help a girl who had willingly sold herself for fame and fortune. As I was reading, I kept thinking that I didn't care that Addy had been duped and tricked and any number of other things... the bottom line was that she sold her soul. Her problems were of her own making. Why was Kaylee risking her own life to help a girl who had been so quick to sign on the dotted line?

Still, Kaylee did show that she had spine and she was willing to step into the line of fire. This is something we see time and time again from her in later books, so it rang true to her character. I'm just not sure I would have done the same in her position.

I still love the worldbuilding, the mythology, the cast of characters that Rachel Vincent has assembled. And Tod is officially my favorite Reaper.

Other books in this series
Prequel: My Soul To Lose
Prequel: Reaper
Book 1: My Soul To Take
Double Take Review
Book 2: My Soul To Save
Book 3: My Soul To Keep
Book 4: My Soul To Steal
Book 5: If I Die

More books by Rachel Vincent

Reading challenges: The Soul Screamers Reading Challenge

Illumine (Illumine #1) by Alivia Anders

2012-02-24T06:05:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

For the past five months Essallie Hanley has been trying to forget about the frightening murder of her boyfriend. Haunted by vivid nightmares and hallucinations of the event she does anything she can to pretend she's like every other normal girl in High School.

Only Essallie is far from normal. Able to conjure blue fire and a shimmering silhouette of wings from her body, she seeks the only known solace left to her name; her first home in Belfast, Maine.

But she soon realizes that her return home is only the beginning of a long and twisted road taking her as far from her humanity as possible, with Kayden, the demon originally summoned to slaughter her, leading the way. Unable to touch her but oddly curious, he joins Essallie in her search to find out just what she is. But neither of them were prepared for the secrets they've begun to unravel, secrets that will change Essallie and everyone around her forever.

My Thoughts: While there were a few parts of this book that felt a little jumbled and could have used a bit more explanation, the overriding story arc of a girl who has been kept in the dark as to who she is or what she can do and has to seek advice from a creature that has tormented her nightmares is compelling. Essie has no idea what she's capable of. She has no clue what the future holds for her as her odd powers begin to manifest. She's haunted by visions of death and the very creature that butchered her boyfriend in front of her is the only one willing to give her answers.

Essie's confusion over this sudden power she has is understandable. Part of me was a bit confused about how she went from terrified of Kayden to trusting him to help her. While I admittedly can see that he's the only one offering up any answers, I don't think I could ever trust someone who had devoured someone in front of me in a very messy and brutal manner (as opposed to those that eat people daintily and entirely humanely, right?). Still, he does come through when the chips are down and he finds a way to show her what she is, so there is that.

The events at the end of the book took me by surprise and I'm curious as to how Essie will work her way out of the situation she finds herself in.

More books by Alivia Anders

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge
Illumine was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Review & Giveaway: Getting Familiar with Your Demon (That Old Black Magic #4) by Jodi Redford

2012-02-23T00:01:00.000-08:00

Release date: February 28, 2012
Synopsis (Goodreads)

He should push her away…but he’d rather have his wicked way with her.

After too many years learning death from the inside out as the familiar of a voodoo queen, soul collector Samael Gorasola betrayed his boss, which landed him on demon death row.

He should have known not even his punishment would come easy, but the deal he’s offered to escape his fate stinks. Become the indentured servant to his despised enemy? No thanks, he’d rather be six feet under. With that in mind, he picks a deadly fight with two demon hunters, only to be rescued by one misguided, deliciously innocent white witch.

Marabella hasn’t a clue what possessed her to help Sam, particularly since he’s not the least bit grateful. She blames it on her overwhelming attraction to the dark, dangerous demon, and her exasperating quest to rid herself of the stubborn curse that guards her virginity. If the guild finds out, though, she can kiss her white-witch status goodbye.

A kiss is exactly what she gets, followed by a consuming hunger that breaks down all heavenly and earthly barriers…and leaves Sam saddled with the one thing he never wanted, a conscience, and a connection to Marabella that puts her soul on the line.

Warning: This book contains torturous use of disco music, one sinfully sexy demon who revels in being bad, a virgin witch whose innocence runs more than skin deep, and plenty of wicked, forbidden sex with explosive side effects—literally.

My Thoughts: Oh.My.GAWD. I LOVED this book. Loved it. Sam is just *fans self* my type of demon. *fans self some more* He's got that killer-esque vibe and, you know, he's a demon and he's... well, he's awesometastic. I'd steal him and tuck him away in my closet so I could bring him out to play every once in a while but I don't think he'd stay put.

First off, I adore this entire series. It's quirky, fun and it has some of the hottest damn men you can imagine. What's not to like?!? Each book introduces new elements to the overall mythology and keeps the supernatural hits coming. The bad guys are nasty, the good guys are naughty and the sex sizzles. Boy, does the sex sizzle.

So. Sam. What can I say about this guy? He's rude, sexy, built and he has a kernel of decency hidden away inside. Marabella is a perfect foil for him. She's genuinely sweet, completely virginal and resigned to staying that way. Fortunately for her, Sam's not very good at playing by the rules and he swoops in to blow her socks off. *cue porntastic music*

Yep, I love these guys. I love Sam's cousins and Sam's gun. I'm not talking euphemistically, either. He has a cool gun. Really. REALLY! I just flat out love crawling into this world that Jodi Redford has created and wallowing in it. *rolls around a bit* Yep. I love it.

Other reviews in this series
Book 1: That Voodoo You Do
Book 2: The Seven Year Witch
Book 3: Maximum Witch

More books by Jodi Redford

Getting Familiar with Your Demon was provided by the author in return for an honest review.

Jodi Redford has generously offered up a copy of Getting Familiar With Your Demon to one lucky reader! Fill out the Rafflecopter form below for your chance to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Guest Post & Giveaway: The Kure by Jaye Frances

2012-02-22T00:00:00.000-08:00

Author Jaye Frances stopped by today to tell us a little about her new book The Kure! Welcome, Jaye!

Thank you, Kelly, for hosting me on Reading the Paranormal today. I really appreciate the opportunity to talk about The Kure, and to let your readers know about my “Resolve To Read” promotion going on right now through Amazon.

I was sitting in a restaurant recently, having one of those let’s-catch-up-because-we-haven’t-seen-each-other-for-months kind of lunches with an old girlfriend. After the plates were cleared away and we’d finished trading guilty looks for splitting a second dessert, the conversation got around to my writing. She had just finished reading The Kure and wanted to know more about what was going through my mind when I was writing one of the horror scenes. I expected the usual questions having to do with the process of choosing a setting, or how to make the negative components of the dark side relate to some other aspect of the story through direct reference or metaphor.

She surprised me: “Once you’re in that state of mind—so you can see the horror well enough to describe it—how do you get it out of your head? How do you deal with it for days, and sometimes months, and still sleep at night?”

I don’t remember what I told her. At the time, I was still reluctant to reveal the nightmares that often ended with me being forced awake by my own sleep-shattering screams.

But her question was a good one. And the more I thought about it, the more I began to wonder if a writer’s physical reactions—while immersed in the process of serving up just the right portions of terror, violence, and distress—were really useful indicators, rather than undesirable by-products.

I began to realize that the intensity and frequency of my nightmares were not only an inescapable side-effect, but an integral part of creating a realistic tear in the universe, or a believable—but altered—state of reality.

I’ve never been able to walk away from the computer and leave the story on the hard drive. It stays with me, evolving, taking form, breathing and bleeding, brushing against me in the dark. And sometimes, when I least expect it, it tries to take control. If I’m near the keyboard, it goes into the story. But if I’m asleep, it reaches out for me . . . and pulls me in.

In the following excerpt from The Kure, John finds himself in the grasp of a vindictive master–a supernatural power that will not allow him to keep the details of the Kure’s sinister ritual a secret any longer. Only by confessing its existence to Sarah—the woman he has sworn to protect from its influence—can he save himself from everlasting torment.

Excerpt:

The purest form of fear tightened around his chest. He thrashed against merciless restraint, desperate to pull in a breath. Sensing his panic, the creatures’ breathing turned loud and anxious, their acrid, metallic wind washing over him like a rush of burning nettles. He choked and gagged, fighting for air, helpless against a force as persistent as the shrill cry filling his ears.

Tell her. Tell her. Tell her.

Another blinding flash dropped from the blue-fired curtain and John heard his own juices sizzle as scorching heat charred his skin. He cried out, his screams lost in the trailing thunder.

Tell her. Tell her. Tell her.

The next bolt exploded from the remotest regions of the expanse, its target as certain as if thrown by Satan himself. The blistering torch cut John to the quick, the blast wrenching his head backward to face the absent heavens. His eyelids burned away, he watched in horror as a new stream of vicious hellions burst from a malevolent sky. Swooping down, they half-flew, half-fell, shrieking the same familiar chant.

Tell her. Tell her. Tell her.

The words struck him like sharpened quartz, cutting deep into his quivering flesh. His heart flailed wildly in his chest, its violent beating so loud he worried his torso was already splayed open and exposed to the grisly mutants.

Tell her. Tell her. Tell her.

Those closest to him tested the reach of their thorny spikes, the trickles of blood sharpening their appetite for the kill.

Ever since his arrival into the void, John had continued to harbor the most basic instinct of any species—survival. He believed a route of escape remained open and accessible, and with sufficient time and effort, he would eventually find it. Now he realized his involuntary passage had not only taken his freedom, but had also stripped away every nuance of hope.

He felt the tug of barbed claws ripping and tearing at his clothes, the jabs and slashes intensifying until they extended beyond fabric. His blood gushed, painting his tormentors, the hellish sacrament driving the wicked feeders into a maniacal and savage frenzy.

With no one to chronicle his side of the battle, without another human soul to document his courage, only he could serve as witness—a witness who could no longer tell delirium from reality, insanity from death.

It had to end.

“I will!” John screamed. “I will tell her!”

It was reflex, a primal reaction to imminent extinction.

He offered no final muster of resistance, no new wave of strength. He was finished. The cure had become a curse, and it owned him. It was as much a part of him as an arm or leg. In the end, he knew he could only puppet the dark master’s wish.

Here’s a brief synopsis:

John Tyler, a young man in his early twenties, awakens to find a ghastly affliction taking over his body. When the village doctor offers the conventional, and potentially disfiguring, treatment as the only cure, John tenaciously convinces the doctor to reveal an alternative remedy—a forbidden ritual contained within an ancient manuscript called the Kure.

Although initially rejecting the vile and sinister rite, John realizes, too late, that the ritual is more than a faded promise scrawled on a page of crumbling paper. And as cure quickly becomes curse, the demonic text unleashes a dark power that drives him to consider the unthinkable—a depraved and wicked act requiring the corruption of an innocent soul.

Ultimately, John must choose between his desperate need to arrest the plague that is destroying his body, and the virtue of the woman he loves, knowing the wrong decision could cost him his life.

For a limited time, read “The Kure” for only $.99 (kindle version)

Amazon : Kindle | Paperback Barnes & Noble : Nook

One of my resolutions for 2012 is to read more new authors – especially those whose books normally fall outside my favorite genres. As I began to search reviewer’s blogs for some ideas, I realized how many more people were reading books of all kinds, primarily due to increased availability and choice of low-cost ebooks for the kindle and nook. I often saw comments from readers who had decided to read a particular author’s work because it was ninety-nine cents, or in some cases, free. Realizing a lower price would motivate more people to read The Kure, I decided to temporarily lower the price. I’m calling it “Resolve To Read”, and it’s going on right now. The kindle version of The Kure can be purchased for ninety-nine cents on Amazon. So if you were planning on buying a kindle version anyway, why not take advantage of the “Resolve To Read” promotion and save two bucks?

Author Bio:

Jaye Frances is the author of the new paranormal/occult romance The Kure, the first novel in The Kure series. Her next release, scheduled for March 2012, is titled The Possibilities of Amy, a coming-of-age story about a young man forced to choose between alignment with his peer group and protecting his new love interest. She is also a featured columnist for the NUSA SUN magazine. Jaye was born in the Midwest and grew up surrounded by traditional values and conservative attitudes (which she quickly discarded). She readily admits that her life’s destination has been the result of an open mind and a curiosity about all things irreverent. When she’s not consumed by her writing, Jaye enjoys cooking, traveling to all places tropical and “beachy” and taking pictures—lots of pictures—many of which find their way to her website. Jaye lives on the central gulf coast of Florida, sharing her home with one husband, six computers, four cameras, and several hundred pairs of shoes.

Find Jaye Frances on the web:
Her website: jayefrances.com/
Her blog: blog.jayefrances.com/
Her Facebook page: facebook.com/jayefrancesauthor
The Kure on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12718447-the-kure

Thank you for stopping by, Jaye!

As a special bonus, Jaye has offered up a Kindle copy of her book to one lucky reader. Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below for your chance to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Straight to Hell (Lilith Straight #1) by Michelle Scott

2012-02-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

The moment Lilith Straight dies, the Devil appears to claim her soul and cash in on a family curse. Now, Lilith has no choice but to work for him. The job is bad, the boss is worse and she can’t imagine how she’ll explain her new reincarnation to her eight-year-old daughter. But then an arrogant, yet oh so yummy, incubus shows up…and hell heats up just a little more.

My Thoughts: This book falls into a genre that can be really hit or miss with me. It has paranormal elements (which I love) but it skates on the edge of being cutesy chick-lit (which I'm not so fond of). However, Michelle Scott managed to find a balance that kept me entertained and engaged.

A big part of what drew me in was Lilith. She's had a rough year and things don't look like they're going to be getting any better in the near future. Then she dies. Suddenly she has the means to support her family and get the things she wants out of life. The downside is that her conscience keeps getting in the way of her succubus. How does she balance the needs of her demon (and, yes, her demon wants to come out and play) against the belief that seducing groceries from the local market is wrong? It's a bumpy road. A very bumpy road. And poor Lilith has to figure it out before her nasty demon boss drops the hammer.

This book was fun. I was mad for Lilith when she found out the type of deal her ancestor had made with the devil. I was mad at Lilith for what she had to do to get back in her boss' good graces- although I can completely understand why she did what she did. I just flat-out liked the book.

More books by Michelle Scott

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge
Straight to Hell was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Teaser Tuesday (02/21/12)

2012-02-20T20:00:00.000-08:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Illumine (Illumine #1) by Alivia Anders (Goodreads)

My eyes were locked onto the demon, waiting for the slightest hint of movement. He let out a small, infuriated sigh and ran his fingers through the short black hair on his head, but his smile never faltered. If anything, it only grew larger across his cheeks. "I love games. What game will we be playing, Essallie?"

Flame of Surrender (The Ferryman & the Flame #1) by Rhiannon Paille (Goodreads)

The merfolk were dangerous. Everyone on Avristar knew that. they stayed away form the lake and the mists that curled around them, concealing the island from the Lands of Men. Avristar was safely tucked away from the humans and their wars, but the merfolk gravitated to the shores, living in an underwater paradise below the island.

The end of the month is creeping up on me. Must.read.faster.

I'm wandering the blogosphere today...

2012-02-20T11:02:00.000-08:00

Today, I'm guest reviewing over at Smash's blog to help her while she's working her booty off to make the world a better place! Yay! Head on over and see what trouble I'm getting myself into...

Review: Heart of Darkness by Felicity Heaton

2012-02-20T06:05:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

A vampire prince on a four hundred year old mission to avenge his murdered sister...

Aleksandr Nemov won't stop until the last of the vampire hunter’s progeny is wiped from the Earth. Each kill has stolen a piece of his humanity, pushing him towards the black abyss all vampires hold within their hearts. Now he is teetering on the edge, close to devolving into a beast, and time is running out as he tracks the last hunter to Prague. There he finds a beautiful woman who could be his one chance for salvation, but is it already too late for him?

A vampire guard who will do whatever it takes to protect those she loves...

Elise is dedicated to her duty. It's the only thing she has left. All that changes when she meets Aleksandr in Prague and her master grants him permission to stay at her bloodline's mansion. She knows all about Aleksandr but none of it prepares her for how she feels when the legendary prince's hunt becomes one for her heart. Elise battles him with all of her strength but can she stop herself from falling for the handsome hunter? When he reveals the depth of the corruption in his soul, will she have the strength to face the pain in her past and do whatever it takes to save him?

My Thoughts: One of Felicity Heaton's greatest strengths is the way she can draw me into her stories from the get-go and leave me feverishly battling my need for sleep to find out what happens. Yes, she did that with this one. From our first glimpse of Aleksandr as he's battling a hunter and, more importantly, the darkness growing within himself, I was a goner. The guy captured me. He compelled me. He kept me riveted. Watching him navigate his feelings for Elise and begin to see that he was more than just the vengeance that had driven him was something I couldn't look away from.

Now, I liked Elise, don't get me wrong, but Aleksandr was the one that I was rooting for. I wanted him to conquer his demons and finally avenge his sister's death. I wanted him to find a way to patch up his relationship with his family. I was thrilled that Elise gave him a measure of peace. I was also thrilled that she didn't give in to him right away. She held on to the core of herself and stood strong even as her heart was splintering when the court women were throwing themselves in Aleksandr's path. I admire that in a vampire guard. That said, when she did succumb to him, it was very sex-ay.

Felicity Heaton's vampires are feral and honorable all at the same time. The fight hard and love even harder. And they are so fun to read.

More books by Felicity Heaton

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge
Heart of Darkness was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Clock Rewinders (02/19/12)

2012-02-19T06:00:00.000-08:00

Review & Giveaway: My Zombie My by Jack Wallen - Zombies and the women who love them. =D
Teaser Tuesday - Craziness and Vampires!
Review & Giveaway: Darkhouse (Experiment in Terror #1) by Karina Halle - OMG! I have such mad love for abandoned lighthouses! *giddy*
Review: Night Sighs by Emma Mead - A set of 5 short stories revolving around a vampire rock star and the woman he loves.
Review & Giveaway: Fairy Blues (Songs of Magic #2) by J.L. Bryan - Another fun romp through Faerie!
Cover Reveal... Capture (Cryptid Tales #2) by Brina Courtney
Review & Giveaway: Red Fox (Experiment in Terror #2) by Karina Halle -Seriously, I can't get enough of this series.
Review & Giveaway: Dead Sky Morning (Experiment in Terror #3) by Karina Halle - Perry and Dex head out to a haunted (and abandoned) island this time. *swoon*
Review: Daughter of the Centaurs (Centauriad #1) by Kate Klimo - Fun, but I was left with some big questions.
Review & Giveaway: 31 Flavors by Leia Shaw & Cari Silverwood -Sexy, sexy fun!

Books, I have some:
Bought
Merrick's Destiny (Bloodhounds #1.5) by Moira Rogers (ARE exclusive)
Blood from Stone (Retrievers #6) by Laura Anne Gilman (Paperback)

Freebies
Vamplayers (A Living Dead Love Story) by Rusty Fischer (Kindle)
Deadly Reflections by D.H. Sayer (Kindle)

Won
Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer (Hardcover)
**Thank you, Parajunkee**

For Review
Sacrificial Magic (Downside Ghosts #4) by Stacia Kane (Kindle)

Places I've been creeping around this week:

Tumblr - This should shock no one.

Random Randomness:

In a fit of insanity, I decided that my blog needed a facelift. And it does. It really, really does. The insane part comes in when I decided to use my mediocre web design skills to do it myself. I'm about 75% done with fiddling with the layout and tweaking things to get them *just right*. What I'm trying to say is that Reading the Paranormal *might* be getting a new look in the very near future. If I can work all the kinks out. And if I don't go insane doing it.
I also have a few guest reviews that will be going up around the blogosphere over the next few weeks. My Professional Reading Demon skills have finally found an outlet that won't get me in trouble!

For your enjoyment:

His long johns fascinate me. That is *such* a weird thing to write.

Review & Giveaway: 31 Flavors by Leia Shaw & Cari Silverwood

2012-02-18T00:01:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

There are some things in life you have to try before you know how they will affect you.

After 5 years of awful sex, I was ready. Bondage and spanking had always featured in my fantasies, and one day, I convinced my husband to try them. That day was a turning point.

Ice cream comes in many flavors and that’s us too -- not vanilla, maybe not Rocky Road either. We can be a combination or make up our own and no one has the right to judge us. But there will always be one question that tears at my soul: Will my husband, Nick, ever be happy with what I crave?

My Thoughts: This was one of those books that felt sweetly real to me. Neither Sidney or Nick are experienced in the BDSM lifestyle at the start of their story and they have to feel along and find the things that work for them as the story progresses. And they don't always get things right. They have to figure out their boundaries with one another and they really have no prior experience to draw from. In a lot of ways that's what makes their story so touching because as they're learning the ropes (har, har) they do hit the occasional snag and they do stumble and they do make mistakes.

Somewhere in the middle of all that fumbling about they learn to communicate. They learn that talking through what excites them and what fantasies drive them brings both of them pleasure. They learn that hiding your desires away isn't the way to go. Yes, it's a bit of a bumpy ride to get there, but they do get there.

Overall, this was a wonderfully written and sweetly naughty look at one couple's journey into BDSM. It's a nice reminder that not everyone knows what they want sexually until they try different things. By that same token, their lifestyle isn't for everyone and there really is no handbook for the "right" way to experience it.

I honestly enjoyed Sidney and Nick's journey. Bumps and all.

More books by Leia Shaw
More books by Cari Silverwood

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge
31 Favors was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Leia Shaw has generously offered up a copy of 31 Flavors for one lucky reader. Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below for your chance to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Daughter of the Centaurs (Centauriad #1) by Kate Klimo

2012-02-17T20:30:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Malora knows what she was born to be: a horse wrangler and a hunter, just like her father. But when her people are massacred by batlike monsters called Leatherwings, Malora will need her horse skills just to survive. The last living human, Malora roams the wilderness at the head of a band of magnificent horses, relying only on her own wits, strength, and courage. When she is captured by a group of centaurs and taken to their city, Malora must decide whether the comforts of her new home and family are worth the parts of herself she must sacrifice to keep them.

My Thoughts: I was intrigued by this book (because I have a thing for centaurs) and while there were things I definitely enjoyed, there were a few things that ignited my rage-o-meter. Most of them had to do with the way Malora was treated when she moved into the centaur city. This, I must admit, was followed by the way Malora abandoned her beliefs and her horses for the centaur way of life. While I can understand that she would be lonely and long for both contact and civilization, it bothered me.

That said, the descriptions of the plains and Malora's way of life were beautiful. The sacrifices her family had to go through and the lengths Malora went to so that her horses would thrive on the plains were heartbreaking and uplifting all at once. Then, Malora had to throw it all away and go to the big glittering city and get caught up in the frivolous lives of the centaurs. I think that might be the thing that bothers me the most - she gave up her beautiful horses (her best and only friends) and her way of life (which was admittedly hard and hand-to-mouth) for a life that seems so shallow and flighty. Plus, the way the centaurs seemed to dismiss her pain (Oh, you just found out your family is dead? Well, we're glad those wild animals have been wiped out!) and wanted to civilize her rubbed me the wrong way.

This isn't to say that I disliked the book. I found it entertaining once I could push aside my rage-y feelings (probably brought on by my fiercely protective mom-side. DON'T GIVE UP, MALORA! DON'T LET THEM STIFLE YOU!) and focus on Malora's interactions with those around her. I'm not the least bit enamored of Zephele (as everyone in the book seemed to be) and I frankly don't see why anybody bothers to put up with her. However, Orion grew on me as the story progressed, maturing from a flighty aristocrat into someone who sees how city life is smothering Malora and takes steps to bring her out of her funk.

I'm left with several questions about the overall world and how the centaurs evolved (not to mention the other critters) as well as whether or not Malora's penchant for visions is something all humans had or is unique to her. While I thought the book redeemed itself somewhat at the end, the fact that Malora abandoned the animals who looked to her as a leader still leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Now, the target audience (middle grade readers) very likely won't see things in that same light but for me it was a tough thing to overlook.

More books by Kate Klimo

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge
Daughter of the Centaurs was provided for review by Random House through NetGalley.

Review & Giveaway: Dead Sky Morning (Experiment in Terror #3) by Karina Halle

2012-02-17T00:01:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

With the Experiment in Terror show finding some success, amateur ghost hunters Perry Palomino and Dex Foray embark on their most terrifying investigation yet. A tiny, fog-shrouded island in the rough strait between British Columbia and Washington State has held a dark secret for decades: It was a former leper colony where over forty souls were left to rot, die and bury each other. Now a functioning campground, Perry and Dex spend an isolated weekend there to investigate potential hauntings but as the duo quickly find out, there is more to fear on D’Arcy Island than just ghosts. The island quickly pits partner against partner, spiraling the pair into madness that serves to destroy their sanity, their relationship and their very lives.

My Thoughts: Holy Toledo! This series just keeps getting creepier. In a good, OMG! totally fantastic sort of way. Seriously, each of the books have tickled my book kink funny bone in a different way. Book 1- abandoned lighthouse. Book 2- barren, deserty land. Book 3- FREAKING ABANDONED LEPER COLONY! Wait. Let me rephrase that. It's not the leper colony that makes me giddy (because those are kind of sad) but rather that Perry and Dex are all alone on an island populated by scary, scary things AND THEY ARE TRAPPED AND IT'S HORRIBLY CREEPY AND OMG!THE SEXUAL TENSION IS KILLING ME!

No, really. I'm worried that both Perry and Dex are going to spontaneously go up in flames from all the heat they're keeping trapped between them. Good lord, you could run a city for a year off the sparks those two are generating. And then they have to share a sleeping bag. A SLEEPING BAG! Sharing! They cuddle up to one another and I immediately become a puddly mess. I think I need to read more in the Camping in Abandoned Places genre.

Just so we're clear, there was more than just unresolved sexual tension in this book. There were ghosts. And corpses. And incredibly strange and some downright disgusting happenings. Yes, it really was fabulous. I couldn't put it down once I started. I didn't want to put it down. I refused on the grounds of book fabulosity. TRUE STORY! "Son, I'd like to make you dinner but this book is just TOO GOOD. You're on your own."

I'm at the point where I can't recommend this series enough to those that can handle a touch of the creep. It left me shivery and glancing in dark corners. The characters are beginning to let pieces of their past slip out and we're slowly learning about the things that shaped them into the people they are today. And, oh, I have questions. So many questions. I want to know more. I want to know how Perry's managed to block out some fairly big things in her past - things that her parents are aware of and that seem to scare them - and how she and Dex are going to deal with them when they finally come out in the open.

Other reviews in this series
Book 1: Darkhouse
Book 2: Red Fox

More books by Karina Halle

Reading Challenges: Ebook Challenge
Dead Sky Morning was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Karina Halle has generously offered up a paperback copy of Dead Sky Morning to one lucky reader. Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below for your chance to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review & Giveaway: Red Fox (Experiment in Terror #2) by Karina Halle

2012-02-16T00:01:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

With Book Two of the Experiment in Terror Series, Perry Palomino and Dex Foray trade in the stormy Oregon coast for the unforgiving deserts of New Mexico.

In the forgotten town of Red Fox, a Navajo couple is tortured by things unseen and by motives unknown. Wild animals slink through their house in the dark, a barrage of stones pound their roof nightly, and mutilated sheep carcasses are turning up on their property. Armed with a camera and just enough to go on, Perry and Dex travel to the desolate locale, hoping to film the supernatural occurrences and add credibility to their flailing webcast. Only their show has a lot more working against them than just growing pains. Tested by dubious ranch hands, a ghost from Dex’s past, and shapeshifting deception, the amateur ghost hunters must learn to trust each other in order to fight the most ancient of myths…or die trying.

My Thoughts: I'm wickedly in like with Dex. The guy is unpredictable, manic, and driven. Yet, he has this core of sweetness that shines through every so often that melts me. I like this guy. I LIKE HIM. I want him to get together with Perry in the biggest way. Yet at the same time I love the tension between them. One of the characters remarks that it's like the two of them are on a perpetual first date and it's so true. They are adorably awkward around one another. Dex is intense, Perry is self-conscious. And I want them to end up together without losing that awkward sweetness. Is that weird?

So, this time around, Perry and Dex are investigating strange goings on in New Mexico. Perry's dealing with some big issues with work. Dex is dealing with some big issues with... umm, him. They still don't know each other all that well and now they have to pretend to be married in a place where they can't trust anyone. It's kinda awesome.

Two books in and I'm in love with both the characters and the world that Karina Halle has created. The webshow Perry and Dex are working on give them the perfect opportunity to explore strange places. Their murky pasts and odd insights allow them to be more open-minded than most others would be in their position.

Frankly, I can't wait to see what shenanigans the two of them get into next.

Other reviews in this series
Book 1: Darkhouse

More books by Karina Halle

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge
Red Fox was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Karina Halle has generously offered up a paperback copy of Red Fox for one lucky reader. Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below for your chance to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal... Capture (Cryptid Tales #2) by Brina Courtney

2012-02-15T06:00:00.000-08:00

The second full length novel in Brina Courtney's Cryptid Tales series is being revealed in all it's glory today! YAY!

I had a ton of fun with both Reveal (book 1) and Ignite (prequel short story) and I think this cover highlights Shay's lovely eyes perfectly.

Read my reviews for Reveal and Ignite and see what the buzz is about!

Follow author Brina Courtney at Facebook and on Twitter for all the latest news in this fun series.

Review & Giveaway: Fairy Blues (Songs of Magic #2) by J.L. Bryan

2012-02-15T00:01:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

With their enchanted instruments charming the crowds, the Assorted Zebras attract interest from record producers, and soon they’re off to cut their first album and music video. Jason and his friends don’t know they’ve just become pawns in a sinister plot by a cabal of evil fairies...

Meanwhile, Aoide and her band pursue a new strategy for regaining their stolen instruments, one that will take them into the most haunted region in Faerie.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed book 1 of this series (although there were moments where I wanted to shake some sense into those poor kids... that's the mom in me, I think), so when I started book 2 I was pretty darn excited to see where J.L. Bryan was going to take us. I'm so happy to be able to say that he didn't disappoint. The world of Faerie is just as twisty and odd as I was hoping it would be, Jason and his cohorts are just digging themselves in deeper and deeper with those magical instruments, and the bad guys are pretty darn gross.

The person I feel most deeply for right now is Aoide. She's a victim in all of this and somehow things just keep getting worse for the poor girl. And then there's Jason. Although he initially did a very bad thing in stealing the instruments, he's at a point where he doesn't know how to get himself out of the mess without pissing off everyone. Have I mentioned the sweet, unrequited love yet? Oh, yeah. He and Erin are so cute together (and doesn't she seem to have some secrets hidden away that not even she's aware of?) and yet circumstances are keeping them apart. Right now, I can't see how things are going to turn out well for everyone involved (Fairies, mortals, or anyone else) and I'm worried for all of them.

Fast-paced, ridiculously fun, and highly imaginative, I'm really enjoying traipsing through the pitfalls of Faerie and following The Assorted Zebras in the human world as they attempt to make it big.

Other reviews in this series:
Book 1: Fairy Metal Thunder

More books by J.L. Bryan

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge
Fairy Blues was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

J.L. Bryan has generously offered up a copy of Fairy Blues to one lucky reader! Fill out the Rafflecopter form below and see what all the buzz is about!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Night Sighs by Emma Meade

2012-02-14T15:37:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Meet Alex & Tristan, modern star-crossed lovers of the supernatural variety.

Alex is running-on-empty one year on from the death of her fiancé, and the only thing that keeps her going is her romance with the young vampire Tristan. Tristan meanwhile has a serious obsession with Bruce Springsteen and is battling a can't-live-without-you sort of love for Alex. He's trying to persuade her to come over to the dark side but so far she's resisting his efforts.

So come and sing along to Tristan's band, The Dead Beats, the hottest group in London right now and walk with Alex as she teeters between this life and the next.

Because when you're around Tristan, you'll see how much fun it is to be alive when you're dead....

My Thoughts: Comprised of 5 short stories revolving around Tristan, rock star and vampire, and Alex, his human-turned-vampire love. Each story is surprisingly complex and shows the depth of their emotions for one another. The only story that I didn't really see as progressing their overall arc was the one where they went to Egypt. I still found it enjoyable, I just didn't get the same vibe off of it as the others. I loved Tristan's reaction when Alex is attacked and the realization that he could have so lost her so quickly.

A very fast read, it ends up being quite satisfying while leaving you wanting to know more about these two star-crossed lovers.

More books by Emma Meade

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge
Night Sighs was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Review & Giveaway: Darkhouse (Experiment in Terror #1) by Karina Halle

2012-02-14T00:01:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

There’s always been something a bit off about Perry Palomino. Though she’s been dealing with a quarter-life crisis and post-college syndrome like any other twenty-something, she’s still not what you would call “ordinary.” For one thing, there’s her past which she likes to pretend never happened, and then there’s the fact that she sees ghosts. Luckily for her, that all comes in handy when she stumbles across Dex Foray, an eccentric producer for an upcoming webcast on ghost hunters. Even though the show’s budget is non-existent and Dex himself is a maddening enigma, Perry is instantly drawn into a world that both threatens her life and seduces her with a sense of importance. Her uncle’s haunted lighthouse provides the perfect catalyst and backdrop for a mystery that unravels the threads of Perry’s fragile sanity and causes her to fall for a man, who, like the most dangerous of ghosts, may not be all that he seems.

My Thoughts: I've been on a bit of a ghost kick lately. All ghosts, all the time. Sometimes I want the ghosts to be sweet and cuddly (or sexy and steamy) and sometimes I want them to be nasty, vengeful creatures that want to hurt and maim and do other very bad things. I got nasty and vengeful IN SPADES with this book. And I loved it. It was so dark and brooding. With a lighthouse. A LIGHTHOUSE! Lighthouses are right up there with abandoned asylums on the creep factor scale for me. *shivers*

Okay. Where to start. How about with Perry? She's in a job she hates, still living at home, her parents don't really seem to understand her, and she has some personal issues from her past that everyone seems to think she's going to repeat. If I had people staring at me all day waiting for the next big explosion, I'd be having panic attacks, too. I personally don't know if I would have been brave enough to throw caution to the wind like she did and jaunt off to a supposedly haunted lighthouse with a guy I didn't know, but that's what makes Perry so intriguing. You don't know what she'll do next. You don't know if what she's doing is a good idea. You don't know if Dex is a good guy.

Speaking of Dex... Mr. Mysterious himself. The guy is a mass of contradictions. He's friendly and charming one minute and a scowling brute the next. And it works for him. You're constantly trying to figure out what's going on in his head. Even when you do know, you don't know. The guy is mysterious. He's got a certain appeal because of it that I found fascinating.

The setting is wonderfully creepy, the ghosties are spooky, and Perry and Dex have a chemistry that I found very appealing. I can't wait to see what adventures they get into next.

More books by Karina Halle

Reading Challenges: Ebook Challenge
Darkhouse was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Karina Halle has generously offered up a paperback copy of Darkhouse to one lucky reader. Fill out the Rafflecopter form below for your chance to win!
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Teaser Tuesday (02/14/12)

2012-02-13T20:04:00.000-08:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Red Fox (Experiment in Terror #2) by Karina Halle (Goodreads)

I inched away from Dex to get a good look at him. He had the label off and was working at folding it into an origami figure. He looked pale, his eyes were burning holes into this project, his brow furrowed, jaw clenched, toe tapping.

Heart of Darkness by Felicity Heaton (Goodreads)

Aleksandr glanced at his bloodied hands again and then closed his eyes against the temptation. He took no thrill in the hunt. Yet he found no calm in its aftermath. There was only the threat of unending darkness that beat within his chest and encroached upon his soul. It bled into his eyes. He could feel the jagged points of black that speared the red. He had too much blood on his hands but he couldn't give up now, not when he was so close to attaining his vengeance.

I have been reading some FANTASTIC books lately. I'm all giddy over the awesome. Back to reading! BACK!

Review & Giveaway: My Zombie My (I Zombie #2) by Jack Wallen

2012-02-13T00:01:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

The City of Lights is crawling with the undead who care nothing for love or wine and are hell-bent on getting the one thing they want - your brains. The living have only one hope – Bethany Nitshimi who carries with her an encrypted file containing the key to the cure. Unfortunately Bethany is battling the undead, the apocalypse, and a group who will stop at nothing to keep her from curing the plague.

My Zombie My picks up where I Zombie I left off and heads into Paris. Bethany’s gang of heroes has picked up a few more strays and mankind is getting dangerously close to the end. As Bethany battles the zombie horde she must crack the file, get the cure, and save the human race, before we are just meat for the beasts.

My Thoughts: Oh, Zombies! Oh, wicked, gnawing zombies with your longing for brains and viscera and other things that should stay on the inside. There's something about you that both horrifies me and makes me keep reading! I think it's the moaning. Or maybe the way you can rip a person to shreds without batting an eyelash. Or possibly it's the way you scoop out brain meat like it's a fine delicacy.

As far as these zombies go, not only are they brutal and strong but they appear to be evolving at an alarming rate. Beth and her band of survivors are hitting a physical and emotional wall as things just keep getting worse and worse. To top it off, one of the driving forces behind Beth's need to keep herself moving and not succumb to the despair that's beginning to eat away at all of them is taken away and Beth is thrown into a tailspin.

Dark, brutal, and bloody, this book hypnotized me with its dangerous streets and the sense of betrayal that is lurking around every corner. The hits just keep on coming for these survivors and I'm starting to wonder if any of them are going to get out of this alive.

Other reviews in this series
Book 1: I Zombie I

More books by Jack Wallen

Reading Challenges: Ebook Challenge
My Zombie My was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Jack Wallen has generously offered up a copy of My Zombie My to one lucky reader! Fill out the Rafflecopter form below for your chance to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Clock Rewinders (02/12/12)

2012-02-12T06:24:00.000-08:00

Review: The Demon Lover (Fairwick Chronicles #1) by Juliet Dark - It took me a while to warm up to this book but once I did... *whimper*
Teaser Tuesday (02/07/12) - Fairies and Zombies. Not at the same time!
Review & Giveaway: In Cassie's Corner by Dale Mayer - I've been on a bit of a ghost kick lately. This book hit the spot.
Review: End of the World (Champion of the Sidhe #1) by S.A. Archer - Excellent start to this series.
Review: Aftershock (Rise of the Unseelie #1) by S.A. Archer & S. Ravynheart -I've always had a soft spot for those wicked Unseelie!
Review: Champion of the Fey (Champion of the Sidhe #2) by S.A. Archer - Lugh's story deepens.
Review: Addicted (Touched #2) by S.A. Archer - The things London will do to feed her addiction are horrible.
Review & Uber-Giveaway: Scars of Silver (Rise of the Unseelie #2) by S.A. Archer - Oh, Malcolm!
Review & Giveaway: Fairy Metal Thunder (Songs of Magic #1) by J.L. Bryan - A fun little romp through Faerie.
Review: Death Wish (The Vamp Saga #1) by Danielle Blanchard -While I never quite connected to the characters, I could see something interesting in the world created.

Books, I have some:
Bought
Serpent's Kiss (Elder Races #3) by Thea Harrison (paperback)
The Darkest Passion (Lords of the Underworld #5) by Gena Showalter (paperback)
The Darkest Lie (Lords of the Underworld #6) by Gena Showalter (paperback)
Kiss of a Demon King (Immortals After Dark #7) by Kresley Cole (paperback)
Pleasure of a Dark Prince (Immortals After Dark #9) by Kresley Cole (paperback)
Demon from the Dark (Immortals After Dark #10) by Kresley Cole (paperback)
Taking Liberty by Jodi Redford (Kindle)

Won
Light My Fire by Jodi Redford (Kindle)
(Thank you to Jodi and Kendra @ Reader's Edyn!)

For Review
Crave (Vampire Erotic Theatre #2) by Felicity Heaton

Places I've been creeping around this week:

Vampire Book Club - My beloved Rehvenge (the gorgeous mohawked, purple-eyed vampire who makes the Black Dagger Brotherhood EVEN BETTER with his sables and beautiful car) gets the Love Letter treatment from yours truly. I might sound like a stalker, but I promise that I stalk with LOVE!
Tumblr - Still not safe for work.

Random Randomness for you to cuddle close:

Since Valentine's Day is just around the corner, I decided that I'm going to have a little fun with my Tumblr. I'm not telling you what I'm planning but @Rehvenge_BDB had best appreciate it. *wicked grin*

For your enjoyment:

This picture led to THE BEST Twitter convo between @jodiredford and myself. It was so epically awesome that I doubt I could ever do it justice. It involved skittles, Chiweenie shifters, and leprechauns. Seriously. Jodi Redford makes my brain happy. Much the way this picture does.

Until next week, my little ones!

Review: Death Wish (The Vamp Saga #1) by Danielle Blanchard

2012-02-11T07:10:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

The year is 2020. Vampires not only exist, they control the government, the pharmaceutical industry and the world.

Manon Mourey is a Let It Ride card dealer at Transylvania Hotel, Spa & Casino in Summerlin, a suburb of Las Vegas, when Mikkel Damgaard enters her life. Sparks fly and as the body count begins to rise, Manon begins to suspect that their meeting was not entirely coincidental, and that perhaps something more sinister is at work.

As Manon accepts her position as one of the elite undead, her very existence sparks a war that begins to consume the International Vampire Council and could soon engulf the human population as well. Werewolves and warlocks notwithstanding, a new breed of vampire sits at the top of the food chain and they’re hungry for something different than mortal blood.

My Thoughts: I had a tough time getting through the first part of this book. There is a virtual wealth of information thrown at you involving how the world has changed since vampires came out into the open and I was overwhelmed by it. While the foundation of this new world order is helpful later on as you begin to meet the different elder vamps that make up the council, I spent a good portion of the beginning of the book trying to figure out how everything fit together and whether I'd need to remember what the various acronyms stood for. That said, I can definitely say that Danielle Blanchard put a lot of time and effort into her world building. The different strata of vampires and how they view humans, werewolves, and various other supernatural creatures was given a lot of thought.

Unfortunately, I never got a real handle on either Manon or Mikkel. I originally thought Manon was considered special by Mikkel because she was a half-vamp. Then suddenly there seemed to be half-vamps coming out of the woodwork, including one of Mikkel's own children, and I was left wondering why her half-vamp status made her so special. Incidentally, if I found out that I was basically ordered up (like a deli sandwich) by a father who happened to be a powerful vampire as a means to get closer to another vampire that he thought would be the woman of his dreams, I would be rightfully pissed. I don't know if I would have been able to grow up knowingly being BFFs with a woman who was later going to be making mad monkey love with my daddy.

I also had a few issues with Manon's emotional flip flopping. She goes from hating people to cozying up to them (and vice versa) in the blink of an eye. I was a bit confused as to whether this was a side effect of her transition to full vampire as she tried to adjust to her suddenly changed senses or if I had missed something vital in the story.

While the idea behind the story was intriguing, the lack of connection with the characters left me waiting for that big moment that would draw me in and engage me fully.

More books by Danielle Blanchard

Reading Challenges: Ebook Challenge
Death Wish was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Review & Giveaway: Fairy Metal Thunder (Songs of Magic #1) by J.L. Bryan

2012-02-10T00:01:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Jason plays guitar in a teenage garage band called the Assorted Zebras, but they have no fans and no gigs, and they're going nowhere. Even worse, Jason has a crush on the lead singer, but she already has a near-perfect boyfriend.

One night, Jason steals enchanted instruments from the fairy world. Suddenly (with a little help from YouTube) every kid in the Midwest is crazy about the Assorted Zebras.

The fairy instruments drive the crowds wild, but the new gear is brimming with dangerous and destructive magic. The band struggles to gain control of their instruments and avoid the supernatural bounty hunters sent by Queen Mab of Faerie to track them down, all while trying to finally land their first gig.

My Thoughts: When I was approached about reviewing this book I jumped on it because I was ridiculously impressed with Jenny Pox and I wanted to see what J.L. Bryan came up with next. I'm pleased as punch to say that he didn't disappoint. While younger in tone than The Paranormals, this book is both charming and sweetly awkward as Jason and his bandmates navigate the treacherous waters of fame and potential love.

I loved the irreverence of the creatures of the Fairy realm. From the curmudgeon-y old elf who agrees to track down the missing magical instruments (and who is hilariously vocal about his displeasure with the way the Fairy/Elf war turned out) to the goblin who decides to cover his own butt by taking up residence under Jason's bed... well, they're just so fun to read. Add in Jason's bumbling attempts to tell lead singer Erin how he feels (although he does have a couple of suave moments) and you have a passel of fabulous characters.

I'm very curious how Jason and crew will work their way out of the mess they've gotten themselves into. Although they don't exactly see it yet, the instruments are putting them in a situation that can easily crash down on them. How they deal with this new found fame will be interesting and I expect things to spiral out of control on them in a big way before they wise up and straighten themselves out.

More fun than you can shake a stick at, J.L. Bryan has created a fantastical world with characters you'll love. Bring on the shenanigans, fairies! We're ready for you!

More books by J.L. Bryan

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge
Fairy Metal Thunder was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

J.L. Bryan has generously offered up a copy of Fairy Metal Thunder to one lucky reader! Enter the Rafflecopter form below and see what all the buzz is about!
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Review & Uber-Giveaway: Scars of Silver (Rise of the Unseelie #2) by S.A. Archer & S. Ravynheart

2012-02-09T14:09:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

You’d think the fey would have each others' backs. That’s what you’d think… if you never met any.

Malcolm is Sidhe, the only race that possesses the coveted magic of the Touch. He’s also an untrained teenage runaway who only just discovered that he’s fey. He thought the fey would have each others' backs. That’s what he honestly thought…

Until he met a Changeling.

My Thoughts: *whimpers* This book ripped my heart out. Clean out. It was sitting beside me all red and oozy and I was all "Well, crap. Now what do I do?" I just want to gather Malcolm close and make him safe from the big, bad things that go bump in the night. *whimpers again*

For me, this was by far the most heart-wrenching installment thus far. Malcolm's capture and imprisonment are made even more horrible by the ignorance his father kept him in. If he had been taught about his heritage and trained in even the most basics of what to expect from other fey, he might have managed on his own. He might not have been chained in a cave and used by an unscrupulous Changeling. He might not have had his innocence ripped from him.

As I write this, I'm pretty sure I flat out hate his dad. I hope that if we meet up with him again he either gets what's coming to him or he has some deep, dark secret that made him act like a total tool. *deep breath*

Okay. I'm over it. Sort of. Donovan, once again, shows the lengths he's willing to go to make sure his people are safe. The guy grows on my every time he pops up. I just... respect the things he does for his people. I don't think I'd want to meet him in a dark alley or anything, but I can stand behind a guy who's trying to save his people from extinction or worse.

While this is my favorite of the stories so far, I wouldn't suggest reading it without reading the others in the series first simply because you'll lose some of the impact of what the fey have to gone through up to this point. That said, this is still the installment that grabbed me by the throat and refused to let go.

Also, I want more. MORE!

Suggested story reading order:
End of the World (Champions of the Sidhe #1)
Aftershock (Rise of the Unseelie #1)
Cursed (Touched #1)
Champion of the Fey (Champions of the Sidhe #2)
Addicted (Touched #2)
Scars of Silver (Rise of the Unseelie #2)

More books by S.A. Archer
More book by S. Ravynheart

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge
Scars of Silver was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

S.A. Archer and S. Ravynheart have generously donated a complete ebook set of The Sidhe series for one lucky reader. This set includes all 5 books in the 3 intertwining storylines. Books 1 & 2 in each series are out now, book 3 in each series comes out this spring, books 4 in the summer, and books 5 in the fall. Winner will receive their copies of books 3-5 as they come out.

Fill out the Rafflecopter form below for your chance to win this fantastic series in its entirety.
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Review: Addicted (Touched #2) by S.A. Archer

2012-02-09T06:05:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Suffering from the addiction to the Sidhe Touch, London is obsessed with finding a source of magic that can ease her curse. Unfortunately, premium magic like the Touch comes with one a heck of a high price tag. Working off the debt she’s racked up to the dealer may well terminate her addiction once and for all, because nothing’s more dangerous than doing a Changeling’s dirty work.

My Thoughts: Wow. When London was first cursed (oddly enough in Cursed) it was fairly obvious it was going to be a pretty grueling ride for her. I mean, being Sidhe cursed would be bad enough without having the source of your drug tragically killed not long after he cursed you. Which is kind of a douche-y thing to do, by the way. I mean, he addicts her and then jaunts off and ends up dead? Rude much.

Now London is out trolling the mean streets, looking for a Sidhe to fill her up with magic-y goodness. Boy, oh, boy, does she get in a pickle when she finds one. Bad stuff, people. She's doing things that she never thought she'd be doing and it's starting to eat away at her. And all because one Sidhe sought to use her and got her addicted to the Touch. That sucks. Big time.

As usual, S.A. Archer has created incredible characters that grab you and drag you into their world. London's problems look like they're only beginning and I'm heard pressed to see how she's going to get herself out of this.

Suggested story reading order:
End of the World (Champions of the Sidhe #1)
Aftershock (Rise of the Unseelie #1)
Cursed (Touched #1)
Champion of the Fey (Champions of the Sidhe #2)
Addicted (Touched #2)
Scars of Silver (Rise of the Unseelie #2)

More books by S.A. Archer

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge
Addicted was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Champion of the Fey (Champion of the Sidhe #2) by S.A. Archer

2012-02-08T18:07:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

The fey are Fading. Extinction is inevitable. Lugh, one of the few fey to survive the Collapse, is already beginning to suffer the effects. Only a long shot quest to recover the artifacts might be able to restore the source of fey magic. And the first artifact Lugh seeks is dead in the heart of wizard territory.

My Thoughts: Picking up Lugh's story with him hot on the trail of one of the fey artifacts that could keep the fey from fading, we're given more insight into Lugh and his way of thinking.From what I'm gleaned from his thought processes he either attacks from the side or seduces his way into the places he needs to be. Which sounds rather Unseelie to me. Oh, Lugh, are you more balanced between dark and light than you let on?

I am really, really enjoying watching this story unfold. Like Donovan (formerly known as Jhaer), Lugh is trying to make sure his people don't waste away. Like, Donovan, he's willing to do whatever he needs to do to make it happen. He's willing to deplete himself to help those that need his help in the worst sort of way. Once again, I'm loving all the parallels between those of the Seelie Court and those of the Unseelie Court.

Quick and fun, with a little bit of bloody thrown in for good measure. Now to see what's next in this wicked saga!

Suggested story reading order:
End of the World (Champions of the Sidhe #1)
Aftershock (Rise of the Unseelie #1)
Cursed (Touched #1)
Champion of the Fey (Champions of the Sidhe #2)
Addicted (Touched #2)
Scars of Silver (Rise of the Unseelie #2)

More books by S.A. Archer

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge
Champion of the Fey was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Aftershock (Rise of the Unseelie #1) by S.A. Archer and S. Ravynheart

2012-02-08T11:52:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

The day the Mounds collapsed Jhaer, leader of the Unseelie Elite, sacrificed his strength, his magic, and his very life to save his world.

It wasn’t enough.

He thought that was the end of his story… Instead it is the beginning.

My Thoughts: Mirroring the opening events in End of the World but told from the perspective of Jhaer, this story follows the Unseelie leader as he attempts to give his people a place in the world of the mortals and save them from fading away. Interestingly enough, his actions are very similar to Lugh's, just above rather than in the world below. It always intrigues me when opposites side parallel one another.

The Unseelie court has always been of particular fascination for me. Generally speaking, they aren't bad guys but they are often times more ruthless in their actions than those of the Seelie court. Jhaer, who changes his name to Donovan to blend in with the humans better, has no issue with killing those that get in his way. That said, he does it to protect his people. I respect that. He kills so that his people will have a chance to thrive without the constant threat of annihilation hanging over their heads.

The length of the story doesn't take away from the character development and the world continues to expand in leaps and bounds. Lovely, evocative writing brings Jhaer's vision to life and makes me like the darkness of the Unseelie even more.

Suggested story reading order:
End of the World (Champions of the Sidhe #1)
Aftershock (Rise of the Unseelie #1)
Cursed (Touched #1)
Champion of the Fey (Champions of the Sidhe #2)
Addicted (Touched #2)
Scars of Silver (Rise of the Unseelie #2)

More books by S.A. Archer
More books by S. Rayvnheart

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge
Aftershock was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Review: End of the World (Champion of the Sidhe #1) by S.A. Archer

2012-02-08T06:02:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

The day Lugh, Champion of the Sidhe, has long fought for finally manifests; all Sidhe unified under one Court. No more Light versus Dark. No more wars. Brothers, one and all. But on the day that should be celebrated as their greatest triumph, treachery brings his world crashing down, literally. Now if he can’t find a way to stop it no fey will survive.

My Thoughts: I love stories based on Celtic mythology. Love them. I grew up immersing myself in the stories of Nuada and Lugh, the Morrigan and the Dagda. Finding a new series that delivers a dark twist on those old favorites is like finding my forgotten stash of candy canes in February. *which reminds me, I hid those last few somewhere. Where was it?*

So, this is Lugh's story. Or, it's the beginning of Lugh's story. Well, it's the beginning of this segment of Lugh's story. It's not Lugh's story from birth or anything. I think it would have been a much longer story if that were the case. Anyway. Lugh is the champion, the light that keeps away the dark, the guy who will gladly give his last breath to protect his world. When the unthinkable happens, he is set on a path that seems vast and overwhelming. But he's Lugh. The champion. I think he can get it done.

*gets ready to dive into the next installment*

Suggested story reading order:
End of the World (Champions of the Sidhe #1)
Aftershock (Rise of the Unseelie #1)
Cursed (Touched #1)
Champion of the Fey (Champions of the Sidhe #2)
Addicted (Touched #2)
Scars of Silver (Rise of the Unseelie #2)

More books by S.A. Archer

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge
End of the World was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Review & Giveaway: In Cassie's Corner by Dale Mayer

2012-02-07T00:01:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Cassie's best friend, bad boy Todd, is gone. Gone as in dead. Gone as in ghost.

But she doesn't realize that when he wakes her in her bedroom and begs her not to believe what they say about him. It's not until the next day when her parents tell her about the accident that she learns the truth...

The police believe Todd was living up to the family name, drinking and driving and coming to a predictable end. It's up to her to find out the truth and clear his name.

Todd is shocked at his sudden change in circumstances...and angry. He struggles with his new ghostly reality, realizing all he's lost as he watches his brother build a relationship with Cassie as the two pair up to find out what really happened to him.

The truth isn't always pretty, and Cassie has to be stronger than ever before. Especially when the whole world seems to be against her.

My Thoughts: I've been on a bit of a ghost kick lately. It's more than just reading about ghosts, though. I like to see how different authors build the rules and mythology and weave them into their stories. In this case, Cassie has never had an experience with ghosts until her best friend pops up in her room one night after a horrific car accident. Todd has little memory of the events leading up to the accident and none at all of the accident itself. Yet, he's sure that he wasn't drunk while driving.

Cassie has to sort through the smattering of clues she finds and figure out how the boy she knew got to the point he ended up at. The biggest thing she has going for her (and for him, really) is her unbending belief that Todd would never drink and drive. This is at odds with his bad boy persona but she sticks by what she knows and slowly learns the truth about his accident.

A sweet, if sometimes awkward, blossoming romance with Todd's younger brother (awkward because everyone believes that Todd and Cassie were dating and they kinda give Jessie the stink eye for picking up Todd's leavings) and a horribly strained relationship between Cassie and her parents keep the plot moving. Cassie's dogged determination to not fall into the trap of believing what everybody's saying about Todd is touching and smacks of someone who won't blindly follow the crowd. Which is a good thing. A very good thing. Especially when you're the best friend of someone who died and you want answers to questions that no one's bothering to ask.

The bottom line is that I got my ghosts. I got them and I liked them.

More books by Dale Mayer

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge
In Cassie's Corner was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Dale Mayer has generously offered up a copy of In Cassie's Corner to one lucky reader. Fill out the Rafflecopter form below for you chance to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teaser Tuesday (02/07/12)

2012-02-06T20:30:00.000-08:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Fairy Metal Thunder (Songs of Magic #1) by J.L. Bryan (Goodreads)

Below him, the deep black shadows of Mrs. Dullahan's yard were scarcely pierced by the thin moonlight. It was inhabited by big old oak trees, almost as dense as a forest. The few patches of ground he could see were overgrown with tall weeds as thick as bamboo, and for a moment he was just glad he didn't have to mow her yard for her.

My Zombie My by Jack Wallen (Goodreads)

When the woman entered, her eyes were too focused on locating food to notice the standing corpse in the back corner. The beast was motionless, its sour-milk eyes pointlessly staring into the center of the room. Without sound, the zombie had no way of locating prey, but the tiniest of audible cues would send the beast directly to its meal, like a bat to a fly.

My month long author requested review binge is going strong. I'm beating those review books and taking names. Or something that sounds tough and street smart.

Back to reading.

Review: The Demon Lover (Fairwick Chronicles #1) by Juliet Dark

2012-02-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Since accepting a teaching position at remote Fairwick College in upstate New York, Callie McFay has experienced the same disturbingly erotic dream every night: A mist enters her bedroom, then takes the shape of a virile, seductive stranger who proceeds to ravish her in the most toe-curling, wholly satisfying ways possible. Perhaps these dreams are the result of writing her bestselling book, The Sex Lives of Demon Lovers. After all, Callie’s lifelong passion is the intersection of lurid fairy tales and Gothic literature—which is why she finds herself at Fairwick’s renowned folklore department, living in a once-stately Victorian house that, at first sight, seemed to call her name.

But Callie soon realizes that her dreams are alarmingly real. She has a demon lover—an incubus—and he will seduce her, pleasure her, and eventually suck the very life from her. Then Callie makes another startling discovery: He’s not the only mythical creature in Fairwick. As the tenured witches of the college and the resident fairies in the surrounding woods prepare to cast out the incubus, Callie must accomplish something infinitely more difficult—banishing this demon lover from her heart.

My Thoughts: Before I start, I'm going to say that I ended up really, really liking this book. That said, I had the hardest time sticking with it and getting it read. I think a lot of it was because I hit a point in the book where the ending that I wanted looked like it wasn't going to happen. I know my odd little disconnect had nothing to do with the writing. Honestly, the writing is downright gorgeous and so incredibly evocative that is captured me. In fact, the author brings her setting to life beautifully. The landscape, the town, the college, Callie's house - they all feel like something straight out of a sweeping Gothic novel. There's enough brooding scenery to make you shiver.

My problem was that I wanted the incubus to have a happy ending. I wanted him to find a measure of peace and early on in the book it didn't look like there was any way that was going to happen. Come to think of it, up until Callie found out the town's secrets things were moving a little on the slow side. Once she became part of the secret, things began to look up. But, I still wanted that poor soul-sucking incubus to end up happy.

As you can probably figure out, I stuck with the book despite my fears. And, boy, am I glad I did. Once Callie begins to dive into the different aspects of what makes Fairwick so extraordinary, the book flew by. The mysteries that Callie works on untangling with the school, her students, and her fellow teachers weren't too terribly hard to figure out (and please remember that I'm the person who you'd never want to be in charge of your murder investigation because I'm terrible at following clues) but they were engaging and helped move the plot along nicely.

There's a lot of setup for things to come. A lot. This is one book that I'd be upset to not get a sequel to because while the ending was satisfactory in one regard, it didn't give me even close to all the things I wanted in another. In other words, I want more.

More books by Juliet Dark

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge
The Demon Lover was provided for review by Random House through NetGalley.

Clock Rewinders (02/05/12)

2012-02-05T05:03:00.000-08:00

Review: Welcome to Sanction (The Sanction Chronicles #1) by Dylan Strickland, Kate Terry, Ashley Renee - A very fun read full of all manner of supernatural beasties!
Teaser Tuesday - Zombies and Demons! Oh, my!
New Feature at Reading the Paranormal: Serial Killers
Serial Killers Featured Review: Liquid Smoke by Jeff Shelby -2 reviewers, 2 different takes.
Review: Diary of a Part-Time Ghost by Vered Ehsani - A very fun YA read with ghosties and time travel!
Review & Giveaway: I Zombie I by Jack Wallen - Wonderfully creepy and chock full of zombies!
Review & Giveaway: It's a Dog's Life by Dale Mayer - Not my usual blood and guts (or shapeshifters and sexin') book but still fun!

Books, I have some:
Hard Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires #4) by Chloe Neill (Paperback)
Storm Born (Dark Swan #1) by Richelle Mead (Kindle)
Thorn Queen (Dark Swan #2) by Richelle Mead (Kindle)
Iron Crowned (Dark Swan #3) by Richelle Mead (Kindle)
Shadow Heir (Dark Swan #4) by Richelle Mead (Kindle)
(Richelle Mead Dark Swan Bundle for Kindle - $9.99)

Freebies
Scent of Passion (Rutledge Werewolves #1) by Elizabeth Lapthorne (Kindle)
Lucien's Fall by Barbara Samuel (Kindle)
Beautiful Mess by Lucy V. Morgan (Kindle)
Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie She's Dead (Toad Witch #1) by Christiana Miller (Kindle)
50 Ways to Hex Your Lover (Jazz Tremaine #1) by Linda Wisdom (Kindle)
Dreams of Gray by Maurice Lawless (Kindle)
The Fall (The Rift #1) by Robert Duperre (Kindle)
Dead of Winter (The Rift #2) by Robert Duperre (Kindle)
Death Springs Eternal (The Rift #3) by Robert Duperre (Kindle)
Silas by Robert Duperre (Kindle)
Nearly Departed in Deadwood (Deadwood Mystery #1) by Ann Charles (Kindle)

For review
The Kingdom (Graveyard Queen #2) by Amanda Stevens (Kindle)
The Prophet (Graveyard Queen #3) by Amanda Stevens
Summoning the Night (Arcadia Bell #2) by Jenn Bennett (Kindle)

Places I've been creeping around this week:

Tumblr - Still not safe for work.

Random Randomness for you to cuddle close:

I am completely excited about Vampire Book Club's Character Love Letters feature which will be running the month of February. Now, I'm not saying this is true or anything but I *might* have written a little letter to my favorite vamp and it *might* be up on Monday and I *might* sound like a stalker in it. Don't worry, Rehvenge likes me that way.
I'm also completely excited that my Serial Killers feature has finally seen the light of day. The first book was a doozy that left me reeling in shock and I can't thank Odd enough for choosing that as our first read. I guess it really does pay to step outside your genre comfort zone every once in a while.
This past week also marked the beginning of a month of giveaways here. In an effort to get my TBR pile down to manageable levels, I've been tearing through my author requested reviews and so many of the authors have kindly donated books that it brings a tear to my eye. The giveaways will continue for the month of February (and possibly into March depending on how far out I schedule). I'm incredibly exited to say that I've found several 2012 favorites in this batch already.

And finally...

You're not alone. I was blown away by the awesomeness, too. Also, the phallic imagery is killing me dead! Lol!

Review & Giveaway: It's a Dog's Life by Dale Mayer

2012-02-04T00:01:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

It's the first day of Ninna's job in the local animal shelter...and a dog is talking to her. Not just any dog...a fat, old, smart-alecky Basset Hound who says his name is Mosey.

She can't quit, she needs this job. And then there's the yummy vet. Who turns out to live across the street from her in a much bigger house than her tiny house. Big enough to hold a few animals - including the mouthy Mosey. With all this going on, she doesn't have time to worry about the rash of break-ins and the sense of being watched. She's too busy worrying that she's nuts.

When Ninna agrees to dog sit for the cute vet from work, she sees it as a trial at being a pet owner and a way to build on her budding relationship with the vet. For Mosey, this weekend means time to get to know each other.

For the stalker who's tracking Ninna's movements, it means…opportunity.

My Thoughts: Now, this book is a little outside my usual fare. I only mention this because most of you know that I'm a big fan of blood and guts and dastardly goings on. This book is light on most of those things (namely blood and guts. The dastardly goings on were present but they were of the scary-without-being-horribly-disfiguring variety) but Dale Mayer makes up for it with a fat, sassy dog and a hunky vet who loves animals. Oh, and Ninna who is over her head but determined not to give up.

Being in the situation where she can't afford to not have a job, Ninna sucks it up and does the best she can. This is despite the fact that she's never really been around animals before and she's suddenly hearing a dog talking. Did I mention that she has a bit of a thing for her new boss? And she's being stalked. Sort of. Well, she is, but she doesn't know she is. She just has this unsettled feeling and she doesn't quote know what to attribute it to.

Nicely paced with a heroine who is dealing with a sudden influx of weirdness while trying to pay her bills and get settled in to a new job. Like I said, it's outside my usual fare but I found it highly enjoyable.

More books by Dale Mayer

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge
It's a Dog's Life was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Dale Mayer has generously offered to provide an ebook copy of It's a Dog's Life to one lucky reader! Fill out the Rafflecopter form below for your chance to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review & Giveaway: I Zombie I by Jack Wallen

2012-02-03T00:01:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

"The virus has spread."

In a moment of pure chaos, the majority of the Earth's population has become the walking dead. One man promises to help bring the truth to light.

"The lies have spread."

When journalist Jacob Plummer is infected, Jacob turns to the written word to not only ease the pain of change, but to bring to surface a truth far deeper and deadlier than anyone could have imagined.

"The truth must now be spread."

With the help of a rag-tag group of survivors, Jacob helps to fight off the growing undead horde in hopes of saving himself and the planet from the rot growing within.

My Thoughts: Ya'll know that I LOVE zombie books, right? I love them at all stages of infection - when bad things first start, when they fall apart even more, when the world is on the edge of dying - I'm just stupidly in love with reading about people trying to figure out how to survive in a world where one bite will send you to a place you don't want to be. This book starts in the time directly following a catastrophic event that ultimately either kills most of the world's population or turns them into ravening zombies.

Infected early on, Jacob struggles to maintain his grip on humanity so that he doesn't hurt the other survivors in his small group. His fight against this disease eating away at him provide a creepy counterpoint to the rapid destruction of the world around them. His insights into what's driving the zombies to kill helps the survivors find ways to safeguard themselves. As Jacob falls farther and farther under the thrall of the disease, he becomes oddly more human in his desire to make sure that the woman he's fallen for and the girl he first saved are safe from him.

At times brutal and disjointed, which worked incredibly well with both the lack of information the survivors have and the situation Jacob is going through, this story laid some excellent groundwork for what's to come. Jacob was committed to telling the truth of what had brought the world to this point and he did an admirable job.

More books by Jack Wallen

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge
I Zombie I was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Jack Wallen has generously offered up a copy of I Zombie I to one lucky reader! Fill out the Rafflecopter form below to see what the buzz is about!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Diary of a Part-Time Ghost by Vered Ehsani

2012-02-02T06:35:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Fifteen-year old Ash wants nothing more than to be a normal kid who blends in with the crowd and avoids trouble. And then his birthday gift transforms him into a ghost and zaps him back in time to the beginning of the American Revolution. If he thought that was bad, it’s about to get a whole lot worse. Armed only with an ancient history book and the quirky advice of an annoying mentor, Ash must rescue his ancestor from one danger after another, including an implacable enemy who controls the very shadows. What starts out as a brief experiment in time travel rapidly changes into a race for his very survival, and Ash is running out of time. Despite his efforts to stay out of trouble, Ash finds plenty of it as he must decide what his role will be in the shifting balance of forces. As he moves through one shadow-plagued adventure after another, Ash gradually discovers that he can be a force of change and that true power lives in the most unexpected place: himself.

My Thoughts: I picked this book up because I've been on a bit of a ghostly kick lately and I wanted something that wasn't too dark and foreboding. Well, here we have a boy who can travel to the past and who, for all intents and purposes, *is* a ghost when he's there. Half of my bookish wants have now been crossed off. As for hoping it wouldn't be too dark and foreboding... Ash's sisters help lighten the mood whenever they pop in and Ash, himself, keeps things light as he tries to deal with all the weirdness popping up around him. Perfect!

I really, really liked the idea that we are what we put out in the universe. Those that think negatively and allow negative things to happen without doing anything to stop them become an agent of darkness and are swallowed by the shadows. (Dramatic, isn't it!?!?) Those that make the decision to step in and not let things happen become a force of light. It's a fundamentally easy concept to wrap your head around but several of the situations that Ash finds himself in drives home the idea that there are times when it's NOT OKAY to say or do nothing. Seeing as these books have a middle school/young adult vibe, I thought this was particularly timely and could be a way to open up a frank discussion between kids and their parents.

I also enjoyed that when Ash found himself plunked down into the middle of the Boston Tea Party he was pretty clueless as to what was going on. He figured it out eventually, but it amused me that all those history classes went in one ear and out the other on this poor boy.

A very captivating and interesting read, Vered Ehsani has done an excellent job capturing both Ash's family dynamics and the internal struggle most teen/pre-teen kids go through as they try to find their place in the world. Genuinely enjoyable with plenty of setup for more adventures with Ash in the future.

More books by Vered Ehsani

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge
Diary of a Part-Time Ghost was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Serial Killers Featured Review... Liquid Smoke by Jeff Shelby

2012-02-01T06:03:00.000-08:00

Want to know more about the idea behind Serial Killers? This post is the place to start.

The first book that Odd and I are jumping into is the third book in the Noah Braddock series. Odd is our established reader and I'm new to the series.

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Private eye Noah Braddock has finally found peace in his once tumultuous relationship with Detective Liz Santangelo and has called a tentative truce with his alcoholic mother, Carolina. So when lawyer Darcy Gill demands that he look into a hopeless death row case, he’s more interested in catching some waves before San Diego’s rare winter weather takes hold. Then Darcy plays her trump card: the man scheduled to die—convicted of killing two men in cold blood—is the father Noah never knew.

My Thoughts: OMG NO WAI! Did you read that ending? I was all O.O And then I was all ...but, but, but... whyyyyyyyyyy? How did this.... I just.... I... I... *catatonic silence* Seriously, guys, the entire last 3rd of the book was an emotional roller coaster ride. I was shocked, disgusted, shocked again, heart broken and otherwise thrown for a loop by the twists and turns. Well played, Jeff Shelby. Well played.

Coming into this book with no background on what had come before, I found Noah and his crew to be interesting and not at all difficult to follow. Although there were some mentions of happenings from previous books (some of which I gleaned were fairly BIG happenings), I was never left floundering or weeping in confusion. To be honest, I rarely weep in confusion. But that's neither here nor there. I didn't weep this time. Nope.

The biggest thing I noticed with this book is that so many of the characters tried their mightiest to manipulate Noah into doing things for them. For being someone who is trying like hell to do the right thing, Darcy was not my favorite person. She used Noah's emotions against him without caring about how it would impact him. Meanwhile, his father... well, let's just say that he impressed me with the lengths he was willing to go to. Not in a good way.

Now, I should back up here and say that both Carter and Liz are exceptions to this. Liz is quietly supportive and offers Noah advice when the topic of his father comes up. And she's spot on with many of the things she says. Carter doesn't have Liz's quiet grace. He's flashy and boisterous but he has Noah's back when the chips are down. This is even after being hurt by Noah keeping secrets from him. I love that whole bromance thing. It's makes me tingly.

The twists and turns are hard and brutal and the ending took my breath away. Did I enjoy this book? Based on the ending alone: Yeah, I did. Would I have been in an unstoppable emotional tailspin if I had read the first two books in the series first? I hesitate to think of my wide-eyed blubbering if I had. So, yeah. While I definitely liked diving into Noah's world, I wasn't nearly as invested in the characters as I would have been if I had started with book1.

However, this book was still a compelling read. Good choice, Odd.

Odd's Thoughts: Some books you start reading and you realize right away that youabsolutely have to know the backstory. For me, Liquid Smoke wasone of those books.

I was lucky enough to get it for free for the Kindle, but about fivesentences in, I quit reading. I went back to Amazon and figured outwhich books came first, then I set about painstakingly acquiring themused at a serious discount because even though I'm an obsessive weaselI'm a pennypinching obsessive weasel.

The three books in the series (so far; if there's a sane god JeffShelby's going to read these reviews and put his Noah Braddock pantsback on, stat) for me, read like this: white, gray, noir as amotherfucker.

In book 1, Killer Swell, the mother of a high schoolex-girlfriend hunts PI Noah Braddock down in a bar and hires him --much as it pains her -- into looking into her daughter'sdisappearance. Despite featuring corpses, marital infidelity, drugwars and Noah's own failing relationship with homicide cop LizSantangelo, the book manages a hot n' flossy tone I rarely get to seewhile reading way too much crime fiction. It's funny. Very funny. Andcompellingly good character/plot/writing. Sat down, read the wholething at one shot.

Book 2, Wicked Break, deals with a few more serious topics,like race relations, bad California parenting and more starklycorpsified corpses, but continues to fascinate with Noah's attempts toget his act together with Liz while in a committed brolationship withhis best friend Carter.

(The Noah/Carter Show, aka We Are One Beer Away From Just Going ForIt, continues to be one of my favorite pairings in all of anything.Fanfic please?)

And then in Liquid Smoke, Shelby yanks the rug out of the wholeshebang. It is bleak, is what I am saying. Major league gasp and flailbleak.(Um, I'm honorbound to point out that while it's bleakity bleak bleak,this also happens:

I tackled him, and we fell to the floor."This is fun," Carter whispered as he rolled me over.I wrapped my arms around his head. "Just you wait."

They're fighting on the floor of a casino, purely for plot purposes.

(No, they're fighting. What did you think they were doing?)

And on the one hand, that the leap from book 2 to 3 is so drastic, andso dark and unrelentingly crushing to the protagonist feels like abetrayal of the contract between author and reader set up in book 1.But on the other hand, IT'S PERFECT.

Having read all three books, Liquid Smoke isn't just a goodread, but it plugs a hole in Noah that was painstakingly constructedby the previous two books. So however much you were all OMG NO WAI atthe ending, Kel, I was three times that much.

Thoughts?

Our Thoughts:
Kelly: First off, excellent choice for our first read. In a lot of ways this isn't the type of book I'd think of picking up on my own (no supernatural critters, no steamy sex) but Jeff Shelby did a great job bringing Noah to life and getting him to worm his way into my head.

Odd: Well I figured you'd be throwing vampires at my head (and I was right), so I wanted to get my licks in while I could. This is exactly the type of chewy crime fiction I like, so I'm pretty overjoyed you like it.

Any thoughts on the Noah/Carter brolationship? I also want to point out that Liz, the homicide detective girlfriend, had much bigger parts in the first two books; as in, she had agency and went to work and had a spine, rather than sitting around gazing at Noah all starry-eyed. And as mentioned, I'm way more convinced on the Noah/Carter romance. That would, btw, make an awesome book 4.

Kelly: Yup. Vampires, they are a'comin'!

Noah and Carter were AWESOME! The whole fight scene in the casino... Dude, I LOL-ed like a mad woman. I particularly liked how butt-hurt Carter was that Noah had told Liz something and left him out of the loop. It rang true for me that he'd be upset that their bromance was being pushed aside in favor of Noah's relationship with Liz.

The biggest thing I loved about Noah and Carter, though, was that Carter was there for him- no questions asked- when Noah needed him most. That's just plain awesome.

Odd: See, I'm telling you, epic love story right there. But my biggest question is whether you liked this book enough to go back and pick up the previous two?

Kelly: You know what? I would. I wouldn't mind seeing more bromance and watching Liz and Noah's relationship unfold from the beginning.

Final Verdict: Unequivocal Epic Win

More books by Jeff Shelby

New Feature at Reading the Paranormal: Serial Killers

2012-01-31T23:59:00.000-08:00

A while back while discussing books, my friend Odd brought up an interesting point. She idly wondered how differently people who were invested in a series saw later books as opposed to people who plopped themselves into a series midway through. As a person who has several established series I'm currently feverishly working my way through and also as someone who's randomly picked up book #5 in a series and read it with no idea what had come before, this intrigued me. Do those of us who have followed a series from book 1 and are invested in the characters see things differently then people who don't know the backstory and are stepping into it fresh? To me, the answer would be yes.

However, as with everything in life, this isn't necessarily true.

So, Odd and I set out to test this. Once a month we'll be featuring a book from a series that one of us has read and the other has not. Then we'll begin dissecting.

1 book. 2 reviews. Quite possibly 2 very different takes on that book.

As we're gearing up for all this craziness, I'd like to introduce you all to Odd.

@Oddmonstr lives in a cottage in the forests of Vermont, with a magical back-talking rabbit, six dogs and a superhero. She's in disgrace at work for not liking chocolate enough, but her busy schedule of reading, knitting, biking through the snow and inhaling coffee (sometimes all at once) doesn't leave much wiggle room. She reviews culinary mysteries at Read Em and Eat (http://oddmonster.blogspot.com).

Odd and I hope to see what you think when our brains collide and the thoughts come spilling out. Tentatively, Serial Killers reviews are scheduled to go up on the first Wednesday of every month. Or the first of every month. I haven't decided yet.

See you there!

Quickie Review: Heart of Stone by Aislinn Kerry

2012-01-31T07:30:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Crazy things happen on Halloween. Still, the last thing Kestrel expects is to inadvertently bring a large gargoyle statue to life. And the last thing she figures a statue-come-to-life will want is a one night stand. Damaris is strong, sexy, and remarkably persuasive. Who is she to say no? But Damaris is cursed, and Kestrel might be falling for a man she can only be with one night a year.

My Thoughts: While this is a very short and fast read with a heavy emphasis on the sex, it was strangely satisfying. -pause- And no dirty jokes at my word choice there, you pervs. *narrows eyes* *ahem* Although I wouldn't have minded a bit more information on what Damaris is or a longer look at the time Kestral spent away from him, I enjoyed Aislinn Kerry's writing style and the way she was able to show the despair Kestral felt as she waited for Damaris.

I need to point out that when I said there was a heavy emphasis on sex, I meant it. Kestral and Damrais have one night together. They don't waste any time getting down to the nitty gritty. Heck, if you only had one night a year to get freaky with a guy who rocks your world, wouldn't you go for it?

Short and sexy, not for the faint of heart.

More books by Aislinn Kerry

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge, Why Buy the Cow? Challenge
Heart of Stone was a free Kindle download I picked up 01/23/12.

Teaser Tuesday (01/31/12)

2012-01-30T20:30:00.000-08:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I Zombie I by Jack Wallen (Goodreads)

Even without the fog, I was too high up to see the streets clearly, so I couldn't even assume the city was awake and reacting to whatever had happened. Wonderful. I was in a strange city, I knew no one, and I couldn't reach anyone. I was afraid the world had ended and left me behind.

The Demon Lover (Fairwick Chronicles #1) by Juliet Dark (Goodreads)

I turned the key. the tumblers turned smoothly in the lock and the door opened on well-oiled hinges, not at all like the creaking doors of Gothic romance. Nor was I greeted with cobwebs and dank miasmas. the house smelled like fresh paint and varnish. A clean, practical smell that vanquished the ridiculous notion that I'd bought the house because of a dream.

I'm chopping through those review books like a lumberjack. Or something equally choppy. Yay, me! YAY!

Review: The Sanction Chronicles: Welcome to Sanction by Dylan Strickland, Terry Kate, Ashley Renee

2012-01-30T07:02:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Welcome to Sanction, the 3rd largest all paranormal town in the USA and Wind Haven High School accepting students from the werewolf, witch, and vampire community.

September 1: The Hawthorne Academy of Witchcraft is burned to the ground leaving the teens from Sanction's three biggest powers with only one place to go... Now if the Witches can avoid Non-Witches, the Werewolves don't tear anyone apart, and the Vampires keep their mouths shut Wind Haven High School might survive. IF...

My Thoughts: I had a hard time starting this review which is weird because I really, really liked the book. I love the characters, from the middle of three seer sisters who has gained an unexpected power that her sisters have not to the lone human amongst the supernaturals to the werewolf boy with a shadowed past. The background characters aren't too shabby either. Witches, vampires (I love the eyeliner wearing, death obsessed vamp, btw), ghosts... honestly, it's a town full of fabulous peeps.

The destruction of the witches' school opens up a world of conflict when the three groups (witches, werewolves and vamps) suddenly find themselves sharing space. The three groups already have issues with one another and when you throw in teenage hormones and general idiocy, the sparks fly.

There are a lot of questions raised, a nice mystery to solve, and a dark menace on the horizon. I am incredibly curious as to where the characters are going. Is there an unexpected romance blooming between some of the characters? Will Jessie figure a way out of her predicament? Is the town in danger? I DON'T KNOW! But I want to know!

More books by Dylan Strickland
More books by Terry Kate
More books by Ashley Renee

Welcome to Sanction was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Clock Rewinders (01/29/12)

2012-01-29T06:00:00.000-08:00

Review: Six Moon Summer (Seasons of the Moon #1) by S.M. Reine - Captivating and fantastic
Teaser Tuesday -Death Heralds and Part-Time Ghosts!
Tempting Tuesdays: Some Girls Bite Read-Along Chapters 13-15 + Epilogue - They have questions, I have answers!
Quickie Review: The Night by Felicity Heaton - Fast-paced and fun
Double Take Review: My Soul to Take (Soul Screamers #1) by Rachel Vincent -I think I loved this book EVEN MORE the second time around!
Review: White Cat (Curse Workers #1) by Holly Black - Holy Toledo! Why did I wait so long to read this book?!?!?
Quickie Review: Bewitching the Werewolf by Caroline Hanson - Short but sexy.
Review: Hidden Talents (Hidden #1) by Emma Holly -*fans self* Hot sex alert!
Zane's Way (O'Malley Wild #1) by Maggie Casper - Slow start, good sex.

Books, I have some:
Bought
Dreams of a Dark Warrior (Immortals After Dark #11) by Kresley Cole (Paperback)
Damage by Anya Parrish (Paperback)
Trial by Fire (Raised by Wolves #2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Hardcover)

Freebies
All Hallows' Moon (Seasons of the Moon #2) by S.M. Reine (Kindle)
Love Letters, Historical Romance by Lori Brighton (Kindle)
Heart of Stone by Aislinn Kerry (Kindle)
Highland Mist (Druid's Glen #1) by Donna Grant (Kindle)
The Book of Lost Souls (Ivy MacTavish #1) by Michelle Muto (Kindle)
Dark Rogue (Spellkeepers Series) by Amy LeBlanc (Kindle)
The Horse Master of Shanhasson by Joely Sue Burkhart (Kindle)
The Mystic Wolves by Belinda Boring (Kindle)
Moon Spell (The Tale of the Lunamorte #1) by Samantha Young (Kindle)
The Wary Widow (Wetherby Brides #3) by Jerrica Knight-Catania (Kindle)
Spellbound by Patricia Simpson (Kindle)
The Mind Readers (Mind Readers #1) by Lori Brighton (Kindle)

For review
31 Flavors by Leia Shaw and Cari Silverwood
Fairy Blues (Songs of Magic #2) by J.L. Bryan (Kindle)

Places I've been creeping around this week:

Tumblr - I've have effectively been lured to the dark side and have found the beauty that is David Gandy. He is magically delicious. On so many levels.

Random Randomness for you to cuddle close:

I've designated February as the month I focus on author requested review books. They've been building up on me and I'm ready to take a swing and knock them out of the park. Watch for a wide variety of books to be reviewed and a few giveaways over the coming weeks.
In order to showcase some of my re-read books - which for the most part you never get to see here because, hey! I've already reviewed them - I've created a Double Take Review feature. For the most part, it's going to be used for Read-Alongs and series rereads. For the record, I'm a big fan of rereading favorite books. I like to hug them and feed them and call them George.
This upcoming Wednesday will mark the debut of a new feature here at Reading the Paranormal. It's a joint review with a twist - hopefully one that will make people think.
My cousin (the poor cousin who ended up sharing a name with my syphilis-riddled MC in my currently languishing Lucifer's Concubine story) has been making guitar picks earrings. Go visit her Etsy store and give her some love!

And for your amusement...

My LOL meter is off the charts with this one!

Until next week, my darlings!

Zane's Way (O'Malley Wild #1) by Maggie Casper

2012-01-28T06:05:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Serena Keller yearns for more than the vanilla relationship she has with her long-term live-in lover, Zane O'Malley. Fear of Zane's reaction to her naughty submissive fantasies has kept Serena from admitting to Zane what her body craves.

What would Zane think if he knew that Serena longed to feel the flat of a man's hand against the bare skin of her bottom? Would he be disgusted to learn that she becomes aroused merely by the thought of being bound?

The past four years of Zane's life has been spent hiding his dominant sexual side from smart and sassy Serena. It has taken every ounce of his willpower to refrain from showing Serena the darker side of love. When his control finally slips, Zane can't hold back his sexual beast. He finds himself unable to rein in his desire for a submissive woman.

As Zane finally reaches his breaking point, he places an online singles ad looking for the perfect companion. A woman with a will of her own who is willing to give up all control behind closed doors.

The boundaries between fantasy and reality will be tested once they start doing things Zane's Way.

My Thoughts: I originally started reading this one because I was looking for something saucy and sexy. While the sex was creative and fun, it felt like it took a long time - with a lot of internal dialogue where the characters lamented the fact that they were in a relationship that didn't fulfill them - before Serena and Zane finally came clean with one another and admitted that they want a D/s relationship. The internal back and forth really slowed down the first half of the book, in my opinion, and I felt like we kept retreading the same ground over and over again.

Now, I have no issue whatsoever with the D/s aspects of this story. I did, however, have a big of a cringe when both Serena and Zane virtually cheated on one another. Although the argument could be made that they didn't physically cheat and they had both made it clear that they were in relationships when they began conversing online, it still felt like cheating to me. That said, I think they were both very forgiving of one another. As in, I don't think I could have just accepted it. But that's just me.

While the beginning of the book moved slowly, things started to heat up once they both began being honest with one another with what they wanted. The sex was nicely steamy, it was just a matter of wading through the beginning. Still, hot Dom sex. That almost says it all.

More books by Maggie Casper

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge, Why Buy the Cow? Challenge
Zane's Way was a free Kindle download I picked up on 01/10/12.

Review: Hidden Talents (Hidden #1) by Emma Holly

2012-01-27T06:03:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Werewolf cop Adam Santini is sworn to protect and serve all the supes in Resurrection, NY - including unsuspecting human Talents who wander in from Outside.

Telekinetic Ari is hot on the trail of a mysterious crime boss who wants to exploit her gift for his own evil ends, a mission that puts her on a collision course with the hottest cop in the RPD. Adam wants Blackwater too, but mostly he wants Ari. She seems to be the mate he's been yearning for all his life, though getting a former street kid into bed with the Law could be his toughest case to date.

My Thoughts: *fans self* I'm going to go on record as saying that this book is hot enough that you might not want to read it in public. There's a distinct possibility that it made *me* blush a time or two. And that's saying a lot because I read sexy shifter books every chance I get. *fans self again*

First off, I have a definite love for that whole "mine" thing that shifters do. I just adore it. So when Adam catches Ari's scent and goes all growly, I might have swooned a bit. And then they get physical and... *swoons some more*. Seriously, there's an undeniable hotness factor here. She's twitchy, he's determined. They have sparks. Lots and lots of sparks.

Naturally, there's danger and mayhem and more danger that they have to work around before finding their happily ever after. Ari is in a situation with her former boss. Adam is a werewolf cop determined to keep his city safe. They team up. They kick some booty. They get to have more sweaty sex. I approve of all of those things.

Now, I'm going to freely admit that I picked this book up on a day when I wanted something sexy and a little dark and this book delivered that. I'd love to read more about Adam's team and see if they find their chosen ones in the future. In the meantime... delicious shifter sex. I approve.

More books by Emma Holly

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge, Why Buy the Cow? Challenge
Hidden Talents was a free download from ARE I picked up 12/22/11.

Quickie Review: Bewitching the Werewolf by Caroline Hanson

2012-01-26T16:03:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

When witch for hire, Megan Stephens, is assigned to help the local werewolf pack leader find a mate, she thinks the job will be easy. Get in, get it up and get gone. But when she meets Zack Connor, she realizes her future might have a lot more dog jokes in it than she ever imagined.

My Thoughts: This is a very short story and it doesn't waste any time jumping in and putting the two main characters in orbit around one another. They're both kinda turned on by one another, but Megan chalks it up to a general (and annoying) attraction toward Zack and as a by-product of the type of spell she's getting ready to unleash on him.

Things move quickly. Dog jokes are made. Mates are found. Sexing occurs. Ta-da!

While this is short, you definitely get a feel for Megan's prickly personality and Zack's disinclination to choose a mate when his wolf clearly isn't interested in any of the female wolves he's coming in contact with. Short and sweet. Perfect for a quick lunchtime read.

More books by Caroline Hanson

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge, Why Buy the Cow? Challenge
Bewitching the Werewolf was a free Kindle download I picked up 01/20/12.

Review: White Cat (Curse Workers #1) by Holly Black

2012-01-26T06:09:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Cassel comes from a family of curse workers — people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn't got the magic touch, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail — he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.

Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen.

Holly Black has created a gripping tale of mobsters and dark magic where a single touch can bring love — or death — and your dreams might be more real than your memories.

My Thoughts: The first and most important question I have to ask about this book is: Why did it take me so long to read this??? WHY? I adore Holly Black's writing. We have a long, tumultuous relationship going back several series. Sure, she might not know about our clandestine meetings in the dark, but they happened. THEY HAPPENED! So why did I wait to dive into this fantabulous world? Why did I let this book sit on my bookshelf in lonely, unread agony for so long? These questions, they burn!

Needless to say, I am ridiculously, stupidly, deeply in love with this book. It's dark and twisted and heartbreaking. There's betrayal and hatred and murder and mayhem. And then there's Cassel. He's caught in the middle of something huge and he can no longer trust either his memories or those around him. What Cassel has been forced to do was especially wrenching because he has no say in it. He's been twisted around and manipulated for so long that his slow uncovering of the truth is hard and painful to read.

But, man, does it make a good story.

Fabulous characters, a world that's as captivating as it is scary and more twists than you can shake a stick at. Seriously, what more can you want?

More books by Holly Black

Double Take Review: My Soul to Take (Soul Screamers #1) by Rachel Vincent

2012-01-25T16:02:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

She doesn't see dead people. She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally.

Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about her need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who'll be next.

Original Review: 12/30/10
My Thoughts: At this point I've read all the Soul Screamers books (and all but one of the novellas) that are currently out, so going back and starting again from the beginning is kinda cool. It gives me a chance to see how the bits and pieces that Rachel Vincent sprinkled throughout come to fruition later on. Which is awesome!

I had honestly forgotten how twitchy Kaylee is around Nash when they first come together. She's sure he's only being nice to her to earn another notch on his bedpost. He's captivated by her from the first time he hears her voice. His ability to soothe her when her wailing fits come upon her seems to be one of the big draws for Kaylee. That and the fact that he's able to give her answers to questions she didn't even know she needed to be asking. Now, I liked Nash in this book, despite the fact that he's portrayed as a bit of a man-whore. He genuinely seems to have Kaylee's best interests at heart. That's just sweet. Plus, their kisses are smoking!

A lot of characters who have fair sized roles in later books are introduced here, as well as the groundwork for the Netherworld and the bargains some people are willing to make with hellions. We also get to see that the Reaper world has a pretty rigid structure and hierarchy. Very cool. Not to mention that hierarchy comes into play in later books. I love watching things come together!

Engaging and well worth the re-read, I'm looking forward to jumping into the rest of the series again.

Other reviews in this series
Prequel: My Soul To Lose
Prequel: Reaper
Book 1: My Soul To Take
Book 2: My Soul To Save
Book 3: My Soul To Keep
Book 4: My Soul To Steal
Book 5: If I Die

More books by Rachel Vincent

Reading challenges: The Soul Screamers Reading Challenge

Quickie Review: The Night by Felicity Heaton

2012-01-25T06:09:00.001-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

A powerful seventh level wizard, the last thing Zane expected to happen in his life was being cursed, even if he did deserve it. Each night he turns into a cat and remains that way until dawn breaks. His search for a cure uncovered rumours of a powerful witch who might be the only one in the world who could save him. From the moment he set eyes on the beautiful and mysterious Celene, he was lost.

Celene took Zane in without question a year ago and since that night she has been falling for him. Fearing he will leave if he discovers the truth about her, Celene learns all that she can from books and does all in her power to help him, but nothing is working and from daybreak to nightfall she must leave him to fight on alone.

When she realises that time is running out for Zane, Celene redoubles her effort to cure him but his stubborn refusal to tell her anything about the curse only hampers her efforts. But Celene can be stubborn too, and when she finds a slip of parchment with the clue she's been hoping for, she sets about forcing Zane to confront his past.

Will Celene be able to save the man she's come to love? And will Zane finally discover the truth about Celene and break his curse?

My thoughts: A lovely, quick story about the power of love and the breaking of curses. As usual, Felicity Heaton has created a fun world and populated it with entertaining and emotion-filled characters. I have a tendency to get a kick out of books that begin with established relationships. Although in this case the relationship wasn't of a sexual nature when the story began, watching Celene and Zane discover that the feelings they've been harboring are more than just gratitude and a driving need on Celene's part to cure him is sweet.

Full of secrets and passion, it was a nice story to pass an afternoon with.

More books by Felicity Heaton

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge, Why Buy the Cow? Challenge
The Night was a free download from the author's website that I picked up 12/26/11.

Tempting Tuesdays: Some Girls Bite Read-Along Chapters 13-15 + Epilogue

2012-01-24T06:00:00.000-08:00

It's that time again, kiddies! Time for those burning questions to be answered.

This week's Qs are posted at The Unread Reader! (Hi, Missie!)

Without further ado...

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR CHAPTERS 13-15 + Epilogue

1. Chapter 13 opens with Merit describing her new a job routine as House Sentinel. Considering that every job Cadogan House is important in helping to make the house run efficiently, which job do you think you'd like to have (guard, cook, social director, gardener, etc.) and why?
Do they have a job for a professional reader? Or a blogger? Oooh! I can see it now: "Slices of Life at Cadogan House! Join us to see what a day in the life of a Vampire is *really* like!" I'd run features on the different vampires and take pictures of them in candid poses. I'd have a whole section dedicated to what Merit's been eating lately. And I'd have a rogue's gallery of hot vamps. It's totally doable, right? RIGHT? What? It's PR. I'm making the vamps more user friendly.

2. In the supernatural world of Chicagoland Vampires, politics seem to play an important role in the way the Houses are run. Now that you've been introduced to the Rogues, do you think it's better for vampires to be a part of a House or to live outside of one.
I think that it depends on the individual vamp. Some people are not cut out to be at the beck and call of another. And some would never make it out in the big bad world. They need the structure and the security of being part of something larger. And sometimes they just need the Ethan eye candy. What? Man candy is a very important food group!

3. After Morgan openly asks to court Merit, she feels betrayed when Ethan commands her to accept for the show of alliance it could bring to Cadogan House. Do you think her reaction was warranted?
YES! Ethan was... A DOUCHE-CANOE! His actions toward Merit have me seriously wondering if I'm going to like him in later books. I feel this ridiculous fictional rage toward him. Isn't it awesome when books make you all rage-y and insane? Oh, and by "fictional rage" I don't mean that it's fake rage, I mean that I feel rage toward a fictional character. Fictional rage. It makes sense in my head.

4. When Ethan meets with the perpetrator of the murders, were you surprised to discover who it was? If you suspected someone, were your suspensions correct? What did you think of the perpetrator's motive?
I can't say I was surprised that Amber was involved somehow but I was surprised by who orchestrated everything. As for her motive... there's a convenience factor there. For someone who pushed to have the vamps go public and never showed anything but a PR face to the world, to have Celina pop in as the ultimate baddie was a little jarring. Now, I will say that I'm TERRIBLE at guessing mysteries. You could wave a bag of clues under my nose and I'd still be all "Well, I didn't see *that* coming!" Yeah. Agatha Christie stumps me EVERY SINGLE TIME. True story. Anyway. I didn't see Celina as the villain but I'm betting that plenty of other people saw her coming from a mile away. I just thought she was a raging bitch vampire with attitude and a decent public face. O.o

5. What was your favorite/least favorite parts of Some Girls Bite?
I kinda loathed Merit's whining. I get that she didn't ask to be changed and she had some issues but... OMG! Put a cork in it already. You're a vampire. Deal with it and move along. I didn't ask to forget to set my alarm clock the other day and wake up late but you don't see me lashing out at people over it. Okay. Wait. Bad example. But you get my point.

As for my favorite part, I liked the fight between Merit and Ethan the first time she went to Cadogan House.

"Jesus," Mallory whispered. "I want to support your quest for revenge and all, but maybe you should just let him glamour you." She looked at me, and I could tell she was trying not to laugh. "Either your fucked, or you're fucked, right?"

Oh, Mallory! That cracks me up HARD.

6. What do you think is coming up next for Merit, Sentinel of Cadogan House? Will you continue reading this series, and if so, what do you hope to see happen in the next book?
I have no idea what's coming up next. And, yes, I will be continuing the series. I thought the world building in this series was phenomenal and I loved the structure of the vampire houses. I don't love the characters yet (Merit hasn't quite found her footing with me, Ethan's a douche-canoe) but I love the potential I see there.

Teaser Tuesday (01/24/12)

2012-01-23T20:32:00.000-08:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Soul to Take (Soul Screamers #1) by Rachel Vincent (Goodreads)

I jumped at the sound of my own name and whirled toward the stool to my left. My gaze settled on the most hypnotic set of hazel eyes I'd ever seen, and for several seconds I could only stare, lost in the most amazing swirls of deep brown and vivid green, which seemed to churn in time with my own heartbeat- though surely they were just reflecting the lights flashing overhead.

Diary of a Part-Time Ghost by Vered Ehsani (Goodreads)

"You're not supposed to be here!" I shouted, like that's going to help, but there was no response from the speaker. Instead, something else spoke. It sounded like nails scratching against a chalkboard.

My vow to work my way through that massive TBR pile is still in effect. Too bad MStT is a re-read, huh? Dangit! Well, I'll just have to read faster!

Until next week!

Review: Six Moon Summer (Seasons of the Moon #1) by S.M. Reine

2012-01-23T06:16:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Rylie's been bitten.

She's changing.

And now she has three months to find a cure before becoming a werewolf... forever.

Rylie Gresham hates everything about summer camp: the food, the fresh air, the dumb activities, and the other girls in her cabin. But the worst part is probably being bitten by a werewolf. Being a teenager is hard enough, but now she's craving raw flesh and struggles with uncontrollable anger. If she doesn't figure out a way to stop the transformation, then at the end of summer, her life is worse than over. She'll be a monster.

My Thoughts: Okay. Okay. Okay. So. This was one of the books I had picked as a recent read-a-thon read and unfortunately the end of the read-a-thon crept up on my and I hadn't quite managed to get to it. With a few hours left to get my read on I decided to start Rylie's story, never expecting to finish it before the read-a-thon ended. This book was so captivating that I'm completely THRILLED to have been proven wrong in this case because I started it and finished it without coming up for air. Yes, it was that good.

Rylie is one of those characters that I felt for from the beginning. She's shuffled off to summer camp as her parents deal with divorce. She's hurting. She has no urge to join the other campers in their activities. She alienates herself simply by holding herself apart. Then she gets attacked in the forest. Her aggressive tendencies come to the forefront, she's craving red meat and there's a boy who seems to know more about what's happening to her than she does. Needless to say, the poor girl has a lot to deal with.

S.M. Reine has created a fascinating set of characters in Rylie and Seth. They have some great chemistry which they continually push aside as they try to deal with Rylie's little problem. I honestly held my breath just waiting for one of them to act on the emotions they churned up in one another.

Captivating and well-written, I'm looking forward to the next installment of Rylie's tale.

More books by S.M. Reine

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge, Why Buy the Cow? Challenge
Six Moon Summer was a free Smashwords download I picked up 10/22/11.

Clock Rewinders (01/22/12)

2012-01-22T06:02:00.000-08:00

Bout of Books 3.0 Finish Line & Wrap-Up
Teaser Tuesday - Eep! Shenanigans abound!
Tempting Tuesdays: Some Girls Bite Read-Along Chapters 9-12 - They have questions, I have answers.
Review: Coming Undone (Brown Siblings #2) by Lauren Dane - Lauren Dane writes some seriously awesome characters.
Review: Rock 'n' Roll is Undead (Veronica Mason #1) by Rose Pressey - Torn on how I feel about this one. Mostly because I didn't really care for any of Veronica's friends.
Review: Reveal (Cryptid Tales #1) by Brina Courtney - An cool take on shapeshifters and various other psychics.
Review: Wildflowers Come Back (Wildflowers Come Back #1) by Sarah Spann - Another book that I was torn on. I liked the writing style but I wasn't keen on some of the happenings.
Review: Body Temperature and Rising (Lakeland Heat #1) by K.D. Grace -Sexy sexing. With ghosts!

Books, I have some:
Bought
Paranormalcy (Paranormalcy #1) by Kiersten White (Hardcover) - My $1 library find!
Early to Death, Early to Rise (Madison Avery #2) by Kim Harrison (Hardcover) - Awesome book swap/trade her for an ebook with Ruby @ Ruby's Reads!
Spider's Bite (Elemental Assassin #1) by Jennifer Estep (Paperback) - Another from Ruby!
Venom (Elemental Assassin #3) by Jennifer Estep (Paperback) - And another from Ruby!

Freebies
Zombies Don't Cry (A Living Dead Love Story) by Rusty Fischer (Kindle)
Bloodstone (A Stacy Justice Mystery #2) by Barbra Annino (Kindle)
Dangerous Angels (Weetzie Bat #1-5) by Francesca Lia Block (Kindle)
To Seduce an Earl (Seduction #1) by Lori Brighton (Kindle)
Intentions of the Earl (Scandalous Sisters #1) by Rose Gordon (Kindle)
Veiled Eyes (Lake People #1) by C.L. Bevill (Kindle)
Dragon Blues by Edie Kramer (Kindle)
The Bride and the Brute by Laurel O'Donnell (Kindle)
Bewitching the Werewolf by Caroline Hanson (Kindle)
A Fog of Fury (Lawson Vampire) by Jon F. Merz (Kindle)

For Review
Fairy Metal Thunder (Songs of Magic #1) by J.L.Bryan (Kindle)
Cat Scratch Fever (That Old Black Magic #5) by Jodi Redford <--I'm super excited for this one. It's not up on Goodreads or Amazon yet or I'd be all "GO! LOOK!" Instead you'll just have to look at the title. That's a little sad, isn't it?

Places I've been creeping around this week:

Tumblr. As Amanda pointed out, it's called Inappropriately Naked for a reason.

Random Randomness for you to cuddle close:

The biggest thing I need to get off my chest is this: I am determined to cut a swath through my review books. December kinda kicked my ass as far as reviewing went and I'm ready to show that list who's boss! TAKE THAT, LIST! I WILL SLAY YOU IN FEBRUARY! Actually, I'm starting now. I just expect to have the reviews up in February. So... THERE!
Thing number 2: I'm gearing up to add a new feature to Reading the Paranormal. I don't even know how to explain it yet because I'm so excited about it that the words are getting all jumbled up between my head and my mouth. If that disconnect doesn't make for awkward dinner conversation, I don't know what will.
Thank you, Missie! I will never look at Lion-O the same again!
Book Soulmates has an AWESOME new feature called "You Can Quote Me" where they highlight quotes from reviews written by bloggers that have been published in books. Yeah, I'm not explaining it well, but it is pretty darn cool and I'm crossing my fingers they come across one of my quotes in a book!

Review: Body Temperature and Rising (Lakeland Heatwave #1) by K.D. Grace

2012-01-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Can the power of lust overcome deadly intentions? A voyeuristic encounter on the fells ends in sex with a charming ghost for American Marie Warren who realises she has the ability to unleash demons. Her powers bring her to a coven of witches who practise rare sex magic that allows ghosts access to pleasures of the flesh.

As ancient grudges unfold, Deacon, the demon Marie has unleashed will stop at nothing to destroy everything the coven’s high priestess holds dear, including Marie and her landlord, Tim Meriwether. Only the power of lust Marie and Tim share can stop Deacon before the coven is destroyed and innocent people die?

My Thoughts: The title of this book is pretty darn indicative of what you're going to get when you read it. For the love of all things steamy, this is one HOT read. Now, before you read any further, I should let it be known that I have a bit of a kink when it comes to paranormal, ghostly sex. As in, I enjoy figuring out how a non-corporeal being is going to manage to have dirty, sweaty sex with a living person. What? It's all about the journey, right? And this journey was both hot and fun.

K.D. Grace has laid some nice groundwork for future books with her interesting coven of sex magic witches. Without giving too much away I'm very curious to see how Tim deals with certain issues and if the connection Marie has with her ghostly lover deepens and becomes more permanent. As for the bad guy, Deacon is the kind of guy you love to hate. He's just vile. Vile and horrible and probably a big downer at parties. I mean, unless it's a demon sex party. In that case, he's probably the guy they all love to invite.

Steamy, sexy and some other words that start with S and mean hot things, Body Temperature and Rising is definitely a wild ride. If you don't like the sexy, stay out of the sex coven.

More books by K.D. Grace

Body Temperature and Rising was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Wildflowers Come Back (Wildflowers Come Back #1) by Sarah Spann

2012-01-20T19:55:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Lyss Brewer is starting the new year in a cheap motel with a wrinkled party dress and mascara stains on her cheeks. No job. No money. And as of New Year's Eve: No boyfriend and no place to live.

Just when everything is going completely wrong, something finally goes right. Lyss is given the chance to start over when she is offered a live-in position at an historic inn. The inn will become her sanctuary, and the colorful characters who work there will become her family. However, Lyss will soon discover that the walls which surround her hold much more than history.

As fear of a serial killer spreads throughout the city of Santa Fe, Lyss begins to wrestle with her own sanity. Is she hallucinating or is she really seeing ghosts? Just when she thinks she's found the connection, her world is turned upside down.

Will Lyss listen to the voices that haunt her? Or will she trust the one person who can't be trusted?

My Thoughts: This is one of those books where I'm not quite sure how I feel about it. The writing was clean and engaging but I never really felt the type of connection to the characters that I was expecting to feel. And just when things look like they're moving in a direction I can get behind, something BIG happened that threw me, as a reader, into a tailspin. Since I try to keep my reviews spoiler free, I'm not going to go into the big happening except to say that it caught me off guard and left me floundering.

Initially, I started reading this book because I was looking for a haunted house/ghostly happenings story. Yes, I did get that but at the same time, it wasn't quite what I was expecting. I think I was expecting a little more horror and a little less of the slice of normal life that we got. Which is not a slight against the book itself, more a nod to the fact that I like blood and gore.

Anyway. While I liked the backstory on the original happenings in the house/inn and I liked the idea that the ghosts are trying to find someone to listen to them, I was a little thrown by what message the ghosts were trying to convey. I feel like I missed something along the way as to what the ghosts expected Lyss to do. Did they want her help being found or did they just want her to listen to them? I don't know.

Ultimately, while I did like the author's writing style, the big game-changer toward the end of the book left me reeling. Plus, I feel like the ending raised more questions than answers. This isn't necessarily a bad thing since this is the first book in a series, but it did take away from my personal enjoyment.

More books by Sarah Spann

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge, Why Buy the Cow? Challenge
Wildflowers Come Back was a free Kindle download I picked up 01/14/12.

Review: Reveal (Cryptid Tales #1) by Brina Courtney

2012-01-20T06:12:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

High school senior Shay Tafford leads a less than normal life. Hiding her ability to speak to ghosts from her family and friends is one thing, but discovering there’s a beautiful boy named Hugh who has the same gift is an entirely different problem; especially when she’s been crushing on him for weeks. Since her life’s not already chaotic enough, her only confidante- a boy ghost- has disappeared as thoroughly as her father did twelve years ago. With Hugh’s help, Shay must find the answers she needs in order to save the people she loves from disappearing- forever.

My Thoughts: Ghosts, a missing dad, random psychic powers... YES! I read the short story prequel to this book recently and LOVED the world. So, I picked up Reveal and jumped straight in.

Where to begin? Shay is a girl who has found a way to hide a very big part of herself from everyone she holds dear. The one person who did know her secret - the ghost Jeremy - was accidentally banished by Shay's careless words. So when she finds another someone with the ability to hear ghosts, of course she's drawn to him. Now, Hugh did some things that I probably would have punched him for. He kept secrets, he effectively kidnapped her (in a non-creepy way, mind you, but he still spirited her away without her consent) and he was a borderline jerk about it when she called him on it. That said, I still liked the guy. I can get behind a character that doesn't make all the right choices when they're cool and have sexy yellow eyes. Why, yes, I am shallow. Thank you for noticing.

Overall, it was an interesting take on how shapeshifters and various other psychic powers came about. Shay is intriguing and the setup for what's to come left me staring. Well done, Brina Courtney. Well done.

More books by Brina Courtney

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge

Review: Rock 'n' Roll is Undead (Veronica Mason #1) by Rose Pressey

2012-01-19T06:07:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Veronica Mason—lead singer of the rockabilly band The Voodoo Zombies—discovers her vampire bass player staked through the heart. A vision of the murder flashes in Veronica’s mind and she wonders if she’s going bonkers. Up until now her supernatural skills consisted of a few botched love spells.

Using her sexy voice and pin-up style has paid off, she’s about to land a record deal. But suspicion soon turns to her when another vampire turns up as nothing more than a pile of ashes a vacuum would have a hard time sucking up. Veronica has another vision, and she has to hone her paranormal powers or lose her deal—and possibly her life.

When an utterly delicious mystery man steps in as the new bass player, Veronica can’t figure out if he’s there to help or cause more problems. What she does know is she can’t resist his good looks and sex appeal. She wonders if they’d make rockin’ music together. But helping the undead could stop her from finding out and leave Veronica dead—permanently.

My Thoughts: There were things I liked about this books and some things I didn't. For most part I liked Veronica. I liked that she's an inept witch. I liked that she has her own sense of style and she loves her music. However, I really, really, REALLY disliked her friends and the people she had surrounded herself with. Her guitarist was a jerk, her best friend was a clueless idiot... I don't know. Part of me couldn't see why she would bother surrounding herself with these types of people. They weren't good for her. Now I do feel like I should backtrack and say that her best friend did have some redeeming qualities - mainly that she was extremely supportive of Veronica's career - but other than that she was the type of friend who opens her mouth and you automatically cringe.

As for the mystery and danger surrounding Veronica, some of the situations that she found herself in seemed to drive home the fact that she didn't have a lot of trustworthy people in her life. The police didn't seem to be taking her seriously, she's being followed by a mystery car, and she's having visions of darkness and mayhem. I think I would have been a basket case in her position.

While the book was interesting and the setting was unique (to me, at least), Veronica's co-stars left me a bit cold. I'm honestly torn on whether I like it or not simply because of them. I'll have to think on it.

More books by Rose Pressey

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge, Why Buy the Cow? Challenge
Rock 'n' Roll is Undead was a free Kindle download I picked up 12/29/11.

Review: Coming Undone (Brown Siblings #2) by Lauren Dane

2012-01-18T06:30:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

After his parents' death, Brody gave up a promising career to care for his family. Now, with his siblings grown, Brody owns his own business, and for the first time in years he's alone. Elise has come to Seattle with her daughter to find peace. After years as a world-famous ballerina-and trapped in a marriage gone bad-she's looking for neither love nor attention. But she finds both in the handsome, honest man who befriends her with no strings attached.

Brody and Elise discover in each other the wild, physical passion they need. But it'll take a shadow from Elise's past to make them look beyond what they need-to what they truly desire.

My Thoughts: I fell in love with the Brown siblings in book one. They have such a deep connection to one another. They care and they're willing to open their circle and allow others in to become part of their family. It was pretty darn fabulous to watch. Lauren Dane creates such compelling, beautiful, flawed characters that they suck you in and wring you out. In a good way. You want to know these guys. You want to slip into their lives and watch them love and fight and find their strengths. Admittedly, the tattooed hero doesn't hurt, either.

Brody is one fabulous dude. He's willing to take on responsibility and it's darn sexy on him. He steps into a relationship with Elise looking for nothing more than two consenting adults having a good time. Watching him fall for both her and her daughter is sweet and not to be missed. For her part, Elise is still working on rebuilding herself from the events that drove her to Seattle in the first place. She's stronger than she thinks, practical and she loves her daughter above all else. Brody and she find a rhythm that works, both in and out of the bedroom.

Populated by the friends and extended family from book one, the background is alive and vibrant. The characters are refreshingly blunt and incredibly sexy. Hmm... friendship, tattoos and sex. An excellent combination.

Other reviews in this series:
Book 1: Laid Bare

More books by Lauren Dane

Tempting Tuesdays: Some Girls Bite Read-Along Chapters 9-12

2012-01-17T06:00:00.000-08:00

It's that time again, kiddies! Time for those burning questions to be answered

This week's Qs are posted at Books in the Spotlight!

Without further ado...

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR CHAPTERS 9-12

1. Catcher and Ethan share some personality traits. What makes Mallory, Merit, and even us readers attracted to these guys? Would you date/mate with someone like these guys in real life?
I have the biggest weakness for Alpha males in books. You know, the ones who swoop in and take charge and know how to show a lady what's what. Yeah. Those guys. I can't speak for anyone else, but that Alpha-ness is what attracts me to a character. I love it. I love when they get all possessive and growly. And when they can't keep their hands off their lady. As for the last part of the question, the answer is very firmly in the YES, I WOULD category.

2. In Chapter 9 we learn of another murder. Do you see any patterns with the previous murder and Merit's attack? Do you have any guesses as to who is responsible and the motive behind the murders?
It's really hard to answer these questions when you've read ahead. You know what I mean? Still, I will trrrrryyyyy. And I'd have to say that I do definitely see a pattern in the attacks. However, I'm zipping my lip on the guessing about who. =P

3. The commendation is my favorite moment in the book and a significant event in Merit's life. She has finally come to terms that she is a Cadogan vampire. Were you surprised at all that Merit resisted Ethan's call and that he made her a Sentinel? Do you think she'll do well in this position? Why or why not?
I have to say that I wasn't surprised. Merit is ... Merit. She wasn't resisting the call, exactly, she was immersing herself in the experience and thinking *really* hard. As for Ethan making her a Sentinel, all things considered, it was almost something he had to do. He had to find a way to leash her strength and making her a guardian seems to me like the perfect way to do it. I think that once Merit fully embraces all the bits and pieces of what makes her a vampire, she'll be phenomenal. She's already powerful and her former life in academia shows that she has a brain. Bring those two together and she'll be a powerhouse!

4. Loyalty is a reoccurring theme throughout the book and much of this series. Why is it so important to Ethan that he needs Merit's allegiance? Is it solely a Master and Sentinel thing or does it imply something else?
I think that Merit's power makes her a wildcard. If she throws her lot in behind Ethan, he benefits from it. If she fights him and challenges him, he loses some of his standing with both his own people and the vampires from the other Houses. Also, I still think Ethan's fighting his unwilling attraction to her. He wants her, he doesn't want to want her and yet he wants her close. Which is still kinda douche-y, if you ask me.

5. If you had the opportunity to sit down with Ethan, Merit, Mallory, and Catcher for a bite to eat like in the beginning of Chapter 12, what questions would you ask them at this point of the story?
Err... I'd try to wrangle more of Catcher's story out of him. Or... I don't know. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'D ASK!

Teaser Tuesday (01/17/12)

2012-01-16T20:30:00.000-08:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

White Cat (Curse Workers #1) by Holly Black (Goodreads)

I have no memory of climbing the stairs up to the roof. I don't even know how to get where I am, which is a problem since I'm going to have to get down, ideally in a way that doesn't involve dying.

I have mad love for Holly Black. The lady just makes me smile.
Back to reading! Catch ya'll next week!

Bout of Books 3.0 Finish Line & Wrap-Up

2012-01-16T06:33:00.000-08:00

Button by TaraSG

Well, I'm sad to say that the Bout of Books 3.0 Read-a-Thon is officially over. I had a great time (as I fully expected I would) and read some really fabulous books. I want to thank everyone who stopped by and participated in my challenge! For those wondering, the correct answers were...

Soulless, banished, but never forgotten. - The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
Only one thing burns hotter than hellfire... - Immortal Rider by Larissa Ione
If you believe in fairies...run. - Dead on the Delta by Stacey Jay
Rock and roll will never die - and neither will they. - Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine
What happens when perfection isn't good enough? - Pretties by Scott Westerfeld
Sacrifice is a choice. - Flesh and Blood by Kristen Painter
A novel of vampires, werewolves, and teapots. - Heartless by Gail Carriger
He always brings down his prey... - Storm's Heart by Thea Harrison
How many lives do you need to live before you find someone worth dying for? - Torment by Lauren Kate

I had a lot of fun putting this together and I was glad to see all the people who gave it a shot. Thank you, than you, thank you!

As for my accomplishments...
My Goals
I was aiming to get 10 books read and I did that. The downside is that I went off list (AGAIN!). I think for the next read-a-thon I'm going to make finishing all the books on my list before throwing in some extras be one of my overall goals. Anyway...

Books I read off my list:

Coming Undone (Brown Siblings #2) by Lauren Dane - 01/13/12
Strange Neighbors by Ashlyn Chase - 01/09/12
Six Moon Summer (Seasons of the Moon #1) by S.M. Reine - 01/15/12
Hunter's Prey (Bloodhounds #2) by Moira Rogers - 01/12/12
Cursed by S.A. Archer - 01/11/12
Rock 'n' Roll is Undead (Veronica Mason #1) by Rose Pressey - 01/13/12
Reveal (Cryptid Tales #1) by Brina Courtney - 01/10/12
Ignite (Cryptid Tales Bonus Story) by Brina Courtney - 01/09/12
Covet (Vampire Erotic Theatre #1) by Felicity Heaton - 01/09/12

Bonus books:

Zane's Way (O'Malley Wild #1) by Maggie Casper - 01/13/12
Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood #3) by J.R. Ward - 01/14/12

Books on my list I didn't get to:

Diary of a Part-Time Ghost by Vered Ehsani
I Zombie I by Jack Wallen

Updates (the recap):

1/9
Number of books I’ve read today:3
Total number of books I’ve read: 3
Today #insixwords: A good start to this week.
Things I learned on Twitter: I... don't think I learned anything today. For the love of Pete! This is TERRIBLE! WOE! WOE! *weeps inconsolably* Dammit. Now I'll have to make tomorrow epic. That's a lot of pressure. I don't know if I'm up to it. Also, I missed my quality Twitter time with @Rehvenge_BDB because I was napping. *cries harder*

1/10
Number of books I’ve read today: Just 1. =(
Total number of books I’ve read: 4
Today #insixwords:Where did my day go? Seriously.
Things I learned on Twitter: I still can't get enough of @Rehvenge_BDB. I've officially finished up season 4 of Buffy. Is it me or does the "I wear the cheese. The cheese does not wear me." line resonate with everyone? When I mentioned that I was on the last ep of season 4, several people messaged me back with that line. LOVE IT! As a random aside, my arm is killing me. OUCH! Ouch. ouch.

1/11
Number of books I’ve read today: umm... only 1.
Total number of books I’ve read: 5
Today #insixwords: Dude. What the hell happened today?
Things I learned on Twitter: Ha. I made this for Amanda. Because she rocks my socks off!

*huggles Amanda*

1/12
Number of books I’ve read today: Only 1
Total number of books I’ve read: 6
Today #insixwords:For the love of Pete? ONE?
Things I learned on Twitter: @Rehvenge_BDB still makes my heart go pitter patter. Amanda book bullies me as a way to show how much she cares. Alex P. and Joe M. look delicious in this picture. My beloved BDB RPG boys are finally letting John Matthew go through his transition. #LOTUNakedThursday is a beautiful thing. And finally, I made this for @SmashAttackAsh...

1/13
Number of books I’ve read today: 2
Total number of books I’ve read: 8
Today #insixwords: Sexy books are my guilty pleasure.
Things I learned on Twitter: A better question would be "What didn't I learn on Twitter today?" I wrote an epic poem to Amanda (called "Amanda the Cannibal". And, yes, it is as awesome as it sounds!), realized that the 109 books Amanda told me I could read this week might be a little out of reach (hey! Only 101 more to go!), had my pants stolen by Hannah during the chat (I'm still pondering the logistics of that, btw), and lied through my teeth about how I DON'T stalk @Rehvenge_BDB. I'm counting today in the #WIN column!

1/14
Number of books I’ve read today: 2!
Total number of books I’ve read: 10! I've hit my overall goal!
Today #insixwords: Today was a seriously lazy day.
Things I learned on Twitter: I've been oddly absent from Twitter today. I had my niece's soccer game to go to mid-day and then I came home and all of a sudden it's late. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN??? Yes, I did manage to get my reading in... speaking of which, Lover Awakened is my go-to random read during these read-a-thons. I think I've pulled it out for the past 2 and let myself get lost in Zsadist and Bella's world. Oh, Z. OH, Z! I want to make that poor guy cookies and give him a warm blanket to sleep on. *pets him* No, he won't ever take the place of favorite bad-ass, mohawked vamp, Rehvenge, but I so want that poor guy to be happy. *pets him some more*

1/15
Number of books I’ve read today: 1!
Total number of books I’ve read: 11!
Today #insixwords: I have no idea what happened.
Things I learned on Twitter: Another non-Twitter day. Mostly because I had some family-ish stuff to do. Like grocery shopping. If you can believe the gall of him, my kid likes to eat on a regular basis. WEIRD! However, I did manage to get caught up on the reviews from the books I read this last week. This excites me. Of course, I'm still a few reviews behind overall, but I'll take what I can get.

I can't thank Amanda enough for putting this all together and coordinating things between us co-hosts so that everything went off smoothly.

Thank you, Amanda!

Clock Rewinders (01/15/12)

2012-01-15T07:00:00.000-08:00

Quickie Review: Ignite (Cryptid Tales Bonus Story) by Brina Courtney - *sniffle* want more, please.
Teaser Tuesday -Vampires, shapeshifters and ghosts! Oh, my!
Tempting Tuesdays: Some Girls Bite Read-Along Chapters 5-8 - They have questions, I have answers.
Review: Covet (Vampire Erotic Theatre #1) by Felicity Heaton - Hello, sexy pants!
Review: Strange Neighbors (Strange Neighbors #1) by Ashlyn Chase - Not my usual type of book, but still enjoyable.
Review: Cursed (Touched Part 1) by S.A. Archer - Kick-ass heroine? Check! Kick-ass world? Double check!

Books, I have some:
Bought:

Hidden (Women of the Otherworld #10.4) by Kelley Armstrong (Hardcover) - It's so purty!
Dark Side of the Moon (Dark-Hunter #9) by Sherrilyn Kenyon (Paperback) - Dude, I love my library book sales! $1 for this beauty in hardcover. Yes, I already own it in paperback but I don't feel bad buying books a second time at that price.
Mark of the Demon (Kara Gillian #1) by Diana Rowland (Paperback) - Another library book sale find!
Demon Mistress (Otherworld/Sisters of the Moon #6) by Yasmine Galenorn (Paperback) - And another one!
Something Wicked (Living in Eden #2) by Michelle Rowan (Paperback) - And another one!

Freebies:

Zane's Way (O'Malley Wild #1) by Maggie Casper (Kindle)
Dream Stallion (Horsemen #1) by Kate Hill (Kindle) - Confession Time! I talked Jacinda @ The Reading Housewives of Indiana and Amanda (partner in crime and all around cool chick!) into picking up this book! Eeee! This is payback for the time they dared me to read the GIANT GREEN DILDO book. Plus, we're all dying to see how the horseman lovin' happens. Maybe that's just me.
The Perfect Dish by Kristen Painter (Kindle)
Protector (Underground Guardians #1) by Lisa Renee Jones (Kindle)
Wildflowers Come Back (Wildflowers Come Back #1) by Sarah Spann (Kindle)
Opal Fire (A Stacy Justice Mystery #1) by Barbra Annino (Kindle)
Tides of Love (Seaswept Seduction #1) by Tracy Sumner (Kindle)
Elle's Journey (The Foretold Trilogy #1) by Lizzy Ford (Kindle)

Won:

Serengeti Sins by Vivi Andrews (Paperback) - Won through Vivi Andrews' site!

Places I've been creeping around this week:

Tumblr - Still not safe for anyone. Seriously, people with heart conditions should not go near it. Nor should people who are easily offended. Or kittens. Or people who don't like classy black and white nudes where the nudes are doing naughty things to their partners. Have I issued enough warnings? DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE SERIOUS NAUGHTINESS OF THIS TUMBLR PAGE????
I've been a busy little bee with the Bout of Books Read-A-Thon. I hosted a challenge and read, read, read.

Random Randomness for you to cuddle close:

I don't know if any of you have ever been put in Twitter jail for over-tweeting but it's a terrible, terrible, dark, lonely, bleak place to be. Fortunately, I have some good Twitter friends who know how to get me past the horror of not being able to tweet... Paper Tweets!
This is so hilarious that I fell out of my chair laughing the first time I read it. Seriously. Snuggie Texts part 1 and Snuggie Texts part 2.
I got FANGED by @Rehvenge_BDB and I liked it.
My girl Chelsea of Vampire Book Club went to the Kresley Cole signing in her area and got to meet and take pictures with the cover model for Lothaire. Now, this guy just happens to have posed for the cover of Lover Avenged, which we should all know at this point is the book that stars my beloved @Rehvenge_BDB. So, I'm jealous. I'm very jealous. Very, very, very, very jealous. I still love Chelsea, though, because she's super awesome!
Another so-funny-I-almost-peed-my-pants-and-fell-out-of-my-chair moments. Jim C. Hines recreates various poses from covers of fantasy and UF books with hilarious results!
Somehow the topic of cannibals came up on Twitter the other day (probably not surprisingly, it was between me and @BookBender) and I told Amanda that I'd write an epic poem about how she's a cannibal. This was the result.

Until next week, you crazy readers!

Bout of Books 3.0 Guess the Tagline Challenge

2012-01-13T22:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Bout of Books 3.0 Guess the Tagline Challenge!

Is everybody reading like a superstar? Have you been kicking booty and taking names in the challenges? Are you having FUN doing it?!?!

Excellent!

Now it's my turn to offer up a challenge for all you dedicated bibliophiles...

It's simple: Match the tagline to the book it's been taken from. The taglines are from a mix of YA and Adult Urban Fantasies and Paranormal Romances.

When you're done here, be sure to pop on over to the Bout of Books blog to enter the daily giveaway.

Are you ready, kids? Good luck and Happy Reading!

ps: Remember to tell Amanda how awesome she is for putting this all together. *cheers wildly for her*

Review: Cursed (Touched Part 1) by S.A. Archer

2012-01-13T06:02:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

As a private investigator specializing in paranormal problems, London Eyer thought she could handle working for the Sidhe. They couldn’t be any worse than vampires or werewolves or wizards, could they? Oh, how wrong she was. One ‘Touch’ of Sidhe magic and she was cursed. Her only chance to survive is to serve the creep that cursed her against the vicious Changelings out for his blood.

My Thoughts: *sits up* Oh, now this one was fun. Fun with a capital F. Fun like the way I imagine people living amongst Vampires the Sidhe would have fun. Well, maybe not so much that last one. I mean, I don't think *I'd* want to be cursed the way London's been cursed. And I don't think I'd last long in her world. I'm wimpy like that. But, oh, did I enjoy reading about her.

London is a strong woman and this curse lays her low. Its physical repercussions are a blow to someone who prides herself on being in charge of a situation. As an added bonus, she's being forced to do something that she might not have done otherwise. I say 'might' because London is a complicated woman and she just might have taken the job anyway.

A fascinating world populated with intriguing and sometimes creepy creatures, London's problems are just beginning. I can't wait to see what happens next.

More books by S.A. Archer

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge
Cursed was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Strange Neighbors (Strange Neighbors #1) by Ashlyn Chase

2012-01-12T06:30:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

He's looking for peace, quiet, and a little romance...
There's never a dull moment when hunky all-star pitcher and shapeshifter Jason Falco invests in an old Boston brownstone apartment building full of supernatural creatures. But when Merry MacKenzie moves into the ground floor apartment, the playboy pitcher decides he might just be done playing the field...

A girl just wants to have fun...
Sexy Jason seems like the perfect fling, but newly independent nurse Merry's not sure she's ready to trust him with her heart...especially when the tabloids start trumpeting his playboy lifestyle.

Then pandemonium breaks loose and Merry and Jason will never get it together without a little help from the vampire who lives in the basement and the werewolf from upstairs...

My Thoughts: I have something to confess. Something dark. Something that stains my soul. I'm not a big fan of chick lit type books. You might be thinking, "Well, duh, Kelly. We've seen the type of books you read and, anyway, this isn't chick lit." Well.... no, this isn't chick lit. It's like paranormal cuteness. You know what I mean? It's funny. I don't always do well with funny. Is that weird? Don't answer that. Anyway. The point I'm trying to make is that this isn't my usual type of book. Yet... Yet, I liked it.

The book itself was a little light on the angst I tend to lean toward (there was some, don't get me wrong, but it didn't hit critical levels with me *sad face*) and I thought some of the things that happened were very convenient but I LIKED THE BOOK. I liked Jason. I like Merry. I liked the various residents of the apartment building. I wasn't so much impressed with the reporter chick, but ... well, whatever. You love some, you hate some, right?

Overall, while this type of book is still a little too light for my usual reading taste, I enjoyed dipping my toes into a different genre. What can I say? I like my books dark. Dark and bloody. Still, enjoyment was had. I'll take that as a win!

More books by Ashlyn Chase

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge, Why Buy the Cow? Challenge
Strange Neighbors was a free Kindle download I picked up 08/02/11.

Review: Covet (Vampire Erotic Theatre #1) by Felicity Heaton

2012-01-11T07:24:00.000-08:00

Synopsis (Goodreads):

They’ve burned for each other for two years, the forbidden attraction between them growing each night. Now resisting the sinful desires of their hearts is becoming impossible.

Javier knows better than to succumb to his hunger for Lilah. The mortal female belongs to a powerful aristocrat patron of Vampirerotique, the theatre he runs with three other vampires. A single touch is all it would take to break the sacred law of his kind, sentencing himself to death, but his passion for her has become too fierce to ignore and he will risk everything to make Lilah his.

Lilah has fought her desire for Javier since arriving at his theatre as a servant but each glance he has stolen, his eyes promising pleasure that will satisfy her longing for him, has chipped away at her defences and she can no longer deny her need and her forbidden feelings for the powerful vampire male.

When they find themselves alone in a private box during one of the erotic performances, will they surrender to their passion and live out their wildest fantasies in a night of wicked pleasure or will the threat of Lilah’s master keep them apart forever?

My Thoughts: Oh, hello, hot stuff. Whew. Can Felicity Heaton write the steamy or can Felicity Heaton write the steamy? *fans self* I will freely admit that this book hit all my forbidden love kinks. The strong, silent male who has an instant attraction to his female but has to deny it (for whatever reason) makes my heart go pitter-patter. In this case, Javier is bound by the laws of his kind to leave Lilah alone. To touch her would cause her terrible pain but things happen and the touching starts and ... it was perfect!

I really like this entire world. First off, it's sexy. Sex-ay. It's a Vampire Erotic Theatre, for Pete's sake. There's plenty of sexing to go around. Javier and Lilah have that aforementioned forbidden attraction thing going for them and being in a place where sex takes place very publicly gets their respective engines revving. THINGS HAPPEN! It's pretty awesome.

Fast paced and entirely too fun, Felicity Heaton's vampires are well-fleshed out and will leave you waiting impatiently for the next book in the series.

More books by Felicity Heaton

Reading challenges: Ebook Challenge
Covet was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.