Review Re-Cap October '09

I hope everyone has a Safe and Happy Halloween! I can't believe tomorrow is the first of November...where has this year gone?

I was very fortunate to read some really great books this month - below is a re-cap of my ratings. :)

5 Stars

An Echo in the Bone - Diana Gabaldon
Dream Fever - Karen Marie Moning
Deadly Desire - Keri Arthur

4 Stars
Oracle's Legacy : Children of Sun Vol I
Oracle's Legacy : Shadows of Fate Vol II
Covet - J R Ward

3 Stars
Magic Bites - Ilona Andrews
Syren - Angie Sage
Matters of the Blood - Maria Lima

5 stars - Loved It
4 Stars - Really Liked It
3 Stars - Liked It
2 Stars - Didn't Like It
1 Star - Hated It
DNF - Did Not Finish

M

New Book Covers & Promo

This is the cover and blurb for the 5th installment of the Morgan Kingsley series by Jenna Black. Due out March of 2010.

Book Blurb:

No one ever wants to serve in Hell...The Seven Deadlies, a demon club in Philadelphia, has always catered to the most attractive and desirable hosts. Recently, though, more and more of the lower dregs of society have been showing up with demons of their own - in alarming numbers.

Morgan is sure that Dougal is behind this, but isn't sure why. Is Dougal building an army to snatch the throne of the demons from Lugh? If there's one person who can get to the bottom of this, it's Morgan Kingsley, but caught between her mortal lover Brian and the demon she lusts for, Lugh, it's going to take everything she has to keep her head - and heart - in the game.

And I also saw this cover Ms. Black posted - she is another author jumping into the YA genre. Here is a sneak peak at her YA debut Glimmerglass - due out August of 2010. Blurb forthcoming.

M

Book Giveaway: The Untamed Bride

Book Blurb:

The first book in a brand-new series, The Black Cobra Quartet, from New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author Stephanie Laurens, The Untamed Bride is the story of a bold, beautiful woman with a scandalous past and a battle-hardened, sinfully wealthy, completely unstoppable man who must join forces to fight a deadly foe known only as the Black Cobra—and who must also confront the dangers of the heart . . .

Book Description

New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Laurens presents a brash, bold new series.

They're battle-hardened, sinfully wealthy, completely unstoppable—and all male: Four officers of the Crown, fighting against a deadly foe known only as the Black Cobra.

He is a man who has faced peril without flinching, determined to fight for king and country.

She is a bold, beautiful woman with a scandalous past, destined to become an untamed bride.

Together they must vanquish the ruthless enemy, while confronting the dangers of the heart . . .

Thanks to Katrina Alvarez at WiredSet dot com for providing two (2) copies of The Untamed Bride for this giveaway.

This giveaway is open to all residents of the US, UK and Canada and the books will be mailed directly from Ms. Alvarez.

To enter, just leave a comment and an email addy. I will pick the winners on Tuesday 11-03-09.

Good Luck!!

M

Review: Matters of the Blood

This is the first book in the Blood Lines series by Maria Lima.

Book Blurb:

Keira Kelly, half-breed descendant of a powerful paranormal family has chosen to live apart from her clan and among humans in the Texas Hill Country. When she experiences a prophetic vision that foretells the vicious murder of her human cousin, Marty Nelson, she vows to determine the truth.

Keira begins to uncover long-concealed secrets and risks alienating everyone she knows, from her former lover, Sheriff Carlton Larson, to the enigmatic Adam Walker, once a friendly acquaintance and now much more!

Matters of the Blood was slow going in the beginning.

Keira has the potential to be a great character - she is currently going through the Change and does not know what kind of powers she will possess once the Change is complete. Right now she has an affinity with the Dead and has used that for years to help her kind cross over.

About half way through the book - Matters of the Blood picked up its' pace and things really started moving. I was more engaged by this turn of events and really enjoyed the last half of the book.

Matters of the Blood is a Pocket Books Fantasy - but really it was just a whodunnit with paranormal elements.

I did enjoy this book enough to read the next book - Blood Bargain, which I have on the tbr shelf. :) And the covers are great - with the lightning in the background.

I give Matters of the Blood 3 out of 5 stars.

M

Blood Lines

1. Matters of the Blood (2005)
2. Blood Bargain (2008)
3. Blood Kin (2009)

Mailbox Monday

I did purchase a few books last week. :) But these are the two I received in the mail.

Book Blurb:

Loup Garron was born and raised in Santa Olivia, an isolated, disenfranchised town next to a US military base inside a DMZ buffer zone between Texas and Mexico. A fugitive "Wolf-Man" who had a love affair with a local woman, Loup's father was one of a group of men genetically-manipulated and used by the US government as a weapon. The "Wolf-Men" were engineered to have superhuman strength, speed, sensory capability, stamina, and a total lack of fear, and Loup, named for and sharing her father's wolf-like qualities, is marked as an outsider.

After her mother dies, Loup goes to live among the misfit orphans at the parish church, where they seethe from the injustices visited upon the locals by the soldiers. Eventually, the orphans find an outlet for their frustrations: They form a vigilante group to support Loup Garron who, costumed as their patron saint, Santa Olivia, uses her special abilities to avenge the town.

Aware that she could lose her freedom, and possibly her life, Loup is determined to fight to redress the wrongs her community has suffered. And like the reincarnation of their patron saint, she will bring hope to all of Santa Olivia.




Book Blurb:

Vampires

They hunt in every major city, hidden by the crowds, shielded by disbelief. They are Killers, and their prey is human.

Not all vampires are Killers. The Guardians of the Night sacrifice the superior physical and psychic strength that comes with feeding on humans to protect them. But the Guardians walk a thin line, for even a single kill could leave them helplessly addicted to murder.

Jules Gerard has vowed that he will never become a Killer. But when he discovers that the man who turned him into a vampire is dead and kicking in Baltimore, the allure of extra power is tempting.

Standing in his way is a human, spitfire Hannah Moore, who has followed him to Baltimore to help him confront his past. Hannah doesn't seem to realize how dangerous vampires can be--and despite his façade of disdain, Jules has a real soft spot for the petite P.I.

Jules is going to have to choose: vengeance or love? Damnation or redemption?

M

Books Purchased This Week. :)

Hubby has been on vacation this week, and he got a great deal of yard work done. :) However, Hubby is not one to sit still for very long and we only had so much yard work to do - he was finished by Tuesday. So we decided to do some Christmas shopping - and we really made a dent in the Christmas shopping. :) In our shopping excursions I came across two or three book stores (insert snort) and I just could not pass by a perfectly good book store. :) Here are my findings. :)




Book Blurb:

Public alliances secret lovers.

Once upon a time yet to come, creatures of myth and fairy tale gained entry to the human realm and were expelled with extreme prejudice. Banished Underground, they carved out two kingdoms: the Lightworld of the Fae and their kin, and the Darkworld of demons, werewolves and their ilk. But the boundaries between these Worlds and the Upworld are about to be redrawn...in blood.

At a Lightworld royal gala, Queene Ayla announces the betrothal of her daughter, Cerridwen, to a high-ranking councilor. Though strategically brilliant, the engagement comes as a shock to Cerridwen especially. Infuriated by her mother s high-handedness, ignorant of her own true origins, she flees the court leaving herself vulnerable to those who would see the Lightworld destroyed. Amid burgeoning unrest, desperate desires become divided loyalties and terrifying mercenaries lurk in the shadowy space between rebellion and anarchy.





Book Blurb:

Eight brothers, born in four sets of twins, two years apart to the day - they fulfill the Curse of Eight Prophecy. Though no longer trapped in exile, their growing family faces new problems. Now that it's his turn to look for a bride, Koranen, the seventh-born brother, cursed with a flame that courses beneath his flesh, must find a woman able to endure the literal heat of his passion. Then Danau the Aquamancer arrives, and as everyone knows, fire and water create steam.










Book Blurb:

Gloriana St. Claire - curvy, stylish, and undead - is spending New Year's Eve alone. And it's all because her boyfriend, Jeremy Blade, is traipsing off to parts unknown to rescue his supposed daughter from the clutches of 'dangerous radicals.' But just as Glory settles in for the evening, a phone call from the bodyguard of a drunk, newly-undead rock star could end her year on a crazy note.











Book Blurb:

Fern communicates with her dog, blisters from just moments in the sun, and has correctly predicted the daily weather for more than two years. Even so, she's always seemed to be a normal twelve-year-old girl . . . until one day when Fern closes her eyes in class and opens them seconds later on a sandy beach miles away from school. When Fern disappears again, this time to a place far more dangerous, she begins to realize exactly how different she is.

With the help of her twin brother, Sam, Fern struggles to gain control of her supernatural powers. The arrival of a sinister vampire in town - who seems to have an alarming interest in Fern's powers - causes Fern to question her true identity. Who is she? More importantly, who can she count on? Soon Fern finds herself in the middle of a centuries-old battle - one that could destroy Fern and endanger everyone she loves.




Book Blurb:

Imagine a secret world veiled in fairy glamour and brimming with unearthly delights. A city swarming with half-mad fairies, where thieving spriggans rob you blind, beautiful banshees mesmerize you with their song, and big green trolls bust heads at nightclubs. And once you’re in, there’s no escape…

Enslaved by a demon lord, Jade is forced to spend her nights seducing vampire gangsters and shapeshifting thugs. After two hundred years as a succubus, she burns for freedom and longs to escape her brutal life as a trophy girl for hell’s minions. Then she meets Rajah, an incubus who touches her heart and intoxicates her senses. Rajah shares the same bleak fate as she, and yearns just as desperately for freedom. But the only way for Jade to break her bonds is to betray Rajah—and doom the only man she’s ever loved to a lifetime in hell.

I'm a happy camper. :)

M

Review: Syren

This is the 5th book in the Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage.

Book Blurb:

In this fifth book in the Magykal series, Septimus ends up on a captivatingly beautiful island, one of seven set in a sparkling sea. He's stranded there with his badly injured dragon, Spit Fyre, along with Jenna and Beetle. There are some strange things about the island, including a Magykal girl named Syrah, a cat-shaped lighthouse that has lost its Light, and an eerie presence that sings to Septimus - can he escape the persistent call?

Trouble is also brewing for Lucy and Wolf Boy, who have become entangled with some nefarious sailors at sea, and for Milo Banda, Jenna's father, who is harboring a mysterious treasure chest in his ship's hold.

Charismatic storyteller Angie Sage continues Septimus Heap's Magykal journey with more laugh-out-loud adventures, more enchanting charms and spells, and an ever-deepening understanding of the interior life of a young hero.

This book was submitted for review and I retain the book. :)

Syren is a very cute read. I enjoyed this book and the world Ms. Sage has created. :)

I find the world of Septimus Heap to be a cross between Eragon and Harry Potter - and that is a wonderful world indeed. :) Septimus has progressed in his apprenticeship and he now has more freedom - and that freedom allows him to get into precarious situations - and eventually find his way out of those situations with the help of his friends.

If you are a longtime Septimus fan - then Syren is a must have. If you are new to the series - then it is best to start with the first book and work your way through to Syren.

I give Syren 3 out of 5 stars. :)

M

Septimus Heap
1. Magyk (2005)
2. Flyte (2006)
3. Physik (2007)
4. Queste (2008)
5. Syren (2009)
Septimus Heap Box Set (omnibus) (2007)
The Magykal Papers (2009)
Septimus Heap 1-4 (omnibus) (2009)

Link for Cnn interview with Charlaine Harris.

I came across mention of this interview via Myspace and had to stop and take a look. :) Charlaine Harris is talking about her Sookie books and the HBO hit show True Blood.

I just have to say that Ms. Harris is the cutest lady. :)

Hope you enjoy the interview as much as I did.

M

http://www.cnn.com/video/?JSONLINK=/video/showbiz/2009/10/20/dcl.charlaine.harris.intv.cnn

Contest Winners!!

Thank you all for stopping by and participating in this book giveaway and thanks to Harlequin for providing the copies of Branded by the Sheriff. :)

For those of you not familiar with the way I pick my winners, here is a recap. First I list all the names on Random.org and then I use list randomizer to shuffle the names three or four times. Second I use number randomizer to pick the winning number - or in the case three numbers.

There were 13 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1. Sharon
2. Stacy Stew
3. I Heart Book Gossip
4. Mindy
5. edmontonjb
6. Carlos Antunes
7. Blodeuedd
8. Milka
9. donnaS
10. booklover0226
11. Stacybuckeye
12. Martha Lawson
13. Teresa

Timestamp: 2009-10-21 10:50:15 UTC

And the winners are numbers: 2,9 and 10

Stacy Stew - DonnaS - and Booklover0226

Please send my your snail mail addy to kweenmg at yahoo dot com. Happy Reading!!!

M

Review: Deadly Desire

This is the 7th book in the Riley Jenson series by Keri Arthur.

Book Blurb:

Guardian Riley Jenson always seems to face the worst villains. And this time's no different. For it's no ordinary sorceress who can raise the dead to do her killing. But that's exactly what Riley expects to find at the end of a trail of female corpses used - and discarded - in a bizarre ritual of evil. With pressure mounting to catch the fiend, the last thing Riley needs is the heat of the upcoming full moon bringing her werewolf hormones to a boil - or the reappearance of a sexy bounty hunter, the rogue wolf Kye Murphy.

Riley has threatened Murphy with arrest if he doesn't back off the investigation, but it's Riley who feels handcuffed by Kye's lupine charm. Torn between her vamp and wolf natures, between her love for Quinn and her attraction to Kye, Riley knows she's courting danger and indulging the deadliest desires. For her hunt through the supernatural underworld will bring her face-to-face with what lurks in a darkness where even monsters fear to tread.

I loved this book. :)

Riley can't catch a break - work is crazy and with the full moon just days away her hormones are crazy as well. :) As always Riley has plenty of guys willing to relieve her moon fever - but Riley is trying to behave and rely on Quinn to meet all her needs.

And believe it or not - Quinn is mellowing a little. Her realizes that Riley is a wolf and certain things are just part of the wolf package - but I don't think Quinn really understands the limits Riley has placed on herself to keep him happy.

The case Riley is working on brings her face to face with Kye - who is working the same case for a friend - and sparks fly. Riley and Kye ignore those sparks - but where there are sparks - there is fire - and both are on the brink of being consumed.

I give Deadly Desire 5 out of 5 stars and I can't wait for the next installment. :)

M

Riley Jenson Guardian
1. Full Moon Rising (2006)
2. Kissing Sin (2007)
3. Tempting Evil (2007)
4. Dangerous Games (2007)
5. Embraced By Darkness (2007)
6. The Darkest Kiss (2008)
7. Deadly Desire (2009)
8. Bound to Shadows (2009)
9. Moon Sworn (2010)

Mailbox Monday

Here are a couple of the books I received from paperbackswap. :)




Book Blurb:

When the last available bachelor on World's End island marries someone else, working mom Regina Barrone realizes that the love she yearns for isn't just going to appear by magic... Dylan Hunter has returned to land for his brother's wedding, but he is troubled. Years ago, he chose his life as a selkie - an immortal being of the sea - over the fragile and treacherous emotions of humanity...

But Neither Regina nor Dylan foresee the future, where only love can save them - and the world.












Book Blurb:

It's been a hell of a day for Abby Barlow. In just a few hours, she's survived an explosion, watched her employer die, had a startling dream, and now she finds herself in a seedy Chicago hotel with the sexy, unearthly Dante, a man she both desires and fears.

For 341 years, Dante has stood as guardian to The Chalice, a mortal woman chosen to hold back the darkness. A terrible twist of fate has now made Abby that woman. Three hours ago, Dante would have used all his charms to seduce her. Now she is his to protect. And he will do so until his very death. A terrifying plan has been set in motion, one that will plunge Dante and Abby into an epic battle between good and evil - and a desperate race to save their love...

I'm looking forward to these. :)

M

Author Interview: Sasha Soren

Author Sasha Soren is embarking upon a blog tour for her new book Random Magic. I am pleased to kick off this blog tour with an interview.

Sasha Soren is a freelance writer/​producer, screenwriter, copywriter and lyricist. Her work has been featured in Time Out (UK), Gene Simmons Tongue, SEED magazine and on CNNfn broadcast television. She's also lead lyricist for French indie group "Hex".

Hello Sasha and welcome. This must be an exciting and busy time for you and I appreciate you taking the time to answer a few questions for me.

1. How long have you been writing and what inspired you to begin?

Have been writing all my life. Have always read voraciously, as well, so that probably had a lot to do with it. It just seemed like a natural progression.

2. What inspired or influenced Random Magic?

Well, let’s pretend you’re reading a book you just love, you forget all about the time, might have to go to work in the morning, but don’t really care.

Or you’re reading a book somewhere, and just laugh out loud. Or find yourself crying. Or just totally forget about the world around you. You’re lost in a good book.

It’s just like jumping into another world. A fictional world. But when you’re crying about something in a book – you’re still crying real tears. Or when you laugh out loud about something, same thing.

Reading is an immersive experience, but more like it’s going on some kind of actual journey, like you’re actually in the book when you read it.

Also like to travel, so have always thought that it’d be fantastic if you could just go to some kind of celestial library and pick out any book from history, and just sort of…pop into it, and enjoy a little road trip to some strange place.

So, that was the initial spark that unwound into a whole story. Was thinking about it one day, and thinking, well, which book would be the most fun for a road trip?

Thought that Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland would be a lot of fun, but wasn’t keen on just writing about some character in her world, it didn’t seem that challenging.

Then thought, well, what if she was lost outside her book, in Victorian London? That might be interesting…but then really just felt like it wouldn’t be as much fun to write something set in our “real world,” because it might be limiting.

Finally thought, okay, what if someone loses her in another book, which turns out to be a crazy, colorful, magical world?

And then what if someone from our world has to go get her back, or all the books about Alice ever printed would just start vanishing, because, logically, if there’s no Alice in Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland, then the story would slowly start unraveling, because the essential ingredient would be missing.

How would that affect our world? If chaos theory kicked in, there’d be real trouble. So, someone has to go get her.

And what if this someone had absolutely no idea how to survive in a much rougher, unpredictable, and magical world?

Hey, that might be fun…

That’s what started it off, then just kept going.

It was just really interesting, and also just wanted to see what happened next. Half the time (like Winnie and Henry themselves), didn’t even really have a map or a plan, just grit, and would just go on ahead.

The fortuitous thing is that eventually, the characters took over, and as long as I kept an eye out for where they were headed, the next guidepost on the road would just show up.

It sounds a little bit like hocus pocus, but that’s what happened.

3. Tell us a little about the characters in Random Magic, particularly Winnie and Henry.

Henry, who’s technically aristocracy, even though he’s young at the time of the story, has had a really privileged upbringing. His environment is safe, predictable, and a bit dull.

He really hasn’t had to fight for much at all. He’s lazy in school because his future has already been decided for him; he’ll inherit Witherspoon Castle, a title, a secure position in society and a great deal of money.

He’s basically good-natured and likeable, helpful and easygoing, but he’s never had any conflict or trauma in his life, and never been forced to think on his feet or fight for his piece of bread.

Then he lands in Winnie’s world, which is serious trouble. Luckily, he also meets Winnie.

Winnie has lived a life completely different from Henry’s insulated experiences.

She was abandoned at birth, and had to survive in harsh circumstances, with no one to help her.

So, she’s necessarily much quicker, in every way. She thinks faster. She moves faster. She acts more quickly, she reacts more quickly.

She’s blunt to the point of rudeness. Her morals are ambiguous, and she’ll use violence to defend herself or anything (or anyone) she cares about.

She’s resourceful, cunning and brave, and solves problems logically and quickly. But if smarts aren’t sufficient and violence can’t be avoided, she uses her fists.

For Winnie, every element of her character developed that way out of sheer necessity. If she wasn’t as resilient, tough and wary as she is, she wouldn’t have survived. It’s as simple and brutal as that.

Of course, when they meet, it’s a bit like, as Baron Samedi observes later in the book, a lamb meeting a hawk.

But each of them has something to learn from the other…

4. Are you a full time writer and what is the hardest part of writing for you?

Full-time writer, yes. Full-time working writer, not always.

And there’s the hardest part of writing, right there.

The actual writing is never the hard part. The hard part is finding enough gigs to make enough dosh to buy the time needed to write longer works, like Random Magic.

Writers need time to think, time to research, time to write out their stories, time to edit, and time to proof, then rewrite if necessary.

That’s a lot of time!

Unless you’re independently wealthy -- hey, that’d be nice -- then you really do have to compromise, fight, make do, think creatively, be resourceful, able to live on a thin dime when necessary, and just be bloody-minded, generally.

If you’re writing all the time but not working, then you starve.

But if you’re working all the time, then you’re not writing. You have to find a balance that works, and keeps on working.

So, you might work for a stretch of time, then try to steal a stretch of time for yourself where you can just write.

Also, you have to make that your priority, because you end up making a lot of other sacrifices, some very major ones, along the way.

Can you do it, though, yes, of course. If you have a strong will and keep going where other people would give up, you can do anything. (That’s something that Henry learns from Winnie’s actions -- and of course she’s right.)

You have to really have grit and passion and belief in a particular project, though, or you won’t make it. It’s just that hard.

5. Random Magic is your first published novel. Can you tell us a little about you experience with having a novel published.

It was a hell of a lot of work, a lot of sacrifices, agita, drama, anguish, vexation, blood, sweat and tears.

And would do it all again.

6. What are you currently working on?

A nap!Again, I would like to thank Sasha for stopping by. If you are interested in Random Magic - you can find it on Amazon.

You can find my review of Random Magic here:

http://michellesramblins.blogspot.com/2009/08/review-random-magic.html

Here is the full blog tour list. Stop by and find out what other readers think of Random Magic - you may find a new blog to follow. :)

M

3/Oct. 18
Aimee
My Fluttering Heart
http://myflutteringheart.blogspot.com/
tw: http://twitter.com/aimeefluttering
tour bio

4/Oct. 20
Allison
Well-Read Reviews
http://www.wellreadreviews.com
tw: http://twitter.com/wellreadreviews
tour bio
review
author interview
other book mentions: friday firsts meme
other book mentions: sunday salon meme
other book mentions: J.Kaye comments

5/Oct. 22
Casey
A Passion For Books
http://casey62588.blogspot.com/
tw: http://twitter.com/casey625
tour bio (to be added)

6/Oct. 24
Kim
And Anything Bookish
http://andanythingbookish.blogspot.com/
tw: http://twitter.com/sunxxmoon
tour bio (to be added)

6b/Oct. 25
Kate
The Neverending Shelf
http://neverendingshelf.blogspot.com/2009/09/random-magic-tour.html
Alt: The Other Shelf (Tour site)
tw: http://twitter.com/neshelf
tour bio (to be added)

7/Oct. 26
Trisha Lynn
Trisha’s Book Blog
http://trishasbookshelf.blogspot.com
tw: http://twitter.com/trishalynn0708
tour bio

7b/Oct. 27
Becky
The Bookette
http://thebookette.blogspot.com
tw: (not on Twitter)
tour bio (to be added)

8/Oct. 28
Brande
Book Junkie
http://myfoolishwisdom.blogspot.com
tw: (not on Twitter)
tour bio
review
author interview
Brande's alter ego: Winnie

9/Oct. 29
Jenny
Take Me Away
http://takemeaway-jennala9.blogspot.com/
tw: https://twitter.com/JennyTakeMeAway
(Related: Doing Alice in Wonderland challenge, Sept.1, 2009 - Aug. 31, 2010)
tour bio (to be added)

10/Oct. 30
Elnice
Ellz Readz
http://ellzreadz.blogspot.com/
tw: (not on Twitter)
tour bio

11/Oct. 31 (Halloween)
Mariah
A Reader’s Adventure
http://mariah-readingadventure.blogspot.com/
tw: (not on Twitter)
tour bio (to be added)

12/Nov. 2
Cat
Beyond Books
http://beyondbooks.ca/
tw: http://twitter.com/beyondelsewhere
tour bio

13/Nov. 3
Jill
The O.W.L. Blog
http://owlforya.blogspot.com/
tw: (not on Twitter)
tour bio

14/Nov. 4
Juju
Tales of Whimsy
http://talesofwhimsy.blogspot.com
tw: (not on Twitter)
tour bio

14b/Nov.9
Charity Lynn
Keep On Booking
http://keeponbooking.blogspot.com
tw: http://twitter.com/CharityGamble
tour bio

15/Nov. 10
Alaine
Queen of Happy Endings
http://alainereading.blogspot.com
tw: http://twitter.com/madscrapper
tour bio (to be added)

16/Nov. 11
Tina
Tina’s Book Reviews
http://willowdustreviews.blogspot.com/
(alt: http://blogwithbitereviews.blogspot.com/)
tw:
tour bio

17/Nov. 12
McKenzie
The Book Owl
http://thebookowl.blogspot.com/
tw: (not on Twitter)
tour bio (to be added)

18/Nov. 13
Willow Raven
Red House Books
http://redhousebooks.blogspot.com/
tw: (not on Twitter)
tour bio (to be added)

19/Nov. 15
Emily
What Book Is That?
http://whatbookisthat.blogspot.com/
tw: http://twitter.com/heynocupcake
tour bio (to be added)

20/Nov. 17
Jenn
Fallling Off The Shelf
http://fallingofftheshelf.blogspot.com/
tw: (not on Twitter)
tour bio (to be added)

21/Nov. 18
Nicole
Books!
http://my-book-views.blogspot.com/
tw: (not on Twitter)
tour bio

22/Nov. 20
Bianca
Wicked Good Reads
http://wickedgoodbooks.blogspot.com
tw: (not on Twitter)
tour bio
Bianca's alter ego: Nevermore

23/Nov. 21
Michelle
The True Book Addict
http://thetruebookaddict.blogspot.com/
tw: http://twitter.com/truebookaddict
tour bio

24/Nov. 23
Andrea
The Little Bookworm
http://thelilbookworm.blogspot.com
tw: http://twitter.com/lilbookworm
tour bio

24b/Nov.24
Elizabeth (Miss Eliza)
Strange & Random Happenstance
http://strange-and-random-happenstance.blogspot.com
tw: (not on Twitter)
tour bio

25/Nov. 25
Eleni
La Femme Readers
http://lafemmereaders.blogspot.com
tw: http://twitter.com/lafemmereaders
tour bio
vlogs (books)
review
author interview
reader notes: trivia
reader notes: book themes

Review: Covet

This is the first book in the Fallen Angels series by JR Ward.

Book Blurb:

Redemption isn't a word Jim Heron knows much about--his specialty is revenge, and to him, sin is all relative. But everything changes when he becomes a fallen angel and is charged with saving the souls of seven people from the seven deadly sins. And failure is not an option.

Vin diPietro long ago sold his soul to his business, and he's good with that--until fate intervenes in the form of a tough-talking, Harley-riding, self-professed savior. But then he meets a woman who will make him question his destiny, his sanity, and his heart--and he has to work with a fallen angel to win her over and redeem his own soul.

This book was pretty good. :)

I feel like I was not fair to this book - I was comparing it to the BDB the whole time - and it was falling short.

Now that I have finished the book and taken time to evaluate it on its' own merits - the book was good. I like the concept and I love the character of Jim Heron.

I love the writing style of J R Ward and her ability to weave a wonderful story and create memorable characters - and she did this with Covet.

I'm looking forward to the next installment in this new series - but I'm also hoping that this is not an end to the BDB.

I give Covet 4 out of 5 stars. :)

M

Another Book Giveaway!!

Courtesy of the kind folks at Harlequin I have three (3) copies of Branded by the Sheriff up for grabs. :)

Book Blurb:

Years ago, Sheriff Beck Tanner had believed the worst about Faith Matthews. Now she was back in their small Texas town, forcing him to question everything he thought he knew about her. And when the killer who'd murdered her family set his sights on Faith - and her innocent baby girl - Beck's protective instincts kicked into high gear.

As dangerous pranks turned into deadly games, Beck needed Faith to trust him with the secrets of her past. And with a sadistic killer circling closer, all of Beck's attention had to be on keeping her baby safe.and ignoring his inconvenient attraction to the beautiful mother..

As always, giveaway is open to all followers. Just leave a comment and an email addy.

Good Luck!

Winners will be chosen Wednesday 10-21-09.

M

Review: Magic Bites

This is the first book in the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews.

Book Blurb:

Atlanta would be a nice place to live, if it weren’t for magic…

One moment magic dominates, and cars stall and guns fail. The next, technology takes over and the defensive spells no longer protect your house from monsters. Here skyscrapers topple under the onslaught of magic; werebears and werehyenas prowl through the ruined streets; and the Masters of the Dead, necromancers driven by their thirst of knowledge and wealth, pilot blood-crazed vampires with their minds.

In this world lives Kate Daniels. Kate likes her sword a little too much and has a hard time controlling her mouth. The magic in her blood makes her a target, and she spent most of her life hiding in plain sight.

But when Kate’s guardian is murdered, she must choose to do nothing and remain safe or to pursue his preternatural killer. Hiding is easy, but the right choice is rarely easy…

This was a pretty good read. :)

I enjoy the Kate Daniels character - she is tough and no - nonsense and has a smart mouth and most times - a crappy attitude. LOL

Magic Bites has plenty of action and I enjoy that - but it moves slow. I don't know why - but it took me 2 days to read this 260 page book.

I like the whole idea of magic overwhelming the city - coming on and off line at the drop of a hat. This is a very cool world the authors have created and I am interested in finding out more about Kate and this world she lives in. :)

I give Magic Bites 3 out of 5 stars. :)

M

Kate Daniels

1. Magic Bites (2007)
2. Magic Burns (2008)
3. Magic Strikes (2009)

Mailbox Monday

This week I received four books from PBS - but I will only share these two because the other two are for my son - something about a big burrito and a toasted time traveler. LOL





Book Blurb:

The legends of the Godstruck were just that -- legends.

Until, in an attempt to defend her people, Captain Kallista Varyl called on the One for aid and was granted abilities such as no one had seen in centuries.

Now Kallista has been charged with a new destiny as one of the most powerful women in the land -- but her power is useless if it cannot be controlled.

Mastering her "Godstruck" abilities is the first step. The next, learning that she cannot unlock the secrets of the Compass Rose and defeat her nation's enemy alone. And finally she must stop a demon-possessed king . . .










Book Blurb:

Born into hardship, Dar learns to rely on herself alone. When her family betrays her, Dar is conscripted into King Kregant's army and its brutal campaign to conquer a neighboring country. Now she is bound as a slave to a dreaded regiment of orcs, creatures legendary for their savagery and battle prowess.


Rather than cower, Dar rises to the challenge. She learns the unique culture and language of the orcs, survives treachery from both allies and enemies, and struggles to understand a mystical gift that brings her dark, prophetic visions. As the war escalates - amid nightmarish combat and shattering loss - Dar must seize a single chance at freedom.

I am looking forward to both of these. :)

Have a wonderful day and Happy Reading.

M

Review: Oracle's Legacy Volume I & II

This is the first and second installments of the Oracle's Legacy series by R. B. Holbrook.

Oracle's Legacy: Children of Sun Volume I

The Structure is a secret civilization made up of Seven Houses that seek enlightenment by attempting to understand the nature of energy.

The foundation of the Houses is collapsing and the seeds of infighting are beginning. Soon, without their notice, the people of the Houses begin losing their special powers.

The Oracle, the leader of the Structure, hates to see what has become of her people, but she's dying and can do little to help them. Now, as the Structure begins tipping deeper into darkness, a new leader is needed to prevent conflict among the houses from escalating into an all-out war.

Ollie could be the key to finding the next leader, but she has her family to think of and a life to live. Getting involved in a violent conflict is the last thing she wants to do, and so she must remain unnoticed.

As power hungry factions hunt for Ollie, however, she has no choice but to get involved. She'll do whatever's necessary to protect her loved ones.


Oracle's Legacy: Shadows of Fate Volume II

Starting where Children of Sun concludes, Shadows of Fate opens with the Oracle Bethea smoking shaman, sitting wrapped in her blanket. She’s being held prisoner in a penthouse on the top of an office building in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, by the Head of Flame Arthur Clifton.

Contemplating the future of the Structure, she learns that her ability to see into the future is slowly fading, but not all her powers are dwindling. Bethea can still hear her husband calling to her in her mind, wanting to know where she is and what she is up to, but she shuts him out. Instead, her mind goes to thoughts of her daughter, Ollie who was changed by death. Soon she gets another visit and this time from someone who she can’t shut out.

The second book in this series was submitted for review - and because I had not read the first book, the author was kind enough to send me both volume I and volume II. I retain both copies. :)

R. B. Holbrook is an author I had not heard of before reading Oracle's Legacy Children of Sun and Oracle's Legacy Shadows of Fate - which are her first and second books in the Oracle's Legacy trilogy. The third installment, Dawn of Illumination Volume III has a projected release date of January 2010.

These books are mind boggling. The world Ms. Holbrook has created is unique and the powers that reside in the people who populate this world are fascinating. We have healers, killers, possessors, mind benders, flame throwers, seers, shadow dwellers...the list is long and varied.

I was immediately drawn into Volume I - the characters leapt from the page and grabbed me right from the beginning. From the moment I met Ollie I was invested in her character and eager to know what was going to happen next. As soon as I finished Volume I - I grabbed Volume II.

Volume II - Oracle's Legacy Shadows of Fate picks up with no break in the story. The Structure is failing and all the Houses are scrambling. Some want to embrace a new Oracle, others are killing off perceived threats to the Structure. Ollie's family is caught in the middle and trying to protect their own.

With new allies emerging Ollie's family has to decide who to trust, who to leave behind and how each one of them fits into the future of the Structure.

This series is labeled an imaginative science fiction - but I see some urban fantasy in here as well. The world of the Structure resides alongside that of the humans and the humans have no idea of its existence.

These books are fast paced, action packed and kept me on the edge of my seat. They are very in-depth and richly detailed.

I really enjoyed both books and I can't wait for the third installment. I am eager to find out how this is going to end and just what happens to Ollie's family.

I give both Oracle's Legacy Children of Sun and Shadows of Fate 4 out of 5 stars. :)

M

Oracle's Legacy Children of Sun is available now.
Oracle's Legacy Shadows of Fate will be released on October 26, 2009.
Pre-orders are available on the author's website : www.rbholbrook.com

The Publisher - Lulu - offers a free download in e-book format of the first book, Oracle's Legacy Children of Sun. The website is : www.Lulu.com

I found the free download by searching for the author R. B. Holbrook in the search bar under books.