February RAK WrapUp

Random Acts of Kindness is brought to us by the ladies of Book Soulmates.  How big is your RAK?   


For the month of February I sent out the following:


To Sullivan McPig: Archangel's Blade - Nalini Singh


To Danielle:  A box of books - though none of them were on her wishlist - she seemed excited to read them.  :)

For the month of February I received:

From Danielle: Everdark - Elle Jasper

I also had a book pre-ordered for me by Sullivan McPig - but it hasn't arrived yet, so I will include it in next months RAK.  :) 

  

February Review Recap

February has come and gone - even giving us an extra day - Happy Leap Year!  I always wondered if one of my children had been born on the 29th - would I have given them the birthday of the 28th or March 1st?


I had a pretty good reading month for February - here's a recap of the reviews I posted:


5 Stars
Pure - Julianna Baggott
Lothaire - Kresley Cole
Courting Darkness - Yasmine Galenorn
Vampire's Kiss - Veronica Wolff **current giveaway** 


4 Stars
Undone Deeds - Mark Del Franco
The Night Is Mine - M L Buchman
Unbroken - Rachel Caine
King of Darkness - Elisabeth Staab
Stud - Cheryl Brooks
A Brush of Darkness - Allison Pang


2 Stars
Deliver Me From Darkness - Tes Hilaire
Germline - T C McCarthy
Darkness Descending - Devynn Quinn


   

WoW: Nightborn by Lynn Viehl

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly post started by Breaking the Spine to showcase books we are patiently awaiting.

My WoW for the week:

Book Blurb:

The High Lord of the Immortal Darkyn has sent his most trusted warrior, Korvel, to retrieve a coveted scroll that's rumored to contain maps to Templar treasures and the secrets to eternal life. Uniting with Korvel to recover the dangerous artifact is Simone Derien, the daughter of the scroll's guardian, and a woman with many deadly secrets...

Product Details

Reading level: Ages 18 and up

Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages

Publisher: Signet Select (March 6, 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0451413210

ISBN-13: 978-0451413215

Review: Darkness Descending by Devyn Quinn

Darkness Descending is the first book in the Vampire Armageddon series by Devyn Quinn and a Paranormal Romance from Signet Eclipse.


Book Blurb:


The first seal has been broken, signaling the end of days. Fallen angels in the form of vampires are infecting humans one by one, creating an army fit for armageddon. Of the few who survive the infection, one stands alone above all others...


For a year, Jesse Burke has been suppressing the beast within, driven by vengeance to destroy the vampiric fallen angels terrorizing New Orleans.  But a war of biblical proportions is too much for one girl to handle, and she must turn to slayer Maddox deValois for training, though doing do threatens her fiercely guarded independence.


At the same time, the sinister demon Queen Amonate is doing everything in her power to lure Jesse into embracing the darkness within.


Before this war is over, everyone will learn that hee hath no fury like a woman possessed...


My thoughts:


Jesse Burke and her twin sister were out celebrating their birthday when the unthinkable happened.  They were seduced by a pair of vampires, taken and bitten.  Found and transported to the hospital, Amanda soon died of the vampire infection - but Jesse survived.  Not turned - but housing the invading demon.


Now Jesse shares her body with the demon - and fights every day to maintain control over it.


Determined to find and destroy as many vampires as possible, Jesse teams up with Maddox.  He is one of three Palindrome’s fighting the Telave in New Orleans.


Maddox agrees to teach Jesse how to fight, how to kill the Telave.  But Maddox is fighting his own demons - and losing.


Darkness Descending is the first book I have read by Devyn Quinn and it is an okay read.


I never connected with any of the characters and felt like the story was a bit disjointed and then wrapped up the big bad too easily.


I give Darkness Descending 2 out of 5 stars.


Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Signet (August 2, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451234332
ISBN-13: 978-0451234339 

YA Giveaway: Isle of Night & Vampire's Kiss by Veronica Wolff

Thanks to Penguin I have the first two books in The Watchers series by Veronica Wolff up for grabs for one lucky winner with a US mailing address.


Book One: Isle of Night

IS LIFE OFFERING FEWER AND FEWER OPTIONS? THEN JOIN THE DEAD.


When Annelise left for college, it meant good riddance to her abusive father and stepmother—until a bureaucratic screw-up left her without a diploma, flat broke, and facing an uncertain future Then she met Ronan—tall, dark, and way too seductive for her own good. He promised Annelise a new life, if she had the courage to chance the unknown. One look at him and she certainly had the desire. Sure enough, accepting rides from strangers does yield surprises.


Whisked away to a mysterious island in the North Sea, Annelise is pitted against other female recruits in tests of skill, smarts, and strength. To win is to become a member of the Watchers, an elite and unique partnership—with vampires—that dispatches its teams on the most dangerous missions imaginable. It’s not exactly what Annelise had in mind for a new beginning but it’s livelier than the alternative. Because on the Isle of Night, to lose the challenge doesn’t just mean dishonor. It means death.


Let the games begin.


My review of Isle of Night

Book Two: Vampire's Kiss

IF YOU’RE GOING TO BE PARTNERED WITH A VAMPIRE, YOU HAVE TO WORK THE NIGHT SHIFT.

By her wits, blood, and sacrifice, so far Drew has survived the intensive training on the Isle of Night. As a second-year Acari, her ultimate goal is to become a Watcher, and now she has a shot at her first mission. Except nothing is as it seems. The vampire Alcántara is as sinister as he is sexy, Ronan is more distant than ever, and it turns out there are other vampires out there. Bad ones.


Ancient, bloodthirsty, and powerful, these undead are really old school. They’ve captured one of the Watcher vamps and are torturing him for information. The only chance to save him is to infiltrate a major summit the baddies are holding on their own island. There will be mortals there, serving as butlers, maids, and various hired help. Drew had better brush up on her skills as a serving girl, because she’s about to go undercover…


But, when their vampire prisoner turns out to be a gorgeous bad boy, Drew’s first mission quickly turns into more than she bargained for…


My review of Vampire's Kiss


This contest is open to all followers of this blog with a US mailing address - just leave a comment and you are entered.


Using Random dot Org, winner will be chosen and announced on 3-2-12.


Good Luck!

In My Mailbox: 02-25-12

In My Mailbox is a feature that was started over at The Story Siren. Each week we share what we bought, borrowed from the library or received in the mail.


Here is what I received this past week:    

For Review:

Black Dawn - Rachel Caine

Thanks to Penguin

The Danger that is Damion - Lisa Renee Jones

Where There's Smoke - Karen Kelley

Kiss of the Goblin Prince - Shona Husk

Thanks to SourceBooks

From PaperBack Swap:

Autumn: Disintegration - David Moody

Early Review: Vampire's Kiss by Veronica Wolff

Vampire’s Kiss is the second book in The Watchers series by Veronica Wolff and a YA Paranormal from NAL.


Book Blurb:


IF YOU’RE GOING TO BE PARTNERED WITH A VAMPIRE, YOU HAVE TO WORK THE NIGHT SHIFT.


By her wits, blood, and sacrifice, so far Drew has survived the intensive training on the Isle of Night. As a second-year Acari, her ultimate goal is to become a Watcher, and now she has a shot at her first mission. Except nothing is as it seems. The vampire Alcántara is as sinister as he is sexy, Ronan is more distant than ever, and it turns out there are other vampires out there. Bad ones.


Ancient, bloodthirsty, and powerful, these undead are really old school. They’ve captured one of the Watcher vamps and are torturing him for information. The only chance to save him is to infiltrate a major summit the baddies are holding on their own island. There will be mortals there, serving as butlers, maids, and various hired help. Drew had better brush up on her skills as a serving girl, because she’s about to go undercover…


But, when their vampire prisoner turns out to be a gorgeous bad boy, Drew’s first mission quickly turns into more than she bargained for…


My thoughts:


Annelise Drew survived the Challenge, winning because she was the last one standing, winning because she killed Lilac.  She still carries the bruises, even though the vampire blood she ingests has quickened the healing.


Winning has earned Drew a chance to leave the Isle of Night, to participate in a mission with Master Alcantara.  Drew is hoping to use this mission as a means of escape.


But Drew gets caught up in the preparation for the mission - and whether she will admit it or not, gets caught up in the attention she’s receiving from Master Alcantara.


Ronan is MIA, supposedly out recruiting more girls for training.  The Guidon girls have it in for Drew now more than ever and Yas is getting fangs.  Things on the Island are changing. 


Drew thought winning the Challenge would bring her a modicum of peace.  Instead, it seems to have painted an even bigger target on her back.


I absolutely love this series.  


The whole concept of an island full of girls training to protect vampires is awesome.  That those girls are more than willing to kill each other to become an elite Watcher is bloodthirsty to say the least.


I give Vampire’s Kiss 5 out of 5 stars.




Product Details
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: NAL Trade (3-6-12)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 045123572X
ISBN-13: 978-0451235725


**Be sure to stop by on 2-27:  I will be hosting a giveaway of book one and book two of The Watchers series.**

Review: Germline by T C McCarthy

Germline is the first book in the Subterrene War series by T C McCarthy and an Orbit Sci/Fi.


Book Blurb:


Germline (n.) the genetic material contained in a cellular lineage which can be passed to the next generation. Also: secret military program to develop genetically engineered super-soldiers (slang).


War is Oscar Wendell's ticket to greatness. A reporter for The Stars and Stripes, he has the only one way pass to the front lines of a brutal war over natural resources buried underneath the icy, mineral rich mountains of Kazakhstan.


But war is nothing like he expected. Heavily armored soldiers battle genetically engineered troops hundreds of meters below the surface. The genetics-the germline soldiers-are the key to winning this war, but some inventions can't be un-done. Some technologies can't be put back in the box.


Kaz will change everything, not least Oscar himself. Hooked on a dangerous cocktail of adrenaline and drugs, Oscar doesn't find the war, the war finds him.


My thoughts:


In an unspecified future, Oscar Wendell is a reporter for The Stars and Stripes.  Strung out and  uninspired, he sees the War as his last chance at making a name for himself.


Pulling the last string of influence his has, Oscar ends up assigned to the front line - or rather, underground - with the Marine’s and the genetic’s.


The Marine’s are hard core and see Oscar as a civilian irritant in the beginning.  But Oscar quickly pulls his own weight - and before long he is more active participant than passive reporter.


Then the genetics show up - and they are beyond hard core.  Engineered specifically for this war, the genetics, all female, all under eighteen years - live and die for the War.  


Oscar is fascinated with the genetics - but they are taboo - looked upon as the ultimate weapon...not women.


Germline is the first book I have read by T C McCarthy and it was okay.  I never connected with Oscar - he was not interesting to me, choosing to waste his life with drugs.


I was however, very interested in the genetics and would love to read more from their point of view.  The next book in the series will do just that, Exogene, book 2 in the Subterrene War series is told from the POV of a genetic named Catherine and I am looking forward to reading it.


I give Germline 2 out of 5 stars.




Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Orbit (August 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 031612818X
ISBN-13: 978-0316128186

WoW: A Sliver of Shadow by Allison Pang

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly post started by Breaking the Spine to showcase books we are patiently awaiting.

My WoW for the week:  

Just when her new life as a TouchStone – a mortal bound to help OtherFolk cross between Faery and human worlds – seems to be settling down, Abby Sinclair is left in charge when the Protectorate, Moira, leaves for the Faery Court. And when the Protectorate’s away…let’s just say things spiral out of control when a spell on Abby backfires and the Faery Queen declares the Doors between their worlds officially closed.

The results are disastrous for both sides: OtherFolk trapped in the mortal world are beginning to fade, while Faerie is on the brink of war with the daemons of Hell. Along with her brooding eleven prince Talivar and sexy incubus Brystion, Abby ventures to the CrossRoads in an attempt to override the Queen’s magic. But nothing in this beautiful, dangerous realm will compare to the discoveries she’s making about her past, her destiny, and what she will sacrifice for those she loves.

Product Details

Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages

Publisher: Pocket Books (February 28, 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1439198349

ISBN-13: 978-1439198346

Review: Courting Darkness by Yasmine Galenorn

Courting Darkness is the tenth book in the Otherworld series by Yasmine Galenorn and a Paranormal Romance from Jove.


Book Blurb:


We're the D'Artigo sisters: sexy, savvy ex-operatives for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency. But being half-human, half-Fae means our powers go haywire at all the wrong times. My sister Delilah is a Death Maiden and werecat who belongs to the Autumn Lord. My sister Menolly is a vampire who's dating a gorgeous werepuma, and the godfather of the undead-set. And me? I'm Camille, Priestess of the Moon Mother, married to a dragon, a youkai, and a Svartan. But my dragon father-in-law has decided that he doesn't like having me for a member of the family... 


It's Winter Solstice, and Aeval welcomes me into her Court of Darkness. With Morio still dangerously weak from his injuries and Vanzir alive only thanks to my silence, the thought of training under Morgaine doesn't seem as daunting as it did. But then, Hyto returns to shatter my life. Captured and swept off to the Dragon Reaches, can I manage to stay alive long enough to escape, even as Smoky's father intends to break my spirit, then my body?


My thoughts:


Camille has just returned from the Northlands, having gone to help Iris face her past so that she could go forward with her future.


Just arriving home, Camille and her sisters are called to the Wayfarer to deal with a daemon, who bears a warning about Smokey’s father, Hyto.


Shortly after that, Chase calls with news about the sighting of a weird portal in Tangleroot State Park.
He is afraid that someone may accidently wander into the portal - or worse, be pulled into the portal against their will.


On the home front, things are tense between Camille and Vanzir after what happened between the two of them when they were fighting the ghosts in the tunnels.  Camille decides that she must tell her husbands in order to keep her own sanity.


In the midst of a dragon rage, Smokey asks Camille to give him some space, some time alone - and he leaves the house.  Camille, determined to follow him and make him see reason - mistakes Hyto for his son.


Hyto grabs Camille and takes her to his secret dreyerie, where he plans to torture her until his son arrives - then he plans to kill them both.


Courting Darkness is a great installment to a wonderful series.  This book is a little darker, a little more violent as Camille’s inner strength is tested. 


I give Courting Darkness 5 out of 5 stars.


Product Details
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Jove (November 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 051515007X
ISBN-13: 978-0515150070

It's Monday...What Are You Reading?

It's Monday... What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.  This is a chance to showcase what you read in the last week, what you are reading now, and what you plan to read for the upcoming week. 

Books Read Last Week:

Assassins in Love - Kris DeLake

Black Howl - Christina Henry

Doubletake - Rob Thurman

Patient Zero - Jonathan Maberry

Hunting Ground - Patricia Briggs

Eternal Captive - Laura Wright

Current Read:

Shaded Vision - Yasmine Galenorn

Winner: Dating the Undead

The giveaway for a copy of Dating the Undead has concluded.  Using random dot org the winner has been chosen:


#2, Beverly


An email has been sent.


Thank you all for participating in this giveaway.

In My Mailbox: 02-18-12

In My Mailbox is a feature that was started over at The Story Siren. Each week we share what we bought, borrowed from the library or received in the mail.


Here is what I received this past week:   

For Review:

Deadly Dance - Dee Davis

Run From Fear - Jami Alden

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing

Purchased:

Shaded Vision - Yasmine Galenorn

Eternal Captive - Laura Wright