Tuesday 31 January 2012

RAK Round-Up, Signing up for Another Month and Teaser Tuesdays


Another RAK month is drawing to a close.

I send out a couple of books and I received a really cool Birthday RAK myself from Aleksandra.

And as I just started reading it I will share a bit with you for Teaser Tuesdays:

Benny's breath caught in his throat as he saw the figure emerge from the doorway in a slow, uncertain gait, his legs moving stiffly, his hands out and reaching for Tom. It was Grandpa Houser.
(page 23, Dust & Decay by Jonathan Maberry)


I'm still very much enjoying RAK, so I'm signing up for February for sure!

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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!

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RAK:

The RAK movement (=Random Acts of Kindness): it is an initiative organized by the Ladies at the Book Soulmates where everyone posts their whislists and then other people realize one (or more) wishes of a person. Meaning that they send some books to the lucky person they picked! Doesn't it sound fabulous?

Rules:

• Sign up each month you'd like to participate in.

• Show off your participation! Grab one of the buttons available :)

• Create a wish list and post it in the Google Doc located in each R.A.K post for the month.
{Post on your blog, Amazon, where ever as long as there's a link to it.}

• If you choose to do a R.A.K for someone, check out their wish list and contact that blogger for their address.

• At the end of the month, SHOW US YOUR R.A.K!

• Make a post saying 'Thank You' to whoever granted one of your wishes and share it with us :)

OPEN TO EVERYONE!

Let's keep our International bloggers in mind and in our hearts.

Remember, there's always the Book Depository and they offer FREE shipping!


Monday 30 January 2012

Foreshadow - Book Review

Foreshadow (The Shadow Imperium Trilogy, #1)
by Brea Essex

ebook

What is it about:
Imagine discovering that your boyfriend was out to kill you—and that the annoying boy from school was your guardian angel.

Rae Davenport has already lost her mother. The only thing keeping her sane is her new boyfriend, Andrei—that is, until she finds out that he wants to kill her. Andrei is a devil, and he wants to use Rae as a sacrifice to get back into Heaven. The only one who can save her is Logan, her guardian angel. He’s only annoyed her in the past, but now he will be her savior.


What did I think of it:
This is an entertaining story.

There are a lot of things happening that I found rather unbelievable (yes, even for a paranormal story), but that put aside this is an enjoyable and fast paced read.

There's some cool intrigue, lots of action and a bit of romance. The writing is decent enough and the world building interesting. I think this story would have worked better if it had been longer and certain scenes/events would have been given more room, but that could just be my opinion.

The ending was very abrupt and kind of baffled me. I suppose the ending is to make people more eager to read book 2, but it just left me feeling frustrated.

I'm not sure if I will read the next book in this series. This first book was nice and had promise, so I might pick up the next book to see how this series developes from here.

Why should you read it:
It's an enjoyable Paranormal YA read.


Buy this ebook here

Sunday 29 January 2012

Storm Glass - Book Review

Storm Glass (Glass #1)
by Maria V. Snyder


What is it about:
As a glassmaker and a magician-in-training, Opal Cowan understands trial by fire. Now it's time to test her mettle. Someone has sabotaged the Stormdancer clan's glass orbs, killing their most powerful magicians. The Stormdancers—particularly the mysterious and mercurial Kade—require Opal's unique talents to prevent it happening again. But when the mission goes awry, Opal must tap in to a new kind of magic as stunningly potent as it is frightening. And the further she delves into the intrigue behind the glass and magic, the more distorted things appear. With lives hanging in the balance—including her own—Opal must control powers she hadn't known she possessed…powers that might lead to disaster beyond anything she's ever known.

What did I think of it:
I loved the Study Trilogy by Snyder, so I just had to try this trilogy as well.

I must say this book is enjoyable, but it doesn't reach the same heights as the Study Trilogy.

Opal is a nice character, but she's a bit too self-doubting for me at times. And on top of that there's a love square going on in this book and I'm getting so tired of all the love triangles, squares, decahedrons and what not in (Young Adult) fiction.

I really liked one of the three love interests for Opal (really despised the other two btw), but even though he ends up with Opal by the end of this book there are some hints and tensions that make me think he might not be a keeper, so I'm not getting my hopes up too much.

Aside from the love blah blah the world building is really unique and interesting and the story is decent and enjoyable. The book ends in such a way I'm curious what will happen next, so I will read book two to see where the story will go, while hoping my predictions about the love square will not come true.

Why should you read it:
It's an enjoyable Fantasy adventure.


Buy This Book from Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Friday 27 January 2012

Deacon's Ark - Book Review

Deacon's Ark (The New West #2)
by A.E. Stanton

ebook

What is it about:
Josie and Deacon have left Horsetown and are back in search of The City. Joined by Josie’s youngest sister, Sadie, they decide to travel on the riverboat The Green Goddess to save travel time.

But a plague from the Northern Wastes has been loosed on the river’s port towns. Instead of a relaxing cruise, Josie and Deacon have to protect all the people and animals on board -- because if they can’t stop the spread of the plague, they’ll be the only normal ones left in the world.


What did I think of it:
I liked this book much better than the first book in this series.

The characters were much better to relate to than before and I finally began to feel a connection to them and care about what happened to them. (There were the ocassional moments I wanted to kick some sense into some of the characters, but that's a good thing in my opinion.)

The story was so my kind of story: there were zombies that had to be fought!

There was lots of cool action and mayhem and the zombies were also my kind of zombies. Next to the zombies there were some other baddies that really added to the story and I hope to see both the zombies and the bad guys again in future books in this series.

All in all Stanton is taking this series in a direction I'd hoped for when she introduced the setting in book one and I'm curious to see where she'll take Josie and Deacon next.

Why should you read it:
It has zombies in a post-apocalyptic Western setting.


Buy this ebook at Musa Publishing

Thursday 26 January 2012

Blue Diablo - Book Review

Blue Diablo (Corine Solomon #1)
by Ann Aguirre


What is it about:
Corine Solomon is a handler. When she touches an object she instantly knows its history and its future. Using her ability, she can find the missing, which is why people never stop trying to find her. Like her ex-boyfriend Chance, who needs Corine's gift to find someone dear to them both. But the search proves dangerous as it leads them into a strange world of demons and sorcerers, ghosts and witchcraft, zombies, and black magic...

What did I think of it:
So far I've loved about almost everything I've read by Aguirre, so I was eager to give this Urban Fantasy series a try.

It's not as intense and awesome as Aguirre's Sirantha Jax series, but this first book in the Corine Solomon series sure is a great read.

Corine is an intriguing heroine and her gift is very original. The other characters are all very well written as well. The story is full of action and intrigue. There are some things that conveniently helped carry the story onwards that I hope will be explained in a future book, but apart from that this is a cool read.

It misses some of the emotion and intensity that I've grown used to in other books by Aguirre, but I must say I liked the lighter mood, because it gave this book its own clear voice.

I will most certainly continue to read this series as I will any other books Aguirre has written.

Why should you read it:
It's original, well written Urban Fantasy.


Buy This Book from Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide


Wednesday 25 January 2012

By the Way, What’s a Selkie? - Guestpost by Krista Holle

Krista Holle is the author of the book The Lure of Shapinsay.

The Lure of Shapinsay is about a woman who falls under the spell of a selkie. As I haven't read many stories about selkies I just had to ask Krista why she chose to write about selkies. Luckily she was kind enough to drop by and answer my question.

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By the Way, What’s a Selkie?

Readers want to know why I wrote a novel about selkies. It’s the same reason people are writing about vampires, werewolves, ghosts, and angels right now—paranormal romance is HOT. The practically unheard of subgenre from fifteen years ago is growing faster than ever and the voracious reader can’t get enough. There are a couple of things however, that set the selkies apart from these other mythical creatures—they are way sexier and practically unheard of.

Let me introduce you to selkies, the original shape shifters from the sea. Their legends begin around the tiny Orkney Islands that spangle Scotland’s northern coast. Selkies are seal men and women who live the majority of their life under the sea as seals, but occasionally shed their skins to cause mischief on land. The men and women are renowned for their beauty, with eyes as dark as night and skin as white as cream. But don’t be fooled by these seemingly innocent creatures. For hundreds of years, the men have been creeping out of the cold North Sea to seduce women to their deaths deep beneath the waves.

So real were the selkies of the 1800’s, that nearly every drowning was blamed on the selkies. There are even stories of infants born with webbed hands and feet—definitive proof that a ship builder or fisherman’s daughter was seduced by a rogue selkie. This is the setting I chose when creating The Lure of Shapinsay. I want my readers to feel the same alarm and excitement that the villagers of Shapinsay felt two centuries ago.

In The Lure of Shapinsay, you’ll meet Eamon, a criminally good looking selkie with a penchant for killing sheep. He loathes everything on land, especially humans (land loupers). It’s a pickle for Kait, a feisty blonde, who’s magically lured by the very selkie who wants her dead. She’ll do anything to win her seal man’s heart—even follow him under the sea. The odds of this land/sea relationship working are pretty slim. Even Kait’s brother is bound and determined to keep his sister safe by marrying her off to an aging widower. Why did I want to write a novel about selkies? Sorry, to this land louper, these beautiful feral creatures from the deep were just too darn juicy to pass up.

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Tour Schedule

Make sure to click the above link to also check out other tour stops for more guestposts, interviews, reviews and giveaways.

Tuesday 24 January 2012

Teaser Tuesdays - Angels of Darkness


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!

It was a single note, liquid and pure and anguished, like the most gorgeous, the most despairing foghorn lowing off a storm-racked coast. I would have said it was music, except it was weeping; it was a song with a single tone, and it was agony.
(page 223, Nocturne by Sharon Shinn - Angels of Darkness Anthology)

Monday 23 January 2012

Get Loaded - Promopost

Today is the start of 'Get Loaded'.

Five days, five authors, five free books!

Jan 23-Chelsea Fine - ANEW
Jan 24- AK Taylor - Neiko's Five Land Adventure
Jan 25- Jackie Chanel - A Hustler's Promise
Jan 26- Sherry Roberts - Book of Mercy
Jan 27 - Liz Schulte - Secrets (Guardian Trilogy: Book 1)

Be sure to drop by and comment at the above sites on the mentioned date for a free ebook and for even more fun and more prizes also visit The Indie Book Collective to join in on a treasure hunt!

Friday 20 January 2012

Sins of the Angels - Book Review

Sins of the Angels (Grigori Legacy #1)
by Linda Poitevin


What is it about:
A detective with a secret lineage. An undercover Hunter with a bullet-proof soul. And a world made to pay for the sins of an angel…

Homicide detective Alexandra Jarvis answers to no one. Especially not to the new partner assigned to her in the middle of a gruesome serial killer case—a partner who is obstructive, irritatingly magnetic, and arrogant as hell.

Aramael is a Power—a hunter of the Fallen Angels. A millennium ago, he sentenced his own brother to eternal exile for crimes against humanity. Now his brother is back and wreaking murderous havoc in the mortal realm. To find him, Aramael must play second to a human police officer who wants nothing to do with him and whose very bloodline threatens both his mission and his soul.

Now, faced with a fallen angel hell-bent on triggering the apocalypse, Alex and Aramael have no choice but to join forces, because only together can they stop the end of days.


What did I think of it:
I will confess I skipped over this book a couple of times because of the cover. I just didn't think much of it: female detective in a suit, but with lose hair.... Meh.

But after reading the raving reviews of some bloggers with a similar taste I decided I had to put aside my dislike of the cover and give the book a chance. (The awesome cover of the second book in this series helped as well. Yes, I know: I'm bad.)

Remind me to never again judge a book by its cover!

This is such an amazing read I couldn't put it down until I had finished it.

Alex is a strong, but likeable heroine. She has a lot more patience with the stubborn Aramael than I would have had. I like how even though there's an instant attraction Alex doesn't just give in, but fights it until she gets to know and trust Aramael.

Aramael is a very intriguing character. He's stubborn, difficult and it took me a while to warm up to him, but Poitevin manages to write him in such a way that once I did connect with him I could also really understand him and from then on I rooted for both him and Alex to save the day.

Romance and action are woven together perfectly and I was worried just as much for Alex and Aramael finding happiness as I was worrying about the outcome of the overall story.

The ending of this book is both awesome and frustrating and left me hungry for more and I'll be counting the days till the release of the next book in this series.

Why should you read it:
It's a nailbiting and awesome UF/PNR thriller.


Buy This Book from Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Thursday 19 January 2012

Fire Study - Book Review

Fire Study (Study #3)
by Maria V. Snyder


What is it about:
When word that Yelena is a Soulfinder—able to capture and release souls—spreads like wildfire, people grow uneasy. Already Yelena's unusual abilities and past have set her apart. As the Council debates Yelena's fate, she receives a disturbing message: a plot is rising against her homeland, led by a murderous sorcerer she has defeated before....

Honor sets Yelena on a path that will test the limits of her skills, and the hope of reuniting with her beloved spurs her onward. Her journey is fraught with allies, enemies, lovers and would-be assassins, each of questionable loyalty. Yelena will have but one chance to prove herself—and save the land she holds dear.


What did I think of it:
A fitting conclusion to a wonderful trilogy.

Poison Study is my absolute favorite book in this trilogy, but Fire Study is a close second.

All the things about Yelena's behaviour that annoyed me in Magic Study are gone and I rooted for her the entire time. There's lots of adventure and action and even though I could sniff out the bad guy long before the big reveal I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I really like how the relationships between Yelena and those around her developed and changed over the cause of the entire trilogy and how Snyder succeeded in making me fall in love with characters I hated at first.

I can advise this trilogy to everyone who loves a good Fantasy. I will most certainly read lots more books by Snyder in the future.

Why should you read it:
Go read Poison Study and you will know why ;-)


Buy This Book from Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Wednesday 18 January 2012

Fateful - Book Review

Fateful by Claudia Gray

What is it about:
Eighteen-year-old maid Tess Davies is determined to escape the wealthy, troubled family she serves. It's 1912, and Tess has been trapped in the employ of the Lisles for years, amid painful memories and twisted secrets. But now the Lisle family is headed to America, with Tess in tow. Once the ship they're sailing on—the RMS Titanic—reaches its destination, Tess plans to strike out and create a new life for herself.

Her single-minded focus shatters when she meets Alec, a handsome first-class passenger who captivates her instantly. But Alec has secrets of his own. He's in a hurry to leave Europe, and whispers aboard the ship say it's because of the tragic end of his last affair with the French actress who died so gruesomely and so mysteriously....

Soon Tess will learn just how dark Alec's past truly is. The danger they face is no ordinary enemy: werewolves exist and are stalking him—and now her, too. Her growing love for Alec will put Tess in mortal peril, and fate will do the same before their journey on the Titanic is over.


What did I think of it:
Some of you may know I'm a sucker for anything to do with Titanic, so when I read that this book was about werewolves on the Titanic I just had to read it.

Sadly enough Gray didn't use the setting to its full advantage.

This story could just as well have taken place at a completely different location. All the Titanic does is keep all characters in this story in a confined space, so they can't get away from each other. Even the sinking isn't really used as a plot device. A shame!

My disappointment over the under-use of the Titanic set aside, this is an entertaining story. The bad guy is acting like a bad guy should, Tess and Alec are a nice, cute couple, there are some interesting side characters and luckily no love triangle.

This book won't end up in my collection of Titanic books, but I just might try something different by Gray in the future.

Why should you read it:
It's an entertaining YA read.


Buy This Book from Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Tuesday 17 January 2012

Teaser Tuesdays - Touch of Power

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!

A rustle and then Kerrick emerged from the brush. The fabric of his tunic and pants blended in with the surrounding landscape, but his face, hands and hair remained normal. I was impressed with his level of control despite myself.
(page 62, Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder)

Monday 16 January 2012

The Hob's Bargain - Book Review

The Hob's Bargain
by Patricia Briggs


What is it about:
Her gift of sight has shown her visions of mayhem and murder. So, to save her village from ruthless raiders, Aren of Fallbrook strikes a bargain with the magical Hob, who will exact a heavy price to defend the village, a price Aren herself must pay.

What did I think of it:
I absolutely love Briggs' Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega books, but those are all Urban Fantasy, so I decided to give one of her Fantasy novels a try.

The Hob's Bargain is very different from Briggs' UF books, but I totally fell in love with it.

Aren is a wonderful and strong heroine. She is shunned by most people in her village because of her magical gift and some even would want to see her dead. Still she doesn't feel hate and isn't looking for revenge. Instead she uses her powers to help save her village and she's even willing to go as far as to give her life.

The story starts out quite grim, but when Aren finds the Hob and he promises to help it turns less dark and Briggs even succeeds in bringing some sweetness and lightness to this tale about survival.

This lightness also shines from the way this story is written. Briggs' style makes that you might worry about Aren, but she never makes you lose hope.

In the end this is a beautiful fairytale that is both dark and sweet. The Hob's Bargain will be kept with my other favorite reads and I will most certainly read more of Briggs' Fantasy books.

Why should you read it:
It's well written and beautiful Fantasy


Buy This Book from Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Sunday 15 January 2012

A Love Soul Deep - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

A Love Soul Deep (Mystique Antiques)
by Amber Scott

ebook, novella

What is it about:
Since Sara's boyfriend Crew died in an accident a few years ago Sara hasn't been able to get over him. She can't stop thinking she hasn't been able to tell him all she would have wanted to say to him and wishes she had the chance to be with him just one more time. Then she gets a gold locket that may make her wish come true...


What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
This is a beautiful and bittersweet lovestory that made me cry, smile and sigh.

The idea of getting a second chance at love, at getting back together with someone who was torn away by death, is both beautiful and scary. What if your memories are wrong? What if you still don't know what to say?

I could really feel for Sara: her love for Crew and the loss she felt were heartbreaking to read. I could only hope that she would find happiness again and that the fulfillment of her deepest wish would bring her all she was hoping for.

All in all this is an emotional and romantic story that stays with you long after you finished reading.

Why should you read it:
It's a beautiful story about the power of love.


Buy it here

Friday 13 January 2012

The Disciple - Book Review

The Disciple by Jemma Chase

What is it about:
In the future vampires overrun the Earth, so a small cadre of vampire slayers are sent back to the pivotal moment when the vampire clans were contained to the European continent in hopes of destroying them in the past to save the future.

In the mid-24th century the vampire threat is so terrible that humanity is on the run and their numbers are dwindling. The only ones willing and able to fight the vampire plague are those in The Order.

In addition to creating specialized vampire-killing weapons, The Order has protected all the world’s leading scientists. They’re rewarded with the ultimate breakthrough: time travel. But there’s a catch -- if you return to your present time, your mind doesn’t come home with you.

Now a select team will be sent back to the Middle Ages, to stop the vampire threat before it can spread. They’re the best vampire slayers of their day and age, but once they go a thousand years into the past they’re strangers in a strange old land. Their perfect weapons aren’t working right, their numbers are too small, and the vampires seem to know who they are. It will take the ultimate leap of faith for the team to have a chance to complete their mission -- and survive.


What did I think of it:
A pleasant, but a bit static read.

This story is told by one of the members of the team that is send back in time and the way she describes everything feels detached. Even though lots of things happen in the story, the way it's told doesn't make you feel the action until somewhere at the end.

This way of storytelling made that I didn't really feel anything for the characters and wasn't invested in the story. A shame as the plot is cool and the world building is great and lends itself for lots of cool things.

In the end this was a pleasant read, but it would have worked better for me if Chase had chosen a different way of telling the story.

Why should you read it:
It's got time travelling and vampires


Buy it from Musa Publishing here

Thursday 12 January 2012

Fate's Edge - Book Review

Fate's Edge (The Edge #3)
by Ilona Andrews


What is it about:
Audrey Callahan left behind her life in the Edge, and she's determined to stay on the straight and narrow. But when her brother gets into hot water, the former thief takes on one last heist and finds herself matching wits with a jack of all trades...

Kaldar Mar-a gambler, lawyer, thief, and spy-expects his latest assignment tracking down a stolen item to be a piece of cake, until Audrey shows up. But when the item falls into the hands of a lethal criminal, Kaldar realizes that in order to finish the job, he's going to need Audrey's help...


What did I think of it:
This book won't end up as my favorite in the series, but it's an enjoyable read.

I had trouble with liking Kaldar I will confess. He's too much the smooth-talker used to get his way to make me feel sympathy for him. And as I really liked Audrey and wanted her to escape from the things that made her life difficult I didn't want to see the two end up with each other, so this made the romance frustrating and unsatisfying.

Luckily the story was really cool and two of the characters from On the Edge returned: Jack and George. I really like these two characters and I hope the Andrews duo decides to give them their own books further on in this series.

I'm looking forward to the next book in this series and while waiting I might give the Kate Daniels series by Andrews a chance.

Why should you read it:
It's a well written, action-packed UF.


Buy This Book from Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Wednesday 11 January 2012

Wishlist Wednesday - Royal Street

I'm not a big fan of the cover of this book, but the story sounds so cool!

Royal Street by Suzanne Johnson

As the junior wizard sentinel for New Orleans, Drusilla Jaco’s job involves a lot more potion-mixing and pixie-retrieval than sniffing out supernatural bad guys like rogue vampires and lethal were-creatures. DJ's boss and mentor, Gerald St. Simon, is the wizard tasked with protecting the city from anyone or anything that might slip over from the preternatural beyond.

Then Hurricane Katrina hammers New Orleans’ fragile levees, unleashing more than just dangerous flood waters.

While winds howled and Lake Pontchartrain surged, the borders between the modern city and the Otherworld crumbled. Now, the undead and the restless are roaming the Big Easy, and a serial killer with ties to voodoo is murdering the soldiers sent to help the city recover.

To make it worse, Gerry has gone missing, the wizards’ Elders have assigned a grenade-toting assassin as DJ’s new partner, and undead pirate Jean Lafitte wants to make her walk his plank. The search for Gerry and for the serial killer turns personal when DJ learns the hard way that loyalty requires sacrifice, allies come from the unlikeliest places, and duty mixed with love creates one bitter gumbo.


Expected publication: April 10th 2012 by Tor Books

Tuesday 10 January 2012

Top Pearls Revisited - Winners

The giveaways for My Top Pearls Revisited event have ended and The Random Number Generator picked 4 winners!

Barbara E. won a signed copy of Dark Oracle by Alayna Williams

IreneRJ won a copy of The Real Werewives of Vampire County signed by Jess Haines

Melliane won a signed copy of Alien Tango by Gini Koch

Jeffe Kennedy won a signed copy of Mind Games by Carolyn Crane

Congrats!

All winners have been contacted.
Thanks to everyone who dropped by and commented and a special thanks to Laura Bickle, Jess Haines, Gini Koch and Carolyn Crane for their participation.

Teaser Tuesdays - Under Wraps


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 stood by while Nina perched on her desktop, hands on hips, teeth bared, dodging the singed-hair-smelling puffs of smoke that shot from Mrs. Henderson's scaled flared nostrils.
Lorrainne, the Gestalt witch and resident UDA Accounts Payable shark, was hopping from foot to foot, muttering a calming spell that made flowers bloom on the desk and then wilt under Mrs. Henderson's dragon-fire breath.
(page 1, Under Wraps by Hannah Jayne)

Monday 9 January 2012

Dead Man Walking - Book Review

Dead Man Walking
by Marty Shaw

ebook, short story

What is it about:
It was supposed to be just another execution of a criminal, but then he didn’t die. Now the living are trapped in a prison with the walking dead… and the dead are hungry.

Griffin knew watching an inmate being put to death wouldn’t be fun, but he never expected Callahan to return as something less than human. Now Griffin, along with a handful of officers and inmates, are trapped within the walls of a prison as a legion of the walking dead stalk them for food.

The choice is simple – fight back or die.


What did I think of it:
This is a very cool zombie read.

Shaw sets up and executes a satisfying story full of zombie mayhem in just 37 pages. With that number of pages some things have to be left out, so there's not much room for background or character development. Still Shaw manages to put in enough of both to make me feel sympathy for Griffin and some of the other characters while disliking others.

Shaw's writing is pleasant and although a zombie outbreak in a constricted area has been done before, Shaw gives his own spin to it in an original way.

I hope Shaw decides to write more zombie stories and to make these longer than Dead Man Walking, because my one complaint about this story is that it was much too short.

Why should you read it:
Zombies in prison!


Buy it here

Friday 6 January 2012

The New Death and Others - Book Review

The New Death and others
by James Hutchings

ebook

What is it about:
Death gets a roommate...

An electronic Pope faces a difficult theological question...

A wicked vizier makes a terrible bargain...

44 stories. 19 poems. No whiny vampires. There's a thin line between genius and insanity, and James Hutchings has just crossed it - but from which direction?


What did I think of it:
This is an enjoyable read.
It has many short stories and poems.

I liked the shortest stories, which were more impressions in some cases than actual stories, the most. Hutchings has a great way with words and manages to paint a mood with just a single sentence. The longer stories felt a bit like old fables or myths, but a witty observation or cynical remark from Hutchings from time to time brought the writing back to the here and now.

I didn't much care for the poems, I will confess. Most felt to forced in rhyme to be to my liking.

In conclusion: This is an original collection of short stories with a dark, mythical feel to them.

Why should you read it:
If you like fables and myths you should give this collection of modern fables a chance.


Buy it here

Thursday 5 January 2012

Magic Study - Book Review

Magic Study (Study #2)
by Maria V. Snyder


What is it about:
You know your life is bad when you miss your days as a poison taster...

With her greatest enemy dead, and on her way to be reunited with the family she'd been stolen from long ago, Yelena should be pleased. But though she has gained her freedom, she can't help feeling isolated in Sitia. Her Ixian background has changed her in many ways—and her newfound friends and relatives don't think it's for the better....

Despite the turmoil, she's eager to start her magic training—especially as she's been given one year to harness her power or be put to death. But her plans take a radical turn when she becomes involved with a plot to reclaim Ixia's throne for a lost prince—and gets entangled in powerful rivalries with her fellow magicians.

If that wasn't bad enough, it appears her brother would love to see her dead. Luckily, Yelena has some old friends to help her with all her new enemies...


What did I think of it:
Although not as mind blowing as the first book in this trilogy, Magic Study is a great read.

Yelena meets some intriguing new characters and gets caught up in some nasty intrigues and exciting adventures. Luckily my favorite character from Poison Study also returns although his role in Magic Study is much smaller than in the previous book.

Yelena does some serious growing up and along the way there were a couple of moments I felt like slapping her silly, but in the end she luckily made the right choices.

I immediately picked up book three in this trilogy after finishing this book and if Snyder continues to write stories like this I will most certainly read her other books as well.

Why should you read it:
This is very cool, adventure filled Fantasy.


Buy This Book from Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Wednesday 4 January 2012

Wishlist Wednesday - Blood and Bullets

Ok, I will confess it was the cover of this book that drew me in at first, but the blurb sounds very promising as well.

Blood and Bullets
by James R. Tuck


He lives to kill monsters. He keeps his city safe. And his silver hollow-points and back-from-the-dead abilities help him take out any kind of supernatural threat. But now an immortal evil has this bad-ass bounty hunter dead in its sights…

Ever since a monster murdered his family, Deacon Chalk hunts any creature that preys on the innocent. So when a pretty vampire girl “hires” him to eliminate a fellow slayer, Deacon goes to warn him—and barely escapes a vampire ambush. Now he’s got a way-inexperienced newbie hunter to protect and everything from bloodsuckers to cursed immortals on his trail. There’s also a malevolent force controlling the living and the undead, hellbent on turning Deacon’s greatest loss into the one weapon that could destroy him…


Expected publication: February 7th 2012 by Kensington

Tuesday 3 January 2012

Teaser Tuesdays - Ascension


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!

Not sure about this book yet. I'm having trouble with the way it's written and I think there should be a law against sandal wearing heroes.

Why was she here? She pressed a hand to her stomach then took a deep ragged achy breath. She could lie to herself and say she'd come solely to figure out why she had found a business card, bearing the club's logo, lying at her feet.
(page 93, Ascension by Caris Roane)

Monday 2 January 2012

Sabine - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

Sabine (...and the Beast #1)
by Moira Rogers

ebook, novella

What is it about:
After three years at war, the High Lord of the Forest returns to his lands, a victorious wolf leader intent on claiming his mate. Instead Ciar finds an empty bed and a court with no recollection of the woman he loved. Following her long-cold trail proves far easier than facing what awaits him at the end.

Sabine’s first instinct is to beg her beloved to leave. The High Lord’s mother hired a witch to curse Sabine, desperate to wipe the lowborn wolf from her son’s mind. But the spell worked too well, and Sabine has vanished from the thoughts of everyone who sees her. Including her own family.

The edges of his memory already blurring, Ciar and Sabine must race to find a way to reverse the spell. Yet every searing moment together is not enough to stop the curse’s inexorable progress. His only chance is to bind Sabine to him too tightly to be forgotten, before she disappears once and for all.


What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
This is a light, delightful paranormal fairytale.

The blurb gave me the idea this story might be a little dark, but it wasn't. Instead it was maybe even a bit too light. I never really felt the despair Sabine had of losing Ciar forever.

That being said: The romance between Sabine and Ciar is hot and sweet and they were characters I could care about and wanted to have a happy ending. There are some really heated scenes between the two of them and those were the best parts of the story.

All in all this is a very enjoyable read with a lovely fairytale feel.

Why should you read it:
If you're in the mood for a romantic fairytale with shapeshifters this is your read.


Buy it here

Sunday 1 January 2012

RAK Round-Up and Signing up for a Another Month

First of all: a Happy New Year to all of you!

Another month and even year has ended and we're at the start of a new RAK month.

In December I send out a couple of books and I was lucky enough to have some awesome books send to me.

From Michelle I received Ascension, which I'm reading at the moment.


Stella send me Sins of the Angels and Under Wraps.
These books are still on their way to me, but I'm looking forward to reading those as well.

Thanks Michelle and Stella!

I will most certainly join RAK again for January.

===================
RAK:

The RAK movement (=Random Acts of Kindness): it is an initiative organized by the Ladies at the Book Soulmates where everyone posts their whislists and then other people realize one (or more) wishes of a person. Meaning that they send some books to the lucky person they picked! Doesn't it sound fabulous?

Rules:

• Sign up each month you'd like to participate in.

• Show off your participation! Grab one of the buttons available :)

• Create a wish list and post it in the Google Doc located in each R.A.K post for the month.
{Post on your blog, Amazon, where ever as long as there's a link to it.}

• If you choose to do a R.A.K for someone, check out their wish list and contact that blogger for their address.

• At the end of the month, SHOW US YOUR R.A.K!

• Make a post saying 'Thank You' to whoever granted one of your wishes and share it with us :)

OPEN TO EVERYONE!

Let's keep our International bloggers in mind and in our hearts.

Remember, there's always the Book Depository and they offer FREE shipping!