IMM #9: March 25-31

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren. If you

are interested in doing your own IMM or just looking to hop around all the

different IMM's head on over there!!

 This week was another fairly eventful week.  Being a contest junkie pays off sometimes :)

There are so many awesome contest going on right now and I managed to be lucky through the

first half of the month!! So here we go!!

From Kailin Gow:

From Jean (Jean the Book Nerd) & my freeze caption of happy dance!
Better video of happy dance to come when life fully returns to me!!!

Slide from the AMAZING Jill Hathaway!! UK Version <3!!

And I purchased Torn but won Tangled from Goodreads!  I wasn't sure anyone

ever really won on there until I got the email!!

Well that is my mailbox this week!! YAY! Please leave me a link to your

mailbox so I can stop by and see what you got in your mailbox this week!!

 

Interview & Giveaway - April Fifer & Danielle Hylton-Outland

Who: April Fifer & Danielle Hylton-Outland

Danielle Hylton-Outland was raised in Virginia. She grew up having a huge appetite for daydreaming; always wanting to live in the spectacular worlds she created in her mind. She now lives with her husband and dog where she is pursuing a degree in literature. Danielle is a strong animal activist. She is currently co-writing the second book in the Flesh Series, "Flesh and Flames".

April Fifer grew up in a small town in Virginia, where it was common practice believing that dreams could only be found in stories. At the age of seven she was diagnosed with dyslexia. She was told that she would struggle through life and would never pick up a book to read for pleasure. Although school was hard, she was able to find her way with the help of two teachers who taught her self-discovery. Ignoring what she was taught growing up, she turned it around and found that your dreams could become stories.

  

What: Flesh & Feathers

Azaleigh's life is simple until, by chance, she meets Kale.  Charming and handsome Az is immediately drawn to him. But long kept secrets lurk in the hearts of those Az holds most dear, and dangerous plans are unfolding around her.  As her life begins to crumble and Kale disappears, Gage, charismatic and striking, arrives, providing a calm port in an increasingly violent storm.  But with every narrow escape from a far from human bounty hunter after her life, Az begins to unravel a secret with the power to change her forever.  In an increasingly hostile world of Angel and Fallen, Azaleigh must navigate her own path, chose her own side, and ultimately protect her heart.  Faced with two gorgeous men, an enemy she doesn’t know, and a future she cannot understand, Az must make the choice: the man she loves, or the man she cannot live without.

     

  How long have the 2 of you been writing partners?

 We have been working together for about two years now. A lot of that has been us working on Flesh and Feathers. But we have worked on other projects as well. Flesh and Feathers was our first baby, and we had to figure out a system to work together. Now our writing has tripled in speed because we know exactly what to expect from each other.

  
       Where did the idea for Flesh & Feathers come from?

    It started because one of us read a book and was not at all happy with the ending. So we decided to make of our own ending. We came up with the idea of a girl falling in love with an angel. But that wasn’t good enough. We wanted drama, secrets, and lots of action. The plot evolved into something neither one of us saw coming. And as we’ve been writing the sequel, Flesh and Flames, the plot continues to thicken. We are loving it!!!

       Who do you see playing Kale & Gage on the big screen?

      This is sooooo easy! Danielle picked Robert Pattinson for Kale, and April picked Eric Dane for Gage! For Azaleigh, we both see Rosamund Pike.

    Is this a stand-alone  novel or the first of many?

           First of many! Flesh and Feathers is the first of The Flesh Series. The second book in the series is Flesh and Flames. We have also thrown around the plot for book three, which we are calling Flesh and Folly. There are other projects we have worked on as well. We just completed a short erotica called Love, Lies and a Bloke and are now working on a paranormal romance called The Witch and The Werewolf.

Quickies:

Pancakes or Waffles?

April: Pancakes – extra syrup.

Danielle: Pancakes – with whipped cream please.

Chocolate or fruity?

April: Chocolate

Danielle: Chocolate – are you kidding.

Favorite Animal

April: Horse – they are so beautiful.

Danielle: All of them – Do I have to choose? I’m an animal lover… actually let’s go with a teacup pig.

1^st song on your playlist right now?

April: Anna by Stone Sour

Danielle: Closer by Nine-Inch  Nails

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GIVEAWAY:

April & Danielle have graciously donated a $10 Amazon GC

Just give the Copter all your info!

Good Luck!





a Rafflecopter giveaway

Contest Feature Friday #4- A Cupcake and a Latte Signed copy of The Calling

This week I thought that I would share with you all something that is super awesome. I

personally am a big Kelley Armstrong fan and as a fan of books in general I love signed

copies!  So how excited was I to learn that Wendy from A Cupcake and a Latte was doing a

Giveaway for a SIGNED copy of The Calling by Kelley Armstrong!!!!!

I know right?! Super freaking happy dance type excited!!!

Maya and her friends--all of whom have supernatural powers--have been kidnapped after fleeing from a forest fire they suspect was deliberately set, and after a terrifying helicopter crash they find themselves pursued by evildoers in the Vancouver Island wilderness.

If you haven't seen the trailer for the book you can check it out here:

So if you would like a chance to win a copy of this book head on over to

A Cupcake and a Latte  and enter today!!



Review: Fire Stones by Kailin Gow

Mackenzy Evers can't believe how close she is with Chance now that they've finally allowed themselves to be with each other. But her past with Varun and her quest for the goddess Vesta's magical stones can tear her away from him forever.














  This is book 2 in Kailin's Fire Wars series and let me tell you it did not disappoint me either.  Kailin has a way with these books and when you open them everything draws you in and you become part of it all.  This book you have all the same characters that you had last book but with a little more information and A LOT more action.
 
  Mac has made her decision.  She is with Chance and no attraction to anyone can change that, right?   Even the strong Mac has to make hard decisions and she is stuck with many of those in this book.  Between her wanting to find out if she is really the goddess Vesta or not and having Varun trying to tell her that it is the sea she belongs with you really have to wonder at times how she remains sane.  I really admire Mac for putting her foot down and trying to remain with just one when her heart pulls her two ways.  She doesn't want to be one of those silly girls that can't make up her mind and creates a love triangle.  Try as she may to explain this Varun wont give up on her and her heart wont give up on the hope of him either.  I wish it were more simple than that for her but becoming one of the most important Goddess's ever isn't going to be easy right?
 
  Chance is around a lot more for this book and I have only grown more attatched to the hottie Fire God.  Seeing he comes from fire he has so much passion but I guess with it comes the moods.  Although he has managed to tone down the mood swing a lot from last book, he still has his moments.  How can you blame him though.  When you know that the love of your life, your other half has left you before and seems drawn to again?  I can't even express how Team Chance I am.  He may be possesive and moody but my gosh is this boy ever worth every word that is written about him.  There is no amout of Chance that could be too much. Two pages to really watch for with Chance and Mac here: 96 & 163.  Not that far apart I know but you will love it!!

  Varun... I like him but he just isn't Chance.  he loves Mac but is trying too hard to convince her of what she doesn't want.  I guess somewhere in her heart she knows that he has a place there too but that is what she is trying to avoid.  He is Water King so for all purposes he is the opposite of chance.  He doesn't have the passion but a smoother love and he is a much calmer personality.  I think part of that is why Mac feels such a pull to him.  Wouldn't you want someone around that could make you feel less stress with just a touch of their hand?!  Overall Varun rather than being a little more insistant is the same person that was in book 1.  Not complaining he's hot for sure but he just isn't Chance.

    The Post Erosion world in this book kind of stands out a little more.  Kailin has done such an amazing job with this dystopian type world because realistically it could 100% happen and many people believe it will.  A world where the water has taken over and the land is far and few between.  The landscapes that you read/see are just breath taking and I can't stress enough that you can actually see with almost perfectly where you are and how wonderful this different new world is on Eros Island.  I specify there because from what Mac says most of the world isn't as fortunate as this island and maybe that's why I love it so much.

 The entire Mac, Chance, Varun thing really does come to a peak in this book. I really want to go on about it but I keep my reviews as spoiler free as possible. I have to tell you that the choices that Mac starts to make is going to effect everything and everyone. She will break someones heart and the ending of this book will leave you begging for more. Overall this was an amazing book!! Once again Kailin Gow has managed to create a world that you easily slip into and don't want to leave.

4/5

#YABookChat feature Author Chelsea Cameron & Mini Review on Nocturnal

Seventeen-year-old Ava-Claire Sullivan isn't one for doing the expected. Especially when she finds out her mother's cancer is terminal. After a crying session in the local cemetery where she's attacked by one strange guy and saved by another, she doesn't call the cops. Because those guys definitely weren't your average hooligans.

And the one who sort-of saved her? Well, he's odd. He doesn't seem to breathe or smile or have anything better to do than wait in the cemetery for Ava to come back. Which she does. Call it morbid curiosity. Even after her warns her that he's dangerous, she can't stop wanting to see him, talk to him, be with him.

There's something about Peter that provides a much-needed escape from her mother's diagnosis and her tenuous relationship with her father. Even her best friends Jamie and Texas don't know what it's like to face death. But Peter does. He already has. He also made a promise a long time ago that could destroy both of them.

When everything in your life is falling apart, what are you willing to give up to hold onto the one thing that could last forever

   Ava is living with a lot on her plate right now.  Dealing with her mothers sickness and the inability to share it with her two closest friends Tex and Jamie.  Not because they don't want to hear it but because she isn't ready to talk about everything that is going on at home.  Instead she takes to the cemetery.  The dead listen but don't ask her anything or anything of her.  What happens when she goes one night and it isn't only the dead there does she realize how dangerous the night can be.  Terrified or not she wants to see the guy that saved her from the one that was going to destroy her.

  I'm not telling you the twist here but lets just say that i was totally did not expect it.  I walked into this book expecting another vampire book(not that it is a bad thing).   However when it got to reveal time I had to read over the sentence a couple times just to make sure I caught it right.  I loved that it wasn't all a tortured secret and he just showed her.  It's just the couple little things that really set this book apart and I loved it.  I want to say so many of the little things that made this special to me but I don't want to ruin it for all of you.  

  Peter (our man in question) is kind of the typical mysterious guy.  There is differences but mysterious all the way.  He never talks too much, actually he doesn't really talk.  The questions that Ava showers him with are answered in the most simple way possible.  He doesn't over do it or try and make excuses for everything and anything.  His lack of answers does cause some irritation every here and there but I chalk it up to he is a guy!

  Tex (Texas Sarsaparilla Anne Hamilton <3 the name) is a very out going and loving.  Like all good friends though when something is being hidden she can sense it.  For the most part Tex just tries to support and be patient but that can only last so long...  The question is what do you tell your best friend when you aren't even sure what's going on yourself? 

  My biggest problem in the book is that she really lets Jamie down when he needs her the most and then he just seems to disappear for a good chunk of the book.  I really thought that he was going to be more and really felt that Ava let him down.  I totally get that there is a lot of stuff going with her but I hate that he just seems to drop off the face of the book.  I will admit though that I am super looking forward to the next book.  I am not saying that this book is slow but it picks up some major momentum at the end and then ends.  I feel the need for more and can't wait to see what Chelsea does with the next book!!

You can purchase Chelsea's book on Amazon

A little info on Chelsea: 
Chelsea M. Cameron is a YA writer from Maine. Lover of things random and ridiculous, Jane Austen/Charlotte and Emily Bronte Fangirl, red velvet cake enthusiast, obsessive tea drinker, vegetarian, former cheerleader and world's worst video gamer. When not writing, she enjoys watching infomercials, vacuuming and tweeting. She has a degree in journalism from the University of Maine, Orono that she promptly abandoned to write about the people in her own head.

She is hard at work on the sequel to Nocturnal, entitled Nightmare, due out in March 2012, as well as a series about ghosts and another series about things that go bump in the night. She's also a social networking fanatic. Find her on twitter: @chel.c.cam or follow  Chelsea's Blog

Waiting on Wednesday: Starling by Lesley Livingston



Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I am totally looking forward to Lesley Livingstons newest Starling

"Love is just the beginning... of the end."

Mason Starling is a champion fencer for Gosforth Academy, but she’s never had to fight for her life. Until now. When a ferocious storm rips through Manhattan and unleashes terrifying creatures onto Gosforth’s campus, Mason barely escapes alive. Without help from the mysterious stranger who appeared in the midst of the storm, she might not have made it at all. But now, in the aftermath, Mason’s life begins to spin dramatically, mystically out of control, and the only one who seems able to help her is the stranger who can remember nothing but his name: Fennrys Wolf.

As Mason and Fenn uncover more about Fenn’s past and the strange events that surround them, they realize that Mason’s family — and its dark allegiance to the ancient Norse gods — is at the center of everything. A predetermined fate seems to be closing in on Mason, but is it possible to change one’s destiny?

Expected publication: August 15th 2012 by HarperTeen

I personally LOVED Lesley's Wonderous Strange novels and can't wait to see what

she has turned out this time!!

What are you waiting on this week!? Please feel free to leave a link here and

I will be sure to visit you WoW.

#YABookChat Author Tiffany King & Mini Review on Meant to Be

Krista Miller feels like she has lived her entire life in a glass box with her every emotion on display. She can’t help feeling like a defect as her sensitivities have made her socially inept and without any real friends; the one exception being the boy that visits her each night in her dreams.

Krista’s emotions are put to the test when a move to California triggers a devastating change to her fantasy world. The nightly comfort that the boy provides has now become a recurring nightmare as he is taken from her by an unseen force.

Struggling to appear normal, Krista enrolls in a new school and finds it to be nothing like she thought. Her new life is sent spiraling out of control from a strange connection with a boy, Mark, who claims to know all her secrets.

As Krista begins to explore the emotions that Mark evokes in her, secrets about their mysterious past and their predestined purpose threatens to separate them just when they have found each other.

 

  Krista is emotional to say the least.  Her parents had to learn to keep their emotions in check to protect her and monitored as much of her life as they could.  Not because they were controlling but out of concern and love.  Heck Bambi had her out of it for weeks with sadness and even though she loves her parents she never really feels like she belongs.  Her father passing and a big move to Santa Cruz turns her world around and starts a series of events that seems to simply be destiny.  

 Her destiny includes some awesome characters.  Sam being my favorite and of course Mark.  Sam turns out to be just like her in so many ways that they start to write it down to try and find out what is going on.  They are too different in characteristics to be related but there has to be something that makes them so much the same.  When she first see and touches Mark she feels something so different for him and immediately feels a connection that she wants to deny.  However once she gives in a little and lets herself be around him they have such a strong connection you can't call it anything but beautiful. 

  Sometimes I can't handle the 'insta' love and I find it annoying that they don't know each other yet fall madly in love.  However Krista and Mark had something a bit more than that to me and I found more of a connection than a forced love.  No matter what they do things just don't seem right without the other and they balance each other out.  I would like to mention that it isn't only them that feel this.  There is more and that makes it a little easier to feel the connection and not be overwhelmed by the instant love.

  My biggest love in this book was the dreams.  I can't get into a lot of detail without spoiling some of the book for everyone but trust me pay attention to the dreams!!  There is so much to love in this book.  Really the characters the story and the world you learn about is a lot of fun.  Every now and then I had a minor issue with the pacing but seriously not a big issue!! I think that Tiffany King is going to kick some serious Indie butt with this series!!

  

 

Three Shorties

I had a quiet weekend, both figuratively and literally! No dance practise, just some tennis on both days, but I also tried to talk as little as possible as my throat has been a bit sore and on Friday & Saturday I had a rather funny voice. Luckily it's almost back to normal now.

I must say that this post is a rather random collection of thoughts, as the three books I'm about to write about are all totally different and range from pretty heavy stuff to the lighter side of romantic fiction! But, here comes:

The Madman of Freedom Square by Hassan Blasim
Blasim is an Iraqi-born writer and filmmaker who came to Finland as a refugee in 2004. The short story collection The Madman of Freedom Square is his first book. He wrote it in Arabic and the collection was translated into English by Jonathan Wright. Blasim's stories are powerful pictures of what life has been and is like for Iraqis either in Iraq or in exile from the time period of the Iran-Iraq War to the present. There is war and insanity, nightmarish and macabre moments in the stories, but also atempts to love, to survive, to find a way to live inspite of all the odds. One of the stories that made the biggest impression on me was Ali's Bag, where Ali, disgusted by the way his older brothers and his father always treated his mother takes his revenge after the mother's death by digging up her bones and carrying them in her old travel bag all the way to Europe in the hope of finding a safe place to bury them. My favorite story, however, was the title story The Madman of Freedom Square, mainly because first it is almost fairytale-like and much more optimistic than most, if not all the other stories, and then the ending is so dramatic! Blasim's stories are not easy reading. He writes about difficult, ugly things, but that is exactly why this is an important book. As the backcover of the book tells us "these stories afford us a rare glimpse of Iraq from the inside."

The End of the Affair by Graham Greene
Have you seen the 1999 movie made of this novel starring Ralph Fiennes and Julianne Moore? I haven't, but after reading the book I would really like to. This slim novel tells the story of a love affair between Maurice Bendrix (based on Greene himself), a writer, and Sarah Miles (based on Greene's then lover Lady Catherine Walston), the wife of civil servant Henry Miles, who Bendrix meets when he wants to get information on civil servants for a novel he is writing. We know from the start that the affair is going to end and we also know very soon than Sarah is going to die. What is interesting is how we get to the end and what happens afterwards. Greene himself has said that The End of the Affair is one of the only two books we wrote which is not melodramatic. Maybe so. At least the way some of the characters react to adultery and even death are almost too civilised. Henry Miles must really be the most understanding husband in the history of literature! Or how many betrayed husbands would not only befriend their late wife's lover but ask them move in with them? I had hard time believing some of the plot, but what I loved from the beginning was Greene's writing. This was the first novel by Graham Greene I've ever read and I want to read more just because he definitely was a very skilled writer. Mayde I'll try one of his spy stories next...

Lucky Loser by Yolanda Wallace
Last year the book I was most dissapointed in was Grand Slam by Samantha Brenner. It was supposed to be a satirical lesbian romance set in the world of women's professional tennis, but the satire was totally lost in me. When I learned that there was another novel, also this one a lesbian romance, set in the world of tennis, I approached the book with equal amount of fear and hope. :) I hoped it would be a nice read. It surely could not be as unlucky a reading experience as Grand Slam had been! And it wasn't! :)
I very seldom read romantic novels, but I'm happy I chose to read this one. Wallace had done her homework and the tennis bits were well researched, even though I must say Sinjin Smythe served a little too many aces in her Wimbledon matches! The story tells about Sinjin, a British player trying to come back from an injury and her French friend and former doubles partner Laure Fortescue, whose feelings for each other start to turn into something more than a friendship. I found it a bit amusing that Wallace had borrowed some characteristics of real tennis professionals for her fictional characters. And my only criticism (but just a tiny little one :)) comes from the fact that Laure Fortescue shared a bit too many characteristics with my all time favorite tennis player Amelie Mauresmo! However, all in all Lucky Loser was a lovely comfort read and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to read a feel good novel set in the world of tennis.
I'll add Lucky Loser into my list of LGTB books read this year.

Ok, now I'll retreat back to nursing my sore throat that is fast starting to turn into a runny nose... :-)

ps. The End of the Affair is missing from the photo as I already returned it to the library.

Review: A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink

Even angels make mistakes in this page-turning epic romance When her parents are murdered before her eyes, sixteen-year-old Helen Cartwright finds herself launched into an underground London where a mysterious organization called the Dictata controls the balance of good and evil. Helen learns that she is one of three remaining angelic descendants charged with protecting the world's past, present, and future. Unbeknownst to her, she has been trained her whole life to accept this responsibility. Now, as she finds herself torn between the angelic brothers protecting her and the devastatingly handsome childhood friend who wants to destroy her, she must prepare to be brave, to be hunted, and above all to be strong, because temptation will be hard to resist, even for an angel. Michelle Zink masterfully weaves historical fantasy with paranormal romance to create a gripping tale of love and betrayal.

Publisher: Dial Books

Published: 20 March 2012

Format: Hardback 448 pages

I don't even know where to begin with this book.  Even after sitting for a day looking over notes and trying to figure out what to tell you guys I can still mostly come up with WOW!  I am at a loss for words really .  Michelle has created an enchanting and exhilarating read.  Once you start there is no going back and every page will just pull you further into the story and a new world.  The characters are vivid, enchanting and you will feel the need to know them and want to learn more to be closer to them.  There is a slight Steampunk feel to this book and I love that!! I also love that it doesn't take over the book but enhances it.  I wish so much that I could tell you more with spoiling it for you all and will do my best to keep it as spoiler free for you as possible.

 
  The protagonist Helen is probably one of my favorite kick butt females EVER.  Loosing her parents and the life she knew was only the end of what she knew and the door into the unknown future for her.  In the face of danger she may start to loose composure but has no problem pulling it back together and getting what needs to be done, done.  This really helps when she has to escape her burning down home and find her way to Griffin and Darius Channing.  It is only here that she bit by bit learns what she really is and moment she learns what her true destiny is Helen really does step it up.  What she felt was an isolated life has actually trained her to be what she was to become.  There is no doubt in my mind and never was that Helen was going to be what she was supposed to be.  Even when she was distracted by Griffin and Raum (I mean I can't blame her) she was trying to figure out what she was supposed to be doing. 

 
  Griffin and Darius Channing are quite remarkable brothers and are not to be over looked in this book.  Darius is the older brother and is nothing if not stubborn and strong.  You can't help smile at his smart arse remarks when it comes to all things Helen.  He does not take it easy on her just because she is younger or because she lives what him and his brother went through more freshly than him.  However this is a massive advantage that Helen doesn't really know she has because even if Griffin cares for her a little tough lovin' is what she needs to be able to make it.  Darius knows this (well that and he just seems bothered by her).  Though Darius is more of the type of character that I am normally drawn to and favour I was surprised at how I came to love him but not in the way I thought I would.  Would I want him with Helen... NO.  Would I want him with me... YES.  However if I am honest with myself Anna is his match and it totally works :)

 

  Griffin... Mmmmm Griffin.... Well with that a little out of my system Griffin is such an awesome match for Helen (even if I do want him for myself).  He from the get go seems to care for her.  Even before he truly knows her or who she is there is a soft spot for Helen in Griffin's heart.  Out of the two brothers he is the more flexible and understanding one.  When it comes to Helen he is nothing but affectionate and the few times he gets upset with her it doesn't take much to bring him around and back to her.  When it comes down to it Griffin is tough and can kick some serious butt, but for the most part his main concern is protecting Helen and nothing else.  Griffin is the one that I believe Helen belongs with 100%.

  Raum is not really a good guy nor is her really a bad guy.  Well I guess he's kind of the bad guy but it's not like he really wanted to be the bad guy.  Raum comes from a hard childhood and doesn't have much left for him.  When he comes back to life in this book you find out that he has a history with Helen although neither of them realize it when everything starts happening.  When the realization comes it's like everything changes.  Raum is not immune to Helen or her kindness any more than Griffin is but their is a much more difficult and complex relationship.  I really do love Griffin but that is for Helen.  I would be lying to you if I said that I had started out with the most affections towards Raum because I hadn't.  However with time to reflect I adore Raum on an entirely different level.  With what he went through and who he became in the end you can't help but adore him.  Given the choice I now stand with Raum.

  The setting in Victorian London is wonderful!  Michelle did such a wonderful job in making the world come to life and then added a very slight steam punk edge to it.  I say very slight because to me wasn't really a big part of the book just a few minor things that gave it a bit of the twist.  I loved each time a new setting came up, as you learned more about the world and got a feel for the different areas. This is a seriously unique world that has been created and you will wish that you could set foot in it, even for just a moment.

  I can't say I had any problems with this book at all.  The pacing was wonderful and with every page turned I just fell more in love.  There was action right from the first chapter and you weren't left wondering when the story was going to start. To me there wasn't a dull moment, every moment that they were not fighting to save themselves, there was some form of action going on.  Not the physical kind but sometimes emotional and psychological kind.  The characters were well developed and really came alive and I can't help but hope that we get more of them soon. Overall  Michelle Zink has created a captivating and tantalizing read that you wont want to put down.

Normally this is where I put my rating out of 5.  So where is it you may ask.

To be honest I couldn't get over how much I loved this book even after all of

hype surrounding its release.  Normally I end up enjoying the book but let down

because it wasn't what I had hoped.  HOWEVER this book has exceeded my expectations!

So I would like you to leave this page knowing that I feel this book deserves more than a

5/5 & go forth and buy it!!!

You can purchase this book from any of the following places:

The Book Depository

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Chapters

Review: Forgiven (The Demon Trappers Series Book #3) - By Jana Oliver

Author: Jana Oliver

Website

Release Date: 3/27/2012

Purchase Info: Amazon, B & N, Book Depo

The days are growing darker for 17-year-old demon trapper Riley Blackthorne. With her father’s reanimated body back safely, Beck barely speaking to her because of a certain hunky Fallen angel, and a freshly-made deal with Lucifer, she has enough on her hands to last a normal teenage lifetime. Though she bargained with Heaven to save his life, her ex-boyfriend Simon has told the Vatican’s Demon Hunters that she’s working with Hell. So now she’s in hiding, at the top of everyone’s most-wanted list.

But it’s becoming clear that this is bigger than Riley, and rapidly getting out of control: something sinister is happening in Atlanta… or someone. The demons are working together for the first time ever and refusing to die, putting civilians in harm’s way. Riley thinks she might know who’s behind it all, but who’s going to believe her? Caught between her bargain with Heaven and her promise to Lucifer, Riley fears the final war is coming – and it may be closer than anyone thinks…

First Thought: Gut Wrenching!!

*SPOILER ALERT if you have NOT read Book #1 or #2*

Holy Demons!! (no pun intended) Never in my wildest dream would I have imagined that Jana would out do book #2 to this extreme! 

Picking up right where Soul Thief left off, Riley’s world is completely upside down. Finding her father, knowing who raised him, and realizing why it was all done sends Riley into shock. Not only has she been betrayed by someone who she thought she could trust forever, she’s worried that the Hunters from the Vatican will find her any minute and basically burn her at the stake. So now keeping her father’s body safe is top priority. But not everyone shares this idea. Enter that creeper Lord Ozy-What’s-His-Face…..yeah that necromancer who thinks he could raise Jesus….he’s out for one thing and one thing only, Paul Blackthrone. But Riley’s determined to let father go on HER terms, NOT the other way around.

During Forgiven I LOVED how Riley was able to come into her own and handle things the way she wanted to instead of listening to those around her. (i.e. Beck) You can see a change in her, how she’s had to grow up fast and has turned into not only a kick ass heroine, but a strong woman. With the high amount of emotions that are running through this whole book, I found myself crying and wanting to throw the book at the wall all in the same breath.  I guess that’s just the effect that Beck has on me, LOL.

There’s a time when you’re reading a book & you get to that point where you start thinking, ’this book is seriously wicked’, well that’s how this book was from page one. I can’t praise this book, and series, enough for you all to understand how truly amazing it is. This world & these characters were able to launch me from my small town in California, into a run down, demon infested, Atlanta of the future. I just melted into Riley’s world and never wanted to leave.  Jana’s gift of writing is absolutely superb and mind blowing. (if only she wrote faster…kidding) Though I am EXTREMELY excited about Foretold, the 4^th book in the Demon Trappers Series, yet I’m sitting on the verge of sadness simply because it means that this incredible series is slowly reaching it's end. But as they say, all good things must come to an end.

Pick this book up, A.S.A.FREAKIN.P, you will NOT regret it!

5/5

Imm #8 March 18-24

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren. If you

are interested in doing your own IMM or just looking to hop around all the

different IMM's head on over there!!


I am super happy to say I had another AMAZING week!! I have to thank so many wonderful
people for this because honestly without them I wouldn't have anything to show you!!

I was super excited when I won a signed copy of Meant to Be by Tiffany King

on twitter and after devouring that one she was kind enough to gift me

Forgotten Souls from Amazon as well!! <3

I have had Darkness Becomes Her & A Beautiful Evil on my wish list FOREVER!

I won a copy signed copy of A Beautiful Evil from Kelly Keaton, while on a chat hosted

by Yara on her blog Once Upon a Twilight.  Thank you both so much. This lit a bit of a fire

under me and I hurried out and bought Darkness Becomes Her.

I won Bewitching from Figment Fiction on Twitter

Dark House from the author Karina Halle on twitter as well

Various Swag from:

The Vicious Deep from Zoraida Cordova

Kelly Keaton sent a nice little note pad with my book

Illuminate and Of Poseidon from Michelle at The Passionate Bookworm (note

this actually came with the book 2 weeks ago I just kept forgetting SORRY)

Postcard and signed book mark from Kymberlee Burkes Miller on Facebook

For Review:

DIES IRAE & LACRIMOSA by Christine Fonseca

I bought (physical copies):

Crossed by Ally Condie

Desire by Kailin Gow

Accordance by Shelly Crane

Free Ebooks:

Descended by Blood by Angeline Kase

Anathema by Megg Jensen

The Initiate by Megg Jensen

The Mers- Ami Blackwelder

I think this will probably be my last big mailbox for awhile.  I am on a bit of a book buying

ban (unless my gift cards allow me to buy lol).

Thank you all so much for stopping by my mailbox!! This is my mailbox

what did you get in yours this week?! Please leave a link so I can make

sure to visit you as well!!

Contest Feature Friday: Fire Star Book: March Break Madness!!

May from Fire Star Books has been a regular with me since I started my #YABookChat in late Nov. 2011 and is such a wonderful person!! I know that doesn't relate to a contest but I thought you all should know anyway!! Back to the task at hand I guess what I really want to tell you about is her March Break Madness Giveaway!! This runs right up until April 16 and the prize... You guess it an ENTIRE box of books!!! If you are anything like me this is totally mind blowing and exciting!! These are her terms:

Giveaway is International!

Must be at least 18 to enter (or 13 and up with parent permission)

One entry per person

Giveaway ends April 12th at midnight
Winner will be selected via rafflecoptor and contacted through email. The winner has 48 hours to respond before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected.

Sounds super easy right?! Plus is INTERNATIONAL!! AWESOME!!!

So if you are interested in an ENTIRE box of books head on over and visit May at

Fire Star Books (clicking name takes you right 2 contest)

REVIEW: The Fire Wars by Kailin Gow

A dystopian romance that takes place on an island and is the melding of mythologies from two different cultures.
  Her destiny was written in the books...but can she change a course that has already begun thousands of years ago?
  Mackenzy Evers had moved with her mother from Angel Island to Aeros Island during her senior year. What can be worse than to finish her senior year at a new school?
  Living during the post-Erosion period on Earth where there is less land than before, Mac is happy to discover an island of rich beauty and lush landscapes, not to mention mysterious handsome boys and an ancient prophecy that is set to come true in Mac's lifetime.   Chance Cutter claims she is his Queen, his goddess to his Fire King, whom he had been searching for years. Their attraction to each other is undeniable, yet why does he seem to hate her? And who is she really?

Edition: Paperback, 262 pages

 Released: October 17th 2011

Published by The Edge Publishing



Review:

   I have been super about this book since I first spotted it on Kailin Gow's blog!! I mean a dystopian book that is filled with Gods and Goddess how could I not be excited!  It took awhile to figure it out but finally I managed to get it from The Book Depository and there was no going back from there!! This book was a fantastic read with great characters and a vivid and very possible new world in it.  The God/Goddess edge to it is what really made the book though.  As the title suggests there is you fire gods but you also have you water ones as well and everything divides from there.  I wont go into too much detail as I don't want to ruin any of the book for you but so much of this book relies on our protagonist Mac and the role she may or may not play. 

  Upon her arrival nothing seems to be foreign to her but rather she feels like she is home.  Which even to her is strange as she has just arrived and had to leave behind all of her friends and the place she has lived for years before this.  She is almost immediately introduced to Chance Cutter who is not at all the nice guy she thought he might be upon hearing of him but he makes up for it in sheer attraction! Varun Cutter though not lacking in looks is the complete opposite of his cousin and is sweet and seems to calm Mac with his touch. I really enjoyed Mac for the most part.  The girl was thrown into this world that she had no idea existed and almost right away had accepted her role.  With the exception of feeling maybe she went a little nuts on the way but I liked that she did as it made her a little more real to me.  Acceptance is key but questioning makes her real.

   I for the most part was as torn as Mac was when it came to Chance and Varun.  Going into this book I had watched the trailer and knew that there was bound to be some hot guys but I was not prepared for the level these guys were on.  Varun on page 92 total swoon and Chance on 114 infuriated me in an I want more kind of way!! There is no point in saying that I wasn't torn between the two guys just as Mac was.  They both know how to raise your pulse at any given scene!!  However I will say I felt a much stronger pull to Chance and if told to choose a team it would be Team Chance ALL THE WAY!!

  This book is a step outside of the normal dystopian with its mythological twist but is a better book for it. Anyone that loves a good mythology will adore this book!!  The dystopian edge was just a bonus and I know that it is a very popular genre right now so in a competitive and growing market this book will have no problem standing out and raising the bar.  Kailin Gow has done a wonderful job and I can't wait to start Fire Stones very soon!

5/5

Paperback Release & Giveaway: The Taker - By Alma Katsu

Finally The Taker is coming out in a Trade Paperback, and may I say this cover is STUNNING!
I can't wait to see how pretty it is in person :)



To celebrate The Taker's paperback release Alma has very generously put together an amazing Fan Pack for me to giveaway!

There are some seriously AWESOME goodies in this bad boy!!

Wine Label

Bookmarks

Bookplate

Post-Its

Pens

AND

1 Paperback Copy of The Taker




If you want to stalk Alma go here:

Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Website


Want to just buy your own copy of The Taker?


Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Books-A-Million

Waiting on Wednesday: Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week my pick is Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama:

Fierce, seductive mermaid Syrenka falls in love with Ezra, a young naturalist. When she abandons her life underwater for a chance at happiness on land, she is unaware that this decision comes with horrific and deadly consequences. Almost one hundred forty years later, seventeen-year-old Hester meets a mysterious stranger named Ezra and feels overwhelmingly, inexplicably drawn to him. For generations, love has resulted in death for the women in her family. Is it an undiagnosed genetic defect . . . or a curse? With Ezra’s help, Hester investigates her family’s strange, sad history. The answers she seeks are waiting in the graveyard, the crypt, and at the bottom of the ocean—but powerful forces will do anything to keep her from uncovering her connection to Syrenka and to the tragedy of so long ago.

Hardcover, 295 pages

Expected publication: September 4th 2012 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

 

I would like to point out that this is another AMAZING release that is set to launch on my

Birthday :) I have found a couple really awesome books that will be must haves for that day!!

However I don't just want this book because it releases on my birthday but because I love a

good mermaid story.  For so long they had faded into the back ground and they are really

making a strong come back now!!

 

This is what I am waiting on this Wednesday what are you waiting on?!

Leave me a link and I will head over and check it out!!



First Day of Sun Tour Guest Post: Sheryl Steines

Sheryl Steines is equal parts driven, passionate and inspired. With a degree in English from Wright State University, Steines dedicates time everyday to her art. Her love of books and a quality story drives her to share her talent with her readers as well as make the time to talk to book clubs and students about her process.

Sheryl has eclectic tastes and enjoys character driven novels. In her own writing, the Annie Loves Cham series is driven by her love of the characters and her desire to place them in totally new situations. She enjoys testing their mettle.

Behind the wheel of her ’66 Mustang Convertible, Sheryl is a constant surprise. Her sense of humor and relatable style make her books something everyone can enjo...moAbout the Author

Sheryl Steines' mind is chaotic and surprising and it shows in her writing. Never one to sit back and see what may come, Sheryl is driven to write everyday. Somehow, amidst the chaos, she finds the time to volunteer and give talks to book clubs and students about her writing. She even walked the Avon Breast Cancer walk two years in a row.

Sheryl's series Annie Loves Cham is full of surprises and mystery. Refusing to be restricted by genre Sheryl has taken the characters she loves and set them in new situations which test them and their friendships. The second book in the series is set to release in late summer 2012.

Sheryl can be found on Twitter, Facebook, or her blog. She also encourages her readers to email her and let her know what you think of Annie and Cham!

  Now I am lucky to say I have the chance to post this awesome guest port for this tour! Please take some time read it and then read all the details of the tour!! There is prizes and I totally do not want you to miss out!!!



The Strong Female- Sheryl Steines

I am always amazed to hear that, in the year 2012, women are still talking about strong female characters. It’s funny that we’re always surprised when one comes along. Even in Hollywood, actresses still can’t find roles to sink their teeth into. As a reader, I look for characters that I can relate to in some way; a character who is more than a damsel in distress but less than an unfeeling, mean, witch. I’m putting it gently, but I’m looking for someone, who when facing a problem, doesn’t necessarily need a man to bail her out–a woman who can take care of herself in spite of her vulnerabilities. Because in reality, women are multi-layered and complex. We don’t fall to one end of an extreme or the other.
When I was younger, I started reading Danielle Steele, but I couldn’t read her for long. Her female characters were far too needy and always put themselves in a position of requiring a savior. Even as a child, I couldn’t help but wonder why these characters always needed a man to improve their lives. Why couldn’t they simply take care of themselves? It seemed as though female characters fell into two camps, and only two. They were either villains, witches, someone to be hated and despised, or they were weak, pathetic, your classic damsels in distress. Why is fiction lacking real women, women who can simply be human and celebrate all that they are?
As I got older, I found myself drawn to shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I saw in Buffy a strong character. Yes, she could kick ass, kill the vampires and fight the demons. She also had a brain, could plan, and could save the world each week. But she wasn’t uni-dimensional. She also has a side that liked clothes, shoes and boys, a side that was feminine, a little vulnerable; a side that, okay, sometimes needed to be saved. She was a complex female character, real and human, a character with whom I could definitely relate.
The strong female character isn’t a caricature or stereotype. She’s not a total wimp like Snow White, and she’s not a total monster like the evil queen. She falls somewhere in the middle. She’s reactive, emotional, human, sexual, confident and sometimes unsure of herself.
When I originally wrote my character Annie Pearce in The Day of First Sun, I wrote her as a no-nonsense person, strong and smart, the girl who could survive on her own. But she didn’t feel genuine. As the story unfolded and changed, I rewrote her, gave her friends and family with whom she could interact. I gave her feelings, gave her stress. I let the other characters take charge once in awhile and offer some support. I melded two halves into one woman–a strong woman, who can take care of herself and ask for help when necessary. We’re not perfect, so why should our characters be? Instead, why can’t we make them simply authentic?
Charlize Theron made a really compelling comment regarding her character in the movie Young Adult. She said, “Women are usually either really good prostitutes or really good mothers. Maybe women are finally getting the chance to play more honest characters,” Theron said. “We usually don’t get to play bad hookers or bad mothers — or anything in between.”
Maybe it’s time to be a little more real and a little more honest.



As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Day of First Sun eBook edition is just 99 cents this week. What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes. The prizes include $450 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of the book.
All the info you need to win one of these amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment–easy to enter; easy to win!
To win the prizes:

1. Purchase your copy of The Day of First Sun for just 99 cents
2. Fill-out the simple form on Novel Publicity
3. Visit today’s featured social media event

Help my blog win:
The tour blogger who receives the most votes in the traffic-breaker poll will win a $100 gift card. When you visit Novel Publicity’s site to fill-out the contest entry form, don’t forget to VOTE FOR ME.
About the book: A vampire, a rogue wizard and an army of soulless zombies are par for the course for Annie Pearce and Bobby “Cham” Chamsky of the Wizard’s Guard. But when the non-magical princess, Amelie of Amborix, is murdered by magical means, a deeper plot unfolds. Get it on Amazon.
About the author: Behind the wheel of her ’66 Mustang Convertible, Sheryl is a constant surprise, using her sense of humor and relatable style make her books something everyone can enjoy. Visit Sheryl on her website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.