Saturday, May 21, 2011

Darkness Becomes Her by Kelley Keaton

Darkness Becomes Her (Gods & Monsters, #1)
Tittle: Darkness Becomes Her
Author: Kelley Keaton
Series: Gods & Monsters #1
Published: February 22, 2011 by Simon Pulse
Ages: 14 and up


Author's Website


Synopsis:
Ari can’t help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can’t be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is.
Her search for answers uncovers just one message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it’s impossible to protect herself when she doesn’t know what she’s running from or why she is being pursued.
She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very...different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of her.
Ari won’t stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.

My review:
This book was really good. Amazing actually. It started off with action and it developed fairly quickly. Loved the fact that you couldn't get bored with it or put it down. Since the beginning you just know that it will be great. 
Ari is an orphan girl who consideres herself a freak for her teal eyes and silvery hair, who is determined to find out more about her past and what happened to her mother, so she head off to New 2, which is the new New Orleans after the hurricanes that struck and destroyed the city but is no longer part of the U.S. New 2 is now owned by The Novem, and the place is rumored to be full of supernatural creatures and all sorts of crazy stories. But are they real? 
It all begins from there as she makes new friends and meets Sebastian, who she supposedly falls in love, though this new found love develops too quickly for me. One moment they seem to dislike each other and then the next she has feelings for him and he likes her. It felt somehow forced. 
But the mythology in it was really good. A very good end with a twist that I loved. Who would have thought?  I mean, when I finally figured out what she was I couldn't believe it! I was so surprised. 

Rating: 4.0


Book Trailer






Courtney Allison Moulton: BEA Week Epic ANGELFIRE Giveaway!

Courtney Allison Moulton: BEA Week Epic ANGELFIRE Giveaway!

Gotta get it! Awesome giveaway!

Can't Wait For It!

9780061735103

On sale: 7/5/2011 



Book Description
Meena Harper has a special gift, but it’s only now that anyone’s ever appreciated it. The Palatine Guard—a powerful secret demon-hunting unit of the Vatican—has hired her to work at their new branch in Lower Manhattan. With Meena’s ability to predict how everyone she meets will die, the Palatine finally has a chance against the undead.
Sure, her ex-boyfriend was Lucien Anton­escu, son of Dracula, the prince of darkness. But that was before he (and their relationship) went up in flames. Now Meena’s sworn off vampires for good . . . at least until she can prove her theory that just because they’ve lost their souls doesn’t mean demons have lost the ability to love.
Meena knows convincing her co-workers—including her partner, über-demon-hunter Alaric Wulf—that vampires can be redeemed won’t be easy . . . especially when a deadly new threat seems to be endangering not just lives of the Palatine, but Meena’s friends and family as well.
But Meena isn’t the Palatine’s only hope. Father Henrique—aka Padre Caliente—New York City’s youngest, most charming priest, has also been assigned to the case.
So why doesn’t Meena—or Alaric—trust him?
As she begins unraveling the truth, Meena finds her loyalties tested, her true feelings laid bare . . . and temptations she never even imagined existed impossible to resist.
This time, Meena may finally have bitten off more than she can chew.

The first book was one that made me laugh a lot but also feel for Meena and Lucian. It was ironic that Meena was tired of listening to everyone talk about how great vampires are and then she meets a real vampire who she falls in love with. I loved Lucian, even though he was kind of your typical vampire who didn't want to kill the heroine and all that. Still, who doesn't love a classic vampire story? This story was just awesome. So, More Meena and Lucien? GREAT! Can't wait for it!

Enjoy the reading!


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Friday, May 20, 2011

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Unleash The Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon

This is how I imagine Wren looks like out of all the covers of the book
Series:  Dark-Hunter Series #9 Were-Hunter #3
Released: December 27, 2005
Paperback, 384 pages
You can purchase this here
Synopsis:
It's a predator eat predator world for the Were-Hunters. Danger haunts any given day. There is no one to trust. No one to love. Not if they want to live…
An orphan with no clan that will claim him, Wren Tigarian grew to adulthood under the close scrutiny and mistrust of those around him. A forbidden blend of two animals—snow leopard and white tiger—Wren has never listened to anyone when there was something he wanted. Now he wants Marguerite.
Marguerite D'Aubert Goudeau is the daughter of a prominent U.S. Senator who hates the socialite life she's forced to live. Like her mother before her, she has strong Cajun roots that her father doesn't understand. Still, she has no choice but to try and conform to a world where she feels like an outsider. But the world of rich and powerful humans is never to meet the world of the Were-Hunters who exist side by side with them, unseen, unknown, undetected. To break this law is to call down a wrath of the highest order.
In order to have Marguerite, Wren must fight not just the humans who will never accept his animal nature, but the Were-Hunters who want him dead for endangering their world. It's a race against time and magic without boundary that could cost Marguerite and Wren not just their lives, but their very souls…



My Review: 
As always, Sherrilyn Kenyon delivered a fast-paced packed with action thriller. I've followed this series for quite a while and I loved this one, though I was a little disappointed that there was no 'save the world' pressure like in her previous books. This one was good, of course, but I expected a little bit more. Not just from the plot but from the characters as well.
Wren, being a freak among his kind has always been alone and very aggressive after what happened to him when he was a cub. All that he went through made it impossible for him to trust anyone because 'friends' were only people with a VIP pass to 'screw you over' at the first chance they got. That is, until he meets Marguerite Goudeau and all bets are off. 
They fell in love pretty quickly but it was still sweet to read on as Maggie, as she preferred to be called, tamed the beast inside of Wren, who everyone though was going mad due to his aggressiveness, which is how everything exploded. 
Maman, the Katagari owner of Sanctuary where Wren has lived for the past twenty something years want Wren out of her hair because of the threat he poses for their kind if he decided to go all crazy on them and expose them. So when the opportunity presents she declares against him and he gets a death sentence.
Maggie accepted things too easily and some MAJOR stuff that happened shouldn't have been taken so lightly like, let's say, your boyfriend drops by in tiger form, among other things, of course. The Sex scenes were fairly sizzling but not disgusting that made you feel like you were reading porn or something. They merely showed off the love and 'need' that Maggie and Wren had for each other. Although, I felt like she jumped too quickly into a bed with him. I mean, she barely knew the guy and next thing you know she's having sex with him.
Still, I loved the book and the fact that other characters from past books appeared here. It's always good to see new faces too and overall, this couldn't have been any better. 

Ginga>


Wednesday, May 18, 2011

News about Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Guess what? Guess what? There's a synopsis for Bloodlines! Yes! We'll finally have more info on what will happen next in the Vampire world that Mead has created and will probably only be left wanting more but I'm more than sure that the wait will be very much worth it when we finally get our hands on that book. Ahem. Sorry, got a little carried away there. 
Here's the synopsis. 


BLOOD DOESN'T LIE
Sydney is an alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of human and vampires. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives. When Sydney is torn from her bed in the middle of the night, at first she thinks she's still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway. But what unfolds is far worse. Jill Dragomir - the sister of Moroi Queen Lissa Dragomir - is in mortal danger, and the Moroi must send her into hiding.
To avoid a civil war, Sydney is called upon to act as Jill's guardian and protector, posing as her roommate in the last place anyone would think to look for vampire royalty - a human boarding school in Palm Springs, California. But instead of finding safety at Amberwood Prep, Sydney discovers the drama is only just beginning.
Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood.
We already knew most of the info here but doesn't it feel more... real now that we have solid proof of it? I don't know about y'all but I'm super excited and can't wait to get my hands on this book. 


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The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

The Goddess Test (Goddess Test #1)
Title: The Goddess Test
Author: Aimee Carter
Published: April 19th 2011 by Harlequin Teen


Synopsis:
It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.
Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.
Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.


My Review:

I requested the Galley because after reading the synopsis I decided that this book was most definitely for me! I love Greek Mythology, something I recently discovered last year thanks to my English teacher (Everyone clap for Mrs. K.), who made us read The Odyssey and we had to do some further research about it. My point is, I love this myth in particular and I'm guessing a lot of people do too because while it isn't very romantic, who wants to be kidnapped and sent to the Underworld against his/her will?, it is very... different.
Kate's situation was really hard. Her mother was dying and she wasn't ready to give her up yet. It was the desire to keep her mother alive for as long as possible that drove her to agree to Henry's bargain. Henry is the god of the Underworld, who is also still in love with Persephone even though, according to Mrs. Carter's story, she never loved him. Dark and brooding, Henry is the perfect match. 
Anyhow, I loved Henry (Hades, get it? lol.) He was such a gentleman, taking things slowly, though a bit manipulative at times. But then again, who wouldn't be like that if they had such little time to find a replacement for Persephone or fade away and had to watch out for a murderer who killed the other contestants? 
The relarionship between Kate and Henry was very sweet and it developed with time, which was more than good enough for me. Kate accepted to try to be successful in the trails just so Henry would keep her mother alive but as she got to know him better and his reasons as to why he was so... lonely and sometimes cold, she fell in love with him and decided to give him a chance. If your going to be the goddess of the Underworld and reign with Hades might as well get the whole package, right? 
The writing was very good. The plot awesome. And the end magnificent! I did not see it coming. At all. I was very surprised. Everything was resolved and handed over in a silver plate at the end. 

Rating: 5.0

A Season Of Eden by Jennifer Laurens


Title: A Season of Eden

Author: Jennifer Laurens


Published October 20th 2008 by Grove Creek Publishing

Author's Website

Facebook 

Twitter 


Rating: 5.0

Synopsis:

He's my teacher. I shouldn't be alone with him. But I can't help that he's irresistible. I let the door silently close at my back. He stared at me, and a taut quiet stretched between us. "I like hearing you play," I said, moving toward him. He turned, in sync with my slow approach. He looked up at me but didn't say anything. I rested my clammy hand on the cold, slick body of the baby grand. "May I?" The muscles in his throat shifted, then he swallowed. "Eden." My knees weakened, like a soft tickling kiss had just been blown against the backs of them. "Is it okay?" I asked. His gaze held mine like two hands joined. He understood what I was really asking. "Let me stay," I said. "Please." "You're going to get me in trouble," he said.



My review
OK,so I am going to tell you the truth.......I haven't read in long time and when Gen insisted I read this book I was a bit hesitant.Now all I can say is that I'm glad she persisted. First of all, The apple in the cover is so ironic since wouldn't that be the correct thing you would offer a teacher? An apple to say that you appreciate them teaching you. Yet it is also the symbol of the forbidden fruit in Adam and Eve's sin. Hmm ,just think about that for a second. This book was heart pounding at times and sweet at others. But it was most definitely charged with sexual tension. You could feel the chemistry between Eden and Mr.Christian. I don't know how the others couldn't feel it sizzling in the air. I mean, come on, you got to admit that you have had a crush on at least one of your teachers before. 
Eden the protagonist in this book is a rich girl who has it all, friends and a boyfriend who seems to love her. But all that becomes childish when she meets her new choir teacher, Mr. Christian. The instant they meet sparks fly and from then on it's impossible for them to stay apart. Eden begins to like him more and more as time goes on and she gets to know him better. 
This book was so good because it kept you one the edge of your seat thinking, "When are they going to hook up?" and then "Oh man!." The whole book revolved around Mr. Christian and Eden as they struggled to have a relationship even though it's forbidden because she's his student. It was one of the sexiest books I've ever read without the sex part. That's exactly what keeps you reading the book. It's sweet and just perfect. 
Now, the music. Oh, the classical music. Who doesn't like a guy with good taste in music and magic hands? Uh? Ahem. Yeah. That's what I loved the most about Mr. Christian, his sweetness, good manners and passion for Music. He was the perfect man, yeah, a man and not a boy, which is the only thing Eden knows. 
So, what are you waiting for? Do you need more to go to the store and buy the book or something? Have I not given you enough reasons yet?
Love. Sexual tension. Sweetness. And amazing music! Not to mention a man worth putting make up on! Swoon. :D 


Book Trailer



This second video contains a lot of spoilers! I just posted it for those of you who would love to see it AFTER reading the book. 



Personally, I like both videos but there's something about the guy who plays Mr. Christian in the second video that I liked better than the first one. The second video has dialogue and lines from the book, you can watch it but it will probably give a lot away. Still, don't say I didn't warn you. 


My question is, which guy looks more like Mr. Christian to you? Which video do you prefer? 


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Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Interview with Elana Johnson

Today we're here with Elena Johnson, the author of the upcoming book Possession. You can read my review on it here.

Image of "Elana Johnson"



Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I love reality TV and watching movies with my family. I teach elementary school computers, and I write angry teen girl novels set in the future. I like all things with salted, cured meats, and I never get enough sleep. If I could, I’d sell my house and live in a different city every week. There’s nothing better than staying in a hotel and eating out. No dishes. No cooking.

Who is your favorite character from a book?
Professor Snape. That man is evil, right? He hates Harry Potter. He’s working with the Dark Lord. We all hate him, but in the end, he’s none of those things. Professor Dumbledore trusts him. Should we?

That kind of complex character is brilliant.

When did you come up with the idea for Possession and where did it come from?
I had just read my first dystopian novel, and I didn’t even know the term for the genre. But I knew I wanted to write a book like that. I also knew I needed a society, so I started thinking. I finally landed on a question that spurred the creation of my world: “What if people couldn’t make their own choices?”

Everything was downhill from there.

Was Possession the original name of the book?
No, the book was originally titled CONTROL ISSUES. My editor and I thought it sounded a little young and a little on the “punny” side. My book is neither young nor full of puns. So we changed it.

How did you come up with the characters? Or did they come to you first?
My characters always come to me first. Sometimes violently and loud. Sometimes slowly and in whispers. I just do my best to capture them while they’re inside my head.

Which one is your favorite character, Jag or Zenn?
I love them both for different reasons. I love Jag for his black-and-white attitude, his approach with handling Vi without care (sometimes), and his ability to say exactly what needs to be said when it needs to be said. He’s loud and brash and “bad.”

But Zenn is loveable too. He’s quieter. More gray. But he loves Vi just as much as Jag—probably more—and there’s something to be said for the softer, quieter guy.

So I love them both.

You classified your world into two:  Baddies and Goodies. What is the meaning of them?
And that’s the million-dollar question. I’m hoping readers will be able to determine that for themselves, so I respectfully take the 5th here. *grins*

If you had Vi’s or Jag’s powers to control people what would you do with it?
Oh, I wouldn’t want it. I don’t want to have to decide, though it would be nice to be able to control people to drive faster on the freeway. Or at least move over so I can pass, you know?

How did you come up with all the tech and what is your favorite piece of tech?
The tech in POSSESSION just appeared on the page when I needed it. I didn’t set out to write technological gadgets into the book. It just happened. I think the first scene I wrote with tech was the tag. That was, and still is, one of my favorite scenes in the novel.

Why did you pair two people who could control each other together? Was it intentional or were you in the dark about Jag’s powers like Vi?
Jag has always been much more vibrant in my head. I knew all about him, because he won’t shut up. And he and Vi get along so well, because they’re so alike, yet so different. That’s sort of a match made in heaven for me, so it felt natural for them to be together.

Can you tell us a little bit about what the sequel will be about? Or if there will be one? (I'm hoping there will be one because of THE CLIFFHANGER!) 
Ah, that cliffhanger is actually called something else. I’m not sure I should say, or it will give away the ending. But POSSESSION was written with the intention of being a stand-alone novel. It just doesn’t fit the mold of what people think a stand-alone novel should be, but not every book is the first of a trilogy. And some books just end the way they do and the reader has to draw their own conclusions about what might have happened next. 

How did you come up with all the elements and problems in Possession? There are some pretty heavy stuff there.
I do not outline at all, so I discover the story as I’m writing. Whatever pours onto the page, pours onto the page. I have to decide which veins to keep, and which ones I can’t sew up at the end. So the problems and elements of POSSESSION came organically as I was writing, and I kept the ones that were A) the worst, and/or B) I could use to advance the plot toward the end I had in mind.

Who do you think is right, The Thinkers or the Baddies? Do you have a side?
I think they’re both right, depending on the issue at hand. Isn’t that how life is? We can see both sides to a situation, and we’re not sure which is best? I think it’s important to examine ourselves, really think about what we believe, and move forward in our lives from there. I think the society and government in POSSESSION reflects real life.


Thanks to Elana Johnson for giving me the chance to review her awesome book. You rock Elana Johnson. 


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Georgina Kincaid Series by Richelle Mead

Succubus Blues (Georgina Kincaid, #1)
Title(s): Succubus Blues, Succubus On Top, Succubus Dreams, Succubus Heat, Succubus Shadows
Author: Richelle Mead
Release: 2007-2010 
Age Group: Adult 18+ 



Richelle Mead, what comes to mind at the mention of her name? Well... Amazing author! That's what comes to my mind. She's so good that she made me cry in her series Vampire Academy. I don't cry when reading books. Ever. Unless it's a really, really good emotional book. Yet, I cried. So when I heard that she also wrote Urban Fantasy for adults I had to give it a try. 
When I began reading this series I didn't know much about Succubi but by the end of the first book I considered myself an expert. I also did my research and at first I was like "Hmm, get sex and immortality. Hmm. What's wrong with that?" Well, after reading the first book was like "Oh, hell no! No Succubi! No way, no how!" Yeah, the plot line for Georgina was that messed up. 
Georgina Kincaid is a Succubus who must feed from the energy out of men when they have sex in order for them to stay alive, which takes years off of the poor pal they seduce.  They can shape shift into anything, usually a hot girl, to get men to notice them. She is pretty much a master at seducing men.
But. Yes, there's always a but there somewhere. Because Georgina happens to start to fall in love with Seth Mortensen, her favorite author. 
I'd never read about Succubi before but in my opinion this plot line was awesome. 
Georgina, basically, can't sleep with Seth. Actually, she can. But she refuses because she doesn't want to hurt Seth no matter what. 
But I'm getting ahead of myself right here. You need to know Georgina's background first to understand her and to know how she got to where she is right now.
Gergina grew up in the Mediterranean centuries ago as the daughter of a wealthy man. She fell in love when she was young (or not so young back then) and got married with the man she loved. Unfortunately, and just like in many other books, she made a mistake and it was heart ache that led her to make a deal with an Imp. She sold her soul to him and in exchange he made everyone she knew forget about her so no one would know about the mistake she made. However, she didn't realize the extent of this new mistake that would make her regret it for eternity.
Yup. Tragic. 
In the present Georgina works at a  bookstore, which is where she meets Seth. She lives a pretty decent life, save the seducing men and condemning their souls to hell, of course, and is well loved by her co-workers. No one knows that she's a demon because 1)she appears to be a beautiful woman, 2) she can shape shift into anything, which, once again, helps her get the men. Like many other supernatural in the fiction genre, (much like Vampires actually) she clings to her humanity and is not evil at all even though she works for hell. 
She has Vampire friends, also an Imp friend, besides her co-workers and is well-liked by all of them.  Then there is Jerome, the Archdemon that rules her and her other hellish friends. The funny thing is that he looks like John Cusack (he won't admit it but he's a great fan of the actor. Let's not forget Carter. He's  a 'fucking' angel as Georgina often describes him because he drives her crazy with how secretive he is and that she can never get a straight answer out of him. There's also her friend Bastien, who is an Incubi, the counterpart of Succubi. (You'll read more about him in the series. He only appears once.)
Now, when it comes to Seth, I can't resist him. He's such a great guy. He cares that she has to sleep with other men to stay alive and is understanding about! ???? I know, I couldn't believe it either. He's just awesome like that and his soul is pure. Throughout the series their problem is that she refuses to sleep with him and steal years of his life. She loves him that much! Their love is so... intense that you can't help it but want them to end up together. 
The thing about this series is that you won't get bored. Oh, no. There's just the right amount of romance and fantasy involved in the book. You will also enjoy the steamy, yet romantic adult scenes. They are very cool without making you feel like your reading porn or anything. That's how cool Mead is. 
So? Want to read it? I hope so. 
The sixth installment in the series is called Succubus Revealed and it will come out in August 2011.  


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‘Hush, Hush’ Author Becca Fitzpatrick (And Fans) Help Shape Graphic Novel

‘Hush, Hush’ Author Becca Fitzpatrick (And Fans) Help Shape Graphic Novel

I've enjoyed reading about Nora and Patch and I'm glad that their books will be made into a Graphic Novel. I just can't wait to see the rest of the characters. Patch looks just... (swoon) hot. Isn't a little too hot in here, though? It must be Patch's pic. Yes. He's awesome.
Can't wait to read it (And see it).
Spread the word.

Awakened by P.C & Kristin Cast (Quick Review)


Awakened (House of Night, #8) by P.C. and Kristin Cast

Release Date: January 4th, 2011

Synopsis:
At the start of Awakened, the pulse-pounding eighth installment of the bestselling House of Night series, Zoey has returned, mostly whole, from the Otherworld to her rightful place as High Priestess at the House of Night. Her friends are just glad to have her back, but after losing her human consort, Heath, will Zoey—or her relationship with her super- hot Warrior, Stark—ever be the same? Stevie Rae is drawn even closer to Rephaim, the Raven Mocker with whom she shares a mysterious and powerful Imprint, but he is a dangerous secret that isolates her from her school, her red fledglings, and even her best friends. When the dark threat of Neferet—who is coming closer and closer to achieving her twisted goal of immortality—and Kalona returns, what will it take to keep the House of Night from being lost forever, and what will one desperate girl do to keep her heart from being irreparably broken?

My Review:
It's been a while since it came out and I refused to read it because it had been a while since i read Burned. I had no idea this book would be as good as it was. I've followed The House of Night series for a while now and because there are so many books it felt like the author was just dragging the story longer that it should, I stopped reading. The book was good, yeah. But the story is just being dragged. 
I've seen many points in which they should have been able to deaf 'Darkness' and they haven't. While it is a good read, very entertaining, I doubt I'll keep reading the series. I just got tired of Zoey and her whiny friends. At first the series was really good, that's why it got so many fans, and had really good points. But then I began to realize that it wasn't nearly as good anymore. Because, c'mon, who says bullpoopie? Or has such accentuated accent like Stevie Rae? Seriously? 
Besides, it has no action whatsoever. None. At least not until the end. And isn't this series about Zoey and her so many boyfriends? Stevie Rae totally stole the romance from Zoey with Rephaim. Her romance was the only thing that kept me reading the book. I wanted to find out what happened. Other than that, I didn't enjoy it. 
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