Teaser Tuesday

Here are the rules:

1. Grab your current read

2. Open to a page

3. Pick out 2 lines that are SPOILER FREE

4. Name the title, author, etc.

 

 

I sooooo love this teaser I picked! See if you can figure out the reference! Bonus points for getting the right version of the show correct! I loved that show! Also loved the Ghostbusters references I read earlier as well!

 

 

"'Look,' I say. 'We're not all going to jump in a green van and go take her out with the help of the Harlen Globetotters. Anyone who goes back into that house is dead.'" p 92

TITLE: Anna Dressed in Blood
AUTHOR: Kendare Blake
PUBLISHER: Tor Teen 

GENRE: Paranormal YA 

RELEASE DATE: August 30, 2011

Review--Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-kills-people story... 

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead. 

So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father’s mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay. 

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn’t expect anything outside of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he’s never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home. 

And she, for whatever reason, spares his life.

Finally read Kendare Blake's Anna Dressed in Blood and it was fabulous! I was first worried that this "blood red" text would irritate my eyes, but the red was actually pretty dark. Which was nice and did give it the nice "bloody" effect! 

The male protagonist was somewhat new to me, only read a few books with that, but it was still fun and entertaining! Cas is a teenage ghost hunter and he is pretty fierce himself. He is determined to kill as many ghosts as possible and then go after the one who murdered his father. Anna Dressed in Blood is just another number for him. Until he actually sees/meets her.

When Cas sees her for the first time, he is surprised when she doesn't kill him. She's been known to kill EVERYONE who has stepped foot into her house. Yet she spares Cas. And Cas wonders why.

With his motley crew, consisting of the Prom Queen, Carmel and the quiet nerdy, yet psychic Thomas, they are determined to put an end to Anna's reign. But there is just something about Anna that causes Cas to hesitate and he never hesitates when it comes to ghosts. Especially murderous ghosts. 

Cas and his new friends do a little digging into Anna's past to find out who she was, what happened to her and why she is on a murderous rampage with people who enter her house. What they discover will change the way Cas sees things when it comes to ghosts.

But that is only the beginning of his ghost issues, there seems to be another sector in town who is painting the town red.

I was truly surprised by how bloody the story was! I know everyone was saying the same thing, but you really can't believe it until you read it for yourself! And since I was reading it while home alone, it made for an even creepier read! Every time the house creaked I got a little jumpy! And I looked at our crawlspace entrance with wary eyes! It was a downright creepy read and I totally LOVED it!

Ghost stories are hard to come by, but I have been reading quite a few lately--Tara Hudson, as one of them--and Anna Dressed in Blood takes the ghost story to a whole new level. It was different because it wasn't a matter of a love story or trying to solve the ghost's murder. It was actually about a ghost murdering people--yet there's a whole other story behind that! Which was just shocking!

The pacing was done very very well! Cas moves to the new town and expects things to go like every other ghost hunt, yet he learns how wrong he is! It results into a thrill ride of a ghost story! Anna does have reasons for the way she is and I can feel confident in saying that you will not see it coming! I didn't! (But of course, I will believe someone if he/she said he/she saw this coming, if he/she tells me how he/she did at least!--yes I had to go the he/she route, I am an English major after all!)

Overall this was a highly enjoyable read! A nice dark, gritty and yes, BLOODY story! You gotta love the darker edge of YA sometimes! And Blake so fits the bill! I cannot wait to read the next book as this ones ends with a bit of cliffhanger--kind of, the ending at least leaves you screaming, WHY! Anna Dressed in Blood was, simply put, THRILLING!

Overall rating 5/5 stars

ARC Review--Rift by Andrea Cremer

Chronicling the rise of the Keepers, this is the stunning prequel to Andrea Cremer's internationally bestselling Nightshade trilogy!

Sixteen-year-old Ember Morrow is promised to a group called Conatus after one of their healers saves her mother's life. Once she arrives, Ember finds joy in wielding swords, learning magic, and fighting the encroaching darkness loose in the world. She also finds herself falling in love with her mentor, the dashing, brooding, and powerful Barrow Hess. When the knights realize Eira, one of their leaders, is dabbling in dark magic, Ember and Barrow must choose whether to follow Eira into the nether realm or to pledge their lives to destroying her and her kind.

With action, adventure, magic, and tantalizing sensuality, this book is as fast-paced and breathtaking as the Nightshade novels.

I received this ARC (for review) at the RT Booklover's Convention via the Goody Room!

So yeah, I went a little spastic when I saw Rift in the Goody Room at RT a few months ago! Needless to say it was the first book I grabbed! And it was wicked awesome! Granted I couldn't remember the history of this upcoming story that we got bits and pieces of in the Nightshade trilogy. I was a little lost, but then I told myself to just stop trying to remember something that I obviously wasn't going to remember!

The story was good! Ember was an outstanding character! She was fierce, much like Calla was! I really enjoyed seeing Ember go through her struggles, she really grows. The book has a fairy tale like quality in that when her mother was about to give birth there were complications, and it was quite possible neither would survive. So the group Conatus steps in, saying that when Ember reaches her 16th birthday, she was to come join them. 16 is such a lucky or unlucky age in this manner!

Ember was actually excited about this, for her father had mundane plans of marrying her off to the highest bidder. He was not an affectionate father and the things he did to try to keep her with him were not heartfelt either.

Barrow Hess! Oh man, what a guy he was! We know right away, without being told by the cover description, that he and Ember are going to have some sparks flying between them! (Ha! an unintended pun!) But it's a love that grows ever so slowly, and to me, those are the best kinds. I don't go for insta-love.

When Ember comes to the place where Conatus calls home, she is about to learn a whole lot about the world around her and the creatures that live there! It was quite exciting! It's like getting a new look at the world we sort of knew from Nightshade!

And of course there's the evil lurking in the shadows as well, causing chaos for Ember and her new friends. The evil will begin to corrupt them, looking for the one who will set it free! And of course we've seen this evil before! That much I did remember! But there are other characters who may not seem evil at first that took me by surprise.

The ending definitely leaves you hanging a bit. Nothing totally killer, but just as things really start to get on the edge of the cliff, Andrea leaves us hanging! :)

Rift is a stellar prequel to the fabulous Nightshade trilogy! I look forward to reading the rest of Ember's adventures to see how everything pans out!

Overall rating 4.5/5 stars--a near perfect rating, except my ARC was missing some pages, I was able to get some idea of what I missed, but still I was sadden to see that scenes were missing or sentences were left hanging, not that an actual page was gone.

Rift releases August 7, 2012

It's Monday! What are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. It's a fun meme where we gather to share what we've read last week and our reading plans for this week.

Last Week I Read:

 Incarnation by Emma Cornwall--Review to come at a later date

Reviews that were Posted:

The Goddess Legacy by Aimee Carter (4.5 stars)

Rivals and Retributions by Shannon Delany (5 stars)

Currently Reading:

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

What I Plan to Read this Week:

Thirteen by Kelley Armstrong

Other Posts of Interest:

Teaser Tuesday--Incarnation

Waiting on Wednesday

Cover Copy Reveal--Hidden

Random Thursday

Friday Hops

Top 5 Sundays

Stacking the Shelves

 

Stacking the Shelves

This weekly meme is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Stacking The Shelves is all about the books we are adding to our shelves each week, sharing with you our excitement for our newest titles and maybe have you discover a new book in the process!

I had a decent week this week! Got a few reads but not too many!

This week I bought:

Thirteen by Kelley Armstrong--and it's a SIGNED copy!!

Endlessly by Kiersten White

Fever Moon by Karen Marie Moning, Al Rio, David Lawrence & Cliff Richards

Then for review from the publishers I also got:

Thirteen by Kelley Armstrong

Thanks Dutton!

And that was my fabulous mailbox this week! What did you all get?

Top 5 Sundays

Top 5 Sundays is a weekly blog meme created by Larissa at Larissa's Bookish Life.

Every Sunday I will post a TOP 5 list on the blog. It can be about anything and every week I'll have a new theme {You can vote on next week’s theme on my left sidebar!} and I will ad the Mr.Linky bellow the post so you can do a list with the theme and add you link to it.

Rules:

1 - Write a post listing your TOP 5 choices within the theme I chose (or was chosen on a poll) for the week.

2 - Mention this Blog on the post and link back to it.

3 - Fell free to use the Feature's image (there is a smaller size version of it bellow)

4 - After you've finished your post, add you link (of the post, not your blog's main page) to the Mr.Linky at the end of that week's post.

5 – If you don’t have a blog to post, just leave your list in the comments =)

This week's topic is: FICTIONAL WORLDS YOU'D LOVE TO LIVE IN!

This one seems a little harder! Most of the worlds I read are our world, yet they just have paranormals hiding about!

*in no particular order

WIZARDING WORLD

Back to Hogwarts again! Would love to live in a world where magic existed and I could wield it!

THE HOLLOWS

The Hollows would be a fun little neighborhood to live in! And even though it's not likely possible anymore due to the laws and management changing, I would've loved to go to Pizza Piscary's!

CHICAGO (now and later)

Chicago would be a cool place to live! Either now, where we have some awesome vampires like Merit and Ethan! Or even Maddy from the Black Wings series, she's always fun! Or even being in Chicago in the future some time! You know, if Four could be my guide!

IXIA (As well as the outer lands)

Sure, Ixia may have it's flaws with the whole no magic thing allowed, but it would still be fun! Especially when visiting the outer lands where magic is practiced and all!

IRELAND

There's the fae and Barrons! Enough said! ;)

ARC Review--Rivals and Retributions by Shannon Delany

A rival wolf pack puts more pressure on the Rusakova family by making a bold move against Jessie in hopes of pushing Pietr beyond the cure. Realizing the impact of Pietr’s change, Alexi rushes to find a permanent solution to the life sentence lycanthropy brings in hopes of also remedying an unexpected side-effect that may finally destroy the relationship between Pietr and Jessie. Unsatisfied with his role in the pack, Gabriel is determined to be rid of Pietr permanently. Meanwhile, at Junction High, the company’s meddling with the school food may have stopped but it doesn’t mean things have gotten easier--it is still high school. With the enrollment of the rest of the pack’s pups, new bonds are made and tested. But Dmitri’s influence is far-reaching and even pacifist Gareth must make a dark decision or risk the destruction of everything he holds dear.

I received this ARC on loan from Christin at Portrait of a Book, thanks again Christin!

This is the finale! Shannon Delany's 13 to Life series comes to an end with Rivals and Retributions and I must say it was heart-pounding! Heart-stopping even! You all know I am in love with this series! From the moment I saw the first cover, I was hooked!

We immediately pick up where we left off in Destiny and Deception, to make it better, Shannon has the last chapter of that book as the prologue in this one! So while it was just a few months for me, it was still nice to get that little bit, and will be nice for you guys as well if you haven't read Destiny and Deception since its release as well!

So like I said, this was a pretty intense read! Jessie is kidnapped for a good 100 pages or so, and while still getting the multiple perspectives from Alexi and Marlaena, we get to know what's happening everywhere! We know Alexi and his family are rushing to rescue Jessie and Pietr is worried more than anyone despite his aloofness that he projected last time around.

We definitely see a new side of Marlaena and while we get a little better understanding of her, I can't say that I like her. At all. She was a wedge between Pietr and Jessie and I did not like that at all! But that right there, of course, is great writing! It's one thing to love a character, but it takes skill to make you hate a character I think. Even if you can understand their actions.

There's still the need for the cure of course, a more permanent one and Alexi is doing everything in his power to find one! Even if it means getting outside help.

Some things that weren't totally focused on were the events of the school and working with Wondermann Corporation. I understood what was going on, but I can't remember the details of their part in past books. Like what they did, besides the BIG main thing of course. Basically all loose-ends were tied up in this book and I thought they were done pretty nicely, even if some of them seemed a little too cleaned.

We also get a little bit of a closer look at Derek and what he did, but I was still confused on his overall identity...one of these days I have got to re-read the series back to back, as I have a poor memory for details once I've read 100s of books in between each! Again, I'll say that some of the other loose-ends that were secondary plot threads were tied up, just a bit too cleanly for my liking. I was all for another book!

The ending, oh the ending! Shannon really pulled a fast one on me! And even after my emotional reaction, I thought it was nicely done! Seriously, I'm still reeling with how she ended things! Shannon truly wrote a fabulous series here and as you know I love it all! From cover to cover of every book, this will forever remain one of my all time fave series! I will end this review with these simple words: The 13 to Life series was GREAT! ;)

Overall rating 5/5 stars

Rivals and Retributions releases August 7, 2012

Friday Hops

This is a weekly blog meme hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read.

Here are the general rules to Follow Friday:

1. Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts and any one else you want to follow on the list

2. Follow our Featured Bloggers

3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.

4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments

5. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can

6. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers

7. If you want to show the link list, just follow the link below the entries and copy and paste it within your post!

8. If your new to the follow Friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

This week's question is: Summer Reading. What was your favorite book that you were REQUIRED to read when you were in school?

MY ANSWER: Heh heh! You might have heard me say this before, but the ONLY book I ever really enjoyed reading in my school years was The Count of Monte Cristo. And to this day I still don't know why. It might have been the whole revenge thing! I really liked how the "Count" did it all!

TGIF is a weekly feature created and hosted by GReads! that re-caps the week’s posts and has different question each week.

This week's question is: Christmas in July: If Santa were to come down your chimney in the middle of summer, which books would you want him to leave for you under the tree?

MY ANSWER: Oooh this sounds familiar! But this poses many more questions...how many books am I allowed Santa? Can they be any book? Including ones not yet published? Oh Santa, why must you pose such an open-ended act of kindness?!

Okay, I'll just go with books that are out now. For if I were to start listing ones that were coming out within the next few weeks or so, the list would go on and on!

My list as of this moment, with books that are out there right now and oh hell, this coming Tuesday since this is Santa and he can do anything ;) , is:

*click on the cover to be taken to the Goodreads page*

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson--again, I just want to have the final copy!

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Biting Cold by Chloe Neill

Two Weeks Notice by Rachel Caine

The Iron Wyrm Affair by Lilith Saintcrow

Blood Fever by Veronica Wolff

Random Thursday

Today I want to gush about Once Upon a Time! Last week or during Comic Con really, I read a brief Yahoo article about the new season!

It didn't reveal much, since those details are hard to find and I do like surprises, but there was a brief mentioning of some fairy tale characters we'd be seeing this year on season 2!

Characters we are going to meet will be:

Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk

Sleeping Beauty

Captain Hook (oh yeah!)

Mulan

I think Mulan will interesting to see. I only know her from Disney naturally, but I do remember hearing about the story. Although I cannot recall if any of it was true? I just have a vague recollection of knowing that it was a story outside of Disney, as they usually are! Might have to look that up for another day!

Cover Copy Reveal--Hidden

Yayyy!! Marianne Curley's cover for her next novel has FINALLY been released! Marianne was one of the first fantasy/magic authors I read years ago. Old Magic released in October 2000, which sounds about the time I read it! Then her next novels came out in the years to come with the final book The Key in 2004. Which was when Marianne learned she had bone marrow cancer. She is now 8 years free of the cancer! Yay for Marianne!!

She posted all this at her blog: Old Magic Mountain if you want to read the full story! I am just so happy to learn that Marianne is doing well! I remembered writing to her before The Key came out and she had mentioned she had been ill for awhile. Very glad that those days are behind her!

And now finally, the cover reveal for her next novel Hidden!

When baby Ebony is snatched from the midwife, she is rent not only from her parents but also her betrothed. In her world, a special bond is formed with one other being - for eternity. But Ebony is no longer in her world; she has been hidden in ours. An angel on earth. Earth was the best place to conceal Ebony, to keep her from her kin who desperately seek her, and to keep Ebony from discovering for herself who she really is. But Ebony is coming of age, and then no one will be able to hide her true origins. She will be 'visible', and the one who stole her away will come back to claim her. But who will reach her first?

Hidden releases in March 2013. 

Well I've waited this long, I suppose I can manage another 7-8 months (depending on the date)! Just so freaking EXCITED though!!

If you have not read Marianne's books, I HIGHLY recommend them! They are filled with magic and the modern world and time traveling, so what's not to love?! Sadly I don't have reviews because I read these books nearly 10 years before I started blogging and I have yet to been able to re-read them and review them! They are however AWESOME!!

Waiting on Wednesday

I hate waiting...

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly blog post by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights releases we're eagerly awaiting.

With wings of midnight and an affinity for shadows, Jason courts darkness. But now, with the Archangel Neha’s consort lying murdered in the jewel-studded palace that was his prison and her rage threatening cataclysmic devastation, Jason steps into the light, knowing he must unearth the murderer before it is too late.

Earning Neha’s trust comes at a price—Jason must tie himself to her bloodline through the Princess Mahiya, a woman with secrets so dangerous, she trusts no one. Least of all an enemy spymaster.

With only their relentless hunt for a violent, intelligent killer to unite them, Jason and Mahiya embark on a quest that leads to a centuries-old nightmare… and to the dark storm of an unexpected passion that threatens to drench them both in blood.

Really enjoy this series! Looking forward to another installment!

TITLE: Archangel's Storm

AUTHOR: Nalini Singh
PUBLISHER: Berkley Sensation
GENRE: Paranormal Romance

RELEASE DATE: September 4, 2012

Sometimes being the grim reaper really is that. Grim. And since Charley’s last case went so awry, she has taken a couple months off to wallow in the wonders of self-pity. But when a woman shows up on her doorstep convinced someone is trying to kill her, Charley has to force herself to rise above. Or at least get dressed. She quickly realizes something is amiss when everyone the woman knows swears she’s insane. The more they refute the woman’s story, the more Charley believes it.

In the meantime, the sexy, sultry son of Satan, Reyes Farrow, has been cleared of all charges. He is out of prison and out of Charley’s life, as per her wishes and several perfectly timed death threats. But his absence has put a serious crimp in her sex life. While there are other things to consider, like the fact that the city of Albuquerque has been taken hostage by an arsonist, Charley is having a difficult time staying away. Especially when it looks like Reyes may be involved. Just when life was returning to normal, Charley is thrust back into the world of crime, punishment, and the devil in blue jeans. 

Even as I create this post, I refrain from reading this description! Still need to read the last two books! But still, I can't wait to have the fourth installment! If the first book is anything to go by, I know I will forever LOVE this series!!

TITLE: Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet
AUTHOR: Darynda Jones
PUBLISHER: St. Martin's Press

GENRE: Urban Fantasy

RELEASE DATE: October 30, 2012

 

Teaser Tuesday

Here are the rules:

1. Grab your current read

2. Open to a page

3. Pick out 2 lines that are SPOILER FREE

4. Name the title, author, etc.

 

 

"The chill that had accompanied me out of the grave from which I had crawled to my rebirth and had hung around me ever since, a taunting shroud reminding me of all I had lost, abruptly vanished. In the space of a heartbeat, I was warm again." Kindle location 1078/3635*

*Quote comes from my e-ARC, therefore it and the location are not final

 

TITLE: Incarnation
AUTHOR: Emma Cornwall

PUBLISHER: Gallery Books

GENRE: Paranormal Steampunk

RELEASE DATE: September 18, 2012