Follow Friday

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: What is the biggest city you live near (or interesting landmark)? Show us a postcard picture.

MY ANSWER: The biggest city I live near is Dullsville...aka the city no authors come to but once in a blue moon...aka St. Louis, MO.

 

Of course as I heard another fellow "neighbor" say, no one actually lives in St. Louis...you have to actually live in the greater area to get the joke, but it's true!

And here's our Arch. The landmark we're most famous for and what makes us the Gateway to the West! (Honestly I have no idea if having the Arch is what gave us that title. I just always heard, we're the Gateway to the West.)

And you'll also note our Arch is fully repaired after Rachel Morgan's visit to it some time ago! Heehee!--Pale Demon by Kim Harrison!

Graphic Novel Review--The Long Way Home by Joss Whedon & Ill. by Georges Jeanty

Collects: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight, #1–5

Since the destruction of the Hellmouth, the Slayers-newly legion-have gotten organized and are kicking some serious undead butt. But not everything's fun and firearms, as an old enemy reappears and Dawn experiences some serious growing pains. Meanwhile, one of the "Buffy" decoy slayers is going through major pain of her own.

Buffy creator Joss Whedon brings Buffy back to Dark Horse in this direct follow-up to season seven of the smash-hit TV series. The bestselling and critically acclaimed issues 1-5 are collected here for the first time, as are their covers by Jo Chen and Georges Jeanty.

So I decided that I wanted to see what the Buffy the Vampire Slayer graphic novels were all about. In particular the season 8 collection to see what's happening with Buffy and the Scooby crew now that Sunnydale is no more. The Long Way Home is the first installment in the series with Joss Whedon doing the words and Georges Jeanty doing the drawings. And while it was good, I couldn't help but be a little confused at times.

Perhaps because I feel like we don't necessarily pickup right where the show left off. Lots of things have happened. Willow is missing, Giles is off doing something else, Dawn is a huge giant...and yeah, you see where I'm going with all this!

What made things more confusing was the omniscient narrator I felt we had at certain times. Granted, in the beginning we knew Buffy was narrating, but the last "issue" or "chapter" had someone different and that's what really threw me off.

We learn early on that there's Buffy decoys, not robots, decoys. Other Slayers who resemble Buffy and go on secret missions around the world fighting evil. We even saw one in that episode of Angel in the last season on TV! Totally loved that little tie-in bit! 

I guess because it's a graphic novel, we don't really get the whole scoop on what's going on! Like what happened from the time Sunnydale went kaput? How did Buffy and everyone else windup across the world?! It was a little frustrating!

What I also enjoyed was seeing other characters from the series pop up. Sadly, not our favorite vampires, at least not yet! But I like that well-roundness feeling of that!

I guess the plot is what is throwing me off since I didn't really grasp what's going on with that since I struggled with the unsaid backstory. We basically have another enemy group who wants to stop the slayers, to put in mildly.

The illustrations were pretty nice, not at all like the cover image though! I guess that's just special artwork! Wasn't really expecting to "see" that in the novel, but it is what drew me to the series once I really realized what these books were about!

I'm not sure if I will read more of these. Possibly, if the library has them and I can track them down. But it was pretty confusing at times, I almost need like some sort of prequel to this series and it being post-season 7 just so I can know what happened and all that I missed. Maybe it was events from previous graphic novels. Really no idea. But it was a pretty decent read, and a quick one!


Overall Rating 2.5/5 stars

ARC Review--First & Forever by Alyssa Rose Ivy

Ever wonder what Levi was thinking in FLIGHT? Find out in the two Levi POV novellas FIRST & FOREVER. This combined edition includes both FIRST (previously released) and FOREVER, a brand new novella.This edition also includes the bonus short story: The Royal Wedding.

FIRST
Levi's got it all. He's a paranormal prince with more money and power than he knows what to do with, but something is missing—a mate. He only has until college graduation to find her. Allie's perfect but she wants nothing to do with him. When attraction becomes something more, will he take a chance and show her who he really is or will he lose everything?

FOREVER
Levi's almost out of time. Allie's the one, he knows it in every grain of his being, but how can he make her see it? Desperate to keep Allie safe and at his side, he takes the biggest risk of his life. Reckless or not there is nothing he wouldn't do to keep her with him... forever.

I received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review, I was in no way compensated for this review.


Alyssa Rose Ivy's Crescent Chronicles is one of my fave New Adult series! She's one of the few Paranormal New Adult authors I stumbled upon and I love her books! And when she offered me a review copy of the First & Forever, I couldn't type fast enough! If you're looking to start the Crescent Chronicles, I still recommend reading Flight first, as Alyssa now dubs this one the fourth book in the series, I think that reading this one last is the best route to go!

Now I've already read, reviewed, loved First! This was basically the first half of Flight through Levi's point of view. So naturally, Forever, is the second half of the novel through his eyes! And I was happy once again to return to this story but being inside his head! It's been awhile since I last read Flight, but it was really incredible to relive the story in Levi's eyes.

In Forever, we basically see Allie being introduced to the paranormal world. After taking her on a flight with his own wings, Levi sees that she adjusts rather well to the idea. And if you've read Flight, you know how "well" things turn out.

I love seeing the romance between Levi and Allie! It was such a sweet tender thing, but yet still explosive and powerful! There were a few times I felt like smacking Levi though and his logic. He didn't handle things too well, but as we know, it all works out in the end!

I have to say I always admire when authors write from the male point of view. As a struggling aspiring writer, that feat is not something I even want to contemplate at this stage! I always love how it really feels like it could be the point of a view of a guy. Guess I have just grown used to all my female points of view over the years!

Not only do we get these two novellas through Levi's point of view, that pretty much makes up Flight in his eyes, we also get a bonus short story called Royal Wedding. Needless to say this is Levi and Allie's wedding, plus the start of their honeymoon! It's a rather short read, and this time it's told from BOTH their points of view by alternating scenes. It was a rather sweet little read, as it really cements the two's happily ever after ending!

First & Forever was simply incredible! I loved Levi and watching this his arrogant persona get turned around when he meets his match in Allie. This was one of my first foray into the Paranormal New Adult world and I totally loved it through and through!


Overall Rating 5/5 stars


First & Forever releases August 11, 2014

And if you want to see my full (mini) review of First, click here

Review--Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

In The Fiery Heart, Sydney risked everything to follow her gut, walking a dangerous line to keep her feelings hidden from the Alchemists.

Now in the aftermath of an event that ripped their world apart, Sydney and Adrian struggle to pick up the pieces and find their way back to each other. But first, they have to survive.

For Sydney, trapped and surrounded by adversaries, life becomes a daily struggle to hold on to her identity and the memories of those she loves. Meanwhile, Adrian clings to hope in the face of those who tell him Sydney is a lost cause, but the battle proves daunting as old demons and new temptations begin to seize hold of him. . . .

Their worst fears now a chilling reality, Sydney and Adrian face their darkest hour in this heart-pounding fifth installment in the New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series, where all bets are off.

Wowzers!! Richelle Mead's Silver Shadows is as amazing as to be expected!! After the devastating ending of The Fiery Heart, we are immediately taken to the story at an incredible pace! Told again in both Sydney and Adrian's point of view, it make the story all the more incredible!

We start off with Sydney's perspective this time and learn that she is trapped by the Alchemists, her own people, in the "re-education" camp. It's more of a lockup/prison for wayward Alchemists. And she finds herself in the dark room where a recorded voice asks her everyday if she's ready to cleanse herself of the evil that she has brought down onto herself. Seeing no choice, she agrees she is ready to change. Merely for a change of scenery as a hot shower and better food--better being crappy rather than the gruel she was given--and all those other little things in life we take for granted.

Adrian on the other hand is frantic. For days and weeks he tried to reach Sydney, but was unsuccessful. After three months of giving it his all and not being able to find her in the dreamscape, he's given up all hope. And that's when he turns to his old ways. He goes back to the old Adrian hoping that will fill the void Sydney left, but naturally, it's not enough.

This was really one intense read! For most of the book has our heroes apart, and let me tell you I was near tears for them and their situation. Sydney endures a lot of pain and near torture even on the "better" side of the re-education camp. Despite the Alchemists intentions to turn her into what they expect, she remains defiant.

Adrian naturally gets his game back together and is ready to tear hell apart in order to find Sydney and nothing stops Adrian when he's in this kind of mood!

I will say more happens too, but I don't want to ruin the excitement for you all! I struggle writing this review because I don't want to say too much of the wrong thing! But yeah, omg, this read was good! The tension was just soooo high in this one! I kept wanting everything to be okay for our heroes, even knowing that there is still one more book to the series.

I truly enjoyed this one! It was definitely worth it to wait to read The Fiery Heart, although I do admit I should've waited a few days more, because let me tell you that week of wait, was pretty tough! As for this one's ending, I will say that we get yet another cliffhanger. But as serious as it is, I don't feel myself needing the urge to scream just yet. Things are still in pretty dire straits for the Bloodlines gang, rough water is definitely ahead, but as we all are likely to guess, Richelle won't do us wrong. The Ruby Circle is bound to be the most mind-blowing ending to the series and I once again find myself wishing time to move faster just to get to the next release!

Silver Shadows was an incredible installment to the series and now I must join the other fans while we wait with bated breath for the finale!


Overall Rating 5/5 stars

Random Thursday

So I'm getting my geek girl habits on as I watch episodes of Phineas and Ferb, what can I say, I like cartoons! I'm a very strange person, I like my vampires and werewolves (and more)--total scary, creepy monsters of the dark, I love the dark eerie fairytales meant for adults to strike fear and enjoyment in their hearts! 

But then I also LOVE Disney and yeah, cartoons! Mostly 90s ones from my childhood, but Phineas and Ferb is one of the "newer" ones I have come to enjoy!

You have to give Disney props too with the joining of families of this one! Ferb came along after his dad married Phineas and Candace's mom...but do we ever know what happened to Ferb's mom? Or Candace/Phineas' dad?

I read on Wikipedia while looking for the right image that the show creators used their own personal "blended-family life" as a basis for the show. And I have NO problems with that! I just wonder...what happened? Was it divorces or deaths? Disney is known for killing off the mothers, so I could totally see that happening with Ferb's mom, but what of Phineas and Candace's dad? 

I can't recall if there was ever any episode that had news of either missing parent. But it was just something I wondered while watching it at the time!

Like I said, I'm weird!

Supernatural: Bloodlines

Where have I been?! I mean really! There's word--and likely really, truly, probability--that this IS happening!

So remember last season, the episode titled Bloodlines? It was in Chicago with feuding supernatural families and we had the whole Romeo & Juliet thing going on between rival families? 

I thought at the time that it sort of rang for future storylines, since there was that young guy who witnessed his girlfriend being murdered during one of the fights. You could see that this guy was going to turn Hunter. Whether he joined Sam and Dean remained unclear.

Well, it looks like we'll see what happens to him eventually!

So far, there's not a lot of info. There's a short list of (potential) cast, but there's also the title of the page on IMDB: Supernatural: Bloodlines (TV Movie). There's that little subtitle beneath its main title, so it could even just be a TV movie.

But then when you look at some of the cast members you see (2014-). So it might even be a TV show! There were a few articles on the website, but I merely skimmed them because they were pretty much saying the same thing.

And then of course there's the year and that is 2014! So it might even be airing this fall! Or later, depending on things and all!

And even though my our beloved Sam and Dean are not listed, I am still excited about this possible (and seeming likely) show!

Cover Art Reveal--WILLOWGROVE

The cover art for Kathleen Peacock's Willowgrove, the third and final book in the Hemlock trilogy has been revealed! Check it out:

I think it makes a nice addition to the trilogy! I love the green and the eerie gate, but I think my fave might be Thornhill! The purple is just gorgeous!

Cannot wait to see how this series ends!

Willowgrove releases January 6, 2015

NEW Cover Reveals for Bree Despain!!

I interrupt reading Silver Shadows to bring you this update! Bree Despain's Into the Dark series has received a NEW cover look! Yup again! 

Here's what The Shadow Prince will look like come April 14, 2015 (according to Goodreads) when the paperback version is released AND it's getting a new cover description too!

From Bree Despain, the fan-favorite author of The Dark Divine trilogy, comes her highly anticipated second young adult series: a contemporary adventure inspired by the Greek myth of Persephone and Hades.
Haden Lord, the disgraced prince of the Underrealm, has been sent to the mortal world for six months in order to convince Daphne Raines to return with him to the land of the dead.
The best way to do this, Haden is told, is to get Daphne to fall in love with him. But getting a teenage girl to fall in love with you isn't easy, especially when Haden's life and more depends on the success of his quest. Little does he know that the tenuous peace between the Greek god of the Underrealm and the Greek god of the Sky is breaking and war is imminent.
If Haden succeeds, his honor and standing will be restored in the royal court, and Daphne will be sacrificed to save us all.
The complication he didn't see coming: he's the one who falls in love.
Now Haden must choose to either fulfill his sacred duty or to follow his heart and find a way to rewrite his and Daphne's destinies.

I read this one as an ARC last year and loved it! I love a good retelling of a Greek myth! And this one was awesome! Can't wait for the paperback, because yeah, I tend to like matching copies, although my HC is signed, so it's still special, and I have the ARC copy still too, so this way I will have the evolution of the first book in the series!! Heehee!

And now here's the second cover reveal, which has been up for awhile now and Netgalley has gotten the review copies as well, already been approved and slated to read it next week--pending life and whatnot!

Fan-favorite author Bree Despain continues her modern-day romance trilogy inspired by the Greek myth of Persephone and Hades with this second book in her Into the Dark series.
Haden Lord, the disgraced Prince of the Underrealm, has chosen love over honor and will do everything in his power to protect Daphne Raines, the human girl he was supposed to bring to the Underrealm. Haden's choice is put to the test as the Skylords and a figure from his past arrive in Olympus Hills with a plan that could destroy all of the realms.
Embracing her destiny as the Cypher, Daphne begins to understand the immense power of her musical ability to control the elements, but she must come to terms with her feelings for Haden and what she must sacrifice in order to protect him and her friends.
Believing the Key of Hades is the only thing that can stop the Underrealm Court from releasing the monstrous Keres on the mortal world, Haden, Daphne, and their friends set out to find the Key before Persephone's Gate opens again on the spring equinox.

The Eternity Key releases in Spring 2015


I'm hoping that all went well and these pictures are showing! I borrowed them from Bree's blog post and I sometimes notice when I borrow pics from other than Goodreads, they don't always show. So click this link to go to Bree's blog post to see them should they not be showing properly!

Soooo cannot wait to read this one! And to own the new pretties! Now back to reading...!

ARC Review--Blood Games by Chloe Neill

While Merit didn’t choose to become a vampire or Sentinel of Cadogan House, she vowed to fight for her House and its Master, and she’s managed to forge strong alliances with powerful supernaturals across Chicago. But even though Merit has had wild adventures, this may be her deadliest yet...

A killer is stalking Chicago, preying on humans and leaving his victims with magical souvenirs. The CPD hasn’t been able to track the assailant, and as the body count rises, the city is running out of options. Vampires and humans aren’t on great terms, but murder makes for strange bedfellows. Can Merit find the killer before she becomes a target?

I won this ARC from the author in a contest on her blog, I was in no way compensated for this review.


Chloe Neill's Chicagoland Vampires series has a been a favorite of mine pretty much since day one. Merit is a spunky kind of heroine, she didn't choose to become vampire and while not completely happy with the choice thrust upon her, she has done rather well for herself in the near year she's been turned. She's grown and become Sentinel, faced down several enemies, endured heartbreak again and again...and there's still more to come! In Blood Games, we see Ethan battling to rule the GP while Merit deals with a serial killer wreaking havoc in Chicago.

Merit has always been an incredibly fun heroine! She's got the snark and wit down pat, and plus she's pretty kickass with her katana! She's the optima of Urban Fantasy heroines! Although, sometimes I do miss her cover days of jeans and tank tops, but oh well. Her character grows and so must her cover appearance I guess! 

As I mentioned, in this one we see Ethan begin his trials in order to be a candidate for the GP ruling. But when Darius comes to Chicago, well things get a little out of hand! Not to mention that Ethan has received a note of some kind that really has him acting distant and no matter how much Merit may fight him on it, he won't open up to her.

Relationship troubles aside, Merit is also dealing with a serial killer who's running about Chicago. The ritualistic matter of the killings is startling and it takes help from her best witchy pal, Mallory to shine some light onto the case! After that, figuring out the whodunit wasn't too hard! Although, I was pretty wrapped up in the story myself that I didn't even make a guess!

This series just keeps on getting better and better! It's one where pretty much any book can stand on its own BUT there are past events that sometimes have our characters in their current places. Such as if you haven't read Wild Things, you wouldn't know about Ethan trying to run for the GP leadership role. Little things like that! I will be sad to see this series end sometime down the road, but there's still plenty of things that are left unsaid--and likely new things that will popup in the books to come--that I feel like this will truly be one crazy-fantastic series! Plus, I still want to know more about Ethan's tattoo on his leg...oh yeah, and the prophecy too! 

As far as romance goes, well, Merit and Ethan are in a bit of tiff for most of the book, but Chloe still doesn't disappoint! There's plenty of romantic interludes before and after the "tiff" gets started! And oh wow were those amazing! I seriously can't wait for these two to get their HEA ending, one that will hopefully be a bit more permanent and not the HEA for now scenario! Ethan and Merit have been through a lot and it seems they will continue to have quite the dilemmas thrown into their path.

The very last few paragraphs definitely leave a lot to be desired! And when I say that I mean you are left with burning questions! I am left wondering if it's real or not! Too many unknowns and eek gads! I have to wait until March 3rd for answers?! Oh what a world we live in!

Blood Games is definitely one exciting and delightful read that shouldn't be missed by fans of vampires or (the city of) Chicago! Because really, what better way to visit Chicago then through Merit's eyes?


Overall Rating 5/5 stars


Blood Games releases August 5, 2014

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.

Once the night comes . . .

Will Thorne is living a nightmare, his sanity slowly being drained away by a force he can't control. His talents have made him the perfect assassin for hire. But as he loses his grip on reality, there is no calming him—until he finds his next target: the mysterious Holly Evernight.

Love must cast aside the shadows . . .

Holly cannot fathom who would put a contract on her life, yet the moment she touches Will, the connection between them is elemental, undeniable—and she's the only one who can tame his bouts of madness. But other assassins are coming for Holly. Will must transform from killer to protector and find the man who wants Holly dead . . . or his only chance for redemption will be lost.

Omigosh, omigosh, OMIGOSH!! I soooooooooooooooooooooo, soooooooooooooooooooooo cannot wait for this one to come out! It took a second go-around for me to like this series, but soooo glad I did, because I basically LOVE this series now! And after getting the setup of how these two have already met, I am DYING to read their book! Nuff said!

TITLE: Evernight
AUTHOR: Kristen Callihan
PUBLISHER: Forever
GENRE: Paranormal Romance
RELEASE DATE: August 26,2014

Ebony is not quite human. She’s descended from Avena, an otherworldly realm caught between warring light and dark forces. But she doesn’t feel like she’s in danger . . . until her boyfriend Nathaneal almost dies protecting her. Now Nathaneal is in jail for revealing his powers to the enemy, and Ebony’s only ally is jealous Jordan, who’d love to break her and Nathaneal up.

Then Jordan’s machinations lead Ebony into the treacherous heart of Avena itself. She has no choice but to navigate this perilous world—or die trying.

Fantastical and emotionally powerful, this epic inter-world romance series will appeal to fans of Laini Taylor and Cynthia Hand.

I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE Marianne Curley's books! You all don't know how ecstatic I was last year when I learned she was coming back into the book world! Old Magic was by far one of my most favorite reads as a teen! And I loved her Guardians of Time trilogy too! Can't wait to get back into this new series!

TITLE: Broken
AUTHOR: Marianne Curley
PUBLISHER: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
GENRE: Paranormal YA
RELEASE DATE: November 4, 2014

ARC Review--Servants of the Storm by Delilah S. Dawson

A year ago Hurricane Josephine swept through Savannah, Georgia, leaving behind nothing but death and destruction — and taking the life of Dovey's best friend, Carly. Since that night, Dovey has been in a medicated haze, numb to everything around her.

But recently she's started to believe she's seeing things that can't be real ... including Carly at their favorite cafe. Determined to learn the truth, Dovey stops taking her pills. And the world that opens up to her is unlike anything she could have imagined.

As Dovey slips deeper into the shadowy corners of Savannah — where the dark and horrifying secrets lurk — she learns that the storm that destroyed her city and stole her friend was much more than a force of nature. And now the sinister beings truly responsible are out to finish what they started.

Dovey's running out of time and torn between two paths. Will she trust her childhood friend Baker, who can't see the threatening darkness but promises to never give up on Dovey and Carly? Or will she plot with the sexy stranger, Isaac, who offers all the answers — for a price? Soon Dovey realizes that the danger closing in has little to do with Carly ... and everything to do with Dovey herself.

I received this ARC from the publishers via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review, I was in no way compensated for this review.


Servants of the Storm is Delilah S. Dawson's foray into the YA world, and as a fan of her Blud series, I knew this was one I had to read! I was quite surprised by the book overall. The description definitely leaves you wondering just what on earth is going on here and I can say that you will not be disappointed!

Dovey's best friend Carly was killed during the Josephine, the hurricane that devastated Savannah last year. The aftermath left Dovey shaken and disturbed, so she was put on anti-psychotics. The  medication leaves her a hollow shell of her former self. She doesn't see things, she barely lives. Now Dovey has decided to take herself off the medication because while at the coffee shop, she sees Carly quickly fleeing around a corner.

Now off her medication, Dovey is determined to find Carly, if it's even really Carly. Then she meets Isaac, a very mysterious boy who works in a bar. He seems to know more than he tells. Dovey is determined to get information out of him, but he ends up being a very hard guy to find.

The pacing to Servants of the Storm was just amazing! I wasn't expecting to get answers so soon. Before we're even halfway through, we've gotten quite a bit of answers, but still no resolution, so there's still lots of story to tell! I won't get into the details, but this was a spin I definitely was expecting. It was shocking, yet still delightful. In that, it wasn't a totally out there revelation. Delilah backs it all up with the proof and other story background that it just easily becomes believable. 

All too soon, Dovey finds herself deep in the thick of things and she's going to need all the help she can get in order to save the day.

There was a bit of romance in this one, for Dovey has two guys that both may or may not want to be with her. I was a little unclear if we had a love triangle. At times it seemed like there was, but then other times, you're wondering if one of the guys really wants to be with her or not. It's a given that Isaac is one of them, the other is one of her best friends, Baker. Baker does help Dovey out with her mission, so he is there and is a great friend to her. But he's looking for more than friendship these days. Whatever will Dovey do?

The ending of this one just amazed me! I was left with my jaw hanging and of course, now wondering if this is going to be a series or not. Goodreads shows it (at the time of this review) as a standalone. Delilah's website as well. But it's one of those endings that definitely have you reeling. Truly, I am still reeling as I write this review! It's not quite, "what just happened?!" because obviously, you know. But more like "OMG! What's going to happen next?!" and an emphasis on there needing to be more! While the storyline gets fairly resolved, it's that last chapter that was the clincher. There's a feeling of unsettleness for our heroine and I personally am left dying to know what will happen to her next!

Servants of the Storm is a chillingly, dark read that will keep you up at night. A read so mysterious and suspenseful, it leaves readers to wonder if they can trust a narrator who is known to hallucinate. Happy Reading!



Overall Rating 4.5/5 stars--really the .5 comes off from me wondering if there's more to come or not, plus a few other minor hangups I might have had, but it was still a freaking awesome read!


Servants of the Storm releases August 5, 2014

Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays

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

All righty then, let's break some rules!! 

The first one is pretty awesome for being on page 3 and the second is merely a booklover's appreciation for bookloving in a book! ;)

"Her eyes were still gone. Gouged out. Dried blood smeared down one cheek.

I'm not hallucinating. This time, I'm not hallucinating.

I bent to touch her neck. The skin was cold.

There's a dead woman in my car. A dead woman dressed to look like me." p 3


"His office was gorgeous, a Victorian library with gleaming wood and floor-to-ceiling bookcases." p 125

TITLE: Visions
AUTHOR: Kelley Armstrong
PUBLISHER: Dutton
GENRE: Urban Fantasy
RELEASE DATE: August 19, 2014

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list  that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

This week's topic is: Ten Authors I Own The Most Books From

*in no particular order

Not particularly sure how many books of each author I own since there's a lot! Plus novellas which are either on the kindle somewhere or they were apart of a larger anthology that I bought in real book format, which those are kept on my closet shelf and since those started the stacks, they are in the back, on the very bottom! Not going there! ;)

1. Kelley Armstrong--with her Otherwolrd series ending at 13, plus 2 YA trilogies and the start of another YA and adult series, I have quite a few of Kelley's books floating around! Plus a few anthologies she's apart of too!

2. Maria V. Snyder--one of my fave authors! I love her fantasy series! I've got a few doubles of her books too. Some ARCs, some foreign editions, plus doubles in her YA series that ended with just 2 books, and yup, a few anthologies too!

3. Jennifer L. Armentrout--this woman is just A-MAZING! I have all her YA books, plus Obsession, doubles in the Lux books...or really more than just doubles too! And her novellas as well! I have pretty much everything paranormal she's written, plus Don't Look Back, which wasn't!

4. Kim Harrison--one of my very first adult authors! I have all the Hollows series with the final one already preordered, I have pretty much all the anthologies she was in, plus her YA trilogy, plus 2 Hollows special books and the graphic novels. I have pretty much everything Kim Harrison!

5. Julie Kagawa--I have all her books too, with graphic novels to come! I'm trying to figure out what I should buy...Kindle Fire or Paperwhite to read the graphic novels. I read the preview of one on my phone, but I can't see myself reading all them on my phone. But I LOOOOVE Julie's books and am still slowly dying after the ending of The Iron Traitor and the third book isn't coming out until next year...!!!

6. Victoria Laurie--I love both her Psychic Eye and Ghost Hunter Mystery series! I have all the books in both! Don't read MG, so haven't read that series of hers, but looking forward to her YA series next year!!

7. Richelle Mead--I loooove her books! Vampire Academy, Bloodlines, Georgina Kincaid, Dark Swan?! Plus the graphic novels! Which have you all bought volumes 1-3 of the Vampire Academy Graphic Novels? You need to!

8. Melissa Marr--I do enjoy Melissa's books too! I have all the Wicked Lovely books, her foray into the adult books, Carnival of Souls and Made for You! Love her stuff!

9. Jeaniene Frost--yeah, can't forget her! Her books are awesome! Naturally I have them all, Night Huntress, Night Huntress World, Night Prince, and the first installment in Broken Destiny! Plus a few of the novellas too!

10. L.J. Smith--granted most of her books are in compilation format, ie: 3 novels in 1 book. But I have a lot! I have all 3 Nightworlds, plus one original paperback in the series, the original bindup of the Forbidden Game trilogy, the original Vampire Diaries editions, plus the first newer trilogy, Dark Visions compilation, and the first "fan-fic" of how she wanted Vampire Diaries to go after the first new trilogy! So yeah, lots of her books too! Need to read a lot of them still too! The Nightworld and Dark Visions compilations are what initially started the TBR mountain at Borders closing sales and TJMaxx finds!

Review--Blood Bath & Beyond by Michelle Rowen

Sarah Dearly is adjusting to life as a fledgling vampire, satisfying her cravings at vampire-friendly blood banks. But when her fiancé Thierry takes a job with the Ring—the secret council in charge of keeping vampires in line—Sarah’s about to get more than a taste of danger…

Being engaged to a centuries-old master vampire can be challenging—especially when he takes a job with the Ring. Thierry’s in for fifty years of nonstop travel and deadly risk. It’s enough to make any woman reconsider the wedding…any woman except Sarah, that is.

Traveling to Las Vegas for his first assignment, they encounter a child beauty pageant contestant from hell, as well as a vampire serial killer leaving victims drained of blood, potentially exposing the existence of vampires to the whole world. But when Thierry’s truly ancient history comes back to haunt him, and he’s accused of a crime he didn't commit, it’s up to Sarah to clear his name before their immortal lives come to an end.

Blood Bath & Beyond is Michelle Rowen's foray into the mystery world! I love a good paranormal mystery and Victoria Laurie's quote on the cover is what led me to try this one out. It was pretty good, but I guess what threw me off was that while this is a NEW series, it's a spinoff of Michelle's previous paranormal romance one that involved the characters. So I missed 5 books worth of info, but again, this is the first in this series.

Yeah, kind of confusing. But like I said, I basically just missed quite a lot of back story, but I tried to not let that bother me. So of course mentioning old friends and whatnot and the unsaid history there, leaves you wondering a bit, but overall, I didn't struggle too much.

Thierry is a 600 year-old vampire engaged to his fledging Sarah. He's been "offered" a new job he can't refuse to be apart of the Ring--basically the vampire justice system that keeps vamps in line. He must go to Vegas and basically tell a vampire child beauty contestant that she must stop entering pageants, because it is a risk to the vampire society which must be kept secret from humans. And Sarah agrees to come along.

Where the mystery lies is when Thierry's predecessor and old acquaintance is murdered. And the number one suspect is Thierry. The Ring sends in its enforcers to exact justice, but Sarah knows that Thierry would never hire a hunter to kill a vampire, no matter how much he may dislike said vampire. So she does a bit of investigating of her own.

I enjoyed this mystery quite a bit. I didn't foresee who our murderer is, because there's also a lot more going on. Such as another serial killer killing humans one a day for the past week, in a way that is very much like a vampire taking a bite out of their necks. Vegas is most definitely the city that never sleeps and it is quite dangerous at the current time apparently! No one is safe, neither humans or vampires and Sarah struggles to find the real killer so that Thierry is in the clear and they can move on to their happily ever after.

There's quite a bit of secrets going on in this one, and not just the aspects of the mystery. But with Thierry himself, although I was able to guess as his real motives and that proved correct. Thierry is a pretty mysterious vampire. I guess missing the first series left me to miss out on his character development but I could never seem to get a grasp of why he is the way he is. There were times I wondered if he really cared for Sarah like he claimed because he was just so darn secretive! It drove me nuts! And Sarah too for that matter.

But all answers come in the end. All around questions and mysteries are solved and new problems are set into place--very minor ones really, just to get the new mystery series going. It was definitely a fun, cozy mystery for sure. If you like Victoria Laurie and Juliet Blackwell kind of mysteries I definitely recommend this one, but that paranormal aspect kind of gets forgotten sometimes. Even though the characters are vampires, it feels almost normal! Not sure what that says about my own personality, but I look forward to more mysteries with Sarah!


Overall Rating 3.5/5 stars

 

ARC Review--Mortal Danger by Ann Aguirre

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

Edie Kramer has a score to settle with the beautiful people at Blackbriar Academy. Their cruelty drove her to the brink of despair, and four months ago, she couldn't imagine being strong enough to face her senior year. But thanks to a Faustian compact with the enigmatic Kian, she has the power to make the bullies pay. She's not supposed to think about Kian once the deal is done, but devastating pain burns behind his unearthly beauty, and he's impossible to forget.

In one short summer, her entire life changes, and she sweeps through Blackbriar, prepped to take the beautiful people down from the inside. A whisper here, a look there, and suddenly... bad things are happening. It's a heady rush, seeing her tormentors get what they deserve, but things that seem too good to be true usually are, and soon, the pranks and payback turns from delicious to deadly. Edie is alone in a world teeming with secrets and fiends lurking in the shadows. In this murky morass of devil's bargains, she isn't sure who—or what--she can trust. Not even her own mind...

I received this ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, I was in no way compensated for this review.


Ann Aguirre's Mortal Danger was quite the intense read! It was emotionally well driven and I was left just shocked at the end! Yes, there were tears throughout and other feelings going on, but by the end I was in love and was craving for more!

Edie is not your typical teen. She's the victim of severe bullying, her looks aren't considered pretty by any means and she's tired of it all. She plans to commit suicide in the beginning but is stopped right away by a guy named Kian. He offers her a deal that is too good to be true, "three magical wishes" that she can basically use to get revenge on the kids that made her life hell.

I was immediately reminded of the story of Faustus when I read the description, basically making a devil's bargain. For after Edie uses her three wishes, she will in turn have to grant three favors to the benefactors of her wishes. For Kian is merely an agent for a larger company. What that company is remains to be a mystery.

Edie wishes right away to be "beautiful", it aids in her plan to take down the crew of bullies who tormented her to the extreme. And she gets her wish with no strings attached--that we're aware of!--and quickly enacts her plan once the school year starts.

But as time moves on, Edie realizes that the bullies aren't all as vicious as she thought. Which this here confused me. That Edie could see the humanity of them, that they had feelings too. But yet, what they did to Edie was unbelievably cruel and evil. But yet, she starts to care about a few of them. She doesn't wish them complete ill, because really, really bad things start to happen and they happen to this crowd.

I was surprised by how much Kian was around for Edie. The description led me to believe that he would basically disappear on her until she asks for her next wish. But he ended up being quite a constant in her life. And I have to admit, I fell for him just as hard as Edie. He has his own broken past as well, and you really start to feel for the guy, but yet like Edie, you wonder how much you can trust him as well, because he is working for the bad guys.

And the bad guys are seriously bad.

This was such an intense read! Soooo much happened! Way more than I expected to see in the first book! So many shocks and twists and turns! It was amazing! And yet completely emotional at the same time! I'll admit, I teared up a bit at times. I wasn't expecting to be near balling, but I was! This book definitely struck a chord in me, because who at some point, hasn't experienced bullying of some kind? Granted, I never endured something as heinous as Edie did.

And the ending! Oh the ending! It was definitely another shocker! One that left me gasping! There's still quite a bit that we don't know about some of the odd going-ons in Boston but I am definitely looking forward to finding out! This is going to be one epic trilogy! I highly urge you all to read it! It's thrilling, intense, and as I said, emotional, but it combined these elements in such a way that you can help but eat up the pages and feel for Edie and all that she goes through! And her journey is only beginning! Next book, please!


Overall Rating 5/5 stars


Mortal Danger releases August 5, 2014

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.

Just as I finish all my review books, I add a few more! And there's some pending requests on Netgalley still too! Fingers crossed!

Last Week I Read:

Black Dog by Caitlin Kittredge (ARC)--Review to come at a later date

Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick (ARC)--Review to come at a later date

The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead (5 stars)

Wings by Elizabeth Richards (4 stars)

Currently Reading:

Blood Bath & Beyond by Michelle Rowen

What I Plan to Read this Week:

Visions by Kelley Armstrong

Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead--granted I have to wait until tomorrow when it arrives, but I will be reading it!

Other Posts of Interest:

Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays

2nd Annual Beat the Heat Readathon Sign Up Post 

Waiting on Wednesday 

Random Thursday 

Follow Friday

FOUR HOUSES RELEASE +CONTEST 

Top 5 Sundays 

Stacking the Shelves

 

 

 

And don't forget my 1600 followers is still ongoing this week! Check out the multitude of prizes to be won! And please remember the Book Depository giveaway is for INTERNATIONAL followers only.