Cover Lust

This weeks Cover Lust is:

Muse by Rebecca Lim.....

There's something very wrong with me. When I wake up, I could be anyone…

Mercy is thrust into the excessive world of fashion when she awakes in the body of a troubled Russian supermodel, Irina: bitchy, hot-tempered and known to be dabbling in things she shouldn’t, Irina is on the verge of a very public breakdown.

Against the glamorous background of opulent Milan, Mercy continues her increasingly desperate search for Ryan to lead her back to her immortal lover, Luc. But this time Mercy is aware that her memories and powers are growing ever stronger – and she begins to doubt Luc as The Eight reveal more of her mysterious past. Are Luc’s desires as selfless as her own or does he want her for a more terrifying purpose?

The grand scale celestial battle for Mercy’s soul builds to an incredible stormy crescendo as archangels and demons clash in a cataclysmic showdown that not all will survive…

Thoughts:
Okay, okay, I have actually featured this book as my cover lust before, but it was a different version of the cover. This is the UK version and isn't it to die for?!? I love this one tonnes better. It's just so beautuful, with the feathers and the colours. Totally awesome!
What do you think?

Book Shelf: Infinity (Chronicles of Nick #1) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

At fourteen, Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything about the world around him. Streetwise, tough and savvy, his quick sarcasm is the stuff of legends. . .until the night when his best friends try to kill him. Saved by a mysterious warrior who has more fighting skills than Chuck Norris, Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters: immortal vampire slayers who risk everything to save humanity.

Nick quickly learns that the human world is only a veil for a much larger and more dangerous one: a world where the captain of the football team is a werewolf and the girl he has a crush on goes out at night to stake the undead.

But before he can even learn the rules of this new world, his fellow students are turning into flesh eating zombies. And he’s next on the menu.

As if starting high school isn't hard enough. . .now Nick has to hide his new friends from his mom, his chainsaw from the principal, and keep the zombies and the demon Simi from eating his brains, all without getting grounded or suspended. How in the world is he supposed to do that?

Blurb from Goodreads.....


Review: (Warning, contains some spoilers)

Sherrilyn Kenyon takes her Dark Hunter world in a whole new direction in this first book in her prequel YA series, featuring Nick.
Personally I loved it and can’t wait to see what’s going to befall Nick in this series. That being said, I have to say I’ve noticed some of the negative reviews this book has been getting and I think I know why. While I do think it’s possible to read this series without having read the Dark Hunter series first, I think you’re missing out if you don’t. Nick is such a prominent character in the DH series and so many things happen that affect him and a lot of the other characters that if you haven’t read DH, you won’t understand a lot of the references in this book or see how significant certain scenes and aspects of this book are. I think you emphasise with and understand Nick’s plight more too. You see how much certain things, with his mum and with this life, mean to the books in the DH series and it makes you see Nick clearer.

I must say there’s a real sense of “coming home” seeing Nick in this book. While fans of Dark Hunter will know exactly what I mean when I say I’ve missed and yearned for the Nick of old, those who don’t should know that Nick has quite a journey ahead of him. One that will change him and his world forever. Still, it was so great seeing that Nick’s smart mouth and sarcastic wit are there in him even at such a young age. I love seeing how much Nick loves his mum. It’s always been there in the DH series, but here we get to see a really deep version of it and see exactly where Nick has come from. Honestly, I think I wanted to cry from him when I saw how horrible people were being to him and how they consider him white trash. People can be so cruel, and Nick is a good, honourable young man, who is better than what they think and who just doesn’t deserve their cruelty. Nick has always been one of my fave DH characters, from the very first book, Night Pleasures, and even though he’s changed significantly lately, I still want him to be happy and I still adore him as a character.

I was shocked by so many things that transpired in this book. Things like “Ambrose” popping into the story and Nick meeting Simi so early on in his life (those of you who haven’t read DH aren’t aware of what Nick’s meeting Simi does in DH or the events that happen because of it, but trust me, it’s a big thing) really go against the history in the DH novels. Nick is literally living another life and experiencing things he didn’t in DH.
He’s still the brilliant, brilliant young man I came to love in the first few Dark Hunter books though and the new characters and even the old ones that we all love, Kyrian, Simi, Ash (*sobs*) and even Nick’s mum, all give this book the flavour and attitude that makes Kenyon’s books great.
This is a completely new world for a lot of the characters, especially Nick. Dealing with zombies and getting his powers this young are all going to be a challenge for our young hero and I for one wonder what this will mean for Nick and his place within the Dark Hunter novels. Will the events in this series affect him in that one? Will it change him and what’s to come?

Personally I’m dying to know and can’t wait to get my hands on the next book!!

Rating: **** stars
Recommend: Yes!
Did I Buy, Borrow or is it an ARC: Bought
Recommend Buy or Borrow: Buy
Ebook or Actual Book: Actual Book
Cover: I like it....
Read sequel/continue with series: Yes!!

Buy it here:

Randon Acts of Kindness-July Edition

Okay, so I'm a few days late with this--it completely slipped my mind. Been, oh so busy and, well, you know how it is.
Anyhoo.....

The girls at Book Soulmates started a very cool project. The concept is to post a wish list and someone might just send a gift to you! Of course, you might wanna be nice to and offer someone something from their wish list as well!





For the details head to their website here: http://booksoulmates.blogspot.com/2011/06/random-acts-of-kindness-july-sign-up.html


Rules:

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

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

• Create a wishlist and post it in the Google Doc located in each R.A.K post for the month.

{Post on your blog, Amazon, where ever as long as there's a link to it.}

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

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

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

OPEN TO EVERYONE!

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

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

_______________________

This month I received my first RAK:


From the lovely Birgit of The Book Garden
http://the-book-garden.blogspot.com/
Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart!

I haven't sent anything myself yet but I will certainly be doing so this month!

Here's my wishlist for this month if anyone is feeling kind and generous. Every one of these books is under $10. Really. You don't need to spend a fortune to make someones day!

1. A Kiss In Time by Alex Flinn
2. Eternal Rider by Larissa Ione
3. Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon
4. Arrow by R. J. Anderson
5. Tempest Rising by Tracey Deebs
6. Blood Trinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon
7. Entice by Carrie Jones
8. The Calling, Changeling, and Strife by Cate Tiernan
9. Sweep: Seeker, Origins, and Eclipse: Volume by Cate Tiernan
10. You Against Me by Jenny Downham
11. Waterfall by Lisa T Bergren
12. American Vampire by Jennifer Armintrout
13. Wake Unto Me by Cach, Lisa
14. Flying Blind by Deborah Cooke
15. Red Handed by Gena Showalter

Email me at rachybee101@live.com.au if you want to send me anything and I'll let you know my addy!
Hope you join in the fun and happy reading!

Top 5 Sunday with Larissa's Bookish Life #5

Top 5 Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Larissa at Welcome to Larissa's Bookish Life.
Find out more and how to participate here: http://www.larissaslife.com/p/top-5-sundays-about.html

Each week Larissa features a top 5 of something and this weeks topic is:

Bookish Pet Peeves!


***Before I start, I have to make it clear that while these things tend to drive me a little nuts, they in no way stop me from reading the books I love. Sure it can get a bit annoying, but at the end of the day, I love the books I read and wouldn't stop for the world.***

Here are my top five:

1. The Love Triangle


















Ahhh, the dreaded love triangle. It seems like it's impossible not to pick up a book now days (especially YA) and not find a love triangle. It's just everywhere. Yes, at first they were interesting. I can't pretend that I haven't enjoyed one or two, but it's gotten to a point where I'm just over it.

2. Love At First Sight


















Call me old fashioned, but what ever happened to getting to know someone first before you fall in love with them. Sure I believe in lust at first sight, but love? No way! You have to know someone before you can love them and there are way too many characters out there nowadays that fall in love when they're only known each other a tiny amount of time--it just doesn't seam realistic. Characters become obsessed with each other and really, most of the time, I just don't see the reason.

3. The Annoying Heroine


















Have you ever read a book where the storyline is great, the supporting characters are great, but the main character makes you wanna pull your hair out? Well, I have. Girls who make pathetic choice after pathetic choice or fall so "in love" that all that matters to them is a man.

4. Sex When Characters First Meet


















I love PNR, but if there's one thing I can't stand is when characters jump into each others beds when they know nothing about one another. I've read books where sometimes the heroine doesn't even know the hero's name before she's losing herself in him and the passion and the blah, blah, blah.

5. Bitter Sweet Endings


















Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know it may sound cliche and, well, boring of me, but at the end of the day when a book or series ends I want all loose ends tied up and a happy ending. It's impossible not to become invested with most characters I really only want to see them happy. Most of the time I don't mind when a book is left open, and a happy ending is hinted at but when you know a character has gone through so much only to have it all end a certain way it was be very depressing.


So there you have it. My top 5 Book Pet Peeves. I mean, I do have a couple more, but 5 it says, so 5 there shall be.
Until next time.....

~Rachel
xoxo

Fury of the Phoenix (Kingdom of Xia #2) by Cindy Pon

The Gods have abandoned Ai Ling.

Her mysterious power haunts her day and night, and she leaves home—with just the moon as her guide—overwhelmed by her memories and visions and an unbearable sense of dread. For Ai Ling knows that Chen Yong is vulnerable to corrupt enchantments from the under-world. How can she do nothing when she has the skill and power to fight at his side? A dream has told her where he is, the name of the ship he is traveling on, his destination. So she steals off and stows away on board.

The ocean voyage brings with it brutal danger, haunting revelations, and new friendships, but also the premonition of a very real and terrifying threat. Zhong Ye—the powerful sorcerer whom Ai Ling believed she had vanquished in the Palace of Fragrant Dreams—is trapped in Hell, neither alive nor dead. Can he reach from beyond the grave to reunite with Silver Phoenix and destroy Chen Yong? And destroy whatever chance Ai Ling has at happiness, at love?

In this sequel to the acclaimed novel Silver Phoenix, four lives are woven together and four destinies become one, now and forever.

Blurb from Goodreads......


Review: (Warning, contains spoilers)

Silver Phoenix caught me with its beauty and adventure and this book was pretty much as good as the first, cementing this as one of the most magical series I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. The story was interesting and engaging and of course I adore the characters. I wasn’t sure I’d like this series when I began reading it, but Cindy Pon has created a lush, magic world, one that I’ve enjoyed getting lost in every second of the journey. This world is stunning and mythical and the characters are wonderful. It’s well written and descriptive and Pon captures the scene perfectly.

Ai Ling has been a fantastic heroine. She’s strong and brave, with vulnerabilities and issues just like everyone else. I love that she goes against most typical notions for her world and people and that she isn’t afraid to push boundaries and do things that would typically get her into trouble if she was caught. It’s been brilliant getting to be with Ai Ling again on her journey. This book was exciting from the very beginning and I was eager to see what she would get up to next. And whether she and Chen Yong would finally be together!
I love Chen Yong. Have from the very first time we met him in the first book. He’s refined and subtle, but oh, he’s sexy too. I think it’s that quite type, that one who keeps things to himself that appeals to me. Oh, and the adorable way in which he cares for Ai Ling and takes care of her.
These two characters are excellent, and when they’re together the story has just that little extra spark to it. All the scenes where they’re together are brilliant and I loved the way in which they slowly and gradually fell for one another over the course of these two books. It felt real and believable and was so incredibly sweet. I mean, you knew it was going to happen, and you could see it happening over time, but that didn't take away the thrill when it eventually all came out.

I have mixed emotions about how this book was set out to be honest. The different stories, one with Ai Ling in the current time and Zhong Ye 300 years before, surprised me at first. I didn’t expect it and there are things I both loved and hated about it. I actually was surprised by the person Zhong Ye used to be. From having known him in the first book, it was almost like he was a completely different person. The way he acted and his personality was nothing like what it was in Silver Phoenix. Plus, the relationship he shared with Silver Phoenix was nothing like what I came to believe in the first book. Theirs was actually a really sweet, very tender romance....until it was all destroyed in the end. Granted I do kinda understand why he became so twisted and angry and it does make me understand his motives and reasons a bit more, but now I just feel sad for him.
That being said, I also felt kinda cheated with his parts being in the book. Obviously I’m not reading the book just because of Ai Ling and Chen Yong, but I would have liked to see more of them. We still got a great tale, with plenty of action with them, but Zhong Ye took away book space which could have featured them and their story. I wasn’t bored by his parts, but I admit I wasn’t quite as interested as I was with the rest of the book and I kept waiting to get back to Ai Ling and Chen Yong. Still, it was woven together beautifully and it finally allowed us to learn more about Silver Phoenix.

I was so pleased with the ending of this book. There were plenty of, “awww,” moments and I must say I’m thrilled to see Ai Ling and Chen Yong get their happily ever after.
Both these books have been a joy to read. They’ve been action packed and fun, yet sad and emotional at times too and I can’t be happier with how things have ended. The two main characters I’ve come to love in this series have found happiness with each other and discovered themselves and everything they wanted to throughout this series. I’m a little sad to let them go and the series to end up it’s been a fantastic ride and I’ve loved every moment of it!

Rating: **** stars
Recommend: Yes
Did I Buy, Borrow or is it an ARC: Bought
Recommend Buy or Borrow: Buy
Ebook or Actual Book: Actual Book
Cover: It's nice
Read sequel/continue with series: This was the last book, so even though I'd love to read a dozen more books if it was possible, it isn't.....

Buy it here:

Freedom Giveaway Hop! (CLOSED)

**CLOSED**
Hi everyone! Welcome to stop 66 on the Freedom Giveaway Hop!

This hop is hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer here: http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/ and Simply Stacie here: http://simplystacie.net/

As my prize for this leg of the hop I'm giving one lucky winner the chance to win a book valued at $10 or under from the Book Depository of their choice!




Details:
~To enter it's really simple, simply fill out the form at the bottem of this post for your chance to win. You MUST be a GFC follower to win and there are 2 chances to get extra enteries =)
~The contest will run for the duration of the hop (July 1st-7th) and the winner will be picked using random.org shortly after then. I'll email once I've got a winner and they'll then have 42 hours to contact me with their address or a new winner will be chosen.
~This is an INTERNATIONAL contest, or anywhere the Book Depositroy ships so everyone can enter =D

Extra enteries:
+1 For having my blog button on your blog (You can get this up the top, on the left hand side)
+1 For commenting on this post aand telling me which book you'd like to win. You're more than welcome to change your mind if you win--I'm just curious to know what you're all excited to read!

That's it! Simply fill out the form here: https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHZhUGFaRVpod1h0QVI2bDBQNFRZQ2c6MQ and move on to the next stop on the hop!

Enjoy!
~Rachel
xoxo

Book Shelf: Vampire Shift (Book One) The Kiera Hudson Trilogy

When twenty-year-old police recruit Kiera Hudson is posted to the remote town of The Ragged Cove, her life is changed forever. Investigating a series of horrific murders, grave desecrations and missing persons, with her unique ability of 'seeing', Kiera soon realises her life is in danger. But when Kiera falls in love with Police officer Luke Bishop, not only is her mind and her heart opened to a terrifying new world, she comes to suspect that Luke might be involved in the killings. In a race against time to unearth the truth, Kiera must discover the identity of who or what is behind the gruesome deaths on the 'Vampire Shift'.

Blurb from Goodreads.....


Review:

First, I'd like to thank the author for sending me this for review.

The book was dark and mysterious and a fantastic read. Tim O’Rourke’s version of “vampires” in this book was very unique. Obviously, I don’t want to spoil the surprise for anyone planning on reading the book, but it certainly wasn’t something I’d heard before. And yet it went really well with the story and I didn’t feel like I was reading something I’d heard a thousand times. This book was surrounded in mystery. I never quite knew what was going on and every now and then when I thought I did...BAM....something else would happen and all my thoughts and conclusions would be thrown out the window. It was very intense, but I found I liked it and it kept me reading—eager to know what was going on.

I really liked Keira. Her “gift” made thing interesting and I’m still eager to know more about it. At its base it’s a very instinct based gift, but all things considered in this book, I think it’s potentially going to be important and have a bigger purpose as the trilogy continues. Keira was a real go-getter. Fresh out of the academy, but eager and confidant in what she was doing. She missed nothing, picking up and seeing this most others wouldn’t notice. Nothing escaped her notice and she put two and two together so well. She was such a great all round character, and I generally wanted the best for her in this book; she was someone I enjoyed following on her tale.

Oh, how I hated Murphy and Potter in the beginning. Honestly, the way they treated Keira at first and their attitudes towards police work made me wanna sock it to them! They seemed to be nothing but cruel jerks yet in the end I was surprised by the people they actually turned out to be. Potter’s still an arrogant jerk, but there’s something about him, and it may have to do with what he does for Keira at the very end of the book (not saying what) that makes me think there’s more to him.
I don’t necessarily feel like the relationship between Keira and Luke was rushed, because in most ways it wasn’t. There was a connection between them that they both felt and they were attracted to one another, but occasionally I’d feel like certain things between them were a tad forced. I’m also not quite sure that the feelings of “love” between them are plausible. They didn’t know each other well enough to feel that way, nor it they really spend that much time together. Like and lust I’d totally believe is accurate, but maybe not love. Still, I think my feelings about that could change in future books. They defiantly have the potential to have something really real and I’ll be watching for that in the rest of the trilogy.

Vampire Shift is an edgy tale full of suspense and mystery. The storyline is engaging and the characters interesting. This is a great start to a fantastic new series, and with so many questions left at the end, I for one can’t wait for the second instalment!

Rating: **** stars
Recommend: Yes
Did I Buy, Borrow or is it an ARC: Sent to me by the author
Recommend Buy or Borrow: Buy
Ebook or Actual Book: Ebook
Cover: Love, love, love it! This has got to be one of my all time fave covers
Read sequel/continue with series: Yes

Download it from Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/Vampire-Shift-Hudson-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B0057Q23DO/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&m=A24IB90LPZJ0BS&s=digital-text&qid=1309476570&sr=1-5