Sirenz Summer YA Book Tour

I'm participating in the upcoming book tour for Sirenz by Charlotte Bennardo and Natalie Zaman that will run throughout July. The tour will be hosted by Roxane Roads and Bewitching Book Tours and my stop will be on JULY 16TH. I'll be hosting a guest post with the authors and urge everyone to stop on by and check it out.


Discover Sirenz:
Bickering frenemies Meg and Shar are doing some serious damage at a midnight sample sale when they find themselves arguing over a pair of shoes—with fatal consequences. One innocent bystander later, the girls are suddenly at the mercy of Hades—the god of the underworld—himself. To make them atone for what they’ve done, Hades forces the teens to become special-assignment Sirens, luring to the Underworld any individual whose unholy contract is up.

But just because they have an otherworldly part-time job now doesn’t mean Meg and Shar can ignore life’s drudgeries (work) or pleasures (fashion!). Finding that delicate balance between their old and new responsibilities turns out to be harder than they expected, especially when an entire pantheon of Greek deities decides to get involved. Then there’s the matter of the fine print in their contracts . . .

The book sure sounds great, doesn't it? Be sure to stop by and see what these two authors have to say or head on over to http://bewitchingbooktours.blogspot.com/ for more information.

Join Paranormal Haven on Larissa's Bookish + Win a SIGNED Larissa Ione book

Today the girls, Atheena and Stephanie from over at Paranormal Haven are on Larssia's Bookish Life for a guest post as part of the Bookish Haven Summer Vacation that the two sites are co-hosting!

They talk about the brilliance that are Larissa Ione's books and just why exactly you should read the books (if you haven't already). Personally, they don't have to convince me. I thoroughly enjoyed the Demonica series, but if you're thinking of reading the series, this is a great way to help entice you more =)

Plus, they're giving away a SIGNED copy of any of the Demonica series OR Eternal Rider, the first book in Larissa's new Lords of Deliverance series.
Now, I've entered. It's your turn to head over, check out the awesome post and enter for your chance to win!

http://www.larissaslife.com/2011/06/bhsvparanormal-haven-guest-post-signed.html

Enjoy!

~Rachel
xoxo

Interview with Leonard Hilley

Leonard Hilley is the indie author who discovered his love of reading when he was three and who had completed his first novel when he was eleven. His most well known books are his sci-fi Darkness series, that includes Predators of Darkness: Aftermath, Beyond the Darkness and The Game of Pawns. He lives in Kentucky with his wife and two children.

I was pleased to interview Leonard and talk about his books.
Here's how it went....

Hi Leonard! I’m so pleased to have you on the blog.

Thank you for the interview.

Your Darkness series has been getting a lot of great reviews on Goodreads and readers really seem to love what they see, what can new readers expect going into the series, and the first book Predators of the Darkness: Aftermath in particular?
Readers can expect a dark thrill ride with a lot of exciting twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end. Some readers have told me that they thought they knew what would happen next, and each time they were wrong.

Your series is dark and eerie I’ve been told and is a mixture of many different genres, sci-fi, thriller, dystopian and more, tell us a bit more about what made you write this novel and why you chose to incorporate those kinds of things into the story?
The elements incorporated into Predators of Darkness: Aftermath weren’t intentional. That’s how they flowed and evolved. I have a wicked muse that toys with me, and what you read is the end result.

Your books are available from a range of different sites and formats, how does it feel knowing your stories are out there and being devoured by readers? It must be a real rush.
It is a great feeling. It’s also wonderful hearing from readers. And it can be intimidating when they’ve read the entire series and ask when the next installment will be out.

The Darkness series is obviously very detailed and well thought out, how much research and planning goes into your novels and world?
For Aftermath, I finished my B.S. degree in biology instead of English. I needed the scientific background of genetics to sound feasible. I’ve always loved biology and English, so the decision wasn’t a difficult one.

What’s your writing process like? What do you generally need to get the creative juices going?
Coffee, mood music, and darkness. I used to write after midnight for a long time. Now, my schedule adapts on a daily basis. Some days I will go to a college library and edit or write. Bookstores are a great place for inspiration, too. I love being surrounded by books.

When you’re not writing where can we find you? Surly you much have other passions other than writing—tell us about them?
I love to hike, fish, and garden. For many years I collected insects, but I turned that hobby into rearing butterflies and moths.

If you could meet anyone, living or dead, real or fiction, who would it be and why?
Roger Zelazny. He was a fantastic author, and I loved his Amber series as a teenager.

Most authors will tell you that they love all their characters equally, but is there any one of yours that has a special place in your heart?
Morton, the genetically enhanced cat, who can talk has to be my favourite character. He has gathered his own fan base, too. In fact, he’s stolen a page at my blog for himself entitled, “Cat Chat W/Morton,” so he can keep in touch with his fans. http://deimosweb-hilley.blogspot.com/

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Write, write, write. Great writing comes with revision.

I read in your bio and on your blog that you’re currently working on a dark fantasy series that’s a YA crossover and a children’s picture book. I must say that the picture book has me intrigued, but is there anything you wish you share about both projects or anything else that is in the works?
The children’s book will be about rearing butterflies and moths. I’ve also co-written the screenplay for Predators of Darkness: Aftermath.

6 quick questions:
1. Jeans or shorts? sweats
2. Lucky number? 13
3. Favourite colour? Black
4. Ice cream or cake? Ice cream
5. Favourite TV show? 24. When the series was on television, I never got to watch it due to my work schedule. Now, thanks to Netflix, I’ve started with the 1st episode and on the 4th season.

Thanks for joining me and taking the time to answer my questions. I wish you all the best and hope you have more success with future endeavours!

Thank you, Rachel.

Discover Predators of Darkness: Aftermath:



Fear What Lurks In The Shadows.

The desolate streets of downtown Pittsburgh in 2073 are a reminder of the missile attack that forever changed the lives of the surviving scientists and students hidden in the fallout shelter of Helmsby's Genetic Research Center. Believing themselves to be the only survivors, they station themselves inside the center until food supplies near depletion. Thinking the fallout has lessened, they emerge three years later to discover strange creatures patrolling the streets in search of human flesh and blood. The creatures possess the ability to shift their genomes and alter their appearances by realigning their genetic sequences. Daniel Hutchinson, their leader, teams with Lucas Ridale and together they set out to scavenge the area for food and supplies with the hope to find other survivors. But Daniel's most recent journey uncovers mysteries more frightening than the shifters. He discovers the tip of Pittsburgh has been fenced off from the rest of the area. Low-flying helicopters observe the streets, making him ponder the question: Were the shifters released as simply part of a military experiment with humans being their prey?

Predators of Darkness is available in ebook form for $2.99 from Amazon.com here: http://www.amazon.com/Predators-of-Darkness-Aftermath-ebook/dp/B0052MFTRK/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&m=A24IB90LPZJ0BS&s=digital-text&qid=1308213219&sr=8-6 and other forms.

Discover more about Leonard Hilley and his books on his Goodreads page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1194774.Leonard_D_Hilley_II
or his website: http://deimosweb-hilley.blogspot.com/

As I mentioned it was great talking to Leonard and I urge you all to head on over to Amazon or his Goodreads profile to check out his books!

Book Shelf: Taming Shadows by Krista Alasti

College Freshman Shella Danforth has spent the past four years running from the part of herself she believes to be a monster: Her wolf. Shella is a shadow-shifter, a being who can shift into one of three forms: human, wolf, or shadow.

When young children start mysteriously vanishing from their homes at night, Shella is sure that something supernatural is responsible. Forced to team up with lifelong nemesis and fellow shifter Tran Dashner, Shella discovers that the culprit may be closer to her than she'd like to believe. To unravel the mystery, Shella must first learn to control her wolf - before it learns to control her.

Blurb from Goodreads....


Review: (Warning, contains mild spoilers)

Alright so I’m a tad biased seeing as the author is a dear friend and I love her to bits, but I honestly thought this book was brilliant. Looking at it as a story completely its own with no connection to anyone I know, I feel it was a fun, funny tale that was believable and very realistic at times. The storyline itself was a very simple one and yet the beauty and power behind it was that, take out the supernatural element, and its very plausible. The motives and reasons behind the “bad guy/s” is something that you can understand and actually see happening in real life.

I really loved each and every character in this book. They all had their purpose and reason for being in the story and they were very real. The issues they faced and the things they dealt with were realistic and understandable. Shella, Tran, Marshal, Kye, Darcy and even Amie all had their own personalities and issues. Throw in the supernatural element, one that included a unique twist on werewolves and you’ve got yourself a great story!
I thought Shella was brilliant—in a, “OMG, I wanna strangle this girl, can’t she see what’s right in front of her eyes?” kind of way! There’s no denying that Shella had her flaws. She’s been though a couple of traumatic things in her life already and she tends to lash out a lot, but it’s pretty obvious there’s a lot more to her under the surface. I get the feeling that she’s never really “belonged” anywhere or really had someone she could rely on and that’s why she doesn’t let anyone in, instead relying on her sharp tongue and bitchy—are witty attitude to keep people at bay. Still, there were a few moments during this book where I really could see the potential for her to fit in with that little family bunch her brother had going even before the emotional ending.

I thought Tran was a really great male lead too. He was silent and subtle, but there was no denying that there was a certain spark to the scenes that he was in, particularly the ones where he and Shella were at each other’s throats. Which was pretty much every scene the two of them shared, until towards the end of the book. Tran’s been through a lot too, more so than anyone in this book and throughout the book I did wonder about just what had happened to him in the past. Although, the main thing, the thing that involves cute little Amie, I totally saw coming a mile away! Don’t know why Shella didn’t. (I swear that girl *sigh*). I still feel like there’s tonnes we don’t know about him though, despite everything that came to light at the end of the book and I think it’ll be interesting seeing how his and Shella’s relationship changes. We know she feels something for him, something that could be really deep, even if she’s only just beginning to notice it and is not ready to accept it either.

Kye was another of my favourite characters in this book. I thought the friendship he shared with Tran was sweet although I would have liked a bit more explanation as to how that friendship came about. He added a certain guyish charm to the story and fuelled the humour between Shella and Tran. He was your typical teenager and he acted like one. I certainly look forward to seeing more of him.
All in all this story was a great read. It was something you could enjoy with just the right amount of action and humour, with an underlying feeling of emotion as the main character fights to accept who and what she is. The story ends perfectly with one chapter in Shella’s life coming to an end and another beginning. There’s a lot that’s changed since the beginning of the book and a lot that I think will continue to do so. And not only for Shella, but for Tran too. He’s faced a lot, but he has to keep going on. My heart breaks for him and I want to see him find happiness *cough* with Shella *cough*.
I can’t wait to read the sequel (and if you’re reading this Krista then there better be one or I’ll have your head!) and see what’s next in these characters lives.....

Rating: ***** stars
Recommend: Yes
Did I Buy, Borrow or is it an ARC: This was given to me by the author who is a good friend
Recommend Buy or Borrow: Buy
Ebook or Actual Book: Ebook
Cover: The cover doesn't say too much about the characters, but it's not bad either
Read sequel/continue with series: Yes....

Buy it on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Taming+Shadows+by+Krista+Alasti+&x=10&y=12

Book Shelf: A Witch's Beauty (Daughters of Arianne #2) by Joey W. Hill

Mina is the daughter of an unholy union-a mermaid taken by one of the malevolent Dark Ones. While helping to rescue Prime Legion Commander Jonah, she exposed herself as a potentially dangerous weapon, susceptible to the darkness in her own blood. Now, for the general good, Jonah has angels watching over her...

Though Mina is resistant to being protected, her attitude begins to change when David, the human-born angel, is awarded the duty. Looking into his eyes, she can sense that he too knows what it means to fight the darkness within. But-as their passion threatens to take over-will it lead them to Heaven or Hell?

Blurb from Goodreads....


Review: (Warning, contains spoilers)

This book...god this book! In all honestly I wasn’t thrilled with the first one. It was alright, but from how much I liked both David and Mina even back then, I had a feeling this one would be better. And was it ever! Going into it this book I had no clue how amazing it would be. Every now and then you come across a book that is simply extraordinary, a book that takes your breath away in its brilliance, and this book...it’s one of those.
From the very beginning I was captivated by this tale. The storyline in dark and gritty with some really raw emotions and dark horrible themes, but there’s so much beauty and wonder in it too. The story was so powerful that it made it near impossible to stop reading and I found myself reading on, desperate to know more of the characters and to see their story unfold.

The characters, mainly Mina and David are haunted individuals, with pasts and lives that are affected by the evil and cruelty that are all around them. Their story is a heartbreaking one, filled with pain and anguish and yet it’s incredible watching them find happiness (even though Mina refuses to acknowledge it) with each other. They were so easily emphasisible and it was impossible not to want the best for them.
I’m not sure I have the words to describe how much I adore Mina. She’s one of those incredibly rare heroines you come across that are simply incredible. She was such a complex, tormented character, who fought not only the world around her, but everything inside her. Her entire life was a battle to maintain who she was and not let the evil that ran through her veins take control of her. She was so harsh and biting, with a sharp tongue and even sharper survival instincts. She suffers endlessly with self doubt and the fear of losing herself to the evil part of her and yet she manages to survive, abet in a lonely dark way. She fights constantly to maintain the balance within her and yet she’s so beautifully childlike, enjoying the simple things in life. My heart literally broke for her! She’d been through so much and yet she fought so valiantly not to let the world destroy her. God, this girl! Mina has got to be one of the strongest, toughest, most amazing women I’ve ever read about. I know she’ll stay with me for a long time.

And David....oh! He was so much more than you typical run of the mill hero, with beauty and no real depth. It was impossible not to see the connection both he and Mina shared in A Mermaid Kiss. For some reason, David saw something in her during the first book. Something no one other than Anna had even seen. He saw the courage and strength she held, something he too shared, and he saw the goodness in her under the surface. Something Mina herself didn’t often see. David had led such a harsh life prior to his suicide. Honestly the things that happened to him are just sickening and yet the fact that he had the ability to move past most of that pain and anger and to still see the goodness in the world that made it worth fighting for is just remarkable. He and Mina connected because he understood her in a way no one ever had and he was willing to learn more about her; essentially seeing her in a way no one ever had.

Mina and David’s relationship was beautiful. They actually took the time to get to know each other and there was nothing about their relationship that I didn’t adore. No matter how much she fought him, no matter how hard she tried to push him away David remained persistent, refusing to allow her to go one alone, not when she didn’t have to and not when he wanted to be there. It was incredible. Their relationship wasn’t one of physical beauty, even though David found her to be the most beautiful thing in the world. Mina did have insecurities about her scars, even though having them was her choice and it was so amazing that David saw past all of that. In fact, he loved her because of them; never shying away from her imperfections and instead choosing to see them even when she wanted to take them away from his view. When she offered him the illusion and he chose the reality and to have her as she was---god, it chocked me up! It was such a beautiful moment in the story to me.
I loved how even though Mina refused to admit she loved David and even though she told him she would never “love” him, he still loved her regardless and would be with her even though she would never admit those feelings. David was willing to have her anyway he could and to me that really is love.

The epilogue of this book was so lovely. It captured the end of the tale just right and when you look at Mina, in the way she lets Anna in and the way she acts you can see the changes in her. You can see the happiness that being David brings and you just know that those two are going to live happily ever after. Their story was one of pain and they had their issues and things that threatened to destroy them but in the end who they both were and what they had was stronger.

I can’t recommend this book enough and I’m planning to reading the last book, just to see how it holds up.


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

Buy it here:

In My Mailbox #9

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren where bloggers can share the books they bought, borrowed or received throughout the week. For more info on just what it is and how to participate, head to: http://www.thestorysiren.com/p/in-my-mailbox.html

I missed last weeks In My Mailbox, due to shear laziness. I was too tired to get a post up. I apologize for that, but here's what I got this week.

I bought:



A Witch's Beauty by Joey W. Hill: This is the 2nd book in her Daughters of Arianne series. For more info check here: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3430165-a-witch-s-beauty

Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade: This is the 2nd book in the Ghost and the Goth series. I love, love...loved the first book and I'm dying to start this one. Discover it here: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9504214-queen-of-the-dead


I received for review:



Born at Midnight by C.C Hunter: This is the first in her new Shadow Falls series. It looks really good and I'm looking forward to reading it. Find out more here: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8705784-born-at-midnight

Entangled by Cat Clarke: Discover more about it: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8579933-entangled

Thanks to Pan Macmillian for these books, especially Charlotte! I'm looking forward to reading them both.


Well, that's all for me this week. And last too I guess.
Tell me though, what did you get in your mailbox??

~Rachel
xoxo

Win a SIGNED book + Amazon Giftcard with Larissa's Bookish Life

As part of Bookish Haven Summer Vacation, hosted by Larissa @ http://www.larissaslife.com/ and Paranormal Haven @ http://www.paranormalhaven.com/, Larissa at Welcome to Larissa's Bookish Life is giving away a signed copy of Sacrifice by Dakota Banks and a $25 Amazon gift card as part of a Guest Post with the wonderful author.



Contest is open internationally and there is a number of different ways to gain extra entries.
I've entered and now it's your turn! Head over to: http://www.larissaslife.com/2011/06/bhsv-dakota-banks-guest-blog-signed.html to enter....

~Rachel
xoxo