Back to the Books Giveaway **CLOSED**

Welcome to The Rest Is Still Unwritten, stop number 244 on the Back to the Books Giveaway Hop!


The hop is hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Buried In Books--thanks ladies we all love a good hop.

For this leg of the hop I'm giving ONE lucky winner the chance to win any ONE of the books or pre-orders in the picture below from the Book Depository. It's completely up to you which one you choose =D





This is an INTERNATIONAL contest or anywhere the Book Depository ships to. Not sure if they ship to you? Find out here.

Entering is really simple, simply leave a comment letting me know which book you'd love to win and leave a way to contact you. You're more than welcome to change you mind later if you win--I'm just curious (and nosy ;P) about what you're eager to read.

You MUST be a follower to enter (and I will check guys)

+1 Extra entry for having my blog button on your blog
and
+1 For Tweeting contest

Leave all links in your comment.
That's it. Easy peasy :D

Free free to check out my other contests while your here and don't forget to enjoy the rest of the hop!

~Rachel
xoxo

Book Shelf: Graveminder by Melissa Marr

Rebekkah Barrow never forgot the tender attention her grandmother, Maylene, bestowed upon the dead of Claysville, the town where Bek spent her adolescence. There wasn’t a funeral that Maylene didn’t attend, and at each Rebekkah watched as Maylene performed the same unusual ritual: three sips from a small silver flask followed by the words “Sleep well, and stay where I put you.”

Now Maylene is dead and Bek must go back to the place—and the man—she left a decade ago. But what she soon discovers is that Maylene was murdered and that there was good reason for her odd traditions. It turns out that in placid Claysville, the worlds of the living and the dead are dangerously connected. Beneath the town lies a shadowy, lawless land ruled by the enigmatic Charles, aka Mr. D—a place from which the dead will return if their graves are not properly minded. Only the Graveminder, a Barrow woman, and the current Undertaker, Byron, can set things to right once the dead begin to walk.

Blurb from Goodreads......



Review:

I both enjoyed and disliked this book. There were things about it I both adored and things I hated. I can’t deny that Melissa Marr is a fantastic writer; she writes dark, gritty tales, full of depth and despair, but I found it hard to connect with the characters of this book. And that, in turn, is what let it down for me.

In the beginning of this book I really didn’t like the main characters. Rebekkah was tormented and had been through a lot, but I couldn’t help feeling like she seemed selfish and unyielding at times. I disliked how she treated Byron and in turn I disliked him for letting her treat him that way. I mean, I understand loving someone and that sometimes they can hurt you because of this, but time and time again Byron let Rebekkah into his life knowing full well that she would hurt him. It’s hard to like a character and feel sorry for them in that kind of situation. It’s hard to respect someone when they don’t respect themselves.
I guess in time though I did warm up to the characters a little bit. I began to like them more and emphasise with them and their plight as the story unfolded, but I never really loved them. There was never a moment when they appealed to me completely and even the “love” they shared and had for each other fell flat for me. I just didn’t feel it how I hoped I would.

The best part about this book for me and what actually made it worth reading was the world within it! I loved the mythology behind this book and the actual idea itself was brilliant. This is a unique twist on the living dead that seem to be floating around out there in the book world right now and I haven’t seen anything like this. The dead in this world were murders and killers and yet getting a glimpse into the mind of one at times made it hard to hate them. I felt sorry for the young woman in this book, but I warred with myself over the horrible things she’d done.
It was all woven together so beautifully, that even though I didn’t love the main characters, the way their lives were interwoven and the history their two lines shared kept me reading.

This book may have not been for me, but I think the excellent storyline and mystery that surrounds it will appeal to Marr fans and readers who love a great mystery tale or want a unique zombie story!


Rating:
Source: Sent from Harper Collins Australia (Thanks guys!)
Format: Paperback
AU Release Date: 1st July 2011
Expected AU Price: $27.99
Recommend: Fans of Melissa Marr and Nora Roberts should love it
Recommend borrow or buy: Borrow
Cover: I actually really like the cover. It's simple, but eye catching.
Read sequel/continue with series: This is a stand alone novel

I'm over at AwesomeSauce Book Club!

As part of their Reader Interviews, the lovely Ambers at AwesomeSauce Book Club have invited me over to their blog to be interviewed.

I'm a massive fan of AwesomeSauce Book Club and it's one of my fave blogs to browse for great reviews and the latest book related info.
This months Reader Interviews are all about sex and sex in books, so be warned that's the kind of questions I answered. And quite candidly too.

It was so much fun to be a part of the blog and I urge you all to head on over and check out my interview and follow the blog for yourself if you don't already!

~Rachel
xoxo

Favourite Quote Friday #5

Welcome to Favourite Quote Friday. Here is where I share with you two of my fave book quotes each week, one from a YA and one from an adult book. If anyone wishes to participate, leaving your quotes or links to your quotes in the comments section!

Here we go.....

YA:

"Remember when you tried to convince me to feed a poultry pie to the mallards in the park to see if you could breed a race of cannibal ducks?"

"They ate it too," Will reminisced. "Bloodthirsty little beasts. Never trust a duck."
~Jem and Will, Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Adult:

(Looking at their son on ultrasound.)
Cassandra: "He looks like an angel."
Wulf: "I don’t know. I think he looks like a frog or something."
~Cassandra and Wulf, Kiss of the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Make sure to come back next week for more.....

Book Shelf: Midnight Rising (Midnight Breed #4) by Lara Adrian

In a world of shadows and dark, consuming hungers, desire is the deadliest weapon...
For journalist Dylan Alexander, it began with the discovery of a hidden tomb, thrusting her into the center of a gathering storm of violence and secrets. But nothing is as dangerous as the scarred, lethally seductive man who rises from the shadows to draw her into his world of dark desire and endless night.

Fueled by pain and rage over a shattering betrayal, the warrior Rio has pledged his life to the war against the Rogues. He will let nothing stand in his way, least of all a mortal woman with the power to expose the entire vampire race. For an ancient evil has been awakened, and a stunning darkness is on the rise. Suddenly Dylan is powerless to resist Rio's touch, even as she uncovers a shocking link to her own past. And now she must choose: Leave Rio's midnight realm, or risk it all for the man who has shown her true passion and the infinite pleasures of the heart. . . .

Blurb from Goodreads......


Review:

thoroughly enjoyed this book in the series. It’s my 2nd fave so far, after Midnight Awakening and I enjoyed getting to see Rio and Dylan’s tale. I continue to like the way the world changes and Dragos adds a new aspect to the series that we haven’t seen before. The things that he’s doing are truly twisted, horrific and sick and I’m looking forward to seeing the Order get him in the end.

I really loved Rio. He’s a very tormented, broken character and unlike some hero’s in PNR books, he actually has a legitimate reason for being that way. After the betrayal he suffered in the first book and the harsh things he’s been through since, he never thought he’d get past it. He didn’t want to live and he certainly never expected to meet Dylan. She was the last thing that he was expecting and yet she was exactly what he needed.
I found I really liked Dylan too. She was a strong, vibrant heroine who was able to look past Rio’s scars and imperfections and see the terrific male he is. She was willing to stand up to him and question him even though she was frightened which I found really realistic for the situation she was in. I can’t say she was an overly unique heroine, and I could even see similarities with her and some of the other female leads in this series, but I liked her regardless.

Rio and Dylan were really sweet as a couple. It was nice seeing Rio move on from Eva and find happiness with Dylan. They seem to be really good for each other and bring out the best in one another. I think after Dylan lost her mother, having Rio in her life helped take that pain away a bit. They were really electric together and their relationship didn’t seem rushed or forced. Even though she’d been “kidnapped” by Rio and yet was still attracted to him, Dylan didn’t give into those feelings straight away, instead getting to know this tortured male more instead.

I was happy with the way this book ended and I’m really looking forward to Nikolai’s story. It sounds really good.....

Rating:
Source: I bought
Format: Paperback
Recommend: Yes
Recommend borrow or buy: Buy
Cover: It fits well with the series, but does nothing for me.....
Read sequel/continue with series: Yes

Buy it here:

Cover Lust

This weeks cover lust is:

The Demon Lover by Juliet Dark.......


Since accepting a teaching position at remote Fairwick College in upstate New York, Callie McFay has experienced the same disturbingly erotic dream every night: A mist enters her bedroom, then takes the shape of a virile, seductive stranger who proceeds to ravish her in the most toe-curling, wholly satisfying ways possible. Perhaps these dreams are the result of writing her bestselling book, The Sex Lives of Demon Lovers. After all, Callie’s lifelong passion is the intersection of lurid fairy tales and Gothic literature—which is why she finds herself at Fairwick’s renowned folklore department, living in a once-stately Victorian house that, at first sight, seemed to call her name.
But Callie soon realizes that her dreams are alarmingly real. She has a demon lover—an incubus—and he will seduce her, pleasure her, and eventually suck the very life from her. Then Callie makes another startling discovery: He’s not the only mythical creature in Fairwick. As the tenured witches of the college and the resident fairies in the surrounding woods prepare to cast out the incubus, Callie must accomplish something infinitely more difficult—banishing this demon lover from her heart.


Thoughts: Lord, the cover is pretty. The blue and the birds flying in the background. So pretty!

Book Shelf: The Goddess Test (Goddess Test #1) by Aimee Carter

It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.
Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

Blurb from Goodreads......


Review:

*I originally read this book off Netgalley back in March; before I ran this blog. When I was sent a fabulous copy thanks to Harlequin Australia, I decided to post a review in celebration.*

This book....wow! Every now and then, there’s a story that stops you and takes your breath away....this was one of those. I loved it! Simply, completely, loved it. I can barely begin to say how much.
From the very beginning I was caught. I was sucked into Kate’s tale and her story and I didn’t want to leave. I finished it in less than two days and when I wasn’t reading it I was thinking about reading it; eager to get back to the story. I love Greek Myth....I always have. There’s something so magical about it that I love, and I think this story was a wonderful example of how amazing and how much fun it can be. Considering this is a début novel, the author has done an incredible job. The story and characters were brilliant.

I loved all the characters....from Kate and Henry, to Ava and James to Kate’s mum and some others. They were all so fabulous and entertaining. They were each so different and unique and I loved seeing them in the story.
I think Kate was just brilliant! She is without a doubt one of the best heroine’s I’ve had the pleasure of following in a long, long time. It’s very rare to find just a wonderful, well rounded character. I think she reacted to things believably and naturally, and she was a wonderful person. She was kind and considerate, while still being strong and brave. I think I can say that she’s now become one of my all time fave heroines—that’s how much I loved her! I have no faults about her what-so-ever and considering that I usually even see tiny faults with the characters I adore, that’s really saying something!

I found I really liked Henry. He wasn’t exactly what I was expecting from Hades, and while I do still feel there is a bit more about him that we don’t know, I think he was a terrific male lead. He was a kind, considerate person, and I think he was a great match for Kate. I really felt for Henry, and his history with Persephone. I like the way the author changed the tale and showed it in a different way, which actually allowed Hades to be the good guy in the picture. There are not a lot of Greek Myth tales where Hade’s is a good guy at all; he’s always the bad guy, and I liked the change in this. I liked the opportunity for him to be an actual person with feelings and a heart....it was wonderful.
The relationship between Henry and Kate was excellent. I really liked how it developed over time and how they got to know one another. It was very sweet and normal, and I never felt like anything was forced. It seemed very natural and I liked that.

I was shocked with the twists and revelations at the end of this book! I can’t believe what came to light and I was gobsmacked to learn just who everyone actually was. I think the author has done an exceptional job here. It was so smart and wonderful....it couldn’t have been better. I can’t think of a better way to have had the ending for this part of Kates journey. The ending of this book has me excited to read the next one and I simply CANNOT WAIT until it comes out!! If it’s anything as good as this one, I can tell straight out that it’s going to be BRILLANT.

This book was so incredible and I deem it a MUST READ!! Like....NOW, people!!

Rating:
Source: First from Netgalley and then from Harlequin Australia (Thanks Gabby!)
Format: Paperback
Recommend: Yes!
Recommend borrow or buy: Buy
Cover: I actually think I like this one more than the US one. There's just something so mesmerizing about it.
Read sequel/continue with series: Yes, defintaely......

Waiting on Wednesday #2

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine where you can spotlight an upcoming release that you're eagerly anticipating.


The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton
Release date: September 27th 2011
Add it: On Goodreads


The year is 1871, and Tiki has been making a home for herself and her family of orphans in a deserted hideaway adjoining Charing Cross Station in central London. Their only means of survival is by picking pockets. One December night, Tiki steals a ring, and sets off a chain of events that could lead to all-out war with the Fey. For the ring belongs to Queen Victoria, and it binds the rulers of England and the realm of Faerie to peace. With the ring missing, a rebel group of faeries hopes to break the treaty with dark magic and blood—Tiki’s blood.

Unbeknownst to Tiki, she is being watched—and protected—by Rieker, a fellow thief who suspects she is involved in the disappearance of the ring. Rieker has secrets of his own, and Tiki is not all that she appears to be. Her very existence haunts Prince Leopold, the Queen’s son, who is driven to know more about the mysterious mark that encircles her wrist.

Prince, pauper, and thief—all must work together to secure the treaty…


Thoughts: I've been wanting to read this book for sooooo long and I'm so exited the release date is almost here. This sounds so good.

Book Shelf: Mammon by J.B Thomas

Forget anything you ever heard about possession, exorcisms, salt circles and pentagrams. The modern demon is far more difficult to catch - and even harder to destroy.

After the savage, tragic deaths of their parents, Grace and Joe Callahan learn that they they are descendants of the sarsareh - an ancient order of mercenaries who hunt very special prey. Grace and Joe take their place in the Order, but are treated with hostility and fear by other recruits.

For the Callahan siblings have powers that fascinate and terrify.

Joe is a Ferryman, capable of opening dimensional rifts, while Grace's telepathic abilities surpass anything the Order has ever seen.
To complicate matters, Grace falls for her older, more experienced squad leader, Ivan. Meanwhile, the sarsareh elders have their own plans for Joe.

But none of that will matter if the powerful demon Mammon manages to convince Joe to open a gateway to his demon world and overrun Earth with his armies.

If he succeeds: game over.

Blurb from Goodreads......


Review:

Mammon by J.B Thomas turned out to be a great entertaining read. It took me a little while to really get into this book. In the very beginning when Grace and Joe were first discovering powers, things seemed to move really fast and I felt disconnected from the characters. However as the book progressed the more I seemed to enjoy it. This is a bit different from the other demon books out there that I’ve read. The idea of it, the overall way that demons form and what they actually are, is unique and I really liked that about it. As I mentioned before, the story seemed to move really fast in the beginning; it seemed to me like the characters accepted things so easily and it in turn made it hard for me to accept what was happening, but once Grace and Joe end up in training and learning more about the world; then I really got sucked in. This book was action packed and tended to be fast paced the majority of the way through, with plenty of romance to keep me entertained and swooning.

I had mixed emotions about the characters in this book. There seem to be so many of them, that at times I kept forgetting names and who they were supposed to be as well as their place within the story. I liked the majority of them, although I found I didn’t like Joe. I found I didn’t care for him and his attitude; he didn’t draw any empathy from me and he grated on my nerves over some of the selfish and annoying choices he made. I know he’s one of the lead roles, but I just didn’t like him.

Grace on the other hand, I did like. I enjoyed begin inside her head and following her the most during this book. She herself has made her fair share of mistakes and she’s got a lot to learn, but she’s brave and feisty and has a good heart. She was generally good to read about and I can’t wait to see how her abilities develop in the rest of the series.
And Ivan. Oh.....I liked Ivan, I liked Ivan a lot! He has to be the highlight of the book for me. He’s so brave and tough and sexy and fierce. I’m a sucker for any kind of soldier or military man, so he had my heart the moment he appeared in the book. He and Grace were so sweet and I loved seeing their relationship change and alter and I was soooo happy to see them together. They obviously care deeply about one another and I love them as a couple. Theirs is the kind of romance I love to read about.

I liked the way this book progress and I feel like it was a really great, easy read. You can relax while you read it and get sucked into the characters and tale. The ending was exciting and left me wanting more. I’m wondering what’s next in store for Grace, Joe and Ivan and can’t wait to read the rest of The Ferryman Chronicles.

Rating:
Source: ARC from Random House Australia (Thanks guys!)
Format: Paperback
AU Release Date: September 1st 2011
Expected AU Price: $18.95
Recommend: Yes!
Recommend borrow or buy: Buy
Cover: The cover is actually very pretty. I love the lightning.
Read sequel/continue with series: Yes, I want more Ivan.....

Book Shelf: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old-girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

Blurb from Goodreads.......


Review:

Tahereh Mafi’s debut novel is one that will thrill readers, pulling them into a world and journey that just gets better with the turn of each page! Shatter Me’s riveting tale and incredible heroine will have you on the edge of your seat; eager for more and desperate for it to never end!
Personally, I’m only just beginning to get into dystopian novels. They seem to be the craze lately and going into this book I’d heard so much about it and yet I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I was so excited to get and ARC from Allen and Unwin. The premise sounded so good, but I wondered if it could live up to that.....and boy did it ever! This book blew me away. Simple as that.

The writing and the story itself caught me from the very first page and as I continued to read, Juliette and her journey and all the other characters cemented this book as one of the best I’ve read for a long, long time.
The writing itself is different from a lot of books out there and yet it fits the book so beautifully. You can really feel Juliette’s fear and confusion and uncertainly with each word and it comes straight through the pages. You’re completely in her head and know her every feeling and emotion. Shatter Me is well written and descriptive; painting a perfect picture of the world and institute Juliette lives in. The book has a wonderful pace; each moment flows so well to the next and even when it seemed slow at times, there were plenty of things happening to keep you interested. It’s well thought out and I never once felt bored. In fact the whole time I was reading I didn’t want to put the book down!

Juliette was incredible, simply incredible. She has to be one of the most tormented, somewhat broken characters I’ve read about in YA for a long time and yet she’s oh, so strong. She’s been through so much and is in an impossible situation. She hates herself and what she is and what she has no control over, but there’s such a strong inner strength to her. She’s afraid of what she might accidently do and what she doesn’t want to happen. Even when she was betrayed and it seemed like things couldn’t get any worse, she never gave up or gave in, nor did she stop fighting or go against her morals. Even though she herself was treated so inhumanly, Juliette never one wavered in her own kindness and managed to keep hold of herself even when she was faced with cruelty and pain. Her goodness shone through more than anything and this coupled with her bravery in the face of danger made her a joy to read about. She has such a great heart and I love this gal!

I thought Adam was a really great character too. He’s such a well crafted male lead. He has it all; he’s good looking, tough, brave, sensitive, funny, sexy....and totally in love with Juliette. He’s the perfect package and was great to read about. It’s so wonderful to read about a guy with such a good heart himself. He cares about Juliette so deeply and is willing to do so much for her; including risk his own life to help her. What girl doesn’t want a guy like that?!? Oh, and he and is little brother....so freakin’ adorable. Boy, he could make me swoon at times and he and Juliette together were so electric.
While I could see some people thinking that the relationship between Juliette and Adam moves fast, it really doesn’t. The history they share and the pasts they both have create such a great foundation for what is essentially an incredible relationship. With everything they’re both been through, and are going through with their changing world and changing lives, they find something in each other that is so sweet. How they feel about each other is so strong and they’ve got such chemistry together. The scenes between them held so much spark and when they kissed or touched it was so hot and sensual.

Every one of the characters in this book was excellent in my eyes. With such a strong plotline, this book needed an equally strong cast of characters to make it great and Ms. Mafi has done exactly that. Juliette and Adam of course are standouts, but Kenji, James, Warner, even the few characters we met at the end all give the book colour and depth. Even the “villain” was someone who intrigued me, even if I disliked him. The characters are so well developed even so early on in the trilogy and I’m excited about the prospect of getting to see them grow and change even more in future books.
The ending of the book was really fitting if you ask me. This chapter of the series has come to an end and the next one is beginning. We learn so much about the world in this novel and what else is out there and the ending leaves me wanting....no, demanding, more.

Shatter Me is a tantalizing blend of the X-men and Hunger Games, with a bit of The Day After Tomorrow thrown in. This book is sure to be a hit with dystopian fans and readers alike, and with two more books promised in the series, I for one cannot wait to read the rest of Juliette’s journey!


Rating: ***** stars
Source: ARC from Allen & Unwin (Thanks guys!)
Format: Uncorrected Bound Proof
AU Release Date: November 2011
Expected AU Price: $17.99
Recommend: Yes!
Recommend borrow or buy: Buy
Cover: It's stunning. So beautiful.
Read sequel/continue with series: Yes!

Favourite Quote Friday #4

It's Favourite Quote Friday time. If you wish to participate too, leave your link/quotes in the comments.
Here we go.....

YA:

"You smell good, too,” said Patch.
It’s called a shower.” I was staring straight ahead. When he didn’t answer, I turned sideways. “Soap. Shampoo. Hot water.”
"Naked. I know the drill."
~Nora and Patch, Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick.

Adult:

Amanda: "What are you doing?"
Kyrian: "I'm getting into my car."
Amanda: "You own this?"
Kyrian: "No. I'm stealing it with the key in my hand."
~Amanda and Kyrian, Night Pleasures by Sherrilyn Kenyon.


Love these quotes. Make sure to tune in next week for some more....

Cover Lust

This weeks Cover Lust featuree is:

Airel by Aaron Patterson and Chris White.....


All Airel ever wanted to be was normal, to disappear into the crowd. But bloodlines can produce surprises, like sudden mysterious illness. Then there’s Michael Alexander, the new guy in school, who is impossibly gorgeous…and captivated by her. Somewhere in the back of her mind she can hear the sound of pages turning, and another, older story being written. It is the story of an ancient family, of great warriors, of the Sword of Light, and the struggle against an evil so terrible, so far-reaching, that it threatens everything she hopes for even now. Airel knew change would be inevitable as life went on. But can she hold on when murder and darkness begin to close in and take away everything she loves? Will she have what it takes when the truth is finally revealed?


Thoughts: This cover is stunning, although it reminds me a bit of Fallen by Lauren Kate. Still awesome though!


~Rachel
xoxo

Waiting on Wednesday #1

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine where you can spotlight an upcoming release that you're eagerly anticipating.

This is the first time I'm participating, but I've been reading Waiting on Wednesday's for some long that I've finally decided to participate myself. So fun =)



The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff
Release date: November 15th 2011
Add it: On Goodreads

Everything is made of steel, even the flowers. How can you love anything in a place like this?

Daphne is the half-demon, half-fallen angel daughter of Lucifer and Lilith. Life for her is an endless expanse of time, until her brother Obie is kidnapped - and Daphne realizes she may be partially responsible. Determined to find him, Daphne travels from her home in Pandemonium to the vast streets of Earth, where everything is colder and more terrifying. With the help of the human boy she believes was the last person to see her brother alive, Daphne glimpses into his dreams, discovering clues to Obie's whereabouts. As she delves deeper into her demonic powers, she must navigate the jealousies and alliances of the violent archangels who stand in her way. But she also discovers, unexpectedly, what it means to love and be human in a world where human is the hardest thing to be.

This second novel by rising star Brenna Yovanoff is a story of identity, discovery, and a troubled love between two people struggling to find their place both in our world and theirs.

Thoughts: How good does this sound?!? Gah. It. Sounds. Brilliant. Can't wait to read it.....

~Rachel

In My Mailbox #16

Welcome to IMM!

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 here.

Here's what I got this week:

I bought:


Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon: This is the 20th book in Kenyon's Dark Hunter series. I love this series and was so excited for this book. I've already read and reviewed it and you can see my review on the blog here.

Veil of Midnight by Lara Adrian: This is actually the 5th book in the Midnight Breed series and I've already ordered the 4th, so I have to wait for that one to arrive first so I can continue on with the series.

I was down at my local bookshop this week, actually buying Retribution, when I noticed they had this box-set of books....for $12.99. 5 book for 13 dollars. I haven't read any of these but they have been on my to-read list so I had to snap them up. What a deal!


~Legacy of Lies & Don't Tell by Elizabeth Chandler
~The Poison Garden by Sarah Singleton
~The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan
~Generation Dead by Daniel Waters
~Tithe by Holly Black

All of these look fantastic and I cannot wait to read them!

For review:


Cowboys and Aliens by Joan D. Vinge: This is the tie in book for the movie. I'm dying to see the movie, so I was a little shocked when this turned up in my mailbox this week courtesy of Pan Macmillan. I'm not sure if I'll read it or not, but it does really sound good.

Forbidden by Jana Oliver: Also from Pan Macmillan (Thanks Charlotte!) this is the 2nd Demon Trappers book. Squee! I'm so excited to read this one and get myself more of Beck!

Fury by Elizabeth Miles: This is the first book in the new Fury Trilogy. I've been hearing great things about this around the blogosphere so I'm looking forward to reading this. Thanks to the guys over at Simon & Schuster for sending me this!

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi: This is Ms. Mafi's debut novel and it sounds just to die for. The actual cover is stunning too and I'm eager to read this one. Thank-you to Allen & Irwin for this one.

I won:


I was lucky enough to win some Overprotected by Jennifer Laurens swag thanks to We Fancy Books. This is another book that I'm eager to get my hands on so I was excited when I won this. It includes a nifty little cd with some music that featured on the trailer and that coincides with the books. Thanks again guys!


That's it for me this week. I few books I'm really looking forward to reading =)
Tell me, what did you get in your mailbox this week?

Celebrate 1000 followers with Gripped into Books

Mia over at Gripped into books has reached 1000 followers. 1000! Can you believed it? That's fantastic for her and to celebrate, she's holding a massive giveaway where 8 winners can win themselves some fabulous books and swag!






The contest is international and ends September 9th.
Click on the banner above or here to head on over and tell her congrats. Enter yourself and lets help Mia celebrate her 1000 follower milestone!

Book Shelf: Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson

17-year-old Lila has two secrets she's prepared to take to the grave. The first is that she can move things just by looking at them. The second is that she's been in love with her brother's best friend, Alex, since forever. Or thereabouts.After a mugging on the streets of South London goes horribly wrong and exposes her unique ability, Lila decides to run to the only people she can trust - her brother and Alex. They live in Southern California where they work for a secret organisation called The Unit, and Lila discovers that the two of them are hunting down the men who murdered her mother five years before. And that they've found them. Trying to uncover the truth of why her mother was killed, and the real remit of The Unit, Lila becomes a pawn in a dangerous game. Struggling to keep her secrets in a world where nothing and no one is quite as they seem, Lila quickly realises that she is not alone - there are others out there just like her - people with special powers -and her mother's killer is one of them....

Blurb from Goodreads.....


Review:

Sarah Alderson’s debut novel is one that caught me from the very first page, sucking me in and refusing to let me go. Not that I minded, mind you. I began planning on reading a few pages, but the first chapter caught me and soon those few pages turned into a chapter and then one more chapter and one more after that and before I knew it, I was finished. It would have taken a miracle to pry the book from my fingers at that point. This is without a doubt one of my fave books I’ve read this year!
This book sucked me in and I was engrossed in the tale, devouring it in one sitting and then feeling distraught when I realised it was over and there were no more pages left to turn.
The writing in this book is brilliant and the plot unique. It’s got such a nice pace and the book flows along, and yet is exciting and captivating too. The rich details, action and swoon worthy romance kept me entertained, and the exciting twists and turns kept me on my toes. Just when I thought I knew where everything was heading, it all changed and suddenly all my conclusions went out the window.

So much of this book’s appeal is the characters within it. Hunting Lila is packed full of great characters that you are drawn to and love. They’re quirky and vibrant, from our plucky heroine to her brother and his best friend to the vast array of Unit members, and bad guys. Every one of these characters stands up and demands attention and makes this story so great.
Lila was such a joy to read about—she really was. I loved her. She’s such a strong individual despite her age and has great morals. She’s normal and easy to relate to and you can’t help by adore her. Lila was stubborn, rebellious and very reckless. She didn’t always make the best choices, but it was hard to fault her on them, when you could see the purpose and emotions behind them. She had a knack for going against what her brother wanted and for getting into sticky situations. She fought for what she wanted and demanded answers, not sitting in the background and letting everyone else do the work.

The military aspect seemed to fit so well with this book and it shone through with both Lila’s brother Zack and Alex. The relationship Lila had with her brother was fantastic. It was such a realistic one, with he being all protective and her being her stereotypical little sister. It was very sweet.
As for Lila’s romance interest, let me just pick my tongue up off the floor.....Obviously, I’m trying not to give away too many spoilers, but Alex has to be my ultimate fantasy. I don’t know how many times I’ve dreamed about a soldier on a motorcycle and Alex will definitely be taking centre stage in those dreams from now on. I thoroughly enjoyed the friendship Alex shared with Zack and I think he’s a brilliant character. He was strong, brave and oh, so sexy. He was strong as an individual and could stand easily on his own. He was very natural in everything that he was and nothing seemed forced. I liked watching his relationship with Lila change and seeing him subtly fight his feelings for her as the novel progressed. It was interesting seeing Alex come to terms with everything he learnt and I liked that he didn’t let the things he’d been told, and essentially believed, cloud his judgement and feelings for Lila. He saw her for who she was; abilities or not.

The relationship between Lila and Alex was so beautiful. They’d grown up together and they had such history. He’d always been a part of her life; by her side through the hard times and the good and it was understandable by Lila loved him so. Plus, he was gorgeous, inside and out. It was wonderful to see how much he cared about her and how tender he could be. Lila was awkward and uneasy around him and I found this to be very believable. I loved watching this change; seeing her jealous and seeing him worried about her. It was so adorable. Theirs has got to be one of the best romances I’ve seen in a long time. To me it felt real and believable, and their pasts together gave it much more authenticity.

There’s so much excitement in this book and so many big revelations for the characters, especially towards the end. This book held me all the way to the end and the ending itself left me gasping and wanting more. Hunting Lila is a fun, exciting, thrilling read that once you start you won’t want to stop!

Rating: ***** stars
Source: ARC from Simon & Schuster (Thanks a bunch guys!)
Format: Paperback
AU Release Date: September 2011
Expected AU Price: $16.99
Recommend: Yes!
Recommend borrow or buy: Buy!
Cover: This cover is stunning! I love it--it's so simple, and yet when you have the book in your hands you can't help but what to keep staring at it!
Read sequel/continue with series: Yes! The moment the sequel is out!

Book Shelf: Glow (Sky Chasers #1) by Amy Kathleen Ryan

What if you were bound for a new world, about to pledge your life to someone you'd been promised to since birth, and one unexpected violent attack made survival—not love—the issue?

Out in the murky nebula lurks an unseen enemy: the New Horizon. On its way to populate a distant planet in the wake of Earth's collapse, the ship's crew has been unable to conceive a generation to continue its mission. They need young girls desperately, or their zealous leader's efforts will fail. Onboard their sister ship, the Empyrean, the unsuspecting families don't know an attack is being mounted that could claim the most important among them...

Fifteen-year-old Waverly is part of the first generation to be successfully conceived in deep space; she was born on the Empyrean, and the large farming vessel is all she knows. Her concerns are those of any teenager—until Kieran Alden proposes to her. The handsome captain-to-be has everything Waverly could ever want in a husband, and with the pressure to start having children, everyone is sure he's the best choice. Except for Waverly, who wants more from life than marriage—and is secretly intrigued by the shy, darkly brilliant Seth.

But when the Empyrean faces sudden attack by their assumed allies, they quickly find out that the enemies aren't all from the outside.

Blurb from Goodreads.....


Review:

I’m in all directions with this book. There were times when I felt myself really engrossed in this tale, especially around the middle when this seemed really interesting, but for the most part I found myself heavily detached from the characters and in turn, the story.
The writing itself was flawless. I can’t fault it. This book was well written, detailed, descriptive and the storyline was something I haven’t read about before, even in a sci-fi book, however it still fell short in my eyes. It seemed to drag on at times and lacked the ability to keep my attention. That being said, there were a few moments where I was captivated completely and didn’t want to stop reading, but for the most part I was bored at times.

While I couldn’t help by feel outraged over everything that happened to the children in this book, especially the girls, there was just something that kept me from getting sucked in and feeling it completely. I was shocked at the ways in which these girls were violated in this book. I don’t want to give any spoilers away, but I must point out that they were not raped, however to me the choices they had taken away from them and what they had done to them was still a strong violation of their rights. Personally, I can’t imagine going through what they did and I was angry for them as I read this book.

It took me a while to warm up to Waverly, but when I did I found it did actually like her....if only a little bit. I liked that she didn’t believe the lies she’d be told and that she continued fighting through everything. She had an inner spirit and a fire inside her. Kerian on the other hand was a completely different story. I know as the male lead he’s going through a lot too and we’re supposed to like him, but try as I might I just couldn’t. He grated on me and I couldn’t feel anything but annoyance towards him. I found I just didn’t care for him and dreaded the moments when he was a focal point. I didn’t care much for some of the other characters either. Honestly, I don’t know what to think of Seth or him and Waverly, or anything like that. They’re just all so messed up. I found I liked the fight and spirit of many of the side characters more than the main ones and the character I liked the most doesn’t make it (not naming any names) so that spoiled things for me.

While this book wasn’t my cup of tea, it still held some good parts within it and there are plenty of people who see to adore it. I can't guarantee I'll read the sequel, but I think sci-fi lovers and fans of Beth Rivis's Across the Universe will love it and I can see Glow being a hit with sci-fi fans in general.


Rating: *** stars
Source: ARC from Pan Macmillian (Thanks guys!)
Format: Paperback ARC
AU Release Date: October 2011
Expected AU Price: $19.99
Recommend: For sci-fi fans
Recommend borrow or buy: Borrow
Cover: It's very pretty!
Read sequel/continue with series: Undecided as of now.....

Book Shelf: Retribution (Dark-Hunter #20) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Harm no human...

A hired gunslinger, William Jessup Brady lived his life with one foot in the grave. He believed that every life had a price. Until the day when he finally found a reason to live. In one single act of brutal betrayal, he lost everything, including his life. Brought back by a Greek goddess to be one of her Dark-Hunters, he gave his immortal soul for vengeance and swore he’d spend eternity protecting the humans he’d once considered prey.

Orphaned as a toddler, Abigail Yager was taken in by a family of vampires and raised on one belief- Dark-Hunters are the evil who prey on both their people and mankind, and they must all be destroyed. While protecting her adoptive race, she has spent her life eliminating the Dark-Hunters and training for the day when she meets the man who killed her family: Jess Brady.

A gun in the hand is worth two in the holster...

Jess has been charged with finding and terminating the creature who’s assassinating Dark-Hunters. The last thing he expects to find is a human face behind the killings, but when that face bears a striking resemblance to the one who murdered him centuries ago, he knows something evil is going on. He also knows he’s not the one who killed her parents. But Abigail refuses to believe the truth and is determined to see him dead once and for all.

Brought together by an angry god and chased by ancient enemies out to kill them both, they must find a way to overcome their mutual hatred or watch as one of the darkest of powers rises and kills both the races they’ve sworn to protect

Blurb from Goodreads.....


Review: (Warning, contains some spoilers)

I love this series. It’s one of my all time faves and I tend to devour these books. This one was no different. I read it in less than two days, but while I was looking forward to it and while did enjoy it, I didn’t love it in the same way I have many of the other books in the series. In fact in a lot of areas I was disappointed.
This book was a little different than most of the others; the Cherokee references and ancient tales a far cry from the Dark Hunter books I’ve read in the past. I found I enjoyed learning about them and Abby’s and Jess’s pasts, but I still missed the DH of the past.

I liked both Jess and Abigail. Jess was a tough cowboy, with a sarcastic wit and no fear. Abby was a girl who’d lose so much of her life and who’d been lied to her entire life. I liked them both, but I didn’t love them the way I wanted to at times. I went into this book really, really wanting to love them, but I just couldn’t. While there’s wasn’t nothing overly wrong with them, they just didn’t appeal to me like I’m used to with Sherrilyn Kenyon’s heroes and heroines.
Regardless, I enjoyed Jess’s no fear and humour; he had me smiling at times and I liked his guns blazing approach and there were times I really appreciated Abby's strength. And I knew that, while the things she’d done had been influenced by others, they weren’t entirely her fault. Well, I mean, they were her fault in the end. She had done those things, but she’d been lied to and led to believe these horrible lies. She was sorry for what she’d done and wanted to make up for that. Still, at times, I found it too hard to connect with her and forgive her for her past actions.

I was also a tad disappointed because I didn’t feel the chemistry between Jess and Abby. Yes, they loved each other, but I didn’t really feel it all too much. There was only one sex scene and things just seemed a bit forced to me at times, which really had me disappointed. I missed the tension and attraction I’ve seen in a lot of the other books in this series. Considering the history these two were supposed to have shared it just fell flat to me. There was no spark and I saw no reason for why they felt like they did. It just seemed like their feelings happened, with no reason for them and that just didn’t sit well with me. Not when I know how amazing Sherrilyn Kenyon usually writes her romances.

The things I loved most about this book were the other characters in it, two in particular. Sasha has always been a favourite of mine ever since Zarek’s book oh, so long ago and it was great getting to see so much of him. The dialogue and interactions had me laughing and smiling. Kenyon has written some pretty amazing one-liners in her time and they just keep coming. All the interactions between Sasha and Zarek and even Jess had be smiling and enjoying the book. The second character that got to me was Ren. We haven’t seen him before (at least I don’t think we have or my minds off on a walk) but he seems like he has the potential to be a great character. It’s obvious he’s had a difficult past and I’ll add both he and Sasha to the list of people I’m DYING to see stories written about.

The best part of this book, the most touching scene is the very last chapter. The bonus scene at the very end will have all Dark Hunter fans wanting to shed a tear. It makes reading this book all worth it and I’d have bought this book just for that one scene......that scene where Ash and Tory’s son is born. It’s scary, and nerve wrackingly beautiful, but after everything Ash has been through and his part in all 20 books, this scene was one that I’ll never forget. Just when it seems all is lost, for Tory and his son, Artemis does for him the kindest thing she’s ever done. I swear I was ready to shed a tear at this touching scene that has the whole family gathered to welcome the little baby into the world.

Regardless of the few faults this book had in my eyes, for the most part it was a terrific thrill ride full of the action and adventure I’ve come to love in the Dark Hunter books. I can’t fault it too much seeing as I usually adore Kenyon’s books. Still, I’ll read the next book, and the next, and the next, because let’s face it---I’ll never give up this series.
One of the things that kinda shocked me in this book was in the final chapter, Ash’s son’s birth, where something is hinted at between Nick and Artemis. I mean, I know they’re together-ish, but the way Ash put it....like Nick is changing Artie, has got me thinking..... and a tad worried. Really? Nick and Artemis? No way!
Now please bring on the next book.....

Rating: **** stars
Source: I bought
Format: Paperback
Recommend: Yes, in the end, I guess I would.
Recommend borrow or buy: Buy
Cover: I don't mind it. I like the white of the background.
Read sequel/continue with series: Yes, oh, yes.....

Buy it here:

Favourite Quote Friday #3

It's Favourite Quote Friday time. If you wish to participate too, leave your link/quotes in the comments.
Here we go.....

YA:

"So," Simon said. "Looks like you and Derek are getting along again. What happened? Did he give you the look?"
"Look?"
"You know. The one that makes him look like a whipped puppy, and makes you feel like a jerk for doing the whipping."
"Ah, that one. So it works on you, too?"
He snorted. "It even works on Dad. We give in, we tell him it's okay, and the next thing you know, he's chewing up slippers again."
~Simon and Chloe, The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong.

Adult:

William growled low in his throat. “Anya! Must you share my secrets with everyone?” He flattened his palms on the arms of his chair. “Fine. If you can spill, I can, too. Anya’s the reason the Titanic sank. She was playing chicken with the icebergs.”
~William, The Darkest Whisper by Gena Showalter

Come back next week for more fabulous quotes.

Manor Collapse Scene (This Guilty Blood) in City of Glass by Cassandra Clare in Jace's POV

There are very few things I love more than The Mortal Instruments. The intensity, the humor, the action, the romance.....it's brilliant. I know that Cassandra Clare brings the world to life in an amazing way and there's nothing I love more than scenes featuring Clary and Jace. One of my all time faves is the scene where the manor collapses, well, afterwards anyway =D

And now, Cassie is treating everyone to a very special treat. It's the manor scene....in Jace's POV! And it's even steamer and hotter than the one in the actual book.

Take a look....


Over the years, many people have asked for this — Jace’s point of view of the “hot and heavy” scene in THIS GUILTY BLOOD, Chapter Nine of City of Glass. (Page 206-211 in the American hardback CoG.) I’ve taken a few liberties here — the scene goes on a few moments past what happens in the printed version of CoG — but then so did the original draft!

The bits below in italics are the bits from the original book, to help you mentally locate the placement of the scene.

Clary heard a sharp pattering noise all around her. For a bewildered moment she thought it had started to rain—then she realized it was rubble and dirt and broken glass: the detritus of the shattered manor being flung down around them like deadly hail.
Jace pressed her harder into the ground, his body flat against hers, his heartbeat nearly as loud in her ears as the sound of the manor’s subsiding ruins.

* * *

Later, Jace would remember little about the destruction of the Manor itself, the shattering apart of the only home he’d known until he was ten years old. He remembered only the fall from the library window, scrambling and rolling down over the grass, and catching hold of Clary, spinning her down and under him, covering her with his body while pieces of the Manor rained down around them like hail.

He could feel her breathing, feel the racing of her heart. He was reminded of his falcon, the way it had curled, blind and trusting, in his hand, the rapidity of its heartbeat. Clary was holding him by the front of the shirt, though he doubt she realized it, her face against his shoulder; he was desperately afraid that there wasn’t enough of him, that he couldn’t cover her completely, protect her entirely. He imagined boulders as big as elephants tumbling across the rocky ground, ready to crush them both, to crush her. The ground shuddered under them and he pressed harder against her, as if that might help somehow. It was magical thinking, he knew, like closing your eyes so you didn’t see the knife coming at you.

The roar had faded. He realized to his surprise that he could hear again: small things, the sound of birds, the air in the trees. Clary’s voice, breathless. “Jace — I think you dropped your stele somewhere.”

He drew back and stared down at her......

Want more? Head on over to Cassie's blog for the complete scene: http://cassandraclare.livejournal.com/57281.html


What do you guys all think? Steamy or what? Seriously, this is Jace in all his Jace-ness. Sexy, hot, yet so much in love with Clary [insert dreamy sigh here].

Cover Lust

This weeks Cover Lust is:

Crave by Melissa Darnell......



Savannah Colbert has been shunned all her life by the kids of the Clann. And when she undergoes some drastic changes after a strange illness, Savannah learns secrets about the Clann and about herself-dangerous secrets. For the Clann are powerful magic users, and Savannah herself is half Clann and half vampire-a forbidden, unheard of combination. Falling for Clann golden boy Tristan Coleman isn't just a bad idea-it could be deadly if anyone finds out. But her attraction to Tristan-and his to her-isn't something either of them can resist for long.


Thoughts:
I love this cover. It's stunning. The colours and the look of it is just beautiful. The story itself sounds pretty darn good too. Can't wait to get my hands on this.

~Rachel
xoxo

Book Shelf: Midnight Awakening (Midnight Breed #3) by Lara Adrian

With a dagger in her hand and vengeance on her mind, Darkhaven beauty Elise Chase prowls Boston’s streets in search of retribution against the Rogue vampires who took from her everything she cherished. Using an extraordinary psychic gift, she tracks her prey, well aware that the power she possesses is destroying her. She must learn to harness this gift, and for that she can turn to only one man—the deadliest of the Breed warriors, Tegan.

No stranger to loss, Tegan knows Elise’s pain. He knows fury, but when he slays his enemies it is with ice in his veins. He is perfect in his self-control, until Elise seeks his aid in her personal war. An unholy alliance is forged—a bond that will link them by blood and vow—and plunge them into a tempest of danger, desire, and the darkest passions of the heart. . .

Blurb from Goodreads.....


Review:

As I’ve mentioned in my previous reviews for the two Midnight Breed books I’ve read, I have liked them, but they haven’t really been that brilliant to me. I’ve loved the storylines, but nothing about the leading couples have particularly caught me. I haven’t been blown away by any of the books in the series, but I’ve finally found that wow one I’ve been waiting for!
I LOVED Midnight Awakening. It’s everything I’ve been waiting to find in this series. That one book that made me sits back and think, “Yep, this is why I’m reading this series.”

Unlike the featuring couples in both Kiss of Midnight and Kiss of Crimson, I simply adored Tegan and Elise. I felt connected to them and easily fell into their story and struggles. I found it easy to emphasise with them and I truly cared about what they were going through; only wanting them to find happiness with each other.
I must admit, Tegan is exactly the kind of male I love in these kinds of series. The one out of a brotherhood who is misunderstood and who everyone seems to think the worst of and yet is so much more than people think. That was Tegan to a tee---and I loved it! Tegan was a tough, strong, fierce man who had a good heart at his very base. I could understand why Tegan acted the way he did. He’d lost the person he loved and he didn’t want to feel anymore. Something he succeeding in doing for centuries, but it took a certain beauty to break through his shell.

You know, I actually didn’t like Elise that much in Kiss of Crimson. Throughout that book, as she dealt with her son begin missing and then how she acted with Chase, she came across to me as one of those weak, pathetic heroines who can’t let go of the past and can’t move one. Those annoying ones who grate on you and can’t do anything for themselves, but you know what? In this book she was nothing like that! Since the end of the last book she’d changed and grown so much....going out on her own and fighting the monsters that took her son. Elise was independent and strong willed, who found her feet more and more as the book progressed. She still had her vulnerabilities and issues, but she faced them with Tegan’s help and began to overcome them. I loved watching her begin to stand up to Tegan and to begin to see him for how he truly was. She was so likable and is easily my favourite heroine of the series so far.

I loved the relationship between Tegan and Elise. It didn’t feel forced or rushed considering this is a PNR, and I really felt the chemistry and attraction between the two of them. The tension and frustration dripped from the pages and I loved watching the relationship between the two of them grow and develop as the book went on. Elise had lost her entire world; her mate and then her son. Tegan had lost his mate and didn’t let anyone in. They were both so different and from different classes within the Breed world and yet they were the perfect person for each other; able to understand the deep loss the other felt and being able to heal that void they each had as no one else could. Theirs was a connection that I really felt, both physical and otherwise and I couldn’t get enough of them!

There were a few twists and turns in this book and I liked the plotline again. That’s one thing I can’t fault in this series. It’s been growing and changing a little bit more with each book and with the ending of this one this series could go in a whole other direction. I wonder what this means for the Order now and what will happen to the warriors. I’m really eager to read the rest of this series now after Tegan’s book and can’t wait to get my hands on Rio’s next!


Rating: ***** stars
Source: I bought
Format: Paperback
Recommend: Yes
Recommend borrow or buy: Buy
Cover: It ties in well with the others in the series.
Read sequel/continue with series: Yes

Buy it here:

In My Mailbox #15

It's IMM time!

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 was a bit busy last week and I didn't have the time to do IMM. I was sent a few fabulous books this week and last.

Here's what I got.....


I bought:


Kiss of Crimson by Lara Adrian: This is the 2nd book in the Midnight Breed series. I've already read and reviewed it and I didn't mind it. Find out more: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/715791.Kiss_of_Crimson

Midnight Awakening by Lara Adrian: This is the 3rd book in the Midnight Breed series. I'm looking forward to thins one--I'm intrigued by the main couple. Discover it: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1388813.Midnight_Awakening

When I went to the Lauren Kate signing, I bought the books I didn't have to get signed also.
Torment by Lauren Kate: Book number two in the Fallen series. More info: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7740152-torment

Passion: Book number 3 in the Fallen series, you can discover it here: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9369720-passion


I received for review:


Blood Song by Rhiannon Hart: This is Rhiannon's debut novel and first in her new Lharmell series. I've already read and reviewed it and....I....loved....it! It was amazing. Find out for yourself: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11399605-blood-song
Thanks to Random house for sending me this!

Mammon by J.B Thomas: I don't know too much about this book, but it's by an Australian author and it sounds very interesting so I'm looking forward to reading it. Learn more: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12136182-mammon
Once more thanks to Random House Australia--thanks guys!

Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson: Sent to me thanks to Simon and Schuster, I hadn't heard much about this book before I received it, but I'm looking forward to giving it a go. More info: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10188580-hunting-lila

Downloaded:


I don't know how long it lasts, but you can currently download Waterfall by Lisa Tawn Bergren, the first River of Time book for FREE now on Kindle from Amazon. I don't know how long it lasts, so hurry while you can.
http://www.amazon.com/Waterfall-Novel-River-Time-ebook/dp/B004NBYFA8


And that's it for the past two weeks.
What did you get in your mailbox?

~Rachel
xoxo