Favourite Quote Friday #9

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:
“Forgive me," Ash murmured, and I heard the faintest of tremors beneath his voice. "But I can't...I won't...give her up. Not now, when I've just found her."
~Ash, The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa



Adult:
“You so need to lighten up about that potato-launcher incident," Butch said.
Phury rolled his eyes and eased back in the banquette. "You broke my window."
"Of course we did. V and I were aiming for it."
"Twice."
"Thus proving that he and I are outstanding marksmen.”
~Butch and Phury, Lover Unbound by J.R. Ward

Come back for more next week....

Book Shelf: Taken by Midnight (Midnight Breed #8) by Lara Adrian

AT THE CROSSROADS OF DEATH AND DESIRE, A WOMAN TASTES A PLEASURE NO MORTAL IS MEANT TO SURVIVE.

In the frozen Alaskan wilderness, former state trooper Jenna Darrow survives an unspeakable breach of body and soul. But with her narrow escape comes an even greater challenge. For strange changes are taking place within her, as she struggles to understand—and control—a new hunger. To do so, she will seek shelter in the Boston compound of the Order, an ancient race of vampire warriors whose very existence is shrouded in mystery. Perhaps the most mysterious of them all is Brock, a brooding, dark-eyed alpha male whose hands hold the power to comfort, heal . . . and arouse.

As she recovers under Brock’s care, Jenna finds herself drawn to the Order’s mission: to stop a ruthless enemy and its army of assassins from subjecting Earth to a reign of terror. Yet in spite of their resolve, a purely physical relationship without strings soon binds Brock and Jenna together with a desire fiercer than life and stronger than death itself—until a secret from Brock’s past and Jenna’s own mortality challenges their forbidden love to the ultimate trial by fire.

Blurb from Goodreads.....


Review:

This tale has been another great story in the breed series. After the events and implications of Kade and Alex’s story, I was very excited for this one. We first got to know Jenna and Brock a little in Shades of Midnight and it was exciting seeing what happened to them in the weeks following Jenna’s attack. I was glued to this book the entire time I was reading it; the plotline was effected by the events of the previous book and Brock and Jenna facing changes to her thanks to the involvement of the Ancient.

Brock was another great male lead, typical of a Breed warrior and enjoyable to read about. I liked him and found him to be strong and brave. I admit there isn’t anything about him that I haven’t seen before, but that didn’t mean I liked him any less.
Jenna on the other hand, I felt, was completely unique to this series. Unlike the other heroine’s of the series, she wasn’t a Breedmate, which meant her relationship with Brock was unique and nothing liked we’d seen before. Jenna had faced horrible tragedy in her past and with the effects of her encounter with the Ancient affecting her and what she was, she was certainly interesting to read about. I really felt for her. She was proud and put on a strong front, but she was very vulnerable in side and sad. With all the changes she was going through, she was in so much pain and really needed Brock.

I thoroughly enjoyed the relationship between Brock and Jenna. As I mentioned earlier, they really are different from the other couples of the series. Jenna is the first human to steal a warrior’s heart and as I was reading I did wonder how things would turn out for them. Their relationship grew hard and fast, but the connection they’d forged from the previous book helped form a great foundation for their relationship and because of this it never seemed too rushed or forced. They were hot and steamy together and were great for one another. Brock helped heal Jenna and she showed him love he’d never known. I loved that it didn’t matter to him that she wasn’t a Breedmate and that he considered her his even without that blood connection and bond.

My only issue with this book was that the ending seemed very rushed to me. It was all exciting when the imprisoned Breedmates were found, but after this everything seemed to wrap up very quickly. I understand that Brock and Jenna are going to be together, but I still had some questions about how exactly they planned to make it work and what that would entail. I would have liked a bit more explanation and more closure from Lara Adrian, but I was still pleased with this book regardless.
Brock’s history with Corinne was something I wasn’t expecting and I am looking forward to the next book featuring her and Hunter. Hunter certainly is one of a kind and with everything she’s been through I know their book is going to be anything other than easy. Looking forward to it.


Rating:
Source: I bought
Format: Paperback
Recommend: Yes
Recommend borrow or buy: Buy
Cover: Meh....
Read sequel/continue with series: Yes

Buy it here:

Cover Lust

This weeks Cover Lust is:



Enchanted by Alethea Kontis......


It isn’t easy being the rather overlooked and unhappy youngest sibling to sisters named for the other six days of the week. Sunday’s only comfort is writing stories, although what she writes has a terrible tendency to come true.

When Sunday meets an enchanted frog who asks about her stories, the two become friends. Soon that friendship deepens into something magical. One night Sunday kisses her frog goodbye and leaves, not realizing that her love has transformed him back into Rumbold, the crown prince of Arilland—and a man Sunday’s family despises.

The prince returns to his castle, intent on making Sunday fall in love with him as the man he is, not the frog he was. But Sunday is not so easy to woo. How can she feel such a strange, strong attraction for this prince she barely knows? And what twisted secrets lie hidden in his past—and hers?

Thoughts:
How awesome is this cover??? I think it's brilliant---so pretty. The actual girl and the design up the top go together so well. And of course the story sounds great too.....

Blog Tour: Guest Post by Marie Treanor and Giveaway **CLOSED**

Today I'm joined by Marie Treanor as part of the blog tour for Blood Eternal, the 3rd and final book in the Awakened By Blood Trology.

Marie has stopped by to guest post and I will be giving away ONE copy of Blood Eternal to one US resident.
Lets see what Marie has to say......

The Written and the Unwritten by Marie Treanor

Being a writer is a dangerous business. Seriously! Not because our villains are likely to leap out of the computer and hurt us, but because the job can delude us into the belief that we’re God. After all we control the lives of our characters (up to a point, at least!). We can endow our heroes and heroines with fantastic beauties and virtues and strengths, pepper them with vulnerabilities to overcome, bring them safely through danger and suffering and present them, by way of a reward, with true love and happiness ever after.

How much fun is that? If someone’s made a bad decision in the past, we can give them the opportunity of putting it right. It’s absolutely fine for the heroine to stomp off in an impetuous rage through misunderstanding, because we all know it will all get sorted out in the end.

But once writers start to behave like their heroines, we’re in trouble. In our books, we can arrange matters, for the heroine to save the hero’s life, perhaps, or for the couple to at least meet again and admit their mistakes along with their enduring love for each other.

In real life, after such a performance, if you went to apologise to your beloved, you’re as likely to find that he’s so disgusted with your tantrum that rather than falling at your feet in gratitude, he is in fact made uncomfortable by your presence because he’s already moved on!

We’ve all wanted to rewrite our own histories at some point, and of course, some things we can make right either very easily or with a little bit of effort. But we’re not God and real life characters won’t always behave the way we want them to. I mean, have you ever tried matchmaking among friends clearly destined for each other? Has it ever worked?

Then, take my teenage kids (please, take my teenage kids! No. no, just joking =D). I can see what’s good for them. I know what they should do. But trying to make them do it is incredibly frustrating! If only they were characters in my latest book, I could ensure that they went to sleep at a reasonable time, did their homework when they should, and came home at a sensible hour! There just wouldn’t be distractions like Facebook, obstacles like cancelled trains, or a too-laid-back attitude!

Don’t even get me started on my husband, who, over twenty years of marriage, has perfected the art of agreeing with me and my sage advice, and then doing the opposite.

Sigh. But hey, they’re the guys who make sure I don’t develop a god complex from bossing my characters around. And in a weird way, while driving me nuts, they keep me sane. Without them, there wouldn’t be much point in anything else I do – like writing about those other amazing people who will do what I tell them at least some of the time.

Which brings me to BLOOD ETERNAL, releasing next week! It’s the finale of my vampire romance/urban fantasy trilogy, Awakened by Blood, and I confess I did have a little trouble with disobedient characters (who’d clearly been chatting to my husband and kids). I’d made them too strong and they wouldn’t fit neatly into the ending I’d planned for them. For my vampire hero, Saloman and my mortal heroine Elizabeth, happiness was only going to be possible if one of them gave in: if Saloman agreed he didn’t need to rule humans as well as vampires, or if Elizabeth agreed to let him and seek immortality herself. I thought I knew the way it had to go, but when I came to do it, I discovered it just – didn’t. I had to let Elizabeth and Saloman and their friends fight it out on paper and make their own ending. Fortunately, it turned out to be acceptable to me. Maybe there’s a lesson there for real life =)

Anyhow, the trilogy has ended - I hope it’s as satisfying for readers as it was for the writer – but the story hasn’t. Although unwritten, it goes on in my head, just like real life. Only with slightly more obedient characters.

Discover the books!


Blood Eternal
By Marie Treanor

Awakened by Blood, Book 3
Signet Eclipse
Mass Market Paperback
4th October 2011

Secrets don't disappear after seduction...

Elizabeth Silk is struggling to reconcile her passion for the vampire overlord Saloman and her allegiance to the vampire hunters. When a shocking vampire revolt calls Saloman away from her, she refuses to follow him.

To make matters worse, Saloman’s beloved cousin Luk has been found and awakened by one of his greatest enemies. Frenzied with bloodlust, Luk embarks on a killing spree and prepares to expose Saloman’s biggest vulnerability: Elizabeth.

But under Saloman’s regime, vampires have become less concerned with secrecy, no longer willing to hide their power. Rumors are swirling about attacks on humans. After Saloman joins forces with the vampire hunters to consolidate his power, Elizabeth begins to understand her role in the inevitable collision of the two worlds. She could bring resolution between vampires and humans—if she can manage to stay alive long enough to play both sides….


Read an excerpt from Blood Eternal!

Set up: An Ancient vampire, believed to be Saloman’s newly awakened cousin Luk, has gone on the rampage in the Turkish hills. Elizabeth Silk is helping the hunters to track Luk and his allies…

Luk began to run, and as his limbs stretched out, he remembered their strength and what they could do. A surge of excitement urged him to speed up, to run around the entire world and never stop. But her scent was close and sweet, and as he leapt down the final fifty feet to land right in front of her, he grew dizzy.

Startled, the woman fell back, her dark hazel eyes huge in her beautiful face. Hair the color of a long-forgotten sunrise whipped against her soft cheeks in the breeze. Blood pumped through her delicate veins. The sound and smell of it drove him to new hunger, but this was one human he’d never kill.

“Tsigana,” he whispered.


The name held Elizabeth frozen. She’d had an instant’s warning from the Ancient detector, which suddenly, after indicating his slow plod away from her, went nuts, the readings obviously failing to keep up with the speed of the vampire who leapt out in front of her a bare instant after she’d known he would.

She’d had time to press her buzzer, at the same moment it had gone off in warning. The others knew. So she backed off, giving them time to get here, holding the stake poised for the vampire’s attack that didn’t come. He stood unmoving, staring at her.

The ordinary vampire detector in her pocket was still and silent. So the Ancient was alone. She prepared to attack, targeting the spot in his chest that she needed, but before she could fly at him, he said, “Tsigana.”

If he’d said her own name, if he’d called her Jane or Esmeralda or Buffy the Vampire Slayer, she wouldn’t have hesitated in the slightest. But he said Tsigana, as if he’d seen straight to her one weakness, a jealousy that amounted almost to fear of the long-dead human woman who had once held Saloman’s heart.

Her fingers curled convulsively on the stake, altering its aim by accident, and she had to readjust it. The Ancient who was Saloman’s cousin, his onetime friend and his betrayer, one of Tsigana’s three vampire lovers, continued to stare at her. She had the impression that if he breathed he’d have been panting, but weirdly, she sensed no threat from him. He lifted his arms slowly, reaching out to her with intense, weirdly unfocused longing. Understanding slammed into her like a blow.

“I’m not Tsigana,” she said between her teeth. “I’m Elizabeth, the Awakener.” And she flew at him, aware her aim was true. She summoned every ounce of strength, every ounce of power she believed in. Because she didn’t know how long the hunters would take to get here, she had to try to do it alone, as she’d once tried to kill Saloman alone. She still believed she could have slain him, using her power as his Awakener, but she’d never found out for sure, because her heart, not her body, had prevented it. There was no such prevention here; Luk was the cause of most of the unbearable pain that had haunted Saloman for centuries. He was as good as dead, and she couldn’t even regret her lack of compassion.
But he didn’t wait for her. He leapt back so fast she didn’t even see him move. Her stake sliced through air, almost overbalancing her.

“Not Tsigana,” Luk repeated. He sniffed the air.

“Tsigana is dead.” Again she leapt, this time before she finished speaking, but again he evaded her. A howl rent the air, like a dog or a wolf in agony. It had to be coming from Luk, as his distant figure leapt back up the hillside at impossible speed, the bloodcurdling wail fading with him into the night. Not because he’d stopped crying, but because he was too far away to be heard.

“Shit,” Elizabeth whispered. With shaking hand she retrieved the Ancient detector from her pocket. The pointer indicated the hill up which Luk had vanished, the display counting madly as the distance increased. Then it went dead. Elizabeth delved for her phone, just as the needle swung rapidly several degrees to the west, and the display galloped forward.

Oh, hell, he’s doubling back. He’s gotten over Tsigana and now I’m dinner.




Blood Sin by Marie Treanor
Awakened by Blood, Book 2

Even if you walk in the light, you can dwell in the dark.

Months after her dangerous encounter with vampire overlord Saloman, Scottish academic Elizabeth Silk is still trying to cope with both the demands of her ancestral bloodline—which marks her as a vampire hunter — and the overpowering desire she feels for the immortal she brought back from the grave. But she is not alone in her fascination with Saloman.

When Elizabeth tracks down a distant cousin from America, she learns he possesses an antique sword that has caught the interest of the Grand Master of the American hunters. It is the ancient and mystical sword of Saloman — a treasure of vast occult powers and a prize beyond measure to both vampires and humans. Now the race is on for possession of the sword.

Even as her enemies and allies shift their allegiances and battle for supremacy, Elizabeth must decide which will rule her own perilous fate: unwanted loyalty or unholy love.

Reviews:
"An action-packed sensual read, filled with danger, romance, vampires, humor and seduction, BLOOD SIN is an unforgettable story... a delightful read and a welcome addition to the keeper shelf... this amazing series..." - 4.5 Blue Ribbons, Dottie, Romance Junkies
"Beautifully worded... Unique plot twists... Steamy chemistry and passion-filled romance... an altogether spicy read." - 4 cups. Virginia, Coffee Time Romance
"The fantastic sequel to Blood on Silk... delicious... I truly cannot get enough of...Saloman... a fascinating character, free from cliche... truly an amazing series..." - 5 Tombstones, Jennifer, Bitten by Books.




Blood on Silk by Marie Treanor
Awakened by Blood, Book 1

The debut of a seductive new series of vampires, lust, and revenge.

Scottish academic Elizabeth Silk is spending the summer in Romania researching historical superstitions for her PhD. While she is tracing local folktales, one subject in particular sparks her imagination. His name is Saloman, legend's most powerful vampire, a seductive prince staked centuries ago. Now, in the ruins of a castle crypt, Elizabeth discovers the legends are real. Her blood has awakened him. Her innocence has aroused him. But Elizabeth unleashes more than Saloman's hunger.

An army of vampire hunters has amassed to send Saloman back to hell. Sworn to help - yet fearing Saloman's deadly blood lust - Elizabeth seeks to entrap him, offering her body as bait. But something stronger than dread, more powerful than revenge, is uniting Elizabeth to her prey. Caught between desire and rage, Elizabeth must decide where her loyalties lie...and what the limits are to a yearning she can no longer control.

Reviews:
"BLOOD ON SILK is sensual and thrilling, a wonderful combination of vampire myths old and new. Saloman and Elizabeth's relationship is both amazingly hot and terrifyingly complicated. Readers will fall instantly in love with the world that Marie Treanor has created. You cannot miss this novel!" --Michele Bardsley, national bestselling author of the Broken Heart series.

"A provocative read... witty, sensual and, sometimes, dark... Brimming with complex and compelling characters, sexual tension, danger, betrayal, emotional turmoil, witty banter, a thrilling plot, an enigmatic hero who is at times an anti-hero, a captivating heroine and plenty of vampires, this erotic, gothic story grabs your attention and holds it right up to the very last page." ~Dottie, Romance Junkies, 4.5 Blue Ribbons

"Praises for Marie Treanor; this book has found a permanent place alongside the likes of Anne Rice and Laurell K Hamilton." - Rating 5, Jillean, Once Upon a Romance.


Author Bio:

Marie Treanor lives in Scotland with her eccentric husband and three much-too-smart children. Having grown bored with city life, she resides these days in a picturesque village by the sea where she is lucky enough to enjoy herself avoiding housework and writing sensual stories of paranormal romance and fantasy.

Marie Treanor has published more than twenty ebooks with small presses, (Samhain Publishing, Ellora’s Cave, Changeling Press and The Wild Rose Press), including a former Kindle bestseller, Killing Joe. Blood on Silk: an Awakened by Blood novel, was her New York debut with NAL.

In the Awakened by Blood series, Marie is delighted to be able to bring together her long-standing loves of vampire stories and Gothic romance.

Visit Marie Treanor:
~Website
~Facebook
~Newsletter
~Blog: Marie Treanor's Romantic Theme Party




Giveaway!
As I mentioned I have ONE paperback copy of Blood Eternal to give away to a US resident (sorry internationals!) as part of the tour. The giveaway will run from the 25th of September (today) until the 5th of October, after which I'll pick a winner. Simply comment below with a way to contact you for the chance to win!

Thanks for stopping by as part of the Blood Eternal tour hosted by Bewitching Book Tours!

Waiting on Wednesday #5

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






Undeadly by Michele Vail
Released on: Feb 28th 2012
Add it: On Goodreads.

Molly Bartolucci wants to blend in, date hottie Rick and keep her zombie-raising abilities on the down-low. Then the god Anubis chooses her to become a reaper-and she accidentally undoes the work of another reaper, Rath.

Within days, she's shipped off to the Nekyia Academy, an elite school that trains the best necromancers in the world. And her personal reaping tutor? Rath. Who seems to hate her guts.

Rath will be watching closely to be sure she completes her first assignment-reaping Rick, the boy who should have died. The boy she still wants to be with.

To make matters worse, students at the academy start turning up catatonic, and accusations fly-against Molly. The only way out of this mess? To go through hell. Literally.


Thoughts:
Reapers, gods, an elite school, romance and a bad boy figure. Whoops. I just drooled a little. The first book in the new The Reaper Diaries series, this sounds right up my alley and I soooo need this book.

Book Shelf: Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy: The Graphic Novel #1) by Richelle Mead

After two years on the run, best friends Rose and Lissa are caught and returned to St. Vladimir's Academy, a private high school for vampires and half-bloods. It's filled with intrigue, danger - and even romance. Enter their dark, fascinating world through a new series of 144-page full-color graphic novels. The entire first Vampire Academy novel has been adapted for book one by Leigh Dragoon and overseen by Richelle Mead, while the beautiful art of acclaimed British illustrator Emma Vieceli brings the story to life.

Blurb from Goodreads.....


Review:

It’s true I’ve been dying to get my hands on this ever since I heard it was going to be released and I can’t say I was disappointed. With the exception of the movie rights being sold, this is Vampire Academy coming to life; in picture and at its best!

I admit I’m not a graphic novel fan, but I couldn’t help but love this! The illustrator has captured the characters perfectly in classical graphic form and you can’t help but love it for what it is. Staying true to the original book, the majority of the major scenes were there, even if some of the wording changed, although I think you have to have read the actual book to really appreciate what it is you’re seeing. Feelings and emotions don’t necessarily come through with a graphic novel so it helps to have some knowledge of what was going on as you read the novel.

It’s easy to read; took me no time at all and is a light and carefree read. Just the kind of thing you can relax and enjoy. As a VA fan it’s impossible not to be excited as you read this, knowing you’re seeing the characters you love and adore in colour. Whether you’re a graphic novel fan or not, this is a must have for any serious die-hard VA fans!

Rating:
Source: I bought
Format: Paperback
Recommend: For VA fans!
Recommend borrow or buy: Buy--you have to have you own copy.
Cover: It's not too shabby. It suits the book and it has all the important characters on it.
Read sequel/continue with series: Yes....

Buy it here:

In My Mailbox #19

Welcome to this weeks 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.

It's been a slow week for me this week and I only got a few books.
Here they are:


I bought:

Vampire Academy: The Graphic Novel by Richelle Mead: Yay! This is the first graphic novel from the oh, so popular Vampire Academy series. I love VA so I'm so excited to get this.

The Darkest Surrender by Gena Showalter: This is the 8th book in the Lords of the Underworld series and I loooove this series. It's one of my faves. I've already devoured this book and you can check out my review here.

For Review from Random House Australia:

Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel: This Lia's debut novel and the first in her new Dearly series. It's about zombies and absolutely rocked. Yes, I've already read it--check out my review here.


And that's all folks!
Tell me what you got it your mail box this week......

First Ever Obsidian Excerpt + Obsidian and Pure Giveaway with Jennifer L. Armentrout

Author Jennifer L. Armentrout has just released her first ever excerpt for her highly anticipated novel Obsidian and to celebrate she's holding a contest and is giving away:


Two print ARCs of Obsidian
An E-ARC of Pure to one winner
Three massively huge swag packs from me and various other authors.


First, lets check out the excerpt!




Eyes still on me, he tipped his desk forward even further. "Guess what?"
"What?"
"I checked out your blog."
Oh. Dear. Baby. Jesus. How did he find it? Wait. More importantly was the fact that he had found it. Was my blog now googleable? That was awesome sauce with an extra heaping of sauce. "Stalking me again, I see. Do I need to get a restraining order?"
"In your dreams, kitten." He smirked. "Oh wait, I'm already starring in those, aren't I?"

Gah! How good does that sounds?!? If I wasn't already dying for the book I would be after this little tidbit.

The contest will run from the 20th of September until the 19th of October and is open internationally.
Don't forget to add Obsidian on Goodreads and then head on over to Jennifer's website to enter this amazing contest!

Enjoy and good-luck!
~Rachel
xoxo

Book Shelf: The Girl in the Steel Corset (Steampunk Chronicles #1) by Kady Cross

In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one except the "thing" inside her.

When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch...

Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits. Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.

Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help-and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.

But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on, even if it seems no one believes her.

Blurb from Goodreads.....


Review:

The Girl In The Steel Corset has got to be one of the most exciting books I’ve had the pleasure of reading in a long, long time!

Honestly I’m not quite sure why it took me so long to get around to reading it, but from the very moment I started this book, I didn’t want to stop. Stepping foot (figuratively speaking) into this world is like stepping back in time and even into another dimension. Set in London in the late 1800’s, Kady Cross’s debut novel is a breath of fresh air in a YA genre saturated with books all of a similar nature. Unique and an exceptional steampunk novel, Cross blends Victorian London perfectly with action, adventure and even a hint of romance!

The world within this book is so descriptive and well thought out and you really find yourself lost to it as you read the tale. While I admit the technological aspect sometimes dragged on and seemed a bit much at times, it really added an aspect of authenticity to the story. Cross has backed up her world and creation with fantastic contraptions and specimens native to the time and even a bit before it too.
The characters practically jumped off the page with their different personalities and I simply adored them all! Each and everyone won me over with their depth and well roundedness, especially with this being the first book in a new series. All with specialities of one form or another, no one ever felt like they were there simply because they needed to be. They had purpose within the story and this made them shine.

Our heroine Finley is the kind of girl you can really sink your teeth into. Flawed, yet strong willed and determined; someone who stands up for herself and can hold her own even in the toughest world, she was wonderful to read about. It may have something to do with having spilt personalities too, but this girl could kick serious butt when the need arose! She wasn’t above fear and unease, but she managed to rise above it and pushed on no matter what. Her voice was easy to follow through the tale and I can see great potential in her, even as she continues to grow. While being strong, she felt emotion and let it show as she made friends and began to fit into the new world she had discovered.
Sam, Emily and Jasper were brilliant too, and I loved their personalities and role they had in the story, but in all honesty it was Griffin that really stood out for me.

While I admit I felt nothing for Jack Dandy what-so-ever for some reason, as a character and even as a potential love interest for Finley, Griffin on the other hand was brilliant! Griffin King, Duke of Greythrone, won me over early on and continued to captivate me as the story progressed with his good nature and strength of character. Born to wealth and in a position of power, one could understand if Griffin had succumbed to the trials that came along with this role and yet he hasn’t. Not at all. Even being as powerful as he obviously is he’s such a great guy. He truly wanted to do his best by Finely from the beginning; never wanting anything in return and not having an ulterior motive. With the book written in split POV’s, as readers we’re often gifted with the chance to get inside Griff’s head and he never disappoints. He’s charming and witty, but has a honest to god good heart. He’s one of those male leads that doesn’t have to be a bad boy to make you swoon and win you over----and I adored that about him. Yep. I’m smitten!

With excitement and mystery galore in this book, there was more than enough intrigue and questions to keep you guessing. The book speeds up in pace as questions are answered and races towards a final showdown between our heroes and their nemesis that has you on the edge of your seat.
Finishing with a couple of loose ends left untied and an ending that has you itching for the next book, The Girl In The Sleet Corset is one adventure you don’t want to miss out on!

Rating:
Source: Sent to me by Harlequin Australia (Thank-you so much Gabby!)
Format: Paperback
Recommend: Yes!
Recommend borrow or buy: Buy
Cover: It's beautiful
Read sequel/continue with series: Oh, yes.....

Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout Trailer and Contest!

To celebrate the release of her novel Half-Blood author Jennifer L. Armentrout is holding a contest! 2 lucky winners will not only win a signed ARCs of Half-Blood, but a huge swag pack that includes signed Half-Blood, Daimon, Pure, Cursed and Obsidian bookmarks, Signed A Touch Mortal and Witch Elemental, Half-Blood and Pure Guitar Picks and assorted swag from various authors. How incredibly generous is that!

All the official details are on Jennifer's website, but I know for sure that it's open internationally! Yay! I'm so ecstatic for this books release and I'm hearing such great things about it already, that the chance to win an ARC and a SIGNED one at that has got me jumping for joy.

Head on over and enter for yourself, but while you're here, check out the terrific third trailer for Half-Blood that's just been realised!


Doesn't it make you want the book even more?

Book Shelf: Darkness Becomes Her (Gods & Monsters #1) by Kelly Keaton

Ari can’t help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can’t be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is.

Her search for answers uncovers just one message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it’s impossible to protect herself when she doesn’t know what she’s running from or why she is being pursued.

She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very…different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of her.

Ari won’t stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.

Blurb from Goodreads.....


Review:

Darkness Becomes Her is a rich, mysterious tale, set in an alternate New Orleans and brimming with action, adventure, and monsters! A fantastic debut for Kelly Keaton, one that blends romance with fast paced adventure and mystery, this book will catch you and not let you go as you follow a tough, capable girl on her journey to discover her past.

I admit, I wasn’t sure what I would get when I begun this book. I’d been excited to read it and having had it sitting on my shelf for a while, whatever I expected certainly isn’t what I got. I loved it! Thought it was brilliant...didn’t want it to end. This is an enchanting tale of gods and monsters that takes Greek myth in a whole other direction and level. We’ve seen Hades and his myth a lot recently, and Poseidon....but what about Athena?
I never knew what was happening with this book up until the big revelation and the was plenty of action and a bit of romance to keep me entertained as I was drawn into Ari’s quest and journey to learn of her mother and who she was! This book is richly descriptive and paints a picture perfectly of a post catastrophe New Orleans, one that is surrounded by the paranormal and home to a great cast of characters that litter the books pages. Known as New 2, the setting of this book creates a fantastic back drop for the story.

Our heroine Ari is hard and guarded thanks to her harsh life as a foster child. She’s strong willed and can hold her own against even the toughest of foes as she proves constantly throughout the book, and will stop at nothing to learn the secrets of her past. I think this was why I loved Ari the way I did. She truly is a hard person, personality wise and yet she really cares about the other characters she meets in New 2. Having never had a family or people who cared about her, other than her latest foster parents Casey and Bruce, Ari doesn’t know what it’s like to really fit in with people. Having always been different and a freak, this girl finds herself at home with the supernatural’s of New 2; the ones who have abilities. She learns some difficult things over the course of the book and faces a lot of trouble, but never once did she give up or let it get to her; she kept on going and I admired her for that.

All the other characters were wonderful too. Sebastian is Ari’s love interest and they’re very sweet. He’s your typical male lead and their romance kicks off fast, but I’d love the chance to learn more about Sebastian and delve deeper into just who he is in future books. Crank, Henri, Dub and especially Violet, who was a major cutie, were fantastic as a group of misfits who call New 2 home.

I don’t want to spoil anything, but I absolutely love the mythology of the book. There are hints about what Ari is along the way and by the time it’s all announced you should have an idea of what’s going on, but that didn’t stop me from loving it one bit. It’s so nice to read something different and fresh and the twists and turns within this book were more than enough to keep me entranced and desperate to know what happens next.

The ending is exciting and leaves a lot for the sequel. There are soooo many things I need to know, with more issues for Ari and loose ends that need to be tied up. Namely a b**** goddess who needs to be put in her place!
This is a fantastic read that won’t disappoint and I’m already counting down the days until the sequel.....

Rating:
Source: R.A.K sent to me by the lovely Birgit of The Book Garden---thanks so much for this book!
Format: Paperback
Recommend: Definitely!
Recommend borrow or buy: Buy
Cover: I like the cover....I do. It's how I picture Ari, but it doesn't blow me away.
Read sequel/continue with series: Yes!

Buy it here:

Top 5 Sunday with Larissa's Bookish Life #10

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.

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




Favorite PN races other than Vamps and Weres!

It's been a while since I participated in this, mostly because I've been so run off my feet, but I'm glad to take part in it again. It's so much fun.
Here we go.......


1. Faeries! They're probably my all time fave supernatural creature, even beating vampires and werewolves. I just love them.


2. Angels! The good ole angel. I really enjoy any book that features angels. Especially when they're not so "good".


3. Demons! Alright so most demons in books don't look like this, instead they're usually sexy men aka, Larissa Ione's Demonica boys or Gena Showalter's Lords of the Underworld---but whatever they may be, demons rock!


4. Mermaids! There seem to be a lot of mermaid tales and stories gracing our shelves right now and I really enjoy them. Totally awesome.


5. Zombies! I'm only just getting into zombie books, but who doesn't love a good scary zombie movie or tale. Especially when they're not so bad and can actually be funny.


Awesome topic this week!

YOU GIVE= WE GIVE Progress Update #1

Date: 24/9/2011

Progress Thoughts:
I'm so excited that this campaign has kicked off and am ecstatic to help make some one's day this Christmas. I've gotten a few great books recently from both Simon & Schuster Australia and Pan Macmillan so a big thank-you goes to them. Also, I must say thanks to Erin from Tales of the Inner Book Fanatic who sent me Vampire Academy and Heavenly--thanks a bunch Erin! I myself have a few titles that I'm going to donate, but I have to sort them out so I'll probably post them with the next update post if not, the one after.

Picture Evidence:




Future Hopes:
I can't believe the amazing response we've had from publishers and the generally public already! You guys are all so generous and giving, and honestly want to give something back this year. None of this would be possible without your kindness and I hope that we can touch as many people as we can and brighten someones day!

Links to each of our Blogs:




Jess @ She Known As Jess BlogSpot
Brodie @ Eleusinian Mysteries
Rachel @ The Rest Is Still Unwritten

Thank you Note:
A HUGE thank you to every single author and publisher who donated novels toward both our prize packs and the Christmas tree. You guys are amazing and we cannot thank you enough for your generosity and kindness!

And....

A HUGE thank you to every single blogger, reader and anyone who has donated novels toward our Christmas tree piles. You guys are amazing and we cannot thank you enough for your generosity and kindness!



You Give = We Give.

Would you like to make someone’s life a little brighter this Christmas? Then be sure to check out our event You Give = We Give, for not only the chance to give but also the chance to WIN amazing Prize Packs yourself!





Donating Options:
You Give = We Give will run from September 10th until December 15. During the event you can either:

- PayPal = Big or Small – Every Dollar Counts!

- Donate through PayPal - We all have a donate button on our blogs.

- Buy a book from an online bookstore and have it sent to us.
Book Depository / Amazon / An Online Store

- Personally send us any extra books you have laying around .

Sending a novel through an online store or personally; email us for an address to send them too.



YouGive_WeGive (AT) hotmail (DOT) com

YOU GIVE = WE GIVE PROGRESS UPDATE.

Book Shelf: The Darkest Surrender (Lords of the Underworld #8) by Gena Showalter

Possessed by the demon of Defeat, Strider cannot lose a challenge without suffering unimaginable pain. For him, nothing stands in the way of victory. Until Kaia, an enchanting Harpy, tempts him to the razor's edge of surrender.Known among her people as The Disappointment, Kaia must bring home the gold in the Harpy Games or die. Strider is a distraction she can't afford because he has an agenda of his own-steal first prize, an ancient godly artifact, before the winner can be named. But as the competition heats up, only one prize will matter-the love neither had thought possible...

Blurb from Goodreads.....


Review: (Warning: Contains spoilers)

The Darkest Surrender is yet another book in the brilliant Lords of the Underworld series! Honestly, I devoured it and never wanted it to end.
Strider and Torin have always been my faves of the Lords so I’ve been so eager for Strider’s book for such a long time. I was ecstatic to get my hands on a copy and I am happy to say it didn’t disappoint. The storyline was awesome---the Harpy games fun and exciting and I was swept away into the tale and story just as I am with every book in this series.

I have to admit when I first learned that Kaia was to be paired with Strider I wasn’t at all sure about it. I mean, I love all the Skyhawks, but pairing another of them off with another Lord? Wasn’t sure it would work....and yet it did, brilliantly!
As the keeper of Defeat, Strider cannot loose a challenge and everything is a battle for him. With his golden boy looks and attitude, he’s sexy, and witty and hilarious. I love his nature and his attitude---I have from the very beginning. To quote him....he’s just made of awesome! He is by far one of the more possessive and demanding of the lords and he doesn’t share—at all, but I found I liked that about him. He wasn’t sure he wanted Kaia, but when I realised he did, he wanted her completely. He wanted to be her one and only as she was his. Insert dreamy sigh here......

Kaia! Oh, that girl! I’ve thought highly of higher ever since Aeron’s book where she was so good to Olivia, and by the end of Amun’s I was pretty excited for the chance to see her win Strider’s heart. And she certainly did. It was a battle that her feisty nature and strength allowed her to conquer. Kaia never failed to put a smile on my face with her flirty and funny nature. I loved the way she met Strider strike for strike, quip for quip and how she didn’t let his nature beat her. She let him win.....but she didn’t. One of the things I liked about her was that she wasn’t perfect. She’d made mistakes and she had a lot of issues with herself. She was a proud individual, but she had a lot of insecurities and it was nice seeing her overcome with Strider’s help and love.

The relationship between Strider and Kaia was brilliant—I loved it. Both such strong individuals who don’t like loosing, and in the beginning I worried that maybe this would be a problem. I was ecstatic to learn that it wouldn’t be the case. With Strider’s demon, I always assumed he’d need a calm woman, one that didn’t challenge him all that much—boy was I wrong! The thing that made him and Kaia so alike was that she understood his need and desire to win and knew what channelling him would do. And yet she wasn’t afraid to do that from time to time. With her nature she was the ultimate challenge for him. A battle he fought to win and when he did....awww, it was so sweet. She wanted him from the beginning and wanted him, but he still had to fight---mostly himself and even some of her nature to win her heart completely. Sparks flew when they were together and their sex scenes were very, very hot.

I’m so intrigued by the glimpse of Kane and Paris in this book and I know their turns are coming. Paris is next and I’m so excited that Sienna has changed her tune about him—it gives me hope that they’re get there HEA. I’m interested in finding out what it means for Kane with Williams creation and all now that he’s in hell. Soooo exciting. And. This may seem a bit random, but with Zacharel being in the series, I wonder....what about him.....and Cameo? With his angel abilities, perhaps he can see above her voice into the heart of her. It’d certainly be an interesting combination.

I can’t wait for the next book, The Darkest Seduction. It such a long wait and I have to know what’s going to happen next....like....NOW!!

Rating:
Source: I bought
Format: Paperback
Recommend: Yes!!!!
Recommend borrow or buy: Buy!
Cover: Awesome--totally awesome.
Read sequel/continue with series: Yes, oh for the love of god, yes!!

Buy it here:

Favourite Quote Friday #8

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:

“He's my neophyte Downworlder to mock and boss around, not yours.”
~Jace, City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare.

Adult:

"Anya jumped in front of the man, acting as his shield. “Now, Sabin. He didn’t mean any harm. He’s borderline stupid. You know that.”
~Anya, The Darkest Whisper by Gena Showalter.


More next week....
~Rachel
xoxo

Book Shelf: Jessica Rules the Dark Side (Jessica #2) by Beth Fantaskey

The highly anticipated sequel to Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side.

It’s one thing to find out you’re a vampire princess. It’s a whole other thing to actually rule. Newly married Jessica Packwood is having a hard enough time feeling regal with her husband, Lucius, at her side. But when evidence in the murder of a powerful elder points to Lucius, sending him into solitary confinement, Jessica is suddenly on her own. Determined to clear her husband’s name, Jessica launches into a full-scale investigation, but hallucinations and nightmares of betrayal keep getting in her way. Jessica knows that with no blood to drink, Lucius’s time is running out. Can she figure out who the real killer is—and whom she can trust—before it’s too late?

Blurb from Goodreads.....


Review:

Jessica Rules the Dark Side was a terrific follow up to Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side, a book that surpassed all my expectations when I read it a few years ago and made it’s my into my all time fave list!
I thought for a long time that Jessica’s Guide was going to be a standalone novel, so I’ve been holding out for this book ever since I learnt of it. It’s been one of my most anticipated books to get my hands on. It doesn’t officially release until January of next year, but one of my online friends who I just love to death, Jess of She Known As Jess was kind enough to lend me her ARC so I could quench my thirst for more of Jessica and Lucius.

There are noticeable differences with this book when compared to the first. It’s darker and has lost that popular teenage school vampire story feel. This is serious now for Jess and Lucius—its life or death and they’ve come a long way since the first book. They’re together, but are soon ripped apart and it’s up to Jess to save her new husband from a painful execution.
This book jumps back and forth in the POV’s of Jess and Mindy, as well as letters corresponded between Lucius and Ranerio during his incarceration. I admit that it was nice seeing more of Mindy. She’s really spunky and has her own personality. She’s Jess’s best friend and wants to be there for her, but she also has a certain problem--and bit of a broken heart--thanks to a certain surfie vampire I won’t name, but am sure that fans of the first book will know.

Life as a royal was never going to be easy for Jess. She didn’t have the same upbringing as her husband and isn’t used to the harsh world of vampire politics and law. She went from being a regular American teenager to a princess and a wife and who finds herself set to become ruler. In this book, Jess looses herself for a bit; gone is the confident and sure girl of the past, and instead is a vampire princess just trying to find her feet in a world where weakness is despised. I loved watching Jess find herslef in this book and truly become Princess Antanasia Dragomir Vladescu. She’s not without her vulnerabilities and often makes mistakes, but she learns and at the end of this book is ready to become queen! It was so nice watching Jess accept who she was as a princess and her place within the Dragomir line. There’s a lot of growth in her during this book and she doesn’t have Lucius by her side which forces her to stand on her own two feet.

The only issue I had with this book is that it lacked a lot of the constant romance I adored with the first book. Obviously there’s a reason for that with Lucius...well...being in jail and all (LOL) but I missed him a lot during this book. That’s not to say that he and Jess aren’t electric and oh, so in love when they’re together, they are....but I just would have loved more of Lukey! He’s so strong, and noble and fierce and so incredibly in love with his wife. Just the way he speaks of her in his letters to his best friend; that noble prose of his.....*swoon* There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for Jess and all hell would break loose if anyone ever hurt a hair on her head, but in this book he’s forced to let her discover strength within herself to rule and make to decisions without him being there to guide her.

There’s mystery surrounding this book, although about halfway through I was pretty sure who the culprit was. This doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the ride thought, because boy....did I ever! There’s no real cliff-hanger to this book, but it leaves you wondering and I for one would certainly love to see a third book, just to see what becomes of Jess and Lucius.


Rating:
Source: Borrowed from Jess @ She Known As Jess---thank you oh, so much girlie!!!
Format: ARC
Recommend: Yes
Recommend borrow or buy: Buy!
Cover: This cover is stunning, even more so than the first! Brilliant!
Read sequel/continue with series: Yes, if there's more books in the series, then I'm so there.

Pre-order it here:

Cover Lust

This weeks cover lust is:

Ember by Carol Oates......

When Candra Ember wakes up in hospital after a dangerous encounter with a red-haired woman, she is shocked to discover that seeing a winged boy wasn’t her imagination. Candra is exposed to a world of rivalry and sacrifice she never knew existed, and the aftermath of a war to save humanity thousands of years ago. Soon she finds herself relentlessly stalked by Sebastian, a beautiful and arrogant Watcher Angel and romantically pursued by his darkly seductive rival, Draven. Ultimately, dubious about her own goodness, Candra’s very existence compromises a tentative peace in the city of Acheron.


Thoughts:
There's something so mesmirsiing about this cover. I remember the first time I saw it--I could not stop stairing. It was so simple and so beautiful at the same time.

Waiting on Wednesday #4

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



Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore
Released on: October 25th 2011
Add it: On Goodreads.

For as long as Esmerine can remember, she has longed to join her older sister, Dosinia, as a siren--the highest calling a mermaid can have. When Dosinia runs away to the mainland, Esmerine is sent to retrieve her. Using magic to transform her tail into legs, she makes her way unsteadily to the capital city. There she comes upon a friend she hasn't seen since childhood--a dashing young man named Alandare, who belongs to a winged race of people. As Esmerine and Alandare band together to search for Dosinia, they rekindle a friendship . . . and ignite the emotions for a love so great, it cannot be bound by sea, land, or air.

Thoughts:
Mermaids? Sirens? A forbidden love? Oh, I'm soooo there!

Book Shelf: The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, Mackie comes from a world of tunnels and black, murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattoed princess. He is a replacement - left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago when it was stolen away by the fey. Now, because of fatal allergies to iron, blood and consecrated ground, Mackie is slowly dying in the human world. Mackie would give anything just to be normal, to live quietly amongst humans, practice his bass guitar and spend time with his crush, Tate. But when Tate's baby sister goes missing, Mackie is drawn irrevocably into the underworld of Gentry, known as Mayhem, where he must face down the dark creatures and find his rightful place - in our world, or theirs.

Blurb from Goodreads......


Review:

The Replacement was an easy enough book to read, although it was nothing exceptional. It was quick and easy with a decent, although not overly unique, plot. There were things about it I really enjoyed and things that I didn’t. I enjoyed the mythology and history behind the town of Gentry and in turn the story, but I admit that I found no real depth within the book. It’s filled with mystery and intrigue, but the characters are lackluster and I kept waiting for the moment when the book would grab me, but it never came.

It was interesting reading a book from a male’s POV; there isn’t enough books out there like that. Mackie was likeable, although not a real standout. He’s a decent person despite what he is, but I never really connected with him and while I understood his problems, I never really emphasised with him or felt for him in any way.
I also never felt the romance between him and Tate, nor did I love her. I felt no connection between them and it just felt as though they were going through the motions. I would have loved to have seen more sparks between them and essentially a reason for their relationship—I never saw this.

To me, the best part of this book was the relationships that Mackie had with his sister Emma and his best friend Roswell. Both knew that he was different and were the only ones who had loved him unconditionally throughout his life. Even his “parents” could never show him the love and acceptance that they did. They accepted him completely, especially Emma, and it was their love for him that allowed him to survive the way he did. They were self-sacrificing and selfless when it came to Mackie and nothing could taint the friendship he had with them

It was well written and you can tell that the author has put a lot of thought into it, but in the end to me it didn’t live up to its promise. For all the darkness and mystery within it, something felt missing and in turn the book fell flat.
However, while the world within this book doesn’t make up for all its lacking, it’s dark and eerie and this may appeal to some readers. If you’re still eager to read this book, then I recommend giving it a try and deciding for yourself.

Rating:
Source: Sent from Simon & Schuster Australia (Thanks guys!)
Format: Paperback
Expected AU Price: $16.99
Recommend: Only if you're a lover of this genre and type of book.
Recommend borrow or buy: Borrow
Cover: I do like this cover, even if the model has a bit of a Justin Bieber look going on with atht hair
Read sequel/continue with series: This is a stand alone novel