In My Mailbox #28

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren where we can share the books we bought, borrowed or received throughout the week. For more info on just what it is and how to participate, head here.

Hey everyone!
I'm back from another IMM after being unable to participate last week. I hope you all had a terrific week in books--I've been attempting to curb my spending, but here's what I got for the last two weeks....


I Bought:
~Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
~Gone by Lisa McMann
~Crusade by Linda Press Wulf

I finally got myself a copy of Clockwork Prince--I've been meaning/trying to for ages now. Gotta read this soon!

For Review:
From Harlquin Australia....
~Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz
~On a Dark Wing by Jordan Dane
(Thank-you so much to Gabby and the entire Harlequin Australia team--I love you guys!)

I've alreayd started Spellbound and I'm actually enjoying it more than I expected. I've been dying to read On A Dark Wing as I adore Dane's In The Arms Of Stone Angels--can't wait to start it.


I Won:





I was thrilled to discover I won a limited edition hardback SIGNED copy of Fallen by Lauren Kate from Random House Australia and the Fallen Books Facebook page. I've already got a signed set of these books, but my mum has been thinking about reading them, so it made for a lovely surprise when I gave this one to her ^_^

I also won a copy of The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter from Teddyree over at The Eclectic Reader for voting for the ORPHEUS trailer. I had initially hoped to put this towards You Give=We Give as I already have a copy, but it obviously didn't arrive in time. Another book my mum snagged, lol.

And that's it for me! What did you get this week?

Cover Reveals: Touch of Death by Kelly Hashway AND PODs by Michelle Pickett!

Hello lovelies,

Spencer Hill Press recently signed two new YA books and today I have the pleasure of revealing their covers to you! Both books will be published in 2013 and personally I think they both look amazing!

Touch of Death by Kelly Hashway.....



Jodi Marshall isn't sure how she went from normal teenager to walking disaster. One minute she's in her junior year of high school, spending time with her amazing boyfriend and her best friend. The next she's being stalked by some guy no one seems to know.

After the stranger, Alex, reveals himself, Jodi learns he's not a normal teenager and neither is she. With a kiss that kills and a touch that brings the dead back to life, Jodi discovers she's part of a branch of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus. A branch of necromancers that are descendents of Medusa. A branch of necromancers with poisoned blood writhing in their veins.

Jodi's deadly to the living and even more deadly to the deceased. She has to leave her old, normal life behind before she hurts the people she loves. As if that isn't difficult enough, Jodi discovers she's the chosen one who has to save the rest of her kind from perishing at the hands of Hades. If she can't figure out how to control her power, history will repeat itself, and her race will become extinct.

Title: Touch of Death
Author: Kelly Hashway
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
ISBN: 978-1-937053-30-7
Release Date: January 2013
List Price: $12.95
Formats: Trade Paperback, e-book
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

Add it on Goodreads!

PODs by Michelle Pickett.....


Seventeen-year-old Eva is a chosen one. Chosen to live, while others meet a swift and painful death from an incurable virus so lethal, a person is dead within days of symptoms emerging. In the POD system, a series of underground habitats built by the government, she waits with the other chosen for the deadly virus to claim those above. Separated from family and friends, it's in the PODs she meets David. And while true love might not conquer all, it's a balm for the broken soul.

After a year, scientists believe the population has died, and without living hosts, so has the virus. That's the theory, anyway. But when the PODs are opened, survivors find the surface holds a vicious secret. The virus mutated, infecting those left top-side and creating... monsters.

Eva and David hide from the infected in the abandoned PODs. Together they try to build a life--a new beginning. But the infected follow and are relentless in their attacks. Leaving Eva and David to fight for survival, and pray for a cure.

Title: PODs
Author: Michelle Pickett
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
ISBN: 978-1-937053-28-4
Release Date: June 2013
List Price: $12.95
Formats: Trade Paperback, e-book
Genres: Young Adult, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Add it on Goodreads!

How incredible are both these covers? Especially the one for Touch of Death--just beautiful!
What do you guys think?

Cover Lust

This weeks cover lust is:


Predestined by Abbi Glines..........


You would think after helping save her boyfriend from an eternity in Hell that things would go back to normal. Well, as normal as life can be when you can see souls and your boyfriend is Death. But for Pagan Moore, things are just getting weirder.

The high school quarterback and reigning heartthrob, Leif Montgomery, is missing. While the town is in a frenzy of worry, Pagan is a nervous wreck for other reasons. Apparently good ‘ol Leif isn’t your average teenage boy. He isn’t even human. According to Death, Leif doesn’t have a soul. The quarterback may have skipped town but he’s still showing up in Pagan’s dreams... uninvited.

Dank has known from the beginning Leif wasn’t human. But he hadn’t worried about a simple soulless creature. Now, he realizes he made a grave mistake. Pagan’s soul has been marked since birth as a restitution, to a spirit so dark not even Death walks near it. Dank knows saving Pagan’s soul won’t be easy but Pagan is his. And he’s already proven he’ll defy Heaven to keep her. If Hell wants a piece of him too, then bring it on.

Thoughts:
This is the cover for the second book in the Existence Trilogy and I think it's incredible. While I've never read either book in the series, this cover is mesmerizing. The fiery/smoky look is eye catching and the dull colours with the standout title and the one visible eye has a stunning effect!

Add this book!
Add the first, Existence!

Book Shelf: Inside Out (Insider #1) by Maria V. Snyder

Keep Your Head Down.
Don't Get Noticed.
Or Else.

I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I've got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? The only neck at risk is my own…until I accidentally start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution.

(Blurb from Goodreads....)

Review:

Inside Out is an amazingly captivating read by Maria V. Snyder! A fantastic story by one of the queens of fantasy, this book marks the start of a fantastic sci-fi series that will have you glued to the pages and unable to let go!

I love Maria V. Snyder. She’s one of my favourite authors and I never fail to adore her books, but for some strange reason I’ve put off reading this series. Honestly, I don’t quite know why, but after reading this all I can think is, “What the hell was I thinking?” Inside Out is quite possibly my favourite sci-fi books I’ve read in recent times, if not of all time. From the very first page I was addicted to the story and swept off my feet by the brilliance of the characters and world. Not that I should have ever expected differently!

The incredibly intricate world Snyder has so masterfully created within Inside Out is fantastic. The complicated world and life within the Inside is one that I found to be both engaging and entertaining. While I’ve read books with similarities, most of which I must point out have been published after Inside Out, I still thoroughly believe that Snyder tells the story of a society living in such a way so much BETTER than any of these. Her writing is much more engaging and flows so much more. Even when she went off in her descriptions and explanations of the workings of her world, I was never once bored, nor was my attention diverted. Inside Out held me. Totally. Completely. So much so, I devoured the book in one day; in one sitting.

This book shone thanks to its characters. In typical Snyder fashion, each character was so wonderfully developed and so full of life, regardless of their place within the story. As we followed our main character and heroine Trella, each person she met along the way and helped her in secrecy added to the story so much. I admired their bravery and desire to protect one of their own and their reasons helped build the foundation of such a strong society. Everything they were went together beautifully and I couldn’t help but love that. From Trella’s Care Members and fellow scrubs, to the uppers that risked themselves to bring about change; Riley, Logan, Anne-Jade, Cogon, Domotor, Jacy—you’ll love them all!

Trella was such a likeable character and it was impossible not to become so invested in her mission. Essentially she is a scrub; one of the lowest ranking individuals within Inside, but Trella is so incredibly brave and self sufficient. She can take care of herself and it’s the strength that develops throughout the novel, as the stakes become higher, that have you cheering for her so. Personally, I think she’s brilliant from the very first page, but the growth she undertakes throughout the book is still exceptional. As a reader it was so nice to see her reasons deepen and see her begin to care for the people that she had long ago fought to escape; spending her times in the vents and shafts.

Another of the things that caught me with this book so much is the atmosphere and the adrenaline that pumps with each page. There’s so much at stake and so much danger that you feel the trepidation the characters must be feeling, the secrecy that taints their every action and the danger that coats their mission. It seems like at any moment they’re going to be caught and discovered; that they're about to see everything unravel and you keep reading, unable to let go, simply to see what will happen next. It’s addictive and heart racing.

Inside Out will catch you....and won’t let you go, even after the final page. Maria V. Snyder’s incredible storytelling will leave you so immersed in this world you’ll want to dive into the next book straight away---I know I do! With amazingly vivid characters, a fantastic world and a storyline that gets more exciting and daring with each page, this is one you don’t want to miss!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Harlequin Australia (Thank-you so much Gabby--you're a goddess!)
Format: Paperback
AU Release Date: Available now!
Recommend:YES!
Recommend borrow or buy: Buy it!
Cover: It looks awesome up close in real life--it's simple, but so nice.
Read sequel/continue with series: Definitely!

Waiting on Wedesday #17

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 week I'm waiting on....


Devine Intervention by Martha Brockenbrough
Releases on: June 1st
Add on: Goodreads.

Heidi is seventeen. Insecure. Unkissed. Unremarkable, she thinks, in every way but one: She has a guardian angel, Jerome, who whispers in her ear all day long, amusing her, confusing her, but hardly ever saying anything that might help her discover who she's meant to be.

Jerome is also seventeen (for the seventeenth year in a row.) There is only one thing he needs to do to graduate from heaven's soul rehabilitation program for wayward teenagers: Follow the 10 Commandments for the Dead, and in doing so, keep Heidi safe. Instead, he accidentally lets her drown.

Plucked from her body before she ever truly lives, Heidi wants more than anything to say goodbye to her family and best friend. Jerome, afraid he's going to be sent to the lowest level of Hell, wants to sneak her into heaven before he gets caught.

Neither realizes that Heidi has only 24 hours before her soul dissolves forever. And that might not be enough time for them to figure out how they were meant to live.

Thoughts:
With so many heavenly tales and stories of angels out there, Devine Intervention sounds like a breath of fresh air. It looks like a fun, quirky read, full of humor and with a great storyline. The two characters seem like people I'd really like-- I'm looking forward to this one!

What do you think? Sounds good, huh?
Tell me, what are you waiting on this week?

Top Ten Tuesday #4

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's top Ten Tuesday is a FREEBIE! Now everyone gets to choose there own topic and this was a hard one. There are sooooo many great things to pick. This week I've chosen:

Underrated Books....

1. The Darkest Powers Trilogy by Kelley Armstrong: Now this may seem like an odd choice, but you'd be surprised how many people haven't read this series. I love it! It's one of my faves and I don't understand how many people haven't read them.

2. Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception by Maggie Stiefvater: I adore all of Maggie's work, but this has remained my fave book of hers ever since I read it, waaaay before Shiver came out. Her Wolves of Mercy Falls series seems to be more popular and more widely spoken about, but this story is so beautiful and heartbreaking!

3. Sweep/Wicca series by Cate Tiernan: I've read a few "witch" books and this is easily my fave. It's a really long series, and I'll be the first to admit I haven't read all the books, but that's got nothing to do with they're quality because they're brilliant reads. *sigh* Hunter!

4. Atlantis series by Gena Showalter: Most people will associate Gena Showalter with her Lords of the Underworld book, but few will think of her Altantis series, which is a shame as they are to die for! Honestly, these rate amongst the best PNR books I've read and it seems no one has read them.

5. The Drake Chronicles by Alyxandra Harvey: Staying very close to the average ideas of vampires this series is often over looked and I don't know why. The books are quick and quirky and oh so fun. Focusing on a different brother, each book has be an awesome read.

6. Intertwined by Gena Showalter: Another Gena Showalter series. Gena is a terrific adult writer and I love her adult books, but her YA series Intertwined is brilliant. It was actually the first Showalter book I picked up and while I've raced off and enjoyed her other books, this one has a special place in my heart--it's so good.

7. Kiera Hudson series by Tim O'Rourke: This is honestly the BEST self published series I've ever read. Tim manages to create such a unique world of vampires and with romance, humor and action it proves to be a fantastic series!

8. Demon Underground series by Parker Blue: I stumbled upon this series on Netgalley gave it a shot not really expecting anything. It blue be away. Think Vampire Academy mixed with Demon Trappers and this is what you've got. I'm hanging out for the fourth book!


9. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins: This book is surprisingly good. I picked it up on a whim one day thinking I wouldn't like it, but the story, the characters, the world all sucked me in.

10. The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade: This book is fun, funny and so much better than people give it credit for. Alona is the kind of girl you think you'd hate, but there's just something about this spoilt cheerleader that you can't help but adore.

What is your Top Ten Tuesday this week?

Faery Tales & Nightmares Giveaway!

To celebrate the Australian release of Melissa Marr's Faery Tales & Nightmares on the 1st of February, I have 5 copies to give away on behalf of HarperCollins Australia who has kindly offered up 5 copies to 5 very lucky Australian residents! Are they awesome or what?!?


An enthralling collection of short stories featuring favourite characters from Melissa Marr’s bestselling Wicked Lovely series!

Dangerous promises and beguiling threats swirl together in a dozen stories of enchantments, dark and light, by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr.

Uncanny and unexpected creatures appear from behind bushes, rise from under the seas, or manifest from seasonal storms to pursue the objects of their attention – with amorous or sinister intent – relentlessly.

From the gentle tones of a storyteller’s cadences to the terror of a blood sacrifice, tales of favourite characters from Marr’s Wicked Lovely novels mix with accounts of new characters for readers to fall in love with . . . or to fear.

Lush, seductive, and chilling, Marr’s stories revel in the unseen magic that infuses the world as we know it.

Visit best selling author Melisa Marr at:
Website // Twitter // Goodreads // Facebook

Giveaway Details:
-To enter, simply fill out the form below!
-Giveaway is open to Australian residents ONLY.
-Giveaway will run from 23rd of January (today) until the 6th of February.
-Winners will be contacted by me and will have 48 hours to confirm their email addresses and provide their details before a new winner is chosen.
-Prizes won will be sent directly from HarperCollins Australia and The Rest Is Still Unwritten takes no responsibility for lost or damaged items . Please see my contest policy for full details.

Extra Entries:
+1 Following through Google Friend Connect
+1 Leaving a comment on giveaway :)
+3 Spreading news about the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook.

Fill Out The Form To Enter!

I'd like to say a big thank-you to Lara and HarperCollins Australia for offering up these wonderful prizes and wish you all the best of luck!

No IMM This Week

Hi lovelies,

I hope you're all having a great week full of books! Unfortunately there will be so In My Mailbox from me this week. I got a few books but seem to be having some problems with my camera. Again. Seems like every other week I have a problem with my laptop or camera or phone or something else I own :/
Anyway, I'll be back next week with an IMM, but in until then.....

Let me know what you got in your mailbox!

Book Shelf: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

(Blurb from Goodreads....)


Review:

The Scorpio Races is a thrilling ride from author Maggie Stiefvater, full of unparallel danger and excitement!

As usual Stiefvater manages to spirit me away to another place with her captivating writing and magical talent of storytelling! Her beautifully written story will entrance you with its uniqueness and its plot will draw you in. This book is unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Rich in danger and excitement, the lore of the capaill uise, the water horses that feature in this story, is spectacular. The capaill uise are like nothing I’ve ever read about before. Forget sweet, innocent creatures of the sea, these horses are man-eaters, untamed and wild, born of the ocean and not meant to be tamed. And yet people do. Year after year, brave and somewhat suicidal men capture these creatures and train them all in an effort to enter a little race known as The Scorpio Races.

I found the world created in this book to be very interesting, although at times I wished for more explanation about its location and background. The small island town of Thisby blends together perfectly the world of sport horses and water horses that reside in it, as well as the town of people who live there. Stiefvater creates a fantastic cast of minor characters to populate her world and give it flair while focusing on her two main leads. Sometimes the story seemed to lag to me, perhaps because we weren’t getting straight to the races, but I didn’t feel bored.

While this is a story of water horses and the race they dominate, I feel like it is so much more than that. The actual Scorpio race itself spans merely a few pages at the end of the book, with the entire book being a climatic build up and voyage into the lives of two Thisby residents. As a reader we’re drawn intimately into the lives of Puck and Sean and the book focuses heavily on their lives and the struggles they face both inwardly and outwardly as they prepare to participate in the race, both for very different reasons.

Puck is a very brave young woman. Entering the race in a desperate desire to find a way to keep her family together, she’s seriously in over her head. With no experience in the race and without a capaill uise horse herself, she takes a real risk in participating. When her winning the race becomes a much more necessary thing, Puck needs to find strength in herself more than ever before. I really liked Puck. No one really wants her in the race, for various reasons, but she stands tall, never letting it make her back down. I felt Stiefvater wrote her beautifully and she managed to hold her voice in the town of Thisby. She grows as she finds friendship with Sean and I found her easy to like.

Sean Kendrick is a real intriguing character. Able to tame the water horses as much as anyone ever could, he understands these beasts and loves them for exactly what they are. He never changes them and I found him to be a really complex character. He knows what these man-eaters are, knows the dangers they posses, perhaps more than anyone and yet he loves them regardless. The bond he shares with his capaill uise stallion Corr is an enigma; as intriguing as it is odd. Personally, I’d never wanna be in the presence of these creatures, but he thrives there. There was something so magical about Sean himself. His calmness admist all the danger and his ability to stay relaxed, drew me to him as much as he drew Puck. He was one with the ocean, as part of the sea as he was the land.

The romance that develops between Puck and Sean isn’t an overwhelming theme throughout the book. Unlike most of Maggie’s other books, it’s a nice undertone that blends in with the rest of the story. Puck and Sean don’t need each other exactly, rather find comfort and friendship in each other in the lead up to the race that eventually leads to more. Sean is somewhat lonely, only ever connecting with his horse Corr and Puck has never had someone believe on her and take a chance on her the way Sean does.....it’s sweet. Their relationship never seems to fast or forced and it doesn’t feel too strong for the story. It fits in perfectly.

There is a lot of violence in this book, but I feel it only adds more authenticity to the tale. The never ending danger the horses possess and the things they do, never allow you to forget exactly what these violent creatures are. They’re not meant to be corralled or domesticated, instead belonging to the sea.

The ending is very sweet and fitting to the story, but I couldn’t help but be left with some unanswered questions. Perhaps that’s just me, but considering this is one of Maggie Stiefvater’s books, I should be used to that. It ties up well, with possibilities for the characters and you’re left with a feeling of hope.

The Scorpio Races is a fantastically thrilling read that never lacks for danger and adventure, a book that will have you on the edge your seat when the action picks up and on your toes the entire way through.

Rating:
Source:I Bought.
Format: Paperback
Recommend: Yes.
Recommend borrow or buy: Buy it.
Cover:Hmmmm, it's nice, but it doesn't "capture me".
Read sequel/continue with series: This is a stand lone, but I thoroughly recommend any and all of Maggie Steifvater's books!

Book Shelf: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #1) by Michelle Hodkin

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.

She's wrong.

(Blurb from Goodreads....)


Review:

Having recently finishing this, I’m not quite sure there are words to accurately describe the brilliance that is The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. Intense and chilling, Michelle Hodkin’s debut is unlike anything I’ve ever read before!

So incredibly beautiful in its riveting prose, Hodkin’s haunting storytelling is in a world of its own! Writing very much like a seasoned author, one could be forgiven for mistaking Hodkin as someone with a series of books under her belt as her words flow together perfectly to create an utterly mesmerising tale that will sweep off your feet and into a world so compelling that you won’t want to put The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer down! Personally, I was so absorbed as I read this that my house could have burned down and I wouldn’t have noticed.

With writing next to perfect, the storyline Michelle Hodkin has so cleverly crafted is as fascinating as it is riveting. Waking up in hospital with no memory of recent events or how she got there, heroine Mara Dyer is faced with the news that she has just lost her closest friends. Even this accident is written beautifully by Hodkin as a far from typical accident scenario, and as Mara and her family pack up and start over, you know as the reader that things are going to get even harder for Mara even before the do.

The moment we were introduced to our heroine Mara, I knew I was going to like her. Despite the tragedy she’d recently been through and despite the problems she was currently facing, Mara was an exceptional main character to read about. There was something so compelling about her voice and she was so incredibly grounded even as she fell apart at times. Easy to emphasise with, Mara was full of spirit and fire in the face of everything and her sharp wit and intelligence made her a joy to read about. Honestly, I love this girl!

From the very first page, the mystery surrounding the events Mara could not remember captivated me. I found myself breathless as I watched everything unfold before my very eyes. I did not know what was going on. Never! Just what had happened that fateful night that ultimately led to tragedy? Why couldn’t she remember? Were the things that Mara saw really there or was Mara insane? Just what the hell was going on? As Mara begins to piece together the events of that night there’s such power to the story. Hodkin writes Mara’s distress and confusion so perfectly that even you as the reader question her sanity. Has Mara lost her mind, amidst the pain of the night she can’t remember or is there something more sinister at work here? Perhaps something supernatural?

And in the middle of it all; in the midst of all the regular high school drama and possible insanity Mara is facing, there is a boy. A boy named Noah Shaw. Noah. Freaking. Shaw! Has there ever been a boy so perfect? A boy so masterfully woven together that in the beginning you don’t know whether you wanna kiss him or slap him most of the time? I think not!
I don’t know if I can describe Noah in a way to do him justice. He’s simply too much. Oh, that attitude, that accent, that look. That suave, unattainable nature that makes him so compelling in the beginning and then the truth that lurks beneath the surface makes Noah such a draw. His sharp tongue and mind make him hilarious to read about as he walks to his own tune. He’s a bad boy with a reputation and he makes no apologies for who he is, but he’s so much more than what he seems. He’s an enigma, so completely different than the person perceive to be.

As Mara fights her attraction to Noah, his draw and appeal make it near impossible to ignore and as Mara finds herself getting to know him and spending time with him. There’s no denying that there’s something very real there. The romance that develops between them isn’t rushed, or hurried, rather a delicious treat written by Hodkin in a way that isn’t overly physical, yet is still undeniably electric! The moment these two meet, sparks fly. The intensity that their relationship exhibits is impossible to ignore. As the two banter and tease one another, the sexual tension vibrating between the two of them practically bleeds from every page and really takes on a life of its own. It’s so intense and passionate and sensual and that’s even before they kiss!

Filled with fantastic characters including Mara’s vibrant family and sporting a storyline that is spine tingling and addictive, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is a book you do not want to miss! As Michelle Hodkin weaves together a story of intensity, intrigue and danger, the mystery and allure of this novel continues all the way until the final chapter, where revelations and a mind blowing ending will have you hanging out for the sequel and wishing Hodkin wrote it, like, yesterday!

Place The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer firmly at the top of your To-Be-Read list guys, you won’t be sorry!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Simon & Schuster Australia (Thanks so much Caroline--you totally rock)
Format: Paperback
AU Release Date: February 2012
Expected AU Price: $16.99
Recommend: Yes, yes, YES!
Recommend borrow or buy: Buy it!
Cover: It's riveting. So incredibly beautiful; I can't stop staring at it.
Read sequel/continue with series: Oh, wow. Yes! Honestly, I wish i was reading the sequel right now.
Challenge: Debut Author.

Cover Lust

It's been a while since I've done a cover lust, but here it is....
This weeks feature-ee is:

Immortal City by Scott Speer......


Jackson Godspeed is the hottest young Angel in a city filled with them. He's days away from becoming a full Guardian, and people around the world are already competing for the chance to be watched over by him. Everyone's obsessed with the Angels and the lucky people they protect - everyone except for Madison Montgomery.

Maddy's the one girl in Angel City who doesn't breathlessly follow the Angels on TV and gossip blogs. When she meets Jackson, she doesn't recognize him. But Jackson is instantly captivated by her, and against all odds the two fall in love.

Maddy is swiftly caught up in Jackson's scene, a world of glamour, paparazzi - and murder. A serial killer is on the loose, leaving dead Angels' wings for the police to find on the Walk of Fame. Even the Guardians are powerless to protect themselves in the face of this threat … and this time it's up to Maddy to save Jackson.

Thoughts:
How amazing is this cover?? I admit, I love the idea for the story, even if I've seen it before, but it's the cover that caught me. The guy is uber sexy and that pose....*swoon* Love it!

Waiting on Wednesday #16

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 week I'm waiting on....


The Last Princess by Galaxy Craze
Released on: May 8th 2012
Add it: On Goodreads.

Happily ever after is a thing of the past.
The year is 2090.
England is a barren land. Food is rationed. Oil has decimated the oceans. The people are restless.
A ruthless revolutionary enacts a plan to destroy the royal family, and in a moment, the king is dead. His heiress, Princess Mary, and her brother, Jamie, have been abducted, and no one knows their fate. Princess Eliza Windsor barely escapes, and finds herself scared and lost in London's dangerous streets.
With a mind for revenge and the safe recovery of her siblings, Eliza joins the enemy forces in disguise. There she is tempted by her first taste of independence -- and true love. Ultimately she must summon her courage and fight to ensure that she does not become... The Last Princess.

Thoughts:
Alright, just give me a moment to wipe the drool off my face and then I'll tell you what I think of this. Hmmmm,....I. Want. It. Now!!! Slanted in a dystopian setting this story sounds soooooo good. I'm only just starting to get into dystopian novels, but throw in a royal family, a princess in hiding and in disguise and a romance and I'm in heaven. Total and compete heaven! The premise of this caught me straight away, the amazing cover added to the excitement and now this is shooting to the top of my Must Have list!


What do you think? Sounds good, huh?

Tell me, what are you waiting on this week?

Book Shelf: Vampire Breed (Kiera Hudson #4) by Tim O'Rourke

Kiera Hudson wakes to find herself imprisoned. Experiencing nightmares and visions, she slowly realises that she has been subjected to a series of sinister tests and operations. Addicted to blood and in pain, Kiera knows that if she is to survive she will need to escape from her cage. But who is the werewolf that secretly visits her during the night and can Kiera trust him? Where are her friends and why hasn’t Potter come to rescue her as he promised? With no word or message from Luke and Potter, she fears that they might be dead.

But with only a chair and a book for comfort in her cage, can Kiera escape? And even if she does, what will she find on the other side of her cell walls.

(Blurb from Goodreads....)


Review:

Catapulting the Keira Hudson series into its fourth book, Vampire Breed does not disappoint with its non-stop action and adrenaline rush that sees Keira and the gang head into a whole new level of danger!

As usual author Tim O’Rourke managed to have me on the edge of my seat with excitement and adventure and his flawless writing and storytelling captivated me from the very first page. Vampire Breed is another amazing book in the series and there’s no shortage of mystery, intrigue and danger as O’Rourke blends together an incredible thriller with just the right amounts of romance and humour to entice you.

The world sure has changed since Vampire Hunt. The events of the previous book have had a drastic impact on the town of Wasp Water and even Keira herself has undergone drastic changes as the sleepy town has been overrun with rogue vampires. The Vampyrus still have their plans to take over the world, but a new level of issues come into play as O’Rourke continues to add to his never ending tangle of mystery and danger.

One of the best things about these books is that you never know what’s going on completely. Tim manages to write in a way that has the story flowing so nicely and yet tells you nothing of where he’s taking it. There’s always another question about someone or something on your mind and you wonder about characters and people as the story unfolds. Revelations come to light that have you thinking, “Oh. No. No way! I did NOT see that coming!” And I love that. I always know I’m in for an incredible ride that’s going to have me captivated the entire way throughout when I pick up a Keira Hudson book.

In this book Keira is finds herself imprisoned in some sought of prison or facility, and you as the reader must follow along with Keira as she attempts to figure out just what has happened to her and how much time as past. As Keira pieces together her most recent months in a string of intriguing and detailed dreams, it becomes clear how much she’s changed since the first book and how much the events since she went to Raged Cove have affected her. Personally, I think she’s become stronger in a lot of ways, whist still retaining her personality traits and everything that makes her her, as well as her ability to “see”, but Keira’s new addiction to blood and situation have left her somewhat sad and broken. And yet she NEVER gives up. As she’s happy to point out, she’s Keira Hudson, and she’s going to find a way outta her current predicament, even if it kills her.

As the novel progresses, our favourite characters find Keira once more and the gang must figure out what to do next. Isidor, Kayla, and Potter return as does Jack Seth and a new Lycanthrope inclusion poises more mystery to the book.
I missed the moments without my Potter, but I was doing cartwheels when he was in the book once more. Okay, okay....so I was doing cartwheels in my head, but whatever....Potter was back! That’s all I cared about. Sean Potter, oh how I love you. In Vampire Breed Potter is forced to take charge due to the tragic events in the previous book that saw him loose two of the people who matter to him most. He’s still hoping to save Luke and taking the lead has Potter even grumpier than ever (don’t worry I still love you!). However it’s not just this that has Potter all bothered, and a series of raw revelations to Keira has him begin to really speak how he feels.

As always to me the moments Keira and Potter shared shone. There’s not a moment of these books I dislike, but the scenes with Potter and Keira are always my fave. I missed Luke a tad in this book, but everything that happened only reinforced my desire to see Keira choose Potter once and for all. Keira and Potter as electric together and they may drive one another mad, but they’re so right doing it. They just work....and I’m hoping that Keira’s ready to acknowledge that once and for all real soon!

With the next book signalling the end for this series, I know to expect nothing less than an explosive ending from Tim O’Rourke! He’s loved putting his characters through the wringer (and secretly I’ve loved seeing him do it) but I think that he’s still got more in store for us, especially considering the ending he leaves Vampire Breed with—I did NOT expect that. At all!

Rating:
Source: Sent by author for review (Thanks so much Tim!)
Format: Kindle ebook
Recommend: Yes!
Recommend borrow or buy: But it
Cover: Amazing! This is my second fave cover in the series after the first book's.
Read sequel/continue with series: YES!

Buy: From Amazon.com

Blog Tour: Bound by Kira Saito Excerpt + Teaser from Book 2

Welcome to the Bound Blog Tour!
Today I'm excited to share with you an excerpt from the book as well as a quick teaser from the second book. They sure make me eager to dive into Bound!
Enjoy!

Excerpt:

.......It had to work. It just had to. After repeating the chant at least six times, it still didn’t work. “Fine you greedy spirits!” I yelled. It was clear that they wanted more blood. In a rage, I drew more blood, this time slashing my palm. I brought my dripping palm up to Ben’s neck and repeated the chant. After a few minutes, I felt a distinct energy. It was a force within me so incredibly strong that I was convinced that I was able to move a mountain if I wanted to or even get Sabrina to stop talking about boys.

“Arelia what are you doing?” Ben’s voice forced me to open my eyes.

“You’re strangling me.”

I realized my hands were gripped a bit too tightly around his neck. I unwrapped them to find that his wound had completely healed, and his fever was gone. “Ben, you’re okay!” I exclaimed. I gave him an enormous hug.

“Of course, I’m okay,” he said. “I’m just sleepy it was a long night. Tell the alligators and ghosts that I’ll see them tomorrow.” He closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

In my excitement, I leapt up, and by sheer impulse gave formerly-shirtless guy a hug. As my body touched his, I could smell him and felt my skin tingle.

Delicious chills overtook my body. He wasn’t wearing any cologne, but he smelt lovely. Warm and familiar mingled with a dash of sadness and danger. I caught myself clinging to him and took a step back in embarrassment. My moment of conquest had quickly passed, and I realized that I was standing next to a swamp, in front of a stranger in a corset and petticoat which basically translated to a bra and underwear. I was horrified.

Formerly-shirtless guy looked at me like the existence of Santa Claus had just been proven before taking off his jacket and wrapping it around me. “You must be cold,” he observed. “Your hand is bleeding.” He ripped a sleeve off of his shirt and covered my palm.

In my state of absolute exhilaration, I had failed to acknowledge the fact that the night had gotten a bit chilly. My entire body was covered in goose bumps, and my hand was leaking blood everywhere. “Why did you follow me?” I wrapped his jacket around me realizing that I was standing in the middle of nowhere with someone who could be a psychopathic, serial killer.

His lips broke out in an amused smile. “Do you think I’m stalking you?” He asked hovering over me. It really sucked being short sometimes. Standing at a measly five foot three inches made me feel as if I lived in a world full of giants. At this moment, formerly-shirtless guy looked like a giant even though he wasn’t freakishly tall or anything, maybe slightly over six feet.

“Well, how else can you explain being here?” I stated what I thought was the obvious. I tried to stand on my toes, hoping to make myself appear taller.



Bound by Kira Saito

Sixteen year old Arelia LaRue lives in New Orleans where the music is loud, voodoo queens inhabit every street corner, and the ghosts are alive and well. Despite her surroundings, all she wants is to help her Grand-mere Bea pay the rent and save up for college.

When her best friend Sabrina convinces her to take a well-paying summer job at the infamous Darkwood plantation, owned by the wealthy LaPlante family, Arelia agrees.

However, at Darkwood strange things start to happen, and gorgeous Lucus LaPlante insists that he needs her help. Soon, the powers that Arelia has been denying all her life, come out to play and she discovers mysteries about herself that she could have never imagined.

Buy it here:
~Amazon
~Smashwords

Find out more on Goodreads!

Author Bio:

Kira is a magic junkie and loves writing YA paranormal romances. Some of her heroes include: Jack the Pumpkin King, Willy Wonka, Larry David, Princess Tiana, the vampire Lestat, Andy and her Maltese Costanza.

Visit Kira:
Website // Goodreads // Twitter //Facebook


AND.....

A sneak peak at Punished book #2 in the Arelia LaRue series!

Chapter 1
....... “Well, I don’t think I’m going to get used to the fact that you’re basically a very old man.”

“Is that the way you see me, as a very old man?” Lucus causally asked as he walked over to the heavy, wooden table and poured himself some absurdly expensive cognac. He studied me intently with his intense, dark eyes as he waited for me to answer.

“I mean you don’t look like Mr. Dumpty or anything, but you’re just wearing a disguise to cover up who you really are,” I reasoned clutching the crystal glass just a bit too tightly while tugging on my hair.

He let out a dry laugh and took a sip of cognac. “Aren’t we all?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I raised an eyebrow.

He shook his head and took a step closer. His sharp gaze saw right through me. “If you see me as a very old man, why didn’t you leave? What reason do you have to be here wasting your time?”


I'd like to thank Roxanne Roads and Kira Saito for putting this tour together. Find the complete tour schedule here or head on over to some of today's other stops SupaGurl Books and Livin' Life Through Books for reviews.

This tour was brought to you by Bewitching Book Tours!

In My Mailbox #27

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren where 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.

Welcome to another In My Mailbox!
Here's what I was fortunate to get this week....
(PS. Sorry the pictures are so grainy. I don't know what happened with my camera :S)




I Bought:
So I've been going a little crazy over at Basement Books and I bought a few more this week.

~Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton
~Entice by Carrie Jones
~My Name Is Memory by Ann Brashares
~Chime by Franny Billingsley

I've wanted to read Blood Magic and Chime for a while, so I'm looking forward to starting those two. I've put off reading My Name Is Memory for a while as it reminds me soooo much of Fallen by Lauren Kate and I wasn't a big fan of that series. As for Entice, I read and loved the first two Need books, but I'm scared to read this one. I'm a BIG Nick fan (I know, I suck right?) and I don't like the possibility of Zara falling for Astley, so yes, I've been chicken. Perhaps I'll finally read this one soon.



For Review:
~The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
~Everneath by Brodi Ashton
~Fracture by Megan Miranda--I've already read and reviewed Fracture and it was brilliant. You can check out my review here!

EEEEEP! Mara. Dyer. The Unbecoming Of. Nuff said! I'm so dying to dive into this I can barely put it into words. I sincerely hope it lives up to my expectations, but considering all the incredible reviews it's been getting I think it will. And Everneath! I'm in book heaven right now! This is one of my most dying to read in 2012 books and it's here. Woo-hoo!
(Thank-you so much to Caroline and the team at Simon & Schuster for these two!! I love you guys!)
Fracture was an incredible read! I've already devoured it and absolutely adored it. I highly recommend for fans of If I Stay and spine tingling thrillers!
(Thank-you so much Bloomsbury Australia for this!)




I Received:
The fabulous Michelle at Novels On The Run was kind enough to send me some signed Vampire Shift bookplates, some of which I'm planning to give away. Michelle and I are big fans of the self published Kiera Hudson series by Tim O'Rourke and when I mentioned how jealous I was that she had some signed goodies she up and offered to share some with me! How much does Michelle rock!?! Be on the lookout for an upcoming giveaway to get yourself and be sure to check out the Kiera Hudson series on Amazon.com. They're the best $0.99 ebook you'll ever read.
THANK-YOU so much to Michelle for these and of course Tim for signing them!

So that was my mailbox this week!

What did you get?

Book Shelf: Fated (Fated #1) by Sarah Alderson

What happens when you discover you aren't who you thought you were? And that the person you love is the person who will betray you? If your fate is already determined, can you fight it?

When Evie Tremain discovers that she’s the last in a long line of Demon slayers and that she’s being hunted by an elite band of assassins –Shapeshifters, Vampires and Mixen demons amongst them – she knows she can’t run. They’ll find her wherever she goes. Instead she must learn to stand and fight.

But when the half-human, half-Shadow Warrior Lucas Gray - is sent to spy on Evie and then ordered to kill her before she can fulfil a dangerous prophecy, their fates become inextricably linked. The war that has raged for one thousand years between humans and demons is about to reach a devastating and inevitable conclusion. Either one or both of them will die before this war ends.

If your life becomes bound to another’s, what will it take to sever it?

(Blurb from Goodreads....)

Review:

Sarah Alderson blew us all away with her debut novel Hunting Lila, and with Fated she proves she’s definitely not a one trick pony! Fated is an exciting read that catapults you into the world of Hunters and Unhumans—a world you won’t want to leave!

I must say I’m a fan of Sarah Alderson. Hunting Lila quickly became an all time fave of mine, so I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I had high hopes for Fated. And it did not disappoint! Alderson creates a vivid world within Fated, blending the supernatural creatures we all love together in a way that’s fresh enough to keep you glued to the pages of the book as you follow main character Evie in her journey of discovering who she really is!

The demons and creatures we meet in Fated are very intriguing, as are the two sides to this “war”. No one is exactly what they appear and there are certainly some revelations to be discovered and some shocks to be found over the course of this book. There’s both good and bad guys, and even I must say I’m not quite sure about the motivations of many of these characters. Alderson blurs the lines of “good” and “evil” and gives her characters a depth and complexity that could make some be either good or bad regardless of their histories or species. And what characters they are too! Alderson’s characters are so fun and all very different. Whether they’re the main characters or one of the vast array of minor/extra characters that litter the pages they’re all engaging to the story.

Evie’s a really grounded heroine to follow. Just an ordinary small town girl, she’s very flawed and she reacts to the changes in her life with a maturity and rationality that make her easily identifiable as a character. I liked that she was afraid. I liked that a lot of the impacts her newfound Hunter status left her feeling somewhat broken and destroyed. It made it so much more brilliant watching her pick the pieces of herself up and take control of her life. Learning to trust her own instincts and feelings in a world where everyone wasn’t what they seemed. Seeing her accept who she was and what it meant for the war was a big moment for her and really shows how much she’s growing already.

And Lucas....aw, what an awesome guy! He’s typical of some YA fiction, but it never lessons his appeal. Half Shadow Warrior, half human, Lucas has always been different in a world of Unhumans. His humanity has always been his weakness, but in Fated it becomes a lot of his strength. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit it was pleasing watching Lucas fight his feelings and struggle with himself. He had to learn to let go of his revenge and developing feelings for Evie certainly helped him put a better perspective on things.

With so much going on for both main characters throughout the book, told in duel perspective, the romance that developed between Evie and Lucas seemed to take a back seat to a lot of other plotlines. And I didn’t really believe that to be a bad thing. It was nice to focus on the growth of each character individually and then see what impact their relationship with each other had in regards to their choices about where their future lays. Their loyalty to each other is a major factor in what they want, but I also didn’t feel their “love” like I wanted too. Their attraction definitely, but it just seemed to me like they didn’t know each other enough to be “in love”. I would have liked to see them spend more time together and hope to see that in the next book.

With more revelations and change of alliances in the last chapters than you’ll know what to do with, Fated has me hanging for the next book. It left me with a few questions and an urge to pick up the next book, like now. Fated will definitely catch you......hook, line and sinker!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Simon & Schuster Australia (Thanks so much Caroline!)
Format: Paperback
AU Release Date: Febuary 2012
Expected AU Price: $16.99
Recommend: Yes!
Recommend borrow or buy: Buy it!
Cover: It's awesome--goes perfectly with the book.
Read sequel/continue with series: Umm, let me think.....duh! Yes!