Welcome to Larissa's Bookish Life

News: I’m Leaving For The States {On Vacation} & I Haz Bookmarks! =)

2010-09-09T00:01:00.000-03:00

Hey Guys! It’s Finally here! My plane leaves this Thursday at 5:55pm and I just cannot wait!

I’ll be in NY and NJ for about 20 days! YAY!

I have so much I wanna do and I hope to share a lot with you too.

I hope you enjoy the Takeover starting this Friday =)

On a the coolest of notes, Check out the Bookmarks I had made:

I’ll be giving those out during the AAD Weekend, YAY!

I’ll also be including them on my giveaway prizes from now on =)

Don’t Forget to Vote for Next Week’s {Sept 12th} Theme for

The TOP 5 Sundays Post on the Poll at the left sidebar!

Don’t Forget to check out My Giveaways:

Win a SIGNED Copy of “Chosen” by Jeanne C. Stein

Anna Strong Series Cover Magnets & Swag!

Click HERE to Enter!

International!

Ends September 10th!

Good Luck!

~~~~~~~~~~~

Win a SIGNED Copy of “ALPHA” by Rachel Vincent

Click HERE to Enter!
International!
Ends September 20th!

My HUGE 1027+ Followers & Bday Blow Out:

Click HERE or on the image above to enter!

Good Luck!

Thanks so much for tuning in and I’ll see you soon!
xoxo,

Quickie Review: For The Love Of Mollie by KT Grant

2010-09-08T00:01:00.000-03:00

Mollie McGree is on a mission to seduce her best friend, the sexy masseuse Juan-Carlos. But she wants to lose a few extra pounds first. She joins a gym run by self-made millionaire and personal trailer, Conner Bean. Conner thinks Mollie doesn't need to lose any weight, and is perfect the way she is. He plans to seduce the curvy Mollie by giving her his own special training sessions in passion and desire.
Soon Mollie is enjoying a no-holds-barred love affair with the vibrant and skilled Conner. But self-esteem issues on her part, as well as her unresolved feelings for Juan-Carlos, cause her to second guess Conner's motives. Conner will stop at nothing until he claims Mollie's heart for his own.

From Goodreads.

Publisher: Decadent Publishing Company
Release Date: August 7th, 2010
My Copy: PDF received by the author.
Pages: 115
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author's Website
Buy This Book:

For the Love of Mollie

The Good:

I really enjoyed Mollie as the overweight leading lady and I really liked her best friend’s Suzy attitude, as an overweight woman myself I have to say that I get tired of the skinny and athletic heroines we usually find in fiction. I also really loved Conner! He is an amazing character and I would totally fall for him in real life, he gives me hope that i might find someone for me someday.

The chemistry between Mollie and Conner is undeniable and scorches the pages, how can I not love that?

The Bad:

Ok, I totally get where Mollie comes from in this novel, the insecurities, the pinching oneself because we can’t believe a hot man would be interested in you. However, I could not stand her hypocrisy in being pissed at Connor when he gets jealous and then throwing a fit and not even letting him explain when she catches him in a compromising situation. I so wanted to slap her LOL.

I also wanted more, wanted the book to have been longer so their relationship could develop better, the falling in love felt too fast for me.

The Naughty:

Hmmmm the smex in this novel is H.O.T., I seriously had to fan myself throughout the book. Connor can come over and give a massage any time, damn!

Smut Meter:

Next by KT Grant {A “sequel” to For The Love of Mollie}:

The Claiming of Suzy

Coming Out September 25th!

Don’t Forget to Vote for Next Week’s {Sept 12th} Theme for

The TOP 5 Sundays Post on the Poll at the left sidebar!

Don’t Forget to check out My Giveaways:

Win a SIGNED Copy of “Chosen” by Jeanne C. Stein

Anna Strong Series Cover Magnets & Swag!

Click HERE to Enter!

International!

Ends September 10th!

Good Luck!

~~~~~~~~~~~

Win a SIGNED Copy of “ALPHA” by Rachel Vincent

Click HERE to Enter!
International!
Ends September 20th!

My HUGE 1027+ Followers & Bday Blow Out:

Click HERE or on the image above to enter!

Good Luck!

Thanks so much for tuning in and I’ll see you soon!
xoxo,

Release Alert: To Collar and Keep {American Satyrs, #2} by Stella and Audra Price

2010-09-07T16:50:00.001-03:00

Just Released!

Book two in the American Satyr Series by Stella and Audra Price, To Collar and Keep!

A surrender to the unknown has never been sexier.

Olanis, the summer holiday is upon the Satyr clans once more and it is the time for Harlequin, prince of the Rummer clan, to claim his first and only female, the Grecian Satyr princess Arabella, sight unseen.

Unsure of what kind of woman his clan had brokered for him, he is both interested in the woman that would wear his collar, and nervous that she won’t meet his standards. His female has to rival him in all things, and his hopes of that coming true are slim and none.

Arabella craves two things, finishing her education, and being claimed by her Satyr. An anomaly in the Satyr world, Arabella was afforded opportunities other princesses weren’t. Now, in a foreign land she is given over to the Prince she was promised to, and she couldn’t be more nervous. What's a girl to do when you’re being gifted to a man you have never seen?

Harley is a commodity to the Rummer clan, one that his father plans to exploit regardless of his son’s wishes. When he gives Harley an ultimatum, Harley and Bella have two choices-agree to the terms or rebel.

When sparks fly and new alliances are forged in the Satyr ranks, both Harley and Bella have to decide what it is they want and what kind of future they wish to have. Only together will they succeed, if they can suffer the slings and arrows.

WARNING: This book contains a Satyr prince with unconventional ideas about his princess, a princess with a mind to rival Hawkings, a feral Satyr with a hidden agenda, F/F scenes, polyamory and lots of hot sex.

Naughty Sexy Satyrs! And theres a Contest too! Wanna a Satyr goodie pack? Check Stella and Audra’s bloggy for details!

WHAT FANS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE AMERICAN SATYR SERIES:

Of Crimson and Collars is an extremely erotic and playful story that was a delight to read. I predict that I will be re-reading this one soon and believe you will be too. I will be waiting, impatiently, for my next visit with the American Satyrs. ~ Joyfully Reviewed

A Reviewer Top Pick! Stella and Audra Price work together to bring us a stunning story of domination, submission, demons, satyrs, water nymphs, trickery and lust...I would definitely read anything else they write as this was a most enjoyable read. ~Night Owl Reviews

they have created an erotic world of d/s which does not humiliate, a world where the innocence of the submissive is an engaging power. If you enjoy a book packed full of erotica then this is the book for you. I enjoyed it so much I went back and bought 3 more of there books from a different series. ~Loose Knickers and Window Lickers

This is a book I loved reading and didnt want it to finish so soon. This Satyr world is one I’m going to enjoy getting to know. ~Ramblings of a Book Bitch

YOU CAN BUY TODAY AT TOTAL E BOUND!

Don’t Forget to Vote for Next Week’s {Sept 12th} Theme for

The TOP 5 Sundays Post on the Poll at the left sidebar!

Don’t Forget to check out My Giveaways:

Win a SIGNED Copy of “Chosen” by Jeanne C. Stein

Anna Strong Series Cover Magnets & Swag!

Click HERE to Enter!

International!

Ends September 10th!

~~~~~~~~~~~

Win a SIGNED Copy of “ALPHA” by Rachel Vincent

Click HERE to Enter!
International!
Ends September 20th!

My HUGE 1027+ Followers & Bday Blow Out:

Click HERE or on the image above to enter!

Good Luck!

Thanks so much for tuning in and I’ll see you soon!
xoxo,

Author Interview & SIGNED Book Giveaway w/ Rachel Vincent!

2010-09-07T01:15:00.000-03:00

Hey guys! I am super excited to have here today one of my favorite UF and YA Paranoemal authors! The one and only Rachel Vincent!

I LOVE the world and characters she created in her shifters series and her Y.A. series is one of my favorite ever, so getting the chance to interview her was nothing less than an honor! Not to mention that she has been amazing and is actually going to giveaway a Signed copy of ALPHA! Details at the end of the post…

Enjoy!

When did you first start writing?

Kindergarten.

Have you always enjoyed Fantasy?

As long as I can remember, anyway!

Why writing Urban Fantasy?

Because I like to read urban fantasy. And I like the fact that there are no limitations. I can write about anything I want, so long as I keep the rules of the world consistent and the characters sympathetic. Gotta love that kind of freedom.

Were there any Books, Movies or Writers that have inspired you?

Um…sometimes books or movies will trigger an emotion that I really want to be able to capture in my writing, but I can’t think of a book, movie, or writer that’s inspired me to write something specific. But music is really good for inspiring tone and mood.

What is your favorite subject in the Urban Fantasy Realm?

If you’re asking what my favorite creature is, I don’t have one. My least favorite would be vampires, because I don’t like the idea of cold walking corpses or people who want to eat their love interests. But there are a couple of writers who’ve managed to make me like their particular brand of vampire.

But if you’re asking what my favorite subject to write within urban fantasy is, that would be finding the lesser of two evils. I like to put my characters into situations where there is no good choice to be made. Faythe’s story starts out like that, in fact. She can either abandon her Pride, which needs her for a very serious reason, or she can give up the life she wants for herself. Either way, someone’s going to lose something important. And that problem never goes away.

ALPHA being the last book in the Shifters series, was it hard to write?

Yes. Very. At this point in my career, I’m no longer a rookie (Alpha will be my 9^th book on the shelf), and that has its advantages. And it’s challenges. Now there are expectations from readers, both good and bad. Some people have really high expectations for Alpha because they’ve loved the previous books. Which is awesome. Some people aren’t fans of Faythe, but they like her world and my writing, and they’re waiting for her to prove her worth in this last book. And that’s also very cool. But either way, the pressure is on, and there’s no way to please everyone.

So yeah. Writing it was hard. I had this whole mental block for a while, where I kept putting off starting the book, and whining about it to my CP. But deadlines wait for no neurosis, and there came a point at which I had to just sit down and do it. So I did.

Did you always know how things were going to turn out when you started writing the series?

No. Stray was intended to be a standalone. Then I wrote a sequel. Those books sold as books 1 & 2 of a three-book contract, so I set down and decided how far I wanted this to go, and mapped out a rough series arc, then adjusted the ending of Rogue accordingly, to introduce the concept of the Territorial Council and the power it has over the Pride members.

Favorites:

Favorite Paranormal themed Movie?

Oh, goodness. There have been so many. From Dusk Till Dawn—I love that Tarentino’s vamps aren’t redeemable. They’re true monsters. And The Stand. It was a mini-series—does that count?

Favorite Paranormal themed TV Show?

Buffy. Hands down. Now and forever. Specifically, seasons 2 and 6.

Favorite Paranormal themed Book?

That’s actually impossible for me to answer. It changes all the time. Right now, probably White Cat, by Holly Black. Stunning, and smart, different.

Favorite Author?

Stephen King. And maybe Courtney Summers. Very different writers, but both are able to make me forget about the process, which is really hard for a writer. We know how to construct a story, so we see the stitches in the material, which sucks. But both King and Summers have thus far been able to make me see the story instead.

Favorite Paranormal Romance Author?

Oooh, I actually don’t read much straight romance. Sorry! I love a good love story subplot, but I tend to prefer that the main plot be more mystery or suspense of some kind. Notable exceptions for me include Perfect Chemistry, by Simone Elkeles. And Jeaniene Frost, if you consider her stuff to be more paranormal romance than urban fantasy.

Favorite one of your Books?

Favorite of my own books? That’s always the latest. Right now I’m enamored of both Alpha and My Soul To Steal. But my favorite single piece of my own writing is “Binge,” my short story in the Immortal anthology.

Who is your favorite of your own characters?

From the Shifters series, Ethan. He was just plain fun. From Soul Screamers, either Sabine or Tod. But Sabine’s easier to write. Her lines are just there, waiting for me, and they’re almost always contentious. She doesn’t have a single simple relationship or friendship, and many of her relationships conflict with others. I find her fascinating, and hilarious, troublesome beyond belief.

Which was the hardest to write?

Lately, Tod is hard for me to write, because he’s gotten pretty complex. Keeping him funny and compelling is more work than it used to be, but it’s worth it.

From Shifters, Greg Sanders (Faythe’s dad) is a hard one to write. He’s a constant struggle to balance power, determination, carefully controlled rage, and love for those he protects.

What would you be if not a writer?

I would probably have gone back to teaching. Because little else interests me, since no one seems willing to pay me to play Rock Band or watch TV. ;)

If you could be a Paranormal Being, who would you be?

I’d be some kind of psychic. I really want to know what people are thinking but not saying.

If you could meet any Urban Fantasy Character out there, who would you like to meet?

Oooh, I’m gonna have to go with “none of the above.” Urban fantasy is, in general, a very dangerous playground, and I’m not sure I’m ready to play in it, in real life. ;)

Quickies:

Coffee or Tea? Coffee

Up or Down? Up!

Virtual or Real? Both.

Right or Left? Left.

Day or Night? Night.

Here or There? Here.

Sooner or Later? Sooner!

Light or Dark? Both.

Fast or Slow? Fast!

Vampires or Shifters? Really? Give you one hint. Not vamps.

Angels or Demons? Neither.

Reading or Writing? Both.

What is your favorite part of the writing process?

Whichever part I’m not on. Seriously, though, I think page proofs are the best, because they’re the easiest. The hard part’s done, and I get to sit back and enjoy my story like a reader, while watching out for missed typos.

What is your least favorite part?

Whichever part I’m currently on. It’s all hard work.

The Shifters Series in your own words?

Faythe’s transition from a closet shapeshifter demanding independence to a badass leader willing to sacrifice her personal needs to serve and protect those she cares about. Love. Loss. Passion. Violence. Conflict. No easy choices.

Oh. And a full-scale revolution.

I know I already miss Faythe and company, any plans for short stories set in Faythe's world?

There’s a story from Abby’s (Faythe’s cousin, from Stray) POV coming out in an anthology from Tor this spring. Other than that? You never know… ;)

You also write a great Paranormal Y.A. series, The Soul Screamers series, can you describe it in your own words?

High school junior Kaylee Cavanaugh discovers she’s a bean sidhe, a death herald compelled to scream uncontrollably when someone near her is going to die. With her introduction to the supernatural reality, she comes face to face with reapers, monsters, and the Netherworld, a warped mirror-image of our own world where souls are a black market commodity, everything is food for something else, and death just might be a blessing.

How many books do you have planned for that series?

Soul Screamers is open ended. The world building is broad enough that I keep getting new story ideas and concepts for it. Very exciting!

Do you have another adult Urban fantasy series in the works?

I do! The first book will be out in the fall of 2011.

If yes, Can you tell us anything about it?

Sorry! I can’t just yet. But I hope to be able to after the Alpha release madness dies down. ;)

What is coming up next for you?

More novels. Always more novels. And there’s a Soul Screamers e-novella currently scheduled for December 1, in advance of the January 1 US release of My Soul To Steal.

What are you working on right now?

Right now, I’m writing a short story for a 2011 anthology and working on the rough draft of IF I DIE (Soul Screamers book 5)

Do you have any advice or tip to those like me that want to become a published author someday?

Just keep reading and writing. There’s no substitute for hard work. And learn to take criticism. If you can’t take it from your critique partners or beta readers now, you’ll never be able to handle the sometimes less-than-constructive criticism of reviewers.

Anything you would like to say to your fans out there?

Hi! Thanks so much for sticking with Faythe, and I hope you love Alpha!

Find Rachel Vincent Online:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Buy Laura’s Books:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble| Books On Boards

Win a SIGNED Copy of “ALPHA” by Rachel Vincent

Book #6 in The Shifters Series!

To Enter:

- Leave a comment about anything on this post.
- Leave an EMAIL for contact! (if you don’t feel comfortable leaving it here, email me at larissa@larissaslife.com)

Extra Entries:

+5 Google Friend Connect Follower
+5 Networked Blogs Follower
+3 Follow me on Twitter (@larissa_sarah)
+3 Follow Rachel Vincent on Twitter (@rachelkvincent)
+2 “Like” Larissa's Life on Facebook
+2 Be my friend on Goodreads
+1 Add all your entries! (including this one!)

International!

Ends September 20th!

Good Luck!

Don’t Forget to Vote for Next Week’s {Sept 12th} Theme for

The TOP 5 Sundays Post on the Poll at the left sidebar!

Don’t Forget to check out My Giveaways:

Win a SIGNED Copy of “Chosen” by Jeanne C. Stein

Anna Strong Series Cover Magnets & Swag!

Click HERE to Enter!

International!

Ends September 10th!

Good Luck!

My HUGE 1027+ Followers & Bday Blow Out:

Click HERE or on the image above to enter!

Good Luck!

Thanks so much for tuning in and I’ll see you soon!
xoxo,

Update #2! - 1027+ Followers & Bday Blow Out! {It’s My Birthday and I’ll Giveaway LOTS OF BOOKS If I Want To}

2010-09-07T00:16:00.000-03:00

Since I have just reached 1150 followers…

There will be 7 winners!

*more to come, see info bellow!

*Please read ALL the info carefully before entering!

Hey Everyone! It’s my birthday tomorrow {August 11th} and I have been planning this HUGE blow out for a while now. I am so happy it’s finally the day to unveil the biggest giveaway i have ever hosted!

There are 11 Prize Packs and for starters there will be 4 Winners! The amount of winner can grow up to 11 Winners throughout the Giveaway =)

Oh, if you’re wondering why i chose the number 1027, it’s because I’m turning 27 today… YAY!

Before I unveil the AMAZING Packs I have for all of you, I need to thank all the people that have made this Contest Possible:

Authors:

Gini Koch	Stella Price	Aline Hunter	Elizabeth Isaacs
Laura Bickle	Gena Showalter	Vivian Arend	Jordan Deen
Alayna Williams	Dakota Cassidy	Carolyn Crane	Angie Frazier
Jocelynn Drake	Leslie Dicken	Joely Sue Burkhart	Larissa Ione
Kelly Gay	Sydney Somers	Cynthia Eden	Cari Quinn

Blogger / Twitter Buddies:

Ivy {Book Reader Times}

Paperback Dolls

Jackie Hussein

Publishers:

Angela from Penguin Group

You have all been so freaking amazing and this

Giveaway could never happen without you!

Thank you for making my Birthday so much sweeter!

Now for the Giveaway =)

Since I have just passed 1100 followers…

There will be 6 winners! Each winner will Choose one of

the prize packs from the list bellow…

If I reach 2000 Twitter Followers, I will add a winner as well!

If I reach 1200 Follower = Winners

1250 = 9 Winners

1300 = 10 Winners

& So on.

That way I will add 1 winner for every 50 new followers

until I have up to 11 Winners!

INTERNATIONAL {except for the US only pack}

Ends October 11th!

The Prize Packs:

Urban Fantasy Prize Pack #1:

Embers by Laura Bickle {Signed}
Dark Oracle by Alayna Williams {Signed}
Dead In The Family by Charlaine Harris {Signed}
& Eric Northman Inspired Jewelry!

Urban Fantasy Prize Pack #2:

Embers by Laura Bickle {Signed}
Dark Oracle by Alayna Williams {Signed}
The Darkest Edge of Dawn by Kelly Gay {Signed}

Urban Fantasy Prize Pack #3:

Pray For Dawn by Jocelynn Drake {Signed}
Wait For Dusk by Jocelynn Drake {Signed}
Mind Games by Carolyn Crane {Signed}

Historical Romance Prize Pack #1:

Beauty Tempts The Beast by Leslie Dicken {eBook}
To Taste Temptation by Elizabeth Hoyt {Signed}

Historical Romance Prize Pack #2:

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn {Signed}
To Taste Temptation by Elizabeth Hoyt {Signed}

Young Adult Prize Pack #1:

Hearts At Stake by Alyxandra Harvey {Signed}
Morganville Vampires Inspired Jewelry
& Swag!

Young Adult Prize Pack #2:

Hearts At Stake by Alyxandra Harvey {Signed}
& Swag!

U.S. Only Prize Pack:

Changes by Jim Butcher {Signed}
The Darkest Passion by Gena Showalter {Signed}

Funny Ladies Prize Pack:

Touched by an Alien by Gini Koch {Signed}
My Way To Hell by Dakota Cassidy

Naughty Prize Pack:

Deadly Fear by Cynthia Eden {Signed}
The Rose of Shanhasson by Joely Sue Burkhart {Signed}
Dear Sir, I’m Yours by Joely Sue Burkhart {Signed}
The Bloodgate Guardian by Joely Sue Burkhart {eBook}
Tidal Wave by Vivian Arend {eBook}
Ex Appeal by Cari Quinn {eBook}
Eternity and A Day by Aline Hunter {eBook}
& Swag!

Paranormal Romance Prize Pack:

Masquerade by Stella and Audra Price {Signed}
Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione {Signed}
I’ll Be Slaving You by Cynthia Eden {Signed}
The Chosen Sin by Anya Bast
Stripped Away by Sydney Somers {eBook}
Unbreakable by Sydney Somers {eBook}
Demonica Series Bag & Book Light!

Phew! Those were a lot of prizes! I so wish I could enter this giveaway, damn!

Well, I bet you are all wondering how you can enter the contest…

All you have to do is answer the following question in the comments and fill out one of the forms bellow:

*All Extra Entries are listed in the forms!

Question:

What is your fondest Birthday Memory???

~~~

U.S. Residents Please

Fill Out THIS FORM!

International Residents

Please Fill Out THIS FORM!

Disclaimer: I have two forms, one for U.S. residents Only and one for International readers. I will pick a winner for all the Prize Packs from both of them, except for the U.S. Only Pack and will pick a winner for the U.S. Only pack from that specific form.

Attention:

1 - Answering the Question without filling out the form

will NOT enter you in the contest!

2 - Filling out the form without answering the contest

will NOT enter you in the contest!

3- Listing entries in the comments

will NOT enter you in the contest!

4- You are NOT required to do any of the extra things to enter,

you can just mark NO to all of them. It’s your choice!

5 - You are required to follow the blog, fill out a form

and answer the question above. That’s All!

BONUS:

Top Commenter Extra Entries!!!

Ok so, by the end of the contest, if you are part of the

TOP 5 commenters of the blog, you will get +1 extra entry

for EVERY COMMENT listed next to your name!

1 comment per post please!

*You can respond to comments, but please don’t post 10 comments in one post just to get the points!

Giveaway Button:

*Worth +10 Extra Entries!

Any Problems or Questions please email me @

larissa@larissaslife.com

Thanks so much for tuning in and I’ll see you soon!
xoxo,

Review: The Light of Asteria: Kailmeyra's Last Hope {Kailmeyra, #1} by Elizabeth Isaacs

2010-09-06T01:11:00.000-03:00

If Nora Johnson hadn't been on campus that day she would have never known her true destiny. Helping her friends move into the dorm that she wanted to call home, Nora accidentally collides with mysterious stranger, Gavin Frey. His very first touch sends flames through her heart. The world seems different-something within her has changed.
Nora tries to resume her mundane life, but she is now consumed with the one whose very presence ignited her soul, the one with eyes of emerald. Nora soon learns that an energy buried deep within has been unleashed. She now wields unimaginable power and has become Gavin's source, his strength.
Her newfound joy is shaken when she discovers that Gavin is not who he appears to be and she has been thrust in the middle of a war of mythical proportions. Negativity has allowed all things evil to flourish, the earth is under siege. The fate of creation hinges on the power within her heart. Will she be strong enough to survive?

From Goodreads.

Publisher: iUniverse
Release Date: March 22nd, 2010
My Copy: PDF received by the author.
Pages: 380
Genre: Y.A. Fantasy
Series: Kailmeyra
Author's Website
Buy This Book:

The Light of Asteria: Kailmeyra's Last Hope

I hadn’t read a Fantasy or a Y.A. novel in a while and I have to say that I absolutely LOVED The Light of Asteria. This was a book that took me completely by surprise and captured my heart. I’m glad I met Elizabeth on Twitter, otherwise I might never have gotten the chance to read this.

Nora is a normal 18 year old young woman, who can’t really follow her dreams of going away to college because she needs to take care of her beloved foster mom, Edna. While helping her best friends get settled on their new dorm room, Nora runs into a man, who she later knows as Gavin, with the most amazing green eyes she has ever seen, and even though the meeting is quick, she can’t get him off her mind.

A series of circumstances brings Gavin and Nora closer and he introduces her to a world that she never knew existed and helps her understand these powers that she suddenly seems to have.

I have said it before and I’ll say it again, I am not a big fan of the fey as paranormal subject, but I loved the interesting spin that Elizabeth has given to the Fey. It’s not like she is inventing the wheel, but she made me look at them with fresh eyes and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I loved the idea that the dark Fey are that way because they have allowed negative, spiteful and evil feelings take over their beings, transforming them in beings of darkness. I loved that even though Gavin is from the side of the light, he still battles with the dark within, making the choice between Compassion and Selfishness or Revenge and Love, a constant and a daily struggle. All that just makes Gavin a more believable and lovable character.

Nora is a great leading lady, maybe a little bit naive at times, but strong and determined as well. I love how much she grows through the book and I really enjoyed reading about hers and Gavin’s relationship.

A couple things did bother me, I think I had a bit of a flashback to twilight a couple times. I mean Mysterious Boy, infatuated girl, Boy’s family loves the girl, boy’s family is made up of couples, Boy keeps secrets from girl… etc… Despite those moments where my mind just went back to Forks for a second, Elizabeth was able to not follow in Twilight’s footsteps and I have to say that I actually like Gavin more than I do Edward or Jacob =) However, Gavin did get on my nerves a couple times, but he made up for it later on. He is a great leading man and extremely swoon worthy.

The Light of Asteria is not a non-stop action thriller, the story moves at its own leisurely pace and has some very cool action in it, but I was never bored and I actually went through the whole book in one sitting. By the end of it, I wanted more and I am glad that there will be a sequel, pity that we have to wait until 2011.

All in all, The Light of Asteria brought me back to the Y.A. Fantasy would that I had forsaken for so long and I am really happy about it. If you enjoy Y.A. Fantasies, beautiful love stories and rich world building, this is definitely the book for you!

Next in The Kailmeyra Series:

The Secret of the Keepers: Kailmeyra's Strength

*NOT Official Cover!

Don’t Forget to Vote for Next Week’s {Sept 12th} Theme for

The TOP 5 Sundays Post on the Poll at the left sidebar!

Don’t Forget to check out My Giveaways:

Win a SIGNED Copy of “Sparks” by Laura Bickle!

Click HERE to enter!

International!

Ends September 6th!

~~~~~~~~~~~

Win a SIGNED Copy of “Chosen” by Jeanne C. Stein

Anna Strong Series Cover Magnets & Swag!

Click HERE to Enter!

International!

Ends September 10th!

Good Luck!

My HUGE 1027+ Followers & Bday Blow Out:

Click HERE or on the image above to enter!

Good Luck!

Thanks so much for tuning in and I’ll see you soon!
xoxo,

Lala's Design Corner! – New Designs!

2010-09-05T18:13:00.001-03:00

Hey Everyone! As you know besides working on this blog I also do design for other bloggers. I have been doing some cool designs lately and I wanted to share them with you =)

Ashley loves werewolves, so her theme was pretty clear =)

Ashley’s Bookshelf

Tigris theme started with a pair of hot stilettos and just went on from there =)

Tigris Eden’s Garden of Books

More Info about my designs HERE!

For pricing and more detailed info, please email me!

larissa@larissaslife.com

Don’t Forget to Vote for Next Week’s {Sept 12th} Theme for

The TOP 5 Sundays Post on the Poll at the left sidebar!

Don’t Forget to check out My Giveaways:

Win a SIGNED Copy of “Sparks” by Laura Bickle!

Click HERE to enter!

International!

Ends September 6th!

~~~~~~~~~~~

Win a SIGNED Copy of “Chosen” by Jeanne C. Stein

Anna Strong Series Cover Magnets & Swag!

Click HERE to Enter!

International!

Ends September 10th!

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My HUGE 1027+ Followers & Bday Blow Out:

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xoxo,

Top 5 Sundays {#7}! - Sexiest Book Heroes! {Top 10 Special Edition}

2010-09-05T00:09:00.000-03:00

Hey Everyone! Happy Sunday! I am glad to be here with another Top 5 Sunday =)

Next week it won’t be me doing the Top 5 post, but I’ll do my best to come around =)

This week we finally have a clear winner… YAY!

The theme for today is:

Sexiest Book Heroes!

I hope you join me this week!

But first, a little bit about this feature and the rules to join in…

Every Sunday I will post a TOP 5 list on the blog. It can be about anything and every week I'll have a new theme {You can vote on next week’s theme on my left sidebar!} and I will ad the Mr.Linky bellow the post so you can do a list with the theme and add you link to it.

Rules:

1 - Write a post listing your TOP 5 choices within the theme I chose (or was chosen on a poll) for the week.
2 - Mention this Blog on the post and link back to it.
3 - Fell free to use the Feature's image (there is a smaller size version of it bellow)
4 - After you've finished your post, add you link (of the post, not your blog's main page) to the Mr.Linky at the end of that week's post.

5 – If you don’t have a blog to post, just leave your list in the comments =)

This week’s theme is Sexiest Book Heroes!

Hope you have fun too!

Ok guys, so this week I’m going to stray out of form a bit. I can’t seem to narrow down my faves to a Top 5, so I am doing a exception this week and listing my Top 10 Sexiest Book Heroes! {Feel free to list you Top 5 or 10, your choice}

*in no specific order

Quinn {Riley Jenson Series by Keri Arthur}
Shane {WVMP Series by Jeri Smith-Ready}
Clay {Women of The Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong}
Rule {World of The Lupi by Eileen Wilks}
Bones {Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost}
Dmitri {Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead}
Curran {Kate Daniels Series by Ilona Andrews}
Danaus {Nightwalker Series by Jocelynn Drake}
Martini {Kitty Series by Gini Koch}
Eric {Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris}

*in no specific order

Honorable Mention: Kisten from the Rachel Morgan {Hollows} series by Kim Harrison. – I Miss him! I can’t seem to accept his death and it has been making me reluctant to read the new books in the series. He was amazing!

Now I can’t wait to see who is in YOUR Sexiest Book Heroes List!

Write you post and leave your link so i can check it out!

Hope you guys have fun with it!

Don’t Forget to Vote for Next Week’s {Sept 12th} Theme for

The TOP 5 Sundays Post on the Poll at the left sidebar!

Don’t Forget to check out My Giveaways:

Win a SIGNED Copy of “Sparks” by Laura Bickle!

Click HERE to enter!

International!

Ends September 6th!

~~~~~~~~~~~

Win a SIGNED Copy of “Chosen” by Jeanne C. Stein

Anna Strong Series Cover Magnets & Swag!

Click HERE to Enter!

International!

Ends September 10th!

Good Luck!

My HUGE 1027+ Followers & Bday Blow Out:

Click HERE or on the image above to enter!

Good Luck!

Thanks so much for tuning in and I’ll see you soon!
xoxo,

New {Book} Blogs on the Block! {#9} – My Love Affair With Books!

2010-09-03T22:19:00.001-03:00

Hey Guys, welcome to my New {Book} Blogs on the Block weekly feature =)

Every Saturday* I have a new book blog featured. If YOU have a *New Book Blog and would like to be featured, please contact me at:

larissa@larissaslife.com

Please put "New {Book} Blogs on the Block" {N{B}BOTB} in the subject of the email! For more info you can go HERE!

*Due to my trip starting September 10th, there won’t be a N{B}BOTB! post next Saturday, September 11th. More Info HERE.

*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

The blog featured today is “My Love Affair With Books!”

I’ll let Misha tell us a bit about how and why she started blogging & what she loves and hates about it:

I am Misha , 20 years old, a severe book addict, a compulsive book buyer and a social recluse ! I am from New Delhi, India.I think I must have been around 6 years old , when my father bought me my first book. It was a book of fairy tales with colorful pictures. I still have it (though my sister tried to make mincemeat out of it when she was around 3 years old . I bravely rescued it from her clutches.....). My parents would read to me when I couldn't read myself and I think without them , I wouldn't have loved books as much as I do.
I started my blog on July 29th 2010. All my life right from when I was a kid, I have been a voracious reader.I need books , like I need to breathe. I started the blog because I wanted to share my love for books with all other book addicts like me. I love reviewing and talking endlessly about books. No one among my friends was willing to listen to me go on and on about books lol So I chose this platform to express my love for books.
My favorite genres are literary fiction, historical fiction, gothic mystery and fantasy. Some of my favorite authors are Anne Tyler, Joyce Carol Oates,Sarah Dunant, Carol Goodman,Kate Morton, Libba Bray, Tana French, Philippa Gregory, Alison Weir and many many more.
Apart from books, my interests are music , dancing, movies,web designing, feminism,pencil shading, randomly talking about nothing in particular, laughing at my own jokes and daydreaming 24/7.
I am currently pursuing MA(Psychology). I want to specialize in Organizational Behavior , which is a branch of Psychology. My career interest is in HRM(Human Resource Management).

*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

Make sure to stop by the featured blog and check it out!

*New Blogs on The Block was created by Book Chick City.

Don’t Forget to Vote for Next Week’s {Sept 5th} Theme for

The TOP 5 Sundays Post on the Poll at the left sidebar!

Don’t Forget to check out My Giveaways:

Win a SIGNED Copy of “Sparks” by Laura Bickle!

Click HERE to enter!

International!

Ends September 6th!

~~~~~~~~~~~

Win a SIGNED Copy of “Chosen” by Jeanne C. Stein

Anna Strong Series Cover Magnets & Swag!

Click HERE to Enter!

International!

Ends September 10th!

Good Luck!

My HUGE 1027+ Followers & Bday Blow Out:

Click HERE or on the image above to enter!

Good Luck!

Thanks so much for tuning in and I’ll see you soon!
xoxo,

Author Interview & SIGNED Book + Swag Giveaway w/ Jeanne C. Stein

2010-09-03T00:03:00.000-03:00

Hey everyone! Yeah, I know it’s not Tuesday, but I have an awesome treat for you guys! Jeanne C. Stein, the author of one of my favorite Vampire series ever is here answering my q’s and she’s also giving away some cool prizes, including a SIGNED copy of the newest book in the Anna Strong series, Chosen!

You can check out my review of the book HERE!

Giveaway deets are at the bottom of the post, Enjoy!

When did you first start writing?

I’ve been writing for a long time. I began writing seriously about fifteen years ago. My husband and I moved to Denver from San Diego and I had some time on my hands. I attended a local conference, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ Colorado Gold, and connected with a half-dozen people who became the nucleus of my first real critique group. Through them and with them, I learned the craft of writing. We’re still together, all still writing, still good friends and still serious about our craft.

Have you always enjoyed Fantasy?

I’ve always enjoyed the vampire genre.

Why writing Urban Fantasy?

I was inspired by Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel stories. All those spooky supernatural beings operating right here in our world. Creepier things are so much creepier when set against the backdrop of everyday life. It’s our world with a twist.

Were there any Books, Movies or Writers that have inspired you?

Buffy and Angel. Bram Stoker, Anne Rice, Laurell K. Hamilton, Charlaine Harris. The Underworld movies. The first novel, though, was Ira Levin’s Rosemary’a Baby. Urban Fantasy before the term was coined.

What is your favorite subject in the Urban Fantasy Realm?

Vampires.

I have to say that I love Frey and I think he and Anna would be amazing together, can we expect that relationship to change anytime soon?

Funny you should mention that. The next book in the series, Crossroads, Anna and Frey take a road trip that changes both their lives…and that’s
all I’m going to say about that!!

Favorites:

Favorite Paranormal themed Movie? Let the Right One In

Favorite Paranormal themed TV Show? Currently, True Blood.

Favorite Paranormal themed Book? Couldn’t possibly choose one.

Favorite Author? Ditto.

Favorite one of your Books? The one I’m working on now!

Who is your favorite of your own characters?

Anna, because she’s strong and loyal and risks everything for what’s right.

Which was the hardest to write?

Probably the first book, The Becoming, because of the violence of Anna’s turning.

What would you be if not a writer?

I can’t imagine. I’ve done a lot of things, but by far, writing is the best job I’ve ever had. It’s also the hardest. I hope to continue until they pry my cold, dead fingers off the keyboard!

If you Could be a Paranormal Being, Who would you be?

A vampire, of course.

Quickies: (loved these, btw)

Coffee or Tea? Coffee
Up or Down? Up
Virtual or Real? Real
Right or Left? Right
Day or Night? Day
Here or There? Here
Sooner or Later? Sooner
Light or Dark? Light AND Dark
Fast or Slow? Fast
Vampires or Shifters? Vampires
Angels or Demons? Demons
Reading or Writing? Writing

What is your favorite part of the writing process?

The beginning because it’s the start of an adventure—for both myself and Anna.

What is your least favorite part?

The middle.

The Anna Strong Series in your own words?

The story of a modern vampire’s quest for her place in the mortal world.

Any plans for more Books in the series?

I’ve finished the seventh and contracted for the eighth, so yes.

What is coming up next for you?

DragonCon, the launch of Chosen, signings, beginning the eighth Anna adventure.

What are you working on right now?

This summer I finished a novella, Cloud City, to be included in an anthology called Hexed out next year. I’m also working on a non-fiction piece for Whedonistas, a collection of articles written by women fans of Joss Whedon. Next, I’ll get to work on Anna.

Do you have any advice or tip to those like me that want to become a published Author someday?

Write everyday. Enjoy the process and write the book of your heart. Most importantly, never give up.

Anything you would like to say to your fans out there?

Anna wouldn’t be without you. I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am. Thank you so much for being here. It’s my pleasure. Anna and I thank you.

Find Jeanne Stein Online:

Website | Blog

Buy Laura’s Books:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble| Borders | Books On Boards

Win a SIGNED Copy of “Chosen” by Jeanne C. Stein

Anna Strong Series Cover Magnets & Swag!

Book #6 in The Anna Strong Series!

To Enter:

- Leave a comment about anything on this post.
- Leave an EMAIL for contact! (if you don’t feel comfortable leaving it here, email me at larissa@larissaslife.com)

Extra Entries:

+5 Google Friend Connect Follower
+5 Networked Blogs Follower
+3 Follow me on Twitter (@larissa_sarah)
+2 “Like” Larissa's Life on Facebook
+2 Be my friend on Goodreads
+1 Add all your entries! (including this one!)

International!

Ends September 10th!

Good Luck!

Don’t Forget to Vote for Next Week’s {Sept 5th} Theme for

The TOP 5 Sundays Post on the Poll at the left sidebar!

Don’t Forget to check out My Giveaways:

Win a SIGNED Copy of “Sparks” by Laura Bickle!

Click HERE to enter!

International!

Ends September 6th!

My HUGE 1027+ Followers & Bday Blow Out:

Click HERE or on the image above to enter!

Good Luck!

Thanks so much for tuning in and I’ll see you soon!
xoxo,

Review: Waking The Witch {Women of The Otherworld, #11} by Kelley Armstrong

2010-09-02T00:09:00.000-03:00

“The orphaned daughter of a sorcerer and a half-demon, Savannah is a terrifyingly powerful young witch who has never been able to resist the chance to throw her magical weight around. But at 21 she knows she needs to grow up and prove to her guardians, Paige and Lucas, that she can be a responsible member of their supernatural detective agency. So she jumps at the chance to fly solo, investigating the mysterious deaths of three young women in a nearby factory town as a favor to one of the agency's associates. At first glance, the murders look garden-variety human, but on closer inspection signs point to otherworldly stakes.
Soon Savannah is in over her head. She's run off the road and nearly killed, haunted by a mystery stalker, and freaked out when the brother of one of the dead women is murdered when he tries to investigate the crime. To complicate things, something weird is happening to her powers. Pitted against shamans, demons, a voodoo-inflected cult and garden-variety goons, Savannah has to fight to ensure her first case isn't her last. And she also has to ask for help, perhaps the hardest lesson she's ever had to learn.”

From Goodreads.

Publisher: Dutton Adult
Release Date: July 27th, 2010
My Copy: Kindle Version, personally bought.
Pages: 400
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Women Of The Otherworld / The Otherworld Series
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Author's Website
Buy This Book:

Waking the Witch (Women of the Otherworld, Book 11)

I am an unconditional, card holding fan of this series and Kelley Armstrong is no doubt an automatic buy for me. Of course, it’s not a perfect series and there are couple books that aren’t my favorites But, 11 books and 2 anthologies in, I have to say it is a pretty solid and awesome series in general.

We meet Savannah in the second book, Stolen, when she’s only 12 years old. For the following two books, Dime Store Magic & Industrial Magic, we get to know more about her through the eyes of her guardian, Paige, who takes her in after her mother’s murder.

Fast Forward almost 10 years and we get to Waking the Witch, where Savannah is now 21 years old and a young woman trying to prove that she’s capable of being a PI and part of Paige & Lucas’s Supernatural PI firm. Both her guardians are taking a much needed vacation when an associate of theirs comes knocking, in need of assistance in his latest case. Savannah jumps at the chance of taking her first solo case and that’s where her adventure begins.

I have always enjoyed Savannah as a secondary character and I was really afraid that I would not like her as much as the heroine, specially an adult now. It was definitely weird seeing her older, but at the same timt it was perfect. I love that this series spans through so many years and time doesn’t stop in each book, giving it a more realistic timeline that follows the span of time that all the books have been released in. I mean, The first book in the series, Bitten, was released in 2001, so 9 years later it makes total sense that Savannah has aged 9 years.

Savannah has always lived in the shadow of her Witch mother and Sorcerer father, daughter of two very powerful spellcasters and considered a freak from being born into two races that have been rivals for centuries. With her parents dead and relying solely on her guardians, she has being trying to prove to them and to herself that she is more than her mother and father’s reputation. Savannah is a study in contradictions, she is tough, stubborn, selfish and even mean at times, but she is also fun, smart, loyal, fiercely protective of those she cares about and able of extreme acts of compassion. It was absolutely amazing getting to know the woman that the little girl I used to know has become.

I really loved this book, much more than I thought I would. It was fast paced and the mystery kept me gripped to the story. I found myself trying to solve the case right along with Savannah and Adam, and having a lot fun in doing so.

I don’t want to give out any spoilers, but I’ll say that the whodunit resolution was such a surprise and very well made. I actually guessed a part of it, but some parts really caught me off guard. The ending left a killer cliffhanger that had me gasping out loud and making me wish it was an year from now already, I really need to get my hands on the next book!

All in all, Waking the Witch was a perfect addition to one of my favorite series ever! The romance was very mild, but I have hope for a Savannah & Adam paring, something I have kept my eye on since many books before. If you are a fan of the Women of the Otherworld series this is definitely a must read for you and the cameos and mentions of other characters of the series will get you missing them all.

If you haven’t read this series yet, I totally advise you to and not to worry, you can absolutely read Waking the Witch without feeling lost. The Women of The Otherworld series is a staple in the Urban Fantasy genre and this latest installment just makes it clear why. Fast paced action from start to finish that you will not want to put down.

Previously on The Women of The Otherworld Series:

Next: “Spell Bound” Comes out July 1st, 2011!

Don’t Forget to Vote for Next Week’s {Sept 5th} Theme for

The TOP 5 Sundays Post on the Poll at the left sidebar!

Don’t Forget to check out My Giveaways:

Win a SIGNED Copy of “Sparks” by Laura Bickle!

Click HERE to enter!

International!

Ends September 6th!

My HUGE 1027+ Followers & Bday Blow Out:

Click HERE or on the image above to enter!

Good Luck!

Thanks so much for tuning in and I’ll see you soon!
xoxo,

Author Guest Post & {24hrs ONLY} Giveaway w/ Zoe Winters! {Writing Things That Go Bump in the Night}

2010-09-01T00:01:00.000-03:00

This Giveaway is OVER!

Winner will be drawn by Zoe and

She will contact you shortly after that!

I want to thank Larissa for allowing me to guest blog with her today!

Paranormal romance is one of my favorite genres to write in. I love writing about things that go bump in the night: vampires, demons, werewolves (and other shapeshifters... the wolves seem to get all the press, don't they?)

When I was a kid, I was absolutely enthralled by and wanted to be R.L. Stine. I devoured the GooseBumps series, and couldn't think of anything cooler than writing books like that. So it's rather fitting that I've discovered the paranormal romance genre as an adult.

Though I don't write horror, and my fiction could be described as "quirky", I will admit some of my characters have scared even me. When I first met Luc, an incubus, and the hero for the next book (hopefully out by Christmas), I was home alone. I won't lie... even though he's fiction, he scared the crap out of me.

Of course, I soon came to learn he's an antiques fiend and also fancies himself the Emeril of the demon world. So once I knew that, I was able to sleep. Before that, it was touch and go for a bit.

Interestingly, and maybe it was because I'd already met Luc, Cain didn't scare me. Cain should be the scary one. He's the incubus (sex demon) who kills his "meals". But because there is reincarnation in my 'verse, he doesn't consider it "ending them", just "inconveniencing them". He's a real charmer, right? What's not to love? :P

But enough rambling. I've got a big giveaway to talk about today. This week I'm running a contest from my blog to promote my current release, Blood Lust. I'll be giving away a free newest generation Amazon Kindle with 3G. I will definitely be giving away one Kindle, but if my sales rankings get into the top 25 of the overall Kindle store, I'll be giving away a second Kindle. Check out my blog for details on how you can enter to win!

I'll also be giving away a signed print copy of Blood Lust to one commenter in the comments section here. I'd be happy to answer any questions you have about the contest or my book.

This Giveaway will End in 24 hrs!

12am EST – Sept 1st!

International!

Please leave an email for contact in the comments!

*Zoe will announce the winner in the comments!

And now for the obligatory book description...

It’s all about the blood...

Comprised of three novellas, Blood Lust gives readers a snapshot look at the world of the Preternaturals Series. (Future installments of the series will be novels.)

KEPT: As a cat therian (shifter), Greta's blood is already sought after to enhance spells and potions, but due to a quirk of her birth, her blood is potent enough to kill for. When her tribe plans to sacrifice her, Greta must ally herself with Dayne, the dangerous local sorcerer, and the only person strong enough to protect her.

CLAIMED: For a vampire, Anthony isn't a picky eater, but he's drawn to Charlee's blood more than any other. Like a fine wine saved for a special occasion, he's denied himself this pleasure. But one night, high from the potent magical blood of another, he claims his prize and loses control. Ashamed of almost killing the one woman who means anything to him, he wipes her memory of the event. When Charlee awakens with complete amnesia, Anthony is the only one who can clean up the mess he's made.

MATED: Because of the vampiric blood that has run through her veins since birth, Jane has been a target for vampires who resent a human being "kindred." She's forced to disguise herself as a vampire groupie to appease them and safeguard her life. When she's abruptly given to Cole, the leader of the werewolf pack, to satisfy a gambling debt, she discovers the blood running through her veins has a far greater impact on her destiny than she ever imagined.

Print and ebook copies are available at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. (other retailers coming soon.)

Buy links are available from my blog (The top stickied Amazon contest post.)

You can find me here: Author Website | Author Blog | Twitter

***~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~***

I want to thank Zoe for stopping here today,

sharing a great post and offering an awesome giveaway!

Don’t Forget to Vote for Next Week’s {Sept 5th} Theme for

The TOP 5 Sundays Post on the Poll at the left sidebar!

Don’t Forget to check out My Giveaways:

Win a SIGNED Copy of “Sparks” by Laura Bickle!

Click HERE to enter!

International!

Ends September 6th!

My HUGE 1027+ Followers & Bday Blow Out:

Click HERE or on the image above to enter!

Good Luck!

Thanks so much for tuning in and I’ll see you soon!
xoxo,

Blog Takeover! {Starting September 10th!}

2010-08-31T20:26:00.001-03:00

Hey guys!

Ok, so, this past Sunday I told you guys about my awesome trip that’s coming up. If you don’t know what I’m talking, you can check out my post HERE!

The thing is that even though I’m going to have internet there, I don’t wanna feel like I have to post on the blog and if when I get tired, I’m sure I’ll get lazy… and blah blah blah…

So, I decided to invite some of my Best Bloggy Buddies to Takeover my blog while I’m away. I gave them complete creative liberty and I can’t wait to see the mess they will do at my house. I can just picture me arriving home just like a parent in a 80’s or 90’s teen comedy and they all scrambling over, trying to get everything in order, so i don’t find out that they threw a party or that they made my home an all male brothel… wait, that last one I might not even mind much =P

Where was I? Oh ok, the takeover… Well, my trip will initially last 10 days, maybe longer… I will be posting irregularly, sharing pics and Vlogs… but the place will be on these gals hands…

Who is taking over??

Tanya from Among The Muses

Natalie from Mindful Musings

Terry from Romance in the Backseat

Danny from Bewitched Bookworms

Missie from The Unread Reader

Christine from Reading On The Dark Side

I hope you guys welcome these ladies with much love!

Don’t Forget to Vote for Next Week’s Theme for

The TOP 5 Sundays Post on the Poll at the left sidebar!

Don’t Forget to check out My Giveaways:

My HUGE 1027+ Followers & Bday Blow Out:

Click HERE or on the image above to enter!

More on the top-left sidebar!

Good Luck!

Thanks so much for tuning in and I’ll see you soon!
xoxo,

Author Interview & SIGNED Book Giveaway w/ Laura Bickle! {Happy Release Day!}

2010-08-31T01:36:00.001-03:00

This Giveaway is over!

Thanks so much for participating!

Hey everyone! How are you all doing this lovely Tuesday?

I am so happy to say that I have one of the the nicest and sweetest authors I’ve met to date. Not only that, but she also writes great Urban Fantasy books, is there any doubt as to why I’m her fan?

There is also a great Signed Book Giveaway, the detail are au the end of the post!

Sparks is Coming out TODAY! Check out my review of Sparks HERE!

My review of Embers HERE!

Enjoy…

When did you first start writing?

I’ve been writing as far back as I can remember, scribbling down stories or drawing pictures of different worlds. I had a pretty magical childhood – my mother was a school librarian, so I spent summers in a sunshine-filled nook in the back of the library. I read about mythology and legends, dragons and things that go bump in the night. I wanted to create something that would speak to other people like those books spoke to me.
As an adult, I kept scribbling. I was initially pretty shy about submitting my work, but I gradually discovered that other people were enjoying what I’d written. It’s a wonderful affirmation of that childhood dream.

Have you always enjoyed Fantasy?

When I was a kid, I read Robin McKinley's HERO AND THE CROWN and THE BLUE SWORD. I'd never read any fantasy before with strong female heroines, and I was instantly in love with the genre.

Why writing Urban Fantasy?

I love the idea that there's something beneath the everyday world, something invisible and magical. Writing about the supernatural is a way to touch that unseen world, to imagine what our reality would be like if there were just a few different rules, and magic was the hidden law.

Were there any Books, Movies or Writers that have inspired you?

Many...Patricia McKillip, Wonder Woman comic books, Peter S. Beagle, Robin McKinley, Forever Knight, C.S. Friedman...

Tarot cards are a big inspiration for me, especially for my work as Alayna Williams. I literally wrote DARK ORACLE and ROGUE ORACLE with a deck in hand for story prompts.

What is your favorite subject in the Urban Fantasy Realm?

Lately...dragons. I picked up a new Tarot deck, the Celtic Dragon Tarot, that has whimsical dragons on all the cards. I've been inhaling all things dragon for the last couple of months.

How did you come up with such a fresh "species" of supernatural being?

I try to approach myths in ways I haven't seen before. For example, I use fire salamanders as familiars in EMBERS and SPARKS. There's not much to find about salamanders in the literature, beyond their origins. They're rumored to be capricious, destructive, and unpredictable as fire itself. That made a salamander a perfect sidekick for Anya, the arson investigator heroine of EMBERS and SPARKS. And Sparky hopped out onto the page, wiggling his tail and looking for trouble.

Writing as Alayna Williams, I used the myth of the Oracle of Delphi to create a society of oracles in DARK ORACLE and ROGUE ORACLE. I wanted to write about a criminal profiler who uses Tarot cards to solve crimes, and the old myth of the priestesses of Delphi provided an exciting history for a modern oracle.

I really enjoy seeing Anya and Brian together, is a Happily Ever After is the cards for them?

One of the things I find most exciting about Urban Fantasy is that a Happily Ever After isn't guaranteed. I'm quite fond of Brian, because he's an ordinary guy, a computer programmer who happens to love a woman who sees ghosts. As a nerd, I'm a big fan of geek love.

However, just because Brian is human doesn't mean that he doesn't have a dark side. We get an inkling of that in SPARKS. My lips are sealed on the future, though!

Favorites:

Favorite Paranormal themed Movie?

Constantine

Favorite Paranormal themed TV Show?

The X-Files

Favorite Paranormal themed Book?

Robin McKinley's SUNSHINE

Favorite Author?

Robin McKinley

Favorite Paranormal Romance Author?

I have a lot of favorites...it's impossible to choose just one! Some of my favorites include Ann Aguirre, Linda Robertson, Stacia Kane, and Jeri Smith-Ready.

Favorite one of your Books?

SPARKS is my favorite. It'll be released by Pocket-Juno Books in August 30. In SPARKS, Anya’s investigating a rash of spontaneous human combustion cases. With the help of the ghost hunters and a soul collector from the Underworld, she must track down the supernatural source of the fires and keep her fire salamander familiar's newly-hatched newts safe from a malicious psychic. Chaos ensues - and I love writing chaos.

Who is your favorite of your own characters?

Sparky, Anya Kalinczyk's fire salamander familiar in EMBERS and SPARKS, is my favorite character. When he's taking a nap or disinterested in Anya's work, he's housed in a salamander-shaped torque she wears around her neck. When he's feeling peevish, or in the presence of danger or ghosts, he's unleashed from the necklace. Most often, he takes the form of a five-foot speckled hellbender. Only Anya and ghosts can see him, but he makes his influence felt in the physical world: he can disrupt electrical fields. He's prone to chewing on cell phones, shorting out fire alarm systems, blowing up microwaves, and wreaking havoc on nearly anything he can get his paws on. He's not a bad salamander...he just manages to find trouble, wherever he goes.

Which was the hardest to write?

Anya, the heroine of EMBERS and SPARKS, can be emotionally difficult to write. Anya has her roots in the myth of Ishtar. Ishtar was the Babylonian goddess of war and sex. Anya has a very strong dark side to her personality. When she's possessed by a demon, that dark side is given free reign.

What would you be if not a writer? Why?

I've worked a day job in and around criminal justice since 1996. If I could choose anything else...I'd be a veterinarian. I've got hopes of someday owning a feral cat ranch or otter sanctuary. Weird, huh?

Maybe I could be a veterinarian for dragons...

If you Could be a Paranormal Being, Which one would you be?

Most paranormal beings have pretty extensive drawbacks, as part of the price of magic. I suppose that if had to choose, I'd want to be an elemental. Salamanders seem to have the most fun, and usually have the advantage of immortality.

Or a dragon. Yeah, a dragon. I like shiny things, and dragons get to hoard a lot of loot.

If you could meet any Urban Fantasy Character, which one you'd like to meet?

Though it's not strictly Urban Fantasy, I'd love to meet Don Simon Ysidro from Barbara Hambly's THOSE WHO HUNT THE NIGHT and TRAVELING WITH THE DEAD. He's my favorite vampire. She used a very subtle touch to humanize him. One of the most unforgettable scenes she wrote was about Don Simon in his nightshirt late at night, feeding the neighborhood cats scraps of meat from butcher paper. That scene still sticks with me as an example of how a master writer creates a character.

Quickies:

Coffee or Tea?

Tea. I never developed a taste for coffee! But Coca-Cola in the morning is my all-time favorite.

Up or Down?

Up. Down would probably make me motion-sick!

Virtual or Real?

Virtual

Right or Left?

Right

Day or Night?

Day. I can't get enough sunshine.

Here or There?

There. I'm always thinking about the next thing.

Sooner or Later?

Sooner. I'm an impatient girl!

Light or Dark?

Dark. Dark shirts don't show spaghetti stains.

Fast or Slow?

Slow. Savoring is good.

Vampires or Werewolves?

Vamps. I don't know that a were would get along with my cats.

Angels or Demons?

Angels. They're more of a challenge. ;-)

Lanterns or Ghosts?

Lanterns get indigestion while digesting ghosts, but they're pretty tenacious. Lanterns.

Reading or Writing?

Writing

What is your favorite part of the writing process?

Editing. Yeah, I know that's perverse, but I get a sick sense of accomplishment from it.

What is your least favorite part?

Staring at the blank page. It's intimidating as hell.

The Anya Kalinczyk Series in your own words?

By day, Anya Kalinczyk is an arson investigator for the Detroit Fire Department. By night, she's a ghost-hunter who uses her powers as a medium to devour malicious spirits. With the help of her fire salamander familiar, Sparky, and an eccentric team of ghost hunters, she must face dangers from Detroit's hidden supernatural underbelly.

Any plans for more Books in the series?

I'd love to do more books, and have plenty of notebooks full of ideas. Time will tell if they come to fruition!

You also write the Oracle series as Alayna Williams, Why did you decide to write that series under a pseudonym?

Same genre, and the release dates were close together – hence the use of a different name! DARK ORACLE has a slightly different tone. Tara Sheridan swore off criminal profiling after narrowly escaping a serial killer who left her scarred for life. By combining Tarot card divination with her own intuition, she must help an intense federal agent find a missing scientist who has unlocked the destructive secrets of dark energy. The agent, Harry Li, draws her out of her self-imposed exile and back into the world.

What is coming up next for you?

I'm finishing up on copy edits for ROGUE ORACLE, the sequel to DARK ORACLE. ROGUE will be out in 2011, under my Alayna Williams pseudonym. In ROGUE ORACLE, Tara’s destiny becomes further enmeshed with Delphi’s Daughters, and ancient secret society of oracles. With the help of federal agent Harry Li, she’s trying to stop a Chernobyl survivor from selling nuclear secrets on the international black market.

What are you working on right now?

I've got a couple of projects I'm working on at the moment, also in the urban fantasy genre, but pretty far off the beaten path. I've also had a yen to do an epic fantasy for awhile...we'll see how the cards fall!

Do you have any advice or tip to those like me that want to become a published Author someday?

I always suggest that writers try. National Novel Writing Month. NaNoWriMo challenges participants to write 50,000 words in a month. I highly recommend the experience for all writers – it really tests the boundaries of what you think you can accomplish. It helped me integrate writing into other aspects of my life, and definitely made it a priority.

The single most important step along the path to getting published is finishing. The next step is having the discipline to do it again. And again. Wash, rinse, repeat. It’s the whole learning-by-doing thing.

Anything you would like to say to your fans out there?

Thank you so much for giving my books a try. I know that there are a lot of choices in the urban fantasy section of the bookstore, and it means a lot when folks take a chance on me.

Thank you so much for being here!

Thank you very much for having me!

Find Laura Online:

Website | Blog

Buy Laura’s Books:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble| Book On Board

Win a SIGNED Copy of “Sparks” by Laura Bickle!

Book #2 in The Anya Kalinczyk!

To Enter:

- Leave a comment about anything on this post.
- Leave an EMAIL for contact! (if you don’t feel comfortable leaving it here, email me at larissa@larissaslife.com)

Extra Entries:

International!

Ends September 6th!

Good Luck!

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Early Review: Kiss Me, Kill Me {Secrets of Shadow Falls, #3} by Maggie Shayne

2010-08-30T00:32:00.001-03:00

“She's protected him since the day he was born.
Since the day the LIE BEGAN.
A long-ago act of kindness to a desperate woman changed Dr. Carrie Overton's life forever. Before disappearing, the grateful stranger given Carrie her newborn son. When the woman is murdered, the secret becomes Carrie's alone.
She has kept both it and her son, Sam, safe for sixteen years. But now a friend of Sam's has gone missing. The police believe he's a runaway - until he's found dead. Then another teen disappears, and talk turns to that long-ago murder.
Newcomer Gabriel Cain is asking too many questions, befriending Sam, getting too close. Carrie distrusts him even as she finds herself falling for him. But Gabriel has secrets, too...”

From Goodreads.

Publisher: Mira
Release Date: August 31st, 2010
My Copy: eBook, from NetGalley.
Pages: 394
Genre: Mystery / Thriller Romance
Author's Website
Pre-Order This Book:

Kiss Me, Kill Me

Following Killing Me Softly and the awesome Kill Me Again, The third and last book in Maggie Shayne’s Secret of Shadow Falls Trilogy closes this awesome trilogy with a bang. Until I read Kiss Me, Kill Me, Kill Me Again was my favorite, but this third and final book blew me away and I absolutely loved it.

As a Paranormal junkie, is not often that I let my self wonder off from the genre and I am so happy that i have let myself branch out lately, because I have found some amazing books out there that I wouldn’t have found if I hadn’t given a chance to them.

At the end of Kill Me Again we get a bit of a cliff hanger that connects with the plot we see unfold in Kiss Me, Kill Me and I am just glad that the wait between books wasn’t long.

Dr. Carrie Overton has a secret, a secret that has been hidden for the past 16 years. One night she found a woman by the side of road giving birth, as a newly graduated doctor on the way to her first official job, she stops and helps the woman. Desperate for reasons unknown, that woman leaves the baby behind with only a note.

Carrie starts to hunt the baby’s mother so she can legally adopt the kid, but she is murdered not long after and Carrie is left with the kid and the secret. Sixteen years later and that secret is on the verge of coming out and Dr. Overton can’t really do anything about it.

Gabriel Cain has come to Shadow Falls looking for the kid who might be his son. He then meets Carrie and her boy, Sam. Chemistry is immediate between Gabriel and Carrie and between him and Sam as well. Now he not only is looking for his son, but he is also hoping that Sam is that boy and that he and Carrie can become his family.

I LOVED this book! I am literally at a lost of how to get the message through about what i loved so much about it. Yes, the was predictable at times and yes, the ending was tightly woven together, but Kiss Me, Kill Me has enough surprises and twists to make up for it and a nice and tight ending was exactly what i needed for this book.

I am in LOVE with Gabriel Cain, not only is he hot and a songwriter, but his life philosophy is one that I have believed myself for years now and I couldn’t help but feel giddy whenever he talked about it. Gabe believes that everything happens for a reason, even the bad things and that if you pay enough attention you can actually see the threads woven though time; and if you still can’t, just give it time and it will make sense in the future.

I wholeheartedly believe in that and I have actually seen the truth to it, many times over in my own life. He also believes in focusing on the positive whenever the negative is inevitable. I am so in love with this man, it’s insane LOL

Now, Dr. Carrie was definitely Gabriel’s match and I was really happy to read about their story and see them together. She is an amazing woman, a modern time warrior with a wonderful heart. They are perfect for each other!

The mystery in Kiss Me, Kill Me was also great and I could not put this book down for a second. I loved that Maggie gave us a few chapters in different points of view other than the hero and heroine, that gave such depth to the story and it just made it that more wonderful.

I could not recommend this book and this trilogy enough. Full of action, mystery and a heart warming romance that will no doubt touch your heart. Kiss Me, Kill Me has a bit for everyone and it does not disappoint! Maggie Shayne has definitely become an author to watch for me and I can’t wait for more!

Previous on The Secret of Shadow Falls Series:

You can read my review of Killing me Softly HERE!

You can read my review of Kill Me Again HERE!

Don’t Forget to Vote for Next Week’s {Sept 5th} Theme for

The TOP 5 Sundays Post on the Poll at the left sidebar!

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Win 1 of 3 Copies of “Touching Darkness” by Jaime Rush!

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I’m Going to NY & The AAD Weekend! – Need YOUR Opinion!

2010-08-29T17:05:00.001-03:00

Hey Guys! So, I’m realizing one of my biggest dreams next month and going to my first book conference to boot!

I’m spending 10 days in the U.S., mostly with one of my best friends that I haven’t seen in 6 years and then I’m going to the Authors After Dark Weeking in New Jersey, I am SO excited!

I am also having Bookmarks made to give away during the weekend!

They will be gorgeous!

Now the thing is that I have some things that I absolutely am craving to do in NYC, even though I’m not going to be able to go there a lot, I still wanna do a lot of things.

So, I wanted to get your input my lovely readers!

Other than the Obvious landmarks and museums,

Which Places, Foods…

are a MUST in my trip???

and I also wanted to know if any of my lovely readers and fellow bloggers live near NYC; Newburgh, NY; NJ or are going to be around between September 10th & 19th??

I would love to meet you!

Besides, do any of you know of Book signings around that time in those areas??

Don’t Forget to Vote for Next Week’s {Sept 5th} Theme for

The TOP 5 Sundays Post on the Poll at the left sidebar!

Don’t Forget to check out My Giveaways:

Win 1 of 3 Copies of “Touching Darkness” by Jaime Rush!

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U.S. Only!
Ends August 30th!

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Top 5 Sundays {#6}! - Favorite Childhood TV Series!

2010-08-29T02:24:00.000-03:00

Hey Guys! It’s Sunday again and time for another Top 5 List =D

Now, I really appreciate you guys on the poll to choose the theme, but you guys kill me!! Another Tie?? LOL How the heck am I supposed to choose one?? LMAO!

I’m going very arbitrary in this LOL The theme for today is:

Favorite Childhood TV Series!

I hope you join me this week!

But first, a little bit about this feature and the rules to join in…

Rules:

This week’s theme is Favorite Childhood TV Series!

So much fun looking back at watch I loved to watch as a kid, I am going really far back with this one =)

Hope you have fun too!

ALF!

Gotta Love ALF… I remember watching and loving his adventure and his crazy appetite for cats LOL

Small Wonder!

Awww Vicki! Such a crazy concept for a show, but it worked!

Here in Brazil is was called: Super Vicki!

Captain Planet!

I LOVED Captain Planet!! I even remember his tag lines, though I watch it in Portuguese LOL

Go Planet!

Flashman & Changeman!

Way before Power Rangers, the Japanese had some awesome super hero shows, Jiraya, Jaspion and my favorites Flashman and Changeman!

I Loved playing Flashman and Changeman with my friends, Good times!

Thundercats!

Thundercats was amazing!!

I played Thundercats with friend and I was always the young girl LOL Forgot her name =/

Willycat? hehe

I hear they are doing a movie, just hope it doesn’t suck!

Now I can’t wait to see what is in YOUR Favorite Childhood TV Series!!

Write you post and leave your link so i can check it out!

Hope you guys have fun with it!

Don’t Forget to Vote for Next Week’s {Sept 5th} Theme for

The TOP 5 Sundays Post on the Poll at the left sidebar!

Don’t Forget to check out My Giveaways:

Win 1 of 3 Copies of “Touching Darkness” by Jaime Rush!

Click HERE to enter!

U.S. Only!
Ends August 30th!

My Creative HUGE 1027+ Followers & Bday Blow Out:

Click HERE or on the image above to enter!

Good Luck!

Thanks so much for tuning in and I’ll see you soon!
xoxo,

New {Book} Blogs on the Block! {#8}

2010-08-28T00:03:00.000-03:00

Hey Everyone, welcome to my New {Book} Blogs on the Block weekly feature =)

Every Saturday I usually have two blogs featured, but from today on I will have only one per Saturday, since I am all caught up with the ones I was late in featuring. If YOU have a *New Book Blog and would like to be featured, please contact me at:

larissa@larissaslife.com

and please put "New {Book} Blogs on the Block" {N{B}BOTB} in the subject of the email! For more info you can go HERE!

*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

The blog featured today is “That's What I'm Talking About!”

I’ll let Jen {Twimom227} tell us a bit about how and why she started blogging & what she loves and hates about it:

I started blogging in January 2010. Basically, I was meeting a whole bunch of great women on Twitter and many of them had book blogs. I really enjoyed reading their blogs and interacting with them on Twitter and thought "maybe I'll give it a try." The original intent of my blog was going to be random thoughts, things that were going on with me, my family, etc. - it most definitely was NOT going to be a book review blog. I didn't think I had the ability to write a meaningful or interesting review. However, after I posted a few "That's What I'm Thinking About" thoughts on books, I got some really great feedback and encouragement. In addition, I received some tweets from authors that that I adore, and they appreciated the reviews. That was when I realized I wanted more from my blog and I got serious about reviews, the look of my blog, the content, etc. I reached out to fellow bloggers for assistance and I am really proud of what I have accomplished.
The things I love the most about blogging: receiving and reading ARCs, chatting with other readers and bloggers, meeting new and favorite authors, having a place to state my opinions.
The things I hate about blogging: trying to keep up with reading so I can write reviews! Now that I blog and am active on Twitter, I find less and less time to read and that in turn gives me less to blog about!
Thanks for the opportunity to tell your followers about my blog!

*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

Make sure to stop by the featured blog and check it out!

*New Blogs on The Block was created by Book Chick City.

Don’t Forget to Vote for Next Week’s {Aug 29th} Theme for

The TOP 5 Sundays Post on the Poll at the left sidebar!

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Win 1 of 3 Copies of “Touching Darkness” by Jaime Rush!

Click HERE to enter!

U.S. Only!
Ends August 30th!

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Click HERE or on the image above to enter!

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Thanks so much for tuning in and I’ll see you soon!
xoxo,

Book Blogger Hop / Follow My Book Blog Friday & Weekly Round-Up! {#12}

2010-08-27T01:15:00.001-03:00

Hey Everyone! After a bit of a hiatus from the Hop, I am back =)

I’ve been in a crazy reading mood lately, that I read 6 books in the past 6 days and I can’t seem to stop, not that I want to =P

My week has been good, so check out what I’ve and what I have going on…

This week’s posts:

Reviews:

Interview:

Author Jaime Rush

Giveaways:

- Win a SIGNED copy of "Seduced by the Wolf" by Terry Spear {International} Ends Aug 28th!
- Win 1 of 3 Copies of "Touching Darkness" by Jaime Rush! {U.S. Only} Ends Aug 30th!
- 1027+ Follower & Bday Blow Out! 6+ Winners / 11 Prize Packs! {International} Ends Oct 11th!

I’ve also have started a SPOILER ZONE Discussion post for Mockingjay:

Every week Jen from Crazy-for-Books asks us a question to answer on the Hop, This week’s is:

Do you use a rating system for your reviews and if so, what is it and why?

Yep. I rate the books I read in “Loveys” on a scale of 1 to 5. I don’t remember where the name Loveys came from, it just happened hehe. I love the crazy number of different rating systems we see around the book blogging community and to be quite honest, the rating is the first thing I look at when I read a review… It actually bothers me when there is no rating LOL

I just know this is my OCD talking =P

######

Book Blogger Hop was created by Crazy For Books based on the #FollowFriday concept on Twitter! To add your link and join the fun and check out the rules, click HERE!

Follow My Book Blog Friday was created by Rachel from Parajunkee View. Click HERE to join the fun and check out the rules!

######

If this is your first time on my blog, here is a little bit about me and my little corner of the Book Blogiverse: I do a lot of book reviews and Author Interviews on my blog. I also have weekly book giveaways and Follower appreciation giveaways from time to time. You can see the Interview and author Giveaway schedule on the right sidebar and the current giveaways going on on my left sidebar =)

Don’t Forget to Vote for Next Week’s {Aug 29th} Theme for

The TOP 5 Sundays Post on the Poll at the left sidebar!

Don’t Forget to check out My Giveaways:

Win a SIGNED copy of “Seduced by the Wolf” by Terry Spear!

Click HERE to enter!

International!

Ends August 28th!

~~~~~~

Win 1 of 3 Copies of “Touching Darkness” by Jaime Rush!

Click HERE to enter!

U.S. Only!
Ends August 30th!

My Creative HUGE 1027+ Followers & Bday Blow Out:

Click HERE or on the image above to enter!

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Thanks so much for tuning in and I’ll see you soon!
xoxo,

Early Review: Sacrifice {Mortal Path, #2} by Dakota Banks

2010-08-26T00:33:00.000-03:00

“A demon's enslaved executioner--a ravager of lives and souls--Maliha Crayne has been reborn, willing to sacrifice her immortality for a chance at freedom ... and salvation. Now she has an opportunity to prevent the death of thousands to help balance the countless lives she has obliterated over the centuries. To do so, she must locate and destroy an evil cabal of madmen in possession of a weapon of unspeakable power--and survive the immortal assassins who are now after her blood. But it means reverting to the old ways and surrendering once more to the darkness.”

From Goodreads.

Publisher: Eos
Release Date: August 31st, 2010
My Copy: eARC, Given to me by the author.
Pages: 464
Series: Mortal Path
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Author's Website
Pre-Order This Book:

Sacrifice (Mortal Path, Book 2)

I LOVED Dark Time, so when I got the chance to read the second book in the Mortal Path series, I couldn’t say YES! fast enough. I don’t know if I found Sacrifice to be better then Dark Time, but it was absolutely just as wonderful in my opinion.

Sacrifice picks up a little while after the ending in Dark Time. Maliha is still working towards her ultimate goal of getting rid of all demons and of balancing her scale so she doesn’t have to spend eternity is Rabishu’s clutches.

We learn a couple chapters in what came after the cliff hanger from Dark Time, and we finally find out the secret that surrounds Jake. I really like Jake and I do think that he is a great pair for Maliha, but the addition of Lucius to the story, an ageless that is hunting Maliha and seems to be having the same sort of doubts that made her break her contract with Rabishu, change my focus.

Lucius is absolutely perfect for Maliha, but this is not a romance series and after Sacrifice, I just know that I should not not expect the HEA I so want for my girl Maliha. I don’t wanna spoil anything, but I couldn’t help but curse the author for putting my heart through the ringer and making me cry in this book, though I have to admit it made for a very intense and rich reading experience.

I loved that Dakota gave us a couple chapters in different points of view other than Maliha’s, it was a great change of pace and it gave a lot more depth to the characters my understanding of the stakes in Sacrifice.

Maliha is not an easy heroine to love, she makes tons of mistakes and we just have to sit, read them and shake our heads, but she does learn from them and i could not ask more of a heroine then the willingness to learn and grow from her own mistakes. he thing that bothers me about her is her selfishness and materialism at times, it can get on your nerves but her plea is one that you can no doubt understand.

I loved the storyline of Sacrifice and the fact that the villain was so awful that it took Maliha falling back into her assassin ways and almost losing herself to get close to him and it was even more amazing to see how important her friends, the family she has built is, they keep her grounded and focused.

Sacrifice was an intense read book i could not stop reading, I just hope that we get more books in this series, I want more Maliha, Jake, Hound and company. Rich characters, out of this world action, fast-paced and heart wrenching romance, what more can I ask from a great Urban Fantasy series? I totally recommend not only Sacrifice but the previous book, Dark Time as well, you won’t regret it!

Previously on The Mortal Path Series:

Check Out My Review HERE!

Don’t Forget to Vote for Next Week’s {Aug 29th} Theme for

The TOP 5 Sundays Post on the Poll at the left sidebar!

Don’t Forget to check out My Giveaways:

Win a SIGNED copy of “Seduced by the Wolf” by Terry Spear!

Click HERE to enter!

International!

Ends August 28th!

~~~~~~

Win 1 of 3 Copies of “Touching Darkness” by Jaime Rush!

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U.S. Only!
Ends August 30th!

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Review: Mockingjay {Final Book in The Hunger Games Trilogy} by Suzanne Collins

2010-08-25T00:40:00.000-03:00

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she’s made it out of the bloody arena alive, she’s still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what’s worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss’s family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins’s groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year.

From Goodreads.

Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Release Date: August 24th, 2010
My Copy: eBook version, personally bought.
Pages: 400
Series: The Hunger Games Trilogy
Genre: Y.A. Dystopian Fantasy
Author's Website
Buy This Book:

Mockingjay (The Final Book of The Hunger Games) - Library Edition

*Contains Spoilers if you haven’t read The Hunger Games or Catching Fire.

After all the painful wait the conclusion to the amazing Hunger Games trilogy has arrived. I just finished Mockingjay a couple minutes ago after spending all night reading it and I have to say it was more then worth it.

Katniss Everden has gone through more tragedies and tribulations than you would think possible for a 17 year-old. She has gone through not only one Hunger Games, but two in the past year and not her home and all that she has know have gone up in flames and she is the symbol of a revolution that she accidentally started.

The war is full on and in Mockingjay we finally meet the mysterious District 13 and it’s nothing like I imagined it would be. The whole war is being controlled from the bowels of the underground system that comprise Panem’s former military installations and at the leadership position we have President Coin. Now, I have to say that from the first moment she appeared in the book, I absolutely disliked her, she just gave me a creepy vibe and just reminded me of a more outwardly tamer version of the ruthless leader of the Capitol, President Snow.

Mockingjay is not as full of action as The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, but only by a very small margin. One of the things I most enjoyed about it was the in depth view we got of Katniss state of mind throughout the book. I have only one word for out heroine for a lot of Mockingjay, MESS! I am not criticizing her, she has all the right to be a mess, the destruction and deaths caused by the war just keep on piling up and being pullen in a hundred different directions is not something easy to deal with.

However, regardless of how much of a mess Katniss is, she braves through and rises in the story, showing how much she has grown since the first book. I love her braveness, loyalty and fearlessness even though I felt like punching her at times.

I really don’t want to spoil anything because I believe that the enjoyment of Mockingjay, is very much connected to it’s power to surprise you, so I will make this review shorter than I feel it could be and keep clear from plot points.

The Hunger Games trilogy is an YA series, but it is not an easy one to read, specially Mockingjay. At it’s core is some very powerful political and social criticism that cannot be ignored. Our society’s obsession with perfect beauty, corruption of power and selfishness, just to name a few. The people of the Capitol are a gruesome and scary look at what out society’s future might be if we get out of hand in idolizing fake beauty and plastic surgery.

The death toll in Mockingjay is indescribable, if I thought J.K. Rowling was brave to kill beloved characters by the end of the Harry Potter series, I have to say that Suzanne Collins is fearless. She does not pull punches and no one is safe. I cried and suffered with Katniss and loved every minute of it.

Mockingjay is the end of an amazing trilogy that I will miss dearly. Suzanne Collins had given life to so many wonderful and rich characters that I could not help but fall in love with and I just wish we could read more about them. But, I LOVED the ending and I feel she has closed this remarkable trilogy just as it should be and I just know that these will be books that I will read and re-read over and over again for the rest of my life.

If you haven’t read this trilogy yet, I seriously suggest you do something about it really soon, I could not recommend it enough!

If you want to discuss what happened in Mockingjay
feel free to come and comment on my
Mockingjay Spoiler Zone!

Previously in The Hunger Games Trilogy:

Check out my review of The Hunger Games HERE!

Check out my review of Catching Fire HERE!

Don’t Forget to Vote for Next Week’s {Aug 29th} Theme for

The TOP 5 Sundays Post on the Poll at the left sidebar!

Don’t Forget to check out My Giveaways:

Win a SIGNED copy of “Seduced by the Wolf” by Terry Spear!

Click HERE to enter!

International!

Ends August 28th!

~~~~~~

Win 1 of 3 Copies of “Touching Darkness” by Jaime Rush!

Click HERE to enter!

U.S. Only!
Ends August 30th!

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Click HERE or on the image above to enter!

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Thanks so much for tuning in and I’ll see you soon!
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Mockingjay Discussion Post! {In the comments} SPOILER ZONE!

2010-08-24T09:28:00.000-03:00

Hey guys! So this post is simple, if you’ve read Mockingjay and like me, you want to discuss it and talk about all the stuff that happened, please feel free to go at it in the comments.

Spoilers are permitted and encouraged!

*If you have NOT read Mockingjay,

stay clear of the comment section on this post!*

Thanks so much for tuning in and I’ll see you soon!
xoxo,

I am All Over The Webs! – Scene of the Blog by Kittling: Books

2010-08-24T00:19:00.001-03:00

Hey Guys! Just a quick shout out to let you guys know that I will be guest posting and talking about where I read at home at the blog Kittling: Books, Come by and say hi Tomorrow (Wednesday)! =)

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Author Interview & Giveaway w/ Jaime Rush!

2010-08-24T00:01:00.000-03:00

Hey Everyone! I hope you guys have a wonderful week and I am happy present you with a treat today =)

I have Jaime Rush here today, author of The Offspring Series. I love this series and I am really excited I got to interview her, there is also an awesome giveaway courtesy of Avon books, deets at the end of the post =)

Enjoy…

- When did you first start writing?

When I was a kid. As far back as I can remember, I was making up stories!

- Have you always been interested in Romance?

My earlier short stories were in every kind of genre, horror and drama included. But the first book-length story was a romance. I love writing about two people who overcome the odds to not only find themselves and their strengths, but love as well. Especially when they're not looking for it.

- What about in the Paranormal?

I've always been interested in things paranormal. I grew up hearing about the haunted house my mom grew up in. There is much more in our world than our senses "see."

- Why writing Paranormal Romance?

It's a natural blend of two elements I love.

- Were there any Books, Movies or Writers that have inspired you?

I read Stephen King as a kid, watched all kinds of horror movies, and loved the V.C. Andrews series (the first two). I also read the short story collections in the Alfred Hitchcock books.

- What is your favorite subject in the Paranormal Romance Realm?

I'm drawn to things that could be real, mostly psychic abilities, dreams, and magic.

- The sex scenes in your books are amazingly hot. Where do you get your inspiration?

Why, thank you (heh heh). When you're really connected to the characters, they create the steam. The right tuneage (music) helps, and a glimpse or two through the Kama Sutra book doesn't hurt!

- Do you find it hard to write them?

It's funny, because, like sex in real life, sometimes you're just not in the mood. Other times they're a lot of fun to write.

Favorites:

- Favorite Paranormal themed Movie?

Sixth Sense

- Favorite Paranormal themed TV Show?

Supernatural

- Favorite Paranormal themed Book?

Outlander

- Favorite Author?

Janet Evanovich

- Favorite Paranormal Romance Author?

I really like Ilona Andrews

- Favorite one of your Books?

Burning Darkness (book 4 in the series, coming Feb 2011)

- Who is your favorite of your own characters?

It's funny because Eric Aruda, who appears from book 1, was a bonehead. Really. I figured he'd end up torching himself (he's a pyrokinetic) because he's a hothead. Right away readers resonated with him, though, so I knew I couldn't kill him off. And he grew on me, too. By the time I'd written the third book, I knew he had to have the next story, and I really connected with him.

- Which was the hardest to write?

Probably Olivia in Touching Darkness. Characters come to me with their flaws and strengths. I saw her as being submissive to her family but growing throughout the book. But I had trouble connecting to her and realized she needed to be jazzed up. Changing a character once the book is written is tough. But it had to be done, and I like her a lot more now.

- What would you be if not a writer?

I love photography, especially capturing nature and those odd shots (I have some at my Facebook and Myspace pages. For example, my phallic fungus and nipple mushroom pics. Yeah, really!)

Quickies!

- Coffee or Tea? Mostly coffee, with steamed milk, 5 drops of stevia, 5 drops of vanilla.

- Up or Down? Up

- Virtual or Real? Create in virtual, live in real

- Right or Left? Right

- Day or Night? Night

- Here or There? Always here.

- Sooner or Later? Always now.

- Light or Dark? Dark.

- Fast or Slow? Right in the middle.

- Telekinesis or Pyrotechnic? Actually, I'd rather have teleportation skills.

- Angels or Demons? Someone with a little of both.

- Reading or Writing? Writing always takes precedence.

- What is your favorite part of the writing process?

Getting the idea

- What is your least favorite part?

Doing the final round of revisions

- The Offspring series in your own words?

A group of twenty-somethings live ordinary lives but possess extraordinary psychic abilities. They are the Offspring of parents involved in a mysterious experiment gone awry. Sexy…dangerous…outcasts… They are being hunted by the government and others like them. Together they must find the truth and fight an enemy out to destroy them.

- How many books do you have planned for the series?

Six are in the works, but I could easily do two, maybe even more!

- What is coming up next for you?

Plotting book 6, revising book 5

- What are you working on right now?

Reading, taking a break

- Do you have any advice or tip to those like me that want to become a published Author someday?

Join Romance Writers of America, send your work out to contests and critique groups but use your instincts to filter all feedback. When you've sent something out to an editor/agent, start working on something new. Never give up if you feel the drive to write in your heart.

- Anything you would like to say to your fans out there?

Thanks for loving the Offspring almost as much as I do!

- Thanks so much for being here!

Thanks for having me =)

~~~~~~~~~~~

Find Jaime Online:

Website | Blog | Facebook |Twitter

Buy Jaime’s Books:

Amazon | Borders| Barnes & Noble

Win 1 of 3 Copies of “Touching Darkness” by Jaime Rush!

Book #3 in The Offspring Series!

To Enter:

- Leave a comment about anything on this post.
- Leave an EMAIL for contact! (if you don’t feel comfortable leaving it here, email me at larissa@larissaslife.com)

Extra Entries:

+5 Google Friend Connect Follower
+5 Networked Blogs Follower
+3 Follow me on Twitter (@larissa_sarah)
+3 Follow Jaime on Twitter (@jaimerush)
+2 “Like” Larissa's Life on Facebook
+2 Be my friend on Goodreads
+1 Add all your entries! (including this one!)

U.S. Only!

Ends August 30th!

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Thanks so much for tuning in and I’ll see you soon!
xoxo,

Review: Dark Time {Mortal Path, #1} by Dakota Banks

2010-08-23T00:01:00.000-03:00

“What if a woman sold her soul to a demon
and 300 years later wanted it back?
In the 17th century, a woman is ripped from her husband's arms, thrown in jail, and then set afire as a witch. Saved from the flames by an ancient Sumerian demon, she becomes the Black Ghost, his Ageless assassin gifted with otherworldly skills and superbly trained in martial arts.
Centuries pass before Maliha Crayne finds a way out of the life she hates.
If she saves as many lives as she's taken, she'll break the demon's hold on her.
If she fails, she will suffer the demon's torment ... forever.”

From Goodreads.

Publisher: Eos
Release Date: August 1st, 2009
My Copy: eBook version, personally bought.
Pages: 320
Series: Mortal Path
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Author's Website
Buy This Book:

Dark Time: Mortal Path Book 1

I remember seeing Dark Time on an eBook online store near its release date and being instantly drawn to it. I bought it and devoured it in only a few hours. I remember that it was one of the rare occasions where I was so excited about the story that I actually had to tell my dad about it right after I finished it.

Maliha Crayne was born in the 17th century and had a perfect life as her village’s healer, wife to Nathan and expecting her first child. A woman with her sights on her husband accused her of witchcraft and from that moment on our Heroine’s life changed forever. She was burned at the stake, but instead of dying she was taken to the middleworld where she was offered a contract by the Demon, Rabishu.

She then became Ageless and worked as an assassin for the Demon for the following couple of centuries. Maliha had doubts about the job she was doing but everything changed when Rabishu gave her an assignment that came to close for comfort and she just could not do it. She then broke her contract with the Demon, now she has to balance the scale and save enough people to account for all of those she killed when under Rabishu’s orders. If she doesn’t she will spend her afterlife being tortured in the Demon’s hands.

Maliha also has taken upon herself to hunt a tablet and the lens to read it, which are known to be the the only way to the world of the Demons from the Underworld. Her quest for the 7 shards that make up the lens is a huge force that drive our heroine, just as much as balancing out the scale.

I loved Dark Time and it’s characters. Dakota Banks has created such a compelling world, Heroine and side cast of characters, that it is simply impossible not be drawn to it. Maliha is not an easy heroine to love, she can be selfish, hard headed and fickle at times, however her plea is one that I couldn’t help but get behind.

To help her on her journey, Maliha has friends and a network of men and women that she has saved throughout her quest. They are a great addition to the story and definitely help with making Maliha more human and lovable. Her devotion to her closest friends is admirable and it makes for a great read.

I also really enjoyed Dakota’s world building, the mythology she has created behind the Ageless and the Demons, based on ancient Gods. It can be a little confusing at times, but it makes for very rich storytelling.

Maliha’s view on sex can be a bit fickle, but for a woman that has been Ageless for centuries and to whom a regular relationship is out of reach, it can definitely be understandable. I did enjoy her romantic interest, Jake and the cliffhanger left me gasping and whishing I could get my hands of the sequel right away.

All in all, Dark Time is a terrific Urban Fantasy read that I Thoroughly enjoy and couldn’t get enough of. Dakota’s writing is wonderful and I could actually picture the whole novel as an amazing action movie, that I would absolutely LOVE to watch. One of my favorite reads of 2009, Dark Time is a book that couldn’t recommend more to any Urban Fantasy lover out there!

Next in The Mortal Path Series:

“Sacrifice” Comes out on August 31st!

My Early Review will be coming out next Thursday!

Don’t Forget to Vote for Next Week’s {Aug 29th} Theme for

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International!
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~~~~~

You have the chance to win a True Blood Inspired Necklace!

Click HERE to enter!

INTERNATIONAL!

Ends August 23rd!

~~~~~

Win a SIGNED copy of “Seduced by the Wolf” by Terry Spear!

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International!

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Thanks so much for tuning in and I’ll see you soon!
xoxo,