Michelle's Book Blog

Friday Finds: Shadow Rising by Yasmine Galenorn

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Greathouse) — Fri, 25 May 2012 12:25:00 +0000

Shadow Rising is the twelfth book in the Otherworld series by Yasmine Galenorn and the fourth book told from Menolly's POV.

Blurb:

We're the D'Artigo sisters: sexy, savvy ex-operatives from the Otherworld Intelligence Agency. Being half human, half-Fae means our powers go haywire at all the wrong times. My sister Camille is a wicked-good witch, with three gorgeous husbands. My sister Delilah is a two-faced werecat and a Death Maiden. And me? I'm Menolly, a jian-tu turned vampire, and I'm dating a sexy werepuma and the godfather of vampires. Unfortunately, life is about to get very, very nasty...

Nerissa and I can't decide on what we want to do for our promise ceremony and we're bickering like an old married couple. My sisters and I head to Otherworld for a meeting with Queen Asteria, where we discover that Shadow Wing has dispatched Telazhar to reignite the Scorching Wars. And as soon as we return back home, we find Gulakah, the Lord of Ghosts, waging a battle to control the magical beings over Earthside. Caught between two terrible enemies in a battle spanning two worlds, we can only hope we're in time to stop all-out annihilation.

Product Details
Reading level: Ages 18 and up
Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Jove (October 30, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0515151165
ISBN-13: 978-0515151169

I am looking forward to this installment. The books told from Menolly's POV are some of my favorites. I do wonder if they've changed the cover model for Menolly though - below is the first cover that featured Menolly's POV:

The cover of Darkling has Menolly looking a little older, a little edgier. The cover for Shadow Rising has a younger, more innocent looking Menolly. I think I prefer the edgier Menolly - that is how I picture her in my mind.

What do you think about the differences in the cover model?

Early Review: Bleeding Out by Jes Battis

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Greathouse) — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:03:00 +0000

Bleeding Out is the fifth book in the OSI series by Jes Battis and an ACE Urban Fantasy.

Blurb:

Though she’s on leave from the Occult Special Investigations squad, Tess Corday is still grappling with her own personal mysteries. But finding out the truth about her demonic heritage has been more difficult than she expected - especially since her mother isn’t talking.

Plus, Tess’s unauthorized investigation into an addictive new street drug that’s irresistible to vampires is driving a stake between her and her undead boyfriend, Lucian Agrado.

Then Vancouver’s premier necromancer turns up dead. Tess suspects that the cases are related. And her suspicions will lead her into a paranormal showdown that can - and will - change the course of her life forever.

My thoughts:

Tess Corday has a great deal on her plate. Her father is death, her sister is a demonic entity that could rip her apart with a thought - and her mother is hiding something from her.

If that weren’t enough, she’s on leave from work in order to get herself together after surviving a nasty demon attack - and the vampire’s in Vancouver are acting funny.

Top all that off with the death of the necromancer that was responsible for brokering peace with the vampires in the first place.

Tess is following leads that take her down a path she’s not ready to travel - but travel she must - and she may never be the same again.

Bleeding Out is an enjoyable read. Tess is one independent lady - more than capable of taking care of herself.

I give Bleeding Out 3 out of 5 stars.

Product Details
Reading level: Ages 18 and up
Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Ace (May 29, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1937007634
ISBN-13: 978-1937007638

WoW: Blue-Blooded Vamp by Jaye Wells

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Greathouse) — Wed, 23 May 2012 11:03:00 +0000

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly post started by Breaking the Spine to showcase books we are patiently awaiting.

My WoW for the week:

The epic conclusion to the amazing Sabina Kane urban fantasy series.

Sabina Kane is on the hunt. Her prey: Cain, the father of the vampire race and the one who murdered her family and her friends. Unfortunately, Cain is hunting Sabina, too.

The one man who holds the key to defeating Cain is, of course, Abel. A mage with secrets to spare and, hopefully, the power to match it. Unfortunately, for Sabina, he's in Rome and may not want to be found.

Sabina sets out for Italy with her friends, Giguhl and Adam Lazarus, to track down the only man who can get her the revenge she hungers for. But will he help her or oppose her? And just who is Abel, really? Worst of all, when Sabina figures out the goddess Lilith has a plan for her-she realizes this trip is getting deadlier by the minute. As they say: when in Rome-SURVIVE.

Product Details

Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages

Publisher: Orbit (May 22, 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0316178454

ISBN-13: 978-0316178457

Review: Nightshade by Michelle Rowen

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Greathouse) — Tue, 22 May 2012 12:12:00 +0000

Nightshade is the first book in the series by the same name from Michelle Rowen and a Berkley Sensation Paranormal Romance.

Book Blurb:

Desire is in the Blood...

Jillian Conrad never believed in vampires. But she’s just become a living, breathing weapon against them. Attacked by a desperate scientist, she is injected with a serum that was supposed to act as a deadly poison to vampires. And when the scientist is gunned down in front of her, his secrets die with him.

Declan Reyes is only half-vampire, but he hates them with all his heart. He knows that the poison in Jillian’s veins could finally destroy the undead kingdom. The serum also makes her blood irresistible to all vampires - including Declan, whose bloodthirsty traits are driven into a frenzy by her.

Driven by duty to protect her and by instinct to crave her, Declan takes Jillian into his shadowy world of blood and battle. But soon realizes his increasing need for her may be a different kind of hunger...

My thoughts:

Jillian Conrad is going about her day, making a coffee run for herself and a couple of co-workers, when her world is turned upside down by a strange gun toting man - who seems intent on ‘talking’ to the man Jillian is sharing the elevator with.

Used as a human shield, Jillian is cornered in an elevator with a madman jabbing a syringe in her neck. The next thing she knows the stranger shoots the man in the elevator and takes Jillian hostage.

Declan Reyes had no choice but to take Jillian with him. The scientist working on the serum had double crossed him, shooting it straight into the woman’s neck. Now he has to get her to his father before she dies....or the serum is lost.

Nightshade is a pretty good read.

I like Jillian - but really hope she toughens up a bit more now that she knows what’s out in the world - and what her new role in that world is going to be.

Declan has a lot to come to terms with - I like him and I’m looking forward to seeing how he handles everything that he’s found out.

I give Nightshade 3 out of 5 stars.

Product Details
Reading level: Ages 18 and up
Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Berkley (February 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0425239829
ISBN-13: 978-0425239827

It's Monday..What Are You Reading?

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Greathouse) — Mon, 21 May 2012 13:07:00 +0000

It's Monday... What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. This is a chance to showcase what you read in the last week, what you are reading now, and what you plan to read for the upcoming week.

Books Read Last Week:
Magic Without Mercy - Devon Monk
Autumn: Disintergration - David Moody
Bleeding Out - Jes Battis
Precinct 13 - Tate Hallaway

Current Read:
Something About Witches - Joey W Hill

Stacking the Shelves: 5-20-12

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Greathouse) — Sun, 20 May 2012 15:31:00 +0000

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Stacking The Shelves is all about the books we are adding to our shelves each week, sharing with you our excitement for our newest titles and maybe have you discover a new book in the process!

ARC's for Review:

Precinct 13 - Tate Hallaway

Blood Fever - Veronica Wolff

Thanks to Berkley Trade & NAL

Friday Finds: Angel's Ink by Jocelynn Drake

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Greathouse) — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:01:00 +0000

Angel's Ink is the first book in the new Urban Fantasy series Asylum Tales from Jocelynn Drake.

Description from author:

The series is firmly settled in the urban fantasy genre, set in what I like to call an open world (ie, everyone knows about all the other races and has for a really long time, allowing everyone to live side-by-side in a relative, occasionally strained, harmony.) Some of the races that you meet in this series include, but are not limited to: humans, elves, trolls, dwarves, pixies, werewolves, vampires, ogres, minotaurs, incubus, faeries, goblins, and many many more that are fighting to get their time on the page.

At the center of this mess is Gage Powell, a tattoo artist who owns a parlor in a sketchy little neighborhood in Low Town called Asylum. In a world that is naturally filled with magic, it only makes sense that many of the non-magic folk (like humans) could use an edge. In this world, tattoo artists aren't just tattoo artists. They are also licensed potion stirrers. For the right price, they can help you get an edge. Need courage, love, or luck? A tattoo artist can stir a potion to be placed in the ink of a tattoo that can help you achieve those things.

Unfortunately, Gage has a secret that keeps coming back to haunt him despite his attempts to keep his head down and his nose somewhat clean. Lucky for him, he had a pair of employees that help him out. The first is Bronx -- a patient troll who manages to keep a level head and his sense of humor when things get bad. The second is Trixie -- a elf who is pretending to be a human because she's got her own problems, but she still manages to make time to give Gage a hand when he needs it.

Product Details

Paperback: 368 pages

Publisher: Harper Voyager (October 16, 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0062117858

ISBN-13: 978-0062117854

Review: Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Greathouse) — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:21:00 +0000

Cry Wolf is the first book in the Alpha and Omega series by Patricia Briggs and an ACE Fantasy.

Book Blurb:

Anna never knew werewolves existed, until the night she survived a violent attack...and became one herself. After three years at the bottom of the pack, she’d learned to keep her head down and never, ever trust dominant males. Then Charles Cornick, the enforcer - and son - of the leader of the North American werewolves, came into her life.

Charles insists that not only is Anna his mate, but she is also a rare and valued Omega wolf. And it is Anna’s inner strength and calming presence that will prove invaluable as she and Charles go on the hunt in search of a rogue werewolf - a creature bound in magic so dark that it could threaten all of the pack...

My thoughts:

For the last three years, life for Anna Latham has been one endless nightmare. She survived a werewolf attack and Changed, joined a pack and was told she could have no more contact with her family - and then that pack, the one that should have taken care of her - abused her.
All of that ended when Charles Cornick arrived. Now Anna is his mate - her wolf and Brother Wolf have bonded, but Anna and Charles are having a harder time. Charles is determined to give Anna all the time she needs. He wants to protect her and keep her safe - but after years of abuse, Anna has a hard time trusting.

Now a rogue werewolf is killing in The Cabinets, a huge forest very near the Marrok’s home in Aspen Creek. Charles and Anna have been sent to see if they can being him in - if they can’t, Charles will put him down.

What they find is evil that is hundreds of years old - tied to one of the wolves living in Aspen Creek, with a need for vengeance that can only be sated with blood and death...

Cry Wolf is an interesting read. I am not as invested in Anna and Charles as I’d hoped to be - but I enjoyed Cry Wolf enough to read the next installment, Hunting Ground.

I give Cry Wolf 3 out of 5 stars.

Product Details
Reading level: Ages 18 and up
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Ace (July 29, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0441016154
ISBN-13: 978-0441016150

Cover & Promo: Rogue Rider by Larissa Ione

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Greathouse) — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:00:00 +0000

They're here.

They ride.

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Born of a match between good and evil, four siblings stand between hell's minions and everything they want to destroy. They are the Lords of Deliverance, and they have the power to ward off Doomsday . . . or let it ride . . .

ROGUE RIDER

Jillian Cardiff came to this remote mountain town to forget the demon attack that almost killed her. Instead, she rescues-and falls for-a gorgeous stranger who has no memory of anything other than his name. Handsome, charming, and protective, Reseph seems like the kind of man whom Jillian can trust. But with hints of a troubling history of his own, he's also the kind of man who can be very dangerous . . .

Reseph may not know why he mysteriously appeared in Jillian's life, but he knows he wants to stay. Yet when Jillian's neighbors are killed, and demon hunters arrive on the scene, Reseph fears that he's putting Jillian in danger. And once it's revealed that Reseph is also Pestilence, the Horseman responsible for ravaging the world, he and Jillian must face the greatest challenge of all: Can they forget the horrors of a chilling past to save the future they both desire?

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (11-20-12)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446574481
ISBN-13: 978-0446574488

Review: Intervamption by Kristin Miller

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Greathouse) — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:20:00 +0000

Intervamption is the first book in the Vampire’s of Crimson Bay series by Kristin Miller and a Paranormal Romance from Avon Impulse.

Book Blurb:

Congratulations

Either one or both of your parents has vampire blood. Welcome to the vampire race

Please keep a few things in mind as you ease into the most difficult phase of your life:

1. Light sensitivity, humming teeth, and stomach pains are completely normal. You'll also be faster, stronger, and sexy as hell (if you're lucky).

2. You'll bloodlust and go crazy if you deny your body's urge for blood. Why fight it?

3. Do not pierce the skin of a mundane involuntarily. We're not animals and will not behave as such.

4. Therians, our shapeshifting brethren, cannot be trusted. Their loyalties shift as often as their identities.

And finally,

5. Lighten up - you're not dead.

Contact Dylan, owner of ReVamp, in Crimson Bay, California, for more information.

My thoughts:

Dylan’s father opened ReVamp some years ago as a means for vampire’s to obtain ‘nourishment’ without having to resort to breaking the law - and incurring the wrath of the Therians.

Upon his death, Dylan took over. Now she is not only supplying blood, she is also working to find out why the blood ReVamp supplies is actually weakening the vampire’s that drink it.

Slade is a Therian, a one time Assassin - on the front lines of the Therian/Vampire war. He has been given a chance to redeem his Assassin status with one mission: shift into a vampire and infiltrate the local khiss to gather intel that will turn the tide of war in favor of the Therians.

No problem.

Except it’s a suicide mission - and Slade has been set up...

Intervamption is a enjoyable read.

I feel like the book blurb does the book a disservice - it makes it sound like one of those fun and quirky reads. It’s not.

Intervamption is full of steamy scenes and plenty of action.

I give Intervamption 3 out of 5 stars.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Avon Impulse (August 9, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062115731
ISBN-13: 978-0062115737

Review: Lies & Omens by Lyn Benedict

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Greathouse) — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:18:00 +0000

Lies & Omens is the fourth book in the Shadows Inquiries series by Lyn Benedict and an ACE Urban Fantasy.

Blurb:

Sylvie Lightner is a P.I. specializing in the unusual - in a world where magic is real, and Hell is just around the corner.

After escaping secret government cells and destroying a Miami landmark, Sylvie's trying to lay low - something that gets easier when a magical force starts taking out her enemies. But these magical attacks are a risk to bystanders, and Sylvie can't let that slide.

When the war between the government and the magical world threatens the three people closest to her - her assistant, her sister, and her lover - Sylvie has no choice but to get involved with hidden powers bent on shaping the world to their liking. Now, with death and disaster on the horizon, even if Sylvie wins, things will never be the same...

My thoughts:

Sylvie Lightner is just trying to make a living - and stay alive in the process. Named the new Lilith, Sylvie has powers she’s never dreamed of - and has no idea how to access most of them.

Magical beings are coming out of the proverbial closet and attacking the branch of the government that would like nothing more than to catch them and slice them open to see how they tick. Though there is no love lost between Sylvie and those government officials - innocent bystanders are being harmed - Sylvie feels honor bound to stop the attacks.

With a Fury turned demi-god popping in at the most inconvenient of times and a psycho assassin wanting to take over the very government that is being attacked - to say that things are a bit stressful is an understatement.

If that weren’t enough Sylvie is trying to find a witch to lift a curse from a client, keep her own sister safe and her lover out of trouble...things are going from bad to worse.

I completely enjoyed Lies & Omens - Sylvie is one tough lady.

I give Lies & Omens 4 out of 5 stars.

Product Details
Reading level: Ages 18 and up
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Ace (April 24, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1937007502
ISBN-13: 978-1937007508

Stacking The Shelves: 05/13/12

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Greathouse) — Sun, 13 May 2012 14:38:00 +0000

For Review:

Blood Kin - MJ Scott

Cursed - Benedict Jacka

Bleeding Out - Jes Battis

All Spell Breaks Loose - Lisa Shearin

The Last Four Things - Paul Hoffman

Love and Let Drood - Simon R Green

Thanks to ACE, ROC and NAL

Happy Mother's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Greathouse) — Sun, 13 May 2012 14:29:00 +0000

Winner: ARC Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Greathouse) — Sat, 12 May 2012 11:42:00 +0000

The four ARC giveaway has concluded and the winner chosen. Using random dot org the winning number is:

#6 - Sara M - An email is on the way!

Thank you all for participating in this giveaway.

Happy Reading!

Friday Finds: Shadow's Claim by Kresley Cole

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Greathouse) — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:33:00 +0000

He won’t be denied

Trehan Daciano, known as the Prince of Shadows, has spent his life serving his people, striking in the night, quietly executing any threat to their realm. The coldly disciplined swordsman has never desired anything for himself—until he beholds Bettina, the sheltered ward of two of the Lore’s most fearsome villains.

She’s bound to another

Desperate to earn her guardians’ approval after a life-shattering mistake, young Bettina has no choice but to marry whichever suitor prevails—even though she’s lost her heart to another. Yet one lethal competitor, a mysterious cloaked swordsman, invades her dreams, tempting her with forbidden pleasure.

A battle for her body and soul

Even if Trehan can survive the punishing contests to claim her as his wife, the true battle for Bettina’s heart is yet to come. And unleashing a millennium’s worth of savage need will either frighten his Bride away—or stoke Bettina’s own desires to a fever-pitch....

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Pocket Books (November 27, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1451650051
ISBN-13: 978-1451650051

Review: Under Suspicion by Hannah Jayne

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Greathouse) — Thu, 10 May 2012 12:16:00 +0000

Under Suspicion is the third book in the Underworld Detection Agency Chronicles by Hannah Jayne and an Urban Fantasy from Kensington.

Blurb:

She’s the new head of the Underworld Detection Agency’s strangest division. What a nightmare...

Being a human immune to magic helped Sophie Lawson get promoted. It’s also made her a major, very reluctant player in a game that stretches beyond even the Underworld.

When a frightening number of demons start disappearing around the city, Sophie suspects that an Armageddon-level prophecy is about to become everyone’s nightmare.

My thoughts:

Sophie Lawson is now head of the Fallen Angel Division at the Underworld Detection Agency. Thanks to her immunity to magic - she is able to deal with the likes of dragons and banshee’s and walk away nearly unscathed.

When a couple of her clients are no shows for scheduled appointments, Sophie doesn’t worry. But when one of her regular clients - who shows up like clockwork - misses a scheduled appointment, Sophie becomes concerned.

When Sophie goes to her vampire boss with her concerns, he blows her off. Determined to find out what is going on Sophie goes into Nancy Drew mode - drawing the attention of a killer.

Under Suspicion is an enjoyable read.

I have to wonder how Sophie sleeps at night - she’s always getting herself into one kind of trouble or another.

I give Under Suspicion 3 out of 5 stars.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Kensington (May 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0758258941
ISBN-13: 978-0758258946

WoW: A Blood Seduction by Pamela Palmer

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Greathouse) — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:13:00 +0000

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly post started by Breaking the Spine to showcase books we are patiently awaiting.

My WoW for the week:

Welcome to Vamp City - a haven for vampires created by a powerful sorcerer in the 1870s. It may look like a crumbling version of a human city, but there is one small exception: the sun never shines, and vampires have free reign. They live for pleasure only and come and go from this paradise as they wish. But as the magic starts to fail and those within become trapped, they know only a sorcerer can save them. But the sorcerers, at least those powerful enough, are all gone.

Except one.

Quinn Lennox knows nothing of the power she wields. All she knows is that the strange things she once chalked up to a child's imagination have started to happen to her again. While searching for a lost friend, Quinn and her brother Zack stumble into a strange, dark otherworld that only she can see. When they're attacked, and Zack abducted, Quinn is rescued by a dark, dangerously handsome vampire who takes her to his home.

The Vampire terrifies, then seduces Quinn, drinking her blood, and in doing so discovers her magic. She's the one they've been looking for. But Quinn's only concern is finding Zack. So when the Vampire delivers her to his cruel master (duty trumps desire), she finds a way to escape. The Vampire goes after her. Not only is she the only hope for VC, but she's inexplicably intrigued him, and he's not letting her go again.

Product Details

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages

Publisher: Avon (May 29, 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0062107496

ISBN-13: 978-0062107497

Review: Royal Street by Suzanne Johnson

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Greathouse) — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:37:00 +0000

Royal Street is a novel by Suzanne Johnson and an Urban Fantasy from TOR.

Blurb:

As the junior wizard sentinel for New Orleans, Drusilla Jaco’s job involves a lot more potion-mixing and pixie-retrieval than sniffing out supernatural bad guys like rogue vampires and lethal were-creatures. DJ's boss and mentor, Gerald St. Simon, is the wizard tasked with protecting the city from anyone or anything that might slip over from the preternatural beyond.

Then Hurricane Katrina hammers New Orleans’ fragile levees, unleashing more than just dangerous flood waters.

While winds howled and Lake Pontchartrain surged, the borders between the modern city and the Otherworld crumbled. Now, the undead and the restless are roaming the Big Easy, and a serial killer with ties to voodoo is murdering the soldiers sent to help the city recover.

To make it worse, Gerry has gone missing, the wizards’ Elders have assigned a grenade-toting assassin as DJ’s new partner, and undead pirate Jean Lafitte wants to make her walk his plank. The search for Gerry and for the serial killer turns personal when DJ learns the hard way that loyalty requires sacrifice, allies come from the unlikeliest places, and duty mixed with love creates one bitter roux.

My thoughts:

Drusilla Jaco is a junior wizard sentinel. She loves her city and feels that she could do more for New Orleans if given the opportunity.

So when she is sent to return one immortal undead pirate back to the Beyond - she is thrilled when it goes off without a hitch. Well except for that pirate swearing to get even with her the next chance he gets.

But when a hurricane threatens her beloved city Drusilla is told to evacuate - leaving her boss and mentor, Gerry, to ride out the hurricane alone.

When Katrina hits New Orleans all hell literally breaks loose. The undead are unleashed on an already battered city. If that weren’t enough - someone is using black magic to kill the innocent and Gerry has gone missing.

Drusilla and her new partner are searching for Gerry - but time is running out...

Royal Street is an enjoyable read - but I’m not sure how people who actually went through Hurricane Katrina will feel about it being used as a back drop for a fantasy novel.

I give Royal Street 3 out of 5 stars.

Product Details
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Tor Books (April 10, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0765327791
ISBN-13: 978-0765327796

ARC Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Greathouse) — Mon, 07 May 2012 11:43:00 +0000

I have a few ARC's up for grabs - courtesy of SourceBooks - all four to one lucky winner.

The Danger that is Damion - Lisa Renee Jones
Chase Me - Tamara Hogan
Kiss of the Goblin Prince - Shona Husk
Where There's Smoke - Karen Kelley

This giveaway is open to all followers of this blog with a US mailing address. Just leave a comment and a valid email addy and you are entered.

Using random dot org, winner will be chosen and announced on 5-12-12.

Good Luck!

Stacking the Shelves: 05-06-12

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Greathouse) — Sun, 06 May 2012 15:51:00 +0000

For Review:
Revived - Cat Patrick
Thanks to Little, Brown Books

Purchased:
Deadlocked - Charlaine Harris

Friday Finds: Blood Bath & Beyond by Michelle Rowen

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Greathouse) — Fri, 04 May 2012 12:47:00 +0000

Blood Bath & Beyond is the first book in the new Immortality Bites Mystery series by Michelle Rowen.

Blurb:

Sarah Dearly is adjusting to life as a fledgling vampire, satisfying her cravings at vampire-friendly blood banks. But when her fiance Thierry takes a job with the Ring--the secret council in charge of keeping vampires in line--Sarah's about to get more than a taste of danger...

Being engaged to a centuries-old master vampire can be challenging--especially when he takes a job with the Ring. Thierry's in for fifty years of nonstop travel and deadly risk. It's enough to make any woman reconsider the wedding...any woman except Sarah, that is!

Traveling with him to Las Vegas for his first assignment, they encounter a child beauty pageant contestant from hell, as well as a vampire serial killer leaving victims drained of blood, potentially exposing the existence of vampires to the whole world. But when Thierry's truly ancient history comes back to haunt him, and he's accused of a crime he didn't commit, it's up to Sarah to clear his name before their immortal lives come to an end.

Product Details

Reading level: Ages 18 and up

Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages

Publisher: Signet (August 7, 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0451237641

ISBN-13: 978-0451237644

Review: Black Dawn by Rachel Caine

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Greathouse) — Thu, 03 May 2012 12:16:00 +0000

Black Dawn is the twelfth book in The Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine and a YA novel from NAL.

Blurb:

With its eclectic mix of vampire and human citizens, Morganville, Texas, has always been a risky place to call home. But with the invasion of the vampires’ deadliest enemy, Morganville isn’t just in danger - it’s dying...

Ever since the draug - mysterious creatures that prey on vampires - took over Morganville, the lives of Claire Danvers and her friends have been thrown into turmoil. Most of the residents have evacuated, but Claire, Shane, Eve, and Michael have chosen to stay and fight.

By using the town’s water system to spread, the draug have rapidly multiplied. Things in Morganville look grim, especially since vampire Amelie - the town Founder - has been infected by the master draug’s bite.

If Claire and her friends don’t figure out how to cure Amelie and defeat the draug, it looks as though Morganville will become little more than a ghost town...

My thoughts:

Black Dawn picks up right where Last Breath ended: the draug have invaded Morganville, taken several vampires captive and the master draug has bitten and infected Amelie.

The people in the know have left Morganville - the rest have been evacuated with a made up reason that got them to leave town without much of a fuss.

Those remaining are determined to help the vampires face their age old enemies. The draug travel in water and form gelatinous bodies that can not be harmed by most weapons. Silver will slow them by dispersing the water used to form their bodies - but they can regroup and come back.

Claire, Shane, Eve, and Michael have decided to stay in Morganville and do what they can to defeat the draug and rescue those vampires held captive.

With Amelie down for the count Oliver has stepped in as leader. He is determined to launch a strike against the draug that will put an end to them once and for all - but he needs help - even if he won’t admit it.

Claire and Myrnin have decided that science will save them. If they can find something to bind the draug - maybe they can stop them once and for all...

I absolutely love this series and look forward to each installment. I am always surprised with the predicaments Claire and crew find themselves involved in - and constantly wonder why they continue to hang around Morganville - especially now when they had the opportunity to get out.

I give Black Dawn 5 out of 5 stars and can’t wait to find out what happens next.

Product Details
Reading level: Ages 18 and up
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: NAL Hardcover (May 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451236718
ISBN-13: 978-0451236715

WoW: Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Greathouse) — Wed, 02 May 2012 12:16:00 +0000

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly post started by Breaking the Spine to showcase books we are patiently awaiting.

My WoW for the week:

Blurb:

With Felipe de Castro, the Vampire King of Louisiana (and Arkansas and Nevada), in town, it’s the worst possible time for a body to show up in Eric Northman’s front yard—especially the body of a woman whose blood he just drank.

Now, it’s up to Sookie and Bill, the official Area Five investigator, to solve the murder. Sookie thinks that, at least this time, the dead girl’s fate has nothing to do with her. But she is wrong. She has an enemy, one far more devious than she would ever suspect, who’s out to make Sookie’s world come crashing down.

Product Details

Reading level: Ages 18 and up

Hardcover: 336 pages

Publisher: Ace (May 1, 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1937007448

ISBN-13: 978-1937007447

May RAK Sign-Ups

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Greathouse) — Tue, 01 May 2012 22:01:00 +0000

It's that time again - time to sign up for RAK. The RAK program is brought to us by the ladies of Book Soulmates.

I love this opportunity to share in my love of reading. If you haven't participated in RAK, this month is a great month to give it a try. :)

My wishlist is here.

Links you will need:

Sign up for May 2012 [HERE]
See who else is participating [HERE]
If you have any questions regarding RAK, please contact us via the following:
rakbybooksoulmates @ gmail . com

April Review ReWind

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Greathouse) — Tue, 01 May 2012 11:14:00 +0000

Here is a look back on the reviews I posted for April.

5 Stars
Siege - Rhiannon Frater

4 Stars
Enraptured - Elisabeth Naughton
Untouched - Sara Humphreys
Must Love Lycans - Michele Bardsley
A Sliver of Shadow - Allison Pang
Real Vampires Hate Skinny Jeans - Gerry Bartlett
Nice Girls Don't Bite Their Neighbors - Molly Harper
Shadow Fall - Dianne Sylvan
Ascension - Sable Grace

3 Stars
The Thirteenth Sacrifice - Debbie Viguie
Viper Moon - Lee Roland