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Non-Fiction Review: Knits For Nerds

2012-03-03T07:30:00.000-08:00

Knits For Nerds by Joan of Dark (aka Toni Carr)

Publication date: 21 February 2012 by Andrews McMeel

ISBN 10/13: 1449407919 | 9781449407919
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

From Goodreads:

The best of science fiction, manga, and animaguiri meets knit one, purl two as knit siren and part-time roller derby girl Joan of Dark offers up an out-of-this-world assortment of knitting nerdiness inside Knits for Nerds. The patterns for 30 iconic clothing and accessory items inspired by popular TV shows, books, films, comics, and more--including Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Firefly--are presented alongside full-color photographs showcasing completed projects, such as:

* Lieutenant Uhura's sexy Star Trek minidress
* Hobbit feet slippers
* Firefly-inspired scarf, socks, hat, and jacket
* Tank Girl socks
* Hermione Granger's secret beaded bag
* Manga-inspired leg warmers
* The Big Bang Theory-inspired his and hers sweater-vests
* Lord of the Rings-inspired shrug

In addition to a wardrobe of costume finery, hobbyists will also find instructions for practical projects such as an e-reader cover or a laptop bag crafted of checkered fabric that serves double-duty as a chessboard and carryall, as well as patterns for plush toys inspired by Star Trek, robots, and the comic book Squee! Wear (and knit!) your nerdiness on your sleeve with Knits for Nerds.

Thuy's Review:

How could I resist a book called Knits For Nerds? I couldn’t really. As a knitter and a lover of many things considered “nerdy,” I was excited to pick this one up. Knits for Nerds is by Joan of Dark (aka Tori Carr) whose last book, Knockdown Knits, was inspired by roller derby. This time she tackles the nerd community with patterns inspired by things considered geeky, including television shows, books, comics and video games.

The book consists of 30 patterns divided into the categories of Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Comics & Manga, and Other Stuff. The patterns range from easy to intermediate with the Browncoat sweater or lace shrug probably being the most complicated projects. The patterns range from small accessories such as fingerless gloves, hats and scarves to larger items like shawls and sweaters. There are quite a few toys to knit in the book as well as a pair of socks. There is a brief Tips & Techniques section at the back of the book but it’s more of a refresher than a how to knit section. I’d suggest getting a book dedicated to learning to knit if don’t already know how before starting.

I had a lot of fun going through this book. The projects are inspired by things near and dear to my heart. The photos were even shot in Neil Gaiman’s house, which made me do a fangirl squee when I read it. My favorite projects were the most wearable ones, such as the Vampire Academy inspired Alchemy Scarf and the Firefly Browncoat Sweater. There’s a really beautiful cable shawl inspired by Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely series. Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog is represented by a pair of really cute, striped arm warmers. There are a pair of vests for men and woman from The Big Bang Theory that look quite cute and wearable. The Space Princess Hat and Cape (seen on the cover) are really cool but are items that I, personally, would not wear and therefore I would not make. I was kind of disappointed in the Dr. Who inspired Time Traveler Scarf. The colors are more pastel than the Dr. Who scarf I am used to and I would not have made the connection if not for the project title. There are also some fun, little projects like a checkerboard and a Gryffindor bag that would make good gifts.

While not all of the projects in this book are the most practical (do I want my feet to look like hairy hobbit feet?), it was certainly fun to go through this book and see projects that were inspired by some of my favorite movies, games and comics. For me, this gets a little bit of a lower rating because I can’t see myself, personally, wearing too many of these knits. However, I can see a lot of these projects appealing to others. Fans of cosplay will find lots of cool, inspiring things to make in this book.

Filled with a wide variety of patterns, Knits for Nerds is a great gift for the fanboy, fangirl or crafty person in your life.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Visit the author online at her blog

Uncovered: The Flame Alphabet

2012-03-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

Uncovered is a new feature were doing on Nite Lite where we share some cover love with you. Thanks for stopping by and let us know what you think of the featured cover.

Thoughts: This book caught my eye the other day when I was browsing Vromans bookstore. I hope you can see from the image, but the cover basically looks like overlapping paper cut out to look like flames (or feathers). There's a really 3 dimensional quality to it. I am also a big paper lover and am drawn to really graphic styles so this really stood out to me. The colors are super bright and the cover is made out of some very nice, linen type paper. I don't even know what this book is about but I want to read it now.

Here is a short video featuring the cover designer Peter Mendelsun talking a bit about how the cover was made.

This one is out now so go ahead and get yourself a copy. :)

Visit the author online at benmarcus.com

Blog Tour: Interview & Giveaway with Ros Clarke

2012-02-29T01:30:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our stop on the Table For One Blog Tour. Table For One is a new romance release from Entangled Publishing. We love food and we love romance, so this sounds like a match made in heaven. Head below and you'll find our interview with author Ros Clark. And stick around to the end of the post where we'll be hosting a giveaway for an ebook copy of Table For One!

Ros is a writer, a student, a church worker, a crafter, a blogger, a twitterer, a lazy gardener, and an appalling housekeeper. She lives in a sixteenth century shed in England and is very glad that it has twenty-first century plumbing. She is interested in almost everything except cricket and football (US and UK) and mostly she likes happy endings in fiction and in real life.

Ros has been writing stories for as long as she can remember, never dreaming that other people would be interested in reading them. A few years ago, she discovered a writing forum on the internet, and has never looked back. Her head—and her hard drive—are full of ideas for fresh, fun, contemporary romances that she hopes you’ll love as much as she does.

Author Interview

Hi, Ros! Thank you so much for stopping by Nite Lite today and letting us interview you. Let's start off with a brief intro. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and when you started writing?
Thanks for having me! I’ve always written stories, but for most of my life I never dreamed that anyone else would be interested in reading what I’d written. I’m a PhD student at the moment so writing romance is what I do for fun in my spare time.

Have you always written romance or books with a romantic element to them?
Yes, I think so. I read a lot of detective fiction but I know I don’t have the kind of mind you need for that sort of plotting. I’m much more interested in writing about people and their relationships. And I love a happy ending.

You did some self-publishing before and now you've signed with Entangled Publishing, which is awesome so congrats. What do you think are the main differences between self publishing and having a a publishing deal?
Editing! I know some self-publishers pay professional editors but I didn’t have any spare cash to spend on that. My self-published books have been through two or three rewrites based on feedback from my writing group and other test readers, but nothing like the kind of editing that my Entangled stories have been through. The other huge difference with Entangled is the support they give authors with publicity. I do enjoy having the freedom and the control of self-publishing, but there’s no question in my mind that the weight of a publishing company behind an author makes a huge difference. I’m really happy to be with Entangled.

Your new book, Table For One, is about a food critic who ends up alone at a restaurant on Valentine's Day and finds herself tempted by the restaurant's chef. What inspired you to write this particular story? Did you or someone you know end up alone of Valentine's Day or is this just something that you made up?
The Valentine’s Day setting is one that I made up, but I knew I wanted to write a story about food. I love eating! And I enjoy cooking, too. I think there’s something incredible sensual and emotional about food, so I wanted to use that to convey the romance in this story.

Tell us a little bit about the two main characters in Table For One.
Ward is an instinctive chef. He’s always known what to cook for someone according to their mood, so when he meets Claudia he sets out to create a menu for seduction. But Ward’s also someone with a very specific insecurity – which Claudia inadvertently cracks wide open. He’s the one who has to learn to let go and learn to trust. Oh, and did I mention, he’s the Seventh Sexiest Man in London? Claudia’s a restaurant critic, which is the perfect job for someone who loves eating but can’t cook. She knows what she likes, or thinks she does…

Did you have to do any restaurant research to write this book? (meaning did you go eat at a lot of yummy restaurants while you were writing this book and count it as research - because it totally counts).
I wish! Sadly my research budget didn’t stretch to lots of expensive restaurant meals. Instead I did a lot of googling and drooling.

What would you order for your last meal?
Great question! To be honest, the answer probably changes every day as I discover new favourite foods. I’d definitely have yorkshire puddings, probably with rare roast beef, roast potatoes and no green vegetables (because what’s the point of being healthy if it’s your last meal?) And then something chocolately and gooey and utterly decadent for dessert.

What's the strangest food you've ever eaten? Any food that you would never eat? (I would list some of mine but I've eaten a lot of strange foods)
I haven’t eaten all that many strange foods, though I do like trying new things. I’ve eaten and enjoyed snails. Is that strange? There’s nothing that I wouldn’t eat on principle, if it looked tasty. I’m allergic to mussels, which is sad because I do love them.

OK now we're going to play the OR game where we throw two things at you and you let us know which you like better (and why if you're inclined). We may also throw in some short questions at the end.

Vampire Diaries or True Blood?
Never read either, I’m afraid.

Chocolate or peanut butter?
Chocolate but it’s a close-run things.

Historical romance or paranormal romance?
Historical. I started reading romances when I discovered Georgette Heyer and I still love that genre best.

Burger with cheese or without?
With, but only if it’s really good cheese.

Night owl or early bird?
Night owl.

Cake or pie and what kind?
Cake. Um, chocolate fudge.

Last book read?
Mary Jo Putney’s Thunder and Roses. It has penguins!

Favorite movie?
Lady Jane.

You live in the UK. What are some of your favorite UK snacks/candies that the rest of the world should be jealous of? Any snacks from the US or other places that you wish you could get in the UK but can't?
UK snacks: Proper fish and chips. Maltesers. Rhubarb and custard (these are boiled sweets). UK biscuits (cookies), especially Hobnobs. (Note that I totally agree with the fish and chips, and biscuits. So good.)
I lived in the US for a couple of years. I don’t miss very much from there but I do miss cheese popcorn. Weird, I know.

One last thing - what's next for you/what are you currently working on?
I’m working on an Indulgence title for Entangled. It’s their category romance line and my book features an oil tycoon and a sheikh. And lots of lovely angst and sexy banter. It’ll be coming out in a few months.

Thank you so much for stopping by, Ros. We can't wait to read your new book and wish you all the best!
Thank you, it’s been fun!

And now for a GIVEAWAY! One lucky person will win an ebook copy of Table For One. This is an international giveaway as well, so good luck to everyone!

About the book

Table For One is a short, contemporary romance from Entangled Publishing's exciting new Flirts line.

When food critic Claudia Thomas gets dumped on Valentine’s Day, she finds herself occupying a table for one at London’s hottest new restaurant. If her job wasn’t on the line, she’d skip the whole affair, but her editor’s waiting for a review—and with luck, an interview with sexy chef Ward Nicholls.

Ward, intrigued by the single woman in a restaurant full of couples, sets out to tease her palate. Claudia has never tasted anything so luscious as the special meal Ward prepares for her, but when the seduction moves from the restaurant to his bedroom, Claudia discovers the only thing more tempting than his food is the chef himself.

Their connection is instantaneous, sizzling, and spicy—until Claudia comes clean about her job, reopening a wound Ward had thought long-healed. Could one accidental lie of omission end a delicious relationship before it even has a chance to start?

More details and an excerpt are available here.
Buy it at Amazon (US), B&N, Amazon (UK)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can also find Ros on twitter, at Goodreads, and at her own blog.

You Slay Me by Katie MacAlister - Review

2012-02-27T15:37:00.000-08:00

You Slay Me (Aisling Grey: Guardian #1) by Katie MacAlister

Publication date: 07 September 2004 by Onyx

ISBN 10/13: 0451411528 | 9780451411525
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Category: Adult Urban Fantasy
Keywords: Urban fantasy, paranormal, mystery, dragons, witches, Paris
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook

Thuy's synopsis:

Aisling Grey is a down on her luck 30-something working for her uncle as a courier. Unfortunately while on a job delivering a prized artifact in Paris, Aisling finds her client murdered and herself as the main suspect. She also loses the artifact to a mysterious and sexy stranger who claims that she is a Guardian (more on that later). Suddenly thrust into a new and frightening world filled with witches, demons, dragons, and talking dogs, she must prove her innocence and get the heck out of Dodge (or Paris as the case may be) and hopefully not lose her job or get killed in the process.

Thuy's Review:

I knew I was going to have a problem with this book when, a few pages in, an airline clerk read the contents of Aisling’s passport back to her and we conveniently get her physical description. This book is definitely a case of telling, not showing, the reader what is happening. Instead of letting events unfold naturally, there are long passages where characters are explaining things to each other. Aisling also talks to herself in long, rambling monologues to explain either what’s happening in front of her or what she’s thinking. And I know this isn’t the author’s fault but my copy of the book was also riddled with typos, which made for a distracting read.

My biggest problem with the book is the main character. Aisling Grey is a Guardian. Don’t know what that is? Don’t worry - Aisling doesn’t either. In fact, she doesn’t know much of anything. She’s a total ditz who has no clue what’s going on most of the time. I don’t love dumb characters but I don’t mind them as long as they have some redeeming qualities. Unfortunately, there’s nothing endearing about Aisling and she’s more annoying that anything. As I mentioned before, she has a habit of babbling incoherently to herself and others. She is always asking questions but then either doesn’t believe or doesn’t understand the answers. She’s totally clueless most of the time and does and says many dumb things. It’s really a miracle that she manages to survive at all.

There is also a lot of very awkward dialogue in the book. I think the author was trying to go for funny and clever, but it comes across as forced and unnatural. Not everything has to be a joke, but if it is, it should at least be a good one. I also found the author’s depiction of France to be cliche and outdated. Do Americans still think that all French people are rude and snobby? Judging by this book that still seems to be the popular opinion. And the ones who weren’t cliche tourist haters were unrealistically friendly, offering to chauffeur Aisling around for cheap while telling her about Paris’ underground occult scene, and helping her with dangerous breaking and entering missions.

There were a couple of bright spots in the book. I liked Aisling’s demon dog, Jim. He probably had the funniest lines in the whole book. It was weird that everyone kept referring to Jim as “it” though. He’s clearly a male but everyone refers to him as “it” instead of “him.” Maybe all demons are supposed to be referred to as “it” but it just sounded wrong. My favorite part of the book, though, was Drake. Dark, mysterious and predatory, Drake is a real live dragon housed in a gorgeous male body. I was really intrigued by the idea of a dragon that also has a human body. I wish we could have learned a little bit more about the history of the dragon clans. Drake’s also very attracted to Aisling, for reasons I cannot fathom, and they have great chemistry. I really enjoyed the scenes that they had together, especially the sexy ones. Aisling’s dreams were h-o-t. I just wish the rest of the book had been as captivating.

As you can see, this book was not for me. I was actually quite relieved when I finished the book and was happy to be done with it. While I want to see where the relationship between Aisling and Drake goes, I will not be picking up the next book in the series.

Visit the author online at katiemacalister.com and follow her on Twitter @katiemacalister

In My Mailbox (22)

2012-02-26T00:30:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It gives book bloggers the chance to share what they’ve bought/borrowed/received!

This week was a light week for me. Still trying to stick with books I own or have borrowed from friends. I returned a bunch of library books I never got to and resisted the urge to go in and look at new books. I even went to two three author events this week in bookstores and manged to only purchase a couple of things. So far, so good. :) On to the books!

My haul this week

Bought/Received

Fever by Lauren DeStefano - I was going to wait a little while to buy this but Alethea went and bought it while we were at an event, and I had a coupon. I couldn't resist.

Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer - Went to the Breathless Tour stop at Once Upon A Time last. It was super crowded but super fun. I restrained myself and only bought one book.

All I Want Is You by Sherrill Bodine - My friend Kimberly gave this to me. We often pass books back and forth and she just read this one. I don't think she loved it but I guess we'll see how I feel about it.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan - I won this from Book Goonie last week! Really been wanting to read this one. It's got zombies!

Gluten Free Cookies by Roben Ryberg - I've been meaning to try some more gluten free recipes since I have a lot of friends who can't eat it now. I think of it as a baking challenge. This book had some pretty good reviews.

Borrowed

Fool Moon (Dresden Files #2) by Jim Butcher (audiobook) - I just finished Storm Front and I really like the audio. James Marsters is a great Harry Dresden.

For Review (Netgalley)

Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep - Excited that I got approved for this one. It looks good!

That's all I have for this week? What's in your mailbox?

Follow Thuy on Twitter @fishgirl182

Uncovered: Angel's Flight

2012-02-24T09:30:00.000-08:00

Uncovered is a new thing we're doing here on Nite Lite where we share our love of book covers because, let's face it, I will totally judge a book by its cover. :)

Thoughts: I actually like this cover quite a bit. Love the purple theme and the font for the title. I think the wings are beautifully done as well. I do wish there was a bit more movement in the wings. Right now she kind of looks like she's just hovering in the air vs. actually flying. I am not sure what's going on with the circles of dust (clouds?) around her. It might be air movement from her wings or it might be something else that will make more sense after I read the book. This is a collection of short stories based on characters from the Guild Hunter series which I love so I am very excited about this one. All in all, I give this cover a thumb's up.

Angel's Flight releases Feb 28, 2012.

Visit the author online at nalinisingh.com and follow her on Twitter @NaliniSingh

Seduce Me At Sunrise by Lisa Kleypas - Review

2012-02-23T18:30:00.000-08:00

Seduce Me At Sunrise (The Hathaways #2) by Lisa Kleypas

Publication date: 30 September 2008 by St. Martin's Press

ISBN 10/13: 0312949812 | 9780312949815
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Category: Adult Historical Romance
Keywords: Romance, historical, family, Gypsies
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook, audiobook

From goodreads:

Kev Merripen has longed for the beautiful, well-bred Winnifred Hathaway ever since her family rescued him from the brink of death when he was just a boy. But this handsome Gypsy is a man of mysterious origins—and he fears that the darkness of his past could crush delicate, luminous Win. So Kev refuses to submit to temptation…and before long Win is torn from him by a devastating twist of fate.

Then, Win returns to England…only to find that Kev has hardened into a man who will deny love at all costs. Meantime, an attractive, seductive suitor has set his sights on Win. It’s now or never for Kev to make his move. But first, he must confront a dangerous secret about his destiny—or risk losing the only woman he has lived for…

Thuy's Review:

I adored the first book in this series and was afraid that the second book would not live up to my expectations. I am happy to report that Seduce Me At Sunrise did not disappointed and I fell in love with the Hathaways all over again.

My heart went out to Merripen in the first book. Haunted by a dark and violent past, he’s resigned himself to never having the one thing he wants most in life - Win. He’s afraid to hurt her, afraid that the violence he did in his youth will come out one day and harm her. He’s the very definition of a tortured hero. He is intense and moody but also extremely loyal with a great capacity for love. He’s also the most infuriatingly stubborn man I've ever met! He kisses Win passionately one moment and pushes her away the next. His mixed signals were enough to drive any girl a little batty.

Luckily, Win is a persistent woman who knows what she wants. I like that she isn’t cowed by Merripen and stands up to him. Even when Merripen made me want to throw up my hands and give up, Win holds her ground. She has a quiet inner strength that anchors the entire family.

I am also happy to say that we see more of Cam and Amelia in this one. They are one of my favorite couples and seeing them as a married couple only solidifies my love for them. Cam and Merripen also find answers to the mysterious origins of their tattoos. I won’t spoil it but let’s just say that the revelation is a big one that has great significance for both of them.

I really can’t say enough about this series. I thought I was fully invested after the first book but now I am totally addicted. These characters are so well developed that I feel like I actually know them. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!

Visit the author online at www.larissaione.com and follow her on Twitter @LarissaIone

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender - Review

2012-02-21T20:30:00.000-08:00

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender
Publication date: 01 June 2010 by Doubleday
ISBN 10/13: 0385501129 | 9780385501125

Category: Adult Contemporary Fiction
Keywords: Contemporary, fiction, family, magical realism
Format: Hardcover, paperback, audiobook, eBook

From goodreads:

On the eve of her ninth birthday, unassuming Rose Edelstein bites into her mother's homemade lemon-chocolate cake and discovers she has a magical gift: she can taste her mother’s emotions in the slice. To her horror, she finds that her cheerful mother tastes of despair. Soon, she’s privy to the secret knowledge that most families keep hidden: her father’s detachment, her mother’s transgression, her brother’s increasing retreat from the world. But there are some family secrets that even her cursed taste buds can’t discern.

**Please note that this review does contain SPOILERS. Normally we try to keep things fairly spoiler free but in this case, I couldn't avoid it. Read at your own risk**

Thuy's review:

I wanted to like this book. I really did. I mean, it has lemon cake in the title. Automatic win, right? Unfortunately the author starts out with an interesting premise but doesn't do much with it.

When Rose turns 9, she suddenly finds herself with the ability to taste the emotions of the person who made the food. Her first discovery is the unbearable loneliness of her mother. Young Rose doesn't know what to make of her new skill and takes to eating processed junk food. As time goes on, she shares her ability with her brother and his friend George. After a few experiments with her new power, the author largely leaves it behind and delves into other aspects of Rose's family dynamic.

The issue of her abilities emerges again some years later when Rose tastes in her mother's cooking, the beginnings of an affair. Instead of it being some kind of traumatic or emotional discovery, Rose takes it calmly and is, in fact, glad that her mother now has someone else to lavish her baked goods on as it saves her from having to taste her mother's emotions. This part bothered me because I just felt like she should have had a bigger reaction to her mother having an affair. Even years later, when she tells her mother she's known all along, it's with a cold calmness and air of indifference.

Then there's her brother, Joe, who has a special ability of his own. This part is a bit creepy. After years of odd behavior, Rose finally figures out what Joe has been up to. In the end, she’s the only one who knows and she decides to keep his secret. We never find out much more about his abilities or what they mean. The fact that it’s left open ended is frustrating. We also find out that Rose's grandfather had an amazing ability as well. Seems like these weird powers run in the family. Because of her grandfather, Rose's dad barely bats an eye when he finds out about her food tasting ability. He doesn't seem to make the connection with her fit at the hospital years before or her affinity for processed foods. He understands that it makes her life difficult but he doesn't probe too much. And then we find out that he thinks he might have a skill, too, but that it has to take place in a hospital. So he has avoided hospitals all his life, even going so far as to stand in the parking lot during his children's births and illnesses. While I understand his position, seeing how hard his father's life with his skill was, I also find it extremely selfish that he might be able to help people and consciously chose not to even try.

Unfortunately I found The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake to be an unsatisfying read.Though there were some interesting parts, the characters and premise were never fully developed and left too much unresolved.

Visit the author online at www.flammableskirt.com

In My Mailbox (21)

2012-02-19T10:44:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It gives book bloggers the chance to share what they’ve bought/borrowed/received!

I hope everyone had a good week. It was really dragging for me and I am so happy that we have Monday off. I am going to try to get a lot of reading done this weekend. I have some catching up to do before a couple of book tours come to town next week. This week was pretty light for me. I am still trying to read books I own and have cut back on the library and buying. Edited: Um, so I went to the used bookstore and B&N on Sat and came home with a bunch of books. Guess this week wasn't so light. :)

Bought

Delirium by Lauren Oliver - Yes, I am one of the few people who have not read Delirium yet. I want to read it soon since Pandemonium is coming out.

Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent (audiobook) - I had at least 4 Audible credits doing nothing in my account and decided to download some audiobooks. A friend said that this was a good one on audio and I've been meaning to read it anyway.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (audiobook) - Another audiobook that a friend highly recommended. Jason Isaacs reads.

The Mediator #1 & #2 by Meg Cabot - Found the first two books in this series for $0.50 each at the used bookstore. We'll see if I like it enough to get the rest.

Smooth Talking Stranger (Travises #3) by Lisa Kleypas - $1 at the used bookstore. I haven't started this series yet but, when I do, I will have book 3 all ready for me.

Devil In Winter (Wallflowers #3) by Lisa Kleypas - Can you sense a theme? Yes, I may be obsessed with Lisa Kleypas. I am dying to read book #1 of the Wallflowers series. I will probably get it on my kindle.

Stray by Rachel Vincent - Another series I've been meaning to start and only $3.50 at the store.

River Marked by Patricia Briggs - I love the Mercy Thompson series! This just came out in paperback and I had to get it for my collection.

After The Golden Age by Carrie Vaughn - I totally bought this just because of the cover. I mean the synopsis sounds good, too, but I picked it up based solely on the cover.

Borrowed (library ebooks)

The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong - I've been wanting to start this series for awhile now. Thank you, library!

Fire by Kristen Cashore - I know. I know. I haven't even read Graceling yet but this became available in my library's ebook database and I had to snatch it up. Hopefully I will start Graceling soon.

For Review
Pride and Popularity by Jenni James - I really have no idea why this came to me. I don't think I signed up for it or entered any giveaways for it. Came from the publisher to my house. Sounds kind of interesting but I am not sure if it's really my thing. We'll see if I get a chance to read it.

Follow Thuy on Twitter @fishgirl182

Corsets, Kisses & Kleypas Blog Hop

2012-02-17T22:00:00.000-08:00

Hi and welcome to the Corsets, Kisses & Kleypas Blog Hop! This giveaway is all about Lisa Kleypas so I am giving away a book of your choice from Lisa's back catalog up to $10 from Book Depository. This giveaway is international. As long as BD ships to your country, then it's fair game. You're welcome to choose whichever Kleypas book you'd like but below are a few of my faves. Please see below for rules and to enter the giveaway and thanks to Under The Covers for hosting.

The Rules:

1. You must have 13 years or older to enter this giveaway.

2. Please don't leave any personal information in the blog comments. All the info we need will be collected by Rafflecopter.

3. Winner will be picked via Rafflecopter and random.org.

4. Giveaway is international as long as Book Depository delivers to your country.

5. You do not have to follow our blog to win, but it's always appreciated.

Thanks for visiting! Please visit the other blogs that are participating in the blog hop. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Firelight by Kristen Callihan - Review

2012-02-16T20:30:00.000-08:00

Firelight (Darkest London #1) by Kristen Callihan

Publication date: 31 January 2012 by Grand Central Publishing

ISBN 10/13: 1455508594 | 9781455508594
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Category: Adult Historical Romance/Paranormal Supsense
Keywords: Paranormal, romance, suspense, gothic, London, fire
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook (e-ARC received from Netgalley)

From goodreads:

London, 1881

Once the flames are ignited . . .

Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman.

They will burn for eternity . . .

Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.

Thuy's Review:

Firelight is the thrilling and passionate debut novel from Kristen Callihan. The first book in her Darkest London series, Firelight is what would happen if a historical romance and paranormal mystery got together and had a book baby. An exciting, romantic, sensual and captivating (so many adjectives!) story that you won’t want to put down.

Set in Gothic London in the 1800s, Callihan does a great job of creating an atmospheric and mysterious setting for her story. Born with a gift of fire, Miranda has hidden her true self her entire life, afraid of what might happen if her secret is revealed or the devastation that could occur if she ever lost control of her power. Archer comes across Miranda in an alley one dark evening and witnesses her boldness in the face of danger. Taken by her beauty and strength, he vows to come back for her. When her returns to London years later, Archer makes Miranda’s father an offer he cannot refuse and she becomes his wife.

I fell in love with Archer and Miranda! They are both fantastically well drawn and complex characters. Both cursed in their own ways, they are forced to hide their true selves from society. However, they each find a counterpoint in the other, a person who understands them and accepts them for who they are. With Archer, Miranda’s power becomes her strength and she is able to see past Archer’s curse to the man inside.

Arch is perfect as the devilishly mysterious Duke. A cross between the perfect English gentleman and the marauding bandit, he’s charming but also moody and arrogant. There’s also an inherent sadness to him, brought on by years of isolation. I loved the vulnerable moments he had with Miranda. At first, Archer thinks he’ll be able to marry but also keep his wife at arm’s length. But Miranda is no wilting wallflower and won’t stand for a husband who keeps too many secrets. I loved how fearless and brave Miranda was. Even without her power, she is formidable fighter. With it, she’s a force of nature. Her red hair matches her fiery personality and she is also extremely loyal and clever.

The chemistry between Archer and Miranda was red hot! Their heated arguments and playful exchanges had me blushing and wanting more. But their connection is more than just a physical attraction and I loved watching them get to know each other and start to trust each other with their secrets. The weakest part of the book for me was the murder mystery/serial killer. I actually figured out who the killer was pretty early on, but I did like how everything ends up coming full circle.

It’s hard to categorize this book. Historical romance, suspense, fantasy, mystery - it’s all of those things and more. A truly original and surprising story, I fell in love with this world and the characters in it. This is one of my favorite reads so far this year. I am dying to read Book 2, Moonglow, which comes out in August. To tide myself over, I bought the short prequel to Firelight, Ember, available as an ebook. Do yourself a favor and pick yourself up a copy of Firelight NOW. You won’t be sorry. :)

P.S. - Keep an eye out for a giveaway of this book soon. We love it and want to share it with our readers. :)

Also available

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Visit the author online at kristencallihan.com, follow her on Twitter @Kris10Callihan, or on Facebook

Hearts & Hugs

2012-02-14T05:30:00.000-08:00

I know a lot of people don't like Valentine's Day. They argue that it's a manufactured holiday with no real purpose. But, to me, it's the best kind of holiday. It's a holiday with no real reason for existing except to remind us to tell our friends and family that they are loved and appreciated. Instead of letting it remind me of what I don't have, I think Valentine's Day is a great day to remind me of all of the wonderful people in my life. It also has great candy (second only to Easter) and I love red and pink together. This holiday is a win all around.

So today, on Valentine's Day, I just wanted to tell all of my readers out there that you are awesome. Thank you for coming by and reading and commenting. You make my day brighter and more fun and I hope that today is a great day for you. I am giving you all a big cyber hug (Can you feel it? I am squeezing pretty hard.) I hope your day is filled with cupcakes and sweet things that make you smile. Happy Valentine's Day!

If you want to see how many cupcakes Thuy ate on Valentine's Day, ask her on twitter @fishgirl182 and ask her.

Trailer Tease: Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter

2012-02-13T12:16:00.000-08:00

To tell you the truth, this movie hasn't really been on my radar. I knew it was in production and all but I wasn't really that interested in it. I liked Grahame-Smith's Pride and Prejudice and Zombies but Abe Lincolin as a vampire hunter just didn't pique my interest. But given the pedigree of this film, it looks like it could be really fun. What do you guys think? Are you going to see it this summer?

Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter hits theaters on June 22, 2012.

Official Websites: Twitter, Facebook

In My Mailbox (20)

2012-02-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It gives book bloggers the chance to share what they’ve bought/borrowed/received!

I don't have too much to show this week. My Feb goals are to really try and read the books I have at home instead of going out and buying/borrowing more books. We'll see how I do, as I really can't resist a good kindle deal or the library. We'll see...

Bought

Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne (SIGNED) - I was so so excited to be able to go to Sara's book signing at Children's Book World last weekend and picked up a signed copy of Harbinger. Gorgeous cover with pretty pictures inside.

Forever Mine (The Rumor #0.5) by Delilah Marville (ebook) - Haven't heard of this series but it was FREE on kindle so I am giving it a go. It has some very good positive reviews and who doesn't love a duke?

Borrowed

Swoon by Nina Malkin - Alethea was kind enough to let me borrow a couple of books from her vast collection. This one is supposed to be quite steamy.

Looking for Alaska by John Green - I have to get up to date on my John Green. Love the title of this one.

Received
Cinder by Marissa Meyer - YESSSSS! I won a copy of the awesome Cinder from the Almost Grown Up blog. It came with this nifty little mirror. Thank you Jennifer and MacMillan for this.

But this thing I am most excited for that I got this week? Ready for it? TA DA!

Yes, it is Nite Lite swag! My partner in crime, Alethea, designed these gorgeous bookmarks and made the buttons for the blogs. The bookmarks came our really nice and are double sided to boot. One side is for Nite Lite and the other is for Read Now Sleep Later. I am just in love with them. We''ll probably do some kind of giveaway soon where you can win some of this swag. Or if you happen to read this post and want a bookmark, email me at the address in our Contact page and I'll send you one. :)

Does anyone have big plans for the weekend? I may go see Haywire. Yes, it looks like it could be bad, but I love a woman who can kick some butt and Michael Fassbender is easy on the eyes. :)

Follow Thuy on Twitter @fishgirl182

January NetGalley Month Recap

2012-02-10T13:00:00.000-08:00

NetGalley January Month hosted by Red House Books ended last week and I think I did OK. I still have a large queue of NG books but I did manage to read some that I've been wanting to get to and have whittled the list down a little. A lot of the reviews are not up yet (still working on my resolution to write reviews in a more timely manner). Below is my list of NG books read last month. If you're interested, Red House is hosting a year long NetGalley Reading Challenge. I am not going to sign up just because I don't think I will be able to keep track very well but I think it's a great challenge and a good way to read those NG books. I know just being more conscious of the effort in Jan led me to read way more from my NG queue than I think I would have on my own. Alright, here's my Jan list.

Heart of a Killer by Jaci Burton
Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey (reviewed)

Undeniably Yours by Shannon Stacey (reviewed)

Firelight by Kristen Callihan (awesome!)

Obsidian by Jennifer L Armentrout (love) (reviewed)

Cinder by Marissa Meyer (also love)

Thanks for reading and come by again soon and I promise I'll have some of these reviews up either here or on Read Now Sleep Later for YA reviews. :)

Undeniably Yours by Shannon Stacey - Review

2012-02-08T11:00:00.000-08:00

Exclusively Yours (Kowalskis #1) by Shannon Stacey

Publication date: 24 January 2012 by Harlequin

ISBN 10/13: 0373776853 | 9780373776856

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Category: Adult Romance
Keywords: Romance, family, contemporary
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook (e-ARC received from Netgalley)

Thuy's Review:

Undeniably Yours is the second book in Shannon Stacey’s Kowalski series. If you read my review on the first book, you’ll know that I wasn’t crazy about the female lead and that the story, though it had potential, fell a little flat for me. While I actually liked Undeniably more than Exclusively, the book still suffered from the same problems as the first book which prevented this one from getting a higher rating from me.

Kevin Kowalski is introduced in the first book as the younger, playful brother of Joseph Kowalski. After suffering through his wife’s affair with his boss, Kevin quits the police force and buys a sports bar. Kevin is content to play the field, never going for the serious relationship. After his divorce and the devastation of the affair, he isn’t after any kind of serious relationship. Bet runs into Kevin again at his brother’s wedding after an altercation at his bar. The attraction is immediate and Beth and Kevin end up spending the night together. Beth leaves before Kevin wakes up but finds herself in a predicament a few weeks later when she realizes that she is pregnant with Kevin’s child. A wanderer by nature, Beth definitely doesn’t want to settle down, especially with a player like Kevin. But she decides to keep the baby and she and Kevin begin their seemingly friends only “neighbors who happen to to be having a baby together” relationship.

Like the last book, my main problem was that the female lead seemed to be way less into than the relationship than the male. In this case, we get a little more background to Beth so her reluctance to tie herself down is somewhat understandable. While she describes her parents as “smothering,” we do not get a lot of insight into why it was so terrible or overbearing. Her adopting a transient lifestyle because of it doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense. I just felt like there was more to the story I was missing that would have helped me understand her better. It’s obvious that she cares about Kevin but she keeps pushing him away. She was so frustrating at times when she would fight Kevin and herself just to prove a point about being independent and not needing anyone. I felt bad for him because he clearly wanted more than she was willing to give him.

And Kevin, oh Kevin. Boyishly charming and good natured despite Beth’s issues, Kevin takes the news of his impending fatherhood in stride. He was just too adorable most of the time and I totally have a crush on him. His patience with Beth is commendable and it eventually pays off. Even though I didn’t love Beth at first, it was nice to see her finally admit her feelings for Kevin and allow herself and Kevin the happy future that they both deserve. Despite its flaws, I enjoyed this book and would definitely read another book by this author in the future.

One other small note about the Paulie and Sam storyline. I loved Sam and Paulie! They are hot together and Paulie is pretty awesome. I think I could have read a whole book just about them.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Visit the author online at http://shannonstacey.com and follow her on Twitter @ShannonStacey

Love Is in the Air Blog Hop - Giveaway

2012-02-06T21:00:00.000-08:00

Look, we can't help it--we love to get books, and we love to give them away!

Today's blog hop is hosted by Under the Covers Book Blog. The hop runs from Feb 7-14, 2012.

If you win, we'll send you the book of your choice from an author who is attending the Passion and Prose conference in Long Beach, CA. (We are not sure we're going yet, so we can't guarantee it will be signed.) You can choose 1 book, it just has to be one of the 50 awesome authors at Passion and Prose! For more info about the event, visit authorsarerockstars.com.

Click here to find out which authors will be in attendance!

May we suggest the following?

Don't forget to visit all the other awesome blogs on this hop, and enter to win more books on the Hot Books Blog Hop!

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In My Mailbox (19)

2012-02-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It gives book bloggers the chance to share what they’ve bought/borrowed/received!

I had a pretty small haul this week, which is good. I am finishing up Netgalley month and for Feb I think my goal will be to try to read the books I have (which are many). Bought a couple of ebooks and tried not to go too crazy at the library this week. But the best thing my mailman brought me was my new laptop! Yes, after working on a super old Mac and before that a really old desktop, I finally have a new shiny laptop. It's a PC (sorry Mac fans) but it's great. So nice to be able to just open a document and type without having to wait 5 minutes. Alright, enough of that. Look - books!

Bought

Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey (ebook) - I've been wanting to read this one for awhile and it went on sale in ebook for $1.99. A steal!

Ember by Kristen Callihan (ebook) - Prequel to her novel Firelight, which I loved and will be reviewed here soon. Only $0.99!

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally (ebook) - This one went on sale for $4.99 and I couldn't resist.

Borrowed

The Devil Wears Plaid by Teresa Madeiros - Another Highlander romance. God love the Scots.

Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty - Heard really good things about this book and finally decided to grab it from the library.

Storm Front by Jim Butcher (library digital audiobook) - It only took me about 2 hours to figure out how to install the security patch that would allow me to listen to Overdrive audio, but it was worth it. I read Storm Front a couple of years ago and, while I liked it, I didn't love it. I keep hearing amazing things about the audio though and the reader, James Marsters of Buffy fame. Can't wait to give this a listen!

Tempt Me At Twilight by Lisa Kleypas - Finally got my hands on the third book in the Hathaways series. I have vowed not to start this one until I finish by review for book two.

Received

The Hidden Gallery (The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place #2) by Maryrose Wood - I read the first book in this series and enjoyed it. My friend found the second book while she was moving and kindly gifted it to me.

Dead To You by Lisa McMann (ARC) - This one sounds really intriguing. I've always wondered what happens to those missing children who somehow find their way back to their families but years later. Thanks to Simon & Schuster for this one.

Follow Thuy on Twitter @fishgirl182

Hot Books Blog Hop - Giveaway

2012-02-02T23:55:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone and welcome to the Hot Books Blog Hop! We are hosting our very first blog hop and it is an 18+ hop. With Valentine's Day right around the corner, we figured we'd give you something to warm the bed at night. This hop runs from Feb 3-10, 2012 and signups for it will remain OPEN during the duration of the hop. We'd like to give everyone the chance to participate and are allowing signups even after the hop starts. So please tell your friends.

Up for grabs is a book of your choice from the Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones. Jones just released Third Grave Dead Ahead, the third book in the series. I've read the first book and can already tell that it's going to be a favorite. Winner will be able to pick from their choice of any book in the series. Giveaway is International so just make sure Book Depository will ship to your country. And if you'd prefer an ebook, we can do that as well. Thanks for stopping by and good luck!

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Start hopping!

Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris - Review

2012-01-31T10:21:00.000-08:00

Dead Reckoning (Sookie Stackhouse #11) by Charlaine Harris
Publication date: 03 May 2011 by Penguin/Ace Roc
ISBN 10/13: 0441020313 | 9780441020317

Category: Adult Urban Fantasy
Keywords: Urban fantasy, vampires, weres, fae, shapeshifters
Format: Hardcover, eBook and audiobook

From goodreads:

With her knack for being in trouble's way, Sookie witnesses the firebombing of Merlotte's, the bar where she works. Since Sam Merlotte is now known to be two-natured, suspicion falls immediately on the anti-shifters in the area. Sookie suspects otherwise, but her attention is divided when she realizes that her lover Eric Northman and his "child" Pam are plotting to kill the vampire who is now their master. Gradually, Sookie is drawn into the plot-which is much more complicated than she knows.

Thuy's review:

Sookie finds herself once again in a whole heap of trouble when she witnesses a fire bomb at Merlotte’s. The suspicion falls on the anti-Shifter groups in the area but Sookie has her own ideas about who might be behind it the attack. Throw in an assassination plot to kill the current vampire king and Sookie may have bitten off more than she can chew.

Charlaine Harris gets back on track with Dead Reckoning. The last book in the series was a huge disappointment for me. It was bogged down with way to many characters and dry explanations of vampire politics. This book returns to what I loved about the series in the first place - fun and interesting characters, drama and hot vampires! There was a little less Bill than I would have liked (Team Bill!) but Eric was definitely great. Some changes to Sookie and Eric’s relationship happen that I think were inevitable. There’s also plenty of sweet, sexy Sam in this one. Harris seriously needs to give him a girlfriend who isn’t mean or crazy (and yes, I volunteer).

We see the return of fan fave Bubba in a rare concert performance and Amelia the witch even makes a brief appearance. Sookie learns more about her fae heritage and the origins of her telepathic ability. This revelation wasn’t quite what I was expecting but it’s a nice piece of the Sookie puzzle to have.

Dead Reckoning is a quick, fun read that reminds me why I originally started reading this series and why I love Sookie. Looking forward to the next installment!

say "twee!"

Find Thuy on Twitter @fishgirl182

In My Mailbox (18)

2012-01-28T23:30:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It gives book bloggers the chance to share what they’ve bought/borrowed/received! A friend of my friend went to ALA last week and came home with a box of books she didn't want/need. I got to borrow a bunch of ARCs from that box, which I am very excited about.

For Review

A Tryst with Trouble by Alyssa Everette (Netgalley) - After Alethea read this and gave it a glowing review, I knew I had to read it. Thanks to NG for this one.

Starters by Lissa Price (Netgalley) - This book has been popping up on a lot of blogs lately. I am not a huge fan of the cover, but the premise is really interesting. We actually ran into author Lissa Price at the Megan Miranda signing this week. Can't wait to read this one.

Bought

The San Francisco Chronicle Cookbook - Found this at Goodwill for $3. I am from SF and I can't resist a good cookbook. Hoping to look through it this weekend.

Fracture by Megan Miranda - Megan was signing at Vromans this week and I was lucky enough to be able to go. She was super sweet and I got my copy signed!

Borrowed

Emmy and the Rats in the Bellfry for Lynne Jonell - Totally a case where I picked this up based on cover alone.

Wildwood by Colin Melloy & Carson Ellis - I've been wanting to read this for awhile.

The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQueery - ARC borrowed from my friend. I just love the cover and it sounds good!

The Secret Letters by Leah Sheier - Intrigue and a connection to Sherlock Holmes. Sign me up!

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers - Can you believe I've never read a Courtney Summers book? Must remedy that.

BZRK by Michael Grant - This book looks intense. I haven't read any Michael Grant before but have heard only awesome things.

You Slay Me by Katie MacAlister - A fun looking romance/paranormal series that I have heard good things about.

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead (library ebook) - I love Vampire Academy and can't wait to read this one.

Won

Geek Wisdom - I am pretty geeky and I was lucky enough to win this book. It looks like a fun read.

That's what I have this week, kids. What's in your mailbox?

Follow Thuy on twitter @fishgirl182

Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey - Review

2012-01-26T14:24:00.000-08:00

Exclusively Yours (Kowalskis #1) by Shannon Stacey

Publication date: 20 December 2011 by Harlequin

ISBN 10/13: 0373776780 | 9780373776788
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Category: Adult Romance
Keywords: Romance, family
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook (e-ARC received from Netgalley)

From goodreads:

When Keri Daniels' editor finds out she has previous carnal knowledge of reclusive bestselling author Joe Kowalski, she gives Keri a choice: get an interview or get a new job.

Joe's never forgotten the first girl to break his heart, so he's intrigued to hear Keri's back in town--and looking for him. Despite his intense need for privacy, he'll grant Keri an interview if it means a chance to finish what they started in high school.

He proposes an outrageous plan--for every day she survives with his family on their annual camping and four-wheeling trip, Keri can ask one question. Keri agrees; she's worked too hard to walk away from her career.

But the chemistry between them is still as potent as the bug spray, Joe's sister is out to avenge his broken heart and Keri hasn't ridden an ATV since she was ten. Who knew a little blackmail, a whole lot of family and some sizzling romantic interludes could make Keri reconsider the old dream of Keri & Joe 2gether 4ever.

Thuy's review:

This is my first full length Shannon Stacey novel. I’d previously read her short shorty, Mistletoe & Margaritas, in the Holiday Kisses Anthology which I really enjoyed. I was excited to see that Stacey was coming out with a new series. Exclusively Yours is the first in the Kowalski family series and is the story of Joe Kowalski and his high school sweetheart Keri Daniels. Once the golden couple of their high school, Keri breaks it off with Joe after graduation and moves to California to pursue a career in journalism. Fast forward twenty years later and Keri’s moving up in the ranks at a gossip-y but popular entertainment magazine and Joe is a world famous fiction author. When Keri’s crazy obsessed boss learns of her former connection with Joe, she sends Keri off to get an exclusive interview with him, on pain of losing her job.

Joe hasn’t seen Carrie since the day she left and is as surprised as everyone is when she shows up back in town looking for him. Joe doesn’t want to make this easy on Keri and convinces her to go on the annual Kowalski camping trip in exchange for the interview. Keri’s not really the outdoors type but will do anything to get the interview. But the attraction and chemistry between Joe and Keri hasn’t gone away after all these years and both Keri and Joe start wondering if they have a future together.

This book was hard to rate for me. On one hand, I really enjoy Stacey’s writing style. The book was well written, funny and had a large cast of interesting and quirky characters. The chemistry between Joe and Keri is hot and their banter is fun and filled with sexual tension. Unfortunately the biggest problem I had with the book was Keri’s character. For most of the book she came off a superficial and ambitious, only trying to get what she wants from Joe before going back to her life in California. She makes light of serious topics and keeps reminding Joe and everyone else that she won’t be sticking around for long. I don’t actually believe she is this callous character but we get very little insight into her feelings. Late in the book we get a little peek into what she’s thinking and why she may have left Joe originally but it goes by quickly and isn’t fully explored. I just didn’t get the feeling for most of the book that she was as invested in the relationship as Joe.

On the other hand, I really liked Joe. Even though he sets out to take her camping as a bit of fun and petty revenge, it soon becomes obvious that his feeling for Keri haven’t gone away since they’ve been separated. He was devastated after she left and it look him a long time to pick up the pieces. He’s caring, sweet, and has a dark sense of humor. I loved how patient he was with Keri when she was freaking out about the camp facilities and riding on an ATV. I wanted to give him a big hug and take him home with me.

Joe and Keri’s romance isn’t the only thing going on in the book though. Since the whole Kowalski gang is there, there’s bound to be some other family drama. Joe’s sister Terry and her husband, Evan, are going through a separation. I wasn’t a huge fan of the Terry/Evan storyline. Terry’s been holding a grudge against Keri since they stopped being friends in high school and then Keri broke Joe’s heart, putting her at the top of Terry’s sh*tlist. Terry is unpleasant to Keri every chance she gets and has a pretty bad attitude most of the time and I just didn’t find myself caring for her marriage all that much. On the flip side, the story with Joe’s brother Mike and his wife Lisa ended up being super sweet. Even though I think both of these stories were meant to show the family dynamic, I found them at times to be a little overly involved, taking time away from Joe and Keri’s developing relationship.

I ended up giving this one 3 stars because I really do think this series has potential. Stacey has an easy to read style and I enjoyed the banter between the two leads. By the end of the book I was really rooting for Joe and Keri to get their happily ever after. The end of this book has a little tidbit into the next book, featuring Joe’s younger brother Kevin, and I am looking forward to reading his story.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Visit the author online at http://shannonstacey.com and follow her on Twitter @ShannonStacey

Immortal Rider by Larissa Ione - Review

2012-01-24T06:30:00.000-08:00

Immortal Rider (Lords of Deliverance #2) by Larissa Ione

Publication date: 01 December 2011 by Grand Central Publishing

ISBN 10/13: 0446574473 | 9780446574471
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Category: Adult Paranormal Romance
Keywords: Paranormal, romance, underworld, apocalypse, Four Horsemen
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook (e-ARC received from Netgalley)

Thuy's synopsis:

Immortal Rider is the story of Limos, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Sister to the other three Horsemen, Limos (aka Famine) has a pretty carefree existence living on a tropical Hawaiian island when she’s not trying to stop her evil brother Pestilence from destroying the world and protecting her Seal from breaking and causing the Apocalypse. And oh yeah - she’s also betrothed to Satan himself and he’s tired of waiting.

Arik’s a soldier in the R-XR, a paranormal military unit that works with The Aegis and it helping to prevent the Apocalypse. Unfortunately Arik doesn’t know that Limos is engaged when he kisses her and he’s dragged to Hell for his trouble. While Satan’s minions invent new and painful ways to torture Arik, Limos and her brothers try to find him down before Limos’ Seal breaks. But the trouble doesn’t end once Arik escapes. An evil plot to break the Seals and bring Hell on earth escalates and Arik and Limos find themselves in the middle of it.

Thuy's Review:

This was a hard review to write. I was so excited to get my hot little hands on this. I’ve been waiting for Arik’s story for awhile. He first showed up in Passion Unleashed as Runa’s overprotective and sometimes jerk brother. There was always something about Arik that intrigued me, even though he wasn’t always the most appealing character. I just knew there was more to him than what we were seeing. Unfortunately this book fell somewhat short of my expectations.

The book starts off strong with Arik making a move on Limos and getting pulled into Hell. While there, he is tortured beyond sanity but manages to hold it together and doesn’t betray Limos. I was touched by his show of loyalty in the face of incredible pain for a woman who barely knew. But that’s the type of guy Arik is - extremely loyal and stubborn, often thinking of others before himself. Limos, meanwhile is looking for him. As she does, we learn a lot more about her past and why she is the way she is. As the bride of Satan, she hasn’t had a lot of time for fun in her life and therefore, tries to live life to the fullest. She’s fiercely protective of her family and takes that protectiveness too far sometimes. She’s also a pretty bad ass fighter, which I love. While it doesn’t seem like the serious, solid Arik and the fun loving, party throwing Limos would make a good match, but they are. They both come from troubled backgrounds and have a lot of guilt that they’re trying to get over.

Unfortunately, I felt that it lost steam somewhere in the middle and Limos and Arik’s story became overshadowed by all of the subplots going on - from the Reaver/Harvester story to the Than/Regan storyline (which we’ll get into more in a bit) . Arik and Limos also spend quite a lot of time apart in this book. I don’t blame Arik too much as he was being tortured in hell, but because of the physical distance, I felt that Arik and Limos didn’t get enough time together to develop their relationship. I mean, they don’t even get a real love scene until the very end of the book and the scene that is supposed to be their official “first time” is somewhat heart breaking. Plus, where the heck is Satan? I thought for sure he’d show up at some point to claim Limos or at least try to kill someone, but it never happens.

There’s a lot of emphasis put on the Than/Regan relationship in this one as a setup to the next book. I have mixed feelings about this storyline. On the one hand, I feel that Regan and Than have great chemistry and the sort of love/hate relationship that I love. On the other hand, I find the reason that Regan was sent there to be somewhat distasteful and it’s hard to see how their relationship will work.

I did enjoy all of the cameos by the Sem brothers and the Demonica crew. Cara’s hellhound Hal even makes an appearance. Even though this wasn’t my favorite book, I still enjoyed it. I am definitely invested in the world and characters that Larissa Ione has created and am anxiously awaiting the next installment.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Visit the author online at www.larissaione.com and follow her on Twitter @LarissaIone

Uncovered: Even White Trash Zombies Get The Blues

2012-01-23T17:17:00.000-08:00

Uncovered is a new feature of sorts where I will share a book cover and give some thoughts on it. I don't know if this will be a regular feature or just something I post when I find have something to share, but we'll see how it goes.

Thoughts: I am LOVING this cover! It's no secret that I bought the first book in the series based solely on its cover (all the gorgeous pink!) and I really thought that the new cover would have a hard time competing. However, Dan Dos Santos does it again and delivers a fantastic cover for the sequel. I love the blue theme and the graffiti writing for the title. Angel's hair looks awesome again. Small details like the grimy toilet and her exasperated expression add to the overall feel of it. What do you think? Love it, hate it? Which do you like better? I am torn between the two. I really love the first cover but the new one is pretty awesome. I reserve choosing a favorite for now. I'd love to hear what you think! Even White Trash Zombies Gets The Blues comes out July 3, 1012.

Previous covers in the series

Visit the author online at www.dianarowland.com or on Twitter @DianaRowland

In My Mailbox (17)

2012-01-21T23:30:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It gives book bloggers the chance to share what they’ve bought/borrowed/received!

Keeping it pretty low key this week. After last week's book buying binge I am trying not to purchase too many books. I am also participating in Netgalley month and have been trying really hard to read my NG books. I think I am doing a pretty good job so far. Now let's see what I got.

Bought

Glitches by Marissa Meyer - This is a short prequel to Cinder, which I just finished this week and loved. I can't wait for book 2. I am hoping this will tide me over for a little while.

Borrowed

IQ84 by Haruki Murakami (ebook) - I've actually never read a Murakami book. I know - for shame! But I have friends who are fans so I wanted to give this one a go.

Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday - I've heard good things about this one and who doesn't love a murder mystery?

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier - This is one of my friend's favorite books. I've seen the Hitchcock movie and liked it. I hear the book is even better.

What's in your mailbox this week?

Follow Thuy on twitter @fishgirl182