Amberkatze's Book Blog

Contest Winner Announcement & Contest Reminder!

noreply@blogger.com (Amberkatze) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 12:00:00 +0000

After a slow start the Jennifer Estep contest still managed to get a few entries! Check out her books! They are AMAZING!

The contest is now over! Let's see who won!

Just a reminder, the prize was :

To celebrate the release of the third book in the Mythos Academy Series, Jennifer was giving away a copy of Touch of Frost, Kiss of Frost and Dark Frost!

So congrats to :

Cheryl!!!

Keep reading to find out how to claim your prize!

Didn't win this time? The Justin Gustainis contest is still open! You have till Sunday to enter!

Also keep a look out for the new Monthly Giveaway! Coming Soon!

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The Mythos Academy Series :

#0.5 - First Frost
#1 - Touch of Frost
#1.5 - Halloween Frost (Inside 'Entangled')
#2 - Kiss of Frost
#3 - Dark Frost (Due for release on May 29th)

Amazon.com Widgets

Elemental Assassin Series

#1 - Spider’s Bite
#2 - Web of Lies
#3 - Venom
#4 - Tangled Threads
#5 - Spider’s Revenge
#5.5 - Thread of Death
#6 - By a Thread
#7 - Widow’s Web (Due out in August)

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How to claim your prize!

Please contact me via email - Amberkatzes_book_blog at gmx dot eu within the next 7 days to claim your prize. Your claim will go quicker if you send me your address. If you won a contest where you can choose your prize, then please make sure you state in your email which book you would like. This will help things go alot quicker! If you won an e-book please make sure you send me the email address you would like the book sent to!

If you email me and don't get a reply within 48 hours please post on the blog letting me know. Some email gets eaten by my spam filter. However please don't send me more than one email unless you really don't get an answer within 3 days. I am not online 24/7 ;) Sometimes it takes a little longer to reply.

If a prize isn't claimed after 7 days I will, if the author agrees, pick another winner.

Please also note that I can not be held responsible for prizes that come direct from authors. I will check with them for you if you haven't received your prize but I can not hunt down your mail! Any prizes that come from myself could come from a 3rd party eg. Amazon or Bookdepository. If I am sending a prize myself please be aware that it could take a few weeks to reach you as it is coming from Europe.

Have you 'Liked' Amberkatze's Book Blog on Facebook?

Never miss out on a new Author Event, Contest or Book Review! Subscribe Now!

Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)

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79) It Takes A Witch by Heather Blake

noreply@blogger.com (Amberkatze) — Thu, 31 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

The Blurb :

Darcy Merriweather has just discovered she hails from a long line of Wishcrafters-witches with the power to cast spells by making a wish. She's come to Enchanted Village to learn her trade but finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation...

My Thoughts :

Ok I will admit that the cover was the first thing that got my attention. I am a sucker for a cute cover and the title has the word 'witch' in it so I was instantly sold. This was one of those books I desperately just wanted to buy but my budget and own book buying restrictions were against me. So when I finally got a copy I couldn't wait to try it.

I love a nice cozy mystery and I am always on the look out for ones that mix some more paranormal elements into the story. 'It Takes A Witch' had everything I expected and just that little bit more. Cute but serious when needed this debut in the Wishcrafter Mysteries was just to die for.

A new concept in the theme of witches and a lovely setting. Great characters and a wonderful writing style made this book a fabulous read. Sure there are the little 'first book in a series' bits of having to introduce everyone and everything but the author made the whole idea so interesting that the explanations and world building was a nice stroll in between the exciting plot.

A magical experience awaits the reader of this new series. I was thoroughly impressed and couldn't put it down. Great new twists on the witch aspect and a lovely bunch of fun characters to accompany you. I really can't wait to see what happens next and well...after posting this review I am off to pre-order the sequel that comes out in Summer.

Amazon.com Widgets

78) Hunting Kat by Kelley Armstrong

noreply@blogger.com (Amberkatze) — Wed, 30 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

The Blurb :

Kat is a sixteen-year-old vampire, and she's not too happy about it. After an experiment-gone-wrong and a bullet to the heart, she now hungers for human blood, and the worst part about that is the guilt. But guilt isn't the only thing stressing her. Kat is being hunted by the Edison Group, a dangerous Cabal that is responsible for her undead state.

Kat is running out of places to hide, and she has no one to turn to—until she meets Chad and Neil. They're on the run like she is, and they offer to help Kat against their common enemy. But the boys aren't all that they seem, and for Kat, deciding whether to trust them may be a matter of life or death.

My Thoughts :

Hunting Kat is a short story that takes place in the Darkest Powers/Darkness Rising world that fans will have come to know and love. There isn't much really to tell about this novella other than it surprises by bringing in vampires to the mix. I believe that they have been mentioned in the previous books but an actual vampire experiment is, from what I can remember, new. Maybe it is a preview of what is to come in the next three Young Adult installments?

If you have been following the series you will know all about the Edison Group and what the other teens have gone through. This means Hunting Kat will make a lot of sense. If you haven't already enjoyed this special series then you will get a little insight into the world and basic story line.

Any lovers of Armstrong's work will enjoy this short tale. How the author manages to put some much feeling and action into such a short story is mystery but she does is well. The novella left me satisfied and even though I would have loved a full length novel, Hunting Kat took the edge off. Now I don't mind waiting a little more for the next delicious story.

Darkest Powers

#1 - The Summoning
#2 - The Awakening
#3 - The Reckoning

Darkness Rising

#1 - The Calling
#2 - The Gathering
#3 - The Rising (Due out in 2013)

Amazon.com Widgets

77) I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

noreply@blogger.com (Amberkatze) — Tue, 29 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

The Blurb :

I've lost it. The only thing in the world I wasn't supposed to lose. My engagement ring. It's been in Magnus's family for three generations. And now, the very same day his parents are coming, I've lost it. The very same day. Do not hyperventilate, Poppy. Stay positive!!

Poppy Wyatt has never felt luckier. She is about to marry the ideal man, Magnus Tavish, but in one afternoon her 'happy ever after' begins to fall apart. Not only has she lost her engagement ring but in the panic that followed, she has now lost her phone. As she paces shakily round the hotel foyer she spots an abandoned phone in a bin. Finders keepers! Now she can leave a number for the hotel to contact her when they find her ring. Perfect!

Well, perfect except the phone's owner, businessman Sam Roxton doesn't agree. He wants his phone back and doesn't appreciate Poppy reading all his messages and wading into his personal life.

What ensues is a hilarious and unpredictable turn of events as Poppy and Sam increasingly upend each other's lives through emails and text messages. As Poppy juggles wedding preparations, mysterious phone calls and hiding her left hand from Magnus and his parents... she soon realises that she is in for the biggest surprise of her life.

My Thoughts :

Yes! Yes! I know! This isn't my usual paranormal filled read. However sometimes I need a break from the vamps and other monsters. Back in the old days, before I discovered Paranormal Urban Fantasy, I used to read quite a few chick-lit books. Now I don't have much time or energy for them but there are a few authors I like to keep up with whenever possible and Sophie Kinsella is one of them. So when I came across this book on Audible I decided it was high time I caught up.

I won't bore you all with a long review because it will most likely not interest many of you. However I will say that the story, characters and plot were great. Sure there were a few moments when I thought 'God Poppy you are being an idiot' and wondered why she hadn't done things differently but it was all part of the web the author was weaving and I giggled and gasped as things unfolded.

What struck me most about this story was the realisation that mobile phones are exactly this special to us nowadays. Poppy's attachment to the phone seemed over the top but when you think about it, well it seems practically logical. Technology has a hold of us these days and I could see exactly where the poor girl was coming from.

A great tale that had me laughing and rolling my eyes. I loved the outcome and even though I thought I knew what was going to happen it still took me by surprise and made me smile. Sophie Kinsella is a great author and if she just added a few ghosts or something...well...I would love her work even more ;)

Contest Reminder

noreply@blogger.com (Amberkatze) — Mon, 28 May 2012 12:57:00 +0000

So I just wanted to remind you guys about the two wonderful contests that are open right now.

After a bit of a slow start (my fault) there is the Jennifer Estep Contest which will stay open till Thursday.

Just enter the contest by answering the question and you could win a copy of Touch of Frost, Kiss of Frost and Dark Frost!

---------------------------

The Mythos Academy Series :

#0.5 - First Frost
#1 - Touch of Frost
#1.5 - Halloween Frost (Inside 'Entangled')
#2 - Kiss of Frost
#3 - Dark Frost (Due for release on May 29th)

Amazon.com Widgets

Then there is the Justin Gustainis contest!

Check out the interview and then answer the question to enter! You could win a copy of his latest release Evil Dark. The winner can choose either a signed print copy, or a digital copy (either ePub or Mobi)

You have till Sunday to enter!

------------------------------

Occult Crimes Unit Investigations

#1 - Hard Spell
#2 - Evil Dark

Quincey Morris

#1 - Black Magic Woman
#2 - Evil Ways
#3 - Sympathy For The Devil

Guest Blog with Justin

Amazon.com Widgets

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For more chances to win -

Post about this giveaway somewhere on the internet eg. Facebook, Myspace, Twitter etc. Make sure you post the link here so I can confirm your extra entry.

Email your friends about this giveaway. Make sure you add my email address so I also get a copy and can confirm your entry. Amberkatzes_Book_Blog@gmx.eu

Do you 'Like' Amberkatze's Book Blog? Facebook It!

Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)

Just a little Spring Cleaning

noreply@blogger.com (Amberkatze) — Mon, 28 May 2012 09:30:00 +0000

I haven't been happy with the blog layout for a while and I started checking out what other templates were on offer and one thing led to another...well you see what happened ;)

Did something disappear? Is there something you would like to see added? Feedback in general is appreciated!

Of course I am not totally 100% happy with the layout right now but it is a lot less messy and all over the place than the previous one.

Apologies to anyone who had to put up with the changes as they were happening. Hopefully the main changes are over.

Guest Blog & Contest with Author Justin Gustainis

noreply@blogger.com (Amberkatze) — Sun, 27 May 2012 14:08:00 +0000

So I read a lot. However some of those books are just beyond impressive and are just ones I couldn't live without. Justin Gustainis writes those kinds of books and when each one is released I am compelled to read, laugh and cringe at all the yummy paranormal delights he packs into his books.

Evil Dark, Justin's second installment in the Occult Crimes Unit Investigations, is out now! And like all of his books it is well worth every penny! If you haven't already had the pleasure of reading his work I highly recommend that you don't wait too much longer. You are missing a huge treat!

Justin managed to get me a copy of a never before released exclusive interview with Detective Stan Markowski, who stars in Evil Dark. I hope you enjoy it, buy Justin's books and enter this weeks contest! In that order ;)

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TRUTH OR DARE WITH SGT. STAN

This is the city -- Scranton, Pennsylvania. In a world where all the monsters from your nightmares -- ghouls, werewolves, vampires, demons -- really exist, Stan Markowski is the living answer to the question, "Who you gonna call?"

Sgt. Stan is a veteran detective on the Scranton Police Department's Occult Crimes Unit, and he has graciously agreed to sit down with Your Humble Correspondent for a friendly game of "Truth or Dare."

YHC: Okay, Stan, are you ready to begin?

SM: The department's Public Affairs Office says I hafta to do this -- so, yeah, I guess so.

YHC: Truth or dare?

SM: Truth

YHC: What made you to decide to become a cop?

SM: Ah, I got bored with college. I was a student at "Da U," which is what everybody around here calls the University of Scranton -- Go Royals! -- and decided that I wanted more excitement than I was getting in Theology 304, or one of those other classes.

YHC: Theology? Stan "the Man" Markowski was studying ... Theology?

SM: I wasn't majoring in it -- my major was Poli Sci. But we all had to take a bunch of philosophy and theology courses..?

YHC: Because "Da U" is a Jesuit university?

SM: You got it. Hey -- do you know how many Jesuits it takes to change a light bulb?

YHC: I know I'm gonna regret saying this, but -- how many?

SM: None. Inside five minutes, they'll talk you into changing it.

YHC: I should have known. Okay -- truth or dare?

SM: Aren't we supposed to, like, take turns with that stuff?

YHC: No, this is the way it's played.

SM: You sure?

YHC: Positive. So -- truth or dare?

SM: Truth.

YHC: How do you feel about vampires?

SM: That's complicated.

YHC: "That's complicated" isn't an acceptable response in "Truth or Dare," Stan.

SM: Okay, okay. I used to hate vampires -- I mean really hate 'em. Time was, I'd as soon stake a bloodsucker as look at him.

YHC: How come? I know that a lot of humans dislike vampires, just on general principles.

SM: No, with me, it was personal. Years ago, a vampire killed my wife.

YHC: I'm sorry to hear that. Did you ever find out which vampire was responsible?

YHC: I'm so sorry to hear that. Did you ever catch the vampire responsible?

SM: Yeah, I caught up with him.

YHC: And?

SM: Next question.

YHC: How did they come to join the ranks of the bloodsucking undead?

SM: Some guy named Gustainis wrote a book about it, called Hard Spell. You should read it.

YHC: There's another book about you, too, isn't there? Called Evil Dark?

SM Yeah -- you should read that one, too. And buy copies for all your friends -- I get royalties.

YHC: Okay, truth or dare?

SM: Truth.

YHC: How come you pick "Truth" every time?

SM: Are you kiddin' me? I pick "Dare," and then you say something like "Now lick my butthole."

YHC: I would never ask you to do something like that, Stan. But, just to be fair, I'll let you take a turn. Go ahead.

SM: Okay -- truth or dare?

YHC: Dare.

SM: Lick my butthole.

YHC: Sgt. Stan Markowski, thank you for playing "Truth or Dare" with us, today. We now return you to Amberkatze's regularly scheduled blog.

------------------------------

Occult Crimes Unit Investigations

#1 - Hard Spell
#2 - Evil Dark

Quincey Morris

#1 - Black Magic Woman
#2 - Evil Ways
#3 - Sympathy For The Devil

Guest Blog with Justin

Amazon.com Widgets

Contest Details!

Justin is giving away a copy of his latest release Evil Dark. The winner can choose either a signed print copy, or a digital copy (either ePub or Mobi)

How To Enter

Who would you like to interview?

No Answer = No Entry

'Please enter me' posts will NOT be counted as an entry

Earn more entries for each link you place about this contest on the net. You can post on Facebook, Twitter & MySpace but make sure you add links here for me to confirm your entries! However please do not make individual postings for each entry. Please post all your entries in one post.

Advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog on your site and get an extra entry for this and every other contest!

↑ Grab this Headline Animator

Have you 'Liked' Amberkatze's Book Blog on Facebook?

You can also earn extra entries by emailing your friends about the contest. Just make sure you send a copy of your email or receipt to me at Amberkatzes_book_blog at gmx dot net.

Make sure you post your links here so I can confirm your entries.

Keep the contests going by using the Bookdepository.com and Amazon.com links/Banners below and around the site.

The contest will stay open until 4pm on Sunday 3rd June (Central European Time) and the winner will be picked by a randomizer. Entrants should check back to see if they have won. I do not hunt down winners and will pick new winners for any prizes not claimed within 7 days.

Jennifer Estep Contest! (includes apology....)

noreply@blogger.com (Amberkatze) — Sat, 26 May 2012 12:35:00 +0000

So there is me wondering why nobody has entered the amazing Jennifer Estep Contest and then I noticed the comments option had been turned off!

I am soooo sorry!! I should have noticed sooner!

So please feel free to go enter now and because of the technical error I will leave the contest open a few more days!

Go Enter Now! You could win a set of the whole Mythos Academy series!

---------------------------

The Mythos Academy Series :

#0.5 - First Frost
#1 - Touch of Frost
#1.5 - Halloween Frost (Inside 'Entangled')
#2 - Kiss of Frost
#3 - Dark Frost (Due for release on May 29th)

Amazon.com Widgets

76) Fang Me by Parker Blue

noreply@blogger.com (Amberkatze) — Sat, 26 May 2012 12:14:00 +0000

The bLurb :

The vampires want it. The demons want it, too. And someone is willing to kill Val for it.Val and Fang have to find the powerful Encyclopedia Magicka before either of San Antonio's warring underworld factions locate it or the consequences will be deadly for the entire city. As usual, Val's vampire enemies (they still call her The Slayer) want her dead. Even some of her fellow demons may be less than trustworthy, since they'd like to grab the legendary book of spells before she does. Val has a personal claim to the Encyclopedia--her demon father left it to her when he died--but someone stole it recently. And that can't be good.Battling vamps and dodging demons, Val struggles to unravel the mystery and find the thief.

At the same time, she's fighting her attraction to sweet, sexy Shade--her favorite shadow demon. Rumor has it that Val will lose her part-demon, vampire-fighting powers if she gives herself to him.With a crowd of vamps and demons out to trick her or kill her, it's not a good time for her to risk her job as the city's best vampire hunter by falling in love. The stakes are high and aimed right at her heart. But Lola, Val's hungry little lust demon, doesn't like being denied. Will Lola finally get her way? What's a part-lust-demon-teen supposed to do? Whatever it takes.

My Thoughts :

This third part in the Underground Demon Series has spent so long gathering dust on my Kindle that I already have the fourth part ready to read. So it was high time that I got stuck back into the fun and quirky demon filled world that Parker Blue has created in this enjoyable series. The story starts off pretty much from where it left off in book two, Try Me, and it didn't take me very long to get my bearings and slip back into the life of Val.

Everything went as I expected. Of course Val had to do some work for the vamps and it was obvious that the search for the Encyclopedia Magicka would be the main focus this time around. What I didn't expect was Trevor who made the search that much more interesting. I also found the lack of the SCU a huge surprise and disappointment. What I did love was the humour and wit of Val's dog Fang and the great storyline that kept me reading till the end.

This is a Young Adult series but with Val being a succubus it really passes as a read for adults. The lust and sex parts are actually very toned down but the idea is always there and Val has become such an extremely independent and mature teenager that I constantly find myself shocked when the story mentions her age. The writing style is near perfect and there is no confusion about what is going on and who is who. All in all this is a great series that is turning into a must read for me.

Book four, Make Me, is going to get read sooner rather than later and I am expecting puppies and a lot of training. I can't wait!

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Demon Underground Series

#1 - Bite Me
#2 - Try Me
#3 - Fang Me
#4 - Make Me

Amazon.com Widgets

Jennifer Estep Contest!

noreply@blogger.com (Amberkatze) — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

It is hard to pick a favourite author but one writer who definitely wins a spot in my top 10 is Jennifer Estep! Her books are just to die for and she never disappoints.

On the 29th of May the wait is over for Estep fans. A new installment in the Mythos Academy Series is released. Dark Frost is, like the rest of the series, a great read with an original concept. If you haven't already tried this series or any of Jennifer's books then you are really missing out on an amazing Urban Fantasy treat.

To celebrate the release of Dark Frost Jennifer is giving away a copy of Touch of Frost, Kiss of Frost and Dark Frost! That is all of the full length books in the Mythos Series so far!

Scroll down to find out how to win!

---------------------------

The Mythos Academy Series :

#0.5 - First Frost
#1 - Touch of Frost
#1.5 - Halloween Frost (Inside 'Entangled')
#2 - Kiss of Frost
#3 - Dark Frost (Due for release on May 29th)

Amazon.com Widgets

Contest Details!

US ONLY - Jennifer is giving away a copy of Touch of Frost, Kiss of Frost and Dark Frost!

How To Enter

In the Mythos Academy Gwen Frost uses her psychometry magic to find things. If you had her ability what would you like to find?

No Answer = No Entry

'Please enter me' posts will NOT be counted as an entry

Advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog on your site and get an extra entry for this and every other contest!

↑ Grab this Headline Animator

Have you 'Liked' Amberkatze's Book Blog on Facebook?

You can also earn extra entries by emailing your friends about the contest. Just make sure you send a copy of your email or receipt to me at Amberkatzes_book_blog at gmx dot net.

Make sure you post your links here so I can confirm your entries.

Keep the contests going by using the Bookdepository.com and Amazon.com links/Banners below and around the site.

The contest will stay open until 4pm on Thursday 31st May (Central European Time) and the winner will be picked by a randomizer. Entrants should check back to see if they have won. I do not hunt down winners and will pick new winners for any prizes not claimed within 7 days.

75) Deadly Descendant by Jenna Black

noreply@blogger.com (Amberkatze) — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

The Blurb :

As a living descendant of Artemis the Huntress, private investigator Nikki Glass knows how to track someone down. But when an Oracle shows up, warning the descendants about wild dog attacks in Washington D.C., Nikki is afraid it might be a trap. The Olympians believe the “dogs” are jackals, controlled by a blood-crazed descendant of the Egyptian death-god Anubis.

Whatever. . . . If Nikki hopes to muzzle Dogboy, she’s got to catch him in the act. But when she stakes out a local cemetery, she ends up face-to-snout with a snarling pack of shadow-jackals whose bite is worse than their bark. These hellhounds are deadly—even for an immortal like Nikki. “Dog” spelled backwards may be “god,” but that won’t stop Nikki from teaching these old gods some new tricks. Like playing dead.

My Review :

I have been following Jenna Black since her Guardian of the Nights series and really enjoy her work a lot. So when this new series started last year I couldn't wait to read the debut, Dark Descendant. To say I enjoyed it would be a understatement and I had this second part on pre-order as soon as it was available. However for some reason I put off reading it straight away. I will admit that I was a little worried that this sequel, like most sequels, wouldn't live up to my expectations. I was wrong.

Deadly Descendant finds Nikki trying to come to terms with everything that happened in Dark Descendant. Getting used to being what she is and living in a mansion is only a few of the new things in her life. So many questions and not enough answers are her main problem. So when the Oracle turns up and pulls her attention to some dog attacks, Nikki finally gets some answers. Even if they weren't the ones she wanted.

The whole concept of the series had quite a wow factor to it in the first book but this time around it just makes you kind of purr in happiness. The way the author has taken the whole mythological theme to another level and kept it completely different to the previous series that have used this aspect, for example the Dark Hunters, is just amazing. I always knew Jenna Black told a great story but I didn't realise how great she was at making something completely original.

Nikki is a special character and I feel I know her pretty well now. I like her and can't wait to spend more time with her because she isn't over dramatic or over the top. She is just your typical person who was going through life and something happened to make things more exciting and terrifying. There are no ridiculous powers and the author has kept things simple but unusual. The other characters are growing on me. I need to get to know them more but this second book really had me warming up to them. It will be interesting to see how Nikki and the rest of them develop as a team.

Great Urban Fantasy and a must read. I will look forward to the next book in the series and can't wait to see where the author takes things. If you are looking for something new and unusual then look no further. Mythology meets mystery with a good helping of action in this very cool series. Any fans of Jenna will love this new look on things.

Nikki Glass Series :

#1 - Dark Descendant
#2 - Deadly Descendant

Amazon.com Widgets

Contest Winner Announcement!

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

My author guest last week was Rachel Ward!

Her book, Numbers, really impressed me and I asked Rachel to be a guest on the blog. To celebrate I was giving away a copy of Numbers, the first book in her Numbers series.

The contest is now closed and it is time to see who won!

Congrats to :

Koddabear!!!

Keep reading to find out how to claim your prize!

Didn't win this time? There is a new contest coming up soon! Make sure you check out Rachel's books!

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Numbers Series :

#1 - Numbers
#2 - Chaos
#3 - Infinity

Amazon.com Widgets

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How to claim your prize!

Please contact me via email - Amberkatzes_book_blog at gmx dot eu within the next 7 days to claim your prize. Your claim will go quicker if you send me your address. If you won a contest where you can choose your prize, then please make sure you state in your email which book you would like. This will help things go alot quicker! If you won an e-book please make sure you send me the email address you would like the book sent to!

If you email me and don't get a reply within 48 hours please post on the blog letting me know. Some email gets eaten by my spam filter. However please don't send me more than one email unless you really don't get an answer within 3 days. I am not online 24/7 ;) Sometimes it takes a little longer to reply.

If a prize isn't claimed after 7 days I will, if the author agrees, pick another winner.

Please also note that I can not be held responsible for prizes that come direct from authors. I will check with them for you if you haven't received your prize but I can not hunt down your mail! Any prizes that come from myself could come from a 3rd party eg. Amazon or Bookdepository. If I am sending a prize myself please be aware that it could take a few weeks to reach you as it is coming from Europe.

Have you 'Liked' Amberkatze's Book Blog on Facebook?

Never miss out on a new Author Event, Contest or Book Review! Subscribe Now!

Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)

↑ Grab this Headline Animator

Author Interview with J. Meyers

noreply@blogger.com (Amberkatze) — Sun, 20 May 2012 14:15:00 +0000

In the age of e-books comes the increasing amount of self-published authors. A lot of you will know that these books are a hit and miss thing with some books being a lot better than other. One hit I found lately was author J. Meyers.

Her debut book Intangible was not what I was expecting and I had to wonder why the author had decided to self-publish. This kind of writing deserved a publisher.

So I contacted the author and asked her a few questions. The following interview is the result. I hope you enjoy getting to know J.Meyers and will take the time to check out her amazing book Intangible!

------------------------

Amber - Welcome to Amberkatze's Book Blog! It is great to have you here again as a guest! Could you start things off by telling us a little about your debut book, Intangible?

J - Thanks, Amber! I'm really glad to be here. Intangible is about twins Sera and Luke Raine who both have special abilities. Sera heals with a touch of her hand and Luke sees the future with absolute accuracy. Luke has a vision that Sera is killed, and they have to figure out how to stop it, how to change the future...which Luke has never been able to do before. They also discover, in the process, that the world is not what they'd thought. That mythical creatures do actually exist and are the ones out to kill Sera.

Amber - How did you come up with the idea for Intangible? Was it a long process or did it just come to you?

J - The original idea was simply of a girl who could heal with a touch of her hand, and she could also transform mythical beings to human. Over several months of working on the outline it morphed into a story about gifted twins and the various creatures that make up their world and the Realm.

Amber - How did you pick the names for your characters? Do they have any special meanings?

J - Some of the names were easy, some took a while to settle on. Originally Seraphina (aka Sera) was Grace, Lena, and a couple of more I can't recall. A friend was having a baby around the time I was trying to figure out her name. She named her daughter Serafina, from seraphim who are the highest order of angels, and I knew that's what I had to name my main character. I loved that she could have this beautiful name--Seraphina--and it could be shortened to a more usual-sounding name Sera.

Luke was always Luke, even though I tried to name him many other names that held more meaning to them--like Gabriel, which I thought would go well with Seraphina as they're both angel names. But he wasn't a Gabriel/Gabe. He was always Luke. Jonas's name came from the Indigo Girls song "Jonas & Ezekial" and was always Jonas (it also means "dove" which feels really appropriate to me). I think Marc went through many different names before I settled on Marc--and I don't remember what they were. And Fey was named after a friend of mine. I added the -th at the end to make it Feyth. I tried to change her name many times as well, but it had to be Fey. (Fey is a short form of Faith, a virtue name meaning "loyalty" and "belief." It's perfect for her character.)

Amber - The ending hinted at more books about Luke & Sera. Will Intangible turn into a series?

J - Yes, it will be a series!

Amber - How many books do you think Luke & Sera have in them? Is it a story you have planned out?

J - I have at least three or four books in mind--with story planned out for that length. (I'm just not sure whether it'll take three books or four to tell the story.) I also think this world would be great for companion books or companion series, focusing on other characters within this series or picking Gifteds from somewhere else in the world and telling their stories. I don't have anything planned for that yet. It's just something I'm thinking about.

Amber - What are you working on at the moment and when is your next release coming?

J - I'm currently working on book two and have all my fingers crossed (when I'm not writing) that it will be out by the end of the year.

Amber - Did you always wanted to be an author? Why did you pick the Paranormal/Fantasy genre? Why Young Adult?

J - I actually hated writing when I was in high school and college. :-) I never would have thought I'd become a writer. But about six years ago, after working in publishing for many years as a freelance writer, editor, copy editor, and proofreader, I decided to pursue it. I co-authored a couple of parenting books first because I didn't really think I was capable of writing fiction. (Apparently I was wrong about that.) It was actually a great way to work up to writing fiction because I already knew what it was like to write a whole book--how long it took, the dedication you need to sit down and write almost every night. So after the second parenting book, I turned my attention to fiction. And started wondering if I could do it. Around that time I stumbled upon YA books and fell in love. I fell especially hard for the paranormal genre in YA because they are so creative, imaginative, and fun--to have the impossible feel possible within the book world you're immersed in is a wonderful experience. I'd found my home and began to come up with book ideas.

Amber - What are the good times and bad times of being an author?

J - Good times are definitely connecting with people all over the world who I never would have met otherwise. That's been a LOT of fun. Bad times? It's a LOT of work--the writing, publishing, and then marketing. And it takes me away from my family much more than I'd like. That's what I like least about it--missing out with my husband and kids when I'm writing.

Amber - You decided to self-publish Intangible. Why?

J - I decided to self-publish as my first choice (not because I couldn't get it published traditionally--I actually didn't pursue that at all). With the huge changes in the publishing industry thanks to ebooks, it simply made better business sense for me to self-publish. Doing it myself means I might actually be able to make a living at this, whereas if I went traditional the odds of making a living are very poor. (Just as an example, if I went through a publisher and they sold my ebook for $9.99, I'd get $1.49 for every book sold. If I do it myself, I'd get about $6.99 for each book.) It just doesn't make sense to me to go with a publisher--at least to begin with. So I didn't. :-)

Amber - The cover for Intangible is lovely. Who did the artwork? Did you pick the finished cover yourself?

J - Thank you! I actually created the cover myself using stock photography, adding some color to give an otherworldly feel, and finding that gorgeous font. It really came together, thankfully. The first few covers I tried to create were terrible, and I was sure I would need to hire someone to make the cover for me. But I was able to figure it out. I love to tinker and create, so it was actually a lot of fun to play around with photo editing software and just see what happened.

I ended up designing three different covers and couldn't pick between them, so I posted a poll on my blog asking everyone I knew to come vote on which cover they liked best. This one was not my first choice, but it was the first choice of most people who voted, so that's the one I went with. If you'd like to see the other covers, they're here.

Amber - A lot of authors have 'soundtracks' for their books. Is there any music that influenced Intangible?

J - The Indigo Girls song I mentioned above, "Jonas & Ezekial," was something I listened to a LOT. It inspired mood and story ideas, not so much from the literal meaning of the lyrics, but from images it evoked when I'd listen to it. I also felt the same way about KD Lang's "Hallelujah" and U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." It's a SHORT list, I know. But I think that's because I can't actually listen to music while I'm writing. I can only listen when I'm thinking about it. Otherwise my brain pays too much attention to the music and no writing gets done. :-) I actually find that songs evoke lots of story ideas for me now that I'm writing fiction.

Amber - What books do you enjoy reading? Do you have any favourite authors/series?

J - I read almost exclusively YA and MG books because I love them so much and they are so beautifully written. It's really some of the best writing on the market right now. Authors I adore include: Laini Taylor, Aidan Chambers, Sarah Dessen, Sarah Prineas, JK Rowling, Frannie Billingsley, Kristin Cashore, Megan Whalen Turner, and Suzanne Collins. (That is by no means a complete list, but I had to stop somewhere.) ;-)

Amber - What about TV & Film? What have you been watching lately?

J - We don't actually get TV in our home (which is LOVELY, but I do miss out on some great shows--like I've heard great things about Downtown Abbey and will have to check it out on DVD). We do watch movies, however. I just watched Dreamwork's How to Train Your Dragon a couple of nights ago with my kids. It was great! And I've been making my way through the first four seasons (aka the Aaron Sorkin years) of "The West Wing" on DVD. That show has the most incredible writing. It inspires me with its snappy dialogue and intelligent banter.

Amber - If you could be any paranormal creature, what would you be and why?

J - A witch because I'd want to have magical powers. (I've been reading the Harry Potter series to my kids recently, so it's possible that's a huge influence in my answer today.)

Amber - Thank you for being a guest! See you soon! ;)

J - Thanks so much, Amber! It's been fun. :-)

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Books, Books and more Books!

noreply@blogger.com (Amberkatze) — Sat, 19 May 2012 19:05:00 +0000

I have loads of books to read. Don't we all? :) So I have been really hard on myself lately and have only bought certain new releases. However With the help of Pixel of Ink I have loads of free Kindle books now gathering digital dust. I try not to even think about the huge amount of real books taking up space on my bookshelves. At least I get some of these read when I take part in a Read-a-thon.

Despite all these books I still have a huge wishlist on Amazon which I try not to buy anything from. Also I have a 'To be released' wishlist that never seems to stop growing!

Do you have the same problem? Have you got more lists than me? Maybe you think I am missing something from my lists? ;). Share your reading addiction problems here :)

Oh...here is my pre-order list :

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74) Black Dawn by Rachel Caine

noreply@blogger.com (Amberkatze) — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

The Blurb :

In Last Breath, the rain brought a new and dire threat to Morganville and its vampires... their ancient enemies, the draug. Now, the vampires are fighting a losing war, and it will fall to the residents of the Glass House: Michael, Eve, Shane and Claire, to take the fight to an enemy who threatens to destroy the town, forever.

My Review :

I have been visiting Morganville since the beginning. Claire, Shane, Eve and Michael have become like friends. I am invested in how their life continues and I care if they live or die. I hope, like they do, that the town of Morganville will be free of the vampire rule and that they will lead a normal life. However, despite the fact that I don't want the series to end, I want to finally have some closure.

Yes this is an amazing series and Black Dawn is yet another super story in the tale of Morganville. The way the author manages to keep this series fresh and unique amazes me and I love that each book always has something good come out of everything that goes wrong. But this time around I wasn't convinced. I wasn't sure that all of this was necessary. Loads of action and some lovely twists but it felt like things are just being drawn out. Putting off the inevitable end of what has been an exhausting but momentous saga. The Glass House team have been through so much and I am sure they are tired.

Book #13, Bitter Blood, is due out in November and of course I am going to be getting a copy. I definitely can't let go of this series even if I would like to see it finally come to an end. It is addictive and very special. There is nothing in the genre like the Morganville Vampire series and even though it is aimed at younger readers I can't think of anything too childish in the books that would put off any adult reader.

So long live the Morganville vampires but I am gearing myself up and hoping for an end soon. Absolutely amazing series that stays on my must read list.

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Contest Reminder!

noreply@blogger.com (Amberkatze) — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:35:00 +0000

My author guest this week is the lovely Rachel Ward.

Have you already read the interview and checked out her books? Her debut, Numbers, was an amazing story and I am really looking forward to reading the rest of the series sometime soon.

There is also a contest to win a copy of Numbers. Just check out the question. Comment with your answer and you will be automatically entered into the draw. You only have till Sunday though so make sure you enter now!

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Numbers Series :

#1 - Numbers
#2 - Chaos
#3 - Infinity

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73) Second Grave to the Left by Darynda Jones

noreply@blogger.com (Amberkatze) — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

The Blurb :

When Charley is rudely awakened in the middle of the night by her best friend who tells her to get dressed quickly and tosses clothes out of the closet at her, she can’t help but wonder what Cookie’s up to. Leather scrunch boots with a floral miniskirt? Together? Seriously? Cookie explains that a friend of hers named Mimi disappeared five days earlier and that she just got a text from her setting up a meet at a coffee shop downtown. They show up at the coffee shop, but no Mimi. But Charley finds a message on the bathroom wall. Mimi left a clue, a woman’s name. Mimi’s husband explains that his wife had been acting strange since she found out an old friend of hers from high school had been found murdered a couple weeks prior. The same woman Mimi had named in her message.

Meanwhile, Reyes Alexander Farrow (otherwise known as the Son of Satan. Yes. Literally) has left his corporeal body and is haunting Charley. He’s left his body because he’s being tortured by demons who want to lure Charley closer. But Reyes can’t let that happen. Because if the demons get to Charley, they’ll have a portal to heaven. And if they have a portal to heaven…well, let’s just say it wouldn’t be pretty. Can Charley handle hot nights with Reyes and even hotter days tracking down a missing woman? Will Cookie ever get a true fashion sense? And is there enough coffee and chocolate in the world to fuel them as they do?

My Thoughts :

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, First Grave on the Right and seeing as I was already stupid enough to wait so long to start the series I decided that I needed to read the second part sooner rather than later. As luck would have it I had an Audible credit and decided to get the audio version. I am really glad I did because the narrator really does an amazing job of bringing Charley to life.

To start off I really have to say that I love the T-shirt and Bumper stickers phrases that introduce each chapter. How the author managed to find all of these cool and funny sayings is a question I really want to ask her. Maybe she made them up herself. I don't know but they are hilarious and I think I giggled at each and every one of them. Not only do the sayings add some extra humour to the book but they really have something to do with each chapter. They also bring a certain interesting and unique something to the series.

Now what else can I say? Charley and her dysfunctional ghost-talking PI adventures are just amazing. How she manages to solve any mystery is beyond me but she always brings it all together and does everything possible to help everyone involved. She is a rock and she rocks. Fun, a little sassy but someone you can rely on, Charley is the kind of gal you want to be friends with because you know you can trust her.

The plot this time around was as good as in the first book. The style is just brilliant. I enjoy all the characters and can't wait to see how things develop in the next book. Which I have already downloaded! Also I am really really curious about Mr Wong. Who the hell is he?? Will we ever find out? It is bugging me.

As audio books go this one gets a gold star. I am extremely impressed by the narrator and she is the reason that I have decided to listen to the third book. She really captured Charley and did some great voices for the characters. I had no problem keeping up with who was who and her voice isn't one you have to get used to or annoying in anyway.

Ghost talker, grim reaper and private investigator sounds like a bad combination but the author has brought it together and made it spectacular. Laughs, mystery and a side of romance are all included and there is also some serious bits. So in conclusion, make sure you check out this series if you haven't already. Oh and I highly recommend the audio versions to anyone who likes that kind of thing.

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Monthly Giveaway Results & Winner!

noreply@blogger.com (Amberkatze) — Tue, 15 May 2012 18:54:00 +0000

The April Monthly Giveaway is over!

Thanks for all your votes! Let's see which book won! After all, one of you will win a copy of the book that got the most votes! ;)

Sadly Forgiven by Jana Oliver came in at last place! I know it is hard to pick a favourite but I did hope this one would get more than 10% of the vote.

However fourth place hurts even more! Evil Dark by Justin Gustainis only got 11.67%! Wow!!! I hope you guys still added this amazing read to your wishlists!

Blackbirds by Chuck Wendig is a must read but only came in at third place with 21.67% of the vote.

The Calling by Kelley Armstrong came in at second place with 25% of the votes. Another surprise but maybe you all got yourself a copy when it was released...yeah? ;)

So the winner this time is Under a Vampire Moon by Lynsay Sands!! 31.67% of you wanted this book to win and wow it did!!

Please make sure you check out all of the books that came up on the giveaway this month! Add them to your wishlist or shopping cart! Keep reading to see who won!

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One lucky subscriber to Amberkatze's Book Blog has won a copy of this months giveaway winner, Under a Vampire Moon by Lynsay Sands!

So congrats to owner of the email address beginning with...

Morticiaknight!!

Keep reading to find out how to claim your prize!

Didn't win this time? Make sure you check out the new author contest. See the sidebar --->

Also make sure you check in each month for the latest Monthly giveaway! Subscribe and never miss a contest :

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How to claim your prize!

Please contact me via email - Amberkatzes_book_blog at gmx dot eu within the next 7 days to claim your prize. Your claim will go quicker if you send me your address. If you won a contest where you can choose your prize, then please make sure you state in your email which book you would like. This will help things go alot quicker! If you won an e-book please make sure you send me the email address you would like the book sent to!

If you email me and don't get a reply within 48 hours please post on the blog letting me know. Some email gets eaten by my spam filter. However please don't send me more than one email unless you really don't get an answer within 3 days. I am not online 24/7 ;) Sometimes it takes a little longer to reply.

If a prize isn't claimed after 7 days I will, if the author agrees, pick another winner.

Please also note that I can not be held responsible for prizes that come direct from authors. I will check with them for you if you haven't received your prize but I can not hunt down your mail! Any prizes that come from myself could come from a 3rd party eg. Amazon or Bookdepository. If I am sending a prize myself please be aware that it could take a few weeks to reach you as it is coming from Europe.

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Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)

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72) Let Them Eat Stake by Sarah Zettel

noreply@blogger.com (Amberkatze) — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

The Blurb :

It's a dream for a "Vampire Chef"-cater the high-profile wedding of a 200-year-old vampire and a wealthy witch. So why did celebrity chef Oscar Simmons walk away from this gig? Charlotte agrees to take his place, even though she knows this event, thrown by power-hungry vampires and witches, could make (or break) her career, her restaurant, and her life. But when Simmons turns up dead, the groom's family starts vanishing, and the police start asking pointed questions, Charlotte fears she may have picked the wrong wedding to stake her reputation on...

My Thoughts :

I enjoy a good cozy mystery and if they have a paranormal theme I love them even more. So when I came across the Vampire Chef series last year I was excited because not only was there another new paranormal cozy series but the theme also included food! I liked the debut, A Taste of the Nightlife, and couldn't wait to see what the author came up with for the sequel. I was pleasantly surprised with the results and hope there will be more books in the series.

The characters are strong and the concept is new. The paranormal side of things is not too over developed but fits in nicely to the whole scheme of things. I loved reading about the preparation and actual way the kitchen worked, this helped give the chef aspect of the story depth as well as the lovely dishes that were talked about. All in all the blend of paranormal/cooking and mystery really comes together to make for great reading. A definite must read for any cozy or paranormal lovers.

Last time around I had some problems with the names of the characters but this time around that wasn't as confusing. I did however have some problems keeping up with who was who and what they had done. At some points I found myself flicking back a page or two and reading certain parts again to make sure I hadn't missed something. This isn't a thing I like doing but I wanted to keep up with the plot which was really good.

The Vampire Chef series stays on my must read list and I hope another book will come along soon. I do like Chef Caine and really look forward to finding out how things pan out with her love life and her restaurant, Nightlife. A nice read and one I feel I can recommend. Give it a try!

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Vampire Chef Mysteries

#1 - A Taste of the Nightlife
#2 - Let Them Eat Stake

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Author Interview with Rachel Ward (Includes Contest)

noreply@blogger.com (Amberkatze) — Sun, 13 May 2012 14:42:00 +0000

Last month I listened to a book that took by surprise. Numbers by Rachel Ward was different, unique and exciting. So I decided to ask the author on to the blog so you could all get to know her and the series better.

I have only read the first book in the series, Numbers, but I can't wait to get a copy of the other two books about being able to see people's death dates. It may sound a little morbid but it does make you think. I was impressed with the story and hope you will all give it a try too!

Enjoy the interview and keep reading to the end and enter the contest!

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Amber - Welcome to Amberkatze's Book Blog! It is great to have you here as a guest! Could you start things off by telling us a little about your Numbers series?

Rachel Ward - The 'Numbers' books explore the idea of people being able to see other people's death dates. The first book is very contemporary, and the second and third books take the idea into the next generation and explore different aspects of this gift (or curse).

Amber - How did you come up with the idea for the Numbers series? Was
it a long process or did it just come to you?

Rachel – The idea just came to me early one morning when I was walking my dog in the fields overlooking Bath, where I live. In a few minutes, I had my main idea – being able to see death dates in people’s eyes – and also my main character, Jem, who is burdened with this gift.

Amber - I have only read the first book but I know there are three books altogether. Was it hard making the first book into a series or was it the plan all along?

Rachel – I always thought that there was potential for a series, and tried to pitch this to my publisher. However, I put everything that was going to be in the second book into the final chapter of the first book, to give it a twist at the end, so then I had to completely rethink my ideas.

Amber - What kind of research did you have to do for the Numbers series? Anything interesting or is the research boring?

Rachel – The only research I did was to take a tour of Bath Abbey, including the bell tower and behind the clock. It was fascinating. Apart from that, I made it all up.

Amber - What I really enjoyed about Numbers is the fact that it is based in the UK. There aren't many British authors in the genre and being British myself it is nice to get a taste of home. Did you find it hard to keep the book British? I know the audio book for instance uses the American date format.

Rachel – Well, being British I don’t think I could write anything other than a British book! I love living here and I like writing about real places (London, Wiltshire, Bath, Weston-super-Mare). In fact the first draft read like a tourist brochure for Bath and I had to rewrite it so I was looking at the city through Jem’s eyes instead of mine. The audio book is a bit of a strange one, because they used an English actress but reading from the US version of the book which had been ‘translated’ into American, so some of the language sounds strange to British ears.

Amber - Will there be more books in the series or do things end with the third book?

Rachel – I think the third book is the last one, although ‘never say never.’ There are lots of things I could still do with the idea of seeing death dates and I’ve toyed with the idea of a prequel, but having written and thought about death dates for five years, it’s nice to be writing something else at the moment. Also, I think I managed to do something different with each of the three books and they are strong in their own right. I wouldn’t want to just churn out ‘Numbers’ books and dilute the series.

Amber - How long on average does it take you to write a book? Do you have a process you follow? or do you just start at page one and see what happens?

Rachel – It takes between a year and 18 months to write one of my books. In the past I’ve taken a very unstructured approach. I’ve had my basic idea and a notion of how a book starts and ends and then I’ve set out hopefully, making things up as I’ve gone along. I’ve ended up having to rewrite over and over, so with my current book I’ve tried planning things out a little more. I don’t know if it will be better in the end, but it’s worth a try!

Amber - How do you pick the names for your characters? Do they have any special meanings?

Rachel – Names are so tricky. I tend to pick fairly neutral names which don’t have particular significance to me or my family for my main characters, but I often choose names which mean something to me for my subsidiary characters. For example, in my second book, quite a few of the minor characters’ names link to people I used to work with. (I don’t think they spotted this!)

Amber - Why Fantasy and why Young Adult? Were these the genres you always wanted to write?

Rachel – It’s actually quite difficult to pick a genre that the ‘Numbers’ books belong to. I didn’t think about this at all when I wrote the first book – I just wrote the story that I had inside me. When I’d finished it, I read it through and thought, ‘Oh, I’ve written a love story.’ My publisher told me I’d written a thriller. You could say it was a fantasy because of the seeing death dates aspect, but the second and third books could also be science fiction because they’re set in the future. One thing I do know is that I like writing books for teenagers and young adults. I love visiting schools and meeting my readers and hearing feedback from them, and I also love getting feedback via my website (rachelwardbooks.com).

Amber - I am sure that being an author has its ups and downs. What experiences have you had so far?

Rachel – There are way more ups than downs. The only downs relate to writing itself, which is sometimes very slow and frustrating. Sometimes you feel like you’re taking one step forward and two steps back. But those are the bad days – most days are interesting, challenging and surprising. I love the ideas stage, when something new and exciting is going round and round my head. I love working away steadily on a book, seeing it grow a little bit day by day. There’s also nothing to beat the feeling of holding your published book in your hands for the first time.

Amber - What are you listening and watching lately? Is there any music or other media that influences your writing?

Rachel – I can’t listen to music when I’m writing, but I always have the radio or a CD on when I’m cooking or driving. I tend to like quite current, poppy stuff. At the moment I love Rebecca Ferguson and Dionne Bromfield. I tend to have a theme tune for a book in my mind. For ‘Numbers’ it was ‘Love is a Losing Game’ by Amy Winehouse. I saw her sing live twice in Bristol and she was wonderful. I’ll watch pretty much anything on TV. I enjoy US dramas like ‘The Good Wife’ and I’m also happy to watch talent shows like ‘The Voice’ and ‘The X Factor.’ I’m starting to go to the cinema a bit more, too. The last film I saw was ‘Hugo’ which I thought was completely enchanting. Loved it.

Amber - What books do you enjoy reading? Do you have any favourite authors/series?

Rachel – I read a mixture of young adult and adult books. I always enjoy books by Kevin Brooks and Neil Gaiman, also Anne Tyler and Donna Leon’s detective series, set in Venice.

Amber - What's next? Are you working on any other projects you would like to tell us about?

Rachel – I’m very lucky this year, and I’m taking some time off from my day job to write full-time. I’m working on a sort of very modern ghost story. I’ve done the first draft, but it needs a lot of work! I need to make it scarier! It’s due out in the UK next year sometime.

Amber - If you could be any paranormal creature, what would you be and why?

Rachel – That’s so difficult. Can I be a unicorn, please? I think unicorns are beautiful, mysterious and a little bit vulnerable.

Amber - Thank you for visiting Amberkatze's Book Blog! I hope you will stop by again sometime!

Rachel – Thanks so much, Amber. Great questions – they really made me think!

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Numbers Series :

#1 - Numbers
#2 - Chaos
#3 - Infinity

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Contest Time

I am giving away a copy of the first books in the Numbers series. If you would like to read Numbers then enter now ;)

How To Enter

Do you have a favourite number? Is there a date that is special for you?

No Answer = No Entry

'Please enter me' posts will NOT be counted as an entry

Advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog on your site and get an extra entry for this and every other contest!

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Have you 'Liked' Amberkatze's Book Blog on Facebook?

You can also earn extra entries by emailing your friends about the contest. Just make sure you send a copy of your email or receipt to me at Amberkatzes_book_blog at gmx dot net.

Make sure you post your links here so I can confirm your entries.

Keep the contests going by using the Bookdepository.com and Amazon.com links/Banners below and around the site.

The contest will stay open until 4pm on Sunday 20th May (Central European Time) and the winner will be picked by a randomizer. Entrants should check back to see if they have won. I do not hunt down winners and will pick new winners for any prizes not claimed within 7 days.

Monthly Giveaway Reminder

noreply@blogger.com (Amberkatze) — Sat, 12 May 2012 16:18:00 +0000

One last reminder about the April Monthly Giveaway! Make sure you have voted and are in for a chance to win! You have till Monday to enter and to vote!

How does the monthly giveaway work?

Well in the sidebar <--- there is this poll. You vote for the book you would most like to win. I pick a name from the subscibers list and that person wins the book with the most votes. So you may not even win the book you voted for!

To subscribe to Amberkatze's Book Blog all you have to do is use the box in the sidebar <--- or at the bottom of this post. Everyone who is already subscribed will be entered in the contest as well as new subscribers. If you have not confirmed your email address then you will not be added to the draw!!! The poll will stay open for votes until Monday 14th of April 2012 4pm (all times are in Central European Time). The winner will be announced within days of the contest closing.

In no particular order, here is a little info about each book on offer this month. Just click on the book title and author to see my review -

Under a Vampire Moon by Lynsay Sands

The Calling by Kelley Armstrong

Blackbirds by Chuck Wendig

Evil Dark by Justin Gustainis

Forgiven by Jana Oliver

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71) Never to Sleep by Rachel Vincent

noreply@blogger.com (Amberkatze) — Fri, 11 May 2012 19:53:00 +0000

The Blurb :

Sophie Cavanaugh is not going to let her freak of a cousin's strange psychiatric condition ruin high school for them both. Not after all the work she's put into cultivating the right look, and friends, and reputation. But then, Sophie sees something so frightening she lets out a blood-curdling scream—and finds herself stuck in a bizarre parallel world where nothing is safe and deadly creatures lurk just out of sight, waiting for her to close her eyes and sleep...forever.

Could this world be real? Or does insanity run in the family...?

My Thoughts :

Another day, another novella! It is amazing what you can find on your Kindle if you look in the right places and so I decided to get this one out of the way and have another quick read. I have been following the Soul Screamers series with some interest. It really surprised me at the beginning and I have been enjoying it a lot but the longer the series carries on the more I wonder where the author really wants to go with it. So this novella was a bit of an eye opener for me.

This short story is all about Kaylee's cousin Sophie and is told from her perspective. It actually crosses over slightly into the previous release and of course means it could be seen as a spoiler if you haven't already read the rest of the series. However it didn't bother me either way. I was just excited about finally getting to know Sophie better.

Kaylee's cousin has always been in the background, popping up when she wasn't needed and just basically being a bitchy pest. This short story changes that outlook and gives you a real look into her way of thinking and lets you better understand how she sees things from her point of view. She has never been introduced into the world Kaylee has and has no idea about what her cousin is and can do. So this novella opens a whole new world to Sophie and I can't wait to see what happens next. I think she is going to have a bigger role next time around.

Of course there is another character in this book. Luca isn't, from what I can remember, a character that has already appeared in the series. The end of the story also says that the reader can find out what he is really up to in the next release. If this little adventure with Sophie is anything to go by I think 'Before I Wake' will be extremely interesting. I don't believe I pre-ordered the last couple of books in the series but maybe this next one will make it on to my list because of this short story.

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Soul Screamers Series :

#0.5 - My Soul to Lose
#1 - My Soul to Take
#2 - My Soul to Save
#3 - My Soul to Keep
#3.5 - Reaper
#4 - My Soul to Steal
#5 - If I Die
#5.5 - Never to Sleep
#6 Before I Wake (Due out in June)
#7 With All My Soul (Due out in 2013)

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70) Driving Mr. Dead by Molly Harper

noreply@blogger.com (Amberkatze) — Thu, 10 May 2012 20:05:00 +0000

The Blurb :

After failing as a magician's assistant, a photographer, and most recently, a bride, Miranda Puckett takes a position as a driver for Beeline, Half-Moon Hollow's premiere vampire concierge service.

Miranda's assignment? Driving Collin Sutherland, the world's most fastidious vampire from Washington to Kentucky, so he can deliver a mysterious black case to Council official Ophelia Lambert.

Collin, a paranoid, aristocratic vampire with a debilitating fear of flying, refuses to let the case out of his sight. Miranda needs this time on the road to decide whether to permanently cut her ties with the fiance that had an "emotional affair" with a childhood pal, but Collin’s neatnik tendencies are driving her around the bend. The man acts as if leaving a fast food wrapped on the passenger seat is reason for a full-on CDC de-contamination scrub-down of the car. All she can do is promise to stop intentionally doing the things that make his stiff upper lip twitch with irritation.

As more and more mishaps occur on the road trip from hell, Miranda and Collin work together to meet his delivery deadline. Hotel rooms are destroyed. Beloved cars are defiled. And somewhere along the line, client-driver hostilities become snarky flirtation.

Will Collin and Miranda make it to the Hollow in one piece? And if they do, will Miranda leave old, safe relationships behind for something new and well, just plain weird?

My Thoughts :

I have read some pretty amazing but emotional books lately and for my next read I needed something a little less dark and a bit more fun. So when I found this novella from Molly Harper hidden on my Kindle I knew it was the perfect choice! This author always makes me laugh out loud.

Driving Mr. Dead is set in the Jane Jameson world and even mentions Jane more than once. So it wasn't hard getting to used to the vampireness or background from this already established series that I already know so well. For a short story there was a lot packed into it. I of course did laugh a few times and although I needed some time to warm up to Collin I did like Miranda pretty much from the start. A bit of a potty mouth, like myself, trouble seems to find her where ever she is. She was a hoot.

I liked the short story but of course it was over too quickly for me. Of course I admire authors who manage to pull off a whole story in a third or fourth of the amount of pages they would usually use up but I am a huge lover of the full length all inclusive stories.

Definitely a must read for any lovers of Molly Harper's hilarious work and style. Roll on Summer when her next Vampire comedy/romance comes out!

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Jane Jameson Series :

#1 - Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs
#2 - Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men
#3 - Nice Girls Don't Love Forever
#4 - Nice Girls Don't Bite Their Neighbors
#5 - The Care and Feeding of Stray Vampires (Due out this Summer)

Naked Werewolf Series :

#1 - How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf
#2 - The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf

And One Last Thing...

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69) Shine by Jeri Smith-Ready

noreply@blogger.com (Amberkatze) — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

The Blurb :

Life can change in an instant, and no one understands that better than Aura. It’s been almost a year since her boyfriend tragically died. She’s finally letting go of Logan’s violet-hued ghost, but not her search to uncover the truth about her past.

As the first in a generation that can see ghosts, Aura is convinced she has a connection to the Shift. She’s trusted Zachary, ever patient and ever by her side, with all that she knows. But when the government threatens his life in an attempt to learn Aura’s secrets, she will stop at nothing to protect herself and the one she loves...even if that means betraying her own heart.

My Review :

I feel extremely blessed to have read some amazingly good books lately. However from all my favourite authors and new finds I was missing Jeri Smith-Ready. Why? Because she always tells a super story and she never fails to surprise and thrill me with her words. So I was very excited to see that a new book was due out. I pre-ordered it of course! Shine is the third last part in the Shade trilogy and anyone who has been following Aura's story will know that it hasn't been easy so far. I can tell you that the end is no fun holiday either.

Emotionally filled, like all of her work, this is Young Adult story certainly makes an impact. The intriguing concept and plot have been building up to this final piece of the puzzle. This is where is all comes together and makes complete and perfect sense for every reader. To find out what exactly happens means you will have to read Shine yourself. I am not giving anything away. What I can say is that it was worth the wait and totally and utterly perfect.

I loved so much about this series and this final installment. The author makes the characters come alive in a way that makes you adore her even more. The details she adds about the places the characters visit is just alluring. I wanted to jump on a plane and go there straight away. However what makes her work just that little bit more seductive is the music. There is always a background of bands and songs that makes it all so much more personal.

If you haven't already tried this trilogy you can start it now and read it all in one giant gulp. If you have been waiting for this last part of the story then you really need to go get a copy. Beg, borrow or steal it and curl up and get a tissue ready. You may just need it.

Already done? Make sure you try out all of Jeri's other books. I can't live without her amazing passionate stories. I can't wait for the next 'gift' the author sends us!

Shade Trilogy :

#1 - Shade
#2 - Shift
#3 - Shine

WVMP Radio Series :

#1 - Wicked Game
#2 - Bad to the Bone
#3 - Bring on the Night

Aspect of the Crow Trilogy :

#1 - Eyes of the Crow
#2 - Voice of the Crow
#3 - The Reawakened

Also by the author NOT TO BE MISSED :

Requiem for the Devil

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68) Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris

noreply@blogger.com (Amberkatze) — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:34:00 +0000

The 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.

My Review :

I actually read this book on the day it was released but somehow I completely forgot to add my review until I just saw it still on my Goodreads shelf! Duh me! Maybe it was the excitement of a new Sookie book that made me over look writing the review? Or it could have been the fact that it was a Bank Holiday on release day and the joy of being able to just open my Kindle and read all day? No waiting! (insert Kindle advertisement here) Whatever the reason I am now catching up and I hope some of you have already had the pleasure of reading the 12th Sookie book and can make a comment or two!

So what can you expect from the newest installment? Lots! Sookie may not have gotten into as much trouble as usual and also lacked a trip to the ER but trouble did find her. The main focus in Deadlocked is the faeries. However there is a side plot with the werewolves that also finds a way to get involved in the conclusion of things. As for vampires...well they are there and while there is some strange developments in Sookie and Eric's relationship they don't get as much air time as the other Supernaturals.

Of course there are some interesting changes in the life of Sookie Stackhouse. No book can go without a few spanners being thrown in the works or a nice helping of cool new advancements in the world that Charlaine Harris has created with so much depth. Anyone waiting to hear some gossip about the goings on in Bon Temps will not be disappointed. Tara is about to give birth, Jason has another new girlfriend and Sam is letting Sookie do more with Merlotte's than just work in the bar.

All in all this is another great addition to a super series. You would think things would get boring and old after so many books but Charlaine Harris really manages to keep things interesting and fresh. I am sure this series will come to an end soon but until that day comes it stays firmly on my must read and must buy list. The author always manages to deliver a super read and I happily read this in one lovely Bank Holiday Monday.

Anyone who hasn't had the pleasure of reading this series yet should catch up! Don't use excuses about watching Trueblood and not liking it. The books are completely different and offer more than anyone could develop for TV. Fans shouldn't wait to read Deadlocked. There are some nice surprises inside that you really don't want to miss!

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