The Book Guru

The Hunger Names Trailer FULL Length!

2011-11-14T21:04:00.002-05:00

Ummmm WOW!

going to get on my Swiffer 2010 and join the party!

2011-11-07T13:21:00.002-05:00

Review: Darkness Unbound by Keri Arthur (A Dark Angels Novel)

2011-11-01T11:16:00.000-04:00

Title: Darkness Unbound
Author: Keri Arthur
Series: A Dark Angels Novel
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: September 27, 2011
Format: Mass Market Paperbound ($9.99 CDN)
Age Group: Adult Paranormal Romance

Synopsis:

Being half werewolf and half Aedh, Risa Jones can enter the twilight realms between life and death and see the reapers, supernatural beings that collect the souls of the dead. But she soon makes a terrifying discovery: Some sinister force is stealing souls, preventing the dead from ever knowing the afterlife.

Reapers escort souls-not snatch them-but Risa is still unnerved when a reaper shadows her in search of someone Risa has never met: her own father, an Aedh priest, who is rumored to be tampering with the gates of hell for a dark purpose. With the help of her "aunt" half-werewolf, half-vampire Riley Jenson-and an Aedh named Lucian who may have lost his wings but none of his sex appeal, Risa must pursue whatever shadowy practitioner of blood magic is seizing souls, and somehow stop her father . . . before all hell breaks loose.

My Review:

I was HUGELY disappointed when I learned that Keri Arthur was ending my favorite Riley Jenson Guardian series, but when I learned she was doing a spinn off featuring Risa Jones (a character who was a baby in the Jenson series) I was very excited. Months after reading the last Riley Jenson novel I had completely forgotten about this new series until I came upon it on a table in Chapters. I snached the book off the table and did a little (but loud) *squee* drawing the attention of strangers who must have thought I was a little weird.

From the very first chapter following through to the end of the novel I was captivated by intriguing plot lines, likeable new characters and sexy, blush worthy sex scenes, not to mention the involvement of some of my favorite characters from the Jenson series.

If you are a fan of urban fantasy and paranormal romance novels this series (and the Jenson series if you have not read it) should be at the very top of your reading list especially if you are a fan of....ummmmm....errrrr *blush* very graphic sex scenes. The characters in this series run the spectrum of supernaturals including werewolves, ghosts, Aedh, vampires, reapers, shapeshifters, mediums, and more.

As a protagonist Risa is quickly climbing her way to being one of my favorite leading female characters. She's a winning mixture of sass, sexiness, and sensuality that when added to her also being an assertive, resilient and independent woman, she becomes the type of character that paranormal readers will fall in love with. Being half werewolf (inherited from her mother) Risa was gifted with heightened senses, fast healing, and a heightened sex drive, but unfortunately not with the ability to shift into werewolf form. Her father, a Aedh Priest has given her the ability to dematerialize her body into a vaporous form which proves to be a valuable ability throughout the novel.

Darkness Unbound includes two very sexy male leads. Azreal is a very stoic Reaper who is charged with shadowing Risa in the hopes of locating her Aedh father. Along the way the merest hint of sexual tension begins between these two characters as he helps her defeat a darkness that steals the soul of a helpless little girl. The second male lead, Lucian is a full blooded Aedh who has lost his wings and ability to shift into vaporous form. The sexual banter that goes back and forth between Risa and Lucian quickly leads to steamy sex scenes that would make any woman blush.

Lucky for me after finishing this novel I was immediately able to go out and purchase the second novel in this series, Darkness Rising as it was just released. I can see that this series is quickly becoming a new favorite of mine in the paranormal genre. If you to are a fan of Keri Arthur and her various paranormal series please feel free to comment on what your favorite books are in the series and who your favorite characters are!

My Rating: 5/5 AKA Exixir of Excellence

Spin off series! A Dark Angels series by: Keri Athur

2011-10-18T22:19:00.000-04:00

I went GAGA over Australian author, Keri Arthur's Riley Jenson Guardian series last year and when I learned she was doing a spin off series staring a very minor character from the Jenson series I was stoked. Dark Angels stars Risa Jones, a supernatural being who can enter the realm(s) between life and death and see grim reapers. In the Riley Jensen series Risa was toddler so this novel clearly takes place quite a few years in the future. Luckily the protagonist Riley from the Jensen series is a half vampire half werewolf who's life expectancy is unclear but far longer then a human life expectancy so I assume she will be just as young and sassy as always. I can wait to reunite with some of my all time favorite supernatural characters as well as get to know some new ones! I hope this novel lives up to my expectations and if my sweet baby boy gives his mommy some reading time this week I look forward to writing a review!

For my review of Moon Sworn (Riley Jenson Guardian Series) click here.

Title: Darkness Unbound
Series: A Dark Angels Novel
Author: Keri Arthur
Publisher: Random House ($9.99 CDN)

Synopsis:

Being half werewolf and half Aedh, Risa Jones can enter the twilight realms between life and death and see the reapers, supernatural beings that collect the souls of the dead. But she soon makes a terrifying discovery: Some sinister force is stealing souls, preventing the dead from ever knowing the afterlife.

Reapers escort souls-not snatch them-but Risa is still unnerved when a reaper shadows her in search of someone Risa has never met: her own father, an Aedh priest, who is rumored to be tampering with the gates of hell for a dark purpose. With the help of her "aunt"-half-werewolf, half-vampire Riley Jenson-and an Aedh named Lucian who may have lost his wings but none of his sex appeal, Risa must pursue whatever shadowy practitioner of blood magic is seizing souls, and somehow stop her father . . . before all hell breaks loose.

October 2011 New Releases

2011-10-04T15:01:00.000-04:00

New releases for October 2011

Silence by: Becca Fitzpatrick (Hush, Hush Book 3)

Release Date: October 8, 2011

Extra: See below for a book trailer

Synopsis:

The noise between Patch and Nora is gone. They''ve overcome the secrets riddled in Patch''s dark past...bridged two irreconcilable worlds...faced heart-wrenching tests of betrayal, loyalty and trust...and all for a love that will transcend the boundary between heaven and earth. Armed with nothing but their absolute faith in one another, Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they've worked for-and their love-forever.

The Death Cure by: James Dashner (Book 3 Maze Runner series)

Release Date: October 11, 2011

Synopsis:

Thomas knows that Wicked can''t be trusted, but they say the time for lies is over, that they''ve collected all they can from the Trials and now must rely on the Gladers, with full memories restored, to help them with their ultimate mission. It''s up to the Gladers to complete the blueprint for the cure to the Flare with a final voluntary test.

What Wicked doesn''t know is that something''s happened that no Trial or Variable could have foreseen. Thomas has remembered far more than they think. And he knows that he can''t believe a word of what Wicked says.

The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine.
Will anyone survive the Death Cure?

Beautiful Chaos by: Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (Book 3 in the Caster Chronicles Series)

Release Date: October 18, 2011

Extra: Caster Girls and Boys Web Site

Silence:

Ethan Wate thought he was getting used to the strange, impossible events happening in Gatlin, his small Southern town. But now that Ethan and Lena have returned home, strange and impossible have taken on new meanings. Swarms of locusts, record-breaking heat, and devastating storms ravage Gatlin as Ethan and Lena struggle to understand the impact of Lena''s Claiming. Even Lena''s family of powerful Supernaturals is affected - and their abilities begin to dangerously misfire. As time passes, one question becomes clear: What - or who - will need to be sacrificed to save Gatlin?

For Ethan, the chaos is a frightening but welcome distraction. He''s being haunted in his dreams again, but this time it isn't by Lena - and whatever is haunting him is following him out of his dreams and into his everyday life. Even worse, Ethan is gradually losing pieces of himself - forgetting names, phone numbers, even memories. He doesn't know why, and most days he''s too afraid to ask.

Sometimes there isn't just one answer or one choice. Sometimes there''s no going back. And this time there won''t be a happy ending.

Swear by: Nina Malkin (Book 2 in the Swoon Series)

Release Date: October 18, 2011

Extra: A geeks guide to Swoon and Swear

Synopsis:

A promise broken. A bond betrayed.

It's been six months since ghost-turned golem bad-boy Sin confessed his love, stole Dice''s heart, and disappeared from Swoon, perhaps from existence. Despite the hurt, Dice has been moving steadily toward ordinary. Dreams of Sin still plague and pleasure her sleep, and the mark Sin left remains on her skin, still sore, six months later. But Dice has been throwing herself into music, finding solace in song and sometimes even in the arms of her band mate, Tosh. Life seems almost…normal. The last thing Dice wants is to mess with anything remotely supernatural. But when her best friend's boyfriend goes missing, Dice has no choice but to be very much involved. She knows that his disappearance was no accident, and it somehow has everything to do with Sin. Because Dice can feel it: Sin is back. And the promises and deceptions he left in his wake have returned to haunt him.

What do you do when an oath of devotion threatens to destroy the one you love?

Destined by: Kristin Cast and P.C. Cast (House of Night, Book 9)
Release Date: October 25, 2011
Extra: click here to listen to an excerpt

Synopsis:

Zoey is finally home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side, and preparing to face off against Neferet - which would be a whole lot easier if the High Counsel saw the ex-High Priestess for what she really is. Kalona has released his hold on Rephaim, and, through Nyx''s gift of a human form, Rephaim and Stevie Rae are finally able to be together - if he can truly walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father''s shadow…

But there are new forces at work at the House of Night. An influx of humans, including Lenobia's handsome horse whisperer, threatens their precarious stability. And then there's the mysterious Aurox, a jaw-droppingly gorgeous teen boy who is actually more - or possibly less - than human. Only Neferet knows he was created to be her greatest weapon. But Zoey can sense the part of his soul that remains human, the compassion that wars with his Dark calling. And there's something strangely familiar about him…

Will Neferet's true nature be revealed before she succeeds in silencing them all? And will Zoey be able to touch Aurox's humanity in time to protect him - and everyone - from his own fate? Find out what's destined in the next thrilling chapter of the House of Night series.

TV Tuesday: Lost Girl

2011-10-04T12:57:00.000-04:00

Having not had cable for about two years until this week (I refuse to pay the high prices but got a screamin deal for basic cable) I was unaware of some up and coming television shows to be aired this Sept/Oct 2011. The past few years television for both young adult and adult shows has had a strong paranormal influence with programs such as Vampire Diaries and True Blood appealing to paranormal addicts like myself. So interested in watching programs from this genre I began to search for more shows with such content and fell in love with the British shows Being Human and Dr. Who as well as shows such as Haven, Sanctuary, and most recently Lost Girl.

Lost Girl is what I would call an Urban Paranormal show that brings the world of Fae to our modern society. Focusing on protagonist Bo who is a Succubus who refuses to side with either dark or light Fae this show balances interesting plot lines and Fae mythology in a way that is both highly entertaining and incredibly sexy.

This show is now on its second season and if you have yet to watch an episode I highly recommend you give it a try. Without cable I have managed to watch this show at showcase.ca but for those of you in the USA or other countries I am not to sure where to direct you! (If you are in the UK try this link).

Below you will find a trailer for both Lost Girl season 1 and 2. Let me know what you think of this show and others like it that have captured your attention! Come back next Tue for a look at the fall seasons new additions to paranormal television!

(I realize that there are a lot of various memes featured on various blogs. While I have not come across one called "TV Tuesday" I apologize if I am stepping on any toes. If you have created a meme of this nature please feel free to leave a link to your posts and I would be happy to include links to your posts on future Tuesdays!)

Vacation Reading List/Suggestions!

2011-08-24T23:27:00.001-04:00

Its vacation time! I am off to my cottage on beautiful Lake Simcoe in Ontario where I am excited to spend time with family and of course read a few good books. My reading list is a little short this year but with a three month old baby to love and look after my reading time is limited.

Books that take place in a dystopian society have captured my attention over the last few years, with a few of my favorites being The Hunger Games series and The Forest of Hands and Teeth. The novel, Divergent by Veronica Roth, has recently come to my attention so that is the first novel on my vacation reading list.

Next on my reading list is a novel a little outside my usual scope of interest, The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. My interest in reading this novel is solely based on the fact that most members of my family have read it!

While I am unsure what to expect of this next novel, after reading Night by Elie Wiesel a few years ago, The Boy In The Striped Pijamas by John Boyne has long been on my "to read" list. (Click here for my review of the novel within my post titled "Books With Impact")

And if three books in ten days (oh my how my ability to read copious amounts of books in short periods of time has changed) is not enough I have the following books waiting in the sidelines! I have chosen so many in part because two are review copies that I need to complete and three are books that have been siting on my shelf begging for me to start reading ASAP. I am one of those people that can't just read any book it has to be a book that I am....in the mood for. Many times I have put a book down due to disinterest after just a few chapters to only gobble up in hours a month later.

As mentioned in a previous post I have been out of the blogosphere for a little while now and I have struggled to find books that have been able to capture my attention. Suggestions for new novels or series that have been published in the last year would be welcome! If you are a blogger yourself feel free to leave a link to your review of such a novel and I would be excited to read it!

Help and Win a Free Book!

2011-08-19T16:10:00.000-04:00

The contest is closing tonight at 11:59pm and my competitor keeps catching up! Please help my son win a baby contest and in return I am offering a free book from the book depository of your choice under $20.00! Click here for more info!

Follow Friday

2011-08-19T12:47:00.000-04:00

It's good to be back and participating in book blogging once again! Can't wait to check out some new blogs and visit some old friends! Thanks to Parajunkee for hosting Follow my book blog Fridays!

Review: Spell Bound by: Kelley Armstrong

2011-08-18T14:11:00.001-04:00

Title: Spell Bound
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Publisher: Random House of Canada
Published: August 2, 2011
Format: EBook ($9.99)
Age Group: Adult
Copy: Purchaced from Kobo

Additional Links: Otherworld Wiki

Synopsis:

Savannah Levine is in terrible danger, and for once she's powerless to help herself. At the conclusion of Waking the Witch, Savannah swore that she would give up her powers if it would help a young girl. Little did she know that someone would take her up on that promise.

And now, witch-hunting assassins, necromancers, half-demons and rogue witches all seem to be after her. The threat is not just for Savannah; every member of the Otherworld might be at risk. While most of her fellow supernaturals are circling the wagons at a gathering of the council in Miami, Savannah is caught on the road, isolated from those who can protect her and unable to use her vast spell-casting talent, the thing she counts on most. In a story that will change the shape of the Otherworld forever, Spell Bound gathers Elena, Clay, Paige, Lucas, Jaime, Hope and others, who soon learn that the greatest threat to supernaturals just may come from within.

My Review:

I have been so out of touch with reading for the past year that it has been a struggle as of late to find a book that has captured my attention enough to read it. Kelley Armstrong has been a favorite author of mine for years and after reading Waking the Witch in August of 2010, I fell in love with the protagonist Savannah Levine. As a character I enjoy her feisty spirit and tenacity, which is balanced by a vulnerability instilled in her due to her chaotic past. I first became intrigued in her character while reading the novel Stolen, featuring Elena Michaels (the only known female werewolf) and my interest only grew while subsequently reading Dime Store Magic and Industrial Magic featuring Page Winterbourne (witch) and Lucas Cortez (sorcerer), Savannah's legal guardians.

My favorite element about the Otherworld series is that though each book has a main protagonist many of the other characters are old friends from previous novels. My favorite female leads from this series include Elena
Michaels and Jamie Vegas (T.V Spiritualist and Necromancer) who both play a role in Spell Bound.

What I enjoyed most about Spell Bound was the suspense of reading the romantic and sexual tension between Savannah and her long time love interest Adam Vasic. Adam has characteristics that most woman look for/long for in a male protagonist including his protective, stubborn, and flirtatious nature.

My only real disappointment in the novel was that I felt it ended to soon and left to much unresolved. While I assume the reason for the loss of her powers and other elements of the novel will be resolved in a future novel, I felt there was to many loose ends with the only one plot line coming full circle (which I won't write about for fear of spoiling it for you!).

Props to Kelley Armstrong for writing yet another great addition to the Otherworld series. As always I look forward to the next installment where hopefully all the loose ends from Spell Bound will be resolved!

My Rating: 3.5/5

Contest!

2011-08-17T13:16:00.002-04:00

Oh my beloved blog and bloggy friends how I have missed you! This past year has been the most wonderful and exhausting of my life! Between working two jobs, getting pregnant, and being the mother to a newborn I have hardly read any books never mind doing any book reviews. With that said in the past three months my reading has slowly begun to gain momentum as I get into a routine and in turn I will hopefully get my groove back!

I have been wanting to have a contest to help me get back into the swing of things and then I had an idea....apparently as a mother you would do just about anything for your baby....my baby is in a contest...to win a photshoot and be on the cover of a local free parenting magazing....I am winning...not by much...I need more votes....help?...I give you a free book?...

Ok yes I am shamelessly asking for votes in exchange for any book purchased from the book depository that is under $20.00! But its a win win situation! Just look below at how cute my son is :)

So to win a FREE book $15.00 or under from the Book Depository please vote for my son by clicking here and then clicking "like" on BOTH City Parent and Emmet's photo. Please also comment in this post that you voted so that I can enter you in the random draw. I realize this magazine is irrelevant to most of you so by all means after the contest is over and the winner announced feel free to "unlike" the page. Contest closes on August 19th.

Me pregnant 34 Weeks (Emmet was born early at 36 weeks)

The first time I ever held him

The day he came home

This is him yesterday having fun in his bumbo chair

And this is the photo you will be voting on!

Good luck to all who enter and THANK YOU for your vote!

The Count Down Is On!

2011-03-24T20:00:00.000-04:00

I have definitely not been with "the program" for some time, so it came as a surprise when someone asked me if I knew when The City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare was coming out and for the first time in forever I did not know the answer! While you are likely more "with" the program then I am at the moment, for those of you who don't know, the release date is fast approaching and we will be blessed with the fourth installment in the Mortal Instrument series on April 5th, 2011.

It only took reading the first few paragraphs of City of Fallen Angels to be sucked back into the world of Shadowhunters, vamps and werewolves and after searching for a book to capture my attention for some time now I anticipate that this may be the one to have me curled up on the couch for hours while I read it front to back as I did with the previous three novels in the series.

I gather from the first chapter that the narrator of this novel will be Simon and while I fully expect there will be lots of interaction with all the main characters I hope I enjoy the focus being on him as much as I did with it being on Clary.

What I loved so much about the Mortal Instrument series was its appeal to teens and adults alike as well as being a YA novel enjoyed by both men and women. I remember being at my cottage and watching as the novels were passed from myself to my younger cousin, my aunts, and eventually even to my uncle! The appeal of these novels seemed to stem from a fascination with the concept of Shadowhunters while still having a strong foundation in the ever popular themes of vampires and werewolves.

Below I have attached a few "extras" that I found of interest regarding the City of Fallen Angels and the Mortal Instruments series. I look forward to reading the book when its released and (fingers crossed) posting an ecstatic review of the novel the following day!

Web site: The Mortal Instruments
Author Blog: Cassandra Clare
Click here for the first chapter of City of Fallen Angels

For those of you who have not read the first novel in the series, City of Bones below is the book trailer.

Will it be as good?

2011-02-08T17:35:00.000-05:00

I was sad to read the final book in the Vampire Academy series and I knew she had something else in the works but I didn't expect Bloodlines to be released so soon (August 23, 2011). You can read more about the debut novel/spin off here in an EW article. As for the cover....I am not a huge fan. While the up close faces is reminiscent of her previous covers I really dislike the font and flowery vines of the title. At first I was put off by the swirly vines on Sydney's face because it reminded me to much of the covers of The House of Night series however my currently forgetful (baby brained) mind remembered that it is in fact a gold filigree tattoo given to alchemists in the Vampire Academy series (if my memory is recalling correctly). For those of you looking for a little more click here for a blog entry by Richelle Mead detailing more about the novel, for her official web site click here, and for a visual aide in counting down to the release of Boodlines click here.

SOS

2011-01-14T22:10:00.000-05:00

In my last post I mentioned that I am 4.5 months pregnant and I have gone from reading 3 books on average a week to 1 a month....it sad....its depressing...its got to STOP! Ironically my pregnancy coincided with me getting a second job so I have much less free time to read however part of the problem is I just can't seem to get...hooked by any new authors or novels. I started Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare over a month ago and while its an excellent story I am not devouring it as I had hoped. I have a stack of books I still need to review but I am looking for that something special to get me back into the reading groove. So that's hopefully where my readers come in! If you have read something that enthralled you and that you couldn't put down for even a moment please let me know! My trips to Chapters haven't revealed anything but maybe my readers will!

Pregnant and Reading

2011-01-02T17:37:00.000-05:00

Well its time to reveal that I am pregnant! This is my husbands and my first child and we have waited a long time for this miracle to happen! Pregnancy and working two jobs has drastically impacted my reading for the past 4 months. For the first 3 months I just slept ALL THE TIME! And then I got sick with the flu and couldn't take any medication. So for a woman who averages reading 2 to 3 books a week I have managed to read only 3 books in the past 4 months.....yes its sad I know. While I am still tired and working 2 jobs I hope to finally get back into my reading swing. I have quite a few books I still need to read and review before taking on any new material but on a go forward basis I don't think I'll be reading quite as much as normal! With that said I do hope to be posting a review a week in addition to getting back to posting book covers, author interviews, book news, etc. Thank you all for having patience with me and for not deleting me from your blog roll. Never did I imagine pregnancy would make me this tired or this disinterested in doing my favorite thing (reading of course)!

Hopefully within the next two weeks you will see the pace picking up on The Book Guru!

I hope you all had a fantastic holiday :)

Happy Reading,

Lindsey

What do Last Sacrifice and Ice Cream Have In Common?

2010-12-10T16:29:00.000-05:00

What do these two things have in common? They are my evenings entertainment! I have been sick with a cold this past week and ordered by my doctor to drink lots of fluid, eat chicken soup and ice cream and get lots of rest. I have been in an absolute reading lull for a few months. I have my reasons which I will reveal soon but I am hoping that Last Sacrifice will pull me out of my funk and back into the wonderful world of books. Hopefully I will down this book in record time and post a review asap and get this book blog back on track! For those of you still hanging out on my site thank you for sticking around. There are times I suppose when life takes president over everything else. Happy Reading!

A Kind Of Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

2010-11-16T19:48:00.000-05:00

Title: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Author: J.K. Rowling
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Published: July 21, 2007
Format: Hardcover ($23.76 CDN)
Age Group: Young Adult
Copy: Purchased by me at a midnight release party!

Cool Web Sites:

Mugglenet
The Noble Collection
Alivans Wands
Official Movie Web Site
J.K. Rowling

Synopsis:

Harry is waiting in Privet Drive. The Order of the Phoenix is coming to escort him safely away without Voldemort and his supporters knowing--if they can. But what will Harry do then? How can he fulfil the momentous and seemingly impossible task that Professor Dumbledore has left him with? Harry has been burdened with a dark, dangerous and seemingly impossible task: that of locating and destroying Voldemort''s remaining Horcruxes. Never has Harry felt so alone, or faced a future so full of shadows. But Harry must somehow find within himself the strength to complete the task he has been given. He must leave the warmth, safety and companionship of The Burrow and follow without fear or hesitation the inexorable path laid out for him ... In this final, seventh instalment of the Harry Potter series, J. K. Rowling unveils in spectacular fashion the answers to the many questions that have been so eagerly awaited. The spellbinding, richly woven narrative, which plunges, twists and turns at a breathtaking pace, confirms the author as a mistress of storytelling, whose books will be read, reread and read again.

My Review:

Last week I finished HPDH for the fourth time and I loved it as much as I did the first time I read it in July of 2007. Has it really been almost three years since us HP fanatics waited in line at midnight dressed up in our witch and wizard finery for our very own copy of Deathly Hallows? I will never forget the excitement of that night and how awesome I thought it was to see fans young and old dressed up and discussing what they thought would become of our beloved friends and there equally lovable family.

While I always aim to do spoiler free reviews if you have not read the novel but are as eager as I am to see the movie this Friday then please stop reading here. I say this somehow believing maybe just maybe you don't know what happened. Is that even possible?!?

The book is to epic to do a review that won't take you ten minutes to read so instead of analyzing this novel piece by piece I will tell you what I loved the most and what brought me to tears on more then one occasion. Opening each novel is like a long awaited reunion with some of my best friends and even knowing what was about to happen I turned the pages as rapidly as I could read them, eagerly soaking up the vivid descriptions and dialogue.

The amount of times I cried in this novel is ridiculous. I realize its a battle of epic proportion however did so many beloved characters have to die? Dobby.....Hedwig.....Fred....the wizarding world will never be the same. I think what I love most about this series beyond my attraction to all things magical and the whole concept of Hogwarts is the bonds of friendship that develop so early on in the series and become such an important part of the final novel.

I really can't wait to see how they portray Dumbledore in the movie. While I lost a little faith in him along the way I never doubted that he had a good heart. I loved that someone we looked up to so much in the first few novels was exposed in DH as a flawed and human individual who made choices both good and bad that shaped the wonderful man he became. In one of the final scenes where Harry is talking to the portrait of Dumbledore and tears are running down past his half moon spectacles.....well lets just say I was crying along with him.

Never has there been a series that has captured my heart more then this one. I realize that at times my love of this series borders on an unhealthy obsession but are not all of us book bloggers and bookacholics just a little bit obsessed with all of our favorite characters? I mean its not going to far if I only dress up as a Hogwarts student once or twice a year right?

Clearly this isn't a typical review for me and I have done nothing more then for the hundredth time express to you how much I love this series but with HPDH part 1 set to come out in just a few short days how could I not pre-gush about HP?

I can't wait to see the movie and be enthralled once again with the magical world that Rowling created well over a decade ago. What a journey it has been!

Good night all! Happy Reading!

My Rating: (Like you even have to ask!) 10000 x infinity/5

HP Trailer: It's Worse Then Being a Kid on Christmas Eve

2010-10-30T20:48:00.000-04:00

When you were little did you have a favorite stuffed bear or blanket that made you feel safe whenever your fear of the monsters in your closet got to be to great? Is there a favorite book that you escaped to whenever reality just wasn't enough? Did you ever let yourself wonder for hours in fantastical daydreams just because you felt like it?

When I was younger I had a stuffed bear named, Bear (how original) who kept watch by my shoulder ready to alert me at the first sign of monsters but it wasn't until I read Harry Potter years ago that I finally found THAT series of books that allows me to escape whenever I feel link into a world that is so magical it takes my breath away. The books and movies alike have become my security blanket. I am 28 blah blah, there are no monsters under my bed (yes there are)......Well the point is if I haven't stressed it enough over the past nine months of blogging is that I love Harry Potter. I watch it when my husband is away on business just so I can sleep, I pick up the very first book just so I can hang with Potter as he discovers the magical world of Witches and Wizards in Diagon Alley, I dress up as a Hogwarts students occasionally just because I feel like it and I often find myself daydreaming that I grew up in that world and I am now a professor at the school or a dark magic catcher.

The entire point of this post is that I found another HPDH trailer. With just 20 days to go I am beyond excited and if this trailer in addition to the others accurately represents the quality of the film we are in for a treat. I think it may just be the best of them all. I promise you that your going to get sick of my HP posts. I just started reading the final book in preparation for watching the movie. I believe I do a pretty good job of separating the books from the movies but I still like to have a "refresher" before the movie comes out. Either way it is my intention to do a post about how much I love the book at some point in the next two weeks. Also when the movie comes out I plan to do a (hopefully) gushing post on how fantastic it is.

Enough of me without a further waste of your time I give you the newest HP trailer (if you haven't already seen it).

2010-10-25T18:31:00.000-04:00

Title: Immortal Beloved
Author: Cate Tiernan
Publisher: Little Brown Books For Young Readers
Published: September 7, 2010
Format: Hardcover $18.99
Age Group: Young Adult
Copy: Provided by publisher

Click here to browse inside this book

Synopsis:

Nastasya has spent the last century living as a spoiled, drugged-out party girl. She feels nothing and cares for no one. But when she witnesses her best friend, a Dark Immortal, torture a human, she realizes something's got to change. She seeks refuge at a rehab for wayward immortals, where she meets the gorgeous, undeniably sexy Reyn, who seems inexplicably linked to her past.

Nastasya finally begins to deal with life, and even feels safe--until the night she learns that someone wants her dead.

My Review:

Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan was a captivating coming of age story but with a unique and intriguing twist. Somewhere within the first few chapters I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the main character Nastasya or "Nasty" as she is known by her friends, is actually a 400 year old immortal not just another teenage vampire. The concept of immortals in this novel is slightly difficult to explain but the best comparison I can think of is immortals of the likes you find in the Highlander series.

As a protagonist Nasty is witty, sarcastic and childish despite the four centuries she has under her belt. In the beginning I didn't find her altogether believable or likable but I was so captivated by the story that I couldn't put the book down. As the novel progressed and I learned more about Nasty's history, I began to invest in her as a character and chapter by chapter she grew on me.

The vast majority of this novel takes place in a rehab facility for immortals and the characters you meet there are quite interesting. I enjoyed the magical element that is introduced while Nasty is at the rehab center and as she is taken by visions of her past and the truth about who she was/is is slowly revealed my love of Immortal Beloved solidified.

I would be remiss in my duties as a book reviewer if I didn't mention the romantic element of this novel. Reyn is an interesting love interest in that he sends very mixed signals about his interest in Nasty a la Bella and Edward. There relationship becomes much more complex as the mystery of their past relationship is revealed through Nasty's visions.

My only bone to pick with this novel is the same one I have to pick with all books about immortals written for young adults. Although they may be incredibly entertaining the amount of teenage angst present in the young adult "immortal" characters is not believable because I believe that after centuries of life experience (love, loss, death, joy, pain, etc) you likely would not be an angsty childish individual. With that said without the angst what would there be for us to identify with and alas the book would not appeal so much to young adult and myself. Its a bit of a catch 22.

If you are looking for a novel that has something other then vampires, werewolves and faeries to offer this is the next book for you. The ending of this book left things wide open for the next installment. I look forward to reading more about Nasty's unique history and if after discovering the truth about her heritage if her personality begins to reflect the maturity that should come with the life experiences she has endured.

My Rating: 4/5

Interview With Anne Fortier (Juliet)

2010-10-18T10:41:00.000-04:00

I am excited to post my interview today with author Anne Fortier, author of the fantastic novel Juliet. Thanks very much to Shannon at Harper Collins for arranging this opportunity. For more information about the author please see the authors web site, for my review of Juliet click here and to brows inside the book and read the first few chapters please click here.

The Book Guru sends out a big warm welcome to Anne Fortier!

TBG: It is my understanding that the research for Juliet was a collaborative effort between you and your mother. With half of your novel taking place in 1340 and the other in present time I can hardly imagine the volume of research you had accumulated in addition to your own ideas for the story. How did you keep yourself organized through the writing process? How long did it take to write the book from the initial idea to the last revision? Was it an emotional journey for you?

Anne: I can’t tell you how many times I have been rifling through boxes and stacks of paper in search of some important article or research note from my mother, which I knew was somewhere … It’s true that a lot of research has gone into the book, but the ratio of research that did not make it into the book is even more frightening. I would say it’s at least 20:1. I started writing the book in 2005, but most of that year was spent doing initial research; through 2006 and 2007 I wrote the bulk of it, and in 2008 I entered the editing process with my agent. So, if I got the idea in March 2005, and made the absolutely final corrections by June 2010 … that means the book was underway for over five years. And yes, it was quite emotional, especially when I had to say goodbye to characters along the way.

TBG: After reading Juliet I was struck how fluid the transitions were between the chapters that took place in the past and the chapters that took place in the present. Was it difficult to weave together your tale of the “true” story of Romeo and Juliet with the story of Julie Jacobs?

Anne: I always knew that if I were to write a novel that went back and forth between different story-lines, it would have to be a big priority for me to make the transitions smooth, and to make sure both narratives were easily accessible and instantly appealing, so that the reader wouldn’t skip chapters along the way. I confess I am a chapter-skipper myself, and it always annoys me, so I was very determined to address that problem. What is interesting is that it was actually surprisingly natural for me to switch back and forth, probably because both narratives are set in Siena, and because a lot of the characters are “mirrored” across time. That said, I did tend to write a few modern-day chapters in a row before going back and picking up the 1340 storyline. I found it quite hard to flip from writing flirtatious banter between Julie and Alessandro to going back and describing the bloody events in the “original” Romeo & Juliet-story.

TBG: I have read that growing up you spent a lot of time reading curled up in an armchair. Who are your favorite authors/novels and does any of the material you have read over the years inspire the types of stories you like to write?

Anne: I always loved treasure hunts, and some of my favorite books growing up were Stevenson’s “Treasure Island” and books of the “Famous Five”-variety. But I also liked alternative worlds such as the Narnia-book by C.S. Lewis. However, I think it was a very good thing that I also read very wholesome, down-to-earth books, such as “The Little House on the Prairie” and all the very wonderful books by the Swedish author Astrid Lindgren. Apart from “Pippi Longstocking” Lindgren wrote a lot of very wholesome books about children growing up in small towns and farming communities, and her stories really add to my own fond memories of childhood. As an adult, I have been inspired by books such as John Fowles’ “The Magus” and Umberto Eco’s “Foucault’s Pendulum”, as well as Katherine Neville’s “The Eight”. And lately I have discovered Jane Johnson’s “The Tenth Gift”, and can’t wait to read her new book, “The Salt Road”. Most of these books straddle several genres and can best be classified as “adventures” – my favorites!

TBG: The characters in your story leapt right off the page for me and by the end of the novel I felt as though the protagonist Julie was a dear friend. Are any of your characters inspired by real people? If so are they aware which character is inspired by them? If not what how do your characters come to be?

Anne: There is no question all the characters are inspired by real people, but only rarely are they modeled after one person in particular. I was probably always a bit of a “collector” when it comes to people-watching; I have a pretty expansive mental archive for voices and human behavior, and this is what I draw on when I write. In my first novel, which was published in Denmark in 2005, one character was a potent mix of my mother, my grandfather’s house-keeper, and my wild imagination, and I remember my mother being somewhat disgruntled, because she could recognize herself in the character, but felt I had made her too shrill and ridiculous. It was very difficult to explain that, yes, it was her, but no, it was also not her, and so I definitely learned a lot from that experience. In JULIET the characters are such composites that I hope no one will recognize themselves, unless, of course, it is a compliment.

TBG: There is a growing trend of books being made into movies and for the most part I love watching my favorite novels come to life on the big screen. Have you been approached by any production companies regarding turning Juliet into a movie? If you have not, would this be a direction you would like to see Juliet go? And because I am curious, if you have thought about this, is there any particular actress/actor that you have imagined playing Julie, Romeo, or Giulietta?

Anne: Right now there is a producer in Hollywood who is trying to get a JULIET film off the ground. Her name is Cathy Konrad, and she is married to the director, James Mangold, who recently did “Knight and Day”. I am hopeful they will find a screenwriter soon, and would absolutely love to see JULIET on the silver screen! I think someone like Anne Hathaway would be a fantastic Julie, and I would love for Alessandro to be played by the Italian actor, Raoul Bova, who starred in “Alien vs. Predator” of all things. I imagine Andy Garcia would make a great Umberto, and of course, I wrote the part of Eva Maria for Sophia Loren. As for the 1340-narrative, I think it should be enacted by an all-Italian cast speaking Italian. But we shall see.

Review: Juliet by Anne Fortier

2010-10-08T17:39:00.001-04:00

Title: Juliet
Author: Anne Fortier
Publisher: Harper Collins
Published: August 24, 2010
Format: Hardcover (29.99 CDN)
Age Group: Adult

Copy: Provided by publisher
Extra: Click here to browse inside

Synopsis:

When Julie Jacobs inherits a key to a safety deposit box in Siena, Italy, she is told it will lead her to an old family treasure.Soon she is launched on a precarious journey into the true history of her ancestor Giulietta, whose legendary love for a young man named Romeo turned medieval Siena upside down. As Julie crosses paths with the descendants of the families involved in Shakespeare’s unforgettable blood feud, she begins to realize that the notorious curse -- “A plague on both your houses!” -- is still at work, and that she is the next target. It seems the only one who can save her from her fate is Romeo . . . .but where is he?

Full of sleeping potions, secret processions, and the glorious Italian countryside,Juliet is at heart an epic romance that proves that love is strong enough to conquer even death.

My Review:

I came upon this book by chance while browsing the shelves of my local book store back in February 2009. After reading the synopsis of the novel I beelined it to the front of the store only to discover that the book had been left out by mistake and was not for resale as it was an advanced readers copy. Upon seeing my disappointment the owner of the store told me I was welcome to take the book home if I truly wanted it.

With a cup of tea and a warm blanket wrapped around me I began to read Juliet. From the first chapter to the last I was ensnared in an epic story of love, hope, tragedy, mystery, betrayal, history and magic.

In Juliet, Anne Fortier takes the traditional Shakespearian tale of Romeo and Juliet, turns it upside down and re-tells it in an unique and modern way. The story beings in America where the protagonist Julie Jacobs discovers a family mystery that takes her across the world to the romantic Sienna Italy where her life will be forever changed. Here she begins a journey that will uncover the truth of her family heritage and that of what really happened long ago between the true Romeo and Giuletta.

The story of Julie/Giuletta unfolds in two centuries, Julies own and that of the original Romeo and Giuletta. As a protagonist Julie is full of depth, heart, courage and tenacity but she truly came alive for me when she discovers her modern day Romeo.

I was impressed by how fluid the transitions were between chapters, centuries and narrators. Her ability to weave a romantic and mysterious love story captured my heart within the first few chapters. This novel crosses genres and should be a must read for anyone who loves mysteries, love stories and historical fiction.

Thank you to both my local book store for loaning me my first copy of Juliet and to Harper Collins for sending me a copy of my very own.

My Rating: 5/5

Review: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

2010-10-05T21:02:00.000-04:00

Title: Paranormalcy

Author: Kiersten White

Publisher: Harper Teen

Published: August 31, 2010

Format: Hardcover ($18.99 CDN)

Age Group: Young Adult

Click here to browse inside the book

Copy provided by publisher

Synopsis:

Evie’s always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals’ glamours.

But Evie’s about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.

My Review:

My favorite thing about Paranormalcy was Evie. She's genuine, honest, funny, sassy, loves pink and names her weapons. She is also lost and a little bit flawed which makes her all the more believable and lovable as a character. My second favorite thing about Parnormalcy is Evie's new love interest, Lend the shape-shifter. For most of us paranormal/urban fantasy junkies, the term "shifter" usually refers to a person who can turn into an animal but in Parnormalcy this is not the case (I am not giving anymore about Lend away you'll have to read it to find out for yourself!).

Kiersten White's character description has enough depth to make the characters believable and kept me turning the pages one after the other until suddenly the book was over. After checking out Kiersten White's website I may not be far off in saying Evie's sass and humour are at least in part a reflection of Kiersten's own personality.

I love the little twists that Kiersten does on "traditional" paranormal myths and I was left wanting a little more description of the world she had created in Paranormalcy. With that said a lot of readers find that to much description actually takes away form the story and they become bored with it. I on the other hand usually enjoy a thorough description of EVERYTHING.

To sum it all up, I love the plot, the characters, the flow of Kiersten's writing and Kiersten's twist on the paranormal but I want more of all of it. Lucky for me there are two sequels to follow with the next installment, Supernaturally due out Fall 2011.

My Rating: 4/5

011.

Extras:

Bursting With Excitement!

2010-09-24T20:48:00.000-04:00

My heat nearly bursts with excitement over this film! Its time to start getting my costume ready for the opening night. I am having a HP inspired party next July in celebration/mourning of the final film. Words can not express how much I love all things Harry Potter. Anyway the point of this post is I came across a new trailer for HPDH Part 1 and though that if by chance you had not seen it yet you would be as excited as I was upon discovering it. Enjoy friends!

Review: Prophecy Of The Sisters by Michelle Zink

2010-09-22T14:06:00.000-04:00

Title: Phrophecy of the Sisters (Book 1)
Author: Michelle Zink
Publisher: Little Brown Books For Young Readers
Published: August 1, 2009
Format: Hardcover ($19.99 CDN)
Age Group: Young Adult
Copy: Provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

Click here to browse inside the book

Synopsis:

An ancient prophecy divides two sisters-
One good...
One evil...
Who will prevail?

Twin sisters Lia and Alice Milthorpe have just become orphans. They have also become enemies. As they discover their roles in a prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other, the girls find themselves entangled in a mystery that involves a tattoo-like mark, their parents'' deaths, a boy, a book, and a lifetime of secrets.

Lia and Alice don't know whom they can trust.

They just know they can''t trust each other.

My Review:

The Prophecy of the Sisters is a well written novel with a complex and mysterious plot that slowly begins to unravel after twin sisters Lia and Alice's father dies and a peculiar mark of a snake eating it's tail begins to form on Lia's wrist. The reader is introduced to a creative tale of an ancient prophecy involving generations of twin sisters and good versus evil when Lia's beau James discovers an ancient text and shares his discovery with her. Michelle Zink's description of the two main protagonists, Lia and Alice, allows the reader to clearly visualize their vastly different personalities. As the story progresses the reader begins to connect with Lia on a deeper level due to her genuine and caring personality while simultaneously being drawn away from Alice due to her secretive and dishonest actions.

While I did not find myself unable to put this book down the story began to slowly weave itself into my unconsciousness and I found myself dreaming of mysterious prophecy's and pondering how much of life is actually within our control and how much is predestined.

For those of you who have read and enjoyed, A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray (the first novel in the Gemma Doyle series) then I believe you will enjoy this series as well. Both books take place in the late 1800's and involve young women in events that were set in motion before their birth as well as share similar themes of prophecy, magic, clairvoyance, friendship and rivalry.

What I look forward to most about reading the second installment of the series, Guardian of the Gate, is furthering to unravel the secrets of the prophecy and witnessing Lia's struggle to fulfill a destiny she was unprepared for.

I have included a book trailer for The Prophecy Of The Sisters below and if you are interested in learning more about the author or the novel please check out the links at the top of this post to both the authors web site and a link to browse inside the novel.

My Rating: 3.5/5

I'm Back & Its Contest Time!

2010-09-21T13:10:00.000-04:00

Ok friends things have finally settled down in my world. Its been a few weeks since I have done some regular posting and I wanted to start things off again with a bang so I am hosting a contest! I have chosen a few books/authors that I would like to highlight so the winner of the contest will be able to select one book out of the bunch. This contest is international so everyone can enter! I have listed the contest rules below. Good luck to everyone and I look forward to getting back to regular posting!

Contest duration: 2 weeks
You must be a follower of The Book Guru
Please leave a comment with your email address
This is not a contest where you need to tweet or do a blog post for extra entries but I would very, very, very much appreciate it if you did as the more people that find their way to my blog and follow me the more contests I can bring to you!
If the word does get passed on and my readership goes up I would be more then happy to thank you by adding a second winner to the contest
This contest is international
After two weeks a winner will be randomly selected and I will contact you to inquire about which book you would like and the address you would like it sent to
Some of the selections I have included are a part of the series. If you have already read the first one as long as the price is reasonable I would be happy to send you one in that series that you don't already have

And the selections are:

Young Adult

Adult

Thank you for entering!

That Movie SUCKED

2010-09-15T23:21:00.000-04:00

I recently posted the trailer for Vampires Suck because it was slightly amusing. My expectations for the movie were pretty low to begin with but I assumed like all spoof movies I would get in a few chuckles.

I was not amused and I did not chuckle but I did walk out after the first 10 minutes and asked for my money back. The complaints are to many to mention but first and foremost this is a PG 13 rated movie and there is no way I would want my 13yr old daughter to see it. The father comments on the size of his daughters breasts using the "t" word, they highlight an overly large bulge in "Edwards" pants and at one point "Edward" gets naked and a sparkly disco ball is in the place of where is man parts should be. Its overly sexual, beyond immature and not even remotely funny, which coming from a girl who enjoys crude humour from the likes of comedians such as Dane Cook that's saying something.

This movie took things to a whole new level of stupidity and it was an absolute waste of time.

Long time no post!

2010-09-11T10:48:00.000-04:00

Hello friends :) Sorry its been a few since I last posted (a week Wednesday). I have been at my cottage, getting prepared for a new job, celebrating my birthday and working! I got some fabulous books in the mail these past two weeks which I can't wait to tell you about in my next mailbox vlog. I also finished reading Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan and once again I was sucked right in. I have been really lucky with my summer reading/review choices as their really hasn't been a time this summer where I struggled through a book. There are a few I have picked up and put back down because I wasn't in the mood for that particular genre however when I finally picked one I couldn't put it down.

I can't wait to get back to blogging and reviewing the great books I have been reading as well as catching up on my own google reader!

Adult September 2010 New Releases

2010-09-01T22:40:00.000-04:00

Mob Rules by Cameron Haley

September 1, 2010

I'm Domino Riley, an enforcer for Shanar Rashan.

Like most mob bosses in L.A., he's a powerful sorcerer, battling for control of the city, gathering up the magic of violent and powerful emotions and storing it for his own use. Back in the day, Rashan saved me from the streets and made me his lieutenant. You could say I'm his go-to girl.

When a fellow gangster is ritually executed, I have to find out which of Rashan's enemies was behind it—and why. The cryptic messages I'm getting from the Beyond tell me it wasn't a simple hit.

With the bodies piling up, I need to win an occult gang war, take out the supernatural traitor within our outfit and, oh yeah, deal with the mixed messages I'm getting from the boss's son….

Cold Magic by Kate Elliott

September 7, 2010

From one of the genre's finest writers comes a bold new epic fantasy in which science and magic are locked in a deadly struggle.

It is the dawn of a new age... The Industrial Revolution has begun, factories are springing up across the country, and new technologies are transforming in the cities. But the old ways do not die easy.

Cat and Bee are part of this revolution. Young women at college, learning of the science that will shape their future and ignorant of the magics that rule their families. But all of that will change when the Cold Mages come for Cat. New dangers lurk around every corner and hidden threats menace her every move. If blood can't be trusted, who can you trust?

Animal Attraction (Halle Pumas) by Dana Marie Bell

September 7, 2010

Patience is a virtue. Good thing these men aren''t virtuous. Coping with a devastating injury is hard enough for Belinda "Belle" Campbell. Forced separation from her destined mate while she heals is almost more than she can endure. Until she is strong enough to take up her duties as Luna of the Poconos Wolf Pack, however, the safest place for her is Halle. Now, after months of being alone, she is more than ready to be claimed. But is the pack ready for a Puma Luna?

Blood on Silk: An Awakened by Blood Novel by Marie Treanor

September 7, 2010

The debut of a seductive new contemporary series of vampires, lust, and revenge.
While in Romania researching historical superstitions, Scottish academic Elizabeth Silk comes upon the folk tale of Saloman, a seductive prince staked centuries ago, legend's most powerful vampire. Now, in the ruins of a castle crypt, Elizabeth discovers supernatural legends that have come alive. Her blood has awakened him. Her innocence has aroused him. But Elizabeth unleashes more than Saloman's hunger, and it's going to unite them in ways neither could have imagined.

Atlantis Betrayed by Alyssa Day

September 7, 2010

Another Warriors of Poseidon novel for romance lovers to dive into...
What could Christophe, powerful Warrior of Poseidon, have in common with Fiona Campbell, the notorious jewel thief known as the Scarlet Ninja? Answer: The Siren, a legendary Crown Jewel that Fiona has targeted for her next heist. It's said to be worth millions, but to Christophe it's invaluable. For the Siren also happens to be one of the missing jewels from Poseidon's trident. But breaking into the Tower of London is a two-person job, and Christophe and Fiona must team up to commit the crime of the century.

Chains of Fire by Chrstina Dodd

September 7, 2010

Samuel Faa is a Gypsy lawyer with the power to control minds. Isabelle Mason is wealthy, privileged, and refined, and has the gift for healing. Two of the Chosen Ones, they share a past filled with love and betrayal, and a future denied by fate-until the day they're trapped underground. No way out. No way to deny the passion that still burns beneath the surface. And when danger threatens, Isabelle has only one choice: to place her trust in the power of the one man she could never forgive...or forget.

Cross Your Heart: A Broken Heart Novel by Michele Bardsley

September 7, 2010

Even vampires can be afraid of ghosts...
After the death of her husband-and her dreams of motherhood-Elizabeth Bretton returned to the family estate in Broken Heart, Oklahoma. Little did she know she would also give up her life as the Silverstone heiress.

But escaping the past isn't that easy-especially with a vengeful ghost trying to kill her, a 150-year-old mystery to solve, and an outrageously hot were-jaguar named "Tez" trying to get into her boudoir...

Cruel Enchantment by Anya Bast

September 7, 2010

The "Dark Magick" series continues from this "New York Times" bestselling author.
To keep her fae race from being eradicated, Emmaline Gallagher must retrieve an object of fae power from a locked ancient box. Only Aeric O'Malley has the forging skills to create a key. But will their tumultuous past stand in the way?

Dust by Joan Frances Turner

September 7, 2010

What happens between death and life can change a girl. Jessie is a zombie. And this is her story...

Nine years ago, Jessie was in a car crash and died. After she was buried, she awoke and tore through the earth to arise, reborn, as a zombie. Now Jessie's part of a gang. They fight, hunt, and dance together as one-something humans can never understand. There are darkplaces humans have learned to avoid, lest they run into zombie gangs. But when a mysterious illness threatens the existence of both zombies and humans, Jessie must choose between looking away or staring down the madness-and hanging on to everything she now knows as life...

The Grimrose Path by Rob Thurman

September 7, 2010

Bar owner Triva Iktomi knows that inhuman creatures of light and darkness roam Las Vegas-especially since she's a bit more than human herself. She's just been approached with an unusual proposition. Something has slaughtered almost one thousand demons in six months. And the killing isn't going to stop unless Trixa and her friends step into the fight..

No Mercy by Sherrilyn Kenyon

September 7, 2010

Live fast, fight hard and if you have to die then take as many of your enemies with you as you can. That is the Amazon credo and it was one Samia lived and died by. Now in contemporary New Orleans, the immortal Amazon warrior is about to learn that there’s a worse evil coming to slaughter mankind than she’s ever faced before.

Shapeshifter Dev Peltier has stood guard at the front of Sanctuary for almost two hundred years and in that time, he’s seen it all. Or so he thought. Now their enemies have discovered a new source of power- one that makes a mockery of anything faced to date.

The war is on and Dev and Sam are guarding ground zero. But in order to win, they will have to break the most cardinal of all rules and pray it doesn’t unravel the universe as we know it.

Vampire Trinity by Joey W. Hill

September 7, 2010

Vampire hunter Gideon Green never intended to become a vampire's servant. But when Anwyn, a woman with whom he shared an unforgettable night, is turned by a vampire pack, Gideon is forced into an uneasy alliance with one of the most terrifying vampires he's ever encountered: the mysterious Daegan Rei.

Daegan has a vested interest in Anwyn. As Gideon and Daegan shepherd Anwyn through her dangerous validation with the Vampire Council, it's clear they must learn to trust each other. But as boundaries erode, Gideon realizes he has become irreversibly changed-by a bond with the two people in his life he can't survive without: vampires.

Veil of Shadows by Shiloh Walker

September 7, 2010

A rebel army has been established to win back the land from demons-and a ne soldier named Xan has appeared out of nowhere to join them. Beautiful army captain Laisyn Caar is shocked by the powerful, all- consuming desire she feels in his presence, but when she discovers the dark secrets of Xan's agenda, she'll have to determine whether the man she's starting to love is a friend of her people-or a dreaded enemy.

Immortal Sea by Virginia Kantra

September 7, 2010

From a chance encounter...Morgan of the finfolk does not normally waste his attention on humankind, but while in Copenhagen, he meets a young woman who captures his interest, if only for a night. On sojourn in Europe before starting medical school, Elizabeth is intelligent, attractive...and eager for a little adventure...A memory kept... Sizteen years later, Dr. Elizabeth Rodruigez is called to the island of World's End to become its only doctor. There, she hopes to reconnect with her troubled son Zack, who has become withdrawn since her husband's death. She has no idea that World's End will also reconnect her with Morgan... And a future about to be born... From the moment Morgan lays his eyes on young Zack, he suspects the boy is finfolk-and his own son. As he and Liz clash over Zack's fate, they discover their desire is as strong as ever. But proud Morgan's loyalty has always been to the sea, while Liz's responsibilities lie on land. Will their reignited passion be enough to bring them together? Or will their secrets force them apart?

Healer's Choice by Jory Strong

September 7, 2010

The author of "Spider-Touched" and "Ghostland" continues her tale of a postapocalyptic world where the afterlife has come to life...

Born into a world of violence and paid-for sex, Rebekka longs for a family of her own and dreams of freeing those trapped in the shapeshifter brothels of the red zone. A witch's prophecy claims she'll one day use her gift to heal the Weres made outcast by their mixed human-animal forms.

But Rebekka knows that everything comes at a cost. A plea to save five children sends her into the arms of Aryck, a Jaguar enforcer-and into territory controlled by pure Weres. It's a place where humans and outcasts aren't welcomed, where plague threatens and the fate of the Weres hangs in the balance. And where the choices Rebekka and Aryck make are paid for with their hearts...if not their souls.

Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich

September 14, 2010

Life in Marblehead has had a pleasant predictability, until Diesel arrives. Rumor has it that a collection of priceless ancient relics representing the Seven Deadly Sins have made their way to Boston’s North Shore. Partnered with pastry chef Lizzie Tucker, Diesel bullies and charms his way through historic Salem to track them down—and his criminal mastermind cousin Gerewulf Grimorie. The black-haired, black-hearted Wulf is on the hunt for the relic representing gluttony.

Caught in a race against time, Diesel and Lizzie soon find out that more isn’t always better, as they battle Wulf and the first of the deadly sins.

With delectable characters and non-stop thrills that have made Janet Evanovich a household name, Wicked Appetite will leave you hungry for more.

Trinity by Lauren Dane

September 14, 2010

One witch, one cat shifter. Add one wolf. Blend. Safety glasses recommended.

Renee Parcell loves her life. Her smoothie/coffee cart business is successful, and she’s deeply in love with her boyfriend, Galen. He makes her laugh, he’s gainfully employed, and he satisfies her as only a sexy cat shifter can. He even puts the toilet seat down.

Yet they both sense something in the air. An anticipation that leaves them both unsettled.

Tall, blond and gorgeous Jack Meyers, Enforcer of National Pack and one of the most beautiful men Renee and Galen have ever seen, stumbles into Renee’s life and the riddle of their expectation is solved—Renee is Jack’s mate. What surprises them all is when the three of them touch, magick creates an unexpected triple bond of witch, cat and wolf.

Even as they learn to navigate the steamy intricacies of their bond, a threat looms over Renee. First in the form of resurrected memories, then in the shape of darker magicks someone is aiming at her. Set on stealing her inherent powers—even her life.

Renee can stand to lose almost anything, except her mates. But there seems to be no talking them out of laying everything on the line for her…

Esperanza by Trish J. MacGregor

September 14, 2010

Tess Livingston met Ian Ritter at a roadside stop high in the Andes, waiting for a bus to the mysterious town of Esperanza.

Tess is an FBI agent who remembers being on the track of a group of international counterfeiters. But she doesn’t remember booking a trip to Esperanza. Ian is a journalist who was planning to vacation to the Galapagos Islands. He, too, isn’t quite sure why he has a ticket to Esperanza.

Their meeting will change their lives forever. For they have been brought together because they hold the key in a mystical war between the kind spirits of the dead who guard humanity, and the hungry ghosts who exist only to possess living human bodies, and return however briefly to life.

In the midst of this war, Tess and Ian will find a love that can transcend time, and a cause that not even death will overcome.

Afterlife: The Resurrection Chronicles by Merrie Destefano

September 28, 2010

Welcome to your next chance.

Chaz Dominguez is a professional Babysitter in New Orleans, helping to integrate the recently deceased into their new and improved lives. Though Fresh Start has always been the only game in town, resurrection isn't all it's cracked up to be. Nine lives are all a person can get—and a powerful group of desperate, high-level Nine-Timers will stop at nothing to possess the keys to true immortality.

Now the only hope for Chaz and his family—and the human race—lies in the secrets locked away in the mind of Angelique, the beautiful, mysterious Newbie he must protect . .

Eat Prey Love: Love at Stake by Kerrelyn Sparks

September 28, 2010

Wanted: Bride. Must love children. Mortals need not apply.

Carlos Panterra is looking for a mate, a woman who will love and care for the young orphans he's recently taken under his wing (or paw, as the case may be). When the shape shifter spies the beautiful Caitlyn, it's like sunshine amidst the darkness. At last, he's found the perfect woman, except . . .

Caitlyn Whelan is mortal. Worse, her father is the head of a CIA agency bent on hunting the undead. Still, Caitlyn knows that Carlos is the man for her, shape shifter or not. So she jumps at the chance when her sister offers her a job to work with him, determined to show Carlos their attraction is more than just animal magnetism. But danger lurks in the night, and their unleashed, untamed passion might just get them both killed . . .

Bayou Moon by Ilona Andrews

September 28, 2010

Cerise Mar and her clan are cash poor but land rich, claiming a large swathe of the Mire, the Edge swamplands. When her parents vanish, her clan's long-time rivals are suspect. But all is not as it seems.

Two nations of the Weird are waging a cold war fought by feint and espionage, and their conflict is about to spill over into the Edge-and Cerise's life.

Left for Undead: A Crimson Moon Novel by L.A. Banks

September 28, 2010

Secret government operative Sasha Trudeau earned a long vacation with her lover and fellow Shadow Wolf, Hunter, after the brutal wolf-like attacks that left New Orleans in an uproar. But when her team calls with news of vampire slayings, Sasha knows it’s only a matter of time before another war breaks out among the supernatural denizens of the world …

The vampires are nobody’s ally, but the cold-hearted deaths of their own kind make them even more bloodthirsty than usual. But who is the culprit? With the Seelie and Unseelie courts claiming innocence and aligning together, Sasha’s team is at a loss. Until they discover that they’re facing ancient creatures from the depths of hell itself, bent on unleashing pure fury …

Masques by Patricia Briggs

September 28, 2010

After an upbringing of proper behavior and oppressive expectations, Aralorn fled her noble birthright for a life of adventure as a mercenary spy. Her latest mission involves spying on the increasingly powerful sorcerer Geoffrey ae'Magi. But in a war against an enemy armed with the powers of illusion, how do you know who the true enemy is-or where he will strike next?

Poison Kissed by Erica Hayes

September 28, 2010

Mina is a banshee whose greatest power lies in her siren song. She's beholden to her boss Joey, a snake-shifter who once saved her life and now employs her as a gang enforcer. She refuses to upset the fragile balance between them by admitting that she longs for him, that his embrace is the only thing she craves more than revenge for her mother's death.

When Mina learns that Joey may have been involved in her mother's murder, fury threatens to spill out of her note by vicious note. She and Joey have always trusted each other to stay alive, but now she's not sure what to believe. The evidence stacked against him-or the one man who haunts her dreams and burns her blood.

Venom (Elemental Assassin, Book 3) by Jennifer Estep

September 28, 2010

What kind of assassin works pro bono?

It’s hard to be a badass assassin when a giant is beating the crap out of you. Luckily, I never let pride get in the way of my work. My current mission is personal: annihilate Mab Monroe, the Fire elemental who murdered my family. Which means protecting my identity, even if I have to conceal my powerful Stone and Ice magic when I need it most. To the public, I’m Gin Blanco, owner of Ashland’s best barbecue joint. To my friends, I’m the Spider, retired assassin. I still do favors on the side. Like ridding a vampire friend of her oversized stalker—Mab’s right-hand goon who almost got me dead with his massive fists. At least irresistible Owen Grayson is on my side. The man knows too much about me, but I’ll take my chances. Then there’s Detective Bria Coolidge, one of Ashland’s finest. Until recently, I thought my baby sister was dead. She probably thinks the same about me. Little does she know, I’m a cold-blooded killer . . . who is about to save her life.

Blood Lite II Overbite by Kelley Armstrong, L.A. Banks et al

September 28, 2010

From the Horror Writers Association comes a brand-new collection of darkly humorous tales!

The Big Questions of Life (and Death)

Can a killer’s basement blood-feast be a tax write-off (under Entertainment)? Not if Vlad the IRS agent nails him first in Heather Graham’s "Death and Taxes."

What does a pack of hungry she-wolves do to solve their man troubles? Ladies Night Out takes a wicked turn in "Dog Tired (of the Drama!)" by L. A. Banks.

How far will an elite call girl go to beat a murder rap? Stuck with a dead client in a luxury L.A. hotel room, she might strike a costly bargain with a woman of unearthly powers in Allison Brennan’s "Her Lucky Day."

Who actually writes those tabloid stories about Bigfoot? Meet a journalist of the unexplained (she’s 50 percent demon) and her boyfriend (he’s 100 percent thief), as they heat up a museum exhibition that’s also a soul-snatching battleground in "Lucifer’s Daughter" by Kelley Armstrong.

Siren Song by Cat Adams

September 28, 2010

Nothing if not resilient, Celia Graves is slowly adjusting to being a half-human, half-vampire Abomination. But her troubles are far from over. Her best friend’s murder is still unsolved, the cops are convinced she should be in jail, and her old lover, the magician Bruno DeLuca, has resurfaced in her life, saying he has something important to tell her.

The vampire attack that transformed Celia kicked her latent Siren abilities into high gear, and now she’s been summoned to the Sirens’ island to justify her existence—and possibly fight for her life—in front of the Siren Queen. Celia isn’t sure she’ll survive to make the trip. The demon she defeated in Blood Song hasn’t exactly gone quietly—he’s left Celia suffering from a powerful curse.

Taken by Midnight: A Midnight Breed Novel by Lara Adrian

September 28, 2010

AT THE CROSSROADS OF DEATH AND DESIRE, A WOMAN TASTES A PLEASURE NO MORTAL IS MEANT TO SURVIVE.

In the frozen Alaskan wilderness, former state trooper Jenna Darrow survives an unspeakable breach of body and soul. But with her narrow escape comes an even greater challenge. For strange changes are taking place within her, as she struggles to understand—and control—a new hunger. To do so, she will seek shelter in the Boston compound of the Order, an ancient race of vampire warriors whose very existence is shrouded in mystery. Perhaps the most mysterious of them all is Brock, a brooding, dark-eyed alpha male whose hands hold the power to comfort, heal . . . and arouse.

As she recovers under Brock’s care, Jenna finds herself drawn to the Order’s mission: to stop a ruthless enemy and its army of assassins from subjecting Earth to a reign of terror. Yet in spite of their resolve, a purely physical relationship without strings soon binds Brock and Jenna together with a desire fiercer than life and stronger than death itself—until a secret from Brock’s past and Jenna’s own mortality challenges their forbidden love to the ultimate trial by fire.

YA September 2010 New Releases

2010-09-01T13:13:00.000-04:00

Spy Glass by Maria V. Snyder

September 1, 2010

After siphoning her own blood magic in the showdown at Hubal, Opal Cowan has lost her powers. She can no longer create glass magic. More, she's immune to the effects of magic. Opal is now an outsider looking in, spying through the glass on those with the powers she once had, powers that make a difference in the world.

Until spying through the glass becomes her new power. Suddenly, the beautiful pieces she makes flash in the presence of magic. And then she discovers that someone has st olen some of her blood—and that finding it might let her regain her powers. Or learn if they're lost forever…

To Die For by Christopher Pike
September 1, 2010

"This juicy volume features two classic Christopher Pike thrillers: SLUMBER PARTY and WEEKEND. In SLUMBER PARTY, mysterious events begin to unfold around a group of friends vacationing at a ski resort. As they become snowbound, things heat up...for the killer in their midst.

In WEEKEND, another group of friends partying at a remote tropical beach manor are forced to confront an ugly event in their past -- or suffer violent consequences in the present. In each of these dream-vacations-gone-bad, not everyone is who they seem, and someone is bloodthirsty.... This double feature of romance, betrayal, and horror is to die for! "

ReVamped by Lucienne Diver
September 1, 2010

Gina's Rules for Surviving Super Spy Club Training: first, the dirt and sweat are just too horrible to contemplate; unless you enjoy cold showers, be the first one to the bathroom in the morning; cargo pants make you look hippy; making out on missions, unless it's part of your cover, is totally grounds for extra push-ups; when going goth, you've totally got to strike words like totally, awesome, and that from your vocabulary; and, who's actually running the Super Spy Club, you ask? I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.

Plain Kate by Erin Bow
September 1, 2010

Plain Kate lives in a world of magic and curses, where cats can talk and shadows can bring back the dead. As the wood-carver's daughter, Kate held a carving knife before a spoon, and her wooden talismans seem to reveal hidden truths about their owners. But she and her village have fallen on hard times: Kate's father dies, crops fail, and a strange sickness is spreading across the countryside. The village is looking for someone to blame, and for her skill with a knife, Kate is accused of witchcraft.

Enter Linay, a stranger with a proposition: If Kate gives him her shadow, he'll grant her heart's wish, and he'll also find a way for her to escape the angry townspeople. Kate reluctantly agrees, not realizing that she's given a powerful tool to a man driven mad with grief. Aided by new friends and armed with the carving knife that has never failed to show her the truth, Kate must stop Linay in his terrible plan of revenge and become the heroine she knows is within her.

Monster High by Lisi Harrison
September 1, 2010

The monster community has kept a low profile at the local high school, but when two new girls enroll, the town will never be the same. Created just fifteen days ago, Frankie Stein is psyched to trade her father's formaldehyde-smelling basement lab for parties and prom.

But with a student body totally freaked out by rumors of monsters stalking the halls, Frankie learns that high school can be rough for a chic freak like her. She thinks she finds a friend in fellow new student Melody Carver-but can a "normie" be trusted with her big secret?

Fallen Embers by Lauri J Owen
September 1, 2010

A feisty attorney and her young nephew are transported to an alternate feudal Alaska ruled by a class of decadent mages who have enslaved the shapechanging indigenous peoples. Before she can find her way home Kiera must learn more about the local systems of magic and her own ability to summon fire. On whose side should she fight? Whom can she trust -- Marco, the young mage she saves, or fierce and handsome Laszlo, the slave captain of ruling Lord Vayu's army? Kiera's path leads her deeper into Alaska, to joy and to heartbreak. Choosing to follow her heart may cost her everything.

Past Midnight by Mara Purnhagen
September 1, 2010

Let me set the record straight. My name is Charlotte Silver and I'm not one of those paranormal-obsessed freaks you see on TV…no, those would be my parents, who have their own ghost-hunting reality show. And while I'm usually roped into the behind-the-scenes work, it turns out that I haven't gone unnoticed. Something happened on my parents' research trip in Charleston—and now I'm being stalked by some truly frightening other beings. Trying to fit into a new school and keeping my parents' creepy occupation a secret from my friends—and potential boyfriends—is hard enough without having angry spirits whispering in my ear. All I ever wanted was to be normal, but with ghosts of my past and present colliding, now I just want to make it out of high school alive….

Crusade by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie
September 7, 2010

The ultimate battle. The ultimate love.
For the past two years, Jenn has lived and trained at Spain’s Sacred Heart Academy Against the Cursed Ones. She is among the few who have pledged to defend humanity or die trying. But the vampires are gaining power, and the battle has only just begun.

Forced to return home after death takes a member of her family, Jenn discovers that San Francisco is now a vampire strong-hold. As a lone hunter apart from her team, Jenn is isolated—and at risk. She craves the company of her fighting partner, Antonio: his protection, his reassurance, his touch. But a relationship with Antonio comes with its own dangers, and the more they share of themselves, the more Jenn stands to lose.
Then Jenn is betrayed by one who was once bound to protect her, causing her to doubt all she had held as true. To survive, Jenn must find the courage to trust herself—and her heart.

Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan
September 7, 2010

Nastasya has spent the last century living as a spoiled, drugged-out party girl. She feels nothing and cares for no one. But when she witnesses her best friend, a Dark Immortal, torture a human, she realizes something's got to change. She seeks refuge at a rehab for wayward immortals, where she meets the gorgeous, undeniably sexy Reyn, who seems inexplicably linked to her past.

Nastasya finally begins to deal with life, and even feels safe--until the night she learns that someone wants her dead.

Cate Tiernan, author of the popular Sweep series, returns with an engaging story of a timeless struggle and inescapable romance, the first book in a stunning new fantasy trilogy.

Firelight by Sophie Jordan
September 7, 2010

A hidden truth.
Mortal enemies.
Doomed love.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki-a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away-if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy. Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite this story of a girl who defies all expectations
and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin
September 7, 2010

Phoebe, a member of the wealthy Rothschilds family, befriends Mallory, an awkward new girl in school, and the two become as close as sisters, but Phoebe does not know that Mallory is a faerie, sent to the human world to trap the ordinary human girl into fulfilling a promise made by her ancestor Mayer to the queen of the faeries.

Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin
September 14, 2010

The only thing Avery Hood can remember about the night her parents died is that she saw silver—deadly silver, moving inhumanly fast. As much as she wants to remember who killed them, she can't, and there's nothing left to do but try to piece her life back together. Then Avery meets the new boy in school—Ben, mysterious and beautiful, with whom she feels a connection like nothing she's ever experienced. When Ben reveals he's a werewolf, Avery still trusts him—at first. Then she sees that sometimes his eyes flash inhuman silver. And she learns that she's not the only one who can't remember the night her parents died.Part murder mystery, part grief narrative, and part heart-stopping, headlong romance, Low Red Moon is a must-read for teen paranormal fans. As breathless as Twilight and as spooky as Shiver, this is a book to be devoured in one sitting—by an acclaimed YA author making her paranormal debut under the pseudonym Ivy Devlin.

Reckless by Cornelia Funke
September 14, 2010

Beyond the mirror, the darkest fairy tales come alive. . . .

For years, Jacob Reckless has enjoyed the Mirrorworld's secrets and treasures.

Not anymore.

His younger brother has followed him.

Now dark magic will turn the boy to beast, break the heart of the girl he loves, and destroy everything Jacob holds most dear. . . .

Unless he can find a way to stop it.

If you're looking for happily ever after, you've come to the wrong place.

Wired by Robin Wasserman
September 14, 2010

One year ago, Lia Kahn died.
A few days later, she woke up.
She had a new body: Mechanical, unfeeling, inhuman. She had a new family: Mechs like her, who didn’t judge her for what she could no longer be. She had a new life, one that would last forever.
At least, it was supposed to.
But now everything Lia thought she knew has turned out to be a lie; everyone she thought she loved has been stolen away. And someone is trying to get rid of the mechs, once and for all. Lia will risk everything to save herself and the people she can’t live without. But not before facing one final truth: She can’t save everyone.

The House of Dead Maids by Clare B. Dunkle
September 14, 2010

Young Tabby Aykroyd has been brought to the dusty mansion of Seldom House to be nursemaid to a foundling boy. He is a savage little creature, but the Yorkshire moors harbor far worse, as Tabby soon discovers. Why do scores of dead maids and masters haunt Seldom House with a jealous devotion that extends beyond the grave?

As Tabby struggles to escape the evil forces rising out of the land, she watches her young charge choose a different path. Long before he reaches the old farmhouse of Wuthering Heights, the boy who will become Heathcliff has doomed himself and any who try to befriend him.

The Kneebone Boy by Ellen Potter
September 14, 2010

Life in a small town can be pretty boring when everyone avoids you like the plague. But after their father unwittingly sends them to stay with an aunt who’s away on holiday, the Hardscrabble children take off on an adventure that begins in the seedy streets of London and ends in a peculiar sea village where legend has it a monstrous creature lives who is half boy and half animal....
In this wickedly dark, unusual, and compelling novel, Ellen Potter masterfully tells the tale of one deliciously strange family and a secret that changes everything.

Fallout by Ellen Hopkins
September 14, 2010

Hunter, Autumn, and Summer—three of Kristina Snow’s five children—live in different homes, with different guardians and different last names. They share only a predisposition for addiction and a host of troubled feelings toward the mother who barely knows them, a mother who has been riding with the monster, crank, for twenty years.

Hunter is nineteen, angry, getting by in college with a job at a radio station, a girlfriend he loves in the only way he knows how, and the occasional party. He's struggling to understand why his mother left him, when he unexpectedly meets his rapist father, and things get even more complicated. Autumn lives with her single aunt and alcoholic grandfather. When her aunt gets married, and the only family she’s ever known crumbles, Autumn’s compulsive habits lead her to drink. And the consequences of her decisions suggest that there’s more of Kristina in her than she’d like to believe. Summer doesn’t know about Hunter, Autumn, or their two youngest brothers, Donald and David. To her, family is only abuse at the hands of her father’s girlfriends and a slew of foster parents. Doubt and loneliness overwhelm her, and she, too, teeters on the edge of her mother’s notorious legacy. As each searches for real love and true family, they find themselves pulled toward the one person who links them together—Kristina, Bree, mother, addict. But it is in each other, and in themselves, that they find the trust, the courage, the hope to break the cycle.

Told in three voices and punctuated by news articles chronicling the family’s story, FALLOUT is the stunning conclusion to the trilogy begun by CRANK and GLASS, and a testament to the harsh reality that addiction is never just one person’s problem.

Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers
September 14, 2010

Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a bit of a wicked streak. She has spent years keeping everyone at a distance---even her closest friends---and it seems as if her senior year is going to be more of the same... until Luc Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie can’t seem to stay away from him.

What she doesn’t know is that Luc is on a mission. He’s been sent from Hell itself to claim Frannie’s soul. It should be easy---all he has to do is get her to sin, and Luc is as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn’t stand a chance. But he has to work fast, because if the infernals are after her, the celestials can’t be far behind. And sure enough, it’s not long before the angel Gabriel shows up, willing to do anything to keep Luc from getting what he came for. It isn’t long before they find themselves fighting for more than just Frannie’s soul.

But if Luc fails, there will be Hell to pay... for all of them.

Crave by Melinda Metz and Laura J. Burns
September 21, 2010

Shay was born with a rare blood disorder, and her stepfather has devoted his medical career to finding a cure. When Shay is given a blood transfusion, she sees her stepfather's office through the eyes of a vampire.

The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Twelfth Grade Kills
September 21, 2010

The Council of Elders, having been informed that Tomas still lives, puts off Vlad's execution, providing Vlad the opportunity to try to set some things right.

Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon
September 21, 2010

A haunting love story about desire, danger, and destiny. After Renee Winters discovers her parents lying dead in California’s Redwood Forest in what appears to be a strange double murder, her grandfather sends her off to Gottfried Academy in Maine, a remote and mysterious high school dedicated to philosophy, “crude sciences,” and Latin: the Language of the Dead. It’s here she meets Dante, a dark and elusive student to whom she feels inexplicably drawn. As they get to know each other better, Dante can’t seem to control his attraction either, and their desires gradually deepen into a complex and dangerous romance. Dangerous because Dante is hiding a frightening secret. A secret so terrible, it has him fearing for Renee’s life.

Dante’s not the only one with secrets, though. Turns out Gottfried Academy has a few of its own… Like, how come students keep disappearing? Why are the prefect-like Monitors creeping around campus during the night? And what exactly are the Headmistress and Professors really up to? Renee is determined to find out why.

Dead Beautiful is both a compelling romance and thought-provoking read, bringing shocking new meaning to life, death, love, and the nature of the soul.

The Frenzy by Francesca Lia Blog
September 28, 2010

Love is a werewolf, influenced by the moon and terror, and always about to change.

Liv has a secret.
Something happened to her when she was thirteen. Something that changed everything. Liv knows she doesn’t belong anymore—not in her own skin, not in her family . . . not anywhere. The only time she truly feels like herself is when she’s with her boyfriend, Corey, and in the woods that surround her town.
But in the woods, a mysterious woman watches Liv. In the woods, a pack of wild boys lurks. In the woods, Liv learns about the curse that will haunt her forever. The curse that caused the frenzy four years ago. And that may cause it again, all too soon.
While Corey and Liv’s love binds them together, Liv’s dark secret threatens to tear them apart as she struggles to understand who—or what—she really is. And by the light of the full moon, the most dangerous secrets bare their claws. . . .

End of Days by Max Turner
September 28, 2010

Zachariah Thomson has spent the past year getting used to the idea that his best friend, Charlie, and the lovely Luna are now vampires, like him. As they learn to cope with the changes this brings, a mysterious creature appears. Likened to the Beast of the Apocalypse, it begins to dismantle the network of support around Zack, who discovers he is more than just an orphaned vampire – he is the subject of an ancient prophecy that relates to the End of Days. As friends and enemies, old and new, throw his world into chaos, he is forced to re-examine what it means to be good at a time when it seems that only the strong and ruthless can survive.

The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima
September 28, 2010

You can’t always run from danger... Haunted by the loss of his mother and sister, Han Alister journeys south to begin his schooling at Mystwerk House in Oden’s Ford. But leaving the Fells doesn’t mean danger isn’t far behind. Han is hunted every step of the way by the Bayars, a powerful wizarding family set on reclaiming the amulet Han stole from them. And Mystwerk House has dangers of its own. There, Han meets Crow, a mysterious wizard who agrees to tutor Han in the darker parts of sorcery—but the bargain they make is one Han may regret.

Meanwhile, Princess Raisa ana’Marianna runs from a forced marriage in the Fells, accompanied by her friend Amon and his triple of cadets. Now, the safest place for Raisa is Wein House, the military academy at Oden’s Ford. If Raisa can pass as a regular student, Wein House will offer both sanctuary and the education Raisa needs to succeed as the next Gray Wolf queen.

When Rose Wakes by Christopher Golden
September 28, 2010

Her terrifying dreams are nothing compared to the all-too-real nightmare that awaits. . . .Ever since sixteen-year-old Rose DuBois woke up from months in a coma with absolutely no memories, she’s had to start from scratch. She knows she loves her two aunts who take care of her, and that they all used to live in France, but everything else from her life before is a blank.Rose tries to push through the memory gaps and start her new life, attending high school and living in Boston with her aunts, who have seriously old world ideas. Especially when it comes to boys. But despite their seemingly irrational fears and odd superstitions, they insist Rose not worry about the eerie dreams she’s having, vivid nightmares that she comes to realize are strangely like the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty. The evil witch, the friendly fairies, a curse that puts an entire town to sleep—Rose relives the frightening story every night. And when a mysterious raven-haired woman starts following her, Rose begins to wonder if she is the dormant princess. And now that she’s awake, she’s in terrible, terrible danger. . . .

Torment by Lauren Kate
September 28, 2010

Hell on earth.

That’s what it’s like for Luce to be apart from her fallen angel boyfriend, Daniel.
It took them an eternity to find one another, but now he has told her he must go away. Just long enough to hunt down the Outcasts—immortals who want to kill Luce. Daniel hides Luce at Shoreline, a school on the rocky California coast with unusually gifted students: Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels and humans.

At Shoreline, Luce learns what the Shadows are, and how she can use them as windows to her previous lives. Yet the more Luce learns, the more she suspects that Daniel hasn’t told her everything. He’s hiding something—something dangerous.
What if Daniel’s version of the past isn’t actually true? What if Luce is really meant to be with someone else?

The second novel in the addictive FALLEN series . . . where love never dies.

The Winds of Heaven by Judith Clarke
September 28, 2010

Clementine thinks her cousin Fan is everything that she could never be: beautiful, imaginative, wild. The girls promise to be best friends and sisters after the summer is over, but Clementine’s life in the city is different from Fan’s life in dusty Lake Conapaira. And Fan is looking for something, though neither she nor Clementine understands what it is.

Printz Honor Winner Judith Clarke delivers a compassionate, compelling novel with the story of a friendship between two young women, and of the small tragedies that tear them apart from each other, and from themselves.

Review: Waking the Witch by Kelley Armstrong

2010-08-30T16:09:00.000-04:00

Title: Waking the Witch
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Publisher: Random House of Canada
Published: August 3, 2010
Format: Hardcover ($29.95 CDN)
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Copy: Provided by publisher
Click here to read an excerpt

Synopsis:

The new novel in Kelley Armstrong's bestselling Women of the Otherworld series showcases the fascinating Savannah Levine, a powerful young witch with a rebellious past and a troublesome heritage.

The orphaned daughter of a sorcerer and a half-demon, Savannah is a terrifyingly powerful young witch who has never been able to resist the chance to throw her magical weight around. But at twenty-one she knows she needs to grow up and prove to her guardians, Paige and Lucas, that she can be a responsible member of their supernatural detective agency. So she jumps at the chance to fly solo, investigating the mysterious deaths of three young women in a nearby factory town, as a favour to one of the agency's associates. At first glance, the murders look garden-variety human, but on closer inspection signs point to otherworldly stakes.

Soon Savannah is in over her head. She's run off the road and nearly killed, haunted by a mystery stalker and freaked out when the brother of one of the dead women is murdered when he tries to investigate the crime. To complicate things, something weird is happening to her powers. Pitted against shamans, demons, a voodoo-inflected cult and garden-variety goons, Savannah has to fight to ensure her first case isn't her last. And she also has to ask for help, perhaps the hardest lesson she's ever had to learn.

My Review:

I been a follower of Kelley Armstrong since I came upon the first novel in her Women of the Otherworld series Bitten about nine years ago. Each novel is well written and executed with the perfect balance of plot/character description and dialog that enables you to invest yourself in the main characters beyond the duration of each book. In Stolen, the second book in the series, we are introduced to Savannah, when the main character of the novel, Elena, is captured and imprisoned along with other supernaturals. Savannah has periodically been mentioned in subsequent novels in the series, but nine books later she becomes the protagonist as she sets out to solve a supernatural murder mystery.

This book was almost everything I expected of a Kelly Armstrong novel. Unraveling the mystery alongside Savannah was addictive and as always the mention of other beloved characters in the series had me gobbling up the pages like a book junkie. The pace of this novel was fairly even keel with a few instances of suspense and anticipation as the plot thickens and the mystery unfolds. I particularly enjoy Savannah's tough-as-nails outward appearance coupled with hints that she is a much softer person on the inside. Waking the Witch was an excellent story on its own but having an understanding of Savannah's life growing up (as read in other books in the series) enhanced my enjoyment and understanding of the story.

Each of Kelley Armstrong's novels introduces and explores a new love interest for the main character. In this novel Savannah makes it clear that she has been interested in being more then just friends with supernatural half-demon, Adam Vasic, but she believes he still sees her as the young ward of his friends Page and Lucas. Adam is not the main love interest for Savannah in Waking the Witch, yet I felt that the the display of Adam's over protectiveness hinted that he may be realizing that Savannah isn't a little girl anymore. That dear readers is why Waking the Witch fell just short of perfection for me! I wanted MORE growth in the romantic department between Savannah and Adam. With that said the ending of this novel left things wide open for the next novel both in increasing the readers interest in Savannah and in the possibility of something "more" developing between her and Adam.

Waking the Witch was an excellent addition to the Women of the Otherworld series, primarily because I felt that Savannah has deserved her own book for some time now. If your already a fan of the Otherworld series I think you'll be pleased with this addition, but if this is the first time hearing about author Kelley Armstrong or this series I recommend you check out the first novel, Bitten.

My Rating: 4/5

Giveaway of Alpha by Rachel Vincent

2010-08-27T20:40:00.000-04:00

Would you like a copy of Alpha a month early? Me to! I was very excited to learn that Rachel Vincent is doing a giveaway of a signed copy of Alpha a month before the release date and if the entries exceed 550 she will give one lucky winner a signed copy of EVERY single book in the series.

Click here to enter the contest. The contest ends Monday August 30, 2010 at 11:59pm. Good luck! Well not any more luck then I am wishing for myself because I really want a copy!

Are you as excited as I am about reading this book? Are you as undecided as I am regarding who you want Faythe to end up with?

Blog Hop Time!

2010-08-27T12:07:00.000-04:00

Its Friday and that means its blog hoppin time!

Head on over to Parajunkee to participate in Follow my book Blog Friday

Jen at Crazy-for-Books has her weekly Book Blogger Hop so please go and check her out. She also asks us bloggers if we use a rating system for our reviews and if so why. I do use a rating system that I came up with and my wonderful designer Parajunkee. I like it because I feel my particular rating system is unique and compliments my blog and it expresses to my readers how much I liked the book! Feel free to tell me what you think of my rating system (its on the right side of my blog).

Review: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

2010-08-26T12:24:00.001-04:00

Title: Mockingjay: The Final Book of the Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic
Published: August 24, 2010
Format: Hardcover ($19.99CDN)
Age Group: Adult
Other Books in the Series: The Hunger Games & Catching Fire
My Copy: Purchased

Synopsis:

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

My Review:

Despite this being a fictional novel Mockinjay came alive for me in a way that extended past the pages of the book. We may not live in the dystopic society that is an every day reality for Katniss Everdeen and her family but I can see our own failings mirrored in the pages of Mockinjay. I can see it in our capitalistic society that is obsessed with material goods and is driven by consumption, in the genocides that have happened in our past and that go unnoticed by many in our present and the starvation that is a reality for many across the world. As I reconnected with the characters of this novel and experienced with them the horror of their reality I was humbled and became grateful for all that I have.

In each novel of The Hunger Games series it is Katniss's selflessness that stood out to me and her willingness to do anything to protect those she loves. The narration of this novel is very morose but it is occasionally peppered with stories of hope, moments of laughter and touches of kindness. While Mockinjay is not a book with constant action like the first two novels in this series, each moment was well written and I found the change in pace to add to the story rather then take away from it.

Suzanne Collins did not present her readers with a happily ever after story where after accomplishing the goals set out in the novel Katniss catches the man she loves and lives out her life a happy utopian society. This is a novel with pages filled with horror, pain, death, sacrifice and situations I have no name for. This novel is genuine and believable but in a twisted way that had me gasping in horror, clutching the pages in suspense and angry at the author for writing such a emotionally charged novel. With that said Suzanne Collins delivered a novel with a beginning, middle and end that paid tribute to the main characters of the novel without diminishing the sacrifices they had made to bring about a worldwide revolution.

However excellent I feel the book was, in the end it was a simple moment when a mangy cat with a name that does not reflect his disposition reduced me tears and had me unable to fall asleep as I replayed the book in my head. If you haven’t read this series yet I highly recommend you look into purchasing or borrowing a copy of The Hunger Games. This entire series is emotionally charged and it provides the reader with a fictional example of how to have hope when your situation seems hopeless, have courage despite being terrified and how to never give up even when you think you can no longer go on.

My Rating: 10/5

In My Mailbox VLOG (first one ever eeekkkk!)

2010-08-24T18:18:00.000-04:00

Review: The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

2010-08-23T12:48:00.002-04:00

Title: Eternal Ones
Author: Kirsten Miller
Publisher: Penguin Young Reader Group/Razorbill
Published: August 10, 2010
Format: Hardcover ($22.50CDN)
Age Group: Young Adult
Copy: Provided by the Publisher

From the Publisher:

Haven Moore cant control her visions of a past with a boy called Ethan, and a life in New York that ended in fiery tragedy. In our present, she designs beautiful dresses for her classmates with her best friend Beau. Dressmaking keeps her sane, since she lives with her widowed and heartbroken mother in her tyrannical grandmothers house in Snope City, a tiny town in Tennessee. Then an impossible group of coincidences conspire to force her to flee to New York, to discover who she is, and who she was.

In New York, Haven meets Iain Morrow and is swept into an epic love affair that feels both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Iain is suspected of murdering a rock star and Haven wonders, could he have murdered her in a past life? She visits the Ouroboros Society and discovers a murky world of reincarnation that stretches across millennia. Haven must discover the secrets hidden in her past lives, and loves, before all is lost and the cycle begins again.

My Review:

I have been in somewhat of a reading rut this past week but The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller pulled me out at breakneck speed. I have read a few books that could be considered somewhat similar in regards to the theme of young love and past lives however this novel engaged me so much so that I only put it down when I absolutely had no choice.

In most novels I have pretty good intuition when it comes to “figuring out” the plot and the characters but for the majority of this novel I could not put a finger on who the “evil” characters were. I had my suspicions and in the end they turned out to be correct but I was second guessing myself as I was drawn though the twists and turns of each chapter.

For the most part I enjoyed all the characters of this novel however I will say that Haven is a character who’s indecisiveness drove me crazy from time to time. She was either to trusting or to suspicious but based on her life experiences (constant persecution for her peculiar tendency to black out and talk about a past life, being labeled as demon possessed, and being lied to my trusted members of her family about her early memories of her past life) I could empathize with why she was constantly second guessing herself and those around her. What I really enjoyed about the character development in this novel was learning who in Haven’s present life was also connected to her in her past lives and understanding the role they played in the mystery of this novel.

While I don’t really believe in love at first sight, taking into consideration that reincarnation is a fact of The Eternal Ones, the instant attraction and love between Haven and Ian is believable. This book is incredibly mysterious and from chapter to chapter I was held in a constant state of suspense and anticipation. The idea of reincarnation is incredibly fascinating to me and when paired with a passionate love affair that transcends time, a complex mystery, and a battle between good and evil that is truly sinister this book has rocketed to the top 20 list of my favorite YA reads of 2010.

If your a little tired of vampires and werewolves but still want something with a supernatural flavor I highly recommend The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller. If you have already read and reviewed this novel please comment and link to your review as its always nice to read a different perspective!

My Rating: 4/5

BIG List Update

2010-08-16T12:53:00.000-04:00

I have been in the process of updating my BIG Lists and moving them from a text list to a series of pictures that link to amazon where you can read more details. It is connected to my amazon associates account but I am in no way trying to make a profit of my readers. I use the Amazon Associates blog tool that allows me to search for a novel on the same page that I am creating a post which makes things much faster and easier for me. If you choose to buy a book from my Amazon Associates account it is my intention to use that money to run giveaways on my blog.

Lastly for some reason the book pictures do not always show when loading a BIG List page. I am not sure why this is. I hope it fixes itself however the links are still active. If it doesn't fix itself soon I will have to find an alternate way of displaying pictures for the lists.

As always feel free to email me with any book or category suggestions!

The BIG List of Time Travel Books

2010-08-16T12:47:00.001-04:00

This is a list of books with a main genre/theme of this list. Please feel free to comment with any suggestions. Additionally I have included a "short" list of books within this genre/theme that I recommend.

Guru Recommended

Adult Time Travel Romance Books

Other Time Travel

Young Adult Time Travel Books

The BIG List of Faery Books

2010-08-14T15:22:00.000-04:00

Young Adult

Adult

The BIG List of Canadian Books

2010-08-14T14:38:00.000-04:00

There are many fantastic novels by Canadian authors however in this list I have included my personal favorites as well as those suggested by my readers. If you have any suggestions please feel free to comment.

Young Adult

Adult