Winner and correct answers!

The Winner of Love day 4 is...your going to have to keep reading to find out!

Here were the correct answers...

1. Where would Aden take a date on Valentine's Day?

C. To watch a movie in his room. Would kinda spoil the mood if the walking dead interrupted dinner out.

2. What kind of romantic gift would Aden give his Valentine?

B. A time-traveling trip to the past

3. How would Aden end a date?

C. A kiss hot enough to burn

 

4. Where would Sam take a date on V- Day?
A. The bookstore or the candy store -- his two favorite places.
5. What kind of romantic gift would Sam give his Valentine?
A. Probably a dreadfully emo song or poem.
6. How would Sam end the date?
C. With a chaste kiss, a worried look, and possibly turning into a werewolf

7. Where would Patch take a date on V-Day?
A. To a pool hall for a game of pool, with a flirty bet thrown in.
8. What kind of romantic gift would Patch give his Valentine?
B. The plain silver chain he wears around his neck that was given to him when he was an archangel
9. How would Patch end the date?
B. He wouldn't. He'd walk his date to the door...then invite himself inside with the promise of teaching her how to make tacos.

10. Where would Daniel take a date on Valentine's Day?
B. Daniel would take Luce to a site of one of their former lives, one of their former dates, maybe a hot air balloon ride or a sunset on the beach. He would recreate everything just like it had been in the past, from the clothes they wore to the food they ate or the song they listened to on the drive.
11. What kind of romantic gift would Daniel give his Valentine?
A. The physical gift would be something small, something that belonged to her in a former life that Daniel has held onto. A piece of jewelry she used to wear in the eighteenth century, or a scarf she wore in the seventies.
12. How would Daniel end the date?
C. Duh. An incredibly long, hot kiss!

Special Thanks to Lauren Kate, Becca Fitzpatrick, Maggie Steifvater, and Gena Showalter for helping me with this contest! 

There were three people who got every one correct, they were...
Brodie, jmspettoli, and Lucia.  You three really know your stuff!

So, each person got one entry for each correct answer.  Thanks to google docs, I quickly came up with each person's number of entries.  There were a lot!  actually 548 to be exact. 

Ok so the winner of their choice of book (up to a $15) is...KatieDoll.  Check your inbox!  congrats everyone, thanks for the great participation.

In My Mailbox (18)

I got some great books and prizes this week.  I actually didn't buy anything this week, which I think is a record.  Although I do plan on hitting the bookstore later today, I can't help myself (grins). 

from VampChix My Bloody Vampire Contest...  (thank you)

Lenore Noogles by Roman Dirge

Vampire Hunter D by Hideyuki Kikuchi

Blood Price by Tanya Huff

SWAG

from Frankie Writes.... (thank you)

Fire by Kristen Cashore

The Stolen One by Suzanne Crowley

from my friend Amy B. White...

Forget-Her-Nots (signed with a kind message for me-SO SWEET)

SWAG

from The Climbing Rose...
The Stillburrow Crush by Linda Kage

for review...

The Overnight Socialite by Bridie Clark

What was in your maibox?

*IMM is hosted by The Story Siren who was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie.  

Clip and a contest...Broken by Shiloh Walker

Shattered

Quinn Rafferty is working as a bounty hunter and bail bondsman in St. Louis when a new neighbor catches his eye. He’s tempted by her beauty—but he knows from experience that anyone desperate enough to live in his building is damaged goods. Besides, he has his own soul to mend before he can worry about anyone else.

Desperate

Sara Davis is on the run, but not for the usual reasons a woman goes on the lam. She’s not an abused wife, and she’s not a criminal. But she does have a plan for her future. And as much as she finds herself attracted to her gruff, tough neighbor, she can’t risk telling him the secrets she’s hiding. There’s just too much at stake.

Driven to desire…

But Quinn must get closer to Sara when she turns out to be the target of his new missing persons case, and he discovers that there is something more complex and dangerous to her than he thought. Now, both Quinn and Sara will have to expose their true feelings—as well as their fragile hearts—if they hope their love will survive…

EXCERPT

He opened the door—

And stopped dead in his tracks as somebody all but fell into his arms. Somebody…a woman. And not Theresa.

He caught her just above her elbows, automatically steadying her.

“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice soft and low.

Then she lifted her face and Quinn found himself gazing into the biggest, brownest eyes he’d ever seen in his life. Feeling a little dazed, he studied her face while she stammered out another apology.

Quinn barely heard it.

He was too busy staring at her mouth. A very pretty mouth, a cupid’s bow mouth slicked with deep, vibrant red. Under his hands, he could feel silken smooth skin and unable to resist, he stroked a thumb along her inner arm.

Her skin was soft, soft and warm. He was also pretty sure she had the creamiest, most flawless skin imaginable. Her shoulder-length hair was a shade caught between blonde and brown, nondescript, but for some reason, he found himself thinking about tangling his fingers in that hair and holding her head still while he kissed that red-slicked mouth.

Well, hello…

Now follow this link to Shiloh Walkers site to find out how to get your own copy and how to win your very own NOOK!

Cover LOVE?

Michelle Rowen shared the NEW cover art for Demon Princess: Reign Check.  I like this one much better than the old. 

Nikki Donovan has had a lot to deal with since learning she was half human, half demon. But things take a darker turn when Rhys, a gorgeous—but potentially dangerous—faery king enrolls at her high school to investigate Nikki’s potential for fulfilling an apocalyptic prophesy. Nikki knows she’d never turn violent, and she certainly couldn’t destroy the world…could she?

Of course, all Nikki really wants is to be reunited with Michael, a Shadow creature whose status as her personal servant is further complicated by their undeniable attraction to each other. Even though the rules of the Shadowlands strictly forbid their romance, Nikki is determined not to let Michael go. But when she is summoned to the Underworld to appear before a demon council, it will take all her courage—and perhaps a bit of demon-level strength—to get herself out again.

Here is the old cover. 

Watch for this to his shelves May 25th.

Visit Michelle's website to read the first two chapers. 

Follow this link to preorder your copy!

Are you in Cover LOVE?

Review: The Overnight Socialite by Bridie Clark

In this beguiling retelling of the classic Pygmalion, we meet Lucy Ellis, a Manhattan transplant who dreams of making it as a fashion designer but instead toils away on a Garment District assembly line. Road-blocked each time she tries to score a break, Lucy is beginning to think the unthinkable: maybe it's time to pack it in and move home to Minnesota. Then, during a torrential downpour, at her most bedraggled and disheartened, Lucy meets Wyatt Hayes IV.

Wyatt -- man-about-town and bored Ph.D. anthropologist -- has just been publicly dissed by New York's reigning socialite, Cornelia Rockman, whom he'd been dating. He boasts to his best friend Trip that he can transform any woman -- even a trailer-born nobody like Lucy -- into this year's "It" girl. "Give me a few months," he tells Trip, "and I could turn her into a social luminary. She'll make the rest of the pack look like dim little tea lights." If Wyatt can fool the East Coast aristocracy into thinking Lucy's the real deal, he can reveal the farce behind Cornelia's social superiority complex . . . and score a career-boosting book deal. (summary from FSB media)

My thoughts...When this story first began, I found myself overwhelmed with the name dropping.  All the fancy designers, labels, $500 shoes made me sort of dizzy and a bit turned off.  However, once the story started to take off and the plot took over the glitz blended nicely into the scenery.  The plot was a unique twist on an old story infused with romance, heartbreak, and a whole lotta money.  The Overnight Socialite gave readers a pretty good look into the elite social setting in New York City.  Readers get several different POV's because story not only followed Lucy and Wyatt, the main characters, but also several of their friends and acquaintances.  The ending wrapped up, but it felt a little abrupt.  You could definitely make strong inferences about the character's lives, but I longed for more details. 

As far as the characters go, they grew on me.  Initially, I could not imagine someone taking Wyatt up on his offer to be a social experiment, but after considering Lucy Jo's dreams and the extent of her devastation, it seemed plausible.  I mean what did she have to loose?  Her character really changed as the story progressed, but not as much as Wyatt's.  I enjoyed reading his scenes. His stubbornness, his denial, and his pride made him an interesting character.  My favorite character by far was Eloise, Lucy's friend.  Of all the characters in the book, she was the most real and down-to-Earth, (with the exception of Lucy's mother).  Overall, most of the characters were interesting and memorable 

The cons...The only issue I had while reading came from too many POV's.  There were several characters in the story who's point of view really contributed to the story.  For example, the thoughts of Cornellia, the villianess, really helped the story move along and helped drive the reader's emotions.  There were several subplots using various characters that I just skimmed through or skipped all together.  These sections felt like filler and took away from the main story line too much, in my opinion.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and was rather sad when the story ended.  I would recommend it to fans of chick-lit. 

Cover LOVE?  One of the reasons I accepted this review was the cover, I think it is adorable.  It makes the story look whimsical, playful, and a bit romantic. 

For more information about Bridie Clark and her books, visit her website.
The Overnight Socialite can be purchased at popular booksellers such as Amazon and Indiebound.

*This book for provided by FSB Associates for my review.

Got INK? (14)

I am fascinated with the number of books lately that feature INKED covers.

In this weekly post, I am going to feature some of the ones I like best.

Can you think of any, seen any inked covers?

The Last Angel

by, Natasha Rhodes

July 2008

An angel is found murdered on the streets of Sunset Boulevard. To the media gossip mongers, it’s the biggest story ever. To the Hunters, an underground monster-fighting hit-squad, it’s just another case of ‘whodunnit’. To Kayla Steele, their youngest and newest member, it means a last, desperate chance to bring her murdered fiancé back from the dead, and to others with a far darker purpose it is the means to destroy the human race. If the Hunters are to stop the onset of Armageddon they must join forces with their most hated enemies, the warewolves…

For more information, visit the website of Natasha Rhodes.

*The Got INK? button was created by the talented

KMont of Lurv A La Mode!

SWAGBUCKS baby!

I just won 50 swagbucks which grew my swag bucks account and I have enough for a

$25 GC to Barnes and Noble.  SWEET. 

If you are not using swagbucks, you must try it.  It is a quick (and safe) download that replaces your current search engine.  Every few searches, you earn some swag bucks.  They bucks build up FAST.  There are all sorts of prizes you can trade like e-GIFT CARDS, books, electronics, toys for kids, and more!  I was really skeptical at first, I don't like downloading anything, especially after THE CRASH,  but for as much searching as I do, it is worth it. 

Click on the banner and check it out!

Interview/Giveaway: Erica Hayes

Please help me welcome author Erica Hayes.  Erica writes the magical Shadowfae Chronicles.  Book two, Shadowglass, hits shelves March 2, 2010.

1. For any new readers, would you please tell us about your Shadowfae Chronicles?
EH: It’s a steamy urban fantasy/romance series, set in a shadowy city where paranormal creatures are hidden from ordinary human eyes by glamour. Fairies, banshees, vampires, demons, incubi, they’re all there, on the street, in the clubs, drinking coffee at Starbucks. Living next door, for all you know. Turns out Melbourne is run by a demon lord and his vampire gangsters. Who knew? It’s a gritty, dirty, dark and colourful world.

Each book has a new heroine and hero, and a HEA, but there’s an over-arching story too, and you’ll meet lots of recurring characters, like Kane, the demon lord, and his enemies, the shady DiLuca clan.

Book 1, Shadowfae, is about Jade, a succubus — she’s in thrall to a demon for a thousand years, and she’s sick of her brutal life as a supernatural killer, forced to sleep with men she doesn’t want and suck their souls to hell. She’s looking for an end to her misery, and she discovers an ancient ritual that just might break her demon thrall and let her die. And then, she meets a guy she does want — a sexy 400-year-old incubus named Rajah — and sparks fly. Only he’s seeking his freedom too, and there’s only enough ritual for one...

2. Each book features a new heroine. Who will we meet in book two, Shadowglass?
EH: Fairies! The heroine is Ice, a waterfairy thief looking for that one big score that’ll set her up for life. What she finds, of course, is trouble — she steals a magic mirror from a demon, and it erodes her common sense and her sanity. Not only that, she’s now being chased by vengeful demons, nasty shapeshifting gangsters and a spooky body-snatcher. Not to mention Indigo, a sexy hot-eyed metalfairy with mirror-madness problems of his own.

In my world, fairies are trash, the unwanted ones — they aren’t strong or particularly powerful, and no one really cares if they live or die. Ice isn’t physically strong or magically formidable, and she has to use her wits and wiles to get by against enemies who are far more powerful than she is. She’s a trick-ass heroine :)

And she has friends. A lot of heroines seem to be loners, but Ice can’t survive without her two fairy besties, Blaze and Azure. So when the mirror puts their friendship in jeopardy, she fights back.

If you’d like, you can read an excerpt and watch the trailer at me site: http://www.shadowfae.net/

3. How many books will there be in the Shadowfae series? Are you currently working on any other projects you would like to share with us?
EH: At the moment I’m contracted for four books, and I’m writing book 4 now. I’m hoping to do more — I do have an ending in sight — but I guess we’ll see! Other than that, I’ve got a science fantasy idea in the works. But that’s a sekrit, so don’t tell anyone.

4. Prior to publication, you had several different careers including Air Force officer and Musician. Did you every think you would wind up as an author?
EH: I’ve always written, but I never really gave it serious thought as a career. Writing for a living was something other people did. But I was lucky enough to get an opportunity to take some time off work to concentrate on writing, and I never went back! I’ve had some interesting jobs (the air force was fun, though I didn’t have much of a clue!) as well as some mind-numbing ones. But for me, nothing beats working for myself, keeping my own hours, doing something I love.

5. Given the choice, which kind of paranormal creature would you want to be?
EH: Hmm... I think I’d be a vampire. Vampires don’t take nonsense from anyone, and they live for a long time. And the diet can’t be worse than fast food.

6. A man in a long trench coat approaches you on the street. He whips open his jacket and you see...VIALS. He is selling magic potions for health, love, beauty, wealth, anything you desire. Which potion do you take?
EH: So many problems could be solved if I only had the time — so I’ll take the one for eternal youth, thanks. So long as I can afford it. No doubt he’s asking an exorbitant price. And so long as it doesn’t come with pesky small print about spending eternity in hell, or something.

7. If you won a dream vacation with a famous guest, where would you go and which person would be at your side?
EH: I’d love to visit Tahiti. Lounging in one of those overwater bungalows, sipping cocktails, a massage or three... Do I have to take anyone? How about Jamie Oliver, so he can cook for me? Or Johnny Depp, just so I can look at him (mmm) and absorb his aura of coolness.

Erica, thankyou for taking the time to interview with us.  Congratulations on your new release!
EH:Thanks for having me!

For more information about Erica and her books, visit her website. 
Preorder Shadowglass at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.  If you are new to the series, but sure to read Shadowfae. 

*Erica has offered a copy of her new release Shadowglass to a lucky reader.  To enter, please complete the form.  You can earn an extra entry by spreading the word!  Don't forget to leave Erica some love in the comments section!   Please enter by 3/6.  Open to those with a US mailing address.    Good luck.

FREE BOOK for a Review!

I really want to read Happy Hour of The Damned by Mark Henry.  I have heard it is histerical, witty, full of action and excitement.  It is also loaded with zombies, which make me squirm. 

You know brainzzzz, rotting flesh. (shivers)

But if I had a buddy to read with, I might be able to muster up the courage and beat my fear of zombies. 

So I have one extra copy of Happy Hour of the Damned to give to someone who has not read it yet.  You must be willing to read the book and review it within a two weeks of receiving your copy.  I will post the winner's review, along with my own on my blog.  There are no review requirements other than it be honest, and your own. 

If you are interested, complete the form.  PLEASE do not enter if you cannot review the book within two weeks of receiving it.  This giveaway is open to readers with a US or Canadian mailing addy.

 **This is not a YA title**

 Please enter by March 3.

Winner and contest discoveries

The winner of LOVE day 3 is.....Thuy Nguyen!  Congrats, please check your inbox.   I am still working on the winner of day 4, it is taking me back to my days of teaching school, grading papers, LOL. 

Don't forget to enter for a chance to win Willow by Julia Hoban-check the sidebar for the link. 

*Dark Faerie Tales is doing it again-another huge contest.  This time to celebrate 500 plus winners.  The book selection is great.  Stop by and see how to enter.  Contest ends March 21.

*Rachel Hawkins, the author of Hex Hall is having a great giveaway.
 Can you believe this book comes out next week?!  Stop by and check out her blog.

*Alexandra Bracken is getting ready to launch Brightly Woven in just a month.  To celebrate, she is doing a huge giveaway!  Stop by her blog and see how to enter!

*Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White also launches next week.
 Amy is also doing a fantastic launch giveaway with a blog tour of some of your favorites.  Visit her blog to find out how to enter.  This is a 3-week event!

WoW: The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott

2010 is going to be an incredible year for book lovers.

This sounds like a great story, I am so excited to read it!

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill from Breaking the Spine. 

 

The Unwritten Rule

by Elizabeth Scott

March 16, 2010

Everyone knows the unwritten rule: You don't like you best friend's boyfriend.

Sarah has had a crush on Ryan for years. He's easy to talk to, supersmart, and totally gets her. Lately it even seems like he's paying extra attention to her. Everything would be perfect except for two things: Ryan is Brianna's boyfriend, and Brianna is Sarah's best friend.

Sarah forces herself to avoid Ryan and tries to convince herself not to like him. She feels so guilty for wanting him, and the last thing she wants is to hurt her best friend. But when she's thrown together with Ryan one night, something happens. It's wonderful...and awful.

Sarah is torn apart by guilt, but what she feels is nothing short of addiction, and she can't stop herself from wanting more...

For more information visit Elizabeth Scott at her website.

To preorder The Unwritten Rule from Amazon, follow the link.

YA interview: Teri Hall

Rachel lives with her mother on The Property. The good thing about living there is that it’s far from the city where the oppressive government is most active. The bad thing, at least to most people, is that it’s close to the Line—an uncrossable section of the National Border Defense System, an invisible barrier that encloses the entire country.

She can see the Line from the greenhouse windows, but she is forbidden to go near it. Across the Line is Away, and though Rachel has heard many whispers about the dangers there, she’s never really believed the stories. Until the day she hears a recording that could only have come from across the Line.

It’s a voice asking for help.

Who sent the message? What is her mother hiding? And to what lengths will Rachel go in order to do what she thinks is right?

The Line, Teri Hall's debut YA novel hits shelves in March. Follow this link to see my review. Please help me welcome Teri.

1.A strong heroine makes a story worth reading. Could you tell us about Rachel?
TH: I can tell you a bit. She is a girl who has grown up among adults, isolated from most of society, with no peers for friends. So that means she is very mature in some ways, and slightly immature in others. At the beginning of the story, Rachel believes being brave means not being afraid. She thinks knowing the right thing to do and then doing it should be simple. She sees people in a pretty black and white way.

By the end of the first book, she’s changed a bit. She begins to understand that courage actually happens only when you act in spite of your fear, and that knowing the right thing to do is actually pretty simple most of the time, but actually doing it might be the hardest, most complicated thing ever, depending on the situation.

2.Will The Line be a stand alone novel or will the story continue? Are you working on any other projects?
TH: I plan that it will be a trilogy. I am working on the sequel to The Line—Away—now.

3.The plot is very original, what inspired this story?
TH: I really dislike those “I dreamt it” stories, but I dreamt it, at least one tiny bit of it. I had a dream where I saw a single scene—a scene where a young girl was sitting in a room where the walls were made of glass. It was night and it was raining hard, the kind of rain where it falls against the glass in sheets. The girls was peering out into the night, but she couldn’t really see because of the way the rain was sheeting down the glass. She seemed anxious in my dream. There was a sudden flash of lightening, and the girl could se, just for an instant. And she saw something that made her gasp out loud. When she gasped in my dream, it woke me up. For the next dew days that scene kept popping into my mind. I just kept wondering who that girl was, and why those walls were glass, and why she was anxious, and what it was that she saw in that flash of lightening. And that was the beginning of The Line.

4.You stumble into a time machine in the woods in Washington. Do you get in? If so, do you visit the past or the future and what do you take with you?
TH: Hmmmm. I think I get in. And I visit the recent past. And I take a couple of bucks and some winning lottery numbers. For one that nobody else won, that had a HUGE payout.

5. Lastly, what is your favorite way to unwind after a hard night of writing? Any guilty pleasures?
TH: Sleep! I work a full time day job, and write at night. So my guilty pleasure these days is trying for seven hours of sleep. I don’t get it often enough.

Thank you for visiting Teri and congratulations on your book. I am very excited to the this will be a trilogy! 
For more information about Teri and her book, please visit her website. 
Follow this link to preorder The Line from Amazon. 
 

Willow Giveaway

On a rainy March night, Willow Randall’s parents drank too much and asked her to drive them home. They never made it – Willow lost control of the car, and both of her parents were killed. Now, seventeen-year-old Willow has left behind her home, friends, and school to move in with her older brother, his wife, and their new baby.

Trapped in a life she never expected, Willow desperately wishes things would return to the way they were – but they can’t. Tormented by guilt and petrified by grief, she goes through the motions just trying to cope. Willow numbs her new, grim reality by secretly cutting herself – the only way she thinks she can gain control amidst dysfunction and chaos. When her classmate, Guy, discovers her secret, it sparks an intense relationship that turns the “safe” world Willow has created for herself upside down. His refusal to let her go forces Willow to relearn how to let people in.

In case you haven't read this yet, here is your chance to win it.  My friend Sarah from Media Muscle asked my to give away one brand new copy of Willow to a lucky reader.  This contest is open to those with a US MAILING address, please complete the form.
 The giveaway ends March 2nd.  Good luck!

Willow and Scarred

WILLOW
By, Julia Hoban
Out in Paperback: February 23, 2010

WILLOW is in its sixth U.S. printing, second in Spain!
U.K. debut coming in March!

On a rainy March night, Willow Randall’s parents drank too much and asked her to drive them home. They never made it – Willow lost control of the car, and both of her parents were killed. Now, seventeen-year-old Willow has left behind her home, friends, and school to move in with her older brother, his wife, and their new baby.

Trapped in a life she never expected, Willow desperately wishes things would return to the way they were – but they can’t. Tormented by guilt and petrified by grief, she goes through the motions just trying to cope. Willow numbs her new, grim reality by secretly cutting herself – the only way she thinks she can gain control amidst dysfunction and chaos. When her classmate, Guy, discovers her secret, it sparks an intense relationship that turns the “safe” world Willow has created for herself upside down. His refusal to let her go forces Willow to relearn how to let people in.

Julia Hoban’s evocative novel, WILLOW (February 2010; Dial Books, $8.99), explores the utterly painful and isolating effects of loss with the paradoxically essential need for human connection and understanding. Julia creates a character as complex as her situation. Extremely smart and thoughtful, Willow not only faces the task of refiguring her life without the people who mattered most, but falls in love with the first person to know everything about her. It is through this connection with Guy, their shared love for books, and the love of her family, that Willow begins to heal.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Julia Hoban is a woman of many talents. She writes, designs her own clothes and handbags, and attended graduate school for physics and philosophy. She lives with her husband in New York City, and is working on her next novel (and outfit).

Willow can be ordered from popular booksellers such as Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com.

For my friends in the UK...

Willow, which has be retitled Scarred, will be released on March 18, 2010.  I love the new cover.  It is just as dramatic as the the original, but the yellow dress and the girl's distraut expression really set the mood for the book. 

Preorder Scarred here.

*If you have not read this yet, I highly recommend you do.  This book is very deep and reaches right into the heart of some very serious issues that teens face.  It is also beautifully written, it will stick with you long after you turn the last page.

Affiliates?

After sitting on the fence for several weeks, I have decided to add some affiliates to my blog.

I am not taking on too many affiliates.  My main goal with my blog is to promote the books I read, so I can't invest tons of time promoting a ton of other blogs.  However, 4-5 I can do, especially when they have some great book posts.  Affiliates will be added to blog roll and they will be highlighted on the Friday posts called Affiliate Friday.  I am considering putting their buttons on my sidebar as well.

I would love to have at least one international affiliate, so if you are international, please mention it somewhere.  Please complete the form if you are interested. 

In My Mailbox (17)

I got a few to add to the collection.  So many books, so little time.

Once A Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

Tamsin Greene comes from a long line of witches, and she was supposed to be one of the most Talented among them. But Tamsin's magic never showed up. Now seventeen, Tamsin attends boarding school in Manhattan, far from her family. But when a handsome young professor mistakes her for her very Talented sister, Tamsin agrees to find a lost family heirloom for him. The search—and the stranger—will prove to be more sinister than they first appeared, ultimately sending Tamsin on a treasure hunt through time that will unlock the secret of her true identity, unearth the sins of her family, and unleash a power so vengeful that it could destroy them all. This is a spellbinding display of storytelling that will exhilarate, enthrall, and thoroughly enchant.

won from Katie's Book Blog-Thank you!

The Seventh Witch (An Ophelia and Abby Mystery, Book 7)

By Shirley Damsgaard

This is the seventh and last instalment of the enchanting mystery series featuring a small-town librarian psychic and her grandmother, and a benevolent witch.

won from Shirley Damsgaard-Thank you!

The Overnight Socialite

by Birdie Clark

From the author of the media sensation Because She Can, a modern retelling of classics My Fair Lady and Pygmalion, The Overnight Socialite tells a timeless story of transformation and unlikely love set against the glittering backdrop of contemporary Manhattan.

for review from FSB associates

All summaries are from goodreads.

IMM is hosted by The Story Siren who was inspired

 by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie.

Review: Mark of the Demon by, Diana Rowland

When Homicide Detective Kara Gillian finds traces of arcane power on a body, she quickly realizes that this is no ordinary murder. The serial killer known as the Symbol Man is a nightmare that Beaulac, Louisiana thought had ended three years ago, but now he's back for an encore and leaving every indication on the flesh of his victims that he is well-versed in demonic lore.

However, Kara is a Summoner of Demons, and may be the only cop on the city's small force who can stop the killer. Able to see and interact with a world most people can't, Kara must draw on her skills as a police officer and master of the arcane to stop the Symbol Man from killing again and possibly summoning something even she can't control.

But with a demonic lord of unearthly beauty and power haunting her dreams, and a handsome yet disapproving FBI agent dogging her waking footsteps, she may be in way over her head.... (summary from author's site)

Click here to read an excerpt from Mark of the Demon. 

My thoughts...This was a very dark story that kept me guessing until the very end.  The plot could be described like an episode of CSI, from the crime scene workers to the medical coroner giving autopsies.  The heroine, Kara, is placed as lead on a murder investigation to find a serial killer who has recently restarted his killing spree after a lengthy hiatus.  She has the abilitly to summons demons which  helps her detect the presence of arcane on the victims.  Diana Rowland did a phenomenal job of building suspense and creating suspicion.  I really did not know who to trust, who was honest, and I was truly surprised by the ending.  Overall, the plot was faced paced, full of action, and at some points left me gasping at some of the horror revealed.

The characters were all lika-able, even the ones we shouldn't trust.  The main character Kara was a loner.  Her abilities kept her apart from people, which I think made her a poor judge of character.  I was frustrated at times at her ease of revealing her secrets to a virtual stranger, but I account that to her need for interaction and companionship.  She had two male companions, both of which kept me suspicious.  My favorite character was Kara's aunt, who was very quirky.  Overall, I found all of the characters interesting.

The cons...The middle of the story dragged a bit for me, but there was enough of a mystery to keep me interested.  Readers with a low tolerance for violence should be warned that some of the scenes are very graphic. 

Overall, I enjoyed the story.  I am not a fan of Demons.  Of all the beings in paranormal stories, they scare me the most.  That being said, Rowland had a very unique take on them.  They were not portrayed as being horribly evil, no more evil than the humans at least.  They were not described as beings from Hell, but rather from another plane. The next book in the series, Blood of the Demon, has already been added to my wishlist. 

Cover LOVE?  I think this is a very cool cover.  In person, you can see the detail of the foiling on the front.  Love her necklace. 

For more information about Diana and her books, please visit her website. 

In you enjoyed this book, you may also enjoy...
1. Blood of the Demon by Diana Rowland
2. The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay
3. Three Days To Dead by Kelly Meding

Winners and contest discoveries

The winner of ANY mass market paperback from Dakota Cassidy is...

Mandy

The Winner of the Dark Divine inspired necklace is...

Chrissy

The winner of the box of 8 books is..

Barbara E.

*this was second the second pick.  The first said they were a follower and they weren't and left a bad tweet link.  I do have contests where you don't have to be a follower, but if I am paying for and shipping this many books, I  want to award someone who at least gets my updates. 

 I think that is fair. 

So congrats to the winners, you have been emailed.  Didn't win?  There is still time to enter the last two days of LOVE.  Plus I have another contest starting next week that you don't have to follow to enter.  In case you are still feeling lucky, I found these great contests going on around the blogosphere...

.*Book Faery is giving away an entire set of Richele Mead's Georgia Kincaid series.  Great prize, huh.  I would love this set.  The giveaway ends March 16th. 

*Pure Imagination is having a 500 followers giveaway.  There will be 3 winners.  Way to go Lori.   This ends March 18th.  Good luck!

*My girl Misty is sharing the love with a MYSTERY BOX.  Visit her blog Book Rat to find out how to enter.  This one ends March 1. 

*Once Upon A Book Blog/Fourteen Years is having a great contest. You can win any book that came out in January or February.  The giveaway ends on February 28th.

Got INK? (13)

I am fascinated with the number of books lately that feature INKED covers.

In this weekly post, I am going to feature some of the ones I like best.

Can you think of any, seen any inked covers?

 

Night Myst by Yasmine Galenorn

The Indigo Court Series, Book 1

June 29, 2010

The moon sheds light on a playground for monsters and magic...

Eons ago, vampires tried to turn the Dark Fae in order to harness their power. Instead, they created a demonic enemy more powerful than they dared to dream. Bent on enslaving the world, the Vampiric Fae have been quietly massing their strength for centuries. Now, Myst, queen of the Indigo Court, is rising again...and a long-prophesied war is brewing.

Born witches Cicely Waters and her cousin Rhiannon--who are jet and amber, the moon and the sun--and their friends are the caught between ancient enemies, trying to protect all that they love.

Cicely Waters returns home to find herself stuck in a war between two evils, trying to protect her family.

For more information about Yasmine Galenorn and her books, visit her website. 

Follow the link to preorder this book from Amazon.

*The Got INK? button was created by the talented

KMont of Lurv A La Mode!

Bottoms Up feature: Lisa

I am hosting my first reading challenge this year. The Bottoms Up 2010 Reading Challenge requires you to read off the bottom of your TBR pile. You can still sign up, follow the link for more information.

I wanted to take the chance to feature the people who have signed up for the challenge. Each week, watch for a new mini-interview from a different participant. Be sure to stop by their blog and cheer them on!

This week will feature Lisa from Lisa Loves (Books of Course)

(stop by and check out her header, GREAT idea!)

1. Please tell us a bit about yourself.

LR: Mother of three grown kids, the youngest in her 2nd year at college . Retired from office job with a Goodyear dealer after woking for nearly thirty years. Enjoying being at home with my husband. Have really enjoyed being able to sit up as late as I want to and finish that book that has had me enthralled all day. Love to work out of doors. Spend a great deal of time in the spring and summer working in the yard in the morning and piled up reading in the hammock or at the pool in the afternoon. I love to read a good romance, a good horror story, or a funny romance story. I tend to find an author I like and then read everything I can get my hands on by that author until I get either burnout on that author or run out of books by them. I seldom reread a book and tend to collect way to many at home before taking them to our local book exchange. I have ceased doing this and now make my used friends available to other people to whom an unread book is still a "new" book.

2. Please tell us about your blog.

LR: Very infant blog at this point

Not to sure how often I will blog but thought I would have a place to put my comments and reviews of the books I read. I don't want to get so involved here that I don't read as much as I have been. I find myself often spending hours reading other blogs and reviews and not reading and enjoying the current book I'm on. However, blogs have introduced me to many new authors that I might have otherwise missed and numerous contests where I have picked up many new books.

3. What kind of books to you like to read?
LR: Paranormal romance, urban fantasy, historical fiction, YA, Thriller/Suspense/Horror, Romance and if they are a series so much for the better.

basically if I can get to page 50 I'm probably going to finish it- except for "Cold Mountain" I have read the first 50+ pages on 4 different occasions and still have not finished it

4.  OK, time to come clean. How many books are in your TBR pile?
 LR: OMG you don't even want to go there . There are maybe 75 on my next TBR bookcase but actually TBR's--are you sure you want to know?I keep my inventory on Readerware--and I really didn't want to look this number in the face. And these are ones I really, truly plan on reading. Probably 95 % of these are series books. Except for a handful of authors, I won't read a series unless I've got 4 or 5 to start me off. I actually had the first 28 books plus the anthologies for the "Eve Dallas" series before reading it. (Loved it immensely by the way. And read it in 5 or 6 book batches at a time- finished within 6 months too) Okay,okay enough procrastinating. 2187 yes 2187. I know, I know. It seems like they are actually part rabbits. I swear they multiply in the dark. Really. It's all these blogs that I read that are at fault. I still read as much in a day just not a book.

5.What is your reading goal for the Bottoms Up challenge?
LR: 3 a month seems doable

WOW, I had to make sure I read that correctly, 2187.  Lisa, you better get busy!  LOL, I am the same way with a series, I like to have several so I can read them together.  Thanks for joining the challenge!

Rate my post...

I did a guest post at the Climbing Rose today.  Stop by and read about my summer crush and rate my story. 

I've got a crush!

While your there, check out the other crush stories and their upcoming book releases!

YA review: The Line by Terri Hall

The Line by Terri Hall
March 2010

In the not so distant future...
Rachel lives with her mother on The Property. The good thing about living there is that it’s far from the city where the oppressive government is most active. The bad thing, at least to most people, is that it’s close to the Line—an uncrossable section of the National Border Defense System, an invisible barrier that encloses the entire country.

She can see the Line from the greenhouse windows, but she is forbidden to go near it. Across the Line is Away, and though Rachel has heard many whispers about the dangers there, she’s never really believed the stories. Until the day she hears a recording that could only have come from across the Line.

It’s a voice asking for help.

Who sent the message? What is her mother hiding? And to what lengths will Rachel go in order to do what she thinks is right? (summary from author's website)

Click here to read the first exciting chapter of The Line.

My thoughts...WOW, this is one of the best books I have read in a while.  This is the first dystopian story I have ever read and I really enjoyed it.  The best part of the book is the suspense.  From the very first chapter, you  are immediately drawn into this world divided by an invisible barrier.  My imagination ran wild as I thought about what could be on the other side and how life would be, if such a barrier split our world.  The mystery continues, even as we learn more about The Line.  Through a mother's history lessons, some of the questions are answered.  Still we are left to wonder who is good and who will betray as morals are tested.  The plot was very original, face-paced, and very exciting. 

From the beginning, my mind sorted the characters into two categories...those who supported the government, and those who opposed it.  The heroine, young Rachel is heavily influenced by her mother to believe the government is wrong.  Her mother is a very strong character in the story,  very determined and loving.  Several chapters told in her point-of-view reveal just how much she loves her daughter and how desperately she wants to keep her safe.   We also get a peek into the mind of their employer, the stern Ms. Moore.  Her stone personality gives the story some extra edge.  All of the characters were memorable.  I enjoyed the shifting POV, it helped the story flow smoothly. 

The cons...The next book, titled Away, doesn't come out until early 2011.  I don't know if I can wait that long. 

Cover LOVE?  I do like this cover.  It is very intriguing and mysterious.  The greenhouse has an ominous feel and it is very pertinent to the story. 

For more information about Teri Hall and her books, visit her website. 

If you enjoyed this book, you may also like...
1. Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
3. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
 
*I received this arc through Around The World Tours.

Virginia Festival of the Book

The Virginia Festival of the Book takes place in Charlottesville Virginia on March 17-21.  After checking through the schedule, I know Kim Harrison, Amy Breccount White,and  Jennifer Hubbard will be there along with a ton of other authors.  This is only a few hours drive for me, but I am not sure what to expect. 

Has anyone ever been to one or is anyone planning on attending?  There is also a Book Bloggers and Publishers Online Convention that weekend,  which sounds like it would be super informative.  The cost for this is only $20 and it would be a shorter drive (grins). 

So any opinions?  Are you going to the Festival of the Book?  Or are you registered for the online convention?  Thanks for your input. 

WoW: Sea by Heidi R. Kling

2010 is going to be an incredible year for book lovers.

 I adore this cover and I am keeping my fingers crossed that the story is as wonderful as the cover art. 

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill from Breaking the Spine.

Sea

by Heidi R. Kling

June 10, 2010

Haunted by recurring nightmares since her mother's accidental disappearance over the Indian ocean three years before, fifteen year old California girl Sienna "Sea" Jones reluctantly travels with her father's volunteer team to six months post-tsunami Indonesia. During her stay at the orphanage, she meets scarred and soulful Deni who is more like Sea than anyone she has ever met.

She knows they can't be together, so why can't she stay away from him? And what about her old-best-friend-turned-suddenly-hot Spider who may or may not be waiting for her back home? And why is her psychiatrist father so secretive about her mother's plane crash? The farther she gets from home, the closer she comes to the truth. And Sea's real adventure begins.

For more information, visit Heidi on her livejournal. 

Follow this link to preorder Sea from Amazon. 

Cover LOVE?

I found this cover from Tenner Cindy Callaghan.  The book is geared toward younger audiences, middle school I believe.  I think the cover is adorable, what do you think?

Just Add Magic

by Cindy Callaghan

release date: October 12, 2010

While cleaning the attic one day, Kelly Quinn, a curious sixth grader with a passion for cooking, finds a book of secret recipes bearing a warning: Beware of the Law of Returns. Using the book, Kelly starts a cooking club with her best friends, clumsy roller-skating Darbie and fashionista soccer star Hannah. The dishes from the book are delish, but they seem linked to strange occurrences at home, at school and on the soccer field.

Coincidence? Kelly Quinn’s theory: There is no such thing as coincidence. So, she devises an experiment involving a certain sixth-grade hottie. Unfortunately, things backfire in a big way. Kelly and her friends try to return life to normal, but their efforts are complicated by an annoying little brother, know-it-all Charlotte (blah!) Barney, and the ANtS soccer team tryouts. Just when the girls think they have everything under control, they don’t.

For more information, you can find Cindy on her blog or on livejournal. 

YA review: Beautiful Dead, Book 1 Jonas by Eden Maguire

Beautiful Dead, Book 1 Jonas
By, Eden Maguire
March 2010

Darina's year goes from bad to worse when her boyfriend, Phoenix, is killed in a knife fight, making him the fourth student from their high school to die that year. She's certain that she's going crazy when she sees him and the others in an abandoned barn, but when Phoenix kisses her, she's convinced he's come back… to life?

Jonas, Summer, Arizona, and Phoenix have been brought back from limbo by the enigmatic and sometimes frightening Hunter, and are allowed to remain in the world of the living for one year in order to set right a wrong linked to their deaths. In exchange for being allowed to see Phoenix, Darina agrees to help the undead teens find justice, starting with Jonas… whose year is nearly up.

Darina must discover who is behind Jonas's fatal motorcycle accident… without becoming a victim herself… and keep the Beautiful Dead a secret. She would sacrifice anything to help her beloved Phoenix, but setting him free might mean losing him forever. (Summary from Sourcebooks Fire)

My thoughts... BLINK. This book was very easy to read and I literally devoured it.  When I first saw the cover, I thought "looks very cool".  Then I read I heard the word zombies and thought, UGG, but forged ahead anyway.  Let me just say that I am so glad I did. 

The plot of the story was very unique. Darina found her recently deceased boyfriend alive and well, surrounded by his undead classmates. No vampires, zombies, but not it the theatrical sense. The book held something for everyone, mystery, heartbreak, action, a bit of romance, and motorcycles. I could not put the book down.  The writing was very smooth and I feel it had a strong voice.  The story was believable. 

The characters were all very interesting and very memorable.  This book focused on Jonas, and Darina's quest to help him.  Darina, the heroine was very determined and devoted to her friends.  I liked her more and more as the story progressed.  One of the characters I hope to learn more about is the guardian, Hunter.  We did not learn much about him in this book, but there is something about him, I think he is keeping a huge secret.  My favorite thing about the story is the Angel wings tattoo.  I don't want to give away what it is, but I will say it was very creative. 

The cons...The only thing I could not figure out is how Darina found the Beautiful Dead in the first place.  The book opens with her finding them in an abandoned farm.  It seemed out of the way-a long drive up a mountain road and a hike through the woods.  Unless I missed something, it was a bit too convenient.

Cover LOVE? Absolutely.  The first time I saw the covers in this series I knew they would be good.  The colors are very monotone with the exception of the title font.  The picture is very dramatic and it really sets the mood for the story. 

For more information about the book, visit Sourcebook Fire or bebo.com.  I was unable to find a website for the author. 
This book can be preordered through popular booksellers such as Amazon. 

This is the first book like this that I have read, so rather than give book recommendations, here are some links to some other reviews...
1. Wondrous Reads
2. So Many Books, So Little Time
3. Teenage Fiction for All Ages

*I received this arc through part of a book tour in conjunction with Around The World Tours.

Melting Pot Monday...errr...Tuesday

The New Brighton Archeological Society
by, Mark Andrew Smith
Young Adult Fantasy Graphic Novel
Image Comics (March 4, 2009)

Out of the ashes of misfortune will rise the next generation of great adventurers! After their parents are lost on an archeological expedition, four children begin to unlock the secrets of their parents' mysterious lives, discovering a hidden world of mystical artifacts, mythical creatures, and arcane knowledge. Soon they find themselves drawn into a conflict over a great library that has kept two kingdoms at war for centuries, the children must save an enchanted forest, the birthplace of magic itself. Join us as these children become the latest members of the fabled New Brighton Archeological Society, and take their first steps towards their true destiny!

This graphic novel can be purchased through Amazon.com.

*I was actually able to view several chapters of this graphic novel and I have to say I was pleasantly surprized.  Not only was it cute and colorful, it was funny.  I can see this having mass appeal for all ages.  This would make an excellent addition to a library collection.

=========================================================================

Complicit
by, Mark Gilbert
pub date: 2010-02-10

Everyone with skin in the money game had a vested interest in pretending that nothing could go awry.

The credit crunch is affecting every investor and every consumer, every industry and every government program, yet few people truly understand how it happened. Subprime mortgages have been center stage, but behind the scenes a conspiracy of greed among bankers, investors, rating agencies and regulators has imperiled everyone's financial future. We need to know what went wrong and how to change the practices that led to this calamity.

Bloomberg columnist Mark Gilbert shows how Wall Street's tolerance for extremes made the global credit crunch both foreseeable and inevitable. He offers a blow-by-blow account of what went wrong and what lessons need to be learned from the crisis.

•Gilbert's argument -- that everyone with skin in the money game had a vested interest in pretending that nothing could go awry -- is a well-defended, compelling indictment of the financial community.
•Gilbert is able to make complex financial events easy to understand.
•His outlook is truly global: this financial crisis respects no geographical boundaries, and Gilbert draws on anecdotes and examples from around the world to make his case. (summary from FSB media)

For more information about Complicit, please visit Bloomberg Books.

LINGER.

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other.  Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack.  And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

 

At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love -- the light and the dark, the warm and the cold -- in a way you will never forget.

Comes out in stores everywhere July 20th. Pre-order here.

 

Enter to win an advanced review copies of LINGER, Sisters Red, The Dead-Tossed Waves, and The Replacement on Maggie's blog.

WINNER and Contest Discoveries

The Winner of The Tale of Two Demon Slayers is...

Sandy Jay

Congratulations.  I have sent you an email, check your inbox.  Thanks to everyone who entered and a big thanks to Angie Fox,it was a fun interview.

Don't forget to enter to win a Mass Market Paperback of your choice from Dakota Cassidy and the 4 days of LOVE contest.  All the links are on the right sidebar.

Here are some other contests around the blogosphere...
*Reggie at The Undercover Book Lover is holding an international Birthday Bash Contest. She is giving away 10 books (incredible titles).  The giveaway ends March 10.  Good luck.

*Story Wings is holding a 49 followers contest.  The more followers she gets, the bigger the contest gets.  Go check it out!  Plus, its INTERNATIONA!

*Frankie Writes is giving away an arc of Linger.  To enter, visit her blog.  Please tell her Ellz sent you!  The contest ends March 2nd.

*All this week, the Climbing Rose is hosting crush stories.  Please stop in a vote for your favorite.  You can still enter your crush story and be entered to win The Stillburrow Crush by Linda Kage.  Visit their website for more information.

*I know I have mentioned this before, but it is worth mentioning again.  Monica at The Bibliophillic Book Blog is giving away your choice of an e-reader OR a $150 GC to the bookstore of your choice.  Now that would buy a lot books!  This ends March 1.  PLEASE tell her Ellz sent you and you will be 5 extra entries!

*Elizabeth Scott, the author of the Unwritten Rule is giving away an amazing 25 books (15 arcs and 10 YA hardcover novels.  Visit her website to find out how to enter.  The deadline is March 2.  Have you heard about The Unwritten Rule?

Everyone knows the unwritten rule: You don't like you best friend's boyfriend.

Sarah has had a crush on Ryan for years. He's easy to talk to, supersmart, and totally gets her. Lately it even seems like he's paying extra attention to her. Everything would be perfect except for two things: Ryan is Brianna's boyfriend, and Brianna is Sarah's best friend.
This one is on my list!


*Sharon Loves Books and Cats is having a HUGE giveaway.  To enter you must purchase a copy of Before I Fall (which I hear is AMAZING!)  Visit her blog for all the details, including the prizes.

*Cindy at Princess Bookie is giving us another chance to win an arc of LINGER and two bonus arcs.  Visit her site to find out how to win.  Contest ends when the Priness says so!