Thursday, April 28, 2011

Review: Tangled Threads by Jennifer Estep

Tangled Threads
Author:Jennifer Estep
Release Date: April 26, 2011
Publisher: Pocket
Elemental Assassin Book #4
ISBN:  1439192634
ISBN13: 9781439192634
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Author for Review
I’d rather face a dozen lethal assassins any night than deal with something as tricky, convoluted, and fragile as my feelings.

But here I am. Gin Blanco, the semi-retired assassin known as the Spider. Hovering outside sexy businessman Owen Grayson’s front door like a nervous teenage girl. One thing I like about Owen: he doesn’t shy away from my past—or my present. And right now I have a bull’s-eye on my forehead. Cold-blooded Fire elemental Mab Monroe has hired one of the smartest assassins in the business to trap me. Elektra LaFleur is skilled and efficient, with deadly electrical elemental magic as potent as my own Ice and Stone powers. Which means there’s a fifty-fifty chance one of us won’t survive this battle. I intend to kill LaFleur—or die trying—because Mab wants the assassin to take out my baby sister, Detective Bria Coolidge, too. The only problem is, Bria has no idea I’m her long-lost sibling . . . or that I’m the murderer she’s been chasing through Ashland for weeks. And what Bria doesn’t know just might get us both dead. . . .
Oh to count the ways I love Gin Blanco. She seriously kicks butt. I didn't think I could love the Elemental Assassins series more then I read TANGLED THREADS. Gin definitely has an opponent in Elektra LaFleur. I was on the edge of my seat in the multiple fight scenes. Gin continues to have her family of friends to support her and watch her back and I think she is finally starting to realize that she can have it all, family, friends, love, etc and she is 100% worthy of it all. Owen brings such a great thing to her life and I love seeing them together and the way he really "gets" her and wants to be there for her. Bria finally finds out who Gin really is and although they have things to work through I just know Bria isn't going to be another Donovan. Mab is so going to go down and I cant wait to watch Gin and her friends bring it!! If you haven't started the Elemental Assassins series yet, you are missing some great fast paced reads.

I gave it 5/5 stars

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Interview & Giveaway: Chloe Neill

UFI welcomes Chloe Neill Author of Hard Bitten. Thanks for Joining us!!


I grew up an hour north of Chicago and now live in the south, North Carolina. According to your Bio you moved South to North. For me, the move from north to south was a big change. The biggest thing I miss about living in the Chicago is the food. lol I know silly. I miss good thin crust Pizza, cheese fries (not the kind with shredded cheese but actual cheese sauce) and Gyros/Italian beef places (they were seriously all over the place up north and there are NONE here). What is the biggest thing you miss about living in the south?

The food and the weather. I'm not a big fan of snow, and living in the South was obviously great for that. And I miss a good plate of cornbread and collard greens, although I've now found a spot in my town that sells them.


Do you have any certain routines you must follow as you write?


Not really. I have a day job, so I write in the evenings, usually on my couch with my laptop while Jeremy plays video games or watches TV. I have to write a little at a time every night, so it's usually the last thing I do before bed.


What are some of you favorite books or authors in the Paranormal Genres?


I love Kim Harrison and JR Ward. I also really enjoyed Rachel Caine's Weather Warden series, which is finished now!


How would you pitch The Chicagoland Vampire series to someone who has never heard of it before?


Girl meets vampire. Vampire changes girl into vampires. Both vampires fight together to save Chicago!


There are a few Characters in the Chicagoland vampires series that seem to always frustrate the heck out of me (in a good way). Do any of the characters frustrate you while your writing them?


Lindsey can be frustrating at times. It can also be a challenge to write Merit in a way that honestly shows her concerns without being too angsty


Hard Bitten is the Fourth Book in the series. Have you found it any easier or harder to write the series as it gets farther along?


A little of both. I think the books are a bit easier to write because I have a better feel for the characters now, but they're harder to write because my day job is busier now than it was before, so I'm usually pretty tired when I get home!

Thanks for having me today!

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Author Bio:
I was born and raised in the South, but now make my home in the Midwest, just close enough to Cadogan House and St. Sophia's to keep an eye on things.  When not transcribing Merit’s and Lily's adventures, I bake (a lot!), watch entirely too much television, root for my favorite college football team (Go Big Red!), spend time with friends and my beau, Jeremy, and play with my dogs, Baxter and Scout.
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Hard Bitten
Chicagoland Vampires #4
May 3, 2011




Times are hard for newly minted vampire Merit. Ever since shapeshifters announced their presence to the world, humans have been rallying against supernaturals--and they're camping outside of Cadogan House with protest signs that could turn to pitchforks at any moment. Inside its doors, things between Merit and her Master, green-eyed heartbreaker Ethan Sullivan are ... tense. But then the mayor of Chicago calls Merit and Ethan to a clandestine meeting and tells them about a violent vamp attack that has left three women missing. His message is simple: get your House in order. Or else.

Merit needs to get to the bottom of this crime, but it doesn't help that she can't tell who's on her side. So she secretly calls in a favor from someone who's tall, dark, and part of underground vamp group that may have some deep intel on the attack. Merit soon finds herself in the heady, dark heart of Chicago's supernatural society--a world full of vampires who seem too ready to fulfill the protesting human's worst fears, and a place where she'll learn that you can't be a vampire without getting a little blood on your hands..
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Find Chloe and her books
__________________________________
 Follow the entire tour
__________________________________
 
US/CAN ONLY
Winner will receive
- swag pack of Chicagoland Vampires goodies




 RULES
1)  Leave a comment or question for Chloe =)
2) This giveaway is open to US/Canadian followers only
3) Must leave an email address so I can contact you.


Giveaway Ends 5/5/2011 at 10pm EST
Please allow 2-4 weeks for prize delivery
Winner will have 48 Hours to reply to my email or I will pick another
Winner chosen randomly with the help of random.org

Giveaway: Unnatural by Michael Griffo


Winner will receive
- One paperback copy of Unnatural by Michael Griffo



 RULES
1)  Comment below with why you want to read the book
2) This giveaway is open to US/Canada mailing addresses only
3) Must leave an email address so I can contact you.


Giveaway Ends 5/5/2011 at 10pm EST
Winner will have 48 Hours to reply to my email or I will pick another
Winner chosen randomly with the help of random.org

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In the town of Eden in northwestern England stands the exclusive boarding school known as Archangel Academy. Ancient and imposing, it’s a place filled with secrets. Just like its students…

For Michael Howard, being plucked from his Nebraska hometown and sent thousands of miles away is as close as he’s ever come to a miracle. In Weeping Water, he felt trapped, alone. At Archangel Academy, Michael belongs. And in Ciaran, Penry, and especially Ciaran’s enigmatic half-brother Ronan, Michael finds friendship deeper than he’s ever known.

But Michael’s only beginning to understand what makes the Academy so special. Ronan is a vampire—part of a hybrid clan who are outcasts even among other vampires. Within the Academy’s confines exists a ruthless world of deadly rivalries and shifting alliances, of clandestine love and forbidden temptations. And soon Michael will confront the destiny that brought him here—and a danger more powerful than he can imagine…


Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Winner: Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Giveaway Hop


Thank you to everyone that entered!!

Photobucket

PRIZE: 2 winners get their choice of one of the books above





The winners chosen by Random.org is…


sue brandes
Dark Goddess by Serwat Chadda


Sherry Strode
ARC-Vampire Federation Uprising by Sean McCabe



Congrats!! I have emailed winners who have 48 hours to respond with mailing address' or I will pick another.

New Releases April 24-30


Mon April 25

Born of Shadows (The League #5) by Sherrilyn Kenyon 

Tue April 26
Big Bad Beast (Pride #6) by Shelly Laurenston
Black Magic Woman (Others #11) by Christine Warren
Demon Hunting In Dixie by Lexi George
The Hidden Goddess by M.K. Hobson


If you see a mistake or know of another release that is not listed let me know!! Happy Reading

Monday, April 25, 2011

Reviews: Shady Lady by Ann Aguirre

Shady Lady
Author:Ann Aguirre
Release Date: April 5, 2011
Publisher: Roc
Corine Solomon Book #3
ISBN:    0575093994
ISBN13: 9780451463258
Genre: Urban Fantasy

I'd spent my whole life settling, trying not to attract attention, and generally doing whatever it took to keep other people happy. I didn't want to do that again. Not when I was finally comfortable in my own skin. Sure, there were certain challenges, like a drug lord who wanted me dead, and the fact that I owed a demon a debt that he could call due at any moment. But everybody's got problems, right?

Whenever Corine Solomon touches an object, she immediately knows its history. But her own future concerns her more and more. Now back in Mexico, she's running her pawnshop and trying to get a handle on her strange new powers, for she might need them. And soon.

Then former ally Kel Ferguson walks through her door. Heavily muscled and tattooed, Kel looks like a convict but calls himself a holy warrior. This time, he carries a warning for Corine: the Montoya cartel is coming for her--but they don't just pack automatic weapons. The Montoyas use warlocks, shamans, voodoo priests--anything to terminate trouble. And Corine has become enemy number one...
SHADY LADY is another great addition to the Corine Solomon series. I LOVED Kel in this book, I never would have thought that he would grow on me and I would find myself pulling for him. He really has been a surprise awesome character that I want to see more of and high hopes for to be in Corine's life. When I saw that Chance wasn't playing a big part in SHADY LADY I was kind of disappointed, But Kel kinda made me realize that I kinda hope Chance doesn't have a chance. Shannon is also a great character I didn't see being so awesome. After the events in HELL FIRE I thought she would make some appearances but now I cant see the series without her in it. Butch of course is still the coolest dog ever and we see he has some other talents under his paws. SHADY LADY was full of twist turns and action. I never knew what was coming and I never wanted to stop reading. I defiantly thought it was the best book of the series yet. The Ending?? OMFG Seriously? WTH? PLEASE be temporary, that has to be the most messed up situation ever. I really reallly reallllllly hope that the ending result is temporary. DEVILS PUNCH cant come out soon enough.

I gave it 4/5 stars

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Week in Review 4/17-4/23



Books Ive Bought/received

*Nothing this week.


Books I read

Game Over by Taylor Keating
Mind Games by Taylor Keating
Mob Rules by Cameron Haley

Reviews posted

Con & Conjure by Lisa Shearin
Ascension by Sable Grace
Deadworld by J.N. Duncan
Divergent by Veronica Roth

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

* New Releases for the week.

* Did you miss the Elemental Assassin chat with Jennifer Estep?? It was recorded



*Michael Griffo Author of Unnatural was here on Tuesday with a character Interview of Michael.

* UFI is participating in the Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Giveaway Hop. Check it out and enter to have a chance to win 1 of 3 books. Ends 4/25

*  Winner of My Frankenstein by Michael J Lee has been posted.