Giveaway: Switched by Amanda Hocking

*Provided by Zeitghost Media and St. Martin's Press*

Release Day

New Releases Jan 1-7

Sunday Jan 1

Hold Me If You Can by Stephanie Rowe 

Midnight Reckoning (Dark Dynasties #2) by Kendra Leigh Castle

Never to Sleep (Soul Screamers, #5.5) by Rachel Vincent

Mon Jan 2

Darkness Falls (Immortal Beloved, #2) by Cate Tiernan

Tues Jan 3

A Demon Does It Better by Linda Wisdom

The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams

All That Bleeds (Etherlin, #1) by Kimberly Frost

Bloodrose (Nightshade, #3) by Andrea Cremer

Born of Ashes (The World of Ascension #4) by Caris Roane

Charmfall (Dark Elite #3) by Chloe Neill

Dreaming Awake (Falling Under, #2) by Gwen Hayes

Dust of the Damned by Peter Brandvold

Flashfire (Dragonfire, #7) by Deborah Cooke

Raven Cursed (Jane Yellowrock, #4) by Faith Hunter

Sins of the Demon (Kara Gillian, #4) by Diana Rowland

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

To Walk the Night (Kat Redding, #1) by E.S. Moore

Wild Wild Death (Pepper Martin #8) by Casey Daniels

Thurs Jan 5

A Witch in Winter  by Ruth Warburton

Fated by Sarah Alderson

Night School by Christi Daugherty

Happy Reading =)

Review: Bound by Kira Saito

Bound
Author:Kira Saito
Release Date: October 28, 2011 
Arelia LaRue Book #1
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Review Copy Source: Bewitching Book Tours

Sixteen year old Arelia LaRue lives in New Orleans where the music is loud, voodoo queens inhabit every street corner, and the ghosts are alive and well. Despite her surroundings, all she wants is to help her Grand-mere Bea pay the rent and save up for college.

When her best friend Sabrina convinces her to take a well-paying summer job at the infamous Darkwood plantation, owned by the wealthy LaPlante family, Arelia agrees.

However, at Darkwood strange things start to happen, and gorgeous Lucus LaPlante insists that he needs her help. Soon, the powers that Arelia has been denying all her life, come out to play and she discovers mysteries about herself that she could have never imagined. 

I had to contemplate this story for a while before I could think of what to write for a review and I'm still kinda feeling short for words so Im going to do this review a little different then I have done in the past.

Was the story interesting? Yes. There were some great little twists, imaginative situations and it was easy to get into.
Were the characters easy to follow and like? Yes and yes.
Was the setting likable? Yes I loved the New Orleans plantation setting.
Was the story paced well? uh kinda, there were certain times throughout the story that it tended to be a tad bit slow.
Was Arelia's best friend a total spoiled rich princess that got on my nerves? Y-E-S.
Did you like the ending? No, It didnt feel like the story was ready to end. It was just getting interesting again when all of a sudden the chapter ended and there was no more to read about. It wasn't just cliffhanger-ish but it made the story feel unfinished. It was a really cruddy place to end the book.
Will I read book 2? Maybe, I'm interested to see what happens but not overly excited to pick it up.

I gave it 3/5 stars

Week in Review 12/25-12/31

Books Ive Bought/received

*Witchful Thinking by H.P. Mallory- ARC- Librarything early review program

*Sins of the Demon by Diane Rowland- Purchased at B&N



Books I read

Untraceable by S.R. Johannes
Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

Reviews posted


Raven Cursed by Faith Hunter
Silver-Tongued Devil by Jaye Wells
Blood Rites by Quinn Loftis

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

* New Releases for the week. Was there anything you were looking forward to reading?


*I put up a trailer for SWITCHED by Amanda Hocking on Monday

*  Janet Lee Carey was here Wednesday promoting her upcoming release Dragonswood. Be sure to check out her post for a giveaway.

* Friday brought Quinn Loftis for a visit with a guest post and giveaway for her book Blood Rites

* Sorry that the blog has been a little off last week and this week. I was out of town on vacation and kinda just threw stuff together. Everything will be back to normal now that I'm home.

* Happy New Year =)

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

*If you see something on my books Ive read list that you are dying to know about let me know I'm back logged on reviews and can move it up on the list if I know people are wanting one.

* I love comments so if you see something you like (or not) please comment away and let me know.

Review: Blood Rites by Quinn Loftis

Blood Rites
Author:Quinn Loftis
Release Date: November 19, 2011
The Grey Wolves Book #2
Genre:Paranormal YA Romance
Review Copy Source: Author

With the challenge complete and the corrupt Alpha of Coldspring defeated Fane is now free to complete the mate bond with Jacque and perform the Blood Rites. Although the challenge is done, the affects are far reaching. Once it is known that Vasile, one of the strongest Alphas in the world is in America, specifically Coldspring, TX, there is one Alpha who cannot over look the significance of this. An Alpha who happens to share Jacque's DNA, but is this the one she needs to fear?

With her mom driving and her two best friends, Jen and Sally in tow, Jacque sets off for her happily ever after. She will soon realize a plan has been put in motion that will change her course and possibly tear her from Fane's grasp forever. It will take a wolf pack, her mother's love, her two best friend's unrelenting determination, her own will to survive and the undying love of her mate to bring her home. The question remains, if she fights, if she endures, who will she be, what will be left once she is back in her mates arms?

I wish I would have known that BLOOD RITES was book 2 before I read it. There were some parts that I was scratching my head wondering what they were talking about or or wishing I had some back story to go with some information and now I'm sure it was all in book 1 but alas I started reading book 2 with no background. While you can definitely enjoy BLOOD RITES without it I would probably read book 1 if you have the chance. (ha who am I to talk, I still didn't go back and read book 1 after I found out about it lol)

I was a little skeptical on whether or not I would enjoy BLOOD RITES going in to it. I wasn't crazy about the cover and I didn't know there was a book 1 so the blurb didn't really grab at me, but I'm glad I decided to give it a chance. Quinn's writing style flowed nicely, was easy to follow, and was easy to get into. Even though her characters were young and being mated everything was well explained at a Young Adult level while still being filled with romance and sticky situations. Fane and Jacque fit well together and were easy to like. I loved all the secondary characters. Jacque's best friends provided plenty of humor and support, while the little side love hate relationship between Jen and Decebel did a fantastic job of leading us to what will happen in book 3. All of the events of BLOOD RITES flowed nicely. There was plenty of conflict, heartache, action and werewolf politics to keep me on my toes as well as plenty of connection, romance and little things that made my heart melt.

Like I said before, I really wish I would have known about book 1, I'm not sure how I missed and and would have loved the back story but I still really enjoyed BLOOD RITES and would recommend it to all young adult werewolves book lovers.

I gave it 3.5/5 stars

Guest Post & Giveaway: Quinn Loftis

UFI welcomes Quinn Loftis Author of Blood Rites. Thanks for Joining us!!

An Excerpt from Fane Lupei from Blood Rites, Book 2 in the Grey Wolves Series Journal.

August 24, 2010

I killed a man yesterday. A man, but also an animal. I wish I could say that I feel remorse but my wolf would have had me shred him because he dared to touch what is ours. I want to feel something about Lucas Steele's death, but I don't.

Today is the Blood Rites ceremony with Jacquelyn, and I'm more nervous about this than I was about a life and death challenge. My father says that I am blessed to have found my mate so young. Honestly, now that I know Jacquelyn, now that I have felt her, have her scent in my lungs know her, I can't imagine waiting a century or longer for her. She amazes me, captivates me, inspires me and makes me want. My wolf have never felt such peace as he does when we are with her. Her touch alone is like a cool breeze across my skin on the hottest of days. I expressed my fears to my mother about making Jacquelyn happy, about the depth of the love I feel for her when I have only known her for such a short time. But she assured me that as her true mate I alone can complete Jacquelyn's soul. Just as only she can complete mine. I can say that at no other time in my life have I been happier to be a Canis Lupis, to have one perfect match that shines light into the darkest part of me. Have you ever just wanted to scream at the top of your lungs because there was so much emotion filling you that it had nowhere else to go but out? I want nothing more than to have my mate in my arms this moment, but she wants to spend the day with her friends. I am happy she has them, but I'm jealous of my time with her, especially after fearing I could lose her to another. My mother says like all male Canis Lupis I am bound for barbarism. Tonight I will show my Luna just how much of my heart she owns. Tonight I will finally make her mine. God help any who stand in my way.

Important songs from my Blood Rites Play List

1. Alone In This Bed (Framing Hanley)

2.Apologize (One Republic)

3. Be Mine (David Grey)

4. Bound to You (Christina Aguilera Sound track Burlesque)

5. Cry (Jason Walker)- Used this song when Fane is in Jacque's room alone.

6. Cut ( Plumb) -Jacque in the hands of her captive.

7. Haunted (Taylor Swift) Fane finding out about Jacque's father and what his plans are.

8. Down (Jason Walker) Scene between Decebel and Jen where we see a more vulnerable side to Jen

9. E.T. (Katy Perry) The bathroom scene with Jen

10. F**kin Perfect (Pink)

11. Fall for You (Second Hand Serenade) Blood Rites Ceremony

12. I Need You (Tim McGraw and Faith Hill) The time while Fane and Jacque are separated.

13. Forever (Fireflight) The car crash, Fane and Decebel's arrival/ Decebel in the ER with Jen.

These are just a few of the songs that helped shape my story. Music is very influential on my moods so I find that if I'm having a difficult time with a particular scene the right song can make all the difference. I always love getting new song suggestions so please feel free to let me know any you recommend!

Sincerely,

Quinn Loftis

__________________________________

Quinn is a 31 year old wife, mother, nurse, and writer, not necessarily in that order. She lives in beautiful North West Arkansas with her husband, son and Nora their Doberman pinscher. She loves writing, reading, and crocheting. Her favorite holiday is Christmas, favorite book(s) is Pride and Prejudice, The Alpha and Omega Series by Patricia Briggs, and the Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling. She loves to be silly and have fun, loves music and thinks there is no greater sound than the sound in the world than that of her little boy's laughter.

__________________________________

Find Quinn and her books

Website / Blog / Twitter / Facebook

__________________________________

Blood Rites
The Grey Wolf Series

With the challenge complete and the corrupt Alpha of Coldspring defeated Fane is now free to complete the mate bond with Jacque and perform the Blood Rites. Although the challenge is done, the affects are far reaching. Once it is known that Vasile, one of the strongest Alphas in the world is in America, specifically Coldspring, TX, there is one Alpha who cannot over look the significance of this. An Alpha who happens to share Jacque's DNA, but is this the one she needs to fear?

With her mom driving and her two best friends, Jen and Sally in tow, Jacque sets off for her happily ever after. She will soon realize a plan has been put in motion that will change her course and possibly tear her from Fane's grasp forever. It will take a wolf pack, her mother's love, her two best friend's unrelenting determination, her own will to survive and the undying love of her mate to bring her home. The question remains, if she fights, if she endures, who will she be, what will be left once she is back in her mates arms?

__________________________________

__________________________________

 

Winner: The Bride Wore Black Leather by Simon R. Green

Thank you to everyone who entered!!

Prize: Hardcover Copy of The Bride Wore Black Leather

The Winner chosen by Rafflecopter is.....