New Releases: 2/26-3/3

Tues Feb 28

A Sliver Of Shadow (Abby Sinclair, #2) by Allison Pang
Black Howl (Madeline Black #3) by Christina Henry
By a Thread (Elemental Assassin, #6) by Jennifer Estep
The Darkest Seduction (Lords of the Underworld, #9) by Gena Showalter
Darkness Bound by Stella Cameron
Fever by Joan Swan
How to be Death (Calliope Reaper-Jones, #4) by Amber Benson
My Lord Vampire by Alexandra Ivy
Nice Girls Don't Bite Their Neighbors (Jane Jameson, #4) by Molly Harper
Pandemonium (Delirium, #2) by Lauren Oliver
Partials (Partials, #1) by Dan Wells

Happy Reading!!!

Interview & Giveaway: Imogen Rose

UFI welcomes Imogen Rose Author of Initiation. Thanks for Joining us!!

 What can you tell my readers about yourself that they might not know from looking on your bio or reading in another interview?

I’ve never really liked writing, which I always thought of as a means to an end of getting A’s on my exams. The fact that I now enjoy writing is absolutely amazing to me. I’ve mentioned this in an interview before, but I can’t even type properly. I tap away using my two index fingers. :D

What do you enjoy doing on your down time?

I love watching movies, reading, shopping, and traveling.

What is your favorite part of writing? 

 I never plan or outline my stories. Writing is an exercise in letting my mind wander and allowing the characters to take over completely. I become so invested in needing to know what’s going to happen next that I keep tapping the keys with excited anticipation. That thrill is what I enjoy the most.

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

No. I write anywhere I can sit down for at least half an hour, usually outside my daughter’s various after-school activities. I blank out the noise and the world as I write.

What are some of your Favorite books or Authors in the Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Genres?

I love reading books by Anne Rice, Charlene Harris, Stephanie Meyers, Julie Kagawa, and a host a great indie authors I have discovered more recently, like Lauren Burd, Amanda Hocking, and S.L. Baum.

How would you pitch Initiation to someone who has not heard of it before?

It’s an adventure into the unexpected world of paranormal teens.

Can you tell us a little bit about the world that the Bonfire Academy series is set in?

The Bonfire Academy series is in the Gossip Girl world of paranormals.

Do you have a favorite scene in Initiation?

It has to be the one when Cordelia and Jagger synch. It came right out of the blue as I was tapping away on my keyboard, and writing it sent a little chill through me.

Which character was your favorite to write about? What about the hardest to write about?

Cordelia was my favorite character in this book, probably because I was writing through her and feeling every emotion she did. I was startled when I discovered the secret about Mason, and I wonder where my imagination will take me with that character in the next book.

What other projects can we look forward to reading from you?

Next up is Integration, the second book in the Bonfire Academy series. So, we can look forward to finding out what happens to Cordelia next. After that, I will start working on the final book of the Portal Chronicles.

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Imogen Rose is the author of the bestselling YA series, the Portal Chronicles. She was born in a small town in Sweden and moved to London in her twenties. After obtaining a PhD in immunology from Imperial College, she moved with her family to New Jersey, where she’s been based for the past ten years.

For as long as she can remember, Imogen has dreamt stories. Stories that continued from night to night, from dream to dream. So, even as a child, going to bed was never an issue, just an anticipation of the story to come.

PORTAL, Imogen’s first novel, would have remained in her imagination, to be shared only with her daughter, Lauren, had her eight-year-old not insisted that she write it down. In the course of a month, Imogen typed while Lauren waited eagerly by the printer for the pages to appear, and a novel took shape.

The warm reception PORTAL received encouraged her to continue with the story and the Portal Chronicles. The Bonfire Chronicles is Imogen’s new YA paranormal series.

Imogen is a self-confessed Hermès addict who enjoys shopping, traveling, watching movies and playing with her dog, Tallulah.

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Find Imogen and her books

Website / Twitter / Facebook

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Initiation
Bonfire Academy #1
December 25, 2011

Welcome to Bonfire Academy!

Set in the foothills of the alpine mountains in St.Moritz, this exclusive private school caters to a special kind of student. Enter at your own risk... but if you are human, you may not want to enter at all.

WARNING: This YA story is set in a school for paranormals who are very different from normal human teens. Thus, the language and some scenes might not be appropriate for younger YA readers. Recommended for those sixteen and above.

Read the First Chapter
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 Tour Wide Giveaway

*Photos of Initiation sack pack item's*

Cover Reveal: Luminosity by Stephanie Thomas

*Available September 11, 2012* 

Luminosity 
Author: Stephanie Thomas 
Release Date: September 11, 2012 
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Luminosity Book #1
ISBN13: 9781620611272
Genre: Young Adult/Dystopian

My name is Beatrice. When I was born, I was blessed with the Sight. I was immediately removed from my parents and enrolled in the Institution. At the age of twelve, I had my first true vision, earning my raven’s wings. And when I turned seventeen, one of my visions came true. Things haven’t been the same since.

The Institution depends on me to keep the City safe from our enemy, the Dreamcatchers, but I’m finding it harder to do while keeping a secret from everyone, including my best friend Gabe. It is a secret that could put us all in danger. A secret that could kill me and everyone close to me.

But the enemy has been coming to me in my dreams, and I think I’m falling in love with him. He says they’re coming. He says they’re angry. And I think I’ve already helped them win.

Paperback Available for Pre-Order from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Luminosity-Stephanie-Thomas/dp/1620611279/ref=lh_ni_t

Add to your Goodreads TBR:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13425149-luminosity

Week in Review: Feb 19-25

Books Ive Bought/received

*Sacrificial Magic by Stacia Kane-eARC-Netgalley



Books I read

Discount Armageddon by Seanan McGuire
Eventide by Elle Jasper
The Vampire Shrink by Lynda Hilburn
A Perfect Blood by Kim Harrison
Sacrificial Magic by Stacia Kane
Apocalypse to Go by Katharine Kerr

Reviews posted


A Sliver of Shadow by Allison Pang
Black Howl by Christina Henry
Fair Games by Patricia Briggs
A Beautiful Evil by Kelly Keaton

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


* Monday UFI participated in the Cover reveal for Inbetween by Tara Fuller. There was also a Promotional Post and giveaway posted for a copy of Fated by Benedict Jacka.


* Wednesday Kristen Simmons was here promoting her new release Article 5 with a guest post. 


* Friday along with an early review for Fair Games by Patricia Briggs there is a giveaway for a copy of On the Prowl.

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*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: A Beautiful Evil by Kelly Keaton

A Beautiful Evil
Author: Kelly Keaton
Release Date: February 21, 2012
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Gods and Monsters Book #2
ISBN:  1442409274
ISBN13: 9781442409279
Genre: Young Adult

Myth and mayhem inhabit a richly reimagined New Orleans in this sequel to Darkness Becomes Her.After the epic graveyard battle at the end of Darkness Becomes Her, Ari and her friends know what they’re up against: Ari is facing the Medusa curse and is haunted by the image of what she will become. To make matters worse, the heinous goddess Athena has kidnapped young Violet and is threatening to destroy Ari.

Ari, along with the superhot Sebastian, is doing everything she can to learn more about Athena and to get Violet back. But the battle of good and evil is bigger than she realizes, and she’s about to be pulled into a world more horrific than she could ever imagine...

Ari now knows what she is and has started her training and research in hopes of saving her Dad and Violet as well as beating Athena.

I didn't enjoy A BEAUTIFUL EVIL as much as I enjoyed book 1 DARKNESS BECOMES HER. The story dragged for half the book, there were quite a bit of depressing circumstances and It was a bit predictable at times. I did enjoy the action scenes and the general plot.  Ari was still an interesting character. She is unique in her bloodline because of what her father is. I'm hoping now that he is in the story, book 3 will give us a bit more insight on what will happen to her when she is supposed to turn fully into a gorgon. I still really like the setting of New 2 and the different class of characters that come with it. Ari and Sebastian's relationship is interesting. They are definitely tested throughout A BEAUTIFUL THING but they seem to hold strong to each other. I loved Bran, he is proving to be fully on Ari's side and he seems to truly care about her.

I actually loved the ending. I'm excited to find out more about what Sebastian can do now and what that will mean for Ari in her fight against Athena. I'm also loving the fact that her Dad will be a bigger part of the story, it will be interesting to see what he brings to the situation. I will still be reading book 3 when it arrives.

I gave it 3.5/5 stars

Review & Giveaway: Fair Game by Patricia Briggs

Fair Game
Author: Patricia Briggs
Release Date: March 6, 2012
Publisher: Ace
Alpha and Omega Book #3
ISBN:    0441020038
ISBN13:  9780441020034
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Publisher

Patricia Briggs, the #1 "New York Times" bestselling author of the Mercy Thompson novels, "always enchants her readers." (Lynn Viehl, "New York Times" bestselling author) Now her Alpha and Omega series-set in a world of shifting shapes, loyalty, and passion- brings werewolves out of the darkness and into a society where fear and prejudice could make the hunters prey...

They say opposites attract. And in the case of werewolves Anna Latham and Charles Cornick, they mate. The son-and enforcer-of the leader of the North American werewolves, Charles is a dominant alpha. While Anna, an omega, has the rare ability to calm others of her kind.
Now that the werewolves have revealed themselves to humans, they can't afford any bad publicity. Infractions that could have been overlooked in the past must now be punished, and the strain of doing his father's dirty work is taking a toll on Charles.

Nevertheless, Charles and Anna are sent to Boston, when the FBI requests the pack's help on a local serial killer case. They quickly realize that not only the last two victims were werewolves-all of them were. Someone is targeting their kind. And now Anna and Charles have put themselves right in the killer's sights...

I absolutely love Patricia's Mercy Thompson series. I knew Patricia had another series in the Mercy world but had never picked them up to read them. That is until her publicist sent me a copy of FAIR GAME book 3 in the Alpha and Omega series. I went back and read the previous books and instantly became attached to both Anna and Charles. In book 3 the mated pair travel to Boston to consult with the FBI about a serial killer case they are working on which once again doesn't go as smoothly as they would have liked.

The best thing about the series to me is Anna and Charles relationship. They definitely have things to work out between them, but they have a really strong connection and I really love there romance and devotion to each other when either doesn't let his ghosts get in the way. They fit perfectly together and complement each other. I enjoyed the interaction between the wolves and the humans as they worked side by side to try and find the killers. I had absolutely no clue who the villain was and I loved every minute of getting to the point in finding out.

The emotion that Patricia is able to bring forth is excellent. One minute I'm happy as can be while something good is happening, or my heart is pounding with the situation trying to figure out what will happen and then the next I'm bawling my eyes out sad right along with the character. It is beyond easy to get lost in the emotions of the story. With all that Anna has been through its tough seeing her yet again become the victim of a psychopath but she continues to come out of these situations stronger then she went in.

You really should pick up the books in this series, I'm really glad I got a copy of FAIR GAME in the mail to review. The Alpha and Omega series has become a must have on my book shelf.

I gave it 4/5 stars

Giveaway is for a Signed Copy of On the Prowl which contains the very first Alpha and Omega story

Early Review: Black Howl by Christina Henry

Black Howl
Author: Christina Henry
Release Date: February 28, 2012
Publisher: Ace
Black Wings/Madeline Black Book #3
ISBN:  1937007332
ISBN13: 9781937007331
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Publisher

Agent of Death Madeline Black is finding out that some of the spirits of Chicago aren't ready to cross over.

Something is wrong with the souls of Chicago's dead. Ghosts are walking the streets, and Agent of Death Madeline Black's exasperating boss wants her to figure out why. And while work is bad enough, Maddy has a plethora of personal problems too. Now that Gabriel has been assigned as her thrall, their relationship has hit an impasse. At least her sleazy ex-fiancé Nathaniel is out of the picture — or so she thinks...

Another great installment of the Madeline Black Series. I have always loved Maddy's character. She is stronger then some give her credit for and has learned a lot since book 1 about her self and what she can do and be. Beezle continues to be one of my favorite sidekicks. He provides endless amounts of humor to about every situation Maddy finds herself in. Most of the book revolves around Madeline helping Jude find his missing Alpha and the packs children.  There is plenty of action as she fights off demons and humongous spiders that would give an arachnophobe like me a heart attack. Along for the ride is of course Gabriele the man that Maddy loves but that refuses to be with her. There are some great developments between them in BLACK HOWL as well as some major heart ache and loss. Lucifer continues to stump and surprise me. Just when you think he is using Maddy for his own evil plans he shows what is under his cold exterior and lets us see some real (at least it seems real) support and emotion from him. Most of the characters we have loved from the previous books are also in BLACK HOWL next to Maddy as she uncovers betrayal and plots that will rock her world even more then it was already rocking.

There were a lot of emotions that came out of BLACK HOWL and I was sorta expecting the ending news to happen at some point but it was still EVIL EVIL ending the book like that Christina. Just plain Evil. Dying to read book 4 and BLACK HOWL isn't even officially out yet, hopefully the wait wont be to long.

I gave it 4/5 stars