Monday, November 14, 2011

Review: Destined Mate by Katie Reus

Destined Mate
Author:Katie Reus
Release Date: October 1, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin
ISBN:  1426834071
ISBN13: 9781426834073
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Review Copy Source: Author

Two hundred years ago, Angela Lavigne and Alpha werewolf Knox had a shared a passion neither could control. Then Angela was turned into a vampire and disappeared.The last thing Knox expects is for Angela to show up on his doorstep centuries later on a rescue mission, as sexy and irresistible as ever. And he can sense how much she still wants him, too. She's gone against both their species' rules and trespassed on his land. By law he can keep her as long as he wants—and Knox doesn't intend to let her go ever again.
As their desire explodes once again, Knox is more sure than ever that he's must claim her forever. But as vampire and werewolf, they are natural born enemies. Can she truly be his destined mate?


Angela and Knox where in love a long time ago and then Angela was turned into a vampire against her will and took off. Knox hated everything and everyone having to do with vampires and Angela didnt want him to see her as that so she left without notice. Now Angela has turned back up in his life and Knox refuses to let her go.

DESTINED MATE was a quick easy read. I kinda wish it was longer so I could enjoy it a little longer. I really enjoyed the main characters Angela and Knox. They were both set in their ways and they butted heads but they had a great passion together which made for some hot moments. I also enjoyed the little dominance fight between the Alpha and the head vampire that takes place. It added some great suspense to the story. Since it is a novella everything happens at a quicker pace but it all flowed smoothly.  Pick up DESTINED MATE to give yourself a quick werewolf/Vampire fix.

I gave it 4/5 stars

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Week in Review: 11/6- 11/12



Books Ive Bought/received

*Bedeviled by Sable Grace- ARC- Publisher for review

* Partials by Dan Wells- ARC- Publisher for review

* Winging It by Deborah Cooke- Publisher for review

* Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews- Publisher for review



Books I read

The Fallen Queen by Jane Kindred
Before the Fall by Sable Grace
Last Breath by Rachel Caine
Shaedes of Gray by Amanda Bonilla
Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews

Reviews posted


Destined by P.C. + Kristin Cast
Before the Fall by Sable Grace
Who Do, Voodoo? by Rochelle Staab
In the Forest of the Night by Kersten Hamilton

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


* PA Lupton was interviewed on Monday. She is offering up a e-copy of Bound By Blood.

* Wednesday Sable Grace was here with their list of things people dont know about them.  

* Thursday I put up a giveaway for the full set of the Black Suns Daughter series. Simon and Schuster is providing the books for the winner. 

*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.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Early Review: In the Forest of the Night by Kersten Hamilton

In the Forest of the Night
Author:Kersten Hamilton
Release Date: November 22, 2011
Publisher: Clarion Books
Goblin Wars Book #2
ISBN:   0547435606
ISBN13: 9780547435602
Genre: Young Adult
Review Copy Source: Author via Publisher

Teagan, Finn, and Aiden have made it out of Mag Mell alive, but the Dark Man's forces are hot on their heels. Back in Chicago, Tea’s goblin cousins show up at her school, sure she will come back to Mag Mell, as goblin blood is never passive once awoken. Soon she will belong to Fear Doirich and join them. In the meantime, they are happy to entertain themselves by trying to seduce, kidnap, or kill Tea’s family and friends.
Teagan knows she doesn’t have much time left, and she refuses to leave Finn or her family to be tortured and killed. A wild Stormrider, born to rule and reign, is growing stronger inside her. But as long as she can hold on, she’s still Teagan Wylltson, who plans to be a veterinarian and who heals the sick and hurting. The disease that’s destroying her—that’s destroying them all—has a name: Fear Doirich.
And Teagan Wylltson is not going to let him win.
IN THE FOREST OF THE NIGHT starts off right were TYGER TYGER left off. I would not recommend starting with book 2 if your new to the series as you will miss a lot of back story. Teagan, Finn and Aiden are back at home and trying to digest all of what they have learned in Mag Mell while also caring for their new house guests. Book 2 has all of the characters from book 1 in it with a few additions to the cast. Through some unfortunate events Teagan once again finds herself traveling back to Mag Mell to save those she loves. The world that these stories take place in are filled with imagination and adventure. The descriptions pop out of the book and you will have no issues picturing the places as you read about them. The  story flows and is easy to follow. The characters are once again engaging and full of personality. There is a little bit of action as well as some development in Teagan and Finn's budding relationship. There is some great set up that gets you interested in reading book 3. Any fan of TYGER TYGER will get right back into the mix and I would gladly recommend the series to anyone into Irish folklore/Goblin type books.

I gave it 4/5 stars

Friday, November 11, 2011

Review: Who Do, Voodoo? by Rochelle Staab

Who Do, Voodoo?
Author:Rochelle Staab
Release Date: November 1, 2011
Publisher: Berkley
ISBN:  0425244598
ISBN13: 9780425244593
Genre: Mystery (with Supernatural elements)
Review Copy Source: Publisher
Clinical psychologist Liz Cooper doesn't believe in ghosts. But when her best friend finds a tarot card tacked to her front door-and is then accused of murder-Liz will have to find a way to embrace the occult if she wants to outwit the real killer...

WHO DO, VOODOO? Reminded me a bit of Charlaine Harris' Aurora Teagarden series. I really enjoyed the Aurora Teagarden series so WHO DO, VOODOO? had no issues keeping my attention. Liz's best friend is being threatened by a unknown person through the use of Tarot Cards. On top of that the best friend is accused of murder. Liz with the help of a family friend (who becomes more then a friend) Nick set to work on finding out who is responsible for putting this all in motion. 

I love a good mystery. I like being able to sort out the clues along with the characters and see into the their heads as they make their guesses while I make mine. I also love books with a touch (who am I kidding a LOT) of supernatural, paranormal, fantasy, etc. I was not sure if the book would be something that would match my reading preferences but WHO DO, VOODOO? had a great blend of supernatural elements and mystery to keep me reading. Liz is a Psychologist so it was fun getting into her head and seeing how she came to the conclusions she came to. Nick was frustrating at times but fit well into his role. They both felt real and well matched. There was some great romantic tension between them. Liz was not a believer in voodoo so I think it made the story a little more interesting. She rejected a lot of things and tried to find logical explanations for them. Liz mom happens to be eccentric and into card reading and all that so it was fun watching their differences play out. The story had a great pace to it and the killer actually ended up being someone I never even considered yet when it was revealed it made total sense. WHO DO, VOODOO? is the first book in a new series from Rochelle Staab and I think this is one any mystery lover will enjoy.


I gave it 4/5 stars

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Giveaway: Black Sons Daughter Series by M.L.N Hanover


Killing Rites
The Black Sun's Daughter #4
Nov 29, 2011

JaynÉ Heller has discovered the source of her uncanny powers: something else is living inside her body. She's possessed. Of all her companions, she can only bring herself to confide in Ex, the former priest. They seek help from his old teacher and the circle of friends he left behind, hoping to cleanse JaynÉ before the parasite in her becomes too powerful.

Ex’s history and a new enemy combine to leave JaynÉ alone and on the run. Her friends, thinking that the rider with her has taken the reins, try to hunt her down, unaware of the danger they’re putting her in. JaynÉ must defeat the weight of the past and the murderous intent of another rider, and her only allies are a rogue vampire she once helped free and the nameless thing hiding inside her skin.


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In celebration of the release of Book 4 in the Black Son's Daughter Series Killing Rites, Simon and Schuster is offering up the whole set to one lucky winner
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Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Guest Post & Review: Sable Grace

UFI welcomes Sable Grace Author of The Dark Breed Series. Thanks for Joining us!!

10 things most people don't know about you
Since Sable Grace is two people, we split this up into five for each of us.

HEATHER

1: I don’t like chocolate. (Gasp! Horror!)

2: I don’t cry unless I’m completely alone, slightly inebriated, or severely devastated.

3: I play World of Warcraft. I know, not typical for a romance writer, but there it is.

4: I’m terrified of frogs. Not snakes, not spiders, FROGS. Paralyzing fear.

5: I can eat three pounds of crab legs all by myself and not even feel remorseful when I’m done.

LAURA

1: I don’t like comedies, however, I love watching stand up.

2: I’m addicted to bananas. (Add peanut butter and a pancake and I’m in heaven!)

3: Give me a video game and I’ll be happy for hours. Give me Angry Birds and I’m complaining in two seconds about boredom.

4: I would feel right at home in the Bat Cave. Open a blind and it’s fighting time.

5: I love watching movies, but no matter how hard I try, I can’t watch an entire movie without doing something else at the same time.
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friends who came together by fluke to discover their voices fit together quite nicely during an experiment of "I'll write the first sentence, you write the next." It was meant to be nothing more than a warm up exercise for each of them to get started on their own projects, but soon, the story became far more interesting than what they were supposed to be working on and Sable Grace was born.

Both Heather and Laura reside in Florida, are happily married, and are, well, complete opposites. (Think the Odd Couple on crack here.) Still, there's enough common ground for them to weave their words together in the voice of Sable Grace.

Heather also writes medieval romances under her real name, which you can find at
www.heatherwaters.net, and Laura is a Golden Heart finalist for her highly sensual manuscript, Mr. Right
Now.
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Find Sable Grace and their books
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Before The Fall
Author:Sable Grace
Release Date: November 8, 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins
Dark Breed Book #1.5
ISBN:   0062117580
ISBN13: 9780062117588
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Publisher via Netgalley
Zach was once the Order of Ancients' most feared warrior, beating back the hounds of hell to protect the unsuspecting human race. But since he left the Order ten years ago, he'd been living as a mortal...until now. The gates of the underworld are breaking open, and Zach is needed once again in the fight. But before he can answer his summons, there's one person he refuses to leave behind. Shanna may think Zach has screw loose, spouting all this "hounds of hell" nonsense, but he has to get her to safety. The journey to the Order's headquarters is a dangerous one, and even a warrior like Zach might not be strong enough to keep the darkness at bay.
BEFORE THE FALL was a neat short story about Zach and Shanna (they are not in ASCENSION) fighting there way to safety at the Orders Headquarters before the fall. They had a relationship that ended about 6 months before the events in BEFORE THE FALL but still loved each other. Zach is a retired warrior that served under the god Ares and Shanna is a police officer. Zach attempted to tell Shanna about what he was and the things that were in their world but she called him crazy and left him. When Zach was called back to duty he immediately went to her to take her with to safety. I enjoyed the story, I really liked book 1 ASCENSION so it was neat to see some other character views and experiences. This was a short quick read to get me ready for the release of BEDEVILED and I really liked Zach and Shanna and hope to see more of their story in future books as I would love to know how things are working out with their situation in the world after the fall. You can definitely read BEFORE THE FALL before or after reading ASCENSION so pick it up whenever.


I gave it 4/5 stars
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Winner: Vampire Ascending by Lorelei Bell

Thank you to everyone that entered!!


PRIZE: Paperback Copy of Vampire Ascending



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