Early Review: Blood Spell by Amalie Howard

Bloodspell
Author:Amalie Howard
Release Date: June 1, 2011
Publisher: Landson Street Press
Bloodspell Book #1
ISBN13: 9781936782116
Genre: Young Adult
Review Copy Source: From Publisher for blog tour

The spell was simple …

CRUENTUS PROTECTUM. Defend the Blood.

But what do you do if your blood is your enemy?

Victoria Warrick has always known she was different. An outcast at school, she is no stranger to adversity. But when she receives an old journal for her seventeenth birthday, nothing prepares her for the dark secrets it holds—much less one that reveals she’s a witch with unimaginable power.

What’s more, when she meets the dazzling but enigmatic Christian Devereux, she has no idea how much her life is about to change. Enemies will hunt her. Friends will turn on her. The terrible curse that makes her blood run black will stop at nothing to control her. And Christian has a sinister secret of his own …

Without knowing whom to trust, can Victoria survive her blood’s deadly desires? Or will she lose everything, including herself?

I really enjoyed BLOODSPELL, It was unique with a great mix of dark elements. The main character Victoria (Tori) was strong and willful. She is thrust into a world she had no idea that existed and to top it off she is more powerful then anyone could imagine but she didn't take anything sitting down and was determined to come out on the good side. Christian Devereux is an old vampire that refuses to give up his humanity. Although a relationship is forbidden between vampires and witches, Tori and Christian are drawn together from the moment they meet and fight for each other.  Every scene drew me in to the next and kept me on the edge of my seat. All the different abilities and talents were completely believable.  I'm excited to see where Amalie takes Tori next.

I gave it 4/5 stars

New Releases May 29- June 4

Tue May 31

Blood of the Wicked (Dark Mission, #1) by Karina Cooper

The Breaking (Skinners, #5) by Marcus Pelegrimas

Changeling Moon by Dani Harper

Concrete Savior (Dark Redemption, #2) by Yvonne Navarro

The Darkness Beyond by Alexis Morgan

Dead on the Delta by Stacey Jay

Deadline (Newsflesh, #2) by Mira Grant

Demon (The Fallen, #2) by Kristina Douglas

Desdaemona by Ben Macallan

Devil Without a Cause (Devil's Bargain, #1) by Terri Garey

Infernal Affairs (OSI, #4) by Jes Battis

Kiss of Snow (Psy-Changeling, #10) by Nalini Singh

Magic Slays (Kate Daniels, #5) by Ilona Andrews

My Dangerous Pleasure (Witches, #4) by Carolyn Jewel

The Neon Graveyard (Signs of the Zodiac, #6) by Vicki Pettersson

Nightspell (Mistwood, #2) by Leah Cypess

The Reluctant Vampire (Argeneau, #15) by Lynsay Sands

Sinful Magic (Wing Slayer Hunters, #4) by Jennifer Lyon

Starcrossed (Starcrossed, #1) by Josephine Angelini

Queen of the Dead (The Ghost and the Goth, #2) by Stacey Kade

Wed June 1

Demons Prefer Blondes (Demons Unleashed, #1)  by Sidney Ayers
Shadow Touch (Shadow Series)  by Erin Kellison
Summer's Crossing (Iron Fey, #3.5) by Julie Kagawa

The Vampire Stalker by Allison van Diepen

Thurs June 2

Betrayal (Dark Touch #4)  by Amy Meredith
Dark Heart Rising (Dark Heart Forever #2) by Lee Monroe
The Deadliest Bite (Jaz Parks, #8) by Jennifer Rardin

Please contact me if you see something is missing and I will add it. :)

Review: Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews

Magic Slays
Author:Ilona Andrews
Release Date: May 31, 2011
Publisher: ACE
Kate Daniels Book #5
ISBN:   0441020429
ISBN13: 9780441020423
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Publisher for Review

Plagued by a war between magic and technology, Atlanta has never been so deadly. Good thing Kate Daniels is on the job.

Kate Daniels may have quit the Order of Merciful Aid, but she’s still knee-deep in paranormal problems. Or she would be if she could get someone to hire her. Starting her own business has been more challenging than she thought it would be—now that the Order is disparaging her good name, and many potential clients are afraid of getting on the bad side of the Beast Lord, who just happens to be Kate’s mate.

So when Atlanta’s premier Master of the Dead calls to ask for help with a vampire on the loose, Kate leaps at the chance of some paying work. Turns out this is not an isolated incident, and Kate needs to get to the bottom of it—fast, or the city and everyone dear to her might pay the ultimate price . . 

Another fantastic installment to the Kate Daniels series. Kate is finally where Ive always wanted her to be. Right next to and leading with Curran. Kate has gone through a lot and has grown a lot in the past 4 books. She is finally able to see what its like to be in a relationship and learning to depend on someone else even if that someone else is an overprotective Alpha.  I love Ilona Andrews world building. They really bring everything to life with their explanations. I also love that everything flows fantastically and you cant tell its more then one person writing the story. The characters are always written so well that they stick in my mind from book to book. As with all the other Kate books the action is intense and there is tons of it. There is a new character introduced and it seems as though she will be pretty involved in Kate's training in blood magic as the series continues.  If you have been a fan of the series for the past 4 books you wont want to miss this installment.

I gave it 5/5 stars

Week in Review: 5/22-5/28

Books Ive Bought/received

* Tangled Threads by Jennifer Estep- Bought at Borders with 50% off coupon

* Vampires Not Invited by Cheyenne McCray- Bought from Borders.com

* Stork by Wendy Delsol- A Win from My Bookish Ways 

* Tempest Rising by Tracey Deebs- Signed- From Author for Blog Tour




Books I read

Witches of East End by Melissa de la Cruz
Graveminder by Melissa Marr
The Vampire Stalker by Allison Van Diepen
Zombies Sold Separately by Cheyenne McCray
Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs

Reviews posted

Mind Gamed by Taylor Keating
Hard Day's Knight by John G. Hartness
Gods & Monsters by Lyn Benedict
The Deadliest Bite by Jennifer Rardin
Unnatural by Michael Griffo

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* New Releases for the week.


*UFI is taking part in the Splash into Summer Giveaway Hop. Check it out and enter Ends 5/31

* Feeling creative?? My book club needs some help creating a name and logo. There are some great prizes for the winner.

Review: Unnatural by Michael Griffo

Unnatural
Author: Michael Griffo
Release Date: February 22, 2011
Publisher: Kensington
Archangel Academy Book #1
ISBN:  0758253389
ISBN13: 9780758253385
Genre: Young Adult
Review Copy Source: Publisher for Blog Tour

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…

I loved the cover for UNNATURAL, Unfortunately that is all I loved about it. I liked it so little I couldn’t even finish the book and that is very rare for me. I think I didn’t even get half way through it until I had to put it down and move onto something else. The whole plot just didn’t do anything for me. It was slow and there was way to much info added in that wasn’t needed that made it drag on even more. Because I only got at the most halfway through the book I can only speak of that portion. The writing was slow, the events were boring, the characters were blah, it was all together just lacking what I would need to get into the book. So my final thought to you is I'm glad I didn’t pay for this as I would have returned it the same day =(

I gave it 1/5 stars

Early Review: The Deadliest Bite by Jennifer Rardin

The Deadliest Bite

Author: Jennifer Rardin

Release Date: June 2, 2010

Publisher: Orbit

Jaz Parks Book #8

ISBN: 0316043818
ISBN13:  9780316043816
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Netgalley 

I have two choices. Carve Brude's name into Hell's bile-encrusted gates. Or lose my soul.

After an assassination attempt on Vayl, I find myself pulled into a tangled web that takes the gang to Romania. So how will I save a ghost, rescue a demon, and cheat the Great Taker out of a soul he's slavering for while defeating my nastiest foe yet so that Vayl can, at last, cherish a few precious years with his sons? With careful planning, major violence, and one (hopefully) final trip to Hell.

So many great series have come to an end lately. I have enjoyed all of the books in Jennifer Rardin's Jaz Parks series and I'm so sad to see it come to an end. After 8 books all of the characters are well developed and have been through the ringer a few times. All the ends were tied up, the story is action packed, and all the gang is included. Jennifer was never big on recapping so make sure you review what the previous books were about or you might forget some stuff and be a bit lost at times. I love all of the technology Bergman brought to the books. I love all the characters support of Jaz, they have always been behind her and there for her. I'm so glad certain characters have moved on and know what they want out of life now. All in all I'm sad the series is at a close but happy with the way it all ended, You wont be disappointed.

I gave it 4/5 stars

Testing

Blogger wont let me log in so I’m trying to post via Windows Live Writer so I can make sure to have a review up for all you lovely followers tomorrow. Please ignore =)

Review: Gods & Monsters by Lyn Benedict

Gods & Monsters
Author: Lyn Benedict
Release Date: April 26, 2011
Publisher: ACE
Shadow Inquiries Book #3
ISBN:  0441020380
ISBN13: 9780441020386
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Sylvie Lightner is no ordinary P.I. She specializes in cases involving the unusual and unbelievable. When she finds the bodies of five women in the Florida Everglades, Sylvie believes them to be the work of a serial killer and passes the buck. But when the bodies wake and shift shape, killing the police, Sylvie finds herself at the head of a potentially lethal investigation

Sylvie has been through a lot and learned a lot about her self since book one in the Shadows Inquiries series.  I'm going to start out by saying I really missed having Demalion by her side and I really hope he returns in book 4. Wales from book 2 comes back and helps a ton with the case that Sylvie is working. He was a great addition to her team and I hope that he stays on. There is also the return of another character from a previous book but I cant tell you who as it would give away the surprise. The plot has many layers that are pealed back as the story progresses. The pacing gave the right amount of information at the right times. The mysteries remained mysteries until the perfect moment of reveal. GODS & MONSTERS was a great addition to the series, I would recommend you start at book one SINS & SHADOWS though as there are continuing story lines within the new events and you might have a hard time following along. 


I gave it 4/5 stars

Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop

Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop

May 25-May 31

Hosted by I am a Reader, Not A Writer

and Page Turners Blog

Are you ready for summer? I know I am. Again I have decided that you do not have to be a follower to enter although if you like my blog followers are always appreciated. Giveaway is open Internationally to anywhere the book depository ships to. One entry per person.

________________________________________

Winner will receive

Your choice of ANY 1 book valued Up to $10USD from Book Depository.

*Open to anyone the Book Depository ships FREE to.*

*US residents- I reserve the right to order your book from a US book store*

RULES
1) Open internationally as long as the Book Depository ships to you.
2) One entry per person.
3) Fill out the FORM 

Giveaway Ends 5/31 at 11:59pm 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

Review: Hard Days Knight by John G. Hartness

Hard Day's Knight
Author:John G. Hartness
Release Date: October 21, 2010
Publisher: CreateSpace
Black Knight Chronicles Book #1
ISBN:  1453873252
ISBN13: 9781453873250
Genre: Adult Paranormal 
Review Copy source: Ecopy provided by The Bookish Snob Promotions

Children are missing.

The police are stumped.

Halloween is coming, with an ancient evil on the horizon.

The vampires are the good guys.

This is not your ordinary fall weekend in Charlotte, NC. Vampire private detectives Jimmy Black and Greg Knightwood have been hired to keep a young client from being cursed for all eternity, but end up in a bigger mess than they ever imagined.

Suddenly trapped in the middle of a serial kidnapping case, Jimmy and Greg uncover a plot to bring forth an ancient evil into the world, and enlist the help of a police detective, a priest, a witch, a fallen angel and strip club proprietor to save the world. This unlikely band of heroes battles zombies, witches, neuroses and sunburn while cracking jokes and looking for the perfect bag of O-negative.

It took me a bit to get into HARD DAY'S KNIGHT but it ended up being pleasantly entertaining. There is a ton of sarcasm and humor and the author did a good job with making fun of the typical vampire myths. The private detectives Jimmy and Greg are not your typical vampires, I found them to be a bit nerdy and determined to be the good guys. They were a good team and I enjoyed the bantering between them. There was a lot of things going on in the story and the pacing was nicely kept.  Since I live in Charlotte I thought it was pretty neat that the story took place there. There was a good mix of the paranormal. There were witches, demons, zombies,  and even Lilith makes an appearance. The only thing that annoyed me is some typos and missing words. There were a few times that It ended up ruining my reading concentration because the paragraph wouldn't make sense and I would have to go back and read and interpret what it was supposed to say. This was the first book of Mr Hartness' that I read and I enjoyed it.

I gave it 3.5/5 stars
 

New Releases May 22-28

Tue May 24

Blood Magic (Blood Journals, #1) by Tessa Gratton

Mind Games by Taylor Keating

Something Deadly This Way Comes (Madison Avery, #3) by Kim Harrison

The Vampire Narcise (Regency Draculia, #3) by Colleen Gleason

The Vampire Who Loved Me (Harlequin Nocturne, #113) by Theresa Meyers

Zombies Sold Separately (Night Tracker, #4) by Cheyenne McCray

Wed May 25

Chasing the Moon by A. Lee Martinez

Please contact me if you see something is missing and I will add it. :)

Review: Mind Games by Taylor Keating

Mind Games
Author:Taylor Keating
Release Date: May 24, 2011
Publisher: Tor
Guardian Book #2
ISBN:   0765365480
ISBN13: 9780765365484
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Review Copy Source: From Publisher for review

River Weston thinks her problems are over. She managed to escape the virtual world of her video game—and the clutches of the Dark Lord who attempted to enslave her—with body and mind intact. But her return to the real world is anything but easy. Framed for monstrous crimes she didn’t commit, and hunted by members of a dark government agency, it is all she can do to stay one step ahead of her pursuers.

Guardian Chase Hawkins gained his freedom from the Dark Lord’s prison, but it came with a heavy price. Trapped in another man’s body, his soul slowly deteriorating, Hawk knows he must return to his world—and his body—before the damage is irreparable.

Racing against time, River and Hawk know that in order to have a future together, they must work to reveal the secrets hidden in River’s past.

River and Chase are back in the real world and are running from their enemies. MIND GAMES picks up right where GAME OVER ended. Just like GAME OVER there is a ton of action and things happening at every turn. The pacing was great, I did find the passing of time in the book a bit funky but it didn't take away from the story.  River and Chase's relationship continues to form and grow. River is on the search for answers as she continues to learn what and who she really is.  Chase has to deal with being in someone else's body that is nothing like the real him. They really work well together and I can't imagine them apart. The ending wraps a great deal of the story up and throws in a fabulous layout to where book 3 is going to start and what its going to be about. 

I gave it 4/5 stars 

Week in Review 5/15-5/21

Books Ive Bought/received

* Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews- From Publisher for review



Books I read

Hexed by Kevin Hearne
Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey
Hard Days Knight by John G. Hartness
Between by Cyndi Tefft
Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews

Reviews posted

To See by Nicole Zoltack
Defiance by Lili St. Crow
Dark Descendant by Jenna Black
Contagion by Graylin Fox

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* New Releases for the week.


*  Monday Nicole Zoltack stopped by for a guest post. She is having a Tour wide comment giveaway as well.


* John Hartness author of Hard Day's Knight stopped by and answered some questions for me.

* The winner of the e-copy of Ascension by Felicity Heaton can be found HERE.

* Feeling creative?? My book club needs some help creating a name and logo. There are some great prizes for the winner.

Review: Contagion by Graylin Fox

Contagion
Author:Graylin Fox
Release Date: April 15, 2011
Publisher: Decadent 
Summer Fae Book #0.5
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Author For Review

In 2012, a flu epidemic killed millions. Among the survivors struggling to adapt, Tessa flees to her family’s cabin, only to find it already occupied…by fairies! After a companionable year with her new housemates, Tessa again has to adapt to a parade of creatures of myth and legend on her property—including a baby dragon and a tiny goblin. All the creatures aren’t so friendly, and Tessa soon learns she’s in the battle for her very life and the life of those she’s come to love. Driven by a maniacal monster with a personal grudge against Tessa, ogres hunt humans to make way for a new evil regime on Earth. Only Tessa and her small friends stand between hope and annihilation.

I found that CONTAGION started off great. I was totally interested in what was being written and how things were explained in the story. Tessa was interesting and I enjoyed reading how she came to be living at her family's cabin and how she became the only living member of her family. The pacing in the beginning was great, I felt there was a great amount of information added in here and there and we got to know the characters well. After about halfway through I started to feel rushed. People were thrown in left and right and then I started to get confused on who was with who and what they were supposed to be doing or bringing to the story. I would have loved to have a little more info and story on the ex boyfriend to make him more believable as the bad guy. Even though the second half of the short story was rushed as a whole the story was a good intro to Graylin's new Summer Fey series. I am intrigued enough that I wouldn't mind reading what comes next for Tessa.

I gave it 3/5 stars