Early Review: Full Blooded by Amanda Carlson

Full Blooded
Author: Amanda Carlson
Release Date: September 11, 2012
Publisher: Orbit
Jessica McClain Book #1
ISBN:  0316205206
ISBN13: 9780316205207
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Author

After living in hiding for the last twenty-six years, Jessica wakes up to find she's become a full-blooded werewolf -- claws, fangs, fur, everything. It was never supposed to happen: female werewolves don't exist.

When a mercenary killer comes looking for her, her Pack finds themselves caught in the middle of a war. They must rise up to protect her, but no one knows if she's means the end of their race-or just a new beginning.

Jessica has pretty much come to terms with the fact that she will never turn into a werewolf, she has finally convinced her father that she needs to get away from the pack that hates her with a passion and she has been living on her own when the unthinkable happens. She turns.

Jessica was an instant like character for me. She stands up for herself, doesn't take anyone's crap and even though she might be at a disadvantage she will put her all into kicking your ass if you get in her face. The pack treats her like she will be the death of them all and when she actually turns things get even worse for her. Being the only female werewolf ever is hard on a girl but she takes it all in and carries the burden beautifully. The action is non stop in FULL BLOODED if Jessica isn't dodging murder attempts she is fighting her way out of trouble with the local law enforcement agent that has it out for her. The men in her life are loyal and protective and its always nice hearing her describe them. I loved her brother as well as James (fans herself from his hotness). Jessica is also lucky to have found her mate. Their meeting is brief but their connection is strong and I cant wait to dive into book 2 HOT BLOODED to get to know him better. I honestly don't know how anyone could not love this book and I will leave it at that as I don't want to give away to much.

After reading BLOODED the Jessica McClain series quickly became one of my must read series, reading FULL BLOODED didn't lesson that one bit. I highly recommend you jump in to this series immediately by getting a copy of BLOODED so that your ready for FULL BLOODED the moment it hits the shelf. The ending of FULL BLOODED came way to soon and ended on a huge cliffhanger. I'm dying to read HOT BLOODED.

I gave it 5/5 stars

New Releases: 9/2-9/8

Tues Sept 4

Archangels Storm (Guild Hunter, #5) by Nalini Singh
Ashes of Honor (October Daye, #4) by Seanan McGuire
A Tale of Two Vampires (Dark Ones, #10) by Katie MacAlister
Blackwood by Gwenda Bond
Blood Forever (Blood Coven Vampire, #8) by Mari Mancusi
Carnival Of Souls by Melissa Marr
Clean (Mindscape Investigations, #1) by Alex Hughes
Dangerous Boy by Mandy Hubbard
Dead Mann Running (Hessius Mann, #2) by Stefan Petrucha
The Dirty Streets of Heaven (Bobby Dollar, #1) by Tad Williams
Entice (The Violet Eden Chapters, #2) by Jessica Shirvington
Envy (The Fury Trilogy, #2) by Elizabeth Miles
Fathomless (Fairytale Retellings, #3) by Jackson Pearce
How to Drive a Dragon Crazy (The Dragon Kin, #6) by G.A. Aiken
In a Fix by Linda Grimes
The Kingmakers (Vampire Empire, #3) by Clay Griffith
Kiss of Steel (London Steampunk, #1) by Bec McMaster
The Map of the Sky: A Novel (Tilogia Victoriana, #2) by Felix J. Palma
Monstrous Beauty (Monstrous Beauty, #1) by Elizabeth Fama
Origin by Jessica Khoury
Outpost (Razorland,, #2) by Ann Aguirre
Primal Possesion (Moon Shifter, #2) by Katie Reus
Rage Within (Dark Inside, #2) by Jeyn Roberts
Supernatural Born Killers (Pepper Martin, #9) by Casey Daniels
Sweet Shadows (Medusa Girls, #2) by Tera Lynn Childs
Shift by Kim Curran
This Case is going to Kill Me by Philipa Bornikova
Riveted (Iron Seas, #3) by Meljean Brook
Surrender (Mimics of Rune, #2) by Aimee Laine

Happy Reading!!!

Guest Blog: Michelle Monique

UFI welcomes Cover Artist Michelle Monique. Thanks for Joining us!!

Teenage Garage Sale

Seeing that It's only been one year since my teenage years ended, this list is pretty much what I'm still into today. I don't think I could part with any of them quite yet but I will probably look back on this in a few years and wish I did a garage sale, for real.

1) My collection of 30 CDs. I don't even have a CD player anymore so these are just collecting dust in my droor... but they have pretty pretty covers.

2) My joker posters.

3) All 7 Harry Potter books as well as the box they were shipped in for the midnight sale of "Deathly Hallows" with a borders poster that says "Midnight July 21, 2007".

4) My Alcatraz poster with 16 of it's inmates. My visit to Alcatraz was the pivotal point in my life that began my fascination with criminal minds, for better or for worse.

5) My Buffy the Vampire Slayer DVDs.

6) My Zoobles toys. They're the most adorable things ever. Don't judge.

7) My collection of 50 perfumes/lotions (mostly from bath and body works). I've recently stopped this obsession but started one with nail polish. Lord help me.

__________________________________

I started photography in 2005 as more of an experiment rather than a dream.  From there, my mediocre portraits blossomed into what I do today. My skills in Photoshop and lighting advanced greatly over the years as did my passion for the art. I have had the privilege to meet wonderful people and witness incredible talent through this experience which has motivated me to continue. I hope to inspire and encourage others who share the same passion and am delighted to be able to share my work with the world. 

Find Michelle

 Website / Youtube / Facebook

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Collage of Michelle's Work put together by J.A. Redmerski

Week in Review: 8/26-9/1

Books Ive Bought/received

* Darkness Hunts by Keri Arthur-ARC-Publisher

* Goddess on the Run by Marne Ann Kirk-eARC- Bewitching Book Tours

* Smokeless Fire by Samantha Young-ecopy- Kismet Tours

* Incarnation by Emma Cornwall- Publisher

* Audreys Guide to Witchcraft by Jody Gehrman-eCopy-Bewitching Book Tours

* Caged by Amber Lynn Natusch-eCopy- Tour Provider

* Ashes of Honor by Seanan McGuire-Purchased at Barnes and Noble

Books I Read

Fair Game by Taylor Keating
Goddess on the Run by Marne Ann Kirk
Ashes of Honor by Seanan McGuire

Reviews Posted

Tab Bennett and the Inbetween by Jes Young
Fair Game by Taylor Keating
Haunted by Jeanne C. Stein
Defiance by C.J. Redwine

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

* Monday brought Britt Bury to UFI with a This or That post and a giveaway of her book THE DARKEST DAY

* Taylor Keating was on UFI  Tuesday promoting her third book in the Guardian series FAIR GAME. There is a guest post and Giveaway.

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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: Defiance by C.J. Redwine

Defiance
Author: C.J. Redwine
Release Date: August 28, 2012
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Defiance Book #1
ISBN:   0062117181
ISBN13: 9780062117182
Genre: Young Adult/Dystopian
Review Copy Source: Edelweiss

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

When Rachel's father Adam is declared dead she is pretty much given to Logan as his to protect. Rachel and Logan have a hate hate relationship since she declared her love for him and he turned her down. Rachel is very bitter towards him and it makes for some very childish and frustrating moments. Rachel refuses to believe her father is dead and starts doing extremely stupid and dangerous things to escape Logan and the city to go find him.  

I thought I would really enjoy Defiance but instead I found myself incredibly bored. Rachel annoyed me to no end with her attitude and total lack of caring for what could happen to others from her stupid stunts. There were many times as I was reading that I found that my eyes where skipping over multiple lines on the page just to get through the situation that was happening at the time. The world that the characters live in isn't built very well. I had no clue when the book took place, I didnt really get the rules and I honestly disliked most of the characters that made up the book. I felt like I was reading the same thing over and over and over again and waiting for it to move on already. She loves him, she hates him, he loves her, he hates her, they are leaving, they cant leave yet..... 

After forcing myself to finish the book without skipping to many paragraphs I was left ecstatic that it was finally over and I could go on to something else. DEFIANCE definitely was not for me and I have no want to know what could possibly happen to the characters in the future. 

I gave it 2/5 stars and that is only because I did in fact get through it.

 

Review: Haunted by Jeanne C. Stein

Haunted
Author: Jeanne C. Stein
Release Date: August 28, 2012
Publisher: ACE
Anna Strong Chronicles Book #8
ISBN:  1937007766
ISBN13: 9781937007768
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Publisher

Anna Strong—kick-ass bounty hunter and vampire—has made some enemies in her time. But it’s not just her old foes she should be worried about…

Anna’s shape-shifting friend Culebra finally opens up to her about his life before he owned Beso de la Muerte, a bar catering to supernatural clientele. As if summoned by the conversation, Culebra’s past stumbles into his bar in the form of an old buddy cashing in a favor.

Soon Anna, Culebra and her ex, DEA agent Max, find themselves deep in Mexico, dealing with drug cartel infighting, old vendettas and missing girls. Mexico just may prove to be Anna’s best match yet…

Culebra was a big part of HAUNTED. We get to dig into his past and help him out with the problems that his past is now causing. 

Anna is one of my favorite heroines. I always enjoy seeing others underestimate Anna and her coming in to kick their asses. I do miss seeing Anna doing her bounty hunting. She is hunting someone in HAUNTED but I miss her working with her partner and I hope he is back to being by her side at some point in the next book. Anna's love life is kinda wonky in HAUNTED. She starts off happy in a relationship only to have that end. Then at the end of the book she makes a decision that will hopefully make her happy again with someone I really want her to be with. I'm excited about that decision and what it might bring in book 9. The action as always is non stop with non stop heart racing situations. We get visits from Anna's parents and niece, Frey and his son as well as an ex boyfriend who ends up being a big help in taking down Culebra's enemies alongside Anna. The ending was sad but It felt right.

I have enjoyed following Anna's journey from the time she was attacked and turned until now. Book 9 will be the final book in the Anna Strong series and I'm excited and sad to see what will become of Anna and the rest of my favorite characters from the series.


I gave it 4/5 stars

Review: Fair Game by Taylor Keating

Fair Game
Author: Taylor Keating
Release Date: Aug 28, 2012
Publisher: Tor
Guardian Book #3
ISBN:   0765365499
ISBN13: 9780765365491
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Review Copy Source: Publisher

Video-game designer River Weston has seen her world torn apart. The streets of Earth have filled with looting, sickness, and fighting, but River knows that she is in a unique position to help. Drawing on her Fae magic, she creates a computer-generated program called Hollow Man, designed to protect humans during battle.

Worlds away, Guardian Chase Hawkins has finally returned to his own body after years of astral projection. His mission now that he’s back: retrieve River, who is walking a dark path without even knowing it, and strip her world of the technology that has brought it to ruin.

Hawk and his team arrive on Earth only to discover that River’s new computer program endangers the world all on its own. An old human virus has resurrected and mutated with a computer virus inside of Hollow Man, and it’s spreading uncontrollably. Hawk is convinced it’s too late to save Earth…but River isn’t ready to give up hope yet.

River and Hawk find themselves on opposing sides, yet drawn together stronger than ever before. But a future with both of them in it could mean walking paths darker than either of them could ever have imagined.

FAIR GAME is book 3 in the Guardian series. We left off book 2 with Hawk being sent back to his own body and River being left in her world. FAIR GAMES starts up right after that then jumps about 4 months later in a short amount of time. 
  
In FAIR GAME the characters are easy to like, the bad guys are easy to hate. The situations are crazy, intense and full of suspenseful action. The world that Taylor Keating writes about is full of interesting scenarios and dangerous beings, I would never have guessed the Guardian books are written by a team of 2, it flows well.  Its crazy how the technology River has created works and how it benefits the "demons". The romance between Hawk and River continues to be intense and full of passion. There were a few things in book 3 I would have liked to have known more about (River's Fae Grandfather, The death of her half family members) But I still enjoyed it with the information that was given.

A lot of things get settled in FAIR GAME, I'm not sure if there are any more books planned in the series but I would be happy with FAIR GAME being the last book if that were the case. 

I gave it 3.5/5 stars