Winners Announced

The End of Summer contest has offically closed and the winners have been chosen, and I'm just dying to tell you who won. :) But first a bit of info....

After I post this, I will be getting a hold of all the winners either by email or MySpace. If you happen to see this before I get a hold of you... you can send your postal address here: vampiregirl76@gmail.com

You'll have until October 13th to claim your prize. Should I not hear from one of the winners by then, I'll pick another.

Here are the winners:

Shannon
Book Set #1:
Nightkeepers By: Jessica Anderson
Kitty and the Silver Bullet By: Carrie Vaughn
The Duke of Shadows By: Meredith Duran
Into the Darkness By: Delilah Devlin
Hotter Than Hell (Anthology)
Grimspace By: Ann Aguirre

Sally Demille
Book Set #2:
Wild Rain By: Christine Feehan
Twilight Fall By: Lynn Viehl
Dark Obsession By: Allison Chase
First Blood (Anthology)
Night's Kiss By: Amanda Ashley
In Twilight's Shadow By: Patti O'Shea

KatieBabs
2 Borders Exclusives:
A New Dawn
Immortal

Christine
3 Nocturne Novels:
Son of Shadows By: Nancy Holder
Night Serpent By: Anna Leonard
Aftershock (Anthology)

Avice
The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance
featuring various Authors

Michelle G.
Twilight T-Shirt

Tez Miller
Box full of Author Goodies

***All packages will include an extra book

Congrats! to all the winners and thanks to every one who took part in the contest. :)

[ARC Review] - Any Given Doomsday

Title: Any Given Doomsday
Author: Lori Handeland
Series: The Phoenix Chronicles
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Year: 2008

I received this book for review from St. Martin's Press.

Summary: Elizabeth Phoenix once used her unique skills as a psychic to help in the Milwaukee Police Department's fight against injustice. But when Liz's foster mother is found viciously murdered—and Liz is discovered unconscious at the scene—her only memory of the crime comes in the form of terrifying dreams...of creatures more horrific than anything Liz has seen in real life. What do these visions mean? And what in the world do they have to do with her former lover, Jimmy Sanducci? While the police question Jimmy in the murder, Jimmy opens Liz's eyes to a supernatural war that has raged since the dawn of time in which innocent people are hunted by malevolent beings disguised as humans. Only a chosen few have the ability to fight their evil, and Jimmy believes Liz is among them. Now, with her senses heightened, new feelings are rising within Liz—ones that re-ignite her dangerous attraction to Jimmy. But Jimmy has a secret that will rock Liz to her core…and put the survival of the human race in peril.…

Thoughts: This was a good book. But I have to say I was a bit reluctant to read it, which is just me being stubborn. I would have preferred another Nightcreatures book. But I'm glad I read this new one, cause I really enjoyed it. Liz is a former cop and a psychic, so she has seen her share of weirdness. But when a loved one is killed, her world is turned upside down. Any Given Doomsday is fun, steamy with not stop action. If you enjoyed Ms. Handeland's Nightcreatures series, you'll definitely like this new series. Especially if your a fan of Urban Fantasy.

Score: 4 Stars

Author Website: http://www.lorihandeland.com/

Make sure you check out the prequel to Any Given Doomsday- "In the Beginning" To get your own copy visit the author's website for this free read.

[Review] - Raging Hearts

Title: Raging Hearts
Author: Amy Blankenship
Series:Guardian Heart Crystal
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Fantasy
Year: 2007

Summary: Toya would fight all odds to stay by Kyoko's side. His heart and his daggers are hers to take. He only asks that she accept them. Even when the darkness of their enemy threatens what they have fought so hard for, Toya would die for her honor and her love. In a moment of bliss, he finally gains the courage to open his hidden heart and confess the true emotions he keeps within. That moment is forever changed when Kyoko is taken from his world by the heartless fates above. Believing he is cursed, Toya gives up, falsely accepting that his reason to live has forsaken him. Now, Toya must defend her against the worst enemy of all...himself.

Thoughts: I enjoyed this one. But I feel the other books in the series are better than this installment. I really connected with the stories in Book 1 & 3. This one was harder to get into. This time around the love interests where Kyoko & Toya. They have a very push and shove relationship, that's really interesting. I have never been a big fan of Toya's, and I was hoping he'd grow on me but it just didn't happen. He's very frustrating. But what man isn't. Real or Fictional.

Score: 4 Stars

Author's Website:
http://www.animedefiance.com/book/index.php

Fellow Book & Blogging Addict- Katie(babs)

I love finding new blogs, especially if they have to do with books. My fellow book lover and addict in blogging- Katie(babs) has a new blog. She'll be talking about books, review books and probably a lot of other good stuff :) . I met Katie on MySpace and have been reading her stuff over at Ramblings on Romance Etc. for a while now. She always has something fun & interesting to say. So stop by and check out her new blog Babbling About Books, And More .

Sookie Stackhouse & True Blood

The Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris, were the first Paranormal Romance I ever read. In fact it was actually the first time I ever heard the term "Paranormal Romance." When I finished reading the first book Dead Until Dark, I was hooked. I've been addicted to the genre ever since.

This last Sunday was the long awaiting premiere of True Blood, which is based on the Sookie Stackhouse books. By now it's pretty well known that Hollywood usually ruins books when they turn them into movies or TV shows. I stopped getting my hopes up about such things when they turned Blood and Chocolate into movie. I was horrified at how much the ripped apart that book.

I have to admit with True Blood I was a bit hopeful and couldn't wait to see it. But you know it wasn't so bad. I actually really liked it. They did change a few things, but that is to be expected. At first I didn't like who they cast as Sookie & Bill. But after watching it twice now, for me at least they pulled it off. I'm looking forward to watching the next episode. I believe the books are better, the show isn't perfect but I'm still gonna enjoy watching it every week. If you haven't read the books, I highly recommend them. They are great reads.

Sookie Stackhouse series:
Dead Until Dark
Living Dead in Dallas
Club Dead
Dead to the World
Dead as a Doornail
Definitely Dead
All Together Dead
From Dead to Worse
Dead & Gone (2009)

Author Website: http://www.charlaineharris.com/
Office Show Website: http://www.hbo.com/trueblood/

True Blood Tonight!

Don't forget True Blood Premieres Tonight (September 7th) on HBO

HBO has a free preview weekend going on. It's running September 5th-September 8th. :)



Links Related to the Show:

Offical Site: http://www.hbo.com/trueblood/

Tru Blood Beverage: http://trubeverage.com/

True Blood Wiki: http://truebloodwiki.hbo.com/?t=anon

True Blood TV: http://true-blood.tv/

[Review] - Spirits Unveiled

Title: Spirits Unveiled
Author: Amanda Cummings
Genre: Fantasy Romance/Erotica
Year: 2008

Summary: In a land where people carry within themselves an animal spirit lives four clans; Bear, Wolf, Hawk and Tiger. Darien, leader of the Wolf clan, finds himself captured and imprisoned by his enemy, the Bear clan. Emotionally battered her entire life, Raina, daughter of the Bear clan leader, fears a forced marriage to a horrid man looming in her future. A plan forms--free the prisoner in exchange for his protection to find her safety. Inexplicably drawn to each other, Darien struggles with his inner yearnings. They are from rival clans. Yet with every touch, every heated kiss, he is unable to deny what his body craves. Secrets and visions are revealed and hope lies within Darien and Raina if they can only embrace who they truly are, for the Spirits have destined the two to make right a terrible wrong that took place a thousand years ago.

Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book! Amanda has created very interesting new world. The world is described in great detail, but not overly so that it bores the reader. It's rich and exciting. Right away I became enthralled with Darien and Raina, they are everything an Alpha and heroine should be. If your looking for something new in fantasy I'd highly recommend this book.

Score: 5 Stars

Author Website: http://romancebookwyrm.blogspot.com/

Where to buy:
http://www.lulu.com/

End of Summer Contest ***Closed***

So it's time once again to clear some books off my shelf. Sadly I just don't have the room to keep them all. I have 7 different prizes up for grabs. Quite a few books, plus some other goodies I've put together for the contest. It's really easy to enter, just leave a comment on this post. At the end of the month I'll pick the winners. Below are pictures of the Prizes. Good Luck!

6 Books- Jessica Andersen's Nightkeepers, Carrie Vaughn's Kitty and the Silver Bullet, Ann Aguirre's Grimspace, Hotter Than Hell(anthology), Meredith Duran's The Duke of Shadows and Delilah Devlin's Into the Darkness.

6 Books- Christine Feehan's Wild Rain, Lynn Viehl's Twilight Fall, Allison Chase's Dark Obsession, First Blood(anthology), Patti O'Shea's In Twilight's Shadow and Amanda Ashley's Night's Kiss.

2 Borders Exclusives- A New Dawn: Essays about the Twilight Saga(edited by Ellen Hopkins) & Immortal: Love Stories with Bite(edited by P.C. Cast.

3 Nocturne Novels- Nancy Holder's Son of Shadows, Anna Leonard's the Night Serpent & Aftershock(anthology)

The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance(edited by Trisha Telep). Authors Include: Sherri Erwin, Caitlin R. Kiernan, Jenna Black, Jenna Maclaine, Raven Hart, Delilah Devlin, Keri Arthur, Kimberly Raye, Alexis Morgan, Lilith Saintcrow, C.T. Adams & Cathy Clamp, Susan Sizemore, Dina James, Colleen Gleason, Barbara Emrys, Savannah Russe, Shiloh Walker, Vicki Pettersson, Rebecca York, Rachel Vincent, Amanda Ashley, Karen Chance & Nancy Holder.

Twilight T-shirt, featuring the cast. On the back it says "When you can live forever, what do you live for?"

Box full of Author Goodies, there's alot more to this prize, everything couldn't fit in the picture. Authors include: Susan Stephens, Caitlyn Willows, Lucy Monroe, Joanne Rock, Cheryl Dragon, Ashleigh Raine, Karen Whiddon, Caridad Pineiro, Shayla Black, Janelle Denison, Susan Mallery, Amanda Cummings, Kat Martin, Dani Harper, Mia Romano, Lyda Joyce, Aline de Chevigny, Eliza Gayle, Maria V. Synder, Shiloh Walker, Kerrelyn Sparks, Yasmine Galenorn, J.C. Wilder, Katie MacAlister, Jo Davis, Meredith Duran, Lisa Cach, Janice Maynard, L. Shannon, Nancy Warren, Madeleine Oh, Shirley Tallman, Annette Blair Annie Marshall, Monica Burns, Julia London, MaryJanice Davidson, Alexa Darin, Dianne Castell, Nalini Singh, Karen Chance, Rosemary Laurey, Melissa Marr, Jeri Smith-Ready, Sophie Jordan/Sharie Kohler, Robin Leigh Miller, R.G. Alexander, Jenna Petersen, Carly Phillips, Bonnie Vanak, Kinley MacGregor, Jenna Black, Sharon Page, Eden Bradley, Syndey Croft, Cynthia Eden, Jeaniene Frost, Colleen Gleason, Bianca D'Arc & Adrian Phoenix.

***Books in this contest are both new and used books.

***If you post a comment as Anonynmous, please leave an email address so I can reach you incase you win one of the prizes. :)

Books I Read In August

All Souls Night- Jennifer Armintrout
5 Stars

Wages of Sin- Jenna Maclaine

5 Stars

Breaking Dawn- Stephenie Meyer

5 Stars

Acheron- Sherrilyn Kenyon

5 Stars

Cry Wolf- Patricia Briggs

4 Stars

When Twilight Burns- Colleen Gleason

5 Stars

Dreams Made Flesh- Anne Bishop

4 Stars

Winter Pleasures- Anya Bast

3 Stars

Spell of the Highlander- Karen Marie Moning

3 Stars

To Hell and Back- Lilith Saintcrow

4 Stars

The Time Paradox- Eoin Colfer

4 Stars

Into the Darkness- Delilah Devlin

4 Stars

Gifts- Stella and Audra Price

4 Stars

Sea Fever- Virginia Kantra

5 Stars

Claiming the Highlander- Kinley MacGregor

5 Stars

Night Life- Caitlin Kittredge

5 Stars

Lunewulf Law- Lorie O'Clare

5 Stars

Lover's Bite- Maggie Shayne

4 Stars

Vows of a Vampire- Ann Cory

2 Stars