August 2009- Reading List

The Eternal Kiss- Anthology
3 Stars

Angel's Pawn- Nalini Singh
3 Stars

Faefever- Karen Marie Moning
5 Stars

Heart of the Warlock- Lyn Armstrong
3 Stars

Twilight Guardian- R.G. Alexander
4 Stars

Mindhealer- Lilith Saintcrow
3 Stars

Vampire Knight Vol. 7- Matsuri Hino
5 Stars

Bad Moon Rising- Sherrilyn Kenyon
5 Stars

Shiver- Maggie Stefvater
5 Stars

Stone's Embrace- Delilah Devlin
4 Stars

Intertwined- Gena Showalter
4 Stars

The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker- Leanna Renee Hieber
4 Stars

Dragon Actually- G.A. Aiken
5 Stars

Run, Wolf- Keith Melton
3 Stars

Highland Rebel- Judith James
5 Stars

Lady of the Mountain- Lyn Armstrong
3 Stars

Greek Temptation- L.A. Day
3 Stars

Witch Hunter- Lyn Armstrong
4 Stars

Elements Unbound- Lorie O'Clare
3 Stars

Graceling- Kristin Cashore
5 Stars

Dreamfever- Karen Marie Moning
5 Stars

Receive Me Falling- Erika Robuck
5 Stars

Lament- Maggie Stiefvater
4 Stars

London For The Holiday- Stella and Audra Price
4 Stars


It's hard to believe it's the last day of August, the summer went by so fast. This month was pretty good. I had a lot of favorites. But Shiver, Graceling, Highland Rebel and Receive Me Falling are at the top of the list.

So far in September I have three events planned, make sure you stop by...

• September 1st- Catching Fire (Suzanne Collins) Giveaway
• September 10th- Monthly Contest
• September 20th- I'll be giving away 5 copies of Susan Kearney's Lucan
  

Rating System:
5 Stars- Amazing- A Must Read
4 Stars- Loved It
3 Stars- Liked It
2 Stars- It was Ok
1 Stars- Didn't Like It

Highland Rebel Winners

And the winners are....

HEATHER D

KAINANI


Congrats Ladies!!! Send your mailing information here:
annasbookblog@gmail.com


If any are interested... these were the Highlanders mentioned the most:
1. Gerard Butler
2. Jamie Fraser
3. Duncan MacLeod
4. Dageus MacKeltar
5. Drustan MacKeltar

Possession Winners

And the winners are....

MELISSA

CECILE

Send your mailing information here:
annasbookblog@gmail.com

Congrats Ladies!

In My Mailbox [18]

Here's what I got this past week...

Thanks to Lessard PR and Jessica Andersen

Thanks to Hannah Friedman

Amazon & PBS

Books I found at Walmart...

Guest Blog & Giveaway with Judith James

I'm very excited to have Judith James as my Guest today. Her latest book Highland Rebel is set to release September 1st. I'm her next stop on the book tour, today she'll be talking about her love of Scotland. Judith thanks for stopping by. :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks very much for inviting me, Anna! I mentioned in a previous post that my love of Scotland, at least in centuries past, was more a love of the Highlands. I talked about the wild and rugged scenery and how I thought of it as almost a character itself as well as a metaphor for the “heroes’ journey” as well as the difference between the Highlanders and their supposedly more civilized neighbours. There were two things I didn’t mention. One is Scotch whisky. There’s a story about this particular blend I’ll be talking about on a blog on writing and magical thinking, but for now I’ll be curious if anyone who’s read the book can tell me why it’s special. I should add that I learned that ALL Scotch whisky is special. Not only because it comes from Scotland but because whisky made in the Highlands is unique. Here is a little snippet from Highland Rebel that explains why.

“They descended past tumbling rocks, peat bogs, and rolling wooded hills into a valley that come summer would ripen with barley. When malted and combined with the peaty water from the burns that flowed down from the surrounding mountains and hills, it would capture the unique flavour and aroma of her beloved home, becoming uisge beatha, the potent whisky that served as medicine, comfort, and currency upon which her family’s fortune had been made.”

Lowland malt whiskies are generally lighter than their Highland counterparts and more uniform in flavour, while whisky from the Highlands has a distinctive flavour based on the peat bogs and water in the area in which it’s produced. A true connoisseur can tell where a Highland whisky was distilled by its smell and taste.



The other very important thing I didn’t mention was Men in kilts The Highland Boundary Fault divided much more than geographies areas. It separated based on culture, religion, language and dress. The Highlanders preserved Gaelic speech, customs and clothing, centuries after the Anglicization of the lowlands. The kilt was strictly highland dress until well into the 1800’s. In many respects Highlanders had more in common with the Gaelic Irish than the Scots who lived to the South. With a few noticeable exceptions, the 17th century Lowland Scots were a serious minded moralistic people with a somewhat rigid approach to government and religion as reflected by a severe form of Presbyterianism and a strict adherence to Kirk (church) law.

Roman Catholicism remained strong in parts of the Highlands, as did Anglicanism, and unlike their farming and city dwelling neighbors in the Lowlands, who had largely moved to a tenant based land system, the Highlanders were still bound by loyalty to their clans. They were looked on by both the Lowland Scots and the English as “The wild Irish” It was a common prejudice that while Lowlanders were of “domestic and civilized habits” the Highlanders were “a savage and untamed nation, independent, warlike and rude.” Warrior clans were a threat to most central governments and kilts and other symbols of Highland culture were banned after the Jacobite rebellions in an attempt by King George II to suppress Highland culture. Reiving and raiding, independent warlike and proud, the Highlanders were in effect, the “bad boys’ of the British Isles, and we all love bad boys don’t we? There is a proper way to wear a great kilt or breacan and of course they have many uses making them ideal clothing for rough men in rough terrain.

I have included a small excerpt that illustrates one such use below from my book, Highland Rebel (in stores September 1, 2009!):

“You’re not paying attention to me, are you?”
“Eh? What’s that? Sorry, love, I didn’t hear you. Wasn’t paying attention. I had my eyes on your perfectly formed arse.”
Catherine fixed him with a glare worthy of a Scottish schoolmaster. “This is serious business, Jamie. If you’re to pass for a Highlander you’ve got to get the kilt just so.”

“Bah! You’re a hoydenish vixen. You just want to ogle my knees.”
“Nonsense! I’m sure you’ll find the… ah…freedom and…utility very appealing once you try it on.”
“You mean you think I’ll like the feel of the family jewels waving free?”
Blushing, she spread both great kilts on the ground. “One lays down on it like so. Oh stop grinning, Jamie, and do try.”
She was so earnest and eager in her lesson that he hadn’t the heart to tell her he’d worn a kilt a time or two before. He watched with solemn attention as she showed him how to roll it around his hips and then drape the upper half across his shoulder.
She surveyed him critically, nodding her approval, and he seized her by her hips and pulled her up against him hard. “Ah yes, my love. I see now exactly what you mean.”
His new kilt bulged in an unseemly manner and Catherine had no trouble imagining what lurked beneath. She felt a stab of excitement and didn’t object when he grasped the back of her head with one hand and pulled her mouth to his. Blushing crimson, eyes tightly shut, she ran a hand down his hips to his thighs, flipping aside his kilt and reaching underneath.
It was another hour at least before they left.

© Judith James, Sourcebooks Casablanca, 2009

Well that’s certainly one reason I love Scotland. I’m happy to answer any questions and mine to you is- Who is your favorite Highlander?

Highland Rebel by Judith James,
in stores September 1, 2009!

Amidst the upheaval of Cromwell's Britain, Jamie Sinclair's wit and military prowess have served him well. Leading a troop in Scotland, he impetuously marries a captured maiden, saving her from a grim fate.

A Highlands heiress to title and fortune, Catherine Drummond is not the woman Jamie believes her to be. When her people effect her rescue, and he cannot annul the marriage, Jamie goes to recapture his hellcat of a new wife...

In a world where family and creed cannot be trusted, where faith fuels intolerance and war, Catherine and Jamie test the bounds of loyalty, friendship, and trust...

About the Author
Judith James has worked as a legal assistant, trail guide, and counselor. Living in Nova Scotia, her personal journey has taken her to the Arctic and the West Coast. Her writing combines her love of history and adventure with her keen interest in the complexities of human nature and the heart's capacity to heal. For more information about Judith, please visit
http://judithjamesauthor.com


Judith, thanks again for coming and sharing your love of Scotland with us!!

GIVEAWAY: Courtesy of Sourcebooks, there are two copies of Highland Rebel up for grabs. To enter leave a comment along with your email address and don't forget to mention who your favorite Highlander is. Open to U.S. & Candada. I'll announce the winners on August 31st Good Luck!

[Review] - Receive Me Falling by Erika Robuck

Title: Receive Me Falling
Author: Erika Robuck
Genre: Historical Fiction
Year: 2009

I received this book for review.

Summary: Every slave story is a ghost story.

The haunting words of an historian and former cane worker on the Caribbean island of Nevis, launch Meghan Owen on her quest to unlock the secrets of an abandoned sugar plantation and its ghosts.

After Meg’s parents die in a car accident on the night of her engagement party, she calls off her wedding, takes leave of her job in Annapolis, and travels to land she’s inherited on Nevis. A series of discoveries in an old plantation house on the property, Eden, set her on a search for the truth surrounding the shameful past of her ancestors, their slaves, and the tragedy that resulted in the fall of the plantation and its inhabitants.

Through a crushing phone call with her lawyer, Meg learns that her father’s estate was built on stolen money, and is being sued by multiple sources. She is faced with having to sell the land and plantation home, and deal with the betrayal she feels from her deceased father.

In alternating chapters, the historical drama of the Dall family unfolds. Upon the arrival of British abolitionists to the hedonistic 19th century plantation society, Catherine Dall is forced to choose between her lifestyle and the scandal of deserting her family. An angry confrontation with Catherine’s slave, Leah, results in the girl’s death, but was it murder or suicide?

Hidden texts, scandalous diaries, antique paintings, and confessional letters help Meghan Owen uncover the secrets of Eden and put the ghosts to rest.


Thoughts: Meg's parents die on the night of her engagement party. Afterward she learns she now owns an old plantation in the Caribbean called Eden. Soon after learning this leaves for Nevis. Once there she finds out that the land and plantation is shrouded in ghost stories and dark secrets... The story moves back an forth between present day and the 1800's.

Receive Me Falling is an enthralling read, that captivates the reader from page one. I very much enjoyed this story. Both Meg & Catherine take the reader on journey of love, friendship, heartbreak and freedom. For me, the story was very moving. It was beautifully written and a pure joy to read. I enjoyed it alot more than I thought I would. I highly recommend checking this book out.

Favorite Quote: "History reveals itself in small ways. What we know of the past is a mere glimpse. We postulate, make connections that aren't necessarily appropriate, and run with it. The body of history is so much more than we can ever see."
~David, pg 176

Score: 5 Stars

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

Interview/Giveaway with Devyn Quinn

Today my guest is Devyn Quinn. Her latest book Possession comes out today. She's been nice enough to answer some questions.

Hi Devyn, Welcome Anna's Book Blog! Glad to have you here. To start off can you tell the readers a little about yourself?

DQ: Not much to tell, LOL. I live in a small farming community on the Texas/New Mexico border, which is a whole lot of nothing going nowhere. Since there's not anything to do except go to Wal-Mart, I try to entertain myself by writing books.

Possession is your newest release, Can you tell us a little about it?

DQ: Possession is the story of Kendra Carter, a woman who is trying to put her life back together after the terrible accident that claimed her father's life and left her physically and emotionally scarred. But things are not as they seem around her, especially when her brother purchases a rare book on demons. Much to her dismay, one seems to latch onto Kendra, dragging her in and out of reality. It's hard to tell. Is the demon real..or is Kendra losing her mind?

When did you start writing? How did you decide what to write?

DQ: I've been writing off and on for 20 years. I always knew I wanted to write the old fashioned Gothic, which today are called paranormal romances.

When your not writing what kind of books do you like to read? Do you have any favorite authors, that are must reads?

DQ: I read History and Biographies. Since I write fiction, I prefer to stay away from other author's work, especially those in the same genre. A few of my favorite authors are the late Frank McCourt. I loved Angela's Ashes and read it several times. Usually the author doesn't matter. I mostly go by subject. I read everything from American History to bios of Hollywood actors, directors, etc... If a person has led an interesting life, I'll read the book.

How much research do you put into each book you write? Do you have a process you stick with?

DQ: I research the basics of a subject enough so that it sounds logical on the page to the reader. I'm not going to pretend to be an expert in any field, because the persons who are will usually catch on that you don't know what you're talking about. I spent a lot of time building the book in my mind. I may go several months without writing a word, but I'm constantly thinking, noting and getting to know the characters who will populate my fictional world.

How did you come up with the idea for Possession? Did any real life people inspire any of the characters?

DQ: I admit right off that I stole the idea from the Johnny Depp movie, The 9th Gate. The idea of the book Depp searched for in the movie really caught my interest. Though I changed to details to creator my book, Servants of the Realm of Shadows, none of it would have happened if I hadn't saw that movie and got to thinking "what if..."


What are 3 things that are "must haves" for you when you sit down to write a new book?

DQ: A lot of Red Bull, sharp pencils and paper for making notes.

I'm a big vampire fan and loved your books Sins of the Flesh & Sins of the Night. Do you have a favorite vampire(s)?

DQ: The first author who seriously inspired me to write vampire fiction was Stephen King. His Salem's Lot was awesome, my bible of the perfect vampire novel. As for movie vamps, well I was a huge fan of Barnabas Collins when I was a kid and still own all the original Dark Shadows paperbacks. I am also gaga for Frank Langella's 1980 Dracula. Gary Oldman runs a close second. :)


What is up next? If you can tell us a little about your next project.

DQ: I am currently contracted to write a three book paranormal romance series for NAL's Signet Eclipse imprint. Siren's Call is scheduled for an Aug 2010 release, the first book in my "Dark Tides" mermaid series.




<-------- 2009="" coming="" november="" span="" style="font-size: 130%;">

Giveaway: Devyn has offered to give away two copies of Possession. To enter just leave a comment along with an email address. Open to All. I'll announce the winners on August 30th.

[ARC Review] - Highland Rebel

Title: Highland Rebel
Author: Judith James
Genre: Historical Romance
Year: 2009

I received this book for review from Sourcebooks.

Summary: His wit and intoxicating good looks have served him well...

Jamie Sinclair, abandoned and despised at an early age, learned quickly to fend for himself. Now he looks forward to finishing one last mission for his king and finally collecting his reward...

Raised to rule her clan, She'll stop at nothing to Protect her own.

Daughter of a Highland laird, heiress to a title, a fortune, and vast properties, Catherine Drummond rides fearlessly into battle against the English forces sent to quell the Scots' rebellion...

When Catherine falls in to the hands of vicious mercenaries, Jamie impulsively marries her on the spot to save her from a grim fate. But in a world where princes cannot be trusted and faith fuels intolerance, hatred, and war, no good deed goes unpunished...

Thoughts: They say opposites attract, and that stands true in this book. Both Jamie and Cat were sure of their destinies and even more sure they had nothing to do with being together. But fate had other plans.

Highland Rebel is the second novel from Judith James. This story takes place in Scotland, England & Ireland during the late 1600's. Wonderfully written. It's captivating and heart wrenching. I was sucked into Jamie and Cat's world. Both having interesting personalities. It was fun seeing them fight, play their games and eventually come together.

What I love about reading a Judith James book is her attention to detail. Always thorough and grabs the reader. The research she does, shines through in her writing. Not only do you enter a different world, but you feel as if you've been transported there.

Score: 5 Stars

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

Other titles by Judith James:
Broken Wing

***Make sure you stop back on August 27th, Judith James will be here to Guest Blog

Graceling

I just finished reading Graceling and I absolutely loved it. It wasn't a book I planned on reading, but I found the cover very interesting. For this one I listened to it on audio. It had a full cast of narrators, that help bring the story to life. I wish all audio's were narrated with a full cast. This book was a wonderful read with an intriguing plot and with characters you can't help but love. I highly recommend this one.

Book Description:

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight--she's a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king's thug. When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po's friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace--or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone

Fire is to be released on October 5th.
It is a companion/prequel to Graceling

Book Description:

She is the last of her kind...

It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. In King City, the young King Nash is clinging to the throne, while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. War is coming. And the mountains and forest are filled with spies and thieves. This is where Fire lives, a girl whose beauty is impossibly irresistible and who can control the minds of everyone around her.

Book 3: Bitterblue- TBA
Author Website- Kristin Cashore

September Book Releases

1st
What A Dragon Should Know- G.A. Aiken
Must Love Hellhounds- Anthology
Catching Fire- Suzanne Collins
Never Cry Werewolf- Heather Davis
Time Raiders: The Slayer- Cindy Dees
Navajo Night- Carol Ann Didier
Storm of Shadows- Christina Dodd
The Memoirs of Mary Queen of Scots- Carolly Erickson
The Prince of Frogs- Annaliese Evans
Dark Slayer- Christine Feehan
Barley Bewitched- Kimberly Frost
Never Love a Lawman- Jo Goodman
Pleasure and Purpose- Megan Hart
Moon Kissed- Michele Hauf
Mortal Seductions- Allyson James
Highland Rebel- Judith James
Witch Craft- Caitlin Kittredge
Lord of Sin- Susan Krinard
Heat Seeker- Lora Leigh
Dawn of Darkness- Annette McCleave
Rosemary and Rue- Seanan McGuire
Her Chosen Wolf- Rene Michaels
Walking Dead- C.E. Murphy
Intertwined- Gena Showalter
Seduced by a Stranger- Eve Silver
Sea Glass- Maria V. Snyder
To Tempt the Wolf- Terry Spear
Time for Eternity- Susan Squires
Trick of the Light- Rob Thurman

2nd
Cat Nap- Shelley Munro

4th
Gypsy Nights- Mandy M. Roth

7th
Fangs & Foxes- Mardi Ballou
Graceling- Kristin Cashore (paperback)

8th
The Egyptian Demon's Keeper- Ciar Cullen
Dance of the Dragon- Cathryn Fox
Blade's Edge- Val Roberts

9th
Feather Possessed- Lorie O'Clare
Kitten- Amanda Sidhe

14th
Once a Witch- Carolyn MacCaullough

15th
Forest Born- Shannon Hale
Night Pleasures- Sherrilyn Kenyon (hardcover)
Cleopatra's Daughter- Michelle Moran
Primal Hunger- Sydney Somers

17th
Dreamdark: Silksinger- Laini Taylor

18th
Forbidden: The Sacrifice- Samantha Sommersby

22nd
The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance Vol. 2- Anthology
Wicked All Day- Liz Carlyle
Gone with the Monster- Lila Dubois
Tempt Me At Twilight- Lisa Kleypas
Lion's Pride- Teresa Noelle Roberts

28th
Of Crimson & Collars- Stella and Audra Price

29th
Doubleblind- Ann Aguirre
On the Edge- Ilona Andrews
Hot for the Holidays- Anthology
Queene of Light- Jennifer Armintrout
Frostbitten- Kelley Armstrong
My Wicked Vampire- Nina Bangs
Cursed to Death- L.A. Banks
Seduce Me in Shadows- Shayla Black
Soulless- Gail Carriger
Elphame's Choice- P.C. Cast
A Lady of Persuasion- Tessa Day
Dawnbreaker- Jocelynn Drake
Dark Curse- Christine Feehan (paperback)
Darker Angels- M.L.N. Hanover
Born of Night- Sherrilyn Kenyon
Liar- Justine Larbalestier
Blood Bargain- Maria Lima
The Hunt- Anne Marsh
Chosen by Desire- Kate Perry
The Renegade Hunter- Lynsay Sands
Covet- J.R. Ward
Big Bad Wolf- Christine Warren
A Highlander's Temptation- Sue-Ellen Welfonder



***If I missed any releases, let me know and I'll post them.
***Keep in mind dates are subject to change

In My Mailbox [17]

Here is what I got in the past week...

Thanks to Lea & Devyn Quinn

Thanks to Barbara

These I got at Borders. I don't normally get to chance to go to Borders twice in month, so when I was near by one yesterday I jumped on the chance.

[Trailer] - Mr. Darcy, Vamypre

You can read my review of Mr. Darcy, Vampyre HERE

Harlequin Winners & Some Exciting News *updated*

And the winners are:

booklover1335
I Heart Book Gossip
Blodeuedd
Tracy
Book Reviews By Bobbie

Congrats to all the winners! Send your mailing information to
annasbookblog@gmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I found some exciting news in my inbox. Anna's Book Blog has been nominated for a BBAW Award for Best Romance Blog . Now I have to pick 5 posts to submit to the judges, that is gonna be a hard decision. Very nice surprise! :)

I have also been nominated for Most Extravagant Giveaways. This has just blown me over a bit. I wasn't expecting to get nominated. Thanks to everyone who nominated me.

[Series Spotlight] - Fever

Book 1
Book Description:

MacKayla Lane’s life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other words, she’s your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman. Or so she thinks…until something extraordinary happens.

When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death–a cryptic message on Mac’s cell phone–Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister’s killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed–a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae….

As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister’s death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysterious Jericho, a man with no past and only mockery for a future. As she begins to close in on the truth, the ruthless Vlane–an alpha Fae who makes sex an addiction for human women–closes in on her. And as the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac’s true mission becomes clear: find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all-powerful Dark Book–because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control of the very fabric of both worlds in their hands. . . .

Book 2
Book Description:

Mackayla Lane's ordinary life underwent a complete makeover when she landed on Ireland's shores and was plunged into a dark, deadly realm unlike any she ever imagined. In her fight to stay alive, Mac must find the Sinsar Dubh—a million-year old book of the blackest magic imaginable that holds the key to power over both the worlds of Fae and Man. Pursued by Fae assassins, surrounded by mysterious figures she knows she cannot trust, Mac finds herself torn between two deadly and irresistible men: V'lane, the insatiable Fae, who can turn sensual arousal into an obsession for any woman; and the ever-inscrutable Jericho Barrons, a man as alluring as he is mysterious.

For centuries, the shadowy realm of the Fae has coexisted with that of humans. Now the walls between the two are coming down, and Mac is the only thing that stands between them...

Book 3
Book Description:

He calls me his Queen of the Night. I'd die for him. I'd kill for him, too. When MacKayla Lane receives a torn page from her dead sister's journal, she is stunned by Alina's desperate words. And now MacKayla knows that her sister's killer is close. But evil is closer. And suddenly the sidhe-seer is on the hunt: For answers. For revenge. And for an ancient book of dark magic so evil, it corrupts anyone who touches it.

Mac's quest for the Sinsar Dubh takes her into the mean, shape-shifting streets of Dublin, with a suspicious cop on her tail. Forced into a dangerous triangle of alliance with V'lane, an insatiable Fae prince of lethally erotic tastes, and Jericho Barrons, a man of primal desires and untold secrets, Mac is soon locked in a battle for her body, mind, and soul.

As All Hallows Eve approaches and the city descends into chaos, as a shocking truth about the Dark Book is uncovered, not even Mac can prevent a deadly race of immortals from shattering the walls between worlds with devastating consequences.

Out Today!!

Book 4
Book Description:

MacKayla Lane lies naked on the cold stone floor of a church, at the mercy of the erotic Fae master she once swore to kill. Far from home, unable to control her sexual hungers, MacKayla is now fully under the Lord Master's spell. In the New York Times bestselling author Karen Marie Moning's stunning new novel, the walls between human and Fae worlds have come crashing down. And as Mac fights for survival on Dublin's battle-scarred streets, she will embark on the darkest-and most erotically charged-adventure of her life.

He has stolen her past, but MacKayla will never allow her sister's murderer to take her future. Yet even the uniquely gifted sidhe-seer is no match for the Lord Master, who has unleashed an insatiable sexual craving that consumes Mac's every thought-and thrusts her into the seductive realm of two very dangerous men, both of whom she desires but dares not trust.

As the enigmatic Jericho Barrons and the sensual Fae prince V'lane vie for her body and soul, as she rallies the sidhe-seers to fight an impossible battle, and the power of the Dark Book weaves its annihilating path through the city, Mac's greatest enemy delivers a final challenge...

It's an invitation Mac cannot refuse, one that sends her racing home to Georgia, where an even darker threat awaits. With her parents missing and the lives of her loved ones under siege, Mac is about to come face-to-face with a soul-shattering truth-about herself, and about the world she thought she knew.

Shadowfever- Book 5 TBA

http://www.karenmoning.com/

Quickie Giveaway - A Gift from Harlequin

Tell Harlequin has sent me 5 copies of The Italian's Inexperienced Mistress by Lynne Graham to giveaway. To enter leave a comment on this blog. I'll pick the winners tomorrow. Open to All!

If you are interested in becoming a Harlequin Ambassador... Join Here

Book Description:

When Angelo Riccardi sought revenge Gwenna Hamilton added another, delicious dimension. Innocent and pretty, she had no chance when the Italian tycoon offered her the devil's bargain: pay for her father's freedom with her body.

In her naiveté, Gwenna thought that Angelo would tire of her and her innocence very quickly. But he had more in mind than just one night…

August Contest Winners

And the winners are...

Donna(Fantasy Dreamer)
Staked
Norse Code

Amy
Crouching Vampire, Hidden Fang
Ellora's Cavemen: Seasons of Seduction Vol. 1

Kris
At Love's Command
Shameless Embraces

Renee
Dirty
Vulnerable

Christine
The Magic Knot
Strange Brew

You have until August 21st to claim your prize. Send your mailing information to annasbookblog@gmail.com

[Review] - Run, Wolf

Title: Run, Wolf
Author: Keith Melton
Series: Nightfall Wolf Clan
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Year: 2009

I received this book for review from the author.

Summary: One choice means heartbreak. The other, death.

Leah Kendrick is guilty of only one crime: loving her human mate, Tom, enough to give him the gift of The Bite. The Pack council is merciless, and the punishment swift. In an instant everything she’s ever known is ripped away, and they’re turned out into the long winter with nothing. No money, no car, and no protection from a variety of creatures who’d like nothing more than to take down a lone wolf.

Friendless and broke, they form a daring plan to take back what’s theirs and chase safety north. But the Pack has other ideas. And with time running out it’s about to call their bluff…

Warning: Contains savage werewolf combat, defiant love, graphic violence/language/sex, kangaroo trials and unrepentant criminal havoc.

Available in e-book format HERE on August 25th

Thoughts: Leah, a wolf and member of the Blackstone Wolf clan. She has broken the number one rule by taking a human as a mate. She's about to learn just how harsh her world can be...

If your looking for a good werewolf story, give this one a try. This was an entertaining novella that I really enjoyed. Run, Wolf has intense fighting scenes and sexy interludes. This is good beginning to a new series.

Score: 3 Stars

Author Website: http://www.keithmelton.net/

Other title by Keith Melton:
Blood Vice
e-book format can be bought HERE
[Coming to paperback December 1, 2009]

[Review] - The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber

Title: The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker
Author: Leanna Renee Hieber
Series: Strangely Beautiful
Genre: Historical Romance/Paranormal
Year: 2009 (August 25th)

I received this book for review from the author.

Summary: What fortune awaited sweet, timid Percy Parker at Athens Academy? Considering how few of Queen Victoria’s Londoners knew of it, the great Romanesque fortress was dreadfully imposing, and little could Percy guess what lay inside. She had never met the powerful and mysterious Professor Alexi Rychman, knew nothing of the growing shadow, the Ripper and other supernatural terrors against which his coterie stood guard. She knew simply that she was different, haunted, with her snow-white hair, pearlescent skin and uncanny gifts. But this arched stone doorway offered a portal to a new life, an education far from the convent—and an invitation to an intimate yet dangerous dance at the threshold of life and death.

Thoughts: The Guard protects the mortals of London from the supernatural. A prophecy states that a seventh will join them in their battle and that she will bring balance.

I really enjoyed Miss Percy Parker. She is a lovable and endearing character, very unique. I found it easy to relate to her. Percy looks different from all her peers, which makes her shy and not very confident. Most of the time she tries to hide herself, that is until she encounters Professor Rychman.

While the title might seem a bit long for some, I absolutely love it. Strangely Beautiful describes Percy Parker perfectly.

A hauntingly good tale, beautifully written. Leanna Renee Hieber has created a dark and magical London. Full of the unexpected. I found both the characters and world compelling. I'm looking forward to what book two will bring.

Score: 4 Stars

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

Other titles by Leanna Renee Hieber:
Dark Nest

In My Mailbox [16]

Here's what I got in the past week....

Thanks to Michelle G

Thanks to Erika Robuck & Bostick Communications

Thanks to Leanna Renee Hieber & Dorchester Publishing

From PBS & Amazon

[ARC Review] - Intertwined

Title: Intertwined
Author: Gena Showalter
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Year: 2009

I received this book for review from Harlequin Teen.

Summary: Aden Stone has four human souls living inside him. One can time travel, One can raise the dead. One can tell the future. One can possess another human.

With no other family and a life spent in and out of institutions, Aden and the souls have become friends. But now they're causing him all kinds of trouble. Like, he'll blink and suddenly he's a younger Aden, reliving the past. One wrong move, and he'll change the future. Or he'll walk past a total stranger and know how and when she's going to die. He's over it. All he wants is peace.

And then he meets a girl who quiets the voices. Well, as long as he's near her. Why? Mary Ann Gray is his total opposite. He's a loner; she has friends. He doesn't care what anyone things; she tries to make everyone happy. And while he attracts the paranormal, she repels it. For her sake he should stay away. But it's too late...

Somehow, they share an inexplicable bond of friendship. A bond about to be tested by a werewolf shape-shifter who wants Mary Ann for his own and a vampire princess Aden can't resist. Two romances, both forbidden. Still the four will enter a dark underworld of intrigue and danger-but not everyone will come out alive...


Thoughts: Intertwined is the second book to be released from the new Harlequin Teen line. What drew me to this story was that Aden has four souls living within him. Something I hadn't come across before. I knew his story had to be very interesting.

What at first seems to be a boy meets girl type of story, really it is so much more. Especially when a vampire and werewolf are thrown into the mix. Intertwined was an exciting, fresh new world to delve into. And of course not to be missed is the wonderful wit of Ms. Showalter. She brings it to every book she writes, which never fails to put a smile my face.

Score: 4 Stars

Author Website: http://genashowalter.com/

Upcoming Releases:
The Darkest Whisper- August 25, 2009
Deep Kiss of Winter- October 13, 2009
Playing With Fire (Reissue)- October 27, 2009

Kreativ Award

Thanks to AmyC at Romance Book Wyrm for this award.

The Kreativ rules state that: Once you receive this award you are to list seven of your favorite things and then nominate seven other blogs.

My 7 Favorite Things:

1. Books/Book Shopping
2. Vampires
3. Going to the Movies
4. Blogging
5. Spending time up in Duluth on Lake Superior
6. Dragons
7. True Blood


Here are the blogs I'm nominating:

Closetwriter
The Happily Ever After
All I Want and More
Tracy's Place
Smexy Books
Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell
There's No Such Thing As Too Many Books

E Award

Thanks to AnimeJune from Gossamer Obsessions for this award. I didn't realize she read my blog. It always cool find these things out.

My turn, here are the blogs I'm giving this award to:

AmyC at Romance Book Wyrm

MichelleG at Michelle's Book Blog

Donna at Fantasy Dreamer's Ramblings

Barbara at Happily Forever After

Katiebabs at Babbling About Books and More

[Review] - Shiver

Title: Shiver
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Year: 2009

Summary: Grace has spent years watching the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf --her wolf-- watches back. He feels deeply familiar t her, but she doesn't know why.

Sam has lived two lives. As a wolf, he keeps the silent company of the girl he loves. And then, for a short time each year, he is human, never daring to talk to Grace ... until now.

For Grace and Sam, love as always been kept at a distance. But once it's spoken it cannot be denied. Sam must fight to stay human--and Grace must fight to keep him--even if it means taking on the scars of the past, the fragility of the present, and the impossibility of the future.

Thoughts: I bought Shiver on a whim. I had read several of the reviews, and it sounded pretty good so I picked it up. I finished it in about a day, I had such a hard time putting it down. I absolutely loved this book. It was sad seeing the book come to an end, but I'm glad to see there will be a book two.

Shiver was a non-stop ride and emotional driven. I really enjoyed the characters, the were very easy to relate to. To see Grace and Sam's love flourish was exciting and heart wrenching. Maggie Stiefvater has written a beautiful story, it's descriptive and very real. I think it's gonna appeal to alot of readers, but especially if your a fan of Young Adult Fantasy.

Score: 5 Stars

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

Other books by Maggie Stiefvater:
Lament
Ballad - coming October 2009
Shiver
Linger- Shiver #2- Fall 2010

In My Mailbox [15]

Here's watch arrived this past week...

Book Description:

There's a new vamp in town...

Dear Mom,

I might be a wee bit late for Cousin Missy’s wedding. It’s been a tough week. Turns out, my blind date from hell was literally from hell. Guy bit me. Next thing I know, I’m being chased all over the city by vampire hunters. And did I mention that I got fired, too?

Bright side-I met a man. Thierry de Bennicoeur. How great is that name? Anyway, he’s sexy, six-hundred years old, and a tad suicidal, but no one’s perfect, right? And we have a deal-he’s gonna show me the ropes of the vampire world, and I’m supposed to help him end his existence. Or maybe I’ll just try to convince him life is worth living – no small challenge with the mostly immortal, let me tell you. I’ll admit it’s a complicated relationship. But with any luck, I just might have a date for that wedding after all…

Hugs and Kisses,

Sarah

Book Description:

There's a new breed of soccer mom in town-with fangs.

Does drinking blood make me a bad mother? That's the question single mom Jessica Matthews faces when she wakes from a savage attack sucking on the thigh of Patrick O'Halloran, a super-hot Irish vampire who'd generously offered his femoral artery to save her from death...only to make her one of the undead.

Jessica can't rest until the beast that did this to her is caught. Meanwhile, she's having trouble committing to Patrick (in the vampire handbook, physical intimacy costs you several hundred years of being bound together) and keeping her kids in line.

Book Description:

The auburned-haired O'Connor women share a bond far deeper than their striking physical appearance. These courageous, high-spirited women all push against societal limits in this exciting historical, romantic novel that spans generations and countries from 13th-century Ireland to the excitement and mystery of 15th-century Prague.

It is said that as Cahira, daughter of the great Irish king Rory O'Connor, lay dying of a wound from a Norman blade, she beseeched God that others would follow her calling. To Kathleen O'Connor, Cahira's story was nothing more than a fable—until research divulged that the tale was true. As a stunned Kathleen realizes that she herself bears the mark of Cahira, she wonders if she is destined to continue the legacy.

To uncover the answers, Kathleen delves into the past to find the truth about the Heirs of Cahira O'Connor. It is a journey that carries her across generations, from the battlefields of 13th-century Ireland to the castles of 15th-century Prague. It is a past filled with peril, courage, vengeance, love, and sacrifice beyond anything she has ever known.

Book Shopping

Here is what I got at Borders....
(they didn't have Highland Obsession- shame on them, so I ordered it.)

Got these at Half-Price Books.... I got to the counter and my mom says I can't believe you found more books. I just laughed at the silly woman. LOL!

throuthehaze
was the first to post that I was born in 1976. Here's her prize.
Send your mailing info to annasbookblog@gmail.com

Thanks again for all the Birthday Wishes!!!

It's My Birthday!

Yep, another year old. Although I don't feel my age. Which I suppose is a good thing. ;) I'm treating my self to a a shopping trip today. Should be a good time. Thanks to all the birthday wishes over at Amy's. :))

Ok, here's a little fun.... The first person to comment with the year I was born in will win a small prize. Here is a clue.... I was a bi-centennial baby.

~~~~

My mom knows the way to my heart. LOL! These lovelies will come in handy today. :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I found this trailer last night at Literary Escapism . Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant! I didn't even know they were making a movie based on the series. But I can't wait to see it. The trailer looks amazing!

Upcoming Books from Stella & Audra Price

Knossos West- Book #3
August 10, 2009

Book Description: When Andy Derelle went to Las Vegas to enjoy a wedding he never thought he would be propositioned by one of the most notorious nests in the country to audition its female members for a possible mate. But there he was, with six females to choose from, females that were coveted by their own territory's men.

Fajer Copeland, the only non-venomous snake of the southwestern nest, and their most sought after beauty is not looking for a mate, and is fine with being alone. Until the night Andy shows up in her bedroom doorway.




Eververse Book #4
August 15, 2009

Book Description: Meanwhile, back in the Afterverse...

As the first General of the Conglacio and Head of the second house, Oscar pretty much keeps a low profile. He rules his family quietly and he watches the bastard prince, Gabe, for signs of him throwing Casha’s kingdom down the drain. As one of Casha’s closest confidantes, he’s dedicated to preserving the kingdom and returning the true heir to the throne.

Uriel, daughter of the third house of Conglacio, a beautiful and sexy creature, who had been coddled and protected most of her life, has a very special secret even she doesn’t know about. A meeting at the palace with the bastard prince brings Oscar into her limited world and her life gets turned upside down, for the better. Oscar, seeing the beauty, cannot figure out why she looks so familiar.


American Saytrs #1
September 28, 2009

Book Description: The world has many hidden races, ones that blend so seamlessly with humanity that we often forget we are not alone. Decadence in a time of simplicity, Passion and a new Caligula on earth. A satyrs passion knows no bounds.

With a society on par with humanity, The powerful rule with an iron fist. Taking what they will, Women, the source of life and power, are a thing to be cherished.

The New confederation lives and breathes the pleasures of the flesh, their ruling body, the four most powerful clans, Arcane, Tempest, Toloose and Rummer Set the precedence and laws. Each excelling in their own area of expertise, the clans are unrivaled.

A new age has begun. With the arrival of a convergence year, the most powerful of the clans princes is called home, and the balance of power is about to shift...


To learn more about Stella and Audra's other books check out their Website