Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Random Acts of Kindness- August 2011

Book Soulmates


Books I sent out:
Full Dark, No Stars- Stephen King

Wolfsbane- Andrea Cremer

Diana @ Books By Their Story
The Reckoning- Kelley Armstrong

Books I received:
Thank you ladies!
Early to Death, Early to Rise- Kim Harrison

Cheree @ Justified Lunacy sent
Forgive My Fins- Tera Lynn Childs

Kelsey @ Kelsey's Book Corner sent
Hunger- Karen E. Taylor

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

[Trailer + Giveaway] - Hades

Hades
By  Alexandra Adornetto


Out Now!

Bethany and Xavier are even closer since battling Jake Thorn and his evil influence (in Halo) and Beth and her angel siblings must still protect Venus Cove from the Dark Forces.

When a party game – a séance – inadvertently releases Jake from the Underworld, he disguises himself and tricks Beth into taking a ride on his motorcycle. When the highway opens up and swallows them, Beth learns too late that she’s now a prisoner in hell. What happens to angels there? As her archangel brother, Gabriel, her sister Ivy, Xavier, and her best friend, Molly search for her, Beth must weigh Jake’s bargaining for her freedom: one night with him, and she will be released back to Earth.
Can Jake be trusted in this wager? And is he also using Beth to engineer the fall of the archangel Gabriel? Xavier has already lost one love – when Jake tricks him into thinking that Bethany is dead, his grief and anger result in a betrayal that will leave Bethany – and readers – wondering if he is so good after all.

It will be up to Beth to use everything she’s learned about her powers as an angel – and about love – to free herself and those she loves from the clutches of Hades



Links to check out:
Alexandra Adornetto's Facebook Fan Page
Book Tour
Macmillan Book Page





GIVEAWAY:
Thanks to Zeitghost Media I have a copy of Hades to giveaway. To Enter leave a comment along with you email address. Open to U.S. & Canada. The winner will be announced on September 8th. Good Luck!

[Review] - Where Demons Fear To Tread

Title: Where Demons Fear To Tread
Author: Stephanie Chong
Series: The Company of Angels
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: August 23, 2011

I received this book for review from Planned TV Arts.

Summary: Fledgling guardian angel and yoga teacher Serena St. Clair dares enter Devil’s Paradise nightclub on a mission – to retrieve the wayward Hollywood “It Boy” she’s assigned to protect.  But she’s ambushed by the club’s owner, Arch demon Julian Ascher.  The most powerful demonic entity in Los Angeles, Julian is handsome as sin, a master of temptation who loves nothing more than corrupting pleasure-seeking humans.  He won’t release the lost soul Serena is supposed to guard.  Unless she accepts his dangerous wager…

After the disastrous way his human life ended, Julian vowed that no woman would get the better of him again.  Yet this sexy-sweet angel, smelling of fresh ocean air and happiness, triggers centuries-old feelings.  Now, their high-stakes game of seduction, where angels fall from grace and where demons fear to tread, will lead them either to an eternity in hell…or a deliciously hot heaven.

Thoughts: The L.A. night club was the last place she wanted to enter. But guardian angel Serena must enter to find her current charge. She is stopped in her tracks by Julian Ascher, demon and owner of Devil's Paradise.

All in all this was a good read. It took me a bit longer that normal to finish this book, and I think that was due to the pace. Now It just might have been me but, I found it to be a bit slow.  The cover really pulled me in to wanting to read this title, sadly I didn't love it as much as I wanted to.  The two main characters were intriguing - especially Julian.  Loved the danger and sensuality to the story. Luciana is also a character that seems very interesting and hopefully she'll get her own book.

Where Demons Fear To Tread is a story of danger, temptation and seduction. Angel and demon fans will want to give this one a peak.

Score: 3 Stars

Author Website: http://stephaniechong.com/

Upcoming Releases:
The Demoness of Walking Dreams- 2012

September Book Releases

1st
Never Been Bit- Lydia Dare
Tempted- Elisabeth Naughton
The Predicteds- Christine Seifert

5th
Shut Out- Kody Keplinger

6th
The Dragon Who Loved Me- G.A. Aiken
Must Love Lyans- Michele Bardsley
Ashes- Ilsa J. Bick
Demon Marked- Meljean Brook
Sweet Venom- Tera Lynn Childs
Midnight- Ellen Connor
Dark Predator- Christine Feehan
The Rift Walker- Clay & Susan Griffith
Never Enough- Megan Hart
Virtue and Vice- Megan Hart
Prowl the Night- Crystal Jordan
Vanish- Sophie Jordan
Shadowman- Erin Kellison
My Sister is a Werewolf- Kathy Love
One Salt Sea- Seanan McGuire
Wayfinder- C.E. Murphy
Mark of the Rose- Kate Pearce
Hellbent- Cherie Priest
Building Sanctuary- Moira Rogers (pbk)
Cipher- Moira Rogers
Shadow Sin- M.J. Scott
Archangel's Blade- Nalini Singh
The Fallen 3: End of Days- Thomas E. Sniegoski
The Hidden- Jessica Verday
A Touch of Magick- N.J. Walters

8th
Bloodborn- Karen Kincy
Witch Eyes- Scott Tracey

13th
Black Gold- Vivian Arend
Drink, Slay, Love- Sarah Beth Durst
Fateful- Claudia Gray
After Obsession- Carrie Jones & Steven E. Wedel
Dark Empress- Anitra Lynn McLeod
The Night Circus- Erin Morgensten
Wisdom Kiss- Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Dreamland- Alyson Noel
Dark Passage- M.J. Putney
New York to Dallas- J.D. Robb
Glow- Amy Kathleen Ryan

15th
Half-Blood- Jennifer L. Armentrout
Away- Teri Hall

20th
Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions- Kelley Armstrong & Melissa Marr
Dark of the Moon- Tracy Barrett
First Kill- Heather Brewer
Sacrifice- Laura J. Burns & Melinda Metz
The Girl of Fire and Thorns- Rae Carson
Cold Kiss- Amy Garvey
Where There's A Wolf, There's A Way- Lisi Harrison
Lord of Rage- Jill Monroe
Cast In Ruin- Michelle Sagara
Twilight Fulfilled- Maggie Shayne
Locked In Silence- Shiloh Walker
Goliath- Scott Westerfeld

27th
Darkness Unbound- Keri Arthur
Must Love Vampires- Heidi Betts
In Blood We Trust- Christine Cody
A Beautiful Dark- Jocelyn Davies
Cold Fire- Kate Elliott
The Mephisto Covenant- Trinity Faegan
The Faerie Ring- Kiki Hamilton
Bloodstone- Nancy Holzner
Alterant- Sherrilyn Kenyon & Dianna Love
The Vision- Jen Nadol
Sins of the Angels- Linda Poitevin
Ganymede- Cherie Priest
Maximum Witch- Jodi Redford
The Juliet Spell- Douglas Rees
Vampire Kisses: Graveyard Games- Ellen Schreiber & Xian Nu Studios
Sexiest Vampire Alive- Kerrelyn Sparks
Daughter of Smoke & Bone- Lani Taylor
If I Die- Rachel Vincent
Blood- K.J. Wignall
Riever's Heart- Renee Wildes

29th
The Name of the Star- Maureen Johnson

Monday, August 29, 2011

[ARC Review] - Shadowman

Title: Shadowman
Author: Erin Kellison
Series: Shadow
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: September 6, 2011

I received this book for review from the author.


Summary:  Ghosts
They haunt the halls of the Segue Institute, terrifying the living, refusing to cross over. But one soul is driven by a very different force.

Love
It survives even death. And Kathleen O'Brien swore she would return to those she was forced to leave too soon.

Shadowman
He broke every rule to have her in life; now he will defy the angels to find her in death.

The Gate
Forging it is his single hope of being reunited with his beloved, but through it an abomination enters the world. Leaving a trail of blood and violence, the devil hunts her too. Pursued through realms of bright fantasy and dark reality, Kathleen is about to be taken...

Thoughts: Kathleen O'Brien died while giving birth to her daughter, Talia. Never once getting to hold her child. Even with her weak heart, Kathleen has always been independent and strong. In death she vowed to find away back to her Talia & Shadowman.

I'm happy to see Shadowman and Kathleen get their own book. A great love story that has suffered much pain and  heartache.  If anyone deserves a HEA it's definitely them. Shadowman is dark, dangerous and beautiful. As always filled with intense action. A wonderful story. Although I loved the first book this latest story is my favorite in the series. I loved that reincarnation plays a part in the story, made the character unique and real.  If you lean more to dark fantasy romance you don't want to miss out on this series.

Score: 4 Stars

Author Website: http://erinkellison.com

Shadow Series:
Shadow Bound
Shadow Fall
Shadow Touch (enovella)
Shadowman

Saturday, August 27, 2011

In My Mailbox [119]


 In My Mailbox is a feature that was started over at The Story Siren. Each week we share what arrived in our mailboxes, bought or found in swaps or at the library.


Here is what I got this past week...



Added to my Kindle

Review:
The Temple- Heather Marie Adkins
Dragon's Oath- P.C. & Kristin Cast
The Renfield Syndrome- J.A. Saare
Fallen- Traci Slatton

Thank you to FSB Associates, Heather Marie Adkins, J.A. Saare, Macmillan Audio.

Paperback Swap Forums:
Shelter- Harlan Coben
Mistwood- Leah Cypess
Fateful- Claudia Gray
Firelight- Sophie Jordan

Bought:
Grace In Moonlight- Stephanie Julian
The Power of Six- Pittacus Lore
Vampire Academy (graphic novel)- Richelle Mead
Brightest Kind of Darkness- P.T. Michelle
Crossroads- Moira Rogers
Dark Taste of Rapture- Gena Showalter

What did you get this week?
Feel free to leave your IMM link in the comments.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Cover Discovery

Release Date: August 29, 2011


Release Date: November 29, 2011


Release Date: January 31, 2012


Release Date: February 7, 2012


I really enjoy this series about Jane Austen being a vampire, 
but this cover is not my favorite.
Release Date: February 28, 2012

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Waiting On Wednesday [30] - Demon Marked

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly post started by Breaking the Spine. A feature showcasing upcoming releases that are eagerly anticipated.

Definitely one of my favorite PNR series. So, excited there is a new release coming
out for this series. The world building is amazing. Every book sucks you in.


Title: Demon Marked
Series: The Guardians
Release Date: September 6, 2011

Book Description:
Nicholas St. Croix is familiar with the evil of demons. After his father’s death, a demon took over his mother’s body and raised him. Six years ago, his “mother” was responsible for the disappearance of the woman he loved, and Nicholas swore he’d find her—even if he had to go to Hell and back. Except she finds him first—and with one tormented kiss, he knows she too is a demon. Now he is determined to take his revenge…

Ash is a half-demon with no memory of her past or how she got to Hell. All she knows is that Nicholas St. Croix holds the key to her identity. And though he’s clearly drawn to her, Nicholas makes no secret of his distrust of her. Yet one kiss at a time, he breaks down her defenses as they battle an array of demons and Guardians. But is Ash’s greatest enemy the man at her side?

The Guardian Series: 
Falling For Anthony in Hot Spell
Demon Angel
Paradise in Wild Thing
Demon Moon
Demon Night
Thicker Than Blood in First Blood
Demon Bound
Demon Forged
Blind Spot in Must Love Hell Hounds
Demon Blood
Demon Marked (9/6)
Ascension (10/4)

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

[ARC Review] - Never Been Bit

Title: Never Been Bit
Author: Lydia Dare
Series: Regency Vampyre
Genre: Historical Paranormal Romance
Release Date: September 1, 2011

I received this book for review from Sourcebooks.

Summary:  The glittering world of high society is the playground for the rich, titled, and reluctantly undead...

Alec MacQuarrie's after-life has become an endless search for pleasure in an effort to overcome his shame and despair. Wandering through the seedy world of London's demimonde, he's changed into a dark and fearsome creature even he doesn't recognize.

But the ton is no match for one incorrigible young lady...
After watching each of her coven sisters happily marry, Sorcha Ferguson is determined to capture a supernatural husband of her very own. Then she finds herself embroiled in an atrocious scandal and has to bring to heel more mystical gentlemen than she knows what to do with.

Over his dead body is Alec going to allow this lovely, radiant innocent to throw herself away on an unworthy cad, but that leaves him responsible for her, and he's the worst monster of them all.

Thoughts: The vampyre tells her to stay away from the lycan. The lycan tells her to stay away from the vampyre. What is a girl to do? Neither of course.

Sorcha & Alec first appeared in Tall, Dark and Wolfish. While at the time I didn't give much thought on Alec - Sorcha stood out for me. She's absolutely charming. Innocent and sweet. And bless her heart she just wants a a lycan of her own. She is blunt and determined, which made me love her even more.  But fate had a different type of supernatural in mind for her.  Sorcha and recently turned vampyre, Alec make the perfect pairing.  Never Been Bit is a wonderfully engaging read, a great addition to the series.  I loved it and was sorry when it ended. Alec and Sorcha's story is both adorable and quite sensual.  I'm looking forward to more stories set in this world.

Score: 4 Stars

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

Westfield Wolves:
A Certain Wolfish Charm
Tall, Dark and Wolfish
The Wolf Next Door
The Taming of the Wolf

Regency Vampyres:
It Happened One Bite
In the Heat of the Bite
Never Been Bit

Monday, August 22, 2011

Interview with Kendare Blake


It's an absolute pleasure to welcome author and fellow Minnesotan, 
Kendare Blake to the blog today. :)

Hi Kendare, Welcome to Anna's Book Blog! I'm glad to have you here. To start off can you tell the readers a little about yourself?
Sure. Well…I grew up in Minnesota, so it’s cool to see a blogger from Pine City! I’ve lived in New York, London and now Washington, but I always wind up going back to Minnesota in between. It’s like getting called back to base, “That’s a ten four Big Chicken. Return to base”. It’s weird. I’m a big fan of Family Guy, Fringe and mayonnaise. It goes great on everything.

Anna Dressed In Blood is your latest release, can you tells us a little about it?
Anna Dressed in Blood is about a ghost hunter, Cas Lowood, and Anna Korlov, the dead girl the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood. She was murdered in 1958 and since then has haunted her old house, killing anyone who stumbles inside. Cas expects a usual kill. But Anna has no intention of going quietly.

When you’re not writing what kind of books do you like to read?
The best thing about being in between writing projects is that I get to read more. Read, read read. I am such an advocate. I enjoy a lot of philosophy. Right now I’m digging into Simone De Beauvoir’s THE SECOND SEX, and I don’t know how I’ve gone this long not reading it. I don’t stick to genres, but Joe Hill is great at horror, and Caitlin R Kiernan is always excellent at whatever it is that she does. Watch for her new book, THE DROWNING GIRL, then keep eyes peeled for her transition to YA. I do read YA, but if I name dropped all of them it’d eat up your blog. Oh yeah. Bret Easton Ellis. It’s mandatory to mention him whenever asked this question.

When you learned Anna Dressed In Blood was gonna be published, what was your first reaction?
Well, I was babysitting a sleeping child when I found out. Plus, my agent, Adriann Ranta, is very chill, so I think I said something like, “Really? That’s…That’s fantastic…Holy…Yay.” And then I listened with rapt attention as she told me the rest of the game plan, waiting for the other publishers to decide, etc, what would happen next, etc. Then I called the circle of friends, and of course no one answered their phone. So there was a lot of “Holy shit” texts. I think the only thing I told face to face was my friend’s Chihuahua. He smiled politely.

What are 3 things that are "must haves" for you when you sit down to write a book?
A self-imposed deadline. I work best under pressure, but only if it’s not real and only enforced by me. Second…a lack of procrastinatory activities. Once I start writing it isn’t a problem, but I procrastinate the beginning with the best of them. And third, a story that wants to be written. Because I’ve learned in the past that I just. Can’t. Force it.

How did you come up with your idea for Anna Dressed In Blood & did you find inspiration in anything or anyone while writing it?
Anna Dressed in Blood was born from the character of Anna. She’s the one I met first. Then it was Cas. Then it was the location of Thunder Bay. The rest flowed organically. Inspiration is a strange thing. I don’t have a conscious muse. And I don’t really understand where it all comes from.

Why YA? When you sat down to right this book, did you intend to write a young adult book?
I did. With my small press novel, SLEEPWALK SOCIETY, I didn’t know. The characters were college freshmen, an age group which I guess falls in limbo between YA and adult. No one really knew what to do with it. This time, and this story, was just suited to YA.

If you could give your lead characters one piece of advice, what would it be?
Hm. Interesting question, Anna. I don’t think Cas would take advice from me. But if he would, I’d probably tell him to develop his witchy side. He’s such a blunt instrument. And as for Anna, well, I know you live in an abandoned dilapidated house, but a rag and a little Lemon Pledge never hurt anyone.

I love the cover art, how well did they capture Anna on the cover? Is there anything you'd change about it?
I’m so glad you like it. I love it. Wouldn’t change a thing. Anna is captured so well, though I didn’t imagine her dress being quite so intricate and beautiful. They had some trouble with her hair, I guess, so I got to see versions where she looked like one of those Lucky Troll dolls, and Jessie from Team Rocket.

If you can, tell us what is up next?
Up next is the sequel! It should be released sometime in Summer 2012, as long as the world doesn’t end (I’ve got my eye on you, Mayans!). There’s also a secret project. But as of now it’s still secret.

Thanks so much for having me on the blog, Anna! I hope to get to meet you at the post-launch party at Scout & Morgan in Cambridge.
___________________________________________________________

ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD
by Kendare Blake
Coming August 30, 2011

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

And she, for whatever reason, spares his life.

Where To Buy:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | IndieBound



To learn more about Kendare and her books, check out her website.


***Attention Minnesota bloggers and readers Kendare will be coming home for a post-launch party. Here is the info:

On: September 24th @ 11:30AM
Where: Scout & Morgan Booksellers
            114 Buchanan St N
            Cambridge, MN 55008

Saturday, August 20, 2011

In My Mailbox [118]


  In My Mailbox is a feature that was started over at The Story Siren. Each week we share what arrived in our mailboxes, bought or found in swaps or at the library.

Here is what I got this past week...




Review:
Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish- Grace Burrowes
The Virtuoso- Grace Burrowes
Where Demons Fear to Tread- Stephanie Chong
The Hour of Dust and Ashes- Kelly Gay

Thank you to Harlequin, Planned TV Arts, Simon & Schuster and Sourcbooks.

R.A.K.:
Hunger- Karen E. Taylor
not pictured, look for my RAK post at the end of the month.

Received:
Guardian of the Dead- Karen Healey
Dead Iron- Devon Monk
Basilisk- Rob Thurman

Thank you to Michelle G.!

What did you get this week?
Feel free to leave your IMM link in the comments.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

[AudioBook Review] - Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Title: Retribution
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Narrator: Holter Graham
Series: Dark-Hunter
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: August 2, 2011

I received the audio format of the this title for review from Macmillan Audio.

Summary:  A hired gunslinger, William Jessup Brady lived his life with one foot in the grave. He believed that every life had a price. Until the day when he finally found a reason to live. In one single act of brutal betrayal, he lost everything, including his life. Brought back by a Greek goddess to be one of her Dark-Hunters, he gave his immortal soul for vengeance and swore he’d spend eternity protecting the humans he’d once considered prey.

Orphaned as a toddler, Abigail Yager was taken in by a family of vampires and raised on one belief- Dark-Hunters are the evil who prey on both their people and mankind, and they must all be destroyed. While protecting her adoptive race, she has spent her life eliminating the Dark-Hunters and training for the day when she meets the man who killed her family: Jess Brady.

Brought together by an angry god and chased by ancient enemies out to kill them both, they must find a way to overcome their mutual hatred or watch as one of the darkest of powers rises and kills both the races they’ve sworn to protect.

Thoughts: Jess Brady must find the human who is taking out Dark-Hunters. He never expected it to be Abigail, thinking she was long since dead.  He especially didn't expect her to be connected to the Apollites. With the impending apocalypse they must set aside their hatred and find a way to work together if they want to stay alive.

Loved this story! Ever since Jess 'Sundown' Brady made his first appearance in Dance with the Devil, I've been hoping he'd get his own book. Retribution is a rip-roaring adventure of monsters, plagues and romance.  Both Jess & Abby have endured such heartache, it's quite a miracle they found each other.  I loved that there is definitely a different feel to this story compared to the other books.  Once again Kenyon has expanded her Dark-Hunterverse and made it much more than it was. Which makes it even more exciting to spend time in.

This was my first time listening to an audio of a Dark-Hunter book and I really liked it. Retribution is narrated by Holter Graham.  While not my favorite narrator Mr. Graham did a lovely job bringing the story to life, and an excellent interpretation of Sundown Brady.

Score: 5 Stars

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

Upcoming Releases:

Alterant (Belador #2)- September 27, 2011
The Guardian (Dream-Hunter #5)- November 1, 2011
Infamous (Chronicles of Nick #3)- March 13, 2012
Born of Silence (The League #5)- April 15, 2012
Time Untime (Dark-Hunter/Hellchaser) August 2, 2012
Darkness Within (Lords of Avalon #3)- January 15, 2013

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Winners - Descended By Blood Bookmarks

and the winners are...







Congrats! Please send your mailing
information here:
annasbookblog@gmail.com
You have 5 days to claim your prize.

All giveaway winners are chosen through Random.org

Winners - Plain Fear: Forsaken

and the winners are...



Congrats! Please send your mailing
information here:
annasbookblog@gmail.com
You have 5 days to claim your prize.

All giveaway winners are chosen through Random.org

Monday, August 15, 2011

[ARC Review] - Descended By Blood + Giveaway

Title: Descended by Blood  
Author: Angeline Kace
Series: Vampire Born Trilogy
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: August 26, 2011

I received this book for review from the author.

Summary:  Brooke Keller is a high school junior who has never spent much time living in one place. She is finally in a town long enough to almost snag the boy of her dreams, until her life is threatened after killing a fanged man in his attempt to kidnap her.

Brooke begins a dangerous journey in an effort to find out who is after her and how to stop them. Thrown into a world with powerful and prejudiced vampires, Brooke must tap into the side of her that she never knew existed at the risk of losing her life in order to save it.

Thoughts: Brooke hasn't had an easy life.  Her mom seems to always be moving her around. They have been in small town Virginia for two years and things seem to be going smoothly. She has a great BFF and just snagged the cutest guy in school. Brooke thinks nothing could be more perfect.  But when she learns that she is in danger and about her true heritage, everything is thrown up in the air.

I haven't been accepting a lot of self-published books lately. But this cover really caught my eye and I ended up really loving it and the characters. I was instantly sucked into the budding relationship between Jaren and Brooke. Of course as they do things take a turn of the paranormal variety.  I definitely loved that we don't get the paranormal twist until about nine chapters in.  The suspense was wonderful.  Descended by Blood was an engaging read, with romance and danger that will have your heart pumping. 

Descended By Blood comes out on August 26th and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

Score: 4 Stars

Author Websites:
http://www.descendedbyblood.com/
http://angelinekace.blogspot.com/

Upcoming Releases:
Enemy Within
Mask of War

GIVEAWAY:
Thanks to Angeline, I have bookmarks to giveaway. To enter leave a comment along with your email address. There will be 4 winners. This giveaway is open to everyone, even International residents. Winners will be announced on August 16th. Good Luck!



Saturday, August 13, 2011

In My Mailbox [117]


In My Mailbox is a feature that was started over at The Story Siren. Each week we share what arrived in our mailboxes, bought or found in swaps or at the library.

Here is what I got this past week...




Review:

Retribution (audio cds)- Sherrilyn Kenyon

Thank you to Macmillan Audio.

Received:
Thank you to Amy J for sending me this wonderful box of books!

In the Arms of Stone Angels- Jordan Dane
Where She Went- Gayle Forman
Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs- Molly Harper
Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men- Molly Harper
Nice Girls Don't Live Forever- Molly Harper
Wicked Girls- Stephanie Hemphill
Zombie Blondes- Brian James
The Sword- Jean Johnson
Hourglass- Myra McIntire
Cleopatra's Moon- Vicky Alvear Shecter
The Girl Who Became The Beatles- Greg Taylor
After Midnight- Lynn Viehl
Fated- Rebecca Zanetti

Bought:

Kindling the Moon- Jenn Bennett
Touch of Frost- Jennifer Estep
Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children- Ransom Riggs
Crux- Moria Rogers
Lord of the Vampires- Gena Showalter

Winner - Twilight's Dawn

and the winner is...



Congrats! Please send your mailing
information here:
annasbookblog@gmail.com
You have 5 days to claim your prize.

All giveaway winners are chosen through Random.org

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Interview & Giveaway with Leanna Ellis

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

LE: Hi, Anna! Thanks so much for having me here! Well, I’m a wife, mom, daughter, sister, aunt…and a writer. I have been a homeschooler and even now my kids go to a school two days a week and we homeschool the other three days. I have a crazy life as I drive my kids to and from all their activities, let my menagerie of pets in and out … in and out ..., figure out what to cook for dinner (or where to order takeout), and at the same time keep my quirky characters in my head from bothering others.

Plain Fear: Forsaken is your latest release, can you tells us a little about it?
LE: Hannah Schmidt, a young Amish woman mourning the mysterious death of her beloved Jacob, must decide between two brothers, between good and evil. When she learns her first love is now the vampire Akiva, she must forsake him and cling to a new love, a lasting love, one that will save her soul.

What is your writing day like?
LE: Crazy. Seriously. It usually revolves around some kid activity. Right now, we’re in the heart of summer. This morning I walked the dog three miles, fixed breakfast, took my son to fencing, then my daughter to music, then picked my son up, drove and drove and drove to my daughter’s musical theater camp, and I’m writing here at Barnes and Noble at the moment, then I’ll pick up my daughter and take my son back to fencing, run a couple of errands, go home, let dogs in and out, in and out, chase the kitten, squeeze in some more writing time, then maybe do some yoga with my daughter, and finally fix dinner before eventually collapsing.

When you’re not writing what kind of books do you like to read?
LE: Everything. Really, I read across the board. I’m very eclectic in my tastes from classics to romance to fantasy to YA to mystery/thriller, and then there’s non fiction! I’ve got several books going at the moment.

Since becoming published, what has been your favorite part of the process?
LE:  My favorite part of the process is after I have a rough draft and I’m just working to make the story the best it can be.

What are 3 things that are "must haves" for you when you sit down to write a book?
LE: Time, which is rare, but then again you make the time for what you want to do. So scratch that. My laptop. But then again, I’ve written in my notebook when I haven’t had my computer but I do prefer my laptop but I guess it isn’t a requirement but I really don’t want to have to go back to pen and ink or quill. Finally,the most important thing you must have is an idea. And I guess if I don’t have an idea I just start…describing something, but an idea is pretty important. It doesn’t have to be a big idea just something that proves there’s a thought process going on. A couple of years ago when my dad passed away, I had a hard time writing. I was under deadline and really needed to get started. Some days I would only write: chapter five. That’s it. Two words. Nothing else. But I had this crazy labradoodle puppy that made me laugh at all her antics. And she was always into something, getting in trouble, from jumping on the dining room table like she had springs in her legs to eating something she shouldn’t, like spicy chicken wings (9 to be truthful, bones and all). So I started writing about her and she wormed her way into my novel, FACELIFT.

What inspired you to write about a vampire and Amish girl?
LE: Well, it started as a joke. Seriously. A friend of mine and I were sitting at a group book signing. The most popular books were Amish and vampires, so we said we should write one. We were not serious. But I guess that planted a seed and in my warped brain. I started noodling the idea. So I had a character and a situation but I didn’t do anything with it for a long, long time. Then one day, I realized the heart of the story was similar to The Phantom of the Opera, one of my favorite books and musicals. I love the line from the musical when Christine sings, “I gave my mind blindly.” And that was it. I had to write this story. So I wrote a chapter and then was busy writing whatever book I was under deadline for. Well, fast forward several months later, (and it’s now about 2 years after that book signing) and I was at a writers conference. I heard an editor say the perfect submission would be an Amish/vampire story. Really? I’d spoken to a couple of friends about my idea but I had not even told my agent for fear she’d laugh me off the planet. Well, I got an appointment with the editor who said such a crazy thing and we talked and she requested it. So I figured I better talk to my agent. And she did laugh. But in a good way. She loved the idea. So when I got home from the conference, I sent her the chapter to see what she thought. I didn’t want to spend any more time on it if it wasn’t any good. Well, my agent LOVED it. So then we began to seriously discuss the proposal, which I had not written. So I did that and sent it to her. And it sold to a very brave publisher: Sourcebooks.

If you could give your lead characters one piece of advice what would it be?
LE: Let go of the past.

What type of research did you do for the book?
LE: Since there aren’t any vampires for me to interview, I went to Pennsylvania and researched the Amish. I had a grand time eating whoopee pies and riding in a buggy. It was a great trip. My critique partner went with me. The trip really helped me in writing the book.

If you can, tell us what is up next?  Is Plain Fear: Forsaken the beginning of a series?
LE: Yes, it’s the first book in the Plain Fear series. Plain Fear: Forbidden is the 2nd book and I’m writing it at the moment. Thanks again, Anna, for having me here today!

PLAIN FEAR: FORSAKEN 
BY LEANNA ELLIS

IN STORES AUGUST 2011

Not Death, But Love…
Pain choked off anymore words. She grabbed the cold stone marker for support, splayed her hands across its front as a sob wrenched free from her chest.

Although she knows that the Amish way is to move on from grief, on to a new season, Hannah cannot move on from Jacob, who was taken too soon.

Jacob’s brother Levi also cannot move on—his love for Hannah burns just as strong as ever. But he knows how much Hannah loved his brother, and the event that took Jacob from them. 

And it’s a secret he must take to his grave…

So when a mysterious stranger comes to their community, he too carries a secret; one that will force Hannah to choose between light and dark, between the one she wants to love and a new yearning she fears to embrace.

Where to buy:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | IndieBound

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leanna Ellis is the winner of the National Readers’ Choice Award and Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart Award. She has written numerous books for Harlequin/Silhouette and has published four books with B&H Publishing. With her husband, two children, and wide assortment of pets, she lives in Texas. Plain Fear: Forbidden, the next book in the Plain Fear Series, will be in stores in Spring 2012. For more information, please visit http://www.leannaellis.com.

GIVEAWAY:
Thanks to Sourcebooks I have (2) copies of Plain Fear: Forsaken to giveaway. To enter leave a comment along with your email address. Open to U.S. & Canada. The winners will be announced on August 16th. Good Luck!

Monday, August 8, 2011

Cover Discovery

Release Date: October 1, 2011


Release Date: December 1, 2011


Release Date: February 14, 2012


Release Date: February 21, 2012

Saturday, August 6, 2011

In My Mailbox [Birthday Edition] [116]

 In My Mailbox is a feature that was started over at The Story Siren. Each week we share what arrived in our mailboxes, bought or found in swaps or at the library. Here is what I got this past week...

Today is my 35th birthday, although I don't feel that old. Well, at least most days I
don't. :) Since my birthday landed on a Saturday I did my birthday book trip a few days early.

My non-book presents. Not pictured are two BN gift cards, which I used on my
shopping trip. Thank you to my Mom and sister and also a big Thank you to
Michelle G  for sending the wonderful birthday package. Especially the peach products.  The peach preserves are yummy. :)


Review:
Grave Expectations- Charles Dickens & Sherri Browning Erwin
Darker Still- Leanna Renee Hieber
The Night Circus- Erin Morgenstern


R.A.K.:
Forgive My Fins- Tera Lynn Childs
Not pictured, I will feature them in my RAK post at the end of the month.

Bought/Birthday Gifts:
Heir to the Shadows- Anne Bishop
Crave- Laura J. Burns & Melinda Metz
Never Cry Wolf- Cynthia Eden
Primal Law- J.D. Tyler
Hammered- Kevin Hearne
Retribution- Sherrilyn Kenyon

What did you get this week?
Feel free to leave your IMM link in the comments.

Friday, August 5, 2011

Cover Reveal: Daughter of Smoke and Bone (new UK cover)


Daughter of Smoke and Bone will launch on September 29th and is the first in a trilogy of. The book tells the story of an angel who fell in love with a devil. It did not end well.

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky. In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grows dangerously low. And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.

Meet Kaoru. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters and demons that delight and enthral those around her; she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious “errands”; she speaks many languages – not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that colour.

Her life straddles two worlds: the human and a place that is Elsewhere. She has never really known which one is her true home, but now the doors to Elsewhere closing . . .Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out..

Thursday, August 4, 2011

August Giveaway: Twilight Dawn

This month I'm giving away a copy of Anne Bishop's Twilight Dawn. To enter leave a comment along with your email address. Open to U.S. residents. The winner will be announced on August 13th. Good Luck!


Winsol Gifts
Daemon, the Black Jeweled Warlord Prince of Dhemlan, is settling into his first year of married life with his Witch Queen Jaenelle. But as the thirteen-day celebration of Winsol draws near, Daemon finds himself being pulled in too many directions as he plays host to his formidable family…

Shades of Honor
Still recovering from the ordeal that left her wounded and angry, Surreal returns to Ebon Rih on the orders of Prince Lucivar. And when her former lover Falonar ruthlessly challenges the rule of her family, Surreal may finally succumb to the darkness burning inside her…

Family
When someone lays a vicious trap for Queen Sylvia and her sons, the fallout completely disrupts the lives of the ruling family of Dhemlan. Now, they have to uncover the identity of the warlord known only as No Face, before he returns to finish what he started…

The High Lord’s Daughter
After losing the two most important people in his life, Daemon has assumed his father Saetan’s role as High Lord of Hell and built a wall around his heart. But when he inadvertently forges a new connection, will it be enough to break him free from his loveless life?

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

[Promo/Trailer]- Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber


Coming November 1, 2011

New York City, 1882. Seventeen-year-old Natalie Stewart's latest obsession is a painting of the handsome British Lord Denbury. Something in his striking blue eyes calls to her. As his incredibly life-like gaze seems to follow her, Natalie gets the uneasy feeling that details of the painting keep changing...

Jonathan Denbury's soul is trapped in the gilded painting by dark magic while his possessed body commits unspeakable crimes in the city slums. He must lure Natalie into the painting, for only together can they reverse the curse and free his damaged soul.






[Promo/Trailer] - Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Out Today!

Harm no human…

A hired gunslinger, William Jessup Brady lived his life with one foot in the grave. He believed that every life had a price. Until the day when he finally found a reason to live. In one single act of brutal betrayal, he lost everything, including his life. Brought back by a Greek goddess to be one of her Dark-Hunters, he gave his immortal soul for vengeance and swore he’d spend eternity protecting the humans he’d once considered prey.

Orphaned as a toddler, Abigail Yager was taken in by a family of vampires and raised on one belief- Dark-Hunters are the evil who prey on both their people and mankind, and they must all be destroyed. While protecting her adoptive race, she has spent her life eliminating the Dark-Hunters...



Monday, August 1, 2011

July 2011 - Reading List

The Perilous Prophecy of Guard and Goddess- Leanna Renee Hieber  [3 Stars]
Sabine- Moria Rogers [3 Stars]
Undead and Undermined- MaryJanice Davidson [4 Stars]
Fanfare- Renee Ahdieh [4 Stars]
The Hobbit (graphic novel)- J.R.R. Tolkien [3 Stars]
Dark Heart Forever- Lee Monroe [4 Stars]
Harry Potter: Film Wizardry- Brian Sibley [5 Stars]
Blood Work- Kim Harrison [4 Stars]
Ghost Soldiers- Keith Melton  [4 Stars]
Spell Bound- Kelley Armstrong  [5 Stars]
Twilight Dawn- Anne Bishop  [5 Stars]
Siren Song- Stephanie Draven  [4 Stars]
The Heir- Grace Burrowes  [5 Stars]
First Frost- Jennifer Estep[3 Stars]
Wolfsbane- Andrea Cremer [4 Stars]
I Am Number Four: The Lost Files: Six's Legacy- Pittacus Lore  [3 Stars]
Descended by Blood- Angeline Kace  [4 Stars]
Wildefire- Karsten Knight [4 Stars]

Upcoming Events in August:
  • August Giveaway
  • Review & Giveaway: Descended by Blood
  • Interview & Giveaway with Leanna Ellis
  • Interview with Kendare Blake

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