Random Acts of Kindness- July 2011

Books I sent out:  


Everlasting by Alyson to
Isalys @ Book ♥ Soulmates

Hit List by Laurell K. Hamilton to
Kelsey @ Kelsey's Book Corner

Delirium by Lauren Oliver to
Stephanie @ Once Upon A Chapter

Forgotten by Cat Patrick to
Lori @ Pure Imagination

Bloodshot by Cherie Priest to
Michelle @ Michelle's Book Blog
  

Books I received:

 Spell Bound by Kelley Armstrong  

Thank you to Sara M. from Sara's Urban Fantasy Blog.

In My Mailbox [115]

 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.

Most of the books I bought this week didn't arrived in my mailbox. I went to Borders one last time. So, not happy about the stores closing. If it's not Amazon, Borders is my go to store for books. I did find some great titles. Here is what I got this past week...

**Dear Mr Potter: Letters of Love, Loss & Magic - definitely a book for
any Harry Potter fan.  Book Site | Buy Here

added to my Kindle

Review:

Descendant By Blood- Angeline Kace

Shadowman- Erin Kellison

Thank you to Angeline Kace & Erin Kellison.

Bought:

The Soldier- Grace Burrowes

Flying Blind- Deborah Cooke

Wolfsbane- Andrea Cremer

First Frost- Jennifer Estep

Crusade- Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie

What A Goddess Wants- Stephanie Julian

Wildefire- Karsten Knight

I Am Number Four: The Lost Files: Six's Legacy- Pittacus Lore

Forever- Maggie Stiefvater

Dear Mr. Potter: Letters of Love, Loss & Magic- Lily Zalon

What did you get this week?

Feel free to leave your IMM link in the comments.

Guest Blog with Stephanie Draven

The Girl Who Loved Greek Mythology

by Stephanie Draven

I was eleven years old and it was recess. Other children were outside playing on the swing-set, but I lingered behind in the classroom, enamored of a secret treasure I’d found there. It was a book--a very special book. Oh, it had monsters and heroes, like other books. But it had something else. It had nymphs and goddesses--very powerful females who lived their lives with a confidence I couldn’t have imagined.

Greek mythology. These were old stories. The oldest stories, actually. But I was absorbed in the tale of Psyche as she bravely fought to woo and win back her beloved Cupid. So absorbed, in fact, that when the bell rang and class started again, I didn’t even notice. How was I to hear the shuffle of feet and the laughing of children while Atlanta was trying to outrun her suitors in a footrace? Even after the class was called to order, I didn’t notice a thing, until my teacher came over to my desk and slammed her hands down, eyeing me with the stony look of a gorgon.

She yelled at me. But worse, she took my book. And she drew a big red F on my classwork for that day, telling my parents that I lacked focus. Oh, she was a gorgon indeed. But she couldn’t take away the gift of that September afternoon. I had fallen in love with mythology...a love that would last my whole life.

My parents didn’t care much about the big red F on my classwork because they knew I was a good student. And when I told them my story, my father gave me his own copy of Edith Hamilton’s mythology. I was far too young to understand most of it, but I devoured each story. In college, I took several courses on western mythology and I studied the Odyssey, the Illiad and the Aeneid with a critical eye.

So when it came time to start writing stories of my own, it was natural for me to incorporate Greek mythology into my own paranormal romance. What would it be like if the old forgotten monsters of ancient mythology still walked the earth...and what if you found out that you were one of them?

That’s the central premise behind my Mythica Series with HQN Nocturne. It’s sort of a cross between Neil Gaiman’s American Gods and good category romance. I get a thrill re-working old stories into new ones with modern meaning. When it came to my latest release, Siren Song, I wanted to tackle the issue of women who use their sexuality to control men. I thought my siren heroine would be the baddest bitch I’ve ever written, but in the end, she turned out to be the sweetest most lighthearted heroine in the series.

It’s worth noting for mythology nerds that the original sirens weren’t mermaids. They were actually half-bird, half-woman, and the attraction was to their voices. It was a spiritual connection, which is a rare thing for ancient Greeks to have written about. But then the Romans got ahold of the stories and the sirens became mermaids and the rest, as they say, is history. I decided to go with neither interpretation in favor of my own kind of siren, but her hero is definitely a guardian of the deep. And wow, I’d never really thought about the logistics of sex with a man who is part fish. I think I came up with a decidedly clever solution to that whole problem, I hope readers will agree!

So, what about you? Do you love Greek mythology? Do you have a favorite monster or myth?

_____________________________________________________________

Siren Song

By: Stephanie Draven

Out Now!

When the sexy lead singer of an Annapolis indie band is accused of luring midshipmen to their deaths, she learns she’s not the only one with a killer voice…

No one can resist Chloe Karras when she sings—except for the sexy naval officer who is seemingly immune to her sensual allure. Maybe that’s why Captain Alex Shore is just the man she wants to take home after her performance—until he tells her what she thought were imagined powers are real…and dangerous.

Alexandros knows firsthand how seductive sirens are, as well as their potential to destroy. Yet the former sea soldier feels a powerful attraction to the beautiful rock singer that goes beyond her spell. Can he banish Chloe from the town he’s vowed to protect—or will he be drawn into the siren’s bed?

Where to Buy:

All Romance Ebooks | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Borders

To learn more about Stephanie and the Mythica series, check out her website.

http://stephaniedraven.com/

[Review] - Siren Song

Title: Siren Song
Author: Stephanie Draven
Series: Mythica
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: January 1, 2011

I received this book for review from the author.

Summary:  When the sexy lead singer of an Annapolis indie band is accused of luring midshipmen to their deaths, she learns she’s not the only one with a killer voice…

No one can resist Chloe Karras when she sings—except for the sexy naval officer who is seemingly immune to her sensual allure. Maybe that’s why Captain Alex Shore is just the man she wants to take home after her performance—until he tells her what she thought were imagined powers are real…and dangerous.

Alexandros knows firsthand how seductive sirens are, as well as their potential to destroy. Yet the former sea soldier feels a powerful attraction to the beautiful rock singer that goes beyond her spell. Can he banish Chloe from the town he’s vowed to protect—or will he be drawn into the siren’s bed?

Thoughts: Chloe Karras is a siren and loves nothing more than to sing with her band. When Alex Shore meets her, he knows exactly what she is. While her voice doesn't affect him like it would others, he is still very much attracted to her.

Sexy read! I loved the rock n roll feel of this book. Siren Song is a fast, fun, hot little read.  This is my second time reading a book from this series. Being a lover of Greek Mythology, I'm really loving it so far. Ms. Draven has done another great job of weaving mythology with the modern world. Fans of Greek Mythology will eat this one up.

Score: 4 Stars

Author Website: http://stephaniedraven.com/

Mythica series:
Midnight Medusa
Wild, Tethered & Bound
Poisoned Kisses
Siren Song

Check Out the Sneak Peak of Sherrilyn Kenyon's Retribution

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Waiting On Wednesday [29] - Dark Taste of Rapture

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

My WOW pick this week is Dark Taste of Rapture by Gena Showalter. It is book #6 in the Alien Huntress series and like many of Ms. Showalter's series each book that comes out gets better and better. Can't wait to get my hands on this one.

Title: Dark Taste of Rapture

Series: Alien Huntress

Author: Gena Showalter

Release Date: August 23, 2011

Book Summary: With one caress, he can give unforgettable pleasure . . . or unending pain. . . .

Hector Dean is shaved, tattooed, and totally ripped—and he has a deadly secret. He is a walking weapon, capable of killing with a single brush of his fingertips. Little wonder he’s determined to remain on his own. But Noelle Tremain is a temptation like no other. She is beautiful and rich, with a party girl smile that hides a shocking vulnerability, and from the beginning his sizzling attraction to her is undeniable. For the first time, his stone-cold resistance is tested. But to be with her, he risks destroying her.

When a wealthy businessman is murdered in New Chicago’s seediest district, the two are partnered, and there’s no escaping what they both want: each other. Yet neither Hector nor Noelle knows what to fear more—the killer case, or their own lethal desires. 

Alien Huntress series:

Awaken Me Darkly

Enslave Me Sweetly

Savor Me Slowly

Tempt Me Eternally (in Deep Kiss of Winter)

Seduce the Darkness

Ecstasy in Darkness

Dark Taste of Rapture

Red Handed (YA Alien Huntress)

Black Listed (YA Alien Huntress)

[ARC Review] - Plain Fear: Forsaken

Title: Plain Fear: Forsaken
Author: Leanna Ellis
Genre: Fiction/Paranormal
Release Date: August 1, 2011

I received this book for review from Sourcebooks.

Summary:  Hannah Schmidt pines for Jacob, the boy who saved her life. But Jacob is gone, buried. Levi Fisher loves Hannah. But he knows how much Hannah loved his brother Jacob. He also knows the troubling event that took Jacob out of their lives.

So when a stranger named Akiva comes into their community, he carries with him two secrets: he is, in fact, Jacob. And he is now a vampire.
When secrets are revealed, Hannah must choose between light and dark, between the one she has always loved and the new possibility of love-a decision that will decide the fate of her soul.

Thoughts: Even though Jacob is long gone, Hannah still loves him. Yearns for him everyday.  When a stranger, Akiva arrives he carries secrets with him that will change everything. As Hannah learns who Akiva is, she must make a choice - one that will decided her fate.

Not a book I would normally read. This is the first book I've read where the lead characters were Amish. Being a vampire fan, reading the description peaked my interested. I had to see how this was gonna work out for Hannah. I found the whole story to be an enjoyable one, quite different then other vampire novels.  I loved the good vs. evil pull to the story.  Forsaken has a wonderfully gothic feel to it. Filled with everyday life of the Amish, but suspenseful as well. Hannah's story definitely takes a different turn, that is fresh and new. If you are looking for a different type of vampire story, you might want to give this book a go.

Score: 3 Stars

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

Other Titles by Leanna Ellis:
Elvis Takes a Back Seat
Lookin' Back, Texas
Ruby's Slippers
Once in a Blue Moon
Facelift

August Book Releases

1st
The Vampire Next Door- Ashlyn Chase
Plain Fear: Forsaken- Leanna Ellis
The Lady of the Storm- Kathryne Kennedy
Always a Witch- Carolyn MacCullough
Mayhem- Artist Arthur
Across the Great Barrier- Patricia C. Wrede

2nd
Home Improvement: Undead Edition- Anthology
The Many Sins of Lord Cameron- Jennifer Ashley
Real Vampires Don't Wear Size Six- Gerry Bartlett
Blood Hunt- Shannon K. Butcher
Downpour- Kat Richardson
Savage Transformation- Lexxie Couper [pbk]
Dream Dark- Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
Storm's Heart- Thea Harrison
Blood Curses- Erica Hayes
Retribution- Sherrilyn Kenyon
Water to Burn- Katharine Kerr
Master of Shadows- Angela Knight
Midnight Sins- Lora Leigh
Blood Ties- Marianne Mancusi
Another Kind of Dead- Kelly Meding
Dark Currents- Mima [pbk]
The Dark Elite- Chloe Neill
Darkness Descending- Devyn Quinn
The Near Witch- Victoria Schwab
Eternal- Gillian Shields
Primal Pleasure- Sydney Somers [pbk]
Primal Law- J.D. Tyler
In the Air Tonight- Stephanie Tyler

3rd
Dark Parties- Sara Grant
Circle of Fire- Michelle Zink

4th
Devil's Due- Jennifer Colgan

6th
The Unforgiven- Joy Nash

8th
Gryphon Unleashed- Kathleen Nance

9th
The Commander's Woman- Opal Carew
The Margrave- Catherine Fisher
Ready to Run- Kinsey W. Holley
Juliet Immortal- Stacey Jay
Vampire High: Sophomore Year- Douglas Rees

16th
Bargains and Betrayals- Shannon Delany
Chain Reaction- Simone Elkeles
Shifters' Storm- Vonna Harper
Out of the Shadows- Gabriella Hewitt
Take By Passion- Jaymie Holland
Second Grave on the Left- Darynda Jones
Kitty's Greatest Hits- Carrie Vaughn

23rd
Knight's Curse- Karen Duvall
Two Lines: A Novella- Melissa Marr
Bloodlines- Richelle Mead
Vampire Academy [graphic novel]- Richelle Mead
Possess- Gretchen McNeil
Sweetly- Jackson Pearce
Ravenborne- Chandra Ryan
The Renfield Syndrome- J.A. Saare
Dark Taste of Rapture- Gena Showalter
Lord of the Vampires- Gena Showalter
Tantalize: Kieren's Story- Cynthia Leitich Smith
Dreams of Seduction- N.J. Walters

30th
Hades- Alexandra Adornetto
Aftermath- Ann Aguire
Bound By Night- Amanda Ashley
Anna Dressed in Blood- Kendare Blake
The Gray Wolf Throne- Cinda Williams Chima
Witchlanders- Lena Coakley
Blood Rules- Christine Cody
Evangelina- MaryJanice Davidson & Anthony Alongi
Zero Factor- Stacy Gail
The Hour of Dust and Ashes- Kelly Gay
Shadow Highlander- Donna Grant
Gridlock- Nathalie Gray
Unwelcome- Michael Griffo
Ghost in the Machine- Barbara J. Hancock
The Sookie Stackhouse Companion- Charlaine Harris
Truly, Madly Viking- Sandra Hill
Damned- Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie
Night Falls on the Wicked- Sharie Kohler
Blood Sacrifice- Maria Lima
Succubus Revealed- Richelle Mead
Soul Thief- Jana Oliver
Crossroads- Jeanne C. Stein

Winners - What A Goddess Wants

and the winners are:

LadyVampire2u

Sara M

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

In My Mailbox [114]

 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:

Never Been Bit- Lydia Dare

Unleashed- Sara Humphreys

The Goblin King- Shona Husk

Thank you to Sourcebooks.

Bought:

Blood Works- Kim Harrison

Cover Discovery

Release Date: January 3, 2012

Release Date: January 31, 2012

Release Date: March 1, 2012

 Release Date: March 13, 2012

Release Date: March 27, 2012

[Review] - Ghost Soldiers

Title: Ghost Soldiers
Author: Keith Melton
Series: The Nightfall Syndicate
Genre: Urban Fantasy  
Release Date: July 12, 2011

I received this book for review from the author.

Summary:  Get in. Do the job. Get out. If only it were that easy.

Vampire hit man Karl Vance has a new target: a rogue, charismatic sorcerer building an army of paranormal creatures in Eastern Europe. The stakes have never been higher, nor the odds so long, but he’s in too deep to turn back. If Karl fails to kill, the powerful Order of the Thorn will hunt down Maria Ricardi, the vampire he loves, and destroy everything he’s fighting for.

When Karl is cut off in enemy badlands, he’s reduced to survival mode, doing the kinds of things he’d sworn would never be part of his vampire existence. Things that will forever color his relationship with Maria...if he survives to see her again.

In Boston, Maria is haunted by disturbing dreams of Karl as she struggles to keep control of her mafia syndicate against a growing tide of threats—traitors, FBI agents, hostile crime families, and the fear that power will turn her into a creature like her hated Master, Delgado. Then she discovers Karl is walking straight into a deadly trap…and there may be nothing she can do to stop it in time.

Product Warnings:
Explicit language and intense, violent content. Assassinations, betrayals, paranormal warfare, explosions, gangland slayings, chaos, calamity, rampant pandemonium, and an occasional fiery explosion.

Thoughts: Karl Vance is a vampire assassin - meaning he's a vampire and kills the bad guys for money. He is a bad-ass, but a lover too. He knows that he's got this one job to do for the Thorn and then he can get back to his Maria.  Easy right? Sadly life doesn't always work that easily, even if your a vampire.

Ever since reading the first book Blood Vice, I have been eager to read more about Karl Vance. It was definitely worth the wait. The opening sequence grabs a hold of you and brings you right into the thick of things. I loved it. Gritty and electric. Ghost Soldiers is a non-stop action ride. I like that we get to see both Karl and Maria's point of views.  I have to say the ending wasn't what I expected, but I enjoyed it all the same.  Looking forward to see how things will turn out in the next book.

Score: 4 Stars

Author Website: http://keithmelton.wordpress.com/

Where to buy Ghost Soldiers:

All Romance Ebooks | Kindle | Kobo | Nook

Other titles by Keith Melton:
Blood Vice
Run, Wolf
The Zero Dog War
9MM Blues

Interview & Giveaway with Stephanie Julian

Hi Stephanie, Welcome back to Anna's Book Blog! It's great to have you here. To start off can you tell the readers a little about yourself?
SJ: I’ve always been a writer. I got a job as a reporter and feature writer for a daily local newspaper right after college graduation and worked city-side then edited the Weekend section. When I left to freelance after the birth of my first son, that’s when I began to write towards publication. Since I’d always been a romance reader, that’s where I put all my energy.

What A Goddess Wants is your latest release, can you tell us a little about it and the series?
SJ: What a Goddess Wants is the first in the Forgotten Goddesses series. Tessa is the Etruscan Goddess of the Dawn whose job was usurped by the Roman’s Aurora, that cow. Now, Tessa needs a hero because the Etruscan God of the Underworld is looking for her to consume her powers. Tessa needs a hero and fast. She finds one in Caligo, a legendary Cimmerian warrior, who’s sick of being a sucker for a pretty face. Tessa, however, gets under his skin, steals his heart and becomes the woman he can’t live without. But may not have the strength to save.

What is your writing day like?
SJ: Get up around 7, stumble to my desk to clean out email then write, write, write. Five days a week. Sometimes, if I’m behind, on the weekends too. I really try to keep focused but I’m easily distracted. Email and the internet is the bane of my existence. I would get so much done if I would just shut it off but I can’t. It’s a disease. I try to write at least 2K a day though I wish it could be more.

When you’re not writing what kind of books do you like to read?
SJ: Paranormal romance, the hotter the better. Lora Leigh, Nalini Singh and JR Ward are auto-buys but I love Virginia Kantra, Eileen Wilkes, Stacia Kane and Jim Butcher too. If I’m in research mode, I can lose myself in books called Etruscan Religion and Cryptozoology A-Z for days.

Since becoming published, what has been your favorite part of the process?
SJ: Definitely getting covers. They’ve been beautiful. I’ve been so lucky. Favorites include What a Goddess Wants, the upcoming How to Worship a Goddess (which I don’t have a copy of yet but it’s just so pretty), Grace in Moonlight, and my very first EC cover for Seduced by Magic.

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

SJ: Junior Mints. I’m a confessed addict. I must have a clean email box. And Henri the Gargoyle must be sitting in front of my screen. He’s become my guardian angel.

What inspired you the most when writing What A Goddess Wants?

SJ: Etruscan Roman Remains by Charles Godfrey Leland. This was the first book I found when I started researching the Etruscans and it provided such a wealth of information. It’s not a scholarly work but it’s more a look at the magical folk traditions of the Italians. I’m constantly pulling this book out to look for little tidbits of information for my Etruscan stories.

You write four different series, do you find one series easier to write than the others?

SJ: No. You would think they’d get easier as you go along but that’s not true. There’s so much you have to keep track of. Actually the hardest story to write was Size Matters, which is a short, funny, paranormal novella. You’d think because of its size that that would be easier but comedy is hard! I loved writing that story and I’m heading back into that world very soon but it’s so hard to write that short.

What type of research did you do for the book/series?

SJ: Lots and lots. I immersed myself in Etruscan research for several months, read loads of books on Etruscan religion, lifestyle, language, anything I could find.

If you can, tell us what is up next for you?

SJ: Actually, Grace in Moonlight, Book 5 in the Lucani Lovers series releases today! This is Grace and Kaisie’s story. After that I’m hoping there will be a new Fringe story this fall before How to Worship a Goddess releases in December.

WHAT A GODDESS WANTS 

BY STEPHANIE JULIAN

IN STORES JULY 2011

In his arms, her magic powers are on the rise…
Tessa, Etruscan Goddess of the Dawn, is desperately fighting off a malicious god, but her powers are weakening. She needs a hero and fast, because only sexual energy can give her strength. So she seeks out Caligo, whose sexual prowess is legendary…

And she’s the only one who can bring him into the light…
Caligo is a fabled Cimmerian warrior determined to stay away from spoiled goddesses who trample heart after they’ve had their fun. But there’s something irresistibly hot and inviting about Tessa, and he knows he’s her only chance to escape the encroaching darkness…

Where to buy:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Sourcebooks | The Book Depository

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephanie Julian is the author of three erotic romance series with Ellora’s Cave. She is a member of RWA and Valley Forge Romance Writers and is a freelance entertainment and lifestyle feature writer. Stephanie lives in eastern Pennsylvania, where she is working on the next two books in the Forgotten Goddesses Series: How to Worship a Goddess (December 2011) and Goddess in the Middle (July 2012). For more information, please visit http://www.stephaniejulian.com.

GIVEAWAY

Thanks to Sourcebooks I have two copies of What A Goddess Wants to giveaway. To enter leave a comment along with your email address. Open to U.S. & Canada. The winner will be announced on July 25th. Good Luck!

[Review] - Fanfare

Title: Fanfare
Author: Renee Ahdieh
Genre: Romance
Release Date: May 13, 2011

I received this book for review from Revolution Publishing.

Summary:  Cris Pereira hates starring in a cautionary tale. Alas, her recent heartbreak relegates her to this unbecoming fate. The only good thing about being dumped a foot from the altar is the newest layer to her punchy sarcasm. All she wants is a do-over, but this is not your average fairy tale, and wishes don't come true in the real world.

One Sunday afternoon, she meets a movie star. Tom Abramson is intelligent, charming, and impetuous. In other words, he plays the role a bit too well. She isn’t falling for it. She knows better. All British men are not descendants of Fitzwilliam Darcy, and movie stars are genetic mutations gone awry: X-Men with statistical disadvantages and emotional handicaps. Keep your knight in shining armor. A modern girl can rescue herself, thank you very much. After all, dreams are for the foolhardy, nightmares are just a part of life, and . . . this is not your average fairy tale.

Thoughts: I first heard about Fanfare through the author and was quite taken with the cover. For some reason I was thinking it was a YA novel, but it's pure romance. Which didn't bother me too much since I was intrigued with the book description.

Beautiful written. Cris was a wonderful, true character to read. She has a snarky attitude, that is infectious. It's one of the things that kept me turning the page. Also I loved that Cris talks about what real love is and what it is not. True romance, inspiring and heartfelt. I really enjoy Chris and Tom's journey. Fanfare spins a tale of real love, and the ups and downs of two very different people and how they make it work.

Score: 4 Stars

Favorite Quote: "Real love is unto itself. For every person, it's different, and no one can presume to explain its complexity using mere words."

Renee's blogs:

Writeous Indignance
The Candid Cook

[ARC Review] - Supernaturally

Title: Supernaturally
Author: Kiersten White
Series: Paranormalcy
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: July 26, 2011

I received this book for review from Harper Teen.

Summary:  Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.

But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.

So much for normal.

Thoughts: Evie has been living a normal high school life. Missing Lend who is away at college -- she's yearning for a bit of excitement. Being who she is, Evie's wish is granted. But it's a bit more dangerous than she was hoping for.

I loved the first book Paranormalcy, so when Supernaturally arrived in my mailbox, I had a bit of a fangirl moment. It definitely lived up to my expectations. Delightful and sassy. I loved it. Evie is such a joy to read. Funny and charming. I love that there are all sorts of paranormal creatures in this world. From the innocent ones to the devious villains. Supernaturally is a fantastic read, filled with danger, romance, and truths are revealed.  A fast story with wonderful darkness.

Score: 4 Stars

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

Upcoming Releases:
Paranormalcy #3 (untitled)- 2010

In My Mailbox [113]

 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.

Two weeks worth of books:

Review:

Legend- Marie Lu

The Girl Who Circumnavigation Fairyland in a Ship of her Own Making- Catherynne M. Valente

Thank you to Library Early Reviewers, Macmillan & Penguin.

Paperback Swap:

The Hobbit (graphic novel)- J.R.R. Tolkien

Random Acts of Kindness:

Spell Bound- Kelley Armstrong

Thank you to Sara @ Sara's Urban Fantasy Blog.

Not pictured, this book will be featured at the end of the month in my RAK post.

Gifted/Received:

Jaded- Anya Bast

Undead and Undermined- MaryJanice Davidson

Forgotten Sea- Virginia Kantra

Thank you to Michelle @ Michelle's Book Blog.

Bought:

In the Heat of the Bite- Lydia Dare

Original Sin- Lisa Desrochers

The Greyfriar- Clay & Susan Griffith

The Wild Road- Marjorie M. Liu

Free Books: 

Lights, Camera... Monsters- Lila Dubois
Kindle | Nook

Not pictured

What did you get this week?

Feel free to leave your IMM link in the comments.
___________________________________________________
On Friday I went to see Deathly Hallows Pt 2, which I absolutely loved. If you get a chance to see it go do so. The theater had their entrance set up as Platform 9 3/4. I'm not sure if other theaters did this, but either way I thought it was pretty cleaver. Here is the picture:

Click picture to enlarge.

Winner - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

and the winner is...

Jenn3128

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

Harry Potter [The End + Giveaway]

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone sat on my bookshelf for a year before I finally picked it up in 1999. As a child and while I was in school I wasn't a big reader and most times I hated it. After graduating I only read here and there. Then Harry Potter came along and changed everything. This one book has led me to all others I have read since. I'm not sure what it was, but it brought a thirst for reading that is still growing strong today.

With the premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 2, it marks the end. I will be going to a showing later today. While I am so excited to see it, I go with a heavy heart as well. These characters have been a big part of my life, so its sad to see things coming to a close.

____________________________________________________

THE GIVEAWAY PORTION OF THIS POST IS CLOSED NOW

Giveaway:

I thought it would be fun to have a giveaway along with my gushing and mushiness. :) I have a paperback copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. To enter leave a comment a long with your email address. This is open to U.S. Only. The winner will be announced on July 16th. Good Luck!

Book Description:

Harry Potter has never been the star of a Quidditch team, scoring points while riding a broom far above the ground. He knows no spells, has never helped to hatch a dragon, and has never worn a cloak of invisibility.

All he knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley—a great big swollen spoiled bully. Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years.

But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to an incredible place that Harry—and anyone who reads about him—will find unforgettable. For it's there that he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic in everything from classes to meals, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him... if Harry can survive the encounter. (description from goodreads.com)


J.K. Rowling- Official Website
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2- Film Website
Pottermore

[Review] - Undead and Undermined

Title: Undead and Undermined
Author: MaryJanice Davidson
Series: Undead/Queen Betsy
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: July 5, 2011

This book was a gift from a friend.

Summary:  So this is what being dead feels like. Vampire queen Betsy Taylor has awoken in a Chicago morgue, naked as a corpse. Her last memory is reconciling with her husband, Eric Sinclair, after a time-traveling field trip, including an indirect route to hell (literally), with her sister, Laura. Now she's Jane Doe #291, wrapped in plastic with a toe tag. Betsy can't help but wonder, what in the hell happened.

Thoughts: I am not a fashionista or have an obsession for shoes, but I love this series. Queen Betsy is selfish and at times moronic, but I love her for all those things too. She is hilarious and what ever the issue is she's usually going 100 miles a minute. 

This latest installment is the 10th book in the series.  For a while I had thought about not continuing the series because I hadn't enjoyed the last few books as much as the early ones.  I'm glad I stuck it out because Undead and Undermined was worth it.  As always Betsy is laugh out loud funny and shocking as ever, maybe even more so.  Once again Ms. Davidson has turned Betsy's world upside down.  She has taken the story to a place I didn't even think it would or could go, but it works and I loved it. I can't wait to read more of this storyline.

Score: 4 Stars

Author Website: http://maryjanicedavidson.net/

Upcoming Releases:
Me, Myself and Why? (mmp)- August 2, 2011
Evangelina- August 30, 2011
Wolf at the Door- October 4, 2011
Undead and Unstable- 2012
Yours, Mine and Ours- February 28, 2012

Waiting On Wednesday [28] - The Power of Six

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

I seen I Am Number Four in the theater and loved it. I fell in love with both the characters and the world. After seeing the movie, I got curious it see what the book was like and read it. Well actually I listened to the audio. I enjoyed the book as well. The downside to listening the audio was that I found the narrator a bit annoying. Can't wait to see where the story will go next in The Power of Six. This time though I'll be reading a hard-copy.

Title: The Power of Six

Series: Lorien Legacies

Author: Pittacus Lore

Release Date: August 23, 2011

Book Summary: I've seen him on the news. Followed the stories about what happened in Ohio. John Smith, out there, on the run. To the world, he's a mystery. But to me . . . he's one of us.

Nine of us came here, but sometimes I wonder if time has changed us—if we all still believe in our mission. How can I know? There are six of us left. We're hiding, blending in, avoiding contact with one another . . . but our Legacies are developing, and soon we'll be equipped to fight. Is John Number Four, and is his appearance the sign I've been waiting for? And what about Number Five and Six? Could one of them be the raven-haired girl with the stormy eyes from my dreams? The girl with powers that are beyond anything I could ever imagine? The girl who may be strong enough to bring the six of us together?

They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They tried to catch Number Four in Ohio—and failed.

I am Number Seven. One of six still alive.

And I'm ready to fight

Lorien Legacies:

I Am Number Four

The Power of Six

Sites:

I Am Number Four Official Site
The Lorien Legacies UK

The Best of... Things I Am Not Allowed To Do At Hogwarts

I have posted "Things I Am Not Allowed To Do At Hogwarts" several times over the years. Since the last movie is coming out this week, I decided to do it one last time. Below is some of my favorite ones.  You can view the whole list here.  This is just something fun I found online, feel free to share and post it yourself.

No matter how good a fake Australian accent I can do, I will not imitate Steve Irwin during Care of Magical Creatures Class

Starting a betting pool on the fate of this years DADA teacher is tasteless and tacky, not a clever money-making concept

Seamus Finnegan is not "afterme Lucky Charms"

Asking "How do you keep a Gryffindor in suspense? and walking away is only funny the first time

It is a bad idea to tell Professor McGonagall she takes her self so seriously

I will stop asking when we will learn to make "Love Potion Number Nine"

I will not take out a life insurance policy on Harry Potter

Professor Flitwick's first name is not Yoda

First years are not to be fed to Fluffy

First-years should no be encouraged to befriend the Whomping Willow

When fighting Death Eaters in the annual June battle of Good v. Evil, I will not lift my wand skyward and shout "There can be only ONE!"

I will not say the phrase "Dude, get a life." to Lord Voldemort

Calling the Ghostbusters is a cruel joke to play on the resident ghosts and poltergeists

I am not allowed to lock Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy in a closet to see if hot gay sex will occur

Ravenclaws do not find a sign saying "The library is closed for an indefinite time period" amusing in any sense

A time turner is not a flux capacitator, and I should therefore not install one in any muggle cars

If the thought of a spell makes me giggle for longer than 15 seconds, I am to assume that I am not allowed to do it

I will not under any circumstances, ask Harry Potter who died and made him boss

I will not lock the Slytherins and Gryffindors In a room together and take bets on which house will come out alive

I will not give Hagrid Pokemon Cards and convince him that they are real animals

I will never ask Harry if his scar senses are tingling

I will not dress up as Voldemort for Halloween

I will not sing "We're off to see the wizard" when sent to the Headmasters office

It is not necessary to yell "BURN!" every time Snape takes points from Gryffindor

I will not hold my wand in the air before casting spells and shot "I have the power!"

TBR: Recent Additions [7]

Hidden
Otherworld #10.2 Novella
Kelley Armstrong
December 31, 2011

Bound by Night
Bound #1
Amanda Ashley
August 30, 2011

Kindling the Moon
Arcadia Bell #1
Jenn Bennett
June 28, 2011

Deadly Descendants
Descendants #2
Jenna Black
May 2012

The Heir
Dark Obsessions #1
Grace Burrowes
December 7, 2010

Temptation at Twilight
Lords of Pleasure #1
Jo Carlisle
November 1, 2011

Sweet Venom
Medusa Girls #1
Tera Lynn Childs
September 6, 2011

Fateful
Claudia Gray
September 13, 2011

The Name of the Star
Shades of London #1
Maureen Johnson
September 29, 2011

Under a Vampire Moon
Argeneau #16
Lynsay Sands
January 3, 2012

Winner - Etched In Bone

and the winner is...

joder

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

I'm Back (aka No IMM)

I'm back! I spent the last few days in Illinois visiting relatives. I had a great time, but glad to be back home, and ecstatic to be out of the car. Because I was gone the mail was put on hold and I have no clue what I got. Even though I brought some books home with me I'm gonna put In My Mailbox on hold until next Saturday. :)

Happy Reading!

[Series Spotlight/Giveaway] - The Maker's Song

Over the next few day I'm gonna be pretty quiet on all fronts, although I will still be checking my email. But I wanted to leave you with a fun post. It's been awhile since I did a Series Spotlight, so I thought I'd get back on track.  This month's spotlight is on The Maker's Song series by Adrian Phoenix. Great series. Love Dante, he is a great character. Make sure to check the giveaway at the bottom. :)

A Rush of Wings

HIS NAME IS DANTE.

Dark. Talented. Beautiful. Star of the rock
band Inferno. Rumored owner of the hot New Orleans nightspot Club Hell. Born of the Blood, then broken by an evil beyond imagination.

HIS PAST IS A MYSTERY.

F.B.I. Special Agent Heather Wallace has been tracking a sadistic serial murderer known as the Cross Country Killer, and the trail has led her to New Orleans, Club Hell, and Dante. But the dangerously attractive musician not only resists her investigation, he claims to be "nightkind": in other words, a vampire. Digging into his past for answers reveals little. A juvenile record a mile long. No social security number. No known birth date. In and out of foster homes for most of his life before being taken in by a man named Lucien DeNoir, who appears to guard mysteries of his own.

HIS FUTURE IS CHAOS.

What Heather does know about Dante is that something links him to the killer — and she's pretty sure that link makes him the CCK's next target. Heather must unravel the truth about this sensual, complicated, vulnerable young man — who, she begins to believe, may indeed be a vampire — in order to finally bring a killer to justice. But Dante's past holds a shocking, dangerous secret, and once it is revealed not even Heather will be able to protect him from his destiny....

In the Blood

DANTE LIVES.

Vampire. Rock star. Begotten son of the fallen angel Lucien. Dante Baptiste still struggles with nightmares and seizures, searching for the truth about his past. It is a quest as seductive as his kiss, as uncontrollable as his thirst, and as unforgiving as his determination to protect one mortal woman at any cost.

KNOWLEDGE KILLS.

FBI Special Agent Heather Wallace now knows the extent of the Bureau corruption that surrounds her, but worries she is losing the battle. And when Dante and his band Inferno come to Seattle on tour, Heather can't help but be drawn back to the beautiful, dangerous nightkind. But what Heather and Dante don't know is that new enemies lurk in the shadows, closer than they think...and even deadlier than they fear.

DESTINY UNFOLDS.

Shadowy government forces have pledged to eliminate all loose ends from Project Bad Seed — and Heather and Dante are at the top of the list. Elsewhere, the Fallen gather in Gehenna, intent on finding their long-awaited savior, the True Blood nightkind whom Lucien DeNoir would die to protect. And a damaged and desperate adversary, with powers as strange and perilous as Dante's own, plots to use Dante as a pawn in a violent scheme for revenge. But only one of these lethal forces holds the key to Dante's past — a key that could finally unlock the secret of his birth and the truth of his existence...or destroy him completely.

Beneath the Skin

THE FATE OF THREE WORLDS...

The dark pieces of vampire rock star Dante Baptiste's past are violently emerging, and it is only a matter of time before the Fallen discover he is the creawdwr they have sought for thousands of years. The destruction he left behind in Oregon threatens to reveal his identity as Fallen Maker and True Blood, exposing the young nightkind to shadowy predators -- mortal and supernatural -- who will do whatever it takes to win his favor...or destroy him.

RESTS IN DANTE'S HANDS.

When beautiful FBI special agent Heather Wallace went AWOL on assignment, she chose irresistible Dante over the shady government forces that now stalk them both. Heather has her own secrets of the past to uncover, but she is also the only one who can hold her nightkind lover together when his dangerous quest for the truth threatens to send him over the edge. And as she and Dante fi ght for their survival, she realizes they must work together to protect their future -- before his mysterious destiny tears them apart....

Etched in Bone


THREE LEGACIES ETCHED IN BONE

More beautiful and powerful than any creature the world has ever seen, Dante Baptiste has become the supreme target of the three worlds that spawned him. The mortal agents of the Shadow Branch have tried to control his mind through psychological torture. The vampire elders who guide nightkind society have plotted to use him in their bloodthirsty bid for power. And the Fallen have waited for millennia for Dante to claim his birthright as their Maker. But Dante belongs to no one—except the woman he loves. . . .

ONE PASSION SWORN IN BLOOD

Determined to face the Fallen and the world on his own terms, Dante hopes to piece together his shattered past and claim his future, with FBI agent Heather Wallace at his side. But in Heather’s human family awaits an unexpected enemy. One who could rip Heather from Dante’s heart and fill the holes with bullets. One who could force Dante to choose his darkest destiny—as the Great Destroyer. . . .


***Book 5 in this series is called  On Midnight Wings and comes out on January 31, 2012

Learn more by checking out Adrian's website: http://adrianphoenix.com/

                    THE GIVEAWAY PORTION OF THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

GIVEAWAY:

I ended up with two copies of Etched In Bone, so I'm gonna give one copy away. To enter leave a comment along with your email address. This is open to US & Canada. The winner will be announced on July 10th. Good Luck!

EXTRA:

Adrian has been nice enough to offer a book to the giveaway too. The winner will get to pick a title for The Maker's Song. So, the prize will be Etched In Bone plus the winner's choice from the series.

[Review] - The Perilous Prophecy of Guard and Goddess

Title: The Perilous Prophecy of Guard and Goddess
Author: Leanna Renee Hieber
Series: Strangely Beautiful
Genre: Victorian Urban Fantasy
Release Date: May 2, 2011

I received this book for review from Netgalley
& Dorchester Publishing.

Summary:  The Goddess:

In the beginning, there were lovers: a winged deity of power and light, and a queen of grace and beauty. Phoenix was murdered, his beloved stolen away to the Whisper-world. But their passion inspired the Muses. Through great sacrifice, it could live again.

The Guard:

There are always six, mortal hosts for the divine. Battling spirits through the ages, they defy Darkness, Lord of the Dead. In 1867, a shadow rises. The tide turns against them, and all hope falls on a child of prophecy, an eerie, snow-white girl yet to be born. But her path must be cleared. A Great War is coming, and song, wind and stars whisper that the eighteen-year-old Beatrice Smith must give everything to prepare.

Thoughts: The Perilous Prophecy of Guard and Goddess is a  prequel to the events that happen in the Percy Parker books.  Not always a fan of prequels I was a little bit leary about reading this book.  But since I love the world Leanna Renee Hieber has created, I wanted to give it a go.

Beatrice and Ibrahaim's story is beautiful and passionate. While that isn't all that happens in the book I enjoyed the story of them. It was interesting seeing the London guard come together. A dark and seductive world. Hieber breathes life into the Victorian setting that makes you want to experience it for yourself first hand. I have to say I didn't love this book as much as first two books, but I did find that it was intriguing and enjoyable.
 
Score: 3 Stars

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

Upcoming Releases:
Miss Violet and the Great War (Strangely Beautiful #4)- 2012
Darker Still (Magic Most Foul #1)- November 1, 2012

[ARC Review] - In the Heat of the Bite

Title: In the Heat of the Bite
Author: Lydia Dare
Series: Regency Vampyre
Genre: Historical Paranormal Romance
Release Date: July 1, 2011

I received this book for review from Sourcebooks.

Summary:  Chivalry is far from undead...

Matthew Halkett, Earl of Blodswell, is one of the few men in the ton who can claim to be a knight in shining armor- because that's precisely what he was before being turned into a vampyre. When he spies a damsel in distress in the midst of a storm in Hyde Park, his natural instinct is to rush to her aid...

But not every woman needs to be rescued...

Weather-controlling witch Rhiannon Sinclair isn't caught in a storm-she's the cause of it. She's mortified to have been caught making trouble by the imposing earl, but she doesn't need any man-never has, and is sure she never will...

But when Rhiannon encounters Matthew again, her powers go awry and his supernatural abilities run amok. Between the two of them, the ton is thrown into an uproar. There's never been a more tempestuous scandal...

Thoughts: When Matthew Halkett sees Rhiannon Sinclair for the first time she is in the heart of a thunderstorm. Being the Knight that he is - he races to save her. Rhiannon finds this laughable, because she doesn't need saving - she is the storm.

Loved this book!! I imagine some readers are sick of me saying that about these books, but its true. I've loved everyone of them. This is a great series and it keeps getting better with each book.  Rhiannon and Matthew fall for each other pretty fast, but it definitely worked. I also found Dash's brothers quite interesting, I wonder if we'll see more of them. I love the weaving together of the historical and paranormal, it is masterful. In the Heat of the Bite is an enchanting read, with bewitching characters that keeps me turning the page for more.

Score: 4 Stars

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

Upcoming Releases:
Never Been Bit- September 1, 2011

In My Mailbox [112]

 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...

for the kindle

Review:
Ghost Soldiers- Keith Melton

Thank you to Keith Melton.

Paperback Swap:
Awaken Me Darkly- Gena Showalter

Bought:
The Heir- Grace Burrowes
Crave the Moon- Lori Handeland
Girl At Sea- Maureen Johnson
Sabine- Moira Rogers

What did you get this week? 

Feel free to leave your IMM link in the comments.

I hope everyone who is celebrating has a Happy 4th of July!  I won't be doing too much, sadly I have a cold. I will be lucky if I can get some reading in. I didn't read at all yesterday. Which I find horrifying. LOL!  I hope the cold lets up before I leave on vacation. But whatever your doing this weekend, I hope its a good one. :))