Friday Finds [29]

**Hosted by MizB, click here to see more Friday Finds

I usually add a lot of books on my TBR list throughout the week. This is just a small glimpse into the ones that were added on recently. Maybe you'll find something you like =)

Please let me know your thoughts on a book you've read from the list. Or tell me about a good book you've found this week.



My Finds This Week:

Walking the Tree :: Kaaron Warren

Take Me There :: Carolee Dean

Swoon At Your Own Risk :: Sydney Salfer

The Agency: A Spy in the House :: Y.S. Lee

A Certain Wolfish Charm :: Lydia Dare

Make Lemonade :: Virginia Euwer Wolff

Auralia's Colors :: Jeffrey Overstreet

Genoa Bay :: Bette Nordberg

Everything Forbidden :: Jess Michaels

Blonde with a Wand :: Vicki Lewis Thompson

The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker

The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker

Leanna Renee Hieber

Series or Stand Alone: The Strangely Beautiful series, book two

Release Date: April 2010

Publisher: Leisure Books

Pages: 320

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

My Rating: 4.5/5

Source: Received for review from author

Synopsis
[from goodreads.com]:

With radiant, snow white skin and hair, Percy Parker was a beacon for Fate. True love had found her, in the tempestuous form of Professor Alexi Rychman. But her mythic destiny was not complete. Accompanying the ghosts with which she alone could converse, new and terrifying omens loomed. A war was coming, a desperate ploy of a spectral host. Victorian London would be overrun. Yet, Percy kept faith. Within the mighty bastion of Athens Academy, alongside The Guard whose magic shielded mortals from the agents of the Underworld, she counted herself among friends. Wreathed in hallowed fire, they would stand together, no matter what dreams or nightmares—may come.

Review:

I have to say I really enjoy Leanna Renee Hieber’s writing! It’s lyrical and filled with emotion and I find myself completely engrossed whenever I’m reading a passage. THE DARKLY LUMINOUS FIGHT FOR PERSEPHONE PARKER continues to tell the tale of Percy, the Guard, and the fight to keep the streets of London safe.

I loved the expansion on the Guard and its members. I felt that at the end of this book I had a much better feeling of who they were as people and what they contributed to the Guard. They are truly a magical group of characters that made the book a real treat. I also liked the relationships that were blossoming/continuing/growing between the couples of the Guard. Basically there was a lot more romance in this installment and it was a wonderful addition!

I must point out that I was slightly annoyed by the two main characters throughout the book. Alexi had this alpha male thing going on that bugged me. And Percy was so innocent and fragile that I was almost afraid for her. However, these traits are important parts of their character that makes sense eventually. I did enjoy when Percy finally developed a stronger voice and stood her ground at some points. I totally wanted to high five her and say “Damn right! You go girl!”

The hardships and emotional toll on the characters were evident in the book. Being a “supernatural” team that is responsible for so many people is a burden that none of them asked for and yet they strive to uphold. It was just so nice to see the characters fleshed out more, they are such an important aspect of the book.

I’m happy to report that this installment is also packed with a lot more action as well! Some scenes may just leave you breathless, so be prepared. Basically my opinion is to read the Strangely Beautiful series ASAP, you won’t be disappointed. Be sure to check out my review of THE STRANGELY BEAUTIFUL TALE OF MISS PERCY PARKER!

I want to send a special thank you to Leanna for contacting me when her first book came out and being generous enough to include me in the celebration of her second book. I can’t express how wonderful it’s been to work with her!

Waiting on Wednesday [50]

from goodreads.com:

The year was 2014. We had cured cancer. We had beat the common cold. But in doing so we created something new, something terrible that no one could stop. The infection spread, virus blocks taking over bodies and minds with one, unstoppable command: FEED.

NOW, twenty years after the Rising, Georgia and Shaun Mason are on the trail of the biggest story of their lives-the dark conspiracy behind the infected. The truth will out, even if it kills them.

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Reason: I've had my eye on this book for a while now. I enjoy zombies. I haven't read too many books on them as of yet and some of the recent movies can be slightly annoying but FEED reminds me of Resident Evil. And you know what? I LOVE Resident Evil so I'm definitely wanting a copy of this!!

Cover Discussion: I enjoy the "feed" symbol. It's just like the one you click on when you subscribe to feeds. Pretty nifty, although seems a little irrelevent.





Feed will be released May 1st!


What are you waiting on this week?
To see more books that are being waited for click here.

The Clouds Roll Away

The Clouds Roll Away

Sibella Giorello

Series or Stand Alone: Raleigh Harmon series, book two

Release Date: March 2010

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Pages: 336

Author Site: http://www.sibellagiorello.com/

My Rating: 4.25/5

Source: Received for review from Phenix & Phenix Publicity

Synopsis

[from goodreads.com]:

Raleigh Harmon's life seems as impossible to solve as the high-profile case she's pursuing.

Closing her assignment with the FBI's Seattle office, forensic geologist Raleigh Harmon returns to her hometown of Richmond, Virginia, expecting a warm welcome. Instead she finds herself investigating an ugly cross burning at a celebrity's mansion and standing in the crosshairs of her boss at the Bureau. And the deeper Raleigh digs into the case, the murkier the water becomes...until she's left wondering who the real victims might be.

To make matters worse, Raleigh's personal life offers almost zero clarity. Her former confidant is suddenly remote while her former boyfriend keeps popping up wherever she goes. And then there's her mother. Raleigh's move home was supposed to improve Nadine's fragile sanity, but instead seems to be making things worse.

As the threads of the case begin crossing and double-crossing, Raleigh is forced to rely on her forensic skills, her faith, and the fervent hope that breakthrough will come, bringing with it that singular moment when the clouds roll away and everything finally makes sense.

Review:

Here’s another review that I waited WAY too long to write… and this time I’m actually pretty peeved at myself because I really enjoyed THE CLOUDS ROLL AWAY. I knew beforehand that the book was considered Christian Fiction and while I’m slowly starting to introduce myself to the genre, it still shocks the crap out of me when I find one that exceeds all of my expectations.

THE CLOUDS ROLL AWAY is a mystery/suspense/thriller that had me addicted to it in the first few chapters. Raleigh Harmon is a forensic geologist (how odd and cool is that?!?) who is returning home to Richmond, Virginia after finishing up a shaky case in Seattle. She returns to a new boss that wants nothing more than to sit her butt at a desk piled under mountains of paperwork, and a high-profile investigation that she wasn’t expecting to get a shot at. The case seems to be just another hate crime in the South but there is so much more than what is on the surface and it takes everything Raleigh has, including her faith, to keep her afloat.

I fully admit that I loved Raleigh. I can’t remember a lot of details about the novel but I know I enjoyed Raleigh’s personality and getting to know her. Apparently this isn’t the first book by Sibella Giorello that features Raleigh in it. I can’t figure out which installment THE CLOUDS ROLL AWAY is in her series however, which is a little frustrating. But besides that, I know I want more of Raleigh Harmon and I want it now!

I’m sorry I’m so sparse on details but a lot of it is so hazy now. I do know that (1) I want more by Sibella Giorello, especially if it features Raleigh and (2) don’t let the fact that this is Christian Fiction sway anyone from picking this one up. You definitely won’t be disappointed if you like mystery/thrillers!!

Drawn Into Darkness Winner

The winner of DRAWN INTO DARKNESS is...

misskallie2000

Congrats!! I'm at work so I won't get a chance to email you until later on this evening so feel free to send me your address to mishtakes AT gmail DOT com. Either way you until have Friday, April 30th to get your address to me. Thanks so much to everyone that entered. =)

Friday Finds [28]

**Hosted by MizB, click here to see more Friday Finds

I usually add a lot of books on my TBR list throughout the week. This is just a small glimpse into the ones that were added on recently. Maybe you'll find something you like =)

Please let me know your thoughts on a book you've read from the list. Or tell me about a good book you've found this week.




My Finds This Week:

Stormwalker :: Allyson James

The Pace :: Shelena Shorts

Siren :: Tricia Rayburn

Necropath :: Eric Brown

Olive Kitteridge :: Elizabeth Strout

Dark Water :: Laura McNeal

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate :: Jacqueline Kelly

Ancient Whispers :: Marie-Claude Bourque

Wicked All Day :: Liz Carlyle

Thirty Nights with a Highland Husband :: Melissa Mayhue

Mark of the Demon

Mark of the Demon

Diana Rowland

Series or Stand Alone: Kara Gillian series, book one

Release Date: June 2009

Publisher: Bantam

Pages: 384

Author Site: http://www.dianarowland.com/

My Rating: 4.75/5

Source: Purchased

Synopsis [from goodreads.com]:

Cop and conjurer of demons, she's a woman in danger of losing control—to a power that could kill....

Why me? Why now? That’s what Beaulac, Louisiana, detective Kara Gillian was asking herself when an angelic creature named Rhyzkahl unexpectedly appeared during a routine summoning. Kara was hoping to use her occult skills to catch a serial killer, but never had she conjured anything like this unearthly beautiful and unspeakably powerful being whose very touch set off exquisite new dimensions of pleasure. But can she enlist his aid in helping her stop a killer who’s already claimed the lives—and souls—of thirteen people? And should she? The Symbol Man is a nightmare that the city thought had ended three years ago. Now he’s back for an encore and leaving every indication on the flesh of his victims that he, too, is well versed in demonic lore.

Kara may be the only cop on Beaulac’s small force able to stop the killer, but it is her first homicide case. Yet with Rhyzkahl haunting her dreams, and a handsome yet disapproving FBI agent dogging her waking footsteps, she may be in way over her head...

Review:

So I definitely regret waiting so long to pick this up. MARK OF THE DEMON knocked my socks off! I can't quite pinpoint the wow factor though, I just know I fell in love with Kara and her demon-filled world. I don't have many "demon" novels under my belt so I was wonderfully surprised at how much Diana and her writing pulled me in. Kara isn't perfect at her job, her summonings, or her life in general and she knows it. She is well aware of her flaws and its refreshing to have a heroine who is so honest and real. Kara is definitely a woman I would like to have as a friend in real life.

The demonology lore in the book was fascinating I must admit. Diana Rowland lays out a very well thought out demon world that lays side-by-side with the human world. Like I mentioned before I have no other "demon" books to compare MARK OF THE DEMON too but I do know I loved reading about the different levels of demons and what they looked like. Very cool!

There's a lot of suspense in the novel. I thought I knew who the Symbol Man was and then Diana Rowland throws a curve ball that makes the reader question their judgement. The entire murder plot was extensive and very well-written and kept me on the edge of my seat. Overall MARK OF THE DEMON has everything a great novel should have! I highly recommend picking up the book and settling down into Kara's world. As soon as I was finished with MARK OF THE DEMON I went out and bought book two despite the fact that I have a huge TBR pile of books in my room =] I just couldn't help it. And the only reason it didn't recieve a 5 star rating from me was because I had slight personal problems with the some of the aspects of the book but trust me, MARK OF THE DEMON is damn near perfection!!

Book Arrivals

----------

From Contests/Giveaways & Misc:

The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker :: Leanna Renee Hieber
(Book two in the Strangely Beautiful series)
(Received for review from the lovely author!)

With radiant, snow white skin and hair, Percy Parker was a beacon for Fate. True love had found her, in the tempestuous form of Professor Alexi Rychman. But her mythic destiny was not complete. Accompanying the ghosts with which she alone could converse, new and terrifying omens loomed. A war was coming, a desperate ploy of a spectral host. Victorian London would be overrun. Yet, Percy kept faith. Within the mighty bastion of Athens Academy, alongside The Guard whose magic shielded mortals from the agents of the Underworld, she counted herself among friends. Wreathed in hallowed fire, they would stand together, no matter what dreams or nightmares—may come.

The Reincarnationist :: M.J. Rose

(Book one in the Reincarnationist series)

(Won from giveaway hosted by author)

A bomb in Rome, a flash of bluish-white light, and photojournalist Josh Ryder's world exploded. From that instant nothing would ever be the same.

As Josh recovers, his mind is increasingly invaded with thoughts that have the emotion, the intensity, the intimacy of memories. But they are not his memories. They are ancient . . . and violent. A battery of medical and psychological tests can't explain Josh's baffling symptoms. And the memories have an urgency he can't ignore -- pulling him to save a woman named Sabina . . . and the treasures she is protecting.

But who is Sabina?

Desperate for answers, Josh turns to the world-renowned Phoenix Foundation -- a research facility that scientifically documents cases of past life experiences. His findings there lead him to an archaeological dig and to Professor Gabriella Chase, who has discovered an ancient tomb -- a tomb with a powerful secret that threatens to merge the past with the present. Here, the dead call out to the living, and murders of the past become murders of the present.

The Memorist :: M.J. Rose

(Book two in the Reincarnationist series)

(Received from author)

The dreads are back. As a child, Meers Logan was haunted by memories of another time and place, always accompanied by the faint strains of elusive music. Now the hand of the past has reached out again. An envelope addressed to her and delivered to the Phoenix Foundation--an institute dedicated to the recovery of past life memories--contains a childhood drawing of an elaborate box that Meers recognizes...and a sheet from an auction catalog identifying the object--which she spent years imagining--as an eighteenth-century gaming box.

Determined to unlock the mystery of who she once was, she travels to Vienna to find the box. With each step, she comes closer to remembering the connections between a clandestine reincarnationist society, the lost Memory Flute linked to Ludwig van Beethoven and rumored to open the door to the past, and to David Yalom, a journalist who knows all too well how the past affects the future.

----------

Purchased:

Blood of the Demon :: Diana Rowland

(Book two in the Kara Gillian series)

BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL, MAN AND DEMON, SHE’S ABOUT TO FACE THE ONE THING SHE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SURVIVE.

Welcome to the world of Kara Gillian, a cop with a gift. Not only does she have the power of “othersight” to see what most people can’t even imagine, but she’s become the exclusive summoner of a demon lord. Or maybe it’s the other way around. The fact is, with two troublesome cases on her docket and a handsome FBI agent under her skin, Kara needs the help of sexy, insatiable Lord Rhyzkahl more than he needs her. Because these two victims, linked by suspicious coincidence, haven’t just been murdered. Something has eaten their souls.

It’s a case with roots in the arcane, but whose evil has flowered among the rich, powerful, and corrupt in Beaulac, Louisiana. And as the killings continue, Kara soon realizes how much there’s still to learn about demons, men, and things that kill in the night—and how little time she has to learn it.

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From Paperbackswap.com:

Nightwalker :: Jocelynn Drake

(Book one in the Dark Days series)

For centuries Mira has been a nightwalker—an unstoppable enforcer for a mysterious organization that manipulates earth-shaking events from the darkest shadows. But elemental mastery over fire sets her apart from others of her night-prowling breed . . . and may be all that prevents her doom.

The foe she now faces is human: the vampire hunter called Danaus, who has already destroyed so many undead. For Mira, the time has come to hunt . . . or be hunted.

Gone

Gone
Lisa McMann

Series or Stand Alone: Wake trilogy, book three

Release Date: February 2010

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Pages: 224

Author Site: http://lisamcmann.com/

My Rating: 3.75/5

Source: Purchased

Synopsis

[from goodreads.com]:

Janie thought she knew what her future held. And she thought she’d made her peace with it. But she can’t handle dragging Cabel down with her.

She knows he will stay with her, despite what she sees in his dreams. He’s amazing. And she’s a train wreck. Janie sees only one way to give him the life he deserves: She has to disappear. And it’s going to kill them both.

Then a stranger enters her life — and everything unravels. The future Janie once faced now has an ominous twist, and her choices are more dire than she’d ever thought possible. She alone must decide between the lesser of two evils. And time is running out....

Review:

I shouldn't have waited so long to write my review of this book, or any book for that matter. I'm seriously working on getting reviews out a few days after I read the book, otherwise I really struggle to recall the things I liked or disliked about a book. I do know that I gobbled GONE done just like I did the previous two books. However, I didn't enjoy this one as much as I did the other two.

GONE is the final book in the Wake trilogy. I for one am sad to see the series end. The overall story is so unique to what I've read before and the writing style Lisa McMann chooses to use continuous to surprise me at how easy and enjoyable it is to follow. And while I didn't love GONE as much as I did the other two books, there are still many aspects of the book that I enjoyed.

Janie has grown and changed throughout the novels and to me, she's very different in GONE. I wasn't as attached to her as I used to be and that troubled me somewhat. Her relationship with the steady and reliable Cabel was nice to see although there are many rocky moments in the book for the couple, which is understandable. It's definitely easy to see where Janie and her feelings are coming from. She refuses to hurt Cabel and doesn't want him to waste his life with her but I still felt she needed to lighten up. Cable obviously loves her and I think he fully understands the consequences of all of his choices. I may be a little biased though, I happen to adore Cabel very much!!

The additon of Janie's father into the mix was interesting. It brought out qualities in Janie that I both liked and disliked. I got to see again how loyal Janie can be to those she comes to care about but I also saw a side of her that felt like she was giving up. It's tough to explain without giving away so many details so I'll leave it at that.

I was by no means disappointed with GONE. I just felt that GONE was a little different than the first two books and I'm still working on deciding if I like that fact or not. Either way the series is a hit for me. I've come to really enjoy Lisa McMann's writing and her story telling. I'm eagerly waiting to see what she has in store for us next. (Hopefully a revisit to Janie and Cable sometime in the future...ending be damned =) )

Two for the Dough

Two for the Dough
Janet Evanovich

Series or Stand Alone: Stephanie Plum series, book two

Release Date: September 1996

Publisher: Pocket

Pages: 312

Author Site: http://www.evanovich.com/

My Rating: 3.75/5

Source: Paperbackswap.com


Synopsis [from goodreads.com]:

From the author of One for the Money comes the second clever comic mystery featuring irrepressible bounty hunter Stephanie Plum. Here, Stephanie finds herself on the trail of a killer who happens to have a distant relative who's a vice cop with questionable ethics, a libido in permanent overdrive, and a habit of horning in on Stephanie's investigations.

Review:

Stephanie Plum continues to make me giggle. She's not the typical kick-ass heroine that is gracing many of the newly released books today, but she is tough and definitley has luck on her side. TWO FOR THE DOUGH continues Stephanie's life as a bounty hunter. A new job comes in featuring a cousin of Joe Morelli's, named Kenny Mancuso, who is in a heap load of trouble for shooting his best friend. But he doesn't stop there as he's soon looking at a murder rap after the best friend is found dead. Things get quirkier as the story continues and Stephanie finds an unlikely partner in her Grandma Mazur. The two of them end up hitting up many local funeral parlors in hopes of catching Stephanie's bounty.

Grandma Mazur is one of the best characters in TWO FOR THE DOUGH. Her attitude and the things that come out of her mouth definitely had me laughing out loud. I fully admit I'm in love in Stephanie's family. Not one I'd like to have myself lol but one I'd like to go over and have dinner with as often as possible =)

While I didn't love this one as much as book one, I still really enjoyed it. It's full of action, hilarious moments, and kept me turning those pages. I'm looking forward to continuing on with all the characters in book three. I'm sure Janet Evanovich will have Stephanie in more adventures that will go horribly wrong and still keep the reader laughing.

Teaser Tuesday [43]

Teaser Tuesdays asks you to:





-Grab your current read
-Let the book fall open to a random page.
-Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12
-You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given.
-Please avoid spoilers!







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Shit. How was I going to explain to my aunt that not only had I somewhow screwed up the summoning but I'd gone and had sex with the creature too? (66)

Mark of the Demon :: Diana Rowland

Drawn Into Darkness [ARC Review & GIVEAWAY]

Drawn Into Darkness

Annette McCleave

Series or Stand Alone: Soul Gatherer series, book one

Release Date: September 2009

Publisher: Signet

Pages: 352

Author Site: http://www.annettemccleave.com/

My Rating: 3.75/5

Source: ARC won from giveaway @ Anna's Book Blog

Synopsis [from goodreads.com]:

Serving a five-hundred-year sentence as a Soul Gatherer-one who battles demons for the souls of the dead-Lachlan MacGregor keeps his distance from humans. That is, until the lovely Rachel Lewis knocks on his door, begging for help. As they struggle to rescue her daughter from the clutches of a powerful demon, Lachlan finds himself increasingly drawn to the artistic single mother. But when Death assigns him an unbearable task, he's left wondering who will provide more for his soul.

Review:

DRAWN INTO DARKNESS is definitely a great and promising start to this new paranormal romance series. Annette McCleave has added some very unique and inventive elements to the PNR genre. The idea of Soul Gatherers was very well thought out and written down (even in the Uncorrected Proof). I enjoyed Lachlan (although his accent was slightly annoying - sorry to the Scottish lovers out there). Lachlan is not a typical alpha male. He's actually a mixture of Alpha and gentleman in my opinion. A fresh element indeed =) I like the Alphas but frankly they can be a bit overwhelming and tiresome after a while.

Rachel was a good heroine to get to know. Funny, smart, and extremely likeable I thought she was a perfect match for Lachlan. The only downside to Rachel?.. her daughter Emily. Now I get the whole rebellious teenager thing. But Emily is important to the story (you'll see why in the end) and I found myself rolling my eyes big time while reading most of the scenes with her in it. Quite frankly I wanted to smack the girl. I couldn't really like her even though Lachlan was sent to protect her soul. Even after the climax at the end and the battle between Lachlan and the "bad guy" I still couldn't really find it in me to like the poor girl. I'm definitely hoping for some improvement in her character with book two.

One thing I loved was the interaction and friendship between Lachlan and fellow Soul Gatherer Brian - hilarious stuff!! I'm definitely looking forward to continuing on with BOUND BY DARKNESS which comes out next month. I also have to get off my butt and purchase my own copy of DRAWN INTO DARKNESS =) All in all, I don't think you'll be disappointed with trying this series out.

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

One person will win my gently read Uncorrected Proof DRAWN INTO DARKNESS by simply commenting below with an email address... (no email address = no entry)

Extra Entries:

+2 for following/subscribing the blog.
+2 for following on twitter. (provide your twitter @name)
+1 share this! -sidebar, blog post, twitter, facebook (links required, each link = +1)

Giveaway ends April 27th and the winner will be announced April 28th. US Entries only.

Good luck!

Book Arrivals (Late)

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From Paperbackswap.com:

Inkheart :: Cornelia Funke

(Book one in the Inkheart series)

Twelve-year-old Meggie learns that her father, who repairs and binds books for a living, can "read" fictional characters to life when one of those characters abducts them and tries to force him into service.

----------

Purchased:

Dreamland :: Sarah Dessen

Strange, sleepy Rogerson, with his long brown dreads and brilliant green eyes, had seemed to Caitlin to be an open door. With him she could be anybody, not just the second-rate shadow of her older sister, Cass. But now she is drowning in the vacuum Cass left behind when she turned her back on her family's expectations by running off with a boyfriend. Caitlin wanders in a dream land of drugs and a nightmare of Rogerson's sudden fists, lost in her search for herself.

The Truth About Forever :: Sarah Dessen

With her sixth novel, award-winning author Sarah Dessen offers up another generous helping of finely crafted storytelling about real teens dealing with real life. In The Truth About Forever, when asked how she is coping with her father's death, invariably seventeen year old Macy Queen's answer is "fine," when nothing could be further from the truth. In actuality, she is drowning in grief while maintaining a flawless façade of good grades and unblemished behavior. Though she feels lost when her boyfriend heads to "Brain Camp" for the summer, she finds herself a job with the quirky Wish Catering crew, and meets "sa-woon"-worthy Wes, whose chaotic lifestyle is in direct opposition to her own. As the two share their stories over the summer, Macy realizes she can no longer keep her feelings on ice. Though it feels like her future ended with her dad's death, Macy's learns that forever is all about beginnings. Dessen charts Macy's navigation of grief in such an honest way it will touch every reader who meets her.

Someone Like You :: Sarah Dessen

Best friends for years, Scarlett and Halley have shared everything. But at the beginning of their junior year in high school, Scarlett discovers she's pregnant and their friendship enters a new and challenging phase.

This Lullaby :: Sarah Dessen

"I had no illusions about love... It came, it went, it left casualties or it didn't. People weren't meant to be together forever, regardless of what the songs say." Remy doesn't believe in love. And why should she? Her romance novelist mother is working on her fifth marriage, and her father, a '70s hippie singer, left her with only a one-hit wonder song to remember him by. Every time Remy hears "This Lullaby," it feels like "a bruise that never quite healed right." "Wherever you may go / I will let you down / But this lullaby plays on..." Never without a boyfriend, Remy is a compulsive dater, but before a guy can go all "Ken" on her (as in "ultra boyfriend behavior") she cuts him off, without ever getting close or getting hurt. That's why she's stunned when klutzy, quirky, alterna-band boy Dexter inserts himself into her life and refuses to leave. Remy's been accepted to Stanford, and she plans on having her usual summer fling before tying up the loose ends of her pre-college life and heading for the coast. Except Dexter's not following Remy's tried-and-true rules of break-up protocol. And for the first time, Remy's questioning whether or not she wants him to.

Blood Bound :: Patricia Briggs

(Book two in the Mercy Thompson series)

Mechanic Mercy Thompson has friends in low places-and in dark ones. And now she owes one of them a favor. Since she can shapeshift at will, she agrees to act as some extra muscle when her vampire friend Stefan goes to deliver a message to another of his kind.

But this new vampire is hardly ordinary-and neither is the demon inside of him.

Iron Kissed :: Patricia Briggs

(Book three in the Mercedes Thompson series)

When her former boss and mentor is arrested for murder and left to rot behind bars by his own kind, it's up to shapeshifting car mechanic Mercy Thompson to clear his name, whether he wants her to or not. And she'll have to choose between the two werewolves in her life-whether she wants to or not.

Bone Crossed :: Patricia Briggs

(Book four in the Mercedes Thompson series)

By day, Mercy is a car mechanic in the sprawling Tri-Cities of Eastern Washington. By night, she explores her preternatural side. As a shapeshifter with some unique talents, Mercy has often found herself having to maintain a tenuous harmony between the human and the not so human. This time she may get more than she bargained for.

Marsilia, the local Vampire Queen, has learned that Mercy crossed her by slaying a member of her clan—and she's out for blood. But since Mercy is protected from direct reprisal by the werewolf pack (and her close relationship with its sexy Alpha), it won't be Mercy's blood Marsilia is after.

It'll be her friends.

Soulless :: Gail Carriger

(Book one in the Parasol Protectorate series)

Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.

Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire -- and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.

With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?

Changeless :: Gail Carriger

(Book two in the Parasol Protectorate series)

Alexia Tarabotti, now Lady Maccon, awakens in the wee hours of the mid-afternoon to find her husband, who should be decently asleep like any normal werewolf, yelling at the top of his lungs. Then he disappears -- leaving her to deal with a regiment of supernatural soldiers encamped on her doorstep, a plethora of exorcised ghosts, and an angry Queen Victoria.

But Alexia is armed with her trusty parasol, the latest fashions, and an arsenal of biting civility. Even when her investigations take her into the backwaters of ugly waistcoats, Scotland, she is prepared: upending werewolf pack dynamics as only a soulless can.

She might even find time to track down her wayward husband, if she feels like it.

Rogue :: Rachel Vincent

(Book two in the Shifters series)

Okay, so cats don t always land on their feet.

I know that better than most. Since rejoining the Pride, I ve made big decisions and even bigger mistakes: the kind paid for with innocent lives. As the first and only female enforcer, I have plenty to prove to my father, the Pride, and myself. And with murdered toms turning up in our territory, I m working harder than ever, though I always find the energy for a little after-hours recreation with Marc, my partner both on- and off-duty.

But not all of my mistakes are behind me. We re beginning to suspect that the dead are connected to a rash of missing human women and that they can all be laid at my feet--two or four, take your pick. And one horrible indiscretion may yet cost me more than I can bear...

Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs :: Molly Harper

(Book one in the Jane Jameson series)

Maybe it was the Shenanigans gift certificate that put her over the edge. When children's librarian and self-professed nice girl Jane Jameson is fired by her beastly boss and handed twenty-five dollars in potato skins instead of a severance check, she goes on a bender that's sure to become Half Moon Hollow legend. On her way home, she's mistaken for a deer, shot, and left for dead. And thanks to the mysterious stranger she met while chugging neon-colored cocktails, she wakes up with a decidedly unladylike thirst for blood.

Jane is now the latest recipient of a gift basket from the Newly Undead Welcoming Committee, and her life-after-lifestyle is taking some getting used to. Her recently deceased favorite aunt is now her ghostly roommate. She has to fake breathing and endure daytime hours to avoid coming out of the coffin to her family. She's forced to forgo her favorite down-home Southern cooking for bags of O negative. Her relationship with her sexy, mercurial vampire sire keeps running hot and cold. And if all that wasn't enough, it looks like someone in Half Moon Hollow is trying to frame her for a series of vampire murders. What's a nice undead girl to do?

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From Contests/Giveaways & Misc:

Eight Days In Darkness :: LCSW, Angela Roegner, Anita Wooldridge

(Received for review)

On June 25, 1998, Anita Wooldridge was taken from her parents' home in broad daylight by a convicted rapist. For eight terrifying days, Anita was savagely beaten and raped by her captor, who locked her in a metal storage cabinet for hours at a time. With only a steadfast faith in God to comfort her, Anita refused to give up hope that she would be found. Eight Days in Darkness chronicles the shocking events of Anita's kidnapping, including her transport across state lines, and the impressive efforts of local authorities and FBI agents which led to her rescue and the dramatic capture and conviction of her abductor. Anita's story is still used today as a case study for prospective FBI agents, and Eight Days in Darkness paints a portrait of the real-life battle between good and evil.