Teaser Tuesdays - The Red Gate

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I'm on page 145 right now and really liking this book so far. It's intriguing and I love the writing style.

He mused upon how he had found adult life: ill-fitting, like a suit of clothes that bunched and lumped up under the arms, tight enough to make breathing an effort. It didn't really suit him, yet here he was, dressed head to toe in his life as a grown man, but feeling still, like the boy he'd been all those years ago.
(page 20, The Red Gate by Richard Sutton)

Winners!!

I have the winners of the I Smell Aliens giveaway for you today!

The grand prize (a signed book by Gini Koch, two Beastie-Poofs and some extra swag) has been won by:
Michelle Bledsoe

The second prize (two Beastie-Poofs and some extra swag) has been won by:
Diana

Congrats to both of you!
I will send you an email to ask for your addy and such.

My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon
by P.N. Elrod, Marjorie M. Liu, Katie MacAlister, Lilith Saintcrow, Ronda Thompson, Kelley Armstrong, Jim Butcher, Rachel Caine and Caitlin Kittredge

What is it about:
What newly married couple doesn't dream of a romantic retreat where they can escape the world for a while—but what happens when supernatural forces intrude on their wedded bliss?

Nine of today’s hottest paranormal authors answer that question in this all-star collection of supernatural stories. Can a vampire-hunter enjoy her honeymoon when she’s just learned that her new hubby is a werewolf? How can newlyweds focus on their wedding night when their honeymoon suite is haunted by feuding ghosts? And what’s a wizard to do when a gruesome monster kidnaps the bride on her way home from the wedding?

With so much otherworldly mayhem awaiting our newlyweds, will they ever get around to the honeymoon itself? Find out in…My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon.

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
I will confess I had difficulty getting into most of the stories. With some it was clear that this was because the story was part of a series and I hadn't read any other books in the series. Others just didn't work for me storywise or felt too forced. Not surprisingly three of the four stories I liked the most were by authors I was familiar with before picking up this book.

My favourites are:
Stalked by Kelley Armstrong
Newlydeads by Caitlin Kittredge
Where the Heart Lives by Marjorie M. Liu
Cat Got Your Tongue? by Katie MacAlister

Why should you read it:
I would advice this book to fans of one or more of the featured authors.

Bandits - Early Book Review

*
Bandits by L.M. Preston

What is it about:
Daniel's father has gotten himself killed and left another mess for Daniel to clean up. To save his world from destruction, he must fight off his father's killers while discovering a way to save his world. Time is running out, and Daniel must choose to either walk in his father's footsteps or to reinvent himself into the one to save his world.

What did I think of it:
I really liked this story.
Preston creates an intriguing world full of danger and excitement. Her writing is pleasant and vivid and she pays attention to detail in creating the setting of this story. Although it has a dash of SciFi it's mostly a fantasy pirate adventure and a good one at that: it's got thieves, treasure troves, weird creatures and more. The story moves along at a fast pace with almost non stop action, plunging Daniel and his friends from one danger into the next, leading to a well rounded ending, but with the promise of more adventure.
All in all a more than pleasant YA adventure with possibilities to turn into a series.

Why should you read it:
If you're looking for a YA story full of adventure, this is your book.


* Bandits will be released June 1st 2011 by Phenomenal One Press

Waiting on Wednesday

My regular followers will probably be able to guess most of the books I'm waiting for, but here's a book I'm dying to read that's by a new-to-me author:

My Life as A White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland

What is it about:
Teenage delinquent Angel Crawford lives with her redneck father in the swamps of southern Louisiana. She's a high school dropout, addicted to drugs and alcohol, and has a police record a mile long. But when she's made into a zombie after a car crash, her addictions disappear, except for her all-consuming need to stay "alive"...


I want to have this book just for the cover and title alone! Luckily the story sounds like it might be very cool as well, so this one has been pre ordered.

Teaser Tuesdays - Ghosts and Echoes

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Not too sure about this one yet, I must confess.

"I reclaim what's mine," he said. He shrugged, a fluid rearrangement of Wright's stiffly set shoulders, projecting an ease he obviously didn't feel.
(page 70, Ghosts & Echoes by Lyn Benedict)

ps: while you're dropping by anyway, don't forget to check out the giveaway here

Enemy Games - Book Review

Enemy Games (Enemy #2) by Marcella Burnard

What is it about:
Kidnapped while combating a devastating plague, Jayleia Durante fights to resist the attractive Major Damen Sindrivik, an officer from a rival government’s spy corps. But with her spymaster father missing, and mercenaries hot on her trail, Jayleia must join forces with the magnetic, charming and manipulative spy. She must see past her desire and remember that his single-minded agenda is for the protection of the empire - not her or her people.

Damen knows a shadowy network of traitors has allied with the violent Chekydran, and that Jayleia’s father holds the key to dismantling that web. She becomes his only lead in a circuitous round of hide and seek and despite their opposing sides, he can’t resist her. Too bad his instincts tell him Jayleia is lying to him.

Now Jayleia and Damen must find the love to match their passion and end the war or they’ll become the prey of the traitors they stalk, and one species’ civil war will consume the galaxy.

What did I think of it:
I've been looking forward to reading this book ever since reading Enemy Within, the first book in this series. And I can tell you this book was worth the wait.

Burnard manages to mix Scifi, adventure, suspense and romance into a thrilling tale that has you hooked from the start. The world building in this book is excellent and the plot is fast paced and intricate, which makes that you have to keep paying attention or you will easily lose track of what's going on. The romance and action storylines work well together and neither overshadows the other luckily enough.

So, no negative points? Only a minor one: Jayleia is a difficult character to get to know, but I liked Damen from the start, which made me invested in Damen's attempts to break through Jayleia's defenses to get to the person inside, so in the end this wasn't really a negative point at all.

Why should you read it:
It's a thrilling, romantic, SciFi adventure.

Arcane Circle - Book Review

Arcane Circle (Persephone Alcmedi #4) by Linda Robertson

What is it about:
After facing down the forces of Fairy in mortal combat, Persephone Alcmedi still must deal with the aftermath. Not only does Seph now possess deadly secrets she must hide from the arcane and mundane world alike, but the dozens of magical creatures who’ve taken up residence behind her cornfield need food and shelter, and there’s still her foster daughter Beverly’s tenth birthday party to plan.

And that’s not all. . . . Seph’s boyfriend Johnny has revealed himself as the wærewolf Domn Lup, and the ruler of the wære world is en route from Romania to make sure Johnny really is the “king” he claims to be. But Johnny’s hiding a dangerous secret: his magic is locked in his mysterious tattoos. He and Seph must find a way for him to reclaim it—fast—despite those who have no intention of letting Johnny gain his full powers. Seph knows that, in the arcane world, strength is always a necessity and power must be constantly proven, but how far is she willing to go to succeed . . . and at what cost?

What did I think of it:
I both loved and disliked this book. I loved it for the awesome, suspenseful story, the setting, the characters and all the other things I also loved in the previous books in this series. Robertson manages to make you feel for her characters even those with only a very small part and she knows how to introduce storyhooks for future books that make you curious about what will happen next without getting you frustrated. I disliked it because it also contained one of my personal pet peeves about the subject family and this ruined my enjoyment of the story. I'm hoping the next book will steer clear of my pet peeves as this is an amazing series otherwise.

Why should you read it:
It's got great writing and an exciting, cool story

Fatal Circle - Book Review

Fatal Circle (Persephone Alcmedi #3) by Linda Robertson

What is it about:
There was a time when Persephone Alcmedi thought her life was hard to manage, what with wondering how to make sure she took adequate care of both her grandmother and her foster daughter, Beverley, whether she’d end up in the unwanted position of high priestess of a coven, and whether her wærewolf lover, Johnny, would resist the groupies who hang around his band Lycanthropia.

But that was before the fairies started demanding that Seph’s frightening, unpredictable ally—the ancient vampire Menessos— be destroyed . . . or the world will suffer. Seph and Menessos are magically bonded, but that’s a secret she dares not reveal to her fellow witches lest they be forced to reject her and forbid her use of magic. And, despite the strain this casts on her relationship with Johnny, as a showdown with the fairies nears, she and Menessos badly need the wærewolves as allies.

Life, death, and love are all on the line, but when destiny is calling, it doesn’t help to turn away. With the individual threads of their fates twisted inextricably together, can Seph, Johnny, and Menessos keep the world safe from fairy vengeance?

What did I think of it:
This one of those series where each new book is better than the one before it. Fatal Circle is an intense, emotional and gripping read. I couldn't put this one down until I finished it and had to immediately grab the next book to find out what was next for Seph.

As I said before the writing is excellent as is the worldbuilding. When it comes to characterisation Robertson's characters feel life-like even when they're not quite human and this makes me like them and relate to them. My favourite character is Seph's grandmother, who seems to have the same stubborn streak that runs in my own family.

And finally there's one concern: The romance! It is hovering on the brink of getting too triangly for me, and I fear for what will happen in future books, but so far I can still manage to read it without getting too stressed out ;-)

Why should you read it:
Werewolves, witches, vampires and stubborn grandmothers: this Urban Fantasy has it all!

I Smell Aliens - Giveaway

As you might know both Voodoo Bride and me love the Katherine (Kitty) Katt books by Gini Koch.

And we're not alone in our love for these books and the characters in those books. So that's why Voodoo Bride teamed up with one of the sheep over at I Smell Sheep and hooked an interview with Kitty and two of her friends. (I wasn't invited to the interview as according to Voodoo Bride all I can ever do is talk about zombies during interviews.)

Ofcourse I decided to have a talk with those sheep and aliens myself as well and we came up with a brilliant idea, if I do say so myself:
While Voodoo Bride is over at I Smell Sheep I'm holding a related giveaway here!

I hear you asking:
What is there to win?

One lucky person will win a signed copy of one of Gini Koch's books!
(winner's choice. The book will be send by Gini herself)

But that's not all!
The winner will also win two Beastie-Poofs!
(send by me)
Beastie-Poofs are small alien creatures who are (distantly) related to alien creatures who appear in Alien in the Family.
(See the pictures for what these Beastie-Poofs look like. And no, the one looking like a pig isn't a Beastie-Poof, it's just me.)

I will also select a runner-up and this runner-up will also win two Beastie-Poofs!

Both winners will also get some extra stuff like cards, bookmarks and whatever else I run into and which seems like a good idea to send along with the Beastie-Poofs

So what do you have to do to enter this giveaway?

- Go over to I Smell Sheep for the interview (don't forget to give the girls some love) and when you get back here leave a comment in which you tell me what your favourite answer is in the Rapid Fire Round.

- Leave a way for me to contact you

- Last day to enter this giveaway is May 28th

- I will let the big bad random generator decide a winner and runner-up soon afterwards and anounce it here and I'll get in touch with both of them to let them know they won.

* No, you don't need to be a follower of my blog or I Smell Sheep, although we do appreciate people following us if they like our blog ofcourse.
* Neither do you have to twitter or otherwise spread the word, although this too is highly appreciated.

That's it!
So run on over to the interview and learn all about Kitty and her zombies... ehm... friends.

Fierce Dawn and More - Special guest Amber Scott

Today is a special day!
Because today “Fierce Dawn” by Amber Scott is the IBC’s Bestseller For a Day!

I'm reading Fierce Dawn at the moment and I can tell you it's an amazing read!

Snarling teeth, glowing eyes. Someone--something--is after Sadie Graves.

Elijah Stokes, the man who haunts her dreams, enters her reality claiming she’s transforming into a changeling--not quite immortal but no longer human.

Battle lines are drawn and blood spills as the two fight not only for Sadie’s life, but for all of mankind's as well..


For this occasion Amber made a special list for us to see wether we are paranormal junkies or not. And there's some very special offers further down in this post, so don't forget to check those out as well!
----------

You might be a paranormal junkie if...

1. When you see a full moon, you listen for a lonely howl.

2. For Halloween, you dress as a zombie since you’re already a witch.

3. You’ve been known to ask to be nibbled on the neck.

4. Your neighbor mentions thinking they have a ghost and you get jealous.

5. For your birthday, instead of cake, you ask for candles and set them up for an impromptu seance.

6. In your home, the Oija board goes next to the scrying mirror, NOT next to Monopoly.

7. You sneak glitter into the body lotion hoping your significant other will sparkle in sunlight.

8. You’d rather honeymoon at Stonehenge, but Transylvania might do, too.

9. Until your real magic wand cooperates, the TV remote control shaped like one will have to suffice.

10. Next to a glowing moon, fang marks sound like the coolest tattoo ever. All you have to do is decide—neck? Or inner thigh?

--------------

Need a paranormal fix with a new vampire twist? “Fierce Dawn” is the IBC’s Bestseller For a Day, promotion priced at just 99 cents for your buying pleasure. Grab yours and get in on some amazing giveaways, including a Kindle and a signed ebook of “Fierce Dawn.” Just click HERE.

Buy to Win!!!
Enter to win a Kindle!!!

Check here to find out how you can enter to win a Kindle when you buy Fierce Dawn.

2 (or even 3 or 4) Books for the Price of 1!!!

You read that right! You can get the below books for free if you buy them together with Fierce Dawn!
Details can be found here

After Belle the cat switches bodies with a psychic on the run from a murderer, she wants her perfect cat body back instead of this furless human one. But she doesn't count on falling in love with her former owner. Or that a CEO and a beauty queen want to use up her nine lives. Now is her chance to prove anything a human can do, a cat can do better.


Lovers torn apart by history
Bound for eternity


Tess Jennings has the ability to see and talk to spirits. On a daily basis, they harass and annoy her to save their souls. Sometimes she helps, other times she ignores them, but one ghost will give her no choice. Kipp McGowan, a cop with the Memphis Police Department, uses his ghostly charms to gain her attention and forces her to expose herself to his partner.

As she’s pulled into the five year old cold case of Hannah Reid she wants no part of, she finds herself in more than one precarious situation. But that’s the least of her worries―Tess begins to have a serious problem on her hands. Kipp might be dead, but he’s drop-dead gorgeous and she’s beginning to forget that he’s a ghost.

Murder and corruption has brought Tess and Kipp together. But as her feelings for Kipp deepen, she suspects she just signed herself up for a one-way ticket to the nut house, and can only hope, straitjackets come in a size four.

Teaser Tuesdays - Arcane Circle

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This is the 4th book in the Persephone Alcmedi series and I'm loving this series!

The review of book 3 will be posted later this week.

That's my Nana. If she didn't like someone she could give them the cold shoulder all day, but when dinner was served she'd still expect them to eat. She'd be mightily offended if they snubbed her dinner in retaliation.
(page 102, Arcane Circle by Linda Robertson)

Blood and Spirits - Book Review

Blood & Spirits (The Coming Storm Trilogy Book 1) by Dennis Sharpe

What is it about:
Small-town life can be hard for a dead girl...

For Veronica Fischer the night to night life of a bloodsucking madam in Middle America is tough enough before she adopts Rachel Gregory, an eight year old ghost.

After her house is set on fire, and Rachel disappears, all signs point to foul play. When she finds herself with a hit out on her unlife, and warrants for her arrest, it becomes clear she's going to need help.

Now she has to contend with horny zombies, violent spirits, and murderous grave robbers if she's ever going to find Rachel and discover the awful truth of the coming storm.

A raucous ride through the dangerous lives of the lecherous undead.

What did I think of it:
A promising start of a trilogy even though the horny zombies bit was totally different from what I had expected. This story is much grittier than I thought after reading the blurb, but that's absolutely not a bad thing. The characters are intriguing and the story suspenseful and disturbing from time to time. There's multiple viewpoints which gives you more insight in what's happening, but Veronica is the main viewpoint character and she's a cool and interesting character at that. Being the first book in a trilogy it luckily hasn't got a cliffhanger ending, but it does set itself up nicely for more action in the next book. My one problem with this story was the use of present tense. As some of you might know by now, I'm no fan of present tense and the use of it in this book kept drawing me out of the story, making it a slow read for me.

Why should you read it:
It's a suspenseful and gritty story with vampires, ghosts and horny zombies.


Buy from: Amazon

Hallowed Circle - Book Review

Hallowed Circle (Persephone Alcmedi #2) by Linda Robertson

What is it about:
Persephone Alcmedi has been persuaded to compete for the position of High Priestess of the Cleveland, Ohio, coven — now that the former priestess, Vivian Diamond, has strangely gone missing. Unfortunately, there are a few small problems with the idea. Not only does Seph know rather more about Vivian's disappearance than the other witches realize, but the epic struggle she's just survived has left her with some highly unusual powers — ones that could be dangerous to reveal. Despite her reluctance, she agrees to participate, if only to prevent snooty Hunter Hopewell, an obnoxious but talented witch, from ending up in the winner's circle. Can Seph hide her secrets — including her connection to the master vampire-wizard Menessos — from the terrifyingly wise judges? Plus, there's her rock 'n' roll werewolf boyfriend, Johnny, and some angry fairies to deal with....

Once the competition begins, a finalist turns up dead. It looks as if one of the contestants is willing to do anything — including murder — to win. Suddenly Seph has even more on her plate than she thought: from solving a murder to working out what her new powers really are...and exactly why they're creating so much havoc in her love life.

What did I think of it:
I'm totally in love with Seph!
I really like the first book in this series and this one is even better! The story is suspenseful and full of action. Robertson's writing is a pleasure to read and she adds just the right dose of humour to it to make sure I want to reread this book often. The characters I loved in the first book are all present in book two and there are some cool new characters of which some hopefully will return in book three as well. The story is well rounded while at the same time making you curious about what will happen next to Seph and those around her. The romance storyline had me frustrated a bit, but not enough to keep me from enjoying all of this book and from immediately grabbing book three after finishing this one. This series just earned a spot on my shelves of favourites!

Why should you read it:
It's a well written Urban Fantasy with really cool characters.

Even Vampires Get the Blues - book Review by Voodoo Bride

Even Vampires Get the Blues (Dark Ones #4) by Katie MacAlister

What is it about:
Paen Scott is a Dark One: a vampire without a soul. And his mother is about to lose hers too if Paen can t repay a debt to a demon by finding a relic known as the Jilin God in five days.

Half-elf Samantha Cosse may have gotten kicked out of the Order of Diviners, but she is still good at finding things, which is why she just opened her own private investigation agency.

Paen is one of Sam s first clients and the only one to set her elf senses tingling, which makes it pretty much impossible to keep their relationship on a professional level. Sam is convinced that she is Paen s Beloved -- the woman who can give him back his soul...whether he wants it or not.

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
This addition to the Dark Ones series is both the most silly and the most angsty, but not in a bad way. This book also has the most fun side characters: I loved both Samantha's friend Clare and Paen's brother Finn. There are some plot points that scream at you from the pages, but are overlooked by the characters and I think that could have been done differently, but all in all this is yet another enjoyable, fun and sexy vampire romance. If the next books keep being as entertaining as this one I will keep on reading this series.

Why should you read them:
It's got elves, faeries, vampires, romance and more

Teaser Tuesdays - Hallowed Circle

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Just got this one in the mail today

"What do you mean, you nominated me?" I held my breath.
"Oh, dear. Shouldn't I have?"
(page 1, Hallowed Circle by Linda Robertson)

Haunted By Your Touch - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

Haunted by Your Touch by Jeaniene Frost, Shayla Black and Sharie Kohler

What is it about:
Enter the dark realm of Nocturna in Jeaniene Frost’s redhot tale, where blisteringly sexy Raphael dominates the demons of a lawless dimension and tries to help a beautiful young woman avenge her cousin’s disappearance. In the shadowy world of Shayla Black’s Doomsday Brethren, magical warrior Raiden vows to protect his woman and their unborn youngling from evil—and deliver her safely to another man. But once he’s saved her, can he let her go? Lycans rule the night in Sharie Kohler’s suspenseful story, as a fiery woman stalks mysterious Luc, the undeniably hypnotic being she believes can save her from turning . . . if she kills him.

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
Another Anthology so here's the breakdown:

Night’s Darkest Embrace by Jeaniene Frost
A very pleasant romance with a good dose of adventure. Several plot turns were visible from miles away, but for a romantic novella I don't mind when that happens. I do wonder if Frost's longer stories suffer from the same flaw though. Still I think I might try other books by Frost in the future.

Mated by Shayla Black
I liked the romance and characters in this story, but the world building felt very anachronistic. The story and setting as described felt like it might be set in the renaissance or something and then suddenly one of the characters would pull out a cellphone. This made for some weird reading. Chances of me picking up more books by this author are slim.

Darkest Temptation by Sharie Kohler
This story was my least favourite. It lacked a decent story and focused on character interaction. Me not really liking the hero doesn't help in that case.

Why should you read it:
If you like Paranormal Romance you should give this book a try.

Slave To Her Desires - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

Slave To Her Desires (The Succubus Diaries) by Jill Myles
(ebook, novella)

What is it about:
Immortality is not always a blessing. Turned into a succubus against her will, Olivia Rhodes has lived the past 120 years as a slave to her cruel and vindictive vampire master. She's escaped him, but he's closing in fast. Her only hope? The fallen angel that abandoned her when she was turned, David Thornton.

But David's not the cold-hearted monster she's always thought he was...nor did he abandon her. And when Olivia's hatred of David turns to desire, will her need for revenge against her vampire master destroy the one beautiful thing in her life, or will she find a way to make David love her despite the creature she's become?

This novella (34,000 words), features a succubus enslaved to her needs, a sleeping beauty, and some explosive sex on a monastery floor.

(Note: While this novella is set in the world of the Succubus Diaries, it is not necessary to read the series to enjoy the novella.)

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
A hot and steamy story that I found both enjoyable and disturbing. The romance between Olivia and David is quite endearing and I loved that part of the story, not in the least because of the steamy scenes between them. The things that have been done to Olivia by her vampire master are really disturbing, but fit the story very well.
It's the things that Olivia is forced to do by both of her masters that icked me out the most though. The thought of having to obey someone even if you don't want to and even if that person has your best interest at heart is frightening I must confess. Myles does a great job to soothe my worries about this twisted part of Olivia and David's romance though, so in the end I could let go of my uneasyness and enjoy the story.

I think I will pick up the first book in the Succubus Diaries series to see how Myles handles the rules she set for her succubi in a longer story.

Why should you read it:
It's a hot, steamy and thought provoking novella


Buy From: Amazon

All This And Family, Too - Book Review

All This and Family, Too by Sarah E. Glenn

What is it about:
Cythia Leach, professor of astronomy, just wants to lead a normal unlife. She believes that she can escape vampire hunters by moving away from North Carolina, but instead finds herself with a host of new problems.

Astronomy isn’t a nighttime science any more, and her department chair tries to force her to teach day classes. She rescues a runaway who soon learns too much to be discarded. Her family has moved to California with her, and the president of the neighborhood association is determined to run Grandma out of town. Worst of all, the vampire hunters are persistent ones – who have followed Cynthia to her new home.

What did I think of it:
A really fun story. The problems Cynthia runs into while trying to juggle unlife, family and work feel realistic (and even mundane in some cases) while they're still fun and exciting enough to make a great story. The writing is fast paced and pleasant and setting and world building are very decent. While some characters felt a bit stereotypical, this didn't annoy me and in certain cases even led to me liking them on introduction. There's a bit of f/f romance in this story, but it's only a small part of the story. I hope this book will have a sequel in which there will be more romance and lots more of Cynthia and her family.

Why should you read it:
It's a fun vampire story




Buy from: Amazon

To Weave a Web of Magic - Book Review

To Weave a Web of Magic by Claire Delacroix, Lynn Kurland, Patricia A. McKillip and Sharon Shinn

What is it about:
A romantic fantasy anthology with four novellas from renowned authors of romance and fantasy...

USA Today best-selling author Claire Delacroix gives readers a revisionist version of the medieval legend of Melusine.
USA Today best-selling author Lynn Kurland's trademark style shines in this tale of the magic and medieval romance between two lovers.
World Fantasy Award-winner Patricia A. McKillip tells of an artist's model and the transforming power of beauty and inspiration.
National best-selling author Sharon Shinn offers a compelling romance set in a strange new off-world of angels and revolving around the pursuit of love.

What did I think of it:
As this is an anthology I will tell what I thought of each of the four stories.

The Gorgon in the Cupboard by Patricia A. McKillip
I love this story. It's beautiful, powerful and original.

The Tale of the Two Swords by Lynn Kurland
Not my kind of story and writing. I felt myself skipping parts to get to the end of this one.

Fallen Angel by Sharon Shinn
The reason I bought this book! I love Shinn's Samaria books and this novella is a worthy addition to the series.

An Elegy for Melusine by Claire Delacroix
Cetainly not a bad story, but I've read better and more original versions of this legend.

So all in all two stories I absolutely loved and two I didn't much care about. The two I loved more than made up for the other two though.

Why should you read it:
A must read for Shinn fans and for people who love romantic fantasy.

Sex, Lies and Vampires - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

Sex, Lies and Vampires (Dark Ones #3) by Katie MacAlister

What is it about:
As far as she can tell, Nell Harris is either going insane or she is in love. Nell thought she had been summoned to Prague to work on an inscription in a rare fourteenth-century breastplate. Instead, she is immersed in the world of the Moravian Dark Ones (think vampires) when she is swept up in the search for a boy held captive by the demon lord Asmodeus. Although Nell would like nothing better than to use her powers as a "Charmer" to help find the missing boy, the last time she dabbled in magic the consequences were dire. Then Nell meets Adrian Tomas. Bound to serve Asmodeus and forced to betray his fellow Dark Ones, Adrian desperately needs Nell to charm away his curse. One look into Adrian's haunted eyes, and Nell discovers she will do just about anything to save the soul of her new beloved.

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
Of the books I read in this series so far I both love and hate this book the most. I totally adore Nell and Adrian, their romance and the action. Nell isn't as snarky as the female leads in the first two books, but this makes her all the more loveable. And Adrian! Talk about one big bad sexy vampire! On the other hand this book also manages to make my blood boil by having adults act thoughtless, selfish and cruel in my opinion, which leads to a child being the one to pay for their faults. This is one book where I do think a condom and other birthcontrol methods should and could have been used. That major pet peeve aside this is the best book in the series so far and it makes me eager to read more.

Why should you read it:
It's got a really sexy vampire and a hot romance.

Teaser Tuesdays - Haunted by Your Touch

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Rafael lived in a castle surrounded by a moat, for Pete's sake. Even for a demon ruler that was piling on the creepiness.
(page 55, Haunted by Your Touch - Night's Darkest Embrace by Jeaniene Frost)

Bellwether - Book Review

Bellwether by Connie Willis

What is it about:
Sandra Foster studies fads and their meanings for the HiTek corporation. Bennet O'Reilly works with monkey group behavior and chaos theory for the same company. When the two are thrust together due to a misdelivered package and a run of seemingly bad luck, they find a joint project in a flock of sheep. But series of setbacks and disappointments arise before they are able to find answers to their questions.

What did I think of it:
A suprisingly pleasant and humorous read. Willis writing style is light even when she's tackling heavy subjects like chaos theory and I finished this book in no time. I did feel frustrated from time to time, but this had to do with some of the people Sandra has to deal with and who were so irritating and recognisable I wanted to punch them. I liked how each chapter began with describing a fad and how Sandra keeps comparing the things she does with important scientific discoveries. All in all this story is a well written, fun modern faerytale complete with a moral, but it's integrated in the story in such a way I didn't mind. I will certainly pick up other books by Willis in the future if I run into them.

Why should you read it:
It's a fun, light read