September RAK

This month I send two books to other RAK participants,
but wasn't so lucky to get a RAK myself.

Not that I'm complaining:
I might not have received a RAK, I did receive some other great books through giveaways, swaps and general kindness.

Here's some of the books that came my way this month.
Three of these will be reviewed soon.

I will join RAK again in October as I still think it's a great initiative!

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RAK:

The RAK movement (=Random Acts of Kindness): it is an initiative organized by the Ladies at the Book Soulmates where everyone posts their whislists and then other people realize one (or more) wishes of a person. Meaning that they send some books to the lucky person they picked! Doesn't it sound fabulous?

Rules:

• Sign up each month you'd like to participate in.

• Show off your participation! Grab one of the buttons available :)

• Create a wish list and post it in the Google Doc located in each R.A.K post for the month.
{Post on your blog, Amazon, where ever as long as there's a link to it.}

• If you choose to do a R.A.K for someone, check out their wish list and contact that blogger for their address.

• At the end of the month, SHOW US YOUR R.A.K!

• Make a post saying 'Thank You' to whoever granted one of your wishes and share it with us :)

OPEN TO EVERYONE!

Let's keep our International bloggers in mind and in our hearts.

Remember, there's always the Book Depository and they offer FREE shipping!

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger Blog Award

I got nominated for the 'Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger Blog Award' by Gini Koch!!

Thanks Gini!
I feel honored.

What is it about:
The award was created to honor those whose blogs who exemplify the qualities Katherine “Kitty” Katt has -- those who always stay cutting edge, who always find the fun, the funny, and the cool, and who are always one step ahead of the competition.

The “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger Award” is only given to the amazingly awesome, so get down with your bad self, you’re deemed worthy to run with the A-C’s! And you’re also one step closer to being in the running for some cool prizes. (Contest is international.)

Now you get to spread the awesome by nominating other bloggers who are also harder, better, faster and stronger than the average blog bear. Not everyone’s as cool as you, so choose carefully!

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Oh! I get to nominate people as well!!
And there's also cool stuff to win if I'm lucky!
Check it out here
Hmmm...... Who shall I nominate. Let me see.


- vvB32 Reads
- The Bookish Brunette
- Stella
- M.A.D.
- Bibliognome


Congrats girls!
You are now in the running to win the Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger Blog Award!

Best Seller For A Day - Nearly Departed in Deadwood

Today 'Nearly Departed in Deadwood' by Ann Charles is Best Seller For A Day.

What does this mean?

It means there are great bargains to be had and there's a chance to win a Kindle!

First let me tell you what Nearly Dead in Deadwood is about and read what Ann has to say about Violet, the lead character:

The first time I came to Deadwood, I got shot in the ass. - Violet Parker

Irony is having a big ol' fiesta and Violet Parker is the piñata. Little girls are vanishing from Deadwood, South Dakota, and Violet's daughter could be next. Short on time and long on worry, she's desperate to find the monster behind the abductions.

But with her jerkoff co-worker trying to get her fired, a secret admirer sending creepy love poems, and a sexy-as-hell stranger hiding skeletons in his closet, Violet just might end up as one of Deadwood's dearly departed.

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Ann's thoughts on Violet:

Violet is a hoot! From the first moment I stepped inside her head and stared down Old Man Harvey’s double-barrel shotgun, I knew I’d found a heroine I would love sharing headspace with for years to come. I love her wit, her sense of humor, the way she can laugh at herself when crap is really raining down on her, her lusty and bold appetite for men, and her acceptance that she’s not the best mother in the world, but she keeps trying anyway.
What I had hoped to create in a character when I started writing Violet’s story was someone readers would enjoy hanging out with in real life. The kind of character that is more genuine—she struggles with her weight, has stretch marks, has this crazy hair she can barely control, and cusses and howls at the moon when the situation calls for it. She’s not a first-rate sleuth, but she cares about people and allows that caring to draw her into places where she does things she’d normally avoid like the plague.

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Now how does that sound?
Does it sound like you want to read the book?

Today is your chance to get this ebook for only 99¢!
Buy it now and run over to the Best Seller For A Day website to learn how you can enter to win a Kindle by buying Nearly Departed in Deadwood.

And that's not even all!
To celebrate Nearly Departed in Deadwood's big day, these authors are also dropping the price of their amazing titles to just 99¢:

Gina Robinson

Jacquie Rogers

Amber Scott

So that's 4 ebooks for less than $4.00 and a chance to win a Kindle!

What are you waiting for?

Ardeur: Brody's First Shift - Guest Post and Giveaway

Today I bring you a very special guest post by Danielle Gavan, author of Ardeur (Abbey of Angels Book 1).

Danielle wrote a short story about one of the main characters in Ardeur and she's giving away an ebook as well.

But first let me tell you what Ardeur is all about:

Born a necromancer…

Sold by parents who wanted a normal child, Ardeur Lisle now hosts a demon and was trained to be a killer for hire. As an adult possessed, dreaming of escape and of a kind face from her childhood helps keep her sane.

If she breaks free from her captors, what will this new world full of paranormal beings hold for her? Ridding herself of her demon parasite will be her first priority.

A promise kept...

Brody Callaghan never forgot the angelic blonde from his childhood. After years of military service, he swears to track down the face still haunting him from his youth.

But Brody has a furry secret of his own; one unveiled with each full moon. Will the two hold onto love with danger, deception, and an obsessed angel driving them apart?

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Doesn't that sound intriguing?

Now on to Danielle's guest post where you'll meet Brody and can read about his first shift:


Brody's First Shift

The moon shone down above the meadow where Dad and I stood. Tiny silver filaments of light filtered through the canopy of trees overhead and gave the night a surreal feeling. Fitting, if you considered what we were out there to do.

Mom had taken the older girls deeper into the woods to complete their shift and left me with Dad to go through mine. The first one for me and, as Dad had warned, probably the most painful one I'll ever have to endure.

"Come on, son. You can do it."

I grunted, scenting the air - searching for something, anything to delay the inevitable. The wind carried the scents of spring - rotted vegetation, rain and something else. Something acrid. The smell of fear.

"Brody, get on with it," Dad urged. "Waiting around and psyching yourself out isn't going to make it any easier. If you don't shift voluntarily, the moon will force it on you in a couple of days and then it will be even worse. Now, come on."

"I know," I muttered and kicked at a dead leaf. "I'm scared, Dad."

He sighed and I looked up. I knew that sound. It was his 'I'm trying to be patient but it's getting old' sigh. I gave him my own frustrated exhalation and shrugged out of the thick woolen sweater mom had insisted I wear.

"That's my boy," Dad encouraged.

I gave him my best twelve year old glare and kicked off my runners as I stepped onto the blanket he'd provided. There really was no avoiding it. Dad was right. If I didn't shift now, the change would happen by force. I'd seen it happen to another kid a few months before and there was no way I was going through that kind of pain. Not if I could avoid it.

A lone howl rose in the late night air as I dropped my t-shirt at my feet and stepped out of my jeans. Mom, signaling her change as complete. My sisters wouldn't be far behind.

Hurrying to finish taking my boxers and socks off, I knelt on the blanket and dropped to hands and knees as dad had instructed before we left the house. I recalled his instructions and slowed my breathing to calm my heart rate.

With my eyes closed, I turned my focus inward, searching for the dormant wolf energy that would bring on the change. Dad had said I'd know when I found the right thing. It would feel like a long lost part of myself had finally come home.

I don't know how long it took but when I found the wolf, the elation I felt was quickly overshadowed by the most incredible pain I'd ever experienced. The wolf's energy exploded through me, shattering and reforming bones, rearranging my body to fit the form it wanted me to take. My human mouth screamed, cried and begged for the pain to stop until it couldn't anymore. Whimpers and howls, animal sounds foreign to my vocal chords, replaced my pleas for mercy. I knew there wouldn't be any relief until I was fully shifted, but it didn't stop me from asking for it.

Fire raced down my spine, arching my back until my muzzle pointed skyward. I howled, long and mournfully, as my skin rippled and fur flowed from the tip of my nose to the end of my tail.

I didn't know it then but dad would tell me later it had looked like a storm cloud broke over my skin as my fur grew in. I'd have to take his word for it.
Finally, just when I didn't think I could take any more pain, it stopped and I was left to collapse on the blanket in an exhausted heap. The wolf, I could tell, was pleased with himself but I couldn't care less. I wanted a nap like I'd never wanted anything else in my life.

Something nudged my right hand, correction - paw, and I cracked open an eyelid to glare at who or whatever was interrupting my attempt at sleep. A pair of golden eyes framed by light gray fur stared back. Dad, great. He nudged me again and, with a frustrated chuff, I gave him what he wanted. I stood... And promptly crashed right back down to the blanket.

Dad yipped, his wolfy version of an order to 'haul ass solider and get back up'. I barked at him but did as instructed. Unsteadily, I got up on all four of my new legs and waited for the next nose dive. When it looked like I might remain upright I tried a few tentative steps, relying on the wolf to show me the way. Walking on all fours was foreign to me but the animal part of my psyche knew what it was doing and I let it take over.

The wolf shouldered me aside just as my older sisters, Moira and Maeve, bounded into the clearing and bowled me over with their exuberance. We rolled into a bush together, yipping and snarling as they tried to pin me down. My wolf was having none of that.

We were destined to be the pack alpha one day. We would bow to no one.

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And now for the giveaway:
Danielle Gavan is giving away one ebook copy of Ardeur or one of her other ebooks to a reader of my blog.

To enter you need to:
- Leave a comment for Danielle
- Tell which ebook you'd want
(check them out on Danielle's site)
- Leave a way for me to contact you

This giveaway will end on October 4 and a winner will be announced on October 5.

This giveaway is international and you don't have to be a follower of this blog to enter.

On My Wish List - Zombie Edition *

There are lots of books on my Wish List and it might not come as a surprise there are quite a few Zombie books among the titles on that list.

Today I will share some of the Zombie books that are still on my Wish List:

Sarah and David have survived the zombie apocalypse. They stood side by side and fought the undead, mad scientists, and even bionic monsters until the unthinkable happened. A zombie bite. But not even that could stop them. Now, with a possible cure in hand, they're headed east, looking for a safe zone behind the rumored "Wall." They're feeling pretty optimistic.

That is until Dave stops sleeping and starts lifting huge objects.

My thoughts:
I loved the first two books in this series (Married with Zombies & Flip This Zombie). I'm really curious what will be next for Sarah and David.

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Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?

In Dearly, Departed, steampunk meets romance meets walking-dead thriller, spawning a madly imaginative novel of rip-roaring adventure, spine-tingling suspense, and macabre comedy that forever redefines the concept of undying love.

My thoughts:
I know, Zombies falling in love. I'm not too happy about that part either, but come on: Steampunk Zombies!!! Need I say more?

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Six months have passed since the terrifying battle with Charlie Pink-eye and the Motor City Hammer in the zombie-infested mountains of the Rot & Ruin. It’s also six months since Benny Imura and Nix Riley saw something in the air that changed their lives. Now, after months of rigorous training with Benny’s zombie-hunter brother Tom, Benny and Nix are ready to leave their home forever and search for a better future. Lilah the Lost Girl and Benny’s best friend Lou Chong are going with them.
Sounds easy. Sounds wonderful. Except that everything that can go wrong does. Before they can even leave there is a shocking zombie attack in town. But as soon as they step into the Rot & Ruin they are pursued by the living dead, wild animals, insane murderers and the horrors of Gameland –where teenagers are forced to fight for their lives in the zombie pits. Worst of all…could the evil Charlie Pink-eye still be alive?

In the great Rot & Ruin everything wants to kill you. Everything…and not everyone in Benny’s small band of travelers will make it out alive.

My thoughts:
I absolutely loved Rot and Ruin, Maberry sure knows how to write a story that's both thrilling and full of emotion. I really want to read more about both Benny and Tom.

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A prison doctor injects a condemned serial killer with a formula designed to keep his consciousness awake while his body rots in the grave. But all drugs have unforeseen side-effects. Before he could be buried, the killer wakes up. Hungry. Infected. Contagious. This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang…but a bite.

My thoughts:
Yup, another book by Maberry. But who can resist a serial killer zombie!?

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Tapped for a classified military program, Dr. Eileen McCormick has nothing left to lose. Bad enough her genetic experiments were used to turn innocent victims into zombies; worse still, a ruthless ex-colleague is threatening to expose her unless she joins his sinister research project. Now the only way she can set things right is to develop an antidote under the watchful blue eyes of Commander Matt Sykes. And the last thing Eileen needs is Matt's penetrating gaze, easy understanding, and compelling kiss uncovering all her deepest secrets...

Matt has a sixth-sense for lies as well as danger, and Eileen promises plenty of both. She's the only person who can eradicate the zombie virus before it reaches epidemic proportions, but he still can't let her passionate determination affect his steely cool...or keep him from discovering where her true loyalties lie. But as the clock ticks down, Matt and Eileen's uneasy trust may be their only way to avert catastrophe;if it doesn't get them killed first...

My thoughts:
I read Once Bitten, Twice Dead and that book might have had a lot of romance, but it had really cool, kick-ass, zombie action as well. The perfect read for both me and Voodoo Bride. I'll enjoy all the zombie killing and Voodoo Bride can lose herself in the romance.

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So: did you see any books you might like as well?
Do you know of a book I missed and that's a must read Zombie book in you opinion?
Let me know in the comments.


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This post is part of vvB32 Reads' September Zombies Event.
Don't forget to go over to her blog and check out all the cool zombie posts and giveaways.

Warm Bodies - Book Review

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

What is it about:
R is a zombie. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse, but he has dreams. He doesn’t enjoy killing people; he enjoys riding escalators and listening to Frank Sinatra. He is a little different from his fellow Dead.

Not just another zombie novel, Warm Bodies is funny, scary, and deeply moving.

What did I think of it:
I read this book as I was challenged to read it by Titania. She knew I don't normally like zombie stories where zombies fall in love, so she challenged me to get out of my comfort zone and pick up Warm Bodies.

Did I like it? Yes and no...

First let me tell you that I don't think this is a zombie book at all!

Yes, I know, it's about a zombie called R., but still: this is not a zombie book! So what is it? It's more a philosophical journey about what makes a person human and about what is needed to turn your life around.

Now this theme of exploration can be very interesting, but in this case it didn't work for me. There were things happening in the story that were too fantastical for me to be able to believe in them when looking at the actions in themselves alone. Looking at the underlying philosophical layer, they might be logical, but to me any event should be (or at least seem) logical even without the deeper layers of the story.

What I did like was the use of present tense.
Yes: it was a surprise to me as well!
Present tense always has a bit of a halting, stuttering quality for me and in this case it added to the story as it's told from a zombie's point of view.

All in all I really liked the first part of the book, but as the story moved forward I lost my interest as it was all getting a bit too weird for me.

Why should you read it:
It's a philosophical story with zombies.

Giveaway Alert!

For those who missed it: Check yesterdays post for a cool guestpost by Sparky and for a giveaway of Embers or Sparks by Laura Bickle!

Sparky Goes To The Zoo - Guestpost and Giveaway

Today I have a very special guest visiting my blog and there's also a giveaway!

With us here today is Sparky!
Some of you might know Sparky from an earlier visit or from the books Embers & Sparks by Laura Bickle. (Those of you who haven't read Embers and/or Sparks yet, should certainly stay tuned for the giveaway.) Sparky is the loyal sidekick of Anya in those books, but in his daily life he helps Laura with her writing. Today he will tell you about one of his adventures:

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Sparky Goes to the Zoo
by Sparky Salamander

Contrary to what some might think, life as a salamander is a bit more than helping my owner write. There's a good deal of that going on, to be sure.

But all work and no play makes Sparky a dull boy. And bored salamanders cause all manner of trouble.

So my owner took me to the zoo today. She promised to me that I would get to see more exotic animals than I usually do.

I was looking forward to a new adventure. I saw a lot of animals I hadn't seen before. Like a polar bear exhibit. They're BIG animals.



I met all kinds of snakes.

We also saw tigers. The tigers were sleeping in the afternoon sun. My owner held me over the fence and told me to stop wriggling, or I'd fall in. If I fell in, she told me that she was NOT going in to get me.

And swans,

Bats,

Penguins,

And kangaroos, oh my

We also looked for some distant relatives of mine:

Alas, the hellbender was hiding under his rock. I was disappointed that he wasn't feeling social.

But we got to meet some alligators up close.

And also a giant monitor lizard.

And a dragon display.

But the absolute highlight of the trip was this very familiar creature, a cousin of our dear friend Sullivan. I wish you could have been there to see him.

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Wow! I do indeed wish I could have been there.

Sparky: thank you for sharing your trip to the Zoo with us.

For those who are interested: Over on my other blog you can see what places I would take Sparky to see if he ever visited Groningen.

Now on to the giveaway I promised:

In honor of Sparky coming over to visit my blog and because I'm almost at 120 followers I'm giving away one copy of either Embers or Sparks by Laura Bickle.

To enter you need to:
- Be a follower of this blog
- Leave a comment for Sparky and/or Laura
- Leave a way for me to contact you

This giveaway is international and will end on September 30th.
A winner will be picked and announced on October 1st.
I will also send the winner an email.

Wishlist Wednesday - Enclave

This one is high on my wishlist.
It's post apocalyptic AND written by Ann Aguirre (so you know the writing will be excellent).

Enclave (Razorland #1)
by Ann Aguirre

WELCOME TO THE APOCALYPSE

In Deuce’s world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained into one of three groups–Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.

As a Huntress, her purpose is clear—to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She’s worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing’s going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce’s troubles are just beginning.

Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn’t like following orders. At first she thinks he’s crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don’t always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth. Her partner confuses her; she’s never known a boy like him before, as prone to touching her gently as using his knives with feral grace.

As Deuce’s perception shifts, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat only due to their sheer numbers, show signs of cunning and strategy… but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. Despite imminent disaster, the enclave puts their faith in strictures and sacrifice instead. No matter how she tries, Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she’s ever known.

Teaser Tuesdays - Warm Bodies

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!

He gazes up at the sky, and a faraway look comes into his eyes. 'Had...dream...last night. Real dream. Memories.'

(page 103, Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion)

Black Gold - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

Black Gold (Takhini Wolves #1)
by Vivian Arend
ebook

What is it about:
Lone wolf Shaun Stevens’s automatic response to the words “happily ever after”? Kill me now. Yet with all his friends settling down he’s begun to think there may actually be something to this love-and-roses crap.

One thing’s for sure: his dream mate will have to out-cuss, out-spit and out-hike him. So he never expected the one to push his forever button would be a blue-blooded Southern debutante with a voice as dark and velvety as her skin.

When Gemmita Jacobs steps off the plane in Whitehorse, Yukon, it’s about more than her caribou research project. It’s her declaration of independence from an overprotected upbringing. Except there’s something in the air she can’t quite define—something that unexpectedly rouses her mating instincts.

Moments after their eyes lock, the deed is done—and done thoroughly. When the pheromone dust settles, though, all the reasons they don’t belong together become painfully clear.

It’s enough to make a wolf learn a whole new set of cuss words…

Warning: Two strong wolves getting exactly what they deserve. Includes wilderness nookie, shifters being naughty in public places, the Midnight Sun as a canopy for seduction and grizzly shifters on the loose. Oh, and don’t forget the sarcasm.

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
Those who read my reviews of Arend's Granite Lake Wolves novellas will know how much I love those, so it will not be a surprise when I tell you how happy I was when I learned that Arend started a new series which features my beloved werewolves. And this time there's even more to love as instead of novella size the Takhini Wolves books are novel size!

Black Gold is the first book in this new series and it is a wonderful read. It has all the elements I've come to expect in Arend's 'Wolfie' books and more. It has sizzling hot romance, strong willed, but likeable characters, kick-ass action, humor, droolworthy shifters and did I mention the hot romance?

I love the way Arend creates romantic tension without getting me too worried about the outcome, while still making it an intense and satisfying read. Because Black Gold is longer than the previous 'Wolfie' books, the action storyline gets more room and creates extra tension and suspense as well.

All in all I loved this book and even though it's twice as long as the Granite Lake Wolves novellas it still felt much too short and I'm already looking forward to the next 'Wolfie' book.

Why should you read it:
It's got Hunky Werewolves and Hot Romance!


Buy this book here

Book Review - Wizard of Time

Wizard of Time (Chasing History)
by Sue Owen

What is it about:
Josh, Digger and Meri were rudely ported out of their time and far into the future by the Wizard. King Arthur’s sword, Excalibur, is missing from its timeline. Without the sword in its proper place in history, everything from that point forward could change. Josh and his new found friends must find a way to return the sword to Arthur that won’t upset the timeline. However, the Bard’s have other plans. They want to rule time. They would do anything to stop the return of the sword. Is it murder to eliminate a timeline so that person was never born?


What did I think of it:
I love a good time travel story, so when I got the chance to review this book I immediately grabbed it. And I will say it's a pleasant read.

The writing is decent, the setting and world building are interesting and the story is fun. Josh, Digger and Meri are thrown into the deep by being send on an adventure without really knowing how they should handle it. The way they manage to make the most of a bad situation is admirable and I really liked their adventures.

The time travel theory in Wizard of Time is intriguing, but in this first book of what will be a series there's not enough time travelling to really see this theory in action and that's a shame in my opinion. I did like how Owen put in small remarks that hint at more time travelling to come in the future.

There were some story hooks that lead to a dead end for now and I was a little frustrated by that, but all in all this is a promising start of a series and I'm certainly curious about what will happen next.

Why should you read it:
I would suggest this book to anyone who likes YA books and time travel.


Buy this book here

Wishlist Saturday - Daybreak

Work and other stuff kept me busy yesterday and will keep me busy again today, so no time for a review. Instead I will leave you with another pick from my wishlist.

I just finished book two in this series this week and am so eagerly awaiting the release of this one:

Daybreak by Ellen Connor

Their mission was to save the world.
Their destiny is to fall in love.

It’s been twelve years since the Change, and Penelope Sheehan is one of the few still practicing magic for the good of humanity in this dark, dangerous world. Determined to infiltrate the notorious O’Malley organization, she poses as an abducted girl–until a furious lion thwarts her mission. When the beast turns into a devastatingly handsome man, she recognizes in him the troubled boy she once knew.

Since becoming a skinwalker, Tru Daugherty has allowed his animal nature to take over. Aloof and cynical, he takes no interest in making the world a better place. He’s a creature of instinct and impulse, living only to satisfy his senses–ignoring the scarred heart nobody has ever reached. He’s also the best man to help Pen bring down the O’Malley crime ring.

Fighting alongside the last holdouts of humanity, they unleash a passion that tempts them to risk everything for love. But if they succeed, Tru and Pen hold the power to brighten the Dark Age for all time.

Midnight - Book Review

Midnight (Dark Age Dawning #2)
by Ellen Connor

What is it about:
Three years of wandering the postapocalyptic wasteland has stripped Dr. Chris Welsh of hope. A harrowing loss drove him from his home, and he hasn't stopped moving-until he encounters Valle de Bravo, a haven of civilization amid the chaos of the Change. Soldiers take their orders from Rosa Cortez-the iron hand within a velvet glove. The last thing Rosa needs is a feral loner upsetting the town's tentative balance. However, for the good of her people, she lets Chris stay, and as bloodthirsty raiders strike again and again, Chris and Rosa battle hellhounds and dust pirates while also fighting desperate attraction. To save them, love must overcome the pain of the past-and build a future in this brutal Dark Age...

What did I think of it:
This book is pure awesomeness!

I already loved book 1, Nightfall, but Midnight is even better. I absolutely love the setting and world building. The Connor duo (Carrie Lofty & Ann Aguirre) sure know how to create an exciting, gritty and thrilling post apocalyptic world. I could talk for hours about the setting alone which is so immensely inspiring it made me really want to start writing my own post apocalyptic story. (Can you tell I have a weak spot for post apocalyptic settings ;-) )

The romance was intense and I loved Rosa and Chris.
Rosa is a really strong, kick-ass heroine, but with a vulnerability that she keeps hidden deep inside and which made her very loveable. I will confess I liked Chris much more in this book than in Nightfall. He sure did some growing up, so to speak. There are several really cool other characters as well and it's a shame none of them will (probably) show up in the last book in this trilogy (Daybreak) as I really would have loved to read more about some of them.

The action storyline was really cool as well and I liked how the Connor duo didn't fall back on the same dangers that were present in Nightfall, but instead created new dangers, which kept the story exciting and unique while it still is a perfect sequel to Nightfall.

I can honestly say this book will go on my favourites shelf and will be reread often. I'm already looking forward to the last book in this trilogy: Daybreak, which will be released in December.

Why should you read it:
Post Apocalyptic Awesomeness!

Wishlist Wednesday - Viper Moon

The cover of this book is so gorgeous I'd almost put it on my wishlist for the cover alone, but the story sounds really cool as well.

Viper Moon by Lee Roland

Cassandra Archer is the Huntress. She has faithfully served the Earth Mother for years, rescuing kidnapped children from monsters-both human and supernatural-dwelling in the ruins of the Barrows District. But when two children are kidnapped under similar circumstances, all clues point to a cataclysmic event on the next dark moon. Now Cass must race against the clock and prevent a sacrifice that could destroy the entire town...

Teaser Tuesdays - Midnight

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 one (book 2 in the Dark Age Dawning Trilogy) just came in the mail today and I'm really looking forward to read this as I loved Nightfall, the first book in this Trilogy. I bumped this one right to the top of my To-be-read list.

While Jameson was thin and quiet, he had a scary affinity for knives - and that meant nobody would question her choice. He was the child of a Filipina mother and an American GI, and when his dad died, leaving them destitute, he'd battled his way to some renown and joined an underground fight circuit.
(page 1, Midnight by Ellen Connor)

Mercy Blade - Book Review

Mercy Blade (Jane Yellowrock #3)
by Faith Hunter

What is it about:
Things are heating up in the Big Easy. Weres have announced their existence to the world, and revived the bitter tensions that run between them and their old enemies: vampires. As a trusted employee of Leo Pellissier, Blood Master of the City, Jane finds herself caught in the cross fire.

What did I think of it:
Most frustrating book I read in a long time!
Ok, the action storyline is cool and intricate, but Jane's personal life and the romantic entanglements she gets herself into annoyed and frustrated me beyond reason. Books like this are why I do not like love triangles and I know I'll be searching for spoilers about book 4 before I even try to read it once it's released. That being said: the world building and writing are excellent and the overall story well worth the read (if you can look beyond the frustrating parts). I especially love how Hunter manages to breathe life into all the characters, no matter how small their part in the story is. I can advice those who start this series to spread out the books over a longer time period and not read all of them back to back though as the books are quite grim and gritty.

Why should you read it:
It's well written, dark and gritty Urban Fantasy