Top Pearls 2011

And here it is!
My post with my top reads for 2011.

As you might have guessed: Laura Bickle, Jess Haines, Gini Koch and Carolyn Crane again made it in my Top Pearls list of 2011, but because I just spend the last 4 days telling you how awesome their books are I will not talk about their books again, but name the other authors and books that rocked my reading world this year.

Ann Aguirre

I will confess I read Grimspace in 2010, but in 2011 I really discovered what an awesome author Ann Aguirre is.

Her Sirantha Jax series is an emotional rollercoaster ride with me loving Jax in Grimspace, loathing her in Wanderlust and loving her all over again in Doubleblind. I will most certainly be reading the other books in this series in 2012.

Enclave is my all time favorite Young Adult read! It has a wonderfully gritty post-apocalyptic story and world and Deuce is a really cool character. I'm impatiently waiting for the next book in this series.

Stone Maiden is a bittersweet, exotic fairytale and if you haven't read it yet: get the PDF free here (although I can really advice you to get it in print, it's beautiful).

I just started Aguirre's Corine Solomon series and I'm so going to get my trotters on all books in that series as well.


Ellen Connor

Ok, this is actually Ann Aguirre again, this time teaming up with Carrie Lofty to write some amazing Post-Apocalyptic Paranormal Romance.

It's the really amazing setting that makes this trilogy so utterly awesome, although the stories are really cool as well.

I can advice this trilogy to any reader of PNR who loves post-apocalyptic settings and I hope the Ellen Connor duo will decide to write more books together.


Marjorie M. Liu

I won the first three books of the Hunter Kiss series and the prequel novella in a giveaway and I must say I'm so glad I did. Liu's Hunter Kiss series is totally amazing. Maxine Kiss is a heroine I liked from the start and her demon pals are so cool. The stories are intense and full of action. At the moment I'm waiting impatiently for the 4th book in this series (which released this week) to arrive.

The Dirk & Steele series by Liu is just as wonderful as her Hunter Kiss series and so far I've read four books in this series and have a 5th book in my tbr-pile. I will most certainly try to get my trotters on the rest of the books in this series as well in 2012.


Some other amazing reads

Feast by Merrie Destefano: this is a wonderfully dark fairytale that draws you in and keeps you captivated from start to finish.

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder: An awesome Fantasy that caught me by surprise and made me fall head over heels in love with its heroine and her love interest.

A Brush of Darkness by Allison Pang: So much mentions of bacon in this book, but that couldn't stop me from loving this story about Abby and the Incubus she falls for.


My favorite Zombie Read

Married with Zombies and Flip This Zombie by Jesse Petersen are both funny and full of zombie mayhem. A terrific combination.


Voodoo Bride's favorite reads of 2011

The Goblin King by Shona Husk: Who can resist a Paranormal romance where the hero is a goblin king?

Enemy Games by Marcella Burnard: This is a perfect mix of Scifi, adventure, suspense and romance.

Storm's Heart by Thea Harrison: Tiago is so amazing! Go read this book now if you want to read a PNR with a swoonworthy hero.

Petals and Thorns by Jennifer Paris: A wonderful BDSM retelling of Beauty and the Beast.




And lastly some series that deserve an honorable mention:


The Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh
The Persephone Alcmedi series by Linda Robertson
The Elder Races series by Thea Harrison
The Downside Ghosts series by Stacia Kane

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And that's my Top Pearls list for 2011!
Have a great New Year's Eve everyone and a wonderful 2012.

Top Pearls Revisited (+giveaway) - Carolyn Crane

Last year I made a list of my top favorite reads of 2010.
4 debut authors ended up on that list and they kept on writing and impressing me with their books. I decided to revisit last year's list and tell you about what these awesome authors have been up to, what we can expect from them in the future, ask them some questions and to give away some books.

Today: Carolyn Crane


Carolyn had two releases in 2010: Mind Games and Double Cross, book 1 and 2 in the awesome Disillusionists Trilogy. Both are beyond awesome and book 2 ended in such a way I was dying to read the next book.

It looked grim at first for book 3 in the trilogy though, because Spectra didn’t want to contract Carolyn for book 3. Luckily Carolyn managed to sell book 3, Head Rush, to Samhain and that’s why 2011 brought us the audio and ebook version of this awesome conclusion of an amazing trilogy.

Carolyn also released a novella in her Disillusionists world featuring the mysterious Monk in the anthology Wild & Steamy.


What’s next:

2012 will bring the print version of Head Rush (which I'll buy if only so I can hug it) as well as another (as yet unnamed) Disillusionists novella featuring Simon and a novella in The Mammoth Book of Ghost Romance.

Carolyn is also working on a Paranormal Spy series and an Urban Fantasy mystery series.


And now for a short Q&A with Carolyn Crane:

- What was your favorite moment of 2011?

I can’t think of any one moment…or when I try to think of specific moments, they are never better than the moments of laying in bed in the morning with my husband and our two cats, just waking up and talking and laughing and playing with the cats and looking forward to writing. Or reading a good book in bed. This is a lovely question because it just makes me appreciate that time more. I guess I love laying in bed!

- What will you be doing on New Year's Eve?

Laying in bed with my husband and the cats! LOL. Actually, probably nothing much different than what I do on any night, except nothing with my day job will be due the next day because it’s New Years Day so I will be able to relax. I used to be sort of jealous of women dressing up fancy to go to a ball on New Year’s Eve, but I so love being at home and laying around and reading and writing, I don’t feel like that anymore.

- What are you looking forward to in 2012?

I’m looking forward to self-publishing my Simon novella in February. It’s the first thing I’ll ever publish completely on my own, and I find it incredibly exciting, and scary. I’m also looking forward to springtime, and hopefully having time to work in the garden at our new place!

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Carolyn, thanks for dropping by and I wish you a wonderful New Year's Eve and a great 2012!

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Want to get your hands on a signed copy of either Mind Games or Double Cross?

Now is your chance!
Rules:
- leave a comment for Carolyn
- don’t forget to mention which book you want
- leave a way for me to contact you

This giveaway is international and will run until the 9th of January 2012. A winner will be randomly chosen soon after that date.

Don’t forget to check my previous three posts for news about my other Top Pearls authors of 2010 and for more cool giveaways.

Top Pearls Revisited (+giveaway) - Gini Koch

Last year I made a list of my top favorite reads of 2010.
4 debut authors ended up on that list and they kept on writing and impressing me with their books. I decided to revisit last year's list and tell you about what these awesome authors have been up to, what we can expect from them in the future, ask them some questions and to give away some books.

Today: Gini Koch


In 2010 Gini brought us the first two books in her awesome Katherine (Kitty) Katt series: Touched by an Alien and Alien Tango. And under the pen-name of Anita Ensal, Gini released a short story in the anthology Love and Rockets.

2011 was a very busy year for Gini.
Book 3 and 4 in the Kitty series, Alien Tango and Alien Proliferation released. These books brought us The Wedding of the Galaxy, Poofs and some unforgettable moments in Paris.
There was another short story release in the anthology Boondocks Fantasy and I'm glad to say Gini also sold quite a few stories to Musa Publishing under various pen-names. (Gini Koch, Jemma Chase, Anita Ensal. A.E. Stanton and J.C. Koch)


What’s next:

Next to Alien Diplomacy and Alien vs. Alien, book 5 and 6 in the Katherine (Kitty) Katt series (and which I'm really looking forward to), we can also expect many more short stories in 2012.

2013 will bring book 7 and 8 in the Katherine (Kitty) Katt series and we can only hope there will be more in 2014.


And now for a short Q&A with Gini Koch:

- What was your favorite moment of 2011?

Gosh, there were a lot. Alien in the Family and Alien Proliferation releasing and getting really lovely reviews are two biggies. Selling Books 7 & 8 to DAW was also a biggie. But probably the biggest is my daughter graduating from Arizona State University this December.

- What will you be doing on New Year's Eve?

We hold an annual New Year's Eve party, so the Casa should be full of people, and dogs. The Canine Death Squad like to attend the event, too. LOL

- What are you looking forward to in 2012?

Alien Diplomacy and Alien vs. Alien releasing and every other release I'll have, my daughter starting law school, and proving that the whole "world will end" thing is just because 2012 is the Mayan's version of Y2K.

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Gini, thanks for dropping by and I wish you a wonderful New Year's Eve and a great 2012!

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Want to get your hands on a signed copy of Alien Tango?

Now is your chance!
Rules:
- leave a comment for Gini
- leave a way for me to contact you

This giveaway is international and will run until the 9th of January 2012. A winner will be randomly chosen soon after that date.

Don’t forget to check my previous two posts and to return tomorrow for news about my other Top Pearls authors of 2010 and for more cool giveaways.

Top Pearls Revisited (+giveaway) - Jess Haines

Last year I made a list of my top favorite reads of 2010.
4 debut authors ended up on that list and they kept on writing and impressing me with their books. I decided to revisit last year's list and tell you about what these awesome authors have been up to, what we can expect from them in the future, ask them some questions and to give away some books.

Today: Jess Haines


2010 brought us the really cool Hunted by the Others, the first book in the H&W Investigations series and the novella Spark of Temptation, which was part of the anthology Nocturnal.

2011 brought us even more books:
Book 2 and 3 in the H&W Investigations series: Taken by the Others and Deceived by the Others (both just as cool as the first book if not even cooler), as well as the witty novella What’s Yours in Mine, part of the Anthology The Real Werewives of Vampire County.


What’s next:
2012 will see the release of Stalking the Others, book 4 in the H&W series. (And anyone who read book 3 will probably be just as eager for Stalking the Others as I am.)
Jess is also working on book 5 and 6 and an as yet untitled Paranormal Romance. There are no known release dates for these works yet.


And now for a short Q&A with Jess Haines:

- What was your favorite moment of 2011?

I loved going to Authors After Dark in Philadelphia! Not only did I get to speak on panels, meet some fans and fellow authors, and take home a ton of awesome books, I also got to spend some quality time with my mom. I don't see her enough since she lives in Florida and I'm in California, so that trip was very special to me.

- What will you be doing on New Year's Eve?

Probably nothing exciting, lol. I usually do a movie marathon and drink some bubbly apple cider as I'm not a fan of alcohol. There's nothing quite like ringing in the new year with a cheesy horror movie and some Martinelli's!

- What are you looking forward to in 2012?

A few things. I'll be going to Authors After Dark again, this time in New Orleans. I've never been there, so I'm really looking forward to taking an extended vacation and exploring the city! I'm also looking forward to the release of the fourth H&W Investigations novel, STALKING THE OTHERS (July 3rd, 2012), and delving into some new projects.

Plus I have a few friends and family who I haven't seen in a very long time who I plan on visiting. Since I've reworked my schedule, I have more free time. I've been making good use of it so far in catching up on my TBR pile and finishing some writing projects, but I want to spend some quality time with friends and family, too.


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Jess, thanks for dropping by and I wish you a wonderful New Year's Eve and a great 2012!

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Haven’t read any of Jess’s book yet, or want to get your hands on a signed copy?

Now is your chance to win a signed copy of either Hunted by the Others or The Real Werewives of Vampire County
Rules:
- leave a comment for Jess
- don’t forget to mention what book you would want to win
- leave a way for me to contact you

This giveaway is international and will run until the 9th of January 2012. A winner will be randomly chosen soon after that date.

Don’t forget to check yesterday’s post and to return the next two days for news about my other Top Pearls authors of 2010 and for more cool giveaways.

Top Pearls Revisited (+ giveaway) - Laura Bickle

Last year I made a list of my top favorite reads of 2010.
4 debut authors ended up on that list and they kept on writing and impressing me with their books. I decided to revisit last year's list and tell you about what these awesome authors have been up to, what we can expect from them in the future, ask them some questions and to give away some books.

First up is Laura Bickle.


Last year Laura ended up on my Top Pearls list twice, under both of her pen-names: Laura Bickle and Alayna Williams

In 2010 she had 2 releases as Laura Bickle and 1 as Alayna Williams:
Released under the pen-name Laura Bickle were Embers and Sparks, which are book 1 and 2 in the Anya Kalinczyk series and they feature psychic medium Anya and her awesome familiar Sparky, a fire salamander.

And released under the pen-name Alayna Williams: Dark Oracle, book 1 in the thrilling Delphic Oracle series, which features Tara Sheridan, a criminal profile who uses tarot cards to guide her in her investigations.


2011 brought book 2 in the Delphic Oracle series: Rogue Oracle.
Rogue Oracle is an amazing read. It’s grim, gritty, scary, intense and in my opinion utterly awesome. If you haven’t read it yet, I can only advice you to remedy that situation as soon as possible.


What’s next:
At the moment it’s looking grim for the Anya Kalinczyk and the Delphic Oracle series. So far there’s been no word that Pocket Books will contract Laura Bickle for more books in both series. A real shame as both series are awesome.

But there is good news as well!

2012 will bring a new series by Laura Bickle:
THE HALLOWED ONES, pitched as "Witness" meets "28 Days Later" in which an Amish girl must protect her family from a violent contagion, even as fear and denial threaten to erode her community from within.

Doesn’t that sound awesome!?

Book 1 will release in the fall of 2012 and book 2 will release in the spring of 2013.

Be sure to keep an eye out for these books and if you don’t, you can be sure I will remind you ;-)


And now for a short Q&A with Laura Bickle:

- What was your favorite moment of 2011?

I got to spend a week this summer hiking with my husband. We found a little waterfall in the bottom of a gorge that tasted like iron. I took my shoes and socks off and waded in that little pool. The sun was shining, and it was really a lovely time, being that close to nature.

We also adopted a new cat, Luna. She's a big sack of sugar - all love and snuggles. Bringing her home was a true joy.

- What will you be doing on New Year's Eve?

Ah, I'm not much of a partier. I'll be ensconced at home in fuzzy jammies, probably reading a book or watching TV. Maybe I'll be writing. There will be a cat draped on me, I'm quite sure.

I might contemplate a list of New Year's resolutions. All the standard stuff: increase word count, lose that last ten pounds, clean out the closets, etc.

- What are you looking forward to in 2012?

2012 is going to be an exciting year for me. In fall, my first YA book will be released by Houghton Mifflin's Graphia line. It's called THE HALLOWED ONES, and it's pitched as "WITNESS meets 28 DAYS LATER." I'm working on the sequel now, and that will be released the following spring.

I'm also looking forward to attending RT Booklover's Convention in April in Chicago. My critique partners, Marcella Burnard and Jeffe Kennedy, will be hosting a reader party with me called: Sidekicks - The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. It'll be wonderful to reconnect with my fellow authors and meet new readers.

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Laura, thanks for dropping by and I wish you a wonderful New Year's Eve and a great 2012!

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Haven’t read any of Laura’s book yet, or still missing one of them?

Now is your chance to win a signed copy of one of Laura’s books (Embers, Sparks, Dark Oracle or Rogue Oracle)
Rules:
- leave a comment for Laura
- don’t forget to mention what book you would want to win
- leave a way for me to contact you

This giveaway is international and will run until the 9th of January 2012. A winner will be randomly chosen soon after that date.

Don’t forget to check back the next couple of days for news about my other Top Pearls authors of 2010 and for more cool giveaways.

Top Pearls Revisited - Starting Tomorrow

Last year I made a post listing my favorite reads of 2010.

I will of course also make such a list this year, but I also have something else planned.

The next 4 days I'm going to revisit my favorite reads with 4 posts, 4 authors and 4 giveaways!

So stay tuned and remember to drop by every day between December 27th and December 30th

I Am Scrooge - Book Review

I am Scrooge: A Zombie Story for Christmas
by Adam Roberts

What is it about:
The legendary Ebenezeer Scrooge sits in his house counting money. The boards that he has nailed up over the doors and the windows shudder and shake under the blows from the endless zombie hordes that crowd the streets hungering for his flesh and his miserly braaaaiiiiiinns! Just how did the happiest day of the year slip into a welter of blood, innards, and shambling, ravenous undead on the snowy streets of old London town? Will the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future be able to stop the world from drowning under a top-hatted and crinolined zombie horde? Was Tiny Tim's illness something infinitely more sinister than mere rickets and consumption? Can Scrooge be persuaded to go back to his evil ways, travel back to Christmas past, and destroy the brain stem of the tiny, irritatingly cheery Patient Zero?

What did I think of it:
This is a very entertaining zombie retelling of A Christmas Carol.

Roberts takes the basic story idea runs with it and twists it to his purposes along the way. This does make the story feel forced from time to time, but there's so much cool zombie mayhem that I didn't mind too much.

I wouldn't advise this story to people who take their literature or Christmas serious, because this story makes a fun parody out of both the original story and Christmas.

Overall this is a fast-paced read that get's you in the proper Christmas spirit to go out and fight some zombies ;-)

Why should you read it:
Zombies and Christmas!

Doubleblind - Book Review

Doubleblind (Sirantha Jax #3)
by Ann Aguirre

What is it about:
It’s not easy to tread lightly wearing steel-toed boots.
Sirantha Jax isn’t known for diplomatic finesse. As a “Jumper” who navigates ships through grimspace, she’s used to kicking ass first and taking names later—much later. Not exactly the obvious choice to sell the Conglomerate to the Ithtorians, a people whose opinions of humans are as hard as their exoskeletons.

And Ithiss-Tor council meetings aren’t the only place where Ambassador Jax needs to maneuver carefully. Her lover, March, is frozen in permanent “kill” mode, and his hair-trigger threatens to sabotage the talks—not to mention their relationship.

But Jax won’t give up on the man or the mission. With the Outskirts beleaguered by raiders, pirates, and the flesh-eating Morgut, an alliance with Ithiss-Tor may be humanity’s only hope. Which has Jax wondering why a notorious troublemaker like her was given the job…

What did I think of it:
After reading Wanderlust and getting totally frustrated by Jax I wasn't sure if I should continue reading this series, but loving about every other book by Aguirre that I read I decided to give Doubleblind a try.

And I fell in love with Jax all over again.

The insecure, angsty, totally frustrating Jax from Wanderlust was gone and in her place was a new and improved Jax. Still vulnerable, but where in Wanderlust this made her turn into a whiner, here she stood her ground and fought for what she believed in, no matter the consequences.

March was brilliant as ever, even in his “kill” mode and I'm starting to love Vel more with every book.

The story was thrilling, suspenseful and awesome and had some excellent world building. Aguirre's writing is beautiful and now that I didn't get frustrated by Jax I didn't even once get annoyed by the use of present tense.

Doubleblind is one amazing SciFi read and I'm definitely going to read Killbox as soon as I get my trotters on it.

Why should you read it:
Bug-like aliens, a cool heroine and a suspenseful story: what more could you want!?

Poison Study - Book Review

Poison Study (Study #1)
by Maria V. Snyder

What is it about:
Choose: A quick death…Or slow poison…

About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She'll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace—and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia.

And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly's Dust—and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison.

As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can't control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren't so clear…

What did I think of it:
I will confess that when I borrowed this book from a friend I thought it would be the gazillionth Young Adult Fantasy with yet another love triangle. The food tasting thing sounded cool though, so I set aside my misgivings and decided to give this book a try.

And I'm so glad I did: This book is amazing!

No teen angsty love triangles here. In fact: This book might be marketed as a YA book and Yelena might be about seventeen when the story starts, but I wouldn't call it YA myself per se.

The writing is decent, but it's not the writing that makes this book, it's the story. It has everything I want in a good fantasy:
A likeable heroine who's damaged, but not broken and willing to fight.
A cool, mysterious and dangerous love interest for said heroine.
An intriguing, detailed setting and decent world building.
Some adequate baddies.
And an action-packed, suspenseful story.

What more could you want?

When I finished Poison Study I immediately ordered my own copy, because I know I will want to reread it often and there's only so much times you can bug a friend to part with their copy ;-)

Why should you read it:
It's really cool Fantasy with amazing characters.

Wishlist Wednesday - Nightshifted

I'm not so sure about the 'falling for a zombie' thing, but otherwise this sounds like such a cool read.

Nightshifted by Cassie Alexander

Nursing school prepared Edie Spence for a lot of things. Burn victims? No problem. Severed limbs? Piece of cake. Vampires? No way in hell. But as the newest nurse on Y4, the secret ward hidden in the bowels of County Hospital, Edie has her hands full with every paranormal patient you can imagine—from vamps and were-things to zombies and beyond…

Edie’s just trying to learn the ropes so she can get through her latest shift unscathed. But when a vampire servant turns to dust under her watch, all hell breaks loose. Now she’s haunted by the man’s dying words—Save Anna—and before she knows it, she’s on a mission to rescue some poor girl from the undead. Which involves crashing a vampire den, falling for a zombie, and fighting for her soul. Grey’s Anatomy was never like this…

Expected publication: May 22nd 2012 by St. Martin's Press

Teaser Tuesdays - Green

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 very far in this book yet, although further along than page 11, but so far I'm loving it. It's very beautifully written.

The first skill a girl-child learns is to sew a small bell to her silk every day so that when she marries, she will dance with the music of four thousand bells. Every day she sews so that when she dies, her soul will be carried out of this life on the music of twenty-five-thousand bells.
(page 11, Green by Jay Lake)

Head Rush - Book Review

Head Rush (The Disillusionists Trilogy #3)
by Carolyn Crane

What is it about:
JUSTINE JONES FACES HER ULTIMATE ENEMY: HERSELF!

In an attempt to put her unhappy past behind her, Justine Jones throws herself into nursing school and planning her wedding to Otto Sanchez, the man of her dreams. But something is off. Random details aren’tadding up…and is it her imagination, or are her friends and fiancé keeping secrets from her? And what’s with this strange sense of unease, and her odd new headaches?

Justine tries to stay upbeat as Midcity cowers under martial law, sleepwalking cannibals, and a mysterious rash of paranormal copycat violence, but her search for answers leads her into the most dangerous mindgame yet.

With the help of unlikely allies, including her paranoid dad and best frenemy Simon, Justine fights her ultimate foe…and unravels the most startling mystery of all.

What did I think of it:
This book is utterly amazing!
I'm impatiently waiting for the print version to get released so I can hug it to bits.

Seriously:
Crane does it again: She made me rage, cry, chuckle, laugh and sigh in this rollercoaster ending of her Disillusionists Trilogy. There are few authors who manage to get me so involved in a lead character to actually make my blood pressure spike and heart rate increase, but so far Crane succeeded to do so with every book she wrote.

Crane's world building and her characters are both strong as ever. My favorite characters were all present again, there was a very cool new character and Carolyn even indulged me by including my beloved professor Teufelsdrockh (how awesome is that!?).

All in all this book is everything I hoped it would be and more. If you haven't started this series yet, you should run out right now to buy it! It's amazing.

Why should you read it:
It's amazingly cool and utterly awesome Urban Fantasy


Buy the ebook here
Buy the audiobook here
Paperback will be available later in 2012

ps: keep an eye on my blog next week: there just might be a giveaway where you could enter to win a signed copy of either Mind Games or Double Cross

Captured - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

Captured
by Julia Rachel Barrett


What is it about:
Mari never expects to find herself in a cage in a cargo hold on a spaceship. She quickly learns from her captors she's headed to the meat market. When they try to return her to hypersleep, she resists. After allowing her to stay awake, Mari realizes her survival depends on connecting with the male in charge, Ekkatt. She must make him see her as a sentient being or she will end up as dinner.

Ekkatt has never spoken to any human. They are valued for one thing, the money they bring at auction. The Attun race is vegetarian, but other species prize human flesh and bring in good money. Then the female with red hair speaks to him and forces him to admit she has a name. Mari throws Ekkatt's entire life into question, the biggest question...can he watch her sold to the highest bidder?
** A Siren Erotic Romance

What did I think of it:
I'm always on the look out for a good SciFi Romance where one of the leads isn't human, so that's why I picked up Captured.

And I have to say: It's an enjoyable erotic romance as long as you don't mind that the story has plot holes big enough to swallow up small countries.

Ekkatt thinks humans are little more than animals at the beginning of the story, still he speaks almost every human language and he has visited Earth many times, has seen human cities and has even been in them to abduct humans. Ehm.... either Ekkatt is a little slow in the head or Barrett didn't think this through.

I had some trouble with this and with other glaringly obvious plot holes, but otherwise I enjoyed the romance, which is really hot.

This book won't end up on my reread pile, but I'm willing to try something else by Barrett if the story sounds appealing.

Why should you read it:
It's an enjoyable SciFi romance


Buy from Amazon

Romancing the Countess - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

Romancing the Countess (Romancing #1)
by Ashley March

What is it about:
Sebastian Madinger, the Earl of Wriothesly, thought he'd married the perfect woman-until a fatal accident revealed her betrayal with his best friend. After their deaths, Sebastian is determined to avoid a scandal for the sake of his son. But his best friend's widow is just as determined to cast her mourning veil aside by hosting a party that will surely destroy both their reputations and expose all of his carefully kept secrets...

Leah George has carried the painful knowledge of her husband's affair for almost a year. All she wants now is to enjoy her independence and make a new life for herself-even if that means being ostracized by the Society whose rules she was raised to obey. Now that the rumors are flying, there's only one thing left for Sebastian to do: silence the scandal by enticing the improper widow into becoming a proper wife. But when it comes to matters of the heart, neither Sebastian nor Leah is prepared for the passion they discover in each other's arms....

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
An original and enjoyable Historical Romance.

I liked Sebastian from the start and his reaction to his wife's death and her betrayal was almost heartbreaking. Leah on the other hand was a person full of contradictions and much harder to understand at times. Still she's likeable and I rooted for both to find love again.

The romance between Leah and Sebastian is very well written and I loved the slow and realistic build up. Near the end of the book Leah was testing my patience though, I will confess, and I felt like wacking her, but luckily as this is a romance I finally did get the Happy End I wanted.

I have put the next book in this series (Seducing the Duchess) on my wishlist, because I certainly want to read more books by March.

Why should you read it:
It's an original and well written Historical Romance

Wishlist Wednesday and Giveaway Alert - Bound by Fire

Bound by Fire by Ronald Craft

An ancient promise.
A forgotten treachery.
Seven souls, bound by fire, will begin their quest for the truth.

Ilian, an apprentice blacksmith, has the heart of a god sealed within him. When Karena, the beautiful red-haired assassin, kills his father and rips his soul from his body, Ilian soon becomes entangled in a rivalry that has spanned over hundreds of years.

Meanwhile, on the other ends of the earth an evil that has been waiting for generations to emerge has finally taken the first step towards changing the known world forever.

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Another book that has me drooling over the cover, but doesn't the story sound cool as well!?

And if you live in the US and hurry over to Goodreads, you can still enter to win a paperback copy of this book!

Teaser Tuesdays - Fate's Edge

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!

"You're right, my problems are the biggest problems ever," George said. "No, honestly, it's horrible to be me. I'm rich, talented, and I make girls cry."
(page 156, Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews)

Indie Book Blowout

Today is the start of the 12 Days of Christmas Indie Book Blowout!

Great Books at GREAT Prices
Books that normally sell for $2.99, $4.99, and more are just 99¢ over the 12 Days of Christmas Blowout!

Ànd you can also enter to win a Kindle!

So run on over to the Indie Book Blowout site and find out all about it.

Top Pearls Revisited - Coming Soon

Last year I made a post listing my favorite reads of 2010.

I will of course also make such a list this year, but I also have something else planned.

I'm going to revisit my favorite reads of 2010 and next to an update on the authors, word about new books, and stuff like that there will be an awesome giveaway!

So stay tuned and remember to drop by every day between December 27th and December 30th

Asha - Book Review

Asha by Kevis Hendrickson
ebook, short story

What is it about:
Asha is a 15-year old girl with the soul of a demon. She plans to wage war against heaven and hell using humanity as her main weapon. Asha begins the epic tale of the revenge of the dark goddess of demons!

What did I think of it:
An enjoyable short story.

The writing is decent and Asha is an intriguing character. I would have loved to learn a bit more about what makes her tick though, she remained a bit of a mystery which made it hard to connect with her.

The story is intruiging, but doesn't really have a satisfying ending, but this is often the case with first books in an ongoing series, so I won't hold that against it.

All in all it's a nice start of a series and I'm curious how this story will further evolve.

Why should you read it:
It's an enjoyable short story about a demonic teenager


Buy it here

When Josie Comes Home - Book Review

When Josie Comes Home (The New West)
by A.E. Stanton
ebook

What is it about:
The future’s a wonderful place to be if you were considered worthy -- until a huge solar flare slagged the world computers. Now, over two hundred years later, the unworthies are all that’s left of humanity, and they’ve reverted back to the old, old ways.

Josie escapes from the forced sexual slavery of Horsetown, vowing to return with help to save her sisters. Ten years later, she’s not home -- but her youngest sister, Sadie, insists Josie will return, with her Hero along to help save the day.

(Gini Koch writing as A.E. Stanton)

What did I think about it:
I really liked the setting and world building in this story. Stanton creates a grim and nasty future that's very recognisable because of all the similarities with the Old West.

The story itself is a bit predictable in my opinion, but well written. I did have some problems with the characters though. I couldn't connect with them and this made that I didn't feel really involved with the story.

I think I will give the next story in this series a chance though, because this setting sure has many possibilities that I hope Stanton will explore.

Why should you read it:
It's well written and has a really cool setting.


Buy from Musa Publishing

The Myth Of Mr. Mom - Book Review

The Myth of Mr. Mom
by Jeremy Rodden, Sonny Lemmons, Christian Jensen, Shawn Scarber, Toby Tate, Leo Dee, Charlie Andrews and Gerhi Feuren

What is it about:
The Myth of Mr. Mom is a collaborative non-fiction essay anthology written by stay-at-home dads that shares the personal stories of eight men from around the world.

The goal of the book is to help bring awareness to the fact that men are just as capable as women of being the primary caregiver, homemaker, and stay-at-home parent. We feel that there is a societal bias against stay-at-home dads that does not exist for stay-at-home mothers and seek to bring our stories to the public.

Filled with humorous anecdotes and eye-opening personal experiences, The Myth of Mr. Mom is simultaneously inspiring and entertaining.

What did I think of it:
This is not a book I would normally read, but because I really enjoyed Jeremy Rodden's Toonopolis: Gemini I decided to give this collection of essays a try.

And yet again I was reminded how rewarding it can be to step outside of your reading comfort zone once in a while.

This is a fun and interesting book to read. Being an open minded person myself when it comes to gender roles and such, I never would have thought there were so many prejudices against stay-at-home dads. The humorous way in which the authors in this anthology write about the prejudices and difficulties they encounter, show that they don't let themselves be taken down though. I think this book would be a great help to all those stay-at-home dads who suffer from the same kind of prejudice if only so they know they're not alone.

Other readers will certainly enjoy this anthology as well. It has many funny anecdotes and it will get you thinking about your own look at life and what hidden prejudices you might have.

As for the writing:
I enjoyed the writing of all the authors in this anthology. Because these are essays it's not a clear indication of their overall writing, but I'm going to investigate what other things these authors have written and see if there's anything that fits my reading tastes.

Why should you read it:
It's an interesting and fun collection of essays about stay-at-home dads


Buy from Amazon

Release Day: Daybreak And Alien Proliferation

Today is the release day of two fabulous books!
If you haven't pre-ordered them yet, go read my reviews and then run to the store to get your hands on them!

Daybreak (Dark Age Dawning #3)
by Ellen Connor

What is it about:
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. But she needs the help of a shapeshifter named Tru, whom she knew when he was a troubled boy. But Tru is a creature of instinct and impulse, living only to satisfy his senses- ignoring the scarred heart nobody has ever reached. Fighting alongside the last holdouts of humanity, they will 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.

Read my review here




Alien Proliferation (Katherine "Kitty" Katt #4)
by Gini Koch

What is it about:
Alien Super-Being Exterminator Kitty Katt is expecting her first baby. But the alien attacks are getting more dangerous, and now Kitty and her Alpha Centaurion husband, Jeff, have to find out who's behind the conspiracy to kill Kitty's secret agent mom and what caused Kitty's transformation into a superhuman-and they've got to do it all before the baby shower...

Read my review here!