TBR-Orphan Challenge Update 3

So, how did I do on my self-imposed challenge to read at least 1 book each month that's been on my TBR-pile for more than 3 months?


I read Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews.
This one had been on my shelves for a long time and it took a friend telling me I really needed to read it to finally pick it up. It was a nice read, but I've heard the other books in the series get better, so I'll probably pick up book 2 somewhere in the future.


When I started Queene of Light by Jennifer Armintrout it hadn't been on my shelves for 3 months yet... But I got distracted by other books and when I finally picked it up again it was on my shelves for more than 3 months. It was a nice read, but I won't be reading any other books in this series. A review of this book will be posted soon.

So I read one and a half book that had been on my shelves for more than 3 months. It's not the two books I was going for this month, but I'm making progress.

Did you read any books that had been gathering dust?
Let me know in the comments.

Mortality: Designing My Zombies - Guest Post by Kellie Sheridan

Today I have a guest:
Kellie Sheridan, author of Mortality (book one of The Hitchhiker Strain) as well as End Dayz (a prequel to Mortality).

Kellie is here to talk about the zombies in her books so sit back and read all about them.

Don't forget to check out the description of Mortality at the end of this post and visit the buy links. Starting today there's a 40% sale on the Mortality ebook on Amazon and Smashwords, to celebrate this weekends season finale of The Walking Dead so don't miss out!



Designing My Zombies by Kellie Sheridan

When I first decided to write a book set after the zombie-apocalypse, I was faced with the age-old question. Fast zombies or slow zombies? It’s a question that’s been plaguing (heh) the genre almost since its inception.

Slow zombies make a bit more sense (as much as any of this does) in that they’re decaying and sometimes half-eaten—those things can’t run! They also have a better chance of sneaking up on their intended victims, if they can manage to keep the moaning to a minimum. My problem, is that I never really believed that these creatures who are physically inferior and driven by instinct could really decimate the entire planets population.

That’s where fast zombies come in. If you’re not careful, a swarm of these guys can overwhelm you in a matter of seconds. Just look at trailers for the upcoming zombie movie World War Z (although really, you should just read the book on this one) to get an idea of what these guys can do. There’s no question that if fast zombies ever became a thing, we’d be pretty much toast. The problem is that these zombies are usually faster than they ever were when alive. Dying robs you of your intellect but gives you super human strength? That’s hard to believe, even for genre fans. It comes off as a convenient way to ramp up the threat. I need science in my science fiction!


So what’s the answer? Well, there isn’t just one. Every incarnation of zombies has to tackle this in its own way. I decided to find a way to incorporate both. In Mortality, you get to see the aftermath of the zombie infection as well as those first days of terror when the dead began to walk. And at first, that’s what I did. My first zombies were slow and flesh-hungry, so those were Mortality’s first zombies as well.

But because they weren’t terribly quick and the infection started in one central area, we were able to get them (mostly) under control. The American government even managed to come up with a vaccine in record time. Great! Not so great. Due to some poor planning that I won’t get into here for fear of spoilers, things go all kinds of wrong and a second generation of the infected is created. The vaccine isn’t able to stop the zombie-infection, only slow it down long enough to stop it from killing the bitten. Now there are two kinds of Z on the prowl, one who is slow and decaying and another that possess all our physical strengths but is driven only by hunger—uber Zs. Ack!

So, how do these two types of zombies manage to co-exist? Well I wouldn’t call it peaceful, but I’ll leave you to read Mortality to get all the gory details!



Mortality (The Hitchhiker Strain #1)
by Kellie Sheridan

After surviving a deadly plague outbreak, sixteen-year-old Savannah thought she had lived through the very worst of human history. There was no way to know that the miracle vaccine would put everyone at risk for a fate worse than un-death.

Now, two very different kinds of infected walk the Earth, intent on nothing but feeding and destroying what little remains of civilization. When the inoculated are bitten, infection means watching on in silent horror as self-control disappears and the idea of feasting on loved ones becomes increasingly hard to ignore.

Starving and forced to live inside of the abandoned high school, all Savannah wants is the chance to fight back. When a strange boy arrives with a plan to set everything right, she gets her chance. Meeting Cole changes everything. Mere survival will never be enough


Check out Kellie's website for more tour stops

Buy links:
Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk
Barnes&Noble Kobo
iTunes Smashwords

Find Kellie Sheridan:
Website
Twitter
Goodreads

Shards and Ashes - Book Review

Shards and Ashes - Anthology
by Melissa Marr, Kelley Armstrong, Veronica Roth, Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl, Rachel Caine, Nancy Holder, Beth Revis and Carrie Ryan

What is it about:
Gripping original stories of dystopian worlds from nine New York Times bestselling authors, edited by Melissa Marr and Kelley Armstrong.

The world is gone, destroyed by human, ecological, or supernatural causes. Survivors dodge chemical warfare and cruel gods; they travel the reaches of space and inhabit underground caverns. Their enemies are disease, corrupt corporations, and one another; their resources are few, and their courage is tested.

Powerful original dystopian tales from nine bestselling authors offer bleak insight, prophetic visions, and precious glimmers of light among the shards and ashes of a ruined world.

What did I think of it:
Because this is an anthology I'll give a short commentary with each story about what I thought of it.

Hearken by Veronica Roth
This was a story with really intriguing world building. It was nicely written, but I didn't like the message that was a bit too clearly stamped upon the story. I wouldn't mind if Roth would write more in this world though.

Branded by Kelley Armstrong
This was a really cool story. Great world building, solid story and a great heroine. I really hope Armstrong will write more in this setting.

Necklace of Raindrops by Margaret Stohl
This story had a great plot, but that got a bit lost in the way it was written.

Dogsbody by Rachel Caine
I loved this story. It's disturbing and suspenseful. With a minimum of world building Caine succeeds in dragging me into the story and cheering on the lead character. Best story in the book in my opinion.

Pale Rider by Nancy Holder
I liked the world building at the start of the story, but soon the story went to places where I couldn't follow.

Corpse Eaters by Melissa Marr
This story couldn't really grab my attention.

Burn 3 by Kami Garcia
This was a really nice story. I liked the world building, it felt very believable. I might try other books by Garcia.

Love is a Choice by Beth Revis
A very intriguing story. It's set on a spaceship and I really liked the setting. I think I'll add Revis' books to my wishlist.

Miasma by Carrie Ryan
This was a lovely story. Bittersweet and just a bit disturbing. I wouldn't mind if Ryan wrote more in this setting.

Overall this is a great anthology with some really cool settings and stories. I can recommend this to anyone who loves a good Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic setting.

Why should you read it:
It's a great anthology with cool Dystpian YA stories.

Revel - Book Review

Revel
by Maurissa Guibord

What is it about:
There’s an island off the coast of Maine that’s not on any modern map.

Shrouded in mist and protected by a deadly reef, Trespass Island is home to a community of people who guard the island and its secrets from outsiders. Seventeen-year-old Delia grew up in Kansas, but has come here in search of her family and answers to her questions: Why didn’t her mother ever talk about Trespass Island? Why did she fear the open water? But Delia’s not welcome and soon finds herself enmeshed in a frightening and supernatural world where ancient Greek symbols adorn the buildings and secret ceremonies take place on the beach at night.

Sean Gunn, a handsome young lobsterman, befriends Delia and seems willing to risk his life to protect her. But it’s Jax, the coldly elusive young man she meets at the water’s edge, who finally makes Delia understand the real dangers of life on the island. Delia is going to have to fight to survive. Because there are monsters here. And no one ever leaves Trespass alive.

What did I think of it:
This was a nice read.

I must confess I had expected more from this book.

The premise sounds really intriguing and promises a creepy story. I can't say I thought this book was creepy though. It's an interesting story, but it lacked an emotional impact in my opinion. There was no real suspense or surprises along the way.

I also think the town of Trespass didn't feel real. For a community that's been mostly cut-off from the world for a long time I thought the people felt too modern in their way of talking and behaving. But maybe I'm overthinking things here.

These flaws aside this is a pleasant and enjoyable read with some really nice world building though and I might give other books by Guibord a try when I come across them.

Why should you read it:
It's an enjoyable YA read.

Teaser Tuesdays - The Accidental Werewolf

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!


She clawed desperately at the edges of the surreal dreamlike world she'd visited so often this past week and tried to cling to it. Reality sucked right now.
(page 23, The Accidental Werewolf by Dakota Cassidy)

Frost Burned - Book Review

Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson #7)
by Patricia Briggs

What is it about:
Mercy Thompson’s life has undergone a seismic change. Becoming the mate of Adam Hauptman—the charismatic Alpha of the local werewolf pack—has made her a stepmother to his daughter Jesse, a relationship that brings moments of blissful normalcy to Mercy’s life. But on the edges of humanity, what passes for a minor mishap on an ordinary day can turn into so much more…

After an accident in bumper-to-bumper traffic, Mercy and Jesse can’t reach Adam—or anyone else in the pack for that matter. They’ve all been abducted.

Through their mating bond, all Mercy knows is that Adam is angry and in pain. With the werewolves fighting a political battle to gain acceptance from the public, Mercy fears Adam’s disappearance may be related—and that he and the pack are in serious danger. Outclassed and on her own, Mercy may be forced to seek assistance from any ally she can get, no matter how unlikely.

What did I think of it:
This series is one of my favorite Urban Fantasy series and I will confess I pre-ordered Frost Burned as soon as I could.

It turned out to be a cool read.

This is a very suspenseful and emotional story. I like how events from Briggs other (related) UF series Alpha & Omega have their effect on Mercy and her family and friends.

What I also really enjoyed was getting a look inside Adam's mind. Some of the story was narrated by him. He's been a major character since the start of the series and it was fun to learn a bit more about what makes him tick.

I did notice once again that from all Briggs supernatural creatures I like the vampires the least. The parts of the story that had to do with them were the least interesting to me. I think Briggs is at her best when writing about wolfs and fairies, but that's probably a very personal taste.

The ending wasn't to my satisfaction I'll confess. I had the feeling I was reading one story and then suddenly that story was taken away from me and replaced with something that wasn't as good as what I was reading before.

But overall I very much enjoyed Frost Burned and I will most certainly read upcoming books in this series once they release.

Why should you read it:
It's well written and suspenseful Urban Fantasy.

Slide - Book Review

Slide (Slide #1)
by Jill Hathaway

What is it about:
Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth--her sister's friend Sophie didn't kill herself. She was murdered.

Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn't actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else's mind and experiences the world through that person's eyes. She's slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed "friend" when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie's slashed body.

Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can't bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting distant lately, especially now that she's been spending more time with Zane.

Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again.

What did I think of it:
This was an enjoyable read.

It's in present tense and full of teenage drama. I really wonder if real high schools are just as bad as those in YA books and movies I must confess.

But the drama fits the story and eventhough written in present tense it's a fast and pleasant read.

I liked the idea of Vee sliding into other people's minds and Hathaway uses this concept in a way that makes Slide a suspenseful story.

There was some lecturing going on, but not enough to really annoy me (apart from the 'cool girl turns pastel' part, that always annoys me). The story skirted the edges of believability at times and I'm not talking about Vee's sliding ability here. But I decided to go along with it and was rewarded with a very entertaining read.

All in all I very much liked this book and I think I'll give the next book in this series a try once it releases.

Why should you read it:
It's an entertaining Paranormal YA read.

On McPig's Wishlist - The Last Princess

I will confess I'm a bit apprehensive about the name of the author. I mean: Galaxy Craze?! But the story does sound like it might be really cool.


The Last Princess
by Galaxy Craze

A series of natural disasters has decimated the earth. Cut off from the rest of the world, England is a dark place. The sun rarely shines, food is scarce, and groups of criminals roam the woods, searching for prey. The people are growing restless. When a ruthless revolutionary sets out to overthrow the crown, he makes the royal family his first target. Blood is shed in Buckingham Palace, and only sixteen-year old Princess Eliza manages to escape. Determined to kill the man who destroyed her family, Eliza joins the enemy forces in disguise. She has nothing left to live for but revenge, until she meets someone who helps her remember how to hope-and love-once more.Now she must risk everything to ensure that she does not become... The Last Princess.

Magic Bites - Book Review

Magic Bites (Kate Daniels #1)
by Ilona Andrews

What is it about:
When the magic is up, rogue mages cast their spells and monsters appear, while guns refuse to fire and cars fail to start. But then technology returns, and the magic recedes as unpredictably as it arose, leaving all kinds of paranormal problems in its wake.

Kate Daniels is a down-on-her-luck mercenary who makes her living cleaning up these magical problems. But when Kate's guardian is murdered, her quest for justice draws her into a power struggle between two strong factions within Atlanta's magic circles.

The Masters of the Dead, necromancers who can control vampires, and the Pack, a paramilitary clan of shapechangers, blame each other for a series of bizarre killings—and the death of Kate's guardian may be part of the same mystery. Pressured by both sides to find the killer, Kate realizes she's way out of her league—but she wouldn't have it any other way…

What did I think of it:
This is a nice read.

I must say I didn't really connect with Kate, there wasn't enough told about her and her past to understand who and what she is. And I'm not even talking about how inconsistent she was with her own rules. The story and the world building however were intriguing enough to deal with a heroine who felt a bit one dimensional to me.

There were some really cool other characters who felt a bit more real to me. I really liked Curran, the Lord of the Beasts and Jim, another shapechanger.

The story is cool and action packed. There were some minor annoyances like people throwing out whole theories just because one small part of it didn't seem to fit, but overall it was an entertaining read.

I'm not completely sold on this series I'll confess, but I might give other books in this series a chance if I come across them. To be honest I like Ilona Andrews' Edge series more than this series so far.

Why should you read it:
It's a nice Urban Fantasy with an intriguing setting.

Teaser Tuesdays - Revel

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 screamed and yanked back as a long black form streaked beneath the surface. The boat rocked hard and I toppled, hitting my shoulder against the opposite side.
(page 19, Revel by Maurissa Guibord)

Shadows - Book Review

Shadows (Ashes Trilogy #2)
by Ilsa J. Bick

What is it about:
The Apocalypse does not end. The Changed will grow in numbers. The Spared may not survive.

Even before the EMPs brought down the world, Alex was on the run from the demons of her past and the monster living in her head. After the world was gone, she believed Rule could be a sanctuary for her and those she’d come to love.
But she was wrong.

Now Alex is in the fight of her life against the adults, who would use her, the survivors, who don’t trust her, and the Changed, who would eat her alive.

What did I think of it:
I will say I was a bit annoyed by the message printed on the cover that promised me this book was as good as The Hunger Games. Now I have nothing against The Hunger Games, it's a nice enough read, but I absolutely loved Ashes, the first book in this trilogy, and was really hoping Shadows was just as good as Ashes and thus way better than The Hunger Games. (Also: don't print stuff like that on the cover! Make a sticker so I can remove it.)

Luckily for me this book is not as good as The Hunger Games though:
It's so much better!

Ashes was told through Alex's viewpoint, but this book has multiple viewpoints. It threw me at first, but soon I was gripped by the gritty and dark story and was cheering on most of the characters.

The story is complex and I liked how all the different storylines slowly lead to each other and intertwine. The one thing I can say against this story is that once again the lead heroine (Alex) survives a couple of times through being 'special', but apart from those minor flaws this is an awesome post-apocalyptic adventure with lots of grim and gruesome moments. I like how Bick shows that humans can be just as scary and dangerous (if not even more so) as flesh eating monsters.

The ending is a major cliffhanger, leaving so many things open and questions unanswered that I wanted to go out and get the last book right away. Sadly enough I will have to wait until September though. So I'll have to comfort myself by rereading Ashes and Shadows while waiting and I will most certainly give other books by Bick a try as well.

Why should you read it:
It's grim and gritty Post-Apocalyptic awesomeness

The Leprechaun Literary Haiku Throwdown - Contest

Hello and welcome to the Leprechaun Literary Haiku Throwdown. Becky of Bibliognome and I decided to join forces and put together an epic haiku contest.


To enter the contest write a haiku about a book series or character that you love.

Example of an entry:

One ring to rule them
A hobbit stands in the way
Watch out for Gollum

Haiku about The Lord of the Ring books
My email or way to contact me: LeprechaunLiteraryHaikuThrowdown@gmail dot com


There will be an overall grand prize winner from both blogs and then a runner up from each blog.

The prizes are:

Grand Prize Winner: $30 to The Book Depository, 3 books of your choice from Candlemark & Gleam, a choice of Marcella Burnard’s books either Enemy Within or Enemy Games.


Runner up 1: $10 to The Book Depository, 2 books of your choice from Candlemark & Gleam, choice of one of Jeffe Kennedy's ebooks

Runner up 2: $10 to The Book Depository, 2 books of your choice from Candlemark & Gleam, ebook of Rewrite Redemption by J.H. Walker


* Contest open to US and International, if you enter the contest make sure that The Book Depository ships to where you live. You can check that here.


Rules
1.) Haikus must be in 5-7-5 form.
2.) One entry allowed per blog.
(so yes: you can run over to Becky's blog to post a second haiku after you posted one here)
3.) Write your haiku along with your name email address in the comments. If you don't want to leave your email address leave your Twitter, or Facebook details. Just make sure I'm able to contact you to let you know that you've won.
4.) You don't have to follow either blog to win, but feel free to follow if you like what you see and leave any comments on reviews or posts that you find interesting. :)
5.) The contest will run from March 17th-31st.


Judges for the contest:

Me

@GeckyBoz

DizzyC, aka Carol lives in East Anglia, England with her husband and 3 children. Formerly a Teaching Assistant she is currently a stay at home mum. She fills any spare time reading and book blogging . Her blog's called Dizzy C's Little Book Blog.

@parrishlatern from The Parrish Lantern. He has an interesting post about haikus that can be found here.


Have fun everyone and a big thank you to the lovely people who have donated a prize for this contest.

Sky Tinted Water - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

Sky Tinted Water (Sky Tinted Water, #1)
by Keta Diablo

What is it about:
Familial bonds, malevolent schemes and passion collide in this sweet historical novel. Set in Minnesota during the Civil War and the Sioux uprising, this is the story of Rory Hudson, the exquisite Irish lass with an unbreakable spirit and the enigmatic Dawson Finch, a man bound by honor, duty and loyalty.

When Dawson enlists in the army to bring peace to nation divided, Rory’s world plummets into a tailspin. War, distance and time separate them, but nothing can dispel the haunting memories of their love. Not even death can destroy their fierce passion or a love so strong it beats the odds of the impossible.

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
This is indeed as the cover promises: 'A Sweet Historical Romance'.

Sky Tinted Water gives a clear and intriguing view of life in a small settlement during the Civil War. There's happy moments, sad ones, love and loss.

I really liked the calm almost slow pacing of the story. Near the end of the book the pace picks up to lead to a suspenseful and action filled climax.

The romance between Rory and Dawson is of the 'love at first sight' kind and even though I'm usually a bit cynical about those kind of romances when they're not combined with 'lust at first sight' Diablo knows how to write it in a way that makes me go along with it. The scenes between Rory and Dawson are sweet and heartwarming.

All in all this is a very nice read and I'm curious about the next book to see what happens next to Rory, Dawson and their family and friends.

Why should you read it:
It's a sweet and enjoyable Historical Romance.


Buy from:
Amazon
Barnes and Nobles
Kobo

On McPig's Wishlist - Poison

This book has a pig! How cool is that?
If it wasn't for the fact this book is a bit pricey I'd buy it immediately. But I think I'll wait for the price to go down or for the paperback.


Poison
by Bridget Zinn

Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she’s the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom’s future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend.

But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart . . . misses.

Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king’s army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she’s not alone. She’s armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can’t stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her?

The Seduction of Phaeton Black - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

The Seduction of Phaeton Black (Paranormal Investigator #1)
by Jillian Stone

What is it about:
The year is 1889 and Queen Victoria, exemplum of decency and sobriety, is in her fifty-second year of reign. Occult detective Phaeton Black, on the other hand, couldn’t be less interested in clean-living. He has recently taken up residence in the basement flat of London’s most notorious brothel. A dedicated libertine with an aptitude for absinthe, he wrestles with a variety of demons both real and self-inflicted.

Unfairly linked to Scotland Yard’s failure to solve the Whitechapel murders, Phaeton is offered a second chance to redeem himself. A mysterious fiend, or vampire is stalking the Strand. After a glass and a consult with the green fairy, he agrees to take on the case.

On his first surveillance, Phaeton pursues an elusive stranger and encounters several curious, horrifying beings. But the most intriguing creature of all is a Cajun beauty who captures him at knifepoint and threatens to spirit away his heart.

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
This book is marketed as Steampunk, but I would call this a Historical Paranormal Romance. A Victorian setting and one airship aren't enough for me to call a book Steampunk.

That being said:

This is a surprisingly hot and enjoyable read.

I must say I was a bit flabbergasted by the first encounter between Phaeton and America, even though I was warned this book was heavy on the steamy scenes. It was a highly unusual first meeting I can tell you.

Phaeton is a hero who had to grow on me, but I liked America from the start and once I got used to Phaeton I very much enjoyed both the story and the romance. I did think that the story was divided into two storylines unnecessarily. I would have liked it more if America's storyline was part of the investigation Phaeton was conducting, but Stone's writing and the romance were good enough to go along with how the story was set up.

The ending of this book was very satisfying, giving a conclusion for now, but hinting at many more adventures and I might pick up the next book in this series to see if it's as enjoyable as this one.

Why should you read it:
It's a steamy Historical Paranormal Romance.

Teaser Tuesdays - Shadows

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!


Huge tears were rolling down his cheeks, where they mixed with gore, so that it seemed like he was weeping blood. "Are they going to eat us?"
(page 198, Shadows by Ilsa J. Bick)

Hattie Wilkinson Meets Her Match - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

Hattie Wilkinson Meets Her Match
by Michelle Styles

What is it about:
In the eyes of the ton Hattie Wilkinson is a respectable widow, content with her safe, if somewhat modest life.

On the other hand Sir Christopher Foxton prides himself on being regarded as one of London’s most notorious rakes, with a particularly mischievous streak!

Upon their first meeting Kit threatens to shatter Hattie’s well-ordered peace—and her reputation!—if only she’ll allow herself to succumb to his playful advances. This time they’ve both finally met their match…

Set in July 1816 Tyne Valley

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
I will confess I almost never read Historical Romances anymore, focusing more on Paranormal Romance and such. But I won this book in a giveaway and it did sound really nice so I picked it up soon after having received it.

This is a lovely read.

Hattie is a great heroine. She is strong and cares for those around her, but she's forgotten how to have fun herself. Luckily Kit enters her life and soon both of them discover they're a better match for each other than either one ever expected.

I loved seeing Hattie and Kit grow closer together. Hattie and Kit may seem to have very different personalities, but once you get to know more about them you can see why they fit together so well. The romance was sweet and touching in my opinion.

I did think that Kit had to grovel a bit too much at some point about something I thought wasn't something Hattie was allowed to hold against him, but that aside this book was a very enjoyable and satisfying read.

All in all I'm glad to have won this book and I will check out what other books Styles has written.

Why should you read it:
It's a lovely Historical Romance

Promised - Book Review

Promised (Birthmarked #3)
by Caragh M. O'Brien

What is it about:
After defying the ruthless Enclave, surviving the wasteland, and upending the rigid matriarchy of Sylum, Gaia Stone now faces her biggest challenge ever. She must lead the people of Sylum back to the Enclave and persuade the Protectorat to grant them refuge from the wasteland. In Gaia's absence, the Enclave has grown more cruel, more desperate to experiment on mothers from outside the wall, and now the stakes of cooperating or rebelling have never been higher. Is Gaia ready, as a leader, to sacrifice what--or whom--she loves most?

What did I think of it:
This is my least favorite book in this trilogy.

Just as in book two there is a lot of beard shaving going on. Beards get shaved off left and right.

I thought Gaia was acting very selfish. She made her choice in the love square that was going on, but when the jilted lovers try to move on and find love somewhere else Gaia gets all huffy and possessive about it, wanting them to pine after her forever.

And don't even get me started about how naive and gullible Gaia was. I'd have thought she learned to be a bit more cautious after everything she encountered.

But what bothered me most was the moralizing. This book has a message to tell and almost shouts it to its readers. I must confess that I didn't think some of the things the Protectorat is doing were that evil, but Gaia thinks otherwise and her voice drowns out all other opinions in favor of her own. It was a clear difference from the second book where Gaia often had a different opinion than others, but at least respected other opinions and decisions.

The lecturing tone of this book really diminished my enjoyment of the story and I must say I had trouble finishing it. All in all it is a very different read than the first two books and I don't think I'll reread this one. I will reread the other two though and I will most probably try other books by O'Brien.

Why should you read it:
It's an interesting Dystopian YA read.

On McPig's Radar - Little David Lost

This sounds like a really intriguing and creepy read. I've put it on my to-be-read pile and hope to find the time to read it soon.


Little David Lost
by E.S. Moore

Marybelle Lane would never say she’d had a perfect life. Nightmares haunted her nearly every night. Things she couldn’t explain kept happening. And just when she thought things couldn’t get worse, her dad died right in front of her, seemingly murdered by a nightmare turned real. But mercifully, the nightmares ceased.

Or did they?

Only a year after her torments ended, the nightmares have returned. Marybelle knows they are real, though no one believes her. She fears the night, knowing that if she falls asleep, she’ll be haunted by a world of dust where a trio of girls sing a rhyme she can’t decipher, by shadows that move...

...and by the decayed voice of a little boy she is beginning to know all too well...

David.

Buy it from:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Smashwords

The Archived - Book Review

The Archived (The Archived #1)
by Victoria Schwab

What is it about:
Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.

Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.

Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often—violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.

Being a Keeper isn’t just dangerous—it’s a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da’s death was hard enough, but now her little brother is gone too. Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.

What did I think of it:
I have this rule for myself that I can only buy a book if it's less than 10 Euro, unless it's a book by a 'must buy' author, like Ann Aguirre or Laura Bickle. So when I heard about The Archived and saw that it was more than 10 Euro I was disappointed. It sounded like it might be a really cool read, but I just couldn't buy it until the price dropped or a paperback version was released. But then I won a gift certificate and used that to treat myself to The Archived.

Was it worth it to bypass my own rule this way?

It was. This is a very original and cool read.

I really liked the idea of this big library full of husks, carrying the history of the deceased. I also could easily imagine the creepy corridors and hallways Mac has to enter to hunt down the escaped Histories. I absolutely loved the world building.

Present tense (again) aside the writing was nice. Schwab's writing really fit the mood of this story. It's beautiful and a bit contemplative.

I really liked Mac, even though she is rash and pushy at times. As in most YA books there's a bit of a love triangle thing going on, but I actually liked how it was done for once.

The story itself was slow at times and then with sudden spurts of action. All in all I really liked it and near the end I couldn't put the book down until I finished it.

So this was a really enjoyable read and I'm glad I picked it up. I will probably read the next book as well, but it will take another gift certificate to purchase it if it's more than 10 Euro. And if I don't have a gift certificate I'll wait for the cheaper paperback version.

Why should you read it:
It's an original Paranormal YA read.

Lucy The Wonder Weenie - Book Review

Lucy The Wonder Weenie
by Nina Clark and Sara Pulver

What is it about:
What happens when an ordinary weenie dog consumes a pile of magic beans?

She turns into a super hero.

Introducing…LUCY THE WONDER WEENIE!

Lucy the Diva Doxie irritates her family with an obsessive licking habit. Then one day she consumes a pile of magic beans and something extraordinary happens. She transforms into LUCY THE WONDER WEENIE. After adopting her new super hero persona, Lucy makes a startling discovery. Her bothersome habit has the power to comfort tearful children and create laughter, love, and joy.

What did I think of it:
I have a confession to make:
I love weenie dogs!
They're stubborn, cuddly and awesome in my opinion.

So when I won a copy of Lucy The Wonder Weenie I was very happy. This book sounded so good.

And I can tell you it is an awesome book.

The story is cute, touching and funny and the illustrations not only fit the story very well, they're really beautiful in my opinion. Just look at the cover! The illustrations inside are similar and there's lots of funny small details in some of them as well.

Lucy is a great heroine and I think this book is not just for children, but for anyone who loves cute stories, fun illustrations and weenie dogs.

Why should you read it:
It's a cute story about a very special weenie dog


Buy it at Amazon

Omega - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

Omega (Penton Legacy #3)
by Susannah Sandlin

What is it about:
The bloody war between the Vampire Tribunal and the defiant scathe of Penton, Alabama, rages on, forcing its residents and their bonded humans to retreat into the underground fortress of last resort: Omega. There, Will Ludlam is charged with the care of Penton’s humans, though he longs to fight alongside his vampire brethren. He knows the risks: as the renegade son of the Tribunal’s vicious leader, Will’s capture could doom the resistance. Yet he is determined to prove his worth to his adopted scathe, to his vengeful father—and to former US Army officer Randa Thomas, his beautiful, reluctant partner. Randa has little faith that a former member of the vampire elite has what it takes to fight a war. But as their enemies descend upon Omega, Will’s polished charm—and Randa’s guarded heart—finally give way to the warrior within.

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
I will confess I had my doubts about this book.

I loved the first two books in this series and the overall storyline and I was dying to read how it all would end in this last installment. I didn't much like Will in the first two book though and he's the hero of Omega, so I was worried if I'd like the romance.

I loved it!

Will turns out to be a complex character with hidden depths and Sandlin managed to make me fall in love with him. I also really liked Randa. She's strong and stubborn, but willing to accept she's wrong about things from time to time. The romance between the two was a delight to read.

The action storyline was just as intense as I had expected it to be after the events in the first two books and doesn't disappoint. This is a suspenseful and action packed read that I couldn't put down until I finished it. A perfect conclusion to the trilogy.

I will reread this trilogy for sure and I will keep an eye out for more books by Sandlin. I understand she will write at least one spin-off to this series and you can bet I'll be getting my hands on that.

Why should you read it:
It's a romantic and suspenseful Paranormal Romance