TBR Orphans Challenge - July Update

In July Voodoo Bride managed to read one Orphan.
Kiss of Crimson had been in our TBR pile for over a year.


I also read one Orphaned book.
Ink Exchange had been in our TBR pile since November last year.

Our total of TBR Orphans read this year is now 11.
Just one more orphan and we made our target of 12, but there's 5 more months to go, and we plan to read at least 1 orphan each month, so I think we will go over our target :-D

How did you do?

A Cat, a Hat and a Piece of String - Book Review

A Cat, a Hat and a Piece of String
by Joanne Harris

What is it about:
'Stories are like Russian dolls; open them up, and in each one you'll find another story.'

Conjured from a wickedly imaginative pen, here is a new collection of short stories that showcases Joanne Harris's exceptional storytelling art. Sensuous, wicked, mischievous, uproarious and wry, here are tales that combine the everyday with the unexpected; wild fantasy with bittersweet reality.

From the house where it is Christmas all year round, to a ghost who lives on a Twitter timeline; from the Congo where a young girl braves the raging rapids to earn a crust of bread, to Norse gods battling for survival in Manhattan; and a newborn baby created with sugar, spice and lashings of cake, these stories will ensnare and delight you with their variety and inventiveness.

What did I think of it:
So far I only read complete novels by Joanne Harris, and I loved those. So when I came across this book with short stories I had to give it a try.

And this is a wonderful collection of short stories. Joanne Harris' style is in itself enough to keep you reading, no matter the subject of her stories. I loved the flow of her prose: it's vivid and imaginative.

But her style isn't the only thing to love in this book. The stories themselves are beautiful as well. Some are funny, some deep, some touching, while yet other stories are all of those things in one.

As in all collections there were stories I liked more than the others, and stories I liked less, but overall I very much enjoyed this book and I look forward to getting my hands on more books by Joanne Harris.

Why should you read it:
It's a well-written collection of short stories.

Teaser Tuesdays - Blackbirds

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!



Once more, she thinks of running. Maybe just get on a bus and go; not like she hasn't done it before. Her feet stay glued. She's not sure why.

(page 120, Blackbirds by Chuck Wendig)

Tempted by a Rogue Prince - Cover Reveal

Tempted by a Rogue Prince (Eternal Mates Romance Series Book 3)
Felicity Heaton

An elf prince on the verge of losing himself to the darkness, Vail is maddened by the forty-two centuries he was under the control of a witch and forced to war with his brother. Now, he roams Hell seeking an escape from his terrible past and the heads of all who bear magic. When demons of the Fifth Realm capture him, he sees a chance to end his existence, but when he wakes in a cell to a beautiful female, he finds not death but his only shot at salvation—his true fated mate.

Captured by the enemy of the Third Realm when the war ended, Rosalind has spent months in the cells of the Fifth Realm with her magic bound, forced to heal the new king’s demon warriors, and haunted by the lives she has taken. When she’s brought to heal an unconscious man, she discovers her only hope of escape has come in the form of her worst nightmare and the first part of a prediction that might spell her doom—a devastatingly handsome and dangerous dark elf prince.

Unwilling to fall under the control of anyone ever again, Vail must escape before the Fifth King can use him as a pawn in a deadly game of revenge, but he cannot leave without Rosalind, the woman who looks at him with dark desire in her stunning eyes and awakens a fierce hunger in his heart. A witch who drives him mad with need even as the darkness within whispers she will enslave him too.

Can Rosalind escape her fate as they embark on a journey fraught with danger and resist the temptation of her rogue elf prince? And can Vail overcome the memories that madden him in order to seize his chance for salvation and the heart of his fated female forever?

Pre-order links and a first chapter preview of Tempted by a Rogue Prince are available at: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/tempted-by-a-rogue-prince-paranormal-romance-novel.php

Tempted by a Rogue Prince is due for release in ebook and paperback on August 9th 2014 and will be available from all major online book retailers.

Join Felicity’s mailing list to receive a notification when Tempted by a Rogue Prince is released, PLUS a sneak preview of the first 6 chapters of the book and chances to win a signed copy: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/newsletter.php

Add the book to your Goodreads shelf at: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20940832-tempted-by-a-rogue-prince

Books in the Eternal Mates paranormal romance series:
Book 1: Kissed by a Dark Prince
Book 2: Claimed by a Demon King
Book 3: Tempted by a Rogue Prince
Book 4: Hunted by a Jaguar – coming in 2015



About Felicity Heaton:
Felicity Heaton is a New York Times and USA Today international best-selling author writing passionate paranormal romance books. In her books, she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons! If you're a fan of paranormal romance authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter and Christine Feehan then you will enjoy her books too.

If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, the best-selling Her Angel series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires then try the Vampires Realm series or any of her stand-alone vampire romance books. If you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic then try the best-selling Vampire Erotic Theatre series. Or if you prefer huge detailed worlds filled with hot-blooded alpha males in every species, from elves to demons to dragons to shifters and angels, then take a look at the new Eternal Mates series.

If you want to know more about Felicity, or want to get in touch, you can find her at the following places:
Website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk
Blog: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/blog/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/felicityheaton
Twitter: http://twitter.com/felicityheaton
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/felicityheaton

When Rose Wakes - Book Review

When Rose Wakes
by Christopher Golden

What is it about:
Her terrifying dreams are nothing compared to the all-too-real nightmare that awaits...

Ever since sixteen-year-old Rose DuBois woke up from months in a coma with absolutely no memories, she’s had to start from scratch. She knows she loves her two aunts who take care of her, and that they all used to live in France, but everything else from her life before is a blank.

Rose tries to push through the memory gaps and start her new life, attending high school and living in Boston with her aunts, who have seriously old world ideas. Especially when it comes to boys. But despite their seemingly irrational fears and odd superstitions, they insist Rose not worry about the eerie dreams she’s having, vivid nightmares that she comes to realize are strangely like the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty. The evil witch, the friendly fairies, a curse that puts an entire town to sleep—Rose relives the frightening story every night.

And when a mysterious raven-haired woman starts following her, Rose begins to wonder if she is the dormant princess. And now that she’s awake, she’s in terrible, terrible danger...

What did I think of it:
I have read several books by Christopher Golden that I really liked, so when I saw this retelling of Sleeping Beauty I had to read it.

And Golden delivers.

This is a really enjoyable book. Although not as creepy as I had expected after reading the blurb, there's still lots of suspense and mystery.

Golden's take on the Sleeping Beauty tale makes use of some familiar elements, but he adds his own spin on the original story as well, in a way that feel natural. I very much enjoyed puzzling Rose's background together.

Rose is very likable, although unthinking and rash at times. She also is a bit gullible, but that can probably be expected from someone who suffers from such extreme memory loss.

All in all this is a very entertaining story and you can bet I will read more books by Christopher Golden, as he hasn't disappointed me yet.

Why should you read it:
It's an enjoyable YA retelling of Sleeping Beauty

Time of Ruin - Book Blitz

Time of Ruin (Ash and Ruin #2)

by Shauna Granger

Release Date: 07/22/14

Summary from Goodreads:

The world has ended, and hope is the most dangerous thing left.



Battered and bruised after barely escaping San Francisco with their lives, Kat, Dylan, and Blue press north – desperate to reach the possibility of a new home.



But strange, monstrous ravens are tracking the remaining survivors, food is becoming scarce, gasoline is running short, and people are becoming suicidal, making survival almost impossible.



And the Pestas are growing bolder. Somehow, their numbers are growing.



The further north they go, the harder it becomes to ignore the signs that they’ve made a fatal mistake. Kat must face the impossible truth that there is no escape, there is no safe haven, and their worst nightmares don’t come close to their new reality.

Excerpt:

Sitting on the bumper again, my jagged nails scratch at the plastic as I fight the urge to tell Dylan to hurry. Blue looks up at me and whines. I shake my head at him and pet him with the toe of my boot. His eyes are dark blue in the evening light. Blue drops his head and looks at Dylan, his ears perked up into two triangles. I follow his gaze. Dylan’s still standing, holding his instruments of destruction, and staring at the raging fire.

Blue pushes to his feet and barks one sharp, loud yelp. My hand drifts over to the rifle by my leg as I let my eyes slide from Dylan’s back to search for the source of Blue’s panic.

“Dylan.” I mean to call to him, but my voice comes out in a strangled whisper.

I swallow as I stand and pull the rifle with me. Across the street, the shadows between the houses are taking shape. They’re no longer the snapping, twisting formless shadows from the fire, but something more, something substantial. Dylan lifts the can of fluid and squirts more onto the fire, making it spike and lick the air.

“Dylan,” I try again, my voice a little louder. The rifle is in my hands now. The stock is pressed into my shoulder as I aim at the shadows peeling away from the deeper black.

Still Dylan doesn’t hear me, or is ignoring me.

Blue barks repeatedly, backing up until he hits the car. I find my voice and scream his name loud enough that it hurts my throat. Finally he looks at me, his face cast in shadows with the light behind him. I can’t make out his features, but I can make out the horde of Pestas behind him.

“Run!” I aim the gun as I walk backward around the car.

Instead of listening to me, he looks back to see what has terrified me so. They shuffle forward, lines of them spilling out into the cul-de-sac. Dylan takes two steps backward, nearly tripping over his feet and making me scream again. I rip the rear door open for Blue to get in the car. Slamming the door behind Blue, I lift the rifle and fire a shot, aiming well away from Dylan. The Pestas cringe in unison, as though they are all puppets controlled by the same set of strings.
“Run, dammit!” I scream.

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

Book One:

(click cover to go to the Goodreads page of Book One)

About the Author

Like so many other writers, Shauna grew up as an avid reader, but it was in high school that she realized she wanted to be a writer. Five years ago, Shauna started work on her Elemental Series. She released the first installment, Earth, on May 1, 2011 and has since released four sequels, with the series coming to an end with Spirit. She is currently hard at work on a new Urban Fantasy series, staring a spunky witch with a smush-faced cat named Artemis.

Author Links:

   

GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz Organized by:

Murder of Crows - Book Review

Murder of Crows (The Others #2)
by Anne Bishop

What is it about:
After winning the trust of the terra indigene residing in the Lakeside Courtyard, Meg Corbyn has had trouble figuring out what it means to live among them. As a human, Meg should be barely tolerated prey, but her abilities as a cassandra sangue make her something more.

The appearance of two addictive drugs has sparked violence between the humans and the Others, resulting in the murders of both species in nearby cities. So when Meg has a dream about blood and black feathers in the snow, Simon Wolfgard—Lakeside's shape-shifting leader—wonders whether their blood prophet dreamed of a past attack or of a future threat.

As the urge to speak prophecies strikes Meg more frequently, trouble finds its way inside the Courtyard. Now the Others and the handful of humans residing there must work together to stop the man bent on reclaiming their blood prophet—and stop the danger that threatens to destroy them all.

What did I think of it:
I really liked the first book in this series, but not enough to pay 18 Euro for this book. So I was all set to wait until the release of the paperback next year, when I got the hard cover as a present from a friend.

And this is another cool read.

I will confess i have a few reservations about this book though.

I do find the behavior of the Others towards humans... disturbing at times. They punish a whole town for the actions of a few of its inhabitants for example. If this behavior was displayed by humans towards a supernatural race, or humans towards a human minority I think everybody would agree it is clear who the bad guys are. But because it's the otherworldly Others it is implied it's just how they are and instead of the Others being the bad guys, they are painted as the good guys and the humans as the misbehaving monkeys.

Now I will have to say that a large part of the story is about the Others working towards understanding humans better, but still these incidents where they punish those who haven't done anything wrong are never mentioned as anything that shouldn't have happened. Well... It's mentioned that the humans shouldn't have acted like they did...

Ok. Now that I've got that grumble out of the way, let's talk about the good stuff.

Just as in the first book the world building is really intriguing and cool. Apart from their holier than humans attitude the Others are really cool as well. I really liked reading about all the different kinds of supernaturals.

I must say I liked Mary Sue Meg a lot more in this book than in the last one. She's starting to become more relatable. Simon was much more likable in this book as well, and I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop.

All in all I think this is a really cool series, even with the grumbles I have about some things, and I will certainly get my trotters on book three. Although I won't be buying the Hard cover, so unless I'm lucky once more, it will be a long wait.

Why should you read it:
It's a cool Urban Fantasy read.

Teaser Tuesdays - Zenn Scarlett

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!



Zenn had no idea what he was so agitated about - until she turned and saw the hound's holding pen. It was vacant.

(page 44, Zenn Scarlett by Christian Schoon)

Breaking Dawn - Book Rant

Breaking Dawn (Twilight #4)
by Stephenie Meyer

What is it about:
When you loved the one who was killing you, it left you no options. How could you run, how could you fight, when doing so would hurt that beloved one? If your life was all you had to give, how could you not give it? If it was someone you truly loved?

To be irrevocably in love with a vampire is both fantasy and nightmare woven into a dangerously heightened reality for Bella Swan. Pulled in one direction by her intense passion for Edward Cullen, and in another by her profound connection to werewolf Jacob Black, a tumultuous year of temptation, loss, and strife have led her to the ultimate turning point. Her imminent choice to either join the dark but seductive world of immortals or to pursue a fully human life has become the thread from which the fates of two tribes hangs.

Now that Bella has made her decision, a startling chain of unprecedented events is about to unfold with potentially devastating, and unfathomable, consequences. Just when the frayed strands of Bella's life-first discovered in Twilight, then scattered and torn in New Moon and Eclipse-seem ready to heal and knit together, could they be destroyed... forever?

What did I think of it:
Read the first paragraph of what this book is about?

There's my first grumble!

It's from the prologue of this book and had my hair stand on edge. How creepy and wrong is that statement!? And I do not care how it turns out in the rest of the book: that statement as it stands on its own is horrible! It tells abuse victims that it's ok to let themselves be abused, because when you love someone: how could you not? I can tell you I was tempted to throw the book across the room when it started like that.

But I read on.

Yeah...

I wasn't too happy about what happened in this book. Edward was acting as Edward. That guy is so self-centered. He thinks everything that happens has to do with him. If Bella would choke on her food, Edward would start moping and angsting, because he would think he should have chewed Bella's food for her. And Bella... Bella was acting all saintly. Only Jacob and his gang had some good actions, even though Jacob lost his way at a certain point. Luckily he found it again.

Then towards the end of book 2 of 3 in this volume, things started to lead up to a climax. I had this idea how I would want to have this climax play out. It would save a lot of the story for me.

But no...

The climax was more of a dud for me than a climax.

And then there was all of book three to go through, and to be honest I wasn't that interested anymore. Not that it was bad, it just seemed superfluous to me. And again the climax that this book build up to, was kind of a no show. I wanted more.

So in the end this book wasn't my favorite. I think I liked the third book the best. Still I might grumble a lot, but overall the three books that I read in this series were nice. I won't be rereading them, but I might give The Host by Meyer a chance.

Why should you read it:
It's a nice Paranormal read.

Knight's Curse - Book Review

Knight's Curse (Knight's Curse #1)
by Karen Duvall

What is it about:
A skilled knife fighter since the age of nine, Chalice knows what its like to live life on the edge precariously balanced between the dark and the light. But the time has come to choose. The evil sorcerer who kidnapped her over a decade ago requires her superhuman senses to steal a precious magical artifact or she must suffer the consequences.

Desperate to break the curse that enslaves her, Chalice agrees. But it is only with the help of Aydin, her noble warrior-protector that she will risk venturing beyond the veil to discover the origins of her power. Only for him will she dare to fully embrace her awesome talents. For a deadly duel is at hand, and Chalice alone will have to decide between freedom and the love of her life.

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

I had some trouble connecting with Chalice. For a lead character with a troubled past, she felt a bit flat. I know she's been a slave of both the curse and her master since the age of thirteen, still you'd think she would have a bit more personality.

Luckily Aydin enters the stage and he's a lot more interesting. And through his interest in Chalice I finally started to like Chalice as well.

The story is intriguing and suspenseful, and it's that what kept me reading at first (before Aydin appeared). Luckily I connected with Chalice because later in the story things get much more emotional, and a lack of connection with the characters could have destroyed the enjoyment of this book.

So after a rocky start I enjoyed this story, and it ends in such a way that I will have to get my trotters on the next book to see what will happen next.

Why should you read it:
It's an enjoyable (Urban) Fantasy read.

On McPig's Radar - Mermaid

This sounds like it might be an intriguing read.


Mermaid
by Kate O'Connor

How far would you go for freedom?

When genetically engineered sea drone Coral saved two drowning humans, she didn’t expect to end up questioning the foundations of her world… but humans don’t seem as different as she’s always been told. With nothing ahead of her but mindless days of harvesting seaweed for World Food Co., she has to know why humans are free to choose and drones aren’t.

Coral’s only hope of transforming her future lies in taking on a battle her people gave up a century ago. However, each step nearer to drone freedom brings her closer to falling in love with Rob, the man she saved and heir to the company she is fighting to change.

Struggling to unravel politics and passion, Coral begins to realize that she stands to lose more than just a chance at being human. Both her life and Rob’s may just balance on whether or not they can create a world where drones can be free.



Buy from Musa Publishing

Mortal Danger - Early Book Review

Mortal Danger (Immortal Game #1)
by Ann Aguirre

What is it about:
Revenge is a dish best served cold.

Edie Kramer has a score to settle with the beautiful people at Blackbriar Academy. Their cruelty drove her to the brink of despair, and four months ago, she couldn't imagine being strong enough to face her senior year. But thanks to a Faustian compact with the enigmatic Kian, she has the power to make the bullies pay. She's not supposed to think about Kian once the deal is done, but devastating pain burns behind his unearthly beauty, and he's impossible to forget.

In one short summer, her entire life changes, and she sweeps through Blackbriar, prepped to take the beautiful people down from the inside. A whisper here, a look there, and suddenly... bad things are happening. It's a heady rush, seeing her tormentors get what they deserve, but things that seem too good to be true usually are, and soon, the pranks and payback turns from delicious to deadly. Edie is alone in a world teeming with secrets and fiends lurking in the shadows. In this murky morass of devil's bargains, she isn't sure who—or what--she can trust. Not even her own mind...

What did I think of it:
Mostly this is a cool read.

I liked Edie. Having been bullied myself in the past, I could relate to her, and even understand why she would want revenge. I was captured by the story from the start. It was clear Edie is making a deal that could backfire, so I was eager to find out what would happen.

I also really liked Kian. He's mysterious and enigmatic. I liked how he slowly seems to open up to Edie and starts telling her things. But is what he tells true, or is he playing a game with her?

Overall the story is really suspenseful and intriguing. There's lots going on, and you keep guessing why things are happening and what the end results will be.

The one thing that really bothered me though, is the message this books has about bullies. In my opinion there is no excuse for bullying, but this book tries to tell you that bullies are actually people with problems. It's those problems that make them lash out and act like bullies, but deep in their hearts they're actually nice. *puke*

But it isn't the first time I've come across that bully defense, so because the rest of the book is cool I will let it slide.

I will most certainly keep an eye out for the next book in this series.

Why should you read it:
It's a suspenseful Paranormal YA read.

Teaser Tuesdays - Living Hell

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 only just caught it-a flicker that tugged at the corner of my eye. Whipping around, I peered up, fearfully scanning a stretch of slimy ceiling.

(page 83, Living Hell by Catherine Jinks)

Going Under - Release Day Book Review by Voodoo Bride

Going Under (Falling Under #1)
by Jeffe Kennedy

What is it about:
Knowing all too well the damage online trolls can inflict, game designer Emily Bartwell takes privacy seriously. Living in solitude and working remotely under a male alias gives her a sense of security. The sexy writer renting the house next door ignites desires she’d forgotten she had, and when he invites her to play games of a very different sort, Em is ready and willing. Even if it means breaking all her own rules to abide by his.

Undercover tech reporter Fox Mullins is so close to the biggest scoop of his career: finding the elusive programmer Phoenix. An increasingly erotic adventure with his reserved but passionate new neighbor is the ideal way to heat up the chilly Pacific Northwest nights as he tracks the brilliant gamer.

At first Fox is happy to help Em explore her newly awakened kinky side, no holds barred, no strings attached. But as they push the limits of intimacy, both physical and emotional, Fox discovers he’s not the only one keeping secrets. And revealing hers may mean betraying the one woman who embodies everything he desires.

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
This is a delicious read.

Being a female gamer myself lots of the things in this story were recognizable, although luckily I've never encountered the kind of trolls Emily encountered. The references to online games, and other geek culture things (Cthulhu lamp!) made me smile and feel like I wanted to be friends with Emily. I liked her from the start and wanted her to be happy.

And then there's Fox. Yum!

I loved the interaction between Emily and Fox. Emily is wary at first, but when she decides to indulge herself, things get steamy and deliciously kinky. Jeffe Kennedy is a master at writing empowering BDSM stories, showing that submitting isn't a weakness, but instead can be about strength. Going Under is no different in that than her other stories, and it's why I love reading Jeffe's work.

The secrets between Emily and Fox do lead to some tense situations, and I will confess I was concerned about the outcome. But Jeffe doesn't disappoint there either and I was very satisfied with the ending.

All in all this is another winner, and I'm already looking forward to Jeffe's next book.

Why should you read it:
It's a steaming hot BDSM read.


Buy from Carina Press

Unraveling - Book Review

Unraveling (Unraveling #1)
by Elizabeth Norris

What is it about:
Sixteen-year-old Janelle Tenner is used to having a lot of responsibility. She balances working as a lifeguard in San Diego with an intense academic schedule. Janelle's mother is bipolar, and her dad is a workaholic FBI agent, which means Janelle also has to look out for her younger brother, Jared.

And that was before she died... and is brought back to life by Ben Michaels, a mysterious, alluring loner from her high school. When she discovers a strange clock that seems to be counting down to the earth's destruction, Janelle learns she has twenty-four days to figure out how to stop the clock and save the planet.

What did I think of it:
In case you are wondering: My copy is the UK edition, hence the extra L in the title.

Anyway.

I picked this book up because it was cheap and sounded like it might be cool, but to be honest I didn't really know what to expect.

It turned out to be a really enjoyable YA thriller with SciFi elements.

I must confess Janelle is a typical YA heroine: smart, pretty, hard working and even taking on extra responsibilities at home. It would have been easy to dislike her, and I was close at times, but Norris managed to keep Janelle on the side of likeable. There still were times I wanted to kick her and her best friend Alex though.

The story is complex, and at first it felt like a bit of a mess, but I was intrigued enough to keep reading. Slowly the mess untangled and things started to fit together. The plot idea (once revealed) wasn't new to me, but was hidden from the reader long enough to keep things suspenseful. Once revealed there are other complications and events that keep the story going.

All in all this was a very entertaining and cool read. I think I will pick up the sequel, even though this book can easily stand on its own.

Why should you read it:
It's a suspenseful YA thriller with SciFi elements.

On McPig's Wishlist - Shutter

i'm hoping this will be as creepy as it sounds.


Shutter
by Courtney Alameda

Micheline Helsing is a tetrachromat—a girl who sees the auras of the undead in a prismatic spectrum. As one of the last descendants of the Van Helsing lineage, she has trained since childhood to destroy monsters both corporeal and spiritual: the corporeal undead go down by the bullet, the spiritual undead by the lens. With an analog SLR camera as her best weapon, Micheline exorcises ghosts by capturing their spiritual energy on film. She's aided by her crew: Oliver, a techno-whiz and the boy who developed her camera's technology; Jude, who can predict death; and Ryder, the boy Micheline has known and loved forever.

When a routine ghost hunt goes awry, Micheline and the boys are infected with a curse known as a soulchain. As the ghostly chains spread through their bodies, Micheline learns that if she doesn't exorcise her entity in seven days or less, she and her friends will die. Now pursued as a renegade agent by her monster-hunting father, Leonard Helsing, she must track and destroy an entity more powerful than anything she's faced before . . . or die trying.


Expected publication: 2015 by Feiwel & Friends

Visions - Early Book Review

Visions (Cainsville #2)
by Kelley Armstrong

What is it about:
Omens, the first installment in Kelley Armstrong’s exciting new series, introduced Olivia Taylor-Jones, daughter of notorious serial killers, and Gabriel Walsh, the self-serving, morally ambiguous lawyer who became her unlikely ally. Together, they chased down a devious killer and partially cleared her parents of their horrifying crimes.

Their success, however, is short-lived. While Olivia takes refuge in the old, secluded town of Cainsville, Gabriel’s past mistakes have come to light, creating a rift between the pair just when she needs his help the most.

Olivia finds a dead woman in her car, dressed to look like her, but the body vanishes before anyone else sees it. Olivia’s convinced it’s another omen, a sign of impending danger. But then she learns that a troubled young woman went missing just days ago—the same woman Olivia found dead in her car. Someone has gone to great lengths to kill and leave this young woman as a warning. But why? And what role has her new home played in this disturbing murder?

Olivia’s effort to uncover the truth places her in the crosshairs of old and powerful forces, forces that have their own agenda, and closely guarded secrets they don’t want revealed.

What did I think of it:
I absolutely loved the first book in this series, and have been eagerly awaiting this book. So I was over the moon when the same friend who managed to snag me an ARC of Omens, got hold of an ARC of Visions for me, so I could read it early.

And this another great read.

The paranormal elements were more present than in the first book. Slowly Olivia is starting to learn more about what is going on with Cainsville, and why she can see omens. Her quest for answers leads her into danger, but luckily she's not on her own.

I again really enjoyed the way Olivia and Gabriel interact. Gabriel is such a complex and intriguing character. I will confess I like him even more than I like Olivia. So I was very annoyed when Olivia set her eyes on other men than Gabriel. But Armstrong knows how to keep me interested, and the romance fits perfectly within the story, making it part of the plot instead of just being there for romance-sake.

All in all this book is just as suspenseful as the first book, answering some of my questions, but raising others. The ending is again one that left me both satisfied and frustrated, because I want much, much more.

Why should you read it:
It's a really suspenseful Paranormal thriller