ARC Review: The Secret Eater by Ros Jackson

Expected Publication: July 15, 2013
Genre: Paranormal, YA
Format: Kindle
Source: Sent for honest review by author

Goodreads Summary
Kenssie is a demon who feeds from secrets. Lately pickings have been slim, and she has grown so weak that her shield of invisibility is slipping. As the servant of a demon who eats embarrassment she already feels like she's the laughing stock of the demonic world. But the scorn of someone who thinks that Hawaiian shirts are the height of cool is the least of her worries.

A powerful fear demon is dead set on making her his slave, a position that carries seriously short life expectancy.

She has no friends.

No powers.

No clue.

Her only hope of escaping a life of terror lies in stealing a grimoire she's never seen from the clutches of a vindictive group of master demons.

Are your secrets safe?

The Good

Kenssie is a character that is hard not to enjoy. She is the ultimate underdog in the world of demons. With the power to steal people's secrets, the tidbits that she picks up are pretty funny. Her powers are slipping and on top of that she is a thrall to a pretty scary demon master. She doesn't have wings like her master, Rakmanon, and has to rely on him to enjoy this thrill.

The plot is a pretty good one. There is a grimoire that she needs to get her hands on, and she gets up to all kinds of antics with a witch's help. Permilla, the witch, was also an enjoyable character. She has a side of snark and doesn't mind telling Kenssie when she's being an idiot. Veishti is a good evil character as a fear demon and makes the read interesting and her dire straits believable.

Jackson's writing style is fun and easy to devour. It flows well, the information given at a great pace, and I will definitely read more of her work.

The Bad

I really liked this story a lot, but when I got to the end, I said, "Really, that's the end?" I needed about 150 more pages for the completion of the plot and side character development. There was a lot more potential left here to be explored that I felt was missing. In my opinion, those pages would have made it a five star read.

The Romance

There was no romance to mention. I felt like Kenssie had a thing for Rakmanon, but I'm not sure how I even feel about it. I'm not a fan of the little I was shown of him.

Conclusion

Overall, this was a great adventure with a demon character that was fun and humorous. While I would have liked to see more development to the story as a whole, it was well-told and the two main characters very easy to like. I will be picking up the next one. Recommended to anyone looking for a fun paranormal read.

Excerpts

How many times in the last century have you had to poop? Did anyone have to help you with this? She couldn't believe she was reading this. ARC Location 194

Even if they wanted to run at this point, they couldn't. They were at the mercy of Veishti's thralls, and he was a killer. Blood ran down her cheek, actual blood. The grimoire had better be worth it. ARC Location 888

"Kenssie, I forbid you to use your power to draw secrets from my mind." Her temples throbbed with the force of his command. It hadn't even crossed her mind to do so, but now she couldn't help but wonder what he had to hide. ARC Location 1455

Interview with A.B. Whelan - Fields of Elysium

Tour Schedule

Fields of Elysium by A.B. Whelan

How can love mend a heart full of hate? Small town girl, Molly Bennett, moves to Los Angeles where she becomes an outsider while attending Beverly Hills High School. It seems life cannot be any more dreadful. Then one day after school, something magical happens. On a secluded hike in the Hollywood Hills, Molly chases her disobedient mutt and only friend into a hidden cavern. She stumbles upon a strange glimmering gateway that transports her to Arkana, a planet that is the cradle of an advanced human race. There, teenagers navigate amazing flying vehicles, compete in perilous games for glory, and possess supernatural powers. While Molly tries to wrap her mind around this unbelievable discovery, she meets the alluring and mysterious Victor Sorren. He is a Sentinel Apprentice, whose hatred toward people from Earth is beyond understanding. Yet every time Victor unpredictably saves Molly's life, his heart draws closer to hers, no matter how much he tries to fight against it. It further complicates things that their growing friendship is strictly forbidden. Earth people are prohibited in Arkana, yet Molly continues to cross through the portal to Arkana to see Victor. Torn between their double lives, they go down a dangerous path, from where there is no return and multiple endings. Fields of Elysium is a suspenseful, romantic tale full of forbidden secrets, unimaginable danger, deception, and the never-ending fight for true love.

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PRAISE "The novel's take on otherworldly travel is a compelling one, and the romantic plot will likely appeal to Twilight fans." - Kirkus Reviews "I expected a good love story with a paranormal twist. I got so much more. I think you should take the chance and read it. Let this book take you on the adventure, fall in love." - Young Adult and Teen Readers "Fields of Elysium is a fabulous read. ... Whelan paints her faith into the fabric of her story with deft, light brushstrokes, making her work accessible to all, no matter their spiritual beliefs or background." - Readers Favorite "I escaped into this fantasy world, author, A.B.Whelan, created and I didn’t want Molly to go. From detailed descriptions, to sweet romance, and to all the twist and turns in the story, it had me captivated from page one." - Mary Ting, author of the Crossroads Saga "Whelan's writing is very vivid and descriptive. It's more formal than the average YA novel, but I enjoyed the lyrical and mesmerizing quality to it. I thought the overall story read like a fairy tale--very sweet." - Megan Thomason, author of Daynight.

Interview with A.B. Whelan

Let’s start off with a few serious questions before we get to the fun stuff…

Please tell us something that just happened or is about to happen in your life that you would like to share.

My family is moving to Italy this summer for a few years. We’ve moved around quite a bit. But it is our choice and makes life so much more interesting. I’m very excited because I’ll have more time to write and more inspiring places to visit.

Which character was your favorite to write about?

Victor Sorren. When I met my husband he was kind of a Byronic-hero type of guy. Writing about Victor reminded me of those early, exciting times.

Did one of them surprise you while writing?

Oh yeah. They all do. I have the plot outlined for the entire four volumes, yet the characters take me to places I never expected to go. Especially in book two, because now my characters really started to live on their own. I guess the more books you write dealing with the same characters, the more real they become to you.  

I saw that Kirkus Reviews put Fields of Elysium as a similar book to Eclipse. Will you tell us your thoughts on why they did that?

Well, I felt very honored because I loved the Twilight Series. Though Fields of Elysium is not about vampires and werewolves, the setting is similar. A teen girl discovers something extraordinary and decides to keep it a secret. She starts to live a double life: one of an average high school girl and one of a love-struck teen who becomes part of an amazing and dangerous life. I spent a great deal of time to express Molly’s feelings as she becomes entangled with her new life. I once left my country and family to move with a mysterious and alluring man I barely knew but loved very deeply, to a country where adventure and danger lurked at every corner. I channeled those old feelings and stories of mine into my novel, so the plot is really not Twilight. However, I guess Kirkus found the romance and/or the secrecy similar to the Twilight series, because if you visit the Kirkus New Moon page or Fields of Elysium page you’ll find the same connection there, too. I only hope they meant it as a compliment. J

The blurb says, “from where there is no return and multiple endings.” Will you tell us a little more about this statement?

Molly, the main character, discovers the gateway to a new earth by chance, where she meets someone who steals her heart. From that moment she will be burdened with vast secrets. Secrets that if she shares could mean the end of that peaceful and amazing civilization and her chance to see Victor again. When once you get a taste of a better life and your heart is irrevocably drawn to someone, you can never return to your former self or life. Sooner or later you have to take sides, do things you normally wouldn’t do, and finally make the ultimate decision.

Do you read reviews of your books? If you do, how do you react to the information provided?

I do read all of them. I get so excited when I see a new review. I still can’t believe that people actually read my book and took the time to write about it. If it’s a positive review, then it makes my day, knowing that there are likeminded people out there and I’m not alone. If it’s a negative review, however constructive, then I make notes and do my best to learn from it. I usually ignore one star reviews because most of the time they are just malicious and trying to bring me down. I received several five star reviews from professional companies, so my book can’t be that much garbage. I understand that people have different tastes but calling the author and/or her work names is hitting below the belt. I’ve worked too hard and come too far to let negative people bring me down.

Now to the fun stuff…

Do you have a playlist for your book or a theme song for Molly?

I do, but I’d be embarrassed to share it. J But if you read the book you’ll find a song that Molly sings in front of her entire class.

Which of your characters would you like to have over for dinner?

I keep saying the same name but I can’t help myself because I just love Victor. He’s charming, interesting, cool and a real man despite his age. But girls don’t have to go over to Arkana to find cool young guys like him; just check out a few U21 club soccer teams. J

If the zombie apocalypse strikes, what weapon do you grab?

A big can of lighter fluid and a bunch of lighters or matches.

What are a few things on your bucket list?

I want to go to Cambodia for a backpacking trip with my husband. I want to see my hardcover book in the shopping basket of a Barnes & Noble customer. I want to invite my faithful fans, my family and all my friends to the cinema to watch the movie adaptation of my book. I want to get lost in a jungle with my husband to find out what we’re really made of. I have lots more. I like to dream big. My dreams push me forward.

Do you prefer sleeping in or getting up early?

I used to love sleeping in, but since becoming a mom I get up early. By now I’m so used to it that it doesn’t bother me at all.

What is your favorite gadget?

I love the GPS in my car. I have a horrible sense of direction.

I'd like to thank you so very much for taking the time to answer my questions!

Author A.B. Whelan 
A.B.Whelan is a Hungarian born, American writer. She currently lives with her husband and two children in Southern California. While growing up in a wealthy Eastern European family, she had a chance to travel Europe. Later as an adult, she visited Africa and the Middle East and lived in Ecuador and in Crete.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

  Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash A gift bag of one signed copy of Fields of Elysium, a scrabble-tile pendant on a necklace, and a fridge magnet Ends 5/15/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://www.iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday Cover Scramble [14]

Let's have some fun! I am going to post covers on here every Sunday that are scrambled up graphically, making it hard to tell what cover it is. I would like your guesses on what cover you think I've posted. I won't answer you until the end of the day to let you know if you are right, allowing other to guess as well. Some will be hard, and others may be easy. If you need hints, I will only post covers of series talked about on my blog previously. Here we go:

Sidekick Saturday [20] - All American

Sidekick Saturday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted here by Jaclyn at JC's Book Haven. There are many secondary characters that are as great as the primaries. In some cases, the sidekicks actually steal the show and you like them better than the heroine or hero. Maybe they didn't have enough page time for how great they were. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Choose a sidekick *or someone other than the hero or heroine* that you would like to put in the spotlight that fits in this week's type
• Share a picture (if possible) and information about the character
• Give the title and author of a book the character can be found in
• Please don't include too many spoilers when describing why the character is such a great sidekick
• Put your link in the Linky thing and comment

I will post the week's theme on Twitter the Friday before between 12 - 5 and Facebook the Friday before between 5 - 9 Central Standard time.

This week is All American or "Good 'ol Boy"

My choice is Ezekiel Crosse
The Blood of Eden Series by Julie Kagawa

Zeke Picture Created by Jaclyn Canada

Ezekiel Crosse is better known as Zeke. Even though this world in The Immortal Rules and The Eternity Cure isn't anything that we are used to now, to me he is as All American as you can get. He is a leader, brave, kind, respectful, and strong. Allie meets him with a gang of humans and he's determined to take care of them and keep them safe even though he is not the adult in the group. When he makes mistakes, he owns up to them. He is very selfless, doing all he can to keep others alive even if it puts him at great risk. He is very sweet and the pages of the book that include him are just plain better than the ones that don't. 

Quotes:

He smiled, a real one this time, though his voice remained teasing. “So, what do you think I am?”
Naive, I thought at once. Naive, brave, selfless, incredible and much too kind to survive this world. It’ll break you in the end, if you keep going like this. Good things never last.

---

"Fine." I glared at him and shook my head. Stubborn idiot.
"But at least try to look a little more raider-ish, okay? We don't want to attract attention."
Zeke's snort sounded suspiciously like laughter. "Allie, you're a beautiful, exotic-looking vampire girl with a katana. Trust me, if anyone is going to attract attention, it's not going to be me."
I didn't answer as we crossed the flimsy, creaking bridge into the lair of the vampire king. If Zeke had asked, I would've said that I was thinking of how to find everyone, but that wasn't entirely true. I was thinking of the others and how I was going to get them out alive...but I kept being distracted by the thought that Zeke had called me beautiful."

---

"The mighty hunter,” I quipped as we snuck out the backdoor, escaping into the yard. “He can take down vicious rabids and rampaging boars, but one old lady can make him flee in terror.”

“One scary old lady,” he corrected me, looking relieved to be out of the house. “You didn’t hear what she told me when I got up — you’re so cute I could put you in a pie. Tell me that’s not the creepiest thing you’ve ever heard.” His voice climbed a few octaves, turning shrill and breathy. “Today for dessert, we have apple pie, blueberry pie and Ezekiel pie."

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Blog Tour: The Guardian Series by Wendy Owens

Welcome to my stop on  The Guardian Series Tour hosted by Parajunkee Book Tours.

The Guardian Series by Wendy Owens

About the Books

Book 1 Sacred Bloodlines by Wendy Owens

Tragedy has defined Gabe's short existence in this world. An ominous darkness lurked on the edge of his existence until one day in a subway, strange things start happening. A series of events lead Gabe into a new and fascinating life filled with angels and demons, but he isn't sure if he wants to be a part of it.

Gabe is thrust into the middle of this exciting world that is full of things he has longed for in his life but it comes with a price. This new life also promises constant terrifying dangers that Gabe fears he may not be able to survive.

Goodreads | Amazon

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Book 2 Cursed by Wendy Owens

Gabe thought finding out that he was a Guardian Angel was difficult. Then he found out he is destined to be the great protector who will one day deliver the last prophet to either safety or death. If all of that is not enough Gabe must always be on guard since he is being hunted by the most powerful demon in the earthly realm, Baal.

Gabe deals with these struggles because his new life includes Sophie. They grew closer over the summer and now every day seems unimaginable without her in it. Evil doesn't stop though just because Gabe has found happiness. Only this time the evil finds it's way to Rampart manor and Gabe will risk everything to try and stop it.

Goodreads | Amazon

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Book 3 Prophecy by Wendy Owens

Gabe has been on the run for five long years, since the night he left Rampart. During those five years he has gone through experiences that have molded him into a hardened man. After the world repeatedly disappointed him, Gabe manages to find peace in solitary confinement. Not only is he safe from Bale's minions, but he finds peace in his solitude.

He thought he had finally found what he so greatly lusted after, a quiet life, all by himself. Until a familiar stranger showed up on his doorstep, pleading for help. Even though Gabe thought he had escaped The Prophecy, things are not always as they seem.

Now Gabe has another chance at love. Choosing to follow his heart could prove to be not only the most difficult decision of his life - but perhaps the most dangerous, too. Just when Gabe thinks he might have it all figured out, he is given the most important duty in his life. If he succeeds it would mean a comfort he has never known and a joy he thought didn’t exist. If he fails it could mark the beginning of the end for all mankind.

Goodreads | Amazon

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Book 4 The Lost Years by Wendy Owens

To be released April 9th (estimated) Gabe's world was forever altered by the people he came to know and love at Rampart Manor. Although, it wasn't only his life that was changed when he made the choice to leave them all behind. 

During his five year absence, they each had a battle with personal demons. Dina is faced with a moral dilemma, the path of good leading to certain heartbreak, or evil, and a possibility of happiness. 

Uri meets a mysterious woman who seems to have a lot of the answers that he has been searching for, and she certainly has a place in his heart, if he can only hold onto her. 

Sophie is faced with choices she never knew would be so difficult. The

question now is: will the personal demons of the remaining Guardians of Rampart be too much for them to overcome?  

Goodreads | Amazon

2 sets of Books 1-3

Angel Necklace

Demon Necklace

$25 gift card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Wendy Owens

Wendy Owens is a 34 year old author, born in the small college town, Oxford Ohio. After attending Miami University, Wendy went onto a career in the visual arts. For several years she created and sold her own artwork. In 2011 she gave her true love, writing, a try. Her first novel flowed from her in only two weeks time, as though it had been fighting to get out. That moment was when she knew she had found her calling. Wendy now happily spends her days writing the stories her characters guide her to tell, admitting even she doesn’t always know where that might lead. Her first series, The Guardians, will be concluded with the fifth and final book in 2013.

When she’s not writing, this dog lover can be found spending time with her tech geek husband, their three amazing kids, and two pups, lovingly nicknamed stinks and chubbs. She also loves to cook and is a film fanatic.

Find the Author: Goodreads | Facebook | Website | Twitter

Guest Post: My Writing Path Part 3 by Robyn Jones

I'd like to thank Robyn for taking the time to write up this guest post. I hope you enjoy. This is Part 3 of the series. You can find Part 1 here.

My Writing Path (part 3)

Rejection. They say to be a writer you must develop a thick skin. Oh, sure since I haven't been able to do that so far, I'll just snap that armor into place. Tough or not, you're gonna have to put yourself out there. Query time!

I checked out all the books on agents and publishers I could find at my public library. I bought a how-to book on creating a winner query letter. And I had endless websites saved on my favorites list, all touting the perfect approach to writing this one page pot of gold. The bombardment of information sat in my head for months afterward because I couldn't write a single word. Writers should be able to do this in their sleep. But here's what I equate to creating a fantastic query letter: free throws.

I cannot believe I'm giving a basketball analogy, but here it goes. It's a memorized shot. You practice in the same spot, standing the same way. If you're on a team, you do this hundreds of times a week. It's the one shot where no one is in your face. Yet, being 60% at the line is star material. I've decided query letters are free throw shots. We have all the tools. We write thousands of words, build worlds out of nothing. We live in our heads a portion of our lives. Why not dream up this one page necessity? 

Despite procrastinating forever, I wrote my query letter (many times). I had others read it. I entered my most promising version in a query letter contest. They shredded me to unrecognizable pieces. I started from scratch, thought I totally rocked, and finally chose a dozen agents. The first rejection email broke my heart and made me feel unstoppable at the same time. I was a real writer. I even emailed a thank you note to the agent. So sappy. I heard back from every agent I emailed. All no's. How many root beer floats can a girl consume before someone in the right position and in the right mood sees something special in Anna (or Maggie)? I decided too many, and made the bold decision to become an indie writer!

Helpful Tips:

The tab key is not your friend. Whether you use Open Office or Word, when you get to the formatting stage of your book, all your tab usage will come back and haunt you in an awful, cussing (crying) way. Go to the ribbon at the top of your page, then format, paragraph, indents & spacing, first line. Type .3 or .5; both are standard. If you've already gone all tab crazy, go to find and replace. This is a tricky function to remove tab spaces. Experiment.

The days of hitting the space bar twice after a period are over. Single space or perish (okay, I got a little dramatic there).

The special characters function can often translate into weird errors when you convert to Kindle. Weird like fractions and a stream of dashes. I avoid special characters like the plague!

Everything is researchable (I made up that word). If you can't figure out how to do something, check out eHow or Youtube. I learned how to create a table of contents through Youtube. Also, the Kindle Direct Publishing community page is a wealth of knowledge.

   

~Robyn

About Robyn Jones:

I laugh when people fall down. It's a glitch in my programming, but even my mom has suffered this quirk. I have a BA in Studio Art from the University of Puget Sound. My boys make me laugh every day. I steal pens; I try real hard not to. I collect those free bookmarks at the checkout counter at libraries. I've had more stitches than anyone I know. I love stories; writing them, reading them, watching them. You can email me at robgirlbooks@gmail.com.

Blog / Twitter / Goodreads

ARC Review: A Shimmer of Angels (Angel Sight #1) by Lisa M. Basso

Publisher: January 29, 2013 Month9Books, LLC
Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy
Format: egalley
Source: gifted from Netgalley and Month9Books, LLC for honest review

Goodreads Summary
Sixteen-year-old Rayna sees angels, and has the medication and weekly therapy sessions to prove it. Now, in remission, Rayna starts fresh at a new school, lands a new job, and desperately tries for normalcy. She ignores signs that she may be slipping into the world she has tried so hard to climb out of. But these days, it’s more than just hallucinations that keep Rayna up at night. Students are dying, and she may be the only one who can stop it. Can she keep her job, her sanity, and her friends from dying at the hands of angels she can't admit to seeing?

So is Rayna a Deranged Lunatic or a Determined Heroine?

I saw this beautiful cover and couldn't pass this up from Netgalley.

The Good

Rayna is really determined. Determined to push past the craziness of seeing wings, determined not to wind up back at the mental clinic, and determined to live a nice, normal life. She does her best after her stint from the clinic to go back to school, to start a job, and to have her family back. She has a wonderful best friend that doesn't really appear to have romantic feelings for her that I can see and it's a nice friendship to watch.

There are some great mysteries happening after a stranger appears at her school. She begins to think she's crazy again even though there is evidence to the contrary, but the story and puzzlement regarding who is behind kids dying makes for a good read. This new character, Cam, has wings that she can see and she does everything in her power to stay away from him at first. I enjoyed Cam in general and getting to know him. What was best was watching the climax of trying to determine who was causing the horrible deaths and Rayna's strength and determination to see it come to an end no matter the cost.

More than that, I liked getting to know Kade. He has a darker side as a demon but is he all bad? It was great fun getting to see all sides of this bad boy.

The Bad

Rayna had a overabundance of clumsiness that I'm not sure was necessary for the story. I did like a little bit of it at first because it gave her a quirkiness that defined her more as a character, but it did go a bit overboard.

I completely understood why Rayna believed she was crazy in the beginning of the book because any rational person that saw people with wings probably would (as well as her family), but when the evidence keeps piling up, she still keeps calling herself crazy and I feel like it was pushing the envelope a bit. I think she should have accepted the truth just a bit sooner than she did.

I'm also not sure I understood the relationship (I'm calling it that for lack of a better word) between her and Cam because there wasn't really an honest connection built that I could see. Given that Cam is an angel that doesn't have genuine human feelings, I don't think they have an insta-love but pretty close and it confused me quite a bit.

The Romance

Rayna meets two delicious guys in this book. One is the golden boy, angel Cam. The other a bad boy, demon Kade. Cam is an angel that isn't supposed to really feel human feelings so I don't really understand the relationship or connection that they had, but I do see that Rayna is incredibly drawn to him. However, I can't help but feel for Kade who does all he can to help Rayna no matter the cost to himself. He draws attraction out of her, but I don't think she wants to allow herself to feel anything for him. There is attraction and a few kisses, but not much else in this one.

Conclusion

I feel like this is a good paranormal book about angels and demons. There was a nice mystery element thrown in and the good guy vs. bad guy angle for our protagonist. I will be reading the next one in the series. Recommended for YA paranormal readers.

Excerpts

“Hallucination-free for six months now, I should have expected it wouldn't last. And judging by the golden-haired boy across the street- the one sporting the  curved wings - remission had just become a fond memory." ARC Location 48

"An air of freshness loomed in his wake, like the scent of earth and fresh cut grass. Strange that I hadn't noticed it before. Odd that he smelled so earthly, but looked so heavenly.
   I kicked my stupid chair. Three years of intensive treatment and i was still stark-raving mad."  ARC Location 379

ARC Review: The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden #2) by Julie Kagawa

Publisher: April 30, 2013 Harlequin Teen
Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy
Format: egalley
Source: gifted from Netgalley and Harlequin Teen for honest review


*Please note that it is very hard to review books past the first one in the series without having any spoilers at all. I will try to keep it as spoiler free as I can, but if you haven't read the first book in this series, you may just want to read that review instead of continuing with this one.

Goodreads Summary
Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.

Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.

Completely immersed in this stimulating story

The Good

Imagine you are living in a world where being a human means you have three choices: to be a vampire's pet, to be a fringer living a life of crime on the streets, or to be dead. If you are a fringer like Kagawa's main character Allie started in the first book in this series, The Immortal Rules, you are not allowed to read without it being a crime, you may have never heard music, and you don't allow yourself to become close to anyone because you know odds are good that they will soon be dead. You are in constant fear and poverty.

Now, that more closely describes Ezekiel Crosse (Zeke) because Allie became what all humans hate: a vampire. What's so great about Kagawa's writing is that you don't have to do much imagining at all because she fully transports you to this world. You feel like you are right there beside Allie with no electricity, battling the morality of a vampire's nature, and feeling yourself wishing for a world that could have been.

This book has you really diagnosing what makes a monster a monster. This subject was really explored in this book and was very well done. Allie is with Jackal for some part of the story. If you remember him from the first one, then you know that he has no problem doing some questionably heinous things and he repetitively tells Allie to embrace the monster within her. I was often pausing to think about what makes someone evil in my own opinion. If they are doing something to survive, does that make it better than doing something horrible for no reason at all? If you are transformed into a monster that wants to rip someone's throat out, but you don't...are you really worse than a human who kills someone out of spite?

Allie has doubts about whether Jackal is as bad as he seemed. She thinks she is worse than I think she is. We get a glimpse at humans vs. vampires. Vampires are supposed to be the Big Bads right? The main villain in this book is quite an evil vampire, but second to him is a sniveling power-hungry human. Both monsters in my opinion. It all comes back to choices and that was made clear here. I loved how much this book made me really stop and ponder this.

The Bad

This was a slow book in parts. I won't deny that I did set this book down and read others. However, with how much Kagawa fully put me into her world, I feel like I would have these moments of no action if I was really in Allie's shoes. I also loved everything else about the story so much that I'm not taking anything off for the slow parts. This was too great of a book all in all.

The Romance

Hmmm, yes the romance. I knew from the very start in The Immortal Rules that Allie and Zeke's relationship couldn't really have a happy road. It just seemed doomed to me from the start. She's a vampire and she lied to him about being one and then the fact that he's a human that she can't resist wanting to bite will lead to a lot of complications. However, in this book there are a lot of great moments. Still, I don't think there will be a happy ending for these two for some time and won't say more for fear of spoiling.

Conclusion

I adored this book. Kagawa put me right there in New Covington beside Allie walking the hard road with her. I was moved by the thought-provoking discussions and actions that The Eternity Cure held within and I hope she continues to provide these in future books. I felt tortured by the ending and cannot believe that I will have to wait for the next book as it's almost unbearable with how this one was concluded. Absolutely recommended.

Excerpts

“I glanced up, looking past the sofa, and saw another shelf standing in the corner by the window. This one was full of books, more than I'd ever seen in my life. And for just a moment, I felt a tiny prick of envy." ARC Location 1967

Sarren was the most dangerous thing in the room now, and I didn't trust even the guards and their crossbows to keep us safe. ARC Location 2177

Sunday Cover Scramble [13]

Let's have some fun! I am going to post covers on here every Sunday that are scrambled up graphically, making it hard to tell what cover it is. I would like your guesses on what cover you think I've posted. I won't answer you until the end of the day to let you know if you are right, allowing other to guess as well. Some will be hard, and others may be easy. If you need hints, I will only post covers of series talked about on my blog previously. Here we go:

Sidekick Saturday [19] - Hot and Cold

Sidekick Saturday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted here by Jaclyn at JC's Book Haven. There are many secondary characters that are as great as the primaries. In some cases, the sidekicks actually steal the show and you like them better than the heroine or hero. Maybe they didn't have enough page time for how great they were. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Choose a sidekick *or someone other than the hero or heroine* that you would like to put in the spotlight that fits in this week's type
• Share a picture and information about the character
• Give the title and author of a book the character can be found in
• Please don't include too many spoilers when describing why the character is such a great sidekick
• Put your link in the Linky thing and comment

I will post the week's theme on Twitter the Friday before between 12 - 5 and Facebook the Friday before between 5 - 9.

This week is Hot and Cold

My choice is Quinn O'Connor
The Riley Jenson Series from Keri Arthur

Quinn picture created by Jaclyn Canada

Riley is a half-vampire and half-werewolf and meets Quinn standing on her doorstep not wearing anything after she had just had a fight. She's weary of him and since he has amnesia, he doesn't help her because he can't answer any of her questions. He's a vampire, well-built, exceptionally handsome and even though you would think vampires would be pale, he has been alive so long that he can stay in the sun and get a tan. Throughout the series, this pair is so hot and cold it makes for a very entertaining read. Quinn has a distrust of werewolves because of one from his past and Riley  gets tired of his judgmental and manipulative ways often. Even though he makes mistakes, she does as well with regards to any relationship between the two of them and I continued to root for them to get together. They had steam coming out of their ears almost every time they were around each other either from attraction or from anger.

Quotes:

“Which meant I got left with Quinn yet again. Given the time he was taking to make his decision, I wasn't exactly happy about that. I mean, putting me with him was like flashing chocolate my way then telling me I couldn't have it. It was just plain mean.”

---

"I pulled my hand from his, but clenched my fingers to retain the warmth of his touch. That one reaction made me realize I had better be careful. Until I knew more about him, about what he was really up to, I'd better keep some distance. no matter how much my hormones were suggesting otherwise."

---

"This is your mate?" Quinn's voice was scathing. "Good Lord, I thought you had more taste than that."

---

"My skin crawled with sudden awareness, and I glanced around to see Quinn walking through the shadow provided by the towering fence. Although walking was something of a misnomer - gliding would have been more apt."

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Feature and Follow Friday [17] - Hanging with an Author

This is a weekly blog meme hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read.

Here are the general rules to Follow Friday:
1. Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts and any one else you want to follow on the list
2. Follow our Featured Bloggers - This week's feature is: Words Fueled by Love
3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.
4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
5. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can
6. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
7. If you want to show the link list, just follow the link below the entries and copy and paste it within your post!
8. If your new to the follow Friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

This week's question is: If you could hang out with any author (living) who would it be and what would you want to do?

These questions are always hard, but this one especially so because there are too many authors that I adore.

I would be thrilled to hang out with J.K. Rowling as I know a lot of you probably would be. Personally, I think that she is a genius able to craft intricate worlds and not just stories. She puts so much into every detail, cataloging things that don't even make it into the books...so much so that she could answer every question the rabid fans threw at her.

Since this is my daydream, I would want to check off another item from my bucket list and tour the Warner Bros. Studio in London. How amazing would it be for her to be the tour host on such an outing? My son and I have already gotten to visit Harry Potter World in Orlando.

Anyway, realistically she probably wouldn't want to just talk Harry Potter since she's been immersed in it for years so we would more than likely eat lunch at a small cafe, maybe take a train ride and just gab for a while about upcoming projects and what it's like being a writer.

Others that I would love to hang out with just eating and gabbing are: Robyn Jones (a great friend made through blogging that it would be fun to see in person), Kim Harrison, Jennifer Armentrout, Marissa Meyer, Julie Kagawa, Ilona Andrews, Rick Riordin...and so many more.

Captive Spirits by M.A. Adair Book Blast

Captive Spirits Aztar is a planet where no one remembers a time of peace. Fear of those who wield a mystical cruelty holds people as CAPTIVE SPIRITS. All that remains is the waning belief in a savior who will someday come to restore peace to a blood soaked land. Zmeria, an ancient text recovered, brings a Prophecy to life. The leaders of each Region come together with a plan to reunite Aztar's divided people and make way for their savior. They arm themselves with the recently discovered revelation of peace long past. A dream is born and legends revived as Aztar’s people determine to fight the evil and Reclaim Aztar. The Evil’s grasp is strong on the CAPTIVE SPIRITS of Aztar. Leaders know this battle to free the will and spirit of the people will not be easily won. They decree a King must be chosen. One man of the entire world stands out from the rest. Si, the firstborn son of the house of Volcum, is well known for valor and victories in battle. A kingdom must be established. As the center of his kingdom, Si Volcum decreed an ancient, long deserted castle far to the north that contained the lost records of Aztar’s forgotten glory. He accepted his chosen bride, Alexis, unseen from a house as old as his own. Si ruled and the land prospered for fifteen years while evil silently waited. The King did not know when evil struck it would be personally against him or that the price would be so high. The people of Aztar chose well in their King. Si will not hesitate. The King will pay the price. From his love and chosen path, the Saga of Aztar begins with the legend of her first King, Si Volcum. “Reclaim Aztar,” will be their battle cry.  

Amazon * Amazon Kindle * Barnes & Noble

Author M.A. Adair 

 Mary A. Adair is an Amazon best selling author of Native American Romance. CAPTIVE SPIRITS is her first Young Adult Fantasy. It is the beginning to a Young Adult Fantasy series that can also be enjoyed by all adults. Mary's other works include Passion's Vision and Passion's Price, both are Best Selling Native American Romance. Mary did extensive research on several Native American tribes in the time period of her books. One of her many sources for learning about the rich Native American culture of that time period was a book written in the mid. 1700s by one of her husband’s ancestors, James Adair. PASSION'S VISION, a story filled with romance, excitement and danger. This story features James Fitzgerald, an agent in the court of King George II and New Moon, sister to Chief Dancing Cloud. PASSION'S PRICE is a poignant love story with a twist of humor. It is a next generation story filled with adventure and determination as well as self-realization and of course Romance. PASSION’S PRICE continues with James's and New Moon's daughter, Golden Dawn.

Facebook * Blog * Website * Twitter

Book Blast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 4/30/13   Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Soul Bender by Robyn Jones Review and Giveaway

Welcome to my stop on the Soul Bender (A Touched Girl Novel) by Robyn Jones Tour hosted by me :)

Goodreads Summary

How much can a soul take before it breaks? 

Anna Pierce has a vampire boyfriend, a driver's license, real friends for the first time since she was five, and now she faces one of her biggest challenges, senior year at a mostly all girls Catholic high school. Sure, she's a member of the talking crowd now, but she'll never be like everyone else. How can she when the first of her kind has camped out in her dreams? 

Little dead girl Emily decides Anna's destiny can wait no longer. It's time for this generation's Touched girl to hunt. Trained in a virtual dream landscape to destroy all in her path, Anna must choose between her destiny, the one beat into her on a nightly basis, and her legacy, the one instilled in her by her parents. 

Along the way, old enemies remain dutifully obsessed, new foes lurk in the shadows, and odd Little Duckie Anna Pierce sets out to be social.

Goodreads / Amazon

Who is the new guy?

 I received this book from the author for an honest review.

The Good

Actually, there is more than one new guy and each are as different as pickles from pancakes.

I'm a big fan of the new additions in this book. Jones is great at creating characters. You love them and hate them accordingly. Although, Anna may disagree a little bit as she can always find something good in everyone.

Anna is a shining star. I wish I could glow as brightly as she does. Jones takes her personal outlook on autism and applies it to this magnificent character. Anna was diagnosed with autism at a young age and what that means to the reader is a unique experience in the mind of someone both simple and complex in ways that differ from the average Joe. She attracts guys like honey to this glimmer and with her quirks so she becomes quite a kissing girl in this one.

Also, Anna is put through the ringer in Soul Bender and I was excited to watch her progress. Since she thinks so differently from me, it's natural that she would react in situations differently as well. The plot was exciting and colorful. I enjoyed every element. I can't wait to see where this series goes in the future.

The Bad

I said this with Soul Walker, and it's the same here. What is 'bad' actually ended up making me like it more. That is, in the beginning of the book, it takes me some time to become acquainted with Anna's mind and the shine she possesses because she is such a unique individual. Also to note there are a few grammar flaws, but not enough that it detracted from my reading.

The Romance

I can't really say a lot about the romance without getting too spoilerly, but suffice to say that she is a beautiful person inside and out and thankfully others see that as well. There are some good romantic moments to be found.

Conclusion

All in all, a great book. I loved the new character additions and the further development of the characters I grew to love in the first one. Jones created Anna as such a warm character that is easy to fall in love with. I can't wait to see what happens next. Definitely recommended.

Excerpts

“Are you trying not to give me information? Or is cryptic your only way of communicating?"

"More than that, there was a level of confidence in his voice, as if he knew I wouldn't protest. It made me want to."

"The newly developed snarky side of my personality wanted to tell him 'There's no crying in vamp battles.'"

About Robyn Jones:

I'm the mom of two hardcore boys. My oldest trained me to be matter-of-fact, no frills. My youngest wants the whole singsongy sweet package. Thank goodness for reading and writing because they are my sanity makers. I know life is all about the journey, that's why I like my fiction to be all about the destination. I want to be taken somewhere not here when I read, same goes with the stories I create. Thrills, chills, tears, and laughter, but there has to be something to hold on to at the end.

Blog / Twitter / Goodreads

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