Tyger Tyger Free for a limited time!

Also will be free on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. October 29th - November 5th only!

Fabulous book for those that haven't read it. Go check it out!!

The Heaven's Rise - Christopher Rice Coming October 15, 2013

The Heaven's Rise - Christopher Rice

New York Times bestselling author Christopher Rice brilliantly conjures the shadowed terrors of the Louisiana bayou—where three friends confront a deadly, ancient evil rising to the surface—in this intense and atmospheric new supernatural thriller. It’s been a decade since the Delongpre family vanished near Bayou Rabineaux, and still no one can explain the events of that dark and sweltering night. No one except Niquette Delongpre, the survivor who ran away from the mangled stretch of guardrail on Highway 22 where the impossible occurred…and kept on running. Who left behind her best friends, Ben and Anthem, to save them from her newfound capacity for destruction…and who alone knows the source of her very bizarre—and very deadly—abilities: an isolated strip of swampland called Elysium. An accomplished surgeon, Niquette’s father dreamed of transforming the dense acreage surrounded by murky waters into a palatial compound befitting the name his beloved wife gave to it, Elysium: “the final resting place for the heroic and virtuous.” Then, ten years ago, construction workers dug into a long-hidden well, one that snaked down into the deep, black waters of the Louisiana swamp and stirred something that had been there for centuries—a microscopic parasite that perverts the mind and corrupts the body. Niquette is living proof that things done can’t be undone. Nothing will put her family back together again. And nothing can save her. But as Niquette, Ben, and Anthem uncover the truth of a devastating parasite that has the potential to alter the future of humankind, Niquette grasps the most chilling truths of all: someone else has been infected too. And unlike her, this man is not content to live in the shadows. He is intent to use his newfound powers for one reason only: revenge.

This book sounds really great! I can't wait to squeeze it into my schedule and read this. He will be doing a book tour, some of them with Anne Rice, who is releasing a book around the same time. 

Book tour dates:

Events with Christopher Rice.  Combined events with Anne Rice denoted by a star.  Anne will be promoting her own new book which will also publish on October 15^th!

LOS ANGELES, CA

Sunday, September 29^th, 11:00 am

West Hollywood Book Fair

Interview with Christopher Rice

by Eric Shaw Quinn, Co-Host of the

Internet radio program The Dinner Party Show

with Christopher Rice & Eric Shaw Quinn. 

*MINNEAPOLIS, MN

Monday, October 14, 6:00 pm

Mall of America

60 East Broadway

Bloomington-Minneapolis, MN

*NEW YORK, NY

Wednesday, October 16, 7:00 pm

Barnes & Noble

33 East 17th Street

*SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY

Thursday, October 17, 7:00 pm

Saratoga Hilton

Ballroom, 534 Broadway

PHILADELPHIA, PA

Saturday, October 19, 5:30 – 7:00 pm

Giovanni’s Room

345 South 12th Street

*LEXINGTON, KY

Monday, October 21, 7:00 pm

Joseph-Beth

161 Lexington Green Circle

FORT WALTON BEACH, FL

Tuesday, October 22, 7:00 pm

Books-A-Million

417-C Mary Ester Cut-Off NW

DECATUR, GA

Wednesday, October 23, 7:15 pm

DeKalb County Public Library

215 Sycamore St.

*NEW ORLEANS, LA

Friday, October 25

LeStat Ball

COVINGTON, LA

Saturday, October 26, 2:00 – 4:00 pm

2^nd & Charles

401 Highway 190

*NEW ORLEANS, LA

Sunday, October 27, 1:00 pm

Garden District Books

2727 Prytania St.

*DALLAS, TX

Tuesday, October 29, 7:00 pm

Barnes & Noble

7700 W. Northwest Highway

*LOS ANGELES, CA

Saturday, November 2, 2:00 pm

Barnes & Noble

189 The Grove Drive

*SAN FRANCISCO, CA

Tuesday, November 5, 7:00 pm

Books Inc.

Opera Plaza

601 Van Ness

TORONTO, CANADA

Wed., Nov. 13, 8:00 – 11:00 pm

Chiaroscuro Reading Series

Augusta House

152 Augusta Ave.

Toronto, ON

Group reading and signing

with Michael Rowe & Melia McClure

*TEMPE, AZ

Thursday, November 14, 6:00 pm

Changing Hands

6428 S McClintock Dr.

Always Watching - A review

Always Watching - Chevy Stevens (publisher)

Overview

She helps people put their demons to rest.

But she has a few of her own…

In the lockdown ward of a psychiatric hospital, Dr. Nadine Lavoie is in her element. She has the tools to help people, and she has the desire—healing broken families is what she lives for. But Nadine doesn’t want to look too closely at her own past because there are whole chunks of her life that are black holes. It takes all her willpower to tamp down her recurrent claustrophobia, and her daughter, Lisa, is a runaway who has been on the streets for seven years.

When a distraught woman, Heather Simeon, is brought into the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit after a suicide attempt, Nadine gently coaxes her story out of her—and learns of some troubling parallels with her own life. Digging deeper, Nadine is forced to confront her traumatic childhood, and the damage that began when she and her brother were brought by their mother to a remote commune on Vancouver Island.  What happened to Nadine?  Why was their family destroyed? And why does the name Aaron Quinn, the group’s leader, bring complex feelings of terror to Nadine even today? 

And then, the unthinkable happens, and Nadine realizes that danger is closer to home than she ever imagined. She has no choice but to face what terrifies her the most…and fight back. 

Sometimes you can leave the past, but you can never escape. 

My thoughts:

Another great book from Chevy! I love her books. Everyone just grabs me from the get go and I have the hardest time putting them down. Matter of fact it i wasn't so tired last night, I would've been up half the night finishing it.

This time we get to see the story unfold through the eyes of the doctor from the past two books and it's her story this time and it's such a tragic one as well. Tragic past, memory gaps, family issues, drug addicted daughter, and a patient that awakens all these traumatic events from her childhood. Which sends her on a quest to recover lost memories of her time at a commune. Aaron is the perfect creep. Everything about him made my skin crawl. It's almost scary how realistic her characters can be.

What i like most about her books is the mystery, psychological aspect. You are never quite sure what's up or who to trust. Fantastic!

Author's Website: Chevy Stevens

Ink - Amanda Sun (NetGalley)

Overview

Ink is in their blood.

On the heels of a family tragedy, Katie Greene must move halfway across the world. Stuck with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. She doesn't know the language, she can barely hold a pair of chopsticks and she can't seem to get the hang of taking her shoes off whenever she enters a building.

When Katie meets aloof but gorgeous Tomohiro, the star of the school's kendo team, she is intrigued by him…and a little scared. His tough attitude seems meant to keep her at a distance, and when they're near each other, strange things happen. Pens explode. Ink drips from nowhere. And unless Katie is seeing things, drawings come to life.

Somehow Tomo is connected to the kami, powerful ancient beings who once ruled Japan—and as feelings develop between Katie and Tomo, things begin to spiral out of control. The wrong people are starting to ask questions, and if they discover the truth, no one will be safe.

My thoughts:

Maybe It's my ever growing love and fascination with Japan but I really loved this book!

I loved how the author gave me a YA story set somewhere other than America and she couldn't have picked a better backdrop in my opinion. I love how I felt like was was taken to Japan while I was reading it and the myth's woven into the story.

Kate's last name is really fitting. She is pretty "green" when she gets to Japan and add grieving to the top of it, I'm surprised she adjusted as well as she did. She had her annoying moments during the book and there was a time or two when I was ready to slap her myself but all in all, I found myself growing attached and protective of her. Her friends Yuki and Tanaka were awesome and I hope we get to see them a bit more in the next installment. Tomohiro is the perfect replica of the bad guy who isn't really a bad guy. The kind all the girls find themselves oohing and awing over. His character is so cliche at times but dang if the author didn't end up getting me attached to him as well. I wasn't expecting that. Throw in the Yakuza gang and the other Kami and we have what appears to be a well shaped story forming. 

I feel the first book was more about Tomo and Katie's connection and less about the "meat" of where Amanda is taking these books. I eagerly await to see how their story moves forward in the next book.

Author Website: Amanda Sun

The Testing - A Review

The Testing - Joelle Charbonneau (NetGalley)

Overview

It’s graduation day for sixteen-year-old Malencia Vale, and the entire Five Lakes Colony (the former Great Lakes) is celebrating. All Cia can think about—hope for—is whether she’ll be chosen for The Testing, a United Commonwealth program that selects the best and brightest new graduates to become possible leaders of the slowly revitalizing post-war civilization. When Cia is chosen, her father finally tells her about his own nightmarish half-memories of The Testing. Armed with his dire warnings (”Cia, trust no one”), she bravely heads off to Tosu City, far away from friends and family, perhaps forever. Danger, romance—and sheer terror—await.

My Thoughts: 

I wasn't  sure at first how this book was going to go for me. I found it easy to read and the characters flowed well, it just took a bit to figure out where the writer was heading with the story. Once it did though, I admit It got my attention and reeled me in.

Cia is a strong character who may be a tad too trusting at times, but I found myself connecting with her. I mean who wants to see the bad in people. Don't we all want to believe that everyone is a good, honest person? Thomas I don't know I can't quite put my finger on it but the character makes me wary and I'm not sure I trust him. The testing folks are just plain creepy. Always there, always watching and knowing. It's like big brother peering over your shoulder constantly.

In the end, I found I really enjoyed the book. I'm sure I'm not the first reviewer to say it's very reminiscent to Hunger Games and I'm sure I won't be the last. That aside, the story itself is interesting and I'm keen to find out what happens next. 

Author's website: Joelle Charbonneau

Series Website: Testing Trilogy

The Eternity Cure - A Review

The Eternity Cure - Julie Kagawa (NetGalley)

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.


My Thoughts:


I was so glad to get the opportunity to read and review this book. I love this author and can't seem to get enough of her books. This one did not disappoint!

What I like most about this series is simply, Vampires are vampires. They are not all goody goody and they have no qualm about killing. Most of them don't. Some like Allison have consciences but even she kills when she has too.  Julie didn't create this plain boring world. Her world is dark and dank and full of monsters. 

I liked that she brought Jackel back and Zeke. She introduced us to some new enemies this time around and boy are they evil. I thought she was going to leave a very big cliffhanger but in the end I think she had second thoughts and while it's obvious there will be another book, I almost wish she had left the cliffhanger. 

Solid book 2 and I would like to read book 3 now. 

Author's Website: Julie Kagawa

Reboot - A Review

Reboot - Amy Tintera (publisher)

synopsis:
Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return. Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation).

Wren’s favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worst she’s ever seen. As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically human. His reflexes are too slow, he’s always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet there’s something about him she can’t ignore. When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she’ll have to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated, too. But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum.

My Thoughts:

This book has an interesting premise. You get a virus, you die, if you're young, you might reboot and come back as this stronger, less kill able version of yourself. Depending on how many minutes you were dead also plays a factor in your strength, attachments, once you come back.

The main character is one of the rarer reboots. She was dead over 178 minutes and is the HRAC best reboots. She fast, merciless, never gives them any trouble. That is until she takes on a new reboot trainee Callum. Emotions that were never a problem come into play and she  finds her self doing things so unlike herself.

You of course have the typical good guy/bad guy scenario. Fighting, running, trying to stay alive. This is definitely a dystopian book and I found I enjoyed it quite a bit. I'm curious to see where book 2 leads too. I also hope at some point we get to learn a little bit more about the virus that started it all.

Author Website: Amy Tintera

Massive Book Giveaway!

Alma Katsu has teamed up with 15 authors of cross-genre books to offer this great contest!!

It's for the Ides of March and runs 1-15 March. Lucky winners will get 16 books--one from each of the participating authors--and we're giving away one set per 500 entries. The contest is open to US/UK and Canada.

Here's the link to the website where people can enter:

http://idesofmarchbookgiveaway.blogspot.com/2013/02/win-16-books-by-16-fantastic-authors.html

The deal is that all entrants agreed to be added to authors' mailing lists (they can always unsubscribe later, naturally.)

Here are the books/authors:

THE LANTERN by Deborah Lawrenson

NY Times bestseller modern gothic novel of love, secrets, and murder—set against the lush backdrop of Provence
THE FIREBIRD (ARC) by Susanna Kearsley
A twin-stranded story that blends modern romance with 18th-century Jacobite intrigue, traveling from Scotland to Russia, from the NY Times bestselling author of The Winter Sea
THE TWELFTH ENCHANTMENT by David Liss
In Regency England, at the dawn of the industrial era, magic and technology clash and the fate of the nation rests in the hands of a penniless young woman 

COLD MAGIC by Kate Elliott
An epic adventure fantasy with a decidedly steampunk edge where magic - and the power of the Cold Mages - hold sway 
THE MAPMAKER'S WAR by Ronlyn Domingue
A mesmerizing, utterly original adventure about love and loss and the redemptive power of the human spirit--releases March 5th!
DRACULA IN LOVE by Karen Essex
"If you read only one more vampire novel, let it be this one!" -C.W. Gortner, author of The Last Queen & The Confessions of Catherine de Medici

RED, WHITE AND BLOOD by Chris Farnsworth

High-octane supernatural thriller, a sequel to The President's Vampire

THE HOUSE OF VELVET AND GLASS by Katherine Howe

The House of Velvet and Glass weaves together meticulous period detail, intoxicating romance, and a final shocking twist in a breathtaking novel that will thrill readers

from the author of bestseller The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane

THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL (ARC) by Carolyn Turgeon

The Fairest of Them All is an inventive, magical fairy-tale mash-up about Rapunzel growing up to be Snow White's stepmother, out in August 2013 from the author of Godmother and Mermaid 

THE BOOK OF LOST FRAGRANCES by M.J. Rose

A sweeping and suspenseful tale of secrets, intrigue, and lovers separated by time, all connected through the mystical qualities of a perfume created in the days of Cleopatra--and lost for 2,000 years by bestselling novelist M.J. Rose
THIEFTAKER by DB Jackson
Combining elements of traditional fantasy, urban fantasy, mystery and historical fiction, Thieftaker will appeal to readers who enjoy intelligent fantasy and history with an attitude

GLAMOUR IN GLASS by Mary Robinette Kowal
Glamour in Glass follows the lives of the main characters from Shades of Milk and Honey, a loving tribute to the works of Jane Austen in a world where magic is an everyday occurrence 
DEVIL'S GATE by FJ Lennon
Devil’s Gate is exhilarating urban fantasy, with first class writing and characters that are unforgettable beyond the last page
THE CROOKED BRANCH by Jeanine Cummins
“Wonderfully written, with strong, compelling characters, it is a deeply satisfying combination of sweeping historical saga and modern family drama, a gentle reminder of the ever-reaching influence of family”--Booklist
A NATURAL HISTORY OF DRAGONS by Marie Brennan
The story of Isabella, Lady Trent, the world's preeminent dragon naturalist, and her thrilling expedition to Vystrana, where she made the first of many historic discoveries that would change the world forever
THE RECKONING by Alma Katsu

In the tradition of early Anne Rice, a gorgeously written sequel to The Taker that takes readers on a harrowing, passion-fueled chase that transcends the boundaries of time

Forbidden Sister - A Review

Forbidden Sister - V.C. Andrews (publisher)

Overview:

I had every reason to hate her, my forbidden sister. She was like someone who had died but wouldn’t stay buried. . . .

Emmie Wilcox was only six when her older sister, Roxy, was thrown out of their New York City apartment. Their stern father’s military-style rules left no room for rebellion, and Roxy was as defiant as Emmie—now an outstanding student at a private school—is compliant: a perfect daughter, un fille parfaite, as her Parisian-born mother lovingly calls her. Two sisters, total opposites—yet Emmie is secretly obsessed with the mystery surrounding Roxy: What had she done? Where is she now? And is there a hidden side to Emmie that resembles Roxy’s spiteful nature? Knowing only that Roxy is a highly paid escort to the city’s wealthiest men, Emmie goes behind her father’s back to track down the sister she fears, despises, and inexplicably clings to . . . and whose influence might run deeper than Emmie ever imagined.

My Thoughts:

It has been years since I've read a V.C. Andrews book and I forgot how much I enjoyed them. I was able to quickly get into the story line and found most of the characters enjoyable.

Emmie has got definite growing pains going on and at times I felt she needed to have some sense knocked into her. Her parents, while main characters, really didn't affect me either way. Roxy is intriguing and I would have loved to see more into her and Ms. Brittney's arrangement. How she got to be where she was, etc. Maybe in book 2. My favorite character was their Uncle Alian from France. I just loved him and I hope we get to see more of him as well and learn more about Emmie's time in France.

To put it succiently, I enjoyed the book and look forward to book 2.

The Fate of Mercy Alban - A Review

The Fate of Mercy Alban - Wendy Webb (publisher)

Overview:

Grace Alban has spent more than twenty years avoiding her childhood home, the stately Alban House on the shores of Lake Superior, for reasons she would rather forget. But when her mother’s unexpected death brings Grace and her teenage daughter back, she finds more is haunting the halls and passageways of Alban House than her own personal demons.

Long-buried family secrets, a packet of old love letters, and a lost manuscript plunge Grace into a decades-old mystery about a scandalous party at Alban House, when a world-famous author took his own life and Grace’s aunt disappeared without a trace. The night has been shrouded in secrecy by the powerful Alban family for all of these years. Her mother intended to tell the truth about that night to a reporter on the very day she died—could it have been murder? Or was she a victim of the supposed Alban curse? Grace soon realizes her family secrets tangle and twist as darkly as the mansion’s secret passages.

With the help of the disarmingly kind—and attractive—Reverend Matthew Parker, Grace must uncover the truth about her home and its curse before she and her daughter become the next victims.

My Thoughts:

Okay when I was first approached to review this book, I was hesitant. It sounded good but I was not sure if I was in the mood for it. Man am I so glad I decided to give it a try. I loved this book! I rang in 2013 reading this awesomely, fantastic, Gothic ghost story.

This book is full of creep factor. A wealthy family with long buried secrets that are refusing to stay buried any longer. The characters were great and I found myself, as I was reading, trying to figure out who is good, who is bad, and where exactly was the story going to take me. I am glad to report that I really never knew what was going to happen, until it happened.

Now on to my favorite part of the book. The house!. I want to live there. I really do. Big huge house with secret passages and hidden rooms. Imagine having something like that growing up. You could play hide and seek in there and never be found. Totally cool!

So if my gushing hasn't made it clear, if you love Gothic ghost stories in any way, run and get a copy when this comes out. You 'won't be sorry.

Author's Website: Wendy Webb

Raylan - Blog Tour January 7, 2013

Raylan - Elmore Leonard (Blog Tour Publisher)

Synopsis:

When Dickie and Coover Crowe, dope-dealing brothers known for sampling their own supply, decide to branch out into the body business, it's up to U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens to stop them. But Raylan isn't your average marshal; he's the laconic, Stetson-wearing, fast-drawing lawman who juggles dozens of cases at a time and always shoots to kill. But by the time Raylan finds out who's making the cuts, he's lying naked in a bathtub, with Layla, the cool transplant nurse, about to go for his kidneys.

My Thoughts: 

First off let me say I love this TV show so when I saw a chance to be a part of this blog tour, I jumped on it. Glad I wasn't disappointed.  I really enjoyed this book. Normally when I read a book I form pictures of what I imagine characters to look like. I gotta say it was kind of strange to start a book with some characters firmly planted in my brain, but I liked it.

The story was fast paced and interesting with all my favorite characters and some new ones added in the mix. I did have a strange sense of deja vue reading this. i kept thinking I know the story line  Though I am probably sure it is just lingering crazy story line left over from the show creeping in.

If I had any complaint at all was the plot could be a little choppy but that's okay it was fast paced and kept me entertained.
Author's Website:  Elmore Leonard

Here's the tour schedule: 

Wednesday, December 26th: No More Grumpy Bookseller

Thursday, December 27th: EmSun

Friday, December 28th: Book Addict Katie

Thursday, January 3rd: Helen’s Book Blog

Monday, January 7th: My Life in Not So Many Words

Tuesday, January 8th: Chaotic Compendiums

Thursday, January 10th: Jenny Loves to Read

Wednesday, January 16th: Jenn’s Bookshelves

Monday, January 28th: Luxury Reading

TBD: Ted Lehmann’s Bluegrass, Books, and Brainstorms