Dan Simmons Flashback Giveaway

FLASHBACK
By Dan Simmons

The United States is near total collapse. But 87% of the population doesn't care: they're addicted to flashback, a drug that allows its users to re-experience the best moments of their lives. After ex-detective Nick Bottom's wife died in a car accident, he went under the flash to be with her; he's lost his job, his teenage son, and his livelihood as a result.

Nick may be a lost soul but he's still a good cop, so he is hired to investigate the murder of a top governmental advisor's son. This flashback-addict becomes the one man who may be able to change the course of an entire nation turning away from the future to live in the past.

A provocative novel set in a future that seems scarily possible, FLASHBACK proves why Dan Simmons is one of our most exciting and versatile writers.

Giveaway Rules

Thanks to the great people at Forever Romance I am thrilled to be able to offer 2 copies of Flashback by Dan Simmons.

This giveaway is open to the US and Canada only and No P.O. BOXES please!

If you’d like to enter this giveaway please fill out this form thanks:
http://www.emailmeform.com/fid.php?formid=483516

Please be a Follower, thanks!

The giveaway runs till July 14th and ends at 11:59 PM PST!

MT Review: Cross Fire (Alex Cross) [Hardcover]

I've finished "Cross Fire" the book in his Alex Cross series by James Patterson.

Product Description

Wedding bells ring

Detective Alex Cross and Bree's wedding plans are put on hold when Alex is called to the scene of the perfectly executed assassination of two of Washington D.C.'s most corrupt: a dirty congressmen and an underhanded lobbyist. Next, the elusive gunman begins picking off other crooked politicians, sparking a blaze of theories -- is the marksman a hero or a vigilante?

A murderer returns

The case explodes, and the FBI assigns agent Max Siegel to the investigation. As Alex and Siegel battle over jurisdiction, the murders continue. It becomes clear that they are the work of a professional who has detailed knowledge of his victims' movements -- information that only a Washington insider could possess.

Caught in a lethal cross fire

As Alex contends with the sniper, Siegel, and the wedding, he receives a call from his deadliest adversary, Kyle Craig. The Mastermind is in D.C. and will not relent until he has eliminated Cross and his family for good. With a supercharged blend of action, deception, and suspense, Cross Fire is James Patterson's most visceral and exciting Alex Cross novel ever.

Product Details
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1 edition (November 15, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780316036177
ISBN-13: 978-0316036177

My Review:

Storyline:   Alex Cross is investigating a high-profile case which involves two highly skilled snipers killing high profile sleazy criminals without being seen and vanishing without a trace.

Also Alex gets married and Kyle Craig returns.  Kyle was Alex's one time friend now his greatest adversary who had vowed revenge and destruction.  Kyle has escaped the institution he has been held in which Cross was instrumental in his capture.  He has infiltrated the FBI team and is working side by side and inserting himself into Cross's household without him being aware of it.

Kyle can't resist taunting Cross over the phone and leaving him cryptic messages at crime scenes.  Cross finally gets married to long time love Bree Stone but what happens next is a thrill stopping event.

Characters:  Cross is in fine shape and I'm really glad he has finally found someone to settle down with.  Glad to see Bree really loves his family and him.  He really deserves someone who understands him and his work.

Really loved the power struggle between Max and Cross over who had higher jurisidiction.

Romance:  Bree and Crosses romance is very sweet and loving.  She really gets along with his family and is willing to sacrifice herself for them.

Killer:  Kyle is truly a great adversary and a monster in this book.  The way he taunts Cross and finally whent he showdown comes the way he treats the family.  He also gets very lucky with the ladies in this one.

4/5

Beg for Mercy Giveaway Winners

I have the three winners of my Beg for Mercy Giveaway and they are:

CONGRATULATIONS:

1.  Meredith Miller
2.  Myra C.
3.  Amber @ AwesomeSauce

Please fill out this form with your contact information, so I can send the info. to the publisher thanks!
http://www.emailmeform.com/fid.php?formid=640430

Please comment on this post if you have won this book on another blog, so I can pick a new winner(s), thanks!

You will have 2 days to get back to me or else I will have to pick new winner, thanks!

Recovery [Paperback]

I've finished "Recovery" the 2nd book in her Nicci Beauvoir series by Alexandrea Weis.

Product Description

Recovery by Alexandrea Weis is the second novel in the wildly sexy series featuring the enigmatic Nicci Beauvoir. A thrilling read, this character-driven book boasts a whodunit mystery, sultry seductions, and an unforgettable cliffhanging twist. Once a darling of New Orleans society, Nicci pens a novel about her departed love, the artist David Alexander. While promoting her book in the Big Apple, she’s approached by David’s former boss, Simon La Roy, who has a theory about David’s death that devastates Nicci. She learns David’s murder may be linked to someone from her past. Enter Dallas August, an elite member of Simon’s organization of corporate spies prized for his ruthless ability to get the job done. Playing the part of Nicci’s lover, Dallas returns to Katrina-ravaged New Orleans with her to flush out the killer. But everything is not what is seems in the Big Easy, and soon the couple finds themselves trapped in a psychotic’s twisted game of revenge. As the danger grows, Nicci’s relationship with the handsome spy turns from adversarial to amorous.

On the run for their lives, Dallas and Nicci must confront their tormentor before it is too late. It’s a deadly decision that could cost Nicci everything, but it is her only chance for finally revealing the identity of the murderer. Just as the truth behind David’s death is discovered, another more compelling mystery is unearthed.

It’s an unexpected turn of events that rocks Nicci’s world.

About the Author

Alexandrea Weis’s popular first novel, To My Senses, received rave reviews and garnered awards for both commercial fiction and romance writing. A permitted wildlife rehabber with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, when Weis isn’t writing novels, she’s rescuing orphaned and injured wildlife. She, her husband, and a menagerie of pets live in New Orleans. 

My Review:

Nicci has just written a book about her murdered lover David Alexander and artist who painted portraits of her.  The murder was never solved and the people(s) involved were never found.

We open the book at a booksigning in New York City where a sleazy and creepy character by the name of Simon Le Roy introduces himself to Nicci and they both know a mutual acquaintance, David.

He reveals that he is the one who taught David everything he knew about wine, clothes and women when he was working for him.  She has written about all this in her book, Painting Jenny.  She is Jenny.  He also mentions that he introduced David to people who needed their problems solved.  Nicci didn't know that David used to work for Simon or much about his past so this information startles her.

She also learns from him that David was killed because of her not because of his work or his past.  She also learns that he was the specialist in getting secrets from any women by seducing them.  We learn he admitted to Nicci in the past that he was ordered to seduce her to collect information to destroy her family business.

He also reveals that he has been investigating David's murder for two years wants to find the person(s) involved because he lost one of his best man and it's hurting his business.  He asks Nicci to work with Dallas August one of his special elite members who has a reputation of getting jobs done.  They are to pretend to be lovers and return to New Orleans to flush out the culprits.

Nicci discovers Dallas is an elusive and cold person who has many secrets and hidden feelings bottled inside.  Their relationship was quite rocky and tumultuous at the beginning but built to a loving and caring relationship at the end.

I highly recommend this book if you like a good mystery with just a right amount of suspense and romance.  It had some very quirky secondary characters like Nicci's Aunt Hattie, Uncle Lance and cousin Colleen.

I really loved reading how Dallas would rile up a love-struck admirer and a former lover.  Those parts were so hilarious!

4/5

Thanks Pump Up Your Books and Alexandrea for letting me join this tour with a review, greatly appreciated!

Waiting on Wednesday Meme

Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

An Irresistible Bachelor [Paperback]

Product Description

Art conservator Callie Burke's new assignment is restoring a masterpiece owned by ruthless, wealthy, and sexy politico Jack Walker. When she's persuaded to move into Jack's sprawling estate to finish the job, a mere business proposition turns into something far more complicated - and passionate.

Product Details
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Signet; Original edition (July 5, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451230981
ISBN-13: 978-0451230980

Pride Mates (Shifters Unbound) [Paperback]

Product Description

Collared and controlled, Shifters are outcast from humanity, forced to live in Shiftertowns. But waiting within are passions that no collar can contain ...

Like most Shifters, Liam Morrissey has learned that trusting humans leads to no good. But when beautiful attorney Kim Fraser enters Shiftertown alone in order to prove her client's innocence, Liam's alpha nature leaves him no choice but to offer his protection.

Product Details
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Berkley (July 5, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0425245047
ISBN-13: 978-0425245040

One Summer: A Shelter Bay Novel [Paperback]

Product Description

When former U.S. Marine photojournalist Gabriel St. James arrives in Shelter Bay to help out a fellow Marine, the last thing he expects is to meet a woman like Charity. A veterinarian with a past that would have defeated a less resilient woman, Charity still possesses a heart as generous as her name. She's known men like Gabe before - but with a shared attraction impossible to deny, Charity and Gabe agree to a simple affair with no expectations. But as summer unfolds, and Gabe finds reasons to extend his stay in Shelter Bay, he and Charity realize that there's nothing simple about falling in love, and nothing easy about the choices of the heart. 

Product Details
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Signet; Original edition (July 5, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451234006
ISBN-13: 978-0451234001

Undead and Undermined (Undead/Queen Betsy) [Hardcover]

Product Description

All-new in the New York Times bestselling drop-dead funny series.

Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor thought she couldn't die. So what's she doing in the morgue? It could have something to do with a time - traveling trip she made, and a foe with a wicked agenda that could finally be the real death of Betsy - if she's not careful.


Product Details
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Berkley Hardcover (July 5, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0425241270
ISBN-13: 978-0425241271

Manga:

Black Bird, Vol. 9 [Paperback]

Product Description

Reads R to L (Japanese Style), for audiences T+ 

Misao and Kyo finally go all the way, and Misao can’t regret the new levels of intimacy, even though all the other demons seem to be able to tell that they are now lovers. But does Kyo feel the same way? Instead of bringing them closer, their new status seems to make him turn away from Misao. Is that just the nature of guys, be they human or demon? Or is there something darker behind Kyo’s sudden lack of warmth?

Product Details
Paperback: 200 pages
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; Original edition (July 5, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1421537745
ISBN-13: 978-1421537740

Dengeki Daisy, Vol. 5 [Paperback]

Product Description

Reads R to L (Japanese Style), for audiences T+ 

While trying to uncover who the fake DAISY is, Kurosaki gets injured protecting Teru from an attack! The near-fatal incident leaves Teru shaken, and she vows to stay close to Kurosaki. But is proximity just going to hurt them both with the truth still veiled?

Product Details
Paperback: 200 pages
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; Original edition (July 5, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1421537397
ISBN-13: 978-1421537399

New Release 2011 (Jun 29)

Naamah's Blessing (Kushiel's Legacy) [Hardcover]

Product Description

Returning to Terre d'Ange, Moirin finds the royal family broken. Wracked by unrelenting grief at the loss of his wife, Queen Jehanne, King Daniel is unable to rule. Prince Thierry, leading an expedition to explore the deadly jungles of Terra Nova, is halfway across the world. And three year old Desirée is a vision of her mother: tempestuous, intelligent, and fiery, but desperately lonely, and a vulnerable pawn in a game of shifting political allegiances.

As tensions mount, King Daniel asks that Moirin become Desirée's oath-sworn protector. Navigating the intricate political landscape of the Court proves a difficult challenge, and when dire news arrives from overseas, the spirit of Queen Jehanne visits Moirin in a dream and bids her undertake an impossible quest.

Another specter from the past also haunts Moirin. Travelling with Thierry in the New World is Raphael de Mereliot, her manipulative former lover. Years ago, Raphael forced her to help him summon fallen angels in the hopes of acquiring mystical gifts and knowledge. It was a disastrous effort that nearly killed them, and Moirin must finally bear the costs of those bitter mistakes.

Product Details
Hardcover: 624 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (June 29, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446198072
ISBN-13: 978-0446198073

New Releases 2011 (Jun 28)

The Rebel (Hqn) [Mass Market Paperback]
Product Description

Nate Walker has never shied away from the hard road. Even when it meant leaving behind his family's wealth… and the fiancée who only wanted a rich man. Nothing was going to stop him from opening his own  five star restaurant.

And he was on his way — until his car broke down on a dark road in the Adirondacks, leading him right to White Caps Inn … and Frankie Moorehouse.

Suddenly Nate has a job he doesn't really need — and an affair that has to end when summer does. Except Frankie has a way about her. She gets under his skin. She even makes him want to do what he never thought he could: stay forever.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: HQN Books (June 28, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0373776306
ISBN-13: 978-0373776306

Deeper Than Midnight (The Midnight Breed, Book 9) [Mass Market Paperback]

Product Description

DELIVERED FROM THE DARKNESS, A WOMAN FINDS HERSELF PLUNGED INTO A PASSION THAT IS DEEPER THAN MIDNIGHT.

At eighteen, Corinne Bishop was a beautiful, spirited young woman living a life of privilege as the adopted daughter of a wealthy family. Her world changed in an instant when she was stolen away and held prisoner by the malevolent vampire Dragos. After many years of captivity and torment, Corinne is rescued by the Order, a cadre of vampire warriors embroiled in a war against Dragos and his followers. Her innocence taken, Corinne has lost a piece of her heart as well — the one thing that gave her hope during her imprisonment, and the only thing that matters to her now that she is free.

Assigned to safeguard Corinne on her trip home is a formidable golden-eyed Breed male called Hunter. Once Dragos’s most deadly assassin, Hunter now works for the Order, and he’s hell-bent on making Dragos pay for his manifold sins. Bonded to Corinne by their mutual desire, Hunter will have to decide how far he’ll go to end Dragos’s reign of evil — even if carrying out his mission means shattering Corinne’s tender heart.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Dell; Original edition (June 28, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0440246113
ISBN-13: 978-0440246114

Heart of Evil (Krewe of Hunters) [Mass Market Paperback]

Product Description

Emerging from the bayou like an apparition, Donegal Plantation is known for its unsurpassed dining, captivating atmosphere, haunting legends … and now a corpse swinging from the marble angel that marks its cemetery's most majestic vault. A corpse discovered in nearly the same situation as that of Marshall Donegal, the patriarch killed in a skirmish just before the Civil War.

Desperate for help traditional criminologists could never provide, plantation heiress Ashley Donegal turns to an elite team of paranormal investigators who blend hard forensics with rare — often inexplicable — intuition.

Among the "Krewe of Hunters" is an old flame, Jake Mallory, a gifted musician with talent stretching far beyond the realm of the physical, and a few dark ghosts of his own.

The evil the team unveils has the power to shake the plantation to its very core. Jake and Ashley are forced to risk everything to unravel secrets that will not stay buried — even in death .…

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Mira; Original edition (June 28, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0778329984
ISBN-13: 978-0778329985

The Whisper (Ireland) [Mass Market Paperback]

Product Description

Archaeologist Sophie Malone is still haunted a year after she was left for dead inside a remote Irish cave. Now she's convinced that her night of terror is linked to recent violence in Boston. Did the killer under arrest steal the ancient Celtic treasure from the cave that night? Or is another killer out there, ready to strike again?
Boston detective "Scoop" Wisdom has recovered from his injuries and is after the bomber who nearly killed him. Tough and stubborn, he's the best at detecting lies … except maybe those of Sophie Malone. When an ex-cop becomes the victim of ritual sacrifice, it's clear nobody's safe, and everyone's a suspect.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Mira (June 28, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0778329909
ISBN-13: 978-0778329909

Hush [Paperback]

Product Description

In the summer before their senior year, Coby Rendell and her friends take a beach trip together. Around a campfire on a foggy June night, Coby, Rhiannon, Yvette and the others share their darkest secrets, before a tragic accident shatters the bond between them ... Twelve years later Coby attends a birthday party reunion that ends in horror when Yvette's sister's lifeless body is discovered in a hot tub. Soon others in the original group of tale-tellers begin meeting similar fates - unfortunate 'accidents' shrinking their numbers one by one ...

Conflicted by her growing feelings for Danner Lockwood, the investigating detective, Coby races to unravel a mystery buried in the past. But someone is watching her every move - someone prepared to kill again and again to protect a shocking truth ...

Product Details
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Zebra; Original edition (June 28, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1420103423
ISBN-13: 978-1420103427

Time of Death (In Death) [Paperback]

Product Description

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author: three popular Eve Dallas stories together for the first time in one volume.

J. D. Robb's In Death novels have been praised as "Law and Order: SVU-in the future" (Entertainment Weekly). Now, together for the first time in one volume, are three stories that spotlight Lieutenant Eve Dallas doing what she does best: solving crime with skill, integrity, and passion.

Eternity in Death

A seductive killer is luring in victims with a promise of the impossible - immortality. Eve Dallas must strip away the fantasy to catch the coldhearted madman.

Ritual in Death
 
Eve is plunged into the violent aftermath of a ritualistic murder - and into the mind of an alleged witness who can't remember a thing to save his life.

Missing in Death

When a woman disappears from a New York City ferry, it's a case that only Eve Dallas can solve - because the woman didn't jump, and yet she's not on board.

Product Details
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Berkley Trade (June 28, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0425240827
ISBN-13: 978-0425240823

Savor the Danger (Hqn) [Mass Market Paperback]

Product Description

She may be aloof, and more pretty than gorgeous, but Alani Rivers is the kind of woman a hot-blooded mercenary can't forget, no matter how hard he tries. So when Jackson Savor wakes up next to the naked, sleeping beauty — with no memory of what happened — he knows he's been drugged … even if Alani doesn't.

After she was kidnapped, Alani vowed never to trust another man again. Still, something about this strong, sexy hero with the tender touch makes her want to believe him. As Jackson hunts down a mysterious intruder, he swears he'll move heaven and earth to keep Alani safe. But what really happened that night? And will the truth bring them closer than they ever thought possible — or put Alani squarely in harm's way again?

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: HQN Books; Original edition (June 28, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0373775822
ISBN-13: 978-0373775828

Manga: 

The Betrayal Knows My Name, Vol. 1 [Paperback]
Product Description

As an infant, Yuki Sakurai was abandoned by his mother, left in the bushes near an orphanage. The mystery of his parentage deepens when Yuki discovers he has a strange ability: when he touches others, he can feel their emotions. Because of his upbringing, the teenage Yuki strives to be independent so that he won't be a burden on those around him, but this attitude coupled with his powers can sometimes feel isolating. Little does he know that he has never really been alone. Someone has been watching him from the shadows ever since he was left in the bushes all those years ago... But can Yuki trust the silver-eyed boy who claims to be his protector ... and to know the truth of Yuki's past?

Product Details
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Yen Press (June 28, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316119415
ISBN-13: 978-0316119412

New Release 2011 (Jun 27)

Now You See Her [Hardcover]

Product Description

The perfect life

A successful lawyer and loving mother, Nina Bloom would do anything to protect the life she's built in New York -- including lying to everyone, even her daughter, about her past. But when an innocent man is framed for murder, she knows that she can't let him pay for the real killer's crimes.

The perfect lie

Nina's secret life began 18 years ago. She had looks to die for, a handsome police-officer husband, and a carefree life in Key West. When she learned she was pregnant with their first child, her happiness was almost overwhelming. But Nina's world is shattered when she unearths a terrible secret that causes her to run for her life and change her identity.

The perfect way to die

Now, years later, Nina risks everything she's earned to return to Florida and confront the murderous evil she fled. In a story of wrenching suspense, James Patterson gives us his most head-spinning, action-filled story yet -- a Hitchcock-like blend of unquenchable drama and pleasure.

Product Details
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (June 27, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316036218
ISBN-13: 978-0316036214

RS Review: You Belong to Me [Paperback]

I've finished "You Belong to Me" by Karen Rose.

Product Description

Baltimore city Homicide Detective J.D. Fitzpatrick has seen a lot of violence but nothing like the trail of tortured bodies that are turning up throughout the city. And now he's starting to suspect that his medical examiner, Dr. Lucy Trask, may be shielding a dark secret that could connect her to these vicious killings - and put her next on the killer's hit list ...

About the Author

Award-winning international bestselling author Karen Rose earned her degree in chemical engineering from the University of Maryland. For a number of years, she worked in the engineering field, earning two patents, but she began writing novels when scenes started to fill her mind and her characters would not be silenced. Since her debut suspense novel, DON'T TELL, was released in July 2003, she has written more than twelve novels and been translated into nineteen languages. Her books have placed on the New York Times, the Sunday Times (UK), and Germany's der Spiegel bestseller lists. A former chemical engineer and high school teacher, Karen lives in Florida with her family, her dog, and her two cats.

Product Details
Paperback: 512 pages
Publisher: Signet; Original edition (June 7, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451233573
ISBN-13: 978-0451233578
My Review:

Storyline:  In the quiet town of Anderson Ferry, Maryland, a young lady is brutally assaulted and murdered on her prom night. The onlookers did nothing to stop the violence or help the girl. Twenty-one years pass.

Dr. Lucy Trask is a Baltimore medical examiner. While jogging in the early morning of Monday, May Third, she stumbles upon the posed body of a man so badly damaged that she does not realize that she knows him. Very soon afterward, other bodies begin to appear. All of the victims have been tortured. All of the victims are from Lucy's home town of Anderson Ferry. The killer places and poses the victims' bodies specifically when and where Lucy would be the one to discover them.

Homicide Detective J.D. Fitzpatrick has seen a lot of death, especially during his time as a soldier. But neither his time in the military, nor his time working in Narcotics could have prepared him for the tortured bodies showing up in Baltimore. J.D. and his partner, Stevie Mazzetti, instinctively know that Lucy is innocent. It does not take long to prove it either. It's quite obvious that the killer has personally targeted Lucy. But why? J.D. can tell that Lucy is keeping secrets about her current private life but that should not have anything to do with her life from over twenty years ago. Back in Anderson Ferry Lucy had been a kid while the victims were  in high school. Lucy may have known them since the town was small but they have never been what anyone would have called friends. So how, in the killer's mind, could Lucy be linked with any of the deceased? All J.D. is sure of is that he must convince Lucy to share her secrets with him before she becomes the killer's next victim.

Characters:  Lucy has a very troubled past which she has shed and re-invented herself.  During the day she is a medical examiner while at night she's (you will have to read the book to find out, LOL!).  J.D. is a former sniper and is new recruit in the homicide department.  Both are lonely and have suffered a great lost. 

Romance:  Both acknowledge they are attracted to each other from the get-go but each has reason(s) not to get involved.  I really enjoyed their romance because it started slow and they got to know each other before falling into bed.  Glad to see J.D. was very patient and caring with Lucy and know she was the one for him.

Killer:  Wow the killer was truly sick in the head and loved to torture, rape and film the killings so they could watch it all over again.  I felt sad for the tragic accident that caused them to start their killing spree.

This series has a great blend of truly horrifying crimes, well written characters and the right amount of romance.

This book had lots of twists and turns with a wickedly sick and demented killer doing very vile things to women.

5/5

Thanks Laura from Penguin Canada for sending me this book to review, greatly appreciated!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (Jun 27)

What Are You Reading is a weekly Monday Meme that is hosted by Sheila from One Persons Journey:  http://bookjourney.wordpress.com

Post the books you read last week, book currently being read and books you plan on finishing this week.

Last week I read:

1. Virgin - Cheryl Brooks
2. Changeling Moon - Dani Harper
3. Vlad: The Last Confession - C.C. Humphreys
4. Fallen - Karin Slaughter
5. Cross Fire - James Patterson
6. Recovery - Alexandrea Weis
7. Amnesia Labyrinth Vol. 2 - Nagura Tanigawa

I’m currently reading:

1. Dead Before Morning - Beverly Barton

Books I’m planning on reading this week:

1.  Hunt the Moon - Cassandra Palmer
2.  Wicked Lies - Lisa Jackson
3.  Hit List - Laurell K. Hamilton
4.  Otomen Vol. 2 and 3 - Aya Kanno


Here's the link:
http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/2011/06/26/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-93

Manga Review: Amnesia Labyrinth, Vol. 2 [Paperback]

I've finished "Amnesia Labyrinth Vol. 2" by Nagura Tanigawa.

Product Description

“Your little sister is a MURDERER. Just like YOU.”

With the police no closer to finding the killer responsible for the murders of three high school students, Souji Kushiki and his plucky girlfriend Yukako continue down their own path of investigation. While Yukako seems to hit a dead end in her detective work, Souji has his own disturbing suspicions. He’s narrowed down the list of suspects to just a handful of people: his family!

Could one of his clingy, possessive younger sisters really be the killer? Or could the dark truth go deeper than even Souji imagined? Whatever the answer, someone else will soon die and Souji’s world will be rocked to the core!

Product Details
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Seven Seas (June 7, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1934876372
ISBN-13: 978-1934876374

My Review:

This is a thrilling psychological manga that plays with your mind!  Definately for the 18+ crowd because of nudity and violence.

Souji visits his older twin brother Niisan to ask him if he was the one doing all the killings.  He denies he did it but he says it's one of their younger sisters.  Saki most likely because she would do anything for her man.  Or it even could be Harumi though she's all cute and cuddly but anyone is capable of murder.  She wants to be part of the family and become Souji's wife.  Then Niisan starts taunting Souji that Harumi would give it up if he just asked her and she's just his type, slim and delicate.

Then we moved to them having a power up against each other and Niisan wins by knocking Souji out with electricity.  Youko finds him and asks Saki to take him back to his room.  They both look very worried.

The next day at school we see Souji has his desk but he looks different with an evil glint in his eyes and he has a scowling smile.  His classmate Sasai realizes something is different with him and points it out to him.  He's more quieter and broodier than usual.  Then she shares her lunch with him since he forgot his.

After they head off to the rooftop where he grabs and kisses her.  Then he starts to take her tie off, gropes her and starts to raise her skirt up but she slaps him one and runs off.  Later she wonders what is up with the kiss?

Then we see Youko going off into the school with a classmate of Souji's.

Later Souji discovers a classmate dead with a pool of blood surrounding the body in his homeroom. 

Souji wakes up but doesn't remember anything that happened the previous day.  He looks around and Saki tells him that Youko brought what looks like a humidifier.  It makes him sleepy and she tells him to go back to sleep which he falls into a deep sleep.  Then she proceeds to lick his face, etc. (Boy was that creepy!)  Apparently he was having a nightmare!

Yukako phones Souji's house and Saki picks up the phone and tells her Souji isn't home and she wouldn't tell him she called.  Yukako then decides to visit his house and a very friendly and cute cat follows her.  She then rings the doorbell and Saki tells her never to come back.  We then see her crying and not wanting her to get hurt.

Then we get a chapter about gods/goddesses in the historical period that reminds me so much of Souji's family in the past.  Their father sets them up against each other with a couple members to kill certain individuals why the another couple are there to defend them.

Who's killing Souji's classmates and why?

5/5

Thanks Leah and Tor/Seven Seas Entertainment for sending me this manga to review, greatly appreciated!

Library Haul 2011 (Jun 26 - July 2nd)

Here's the book list I picked up from the library this week:


Hardcover:


1. Wicked Lies - Lisa Jackson


Softcover:

1. Dead by Morning - Beverly Barton

Manga/Manhwa:

1. Black Butler Vol. 4 - Yana Toboso
2. Chocolat Vol. 1 and 2 - Ji-Sang Shin and Geo3. High School Debut Vol. 2 - Kazune Kawahara
4. Otomen Vol. 2 - 5 - Aya Kanno
5. Princess Princess Vol. 4 and 5 - Mikiyo Tsuda

What books/manga did you pick up from the library this week?

Vlad: The Last Confession [Paperback]

I've finished "Vlad: The Last Confession" by C.C. Humphrey.

Product Description

Dracula. A name of horror, depravity and the darkest sensuality. Yet the real Dracula was just as alluring, just as terrifying, his tale not one of a monster but of a man ... and a contradiction.

His tale is told by those who knew him best. The only woman he ever loved ... and whom he had to sacrifice.

His closest comrade ... and traitor. And his priest, betraying the secrets of the confessional to reveal the mind of the man history would forever remember as The Impaler. This is the story of the man behind the legend...as it has never been told before.

Product Details
Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (May 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1402253516
ISBN-13: 978-1402253515

My Review:

This is the story of Vlad Dracul, prince of Wallachia, known as Vlad Tepes (the impaler), or Dracula (Dracul-a) son of the dragon/devil.

The book is set in Poenari Castle five years after Dracula's death. Count Horvathy, a Hungarian, has assembled the three people who knew Vlad's story best: Ion Tremblac, Vlad's childhood friend and right-hand man, Ilona, Vlad's one true love and Vlad's confessor. The Count, like Vlad a member of the Order of the Dragon, has brought Cardinal Grimaldi to hear the three of them tell their tales in hopes that exposing the Church to Vlad's true story (rather than the rumors and myths spread by his enemies) will restore the honor of the Order of the Dragon.

We open the book with Vlad and his younger brother Radu as hostages of Murad and taught the way of the Koran and the Turks.  Then it moves to his three reigns and to his meeting the love of his life and finally to his cruel punishment to his enemies.  We also read about his family problems with his brother Radu, etc.

This was a very fascinating read about the life and times of a mad and compelling man.  I was sucked into the story and now I want to learn more about Vlad and his younger brother Radu: The Handsome.

He was very loyal to his friends and you can feel his love for Ilona and hers for him.

4/5

Thanks Liz from Sourcebooks for sending me this book to review, greatly appreciated!

In the Mail Saturday 2011 (Jun 25)

In the Mail Saturday is hosted every Saturday at Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews.

I received these in the mail this week.

For Review:

The Paradise Prophecy [Hardcover] - Received Monday


Product Description

A spectacular thriller inspired by John Milton's Paradise Lost in which the final chapter of the War in Heaven is about to play out on Earth, with the fate of humanity hanging in the balance.

The Myth

When God cast the archangel Satan into Hell, ending the War in Heaven, peace prevailed on Earth. Until the fallen angels took revenge in the Garden of Eden. Ever since, mankind has been in a struggle between good and evil, paradise and apocalypse: the fall of Rome, The Crusades, World Wars, nuclear proliferation, the Middle East Crisis... The War in Heaven never really ended-it just changed venues. For millennia, God's angels have been fighting Satan's demons on Earth, all in hopes of bringing about Satan's greatest ambition, the Apocalypse.

The Reality

Satan has never been closer to his goal than right now.

Agent Bernadette Callahan is a talented investigator at a shadowy government organization known only as Section, on the trail of a serial killer with nearly supernatural abilities. Sebastian "Batty" LaLaurie is a religious historian who knows far too much about the other side- and that hard-earned knowledge is exactly what Callahan needs. This unlikely duo pair up for a race across the globe, decoding clues left in ancient texts from the Bible to Paradise Lost and beyond. In the process they stumble upon a vast conspiracy-one beyond the scope of mankind's darkest imagination.

Product Details
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Dutton Adult (July 21, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0525952233
ISBN-13: 978-0525952237

Dark Awakening (Dark Dynasties, Book 1) [Mass Market Paperback] - Received Thursday

Product Description

Enter the world of the Dark Dynasties . . .

For centuries, shapeshifting vampire Tynan MacGillivray has prowled the night as an outcast, valued only for his ferocious hunting skills. When a feud among the immortals escalates into all-out war, he is ordered by his ruthless queen to locate a Seer-a human woman with a special gift-who can secure victory for their clan. Ty's search leads him to a quiet New England town, but once he has the Seer in his grasp, her touch awakens within him a hunger like he's never known . . .

Lily Quinn has always been different. Since childhood, she's had vivid nightmares and an eerie sixth sense. When a sexy, silver-eyed stranger demands her help, Lily plunges into a new world of danger and sensuality. With Ty, she discovers sizzling passions she cannot deny and powers she cannot control. Soon, it is clear that Lily is much more than a Seer-she holds the key to ancient secrets and unthinkable destruction. But will a vampire's vow of eternal protection stop these evil forces . . . or unleash her dark destiny? 

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Forever; Original edition (June 28, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1609418379
ISBN-13: 978-1609418373

Manga:

Black Bird, Vol. 9 [Paperback] - Received Wednesday

Product Description

Reads R to L (Japanese Style), for audiences T+ 

Misao and Kyo finally go all the way, and Misao can’t regret the new levels of intimacy, even though all the other demons seem to be able to tell that they are now lovers. But does Kyo feel the same way? Instead of bringing them closer, their new status seems to make him turn away from Misao. Is that just the nature of guys, be they human or demon? Or is there something darker behind Kyo’s sudden lack of warmth?

Product Details
Paperback: 200 pages
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; Original edition (July 5, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1421537745
ISBN-13: 978-1421537740

Dengeki Daisy, Vol. 5 [Paperback]

Product Description

Reads R to L (Japanese Style), for audiences T+ 

While trying to uncover who the fake DAISY is, Kurosaki gets injured protecting Teru from an attack! The near - fatal incident leaves Teru shaken, and she vows to stay close to Kurosaki. But is proximity just going to hurt them both with the truth still veiled?

Product Details
Paperback: 200 pages
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; Original edition (July 5, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1421537397
ISBN-13: 978-1421537399

Thanks to Authors on the Web, Hachette Book Group and Simon and Schuster Canada! 

What did you get in the mail this week?

Book Blogger Hop #2

This Meme is hosted by Jennifer from Crazy for Books on Fridays. 

RULES:


Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews.


1. Post about the Hop on your blog (feel free to grab the logo at the top of the post!)


Spread the word about the book party! The more the merrier!


In your blog post, answer the following question (new question each week!).

“How many books are currently in your To-Be-Read (TBR) Pile?”

Jennifer's Answer: I think my TBR is toppling over at about 1,000 right now. I have run out of bookcases so I have resorted to just piling them on the floor in my spare room. Yes, it is out of control. I guess my blog name is appropriate, yes?! LOL!

My answer: Wow I don't even know how much is in my TBR pile right now! All I know is it's never-ending! LOL! Probably about 200 to 300 right now.

2. Enter your book blog link in the Linky List below.

In your description, please state the main genre that you review – Example: Crazy-for-Books (contemp. adult fiction)

3. Visit other blogs in the Linky List!

Make new friends! Follow new book bloggers! Talk about books! Rave about authors! Take the time to make a quality visit! Check out other posts and content, make a new friend! Don’t randomly follow someone if you never intend on actually following them! No spamming please! (Please do not leave your link and not visit other blogs – it’s just not cool and not in the spirit of the Hop!)

“When did you realize reading was your passion and a truly important part of your life?”

My family has always promoted reading since childhood.  I have always loved reading since I was a very young.  My life isn't complete without reading at least 4 - 5 books a week.

18 and Over Book Blogger Tag Along Friday Hop #27

Laurie from Bitten by Paranormal has created a 18 and Over Book Blogger Tag Along Friday Hop where you can find adult bloggers. Thank you for this since I was looking for more adult blogs.

How it works:

*First make a post on your blog with this picture on top. That lets us know we are in the right place to make a comment so you can follow back. If you don’t do this I will have to take you off the tag along.

*Second place your name or blogs name in the first linky tool. I want to add here, put in (paranormal romance) beside your blogs name what you mainly review. Then add your URL to the tag along post in the second Linky tool.

*Third visit blogs listed if you like what you see hit the follow button. Remember to leave a comment, so they can tag along back.

If you have a question or problem you can email Laurie: bittenbyparanormalromance@gmail.com

Now, if your new don't be shy most of these ladies are here every week and they are very, very friendly (I know because I follow most of them;)

Follow My Blog Friday #53

This Meme is hosted by Rachel from Parajunkee's View on Fridays.

To join the fun and make now book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

1. Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host {Parajunkee.com} and any one else you want to follow on the list.

2. Follow our Featured Bloggers - http://imabookshark.blogspot.com

3. Put your Blog name and 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 your new to the Follow Friday Hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

The Friday Follow Feature is ...

Mickey @ I'm a Book Shark








 Welcome to the world of Book Sharks!

Mickey is the blogger behind I'm A Book Shark. She really wishes there was a better explanation for why she's a book shark. A new twitter name was needed, and it had to be about her favorite hobby: reading! For whatever reason, sharks also came to mind and a book shark was born.

Mickey has been reading for as long as she can remember. It's her favorite pastime, her go-to activity, her escape from any bad reality. Reading is so awesome that her last name is even Reed! (Spelled wrong for irony of course.) And her first name is actually Michelle, so her name is quite like Richelle Mead. It never gets old!

Her goal this year is 200 books, and she's already 59% there. That's mostly because she reads almost every genre in any age range. She enjoys a good romance, perhaps a comical mystery, or a YA novel with angels and vampires. And audio books are a staple in her life! Mickey has a job where she can listen to books at work, and that makes up a big amount of her reading.

Besides reading, Mickey is a natural reddish-headed mid-twenties entertainment-of-all-kinds lover, girlfriend of boyfriend, mother of reptiles (and a cat), and addict of dessert. Anything chocolate is a welcomed gift in her life. Oh yeah, and she likes to blog. :o)

Q. In light of the Summer Solstice. Also known as Midsummer...let's talk about fairies. What is your favorite fairy tale or story that revolves around the fae?

I'll do both. My favorite fairy tale is that of the Little Mermaid. The real one written by Hans Christian Anderson. Taught me not to trust men ;)

Favorite series about fae. I have a bunch. But the numero uno would be the series by Richelle Mead, called THE DARK SWAN series.  As far as young adult series, I will have to go with Julie Kagawa's IRON FAE series.

My answer: My favorite fae books are the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning and the Merry Gentry series by Laurell K. Hamilton.

Changeling Moon [Paperback]

I've finished "Changeling Moon" the 1st book in her Changeling series by Dani Harper.

Product Description

He roams the moonlit wilderness, his every sense and instinct on high alert. Changeling wolf Connor Macleod and his Pack have never feared anything -- until the night human Zoey Tyler barely escapes a rogue werewolf's vicious attack.

As the full moon approaches, Zoey has no idea of the changes that are coming, and only Connor can show her what she is, and help her master the wildness inside.  With her initiation into the Pack just days away and a terrifying predator on the loose, the tentative bonds of trust and tenderness are their only weapons against a force red in tooth, claw ... and ultimate evil.

Product Details
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Brava; 1 edition (June 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 075826514X
ISBN-13: 978-0758265142

My Review:

Zoey is psychic and she has been running from her past and finally settles in a small Northern Canadian town.  She accepts a job as an editor of The Dunvegan Herald Weekly.  She struggling to adapt to the freezing and icy weather and also the attack of rogue werewolf Bernie Gervais.

His attack is a part of a plot to destroy the local Changeling pack and to control Zoey's psychic powers.  Connor Macleod the town's veterinarian and pack member Connor Macleod rescues her, but must prevent her transformation at the next full moon or else Gervais' scheme will be accomplished.

I really enjoyed the courtship between Zoey and Connor.  It was so funny to read about Connor being so addicted to Zoe that he could hardly get physical with her due to lack of control over his wolf. He would make a move on her then have to literally run off. And then there was Zoe who was frustrated and not understanding what was wrong with him.

4/5

Thanks FSB Media for sending me this book to review, greatly appreciated!

Breaking Silence (Kate Burkholder) [Hardcover]

I've finished "Breaking Silence" the 3rd book in her Kate Burkholder series by Linda Castillo.

Product Description

The New York Times bestselling series hailed as “gripping” (People magazine) and “compelling” (USA Today) returns with Police Chief Kate Burkholder called to the scene of a horrific tragedy on a peaceful Amish farm.

The Slabaugh family are model Amish farmers, prosperous and hardworking, with four children and a happy extended family. When the parents and an uncle are found dead in their barn, it appears to be a gruesome accident: methane gas asphyxiation caused by a poorly ventilated cesspit. But in the course of a routine autopsy, the coroner discovers that one of the victims suffered a head wound before death — clearly, foul play was involved. But who would want to make orphans of the Slabaughs’ children? And is this murder somehow related to a recent string of shocking hate crimes against the Amish?

Having grown up Amish, Kate is determined to bring the killer to justice. Because the other series of attacks are designated hate crimes, the state sends in agent John Tomasetti, with whom Kate has a long and complex relationship. Together, they search for the link between the crimes — and uncover a dark secret at work beneath the placid surface of this idyllic Amish community.

Product Details
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books (June 21, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312374992
ISBN-13: 978-0312374990

My Review:

Storyline:  A 911 call was made to go to Slabaugh's farm house. The Slabaugh's are Amish. Kate responded right away and was first on scene. She saw two male victims face down in the manure pit with poor area ventilation and a third victim was an Amish female lying face up. Kate went down into the pit to try to save the mother of four children. It was too late. Mother, father and uncle all died from the pit's Methane gas by the time EMS and the fire department arrived. Kate thought this was an accident until Doc Coblentz, in his preliminary examination, found that the father, Solly Slabaugh, had blunt-force trauma to the head that caused his death.

There have been a rash of hate crimes against the Amish like killing an old lady's sheep, forcing the Amish buggies off the road, and just plain nasty intimidation vetted towards innocent people for no particular reason. The injured or violated don't want to press charges or even contact the police.  Minor crimes are one thing, but now things have taken a terrible turn. Agent John Tomasetti was requested to help with the investigation of the hate crimes. Kate and John believe the hate crimes and the murder of Solly Slabaugh are not related.

Characters:  Kate and John have both grown from the first book to now.  This case is really affecting Kate and she is still dealing with her demons and a past.  She was once a Amish too but was forced out after a tragic incident when she was 14.  She drinking heavily and smoking to deal with her pain.  John also has a painful past but he has dealed with it and meeting Kate has helped him out of that dark place.

Romance:  Kate and John have an on again and off again relationship.  They both have come from deeply damaged pasts and really understand what each other is going through.  I'm glad they both took their relationship to the next level.

Killer(s):  They were truly nasty characters with twisted reasons on why they were killing and the cruel things they were doing to other people.  Truly some sick and twisted people out there.

This series has a great blend of truly horrifying crimes, well written characters and the right amount of romance.

This book had lots of twists and turns it was shocking to find who the killer and motive of why Slabaugh were killed.  What a great ending and I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

5/5

Thanks Minotaur Books/St Martin's Press for sending me this book to review, greatly appreciated!

ARC Review; Virgin (Cat Star Chronicles) [Mass Market Paperback]

I've finished "Virgin" the 7th book in her Cat Star Chronicles by Cheryl Brooks.

Product Description

Zetithians have a feline gene that gives the males remarkable sexual prowess. Refugee Dax is no exception - but as a virgin, he has no idea how to use it. His fumbling attempts at romance fail to tempt the beautiful Ava, but he is determined to learn the art of love. Let the seduction begin ...

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; Original edition (June 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1402251653
ISBN-13: 978-1402251658

My Review:

We open the book with Captain Jack lecturing Dax for being the last remaining virgin Zetithian on the planet. I thought this was funny because Zetithians have a reputation for being great lovers. Dax has his eye set on Ava but it seems like she isn't interested in him at all.

Ava is fed up with Lars so she beans him one and decides to go back home to Acquerei and return to her old boyfriend.  Dax fears he doesn't stand a chance of winning her heart but his shipmates and butler/robot Kot play matchmaker.

I really enjoyed the funny and witty dialogue between the characters and it was a delight following Dax's clumsy attempt of a courting Ava.

I really enjoyed the secondary characters of Kot who was sly, scary and mischievous and Waroun who is a wisecracking flirt.  Threldigan and Quinn were also interesting characters.

4/5

Thanks Danielle from Sourcebooks for sending me this ARC to review, greatly appreciated!

Waiting on Wednesday Meme

Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Now You See Her [Hardcover]

Product Description

The perfect life

A successful lawyer and loving mother, Nina Bloom would do anything to protect the life she's built in New York -- including lying to everyone, even her daughter, about her past. But when an innocent man is framed for murder, she knows that she can't let him pay for the real killer's crimes.

The perfect lie

Nina's secret life began 18 years ago. She had looks to die for, a handsome police-officer husband, and a carefree life in Key West. When she learned she was pregnant with their first child, her happiness was almost overwhelming. But Nina's world is shattered when she unearths a terrible secret that causes her to run for her life and change her identity.

The perfect way to die

Now, years later, Nina risks everything she's earned to return to Florida and confront the murderous evil she fled. In a story of wrenching suspense, James Patterson gives us his most head-spinning, action-filled story yet -- a Hitchcock-like blend of unquenchable drama and pleasure.

Product Details
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (June 27, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316036218
ISBN-13: 978-0316036214

Heart of Evil (Krewe of Hunters) [Mass Market Paperback]

Product Description

Emerging from the bayou like an apparition, Donegal Plantation is known for its unsurpassed dining, captivating atmosphere, haunting legends … and now a corpse swinging from the marble angel that marks its cemetery's most majestic vault. A corpse discovered in nearly the same situation as that of Marshall Donegal, the patriarch killed in a skirmish just before the Civil War.

Desperate for help traditional criminologists could never provide, plantation heiress Ashley Donegal turns to an elite team of paranormal investigators who blend hard forensics with rare — often inexplicable — intuition. Among the "Krewe of Hunters" is an old ï ¬ ‚ ame, Jake Mallory, a gifted musician with talent stretching far beyond the realm of the physical, and a few dark ghosts of his own.

The evil the team unveils has the power to shake the plantation to its very core. Jake and Ashley are forced to risk everything to unravel secrets that will not stay buried — even in death .…

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Mira; Original edition (June 28, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0778329984
ISBN-13: 978-0778329985

The Rebel (Hqn) [Mass Market Paperback]

Product Description

Nate Walker has never shied away from the hard road. Even when it meant leaving behind his family's wealth … and the fiancée who only wanted a rich man. Nothing was going to stop him from opening his own five-star restaurant.And he was on his way — until his car broke down on a dark road in the Adirondacks, leading him right to White Caps Inn… and Frankie Moorehouse.

Suddenly Nate has a job he doesn't really need — and an affair that has to end when summer does. Except Frankie has a way about her. She gets under his skin. She even makes him want to do what he never thought he could: stay forever.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: HQN Books (June 28, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0373776306
ISBN-13: 978-0373776306

Deeper Than Midnight (The Midnight Breed, Book 9) [Mass Market Paperback]

Product Description

DELIVERED FROM THE DARKNESS, A WOMAN FINDS HERSELF PLUNGED INTO A PASSION THAT IS DEEPER THAN MIDNIGHT.
At eighteen, Corinne Bishop was a beautiful, spirited young woman living a life of privilege as the adopted daughter of a wealthy family. Her world changed in an instant when she was stolen away and held prisoner by the malevolent vampire Dragos. After many years of captivity and torment, Corinne is rescued by the Order, a cadre of vampire warriors embroiled in a war against Dragos and his followers. Her innocence taken, Corinne has lost a piece of her heart as well — the one thing that gave her hope during her imprisonment, and the only thing that matters to her now that she is free.

Assigned to safeguard Corinne on her trip home is a formidable golden-eyed Breed male called Hunter. Once Dragos’s most deadly assassin, Hunter now works for the Order, and he’s hell-bent on making Dragos pay for his manifold sins. Bonded to Corinne by their mutual desire, Hunter will have to decide how far he’ll go to end Dragos’s reign of evil — even if carrying out his mission means shattering Corinne’s tender heart.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Dell; Original edition (June 28, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0440246113
ISBN-13: 978-0440246114

Naamah's Blessing (Kushiel's Legacy) [Hardcover]


Product Description

Returning to Terre d'Ange, Moirin finds the royal family broken. Wracked by unrelenting grief at the loss of his wife, Queen Jehanne, King Daniel is unable to rule. Prince Thierry, leading an expedition to explore the deadly jungles of Terra Nova, is halfway across the world. And three year old Desirée is a vision of her mother: tempestuous, intelligent, and fiery, but desperately lonely, and a vulnerable pawn in a game of shifting political allegiances.

As tensions mount, King Daniel asks that Moirin become Desirée's oath-sworn protector. Navigating the intricate political landscape of the Court proves a difficult challenge, and when dire news arrives from overseas, the spirit of Queen Jehanne visits Moirin in a dream and bids her undertake an impossible quest.

Another specter from the past also haunts Moirin. Travelling with Thierry in the New World is Raphael de Mereliot, her manipulative former lover. Years ago, Raphael forced her to help him summon fallen angels in the hopes of acquiring mystical gifts and knowledge. It was a disastrous effort that nearly killed them, and Moirin must finally bear the costs of those bitter mistakes.

Product Details
Hardcover: 624 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (June 29, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446198072
ISBN-13: 978-0446198073

Manga:

The Betrayal Knows My Name, Vol. 1 [Paperback]

Product Description

As an infant, Yuki Sakurai was abandoned by his mother, left in the bushes near an orphanage. The mystery of his parentage deepens when Yuki discovers he has a strange ability: when he touches others, he can feel their emotions. Because of his upbringing, the teenage Yuki strives to be independent so that he won't be a burden on those around him, but this attitude coupled with his powers can sometimes feel isolating. Little does he know that he has never really been alone. Someone has been watching him from the shadows ever since he was left in the bushes all those years ago... But can Yuki trust the silver-eyed boy who claims to be his protector ... and to know the truth of Yuki's past?

Product Details
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Yen Press (June 28, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316119415
ISBN-13: 978-0316119412

A Drop of the Hard Stuff (Matthew Scudder) [Hardcover]

I've finished "A Drop of the Hard Stuff" the 17th book in his Matthew Scudder series by Lawrence Block.

Product Description

Matthew Scudder is facing his demons. Forced out of the NYPD, he's given up the drink. He's thinking seriously about his relationship with sometime girlfriend Jan. Then he runs into "High-Low" Jack Ellery, a childhood friend from the Bronx. They're two sides of the same coin: Scudder once solved crimes as a detective. Ellery committed them. In Scudder, Ellery sees the moral man he might have become. In Ellery, Scudder sees the hard - won sobriety he hopes to achieve.

Then Ellery is killed, shot once in the mouth and once between the eyes, presumably while attempting to atone for past sins. Is it what he saw or what he said that got him killed? Ellery had no family, no friends to press for justice. Scudder reluctantly begins his own investigation, with just one lead - Ellery's Alcoholics Annonymous list of people he wronged. One of them may be a murderer, but that's not necessarily Scudder's greatest danger. Immersing himself in Ellery's world may lead him right back to the bar stool.

Exploring themes of loss, nostalgia, and redemption, for Lawrence Block, A DROP OF THE HARD STUFF circles back to how it all began, reestablishing why the Matthew Scudder series is widely regarded as one of the pinnacles of American detective fiction.

Product Details
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Mulholland Books; 1 edition (May 12, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316127337
ISBN-13: 978-0316127332

My Review:

Storyline:  Matt Scudder is an alcoholic, member of AA and a former cop sitting in a saloon in Hell's Kitchen with his old pal, Mick Ballou. While nursing his club soda, Matt reminisces about events that occurred twenty-five years ago, when he was in his mid-forties -- just before his first anniversary as a non - drinker.

Scudder tells Mick a lengthy tale about a boyhood acquaintance from the Bronx, Jack Ellery. While Matt became a police officer while Jack turned to crime, mostly under the influence of alcohol. One day, the two bumped into one another at an AA meeting and chat about the old days.  Jack, who has been in prison for armed robbery, is working his way through AA's twelve step program. He is determined to find the people he has wronged and make amends. As it turns out, this isn't a great idea!

Characters:  All the characters were well written from Scudder himself, to his girlfriend Jan to his AA sponsor Jim to even the suspects, etc.

Romance:  The romance between Jan and Scudder was very sweet and slow moving.  I had a feeling it wouldn't last too long.  I preferred his relationship to the waitress because they had more in common and understand each other.

Killer:  The killer believed he was righting a wrong done against them and would kill anyone that got in their way (even innocent people).  Didn't have any remorse and was pretty brutal in their killings and was like a ghost that no one saw or heard anything.

The story was refreshing, well thought out plot with well written characters that were very interesting to read about.

4/5

Thanks Melanie from Hachette Book Group Canada for sending me this book to review, greatly appreciated!

New Releases 2011 (Jun 21)

Watch Me Die [Hardcover]

Product Description

In Spindler’s thrilling new psychological drama, one woman’s journey to recovery becomes her worst nightmare…
Before Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, stained-glass restoration artist Mira Gallier had it all: a thriving business doing work she loved and an idyllic marriage to the perfect man. But the devastating storm stole her beloved husband – his body swept away by floodwaters, never to be found.

Now, after years of pain and turmoil, it looks as if Mira is finally on the verge of peace and emotional stability. But her life, like the magnificent windows blown to bits by Hurricane Katrina, is about to be shattered once again. And this time, it’s not a killer storm she faces, but a psychopath who will stop at nothing until he possesses her, body and soul …

First, church windows that she restored are vandalized, and the priest who looked over them brutally murdered. Spray-painted across the glass are the words: He Will Come to Judge the Living and the Dead. Then, New Orleans is rocked by a terrifying chain of murders that all seem to be linked to Mira. The police, led by homicide detective Spencer Malone, are following a string of clues left by the killer on each victim – and beginning to wonder if the murderer isn’t Mira Gallier herself.

As Mira begins to unravel under pressure from all sides – and fear for her life – it’s unclear whom she can trust. And when a man from her past appears out of nowhere, sparking something long forgotten in her heart, he quickly becomes the police’s new prime suspect. One by one, the people in Mira's life are targeted, until it’s clear that the killer has been saving her for last . . . and that there’s nowhere left to run.

Smokin' Seventeen: A Stephanie Plum Novel [Hardcover]

Product Description

Where there’s smoke there’s fire, and no one knows this better than New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum.

Dead bodies are showing up in shallow graves on the empty construction lot of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds. No one is sure who the killer is, or why the victims have been offed, but what is clear is that Stephanie’s name is on the killer’s list.

Short on time to find evidence proving the killer’s identity, Stephanie faces further complications when her family and friends decide that it’s time for her to choose between her longtime off-again-on-again boyfriend, Trenton cop Joe Morelli, and the bad boy in her life, security expert Ranger. Stephanie’s mom is encouraging Stephanie to dump them both and choose a former high school football star who’s just returned to town. Stephanie’s sidekick, Lula, is encouraging Stephanie to have a red-hot boudoir “bake-off.” And Grandma Bella, Morelli’s old-world grandmother, is encouraging Stephanie to move to a new state when she puts “the eye” on Stephanie.

With a cold-blooded killer after her, a handful of hot men, and a capture list that includes a dancing bear and a senior citizen vampire, Stephanie’s life looks like it’s about to go up in smoke.

The hardcover edition of Smokin’ Seventeen contains two smokin’ hot stickers inside!

Product Details
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Bantam (June 21, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0345527682
ISBN-13: 978-0345527684

Breaking Silence (Kate Burkholder) [Hardcover]

Product Description

The New York Times bestselling series hailed as “gripping” (People magazine) and “compelling” (USA Today) returns with Police Chief Kate Burkholder called to the scene of a horrific tragedy on a peaceful Amish farm.

The Slabaugh family are model Amish farmers, prosperous and hardworking, with four children and a happy extended family. When the parents and an uncle are found dead in their barn, it appears to be a gruesome accident: methane gas asphyxiation caused by a poorly ventilated cesspit. But in the course of a routine autopsy, the coroner discovers that one of the victims suffered a head wound before death — clearly, foul play was involved. But who would want to make orphans of the Slabaughs’ children? And is this murder somehow related to a recent string of shocking hate crimes against the Amish?

Having grown up Amish, Kate is determined to bring the killer to justice. Because the other series of attacks are designated hate crimes, the state sends in agent John Tomasetti, with whom Kate has a long and complex relationship. Together, they search for the link between the crimes — and uncover a dark secret at work beneath the placid surface of this idyllic Amish community.

Product Details
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books (June 21, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312374992
ISBN-13: 978-0312374990

Shameless (House of Rohan) [Mass Market Paperback]

Product Description

A long string of tragic loves haunts Viscount Benedick Francis Alistair Rohan. Cool and cynical, he's weary of life's fickle games and wants a prim and proper wife he can ignore while indulging his sensual appetites.

Lady Melisande Carstairs is nothing less than a tornado storming into Benedick's measured life. Possessed of boundless energy and the soul of a reformer, Melisande always conquers, whether it's saving the souls of soiled doves or seducing the man she's inconveniently fallen for. When she informs Benedick that his brother's newly revived Heavenly Host has graduated from simple carnal debauchery to sadistic violence, he's compelled to investigate, undercover. Under those covers, however, is Melisande herself, playing a dangerous game in the name of justice.

And the Heavenly Host has just seen her hand, and more … 

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Mira; Original edition (June 21, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0778312976
ISBN-13: 978-0778312970