A Book Obsession..

Waiting on Wednesday (77)

, by KT

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights an upcoming release we are greatly anticipating.

My pick this week:

Hallowed - Unearthly #2

by Cynthia Hand

Publication Date: January 17th, 2012

Amazon Pre-Order: Hallowed

For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought. Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

Described by Richelle Mead as “utterly captivating,” Unearthly received outstanding reviews, garnered accolades from New York Times bestselling authors, and was named an Indie Next Pick. In this heart-wrenching sequel, Cynthia Hand expertly captures the all-consuming joy of first love—and the agony of loss. This beautifully woven tale will appeal to fans of Lauren Kate, Becca Fitzpatrick, and Aprilynne Pike.

Bout of Books: TBR Pile Picture Search

, by KT

Once Upon A Time has challenged us to show our TBR piles. Please be warned that mine is quite scary. To make matters worse there are 272 books waiting to be read on my kindle in addition to the physical copies below. Yep, that's right 272!!! I have a serious book buying problem. ;)

I've made promises to myself to read more of these and stop buying new ones. But I know that will never happen, as I cannot never seem to resist the new and shiny books. Another killer are those bargain books. They are so cheap, how can anyone resist?

Everdark

, by KT

Everdark by Elle Jasper

The Dark Ink Chronicles #2

When Savannah tattoo artists Riley Poe is ambushed by an undead enemy, she inherits some of the traits of her attackers-and a telepathic link with a rampaging vampire. Now, she's experiencing murder after murder through the victims' eyes. And her new powers will not be enough to stop the horror-or the unending slaughter...

Riley's entire life was turned upside down when her brother was almost changed into a vampire in the last book. In order to save him she almost lost her life and now has some vampiric tendencies that can be hard to control. She's different from any of the others who were taken as she was bitten by not just one, but two of them. She still has her Dupre lover, Eli, at her side, but when one of the brothers who bit her starts messing with her dreams and her mind things get a little strained. Meanwhile, a vampire is on the rampage in a nearby city and it's up to Riley and all of the Dupres to help stop him before it's too late.

Riley's entire life was turned upside down when her brother was almost changed into a vampire in the last book. In order to save him she almost lost her life and now has some vampiric tendencies that can be hard to control. She's different from any of the others who were taken as she was bitten by not just one, but two of them. She still has her Dupre lover, Eli, at her side, but when one of the brothers who bit her starts messing with her dreams and her mind things get a little strained. Meanwhile, a vampire is on the rampage in a nearby city and it's up to Riley and all of the Dupres to help stop him before it's too late.

In Afterlight, Eli and Riley were struggling to stay apart, yet wound up together. In Everdark they are so together that at times it got quite annoying when they couldn't seem to function apart yet each had their own major insecurities. I mean Riley obviously loves Eli and he can read her thoughts, so he knows all this. But, do you think she could say it out loud? No. I didn't quite understand that one. I mean I get that her life was rough and that she has commitment issues, but come on, the guy already knows. Why try to hide it? Then on the other side of the spectrum is Eli, who loves her so much he tries to smother her. He was so overbearing in his protection of her at time that it felt like a major lack of respect. Personally I think the two could be a great couple if they both work through some of their issues, but since they have some really hard heads, it will be one heck of a challenge. That being said, I kind of have a feeling that Victorian could potentially be a better choice in the long run as he seemed to be more willing to let her fight her own battles. Perhaps I am wrong and Victorian really is bad news, but I just think something has to give in Riley and Eli's relationship otherwise he will be looking like a mighty fine alternative.

There is no real clear plot or path in Everdark. It's a lot of Eli trying to overprotect Riley, then Riley making stupid decisions to prove her toughness. At one point I remember saying.. Enough already! I get it, He thinks she is a fragile thing to be protected and she wants to be seen without any weakness. Then you add in the issues of Victorian's pursuit of her (Which I have yet to decide whether or not he really is legit or has an ulterior motive) as well as the monster that seemed to have no purpose other than to torment and the book did drag for a while. I kept waiting for the big climax, but when the end came, I just felt like there should have been more. I'm really hoping the next book helps solidify things a whole lot more and has more of a clear direction then Everdark did, as I think there really is so much more potential than this one showed.

While Everdark didn't live up to its predecessor, Afterlight, I still enjoyed it. I'm hoping some of my issues with this one won't continue on into the next book as it did get a little frustrating at times. Don't get me wrong, the book was still a decent read, I just some issues with it as I previously mentioned. Despite all that, if you enjoyed the first book, I would recommend reading Everdark so you can see the characters progress. I have a feeling that they are all in store for a whopper in the next book and a world of change.

Rating:

Order from Amazon:
Everdark

Other Reviews:

Previous Books:

Afterlight

Challenge Categories:

It's Monday What Are You Reading? (77)

, by KT

It's Monday! What Are You Reading, hosted by Book Journey, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Here's what I read this past week:

Blood of Eden by Tami Dane (Review)
The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay (Review)
To Walk the Night by E.S. Moore (Review)

Fly by post this week :)

My Upcoming List:

Everdark by Elle Jasper
Night Myst by Yasmine Galenorn
Horizon by Sophie Littlefield (Early Review)

To Walk the Night

, by KT

To Walk the Night by E.S. Moore
Kat Redding #1

Even a vampire has to face her inner demons…

Kat Redding is the very thing she hunts: a vampire, thirsting for blood, capable of killing any creature unlucky enough to get in her path. The difference is, Kat kills her own kind in order to protect human Purebloods. She’s good at what she does. Good enough to earn the nickname Lady Death—and the enmity of every bloodthirsty being around. But now a vampire Count is intent on merging his House with a werewolf cult to create a force of terrifying power.

Kat can’t allow that to happen. Even if it means taking on a den of weres and a vampire more ruthless than any she’s encountered before. She has the weapons, the skill, and a few allies. But that may not be enough to eliminate the Count before her own dark nature rises to the surface—and costs her whatever is left of her humanity…

Most vampires live for the hunt and see humans as nothing more than prey, but not Kat. She loathes what she has become and protects the purebloods from the creatures that would harm them. She fights her very nature tooth and nail, and has become quite good at killing her own kind. She's known as Lady Death and is on every vamp's most wanted list. She's always worked alone, but that must change for she's about to go up against a Count who is determined to amass power by the most appalling means. She will quickly have to decide who to trust before her own nature gets in her way, and turns her into the very type of creature she hunts.

Kat is one tough as nails character, well mostly that is. Her past has turned her hard, but she can never quite escape it, especially since it turned her into the thing she hates the most, a vampire. To be honest, she reminds me a little of Blade in that she fights her nature and hunts those who prey on the weak. One thing I did find to be odd was the trouble she had in some of her fights as she is supposed the be the most feared woman of her kind, even earning herself the nickname "Lady Death." Perhaps it can just be chalked up to the author not wanting Kat to seem invincible, or overly skilled. That being said, the other characters were very easy to become attached to in To Walk the Night, which I did find to be a little ironic due to Kat's completely untrusting nature. Even though she pretty much despises everyone and anyone, including herself, I found myself wanting to side with some of the others.

I am quite intrigued with the world and rules behind the story in To Walk the Night. I've always loved books with an open world rather than a bunch of secrecy, as I think it is fascinating to see how plain old humans react to the supernatural. In this book, humans, or purebloods are really nothing more than slaves, as the "monsters" have taken over, with vampires being the very top of the hierarchy. Another really interesting and unique aspect to the world is how lethal vampire blood is to werewolves, and vice versa. It can get quite tricky as both species must be very careful to only feed from purebloods or risk contamination that will cause them to become no more than a slavering killing machine. Talk about watching what you eat!

To Walk the Night was a decent first installment for this new series. I found it to be very well written and easy to follow, not at all reading like a debut novel. While the middle did seem to drag just a little, To Walk the Night had a fair amount more action than many other series openers, which made it quite impressive in the end. Also, it is important to note that To Walk the Night is strictly urban fantasy without even a hint of romance. Even though I can't say that is my usual preference in a book, the amount of action well outweighed the downside of the lack in romance. So all in all, I was rather impressed with To Walk the Night, which definitely earns it a recommendation from me.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

Order a copy from Amazon:
To Walk the Night

Other Reviews:

The Better Part of Darkness

, by KT

The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay

Charlie Madigan #1

Atlanta: it's the promised city for the off-worlders, foreigners from the alternate dimensions of heaven-like Elysia and hell-like Charbydon. Some bring good works and miracles. And some bring unimaginable evil....

Charlie Madigan is a divorced mother of one, and a kick-ass cop trained to take down the toughest human and off-world criminals. She's recently returned from the dead after a brutal attack, an unexplained revival that has left her plagued by ruthless nightmares and random outbursts of strength that make doing her job for Atlanta P.D.'s Integration Task Force even harder. Since the Revelation, the criminal element in Underground Atlanta has grown, leaving Charlie and her partner Hank to keep the chaos to a dull roar. But now an insidious new danger is descending on her city with terrifying speed, threatening innocent lives: a deadly, off-world narcotic known as ash. Charlie is determined to uncover the source of ash before it targets another victim — but can she protect those she loves from a force more powerful than heaven and hell combined?

Charlie lives a very interesting life. She's a single mother to her daughter Emma, as well as a cop on the Integration Task Force. Her partner, Hank, is a siren who can compel anyone just with the sound of his voice. Together they hunt down the things that go bump in the night, all while tying to stay within the confines of the law. Of course that job hasn't been easy since Charlie died, and was brought back. Things aren't quite right with her, which becomes more apparent as she continues to have unexplained rages. Meanwhile a new drug called ash is out on the streets, and it's deadly. When things hit a little too close to home, Charlie throws everything she has into finding out who is responsible for the ash, but will that be enough?

The best thing about The Better Part of Darkness was the great cast of characters, especially Charlie. By her being a single mother to a preteen, it brought a completely different angle to the genre. Most Urban Fantasy books feature a heroine that doesn't have children, and if they do, then the child comes later. Charlie really had to work hard to balance being a mother with being on the front lines fighting paranormal crime. This struggle made everything so much more realistic, and I really enjoyed seeing the new angle. You can just feel how much at war she is with herself in trying to make the best choices, as every mother does at some point. I just thought it was nice to get to see this side of things for once.

I may be reading too much into things, but I felt there was a major connection between Charlie and Hank. Granted, it is nothing more than a potential right now, but I just couldn't help hoping for more than just a deep friendship between them. To be realistic, I understand that anything will be slow going considering the fact that they are partners, which could make things a little tricky in the work department. Also there is the issue with her ex-husband wanting her back, and her continued feelings for him despite his past actions. So, like I said, nothing will happen immediately, if at all, but I can't help crossing my fingers for the future.

The Better Part of Darkness was a really enjoyable read. The world, while complex, was very easy to get immersed in. Even the most minor characters are full of depth, making for a very enriching read. To be honest, it has a been a long while since I have read a book with such a short "learning curve" when it came to the world it exists in. I am very eager to get my hands on the next books. The ending left things on very shaky ground, with the promise of plenty of action to come. I recommend The Better Part of Darkness to anyone who enjoys a good Urban Fantasy with a dose of realism to make for a well rounded read.

Rating:

Buy now from Amazon:
The Better Part of Darkness (Charlie Madigan, Book 1)

Other Reviews:

Challenge Categories:

Waiting on Wednesday (76)

, by KT

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights an upcoming release we are greatly anticipating.

My pick this week:

Fracture

by Megan Miranda

Publication Date: January 17th, 2012

Amazon Pre-Order: Fracture

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine-despite the scans that showed significant brain damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it?

Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening?

For fans of best-sellers like Before I Fall and If I Stay, this is a fascinating and heart-rending story about love and friendship and the fine line between life and death.

Blood of Eden

, by KT

Blood of Eden by Tami Dane

Sloan Skye #1

This mind-blowing new series introduces Sloan Skye, and ambitious intern at the FBI's paranormal unit, where the usual rules of crime fighting don't apply...

Sloan has a sky-high IQ, a chaotic personal life, and a dream: to work for the FBI. Her goal is within reach until an error lands her with the FBI's ugly stepchild: the new Paranormal Behavioral Analysis Unit. She'll get to profile criminals, but the pool of suspects is a little more...diverse. Yet even as Sloan tackles her first case--a string of victims, all with puncture wounds to the neck--she can't silence her inner para-skeptic.

To catch the killer she'll have to think like one. That means casting aside her doubts, and dealing with the bizarre nightmares that started with the job. But the strangeness is only beginning, as Sloan pieces together the shocking truth about a case that's more personal than she ever would have guessed.

Sloan is incredibly smart, and her dreams of working for the FBI are finally about come true, only things don't go quite as she planned. She's tasked to work with a new paranormal unit whose job is to find criminals that aren't quite of the human variety. Of course she is more than a little skeptic, but the bills need paid, so she reluctantly accepts the position and starts on a case that involves victims with puncture wounds on their necks. Then some strange things start happening, and she can't quite ignore the signs that things that go bump in the night may just be real.

I'm really on the fence about how I feel about Blood of Eden. The concept was rather intriguing, but while reading it, I was very easily distracted by other things. There just wasn't anything going on that would grab a hold of me. In fact, there seemed to be a little too much going on at once, which made it difficult to follow at times. Off the top of my head I can think of at least 4 different sub-plots in addition to what I think was supposed to be the main one. To make matters worse, there were many moments of inconsistencies, as well some very unrealistic behaviors/events. To keep from spoiling things, I'll just list one early example. Sloan is supposed to be an Intern, fresh on the job with a new unit in the FBI, yet she is treated as anything but. The woman has had absolutely no training, but she is sent right out into the field, and put in VERY risky situations. It just struck me as quite unrealistic to say the least, and unfortunately that was only the first of these types of issues.

I really loved Sloan's character at first, but the further I got along in the book the more annoyed I became with her. I mean she came across as fun, a little nerdy and quite quirky, which are attributes that really endear me to characters. However, some of her behavior just did not make sense, especially when her supposed high intelligence is taken into account. She seemed completely oblivious to the things that were starting her right in the face, and more than a little reckless in ignoring dangers. Then you add in the cat and mouse game she was playing with one of the agents, which is supposed to be rather taboo. I would have respected her a little more if she had of either gone into things with him full forced, or completely backed off. Yet she did neither and continued on a path of wishy-washiness. It just seemed rather inconsistent with the strong character we met at the beginning of the book.

As I'm looking back over what I have written, I realize that it may look like I couldn't stand the book, but in the end it was entertaining as long as I was willing to suspend a little disbelief. Even so, I still think Blood of Eden could have been a whole lot better if things had of been condensed or more focused on only one or two things. That being said, I still think I will check into the next installment, because I feel there is a lot of room for potential here, especially as Sloan finds her way. (And of course, I want to see more of the yummy JT). So in the end, I'd recommend Blood of Eden to anyone who enjoys reading about a fresh-faced character that has just been thrown into the middle of the paranormal and getting to see whether they will sink or swim.

(Received a copy from the Publisher)

Rating:

Order a copy from Amazon:
Blood of Eden (Sloan Skye)

Other Reviews:

Challenge Categories:

2011 Review

, by KT

2011 was a very busy year here on the blog. It was my first full calendar year of blogging, and I sure have learned a lot. I look forward to another year of book bloggy fun coming up in 2012!

Check 2011 out:

Books Read: 301+ 3 books read twice (I wanted to beat last year's total of 300, and while it was tough, I still did it! I didn't start writing full reviews until July of last year, so it was a lot easier to fly through the books. Sometimes writing the review will take longer than it took to read the entire book, but I wouldn't change a thing.)
New Authors: I read books from 94 new to me authors this year! Holy cow!
Reviews Posted: 176 (Holy Cow! ^^ Remember how I said reviews can take me longer than the books themselves? It's a wonder that my brain isn't all mush after that many reviews!)
Challenges Completed: 7 (These are fun, yet stressful at the same time as they are very time consuming to keep up with as far as posting to their pages. I think I'm going to cut back to just the main one of outdoing myself for 2012, as the posting really became a chore, and blogging should be fun!)
Author Interviews/Guest Posts: 7
Giveaways Hosted: 12
I showed off my bookshelf (It has expanded even more than these pics, but that's for next year to show)
I switched to Intense Debate Commenting (Which I absolutely love! Also, it has helped me be a better blogger by making it much easier to reply to comments)
I learned to say Enough! It was really hard to do, but I made myself start to DNF books that were driving me nuts whereas I used to force myself to finish everything no matter how much I couldn't stand them.
On the same premise of Enough! I learned to accept that I am not superwoman, and sometimes I'm just not going to be able to review all the books that are sent to me. Before this decision, I would read and review every book that was sent to me out of a sense of obligation. There were books that I had not requested, and that just showed up that were really not my cup o tea. I've realized that I just can't do it all, and I need to spend my precious reading time on what interests me.
Also along those lines I have made a resolution for 2012 to make more time for the books that have been sitting on my TBR pile for a very long time. It is so easy to overlook them when I have shiny new review books coming in all the time, but there are so many older books that I have been dying to read, so I figured it's about time to give them a chance.

So, that's about everything I can think of. How was your 2011 bloggy year?

It's Monday What Are You Reading? (76)

, by KT

Sins of the Demon by Diana Rowland (Early Review)

Well, I had planned to take this past week completely off from reviewing books. (Not reading, just reviewing. I don't think I could last that long without reading unless I was really, really sick.) However, I realized that the release date for Sins of the Demon was fast approaching, so I figured I should get a review posted before then. I greatly enjoyed the book even though the cliffhanger ending may just drive me batty.

My Upcoming List:

Blood of Eden by Tami Dane
The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay
To Walk the Night by E.S. Moore