A Book Obsession..

Bargain Books & Kindle Deals (35)

, by KT

I've decided to make my Bargain Book and Kindle Deal finds a weekly feature here at A Book Obsession.. If you guys are anything like me, your book addiction can easily get out of hand, so any sales/deals are a huge help. If you like any of the deals below, I would appreciate if you use the affiliate links below. All earning support the giveaways here on the blog. :)

(Prices accurate as of 2/20)

Bargain New Paperbacks/Hardcovers:

Kindle Deals:

$0.99

$1.99

$2.24-$2.99 $3.49-$3.99 $4.00-$5.99

Waiting on Wednesday (135)

, 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:

Mating Instinct - Moon Shifter #3

by Katie Reus

Publication Date: March 5th, 2013

Pre-Order:

As the beast within struggles to break free, he must learn to be what she needs...

Surviving for centuries, powerful lupine shifter Jayce Kazan managed to stay away from humans until he met Kat Saburova and was consumed by the need to protect her. But while Jayce shared his passion with the human seer, he refused to make her his bondmate—a refusal that caused the end of their relationship.

A year later, an attack that left Kat near death has resulted in another lupine shifter turning her. Furious that he wasn’t the one to save her, Jayce is determined to show Kat that he is the one she should rely on. But the newly turned shifter is still traumatized and worried that she’ll hurt those she loves, unless she can learn to control her inner wolf.

And as Jayce struggles to protect Kat from her own worst instincts and convince her to rekindle their love, the extremists who almost killed her are looking to finish the job…

Early Review: Mountain Echoes by C.E. Murphy

, by KT

Mountain Echoes by C.E. Murphy

Walker Papers # 8

You can never go home again.

Joanne Walker has survived an encounter with the Master at great personal cost, but now her father is missing - stolen from the timeline. She must finally return to North Carolina to find him - and to meet Aidan, the son she left behind long ago.

That would be enough for any shaman to face, but Joanne's beloved Appalachians are being torn apart by an evil reaching forward from the distant past. Anything that gets in its way becomes tainted - or worse.

And Aidan has gotten in the way.

Only by calling on every aspect of her shamanic powers can Joanne pull the past apart and weave a better future. It will take everything she has - and more.

Unless she can turn back time...

A decade ago Joanne Walker left the reservation and never looked back. But now her father is missing and she'll have to go face her past, and the child she gave up. But facing her fears soon becomes the least of her problems as what she finds there, rocks her to the core. The mountains are crying as they are literally being torn apart by an unseen malicious force that consumes everything in its path, including her son. It will take every bit of knowledge she has gained and then some to survive what is coming.

What really makes this series for me is the characters. I absolutely love the entire cast, but my favorites have to be Joanne, Morrison, and Gary. The last book was incredibly thin on Morrison moments, but heavy on Gary (and of course Joanne as she's the narrator.) This time around, Morrison was front and center, and it was Gary that was left behind. I really loved seeing Joanne and Morrison together as it has been a VERY long time coming. There's just something about the two of them that really works, especially since he is able to just go with the flow of all of her magical craziness. Honestly, I was getting to the point where I felt like they would never get any time together. While things weren't exactly fun and games in this book, there were plenty of sweet moments that almost made up for the long wait. That being said, now that I've enjoyed the two of them together in MOUNTAIN ECHOES, I'm really anxious to get to the next book to have Gary back again. I really missed his excitement about all of the magical stuff. Seriously, he is the best side kick ever, so if you haven't read his story, NO DOMINION, you'll definitely want to check that out.

With each new installment the magical and fantasy aspects of this series gets ratcheted up another notch, to the point where it is almost overwhelming at times, but not quite. There's just something about the way the author paints such a vivid story that really draws me in. It honestly is impressive that she has been able to step her game up that much to make each new showdown that much harder. But even more important is that she has ramped up the character growth as well. Joanne may have been getting more and more powerful, but it wasn't an easy road, and she had to endure an incredible amount to get there. I just really appreciate that things haven't come too easy and honestly it's what make this series the best kind of books.

It's always bittersweet to read the last few books in a series as it is incredibly excitement to watch everything build to the boiling point, yet the entire time you know the journey will ending soon. In MOUNTAIN ECHOES, you could really tell that things are winding down to the final showdown. Based on the way things are headed, it promises to be an epic conclusion, but I'm still going to be very sad to say goodbye. So for that reason, I'll both be eagerly awaiting and dreading the release of the final installment. Every bit as good as its predecessors, MOUNTAIN ECHOES is a delight that will please fans of the series.

(Received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley)

Rating:

Pre-order:

Other Reviews:

Previous Books:

Book Birthdays: New Titles This Week (24)

, by KT

I keep a Google calendar of all the books releasing each week that are on my radar. With all of the many books I am excited about it is so easy to lose track of when things come out. Since I'm already doing this research for myself, I thought you guys might like it if I shared.

Releasing 2/18 - 2/24

Fuse by Julianna Baggot
Pure #2

When the world ended, those who dwelled within the Dome were safe. Inside their glass world the Pures live on unscarred, while those outside—the Wretches—struggle to survive amidst the smoke and ash.

Believing his mother was living among the Wretches, Partridge escaped from the Dome to find her. Determined to regain control over his son, Willux, the leader of the Pures, unleashes a violent new attack on the Wretches. It’s up to Pressia Belze, a young woman with her own mysterious past, to decode a set of cryptic clues from the past to set the Wretches free.

An epic quest that sweeps readers into a world of beautiful brutality, Fuse continues the story of two people fighting to save their futures—and change the fate of the world.

Amazon The Book Depository

Mind Games by Kiersten White
Mind Games #1

Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future.

Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways… or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.

In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.

Amazon The Book Depository

Shards and Ashes Anthology

Gripping original stories of dystopian worlds from nine New York Times bestselling authors, edited by Melissa Marr and Kelley Armstrong

The world is gone, destroyed by human, ecological, or supernatural causes. Survivors dodge chemical warfare and cruel gods; they travel the reaches of space and inhabit underground caverns. Their enemies are disease, corrupt corporations, and one another; their resources are few, and their courage is tested.

Powerful original dystopian tales from nine bestselling authors offer bleak insight, prophetic visions, and precious glimmers of light among the shards and ashes of a ruined world.
Stories from:
Kelley Armstrong, Rachel Caine, Kami Garcia, Nancy Holder, Melissa Marr, Beth Revis, Veronica Roth, Carrie Ryan, & Margaret Stohl

Amazon The Book Depository

It's Monday What Are You Reading (135)

, by KT

It's Monday! What Are You Reading, is 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.

Reviews for the past week:

How to Seduce an Angel in 10 Days by Saranna DeWylde (Early Review)
Black City by Christina Henry (Early Review)

Kirsten's Book of the Week:

King of the Dead by Joseph Nassise (Review)

Other Posts:

Book Birthdays featured 6 new releases on my radar

Fragments by Dan Wells was featured for Waiting on Wednesday

This week's Bargain Books & Kindle Deals

Upcoming List:

Mountain Echoes by C.E. Murphy (Early Review)
Requiem by Lauren Oliver (Early Review)

Kirsten Reviews: TBD

Early Review: Black City by Christina Henry

, by KT

Black City by Christina Henry

Black Wings #5

Former Agent of death Madeline Black may have been stripped of her wings—but she hasn’t lost her purpose…

When Maddy finally killed her father, Azazel, she thought his depraved experiment died with him. But now Chicago has been infested with vampires immune to the effects of the sun, and the bloodbath is worse than she could have ever imagined. While the Agency refuses to interfere with other supernatural courts, Maddy is determined to do everything within her power to save her city—wings or no wings.

But when the leader of the vampires requests that she turn herself in or risk more deaths, Maddy becomes a target for the very people she’s trying to save. Left with no other choice, she turns to Lucifer, the one creature who has the power to help her. But her grandfather’s aid has always come at a price…

Maddy has had some pretty hard knocks. From losing the love of her life, only to find out she's pregnant with his child, to losing her wings because she refused to compromise her beliefs, she's had a rough go. Yet, she hasn't let any of this stop her from doing what she feels is right, such as destroying her own father before he could release a day-walking vampire hoard upon humanity. She thought she had stop his vile plan, but when vampires start spilling into the streets of Chicago, she knows she was wrong. The death toll is staggering, and Maddy knows it's up to her to bring them down, even if means eliciting the help of her ever scheming grandfather, Lucifer. Nothing with him comes free, but it's a price she's willing to pay to save the people of her city.

I'm always amazed at Christina Henry's ability to step things up a major notch in the action department with each new installment. Just when I think the stakes couldn't get any higher, I am proved wrong yet again. Although to achieve this increase, Maddy's powers also seem to get a boost each time around as well, and I've read several reviews where the reader was rather frustrated with this issue. Normally this would bother me as well, since I'm not a big fan of limitless power, yet in this circumstance it somehow works. Perhaps it is because Lucifer has been telling her all along that she's only begun to tap into her power, so I have been expecting that increase. Another thing that helps balance it out for me is that she does has this amazing power, yet she goes through her "magical well" pretty quickly and must rest for a while to restore it. So while the power itself may be almost limitless, she only has so much of it to use at a time. Also, I think it helps that she is mostly making things up as she goes, and the outcome of her powers is usually a surprise to her as well.

I love just how attached to these characters I have become. In fact, I was completely caught off guard with the heartache in BLACK CITY. I just didn't think there was much of anything Christina Henry could throw at me that would hurt as much as the loss of Gabriel. Yet she did with the slow withdraw of Maddy's friends. I guess I should have seen this coming with Bezzle's hyper criticism of her actions, but I had just assumed they would stand by her decisions. There was only one character who held 100% steadfast, never wavering, and honestly, this character was the last one I would have expected to stick around. It just makes me really angry that the rest of them have become so righteous. Maddy has done the best that she can with the horrible situation and role she has been thrown into. I just don't think they have any right to judge her for doing what is necessary to protect herself and the ones that she cares about. Sure, she has gotten a little bit more proactive in that defense by seeking out some of the dangers before they become too great rather than waiting and giving her opponents the advantage. Honestly, I can't blame her for wanting to stop things before they cause her to lose someone. Considering most of her decisions were made to protect the very people who are accusing her of being "dark side" now, I find it a bit hypocritical. Even though it hurts her, I think in the long run it will be better for her as she needs people who support her no matter what. Here's to hoping that makes a turn around in the next installment.

Just like the rest of the series, BLACK CITY is a thrilling ride from start to finish and I highly recommend it. I personally cannot wait to get my hands on the next installment after that whopper of a cliffhanger ending. I'm not sure how Maddy will get out the mess she's in, but I do know it will be spectacular. Fans of the series will not be disappointed in this latest installment as BLACK CITY only built onto the already fabulous series. This is one Urban Fantasy you won't want to miss!

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

Pre-order:

Other Reviews:

Literal Addiction

Previous Books:

Let's Talk With Smash & Kt (16)

, by KT

Welcome to the Let’s Talk weekly discussion meme!

Originally hosted by Melissa from i swim for oceans, Smash & Kt took her original inspiration, and made it their own, expanding it to more than just books. Let’s get personal (but respectfully so) and learn more about one another! Each week, a different question will be posted along with a place to link up your posts and visit other people’s responses.This meme is definitely meant to bring out conversation and meet new people. So, Let's Talk!
We'd love to hear any ideas you have for questions. Submit them Here.

This week's question:

What are your thoughts on book merchandising/promotions? Do you think it’s an asset for authors? Does it interest you personally? What is the most creative way you’ve seen a book promoted in the stores, at a conference or on the web? (Thank you, Miki/Lecture toute une Aventure!)

Personally? I think while some of the promotions are neat, they don't really influence my book purchases. I make my new series/author buying decisions based off of the reviews/features from my favorite bloggers. Sure, I love to look at the different promotions/ads they come up with, and I especially enjoy the contests they host, but when it really comes down to it, I will always trust other bloggers over any hype/advertising.

That being said, I do think there is a need/importance for book merchandising/promotions/advertising as not everyone is so engrossed in the book blogging arena as I am. In fact, most people find their books through word of mouth and advertising or just simply browsing the store, which of course has advertising displays. That's why my job as a publicist involves much more than just promotion through blogging. While that is a great outlet, if we only focused on promoting via bloggers, we would be missing out on reaching a very large number of readers. So we are always looking for new, fun, and effective ways to get the word out about our books and reach our readers.

As far as the most creative, I was really impressed, at least at first with the faction quests Harper Teen had for the release of INSURGENT. It just was a really great idea in my opinion, although it did seem to fall apart there at the end, especially as some of the factions did not get the support they were supposed to and then the issue with the overtalked grand prize that wasn't as impressive as was told. I'm not trying to be critical as I realize it is a lot of work to try and bring something like that together. But since the original concept was great, I'd love to see some similar promotions that really bring the blogosphere together.

Kirsten Reviews: King of the Dead by Joseph Nassise

, by KT

King of the Dead by Joseph Nassise

Jeremiah Hunt #2

Joseph Nassise shook up the urban fantasy genre with Eyes to See, a novel New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Maberry called “heartbreaking, deeply insightful, powerful and genuinely thrilling.” In a devil’s deal, Jeremiah Hunt sacrificed his human sight in exchange for the power to see the hidden world of ghosts and all of the darker spirits that prowl the streets. Hunt uncovered a world of murder and magic that took his daughter from him and nearly cost him his life, but that was only the beginning....

Now Hunt is on the run from the FBI, who have pegged him as a mass-murdering dark sorcerer. His flight from the law is diverted to New Orleans when his companion, a potent witch, has a horrific vision of the city under magical siege. When they arrive, they realize that the situation is more dire than they could have imagined: the world of the living faces a terrifying attack by forces from beyond the grave. King of the Dead, the second book in this groundbreaking series, promises more of Nassise’s electrifying writing that will enthrall readers looking for a supercharged, supernatural thrill.

King of the Dead by Joseph Nassise returns readers to the urban fantasy world of Jeremiah Hunt, and as the second book in this series, readers are already familiar with the protagonist, Hunt, who gave up his eyesight in order to have a different kind of sight. He uses this vision to see the supernatural world in order to try and find his missing daughter. Now he’s on the run, since the FBI suspect him of being mass murdering dark sorcerer. Along with him are a witch, Denise, and Dmitri, who is a berserker as well as a shapeshifter. The three of them are making their way to New Orleans to find out if Denise’s vision of the city falling prey to sinister forces is true. Even though they’re on the run, the trio plan to use their combine talents to determine who or what is killing people.

As far as locations go, New Orleans, with its rich history of magic, voodoo, and haunted places is perfect for this type of story. Jeremiah, who lost everything important to him in the first book is the kind of hero that doesn’t do anything spectacular. That isn’t a criticism; instead of taking on all the bad guys, Jeremiah’s talent for seeing what others can’t doesn’t give him superhuman strength, or any other gifts, and so he has to be smart about what he does, and also rely on the strengths of Denis and Dmitri. Having a hero that isn’t all-powerful makes for a much more interesting read, and Jeremiah is definitely learning as he goes along.

The story shifts from Jeremiah’s point of view to other characters, such as Denise, and that of an FBI agent hunting the group. This may not bother some readers, but others might find it awkward, and so it bears noting. Another potential issue is the pacing of the book, which first fills readers in on what happened in the last volume, and then picks up the plot of this new story. However, once Denise, Jeremiah, and Dmitri wind up in New Orleans, both the action and story pick up speed.

The combination of action, an atypical hero, and supporting characters with their own abilities makes King of the Dead a strong continuation of a series that adds to the urban fantasy genre.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

Order Links:

Other Reviews:

Previous Books: