A Book Obsession..

It's Monday! What are you reading (43)

, 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:

Cinderella: Ninja Warrior (Twisted Tales)

Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer (Twisted Tales)

Once Bitten, Twice Shy (Jaz Parks, Book 1)

Cinderella Ninja Warrior by Maureen McGowan (Review)
Sleeping Beauty Vampire Slayer by Maureen McGowan (Review)
Giveaway of both books ^^
Once Bitten, Twice Shy by Jennifer Rardin (Review)
Another One Bites the Dust by Jennifer Rardin (Review)
Biting the Bullet by Jennifer Rardin (Review)
Bitten to Death by Jennifer Rardin (Review)
May R.A.K

I read two choose your own adventure books by Maureen McGowan. They are a retelling of two classic fairy tales with a twist. They are perfect for younger readers and a happy ending is guaranteed. I have a giveaway going on that ends Wednesday.

I also read the first four books in the Jaz Parks series. These books are really great. Full of danger, but Jaz also has a sarcastic wit that will be sure to keep you on your toes. There are so many laugh out loud moments as well making this a really fantastic series. I'll be posting the rest of my reviews of the series next week to wrap things up.

Finally I posted my May R.A.K. which you can find here. It's a great way to share books with others and help fellow readers finally get books on their wish lists. If you haven't heard of this make sure to check it out.

My Upcoming List:

One More Bite by Jennifer Rardin
Bite Marks by Jennifer Rardin
Bitten in Two by Jennifer Rardin
The Deadliest Bite by Jennifer Rardin

Bitten to Death

, by KT

Bitten to Death by Jennifer Rardin

Jaz Parks #4

Jaz Parks here. My latest mission has taken me to the ancient Greek city of Patras; but instead of soaking up its splendor, I'm here to infiltrate a Vampere Trust. Only two vamps have ever escaped the tightly bound communities and lived to tell the tale: Edward "The Raptor" Samos, the most reviled criminal mastermind in recent memory, and Vayl, the CIA's number one assassin who also happens to be my boss.

The Raptor is trying to take over Vayl's former Trust. Unfortunately the Trust's new leader has her own plans.

This job is going to be the death of me.

Jaz, Vayl and Dave are teamed up in this installment to enter into an agreement with a Vampere Trust in orfer to get a shot at their number one target, The Raptor. This particular Trust holds particular danger for Vayl as it was the very one he escaped from a very long time ago. Not only is animosity towards him high, but one member in particular has her sights set on Vayl. Jaz and Vayl have face a lot in the past, but the tangled web being weaved may just be enough to ensnare them for good.

This book gives us a further look into Vayl's past. While much of it still remains a mystery, and probably always will, I did enjoy learning more about him. He has made allusions to the fact that Jaz wouldn't have liked the man he used to be and he seems ashamed of his past. However, even though he may have done bad things in the past, that was then. That he had the strength to leave the situation he was in as well as able to survive to make a better man of himself is nothing short of admirable.

Poor Vayl and Jaz, they never seem to be able to catch a break when it comes to their budding relationship. Vayl thinks he is sure about Jaz, yet anytime something comes up with his sons, his thoughts about her seem to go out the window. Jaz on the other hand knows that she loves and needs Vayl, but just cannot bring herself to accept this fact. The fear of losing him is too high. So, when you add in those problems to the psychotic vampire who is trying to steal Vayl away and claim him for her own, you can't expect much progression to happen. It is a shame that everything seems to be against them, and I think I will do a happy dance when they finally get together. As frustrating as the slow progression has been, I prefer it this way as long as that means that they will have a strong foundation and not crumble at the first obstacle, so that in the end everything will have been worth the wait.

I enjoyed this book, but I did have one complaint. The situation with Cole is really starting to grate on my nerves. It is obvious that she will never choose him, and I think he knows that. In fact I bet the only reason he seems to be going after her so hard is the fact that he can't actually have Jaz. He just doesn't seem to be the type to settle down, which is what being with Jaz would lead to. Jaz has herself so worried about crushing him by telling him no, but I just don't think it will really effect him that much in the long run. He may think he loves her, but deep down I think she is just a "safe" outlet for him. So despite that one issue, I loved the book and cannot wait to read more. I'll have to say the thing I love most about this series is that while there is an overall story arc that leaves unfinished business from book to book, each individual book has its own issue that gets resolved. So, no nasty cliffhangers to drive you nuts, making this series a must read in the urban fantasy genre.

Rating:

Buy now at Amazon:
Bitten to Death (Jaz Parks, Book 4)

Challenge Categories:
Outdo Yourself
Horror and Urban Fantasy
Vampire

Biting the Bullet

, by KT

Biting the Bullet by Jennifer Rardin

Jaz Parks #3

This is a mission unlike anything my vampire boss, Vayl, and I have ever been on. It's not our usual take them out and run; it's an undercover mission that needs the whole gang: a psychic, an interpreter, and a weapons specialist. We're joining a Special Ops team to nail the Wizard, a major terrorist thorn in the military's side. We've never gone in with such heavy artillery before, but the more the merrier, right? Um . . . nope. At least not since Vayl and I learned part of our job is to ferret out a mole concealed in our unit.

To add to our problems, we're being harried by a pack of reavers bent on revenge, and targeted by a Seer who wants to share Vayl's power - at any cost. Oh yeah, and let's not forget the army of demonic, soul-sucking parasites either. This is going to be a blast.

Jaz and Vayl typical missions involving taking down a target as quickly as possible, and then getting the heck outta dodge. Their current mission is a little different as they are teaming up with another team to take down one heck of a whopper necromancer called the Wizard. He's been causing mayhem for year and no ones been able to stop him. Despite this, things would be pretty simple for Jaz and Vayl if they also didn't have to figure out the Mole in the other unit that has been feeding the Wizard info. When you take into account their other problems with the reavers that are bent on revenge and the fact that Vayl's attention is straying towards someone else, that means Jaz is in for one heck of a bumpy ride.

I enjoyed the change of setting for this book. It was set overseas, fitting more into my ideas of where covert operations would be. As in the previous book, they are still working in the team format. Only this time their team also includes Jaz's twin brother David's team as well. I was happy to see them working together, even though it was incredibly strained at times due to the situations from the past. However, things are looking positive for their relationship in the future. Perhaps if David decides to forgive Jaz, then she might be able to take the first step in forgiving herself.

There was some major backtracking in the relationship between Jaz and Vayl, and I couldn't help but be disappointed. However, I do think some good might come out of this distance between them as now that she feels she is losing him, she realizes just how much he actually means. Hopefully this will give her the kick in the butt she needs to finally open herself to him. I'm not really sure what is holding her back at this point other than the fear of losing him. Yet, even if she doesn't have a fully romantic relationship with him, she would still be utterly destroyed if anything happened to Vayl. So, logically she should just make the most of whatever time they are given, and at least take the chance at happiness.

I was really surprised at some of the twist and turns in this book as they really caught me off guard. It can be hard to write without being predictable, so when a book catches me off guard, it definitely impresses me. With each new book that I read in this series I am finding myself more and more eager to read the next, as I just cannot wait to see what happens. The characters are so full of depth that you cannot help but to feel the emotions right along with them, making this a truly fantastic series.

Rating:

Buy now at Amazon:
Biting the Bullet (Jaz Parks)

Challenge Categories:
Outdo Yourself
Horror and Urban Fantasy
Vampires

Another One Bites the Dust

, by KT

Another One Bites the Dust by Jennifer Rardin

Jaz Parks #2

I'm Jaz Parks. CIA assassin. Black belt. Belly dancer at the Corpus Christi Winter Festival. The last is cover for my latest mission: retrieve a vital piece of biotechnology by killing the maniac who stole it. He's Chien-Lung, an obsessive vamp who's invulnerable while wearing his armor - which is constantly.

Then there are the reavers, ancient fiends who murder innocents and eat their souls. Only I can sense them. So it's not long before they'll want me dead, dead, dead.

Jaz is used to playing undercover roles for her assassination missions, and typically doesn't mind. However, when she finds out her latest cover is a belly dancer, she is less than thrilled. Like it or not, she has no choice as their target is a crazy vamp that has stolen a very important piece of technology, a suit that makes the wearer all but invincible. Add into the mix some soul stealing reavers and dreams that can kill. Literally. The good thing is that Jaz can sense and destroy them. The bad thing is that means she will quickly become their top target. What's an assassin to do?

The great dynamic and sexual tension continues in this book between Vayl and Jaz. However Cole, who we met in the last book has "wormed" his way into things and is causing some pretty major friction. I understand that he has a crush on her, which is fine, but I think Jaz needs to stop encouraging him as it is obvious she just doesn't have the right chemistry with Cole. The biggest problem is that Jaz is slightly oblivious to Vayl's feelings for her. Well, I guess oblivious might be the wrong word, it's more like she is in denial of it. If she doesn't acknowledge the feelings then they aren't actually there. I'm wondering if it is actually him that she is afraid of, or if it is herself. Because of what happened to her fiance, Matt, I think she believes that if she allows herself to care for Vayl, then something terrible will happen to him. She really has a long road ahead of her to overcome her "demons." Luckily Vayl seems to be a very patient man, and will be able to give her the time and understanding she needs.

The overall feel of the book changed from the last one. While Jaz and Vayl had help from some others, they were still a partnership with the others being outsiders. However, in this book we find the one who helped before are now full members of the team. As much as I enjoyed Vayl and Jaz's partnership, I think the team dynamic added so much more to the series. By having the multiple characters and the friction between them, it allowed for both comic relief and for the focus to not be too far stuck on Jaz and Vayl's issues.

I enjoyed this book even more than the previous one. I'm really interested to see Jaz's powers continue to progress, as well as the repercussions of some of the actions of this book. I'm especially enjoying the combination of magic and technology as that makes the story more relatable to the world we live in now. I am very eager to dive into the next book. Definitely a highly recommended urban fantasy that you won't want to miss!

Rating:

Buy now at Amazon:
Another One Bites the Dust (Jaz Parks)

Challenge Categories:
Outdo Yourself
Horror and Urban Fantasy
Vampire

Waiting on Wednesday (42)

, 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:

Angel Burn - Angel Trilogy #1

by L.A. Weatherly

Publication Date: May 24th, 2011

Amazon Pre-Order: Angel Burn

Willow knows she’s different from other girls, and not just because she loves tinkering with cars. Willow has a gift. She can look into the future and know people’s dreams and hopes, their sorrows and regrets, just by touching them. She has no idea where this power comes from. But the assassin, Alex, does. Gorgeous, mysterious Alex knows more about Willow that Willow herself. He knows that her powers link to dark and dangerous forces, and that he’s one of the few humans left who can fight them. When Alex finds himself falling in love with his sworn enemy, he discovers that nothing is as it seems, least of all good and evil. In the first book in an action-packed romantic trilogy, L. A. Weatherly sends listeners on a thrill ride of a road trip – and depicts the human race at the brink of a future as catastrophic as it is deceptively beautiful.

May R.A.K.

, by KT

I'm a little late getting this post up. I'll be glad when these finals are over so I can get my mind back ;)

In April I gave away five books:

Some Girls Bite (Chicagoland Vampires, Book 1)

Friday Night Bites (Chicagoland Vampires, Book 2)

Twice Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires, Book 3)

Went to Ash at Smash Attack Reads.

Went to Kristen at Bookworming in the 21st Century

Went to JL at An Avid Reader's Musings

I Received:

From JL at An Avid Reader's Musings

From Michelle at Michelle's Book Blog

And now for May:

Here are the rules:

Rules:
• Sign up each month you'd like to participate in.

• Show off your participation! Grab one of the buttons available :)

• Create a wish list and post it in the Google Doc located in each R.A.K post for the month.
{Post on your blog, Amazon, where ever as long as there's a link to it.}

• If you choose to do a R.A.K for someone, check out their wish list and contact that blogger for their address.

• At the end of the month, SHOW US YOUR R.A.K!
Make a post saying 'Thank You' to whoever granted one of your wishes and share it with us :)

OPEN TO EVERYONE!
Let's keep our International bloggers in mind and in our hearts.
Remember, there's always the Book Depository and they offer FREE shipping!

Here is my wishlist, but I do need to make a small request that no Mass Markets are sent. I have really bad double vision at times and the MM's type is too small and the lines are too close for me to be able to read easily. I don't have that problem with trade size paperbacks or hardcovers.

Now I'm off to finds some wonderful bloggers to spoil ;)

Giveaway with Maureen McGowan

, by KT

Sleeping Beauty Vampire Slayer

In this thrilling story full of adventure and romance, Sleeping Beauty is more than just a lonely princess waiting for her prince—she's a brave, tenacious girl who never backs down from a challenge. With vampire-slaying talents that she practices in secret, Sleeping Beauty puts her courage to the test in the dark of night, fighting evil as she searches for a way to break the spell that has cut her off from her family. In a special twist, readers have the opportunity to make key decisions for Sleeping Beauty and decide where she goes next—but no matter the choice; the result is a story unlike any fairy tale you've ever read!

Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer is an entirely new type of fairy tale–one that will keep today's kids guessing and offer them hours of magical fun.

Cinderella Ninja Warrior

In this fast-paced story full of adventure and romance, Cinderella is more than just a servant girl waiting for her prince—she's a tough, fearless girl who is capable of taking charge of a dangerous situation. Seeking to escape the clutches of her evil stepmother, Cinderella perfects her ninja skills and magic talents in secret, waiting for the day when she can break free and live happily ever after. In a special twist, readers have the opportunity to make key decisions for Cinderella and decide where she goes next—but no matter the choice; the result is a story unlike any fairy tale you've ever read!

I'm giving away a copy of each of these books. They are ideal for younger readers. You can find my reviews here: Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. Good luck!

Rules:

1. US and Canada only
2. Giveaway ends 5/18 at Midnight
3. Leave a comment with a contact method to enter
4. Extra entry if you spread the word (Leave a link please)

Once Bitten, Twice Shy

, by KT

Once Bitten, Twice Shy by Jennifer Rardin

Jaz Parks #1

I’m Jaz Parks. My boss is Vayl, born in Romania in 1744. Died there too, at the hand of his vampire wife, Liliana. But that’s ancient history. For the moment Vayl works for the C.I.A. doing what he does best– assassination. And I help. You could say I’m an Assistant Assassin. But then I’d have to kick your ass.

Our current assignment seemed easy. Get close to a Miami plastic surgeon named Assan, a charmer with ties to terrorism that run deeper than a buried body. Find out what he’s meeting with that can help him and his comrades bring America to her knees. And then close his beady little eyes forever. Why is it that nothing’s ever as easy as it seems?

Meet Jaz Parks, a kick butt covert operations assassin that has been partnered with the agency's top assassin, who just happens to be a vampire. She's not sure why she's partnered with him as he really doesn't need the help, but like all good mysteries, there is a reason behind it all. Their latest assignment is a plastic surgeon, and it was supposed to be a simple job. Drag out all the intel they can from him, and then silence him forever. However, nothing is as it seems with this case, and they find themselves in the middle of a nefarious plot to destroy the world as they know it.

For a lot of this book, the reader is kept in the dark, both from the outside sources and from Jaz, the narrator, hiding thing as well. We know from the start that Jaz went through some kind of horrific trauma that has left her scarred, and that she is hiding things from her boss/partner. Yet we have no idea what those things are for most of the book. I'm used to books that keep both the narrator and the reader in the dark, but this one was a little excessive. This lack of information made me feel like I was a step behind and scrambling to keep up. I wish things on Jaz's end would have become a little more clear sooner, as that would have really let me relax a little and pay more attention to what was going on at the time rather then trying to figure out the past.

I absolutely love the dynamic between Jaz and Vayl. While they both seem to be trying to maintain a professional relationship between them, it quickly became clear there was so much more going on beneath the surface. Although I'm not entirely sure what exactly that is, I have a feeling in the future things just might start to heat up between them. However, one thing did bother me about the book. The introduction showed Jaz getting the assignment to be partnered with Vayl, and then it fast forwarded six months, skipping all the awkwardness of figuring out how they will fit together, and then the progression into how they are today. I just wish we could have gotten to see a little bit of that foundation to help solidify things. I'm hoping in the next book things will continue to progress as they just seem to mesh well, making for a really great potential.

All in all this was a pretty good book, that definitely held my interest despite some annoyances. I'm looking forward to reading the next book to see where things are heading; both in Jaz and Vayl's relationship as well as Jaz's developing powers. The ending events of this book are sure to have some fallout and repercussions that must be dealt with. I would recommend this book to fans of the Urban Fantasy genre, and perhaps the Paranormal Romance ones as well. Just keep in mind that there isn't any real romance in this book, just a huge potential for the future.

Rating:

Buy now at Amazon:
Once Bitten, Twice Shy (Jaz Parks)

Challenge Categories:
Outdo Yourself
Horror and Urban Fantasy
New Author
Vampire

Sleeping Beauty Vampire Slayer

, by KT

Sleeping Beauty Vampire Slayer

by Maureen McGowan

Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer is an entirely new type of fairy tale–one that will keep today's kids guessing and offer them hours of magical fun.

You can forget everything you think you know about Sleeping Beauty. Her name is Lucette and she isn't some fragile princess waiting for a prince to rescue her. No, she is a brave girl willing to do anything and everything she can to protect her family and kingdom. Of course her curse does get in the way of things as a single finger prick will threaten to keep her in solitude for the rest of her life, as well as leave her people extremely vulnerable at night. As big decisions come along it is up to the reader to decide what path to choose.

There was a love triangle between the three main characters, and at one point you even get to choose which boy to send away. I really liked this option, however it became a little disappointing in the end as regardless of your initial choice she still ended up with same guy in the end. I just wish that the choice made by the reader would have stuck throughout and been a different ending, yet still a happy one. I do understand why the circumstances would not allow for this choice, I just felt a little cheated when I realized the guy I chose wasn't going to win out anyway.

Lucette's parents have a complete inability to act sensibly, but I don't think this will be a problem as it will help them become even more sympathetic to her plight. I was just a little frustrated with them as I just wanted to knock them upside the head at times. Both of them seemed to think their own method of protecting Lucette was the right way to do things. They never once took a step back to realize that in the end all they were doing was putting her between them, causing Lucette to feel as if everything was her fault. Not an easy way for a girl to grow up.

This story is geared more towards a younger audience rather then older teens. I remember reading a lot of these choose your adventure books way back when I was a teen. However, none of them were quite like this one since most choices in those books didn't leave a very happy outcome. In this book, however, there is no need to worry. No matter what path you choose, you can be sure that you will have a happy outcome in the end. I would recommend this to any of the tweens in your life that like a story with a good amount of danger, a little romance and a sweet fairy tale ending.

(Received from Netgalley)

Rating:

Buy now at Amazon:
Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer (Twisted Tales)

Challenge Categories:
Outdo Yourself
YA
New Author
Vampire

Cinderella Ninja Warrior

, by KT

Cinderella Ninja Warrior by Maureen McGowan

Twisted Tales #1

I've always wondered why Cinderella never ran away from home as her life couldn't have really gotten any worse if she did. Well, this book finally answered that question for me. She never escaped because her stepmother was a very powerful wizard who used black magic to entrap her. Cinderella also isn't as meek and mild as she has seemed in the past fairy tales. She is actually very strong willed and tries to make the best of an impossible situation. Her determination and strength are nothing short of admirable as most would have crumbled under the horrific treatment she was subjected to. I also really liked how she didn't swoon over the idea of a prince, but fell for a messenger instead. Even when he kept pushing the idea of winning the prince over, she would just smile and tell him he was all she wanted, making her even more worthy of her happy ending.

This book follows a set of twists and turns that will allow you to chose Cinderella's path. However, there is no wrong choice as you are guaranteed a very happy ending. While this book is more geared towards a younger audience, it was still pretty entertaining to me. There is enough action to more than keep the reader's interest as well as just the right amount of romance to ensnare the reader into hoping Cinderella survives her plight and gets the guy in the end. Tweens and younger teens should enjoy this book and the message of inner strength and beauty is sure to please the adults in their family.

(Received from Netgalley)

Rating: