Monday, May 31, 2010

Deeper Than the Dead (Hardcover)


I've finished reading "Deeper Than the Dead" by Tami Hoag.

Product Description

The #1 New York Times bestselling author joins the Dutton list with the thriller her millions of fans have been awaiting for two years.

Tami Hoag is in a class by herself, beloved by readers and critic s alike, with more than 22 million copies of her books in print. With Hoag's first novel for Dutton, she proves anew why the Chicago Tribune called her "one of the most intense suspense writers around."

California, 1984. Three children, running in the woods behind their school, stumble upon a partially buried female body, eyes and mouth glued shut. Close behind the children is their teacher, Anne Navarre, shocked by this discovery and heartbroken as she witnesses the end of their innocence. What she doesn't yet realize is that this will mark the end of innocence for an entire community, as the ties that bind families and friends are tested by secrets uncovered in the wake of a serial killer's escalating activity.

Detective Tony Mendez, fresh from a law enforcement course at FBI headquarters, is charged with interpreting those now revealed secrets. He's using a new technique-profiling-to develop a theory of the case, a strategy that pushes him ever deeper into the lives of the three children, and closer to the young teacher whose interest in recent events becomes as intense as his own.

As new victims are found and the media scrutiny of the investigation bears down on them, both Mendez and Navarre are unsure if those who suffer most are the victims themselves-or the family and friends of the killer, blissfully unaware that someone very close to them is a brutal, calculating psychopath.

My Review:

Storyline: 

Characters:

Romance:

Killer(s):

3/5

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (May 31)


What Are You Reading is a weekly Monday Meme that is hosted by Sheila from One Persons Journey here:

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. 6 Killer Bodies - Stephanie Bond
2. Finding the Lost - Shannon K. Butcher
3. Deeper than the Dead - Tami Hoag

I’m currently reading:

1. All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire - Kerrelyn Sparks

Books I’m planning on reading this week:

1. Reece's Bride - Kat Martin
2. Rule's Bride - Kat Martin

Here's the link:

http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/2010/05/31/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-38/

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Library Haul (May 30 - Jun 5)

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

Hardcover:

1.  The First Rule - Robert Crais

Softcover:

1.  Nowhere to Run - Suzanne Brockmann
2.  Back in Black - Lori Foster
3.  Angel Peak - Robyn Carr
4.  Abandon the Night - Joss Ware
5.  The Perfect Liar - Brenda Novak

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Four More Awards

Big Thank You to Cecile over at AllIwantandmore for passing these awards on to me!



I pass this one to all my blogger friends and followers!



What to do:

- List 10 things that make you happy.
- Try and do at least one of them today.
- Tag 10 bloggers that brighten your day.
- Link back to the person that tagged you.

1.  My family
2.  A nice cup of tea in the morning.
3.  When I receive mail/packages, etc.
4.  Chatting to blogger friends/updating blog
5.  Playing video and PC games.
6.  Reading manga and watching animes.
7. 
8.
9.  A nice hot shower at night.
10.  A good night sleep

Big Thank You to Cecile over at AllIwantandmore for passing this award on to me!



This award is to be given to those blogs who have headers that you love.





These bloggers leave awesome comments – they make you laugh, think, and offer encouragement and support. In other words, they’re freaking awesome.

I would all my blogger friends and followers to please take these awards!

Friday, May 28, 2010

In the Mail (May 28)


I received this in the mail today for review (sent by Simon and Schuster Canada), thanks Maylene!

Vampire Knight, Vol. 10 (Paperback)

Product Description

R to L (Japanese Style)

Cross over to the night and meet your knights in shining darkness.

Cross Adademy is attended by two groups of students: the Day Class and the Night Class. At twilight, when the students of the Day Class return to their dorm, they cross paths with the Night Class on their way to school. Yuki Cross and Zero Kiryu are the Guardians of the school, protecting the Day Class from the Academy's dark secret: the Night Class is full of vampires!

Rido is gone, but the battle rages on at Cross Academy. The Night Class is still under attack, and Headmaster Cross has joined the war to protect his students. Zero, however, has vowed to get rid of all the Purebloods--including Yuki!

Finding the Lost: The Sentinel Wars


I've finished reading "Find the Lost" the 2nd book in her Sentinel Wars series by Shannon K. Butcher.

Product Description

Sentinel warrior Paul has been searching for centuries for a woman like Andra. To find her, he strikes a bargain with a bloodhunter that could cost him his life. Now, his desire for Andra threatens to destroy his much-needed control. Against her wishes, Andra agrees to join Paul on a journey fraught with danger- and leading directly to the Synestryn who victimized her family eight years ago.

My Review:
 
5/5

Book Blog Hop #6


This Meme is hosted by Jennifer from Crazy For Books on every Friday. This is a great way to connect with other bloggers and readers to make new friends.


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

This is my sixth time joining this blog hop and I hope to find some great bloggers! I didn't participate for a couple of weeks because I was quite busy!

I will post blogs that I have visited later on tonight or tomorrow, so please check back, thanks!

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Manga Review: Otomen, Vol. 6


I've finished reading Otomen Vol. 6 by Aya Kanno.

Product Description

R to L (Japanese Style)

Having Girly Hobbies Doesn't Make You Less Manly! Asuka's protégé Yamato has fallen in love with a girl and needs help winning her over. He pleads with Asuka to go on a practice date with him -- and play the role of the girl! Practice makes perfect, but will that be the case for Yamato?

About the Author

Aya Kanno was born in Tokyo, Japan. She is the creator of Soul Rescue, which has been published in the United States, and herlatest work, Otomen, is currently being serialized in Japan's BetsuHana magazine. Blank Slate was originally published in BetsuHana magazine.
 
My Review:
 
I really enjoy this series because it's funny and who can't resist checking out what Asuka will be cooking or sewing next!

Asuka likes girly things like reading shojo manga, making stuff animals, cooking, sewing, etc. but his mom told him a real man doesn't like stuff like that.  So in public he takes a masculine role like joining the judo, karate and kendo teams.

Asuka's protege Yamato asks Asuka to pretend to be the girl on a practice date but it doesn't go as well as he hopes.

The last section Asuka meets the lead singer of a rock band which he happens to look like.  They both like the same things and band (Fra Fra) and they become friends.  He gives Asuka backstage passes to their next concert and then passes out because he is only pretending to sing and say stuff that he doesn't mean.  Asuka dresses up as the singer and pretends to be him on stage but fans are getting suspicious because he wasn't singing a song they usually sing.  Then a guy from a rival bands says he's not who he says he is and two fans start towards the stage and this mysterious guy hits them on the head.  End of manga!

I can't wait to read the next issue!

We see alot of Kitori (Flower Guy) and  this other guy (Makeup Guy).

5/5

Thanks Maylene from Simon and Schuster Canada for sending me this manga for review, greatly appreciated!

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

In the Mail (May 26)

I received these in the mail today for review (sent by Penquin Canada), thanks Bronwyn!



Bullet (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter)

Product Description

The music came back up and the next group of little girls, slightly older, came out. There was a lot of that in the next hour and change. I liked dance, and it was no reflection on the kids, but my will to live began to seep away on about the fifth group of sequined children...

Anita Blake is back in St. Louis and trying to live a normal life-as normal as possible for someone who is a legal vampire executioner and a U. S. Marshal. There are lovers, friends and their children, school programs to attend. In the midst of all the ordinary happiness a vampire from Anita's past reaches out. She was supposed to be dead, killed in an explosion, but the Mother of All Darkness is the first vampire, their dark creator. It's hard to kill a god. This dark goddess has reached out to her here-in St. Louis, home of everyone Anita loves most. The Mother of All Darkness has decided she has to act now or never, to control Anita, and all the vampires in America.

The Mother of All Darkness believes that the triumvirate created by master vampire Jean-Claude with Anita and the werewolf Richard Zeeman has enough power for her to regain a body and to immigrate to the New World. But the body she wants to possess is already taken. Anita is about to learn a whole new meaning to sharing her body, one that has nothing to do with the bedroom. And if the Mother of All Darkness can't succeed in taking over Anita's body for herself, she means to see that no one else has the use of it, ever again. Even Belle Morte, not always a friend to Anita, has sent word: "Run if you can..."



Product Description

How far would you go to save the ones you love? Would you run five traffic lights in a row? Would you rob a store at gunpoint? Would you commit murder?Security guard Sam White’s life falls apart when he arrives home to find his house a burned-out shell with the bodies of his wife and daughter inside. Then he receives a phone call from a man who claims that his wife and child are alive and Sam can still save them. But first, he must complete a few simple tasks. Sam joins forces with Zack Parker whose life has also been ripped apart by the same sadistic kidnapper. Together they plunge into the dark, labyrinthine underworld of Portland, Oregon, and into a race against time to discover the identity of the kidnapper and save their families before it’s too late.

I also received this today for review (sent by Simon and Schuster Canada), thanks Maylene!



Masked by Moonlight
 
Product Description

IN THIS STUNNING FIRST BOOK FROM NANCY GIDEON’S SIZZLING NEW SERIES, A TENACIOUS COP AND HER SHAPE-SHIFTING ENEMY SACRIFICE EVERYTHING FOR FORBIDDEN DESIRE.
ALL SHE WANTS IS REVENGE

New Orleans homicide detective Charlotte Caissie is dedicated to bringing down the crime boss responsible for her father’s murder. Using Jimmy Legere’s mysterious and irresistible right-hand man is a dangerous gamble, and not only due to his reputation as more monster than man. Because her feelings for Max Savoie are . . . complicated.

THEN HE RISKS HIS LIFE TO SAVE HERS

Rescued from the swamps as a child, Max exists silently in Legere’s shadow, heeding only his voice—until Charlotte Caissie awakens his emotions and tests his loyalties. Stepping outside his cautious rules threatens more than just his heart. He could expose his darkest secret.

NOW THEY’RE BOTH IN OVER THEIR HEADS

Testing boundaries they weren’t meant to cross means facing the truth about who and what they are—and what they need from each other. If Max is the murderer she seeks, Charlotte could be his next victim. She can’t afford to trust any man. Good thing Max isn’t one.

Waiting on Wednesday Meme (May 26)


"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 are:


Bullet (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter)
 
Product Description

The music came back up and the next group of little girls, slightly older, came out. There was a lot of that in the next hour and change. I liked dance, and it was no reflection on the kids, but my will to live began to seep away on about the fifth group of sequined children...

Anita Blake is back in St. Louis and trying to live a normal life-as normal as possible for someone who is a legal vampire executioner and a U. S. Marshal. There are lovers, friends and their children, school programs to attend. In the midst of all the ordinary happiness a vampire from Anita's past reaches out. She was supposed to be dead, killed in an explosion, but the Mother of All Darkness is the first vampire, their dark creator. It's hard to kill a god. This dark goddess has reached out to her here-in St. Louis, home of everyone Anita loves most. The Mother of All Darkness has decided she has to act now or never, to control Anita, and all the vampires in America.

The Mother of All Darkness believes that the triumvirate created by master vampire Jean-Claude with Anita and the werewolf Richard Zeeman has enough power for her to regain a body and to immigrate to the New World. But the body she wants to possess is already taken. Anita is about to learn a whole new meaning to sharing her body, one that has nothing to do with the bedroom. And if the Mother of All Darkness can't succeed in taking over Anita's body for herself, she means to see that no one else has the use of it, ever again. Even Belle Morte, not always a friend to Anita, has sent word: "Run if you can..."

Product Details
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Berkley Hardcover (June 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0425234339
ISBN-13: 978-0425234334


Vampire Knight, Vol. 10

Product Description

R to L (Japanese Style)

Cross over to the night and meet your knights in shining darkness.

Cross Adademy is attended by two groups of students: the Day Class and the Night Class. At twilight, when the students of the Day Class return to their dorm, they cross paths with the Night Class on their way to school. Yuki Cross and Zero Kiryu are the Guardians of the school, protecting the Day Class from the Academy's dark secret: the Night Class is full of vampires!

Rido is gone, but the battle rages on at Cross Academy. The Night Class is still under attack, and Headmaster Cross has joined the war to protect his students. Zero, however, has vowed to get rid of all the Purebloods--including Yuki!

Product Details

Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; Original edition (June 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1421535696
ISBN-13: 978-1421535692


Library Wars: Love and War, Vol. 1

Product Description

R to L (Japanese Style)

Fight for your right to read!

In the near future, the federal government creates a committee to rid society of books it deems unsuitable. The libraries vow to protect their collections, and with the help of local governments, form a military group to defend themselves---the Library Forces! Iku Kasahara has dreamed of joining the Library Defense Force ever since one of its soldiers stepped in to protect her favorite book from being confiscated in a bookstore when she was younger. But now that she's finally a recruit, she's finding her dream job to be a bit of a nightmare. Especially since her hard-hearted drill instructor seems to have it out for her!

Product Details

Paperback: 200 pages
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; Original edition (June 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1421534886
ISBN-13: 978-1421534886


Toriko, Vol. 1
Product Description

R to L (Japanese Style)

In a savage world ruled by the pursuit of the most delicious foods, it's either eat or be eaten!

While searching for the tastiest foods imaginable, Gourmet Hunter Toriko and his bottomless stomach travel around the world facing every beast in his way. In a savage world ruled by the pursuit of the most delicious foods, it's either eat or be eaten! While searching for the tastiest foods imaginable, Gourmet Hunter Toriko travels the world with his bottomless stomach, facing every beast in his way.

Gourmet Hunter Toriko! This is the great era of gourmet food! And only Toriko can hunt down the ferocious ingredients that supply the world's best restaurants. As a gourmet hunter, Toriko tracks and defeats the tastiest and most dangerous animals with his bare hands. But has he met his match with an eight-legged alligator the size of a tank?

Product Details

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; Original edition (June 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1421535092
ISBN-13: 978-1421535098

6 Killer Bodies (Body Movers, Book 6)


I've finished reading "6 Killer Bodies" the 6th book in her Bodymovers series by Stephanie Bond.

Product Description

Carlotta Wren's world is crumbling beneath her well-shod feet. One of her closest friends has been arrested as the Charmed Killer, but Carlotta refuses to believe it. And to prove her friend's innocence, Carlotta goes against her boyfriend Peter's wishes and resumes her after-hours body-moving duties.

And then…

Peter pressures her for an answer to his proposal…

Her troubled brother Wesley goes missing…

And the madman stalking the city strikes again, this time a little too close to home.

But when Carlotta finds herself in the clutches of the Charmed Killer, is she destined for her own body bag?

My Review:

If you enjoy the Stephanie Plum series you will also enjoy this one too!

Carlotta reminds me so much of Stephanie Plum because they both find themselves in situations and need someone to help them get out of them, have hot men after them, etc.

4/5

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

In the Mail (May 25)

I received this in the mail today for review (sent by Phenix and Phenix Literary Publicists) thanks Shelby.

Book Description:

Single mother Danielle Parkman is stretched thin and she knows it  A successful attorney, Danielle works grueling hours for her clients and still miraculously finds time to devote to her teenage son Max, who has Asperger’s syndrome, a high-functioning form of autism. But lately her son’s violent outbursts have tested the limits of her parenting abilities, forcing her to seek outside help. Desperate for guidance, Danielle brings Max to a psychiatric hospital for a full-assessment in > hopes of finding a solution that will put an end to his volatile behavior.

However, Max’s treatment is thrown off-course when Danielle finds him unconscious and covered in blood with a murdered patient by his side.   Max quickly becomes the prime suspect and Danielle must find the  killer to absolve her son. But the search brings unexpected pressures, and as Danielle begins to examine her choices as a mother, she soon realizes Max’s problems may be greater than anyone could have imagined.

New Releases (May 25)


Infinity: Chronicles of Nick


Product Description

At fourteen, Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything about the world around him. Streetwise, tough and savvy, his quick sarcasm is the stuff of legends. . .until the night when his best friends try to kill him. Saved by a mysterious warrior who has more fighting skills than Chuck Norris, Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters: immortal vampire slayers who risk everything to save humanity.

Nick quickly learns that the human world is only a veil for a much larger and more dangerous one: a world where the captain of the football team is a werewolf and the girl he has a crush on goes out at night to stake the undead.

But before he can even learn the rules of this new world, his fellow students are turning into flesh eating zombies. And he’s next on the menu.

As if starting high school isn't hard enough. . .now Nick has to hide his new friends from his mom, his chainsaw from the principal, and keep the zombies and the demon Simi from eating his brains, all without getting grounded or suspended. How in the world is he supposed to do that?


Silent Scream

Product Description


When a teenage girl dies in a suspicious fire, Detective Olivia Sutherland is assigned to track down the arsonist. Then she discovers something more sinister: a vicious blackmailer who preys on young people and murders without hesitation. Making her work even harder is sexy firefighter David Hunter. He's not only sharing the case but sparking memories of their long-ago night of passion, when feelings were left unspoken and hearts were broken.

David has his own ghosts, and a million regrets. But while he and Olivia try to face the wall of pain between them, a diabolical puppet master is pulling strings to make a group of twentysomethings do his bidding. Soon Olivia and David are scouring the city for a calculating criminal who seems tantalizingly close--and is moving in for the kill.


Fade To Midnight (Mccloud Brothers)


Product Description

Beaten and tortured almost to death, Kev Larsen was found eighteen years earlier in a warehouse alley. He survived his brutal ordeal, but his memories before that night were completely erased, until brain surgery triggers fragmented, terrifying flashbacks. Now Kev is determined to unlock the secrets to his past. Edie Parrish has always been good at not letting anyone get too close to her. If someone were to learn of her unusual gift, her life would be immediately jeopardized. But when Kev Larsen discovers who she really is, Edie has to trust him. And soon, Edie can't resist her desire - even though she knows she'll have to pay a price for it. Now Kev and Edie must race against time and place their faith in each other to stop a deadly legacy.



Undone: A Novel (Mass Market Paperback)

Product Description


In this suspense masterpiece, Karin Slaughter weaves together the powerful human stories of three unforgettable characters from her New York Times bestselling novels Faithless and Fractured, who collide here for the first time in an electrifying race against unspeakable human evil.

When a tortured young woman enters the trauma center of an Atlanta hospital, Dr. Sara Linton is thrust into a desperate police investigation with Special Agent Will Trent and his partner, Faith Mitchell. Though guarding their own wounds and their own secrets, Sara, Will, and Faith find that they are all that stand between a madman and his next victim.


Moon Sworn (Riley Jenson, Guardian, Book 9)

Product Description


Some nights never end.


Some desires never die. . . .

Shape-shifting werewolf and vampire Riley Jenson is through with death—causing it, solving it, surviving it. Her soul mate, Kye Murphy, is dead—and at Riley’s own hands. Not even the seductive embrace of her vampire lover, Quinn, can fully ease her mind, for she has begun questioning everything that makes her Riley—including her job at the Directorate.

Now, the ritualistically slain bodies of ex-cons have started turning up. Reluctantly, Riley takes the case, but something even worse is waiting in the wings. A vicious enemy from her past is determined to strip Riley of everything that gives her life any meaning: her lover, her brother—and even her own identity. Can Riley survive this ultimate assault? All she knows is, she must fight one last time to find answers, before everything goes dark forever.


Raven on the Wing


Product Description

New York Times bestselling author Kay Hooper brings together romance and suspense in this classic love story of a woman who must lie to keep a safe distance from the man she loves—because telling him the truth is too dangerous for them both.

From the moment Raven Anderson literally knocks Josh Long off his feet, he’s determined to keep this elusive beauty in his tight embrace. While Raven denies their electrifying attraction and fends off his advances, Josh uses the resources of his business empire to crack the mystery surrounding Raven’s true identity. But Josh can’t bring himself to believe what the background check confirms—that Raven is an international criminal wanted for her connections to worldwide terrorism.

Raven has discouraged Josh’s help and his love, but she’s going to need both. For she is playing a part in a deadly game against an adversary who never loses, who takes no prisoners, and who threatens her very life.



The House on Olive Street


Product Description

The loss of their close friend draws four women together. And a summer spent sorting through personal effects offers the perfect challenge—and the perfect escape.

Sable—her bestselling novels have made her a star, but the woman who has everything, in fact, has nothing but a past she is desperate to hide

Elly—the intellectual who has hidden herself within the walls of academia, afraid to admit she is tired of being alone

Barbara Ann—the talent behind twenty-six romance novels wakes up one day to discover she's lost control of her career, her sanity and her family

Beth—her popular mysteries have become the only way she can fight against the secret tyranny of an abusive husband

In the house on Olive Street, away from their troubles, the four women discover something marvelous: themselves. And along the way they realize a dream. For, in telling the story of a remarkable woman, their own lives begin to change.



The Darkest Passion (Hqn)


Product Description

For weeks, the immortal warrior Aeron has sensed an invisible female presence. An angel—demon-assassin—has been sent to kill him. Or has she? Olivia claims she fell from the heavens, giving up immortality because she couldn't bear to harm him. But trusting—and falling for—Olivia will endanger them all. So how has this "mortal" with the huge blue eyes already unleashed Aeron's darkest passion?

Now, with an enemy hot on his trail and his faithful demon companion determined to remove Olivia from his life, Aeron is trapped between duty and consuming desire. Worse still, a new executioner has been sent to do the job Olivia wouldn't….



Blown Away (Storm Front)


Product Description

Writer Cari North thought she knew all there was to know about plot twists—until she stumbled across her ex-fiancé, Lance Morgan, digging a shallow grave in the Louisiana woods. After one horrifying moment of shared recognition, Cari knew her life hinged upon whether she could outrun Lance and the hurricane-spawned tornado that was barreling down on their heels.

Just when she thinks she's lost Lance and heads for home, the storm throws in yet another twist that will change her fate—forever.

Cari's house, her family—her entire life—have been wiped out by the storm. Badly injured herself, and knowing Lance will come after her, she trades clothing and ID with the near-identical cousin who'd been visiting and flees to Baton Rouge. While the world mourns Cari North, she begins an agonizing recovery as her cousin Susan—until Susan's boss calls her bluff and finds himself drawn into her incredible tale.

Hunted by a man she once loved, sheltered by a man she hardly knows, Cari chooses to become the bait…and plots the twist of a lifetime to catch a killer.


Demon Princess: Reign Check


Product Description

Fresh from finding out she is a demon princess and meeting her father for the first time, Nikki Donovan is looking forward to getting back to her regular high school life. But then Rhys, the handsome teenage king of the faery realm, enrolls at her school as a "foreign exchange student." Her conflicted feelings for Rhys and her boyfriend are getting in the way of her new relationship with the Shadow-creature Michael. But this love triangle from hell isn't even Nikki's biggest problem: There's a new prophecy that claims she will destroy all the demon and human worlds. Her best friend Melinda just might be a demon-slayer-in-training. Throw in a field trip to none other than the Underworld itself . . . and Nikki's going to be hoping for a rain check on more than just her homework!



Glimmerglass (Faeriewalker, Book 1)


Product Description

It’s all she’s ever wanted to be, but it couldn’t be further from her grasp…

Dana Hathaway doesn’t know it yet, but she’s in big trouble. When her alcoholic mom shows up at her voice recital drunk, again, Dana decides she’s had enough and runs away to find her mysterious father in Avalon: the only place on Earth where the regular, everyday world and the captivating, magical world of Faerie intersect. But from the moment Dana sets foot in Avalon, everything goes wrong, for it turns out she isn't just an ordinary teenage girl—she's a Faeriewalker, a rare individual who can travel between both worlds, and the only person who can bring magic into the human world and technology into Faerie.

Soon, Dana finds herself tangled up in a cutthroat game of Fae politics. Someone's trying to kill her, and everyone seems to want something from her, from her newfound friends and family to Ethan, the hot Fae guy Dana figures she’ll never have a chance with… until she does. Caught between two worlds, Dana isn’t sure where she’ll ever fit in and who can be trusted, not to mention if her world will ever be normal again…

Monday, May 24, 2010

Cold River (Mass Market Paperback)


I've finished "Cold River" the 2nd book in her Black Fall series by Carla Neggers.

Product Description

Hannah Shay has finally shown the town of Black Falls what she's worth. Her Three Sisters Café is a success, and she's soon to become a prosecutor. When the café becomes an epicenter for investigators trying to pierce a violent crime ring that's leaving bloody trails on nearby Cameron Mountain, Hannah suspects a man from her past is involved.

Sean Cameron returns to the snowy cold of his Vermont hometown to unmask his father's killer. Sean has the skills and resources to mount his own search, but he must convince the resistant Hannah to cooperate—because the killer is ready to strike again…and closer than anyone ever imagined.

About the Author

Carla Neggers has been writing fiction since she first climbed a tree with pad and pen at age eleven. Now her books, with their powerful blend of chilling suspense and daring romance, regularly appear on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists. An avid hiker and kayaker, Carla lives with her family in Vermont, not far from Quechee Gorge. For more information on her latest books and to contact Carla, please visit: http://www.carlaneggers.com/.
 
My Review:
 
Storyline:  I really enjoyed reading the continuing storyline of who/why killed the Cameron siblings father from the first book in the series "Cold Pursuit".

Characters:  I thought all the characters are well written and you can imagine knowing them in real life.

Romance:  I enjoyed the romance between Hannah and Sean because they also have a love-hate relationship since the teenage years (though they didn't know it).  They love to torment each other to deny they are attracted to each other! 

Glad to see Jo and Elijah are still together and engaged!

Killer(s):  The killer is well written and you can see why he will kill and the way he acts in public and private.

4/5

CymLowell

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (May 24)


What Are You Reading is a weekly Monday Meme that is hosted by Sheila from One Persons Journey here:

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. The Killing Edge - Heather Graham
2. The Widow - Carla Neggers
3. Cold River - Carla Neggers

I’m currently reading:

1. 6 Killer Bodies - Stephanie Bond

Books I’m planning on reading this week:

1. Finding the Lost - Shannon K. Butcher
2. Deeper than the Dead - Tami Hoag

Here's the link:

http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/2010/05/24/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-37/

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Library Haul (May 23 - 29)

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

Hardcover:

1.  Deeper than the Dead - Tami Hoag

Softcover:

1.  All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire - Kerrelyn Sparks
2.  Reese's Bride - Kat Martin
3.  Rule's Bride - Kat Martin

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Mailbox Saturday - May 22


Mailbox Saturday is hosted each Saturday at Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews.

I received these in my mailbox in the last four weeks.

For Review:


Risk No Secrets (Mass Market Paperback)

Product Description

A deadly international mission reunites a sexy Black Ops, Inc. hero and his sizzling former love in Cindy Gerard’s seductive new romantic thriller. A RED-HOT ATTRACTION . . . Twelve years of chasing bad guys didn’t erase beautiful Sophie Baylor from Wyatt Savage’s memory. If he had another chance, he’d never let her leave. So when she tracks him down from El Salvador and begs for help, he doesn’t ask questions—he just goes.  STARTS WITH A TERRIFYING THREAT . . .Sophie is grateful her daughter survived a kidnapping attempt, but she won’t forgive herself until the girl who was mistakenly abducted is safe. Wyatt is the only man brave enough to take on the mysterious terrorists behind the crime—and the one irresistible man she wishes she had never let go. . . . AND UNLEASHES AN UNFORGETTABLE ADVENTURE.Sophie knows Central America’s steamy jungles and sticky politics better than anyone. Yet she refuses to hide in fear. Then she becomes the enemy’s number one target. Wyatt lost her once, and he won’t lose her again—even if he has to fight, kill, or die to save her.



The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker


Product Description

Learning the truth of her mythic past was only the beginning, for young Percy Parker-s destiny is to defend both the world and her true love from the gathering undead minions of Darkness





Desire Me (The Legend Hunters)



Product Description


The Legend Hunters . . .

The Men of Solomon's meet in secret, their very existence only a rumor among the best of Victorian society. They are treasure hunters, men of wealth and title, seekers of myths and legends. And no legend is as mystifying as the lost city of Atlantis . . .

DESIRE ME

Years ago, Maxwell Barrett found a map to Atlantis and dedicated his life to the search for the mystical lost continent. But when an alluring woman makes a wager for the priceless artifact, he may have discovered an even greater treasure.

A descendant of Atlantis, Sabine Tobias needs the map to decipher an ancient prophecy. What she doesn't need are the sparks flying between her and Max. He's too devilishly charming to be trusted: The fate of her people is at stake as well as her heart. Yet a ruthless killer also covets the map. Now Max and Sabine must race to decode the prophecy's riddle before this criminal fulfills his deadly mission.



White Cat (Curse Workers, Book 1)



Product Description

Cassel comes from a family of curse workers -- people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn't got the magic touch, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail -- he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.

Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen.

Holly Black has created a gripping tale of mobsters and dark magic where a single touch can bring love -- or death -- and your dreams might be more real than your memories.


Black Bird, Vol. 4 (Paperback


Product Description


R to L (Japanese Style)


He loves her blood, but does her love her?

There is a world of myth and magic that intersects ours, and only a special few can see it. Misao Harada is one such person, and she wants nothing to do with magical realms. She just wants to have a normal high school life and maybe get a boyfriend. All that changes one day when Misao is attacked by a demon. Her childhood friend Kyo suddenly returns to save her and tend to her cuts--with his tongue! It turns out Misao is the bride of prophecy, whose blood gives power to the demon clan who claims her. But most demons want to keep her power for themselves--by eating her! Now Misao is just trying to stay alive...and decide if she likes it when Kyo licks her wounds.

Volume 4: Despite the constant danger Misao finds herself in, she's determined to stay by Kyo's side no matter what happens. But a chance meeting with one of Kyo's best friends shows her just how hard a human-demon relationship can be. Tadanobu, heir to the Kitsune clan, gave up everything to be with his human girlfriend. But now he is being forced to take on the clan leadership and abandon his love--and it's all Kyo's fault!


Otomen, Vol. 6 (Paperback)



Product Description


R to L (Japanese Style)

Having Girly Hobbies Doesn't Make You Less Manly! Asuka's protégé Yamato has fallen in love with a girl and needs help winning her over. He pleads with Asuka to go on a practice date with him--and play the role of the girl! Practice makes perfect, but will that be the case for Yamato?

Won:



Pleasure of a Dark Prince (Immortals After Dark)



Product Description

#1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole enraptures again with this seductive tale of a fierce werewolf prince who will stop at nothing to protect the lovely archer he covets from afar.

A DANGEROUS BEAUTY...

Lucia the Huntress: as mysterious as she is exquisite, she harbors secrets that threaten to destroy her -- and those she loves.

AN UNCONTROLLABLE NEED...

Garreth MacRieve, Prince of the Lykae: the brutal Highland warrior who burns to finally claim this maddeningly sensual creature as his own.

THAT LEAD TO A PLEASURE SO WICKED....

From the shadows, Garreth has long watched over Lucia. Now, the only way to keep the proud huntress safe from harm is to convince her to accept him as her guardian. To do this, Garreth will ruthlessly exploit Lucia's greatest weakness -- her wanton desire for him.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Prolific Blogger Award


Big Thank You to Beth over at Maybe Tomorrow? Blog for passing this award on to me!

"A prolific blogger is one who is intellectually productive, keeping up an active blog with enjoyable content. After accepting this award, recipients are asked to pass it forward to seven other deserving blogs."

1.  Cecile at alliwantandmore
2.  Lea at closetwriter
3.  MarthaE at Reviews By Martha's Bookshelf
4.  Sherrie at Just Books
5.  To all my blog followers

The Widow (Hardcover)


I've finished reading "The Widow" the 1st book in her BPD-FBI series by Carla Neggers.

Product Description

From New York Times bestselling author Carla Neggers comes the gripping story of one woman's determination to solve the unsolvable case: her husband's murder.

Four days after Abigail Browning's wedding, her life changed in a way she never expected: her husband was shot, meeting his death along the rocky Mount Desert Island coast. Was it a random act of violence, or could someone have wanted Christopher dead?

That's the question that has haunted Abigail, now a homicide detective, for the past seven years. As determined as ever to find her husband's killer, she returns to the foggy Maine island -- and the home she has inherited there -- after receiving an anonymous tip. Is it just another false lead by someone looking for attention? Or can she finally prove that his death was tied to something that happened that night . . . and that he was murdered?

As the search-and-rescue worker who located Chris too late to save him, Owen Garrison still carries guilt from that fateful night. Constantly on the go as an expert in his field, he's back in Maine for the summer. Right from the start, Abigail's presence ruffles feathers among the islanders. Owen sees she's not the same woman she was seven years ago. As he helps her unravel the mystery, they learn that the layers of deceit and lies are even thicker than they could have imagined.

They're convinced that Chris was killed because he got too close to the truth and that the danger he faced isn't in the past -- it's here and now. And it's up to Abigail and Owen to keep pushing for the truth . . . to stop a killer from striking again . . .

About the Author

Carla Neggers is the New York Times bestselling author of Dark Sky, The Rapids and Night's Landing. She lives with her family in Vermont, not far from picturesque Quechee Gorge.
 
My Review:
 
Storyline:  There were more than one storyline in this book and the first one was who killed Chris on his wedding night and why?  The second was who knocked out Abigail and stole her grandmother's necklace.  The third was why did Owen's sister jump off the cliff?

Characters:  I thought all the characters were well written and you could tell their personalities.

Romance:  I loved the romance between Abigail and Owen because they are both stubborn, strong-willed and good looking people, loners, etc.  Their romance was slow but at a good pace and they were taking it in stride.

Killer(s):  Actually there was one killer but some red herrings making you think it's this person then this person.  You didn't find out who the killer was until the very end but I figured out maybe about half way.

4/5

CymLowell

Book Blogger Hop #5


This Meme is hosted by Jennifer from Crazy For Books on every Friday. This is a great way to connect with other bloggers and readers to make new friends.

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

This is my fifth time joining this blog hop and I hope to find some great bloggers!  I didn't participate for a couple of weeks because I was quite busy!

I will post blogs that I have visited later on tonight or tomorrow, so please check back, thanks!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Manga Review: Black Bird, Vol. 4


I've finished reading "Black Bird Vol. 4 by Kanoko Sakurakoji.

Product Description

R to L (Japanese Style)

He loves her blood, but does her love her?!

There is a world of myth and magic that intersects ours, and only a special few can see it. Misao Harada is one such person, and she wants nothing to do with magical realms. She just wants to have a normal high school life and maybe get a boyfriend. All that changes one day when Misao is attacked by a demon. Her childhood friend Kyo suddenly returns to save her and tend to her cuts--with his tongue! It turns out Misao is the bride of prophecy, whose blood gives power to the demon clan who claims her. But most demons want to keep her power for themselves--by eating her! Now Misao is just trying to stay alive...and decide if she likes it when Kyo licks her wounds.

Volume 4: Despite the constant danger Misao finds herself in, she's determined to stay by Kyo's side no matter what happens. But a chance meeting with one of Kyo's best friends shows her just how hard a human-demon relationship can be. Tadanobu, heir to the Kitsune clan, gave up everything to be with his human girlfriend. But now he is being forced to take on the clan leadership and abandon his love--and it's all Kyo's fault!

About the Author

Kanoko Sakurakoji was born in downtown Tokyo, and her hobbies include reading, watching plays, traveling, and shopping. Her debut title, Raibu ga Hanetara, ran in Deluxe Betsucomi in 2000, and her 2004 Bestucomi title Backstage Prince was serialized in VIZ Media's Shojo Beat magazine. She won the 54th Shogakukan Manga Award for Black Bird.
 
My Review:
 
This manga has one of the best covers I've seen and you can see Misao and Kyo are even closer than ever!
 
In this volume Misao and Kyo are even getting closer to consummating their relationship!  She even admits she loves him and doesn't know what she would do if she lost him.

We also meet Tadanobu the heir to the Kitsune clan who gave it up to be with his human girlfriend (Kyo killed his brother in Vol. 3) who he has to challenge for Misao which is a tradition.  Tadanobu's girlfriend becomes Misao's friend and she vows to kill Kyo to save Tadanobu.

Highly recommend this series if you like romance and fighting with a little darkness.

5/5
 
Thanks Maylene from Simon and Schuster Canada for sending me this manga for review, greatly appreciate it!

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

In the Mail (May 18)


I received this in the mail yesterday (which I won) and sent by the publisher.

Pleasure of a Dark Prince (Immortals After Dark)

Product Description

#1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole enraptures again with this seductive tale of a fierce werewolf prince who will stop at nothing to protect the lovely archer he covets from afar.

A DANGEROUS BEAUTY...

Lucia the Huntress: as mysterious as she is exquisite, she harbors secrets that threaten to destroy her -- and those she loves.

AN UNCONTROLLABLE NEED...

Garreth MacRieve, Prince of the Lykae: the brutal Highland warrior who burns to finally claim this maddeningly sensual creature as his own.

THAT LEAD TO A PLEASURE SO WICKED....

From the shadows, Garreth has long watched over Lucia. Now, the only way to keep the proud huntress safe from harm is to convince her to accept him as her guardian. To do this, Garreth will ruthlessly exploit Lucia's greatest weakness -- her wanton desire for him.

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 are:


Infinity: Chronicles of Nick

By:  Sherrilyn Kenyon

Product Description

At fourteen, Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything about the world around him. Streetwise, tough and savvy, his quick sarcasm is the stuff of legends. . .until the night when his best friends try to kill him. Saved by a mysterious warrior who has more fighting skills than Chuck Norris, Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters: immortal vampire slayers who risk everything to save humanity.

Nick quickly learns that the human world is only a veil for a much larger and more dangerous one: a world where the captain of the football team is a werewolf and the girl he has a crush on goes out at night to stake the undead.

But before he can even learn the rules of this new world, his fellow students are turning into flesh eating zombies. And he’s next on the menu.

As if starting high school isn't hard enough. . .now Nick has to hide his new friends from his mom, his chainsaw from the principal, and keep the zombies and the demon Simi from eating his brains, all without getting grounded or suspended. How in the world is he supposed to do that?

Product Details

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 480 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; 1 edition (May 25, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312599072
ISBN-13: 978-0312599072



Fade To Midnight (Mccloud Brothers)

By:  Shannon McKenna

Product Description

Beaten and tortured almost to death, Kev Larsen was found eighteen years earlier in a warehouse alley. He survived his brutal ordeal, but his memories before that night were completely erased, until brain surgery triggers fragmented, terrifying flashbacks. Now Kev is determined to unlock the secrets to his past. Edie Parrish has always been good at not letting anyone get too close to her. If someone were to learn of her unusual gift, her life would be immediately jeopardized. But when Kev Larsen discovers who she really is, Edie has to trust him. And soon, Edie can't resist her desire - even though she knows she'll have to pay a price for it. Now Kev and Edie must race against time and place their faith in each other to stop a deadly legacy.

Product Details

Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Brava (May 25, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0758228651
ISBN-13: 978-0758228659


Moon Sworn (Riley Jenson, Guardian, Book 9)

By:  Keri Arthur

Product Description

Some nights never end.


Some desires never die. . . .

Shape-shifting werewolf and vampire Riley Jenson is through with death—causing it, solving it, surviving it. Her soul mate, Kye Murphy, is dead—and at Riley’s own hands. Not even the seductive embrace of her vampire lover, Quinn, can fully ease her mind, for she has begun questioning everything that makes her Riley—including her job at the Directorate.

Now, the ritualistically slain bodies of ex-cons have started turning up. Reluctantly, Riley takes the case, but something even worse is waiting in the wings. A vicious enemy from her past is determined to strip Riley of everything that gives her life any meaning: her lover, her brother—and even her own identity. Can Riley survive this ultimate assault? All she knows is, she must fight one last time to find answers, before everything goes dark forever.

Product Details

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: HQN Books (May 25, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0373774559
ISBN-13: 978-0373774555



The Darkest Passion

By:  Gena Showalter

Product Description

For weeks, the immortal warrior Aeron has sensed an invisible female presence. An angel—demon-assassin—has been sent to kill him. Or has she? Olivia claims she fell from the heavens, giving up immortality because she couldn't bear to harm him. But trusting—and falling for—Olivia will endanger them all. So how has this "mortal" with the huge blue eyes already unleashed Aeron's darkest passion?

Now, with an enemy hot on his trail and his faithful demon companion determined to remove Olivia from his life, Aeron is trapped between duty and consuming desire. Worse still, a new executioner has been sent to do the job Olivia wouldn't….

Product Details

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: HQN Books (May 25, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0373774559
ISBN-13: 978-0373774555


Raven on the Wing

By:  Kay Hooper

Product Description

New York Times bestselling author Kay Hooper brings together romance and suspense in this classic love story of a woman who must lie to keep a safe distance from the man she loves—because telling him the truth is too dangerous for them both.

From the moment Raven Anderson literally knocks Josh Long off his feet, he’s determined to keep this elusive beauty in his tight embrace. While Raven denies their electrifying attraction and fends off his advances, Josh uses the resources of his business empire to crack the mystery surrounding Raven’s true identity. But Josh can’t bring himself to believe what the background check confirms—that Raven is an international criminal wanted for her connections to worldwide terrorism.

Raven has discouraged Josh’s help and his love, but she’s going to need both. For she is playing a part in a deadly game against an adversary who never loses, who takes no prisoners, and who threatens her very life.

Product Details

Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Bantam (May 25, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0553590596
ISBN-13: 978-0553590593



Blown Away (Storm Front)

By:  Sharon Sala

Product Description

Writer Cari North thought she knew all there was to know about plot twists—until she stumbled across her ex-fiancé, Lance Morgan, digging a shallow grave in the Louisiana woods. After one horrifying moment of shared recognition, Cari knew her life hinged upon whether she could outrun Lance and the hurricane-spawned tornado that was barreling down on their heels.

Just when she thinks she's lost Lance and heads for home, the storm throws in yet another twist that will change her fate—forever.

Cari's house, her family—her entire life—have been wiped out by the storm. Badly injured herself, and knowing Lance will come after her, she trades clothing and ID with the near-identical cousin who'd been visiting and flees to Baton Rouge. While the world mourns Cari North, she begins an agonizing recovery as her cousin Susan—until Susan's boss calls her bluff and finds himself drawn into her incredible tale.

Hunted by a man she once loved, sheltered by a man she hardly knows, Cari chooses to become the bait…and plots the twist of a lifetime to catch a killer.

Product Details

Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Mira (May 25, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 077832785X
ISBN-13: 978-0778327851
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