Cover Love: The Calling

I was so in love with The Gathering, and I am beyond excited for The Calling. Kelley Armstrong is an amazing writer, and I recommend all of her stuff. Anyway, here is the cover for The Calling. Not sure when it went live, but I found it today. What do you all think?

Book Review: Pale Demon

Condemned and shunned for black magic, Rachel Morgan has three days to get to the annual witches’ conference and clear her name, or be trapped in the demonic 

ever-after . . . forever after.

But a witch, an elf, a living vampire, and a pixy in one car going across the country?

Talk about a recipe for certain disaster, even without being the targets for assassination.

For after centuries of torment, a fearsome demon walks in the sunlight—freed at last to slay the innocent and devour their souls. But his ultimate goal is Rachel Morgan, and in the fight for survival that follows, even embracing her own demonic nature may not be enough to save her.

Pale Demon, the ninth book in Kim Harrison’s The Hollows series was by far my favorite. I’ve been a fan since I read the first book, six and a half years ago. Book four, A Fistful of Charms, was my favorite book until now. Pale Demon definitely earns the top spot in this series.

Poor Rachel. It seems like she can never catch a break. Just when life starts to settle down, another explosion happens. Sometimes it’s a literal explosion. This time she’s shunned… for using black magic… to save her life and the lives of others. If magic is saving innocents, how bad can it be? At least… that’s my opinion.

She has to get from Cincinnati to California for her brother’s wedding, and the annual witches’ conference. But the airline won’t let a shunned witch fly. Coincidentally, Trent Kalamack (aka the smexiest elf ever) also has to get to the west coast, and, for reasons he can’t say, he can’t fly either. So Rachel, along with her partners Ivy and Jenks, travel to the west coast with Trent in tow. It’s going to be a long drive.

And, of course, this is Rachel Mariana Morgan we’re talking about, so it’s one adventure after the other, as she tries to get to the west coast on time. And, hopefully, avoid life in Alcatraz… and a lobotomy. Did I mention every witch hates her? New baddies attack, and we get to see our favorite demons in a different light. Definitely my favorite in the series and one of the best books I've read this year.

Fans of this series won’t want to miss The Hollows graphic novel, Blood Work, which hits shelves July 12, 2011.

Haven’t read any of the previous books in this series? Start with Dead Witch Walking! You won’t be disappointed with these books. What are you waiting for?

Be sure to check out her YA series, starting with Once Dead, Twice Shy.

And once you’re done with those, check out both series by Dawn Cook (same author, different name). Both predate The Hollows and have been recently re-released. The Princess series and the Truth series.

Be sure to check out Kim’s site, and follow her on Twitter.

Book Review: I Wish...

All she ever wanted was a chance to settle down in one place.

Thistle Nettlebottom knows her life isn't exactly normal. She travels the country with her secretive mother and bestselling author grandmother in a pink RV going from book signings to crazy research trips. She's never been to public school or had a boyfriend, but she can pick a lock and hotwire a car. One day the phone rings and they set a course to a tiny town that's not on any maps. Suddenly, Thistle finds her whole life changing.

She's finally found the home she's been searching for.

Thistle soon realizes that Desire isn't like other towns and she's not like other girls. The family she trusted has lied to her about everything her entire life and the things she doesn't know about herself could cost her everything. Her legacy as one of the most powerful witches the town has ever seen has made her enemies that have been waiting patiently for a chance to destroy her. Thistle needs to learn to use her powers to protect herself before they succeed.

Be careful what you wish for.

Thistle has a power unique even among the magic wielding witches of Desire. She can wish things into existence. At first she enjoys the freedom of having everything her heart desires, but she soon realizes that her power comes at a terrible price. She's losing her grip on her sanity at a time when she can't afford any weakness. Her enemies are closing in quickly, but she might not have the strength to save herself.

I got my hands on I Wish… when the author, Wren Emerson, was gifting them for simply asking. And it’s been on my iPad waiting to be read. I finally got a chance to start it, and before I knew it, I was almost done.

Thistle has no idea who she really is. She doesn’t know her real name, who her father is, or where she comes from. All she knows is that her grandmother is strict, her mother is emotionless, and her training with Shep. Thistle wants to know who she is and where she came from, which pulled me right in. I was instantly curious. It’s not long before they are heading for Desire, the town her family is from. Thistle’s great grandmother is ill.

She receives an almost hostile welcome, as she meets family who she didn’t even know existed. Even in town, when she introduces herself by her real name, people regard her cruelly. But only the women. This definitely kept me reading. I liked Thistle instantly, and, being on her side, I had to know why.

She meets Ben, who likes her until he finds out her true name. But, even then, he can’t help but be drawn to her. And then Evan, who is from a rival family, also takes a liking to Thistle. I enjoyed her scenes with both boys, very much. My vote would go to Ben! I found myself frustrated by her family quite a bit. Many of them hate her instantly, assuming things in a very unfair manner. And on top of that, the family who lied to her, share things with her a bit at a time and don’t prepare her at all for the issues she has to face.

Being a fan of folklore, I loved the mention of the Monkey’s Paw. And, of course, I enjoy “witchy” stories. My biggest complaint was the way one scene switched to another abruptly. One minute she was here, and the next paragraph, a week had passed. I felt the ending was also rater abrupt. I turned the page, and… that was it. But all in all, it was a really fun story, and I can’t wait for the second book in The Witches of Desire series.

Be sure to add it to your Goodreads and visit Wren Emerson’s site, where you can read an excerpt of I Wish…

Book Review: Red Glove

Curses and Cons

Magic and the Mob

In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth—he’s the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything—or anyone—into something else.

That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her. Now that she's human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila's been cursed to love him, a little gift from his emotion worker mom. And if Lila's love is as phony as Cassel's made-up memories, then he can't believe anything she says or does.

When Cassel's oldest brother is murdered, the Feds recruit Cassel to help make sense of the only clue—crime-scene images of a woman in red gloves. But the mob is after Cassel too—they know how valuable he could be to them. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can't trust anyone—least of all, himself?

Love is a curse and the con is the only answer in a game too dangerous to lose.

Holly Black’s latest novel, Red Glove, is even more amazing than White Cat, (book one in The Curse Workers series). Cassel Sharpe is back at Wallingford Preparatory for his senior year with his best friend Sam, and Sam’s girlfriend, Daneca. Lila Zacharov, the mob boss’ daughter, has also enrolled. The harder Cassel tries to stay away from her, the harder it gets.

Red Glove dives right into the story, back into the world I fell in love with in White Cat. A place where people are born with the ability to curse, but since no one knows who’s a curse worker and who isn’t, everyone is forced to wear gloves. A bare hand elicits terror from those who fear being cursed… which seems to be pretty much everyone.

Cassel Sharpe is one of my favorite male characters in any YA series. He’s also the narrator. That’s another thing I love about this series: first person, male point of view. It’s something we don’t get a lot of in young adult literature. Personally, I like most of the characters in this series. The characters all interact and respond in a way that is completely believable. They stay true to themselves. Despite this being a world where magic exists, it feels very real. It’s a world I’m glad I don’t live in, to be honest.

The curse working makes this book stand out against the other young adult urban fantasy, where we get a lot of vampires, witches, faeries, etc… It’s a nice way to shake things up, read something different. And another thing I love about this series is the “blowback”. Blowback is what happens to a curse worker after working a curse. It’s retribution for what they’ve done… Karma… And I love that it’s worked in here because I think it doesn’t happen often enough that people have direct consequences for their actions.

Amazing novel, Holly! I seriously can’t wait until book three, Black Heart, hits shelves.

Be sure to check out The Curse Worker’s site for a short story called Lila Zacharov in 13 Pieces, a fantastic book trailer, and extras!

Between Here and Forever Winner

And now... to announce the winner of Between Here and Forever. Congrats to... 

Michaela A from the UK!

I'll be sending you an email shortly!

Book Giveaway: Between Here and Forever

Okay, so… I’m giving away a copy of Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott.

Synopsis:

Abby accepted that she can't measure up to her beautiful, magnetic sister Tess a long time ago, and knows exactly what she is: Second best. Invisible. 

Until the accident. 

Now Tess is in a coma, and Abby's life is on hold. It may have been hard living with Tess, but it's nothing compared to living without her. 

She's got a plan to bring Tess back though, involving the gorgeous and mysterious Eli, but then Abby learns something about Tess, something that was always there, but that she'd never seen. 

Abby is about to find out that truth isn't always what you think it is, and that life holds more than she ever thought it could...

Giveaway!

I know the picture below is really bad (iPod -__-), but I’m just excited to see my name in the acknowledgements. Which is part of the reason I’m so excited to be passing this book along.

1. Must be a blog follower.

2. Must be 13 to enter.

3. Fill out this form. 

Yes, this giveaway is International!!!

Book Review: My Soul to Steal

My Soul to Steal by Rachel Vincent is my favorite installment in this series yet! Enter Sabine… Nash’s ex. She shows up just when Kaylee and Nash are left at a rough point after the events in My Soul to Keep. And, yes… she wants Nash back. (My personal opinion… she can have him. I much prefer Tod.)

She’s a mara, a living, breathing nightmare. She feeds on fear and gives the person nightmares. Now teachers are dying in their sleep, only days after a mara shows up. A coincidence? Kaylee thinks not.

I started reading this series after it was recommended by Melissa Marr, who blurbed the cover of the first book. And I’ve loved each book more than the previous one. I can’t wait for If I Die (book five) and Before I Wake (book six). Don’t forget to get your preorders in for those, and be sure to check out “Niederwald”, Rachel’s Soul Screamers short in Enthralled.

Synopsis:

Trying to work things out with Nash — her maybe boyfriend — is hard enough for Kaylee Cavanaugh. She can't just pretend nothing happened. But "complicated" doesn't even begin to describe their relationship when his ex-girlfriend transfers to their school, determined to take Nash back.

See, Sabine isn't just an ordinary girl. She's a mara, the living personification of a nightmare. She can read people's fears—and craft them into nightmares while her victims sleep. Feeding from human fear is how she survives.

And Sabine isn't above scaring Kaylee and the entire school to death to get whatever — and whoever — she wants.