Sunday Post Edition 12

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer. ~ It's a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

Hi everyone!  This past was a great release week.  Granted, I have not gotten to reading all of them yet.  (Damn work)  But I have the peace of mind knowing they are patiently waiting for me on my kindle.

Posts this past week:

Tuesday the 26th ~ Review of The Mage in Black by Jaye Wells

Wednesday the 27th ~ Waiting on Wednesday featuring MacReive by Kresley Cole

Thursday the 28th ~ Review of The Vampire Shrink by Lynda Hilburn

Events this past week:

                        

Thursday night, Fresh Fiction hosted a dinner with Vicki Petterssen before her signing of The Lost over at the B&N in Dallas (thanks for the pics Felicia, I was so engrossed in what she was saying I completely forgot about taking pictures!).  It was a nice, small group and I had a great time.  Vicki is a lot of fun and has a great sense of humor.  If you get the chance, make sure you visit with her.  I have listed her Signs of the Zodiac over here, and you can get the first two of the Celestial Blues below.

Friday night I attended Dreaming In Dallas, it was a HUGE author signing.  It was good to get out, hang with my other book loving friends and meet some new (to me) authors.  I have GOT to remember to bring cash to these events.  They have these amazing raffle baskets, and I didn't get a single ticket.  I'm kicking myself now.  Felicia, from Geeky Bloggers Book Blog won this awesome basket with all kinds of books and goodies from an author in attendance so she was able to get the books all signed.  I'm jealous ;)  

Books I got this past week:

Most of these were purchased for the signings.  You can be assured that the receipts have been disposed of in a way that a certain husband does not see.  Shhhhh!

Upcoming:

This week I may get a couple of reviews in.  I'm going to try for The Seventh Victim by Mary Burton and Hell on Wheels by Julie Ann Walker.  I do want to spend some time this week on personalizing and designing my blog over the next week.  I feel like it is so stark and impersonal.  So all my blogger friends beware, I may start flinging questions around if I end up messing things up!

Have a great week everyone, and don't forget to drop by and leave me comments!

Review ~ The Vampire Shrink by Lynda Hilburn

Goodreads Synopsis ~

A sizzlingly sexy urban fantasy sure to feed the hunger of ravenous, vampire-loving fans.

Kismet Knight, a brainy Denver-based psychologist with a stalled career and a nonexistent love life, is about to have her world rocked. Not only does her newest patient, Midnight, long to become a vampire, but the teenager insists that a coven of the undead hangs out at a local goth club. The always-rational Kismet dismisses Midnight's claims as the delusions of an attention-starved girl--until bodies start turning up drained of blood and the hottest self-proclaimed vampire ever to walk the face of the earth enters her office.
  
What's real? What's not? As inexplicable events and romantic opportunities pile up, along with the corpses, Kismet finds herself in a whirlwind of passion, mystery, and danger. But this tough and funny heroine--who doesn't do damsel in distress--is about to turn the vampire-meets-girl convention on its head.

My Review ~ 

I read/listened to The Vampire Shrink as a book club read.  I normally love vampire books, but I had a hard time with this one.  I just couldn't connect with the heroine.  I was getting really tired of her telling herself she was out of her mind.  It got old.  Also, I am used to visualizing my hero's as being big, muscular fighters and I did not get a sense of Dev being that way.  I saw him as tall, and thin, but not the big fighter type.  My big turn off was the love triangle.  I do NOT like them at all.  Just pick one already, don't leave the relationships open ended like that.  Drives me crazy.

The story itself was pretty good.  Kismet found herself in some pretty eye-opening situations that at times had me laughing.  I cannot get one dance scene out of my mind!  I liked the demon character's state of mind, definitely someone who could use Kismet's help!

I am conflicted on whether I will read the rest of the series, I am terribly OCD about reading all of a series, especially if I've only read the first one.  Hopefully anyone who has read this series can let me know if it is worth going on.  I am going to give The Vampire Shrink three stars for the laughs I got.  This is an addition to my 2013 Audio Book Challenge and my 2013 EBook Challenge.

Waiting On Wednesday ~ MacRieve by Kresley Cole

Release Date:  July 2, 2013

MacRieve by Kresley Cole

Goodreads Synopsis ~

In this pulse pounding Immortals After Dark tale, #1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole delves into the darkest mysteries and deepest passions of Clan MacRieve. . .

A BEAST IN TORMENT

Uilleam MacRieve believed he’d laid to rest the ghosts of his boyhood. But when a brutal torture revives those ancient agonies and destroys his Lykae instinct, the proud Scot craves the oblivion of death. Until he findsher—a young human so full of beauty and courage that she pulls him back from the brink.

A BEAUTY IN CHAINS

Seized for the auction block, Chloe Todd is forced to enter a terrifying new world of monsters and lore as a bound slave. When offered up to creatures of the dark, she fears she won’t last the night. Until she’s claimed by him—a tormented immortal with heartbreaking eyes, whose touch sets her blood on fire.

A FULL MOON ON THE RISE

With enemies circling, MacRieve spirits Chloe away to the isolated Highland keep of his youth. But once he takes her to his bed, his sensual mate becomes something more than human, evoking his savage past and testing his sanity. On the cusp of the full moon, can he conquer his worst nightmare to save Chloe . . . from himself?

I'm really not too keen on the cover, but I love this series and one featuring the MacRieve clan has me jumping up and down clapping my hands in excitement!  I do hope that despite this featuring the Lykae, we still get to see the others.  I love this whole world and Kresley Cole's characters have such great personalities.  I can't wait!

Preorder Now!

Review: The Mage in Black (Sabina Kane #2) by Jaye Wells

Goodread's Synopsis ~ 

Sabina Kane doesn't have the best track record when it comes to family. After all, her own grandmother, the leader of the vampire race, just tried to kill her. When she arrives in New York to meet the mage side of her family, the reunion takes the fun out of dysfunctional. 

On top of that, the Hekate Council wants to use her as a pawn in the brewing war against the vampires. Her mission will take her into the bowels of New York's Black Light district, entangles her in mage politics, and challenges her beliefs about the race she was raised to distrust. And Sabina thought vampires were bloodthirsty.

My Review ~ 

We have seen how bad one side of Sabina's family is, now we get to see the Mage side.  This is a whole different world for Sabina, all these Mages with all their unfamiliar abilities.

It is hard for Sabina to be in this vulnerable position, not knowing and having to trust the people around her.  At least there is Giguyl.  I love that demon!  He is such a hilarious character and it is fun to see how much of a role he plays in this book.

Sabina runs into an old acquaintance, and even though he will possibly give Adam a challenge, I can't help but like him.  I think it is the "bad boy" in him.

I really enjoyed The Mage in Black.  The vulnerable position that Sabina is in makes me feel for her and really just want to be there for her.  I loved Maisie, she is sweet and funny, just a great character.  The action was great and the book ended with a great segue into Green-Eyed Demon.

I recommend this whole series and give this individual book a 4 stars for it's action and emotional pull.  This is an addition to my 2013 EBook Challenge

Goodreads Synopsis ~ 

Former assassin Sabina Kane heads to Los Angeles to find her kidnapped sister. Helping her on the mission are her hot mage partner, her Mischief demon minion, and a Vanity demon named Valva. The problem? She's got to figure out how to find her sister without letting her enemies know she's back in town. But when Sabina seeks out an old ally -- a vampire strip club owner named Fang -- for help, Sabina learns the hard way that Vanity demons don't know the meaning of the phrase "low profile."


My Review ~ 

This was a quick, fun novella read.  It does contain some story that will explain a character in the next book.  It is not a story changing piece of information, but will help you understand a character's state of mind.  This novella also sets the scene for Green-Eyed Demon.  I enjoyed it and the main action in the story is absolutely hilarious.  For readers of this series, I would definitely recommend this novella, it was fun!  This is an addition to my 2013 EBook Challenge.

Sunday Post Edition 11

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer. ~ It's a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

Hello all!  I'm going to use this Sunday Post to reboot myself and my blog.  I've been away for awhile with personal stuff and a major immersion in my tbr.  You see, Tuesday is a big day!  There are 3 books I have pre-ordered that I have been waiting on for a very long time!  I've been trying to squeeze in some of my book club reads before this big release day so I can devote ALL my spare time to these books.  I think that March 26th should be a holiday for all us book addicts!  At least we have a long weekend coming up!  I am SO excited!

In the past couple of weeks I have downloaded a LOT of books to my Kindle.  There were some really great deals floating around Amazon, plus there were additions to series that I just had to have.  Even better was my discovery of Whispersync by Amazon & Audible.  Now, when I am killing myself trying to put a book down at night, I can pacify myself knowing that I can jump right back in when I get in the car in the morning.  Best. Thing. Ever.

I was so excited to see this deal on Amazon!  I have read The Taken by Vicki Petterssen, have downloaded The Lost but have been wanting to read her Signs of the Zodiac series.  Amazon had every book in this series for 99 cents!

I got all by Vicki Petterssen:

The Scent of Shadows (Sign of the Zodiac, Book 1) Whispersync Available

The Taste of Night (Sign of the Zodiac, Book 2) Whispersync Available

The Touch of Twilight (Sign of the Zodiac, Book 3) Whispersync Available

City of Souls (Sign of the Zodiac, Book 4) (still 99 cents)

Cheat the Grave (Sign of the Zodiac, Book 5) (still 99 cents!) 

The Neon Graveyard (Sign of the Zodiac, Book 6)

Other new downloads include:

      

     

Ok, that was a little depressing, I didn't realize how far behind I actually am.  My goal for the blog this week is to get The Mage in Black and The Vampire Shrink reviewed.  I am going to add Violet Tendencies to the Mage in Black review since it was so short.

Plus!  There are author events this week!  Thursday there is a Vicki Petterssen signing.  Then Friday night there is a multi-author event called Dreamin' in Dallas.  A lot of great authors, should be a fun event.

All right all, what do you have planned for the week?  Anything fun for the holiday weekend?