Have you seen the Once Burned book trailer?!?!

I got Frostbit a long time ago due to Cat and Bones! I now read everything that Jeaniene Frost puts out. I am so excited about her new book:

Title: Once Burned
Author: Jeaniene Frost
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: June 26, 2012
ISBN-10: 006178320X
ISBN-13: 978-0061783203
Goodreads   Amazon

She's a mortal with dark powers...

After a tragic accident scarred her body and destroyed her dreams, Leila never imagined that the worst was still to come: terrifying powers that let her channel electricity and learn a person's darkest secrets through a single touch. Leila is doomed to a life of solitude...until creatures of the night kidnap her, forcing her to reach out with a telepathic distress call to the world's most infamous vampire...

He's the Prince of Night...

Vlad Tepesh inspired the greatest vampire legend of all—but whatever you do, don't call him Dracula. Vlad's ability to control fire makes him one of the most feared vampires in existence, but his enemies have found a new weapon against him—a beautiful mortal with powers to match his own. When Vlad and Leila meet, however, passion ignites between them, threatening to consume them both. It will take everything that they are to stop an enemy intent on bringing them down in flames.(Goodreads)

Have you seen the new trailer? It is AWESOME!!! I am even more excited about getting my hands on Vlad’s book now that I have watched the trailer!

Eeeep! What did you think?

Are you excited about Once Burned?

Waiting on Wednesday: Quicksilver (Ultraviolet #2) by R.J. Anderson

"Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at “Breaking the Spine”, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My Pick this Week

Title: Quicksilver
Author: R.J. Anderson
Publisher: Orchard Books
Genre: YA, Sci-Fi
Release Date: November 1st 2012
Goodreads

Once I was a girl who was special.
Now I am extraordinary.
And they will never stop hunting me.

The compelling follow-up to the bestselling ULTRAVIOLET, this psychological thriller will take your breath away...(Goodreads)

Why I’m Waiting

I know the description doesn’t give anything away, but I LOVED Ultraviolet! The ending of Ultraviolet had me wanting this book the moment I finished its last page. Oh, you don’t believe me?… Well, if you have read Ultraviolet you know what I’m talking about. If you have not read Ultraviolet, then go pick you up a copy and wait impatiently with me:)

Are you excited about Quicksilver?
What are you waiting on?

Are You Buying? (May 29, 2012 Edition)

I love Tuesdays! These are titles releasing today.

Title: Tangle of need
Author: Nalini Singh
Hardcover: 432 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: May 29, 2012
ISBN-10: 0425247562
ISBN-13: 978-0425247563
Goodreads   Amazon

Adria, wolf changeling and resilient soldier, has made a break with the past--one as unpredictable in love as it was in war. Now comes a new territory, and a devastating new complication: Riaz, a SnowDancer lieutenant already sworn to a desperate woman who belongs to another.

For Riaz, the primal attraction he feels for Adria is a staggering betrayal. For Adria, his dangerous lone-wolf appeal is beyond sexual. It consumes her. It terrifies her. It threatens to undermine everything she has built of her new life. But fighting their wild compulsion toward one another proves a losing battle.

Their coming together is an inferno...and a melding of two wounded souls who promise each other no commitment, no ties, no bonds. Only pleasure. Too late, they realize that they have more to lose than they ever imagined. Drawn into a cataclysmic Psy war that may alter the fate of the world itself, they must make a decision that might just break them both.(Goodreads)

Title: Charmed by His Love
Author: Janet Chapman
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Jove
Release Date: May 29, 2012 
ISBN-10: 0515150908
ISBN-13: 978-0515150902
Goodreads   Amazon

New York Times bestselling author Janet Chapman takes you back to the magical town of Spellbound Falls, where Duncan MacKeage is about to uncover great love with hidden dangers…

All Duncan MacKeage wants is to keep his crew building roads and bridges up the mountain to the fancy resort overlooking Spellbound Falls’ new inland sea. He doesn’t want anything to do with his own family magic or with the beautiful widow, Peg Thompson, and her tribe of little heathens. But when Duncan is tasked with keeping an eye on the widow Thompson, trouble starts.

Because of a family curse, Peg fears that giving in to her desires will mean killing off another lover. But Duncan—the strong, handsome man buying her gravel—is unbelievably tempting and determined to take care of her. Torn between her head and her heart, will Peg find the strength to break free of her black-widow curse? Or will pursuing their attraction put these lovers in harm’s way?(Goodreads)

Title: All Spell Breaks Loose
Author: Lisa Shearin
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Ace
Release Date: May 29, 2012
ISBN-10: 1937007715
ISBN-13: 978-1937007713
Goodreads   Amazon

My name is Raine Benares—and it sucks to be me. The Saghred, a soul-stealing stone that has given me unlimited power, has been stolen by a goblin prince, and with it went my magic. The Saghred is in the goblin capital of Regor, in the hands of Sarad Nukpana, who’s on the verge of becoming the most powerful mage ever...just as soon as I’m dead.

Because Sarad can’t use the stone while I’m alive. Incentive enough to plan a little trip to Regor with a small band of good friends, not-so-good friends, and outright enemies. All we need to do is destroy the Saghred, kill Sarad, and put a renegade prince on the throne. Did I mention I’ll be doing this without magic?(Goodreads)

Title: Dreamless
Author: Josephine Angelini
Hardcover: 496 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: May 29, 2012 
ISBN-10: 0062012010
ISBN-13: 978-0062012012
Goodreads   Amazon

Can true love be forgotten?

As the only Scion who can descend into the Underworld, Helen Hamilton has been given a nearly impossible task. By night she wanders through Hades, trying to stop the endless cycle of revenge that has cursed her family. By day she struggles to overcome the fatigue that is rapidly eroding her sanity. Without Lucas by her side, Helen is not sure she has the strength to go on.

Just as Helen is pushed to her breaking point, a mysterious new Scion comes to her rescue. Funny and brave, Orion shields her from the dangers of the Underworld. But time is running out—a ruthless foe plots against them, and the Furies’ cry for blood is growing louder.

As the ancient Greek world collides with the mortal one, Helen’s sheltered life on Nantucket descends into chaos. But the hardest task of all will be forgetting Lucas Delos.

Josephine Angelini’s compelling saga becomes ever more intricate and spellbinding as an unforgettable love triangle emerges and the eternal cycle of revenge intensifies. Eagerly awaited, this sequel to the internationally bestselling STARCROSSED delivers a gritty, action-packed love story that exceeds expectation.(Goodreads)

Title: Changeling
Author: Philippa Gregory
Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: May 29, 2012
ISBN-10: 1442453443
ISBN-13: 978-1442453449
Goodreads   Amazon

Dark myths, medieval secrets, intrigue, and romance populate the pages of the first-ever teen series from #1 bestselling author ofThe Other Boleyn Girl

Italy, 1453. Seventeen-year-old Luca Vero is brilliant, gorgeous—and accused of heresy. Cast out of his religious order for using the new science to question old superstitious beliefs, Luca is recruited into a secret sect: The Order of the Dragon, commissioned by Pope Nicholas V to investigate evil and danger in its many forms, and strange occurrences across Europe, in this year—the end of days.    

Isolde is a seventeen-year-old girl shut up in a nunnery so she can’t inherit any of her father’s estate. As the nuns walk in their sleep and see strange visions, Isolde is accused of witchcraft—and Luca is sent to investigate her, but finds himself plotting her escape.   

Despite their vows, despite themselves, love grows between Luca and Isolde as they travel across Europe with their faithful companions, Freize and Ishraq. The four young people encounter werewolves, alchemists, witches, and death-dancers as they head toward a real-life historical figure who holds the boundaries of Christendom and the secrets of the Order of the Dragon.    

The first in a series, this epic and richly detailed drama is grounded in historical communities and their mythic beliefs. It includes a medieval map of Europe that will track their journey; and the interior will include relevant decorative elements as well as an interior line illustration. And look for a QR code that links to a note from the author with additional, detailed information about the setting and the history that informed the writing. With Philippa Gregory’s trademark touch, this novel deftly brings the past—and its salacious scandals—vividly and disturbingly to life.(Goodreads)

Title: Dark Frost
Author: Jennifer Estep
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Kensington
Release Date: May 29, 2012
ISBN-10: 0758266960
ISBN-13: 978-0758266965
Goodreads   Amazon

I’ve seen so many freaky things since I started attending Mythos Academy last fall. I know I’m supposed to be a fearless warrior, but most of the time, I feel like I’m just waiting for the next Bad, Bad Thing to happen. Like someone trying to kill me—again.

Everyone at Mythos Academy knows me as Gwen Frost, the Gypsy girl who uses her psychometry magic to find lost objects—and who just may be dating Logan Quinn, the hottest guy in school. But I’m also the girl the Reapers of Chaos want dead in the worst way. The Reapers are the baddest of the bad, the people who murdered my mom. So why do they have it in for me?

It turns out my mom hid a powerful artifact called the Helheim Dagger before she died. Now, the Reapers will do anything to get it back. They think I know where the dagger is hidden, but this is one thing I can’t use my magic to find. All I do know is that the Reapers are coming for me—and I’m in for the fight of my life.(Goodreads)

So… do you plan on snatching any of these books up today? Is anything new to you?

I’m going to be honest. I know that when 12:01 AM hits, I will be reading Tangle of Need on my reader:)

Happy Bookday!!!
To all the author that have books out this week.

Memorial Day

For a lot of us (me included) today is about having an extra day off of work, spending time with friends, and eating some really good food. But for many today, Memorial Day, can be hard.

For those of you who have lost loved one, and for those who are desperately waiting for someone to come home, My thoughts are with you today.

I hope you all have a happy and safe Memorial Day!

Giveaway Winners

Sorry, I am late announcing this. My vacation got me a bit behind.

Blogiversary Winners

Congratulations to both winners!!!

Current giveaway

The Near Witch paperback Giveaway.

Thanks to all who entered!

A Question to My Fellow Book Pushers

As someone who is just getting into contemporary (You know the books that don’t have all the wonderful paranormal stuff), YA and Adult, I have been looking for some good recommendations. This got me thinking about books I want people to read.

Sometimes I just want to know what a persons reaction is going to be. For instance I would love for my husband and my BFF to read:

Goodreads

Um…I really want to know what my husband thinks of this, only for review purposes of course. I just haven't read any male reviews of this yet

I also want my mom and my older sister to read:

Goodreads

I think they would both like it, if I could just get them to pick it up.

I could go on and on with other books, but I want to hear from you.

What books are you trying to push on people right now?

And do you know any great contemporary's I should try?

Waiting on Wednesday: Asunder (Newsoul #2) by Jodi Meadows

"Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at “Breaking the Spine”, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My Pick this Week

Title: Asunder
Author: Jodi Meadows
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Genre: YA, Fantasy,Romance
Release Date: 2013
Goodreads

DARKSOULS
Ana has always been the only one. Asunder. Apart. But after Templedark, when many residents of Heart were lost forever, some hold Ana responsible for the darksouls–and the newsouls who may be born in their place.

SHADOWS
Many are afraid of Ana’s presence, a constant reminder of unstoppable changes and the unknown. When sylph begin behaving differently toward her and people turn violent, Ana must learn to stand up not only for herself but for those who cannot stand up for themselves.

LOVE
Ana was told that nosouls can’t love. But newsouls? More than anything, she wants to live and love as an equal among the citizens of Heart, but even when Sam professes his deepest feelings, it seems impossible to overcome a lifetime of rejection.

In this second book in the Incarnate trilogy, Ana discovers the truth about reincarnation and will have to find a way to embrace love and make her young life meaningful. Once again, Jodi Meadows explores the extraordinary beauty and shadowed depths of the soul in a story equal parts epic romance and captivating fantasy.(Goodreads)

Why I’m Waiting

I just don’t know how anyone could not be excited about this book?!?! Well, unless you haven't read Incarnate. If you have not read Incarnate, which I LOVED, what are you doing here? Go read it now so that I don’t have to impatiently wait for Asunder alone! I can’t wait to read what happens next to Sam and Ana. I need this book NOW!!! 

Giveaways to enter

The Near Witch paperback Giveaway!!!

Are you excited about Asunder?
What are you waiting on?

Are You Buying? (May 22, 2012 Edition)

These are titles releasing today, or close to it.

Title: The Girl in the Clockwork Collar
Author: Kady Cross
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: May 22, 2012
ISBN-10: 0373210531
ISBN-13: 978-0373210534
Goodreads   Amazon

In New York City, 1897, life has never been more thrilling - or dangerous.

Sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne and her "straynge band of mysfits" have journeyed from London to America to rescue their friend Jasper, hauled off by bounty hunters. But Jasper is in the clutches of a devious former friend demanding a trade-the dangerous device Jasper stole from him...for the life of the girl Jasper loves.

One false move from Jasper and the strange clockwork collar around Mei's neck tightens. And tightens.(Goodreads)

Title: Fated
Author: Alyson Noël
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: May 22, 2012
ISBN-10: 0312664850
ISBN-13: 978-0312664855
Goodreads   Amazon

The first book in a magnificent new series about a girl who can navigate between the worlds of the living and the dead by #1 New York Times bestselling author Alyson Noël.

Lately strange things have been happening to Daire Santos. Animals follow her, crows mock her, and glowing people appear out of nowhere. Worried that Daire is having a nervous breakdown, her mother packs her off to stay in the dusty plains of Enchantment, New Mexico with a grandmother she’s never met.

There she crosses paths with Dace, a gorgeous guy with unearthly blue eyes who she’s encountered before...but only in her dreams. And she’ll get to know her grandmother—a woman who recognizes Daire’s bizarre episodes for what they are. A call to her true destiny as a Soul Seeker, one who can navigate between the worlds of the living and the dead. Her grandmother immediately begins teaching her to harness her powers—but it’s an art that must be mastered quickly. Because Dace’s brother is an evil shape-shifter who’s out to steal her powers. Now Daire must embrace her fate as a Soul Seeker and find out if Dace is one guy she’s meant to be with...or if he’s allied with the enemy she’s destined to destroy.(Goodreads)

Title: Dark Kiss
Author: Michelle Rowen
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: May 22, 2012
ISBN-10: 0373210477
ISBN-13: 978-0373210473
Goodreads   Amazon

I don't do dangerous.  Smart, über-careful, ordinary Samantha-that's me. But I just couldn't pass up a surprise kiss from my number-one unattainable crush. A kiss that did something to me...something strange. Now I feel hungry all the time, but not for food. It's like part of me is missing-and I don't know if I can get it back. Then there's Bishop. At first I thought he was just a street kid, but the secrets he's keeping are as intense as his unearthly blue eyes. If he's what I think he is, he may be the only one who can help me. But something terrifying is closing in, and the one chance Bishop and I have to stop it means losing everything I ever wanted and embracing the darkness inside me.... NIGHTWATCHERS When angels and demons must work together, something beyond evil is rising...(Goodreads)

Title: Shift
Author: Em Bailey
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Release Date: May 22, 2012
ISBN-10: 1606843583
ISBN-13: 978-1606843581
Goodreads   Amazon

Olive Corbett is definitely NOT crazy.

Not anymore. These days she takes her meds like a good girl, hangs out with her best friend Ami, and stays the hell away from the toxic girls she used to be friends with.

She doesn’t need a boyfriend. Especially not a lifesaver-type with a nice smile. And she doesn’t need the drama of that creepy new girl Miranda, who has somehow latched on to Olive's ex-best friend.

Yet from a distance, Olive can see there's something sinister about the new friendship. Something almost... parasitic. Maybe the wild rumours ARE true. Maybe Miranda is a killer.

But who would believe Olive? She does have a habit of letting her imagination run away with her…(Goodreads)

Author: Richelle Mead
Illustrator: Emma Vieceli
Adaptor: Leigh Dragoon
Mass Market Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Razorbill; Reprint edition
Release Date: May 24, 2012
ISBN-10: 1595144307
ISBN-13: 978-1595144300
Goodreads   Amazon

The drama and romance continue in this 144-page full-color graphic novel adaptation of the second Vampire Academy novel, Frostbite, which was overseen by Richelle Mead and features beautiful art by acclaimed British illustrator Emma Vieceli.(Goodreads)

Title: Beauty and the Werewolf
Author: Mercedes Lackey
Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Luna
Release Date: May 22, 2012
ISBN-10: 037380346X
ISBN-13: 978-0373803460
Goodreads   Amazon

The magic continues in "New York Times"-bestselling author Lackey's enchanting new story from the Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms series. A beauty must battle some beasts before she rescues her prince.(Goodreads)

 

 

Title: Lethal Rider
Author: Larissa Ione
Mass Market Paperback: 464 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Release Date: May 22, 2012 
ISBN-10: 0446574503
ISBN-13: 978-0446574501
Goodreads   Amazon

They're here.
They ride.
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Born of a match between good and evil, four siblings stand between hell's minions and everything they want to destroy. They are the Lords of Deliverance, and they have the power to ward off Doomsday . . . or let it ride . . .

LETHAL RIDER
Thanatos, the most deadly Horseman of the Apocalypse, has endured thousands of years of celibacy to prevent the end of days. But just one night with the wickedly sexy Aegis Guardian, ReganCooper, shatters centuries of resolve. Yet their passion comes with a price. And Thanatos must face a truth more terrifying than an apocalypse-he's about to become a father.

Demon-slayer Regan Cooper never imagined herself the maternal type, but with the fate of the world hanging in the balance she had no choice but to seduce Thanatos and bear his child. Now, as the final battle draws closer and his rage at being betrayed is overshadowed by an undeniable passion for the mother of his child, Thanatos has a life-shattering realization: To save the world, he must sacrifice the only thing he's ever wanted- a family.(Goodreads)

Title: Shadow Bound
Author: Rachel Vincent
Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Mira
Release Date: May 22, 2012
ISBN-10: 0778313433
ISBN-13: 978-0778313434
Goodreads   Amazon

If you live in the dark long enough, you begin to forget the light…

KORI DANIELS is a shadow-walker, able to travel instantly from one shadow to another. After weeks of confinement for betraying her boss, she’s ready to break free of the Tower syndicate for good. But Jake Tower has one final job for Kori, one chance to secure freedom for herself and her sister, Kenley, even if that means taking it from someone else…

The job? Recruit Ian Holt—or kill him.

Ian’s ability to manipulate the dark has drawn interest from every syndicate in the world, most notably an invitation from Jake Tower. Though he has no interest in organized crime, Ian accepts the invite, because he’s on a mission of his own. Ian has come to kill Tower’s top Binder: Kori’s little sister.

Amid the tangle of lies, an unexpected thread of truth connecting Ian and Kori comes to light. But with opposing goals, they’ll have to choose between love and liberty….(Goodreads)

Title: Midnight’s Master
Author: Donna Grant
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Release Date: May 22, 2012 
ISBN-10: 0312552483
ISBN-13: 978-0312552480
Goodreads   Amazon

Gwynn Austin has no idea why her father has disappeared on a mysterious trip to Scotland. When she goes on a desperate mission to search for him she finds more than she bargains for in a ruggedly handsome, wickedly exciting Highlander who exudes danger and mystery. And when she discovers her own link to Scotland, she’ll have to trust her heart to help lead her...

Propelled through time by powerful Druid Magic, Logan Hamilton uses his immortality and powers of the god inside him to help prevent the awakening of an ancient evil in the modern world. He never expects to find help in the form of a beautiful, alluring, and all too tempting woman whose passion and strength matches his own. Together, Logan and Gywnn must fight for their love—before a demon from the past destroys them both…(Goodreads)

So… do you plan on snatching any of these books up today? Is anything new to you?

 

Happy Bookday!!!
To all the author that have books out this week.

Interview: Vanessa Morgan author of A Good Man

I am excited to have horror author Vanessa Morgan here today. She is going to tell us a little about herself and her newest project.

Hi Vanessa! I am so excited to have you here. Could you please tell us a little about yourself?
 
I'm a screenwriter and novelist. The press often refers to me as the 'female version of Stephen King', so I guess that summarizes my work quite well. I'm originally from Belgium and I still live there. Although I write in English and French, my native language is Dutch.When I'm not writing, I love watching movies, going to film festivals, eating out, cooking, reading and cuddling my cat.
 
Can you tell us about your new screenplay A Good Man?
 
A Good Man is a dark comedy with a few horror elements. I could best describe it as American Psycho with a vampire. Some people have also compared it to the TV-series Dexter. It's a fun and moving story and it turns the vampire myth completely on its head. It's not the kind of vampire story you've seen before and if you think you know how things will turn out, then think again.
 
What is harder writing a screenplay, or a novel?
 
Writing a novel is definitely harder. Most people feel it's the opposite, but I think it all depends on what medium you prefer. I'm more a movie person than a book person, so that means I am more at ease with that medium. Writing a screenplay is different than writing a novel in the sense that a screenwriter is not allowed to tell what's in the character's mind; everything has to be shown, everything has to be visual. Structure is also important, because a screenplay (and the movie for that matter) quickly becomes boring if you put too much scenes in it for character development but that doesn't move the story forward at the same time. In books, you can get away with that, but not in a screenplay. My experience as a screenwriter has obviously influenced my work as a novelist in that I am more concise and more visual than most other novelists. I 'explain' a lot through the images and details I portray. Sometimes it's about two characters talking about ordinary things, but it's actually about something more profound that you can only 'get' once you have read the whole book. I love putting information into details that seem irrelevant at first.
 
What is your writing process? (Do you right outlines? Do you know how a story is going to end when you start it?)
 
Writing the first draft is always easy and I just go with the flow without outlining too much. Outlining even blocks my creative process. It’s the rewriting phase that is the most difficult, because rewriting is all about improving myself and finding better ideas than the ones I initially had. It’s difficult, because it’s not natural. Having a clear vision of what you want your story to become is important while doing this. So is listening to the advice of others in your field, as long as you stay true to your own voice.
 
What is it like to have something you write turned into a movie?
 
The first time my work got turned into a movie was with the film adaptation of my short story The Strangers Outside. I'm very proud that my story got chosen for an adaptation and it was fun to be on the film set, but at the same time it's a bit frustrating because the film was different than the way I imagined it. The movie based on A Good Man is still in pre-production phase, but I'm looking forward to seeing the end result.
 
What is your favorite genre to read?
 
Non-fiction titles, biographies and love stories. That's probably the reason why my supernatural thrillers always have a very strong personal element in it.
 
What is your favorite book of all time?
 
There are so many good books and writers that I don't have a favorite.
 
What are you reading right now?
 
I'm reading a French book called L'enfant nucléaire. It's the second novel from Daph Nobody, who is by far the most original new voice in French literature.
 
What can we be excited about that is coming from you in the future?
 
As some of you already know, A Good Man is now in pre-production and ready to be turned into a French feature film. Director, actors and part of the crew are already attached to the project and the production is finalizing the funding phase. It will be shot later this year and I will keep everyone up to date by posting behind-the-scenes pictures on my blog. Apart from the film adaptation of A Good Man, I'm currently working on seven different projects, both movies and books, and I'm lucky to be able to collaborate with some of the most talented directors and artists in Europe. Another project is a book based on the web comic about my cat (Found here).
 
Thanks so much for coming by the Spine today Vanessa!
 

---

Screenwriter and novelist Vanessa Morgan is known as the 'female version of Stephen King'. You can find out more about Vanessa Morgan and her work by going to her personal blog. If you like cats, you might also like the web comic about her cat Avalon at http://avalon-lion.blogspot.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Good Man (screenplay)
 

Do you like Dexter and American Psycho? Then chances are you will love A Good Man.

 

Louis Caron is a good man – he's a vegetarian, feeds homeless people, takes care of animals and is converned with the ecological well-being of the planet. But his altruism has a sinister edge – he's a vampire and local detective Taglioni becomes increasingly suspicious of him. Louis' attempt to escape the police will take him on a journey into his own private hell where he is not only forced to confront his worst fears, but where he will also destroy the lives of those he cares about.

Goodreads

 

 

The Strangers Outside (short story)
 

Two sisters, Jennifer and Louise, return to their remote holiday cottage after a day at the seaside. But little do they know they're being surrounded. Soon after their arrival, the girls will come face to face with the strangers outside. When the assailants make their intentions known, things take a shockingly terrible turn and an intense battle for survival will begin.

Goodreads

 

 

 

 

Drowned Sorrow (novel)
 

Megan Blackwood has just lost her son in a terrible accident. Now she has come to Moonlight Creek with her teenage daughter Jenna, hoping that a change of scenery might help to put her life back together. But something odd is going on in Moonlight Creek. When rain falls over the village, the inhabitants commit grisly murders, leaving the village deserted with the first rays of sunshine. Beneath the lake's surface, an eerie presence watches... and waits... Waits to reveal a tragic past drowned in mystery and fear. One that doesn't bode well for visitors. By the time Megan realizes that her daughter is in danger, it might already be too late.

Goodreads

Follow Friday (42)

Welcome to Follow Me Friday Hosted By Parajunkee.com and Alisoncanread.com

This weeks question:

Summer Break is upon us! What would be the perfect vacation spot for you to catch up on your reading & relax?

Me at the beach this afternoon.

My favorite vacation spot is the beach…in fact that is were I am right now:) While I am here I plan on reading Promises, its about a mermaid, appropriate right?!?!

 

But lets be honest, the best place for me to catch up on my reading or relax at all is anywhere my children are not. Don’t get me wrong I love my girls who are 7, 5, and 3 years old. But any amount of time I get that is quiet and to myself, that is a vacation!

Giveaways to enter:

The Near Witch paperback international Giveaway 

Can’t wait to read your answers!
Happy hopping,

Review: Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Title: Jessica’s Guide To Dating The Dark Side
Author: Beth Fantaskey
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Graphia
Release Date: January 18, 2010 
ISBN-10: 0547259409
ISBN-13: 978-0547259406
Source: My shelf
Goodreads   Amazon

Marrying a vampire definitely doesn’t fit into Jessica Packwood’s senior year “get-a-life” plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he’s her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius’s soul from eternal destruction.(Goodreads)

Review

I have had Jessica’s Guide To Dating On The Dark Side on my shelf for some time just waiting to be read. It was recommended to me by Cana over at Place of Reads.

Jessica has grown up with her Vegan parents on a no kill farm, other than that she is just like any teenage girl starting her senior year of high school. That is until a strange hot new guy calls to her by her original name, the name her birth parents gave to her, one that she has tried to forget about.

Antanasia Dragomir didn’t exist, as far as I was concerned.

“Are you sure he knew your name?” Mindy asked.

“No,” I admitted. “But I thought I heard it.”

“Oh Jess.” Mindy sighed. “Nobody knows that name. You probably just imagined the whole thing. Or else a word that sounds like Antanasia.”

I looked at Mindy crosswise. “What word sounds like Antanasia?”

I liked Jessica’s character, she is incredibly smart and knows what she wants to do with her life. Jessica has some gorgeous guy tell her she is a vampire princess and she has a normal reaction, she is skeptical of the whole thing. And she did not instantly fall in love with Lucius, powerful, hot, prince of vampires Lucius. It was nice to see a reaction like that in comparison to the YA norm, insta-love and with a yay I’m a vampire thrown in.

I had a love hate relationship with Lucius. Lucius has grown up a rich entitled prince and he was sure that his bride to be Jessica would want nothing more than to be with him just after spending a little time with him. Lucius has a rude awakening when it comes to Jess, so he has to change his strategy. I liked that Lucius tried to fit in eventually and learn the ways of the mortal. I loved the letters Lucius writes to his uncle, they are normally very funny, and give insight to what Lucius is actually thinking.

A little of one of Lucius’s letters:

Here, one worries only about colliding on the narrow lanes with a wagon overloaded with hay (and people say Romania is backward!) or whether there will be a “good show” on the television at night. (The Pakwoods have been kind enough to supply me with a TV out here in my backyard exile, to which I can only reply with an americanism “Woopee.”)

I don’t want to give any spoilers but I will say that the relationship between Jessica and Lucius drove me crazy. At first I couldn’t decide if I wanted them together, by the time I did want them together they were completely frustrating me and I didn’t know if it was going to happen.

After a while some of Lucius and Jessica’s classmates catch on that there is something off about Lucius and it becomes an all witch… err vampire hunt.

   “Some people say that vampires still exist,” Frank continued. “If you look on the internet, there is a lot of information about people who drink blood—human blood—and call themselves vampires. Many of these freaks live in Romania, where they are often killed because normal people shouldn’t have to live with them.”

He paused and stared pointedly past me. At Lucius. No, no, no.

“Franklin, I’m not sure this is appropriate,” Mrs. Wilhelm sputtered. standing up.

   But Frank returned to reading, more quickly, before anyone could stop him. “There are even names of blood-drinking people on the Internet. Lots of people who say they are vampires have the last name Vladescu, just like Lucius. That is a weird coincidence.”

The one thing that really got under my skin was there seamed to be no consequences to the harsh actions of the students that went after Lucius, they just got to continue on with their life without a second thought or some kind of realization that the things they did were very wrong.

I enjoyed Jessica’s Guide To Dating On The Dark Side. It was a nice surprise to find that it was not like every other YA Vampire read.

Happy reading,

It's good. I had fun for the most part.

Recommended For

Teen and up: There is language, violence, and talk of sex.