Are You Buying? (March 6, 2012 Edition)

These are both YA and Adult titles.

Title: Illuminate
Author: Aimee Agresti
Hardcover: 528 pages
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Release Date: March 6, 2012
ISBN-10: 0547626142
ISBN-13: 978-0547626147
Goodreads  Amazon

Haven Terra is a brainy, shy high school outcast. But everything begins to change when she turns sixteen. Along with her best friend Dante and their quiet and brilliant classmate Lance, she is awarded a prestigious internship in the big city— Chicago—and is sent to live and work at a swanky and stylish hotel under the watchful eyes of a group of gorgeous and shockingly young-looking strangers: powerful and alluring hotel owner Aurelia Brown; her second-in-command, the dashing Lucian Grove; and their stunning but aloof staff of glamazons called The Outfit.

As Haven begins falling for Lucian, she discovers that these beautiful people are not quite what they seem. With the help of a mysterious book, she uncovers a network of secret passageways from the hotel’s jazz-age past that leads her to the heart of the evil agenda of Aurelia and company: they’re in the business of buying souls. Will they succeed in wooing Haven to join them in their recruitment efforts, or will she be able to thwart this devilish set’s plans to take the souls of her classmates on prom night at the hotel?

Illuminate is an exciting saga of a teen’s first taste of independence, her experience in the lap of luxury, and her discovery she may possess strength greater than she ever knew. (Goodreads)

Title: Balthazar
Author: Claudia Gray
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: March 6, 2012
ISBN-10: 0061961183
ISBN-13: 978-0061961182
Goodreads  Amazon

Haunted by memories from his first days as a vampire, Balthazar has spent hundreds of years alone—without allies, without love. When he emerges from his isolation to help Skye Tierney, a human girl who once attended Evernight Academy, Balthazar has no idea how dangerous it will be. Skye’s psychic powers have caught the attention of Redgrave, the cruel master vampire responsible for murdering Balthazar and his family four centuries ago. Having learned of Skye’s powers and the remarkable effect her blood has on vampires, he plans to use her for his own evil purposes. As they stand together to fight the evil vampire, Balthazar realizes his lonely world could finally be changed by Skye...just as Redgrave realizes that he can destroy Balthazar once and for all by taking her for his own.

In a story filled with forbidden love and dark suspense, one of the most beloved characters in Claudia Gray’s New York Times bestselling Evernight series will captivate readers with his battle to overcome his past and follow his heart. (Goodreads)

Title: Katana
Author: Cole Gibsen
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Flux
Release Date: March 8, 2012
ISBN-10: 0738730408
ISBN-13: 978-0738730400
Goodreads  Amazon

Rileigh Martin would love to believe that adrenaline had given her the uncanny courage and strength to fend off three muggers. But it doesn't explain her dreams of 15th-century Japan, the incredible fighting skills she suddenly possesses, or the strange voice giving her battle tips and danger warnings.

While worrying that she's going crazy (always a reputation ruiner), Rileigh gets a visit from Kim, a handsome martial arts instructor, who tells Rileigh she's harboring the spirit of a five-hundred-year-old samurai warrior.

Relentlessly attacked by ninjas, Rileigh has no choice but to master the katana--a deadly Japanese sword that's also the key to her past. As the spirit grows stronger and her feelings for Kim intensify, Rileigh is torn between continuing as the girl she's always been and embracing the warrior inside her. (Goodreads)

Title: Embrace
Author: Jessica Shirvington
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: March 6, 2012 
ISBN-10: 1402268408
ISBN-13: 978-1402268403
Goodreads  Amazon

It starts with a whisper: “It’s time for you to know who you are…”

Violet Eden dreads her seventeenth birthday. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. As if that wasn’t enough, disturbing dreams haunt her sleep and leave her with very real injuries. There’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms that wasn’t there before.

Violet is determined to get some answers, but nothing could have prepared her for the truth. The guy she thought she could fall in love with has been keeping his identity a secret: he’s only half-human—oh, and same goes for her.

A centuries-old battle between fallen angels and the protectors of humanity has chosen its new warrior. It’s a fight Violet doesn’t want, but she lives her life by two rules: don’t run and don’t quit. When angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden…

Look for the sequels ENTICED in September 2012 and EMBLAZE in March 2013! (Goodreads)

Title: Fair Game
Author: Patricia Briggs
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Ace Hardcover
Release Date: March 6, 2012 
ISBN-10: 0441020038
ISBN-13: 978-0441020034
Goodreads  Amazon

They say opposites attract. And in the case of werewolves Anna Latham and Charles Cornick, they mate. The son-and enforcer-of the leader of the North American werewolves, Charles is a dominant alpha. While Anna, an omega, has the rare ability to calm others of her kind.

Now that the werewolves have revealed themselves to humans, they can't afford any bad publicity. Infractions that could have been overlooked in the past must now be punished, and the strain of doing his father's dirty work is taking a toll on Charles.

Nevertheless, Charles and Anna are sent to Boston, when the FBI requests the pack's help on a local serial killer case. They quickly realize that not only the last two victims were werewolves-all of them were. Someone is targeting their kind. And now Anna and Charles have put themselves right in the killer's sights... (Goodreads)

Title: Discount Armageddon
Author: Seanan McGuire
Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: DAW
Release Date: March 6, 2012
ISBN-10: 0756407133
ISBN-13: 978-0756407131
Goodreads  Amazon

Ghoulies. Ghosties. Long-legged beasties. Things that go bump in the night... The Price family has spent generations studying the monsters of the world, working to protect them from humanity-and humanity from them. Enter Verity Price. Despite being trained from birth as a cryptozoologist, she'd rather dance a tango than tangle with a demon, and is spending a year in Manhattan while she pursues her career in professional ballroom dance. Sounds pretty simple, right? It would be, if it weren't for the talking mice, the telepathic mathematicians, the asbestos supermodels, and the trained monster-hunter sent by the Price family's old enemies, the Covenant of St. George. When a Price girl meets a Covenant boy, high stakes, high heels, and a lot of collateral damage are almost guaranteed. To complicate matters further, local cryptids are disappearing, strange lizard-men are appearing in the sewers, and someone's spreading rumors about a dragon sleeping underneath the city... (Goodreads)

Title: Nightborn
Author: Lynn Viehl
Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Signet Select
Release Date: March 6, 2012 
ISBN-10: 0451413210
ISBN-13: 978-0451413215
Goodreads  Amazon

The High Lord of the Immortal Darkyn has sent his most trusted warrior, Korvel, to retrieve a coveted scroll that's rumored to contain maps to Templar treasures and the secrets to eternal life. Uniting with Korvel to recover the dangerous artifact is Simone Derien, the daughter of the scroll's guardian, and a woman with many deadly secrets... (Goodreads)

Title: The Drowning Girl
Author: Caitlín R. Kiernan
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Roc Trade
Release Date: March 6, 2012 
ISBN-10: 0451464168
ISBN-13: 978-0451464163
Goodreads  Amazon

India Morgan Phelps-Imp to her friends-is schizophrenic. Struggling with her perceptions of reality, Imp must uncover the truth about her encounters with creatures out of myth-or from something far, far stranger... (Goodreads)

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

Manga Review: Spice & Wolf, Vol. 1 by Isuna Hasekura Illustrated by Keito Koume

Have you entered my GIVEAWAY?!?!

 

Manga Monday was turned into a meme by the awesome Alison Can Read!

*I warn you now there may be spoilers…It’s hard with manga.

 

Title: Spice and Wolf, Volume 1
Author: Isuna Hasekura
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Yen Press
Release Date: April 20, 2010
ISBN-10: 0316073393
ISBN-13: 978-0316073394
Source: Borrowed

With his carthorse as his only companion, the young merchant Kraft Lawrence slowly wends his way through dusty back roads in search of profitable trade. But this monotony screeches to a halt when, one night, he encounters a harvest goddess in the guise of a beautiful young girl . . . with wolf ears and a tail Longing for the northern lands of her birth, Holo the Wisewolf joins Lawrence as he follows the ebb and flow of trade through the countryside. And when the two come across a compelling but suspicious opportunity for profit, will Lawrence with his mercantile chops and Holo with her ancient instincts be able to separate the truth from the lies - and make some coin while they're at it?

This manga adaptation of Isuna Hasekura's acclaimed Spice and Wolf novel series, also available from Yen Press, is an investment that promises the greatest of entertainment returns. (Goodreads)

Review

I was actually told about the anime series Spice and Wolf about a year ago. A friend of mine recommended it because they thought it was something I would enjoy. I never got around to watching the show, but did stumble upon the manga recently. I had no idea that the manga and the anime series are based off of light novels. My friend was right, I did enjoy this volume and will be going after the anime soon:)

When Lawrence goes to get some rest in his cart after a long day he discovers a very naked Holo. when he asks what she is doing in his cart Holo tells Lawrence her story. I enjoyed the conversational style writing in this manga. The story line was very clear.

At first Lawrence does not believe Holo’s story of being a wolf demon and thinks she is just some disfigured runaway, so Holo has to bring out the big guns and give him a little bit of a show… Well, lets just say she proves who she is and Lawrence learns not to doubt her.

I really enjoyed learning the folklore surrounding Holo’s existence. How she is connected to the land, the wheat is amazing. It seams that Lawrence and Holo will be able to help one another as they are now traveling together. Lawrence helping Holo blend in, she does have wolf ears and tail to learn to hide. I can see Holo becoming a great asset to Lawrence in his merchant business as she can tell when people lie.

I loved the artwork in Spice and Wolf. It was detailed and beautiful. I can’t wait to learn more about these characters and see what happens next.

Happy Reading,

Awesome! Reread worthy.

Recommended For

Older teen and up: For nudity.       

In My Mailbox (31)

Have You Entered My Giveaway?!?!

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren and is a post for bloggers to share what books they've received to review, bought, won, borrowed or were gifted.

No video this week:( I am sick, trust me you don’t want to see this;)

For Review

Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Publishing, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing.

I Purchased

I will one day meet Nalini Singh and have a total fan girl moment, but until then I will simply sqweee over her books. If you are a fan of the Guild Hunter series this is a must read. Yes, I have read it and let me tell you Jessamy and Galen's story is so good. Review of Angel’s Flight will go this Saturday for the Sexy Saturday Review:)

From the Library

I don’t know that I will continue doing Fruits Basket reviews on the Spine but I do love the series and want to finish it. Kimi Ni Todoke is a contemporary manga that I discovered through the meme Manga Monday hosted by Alison Can Read.

What did you get in your mailbox?

Follow Friday (37)

Have you entered my GIVEAWAY?!?!

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

Featured this week!

This Weeks Question:

What book would you love to see made into a movie or television show and do you have actors/actresses in mind to play the main characters?

I always get nervous when a book I love is going to be made into a movie. I have this idea in my head of how it should be, (as all readers do) so I think, what if this movie screws it up. I guess I never think to myself “Wow I want this to be a movie”  but once a book I love is optioned I get excited for what it can be.

The two book to movie adaptations I am most excited about now is:

I hope both movies are executed well. Not long to wait and see with The Hunger Games:)

Happy Hopping,

Audio Review: The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice Read by Ron McLarty

Have you entered my giveaway?!?!

Title: The Wolf Gift
Author: Anne Rice
Read By: Ron McLarty
Listening Length: 17 hours and 19 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Random House Audio
Release Date: February 14, 2012
ASIN: B0078XQZAQ

A daring new departure from the inspired creator of The Vampire Chronicles (“unrelentingly erotic . . . unforgettable”—The Washington Post), Lives of the Mayfair Witches (“Anne Rice will live on through the ages of literature”—San Francisco Chronicle), and the angels of The Songs of the Seraphim (“remarkable”—Associated Press). A whole new world—modern, sleek, high-tech—and at its center, a story as old and compelling as history: the making of a werewolf, reimagined and reinvented as only Anne Rice, teller of mesmerizing tales, conjurer extraordinaire of other realms, could create.   The time is the present.   The place, the rugged coast of Northern California. A bluff high above the Pacific. A grand mansion full of beauty and tantalizing history set against a towering redwood forest.   A young reporter on assignment from the San Francisco Observer . . . An older woman welcoming him into her magnificent family home that he has been sent to write about and that she must sell with some urgency . . . A chance encounter between two unlikely people . . . An idyllic night—shattered by horrific unimaginable violence, the young man inexplicably attacked—bitten—by a beast he cannot see in the rural darkness . . . A violent episode that sets in motion a terrifying yet seductive transformation, as the young man, caught between ecstasy and horror, between embracing who he is evolving into and fearing what he will become, soon experiences the thrill of the wolf gift.   As he resists the paradoxical pleasure and enthrallment of his wolfen savagery and delights in the power and (surprising) capacity for good, he is caught up in a strange and dangerous rescue and is desperately hunted as “the Man Wolf” by authorities, the media, and scientists (evidence of DNA threatens to reveal his dual existence) . . . As a new and profound love enfolds him, questions emerge that propel him deeper into his mysterious new world: questions of why and how he has been given this gift; of its true nature and the curious but satisfying pull towards goodness; of the profound realization that there may be others like him who are watching—guardian creatures who have existed throughout time who possess ancient secrets and alchemical knowledge. And throughout it all, the search for salvation for a soul tormented by a new realm of temptations, and the fraught, exhilarating journey, still to come, of being and becoming, fully, both wolf and man. From the Hardcover edition. (Goodreads)

Review

I have been having such a hard time with this review. I actually finished The Wolf Gift days ago and have been struggling with how I feel about it. This is Anne Rice. Anne Rice. The woman introduced me to vampires. Honestly who would I be without her? But I digress…Lets talk The Wolf Gift.

Reuben Golding is an early twenties upper class reporter. Reuben is the golden boy in his family, ten years younger than his priest brother, very handsome, he has been going from one thing to the next in life without a care. I liked Reuben but I did have a hard time connecting with him on an everyday level. Come to think of it I had that same problem with all of the characters that had major roles. I don’t know what it’s like to have the bulk of my income inherited to me, this is how the world works in Reuben Golding’s life and people he knows. Yes, these characters work, but they were established to start with. Reuben also falls in love rather quickly. He sees a woman, she shows him affection and bam, he loves her. I’m not saying it’s not possible, but Reuben was with three women in The Wolf Gift and claims to love them all. I do like all the growth that happens in Reuben’s character. He has to go through so much on his own without any guidance that I did connect with him on an emotional level. Who of us have not tried to decide what was the right decision to make?

I did love Anne Rice’s take on the werewolf, it was new. All the history and depth Rice put into her version of the werewolf was amazing and very different from all the urban fantasy I have read. I enjoyed the small amount of time that I got to have with the other werewolves, who are much older than Reuben, and hope that there will be more of them one day. Because even though they all seem to have a lot of power, they also have this fun mischievous glee to them.    

Let me warn you The Wolf Gift starts out S L O W, if I had been reading and not listening to it I would have put The Wolf Gift down a few times in between the first four chapters or so. All the descriptive writing is beautiful but there is just a bit too much of it. Ron McLarty was wonderful to listen to. The audio book was the better choice for me on this one.

I really want there to be a sequel to The Wolf Gift! I would like to know what happens next to the characters. I know I haven't given a lot in this review but I don’t want to spoil things if you do pick it up. I will say if I had read instead of listened my rating may have been a 3 instead of a 4. But Ron McLarty really helped to push the flow for me when I would have been bored with over description.

Happy Reading,

    

Awesome! Reread worthy.

Recommended For

Adults: For violence, language, and werewolf and people sex.