Review: Twice Tempted (Night Prince #2) by: J. Frost

Dating the Prince of Darkness has its challenges...

Leila's psychic abilities have been failing her, and now she isn't sure what the future holds. If that weren't enough, her lover, Vlad, has been acting distant. Though Leila is a mere mortal, she's also a modern woman who refuses to accept the cold shoulder treatment forever–especially from the darkly handsome vampire who still won't admit that he loves her.

Like choosing between eternal love and a loveless eternity...

Soon circumstances send Leila back to the carnival circuit, where tragedy strikes. And when she finds herself in the crosshairs of a killer who may be closer than she realizes, Leila must decide who to trust– the fiery vampire who arouses her passions like no other or the tortured knight who longs to be more than a friend? With danger stalking her every step of the way, all it takes is one wrong move to damn her for eternity.

Review: 
 
As always, with Jeaniene Frost books I'm left wanting more. I couldn't put it down, until I lost the battle with sleep - but finished it first thing this morning!

The storyline is typical for JF, full of action, excitement and anticipation. There's never a dull moment, or filler in her books! It's interesting from beginning to end - though this one was a bit predictable. I didn't always know what was going to happen, bit I did figure out the who's pretty early on. Other than not being surprised, I was thrilled with this book and can't wait to read more! 

(I reviewed the first book in the series, here)
 

Review: Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs, by Molly Harper

Maybe it was the Shenanigans gift certificate that put her over the edge. When children's librarian and self-professed nice girl Jane Jameson is fired by her beastly boss and handed twenty-five dollars in potato skins instead of a severance check, she goes on a bender that's sure to become Half Moon Hollow legend. On her way home, she's mistaken for a deer, shot, and left for dead. And thanks to the mysterious stranger she met while chugging neon-colored cocktails, she wakes up with a decidedly unladylike thirst for blood.
Jane is now the latest recipient of a gift basket from the Newly Undead Welcoming Committee, and her life-after-lifestyle is taking some getting used to. Her recently deceased favorite aunt is now her ghostly roommate. She has to fake breathing and endure daytime hours to avoid coming out of the coffin to her family. She's forced to forgo her favorite down-home Southern cooking for bags of O negative. Her relationship with her sexy, mercurial vampire sire keeps running hot and cold. And if all that wasn't enough, it looks like someone in Half Moon Hollow is trying to frame her for a series of vampire murders. What's a nice undead girl to do?

Review:  

I absolutely loved this book! 
I read a short story, The Undead in my bed (click to see review), that actually falls much later in the series. It was so good that I decided to start at the beginning, and I am so glad I did!
Molly seems to channel my inner sarcasm into her characters! Jane is hilarious, even when she's not trying to be and I caught myself laughing out loud more than once, causing some strange looks from the people around me.
I can't wait to read the next book in the series. 

 

Review: The Secret Circle (books 4 and 5)

Keep your enemies close. . . .
     For the first time since moving to New Salem, Cassie Blake feels normal. She's dating her soul mate Adam and making new friends in town. But between the secret coven of witches she belongs to and the incredible power she holds within her, Cassie is leading a far from ordinary life. When tragedy strikes the Circle, Cassie realizes being extraordinary can be a curse.

The Circle is being hunted by an unknown enemy—and anyone could be the next victim. As they struggle to protect themselves, alliances are formed and relationships are tested. No one knows who to trust or who to fear. Will Cassie be able to save the Circle . . . and herself? Or will her choices break it apart forever?

Review:  
                  ** spoiler alert **

The original books by LJ Smith were really good, this one seemed just as cheesy as the TV show was.
Throughout the whole thing it seems like Cassie is torn between Adam and Nick... but if your SO in love with Adam, your soul mate - why are you fawning all over Nick? Then you have the predictable 'sister' is she good, is she bad... it causes drama with the circle. blah blah

It's all been written before, the twists were so predictable that it took away what little suspense the storyline should of had.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

There's no turning back. . . .
For Cassie and her Circle of witches, it's hard to imagine life in New Salem getting any worse. A band of powerful witch hunters is targeting the group, determined to destroy them one by one. And Cassie's half sister, Scarlett, won't rest until she has a spot in the Circle--even if she has to kill Cassie to get it.

The Circle's only hope against their enemies is Cassie's father's Book of Shadows--an ancient guide to the world of dark magic. But Cassie soon discovers that opening the book has grave consequences. Cassie's drawn in by the book's sinister spell, and it starts controlling her emotions and impulses, unraveling her relationship with Adam as it takes over her life.

Cassie fights against the darkness inside her as the threats against the Circle grow. But once evil is let in, she may never escape. . . 

Review: 
 
As with the previous book in the series, I prefer LJ's writing - but this one was a little better. The story picked up it's pace a bit and there were a few twists that I actually didn't see coming!
It's just interesting enough that I'll be reading the next one to see what happens. 

Winners Announced

    a Rafflecopter giveaway     Winners, please send me a message on facebook with your address. I've tried sending you messages, but if we aren't friends it is filtered into spam... If I don't have your address by Friday I'll pick a new winner. Thanks!  SEND ME A MESSAGE HERE  https://www.facebook.com/2011.Books.with.Bite     Winners of the Bookmarks:

Tara Pennington

Amber Woods Clark 

Jaime Anderson 

  Brenda Lochinger

LaGina Keisha Hagerman Reese

 Winners of the Posters:

  Brittany Hiester

  Amber Rae Detjens 

I'll be shipping your items out soon.  :)  

Thanks to everyone who participated. 

 

Review: The Undead in my Bed, by Molly Harper

A Story from The Undead in My Bed

In "Undead Sublet" by Molly Harper, executive chef Tess Maitland is banned from her five-star kitchen in Chicago to recover from "exhaustion". Choosing a random rental house in Half-Moon Hollow to spend time in, she's unaware that the house comes with a strange man.
Even though Sam Masden's ex-wife has rented the house out from under him, the divorce settlement allows him access to it for another ninety days. With Tess unable to go anywhere else, and Sam unwilling, a war of epic proportions is declared - and romantic sparks and heavy pots fly.


Review:
 
I think I've just added Molly Harper to my list of favorite authors! Yeah, she's up there with Charlaine Harris, Jeaniene Frost, and Rachel Caine!

I downloaded this story as a free book from audible and was pleasantly surprised at the quality. There is a perfect combination of real world problems, humor, and sarcasm. I actually felt what Tess was going through, and had quite a few laugh out loud moments where my husband looked at me funny from across the room. ;)
I just couldn't get enough of this story, and have already added her other books to my 'to read' list!

~ Kim 
 

Review: Bitter Blood, #13 in Morganville Vampires

For years, the human and vampire residents of Morganville, Texas, have managed to co-exist in peace. But now that the threat to the vampires has been defeated, the human residents are learning that the gravest danger they face is the enemy within…

Thanks to the eradication of the parasitic creatures known as the draug, the vampires of Morganville have been freed of their usual constraints. With the vampires indulging their every whim, the town’s human population is determined to hold on to their lives by taking up arms. But college student Claire Danvers isn’t about to take sides, considering she has ties to both the humans and the vampires.

To make matters worse, a television show comes to Morganville looking for ghosts, just as vampire and human politics collide. Now, Claire and her friends have to figure out how to keep the peace without ending up on the nightly news… or worse.


 Review: 

The stories pace picks back up in this book, which I am grateful for! I was worried that it would be another amazing series ruined by the number of books the publishers can squeeze out of the author.

There is a lot of action in this one, along with the usual twists and turns that you don't see coming. A few of the chapters were narrated by other characters (Shane, Micheal, Myrnin, etc.) and while I usually don't like that - the way this one was done worked out well. One of my favorite chapters is by Myrnin, and it truly shows his crazy. I love it.

The ending surprised me, and I can't wait for the next book.

I'm glad it's coming to an end, while I do LOVE this series, how many ways can the residents of the glass house really save Morganville?

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

CAUTION: SPOILERS

If you haven't read Book 13, you shouldn't read the excerpt below!

 ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Fall of Night, Book 14 - Release Date: May 7th, 2013



Thanks to its unique combination of human and vampire residents, Morganville, Texas, is a small college town with big-time problems. When student Claire Danvers gets the chance to experience life on the outside, she takes it. But Morganville isn’t the only town with vampire trouble...

Claire never thought she’d leave Morganville, but when she gets accepted into the graduate program at MIT, she can’t pass up the opportunity. Saying good-bye to her friends is bittersweet, especially since things are still raw and unsettled between Claire and her boyfriend, Shane.

Her new life at MIT is scary and exciting, but Morganville is never really far from Claire’s mind. Enrolled in a special advanced study program with Professor Irene Anderson, a former Morganville native, Claire is able to work on her machine, which is designed to cancel the mental abilities of vampires.

But when she begins testing her machine on live subjects, things quickly spiral out of control, and Claire starts to wonder whether leaving Morganville was the last mistake she’ll ever make...

 

Author Interview with Daniele Lanzarotta

Question
Daniele
Kim
   
 Who is your favorite author?
Just one? One of my many favorites is Richelle Mead. 
Me too! 

You’ve already covered Vampires, Angels, and Mermaids - Are you hiding anymore projects?
*evil grin* Of course! Witches are in the future, among others…

Where did you get the idea for A Mermaid’s Curse?
It kind of just happened. I remember that I was looking for a challenge and I didn’t know anything about mermaids other than what I saw in the Little Mermaid, so I decided to try it out.  The original idea started out as a dark, twisted, and adult version of the little mermaid, but it changed quite a bit from the original plan.
I'm liking your dark twisted side... 

How many books do you see in this series?
There will be three. I already can’t wait to finish the second one.
 Can't wait.

Did the ideas come from personal experience, or straight from your brain?
They pretty much came from my crazy brain.

Did you find it harder to write an Adult book?
I actually found it easier.  I didn’t have to stop to think about whether something was too much for my target audience.  There were no limits.

When will we see Nicholas again? ;)
Very soon!  It will be either toward the end of this year or beginning of next year at the latest. I really miss him!
I'm having withdraws.. 

How do you keep your many characters separate while writing?
They each have their own personality, which makes it easy.

Do the characters from your many books ever meet in your dreams? Maybe there will be a book in the future where all of our favorites meet up…
That would be fun, even though I don’t think Nicholas would get along with Kayla, or with any of the Academy of the Fallen characters for that matter. I actually had a dream about Nicholas once. He was pissed off that I was spending too much time writing Academy of the Fallen. *Laughs* Lately, I seem to have a lot of dreams about Mermaid’s Curse.  I love it. ;)
I think I'd sleep more if he visited. 

Pen & paper or Computer?
Computer.  I can’t understand my own handwriting.

How do you stay sane?
Who knows? *Laughs*

Which of your series is your favorite? (Even better, who’s your favorite character?)
Just so you know, I’m not a fan of this question. *Laughs* It’s a tie between Nicholas and Blake.
I know, because you love them all - but I had to ask. ;)

Favorite movie? TV Show? Color? Snack?
Hunger Games/Suits/Black/Does chocolate count as a snack?
YES! 

Have you ever considered writing a historical romance?
That would be a hell of a challenge.  I’m not a big fan of historical novels. :/
If done right, they are my favorite - but lots of work and research! lol It's definitely not one of those things that just come to you! 

Are you constantly thinking - hmm… that would be a great scenario… ?
Always!

Is there anything you’d like to go back and change in any of your books?
Yes… I guess with Academy of the Fallen, I went too far with making Kayla sound like a spoiled brat in the beginning. *Laughs* She grows a lot throughout the series, but if I could go back, I would add a scene from her childhood right at the beginning, to explain why she hides behind this wall. That is actually something that I added to the screenplay.  
Yeah, she wasn't my favorite character at first, but I like her now. 

Have you always enjoyed reading and writing?
Always!

Do you prefer e-books or print?
I like both the same.  I like having my favorites in print, but I read faster on ebooks because of the convenience factor.
Me too. Though lately it's been audio books so I can still work on my purses.

What is your favorite quote?
“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, and then throw it in the face of the person who gave you the lemons until they give you the oranges you originally asked for.”
― Cassandra Clare

Do you prefer the movie or the book?
I enjoy both the same.  I even like when the movie changes things a bit… I like to be surprised.

What question do you wish someone would ask, but has never come up in an interview?
I guess no one ever asked me why Nicholas is my favorite. *Laughs*

And your answer to that question….
We are both sarcastic and in a way, we share the same thoughts on several things, well… except for thoughts on food, of course. 

Thank You!  

Blog Tour and Giveaway

BIO
Daniele Lanzarotta is the author of paranormal/fantasy novels, including the Imprinted Souls Series, Academy of the Fallen, and A Mermaid’s Curse. She has a bachelor's in business and finance and a MBA. With only a few semesters left in school, Daniele started writing as a hobby, but it didn't take long for her to be consumed by her stories. That is her passion, and she now has several projects under way.
She enjoys reading and writing young adult novels with just about any sort of paranormal or supernatural bent...vampires... ghosts... She also enjoys watching hockey, playing rock band, guitar hero and spending time with the family.


Hashtags: #MermaidsCurse @DaniLanzarotta

Links:

www.danielelanzarotta.com
www.twitter.com/danilanzarotta
www.facebook.com/mermaidscurse
www.facebook.com/authordanielelanzarotta



 
a Rafflecopter giveaway   Pictures of the giveaway items: 

         

Review: Insatiable, A Mermaid's Curse, by Daniele Lanzarotta

Arianna always felt like she didn’t belong in the world where she was born. Ever since she was little, she used to hide behind the rocks in the sea, and watch the human family who spent their summers on that island. Over the years, there was nothing she wished more than to be like them, especially so she could get close to Blake, the human boy who she saw turn into a troubled teenager and then, an unhappy man.

Once her dad grew tired of her dreams and hopes for a reality that is not her own, Arianna is thrown into an arranged marriage, and her only way out of it is to make a deal with the power-hungry man who will give her everything that she has ever dreamed of. Dreams that turn into nightmares as she watches Blake’s world fall apart, because of her and Blake’s inability to control their desires for one another.

***paperback edition will be released on March 30th. *** 


Review: 

 A fairy tale romance meets the real world and a forbidden love is created! Daniele has out done herself this time. I adored her angels, I couldn't get enough of her vampires, and her mermaids pulled me under from page one and wouldn't let me up!
Insatiable is a fitting title because I just can't get enough of these characters. I need to know what happens, and once again Daniele has left us with a major cliff hanger!  
On top of the famous cliff hanger there are so many twists and turns that you never know what's going to happen on the next page.
At first I wasn't on team Blake, his character was so passive - but in the end he and Owen both won me over. Arianna's family is almost cult like, and I instantly disliked them. In the beginning I felt bad for Bram, but as the story goes on I found that he fit right into her underwater clan.
I'm excited to see what happens in the next book!This is a definite must read!

Review: Once Burned, by Jeaniene Frost

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.

 Review: 
 
This was the first Jeaniene Frost book that I've listened to on Audio instead of actually reading.

I was really excited when this series was announce, I couldn't wait to focus on Dracula!
Vlad doesn't seem as quick witted in his own book as he did appearing in Bones & Cat's books, but he was still quite charming. Lelia's character grew as the story went on, gaining confidence and taking control of her life instead of hiding from the world behind her 'freak' status.

There was plenty of action to keep you interested, both in the bedroom and out. I'm really interested to see what happens in the next book with several characters, not just the main couple. Will Leila win Vlad's heart? I can see Maximus becoming a stronger part of the story if Jeaniene decides to go in that direction.
I can't wait for the next book! This is a definite must read, especially if you've already read Bone's & Cat. Though, don't worry if you haven't - this would be a stand alone series not giving anything away. I did enjoy them stopping in for a visit though.

~ Kim  

Review: Finale, Hush Hush Series by Becca Fitzpatrick

Fates unfurl in the gripping conclusion to the New York Times best-selling Hush, Hush saga.
Nora is more certain than ever that she is in love with Patch. Fallen Angel or no, he is the one for her. Her heritage and destiny may mean that they will always be enemies, but there is no turning her back on him. And yet their biggest challenge lies ahead. Can their love survive a seemingly insurmountable divide? The lines are drawn, but it's unclear which sides have been taken. And in the end, will there be enough trust left to rebuild what has been broken?




Review:

At first, I was annoyed with this book. In the beginning Nora is back and forth, never making a decision and whining... a lot. Then mid way through it finally starts to pick up, there is more action, people are finally taking a stand, and there are a few twists and turns to pick up the pace of the story.
I'm happy with the way it ended, plans do not turn out the way they are supposed to, and not everyone lives happily ever after! Sometimes it's good to read a book that takes a different path. For the most part, we find closure with a lot of characters, but there are still a few that your left wondering.. what happened to them? There are was a lot more action in this one, which kept me turning the pages, so to speak.

I really enjoyed the series, but I'm glad it ended with book 4 as the storyline was beginning to bore me. It does go out with a bang though... 


 ~ Kim

Review: The Indigo Spell, book 3 in the Bloodlines Series

 In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, the Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive—this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone’s out for blood.


Review:
Another great book in the Bloodlines series!
  Sydney is growing on me as the main character. She finally opens up to the real world and admits to herself what is going on around her; including Adrian. Now that she has finally admitted her feelings, she is trying to push Adrian away - but with an evil witch after her she needs his help now more than ever!
  This book focuses more on Adrian and Sydney, instead of the constant drama surrounding Amberwood Academy as in the previous books. There is still a fair amount of storyline to keep all the characters up to date so we don't forget about them, but to finally have some quality time with Adrian is nice. Plus, there are still a few twists and turns that you'll never see coming!
  We are introduced to several new characters, including Marcus and his merry men - who is super hot.. to everyone except Sydney. His bright blue eyes are no match to the perfect green of Adrian's in her mind. We also find ourselves with a cliff hanger that brings a couple of new characters to the 'family' at Amberwood!
 
  I can't wait for the next book in this series, A Fiery Heart - which is set to release November 19th! 
  Below is a blurb from the new book, but if you haven't read The Indigo Spell yet, you may want to skip it for now as it will spoil a few of the surprises!

 

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

In The Indigo Spell, Sydney was torn between the Alchemist way of life and what her heart and gut were telling her to do. And in one breathtaking moment that Richelle Mead fans will never forget, she made a decision that shocked even her. . . .

But the struggle isn't over for Sydney. As she navigates the aftermath of her life-changing decision, she still finds herself pulled in too many directions at once. Her sister Zoe has arrived, and while Sydney longs to grow closer to her, there's still so much she must keep secret. Working with Marcus has changed the way she views the Alchemists, and Sydney must tread a careful path as she harnesses her profound magical ability to undermine the way of life she was raised to defend. Consumed by passion and vengeance, Sydney struggles to keep her secret life under wraps as the threat of exposure—and re-education—looms larger than ever.

~ Kim

 

A Mermaid's Curse Blog Tour

Blog Tour and Giveaway March 12 - 22

We will be hosting on the 16th! 

Review, Giveaway and more. 

Stand by for more details.

Review: Of Darkness and Light

 When Elora starts being followed everywhere she goes, she assumes it's paranoia, after all, if you can't see it, it can't be real...can it? Things grow increasingly weird in Elora's world; the sound of wings, footsteps and physical attacks with no one in sight. Could she be losing her mind?
When an attractive stranger saves her from her assailant, she can't help but think he might be in on it.
Who can she trust when she doesn't even feel able to trust herself.


 I really enjoyed the storyline and characters in this book. It was a really long and detailed book, but very well written. It was somewhat repetitive in spots and I just wanted them to get on with whatever was going to happen, but that's what kept me reading.
 I will read the next book when it's available.