Wednesday, August 31, 2011

My September Must-Reads

Hey there everyone! Can you freaking believe September is upon us?! All the August new-releases just about killed my budget, but they're not letting up anytime soon. Here are my September Must-Reads which I've either received as ARCs or pre-ordered for my Nook app.


Dearly, Departed - Lia Habel

Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?

The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.

But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead.


Blood Bound (Unbound #1) - Rachel Vincent

By blood, by word, by magic… Most can't touch the power. But Liv Warren is special— a paranormal tracker who follows the scent of blood.

Liv makes her own rules, and the most important one is trust no one. But when her friend's daughter goes missing, Liv has no choice but to find the girl. Thanks to a childhood oath, Liv can't rest until the child is home safe. But that means trusting Cam Caballero, the former lover forbidden to her.Bound by oath and lost in desire for a man she cannot have, Liv is racing to save the child from a dark criminal underworld where secrets, lies, trauma and danger lurk around every corner…every touch…every kiss. And more blood will be spilled before it's over…




Midnight (Dark Age Dawning #2) - Ellen Connor

Second in a stunning post-apocalyptic paranormal romance trilogy.

Three years of wandering the post-apocalyptic wasteland has stripped Dr. Chris Welsh of humanity and hope. He’s a dangerous man now, full of dark energy and yen for violence. A harrowing loss drove him from his home, and he hasn’t stopped moving since. Grim and sardonic, he never found anything worth sticking around for – until now.
Rosa Cortez runs Valle de Bravo, a haven of civilization amid the chaos of the Change. Soldiers take their orders directly from her–the iron hand within a velvet glove. The last thing she needs is a feral loner upsetting the town’s tentative balance. However, for the good of her people, she lets the sexy doctor stay. He evokes a delicious new longing, but she won’t submit to any man.
Tension rises as bloodthirsty raiders strike again and again, bent on possessing Valle and its resources. Together Chris and Rosa battle hellhounds and dust pirates while also fighting desperate attraction. To save them, love must overcome the pain of the past–and build a future in this brutal Dark Age…


Archangel's Blade (Guild Hunter #4) - Nalini Singh

The severed head marked by a distinctive tattoo on its cheek should have been a Guild case, but dark instincts honed over hundreds of years of life compel the vampire Dmitri to take control. There is something twisted about this death, something that whispers of centuries long past...but Dmitri's need to discover the truth is nothing to the vicious strength of his response to the hunter assigned to decipher the tattoo.
Savaged in a brutal attack that almost killed her, Honor is nowhere near ready to come face to face with the seductive vampire who is an archangel's right hand, and who wears his cruelty as boldly as his lethal sensuality...the same vampire who has been her secret obsession since the day she was old enough to understand the inexplicable, violent emotions he aroused in her.
As desire turns into a dangerous compulsion that might destroy them both, it becomes clear the past will not stay buried. Something is hunting...and it will not stop until it brings a blood-soaked nightmare to life once more...


Darkness Unbound (Dark Angels #1) - Keri Arthur

Risa Jones is as extraordinary as her heritage. Born from a lab-enhanced clone mother and an Aedh father, she can not only talk to the souls of the dying and the dead, but she can see the reapers and walk the gray fields that divide this world from the next.
They are skill she rarely uses, however, preferring to concentrate on the business she shares with her two best friends. But when her mother asks her to help the parents of a little girl locked in a coma, she reluctantly agrees. What she discovers scares the hell out of her. Because the little girl’s soul no longer resides in her body, and it wasn’t death and the reapers that took her.

Someone had ripped her soul from her flesh.

As it turns out, a creature consuming the souls of the innocent–and not so innocent–is the least of her problems. Because someone wants to rip open the gates that divided hell from earth, and Risa is a key component in their plans. And the only person standing between her and disaster is a reaper who isn’t exactly on her side.


So these are my top reads for September, gah I hope I can get to them all!! What about you? What are YOUR top pics for September?!

Monday, August 29, 2011

Write a Post, Help a Dog!

If you follow me on the various social media outlets you don't need to be told that I am big on animal rescue, particularly dogs. I ran the Austin Half and Austin Marathon for Blue Dog Rescue here in Austin, TX and raised $2,700 collectively in sponsorships. Now that I'm not running, I'm volunteering in other ways to help out, so when I discovered this initiative I was freaking out all over the place. How easy it is!! Won't you have a look, and join me in this??

Details:

Pedigree is resurrecting is insanely successful Write a Post, Help a Dog program. In 2010, 391 bloggers wrote about the program and with each post, Pedigree donated 20 pounds of its Healthy Longevity dog food to shelter animals. In all, 7,820 pounds of food was donated to two shelters renowned for their care of senior dogs: Muttville Senior Dog Rescue in San Francisco and Castaway Critters in Harrisburg, Pa.

How you can help in 2011

Simply spread the word about Write a Post, Help a Dog 2011 and once again Pedigree will donate 20 pounds of food for each blogger's post. Here's all you need to include in your post:

  • The Write a Post, Help a Dog program is aimed at raising awareness and food for the more than four million dogs that wind up in shelters and breed rescues each year.
  • For each blog post mentioning the Pedigree Foundation from now until midnight ET on September 3, Pedigree will donate 20 pounds of its new dry Pedigree recipe food for dogs -- its best recipe ever -- to a shelter, because every dog deserves leading nutrition.
  • The Pedigree Foundation -- a 501 (C)(3) nonprofit organization is committed to helping dogs by providing grants to shelters and rescues and encouraging dog adoption. This year the Foundation has already raised more than $376,570 against its goal of $1.5 million to carry out its work to fund grants that not only help shelters operate, but to further shelter innovations.

The Pedigree Foundation depends on charitable contributions from individuals to carry out its mission to help dogs find loving homes. In addition to writing a blog post, here's how you can help:

Then, link up to our Blog Hop below, hosted by the Pedigree BlogPaws bloggers to help spread the word about Write a Post, Help a Dog.

Spaz Reviews: Succubus Revealed - Richelle Mead

My latest (early, spoiler-free) review is up at WLP! In Succubus Revealed by Richelle Mead, we say good-bye to Georgina Kincaid.

And here we are… The End. Succubus Revealed is the last book in Richelle Mead’s Georgina Kincaid series and I cannot begin to tell you how bittersweet reading this book felt. I wanted to hurry up and read it, yet slow down and savor the story. Ultimately I settled on “screw it, full speed ahead!” and read it one seating.

We find Georgina working as a Santa’s elf at a high-end Mall, far away from her former ideal job at her beloved bookstore, which she had to leave after what happened with Seth and Maddie. Ugh Maddie. Blech, do. not. like! But that’s another rant for another time. Georgie’s been ordered by Hell to transfer her succubus services to Las Vegas, but when she goes out there to scope out the scene, things seem a little too intentionally perfect. With Seth Mortenson’s sister-in-law still ill with cancer in Seattle, this transfer is yet one more hurdle in their attempt to be with each other. Sweet cheesus will Georgie and Seth ever be able to be together?! You’ll have your answer by the end of Succubus Revealedand I get sentimentally teary-eyed all over again just remembering it. Continue Reading...

Friday, August 26, 2011

Spaz Reviews: Aftermath - Ann Aguirre

My latest review is up at WLP and it's definitely one of my top favorites of 2011. Aftermath by Ann Aguirre.

This review is spoiler-free: I have had to allow myself 24 hours to digest Aftermath, the stunning fifth book in Ann Aguirre’s Sirantha Jax series, before writing up my review. I will give my usual disclaimer I provide in my reviews of Jax books: I am not a huge Science Fiction fan nor am I an expert of the genre. I picked this series up at the strong recommendation of Mandi from Smexybooks, and could kiss her for it. What I think makes the series so incredibly appealing is the powerful character development that spans many genres, so please do not let its Sci-Fi label deter you from giving it a try. This latest Sirantha Jax installment made me feel deeply, made me hold my breathe, left me speechless. It grabbed my chest, closed around my lungs and heart and didn’t let go. Continue Reading...

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

WLP & Spaz Review: The Renfield Syndrom - J.A. Saare

Me & Nat are joint reviewing J.A. Saare's The Renfield Syndrome and you don't want to miss it! Come and join us!

The Renfield Syndrome is the second book in J.A. Saare’s Rhiannon’s Law series, and we are going to give you a spoiler-free review. That’s not easy, because things happen in this book that will blow your mind. Here are my live reactions while reading TRS, I saved my notes, and even DMd some of them to Nat:

here we go. shit. love it. what the? BEST CHICK FIGHT I’VE EVER READ!!!!!!!. this bitch can write! holy crap. AWWWWWWWWW! love it. biiiiiiiiiiiiiiitchhh. what the what? uh oh. OH MY GOD MY HEART. IT HURTS SO BAD. biting my nails. deep breathes. WHEN IS THE NEXT BOOK I NEED IT RIGHT NOW. Continue Reading...

Spaz Reviews: Another Kind of Dead - Kelly Meding

My latest review of Another Kind of Dead by Kelly Meding is up at WLP ~ Join me!

I am not going to do a summary because the blurb really does give you a good idea of what happens in Another Kind of Dead. This book should not be read standalone and is the third book in Kelly Meding’s Dreg City series, which is now one of my favorite Urban Fantasy series.

To me, this series really is one of perseverance and utter sacrifice. Evy, a former Dreg Bounty Hunter, endures awful horrors over the past two books, and they don’t let up in Another Kind of Dead. She just keeps on rolling with the punches and I love her for it. She is tough, and in the end she will do whatever she can to keep those she loves from pain. I have to agree with other reviews I’ve read that compare her to Gin from Jennifer Estep’s Elemental Assassin series. If you enjoy that series, you should really try this one out! Continue Reading...

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Spaz Goes to Readers 'N 'Ritas November 2011


Okay. So I am kind of riding a social high from Authors After Dark, and I have heard R&R mentioned a several times at AAD and since. After hearing Dakota Cassidy would be there, and it's 3 hours from Austin, TX, I was decided Yes! Then I saw Vicki Pettersson was going to be there. Sold! I go to the site to register and discover... Ann Aguirre and Jaye Wells will be there too! I immediately put that registration ticket on my card. Got my hotel booked, too.

So... I will be at Readers & 'Ritas in November, y'all! Will I see you there?

Author List (I've bolded my ultimate personal favorites):

Monday, August 15, 2011

Back from AAD Philly 2011

I'm back from Authors After Dark Philadelphia 2011! Wanna see pictures?

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Spaz Reviews: Grave Dance - Kalayna Price

My latest review of Grave Dance by Kalayna Price is up at WLP! join me!

Grave Dance is the second book in Kalayna Price's Alex Craft series. Alex is a grave witch, using magic and grave essence to raise shades. Since the events in Grave Witch, she is now fully discovering how her power has grown and enhanced very significantly. But now she has a giant spotlight on her and every group in the mortal and magical worlds want access to her, or want her dead. What starts out as a gory serial killer case, turns in to something way more involved. Kalayna's journey through this book is full of twists and turns, and is a page-turner! Continue Reading...

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

I'm off to AAD Philly 2011

I'm off to Philadelphia for my very first book convention, Authors After Dark, and I am hopping on two planes to get over there yonder. I have a pretty dang busy schedule! I'll share my adventures when I return!

Monday, August 8, 2011

Spaz Reviews: Eye of the Tempest - Nicole Peeler

My latest review of Eye of the Tempest by Nicole Peeler is up at WLP! Join me!

I have been reborn, I thought as I got my shoulders through the hole, but I got caught on my bottom half. And I shall henceforth be known as Hips-Got-Stuck.

~ The Great Jane True

Eye of the Tempest, the fourth book in the Jane True series, is what I am deeming straight up Classic Jane True. It is a lot lighter than the previous Jane book, Tempest's Legacy, mostly because it is entirely set in Rockabill. While the stakes are high, they are handled with so much humor the typical high level tension in the previous books is absent. I spent a good majority of this book giggling my butt off over Jane's constant cracks over No-Pants-Wearing-Huge-Schlong Caleb, and pretty much everything in the narration throughout the story. Jane's libido is in full effect, constantly battling with her virtue. Continue reading...

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Spaz Reviews: Spectyr - Philippa Ballantine

My latest review of SPECTYR by Philippa Ballantine is up at WLP! Join me!

I was fortunate enough to move from the First Book of the Order novel Geist right on to Spectyr so everything that had been created in the first book was fresh in my mind. Even so, I had to sit here and blink for a while to figure out how to even summarize all that happened. This book was so good that I really had no idea how to start a review for it. I hemmed and I hawed around how to express what I'd just read and how awesome it was.

Sorcha Farris and Merrick Chambers leave their Mother Abbey headquarters and travel south to the Hive city of Orinthal. Once again, Merrick takes the role as diplomat while the lovably snarky and gruff Sorcha remains focused on finding the fugitive Prince Raed, whom she cannot stop thinking about. She has received a message from the Otherworld that his life is in danger, and he has been led to Orinthal to save his kidnapped sister. What the three of them find is a city full of fear due to unexplained murders connected to the Royal family. This is all I will tell you they find to prevent any kind of spoiler that would detract from the experience. What they really find is so much more than that. The events and settings are so richly described you will lose yourself in this book. Continue reading...

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Spaz Reviews: Geist - Philippa Ballantine

My latest review of GEIST by Philippa Ballantine is up at WLP! join me!

Sorcha Farris is arguably the strongest Active within The Order, acting as the magical tank of a bonded duo in a fight against the heists from the Otherworld. After Sorcha's husband of 8 years gets critically injured and cannot work as her complimenting magical seeing Sensitive, the other half of her bonded duo. Discarding protocol, the head of the Order assigns her with a new Sensitive partner, Merrick, and they are immediately sent on a new mission that takes them to the northeast coast. Not shortly after they embark on their journey they immediately come under attack, and eventually run in to a cursed fugitive pirate and his crew. And that's just the beginning...

This is one of those books that I went crazy for while I was reading it. I have finally found a Fantasy series that pulled me in and had me walking away feeling completely blown away. Geist is so magnificently creative, fantastically carved, and I fell in love with the multi-dimensional characters. I immediately went on to buy Spectyr when this was over, but then promised myself I would not write more until I wrote this review first. Continue reading...

 
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