New Authors Mini-Challenge: April 2010

Jackie at Literary Escapism is hosting a New Author Mini-Challenge for the month of April. It is a Battle Royale between The Deadline Dames and Fangs, Fur and Fey.

This challenge will run from April 1 to April 30. The goal is to read and review new authors from the list of eligible authors on the challenge page.

My potential list:

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev
Witchling by Yasmine Galenorn
Matters of the Blood by Maria Lima
Gentlemen Prefer Succubi by Jill Myles
Wicked Game by Jeri Smith-Ready

for more details head over HERE

Book Review: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Harlequin; Original edition (February 1, 2010)

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined…

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

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This story is a true journey. Nothing is rushed or forced. At first glance it may seem like all the other popular YA books about fae, but once you settle in to read it you soon realize it has set itself apart from the rest and is truly unique. There are some very interesting characters such as Grimalkin who is a cait sith, or demon cat basically. He definitely reminds be of the Cheshire Cat, full of mystery and scheming. Ash is yet another character I look forward to reading more about. Meghan and Ash are in a terrible and unfortunate position that makes me anxious to read the second book in the series, The Iron Daughter, which will be out in August 2010. As for the main character, Meghan, I absolutely love her! She has a strong sense of loyalty, even in the face of danger, and she doesn't give up. There is absolutely nothing negative I can say about this book, It is a great read.

5/5

From Inside an Igloo Folowers Contest

From Inside an Igloo is celebrating reaching 30 followers (Now 100!!). Winner receives a book of their choice (up to $20) from Book Depository. AND now that they have reached 100 followers there will be a second winner!

ends March 31

check it out HERE

Book Review: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH; 1 edition (March 2, 2010)

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

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To sum it up: A great start to a new series.

Sophie is sent to a reform school for Prodidium, there is murder, attempted murder, secret societies bent on murdering...you get the idea. Even though a book about a school for paranormals isn't exactly new it is definitely a fresh take on it. Most of the twists and turns in the book I did not see coming. Sophie is someone I can identify with. She is an outcast, witty, and a loyal friend. I can't wait to read more about her and the other characters in the next book.

5/5

Book Review: The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (March 9, 2010)

Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry’s mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry’s generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother’s past in order to save herself and the one she loves.
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This book was more than I could have hoped for. The Forest of Hands and Teeth was one of my favorite reads last year and I wondered how the second book could live up to it. These two books are on a whole other level from each other....but in a good way. The Dead-Tossed Waves isn't just a continuation of The Forest of Hands and Teeth, it is like a different story...Gabry's story. Very unique.
Gabry herself is not one of my favorite characters. She is rather reckless and whiny, but she does seem to grow throughout the story. Even though she is not one of my faves, Gabry IS a very interesting character as well as the others that go along with her.
Explaining this story is like trying to explain an episode of the show Lost. It is nearly impossible, you just have to watch the show for yourself to understand. An amazing story written by an amazing writer.

5/5

Book Review: Possessed by Kate Cann

Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Point (February 1, 2010)

Rayne can't wait to start her summer job at a remote country mansion, far from the crowded, noisy London she so desperately wants to escape. But the retreat soon turns into a nightmare -- the mansion is creepy, the legends of ghosts keep Rayne up at night, and she doesn't feel safe anywhere.

Can Rayne figure out why she's so freaked -- before she becomes a ghost story herself?

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Rayne wants to escape the noisy life of London and her demanding mother and possessive boyfriend. She takes a job at a tea room on an old and creepy estate. She befriends a group of attractive young people and hooks up with the leader of the group. Lots of creepiness ensues involving the bad and o history of the estate she is working and living at.

The story starts off very slow and it is not until halfway through that it gets really interesting. After that it just seems like it concludes too fast and the interesting part of the story is not explored enough for my tastes. Not a bad read...it is somewhat interesting.

3/5

The Undercover Book Lover Pick Your Publisher Contest

The Prize Packs:


contest ends April 22
for more info head over to The Undercover Book Lover

50 Follower Giveaway at Three's A Crowd Blog

Three's A Crowd blog is trying to reach 50 followers. Become a follower and mention that Throuthehaze sent you to enter to win a copy of Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs

enter HERE

Book Review: Warrior Ascended by Addison Fox

Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Signet; Original edition (March 2, 2010)

Charming, proud, and impulsive, Leo Warrior Brody Talbot is fighting what may be his final battle. Enyo, the Goddess of War, plans to fulfill an ancient prophecy to destroy humanity by harnessing the dark power of the Summoning Stones of Egypt. There's only one person who knows enough about the stones to help Brody stop her-beautiful museum curator Ava Harrison.

Never in all his centuries has Brody met a woman who enthralls him like Ava. But, bound to protect her, he struggles to deny his passion as they are drawn into a dark and dangerous final reckoning between good and evil.
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The idea of the book is that Themis (the Goddess of Justice) and Zeus make a deal that Themis would create Zodiac warriors to protect humanity from Zeus' daughter Enyo (the Goddess of War).

Zodiac warriors=good
Enyo=bad

Pretty simple right? Well, not really. I really like the idea of the book, but the story skips around so much that things get confusing. Also, I never really connected with the characters. Usually the male lead is crushworthy, but not Brody....he was a bit lame. His Leo personality leaned so much towards the arrogant side and didn't show much redeeming qualities. I also had issues with the way Brody and Ava talk and interact because at times it got really hokey. Honestly it was just difficult to read. It is such a shame because this is the type of story I usually enjoy. However, I am not going to give up on the series just yet. I will be reading the next one in hopes that it gets better.

2/5

Hey! Teenager of the Year Massive Book Giveaway

In celebration of Hey! Teenager of the Year's 1st birthday, Steph Bowe is having a huge giveaway:

• Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
• Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
• An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
• Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
• Dreaming of Amelia by Jaclyn Moriarty
• Blue Plate Special by Michelle Kwansey
• The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey
• The Pact by Jodi Picoult
• World Shaker by Richard Harland
• Exposure by Mal Peet
• Sprout by Dale Peck
• Panama by Shelby Hiatt

Plus...

• Every winner will get lots of book swag - bookmarks, postcards, badges, etc...
• And if you're an aspiring YA author, you'll also get a query critique & first five pages critique of your YA manuscript

Contest ends April 30

enter HERE

Win a few books at Princess Bookie!

you can win up to 3 of these books

enter at Princess Bookie

"Guess Who" YA/Tween Author Challenge Contest and Giveaway

A Book-Lover's Review is hosting a challenge in which she asks authors one or both of these questions:
1.Can you please share one memorable moment that has happened to you since becoming an author?
Or
2.Can you please share 3 things about yourself that your fans probably don’t know?

Every Friday starting March 26 she will post the answer and everyone will have a week to guess who the answer belongs to. If you guess correctly you will be entered into that weeks lottery to win a prize.

Head over to A Book-Lover's Review to read more about the challenge.

Book Review: Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler

Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Orbit; Original edition (November 1, 2009)

Living in small town Rockabill, Maine, Jane True always knew she didn't quite fit in with so-called normal society. During her nightly, clandestine swim in the freezing winter ocean, a grisly find leads Jane to startling revelations about her heritage: she is only half-human.

Now, Jane must enter a world filled with supernatural creatures alternatively terrifying, beautiful, and deadly- all of which perfectly describe her new "friend," Ryu, a gorgeous and powerful vampire.

It is a world where nothing can be taken for granted: a dog can heal with a lick; spirits bag your groceries; and whatever you do, never-ever-rub the genie's lamp.
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To sum up my thoughts in one word....WOW! This book is awesome. This was a great introduction to all the characters. Jane has some serious self confidence issues but by the end of the book she is a much stronger person. Ryu is a bit of a smooth operator. It seems like he gets what he wants pretty quickly and I can see that in the future he will probably piss me off. My favorite character is actually Anyan. I am sensing a love triangle in the works. Definitely onw of the more interesting reads so far this year. I can't wait for the next book to come out so I can devour it :)

5/5

Vote for the top 100 Young Adult novels!

Head over to Good Books and Wine to vote for the top 100 YA novels.

Trapped in a Restaurant Meme Game

The meme that celebrates the mystery: Why does tortured mastermind Sterling Packard NEVER set foot outside the Mongolian Delites restaurant?


1. In MIND GAMES, hypochondriac heroine Justine Jones can’t figure out why tortured mastermind Sterling Packard never sets foot outside the Mongolian Delites restaurant. What if you were somehow trapped in a restaurant, what sort of restaurant would you prefer?

Italian!

2. What if you won the fancy $100 dinner to a restaurant of your choice, and you could dine with any character from any book, movie, or history. Who would you choose?

That's a tough one. I think the conversation with Gideon (from Gena Showalter's Lord of the Underworld series) would be especially entertaining so I would probably choose him.

3. Choose three characters to dine with for a lively dinner party (you can define lively however you want).

Georgina Kincaid (Richelle Mead's Georgina Kincaid series), Milagro de Los Santos (Marta Acosta's Casa Dracula series), and Paris (Gena Showalter's Lords of the Underworld series)

visit author Carolyn Crane's website for more info

Book Review: Killer Mousse by Melinda Wells

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Berkley (February 5, 2008)

Meet Della Carmichael, owner of a cooking school in Santa Monica, California, and star of a brand-new cable cooking show. But now she's about to add an additional credit to her resume: suspect.

The first live airing of In the Kitchen with Della opens like other cooking shows-with a chef surrounded by bowls of ingredients in a shiny studio kitchen. But it ends like a crime-scene detective show-and Della is the suspected perp.

Della's Killer Mousse lives up to its name when her predecessor, Mimi Bond, taste tests it-and winds up dead on the floor. Proving that she didn't poison the mousse will be no piece of cake for Della. She'll have to expose unsavory secrets, get mixed up in heated family affairs, and figure out why Mimi, who couldn't make instant oatmeal, was hired in the first place...
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Killer Mousse was an okay read. There were some boring parts and I figured out the ending before it happened, but the characters were pretty interesting. I loved Della and her standard poodle, Tuffy. Also, even though I figured out the ending before it happened I WAS kept guessing for awhile at least. There were plenty of possibilities. Not really my kind of book and I doubt I would read more of this series unless I saw it in the library and wanted a change of pace from what I typically read.

3/5

Book Review: Lockdown by Alexander Gordon Smith

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (October 27, 2009)

Furnace Penitentiary: the world's most secure prison for young offenders, buried a mile beneath the earth's surface. Alex Sawyer is the "new fish." Convicted of a murder he didn't commit, sentenced to life without parole, he knows he has two choices: resign himself to death in the darkness at the bottom of the world or find a way to break out of this escape-proof nightmare.
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Hands down the best book I have read so far this year. I was sucked into the suspenseful, frightening story and could not put it down. I can't wait to get my hands on the next 2 books in the Furnace series. Kids struggling through such horrors just to hold on to what meager and miserable lives they have left. I got so involved in the story I found myself chanting in my head "Keep going! Don't give up!" to the main character and his friends. Their struggles felt personal. The writing is amazing and made me feel like I was living the hellish nightmare that is the Furnace.

5/5

Book Review: Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White

Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Greenwillow Books (March 2, 2010)

Fourteen-year-old Laurel discovers she is part of a secret society dedicated to the magical language of flowers, in this debut novel set at an exclusive boarding school and blooming with romance, mystery, and intrigue.
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The most interesting thing about this book is the language of flowers. I already knew some obvious ones like the meaning of a rose is love, but for the most part I had no idea that so many flowers have meaning. Here are some other meanings you may have not known about:

• Yellow carnation-disdain
• Morning glory-affection
• Grass-submission, utility
• Hyacinth-sport, game, play

That's just a few...there are definitely plenty more. On the other hand I found this book to be a bit of a jumble. Parts were rushed, parts went on too long, etc. The idea of the story is a good one, I just felt it did not live up to the expectations I had. There just wasn't a good balance of the events that occurred. However, I am glad I read this book because I learned some new things. It wasn't a BAD read....it just wasn't awesome. I wish there was focus on the secondary characters because I feel they would have brought more to the story. Laurel was a really interesting character though. If there will be a sequel to this I would pick it up despite my "meh" feelings about Forget-Her-Nots just to see if it gets better.

3/5

Hogwarts Reading Challenge

This challenge seems like a lot of fun. It runs from March 8 2010-December 13 2010. You get sorted into houses and that is the house you will play in for the duration to earn points. Each book you read that fits one of the classes will count as one point towards the house cup. You must read at least 5 books to enter for the drawing of a $25 Amazon Gift Card. There will also be mini challenges. Here are the classes:

Transfiguration - read any book that has trans or figure in its title, is about shape shifting, has a shape shifter in it, or is about anything having to do with changing one thing into another

Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler (3/20/10)
The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan (3/27/10)
Secret Life of a Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks (4/5/10)
Forbidden Nights with a Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks (4/5/10)
The Vampire and the Virgin by Kerrelyn Sparks (4/6/10)
The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong (4/9/10)
Gentlemen Prefer Succubi by Jill Myles (4/16/10)
Hourglass by Claudia Gray (4/26/10)
Dark Side of the Moon by Sherrilyn Kenyon (4/28/10)
White Cat by Holly Black (5/2/10)
Dark Lover by J.R. Ward (5/10/10)
Red Demon by Deidre Knight (6/6/10)
Linger by Maggie Stiefvater (6/6/10)
Lucan by Susan Kearney (6/13/10)
Rion by Susuan Kearney (6/14/10)
Full Moon Rising by Keri Arthur (6/22/10)
Kissing Sin by Keri Arthur (6/24/10)
Tempting Evil by Keri Arthur (6/27/10)
Dangerous Games by Keri Arthur (7/1/10)
Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs (7/18/10)
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White (8/31/10)

Defence Against the Dark Arts - read any book that has defence(defense), dark and/or art(s) in its title, read any book that is about self defense, war, history of war/marital arts, murder mysteries

Killer Mousse by Melinda Wells (3/17/10)
My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent (4/4/10)
Battle of the Network Zombies by Mark Henry (4/7/10)
Heartless by Sara Shepard (6/10/10)
Wanted by Sara Shepard (6/10/10)
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld (7/27/10)
To Kill a Warlock by H.P. Mallory (8/28/10)
Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld (8/26/10)

Charms - read any book that has charm in its title, any book that deals with gives something or someone a new aspect (for example the nerdy guy become a handsome doctor)

Oh My Goth by Gena Showalter (4/27/10)
Mysteria (6/11/10)
Mysteria Lane (6/12/10)
Another Faust by Daniel and Dina Nayeri (7/5/10)

Comfort Food by Kitty Thomas (7/18/10)

Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble by H.P. Mallory (8/28/10)
Sleepless by Cyn Balog (8/15/10)

Potions - read any book that has potion in its title, cookbooks count but you must cook at least one recipe out of the book

Astronomy - read any book that has astronomy in its title, books about planets, stars, etc, sci-fi

Warrior Ascended by Addison Fox (3/23/10)

History of Magic - read any book that has history or magic in its title, books about magic, witches, etc

Possessed by Kate Cann (3/28/10)
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins (3/28/10)
Tempt Me with Darkness by Shayla Black (5/16/10)

Perchance to Dream by Lisa Mantchev (6/5/10)

Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt (7/17/10)

Herbology - read any book that has herb in its title, again cookbooks count and again you must cook at least one recipe out of the book

Arithmancy - read any book that has arithmancy in its title, any book with a number in its title, any book that deal with numbers or math

Ancient Runes - read any book that has ancient or runes in its title, books about historical places like the pyramids, Stonehenge, great wall of china, or any book about symbols

Divination - read any book that has divine in its title, any book about psychics or psychic abilities, tarot reading etc

Evermore by Alyson Noel (5/6/10)
Blue Moon by Alyson Noel (5/6/10)
Shadowland by Alyson Noel (5/8/10)

Mind Games by Carolyn Crane ( 8/1/10)

Care of Magical Creatures - read any book that has magical or creatures in its title, about supernatural beings

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa (3/29/10)
The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa (4/1/10)
The Darkest Passion by Gena Showalter (4/1/10)
Fablehaven: Keys to the Demon Prison by Brandon Mull (4/4/10)
Night Embrace by Sherrilyn Kenyon (4/8/10)
Dance with the Devil by Sherrilyn Kenyon (4/8/10)
Kiss of the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon (4/10/10)
Night Play by Sherrilyn Kenyon (4/11/10)
Wicked Game by Jeri Smith-Ready (4/12/10)
Seize the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon (4/14/10)
Sins of the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon (4/14/10)
Stargazer by Claudia Gray (4/26/10)
Unleash the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon (4/27/10)
The Dream-Hunter by Sherrilyn Kenyon (4/29/10)
Upon the Midnight Clear by Sherrilyn Kenyon (5/1/10)
Devil May Cry by Sherrilyn Kenyon (5/1/10)
Dream Chaser by Sherrilyn Kenyon (5/3/10)
Acheron by Sherrilyn Kenyon (5/4/10)
One Silent Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon (5/5/10)
Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward (5/12/10)
Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward (5/13/10)
Bad Moon Rising by Sherrilyn Kenyon (5/14/10)
Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward (5/17/10)
Lover Unbound by J.R. Ward (5/19/10)
Lover Enshrined by J.R. Ward (5/20/10)
Lover Avenged by J.R. Ward (5/22/10)
Lover Mine by J.R. Ward (5/24/10)
Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead (5/31/10)
The Demon's Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan (6/3/10)
The Darkest Lie by Gena Showalter (6/20/10)
Dates from Hell by Kim Harrison (7/12/10)
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (7/16/10)
Enemy Lover by Karin Harlow (7/19/10)
Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick (7/28/10)

Haunted Honeymoon by Marta Acosta (8/28/10)
Tracking the Tempest by Nicole Peeler (8/15/10)
Succubus Dreams by Richelle Mead (8/8/10)
Succubus Heat by Richelle Mead (8/8/10)
Succubus Shadows by Richelle Mead (8/10/10)
Insatiable by Meg Cabot (8/19/10)
Ascendant by Diana Peterfreund (8/1/10)
Bitten by Cupid by Lynsay Sands, Pamela Palmer, and Jaime Rush (8/13/10)
Changeless by Gail Carriger (8/25/10)

Muggle Studies - nearly any book works here, what better why to understand Muggle than to read what they read

Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman (4/13/10)
Ghost in the Machine by Patrick Carman (4/15/10)
Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev (4/15/10)
Closer by Roderick Gordon & Brian Williams (5/27/10)

Viking in Love by Sandra Hill (6/7/10)
Wicked Becomes You by Meredith Duran (6/8/10)
An Earl to Enchant by Amelia Grey (6/9/10)
Never Seduce a Scoundrel by Sabrina Jeffries (6/12/10)
Only a Duke Will Do by Sabrina Jeffries (6/15/10)
Beware a Scots Revenge by Sabrina Jeffries (6/16/10)
Let Sleeping Rogues Lie by Sabrina Jeffries (6/17/10)
Wed Him Before You Bed Him by Sabrina Jeffries (6/18/10)
Knight of Passion by Margaret Mallory (7/1/10)
Geek Abroad by Piper Banks (7/5/10)
The Naughty List by Suzanne Young (7/6/10)
The Lost by J.D. Robb (7/11/10)
In the Prince's Bed by Sabrina Jeffries (7/12/10)
To Pleasure a Prince by Sabrina Jeffries (7/13/10)
One Night with a Prince by Sabrina Jeffries (7/13/10)
The Truth About Lord Stoneville by Sabrina Jeffries (7/14/10)
Sins of a Wicked Duke by Sophie Jordan (7/17/10)
The Ivy by Lauren Kunz with Rina Onur (8/6/10)
Catching Fire by Suzanna Collins (8/6/10)
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (8/5/10)
The DUFF by Kody Keplinger (8/31/10)
Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning (8/3/10)
Clockwork Heart by Dru Pagliassotti (8/18/10)
To Tame a Highland Warrior by Karen Marie Moning (8/4/10)
To Surrender to a Rogue by Cara Elliott (8/20/10)
To Sin with a Scoundrel by Cara Elliott (8/20/10)
Smudge's Mark by Claudia Osmond (8/13/10)
Burning Up by Angela Knight, Nalini Singh, Virginia Kantra, and Meljean Brook (8/7/10)
Barely a Lady by Eileen Dreyer (8/10/10)

My House:

HUFFLEPUFF

check out the challenge at Worth Reading It?

Book Review: See Jane Score by Rachel Gibson

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Avon (January 28, 2003)

A little subdued. A little stubborn. A little tired of going out on blind dates with men who drive vans with sofas in the back, Jane Alcott is living the Single Girl existence in the big city. She is also leading a double life. By day, she's a reporter covering the raucous Seattle Chinooks hockey team-especially their notorious goalie Luc Martineau. By night, she's a writer, secretly creating the scandalous adventures of "Honey Pie"...the magazine series that has all the men talking.

Luc has made his feelings about parasite reporters-and Jane-perfectly clear. But if he thinks he's going to make her life miserable, he'd better think again.

For as long as he can remember, Luc has been single-minded about his career. The last thing he needs is a smart-mouthed, pain-in-the-backside reporter digging into his past and getting in his way. But once the little reporter sheds her black and gray clothes in favor of a sexy red dress, Luc sees that there is more to Jane than originally meets the eye.
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It is EXTREMELY rare for me to read contemporary romance. I probably read about one per year. It just isn't really my thing...I guess because it does not provide enough escape from the norm. Even more rare is for me to actually enjoy a contemporary romance. I usually find them boring. However, I felt drawn to this book and was very surprised that I loved this book! The thing I liked most was that Jane and Luc did not fall in love immediately. They did not get along at all in the beginning. I am not a believer in love at first sight so this book seemed more realistic to me, which is how I believe contemporary romances should be. It was a fun, quick read that anyone who loves to read romance would most likely enjoy.

4.5/5

Book Review: The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: EgmontUSA (December 22, 2009)

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.

The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.

The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy's dark secret...and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul.
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The Dark Divine is definitely an interesting read. I don't think I have read anything quite like it before. There is a paranormal element to it but that doesn't really come across as the focus of the story. The characters and the struggle of forgiveness as well as the battle of good and evil within us is what I perceived it to be about. At first I was worried that it would get a little too preachy due to the religious aspects, however this was never a problem. The message in this book is universal. No matter what your beliefs are, it is a story anyone can identify with and enjoy.

5/5

Books Read in February

I completed 14 books in February...

5 Stars

Happy Hour of the Damned by Mark Henry
Midnight Brunch by Marta Acosta

4.5 Stars

The Undead Next Door by Kerrelyn Sparks

4 Stars

How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks
Vamps and the City by Kerrelyn Sparks
Be Still My Vampire Heart by Kerrelyn Sparks
Heart of Darkness by Gena Showalter, Maggie Shayne, and Susan Krinard
Knight of Pleasure by Margaret Mallory
The Mermaid's Madness by Jim C. Hines

3.5 Stars

The Stepsister Scheme by Jim C. Hines

3 Stars

The Accidental Demon Slayer by Angie Fox
The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers by Angie Fox

2.5 Stars

Slave by Cheryl Brooks

Wow, 14 books is a big difference from the 35 books I read last month. I got off to a slow start with books I had difficulty getting into. I also had a book (not listed) that I couldn't force myself to finish, so I wasted a lot of time with that. Oh well. I am hoping to get a lot of reading done this month :)