Review: Waking the Witch by Kelly Armstrong

Waking the Witch by Kelley Armstrong

 Source:  Public Library

 Rating:  4/5


At twenty-one, Savannah Levine - orphaned daughter of a notorious dark witch and an equally notorious cutthroat sorcerer - considers herself a full-fledged member of the otherworld. The once rebellious teen has grown into a six-foot-tall, motorcycle-riding jaw-dropper, with an impressive knowledge of and ability to perform spells. The only problem is, she's having a hard time convincing her adoptive parents, Paige and Lucas, to take her seriously as an adult. She's working as the research assistant at the detective agency they founded, and when they take off on a romantic vacation alone, leaving her in charge, Savannah finds herself itching for a case to call her own. (She's also itching for Adam, her longtime friend and colleague, to see her as more than just a little girl, but that's another matter.)

Suddenly, Savannah gets the chance she's been waiting for: Recruited by another supernatural detective, she travels to Columbus, Washington, a small, dying town. Two troubled young women have been found in an abandoned warehouse, murdered. Now a third woman's dead, and on closer inspection small details point to darker forces at play. Savannah feels certain she can handle the case, but with signs of supernatural activity appearing at every turn, things quickly become more serious- and far more dangerous-than she realizes. (book blurb)


My Thoughts:

Whoa! When did little Savannah grow up? I've been reading Kelley's books for awhile now, and I've always liked Eve and her daughter Savannah. So-called "bad girls" are just more interesting for some reason. But suddenly Savannah is grown up and going out on her own while Paige and Lucus are on vacation? Boy, I feel old.... *L*

This is a good addition to the Women of the Otherworld series. Savannah is a powerful witch who, while still relatively young, has a good head on her shoulders and will make a great investigator some day. Not wanting to "bother" her guardians while they're on a well-deserved vacation (okay, not wanting to tell them what she was up to!), Savannah heads off on her first solo investigation. Crush-worthy Adam is just a phone call away as her back-up, and she knows that he'll be there in as fast as he can should she need help, but Savannah wants to prove herself. There are unexpected developments, but Savannah doesn't do too badly and shows that she's able to handle herself okay.

Gave this one a 4/5 rating as I really enjoyed it! Savannah is a great character, and it's been fun watching her grow up. Kelley is an awesome writer, love all of her books, and I can highly recommend this if you like urban fantasy with strong women characters. Already looking forward to seeing what Savannah gets up to next!

Greek: Double Date Review & Giveaway

Greek: Double Date by Marsha Warner

Source: Review copy received from Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc.

Rating: 3/5

Major oops. When Casey Cartwright's brother begs her to be nerdy Dale Kettlewell's date to the sure-to-be-boring Honors Engineering Awards, Casey says yes. Even though Dale is totally not her type… and might have a crush on her. Ugh. But it's a nice thing to do, and Casey's always been the "nice" girl.

But now, that night conflicts with the biggest event of the semester, the All-Greek formal. Casey already has a date lined up: hot transfer student Rob Howell. He's her plan to get over her sexy-slacker ex, Cappie. And even nice girls get to be bad sometimes, right?

What to do? With a little help from BFF Ashleigh, unwanted advice from frenemy Rebecca Logan and even a push from Cappie, what Casey does may surprise even herself….(book blurb)


My Thoughts:

In the interests of full disclosure, I was never in a sorority, and didn't have much exposure to the Greek way of life. All I knew about Greeks, I learned from the movie Animal House. ;) To be perfectly honest, my friends and I used to mock them, especially during hazing when the poor pledges had to dress up in embarrassing outfits and perform degrading chores. I never understood why anyone would want to do that, but some people don't understand my excitement about book conventions, so guess it's a matter of different strokes for different folks.

When I first received this review offer, I was going to turn it down. A book about college sorority girls? Thanks, but no thanks. Then I felt guilty for stereotyping the genre and took a closer look. This book is based on a hit television show, and apparently has a huge fan base. That got my attention, even though I've never heard of the show. And the synopsis sounded promising, so decided to take a chance and try something new.

This book was a fast, fun read! The main character, Casey, seems a little over-earnest, but overall is a nice girl who tries to do the right thing. I liked her brother Rusty, her ex-boyfriend Cappie, and mercy date Dale. Think they had the most interesting personalities, and I enjoyed their scenes the most. I kept getting Frannie and Rebecca mixed up, and Casey's BFF Ashleigh was a little too perky for my tastes. Evan, Calvin, Fisher, and the other characters didn't leave much of an impression, but that may have been because there were so many people to keep track of. Oh, I did like Rusty's girlfriend, and wanted to know more about why she would want to be in a sorority, when it sounded like she was the anti-Greek. Nice twist for a pledge!

Overall, this was a good book. I didn't love it, but it wasn't bad. It's a Young Adult title, but seemed geared for the pre-teen crowd instead of the Harry Potter crowd. Does that make sense? The writing was a little juvenile, while HP read like an adult book. Might be because of the TV tie-in or something, but that didn't distract from the storyline.

Gave this book a 3/5 because while it wasn't bad, I didn't love it. I want to stress that a 3/5 is not a bad rating, and still means I liked it. This is outside my usual genre, so you may well love it! It was a cute book, the TV show it's based on is a huge hit, and there are a ton of fan sites out there. Not sure why I"ve never heard of it before, but now I have. :)

I'd like to make this book available to someone else to read and enjoy, especially if it's outside your usual genre. Or maybe you know someone who's a fan of the show, but hasn't read the books yet?

Will keep this simple; just leave your email address in the comments in order to win. One extra entry if you tweet about the contest, but be sure to leave a link to verify the tweet. If you're under 13 years old, please get your parent's permission to enter.

Open to US and Canada only please, as I'm paying for shipping.

How about a quick contest, ending on Friday, Sept 3rd. I may extend the deadline if there aren't enough entries, but hope I don't have to.

Good luck!

In My Mailbox (52)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. I have included links to Goodreads should you want more information on the book. I'm doing well with my self-imposed book buying ban and staying away from temptation, while trying to catch up on my reading. Reading is going well, reviewing...not so much. C'est la vie.  *L*


For Review:

I received a review copy of The Twisted Path Home by Fae Bidgoli from Phenix & Phenix Publicists. It's not my usual type of read, but after reading an excerpt, I was hooked! The short bit I read of life as an Iranian woman was fascinating, and adding in the possibility of reincarnation...well, maybe it is my type of book after all!

It is 1991. Arezoo, an Iranian woman is living in Berkeley, California with her second husband, Robert, and working as a university professor. Recurring, terrifying dreams of eminent death lead her into therapy with a widely respected psychotherapist. As her memories unfold during therapy sessions, she flashes back to painful memories of her first marriage to Afshin, an Iranian man.

Still, the dreams continue, prompting Arezoo to try hypnosis. Arezoo's life takes an unexpected turn under hypnosis and she begins to channel the dramatic life story of Sogand, a woman who lived in a village in Persia (now Iran) in the late 1800's.

This seemingly inexplicable experience, and her sudden, intimate knowledge of Sogand's identity leads Arezoo back to Iran after many years in America. Through this woman's history Arezoo makes some life changing discoveries - key to both her past and her ex-husband's tortured, secret life.

What treasures did you find in your mailbox this week?

Review: Dying Bites by D D Barant

Dying Bites by D D Barant

Source:  Personal Library

Rating:  4/5

Her job description is the “tracking and apprehension of mentally-fractured killers.” What this really means in FBI profiler Jace Valchek’s brave new world - one in which only one percent of the population is human - is that a woman’s work is never done. And real is getting stranger every day.


My Thoughts:
This is the second book I've read recently where the main character is an ordinary human in a supernatural world. The twist this time is that Jace is pulled from our non-magical world to an alternate reality, where vampires and werewolves are the majority and humans the minority. She's an expert profiler for the FBI, and her skills are badly needed in a world where they've never had to deal with serial killers before.

Really liked Jace, and she handled being in a new world a lot better than I would have. Might have had something to do with her job and personality, but she coped pretty well. Enjoyed the secondary characters too, from the friendly Dr. Pete to her liaison Gretchen to the nerdy forensic scientist Eisfanger to her new partner Charlie. Of course, Dr. Pete and Dr.Eisfanger are werewolves, Gretchen is a vampire, and Charlie? Charlie is a golem, infused with the spirit of a tyrannosaurus rex. Hey, that's a great quality to have in a partner, and it doesn't hurt that Charlie has a wicked sense of humor to boot!

Thought that this was a good start to a new series, and I'm looking forward to seeing how Jace adjusts to her new world. I also enjoyed the alternate reality bits and learning about how different this new world was from ours. People are people no matter what, even if they are vampires or werewolves. :)

Gave this a 4/5 for it's good plot, interesting and likable characters, well paced action, and the central mystery of discovering the serial killer. Recommended to anyone who enjoys the urban fantasy world where supernaturals have regular jobs instead of being all mysterious and stereotypical.

Cat Thursday (22)

Michelle over at The True Book Addict came up with a great idea for a meme! "Cat Thursday" is a way to highlight cute or funny pictures of cats, little tidbits about what our kitties are up to, or any snippets about cats we've come across. I love all those funny/cute cat pictures out there! Here's my picture for the week:

You tell 'em! If you have to include spoilers in your review, as least give me fair warning so I can skip! I wants to read it self!

Review: I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

Rating: 5/5

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 448 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins; 1 edition (August 3, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061969559



Book Blurb:
Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books - but we are real.

Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. we have lived among you without you knowing.

But they know.

They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.

I am Number Four.

I am next.


My Thoughts:
Wow.

This book was amazing!

Have to admit that when I first heard of it, thought it sounded interesting, but it wasn't on my "must get" list at BEA. Then I started seeing people walking around the Expo wearing t-shirts. And I started to hear people talking about what an amazing book it was and that the ARCs were going fast. That got my attention, so next time I passed by the publisher's booth, I asked about it. They didn't have any copies, but suggested I swing by later. Took me several more visits before I finally snagged a copy, and I'm so glad I did!

For having no real expectations of this book, it blew me away! Gave it a 5/5 rating because it sucked me in and I could not put it down! Stayed up much too late to finish reading it, despite having to get up early the next morning. I can't put my finger on what I loved most about this book or why I couldn't put it down, but there was just something about the story that really grabbed me.

I really liked learning about the Loriens and their world. There is a subtle environmental message in that the bad guys destroyed their world and are now travelling the galaxy, stripping other worlds of all of their resources. But the message wasn't preachy or in-your-face, which I really appreciated.

Liked Number Four, and could sympathize with his desire to just be a normal boy and stop running, even though that was impossible. It must be hard to constantly be the outsider, and I understand his desire to make friends and stay put. Too bad he's an alien with bad guys on his tail, trying to kill him.

The book was well written, action packed, with interesting characters. Looking forward to seeing where the author takes this series, as it rocks! Let me know if you've read it, as I'd love to compare notes!

I received this ARC at BEA, from the publisher 

Anyone interested in some free books?

SenoraG at Reading, Reading and Life posted about a free book exchange club awhile back, and I decided to take part. It's sort of an informal book club. There is NO money involved, except postage for one book, so it's both legal and FUN!

All you have to do is send a new (or gently used) copy of a paperback book to the person listed on the back of your contact letter. There is no need to box the book, as a padded envelope is fine. You copy and forward the contact letter to six of your friends, so it's like a cross between a book exchange and a chain letter. You should eventually receive 36 books (if no one breaks the chain). I've been told that the chain is seldom broken by anyone since you're only responsible for mailing one book.

I decided to give it a go to see what happens, and I've already mailed a book to the person listed on my letter. Now I need 6 people who are interested in continuing the chain. Thought I had people lined up at work, but that fell through. I figured I would follow SenoraG's lead and open it up to my fellow book bloggers. If you are interested in taking part, please leave a comment with your email address, or send your mailing address to Alexia561@yahoo(dot)com and I'll mail you a copy of the instructions.

There will be an address where you mail the book on the back of your contact letter, and I'll include six address labels for you to put on your copies of the letter. Then you forward the copies with my address to six of your friends, with six labels for them to put on their letters. See how it's like a chain letter? Hope this isn't too confusing!

So, anyone want to give it a shot? It will only cost you the price of mailing one book, and there's the possibility of receiving up to 36 books from all across the country! Sounds like a win-win!

In My Mailbox (51)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. I've included links to Goodreads should you want more information on the books.


For Review:

Received a review copy of How's Your Dad: Living in the Shadow of a Rock Star Parent from the publisher. I've always wondered what it would be like to have a famous parent, and having a rock star as a parent would probably be something else!

In this frank and funny book, ZoA' Street Howe breaks the glitzy surface of a media obsession and seeks the reality from the horses' mouths. Whether you rejoice or seethe at the mention of Peaches, Jade or Jack or if you are born of rock heritage yourself and are considering changing your name and moving to Mongolia, this book may make you see things a little differently. ZoA' Street Howe speaks to Ian Dury's son Baxter, Dylan Howe (Steve Howe), Julian Lennon, Calico Cooper (Alice Cooper), Jazz Mellor (Joe Strummer), Natascha Bruce (Jack Bruce), Aaron Horn (Trevor Horn), Hollie Cook (Paul Cook) and many other children of iconic figures in the music industry in this revealing slice of rock 'n' roll literature.

From the Library:

Waking the Witch by Kelley Armstrong is one of the books I've been waiting for, so was so excited when I got a message that my copy had finally come in at the library! Love Kelley Armstrong!

The orphaned daughter of a sorcerer and a half-demon, Savannah is a terrifyingly powerful young witch who has never been able to resist the chance to throw her magical weight around. But at 21 she knows she needs to grow up and prove to her guardians, Paige and Lucas, that she can be a responsible member of their supernatural detective agency. So she jumps at the chance to fly solo, investigating the mysterious deaths of three young women in a nearby factory town as a favor to one of the agency's associates. At first glance, the murders look garden-variety human, but on closer inspection signs point to otherworldly stakes.

Looking forward to seeing what everyone got this week! I'm sticking to my book buying ban, but I never promised to stop adding to my wishlist! *L*

Review: Blood Song by Cat Adams

 Blood Song by Cat Adams

 Source: Personal library

 Rating:  4/5

Bodyguard Celia Graves has definitely accepted her share of weird assignments, both human and supernatural. But her newest job takes the cake. Guarding a Prince from terrorists and religious fundamentalists is hard enough, but it seems like the entire supernatural world is after this guy too. When she is betrayed by those she is employed to help, and everything goes horribly wrong, Celia wakes to find herself transformed.

Neither human nor vampire, Celia has become an Abomination - something that should not exist - and now both human and supernatural alike want her dead. With the help of a few loyal friends - a sexy mage, a powerful werewolf, and a psychic cop - Celia does her best to stay alive. On the run from her enemies, Celia must try to discover who is behind her transformation…before it’s too late. (book blurb)

My Thoughts:
This one was recommended to me by my favorite online bookstore, and I'm glad they did as I hadn't heard of it before! It's a little unusual as while Celia lives in a world with magic, she is a human who survives using her wits and weapons. Don't get too many humans as main characters, so this made a nice change. Of course, nothing in urban fantasy is what it seems...

Am learning about several new species, myths, and legends in the books I've read lately, which I love! Had never heard of an Abomination before. This isn't a spoiler as it's mentioned in the book blurb, but suffice it to say that our plain vanilla human doesn't stay plain vanilla for long.

Celia can take care of herself, as she wouldn't have lasted long as a bodyguard if she couldn't. But after being betrayed and attacked, she's on the run from those who would shoot first and ask questions later, and can use all the help she can get! Doesn't hurt that one of those she turns to for help is her ex-love, and that she still has feelings for him. Hmmmm...wonder if the sparks will start flying?

This was a fast, action-packed read! Interesting characters, decent plot, and a few surprise twists along the way. There's a whole backstory concerning Celia and her sister and I'd like to learn more about, as it's only mentioned in passing without too many details. I found the plot a little confusing at times and didn't really understand why certain things happened as they did, but overall I really enjoyed this book.

Cat Thursday (21)

Michelle over at The True Book Addict came up with a great idea for a meme! "Cat Thursday" is a way to highlight cute or funny pictures of cats, little tidbits about what our kitties are up to, or any snippets about cats we've come across. I love all those funny/cute cat pictures out there! Here's my picture for the week:

Is this not the cutest teeniest little thing you've ever seen? I love her! So teeny tiny!

Winner of Dante's Journey

Congratulations to the winner of
Dante's Journey!

#36

Brooke

Congratulations to Brooke, who according to her email address, is apparently a Texas gal!

I've sent Brooke an email, and am just waiting for her response. I hope that she enjoys this book as much as I did!

Thanks to everyone who entered! Keep an eye out, as there are more contests coming!

Last chance to win Dante's Journey!

Last chance to enter my Dante's Journey contest!

Contest ends tonight, so enter now!

This is an awesome book, so don't miss out on winning a copy of your very own!

Click here to enter.

Review: Red Hot Fury by Kasey MacKenzie

 Red Hot Fury by Kasey MacKenzie

 Source: Public Library

 Rating: 4/5

As a Fury, Marissa Holloway belongs to an Arcane race that has avenged wrongdoing since time immemorial. As Boston’s Chief Magical Investigator for the past five years, she’s doing what she was born to: solving supernatural crimes.

It’s far from business as usual when the body of one of Riss’s sister Furies washes up in Boston harbor. Riss discovers that the corpse’s identity has been magically altered, but as soon as she reports her findings, she’s immediately - and inexplicably - suspended from the her job. Then a human assassin makes an attempt on her life, and Riss starts to realize that someone may be trying to stir up strife between mortals and Arcanes.

When a Fury gets mad, she gets even, and Riss is determined to untangle this case. Without the support of the mortal PD, Riss turns to the one man she can trust to watch her back - shapeshifting Warhound Scott Murphy. But since Scott is also Riss’s ex, she’ll have to keep a tight leash on more than just the supernatural rage that feeds her power as they try to solve a murder - and stop a war… (Goodreads summary)

My Thoughts:
Really enjoyed this one! I don't think I've read a book featuring furies before, and never really knew their mythology. Love it when I come across new myths and legends! Liked the background provided about harpies and warhounds as well. Very cool!

Really liked Riss, the Fury who is trying to track down why Arcanes have been disappearing, and why someone wants her to think that her missing best friend is dead. She's one of those kickass heroines that I love, and I really liked her. Maybe it was her struggle to do the right thing, and keep a lid on her rage? I can totally relate to that. (be afraid! be very afraid!) *L*

Anyway, once Riss is suspended from her job as Chief Magical Investigator and realizes that assassins are trying to kill her, she turns to the only person she can trust to keep her safe; her ex-love, Scott. Helps that his family are warhound mercenaries, another species I wasn't familiar with. Let's pause for a moment and bask in the sheer animal magnetism of Scott the warhound....*sigh*...um, sorry, where was I?

So we have a Fury trying to solve a mystery with no back-up, while on the run from the authorities and assassins both. The possibility of sparks flying with an ex. The discovery that Arcanes have been disappearing over the last few years. All connected to a horrible, evil plot that could lead to war between the races. Whoa!

Really enjoyed this book! Good action, interesting characters, a great heroine, sexy-yet-not-annoying men, and an actual plot! Kasey is a very talented writer, and I really enjoyed the universe she came up with. This is listed as a Shades of Fury novel, so hoping that it will be a series! Would love to see more of Riss and Scott, want to see what happens with Cori, curious about how Olivia will turn out, want more of the harpies, and would like to meet more of the Murphy clan. And did I mention my new fascination with warhounds?

In My Mailbox (50)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. I have included links to Goodreads should you want more information on the books. I was good this week and am sticking to my book ban and reading my own books. Did receive a few new-to-me books from co-workers, but staying away from the temptation of bookstores.

Received a copy of Christine Warren's Born To Be Wild from a co-worker. Love shapeshifter stories, and this looks like a good one!

Josie Barrett brings out the animal in men. Literally. As the local veterinarian in a town that’s approximately seventy percent Others - mostly shapeshifters - Josie deals with beastly situations all the time. It’s practically part of her job description. But when the werewolves of Stone Creek, Oregon, start turning downright feral, Josie smells a rat - among other, more dangerous critters.

Pride Mates by Jennifer Ashley was also from one of my co-workers. Guess seeing me read every day during lunch gave them the impression that I like books. Another shifter story, about a shifter and a human thrown together. This one is classified as a paranormal romance, so guessing sparks fly. Love it!

Twenty years ago shape, shifters had announced themselves to the world only to be shunted into Shiftertowns” and forced to wear collars that control their hunting and fighting instincts (referred to as “Taking the Collar”).

While I'm being good and not buying any books this month, I am adding to my wishlist with all the good titles I"m finding on everyone's In My Mailbox posts! Happy reading!

Cat Thursday (20)

Michelle over at The True Book Addict came up with a great idea for a meme! "Cat Thursday" is a way to highlight cute or funny pictures of cats, little tidbits about what our kitties are up to, or any snippets about cats we've come across. I love all those funny/cute cat pictures out there! Here's my picture for the week:

Uh-oh....this guy is up to something...and it's probably not good! 

Review: The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

Source: ARC provided by the publisher, via Shelf Awareness

Rating:  4/5

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Razorbill (August 10, 2010)

Haven Moore can't control her visions of a past with a boy called Ethan and a life in New York that ended in fiery tragedy. In our present, she designs beautiful dresses for her classmates with her best friend Beau. Dressmaking keeps her sane, since she lives with her widowed and heartbroken mother in her tyrannical grandmother's house in Snope City, a tiny town in Tennessee. Then an impossible group of coincidences conspire to force her to flee to New York, to discover who she is, and who she was.

In New York, Haven meets Iain Morrow and is swept into an epic love affair that feels both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Iain is suspected of murdering a rock star and Haven wonders, could he have murdered her in a past life? She visits the Ouroboros Society and discovers a murky world of reincarnation that stretches across millennia. Haven must discover the secrets hidden in her past lives, and loves, before all is lost and the cycle begins again. (book synopsis)

My Thoughts:

Have to admit that I've always been slightly fascinated by the thought of reincarnation. And the idea that you can be reunited with your soul mate lifetime after lifetime is terribly intriguing!

Haven Moore's life has not been easy. Her father was killed when she was a young girl, forcing her and her mother to move in with her strict grandmother. Haven had visions of a past life growing up, and her grandmother is still convinced that she is possessed and that her soul needs saving. Needless to say, Grandmother is not a nice woman. If it wasn't for her best friend Beau, Haven's life would have been even more miserable. Things come to a head and Haven runs away to New York, where fate takes a hand and she meets the boy she's convinced was her great love in a previous life. But can she trust him in this life?

Really enjoyed this book! And I loved the glimpses of Haven's previous life as Constance that are sprinkled throughout the story. It's reads almost like two stories; Haven's adventures in the present, and Constance's life in the past. Both are well told with interesting characters and a great plot line!

Have to admit that I wasn't entirely in love with the ending. While I totally bought into Haven and Iain being reincarnated soul mates, I wasn't sure what to make of the Ouroboros Society or Adam Rosier. Sounds a little funny to say that those elements didn't ring true for me when the book is about reincarnation, but they seemed off. I still enjoyed this book though, and think that Kirsten is a gifted writer with a good imagination!

Gave this one a 4/5 as I really enjoyed the story. I kept forgetting that Haven was a teenager, but maybe that's because she's been reincarnated, so doesn't act like your typical teen? What does a typical teen act like anyway? I liked Haven and Beau, wasn't sure what to think of Iain, hated Grandmother, was disappointed with Haven's weak mother, and creeped out by their preacher. Grandmother wanted Dr.Tidmore, their preacher, to counsel Haven and save her soul. The guy was a little on the creepy side, and I wasn't too surprised when he showed his true colors later on.

I wonder what the requirements are for being reincarnated? Maybe if you're really good in this life, you get to spend your next life as a pampered cat? ;)

In My Mailbox (49)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. I have included links to Goodreads should you want more information on the books.

For Review:

Received an ARC of Radiance by Alyson Noel from the publisher, via Shelf Awareness. As soon as I saw it was by Alyson, I knew that I had to request a copy!

Riley has crossed the bridge into the afterlife—a place called Here, where time is always Now. She has picked up life where she left off when she was alive, living with her parents and dog in a nice house in a nice neighborhood. When she’s summoned before The Council, she learns that the afterlife isn’t just an eternity of leisure. She’s been assigned a job, Soul Catcher, and a teacher, Bodhi, a possibly cute, seemingly nerdy boy who’s definitely hiding something. They return to earth together for Riley’s first assignment, a Radiant Boy who’s been haunting a castle in England for centuries. Many Soul Catchers have tried to get him to cross the bridge and failed. But all of that was before he met Riley . . .


From the Library:

Red Hot Fury by Kasey macKenzie is one of the books I already had on hold at the library, so my book ban and the August Read Your Own Book Challenge don't apply. It has immunity! Honest! :D

As a Fury, Marissa Holloway belongs to an Arcane race that has avenged wrongdoing since time immemorial. As Boston's Chief Magical Investigator for the past five years, she's doing what she was born to: solving supernatural crimes. It's far from business as usual when the body of one of Riss's sister Furies washes up in Boston harbor. Riss discovers that the corpse's identity has been magically altered, but as soon as she reports her findings, she's immediately - and inexplicably - suspended from her job. Then a human assassin makes an attempt on her life, and Riss starts to realize that someone may be trying to stir up strife between mortals and Arcanes.


Purchased:

Isn't Eeyore the cutest thing you've ever seen? Stopped off at Kohl's this morning, and he's one of the Kohl's Cares featured plush toys. I adore Eeyore and since he is book related, figured I would include him this week. :)

Get anything awesome in your mailbox this week?

Read Your Own Books - August Challenge

I've seen other Read Your Own Book challenges around the blogosphere, but I'm already behind with my challenges, so didn't want to add another one. Then I saw this challenge, which is limited to the month of August. Hey, one month isn't so bad! And I really need help getting through my huge TBR piles, so I took the plunge and signed up.

 
Mel at Mel's Books and Info said that she started the challenge to read the books already on her shelf, rather than buying new books, borrowing them from the library, or getting them from a friend.

The rules are pretty lenient. In fact, Mel is letting us come up with our own rules and limitations! She's even offering a prize to all challenge participants! How cool is that? So here are my rules for this challenge:

• read only books already on my shelf
• read ARCs or review copies received during the month that have a September release
• the 2 books I have on hold at the library are okay, but no new hold requests
• no new books

So what do you think? Maybe this will help me not only winnow down my TBR pile, but work as a book ban to save me money as well. Hope springs eternal! *L*

Wish me luck!

 

Cat Thursday (19)

Michelle over at The True Book Addict came up with a great idea for a meme! "Cat Thursday" is a way to highlight cute or funny pictures of cats, little tidbits about what our kitties are up to, or any snippets about cats we've come across. I love all those funny/cute cat pictures out there! Here's my picture for the week:

Too many years working in a bookstore, so now I alphabetize all of my shelves! It's a sickness, but at least I stopped straightening shelves when I visit bookstores! *L*