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Sunday 30 June 2013

THE NEW HUNGER by Isaac Marion


The New Hunger (Warm Bodies, #0.5)The New Hunger by Isaac Marion
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved WARM BODIES, and a few weeks ago watched the movie. So I couldn't wait to read another story set in this dark, yet hopeful world.

The story is told in three different POVs:

There's Julie, a hardened twelve-year-old girl on the road trip from hell. Her parents are searching for safety--somewhere they can settle down with other survivors and carry on with their lives in a fallen world where the Dead don't stay dead.

There's also Nora, a teenager travelling with her little brother. Abandoned by their parents and trying to stay alive, they're starving and tired. The only way she knows how to keep them safe is to continue walking.
 
And last--but certainly not least--we have a man with a red tie, who wakes up beside a beautiful dead girl and doesn't know what's happening to him. I guess it's no mystery who he turns out to be. :)

These small individual groups all end up in the same place for different reasons. And for all of them, their journey is heartbreaking.

I loved this novella! It was everything I hoped it would be, and a whole lot more. I enjoyed meeting younger versions of characters featured in the book, and found out a whole lot more about what happened to the world and why some zombies are different.

Yeah, this is another keeper. Fantastic!

Friday 28 June 2013

Long time no see...


But I have a several (very) good reason for it:
 

And don't forget the reviews I've been posting for Bloomsbury. ;) See? That's why I haven't been around lately.  
 
So, what's new? It's been raining almost non-stop for a week now. I'm so sick of it I keep hoping that it will stop soon. If you read my blog then you know that as soon as it rains for more than one day, I complain about it. My limit of rainy days is TWO. Less is fine, but no more. Ugh.
 
Anyway. Today is my daughter's last day of Term 2, which means she'll be on holidays for two weeks. But this time it's going to be a little different because hubby is also taking the second week off. Yay. So we'll get to spend some time together and hopefully go and watch a movie or two. Cool.
 
Oh, you know what I picked up the other day? After two very uncomfortable appointments, the splints finally came in. So we popped in for our fittings and mine was fine. Hubby's didn't fit, so he had to get another mold done. Poor guy. I took mine home and have been wearing it the last few nights. I have to admit that having a piece of plastic perfectly molded to your top teeth isn't the most comfy thing in the world, especially when you're trying to fall asleep and it just seems awkward. But what I have noticed is that both mornings I wake up with my bottom teeth pressed right against it, which means I'm clenching my jaw tight every darmn night. O_o
 
The splint is supposed to help with that, but more importantly, it will make sure that my teeth don't get damaged. Phew. I can put up with the discomfort. Plus, like everything else, once I'm used to it I'm sure it'll just become routine. LOL.
 
Did you read the first review for ON PINS AND NEEDLES yet? It's awesome, and over at Team Tynga's Reviews. Thanks Jenn! :)

Well, that's about it for now. Just wanted to post a little something.

Have an awesome weekend!


Thursday 27 June 2013

CROWN OF MIDNIGHT by Sarah J Maas

Eighteen-year-old Celaena Sardothien is bold, daring and beautiful – the perfect seductress and the greatest assassin her world has ever known. But though she won the King’s contest and became his champion, Celaena has been granted neither her liberty nor the freedom to follow her heart. The slavery of the suffocating salt mines of Endovier that scarred her past is nothing compared to a life bound to her darkest enemy, a king whose rule is so dark and evil it is near impossible to defy. Celaena faces a choice that is tearing her heart to pieces: kill in cold blood for a man she hates, or risk sentencing those she loves to death. Celaena must decide what she will fight for: survival, love or the future of a kingdom. Because an assassin cannot have it all . . . And trying to may just destroy her.
 
 
Last year, I read and absolutely loved THRONE OF GLASS, so when I received the ARC for the second book in this amazing series, I couldn't wait to devour it. And that's exactly what I did!
 
Celaena Sardothien is now the King's Champion, and has been tasked with wiping out anyone that the King sees as a threat. She's not supposed to ask questions, just do what she does best. After all, she is the best assassin in the world.
 
So she goes off, does her job and brings back each dead man's head. Except, she hasn't actually been doing that. She's devised her own plan: pretend she's killing these people, but in fact is giving them the opportunity to flee. She's playing a dangerous game, because if the evil king ever finds out, he won't just kill her but everyone she cares about.
 
However, when the next name on her list is actually someone she knows, Celaena needs to tackle the task with a little more time and care. And instead finds herself in the middle of a hidden rebellion that want to overthrow the King of Adarlan by using similar tactics, which puts her in a very difficult position. Soon Celaena starts to wonder who she can really trust, and finds out--the most painful way--that even those closest to her keep secrets.
 
Everything is going to hell but there is one brief, bright light for her--Chaol Westfall. The Captain of the Royal Guard has slowly made his way into her heart when she was sure she'd never let anyone else in. But even then, she still has to deal with the hard realisation that even though you love someone and they might love you back, there's always something that gets in the way. And sometimes, unfortunately, it has to take precedence. At least her friendship with Prince Dorian Havilliard is strengthened.
 
There's one quest she must follow to the end, though. The clues are hidden beneath the castle, in the dark chamber of a dead queen that might just have a deeper connection to her than she ever imagined...
 
This story is so well written and told from several angles, giving the reader glimpses of what other characters are thinking and doing when Celaena isn't there. I found myself on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what would happen next, hoping it would all work out in the end. I also went through a variety of emotions--anger, delight, heartbreak, excitement, sadness--and even had several "I knew it!" moments. 
 
Reading this book was exhausting, because I got so caught up in what was going on I almost felt like I was there! 
 
Crown of Midnight is breathtaking. I enjoyed every single moment I spent with this book and just couldn't put it down. I love Celaena, she's such a well-rounded character who gives easily into her emotions and allows the darkness deep inside to take over when it's necessary. She's also loyal, caring, reactive, and will stop at nothing to protect and/or avenge those she loves. There are a lot of revelations in this installment, and the world's potential opens up so much!
 
I absolutely LOVED this book, even more than the first one. Wow. Can't wait to see what happens next... 
 
Oh, and check out that cover!
 
Crown of Midnight, August 2013, ISBN  9781408834947, Bloomsbury Childrens

Saturday 22 June 2013

Team Tynga's Reviews: Supernatural Solstice


Today, I'm taking part in Team Tynga's Reviews
SUPERNATURAL SOLSTICE.

So stop by to read an interview about Sierra Fox and her world...


Friday 21 June 2013

The SFR Brigade 2nd Midsummer Blog Hop - Out of this World!



Hi, and welcome to my SFR Brigade 2nd Midsummer Blog Hop post! :)

One of my favourite things about writing SFR is the opportunity to build futuristic, fictional worlds where space travel is a common thing, AI exist in different forms, complicated relationships are everywhere, and there's always some sort of trouble brewing.
 
How cool would it be to jump into your space ship and travel across the galaxy to visit a foreign planet, moon, or space station? I reckon it would be awesome, and very dangerous. That's why I had such a blast with the worldbuilding for my RECAST series. There are a bunch of different races and ways of life--some hidden, some everyone knows about--that will all (somehow) collide as the series moves along.

When it comes to Sci-Fi, although I love the endless possibilities of technology and space travel, if the character interaction is missing, the story falls flat. I love to focus on relationships and friendships, and they don't always have to be human.
 
I introduced the reader to this Sci-Fi world via a hardened space cowboy wrangler who crash lands on a sun-scorched planet called Harrow. He's got one weakness--the woman who walked out on him without an explanation. After Colt and Brynn took the stage, their story unfolded in a way that's led into other stories with different characters. But every single one of them is connected...

What about you? Are you only in it for the tech, or do you also like the human angle in Sci-Fi?

RECAST SERIES
 
First there was a space cowboy in Wither.
Then, a shapeshiter in Clash.
Now, there's an arena warrior with a bloodlust problem in
Shiver...
 
RECAST, Book 3: SHIVER will be available from Samhain Publishing in 2014.
 

MY CONTEST:

I have another SFR book:

 
And I'll be giving away five eBook copies of PROMISE
 
All you have to do is leave a comment here with your answer to the question I asked in my above post.
Don't forget to check back here on June 26th to find out if you won and how to claim your prize!


ENTER TO WIN BLOG HOP GRAND PRIZE:

1st Prize - $150 Amazon or B&N gift card (winner's choice) and an
ebook bundle (Ghost in the Machine, Bayne, Recast Book
1:Wither, Recast Book 2:Clash, Alien Adoration, Switched, Reckless
Rescue, Wreck of the Nebula Dream, Keir, Terms & Conditions Apply, The
Key, Marya, The Iron Admiral, Sasha’s Calling, Trouble at the Hotel
Baba Ghanoush, Winter in Paradise, Once Upon a Time in Space, the
Telomere trilogy, Winter Fusion, Blue Nebula, Demential, Wytchfire,
Maven, Fires of Justice, Interface, Girl under Glass, and Breakout.
Bonus books – Ghost Planet, The Iron Admiral: Conspiracy and
Deception, Games of Command, The Plan, Starburst, and Stark Pleasure.)

2nd Prize - $50 Amazon or B&N gift card (winner's choice)

3rd Prizes - four $25 Amazon or B&N gift cards (given to separate
winners and their choice)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sierra Fox Blog Book Tour

Today, at
Me and Reading button by Parajunkee
 
I'm chatting a little about Inspiration.
 
 
 

Thursday 20 June 2013

Sierra Fox Blog Book Tour

Today, Sierra's doing the talking at
 Hope you enjoy the interview!
 
 

TRANSCENDENCE by CJ Omololu

Nicole fears she's losing her mind. Lately, everywhere she goes, everything she touches, triggers vivid scenes of a time she doesn't know, in a place she's never lived. Then she loses her heart too . . .

When Griffon first sees Cole, he knows immediately that she is special, like him - that her visions are memories of past lives. And he is sure their paths were meant to cross in this life . . .

With Griffon's help, Cole pieces together clues from many lifetimes and discovers a secret that could ruin her only chance of a future with Griffon. But risking his love may be the only way to save them both.


Wow, what a gorgeous cover! You know what's better than a lovely cover? An awesome story, which is exactly what this book turned out to be.
 
When Nicole and her sister visit the Tower of London she starts to see things. This is also where she meets the very alluring Griffon, a guy who helps her when she stumbles from a vision showing a girl getting executed. Even after she goes home to San Francisco, these strange visions continue. No matter how hard Cole tries to concentrate on her gift and passion for playing the cello, she can't stop focusing on the familiar lives she's suddenly remembering. Or about the cute guy she met in England.
 
The good thing is that Griffon actually lives nearby and they start seeing each other. That's when Cole's life gets complicated. Griffon claims to know what's going on with her. Tells her all about people who can remember previous lifetimes. The Akhet can remember their past lives and even carry skills from one lifetime to another.
 
As soon as she start to believe him, danger from one of her past lives follows her right into this one.
 
This is an incredible book about a gifted teenager who finds herself in the middle of some very unbelievable truths. It doesn't take long for her to start doubting everyone and wondering who she can really trust with this newfound knowledge.
 
Transcendence is a beautiful book that deals with reincarnation in a very interesting and unique way. The worldbuilding and explanations make total sense and don't overburden the narrative. Cole is a great narrator, an awkward gifted girl who's unsure of a lot of things and slowly starts to change as she accepts a destiny she doesn't know quite how to handle yet. I also loved how everything felt so linear at first and then several twists struck, leaving me wondering what was going to happen next. Love that!
 
Yeah, I really enjoyed this one and can't wait to see what happens to Cole now that she's found a very important person from her past...


Transcendence, July 2013, ISBN  9781408836910, Bloomsbury Childrens

Wednesday 19 June 2013

Sierra Fox Blog Book Tour

Today, I'm here:
 
 
Talking about why a Series Bible is still important.
 

Tuesday 18 June 2013

It's Release Day!

The third book in my Sierra Fox urban fantasy series is out today!
 
All it takes is one freak to turn everything into a demonic ritual.
Sierra Fox, Book 3
Sierra Fox can’t catch a break. Her relationship with werewolf, Jason Papan, is going great but someone’s still trying to kill her. After a death prediction, she becomes even more paranoid. But there are too many things going on in her life for her to dwell on just the one.

With her biological grandfather’s help, Sierra is about to find out exactly why the demonic-obsessed freaks want her. Meeting the half-sister she didn’t know she had throws her into a new lot of trouble. The teenager suffers a supernatural problem that makes her a target, and when teenagers start turning up dead, Sierra realizes the case leads to her sister.

As Sierra finds herself in the thick of the murder investigation, and the target on her becomes harder to avoid, she has no choice but to face her darkest fears and accept that to overcome the looming threat, she’ll have to embrace the darkest of her powers. Or that death prediction might just come true…

 
Product Warnings
Spook catching: never gets any easier, neither does trying to avoid being killed by a shadowy organization. Always expect the unexpected—dangerous vampires, poltergeists and demon-obsessed freaks. At least the werewolf is pleasurably safe.

 
 
 
 

 
 

Monday 17 June 2013

Sierra Fox Blog Book Tour

Today I'm stopping by
Wicked Little Pixie
 
And I'm chatting about creating my own mythology.
 

STUNG by Bethany Wiggins

In a world in crisis, children are the future. Part of the cure. Not now. Children are deadly. Marked one to ten. Fiona is a TEN. She just doesn't know it yet . . . She doesn't know her true strength.

Fiona doesn't remember going to sleep. But she has woken to find her entire world has changed - her house is abandoned and broken, and her neighbourhood is barren and dead. Even stranger is the tattoo on her right wrist that she doesn't remember getting but somehow knows she must cover at any cost. And she's right. When the honeybee population collapsed, a worldwide pandemic occurred and the government tried to bio-engineer a cure. But instead the vaccination turned people into ferocious, deadly beasts. They have been branded as a warning to unvaccinated survivors. Key people needed to rebuild society are protected inside a fortress-like wall. Fiona has awakened branded, alone and on the wrong side of the wall . . .

 
OMG. What an excellent book! As soon as I started reading, I knew this one was going to hook me in. And I wasn't wrong.
 
When Fiona wakes up in her bedroom, she finds the house empty and dusty. It pretty much looks abandoned, and her thirteen year old body feels/looks a lot older. She doesn't recognise the face in the mirror, but that's the least of her immidiate problems because a beast appears out of nowhere and attacks her. She manages to escape and runs out into the street to find this unfamiliar world is scary and strange. With the help of a feral child, she hides in the sewer tunnels.
 
Now she owes this horrid kid and when she pays up, Fiona gets captured by the militia. She's kept as a prisoner--bound, treated like an animal, and feared by everyone because she is a Ten. Unfortunately, she doesn't remember anything and thanks to a guardian who takes pity on her and ends up being a boy from her past, she starts to put the pieces together and begins to understand just how horrible the world has become. It's now a barren place filled with beasts, raiders, feral children, and females are hunted like dogs.
 
As she tries to escape a fate worse than death, she also discovers love and so many twisted secrets...
 
This book is intense! I really liked how Fiona starts to remember things and the events are shown as flashbacks, which help us piece the past together with her.
 
Stung is another excellent action-packed dystopian YA novel with a lot of heart. It features a likeable heroine who desperately wants to remember what happened to her, and along the way learns just how different she is from all the other 'beasts'. Fiona and Bowen's blooming relationship starts out really harsh and even cruel on his part, but it slowly becomes something very sweet and unexpected. The climax of the book, wow! I couldn't put it down... Loved it.
 
I really enjoyed this book and now that I know there's a sequel, I'm intrigued! 
 
 
Stung, July 2013, ISBN  9781408840665, Bloomsbury Childrens

Sunday 16 June 2013

Sierra Fox Blog Book Tour

My first stop is at
All Things Urban Fantasy

With a post about how The Plot Thickens.


EXCERPT #3: On Pins and Needles



A little Sierra & Papan...


“Whoa, hold up, Fox!” a familiar, masculine voice called as the arms loosened around me. “Where’re you rushing to?”

“What the hell, Papan? You almost gave me a heart attack!”
 
He released me and I took a small step back, trying to calm my breathing and heartbeat. I did manage to smack him in the shoulder, though, which only made him laugh.
 
I’d been too wrapped up in my own thoughts to notice him as I stepped out into the dreary afternoon. This worried me a bit because I couldn’t afford not to be cautious—not after the incident outside Sally’s store. But meeting my half-sister and discovering she had poltergeists attached to her had thrown me a bit off balance.
 
“You’re wound way too tight,” Papan said with a cheeky grin. “I think I’ve got just the thing for that.”
 
This time, when he wrapped his long, strong arms around my waist and pulled me closer I didn’t resist. Instead, I got on my tiptoes and practically threw myself against him. I couldn’t believe he was actually here. When he lowered his mouth to mine, I melted into his warm embrace and the masculine sweetness that was all Papan. He tasted like minty toothpaste at the moment and smelled delicious—all man and spice, with an undertone of deodorant. I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d stopped by his place or mine before deciding to surprise me here. We were supposed to meet in the city.
 
I pulled back from the kiss and looked up into his handsome face. “What are you doing here?” I touched his coarse cheek, and ran a fingertip over the adorable dimple.
 
“I finished up the case a little earlier than expected. After all that time sitting in the car eating junk food and crawling around in the dark taking compromising photos, I needed to work it all off. So I stopped by the gym for a few hours, took a shower and thought I’d surprise you.”
 
Well, that explained the wet hair and dry clothes. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. He looked so good, even if he was wearing his usual faded jeans, a tee, and boots. The black T-shirt made his dark blond hair look lighter, and his green eyes always stood out.
 
“I have to admit that I really like your surprises.”
 
“This isn’t the only surprise I have planned for tonight,” he teased, running his fingers down my waist and settling them on my hips. He leaned down for a quick kiss. “But first, we need to catch up. Are you hungry?”
 
“Yeah, actually, I am.” My stomach flipped, but it had nothing to do with skipping lunch and everything to do with the wave of desire rushing through my cold body. What I really wanted was to get him home—alone.
 
 
ON PINS AND NEEDLES will be available on JUNE 18, 2013:

Saturday 15 June 2013

ILL-CONCEIVED MAGIC by RL Naquin

Ill-Conceived Magic (A Monster Haven Story, #1.5)Ill-Conceived Magic by R.L. Naquin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this Zoey and Maurice adventure.

Zoey is an empath and is always willing to help Hidden creatures/monsters. Heck, she has a closet monster and his gargoyle brother-in-law staying with her. But when a cute green baby is dumped at her house, it's a problem she hadn't expected. The cutie happens to be half dryad and half satyr, so taking care of her isn't easy.

But Zoey's determined to find her parents and gets herself into a whole heap of trouble!

I love the way this supernatural world is opening up, and the satyr imagery was both hilarious and frightening. I also enjoyed seeing another--more horrifying--side of Maurice. I actually think their friendship is awesome.

This is another excellent Monster Haven Story that the lovely author is actually offering for free. You should check it out! :)

View all my reviews

EXCERPT #2: On Pins and Needles



Sierra and Willow meet for the first time...
 
 
“Willow, is Jamie one of the things you see out of the corner of your eye?”
 
She looked at me, surprised. “Yes, he is. How did you know about him?”
 
“I don’t know how this happened, or even how it’s possible, but it looks like you’ve got several poltergeists attached to you. They seem to manifest when you get angry or upset.” It was too soon to pry about why the mention of her father prompted such a severe reaction. And after testing the theory, I certainly didn’t want her to go there again.

“What do you mean by poltergeists?” Her eyes were wide as she looked around the office. “I remember watching the movie, but how can I have one attached to me? It doesn’t make any sense. Do you know what’s wrong with me? Does it have something to do with me dying so many times?”
 
She threw too many questions at me and I couldn’t answer them yet. I’d encountered plenty of poltergeists, but they were usually the mischievous spirits of dead teens or children. I’d never seen anything like this before, but just like the poltergeist phenomena, her reaction stemmed from strong emotional responses.
 
“I don’t know why or how this happened to you, but it has.” I was glad the charged energy was gone.
 “But I’m going to help you figure it out.”
 
“Really?” She looked so young and hopeful.
 
“Yes.”
 
“Thank you, I knew meeting you was the right thing to do.” A small, apologetic smile curved her lips but the sadness lingered in her eyes.
 
“There’s just one problem,” I said.
 
“What’s that?”
 
“I’m going to have to ask you a bunch of questions you might not want to answer.” I paused to let that sink in. “Do you think you can handle it?”
 
Willow was thoughtful for a moment before she said, “Yeah, I can.”
 
“Good.” I hoped that I could handle this, because only a messy situation—or situations—could have put her in this position. The first thing I needed to confirm was how she’d gotten this condition, though I was pretty sure it was an inherited curse.
 
I felt bad for her, and could certainly relate to receiving a gift disguised as a nuisance.
 
She sat quietly in the chair, looking around.
 
“So, where are you staying?”
 
“Huh?”
 
I pointed at her bursting backpack. “You’ve got a whole bunch of stuff packed in there.”
 
“Oh,” she said, hugging it to her chest and reminding me of Lavie’s peculiar habit. Except, I was certain this girl wasn’t stowing any severed demonic body parts. “Yeah, I’m staying with a friend.”
 
“I’m glad.” I probably wouldn’t have offered her a place to stay just yet, but it struck me as weird that she hadn’t made a day trip for our meeting. There was certainly something strange going on with her father, but now wasn’t the time to find out. “Look, I don’t want to overload you with prying questions, so how about you pop back in here tomorrow and we’ll get started? We can meet at…four. How’s that sound?”
 
“Okay, sure, that sounds good.” She instantly shot to her feet and placed the backpack straps around her shoulders. “I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon.”
 
“Great.” I extended my hand and she shook it. “I look forward to seeing you again.” As hard as I tried not to make this feel like a business transaction, it kinda did.
 
“I’ve got a bit of money, so I can pay you for—”
 
“No, I won’t take your money.” This might feel reminiscent of the cases I usually dealt with, but I wasn’t taking money from a confused kid who also happened to be my half-sister.
 
“Are you sure? I don’t want you to think I’m taking advantage of you.”

“I know you’re not.”

“Thank you.” Willow flashed a pretty smile and headed for the door. She stopped just outside, turned and said, “I’m really glad I found you. I’ve always wanted a sister and you’re even better than I imagined.”
 
I smiled back and felt a warm glow inside. She might come with a few otherworldly problems, but who didn’t have some kind of baggage nowadays? “I’ll see you tomorrow, Willow.”
 
She strolled out the door and I turned back to my office.
 
After picking up the folders and stacking them where they belonged, I decided there was no way I would get any work done now. Besides, it was almost time to meet Papan in the city.
 
I shut the window, put on my mostly-dry jacket and made sure my dagger was still secured between sock and boot. I loaded up with keys, wallet, and phone before heading for the door, wishing Oren would hurry up and teach me the incantation to make my pockets deeper than they really were.
 
After closing the door behind me, I made sure it was locked before rushing for the stairs. I might have walked into my office in a morose mood, but I was now filled with a sense of hopeful energy.
 
I’d helped poltergeists before without being able to see them. I could handle this for my sister.
 
Wow, it feels good to say sister.
 
As soon as I stepped out of the building, I smacked right into someone. When strong arms wrapped tightly around my midsection, I struggled to squirm out of the vice-like grip.
 
Oh crap, not again!


ON PINS AND NEEDLES will be available on June 18, 2013:

Friday 14 June 2013

EXCERPT #1: On Pins and Needles



The third book in my Sierra Fox series will be released next week. Here's where it all starts... 



As soon as I stepped off the sidewalk, I knew something was wrong.
 
My skin prickled and the ominous air of danger I’d become so accustomed to during the last few months lent me pause. Even after checking both sides of the road and being so close to my destination, I was still blindsided by the glare of twin lights headed right for me. Headlights during an overcast day weren’t an anomaly, but these high-beams served another purpose. And if I didn’t get out of their path, I was going to end up splat on the pavement.

The vehicle didn’t seem to be slowing down—actually sped up.

I was temporarily stunned, so it took me a moment too long to get my legs going.

The noise from the traffic I carefully avoided faded into the background, but I pumped my suddenly rigid limbs.

With every step, I chanted the protection incantation I’d learned by heart as easily as others might a prayer. The invisible shield cocooned me instantly but I didn’t slow, not now that I was so close to safety. The barrier might keep a person from getting to me, but being hit by a car would surely disrupt my chanting. And the spell was only good for as long as I kept whispering it.

The bumper nudged my protective wall, rebounding off it and causing me to miss a step. As expected, I lost concentration and my whispers abruptly stopped. If it wasn’t for the parked cars on this side of the street—spell or no spell—I would’ve ended up plastered on the road.

All sound rushed back when the car I leaned against started shrilling, making my ears pop. Screeching tires echoed in the distance.

 “Sierra, are you okay?”

I managed a quick nod before taking several shallow breaths, hoping they would help calm my racing heart.

Lavie Grye, my friend and demon hunter, was running toward me with both arms outstretched. “Are you sure you’re okay? That car nearly ran you over!”

I nodded, glancing down the road even though I knew it was too late to catch the culprit. Whoever just tried to run me over had come and gone, which confirmed this hadn’t been an accident. Someone’s blatant attempt to take me down had failed. I was sure of it. Having a certain group of freaks after me made me more than a little paranoid.

“Sierra—”

“I’m fine, just a little shaken. That’s all.” I turned back to her, noticing her denim overalls and the long-sleeved T-shirt underneath. She always covered up, leaving only her hands exposed. Lavie had a demonic seed living inside her, which manifested as snake-shaped lumps roaming under her scarred skin.

“You didn’t catch a look at the car, did you?”

Her hazel eyes were wide and bright, but she shook her head. “I’m sorry, I didn’t. I was looking out the window and spotted you crossing, so I thought I’d greet you at the door. It happened so fast I didn’t bother looking at the car.”

“Don’t worry about it.” One way or another, I was pretty sure I’d eventually find out who was responsible.

“Let’s get inside.” Lavie wrapped an arm around my shoulder and led me into her aunt’s store, which had been my destination all along.


ON PINS AND NEEDLES will be available on JUNE 18, 2013:

The Sierra Fox Blog Book Tour

To help celebrate the upcoming release of Sierra's third book, ON PINS AND NEEDLES, I'll be stopping by several places during the next week.
 
 
Check out my 
 
Plus this:
 
Then I'll be posting these on my blog: 
 
And this is the actual Blog Book Tour:
 
          June 18: RELEASE DAY!          
June 21: The Book Nympho
 
It all ends with me taking part in the Supernatural Solstice: 
 
 
I hope you stop by and find out a little more about Sierra's world...

Thursday 13 June 2013

MONSTER IN MY CLOSET by R.L. Naquin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG. This book was SO MUCH FUN! I loved it. I just couldn't put it down. And isn't the cover totally cute? :)

Zoey and her best friend Sara are busy wedding planners. Zoey has always been prone to helping others and can even read their feelings, which gives her migraines. She always assumed everyone could do it as well, until the closet monster from her childhood enters her life and changes everything.

Now, she has to come to terms with monsters being real and offers shelter to Maurice (closet monster) as well as others who need help. It wouldn't be so bad, since she likes to help people anyway, but she's caught the eye of a relentless incubus who won't stop until he consumes every female she's connected to in an attempt to get to her. At least there's a sexy reaper watching her back, and a very helpful new friend.

I had a blast reading this book. It was funny, interesting, even creepy, and the worldbuilding is fantastic! The characters are really cool too, especially Zoey. She's so nice to everybody! It was great to see her taking charge of her own power, and that she's willing to accept help when needed. I love strong characters with vulnerabilities, but determination.

I'm just glad I've already got the second book on my Kindle...

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Another week is almost over...

So. I received my SPLIT AT THE SEAMS print copies last week, which is always exciting. And I have to say that they're beautiful. Love them. *hugs them all*
 
In case you were wondering, it'll be available in print on July 2. Two weeks after the eBook release of the third book in Sierra's series. Yay!
 
Anyway.
 
This week is a bit of a filler week. I've got some stuff to cross off my to-do list, and while I'm between books is the best time to tackle it. Not to mention putting together a What's-Left-of-2013-To-do List, which I totally did over the long weekend. ;)
 
So far, I've spent a lot of this week transferring my RECAST notes and research into an actual notebook. Doing this is really helping me get in the mood for writing the next story in this series. :) I'm looking forward to tackling what I'm calling MyRobotStory. Not sure exactly when I'll start, but the snippets are coming and the characters are talking. That means it's almost time. LOL.
 
I'm also putting time aside for reading. I finished two books already, and started a third one last night. So far, I've enjoyed all of them and can't wait to get stuck into more...
 
Asides from that, not much else is going on. I just wanted to post a little catch-up post.

Oh, did you watch the Game Of Thrones season finale? I thought it was probably the best episode all season. Yeah. I'm looking forward to getting a break from it though.
 
Well. See ya! 

Wednesday 12 June 2013

ALL OUR YESTERDAYS by Cristin Terrill

Em is locked in a bare, cold cell with no comforts. Finn is in the cell next door. The Doctor is keeping them there until they tell him what he wants to know. Trouble is, what he wants to know hasn’t happened yet.

Em and Finn have a shared past, but no future unless they can find a way out. The present is torture – being kept apart, overhearing each other’s anguish as the Doctor relentlessly seeks answers. There’s no way back from here, to what they used to be, the world they used to know. Then Em finds a note in her cell which changes everything. It’s from her future self and contains some simple but very clear instructions. Em must travel back in time to avert a tragedy that’s about to unfold. Worse, she has to pursue and kill the boy she loves to change the future . . .
 
 
I received this ARC last week. I knew nothing about it, but as soon as I read the blurb and the first chapter, I was excited about reading it. Actually, I started it yesterday morning and finished it this afternoon because it's just so good. I was hooked!
 
Em is a prisoner inside the cell next to Finn. They were on the run, but since they got caught every day is filled with torture from the doctor, the director, and the soldiers they order to do their bidding. Their only hope is to escape, not only their cell but their time. In order to make things right, Em and Finn travel four years into the past so they can kill the person who ruins their lives and the world.
 
Marina is a teenager from a wealthy family. Her self-confidence is low, but her friends are popular and the boy next door is her best friend. James is not only her friend, but she's been in love with him for a while now. The problem is that she doesn't know how he feels, and ends up realising she doesn't know him as well as she thinks she does.
 
The night his brother is shot, their lives get thrown into a downward spiral that only Em and Finn can fix. At least, they're hoping to this time because they've failed so many times before...
 
This is one of those stories that throws you right into the middle of all the action, where all the characters are presented but you don't know how they all fit in yet. Not until Em and Finn go into the past and the heartbreaking tale starts to unfold. It's told in the POV of Em and Marina. Though they happen to be the same person at different stages and experiences in their lives, each voice feels and sounds different--almost like two different girls, which I thought was an excellent approach.
 
All Our Yesterdays is amazing! I loved every single minute I spent in this unstable world, where the past is continually tweaked by the future. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I just couldn't put the book down. I loved it! 
 
It's a little time travel, a little love triangle, with a dash of conspiracy, a sprinkling of heartache, and a whole lot of awesome. Yep. This one's a total keeper!  
 
All Our Yesterdays, August 2013, ISBN  9781408835197, Bloomsbury Childrens

Sunday 9 June 2013

THE HEIST by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

From Janet Evanovich, No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum novels, and Lee Goldberg, bestselling author and television writer for Monk, comes the first adventure in an electrifying new series featuring an FBI agent who always gets her man, and a fearless con artist who lives for the chase.
 
FBI Special Agent Kate O'Hare is known for her fierce dedication and discipline on the job, chasing down the world's most wanted criminals and putting them behind bars. Her boss thinks she is tenacious and ambitious; her friends think she is tough, stubborn, and maybe even a bit obsessed. And while Kate has made quite a name for herself for the past five years, the only name she's cared about is Nicolas Fox - an international crook she wants in more ways than one.
 
Audacious, handsome, and dangerously charming, Nicolas Fox is a natural con man, notorious for running elaborate scams on very high-profile people. At first he did it for the money. Now he does it for the thrill. He knows that the FBI has been hot on his trail - particularly Kate O'Hare, who has been watching his every move. For Nick, there's no greater rush than being pursued by a beautiful woman... even one who aims to lock him up. But just when it seems that Nicolas Fox has been captured for good, he pulls off his greatest con of all: he convinces the FBI to offer him a job, working side by side with Special Agent Kate O'Hare.
 
Problem is, teaming up to stop a corrupt investment banker who's hiding on a private island in Indonesia is going to test O'Hare's patience and Fox's skill. Not to mention the skills of their ragtag team made up of flamboyant actors, wanted wheelmen, and Kate's dad. High-speed chases, pirates, and Toblerone bars are all in a day's work... if O'Hare and Fox don't kill each other first.
 
 
I really like Janet Evanovich, so when I received this book for review I couldn't wait to get stuck into it...
 
Kate O'Hare is a tough FBI special agent and ex-Navy SEAL, so she's pretty badass. For the last five years she's become obsessed with busting a tricky con man. Nick Fox is a con artist, thief and international fugitive. He's also charming, very good looking, and frustrating because he manages to slip away every time it looks like he's been captured.
 
So when Nick escapes a courthouse and Kate's taken off the case she takes matters into her own hands and with some time off and a little help from her former military father, tracks Nick down to a remote island in Greece. But what she finds is something she never expected--the FBI has recruited Nick, and for the next five years he'll help them catch other high profile bad guys. And Kate's teaming up with him. Their first case is to locate an investment banker who swindled millions of dollars and is hiding out on a remote island in Indonesia.
 
As Nick comes up with a plan guaranteed to get them results, he builds an eclectic team of talented misfits with their own reasons for wanting the job. Everything goes according to plan, but the more time Kate spends with Nick, the more she realises he's not all that bad. He's smart, full of brilliant--yet sneaky--ideas, and seems to really care about his team. Still, she's got a job to do and nothing's going to stop her, because being a honey trap might be the hardest role she's had to play yet.
 
This adventurous and super fun book is told in several POVs so the reader can grasp all sides of what's going on. Each POV throws the reader deeper into the plot, but still leaves plenty of surprises.
 
The Heist is an exciting, intriguing and entertaining book that kept me hooked from start to finish. It's got classic Evanovich characterisation and witty dialogue, with a touch of seriousness that her other two series don't have. It's also filled with master plans, government secrets, and bad guys with big ideas. I really enjoyed it! 
 
 
THE HEIST, June 2013, ISBN 9781472201737, Headline Fiction

Friday 7 June 2013

I'm over at Joyfully Reviewed!



To help celebrate the upcoming release of Sierra's third book, ON PINS AND NEEDLES, I'll be popping into a few places this month.

This is the first one:

Check out my Author Spotlight Interview.


SIERRA FOX, Book 3: On Pins and Needles
 
All it takes is one freak to turn everything into a demonic ritual.
 
 

Thursday 6 June 2013

Getting stuff done...


I took this picture while I was walking last week. It was a foggy, cold morning but all the grass and leaves looked so much greener. It was nice, and there's something I really like about this pic.
 
So, hope you're all enjoying June so far.

Hubby and I went to get our final splint fitting on Monday. As expected, it sucked. Those molds are just a pain in the butt. Oh well. We've got one more fitting--hopefully--which is pretty much the splint. Though the dentist did warn us about most people needing adjustments. O_o
 
Anyway. I'm not going to think/worry about it until the next appointment is near (last week of June).
 
I've been crossing stuff off my to-do list this week, and even rewarded myself with this great UF book.
 
Getting through the list is slow going because there are a variety of things to tackle, but I did manage to get all of the promo interviews and blog posts finalised for the Sierra Fox release week. It's going to be a week full of me being at different places chatting about Sierra. One place will even feature an interview with her. I'll be posting the links closer to release.
 
Speaking of Sierra. OMG. Check out this AWESOME A Patch of Darkness review! Jenn sent me a link via Twitter yesterday morning and it made me very happy. Reading a review where the reader totally gets the characters and what's going on always makes me smile. Thanks Jenn!
 
We watched Game of Thrones the other night. Yikes! Wasn't expecting a wedding to turn out like that. It was shocking. Seriously. I have to admit that there are some vaguely interesting things going on--like Dany and that dude are totally gonna get it on, LOL--but my interest in this show is still low. I'm just glad this season ends next week.  Maybe having a break from it will help me get into it again. Who knows?

BTW, really glad that NSW won this year's first State Of Origin game. Go the Blues! ;)
 
Well, that's it for today. It's almost lunch, so I'm going to step away from the computer for a while.
 
It's a long weekend here, but hubby's having tomorrow off as well. So we'll be having an extra long weekend. Yay. Have a great one!

Tuesday 4 June 2013

MOONSHIFTED by Cassie Alexander

Moonshifted (Edie Spence, #2)Moonshifted by Cassie Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is another awesome addition to this series. No wonder it's already made it onto my Most Fave UF Series List. I loved it!

Christmas and the New Year might be around the corner, but if Edie is going to make ends meet she has to keep working through the holidays. She's a nurse in the County Hospital’s Y4 wing, which is where they take care of supernatural creatures.

Except, now that she's been introduced into this world she keeps getting deeper into it. And when she witnesses an old man getting run over by a truck in front of the hospital and he turns out to be an alpha werewolf, she suddenly becomes involved in another messy situation and makes herself an easy target. Not only that, but she's also agreed to be Anna's Ambassador when the teenage vamp gets initiated into the Sanguine.

Between having to put up with her family visiting for the holidays, her brother getting caught up in a dangerous situation, several bizarre houseguests, Grandfather messing with one of these guests, Asher the shapeshifting 'friend', and a werewolf she might not be able to keep her hands off... her life gets more complicated every single day.

I love Edie. She might seem like a human being thrown into a shark pool, but she's always kind and willing to help. She's also stronger than she realises, and not afraid to get her hands dirty. I do feel bad about her not wanting to get involved with anyone after what happened with Ti. Oh, and the ending, didn't expect that!

The third book is on its way as I type this, so I can't wait to see what's next for Edie Spence. :)

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