2019 5 Star Review #9 - Circle of the Moon

Circle of the Moon by Faith Hunter
Soulwood, book four
Published Feb 2019 by Ace

Format Read: Audiobook I Own

Description from Goodreads:
Nell can draw magic from the land around her, and lately she's been using it to help the Psy-Law Enforcement Division, which solves paranormal crimes. Joining the team at PsyLED has allowed her to learn more about her powers and the world she always shunned--and to find true friends.

Head agent Rick LaFleur shifts into a panther when the moon calls him, but this time, something has gone wrong. Rick calls Nell from a riverbank--he's naked, with no memory of how he came to be there, and there's a dead black cat, sacrificed in a witch circle and killed by black magic, lying next to him.

Then more animals turn up dead, and team rushes to investigate. A blood-witch is out to kill. But when it seems as if their leader is involved in the crime, the bonds that hold the team together could shatter at any moment.

My Review: 

This is book four of the series, so I'm going to try not to be spoilery in terms of plot.  

Nell Ingram, our main character, is a woman who was raised in a religious, polygamous cult and only now has her own lands and home because both her childhood husband and his previous wife have passed.  As supernatural occurences happen near her lands, Nell becomes involved with the PsyLED team and eventually trains and becomes a full-fledged member with their branch of the government. 

Nell is a woman who has experienced hardships and mistreatment, but has also experienced care and loyalty.  What she finds with the PsyLED team is a new focus, challenges, friendship, and maybe more.  The team is awesome and the world-building in this series (based off of the Jane Yellowrock world) is phenomenal.  I love seeing Nell navigate her way through things with grit and integrity. 

For those of you who are audiobook listeners, let me tell you this series is an AMAZING listen, too.  The narrator, Khristine Hvam, does a fabulous job bringing out Nell's churchwoman accent and defining the other characters. I love listening to the books in this series. 

Book one in this series, Blood of the Earth, is highly recommended to anyone who enjoys urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and stories about strong women finding their way. 

2019 5 Star Read #4 - Greta and the Lost Army by Chloe Jacobs

Greta and the Lost Army by Chloe Jacobs
Mylena Chronicles, book three
Published Feb 2016 by Entangled: Teen

Format Read: ebook from Personal Kindle Library

*Spoiler Alert as this is the final book in the trilogy!!*

Description from Goodreads:
A fate as unavoidable as love itself...

After spending the last four years trapped in a place of monsters, demons, and magick, the last thing the fierce teenage bounty hunter Greta expected was to ever be back on Earth. But a rare opportunity gives her and the Goblin King Isaac the opportunity to do just that. Now she’s home. With a boy in tow. And her parents have lots of questions.

Although Greta finally has her heart’s deepest wish—to see her family again—every step she takes to reconnect with them drives her further away from Isaac. Greta and Isaac planned for her to return to Mylena and become his queen, but she’s not sure if she can go back to that harsh world, though staying on Earth means giving up the boy she loves.

But a powerful enemy refuses to let Greta escape. A demon who will stop at nothing to destroy her and everything she loves. Even if it means following her to Earth and forcing her to face a fate as unavoidable as love itself.

My Review: 

I'm going to try and be somewhat spoiler-free here, but again this is the last book in the trilogy, so some hints may be unavoidable as to what happened in the first two... 

Anyway, this is not the first series, nor I'm sure will it be the last, where the main character finds themselves transported to a hostile world.  What I really enjoyed about this particular book in the series was that the author takes the main character, Greta, back to her home world and then lets both Greta and the reader come to the realization that Earth may no longer be the best place for her.  It explores both the joy and guilt associated with her homecoming.  The excitement and the bewilderment.  The horrible confliction that she now feels as she realizes there are things she truly loved about Mylena, even as she was working so hard to escape it. 

I hadn't quite expected when I started this series to get so emotionally invested in it.  It seemed like it would just be a breezy, fun paranormal YA romance and I found it to be so much more by the time I finished it. The characters had depth and there was both action and romance that built in a believable way.  There was good world building and consequences to characters' actions and betrayals that moved the plot along well. As I said, I ended up really loving this series.  I was so happily surprised.  

I think this is a trilogy that never got the buzz it deserved and is well worth a shot if you are looking for something new to read!  

2019 5 Star Read #2 - Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
All Souls Trilogy, book two
Published July 2012 by Viking Adult

Format Read: Book from Personal Library

Description from Goodreads:
Picking up from A Discovery of Witches’ cliffhanger ending, Shadow of Night takes Diana and Matthew on a trip through time to Elizabethan London, where they are plunged into a world of spies, magic, and a coterie of Matthew’s old friends, the School of Night. As the search for Ashmole 782 deepens and Diana seeks out a witch to tutor her in magic, the net of Matthew’s past tightens around them, and they embark on a very different—and vastly more dangerous—journey.

My Review:
Both books I have read so far in this series have been truly spectacular. They make for slow reading because the author is a historian by trade and her work is jam packed full of facts, but they are also super interesting, intricate reads. I have not for one second regretted the "extra" time it took to read either book. They are intense reads, but so engrossing, and I have not wanted to put them down to go to work! I wish all books left me with that hungry feeling between reading sessions.

Anyway, this book picked up immediately after the ending of the first.
*spoiler alert*

Diana and Matthew utilize her time traveling ability to go back to Elizabethan London to find a powerful witch that can tutor Diana in navigating her powers. There are emotional repercussions to traveling back to an earlier point in Matthew's life, which at first threaten to divide them, but Harkness does an amazing job at believably having the two lovers connect in an even stronger way after recognizing even greater depths of each of their personalities. This book is truly a homage of a type to a deep, abiding love built not on first attraction, not on fate, etc, but on the willingness and faith to push through difficulties and truly accept another person into your life, flaws and all. I LOVED that this was not an easy love story, but a strong, deep one.

Beyond that, there were soooooo many interesting scenes and details of Diana adjusting to life in Elizabethan England. The cast of real, historical characters including Marlowe and Shakespeare, himself, made for a very entertaining diversion into the past. The intersection between history, science, and the elements of the fantasy world that Harkness has created was seamless. As I read, I felt as if I could turn around at any moment and find a new history book denoting important vampires and witches of Europe. It was astounding how real the possibility felt.

*end spoilers*
I finished this book both dying to read the next one and desperate to read something totally different. Something light. The story is so gripping, but the writing is exhausting (in the best possible way). I'm hoping to read The Book of Life sometime in late February or early March.

The Innkeeper Chronicles by Ilona Andrews

Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews
NYLA, 2014 - audio book owned in personal collection
The Innkeeper Chronicles, book one

Over the course of March and April, I listened to the first three books in the Innkeeper Chronicles series.  Ilona Andrews has been recommended to me over and over and I'd read two books from her Kate Daniels series and two from the Hidden Legacy trilogy and enjoyed them all, so since I had these in my Audible collection, I decided to give them a shot as part of my 2018 Books I Already Own Challenge.

This series is now among my favorites, as well, and I will definitely be devouring whatever else Ilona Andrews does in this universe.  Dina DeMille is a fabulous main character and her growth, plus the world building, over the three books is great.  I was wholly invested in the romance, the danger, and the emotions of the characters as they attempted to thwart one disaster after another.

I devoured the first book then dove straight into the second, Sweep in Peace (NYLA, 2015). Characters that seem to be one-offs turn up again and often in very important ways. It was stellar how Andrews managed to take the events of one book and tie them into new important events in the second and even third books! (One Fell Sweep, NYLA, 2017) The alliances created between Dina, her Inn, and the guests become important ties that influence galactic events.  Strength and friendships are steadily built over time.  Heartaches are revealed and (at least partially) healed.

I'm extremely excited to see where Andrews takes these characters as the series continues!  Recommended to readers who enjoy urban fantasy, high fantasy, strong female characters, and science fiction.

Quickie Review: The Dark Descendant

The Dark Descendant by Jenna Black
Nikki Glass series, book one
Pocket Books, 2011 - ebook owned in personal collection

I've been reading a lot of adult urban fantasy and paranormal romance in the last few years and have found that they are two subgenres that I really generally enjoy.  I had read Black's Faeriewalker series years ago and really enjoyed them.  I'm pretty sure that was around the time I'd originally purchased this ebook wanting to try out one of Black's other series.

I don't know if my memory is fuzzy because it's been so long, or if because the Faeriewalker series was geared more towards a YA audience, but I was somewhat shocked by how DARK this series was in comparison to my memory of Black's other books. I’m a reader who loves fantasy, but is also a pragmatist. Meaning that while I love a HEA as much as the next reader, I also find fault if things wrap up too easily. I tend to enjoy more books that explore the not-so-happy, but realistic endings. However...I’m not sure if I’m a little more sensitive in today’s social climate (#metoo, etc) or if I just have grown out of needing threats of rape and such to move a plot along, but I felt like there was so much violence against women and weaker people in this book that it was actually hard to handle.

I found myself cringing as yet another woman was brutally threatened and attacked and then the violence was brushed off as “not being as bad as what the original Greek gods did.” It was a great concept for a book, but I just didn’t have the stomach for it apparently. Maybe someday I’ll pick up the next book and see if it’s any less cringe-worthy then, but there are so many books out there....

Recommended mythological urban fantasies: Venom and Vanilla by Shannon Mayer and Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini (YA).

Mini Reviews: The Adult Urban Fantasy Edition

Biting Cold

by Chloe Neill

Chicagoland Vampires, book six

Merit is on the hunt, charging across the stark American Midwest, tailing a rogue supernatural intent on stealing an ancient artifact that could unleash catastrophic evil on the world. But Merit is also the prey. An enemy of Chicagoland is hunting her, and he'll stop at nothing to get the book for himself. No mercy allowed.

No rules apply. No lives spared. The race is on. (description from Amazon.com)

Okay, trying to be non-spoilery...not only does this particular book in the series pack a whopping emotional punch, but it also ramps up the action a notch.  Merit has to fight some big battles and face some enemies she previously thought were friends... I loved it. Yet again, Neill sucked me right in and left me waiting anxiously for the next one...

Full disclosure: Borrowed through interlibrary loan

Two Weeks' Notice
by Rachel Caine
The Revivalist, book two

After dying and being revived with the experimental drug Returne, Bryn Davis is theoretically free to live her unlife—with regular doses to keep her going. But Bryn knows that the government has every intention of keeping a tight lid on Pharmadene’s life-altering discovery, no matter the cost.

Thankfully, some things have changed for the better; her job at the rechristened Davis Funeral Home is keeping her busy and her fragile romance with Patrick McCallister is blossoming—thanks in part to their combined efforts in forming a support group for Returne addicts. But when some of the group members suddenly disappear, Bryn wonders if the government is methodically removing a threat to their security, or if some unknown enemy has decided to run the zombies into the ground… (description from Amazon.com)

 

I love this science-fiction take on zombies.  Caine's writing always blends the perfect amounts of action, romance, and sheer drama for me.  Looking for a zombie series that doesn't go heavy into the whole brain consumption aspect? Give these a try...

 

Full disclosure: Borrowed through interlibrary loan

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Gold Star Interview - Kelly Keaton!

Hello All!

As you all know, when I LURVE a book, I give it a Gold Star Review here. Well, to liven up the blog a little, I'm going to (try to) interview the author of each book that receives a coveted Gold Star! I hope you'll enjoy these quick, little interviews. :D

Today's guest is the fabulous Kelly Keaton! I'm so excited. I loved both of Kelly's books in the Gods and Monsters series, but today, we're going to talk officially about the second title, A Beautiful Evil. You can go back and check out my gushy Gold Star Review here.

 

Welcome, Kelly! Thank you so much for stopping by to chat with me. I have just a couple of quick questions for you:

 

1.       How long did it take you, from first spark of idea to final proofs, to write A Beautiful Evil?

 

Since it was the second in a two book contract, the idea – or at least a vague idea – was there from the time I sold the first book. So, almost two years. The actual writing time once I started it was about two months - I’m a big procrastinator, LOL.

 

2.       If you could write a book under a pseudonym that no one would ever connect to you, are there any genres you would love to secretly explore?

Not anything I feel would need to be secretive about. I’m actually toying with writing a contemporary romantic comedy. Love reading those and always wanted to write more in that genre. My very first manuscript was a rom-com w/some paranormal thrown in.   

 

3.       I LOVED that A Beautiful Evil evoked such a strong atmospheric setting. You must have researched New Orleans quite a bit. Is there any one part of New Orleans that you think everyone should visit or a piece of the town’s history that you think everyone should know?

Thanks! There are so many places I’d advise people to see. The Garden District. Lafayette Cemetery. The French Quarter. Jackson Square. You can just walk and shop and sit and eat and take it all in, day after day, and it never gets old. NOLA has this amazing Old World yet vibrant feel, an ambience – a feel-good, happy, artistic vibe. Well worth the visit! *I cannot WAIT to go to New Orleans someday. I think there are so many cool things to see! It's on the top of my husband's travel list, too...

 

4.       If you could cross one thing off your bucket list tomorrow, what would it be?

Tour sites of ancient Greece. *That is on my bucket list, too!*

 

5.       Quick picks list:

Favorite vacation destination?

Beach, mountains, and NOLA.

 

Favorite childhood book?

The Black Stallion by Walter Farley

 

Favorite writing snack food?

Doritos

 

Favorite clothing item?

White V-neck T

 

Thank you so much, Kelly, for letting me interview you. It was a pleasure!

For more information about Kimberly and her books (I personally keep stalking checking her website for information about book #3!), check out her website at http://kellykeaton.net/



What's On My Hold List?

Welcome to the June 2012 edition

of

"What's on My Hold List?"

One of the most beautiful things about working in a Library is that I have the ability to put lots of things on hold and read them *before* I buy!! These are some of the books that I'm currently waiting for, though I may buy one or two of them after reading, as well. 

Black Howl

by Christina Henry

Black Wings, book three

The Inferior

by Peadar O. Guilin

Sleepover Stakeout

by Kim Harrington

Sleuth or Dare, book 2

Wicked Business

by Janet Evanovich

Lizzy and Diesel, book 2

You can click on each title to go to their Amazon page for a description...

So, these are the books I'm waiting anxiously to get my hands on...what are you waiting for??

Anxiously Awaiting... Dark Star

Dark Star
by Bethany Frenette

Publication date: Oct. 23, 2012

Audrey Whitticomb has nothing to fear. Her mother is the superhero Morning Star, the most deadly crime-fighter in the Twin Cities, so it’s hard for Audrey not to feel safe. That is, until she’s lured into the sweet night air by something human and not human—something with talons and teeth, and a wide, scarlet smile.

Now Audrey knows the truth: her mom doesn’t fight crime at night. She fights Harrowers—livid, merciless beings who were trapped Beneath eons ago. Yet some have managed to escape. And they want Audrey dead, just because of who she is: one of the Kin.

To survive, Audrey will need to sharpen the powers she has always had. When she gets close to someone, dark corners of the person’s memories become her own, and she sometimes even glimpses the future. If Audrey could only get close to Patrick Tigue, a powerful Harrower masquerading as human, she could use her Knowing to discover the Harrowers’ next move. But Leon, her mother’s bossy, infuriatingly attractive sidekick, has other ideas. Lately, he won’t let Audrey out of his sight.
When an unthinkable betrayal puts Minneapolis in terrible danger, Audrey discovers a wild, untamed power within herself. It may be the key to saving her herself, her family, and her city. Or it may be the force that destroys everything—and everyone—she loves.

What's on My Hold List?

Welcome to the May 2012 edition

of

"What's on My Hold List?"

One of the most beautiful things about working in a Library is that I have the ability to put lots of things on hold and read them *before* I buy!! These are some of the books that I'm currently waiting for, though I may buy one or two of them after reading, as well. 

 

What the Dog Said

by Randi Reisfeld

 

Black Howl

by Christina Henry

Black Wings, book three

 

The Selection

by Kiera Cass

 

Wicked Business

by Janet Evanovich

Lizzy and Diesel, book two

Publication date: June 19, 2012

 

Struck

by Jennifer Bosworth

Publication date: May 8, 2012

 

Partners in Crime

by Kim Harrington

Sleuth or Dare, book one

 

The Lions of Little Rock

by Kristin Levine

 

Kick

by Walter Dean Myers and Ross Workman

 

You can click on each title to go to their Amazon page for a description...

 

So, these are the books I'm waiting anxiously to get my hands on...what are you waiting for??

Drink Deep

Drink Deep
by Chloe Neill
Chicagoland Vampires, book five

Clouds are brewing over Cadogan House, and Merit the vampire can't tell if this is the darkness before the dawn, or the calm before the storm. With the city itself in turmoil over paranormals and the state threatening to pass a paranormal registration act, times have never been more precarious for the vampires. If only they could lay low for a bit...

Then magic rears its ugly head when Lake Michigan turns black. The mayor insists it's nothing to worry about, but Merit knows a panic is coming. She'll have to turn to friends old and new to find out who's behind this, and stop them before it's too late for both the vampires and humans. (description from Amazon.com)

Chloe Neill is a master of the urban fantasy genre. Her books just keep getting better and better! After the end of Hard Bitten I think that we all were slightly panicked about how the series would continue without one of its main characters. Chloe managed to banish all doubts!

This book not only answered that lingering question about how Merit would go on...and in several interesting ways... but also introduced a huge new intriguing twist! The elemental magic and new supernatural beings introduced kept the storyline fresh and compelling and I can't wait now for book six!

One of my all time favorite series - with a kick @ss heroine.

The Demon Trapper's Daughter

The Demon Trapper's Daughter
by Jana Oliver
Demon Trappers, book one

Riley Blackthorne just needs a chance to prove herself – and that’s exactly what the demons are counting on…

Seventeen-year-old Riley, the only daughter of legendary Demon Trapper, Paul Blackthorne, has always dreamed of following in her father's footsteps. The good news is, with human society seriously disrupted by economic upheaval and Lucifer increasing the number of demons in all major cities, Atlanta’s local Trappers’ Guild needs all the help they can get – even from a girl. When she’s not keeping up with her homework or trying to manage her growing crush on fellow apprentice, Simon, Riley’s out saving distressed citizens from foul-mouthed little devils – Grade One Hellspawn only, of course, per the strict rules of the Guild. Life’s about as normal as can be for the average demon-trapping teen.

But then a Grade Five Geo-Fiend crashes Riley’s routine assignment at a library, jeopardizing her life and her chosen livelihood. And, as if that wasn’t bad enough, sudden tragedy strikes the Trappers’ Guild, spinning Riley down a more dangerous path than she ever could have imagined. As her whole world crashes down around her, who can Riley trust with her heart – and her life? (description from Amazon.com)

I got totally sucked into this world. The concept of a world where demons come out into the open and are hunted or trapped was just cool. I loved every time a new detail was added, helping to layer the complexities of the Demon Trappers world. With so many different types of demons and ways to combat them, I was never bored or able to predict how fights would go...

Riley was a great character, too. So easy to root for! With a famous father to follow and being the only girl in her Trappers' Guild, the odds are slightly stacked against her. Yet, Riley's allies are wonderful and willing to put things on the line for her. I loved seeing how all of the relationships around her developed. (Yes, I do have to admit to some, "Come on, come on, can't you see how he really feels about you??" moments, too!)

Though Oliver's writing read a little slower for me than some other authors, I never once wanted to put the book down. In fact, I'm really impatiently waiting for book two, Soul Thief to come out on August 30th!!

Retro Demonology

Retro Demonology
by Jana Oliver
A Demon Trapper's Daughter, bonus story

Before Riley Blackthorne can take on Grade Five demons, she has to trap her very first. Her debut solo trapping experience should be a breeze, just a harmless Grade One after all. But throw in some dippy hippies (whose peace signs and Patchouli really aren’t driving any demons away), one mischievous demon, and a run-in with the police, and Riley might not be able to pull it off... (description from Amazon.com)

I haven't yet had a chance to read The Demon Trapper's Daughter but I will be soon! Riley's snarkiness and the interesting premise of this short story totally drew me right in. I love that there are little Bibliodemons that live to destroy books. Fighting those would be right up my alley. In fact, there is a pretty cool Librarian in this story, which I totally loved. :)

Red Glove

Red Glove
by Holly Black
Curse Workers, book two

Curses and cons. Magic and the mob. In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth—he’s the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything—or anyone—into something else.

That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her. Now that she's human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila's been cursed to love him, a little gift from his emotion worker mom. And if Lila's love is as phony as Cassel's made-up memories, then he can't believe anything she says or does.

When Cassel's oldest brother is murdered, the Feds recruit Cassel to help make sense of the only clue—crime-scene images of a woman in red gloves. But the mob is after Cassel too—they know how valuable he could be to them. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can't trust anyone—least of all, himself?

Love is a curse and the con is the only answer in a game too dangerous to lose. (description from Amazon.com)

I still can only commend Holly Black on how intricately she can build a believable, yet fantastic world! I love how her urban fantasies are wholly rooted in our world, yet have such strong elements that make them spring fully from her imagination. The world of the curse workers is intricate, flawed, and cool as hell.

I'm still not as in love with Cassel as many other readers are, but I definitely grew to enjoy him more fully as a character in this second book. I think as he came to know the whole story of what he'd done and how his actions reflected on his personality and desires, he became more fully rounded and believable in my imagination. I loved some of the choices he made here and can't wait to see how he'll pull things off next!

I am definitely looking forward to Black Heart. So many life altering choices were made or inadvertently forced onto different characters in this book, that it will be really, really interesting to see where they all end up in the next. *Mwa Haa Haa*

In My Mailbox - May 8, 2011

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme, hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren, inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Every week bloggers can share what they received in the mail or at the bookstore or at the library. The goal is that everyone can be exposed to more books this way!

From CLA conference:

Beyond Heaving Bosoms by Sarah Wendell and Candy Tan
The Perilous Prophecy of Guard and Goddess by Leanna Renee Hieber
*both signed by the authors!!*



American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin
Season to Taste by Molly Birnbaum
Before I Go to Sleep by S. J. Watson


Tolstoy and the Purple Chair by Nina Sankovitch
Once Upon a River by Bonnie Jo Campbell
The Swerve by Stephen Greenblatt
*All from our Adult Book Buzz Publisher Preview - Thanks to HMH, Macmillan, Penguin, Dutton, and more!*


For Review:

Red Glove by Holly Black
The Secret Kingdom by Jenny Nimmo


From the Library:

Memento Nora by Angie Smibert
The Heart of Glass by Vivian French
Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep

Bought:

Hard Bitten by Chloe Neill


On My Nook:

The Book of Lost Souls by Michelle Muto

Hard Bitten Blog Tour - Interview with Jeff Christopher and a Giveaway

In honor of the newest Chicagoland Vampires book, Hard Bitten, which comes out next Tuesday, May 3rd, I have a special treat for you all!

My absolute favorite character from the series is shifter, Jeff Christopher. Jeff is in his early 20s, works in the Ombudsman's Office, and is a full on computer wiz. He continuously makes me laugh and generally gives Merit a little extra fun in her life.

Jeff has very graciously granted me an interview to help entice you all to pick up The Chicagoland Vampires books.

Welcome Jeff! Just a few questions for you...

First off…any juicy secrets you know from working in the Ombudsman’s Office? I’m kidding…unless you really do have something you could share?? *wink, wink*
Jeff: *Blushing a little* Aw, there are always secrets here. Since not everyone is out of the closet, we try to keep folks protected. I can say that Catcher likes to eat frou-frou salads for lunch. Like with cranberries on top. Who knew?

Speaking of the office, besides the Chulthu that sits on your desk, any other “interesting” accessories in your workspace?
Jeff: There *might* be a framed photograph of someone special on my desk, but I'll let Chloe tell you about that in the books.

So, how well do you actually know the Windy City’s River Nymphs?
Jeff: Whoa, whoa. Let's not start any crazy rumors. I've got a shifter with an attitude and a gun safe who probably doesn't want to hear any suggestions that I've been dancing the rumba with any nymphs. We only know each other in a professional capacity. *Smooths the front of his shirt* But I could hit that if I wanted to. Not that I want to. I'm just sayin'. Whoops! Sorry, Jeff...definitely don't want to get you in any trouble with Fallon. :)

What would your ideal date be like?
Jeff: Dinner. Walk along the riverfront or down Michigan Avenue. Maybe a boat ride, the two of us together staring out across the water. *Snatches up pen and paper, mumbling as he scribbles* River . . . front . . . Boat . . . ride

What was the last book that you read…or, um, thumbed through?
Jeff: I read a lot of the tech magazines. WIRED. POPULAR MECHANICS. DISCOVERY. SHIFTERS WEEKLY. Nah, I made that last one up. *snort*

Describe Merit in one sentence.
Jeff: *Closing his eyes* Tall, superior hotness, easy on the eyes, nice to talk to. *Eyes flash open* And completely off limits because I have a girl! Seriously, are you trying to get me in trouble? *Leaning forward* You aren't taping this, are you? *Shifts eyes guiltily away...writes notes furiously*

If Merit had been born a shifter, what form do you think her animal would have been?
Jeff: Water buffalo? Nah, kidding, kidding. She can be a little clutzy. Something sleek. Quiet. A hunter. Panther, maybe?

Quick picks: Top Vacation Destination? Favorite food? Favorite item of clothing?
Jeff: Vienna. Chicago red hots. A good pair of khakis.

Jeff, thanks again SO much for stopping by! I really enjoyed getting to know you a little better...can't wait to read more about you very soon. I hope that everyone runs out to grab Hard Bitten when it comes out...I know I'll be reading it the night it comes out!

Chloe Neill has very graciously offered to send out a Chicagoland Vampires swag pack to one of my readers. Simply leave me a comment with your favorite character from the series (or if you haven't read any of them yet...your favorite vampire character, in general) and your email address by Friday, April 29th. I will announce the winner on Saturday, April 30th. Good luck!!

Luminous

Luminous
by Dawn Metcalf

As reality slips and time stands still, Consuela finds herself thrust into the world of the Flow. Removed from all she loves into this shifting world overlapping our own, Consuela quickly discovers she has the power to step out of her earthly skin and cloak herself in new ones-skins made from the world around her, crafted from water, fire, air. She is joined by other teens with extraordinary abilities, bound together to safeguard a world they can affect, but where they no longer belong.

When murder threatens to undo the Flow, the Watcher charges Consuela and elusive, attractive V to stop the killer. But the psychopath who threatens her new world may also hold the only key to Consuela's way home. (description from Amazon.com)

This book has a super intriguing premise. Consuela, never really happy in her own skin, finds that she is able to slip out of her own skin and create others from organic materials, like fire, air, or even butterflies. The moments she feels most powerful, though, are when she is skinless...just bone, hence she becomes known as "Bones" in the Flow.

Metcalf has constructed a really cool and interesting place known as the Flow. It is between this life and the next. It is malleable. It is different for everyone. Following Bones through her journeys in this place (places?) were some of the best scenes in the book. Not only was it somewhat like the movie What Dreams May Come with really different dreamscapes to imagine, but it was really conceptual in that each place really meant something specific to the person that it was created for...and therefore in their relationship to Bones.

Each character was very interesting and different in this book. They were all teens brought to the Flow to help save others that might die before their time, but the ones that they connected to and the method that they used to save their lives all varied greatly. Each was really a character study and they played well off of each other.

When I finished this book, I found myself really happy with the story and where Bones/Consuela leaves off in her journey. I also realized that I had thought quite a lot while I was reading. It was sort of a subconscious philosophical journey...and I really like books like that. So, kudos to Dawn Metcalf for an excellent debut!

Full disclosure: ARC received to review for SLJ
2011 Debut Author Challenge title
2011 Shifter Challenge title

City of Fallen Angels

Congratulations to Cassandra Clare whose fourth book in the Mortal Instruments series, City of Fallen Angels, hits bookshelves (and millions of mailboxes world-wide, I'm sure) today!

I'm actually being a super person and letting the teen at my library who is absolutely DESPERATE to read this book check it out first, but I'm sure I'll have it by this weekend to read. :)

Not sure you want to read it? Check out the official full length book trailer, exclusive to EW here.