Short Story Released!

I have to share this!

You all know how much I've enjoyed reading the Riyria Revelations by Michael J. Sullivan.  Yes, they keep coming up around here.  But I really have enjoyed the books.  And I'm patiently (trying to be) waiting for the last and final book of the series.  As many of you are waiting for the series to start with Orbit books (November, and each month after for 3 till out).

I have a special treat!
While we are all waiting Michael has a short story from when Royce & Hadrian first started as a team.  The Viscount and the Witch.

I think you can read this alone as it's before the Riyria Revelations and shouldn't spoil anything, from the sounds of it.  I'll be looking to pick this one up.

It's on Amazon for only $.99.  Yes, 99 cents!  Want it?  

Go to Amazon and order it up now!  

And Ridan Publishing has the book for Free if you would like to go there.  

Yes, they are ebooks and different formats but it's only a short story of 5,400 words. :)

Synopsis:
Eleven years before they were framed for the murder of a king, before even assuming the title of Riyria, Royce Melborn and Hadrian Blackwater were practically strangers. Unlikely associates, this cynical thief and idealist swordsman, were just learning how to work together as a team. In this standalone first installment of The Riyria Chronicles, Royce is determined to teach his naive partner a lesson about good deeds. Join Royce and Hadrian in this short story (5,400 words) about one of their earliest adventures.

Flash Fiction Friday (23)

Dottie over at Tink's Place have come up with the idea for a Monday Morning Flash Fiction challenge. Each Monday a new picture prompt will be posted and if you choose to participate you post your story on Friday - 350 words, give or take.

I have to thank Blodeuedd at Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell for introducing me to this fun meme. I don't know if I'll be able to keep up with every week, but I'll give it a try from time to time.

The Image This Week:

I've continued with Allyse and tried to bring her to a close... for now.

First part, Second part.

By:  Melissa

Allyse danced the years away with the fairies through the brilliant woods.  She learned to speak easily with them and tricks of capturing the light of the moon and sun to make glowing lights to dance and play with.

Her hair hung low on her chest and across her eyes now.  The fairies had spun her a stunning gown of shiny silks and webs with sparkles from rain drops and dew.  They loved her company so they would make her just about anything.  Even wings from feathers of doves and owls so she could feel as she fit in with them, other than her size.  The fairies didn't even stand as high as her knees.  The little bright creatures they were never let her feel unwanted or out of place with them.

Today Florace wanted to talk to her.  The fairies never fall to the serious side, but this seemed to have a pull in that direction.  Allyse sat fidgeting with her sun ball waiting to run through the forest until dark when they would lose themselves in their dances.  Florace squeaked a sound that pulled Allyse's eyes to her.

Florace calmed and started on.  Allyse was shocked by Florace as she went through this amazing story of a girl who was pulled into the fairy time and danced years of her life away.  But in the end the girl had to return home as there where others who needed her, and had fallen in love with her.  To her biggest surprise she learned this young girl was none other than herself.

Allyse couldn't believe it, for she did not remember any of the life Florace told she had before dancing and running with the fairies.  Allyse stood to run away but as she turned she tripped over a protruding root of the large oak tree and fell face to face with a young woman laying on the ground covered with flowers and leaves.  The woman reminded her of the images she saw in the streams when drinking.

Florace walked in front of her as tears streamed down her face.  "You must return.  You have such a life to live."

Allyse reached to touch the young woman laying inches from her, her hand slipping into the skin.  Then a pulling sensation dragged her into the body.  With the start of being sucked back into her body, Allyse jumped and jerked up to sitting, all the leaves and flowers falling around her. 

A young man she had not seen jumped to her side, dropping his book to pull out a handkerchief drying the large tears from her cheeks.  Allyse panted from the exhilaration of returning to her body and cried as the happiest days she new were gone.  But now she was startled by this broad young man with heart felt eyes looked at her, asking if she was alright.  Allyse looked around her taking note of the flowers and colorful leaves and wait.  A book.  The book she was reading when she fell asleep.

The man picked up the book, folding it closed, setting it beside her starring at it with his hand placed on top.  "It is a very good read.  I've been enjoying it every day since we found you."

Allyse was stunned all she could say, "You.  You can read?  And you like that book?"

He looked up to her large brown eyes and with a smile, "Oh yes.  My mama taught me.  She wanted me to be verse in all things worldly even though we make our living hunting the wood.  But I enjoy the tales of the unknown.  If not for that and hunting I would never have found you here."

His dark green eyes sparkled with a fondness she noticed.  He mentioned he had been here since he found her.  "How long have I been here.  And you, you visit often?"

Again he looked down to the ground, "We found you two moons ago.  Thought you would not make it, and you had to stay here or you would not have."  Then a little lighter he went on, "Yes, I've stopped every day.  To visit, and read to you."

"The flowers.  They are from you?  They are beautiful."

"They reflect your beauty."  Then realizing what he said he turned to leave.

"No. Please wait."

As he paused Allyse asked, "Could you please help me up.  My legs feel stiff and weak from not moving.  Could you help me to town....and share your name please?"

The young man turned with a boyish smile, "Laaron.  Laaron Gordon.  And yes I'd be honored to help, you as long as you wish."

Laaron helped Allyse to her feet.  Allyse leaned on Laaron with his arm around her waist as they walked back to town talking of fairies, dragons, and the many little unseen creatures of the woods.

Looking Forward To...(69)

There are so many amazing books already on the shelves and new ones coming out.

For a list of books yet to be released I'm looking to get, you can also look on my right Sidebar at the ever growing list titled Desired Reads - just scroll down. Of course there are tones of other new books to come out that are amazing as well, but these ones are part of series I have already started or for one reason or another caught my eye (and haven't seen much on other blogs yet). But I will highlight one here each week.

(mentioned in order of Release Date then Alphabetical if there are more than one book coming out on the same date.)

Next Book Is...

All Wounds

Stranger Things #1

By:  Dina James

Due Out:  October 11, 2011

This is a new YA read coming out by a new author.  And I love the sounds of this world with a healer.  Sounds dangerous and exciting.  I like the sounds of the Ethereal.  This side of the line has drawn my attention.  And I can't wait to read this one.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Rebecca MacDonnell was brought up to believe she was just a regular girl with regular problems who would have a regular life. Her expectations were drastically altered one night when the secret her aging grandmother kept from her showed up – literally – on her doorstep.

Her classmate Ryan is near-fatally wounded by hellhounds, and is brought to her for help by his vampire friend, Sydney. Rebecca quickly learns that she is anything but "regular." She's a Stranger, descended from the most prominent line of Ethereal Healers ever known. Now Rebecca understands why she's always felt – and was treated like – she didn't belong, and why she's always wanted to be a doctor. Now instead of human medical school, she'll train to be a healer of a different sort.

Provided, of course, she lives long enough for her unique ability to manifest entirely, and then through the event itself.

A war between various ethereal factions is brewing, and Healers are a valuable commodity to any side. Those who wish to harness Rebecca’s manifesting healing powers for their own purposes must get to her before her seventeenth birthday, and staying alive until then is proving to be a lot harder than the algebra Rebecca's trying to get a good grade in and taking care of her grandmother combined.

Only Ryan, Syd and a rogue werewolf called Billy stand between Rebecca and the demons determined to make her serve them, and Rebecca's protectors have problems of their own to deal with. The fact that Rebecca has been kept completely ignorant of her heritage and talents and is frightened by them only makes things that much harder. If all that weren't enough, Rebecca finds herself attracted to both Syd, the blond Master vampire, and Ryan, the dark-haired bad boy she's trying to keep alive.

Then there's her homework.

Book Review: Fate of the Fallen

Fate of the Fallen

By:  Sharron Riddle

Publisher:  Mundania Press

Publish Date:  June 2011

Format:  Paperback 200pgs, trade size

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Series:  1st book in the series.

Recommendation:  Yes!  I loved the mix of immortal Fallen Angels, Vampires, and Goddesses all with a mystery of murders.

Book Synopsis:
When all hell breaks loose in Chicago, Eva Dantanian, top agent for the Demonic Management Agency, is the first one called to help.  The 700 year old daughter of a fallen angel enjoys working out her frustrations kicking demon ass... until her mission puts her in a race to save a missing child.

When family becomes foe and foe becomes ally, deep secrets and betrayals rip her family apart.  As the pieces fall into place, Eva is faced with the horrible truth.  To save the innocents under her protection, she must kill one of her own kind.

First Sentence:
"He's here," I whispered into my Bluetooth.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Eva returns to her office at The Demon Management Agency ~ a government agency who pays to keep the demon's quite ~ after a rough case.  In going through the new cases on her desk, separating them to human or immortal to deal with each case based on if a hoax or real, she comes across one where a full demon is killing young half-Nephilim children looking for "the Key."  Knowing this could trigger an ugly war between Demons and Fallen Angels (who have been waiting for a reason to attack Demons) on Earth resulting in an unbelievable amount of human deaths Eva calls a meeting with her Immortal brothers, sisters, and father.  Eva's father sends her, the most skilled in demon hunting along with special abilities thanks to her mother, with her eldest brother, whom blames her for their mothers death, to team up with a vampire to hunt down the person or demon and stop what they are trying to do.  All bringing Eva to a missing young girl who is thought to be an important piece of the puzzle.

This is one of those reviews I'm struggling with.  I loved this book.  I don't want to give anything away, yet I want to tell you everything.  And there is soooo much to tell!  I love the story weaving along with the history building and the story!  Oh my!

We start off quick with snark and action.  One thing I love.  We meet Eva with her sister and brother on the job.  I could tell in the first 3 pages I would love this book.  Loved the humor in the characters.  The characters! We have Eva. She is our main character and she loves her shopping and expensive clothes and shoes. And her men. She loves human men, which her family doesn't love. But that all comes out in the wash too. She is smart and snarky. And a take charge kinda gal. She has a great friend that she is now feeling electrical sparks when they touch, Adam. We meet Adam in the beginning then through out the book I held my breath hoping to see him again, which we did. Oh my did we, toward the end. Adam was a mystery with secrets of his own and I loved what I learned.  We have Rahab, oooo, and Purah, and oh there are others too!

We get two views in this book, one from Eva the second from the kidnapped little girl Jillie. The view written of Jillie is wonderful of a bright young little girl.  I really felt the thoughts are of a little girl that is a big sister.  Really well done!  And the things we learn of Jillie as the story goes.... Oh, such a special little girl.

Okay.  So I want to get into the different species we have here and a little history.  We have Fallen Angels, Demons, Vampires, then there is a touch of Gods and Goddesses added in too, oh there is another too but I'm not mentioning it just yet.  Eva's parents...her father is a Fallen Angel or an immortal, her mother was a Goddess.  The story of how vampires come about is told here, with the thanks of a Fallen Angel.  That's a story we learn about too.  Then we have the Demons of Hell.  See, I want to mention all of this as it is all important and intertwined with the story, yet I don't want to give anything away.  It's worth reading!

So now you probably think this book has a lot of religious references or such in it.  I have to tell you no, it's not.  I'm not one for big religious references.  And this book has basis for the Fallen Angels but religion is not focus of the story and book.  I loved the way these creatures are all weaved together through the story.

We have a mystery to solve.  The reason these young half-Nephilim children are being killed.  Then we come into the one child that is human that is kidnapped.  But it all circles around and comes together in the end.

See this story is layer upon layer of story, mystery, and want.  You want everything from the characters and knowing about them, to family issues in Eva's family, to love, to mystery, to fighting, to suspense.... It's all here in this short read.

In the end I realized there were so many little plots going, and all tied together.  Like a string of firecrackers going off all is answered in the end.  Every time I thought we where done, another cracker blew speeding up my heart with all the excitement that quickly exploded to life again.

I really enjoyed this read.  A blend of immortality; Fallen Angels, Vampires, and touch of Goddesses too.  All with a mystery case to follow and so many other elements with it.  All blended together in a wonderful read.


I read this book for an honest review from the publisher.


This book qualifies for the Horror & Urban Fantasy Reading Challenge hosted by Book Chick City.

Throwback Thursday (35)

Let's talk about those books already on the shelves, yours or the stores.

I have a post for books I'm looking forward to coming out;

Looking Forward To...

But what about all those wonderful books that are ALREADY on the shelves.

Whether it be on your shelf waiting to be read or on the shelves in the stores waiting for you to give it a good home.

So, I thought I would share a book a week that is just waiting for me to travel through it's world.

Now... where do I start? Lets go by Published Date on the books...

This Week:

This is another anthology, which I enjoy reading.  But for some reason I haven't got to this one.  And right now I'm having a hard time realizing I have not read it.  It must have got on the bottom of the pile some how.  I'm going to have to dig it out.  I really enjoy Marjorie M. Liu's writing, and Caitlin Kittridge as well, and this book has a short story of Jack from the Black London series which I really want to read.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Christine Warren

“Devil’s Bargain”
Supernatural bounty hunter Lilli Corbin made a pact with the Prince of Hell: She agreed to recover a book of prophecies. When she learns it could trigger the apocalypse, Lilli is forced to make the ultimate choice: save her soul, or the man she loves?

Marjorie M. Liu

“The Robber Bride”

Welcome to a post-apocalyptic world where women are fed on for their life forces. Now it’s up to Maggie, one of the last female survivors, to hunt down and destroy an army of darkness…

Caitlin Kittredge

“Down in the Ground Where the Dead Men Go”

Ava is a demon slayer who needs help from mage Jack Winter to reach the demon underworld—a place of dark seduction…and, maybe, one of no return.

Jenna Maclaine

“Sin Slayer”

London 1889. Jack the Ripper is killing off the city’s vampire population, and now it’s up to Cin Craven to hunt him down—and save the infected Michael, the love of her undead life.

Book Blog Chat (18) Stop 1

We are at our first stop with Jack Winter and Pete Caldecott in Devil's Business, although it's not Jack's first stop by now.  I think hes on 4 or 5....

We are taking on this book in 2 sections this time around, and now we are half way through.

We do have some questions/thoughts to get us started on our chat here.  Hope you join us.

WARNING:  There WILL BE SPOILERS in the comments, and possibly in the questions.

Robyn's Questions:
1.)  Don aka Abbadon and Teddy were talking about needing body suits.  I don't know why but I feel like that will put the baby in danger.  Could Pete be in trouble being a pregnant woman?
2.)  Besides getting rid of the "princes" do you think Belial has other plans and will leave Pete and Jack alone when this is all done?
3.)  Do you think they will ever go back to London or will they still be in danger when they get back?  What could await them when they return?

Melissa's Questions:
1)  Who else has done the trance that Jack did at the Case home?  The clerk at the magic store mentioned someone else purchased the same items and this doesn't seem like a common trance to do.
2.)  What deal do you think Mrs. Case made?  And with who?
3.)  Jack has 3 paths here to choose from, all of which have threatened Pete.  Which path do you think Jack will follow and help in the end?

Who? What? Where? (38)

Who are you with? Where are you at? What's happening?

Share with us just a little bit of what is happening in the book you are reading, right where you are now.

Just a tiny taste of what's happening, remember try to not give spoilers of the book.

(This is a new meme I'm going to try and will tweak as I go. And please don't laugh at my lame attempt at drawing. ;D )

Jack and I are with Don, the killer we are looking for in Los Angeles.  But there is something off here.  He's not pinging Jack's Demon radar and his "child" is very... evil looking, sounding.  Don is just another who is blackmailing Jack with Pete's life.  But we are getting ready to hear they history of Don's kind as he is older than the Demons we know of in Hell.  I'm curious what this history is as I love the gritty noir Urban Fantasy here.

Devil's Business
By:  Caitlin Kittredge

Cover Release: Devil's Punch

Ann Aguirre's Next Corine Solomon novel, Devil's Punch, has a cover!  This is the 4th Corine Solomon novel.  And it has one wicked cover.

Due Out:  April 2012

I love the background in this cover!  And Corine is holding her knife.  One vicious looking knife. lol.  But look at the smoke or fog around the blade.  Oh, do you see the flame ashes around Corine's head?  Does sound like Hell is involved here.  Great looking cover!

Book Review: Summer's Crossing

Summer's Crossing

By:  Julie Kagawa

Publisher:  Harlequin Teen

Publish Date:  June 2011

Format:  Ebook

Genre:  YA Fantasy, Fantasy

Series:  3.5 in The Iron Fey series; Book 1 ~ Iron King, Book 1.5 ~ Winter's Passage, Book 2 ~ Iron Daughter, Book 3 ~ Iron Queen

Recommendation:  If you've enjoyed Puck in the previous books, this is a wonderful fun read to get a story from Pucks point of view.

Book Synopsis:
A Midsummer's Nightmare?  Robin Goodfellow.  Puck.  Summer Court prankster, King Oberon's right hand, bane of many a faery queen's existence - and secret friend to Prince Ash of the Winter Court.  Until one girl's death come between them, and another girl stole both their hearts.

Now Ash has granted one favor too many and some one's come to collect, forcing the prince to a place he cannot go without Puck's help - into the heart of the Summer Court.  And Puck faces the ultimate choice - betray Ash and possibly win the girl they both love, or help his former friend tuned bitter enemy pull off a deception that no true faery prankster could possibly resist.

First Sentence:
Names.
What's in a name, really?

My Thoughts and Summary:
Puck has tagged along, un-invited, with Ash to find Grimalkin.  Ash had made a bargain, a rather large one, for his love and now the holder has come calling on it.  So frazzled Ash goes out of character and against what he knows and lives in the fey world, and asks if the favor can wait, which he would never have tried to hold out on a favor before.  But knowing Ash plans a search that could take a long time the holder calls the favor in now, and might be able to help him in the end.

We get to see some of our fun characters again; Puck, Ash, Leanansidhe, and some not so nice but in a fun way...Queen Titania.  I did enjoy the side we got to see of the Summer Queen here.  We see Ash through his old friends, and rival, eyes ~ Puck. This way we see how lost and frustrated Ash is since the end of Iron Queen.

We learn little pieces of things and ways of the fey through this short story.  Like names.  And another part of the Wyldwood that is a dangerous path full of Hedgewolves.  The boys are in trouble here!  And a little secret about Queen Titania.

The friendship/enemy line really gets drawn here between Puck and Ash.  They were once friends, then enemies after the first girl.  Now with the second girl, Meghan, what will they be?  Puck choose to go with Ash, but Ash needs Puck's help in this story.  But Puck could turn on Ash and maybe end up with the girl he too loves.  We do get to see the banter and fun between the two characters again.  They do make a good team.

We get Pucks' view of his kiss with Meghan and more of his feelings towards her and Ash.  Puck is struggling with his feelings.  Ooo, oh.  King Oberon shows up and of all people to suggest what to Puck what he does!  Astounding!  Puck does always have jest in what he does.  There is always a joke there to make you smile or chuckle, even when he and Ash have to go in disguise. I enjoyed that.

But as always... things in the fey world are NOT always as they seem.


I read this short story for my own enjoyment.


This story qualifies for the YA Reading Challenge, and Speculative Fiction Reading Challenge hosted by Floor to Ceiling Books.

Teaser Tuesday (93)

Teaser Tuesday

is a weekly event

Sponsored by MizB of Should be Reading

Here's how it works:

Grab the book you are currently reading (anything at all)

Open the book to any random page.

Share 2 teaser sentences from anywhere on the page

Please Make Sure They Are Not Spoilers!

(Don't Give Too Much Away)

Just enough to pique our interests

This Week:

Pete grimaced when he turned on her.  "It happened when you were... away,"  Pete muttered.  "I needed his help to get you out of the nuthouse and shut down Nergal."

Devil's Business
By:  Caitlin Kittredge
59pg

Monday's Beginnings (109)

It's Monday.

No feeling one way or the other about it just yet.  I need more tea or coffee or something.  I really didn't do much over the weekend or last week.  I always hope for more reading, but I do have to do family things and stuff around the house. *sigh*  I did spend several hours Saturday helping the kid with homework. Ha!

But I did get some reading done...

Currently Reading:
Devil's Business by Caitlin Kittredge - this is for the book chat this Thursday and next Thursday
Enclave by Ann Aguirre - yep. I told ya, this one will take a while reading with my kid.

To Come This Week:
Reviews:
Summer's Crossing by Julie Kagawa
Fate of the Fallen by Sharron Riddle

Last Week:
Books I Finished:
Summer's Crossing by Julie Kagawa
Fate of the Fallen by Sharron Riddle

Reviews Posted Last Week: (do click the title to go to review)
Armageddon Bound by Tim Marquitz
Aftermath by Ann Aguirre

Podcast Review: (click title to go to review)
Tales from the Archives - Ten

Special Posts:
Starting today!!! Falling into Books Giveaway Hop!  Runs through Sept 30th, and My giveaway is International.  Do go back to the parent blog to check out all the other giveaways as well.

I did write a Flash Fiction Friday post last week! :) Yes.  This picture was just beautiful.  Well, all of them are.   But if you would like to read it I do hope you enjoy it. :)

My WANT list...I've added 8 books this past week.  And I'm still looking through that Recommendation page on Goodreads.  Goodness!  So many books I thought I had on the WANT list and they aren't.  So, they are being added slowly.

Books Received:
Won:
You remember I won the gift pack from Skyla Dawn Cameron on her site for the Hunter giveaway.  One of the items was a knitted selected item from Dina James.  Well, this was the lovely item I choose to be made....

A pencil pouch!  I got to pick the colors, and since I'm one to wear more earthy tones, we agreed on brown. I love it!  It's nice and big.  And she even stuffed it full of tea (she's the Tea Mistress), sneaks, and vampire teeth.

Gifts:

I have to thank @rissatoo on Twitter for sending me a copy of this one.  :) She is to kind!

Goodreads Synopsis:
Teenage delinquent Angel Crawford lives with her redneck father in the swamps of southern Louisiana. She's a high school dropout, addicted to drugs and alcohol, and has a police record a mile long. But when she's made into a zombie after a car crash, her addictions disappear, except for her all-consuming need to stay "alive"...




Purchased:
All these where purchased with the gift card for Powell's Books I won.

These first 2 books, I've been wanting for some time.  I love the sounds of this series and want to give it a go.

Goodreads Synopsis:
Nobody is safe in the secret hour.

Strange things happen at midnight in the town of Bixby, Oklahoma.

Time freezes.

Nobody moves.

For one secret hour each night, the town belongs to the dark creatures that haunt the shadows. Only a small group of people know about the secret hour -- only they are free to move about the midnight time.

These people call themselves Midnighters. Each one has a different power that is strongest at midnight: Seer, Mindcaster, Acrobat, Polymath. For years the Midnighters and the dark creatures have shared the secret hour, uneasily avoiding one another. All that changes when the new girl with an unmistakable midnight aura appears at Bixby High School.

Jessica Day is not an outsider like the other Midnighters. She acts perfectly normal in every way. But it soon becomes clear that the dark creatures sense a hidden power in Jessica . . . and they're determined to stop her before she can use it.

A story of courage, shadowy perils, and unexpected destiny, the secret hour is the first volume of the mesmerizing Midnighters trilogy by acclaimed author Scott Westerfeld.

Goodreads Synopsis:
The Midnighters of Bixby, Oklahoma, know that their town is full of secrets. These five teenagers are the only ones who know about the mysterious hour at midnight when the world freezes, except for them and the creatures that inhabit the darkness.

But they do not know why earlier generations of Midnighters all disappeared, or why they are now the only Midnighters in town. As they learn more about the secret hour's twists and turns, they uncover terrifying mysteries woven into the very fabric of Bixby's history, and a conspiracy that touches both the midnight hour and the world of daylight.

At the same time, the Midnighters' own secrets start to emerge, including some that were never meant to come to light, changing the fragile dynamics among the five.

This time Jessica Day is not the only Midnighter in mortal danger, and if the group can't find a way to come together, they could lose one of their own — forever.

A tale of betrayal, horrifying revelations, and powerful alliances, touching darkness is the second volume of the riveting Midnighters trilogy by acclaimed author Scott Westerfeld.

Goodreads Synopsis:
Thor, the Norse god of thunder, is worse than a blowhard and a bully—he’s ruined countless lives and killed scores of innocents. After centuries, Viking vampire Leif Helgarson is ready to get his vengeance, and he’s asked his friend Atticus O’Sullivan, the last of the Druids, to help take down this Norse nightmare.

One survival strategy has worked for Atticus for more than two thousand years: stay away from the guy with the lightning bolts. But things are heating up in Atticus’s home base of Tempe, Arizona. There’s a vampire turf war brewing, and Russian demon hunters who call themselves the Hammers of God are running rampant. Despite multiple warnings and portents of dire consequences, Atticus and Leif journey to the Norse plain of Asgard, where they team up with a werewolf, a sorcerer, and an army of frost giants for an epic showdown against vicious Valkyries, angry gods, and the hammer-wielding Thunder Thug himself.

Goodreads Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Kaye is a modern nomad. Fierce and independent, she travels from city to city with her mother's rock band until an ominous attack forces the sixteen-year-old back to her childhood home. There, amid the industrial, blue-collar New Jersey backdrop, Kaye soon finds herself an unwilling pawn in an ancient power struggle between two rival faerie kingdoms -- a struggle that could very well mean her death.


So, it's another week.  And always high hopes.  We shall see what the week brings for us.

How are you faring at the beginning of this week?  Does it look like a good reading week?

Here's wishing you all the best in words and pages.

And a song to leave you through the week...  I'm going to leave you with a song I loved, and still love.  Yes, I was a metal fan when younger, and still love the old metal music.  But this is a mellow song, slow song for you.  I love his voice!  And when he's voice is deep.... Here's Queensryche for you:

Falling into Books Blog Hop~GIVEAWAY!

****GIVEAWAY CLOSED****

September 26th through 30th

We are celebrating Fall with Falling into books Blog Hop Giveaway!

It is that time of year where the weather starts to cool.  We start spending more time in the house.  Nothing like curling up with a great book and blanket to relax and read.  So, why not share some amazing books with other readers?  Well, we decided to do just that.

Do go back to the parent Blog, Michelle @ Oh! For the Love of Books, to hop to other great giveaways.
There are many different books given away; Adult, YA, and others.

I have a wonderful surprise in books for you!  Thanks to the authors, Philippa Ballantine & Tee Morris, I have not 1 but 3 wonderful books to share with you.  Yes, I've read right.  All three of these books I absolutely LOVED them!  I am thrilled that I can share ALL THREE with ONE lucky commentor.

So what do I have?

Yes!  ALL THREE BOOKS!

And Philippa said, she doesn't mind personalizing the signature. 

I've loved them.  If you don't believe me you can go check out my reviews:

Phoenix Rising

Geist

Spectyr

Rules:

~~ Ends September 30, 2011, 11:59 pm EST.

~~ INTERNATIONAL Giveaway!!

So what do you have to do to enter?

+2 ~ Comment.  Say hello.  Tell me you want to enter to win these books.

Extra Entries?  Well, I'll make it easy on you with being a hop and other blogs to visit, but sure we'll have a few extra entries.

+3 ~ Follow My World...in words and pages with Google Friend Connect. MUST leave your screen name so I can verify.

+4 ~ Share the giveaway with others. Tweet, Post, Sidebar, Facebook  You name it. (only 1 time point given) MUST leave a link here to the share you did.

So what are you waiting for? Enter! :) Best of luck to you all!

Don't forget to Go to the Parent Blog, 
Michelle @ Oh! For the Love of Books
 to find other Giveaways.

Book Review: Aftermath

Aftermath

By:  Ann Aguirre

Publisher: Ace Books

Publish Date:  September 2011

Format:  Paperback 307pgs, pocketbook size

Genre:  Science Fiction, Fantasy

Series:  5th book in Sirantha Jax series; Book 1 ~ Grimspace, Book 2 ~ Wanderlust, Book 3 ~ Doubleblind, Book 4 ~ Killbox

Recommendation:  Oh yes!  This series takes you through all parts of Jax's life, so keep going!  And see what road she heads down next.

Book Synopsis:
Dead heroes get monuments.
Live ones get trials.

Sirantha Jax has the right genes - ones that enable her to "jump" faster-than-light ships through grimspace.  But it's also in her genetic makeup to get it alone.  It's a character trait that has gotten her into - and out of - hot water time and time again, but now she's caused one of the most horrific events in military history...

During the war against murderous, flesh-eating aliens, Sirantha went AWOL and shifted grimspace beacons to keep the enemy from invading humanity's homeworld.  The cost of her actions: the destruction of modern interstellar travel - and the lives of six hundred Conglomerate soldiers.

Accused of dereliction of duty, desertion, mass murder, and high treason, Sirantha is on trial for her life.  And only time will tell if she's one of the Conglomerate's Greatest heroes - or most infamous criminals...

First Sentence:
Dying isn't like living; it requires no effort at all.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Jax has reconfigured the beacons to stop their enemy, but its disabled the Conglomerate and everyone else from jumping as well.  And what about anyone who might have been jumping at the time she reconfigured?  She needs to tell everyone not to jump, and how to jump the new configurations.  When Jax and Hit make it back to Venice Minor they see the Morguts have attacked the planet, burning the hanger and buildings.  There's no sign of life.  Jax is worried the Conglomerate will find her guilty of working without orders, High Treason, going AWOL, and death of ships full of crew in grimspace.  Jax fights to get back to civilization and is imprisoned for her way of saving so many lives.  Then Jax has a whole journey to correct her wrongs, and hold her promises and Vel goes with her.

By the time you have gotten to this book, you know what's going on.  You don't need the rehashing of all the previous events and you are ready to move on.  This book briefly mentions the ending of Killbox, but that is because Aftermath starts exactly at that point.  This is the wonderful thing about this series, you are fully invested by now.  As we come to the carrying through with promises and old friends revisited, you remember the feelings and happenings right with Jax as you need them.  Ann does a wonderful job of bringing back those feelings and not bogging down the story with old events.

Jax has grown so much as a person in these books.  She is now aware of the results her actions leave behind and tries to correct those, or at least make amends with them.  Then we have all the promises Jax has made along the way through the last four books.  This book is one that ties a lot of those up, cleaning up lots of lose ends.  Jax is paying her debts, training the new patterns, and making visits on needed promises.

While Jax was incarcerated we get to read letters back and forth between Jax and March.  We start to see these two might have different paths to follow, but love each other so.  But this is the way we get to keep March in the picture.  We get Vel back in this book.  God is he a great friend to Jax.  The only one who seems to completely get her and her ways.  Vel is the rock that Jax needs here.  They get their own adventure in the Makers land, which brings them EXTREMELY closer.

We still have correspondents between Edun and Tarn.  This gives us a small glimpse of the political end and what they are doing to help with the trial.  These letters seem more personable along with business.  Then Tarn and Edun are done with their business here as well.  But!  I'm hoping we might get to meet Edun in person in the next book.  I am left with a small glimmer of hope that it could happen.

This series has taken me on an amazing ride of emotions.  We have had fun and laughed, been serious, fought a war, lost friends along the way, fell in love, and now cried when life's paths go askew.  This book brought tears to my eyes for the last hundred or so pages, and I cried at the end.  I loved how Ann has taken these characters to the point of no return and makes those tough choices.  All along the way I have fallen for these characters.


I read this book for my own enjoyment.


This book qualifies for Speculative Fiction Reading Challenge, hosted by Floor to Ceiling Books.

Winner!

We have our winner for:  Dreamland by Alyson Noel.

Thank you everyone for stopping by and entering to win the copy from the publisher. :)

With the help of Random.org our winning number is #6 who is....

Martha Lawson *claimed

I do hope you enjoy your new winning! :)

*Martha has been notified by email and has 48 hours to respond with needed information, from 4:00pm EST on September 23, 2011.

Looking Forward To...(68)

There are so many amazing books already on the shelves and new ones coming out.

For a list of books yet to be released I'm looking to get, you can also look on my right Sidebar at the ever growing list titled Desired Reads - just scroll down. Of course there are tones of other new books to come out that are amazing as well, but these ones are part of series I have already started or for one reason or another caught my eye (and haven't seen much on other blogs yet). But I will highlight one here each week.

(mentioned in order of Release Date then Alphabetical if there are more than one book coming out on the same date.)

Next Book Is...

In The Forest of The Night

Goblin Wars #2

By:  Kersten Hamilton

Due Out:  November 22, 2011

I loved the first book in the Goblin Wars series.  It was wonderful!  Yes, it's a YA read, but one I think many of ages would enjoy as well.  And this is a given to read this one as well. :)  A Celtic basis to the story and one well written.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Teagan, Finn, and Aiden have rescued Tea's and Aiden's father and have made it out of Mag Mell alive, bringing a few new friends with them. But The Dark Man's forces are hot on their heels. Back in Chicago, Teagan soon realizes that she is not the target of the goblins. In fact, the goblins call her princess, and call her to come out and play. Something is happening to her, and she suspects it’s an infection she picked up in Mag Mell. An infected cat-sídhe becomes her test subject, and Teagan is determined to cure it of the sickness that seems to rot its flesh. If she can find a cure for the cat-sídhe, then maybe there is hope for her. 

Meanwhile, Kyle and Isabeau, Teagan’s goblin cousins, show up in her school, disguised as a substitute teacher and a foreign exchange student. They are sure she will come back to Mag Mell, as goblin blood is never passive. Once awoken, it will burn away every other aspect of her being, leaving her pure and solely goblin. When the process is complete, she will belong to Fear Doirich, the Dark Man. It is just a matter of time. In the meantime, Kyle and Isabeau are happy to entertain themselves by trying to seduce, kidnap, or kill Teagan’s family and friends. 

Tea knows she doesn’t have much time left, and she refuses to leave Finn to be hunted to the death or her family to be tortured and killed. A wild Stormrider, born to rule and reign, is growing stronger inside her, but as long as she can hold on, she’s still Teagan Wylltson, who plans to be a veterinarian and who heals the sick and hurting. The disease that’s destroying her—that’s destroying them all—has a name: Fear Doirich. 

And Teagan Wylltson is not going to let him win.

Flash Fiction Friday (22)

Dottie over at Tink's Place have come up with the idea for a Monday Morning Flash Fiction challenge. Each Monday a new picture prompt will be posted and if you choose to participate you post your story on Friday - 350 words, give or take.

I have to thank Blodeuedd at Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell for introducing me to this fun meme. I don't know if I'll be able to keep up with every week, but I'll give it a try from time to time.

The Image This Week:

Since everyone seemed to want more of Allyse, from 2 weeks ago, I did continue with her.  But I don't think we got very far...

Starts of Allyse meeting Fairies.

By:  Melissa

She kept walking following the sporadically zigzagging bright stars of the fairies.  It seemed her legs should hurt from the long walk, but they didn't. No ache at all.  The air seemed foggy around Allyse as she went, fuzzy almost.  

Finally Allyse walked through the edge of the brush into a clearing.  She stopped with a gasp and her hand flew to her mouth.  She couldn't believe her eyes!  The various disarray of dress the fairy folk where in.  In front of her stood a woman with wild hair looking as never been brushed, but what caught her attention was she had no top on.  Her hands were crossed in front of her holding a necklace with a strange pendent, but there was no top and just a slim shard of material wrapped around her waist.  Allyse was astounded by the view.  The fairy around the stream relaxing on logs, boulders, and grass were topless, bottomless, or completely nude.  She had never seen anything of the sort, people where highly private about their bodies and wore clothing covering neck to toe.  Yet she couldn't take her eyes away from the site in front of her.

The topless woman dropped her arms in a welcoming jester to Allyse, but Allyse just froze where she was.  She felt her face heat with embarrassment as the woman's bare chest shocked her.  The pendent on a long chain hung from the fairy's hand, she was offering it to Allyse and nodded her head for Allyse to take it.

Taking the necklace Allyse realized the pendent was of the sign of witches and demons then almost dropped it with disgust.  The fairy she had followed into the clearing whispered in her ear.  "This will help you here with us, so you don't get lost forever in the moonstruck state."

Some of the fey started dancing and spinning to the sounds of... music.  The air was full of music, by the water flowing over the stones keeping beat, the wind blowing through the trees and grass, the birds chirping melody, and the crickets chirping the song.  And Allyse started to feel relaxed, happy even.  She could join them in this fun time.  And she would!  This is what she wanted that people don't do, let lose and enjoy themselves and great company.  Off Allyse went to dance with some of the fey.

Hours later Allyse was still going strong, dancing and enjoying the fun the fairies had promised.  She looked around to see the sky starting to brighten.  The fairies where whispering and pointing at her and she couldn't figure out why.  Looking down Allyse realized her bodice was torn and hanging around waist and the dress was ripped in shreds and her legs could be seen through the layers of material.  Allyse was shocked, yet didn't seem to mind with the fey company.  Yet she didn't know how it happened.

The fairies turned and said it was time to bounce through the tree tops and run, so Allyse joined them in their daily running.  Not even thinking of her family back home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The hunters returned daily to see how the young lady was doing.  They had been by every day for the last two mornings, and she hadn't moved.  Worried as she was paling in color, they would leave wild flowers by her side to show some one had cared, even though they never seemed to see family here.  Although, they did have to make a living as well.  But with out a guardian to watch over her frailing body they set traps to keep any prey from hurting her.