Throwback Thursday (101)

I found this picture of Trinity College Library, and thought it would work for this meme with a little play with lighting and adding the words.

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:

Oh, this is another book I won, and it's got signatures too!  I do love the sounds of these stories, and by authors in worlds I want to get into. :)

Goodreads Synopsis:

Truly, Madly, Undeadly

This irresistible collection features stories of love amid vampires by five of today's hottest authors—Kristin Cast (Tempted), Richelle Mead(Vampire Academy), Alyson Noël (Evermore), Kelley Armstrong (The Summoning), and Francesca Lia Block (Pretty Dead).

From a fugitive vampire forced to trust a boy who might work for the group bent on destroying her to the legendary romance of two immortals whose love compels them to risk everything, this heart-pounding collection brings new meaning to the words "love you forever." Whether you're into romances that are dark and moody or light and fun, these stories will quench that insatiable thirst for enchanting tales of the beautiful undead.

I've heard back from a few bloggers that they would like to join in this meme post, so I'm adding a Linky for you to join in.  Grab the picture above, and join in.  All I ask, is if you can acknowledge my blog in the post so others know where to come back to and join as well.  Thank you.

Book Review: Thirteen

Thirteen

By:  Kelley Armstrong

Publisher:  Dutton Books

Publish Date:  July 29, 2012

Format:  Hardcover, 444pgs

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Series:  13th in The Otherworld series; Book 11 ~ Waking the Witch, Book 12 ~ Spell Bound

Recommendation:  Yes! You get to see the war brewing in all realms and come to a close with the characters.

Book Synopsis:
Ir's been more than ten years, a dozen installments and hundreds of thousands of copies since Kelley Armstrong introduced readers to the all-too-real denizens of the Otherworld: witches, werewolves, necromancers, vampires, and half-demons, among others.  And it's all been leading to Thirteen, the final installment, the novel that brings all of these stories to a stunning conclusion.

A war is brewing -- the first battle has been waged, and Savannah Levine, a young witch of remarkable power and a dangerous pedigree, is left standing, albeit battered and bruised.  She has rescued her half brother from supernatural medical testing, but he's fighting to stay alive.  The Supernatural Liberation Movement took him hostage, and they have a maniacal plan to expose the supernatural world to the unknowing.

Savannah has called upon her inner energy to summon spells with frightening strength, a strength she never knew she had, as she fights to keep her world from shattering.  But it's more than a matter of supernaturals against one another -- both heaven and hell have entered the war; hellhounds, genetically modified werewolves, and all forces of good and evil have joined the fray.

Uniting Savannah with Adam, Elena, Clay Paige, Lucas, Jaime, Hope and other lost-but-not-forgotten characters in one epic battle, Thirteen is a thrilling deeply satisfying closer for Armstrong's legions of fans.

First Sentence:
Typical guy.  You fight through hell -- literally, hacking through legions of beasts and zombies and demon-spawn -- to sneak home and spend a few stolen minutes with him...and he's not there.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Heaven and Hell are just as divided as the supernaturals in the human world.  Lots of fighting on supernaturals coming out to the humans and Lord Balaam has decided to Rule in the human world.  Savannah has to find a way to get through the paranormal world on her minimal magic now, and has picked up quickly and is a major piece in the war to come, fighting rogue drugged werewolves, hellhounds, and a sorcerer, along with demons.  All to be surprised with someone's visit.  The Supernatural Liberation Movement is fighting to show the world who the supernatural are, and change it for them, along with the vaccine of 'immortality' as well.

We start exactly where Spell Bound ended with Savannah, Bryce and Adam walking away from the lab that just blew up and fell down around them.  The vaccine...do you remember the virus from Spell Bound?  Yeap, it's back.  Hot and heavy mess with it here.  We are reminded of this that will grant immortality with a mix of supernatural DNA in it.  We learn more about this vaccine, which is a virus.

Savannah's mom is found to be more special than suspected and coveted by others.  Putting Savannah and Jaime Vegas on the radar for trouble.  Then we have Hope, who comes to the foreground due to who her father is.  All our characters in the Underworld series are in teams working on this huge issue of breakouts and the SLAM (the Supernatural Liberation Movement, as Savannah has branded them) group.

Savannah gets some treasured time with someone special.  She has also learned to handle being weak in the magic area, learning to adapt in other ways, making her a stronger person.

Some references back to Waking the Witch and Spell Bound in the case we are working through.  I'm sure more references are made to the other ten books as well, with the characters showing up, but shame on me for not reading them yet.

The book is from Savannah's point of view.  But there is a chapter here and there that are of anothers eyes so we see and know whats happening and getting a bigger story.  The characters he hear from briefly: Jaime, Elena, Paige, Hope, and Eve.

Oh, and if you are curious about Savannah and Adam.  Well, you'll have to read the book.  ;)

This story I think YA readers could easily follow through with from the previous two books.  I will mention there is sexual content, not that you get details while happening, but you know it's happened.  So safe it's to read.

I will say I do love Savannah and hope to see her in a few short stories in the future.  It would be nice to see these characters, the ones that make it out, again.  And there are a few stories here to be told.

I really enjoy this vast world of demons, witches, werewolves, vampires, and so much more supernatural.  Definitely a series to visit with so much available in it.  Well done Kelley.  I do want more, and will have to pick up the beginning books to get it, and hope for future tales as well.

From Russia, with Love
This is a short story at the end of the book that I think many long time series followers will love.  Where the series started, it should end as well.  Very nice touch by Kelley.  I don't want to give anything away as it's full from the start, and might also give you something about the ending of Thirteen as well.

I even enjoyed reading this short story and getting to see the twins, and more action with the characters.  I think it would be wonderful if Kelley could pick up with the twins in the future, for short stories and such.

Need to purchase it?

Amazon Print:

Amazon Ebook:

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

Who? What? Where? (76)

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 )


This one is a little tricky.  I don't want to give any major details away.  So I'm going vague.

I'm with Savannah and Elena.  We are in New Orleans, on the run in this building, trying to get out, when we came into this room and bumped into someone.  This someone is on Elena's not-so-nice list!

Thirteen
By:  Kelley Armstrong

Teaser Tuesday (128)

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:

Before she could speak, there was a commotion to the side.  Two more officers walked toward the circle of light, staggering slightly as they dragged in a man in a T-shirt and jeans, unconscious, head slumped over.

Thirteen
By:  Kelley Armstrong
159pg

Looking Forward To...(99)

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...

Thirteen

Women of the Otherworld #13

By:  Kelley Armstrong

Due Out:  July 24, 2012

I was a little late to this series.  I started with book #11, but that is okay because I picked right up in the series. Now, I have the first book here to get into one of these days soon.  But this it the last book in the series, and one I definitely want to get into!  I've gotten attached to Savannah, and I'm looking forward to the big finale.

Goodreads Synopsis:
It’s been more than ten years, a dozen installments, and hundreds of thousands of copies since Kelley Armstrong introduced readers to the all-too-real denizens of the Otherworld: witches, werewolves, necromancers, vampires, and half-demons, among others. And it’s all been leading toThirteen, the final installment, the novel that brings all of these stories to a stunning conclusion.

A war is brewing—the first battle has been waged and Savannah Levine is left standing, albeit battered and bruised. She has rescued her half brother from supernatural medical testing, but he’s fighting to stay alive. The Supernatural Liberation Movement took him hostage, and they have a maniacal plan to expose the supernatural world to the unknowing.

Savannah has called upon her inner energy to summon spells with frightening strength, a strength she never knew she had, as she fights to keep her world from shattering. But it’s more than a matter of supernaturals against one another—both heaven and hell have entered the war; hellhounds, genetically modified werewolves, and all forces of good and evil have joined the fray.

Uniting Savannah with Adam, Paige, Lucas, Jaime, Hope, and other lost-but-notforgotten characters in one epic battle, Thirteen is a grand, crowd-pleasing closer for Armstrong’s legions of fans.

Looking Forward To... (65)

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...

Enthralled: Paranormal Divisions

Anthology

By:  Several Amazing Authors

Due Out:  September 20, 2011

This sounds like an amazing.  And an anthology with amazing authors.  What is there to pass up here?

Goodreads Synopsis:
A journey may take hundreds of miles, or it may cover the distance between duty and desire.

Sixteen of today’s hottest writers of paranormal tales weave stories on a common theme of journeying.

Authors such as Kelley Armstrong, Rachel Caine, and Melissa Marr return to the beloved worlds of their bestselling series, while others, like Claudia Gray, Kami Garcia, and Margaret Stohl, create new land-scapes and characters. But whether they’re writing about vampires, faeries, angels, or other magical beings, each author explores the strength and resilience of the human heart.

Suspenseful, funny, or romantic, the stories in Enthralled will leave you moved.

Book Review: Spell Bound

Spell Bound

By:  Kelley Armstrong

Publisher:  Dutton Books

Publish Date:  July 26, 2011

Format:  Hardcover 325pgs

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Series:  12th in The Otherworld Series; Book 11 ~ Waking the Witch

Recommendation:  Yes, for a quick magical read with all mixes of Magical races, and you enjoyed Waking the Witch you HAVE to pick this one up too!

Book Synopsis:
Savannah Levine has grown up to become a paranormal-investigating knockout.  As a witch endowed with an array of spells, she is a force to be reckoned with.  But, in her last case, innocent lives were lost and a family was torn apart.  To put right the mess she helped create, she swears she would give anything...even her powers.  Little does she know that someone or something has taken her up on that.

Defenseless and on the run from the witch-hunting assassins who are following her ever move, Savannah soon stumbles upon a gathering storm that may tear her entire world apart.  The danger is real.  The whole Otherworld will have to come together to fight the dark force that threatens its very existence.

Savannah has no idea how to restore her powers just when she needs them the most, facing a host of deadly enemies but on destroying not only her, but the very fabric of the supernatural world.  As dark forces gather, Savannah isn't just fighting for her life, but for everything and everyone she loves...

First Sentence:
He watched the girl stumble from the motel office, room key glinting under the harsh lights of the parking lot.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Whirling from the sadness and regret of what happened with Kayla and her grandmother along with the people who died while she was on the case, Savannah wishes she could do something to help Kayla.  Even give up her powers to make it all right again.  Savannah wakes in her hotel room to find her best friend Adam - whom she's loved since she was twelve - sleeping in a chair beside her.  He had found her.  Then to find she is powerless.  The one thing she depends on deeply, her magic, is gone.  Not knowing who took it without a deal being made.  On her way to get a drink, Savannah is reminded there's a witch-hunter after her.  Not being able to use the one reflexive defense she has, Savannah has to learn to protect herself again.  Savannah has to redefine who she is as a person to make it through the troubles to come, and win the love of her life.

I started late into this series with Waking the Witch, which starts with Savannah's story line so was a great time to jump in.  I've enjoyed these two quick reads.  Savannah is a little young but she is growing and learning, the hard way.  Savannah hits a bottom here she never thought she would hit, but she starts to come back and want more of herself.

This book starts exactly where Waking the Witch ended.  And the prologue is a wonderful start!.  It brought me up to where I was with Savannah at the end of Waking the Witch, and made me curious again with its hints.  I even went back and read the prologue again after finishing the book.  I would suggest reading Waking the Witch before reading this one, but books prior to that I don't think you need.

The characters we meet!  There is a huge cast of characters in this series, and I guess being 12 books there would be.  I loved meeting them and getting little glimpses of their histories, who they are, and even a touch of cases from the past.  All this has me wanting once again to pick up all the previous ten books I haven't read to get to know them all better.  I really enjoyed these characters and the way they respond to each other.  Oh and Adam... he is here in this book full force and I just loved him.  He is adult yet feels of young innocent fun with Savannah.  And some sexy to him too.

I enjoy the writing style Kelley has here.  If I think back to Waking the Witch and this one it seems like one on going story with the two.  Kelley guides us along through the stories that are connected deeply but leads into the next situation.  Like there is no time that passes and we follow each day with Savannah.  They stories evolve to a different level as you go and the story becomes more than just the simple case Savannah was working on.  There is more to them and they flow together.  I like that the books fit so close together like this.

This book could be read by Young Adult readers.  There is just a touch of alcohol mentioned here as Savannah is twenty-one.  But there is no sex.  This is a story easy to follow and read through quickly.

There is so much more to Savannah's life than she knows.  And all is about to change with the war on the horizon.  I definitely want to continue reading these books, and what Kelley has coming next too.


I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.


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

Teaser Tuesday (85)

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:

I have a special treat for it's Release day!

Happy Release Day Kelley!

"Yes."  he kissed my forehead and when he pulled back, I felt the burn like a brand on my skin.  He crouched before me, his face level with mine.

Spell Bound

By:  Kelley Armstrong

175pg

Later today my review will be up.

Throwback Thursday (2)

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?

This book is currently on my shelf, although I have wanted to read it for some time.  And thanks to all the great chat on it I finally purchased it within the last year.  But it is one that goes back a few years to first published.  Now I need to get into this series...

Goodreads Synopsis:

Elena Michaels seems like the typically strong and sexy modern woman, She lives with her architect boyfriend, writes for a popular newspaper, and works out at the gym. She's also a werewolf.

Elena has done all she can to assimilate to the human world, but the man whose bite changed her existence forever, and his legacy, continue to haunt her. Thrown into a desperate war for survival that tests her allegiance to a secret clan of werewolves, Elena must recon with who, and what, she is in this passionate, page-turning novel.

Looking Forward To...(10)

So many amazing books already on the shelves and new ones coming out. For books yet to be released I am looking to get you can also look at the list of Desired Reads on the Right Sidebar - just scroll down. Of course there are tons other new books to come out that are amazing as well, but these ones are part of series I have started or for on 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.)

I am still working on the releases for July 27, 2010.

The Next Book Is...

Waking the Witch

By Kelley Armstrong

Due out July 27, 2010

This book is the 11th one in the series.  BUT, let me interject here, you don't have to read the whole series to appreciate this book.  This would be a great place to start if you have not read the other books in the series. Must be some amazing series, right!?!  Well, as you have seen I did read and review this book already.  But I just had to mention it as it was a wonderful read.  Thanks to this book I am going to pick up with the series and read from the beginning as well.  If you would like to read my arc review, click here.

At twenty-one, Savannah Levine—orphaned daughter of a notorious dark witch and an equally notorious cutthroat sorcerer—considers herself a full-fledged member of the supernatural race that rules the Otherworld. The once rebellious teen has grown into a six-foot-tall, motorcycle-riding jaw-dropper with a full arsenal of spells that she’s not afraid to use when she gets caught in a bind. There’s only one small problem—her adoptive parents, Paige and Lucas, don’t always trust her. Of course, she’s given them plenty of reasons . . . but those are in the past. People can change, right?

When Paige and Lucas take off on a romantic vacation alone, leaving her in charge of their detective agency, Savannah is presented with a case that she can’t turn down, and one she can finally call her own. Recruited by another supernatural detective, she travels to Columbus, Washington, a small, almost shell of a town. Two troubled young women have been found in an abandoned warehouse, murdered. Now a third woman is dead, and darker forces seem to be at play.

Savannah feels certain she can handle the case, but with supernatural activity appearing at every turn, things quickly become more serious—and far more dangerous—than she realizes. Caught up in a web of lust, false identities, and lies, Savannah must summon strength from her depths, and fight like she’s never fought before.

Book Review: Waking Witch

Waking the Witch

By:  Kelley Armstrong

Publisher:  Dutton

Publish Date:  To Be Released - July 27, 2010

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Format:  Paperback ARC, 309 pages

Series:  11th book in The Otherworld Series

Recommendation:  Yes!!  A great young witch and half-demons mixed with a compelling murder mystery.

Book Synopsis:
Golden girl of the supernatural world, orphaned daughter of a dark witch and a conniving sorcerer, Savannah Levine has nothing to lose and everything to prove on her first solo case as a paranormal investigator.


She’s got a wide arsenal of spells at her fingertips, many that only she knows.

She’s got a tough-as-nails attitude and an even sharper wit.

She’s got one problem though . . . no one thinks she can handle this on her own.

Savannah has the power . . . and she’s not afraid to use it.
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At twenty-one, Savannah Levine—orphaned daughter of a notorious dark witch and an equally notorious cutthroat sorcerer—considers herself a full-fledged member of the supernatural race that rules the Otherworld. The once rebellious teen has grown into a six-foot-tall, motorcycle-riding jaw-dropper with a full arsenal of spells that she’s not afraid to use when she gets caught in a bind. There’s only one small problem—her adoptive parents, Paige and Lucas, don’t always trust her. Of course, she’s given them plenty of reasons . . . but those are in the past. People can change, right?

When Paige and Lucas take off on a romantic vacation alone, leaving her in charge of their detective agency, Savannah is presented with a case that she can’t turn down, and one she can finally call her own. Recruited by another supernatural detective, she travels to Columbus, Washington, a small, almost shell of a town. Two troubled young women have been found in an abandoned warehouse, murdered. Now a third woman is dead, and darker forces seem to be at play.

Savannah feels certain she can handle the case, but with supernatural activity appearing at every turn, things quickly become more serious—and far more dangerous—than she realizes. Caught up in a web of lust, false identities, and lies, Savannah must summon strength from her depths, and fight like she’s never fought before.


First Sentence:
For the first time since Claire Kennedy died, there wasn't a deputy guarding the site of her murder.

My Review and Summary:
Nine year old Kayla is sneaking into the guarded building her mother was killed in.  She had done this a hand full of times before, but this time would be different.  Claire Kennedy was killed here a week ago and there had to be a connection between Claire's death and her mothers murder.

Lucas and Paige are out of town for the week on a vacation - in which Savannah smuggled their cell phones away from them - and now twenty-one year old Savannah is trusted to be in charge of the PI office in their absence.  Jesse Aanes, a half demon PI from Seattle who has worked with Lucas before, shows up wanting to run a few cases past Lucas.  Jesse is investigating the murder of 3 twenty-something year old girls - two from last fall, one from 10 days ago - abandoned in the same vacant building appearing similar, in a quite small depressed town - Columbus Washington.  This poor little town hasn't seen a murder in ten years.  Jesse believes there is a supernatural connection to these cases from the crime photos he has.  Savannah is excited.  This would be her first solo case after five years of working under Lucas and Paige.  She offers to take this case for Jesse while he finishes up the current case he's on.

This book was a great quick read for me.  The pacing was constantly moving forward and it wasn't diluted with heavy unneeded material, and the mystery kept growing in suspense for me driving me forward to read more and faster.  This is a great book to jump in the series at even though it's the eleventh book.  I learned a lot of history of Savannah and start off with her on her own adventures.  Through the book you learn of the additional characters around Savannah; Page, Lucas, Adam, and a few others.  In meeting a few of the characters in this deprived town there was one I hope to see more of as I just fell in love with, Kayla.

I liked how Kelley answered my thoughts when I had a question.  Like when Savannah easily uses several spells in a row in a short time frame, Kelley acknowledges this and explains it.  A great style I enjoyed here is in reading this book from Savannah's view, you get glimpses of her history and heritage.  I am very curious to learn more about her and when Paige and Lucas became her guardians.  Savannah has moments where she compares what she is doing to what Lucas or Paige would do or what they would say to her.  I felt I got to know them through Savannah.

Kelley's writing style is easy to visualize and follow.  The story starts off easy, but pulled me in to Savannah quickly.  She really felt like a relatable character and one that was personable.  I wanted to read more about her.  The further I went the more in depth the mystery got.  I enjoyed how the mystery turned around in the book.  I found myself flipping back through the pages to reread sections to try and piece it together myself.

This book could be read by some mature Young Adults.  Savannah is responsible with alcohol even though she is old enough to drink.  There is mention of sexual activity and acts, but no details.  Savannah does have a moment in the book where she is kissing, but she does not let it go further - she has her limits.

I really enjoyed the case with Savannah and look forward to reading more with Savannah, as the way this book ended Kelley has to come back to write more on Savannah and I will be waiting.  But I am also ready to go buy the other books in the series as I loved what I learned of all the characters.


I received this book as an ARC for review.


This book qualifies for my reading challenge - Speculated Fiction Challenge hosted by Book Chick City.