BEING JAMIE BAKER by Kelly Oram

BEING JAMIE BAKER
Author: Kelly Oram
Source: Around the World Tours

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: Bluefields (June 14, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0615377548
• ISBN-13: 978-0615377544

SUMMARY:

"Most superhero stories start with a meteor shower or a nasty insect bite, but mine actually starts with a kiss..."

An accident t...more "Most superhero stories start with a meteor shower or a nasty insect bite, but mine actually starts with a kiss..."

An accident that should end in tragedy instead gives seventeen-year-old Jamie Baker a slew of uncontrollable superhuman abilities.

To keep her secret safe Jamie socially exiles herself, earning the title of Rocklin High’s resident ice queen. But during a supercharged encounter with star quarterback Ryan Miller she literally kisses anonymity goodbye. Now the annoyingly irresistible Ryan will stop at nothing to melt the heart of the ice queen and find out what makes her so special.

Unfortunately, Ryan is not the only person on to her secret. Will Jamie learn to contain her unstable powers before being discovered by the media or turned into a government lab rat?

More importantly, can she throw Ryan Miller off her trail before falling in love with him?


MY THOUGHTS:


I admit. I chose to read this because of the fabulous cover!  The cover caught my eye before I had even read the summary.  Then when I found out that it is about a high school girl who ends up with super powers, I was hooked. 


I adored this book.  It was so cute and fun to read about Jamie and Ryan.  Ryan was definitely swoon worthy, but Jamie was really the one who stole the show in this book.  Jamie is having plenty of problems keeping her powers a secret so she doesn't become the governments next science fair project, but when Ryan enters the picture, she has a hard time concealing things.  Amongst all of the chaos, romance and suspense, the author has brought to us a fun and super charged teen book for paranormal lovers of all ages. 


I love the world the author created.  I personally can't wait to own my own copy of this book and to see what the author will come up with next!


MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading! 5 STARS!

PROMO: No Mercy by Sherrilyn Kenyon

"Live fast, fight hard and if you have to die then take as many of your enemies with you as you can. That is the Amazon credo and it was one Samia lived and died by. Now in contemporary New Orleans, the immortal Amazon warrior is about to learn that there's a worse evil coming to slaughter mankind than she's ever faced before....."

Sherrilyn Kenyon website containing book synopsis and much more:

http://were-hunter.com/

I can't wait!!! How about you??

Re-Create A Cover Contest : The Emerald Talisman

Eleni over at Le Femme Readers is having a wonderful Re-Create A Cover Contest! I am so excited to join in on another one of these! They can be so addicting!  This time it is for The Emerald Talisman by Brenda Pandos.

Here is the original cover with the summary:
To be normal, sixteen-year-old Julia Parker would shed her empathic gift in a second. Life has been difficult since her mother's mysterious disappearance ten years earlier - an event she witnessed, but can't remember. Julia's situation becomes more complicated after a near death experience from a blood thirsty stalker. As high school students go missing it is clear there is a connection to her own experience--past and present. Someone has to stop the madness and a chance encounter with a creepy psychic foretells that only Julia is the key to stopping the madness, but it may require the life of the one she loves.

Here is the cover that I came up with:

What do you think? I usually don't make it that far in the cover contests, but I am hoping this is my lucky one since it is green! LOL


Let me know what you think about my cover!

IMM: IN MY MAILBOX

 In My Mailbox is hosted by the wonderful Kristi over at The Story Siren! Go link up and share!

Well after slacking on IMM for the last 2 weeks, I figured I better do one this week. Not much this week in the box for review, but I did get two boxes from my book fairies! WOOHOO!  They spoil me!

FOR REVIEW

Return the Heart by T.K. Richardson

Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles

(thank you to T.K. Richardson and Flux Books)

FROM MY SECRET BOOK FAIRY

Woohoo! Another copy of Torment! This one has been claimed by my daughter and her school and you don't want to come between her and this ARC. Trust me! Lot's of series books in this box! LOVE IT!

(thank you to you-know-who! I love them!)

FROM ANNA

This is another box from my book fairy Anna! She surprised me with Shiver! I have been dying to get a copy of it! Then she made me squeal like a little kid when she threw in Angelology! I have had my eye on that sucker for awhile! When I saw it on her pictures from her bookshelf photo's I made sure to mention that I saw it!  You rock Anna! Thank you so much!

(thank you to Anna from Anna's Book Blog)

That's what I got this week! What did you get?

Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles

RETURN TO PARADISE
Author: Simone Elkeles
Source: Publisher
* I received this book free
of charge in exchange for
an honest review *

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: Flux (September 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738718688
• ISBN-13: 978-0738718682

SYNOPSIS:

Caleb Becker left Paradise eight months ago, taking with him the secret he promised to take to his grave. If the truth got out, it would ruin everything.

Maggie Armstrong tried to be strong after Caleb broke her heart and disappeared. Somehow, she managed to move on. She’s determined to make a new life for herself.

But then Caleb and Maggie are forced together on a summer trip. They try ignoring their passion for each other, but buried feelings resurface. Caleb must face the truth about the night of Maggie’s accident, or the secret that destroyed their relationship will forever stand between them. 

MY THOUGHTS:

Oh.My.God! That's what I said when I found out about this book, when the publisher sent me the book, and also when I finished this amazing book!  This author never disappoints when it comes to teen romance and drama.

This is the second book in the Paradise series.  If you ever have doubts about reading a sequel to a book because you are afraid it won't be as great as the first, let me tell you that Return to Paradise was not only as great as its predecessor, but even more amazing this time around! I had forgotten how much I love Caleb and Maggie while waiting for this book to come out.  As soon as I started reading the first chapter, I was swept away back into the teen romance that this author does so well.  

It was hard at first knowing that Caleb and Maggie had moved on with their lives in the eight months that they have not seen each other.  Yet, even though they both are saying this to people, you can see it in their actions that they are still drawn together with strong feelings.  When they both go on a trip with four other teens, they both must confront their feelings for each other and decide if their love is strong enough to fight for. 

I loved Maggie and Caleb even more this time around.  They both have grown up in the eight months they were separated.  They have issues to work out, but you can just see the love they have for each other on every page of this book.  The side characters were amazing with Lenny being one of my favorites!  I do hope the author takes it even a step further and create a series for him as well! 

This book ties up the loose ends from Leaving Paradise that will leave the reader with closure.  I personally wish this story could have gone on for another 30 chapters or so just because I love Caleb and Maggie so much!  The ending was perfect and memorable with just the right amount of sweetness.  Reading this series swept me away to a readers paradise of teen romance and drama that this author does so well!

MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading! 5 STARS

WINNER!

The contest for Return the Heart by TK Richardson has now ended. I used Random.org to pick the winner and the lucky person chose was:

Book Crazy Jenn

Congrats!!! I will be contacting you shortly and you will have 48 hours to respond! Thank you to all who entered! 

(ARC Review) Everlasting Desire by Amanda Ashley

EVERLASTING DESIRE
Author: Amanda Ashley
Source: Author Submission
* I received this ARC free of 
charge in exchange for an honest
review *

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Zebra; Original edition (September 28, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1420104446
• ISBN-13: 978-1420104448

SYNOPSIS:

Desire Burns Forever

The clientele at Shore's clothing store includes some of L.A.'s sexiest bachelors. But none of them affects Megan DeLacey as deeply as the dark-eyed stranger who strides into her boutique one evening-and keeps returning, night after night. Megan is drawn to Rhys Costain even as she fears him. Because his reason for being there is clear - he wants Megan, with an intensity that's both tempting and terrifying...

For almost five centuries, Rhys has lived alone, using women as it pleased him and never wanting more. As Master of the West Coast vampires, it's his duty to eliminate the ancient vampire who's draining humans on his turf, putting all of their kind at risk. But Megan's lush beauty and vibrant warmth is blinding him to a danger that will soon engulf them both - and tear him from the only woman who can satisfy his darkest hunger...

MY THOUGHTS:

I love Amanda Ashley books! When she contacted me asking her to review another one of her vampire stories, I jumped for joy at the chance!  If you are unfamiliar with this authors tales, where have you been? After all  the hype of sparkly and cute vampire tales, sometimes I need a break with dark and brooding vampires to make me remember why I fell in love with these sort of paranormal creatures in the first place.

In Everlasting Desire, we meet Megan and Rhys. Rhys Costain, who is the Master of the West Coast Vampires, finds himself drawn to retail consultant Megan DeLacey. After swearing off love and thinking he will spend his Immortal life without happiness, Rhys is surprised at the feelings and emotions that Megan DeLacey makes him feel.  She is a mortal and Rhys knows that there isn't much hope for a vampire and mortal to be together.  When another Master Vampire decides he is too bored, Rhys finds not only himself in danger, but also Megan.

I loved this book. I have loved almost every single book by this author and automatically buy anything that comes out by her! I love how she is true to the original Vampire tales.  They are not sparkly and they are not always happy.  They have the darkness that you would expect from a Vampire.  Rhys is mysterious, only comes out at night, rich, and of course sexy as hell.  I loved every single thing about Rhys. What was not to love about him? He showered Megan with attention, roses almost every hour of the day while he courted her, and was very protective of her.

Megan, on the other hand, was not a character I would have as a friend, but she was not bad as a character. She was so naive at times. Her character was good, but at times I felt she acted a little dense. She kept changing her feelings about Rhys, one moment head over heels in love with him and in the next breath scared of him.  Then about halfway through the story, she starts to come around and warm up to the reader.

The side characters were just as fabulous. Shirl was annoying, yet it fit her character and it plays a major point in the story.  The bad vampire, Tomas, was the ultimate bad vampire.  He is the one of the oldest vampires, and mean as hell.  He pretty much has lost all of his humanity that he had left and doesn't care one bit about killing humans.  When Tomas and Rhys have their showdown, I couldn't help but hope he would get his butt kicked!  With appearances from characters from the previous books, it reminded me of all the fabulous vampires this author has created.

I can't wait for the next installment that this author brings to the table.  She has me captivated with each story and keeps my pulse racing with the romance! Move over sparkle, hello dark and mysterious!

MY RATING:

Very Good! I would recommend this book! 4 STARS!

Hints? Tricks? Opinions?

I have been doing some serious thinking about my blog and how I have been doing things lately.  Before I make any major decisions, I wanted to get YOUR opinion on my blog.  You are what matters since you are the main reason for this blog!  If you could just take a few minutes to leave me some comments below, it would mean so much to me for future use!

Is my blog design appealing, or does it have issues that you don't like?

How do you feel about my reviews? Would you rather they be more lengthy or do you like how I try to just give you the emotional review?(the way a book makes me feel and what emotions it brings out)

Are there certain meme's you would like to see me participate in more, or would you rather I stick to just reviews?
Anything else you might want to tell me to help me make this blog even better like the bigger blogs?

Thank you for taking the time to help me in this!!

COVER ALERT: This Side of the Grave

Today, author Jeaniene Frost revealed the cover of the next installment in the Night Huntress series titled This Side of the Grave!  SQUEE!!!!

And here is the stepback of it:

Here is what she had to say about it on her blog:

"I’ve wanted gargoyles in the background for AGES, and of course, I always love cemetery settings.  As I mentioned in another post, yes, I know that Bones’s tattoo doesn’t match the description in the book, but if it had, you wouldn’t see it. Also, Cat’s not wearing her ring, but as my editor pointed out, when Cat’s out hunting, she’d leave it at home because she wouldn’t want something happening to it. So that’s why those things differ from the book description, but I am very happy with the cover and stepback. Big shout out to my cover artist, Tom Egner!"

I MUST HAVE THIS BOOK!!

Books For Sale

Hi all!
I have some books that need a new home!  I am wanting these gone today, so paypal is the only method at this time for payment! Will be adding more as the day goes on maybe.

Just email me at djsfoxylady @ gmail.com if you are interested! Multiples preferred and larger orders go first!


Hard Covers $5.00
Rose Sees Red by Cecil Castellucci ISBN 9780545060790
Accomplice by Eireann Corrigan ISBN 9780545052368
The Mark by Jen Nadol ISBN 9781599904313
Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood by Eileen Cook ISBN 9781416974338

Paperbacks $3.00
The New Kid by Temple Mathews ISBN 9780979233180
Sweethearts by Sara Zarr ISBN 9780316014564
His Eyes by Renee Carter ISBN 9781432742133
Thirst No.1 by Christopher Pike ISBN 9781416983088
Evernight by Claudia Gray ISBN 9780061284441
Albatross by Josie Bloss ISBN 9780738714769

(ARC Review) Born to Bite by Lynsay Sands

BORN TO BITE
Argeneau Series #13
Author: Lynsay Sands
Source: Publisher
* I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (August 31, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061474320
• ISBN-13: 978-0061474323

SYNOPSIS:

Legend has it that Armand Argeneau is a killer in the bedroom . . .

But with all three of his late wives meeting unfortunate and untimely ends, is this sexy immortal a lover or a murderer? That's what Eshe d'Aureus intends to find out. As an enforcer, it's her job to bring rogue vampires to justice, even if the rogue in question makes her blood race red hot.

Armand knew she was trouble the moment Eshe roared into town on her motorcycle, clad in tight black leather. She claims she's hiding from dangerous fiends, though he suspects something more. But after three wives who've all had trouble remaining, well, undead, Armand is reluctant to open his heart again. Then strange accidents start to happen, each deadlier than the last, and Armand realizes he may not have much time to prove he's a lover, not a slayer. 

MY THOUGHTS:

FINALLY! When it comes to this series, I am a serious stalker of the author's website.  I check weekly, if not daily, to see if there is any news about this series! When the announcement about this book came out, I was doing a happy dance! Wait, you are here for a review and not my excitement. Sorry.

Armand is the father of Thomas, Nicholas and Jeanne Louise. We have met each of them in previous books and the focus of this story is clearing Armand of murder while proving Nicholas is also innocent of his crimes.  While Lucian sends Eshe out to Armand's home under the pretense of Armand hiding her out from the bad guys,  we also discover that Eshe is actually there to look into the murders of Armand's previous wives.  It turns into a mystery of finding out the truth, with romance and witty dialogue along the way!

I loved this book in the series.  While I am not a huge fan of the character of Eshe, this book really let her shine and bring Armand into a story of his own.  We had the suspense that the author is great at writing, but the important part is she didn't fail on the romance and witty humor that she is also known for!  Imagine not eating for centuries and trying to figure out what a can of whipped cream is and how it works! Then imagine looking at a bottle of Metamucil for the first time and seeing a pretty picture on the front thinking it would be yummy! Of course, what makes the humor even better is Bricker trying to explain these things to both of them!  I personally can't wait for Bricker's story and I keep begging Ms. Sands to use me as Bricker's life mate!

The suspense was perfectly paced with surprises all throughout the book. The author keeps you guessing at who the true murderer is and kept leading me in different directions.  Yet when all is revealed, I was still surprised and loved how it played out.

If you haven't read any of The Argeneau series yet,  you must sink your teeth into them as soon as possible!  Then when you do, I can guarantee that you will be a series stalker just like me!  Well done again Ms. Sands for bringing me another wonderful Argeneau book!  Just remember me when you do Bricker's story!

MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading! 5 STARS

GIVEAWAY!

Today I have a special treat for you! Since I went and met the wonderful author, T.K. Richardson yesterday, I just so happened to pick up an extra SIGNED copy of Return the Heart for one lucky person!  I also have some bookmarks as well to throw in with the book for you to keep or pass out to others!

RETURN THE HEART

by T.K. Richardson

To a casual passerby, Lilly Paige is anything but special. As a seventeen year old, she is faced with all the complications of a teenager, but deep down there is much more. Lilly has a gift, though sometimes it seems to be a curse.

Lilly can peer into the hearts of others - their deepest, darkest secrets are there for Lilly to see - but to what end? Raised by aloof parents, Lilly has been independent her whole life, but soon she will need to rely on her friends to evade an evil that has sold her gift to the highest bidder on the black market. Lilly and her four closest friends are immersed in a dangerous game of cat and mouse, that will not only reveal more about Lilly's gift, but also her link to an old Russian prophecy.

Can Lilly and her friends escape the danger that is so close they can practically feel it? Where will their perilous journey lead them - to darkness or light? 

GIVEAWAY

Here are the rules:

1. Contest is open to the USA only. (sorry but I am low on shipping money this month)

2.  You don't need to be a follower, but I would love it if you would be!

3.  Leave an email address with a comment for me to contact you if you win!

Contest will run until Friday, August 27th, 2010.  The winner will be announced on 8/28/2010.  The winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Good luck!!!

Author Signing with T.K. Richardson!!

Today I had the wonderful opportunity to meet the fabulous author, T.K. Richardson!  I had so much fun meeting her! We talked about a lot of things but mainly books and book blogging!  After the signing, we went to Starbucks and had tea.  My husband and I had such a wonderful time chatting with her and getting to know her.  And just so you know TK, I was just as nervous as you! It is always so thrilling and exciting to meet amazing authors who are behind the wonderfully written books we read!  Be sure to tell that wonderful teen to stop by here sometime as well!

So here is the photo I took with the author:

She has to be one of the sweetest authors ever!!!  She even presented me with a bag full of swag!! THANK YOU!!

I also picked up a copy of her book, Return the Heart to giveaway tomorrow here on the blog! Yes, it is even signed!! So be sure to check back tomorrow for the contest!  She has already posted more pictures from the signing on her blog, so be sure to check it out!

Authors Site: T.K. Richardson
Authors Blog: My Writing Masquerade

(ps...I know you are jealous Alex!)

WINNER!!!!

First of all I would like to give a HUGE THANK YOU to Fiction Vixen for guest posting on my blog! Also thank you for providing the giveaway for everyone!  Stop by anytime and feel free to write a guest post for my blog anytime!

Now for the winner of the giveaway! The winner of My Way To Hell by Dakota Cassidy is:

allisonsbj3

Congrats!!! Thank you to everyone who entered! I will be emailing the winner shortly and you will have 48 hours to respond! If I don't hear back from you within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen!

Thanks again to Fiction Vixen and to all who stopped by!

In case you are wondering---I am team Saggy Shelf!  I seriously need to downsize, but I love all of my pretty books so much that it makes it hard! LOL 

Sweethearts by Sara Zarr

SWEETHEARTS
Author: Sara Zarr
Source: Purchased

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition (January 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316014567
• ISBN-13: 978-0316014564

SYNOPSIS:


As children, Jennifer Harris and Cameron Quick were both social outcasts. They were also one another's only friend. So when Cameron disappears without warning, Jennifer thinks she's lost the only person who will ever understand her. Now in high school, Jennifer has been transformed. Known as Jenna, she's popular, happy, and dating, everything "Jennifer" couldn't be---but she still can't shake the memory of her long-lost friend.

When Cameron suddenly reappears, they are both confronted with memories of their shared past and the drastically different paths their lives have taken.

MY THOUGHTS:

Boy was I fooled into thinking this was going to be a sweet little romance about reunited childhood friends.  This was definitely not an easy read.  It was more serious than I thought it was going to be and left me with a heavy heart when I finished it.

Cam and Jennifer were best friends growing up and also social outcasts.  Jennifer was teased for being heavy and sensitive.  Cam was also teased and bullied by the other children in school.  Together they become the best of friends.  When Cam disappears, Jennifer believes he is dead.  She deals with the loss and slowly transforms herself into Jenna.  She is now popular, skinny and has tons of friends at a new school.  Then Cam reappears and turns her world upside down.  She hides from all of her friends that she knows Cam.  She doesn't want to be that same girl again that Cam knew when they were little.  Together they struggle with dealing about the past and what happened to them before Cam disappeared. 

Don't expect a teen romance with this book.  It deals with deeper emotions and real life situations that most people don't have to deal with or even want to think about.  The writing was great yet at the end I wanted more.  I wanted a few more chapters to get a better closure.

MY RATING:

 
Okay book, but it left me wanting more! 3 STARS

(ARC Review) Losing Faith by Denise Jaden

LOSING FAITH
Author: Denise Jaden
Source: Around the World Tours

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Simon Pulse; Original edition (September 7, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416996095
• ISBN-13: 978-1416996095

SYNOPSIS:

A terrible secret. A terrible fate.


When Brie's sister, Faith, dies suddenly, Brie's world falls apart. As she goes through the bizarre and devastating process of mourning the sister she never understood and barely even liked, everything in her life seems to spiral farther and farther off course. Her parents are a mess, her friends don’t know how to treat her, and her perfect boyfriend suddenly seems anything but. 


As Brie settles into her new normal, she encounters more questions than closure: Certain facts about the way Faith died just don't line up. Brie soon uncovers a dark and twisted secret about Faith’s final night...a secret that puts her own life in danger. 

MY THOUGHTS:

Wow. I wish I had a stronger word to describe this book but Wow is pretty much the first thing I said when I finished it.  This young adult book features cults, romance, suspense and mystery, and even death.  What do you get when you put all of those subjects into a book? Losing Faith by Denise Jaden is what you get.

When Brie's very religious sister dies, the family is devastated.  Faith was the oldest, yet Brie was not very close with her.  The police rule her death a suicide, but Brie knows in her heart that Faith would never do that. Brie's parents go through the normal emotions of burying a daughter and shut themselves down from Brie.  She feels alone with her parents going through depression and anger towards them for not being there for her.

Brie also is dealing with her boyfriend cheating on her with her best friend.  When Brie dumps them both, she finds a new friend in the school bad girl, Tessa.  Together they try to piece together what happened to Faith and building a friendship along the way. 

When Brie uncovers the secrets that Faith was hiding, she discovers Alis as well.  They both know there are sparks between them yet Brie also knows that his sister is involved in the religious cult Faith was in.

This book had me gripping the pages and biting my nails with suspense! I could not put this book down until I finished it.  I had to know what happened!  The author did a wonderful job at pacing the story and keeping the reader enthralled with it.  I loved the sweet moments between Alis and Brie, the spy moments between Tessa and Brie, and the mystery of what really happened to Faith.  A great new author for me to keep my eye on for more great writing!

MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading! 5 STARS

Book Trailer Video : CLOCKWORK ANGEL

YAY! Here is the trailer video for Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. It was posted to Hollywood Crush today! Enjoy!

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

(ARC Review) Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian

NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL
Author: Siobhan Vivian
Source: Publisher
*I received this book free of 
charge in exchange for an honest review*

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Push (September 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0545169151
• ISBN-13: 978-0545169158

SYNOPSIS:

Natalie Sterling wants to be in control. She wants her friends to be loyal. She wants her classmates to elect her student council president. She wants to find the right guy, not the usual jerk her school has to offer. She wants a good reputation, because she believes that will lead to good things. 

But life is messy, and it's very hard to be in control of it. Not when there are freshman girls running around in a pack, trying to get senior guys to sleep with them. Not when your friends have secrets they're no longer comfortable sharing. Not when the boy you once dismissed ends up being the boy you wants to sleep with yourself - but only in secret, with nobody ever finding out. 

Slut or saint? Winner or loser? Natalie is getting tired of these forced choices - and is now going to find a way to live life in the sometimes messy, sometimes wonderful in-between. 

MY THOUGHTS:

Not That Kind of Girl is a book that most teens will be able to relate to.  There are always the boys that goof around and talk about who is doing who, girls that are trying their best to get a boys attention, and kids that are always trying to be the respectful and good grade kind of teen.  In this book we get to see sides to every different teen.

Natalie has always been the school smart and straight laced teen.  She is always focusing on her studies and her senior year she runs for class president. Usually this is held by a boy, but that doesn't stop her from running.  She is loyal to her friend Autumn to a point of reminding her of why they became friends in the first place all the time.  I didn't care much for Natalie.  She came off as better than everyone else, snotty and always had to remind everyone that she was better than they were.  Her whole attitude was better-than-thou.  I wanted to knock her off of that pedestal so many times throughout the entire book.

Conner was a great romantic lead for Natalie. He was the high school quarterback and had a good head on his shoulders.  I loved how he was patient with all of Natalie's different attitudes.  Autumn and Spencer were the most likable girls of the book.  They did their own thing and felt empowered by their actions.

The first half of this book dragged due to it being more about the election and building up Natalie.  After you get through the first half of the book, it starts to really pick up and the romance between Natalie and Conner starts to take off.  It also delves deeper into the problems with the friendships between Natalie, Autumn and Spencer.  Once I got into this part of the book, it was easy to be caught up into the whole teenage drama.

This book turned out to be a lot better than I first thought in the beginning chapters. I wanted to read more about the aftermath though and the story quickly came to an end before I knew it.  I do hope the author considers doing a sequel to the book just so I can see how things affected the characters for life after high school! I need more of this story to quench my need for teen drama!

MY RATING:

Very Good! I would recommend this book! 4 STARS

HIS EYES by Renee Carter

HIS EYES
Author: Renee Carter
Source: Gift

• Paperback: 196 pages
• Publisher: Outskirts Press (August 28, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1432742132
• ISBN-13: 978-1432742133

SYNOPSIS:

Amy Turner's about to graduate from high school and all she wants is a job. Actually, all she wants is to find a way to pay for college. Amy certainly isn't looking for love when she answers an ad to baby-sit a boy-she just needs the cash. But the job has a catch: The boy is blind...and he's her age.

Tristan Edmund may be hot, but he doesn't want Amy's help. Or so he thinks. After being blinded in a horse show-jumping competition, Tristan spends his days in the dark, refusing to accept his disability. Much to his annoyance, Amy bursts into his life and drags him into the light. But just as the two begin to see something in each other, Tristan's beautiful ex-girlfriend shows up. Will the temptation be too much, or will Tristan choose the girl who really sees him?

MY THOUGHTS:

I have been wanting this book forever! When I finally received it, I dove right into the story!

Amy is hoping to get enough money saved up to go to college where she can intern for journalism.  She had been searching for job when she stumbles upon a babysitting ad. When she goes to the interview, she is stunned to find out that she will be helping a blind boy named Tristan who happens to be graduating from high school as well.  Tristan was blinded during a horseback riding accident and is having a hard time adjusting to being blind.  Amy takes the job since she is needing the money.

On the home front of Amy's life, her brother has been gone for years.  When he suddenly reappears, at the worst time, it shifts some of the focus from the babysitting job to her personal life.  We get to glimpse into both plots of Amy's life and actually get a taste of what she is going through.  Then we reach the next hurdle of Tristan's ex girlfriend returning and trying to pick up where they left off. Tristan is being polite to her, but Amy feels that he is falling for her all over again.  Just when Amy thought they might be having a relationship bloom, his ex plots to win him back.

I couldn't stand Tristan's ex. She was a snotty brat who was only looking after herself.  I loved the romance between Tristan and Amy though. It was sweet and perfect for each one.  Even though the story could be a bit predictable, I still fell in love with this book.  That was the only problem I had with it really.  I read it in one hour and wanted more!  The ending was a perfect fit, and I hope the author will treat us to a follow up to this book!

MY RATING:

Very Good! I would recommend this book! 4 STARS

SECRET TIES by Opal Carew

SECRET TIES
Author: Opal Carew
Source: Personal Purchase

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; 1st edition (June 23, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312384807
• ISBN-13: 978-0312384807

SYNOPSIS:

How far would you go to reach the ultimate pleasure?

Max Delaney is a master of bondage and submission…and Summer Anderson’s most decadent dream come true.  From the moment she meets him, she yearns for him to dominate her--body and soul.  As Max initiates her into his world of scorching BDSM sex, he shows Summer what’s possible when she abandons her inhibitions and loses herself in pure sensation.  Soon Summer wonders if she can surrender to her wickedest desire yet: to share herself with three men at once.  But once she’s lived out her most forbidden fantasy, can she go back to her ordinary life?  And will she ever want to?

MY THOUGHTS:

I just love this author! When it comes to erotica's, this author knows how to write them.  She knows how to perfectly balance the sex, the romance and the plot to where it is a wonderful read without just being sex all the time.

Summer sells chocolates at an adult themed convention show.  She is there with her good friend who happens to write steamy books.  When her friend Tanya introduces Summer to Max, the sparks fly and the pages burn with romance!  Summer finds herself curious about the BDSM lifestyle and Max is wanting to show her the ropes of BDSM.  Max has lived the lifestyle as a dominant and knows that Summer would be a perfect sub in this lifestyle.  When Summer gives up control to Max for the weekend, she feels like a new woman. When she heads home, she decides to take control of her sex life and go after the two men she has been best friends with and have also been in love with Summer.  The whole time though, Summer finds herself missing Max and craving more of him. When Max shows up in the town where she lives, jealousy rears its ugly head from her best friends.  They quickly realize that Max is who Summer wants.

I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I love the way the author handled the ending between the characters of the book. Secret Ties is a must read if you are a fan of Opal Carew or a fan of erotica's.  I can't wait to read more from this author!

MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading! 5 STARS

WINNERS!!

The contest for Hero by Cheryl Brooks has now ended!

First I would like to thank author Cheryl Brooks for stopping by and commenting to all the people who entered and providing her answers for the interview! Please come by anytime and thank you to Danielle from Sourcebooks as well for sponsoring the giveaway!

I used Random.org to pick the lucky 2 winners!!! The winners are:

Victoria 

and

chey

 

I will be contacting you both shortly for your info to send to the publisher!

 

Thank you to everyone who entered and be sure to check my contest page for a lovely contest sponsored by The Fiction Vixen! 

(ARC Review) Grace by Elizabeth Scott

GRACE
Author: Elizabeth Scott
Source: Around the World Tours

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile (September 16, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525422064
• ISBN-13: 978-0525422068

SYNOPSIS:

Grace was raised to be an Angel, a herald of death by suicide bomb. But she refuses to die for the cause, and now Grace is on the run, daring to dream of freedom. In search of a border she may never reach, she travels among malevolent soldiers on a decrepit train crawling through the desert. Accompanied by the mysterious Kerr, Grace struggles to be invisible, but the fear of discovery looms large as she recalls the history and events that delivered her uncertain fate.

MY THOUGHTS:

I stepped out of my comfort zone again and chose a book with the dystopian theme.  I am not a big fan of this, but I thought I would give it a go.

I don't know how to quite put into words how I feel about this book.  It had the good points, but it also had some bad points as well.  While I see Grace as a brave person who decides to choose her own path, I don't like the idea of the women being weak basically and chosen to be used basically as suicide statements.  Since Grace was little, she knew she would be ordered to die. The One who is in charge has ordered it to benefit The People. I for one, hated this part of the story, but not because of the writing or the theme of it. I hated it more for the idea that it is decided by one person only who will die and who will live. No judge or jury decides, just one person.

Grace finds herself on the run choosing life instead of death.  She has decided to choose her own path and flee.  She meets up with Kerr, who is all about himself and no one else.  If Grace gets caught with him, he basically would throw her to the wolves so to say. Once I reached the middle of this book, I just couldn't read much more.  Even though I wanted to know more about Kerr, and find out if Grace makes it, I just couldn't bring myself to completely finish it.

The majority of the book that I read was so depressing and I just couldn't bring myself to continue on in Grace's journey.  This is not to say others will feel the same way. I just felt like this book was not going to have anything to look forward to at the end.  What I did read left me feeling sad yet thankful that we don't live like this here right now. 

MY RATING:

DNF

SHOW ME THE SHELVES SUNDAY!

Today on My Overstuffed Bookshelf, I have Misha from My Love Affair With Books! Let's sit back and take a peek at her bookshelves and get to know her a little bit better!

Hey Everyone!

Thanks a lot to Amy for giving me a chance to show off my books! I am a new blogger and my blog is called "My Love Affair With Books." Why this name? Because I have always preferred the company of books more , to humans! When I saw the previous "Show Me The Shelves " posts, I almost felt like backtracking! Everyone's bookshelves were so organized and pretty! I was scared....

 

I love , live and breathe books, I devour them like I am starving....BUT I am VERY disorganized !

I don't keep all my books on shelves but in closets because there are too many of them and I want them all in my bedroom (Yes, I am paranoid!).

 

My first book was that of fairy tales , which I was gifted when I was just 6 years old.I still have it , though my sister tried to make mincemeat out of it , when I was 3.

The only book shelf I have is in my sister's room.

 

The fascinating thing about my book closets is that it seems like a cave at times. Behind every stack of books, there are more and so on. If you stick your hands inside, you will discover more and more books. lol

I keep the books I like the most in the front and as you move behind , you will find the books I don't like so much ...(weird organizing style , I know)

 

I am a compulsive book hoarder, I can't stop buying books. It is like an addiction! My TBR would soon start to resemble the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

 

 

Choosing just 3 books just rips apart my heart because I can think of atleast 30 favorites! But if I have to choose 3 favorites , they would be-

 

 

1. The Likeness by Tana French

Tana French's writing is haunting. Her books always stay with you , long after you have read them. The Likeness is not only a brilliant suspense/mystery , but  is haunting too.Despite it being a huge book, I wished it had 500 pages more!

2. Birth Of Venus by Sarah Dunant

I have always loved reading about art , especially Italian artists. Birth Of Venus has the one of the best writing I have ever read. The description of the setting is so vivid and sensual. I could almost feel, taste , see and smell everything that was described.The prose is so lyrical , that I can read it again and again and again.

3. The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood  is a genius- which is apparent from the number of times she has been nominated for and won the Booker prize. I think Blind Assassin is her best novel till date. Atwood's novels have a unique quality to it , which not many authors can replicate. Blind Assassin is a literary fiction mixed with science fiction. Its beautiful, haunting and very original.

Thanks for having me here, Amy!

*** Don't feel bad, Misha! I am a book hoarder too! I can't stop buying them. I must have a TBR pile of over 500!  I have 7 large bookcases with 6 shelves on each! They are stuffed!****

If you would like to have your shelves featured on the blog, just send me an email at

djsfoxylady (at) gmail (dot) com

(ARC Review) Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin

LOW RED MOON
Author: Ivy Devlin
Source: Publisher/Author
* I received this ARC free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (September 14, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1599905108
• ISBN-13: 978-1599905105

SYNOPSIS:

The only thing Avery Hood can remember about the night her parents died is that she saw silver—deadly silver, moving inhumanly fast. As much as she wants to remember who killed them, she can't, and there's nothing left to do but try to piece her life back together. Then Avery meets the new boy in school—Ben, mysterious and beautiful, with whom she feels a connection like nothing she's ever experienced. When Ben reveals he's a werewolf, Avery still trusts him—at first. Then she sees that sometimes his eyes flash inhuman silver. And she learns that she's not the only one who can't remember the night her parents died.

MY THOUGHTS:

I had such high hopes for this book. I have been reading more and more books about wolves lately and this book had captured my interest. When it arrived a few months back, I wanted to read and review it immediately, but I knew I needed to wait closer to release day.

The book starts off with Avery grieving about her parents death.  They had been brutally murdered, but Avery can't remember who did it or why. All she remembers is being found afterwards, sitting next to her parents and trying to put them together again.  She is taken in by her Grandmother Renee who has secrets of her own.  Ben moves to town after his family is murdered as well.  They are drawn to each other from the moment they first meet and come to realize they are meant to be together.

Yes, there was romance and paranormal, but this book did not do well as a whole.  There were unanswered questions, the story flowed badly, and it had a tendency to skip around with dialogue. The plot was something that could have been great, but the execution of the book was not.  I feel that the author skipped around too much and never stayed focused on one thing at a time.  We could have had a beautiful romance between Ben and Avery, but it felt forced.

Even though I finished this book, it is not one I would read again.

MY RATING:

 
  If the library doesn't have it, don't worry about reading it! 2 STARS

Guest Post & Giveaway with Fiction Vixen!!!

After begging, crying and nagging on my part, I FINALLY got the wonderful Fiction Vixen to appear and post on my blog!  She is so fun and entertaining to talk to and I knew that someday, she would cave and appear on my blog.  She is the equivalent to a movie star in the blog world in my opinion!  Everyone knows who she is and everyone wants her on their blog! Well, nah-nah! She is on MY blog today and she is all mine! HA! So sit back and enjoy the wonderful post she contributed to the blog today! Go check out her blog after you enter her giveaway she also is sponsoring here!

I’d like to thank Amy for having me as a guest at My Overstuffed Bookshelf.  I’m beyond flattered that she invited me and in awe of her bravery.  I do owe her an apology though.  She invited me quite some time ago and I have managed to allow real life and other pesky things to get in the way of my blogging fun.  You see, she left the topic and due date up to me.  Big mistake Amy.  Big. Mistake.  If I am given even the slightest opportunity to procrastinate, I’ll seize it, no guilt.  Procrastinating is one thing I do not procrastinate on. So now that I’ve managed to blame my lovely hostess for my slackassedness, let’s get down to business.  

Since Amy left the blog topic up to me, I had to do some deep philosophical thinking.  I donned my hooded robe, and retreated to a Tibetan monastery to meditate on life and blog topics.  I emerged from the experience a changed woman.  Oh, I still procrastinate and blame others for my short comings but I have a new appreciation for the comfort of hooded robes.  

Upon my return to bloglandia, I decided to visit My Overstuffed Bookshelf and become one with the blog.  I wanted to absorb its essence.  Understand it from the inside out.  And then, as if the heavens opened *queue dramatic music* a topic came to me.  

Hoarding: The Overstuffed Bookshelf and Why I Fear It.  

I wouldn’t call myself a neat freak; I can certainly tolerate my share of clutter.  But I like tidiness and organization for the most part.  Admittedly, books stack and store nicely in most cases but there are some of you in bloglandia that make me sweat and tear up with your pictures of your overstuffed books shelves.  I can’t handle it.  Bookshelves sagging under the weight of books crammed within shelves make my heart race and I whimper like a baby.  I have nightmares of being buried under an avalanche of paperbacks!  I can hear the creaking and cracking of the shelves as they struggle to support the weight of the written word.  This is a real phobia people, stop laughing at me. 

 Is that Fiction Vixen under there?

Books come and go rather quickly in my house.  I get them, read them, review them, and pass them on to new homes.  I know, I know…how can I do that right?  I do have collections of my favorite series and I keep the one off here and there but for the most part, once it’s read, it’s out of there.  No saggy shelves!  A library volunteer once had the nerve to roll her eyes at me when she saw me coming with yet another box of paperbacks.  Now I just roll up, toss the box toward the front door and speed away cackling like the wicked witch of the west.  I also put my books up for swap; I give them to friends and give them away on my blog.  Hopefully someone will discover a new author, write a review, and be entertained for a few hours.

So tell me, what team are you on?  Team Saggy Shelf or Team Read and Rid It?  Or are you somewhere in between?  

***GIVEAWAY***

I have an extra copy of My Way To Hell by Dakota Cassidy.  I can’t have duplicates just lying around the house so I’m giving it away.  I really enjoyed this book; you can read my review here. 

I’ll leave the rules of the giveaway to my gracious hostess.  

Ha! She left the entering rules to me! So, we are going to make this fun for everyone!

1.  This contest is only open to USA.
2. Answer the question above in red in the comments.
3. Please include your email address for me to contact the winner!
4. It is not required, but appreciated if you are a follower of Fiction Vixen and myself! We love having our own army of followers to corrupt!
5. Contest will run until 8/20/2010 with the winner be announced on 8/21/2010.
 

Author Interview & Giveaway: Cheryl Brooks

Today I have the great pleasure of interviewing author Cheryl Brooks! She is the author of the Cat Star Chronicles!  Lets all welcome her to the blog and enjoy the interview!

1. To start off, welcome and can you tell the readers a little about yourself? 

I’m a horse crazy girl from Louisville, KY. My family moved to a farm when I was twelve, where we had horses and not much else. After high school, I went nursing school, got a job in the ICU, met the night shift orderly who was working his way through college, and married him three years later. Seeing Star Wars made me decide that what the world needed was a good, erotic sci-fi romance, so I started writing, but without a computer, it was very slow going. Later, I went back for my BSN, which got me a computer and a printer! I then had two children and we moved to a farm in Indiana so I could have horses again, but the writing bug was still there. I wrote three romance novels, sent a query letter to Harlequin, which was rejected, and didn’t write or submit anything for another ten or twelve years. Then I saw Under the Tuscan Sun, and said to my husband, “Wouldn’t it be cool to be a writer and live in Tuscany?” To which he replied: “Write!” 

So I wrote! I printed up manuscripts and put them in Amazon boxes for the gang at the hospital to read. I submitted my contemporary romances to several agents and editors and was repeatedly rejected. Later, I wrote The Rescue, which was the erotic sci-fi romance I’d always dreamed of writing. Then I joined RWA and saw in their magazine that Sourcebooks was accepting erotic paranormals, so I sent them The Rescue, which was later retitled The Cat Star Chronicles: Slave, and the rest is history!

2. Can you tell us a little about your upcoming or latest release? 

The Cat Star Chronicles series follows the lives of six Zetithian men who were captured and sold into slavery near the end of the war in which their world was destroyed. With their handsome cat-like features, amazing sexual prowess, and the ability to purr, these men are so hot that someone got jealous enough to disintegrate their planet. Hero, the new release, is the sixth book, and features Trag, the younger brother of Tychar, who was the hero of the third book, Rogue. After twenty years as a slave, Trag is now a starship pilot and is searching the galaxy for a woman who can make him forget the love he feels for his brother’s wife, Kyra. He finally finds Micayla, a young Zetithian woman who was raised on Earth, ignorant of her homeworld and even her species. She has never met a man who can arouse her passions, and when she meets Trag, all she wants to do is bite him! When they’re thrown together in the quest to bring the bane of Zetith to justice, sparks fly and an exciting adventure begins!

3. I am a fly on your wall.  What would I report back to my master about the daily grind of Cheryl?  

0800 She likes eggs and tea for breakfast.

0830 She reads blogs and comments while she drinks her tea, and then goes to the barn to feed the horses.

0900 She smells like a horse after she comes back from the barn.

0930 She might clean up the kitchen or pay some bills first, but then she’s right back at her computer until lunchtime. What the devil does she do that for????

1200 She’s eating lunch now, but it only took her about three minutes to eat it.

1230 to 1530 She’s still writing, and she drinks an awful lot of tea.

1530 to 1600. She’s walking on the treadmill, but she took her computer with her and is still writing!

1600 She went to the barn again and played with the dog on the way there. I know because I followed her once. On the way to and from the barn, she looks at the weeds in her garden and sighs with regret.

1630-1700 She fixes dinner. I really like to bug her while she’s cooking, too.

1700 She sits down to dinner.

1710 Wow, is dinner over already? She’s already putting dishes in the dishwasher!

1730 Oh, no! She’s back on the computer again, but is she blogging, or checking her email? I can’t tell, but afterward, she’s really stiff and it takes her a while to stand up straight.

2330 She almost fell asleep at her computer, but she’s taking a shower now.

0001 She checks to make sure her blog posted correctly and tweaks it a bit.

0010 She reads Harry Potter until she falls asleep a few times.

0030 Lights out! 

4. When you are not writing, what kind of books do you like to read?  

I love the Harry Potter series, and read it continuously. It’s what helps me wind down and fall asleep after I’ve been writing all day. I think I enjoy it mainly because it isn’t a romance, and I don’t have to compare it to my own writing, which I believe is something that every writer does.  

Do you have any favorite authors that are must reads? 

Not so much anymore, but in the past, I was a great fan of Mary Stewart, Daphne DuMaurier, and Georgette Heyer. I’m pretty sure I’ve read them all!

5. What are 3 things that are "must haves" for you when you sit down to write a new book?

My computer, my chair, and tea—hot or iced, depending on the season. The ideas come to me after that.

6. Do you have a blog or website that your readers can keep up with you and your books?   

I don’t update my website as often as I should, but my blog has a new entry every day. If you have any questions and don’t mind a few sexy hunk pictures, come on over anytime and post a comment!

My website is http://cherylbrooksonline.com/

I blog twice a month on Casablanca Authors Blog and every Sunday on Wickedly Romantic, but for the really hot stuff, come to http://cherylbrookserotic.blogspot.com/ Try not to let the warning page scare you too much. It is, as the title would suggest, very erotic, but we have loads of fun! 

Twitter?  

Nope, I don’t tweet, but I am on Facebook and I love to friend people!
 
Now for some fun stuff:

1. What came first--the chicken or the egg?

The chicken; eggs don’t lay themselves 

2. Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?

It does when it dries! 

3. If you choke a Smurf, what color do they turn?

Orange or red; sort of like how leaves change color when they lose their chlorophyll in the fall.  

4. If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a song about him?

Only the writer of the song didn’t care. He wrote it because Jimmy paid him a big advance!

Favorite perfume: Don’t wear it, but I have this acai pomegranate soap that I absolutely love!
Favorite TV show: Don’t watch it much anymore, but my last favorite show was Farscape
Favorite Movie: Hmm, that’s a tough one, but probably Moonstruck.
Favorite Drink: Margaritas!
Favorite Dessert: Chocolate pie

Thanks for joining us on My Overstuffed Bookshelf!! 
 

HERO BY CHERYL BROOKS – IN STORES AUGUST 2010

The Cat Star Chronicles #6 

He is the sexiest, most irksome man she’s ever encountered...

Micayla is the last Zetithian female left in the universe. She doesn’t know what’s normal for her species, but she knows when she sees Trag that all she wants to do is bite him… 

He has searched all over the galaxy for a woman like her…

Trag has sworn he’ll never marry unless he can find a Zetithian female. But now that he’s finally found Micayla, she may be more of a challenge than even he’s able to take on... 

About the Author

Cheryl Brooks is an Intensive Care Unit nurse by night and a romance writer by day. Previous books in The Cat Star Chronicles series include Slave, Warrior, Rogue, Outcast and Fugitive. She is a member of the RWA and lives with her husband and sons in rural Indiana. For more information, please visit http://cherylbrooksonline.com/.  

 GIVEAWAY:

Would you like a copy of Hero? Well, thanks to Sourcebooks, they are going to send a copy to 2 of my lucky readers!  Here are the rules:

1. USA and Canada only.

2. Leave a comment with an email address for me to contact you if you win!

3. No need to be a follower, but I would love it if you would be!

Contest will end Monday, August 16th, 2010. 

Winner will be announced on Tuesday, August 17th, 2010.