Sunday, January 31, 2010

Lusting for Covers (5)



Lusting for Covers is a weekly meme, held on Sunday, that allows bloggers to share their current cover obsession with fellow book lovers.

Here's what you do:

1- Take the graphic (left) to use on your post. Remember to give credit to the original host (TBQ).

2- Choose your own book cover that you've fallen in "lust" with in the past week. It can be new, old, a reprint, or even a book that is not yet out-- it's all up to you! If you find a cover that catches your eye, then showcase it on your blog, and let others see the pretty covers out there.

3- Copy the direct link to your own L4C post into the comment section on my post (when in doubt, use this link and then scroll down to find the post), and allow others to come and see what you picked!
(OPTIONAL):

4- Besides posting the picture of the book cover you chose, it's nice to provide the book summary, title, author, or a website link for the book. It's not required, but it can help you readers' to add more books to their own list! A brief "Why I choose this cover" is also appreciated, but not required.


NOTE: PLEASE link back to my blog (http://tbqspersonalbookpalace.blogspot.com) somewhere in your post, letting viewers know that it is my meme, not something you are trying to call your own. Failing to do so, with the intent of actually calling this your own work, will result in trouble! I hate threatening, but really, is it so hard to post a link that says "This meme is hosted by TBQ."? Link love is great, and actually quite easy-- please use it!



~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Here's my candidate for the week:


Author: Jean Johnson
Publisher/Publication Date: Berkley Trade (April 6, 2010)
Summary (Amazon):
All-new! Fairy tales retold with an erotic edge, by the national bestselling author of the Sons of Destiny series.
Jean Johnson sneaks between the covers of such classic fairy tales as Beauty and the Beast, Puss n' Boots, and Sleeping Beauty, and refashions them into bedtime stories for adults only. With clever gender twists, hot fetishistic turns, other-worldly desires, and explorations into forbidden territories, Bedtime Stories reveals a veritable garden of sensual delights that gives new meaning to the term "happy ending."


WHY?
First off, I'm already a huge fan of Ms. Johnson, ever since her very first Sons of Destiny novel, which debuted a few years past. By now, she's an auto-buy author for me. Now, the cover is great-- very eye catching, what with the swirls and vivid, vibrant red colors. Of course, I'm not overly found of staring at the naked woman, I'd prefer if it was a guy (though that would look a bit weird for this cover idea and book....), but getting past that, the cover as a whole is very beautiful, in my opinion. Plus, the story grabbed my attention-- an erotic retelling of beloved fairy tale classics? Count me in! :D

Monday, January 25, 2010

[ARC Review]: "The Returners"

Title: The Returners
Author: Gemma Malley
Publisher/Publication Date: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (March 2, 2010)
Genre: YA
Summary (Amazon):
London teenager Will Hodge is miserable. His mother is dead, his father’s political leanings have grown radical, and his friends barely talk to him. To top it off, he’s having nightmares about things like concentration camps. Then Will notices he's being followed by a group of people who claim to know him from another time in history. It turns out they are Returners, reincarnated people who carry with them the memory of atrocities they have witnessed in the past. Will realizes that he, too, is a Returner. But something about his memories is different, and with dawning horror, Will suspects that he wasn’t just a witness to the events, he was instrumental in making them happen. Set in the near future, with the world on the verge of a new wave of ethnic cleansing, Will must choose to confront the cruelty he's known in his past lives, or be doomed to repeat it . . . again.



 


Places to pre-order The Returners at:



My Review:

For a quick, powerful read, The Returners is a book you don't want to miss!

I can't say enough good things about this book-- it literally has it all! An interesting and unique story line, a bit of a mysterious plot to start out with, and characters that you can relate to-- what more could you possibly want?

I don't want to give a lot away, so I won't go into detail, but I will say that Gemma Malley did a wonderful job at creating a YA fiction novel that could just as easily be enjoyable for an adult as well. And, best of all, the story has a moral, an underlying reason to read the book besides the obvious enjoyment factor.

Powerful, eye opening, and real are all great words to describe this novel. It's not just another fantasy novel, no, it's something more than that.


4.5 Stars! After finishing this novel, I immediately added Malley's previous novels to my wish list. Even if you are past the YA stage of life, this is the perfect book to read on a weekend, fast paced and exciting, and nothing like most of the books on the market right now. I highly recommend The Returners, and I'm glad that I read this book, even though at first I was a bit hesitant, unsure if I would like it. I guess this is yet another example of “Don't judge a book by its cover!”.

~~~
ARC thanks to Bloomsbury!
~~~



Enjoy!




Until Next Time,
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Sunday, January 24, 2010

A Slight Delay...

So, I know that I was suppose to have two reviews up... One yesterday (The Returners by Gemma Malley) and one tomorrow (Winter of the Beast by Vonna Harper), BUT sadly, I'm going to have to push them (plus my future reviews) back a few more days.

Once again, I've been attacked by the dreaded .... Computer Malfunction Syndrome! ARGH!

I swear, this past year (last year and the month of this new year) has been horrible for me and my computer. Nothing seems to want to work for more than a few months at a time.... First, it was viruses, then basic computer problems/errors, and now my video card died on me! That means the computer (well, tower) would run, but the screen would stay black! Very problematic, as you can see... 

Today, after begging with the nice computer repair man in town to come out and look at it, I managed to get a cheap replacement to tide me over. But (hopefully) by Tuesday, I should have a new replacement of the video card that went out (it was a better quality, aka more expensive, one that I bought years ago for a specific program/game that wouldn't run without it). I can't wait-- the one that is in right now, while it works (and don't get me wrong, I'm more than happy that I have it until my new one comes in!) it is a bit... well, lower quality, is the best way I can think to describe it. The screen resolution and all that is different, and it just isn't as clear and pretty as it was with my previous card.

So, due to my lack of computer from Friday night until now, I've been unable to finish up my first review and post it, and the next review (due tomorrow) is for an E-Book that, you guessed it, I couldn't access all weekend to even finish reading! I did get my Lusting for Covers post up on time, but that was only because I finished it Friday (before said problems) and scheduled it to post on Sunday. Good thing I planned that ahead...

I'll try to get one of the reviews up by tomorrow night, but no promises. However, I will have both reviews up before the end of the week if it's the last thing I do! :D

Since I've been unable to log on all weekend, I'm just now getting caught up on things (email, blog posts, comments, etc), so please don't think I was ignoring you if you've sent something! I'm just slow to get to it! :D And thanks for those of you that participating in the Lusting for Covers meme today-- I'm just getting to them right now, but I loved them all and I appreciate that you like to join in on the fun with me! :D



Enjoy!





Until Next Time, 
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Lusting for Covers (4)


Lusting for Covers is a weekly meme, held on Sunday, that allows bloggers to share their current cover obsession with fellow book lovers.


Here's what you do:

1- Take the graphic (left) to use on your post. Remember to give credit to the original host (TBQ).

2- Choose your own book cover that you've fallen in "lust" with in the past week. It can be new, old, a reprint, or even a book that is not yet out-- it's all up to you! If you find a cover that catches your eye, then showcase it on your blog, and let others see the pretty covers out there.

3- Copy the direct link to your own L4C post into the comment section on my post (when in doubt, use this link and then scroll down to find the post), and allow others to come and see what you picked!

(OPTIONAL):

4- Besides posting the picture of the book cover you chose, it's nice to provide the book summary, title, author, or a website link for the book. It's not required, but it can help you readers' to add more books to their own list! A brief "Why I choose this cover" is also appreciated, but not required.



NOTE: PLEASE link back to my blog (http://tbqspersonalbookpalace.blogspot.com) somewhere in your post, letting viewers know that it is my meme, not something you are trying to call your own. Failing to do so, with the intent of actually calling this your own work, will result in trouble! I hate threatening, but really, is it so hard to post a link that says "This meme is hosted by TBQ."? Link love is great, and actually quite easy-- please use it!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Here's my candidate for the week:


Title: Nomansland
Author: Lesley Hauge
Publisher/Publication Date: Henry Holt and Co. (June 22, 2010)
Summary (Amazon):
Sometime in the future, after devastating wars and fires, a lonely, windswept island in the north is populated solely by women. Among these women is a group of teenaged Trackers—expert equestrians and archers—whose job is to protect their shores from the enemy. The enemy, they’ve been told, is men.



When these girls come upon a partially buried home from the distant past, they are fascinated by the strange objects—high-heeled shoes, teen magazines, make-up—found there. What are they to make of these mysterious things, which introduce a world they have never known? And what does it mean for their strict society where friendship is forbidden and rules must be obeyed—at all costs?



Reminiscent of The Giver but with a feminist twist, Nomansland is a powerful, shocking story that will challenge young readers’ perspectives and provoke much discussion over the timely and controversial issues presented.





WHY?
Even though it may not be as "lusty" as my previous choices, I really love this cover-- it tells a story, even before you read it! So much power in her pose, and though the colors are not as bright as I usually like in a cover, they still convey a message-- fantasy and a world outside of my everyday life. Add to that the interesting story line, and this one is on my wish list this year!


Friday, January 22, 2010

What Did I Receive?

As you know, "What Did I Receive" is much like the popular "In My Mailbox". On Fridays, I try to post any and all books I may have received in the past week, unless I haven't had any deliveries.


Unfortunately, the junk mail and bills seem to overflow my mailbox more often than books.... In a book lover's world, the roles would be reversed, of course! :D




Here's what I received this past week:




For Review:

~Winter of the Beast by Vonna Harper (E-Book, thanks to NOR!)

~Unknown by Rachel Caine (Print, thanks to NOR!)





Bought:
None! (I know, you doubt me, but I'm being honest!)

Won:
None



~~~
Remember to stop by Sunday for the next installment of Lusting for Covers!

Also, if I keep on track tonight, I should have another review up by tomorrow sometime. It's a YA novel I received for review a few weeks back...


Enjoy!






Until Next Time,
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Wednesday, January 20, 2010

[Review]: "Like Mayflies in a Stream"


Title: Like Mayflies in a Stream
Author: Shauna Roberts
Publisher/Publication Date: Hadley Rille Books (October 5, 2009)
Genre: Historical Fiction/ Mythology Reference
Summary (Amazon):
In the great city of Uruk, there is no peace when Gilgamesh is restless, and he is never at rest. Shamhat, a priestess of Inanna, goes into the wilderness to find and civilize a match for Uruk's violently active God-King. Like Mayflies in a Stream brings new life to the Epic of Gilgamesh, diving into one of the earliest conflicts between civilization and wilderness, civic order and freedom, romance and sexuality. A book of the Hadley Rille Books Archaeology Series.


Places to Order Like Mayflies in a Stream at:
Amazon**




My Review:

The “Epic of Gilgamesh” comes alive with the vivid descriptions, characters, and crisp writing talent of Shauna Roberts! Although it is a retelling of an ancient myth, one that perhaps not all of us are as familiar with as, say, King Arthur, Like Mayflies in a Stream is written in such a way that it gives a fresh voice to an otherwise ordinary tale.



If you enjoy a good historical novel, or if you are already interested in anything related to mythology, then this is the book for you! No matter the age, from teens to adults, this makes a quick, fascinating read. Roberts provides a look into the past, during a time long ago, but connects the characters to the reader in such a way that you almost forget this is taking place centuries ago-- it feels real, and it's believable. As they say, human nature doesn't change much, even over thousands of years, but the strong connection to the characters is mostly because of Roberts' skills at weaving a story together.


My only criticism, if you can call if that, is the descriptions were a bit much at times. Not necessarily a bad thing, but due to my personal preference, there were times when Roberts' almost painted the scene too vividly-- such as during the battles or gory scenes. Again, this is more of personal preference, since I'm not one for gory movies/books and the scenes I talk about from Like Mayflies in a Stream are actually pretty tame compared to many stories out there.

4 STARS! After covering the “Epic of Gilgamesh” in my mythology class last semester, this was an interesting retelling of the story. I enjoyed the story Roberts created around the epic tale while still allowing the reader to glimpse the original “myth” beneath the story. Very well written, entertaining, and quick-- this is not like most historical novels, which cover 700 plus pages and seem to drag on instead of flow smoothly. A good recommendation for anyone, history fans or not, as a refreshing break from the normal paranormal and fantasy novels out there.



~~~
Thanks to the author, Shauna, for sending me this book via GoodReads' First Reads giveaway in late December!
~~~



Enjoy!




Until Next Time,
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**As an Amazon Associate, if you happen to buy this book from my link, I get a very small percentage of the order. Any money I may get this way will go into a fund to help buy books/shipping to host more contests here on my blog this year. If you are already planning on buying said book from Amazon, please consider simply using my link to check out. Thank you!

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Lusting for Covers (3)


Lusting for Covers is a weekly meme, held on Sunday, that allows bloggers to share their current cover obsession with fellow book lovers.


Here's what you do:

1- Take the graphic (left) to use on your post. Remember to give credit to the original host (TBQ).

2- Choose your own book cover that you've fallen in "lust" with in the past week. It can be new, old, a reprint, or even a book that is not yet out-- it's all up to you! If you find a cover that catches your eye, then showcase it on your blog, and let others see the pretty covers out there.

3- Copy the direct link to your own L4C post into the comment section on my post (when in doubt, use this link and then scroll down to find the post), and allow others to come and see what you picked!

(OPTIONAL):

4- Besides posting the picture of the book cover you chose, it's nice to provide the book summary, title, author, or a website link for the book. It's not required, but it can help you readers' to add more books to their own list! A brief "Why I choose this cover" is also appreciated, but not required.



NOTE: PLEASE link back to my blog (http://tbqspersonalbookpalace.blogspot.com) somewhere in your post, letting viewers know that it is my meme, not something you are trying to call your own. Failing to do so, with the intent of actually calling this your own work, will result in trouble! I hate threatening, but really, is it so hard to post a link that says "This meme is hosted by TBQ."? Link love is great, and actually quiet easy-- please use it!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Here's my candidate for the week:


Author: Anne Crompton
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire (March 1, 2010) Summary (from Teen Fire):
Among the towering trees of magical Avalon, where humans dare not tread, lives Niviene, daughter of the Lady of the Lake and apprentice to Merlin the mage. Her people, the Fey, are folk of the wood and avoid the violence and avarice of man. But the strife of King Arthur’s realm threatens even Avalon’s peace, and Merlin needs his apprentice to thwart the chaos devouring Camelot. And so Niviene will use her special talents to help save a kingdom, and discover the treachery of men and the beauty of love.




WHY?
I saw this cover earlier this week after finding a new book website (Teen Fire, a new imprint for Sourcebooks) and instantly fell in love with it. It's so sparkly and magical looking, I added it to my list without looking at the summary. Of course, after I read the summary, I was even more excited to read this book when it comes out. Sounds like an interesting take on a beloved legend...

Saturday, January 16, 2010

[Review]: "The Dark Divine"

Title: The Dark Divine
Author: Bree Despain
Publisher/Publication Date: EgmontUSA (December 22, 2009)
Genre: Teen Fantasy/Romance
Summary (Amazon):
Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.

The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.


The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy's dark secret...and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul.








Other Places to buy The Dark Divine from:




My Review:


What if the 'good' son was really the 'bad' one? What if things really did go bump in the night? In The Dark Divine, you'll find out that nothing is what it seems...

Full of edge-of-your-seat suspense and mystery, Bree Despain's debut novel captures the readers' attention from page one and doesn't let go until the very last word! In between all of the action and suspense, you'll also find a heavy dose of romance--sweet, realistic, and even passionate at times---along with a paranormal story I bet you'd never expect from this book.


From beginning to end, I absolutely loved this book--- original, very well written, and highly entertaining. I loved how Despain effortlessly twisted the mythology, intrigue, and romance together to produce an unforgettable read that I could not put down! Lush, flowing descriptions made the novel practically appear before my very eyes, like a 3D movie.


On top of the amazing storyline, the characters were believable, and I'm sure that many readers can relate to them. I enjoyed all of them, with Daniel being my favorite (sexy “bad” boy-- need I say more?), and I would love to see them in future books. Best of all, the chemistry and connection between Grace and Daniel was fantastic. As the story went on, I found myself drawn more and more towards Daniel--- his dark, mysterious air practically begs you to figure out his secrets. And even after I found out about his past, I still wanted more.


4.5 Stars! Gripping and unique, dark and yet romantic, The Dark Divine is a wonderful debut, from an author that I look forward to seeing future books from. Be sure to pick this one up, I promise you won't want to put it down until the very end! After the tantalizing ending, I'm hoping that Despain will make a sequel-- not that the book needs it, but because I would love to hear more from these characters.

 ~~~
ARC copy (plus a bottle of purple nail polish) thanks to Random House (I think it was a contest I must have won...)!
~~~









Enjoy!








Until Next Time,
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 **As an Amazon Associate, if you happen to buy this book from my link, I get a very small percentage of the order. Any money I may get this way will go into a fund to help buy books/shipping to host more contests here on my blog thi year. If you are already planning on buying said book from Amazon, please consider simply using my link to check out. Thank you!

Friday, January 15, 2010

What Did I Receive?

As you know, "What Did I Receive" is much like the popular "In My Mailbox". On Fridays, I try to post any and all books I may have received in the past week, unless I haven't had any deliveries.


Unfortunately, the junk mail and bills seem to overflow my mailbox more often than books.... In a book lover's world, the roles would be reversed, of course! :D

Here's what I got this past week:


 **

For Review:
None (Though I'll no doubt be reviewing many of the other books I received)

Bought:
None (Amazing, I know!)

Won:
~In the Dark by PG Forte (E-Book, won from PG via NOR author chat contest)

~Taming the Beast by Heather Grothaus
~The Cowboy's Christmas by Raeanne Thayne
~Devil in a Kilt by Sue-Ellen Welfonder
~The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
~Generation Dead by Daniel Waters
~Tortured by Amanda McIntyre (Yeah-- heard a lot of great things about this one!)
~One Foot in the Grace by Jeaniene Frost
~Dragonborn by Jade Lee
~Curse the Dawn by Karen Chance
~Once Bitten, Twice Shy by Jennfier Rardin
~Soulless by Gail Carriger (Yeah again!)
~Dark Highland Fire by Kendra Leigh Castle (Ditto!)
~The Darkest Pleasure by Gena Showalter (Yeah, finally have the third one!)
~Eve of Chaos by S.J. Day
~King of Sword and Sky by C.L. Wilson (I have an ARC copy, but it's never bad to have a backup!)
~Cold Moon Rising by C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp (Duplicate, but that just means possible future giveaway...)
~Midnight Awakening by Lara Adrian (Duplicate... Poss. giveaway)
~Midnight Rising by Lara Adrian (Duplicate... Poss. giveaway)
~Breaking Midnight by Emma Holly




^^
*Gasp* Thanks so much to the amazing Anna--- I won all 19 of those books from her Box O' Books giveaway earlier this month!

~~
I know I'm behind on posting my reviews-- I promise to have them up ASAP! I've got two done, just not posted on time like I had originally planned...

And be sure to stop by on Sunday for week three of Lusting for Covers!




Enjoy!





Until Next Time,
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**Slideshow links all books (except In the Dark) to its Amazon page (via my Amazon Associates account). As an Amazon Associate, if you happen to buy this book from my link, I get a very small percentage of the order. Any money I may get this way will go into a fund to help buy books/shipping to host more contests here on my blog thi year. If you are already planning on buying said book from Amazon, please consider simply using my link to check out. Thank you!

[NOR Review]: "Full Blood"

Title: Full Blood
Author: Liberty Stafford
Publisher/Publication Date: eXtasy eBooks (part of Devine Destinies pub)/ November 15th, 2009
Available in: E-Book 
Summary:
Bad dreams are plaguing them all and its not just the dhampir who cannot sleep. Catching them unawares, the Otovic's past returns to haunt them. Vladimir, the vampire father who Daniel has never met, wants him back to join the family. Wants a brother for his full blood brother, Marko, the baby his mother gave to gypsies and never spoke about again. Money and power surround Vladimir and Marko. Friends are soon purchased including the headmaster of Thomas High where Marko joins the upper school to charm his brother Daniel into a deadly circle of trust. Marko fits in and seems to be the perfect student. Intelligent, hard working, generous. Everyone is unaware of the deadly secret he is hiding, that he would rather drain them all of their blood than spend another minute polluted by their company.Helena falls for his supernatural charms and spends a fortune on a designer dress to impress him at his party. However, Marko has infected his brother and he begins to change. His moods blacken. His temper soars. His patience shatters.Little does Daniel know that he will soon need Katarina's help to save his soul as she struggles with his estranged family for power over his soul.




My Review:

Although a slight improvement from Liberty Stafford's previous novel, Half Blood, the sequel Full Blood is still lacking---for me at least. The promise is there, but it just never seemed to come through all the way.

The beginning of the novel peaked my interest a bit, what with the sudden twist in the story and addition of characters. Sadly, this interest didn't last too long before the writing style and characters turned my slight interest into daydreaming instead of paying attention to the words on the page. Never a good thing, when reading a book-- the book should have your entire concentration, without much effort on your part (if any!). But with both novels in this YA series, I've found my mind wondering to other things...

The characters, while they had their moments, mostly felt too shallow for me-- not their personality so much as their lack of development. After two books, I still have no real image of any of the main characters in my mind, and honestly, at times I didn't care what happened to them next. There was nothing about them that made me want to continue the story, nothing to connect me to them. Even the conversations seemed a bit forced, artificial at times.

Although, for the most part, the writing was pretty well executed, I still had my problems with this element as well. Personally, I prefer when an author shows the reader what's going on, with good, captivating descriptions, instead of simply telling us, in forward, blatant words. For me, Stafford seemed to do more of the second option, and because of this not only was I lost during a few scenes, but the writing was dry, not lush and full of flowing descriptions.

I'm not saying that this book didn't have its moments, it did, but they were few and far between, though the ending picked up considerably. I guess I'm use to a slightly different kind of YA vampire novel, more of a (true) romantic story instead of the darker, yet lighter as far as story/character complexity, story that Stafford has provided. I'm not saying her work is bad, but I'm being honest-- it's not really my kind of book.

3 Stars! Perhaps this book will be a hit for others, but for me I was only left with disappointment, in the storyline and characters. There wasn't a lot that stood out for me, as far as originality goes, and what had the potential to be original, never quite made it. A quick, light read, but not one I would pick up again. Perhaps future books by this author will catch my interest, but for now, I'm setting her aside.



 Cover Note:  I'll be honest-- I'm not feeling this cover. At all. A bit freaky-- no offense to the author/publisher/cover artist that may be reading this. For me, it just doesn't grab my attention at all.


~~~
Thanks to Night Owl Romance, where I received this e-book for free in exchange for reviewing the book. (Free book does not equal biased review, however!) This review is the property of NOR.
~~~



 Enjoy!



Until Next Time,
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Monday, January 11, 2010

[Review]: "Half Blood"

Title: Half Blood
Author: Liberty Stafford
Publisher/Publication Date: eXtasy eBooks (part of Devine Destinies pub)/ Nov. 2009
Available in: E-Book
Summary:
Ever felt like you don't fit in? Try being only half human. Daniel Otovic is a loner. A misfit. Discovering his father is a vampire doesn't increase his popularity at school. Dhampirs don't fit in anywhere. His cousin, Niko, is a jock. Nobody realises he is a dhampir, too. Except Niko feeds on humans. During detention, Daniels discovers the school talent show is imminent. Captivated by the enchanting singing of Katarina, he is persuaded to take part. His mind is not really on task. He has fallen in love and it's not a good time, having just discovered his paranormal heritage. He has new skills. He can fly. He can run like the wind. He can shape shift. Premonitions haunt him. Most of them are about Katarina and she is in danger. Growing up on the Bosnian border, Daniel could do nothing without Niko. In England, it is no different. Only Niko is hungry and Katarina seems like a tasty meal for him and his newly fashioned jock vampire friends. Can Daniel handle being a dhampir when for years he considered himself a normal guy? He has to handle it. Katarina's life depends upon it.





My Review:

Vampire novels flood the bookshelves, with new ones coming out almost weekly. So what does Half Blood have to offer that the others out there don't have? For one, the main character, and dhampir, is a guy. Honestly, other than that, the novel has very little unique features.


It's your average “good versus evil” vampire story, with a “coming of age and all the hardships it brings” subplot. Not a horrible book, just not anything new. On top of that, the writing was about average as well, and the characters were a bit dry.

Although it's suppose to be a teen paranormal romance, the whole book seemed more like a Dark Gothic, though admittedly aimed more towards the younger readers than anyone else. I guess I was expecting more from the characters, and the story in general, then what I got in the end.

Don't think that I hated the book-- I didn't. I simply didn't love it either. A quick, short read, but one that's a bit forgettable in the end.

3 Stars! Although having Daniel as the main character provided a bit of a change for this genre, it wasn't enough to raise the book above all the other vampire books out there. It wasn't a waste of time, by any means, but unfortunately it wasn't a vampire book I'd recommend readily to everyone. I'm hoping that the sequel, Full Blood will bring more to the table than Half Blood did.



Cover Note: I'll be honest-- I'm not feeling this cover. At all. A bit freaky-- no offense to the author/publisher/cover artist that may be reading this. For me, it just doesn't grab my attention at all.

~~~

Thanks to the publisher (via NOR) for the free e-book copy of Half Blood in exchange for the review.
~~~




Enjoy!




Until Next Time,
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Sunday, January 10, 2010

Lusting for Covers (2)


Lusting for Covers is a weekly meme, held on Sunday, that allows bloggers to share their current cover obsession with fellow book lovers.


Here's what you do:
1- Take the graphic (left) to use on your post. Remember to give credit to the original host (TBQ).

2- Choose your own book cover that you've fallen in "lust" with in the past week. It can be new, old, a reprint, or even a book that is not yet out-- it's all up to you! If you find a cover that catches your eye, then showcase it on your blog, and let others see the pretty covers out there.

3- Copy the direct link to your own L4C post into the comment section on my post (when in doubt, use this link and then scroll down to find the post), and allow others to come and see what you picked!

(OPTIONAL):

4- Besides posting the picture of the book cover you chose, it's nice to provide the book summary, title, author, or a website link for the book. It's not required, but it can help you readers' to add more books to their own list! A brief "Why I choose this cover" is also appreciated, but not required.


NOTE: PLEASE link back to my blog (http://tbqspersonalbookpalace.blogspot.com) somewhere in your post, letting viewers know that it is my meme, not something you are trying to call your own. Failing to do so, with the intent of actually calling this your own work, will result in trouble! I hate threatening, but really, is it so hard to post a link that says "This meme is hosted by TBQ."? Link love is great, and actually quiet easy-- please use it!





Here's my candidate for the week:


Author: L.J. McDonald
Publisher/Publication: Leisure Books  (February 23, 2010) 




WHY?
To best honest, although the eyes on the guy may be a bit...intense (good or bad, you decide), they were a great part of why I added this book to my wish list. They captured my attention, made me stop and look at it instead of just passing over it. The submissive woman at the bottom also helped to grab my attention (not for that reason!), and the colors are beautiful, in my opinion. I can't wait to see what this new series will bring, if the cover alone has captured my attention so much! :D

Friday, January 8, 2010

What Did I Receive?

As you know, "What Did I Receive" is much like the popular "In My Mailbox". On Fridays, I try to post any and all books I may have received in the past week, unless I haven't had any deliveries.




Unfortunately, the junk mail and bills seem to overflow my mailbox more often than books.... In a book lover's world, the roles would be reversed, of course! :D




This post is extra short, and not just because of a limited amount of books I received. I'm soo tired today, despite the fact that it's Friday (yeah!). I think it's because this week has been so hectic for me, what with 4 new courses starting up for college, etc. Sorry for the lack of posts this past week, but I promise, I won't be behind for much longer-- a few naps this weekend and I'l be as good as new! :D


Here's what I received:


For Review:
~Intimate Deceptions by Lise Fuller (E-Book, Thanks to Lise herself!)


Bought:
~Street Game by Christine Feehan (I just couldn't resist... *Wink*)




I'll have two or three reviews ready next week, so be sure to check back for to see which ones!

Oh, and don't forget that this Sunday will be the second Lusting For Covers meme! Drop by then to see what cover's grabbed my attention this week!





Enjoy!



Until Next Time,
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Wednesday, January 6, 2010

[NOR Review]: "The Amethyst Amulets"


Title: The Amethyst Amulets
Author: Cillian Burns
Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Publication Date: October 2009
Available In: E-Book, Print
Genre: Time Travel Romance
Summary (Barnes and Nobles):
Julie Summers, a teacher of medieval history, acquires a knight in shining armor, but not in her own time. When a magical amulet whisks her to thirteenth century England, she finds herself the pretend wife of a handsome baron. At first, she demands to be returned to her own century, but as time passes, she begins to fall deeply in love with him. Will she give up her twenty-first century life to remain in the past with Nicholas?


Baron Nicholas de Montclair thinks he needs help protecting his son from his evil brother-in-law. But when he brings Julie back to his time, he finds it's a year earlier than he left and there's no child to protect. He and Julie are forced to overcome sieges, abductions and pregnancy with the aid of the amethyst amulets. Then Julie is forced to return to the future. Has he lost forever the woman he's come to love?





Places to Order The Amethyst Amulets at:
Amazon.com **
B and N.com





My Review:

Despite a promising enough beginning, The Amethyst Amulets only managed to leave me wanting something more than what it had to offer.



Based upon the plot, which managed to peak my interest even before starting the book, I had high hopes for this novel. But although it was not a waste of time, nor a completely disaster, I was still disappointed long before the end of the novel.




The fault lies not so much in the story line development, though at times, this too seemed a bit lacking, but in the characters themselves. As hard as I tried, I couldn't fall for the hero, Nicholas, nor could I find the spunk and strength in Julie that I'm accustomed to finding from the heroine.




For brief moments, sprinkled through out the story, these two characters almost managed to grab my affection. During a few scenes, Julie started to show that spark that I connect with the heroine of a romance novel, but almost as quickly as it showed up, it then disappeared again. Perhaps a bit more of a polish to her character development would fix this, but other than that, I can't say what it was about her that failed to help me connect with her. I will say that towards the end of the book, she showed more of the passion and flare that I expected.




The same was true of Nicholas, unfortunately. I was at times unable to understand why Julie loved him so much--- there were only a few moments during the book when I would start to fall for him as well, before he would quickly do or say something that would once again make me loose interest. Neither of these two characters were horrible, by any means, but neither were they memorable, something that is very essential to a good romance.




As for the romance itself, while it was in fact there, it took the greater part of the book to see it. The passion was slow to kindle and only hit a low smolder. Not overly romantic, nor touching, though there were a few spots towards the very end that improved drastically.


Sadly, the word that comes to mind after reading this book is “average”. Nothing horrible, but nothing spectacular either. Don't get me wrong-- I still liked this novel, and I will probably recommended it to future readers, it just won't be at the time of my list.


3 STARS! Although The Amethyst Amulets had it's enjoyable moments, it didn't quite meet my expectations, and came away as only average on my scale. In the end, I was left wanting more--- more romance, more connection, more of a story line around the time traveling. I'll still give Ms. Burns another chance in the future, for I'm sure I'll like her other books more, but this one just didn't hold my complete attention.





~~~
Thanks to Night Owl Romance, where I received this e-book for free in exchange for reviewing the book. (Free book does not equal biased review, however!) This review is the property of NOR.

~~~



Enjoy!



Until Next Time,
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**As an Amazon Associate, if you happen to buy this book from my link, I get a very small percentage of the order. Any money I may get this way will go into a fund to help buy books/shipping to host more contests here on my blog next year. If you are already planning on buying said book from Amazon, please consider simply using my link to check out. Thank you!

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Lusting for Covers (1)


Lusting for Covers is a weekly meme, held on Sunday, that allows bloggers to share their current cover obsession with fellow book lovers.

Here's what you do:
1- Take the graphic (left) to use on your post. Remember to give credit to the original host (TBQ).

2- Choose your own book cover that you've fallen in "lust" with in the past week. It can be new, old, a reprint, or even a book that is not yet out-- it's all up to you! If you find a cover that catches your eye, then showcase it on your blog, and let others see the pretty covers out there.

3- Copy the direct link to your own L4C post into the comment section on my post (when in doubt, use this link and then scroll down to find the post), and allow others to come and see what you picked!

(OPTIONAL):

4- Besides posting the picture of the book cover you chose, it's nice to provide the book summary, title, author, or a website link for the book. It's not required, but it can help you readers' to add more books to their own list! A brief "Why I choose this cover" is also appreciated, but not required.



NOTE: PLEASE link back to my blog (http://tbqspersonalbookpalace.blogspot.com) somewhere in your post, letting viewers know that it is my meme, not something you are trying to call your own. Failing to do so, with the intent of actually calling this your own work, will result in trouble! I hate threatening, but really, is it so hard to post a link that says "This meme is hosted by TBQ."? Link love is great, and actually quiet easy-- please use it!





Here is my own "Lusting for Covers" candidate for the week:





Title: Velvet Haven

Author: Sophie Renwick
pU
Extras: Click HERE for excerpts, summary, and pre-order links!







WHY:


Is it any wonder that after highlighting this amazing cover on my sidebar for months, it would be the first L4C? Come on--- look at it! Sexy man on the cover? Check. Leather pants? Check. Eye catching tattoo? Check! Really, what more could you want? Except for the guy on the cover, of course! *Wink*