What's Happening This Week

Last week was crazy to say the least with high school final exams, three Thanksgiving feasts, teens invading my home like loud, food consuming shape shifters who never sleep and one 9 year old begging me to get out Christmas decorations. The extra teens are gone, my teens are done with exams, the feasts are finished and we have the Christmas decorations in place. Whew. Maybe now I won't fall asleep after reading two pages!

I've received some very cool books in the mail but missed In the Mailbox this week. so I'll just write a big recap of what's been dropped off at my house.

First, I won these great books:

-Crystal Clear Storm Ryder by Dana Warryck (Signed!) from Bitten by Books.

-Deathwish (Signed!) by Rob Thurman in a cool, quickie contest she had on her blog.

-Halfway to the Grave (Signed!) by Jeaniene Frost in another quickie contest from her blog. (I'm really excited because I gave my copy to my husband to read and he left it in the bathroom where it was drenched with water from someones shower. No one would 'fess up. NO ONE touches this copy but ME.)

-Stakes & Stilettos by Michelle Rowen from Enchanted by Books. (I also won a copy of Tall, Dark & Fangsome last week, so I'll wait for that one to read them both.)

-Bitter Night by Diana Francis from The Book Tree blog. She has a cool interview with the author here.

Now, I realize those are awesome books, but I went a little crazy on Paperback Swap and these came in the mail:

Heart of the Dragon (Atlantis, Bk 1)
Undead and Unwed (Queen Betsy, Bk 1)
Destiny Kills (Myth and Magic, Bk 1)
The Turning (Blood Ties, Bk 1)
The Taste of Night (Second Sign of the Zodiac, Bk 2)
Full Moon Rising (Riley Jenson, Guardian, Bk 1)
When Darkness Comes (Guardians of Eternity, Bk 1)

You can see that I am starting out quite a few series that I haven't read before. I will review the books I've won first, then move on to the others.

I'm also VERY excited that I'll be participating in my first blog tour in December, and a second one as well.

~Moonsanity

Musical Interlude: Three Days Grace

This week's Musical Interlude is from Three Days Grace. In honor of our shape shifting friends in so many of our favorite books I give you Animal I Have Become.



~Moonsanity

Series Review: Night Huntress Novels

Night Huntress Series
Author: Jeaniene Frost

Halfway to the Grave (Book 1)
One Foot in the Grave (Book 2)
At Grave's End (Book 3)
Destined for an Early Grave (Book 4)

Publisher: Avon
Available from Amazon

Summary: Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father—the one responsible for ruining her mother's life. Then she's captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unholy partnership.

Notes: The series should be read in order to really appreciate the plots in each book. I bought the books from Amazon and read them in order, including the shorts. I also recently won a signed copy of the first book from Jeaniene Frost's blog.

The Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost is the first series I read after discovering and reading the Twilight books last fall. Though I had been a huge fan of vampire and paranormal movies and television for a long time, I had never ventured into urban fantasy books. The horror, science fiction and fantasy genre are all favorites of mine, but somehow I had skipped over paranormal romance and urban fantasy. It was an entire new world for me. Where to begin? I remember seeing a quote that said the Night Huntress novels were like an R rated Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The idea of books with Joss Whedon humor, and maybe even vamps as sexy as Spike and Angel was too much to resist. I was not disappointed.

Jeaniene Frost has a wicked sarcastic sense of humor. Where she comes up with the scenes in her books is beyond me. She mixes action that keeps you on the edge of your seat, with romance that makes you grab the arm of your chair and hang on until you can stop holding your breath. I kid you not. When, and I so hope you do, read her books you will understand when I say that Chapter 32 of One Foot in the Grave is the stuff legends are made of.

I do want to caution certain readers about a few things. Jeaniene Frost pulls no punches on the violent world of vamps and ghouls. Also, there are erotic scenes in her books, but for me, they are part of Cat's life, her world. To NOT have scenes about her introduction to love and sex would mean we really wouldn't understand who she is. They aren't the focus of the stories however, but they are a part of them. I don't want to give any details, or spoilers. Part of the joy in reading the Night Huntress books is in the surprises, because there are many and they are HUGE.

Jeaninene Frost is not writing a series for young adults, I wouldn't recommend these to any one not of college age. To really get a feel for the series, read the first chapter of Halfway to the Grave here: http://www.jeanienefrost.com/halfway-to-the-grave.html .

~Moonsanity

A Teen's Tale #1: The Boy Who Forgot

Mike ran out the door after his brother Chuck on a dark, cold morning. They had almost missed the bus again, so they were running down the driveway before the driver slammed the door and drove off without them. Mike thought "Man, it is fricking dark out here. I can't see crap.". He tripped a couple more times, and finally sat down in his seat. As he sat there he realized it was quiet. It's NEVER quiet on the bus. What the hell was going on? He had his eyes closed because he was so tired. Finally he hears:

"Mike?" spoken softly by his brother Chuck.

"Yeah, what Chuck? I'm trying to nod off here, you know.", spit out Mike.

"Okay, but I have to ask you something. Where is your head?" he whispered.

"My head? What the hell are you talking about?" Mike yelled.

"You have no head. It's like it fell off your neck or something. Man, this is REALLY freaky." said Chuck.

Mike tried to open his eyes, and nothing happened. He tried again. Nothing. He slowly reached his hands up to where his head was suppose to be. Wait a fricking minute, he thought, "I was talking to Chuck wasn't I?"

"Chuck?" he whispered.

"Yeah, Mike, what?" he replied softly.

"You can hear me, so how I can be without a head?"

"Well, it's kind of weird, but I'm hearing you in my head."

"Oh."

He realized then that all he could hear was Chuck's "voice", but nothing else. No head. No Ears. No Head. No mouth. Damn, his mom was SO going to kill him.

"Mike, mom just called me and said I had to tell you something." whispered Chuck.

"Great. Was she mad?" questioned Mike.

"Well, she was actually giggling. But you know mom, she's always had a warped sense of humor.", Chuck answered.

Chuck snickered, but it had an edge of hysteria in it, as he told Mike:

"She wanted me to tell you, word for word that "I KNEW one day you would leave your head at home. Didn't I always tell you that you would forget your head if it wasn't attached? Now get your butt back home and let me attach your head to your body. Geesh, Michael, what am I going to do with you?"

Mike thought to himself, "Moms. Why do they always have to know everything? It really sucks."
Written by B. Hyde, inspired by her 15 year old.

Review: Some Girls Bite

Some Girls Bite: A Chicagoland Vampires Novel
Author: Chloe Neill
Trade Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: NAL Trade

Summary: Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn’t exactly glamorous, but it was Merit’s. She was doing fine until a rogue vampire attacked her. But he only got a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker—and this one decided the best way to save her life was to make her the walking undead.

I've been following Chloe Neill's blog for a little while now, but I hadn't been able to pick up her first book until last week. I knew it would be witty and entertaining, but I didn't expect it to be thought provoking. I'm not sure if the cover mislead me, or if it was something I may have read about the book along the way. Some Girls Bite IS witty, but it also has elements involving friendship, loyalty, family, love and desire. We meet the characters, make a few guesses and then find out we are SO wrong. I laughed a lot, but my heart also broke for Merit, and I was on the edge of my seat as her decisions were made. The author made her characters come alive for me.

Merit is her own person because she's had to fight against family expectations her entire life. Her grandfather, a retired cop, and her roommate are really her only emotional support. Her life is turned upside down, and shaken up like a chocolate malt, but without the malted goodness. Suddenly she's got vamps who want her body, her loyalty and her frig is stocked with bags of blood. She's not having a good time, and the surprises just keep coming.

I highly recommend Some Girls Bite for fans of urban fantasy and paranormal romance. I can't wait to read the second book Friday Night Bites and see what happens to Merit and her friends next.

You can read the first chapter and a deleted scene here: http://chloeneill.com/sgb.htm

Chloe Neill's blog is a great read too. It's here: http://chloeneill.blogspot.com/

~Moonsanity

Our First Short Story

After writing non-fiction for over 20 years I wrote my first short story with the help of my partner in crime parenting and writing, my husband Chuck. We wrote it for the Zombie Romance Challenge from M. Jones, editor of The Random Eye. You can read An Affair to Dismember here.

This is the first time we've worked together and I was pleasantly surprised. We each contributed different things to the story, and liked what the other corrected and wrote. No whining, pouting or anger was involved in the finished product.

I hope you enjoy it, and if you have anything you think would have worked better in the story please let me know. It's a learning process for both of us.

Oh, here is a picture of Arch Rock, which is in our story:)


~Moonsanity

In My Mailbox: November 15, 2009

It was a party in my mailbox this week.

I won first place in the The Completely Out-of-Control, Over-the-Top Book Giveaway put on by Chris from http://www.stumblingoverchaos.com/! I was the first to be able to choose five books from her list and they came this week!

Bitten (Women of the Otherworld)
Minion (Vampire Huntress Legend, Book 1) by L.A. Banks
Through a Crimson Veil (Crimson City) by Patti O'Shea
The Iron Hunt (Hunter Kiss, Book 1) by Marjorie M. Liu
Rogue (Werecats, Book 2) by Rachel Vincent

I also received my copy of Cheating, Death by Teel McClanahan that I won as a First Reader on Goodreads. Here is a bit about the book:

When the walking dead fill the streets, who can cheat death? Who can survive? Featuring a zombie outbreak that devastates Denver, an indecisive adulterer, and a series of violent, disturbing, and perhaps even heart-rending events of the sort you'd expect when the dead rise up to eat the living, Cheating, Death is a roller-coaster ride through a horror show both of death and of the heart.

I also won a copy of the ebook The Dancing Dead by Grace Mahoney from Nicole Hadaway's FreE-Book Friday on her blog at http://nicole-hadaway.blogspot.com/. She does this every week so be sure to stop by.

I received a cool book from Paperback Swap. It's a trade paperback of:

Happy Hour at Casa Dracula by Marta Acosta

Finally, I won the anthology Fantasy with stories from Christine Feehan, Sabrina Jefferies, Emma Holly and Elda Minger and it arrived this week. I participated in VampChix Halloween Vamp Bash in October, which as a blast!

I have my reading cut out for me this week, plus I finished a couple great books that I need to review this week.

For more more In My Mailbox fun drop by The Story Siren!

~Moonsanity

Musical Interlude: Coheed and Cambria

Coheed and Cambria is one of my favorite bands because of their sound, but also their originality. Their CD's are considered concept albums. The lead singer, Claudio Sanchez, has created a science fiction storyline which he's called The Amory Wars. It's partially published in a series of comics written by Sanchez and illustrated by a couple of different illustrators. This video is from the 2003 CD. I love the vampire theme!

Blood Red Summer from In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3:



~Moonsanity

Steam Punk Dress-Up: Do You Dare?

Do we ever really grow out of playing with paper dolls? Better yet, do we ever grow out of dressing up virtual paper dolls in Steampunk themes? NO WE DON'T!

Next time you have writer's block, or just a little time on your hands head on over to play dress-up. It's free and it's fun.

First, we have the Victorian Dress-Up Doll ala Gail Carriger, author of Soulless. Don't forget the round Steampunk style glasses! http://www.orbitbooks.net/soulless/

Next we have Clockwork Couture from artist Annie Stegg, complete with moving illustrations and cool music: http://www.anniestegg.com/clockworkcouture.php

While there you can also play with the Polka Dot Pirate. She has some awesome clothing and eye patches! http://www.anniestegg.com/polkadotpirate.php

Come on, you KNOW you want to play!
~Moonsanity

Review: Intertwined

Intertwined
Author: Gena Showalter
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 448 pages
Publisher: Harlequin

Summary: Like most teens, Aden Stone has friends. They just happen to be the four human souls living inside him.One can time travel. One can raise the dead. One can tell the future. One can possess another human. And they’re causing him all kinds of trouble. All he wants is peace.Then he meets a girl who quiets the voices, whenever he's near her. Why?

Initially, I was suppose to review Intertwined for Blog With Bite, but it took almost 2 weeks to get it from the library. Apparently, the center that bags the books for delivery to our libraries flooded! I missed the group review, but enjoyed this Young Adult book so much I had to review it.

Intertwined is a fitting title because it describes the plot perfectly in one word. The four people we are introduced to in the book are somehow connected. Why are they drawn to each other? Is it love? Physical attraction? Could there be metaphysical elements involved? That's what we find out as the plot unwinds.

Gena Showalter did a wonderful job portraying the feelings of the characters for each other without giving in to cliches or sexually explicit scenes. When I read a young adult book I always keep in the back of my mind that my 15 and 16 year old could be reading it too. I'm always hearing from older Twilight fans who are frustrated there wasn't more sex in the books. If I want sex there are oodles of adult romance books out there that will do the trick. Young adult books are just that: YOUNG adult. (I will get off my soapbox now and back on track.) Intertwined has romance, but it also has lessons for teens about the consequences of betrayal and casual sex mixed in with adventure and mystery.

The four main characters, Aden, Mary Ann, Victoria and Riley, are all struggling with who they are, and what is expected of them. They are thrown together through unexpected and difficult circumstances. Mary Ann has a 15 year plan. She thinks she knows exactly what she wants and how to get it. Anything outside her plan, even her boyfriend, is a distraction. Aden has no plans because each day is a challenge for him; to survive in a world where no one understands him. They are really at opposite ends of the spectrum, yet they are drawn together.

Intertwined has unique characters, mystery, adventure and romance. It's not just another teen romance where the author threw in a few paranormal elements within a typical young adult plot. I also loved that it's not a Twilight or Vampire Diaries copycat. While reading it I was touched by the characters and wanted them to figure out their place in life, and with each other.

I would recommend Intertwined to teens 14 and older. It does have subject matter concerning teen pregnancy and drugs. I think teens that enjoyed Twilight or any of the other paranormal teen romances would love the book. I also thought it would be equally interesting to boys or girls since most of the book is from Aden's viewpoint.

Unraveled will be the title of the next book in the series. I'm really looking forward to reading it, though I imagine it will be awhile before it's released. This is going to be a fantastic series, keeping us all on the edge of our seats.

There is a sweepstakes going on until November 16th, 2009. Go here if you haven't entered yet: http://harlequin.promo.eprize.com/intertwinedsweepstakes/ There is also an instant matching game you can play daily.

~Moonsanity

In My Mailbox: November 8th

It's time again for In My Mailbox. It was a slow week, but I had a lot of reading material from last week, so it was just as well. You can see from my reviews that I was a busy reader.

I've been waiting for almost two weeks for Intertwined by Gena Showalter and finally it came in after being "in transit" for almost the entire time. Before that it had been listed on the shelf in our county library system. I missed the group review at Blog With Bite, but I'll still review it as soon as I finish. I'm not sure what the hold up was, but at least it finally came!

I also received two books from Paperback Swap:

Ecstasy: The Shadowdwellers
by Jacquelyn Frank

Among the Shadow dwellers, Trace holds power that some as willing to kill for. Without a stranger's aid, one rival would surely have succeeded, but Trace's brush with death is less surprising to him than his reaction to the beautiful, fragile human who heals him.

The Darkest Night (Lords of the Underworld, Book 1)
by Gena Showalter

All her life, Ashlyn Darrow has been tormented by voices from the past. To end the nightmare, she has come to Budapest seeking help from men rumored to have supernatural abilities, not knowing she'll be swept into the arms of Maddox, their most dangerous member -- a man trapped in a hell of his own.

For more more In My Mailbox fun drop by The Story Siren!

~Moonsanity

Series Review: Mathesons, J. Ardian Lee

J. Ardian Lee (Julianne Ardian Lee)

1. Son of the Sword (2001)
2. Outlaw Sword (2002)
3. Sword of King James (2003)
4. Sword of the White Rose (2004)

Summary: Dylan Matheson is an ordinary guy with ordinary problems: family, girlfriend - the usual. He likes his life. He's happy living above the dojo where he teaches martial arts and swordfighting. He has a few close friends who share his interest in things ancient and Scottish. Then one day at a Medieval Faire, he sees a magnificent broadsword. He takes it in hand - and is transported to a time and place he has only read about.

I found all four of the Matheson books on BookCloseout.com, taking a chance on them because of the good price. I'm very glad I took the chance! I loved Dylan, the main character, from the beginning. He's witty, attractive, protective, passionate and he has good hygiene. This in itself is a rare thing in Scotland during the 1700's. They still sleep with their sheep in the winter, have no understanding of dental care, nutrition or sanitizing needles before sewing up wounds. Dylan has his work cut out for him if he's not only going to survive, but protect those around him.

The books are a quick read, but not superficial. I loved the historical tidbits the author wove into the story. I also thought she used humor to bring life to the characters, especially Dylan. The books have themes of love and loss, fighting for what you believe in, courage, faith and family. The author doesn't gloss over the beliefs or the harshness of living in Scotland during this time period. Many scenes are not for the faint of heart.

In case you were wondering, the Fae do make an appearance. After all, it is Scotland, how can they not? The tale of the Mathesons has romance, magic, fighting, political intrigue, history, humor and adventure. I really can't ask for more in a good historical romance.

I'd highly recommend J. Ardian Lee's books to fans of historical romance, but also those who enjoy paranormal romance and time travel. They are a great read!

You can read excerpts here: http://www.julianneardianlee.com/matheson/matheson.html

The author has a blog here: http://julianneardian.livejournal.com/

~Moonsanity

Series Review: Anna Strong Vampire Chronicles

Anna Strong Vampire Chronicles
Author: Jeanne C. Stein
Publisher: Ace

The Becoming
Blood Drive
The Watcher
Legacy
Retribution(not read yet)

I finished the fourth book of Jeanne C. Stein's Anna Strong Vampire Chronicles today. I'd read the other three over the summer, buying them from Amazon. They are all quick reads, each with its own mystery that Anna must solve, usually to save lives. First, let's talk about what the series isn't: it isn't romance, nor does it paint a light, fun picture of vampires. Anna is a "crap happens, what can I do with it now?" kind of gal. She's told how she should behave and what rules she needs to follow now that she's been turned, but Anna is stubborn. She's not just going to roll over and abandon her life. In all four books she has an ongoing struggle to keep her "humanity". While I understand Anna's plight, I do find myself frustrated that she refuses to compromise or listen to any advice from those who have been through it.

The first book is my favorite but the others kept me on the edge of my seat as well. Stein is a master with action scenes. Each one kept me guessing, and in suspense. She also knows how to twist the plot and spring surprises on the reader. That, I think, is why the books are a quick read. I don't read them at a leisurely pace.

Stein's writing is witty, often sarcastic, and some what dark. I recommend this series to those who don't expect their books to end with a "happily ever after". Anna is a work in progress, and I like reading about her, despite wanting to occasionally slap her. If you know this going in and don't mind, then you'll like the Anna Strong books. If you like romance with a happy ending, then I'd steer clear. I personally want to hang with Anna, and will be reading all of her books again, plus picking up the fifth one in the series.

Read Excerpts here: http://www.jeannestein.com/blurb.htm

Jeanne has a blog with Mario Acevedo where they "cover urban fantasy, vampires, pop culture, and all things Joss Whedon." It doesn't get any better than that. Pay them a visit here:
http://www.biting-edge.blogspot.com/

Book Review: The Scent of Shadows

The Scent of Shadows (Sign of the Zodiac, Book 1)
Author: Vicki Pettersson
Publisher: Eos
Pages: 464

Summary: When she was sixteen, Joanna Archer was brutally assaulted and left to die in the Nevada desert. By rights, she should be dead. Now a photographer by day, she prowls a different Las Vegas after sunset – a grim, secret Sin City where Light battles Shadow – seeking answers to whom or what she really is ... and revenge for the horrors she was forced to endure.

I bought The Scent of Shadows from Amazon last week after hearing about from some of my favorite authors. I tend to look at books like Christmas gifts. I never sneak peeks. I love being surprised. This said, I also don't like waiting too long for the good stuff. The Scent of Shadows delivers in the first chapter. There isn't an introduction, or a prologue preparing the reader, so we have to figure out things along with Joanna, the main character. The book starts out at a good pace, speeding up as one revelation after another changes Joanna's life. Before I knew it, putting the book down wasn't an option.

The Scent of Shadows is not a romance, it doesn't have a "Happily Ever After" for Joanna. I would call it a dark fantasy with a possibility of a "Happily Ever After" somewhere in the distant future. The characters are often not what they appear to be. As in real life, appearances can be deceiving but in Joanna's world, taking appearances for granted can get you killed.

I don't consider The Scent of Shadows a "quick read" only because it does take a little more thought to fit together the pieces of the puzzle as the plot twists and turns. The characters are not always likable, even when they are the good guys. Joanna, the main character, will not be liked by some readers. She's a complicated person trying to figure out her place in a harsh world. I like her because she's a survivor. She's a quick thinker and she learns from her mistakes. Did I mention she's witty and sarcastic too?

I highly recommend this book to those who like their fantasy dark with fast paced action and characters who never fail to surprise. Vicki Pettersson is a very talented writer, and I am eagerly looking forward to the other books in the series.

You can read an excerpt here: http://www.vickipettersson.com/the-scent-of-shadows.html

~Moonsanity

Book Review: The Alpha and Omega Novels

Books Series: Alpha and Omega
Cry Wolf, Hunting Ground
Author: Patricia Briggs
Publisher: Ace

Note: I read this after I read the Mercy Thompson series. I haven't read the short story that begins it all in the anthology On the Prowl, which many have recommended be read first.

Summery: Anna never knew werewolves existed until the night she survived a violent attack…and became one herself. After three years at the bottom of the pack, she’d learned to keep her head down and never, ever trust dominant males. But Anna is that rarest kind of werewolf: an Omega.

I read the first book in this series last summer after reading all of the Mercy Thompson books. I had to make myself read it NOT as a continuation of Mercy's world, but as a stand alone book. Once I did that the characters and the story came alive for me. Anna had been beaten down, suffering much like a woman who's just come out of an abusive relationship, except she was abused by everyone in her pack. She's fighting to regain her confidence, her strength; to become the woman and wolf she needs to be. This isn't a quick fix. Her struggle carries through to the second book as well.

The Alpha and Omega books tell a story of love, trust, and of healing. They read quickly, at least for me, because I wanted to KNOW what was going to happen between Anna and Charles. I couldn't wait to finish one page and go on to the next. Their relationship is complicated and multi-dimensional. There is the interaction between Anna and Charles, as a man and woman, but also the interaction between his wolf and Anna. They often don't see eye to eye. The wolf would protect her to the point of suffocation. Charles, the man, knows she needs to learn to protect herself as well. Anna is trying to figure out just what she needs and wants.

Each book has plenty of action, suspense and mystery to make it an adventurous read. I love the pack dynamics as Anna tries to figure out her place with the wolves, beyond her status as a mate to Charles. I thought Briggs did an excellent job of showing the reader both Anna's take on things, and how Charles reacted to the same situation. Brother Wolf, the wolf part of Charles, is fascinating. Briggs treats him as an individual character, one we get to know and love as Anna's fierce protector.

If I found any fault with the books, it was they read so fast that I felt let down when I finished them. This, however, could be my background of reading epic fantasy novels that can easily run 600-1000 pages. I highly recommend both books to fans of Mercy Thompson, and those new to her writing.

Read Chapter One:
http://www.patriciabriggs.com/books/cryWolfChapter.shtml




~Moonsanity

Musical Interlude: Little Toy Gun

Today's Musical Interlude comes from the band Honey Honey. I have the CD First Rodeo, and they are very talented with a unique style. This video was directed by and co-starred Kiefer Sutherland for you Lost Boys fans:)



~Moonsanity

Book Review: The Unbound Anthology

Unbound
Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Eos
ISBN: 0061699934

I picked up Unbound in the store the week it came out because I was waiting with bated breath for Jeaniene Frost's new story, Reckoning, featuring Bones, her charismatic vampire master with a scathing wit and looks to die for. Yes, that is my description. The author no doubt has her own, but I couldn't resist.  I won't lie, I read that story first and loved it. How could I not?  If you haven't read her Night Huntress books (please do) you can still read the short story because it takes place beforehand. It's set in New Orleans and will make you shiver. No, not because of Bones, but because of the creepy elements surrounding  mayhem during Mardi Gras.

There are also stories from  Jocelynn Drake and Kim Harrison. Kim wrote a stand alone story with my favorite pixy, Jenks and teenage gargoyle Bis.  If you haven't read Kim's books this is a perfect introduction to the world she has created. Jenks solves a case on his own with a little help from some friends.  I smiled throughout the entire story and so will you.

Jocelynn Drake's story, The Dead, the Damned and the Forgotten, is a prequel to her Dark Days books featuring Mira, the nightwalker (vampire) who is also known as The Firestarter.  It takes place in her beloved Savannah, Georgia, which has been home for a very, very long time now.  The books take her to places like Italy and Machu Picchu, so we don't see her at home that often.  I liked the story because it gave me a better feel for how she interacts with those she cares for, and those she has to discipline. She has to find that line between keeping her home safe and having the reputation of a heartless killing machine, all well solving the mystery of a death in her domain.

The other two authors in the book are Melissa Marr and Vicki Pettersson.  I had heard good things about both of them but hadn't read any of their books.  Dark Matters drew me into the world of Vicki Pettersson's books. After reading it,  I knew I had to get her books.  The story involves a man and a woman who are on opposite sides of a war against good and evil.  I really can't tell you much more without giving it away, but the ending is haunting.  The story is tragic on the surface, a love story, set in a time of war. I loved it.

Melissa Marr is the author of the popular Wicked Lovely book series, which is young adult.  The story in Unbound is, according to the back of the paperback, is her first adult supernatural thriller. It's called Two Lines and  I loved it! I've read on her blog that she will be writing an adult series in the future. Rather than try to describe her story, I'll let you read this quote from her blog. I could not possibly say it better:

"the question has been asked already, no, it's not a prequel or a set-up for a forthcoming book in this world. It's just a story about a glaistig, some zombie powder, some criminals, & a bit of necessary violence." (from http://melissa-writing.livejournal.com/)

FINAL SAY ON THE BOOK: I highly recommend it for fans of the authors AND to readers they are new to. It was the first analogy I've read that I loved every story in the book.

DIVERSIONS, WISDOM & DETAILS (new windows will open)
The Beyond on Blog Talk Radio: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/
An Episode with all the authors talking about "the dark world of UNBOUND, where the supernatural stalk the unsuspecting."

Kim Harrison's Website: http://www.kimharrison.net/index.html
Her quarterly newsletter is a MUST have.

Jeaniene Frost's Website: http://www.jeanienefrost.com/
Deleted scenes, interviews, podcasts and videos

Vicki Pettersson's Website: http://www.vickipettersson.com/home.html
Excerpts, videos, and pictures.

Jocelynn Drake's Website: http://www.jocelynndrake.com/DarkDaysMain.html
Essays, history and videos.

Melissa Marr's Harper Teen Page:
http://www.harperteen.com/contests/wickedlovely/
She has the coolest screensavers, ring tone and decal download! Also podcasts, playlists and a newsletter.

~Moonsanity

In My Mailbox: November Ist, 2009

This is my first In My Mailbox post.  It's a cool meme from The Story Siren. You can find more information on it here: http://www.thestorysiren.com/2007/12/in-my-mailbox.html. I have so many cool books to tell you about, plus a neat non-book package that came in my battered mailbox during the last week and a half or so. After this I'll stick to what comes each week.

First, I used an Amazon gift certificate for the following books:
Be Mine Tonight (The Brotherhood of Blood, Book 1)by Kathryn Smith
The Scent of Shadows (Sign of the Zodiac, Book 1)by Vicki Pettersson
Legacy (Anna Strong Vampire Chronicles, Book 4) by Jeanne C. Stein
Hunting Ground (Alpha & Omega, Book 2) by Patricia Briggs
Embrace the Night (Cassandra Palmer Series, Book 3) by Karen Chance

I've read Hunting Ground and Embrace the Night out of this last already, and need to review them.

I won a writing mini-pack from Eleni Konstantine, who's been having these cool interviews with writers on the value of critique partners and other words of wisdom. You can read them here: http://elenikonstantine.com/  I had to practically wrestle my daughter to the ground to keep the pen. I won because well, she's only nine and I'm bigger:)

Next, I bought these I bought on ebay for a good price.
Crimson City by Liz Maverick
Stray by Rachel Vincent
Skykeepers by Jessica Andersen

I've read Stray and Skykeepers so far, and loved both. Yes, they are my "Review or Die" list. (As fast as I read I need more motivation than just "To Be Reviewed".)

On Day 10 of  the Bitten by Books  contest, 31 Days of Dark Delights, I won When Ghosts Speak by author Mary Ann Winkowski. A note on this book: I've never been a fan of nonfiction paranormal books, so instead of reading and reviewing this myself, I had an ephinany. My son belongs to a small group called Zombie Defense and Paranormal Studies. Once a week they meet and discuss and/or debate all things paranormal. He told me about half the kids think zombies, vampires and such are cool, but not real. The other half believes some of these things could exist. I gave them the book to have their first book discussion. They will meet next week, and look it over together then discuss it. Cool, huh?

I joined PaperBackSwap.com, and the first book I chose was Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon. The series has been recommended to me SO many times that I had to get it started.  I finished the first book, but I think I will wait to review until I read more of the books, and get a good feel for the series.

My Goal This Week: Review Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series plus her anthologies.

~Moonsanity