30 June, 2011

HBG #1: Two Fallen Books



Welcome to my HBG (Happy Birthday Giveaway). It's my birthday today, and I want to celebrate! From now until July 8th, I will be giving away book prize packs that include recent hot releases, ARCs that I want to share, and swag galore! There will be YA prize packs, as well as adult, so please check the rules for each giveaway for age restrictions.


As the title hints, the first giveaway that I have to offer is the first two books in the Fallen series by Lauren Kate. FALLEN is a finished copy, and TORMENT is an ARC, signed by the author!










Want to win? Rules:

1. Must be 13+
2. Leave a comment if you tweet the giveaway (+2)
3. Leave a comment if you followed Read My Mind as of June 29th (+3)
4. All HBG giveaways end on July 12th, 6pm EDT
5. Fill out the following form





It's MY birthday, but YOU get the gifts!

June is Audiobook Month Winner!

Prize: Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter Audiobook

Winner: Eli Squared! (eliweibley@...)




Congrats Eli Squared! I'll be in contact with you soon.

Didn't win this time? My Happy Birthday Giveaway (HBG) will be starting later today and going on for the next week or so. Come back and check out the great books that I'll be giving away, both YA and adult.

It's MY birthday, but YOU'LL get the gifts!

Immortalis: Carpe Noctem and Hunters and Prey E-Book Winners!

Prize: One winner receives an e-copy of both Immortalis: Carpe Noctem AND Hunters and Prey by Katie Salidas

Winner: winnie (chibipooh@...)!



Congrats Winnie! I'll be passing along your email information to the tour organizer, who will arrange for you to receive your prize.

Didn't win this time? My Happy Birthday Giveaway (HBG) will be starting later today and going on for the next week or so. Come back and check out the great books that I'll be giving away, both YA and adult.

It's MY birthday, but YOU'LL get the gifts!

28 June, 2011

Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Winners



Prize: One winner chooses 2 of the following books
Winner: Comment #67 Mocha Latte


Adult Romance
A Certain Wolfish Charm by Lydia Dare
Veil of Shadows by Shiloh Walker
A Tale of Two Lovers by Maya Rodale (signed)
Blood Rights by Kristen Painter (chapter sampler)


Prize: One winner choose 2 of the following books
Winner: Comment #97 Mona


YA
Perfect by Ellen Hopkins (signed)
Tris and Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison
Pretty Bad Things by C.J. Skuse
The Wood Queen by Karen Mahoney (chapter sampler)

I'll be emailing the winners, so they can choose their prize. If you didn't win this time around, please check above the main post section for all of the contests that I am currently running. Come again to Read My Mind for more bookish talk and reviews!

23 June, 2011

Event Announcement, Questions, and Some Book Porn Walk Into a Bar...

So here's the thing:
My *mumble mumble* birthday (let's call it 28 + 3) is fast approaching on June 30th. Since I didn't celebrate my blogoversary way back in March, I was thinking of doing an EVENT. I would love to give away more of the books that I picked up at BEA, and some of the once-read books that I have on my bookshelf. I'm thinking that I will start the celebration on June 28th and let it run for a week, maybe 10 days.


The thing is:
I tend to give away books that I love, and books that I think other readers will want. Sometimes there's an overlap, other times I just listen to the buzz on Twitter and other blogs. Am I doing a good job? Here's your chance to speak out! These are the books I read in 2011 that I gave 5 stars (Click the link to go to my goodreads 5 star stats page). And you can also see the books I gave 4 stars.


Questions to my readers:
What books have you read this year (doesn't have to have been published in 2011) that you absolutely loved?

What books do you desperately want to read?

What books would you be interested in a contest/giveaway for?



I took some snaps of a few books I was thinking of giving away during this event. Here's the book porn!:

These are 4 of the books that I picked up at BEA, which I have a spare copy.

Fair warning: I want these books to either go to a person that has a high probability of reviewing, or has been a loyal follower. So there's a good chance that I will make a few of the giveaways for current followers of the blog and/or verifiable bloggers/reviewers.




Some of the books on my shelf that I would like to share. All have been read once by me, but are in really good to like-new condition.

I don't want to leave out my international followers, so I will have one or two giveaways where the books will be shipped by the Book Depository, also.









Please leave comments answering the questions I asked above!

It's my birthday, but I want to give back to my readers, and the only way to give what you want is if you tell me. I'll be planning the event this weekend, so please leave suggestions, likes, desires between now and June 26th.

Thanks!

Author Toni LoTiempo: A Lover Of Paranormal Romance




Please welcome Toni LoTiempo to Read My Mind today, as part of the RAVEN'S KISS virtual blog tour, courtesy of Bookish Snob Promotions.



About the author:

Hello! I’m Toni LoTempio, author of Paranormal Romance/Romantic Suspense/YA Fantasy! I’ve been writing ever since I was old enough to read, when I didn’t like the endings of the stories my mother read me I simply rewrote them. Even though I write mainly in the paranormal genre, I have also written straight horror, as well as contemporary romance/suspense.

In 1995, I joined the staff of SUSABELLA PASSENGERS AND FRIENDS, a pulp magazine for collectors of antique children’s literature (Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, etc.) Currently I’ve written over 300 articles for that magazine, and I was the first recipient of their Margaret Sutton Award for Distinguished Writing in 1998. I joined the staff of NIGHT OWL REVIEWS IN January 2011 as the suspense reviewer/columnist. My column, DARK STREETS, which features articles on suspense authors and their novels, is featured on a monthly basis. I love to spotlight new talent, so if you’re a suspense author, please contact me!

Website | Facebook

Toni LoTempio Books:

Bound by Blood – Whiskey Creek Press, trade paperback and e-book, Feb. 2007 (paranormal suspense)
Ebony – Whiskey Creek Press, trade paperback and e-book, July 2007 (paranormal suspense)
Witch’s Pawn – Echelon Press, trade paperback and e-book, December 2008 (horror)
Nom de Plume – Whiskey Creek Press, trade paperback and e-book, November 2008 (contemporary romance)
It’s in the Cards – Whiskey Creek Press, e-book, February 2010 – (paranormal romance)
Out of the Ashes – Whiskey Creek Press, e-book, May 2010 – Fantasy
No Rest for the Wicca – Amazon and Barnes and Noble Pub-It, e-book, September 2010 – paranormal suspense




I thought I’d talk today on how I became hooked on the paranormal genre!

My fascination with things that go “bump in the night” started when I was young – around nine or ten. My father loved horror movies (my mother couldn’t stand them – so we know who I took after LOL) and used to take me along when he went to the movies – the most notable one that stands out in my mind was “Black Sunday” with Barbara Steele. I remember being fascinated by the whole idea of a vampire who was also a witch, putting a curse on her exact double! And, of course, I loved all the scenes where there was burning at the stake! The fact the movie was in black and white only served to creep me out more!

As a youngster, I adored Nancy Drew – but as I matured and went into my teen years, I discovered the joys of Stephen King, John Saul and Dean Koontz! There was also afternoon fare to keep my taste for gothic drama sated – every afternoon at four p.m. I religiously watched DARK SHADOWS! I was so completely hooked on this gothic drama I confess I got a bit obsessive – but in the end it paid off. I wrote a letter to the VP of Daytime Programming at ABC telling him just how much the show meant to me. He forwarded my letter to Jonathan Frid, and shortly thereafter Frid’s secretary called me – I got to go down to the studio, meet him, and watch a taping! Quite a big thrill for a teenager, I can tell you!

So now we move into adulthood – and the plethora of paranormal suspense/romance books that are available! I have devoured practically every series I can get my hands on, and Iconfess many of them have influenced my writing today. I’m especially fond of Caitlin Kittredge’s NOCTURE CITY series, and Jill Myles Succubus Diaries, but I also enjoy Vicki Lewis Thompson, Kimberly Raye, Mary Janice Davidson as well as a new author I recently discovered: Ashlyn Chase.

Why do I gravitate toward the paranormal? Well, I honestly don’t know. There’s something about it that “calls” to me. And I do so love vampires, in any shape or form. Vampires in paranormal romance today are steamy and sexy, and there really are no hard and fast rules. Like Angel, some can walk in daylight (just not direct sunlight) some prefer the nightlife, some are just damn bloodthirsty while others fight on the side of humanity. I have a few vampire heroes in my books - in SOAPSUDS, SEX AND SILVER BULLETS (yet unpublished) Logan Slade is a detective. In NO REST FOR THE WICCA (indie, published through Amazon, details at the end of this blog)  Cole St. John is a special forces agent for the PFSU - Paranormal Forces Special Unit.

The mystique of "the bite" never changes. Considered the ultimate sexual experience, in old lore people thought after 3 bites the victim turned into a vampire. Other mythology had the victim rising as a vamp after the vampire drained them of their blood. Another way to "turn" someone was to bite them, then have them drink their blood.

In summation, there are no hard and fast rules concerning vamps anymore - or any other type of creature for that matter!  and isn't that great for us writers!  We can create whole new worlds of vampiric hotness for you, the reader! (and for us, too!)


Thanks Toni!


Raven's Kiss
Raven Grace was a college senior with ambitions of a career in law enforcement when she met the demon Aega, whose bite turned her from mortal to Shapeshifter. Now a member of the Recovery Organization, Raven keeps the peace between humans and errant Hellhounds, trolls, wizards and the like while trying to track down Aega and bring him to justice. After a particularly dicey encounter one night with a Hellhound, she goes to the aid of a girl who’s been attacked and near death—and is amazed to find Aega’s bite mark on the girl’s arm. Determined to get to the bottom of this, she revisits the victim’s apartment and there discovers her closet is a portal to a parallel universe, where people she knows lead vastly different lives. She also gets a glimpse of the Recovery Captain there—a six foot, redheaded Scotsman named Finn McPhee, whose sexy accent and even sexier bod sets her senses aflame.

Seeking answers, Finn takes Raven to the magickal underworld, where an ancient fae informs them the demon’s quest is rooted in Scottish mythology and magick. As they delve deeper into legend, the truth comes to light—Aega is only a pawn, subservient to another, darker demon…a being who knows the truth about Raven’s heritage, and who orchestrated her return to this parallel universe for the ultimate showdown. Now, Finn and Raven find their passion for one another must take a backseat to Raven’s battle with a dark force who won’t be satisfied until he’s claimed her soul for his very own…


Come back to Read My Mind on June 25th to see my review!


Check out the next stop on the tour:
June 24th - Good Choice Reading

To see all of the blog stops so far, visit:
The Bookish Snob Promotions Raven's Kiss Tour Page

21 June, 2011

Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Blog Hop (#243)


Thanks so much to Kathy at I Am A Reader, Not A Writer for hosting the Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Blog Hop! This will last from June 21st to June 24th at 11:59pm (EDT). Please check out Kathy's blog hop post for the full linky list of the 200+ other blogs that are also giving away bookish items.


As I never took the time to do a post that showcased the books that I got at BEA, this giveaway hop is just in time. Up for grabs will be books in two different groups: YA and Adult Romance. All of these books are ones that I picked up at BEA, which means that some are ARCs, some are finished copies, and I even have a couple of chapter samplers to give away.

Here's a look at what I have:

Adult Romance

A Certain Wolfish Charm by Lydia Dare

Veil of Shadows by Shiloh Walker

A Tale of Two Lovers by Maya Rodale (signed)

Blood Rights by Kristen Painter (chapter sampler)


YA

Perfect by Ellen Hopkins (signed)

Tris and Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison

Pretty Bad Things by C.J. Skuse

The Wood Queen by Karen Mahoney (chapter sampler)


Rules:

There will be two winners: One person gets to choose 2 books from the YA prize pack. The Wood Queen chapter sampler will be included in that prize. One person gets to choose 2 books from the adult romance prize pack. The Blood Rights chapter sampler will be included in that prize.

1. Must be 13+ to enter for YA prize and 18+ to enter for adult romance prize

2. Must be a blog follower (I pretty much never require following for entry, so this is an exception)

3. Leave a comment with the prize pack you would prefer to choose from (can choose to be entered for both)

4. Leave a way to contact you in your comment

5. +2 if you tweet the following message:
Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop at Read My Mind: Enter to win a prize pack of books from BEA! http://wibi.us/jyVvWl @AliseOnLife (leave link to tweet in comment)


Good Luck and Happy Reading!

17 June, 2011

Book Review: Hunters and Prey by Katie Salidas (Blog Tour)

Book: HUNTERS AND PREY
Author: KATIE SALIDAS
Genre: PARANORMAL/URBAN FANTASY
Published: December 2010, RISING SIGN BOOKS


Series: Immortalis #2
Immortalis #1: Carpe Noctem
Source: author via Virtual Book Tours Cafe, no other compensation given to me for an honest review.

From Good Reads:
Rule number one: humans and vampires don't co-exist. One is the hunter and one is the prey. Simple, right? Not for newly-turned vampire Alyssa. A surprise confrontation with Santino Vitale, the Acta Sanctorum's most fearsome hunter, sends her fleeing back to the world she once knew, and Fallon, the human friend she's missed more than anything. Now she has some explaining to do. However, that will have to wait. With the Acta Sanctorum hot on their heels, staying alive is more important than educating a human on the finer points of bloodlust.



My Review:
Alyssa and Lysander are back in the newest addition to the urban fantasy series, IMMORTALIS by Katie Salidas. Though the two vampires (and their adopted coven, the Peregrinus clan) encounter their share of danger and bad guys, HUNTERS AND PREY is not a high-octane, fast-paced novel. The story does unfold well, and never moves too slowly. However, each chapter is not filled with some new horror the hero/heroine must face. Rather, this is a book that follows a group of vampires that live lives almost the same as humans. They just happen to spend most of their time awake during the nighttime hours, and they hunt the depraved in order to gain sustenance.

In the first book, CARPE NOCTEM, these vampires found themselves being hunted by a ruthless adversary, Santino. This time around, Santino needs their help to face down a far greater threat to both humanity and vampirekind. (How very X-Men). Usually I am very on-the-fence about the villain who is KO'ed miraculously surviving a critical blow, but Salidas leads up to Santino's return very skillfully, and it is clear throughout the novel that, though the two sides might combine forces for a short period of time, the animosity toward each other is far from resolved.

The idea of the villain returning to propose a truce to his former prey is a part of the story that I liked. (How very Terminator 2). Readers who can get lost during the course of a series because of the inclusion of more and more characters that the hero/heroine encounter, will appreciate the return of Santino, a very familiar character, with very familiar motivations.

In the end, HUNTERS AND PREY is a welcome addition to the IMMORTALIS series for me. While I very much liked reading CARPE NOCTEM, I was more enganged when reading HUNTERS AND PREY. It's a book that held my attention with good characters, a good plot, and nice world-building. Best of all, it's made me want to dig into the next book in the series, as soon as possible.

4/5 for plot
4/5 for characters
4/5 for language

My Rating: 12/15 (3 stars)

Recommend, if you liked:

Nightshade by Michelle Rowen
Nightwalker by Jocelynn Drake
Blood Song by Cat Adams


Find the author at:
Website | Twitter | GoodReads | Facebook

Purchase book at:
Barnes and Noble | Smashwords | Amazon UK | Amazon

Available formats: E-Book

Challenge Participation:


Tour Participation:

16 June, 2011

The Bookish Snob Promotions Blog Tour: A Warrior's Witch by Stacey Kennedy


I've got a great book excerpt to share today, as part of The Bookish Snob Promotions tour for A WARRIOR'S WITCH by Stacey Kennedy. I've read several books by this author before, and was never disappointed, so I hope this excerpt gets you as excited about reading the novel, as it does for me!



Big thanks to Alise On Life for letting me share my new release, A Warrior’s Witch ~ An Otherworld Romance. Let’s celebrate with a giveaway!! Please leave a comment with your email address below to enter. Good luck!!


Purchase: A Warrior's Witch


Excerpt:
Duty. Honor. Morals.
All these things abandoned Talon’s mind as he stood over the dead body on the ground. The woman’s light brown hair draped over her face, but not enough to conceal her identity. She was no stranger to him. Her face held a bluish tinge, the rosy color he remembered she once had on her cheeks now gone. Whitlyn, his son’s mother.
Talon bent down and brushed the hair away from the Guardian’s face and his heart clenched. An arrangement between him and Whitlyn had been forged years ago, and he never expected when he saw her again it would be to find her dead. At the time she lived in the Otherworld, she’d proven herself to be one of the greatest female warriors. But the battles wore on Whitlyn. She wanted a life without death and violence. Knowing the stakes it cost the Otherworld to have her gone, she offered a solution, presented herself to bear Talon’s child.
Now, the woman who gave him such a gift had lost her life.
“Oh, Talon.”  Zia’s voice came compassionate above him. She rested her hand on his shoulder in a loving embrace. “I’m sorry.”
Talon couldn’t find the strength to look at his witch. Yes, she belonged to him now and hadn’t condemned his heart with guilt when he made the agreement with Whitlyn, yet he drowned in sorrow over the reality. He hadn’t once regretted his choice. Not only had Kyden proved to be an impeccable Guardian, but a wonderful son. However, seeing Whitlyn in this condition tore at his heart.
“It’s not me to be sorry for.” He’d always suspected Whitlyn’s actions came from the duty she felt she owed to the Otherworld, but he also believed the solution a viable one. It gave back to their forces, while it allowed Whitlyn to live in peace in the Earthworld among the humans and leave her position as part of the Council’s guard. Talon never understood her desires. His duty as Master of Guardians, part of the Council, was now and would always be to the Otherworld. To protect the Earthworld from supernatural beings who wished to cause them harm. His thoughts weren’t of humans at the moment, didn’t stray on his responsibilities as a leader to the Otherworld. His only concern remained on Whitlyn.
Sighing, he glanced at Zade, the Master of Vampires, who stood off to the side of the modest home located in the Near South Side of Chicago. “What happened to her?”
Zade shook his head, sending his coal hair to drape across his forehead, his dark eyes perplexed. “Right now, I know about as much as you do. I sent Finn to this assignment after the Chicago PD contacted us.” Supes were well established in the Earthworld law enforcement for just this reason. It gave them an in on supernatural murders. “When Finn discovered it wasn’t a mortal who died, but a Guardian, he came back to inform us. He found me instead. Thinking I could handle the matter myself, I came here and recognized her immediately.” He glanced down to Whitlyn. Sadness resided on his expression. “You must understand my reasons for coming to find you.” His gaze came back up to meet Talon’s. “Do you want me to go and get Kyden?”
Talon pondered. Zia and Talon had been resting when Zade had come to their residence. Being odd that Zade asked them to assist on an assignment instead of letting one of the guard deal with the matter as they usually did, Talon knew something had gone terribly wrong. It wasn’t often the Masters needed to intervene. Their guard held strong, protected the Earthworld on most cases without their assistance in person.
It was true his son Kyden was part of their guard—both him and his mate, Nexi, were elite warriors within the Otherworld, but Talon hesitated involving him in this. The secret of his birth hadn’t been kept a secret from Kyden, but he never discussed it with anyone. Talon doubted even Nexi knew of his mother. He always equated it to the fact that she didn’t exist in Kyden’s eyes—to disown one’s duty to the Otherworld was the gravest of all betrayals. Talon never harbored ill feelings toward Whitlyn for her choices. The battles could be trying at times, and she sought refuge from all the death—he’d never judge her for those wishes.
Talon’s pause was more centered on the uncertainty about how Kyden would respond to the sight of his dead mother. So many unresolved emotions surrounded Whitlyn. Too many in Talon’s own soul to even make sense of now. Determined he only had one choice, he shook his head. “No, leave him out of it.”
“Talon,” Zia exclaimed.
Her curt tone forced his gaze to hers and he encountered an unhappy expression on his witch’s face. Even with her grimace, though, she still exuded beauty. Long strawberry blonde hair flowed around her flawless skin and her stunning blue eyes that he’d never grow tired of admiring. Yet, he had a point to make and he would make it clear. “All Kyden knows of his mother is that she wanted a life away from danger and those are the reasons she gave birth to him and left, never to return. Kyden and Nexi were bonded mere weeks ago. I won’t ruin their joy with this news. Besides, they’re away on their travels enjoying some peace they both deserve.”
Exactly why Whitlyn wanted out. Danger never stopped, and his son had had his share of it lately. Nexi, being a mixed being of Guardian, Witch, and Fae—her magic had blossomed, making her stronger than any supernatural being known in the Otherworld. With those gifts came a world of trying times. His son choosing her as his love brought evil to take center stage in their lives. Luckily, his son lived through the dangerous events, as did Nexi. Peace wasn’t given to them; they earned it, and Talon didn’t want to bring strain to their lives. He didn’t have the heart to darken his son’s happy moment. “We’ll handle the assignment, find out what happened to Whitlyn, and I’ll tell him when they return.” After Talon sorted out how he felt on the matter and had all the answers to explain it all to his son.
“You will tell him though, yes?” Zia probed.
“I will, but I don’t want him to see her like this.” Talon’s heart ached, for Whitlyn and Kyden. He sympathized with why Whitlyn had left the Otherworld. He’d seen it before in Guardians and supernaturals who chose to work for the Council. The hard times wore on them. Yet, he’d never felt as she did. He belonged in his role.
Even though he had no relationship with Whitlyn and there had never been love between them when they spent a month together producing Kyden, he respected her. The time they’d shared was a wonderful memory. He hated to see her life stolen from her. It left an empty gap in his heart and he wondered how in the world he would tell Kyden his mother had died.
“The vamp who met Finn here had no knowledge of what had taken place,” Zade said, “and if he would have told us sooner that it was Whitlyn who lost her life, I would have acted faster.”
Time was always a key factor. The longer it took them to locate the killer, the more distance he or she could put between them. But Talon didn’t worry about that so much. His only focus right now centered on what took place here. “Zia, do your magic and show us what happened here.”
“Of course.” Zia raised her hands, and the wind picked up in the room as her magic called to replay the moment Whitlyn’s life ended. Her talents, gifted from being a Spirit Witch and Master of Witches, gave her enough power in that beautiful body of hers to astound Talon more than once.
Within only moments of the first call on her magic, the scene shimmered into view. Talon placed his hands firmly on the floor to steady himself. Whitlyn stood before him, pale; her eyes shone with terror as her body trembled in fear. However, nothing stood there to give reason for her fright; no one around her caused her panic. Talon scanned the simple living room a few times over, yet still nothing. No murderer.
A gasp brought Talon’s focus back to Whitlyn. She now rested on her knees close to him. Her breath strained as her chest rose and fell in heavy movements. Confusion stole his thoughts. “Am I missing something?” His attention remained on the dying Whitlyn.
“No. Why is she dying?” Zia gasped.
Whitlyn fell down on her side, her breathing rapid and forced. As much as Talon wished he could intervene, he held no power to do so. The vision was a moment from the past. Whitlyn had already died.
Within a few short minutes, the vision settled on the same one Talon came upon when he entered the small, humble home. Whitlyn lying dead. He tried to make sense out of what he saw, but couldn’t. Nothing appeared to have killed her. She hadn’t appeared to be stabbed nor had any visible wounds, although he suspected someone had caused her death. Not an empty room. Feeling beside himself, he glanced at Zia. “Did you make sense of any of that?”
“Not at all.” Zia shook her head, her eyes wide, baffled. “Do you think she did this to herself?”
The thought, too horrible to even imagine, was one Talon didn’t think possible. Whitlyn had always been a strong warrior. Her actions proved she wasn’t selfish. When she left the Otherworld, she could have just walked out, but she provided her body, her impeccable genes from a long line of warriors, to give back to her world. Whitlyn had never been a woman who acted with such selfishness. “I cannot fathom it. She doesn’t seem the type.”
“But you haven’t seen her in well over twenty-nine years,” Zade countered.
How time flew. It felt like only yesterday when Whitlyn gave birth to Kyden, kissed him goodbye, and left. In just a year, he’d reach his immortality and no longer age. It might have made Talon sentimental if the current situation didn’t take precedence. “That’s true. It has been many years since I’ve seen her last. It’s quite possible she could have become another woman.” Talon hummed. “Still, to take her own life? Why would Whitlyn choose such a fate for herself?” He placed his hand on Whitlyn’s forehead and her cold skin chilled his palm. His heart bled for her. “If you have done this to yourself, I’m sorry you didn’t trust in us to come home and get you the help you needed. If someone has hurt you, it’s my promise to you that I’ll find out who and deliver their punishment on your behalf.”
Silence filled the room and Talon appreciated it. His mind ran rapid with thoughts of whats and whys. Finally, after a long moment, Zade cleared his throat, bringing Talon’s attention to him. “I note a strange scent around her, but I cannot place it.”
As Guardian, Talon didn’t have the enhanced scent capabilities Zade possessed as a vampire; only impeccable warrior skills had been granted to him. He couldn’t smell anything unusual here. Inhaling deeply for good measure, he sighed, unable to catch a trace of it. “I’d suspect whatever you are scenting is what caused her death.”
“A very strange occurrence,” Zia offered.
Talon agreed. Clearly whatever Whitlyn had either taken—or been given—claimed her life. However, the question remained, what was it? Never in all his years had he ever seen a death in this manner. The fact this was so personal made urgency flare to life, but brought something else with it too.
After a little squeeze of his hand on Whitlyn’s frigid flesh, he closed his eyes and felt an entire world of guilt rest upon his shoulders. He’d find out what happened because he owed Whitlyn that and so much more. She’d given his life meaning in giving him a son. Gave him something he never thought he’d have as a Master. An oath he’d taken long ago to always put the Otherworld first. A personal life wasn’t in the hopes and dreams of a Master. Their role, their nightly-life centered on keeping the Earthworld protected.
Zia was his heart, no doubt about it. What they were now, merely lovers, is what they’d always be. Being bound as his son was to Nexi would never been in his future with Zia. He’d long ago accepted that fate. And now, to the mother of his son, he made a silent promise of justice for all she’d given him.
Talon whispered his final goodbyes to Whitlyn, stood, and looked at Zia. “Let’s take her to someone who might be able to identify this unknown killer.”  He reached down and gathered the lifeless Whitlyn in his arms. Talon might have only given her a passing thought over the years, but he mourned her death now.


Thanks Stacey!

Did that pique your interest? Want more?

From Good Reads
Murder has brought Talon, Master of Guardians, as well as Zia, his witch and Master of Witches, to Chicago. The manner of death appears to be a suicide, but Talon is far from ready to close the case. To avenge the Guardian linked to his past, he agrees to take on the assignment, and find her killer.

As they dive deeper into the investigation, they find themselves entering a world where BDSM is the norm. A lifestyle that Zia is uncomfortable with and, rattled by this new development, she is more than ready to return to the Otherworld. But their investigation quickly takes an unexpected twist when they discover that they’re not only hunting a killer but also someone who is controlling supernaturals in Chicago.

Their mission not only brings danger, but also forces Talon to deal with decades old guilt that corrodes his soul. Every event that unfolds only deepens his fight and pushes him to face an ultimate choice—what is more important—his duty to the Otherworld or the witch he holds closest to his heart?




Don't forget to check out the next stop on the A WARRIOR'S WITCH tour at:
Paranormal Opinion on June 18th.

See a complete list of the tour stops at: A Bookish Snob Promotions Tour Page.
Be sure to follow along for more great tour content.

As Stacey indicated, she is offering one lucky Read My Mind commenter the chance to win an e-copy of one of her backlist books.
See her Good Reads page here for the list.

Just leave a relevant comment about the excerpt, or book if you've read it (no spoilers, please!) on this post to enter.

Must be 18+
Please include a way to contact you, if you should be chosen the winner
Ends July 5th, 6pm EDT

Good luck to all, and happy reading!

June is Audiobook Month! Giveaway

This plus


this equals bookish fun!



June is audiobook month! I've been "reading" books via this format for about a year now, and I know that some readers still find it challenging to listen to books. So, here's your chance for a risk-free opportunity to try out an audiobook, whether it is your first time reading in this manner, you've tried an audiobook before but didn't quite find the right fit, or you're an audiobook aficionado.


I'm having a giveaway of the audiobook version of UNCOMMON CRIMINALS (HEIST SOCIETY #2) by Ally Carter.
Here's the synopsis from GoodReads:

Katarina Bishop has worn a lot of labels in her short life: Friend. Niece. Daughter. Thief. But for the last two months she’s simply been known as the girl who ran the crew that robbed the greatest museum in the world. That’s why Kat isn’t surprised when she’s asked to steal the infamous Cleopatra Emerald so it can be returned to its rightful owners.

There are only three problems. First, the gem hasn’t been seen in public in thirty years. Second, since the fall of the Egyptian empire and the suicide of Cleopatra, no one who holds the emerald keeps it for long — and in Kat’s world, history almost always repeats itself. But it’s the third problem that makes Kat’s crew the most nervous, and that is . . . the emerald is cursed.

Kat might be in way over her head, but she’s not going down without a fight. After all, she has her best friend — the gorgeous Hale — and the rest of her crew with her as they chase the Cleopatra around the globe, dodging curses and realizing that the same tricks and cons her family has used for centuries are useless this time.

Which means, this time, Katarina Bishop is making up her own rules.



Rules:
1. Must be 13+
2. Answer this question in comments: Have you ever tried an audiobook? If so,
what did you like about the book? (Ex. narrator, story, accents...) If not,
what has turned you off so far?

3. Your comment is your entry
4. +1 for being blog follower or twitter follower
5. One entry per person
6. Leave a way to contact you
7. Contest ends June 30th, 6pm edt

15 June, 2011

Excerpt of Immortalis: Carpe Noctem by Katie Salidas + Giveaway! (EDIT)




As part of the IMMORTALIS series tour sponsored by Virtual Book Tour Cafe, I am excited to bring my readers an excerpt of the book, as well as a giveaway!

EDIT: Thanks to the author, Katie Salidas, I am able to offer BOTH books in the IMMORTALIS series so far, CARPE NOCTEM and HUNTERS AND PREY! Anyone who has left a comment thus far is entered, and any new commentors with have their entry count toward winning both novels in e-book format. See my reviews of IMMORTALIS: CARPE NOCTEM here and HUNTERS AND PREY here.



Immortalis Carpe Noctem
By Katie Salidas


Darkness surrounded me. A voice spoke softly in my head. Do not die, young one. Be strong. Do not die.
I became painfully aware of liquid pouring down on me, each drop like an icy hammer hitting my sore skin. Movement echoed in my ears, telling me that I wasn’t alone. Slowly, I opened my eyes. Harsh light blinded me. My mind was fuzzy. I struggled to recall any small detail that might clue me in to what had happened and where I was.
I reached up to wipe the splattering water from my face. I chanced opening my eyes again. As I looked up, I spotted the source of the water, a showerhead on the opposite wall. Confused by this odd location, I struggled to penetrate the blackness of my memory and figure out how I had ended up in a bathtub.
Where the hell am I?
I tried to focus on the bright, unfamiliar surroundings.
My vision, it seemed, had become remarkably sharp while I was unconscious. I couldn’t remember ever noting so many details in such simple surroundings as these before.
Cream-colored tiles covered the walls, each rippled with tiny imperfections. Each held an individual pattern, making them unique and special. Yellowing, porous grout, framing the tiles, appeared to be littered with dots from small air bubbles that had come to the surface, creating different patterns and shapes.
Even the plain white curtain that separated me from the rest of the room seemed unusually detailed and perfectly woven. I saw each tiny strand that had been tightly bound together to form this heavy, durable cloth.
Small specks of mold building up in the corners of the porcelain basin weren’t able to escape my new sight either.
The amazing level of detail I experienced didn’t hold my attention for long. Freezing water still poured down on me. I needed to reach the handle and end the cold assault, but it seemed so far out of my reach. I eased myself up to a sitting position, my muscles aching with each small movement. Looking down, I saw my beaten body. The water had washed away some of the grime, but what was left of my shredded clothes was stained and clinging to my skin.
“Uggh!” I moaned.
“Oh, good, you’re alive,” said a male voice from behind the white curtain.
The voice seemed strange and yet somehow familiar. I searched my fuzzy memories to place the voice with a face. A wave of fear came over me as I remembered the attack.
Had I been kidnapped? Was I a hostage of some kind? I struggled to recall the events of the evening.
“You’ve been out for a few hours. I was worried I might have lost you,” continued the voice.
“What?” I called, still not sure who I was talking to.
“It doesn’t always work. Some people can’t be turned,” the voice said matter-of-factly.
“Turned?” What the hell is that supposed to mean?
I again tried to run through my memories of what had happened. I remembered blood, and the feeling of my body burning from the inside.
“I’ll explain it when you’re done in there. I’ve left some clothes on the toilet. I hope they fit.” The voice trailed out of the bathroom.
I tried to stand. My muscles ached. Gripping the edge of the tub, I moaned as I pushed myself up. My legs didn’t want to cooperate; they shook as they tried to support my weight. It was as if I was learning to stand for the first time.
I felt weak and a little dizzy. I leaned against the wall, using it as a crutch to help me to balance while I removed what remained of my shredded and bloodstained clothes. I shuddered, seeing more of the wounds that covered my body.
I remembered the two men. Flashes of memory showed me images of the struggle: the man on my stomach laughing, the knife waving in front of my face, teeth biting me, a stranger drinking my blood.
Each bruise I saw invoked a terrible memory. I turned the shower handle to hot and let the water run down my back. The warmth soothed my sore skin. I rested my head against the wall and tried to rationalize what had happened. I blamed myself for walking alone. I knew better. I should have asked someone to walk with me or drive me. I cursed myself for relying on a stupid keychain of pepper spray as my protection.
Some of the events that flashed in my memory were so bizarre I could hardly believe they had happened. I saw myself lying on the ground, drinking blood from a strange man’s arm.
What was his name? Was I really drinking blood? Why was I even alive? Did that man save me?
The thought of blood caused an ache in the pit of my stomach.
I pinched myself a few times.
Maybe this was all just a really bad dream and I just needed to wake up.
None of it made sense
Maybe someone had slipped something into my coffee at the cafĂ©. I hadn’t really been drinking blood, had I?
My mind wouldn’t stop focusing on the blood I had drunk. A sweet, sticky taste crept up from the back of my throat. I gulped at the water pouring down from the showerhead, trying to smother the flavor. My stomach retched as I swallowed, causing me to sputter and spit the water to the ground. I tried to ignore the nagging ache in the pit of my stomach. I needed answers first. I needed to know why I was here and where here was. I needed to know what the hell had happened to me.
I finished rinsing, turned off the water, and slid open the shower curtain. The light seemed brighter in the rest of this room. I squinted, letting my eyes adjust a little. The rest of the bathroom was small and narrow. Nothing more than a simple toilet, shower, mirror, and vanity sink. The only real color in the room came from the red towels hanging on the towel bar and the bath mat on the floor.
I grabbed one towel and wrapped it around myself and then noticed the clothes left on the toilet seat. They appeared to be new and for a brief moment, I wondered where he had gotten them.
“I guess this will have to do,” I mumbled as I pulled on a simple green spaghetti strap tank top. I slid my legs into a pair of blue jeans and pulled them up. Fastening the button, I felt a small pinch in my back. I reached around, touched a hard scab, and winced, remembering the pain of the knife that had been stabbed into my back.
How was I even alive? I certainly shouldn’t have been after the ordeal I’d been through.
I checked myself out in the mirror. Most of my wounds were already healing. Bruises that weren’t covered by clothing had started turning yellow. The cuts on my back and face had scabbed over too. I noticed something on my neck. Brushing away the wet strands of my red hair, I saw a half ring of small bruises and two very deep looking holes.
Lysander, I thought, suddenly remembering the stranger’s name.
My memory flashed again. I remembered the pinch as his teeth sunk into my neck. I shuddered again as a chill danced down my spine.
What…who was this Lysander? He couldn’t be a…No. That’s silly; they aren’t real.
I gave the rest of my body a quick onceover in the mirror and suddenly I stopped in shock.
“My eyes,” I gasped. “Oh, my God!”
I couldn’t believe it.
How is this possible? Those are not my eyes.


From Good Reads:
Rule number one: humans and vampires don't co-exist. One is the hunter and one is the prey. Simple, right? Not for newly-turned vampire Alyssa. A surprise confrontation with Santino Vitale, the Acta Sanctorum's most fearsome hunter, sends her fleeing back to the world she once knew, and Fallon, the human friend she's missed more than anything. Now she has some explaining to do. However, that will have to wait. With the Acta Sanctorum hot on their heels, staying alive is more important than educating a human on the finer points of bloodlust.





Interested in more? Here's the giveaway:

Rules:

1. One winner will receive an e-copy of IMMORTALIS: CARPE NOCTEM and HUNTERS AND PREY
2. Must be over 18
3. Comment with your favorite vampire character, male or female, from a book, television, graphic novel, etc... (this is your entry)
4. Leave an email or way to contact you
5. Contest ends June 26th, 6pm edt

Good luck!

Book Review: Carpe Noctem by Katie Salidas (Blog Tour)

Book: CARPE NOCTEM
Author: KATIE SALIDAS
Genre: PARANORMAL/URBAN FANTASY
Published: March 2010, RISING SIGN BOOKS


Series: Immortalis #1
Immortalis #2: Hunters and Prey
Source: Author via Virtual Book Tours Cafe, no other compensation given to me for an honest review.

From Good Reads:
Bleeding to death after brutal mugging on the campus of UNLV, Twenty-five year old Alyssa, is rescued by the cold and aloof, vampire, Lysander. Taking pity on her, he shares the gift-and curse-of immortality. She awakens as a vampire and is soon devastated by harsh realities of her new way of life: An unyielding thirst for blood as well as the loss of her friends, her independence, and her humanity.

As if having her humanity stripped away was not enough to make life interesting, Alyssa finds out her "turning", did not go unnoticed by the rest of undead society. Old enemies; an ancient sect of vampire hunters, known as the Acta Sanctorum, as well as a powerful Vampire mistress, each set plans in motion to destroy both Alyssa and Lysander.

Only by accepting her new-found immortality, seizing the night, will Alyssa hope to survive. She and Lysander must fight together against two sets of enemies bent on destroying them both.


My Review:
I was pretty excited when I had the chance to participate in this blog tour. Katie Salidas is an author that is fairly new to me, but I have whole-heartedly jumped onto her bandwagon. Just when I thought that I might be over "creatures of the night", I discovered Salidas' vampire books, and fell back in love with the characters that she brings to life on the page. Especially in her books, I find vampires that are unapologetic about their circumstances, and killers when they need to be. Salidas brings back the "classic" vampire that truly is quite a bad-ass.

I really enjoyed the relationship that developed between Alyssa and Lysander. Despite the danger that they find themselves in later in the book, there is a good portion that is dedicated to that evolution. Lysander comes off as equal parts tutor, taskmaster, protector and lover, and while Alyssa is new to being a vampire, after surviving a horrific attack, she also has a core of steel in her that matches that uncertainty and vulnerability.

There is something so seductive about a Katie Salidas novel. IMMORTALIS: CARPE NOCTEM is not the first book that I have read by her, and it will definitely not be the last. Her words are like a siren song that draw the reader deeper and deeper into the story that she has created, with characters that are believable and relatable, even though they happen to be blood-sucking vampires.

4/5 for plot
4/5 for characters
3.5/5 for language

My Rating: 11.5/15 (3 stars)

Recommend, if you liked:

Nightshade by Michelle Rowen
Nightwalker by Jocelynn Drake
Blood Song by Cat Adams


Find the author at:
Website | Twitter | GoodReads | Facebook

Purchase book at:
Barnes and Noble | Smashwords | Amazon UK | Amazon

Available formats: E-Book

Challenge Participation:


Tour Participation:

10 June, 2011

BEA: A Pictorial Cause I'm Too Lazy To Do A Big Write-Up And I'm Sure Everyone Is Sick Of Hearing About That Book Event By Now Anyway



So yes. I was there. And it was awesome. I've already read so many posts about BEA, that I wondered whether I should even bother doing one myself. But, then I realized that the reason I did read all of those posts about BEA is that I love seeing each person (blogger, author, or industry professional) and their perspective on this massive gathering of all things publishing.

Here's what I'm doing different. This will mainly be a showcase of the pictures that I took, and the people that I met. I'm not going to do much explanation, except to set up the photos. Some of this is because I am just being lazy about the write-up, some of it is because I don't remember all of the details, and some is just because there has been so much written that I would just like to share my birds-eye view.

Monday
Simon and Schuster Blogger Preview 2011


Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures during the program. Author Elizabeth Miles did a presentation about her upcoming release, Fury. (It's good, you should put it on your wishlist) We got a preview of some of the fall/winter releases that are being promoted at the publishing house, and later Ellen Hopkins spoke about her upcoming release, Perfect and read several excerpts. It was really nice to be in a room full of people that all love books, and I liked the open and friendly attitude that the whole Simon and Schuster team projected.


After, the publishing house treated the whole blogger group to a trip to the "Top of the Rock", the observation deck of Rockefeller Center. Though it was too overcast to have any kind of visibility, it was still pretty cool to be up there. I took a picture of me with my ticket (I save tickets and stubs from all of my vacations!) and using the black and white filter on the Droid, I snapped a picture of our lovely Simon and Schuster hostesses.




Me


















Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
BEA Show Floor and Author Signings

On the BEA Show Floor, I took some snaps, mostly of the author signings that I attended, but there is also the BEA entrance and the revealed cover of the hotly anticipated Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare.










Wednesday Night
BEA Blogger Dinner

I also attended the BEA Blogger Dinner arranged and co-hosted by friend and fellow blogger Damaris of Good Choice Reading and Yara of Once Upon A Twilight. At Dallas BBQ, I had a chance to meet and talk to some of the bloggers that were attending BEA. It was a lovely evening thanks to the planning of the two hostesses, and I loved that A.M. Robinson, author of Vampire Crush, Emma Michaels, author of The Thirteenth Chime and Kristi Cook, author of Haven, joined the party, too!



A.M. Robinson
Kristi Cook
Emma Michaels




Stay tuned over the weekend for more pictures from the Book Blogger Convention and my Books of BEA!

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