Waiting on Wednesday (43)

Oath Bound
(Unbound #3)

Rachel Vincent

Release: April 30, 2013

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The Tower Syndicate will fall...

The secret daughter of the head of an infamous Skilled crime family, Sera Brandt has hidden her past, her potential and especially her powers. But when a tragedy strikes her other family, Sera needs justice. And the only way to get it is to reveal her heritage–including a rare Skill–and take the reins of the Tower Syndicate from her cunning and malicious aunt.

If he can figure out how...

Kristopher Daniels might have the answer. He's fought the syndicate to protect his sisters, but he'd never realized just how close to the new heir he needed to get....

And if they can survive

Neither is used to trusting. But there's something between them that can't be ignored. And so Sera is on the run with a man she can't figure out, a target on her back and the new knowledge of just how powerful she really is....

I have really loved the first two in this series and I'm so excited to read this one! In each book the characters are damaged yet strong and smart and so so so well written. While I love everything Vincent writes, I think this series shows off her best writing. I think this is the last in the trilogy, but I'm hoping its a longer series. Does anyone know?

What is your WOW pick this week?

Early Review: Twice Tempted by Jeaniene Frost

Twice Tempted
(Night Prince #2)
Jeaniene Frost
Release: March 26, 2013
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Dating the Prince of Darkness has its challenges...

Leila's psychic abilities have been failing her, and now she isn't sure what the future holds. If that weren't enough, her lover, Vlad, has been acting distant. Though Leila is a mere mortal, she's also a modern woman who refuses to accept the cold shoulder treatment forever–especially from the darkly handsome vampire who still won't admit that he loves her.

Like choosing between eternal love and a loveless eternity...

Soon circumstances send Leila back to the carnival circuit, where tragedy strikes. And when she finds herself in the crosshairs of a killer who may be closer than she realizes, Leila must decide who to trust– the fiery vampire who arouses her passions like no other or the tortured knight who longs to be more than a friend? With danger stalking her every step of the way, all it takes is one wrong move to damn her for eternity.

Review:

Twice Tempted is the second book in the Night Prince series, better known as 'Vlad's books'. These spinoffs of Frost's Night Huntress series have been highly anticipated due to readers love of Vlad, myself included. In the first Vlad book, Once Burned, I found myself loving the book for what it was, a great mix and urban fantasy and paranormal romance, but slightly disappointed in the lack of usual Vlad snark. I was also caught off guard that the book was told from the first person POV of new character, and eventual love interest of Vlad, Leila. I'm not sure who I thought would be narrating these books, but I wasn't ready to get inside the head of a new lady when what I really wanted was Vlad. Don't get me wrong, I still loved the book and rated it 4.5 stars, I had just been looking for something a little different. A case of a reader starting a book with different expectations I guess.

Fast forward to me starting Twice Tempted. I know Leila as a character now, and have found her likable, strong, and a good match for my man, Vlad. She doesn't just swoon and take his shit. She demands more from him and she's a heroine I can respect. I know now what to expect now from Vlad in these books. He's not trading snarky insults with Bones or building a friendship with Cat. We are seeing him in his element as a Prince and leader of his people, and he rules with an iron fist. Not a lot of time for snark (although Frost does manage to slip it in there occasionally). I knew what to expect from this book and that made me so much more involved in it. I read it straight through for six hours without stopping and devoured every bit of it.

Vlad is powerful, confident, and unyielding. But, its his strength, and his own awareness of that strength, that makes him so sexy. All of these traits carry over into his relationship with Leila and cause some rifts between them. Needless to say, when this book begins they are having some problems. These problems lead to Leila leaving Romania and attempting to re-join carnival life with Marty, her vampire best friend. The plot focuses on two things: the search for the dangerous someone who is out to kidnap or kill Leila and Vlad and Leila trying to reach a common ground in their relationship. Of course these two plots intertwine as Leila continually puts herself in dangerous situations to find the 'bad guy', Vlad tries to force her not to be reckless, and the two argue about whether or not Vlad is in love with Leila.

This book actually felt a little like some of the old school Cat and Bones books, before their relationship was secure and they became a steadfast team. Vlad and Leila go through some similar situations and I love that Frost didn't give them an HEA at the end of book one and is really making them both work for it.

A LOT happens in this book, involving both the plot and the relationship. By the end, readers will feel rewarded and excited to see where the last in the trilogy will take Vlad and Leila. I am impressed with how well Frost has written the complicated relationship between these two: a damaged heroine just beginning to understand her own strength and an all-powerful Master vampire famous for instilling fear and respect who is learning that he can love and be loved in return. Their relationship is very difficult and I enjoyed reading how Frost pushes each of them to their limits with each other.

Twice Tempted is an exciting and sexy read that I greedily devoured. It left me saying "More Vlad!" and I can't wait for the next one!

Recommended for fans of: Vlad (duh), urban fantasy romance, vampire romance, complicated relationships, and hot sex that rivals Chapter 32 (oh yay, I'm serious).

This review is based on an advanced copy of the book provided by the publisher.

    

  5 / 5 stars

My reviews of other books in this series:
Once Burned (Night Prince #1)

Read This F@!%ing Book! (10)

Welcome to a feature I'm going to post on Mondays called:

Read This F@!%ing Book!

This is a feature for me to push my favorite reads that just aren't getting enough attention! 

I'm also opening it up to anyone who would like to guest post. Do you have a book that you just LURVED but feel like its not getting the play it deserves? Email me to let me know and I'd be THRILLED to have you post about it here! Especially if its something I haven't reviewed yet - that's even better (but not necessary)! If you're interested email me:

Goldilox3weres@hotmail.com

Read This F@!%ing Book Post 10: 

Shaede Assassin series by Amanda Bonilla

(Click cover for Goodreads)

  

(Click title for Amazon)

Shaedes of Gray (Shaede Assassin #1)

Blood Before Sunrise (Shaede Assassin #2)

Crave the Darkness (Shaede Assassin #3)

Why I Love It:

The Shaedes of Gray series is a fabulous urban fantasy series that lovers of the genre will adore and appreciate. Author Amanda Bonilla created two new paranormal species in the Shaedes and the Lyhtans, and although some of the abilities are familiar the species themselves are new.

Darian, our heroine and a Shaede, is anti-social and anti-relationship and she prides herself on being one hell of an assassin. She's put to the test when she finds out all at once that not only is her sort-of boss hardcore in love with her and has some abilities of his own, but she is not in fact the only Shaede in the world. Darian grows throughout the first three books and although the story plots are always exciting and fresh, its the emotional aspects of this series that keep me addicted. These books make me want to cry, scream, throw things, and take a cold shower!

Why I'm Pushing It:

As seems to be the case lately with adult UF series that I love, this series just isn't getting the attention it deserves. Although myself and most of my blogging friends adore Darian and the lot, it seems to be hard to get it in the hands of other readers. I think readers of urban fantasy will really gravitate to this series because it has all the best UF elements with a lot of added emotional turmoil and romance. 

The Men!
This series gives readers three very different but equally sexy men. The first is Raif, who is not a possible love interest for Darian but rather an almost-guardian, protector, and good friend. Even though we don't see him in romantic situations, he is no less sexy. He is strong and loyal and lives by a serious code of honor.

The second is Tyler, Darian's muscular and sexy sort-of boss. Tyler and Darian's up and down relationship is the most tumultuous of all and provides for a lot of frustration and tears throughout the series.

 Finally, there is cocky and desirable Xander, the Shaede King. His continued romantic advances on Darian cause occasional strife between them throughout the series.

So, how did I do? Are you ready to jump into Darian's world with both feet?

Have you read this book?
Did I persuade you to add it to your TBR mountain?
Let me know in the comments below!

Review: My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent

Check out the end of my review for links to the Soul Screamers Read-A-Long discussions so far!

My Soul to Save
(Soul Screamers #2)
Rachel Vincent
Release: December 29, 2009
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When Kaylee Cavanaugh screams, someone dies.

So when teen pop star Eden croaks onstage and Kaylee doesn’t wail, she knows something is dead wrong. She can’t cry for someone who has no soul.

The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad’s ironclad curfew and putting her too-hot-to-be-real boyfriend’s loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls: a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld—a consequence they can’t possibly understand.

Kaylee can’t let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk...

Review:

My Soul to Save is the second installment in Rachel Vincent's Soul Screamers series. I started reading this series after loving her two adult UF series, both known for their emotional rollercoasters. While her YA series isn't quite as turmoil-filled (YET...I've heard enough to know the turmoil is yet to come), but the plots are fun and fast-paced with enough grit and emotion to pull me in and I'm already obsessed with some of the characters (Read: Tod).

This one picks up just a few weeks after the end of book one, and the book itself only spans a handful of days as Kaylee, Nash, and Tod race against the clock to save a teen pop star from losing her soul forever. Even though Kaylee has a more firm understanding of what she is and what she can do, she's still very much a novice bean sidhe (banshee) and we learn more about her abilities in this one through some tutoring lessons with Nash's mom. Vincent continues to develop the bean sidhe mythology and I love learning about this supernatural element rarely used in this genre.

Nash and Kaylee continue to be attached at the hip and readers can't help but like Nash with his sweet disposition and protective nature. Sometimes he's a little cliched as the over-protective sexy guy but Kaylee sometimes puts others' safety above her own so she kind of needs someone to look out for her. Nash is great and all, but my heart belongs to 'dark and twisty' Tod. I know he's not Kaylee's love interest, but I love every scene with him and I hope we get to learn more and more about him as the series continues. I'm especially looking forward to reading his novella, which takes place after book three. In this book we see a softer side of him as he relates to the girl the crew is trying to save and I enjoyed seeing those emotions from him and the lengths he would go to in order to help her.

From the prequel novella to this second full-length book, the Soul Screamers series has gotten better with each book. Vincent isn't afraid to make difficult plot choices and can see how each book is getting a little darker and a little more emotional. I can't wait to continue the series!

Recommended for fans of: YA series like Vampire Academy and Lux, Vincent's adult series, unusual paranormal elements, and snarky dead guys named Tod.

    

  4 / 5 stars

February 15 - August 15!

Click HERE for more info!

Discussion #1 - My Soul to Take - HERE

I am co-hosting the Soul Screamers Series Read-A-Long with Laura from Little Read Riding Hood!

It's her turn to host the discussion, so head on over and chat about My Soul to Save with us!

MY SOUL TO SAVE Discussion

And here's the schedule for the rest of the Read-A-Long!


April 15:
My Soul to Keep (#3) and Reaper (novella #3.5)
@ Goldilox and the Three Weres
 

May 15:
My Soul to Steal (#4)
@ Little Read Riding Hood


June 15:
If I Die (#5) and Never to Sleep (novella #5.5)
@ Goldilox and the Three Weres
 

July 15:
Before I Wake (#6)
@Little Read Riding Hood


August 15:
With All My Soul (#7)
@Goldilox and the Three Weres

Join us for the read along, join in the discussions if you've read the book/series, post the button in your sidebar...you know you want to!

Review: Crave the Darkness by Amanda Bonilla

Crave the Darkness
(Shaede Assassin #3)
Amanda Bonilla
Release: March 5, 2013
Add to Goodreads   Buy at Amazon

Nothing comes easy for Darian. Her heightened powers make her indispensable to the Shaede Nation, but dangerous missions have driven her lover, Tyler, to his breaking point. Darian must salvage their bond, but a new assignment to protect Anya—a fellow Shaede and the first of their kind to become pregnant in centuries—stands in their way.

It doesn’t help that the two Shaedes are longtime rivals and share nothing besides mutual hatred. But when it becomes clear that someone—or something—is bent on destroying the expectant mother and her unborn child, Darian must put her feelings aside and track down Anya’s would-be assassin.

As she probes into Anya’s past, Darian digs up long-buried secrets—and a connection between Tyler and the mission that could destroy everything between them…

Review:

Crave the Darkness is the third book in Amanda Bonilla's Shaede Assassin series and packs quite the physical and emotional punch. Each book in the series has gotten stronger and more enthralling and Crave the Darkness is by far my favorite in this series!

The ending of the previous book, Blood Before Sunrise, was very tumultuous with the exit of heroine Darian's sort-of boyfriend, Tyler. That ending tore me apart and I wondered where Darian and Tyler's relationship would go in this book. When the story starts, Darian is depressed and has holed up in her apartment. As the story progresses we see Darian heal from the loss of Tyler and a stronger bond start to form between her and Xander. I've always had a soft spot for the Shaede King, so I was pleased that he gets a lot of face time in this book. He reminds me a lot of Dorian from Mead's Dark Swan series and I love his cocky, sexy attitude. In the first two books I've found myself torn between Xander and Tyler as love interests for Darian and I've got to say, Crave the Darkness didn't really clear up those feelings for me! Xander gets to show a softer side as well as a sexy sexy sexy side. I still love Tyler, but his actions angered me in this book and I felt like he was over-punishing Darian. Of course, Darian is no relationship genius sometimes, always assuming the worst in people.

The plot involving a pregnant Anya and a secret enemy that is out to get her was really engaging and I was totally drawn in by this mysterious culprit. I loved watching Darian and Anya go head to head in their verbal bitch fests and also really loved watching as they realized that they actually have a lot in common. Readers also get introduced to some new characters working under Darian on the protective detail for Anya, and I look forward to seeing more of these Shaedes in future installments, especially the enigmatic Asher.

Crave the Darkness is darker, sexier, and even more emotional than previous books in the series and lovers of urban fantasy will devour this book!

Recommended for fans of: urban fantasy romance, stomach knots, assassins with a lack of social skills, sort of love triangles, lots of mysterious people, and bitchy chicks in leather.

This review is based on an advanced copy of the book provided by the publisher. 

    1/2

  4.5 / 5 stars

My reviews of other books in this series:
Shaedes of Gray (Shaede Assassin #1)
Blood Before Sunrise (Shaede Assassin #2)

Cover Reveal: Cold Blooded by Amanda Carlson

I am so excited to participate in the cover reveal for the next in the series of one of my favorite reads of 2012! 

Without further ado.....TADA!

Cold Blooded

(Jessica McClain #3)

Amanda Carlson

Release: October 2013 (tentative)

Add to Goodreads   Pre-order at Amazon

Blurb:

(slightly vague since book two hasn't even been released yet)

Jessica arrives back in town to find her best friend missing and the most powerful witch in the country is blaming her for it. But before they can move to save her, the group is attacked.

On the run, Jessica and Rourke head to the mountains. Several surprises await them, but in order to save her father they are forced to leave for New Orleans early.

Arriving on the Vampire Queen’s doorstep unexpectedly, and bringing trouble on their heels, the Sects are thrown into an all out war. The vicious skirmish ends up forcing the vamps and Jessica to fight on the same team.

The Vamp Queen ends up owing Jessica, but what Jessica doesn’t realize is just how soon she’ll have to cash it in.

I hope you're as excited as I am! I love this series (and this author) and this cover is really pretty with all the icy blue. What do you think?

Read This F@!%ing Book! (9) PLUS Giveaway!

Welcome to a feature I'm going to post on Mondays called:

Read This F@!%ing Book!

This is a feature for me to push my favorite reads that just aren't getting enough attention! 

I'm also opening it up to anyone who would like to guest post. Do you have a book that you just LURVED but feel like its not getting the play it deserves? Email me to let me know and I'd be THRILLED to have you post about it here! Especially if its something I haven't reviewed yet - that's even better (but not necessary)! If you're interested email me:

Goldilox3weres@hotmail.com

Today's post comes from Jenese at Readers Confession!

Read This F@!%ing Book Post 9: 

Rhiannon's Law series by J.A. Saare

(Click cover for Goodreads)

  

(Click title for Amazon)

Dead, Undead, or Somewhere In Between (Rhiannon's Law #1)

The Renfield Syndrome (Rhiannon's Law #2)

The Ripple Effect (Rhiannon's Law #3)

Why I Love It:

The answer is simple, Rhiannon Murphy! Rhiannon Murphy is a take charge, don't take no shit, badass chic. She does what she has to do to protect the people that she loves. She's one of my favorite heroines because she is a fighter. I don't like whiny females in books. Rhiannon will take matters into her own hands if she needs to. She will make the decisions that others are afraid to make. Sacrificing for the sake of her family or loved ones is nothing new for her. Rhiannon is strong, feisty, sarcastic and funny all in one!!

"Rhiannon's Law #22. You can't lie to yourself, so don't bother trying. Doing so only multiplies your douchebag level to umpteenth power and confirms what others have been saying about you for years - that you are an idiot."

"Rhiannon's Law #18: No one asks for their life to change, but it does. The bad things we face are tests created to separate the strong from the weak. Once you've found your place--as the savage lion or the tranquil lamb--it's up to you to take the next step, to decide what comes after. Even if it means destroying everything in your path on the road to deliverance."

Why I'm Pushing It:

The Rhiannon's Law series only 3 books, so far. As I looked through Goodreads I notice that they collectively average over a 4 star rating. Why is this series not more popular you say? I don't know. The only think I can think of is possibly the smaller publishing house, Mundania Press. I honestly don't know but its a travesty that more UF readers don't know about Rhiannon's Law. Just looking through my Goodreads friends, popular bloggers like Vampire Book Club, Miss Vain's Paranormal Fantasy, Wicked Lil Pixie, Addicted to Heroines and Parajunkee have all given one or more of these books at least 4 star ratings, most have given 5 stars.

Sadly it's been touch and go for this series since sales haven't been where they should be as well as pirating issues. :-(

If you love UF authors like Stacia Kane, Sandy Williams, Jenn Bennett, Sierra Dean, Kelly Gay just to name a few then you MUST try this series!! There's romance, action, blood and gore, vamps, weres and ghosts, demons, time travel and even damn near an apocalypse all wrapped in one book.

Do you need more reasons to pick this one up?

Cliffhangers!!!
One of the things I hate and love in a book series!!! If you've read Karen Marie Moning's Fever series and things those leave you suffering, these are just as good if not BETTER!!! J.A. Saare makes it as though you can't put her books down and bombshells are thrown left and right. There are ALWAYS surprises in her books, she continuously keeps you on your toes.

Have you read this book?
Did Jenese persuade you to add it to your TBR mountain?
Let me know in the comments below!

**I've had all three of these books on my Kindle for MONTHS and can't wait to read them. If anyone would like to read them with me I'd be game!**

Jenese is generously offering one lucky winner one ebook copy of a book in the Rhiannon's Law series!

a Rafflecopter giveaway