Wrap Up the Month: March

Happy April! I know, I'm a little late with a March Wrap Up since we've already begun April, but just deal with it!

Here's everything you might have missed in the month of March:

Reviews:

   Discount Armageddon Review

   Immortal Rules Review   Immortal Rules Trailer

   Starcrossed Review

   Kindling the Moon Review

   Sacrificial Magic Review

   The Seduction of Phaeton Black Review

   Blood on the Bayou Review   Blood on the Bayou Excerpt 

Challenge Updates:

I am hosting my own reading challenge this year, and I'm very excited about it! This challenge is for reading adult paranormal and fantasy books released in 2012. If you are interested in joining in, you can do so on the Sign Up Post.

Take Me to the Fae Realm

21 - 30 new adult paranormal releases

Read so far: 6 books

Here's my list (so far):

1. The Shadow Reader (McKenzie Lewis #1) by Sandy Williams 

2. Sacrificial Magic (Downside #4) by Stacia Kane

3. Blood on the Bayou (Annabelle Lee #2) by Stacey Jay

4. Once Burned (Night Prince #1) by Jeaniene Frost

5. Biting Cold (Chicagoland Vampires #6) by Chloe Neill

6. Summoning the Night (Arcadia Bell #2) by Jenn Bennett

7. Chasing Magic (Downside #5) by Stacia Kane

8. Deadlocked (Sookie Stackhouse #12) by Charlaine Harris

9. Shadows Before the Sun (Charlie Madigan #4) by Kelly Gay

9. Even White Trash Zombies Get the Blues (White Trash Zombie #2) by Diana Rowland

10. Shadow Bound (Unbound #2) by Rachel Vincent

11. Deadly Descendant (Descendant #2) by Jenna Black

12. Firelight (Darkest London #1) by Kristen Callihan

13. The Slayer (Legend Chronicles #2) by Theresa Meyers

14. Moonglow (Darkest London #2) by Kristen Callihan

15. The Shattered Dark (McKenzie Lewis #2) by Sandy Williams

16. Discount Armageddon (Incryptid #1) by Seanan McGuire

17. The Seduction of Phaeton Black (Paranormal Investigator #1) by Jillian Stone

18. Blood Kin (The Half-Light City #2) by M.J. Scott

19.

20.

21.

2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge, hosted by Evie at Bookish. 

A Sweet Kiss

21 - 30 books from my TBR shelf

Read so far: 6 books

1. Alpha (Shifters #6) by Rachel Vincent2. The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff3. Darker Still (Magic Most Foul #1) by Leanna Renee Hieber4. Bitten (Women of the Otherworld #1) by Kelly Armstrong5. Kindling the Moon (Aracadia Bell #1) by Jenn Bennett6. Bloodlines (Bloodlines #1) by Richelle Mead7. One Grave At A Time (Night Huntress #6) by Jeaniene Frost8. Ecstasy Unveiled (Demonica #4) by Larissa Ione9. Sin Undone (Demonica #5) by Larissa Ione10. The Hunter (The Legend Chronicles #1) by Theresa Myers11. Mark of the Demon (Kara Gillian #1) by Diana Rowland12. Archangel's Blade (Guild Hunters #4) by Nalini Singh13. The Greyfriar (Vampire Empire #1) by Clay Griffith14. The Iron Duke (Iron Seas) by Meljean Brook15. Red-Headed Stepchild (Sabina Kane #1) by Jaye Wells16. City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare17. City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2) by Cassandra Clare18. City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments #3) by Cassandra Clare19. City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments #4) by Cassandra Clare20. Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1) by Cassandra Clare21. Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices #2) by Cassandra Clare22. Catching Fire (Hunger Games #2) by Suzanne Collins23. Mockingjay (Hunger Games #3) by Suzanne Collins25. Eternal Rider (Lords of Deliverance #1) by Larissa Ione26. Immortal Rider (Lords of Deliverance #2) by Larissa Ione27. Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between (Rhiannon's Law #1) by J.A. Saare28. Wanderlust (Sirantha Jax #2) by Ann Aguirre 29. Shift (Shifters #5) by Rachel Vincent30. Dark Lover/Lover Eternal (Black Dagger Brotherhood #1 & 2) J.R. Ward


2012 Debut Author Challenge, hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren 
12 YA books by brand new authors or never published in YA Read so far: 3 books
1. Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer 2. The Selection (The Selection #1) by Kiera Cass3. Struck by Jennifer Bosworth4. Slide by Jill Ahthaway5. Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne6. Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard7. Incarnate (Newsoul #1) by Jodi Meadows8. Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky #1) by Veronica Rossi9. Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin #1) by R.L. LaFevers10. Hemlock (Hemlock #1) by Kathleen Peacock)11. When the Sea is Rising Red by Cat Hellsion12. Shadow and Bone (The Grisha Trilogy #1) by Leigh Bardugo

Other Posts:

March New Releases

Cover Reveal: Gunmetal Magic

March R.A.K.s:

Received:

Received from Lori at Romancing the Darkside!

Received from Mary at Sweeping Me

Sent:

Sent to Reb at Kindle Fever

Sent this one to Amber at Awesomesauce and Book Flame

Sent to Lori at Romancing the Darkside

Well, that's it! 

March is officially done and over.

Happy April!

Cover Reveal: Alice in Zombieland (and More!)

Alice in Zombieland

(White Rabbit Chronicles #1)

Gena Showalter

Harlequin Teen 

September 25, 2012

A new series featuring a teenage girl who loses her family in a crash, only to wake up to a world of zombies and zombie slaying, as well as a bad boy who could save or destroy her.

Well? What do we think peeps? I for one am VERY excited about this one! More zombies in YA? Yes please!

Also, in case you missed it........here are some other recent covers that have been released:

 

Iced: A Dani O'Malley Novel

Two Weeks' Notice

Archangel's Storm

What are your thoughts?

Follow Friday (28)

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read

 

Here is this week's question:

Have you ever bought a book BECAUSE of a bad review?

Yep! Isn't it funny how sometimes the things people say about some books just make you want to read it more? I requested an advance copy of The Selection even with all the drama going on and didn't read any of the negative stuff until after I read and reviewed the book. I knew there was some serious drama and that just hyped the book up more for me, lol! And guess what? I freaking loved it!

I will also be reading the Fifty series soon despite, or maybe because of, all the drama. People who try to bash books and talk people out of reading certain things don't realize that it sometimes it has the opposite effect!

You can also follow me on Twitter here:

Goldilox's Twitter

And check out my post about the 29 paranormal March new releases!

HERE

Happy Friday!

Dirty Little Secret (1)

Dirty Little Secret is a weekly meme hosted by us at Under the Covers. Every Thursday we get to know other bloggers and our readers more intimately by asking them a question hoping to reveal their dirty little secrets. We hope that you will all join us!

This week's question:

Now that Lover Reborn has come and passed, what book are you most looking forward to?!

What? Pick just one? No way........but I'll try to keep it to the few I'm the most excited about:

First, with no cover art yet:

The Shattered Dark

(McKenzie Lewis #2)

Sandy Williams

Now it's your turn!

And check out the other blogs participating this week

 HERE

Waiting on Wednesday (21) - Iced: A Dani O'Malley Novel

Waiting on Wednesday is a feature hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine that shares the upcoming releases we bloggers are on the edge of our seats about!

Iced: A Dani O'Malley Novel

(Fever World #1)

Karen Marie Moning

Release date: October 30, 2012

"I'm currently working on a trilogy that features Dani, Christian MacKeltar, Ryodan, and the mysterious 'Dancer,' set primarily in Fever-Dublin. Each installment in the trilogy is a stand-alone mystery, however there are larger plot arcs unfolding in the background...

..For those of you who have been worrying—the trilogy is not YA. If I had to categorize it, I would say it straddles the line between YA and adult uneasily. ...Many of the questions I left unanswered in the FEVER series are addressed in this new series.

Exciting news: I’ve agreed to write two more books after that. Once the new trilogy is complete, I’m returning to the core story begun in the FEVER series, and will resume writing about Mac, Barrons, V’lane, Cruce, the Unseelie king, the concubine, the Song of Making.

All in all, there are five more books coming about the Fever World!"

 - Karen Marie Moning

Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Acccccckkkkkkkk! Baaaaaahhhhhhhh!

**passes out from lack of oxygen**

Okay, I'm better now. Whew. I can only assume that most of you reading this right now are as excited as I am. If you're not........um........who are you and what's wrong with you? We were all awed by the amazing, epic, and original Fever series, but at the same time saddened when we read Shadowfever since it meant the end of the series. But wait - there's more! Moning is giving us more Fever with a trilogy about Dani and then a couple more books about Mac and Barrons!

A moment of silence please for the mention of Barrons' name.

Hopefully this new series will be at least half as wonderful as the original. I know a lot of people feel nervous about it focusing on Dani, but I actually really liked Dani in the series. And remember what Mac was like at the beginning of the first Fever book? Hopefully Dani will get the same amazing character development that Mac got. I have faith in the talented KMM! 

And for those of you going........"Er...what the heck?" Iced is the first in a spinoff series about one of the characters in the Fever series, one of the most beloved and renowned series in recent history. There's no official synopsis yet, so we Fever fans are having to make do drooling over the little tidbit above for right now. 

I've given you links to the books from the first series below so you can check them out if you haven't read them yet (are there people out there who haven't read them yet?). 

Want to pre-order Iced: A Dani O'Malley Novel?

What is YOUR WoW pick?

Darkness Before Dawn by J.A. London

Darkness Before Dawn
(Darkness Before Dawn #1)
J.A. London
May 29, 2012

This electrifying new trilogy blends the best of paranormal and dystopian storytelling in a world where the war is over. And the vampires won.

Humans huddle in their walled cities, supplying blood in exchange for safety. But not even that is guaranteed. Dawn has lost her entire family and now reluctantly serves as the delegate to Lord Valentine, the most powerful vampire for miles. It isn’t until she meets Victor, Valentine’s son, that she realizes not all vampires are monsters....

Eh. Sorry to say I didn't really love Darkness Before Dawn. I thought as I was reading it that the reason I wasn't into it might be because I recently read, and adored, The Immortal Rules which is extremely similar. Its hard not to make comparisons between the two dystopian vampire books, and in the end The Immortal Rules wins hands down.

But my lack of enjoyment wasn't just because of the comparison. I just didn't like the story. I had very high expectations and am disappointed that this one fell so flat for me. I thought the writing was kind of bland and the dialogue was bumpy and, frankly, the story was kind of boring. I realize this is going to be a trilogy so I'm hopeful that this one suffered from first book syndrome in having to set up the story for the next two books. I thought Dawn was kind of ho-hum as the heroine, her friends were very typical for a YA book, and the plot points were fairly predictable. I even played a little game where I tried to guess what was going to happen on the next page. Guess what? I was right every time!

I'm not in the habit of book bashing, so I will get to some positives in a bit. First, let me list some reasons why I might not have enjoyed this one:

1. Just read The Immortal Rules and preferred Kagawa's version of a dystopian, vampire-ruled world to the one in Darkness Before Dawn (we still have cell phones and cable, but the vamps don't let us use airplanes...?).

2. I've read a string of shockingly good YA lately and now my standards are higher for YA than they used to be because I know how good they can be.

3. I was extremely excited for this book because the cover was beautiful and the blurb sounded interesting, so I went into it with high expectations.

4. I recently read The Mortal Instruments, in which the head bad guy is also named Valentine. Since this is one of the most freaking popular series on the planet right now it perturbed me a little that this author couldn't have thought up a more original name for the head bad guy in this story.

Now, as promised, some things I did like about the book. The vampires are not sparkly and friendly. Even though I love me some sexy vamps when I'm reading a paranormal romance, when it comes to YA the notion of friendly vamps that don't have to drink human blood has been overdone and I like this new direction we seem to be heading. I also liked that the Old Family vampires preferred the more conservative traditions of the past, and when Dawn goes to visit Valentine in the castle she has to get all dressed up in Victorian clothes and use old world style manners.

Sorry I don't have a more pleasant review to write for this one. It just underwhelmed me completely.

 

Archangel's Blade by Nalini Singh

Archangel's Blade
(Guild Hunter #4)
Nalini Singh

The severed head marked by a distinctive tattoo on its cheek should have been a Guild case, but dark instincts honed over hundreds of years of life compel the vampire Dmitri to take control. There is something twisted about this death, something that whispers of centuries long past...but Dmitri's need to discover the truth is nothing to the vicious strength of his response to the hunter assigned to decipher the tattoo.

Savaged in a brutal attack that almost killed her, Honor is nowhere near ready to come face to face with the seductive vampire who is an archangel's right hand, and who wears his cruelty as boldly as his lethal sensuality...the same vampire who has been her secret obsession since the day she was old enough to understand the inexplicable, violent emotions he aroused in her.
As desire turns into a dangerous compulsion that might destroy them both, it becomes clear the past will not stay buried. Something is hunting...and it will not stop until it brings a blood-soaked nightmare to life once more...

“In my time,” he said, “they believed in witches. Are you a witch, Honor, that you make me say these things to you?” 
Causing him to rip open wounds that had stayed safely scabbed over for so long that, most of the time, he managed to forget they existed. 
Her hands, so very, very gentle, continued to hold his face as she tugged him down until their foreheads touched. 
“I’m no witch, Dmitri. If I was, I’d know how to fix you.”



Singh manages to surpass the first three Guild Hunter books with her tale of redemption and healing.

I must admit, I was in the camp that wasn't all that excited that this book was going to be about Dmitri. I just didn't see how she was going to make readers swoon over him and how she was going to give him a heroine that would break him down. But...she did it! Archangel's Blade gives us insight into what has made Dmitri the way he is. We get to see, through multiple flashbacks, the horror he endured when he was human, what happened to his human family, and how he was Made into a vampire. All of this gives the reader more of a connection to Dmitri and an understanding of how he became such a harsh and vicious vampire.

The heroine in this one is a new character named Honor. She is a hunter with the guild who is still trying to recover from being kidnapped and tortured several months prior. She was taken by a mysterious vampire or angel who invited multiple others to abuse her physically, mentally, and sexually for two months. Even after being rescued and healed physically, Honor still can't sleep, avoids physical contact with men, and is haunted by nightmares. The one in charge of her capture was never caught.

Dmitri and Honor first meet when she is assigned a case that requires her expertise in ancient languages. A severed head with an unusual tattoo is discovered in the city and Dmitri and Honor must work together to solve the murder. Dmitri is first attracted to Honor because of her voluptuous beauty, but eventually his attraction is because she is a challenge. Honor wants nothing to do with Dmitri, as she is still recovering from being attacked by vampires repeatedly for two months and Dmitri doesn't exactly have a reputation for being sweet and gentle. Interestingly enough, however, she also finds herself inexplicably attracted to him, almost border lining obsession.

Dmitri and Honor's attraction and romance builds slowly and believably. Singh doesn't rush their relationship, which is something I had been afraid of happening. Honor knows she's attracted to him, but anytime she lets herself start to give in to it she practically has a panic attack and tries to kill him. Dmitri finds himself sucked in by Honor because she reminds him of someone from his past. There are several sexy and tense moments between the two before we finally get "the big finale". I found myself loving Dmitri's dark and sexy outward personality, which was so different from the memories and feelings he kept inside his head. I thought he was actually easier to connect with than Raphael from the first three books in the series. Honor was likable and believable as a tortured heroine trying to come to grips with life after her kidnapping. She wasn't wimpy and sullen, but rather a fierce hunter. The two work on hunting down Honor's captors as a side plot line that almost becomes more important than the main plot line's mystery.

A third plot line takes place throughout the story that I was actually just as interested in. Holly is a human who was kidnapped and tortured by the crazy archangel Uram in one of the first three Guild Hunter books. All of her friends were killed and she was the only survivor. She was tainted by Uram's blood and is slowly turning into a vampire, but different from the norm. Dmitri has taken it upon himself to watch over her and keep an eye on her while she makes the change in order to keep an eye on her progress and determine whether or not she is becoming crazy like Uram. Throughout the story, we see both Dmitri and Honor visiting her and interacting with her. This side plot was very intriguing to me and I'm really looking forward to where her story goes in future books. I'm hoping maybe she will be the love interest for one of the Seven in a future book...?

All in all, this was another awesome, dark, and sexy release by the talented Singh, whose beautiful writing style makes her paranormal romances stand out in the genre.

Recommended for lovers of paranormal romance, darker stories, Nalini Singh books, and tortured heroes.

   

Masque of the Red Death - Bethany Griffin

Masque of the Red Death
Bethany Griffin
Release: April 24, 2012

Everything is in ruins.

A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.
And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her.

You know how some books just stay with you? You think about them when you're not reading them and by the time you finish you realize the book has somehow crept into your soul? That's how I feel about Griffin's Masque of the Red Death.

Griffin's writing style will not be for everyone. Her writing is sparse. There are no extra words wasted and no overly descriptive paragraphs. She gets the most bang for her buck when it comes to words. And man, does she get a bang! This book was not even close to what I thought it would be like. For some reason I went into this thinking it was a YA zombie book...its not. The affliction in Masque is a nasty airborne disease that has spread throughout the world. People who catch the disease develop puss filled boils and a fever, and they eventually die. Araby's city lives in fear of catching the disease, and the rich people of the city wear porcelain masks with built in filters in them that keep them safe.

Araby is unique from most of the others in the city in that her father is actually the scientist who invented the mask. This means that her family now lives in a high rise apartment building. But Araby's life was not always so glamorous, and part of what sucks you into this story is finding out about her life and her secrets - as well as her family's secrets - bit by bit as the story moves along. In fact, the development of the characters throughout the story is probably the book's main strength. When I was only about halfway through, I was thinking this would get four stars. But as the story went on and things kept changing and happening I was awed and by the time it was over I was ready to give Griffin five glowing stars! This is a dark story for sure. I can see how this one might not be loved by everyone, but I have always loved the darker books so I was completely entranced.

Araby is unusual for a YA heroine. In fact, she would be unusual for a heroine at any age. When the story begins, we can tell that she is extremely depressed and living a fake sort of life to get through the day. She takes drugs that send her into oblivion, and lets her friend, April, paint her up in glittery makeup and dye her hair colors and take her a few times a week to a club downtown. But its obvious that she is in pain, and the unfolding of the story behind that is gripping to say the least.

Araby has a slight crush on Will, who works at the club as the guy who takes everyone's blood and breath samples as they come in the door to make sure they're not contaminated. Their relationship grows and we learn more about Will, who is sweet and caring, but at the same time dangerous looking and covered in tattoos. Araby also meets Elliot, April's brother. He is attempting to lead a revolution against the Prince, who has chosen to profit from the disease by making the cost of the masks extremely expensive instead of offering them to everyone and making it legal to kill those infected in sight. He wants Araby's help, thinking that she can get him important documents from her Father that will help him lead his uprising against the Prince. He is arrogant and practical, but he also seems to be developing a soft spot for Araby.

It would not be fair to categorize this as a "love triangle" since it is so different than those that I have read. There are moments when I was convinced that one was right for her, and then something would happen and the other would be my favorite. There are secrets revealed about both guys, some good and some bad. I really had to hunt to make sure this book would have a sequel and -THANK HEAVEN! - it will! The ending certainly left me wanting more!

This one is recommended for lovers of steampunk, unique young adult stories, Poe fans, love triangles, and plot twists.

    

Interested?

The Selection by Kiera Cass

The Selection
(The Selection #1)
Kiera Cass

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Selection  is a sweet young adult romance set in a dystopian future. The story begins with some insight into America and her family, which was vital in order to understand the strange caste system in this future world. Somewhere along the line someone decided that families should be labeled by caste depending on their career and income. Further family members continue to be forced to choose the same career area and are labeled with the same caste. This causes a lot of strife for America's family, who are musicians and artists and are Fives. This is fairly low in the caste system, but not quite as low as Aspen, America's secret, almost-boyfriend and a Six. 

After being talked into it by her family, America enters The Selection, a nationwide contest to help the teenage prince find a wife. Clearly, America has no real interest in getting picked to be in the top thirty-five that go to the palace, but, of course, she does get picked and is whisked away from her family and Aspen.

What I loved about this book was the growing relationship between America and Prince Maxon. America travels to the palace planning on hanging out for a bit so her family gets their compensation for her participation, and then complacently going home whenever the prince decides he doesn't like her. But, as the story continues on, America finds herself growing more and more interested in Maxon. With Aspen still heavy on her mind she can't really give in and let herself fall in love again, but Maxon's refined awkwardness and thoughtfulness chinks away at her armor. 

There were several funny moments and even more sweet moments between these two. I enjoyed Cass' portrayal of the prince as being a bit unprepared for how to interact with all the girls. I also enjoyed the moments we got to see of America with her designated maids. Those were some of my favorite scenes because they showed us America's caring and easygoing nature. 

I would have liked to see some more world building here. This is, after all, a dystopian. It appears to be set in the far off future - two world wars and a new name to our country in the future. And, somehow, we have not made any technological advancements as a society? I also longed for a little more action while reading. There were several points in the story where I thought Cass missed an awesome opportunity to weave in some action or a suspenseful moment. America is carrying some secrets throughout the story, and I so wanted the fear of some of those things getting out to drive the plot a little more. There are also some run-ins with rebels who are attacking the palace, and I could have used a little more in those scenes as well.

So, despite some missed opportunities and mediocre world-building, I did truly love this story. The heart of the plot - one romance possibly lost and a new one possibly blossoming - really shines. The reason there are so many books and movies about situations like The Selection that happens here, is because it really is a little girl's fairy tale that most of us never grow out of. I would recommend this read to anyone in the mood for a sweet romance or a fairy tale. 

This review is based on an advance copy of this book.

   

Want to read it for yourself?