Books You Should Buy! (2) - Pre-order Recommendations for January

Books You Should Buy!

 Did you know that publishers often look at the number of pre-orders a book or series has as a way to determine if the book/series is successful? Sometimes this even determines whether or not a series continues! Of course, the real reason we pre-order a book is because we're just so excited for its release that we must have it on our Kindles the second its available!

Here are some Kindle books I recommend pre-ordering for January!

Between

Kerry Schafer
Release: January 29, 2013
Goodreads   Amazon

Vivian’s life is finally on track. She has a job she loves as an ER doctor and has just met – literally – the man of her dreams. But when her eccentric grandfather is murdered and designates her as his next of kin, she discovers that she is the last of a race of beings known as dreamshifters. It is her task to guard the doorways between waking and dreaming, which have already begun to unravel, spilling dangerous creatures from dream into the waking world. When she sets out to close the open doors and protect her town and the people she loves, Vivian confronts dragons, intrigue, and the dark secrets of her own family history. In the end she comes face to face with a sorceress seeking eternal life and ultimate power. Vivian must find a way to stop her, or reality will be forever altered.

Level 2
(The Memory Chronicles #1)

Lenore Appelhans

Release: January 15, 2013

Goodreads   Amazon

Since her untimely death the day before her eighteenth birthday, Felicia Ward has been trapped in Level 2, a stark white afterlife located between our world and the next. Along with her fellow drones, Felicia passes the endless hours reliving memories of her time on Earth and mourning what she’s lost—family, friends, and Neil, the boy she loved.
Then a girl in a neighboring chamber is found dead, and nobody but Felicia recalls that she existed in the first place. When Julian—a dangerously charming guy Felicia knew in life—comes to offer Felicia a way out, Felicia learns the truth: If she joins the rebellion to overthrow the Morati, the angel guardians of Level 2, she can be with Neil again.
Suspended between Heaven and Earth, Felicia finds herself at the center of an age-old struggle between good and evil. As memories from her life come back to haunt her, and as the Morati hunt her down, Felicia will discover it’s not just her own redemption at stake… but the salvation of all mankind.

Ever After

(Rachel Morgan #11)
Kim Harrison
Release: January 22, 2013
Goodreads   Amazon

The ever after, the demonic realm that parallels the human world, is shrinking. If it disappears completely, so does all magic. It's up to witch-turned-daywalking-demon Rachel Morgan to avert catastrophe and keep life from changing... for the worse.

While saving the world is important, it isn't Rachel's only motivation. There's also the small fact that she caused the ley line to rip in the first place, setting off a chain reaction of unfortunate events. That little mistake has made her life forfeit unless she can fix it. It's also made her more than a few enemies, including the most powerful demon in the ever after—a terrifying entity who eats souls and now has an insatiable appetite for her. He's already kidnapped her friend and goddaughter to lure her out, and if Rachel doesn't give herself up soon, they'll die.

But Rachel has more than a few impressive and frightening skillls of her own, and she isn't going to hand over her soul and her life without one hell of a fight. She's also got a surpise: elven tycoon Trent Kalamack. With this unlikely ally beside her—a prospect both thrilling and unnerving—she's going to return to the ever after, kick some demon butt, rescue her loved ones... and prevent an apocalypse before it's too late. Or, at least that's the plan...

Rise

(Nightshade Prequel #2)

Andrea Cremer

Release:  January 8, 2013

Goodreads   Amazon

The sequel to Rift and the prequel to the New York Times bestselling novel Nightshade.

Everything Conatus stands for is at risk. Hoping to gather enough resistance to save their order, Ember and Barrow attempt a desperate escape. But fate offers little mercy. When their mission is exposed, the couple face relentless pursuit by the supernatural horrors that act on the commands of Eira’s ally: the mysterious Bosque Mar. A shocking revelation forces Ember out of hiding, sending her back into the heart of dark magic at Tearmunn keep, where she must convince her old friend Alistair of her love or face dire consequences. Ember’s deception offers the only chance for the resistance to succeed, but what she discovers in the shadows beneath the keep will shatter her world and bring about the Witches’ War.

Richly sensual and full of magic, action and danger, Andrea Cremer's fifth book set in the Nightshade world is an edge-of-your-seat page turner.

The Madman's Daughter

(Madman's Daughter #1)
Megan Shepherd
Release: January 29, 2013
Goodreads   Amazon

In the darkest places, even love is deadly.

Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.

Inspired by H. G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman's Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we'll do anything to know and the truths we'll go to any lengths to protect.

Grave Intentions

Lori Sjoberg

Release: January 3, 2012

Goodreads   Amazon

He’s handsome, reliable, and punctual—the perfect gentleman when you want him to be. But this dream man is Death’s best agent—and now he’s got more than his soul to lose…
One act of mercy before dying was all it took to turn soldier David Anderson into a reaper—an immortal who guides souls-of-untimely-death into the afterlife. But the closer he gets to atoning for his mortal sin and finally escaping merciless Fate, the more he feels his own humanity slipping away for good. Until he encounters Sarah Griffith. This skeptical scientist can’t be influenced by his powers—even though she has an unsuspected talent for sensing the dead. And her honesty and irreverent sense of humor reignite his reason for living—and a passion he can’t afford to feel. Now Fate has summoned David to make a devastating last harvest. And he’ll break every hellishly-strict netherworld rule to save Sarah...and gamble on a choice even an immortal can’t win.

The Dead and Buried

Kim Harrington
Release: January 1, 2013
Goodreads   Amazon

A haunted house, a buried mystery, and a very angry ghost make this one unforgettable thriller.

Jade loves the house she's just moved into with her family. She doesn't even mind being the new girl at the high school: It's a fresh start, and there's that one guy with the dreamy blue eyes. . . . But then things begin happening.
Strange, otherworldly things. Jade's little brother claims to see a glimmering girl in his room. Jade's jewelry gets moved around, as if by an invisible hand. Kids at school whisper behind her back like they know something she doesn't.

Soon, Jade must face an impossible fact: that her perfect house is haunted. Haunted by a ghost who's seeking not just vengeance, but the truth. The ghost of a girl who ruled Jade's school — until her untimely death last year. It's up to Jade to put the pieces together before her own life is at stake. As Jade investigates the mystery, she discovers that her new friends in town have more than a few deep, dark secrets. But is one of them a murderer?

The Eldritch Conspiracy

(Blood Singer #5)

Cat Adams

Release: January 29, 2013

Goodreads   Amazon

Celia Graves was once an ordinary human, but those days are long gone. Now she strives to maintain her sanity and her soul while juggling both vampire abilities and the powers of a Siren.

Not every bride needs a bridesmaid who can double as a bodyguard. But Celia's cousin Adriana is no ordinary bride: she's a Siren princess, and she's marrying the king of a small but politically important European country. She's getting death threats from fanatics who want to see the whole Siren race wiped out—including Celia herself, who is half Siren.

Luckily, Celia is on duty when a trip to a bridal salon is interrupted by an assassination attempt, so everyone survives. When Adriana returns to the Siren homeland to try to prevent a coup, Celia is free to hunt for the terrorists and the vile mage who is helping them (while keeping her eyes open for the perfect maid-of-honor dress). 

Assuming the bride and groom both live to see their wedding day, this will be one royal wedding no one will ever forget.

Which books are you excited for and planning on reading?

Which January releases did I leave off the list that I should be anticipating?

Review: Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Opal
(Lux #3)
Jennifer L. Armentrout
Release: December 11, 2012
Available now for Kindle
Goodreads   Amazon

No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well... There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different... And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we’re stronger... and they know it.

Review:

“A slow, wry smile teased Daemon’s lips. “Simmer down, Kitten, before I have to get you a ball of yarn to play with.”
Annoyance flared deep inside me. “Don’t start with me, jerk-face.”

What can I say about Opal that hasn't already been said by other reviewers? It's just as wonderful, tension-filled, and sexy (for a YA) as the previous books in the series. Armentrout continues writing teens that feel real, somehow managing to keep everyone feeling their age but still imparting some serious hotness into the mix.

Daemon and Katy are full on 'together' in Opal and I admit, a tiny bit of their sexy love/hate angst is gone now. But really, a lot of it is still there because they continue to madden and frustrate each other to no end.  Plus readers now get the added bonus of tons of luscious make out scenes and some adorable cuddling moments. Daemon lovers will really love seeing his softer side in this one and these scenes make him even more swoon worthy.

“He…he kisses like he’s dying of thirst, and I’m water.” I smacked my hands over my hot face. “I can’t believe I just said that out loud.”
Lesa giggled. “Sounds like one of those romance books you read.”
“It does.” I started giggling. “But, oh Lordie Lord, it’s true. I’m like a puddle of mush when he kisses me. It’s embarrassing. I’m so, like, ‘Thank you, can I have another?’ Sad.”

Katy remains one of my favorite young adult heroines due to her lack of stupidity. She is likable and its believable that someone like Daemon would be into her. The fact that she is a book blogger and Armentrout gives us many scenes where Katy is talking about blogging or writing book reviews just makes me love her even more. She has a lot going on - she's dealing with her new abilities, her relationship with Daemon, and having a lot of guilt about everything that happened at the end of Onyx. There are a lot of events that take place in Opal that Katy must come to terms with as well and even though most of the time these events break her down she comes out stronger by the end. That's one of the things I like about her.

Dee is pretty broken in the aftermath of what happened to Adam, and her and Katy's friendship is pretty non-existent here. For most of the book I was just hoping that Dee would get 'fixed' before the story's end.

In Opal the characters are dealing with the return of a sullen Dawson, Daemon and Dee's long lost brother, as well as the return of another character that I will leave you to figure out for yourself. The gang decides they must rescue Dawson's human girlfriend from the DOD facility she's being kept at and the preparing for this mission is the basis for much of the plot.

The whole time I was waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak. I knew this one would end on a cliff hanger...and boy does it! I'm highly anticipating the next book in this series, of course. There were some new characters introduced that I'm curious to read more about and I'm definitely wondering how the cliff hanger will be resolved!

Recommended for fans of: YA paranormal books, love/hate romantic relationships, name calling, and sexy and cocky guys with a secret softer side.

    1/2

  4.5 / 5stars

My reviews of other books in this series:

Obsidian (Lux #1)
Onyx (Lux #2)

Stacking the Shelves (15)

Stacking the Shelves is a *new* weekly meme to feature all the books that have made their way into our homes this week! 

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

FOR REVIEW:

(Click on cover to go to Goodreads)

   
   

(Click on title to go to Amazon)

The Madman's Daughter (Madman's Daughter #1) by Megan Shepherd
Moonglow (Darkborn Legacy #1) by Michael Griffo
Leashing the Tempest (Arcadia Bell #2.5) by Jenn Bennett (REVIEW)
Taken by Erin Bowman
MILA 2.0 by Debra Drizza
A Conspiracy of Alchemists (The Chronicles of Light and Shadow #1) by Liesel Schwarz
Grave Intentions by Lori Sjoberg
The League of Illusion (Legacy #1) by Vivi Anna

BOUGHT:

(Click on cover to go to Goodreads)

 

(Click on title to go to Amazon)

Opal (Lux #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Bite Before Christmas by Jeaniene Frost and Lynsay Sands ( .99 right now!)

RECEIVED FROM SECRET SANTA!

 

I received these two books from Monica through the 2012 Secret Santa book exchange that I co-hosted with The Book Nympho!!! I'm so excited to read both of these (I've already been peeking at Fever Moon) - thank you Monica!

Fever Moon (Fever Series Graphic Novel) by Karen Marie Moning

Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth

What goodies did you add to your shelf this week?

Have you read any of my goodies? Which should I read first!?

Early Review: Leashing the Tempest by Jenn Bennett

Leashing the Tempest
(Arcadia Bell 2.5)
Jenn Bennett
Release: December 17, 2012
Goodreads   Amazon

Dating a demon, defeating evil, running a tiki bar: Arcadia Bell is a great occult mage in many respects. But then there’s the challenge of her boyfriend’s precocious teenage son…

Arcadia "Cady" Bell may have saved the Hellfire Club’s children from a local bogeyman, but she and her Earthbound demon boyfriend, Lon Butler, now face a more disturbing problem: his teenage son’s new demonic abilities. Jupe Butler can persuade you to do anything—or so he thinks. To test the limits of his newfound power, Cady invites the co-owner of Tambuku Tiki Lounge to be the teen’s guinea pig during an afternoon boat cruise. But when an angry storm whips the Pacific into a frenzy and Jupe puts them all in serious danger, will Cady's magick trump a teenager’s excess confidence?

Review:

Bennett's Arcadia Bell series is one of my favorite urban fantasy series and this short novella is just enough to whet my whistle until book three releases in the spring. Reading this just reminded me (like I could even forget) what a gem this series is. There are all the best elements of urban fantasy but set in a beautiful California setting and with a unique laid back sense of humor.

In this novella, Cady, Lon, Jupe, and Kar Yee have chartered a yacht and plan to spend the day at sea testing out the scope and limitations of Jupe's newfound knack. All the best parts of the series are here in miniature and fans of the series will be happy to find that there is a small question from books one and two answered in this novella (nothing earth shattering, but it was nice to have the connection to the other books nonetheless).

The captain in charge of the boat is a nice addition to the gang, even though he is certainly keeping some secrets. He kind of reminded me of a portly version of Captain Ron from the early nineties movie!

Be forewarned, this one is short even for a novella. Its 65 pages and I read it in about an hour. The good news is that its only .99 at Amazon so there's really no reason not to check it out (there's a link to Amazon above)!

Recommended for fans of: the Aracdia Bell series, urban fantasy, novellas, novels with magic users, and pirate mustaches.

This review is based on an advance copy of the book, provided by the author.

    

 5/5 stars

My reviews of other books in this series:

Kindling the Moon (Arcadia Bell #1)
Summoning the Night (Arcadia Bell #2)

Reading Challenge: 2013 Book Series Challenge

2013 Book Series Challenge!

I recently posted about the two reading challenge I have signed up for so far for 2013, and now I've decided to host my own challenge as well!

The 2013 Book Series Challenge is about reading more of those series I've been wanting to start or continue but just haven't made the time. For the purpose of this challenge, I'm going to define a series as having at least 3 books out and published by January 2013.

This is really a personal challenge for myself, but anyone else that wants to join in is welcome! I won't add a sign up linky, but if you want to challenge yourself to read more of the series that you've been wanting to start, please let me know in the comments section and grab the button for your sidebar!

The goal for the challenge is to read at least 2 or more books in each of these series. Most of them are series that are brand new to me and others are series that I've read the first book in but haven't gotten any further into yet. Some of the books I read for this challenge will even overlap with the TBR Pile Challenge that I'm participating in!

The series:

1. Jane True series by Nicole Peeler

2. Kara Gillian series by Diana Rowland

3. Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa

4. Soul Screamers by Rachel Vincent

5. Iron Seas by Meljean Brooks

6. Black London by Caitlin Kittredge

7. Rhiannon's Law by J.A. Saare

8. Sabina Kane series by Jaye Wells

9. Vampire Empire by Clay Griffith

10. Sirantha Jax by Ann Aguirre

11. Experiment in Terror by Karina Hale

12. Greywalker by Kat Richardson

13. House of Comarre by Kristen Painter

14. H&W Investigations by Jess Haines

15. Allie Beckstrom series by Devon Monk

So, what do you think? Want to join me in the Book Series Challenge?

2013 Reading Challenges

2013 Debut Author Challenge

Hosted by Hobbitsies 

(yes you read that right, its not hosted by The Story Siren this year)

This challenge is to read 12 young adult books by brand new authors. YA books written for the first time by authors who usually write adult books count as well. I always like this challenge and find it pretty easy to do.

2013 TBR Pile Challenge

Hosted by Bookish

This is a challenge I sucked at big time this past year, so my goal for 2013 is to meet this challenge and then some. The idea is to read books that have been on your shelf (or ereader) for a while, no 2013 releases.  I have A LOT of books that fit this challenge and I really hope to rock this one this year! I'm going to do the level, A Sweet Kiss, which is 21 - 30 books.

That's it for me for now! I am looking for maybe one more challenge to join so let me know if you hear of any good ones!

What challenges are you doing in 2013?

Review: Iced by Karen Marie Moning

Iced
(Fever #6)
Karen Marie Moning
Release: October 20, 2012
Links

The year is 1 AWC—After the Wall Crash. The Fae are free and hunting us. It’s a war zone out there, and no two days are alike. I’m Dani O’Malley, the chaos-filled streets of Dublin are my home, and there’s no place I’d rather be.

Dani “Mega” O’Malley plays by her own set of rules—and in a world overrun by Dark Fae, her biggest rule is: Do what it takes to survive. Possessing rare talents and the all-powerful Sword of Light, Dani is more than equipped for the task. In fact, she’s one of the rare humans who can defend themselves against the Unseelie. But now, amid the pandemonium, her greatest gifts have turned into serious liabilities.

Dani’s ex–best friend, MacKayla Lane, wants her dead, the terrifying Unseelie princes have put a price on her head, and Inspector Jayne, the head of the police force, is after her sword and will stop at nothing to get it. What’s more, people are being mysteriously frozen to death all over the city, encased on the spot in sub-zero, icy tableaux.

When Dublin’s most seductive nightclub gets blanketed in hoarfrost, Dani finds herself at the mercy of Ryodan, the club’s ruthless, immortal owner. He needs her quick wit and exceptional skill to figure out what’s freezing Fae and humans dead in their tracks—and Ryodan will do anything to ensure her compliance.
Dodging bullets, fangs, and fists, Dani must strike treacherous bargains and make desperate alliances to save her beloved Dublin—before everything and everyone in it gets iced.

Review:

“You’ll never be just anything. A tsunami can never be ‘just’ a wave.”
[...]
“I like that about you. Waves are banal. Tsunamis reshape the Earth. Under the right circumstances, even entire civilizations.”
I blink.
“You’re going to be one hell of a woman one day, Dani.”

I'm not really sure what I can say about ICED that hasn't already been said. But since I read it and loved it I feel like I should say something!

A lot of people were slightly concerned that Dani as the narrator would be obnoxious. Well, it wasn't. Moning has said that she toned Dani down just a little because she would be with the reader for 90% of the book so she didn't really need to pack as much of a punch as she did when she appeared here and there in the first five Fever books. I think Moning did an excellent job of balancing Dani a little better and I found her more endearing than annoying here.

Dani's personality is pretty distinctive in the YA genre, although I am extremely hesitant to call this YA. Just because the main character is fourteen, please don't mistake this as appropriate for young teens. This is more of an urban fantasy than a young adult book, that's for sure.

Anywho, back to Dani! She's impulsive and energetic and has a unique outlook on life.

“There are only two things to worry about in life: either you’re free or you’re not. If you’re free, there’s nothing to worry about. If you’re not, you kick the shit out of everything around you until you are.”

Ryodan has decided that Dani is going to work for him, come hell or high water, and goes to extreme lengths throughout the book to keep her in line. I kind of think some of his extremes were too much, considering that Dani is only fourteen. I'm very conflicted about Ryodan's treatment of her - in one scene he pushes her into a poll to purposely hurt her while in another scene he tenderly takes care of her. I'm torn. Barrons was rough with Mac early on in their relationship, but he was't quite as physical with her as Ryodan is with Dani plus Mac was an adult. And there is a whole side plot involving Ryodan and Jo, who is one of the girls from the abbey, that I had issues with throughout the book.

The thing is, I know Moning can make me hate a character when she wants me to and then turn around and love that same character when she wants me to. I have faith that if I'm supposed to love Ryodan and want him to be with Dani when she's older that she can make me want it. So as much as I loved Ryodan as a character - gruff, grumpy, Alpha to the extreme - I'm going to hold off on my decision about whether future Dani should be with him. I will say that Moning gave us a few really great interactions between Ryodan and Dani and also between Ryodan and Christian that showed Ryodan's secret sense of humor and I loved these little glimpses. One especially great scene follows:

“Sloppy, Mega,” I mutter. I still can’t see. I wipe my bloody nose on my sleeve and reach out to feel what I hit.

“That’s my dick,” Ryodan says.

I snatch my hand away. “Gah!” I choke out. I can feel my face again—because, like, it’s going up in flames. What kind of universe makes me reach out at exactly that fecking level to feel what I think is a wall and puts my hand on a penis?

Then I remember this is Ryodan and scowl. “You did that on purpose!” I accuse. “You saw my hand go out and you stepped right into it!”

“I’d do that why, kid?”

Two other guys have zeroed in on Dani (I mean, really, why are so many guys interested in her all of the sudden - even to the point of waiting years for her to become old enough for them?). Dancer, Dani's  super smart human best friend, and Christian, the lie-detecting Highlander who is in the process of transforming into an Unseelie Prince against his will. All three men couldn't be more different and they all clearly don't like each other.

I really like Dancer and feel he is a good match for Dani, especially since he's the only one close enough to her age to be with her romantically anyway. Dancer and Dani watch out for each other and come up with Fae-killing devices together, but he gives her space and lets her be on her own when she needs it. Christian has become obsessed with Dani, partially because of his change, and watches over her to make sure she's safe. He's creepy many times throughout the book and I felt sad for the cute Scottish college boy we lost when he began transforming.

The plot of ICED is well-written and fits right in with the Fae-involved mysteries needing to be solved throughout books one thru five. Dani works with all three 'men' to figure out why groups of people around Dublin are turning up frozen. The plot was attention-keeping, but its the characters and the world that grab you and suck you into the pages. Once you start a Fever book, you think about the world Moning has created even when you're not reading. ICED is no exception, and Fever lovers should enjoy this installment greatly!

“You think you’re going to chain me to a wall then stand here and tell me why it’s okay that I am the way I am? That because of all the crap folks put me through when I was young it’s all right that I turned out like this?

Dude, I don’t have a problem with how I turned out. I like me.”

Recommended for fans of: Words.

    1/2

  4.5 / 5 stars