Answers and Winner for 300th Blog Post Contest

The winner of the contest is Danielle!

I'll list the answers below and Danielle can send me her top choices so I can get them ordered.

1. I eyeballed the freezer, trying to decide what to cook for dinner that night.

2. "Bronwyn Alessia St.Vincent Clare!"

3. I have to.

4. The moment the door opened I knew an ass-kicking was inevitable.

5. Riley Blackthorne rolled her eyes.

6. "Come on!" Emma whispered from my right, her words floating from her mouth in a thin white cloud.

7. On the day Claire became a member of the Glass house, somebody stole her laundry.

8. Digging graves is hell on a manicure, but I was taught good vampires clean up after every meal.

9. No one knew better than Walter Rice that the only safe place was away from other people.

10. I felt her fear before I heard her screams.

1. Tempest Rising - Jane True series by Nicole Peeler
2. Raised by Wolves - Raised by Wolves series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
3. Bitten - Women of the Otherworld (or just Otherworld) by Kelley Armstrong
4. Stray - Shifters series by Rachel Vincent
5. Forsaken - Demon Trappers series by Jana Oliver
6. My Soul to Take - Soul Screamers series by Rachel Vincent
7. Glass Houses - Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine
8. Red Headed Stepchild - Sabina Kane series by Jaye Wells
9. Cry Wolf - Alpha & Omega series by Patricia Briggs
10. Vampire Academy - Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead


If you haven't already, I would highly recommend any of these series. 2, 5, 6, 7 and 10 are all YA and the rest are adult.

Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions by various authors

A journey may take hundreds of miles, or it may cover the distance between duty and desire.

Sixteen of today's hottest writers of paranormal tales weave stories on a common theme of journeying.

Whether they're writing about vampires, faeries, angels, or other magical beings, each author explores the strength and resilience of the human heart.

So my very awesome and Amazing friend, Danielle La Paglia, sent me this book as a surprise. And she even had it signed for me!

I wanted to read this as it has some of my favourite authors in it but with anthologies I'm always wary about buying a full book for a few authors. I thought with this review, I'd give my thoughts on all the stories.

Giovanni's Farewell by Claudia Gray
Very sweet little romance story.
I've never read anything by Claudia Gray before and I really enjoyed my first story by her. I'd be interested in reading more from this world but it seems it's not part of a series or the beginning of a series so I may just pick up her Evernight series to see if I like it.

Scenic Route by Carrie Ryan
Post zombie apocalypse story about 2 sisters surviving.
Another new author for me and I really enjoyed the world she made. Plus bonus: this one is part of a series so I get to read more.

Red Run by Kami Garcia
A haunted road makes a girl seek revenge for her dead brother.
I thought this was a new author but I didn't realise she wrote Beautiful Creatures which I have on my bookcase but haven't read yet. I must bump it up my TBR.

Things About Love by Jackson Pearce
A genie tries to find out about love from a human.
I've never read anything by this author either but I quite liked this short. I liked the idea of genies researching love 'cos they don't feel it.

Niederwald by Rachel Vincent
Based in the Soul Screamers series, this follows Sabine & Emma on a road trip.
I love this series and Vincent's writing so I really enjoyed this little short.

Merely Mortal by Melissa Marr
Based in the Wicked Lovely series, this follows Keenan & Donia on a holiday.
I'm still new to the Wicked Lovely series, having only read the first book so I feel like I've spoilered myself a little by reading this. But Donia was one of my favourite characters in the book so I still liked this.

Facing Facts by Kelley Armstrong
Based in the Darkest Powers series, this has Tori finding out about Kit and putting her, and Chloe's, life in danger.
I love Kelley's writing and have recently re-read the whole Darkest Powers series so I was in the right mind frame for this story.

Let's Get This Undead Show On The Road by Sarah Rees Brennan
A vampire is the pulling factor for a boy band.
I didn't really enjoy this one, it was kinda cheesy. Thankfully only one of three that I didn't enjoy.

Bridge by Jeri Smith-Ready
A ghost finds someone to contact his brother.
The layout of this was a bit weird, it was written like a poem but I enjoyed the story. Unfortunately, the layout really was a put off.

Skin Contact by Kimberly Derting
A young boy has dreams that end up proving to be truth.
Another new author and a story that I really enjoyed. Very descriptive and well written.

Leaving by Ally Condie
A young girl lives in a society under a bubble but has a secret to hide.
Similar world to the Matched series. I really enjoyed this and liked the characters, there's potential for more.

At The Late Night, Double Feature, Picture Show by Jessica Verday
Young girl tries to prove to her family she can do the family job but runs into trouble.
Another one of the three that I didn't really enjoy. Again, it was because of the cheesiness - there was just too much of it.

IV League by Margaret Stohl
Two young "drinkers" try to get into college to get out of their dying town.
And here is the third story that I didn't enjoy. The story seemed good but it just didn't come across as well as it could have.

Gargouille by Mary E. Pearson
A gargoyle gets captured and gets her wings cut off, this means she'll lose her memory about being a gargoyle and all she knew.
I enjoyed this one, it was bittersweet but a nice wee read.

The Third Kind by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
One sister has impulses that she must follow, the other sister is just along for the ride - until it turns out she's part of the 'pulses.
I really enjoy Jennifer Lynn Barnes' writing and this seems like it could be a good start to a series.

Automatic by Rachel Caine
Based in the Morganville Vampires series, Michael almost loses it when he tries the new canned blood.
Another favourite author of mine so I loved this. Eve is one of my favourite characters as well so I like to see more of her.


So it seems this anthology has just made my Goodreads to-read list that little bit longer. I do like that I've found some new authors to read but I'm pretty sure my bank account doesn't. Oh well, the life of a bibliophile.


Book Depository: Enthralled
Amazon UK: Enthralled

Taken by Storm by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Bryn is young. Female. Human. But she was raised by wolves.

Now alpha of the Cedar Ridge Pack, she's a lone girl in a world where animal instincts rule. Physically weaker than any werewolf, she could never survive a battle with another alpha, the strongest and fiercest of the pack.

But Bryn knows the other wolves want what she has. Her territory. Her females. Her pack.

They want her dead.

The latest book in Barnes' fantastic Raised by Wolves series. I love this series and they're such a nice, quick read.

Bryn is still trying to cope with her actions in Trial by Fire, when she had to kill an infiltrator from Shay's pack that he sent to challenge her when Shay calls a senate meeting about a rabid on the loose, turns out the rabid is a female and Bryn suspects it to be Maddy. Either she or Callum must find Maddy first or she's up for grabs to all the other alphas - a terrible fate for any female werewolf. She takes Chase and Lake, leaving Devon behind to protect the pack in her absence. They track Maddy down but it turns out to be a lot harder to handle than her being rabid.

I loved getting insight into how Bryn is coping as alpha and how her friends and packmates are there to help her. She's feeling guilt over Lucas and Maddy, and thinks it's her fault that Maddy may be rabid. There are 2 major events in this book that are going to mean a HUGE change for the next book - there is going to be a next book, right? RIGHT? There better be because I love, love, love these books.


Book Depository: Taken By Storm
Amazon UK: Taken by Storm

Trial by Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Bryn faces the danger and joys of love and loyalty in this thrilling sequel to Raised by Wolves.
Bryn is now alpha of the Cedar Ridge Pack - although it's not simple when you're a human leading a band of werewolves. Then she finds a teenage boy bleeding on her front porch. Before collapsing, he tells her his name is Lucas, he's a Were, and Bryn's protection is his only hope.
But Lucas is part of another pack and Bryn has no right to claim him. As danger closes in, Bryn will have to accept that to be alpha, she will have to give into her animal instincts and become less human. And she's going to have to do it alone.

Click here for my review of Raised by Wolves, the first in this series.

My first thoughts on this book were that this line ("Before collapsing, he tells her his name is Lucas, he's a Were, and Bryn's protection is his only hope.") is completely false. Why do some blurbs have things like this? This isn't the way it happens in the book at all, it's all just a big lie.

My second thought was how much I love the author's writing style and her characters. I really like Bryn and Chase and Dev and Lake ..... and pretty much everyone in the book (even Caroline, you'll need to read the book to find out who she is).

This book really brings Bryn out as an alpha. This is her first big problem since taking control of the Cedar Ridge pack and it is a doozy!!! We get to learn a lot about Shay in this book as well as Ali, there's some background on them which is enjoyable. But the main part is getting to see Bryn grow as an alpha and realise exactly what being an alpha entails.

I love this series, it's YA but it's not too YA so it's still an enjoyable read for an adult. Can't wait for the sequel, and sort of annoyed that it'll probably be a loooooooooooong wait!


Book Depository: Trial By Fire
Amazon UK: Trial by Fire

Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

At the age of four, Bryn watched a rabid werewolf brutally murder her parents. She was rescued and taken in by the mysterious Callum, the alpha of his pack. Now fifteen, Bryn's been a human among werewolves, adhering to pack rule.

But the pack's been keeping a secret, and when Bryn goes exploring against Callum's orders, she finds Chase, a newly turned teen Were locked in a cage. Bryn needs answers, and she needs Chase to get them. Suddenly, it's Bryn and Chase against the werewolf world, whatever the consequences.

This is the first book I've read by Jennifer Lynn Barnes and the first I've actually heard of her. I picked it up on a whim because it was on a deal with another book I wanted to read, and I wasn't disappointed.

This was a different take on werewolf packs and with the added difference of a human in the mix. I instantly liked Bryn 'cos she can kick ass and stands up for herself against the pack alpha, who I also liked straight away.

The attraction between Chase and Bryn is instantaneous and inexplicable. Bryn's friendships are believable as are her relationships with her 'family'. The pacing is very good and keeps you in the story.

A must read and the sequel is on my wishlist already.

Rating
5/5


Book Depository: Raised By Wolves
Amazon UK: Raised by Wolves