Senior Year Bites by J.A. Campbell

Senior year is supposed to be fun: boys, dances and graduation.

It's significantly harder to enjoy it when you’re dead.

Truth or Dare is supposed to be fun too. It’s not even close to dangerous, so playing at Steph's house didn't seem like a bad idea. My dare? Spend the rest of the night in the graveyard next to her house. It was only a couple of hours until false dawn, my proscribed return time, so no big deal right? Right.

I survived the attack, but it took me a few days to figure out what was going on. I mean vampires might stalk pop culture, but they're just myths. Yeah. Not so much.

School is a lot more difficult when you're a nocturnal creature of the night. I was managing, but I couldn't keep it hidden from my friends for long. After I managed to accidentally save one of our cheerleaders from her drunk and ill-intentioned boyfriend. Steph decided that we should be cool, like superheroes, and fight crime.

Only I’m a vampire, not a hero, and we live in a sleepy New England town, so crime's a little harder to come by. At least it is until a serial killer moves into the area. He’s got the authorities stumped, but then again, the cops don't have a teenage, blood-sucking, non-hero on their team.

I read the description of this book ages ago and have been impatiently waiting on the release, so I'm glad it's finally out and I was able to get my grubby little hands on it (figuratively since it's an E-Book). I really liked Meg and her friends and was pleasantly surprised by the ending.

One little thing that irked me (and it really was a tiny thing) was the way the characters "spoke". They don't use contractions when they speak. Since I tend to "act" the parts out in my head, this was hugely noticeable to me and started grating a little, the further into the story I got. But again, I think this is purely a personal thing for me, I can see authors writing like this in the actual story but when it comes to the actual "speaking" parts? I don't know anyone that speaks like that so it kind of felt like padding.

Other than that small thing, I loved the book. The story was really well told and, as I stated, J.A. Campbell has a way of leading you down one path then suddenly opening another door for you. Very well written and I definitely hope to read more.


Amazon UK: Senior Year Bites

Tell Me More by Janet Mullany

Tell Me More...

Tell me every dirty detail....

Jo Hutchinson is obsessed with a man she’s never seen — only heard. Her late-night calls from the office to the mysterious “Mr. D.” grow increasingly intimate, until they finally become full-blown phone sex. Still, Jo doesn’t dare meet him. Instead, she embarks on a series of sizzling sexual escapades with other guys, sharing every sweaty moment with Mr. D. afterward, a passion-by-proxy arrangement they both get off on. But even as she’s charting brave new naughty worlds, Jo knows that it’s all really for Mr. D. Every pleasure she experiences — eagerly, athletically, vocally — is to please him.

Immersed in fantasy, reality just slips away — even the chance at that elusive combination of love and lust. Her new tenant, Patrick, an Irish hunk in geek’s clothing, is totally into her. And in her lucid moments, Jo knows she feels the same. Can she tear herself away from her kinky dreamworld long enough to appreciate what’s right in front of her? Or has Mr. D. ruined her for real life?

Release Date 26th July 2011

I'm not usually an erotica reader. I read books that have sex in them, yeah, but the sex isn't normally a huge part of the story or anything. This book is purely about the sex ...... and god-dammit, it's hot as hell.

About a quarter of the way into the book I was convinced it was actually just porn, there didn't seem to be any discernible storyline happening. This is in no way a complaint but, in my head, erotica has a storyline while porn just has sex. I, personally, don't mind either. But eventually a story started to unfold which kept my interest, not that the sex didn't but it was getting pretty uncomfortable reading sex all the time (if you get my meaning *winkwink*).

The story was well told, Jo is discovering a whole new world that she didn't know about and discovering a whole lot about her sexuality and then love rears it's head and she has a choice to make. The sex scenes are ..... well ..... they're amazing!

Definitely worth a read, although if you're uncomfortable reading sex in books don't bother 'cos this book has loads, and I loved it.


Book Depository: Tell Me More
Amazon UK: Tell Me More

Versatile Blogger? ........ Apparently!

So my friend, Julie Particka (or Seleste deLaney for some) decided, in her wisdom, to bestow this award on me. What makes me versatile? Not a fucking clue! Ask her.

So anyway, part of receiving this award is that I have to now share 7 interesting facts about me with people. Problem is .... I don't think I have 7 interesting facts to share! o_O But I'll try.

1) (On Julie's recommendation) I have a weird taste in house furnishings. My toilet lid is see through with barbed wire running through it and my bathroom light pull is a Hanging Harry.

2) Most people probably think I'm a rocker/mosher/whatever-you-want-to-call-it when they see me ~ tattoos and piercings generally do that to people. And while they wouldn't be wrong about that fact (I like me some rock music), they'd be surprised to learn that I also like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and the likes.

3) (Not really an interesting fact, but this is HARD!) I have a very poor body image. And even though I know I have a poor body image, it doesn't help me try and do anything about it. I think it's one of those things that stay with you throughout your whole life.

4) I hate kids. I was going to leave it at that but it looked very angry so I decided to write this little bit instead.

5) Most of my friends have actually never seen my real hair colour other than in pictures. I;ve been dying it since I was about 15.

6) People always ask me how many tattoos I have and seem to find it unbelievable when I say I don't know. I stopped keeping count a while ago and it means I have to count them every time someone asks so "I don't know" is easier.

7) I didn't realise how much I missed Veterinary Nursing until I got back into after a 3 and a half year break. The reason behind my break still stands but I wish I hadn't taken so long away from my career of choice.


OK, so now I have to give this to other bloggers? Hmmmmm, who should I torture on my list?! lol

Sara Hawthorn 'cos she's funny and smart and posts some good stuff.

Jax just 'cos she hasn't posted anything in a while so I think this should be her newest post :p

Tez Miller is funny and posts some good reviews and keeps me up to date with new covers.

Quarter Square by David Bridger

English Carpenter Joe Walker thinks his life is over when he discovers his wife and best friend having an affair. Restoring an abandoned theatre offers little hope for a fresh start ... until he follows a group of strangers through a hidden door into a world he never could have imagined.

In the haven known as Quarter Square, Joe encounters a community of supernatural street performers who straddle the mortal world and the magic realm known as the Wild. Here, Joe finds a sense of belonging he's never known before - and a chance to uncover the truth behind the frightening visions that have haunted him since childhood. He also meets Min, an enchanting singer who quickly captures his heart.

But as Joe settles into Quarter Square, he learns their haven is under attack, while an ancient enemy threatens to tear him and Min apart. Now, Joe must learn to wield his own powers in order to save the life he's come to love ...

This book started quite strong, it was a definite attention grabber and made me want to keep reading. I liked Joe although I have to question his sanity.

He stumbled upon Quarter Square completely by accident and bought the whole idea of a hidden village and magic with no questions! (SPOILERS: highlight to read) OK, so yeah we eventually find out that he has been reincarnated many times over thousands of years because he's Min's soul mate. But still, he shouldn't have bought it that quick, especially since he couldn't remember his past lives until after he'd found out about them from Min.

This small annoyance aside, I liked the story and the characters. And can't wait to read more ~ the end made it seem like there's more to come!


Amazon UK: Quarter Square

Cat's Tale: A Fairy Tale Retold by Bettie Sharpe

Once upon a time there was a scheming, lying tart who cared for nothing but her own pleasures and her shoe collection.

Once the peerlessly beautiful Lady Catriona, consort to the king, Cat's fortunes fall far when her aged husband dies. The king's wizard turns her into a cat and tries to drown her in the mill pond. Fortunately Cat is a clever survivor and enlists the help of Julian, the miller's youngest son, in her plan for revenge.

She originally sees Julian as a mere pawn for her plans to break her curse, but as they work together Cat comes to know and care for him. Even if the curse can be broken, can a good-hearted man love a woman who has been as vain and selfish as Cat?

I tried to like this book, I really did, but it was a struggle to get through. I know the whole point of Lady Catriona is that she's a spoiled little bitch queen and she needs a story to mend her wicked ways .... blah blah blah. But she was such a spoiled, moody little madam that I hated her from the get go, not good for the lead character in the story.

I still like the idea of the story. A classic kids story retold with a wee twist, I love that idea and it's the reason I wanted to read this book. So yeah, the story is fantastic ....... BUT the lead character is a major buzzkill and a total off putter for me.

So yeah, if you want to read a nice wee retell of a classic then read this. The good thing is, it's short. So if (like me) you're hating on Catriona, you don't have to put up with her for very long.


Amazon UK: Cat's Tale: A Fairy Tale Retold

Soul Survivor by Misty Evans

Haunted by tragedy, FBI profiler Rife St. Cloud is driven to find the person who brutally attacked six women. Unfortunately the only survivor, Keva Moon Water, has no memory of what happened, and the evidence makes her the prime suspect.

Keva cannot die. She has waited a thousand years to be reunited with the man she loves, whose soul sleeps within Rife. Though he refuses to believe her claims of immortality, there's no denying the passion that burns between them. Keva desperately hopes their sexual connection will be enough to awaken Rife's memories of the love affair that started a war and bound their souls together for all eternity.

But when Keva's own memories come trickling back, she realizes that a future with Rife depends upon confronting the mistakes of the distant past...

One complaint ....... too short! I really enjoyed this book, it's different from a lot that's on the market just now. A bit of magic, a bit of time travelling and a lot of sexual tension = Awesome!

Keva is a nice heroine and Rife sounds hot (and completely unlike the cover model that I assume is supposed to be him) and there is a lot of sexual attraction between them. Mainly because they are soul mates and have been for over a thousand years. It's just that Rife doesn't really know this.

The story is well paced and well told. I've decided I really like Misty Evans' writing style and will be looking up her Witches Anonymous series. And upon checking out the author's website, I have just discovered that Soul Survivor is the first in a series so (hopefully) I'll be reading more of that as well soon. Whether it'll be more of Keva or Rife or if it'll be new characters is an unanswered question (to me at least) at the moment.


Amazon UK: Soul Survivor

Goddess With A Blade by Lauren Dane

Rowan Summerwaite is no ordinary woman. Physical vessel to the Celtic Goddess Brigid and raised by the leader of the Vampire Nation, she's a supercharged hunter with the power to slay any vampire who violates the age-old treaty.

A recent string of murders has her at odds with Las Vegas's new Scion, the arrogant and powerful Clive Stewart. The killings have the mark of Vampire all over them, and Rowan warns Clive to keep his people in line - or she'll mete out her own brand of justice.

Though her dealings with Clive are adversarial to say the least, Rowan is intensely aware of her attraction to him. But she can't let it distract her from her duty-to find and battle the killer before more women die.

I'll admit it took me a while to get into this story. Nothing exciting happened for a while but then when it did, it came thick and fast. I'm glad I kept reading.

Rowan is an interesting character and her inner turmoil makes great reading. She's a vampire hunter that was raised by the top vampire, and then she becomes attracted to Clive so it's just all up in the air.

The story was okay but I did get sort of bored, the build up to the final fight took ages and the fight itself was over very quickly. It was still interesting and I will probably read any further installments.


Amazon UK: Goddess With a Blade

The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

Donna is a freak. An outcast. Branded with iron tattoos that cover her hands and arms, she is cursed with a magically-enhanced strength that she does everything she can to hide.

But now, the dark exiles of Faerie are coming and Donna must choose between saving her best friend - or betraying one of the world's greatest secrets.

This book has been sitting on my shelf since I bought it months ago, waiting to be read. It was one of those books I picked up on a whim and then every time I was going to start something new, it never took my fancy. I'm so glad I picked it up the other day ~ what a fantastic read.

The author manages to pull you in and still manages to give very little away! The story flows well and leaves you wanting more. My one big happy is that she leaves a few storylines open so I knew she must have other books planned, upon checking her website, I was pleased to discover that this is in fact the first in a trilogy.

It makes me very happy to know I'll be reading more of Donna, Nav and Xan. Very happy indeed!


Book Depository: The Iron Witch
Amazon UK: The Iron Witch

Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton

Ari Selkirk has always stood out. With her teal-coloured eyes and freakish silver hair, it's hard not to. And she's always been alone. Her mother died when she was tiny, and she's grown up in foster care, longing for some understanding of who she is and where she came from. When her search for answers uncovers a message from her mother with the single word 'RUN' on it, Ari realises that someone, or something, is getting too close. But it's impossible to protect herself when she doesn't know who or what she's running from.

Returning to her birthplace in the rebuilt city of New Orleans, she discovers she isn't so different after all. But why is every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, afraid of her? The truth is both disturbing and terrifying ...

So I saw this cover and thought "Oooh purple!", picked it up and then thought "Umm, what's up with her face?" Yes, she's is doing that annoying trout-mouth pose which I hate and think anyone that does it looks stupid. Besides that small flaw, I decided to buy the book 'cos it sounded pretty good.

It was great! I loved Ari, and her quest to find out about herself was a great storyline. I've read so many vampire/werewolf/angel/demon/god books lately and I can honestly say this particular theme was a supernatural first for me ....... and I love it!

I'd say this was an older YA, Ari is 17 and there are some mentions of rape in it, so not for the younger crowd. A must read for any YA supernatural readers out there though.

On another note, I would've definitely preferred the US cover. Not often that I say I prefer US over UK covers but this one was no contest.

Book Depository: Darkness Becomes Her
Amazon UK: Darkness Becomes Her

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