Eye of the Tempest by Nicole Peeler

Nothing says 'home' like being attacked by humans with very large guns, as supernatural halfling Jane True discovers when she arrives in Rockabill. These are professionals, brought in to kill, and they bring her love interest Anyan down before either of them can react. Seeing Anyan fall awakens a terrible power within Jane, and she nearly destroys herself taking out their attackers.
Jane wakes, weeks later, to discover that she's not the only thing that's been stirring. Something underneath Rockabill is coming to life: something ancient, something powerful, and something that just might destroy the world.
Jane and her friends must act, striking out on a quest that only Jane can finish. For whatever lurks beneath the waters of the Old Sow must be stopped ... and Jane's just the halfling for the job.

I had put off buying the last couple Jane True books purely because I don't like the new UK covers.

But I then realised that the US covers are also slightly different so I'll just have to live with change and I'll be buying the ones I've missed next week.

This book couldn't come soon enough for any Anyan fans (like me), because this is the one where we get some Anyan sex ..... or so I was hoping. But Nicole Peeler is a little tease in her writing, every time Jane (and I) get to close to some Anyan sex, we get interrupted! And oh boy, there's a good lot of Anyan in this book which pleases me to no end.

I had totally forgotten how funny Nicole's writing was. With Jane describing her fantasy of humping Anyan's kitchen stove (which sounds like me a bit), and lines like "Undulating is polite for greasy" when describing her hair. Peeler has a real talent for keeping a reader hooked in the story, there's always plenty of funny, snarky lines and the sexual tension between Jane and Anyan is .... well, amazing! But of course, I would love an Anyan of my very own so I may be a tad bias in my views.

If you like Urban Fantasy and you like hot smexy scenes, then pick up a Jane True book. Jane is a totally loveable and relatable lead character and she's so easy to slip into after a day at work.


Book Depository: Eye Of The Tempest
Amazon UK: Eye Of The Tempest

Revealing Eden by Victoria Foyt

In a post-apocalyptic world where resistance to an overheated environment defines class and beauty, Eden Newman's white skin brands her as a member of the lowest social class, the weak and ugly Pearls. Doomed unless she mates soon, Eden hopes a Coal from the dark-skinned ruling class will save her. But when she unwittingly compromises her father's secret biological experiment, perhaps mankind's only hope, Eden is cast out - into the last patch of rainforest and into the arms of a powerful beast-man she believes is her enemy, despite her overwhelming attraction to him. To survive, Eden must change - but only if she can redefine her ideas of beauty - and of love. Along the way, she receives some beautiful insight from her virtually adopted aunt Emily Dickinson.

Release Date 10th January 2012

I was actually surprised by how political this books was. It's very race centred with the "coals" being the ruling race and looking down on the lowest-of-the-low "pearls". "Pearls" have a special section on public transport and they work mainly as lowly servants to the "coals", it's all like a reverse of the real racism that used to happen and, unfortunately, is still going about. In this post apocalyptic world, the sun's radiation is too high for people to go outside in the daylight hours. The lighter your skin, the more danger you're in. This means that "pearls" are low in number while "coals" are rising up. You must mate by your 18th birthday or you're cut off from all resources and "pearls" also have to cover up their white skin so they don't offend the "coals", and also so they don't get killed.

Eden has a job in a research lab purely because of her dad's genius, a pearl would never have such a high job otherwise. She unwittingly brings about the downfall of her dad's experiment and she and her father must escape along with her father's newest test subject. Eden's views change drastically while stuck in the jungle with Bramford, her former boss and father's current test subject.

I think Eden is a relatable lead, although there are times when her immaturity and misplaced anger make you shout at her. She thinks Bramford hates her and aims her anger at him, not knowing the real reason for the way Bramford acts to her. I really enjoyed Bramford as a character, yes he was egotistical but he was also very centred and down to earth at the same time.

I don't think this book is for everyone but if you like dystopian/post-apocalyptic books that are different from the others? This is the one for you.


Book Depository: Revealing Eden
Amazon UK: Revealing Eden

The Stuttering Tattoo by Greg Logsted

Steven Bishop is extraordinarily ordinary. He goes to school. He rides his motorcycle. He stutters. His best friend is a former Colombian cartel hit man turned cook/construction worker. You know, ordinary. All that changes the day Becky Moore walks into his classroom. Becky is dazzling, enigmatic.

One day Steven gives Becky a ride home on his motorcycle. There, they discover a severed arm, one of the fingers of which still has an unusual ring attached: a circle, in the middle of which is a heart, at the center of which is a bold number 37. While comforting Becky, Steven discovers a tattoo at the base of her neck: it is the same symbol. And so begins a thrilling descent into a world of crime and murder, a ride wilder than any Steven has taken before.

So one thing that I'm still confused about in this book, is the title. It really doesn't make any sense. The lead character stutters and Becky has a tattoo ..... but why The Stuttering Tattoo? It makes no sense to me what-so-ever. But that's got nothing to do with the actual storyline, just a little irk that I had.

Interesting and tense .... mystery, crime type book? I suck at genre-fying books, just an FYI. Steven is instantly in love with Becky, as all teenagers are want to do in books. But there's more to Becky than meets the eye, especially when she's completely against him after the whole arm in the garden incident. Turns out, her "family" aren't very happy with her. I can't say too much without spoilers.

Steven is a good lead, he's imperfect and has some flaws, but he works hard to try and find out more about Becky and save her from her "family". A proper wee page turner that turned out to be a quick read since I didn't want to put it down and do a silly thing like sleep (unfortunately I had to at some point, I do have a job!). Definitely worth a pick up and I'll be keeping an eye out for more from Greg Logsted.


Amazon UK: The Stuttering Tattoo

Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan absorbs their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Fifteen Realms, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.

Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince — leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life....

Release Date 27th December 2011

I love Maria's Study series and her Glass series, if this book is anything to go by, I'm also going to love the Healer series. I haven't read any of the Glass or Study books in a while so I don't know whether this new series is set in the same world, although it does seem like the same world or at least a similar one.

Avry is just as intriguing a lead as Yelena (Study) and Opal (Glass) and promises to keep the reader enthralled for as long as Maria keeps the Healer series going. Maria seems to like trilogies so it wouldn't surprise me if this was one. And once again Maria manages to keep us hooked with a not-there romance, we just need the promise of one to be happy. I think I may be slightly in love with Kerrick, and he does remind me slightly of Valek (Study).

Definitely a must-read for all Maria V. Snyder fans, and if you've never read anything by Maria this would be a great starting point. Although I also recommend any of her books.


Book Depository: Touch Of Power
Amazon UK: Touch of Power

New Girl by Paige Harbison

They call me 'New Girl'...

Ever since I arrived at exclusive, prestigious Manderly Academy, that's who I am. New girl. Unknown. But not unnoticed — because of her.

Becca Normandy — that’s the name on everyone's lips. The girl whose picture I see everywhere. The girl I can’t compare to. I mean, her going missing is the only reason a spot opened up for me at the academy.
And everyone stares at me like it's my fault.

Except for Max Holloway — the boy whose name shouldn't be spoken. At least, not by me. Everyone thinks of him as Becca's boyfriend ... but she's gone, and here I am, replacing her. I wish it were that easy. Sometimes, when I think of Max, I can imagine how Becca's life was so much better than mine could ever be.

And maybe she's still out there, waiting to take it back.

Release Date 31st January 2012

Know what bugs me about YA books? The blurb never really tells you all that much about the story. This one's not too bad but I've picked some up in the shop before that have had, like, one sentence as the blurb. Like I said, this one's not as bad as that but it still follows that YA rule of thumb where you don't give too much away.

So as far as I can now remember, we don't actually find out who "I" is until the very end of the book. I can't remember reading her name until either the last or 2nd to last page so I'm not going to write it here. I shall call her "I"!

"I" lives in Florida and her parents have managed to get her a place in the prestigious Manderly Academy, a place "I" so badly wanted to go to since she read Harry Potter that her parents have been trying to get her into it since she was 13. "I" doesn't really want to go anymore but she does because she doesn't want to hurt her parents. She doesn't realise she's "replacing" Becca Normandy, the QUEEN of Manderly. She has Becca's old room and room mate - this does not please said room mate. Everyone seems to hate her since she's Becca's "replacement", and it also doesn't help that she has feelings for Becca's ex. Cue High School drama multiplied by 10!

Now I'll admit, it's been a while since I was in Secondary School (it's what we call high school over here) and I never exactly hung out with the "cool" kids but if this book is anything to go by? I'm glad I didn't! These kids are MEAN! They all seem obsessed about Becca and her room mate in particular is convinced she's coming back and constantly tells "I" not to get comfortable. What we find out through Becca's POV chapters is that everything isn't as happy-pretty as people thought. Becca's a bitch with a capital B! But in the classic high school cliche, she has everyone wrapped round her finger.

An excellent read by the author of Here Lies Bridget, Paige Harbison proves to be a talented author who I think will prove popular in the YA market.


Book Depository: New Girl
Amazon UK: New Girl

On A Dark Wing by Jordan Dane

Five years ago, Abbey Chandler cheated Death. She survived a horrific car accident, but her "lucky" break came at the expense of her mother's life and changed everything. After she crossed paths with Death - by taking the hand of an ethereal boy made of clouds and sky - she would never be normal again.

Now she’s the target of Death's ravens and an innocent boy's life is on the line. When Nate Holden - Abbey’s secret crush - starts to climb Alaska's Denali, the Angel of Death stalks him because of her.

And Abbey finds out the hard way that Death never forgets.

Release Date 27th December 2011

Quite an interesting read although I have to say, I was a bit ..... disturbed? ..... by Abbey's obsession with Nate, it bordered on creepy and stalker-ish. It was more than just a teenage crush, or maybe it was just a teenage crush but, since Nate was mentioned or fantasised about every other paragraph, my mind pushed it into obsession.

But the story was good other than that. I liked the take on death, although I didn't see Death as a young boy, I'm kind of hoping that Abbey seen Death as a teenage boy 'cos she's a teenager and that a person would see what they would most relate too. I liked how the story was told from a few different POVs, especially the parts with Abbey and Nate, since it let you see what was happening on both sides of the stories.

Definitely worth a read and a nice change from all the current YA books.


Book Depository: On A Dark Wing
Amazon UK: On a Dark Wing

We have a Winner

The winner of our Rachel McClellan giveaway is Anne Michaud.

Congratulations Anne, on winning Fractured Light and Rachel's "special" prize

This necklace is similar to one that's mentioned in Fractured Light.

Thank you to everyone who entered, and congrats again to Anne for winning.

The Last Slayer by Nadia Lee

Ashera del Cid is a talented demon hunter, but when she kills a demigod's pet dragon, the hunter becomes the hunted. Her only potential ally is Ramiel, a sexy-as-hell demon. Now the two must work together to battle dragons and demigods ... and the chemistry crackling between them.

Ramiel has his own reasons for offering Ashera his protection. He knows her true identity and the real reason the demigods want her dead. What he can't predict is how she'll react when she discovers he knew who she was all along...

Ashera is shocked to discover that she is the only daughter of the last slayer. To claim her destiny, she and Ramiel must join forces to face down danger and outwit their enemies. Only then will she be able to truly accept her legacy...

Release Date 26th December 2011

I really loved this book, the story and characters were very well written. I loved Ashera and Ramiel, I even loved the bad guys. Ashera is an interesting character, although one thing I didn't like was how she was always described as plain or mousy, and I think even ugly at one point. Just because her foster sister was supposed to be super model gorgeous.

But aside from that, I found the story to be very enjoyable and it has dragons .... I love dragons! And I especially love a particular dragon in this called Toshi, he was just so cute, made me want one of my own. I will definitely be looking out for more in this series and the author.


Amazon UK: The Last Slayer

Interview with Rachel McClellan plus a Contest

I’d like to welcome Rachel McClellan to the blog, she’s the author of upcoming YA book, Fractured Light which is due for release on the 7th February 2012, and she’s agreed to come by for an interview.


Julie-Anne: What made you decide to write a YA book?

Rachel: A teenager’s life is a magical thing. Every event is heightened by emotions making for great tension and a lot of fun. I’ve worked with teenagers for years so it felt natural to write a story geared towards them.


JA: You had a big Gaelic background in your book, do you have any Celt in your own heritage?

R: Actually, I do. My grandmother hails from Norway, while the other side of my family came from Ireland. A few years ago I had the opportunity to travel to Ireland and was blown away by the beauty and ambiance of the landscape. I can honestly say that there was something about Ireland that focused me as a writer.


JA: Where did you get the idea of using Light as a power?

R: I’ve always heard of people who are able to see others auras, a light/energy surrounding a person. I thought it would be cool to take this light and energy and turn it into a real power someone could use.


JA: I’m hoping there will be a 2nd book, will we get more of May in there?

R: There will be a book two, FRACTURED TRUTH, tentatively set for release in February 2013. I’m super excited about it because it’s set at an all girls school where everyone has to be fair, nice, non-competitive, etc. On top of dealing with what happened to her at the end of FRACTURED LIGHT, Llona’s going to have some serious issues with Lucent Academy’s rules.
As for May, she’s right there with Llona. BFF’s forever! And in book two May will be developing her own power as a Fury. Fire. Is. Cool. Together, with a few more interesting friends, they’ll uncover a huge plot, that, unless they stop it, will destroy the Aura’s.
(*Happy Dance*) ~ JA


JA: What is your writing style? Do you plan and outline or do you just go for it?

R: Before I begin any story, I always know the ending. I won’t even start typing unless I know how it’s all going to end. But once I know this, I just go for it. I do check my word length every so often to make sure I’m where I need to be and sometimes I’ll loosely outline a few chapters ahead.


JA: I know some authors will make up a playlist before writing a book, are you one of them?

R: Freak, yes, I love music. I have a playlist I listened to all the time when writing Fractured Light. One of these days, I’ll put it up on my blog because it fits the book perfectly.
(I always like seeing an author's playlist) ~ JA


JA: For any aspiring authors out there, what’s your advice on getting published?

R: When people find out I’m published, our conversation goes like this:
“I love to write, too,” they say.
“Really? What do you write?” I say.
“Pretty much everything. I’ve got a couple of short stories and a novel I’ve been working on for awhile. I’d love to get them published.”
“Do you belong to any writing groups?”
“No.”
“Have you taken any writing classes?”
“No.”
“Have you read any books on writing?”
“No.” Pause. “Do I have to do any of those things to be published?”
“Yes!”
An aspiring author must learn all there is to writing and publishing a book. It’s a long, and sometimes lonely, road. It can be discouraging, but once writing gets into your soul, it becomes just as important as breathing.


JA: Who are some of your favourite authors?

R: There are so many, but I really enjoy Dean Koontz, Suzanne Collins, Joshua Gaylord, Ayn Rand, C.S. Lewis, Robert Louis Stevenson, Mary Shelley, James Dashner, and on and on.


JA: Did any particular book or author inspire you to start writing?

R: There’s not a particular book that made me want to start writing, but there are books I’ve studied to help me become a better author. I studied Odd Thomas and The Reapers are the Angels for character development, I studied The Maze Runner and Hunger Games for pacing and tension, and I studied Jekyll and Hyde and The Book Thief for the way they used words to describe feelings, events, objects, etc.
If you have time to read while you’re writing, what are some of your favourite series out just now? The Maze Runner series is a really good one. Of course Hunger Games. I enjoyed the first few books of the Uglies series. And if you’re in it for the long haul, The Outlander Series is also good.
(I've only recently discovered The Hunger Games myself, they're great!) ~ JA



Thanks so much for stopping by and any readers out there, I highly recommend Fractured Light when it comes out.



And now ........... the contest!

The prize is a copy of Fractured Light, when it's released, and a special gift from Rachel herself which I am not going to reveal, but I will tell you it's Fractured Light connected. To win this great prize, just answer the question below, which Rachel has kindly provided for me:

I love Tim Burton movies. Without looking it up (honor code people), how many Tim Burton films can you name?

As Rachel says, please follow the honour code and don't use Google. The winner will NOT be chosen by numbers alone. Just comment below with your answers and remember to leave your e-mail address so I can contact the winner.


Last date to enter is: 7th December

Kiss of Twilight by Loribelle Hunt

Dupree Jackson is everything a senior soldier of the Order of Templar should be. Cold. Unbreakable. A master at arms in the fight against demons. But as a hybrid, Dupree is beginning to lose himself to the demon half of his soul. One woman has the power to save him. If he lets her.

Kara Stone wants two things in life: to be merged with a demon so that she can become a full member of the Order; and Dupree Jackson. She knows they are meant to be together, if only Dupree would love her back.

Though his desire for Kara is undeniable, Dupree's need to protect her is stronger. Not wanting to see her merge, to face the internal struggle he deals with every day, he refuses to bond with her. But when Kara becomes a target and uncovers a dark secret about her past, Dupree may no longer have a choice...

Release Date 26th December 2011

Yet another book that I didn't realise was a sequel, so I now have to go buy the first book in the series since I liked this one so much. The story was very well told and nicely paced and the characters were well written, although there were a lot that got the spotlight.

From what I can gather of the first book and this book, I think I can see what couple is going to be the focus of the 3rd book. I really loved Dupree and Kara, and even though their relationship was written very will-they-won't-they, it wasn't too tedious. I find a lot of books that are written that way can get quite boring, but Kiss of Twilight done it write because even though it was written that way, it was still obvious what was happening so it was easy to hold out.


Amazon UK: Kiss of Twilight