Country vs Country - Black Dagger Brotherhood

The layout is weird for this one - it's UK old, UK new, US when there's 3 and UK, US when there's 2

Danielle: Wow. Finally a series I definitely like the US covers better for. The first UK cover is okay, but it isn't great. The new UK I don't care much for at all. The original US cover is my favourite. It's the cover I have and love. I love the colour, I love the dagger in the title. I love that JR Ward's name doesn't take over the entire cover. I can say I almost hate the new US cover. Just no.
Julie-Anne: I have the original UK covers and I like them okay but I don't really love any covers here. The only thing I like on any of them is the sword on the US. I really don't like the new UK covers which is disappointing since it's the only ones available now. Based on the sword thing, I suppose I'll choose US.
D: Um, it's called a dagger? Hello! :D
J: Sorry!!

D: Still picking the US cover here. I love the blue. When you see these covers in person, there's almost a frosting in the ink. They almost shimmer a little. The font is embossed a little, and they're just really pretty. I don't mind the original UK cover here. I do like the colour, and I don't mind the font. I'm not fond of the new UK cover at all.
J: Again, no love from me here. I really don't like the covers that much and, as much as I like this series, I hate the titles. I'm going to choose UK just because I feel I have to choose one.

D: Again, US cover for me. Like I said, these covers are really pretty in person. You don't quite get how nice they are on the page here. This one glimmers a silvery colour, and the blue of the title really stands out. The original UK is not too bad. The red is nice, but the cover is a little too dark on the whole for my liking. I really don't care for the new UK, though it looks like they've tried to re-create Z's slave bands a little here. I still don't love it.
J: I know Dani keeps saying the US cover are pretty in person but I'm only seeing them in jpeg form and I don't like them. I don't really like the UK ones either. Never been keen on the colour of the UK cover and I don't like the model on the new ones. Again, I feel I have to pick one but I'm struggling. I'm going to choose UK again.
D: I wish there was a shot we could find so the US cover showed better. They have a really nice sheen on them.

D: Sticking with US here. I'm not a huge orange fan, but this cover is really nice. I like that they added fangs to "Marissa". They're nice, dainty fangs, so I don't feel they're cheesy or overpowering. The purple of the original UK cover is nice, but I don't like their model for Marissa at all. The second UK cover I don't like at all.
J: Still not keen on the new UK covers. I also like the wee fangs on the female model but I prefer the colour of the UK cover so I'm going to choose that one.

D:I will stand by my choosing of the US cover here too. However! I will say that I didn't like the "facial hair" on V's model. V has a full goatee and moustache, so though the attempt at having a model with facial hair was nice, it didn't work. It looks like someone just penciled it on. I don't like the original UK cover at all. The new UK cover would be my second choice here. At least that model (Who is highly over-used for covers, so I don't want him as my V) has actual facial hair. They've also tried to make his eyes more V-like and they also tried to have his tattoo done. It's a valiant effort, but I still prefer the US. The cover is really pretty.
J: I agree with the cheesy facial hair on the US cover, looks totally fake. I don't pay attention enough to cover models to recognise the new UK guy but I feel he's better for V than the others. I mean, the guy on the original UK doesn't even have facial hair! Again, not a fan of any cover but based on the look of the 2nd UK cover model, I'm going with that.

D: This cover for the US issue is my least favourite of the original 5. The colour, and the Phury model are both ugly. I still like it better than the UK, just because I dislike having faces showing covers. I really don't like the new UK cover at all. Not the colour, not the model, nothing.
J: I have mutual dislike for all these covers. The model in the new UK cover is just bleh and I don't like the colour of the other two. I totally can't pick a favourite here, don't like any.

J: These covers are pretty much the same with just slight changes. The changes are small (more light on the face in the UK one, the typeface & border details) but, of the two covers, the UK appeals more to me.
D: I agree that these are basically the same cover. I like the shading colour on the UK better, but I feel like the US is clearer. I've said before a bunch of times that I don't like to have faces on covers, and this is no exception. However, I feel the UK cover is not as clear. Grainier maybe? I like the font on the UK better, but I like the outlining on the US better. This is also where JR Ward's name started taking over the covers, making them more the focal point - which I don't like. Yes, her name is important and it sells a lot of books. But I like my covers to show the art/photo more than the title/author. I think I'll choose US only because I like the dagger is still there, and the gentle swirly patterns at the bottom.
J: Don't ya mean the sword is still there? :p

J: I hate the cover model on the UK one and I also hate headless torsos on covers so again, I have to pick my least disliked one rather than my favourite one. And since I really dislike the expression on the UK cover model's face, I'm going with US.
D: It's US for me too here, though there are some things I dislike. John-Matthew didn't have tattoos like this, and I really dislike covers adding imaginary features. I also dislike headless models, but I dislike full facial shots better, so this is preferred. I also don't understand why "Xhex" is leaving gouges in his chest with her painted nails. (Xhex would never wear wear makeup, never mind polish her nails). One thing about this book, is in the US hardcovers, they have their names in the Old Language inside. It was a nice touch. I also agree about the expression of the UK model. His face also looks like it's covered in blemishes. Or is that supposed to be sweat? Either way? Blah.
J: Yes about the Xhex thing! It's been a while since I read the book but I thought she wasn't a girly girl. The old language name on the inside sounds nice.

J: I like the background lightning on the UK cover but not the model pose. For the US one, I don't like her eyes and the blue is too much, I feel they could have toned it down a little. If I have to choose a favourite, I'll go with US.
D: I also choose US here. What is the UK model looking at? He also looks like the same dude from Lover Mine, just from another angle. Payne's eyes look to fake in the US cover though. I understand she has unusual eyes, but this looks dumb. Better to have just left them. Or, had her close her eyes or something. The blue is a bit much here, but I don't hate it.
J: "What is the UK model looking at?" Umm, the lightning?

J: Not keen on the colour of the US one, and I like the tattoo detail on the UK one (can't remember if Tohr actually has a tattoo though, it's been a while since I've read the books). I do like that it looks like the same model, and he almost looks like he’s making the same face. I'm going to go with UK on this one.
D: This was one of the covers I was really disappointed with. This is definitely one that should have had the female in front, and Tohr not showing at all. Tohr is not attractive by this point in the books, so this is a gross misrepresentation. I also thought it looked like the same model on both covers. I have to disagree on the tattoo though. I don't like it. I think they may have been trying to have the Brotherhood mark on his chest, but it's a scar, not a tattoo, and definitely not that big. I think US wins out for me, though I don't actually care for either one.

J: I haven't read this book but I'm going to assume this is Blay on the cover? I really don't like the pose or face of the guy in the US cover. I'm never a fan of the topless male on covers but I do prefer the UK over the US for this one.
D: No. Just no. I almost feel like I can't even begin to state my grievances. I hate the US cover so hard. It's supposed to be Qhuinn, who up until the book before this one was my favourite character. I LOVE him. This model (and the UK model for that matter) don't look anything like how Qhuinn should look. You can't really tell in this shot, but "Qhuinn" on the UK cover has the heterochromia showing. That's the only reason I knew I it was Qhuinn though. This cover was such a disappointment. Fitting, since the book was too. I don't understand what is happening with the UK cover at all. Why are there street signs? The model I think would have been more fitting for Manny. He looks old, and not powerful at all. Blah.

J: Last book in the series I read was Lover Unleashed but I have such a strong thought that Wrath has long hair. Yeah, in the US cover it could just be pulled back in a ponytail (and it sort of looks like it is) but in the UK cover, it's definitely short. So either I'm wrong, or he cut his hair in one of the preceding novels or the publishers just don't give a crap about their models looking like the character. I think I'm going US for this one.
D: He didn't cut it. I think it's supposed to be pulled back. You can kind of see the tail over his right shoulder just a touch. Neither cover pleases me, to be honest. Wrath has black hair, and both models are sandy brown at best. Again, I'm not sure why he's on the street, naked in the UK cover, but I really dislike the US model all together. The only thing I like about the US cover is the throne. I also haven't read this one yet, since I was so badly disappointed with the last one. US, if I have to choose. Only because the throne is cool looking.
J: Standing naked on street corners is the best way to hide your secret race, didn't you know that? I mean, nobody would look twice at the naked guy!

J: Hmmm, while I like the colour of the US over the UK I don't like the headless back thing going on. Since I don't like the flashy bit in the middle of the UK cover, I'm going to choose the US cover.
D: It's US for me here too. I don't mind the headless back, since I think Trez and iAm would be really hard to capture in a model. I think the UK model just looks wimpy, which the Shadow brothers are not. They're supposed to be huge and powerful. I'll choose US here.

Julie-Anne: I like this series but not enough to have rushed into reading the books I've missed. I do plan on catching up on the series but I just don't feel an immediate rush to do so. Cover wise, I've never been a huge fan of the covers of the titles of this series, at least the last two have fairly okay names.

Danielle: The first what, five books in this series were really really good. Loved them. I used to go to the bookstore on release day to buy them. And I may or may not have done a little happy dance once I had the book in my hands. I also may or may not have petted the covers all the way home. I also really loved the covers in the beginning, and I feel like the cover love tapered off with the books becoming less enjoyable. I do still intend to finish the series, but I am in no hurry at all. I have the King, and I read the first chapter, but it did not pull me in at all. The books have also gotten to a point where there are too many heads to play in. You never really get to the main couple's story like you did with the earlier books where, say, Wrath and Beth were the main focus, with a little tiny bit of insight to the Brother whose book was next. Now in the series, we're lucky if we get ten whole chapters out of 25 with the actual cover couple. But enough about that. I do recommend this series on the whole. One day I'll catch up.

Lion's Share by Rachel Vincent

Abby Wade has a dangerous secret.

Two months ago, she disobeyed an order, but instead of kicking her out of the Pride, Jace offered her a job. Since then, she's been battling a completely inappropriate crush on the young, hot Alpha. But when accepting his job offer seems like the only way to keep her skeletons safely in their closet, Abby doesn't hesitate.

Jace Hammond has a big problem.

A rogue is slaughtering humans in his territory, and he must eliminate the threat before the entire shifter species is exposed. There could not be a worse time for Abby to accept a job he only offered as a boost to her confidence. Abby is smart, beautiful, and resilient — more than enough to distract any man from the mission. Unfortunately, she may just be the worst enforcer ever to hold the title.

As they hunt the killer, Abby's secret becomes a threat to Jace's authority and to her own life. But the real danger is the grip she has on his twice-shy heart.

OMG! You guys have no idea how excited I was to read this book! This was literally me about this book ...

I really loved the Shifters series and was sad when it finished so when Rachel Vincent announced this new series I was very excited!

This book confirms why Rachel Vincent in one of my favourite authors. She did not disappoint. This book was hugely anticipated (not just by me, I'm sure by all Shifter fans) and she didn't let me down. It was action packed and had already developed and well loved characters so it was easy to just fall into.

I started reading it on lunch at my work and got pissed when I kept having to stop. I got so into it that I actually read some before bed one morning, which is saying a lot since I work 13 hour shifts and only get about 8 hours in the house between shifts so tend to just sleep. So yeah, it takes a fantastic book to get me to give up my between shifts sleeping pattern.

We all know and love Jace but we also get to know and love Abby in her first full length outing. You can tell she's enough like Faythe to cause the council worries but she's also her own person and wants to stay that way. As much as she has feelings for Jace, she also has a huge secret to hide from him as her Alpha so it kinda gets in the way of their relationship becoming anything - well that, and other things.

I'm really struggling to write this purely due to the fact that I loved it and don't have a bad thing to say about it. I'm dying to get the actual paperback version when it comes out and I cannot wait for the next book to see what's next for Abby.

Also this is Rachel's first indie published book so please buy from an actual retailer.


Amazon UK: Lion's Share
Amazon.com: Lion's Share
Amazon.ca: Lion's Share
Smashwords: Lion's Share
Kobo: Lion's Share
Nook UK: Lion's Share
Barnes & Noble: Lion's Share
iTunes: Lion's Share

Guest Post by Seleste deLaney and Kiss of Life Review

Sel's Adventures in Online Dating…the Blog Edition

I'm usually prepared when I do a blog tour for bloggers to ask me to write about all sorts of things. I wasn't, however, prepared to be asked to write about online dating. I mean, I started writing a romance that has to do with online dating, so I suppose if this were a tour for that book, I'd be less surprised, but…vampires and online dating.


Okay, I can give this a whirl.

In fairness, when I was active on OKCupid, I did post a lot on Twitter about the weird/funny/disturbing messages I would get. So, I suppose the curiosity makes sense. I only worry that the little snippets were far more entertaining than a full story will be.


I started online dating about two months after the ink was finally dry on my divorce. I'd gone out with a couple guy friends prior to that but things hadn't worked out for various reasons (ie—lack of interest on one or both parts). Several people I know have found love online though, so I figured there was no harm in giving it a go.


Dear gods was I wrong.


In fairness, I've spoken with people who have told me that the online dating environment was totally different just a year couple years earlier, so I think I simply missed the window of opportunity, but let's get to the good stuff….


Imagine standing over a cove in the ocean. It's really deep and you can see clearly. There's a ton of fish in there, but there’s also a few sharks. No worries, you think. After all, you’re wearing your new great-white-shark-proof bikini. No way are those jerks getting you.


So you jump in.


And you're suddenly swarmed by fish. I don't mean one or two, I mean dozens. You haven't even put on your flippers (filled out your profile) yet, but there are all these fish demanding that you feed them.


And then, seemingly at random, some of the fish turn into sharks. And others are apparently piranhas…which your bikini doesn't do a thing to stop.


That's pretty much what online dating feels like.


I could start having a perfectly normal conversation with a guy about…fitness, then boom! Dick pic.


Or, we could be talking about the upcoming Marvel movie when suddenly he starts talking about all the things he's going to do to me (you know, when he gets me alone in his bed….because I guess he keeps his bed at the movie theater or something.)


Examples of piranha are numerous. But my favorites were always the guys who had nothing in common with me, but were intent on getting together anyway.


Me: Well, I see by your profile that you're into religious extremism, gun worship, and hate animals. I'm not really sure we'd get along.
Guy: Of course we will. You just need to meet me. I promise, I'm a lot of fun in person.
Me: Yeah….no. I'm not sure I can get past the idea that you'd hate my pets and try to kill them in the name of whatever god you worship.
Guy: Seriously, none of that matters.
Me: How can it not matter?
Guy: Because I think you're hot.
Me: *blink*

Sadly, that type of conversation is not unique (though I did amp up the negatives so as to avoid talking about any one guy in particular). Because to a lot of men view dating sites as nothing more than a meat market, and every woman on there is nothing but a side of beef or a slab of bacon. (mmmm…bacon…)


Are there good ones in the mix? Yes. I'm sure there are. But I never met any of them. Most guys didn't make it past my intensive screening process (which involved "talk to me for a while until I'm comfortable with the idea of meeting you and it fits in my schedule." Lack of patience tended to make their inner shark come out to play…or they swam away.) But of those I did go make dates with, they fell under the following headings (sometimes more than one):

• No show (and no call either - they just disappeared)
• Hung up on his ex
• Self-involved asshole
• Doesn't have his own place (and I don't mean lives with roomies, I mean lives at home and apparently girlfriends aren't allowed there)
• Looking for a hookup only
• Bitches about every woman he's ever met

Needless to say, I've given up (at least for now) on online dating. It's quite possible that one of those fish that swam away was the right one. (And I often wonder about the one I let get away. I ended up running into him at a concert. Let's just say there were some regrets involved. But such is the danger in googling a guy with a lot of info online after already being burned by too many of the aforementioned examples.)


Will I try it again? My heart says no. It takes a lot of time and energy to be honest, and it's terribly disheartening. But…at some point I'm going to want to date again, and in this day and age, I'm not really sure what the options are.


Maybe I'll get lucky and meet a hot vampire at a winery.


If only I drank wine…


About Seleste:


At a young age, Seleste deLaney discovered the trick to not being afraid of the monsters under the bed was to turn them into heroes. Since that time, she's seen enough of human monsters that she prefers to escape to fictional worlds where even the worst demons have to play by the rules and the good guys might end up battered and bruised (or dead), but they always win. And really, isn't that the way it should be?


She resides in the Detroit area with all her favorite monsters (nice ones - some are furry and the others call her Mom) and is hard at work on her next book. In those rare moments when she isn't battling terrorists, vampires, or rogue clockworks, she can be found all over the Internet, where she loves to interact with readers...

The vampire's curse has been awakened, and Jocelyn has no choice but to accept her destiny as the Blood Kissed — the one destined to destroy the vampires ... or rule them. While Max and Chad want to help her reach her full potential, not all of the supernaturals share their plan.

The Council of Elders, a crazed sorcerer assassin, and a vampire hunter out for revenge have driven Jocelyn into hiding. She and her ragtag army have holed up in the forests of Michigan's upper peninsula to get ready for the fight. If training is any indication, they should be ready for war by the time she turns fifty.

But no one is going to let her wait that long. War is nigh, the death toll is rising, and when Michigan's most famous harbinger of doom shows up on the scene, the army of the Blood Kissed is hoping for a miracle, praying to be graced with a little kiss of life...


I have to admit it has been a long time since I've read Kiss of Death and I did not think to re-read it before this so I honestly was a bit lost because apparently my brain doesn't hold a lot of information (I blame that on my day job, I have lots to remember in that). As lost as I was at the beginning, I still liked the book. As a big Sel advocate, I've missed her writing so I'm just happy when I get to read something from her.

This is the lead up and start of the big war between vampires and Jocelyn's army. The story is narrated from lots of different view points - Jocelyn, Chad, Logan and Remy (maybe another person that I just can't remember right now?), and I have to say I found it confusing to keep up. Most books I've read with different POVs have the chapter break as the switch over and/or have the character name at the start of the section. It's easy enough to figure out the POV quickly enough but there was a lot of switching in short periods and I just found it difficult to read smoothly.

Sadly, I think this is my least favourite of the series so far. I found it hard to get into and keep going. I will continue to read this series despite this being my least favourite.


Amazon UK: Kiss of Life

Amazon US:Kiss of Life

Smashwords:Kiss of Life

Kobo:Kiss of Life

Nook UK:Kiss of Life

Barnes & Noble:Kiss of Life

Country vs Country - Weather Wardens

Danielle's back and this time round we're going to be talking about Weather Wardens by Rachel Caine (one of my favourite authors).

Joanne Baldwin is a Weather Warden - a member of a shadowy organisation whose job it is to stand between the murderous intentions of Mother Earth and the rest of us.  She an control the weather, but not her fate: she's on the run from her colleagues, accused of the murder of her boss, and at the mercy of the storms she's trying to defeat.  Add in a whirlwind romance with a rogue rebel Djinn, and the forecast is for trouble ... with a chance for Apocalypse.

DANIELLE: This is a series I'm not sure I like the UK covers better for.  I'll admit I don't love the North American covers either.  I find them cartoon-y.  Maybe not cartoon-y, but they look animated.  I like the simplicity of the UK, but I like that her car is on the cover of the NA.  I think for me, round one goes to NA.
JULIE-ANNE: I agree about the US covers looking cartoon-y and the car being involved. Jo's love of cars is a very big part of the entire series so it makes sense that they appear on the cover.  I do prefer the typeface of the title in the UK ones and I like the colour palette better.  Also a little thing that I like is when book series include the book number somewhere on the cover, it just makes it easier to pick up the right one if you're in a book shop looking for new stuff.  UK for me.

D: This one I don't actually like either cover at all.  The UK cover feels a bit cheesy, but the cartoonishness (yes, cartoonishness!) just really turns me off.  It reminds me of the "Choose Your Own Adventure" books from when I was a kid.  If I have to choose though, I think I'll go with NA here. I think.  Maybe
J: As much as I love the UK covers (they're what made me buy the series, well Ill Wind was), this is my least favourite of the series.  I don't know what it is about it, maybe her top?  Maybe the fact that she looks kinda like she's underwater? Who knows! I think US for this one.

D: Again, I don't love either cover but I do prefer the simplicity of the UK cover, VS the cartoon NA cover.  Though I do enjoy the view of Vegas in the background, I think a real picture of it, with a different main part of the cover would have been better.  I'm really not a fan of having faces on book covers, just because I like to get my own impression of the characters, so the UK cover disappoints me that way.  I will choose it over the NA cover here though.
J: I've always loved this UK cover,  I think its her face.  I like her hair and her make-up.  I agree with Danielle on the background of the US one but overall, I'm not a fan of the cover.  UK for this one.

D: The NA cover on this one reminds me a lot of Kim Harrison's A Fistful Of Charms.  I don't mind it though.  I prefer that the model is facing away.  The UK cover model looks a little more like a young adult to me.  I think if I saw this book on the shelf, and had never heard of the series before, I might have assumed it was a YA book.  I think the NA cover wins here for me though, even with the similarity to AFFOC.
J: I've never been a fan of the whole "looking back over my shoulder" thing on book covers.  I do like the background better in the UK one though.  But I think (just for the stance, and maybe the outfit) I'm going to go with US.

D: These two covers are quite similar.  I prefer the fact that the model's face is obscured in the NA cover, and I also like the fire in the back ground better.  I think this round goes to NA for me as well.
J: Danielle's right in that they are similar enough, at least compared to the other books in the series.  I kind of prefer the background in the UK one but I don't like her face.  I'm going to go with UK for this one.

D: I like the colours and the background picture on the UK cover here.  The forest almost feels a little haunted.  I don't like the wet girl facing the camera though.  I think I pick the NA cover for this round as well.
J: I prefer the woman on the US cover but I prefer the background on the UK.  US just ekes the win for this one.

D: All right.  This is where the UK covers changed.  I like the colours and the font of the UK cover here quite a lot.  I don't like the model's makeup, or again, that she's facing the camera.  The NA cover is really dull though.  But I love the car shot.  This is a tough one for me.  I think I'll go with UK just because I really like the colours and the font.  Though I do like the leaves and the car.  Hmm.  It’s a tie!
J: I hated that the UK covers changed here, it bugs me when my books get messed up and the cover change also meant the last 3 books were really delayed in being released over here.  But I'm not here to bitch about that.  I don't like her expression on the UK cover (although I do like the typeface more) so I'm going to go with US here.

D: More with the new and improved UK covers here.  The colours, the font, the storm in the background - all good.  I also think the models face is obscured enough that I don't mind her facing the camera.  The NA cover models outfit is just ... no.  I don't like it for Jo at all.  I don't like her facing the camera.  I don't like this cover much at all.
J: I like that the US cover has a (hint of a) boat on it and I like her expression.  But I think overall, I like the UK one.

D: I love the font and colours on the UK, again.  I like the cover on the whole, save for the model.  I wish she had hair over her face, or was turned away, or something.  The NA cover is very unattractive though.  The colours okay, though they're honestly a little dull.  The model also looks really young.  Though the UK cover model does as well.  I think this round goes to the UK.
J: They're both orange but I prefer the colouring of the UK one.  I actually prefer the whole UK cover over the US.



DANIELLE: I read this series in its entirety, back to back.  It was highly recommended to me by another friend, as this is one of her all-time favourite series.  I enjoyed them quite a bit, though I never fell in love with them.  If I'm going to read Rachel Caine (and I do, frequently.  She's an excellent story teller) I prefer the Morganville series, as well as her Revivalist series.  I didn't read Outcast, simply because I didn't enjoy the Djinn that series is based on, and I didn't love the WW books enough to continue.  I do recommend the Weather Warden series though.  They're fast paced, the characters are likeable (with the exception of some minors).  I wasn't a super fan of how the series ended.  I’ll leave it at that, as I don’t want to give spoilers.  It wasn't a bad ending, just not the one I would have liked.
JULIE-ANNE: I love this series but I have a confession to make - I haven't finished it yet. And I honestly don't know why because I love Jo and David and all the supporting cast, it's just that I've picked up Cape Storm a couple of times but never seem to get very far before a new book or much anticipated book pulls my attention away. Of the covers, I think UK gets my vote by numbers.

COVER REVEAL - Kiss of Life by Seleste deLaney

I'm excited to be part of the cover reveal for deLaney's second full length Blood Kissed novel, Kiss of Life. You can read what I thought of Kiss of Death here.

Without further ado, here is the cover for Kiss of Life:

The vampire's curse has been awakened, and Jocelyn has no choice but to accept her destiny as the Blood Kissed — the one destined to destroy the vampires ... or rule them. While Max and Chad want to help her reach her full potential, not all of the supernaturals share their plan.

The Council of Elders, a crazed sorcerer assassin, and a vampire hunter out for revenge have driven Jocelyn into hiding. She and her ragtag army have holed up in the forests of Michigan's upper peninsula to get ready for the fight. If training is any indication, they should be ready for war by the time she turns fifty.

But no one is going to let her wait that long. War is nigh, the death toll is rising, and when Michigan’s most famous harbinger of doom shows up on the scene, the army of the Blood Kissed is hoping for a miracle, praying to be graced with a little kiss of life...

The cover keeps in tone with Kiss of Death but it seems a lot lighter, yet reading the story above makes it seem quite dark in nature so I don't know why the cover is so light. It kind of, to me anyway, denotes a light-hearted story.

I'm not a fan of headless naked torsos on covers (sorry, Sel!). I do like the colours in this though, it does stand out from other books in the same genre.


Keep your eye here for an excerpt and guest post from Seleste deLaney as well as my review once I've read it.

Country vs Country REBOOTED - Demon Trappers

So I thought I'd reboot my country vs country posts but with a difference. I've asked my friend, Danielle, to help me with the post and we're going to discuss each cover for a specific series and decided what we like and/or dislike about each one as well as which covers we prefer.

For our first dual post we're going for the Demon Trappers series by Jana Oliver.

DANIELLE: I honestly prefer the UK covers to the North American ones.  I do like the colours, and the picture itself for the NA cover.
JULIE-ANNE: I've always liked the pattern on the UK cover and I like the flame decal at the bottom. On the US cover, I like the red and I also like that she has a sphere in her hand - I don't like that it looks so obviously photoshopped.
Why the different titles though?

D: Again, here I like the UK better.  It's darker and I like that it has a little tag line on it.  I also like the titles better for the first two.  The NA titles are good, but I think the UK are more effective.
J: I think the US cover has too much empty space on it for my liking.  I like that the UK has an image at the bottom of it as well as the smoke decals, there's a definite theme there.
And again with the different titles.

D: With these two, I prefer the face on the UK, even if it isn't how I pictured Riley, but I prefer the flames on the NA cover.  I wish it was tombstones behind them instead of the city though.
J: Both covers for this book seem to be vaguely similar this time. Like Dani, I prefer the UK cover all over, I feel it the different parts mix better. I do like the US cover but the flames just don't really fit in with the rest of the cover.

D: These two are another set I wish I could combine.  I think I like that “Riley” is facing away better.  I also like the blues.  But, I prefer the landscape in the UK to the boat in the NA.
J: Again they seem to have similar looks. I prefer the colouring in the US cover but I prefer the backdrop image at the bottom of the UK cover as well as the font and layout of the title.


DANIELLE: This is a series I really enjoyed.  I hadn't ever read Jana Oliver before this series, and I was glad I did.  It's upper YA, which I enjoyed.  I read a lot of YA because I love angsty stories, but this series also has enough adult situations to feed my love of romance and sexy scenes too.  Though this series doesn’t have very descriptive sex, it does contain some.  It's a great series.  I highly recommend it.

All in all, I think the UK cover of Forbidden is my favourite of them all.  I like the colours, I like the font, and I like the title.  I think it has a catchier title than “Soul Thief”, and I like the little tagline on it as well.

JULIE-ANNE: Overall I prefer the UK covers and titles to the US, they both follow the same theme from the beginning whereas the US covers change theme halfway through along with the titles which I'd be unhappy with is I had these covers.

I'd like to thank Danielle for helping me on this one and I hope to continue posting these.

I have done a few already and have some lined up as well but please leave any series suggestions in the comments if you'd like to see the differences in the covers for different countries.

Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder

Snyder wowed readers with Poison Study, the unforgettable story of poison taster Yelena. Now she's back with a new tale of intrigue.

Once, only her own life hung in the balance.

Oddly enough, when Yelena was a poison taster, her life was simpler. But she'd survived to become a vital part of the balance of power between rival countries Ixia and Sitia. Now she uses her magic to keep the peace in both lands and protect her relationship with Valek.

Suddenly, though, they are beset on all sides by those vying for power through politics and intrigue. Valek's job - and his life - are in danger. As Yelena tries to uncover the scope of these plots, she faces a new challenge: her magic is blocked. She must keep that a secret - or her enemies will discover just how vulnerable she really is - while searching for who or what is responsible for neutralising her powers.

Yes, the days of tasting poisons were much simpler. And certainly not as dangerous,

Release Date 24th February 2015

It's been a long time since I've read about Yelena and Valek; and Snyder didn't let us fans down with this new book. Technically the start of a new series but also carrying on from the Study series, Valek and Yelena are still juggling their lives in separate countries with their relationship. All seems well until Yelena gets attacked on the way to meet Valek and loses her magic, she has to find out what happened to her magic when something else comes out of the woodwork to keep them both busy.

Anyone that's read either the Study or Glass trilogies will know that Snyder has created a huge world with plenty of interesting characters and even with the long break Valek and Yelena are just as exciting.

The fun thing about this book is that we get to read from Yelena, Valek and Janco's perspective. There's also an intriguing storyline with the Commander that I can't wait to see continued in the next book, and how Yelena and Valek handle the ending should be interesting.

Definitely recommended, especially if you're a fan of Yelena and Valek and I can't wait for the next book to come out.


Book Depository: Shadow Study
Amazon UK: Shadow Study