Carrier Of The Mark by Leigh Fallon

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRís.

But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago - and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction.

The story in this book was good, it's based around the elements - air, water, fire and earth. The only thing was, I was disappointed by the actual writing. It all seemed very rushed. I get that the author had a lot to fit in but it feels like she had too big a story for length of the book. It feels like it could have been broken into 2 parts, or the book could have been longer.

As I said, the story was good. I really liked the idea behind it and was excited to read it. I'll probably read more (if there is going to be more), and see how it goes from there. It's a very quick read so it's worth a borrow at least.


Book Depository: Carrier Of The Mark
Amazon UK: Carrier of the Mark

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Nora should know better than to think her life can return to normal after falling in love with a fallen angel. And Nora's life isn't normal - her dad was murdered, and the facts about his death just don't add up. Now Nora's own life is in imminent danger. Are she and Patch strong enough for the battle ahead?

The sequel to Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, which I put off buying until it came out in PB and then I actually forgot about so I only got round to buying it last week. I really don't know why I waited so long since, as soon as I started reading Crescendo, I remembered how easy Becca Fitzpatrick's books are to read.

Once again Patch constantly changed from good guy to bad guy to good guy, and you're never entirely sure on how it's going to end up. Becca does a fab job at keeping you guessing, although I have to say I never trusted the full on bad guy or the other suspected bad guy. Definitely worth a read, and does a good job at keeping all the angel books in the charts. Angels are still high up in the YA reading list.


Book Depository: Crescendo
Amazon UK: Crescendo

My Soul To Steal by Rachel Vincent

Sometimes dreams do come true ... and that's the last thing Kaylee needs.

Working things out with Nash - her maybe boyfriend - is hard for Kaylee. She's already coping with being a teenage banshee. Worse, Nash's gorgeous ex-girlfriend just transferred to their school.

Sabine's no ordinary girl. She's a mara, a real-life walking nightmare. Draining people's energy through their darkest dreams sustains Sabine ... and makes her Kaylee's top suspect in a cluster of super-creepy deaths.

To win back Nash, Kaylee's determined to unearth the truth. But Sabine knows the deathly secrets of Kaylee's subconscious - and she's not afraid to use them to get whatever and whoever she wants ...

Since we've been reading all of Kaylee's trials and tribulations, I thought I'd instantly hate Sabine. And I tried, I really did. But I kinda sorta liked her. Yeah, she's a bitch but she's a very likeable and understandable bitch. That being said, I'm still not sure who I want to be together - Nash and Kaylee or Nash and Sabine. Because I'm almost certain there's a certain reaper that has feelings for Kaylee and I kinda sorta like him better than Nash.

I'm still loving this series, Rachel Vincent is an excellent writer and really keeps you gripped. I like both her YA and her adult series, and I'm convinced she can't write anything bad. So obviously, I highly recommend anything written by her.


Book Depository: My Soul To Steal
Amazon UK: My Soul to Steal

Last Breath by Rachel Caine

Claire Danvers is concerned when three vampires vanish from Morganville without a trace. The last person seen with them is someone new to town - a mysterious individual named Magnus. Claire is convinced creepy Magnus isn't human ... but is he a vampire, or something else entirely?

Claire's hunt for answers leads her to solving another mystery that's long been puzzling her: why do vampires live so far out in a sunny desert when they're sensitive to sunlight? The answer has nothing to do with sunlight, but with water - and an ancient enemy who has finally found a way to invade the vampires' landlocked community. Vampires aren't the top predators on earth. There's something worse that preys on them ... something much worse. Which means if Claire, and Morganville, want to live, they will have to fight on to the last breath ...

Book eleven and still loving it. This book has several voices, including Amelie, Michael and Eve. I discovered I liked Amelie's voice, she's very regal and thinks about how everything might affect Morganville. Even though some of the choices she makes seem weird and wrong, they're for the good of the town and keeping the peace.

This book has one particularly shocking section that I was not expecting and, as is the norm for Rachel Caine's books, there are several small shocks in the book too. One thing I really enjoy is getting into Shane's head more and finding out exactly how he really feels about Claire. It's silly but I feel protective of Claire, we've read her growing up and seen all the hardships she's had.


The UK version also had a free short story called Anger Management which is set between Bite Club and Last Breath and focuses on Shane going to a Founder-mandated Counsellor instead of jail. It was very short and I do really enjoy Shane so that's a huge bonus!


Book Depository: Last Breath
Amazon UK: Last Breath

Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent

Bound by blood, condemned by fate.

As a blood tracker, Liv is extremely powerful. And in a world where power is a commodity that can get you killed, Liv's learnt to survive by her own rules.

Rule number one? Trust no one.

When a friend's daughter goes missing, Liv is bound by a potent magical oath. She can't rest until the child is safe. And that means trusting her dangerous ex, Cam.

A sinister prophecy tells that she and Cam will be the death of each other, yet Liv's tired of being a slave to destiny. She's ready to play the forces controlling her world at their own game.

No matter the cost.

I've been waiting for this book since I finished Alpha. This is Rachel Vincent's new series after the Shifters series finished. The premise behind this series really interests me and I can't wait to read the next one.

Liv is a tracker meaning she can track anyone with blood or a name. She made an innocent pact with her childhood friends that accidentally became a binding contract, which is all fine until one of the friends shows up asking for her help. Liv can't refuse thanks to the binding.

I didn't like Anne to start with, her coming out of the blue and asking for Liv's help, knowing she can't refuse, seemed a bit of a bitchy thing to do. She eventually sort of grew on me, although I'm still not exactly a fan. I really can't wait for the next book and I'm glad Rachel's back with another great series.


Book Depository: Blood Bound
Amazon UK: Blood Bound

My Life As A White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland

Angel Crawford is a loser.

Living with her alcoholic deadbeat dad in the swamps of southern Louisiana, she's a high school dropout with a pill habit and a criminal record who's been fired from more crap jobs than she can count. Now on probation for a felony, it seems that Angel will never pull herself out of the downward spiral her life has taken.

That is, until the day she wakes up in the ER after overdosing on painkillers. Angel remembers being in a horrible car crash, but she doesn't have a mark on her. To add to the weirdness, she receives an anonymous letter telling her there's a job waiting for her at the county morgue - and that it's an offer she doesn't dare refuse.

Before she knows it she's dealing with a huge crush on a certain hunky deputy and a brand new addiction: an overpowering craving for brains. Plus, her morgue is filling up with victims of a serial killer who decapitates his prey - just when she's hungriest!

Angel's going to have to grow up fast if she wants to keep this job and stay in one piece. Because if she doesn't, she's dead meat.

Literally.

The first time I heard about this book was when another author, Nicole Peeler, posted the cover on Facebook. I mean, how amazing is that cover? It's Dan Dos Santos and it certainly stands out on a bookshelf. From the minute I saw the cover, I started keeping an eye out for the release date and eventually the author tweeted about the first 2 chapters being available and I loved them.

White Trash Zombie is hilarious! Angel tries to cope with her new job and the fact that she has a strange craving to consume brains from the bodies in her morgue. I really, really, really hope that this is a new series and not a stand alone because I loved this. It's the first Diana Rowland book that I've read and her writing style is really enjoyable.


Book Depository: My Life As A White Trash Zombie
Amazon UK: My Life as a White Trash Zombie

Barbie Dolls

Yes, you read that right. Barbie dolls.

Barbie has had several looks and jobs over the years, but the newest Tokidoki Barbie Doll has created a whole mess of crap. Why? Because she has pink hair and tattoos! Oh my gawd, shock horror! It's an abomination! ......... Hmmm, no it's not.

This article from the Telegraph quotes some Professor as saying, "This is a calculated attempt to play on young girls' natural desire to appear older" and a parent is quoted as saying, "For those who look to Barbie as a role model for strong, empowered girls, the tokidoki doll is overly-sexualised and inappropriate."

Now, let's see this "overly-sexualised" Barbie:

Oh yeah, she's wearing leopard print trousers and an off-the-shoulder top! *gasp* How dare she!?!

Now, I'm sorry but how is this particular Barbie any more sexualised than any other Barbie from previous years.

This is gorgeous but how is this any less sexual looking?

Is Barbie in a bikini not slightly more sexual than tattooed, pink haired Barbie?

How about Barbie in a skin tight catsuit?










I have no problem with any of the above Barbies. I think, if anything, it's Barbie's body shape that should be under fire for being a bad role model. But I believe (or I may be making it up) that her body shape was changed a few years back?

Some parents just need to calm the fuck down and realise that, this particular Barbie, was designed as a collector's Barbie, not a toy. It goes to show the small mindedness of some people when they seem to only have a problem with the pink haired, tattooed rock chick Barbie.

Just my two cents on the subject. PARENTS CHILL!!!!!

A Clockwork Christmas Anthology by Carina Press

We Wish You A Steampunk Christmas

Changed forever after tragedy, a woman must draw strength from her husband’s love. A man learns that love isn’t always what you expect. A thief steals the heart of a vengeful professor. And an American inventor finds love Down Under. Enjoy Victorian Christmas with a clockwork twist in these four steampunk novellas.

Release Date 5th December 2011

Rather than write a review of the book in general, I thought I'd review each story separately.

Crime Wave In A Corset by Stacy Gail
Roderick Coddington is on a mission to make Cornelia Peabody pay. After identifying her as the thief who stole a priceless Fabergé egg from his dying sister, he finds her and shackles a deadly timepiece to her arm. If she doesn’t return the egg by Christmas morning, she will die.

Normally seven days is more than enough time for Cornelia to carry out the perfect crime, but Roderick’s intrusion into her life is beyond distracting. He challenges her mind, and ignites her body with desire she’s never felt before. But worst of all, he threatens the independence she values above all else...

As Roderick spends time with Cornelia, he realizes there’s a lonely soul hidden beneath her beautiful but criminal veneer. Falling for a thief wasn’t part of Roderick’s plan, but plans can change and he has no intention of letting another priceless treasure get away from him.

First thing's first, I loved the title of this story. Don't know why, but I did.
The story was interesting and the characters likeable. And, as for any Carina Press story, the sex scenes are always heat inducing!

This Winter Heart by PG Forte
Eight years ago, Ophelia Leonides’s husband cast her off when he discovered she was not the woman he thought she was. Now destitute after the death of her father, Ophelia is forced to turn to Dario for help raising the child she never told him about.

Dario is furious that Ophelia has returned, and refuses to believe Arthur is his son — after all, he thought his wife was barren. But to avoid gossip, he agrees to let them spend the holidays at his villa. While he cannot resist the desire he still feels for Ophelia, Dario despises himself for being hopelessly in love with a woman who can never love him back.

But Dario is wrong: Ophelia’s emotions are all too human, and she was brokenhearted when he rejected her. Unsure if she can trust the man she desperately loves, she fears for her life, her freedom and her son if anyone else learns of her true nature...

An enjoyable story with a very likeable female lead and a bastard-come-nice-guy of a male lead. I liked Ophelia from the get go and Dario was a meanie to start but soon realised how much he loved his wife.

Wanted: One Scoundrel by Jenny Schwartz
All suffragette Esme Smith wants is a man. A scoundrel to be precise. Someone who can be persuaded to represent her political views at men-only clubs. As the daughter of the richest man in Australia, Esme can afford to make it worth the right man’s while.

Fresh off the boat, American inventor Jed Reeve is intrigued by Esme’s proposal, but even more interested in the beauty herself. Amused that she takes him for a man who lives by his wits, he accepts the job — made easier by the fact that he already shares her ideals. Soon, he finds himself caught up in political intrigue, kidnapping and blackmail, and trying to convince his employer he’s more than just a scoundrel...

Again, a good story with likeable characters. This time I loved the male lead first, he was sexy! Esme was strong hearted and independent, a must (I think) for any steampunk book.

Far From Broken by JK Coi
Soldier. Spymaster. Husband.

Colonel Jasper Carlisle was defined by his work until he met his wife. When the prima ballerina swept into his life with her affection, bright laughter and graceful movements, he knew that she was the reason for his existence, and that their love would be forever.

But their world is shattered when Callie is kidnapped and brutally tortured by the foes Jasper has been hunting. Mechanical parts have replaced her legs, her hand, her eye ... and possibly her heart. Though she survived, her anger at Jasper consumes her, while Jasper’s guilt drives him from the woman he loves. He longs for the chance to show her their love can withstand anything ... including her new clockwork parts.

As the holiday season approaches, Jasper realizes he must fight not just for his wife’s love and forgiveness ... but also her life, as his enemy once again attempts to tear them apart.

Instant pity for Callie and love for Jasper. A slightly different take on other steampunks I've read in that the woman is the one given all the power.



So, a good anthology of fun steampunkiness. I liked seeing what steampunk gadgets and inventions the four different authors came up with, they were all different and some of them I'd like to see in this day and age.


Amazon UK: A Clockwork Christmas

Forever Summer by Seleste deLaney

Her dreams of a career by the sea shattered, Katya's trying to be happy with two weeks in the Florida Keys. But when her rental ends up infested, she's ready to go home. At least until Jay, the handyman next door, comes to her rescue.

Sweet, talented & sexy, he's all she ever wanted in a man. Too bad he's only hanging out with her because he's such a nice guy.

Or is he?

At only 22 pages long, this isn't trying to be anything but a nice, fun, sexy read. And that's exactly what it is.

A great, short read with some hot sweaty sex. It's exactly what Seleste's readers are expecting and she never fails to deliver. There's no reason not to buy this, it's cheap and cheerful.

Buy Forever Summer direct from 1 place for romance.

Fractured Light by Rachel McClellan

Llona Reese is used to living on the run. After the Vykens killed her parents, she knew they would eventually come for her too. She can't take any chances. But when she starts to make friends for the first time in her life, she gets careless and lets her guard down. Big mistake.

As an Aura, Llona has the ability to manipulate light and harness its energy. This is the power the Vykens are after. This is what the Guardians are trained to protect. Christian has been waiting his whole life for the opportunity to fulfill his destiny as a Guardian, but Llona has other plans for him. Going against everything that she's been taught and defying the Auran Council, Llona convinces Christian to teach her how to use her power as a weapon. It may be her only hope of survival.

Release Date 7th February 2012

I loved the premise of this story! Although re-reading the blurb after reading the book, I'm surprised by the reveal of Christian being a Guardian, I felt it was a fairly large part in the story (for a long time I thought he was the bad guy).

I really enjoyed the idea of using light as a power and, eventually, a weapon. Although (this may be my darker side coming out) I prefer May's powers, and you'll need to read the book to find out what they are. Even though I felt the actual baddie was obvious (they, along with Christian, were my picks from the beginning), the actual big battle scene was still exciting to read and Rachel McClellan held off on the big reveal until the very last moment, which I liked.

I think this is definitely a must read for all YA and supernatural readers. It's a step from the normal YA books out there just now and I think it'll be a hit.


Book Depository: Fractured Light
Amazon UK: Fractured Light