Feature And Follow Friday (27).

Q: This Sunday in the U.S. is Mother’s Day, in celebration, what are some of your favorite books with strong mother/child relationships?

I would say Clary and her mum Jocelyn from the Mortal Instruments series.

Ok so her mum kept who she really was to herself but in the end it was to keep Clary safe. 

Waiting On Wednesday.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine where you can spotlight an upcoming release that you're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on....

Then You Were Gone

by Lauren Strasnick

8th January 2013 By Simon PulseTwo years ago, Adrienne’s best friend, Dakota, walked out of her life. One week ago, she left Adrienne a desperate, muffled voicemail. Adrienne never called back.

Now Dakota is missing, and all that remains is a string of broken hearts, a flurry of rumors, and a suicide note.

Adrienne can’t stop obsessing over what might have happened if she’d answered Dakota’s call. And she’s growing more convinced each day that Dakota is still alive.

Maybe finding and saving Dakota is the only way Adrienne can save herself.

Or maybe it’s too late for them both.

Shadow's Claim (The Dacians #1)

by Kresley Cole

27th November 2012 By Pocket Books

He won’t be denied

Trehan Daciano, known as the Prince of Shadows, has spent his life serving his people, striking in the night, quietly executing any threat to their realm. The coldly disciplined swordsman has never desired anything for himself—until he beholds Bettina, the sheltered ward of two of the Lore’s most fearsome villains. 

She’s bound to another

Desperate to earn her guardians’ approval after a life-shattering mistake, young Bettina has no choice but to marry whichever suitor prevails—even though she’s lost her heart to another. Yet one lethal competitor, a mysterious cloaked swordsman, invades her dreams, tempting her with forbidden pleasure. 

A battle for her body and soul

Even if Trehan can survive the punishing contests to claim her as his wife, the true battle for Bettina’s heart is yet to come. And unleashing a millennium’s worth of savage need will either frighten his Bride away—or stoke Bettina’s own desires to a fever-pitch...

Last Kiss Goodnight (Otherworld Assassin #1)

by Gena Showalter

27th November 2012 By Pocket Books

The breathtaking first novel in New York Times best selling author Gena Showalter’s new paranormal romance series, Otherworld Assassins, featuring a black ops agent who is captured and enslaved…and the beautiful deaf girl who holds the key to his salvation…

THE SWEETEST TEMPTATION…

Black ops agent Solomon Judah awakens caged and bound in a twisted zoo where otherworlders are the main attraction. Vika Lukas, the owner’s daughter, is tasked with Solo’s care and feeding. The monster inside him yearns to kill her on sight, even though she holds the key to his escape. But the human side of him realizes the beautiful deaf girl is more than she seems—she’s his.

THE ULTIMATE PRICE…

Vika endures the captives’ taunts and loathing, hoping to keep them alive even if she can’t free them. Only, Solo is different—he protects her. But as hostility turns to forbidden romance, his feelings for her will be used against him…and he’ll be put to a killer test.

Rockoholic

by C.J. Skuse

1st November 2012 By Scholastic

She's got it bad, and he ain't good -- he's in her garage?

"I'm your biggest fan, I'll follow you until you love me..." 

Gonna have to face it: Jody's addicted to Jackson Gatlin, frontman of The Regulators, and after her best bud Mac scores tickets, she's front and center at his sold-out concert. But when she gets mashed in the moshpit and bodysurfs backstage, she's got more than a mild concussion to deal with. By the next morning, the strung-out rock star is coming down in her garage. Jody -- oops -- kind of kidnapped him. By accident. With a Curly Wurly candy bar. And now he doesn't want to leave. 

It's a rock-star abduction worthy of an MTV reality series...but who got punk'd?

Flash Point

by Nancy Kress

8th November 2012 By Viking Juvenile

Reality TV meets a chillingly realistic version of America--and the fame game is on! 

Amy had dreams of going to college, until the Collapse destroyed the economy and her future. Now she is desperate for any job that will help support her terminally ill grandmother and rebellious younger sister. When she finds herself in the running for a slot on a new reality TV show, she signs on the dotted line, despite her misgivings. And she's right to have them. TLN's Who Knows People, Baby--You? has an irresistible premise: correctly predict what the teenage cast will do in a crisis and win millions. But the network has pulled strings to make it work, using everything from 24/7 hidden cameras to life-threatening technology to flat-out rigging. Worse, every time the ratings slip, TLN ups the ante. Soon Amy is fighting for her life--on and off camera.

Unchained (Nephilim Rising #1)

by J. Lynn

16th October 2012 By Entangled Select

Between the pissed off creatures that want demon-hunter Lily Marks dead and the fallen angel who just… wants her, Lily is about ready to trade in forever for a comfy job in a cubicle farm. 

Mortal enemies, the fact that Lily and Julian are civil to one another is enough to have her thrown out of the Sanctuary. Even she can build a laundry list of why getting close to him is career suicide, but she can’t shake her not-so angelic stalker or how he brings her dangerously close to ecstasy. 

As if Lily already didn’t have enough problems, the hits just keep coming. Blindsided when a traitor is discovered working from within the Sanctuary, Lily is shocked to find he's determined to get her kicked out. Her relationship with Julian provides the perfect fuel for suspicion, and she quickly finds herself being hunted by well, everyone. Her only hope is to discover the real traitor before she loses everything—and she'll need Julian's help. That is, if Julian is really there to help her … or destroy her. 

Yeah, being a Nephilim isn’t everything it’s cracked up to be.

Book Review (83).

Darkest Caress

by Kaylea Cross

Publication: 23rd April 2012

Publisher: Carina Press

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Age Appropriate: Adult

Two-hundred-year-old Daegan Blackwell is one of the last remaining Empowered, an ancient magical race. Daegan's duty is to lead and protect his remaining Brethren in the coming war foretold by prophecy. The last thing he expects is to meet the one woman who will either save or destroy him-his destined mate.

Fiercely independent Realtor Olivia Farrell believes darkly handsome Daegan is simply a prospective client. Until she's attacked by a man with a strange aura-and Daegan fights him off, taking away her pain with just his touch. At first, Olivia refuses to believe she's part of a magical race, yet mounting evidence and her powerful chemistry with Daegan are too strong to deny.

But as Daegan's partner, Olivia becomes a target in the battle between good and evil that threatens her life, as well as the very existence of the Empowered. And the only one who can save her is the man claiming to be her destiny...

My Thoughts.

I cannot put into words how much I loved this book, I couldn't put it down and at work I just wanted my lunch break to come around so that I could finish it, I devoured it and wanted more, now I just need to find out when the other books featuring Cade and Vaughn are going to be released.

I can't believe this author isn't widely known her writing captures your interest and imagination from the get go and you just want to constantly keep reading and never put it down, I can only hope that this book is released in paperback form I'd love to have a copy on my bookshelf.

Olivia 'Liv' is a realtor and is asked to show a prospective client a house after arriving and meeting said client Daegan is instantly attracted to him, she has also been suffering from severe migraines for quite a while now but as soon as Daegan touches her the pain disappears, unbeknown to her Daegan is one of three of the Empowered a race that have abilities and who also live very long lives.

Liv is also Daegan's mate and is part of a prophecy involving the Empowered and an upcoming war, Liv also discovers that her migraines are the result of her power to see auras and be able to read people's emotions and to know who's a threat to her and the Empowered.

What I like about this book is that we don't have the whole love at first sight thing happening it takes a while for Liv to accept the relationship and to fall in love with Daegan.

I loved Daegan he's just like an alpha male should be, there was great chemistry between them both, I also can't wait to read about Cade and Vaughn who are very intriguing characters and I hope to read their books soon.

I will definitely be hunting down some more of this authors work and await the next books in this series.

I give this 5/5.

A Big Thanks To Carina Press.

Book Review (82).

Winter's Light (Winter Saga #2)

by M.J. Hearle

Publication: 1st May 2012

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

Pages: 440

Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal

Age Appropriate: Young Adult

Blake is gone.

He sacrificed himself to save Winter, leaving her alone, unprotected... hunted.

An ancient enemy is rising, but Winter is no longer the innocent girl who was fated to die at Pilgrim's Lament. She will not wait to be saved. She will do what she must to survive, even accept an unsavoury alliance with those who destroyed her love.

In the gathering darkness, the enemy of an enemy is not always a friend, and Winter must find the strength to stand alone and fight for the one she loves. For she is the key to unlocking the secrets beyond the veil of shadows.

And she is Blake's only hope.

My Thoughts.

I loved this book as much as the first one my only problem, no Blake and I definitely felt his abscence.

After losing Blake at the end of the last book after sacrificing himself for her Winter is lost it's been three months she calls him to her with his lodestone (a crystal that will let him know when Winter needs him) to no avail, until one day she sees a vision of him being held prisoner in the Dead Lands.

While attending a graduation party Winter wanders off and is set upon by two Demori who realise that she is a Key but just as she is about to be attacked she is saved by Sam who has been on the run since the end of the last book.

Sam becomes her ally in trying to find Blake after realising from reading Blake's diary that he stole that he never killed anyone and that his family the Bane who are sworn enemies of the Demori had him believing that all Demori were bad.

Through Sam, Winter is introduced to more Bane members and they strike a deal with her, they'll reunite her with Blake after she opens a portal for them into the Dead Lands, so she flies out to France with Sam and her best friend Jasmine and after arriving at the castle has a feeling that something is wrong but she doesn't quite know what it is.

As in the last book this one has chapters relating to the past, this time to Ariman (Blake's father the first Demori) and Ariman's mother Lamara the Farseer, I find the back stories of all these characters really interesting and hope that the same theme continues in the next book.

I also loved the addition of Blake's diary entries leading up to and after he met Winter to see what his thoughts were when they first met.

I wasn't a big fan of Sam in the previous book but he's definitely one of my favourites now and I'm thinking that Sam has developed feelings for Winter and perhaps she might have done the same, I think that this would make an interesting twist to the story.

All in all this was a fantastic addition to this series, an unputdownable book from an author who knows how to keep you enthralled.

I give this 4/5.

A Big Thanks To Charlotte @ Pan Macmillan Australia.

In My Mailbox (26).

In My Mailbox Is A Weekly Meme Hosted By Kristi The Story Siren

Review.

Every Other Day - Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Pan Macmillan Australia)

Whisper (Riley Bloom #4) - Alyson Noel (Pan Macmillan Australia)

The Age Of Miracles - Karen Thompson Walker (Simon And Schuster Australia)

Brought.

Slated (Slated #1) - Terri Terry

Body & Soul (The Ghost And The Goth #3) - Stacey Kade

Into The Dreaming (Highlander #8) - Karen Marie Moning

The Temptation (Kindred #1) - Alisa Valdes

Bitterblue (Graceling Realm #3) - Kristin Cashore

Under A Vampire Moon (Argeneau #16) - Lynsay Sands

Warrior (The Fallen #3) - Kristina Douglas

Unraveling - Elizabeth Norris

Social Suicide (Deadly Cool #2) - Gemma Halliday

Dreams (Sarah Midnight #1) - Daniela Sacerdoti

Sweet Evil (The Sweet Trilogy #1) - Wendy Higgins

The Serpent's Shadow (Kane Chronicles #3) - Rick Riordan

Obsidian (Lux #1) - Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Half-Breed Vampire (Sons Of Midnight #3) - Theresa Meyers

Book Review (81).

Winter's Shadow (Winter Saga #1)

by M.J. Hearle

Publication: 1st June 2011

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

Pages: 424

Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal

Age Appropriate: Young Adult

Blake Duchamp...

He's all that Winter Adams can think of. Ever since their fateful meeting at Pilgrim's Lament. Ever since he looked at her with those emerald eyes. Ever since he saved her life.

But Blake isn't all that he seems. There is a strangeness about him, something dark and otherworldly. Something dangerous. In his attic is a secret he would kill to defend, but Winter seems to have a special ability to make him forget his duty. And he is her only protection against the gathering darkness.

The only problem is, to protect Winter, Blake must risk exposing her to an even greater danger. Himself.

My Thoughts.

I absolutely loved this book, the concept isn't something that I've particularly read about before and that's what made this a quick and easy read that I simply did not want to put down, unfortunately things like work and sleep got in the way.

I loved that the author had you waiting till around about the halfway point of the book till you discovered who and what Blake was, and I was surprised it was an original idea that I've never come across in all the time that I've been reading this particular genre of books, and that's the genius of this book you don't want to put it down until you find out what's going on and kudos to the author for this.

Winter our heroine is taking photos in a rundown church for the school newspaper when she catches sight of a boy outside standing at a grave, after he notices her staring at him he disappears next thing Winter knows the roof starts to collapse and when she wakes up she finds herself outside with the the mysterious boy with the vivid green eyes.

He introduces himself as Blake and after giving her a lift home after her bike wouldn't start she finds out that he's just moved into town, into the house known as the most haunted house in all of Hagan's Bluff, mysterious as he is Winter can't stop thinking about him even days after, her best friend Jasmine tries to encourage her to go to his house and ask him out but is knocked back especially after he finds her inside his house when he wasn't there (Winter has the ability to open any locks just by touch), she finds a box of old diaries from the 1800's and a family portrait of a woman and her two children from the turn of the century, the boy in the portrait looks familiar but Winter can't quite put her finger on it.

I loved the glimpses into the past it added a bit more to the story and was really interesting, and you definitely are wanting Winter and Blake to get together in this book I love them as a couple, Jasmine is a lot of fun and we get introduced to a new boy at school Sam who at the mention of Blake really wants to meet him, and we find that Sam has a lot of secrets of his own.

The ending of this book was heartbreaking, the secret that Blake was keeping, the real reason that Sam was in Hagan's Bluff and the sacrifice at the end that was so sad that it just makes you want to get stuck into the next book straight away.

I give this 4.5/5.

Feature And Follow Friday (26).

Q: What is one thing you wish you could tell your favorite author?

Dear Stephenie Meyer,

I would be your slave for life if you would only finish writing and release Midnight Sun (Twilight from Edward's Point Of View) I understand that you were upset that a friend leaked part of the draft but you would be doing all of your Twilight fans a huge favour and make us all incredibly happy!

Kindest regards Sarah. (Team Edward all the way).