Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Halfway to the Grave:
Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father--the one responsible for ruining her mother's life. Then she's captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unholy partnership.

In exchange for finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. She's amazed she doesn't end up as his dinner--are there actually good vampires? Pretty soon Bones will have her convinced that being half-dead doesn't have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her new found status as kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers. Now Cat will have to choose a side . . . and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat.

I have been hearing incredible things about this series by Jeaniene Frost, and after having the books on my shelf for nearly six months, I decided to crack them open. And I can honestly say that I'm glad I did. I love Cat's character, her vulnerabilities and flaws only make her stronger in my eyes. Bones, as well as the sexy English accent and perfect body, is the perfect blend of passion and ruthlessness. Filled with action and hot sex scenes, this book is a non-stop ride as Cat and Bones try to take down a human trafficking ring led by a nefarious vampire and his mysterious partner.

Due to the circumstances of her birth, all her life Cat has been told that she has a demon sleeping within her and she must always be vigilant against it. In order to prove her humanity, at the tender age of sixteen she becomes a vampire hunter. Being half-vampire herself gives her an advantage of strength and speed that is a constant surprise to her victims. After being captured by Bones, they form an unlikely alliance and a bond is formed between them. Cat is trapped between two worlds--she's not quite human, and she's not quite vampire--and until she learns how to accept both parts of herself, she can never be truly happy and be able to admit her love for Bones. Because while Bones accepts every part of Cat for who she is, her mother will not. Cat's mother sees all vampires as nothing but raping, murdering demons and even when it is Bones that helps to rescue her from other vampires, she is selfishly unwilling to accept that part within her daughter.

Teaser Tuesdays (18)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly event hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Today's book: Along Came A Demon by Linda Welch

"Her heart. She had a blurred memory of a tall, yellow-haired figure coming at her, but she couldn't see him properly. She didn't remember his face. The demon did not kill her. She did die a natural death." (Page 57)

Here is how it works:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2 or 3) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Remember to show the title & author, too, so that others can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Guest Post: Kristie Cook

I would like to welcome Kristie Cook to my blog today! Kristie is the debut author of the incredible Soul Savers series with the first book Promise. While attending an elementary school for gifted and prodigy children, Kristie wrote her first urban fantasy story. And although she was considered to be just average in her school she aced the creative writing assignment with an A+, giving her the confidence to follow her dream of becoming a writer. To learn more about Kristie, visit her website. You can read my review of Promise here.





What to Expect…

First, I just want to say a big THANK YOU to Amy for hosting me and for reading and reviewing Promise. Amy won a copy of Promise during the virtual release party on my blog. She made me laugh when I really needed it and I’m forever grateful for that. Anyway, onto the post…



I’ve said it many times – across the blogosphere, in articles and in conversation – that Promise serves as a sort of prologue for the rest of the Soul Savers series. It starts 9 years ago, where the rest of the series picks up in present day, and it gives the back-story of Alexis and Tristan, allowing us to learn how she arrived at where she is today – to where Purpose, the second book, starts.

In Promise, Alexis is relatively normal, Tristan is not and she is learning more about herself, him, their heritage and their future. But she doesn’t get to learn everything right now. She must go through this enigmatic change, called the Ang’dora (angels’ gift), to become more like her mother and Tristan, before she can possibly understand it all.

So, Promise is primarily about their love story and everything Alexis and Tristan have to overcome to be together. There are some “creatures” in it, but Alexis doesn’t know exactly what they are. We see signs of the supernatural and might, based on her descriptions of fights and battles, be able to figure out who – or should I say “what” – these characters are. But we’re still left pretty much in the dark about them, especially about Alexis and Tristan.





That begins to change in Purpose. The supernatch creatures we love start showing up. A vampire makes an appearance in the first chapter. Other creatures expose themselves, too – Weres, witches, wizards, warlocks, etc. (in more ways than one! Ha!). We learn in Promise – even from the blurb on the back of the book – that Alexis’ family and secret society serve as the Angels’ Army on Earth. So, naturally, everyone asks if she’s an angel. I won’t answer that yet – that’s part of the fun of the first two books, trying to figure out what she is – but I can say that there are angels in the series. As well as fairies, sorcerers, mermaids, spirits and many other so-called mythical creatures.

In my world, just about every myth and legend is based on truth. The creatures that just can’t possibly be real are very real, most of them created by the fallen angels. The Angels’ Army must protect the souls of these creations, as well as humans being targeted by the demons. The Soul Savers series tells the story of Alexis' rise to becoming the leader of this army, as well as the epic war for human souls.

So what can you expect in the rest of the series that you just get a brief taste of in Promise? Well…more battles, more powers and abilities, more secrets and explanations…and many more creatures. And, of course, lots of surprises. Check out Promise to see how Alexis’ story begins, then stay tuned for the real fun to take off.


Thank you Kristie for being here today and thank you for choosing me as the winner of Promise, I'm so glad I could make you laugh!

Promise by Kristie Cook

Promise:
Alexis Ames has a life full of promise…but not all promises can be kept.

When Alexis Ames is attacked by creatures that can’t be real, she decides it’s time she learns who she really is, with or without the help of her mother, who guards their family’s secrets closely. After meeting the inhumanly attractive, multi-talented Tristan Knight, however, Alexis retreats behind her façade of normalcy…until she discovers he’s not exactly normal either. Then their secrets begin to unravel.

Their union brings hope and promise to her family’s secret society, the Angels’ army, and to the future of mankind. But it also incites a dangerous pursuit by the enemy – Satan’s minions and Tristan’s creators. After all, Alexis and Tristan are a match made in Heaven and in Hell.

Kristie Cook has written an age old tale of angels and demons, but with her own unique vision. A battle between good versus evil occurs within Tristan as he fights against the bonds of his creators in order to be at Alexis' side. I loved every moment of this book and the romance was sweet yet powerful. The book flowed smoothly with unexpected twists that kept me turning pages long into the night. Alexis is very much an outcast in the beginning of the book, having these quirks; like being able to heal herself within moments of being injured, and little understanding of why she is so different from everyone else. And before her mother can explain these quirks Alexis must experience the Ang’dora, a life changing occurrence that cannot be explained only experienced. And it will make Alexis more like her mother...and more like Tristan. Alexis is attacked by strange creatures shortly before her and her mother, Sophia, move to Florida where Alexis will be attending college, and even though her mother convinces her that it was just her imagination, Alexis can't help but feel that there is something more that her mother is not telling her. Within her first week of college Alexis meets Tristan, an intense, handsome stranger who continually shows up where ever she is. As their relationship blossoms, Tristan's interest in Alexis angers her mother, but Sophia is unwilling to explain her harsh feelings toward Tristan until a terrible accident that almost kills her and Alexis, prompting Sophia to give Alexis the information that might very well save her life. After meeting Tristan, Alexis becomes more confident in herself and watching her character grow was a real treat. The end of this first book in the Soul Savers series was beautiful but painful to read, and I can only hope that in Purpose, the second book in the series, Alexis and Tristan's story takes us on another heart-wrenching and heart-warming journey into Kristie's world with her incredible writing.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? (14)

This is a fun weekly meme hosted by One Persons Journey Through a World of Books.


Books read last week:
Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs
Promise by Kristie Cook
Charming the Highlander by Janet Chapman
Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost


The book I'm reading now:

One Foot in the Grave:
Half-vampire Cat Crawfield is now Special Agent Cat Crawfield, working for the government to rid the world of the rogue undead. She's still using everything Bones, her sexy and dangerous ex, taught her, but when Cat is targeted for assassination, the only man who can help her is the vampire she left behind.

Being around him awakens all her emotions, from the adrenaline kick of slaying vamps side by side to the reckless passion that consumed them. But a price on her head—wanted: dead or half-alive—means her survival depends on teaming up with Bones. And no matter how hard she tries to keep things professional between them, she'll find that desire lasts forever . . . and that Bones won't let her get away again.


Books that spark my interest this week:
At Graves End by Jeaniene Frost
Destined for an Early Grave by Jeaniene Frost
Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison

In My Mailbox (19)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi, over at The Story Siren.


This week's books:



Awakened by a Kiss by Lila DiPasqua
Along Came A Demon by Linda Welch
Stolen by Lucy Christopher
Waking the Witch by Kelley Armstrong









Angel Slayer by Michele Hauf
Charming the Highlander by Janet Chapman
Wolf at the Door by Christine Warren
Sin Undone by Larissa Ione
No Humans Involved by Kelley Armstrong








I won No Humans Involved and Waking the Witch from Maybe Tomorrow and my book came signed!





I also won Awakened by a Kiss from Heather's Books:





And last but not least I won Along Came A Demon from Kristie Cook:

On My Wishlist (15)

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where we list all the books we desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. It's also an event that you can join in with too - Mr Linky is always at the ready for you to link your own 'On My Wishlist' post. If you want to know more click here.



Archangel's Consort by Nalini Singh:
When vampire hunter Elena Deveraux became an angel, with magnificent wings the colors of midnight and dawn, it turned her world upside down. Her lover, the stunningly dangerous archangel Raphael, is used to being in control even when it comes to the woman he considers his own.

But Elena has never done well with authority ...especially not when it seems Raphael is the one who needs her help. The archangels may be almost all-powerful, but there are some things that only a Guild Hunter can get done, and Elena and Raphael may be heading for their most dangerous investigation yet.









Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken:
Sydelle Mirabil is living proof that, with a single drop of rain, a life can be changed forever. Tucked away in the farthest reaches of the kingdom, her dusty village has suffered under the weight of a strangely persistent drought. That is, of course, until a wizard wanders into town and brings the rain with him.

In return for this gift, Wayland North is offered any reward he desires—and no one is more surprised than Sydelle when, without any explanation, he chooses her. Taken from her home, Sydelle hardly needs encouragement to find reasons to dislike North. He drinks too much and bathes too little, and if that isn’t enough to drive her to madness, North rarely even uses the magic he takes such pride in possessing. Yet, it’s not long before she realizes there’s something strange about the wizard, who is as fiercely protective of her as he is secretive about a curse that turns his limbs a sinister shade of black and leaves him breathless with agony. Unfortunately, there is never a chance for her to seek answers.

Along with the strangely powerful quakes and storms that trace their path across the kingdom, other wizards begin to take an inexplicable interest in her as well, resulting in a series of deadly duels. Against a backdrop of war and uncertainty, Sydelle is faced with the growing awareness that these events aren’t as random as she had believed—that no curse, not even that of Wayland North, is quite as terrible as the one she herself may carry.





Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White:
When someone leaves three mystery flowers outside her dorm door, Laurel thinks that maybe the Avondale School isn't so awful after all — until her own body starts to freak out. In the middle of her English presentation on the Victorian Language of Flowers, strange words pop into her head, and her body seems to tingle and hum. Impulsively, Laurel gives the love bouquet she made to demonstrate the language to her spinster English teacher. When that teacher unexpectedly and immediately finds romance, Laurel suspects that something — something magical — is up. With her new friend, Kate, she sets out to discover the origins and breadth of her powers by experimenting on herself and others. But she can’t seem to find any living experts in the field of flower powers to guide her. And her bouquets don't always do her bidding, especially when it comes to her own crush, Justin. Rumors about Laurel and her flowers fly across campus, and she's soon besieged by requests from girls — both friends and enemies — who want their lives magically transformed — just in time for prom.

Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

Forgive My Fins:
Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it’s not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you’re a normal teenage girl, but when you’re half human, half mermaid like Lily, there’s no such thing as a simple crush.

Lily’s mermaid identity is a secret that can’t get out, since she’s not just any mermaid – she’s a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn’t feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she’s been living on land and going to Seaview high school ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems – like her obnoxious, biker boy neighbor Quince Fletcher – but it has that one major perk – Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren’t really the casual dating type – when they “bond,” it’s for life.

When Lily’s attempt to win Brody’s love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily-ever-after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.


This book by Tera Lynn Childs is the first I have read of her work and it's a wonderfully romantic story about a girl from the sea in love with a boy from the shore, and a second boy who is no longer willing to stand aside, watching the girl of his dreams end up with the wrong boy.

Lily is like any other seventeen-year-old girl--crushing on the popular boy, Brody, at school and homework. Oh...and making sure that her sneaky neighbor, Quince, doesn't see her fins. Lily is a mermaid Princess, slated to follow in her father's path and rule her people, but she must find a mate and bond with him before her eighteenth birthday just a few months away. And she has her heart set on Brody, even though she has been completely invisible to him for the past three years. The night of the spring dance, Quince convinces Lily that he is going to help Lily win Brody and sets up a secret rendezvous for them in the darkened library. Only it's not Brody that shows up to give Lily her first kiss. It's Quince and he has changed their lives forever with his kiss. He is now bonded with Lily and transforming into a merman, and the only way to stop the process is to pay a visit to Lily's father deep within the oceans embrace.

Friday 56...Destiny Kills (21)

The book today: Destiny Kills by Keri Arthur

"So are you telling me to walk away? That you don't need my help at all?"

The Friday 56 idea came from… The Bookoholic Zone


The Rules:

* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of this blog.
* Post a link along with your post back to this blog.
* Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Charming the Highlander by Janet Chapman

Charming the Highlander:
A feisty beauty tempted by a bold highlander's touch...When a plane crash strands brilliant scientist Grace Sutter on an icy mountaintop in Maine, she finds herself alone in the wilderness with the only other surviving passenger -- Greylen MacKeage,a sexy, medieval warrior who's been tossed through time to find the woman he's destined to love. Forced together to survive the harsh, wintry landscape, neither expects the fierce passion that flares between them. But Grace is not used to letting her heart take control, and Greylen will settle for nothing less than her heart's surrender....

Charming the Highlander is the first book in Janet Chapman's Highlander series, a group of nine Scottish warriors are thrown through time eight hundred years into the future. Waiting for the warriors in the future is an old priest who helps the warriors adjust to their new lives in modern times, and he's holding secrets, like why Greylen and his men were brought through time, and secrets that will change all of their lives forever. Although I found the start of this book to be a little slow, once the story got moving, I found that I couldn't put the book down. After making a promise to her sister Grace is returning to her childhood home that she hasn't seen in nine years. In the beginning it seems that Grace's no-non-sense, mathematical brain gets in the way of her feelings and inhibits her from seeing anything in life besides numbers and practicality. But that all changes when her only hope for survival after the plane crash lies in a man she doesn't even know, and her willingness to give him her trust. The bond that Grace and Greylen form in the moments after the crash is only a prelude to their budding relationship throughout the rest of the book. Without telling her, Jonathan, Grace's boss sells her experiment and life's work in an act of desperation in order to keep his business from going bankrupt. As is that weren't bad enough, the deal is made with some shady characters and they are willing to turn her life's work of finding a viable power source into a weapon of mass destruction. After refusing to help Jonathan further the project Grace is kidnapped and trapped in the terrible ice storm that has been raging over the mountain for days. In her heart Grace knows that Greylen will come for her, but mother nature is working against them.

Future Favorites (4)

Future Favorites is an awesome blog feature over at Electrifying Reviews. I post about a book that is yet-to-be-released and that I can't wait to read!

Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr:
Release Date: February 22nd 2011 from Harper Collins

The Summer King is missing; the Dark Court is bleeding; and a stranger walks the streets of Huntsdale, his presence signifying the deaths of powerful fey.

Aislinn tends the Summer Court, searching for her absent king and yearning for Seth. Torn between his new queen and his old love, Keenan works from afar to strengthen his court against the coming war. Donia longs for fiery passion even as she coolly readies the Winter Court for battle. And Seth, sworn brother of the Dark King and heir to the High Queen, is about to make a mistake that could cost his life.

Love, despair, and betrayal ignite the faery courts, and in the final conflict, some will win…and some will lose everything.

Wednesday Random Recommendation (20)

Master of the Highlands:
She's back in time...

Lily Hamlin has finally realized that her life isn't as perfect as she once thought. Lily hopes that making a pilgrimage to Scotland, a land she's only heard about in lullabies, will help her to find her place again. But while exploring the Highlands, she discovers an overgrown maze and a strange stone map--and lands in the Lochaber of 1654...

...just in time for him.

Ewen, Chief of the Clan Cameron, is a busy man who must figure out how to save his people from the brutal redcoats and has time for little else. Having sired an heir, the widowed Ewen has no need--or room--for another romance. Then into his life drops a saucy lass with a peculiar accent, no regard for his title--and an arousing body. Drawn to each other despite their differences, they both realize that they don't want Lily to go back to her own time. But with battles brewing between the Camerons, the redcoats, and a rival clan, staying is a gamble.


First published in 2008, this Highlander's story is filled with romance and intrigue. Veronica Wolff wrote an engaging story that will leave you remembering the characters long after you have finished the book.





I invite and welcome anyone interested in participating to post their own "Random Recommendation" (original post) on their blog (and include a link back to this blog) and join in the fun! Some books might not be very recent reads, but I hope that just helps these (sometimes forgotten) books earn a spot on your own bookshelf!

Teaser Tuesdays (17)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly event hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Today's book: Charming the Highlander by Janet Chapman

"The old wizard opened the door and stepped out onto the cabin porch, ignoring the sting of sleet on his face as he looked up toward where TarStone Mountain stood in dark stoic indifference. He couldn't see past the end of the clearing that surrounded his home, but he still felt the mountain's substantial presence." (Page 96)

Here is how it works:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2 or 3) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Remember to show the title & author, too, so that others can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? (13)

This is a fun weekly meme hosted by One Persons Journey Through a World of Books.


Books read last week:
Veil of Shadows by Shiloh Walker
Love Sucks! by Melissa Francis


The book I'm reading now:

Promise:
Alexis Ames has a life full of promise…but not all promises can be kept.

When Alexis Ames is attacked by creatures that can’t be real, she decides it’s time she learns who she really is, with or without the help of her mother, who guards their family’s secrets closely. After meeting the inhumanly attractive, multi-talented Tristan Knight, however, Alexis retreats behind her façade of normalcy…until she discovers he’s not exactly normal either. Then their secrets begin to unravel.

Their union brings hope and promise to her family’s secret society, the Angels’ army, and to the future of mankind. But it also incites a dangerous pursuit by the enemy – Satan’s minions and Tristan’s creators. After all, Alexis and Tristan are a match made in Heaven and in Hell.


Books that spark my interest this week:
Stolen by Lucy Christopher
The Splendor Falls Rosemary Clement-Moore
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Love Sucks! by Melissa Francis

Love Sucks!:
AJ Ashe is moving on. Sure she still has not-so-sisterly feelings for Ryan, her ex-boyfriend-turned-step-brother, but there’s a new vampire in town and his name is Alexander Archer. Caught between the desire to move forward with Sexy Lexy and being drawn to her past with Ryan, AJ thinks life couldn’t get anymore complicated. Yeah, right. When her mother’s pregnancy is threatened, it looks like AJ’s long lost father is the only person who can save her. But Dad’s help comes with a price. AJ is forced join the evil side of her family, and a very creepy shape-shifting demon is there to make sure AJ cooperates. All this and she’s still got to plan the prom. Being a teenager is tough, but being a teenage vampire just flat out sucks. Pun totally intended.


Reading the sequel to Bite Me! by Melissa Francis, I loved every minute of this book and finished it within a day because I couldn't put it down. Each page was filled with action, keeping the story fast paced and never boring. Mr Charles, AJ's ex-teacher and kidnapper just months before, has returned--and he's even more determined to become a vampire. Under the influence of someone known only as "Elder" he puts AJ's entire family in danger, forcing them to seek out help in properly training her to use her powers. Her trainer just happens to be a charismatic young Englishman who easily charms every girl he comes into contact with. But AJ still has feelings for Ryan, her ex-boyfriend turned step-brother. Separated by the wishes of their parents because AJ is a vampire and Ryan is a Warlock; sworn protectors of vampires. On top of dealing with her everyday teenage life like coming up with a theme for prom and the life threatening problems at home, poor AJ is stuck in the middle as her two best friends war with each other, only one of her friends is not really her friend at all. And danger to AJ's mother and the baby she carries is closer than they initially believed. After a terrible accident, in order to help save her mother AJ is blackmailed into giving their enemy the magical runes she and her friends discovered that will grant their enemies the ability to travel through time, changing the future for AJ and her family. In order to defeat their enemies, AJ and Ryan form a bond that is impossible to break. Love Sucks! ties up all of the loose ends from Bite Me! beautifully with a conclusion that leaves you with a feeling of the warm and fuzzies.