Edge of Oblivion by J.T. Geissinger

Edge of Oblivion:
There exists a world beyond our own. It is a world of ancient magic and well-guarded secrets, a world of strict laws and harsh punishments for those who betray them, a world inhabited by the Ikati, a race of gifted people who are so much more than they first appear. Brought together by fate in this world of danger and beauty, two people with dark pasts will meet.

Morgan is beautiful, smart, sexy…and about to die. Convicted of treason against her shape-shifting kin, she is given one last chance at redemption; discover the hidden lair of the enemy intent on destroying every one of her kind, or forfeit her life.

Xander is ruthless, heartless, cold-blooded…and assigned to kill her if she fails in her task. Expecting to feel nothing but contempt for the traitor under his watch, the assassin accompanies Morgan on her search, but as the two race through the heart of Italy while the clock winds down to zero hour, he finds himself drawn into a dangerous web of desire as powerful as it is forbidden. Their passion will test everything they believe in, and endanger the future of the tribe itself.

In this second book of the Night Prowler series, J.T. Geissinger delved even deeper into the world of the Ikati: supernatural beings who can shape shift into panthers. It really grabbed my attention and pulled me right into the story. It was fast paced with vivid imagery that practically popped off the page for me. The tension between the two main characters held me captive from their very first meeting, and the secondary characters were interesting enough that I'm hoping there might be more stories to come featuring them. This is quickly turning into a wonderful paranormal series with a strong and unique story line.

Morgan is considered a traitor to her people, and she is given one last chance to redeem herself in order to save herself from a death sentence. Xander is a cold and ruthless assassin assigned to kill Morgan if she fails in her task. Only fate has another plan in store for these two. They find themselves irrecoverably drawn to one another, despite the many reasons they should in fact despise each other. Traveling around Italy in hopes of discovering the identity of the Expurgari (a cult of zealots hoping to destroy the Ikati world), they uncover secrets neither Morgan nor Xander could have ever imagined. A tribe of feral Ikati rule under the streets of Rome and their leader quickly sets his sights on Morgan. Wounded while protecting Morgan, Xander calls for the assistance of hiss fellow assassins, and it will take all of them to Rescue Morgan, thwart the feral leader's plans and save all of the Ikati colonies.

Future Favorites (122)

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

The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa

Release Date: October 29, 2013 by Harlequin Teen

IN THE REAL WORLD, WHEN YOU VANISH INTO THIN AIR FOR A WEEK, PEOPLE TEND TO NOTICE

After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as "normal" as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for-his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again.

But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, "normal" simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all.

THE IRON FEY

It's Monday What Are You Reading? (140)

Books I read last week:
Nameless by Lili St. Crow
Red Mortal by Deidre Knight

The book I’m reading now:
Edge of Oblivion:
There exists a world beyond our own. It is a world of ancient magic and well-guarded secrets, a world of strict laws and harsh punishments for those who betray them, a world inhabited by the Ikati, a race of gifted people who are so much more than they first appear. Brought together by fate in this world of danger and beauty, two people with dark pasts will meet.

Morgan is beautiful, smart, sexy…and about to die. Convicted of treason against her shape-shifting kin, she is given one last chance at redemption; discover the hidden lair of the enemy intent on destroying every one of her kind, or forfeit her life.

Xander is ruthless, heartless, cold-blooded…and assigned to kill her if she fails in her task. Expecting to feel nothing but contempt for the traitor under his watch, the assassin accompanies Morgan on her search, but as the two race through the heart of Italy while the clock winds down to zero hour, he finds himself drawn into a dangerous web of desire as powerful as it is forbidden. Their passion will test everything they believe in, and endanger the future of the tribe itself.


Books that spark my interest this week:
The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa
Nobody by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

My Bookish Wants & Gots (45)

My Bookish Wants & Gots is a feature over at The Book Vixen. I list the books I want - which can be old, new, or upcoming releases - and the books I recently got.

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

goodreads 

WORLDS KEPT THEM APART.

DESTINY BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER.

Aria has lived her whole life in the protected dome of Reverie. Her entire world confined to its spaces, she's never thought to dream of what lies beyond its doors. So when her mother goes missing, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland long enough to find her are slim.

Then Aria meets an outsider named Perry. He's searching for someone too. He's also wild - a savage - but might be her best hope at staying alive.

If they can survive, they are each other's best hope for finding answers.

Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols

goodreads 

Bailey wasn't always a wild child and the black sheep of her family. She used to play fiddle and tour the music circuit with her sister, Julie, who sang and played guitar. That ended when country music execs swooped in and signed Julie to a solo deal. Never mind that Julie and Bailey were a duet, or that Bailey was their songwriter. The music scouts wanted only Julie, and their parents were content to sit by and let her fulfill her dreams while Bailey’s were hushed away.

Bailey has tried to numb the pain and disappointment over what could have been. And as Julie’s debut album is set to hit the charts, her parents get fed up with Bailey’s antics and ship her off to granddad’s house in Nashville. Playing fiddle in washed-up tribute groups at the mall, Bailey meets Sam, a handsome and oh-so-persuasive guitarist with his own band. He knows Bailey’s fiddle playing is just the thing his band needs to break into the industry. But this life has broken Bailey’s heart once before. She isn’t sure she’s ready to let Sam take her there again…

 

The Stone Demon by Karen Mahoney
goodreads
After being tricked into opening the doorway to the Demon Realm by Aliette, the Wood Queen, Donna Underwood is faced with a terrible ultimatum from the newly released demon hordes. They demand that the alchemists deliver the Philosopher's Stone, or their reaper storm will plunge the world into a devastating modern-day Dark Age.

Donna is sent to London, England, where she must complete her alchemist's training and learn how to recreate the Stone. But time is running out. Between facing the vengeful demon king, Demian, and collecting the Stone's elements, Donna realizes she must give her own life in order to succeed. And this time, even braving death may not be enough to save the world.

Dead Silence by Kimberly Derting
goodreads
Violet thought she’d made peace with her unique ability to sense the echoes of the dead and the imprints that cling to their killers…that is until she acquired an imprint of her own. Forced to carry a reminder of the horrible events of her kidnapping, Violet is more determined than ever to lead a normal life. However, the people who run the special investigative team Violet works for have no intention of letting her go.

When someone close to Violet becomes a suspect in a horrific murder, she finds herself pulled into a deadly hunt for a madman with an army of devoted followers. Violet has survived dangerous situations before, but she quickly discovers that protecting those closest to her is far more difficult than protecting herself.

Nameless by Lili St. Crow

Nameless:
When Camille was six years old, she was discovered alone in the snow by Enrico Vultusino, godfather of the Seven—the powerful Families that rule magic-ridden New Haven. Papa Vultusino adopted the mute, scarred child, naming her after his dead wife and raising her in luxury on Haven Hill alongside his own son, Nico.

Now Cami is turning sixteen. She’s no longer mute, though she keeps her faded scars hidden under her school uniform, and though she opens up only to her two best friends, Ruby and Ellie, and to Nico, who has become more than a brother to her. But even though Cami is a pampered Vultusino heiress, she knows that she is not really Family. Unlike them, she is a mortal with a past that lies buried in trauma. And it’s not until she meets the mysterious Tor, who reveals scars of his own, that Cami begins to uncover the secrets of her birth…to find out where she comes from and why her past is threatening her now.

I absolutely fell in love with Lili St. Crow's writing style in her Strange Angels series, and was so excited to pick up her next venture in the young adult genre. But be that as it may, I was slightly disappointed. I know and very much appreciate that an author is not going to put out a carbon copy style of the series they wrote before, but I was blown so off kilter with Nameless that I found it hard to regain my balance throughout most of the book. While the tale itself was hauntingly dark, the world was so frustratingly confusing that I had a hard time following just exactly what was going on.  I felt like there almost should have been a story that came before, explaining who and what everyone was.  But I loved the characters. The characters truly drove this story for me, and I instantly became attached to Camille, she was a very different kind of heroine. She believed herself to be a coward, when in fact (to me at least) the exact opposite was true. Nameless is supposed to be a re-telling of the Snow White fairy tale, but the similarities were so well hidden beneath the storytelling that I rarely made the connection. This book had just the right amount of romance to make my heart flutter every once-in-a-while, and the story was rife with tension. So, although I found myself struggling to understand the world and it's counterparts, I loved the dark freshness of Nameless and look forward to more in the Tales of Beauty and Madness series.

Theme Thursday (84)

Theme Thursdays is a fun weekly event hosted by Reading Between Pages that will be open from one Thursday to the next. Anyone can participate in it. The rules are simple:

• A theme will be posted each week (on Thursdays)
• Select a conversation/snippet/sentence from the current book you are reading
• Mention the author and the title of the book along with your post
• It is important that the theme is conveyed in the sentence (you don’t necessarily need to have the word)
  Ex: If the theme is KISS; your sentence can have “They kissed so gently” or “Their lips touched each other” or “The smooch was so passionate”

This will give us a wonderful opportunity to explore and understand different writing styles and descriptive approaches adopted by authors.

This week’s theme is – ANXIOUS (nervous, fearful, afraid, etc)

He walked over to the couch and sat next to me, placing his hat on his lap. He played with the rim like he was nervous.

Bite Me! by Melissa Francis

Why Haven't I Read You? (12)

Every Wednesday I’ll choose a book off one of my (many) shelves that I haven’t read for some reason or another, and include the first few lines from the first page.

Feel free to join in, and leave your comments about the books I feature if you have read them!

Had the man in front of her not already been dead, Chess probably would have tried to kill him. Damned ghosts. A year and a half she'd gone without having to deal with one--the best Debunking record in the church.

Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane

goodreads 

Red Mortal by Deidre Knight

Red Mortal:
Leonidas has long led his fellow immortal warriors in battle with quiet, unyielding strength. But when Daphne, Oracle of Delphi, confesses to having loved him from afar, Leo finds his stoic shell breaking away. Just as their love ignites, Daphne's half-brother Ares strips Leonidas of his immortality. Now, it's just a matter of time before Leonidas is taken from her-unless they can find a way to challenge Ares together.

Red Mortal is the final book in the Gods of Midnight series by Deidre Knight, and I really wish that there was going to be more. Oh, this book wrapped up the series nicely, but I just love the characters so much and it's hard to say goodbye. Throughout the series, Deidre constantly tugged on my emotions, breaking my heart one moment, and then putting it back together the next. Deidre also created an incredible villain, one who just kept on throwing hardships at the Spartan warriors. Ares was cruel and kept the warriors on their toes, giving the books plenty of tension and danger. 

The final battle has come, and Leonidas, with some unconventional help, must lead his men against Ares in order to free them from his control. Admittedly there were times that I got a little tired of Leonidas' repetitive and angsty thought patterns--he's too old for Daphne, he's unworthy of her purity, and so forth. But what I loved was Sophie and Sable's parts in the story. I'd been rooting for them since day one, and was happy to see them finally work out their difficulties and get together. The end of the book gives fans a glimpse into the future for the Spartans and their families, one that left me completely satisfied and my heart finally fully mended.

Future Favorites (121)

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

Hurt by Tabitha Suzuma

Release Date: September 5th 2013 by Definitions

Why? is the burning question on everyone’s lips. Why would a guy like Mathéo Walsh want to die? At seventeen, he is Britain’s most promising diving champion. He is a heartthrob, a straight A student and lives in one of the wealthiest areas of London. He has great mates and is the envy of everyone around him. And most importantly of all, he is deeply in love with his girlfriend, Lola. He has always been a stable, well-adjusted guy...

Until one weekend. A weekend he cannot seem to remember. All he knows is that he has come back a changed person. One who no longer knows how to have fun, no longer wants to spend time with his friends, no longer enjoys diving. Something terrible happened that weekend – something violent and bloody and twisted. He no longer knows who he is. He no longer trusts himself around people: he only wants to hurt, wound and destroy. Slowly, he begins to piece back the buried, fragmented memories, and finds himself staring at the reflection of a monster.

Tormented, Mathéo suddenly finds himself faced with the most devastating choice of his life. Keep his secret, and put those closest to him in terrible danger. Or confess, and lose Lola forever...

It`s Monday, What Are You Reading? (139)

Books I read last week:
(Two Week Edition)
Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma
Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick
Diabolical by Cynthia Leitich Smith
A Howl for a Highlander by Terry Spear

The book I’m reading now:

Red Mortal:
Leonidas has long led his fellow immortal warriors in battle with quiet, unyielding strength. But when Daphne, Oracle of Delphi, confesses to having loved him from afar, Leo finds his stoic shell breaking away. Just as their love ignites, Daphne's half-brother Ares strips Leonidas of his immortality. Now, it's just a matter of time before Leonidas is taken from her-unless they can find a way to challenge Ares together.


Books that spark my interest this week:
The Mortal Bone by Marjorie M. Liu
Bite Me! by Melissa Francis

Sundays With Sarah (31)

To find out more about Sarah and this feature go here.

Hi everyone, welcome to another end of the weekend and another Sundays with Sarah.

So this will be my last week for doing blog posts on Sundays with Sarah...instead, I will be starting to do VIDEO POSTS!!! YAY

So for my post this week, I will be featuring the top 5 summer camps in Canada for kids. These camps are collected from friends and family who have been to these camps as well as for price (affordability) and overall awesomeness.

Starting at #5: Muskoka Woods: Ontario

Muskoka Woods Summer camp. Located in the beautiful wilderness of Rosseau, Ontario, this camp features a ton of summer programs for kids 7 to 17. Muskoka Woods operates year round on Lake Rosseau as a non-profit youth organization, Although Muskoka is a christian youth camp, they still welcome all young people to life changing experiences.

Muskoka Woods offers natural trails, faith based services, a great beach situated on a beautiful lake and includes various activities which include, water skiing, wake boarding  Visual performing arts, horseback riding , paintball and more.

#4: Pioneer Summer Camp: Alberta

Pioneer Summer Camp, located in beautiful Sundre Alberta, this unique camp provides kids with a special experience in creating a better sense of community and self-confidence. Most programs include horseback riding, hiking, campfires, strawberry picking and facilities that give you that backyard camp out experience.

Close to the beautiful Rockies, the Pioneer Ranch camps also offer girls and boys a variety of challenges that help with development, skills, leadership, and working together.

Both camps are available for youth from age 8 to 17.

#3: FourSquare: British Columbia

Four Square Kids Camp, located in the beautiful province of British Columbia, provides campers of all ages to unique experiences that help create friendships and confidence in all youth. The Summer camp for kids operates out of the Stillwood Campsite and conference center and provides a rich view of the mountains. With a large scale zip line to archery, outdoor survival, dirt boarding and kayaking this camp provides a wide range of activities for all kids.

#2: Forest Cliff Camp: Ontario

Forest Cliff Camp is located on a beautiful sandy beach on Lake Huron just 45 minutes from London and 30 minutes from Sarnia. A fun-filled program which includes a variety of great activities, comfortable facilities, and tasty food, offers our campers the best week of their summer. Our qualified, caring staff provides a safe, inclusive environment where friendships flourish. Forest Cliff Camp is a non-denominational Christian camp that is open to everyone.

Forest cliff provides beautiful nature trails, a beautiful lakeside view as well as various activities ranging from, swimming, Sailing and marine skills, archery and sports.

Unlike some camps, Forest Cliff also provides, support for special needs for children with disabilities, Autism, Aspergers and other learning disabilities.

And the Number 1 Summer camp for my recommendation is the beautiful Birch Bay Ranch.

#1: Birch Bay Ranch: Alberta

Birch Bay Ranch is Situated on 104 acres of wooded lakefront property only 45 minutes from downtown Edmonton, it is one of Alberta’s most conveniently located Christian Camp and Retreat Centers. The objectives of the Ranch are to provide activities and facilities that will encourage the complete development of a person’s physical, social, mental and spiritual dimensions in a warm and friendly Christian atmosphere.

As one of the best summer camps in all of Alberta, Birch Bay provides a warm and safe environment for all campers.

Birch Bay Ranch is also available for rentals year round for conferences, youth groups, school groups and more.

Offering activities such as a mega-super zip line, climbing walls, horseback riding (with an indoor arena), indoor gym and climbing wall, large sports field, archery, paintball/pelletry, and a remote campsite tenting area located on Cooking Lake.

The staff at this camp go all out in providing all campers with an experience that keeps them coming back each year. Birch Bay Ranch is more than just a summer camp, its a family community.

Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed my review of the top 5 summer camps for Kids in Canada. I hope you will tune in next week to Sundays with Sarah.

My Bookish Wants & Gots (44)

My Bookish Wants & Gots is a feature over at The Book Vixen. I list the books I want - which can be old, new, or upcoming releases - and the books I recently got.

Bled & Breakfast by Michelle Rowen

goodreads 

Fledgling vampire Sarah Dearly knew what she was getting into when she married master vampire Thierry de Bennicoeur. As an agent of the Ring, Thierry is sent all over the world to solve vampire crimes and keep them secret from humans. And now Sarah’s on the job with him—for better or worse.

Right after their wedding in Las Vegas, Sarah and Thierry get their next assignment: Three vampires have gone missing in Salem, Massachusetts, and they need to find out why. Their contact in Salem turns out to be a local lothario with a penchant for witches, but before he can help them, he suddenly goes up in smoke—leaving behind nothing but a stain on the ground and a seemingly impossible mystery.

Did a witchy ex-mistress cast a deadly spell, or is there something even more sinister happening to the vampires of Salem? Getting to the truth may require raising the undead, with a little help from the owners of a vampire-friendly bed and breakfast. But uncovering Salem’s darkest secrets may drag some of Thierry’s own past into the light.

Killing Time by Cindy Gerard

goodreads 

An exciting new series featuring Mike "Primetime" Brown, a character from her popular "Black Ops, Inc." series.

For the seven years after Operation Slam Dunk went south, Mike Brown got drunk on each anniversary. The eighth year was no different--until he was drugged by a woman and woke up to her questions about what had happened eight years ago in Afghanistan. CIA attorney Eva Salinas has her own theory behind what happened to Mike's team--which included her husband--in Afghanistan eight years ago, and she's determined to prove foul play. Though she doesn't trust him, Mike is the only person she can turn to for help. Under an assumed name, Eva convinces Mike to assemble a new team and go after the traitor who screwed up both their lives. As they track down the rogue who started it all, Eva and Mike discover they can't live without each other. But can they stay alive while an enemy is still on the loose?

 

Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari
goodreads 
A thrilling tale of adventure, romance, and one girl's unyielding courage through the darkest of nightmares.
Epidemics, floods, droughts--for sixteen-year-old Lucy, the end of the world came and went, taking 99% of the population with it. As the weather continues to rage out of control, and Sweepers clean the streets of plague victims, Lucy survives alone in the wilds of Central Park. But when she's rescued from a pack of hunting dogs by a mysterious boy named Aidan, she reluctantly realizes she can't continue on her own. She joins his band of survivors, yet, a new danger awaits her: the Sweepers are looking for her. There's something special about Lucy, and they will stop at nothing to have her.

This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel
goodreads 
Victor and Konrad are the twin brothers Frankenstein. They are nearly inseparable. Growing up, their lives are filled with imaginary adventures...until the day their adventures turn all too real. They stumble upon The Dark Library, and secret books of alchemy and ancient remedies are discovered. Father forbids that they ever enter the room again, but this only piques Victor's curiosity more. When Konrad falls gravely ill, Victor is not be satisfied with the various doctors his parents have called in to help. He is drawn back to The Dark Library where he uncovers an ancient formula for the Elixir of Life. Elizabeth, Henry, and Victor immediately set out to find assistance in a man who was once known for his alchemical works to help create the formula.

Determination and the unthinkable outcome of losing his brother spur Victor on in the quest for the three ingredients that will save Konrads life. After scaling the highest trees in the Strumwald, diving into the deepest lake caves, and sacrificing one’s own body part, the three fearless friends risk their lives to save another.