Wednesday Random Recommendation (39)

Cracked Up To Be:
Perfect Parker Fadley isn’t so perfect anymore. She’s quit the cheerleading squad, she’s dumped her perfect boyfriend, and she’s failing school. Her parents are on a constant suicide watch and her counselors think she’s playing games…but what they don’t know, the real reason for this whole mess, isn’t something she can say out loud. It isn’t even something she can say to herself. A horrible thing has happened and it just might be her fault. If she can just remove herself from everybody—be totally alone—then everything will be okay...The problem is, nobody will let her.


Courtney Summers is a gifted writer and she really delves into the teenage psyche when it comes to her books. Her characters are multi-faceted and never disappointing to read.





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!

Nocturne by Syrie James

Nocturne:
When Nicole Whitcomb’s car runs off a Colorado mountain road during a blinding snowstorm, she is saved from death by a handsome, fascinating, and enigmatic stranger.

Snowbound with him for days in his beautiful home high in the Rockies, she finds herself powerfully attracted to him and soon comes to realize that the feeling is mutual. But there are things about him that mystify her, filling her with apprehension—and Nicole can’t shake the feeling that he doesn’t want her there.
Who is Michael Tyler? Why does he live alone in such a secluded spot and guard his private life so carefully? What secret—or secrets—is he hiding?

Nicole has secrets of her own and a past she is running from—but Michael understands her better than anyone she has ever known. Soon, she is falling as deeply in love with him as he is with her.

But as the sexual tension between them builds, the clues mount up. When Nicole learns the terrifying truth—that her host is an ages-old vampire who is torn between his love for her and his desire for her blood—there’s nowhere for her to run but into the blizzard raging outside, and he’s the only one who can save her life.

This was my first Syrie James novel, and she penned a sweetly romantic story with a bitter-sweet ending. Each incredible revelation kept me turning pages long into the night. The entire book revolves around the two characters, Michael and Nicole, with them never coming into contact with any others at all, yet the story was an engaging read. There is a lot of mystery concerning each of the characters in the beginning of the book, and they both hold their secrets closely, until Nicole stumbles upon one of Michael’s and he begins to trust her with more of himself. Nicole is a strong, intelligent and independent woman, but when Michael begins to show the softer side of himself to her, she melts in his arms and their romance truly begins. Although she trusts him with her life, even at times when Michael feels his nature is putting her at risk, it takes Nicole longer to reveal the secret of her past and what made her leave a career she absolutely adored. A terrible attack leaves Michael near death and Nicole must overcome her fear of blood in order to save him, and when she offers him her own, she has faith in his ability to stop. The ending to this book is not at all what I was expecting, the stolen days Nicole spent with Michael up in the mountains was a turning point in her life, and the love she experienced with Michael was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of love that is meant to be shared.

I was also given the opportunity to ask Syrie a question and here it is:

If you became trapped as a character in a book or series, which would you choose and why? (Any series, any book, new or old.)


I'd love to be Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice, marry Mr. Darcy, and live happily-ever-after at Pemberley. I adore Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy for their intelligence, strength of character, sense of humor (okay, Elizabeth's sense of humor) and their ability to grow and change. I'm somewhat obsessed with 19^th century England, and it has always been one of my fantasies to live in a Jane Austen novel! I've been to Pemberley's real-life counterpart, Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, England; it's truly to die for. The only difficult part would be living without antibiotics, and having Mrs. Bennet as a mother and Lydia as a younger sister, but… spending a lifetime with Mr. Darcy would surely make up for that. It'd be a dream come true.






I'd like to share my copy with one of my lucky readers! I'm sorry, but it is US and Canadian addresses only! Simply leave me a comment about my review and fill out the form! (New year, new giveaway layout! Thanks to JP at YA Urban I finally know how to do this!)

Teaser Tuesdays (32)

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


Today's book: Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon

“Free will.
Some have called it the greatest gift bestowed on humanity. It is our ability to control what happens to us and exactly how it happens. We are the masters of our fate and no one can foist their will on us unless we allow it.” (Page 1)

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!

Bitter Frost by Kailin Gow

Bitter Frost:
All her life, Breena had always dreamed about fairies as though she lived among them...beautiful fairies living among mortals and living in Feyland. In her dreams, he was always there the breathtakingly handsome but dangerous Winter Prince, Kian, who is her intended. When Breena turns sixteen, she begins seeing fairies and other creatures mortals don t see. Her best friend Logan, suddenly acts very protective. Then she sees Kian, who seems intent on finding her and carrying her off to Feyland. That's fine and all, but for the fact that humans rarely survive a trip to Feyland, a kiss from a fairy generally means death to the human unless that human has fairy blood in them or is very strong, and although Kian seemed to be her intended, he seems to hate her and wants her dead.




Although I have read stories similar to this one, I did still enjoy Kailin Gow’s story of the Winter Fey. There were times when I felt the story was rushed, and I felt there were key plot points that seemed incomplete. But overall the book was an easy read that leaves you with a huge cliffhanger. The relationship between Logan, Breena’s best friend, and herself seems kind of one sided with Breena always putting herself down and Logan constantly praising her. Although this does change once she is taken to Feyland by Kian, the Prince of the Winter Court and her once intended husband. On Breena’s sixteenth birthday, her Fey powers become stronger and there are some from Feyland that wish to do her harm. Followes into Feyland by Logan, Kian takes Breena as his prisoner in order to exchange her for the release of his sister, Shasta, a prisoner of the Summer Court. Almost immediately they are attacked and she is taken prisoner by the Pixie King, during her rescue Kian is captured and it’s up to Logan and Breena to set him free. Tragedy befalls the trio and Breena blames herself. As they spend time together old feelings between Breena and Kian are resurrected and now they must find a way to be together without betraying the people of their Courts.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? (32)

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


Books I read last week:
Vampire Crush by A.M. Robinson
Tempestuous by Lesley Livingston
His Darkest Hunger by Juliana Stone
Entice by Carrie Jones



The book I’m reading now:
Masked by Moonlight:
ALL SHE WANTS IS REVENGE.

New Orleans homicide detective Charlotte Caissie is dedicated to bringing down the crime boss responsible for her father’s murder. Using Jimmy Legere’s mysterious and irresistible right-hand man is a dangerous gamble, and not only due to his reputation as more monster than man. Because her feelings for Max Savoie are . . . complicated.

THEN HE RISKS HIS LIFE TO SAVE HERS.

Rescued from the swamps as a child, Max exists silently in Legere’s shadow, heeding only his voice—until Charlotte Caissie awakens his emotions and tests his loyalties. Stepping outside his cautious rules threatens more than just his heart. He could expose his darkest secret.

NOW THEY’RE BOTH IN OVER THEIR HEADS.

Testing boundaries they weren’t meant to cross means facing the truth about who and what they are—and what they need from each other. If Max is the murderer she seeks, Charlotte could be his next victim. She can’t afford to trust any man. Good thing Max isn’t one.


Books that spark my interest this week:
His Darkest Embrace by Juliana Stone
Glass by Ellen Hopkins
Blood Trail by Tanya Huff

Vampire Crush by A.M. Robinson

Vampire Crush:
I swear, my life was always totally normal.

Normal house, normal family, normal school. My looks are average, I don't have any superpowers, no one's showing up to tell me I'm a princess—you get the picture. But when my junior year started, something not normal happened. There were new kids at school . . . new kids with a wardrobe straight out of a 19th-century romance novel, and an inexplicable desire to stay at school until sundown.

And on top of that, James Hallowell showed up. James, who stole my sandwiches in fourth grade and teased me mercilessly through middle school. James, who now seems to have the power to make my heart race any time he comes near.

But something weird is going on. Because James rarely goes out during the day. And he seems stronger than your typical guy. And he knows the new kids, all of whom seem to be harboring some kind of deep secret. . .



This debut novel by A. M. Robinson was a a really nice and easy read. The vampire folklore about a mysterious missing child was interesting and unique. the main character, Sophie, seems to be a hard girl to get close to, but that all begins to change when James re-enters her life. The new students at her school seem a little strange and Sophie begins to investigate them fearing some kind of a cult when her sister gets involved with Vlad, their leader. The path her investigation leads Sophie into danger and James suddenly becomes very protective. Vlad believes that Sophie is the girl he has been looking for, a girl that can change his status in the vampire world. Vlad pursues Sophie with wild abandon, threatening her family in order to obtain her compliance. Impatient with Sophie, Vlad kidnaps her sister and forces Sophie to choose between the life of her sister and her own. Choosing to save her sister has life changing consequences for Sophie, only something goes awry when James shows up to save her, and it is something no one was expecting.

In My Mailbox (37)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren.



Ruthless Game by Christine Feehan
Blood Challenge Eileen Wilks
Masked by Moonlight by Nancy Gideon
Tiger Eye by Marjorie M Liu (the new Avon edition)
A Girls Guide to Vampires by Katie MacAlister
Wicked Game by Jeri Smith-Ready








By Claudia Gray: Evernight and Stargazer
Vampire Crush by A.M. Robinson
Tempestuous by Lesley Livingston
Tyger, Tyger by Kersten Hamilton









And just in case anyone is curious, here are the old and new covers for Tiger Eye a Dirk & Steele novel:

Old:

New:

I love them both and decided I am going to collect all the new covers so my collection matches completely! ;)

His Darkest Hunger by Juliana Stone

His Darkest Hunger:
Jaxon Castille: jaguar shifter, warrior, assassin. He has long hungered for the chance to make his former lover, Libby Jamieson, pay for her deadly betrayal. After three long years he's finally found her. The hunt is over . . .

But the Libby that he finds is not what he expected. She has no memory of their tumultuous affair, of her treachery, of anything beyond her own name. A shadowy and deadly clan has marked them both for death, and in an instant, the game changes: the hunter has become the hunted.

On the run, with the ghosts of their past between them and a dark, desperate hunger quickly reclaiming their bodies and souls, Libby and Jaxon must discover the truth behind the dark forces working against them. Together, they must grab hold of a destiny that has the power to either heal them or destroy them.
But the truth is far more shattering than anyone could imagine . . .

In this incredible world created by Juliana Stone danger, mystery, the paranormal and thrilling action fill every page. This book was fast paced and a page-turner. Juliana’s incredible characters were full of life and drew me deeper into the story, leaving me with a need to know more about every one of them. The dynamic relationship between Jaxon and Libby was initially filled with pain and distrust, but as they worked their way back to each other the strength of their feelings is stronger than before—and their passion fills the page with steamy heat. After three years of imprisonment and unbelievable abuse, Libby is freed only to be the bait for a conniving enemy. She has no memory of her past except for the past two months, and to get her memories back she must trust a familiar stranger. Jaxon has become filled with anger and believes he is going to finally get justice for the betrayal he believes Libby responsible for. Only he discovers by finding Libby a trap has been sprung, and Libby is not the same woman he remembers. Jaxon’s passionate feelings for Libby have not subsided and he fights the more tender side of himself when they are thrown together in their escape. Libby's incredible strength makes her a heroine to admire, and side by side they are the perfect pair. Both Libby and Jaxon lost something precious to them at the hands of their enemies, the mysterious leader is a man of dark magick, and most shocking is the revelation of his connection to Libby.

On My Wishlist (32)

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.



XVI by Julia Karr:
Nina Oberon's life is pretty normal: she hangs out with her best friend, Sandy, and their crew, goes to school, plays with her little sister, Dee. But Nina is 15. And like all girls she'll receive a Governing Council-ordered tattoo on her 16th birthday. XVI. Those three letters will be branded on her wrist, announcing to all the world—even the most predatory of men—that she is ready for sex. Considered easy prey by some, portrayed by the Media as sluts who ask for attacks, becoming a "sex-teen" is Nina's worst fear. That is, until right before her birthday, when Nina's mom is brutally attacked. With her dying breaths, she reveals to Nina a shocking truth about her past—one that destroys everything Nina thought she knew. Now, alone but for her sister, Nina must try to discover who she really is, all the while staying one step ahead of her mother's killer.





The Darkest Secret by Gena Showalter:
Keeper of the demon of Secrets, Amun can manipulate the darkest thoughts of anyone nearby. But when new demons possess him, the immortal warrior must be chained and isolated to protect those he loves. Death is his only hope of release—until he meets Haidee, a fellow prisoner whose beauty and hidden vulnerability draw him into a reckless test of his loyalty…

Haidee is an infamous demon assassin, raised to despise Amun’s kind. Yet how can she hate the man whose touch sets her aflame? But to save him, she must give herself body and soul…and face the wrath of a powerful adversary sworn to destroy her.







Moon Cursed by Lori Handeland:
Kristin Daniels is a pasisonate in her prusuit of the truth. As the host of the television show Hoax Hunters, she’s traveled to the ends of the earth to explore-and expose-life’s most enduring myths. Her latest undertaking is no exception: Kris is bound for Scotland, where she intends to get to the bottom of the Loch Ness Monster legend once and for all. Instead, Kris encounters something far more mysterious...for in the ruins of the lake’s Urquharr Castle lies a heavenly creature-a sleek, muscled man with a seductive brogue named Liam Grant. One look into his eyes and Kris is already in danger of falling in too deep. Is Liam for real? Or has the spell of the moon touched them both?

Happy New Year!

Auld Lang Syne
Robert Burns (1759 - 1796)

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and days of auld lang syne* ?
CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my jo,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp !
and surely I’ll be mine !
And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We twa hae run about the braes,
and pu’d the gowans fine ;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit,
sin auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We twa hae paidl’d i' the burn,
frae morning sun till dine ;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
sin auld lang syne.
CHORUS
And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere !
and gie's a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll tak a right gude-willy waught,
for auld lang syne.
CHORUS