Fang Meby Parker Blue

The vampires want it. The demons want it, too. And someone is willing to kill Val for it.Val and Fang have to find the powerful Encyclopedia Magicka before either of San Antonio's warring underworld factions locate it or the consequences will be deadly for the entire city. As usual, Val's vampire enemies (they still call her The Slayer) want her dead. Even some of her fellow demons may be less than trustworthy, since they'd like to grab the legendary book of spells before she does. Val has a personal claim to the Encyclopedia--her demon father left it to her when he died--but someone stole it recently. And that can't be good.Battling vamps and dodging demons, Val struggles to unravel the mystery and find the thief. At the same time, she's fighting her attraction to sweet, sexy Shade--her favorite shadow demon. Rumor has it that Val will lose her part-demon, vampire-fighting powers if she gives herself to him.With a crowd of vamps and demons out to trick her or kill her, it's not a good time for her to risk her job as the city's best vampire hunter by falling in love. The stakes are high and aimed right at her heart. But Lola, Val's hungry little lust demon, doesn't like being denied. Will Lola finally get her way?What's a part-lust-demon-teen supposed to do? Whatever it takes.

my thoughts~
Fang Me is book #3 in the Demon Underground series finds Val & Shade searching for the Encyclopedia Magika with Trevor, a new half demon in town who says he's the keeper of the books. I love, love, love this series! I am really enjoying reading about Val coming into her own, I love Fang and his snarky sense of humor and I love Shade because he cares so much about others and he loves Val. There are so many people I would love to see get together (hello? Gwen & Micah!!). I look forward to finding out more about Jack Grady (read the book so you know who I'm talking about) and would love to visit with Erica & Marlena again! Ms. Blue has created a world that I love to visit and look forward to her next book next year.

Weekly Wrap Up(04/09/11)

reviews 
Animal Stories Daddy Told Us By Innocent Emechete 
Stop Looking For a Husband {Find the Love of Your Life}By Marina Sbrochi 
Dark Lover by JR Ward re-read!
Bite Me by Parker Blue
Try Me by Parker Blue

posts this week 
Waiting On Wednesday (4/6/11) 
Teaser Tuesday! 
check THIS out!

current giveaways 
Giveaway! The Sweetest Thing by Jill Shalvis
Happy Blogging Birthday!Gift Card Giveaway!

our week in review
This week was a weird week for me. I started walking and so I'm listening to an audiobook while I walk. But it seems to really cut into my reading time!  So I've read Dark Lover by JR Ward, Bite Me, Try Me & Fang Me by Parker Blue (Fang Me review will be posted later today) and The Neon Graveyard by Vicki Pettersson (look for the review 05/31/11!) and listened to the first 2 CD's of Duma Key by Stephen King which I didn't complete. I just wasn't in the mood for it so I switched to Ladies Man by Suzanne Brockmann. Much better. I just think that I was in the mood for a regular ole romance! It just seems that I've been terribly distracted this week and unable to concentrate on reading. I hope it doesn't last too long, I have some awesome books to read!
How was your week?

Try Meby Parker Blue

This part-demon teen vampire fighter and her faithful terrier hellhound are once again patrolling the dark streets of San Antonio, Texas. Val's hunky human partner, Detective Dan Sullivan, is giving her the cold shoulder since she beheaded his vampire fiancée. Vamp leader Alejandro is struggling to keep the peace between vamps, demons and humans. The mucho powerful Encyclopedia Magicka has been stolen, someone in the Demon Underground is poisoning vamps, and Val's inner lust demon, Lola, is getting very restless since Val's now partnered with sexy Shade, the shadow demon with the blond good looks of an angel.

my thoughts~
Try Me is book #2 in the Demon Underground series. As much as I enjoyed reading Bite Me, reading Try Me was twice as good! Try Me find Val being ignored by Dan because of his uncertainty about Lola (what Val calls the lust demon part of herself) and the age difference between them. But Val is making strides in learning who she is and who she wants to become. All while trying to find out what is causing some Vamps to go crazy & kill people and trying to find the Encyclopedia Magika. During all this she has to learn to help feed her demon side (yippee!) to help keep 'her' under control better. Enter the amazing Shade. I just want to go on record here and say: I hope he turns out to be as amazing in the rest of the books as he seems to be in Try Me. I would love to see them together, more permanent! I really, really liked this book & can't wait to start Fang Me, book #3 in the series!

check THIS out!

I was visiting over at The Owl Bookmark Blog and she is hosting a giveaway for a new custom blog design by Use Your Imagination Designs! I've been following Use Your Imagination Designs for awhile now, wanting one (I mean seriously, have you noticed how many times I've changed the design here?!?) but unable to part with the moo-la. So here's hoping I win! LOL!

Bite Meby Parker Blue

 Life after high school is tough enough without having to go 15 rounds with your inner demon. Val Shapiro is just your ordinary, part-demon, teenaged vampire hunter with a Texas drawl. And a pet hellhound named Fang. Soon enough she finds herself deep in the underbelly of the city, discovering the secrets of the Demon Underground and fighting to save those she loves. Whether they love her back or not.



  
my thoughts~ 
Bite Me is the first book of the Demon Underground series by an author I've never read before...well it ROCKED! Val is part lust demon whose parents throw her out of the house at 18 because they just don't understand. They are fully human and just don't understand what its like for Val & they blame her for everything supernatural that has happened to their family. Luckily for Val she had met a cop that works for a special force that deals with just the supernatural side and is able to get a job, a place to live and gets a dog. Who just happens to be part Hellhound, part terrier, Fang. Val & her partner Dan are trying to learn more about a group called The Blood Movement, vamps that use a blood bank and only willing donors. But someone is bad on the inside! They enthrall Val's little sister Jen and Val & Dan (& Fang) have to find out who and release her. I have to say not only did I enjoy this book, I look forward to reading the next: Try Me.

Animal Stories Daddy Told Us By Innocent Emechete

Excerpts from Introduction: Many years ago a lot of African Countries did not have too many things written down because many of the people could not read or write. Consequently oral literature became a part of their life. Memorization was the most used instrument among the people to pass on knowledge, history, literature and all sorts of information from one person to another, and from one generation to the next. "Animal Stories Daddy Told Us" is a product of that oral tradition.

In these oral traditions, African children were given a sense of what it meant to be a village warrior and the honor and prestige that went with it. Character, discipline and integrity were built in the young generation through these oral, human and animal stories of courage and success. The mistakes of the past were also recounted for a precaution in the future.

Some of these stories were funny and some were scary; but they always taught some moral lesson to the next generation. What was handed over orally from one generation to the next is put down in writing now for generations to come...But more importantly it is written down for the benefit of other cultures that do not have such traditions and animal stories as part of their history and culture. Hopefully the little children in these cultures will benefit immensely from these stories from Africa at another time in history.

Some of the stories are humorous and entertaining. But there are some stories that exhibit acts of deceit and game playing. These are set to teach young people that there are some animals which do not play by the rules just as there are some people in our human society that do not play by the rules either. These stories prepare the children for the real world. From the mistakes and fall of such bad characters in animal stories, children are made to learn a good lesson about how to be good and fair to other people.

I was sent this book to review back in February, and have just now been able to finish reading it. It does teach lessons in each story, and the author has even given discussion questions at the end of each story so that it can be discussed in detail with children. The author was also kind enough to add to the back of the book an explanation of some of the foreign words used in the book. I don't believe young children could read this book on their own and get a full understanding of it, but it would possibly be a good tool in home schooling.

Stop Looking For a Husband {Find the Love of Your Life} By Marina Sbrochi

This book bucks the notion that a woman needs a husband to be happy. Ever think the reason the divorce rate is so high is because women have been taught that life isn't complete without a husband? We rush into marriage only to discover that it was never meant to be. Quick, find that man before you reach a certain age, and seal the deal. Make him commit or else! The truth is, a marriage will never work when its foundation is set on shaky ground. Author Marina Sbrochi tells the modern, intelligent woman that she will only find real love when she gets the objective of marriage out of her head--a fundamental mind shift. Change your goal from finding a husband to finding the love of your life, and you'll find happiness. Women have been conditioned to search for the perfect man who will fulfill the dream of a white dress, a diamond ring, 2.5 kids, and a house in the 'burbs. Nowhere in this fairy tale is there anything about falling in love with the one you can't live without -- and having fun doing it! The honest, straightforward advice -- and the often hilarious accounts -- speaks to anyone who has read all the "rules" and tried all the tricks, yet can't seem to get off the starting line. Stop Looking for a Husband will not only give the intelligent woman ideas for a new and enhanced approach to finding love but will also keep her in stitches with sage advice and true tales that can only happen in real life.

I loved this book!!! I am one of those women who have a hard time in the romance department. I wish that I would have known to try some of the concepts in this book before getting involved with anyone. I would definitely recommend that every woman who is dating read this. This book helped me to realize that I was trying too hard to make a man interested in me....I need to get out and just enjoy myself, get to know as many people as I can but be prepared to be alone and be okay with being alone. As the author states in her note at the front of the book..."The most vital lesson I've learned is that true love magically appears when you're being yourself, doing things for yourself, and creating opportunities to share that with others."

Waiting On Wednesday(04/6/11)

My name is Amelia Gray. I’m a cemetery restorer who sees ghosts. In order to protect myself from the parasitic nature of the dead, I’ve always held fast to the rules passed down from my father. But now a haunted police detective has entered my world and everything is changing, including the rules that have always kept me safe. It started with the discovery of a young woman’s brutalized body in an old Charleston graveyard I’ve been hired to restore. The clues to the killer—and to his other victims— lie in the headstone symbolism that only I can interpret. Devlin needs my help, but his ghosts shadow his every move, feeding off his warmth, sustaining their presence with his energy. To warn him would be to invite them into my life. I’ve vowed to keep my distance, but the pull of his magnetism grows ever stronger even as the symbols lead me closer to the killer and to the gossamer veil that separates this world from the next.

The Restorer by Amanda Stevens

(#1 in Graveyard Queen)

Publishing Details

Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises, Limited
Date: April 19, 2011
ISBN13: 9780778329817
ISBN: 077832981X
BINC: 3261530

Teaser Tuesday!

 

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme,

hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. 

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

 

 

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “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!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!!

 

my teaser-

But the real scary ones were those who wore no costume or make-up at all-- the vampires in the crowd. They gave the gathering an edge of danger, the feeling that one wrong sound was the only spark it needed to explode.

Bite Me by Parker Blue

eBook edition 

page 70

Giveaway!The Sweetest Thing by Jill Shalvis

Two Men Are One Too Many . . .
Tara has a thousand good reasons not to return to the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington. Yet with her life doing a major crash-and-burn,anywhereaway from her unfulfilled dreams and sexy ex-husband will do. As Tara helps her two sisters get their newly renovated inn up and running, she finally has a chance to get things under control and come up with a new plan for her life.
But a certain tanned, green-eyed sailor has his own ideas, such as keeping Tara hot, bothered . . . and in his bed. And when her ex wantsTaraback, three is a crowd shecan'tcontrol-especially when her deepest secret reappears out of the blue. NowTaramust confront her past and discover what she really wants. If she's lucky, she might just find that everything her heart desires is right here in Lucky Harbor.

Dark Loverby JR Wardre-read!

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war going war going on between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers like no other-six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Yet none of them relishes killing their enemies more than Wrath, the leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood...
The only purebred vampire left on the planet, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But when one of his most trusted fighters is killed - orphaning a half-breed daughter unaware of her heritage or her fate - Wrath must usher the beautiful female into the world of the undead...Racked by a restlessness in her body that wasn't there, Beth Randall is helpless against the dangerously sexy man who comes at night with shadows in his eyes. His tales of brotherhood and blood frighten her. But his touch ignites a dawning hunger that threatens to consume them both....

my thoughts~ I first read this book in 2009 and my original review can be found here! I've read this book  4 times now (I just finished #4 yesterday!) and I never get tired of reading it! Yes, I know what is coming, I know almost every part of this book, but I know that even as I'm typing these words, that I will read this book AGAIN! Yes, I think the series is great. But some books are just better than others and Dark Lover is in my top 3 favorites. What else needs to be said when someone is willing to read the same book repeatedly? That's right. Nothing! LOL!

In My Mailbox04/03/11)

For Review~
Stop Looking for a Husband (Find the Love of Your life) by Marina Sbrochi
Altamont Augie by Richard Barager
Recovery by Alexandrea Weis



Bought~

Lover Unleashed by JR Ward ~ my review can be found HERE!

Library~
Prince Charming Doesn't Live Here by Christine Warren
At Grave's End by Jeaniene Frost (yes, I've read this one already this year, but it was sitting on the shelf looking lonesome!)

What was  In Your Mailbox?

Weekly Wrap Up(04/02/11)

Book Reviews

Lover Unleashed

The Thirteenth Gift

The Touch Of Twilight

The Taste Of Night

City Of Souls 
Cheat The Grave 

Posts This Week

The In Death Reading Challenge

Waiting On Wednesday

In My Mailbox

Current Giveaways

Happy Blogging Birthday!

Our Week

It seemed like a busy week to me, but I didn't really do a lot except read! A couple of my friends & I did get together on Thursday and have lunch and just laugh & talk! It was fun and needed! The books that I read this week are: The Taste Of Night, The Touch of Twilight, City of Souls, Cheat The Grave (all by Vicki Pettersson) and Lover Unleashed by JR Ward. And thanks to Dead Book Darling I'm going to leave you all with this video that I know you all will appreciate!!

Cheat The Graveby Vicki Pettersson

Las Vegas socialite and otherwordly avenger Joanna Archer gave up everything when she embraced mortality—abandoning her powers and altering her destiny to save a child . . . and a city. Now her former allies are her enemies—and her enemies have nothing to fear.Yet still she is bound to a prophecy that condemns her to roam a nightmare landscape that ordinary humans cannot see and dare not enter. And a beast is on her trail—an insane killer blinded by bloodlust, who's determined to rip much more from Joanna than merely her now-fragile life. Survival is no longer an option in this dark realm where good and evil have blurred into confusing shades of gray—unless she can gather together an army of onetime foes and destroy everything she once believed in.

my thoughts~
Book #5 finds Jo/Olivia out of the Zodiac troop, mortal and with a demon from Midheaven trying to kill her. Wow. Just WOW! I know I keep saying this but this series just keeps getting better & better! There were a couple of times I thought: "Whoa, no way" and it would turn out to be a Oh Hell Yes Way! (<--Did you notice those caps? They are deserved, let me tell ya!) The one sad thing is that there is only 1 more book to read until I'm out till next year! *sniff, sniff* So, if you haven't read the series yet, what the hell are you waiting for? Read it!

Follow My Book Blog Friday!

Don't forget to use the button to add yourself to the link list. Happy following!

Q. What is the book that you really don't want to admit to loving?? 

You know I don't embarrass easily. Really. And especially not about books. BUT, that being said, I do hesitate to tell people that I love reading You Belong To Me by Joanna Lindsey, Elfking's Lady by Hannah Howell and The Black Lyon by Jude Deveraux. Yes, I know that's 3 books, but they are the ones that are hidden behind the other books on the very bottom shelf!

City Of Soulsby Vicki Pettersson

In Sin City, a little girl suffers from a strange and terrible malady. If she dies, the Light will die along with her.
Warrior, avenger, Joanna Archer has survived countless otherworldly terrors—and has found her rightful place among the agents battling the all-pervasive evil of Shadow . . . even as she struggles against the darkness within herself.
A war is raging for Las Vegas—a city without a heart—one that catapults Joanna into a new world hidden from mortal sight. In this lethally seductive alternate dimension the lines blur between good and evil, love and hate, and here lies the last hope for the Light. But Joanna's price of admission is a piece of her own soul—and the odds of her escaping are slim . . . to none.

my thoughts~
I have really enjoyed reading this series! City Of Souls is the 4th book in the Signs of the Zodiac series and let me tell you: I hope this series never ends!! It seems to me that each book is better than the last, I think 'this' will happen, but no, 'that' happens and it's completely unexpected! I won't say much more than this: I am incredibly sad that I'm more than half way finished with the next book, Cheat The Grave and there is only The Neon Graveyard for me to read and then I have to wait a whole year for the next book.

The In Death Reading Challenge

I've spoken with quite a few people lately that have never read *gasp* an In Death book and had no idea to the complete hotness of Roarke! I thought, how sad for these women, to not have Roarke in their dreams! So, that is how I had the bright idea to host the first ever My Guilty Pleasures Reading Challenge!


About the challenge:
If you want to sign up for the challenge, you must make a post on your blog about the challenge and it can be added to other challenge posts.  You must also sign up on the link list below.  Please link to the challenge post, not just your blog. If you don't have a blog, you can still sign up!  You can use the link list to sign up at any book related site you belong to.  If you don't belong to any book sites, leave a comment. Or join goodreads, librarything, shelfari, fictfact, etc! They are easy to join & free too!

Also, if you're signing up for the challenge, feel free to add the button below to your sidebar It's not a MUST, but we would appreciate it!

<center><a href="http://www.mgpblog.com/2011/03/in-death-reading-challenge.html" target="_blank"><img alt="My Guilty Pleasures" src="http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww117/MGPBLOG/readingchallenge.jpg"/></a></center>

Challenge details:

• This challenge will run from May 1st, 2011 to April 31st, 2012.
• Goal: Read as many of the In Death series books by the end of the challenge as you want!
• Any book counts: paperback, e-book, audio, etc.
• Anthologies can count, but aren't mandatory!
• Challenge can cross-over into other challenges.
• Feel free to join whenever you want!

 Here is a list of the books, in order:
(yes, there are a lot, but don't panic!)




The In Death Series Naked in Death, July 1995 Glory in Death, December 1995 Immortal in Death, July 1996 Rapture in Death, October 1996 Ceremony in Death, May 1997 Vengeance in Death, October 1997 Holiday in Death, June 1998 Conspiracy in Death, April 1999 Loyalty in Death, October 1999 Witness in Death, March 2000 Judgment in Death, September 2000 Betrayal in Death, March 2001 Seduction in Death, September 2001 Reunion in Death, March 2002 Purity in Death, September 2002 Portrait in Death, March 2003 Imitation in Death, September 2003 Divided in Death, January 2004 Visions in Death, August 2004 Survivor in Death, February 2005 Origin in Death, July 2005 Memory in Death, January 2006 Born in Death, November 2006 Innocent in Death, February 2007 Creation in Death, November 2007 Strangers in Death, February 2008 Salvation in Death, November 2008 Promises in Death, February 2009 Kindred in Death, November 2009 Fantasy in Death, February 2010 Indulgence in Death, November 2010 Treachery in Death, February 2011 and if you want to read the novella's & anthologies: In Death Novella Robb novella included in Remember When (featuring two connected stories from Nora Roberts and J. D. Robb), May 2004 Big Jack, March 2010 (stand-alone publication) In Death stories included in Anthologies “Midnight in Death,” Silent Night, November 1998 “Interlude in Death,” Out of This World, August 2001 “Haunted in Death,” Bump in the Night, April 2006 “Eternity in Death,” Dead of Night, November 2007 “Ritual in Death,” Suite 606, November 2008 “Missing in Death,” The Lost, December 2009 “Possession in Death,” The Otherside, November 2010

Lover Unleashedby J.R. Ward

 
Payne, twin sister of Vishous, is cut from the same dark, warrior cloth as her brother: A fighter by nature, and a maverick when it comes to the traditional role of Chosen females, there is no place for her on the Far Side… and no role for her on the front lines of the war, either.When she suffers a paralyzing injury, human surgeon Dr. Manuel Manello is called in to treat her as only he can- and he soon gets sucked into her dangerous, secret world. Although he never before believed in things that go bump in the night- like vampires- he finds himself more than willing to be seduced by the powerful female who marks both his body and his soul.As the two find so much more than an erotic connection, the human and vampire worlds collide … just as a centuries old score catches up with Payne and puts both her love and her life in deadly jeopardy.

my thoughts~
Book #9 and I still love reading about the Brothers! I was up at 5 a.m. this morning reading. I finished at 6 p.m. still in my pj's, needing to eat & shower. That's how entranced with 'Lover Unleashed' I was. I barely moved all day! I love the story of Payne & Manny. The way it unfolds, how giving he is. How strong she is. It was a book that I had to set down a couple of times and just 'sigh'.  And, there were a couple of times that I just wanted to smack 1 certain (twin) brother, but as with any great book, all is right in the end. I am unwilling to write to much here, because the book is still so new that I don't want to give to much away. But I will say this: There is a lot of V & Jane in this book(yay). Almost no John Matthew & Xhex(boo). But there is a certain revelation concerning my favorite manwhore. Actually there are 2 revelations with him.

I so loved this book, I can't wait until the BDB Reading Challenge starts April 1st, so I can read ALL the Brothers books again!! LOL! The WARDen always mentions songs or groups in her books (love them!) so I thought I would add a group that Manny enjoys!

Waiting On Wednesday(03/30/11)

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (August 30, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061783196
• ISBN-13: 978-0061783197

Yay! I'm so excited! I am having a hard time waiting until August though...I wonder what I have that the great Ms. Frost would trade for? A cat? I have 3, she could take her pick. One of my children? As much as I love them, I think I might be willing to part with one. Wonder which one she would want? Oh, who am I kidding, I wouldn't give her one of my cats! LOL! *sigh* is it August yet?

The Thirteenth Gift By Charlene Costanzo

While on assignment in Eastern Europe, Claire, a U.S. journalist, learns of a local legend. The deceptively simple story about "the thirteenth gift" has a profound effect on Claire, which soon transforms her marriage, her work, and the way she sees the world. The Thirteenth Gift is both a cautionary tale and an inspirational fable as it shows a way through the perilous consequences of greed, arrogance, and abuse of power to an uplifted state of consciousness and community. The Thirteenth Gift invites readers to renew their sense of wonderment, which can lead to freedom from fear and to a greater experience of hope, beauty, and joy in daily life. Like the message of the award-winning book, The Twelve Gifts of Birth, this novella from Charlene Costanzo reminds readers to see the dignity that is inherent in themselves and others. The habit of collecting smooth stones and shiny pebbles is an impulse that crosses generations, cultures, and traditions. But what instinct urges us to stop for them, hold them in our pockets, and save them in jars? This fourth work in Charlene Costanzo's Twelve Gift Series explains why so many people world-wide are fascinated with collecting stones. The Thirteenth Gift describes an obscure, Eastern European fable that explains why even the appeal of gem stones is rooted in something deeper than dazzle...something we are all trying to remember. Stones symbolize the marvelous oneness of all creation and keep us in touch with the gifts of life. The story's central character, Claire, is one any modern woman can relate to; torn between pursuing her ambitions and dedicating herself to her family. The author's fictional narrative reinforces the importance of consciousness, community, and most importantly, maintaining your sense of wonder. In a world where there are so many distractions, it is easy to forget our sense of wonderment. This book is a simple reminder to reconnect with the unique gifts we are each born with, urging readers to see the dignity that is inherent in themselves and others. Readers are invited to renew their sense of wonderment, to find a greater experience of hope, beauty, and joy in daily life.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read, being only 66 pages. The book is written from the main characters point of view. She is dealing with stress from her job and being away from her family alot because of it. While out of the country on assignment, she finishes a story early and is trying to surprise her family by coming home early. She takes an unscheduled road trip out of town to kill time, and runs into some minor problems with her car. While trying to get some help, she meets up with an elderly woman who invites her into her home and tells her of a local legend that makes her realize how out of touch she is with her family and how unhappy she is with her job and her life as it is. The only down side to me was that I felt the book ended too soon, and had some unresolved issues. It could be that the author did this in order to be able to write a sequel; who knows? What interested me in this book to begin with is that even before I read it, I kept a smooth stone with the word "believe" etched on it with me all the time. Something that touched me was that a portion of the proceeds from each book in this series is donated to a foundation that prevents abuse and promotes the well-being of children, The Twelve Gifts of Birth Foundation.