Thursday, October 10, 2013

Review: Heart of Venom


Heart of Venom
Heart of Venom by Jennifer Estep

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Release Date: August 27, 2013
Publisher: Pocket Books
Author’s Website: http://www.jenniferestep.com
My Source for This Book: Pocket Books
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 9, Elemental Assassin Series
Series Best Read In Order: Yes
Genre: Dark Urban Fantasy

HEART OF VENOM is the ninth book in the Elemental Assassin series by Jennifer Estep. I recommend reading the series in order from book one. I was given this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

As usual, Gin is minding her own business, trying to live a normal life. Trying to move on from the disappointment of Owen's rejection, when she and her friends are attacked by Sofia's tormentor. Gin gives it her all and nearly dies trying, but she must rescue Sophia and serve up a cold plate of revenge. Gin finds that she will need the help of her friends to accomplish this ultimate goal.

HEART OF VENOM has brought back the feel of the early Elemental Assassin Novels. After the demise of Mab, the next book or two felt forced. I was relieved to find the repetition of back-story is less than in previous books. In addition, the repeating of what it means to be an elemental was more present in prior books and I found it to be tedious.

Gin is strong, driven, and as always, puts family first. While dealing with past hurts, learning to forgive, and struggling to forget those past hurts, she rushes in without a plan and requires assistance to slow down and think. Although it is not her usual m.o., it speaks to how much she cares for Sofia, that without help, she is not able to step back and make a viable plan.

Estep describes the number two villain with her usual descriptive prose (also where the title comes from), "If Harley Grimes has any sort of heart at all, then it is a heart of venom---cold, cruel, and delighting in the suffering of others."

HEART OF VENOM will make you laugh, make you cry, and make you think. My favorite laughable line, "Okay, I thought the woo-hoo at the end was a little much, but I let the giant enjoy his moment of victory."

Summing up the end result of Gin and Sofia's ordeal Estep writes, ""Not Soft," Sophia rasped. "Neither one of us. Not anymore. Never again."" The wait of this statement is an adequate reflection of the trials both Gin and Sofia experienced.



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Saturday, August 31, 2013

Trail of Dead is on Sale Now!

Kindle's Daile Deal! Only $1.99! It is well worth the money!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00AW147EC/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1377980284&sr=8-3π=SL75

Can I Buy You a Book?

A friend posted this on my facebook wall and I had to share!

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Review: My Big Fat Demon Slayer Wedding


My Big Fat Demon Slayer Wedding
My Big Fat Demon Slayer Wedding by Angie Fox

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Release Date: June 28, 2013
Publisher: Angie Fox
Author’s Website: http://www.angiefox.com
My Source for This Book: Angie Fox
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 5, Demon Slayer Series
Series Best Read In Order: Yes
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy

MY BIG FAT DEMON SLAYER WEDDING is the fifth book in the Demon Slayer series by Angie Fox. I recommend reading the series in order from book one. I was given this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Lizzie and Dimitri come to the states to say I Do. Lizzie's adopted mother is not "in the know" and is planning every detail of a "society" wedding. It soon becomes clear that the status quo cannot continue.

Angie Fox brings together the Biker Witches, the griffin clan and Lizzie's adopted parents. What looks like a recipe for disaster... is a disaster, but this is nothing new for Lizzie and Dimitri.

I found the story slow to start, but it began to pick up just before half-way through. At that point I was hooked. With that being said, I feel like there is something I was missing. The end felt incomplete and rushed. I've enjoyed the previous 4 books and gave them all 4-5 star ratings, MY BIG FAT DEMON SLAYER WEDDING fell short of its predecessors.

Three stars is still a good rating, so don't let this detour you from reading the series. Although I found the ending unsatisfying, I find it necessary to wrap up the story line.

Buy here:

http://www.amazon.com/Wedding-Witches-Mystery-paranormal-ebook/dp/B00DPKEISM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1377630119&sr=1-1&keywords=my+big+fat+demon+slayer+wedding

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Thursday, August 15, 2013

FULL Vampire Academy: Blood Sisters Trailer

The long anticipated trailer to Vampire Academy is now out and exclusively on Yahoo! Movies. Watch it here.

It is set to release February 14, 2014!

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Review: Adelaide Upset


Adelaide Upset
Adelaide Upset by Penny Greenhorn

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Release Date: May 17, 2013
Publisher: Penny Greenhorn
Author’s Website: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6472825.Penny_Greenhorn/blog
My Source for This Book: Amazon
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 2, Emotional Graves Series
Series Best Read In Order: Yes
Genre: Paranormal Mystery

ADELAIDE UPSET is the second book in the Emotional Graves series by Penny Greenhorn. I recommend reading the series in order from book one.

I cannot say enough about this book and series as a whole. I discovered this series by accident when I happened to see book one, ADELAIDE CONFUSED, for FREE on Amazon. I was looking for something different and the synopsis piqued my interest. It surely wasn't a mistake. I thought about the book anytime between reading and for days after its completion. It goes the same for ADELAIDE UPSET. I think I loved ADLEAIDE UPSET even more than ADELAIDE CONFUSED, if that is even possible.

ADLEAIDE UPSET is very well written and funny without overdoing it. I found it to be a unique twist on Paranormal Mystery, reminiscent of Carolyn Crane's Disillusionist series. Adelaide is a reclusive empath. The recluse part by choice. She is smart and witty. I love how she isn't afraid to say what she is thinking. You read what she is thinking and YOU think, "Oh no, she isn't going to say that." Then she does! Especially in her relationship with Lucas. With this information, you would believe she is this way about everything, but she continues to hold the secret of her empathic abilities close to the vest.

You cannot go wrong by reading this series. I mean, ADLEAIDE CONFUSED is FREE and ADELAIDE UPSET is a mere $1.99. $1.99! You cannot go wrong! I read recently on the Author's blog on Goodreads that the good feedback can be overwhelming and may sometimes trigger procrastination because she feels the pressure to please. Well, if ADELAIDE UPSET is a result, then bring it on! What are you waiting for, go make your purchase!

Links to Buy:
Book 1:  Product Details

Book 2:  Product Details

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Monday, August 12, 2013

ARC Review: Shadowed Threads


Shadowed Threads
Shadowed Threads by Shannon Mayer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Release Date: August 15, 2013
Publisher: Hijinks Ink Publishing
Author’s Website: http://www.shannonmayer.com/
My Source for This Book: Shannon Mayer
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 4, Rylee Adamson Series
Series Best Read In Order: Yes
Genre: Urban Fantasy

SHADOWED THREADS is the fourth book in the Rylee Adamson series by Shannon Mayer. I recommend reading the series in order from book one. I was given this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Rylee Adamson, Tracker and mentor to her wards, just keeps going and going and going. I wouldn't be surprised to have seen the Energizer Bunny take a stroll through the pages.

SHADOWED THREADS was non-stop action from start to finish. There wasn't a dull moment. I fell in love with the whole cast all over again, along with a few additions. I look forward to more time with the characters in the next book and I hope to continue to get to know the newest additions.

There was SO MUCH happening in such a short book. I admire Shannon Mayer's ability to weave a story with so much depth in so few pages. I've read other books with the same number of pages, but when they were finished I felt unfulfilled. There was no danger in that for SHADOWED THREADS. I look forward to continuing the series!



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Tuesday, March 19, 2013

COVER REVEAL! Burned by Karen Marie Moning, Book two of The Dani O’Malley Trilogy

The Hot Topic on Karen Marie Moning's discussion board is the cover for Burned.  What are your thoughts?


Review: A Shade Of Vampire


A Shade Of Vampire
A Shade Of Vampire by Bella Forrest

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars



Release Date: December 14, 2012
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing
Author’s Website: http://forrestbooks.com
My Source for This Book: Bella Forrest
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 1, A Shade of Vampire Series
Series Best Read In Order: Yes
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance

A SHADE OF VAMPIRE is the first book in the A Shade of Vampire series by Bella Forrest. CA SHADE OF VAMPIRE was provided to me by the author for an honest review.

See previous blog installment for synopsis here: http://frannymiller.blogspot.com/2013/03/book-review-to-come-shade-of-vampire.html

Overall, A Shade of Vampire was good. The writing was good and the story drew me in and kept me reading. Why did I give it 3 stars then? Even after several days of ruminating on A Shade of Vampire, there were 2 major things that really bothered me, the first being the parallels to Twilight. The whole time I read, I had this little niggling sensation in the back of my brain pulsing Twilight, Twilight, Twilight. The second thing that bothered me was... nothing really happened. I knew going in the story would be short. I also don't hold a grudge on cliff hangers, but in a cliff hanger, something is usually resolved.

Back again to what I liked. I can honestly say even knowing the story was short and the parallels to Twilight, I couldn't put the book down once I started. I was pleasantly surprised by it's effect on me. Again, if you enjoy a good YA PNR, go for it. You won't be disappointed. In fact, after the completion of this review, I've decided to bump up the star count to 3.5 stars. Bella Forrest, I look forward to the next installment.

Buy A Shade of Vampire from Amazon:
USA, paperback:
http://www.amazon.com/Shade-Of-Vampire-Bella-Forrest/dp/1481280767
USA, eBook: http://www.amazon.com/A-Shade-Of-Vampire-ebook/dp/B00AOHDMFE

UK, paperback:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shade-Of-Vampire-Bella-Forrest/dp/1481280767
UK, eBook: http://www.amazon.co.uk/A-Shade-Of-Vampire-ebook/dp/B00AOHDMFE




View all my reviews

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Book Review to Come - A Shade of Vampire

A Shade of Vampire

#1 Christmas Bestseller in Vampire Romance, Paranormal & Fantasy.



Synopsis

On the evening of Sofia Claremont's seventeenth birthday, she is sucked into a nightmare from which she cannot wake.

A quiet evening walk along a beach brings her face to face with a dangerous pale creature that craves much more than her blood.

She is kidnapped to an island where the sun is eternally forbidden to shine.
An island uncharted by any map and ruled by the most powerful vampire coven on the planet. She wakes here as a slave, a captive in chains.

Sofia's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn when she is the one selected out of hundreds of girls to join the harem of Derek Novak, the dark royal Prince.

Despite his addiction to power and obsessive thirst for her blood, Sofia soon realizes that the safest place on the island is within his quarters, and she must do all within her power to win him over if she is to survive even one more night.

Will she succeed? ...or is she destined to the same fate that all other girls have met at the hands of the Novaks?

Excerpt from A Shade of Vampire

I’d been meandering along the shore for about an hour when I suddenly sensed that I wasn’t alone. Someone was approaching me from behind. My heart leapt. I was so sure it was Ben, that when a stranger showed up beside me, I couldn’t hide my disappointment.
He must have noticed, because a smirk formed on his lips. “Were you expecting someone else, love?”
I eyed him suspiciously, remembering how many times my father had told me not to talk to strangers. I looked him over, taking in his appearance. My eyes widened. I couldn’t find words to describe how fine a man he was. He was almost beautiful. The first thing I took notice of was how his blue eyes were about three shades brighter than any I’d ever seen before. It was such a stark contrast to his pale – almost white – skin and dark hair. Standing beside me, he was easily more than half a foot taller. His height, broad shoulders and lean build reminded me of Ben, but he had a presence that was far more imposing than my best friend’s.
My gaze settled on his face.
I realized that he was inspecting me just as closely as I was him. His eyes on me suddenly made me feel uncomfortably vulnerable. I gave my father’s advice a second thought, but quickly canceled out all notions of heeding to his counsel when I reminded myself that he stopped caring a long time ago.
I straightened to my full height and mustered all the courage I had to keep myself from running away from this stranger.
Big mistake.
The confident smirk didn’t leave his face for even a moment.
“Like what you see?”
“A bit full of yourself, aren’t you?” I scoffed, annoyed by his audacity.
He stepped forward, closer to me, and leaned his head toward mine.
“Don’t I have the right to be?”
He knew he looked good and wasn’t about to act like he didn’t.
“Whatever,” was my oh-so-brilliant comeback.
My shoulders sagged with defeat as I took a step back, unsettled by how close he was now. I rolled my eyes and did a one-eighty, not quite in the mood to play whatever game this stranger was proposing.
I would soon realize that I was about to play his game whether I liked it or not.
He grabbed my arm and turned my body to face him. This motion alone made every single internal alarm I had within me go off in a frenzy.
This man was danger and I knew it. I tried to wriggle away from his touch, but I was no match for his strength.
“Tell me your name,” he commanded.
I was about to refuse, but was horrified to find myself blurting out my name in response.
“Sofia Claremont.”
As soon as I revealed my name, his eyes lit up with a kind of sinister approval. Then he reached for my face and traced his thumb over my jaw line.
“Hello, Sofia Claremont. You’re one stupid girl for taking a walk alone at this time of night. You never know what kind of evil a pretty little thing like you could happen to come by.”
I found myself wondering exactly what kind of evil he was. But I was suddenly overcome by the sensations that were surrounding me. My senses took in everything at once. I heard the waves, felt the sand, smelled the ocean salt, tasted the flavor of cherry and saw the stranger’s manic appearance as he stuck a needle to my neck. The effect was instant. I was barely able to gasp, much less scream. I went from sensing everything to sensing absolutely nothing.
My last conscious thought was that I may never see Ben again.

You can also get an exclusive FREE “sneak preview” of the first 6 chapters by clicking here!: http://forrestbooks.com/sneakpeek.html
(Make sure you check it out now because this preview will not be available for long).

LINKS:

Buy A Shade of Vampire from Amazon:
USA, paperback:

UK, paperback:

Add A Shade of Vampire to your Goodreads shelf: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17255435-a-shade-of-vampire

I'M BACK!!!!!!!! --- Franny's Favorite March Releases

My personalFAVORITES are highlighted in BLUE:

Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices, #3)
Release Date: March 19
Danger intensifies for the Shadowhunters as the New York Times bestselling Infernal Devices trilogy comes to a close. If the only way to save the world was to destroy what you loved most, would you d...more

Lover At Last (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #11)
Release Date: March 26
Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the...more

Frost Burned (Mercedes Thompson, #7)
Release Date: March 5
Mercy Thompson returns in the seventh novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series. Mercy Thompson’s life has undergone a seismic change. Becoming the mate of Adam Hauptman—the charismatic Alpha...more

Twice Tempted (Night Prince, #2)
Release Date: March 26
Dating the Prince of Darkness has its challenges... Leila's psychic abilities have been failing her, and now she isn't sure what the future holds. If that weren't enough, her lover, Vlad, has been ac...more

With All My Soul (Soul Screamers, #7)
Release Date: March 26
What does it mean when your school is voted the most dangerous in America? It's time to kick some hellion butt... After not really surviving her junior year (does "undead" count as survival?), Kaylee...more

Deadly Sting (Elemental Assassin, #8)
Release Date: March 26
Red is definitely my color. Good thing, because in my line of work, I end up wearing it a lot. Most people shy away from blood, but for an assassin like me — Gin Blanco, aka the Spider — it’s just pa...more

Death, Doom and Detention (Darklight, #2)
Release Date: March 5
The normal part of Lorelei MacAlister’s life didn’t just slip away quietly the day Jared Kovach came to town. Nope. The normal part of her life shattered. It exploded. It burst into a gazillion shards...more

Kitty Rocks the House (Kitty Norville, #11)
Release Date: March 26
On the heels of Kitty's return from London, a new werewolf shows up in Denver, one who threatens to split the pack by challenging Kitty's authority at every turn. The timing could not be worse; Kitty ...more

The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Angel; Clockwork Prince; Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices, #1-3)
Release Date: March 19
Don’t miss The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, soon to be a major motion picture in theaters August 2013. Step back in time with the Shadowhunters with this eBook collection of the New York Time...more

Undead and Underwater (Undead, #11.5)
Release Date: March 5
Betsy Taylor and the Wyndham werewolves are back in three all-new outrageous novellas from New York Times bestselling author MaryJanice Davidson. MaryJanice Davidson “continues to put her own unique ...more

Agave Kiss (Corine Solomon, #5)
Release Date: March 5
Chance was gone; he’d sacrificed himself so Shannon and I could escape Sheol. We’d raised him on Shan’s spirit radio, which meant his soul wasn’t wholly destroyed by the demon gate…. Once Corine Solo...more

Real Vampires Know Hips Happen (Glory St. Clair, #9)
Release Date: March 5
Does plaid make your butt look big? Glory St. Clair knows that it does. But she'll even throw on a Campbell kilt if it will help her win her hunky Scottish lover back. She's risked everything to cros...more

The Grimoire of the Lamb (The Iron Druid Chronicles, #0.4)
Release Date: March 1
"It’s set four years before the events of HOUNDED so there’s no Granuaile, but we get plenty of Atticus and Oberon as they get lured to Egypt by a priest of the crocodile god, Sobek!" -Kevin Hearne, D...more

You and I, Me and You (Cadence Jones, #3)
Release Date: March 19
The final book in Davidson's laugh-out-loud trilogy featuring an unconventional FBI agent who finds love in the most unexpected places   Candice (and her sisters) has moved in with Patrick and every...more

Strong Enough to Love (Jackson, #1.2)
Release Date: March 1
USA TODAY bestselling author Victoria Dahl delivers sassy and sexy contemporary romance in a new series set in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Get a taste with this novella, Strong Enough to Love.... Photogra...more

Of Shadow Born (Shadow World, #4)
Release Date: March 26
Spread throughout the dark corners of our world lies the Shadow World, a society of vampires who feed off the living. In Austin, Texas, one woman must rise from the ashes of tragedy and confront an an...more

Crave the Darkness (Shaede Assassin, #3)
Release Date: March 5
Nothing comes easy for Darian. Her heightened powers make her indispensable to the Shaede Nation, but dangerous missions have driven her lover, Tyler, to his breaking point. Darian must salvage their ...more

Too Hot to Handle (Jackson, #2)
Release Date: March 26
This good girl's going bad….Merry Kade has always been the good girl. The best friend. The one who patiently waits for the guy to notice her. Well, no more. Merry has just scored her dream job, and it...more

Grave Secret (Secret McQueen, #5)
Release Date: March 19
Sometimes a secret goes to the grave. Sometimes Secret puts you there. It’s been a hell of a year for Secret McQueen, and the last thing in the world she wants is to get caught up in werewolf drama. ...more

Better Off Dead (Lily Harper, #1)
Release Date: March 26

Seeing is Believing
Release Date: March 5
Cuttersville, Ohio is full of ghosts, and they all want Piper Tucker’s help. One guy in town just wants Piper. Ever since Piper Tucker was young she wanted to be like everyone else, but her uncanny ...more

Embracing the Wolf (Anna Avery, #2)
Release Date: March 1
Coming soon....more

The Love Shack (Beach House No. 9, #3)
Release Date: March 26
Return to USA TODAY bestselling author Christie Ridgway’s Crescent Cove, California, where the magic of summer can last forever… Globe-trotting photojournalist Gage Lowell spent carefree childhood su...more

Crazy Sweet Fine
Release Date: March 26
Fall in love--over and over again--with three much-loved romantic stories from New York Times bestselling author Rachel Gibson, Candis Terry, and Jennifer Bernard Crazy On Youby Rachel Gibson Newly ...more

The Best Man
Release Date: March 1
SOMETIMES THE BEST MAN IS THE ONE YOU LEAST EXPECT... Faith Holland left her hometown after being jilted at the altar. Now a little older and wiser, she's ready to return to the Blue Heron Winery, he...more
Pooka In My Pantry (A Monster Haven Story, #2)
Release Date: March 25
Zoey Donovan—empath, wedding planner, go-to girl for monsters with personal problems—has been marked twice for pickup by Death. On both occasions, Riley the smoking-hot reaper has refused to follow th...more

Night Blade (Colbana Files, #2)
Release Date: March 4
Kit Colbana is always biting off more than she can chew. She has a knack for finding trouble. This time, though, trouble finds her. Someone from her past drops a case into her lap that she just can’t ...more

Wicked Kiss
Release Date: March 1
MY KISS CAN KILL. I used to be ordinary Samantha Day, but that's changed. Now, after one dark kiss from a dangerous boy, I can steal someone's soul...or their life. If I give in to the constant hunger...more

Bungalow Nights (Beach House No. 9, #2)
Release Date: March 1
Return to "USA TODAY" bestselling author Christie Ridgway's Crescent Cove, California, where the magic of summer can last forever... Combat medic Vance Smith made a promise to a fallen officer: to tre...more